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2006 Revised Code of Washington Volume 7: Titles 71A through 84
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VOLUME 7
Titles 71A through 84
2006
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON
Published under the authority of chapter 1.08 RCW.
Containing all laws of a general and permanent nature through the 2006 regular session, which
adjourned sine die March 8, 2006.
(2006 Ed.)
[Preface—p i]
REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON
2006 Edition
©
2006 State of Washington
CERTIFICATE
The 2006 edition of the Revised Code of Washington, published officially by the Statute Law Committee, is, in accordance with RCW 1.08.037, certified to comply with the current specifications of the committee.
MARTY BROWN, Chair
STATUTE LAW COMMITTEE
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For recycling information call:
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[Preface—p ii]
(2006 Ed.)
PREFACE
Numbering system: The number of each section of this code is made up of three parts, in sequence as follows: Number of title; number of chapter within the title; number of section within the chapter. Thus RCW
1.04.020 is Title 1, chapter 4, section 20. The section part of the number (.020) is initially made up of three digits,
constitutes a true decimal, and provides a facility for numbering new sections to be inserted between old sections
already consecutively numbered, merely by adding one or more digits at the end of the number. In most chapters of
the code, sections have been numbered by tens (.010, .020, .030, .040, etc.), leaving nine vacant numbers between
original sections so that for a time new sections may be inserted without extension of the section number beyond
three digits.
Citation to the Revised Code of Washington: The code should be cited as RCW; see RCW 1.04.040. An
RCW title should be cited Title 7 RCW. An RCW chapter should be cited chapter 7.24 RCW. An RCW section
should be cited RCW 7.24.010. Through references should be made as RCW 7.24.010 through 7.24.100. Series of
sections should be cited as RCW 7.24.010, 7.24.020, and 7.24.030.
History of the Revised Code of Washington; Source notes: The Revised Code of Washington was
adopted by the legislature in 1950; see chapter 1.04 RCW. The original publication (1951) contained material variances from the language and organization of the session laws from which it was derived, including a variety of divisions and combinations of the session law sections. During 1953 through 1959, the Statute Law Committee, in
exercise of the powers in chapter 1.08 RCW, completed a comprehensive study of these variances and, by means of
a series of administrative orders or reenactment bills, restored each title of the code to reflect its session law source,
but retaining the general codification scheme originally adopted. An audit trail of this activity has been preserved in
the concluding segments of the source note of each section of the code so affected. The legislative source of each
section is enclosed in brackets [ ] at the end of the section. Reference to session laws is abbreviated; thus "1891 c 23
§ 1; 1854 p 99 § 135" refers to section 1, chapter 23, Laws of 1891 and section 135, page 99, Laws of 1854. "Prior"
indicates a break in the statutory chain, usually a repeal and reenactment. "RRS or Rem. Supp.——" indicates the
parallel citation in Remington's Revised Code, last published in 1949.
Where, before restoration, a section of this code constituted a consolidation of two or more sections of the
session laws, or of sections separately numbered in Remington's, the line of derivation is shown for each component
section, with each line of derivation being set off from the others by use of small Roman numerals, "(i)," "(ii)," etc.
Where, before restoration, only a part of a session law section was reflected in a particular RCW section the
history note reference is followed by the word "part."
"Formerly" and its correlative form "FORMER PART OF SECTION" followed by an RCW citation preserves the record of original codification.
Double amendments: Some double or other multiple amendments to a section made without reference to
each other are set out in the code in smaller (8-point) type. See RCW 1.12.025.
Index: Titles 1 through 91 are indexed in the RCW General Index. Separate indexes are provided for the
Rules of Court and the State Constitution.
Sections repealed or decodified; Disposition table: Memorials to RCW sections repealed or decodified
are tabulated in numerical order in the table entitled "Disposition of former RCW sections."
Codification tables: To convert a session law citation to its RCW number (for Laws of 1951 or later) consult the codification tables. A similar table is included to relate the disposition in RCW of sections of Remington's
Revised Statutes.
Errors or omissions: (1) Where an obvious clerical error has been made in the law during the legislative
process, the code reviser adds a corrected word, phrase, or punctuation mark in [brackets] for clarity. These additions do not constitute any part of the law.
(2) Although considerable care has been taken in the production of this code, within the limits of available
time and facilities it is inevitable that in so large a work that there will be errors, both mechanical and of judgment.
When those who use this code detect errors in particular sections, a note citing the section involved and the nature of
the error may be sent to: Code Reviser, Box 40551, Olympia, WA 98504-0551, so that correction may be made in a
subsequent publication.
(2006 Ed.)
[Preface—p iii]
TITLES OF THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON
1
46
47
Highways and motor vehicles
Motor vehicles
Public highways and transportation
48
Insurance
49
50
51
Labor
Labor regulations
Unemployment compensation
Industrial insurance
52
53
54
55
57
Local service districts
Fire protection districts
Port districts
Public utility districts
Sanitary districts
Water-sewer districts
58
59
60
61
62A
63
64
65
Property rights and incidents
Boundaries and plats
Landlord and tenant
Liens
Mortgages, deeds of trust, and real estate contracts
Uniform Commercial Code
Personal property
Real property and conveyances
Recording, registration, and legal publication
66
67
68
69
70
71
71A
72
73
74
Public health, safety, and welfare
Alcoholic beverage control
Sports and recreation—Convention facilities
Cemeteries, morgues, and human remains
Food, drugs, cosmetics, and poisons
Public health and safety
Mental illness
Developmental disabilities
State institutions
Veterans and veterans' affairs
Public assistance
76
77
78
79
79A
Public resources
Forests and forest products
Fish and wildlife
Mines, minerals, and petroleum
Public lands
Public recreational lands
80
81
Public service
Public utilities
Transportation
82
83
84
Taxation
Excise taxes
Estate taxation
Property taxes
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
Waters
Diking and drainage
Flood control
Irrigation
Navigation and harbor improvements
Reclamation, soil conservation, and land settlement
Water rights—Environment
Waterways
General provisions
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
9A
10
11
12
13
Judicial
Courts of record
District courts—Courts of limited jurisdiction
Civil procedure
Evidence
Enforcement of judgments
Special proceedings and actions
Eminent domain
Crimes and punishments
Washington Criminal Code
Criminal procedure
Probate and trust law
District courts—Civil procedure
Juvenile courts and juvenile offenders
14
Aeronautics
15
16
17
Agriculture
Agriculture and marketing
Animals and livestock
Weeds, rodents, and pests
18
19
20
21
22
Businesses and professions
Businesses and professions
Business regulations—Miscellaneous
Commission merchants—Agricultural products
Securities and investments
Warehousing and deposits
23
23B
24
25
Corporations, associations, and partnerships
Corporations and associations (Profit)
Washington business corporation act
Corporations and associations (Nonprofit)
Partnerships
26
Domestic relations
27
28A
28B
28C
Education
Libraries, museums, and historical activities
Common school provisions
Higher education
Vocational education
29A
Elections
30
31
32
33
Financial institutions
Banks and trust companies
Miscellaneous loan agencies
Mutual savings banks
Savings and loan associations
34
35
35A
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Government
Administrative law
Cities and towns
Optional Municipal Code
Counties
Federal areas—Indians
Militia and military affairs
Public contracts and indebtedness
Public documents, records, and publications
Public employment, civil service, and pensions
Public officers and agencies
State government—Executive
State government—Legislative
[Preface—p iv]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 71A
Chapters
71A.10
71A.12
71A.14
71A.16
71A.18
71A.20
71A.22
Chapter 71A.10
Title 71A
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
General provisions.
State services.
Local services.
Eligibility for services.
Service delivery.
Residential habilitation centers.
Training centers and homes.
Chapter 71A.10 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
71A.10.010
71A.10.011
71A.10.015
71A.10.020
71A.10.030
71A.10.040
71A.10.050
71A.10.060
71A.10.070
71A.10.080
71A.10.800
71A.10.805
71A.10.900
71A.10.901
71A.10.902
Legislative finding—Intent—1988 c 176.
Intent—1995 c 383.
Declaration of policy.
Definitions.
Civil and parental rights not affected.
Protection from discrimination.
Appeal of department actions—Right to.
Notice by secretary.
Secretary’s duty to consult.
Governor to designate an agency to implement a program for
protection and advocacy of the rights of persons with developmental disabilities and mentally ill persons—Authority of
designated agency—Liaison with state agencies.
Application of Title 71A RCW to matters pending as of June
9, 1988.
Headings in Title 71A RCW not part of law.
Severability—1988 c 176.
Saving—1988 c 176.
Continuation of existing law—1988 c 176.
71A.10.010
71A.10.010 Legislative finding—Intent—1988 c 176.
The legislature finds that the statutory authority for the programs, policies, and services of the department of social and
health services for persons with developmental disabilities
often lack[s] clarity and contain[s] internal inconsistencies.
In addition, existing authority is in several chapters of the
code and frequently contains obsolete language not reflecting
current use. The legislature declares that it is in the public
interest to unify and update statutes for programs, policies,
and services provided to persons with developmental disabilities.
The legislature intends to recodify the authority for the
programs, policies, and services for persons with developmental disabilities. This recodification is not intended to
affect existing programs, policies, and services, nor to establish any new program, policies, or services not otherwise
authorized before June 9, 1988. The legislature intends to
provide only those services authorized under state law before
June 9, 1988, and only to the extent funds are provided by the
legislature. [1988 c 176 § 1.]
71A.10.011
71A.10.011 Intent—1995 c 383. The legislature recognizes that the emphasis of state developmental disability services is shifting from institutional-based care to community
services in an effort to increase the personal and social inde(2006 Ed.)
pendence and fulfillment of persons with developmental disabilities, consistent with state policy as expressed in RCW
71A.10.015. It is the intent of the legislature that financial
savings achieved from program reductions and efficiencies
within the developmental disabilities program shall be redirected within the program to provide public or private community-based services for eligible persons who would otherwise be unidentified or unserved. [1995 c 383 § 1.]
71A.10.015 Declaration of policy. The legislature recognizes the capacity of all persons, including those with
developmental disabilities, to be personally and socially productive. The legislature further recognizes the state’s obligation to provide aid to persons with developmental disabilities
through a uniform, coordinated system of services to enable
them to achieve a greater measure of independence and fulfillment and to enjoy all rights and privileges under the Constitution and laws of the United States and the state of Washington. [1988 c 176 § 101.]
71A.10.015
71A.10.020 Definitions. As used in this title, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Community residential support services," or "community support services," and "in-home services" means one
or more of the services listed in RCW 71A.12.040.
(2) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(3) "Developmental disability" means a disability attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism,
or another neurological or other condition of an individual
found by the secretary to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation, which disability originates
before the individual attains age eighteen, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and which
constitutes a substantial handicap to the individual. By January 1, 1989, the department shall promulgate rules which
define neurological or other conditions in a way that is not
limited to intelligence quotient scores as the sole determinant
of these conditions, and notify the legislature of this action.
(4) "Eligible person" means a person who has been
found by the secretary under RCW 71A.16.040 to be eligible
for services.
(5) "Habilitative services" means those services provided by program personnel to assist persons in acquiring and
maintaining life skills and to raise their levels of physical,
mental, social, and vocational functioning. Habilitative services include education, training for employment, and therapy.
(6) "Legal representative" means a parent of a person
who is under eighteen years of age, a person’s legal guardian,
a person’s limited guardian when the subject matter is within
71A.10.020
[Title 71A RCW—page 1]
71A.10.030
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
the scope of the limited guardianship, a person’s attorney at
law, a person’s attorney in fact, or any other person who is
authorized by law to act for another person.
(7) "Notice" or "notification" of an action of the secretary means notice in compliance with RCW 71A.10.060.
(8) "Residential habilitation center" means a state-operated facility for persons with developmental disabilities governed by chapter 71A.20 RCW.
(9) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health
services or the secretary’s designee.
(10) "Service" or "services" means services provided by
state or local government to carry out this title.
(11) "Vacancy" means an opening at a residential habilitation center, which when filled, would not require the center
to exceed its biannually [biennially] budgeted capacity.
[1998 c 216 § 2; 1988 c 176 § 102.]
Effective date—1998 c 216: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 30, 1998]." [1998 c 216 § 10.]
71A.10.030
71A.10.030 Civil and parental rights not affected. (1)
The existence of developmental disabilities does not affect
the civil rights of the person with the developmental disability except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) The secretary’s determination under RCW
71A.16.040 that a person is eligible for services under this
title shall not deprive the person of any civil rights or privileges. The secretary’s determination alone shall not constitute cause to declare the person to be legally incompetent.
(3) This title shall not be construed to deprive the parent
or parents of any parental rights with relation to a child residing in a residential habilitation center, except as provided in
this title for the orderly operation of such residential habilitation centers. [1988 c 176 § 103.]
71A.10.040
71A.10.040 Protection from discrimination. Persons
are protected from discrimination because of a developmental disability as well as other mental or physical handicaps by
the law against discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW, by other
state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations, and by local
ordinances, when the persons qualify as handicapped under
those statutes, rules, regulations, and ordinances. [1988 c
176 § 104.]
71A.10.050
71A.10.050 Appeal of department actions—Right to.
(1) An applicant or recipient or former recipient of a developmental disabilities service under this title from the department of social and health services has the right to appeal the
following department actions:
(a) A denial of an application for eligibility under RCW
71A.16.040;
(b) An unreasonable delay in acting on an application for
eligibility, for a service, or for an alternative service under
RCW 71A.18.040;
(c) A denial, reduction, or termination of a service;
(d) A claim that the person owes a debt to the state for an
overpayment;
(e) A disagreement with an action of the secretary under
RCW 71A.10.060 or 71A.10.070;
[Title 71A RCW—page 2]
(f) A decision to return a resident of an [a] habilitation
center to the community; and
(g) A decision to change a person’s placement from one
category of residential services to a different category of residential services.
The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2) This subsection applies only to an adjudicative proceeding in which the department action appealed is a decision
to return a resident of a habilitation center to the community.
The resident or his or her representative may appeal on the
basis of whether the specific placement decision is in the best
interests of the resident. When the resident or his or her representative files an application for an adjudicative proceeding
under this section the department has the burden of proving
that the specific placement decision is in the best interests of
the resident.
(3) When the department takes any action described in
subsection (1) of this section it shall give notice as provided
by RCW 71A.10.060. The notice must include a statement
advising the recipient of the right to an adjudicative proceeding and the time limits for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding. Notice of a decision to return a resident of
a habilitation center to the community under RCW
71A.20.080 must also include a statement advising the recipient of the right to file a petition for judicial review of an
adverse adjudicative order as provided in chapter 34.05
RCW. [1989 c 175 § 138; 1988 c 176 § 105.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.10.060
71A.10.060 Notice by secretary. (1) Whenever this
title requires the secretary to give notice, the secretary shall
give notice to the person with a developmental disability and,
except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, to at least
one other person. The other person shall be the first person
known to the secretary in the following order of priority:
(a) A legal representative of the person with a developmental disability;
(b) A parent of a person with a developmental disability
who is eighteen years of age or older;
(c) Other kin of the person with a developmental disability, with preference to persons with the closest kinship;
(d) The Washington protection and advocacy system for
the rights of persons with developmental disabilities,
appointed in compliance with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6042; or
(e) A person who is not an employee of the department
or of a person who contracts with the department under this
title who, in the opinion of the secretary, will be concerned
with the welfare of the person.
(2) Notice to a person with a developmental disability
shall be given in a way that the person is best able to understand. This can include reading or explaining the materials to
the person.
(3) A person with a developmental disability may in
writing request the secretary to give notice only to that person. The secretary shall comply with that direction unless the
secretary denies the request because the person may be at risk
of losing rights if the secretary complies with the request. The
secretary shall give notice as provided in subsections (1) and
(2) of this section. On filing an application with the secretary
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions
within thirty days of receipt of the notice, the person who
made the request has the right to an adjudicative proceeding
under RCW 71A.10.050 on the secretary’s decision.
(4) The giving of notice to a person under this title does
not empower the person who is given notice to take any
action or give any consent. [1989 c 175 § 139; 1988 c 176 §
106.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.10.070
71A.10.070 Secretary’s duty to consult. (1) Whenever
this title places on the secretary the duty to consult, the secretary shall carry out that duty by consulting with the person
with a developmental disability and, except as provided in
subsection (2) of this section, with at least one other person.
The other person shall be in order of priority:
(a) A legal representative of the person with a developmental disability;
(b) A parent of a person with a developmental disability
who is eighteen years of age or older;
(c) Other kin of the person with a developmental disability, with preference to persons with the closest kinship;
(d) The Washington protection and advocacy system for
the rights of persons with developmental disabilities,
appointed in compliance with 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6042; or
(e) Any other person who is not an employee of the
department or of a person who contracts with the department
under this title who, in the opinion of the secretary, will be
concerned with the welfare of the person.
(2) A person with a developmental disability may in
writing request the secretary to consult only with that person.
The secretary shall comply with that direction unless the secretary denies the request because the person may be at risk of
losing rights if the secretary complies with the request. The
secretary shall give notice as provided in RCW 71A.10.060
when a request is denied. On filing an application with the
secretary within thirty days of receipt of the notice, the person who made the request has the right to an adjudicative proceeding under RCW 71A.10.050 on the secretary’s decision.
(3) Consultation with a person under this section does
not authorize the person who is consulted to take any action
or give any consent. [1989 c 175 § 140; 1988 c 176 § 107.]
71A.10.902
(2) The agency designated under subsection (1) of this
section shall implement a program for the protection and
advocacy of the rights of mentally ill persons pursuant to the
protection and advocacy for mentally ill individuals act of
1986, 100 Stat. 478; 42 U.S.C. Secs. 10801-10851 (1986), (as
amended). The designated agency shall have the authority to
pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies
to protect the rights of mentally ill persons and to investigate
allegations of abuse or neglect of mentally ill persons. The
designated agency shall be independent of any state agency
that provides treatment or services other than advocacy services to mentally ill persons.
(3) The governor shall designate an appropriate state
official to serve as liaison between the agency designated to
implement the protection and advocacy programs and the
state departments and agencies that provide services to persons with developmental disabilities and mentally ill persons.
[1991 c 333 § 1.]
71A.10.800
71A.10.800 Application of Title 71A RCW to matters
pending as of June 9, 1988. Except as provided in RCW
71A.10.901, this title shall govern:
(1) The continued provision of services to persons with
developmental disabilities who are receiving services on June
9, 1988.
(2) The disposition of hearings, lawsuits, or appeals that
are pending on June 9, 1988.
(3) All other questions or matters covered by this title,
from June 9, 1988. [1988 c 176 § 1008.]
71A.10.805
71A.10.805 Headings in Title 71A RCW not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section headings
used in this title do not constitute any part of the law. [1988
c 176 § 1002.]
71A.10.900
71A.10.900 Severability—1988 c 176. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1988 c 176 § 1003.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.10.901
71A.10.080
71A.10.080 Governor to designate an agency to
implement a program for protection and advocacy of the
rights of persons with developmental disabilities and
mentally ill persons—Authority of designated agency—
Liaison with state agencies. (1) The governor shall designate an agency to implement a program for the protection and
advocacy of the rights of persons with developmental disabilities pursuant to the developmentally disabled assistance and
bill of rights act, 89 Stat. 486; 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6000-6083
(1975), (as amended). The designated agency shall have the
authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to protect the rights of the developmentally disabled and to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect. The
designated agency shall be independent of any state agency
that provides treatment or services other than advocacy services to persons with developmental disabilities.
(2006 Ed.)
71A.10.901 Saving—1988 c 176. The repeals made by
sections 1005 through 1007, chapter 176, Laws of 1988, shall
not be construed as affecting any existing right, status, or eligibility for services acquired under the provisions of the statutes repealed, nor as affecting the validity of any rule or order
promulgated under the prior statutes, nor as affecting the status of any person appointed or employed under the prior statutes. [1988 c 176 § 1004.]
71A.10.902
71A.10.902 Continuation of existing law—1988 c
176. Insofar as provisions of this title are substantially the
same as provisions of the statutes repealed by sections 1005,
1006, and 1007, chapter 176, Laws of 1988, the provisions of
this title shall be construed as restatements and continuations
of the prior law, and not as new enactments. [1988 c 176 §
1001.]
[Title 71A RCW—page 3]
Chapter 71A.12
Chapter 71A.12
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
Chapter 71A.12 RCW
STATE SERVICES
Sections
71A.12.010 State and local program—Coordination—Continuum.
71A.12.020 Objectives of program.
71A.12.025 Persons with developmental disabilities who commit crimes—
Findings.
71A.12.030 General authority of secretary—Rule adoption.
71A.12.040 Authorized services.
71A.12.050 Payments for nonresidential services.
71A.12.060 Payment authorized for residents in community residential
programs.
71A.12.070 Payments under RCW 71A.12.060 supplemental to payments
from other resources—Direct payments.
71A.12.080 Rules.
71A.12.090 Eligibility of parent for services.
71A.12.100 Other services.
71A.12.110 Authority to contract for services.
71A.12.120 Authority to participate in federal programs.
71A.12.130 Gifts—Acceptance, use, record.
71A.12.140 Duties of state agencies generally.
71A.12.150 Contracts with United States and other states for developmental disability services.
71A.12.200 Community protection program—Legislative approval.
71A.12.210 Community protection program—Application.
71A.12.220 Community protection program—Definitions.
71A.12.230 Community protection program—Risk assessment—Written
notification—Written determination.
71A.12.240 Community protection program—Appeals—Rules—Notice.
71A.12.250 Community protection program—Services—Reviews—
Rules.
71A.12.260 Community protection program—Less restrictive residential
placement.
71A.12.270 Community protection program—Enforcement actions.
71A.12.280 Community protection program—Rules, guidelines, and policy manuals.
71A.12.010 State and local program—Coordination—Continuum. It is declared to be the policy of the state
to authorize the secretary to develop and coordinate state services for persons with developmental disabilities; to encourage research and staff training for state and local personnel
working with persons with developmental disabilities; and to
cooperate with communities to encourage the establishment
and development of services to persons with developmental
disabilities through locally administered and locally controlled programs.
The complexities of developmental disabilities require
the services of many state departments as well as those of the
community. Services should be planned and provided as a
part of a continuum. A pattern of facilities and services
should be established, within appropriations designated for
this purpose, which is sufficiently complete to meet the needs
of each person with a developmental disability regardless of
age or degree of handicap, and at each stage of the person’s
development. [1988 c 176 § 201.]
71A.12.010
71A.12.020 Objectives of program. (1) To the extent
that state, federal, or other funds designated for services to
persons with developmental disabilities are available, the
secretary shall provide every eligible person with habilitative
services suited to the person’s needs, regardless of age or
degree of developmental disability.
(2) The secretary shall provide persons who receive services with the opportunity for integration with nonhandicapped and less handicapped persons to the greatest extent
possible.
(3) The secretary shall establish minimum standards for
habilitative services. Consumers, advocates, service provid71A.12.020
[Title 71A RCW—page 4]
ers, appropriate professionals, and local government agencies
shall be involved in the development of the standards. [1988
c 176 § 202.]
71A.12.025
71A.12.025 Persons with developmental disabilities
who commit crimes—Findings. The legislature finds that
among those persons who endanger the safety of others by
committing crimes are a small number of persons with developmental disabilities. While their conduct is not typical of the
vast majority of persons with developmental disabilities who
are responsible citizens, for their own welfare and for the
safety of others the state may need to exercise control over
those few dangerous individuals who are developmentally
disabled, have been charged with crimes that involve a threat
to public safety or security, and have been found either
incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity.
The legislature finds, however, that the use of civil commitment procedures under chapter 71.05 RCW to effect state
control over dangerous developmentally disabled persons has
resulted in their commitment to institutions for the mentally
ill. The legislature finds that existing programs in mental
institutions may be inappropriate for persons who are developmentally disabled because the services provided in mental
institutions are oriented to persons with mental illness, a condition not necessarily associated with developmental disabilities.
Therefore, the legislature believes that, where appropriate, and subject to available funds, persons with developmental disabilities who have been charged with crimes that
involve a threat to public safety or security and have been
found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of
insanity should receive state services addressing their needs,
that such services must be provided in conformance with an
individual habilitation plan, and that their initial treatment
should be separate and discrete from treatment for persons
involved in any other treatment or habilitation program in a
manner consistent with the needs of public safety. [1998 c
297 § 5; 1989 c 420 § 2. Formerly RCW 71.05.035.]
Effective dates—Severability—Intent—1998 c 297: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.
71A.12.030
71A.12.030 General authority of secretary—Rule
adoption. The secretary is authorized to provide, or arrange
with others to provide, all services and facilities that are necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this title,
and to take all actions that are necessary or appropriate to
accomplish the purposes of this title. The secretary shall
adopt rules under the administrative procedure act, chapter
34.05 RCW, as are appropriate to carry out this title. [1988 c
176 § 203.]
71A.12.040
71A.12.040 Authorized services. Services that the secretary may provide or arrange with others to provide under
this title include, but are not limited to:
(1) Architectural services;
(2) Case management services;
(3) Early childhood intervention;
(4) Employment services;
(5) Family counseling;
(6) Family support;
(2006 Ed.)
State Services
(7) Information and referral;
(8) Health services and equipment;
(9) Legal services;
(10) Residential services and support;
(11) Respite care;
(12) Therapy services and equipment;
(13) Transportation services; and
(14) Vocational services. [1988 c 176 § 204.]
71A.12.050
71A.12.050 Payments for nonresidential services.
The secretary may make payments for nonresidential services
which exceed the cost of caring for an average individual at
home, and which are reasonably necessary for the care, treatment, maintenance, support, and training of persons with
developmental disabilities, upon application pursuant to
RCW 71A.18.050. The secretary shall adopt rules determining the extent and type of care and training for which the
department will pay all or a portion of the costs. [1988 c 176
§ 205.]
71A.12.060
71A.12.060 Payment authorized for residents in
community residential programs. The secretary is authorized to pay for all or a portion of the costs of care, support,
and training of residents of a residential habilitation center
who are placed in community residential programs under this
section and RCW 71A.12.070 and 71A.12.080. [1988 c 176
§ 206.]
71A.12.070
71A.12.070 Payments under RCW 71A.12.060 supplemental to payments from other resources—Direct
payments. All payments made by the secretary under RCW
71A.12.060 shall, insofar as reasonably possible, be supplementary to payments to be made for the costs of care, support, and training in a community residential program by the
estate of such resident of the residential habilitation center, or
from any resource which such resident may have, or become
entitled to, from any public, federal, or state agency. Payments by the secretary under this title may, in the secretary’s
discretion, be paid directly to community residential programs, or to counties having created developmental disability
boards under chapter 71A.14 RCW. [1988 c 176 § 207.]
71A.12.080
71A.12.080 Rules. (1) The secretary shall adopt rules
concerning the eligibility of residents of residential habilitation centers for placement in community residential programs
under this title; determination of ability of such persons or
their estates to pay all or a portion of the cost of care, support,
and training; the manner and method of licensing or certification and inspection and approval of such community residential programs for placement under this title; and procedures
for the payment of costs of care, maintenance, and training in
community residential programs. The rules shall include
standards for care, maintenance, and training to be met by
such community residential programs.
(2) The secretary shall coordinate state activities and
resources relating to placement in community residential programs to help efficiently expend state and local resources
and, to the extent designated funds are available, create an
effective community residential program. [1988 c 176 §
208.]
(2006 Ed.)
71A.12.130
71A.12.090
71A.12.090 Eligibility of parent for services. If a person with developmental disabilities is the parent of a child
who is about to be placed for adoption or foster care by the
secretary, the parent shall be eligible to receive services in
order to promote the integrity of the family unit. [1988 c 176
§ 209.]
71A.12.100
71A.12.100 Other services. Consistent with the general powers of the secretary and whether or not a particular
person with a developmental disability is involved, the secretary may:
(1) Provide information to the public on developmental
disabilities and available services;
(2) Engage in research concerning developmental disabilities and the habilitation of persons with developmental
disabilities, and cooperate with others who do such research;
(3) Provide consultant services to public and private
agencies to promote and coordinate services to persons with
developmental disabilities;
(4) Provide training for persons in state or local governmental agencies or with private entities who come in contact
with persons with developmental disabilities or who have a
role in the care or habilitation of persons with developmental
disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 210.]
71A.12.110
71A.12.110 Authority to contract for services. (1)
The secretary may enter into agreements with any person,
corporation, or governmental entity to pay the contracting
party to perform services that the secretary is authorized to
provide under this title, except for operation of residential
habilitation centers under chapter 71A.20 RCW.
(2) The secretary by contract or by rule may impose standards for services contracted for by the secretary. [1988 c
176 § 211.]
71A.12.120
71A.12.120 Authority to participate in federal programs. (1) The governor may take whatever action is necessary to enable the state to participate in the manner set forth
in this title in any programs provided by any federal law and
to designate state agencies authorized to administer within
this state the several federal acts providing federal moneys to
assist in providing services and training at the state or local
level for persons with developmental disabilities and for persons who work with persons with developmental disabilities.
(2) Designated state agencies may apply for and accept
and disburse federal grants, matching funds, or other funds or
gifts or donations from any source available for use by the
state or by local government to provide more adequate services for and habilitation of persons with developmental disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 212.]
71A.12.130
71A.12.130 Gifts—Acceptance, use, record. The secretary may receive and accept from any person, organization,
or estate gifts of money or personal property on behalf of a
residential habilitation center, or the residents therein, or on
behalf of the entire program for persons with developmental
disabilities, or any part of the program, and to use the gifts for
the purposes specified by the donor where such use is consistent with law. In the absence of a specified purpose, the secretary shall use such money or personal property for the gen[Title 71A RCW—page 5]
71A.12.140
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
eral benefit of persons with developmental disabilities. The
secretary shall keep an accurate record of the amount or kind
of gift, the date received, manner expended, and the name
and address of the donor. Any increase resulting from such
gift may be used for the same purpose as the original gift.
[1988 c 176 § 213.]
71A.12.140
71A.12.140 Duties of state agencies generally. Each
state agency that administers federal or state funds for services to persons with developmental disabilities, or for
research or staff training in the field of developmental disabilities, shall:
(1) Investigate and determine the nature and extent of
services within its legal authority that are presently available
to persons with developmental disabilities in this state;
(2) Develop and prepare any state plan or application
which may be necessary to establish the eligibility of the state
or any community to participate in any program established
by the federal government relating to persons with developmental disabilities;
(3) Cooperate with other state agencies providing services to persons with developmental disabilities to determine
the availability of services and facilities within the state, and
to coordinate state and local services in order to maximize
services to persons with developmental disabilities and their
families;
(4) Review and approve any proposed plans that local
governments are required to submit for the expenditure of
funds by local governments for services to persons with
developmental disabilities; and
(5) Provide consultant and staff training for state and
local personnel working in the field of developmental disability. [1988 c 176 § 214.]
71A.12.150
71A.12.150 Contracts with United States and other
states for developmental disability services. The secretary
shall have the authority, in the name of the state, to enter into
contracts with any duly authorized representative of the
United States of America, or its territories, or other states for
the provision of services under this title at the expense of the
United States, its territories, or other states. The contracts
may provide for the separate or joint maintenance, care, treatment, training, or education of persons. The contracts shall
provide that all payments due to the state of Washington from
the United States, its territories, or other states for services
rendered under the contracts shall be paid to the department
and transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the general
fund. [1988 c 176 § 215.]
71A.12.200
71A.12.200 Community protection program—Legislative approval. The department of social and health services is providing a structured, therapeutic environment for
persons who are eligible for placement in the community protection program in order for them to live safely and successfully in the community while minimizing the risk to public
safety.
The legislature approves of steps already taken by the
department to create a community protection program within
the division of developmental disabilities. [2006 c 303 § 1.]
[Title 71A RCW—page 6]
71A.12.210
71A.12.210 Community protection program—Application. RCW 71A.12.220 through 71A.12.280 apply to a
person:
(1)(a) Who has been charged with or convicted of a
crime and meets the following criteria:
(i) Has been convicted of one of the following:
(A) A crime of sexual violence as defined in chapter
9A.44 or 71.09 RCW including, but not limited to, rape, rape
of a child, and child molestation;
(B) Sexual acts directed toward strangers, individuals
with whom a relationship has been established or promoted
for the primary purpose of victimization, or persons of casual
acquaintance with whom no substantial personal relationship
exists; or
(C) One or more violent offenses, as defined by RCW
9.94A.030; and
(ii) Constitutes a current risk to others as determined by
a qualified professional. Charges or crimes that resulted in
acquittal must be excluded; or
(b) Who has not been charged with and/or convicted of a
crime, but meets the following criteria:
(i) Has a history of stalking, violent, sexually violent,
predatory, and/or opportunistic behavior which demonstrates
a likelihood to commit a violent, sexually violent, and/or
predatory act; and
(ii) Constitutes a current risk to others as determined by
a qualified professional; and
(2) Who has been determined to have a developmental
disability as defined by RCW 71A.10.020(3). [2006 c 303 §
2.]
71A.12.220
71A.12.220 Community protection program—Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this
chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Assessment" means the written opinion of a qualified professional stating, at a minimum:
(a) Whether a person meets the criteria established in
RCW 71A.12.210;
(b) What restrictions are necessary.
(2) "Certified community protection program intensive
supported living services" means access to twenty-four-hour
supervision, instruction, and support services as identified in
the person’s plan of care.
(3) "Community protection program" means services
specifically designed to support persons who meet the criteria
of RCW 71A.12.210.
(4) "Constitutes a risk to others" means a determination
of a person’s risk and/or dangerousness based upon a thorough assessment by a qualified professional.
(5) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(6) "Developmental disability" means that condition
defined in RCW 71A.10.020(3).
(7) "Disclosure" means providing copies of professional
assessments, incident reports, legal documents, and other
information pertaining to community protection issues to
ensure the provider has all relevant information. Polygraph
and plethysmograph reports are excluded from disclosure.
(8) "Division" means the division of developmental disabilities.
(2006 Ed.)
State Services
(9) "Managed successfully" means that a person supported by a community protection program does not engage
in the behavior identified in RCW 71A.12.210.
(10) "Opportunistic behavior" means an act committed
on impulse, which is not premeditated.
(11) "Predatory" means acts directed toward strangers,
individuals with whom a relationship has been established or
promoted for the primary purpose of victimization, or casual
acquaintances with whom no substantial personal relationship exists. Predatory behavior may be characterized by
planning and/or rehearsing the act, stalking, and/or grooming
the victim.
(12) "Qualified professional" means a person with at
least three years’ prior experience working with individuals
with developmental disabilities, and: (a) If the person being
assessed has demonstrated sexually aggressive or sexually
violent behavior, that person must be assessed by a qualified
professional who is a certified sex offender treatment provider, or affiliate sex offender treatment provider working
under the supervision of a certified sex offender treatment
provider; or (b) if the person being assessed has demonstrated
violent, dangerous, or aggressive behavior, that person must
be assessed by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who
has received specialized training in the treatment of or has at
least three years’ prior experience treating violent or aggressive behavior.
(13) "Treatment team" means the program participant
and the group of people responsible for the development,
implementation, and monitoring of the person’s individualized supports and services. This group may include, but is
not limited to, the case resource manager, therapist, residential provider, employment/day program provider, and the person’s legal representative and/or family, provided the person
consents to the family member’s involvement.
(14) "Violent offense" means any felony defined as a
violent offense in RCW 9.94A.030.
(15) "Waiver" means the community-based funding
under section 1915 of Title XIX of the federal social security
act. [2006 c 303 § 3.]
71A.12.230 Community protection program—Risk
assessment—Written notification—Written determination. (1) Prior to receiving services through the community
protection program, a person must first receive an assessment
of risk and/or dangerousness by a qualified professional. The
assessment must be consistent with the guidelines for risk
assessments and psychosexual evaluations developed by the
department. The person requesting services and the person’s
legal representative have the right to choose the qualified
professional who will perform the assessment from a list of
state contracted qualified professionals. The assessment
must contain, at a minimum, a determination by the qualified
professional whether the person can be managed successfully
in the community with reasonably available safeguards and
that lesser restrictive residential placement alternatives have
been considered and would not be reasonable for the person
seeking services. The department may request an additional
evaluation by a qualified professional evaluator who is contracted with the state.
(2) Any person being considered for placement in the
community protection program and his or her legal represen71A.12.230
(2006 Ed.)
71A.12.240
tative must be informed in writing of the following: (a) Limitations regarding the services that will be available due to the
person’s community protection issues; (b) disclosure requirements as a condition of receiving services other than case
management; (c) the requirement to engage in therapeutic
treatment may be a condition of receiving certain services;
(d) anticipated restrictions that may be provided including,
but not limited to intensive supervision, limited access to
television viewing, reading material, videos; (e) the right to
accept or decline services; (f) the anticipated consequences of
declining services such as the loss of existing services and
removal from waiver services; (g) the right to an administrative fair hearing in accordance with department and division
policy; (h) the requirement to sign a preplacement agreement
as a condition of receiving community protection intensive
supported living services; (i) the right to retain current services during the pendency of any challenge to the department’s decision; (j) the right to refuse to participate in the
program.
(3)(a) If the department determines that a person is
appropriate for placement in the community protection program, the individual and his or her legal representative shall
receive in writing a determination by the department that the
person meets the criteria for placement within the community
protection program.
(b) If the department determines that a person cannot be
managed successfully in the community protection program
with reasonably available safeguards, the department must
notify the person and his or her legal representative in writing. [2006 c 303 § 4.]
71A.12.240 Community protection program—
Appeals—Rules—Notice. (1) Individuals receiving services through the department’s community protection waiver
retain all appeal rights provided for in RCW 71A.10.050. In
addition, such individuals have a right to an administrative
hearing pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW to appeal the following decisions by the department:
(a) Termination of community protection waiver eligibility;
(b) Assignment of the applicant to the community protection waiver;
(c) Denial of a request for less restrictive community residential placement.
(2) Final administrative decisions may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of RCW 34.05.510.
(3) The secretary shall adopt rules concerning the procedure applicable to requests for hearings under this section and
governing the conduct thereof.
(4) When the department takes any action described in
subsection (1) of this section it shall give notice as provided
by RCW 71A.10.060. The notice must include a statement
advising the person enrolled on the community protection
waiver of the right to an adjudicative proceeding and the time
limits for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding.
Notice must also include a statement advising the recipient of
the right to file a petition for judicial review of a final administrative decision as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
(5) Nothing in this section creates an entitlement to
placement on the community protection waiver nor does it
create a right to an administrative hearing on department
71A.12.240
[Title 71A RCW—page 7]
71A.12.250
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
decisions denying placement on the community protection
waiver. [2006 c 303 § 5.]
71A.12.250
71A.12.250 Community protection program—Services—Reviews—Rules. (1) Community protection program participants shall have appropriate opportunities to
receive services in the least restrictive manner and in the least
restrictive environments possible.
(2) There must be a review by the treatment team every
ninety days to assess each participant’s progress, evaluate use
of less restrictive measures, and make changes in the participant’s program as necessary. The team must review all
restrictions and recommend reductions if appropriate. The
therapist must write a report annually evaluating the participant’s risk of offense and/or risk of behaviors that are dangerous to self or others. The department shall have rules in place
describing this process. If a treatment team member has reason to be concerned that circumstances have changed significantly, the team member may request that a complete reassessment be conducted at any time. [2006 c 303 § 6.]
71A.12.260
71A.12.260 Community protection program—Less
restrictive residential placement. A participant who demonstrates success in complying with reduced restrictions and
remains free of offenses that may indicate a relapse for at
least twelve months, may be considered for placement in a
less restrictive community residential setting.
The process to move a participant to a less restrictive residential placement shall include, at a minimum:
(1) Written verification of the person’s treatment
progress, compliance with reduced restrictions, an assessment of low risk of reoffense, and a recommendation as to
suitable placement by the treatment team;
(2) Development of a gradual phase out plan by the treatment team, projected over a reasonable period of time and
includes specific criteria for evaluating reductions in restrictions, especially supervision;
(3) The absence of any incidents that may indicate
relapse for a minimum of twelve months;
(4) A written plan that details what supports and services, including the level of supervision the person will
receive from the division upon exiting the community protection program;
(5) An assessment consistent with the guidelines for risk
assessments and psychosexual evaluations developed by the
division, conducted by a qualified professional. At a minimum, the assessment shall include:
(a) An evaluation of the participant’s risk of reoffense
and/or dangerousness; and
(b) An opinion as to whether or not the person can be
managed successfully in a less restrictive community residential setting;
(6) Recommendation by the treatment team that the participant is ready to move to a less restrictive community residential placement. [2006 c 303 § 7.]
vider of residential services and support with whom the
department entered into an agreement under this chapter has:
(a) Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of
this chapter or the rules adopted under it;
(b) Failed or refused to cooperate with the certification
process;
(c) Prevented or interfered with a certification, inspection, or investigation by the department;
(d) Failed to comply with any applicable requirements
regarding vulnerable adults under chapter 74.34 RCW; or
(e) Knowingly, or with reason to know, made a false
statement of material fact related to certification or contracting with the department, or in any matter under investigation
by the department.
(2) The department may:
(a) Decertify or refuse to renew the certification of a provider;
(b) Impose conditions on a provider’s certification status;
(c) Suspend department referrals to the provider; or
(d) Require a provider to implement a plan of correction
developed by the department and to cooperate with subsequent monitoring of the provider’s progress. In the event a
provider fails to implement the plan of correction or fails to
cooperate with subsequent monitoring, the department may
impose civil penalties of not more than one hundred fifty dollars per day per violation. Each day during which the same or
similar action or inaction occurs constitutes a separate violation.
(3) When determining the appropriate enforcement
action or actions under subsection (2) of this section, the
department must select actions commensurate with the seriousness of the harm or threat of harm to the persons being
served by the provider. Further, the department may take
enforcement actions that are more severe for violations that
are uncorrected, repeated, pervasive, or which present a serious threat of harm to the health, safety, or welfare of persons
served by the provider. The department shall by rule develop
criteria for the selection and implementation of enforcement
actions authorized in subsection (2) of this section. Rules
adopted under this section shall include a process for an
informal review upon request by a provider.
(4) The provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW apply to
enforcement actions under this section. Except for the imposition of civil penalties, the effective date of enforcement
actions shall not be delayed or suspended pending any hearing or informal review.
(5) The enforcement actions and penalties authorized in
this section are not exclusive or exhaustive and nothing in
this section prohibits the department from taking any other
action authorized in statute or rule or under the terms of a
contract with the provider. [2006 c 303 § 8.]
71A.12.280
71A.12.270
71A.12.270 Community protection program—
Enforcement actions. (1) The department is authorized to
take one or more of the enforcement actions listed in subsection (2) of this section when the department finds that a pro[Title 71A RCW—page 8]
71A.12.280 Community protection program—Rules,
guidelines, and policy manuals. The department shall
develop and maintain rules, guidelines, or policy manuals, as
appropriate, for implementing and maintaining the community protection program under this chapter. [2006 c 303 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Local Services
Chapter 71A.14
Chapter 71A.14 RCW
LOCAL SERVICES
71A.14.070
governing authority, or by the county governing authority on
behalf of the board. [1988 c 176 § 303.]
Sections
71A.14.040
71A.14.010 Coordinated and comprehensive state and local program.
71A.14.020 County developmental disability boards—Composition—
Expenses.
71A.14.030 County authorities—State fund eligibility—Rules—Application.
71A.14.040 Applications for state funds—Review—Approval—Rules.
71A.14.050 Services to community may be required.
71A.14.060 Local authority to provide services.
71A.14.070 Confidentiality of information—Oath.
71A.14.080 Local authority to receive and spend funds.
71A.14.090 Local authority to participate in federal programs.
71A.14.100 Funds from tax levy under RCW 71.20.110.
71A.14.110 Contracts by boundary counties or cities in boundary counties.
71A.14.040 Applications for state funds—Review—
Approval—Rules. The secretary shall review the applications from the county governing authority made under RCW
71A.14.030. The secretary may approve an application if it
meets the requirements of this chapter and the rules promulgated by the secretary. The secretary shall promulgate rules
to assist in determining the amount of the grant. In promulgating the rules, the secretary shall consider the population of
the area served, the needs of the area, and the ability of the
community to provide funds for the developmental disability
program provided in this title. [1988 c 176 § 304.]
71A.14.010
71A.14.010 Coordinated and comprehensive state
and local program. The legislative policy to provide a coordinated and comprehensive state and local program of services for persons with developmental disability is expressed
in RCW 71A.12.010. [1988 c 176 § 301.]
71A.14.020
71A.14.020 County developmental disability
boards—Composition—Expenses. (1) The county governing authority of any county may appoint a developmental disability board to plan services for persons with developmental
disabilities, to provide directly or indirectly a continuum of
care and services to persons with developmental disabilities
within the county or counties served by the community
board. The governing authorities of more than one county by
joint action may appoint a single developmental disability
board. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a county or counties from combining the developmental disability board with
another county board, such as a mental health board.
(2) Members appointed to the board shall include but not
be limited to representatives of public, private, or voluntary
agencies, representatives of local governmental units, and citizens knowledgeable about developmental disabilities or
interested in services to persons with developmental disabilities in the community.
(3) The board shall consist of not less than nine nor more
than fifteen members.
(4) Members shall be appointed for terms of three years
and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
(5) The members of the developmental disability board
shall not be compensated for the performance of their duties
as members of the board, but may be paid subsistence rates
and mileage in the amounts prescribed by RCW 42.24.090.
[1988 c 176 § 302.]
71A.14.030
71A.14.030 County authorities—State fund eligibility—Rules—Application. Pursuant to RCW 71A.14.040
the secretary shall work with the county governing authorities and developmental disability boards who apply for state
funds to coordinate and provide local services for persons
with developmental disabilities and their families. The secretary is authorized to promulgate rules establishing the eligibility of each county and the developmental disability board
for state funds to be used for the work of the board in coordinating and providing services to persons with developmental
disabilities and their families. An application for state funds
shall be made by the board with the approval of the county
(2006 Ed.)
71A.14.050
71A.14.050 Services to community may be required.
The department may require by rule that in order to be eligible for state funds, the county and the developmental disability board shall provide the following indirect services to the
community:
(1) Serve as an informational and referral agency within
the community for persons with developmental disabilities
and their families;
(2) Coordinate all local services for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to insure the maximum utilization of all available services;
(3) Prepare comprehensive plans for present and future
development of services and for reasonable progress toward
the coordination of all local services to persons with developmental disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 305.]
71A.14.060
71A.14.060 Local authority to provide services. The
secretary by rule may authorize the county and the developmental disability board to provide any service for persons
with developmental disabilities that the department is authorized to provide, except for operating residential habilitation
centers under chapter 71A.20 RCW. [1988 c 176 § 306.]
71A.14.070
71A.14.070 Confidentiality of information—Oath.
In order for the developmental disability board to plan, coordinate, and provide required services for persons with developmental disabilities, the county governing authority and the
board shall be eligible to obtain such confidential information
from public or private schools and the department as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. Such information shall be kept in accordance with state law and rules
promulgated by the secretary under chapter 34.05 RCW to
permit the use of the information to coordinate and plan services. All persons permitted to have access to or to use such
information shall sign an oath of confidentiality, substantially
as follows:
"As a condition of obtaining information from (fill in
facility, agency, or person) I, . . . . . ., agree not to divulge,
publish, or otherwise make known to unauthorized persons or
the public any information obtained in the course of using
such confidential information, where release of such information may possibly make the person who received such services identifiable. I recognize that unauthorized release of
confidential information may subject me to civil liability
under state law."
[Title 71A RCW—page 9]
71A.14.080
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
[1988 c 176 § 307.]
71A.14.080
71A.14.080 Local authority to receive and spend
funds. The county governing authority and the developmental disability board created under RCW 71A.14.020 are
authorized to receive and spend funds received from the state
under this chapter, or any federal funds received through any
state agency, or any gifts or donations received by it for the
benefit of persons with developmental disabilities. [1988 c
176 § 308.]
71A.14.090
71A.14.090 Local authority to participate in federal
programs. RCW 71A.12.120 authorizes local governments
to participate in federal programs for persons with developmental disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 309.]
71A.14.100
71A.14.100 Funds from tax levy under RCW
71.20.110. Counties are authorized by RCW 71.20.110 to
fund county activities under this chapter. Expenditures of
county funds under this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 36.40 RCW and other statutes relating to
expenditures by counties. [1988 c 176 § 310.]
71A.14.110
71A.14.110 Contracts by boundary counties or cities
in boundary counties. Any county or city within a county
either of which is situated on the state boundaries is authorized to contract for developmental disability services with a
county situated in either the states of Oregon or Idaho, which
county is located on boundaries with the state of Washington.
[1988 c 176 § 311.]
Chapter 71A.16
Chapter 71A.16 RCW
ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES
Sections
71A.16.010
71A.16.020
71A.16.030
71A.16.040
71A.16.050
Referral for services—Admittance to residential habilitation
centers—Expiration of subsections.
Eligibility for services—Rules.
Outreach program—Determination of eligibility for services—Application.
Determination of eligibility—Notice—Rules for redetermination.
Determination of eligibility—Effect—Determination of
appropriate services.
71A.16.010
71A.16.010 Referral for services—Admittance to
residential habilitation centers—Expiration of subsections. (1) It is the intention of the legislature in this chapter
to establish a single point of referral for persons with developmental disabilities and their families so that they may have
a place of entry and continuing contact for services authorized under this title to persons with developmental disabilities. Eligible persons with developmental disabilities,
whether they live in the community or residential habilitation
centers, should have the opportunity to choose where they
live.
(2) Until June 30, 2003, and subject to subsection (3) of
this section, if there is a vacancy in a residential habilitation
center, the department shall offer admittance to the center to
any eligible adult, or eligible adolescent on an exceptional
case-by-case basis, with developmental disabilities if his or
[Title 71A RCW—page 10]
her assessed needs require the funded level of resources that
are provided by the center.
(3) The department shall not offer a person admittance to
a residential habilitation center under subsection (2) of this
section unless the department also offers the person appropriate community support services listed in RCW 71A.12.040.
(4) Community support services offered under subsection (3) of this section may only be offered using funds specifically designated for this purpose in the state operating
budget. When these funds are exhausted, the department may
not offer admittance to a residential habilitation center, or
community support services under this section.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create an
entitlement to state services for persons with developmental
disabilities.
(6) Subsections (2) through (6) of this section expire
June 30, 2003. [1998 c 216 § 3; 1988 c 176 § 401.]
Effective date—1998 c 216: See note following RCW 71A.10.020.
71A.16.020
71A.16.020 Eligibility for services—Rules. (1) A person is eligible for services under this title if the secretary
finds that the person has a developmental disability as
defined in *RCW 71A.10.020(2).
(2) The secretary may adopt rules further defining and
implementing the criteria in the definition of "developmental
disability" under *RCW 71A.10.020(2). [1988 c 176 § 402.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 71A.10.020 was amended by 1998 c 216 § 2,
changing subsection (2) to subsection (3).
71A.16.030
71A.16.030 Outreach program—Determination of
eligibility for services—Application. (1) The department
will develop an outreach program to ensure that any eligible
person with developmental disabilities services in homes, the
community, and residential habilitation centers will be made
aware of these services. This subsection (1) expires June 30,
2003.
(2) The secretary shall establish a single procedure for
persons to apply for a determination of eligibility for services
provided to persons with developmental disabilities.
(3) Until June 30, 2003, the procedure set out under subsection (1) of this section must require that all applicants and
all persons with developmental disabilities currently receiving services from the division of developmental disabilities
within the department be given notice of the existence and
availability of residential habilitation center and community
support services. For genuine choice to exist, people must
know what the options are. Available options must be clearly
explained, with services customized to fit the unique needs
and circumstances of developmentally disabled clients and
their families. Choice of providers and design of services and
supports will be determined by the individual in conjunction
with the department. When the person cannot make these
choices, the person’s legal guardian may make them, consistent with chapter 11.88 or 11.92 RCW. This subsection
expires June 30, 2003.
(4) An application may be submitted by a person with a
developmental disability, by the legal representative of a person with a developmental disability, or by any other person
who is authorized by rule of the secretary to submit an application. [1998 c 216 § 4; 1988 c 176 § 403.]
(2006 Ed.)
Service Delivery
Effective date—1998 c 216: See note following RCW 71A.10.020.
71A.16.040
71A.16.040 Determination of eligibility—Notice—
Rules for redetermination. (1) On receipt of an application
for services submitted under RCW 71A.16.030, the secretary
in a timely manner shall make a written determination as to
whether the applicant is eligible for services provided under
this title for persons with developmental disabilities.
(2) The secretary shall give notice of the secretary’s
determination on eligibility to the person who submitted the
application and to the applicant, if the applicant is a person
other than the person who submitted the application for services. The notice shall also include a statement advising the
recipient of the right to an adjudicative proceeding under
RCW 71A.10.050 and the right to judicial review of the secretary’s final decision.
(3) The secretary may establish rules for redetermination
of eligibility for services under this title. [1989 c 175 § 141;
1988 c 176 § 404.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.16.050
71A.16.050 Determination of eligibility—Effect—
Determination of appropriate services. The determination
made under this chapter is only as to whether a person is eligible for services. After the secretary has determined under
this chapter that a person is eligible for services, the secretary
shall make a determination as to what services are appropriate for the person. [1988 c 176 § 405.]
Chapter 71A.18
Chapter 71A.18 RCW
SERVICE DELIVERY
Sections
71A.18.010
71A.18.020
71A.18.030
71A.18.040
Individual service plans.
Services provided if funds available.
Rejection of service.
Alternative service—Application—Determination—Reauthorization—Notice.
71A.18.050 Discontinuance of a service.
71A.18.010
71A.18.010 Individual service plans. The secretary
may produce and maintain an individual service plan for each
eligible person. An individual service plan is a plan that identifies the needs of a person for services and determines what
services will be in the best interests of the person and will
meet the person’s needs. [1988 c 176 § 501.]
71A.18.020
71A.18.020 Services provided if funds available. The
secretary may provide a service to a person eligible under this
title if funds are available. If there is an individual service
plan, the secretary shall consider the need for services as provided in that plan. [1988 c 176 § 601.]
71A.18.030
71A.18.030 Rejection of service. An eligible person or
the person’s legal representative may reject an authorized
service. Rejection of an authorized service shall not affect the
person’s eligibility for services and shall not eliminate the
person from consideration for other services or for the same
service at a different time or under different circumstances.
[1988 c 176 § 602.]
(2006 Ed.)
71A.18.050
71A.18.040 Alternative service—Application—
Determination—Reauthorization—Notice. (1) A person
who is receiving a service under this title or the person’s legal
representative may request the secretary to authorize a service that is available under this title in place of a service that
the person is presently receiving.
(2) The secretary upon receiving a request for change of
service shall consult in the manner provided in RCW
71A.10.070 and within ninety days shall determine whether
the following criteria are met:
(a) The alternative plan proposes a less dependent program than the person is participating in under current service;
(b) The alternative service is appropriate under the goals
and objectives of the person’s individual service plan;
(c) The alternative service is not in violation of applicable state and federal law; and
(d) The service can reasonably be made available.
(3) If the requested alternative service meets all of the
criteria of subsection (2) of this section, the service shall be
authorized as soon as reasonable, but not later than one hundred twenty days after completion of the determination process, unless the secretary determines that:
(a) The alternative plan is more costly than the current
plan;
(b) Current appropriations are not sufficient to implement the alternative service without reducing services to
existing clients; or
(c) Providing alternative service would take precedence
over other priorities for delivery of service.
(4) The secretary shall give notice as provided in RCW
71A.10.060 of the grant of a request for a change of service.
The secretary shall give notice as provided in RCW
71A.10.060 of denial of a request for change of service and of
the right to an adjudicative proceeding.
(5) When the secretary has changed service from a residential habilitation center to a setting other than a residential
habilitation center, the secretary shall reauthorize service at
the residential habilitation center if the secretary in reevaluating the needs of the person finds that the person needs service
in a residential habilitation center.
(6) If the secretary determines that current appropriations are sufficient to deliver additional services without
reducing services to persons who are presently receiving services, the secretary is authorized to give persons notice under
RCW 71A.10.060 that they may request the services as new
services or as changes of services under this section. [1989 c
175 § 142; 1988 c 176 § 603.]
71A.18.040
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.18.050 Discontinuance of a service. (1) When
considering the discontinuance of a service that is being provided to a person, the secretary shall consult as required in
RCW 71A.10.070.
(2) The discontinuance of a service under this section
does not affect the person’s eligibility for services. Other services may be provided or the same service may be restored
when it is again available or when it is again needed.
(3) Except when the service is discontinued at the
request of the person receiving the service or that person’s
legal representative, the secretary shall give notice as
required in RCW 71A.10.060. [1988 c 176 § 604.]
71A.18.050
[Title 71A RCW—page 11]
Chapter 71A.20
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
Chapter 71A.20 RCW
RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION CENTERS
Chapter 71A.20
Sections
71A.20.010
71A.20.020
71A.20.030
71A.20.040
71A.20.050
71A.20.060
71A.20.070
71A.20.080
71A.20.090
71A.20.100
71A.20.110
71A.20.120
71A.20.130
71A.20.140
71A.20.150
71A.20.170
71A.20.800
Eastern State Hospital and Interlake School. [1988 c 176 §
703.]
71A.20.040 Use of Harrison Memorial Hospital
property. The secretary may under RCW 72.29.010 use the
Harrison Memorial Hospital property at Bremerton, Kitsap
county, for services to persons with developmental disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 704.]
71A.20.040
Scope of chapter.
Residential habilitation centers.
Facilities for Interlake School.
Use of Harrison Memorial Hospital property.
Superintendents—Secretary’s custody of residents.
Work programs for residents.
Educational programs.
Return of resident to community—Notice—Adjudicative
proceeding—Judicial review—Effect of appeal.
Secretary to determine capacity of residential quarters.
Personal property of resident—Secretary as custodian—Limitations—Judicial proceedings to recover.
Clothing for residents—Cost.
Financial responsibility.
Death of resident, payment of funeral expenses—Limitation.
Resident desiring to leave center—Authority to hold resident
limited.
Admission to residential habilitation center for observation.
Developmental disabilities community trust account—Created.
Chapter to be liberally construed.
71A.20.010
71A.20.010 Scope of chapter. This chapter covers the
operation of residential habilitation centers. The selection of
persons to be served at the centers is governed by chapters
71A.16 and 71A.18 RCW. The purposes of this chapter are:
To provide for those children and adults who are exceptional
in their needs for care, treatment, and education by reason of
developmental disabilities, residential care designed to
develop their individual capacities to their optimum; to provide for admittance, withdrawal and discharge from state residential habilitation centers upon application; and to insure a
comprehensive program for the education, guidance, care,
treatment, and rehabilitation of all persons admitted to residential habilitation centers. [1988 c 176 § 701.]
71A.20.050 Superintendents—Secretary’s custody of
residents. (1) The secretary shall appoint a superintendent
for each residential habilitation center. The superintendent of
a residential habilitation center shall have a demonstrated history of knowledge, understanding, and compassion for the
needs, treatment, and training of persons with developmental
disabilities.
(2) The secretary shall have custody of all residents of
the residential habilitation centers and control of the medical,
educational, therapeutic, and dietetic treatment of all residents, except that the school district that conducts the program of education provided pursuant to RCW 28A.190.030
through 28A.190.050 shall have control of and joint custody
of residents while they are participating in the program. The
secretary shall cause surgery to be performed on any resident
only upon gaining the consent of a parent, guardian, or limited guardian as authorized, except, if after reasonable effort
to locate the parents, guardian, or limited guardian as authorized, and the health of the resident is certified by the attending physician to be jeopardized unless such surgery is performed, the required consent shall not be necessary. [1990 c
33 § 589; 1988 c 176 § 705.]
71A.20.050
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
71A.20.060 Work programs for residents. The secretary shall have authority to engage the residents of a residential habilitation center in beneficial work programs, but the
secretary shall not engage residents in excessive hours of
work or work for disciplinary purposes. [1988 c 176 § 706.]
71A.20.060
71A.20.020
71A.20.020 Residential habilitation centers. The following residential habilitation centers are permanently established to provide services to persons with developmental disabilities: Lakeland Village, located at Medical Lake, Spokane county; Rainier School, located at Buckley, Pierce
county; Yakima Valley School, located at Selah, Yakima
county; Fircrest School, located at Seattle, King county; and
Frances Haddon Morgan Children’s Center, located at
Bremerton, Kitsap county. [1994 c 215 § 1; 1988 c 176 §
702.]
Effective date—1994 c 215: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[April 1, 1994]." [1994 c 215 § 3.]
71A.20.030
71A.20.030 Facilities for Interlake School. (1) The
secretary may use surplus physical facilities at Eastern State
Hospital as a residential habilitation center, which shall be
known as the "Interlake School."
(2) The secretary may designate and select such buildings and facilities and tracts of land at Eastern State Hospital
that are surplus to the needs of the department for mentally ill
persons and that are reasonably necessary and adequate for
services for persons with developmental disabilities. The secretary shall also designate those buildings, equipment, and
facilities which are to be used jointly and mutually by both
[Title 71A RCW—page 12]
71A.20.070 Educational programs. (1) An educational program shall be created and maintained for each residential habilitation center pursuant to RCW 28A.190.030
through 28A.190.050. The educational program shall provide
a comprehensive program of academic, vocational, recreational, and other educational services best adapted to meet
the needs and capabilities of each resident.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall assist
the secretary in all feasible ways, including financial aid, so
that the educational programs maintained within the residential habilitation centers are comparable to the programs advocated by the superintendent of public instruction for children
with similar aptitudes in local school districts.
(3) Within available resources, the secretary shall, upon
request from a local school district, provide such clinical,
counseling, and evaluating services as may assist the local
district lacking such professional resources in determining
the needs of its exceptional children. [1990 c 33 § 590; 1988
c 176 § 707.]
71A.20.070
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
(2006 Ed.)
Residential Habilitation Centers
71A.20.080 Return of resident to community—
Notice—Adjudicative proceeding—Judicial review—
Effect of appeal. Whenever in the judgment of the secretary,
the treatment and training of any resident of a residential
habilitation center has progressed to the point that it is
deemed advisable to return such resident to the community,
the secretary may grant placement on such terms and conditions as the secretary may deem advisable after consultation
in the manner provided in RCW 71A.10.070. The secretary
shall give written notice of the decision to return a resident to
the community as provided in RCW 71A.10.060. The notice
must include a statement advising the recipient of the right to
an adjudicative proceeding under RCW 71A.10.050 and the
time limits for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding. The notice must also include a statement advising
the recipient of the right to judicial review of an adverse adjudicative order as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
A placement decision shall not be implemented at any
level during any period during which an appeal can be taken
or while an appeal is pending and undecided, unless authorized by court order so long as the appeal is being diligently
pursued.
The department of social and health services shall periodically evaluate at reasonable intervals the adjustment of the
resident to the specific placement to determine whether the
resident should be continued in the placement or returned to
the institution or given a different placement. [1989 c 175 §
143; 1988 c 176 § 708.]
71A.20.080
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
71A.20.090 Secretary to determine capacity of residential quarters. The secretary shall determine by the application of proper criteria the maximum number of persons to
reside in the residential quarters of each residential habilitation center. The secretary in authorizing service at a residential habilitation center shall not exceed the maximum population for the residential habilitation center unless the secretary
makes a written finding of reasons for exceeding the rated
capacity. [1988 c 176 § 709.]
71A.20.090
71A.20.100 Personal property of resident—Secretary as custodian—Limitations—Judicial proceedings to
recover. The secretary shall serve as custodian without compensation of personal property of a resident of a residential
habilitation center that is located at the residential habilitation
center, including moneys deposited with the secretary for the
benefit of the resident. As custodian, the secretary shall have
authority to disburse moneys from the resident’s fund for the
following purposes and subject to the following limitations:
(1) Subject to specific instructions by a donor of money
to the secretary for the benefit of a resident, the secretary may
disburse any of the funds belonging to a resident for such personal needs of the resident as the secretary may deem proper
and necessary.
(2) The secretary may pay to the department as reimbursement for the costs of care, support, maintenance, treatment, hospitalization, medical care, and habilitation of a resident from the resident’s fund when such fund exceeds a sum
as established by rule of the department, to the extent of any
notice and finding of financial responsibility served upon the
secretary after such findings shall have become final. If the
71A.20.100
(2006 Ed.)
71A.20.100
resident does not have a guardian, parent, spouse, or other
person acting in a representative capacity, upon whom notice
and findings of financial responsibility have been served,
then the secretary shall not make payments to the department
as provided in this subsection, until a guardian has been
appointed by the court, and the time for the appeal of findings
of financial responsibility as provided in RCW 43.20B.430
shall not commence to run until the appointment of such
guardian and the service upon the guardian of notice and
findings of financial responsibility.
(3) When services to a person are changed from a residential center to another setting, the secretary shall deliver to
the person, or to the parent, guardian, or agency legally
responsible for the person, all or such portion of the funds of
which the secretary is custodian as defined in this section, or
other property belonging to the person, as the secretary may
deem necessary to the person’s welfare, and the secretary
may deliver to the person such additional property or funds
belonging to the person as the secretary may from time to
time deem proper, so long as the person continues to receive
service under this title. When the resident no longer receives
any services under this title, the secretary shall deliver to the
person, or to the parent, person, or agency legally responsible
for the person, all funds or other property belonging to the
person remaining in the secretary’s possession as custodian.
(4) All funds held by the secretary as custodian may be
deposited in a single fund, the receipts and expenditures from
the fund to be accurately accounted for by the secretary. All
interest accruing from, or as a result of the deposit of such
moneys in a single fund shall be credited to the personal
accounts of the residents. All expenditures under this section
shall be subject to the duty of accounting provided for in this
section.
(5) The appointment of a guardian for the estate of a resident shall terminate the secretary’s authority as custodian of
any funds of the resident which may be subject to the control
of the guardianship, upon receipt by the secretary of a certified copy of letters of guardianship. Upon the guardian’s
request, the secretary shall immediately forward to the guardian any funds subject to the control of the guardianship or
other property of the resident remaining in the secretary’s
possession, together with a full and final accounting of all
receipts and expenditures made.
(6) Upon receipt of a written request from the secretary
stating that a designated individual is a resident of the residential habilitation center and that such resident has no
legally appointed guardian of his or her estate, any person,
bank, corporation, or agency having possession of any
money, bank accounts, or choses in action owned by such
resident, shall, if the amount does not exceed two hundred
dollars, deliver the same to the secretary as custodian and
mail written notice of the delivery to such resident at the residential habilitation center. The receipt by the secretary shall
constitute full and complete acquittance for such payment
and the person, bank, corporation, or agency making such
payment shall not be liable to the resident or his or her legal
representative. All funds so received by the secretary shall be
duly deposited by the secretary as custodian in the resident’s
fund to the personal account of the resident. If any proceeding is brought in any court to recover property so delivered,
the attorney general shall defend the lawsuit without cost to
[Title 71A RCW—page 13]
71A.20.110
Title 71A RCW: Developmental Disabilities
the person, bank, corporation, or agency that delivered the
property to the secretary, and the state shall indemnify such
person, bank, corporation, or agency against any judgment
rendered as a result of such proceeding. [1988 c 176 § 710.]
71A.20.110
71A.20.110 Clothing for residents—Cost. When
clothing for a resident of a residential habilitation center is
not otherwise provided, the secretary shall provide a resident
with suitable clothing, the actual cost of which shall be a
charge against the parents, guardian, or estate of the resident.
If such parent or guardian is unable to provide or pay for the
clothing, or the estate of the resident is insufficient to provide
or pay for the clothing, the clothing shall be provided by the
state. [1988 c 176 § 711.]
71A.20.120
71A.20.120 Financial responsibility. The subject of
financial responsibility for the provision of services to persons in residential habilitation centers is covered by RCW
43.20B.410 through 43.20B.455. [1988 c 176 § 712.]
71A.20.130
71A.20.130 Death of resident, payment of funeral
expenses—Limitation. Upon the death of a resident of a
residential habilitation center, the secretary may supplement
such funds as were in the resident’s account at the time of the
person’s death to provide funeral and burial expense for the
deceased resident. These expenses shall not exceed funeral
and burial expenses allowed under *RCW 74.08.120. [1988
c 176 § 713.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.08.120 was repealed by 1997 c 58 § 1002.
71A.20.140
71A.20.140 Resident desiring to leave center—
Authority to hold resident limited. (1) If a resident of a residential habilitation center desires to leave the center and the
secretary believes that departures may be harmful to the resident, the secretary may hold the resident at the residential
habilitation center for a period not to exceed forty-eight hours
in order to consult with the person’s legal representative as
provided in RCW 71A.10.070 as to the best interests of the
resident.
(2) The secretary shall adopt rules to provide for the
application of subsection (1) of this section in a manner that
protects the constitutional rights of the resident.
(3) Neither the secretary nor any person taking action
under this section shall be civilly or criminally liable for performing duties under this section if such duties were performed in good faith and without gross negligence. [1988 c
176 § 714.]
71A.20.150
71A.20.150 Admission to residential habilitation center for observation. Without committing the department to
continued provision of service, the secretary may admit a person eligible for services under this chapter to a residential
habilitation center for a period not to exceed thirty days for
observation prior to determination of needed services, where
such observation is necessary to determine the extent and
necessity of services to be provided. [1988 c 176 § 715.]
71A.20.170
71A.20.170 Developmental disabilities community
trust account—Created. (1) The developmental disabilities
community trust account is created in the state treasury. All
[Title 71A RCW—page 14]
proceeds from the use of excess property identified in the
2002 joint legislative audit and review committee capital
study of the division of developmental disabilities residential
habilitation centers at Lakeland Village and Rainier school
that would not impact current residential habilitation center
operations must be deposited into the account. Income may
come from the lease of the land, conservation easements, sale
of timber, or other activities short of sale of the property.
"Excess property" includes that portion of the property at
Rainier school previously under the cognizance and control
of Washington State University for use as a dairy/forage
research facility. "Proceeds" include the net receipts from the
use of all or a portion of the properties. Only investment
income from the principal of the proceeds deposited into the
trust account may be spent from the account. Moneys in the
account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures
from the account shall be used exclusively to provide family
support and/or employment/day services to eligible persons
with developmental disabilities who can be served by community-based developmental disability services. It is the
intent of the legislature that the account should not be used to
replace, supplant, or reduce existing appropriations.
(2) The department shall report on its efforts and strategies to provide income to the developmental disabilities community trust account from the excess property identified in
subsection (1) of this section from the lease of the property,
sale of timber, or other activity short of sale of the property.
The department shall report by June 30, 2006.
(3) The account shall be known as the Dan Thompson
memorial developmental disabilities community trust
account. [2005 c 353 § 1.]
Effective dates—2005 c 353: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 10, 2005], except for section 3 of this act which takes effect July 1,
2005, and section 4 of this act which takes effect July 1, 2006." [2005 c 353
§ 7.]
71A.20.800
71A.20.800 Chapter to be liberally construed. The
provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to
accomplish its purposes. [1988 c 176 § 716.]
Chapter 71A.22
Chapter 71A.22 RCW
TRAINING CENTERS AND HOMES
Sections
71A.22.010 Contracts for services authorized.
71A.22.020 Definitions.
71A.22.030 Payments by secretary under this chapter supplemental—Limitation.
71A.22.040 Certification of facility as day training center or group training
home.
71A.22.050 Services in day training center or group training home—
Application for payment.
71A.22.060 Facilities to be nonsectarian.
71A.22.010
71A.22.010 Contracts for services authorized. The
secretary may enter into agreements with any person or with
any person, corporation, or association operating a day training center or group training home or a combination day training center and group training home approved by the department, for the payment of all, or a portion, of the cost of the
(2006 Ed.)
Training Centers and Homes
care, treatment, maintenance, support, and training of persons
with developmental disabilities. [1988 c 176 § 801.]
71A.22.020
71A.22.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Day training center" means a facility equipped,
supervised, managed, and operated at least three days per
week by any person, association, or corporation on a nonprofit basis for the day-care, treatment, training, and maintenance of persons with developmental disabilities, and
approved under this chapter and the standards under rules
adopted by the secretary.
(2) "Group training home" means a facility equipped,
supervised, managed, and operated on a full-time basis by
any person, association, or corporation on a nonprofit basis
for the full-time care, treatment, training, and maintenance of
persons with developmental disabilities, and approved under
this chapter and the standards under the rules adopted by the
secretary. [1988 c 176 § 802.]
71A.22.060
training home to have a parent able and willing to attend
administrative board meetings and participate insofar as possible in carrying out special activities deemed by the board to
contribute to the well being of the residents.
(3) If the secretary determines that a person is eligible for
services in a day training center or group training home, the
secretary shall determine the extent and type of services to be
provided and the amount that the department will pay, based
upon the needs of the person and the ability of the parent or
the guardian to pay or contribute to the payment of the
monthly cost of the services.
(4) The secretary may, upon application of the person
who is receiving services or the person’s legal representative,
after investigation of the ability or inability of such persons to
pay, or without application being made, modify the amount
of the monthly payments to be paid by the secretary for services at a day training center or group training home or combination of both. [1988 c 176 § 805.]
71A.22.060 Facilities to be nonsectarian. A day training center and a group training home under this chapter shall
be a nonsectarian training center and a nonsectarian group
training home. [1988 c 176 § 806.]
71A.22.060
71A.22.030
71A.22.030 Payments by secretary under this chapter supplemental—Limitation. All payments made by the
secretary under this chapter, shall be, insofar as possible, supplementary to payments to be made to a day training center or
group training home, or a combination of both, by the persons
with developmental disabilities resident in the home or center. Payments made by the secretary under this chapter shall
not exceed actual costs for the care, treatment, support, maintenance, and training of any person with a developmental disability whether at a day training center or group training
home or combination of both. [1988 c 176 § 803.]
71A.22.040
71A.22.040 Certification of facility as day training
center or group training home. Any person, corporation, or
association may apply to the secretary for approval and certification of the applicant’s facility as a day training center or a
group training home for persons with developmental disabilities, or a combination of both. The secretary may either grant
or deny certification or revoke certification previously
granted after investigation of the applicant’s facilities, to
ascertain whether or not such facilities are adequate for the
care, treatment, maintenance, training, and support of persons
with developmental disabilities, under standards in rules
adopted by the secretary. Day training centers and group
training homes must meet local health and safety standards as
may be required by local health and fire-safety authorities.
[1989 c 329 § 2; 1988 c 176 § 804.]
71A.22.050
71A.22.050 Services in day training center or group
training home—Application for payment. (1) Except as
otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this title
govern applications for payment by the state for services in a
day training center or group training home approved by the
secretary under this chapter.
(2) In determining eligibility and the amount of payment,
the secretary shall make special provision for group training
homes where parents are actively involved as a member of
the administrative board of the group training home and who
may provide for some of the services required by a resident
therein. The special provisions shall include establishing eligibility requirements for a person placed in such a group
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 71A RCW—page 15]
Title 72
STATE INSTITUTIONS
Title 72
Chapters
72.01
72.02
72.04A
72.05
72.06
72.09
72.10
72.11
72.16
72.19
72.20
72.23
72.25
72.27
72.29
72.36
72.40
72.41
72.42
72.49
72.60
72.62
72.63
72.64
72.65
72.66
72.68
72.70
72.72
72.74
72.76
72.98
72.99
Administration.
Adult corrections.
Probation and parole.
Children and youth services.
Mental health.
Department of corrections.
Health care services—Department of corrections.
Offenders’ responsibility for legal financial
obligations.
Green Hill school.
Juvenile correctional institution in King
county.
Maple Lane school.
Public and private facilities for mentally ill.
Nonresident mentally ill, sexual psychopaths,
and psychopathic delinquents—Deportation, transportation.
Interstate compact on mental health.
Multi-use facilities for the mentally or physically handicapped or the mentally ill.
Soldiers’ and veterans’ homes.
State schools for blind, deaf, sensory handicapped.
Board of trustees—School for the blind.
Board of trustees—School for the deaf.
Narcotic or dangerous drugs—Treatment and
rehabilitation.
Correctional industries.
Vocational education programs.
Prison work programs—Fish and game.
Labor and employment of prisoners.
Work release program.
Furloughs for prisoners.
Transfer, removal, transportation—Detention
contracts.
Western interstate corrections compact.
Criminal behavior of residents of institutions.
Interstate Corrections Compact.
Intrastate Corrections Compact.
Construction.
State building construction act.
Alcoholism, intoxication, and drug addiction treatment: Chapter 70.96A
RCW.
Central stores: RCW 43.19.1921, 43.19.1923.
County hospitals: Chapter 36.62 RCW.
Educational programs for residential school residents: RCW 28A.190.020
through 28A.190.060.
Veterans affairs, powers and duties concerning transferred to department of
veterans affairs: RCW 43.60A.020.
Youth development and conservation corps: Chapter 79A.05 RCW.
Chapter 72.01
Sections
72.01.010
72.01.042
72.01.043
72.01.045
72.01.050
72.01.060
72.01.090
72.01.110
72.01.120
72.01.130
72.01.140
72.01.150
72.01.180
72.01.190
72.01.200
72.01.210
72.01.220
72.01.230
72.01.240
72.01.260
72.01.270
72.01.280
72.01.282
72.01.290
72.01.300
72.01.310
72.01.320
72.01.365
72.01.370
72.01.375
72.01.380
72.01.410
72.01.415
72.01.430
72.01.450
72.01.452
72.01.454
72.01.458
Jurisdiction over Indians concerning mental illness: Chapter 37.12 RCW.
Mental illness—Financial responsibility: Chapter 71.02 RCW.
72.01.460
Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees:
RCW 19.16.500.
72.01.480
Rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities: Chapter 74.29
RCW.
State institutions: State Constitution Art. 13.
Uniform interstate compact on juveniles: Chapter 13.24 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 72.01 RCW
ADMINISTRATION
72.01.490
Powers and duties apply to department of social and health services and department of corrections—Joint exercise authorized.
Hours of labor for full time employees—Compensatory
time—Premium pay.
Hours of labor for full time employees—Certain personnel
excepted.
Assaults to employees—Reimbursement for costs.
Secretary’s powers and duties—Management of public institutions and correctional facilities.
Chief executive officers—Appointment—Salaries—Assistants.
Rules and regulations.
Construction or repair of buildings—Contracts or inmate
labor.
Construction or repair of buildings—Award of contracts.
Destruction of buildings—Reconstruction.
Agricultural and farm activities.
Industrial activities.
Dietitian—Duties—Travel expenses.
Fire protection.
Employment of teachers—Exceptions.
Institutional chaplains—Appointment.
Institutional chaplains—Duties.
Institutional chaplains—Offices, chapels, supplies.
Supervisor of chaplains.
Outside ministers not excluded.
Gifts, acceptance of.
Quarters for personnel—Charges.
Quarters for personnel—Deposit of receipts.
Record of patients and inmates.
Accounting systems.
Political influence forbidden.
Examination of conditions and needs—Report.
Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—Definitions.
Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—Grounds.
Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—Notification of local
law enforcement agencies.
Leaves of absence for inmates—Rules—Restrictions—Costs.
Child under eighteen convicted of crime amounting to felony—Placement—Segregation from adult offenders.
Offender under eighteen confined to a jail—Segregation from
adult offenders.
Transfer of equipment, supplies, livestock between institutions—Notice—Conditions.
Use of facilities, equipment and personnel by school districts
and institutions of higher learning authorized.
Use of facilities, equipment and personnel by state agencies,
counties, cities or political subdivisions.
Use of facilities by counties, community service organizations,
nonprofit associations, etc.
Use of files and records for courses of education, instruction
and training at institutions.
Lease of lands with outdoor recreation potential—Restrictions—Unlawful to use posted lands.
Agreements with nonprofit organizations to provide services
for persons admitted or committed to institutions.
Authority of superintendents, business managers and officers
of correctional institutions to take acknowledgments and
administer oaths—Procedure.
Children’s center for research and training in mental retardation, director
as member of advisory committee: RCW 28B.20.412.
[Title 72 RCW—page 1]
72.01.010
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Counties may engage in probation and parole services: RCW 36.01.070.
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, and 11.08.120.
Employment of dental hygienist without supervision of dentist authorized:
RCW 18.29.056.
Out-of-state physicians, conditional license to practice in conjunction with
institutions: RCW 18.71.095.
Public purchase preferences: Chapter 39.24 RCW.
Social security benefits, payment to survivors or department of social and
health services: RCW 11.66.010.
State administrative departments and agencies: Chapter 43.17 RCW.
72.01.010
72.01.010 Powers and duties apply to department of
social and health services and department of corrections—Joint exercise authorized. As used in this chapter:
"Department" means the departments of social and
health services and corrections; and
"Secretary" means the secretaries of social and health
services and corrections.
The powers and duties granted and imposed in this chapter, when applicable, apply to both the departments of social
and health services and corrections and the secretaries of
social and health services and corrections for institutions
under their control. A power or duty may be exercised or fulfilled jointly if joint action is more efficient, as determined by
the secretaries. [1981 c 136 § 66; 1979 c 141 § 142; 1970
ex.s. c 18 § 56; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.010. Prior: 1907 c 166 §
10; RRS § 10919. Formerly RCW 72.04.010.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.01.042
72.01.042 Hours of labor for full time employees—
Compensatory time—Premium pay. The hours of labor
for each full time employee shall be a maximum of eight
hours in any work day and forty hours in any work week.
Employees required to work in excess of the eight-hour
maximum per day or the forty-hour maximum per week shall
be compensated by not less than equal hours of compensatory
time off or, in lieu thereof, a premium rate of pay per hour
equal to not less than one-one hundred and seventy-sixth of
the employee’s gross monthly salary: PROVIDED, That in
the event that an employee is granted compensatory time off,
such time off should be given within the calendar year and in
the event that such an arrangement is not possible the
employee shall be given a premium rate of pay: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That compensatory time and/or payment thereof
shall be allowed only for overtime as is duly authorized and
accounted for under rules and regulations established by the
secretary. [1981 c 136 § 67; 1979 c 141 § 143; 1970 ex.s. c
18 § 60; 1953 c 169 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.19.255.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.01.043
72.01.043 Hours of labor for full time employees—
Certain personnel excepted. RCW 72.01.042 shall not be
applicable to the following designated personnel: Administrative officers of the department; institutional superintendents, medical staff other than nurses, and business managers; and such professional, administrative and supervisory
[Title 72 RCW—page 2]
personnel as designated prior to July 1, 1970 by the department of social and health services with the concurrence of the
merit system board having jurisdiction. [1979 c 141 § 144;
1970 ex.s. c 18 § 61; 1953 c 169 § 2. Formerly RCW
43.19.256.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.01.045
72.01.045 Assaults to employees—Reimbursement
for costs. (1) For purposes of this section only, "assault"
means an unauthorized touching of an employee by a resident, patient, or juvenile offender resulting in physical injury
to the employee.
(2) In recognition of the hazardous nature of employment in state institutions, the legislature hereby provides a
supplementary program to reimburse employees of the
department of social and health services, the department of
natural resources, and the department of veterans affairs for
some of their costs attributable to their being the victims of
assault by residents, patients, or juvenile offenders. This program shall be limited to the reimbursement provided in this
section.
(3) An employee is only entitled to receive the reimbursement provided in this section if the secretary of social
and health services, the commissioner of public lands, or the
director of the department of veterans affairs, or the secretary’s, commissioner’s, or director’s designee, finds that each
of the following has occurred:
(a) A resident or patient has assaulted the employee and
as a result thereof the employee has sustained demonstrated
physical injuries which have required the employee to miss
days of work;
(b) The assault cannot be attributable to any extent to the
employee’s negligence, misconduct, or failure to comply
with any rules or conditions of employment; and
(c) The department of labor and industries has approved
the employee’s workers’ compensation application pursuant
to chapter 51.32 RCW.
(4) The reimbursement authorized under this section
shall be as follows:
(a) The employee’s accumulated sick leave days shall
not be reduced for the workdays missed;
(b) For each workday missed for which the employee is
not eligible to receive compensation under chapter 51.32
RCW, the employee shall receive full pay; and
(c) In respect to workdays missed for which the
employee will receive or has received compensation under
chapter 51.32 RCW, the employee shall be reimbursed in an
amount which, when added to that compensation, will result
in the employee receiving full pay for the workdays missed.
(5) Reimbursement under this section may not last
longer than three hundred sixty-five consecutive days after
the date of the injury.
(6) The employee shall not be entitled to the reimbursement provided in subsection (4) of this section for any workday for which the secretary, commissioner, director, or applicable designee, finds that the employee has not diligently
pursued his or her compensation remedies under chapter
51.32 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Administration
(7) The reimbursement shall only be made for absences
which the secretary, commissioner, director, or applicable
designee believes are justified.
(8) While the employee is receiving reimbursement
under this section, he or she shall continue to be classified as
a state employee and the reimbursement amount shall be considered as salary or wages.
(9) All reimbursement payments required to be made to
employees under this section shall be made by the employing
department. The payments shall be considered as a salary or
wage expense and shall be paid by the department in the same
manner and from the same appropriations as other salary and
wage expenses of the department.
(10) Should the legislature revoke the reimbursement
authorized under this section or repeal this section, no
affected employee is entitled thereafter to receive the reimbursement as a matter of contractual right. [2002 c 77 § 1;
1990 c 153 § 1; 1987 c 102 § 1; 1986 c 269 § 4.]
72.01.050
72.01.050 Secretary’s powers and duties—Management of public institutions and correctional facilities. (1)
The secretary of social and health services shall have full
power to manage and govern the following public institutions: The western state hospital, the eastern state hospital,
the northern state hospital, the state training school, the state
school for girls, Lakeland Village, the Rainier school, and
such other institutions as authorized by law, subject only to
the limitations contained in laws relating to the management
of such institutions.
(2) The secretary of corrections shall have full power to
manage, govern, and name all state correctional facilities,
subject only to the limitations contained in laws relating to
the management of such institutions.
(3) If any state correctional facility is fully or partially
destroyed by natural causes or otherwise, the secretary of corrections may, with the approval of the governor, provide for
the establishment and operation of additional residential correctional facilities to place those inmates displaced by such
destruction. However, such additional facilities may not be
established if there are existing residential correctional facilities to which all of the displaced inmates can be appropriately placed. The establishment and operation of any additional facility shall be on a temporary basis, and the facility
may not be operated beyond July 1 of the year following the
year in which it was partially or fully destroyed. [1992 c 7 §
51; 1988 c 143 § 1. Prior: 1985 c 378 § 8; 1985 c 350 § 1;
1981 c 136 § 68; 1979 c 141 § 145; 1977 c 31 § 1; 1959 c 28
§ 72.01.050; prior: 1955 c 195 § 4(1); 1915 c 107 § 1, part;
1907 c 166 § 2, part; 1901 c 119 § 3, part; RRS § 10899, part.
Formerly RCW 43.28.020, part.]
Severability—1985 c 378: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 378 § 36.]
Effective date—1985 c 378: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1986.
The secretary of social and health services and the governor may immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that this act is implemented
on its effective date." [1985 c 378 § 37.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
(2006 Ed.)
72.01.110
72.01.060
72.01.060 Chief executive officers—Appointment—
Salaries—Assistants. The secretary shall appoint the chief
executive officers necessary to manage one or more of the
public facilities operated by the department. This section,
however, shall not apply to RCW 72.40.020.
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the chief executive officer of each institution may appoint all assistants and
employees required for the management of the institution
placed in his charge, the number of such assistants and
employees to be determined and fixed by the secretary. The
chief executive officer of any institution may, at his pleasure,
discharge any person therein employed. The secretary shall
investigate all complaints made against the chief executive
officer of any institution and also any complaint against any
other officer or employee thereof, if it has not been investigated and reported upon by the chief executive officer.
The secretary may, after investigation, for good and sufficient reasons, order the discharge of any subordinate officer
or employee of an institution.
Each chief executive officer shall receive such salary as
is fixed by the secretary, who shall also fix the compensation
of other officers and the employees of each institution. Such
latter compensation shall be fixed on or before the first day of
April of each year and no change shall be made in the compensation, so fixed, during the twelve month period commencing April 1st. [1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 26; 1979 c 141 §
146; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.060. Prior: 1907 c 166 § 5; 1901 c
119 § 6; RRS § 10902. Formerly RCW 72.04.020.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Authority to appoint a single executive officer for multiple institutions—
Exception: RCW 43.20A.607.
Juvenile correctional institution in King county, appointment of superintendent: RCW 72.19.030.
Maple Lane School, appointment of superintendent and subordinate officers
and employees: RCW 72.20.020.
State hospitals for mentally ill—Superintendents: RCW 72.23.030.
72.01.090
72.01.090 Rules and regulations. The department is
authorized to make its own rules for the proper execution of
its powers. It shall also have the power to adopt rules and regulations for the government of the public institutions placed
under its control, and shall therein prescribe, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this title, the duties of the persons connected with the management of such public institutions. [1959 c 28 § 72.01.090. Prior: 1907 c 166 § 7; 1901 c
119 § 9; RRS § 10905. Formerly RCW 72.04.060.]
72.01.110
72.01.110 Construction or repair of buildings—Contracts or inmate labor. The department may employ the
services of competent architects for the preparation of plans
and specifications for new buildings, or for repairs, changes,
or additions to buildings already constructed, employ competent persons to superintend the construction of new buildings
or repairs, changes, or additions to buildings already constructed and call for bids and award contracts for the erection
of new buildings, or for repairs, changes, or additions to
buildings already constructed: PROVIDED, That the department may proceed with the erecting of any new building, or
repairs, changes, or additions to any buildings already constructed, employing thereon the labor of the inmates of the
institution, when in its judgment the improvements can be
[Title 72 RCW—page 3]
72.01.120
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
made in as satisfactory a manner and at a less cost to the state
by so doing. [1959 c 28 § 72.01.110. Prior: 1901 c 119 § 12;
RRS § 10909. Formerly RCW 72.04.100.]
Public works: Chapter 39.04 RCW.
72.01.120
72.01.120 Construction or repair of buildings—
Award of contracts. When improvements are to be made
under contract, notice of the call for the same shall be published in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the
state for two weeks prior to the award being made. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The
secretary is authorized to require such security as he may
deem proper to accompany the bids submitted, and shall also
fix the amount of the bond or other security that shall be furnished by the person or firm to whom the contract is awarded.
The secretary shall have the power to reject any or all bids
submitted, if for any reason it is deemed for the best interest
of the state to do so, and to readvertise in accordance with the
provisions hereof. The secretary shall also have the power to
reject the bid of any person or firm who has had a prior contract, and who did not, in the opinion of the secretary, faithfully comply with the same. [1979 c 141 § 148; 1959 c 28 §
72.01.120. Prior: 1901 c 119 § 10, part; RRS § 10906.]
72.01.130
72.01.130 Destruction of buildings—Reconstruction.
If any of the shops or buildings in which convicts are
employed are destroyed in any way, or injured by fire or otherwise, they may be rebuilt or repaired immediately under the
direction of the department, by and with the advice and consent of the governor, and the expenses thereof shall be paid
out of any unexpended funds appropriated to the department
for any purpose, not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars:
PROVIDED, That if a specific appropriation for a particular
project has been made by the legislature, only such funds
exceeding the cost of such project may be expended for the
purposes of this section. [1959 c 28 § 72.01.130. Prior: 1957
c 25 § 1; 1891 c 147 § 29; RRS § 10908. Formerly RCW
72.04.090.]
72.01.140
72.01.140 Agricultural and farm activities. The secretary shall:
(1) Make a survey, investigation, and classification of
the lands connected with the state institutions under his control, and determine which thereof are of such character as to
be most profitably used for agricultural, horticultural, dairying, and stock raising purposes, taking into consideration the
costs of making them ready for cultivation, the character of
the soil, its depth and fertility, the number of kinds of crops to
which it is adapted, the local climatic conditions, the local
annual rainfall, the water supply upon the land or available,
the needs of all state institutions for the food products that
can be grown or produced, and the amount and character of
the available labor of inmates at the several institutions;
(2) Establish and carry on suitable farming operations at
the several institutions under his control;
(3) Supply the several institutions with the necessary
food products produced thereat;
(4) Exchange with, or furnish to, other institutions, food
products at the cost of production;
[Title 72 RCW—page 4]
(5) Sell and dispose of surplus food products produced.
[2005 c 353 § 5; 1981 c 238 § 1; 1979 c 141 § 149; 1959 c 28
§ 72.01.140. Prior: 1955 c 195 § 4(7), (8), (9), (10), and (11);
1921 c 7 § 39; RRS § 10797. Formerly RCW 43.28.020,
part.]
Effective dates—2005 c 353: See note following RCW 71A.20.170.
Effective date—1981 c 238: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July
1, 1981." [1981 c 238 § 7.]
Savings—Liabilities—1981 c 238: "The enactment of this act shall not
have the effect of terminating, or in any way modifying, any liability, civil or
criminal, which is already in existence on the effective date of this act."
[1981 c 238 § 5.]
Savings—Rights, actions, contracts—1981 c 238: "Nothing in this
act shall be construed as affecting any existing rights except as to the agencies referred to, nor as affecting any pending actions, activities, proceedings,
or contracts, nor affect the validity of any act performed by such agency or
any employee thereof prior to the effective date of this act." [1981 c 238 § 6.]
72.01.150
72.01.150 Industrial activities. The secretary shall:
(1) Establish, install and operate, at the several state
institutions under his control, such industries and industrial
plants as may be most suitable and beneficial to the inmates
thereof, and as can be operated at the least relative cost and
the greatest relative benefit to the state, taking into consideration the needs of the state institutions for industrial products,
and the amount and character of labor of inmates available at
the several institutions;
(2) Supply the several institutions with the necessary
industrial products produced thereat;
(3) Exchange with, or furnish to, other state institutions
industrial products at prices to be fixed by the department,
not to exceed in any case the price of such products in the
open market;
(4) Sell and dispose of surplus industrial products produced, to such persons and under such rules, regulations,
terms, and prices as may be in his judgment for the best interest of the state;
(5) Sell products of the plate mill to any department, to
any state, county, or other public institution and to any governmental agency, of this or any other state under such rules,
regulations, terms, and prices as may be in his judgment for
the best interests of the state. [1979 c 141 § 150; 1959 c 28 §
72.01.150. Prior: 1955 c 195 § 4(12), (13), (14), (15), and
(16); 1923 c 101 § 1; 1921 c 7 § 40; RRS § 10798. Formerly
RCW 43.28.020, part.]
Correctional industries: Chapter 72.60 RCW.
72.01.180
72.01.180 Dietitian—Duties—Travel expenses. The
secretary shall have the power to select a member of the faculty of the University of Washington, or the Washington
State University, skilled in scientific food analysis and dietetics, to be known as the state dietitian, who shall make and furnish to the department food analyses showing the relative
food value, in respect to cost, of food products, and advise the
department as to the quantity, comparative cost, and food values, of proper diets for the inmates of the state institutions
under the control of the department. The state dietitian shall
receive travel expenses while engaged in the performance of
his duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060
as now existing or hereafter amended. [1979 c 141 § 152;
(2006 Ed.)
Administration
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 166; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.180. Prior:
1921 c 7 § 32; RRS § 10790. Formerly RCW 43.19.150.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
72.01.190
72.01.190 Fire protection. The secretary may enter
into an agreement with a city or town adjacent to any state
institution for fire protection for such institution. [1979 c 141
§ 153; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.190. Prior: 1947 c 188 § 1; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 10898a. Formerly RCW 72.04.140.]
72.01.200
72.01.200 Employment of teachers—Exceptions.
State correctional facilities may employ certificated teachers
to carry on their educational work, except for the educational
programs provided pursuant to RCW 28A.190.030 through
28A.190.050 and all such teachers so employed shall be eligible to membership in the state teachers’ retirement fund.
[1992 c 7 § 52; 1990 c 33 § 591; 1979 ex.s. c 217 § 6; 1959 c
28 § 72.01.200. Prior: 1947 c 211 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
10319-1. Formerly RCW 72.04.130.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 217: See notes following
RCW 28A.190.020.
Teachers’ qualifications at state schools for the deaf and blind: RCW
72.40.028.
Teachers’ retirement: Chapter 41.32 RCW.
72.01.210
72.01.210 Institutional chaplains—Appointment.
The secretary of corrections shall appoint chaplains for the
state correctional institutions for convicted felons; and the
secretary of social and health services shall appoint chaplains
for the correctional institutions for juveniles found delinquent
by the juvenile courts; and the secretary of corrections and
the secretary of social and health services shall appoint one or
more chaplains for other custodial, correctional and mental
institutions under their control. The chaplains so appointed
shall have the qualifications and shall be compensated in an
amount, as shall hereafter be recommended by the department and approved by the Washington personnel resources
board. [1993 c 281 § 62; 1981 c 136 § 69; 1979 c 141 § 154;
1967 c 58 § 1; 1959 c 33 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.210. Prior:
1955 c 248 § 1. Formerly RCW 72.04.160.]
Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
Housing allowance for state-employed chaplains: RCW 41.04.360.
Washington personnel resources board: RCW 41.06.110.
72.01.220
72.01.220 Institutional chaplains—Duties. It shall be
the duty of the chaplains at the respective institutions mentioned in RCW 72.01.210, under the direction of the department, to conduct religious services and to give religious and
moral instruction to the inmates of the institutions, and to
attend to their spiritual wants. They shall counsel with and
interview the inmates concerning their social and family
problems, and shall give assistance to the inmates and their
families in regard to such problems. [1959 c 28 § 72.01.220.
Prior: 1955 c 248 § 2. Formerly RCW 72.04.170.]
72.01.290
tioned in RCW 72.01.210 shall be provided with the offices
and chapels at their institutions, and such supplies as may be
necessary for the carrying out of their duties. [1959 c 28 §
72.01.230. Prior: 1955 c 248 § 3. Formerly RCW 72.04.180.]
72.01.240
72.01.240 Supervisor of chaplains. Each secretary is
hereby empowered to appoint one of the chaplains, authorized by RCW 72.01.210, to act as supervisor of chaplains for
his department, in addition to his duties at one of the institutions designated in RCW 72.01.210. [1981 c 136 § 70; 1979
c 141 § 155; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.240. Prior: 1955 c 248 § 4.
Formerly RCW 72.04.190.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.260
72.01.260 Outside ministers not excluded. Nothing
contained in RCW 72.01.210 through 72.01.240 shall be so
construed as to exclude ministers of any denomination from
giving gratuitous religious or moral instruction to prisoners
under such reasonable rules and regulations as the secretary
may prescribe. [1983 c 3 § 184; 1979 c 141 § 156; 1959 c 28
§ 72.01.260. Prior: 1929 c 59 § 2; Code 1881 § 3297; RRS §
10236-1. Formerly RCW 72.08.210.]
72.01.270
72.01.270 Gifts, acceptance of. The secretary shall
have the power to receive, hold and manage all real and personal property made over to the department by gift, devise or
bequest, and the proceeds and increase thereof shall be used
for the benefit of the institution for which it is received.
[1979 c 141 § 157; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.270. Prior: 1901 c 119
§ 8; RRS § 10904. Formerly RCW 72.04.050.]
72.01.280
72.01.280 Quarters for personnel—Charges. The
superintendent of each public institution and the assistant
physicians, steward, accountant and chief engineer of each
hospital for the mentally ill may be furnished with quarters,
household furniture, board, fuel, and lights for themselves
and their families, and the secretary may, when in his opinion
any public institution would be benefited by so doing, extend
this privilege to any officer at any of the public institutions
under his control. The words "family" or "families" used in
this section shall be construed to mean only the spouse and
dependent children of an officer. Employees may be furnished with quarters and board for themselves. The secretary
shall charge and collect from such officers and employees the
full cost of the items so furnished, including an appropriate
charge for depreciation of capital items. [1979 c 141 § 158;
1959 c 39 § 3; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.280. Prior: 1957 c 188 § 1;
1907 c 166 § 6; 1901 c 119 § 6; RRS § 10903. Formerly
RCW 72.04.040.]
72.01.282
72.01.282 Quarters for personnel—Deposit of
receipts. All moneys received by the secretary from charges
made pursuant to RCW 72.01.280 shall be deposited by him
in the state general fund. [1981 c 136 § 71; 1979 c 141 § 159;
1959 c 210 § 1.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.290
72.01.230
72.01.230 Institutional chaplains—Offices, chapels,
supplies. The chaplains at the respective institutions men(2006 Ed.)
72.01.290 Record of patients and inmates. The
department shall keep at its office, accessible only to the secretary and to proper officers and employees, and to other per[Title 72 RCW—page 5]
72.01.300
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
sons authorized by the secretary, a record showing the residence, sex, age, nativity, occupation, civil condition and date
of entrance, or commitment of every person, patient, inmate
or convict, in the several public institutions governed by the
department, the date of discharge of every person from the
institution, and whether such discharge is final: PROVIDED,
That in addition to this information the superintendents for
the hospitals for the mentally ill shall also state the condition
of the person at the time of leaving the institution. The record
shall also state if the person is transferred from one institution
to another and to what institution; and if dead the date and
cause of death. This information shall be furnished to the
department by the several institutions, and also such other
obtainable facts as the department may from time to time
require, not later than the fifth day of each month for the
month preceding, by the chief executive officer of each public institution, upon blank forms which the department may
prescribe. [1979 c 141 § 160; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.290. Prior:
1907 c 166 § 9; 1901 c 119 § 13; RRS § 10910. Formerly
RCW 72.04.110.]
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
72.01.300
72.01.300 Accounting systems. The secretary shall
have the power, and it shall be his duty, to install and maintain in the department a proper cost accounting system of
accounts for each of the institutions under the control of the
department, for the purpose of detecting and avoiding unprofitable expenditures and operations. [1979 c 141 § 161; 1959
c 28 § 72.01.300. Prior: 1921 c 7 § 43; RRS § 10801. Formerly RCW 43.19.160.]
nee to accompany an inmate on a leave of absence and be in
visual or auditory contact with the inmate at all times.
"Nonviolent offender" means an inmate under confinement for an offense other than a violent offense defined by
RCW 9.94A.030. [1983 c 255 § 2.]
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
Prisoner furloughs: Chapter 72.66 RCW.
72.01.370
72.01.370 Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—
Grounds. The superintendent of any state correctional facility may, subject to the approval of the secretary and under
RCW 72.01.375, grant escorted leaves of absence to inmates
confined in such institutions to:
(1) Go to the bedside of the inmate’s wife, husband,
child, mother or father, or other member of the inmate’s
immediate family who is seriously ill;
(2) Attend the funeral of a member of the inmate’s
immediate family listed in subsection (1) of this section;
(3) Participate in athletic contests;
(4) Perform work in connection with the industrial, educational, or agricultural programs of the department;
(5) Receive necessary medical or dental care which is
not available in the institution; and
(6) Participate as a volunteer in community service work
projects which are approved by the superintendent, but only
inmates who are nonviolent offenders may participate in
these projects. Such community service work projects shall
only be instigated at the request of a local community. [1992
c 7 § 53; 1983 c 255 § 3; 1981 c 136 § 72; 1979 c 141 § 164;
1959 c 40 § 1.]
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.01.310
72.01.310 Political influence forbidden. Any officer,
including the secretary, or employee of the department or of
the institutions under the control of the department, who, by
solicitation or otherwise, exercises his influence, directly or
indirectly, to influence other officers or employees of the
state to adopt his political views or to favor any particular
person or candidate for office, shall be removed from his
office or position by the proper authority. [1979 c 141 § 162;
1959 c 28 § 72.01.310. Prior: 1901 c 119 § 15; RRS § 10917.
Formerly RCW 72.04.150.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.375
72.01.375 Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—
Notification of local law enforcement agencies. An inmate
shall not be allowed to start a leave of absence under RCW
72.01.370 until the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, has
notified any county and city law enforcement agency having
jurisdiction in the area of the inmate’s destination. [1983 c
255 § 4.]
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.01.320
72.01.320 Examination of conditions and needs—
Report. The secretary shall examine into the conditions and
needs of the several state institutions under the secretary’s
control and report in writing to the governor the condition of
each institution. [1987 c 505 § 66; 1979 c 141 § 163; 1977 c
75 § 84; 1959 c 28 § 72.01.320. Prior: 1955 c 195 § 5. (i)
1901 c 119 § 14; RRS § 10915. (ii) 1915 c 107 § 1, part; 1907
c 166 § 2, part; 1901 c 119 § 3, part; RRS § 10899, part. Formerly RCW 43.28.030.]
72.01.365
72.01.365 Escorted leaves of absence for inmates—
Definitions. As used in RCW 72.01.370 and 72.01.375:
"Escorted leave" means a leave of absence from a correctional facility under the continuous supervision of an
escort.
"Escort" means a correctional officer or other person
approved by the superintendent or the superintendent’s desig[Title 72 RCW—page 6]
72.01.380
72.01.380 Leaves of absence for inmates—Rules—
Restrictions—Costs. The secretary is authorized to make
rules and regulations providing for the conditions under
which inmates will be granted leaves of absence, and providing for safeguards to prevent escapes while on leave of
absence: PROVIDED, That leaves of absence granted to
inmates under RCW 72.01.370 shall not allow or permit any
inmate to go beyond the boundaries of this state. The secretary shall also make rules and regulations requiring the reimbursement of the state from the inmate granted leave of
absence, or his family, for the actual costs incurred arising
from any leave of absence granted under the authority of
RCW 72.01.370, subsections (1) and (2): PROVIDED FURTHER, That no state funds shall be expended in connection
with leaves of absence granted under RCW 72.01.370, subsections (1) and (2), unless such inmate and his immediate
family are indigent and without resources sufficient to reim(2006 Ed.)
Administration
burse the state for the expenses of such leaves of absence.
[1981 c 136 § 73; 1979 c 141 § 165; 1959 c 40 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.410
72.01.410 Child under eighteen convicted of crime
amounting to felony—Placement—Segregation from
adult offenders. (1) Whenever any child under the age of
eighteen is convicted in the courts of this state of a crime
amounting to a felony, and is committed for a term of confinement in a correctional institution wherein adults are confined, the secretary of corrections, after making an independent assessment and evaluation of the child and determining
that the needs and correctional goals for the child could better
be met by the programs and housing environment provided
by the juvenile correctional institution, with the consent of
the secretary of social and health services, may transfer such
child to a juvenile correctional institution, or to such other
institution as is now, or may hereafter be authorized by law to
receive such child, until such time as the child arrives at the
age of twenty-one years, whereupon the child shall be
returned to the institution of original commitment. Retention
within a juvenile detention facility or return to an adult correctional facility shall regularly be reviewed by the secretary
of corrections and the secretary of social and health services
with a determination made based on the level of maturity and
sophistication of the individual, the behavior and progress
while within the juvenile detention facility, security needs,
and the program/treatment alternatives which would best prepare the individual for a successful return to the community.
Notice of such transfers shall be given to the clerk of the committing court and the parents, guardian, or next of kin of such
child, if known.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection, an offender under the age of eighteen who is convicted
in adult criminal court and who is committed to a term of confinement at the department of corrections must be placed in a
housing unit, or a portion of a housing unit, that is separated
from offenders eighteen years of age or older, until the
offender reaches the age of eighteen.
(b) An offender who reaches eighteen years of age may
remain in a housing unit for offenders under the age of eighteen if the secretary of corrections determines that: (i) The
offender’s needs and the correctional goals for the offender
could continue to be better met by the programs and housing
environment that is separate from offenders eighteen years of
age and older; and (ii) the programs or housing environment
for offenders under the age of eighteen will not be substantially affected by the continued placement of the offender in
that environment. The offender may remain placed in a housing unit for offenders under the age of eighteen until such
time as the secretary of corrections determines that the
offender’s needs and correctional goals are no longer better
met in that environment but in no case past the offender’s
twenty-first birthday.
(c) An offender under the age of eighteen may be housed
in an intensive management unit or administrative segregation unit containing offenders eighteen years of age or older
if it is necessary for the safety or security of the offender or
staff. In these cases, the offender shall be kept physically separate from other offenders at all times. [2002 c 171 § 1; 1997
(2006 Ed.)
72.01.452
c 338 § 41; 1994 c 220 § 1; 1981 c 136 § 74; 1979 c 141 §
166; 1959 c 140 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 171: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 27, 2002]." [2002 c 171 § 3.]
Finding—Evaluation—Report—1997 c 338: See note following
RCW 13.40.0357.
Severability—Effective dates—1997 c 338: See notes following
RCW 5.60.060.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Juvenile not to be confined with adult inmates: RCW 13.04.116.
72.01.415
72.01.415 Offender under eighteen confined to a
jail—Segregation from adult offenders. An offender under
the age of eighteen who is convicted in adult criminal court of
a crime and who is committed for a term of confinement in a
jail as defined in RCW 70.48.020, must be housed in a jail
cell that does not contain adult offenders, until the offender
reaches the age of eighteen. [1997 c 338 § 42.]
Finding—Evaluation—Report—1997 c 338: See note following
RCW 13.40.0357.
Severability—Effective dates—1997 c 338: See notes following
RCW 5.60.060.
72.01.430
72.01.430 Transfer of equipment, supplies, livestock
between institutions—Notice—Conditions. The secretary,
notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, is
hereby authorized to transfer equipment, livestock and supplies between the several institutions within the department
without reimbursement to the transferring institution excepting, however, any such equipment donated by organizations
for the sole use of such transferring institutions. Whenever
transfers of capital items are made between institutions of the
department, notice thereof shall be given to the director of the
department of general administration accompanied by a full
description of such items with inventory numbers, if any.
[1981 c 136 § 75; 1979 c 141 § 167; 1967 c 23 § 1; 1961 c 193
§ 1.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.450
72.01.450 Use of facilities, equipment and personnel
by school districts and institutions of higher learning
authorized. The secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with any school district or any institution of higher
learning for the use of the facilities, equipment and personnel
of any state institution of the department, for the purpose of
conducting courses of education, instruction or training in the
professions and skills utilized by one or more of the institutions, at such times and under such circumstances and with
such terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate.
[1981 c 136 § 76; 1979 c 141 § 168; 1970 ex.s. c 50 § 2; 1967
c 46 § 1.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.01.452
72.01.452 Use of facilities, equipment and personnel
by state agencies, counties, cities or political subdivisions.
The secretary is authorized to enter into an agreement with
any agency of the state, a county, city or political subdivision
of the state for the use of the facilities, equipment and personnel of any institution of the department for the purpose of
[Title 72 RCW—page 7]
72.01.454
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
conducting courses of education, instruction or training in
any professional skill having a relationship to one or more of
the functions or programs of the department. [1979 c 141 §
169; 1970 ex.s. c 50 § 3.]
72.01.454
72.01.454 Use of facilities by counties, community
service organizations, nonprofit associations, etc. (1) The
secretary may permit the use of the facilities of any state
institution by any community service organization, nonprofit
corporation, group or association for the purpose of conducting a program of education, training, entertainment or other
purpose, for the residents of such institutions, if determined
by the secretary to be beneficial to such residents or a portion
thereof.
(2) The secretary may permit the nonresidential use of
the facilities of any state institution by any county, community service organization, nonprofit corporation, group or
association for the purpose of conducting programs under
RCW 72.06.070. [1982 c 204 § 15; 1979 c 141 § 170; 1970
ex.s. c 50 § 5.]
72.01.480
72.01.480 Agreements with nonprofit organizations
to provide services for persons admitted or committed to
institutions. The secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with any nonprofit corporation or association for the
purpose of providing and coordinating voluntary and community based services for the treatment or rehabilitation of
persons admitted or committed to any institution under the
supervision of the department. [1981 c 136 § 78; 1979 c 141
§ 172; 1970 ex.s. c 50 § 1.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 50: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act,
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1970 ex.s. c 50 § 8.]
72.01.490
72.01.490 Authority of superintendents, business
managers and officers of correctional institutions to take
acknowledgments and administer oaths—Procedure.
See RCW 64.08.090.
Chapter 72.02
72.01.458
72.01.458 Use of files and records for courses of education, instruction and training at institutions. In any
course of education, instruction or training conducted in any
state institution of the department use may be made of
selected files and records of such institution, notwithstanding
the provisions of any statute to the contrary. [1970 ex.s. c 50
§ 4.]
Sections
72.02.015
72.02.040
72.02.045
72.02.055
72.02.100
72.02.110
72.02.150
72.01.460
72.01.460 Lease of lands with outdoor recreation
potential—Restrictions—Unlawful to use posted lands.
(1) Any lease of public lands with outdoor recreation potential authorized by the department shall be open and available
to the public for compatible recreational use unless the
department determines that the leased land should be closed
in order to prevent damage to crops or other land cover, to
improvements on the land, to the lessee, or to the general
public or is necessary to avoid undue interference with carrying forward a departmental program. Any lessee may file an
application with the department to close the leased land to
any public use. The department shall cause written notice of
the impending closure to be posted in a conspicuous place in
the department’s Olympia office, at the principal office of the
institution administering the land, and in the office of the
county auditor in which the land is located thirty days prior to
the public hearing. This notice shall state the parcel or parcels
involved and shall indicate the time and place of the public
hearing. Upon a determination by the department that posting
is not necessary, the lessee shall desist from posting. Upon a
determination by the department that posting is necessary, the
lessee shall post his leased premises so as to prohibit recreational uses thereon. In the event any such lands are so
posted, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or fish, or
for any person other than the lessee or his immediate family
to use any such posted land for recreational purposes.
(2) The department may insert the provisions of subsection (1) of this section in all leases hereafter issued. [1981 c
136 § 77; 1979 c 141 § 171; 1969 ex.s. c 46 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
[Title 72 RCW—page 8]
Chapter 72.02 RCW
ADULT CORRECTIONS
72.02.160
72.02.200
72.02.210
72.02.220
72.02.230
72.02.240
72.02.250
72.02.260
72.02.270
72.02.280
Powers of court or judge not impaired.
Secretary acting for department exercises powers and duties.
Superintendent’s authority.
Appointment of associate superintendents.
Earnings, clothing, transportation and subsistence payments
upon release of certain prisoners.
Weekly payments to certain released prisoners.
Disturbances at state penal facilities—Development of contingency plans—Scope—Local participation.
Disturbances at state penal facilities—Utilization of outside
law enforcement personnel—Scope.
Reception and classification units.
Sentence—Commitment to reception units.
Cooperation with reception units by state agencies.
Persons to be received for classification and placement.
Secretary to determine placement—What laws govern confinement, parole and discharge.
Commitment of convicted female persons—Procedure as to
death sentences.
Letters of inmates may be withheld.
Abused victims—Murder of abuser—Notice of provisions for
reduction in sentence.
Motion pictures.
72.02.015
72.02.015 Powers of court or judge not impaired.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict or impair
the power of any court or judge having jurisdiction to pronounce sentence upon a person to whom this chapter applies,
to fix the term of imprisonment and to order commitment,
according to law, nor to deny the right of any such court or
judge to sentence to imprisonment; nor to deny the right of
any such court or judge to suspend sentence or the execution
of judgment thereon or to make any other disposition of the
case pursuant to law. [1988 c 143 § 9; 1959 c 214 § 13. Formerly RCW 72.13.130.]
72.02.040
72.02.040 Secretary acting for department exercises
powers and duties. The secretary of corrections acting for
the department of corrections shall exercise all powers and
perform all duties prescribed by law with respect to the
administration of any adult correctional program by the
department of corrections. [1981 c 136 § 79; 1970 ex.s. c 18
(2006 Ed.)
Adult Corrections
§ 57; 1959 c 28 § 72.02.040. Prior: 1957 c 272 § 16. Formerly RCW 43.28.110.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.02.045
72.02.045 Superintendent’s authority. The superintendent of each institution has the powers, duties, and
responsibilities specified in this section.
(1) Subject to the rules of the department, the superintendent is responsible for the supervision and management of
the institution, the grounds and buildings, the subordinate
officers and employees, and the prisoners committed, admitted, or transferred to the institution.
(2) Subject to the rules of the department and the director
of the division of prisons or his or her designee and the Washington personnel resources board, the superintendent shall
appoint all subordinate officers and employees.
(3) The superintendent, subject to approval by the secretary, has the authority to determine the types and amounts of
property that convicted persons may possess in department
facilities. This authority includes the authority to determine
the types and amounts that the department will transport at
the department’s expense whenever a convicted person is
transferred between department institutions or to other jurisdictions. Convicted persons are responsible for the costs of
transporting their excess property. If a convicted person fails
to pay the costs of transporting any excess property within
ninety days from the date of transfer, such property shall be
presumed abandoned and may be disposed of in the manner
allowed by RCW 63.42.040 (1) through (3). The superintendent shall be the custodian of all funds and valuable personal
property of convicted persons as may be in their possession
upon admission to the institution, or which may be sent or
brought in to such persons, or earned by them while in custody, or which shall be forwarded to the superintendent on
behalf of convicted persons. All such funds shall be deposited in the personal account of the convicted person and the
superintendent shall have authority to disburse moneys from
such person’s personal account for the personal and incidental needs of the convicted person as may be deemed reasonably necessary. When convicted persons are released from
the custody of the department either on parole, community
placement, community custody, community supervision, or
discharge, all funds and valuable personal property in the
possession of the superintendent belonging to such convicted
persons shall be delivered to them. In no case shall the state
of Washington, or any state officer, including state elected
officials, employees, or volunteers, be liable for the loss of
such personal property, except upon a showing that the loss
was occasioned by the intentional act, gross negligence, or
negligence of the officer, official, employee, or volunteer,
and that the actions or omissions occurred while the person
was performing, or in good faith purporting to perform, his or
her official duties. Recovery of damages for loss of personal
property while in the custody of the superintendent under this
subsection shall be limited to the lesser of the market value of
the item lost at the time of the loss, or the original purchase
price of the item or, in the case of hand-made goods, the
materials used in fabricating the item.
(2006 Ed.)
72.02.100
(4) The superintendent, subject to the approval of the
director of the division of prisons and the secretary, shall
make, amend, and repeal rules for the administration, supervision, discipline, and security of the institution.
(5) When in the superintendent’s opinion an emergency
exists, the superintendent may promulgate temporary rules
for the governance of the institution, which shall remain in
effect until terminated by the director of the division of prisons or the secretary.
(6) The superintendent shall perform such other duties as
may be prescribed. [2005 c 382 § 1; 1993 c 281 § 63; 1988 c
143 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 382: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 10, 2005]." [2005 c 382 § 2.]
Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
Health care: RCW 41.05.280.
72.02.055
72.02.055 Appointment of associate superintendents.
The superintendent, subject to the approval of the director of
the division of prisons and the secretary, shall appoint such
associate superintendents as shall be deemed necessary, who
shall have such qualifications as shall be determined by the
secretary. In the event the superintendent is absent from the
institution, or during periods of illness or other situations
incapacitating the superintendent from properly performing
his or her duties, one of the associate superintendents of such
institution as may be designated by the director of the division of prisons and the secretary shall act as superintendent.
[1988 c 143 § 3.]
72.02.100
72.02.100 Earnings, clothing, transportation and
subsistence payments upon release of certain prisoners.
Any person serving a sentence for a term of confinement in a
state correctional facility for convicted felons, pursuant to
court commitment, who is thereafter released upon an order
of parole of the *indeterminate sentencing review board, or
who is discharged from custody upon expiration of sentence,
or who is ordered discharged from custody by a court of
appropriate jurisdiction, shall be entitled to retain his earnings from labor or employment while in confinement and
shall be supplied by the superintendent of the state correctional facility with suitable and presentable clothing, the sum
of forty dollars for subsistence, and transportation by the least
expensive method of public transportation not to exceed the
cost of one hundred dollars to his place of residence or the
place designated in his parole plan, or to the place from which
committed if such person is being discharged on expiration of
sentence, or discharged from custody by a court of appropriate jurisdiction: PROVIDED, That up to sixty additional dollars may be made available to the parolee for necessary personal and living expenses upon application to and approval
by such person’s community corrections officer. If in the
opinion of the superintendent suitable arrangements have
been made to provide the person to be released with suitable
clothing and/or the expenses of transportation, the superintendent may consent to such arrangement. If the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be
released has ample funds, with the exception of earnings
from labor or employment while in confinement, to assume
[Title 72 RCW—page 9]
72.02.110
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
the expenses of clothing, transportation, or the expenses for
which payments made pursuant to RCW 72.02.100 or
72.02.110 or any one or more of such expenses, the person
released shall be required to assume such expenses. [1988 c
143 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 171 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: The "indeterminate sentencing review board" should
be referred to as the "indeterminate sentence review board." See RCW
9.95.001.
72.02.110
72.02.110 Weekly payments to certain released prisoners. As state, federal or other funds are available, the secretary of corrections or his designee is authorized, in his discretion, not to provide the forty dollars subsistence money or
the optional sixty dollars to a person or persons released as
described in RCW 72.02.100, and instead to utilize the authorization and procedure contained in this section relative to
such person or persons.
Any person designated by the secretary serving a sentence for a term of confinement in a state correctional facility
for convicted felons, pursuant to court commitment, who is
thereafter released upon an order of parole of the *indeterminate sentencing review board, or is discharged from custody
upon expiration of sentence, or is ordered discharged from
custody by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, shall receive
the sum of fifty-five dollars per week for a period of up to six
weeks. The initial weekly payment shall be made to such person upon his release or parole by the superintendent of the
institution. Subsequent weekly payments shall be made to
such person by the community corrections officer at the
office of such officer. In addition to the initial six weekly
payments provided for in this section, a community corrections officer and his supervisor may, at their discretion, continue such payments up to a maximum of twenty additional
weeks when they are satisfied that such person is actively
seeking employment and that such payments are necessary to
continue the efforts of such person to gain employment:
PROVIDED, That if, at the time of release or parole, in the
opinion of the superintendent funds are otherwise available to
such person, with the exception of earnings from labor or
employment while in confinement, such weekly sums of
money or part thereof shall not be provided to such person.
When a person receiving such payments provided for in
this section becomes employed, he may continue to receive
payments for two weeks after the date he becomes employed
but payments made after he becomes employed shall be discontinued as of the date he is first paid for such employment:
PROVIDED, That no person shall receive payments for a
period exceeding the twenty-six week maximum as established in this section.
The secretary of corrections may annually adjust the
amount of weekly payment provided for in this section to
reflect changes in the cost of living and the purchasing power
of the sum set for the previous year. [1988 c 143 § 6; 1981 c
136 § 80; 1971 ex.s. c 171 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: The "indeterminate sentencing review board" should
be referred to as the "indeterminate sentence review board." See RCW
9.95.001.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.02.150
72.02.150 Disturbances at state penal facilities—
Development of contingency plans—Scope—Local par[Title 72 RCW—page 10]
ticipation. The secretary or the secretary’s designee shall be
responsible for the preparation of contingency plans for dealing with disturbances at state penal facilities. The plans shall
be developed or revised in cooperation with representatives
of state and local agencies at least annually. Contingency
plans developed shall encompass contingencies of varying
levels of severity, specific contributions of personnel and
material from participating agencies, and a unified chain of
command. Agencies providing personnel under the plan shall
provide commanders for the personnel who will be included
in the unified chain of command. [1982 c 49 § 1.]
72.02.160
72.02.160 Disturbances at state penal facilities—Utilization of outside law enforcement personnel—Scope.
Whenever the secretary or the secretary’s designee determines that due to a disturbance at a state penal facility within
the jurisdiction of the department that the assistance of law
enforcement officers in addition to department of corrections’ personnel is required, the secretary may notify the
Washington state patrol, the chief law enforcement officer of
any nearby county and the county in which the facility is
located, and the chief law enforcement officer of any municipality near the facility or in which the facility is located.
These law enforcement agencies may provide such assistance
as expressed in the contingency plan or plans, or as is deemed
necessary by the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, to
restore order at the facility, consistent with the resources
available to the law enforcement agencies and the law
enforcement agencies’ other statutory obligations. While on
the grounds of a penal facility and acting under this section,
all law enforcement officials shall be under the immediate
control of their respective supervisors who shall be responsive to the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, which designee need not be an employee of the department of corrections. [1982 c 49 § 2.]
Reimbursement for local support at prison disturbances: RCW 72.72.050,
72.72.060.
72.02.200
72.02.200 Reception and classification units. There
shall be units known as reception and classification centers
which, subject to the rules and regulations of the department,
shall be charged with the function of receiving and classifying all persons committed or transferred to the institution,
taking into consideration age, type of crime for which committed, physical condition, behavior, attitude and prospects
for reformation for the purposes of confinement and treatment of offenders convicted of offenses punishable by
imprisonment, except offenders convicted of crime and sentenced to death. [1988 c 143 § 7; 1959 c 214 § 11. Formerly
RCW 72.13.110.]
72.02.210
72.02.210 Sentence—Commitment to reception
units. Any offender convicted of an offense punishable by
imprisonment, except an offender sentenced to death, shall,
notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, be sentenced to imprisonment in a penal institution under the jurisdiction of the department without designating the name of
such institution, and be committed to the reception units for
classification, confinement and placement in such correctional facility under the supervision of the department as the
(2006 Ed.)
Probation and Parole
secretary shall deem appropriate. [1988 c 143 § 8; 1981 c
136 § 95; 1979 c 141 § 206; 1959 c 214 § 12. Formerly RCW
72.13.120.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.02.220
72.02.220 Cooperation with reception units by state
agencies. The indeterminate sentence review board and
other state agencies shall cooperate with the department in
obtaining necessary investigative materials concerning
offenders committed to the reception unit and supply the
reception unit with necessary information regarding social
histories and community background. [1988 c 143 § 10;
1979 c 141 § 207; 1959 c 214 § 14. Formerly RCW
72.13.140.]
Indeterminate sentences: Chapter 9.95 RCW.
72.02.230
72.02.230 Persons to be received for classification
and placement. The division of prisons shall receive all persons convicted of a felony by the superior court and committed by the superior court to the reception units for classification and placement in such facility as the secretary shall designate. The superintendent of these institutions shall only
receive prisoners for classification and study in the institution
upon presentation of certified copies of a judgment, sentence,
and order of commitment of the superior court and the statement of the prosecuting attorney, along with other reports as
may have been made in reference to each individual prisoner.
[1988 c 143 § 11; 1984 c 114 § 4; 1979 c 141 § 208; 1959 c
214 § 15. Formerly RCW 72.13.150.]
72.02.240
72.02.240 Secretary to determine placement—What
laws govern confinement, parole and discharge. The secretary shall determine the state correctional institution in
which the offender shall be confined during the term of
imprisonment. The confinement of any offender shall be governed by the laws applicable to the institution to which the
offender is certified for confinement, but parole and discharge shall be governed by the laws applicable to the sentence imposed by the court. [1988 c 143 § 12; 1979 c 141 §
209; 1959 c 214 § 16. Formerly RCW 72.13.160.]
Chapter 72.04A
mentation of commitments are ready to receive persons committed to the Washington correctional institution for women
under the provisions of this section. [1983 c 3 § 185; 1981 c
136 § 97; 1971 c 81 § 134; 1967 ex.s. c 122 § 8. Formerly
RCW 72.15.060.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.02.260
72.02.260 Letters of inmates may be withheld. Whenever the superintendent of an institution withholds from mailing letters written by inmates of such institution, the superintendent shall forward such letters to the secretary of corrections or the secretary’s designee for study and the inmate
shall be forthwith notified that such letter has been withheld
from mailing and the reason for so doing. Letters forwarded
to the secretary for study shall either be mailed within seven
days to the addressee or, if deemed objectionable by the secretary, retained in a separate file for two years and then
destroyed. [1988 c 143 § 13; 1981 c 136 § 87; 1979 c 141 §
192; 1959 c 28 § 72.08.380. Prior: 1957 c 61 § 1. Formerly
RCW 72.08.380.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.02.270
72.02.270 Abused victims—Murder of abuser—
Notice of provisions for reduction in sentence. The department shall advise all inmates in the department’s custody
who were convicted of a murder that the inmate committed
prior to July 23, 1989, about the provisions in RCW 9.95.045,
9.95.047, and 9.94A.890. The department shall advise the
inmates of the method and deadline for submitting petitions
to the indeterminate sentence review board for review of the
inmate’s sentence. The department shall issue the notice to
the inmates no later than July 1, 1993. [1993 c 144 § 6.]
Effective date—1993 c 144: See note following RCW 9.95.045.
72.02.280
72.02.280 Motion pictures. Motion pictures unrated
after November 1968 or rated X or NC-17 by the motion picture association of America shall not be shown in adult correctional facilities. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 808.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
72.02.250
72.02.250 Commitment of convicted female persons—Procedure as to death sentences. All female persons
convicted in the superior courts of a felony and sentenced to
a term of confinement, shall be committed to the Washington
correctional institution for women. Female persons sentenced
to death shall be committed to the Washington correctional
institution for women, notwithstanding the provisions of
RCW 10.95.170, except that the death warrant shall provide
for the execution of such death sentence at the Washington
state penitentiary as provided by RCW 10.95.160, and the
secretary of corrections shall transfer to the Washington state
penitentiary any female offender sentenced to death not later
than seventy-two hours prior to the date fixed in the death
warrant for the execution of the death sentence. The provisions of this section shall not become effective until the secretary of corrections certifies to the chief justice of the
supreme court, the chief judge of each division of the court of
appeals, the superior courts and the prosecuting attorney of
each county that the facilities and personnel for the imple(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 72.04A
Chapter 72.04A RCW
PROBATION AND PAROLE
Sections
72.04A.050 Transfer of certain powers and duties of board of prison terms
and paroles to secretary of corrections.
72.04A.070 Plans and recommendations for conditions of supervision of
parolees.
72.04A.080 Parolees subject to supervision of department—Progress
reports.
72.04A.090 Violations of parole or probation—Revision of parole conditions—Detention.
72.04A.120 Parolee assessments.
72.04A.900 RCW 72.04A.050 through 72.04A.090 inapplicable to felonies committed after July 1, 1984.
Counties may provide probation and parole services: RCW 36.01.070.
Indeterminate sentence review board: Chapter 9.95 RCW.
Siting of community-based facilities: RCW 72.65.220.
Victims of crimes, reimbursement by convicted person as condition of work
release or parole: RCW 7.68.120.
[Title 72 RCW—page 11]
72.04A.050
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.04A.050
72.04A.050 Transfer of certain powers and duties of
board of prison terms and paroles to secretary of corrections. The powers and duties of the state *board of prison
terms and paroles, relating to (1) the supervision of parolees
of any of the state penal institutions, (2) the supervision of
persons placed on probation by the courts, and (3) duties with
respect to persons conditionally pardoned by the governor,
are transferred to the secretary of corrections.
This section shall not be construed as affecting any of the
remaining powers and duties of the *board of prison terms
and paroles including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The fixing of minimum terms of confinement of convicted persons, or the reconsideration of its determination of
minimum terms of confinement;
(2) Determining when and under what conditions a convicted person may be released from custody on parole, and
the revocation or suspension of parole or the modification or
revision of the conditions of the parole, of any convicted person. [1981 c 136 § 81; 1979 c 141 § 173; 1967 c 134 § 7.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.04A.070
72.04A.070 Plans and recommendations for conditions of supervision of parolees. The secretary of corrections shall cause to be prepared plans and recommendations
for the conditions of supervision under which each inmate of
any state penal institutions who is eligible for parole may be
released from custody. Such plans and recommendations
shall be submitted to the *board of prison terms and paroles
which may, at its discretion, approve, reject, or revise or
amend such plans and recommendations for the conditions of
supervision of release of inmates on parole, and, in addition,
the board may stipulate any special conditions of supervision
to be carried out by a probation and parole officer. [1981 c
136 § 82; 1979 c 141 § 174; 1967 c 134 § 9.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.04A.080
72.04A.080 Parolees subject to supervision of department—Progress reports. Each inmate hereafter released on
parole shall be subject to the supervision of the department of
corrections, and the probation and parole officers of the
department shall be charged with the preparation of progress
reports of parolees and to give guidance and supervision to
such parolees within the conditions of a parolee’s release
from custody. Copies of all progress reports prepared by the
probation and parole officers shall be supplied to the *board
of prison terms and paroles for their files and records. [1981
c 136 § 83; 1979 c 141 § 175; 1967 c 134 § 10.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.04A.090
72.04A.090 Violations of parole or probation—Revision of parole conditions—Detention. Whenever a parolee
breaches a condition or conditions under which he was
[Title 72 RCW—page 12]
granted parole, or violates any law of the state or rules and
regulations of the *board of prison terms and paroles, any
probation and parole officer may arrest, or cause the arrest
and suspension of parole of, such parolee without a warrant,
pending a determination by the board. The facts and circumstances of such conduct of the parolee shall be reported by the
probation and parole officer, with recommendations, to the
*board of prison terms and paroles, who may order the revocation or suspension of parole, revise or modify the conditions of parole or take such other action as may be deemed
appropriate in accordance with RCW 9.95.120. The *board
of prison terms and paroles, after consultation with the secretary of corrections, shall make all rules and regulations concerning procedural matters, which shall include the time
when state probation and parole officers shall file with the
board reports required by this section, procedures pertaining
thereto and the filing of such information as may be necessary to enable the *board of prison terms and paroles to perform its functions under this section.
The probation and parole officers shall have like authority and power regarding the arrest and detention of a probationer who has breached a condition or conditions under
which he was granted probation by the superior court, or violates any law of the state, pending a determination by the
superior court.
In the event a probation and parole officer shall arrest or
cause the arrest and suspension of parole of a parolee or probationer in accordance with the provisions of this section,
such parolee or probationer shall be confined and detained in
the county jail of the county in which the parolee or probationer was taken into custody, and the sheriff of such county
shall receive and keep in the county jail, where room is available, all prisoners delivered thereto by the probation and
parole officer, and such parolees shall not be released from
custody on bail or personal recognizance, except upon
approval of the *board of prison terms and paroles and the
issuance by the board of an order of reinstatement on parole
on the same or modified conditions of parole. [1981 c 136 §
84; 1979 c 141 § 176; 1969 c 98 § 1; 1967 c 134 § 11.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Severability—Effective date—1969 c 98: See notes following RCW
9.95.120.
Suspension, revision of parole, retaking violators, community corrections
officers, etc.: RCW 9.95.120.
72.04A.120
72.04A.120 Parolee assessments. (1) Any person
placed on parole shall be required to pay the monthly assessment, prescribed under subsection (2) of this section, which
shall be for the duration of the parole and which shall be considered as payment or part payment of the cost of providing
parole supervision to the parolee. The department may
exempt a person from the payment of all or any part of the
assessment based upon any of the following factors:
(a) The offender has diligently attempted but has been
unable to obtain employment which provides the offender
sufficient income to make such payments.
(2006 Ed.)
Children and Youth Services
(b) The offender is a student in a school, college, university, or a course of vocational or technical training designed
to fit the student for gainful employment.
(c) The offender has an employment handicap, as determined by an examination acceptable to or ordered by the
department.
(d) The offender’s age prevents him from obtaining
employment.
(e) The offender is responsible for the support of dependents and the payment of the assessment constitutes an undue
hardship on the offender.
(f) Other extenuating circumstances as determined by
the department.
(2) The department of corrections shall adopt a rule prescribing the amount of the assessment. The department may,
if it finds it appropriate, prescribe a schedule of assessments
which shall vary in accordance with the intensity or cost of
the supervision. The department may not prescribe any
assessment which is less than ten dollars nor more than fifty
dollars.
(3) Payment of the assessed amount shall constitute a
condition of parole for purposes of the application of RCW
72.04A.090.
(4) All amounts required to be paid under this section
shall be collected by the department of corrections and
deposited by the department in the dedicated fund established
pursuant to RCW 72.11.040.
(5) This section shall not apply to parole services provided under an interstate compact pursuant to chapter 9.95
RCW or to parole services provided for offenders paroled
before June 10, 1982. [1991 c 104 § 2; 1989 c 252 § 20; 1982
c 207 § 1.]
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.04A.900
72.04A.900 RCW 72.04A.050 through 72.04A.090
inapplicable to felonies committed after July 1, 1984. The
following sections of law do not apply to any felony offense
committed on or after July 1, 1984: RCW 72.04A.050,
72.04A.070, 72.04A.080, and 72.04A.090. [1981 c 137 §
34.]
Severability—1981 c 137: See RCW 9.94A.910.
Chapter 72.05
Chapter 72.05 RCW
CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES
Sections
72.05.010
72.05.020
72.05.130
72.05.150
72.05.152
72.05.154
72.05.160
72.05.170
72.05.200
72.05.210
72.05.300
72.05.310
72.05.400
(2006 Ed.)
Declaration of purpose.
Definitions.
Powers and duties of department—"Close security" institutions designated.
"Minimum security" institutions.
Juvenile forest camps—Industrial insurance benefits prohibited—Exceptions.
Juvenile forest camps—Industrial insurance—Eligibility for
benefits—Exceptions.
Contracts with other divisions, agencies authorized.
Counseling and consultative services.
Parental right to provide treatment preserved.
Juvenile court law—Applicability—Synonymous terms.
Parental schools—Leases, purchases—Powers of school district.
Parental schools—Personnel.
Operation of community facility—Establishing or relocating—Public participation required—Secretary’s duties.
72.05.405
72.05.410
72.05.415
72.05.420
72.05.425
72.05.430
72.05.435
72.05.440
72.05.020
Juveniles in community facility—Infraction policy—Return to
institution upon serious violation—Definitions by rule.
Violations by juveniles in community facility—Toll-free hotline for reporting.
Establishing community placement oversight committees—
Review and recommendations—Liability—Travel
expenses—Notice to law enforcement of placement decisions.
Placement in community facility—Necessary conditions and
actions—Department’s duties.
Student records and information—Necessary for risk assessment, security classification, and proper placement—Rules.
Placement and supervision of juveniles in community facility—Monitoring requirements—Copies of agreements.
Common use of residential group homes for juvenile offenders—Placement of juvenile convicted of a class A felony.
Eligibility for employment or volunteer position with juveniles—Must report convictions—Rules.
Child under eighteen convicted of crime amounting to felony—Placement—
Segregation from adult offenders: RCW 72.01.410.
Council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect: Chapter 43.121
RCW.
Educational programs for residential school residents: RCW 28A.190.020
through 28A.190.060.
Employment of dental hygienist without supervision of dentist authorized:
RCW 18.29.056.
Financial responsibility for cost of detention of minor: RCW 13.16.085.
Handicapped children, parental responsibility, order of commitment: Chapter 26.40 RCW.
Minors—Mental health services, commitment: Chapter 71.34 RCW.
Uniform interstate compact on juveniles: Chapter 13.24 RCW.
72.05.010
72.05.010 Declaration of purpose. The purposes of
RCW 72.05.010 through 72.05.210 are: To provide for every
child with behavior problems, mentally and physically handicapped persons, and hearing and visually impaired children,
within the purview of RCW 72.05.010 through 72.05.210, as
now or hereafter amended, such care, guidance and instruction, control and treatment as will best serve the welfare of
the child or person and society; to insure nonpolitical and
qualified operation, supervision, management, and control of
the Green Hill school, the Maple Lane school, the Naselle
Youth Camp, the Mission Creek Youth Camp, Echo Glen,
the Cascadia Diagnostic Center, Lakeland Village, Rainier
school, the Yakima Valley school, Interlake school, Fircrest
school, the Francis Haddon Morgan Center, the Child Study
and Treatment Center and Secondary School of Western
State Hospital, and like residential state schools, camps and
centers hereafter established, and to place them under the
department of social and health services except where specified otherwise; and to provide for the persons committed or
admitted to those schools that type of care, instruction, and
treatment most likely to accomplish their rehabilitation and
restoration to normal citizenship. [1985 c 378 § 9; 1980 c
167 § 7; 1979 ex.s. c 217 § 7; 1979 c 141 § 177; 1959 c 28 §
72.05.010. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 1.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 217: See notes following
RCW 28A.190.020.
72.05.020
72.05.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless
the context requires otherwise:
(1) "Community facility" means a group care facility
operated for the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185. A county detention facility that
[Title 72 RCW—page 13]
72.05.130
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
houses juveniles committed to the department under RCW
13.40.185 pursuant to a contract with the department is not a
community facility.
(2) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(3) "Juvenile" means a person under the age of twentyone who has been sentenced to a term of confinement under
the supervision of the department under RCW 13.40.185.
(4) "Service provider" means the entity that operates a
community facility. [1998 c 269 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 178; 1970
ex.s. c 18 § 58; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.020. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 2.
Formerly RCW 43.19.260.]
Intent—Finding—1998 c 269: "It is the intent of the legislature to:
(1) Enhance public safety and maximize the rehabilitative potential of
juvenile offenders through modifications to licensed community residential
placements for juveniles;
(2) Ensure community support for community facilities by enabling
community participation in decisions involving these facilities and assuring
the safety of communities in which community facilities for juvenile offenders are located; and
(3) Improve public safety by strengthening the safeguards in placement, oversight, and monitoring of the juvenile offenders placed in the community, and by establishing minimum standards for operation of licensed
residential community facilities. The legislature finds that community support and participation is vital to the success of community programming."
[1998 c 269 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 269: "This act takes effect September 1, 1998."
[1998 c 269 § 19.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.05.130
72.05.130 Powers and duties of department—"Close
security" institutions designated. The department shall
establish, maintain, operate and administer a comprehensive
program for the custody, care, education, treatment, instruction, guidance, control and rehabilitation of all persons who
may be committed or admitted to institutions, schools, or
other facilities controlled and operated by the department,
except for the programs of education provided pursuant to
RCW 28A.190.030 through 28A.190.050 which shall be
established, operated and administered by the school district
conducting the program, and in order to accomplish these
purposes, the powers and duties of the secretary shall include
the following:
(1) The assembling, analyzing, tabulating, and reproduction in report form, of statistics and other data with respect to
children with behavior problems in the state of Washington,
including, but not limited to, the extent, kind, and causes of
such behavior problems in the different areas and population
centers of the state. Such reports shall not be open to public
inspection, but shall be open to the inspection of the governor
and to the superior court judges of the state of Washington.
(2) The establishment and supervision of diagnostic
facilities and services in connection with the custody, care,
and treatment of mentally and physically handicapped, and
behavior problem children who may be committed or admitted to any of the institutions, schools, or facilities controlled
and operated by the department, or who may be referred for
such diagnosis and treatment by any superior court of this
state. Such diagnostic services may be established in connection with, or apart from, any other state institution under the
supervision and direction of the secretary. Such diagnostic
services shall be available to the superior courts of the state
[Title 72 RCW—page 14]
for persons referred for such services by them prior to commitment, or admission to, any school, institution, or other
facility. Such diagnostic services shall also be available to
other departments of the state. When the secretary determines
it necessary, the secretary may create waiting lists and set priorities for use of diagnostic services for juvenile offenders on
the basis of those most severely in need.
(3) The supervision of all persons committed or admitted
to any institution, school, or other facility operated by the
department, and the transfer of such persons from any such
institution, school, or facility to any other such school, institution, or facility: PROVIDED, That where a person has
been committed to a minimum security institution, school, or
facility by any of the superior courts of this state, a transfer to
a close security institution shall be made only with the consent and approval of such court.
(4) The supervision of parole, discharge, or other release,
and the post-institutional placement of all persons committed
to Green Hill school and Maple Lane school, or such as may
be assigned, paroled, or transferred therefrom to other facilities operated by the department. Green Hill school and Maple
Lane school are hereby designated as "close security" institutions to which shall be given the custody of children with the
most serious behavior problems. [1990 c 33 § 592; 1985 c
378 § 10; 1983 c 191 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 217 § 8; 1979 c 141
§ 179; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.130. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 13. Formerly RCW 43.19.370.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 217: See notes following
RCW 28A.190.020.
72.05.150
72.05.150 "Minimum security" institutions. The
department shall have power to acquire, establish, maintain,
and operate "minimum security" facilities for the care, custody, education, and treatment of children with less serious
behavior problems. Such facilities may include parental
schools or homes, farm units, and forest camps. Admission to
such minimum security facilities shall be by juvenile court
commitment or by transfer as herein otherwise provided. In
carrying out the purposes of this section, the department may
establish or acquire the use of such facilities by gift, purchase, lease, contract, or other arrangement with existing
public entities, and to that end the secretary may execute necessary leases, contracts, or other agreements. In establishing
forest camps, the department may contract with other divisions of the state and the federal government; including, but
not limited to, the department of natural resources, the state
parks and recreation commission, the U.S. forest service, and
the national park service, on a basis whereby such camps may
be made as nearly as possible self-sustaining. Under any such
arrangement the contracting agency shall reimburse the
department for the value of services which may be rendered
by the inmates of a camp. [1979 ex.s. c 67 § 6; 1979 c 141 §
181; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.150. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 15. Formerly
RCW 43.19.390.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 67: See note following RCW 19.28.351.
(2006 Ed.)
Children and Youth Services
72.05.152
72.05.152 Juvenile forest camps—Industrial insurance benefits prohibited—Exceptions. No inmate of a
juvenile forest camp who is affected by this chapter or
receives benefits pursuant to RCW 72.05.152 and 72.05.154
shall be considered as an employee or to be employed by the
state or the department of social and health services or the
department of natural resources, nor shall any such inmate,
except those provided for in RCW 72.05.154, come within
any of the provisions of the workers’ compensation act, or be
entitled to any benefits thereunder, whether on behalf of himself or any other person. All moneys paid to inmates shall be
considered a gratuity. [1987 c 185 § 37; 1973 c 68 § 1.]
Intent—Severability—1987 c 185: See notes following RCW
51.12.130.
Effective date—1973 c 68: "This 1973 act shall take effect on July 1,
1973." [1973 c 68 § 3.]
72.05.154
72.05.154 Juvenile forest camps—Industrial insurance—Eligibility for benefits—Exceptions. From and after
July 1, 1973, any inmate working in a juvenile forest camp
established and operated pursuant to RCW 72.05.150, pursuant to an agreement between the department of social and
health services and the department of natural resources shall
be eligible for the benefits provided by Title 51 RCW, as now
or hereafter amended, relating to industrial insurance, with
the exceptions provided by this section.
No inmate as described in RCW 72.05.152, until
released upon an order of parole by the department of social
and health services, or discharged from custody upon expiration of sentence, or discharged from custody by order of a
court of appropriate jurisdiction, or his dependents or beneficiaries, shall be entitled to any payment for temporary disability or permanent total disability as provided for in RCW
51.32.090 or 51.32.060 respectively, as now or hereafter
amended, or to the benefits of chapter 51.36 RCW relating to
medical aid: PROVIDED, That RCW 72.05.152 and
72.05.154 shall not affect the eligibility, payment or distribution of benefits for any industrial injury to the inmate which
occurred prior to his existing commitment to the department
of social and health services.
Any and all premiums or assessments as may arise under
this section pursuant to the provisions of Title 51 RCW shall
be the obligation of and be paid by the state department of
natural resources. [1973 c 68 § 2.]
Effective date—1973 c 68: See note following RCW 72.05.152.
72.05.160
72.05.160 Contracts with other divisions, agencies
authorized. In carrying out the provisions of RCW
72.05.010 through 72.05.210, the department shall have
power to contract with other divisions or departments of the
state or its political subdivisions, with any agency of the federal government, or with any private social agency. [1979 c
141 § 182; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.160. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 16.
Formerly RCW 43.19.400.]
72.05.310
the field of police work. [1977 ex.s. c 80 § 45; 1959 c 28 §
72.05.170. Prior: 1955 c 240 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.19.405.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.05.200
72.05.200 Parental right to provide treatment preserved. Nothing in RCW 72.05.010 through 72.05.210 shall
be construed as limiting the right of a parent, guardian or person standing in loco parentis in providing any medical or
other remedial treatment recognized or permitted under the
laws of this state. [1959 c 28 § 72.05.200. Prior: 1951 c 234
§ 19. Formerly RCW 43.19.410.]
72.05.210
72.05.210 Juvenile court law—Applicability—Synonymous terms. RCW 72.05.010 through 72.05.210 shall be
construed in connection with and supplemental to the juvenile court law as embraced in chapter 13.04 RCW. Process,
procedure, probation by the court prior to commitment, and
commitment shall be as provided therein. The terms "delinquency", "delinquent" and "delinquent children" as used and
applied in the juvenile court law and the terms "behavior
problems" and "children with behavior problems" as used in
RCW 72.05.010 through 72.05.210 are synonymous and
interchangeable. [1959 c 28 § 72.05.210. Prior: 1951 c 234
§ 20. Formerly RCW 43.19.420.]
72.05.300
72.05.300 Parental schools—Leases, purchases—
Powers of school district. The department may execute
leases, with options to purchase, of parental school facilities
now or hereafter owned and operated by school districts, and
such leases with options to purchase shall include such terms
and conditions as the secretary of social and health services
deems reasonable and necessary to acquire such facilities.
Notwithstanding any provisions of the law to the contrary,
the board of directors of each school district now or hereafter
owning and operating parental school facilities may, without
submission for approval to the voters of the school district,
execute leases, with options to purchase, of such parental
school facilities, and such leases with options to purchase
shall include such terms and conditions as the board of directors deems reasonable and necessary to dispose of such facilities in a manner beneficial to the school district. The department if it enters into a lease, with an option to purchase, of
parental school facilities, may exercise its option and purchase such parental school facilities; and a school district
may, if it enters into a lease, with an option to purchase, of
parental school facilities, upon exercise of the option to purchase by the department, sell such parental school facilities
and such sale may be accomplished without first obtaining a
vote of approval from the electorate of the school district.
[1979 c 141 § 183; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.300. Prior: 1957 c 297
§ 2. Formerly RCW 43.28.160.]
72.05.310
72.05.170
72.05.170 Counseling and consultative services. The
department may provide professional counseling services to
delinquent children and their parents, consultative services to
communities dealing with problems of children and youth,
and may give assistance to law enforcement agencies by
means of juvenile control officers who may be selected from
(2006 Ed.)
72.05.310 Parental schools—Personnel. The department may employ personnel, including but not limited to,
superintendents and all other officers, agents, and teachers
necessary to the operation of parental schools. [1979 c 141 §
184; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.310. Prior: 1957 c 297 § 3. Formerly
RCW 43.28.170.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 15]
72.05.400
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.05.400
72.05.400 Operation of community facility—Establishing or relocating—Public participation required—
Secretary’s duties. (1) Whenever the department operates,
or the secretary enters a contract to operate, a community
facility, the community facility may be operated only after
the public notification and opportunities for review and comment as required by this section.
(2) The secretary shall establish a process for early and
continuous public participation in establishing or relocating
community facilities. The process shall include, at a minimum, public meetings in the local communities affected, as
well as opportunities for written and oral comments, in the
following manner:
(a) If there are more than three sites initially selected as
potential locations and the selection process by the secretary
or a service provider reduces the number of possible sites for
a community facility to no fewer than three, the secretary or
the chief operating officer of the service provider shall notify
the public of the possible siting and hold at least two public
hearings in each community where a community facility may
be sited.
(b) When the secretary or service provider has determined the community facility’s location, the secretary or the
chief operating officer of the service provider shall hold at
least one additional public hearing in the community where
the community facility will be sited.
(c) When the secretary has entered negotiations with a
service provider and only one site is under consideration,
then at least two public hearings shall be held.
(d) To provide adequate notice of, and opportunity for
interested persons to comment on, a proposed location, the
secretary or the chief operating officer of the service provider
shall provide at least fourteen days’ advance notice of the
meeting to all newspapers of general circulation in the community, all radio and television stations generally available to
persons in the community, any school district in which the
community facility would be sited or whose boundary is
within two miles of a proposed community facility, any
library district in which the community facility would be
sited, local business or fraternal organizations that request
notification from the secretary or agency, and any person or
property owner within a one-half mile radius of the proposed
community facility. Before initiating this process, the department shall contact local government planning agencies in the
communities containing the proposed community facility.
The department shall coordinate with local government agencies to ensure that opportunities are provided for effective citizen input and to reduce the duplication of notice and meetings.
(3) The secretary shall not issue a license to any service
provider until the service provider submits proof that the
requirements of this section have been met.
(4) This section shall apply only to community facilities
sited after September 1, 1998. [1998 c 269 § 5.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.405
72.05.405 Juveniles in community facility—Infraction policy—Return to institution upon serious violation—Definitions by rule. The department shall adopt an
infraction policy for juveniles placed in community facilities.
[Title 72 RCW—page 16]
The policy shall require written documentation by the department and service providers of all infractions and violations
by juveniles of conditions set by the department. Any juvenile who commits a serious infraction or a serious violation of
conditions set by the department shall be returned to an institution. The secretary shall not return a juvenile to a community facility until a new risk assessment has been completed
and the secretary reasonably believes that the juvenile can
adhere to the conditions set by the department. The department shall define the terms "serious infraction" and "serious
violation" in rule and shall include but not necessarily [be]
limited to the commission of any criminal offense, any
unlawful use or possession of a controlled substance, and any
use or possession of an alcoholic beverage. [1998 c 269 § 6.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.410
72.05.410 Violations by juveniles in community facility—Toll-free hotline for reporting. (1) The department
shall publish and operate a staffed, toll-free twenty-four-hour
hotline for the purpose of receiving reports of violation of
conditions set for juveniles who are placed in community
facilities.
(2) The department shall include the phone number on
all documents distributed to the juvenile and the juvenile’s
employer, school, parents, and treatment providers.
(3) The department shall include the phone number in
every contract it executes with any service provider after September 1, 1998. [1998 c 269 § 8.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.415
72.05.415 Establishing community placement oversight committees—Review and recommendations—Liability—Travel expenses—Notice to law enforcement of
placement decisions. (1) Promptly following the report due
under section 17, chapter 269, Laws of 1998, the secretary
shall develop a process with local governments that allows
each community to establish a community placement oversight committee. The department may conduct community
awareness activities. The community placement oversight
committees developed pursuant to this section shall be implemented no later than September 1, 1999.
(2) The community placement oversight committees
may review and make recommendations regarding the placement of any juvenile who the secretary proposes to place in
the community facility.
(3) The community placement oversight committees,
their members, and any agency represented by a member
shall not be liable in any cause of action as a result of its decision in regard to a proposed placement of a juvenile unless
the committee acts with gross negligence or bad faith in making a placement decision.
(4) Members of the committee shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060.
(5) Except as provided in RCW 13.40.215, at least seventy-two hours prior to placing a juvenile in a community
facility the secretary shall provide to the chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which the community facility is sited: (a) The name of the juvenile; (b) the juvenile’s
(2006 Ed.)
Children and Youth Services
criminal history; and (c) such other relevant and disclosable
information as the law enforcement officer may require.
[1998 c 269 § 9.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.420
72.05.420 Placement in community facility—Necessary conditions and actions—Department’s duties. (1)
The department shall not initially place an offender in a community facility unless:
(a) The department has conducted a risk assessment,
including a determination of drug and alcohol abuse, and the
results indicate the juvenile will pose not more than a minimum risk to public safety; and
(b) The offender has spent at least ten percent of his or
her sentence, but in no event less than thirty days, in a secure
institution operated by, or under contract with, the department.
The risk assessment must include consideration of all
prior convictions and all available nonconviction data
released upon request under RCW 10.97.050, and any serious
infractions or serious violations while under the jurisdiction
of the secretary or the courts.
(2) No juvenile offender may be placed in a community
facility until the juvenile’s student records and information
have been received and the department has reviewed them in
conjunction with all other information used for risk assessment, security classification, and placement of the juvenile.
(3) A juvenile offender shall not be placed in a community facility until the department’s risk assessment and security classification is complete and local law enforcement has
been properly notified. [1998 c 269 § 10.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.425
72.05.425 Student records and information—Necessary for risk assessment, security classification, and
proper placement—Rules. (1) The department shall establish by rule, in consultation with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, those student records and information necessary to conduct a risk assessment, make a security
classification, and ensure proper placement. Those records
shall include at least:
(a) Any history of placement in special education programs;
(b) Any past, current, or pending disciplinary action;
(c) Any history of violent, aggressive, or disruptive
behavior, or gang membership, or behavior listed in RCW
13.04.155;
(d) Any use of weapons that is illegal or in violation of
school policy;
(e) Any history of truancy;
(f) Any drug or alcohol abuse;
(g) Any health conditions affecting the juvenile’s placement needs; and
(h) Any other relevant information.
(2) For purposes of this section "gang" has the meaning
defined in RCW 28A.225.225. [1998 c 269 § 13.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
(2006 Ed.)
72.05.430
72.05.430
72.05.430 Placement and supervision of juveniles in
community facility—Monitoring requirements—Copies
of agreements. (1) Whenever the department operates, or
the secretary enters a contract to operate, a community facility, the placement and supervision of juveniles must be
accomplished in accordance with this section.
(2) The secretary shall require that any juvenile placed in
a community facility and who is employed or assigned as a
volunteer be subject to monitoring for compliance with
requirements for attendance at his or her job or assignment.
The monitoring requirements shall be included in a written
agreement between the employer or supervisor, the secretary
or chief operating officer of the contracting agency, and the
juvenile. The requirements shall include, at a minimum, the
following:
(a) Acknowledgment of the juvenile’s offender status;
(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the
community facility at which the juvenile resides;
(c) The twenty-four-hour telephone number required
under RCW 72.05.410;
(d) The name and work telephone number of all persons
responsible for the supervision of the juvenile;
(e) A prohibition on the juvenile’s departure from the
work or volunteer site without prior approval of the person in
charge of the community facility;
(f) A prohibition on personal telephone calls except to
the community facility;
(g) A prohibition on receiving compensation in any form
other than a negotiable instrument;
(h) A requirement that rest breaks during work hours be
taken only in those areas at the location which are designated
for such breaks;
(i) A prohibition on visits from persons not approved in
advance by the person in charge of the community facility;
(j) A requirement that any unexcused absence, tardiness,
or departure by the juvenile be reported immediately upon
discovery to the person in charge of the community facility;
(k) A requirement that any notice from the juvenile that
he or she will not report to the work or volunteer site be verified as legitimate by contacting the person in charge of the
community facility; and
(l) An agreement that the community facility will conduct and document random visits to determine compliance by
the juvenile with the terms of this section.
(3) The secretary shall require that any juvenile placed in
a community facility and who is enrolled in a public or private school be subject to monitoring for compliance with
requirements for attendance at his or her school. The monitoring requirements shall be included in a written agreement
between the school district or appropriate administrative
officer, the secretary or chief operating officer of the contracting agency, and the juvenile. The requirements shall
include, at a minimum, the following:
(a) Acknowledgment of the juvenile’s offender status;
(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the
community facility at which the juvenile resides;
(c) The twenty-four-hour telephone number required
under RCW 72.05.410;
(d) The name and work telephone number of at least two
persons at the school to contact if issues arise concerning the
[Title 72 RCW—page 17]
72.05.435
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
juvenile’s compliance with the terms of his or her attendance
at school;
(e) A prohibition on the juvenile’s departure from the
school without prior approval of the appropriate person at the
school;
(f) A prohibition on personal telephone calls except to
the community facility;
(g) A requirement that the juvenile remain on school
grounds except for authorized and supervised school activities;
(h) A prohibition on visits from persons not approved in
advance by the person in charge of the community facility;
(i) A requirement that any unexcused absence or departure by the juvenile be reported immediately upon discovery
to the person in charge of the community facility;
(j) A requirement that any notice from the juvenile that
he or she will not attend school be verified as legitimate by
contacting the person in charge of the community facility;
and
(k) An agreement that the community facility will conduct and document random visits to determine compliance by
the juvenile with the terms of this section.
(4) The secretary shall require that when any juvenile
placed in a community facility is employed, assigned as a
volunteer, or enrolled in a public or private school:
(a) Program staff members shall make and document
periodic and random accountability checks while the juvenile
is at the school or work facility;
(b) A program counselor assigned to the juvenile shall
contact the juvenile’s employer, teacher, or school counselor
regularly to discuss school or job performance-related issues.
(5) The department shall maintain a copy of all agreements executed under this section. The department shall also
provide each affected juvenile with a copy of every agreement to which he or she is a party. The service provider shall
maintain a copy of every agreement it executes under this
section. [1998 c 269 § 14.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.435
72.05.435 Common use of residential group homes
for juvenile offenders—Placement of juvenile convicted
of a class A felony. (1) The department shall establish by
rule a policy for the common use of residential group homes
for juvenile offenders under the jurisdiction of the juvenile
rehabilitation administration and the children’s administration.
(2) A juvenile confined under the jurisdiction of the
juvenile rehabilitation administration who is convicted of a
class A felony is not eligible for placement in a community
facility operated by children’s administration that houses
juveniles who are not under the jurisdiction of juvenile rehabilitation administration unless:
(a) The juvenile is housed in a separate living unit solely
for juvenile offenders;
(b) The community facility is a specialized treatment
program and the youth is not assessed as sexually aggressive
under RCW 13.40.470; or
(c) The community facility is a specialized treatment
program that houses one or more sexually aggressive youth
[Title 72 RCW—page 18]
and the juvenile is not assessed as sexually vulnerable under
RCW 13.40.470. [1998 c 269 § 15.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
72.05.440
72.05.440 Eligibility for employment or volunteer
position with juveniles—Must report convictions—Rules.
(1) A person shall not be eligible for an employed or volunteer position within the juvenile rehabilitation administration
or any agency with which it contracts in which the person
may have regular access to juveniles under the jurisdiction of
the department of social and health services or the department of corrections if the person has been convicted of one or
more of the following:
(a) Any felony sex offense;
(b) Any violent offense, as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies only to persons
hired by the department or any of its contracting agencies
after September 1, 1998.
(3) Any person employed by the juvenile rehabilitation
administration, or by any contracting agency, who may have
regular access to juveniles under the jurisdiction of the
department or the department of corrections and who is convicted of an offense set forth in this section after September
1, 1998, shall report the conviction to his or her supervisor.
The report must be made within seven days of conviction.
Failure to report within seven days of conviction constitutes
misconduct under Title 50 RCW.
(4) For purposes of this section "may have regular access
to juveniles" means access for more than a nominal amount
of time.
(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
section. [1998 c 269 § 16.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
Chapter 72.06
Chapter 72.06 RCW
MENTAL HEALTH
Sections
72.06.010
72.06.050
72.06.060
72.06.070
"Department" defined.
Mental health—Dissemination of information and advice by
department.
Mental health—Psychiatric outpatient clinics.
Mental health—Cooperation of department and state hospitals
with local programs.
Reviser’s note: 1979 ex.s. c 108, which was to be added to this chapter,
has been codified as chapter 72.72 RCW.
Alcoholism, intoxication, and drug addiction treatment: Chapter 70.96A
RCW.
Minors—Mental health services, commitment: Chapter 71.34 RCW.
State hospitals for the mentally ill: Chapter 72.23 RCW.
72.06.010
72.06.010 "Department" defined. "Department" for
the purposes of this chapter shall mean the department of
social and health services. [1970 ex.s. c 18 § 59; 1959 c 28 §
72.06.010. Prior: 1957 c 272 § 9. Formerly RCW 43.28.040.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
72.06.050
72.06.050 Mental health—Dissemination of information and advice by department. The department shall coop(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
erate with other departments of state government and its
political subdivisions in the following manner:
(1) By disseminating educational information relating to
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
(2) Upon request therefor, by advising public officers,
organizations and agencies interested in the mental health of
the people of the state. [1977 ex.s. c 80 § 46; 1959 c 28 §
72.06.050. Prior: 1955 c 136 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.28.600.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.06.060 Mental health—Psychiatric outpatient
clinics. The department is hereby authorized to establish and
maintain psychiatric outpatient clinics at such of the several
state mental institutions as the secretary shall designate for
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses,
and the services of such clinics shall be available to any citizen of the state in need thereof, when determined by a physician that such services are not otherwise available, subject to
the rules of the department. [1979 c 141 § 185; 1977 ex.s. c
80 § 47; 1959 c 28 § 72.06.060. Prior: 1955 c 136 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.28.610.]
72.06.060
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.06.070 Mental health—Cooperation of department and state hospitals with local programs. The department and the several state hospitals for the mentally ill shall
cooperate with local mental health programs by providing
necessary information, recommendations relating to proper
after care for patients paroled or discharged from such institutions and shall also supply the services of psychiatrists,
psychologists and other persons specialized in mental illness
as they are available. [1959 c 28 § 72.06.070. Prior: 1955 c
136 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.28.620.]
72.09.115
72.09.116
72.09.120
72.09.130
72.09.135
72.09.160
72.09.190
72.09.200
72.09.210
72.09.220
72.09.225
72.09.230
72.09.240
72.09.251
72.09.260
72.09.300
72.09.310
72.09.315
72.09.320
72.09.330
72.09.333
72.09.335
72.09.337
72.09.340
72.06.070
Chapter 72.09
Chapter 72.09 RCW
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
72.09.050
72.09.055
72.09.057
72.09.060
72.09.070
72.09.080
72.09.090
72.09.095
72.09.100
72.09.101
72.09.104
72.09.106
72.09.110
72.09.111
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.350
72.09.370
72.09.380
72.09.381
72.09.400
72.09.410
72.09.450
72.09.460
Sections
72.09.010
72.09.015
72.09.030
72.09.040
72.09.345
Legislative intent.
Definitions.
Department created—Secretary.
Transfer of functions from department of social and health services.
Powers and duties of secretary.
Affordable housing—Inventory of suitable property.
Fees for reproduction, shipment, and certification of documents and records.
Organization of department—Program for public involvement
and volunteers.
Correctional industries board of directors—Duties.
Correctional industries board of directors—Appointment of
members, chair—Compensation—Support.
Correctional industries account—Expenditure—Profits—
Appropriations.
Transfer of funds to department of labor and industries for
crime victims’ compensation.
Inmate work program—Classes of work programs—Participation—Benefits.
Inmate work program—Administrators’ duty.
Prison work programs to operate automated data input and
retrieval systems.
Subcontracting of data input and microfilm capacities.
Inmates’ wages—Supporting cost of corrections—Crime victims’ compensation and family support.
Inmate wages—Deductions—Availability of savings—
Employment goals—Recovery of cost of incarceration.
72.09.470
72.09.480
72.09.490
72.09.500
72.09.510
72.09.520
72.09.530
72.09.540
72.09.560
72.09.580
72.09.585
72.09.590
72.09.600
72.09.610
72.09.620
72.09.630
72.09.650
72.09.660
72.09.900
72.09.901
72.09.902
Chapter 72.09
Proposed new class I correctional industries work program—
Threshold analysis—Business impact analysis—Public
hearing—Finding.
Information obtained under RCW 72.09.115 exempt from
public disclosure.
Distribution of list of inmate job opportunities.
Incentive system for participation in education and work programs—Rules—Dissemination.
Adoption of standards for correctional facilities.
Corrections standards board—Responsibilities, powers, support.
Legal services for inmates.
Transfer of files, property, and appropriations.
Transfer of employees.
Employee rights under collective bargaining.
Sexual misconduct by state employees, contractors.
Duties continued during transition.
Reimbursement of employees for offender assaults.
Communicable disease prevention guidelines.
Litter cleanup programs—Requirements.
Local law and justice council, plan—Rules—Base level of services—Juvenile justice services.
Community custody violator.
Court-ordered treatment—Violations—Required notifications.
Community placement—Liability.
Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—Registration—
Notice to persons convicted of sex offenses and kidnapping
offenses.
Sex offenders—Facilities on McNeil Island.
Sex offenders—Treatment opportunity.
Sex offenders—Rules regarding.
Supervision of sex offenders—Public safety—Policy for
release plan evaluation and approval—Implementation, publicizing, notice—Rejection of residence locations of felony
sex offenders of minor victims—Supervised visitation considerations.
Sex offenders—Release of information to protect public—
End-of-sentence review committee—Assessment—Records
access—Review, classification, referral of offenders—Issuance of narrative notices.
Corrections mental health center—Collaborative arrangement
with University of Washington—Services for mentally ill
offenders—Annual report to the legislature.
Dangerous mentally ill offenders—Plan for postrelease treatment and support services—Rules.
Rule making—Medicaid—Secretary of corrections—Secretary of social and health services.
Rule making—Chapter 214, Laws of 1999—Secretary of corrections—Secretary of social and health services.
Work ethic camp program—Findings—Intent.
Work ethic camp program—Generally.
Limitation on denial of access to services and supplies—
Recoupment of assessments—Collections.
Inmate participation in education and work programs—Legislative intent—Priorities—Rules—Department coordination
and plans.
Inmate contributions for cost of privileges—Standards.
Inmate funds subject to deductions—Definitions—Exceptions—Child support collection actions.
Policy on extended family visitation.
Prohibition on weight-lifting.
Limitation on purchasing recreational equipment and dietary
supplements that increase muscle mass.
Limitation on purchase of televisions.
Prohibition on receipt or possession of contraband—Rules.
Inmate name change—Limitations on use—Penalty.
Camp for alien offenders.
Offender records and reports.
Mental health services information—Required inquiries and
disclosures—Release to court, individuals, indeterminate
sentence review board, state and local agencies.
Community safety.
Rules—Chapter 196, Laws of 1999.
Community custody study.
Extraordinary medical placement—Reports.
Custodial sexual misconduct—Investigation of allegations.
Use of force by limited authority Washington peace officers—
Detention of persons.
Therapeutic drug and alcohol treatment—Additional placements.
Effective date—1981 c 136.
Short title.
Construction—1981 c 136.
[Title 72 RCW—page 19]
72.09.010
72.09.903
72.09.904
72.09.905
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Savings—1981 c 136.
Construction—1999 c 196.
Short title—1999 c 196.
Disturbances at state penal facilities
development of contingency plans—Scope—Local participation: RCW
72.02.150.
reimbursement to cities and counties for certain expenses incurred: RCW
72.72.050, 72.72.060.
utilization of outside law enforcement personnel—Scope: RCW
72.02.160.
Interagency agreement on fetal alcohol exposure programs: RCW
70.96A.510.
Rule-making authority: RCW 70.24.107.
72.09.010
72.09.010 Legislative intent. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a comprehensive system of corrections
for convicted law violators within the state of Washington to
accomplish the following objectives.
(1) The system should ensure the public safety. The system should be designed and managed to provide the maximum feasible safety for the persons and property of the general public, the staff, and the inmates.
(2) The system should punish the offender for violating
the laws of the state of Washington. This punishment should
generally be limited to the denial of liberty of the offender.
(3) The system should positively impact offenders by
stressing personal responsibility and accountability and by
discouraging recidivism.
(4) The system should treat all offenders fairly and equitably without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin,
residence, or social condition.
(5) The system, as much as possible, should reflect the
values of the community including:
(a) Avoiding idleness. Idleness is not only wasteful but
destructive to the individual and to the community.
(b) Adoption of the work ethic. It is the community
expectation that all individuals should work and through their
efforts benefit both themselves and the community.
(c) Providing opportunities for self improvement. All
individuals should have opportunities to grow and expand
their skills and abilities so as to fulfill their role in the community.
(d) Linking the receipt or denial of privileges to responsible behavior and accomplishments. The individual who
works to improve himself or herself and the community
should be rewarded for these efforts. As a corollary, there
should be no rewards for no effort.
(e) Sharing in the obligations of the community. All citizens, the public and inmates alike, have a personal and fiscal
obligation in the corrections system. All communities must
share in the responsibility of the corrections system.
(6) The system should provide for prudent management
of resources. The avoidance of unnecessary or inefficient
public expenditures on the part of offenders and the department is essential. Offenders must be accountable to the
department, and the department to the public and the legislature. The human and fiscal resources of the community are
limited. The management and use of these resources can be
enhanced by wise investment, productive programs, the
reduction of duplication and waste, and the joining together
of all involved parties in a common endeavor. Since most
offenders return to the community, it is wise for the state and
[Title 72 RCW—page 20]
the communities to make an investment in effective rehabilitation programs for offenders and the wise use of resources.
(7) The system should provide for restitution. Those who
have damaged others, persons or property, have a responsibility to make restitution for these damages.
(8) The system should be accountable to the citizens of
the state. In return, the individual citizens and local units of
government must meet their responsibilities to make the corrections system effective.
(9) The system should meet those national standards
which the state determines to be appropriate. [1995 1st sp.s.
c 19 § 2; 1981 c 136 § 2.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.015
72.09.015 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Base level of correctional services" means the minimum level of field services the department of corrections is
required by statute to provide for the supervision and monitoring of offenders.
(2) "Contraband" means any object or communication
the secretary determines shall not be allowed to be: (a)
Brought into; (b) possessed while on the grounds of; or (c)
sent from any institution under the control of the secretary.
(3) "County" means a county or combination of counties.
(4) "Department" means the department of corrections.
(5) "Earned early release" means earned release as
authorized by RCW 9.94A.728.
(6) "Extended family visit" means an authorized visit
between an inmate and a member of his or her immediate
family that occurs in a private visiting unit located at the correctional facility where the inmate is confined.
(7) "Good conduct" means compliance with department
rules and policies.
(8) "Good performance" means successful completion of
a program required by the department, including an education, work, or other program.
(9) "Immediate family" means the inmate’s children,
stepchildren, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents,
stepparents, grandparents, great grandparents, siblings, and a
person legally married to an inmate. "Immediate family"
does not include an inmate adopted by another inmate or the
immediate family of the adopted or adopting inmate.
(10) "Indigent inmate," "indigent," and "indigency"
mean an inmate who has less than a ten-dollar balance of disposable income in his or her institutional account on the day
a request is made to utilize funds and during the thirty days
previous to the request.
(11) "Inmate" means a person committed to the custody
of the department, including but not limited to persons residing in a correctional institution or facility and persons
released on furlough, work release, or community custody,
and persons received from another state, state agency,
county, or federal jurisdiction.
(12) "Privilege" means any goods or services, education
or work programs, or earned early release days, the receipt of
which are directly linked to an inmate’s (a) good conduct;
and (b) good performance. Privileges do not include any
goods or services the department is required to provide under
the state or federal Constitution or under state or federal law.
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
(13) "Secretary" means the secretary of corrections or his
or her designee.
(14) "Significant expansion" includes any expansion into
a new product line or service to the class I business that
results from an increase in benefits provided by the department, including a decrease in labor costs, rent, or utility rates
(for water, sewer, electricity, and disposal), an increase in
work program space, tax advantages, or other overhead costs.
(15) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Washington
state department of corrections, or his or her designee.
(16) "Unfair competition" means any net competitive
advantage that a business may acquire as a result of a correctional industries contract, including labor costs, rent, tax
advantages, utility rates (water, sewer, electricity, and disposal), and other overhead costs. To determine net competitive advantage, the correctional industries board shall review
and quantify any expenses unique to operating a for-profit
business inside a prison.
(17) "Washington business" means an in-state manufacturer or service provider subject to chapter 82.04 RCW existing on June 10, 2004.
(18) "Work programs" means all classes of correctional
industries jobs authorized under RCW 72.09.100. [2004 c
167 § 6; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 3; 1987 c 312 § 2.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.030
72.09.030 Department created—Secretary. There is
created a department of state government to be known as the
department of corrections. The executive head of the department shall be the secretary of corrections who shall be
appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. The
secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall
receive a salary to be fixed under RCW 43.03.040. [1981 c
136 § 3.]
72.09.040
72.09.040 Transfer of functions from department of
social and health services. All powers, duties, and functions
assigned to the secretary of social and health services and to
the department of social and health services relating to adult
correctional programs and institutions are hereby transferred
to the secretary of corrections and to the department of corrections. Except as may be specifically provided, all functions of the department of social and health services relating
to juvenile rehabilitation and the juvenile justice system shall
remain in the department of social and health services. Where
functions of the department of social and health services and
the department of corrections overlap in the juvenile rehabilitation and/or juvenile justice area, the governor may allocate
such functions between these departments. [1998 c 245 §
139; 1981 c 136 § 4.]
72.09.050
72.09.050 Powers and duties of secretary. The secretary shall manage the department of corrections and shall be
responsible for the administration of adult correctional programs, including but not limited to the operation of all state
correctional institutions or facilities used for the confinement
of convicted felons. In addition, the secretary shall have
broad powers to enter into agreements with any federal
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.055
agency, or any other state, or any Washington state agency or
local government providing for the operation of any correctional facility or program for persons convicted of felonies or
misdemeanors or for juvenile offenders. Such agreements for
counties with local law and justice councils shall be required
in the local law and justice plan pursuant to RCW 72.09.300.
The agreements may provide for joint operation or operation
by the department of corrections, alone, for by any of the
other governmental entities, alone. Beginning February 1,
1999, the secretary may expend funds appropriated for the
1997-1999 biennium to enter into agreements with any local
government or private organization in any other state, providing for the operation of any correctional facility or program
for persons convicted of felonies. Between July 1, 1999, and
June 30, 2001, the secretary may expend funds appropriated
for the 1999-01 biennium to enter into agreements with any
local government or private organization in any other state,
providing for the operation of any correctional facility or program for persons convicted of felonies. The secretary may
employ persons to aid in performing the functions and duties
of the department. The secretary may delegate any of his or
her functions or duties to department employees, including
the authority to certify and maintain custody of records and
documents on file with the department. The secretary is
authorized to promulgate standards for the department of corrections within appropriation levels authorized by the legislature.
Pursuant to the authority granted in chapter 34.05 RCW,
the secretary shall adopt rules providing for inmate restitution
when restitution is determined appropriate as a result of a disciplinary action. [1999 c 309 § 1902; 1999 c 309 § 924; 1995
c 189 § 1; 1991 c 363 § 149; 1987 c 312 § 4; 1986 c 19 § 1;
1981 c 136 § 5.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1999 c 309 § 924 and by
1999 c 309 § 1902, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—1999 c 309 §§ 927-929, 931, and 1101-1902: See
note following RCW 43.79.480.
Severability—Effective date—1999 c 309: See notes following RCW
41.06.152.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
72.09.055
72.09.055 Affordable housing—Inventory of suitable
property. (1) The department shall identify and catalog real
property that is no longer required for department purposes
and is suitable for the development of affordable housing for
very low-income, low-income, and moderate-income households as defined in RCW 43.63A.510. The inventory shall
include the location, approximate size, and current zoning
classification of the property. The department shall provide a
copy of the inventory to the department of community, trade,
and economic development by November 1, 1993, and every
November 1 thereafter.
(2) By November 1 of each year, beginning in 1994, the
department shall purge the inventory of real property of sites
that are no longer available for the development of affordable
housing. The department shall include an updated listing of
real property that has become available since the last update.
[Title 72 RCW—page 21]
72.09.057
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
As used in this section, "real property" means buildings, land,
or buildings and land. [1995 c 399 § 202; 1993 c 461 § 12.]
Finding—1993 c 461: See note following RCW 43.63A.510.
72.09.057
72.09.057 Fees for reproduction, shipment, and certification of documents and records. The department may
charge reasonable fees for the reproduction, shipment, and
certification of documents, records, and other materials in the
files of the department. [1995 c 189 § 2.]
72.09.060
72.09.060 Organization of department—Program
for public involvement and volunteers. The department of
corrections may be organized into such divisions or offices as
the secretary may determine, but shall include divisions for
(1) correctional industries, (2) prisons and other custodial
institutions and (3) probation, parole, community restitution,
restitution, and other nonincarcerative sanctions. The secretary shall have at least one person on his or her staff who shall
have the responsibility for developing a program which
encourages the use of volunteers, for citizen advisory groups,
and for similar public involvement programs in the corrections area. Minimum qualification for staff assigned to public
involvement responsibilities shall include previous experience in working with volunteers or volunteer agencies. [2002
c 175 § 48; 1989 c 185 § 3; 1981 c 136 § 6.]
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
72.09.070
72.09.070 Correctional industries board of directors—Duties. (1) There is created a correctional industries
board of directors which shall have the composition provided
in RCW 72.09.080.
(2) Consistent with general department of corrections
policies and procedures pertaining to the general administration of correctional facilities, the board shall establish and
implement policy for correctional industries programs
designed to:
(a) Offer inmates meaningful employment, work experience, and training in vocations that are specifically designed
to reduce recidivism and thereby enhance public safety by
providing opportunities for legitimate means of livelihood
upon their release from custody;
(b) Provide industries which will reduce the tax burden
of corrections and save taxpayers money through production
of goods and services for sale and use;
(c) Operate correctional work programs in an effective
and efficient manner which are as similar as possible to those
provided by the private sector;
(d) Encourage the development of and provide for selection of, contracting for, and supervision of work programs
with participating private enterprise firms;
(e) Develop and select correctional industries work programs that do not unfairly compete with Washington businesses;
(f) Invest available funds in correctional industries enterprises and meaningful work programs that minimize the
impact on in-state jobs and businesses.
(3) The board of directors shall at least annually review
the work performance of the director of correctional industries division with the secretary.
[Title 72 RCW—page 22]
(4) The director of correctional industries division shall
review and evaluate the productivity, funding, and appropriateness of all correctional work programs and report on their
effectiveness to the board and to the secretary.
(5) The board of directors shall have the authority to
identify and establish trade advisory or apprenticeship committees to advise them on correctional industries work programs. The secretary shall appoint the members of the committees.
Where a labor management trade advisory and apprenticeship committee has already been established by the
department pursuant to RCW 72.62.050 the existing committee shall also advise the board of directors.
(6) The board shall develop a strategic yearly marketing
plan that shall be consistent with and work towards achieving
the goals established in the six-year phased expansion of
class I and class II correctional industries established in RCW
72.09.111. This marketing plan shall be presented to the
appropriate committees of the legislature by January 17 of
each calendar year until the goals set forth in RCW 72.09.111
are achieved. [2004 c 167 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 535; 1993
sp.s. c 20 § 3; 1989 c 185 § 4; 1981 c 136 § 8.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 20: See note following RCW 43.19.534.
72.09.080
72.09.080 Correctional industries board of directors—Appointment of members, chair—Compensation—
Support. (1) The correctional industries board of directors
shall consist of nine voting members, appointed by the governor. Each member shall serve a three-year staggered term.
Initially, the governor shall appoint three members to oneyear terms, three members to two-year terms, and three members to three-year terms. The speaker of the house of
representatives and the president of the senate shall each
appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses in
their respective houses. The legislators so appointed shall be
nonvoting members and shall serve two-year terms, or until
they cease to be members of the house from which they were
appointed, whichever occurs first. The nine members
appointed by the governor shall include three representatives
from labor, three representatives from business representing
cross-sections of industries and all sizes of employers, and
three members from the general public.
(2) The board of directors shall elect a chair and such
other officers as it deems appropriate from among the voting
members.
(3) The voting members of the board of directors shall
serve with compensation pursuant to RCW 43.03.240 and
shall be reimbursed by the department for travel expenses
and per diem under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, as now
or hereafter amended. Legislative members shall be reimbursed under RCW 44.04.120, as now or hereafter amended.
(4) The secretary shall provide such staff services, facilities, and equipment as the board shall require to carry out its
duties. [1993 sp.s. c 20 § 4; 1989 c 185 § 5; 1981 c 136 § 9.]
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 20: See note following RCW 43.19.534.
72.09.090
72.09.090 Correctional industries account—Expenditure—Profits—Appropriations. The correctional indus(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
tries account is established in the state treasury. The department of corrections shall deposit in the account all moneys
collected and all profits that accrue from the industrial and
agricultural operations of the department and any moneys
appropriated to the account. Moneys in the account may be
spent only for expenses arising in the correctional industries
operations.
The division’s net profits from correctional industries’
sales and contracts shall be reinvested, without appropriation,
in the expansion and improvement of correctional industries.
However, the board of directors shall annually recommend
that some portion of the profits from correctional industries
be returned to the state general fund.
The board and secretary shall request appropriations or
increased appropriations whenever it appears that additional
money is needed to provide for the establishment and operation of a comprehensive correctional industries program.
[1989 c 185 § 6; 1987 c 7 § 203; 1981 c 136 § 10.]
Severability—1987 c 7: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1987 c 7 § 901.]
72.09.095 Transfer of funds to department of labor
and industries for crime victims’ compensation. Each
year the department shall transfer twenty-five percent of the
total annual revenues and receipts received in each institutional betterment fund subaccount to the department of labor
and industries for the purpose of providing direct benefits to
crime victims through the crime victims’ compensation program as outlined in chapter 7.68 RCW. This transfer takes
priority over any expenditure of betterment funds and shall
be reflected on the monthly financial statements of each institution’s betterment fund subaccount.
Any funds so transferred to the department of labor and
industries shall be in addition to the crime victims’ compensation amount provided in an omnibus appropriation bill. It is
the intent of the legislature that the funds forecasted or transferred pursuant to this section shall not reduce the funding
levels provided by appropriation. [1995 c 234 § 2.]
72.09.095
Finding—1995 c 234: "The legislature finds that the responsibility for
criminal activity should fall squarely on the criminal. To the greatest extent
possible society should not be expected to have to pay the price for crimes
twice, once for the criminal activity and again by feeding, clothing, and
housing the criminal. The corrections system should be the first place criminals are given the opportunity to be responsible for paying for their criminal
act, not just through the loss of their personal freedom, but by making financial contributions to alleviate the pain and suffering of victims of crime."
[1995 c 234 § 1.]
72.09.100 Inmate work program—Classes of work
programs—Participation—Benefits. It is the intent of the
legislature to vest in the department the power to provide for
a comprehensive inmate work program and to remove statutory and other restrictions which have limited work programs
in the past. It is also the intent of the legislature to ensure that
the correctional industries board of directors, in developing
and selecting correctional industries work programs, does not
encourage the development of, or provide for selection of or
contracting for, or the significant expansion of, any new or
existing class I correctional industries work programs that
unfairly compete with Washington businesses. The legislature intends that the requirements relating to fair competition
72.09.100
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.100
in the correctional industries work programs be liberally construed by the correctional industries board of directors to protect Washington businesses from unfair competition. For
purposes of establishing such a comprehensive program, the
legislature recommends that the department consider adopting any or all, or any variation of, the following classes of
work programs:
(1) CLASS I: FREE VENTURE INDUSTRIES.
(a) The employer model industries in this class shall be
operated and managed in total or in part by any profit or nonprofit organization pursuant to an agreement between the
organization and the department. The organization shall produce goods or services for sale to both the public and private
sector.
(b) The customer model industries in this class shall be
operated and managed by the department to provide Washington state manufacturers or businesses with products or services currently produced or provided by out-of-state or foreign suppliers.
(c) The correctional industries board of directors shall
review these proposed industries, including any potential
new class I industries work program or the significant expansion of an existing class I industries work program, before the
department contracts to provide such products or services.
The review shall include the analysis required under RCW
72.09.115 to determine if the proposed correctional industries
work program will compete with any Washington business.
An agreement for a new class I correctional industries work
program, or an agreement for a significant expansion of an
existing class I correctional industries work program, that
unfairly competes with any Washington business is prohibited.
(d) The department of corrections shall supply appropriate security and custody services without charge to the participating firms.
(e) Inmates who work in free venture industries shall do
so at their own choice. They shall be paid a wage comparable
to the wage paid for work of a similar nature in the locality in
which the industry is located, as determined by the director of
correctional industries. If the director cannot reasonably
determine the comparable wage, then the pay shall not be less
than the federal minimum wage.
(f) An inmate who is employed in the class I program of
correctional industries shall not be eligible for unemployment
compensation benefits pursuant to any of the provisions of
Title 50 RCW until released on parole or discharged.
(2) CLASS II: TAX REDUCTION INDUSTRIES.
(a) Industries in this class shall be state-owned and operated enterprises designed primarily to reduce the costs for
goods and services for tax-supported agencies and for nonprofit organizations.
(b)(i) The industries selected for development within this
class shall, as much as possible, match the available pool of
inmate work skills and aptitudes with the work opportunities
in the free community. The industries shall be closely patterned after private sector industries but with the objective of
reducing public support costs rather than making a profit.
(ii) The products and services of this industry, including
purchased products and services necessary for a complete
product line, may be sold to the following:
(A) Public agencies;
[Title 72 RCW—page 23]
72.09.100
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(B) Nonprofit organizations;
(C) Private contractors when the goods purchased will be
ultimately used by a public agency or a nonprofit organization;
(D) An employee and immediate family members of an
employee of the department of corrections; and
(E) A person under the supervision of the department of
corrections and his or her immediate family members.
(iii) The correctional industries board of directors shall
authorize the type and quantity of items that may be purchased and sold under (b)(ii)(D) and (E) of this subsection.
(iv) It is prohibited to purchase any item purchased under
(b)(ii)(D) and (E) of this subsection for the purpose of resale.
(v) Clothing manufactured by an industry in this class
may be donated to nonprofit organizations that provide clothing free of charge to low-income persons.
(c)(i) Class II correctional industries products and services shall be reviewed by the correctional industries board
of directors before offering such products and services for
sale to private contractors.
(ii) The board of directors shall conduct a yearly marketing review of the products and services offered under this
subsection. Such review shall include an analysis of the
potential impact of the proposed products and services on the
Washington state business community. To avoid waste or
spoilage and consequent loss to the state, when there is no
public sector market for such goods, byproducts and surpluses of timber, agricultural, and animal husbandry enterprises may be sold to private persons, at private sale. Surplus
byproducts and surpluses of timber, agricultural and animal
husbandry enterprises that cannot be sold to public agencies
or to private persons may be donated to nonprofit organizations. All sales of surplus products shall be carried out in
accordance with rules prescribed by the secretary.
(d) Security and custody services shall be provided without charge by the department of corrections.
(e) Inmates working in this class of industries shall do so
at their own choice and shall be paid for their work on a gratuity scale which shall not exceed the wage paid for work of
a similar nature in the locality in which the industry is located
and which is approved by the director of correctional industries.
(f) Subject to approval of the correctional industries
board, provisions of RCW 41.06.142 shall not apply to contracts with Washington state businesses entered into by the
department of corrections through class II industries.
(3) CLASS III: INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT INDUSTRIES.
(a) Industries in this class shall be operated by the
department of corrections. They shall be designed and managed to accomplish the following objectives:
(i) Whenever possible, to provide basic work training
and experience so that the inmate will be able to qualify for
better work both within correctional industries and the free
community. It is not intended that an inmate’s work within
this class of industries should be his or her final and total
work experience as an inmate.
(ii) Whenever possible, to provide forty hours of work or
work training per week.
(iii) Whenever possible, to offset tax and other public
support costs.
[Title 72 RCW—page 24]
(b) Class III correctional industries shall be reviewed by
the correctional industries board of directors to set policy for
work crews. The department shall present to the board of
directors quarterly detail statements showing where work
crews worked, what correctional industry class, and the hours
worked. The board of directors may review any class III program at its discretion.
(c) Supervising, management, and custody staff shall be
employees of the department.
(d) All able and eligible inmates who are assigned work
and who are not working in other classes of industries shall
work in this class.
(e) Except for inmates who work in work training programs, inmates in this class shall be paid for their work in
accordance with an inmate gratuity scale. The scale shall be
adopted by the secretary of corrections.
(4) CLASS IV: COMMUNITY WORK INDUSTRIES.
(a) Industries in this class shall be operated by the
department of corrections. They shall be designed and managed to provide services in the inmate’s resident community
at a reduced cost. The services shall be provided to public
agencies, to persons who are poor or infirm, or to nonprofit
organizations.
(b) Class IV correctional industries shall be reviewed by
the correctional industries board of directors to set policy for
work crews. The department shall present to the board of
directors quarterly detail statements showing where work
crews worked, what correctional industry class, and the hours
worked. The board of directors may review any class IV program at its discretion. Class IV correctional industries operated in work camps established pursuant to RCW 72.64.050
are exempt from the requirements of this subsection (4)(b).
(c) Inmates in this program shall reside in facilities
owned by, contracted for, or licensed by the department of
corrections. A unit of local government shall provide work
supervision services without charge to the state and shall pay
the inmate’s wage.
(d) The department of corrections shall reimburse participating units of local government for liability and workers
compensation insurance costs.
(e) Inmates who work in this class of industries shall do
so at their own choice and shall receive a gratuity which shall
not exceed the wage paid for work of a similar nature in the
locality in which the industry is located.
(5) CLASS V: COMMUNITY RESTITUTION PROGRAMS.
(a) Programs in this class shall be subject to supervision
by the department of corrections. The purpose of this class of
industries is to enable an inmate, placed on community supervision, to work off all or part of a community restitution order
as ordered by the sentencing court.
(b) Employment shall be in a community restitution program operated by the state, local units of government, or a
nonprofit agency.
(c) To the extent that funds are specifically made available for such purposes, the department of corrections shall
reimburse nonprofit agencies for workers compensation
insurance costs. [2005 c 346 § 1; 2004 c 167 § 3; (2004 c 167
§ 2 expired July 1, 2005). Prior: 2002 c 354 § 238; 2002 c
175 § 49; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 33; 1994 c 224 § 1; 1992 c 123
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
§ 1; 1990 c 22 § 1; 1989 c 185 § 7; 1986 c 193 § 2; 1985 c 151
§ 1; 1983 c 255 § 5; 1981 c 136 § 11.]
Effective date—2004 c 167 § 3: "Section 3 of this act takes effect July
1, 2005." [2004 c 167 § 12.]
Expiration date—2004 c 167 § 2: "Section 2 of this act expires July 1,
2005." [2004 c 167 § 13.]
Short title—Headings, captions not law—Severability—Effective
dates—2002 c 354: See RCW 41.80.907 through 41.80.910.
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
Fish and game projects in prison work programs subject to RCW 72.09.100:
RCW 72.63.020.
72.09.101
72.09.101 Inmate work program—Administrators’
duty. Administrators of work programs described in RCW
72.09.100 shall ensure that no inmate convicted of a sex
offense as defined in chapter 9A.44 RCW obtains access to
names, addresses, or telephone numbers of private individuals while performing his or her duties in an inmate work program. [1998 c 83 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 83: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 20, 1998]." [1998 c 83 § 2.]
72.09.104
72.09.104 Prison work programs to operate automated data input and retrieval systems. The department of
general administration and the department of corrections
shall implement prison work programs to operate automated
data input and retrieval systems for appropriate departments
of state government. [1983 c 296 § 3.]
Findings—1983 c 296: "The legislature finds and declares that the
costs of state government automated data input and retrieval are escalating.
The legislature further finds and declares that new record conversion technologies offer a promising means for coping with current records management problems." [1983 c 296 § 1.]
Policy—1983 c 296: "It is the policy of the state of Washington that
state prisons shall provide prisoners with a work environment in order that,
upon their release, inmates may have the skills necessary for the successful
reentry into society. It is also the policy of the state to promote the establishment and growth of prison industries whose work shall benefit the state."
[1983 c 296 § 2.]
72.09.106
72.09.106 Subcontracting of data input and microfilm capacities. Class II correctional industries may subcontract its data input and microfilm capacities to firms from the
private sector. Inmates employed under these subcontracts
will be paid in accordance with the Class I free venture industries procedures and wage scale. [1989 c 185 § 8; 1983 c 296
§ 4.]
Findings—Policy—1983 c 296: See notes following RCW 72.09.104.
72.09.110
72.09.110 Inmates’ wages—Supporting cost of corrections—Crime victims’ compensation and family support. All inmates working in prison industries shall participate in the cost of corrections, including costs to develop and
implement correctional industries programs, by means of
deductions from their gross wages. The secretary may direct
the state treasurer to deposit a portion of these moneys in the
crime victims compensation account. The secretary shall
direct that all moneys received by an inmate for testifying in
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.111
any judicial proceeding shall be deposited into the crime victims compensation account.
When the secretary finds it appropriate and not unduly
destructive of the work incentive, the secretary may also provide deductions for savings and family support. [1993 sp.s. c
20 § 5; 1991 c 133 § 1; 1989 c 185 § 9; 1986 c 162 § 1; 1981
c 136 § 12.]
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 20: See note following RCW 43.19.534.
72.09.111
72.09.111 Inmate wages—Deductions—Availability
of savings—Employment goals—Recovery of cost of
incarceration. (1) The secretary shall deduct taxes and legal
financial obligations from the gross wages, gratuities, or
workers’ compensation benefits payable directly to the
inmate under chapter 51.32 RCW, of each inmate working in
correctional industries work programs, or otherwise receiving such wages, gratuities, or benefits. The secretary shall
also deduct child support payments from the gratuities of
each inmate working in class II through class IV correctional
industries work programs. The secretary shall develop a formula for the distribution of offender wages, gratuities, and
benefits. The formula shall not reduce the inmate account
below the indigency level, as defined in RCW 72.09.015.
(a) The formula shall include the following minimum
deductions from class I gross wages and from all others earning at least minimum wage:
(i) Five percent to the public safety and education
account for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation;
(ii) Ten percent to a department personal inmate savings
account;
(iii) Twenty percent to the department to contribute to
the cost of incarceration; and
(iv) Twenty percent for payment of legal financial obligations for all inmates who have legal financial obligations
owing in any Washington state superior court.
(b) The formula shall include the following minimum
deductions from class II gross gratuities:
(i) Five percent to the public safety and education
account for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation;
(ii) Ten percent to a department personal inmate savings
account;
(iii) Fifteen percent to the department to contribute to the
cost of incarceration;
(iv) Twenty percent for payment of legal financial obligations for all inmates who have legal financial obligations
owing in any Washington state superior court; and
(v) Fifteen percent for any child support owed under a
support order.
(c) The formula shall include the following minimum
deductions from any workers’ compensation benefits paid
pursuant to RCW 51.32.080:
(i) Five percent to the public safety and education
account for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation;
(ii) Ten percent to a department personal inmate savings
account;
(iii) Twenty percent to the department to contribute to
the cost of incarceration; and
(iv) An amount equal to any legal financial obligations
owed by the inmate established by an order of any Washington state superior court up to the total amount of the award.
[Title 72 RCW—page 25]
72.09.115
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(d) The formula shall include the following minimum
deductions from class III gratuities:
(i) Five percent for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation; and
(ii) Fifteen percent for any child support owed under a
support order.
(e) The formula shall include the following minimum
deduction from class IV gross gratuities:
(i) Five percent to the department to contribute to the
cost of incarceration; and
(ii) Fifteen percent for any child support owed under a
support order.
(2) Any person sentenced to life imprisonment without
possibility of release or parole under chapter 10.95 RCW or
sentenced to death shall be exempt from the requirement
under subsection (1)(a)(ii), (b)(ii), or (c)(ii).
(3) The department personal inmate savings account,
together with any accrued interest, shall only be available to
an inmate at the time of his or her release from confinement,
unless the secretary determines that an emergency exists for
the inmate, at which time the funds can be made available to
the inmate in an amount determined by the secretary. The
management of classes I, II, and IV correctional industries
may establish an incentive payment for offender workers
based on productivity criteria. This incentive shall be paid
separately from the hourly wage/gratuity rate and shall not be
subject to the specified deduction for cost of incarceration.
(4)(a) Subject to availability of funds for the correctional
industries program, the expansion of inmate employment in
class I and class II correctional industries shall be implemented according to the following schedule:
(i) Not later than June 30, 2005, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least two hundred in the number
of inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries work programs above the number so employed on June
30, 2003;
(ii) Not later than June 30, 2006, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least four hundred in the number
of inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries work programs above the number so employed on June
30, 2003;
(iii) Not later than June 30, 2007, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least six hundred in the number of
inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries
work programs above the number so employed on June 30,
2003;
(iv) Not later than June 30, 2008, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least nine hundred in the number
of inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries work programs above the number so employed on June
30, 2003;
(v) Not later than June 30, 2009, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least one thousand two hundred in
the number of inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries work programs above the number so
employed on June 30, 2003;
(vi) Not later than June 30, 2010, the secretary shall
achieve a net increase of at least one thousand five hundred in
the number of inmates employed in class I or class II correctional industries work programs above the number so
employed on June 30, 2003.
[Title 72 RCW—page 26]
(b) Failure to comply with the schedule in this subsection
does not create a private right of action.
(5) In the event that the offender worker’s wages, gratuity, or workers’ compensation benefit is subject to garnishment for support enforcement, the crime victims’ compensation, savings, and cost of incarceration deductions shall be
calculated on the net wages after taxes, legal financial obligations, and garnishment.
(6) The department shall explore other methods of recovering a portion of the cost of the inmate’s incarceration and
for encouraging participation in work programs, including
development of incentive programs that offer inmates benefits and amenities paid for only from wages earned while
working in a correctional industries work program.
(7) The department shall develop the necessary administrative structure to recover inmates’ wages and keep records
of the amount inmates pay for the costs of incarceration and
amenities. All funds deducted from inmate wages under subsection (1) of this section for the purpose of contributions to
the cost of incarceration shall be deposited in a dedicated
fund with the department and shall be used only for the purpose of enhancing and maintaining correctional industries
work programs.
(8) It shall be in the discretion of the secretary to apportion the inmates between class I and class II depending on
available contracts and resources.
(9) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the
department of social and health services division of child
support from taking collection action against an inmate’s
moneys, assets, or property pursuant to chapter 26.23, 74.20,
or 74.20A RCW. [2004 c 167 § 7. Prior: 2003 c 379 § 25;
2003 c 271 § 2; 2002 c 126 § 2; 1999 c 325 § 2; 1994 sp.s. c
7 § 534; 1993 sp.s. c 20 § 2.]
Severability—Effective dates—2003 c 379: See notes following
RCW 9.94A.728.
Intent—Purpose—2003 c 379 §§ 13-27: See note following RCW
9.94A.760.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 § 534: "Section 534 of this act shall take
effect June 30, 1994." [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 536.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 20 § 2: "Section 2 of this act shall take
effect June 30, 1994." [1993 sp.s. c 20 § 10.]
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 20: See note following RCW 43.19.534.
72.09.115
72.09.115 Proposed new class I correctional industries work program—Threshold analysis—Business
impact analysis—Public hearing—Finding. (1) The
department must prepare a threshold analysis for any proposed new class I correctional industries work program or the
significant expansion of an existing class I correctional
industries work program before the department enters into an
agreement to provide such products or services. The analysis
must state whether the proposed new or expanded program
will impact any Washington business and must be based on
information sufficient to evaluate the impact on Washington
business.
(2) If the threshold analysis determines that a proposed
new or expanded class I correctional industries work program
will impact a Washington business, the department must
complete a business impact analysis before the department
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
enters into an agreement to provide such products or services.
The business impact analysis must include:
(a) A detailed statement identifying the scope and types
of impacts caused by the proposed new or expanded correctional industries work program on Washington businesses;
and
(b) A detailed statement of the business costs of the proposed correctional industries work program compared to the
business costs of the Washington businesses that may be
impacted by the proposed class I correctional industries work
program. Business costs of the proposed correctional industries work program include rent, water, sewer, electricity, disposal, labor costs, and any other quantifiable expense unique
to operating in a prison. Business costs of the impacted
Washington business include rent, water, sewer, electricity,
disposal, property taxes, and labor costs including employee
taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
(3) The completed threshold analysis and any completed
business impact analysis with all supporting documents must
be shared in a meaningful and timely manner with local
chambers of commerce, trade or business associations, local
and state labor union organizations, and government entities
before a finding required under subsection (4) of this section
is made on the proposed new or expanded class I correctional
industries work program.
(4) If a business impact analysis is completed, the department must conduct a public hearing to take public testimony
on the business impact analysis. The department must, at a
minimum, establish a publicly accessible web site containing
information reasonably calculated to provide notice to each
Washington business assigned the same three-digit standard
industrial classification code, or the corresponding North
American industry classification system code, as the organization seeking the class I correctional industries work program agreement of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
Notice of the hearing shall be posted at least thirty days prior
to the hearing.
(5) Following the public hearing, the department shall
adopt a finding that the proposed new or expanded class I
correctional industries work program: (a) Will not compete
with any Washington business; (b) will not compete unfairly
with any Washington business; or (c) will compete unfairly
with any Washington business and is therefore prohibited
under chapter 167, Laws of 2004. [2004 c 167 § 4.]
72.09.190
which shall include job descriptions and the educational and
skill requirements for each job. [1981 c 136 § 16.]
72.09.130
72.09.130 Incentive system for participation in education and work programs—Rules—Dissemination. (1)
The department shall adopt, by rule, a system that clearly
links an inmate’s behavior and participation in available education and work programs with the receipt or denial of earned
early release days and other privileges. The system shall
include increases or decreases in the degree of liberty granted
the inmate within the programs operated by the department,
access to or withholding of privileges available within correctional institutions, and recommended increases or
decreases in the number of earned early release days that an
inmate can earn for good conduct and good performance.
(2) Earned early release days shall be recommended by
the department as a reward for accomplishment. The system
shall be fair, measurable, and understandable to offenders,
staff, and the public. At least once in each twelve-month
period, the department shall inform the offender in writing as
to his or her conduct and performance. This written evaluation shall include reasons for awarding or not awarding recommended earned early release days for good conduct and
good performance. An inmate is not eligible to receive earned
early release days during any time in which he or she refuses
to participate in an available education or work program into
which he or she has been placed under RCW 72.09.460.
(3) The department shall provide each offender in its
custody a written description of the system created under this
section. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 6; 1981 c 136 § 17.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.135
72.09.135 Adoption of standards for correctional
facilities. The department of corrections shall, no later than
July 1, 1987, adopt standards for the operation of state adult
correctional facilities. These standards shall be the minimums necessary to meet federal and state constitutional
requirements relating to health, safety, and welfare of
inmates and staff, and specific state and federal statutory
requirements, and to provide for the public’s health, safety,
and welfare. The need for each standard shall be documented.
[1987 c 462 § 15.]
Effective dates—1987 c 462: See note following RCW 13.04.116.
72.09.116
72.09.116 Information obtained under RCW
72.09.115 exempt from public disclosure. All records, documents, data, and other materials obtained under the requirements of RCW 72.09.115 from an existing correctional
industries class I work program participant or an applicant for
a proposed new or expanded class I correctional industries
work program are exempt from public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. [2005 c 274 § 347; 2004 c 167 § 8.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
72.09.120
72.09.120 Distribution of list of inmate job opportunities. In order to assist inmates in finding work within
prison industries, the department shall periodically prepare
and distribute a list of prison industries’ job opportunities,
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.160
72.09.160 *Corrections standards board—Responsibilities, powers, support.
Reviser’s note: *(1) The corrections standards board no longer exists.
See 1987 c 462 § 21.
(2) RCW 72.09.160 was amended by 1987 c 505 § 67 without reference to its repeal by 1987 c 462 § 22, effective January 1, 1988. It has been
decodified for publication purposes pursuant to RCW 1.12.025.
72.09.190
72.09.190 Legal services for inmates. (1) It is the
intent of the legislature that reasonable legal services be provided to persons committed to the custody of the department
of corrections. The department shall contract with persons or
organizations to provide legal services. The secretary shall
adopt procedures designed to minimize any conflict of interest, or appearance thereof, in respect to the provision of legal
[Title 72 RCW—page 27]
72.09.200
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
services and the department’s administration of such contracts.
(2) Persons who contract to provide legal services are
expressly forbidden to solicit plaintiffs or promote litigation
which has not been pursued initially by a person entitled to
such services under this section.
(3) Persons who contract to provide legal services shall
exhaust all informal means of resolving a legal complaint or
dispute prior to the filing of any court proceeding.
(4) Nothing in this section forbids the secretary to supplement contracted legal services with any of the following:
(a) Law libraries, (b) law student interns, and (c) volunteer
attorneys.
(5) The total due a contractor as compensation, fees, or
reimbursement under the terms of the contract shall be
reduced by the total of any other compensation, fees, or reimbursement received by or due the contractor for the performance of any legal service to inmates during the contract
period. Any amount received by a contractor under contract
which is not due under this section shall be immediately
returned by the contractor. [1981 c 136 § 23.]
72.09.200
72.09.200 Transfer of files, property, and appropriations. All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files,
papers, and other writings in the possession of the department
of social and health services pertaining to the functions transferred by RCW 72.09.040 shall be delivered to the custody of
the department of corrections. All cabinets, furniture, office
equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property
employed exclusively in carrying out the powers and duties
transferred by RCW 72.09.040 shall be made available to the
department of corrections. All funds, credits, or other assets
held in connection with the functions transferred by RCW
72.09.040 shall be assigned to the department of corrections.
Any appropriations made to the department of social and
health services for the purpose of carrying out the powers,
duties, and functions transferred by RCW 72.09.040 shall on
July 1, 1981, be transferred and credited to the department of
corrections for the purpose of carrying out the transferred
powers, duties, and functions.
Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any
funds including unexpended balances within any accounts,
books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other
tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers
and the performance of the duties and functions transferred
under RCW 72.09.040, the director of financial management
shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and
certify the same to the state agencies concerned.
If apportionments of budgeted funds are required
because of the transfers authorized in this section, the director
of financial management shall certify the apportionments to
the agencies affected, the state auditor, and the state treasurer.
Each of these shall make the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation accounts and equipment
records in accordance with the certification. [1981 c 136 §
31.]
72.09.210
72.09.210 Transfer of employees. All employees of
the department of social and health services who are directly
employed in connection with the exercise of the powers and
[Title 72 RCW—page 28]
performance of the duties and functions transferred to the
department of corrections by RCW 72.09.040 shall be transferred on July 1, 1981, to the jurisdiction of the department of
corrections.
All such employees classified under chapter 41.06
RCW, the state civil service law, shall be assigned to the
department of corrections. Except as otherwise provided,
such employees shall be assigned without any loss of rights,
subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in
accordance with the laws and rules governing the state civil
service law. [1981 c 136 § 32.]
72.09.220
72.09.220 Employee rights under collective bargaining. Nothing contained in RCW 72.09.010 through
72.09.190, 72.09.901, and section 13, chapter 136, Laws of
1981 may be construed to downgrade any rights of any
employee under any existing collective bargaining unit or the
provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement
until the agreement has expired or until the bargaining unit
has been modified by action of the Washington personnel
resources board as provided by law. [1993 c 281 § 64; 1981
c 136 § 33.]
Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
72.09.225
72.09.225 Sexual misconduct by state employees,
contractors. (1) When the secretary has reasonable cause to
believe that sexual intercourse or sexual contact between an
employee and an inmate has occurred, notwithstanding any
rule adopted under chapter 41.06 RCW the secretary shall
immediately suspend the employee.
(2) The secretary shall immediately institute proceedings
to terminate the employment of any person:
(a) Who is found by the department, based on a preponderance of the evidence, to have had sexual intercourse or
sexual contact with the inmate; or
(b) Upon a guilty plea or conviction for any crime specified in chapter 9A.44 RCW when the victim was an inmate.
(3) When the secretary has reasonable cause to believe
that sexual intercourse or sexual contact between the
employee of a contractor and an inmate has occurred, the secretary shall require the employee of a contractor to be immediately removed from any employment position which would
permit the employee to have any access to any inmate.
(4) The secretary shall disqualify for employment with a
contractor in any position with access to an inmate, any person:
(a) Who is found by the department, based on a preponderance of the evidence, to have had sexual intercourse or
sexual contact with the inmate; or
(b) Upon a guilty plea or conviction for any crime specified in chapter 9A.44 RCW when the victim was an inmate.
(5) The secretary, when considering the renewal of a
contract with a contractor who has taken action under subsection (3) or (4) of this section, shall require the contractor to
demonstrate that there has been significant progress made in
reducing the likelihood that any of its employees will have
sexual intercourse or sexual contact with an inmate. The secretary shall examine whether the contractor has taken steps to
improve hiring, training, and monitoring practices and
whether the employee remains with the contractor. The sec(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
retary shall not renew a contract unless he or she determines
that significant progress has been made.
(6)(a) For the purposes of RCW 50.20.060, a person terminated under this section shall be considered discharged for
misconduct.
(b)(i) The department may, within its discretion or upon
request of any member of the public, release information to
an individual or to the public regarding any person or contract
terminated under this section.
(ii) An appointed or elected public official, public
employee, or public agency as defined in RCW 4.24.470 is
immune from civil liability for damages for any discretionary
release of relevant and necessary information, unless it is
shown that the official, employee, or agency acted with gross
negligence or in bad faith. The immunity provided under this
section applies to the release of relevant and necessary information to other public officials, public employees, or public
agencies, and to the public.
(iii) Except as provided in chapter 42.56 RCW, or elsewhere, nothing in this section shall impose any liability upon
a public official, public employee, or public agency for failing to release information authorized under this section.
Nothing in this section implies that information regarding
persons designated in subsection (2) of this section is confidential except as may otherwise be provided by law.
(7) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
section. The rules shall reflect the legislative intent that this
section prohibits individuals who are employed by the
department or a contractor of the department from having
sexual intercourse or sexual contact with inmates. The rules
shall also reflect the legislative intent that when a person is
employed by the department or a contractor of the department, and has sexual intercourse or sexual contact with an
inmate against the employed person’s will, the termination
provisions of this section shall not be invoked.
(8) As used in this section:
(a) "Contractor" includes all subcontractors of a contractor;
(b) "Inmate" means an inmate as defined in RCW
72.09.015 or a person under the supervision of the department; and
(c) "Sexual intercourse" and "sexual contact" have the
meanings provided in RCW 9A.44.010. [2005 c 274 § 348;
1999 c 72 § 2.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Application—1999 c 72: See note following RCW 13.40.570.
72.09.230
72.09.230 Duties continued during transition. All
state officials required to maintain contact with or provide
services to the department or secretary of social and health
services relating to adult corrections shall continue to perform the services for the department of corrections.
In order to ease the transition of adult corrections to the
department of corrections, the governor may require an interagency agreement between the department and the department of social and health services under which the department of social and health services would, on a temporary
basis, continue to perform all or part of any specified function
of the department of corrections. [1981 c 136 § 34.]
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.240
72.09.240
72.09.240 Reimbursement of employees for offender
assaults. (1) In recognition of prison overcrowding and the
hazardous nature of employment in state correctional institutions and offices, the legislature hereby provides a supplementary program to reimburse employees of the department
of corrections and the department of natural resources for
some of their costs attributable to their being the victims of
offender assaults. This program shall be limited to the reimbursement provided in this section.
(2) An employee is only entitled to receive the reimbursement provided in this section if the secretary of corrections or the commissioner of public lands, or the secretary’s
or commissioner’s designee, finds that each of the following
has occurred:
(a) An offender has assaulted the employee while the
employee is performing the employee’s official duties and as
a result thereof the employee has sustained injuries which
have required the employee to miss days of work; and
(b) The assault cannot be attributable to any extent to the
employee’s negligence, misconduct, or failure to comply
with any rules or conditions of employment.
(3) The reimbursement authorized under this section
shall be as follows:
(a) The employee’s accumulated sick leave days shall
not be reduced for the workdays missed;
(b) For each workday missed for which the employee is
not eligible to receive compensation under chapter 51.32
RCW, the employee shall receive full pay; and
(c) In respect to workdays missed for which the
employee will receive or has received compensation under
chapter 51.32 RCW, the employee shall be reimbursed in an
amount which, when added to that compensation, will result
in the employee receiving full pay for the workdays missed.
(4) Reimbursement under this section may not last
longer than three hundred sixty-five consecutive days after
the date of the injury.
(5) The employee shall not be entitled to the reimbursement provided in subsection (3) of this section for any workday for which the secretary or the commissioner of public
lands, or the secretary’s or commissioner’s designee, finds
that the employee has not diligently pursued his or her compensation remedies under chapter 51.32 RCW.
(6) The reimbursement shall only be made for absences
which the secretary or the commissioner of public lands, or
the secretary’s or commissioner’s designee, believes are justified.
(7) While the employee is receiving reimbursement
under this section, he or she shall continue to be classified as
a state employee and the reimbursement amount shall be considered as salary or wages.
(8) All reimbursement payments required to be made to
employees under this section shall be made by the department of corrections or the department of natural resources.
The payments shall be considered as a salary or wage
expense and shall be paid by the department of corrections or
the department of natural resources in the same manner and
from the same appropriations as other salary and wage
expenses of the department of corrections or the department
of natural resources.
(9) Should the legislature revoke the reimbursement
authorized under this section or repeal this section, no
[Title 72 RCW—page 29]
72.09.251
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
affected employee is entitled thereafter to receive the reimbursement as a matter of contractual right.
(10) For the purposes of this section, "offender" means:
(a) Offender as defined in RCW 9.94A.030; and (b) any other
person in the custody of or subject to the jurisdiction of the
department of corrections. [2002 c 77 § 2; 1988 c 149 § 1;
1984 c 246 § 9.]
Severability—1984 c 246: See note following RCW 9.94A.870.
72.09.251
72.09.251 Communicable disease prevention guidelines. (1) The department shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the uniform distribution of communicable disease prevention guidelines to all corrections staff
who, in the course of their regularly assigned job responsibilities, may come within close physical proximity to offenders
with communicable diseases.
(2) The guidelines shall identify special precautions necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of communicable
diseases.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "communicable disease" means sexually transmitted diseases, as defined in
RCW 70.24.017, diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens,
or any other illness caused by an infectious agent that can be
transmitted from one person, animal, or object to another person by direct or indirect means including transmission via an
intermediate host or vector, food, water, or air. [1997 c 345 §
4.]
Findings—Intent—1997 c 345: See note following RCW 70.24.105.
72.09.260
72.09.260 Litter cleanup programs—Requirements.
(1) The department shall assist local units of government in
establishing community restitution programs for litter
cleanup. Community restitution litter cleanup programs must
include the following: (a) Procedures for documenting the
number of community restitution hours worked in litter
cleanup by each offender; (b) plans to coordinate litter
cleanup activities with local governmental entities responsible for roadside and park maintenance; (c) insurance coverage for offenders during litter cleanup activities pursuant to
RCW 51.12.045; (d) provision of adequate safety equipment
and, if needed, weather protection gear; and (e) provision for
including felons and misdemeanants in the program.
(2) Community restitution programs established under
this section shall involve, but not be limited to, persons convicted of nonviolent, drug-related offenses.
(3) Nothing in this section shall diminish the department’s authority to place offenders in community restitution
programs or to determine the suitability of offenders for specific programs.
(4) As used in this section, "litter cleanup" includes
cleanup and removal of solid waste that is illegally dumped.
[2002 c 175 § 50; 1990 c 66 § 2.]
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
Findings—Intent—1990 c 66: "The legislature finds that the amount
of litter along the state’s roadways is increasing at an alarming rate and that
local governments often lack the human and fiscal resources to remove litter
from public roads. The legislature also finds that persons committing nonviolent, drug-related offenses can often be productively engaged through programs to remove litter from county and municipal roads. It is therefore the
intent of the legislature to assist local units of government in establishing
community restitution programs for litter cleanup and to establish a funding
source for such programs." [2002 c 175 § 51; 1990 c 66 § 1.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 30]
72.09.300
72.09.300 Local law and justice council, plan—
Rules—Base level of services—Juvenile justice services.
(1) Every county legislative authority shall by resolution or
ordinance establish a local law and justice council. The
county legislative authority shall determine the size and composition of the council, which shall include the county sheriff
and a representative of the municipal police departments
within the county, the county prosecutor and a representative
of the municipal prosecutors within the county, a representative of the city legislative authorities within the county, a representative of the county’s superior, juvenile, district, and
municipal courts, the county jail administrator, the county
clerk, the county risk manager, and the secretary of corrections. Officials designated may appoint representatives.
(2) A combination of counties may establish a local law
and justice council by intergovernmental agreement. The
agreement shall comply with the requirements of this section.
(3) The local law and justice council shall develop a
local law and justice plan for the county. The council shall
design the elements and scope of the plan, subject to final
approval by the county legislative authority. The general
intent of the plan shall include seeking means to maximize
local resources including personnel and facilities, reduce
duplication of services, and share resources between local
and state government in order to accomplish local efficiencies without diminishing effectiveness. The plan shall also
include a section on jail management. This section may
include the following elements:
(a) A description of current jail conditions, including
whether the jail is overcrowded;
(b) A description of potential alternatives to incarceration;
(c) A description of current jail resources;
(d) A description of the jail population as it presently
exists and how it is projected to change in the future;
(e) A description of projected future resource requirements;
(f) A proposed action plan, which shall include recommendations to maximize resources, maximize the use of
intermediate sanctions, minimize overcrowding, avoid duplication of services, and effectively manage the jail and the
offender population;
(g) A list of proposed advisory jail standards and methods to effect periodic quality assurance inspections of the jail;
(h) A proposed plan to collect, synthesize, and disseminate technical information concerning local criminal justice
activities, facilities, and procedures;
(i) A description of existing and potential services for
offenders including employment services, substance abuse
treatment, mental health services, and housing referral services.
(4) The council may propose other elements of the plan,
which shall be subject to review and approval by the county
legislative authority, prior to their inclusion into the plan.
(5) The county legislative authority may request technical assistance in developing or implementing the plan from
other units or agencies of state or local government, which
shall include the department, the office of financial management, and the Washington association of sheriffs and police
chiefs.
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
(6) Upon receiving a request for assistance from a
county, the department may provide the requested assistance.
(7) The secretary may adopt rules for the submittal,
review, and approval of all requests for assistance made to
the department. The secretary may also appoint an advisory
committee of local and state government officials to recommend policies and procedures relating to the state and local
correctional systems and to assist the department in providing
technical assistance to local governments. The committee
shall include representatives of the county sheriffs, the police
chiefs, the county prosecuting attorneys, the county and city
legislative authorities, and the jail administrators. The secretary may contract with other state and local agencies and provide funding in order to provide the assistance requested by
counties.
(8) The department shall establish a base level of state
correctional services, which shall be determined and distributed in a consistent manner statewide. The department’s contributions to any local government, approved pursuant to this
section, shall not operate to reduce this base level of services.
(9) The council shall establish an advisory committee on
juvenile justice proportionality. The council shall appoint the
county juvenile court administrator and at least five citizens
as advisory committee members. The citizen advisory committee members shall be representative of the county’s ethnic
and geographic diversity. The advisory committee members
shall serve two-year terms and may be reappointed. The
duties of the advisory committee include:
(a) Monitoring and reporting to the sentencing guidelines commission on the proportionality, effectiveness, and
cultural relevance of:
(i) The rehabilitative services offered by county and state
institutions to juvenile offenders; and
(ii) The rehabilitative services offered in conjunction
with diversions, deferred dispositions, community supervision, and parole;
(b) Reviewing citizen complaints regarding bias or disproportionality in that county’s juvenile justice system;
(c) By September 1 of each year, beginning with 1995,
submit to the sentencing guidelines commission a report
summarizing the advisory committee’s findings under (a) and
(b) of this subsection. [1996 c 232 § 7; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 542;
1993 sp.s. c 21 § 8; 1991 c 363 § 148; 1987 c 312 § 3.]
Effective dates—1996 c 232: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Application—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 540-545: See note following RCW
13.50.010.
72.09.330
making his or her whereabouts unknown or by failing to
maintain contact with the department as directed by the community corrections officer shall be deemed an escapee and
fugitive from justice, and upon conviction shall be guilty of a
class C felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW. [1992 c 75 § 6;
1988 c 153 § 6.]
Effective date—Application of increased sanctions—1988 c 153:
See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.09.315
72.09.315 Court-ordered treatment—Violations—
Required notifications. (1) When an offender is under
court-ordered mental health or chemical dependency treatment in the community and the supervision of the department
of corrections, and the community corrections officer
becomes aware that the person is in violation of the terms of
the court’s treatment order, the community corrections
officer shall notify the *county designated mental health professional or the designated chemical dependency specialist,
as appropriate, of the violation and request an evaluation for
purposes of revocation of the less restrictive alternative or
conditional release.
(2) When a *county designated mental health professional or the designated chemical dependency specialist notifies the department that an offender in a state correctional
facility is the subject of a petition for involuntary treatment
under chapter 71.05 or 70.96A RCW, the department shall
provide documentation of its risk assessment or other concerns to the petitioner and the court if the department classified the offender as a high risk or high needs offender. [2004
c 166 § 17.]
*Reviser’s note: The term "county designated mental health professional" as defined in RCW 71.05.020 was changed to "designated mental
health professional" by 2005 c 504 § 104.
Severability—Effective dates—2004 c 166: See notes following
RCW 71.05.040.
72.09.320
72.09.320 Community placement—Liability. The
state of Washington, the department and its employees, community corrections officers, their staff, and volunteers who
assist community corrections officers in the community
placement program are not liable for civil damages resulting
from any act or omission in the rendering of community
placement activities unless the act or omission constitutes
gross negligence. For purposes of this section, "volunteers" is
defined according to RCW 51.12.035. [1988 c 153 § 10.]
Effective date—Application of increased sanctions—1988 c 153:
See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.09.330
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 21: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
Purpose—1987 c 312 § 3: "It is the purpose of RCW 72.09.300 to
encourage local and state government to join in partnerships for the sharing
of resources regarding the management of offenders in the correctional system. The formation of partnerships between local and state government is
intended to reduce duplication while assuring better accountability and
offender management through the most efficient use of resources at both the
local and state level." [1987 c 312 § 1.]
72.09.310
72.09.310 Community custody violator. An inmate in
community custody who willfully discontinues making himself or herself available to the department for supervision by
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.330 Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—
Registration—Notice to persons convicted of sex offenses
and kidnapping offenses. (1) The department shall provide
written notification to an inmate convicted of a sex offense or
kidnapping offense of the registration requirements of RCW
9A.44.130 at the time of the inmate’s release from confinement and shall receive and retain a signed acknowledgement
of receipt.
(2) The department shall provide written notification to
an individual convicted of a sex offense or kidnapping
offense from another state of the registration requirements of
RCW 9A.44.130 at the time the department accepts supervision and has legal authority of the individual under the terms
[Title 72 RCW—page 31]
72.09.333
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
and conditions of the interstate compact agreement under
RCW 9.95.270. [1997 c 113 § 8; 1990 c 3 § 405.]
Findings—1997 c 113: See note following RCW 4.24.550.
Index, part headings not law—Severability—Effective dates—
Application—1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.
Sex offense and kidnapping offense defined: RCW 9A.44.130.
72.09.333
72.09.333 Sex offenders—Facilities on McNeil
Island. The secretary is authorized to operate a correctional
facility on McNeil Island for the confinement of sex offenders and other offenders sentenced by the courts, and to make
necessary repairs, renovations, additions, and improvements
to state property for that purpose, notwithstanding any local
comprehensive plans, development regulations, permitting
requirements, or any other local laws. Operation of the correctional facility and other state facilities authorized by this
section and other law includes access to adequate docking
facilities on state-owned tidelands at the town of Steilacoom.
[2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 202.]
Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See
notes following RCW 71.09.250.
72.09.335
72.09.335 Sex offenders—Treatment opportunity.
The department shall provide offenders sentenced under
RCW 9.94A.712 with the opportunity for sex offender treatment during incarceration. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 305.]
Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See
notes following RCW 71.09.250.
Application—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 §§ 301-363: See note following
RCW 9.94A.030.
72.09.337 Sex offenders—Rules regarding. The secretary of corrections, the secretary of social and health services, and the indeterminate sentence review board may
adopt rules to implement chapter 12, Laws of 2001 2nd sp.
sess. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 502.]
72.09.337
Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See
notes following RCW 71.09.250.
RCW 9.94A.612(2), except that in no case may this notification requirement be construed to require an extension of an
offender’s release date.
(3)(a) For any offender convicted of a felony sex offense
against a minor victim after June 6, 1996, the department
shall not approve a residence location if the proposed residence: (i) Includes a minor victim or child of similar age or
circumstance as a previous victim who the department determines may be put at substantial risk of harm by the offender’s
residence in the household; or (ii) is within close proximity of
the current residence of a minor victim, unless the whereabouts of the minor victim cannot be determined or unless
such a restriction would impede family reunification efforts
ordered by the court or directed by the department of social
and health services. The department is further authorized to
reject a residence location if the proposed residence is within
close proximity to schools, child care centers, playgrounds,
or other grounds or facilities where children of similar age or
circumstance as a previous victim are present who the department determines may be put at substantial risk of harm by the
sex offender’s residence at that location.
(b) In addition, for any offender prohibited from living in
a community protection zone under RCW
9.94A.712(6)(a)(ii), the department may not approve a residence location if the proposed residence is in a community
protection zone.
(4) When the department requires supervised visitation
as a term or condition of a sex offender’s community placement under RCW 9.94A.700(6), the department shall, prior
to approving a supervisor, consider the following:
(a) The relationships between the proposed supervisor,
the offender, and the minor; (b) the proposed supervisor’s
acknowledgment and understanding of the offender’s prior
criminal conduct, general knowledge of the dynamics of
child sexual abuse, and willingness and ability to protect the
minor from the potential risks posed by contact with the
offender; and (c) recommendations made by the department
of social and health services about the best interests of the
child. [2005 c 436 § 3; 1996 c 215 § 3; 1990 c 3 § 708.]
72.09.340
72.09.340 Supervision of sex offenders—Public
safety—Policy for release plan evaluation and approval—
Implementation, publicizing, notice—Rejection of residence locations of felony sex offenders of minor victims—
Supervised visitation considerations. (1) In making all discretionary decisions regarding release plans for and supervision of sex offenders, the department shall set priorities and
make decisions based on an assessment of public safety risks.
(2) The department shall, no later than September 1,
1996, implement a policy governing the department’s evaluation and approval of release plans for sex offenders. The
policy shall include, at a minimum, a formal process by
which victims, witnesses, and other interested people may
provide information and comments to the department on
potential safety risks to specific individuals or classes of individuals posed by a specific sex offender. The department
shall make all reasonable efforts to publicize the availability
of this process through currently existing mechanisms and
shall seek the assistance of courts, prosecutors, law enforcement, and victims’ advocacy groups in doing so. Notice of an
offender’s proposed residence shall be provided to all people
registered to receive notice of an offender’s release under
[Title 72 RCW—page 32]
Reviser’s note: 2005 c 436 § 6 (an expiration date section) was
repealed by 2006 c 131 § 2.
Index, part headings not law—Severability—Effective dates—
Application—1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.
72.09.345
72.09.345 Sex offenders—Release of information to
protect public—End-of-sentence review committee—
Assessment—Records access—Review, classification,
referral of offenders—Issuance of narrative notices. (1)
In addition to any other information required to be released
under this chapter, the department is authorized, pursuant to
RCW 4.24.550, to release relevant information that is necessary to protect the public concerning offenders convicted of
sex offenses.
(2) In order for public agencies to have the information
necessary to notify the public as authorized in RCW
4.24.550, the secretary shall establish and administer an endof-sentence review committee for the purposes of assigning
risk levels, reviewing available release plans, and making
appropriate referrals for sex offenders. The committee shall
assess, on a case-by-case basis, the public risk posed by sex
offenders who are: (a) Preparing for their release from con(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
finement for sex offenses committed on or after July 1, 1984;
and (b) accepted from another state under a reciprocal agreement under the interstate compact authorized in chapter 72.74
RCW.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the committee shall have access to all relevant records and information in the possession of public agencies relating to the
offenders under review, including police reports; prosecutors’ statements of probable cause; presentence investigations and reports; complete judgments and sentences; current
classification referrals; criminal history summaries; violation
and disciplinary reports; all psychological evaluations and
psychiatric hospital reports; sex offender treatment program
reports; and juvenile records. Records and information
obtained under this subsection shall not be disclosed outside
the committee unless otherwise authorized by law.
(4) The committee shall review each sex offender under
its authority before the offender’s release from confinement
or start of the offender’s term of community placement or
community custody in order to: (a) Classify the offender into
a risk level for the purposes of public notification under RCW
4.24.550; (b) where available, review the offender’s proposed release plan in accordance with the requirements of
RCW 72.09.340; and (c) make appropriate referrals.
(5) The committee shall classify as risk level I those sex
offenders whose risk assessments indicate a low risk of reoffense within the community at large. The committee shall
classify as risk level II those offenders whose risk assessments indicate a moderate risk of reoffense within the community at large. The committee shall classify as risk level III
those offenders whose risk assessments indicate a high risk of
reoffense within the community at large.
(6) The committee shall issue to appropriate law enforcement agencies, for their use in making public notifications
under RCW 4.24.550, narrative notices regarding the pending release of sex offenders from the department’s facilities.
The narrative notices shall, at a minimum, describe the identity and criminal history behavior of the offender and shall
include the department’s risk level classification for the
offender. For sex offenders classified as either risk level II or
III, the narrative notices shall also include the reasons underlying the classification. [1997 c 364 § 4.]
Severability—1997 c 364: See note following RCW 4.24.550.
72.09.350
72.09.350 Corrections mental health center—Collaborative arrangement with University of Washington—
Services for mentally ill offenders—Annual report to the
legislature. (1) The department of corrections and the University of Washington may enter into a collaborative arrangement to provide improved services for mentally ill offenders
with a focus on prevention, treatment, and reintegration into
society. The participants in the collaborative arrangement
may develop a strategic plan within sixty days after May 17,
1993, to address the management of mentally ill offenders
within the correctional system, facilitating their reentry into
the community and the mental health system, and preventing
the inappropriate incarceration of mentally ill individuals.
The collaborative arrangement may also specify the establishment and maintenance of a corrections mental health center located at McNeil Island corrections center. The collabo(2006 Ed.)
72.09.350
rative arrangement shall require that an advisory panel of key
stakeholders be established and consulted throughout the
development and implementation of the center. The stakeholders advisory panel shall include a broad array of interest
groups drawn from representatives of mental health, criminal
justice, and correctional systems. The stakeholders advisory
panel shall include, but is not limited to, membership from:
The department of corrections, the department of social and
health services mental health division and division of juvenile rehabilitation, regional support networks, local and
regional law enforcement agencies, the sentencing guidelines
commission, county and city jails, mental health advocacy
groups for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and
traumatically brain-injured, and the general public. The center established by the department of corrections and University of Washington, in consultation with the stakeholder advisory groups, shall have the authority to:
(a) Develop new and innovative treatment approaches
for corrections mental health clients;
(b) Improve the quality of mental health services within
the department and throughout the corrections system;
(c) Facilitate mental health staff recruitment and training
to meet departmental, county, and municipal needs;
(d) Expand research activities within the department in
the area of treatment services, the design of delivery systems,
the development of organizational models, and training for
corrections mental health care professionals;
(e) Improve the work environment for correctional
employees by developing the skills, knowledge, and understanding of how to work with offenders with special chronic
mental health challenges;
(f) Establish a more positive rehabilitative environment
for offenders;
(g) Strengthen multidisciplinary mental health collaboration between the University of Washington, other groups
committed to the intent of this section, and the department of
corrections;
(h) Strengthen department linkages between institutions
of higher education, public sector mental health systems, and
county and municipal corrections;
(i) Assist in the continued formulation of corrections
mental health policies;
(j) Develop innovative and effective recruitment and
training programs for correctional personnel working with
mentally ill offenders;
(k) Assist in the development of a coordinated continuum of mental health care capable of providing services from
corrections entry to community return; and
(l) Evaluate all current and innovative approaches developed within this center in terms of their effective and efficient
achievement of improved mental health of inmates, development and utilization of personnel, the impact of these
approaches on the functioning of correctional institutions,
and the relationship of the corrections system to mental
health and criminal justice systems. Specific attention should
be paid to evaluating the effects of programs on the reintegration of mentally ill offenders into the community and the prevention of inappropriate incarceration of mentally ill persons.
(2) The corrections mental health center may conduct
research, training, and treatment activities for the mentally ill
offender within selected sites operated by the department.
[Title 72 RCW—page 33]
72.09.370
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
The department shall provide support services for the center
such as food services, maintenance, perimeter security, classification, offender supervision, and living unit functions.
The University of Washington may develop, implement, and
evaluate the clinical, treatment, research, and evaluation
components of the mentally ill offender center. The institute
of public policy and management may be consulted regarding
the development of the center and in the recommendations
regarding public policy. As resources permit, training within
the center shall be available to state, county, and municipal
agencies requiring the services. Other state colleges, state
universities, and mental health providers may be involved in
activities as required on a subcontract basis. Community
mental health organizations, research groups, and community
advocacy groups may be critical components of the center’s
operations and involved as appropriate to annual objectives.
Mentally ill clients may be drawn from throughout the
department’s population and transferred to the center as clinical need, available services, and department jurisdiction permits.
(3) The department shall prepare a report of the center’s
progress toward the attainment of stated goals and provide
the report to the legislature annually. [1993 c 459 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 c 459: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 17, 1993]." [1993 c 459 § 2.]
72.09.370
72.09.370 Dangerous mentally ill offenders—Plan
for postrelease treatment and support services—Rules.
(1) The secretary shall identify offenders in confinement or
partial confinement who: (a) Are reasonably believed to be
dangerous to themselves or others; and (b) have a mental disorder. In determining an offender’s dangerousness, the secretary shall consider behavior known to the department and
factors, based on research, that are linked to an increased risk
for dangerousness of mentally ill offenders and shall include
consideration of an offender’s chemical dependency or
abuse.
(2) Prior to release of an offender identified under this
section, a team consisting of representatives of the department of corrections, the division of mental health, and, as
necessary, the indeterminate sentence review board, other
divisions or administrations within the department of social
and health services, specifically including the division of
alcohol and substance abuse and the division of developmental disabilities, the appropriate regional support network, and
the providers, as appropriate, shall develop a plan, as determined necessary by the team, for delivery of treatment and
support services to the offender upon release. The team may
include a school district representative for offenders under
the age of twenty-one. The team shall consult with the
offender’s counsel, if any, and, as appropriate, the offender’s
family and community. The team shall notify the crime victim/witness program, which shall provide notice to all people
registered to receive notice under RCW 9.94A.612 of the
proposed release plan developed by the team. Victims, witnesses, and other interested people notified by the department
may provide information and comments to the department on
potential safety risk to specific individuals or classes of individuals posed by the specific offender. The team may recom[Title 72 RCW—page 34]
mend: (a) That the offender be evaluated by the *county designated mental health professional, as defined in chapter
71.05 RCW; (b) department-supervised community treatment; or (c) voluntary community mental health or chemical
dependency or abuse treatment.
(3) Prior to release of an offender identified under this
section, the team shall determine whether or not an evaluation by a county designated mental health professional is
needed. If an evaluation is recommended, the supporting documentation shall be immediately forwarded to the appropriate county designated mental health professional. The supporting documentation shall include the offender’s criminal
history, history of judicially required or administratively
ordered involuntary antipsychotic medication while in confinement, and any known history of involuntary civil commitment.
(4) If an evaluation by a county designated mental health
professional is recommended by the team, such evaluation
shall occur not more than ten days, nor less than five days,
prior to release.
(5) A second evaluation by a county designated mental
health professional shall occur on the day of release if
requested by the team, based upon new information or a
change in the offender’s mental condition, and the initial
evaluation did not result in an emergency detention or a summons under chapter 71.05 RCW.
(6) If the county designated mental health professional
determines an emergency detention under chapter 71.05
RCW is necessary, the department shall release the offender
only to a state hospital or to a consenting evaluation and treatment facility. The department shall arrange transportation of
the offender to the hospital or facility.
(7) If the county designated mental health professional
believes that a less restrictive alternative treatment is appropriate, he or she shall seek a summons, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 71.05 RCW, to require the offender to appear
at an evaluation and treatment facility. If a summons is
issued, the offender shall remain within the corrections facility until completion of his or her term of confinement and be
transported, by corrections personnel on the day of completion, directly to the identified evaluation and treatment facility.
(8) The secretary shall adopt rules to implement this section. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 362; 1999 c 214 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: The term "county designated mental health professional" as defined in RCW 71.05.020 was changed to "designated mental
health professional" by 2005 c 504 § 104.
Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See
notes following RCW 71.09.250.
Application—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 §§ 301-363: See note following
RCW 9.94A.030.
Intent—1999 c 214: "The legislature intends to improve the process of
identifying, and providing additional mental health treatment for, persons:
(1) Determined to be dangerous to themselves or others as a result of a mental disorder or a combination of a mental disorder and chemical dependency
or abuse; and (2) under, or being released from, confinement or partial confinement of the department of corrections.
The legislature does not create a presumption that any person subject to
the provisions of this act is dangerous as a result of a mental disorder or
chemical dependency or abuse. The legislature intends that every person
subject to the provisions of this act retain the amount of liberty consistent
with his or her condition, behavior, and legal status and that any restraint of
liberty be done solely on the basis of forensic and clinical practices and standards." [1999 c 214 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
Effective date—1999 c 214: "Sections 1, 2, and 4 through 9 of this act
take effect March 15, 2000." [1999 c 214 § 12.]
72.09.380 Rule making—Medicaid—Secretary of
corrections—Secretary of social and health services. The
secretaries of the department of corrections and the department of social and health services shall adopt rules and
develop working agreements which will ensure that offenders
identified under RCW 72.09.370(1) will be assisted in making application for medicaid to facilitate a decision regarding
their eligibility for such entitlements prior to the end of their
term of confinement in a correctional facility. [1999 c 214 §
3.]
72.09.380
Intent—1999 c 214: See note following RCW 72.09.370.
72.09.381 Rule making—Chapter 214, Laws of
1999—Secretary of corrections—Secretary of social and
health services. The secretary of the department of corrections and the secretary of the department of social and health
services shall, in consultation with the regional support networks and provider representatives, each adopt rules as necessary to implement chapter 214, Laws of 1999. [1999 c 214
§ 11.]
72.09.381
Intent—1999 c 214: See note following RCW 72.09.370.
72.09.400 Work ethic camp program—Findings—
Intent. The legislature finds that high crime rates and a
heightened sense of vulnerability have led to increased public
pressure on criminal justice officials to increase offender
punishment and remove the most dangerous criminals from
the streets. As a result, there is unprecedented growth in the
corrections populations and overcrowding of prisons and
local jails. Skyrocketing costs and high rates of recidivism
have become issues of major public concern. Attention must
be directed towards implementing a long-range corrections
strategy that focuses on inmate responsibility through intensive work ethic training.
The legislature finds that many offenders lack basic life
skills and have been largely unaffected by traditional correctional philosophies and programs. In addition, many firsttime offenders who enter the prison system learn more about
how to be criminals than the important qualities, values, and
skills needed to successfully adapt to a life without crime.
The legislature finds that opportunities for offenders to
improve themselves are extremely limited and there has not
been adequate emphasis on alternatives to total confinement
for nonviolent offenders.
The legislature finds that the explosion of drug crimes
since the inception of the sentencing reform act and the
response of the criminal justice system have resulted in a
much higher proportion of substance abuse-affected offenders in the state’s prisons and jails. The needs of this population differ from those of other offenders and present a great
challenge to the system. The problems are exacerbated by the
shortage of drug treatment and counseling programs both in
and outside of prisons.
The legislature finds that the concept of a work ethic
camp that requires the offender to complete an appropriate
and balanced combination of highly structured and goal-oriented work programs such as correctional industries based
work camps and/or class I and class II work projects, drug
72.09.400
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.450
rehabilitation, and intensive life management work ethic
training, can successfully reduce offender recidivism and
lower the overall cost of incarceration.
It is the purpose and intent of RCW 72.09.400 through
*72.09.420, 9.94A.690, and **section 5, chapter 338, Laws
of 1993 to implement a regimented work ethic camp that is
designed to directly address the high rate of recidivism,
reduce upwardly spiraling prison costs, preserve scarce and
high cost prison space for the most dangerous offenders, and
provide judges with a tough and sound alternative to traditional incarceration without compromising public safety.
[1993 c 338 § 1.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 72.09.420 was repealed by 1998 c 273 § 1.
**(2) 1993 c 338 § 5 was vetoed by the governor.
Severability—1993 c 338: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 c 338 § 8.]
Effective date—1993 c 338: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1993." [1993 c 338 § 9.]
Sentencing: RCW 9.94A.690.
72.09.410
72.09.410 Work ethic camp program—Generally.
The department of corrections shall establish one work ethic
camp. The secretary shall locate the work ethic camp within
an already existing department compound or facility, or in a
facility that is scheduled to come on line within the initial
implementation date outlined in this section. The facility
selected for the camp shall appropriately accommodate the
logistical and cost-effective objectives contained in RCW
72.09.400 through *72.09.420, 9.94A.690, and **section 5,
chapter 338, Laws of 1993. The department shall be ready to
assign inmates to the camp one hundred twenty days after
July 1, 1993. The department shall establish the work ethic
camp program cycle to last from one hundred twenty to one
hundred eighty days. The department shall develop all
aspects of the work ethic camp program including, but not
limited to, program standards, conduct standards, educational
components including general education development test
achievement, offender incentives, drug rehabilitation program parameters, individual and team work goals, techniques
for improving the offender’s self-esteem, citizenship skills
for successful living in the community, measures to hold the
offender accountable for his or her behavior, and the successful completion of the work ethic camp program granted to the
offender based on successful attendance, participation, and
performance as defined by the secretary. The work ethic
camp shall be designed and implemented so that offenders
are continually engaged in meaningful activities and unstructured time is kept to a minimum. In addition, the department
is encouraged to explore the integration and overlay of a military style approach to the work ethic camp. [1993 c 338 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 72.09.420 was repealed by 1998 c 273 § 1.
**(2) 1993 c 338 § 5 was vetoed by the governor.
Severability—Effective date—1993 c 338: See notes following RCW
72.09.400.
72.09.450
72.09.450 Limitation on denial of access to services
and supplies—Recoupment of assessments—Collections.
(1) An inmate shall not be denied access to services or sup[Title 72 RCW—page 35]
72.09.460
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
plies required by state or federal law solely on the basis of his
or her inability to pay for them.
(2) The department shall record all lawfully authorized
assessments for services or supplies as a debt to the department. The department shall recoup the assessments when the
inmate’s institutional account exceeds the indigency standard, and may pursue other remedies to recoup the assessments after the period of incarceration.
(3) The department shall record as a debt any costs
assessed by a court against an inmate plaintiff where the state
is providing defense pursuant to chapter 4.92 RCW. The
department shall recoup the debt when the inmate’s institutional account exceeds the indigency standard and may pursue other remedies to recoup the debt after the period of
incarceration.
(4) In order to maximize the cost-efficient collection of
unpaid offender debt existing after the period of an offender’s
incarceration, the department is authorized to use the following nonexclusive options: (a) Use the collection services
available through the department of general administration,
or (b) notwithstanding any provision of chapter 41.06 RCW,
contract with collection agencies for collection of the debts.
The costs for general administration or collection agency services shall be paid by the debtor. Any contract with a collection agency shall only be awarded after competitive bidding.
Factors the department shall consider in awarding a collection contract include but are not limited to a collection
agency’s history and reputation in the community; and the
agency’s access to a local data base that may increase the
efficiency of its collections. The servicing of an unpaid obligation to the department does not constitute assignment of a
debt, and no contract with a collection agency may remove
the department’s control over unpaid obligations owed to the
department. [1996 c 277 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 4.]
Findings—Purpose—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "The legislature finds the
increasing number of inmates incarcerated in state correctional institutions,
and the expenses associated with their incarceration, require expanded
efforts to contain corrections costs. Cost containment requires improved
planning and oversight, and increased accountability and responsibility on
the part of inmates and the department.
The legislature further finds motivating inmates to participate in meaningful education and work programs in order to learn transferable skills and
earn basic privileges is an effective and efficient way to meet the penological
objectives of the corrections system.
The purpose of this act is to assure that the department fulfills its mission to reduce offender recidivism, to mirror the values of the community by
clearly linking inmate behavior to receipt of privileges, and to prudently
manage the resources it receives through tax dollars. This purpose is accomplished through the implementation of specific cost-control measures and
creation of a planning and oversight process that will improve the department’s effectiveness and efficiencies." [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 1.]
Short title—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "This act shall be known as the department of corrections cost-efficiency and inmate responsibility omnibus act."
[1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 37.]
Severability—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 38.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
immediately [June 15, 1995]." [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 40.]
72.09.460
72.09.460 Inmate participation in education and
work programs—Legislative intent—Priorities—Rules—
[Title 72 RCW—page 36]
Department coordination and plans. (1) The legislature
intends that all inmates be required to participate in department-approved education programs, work programs, or both,
unless exempted under subsection (4) of this section. Eligible inmates who refuse to participate in available education
or work programs available at no charge to the inmates shall
lose privileges according to the system established under
RCW 72.09.130. Eligible inmates who are required to contribute financially to an education or work program and
refuse to contribute shall be placed in another work program.
Refusal to contribute shall not result in a loss of privileges.
The legislature recognizes more inmates may agree to participate in education and work programs than are available. The
department must make every effort to achieve maximum
public benefit by placing inmates in available and appropriate
education and work programs.
(2) The department shall provide access to a program of
education to all offenders who are under the age of eighteen
and who have not met high school graduation or general
equivalency diploma requirements in accordance with chapter 28A.193 RCW. The program of education established by
the department and education provider under RCW
28A.193.020 for offenders under the age of eighteen must
provide each offender a choice of curriculum that will assist
the inmate in achieving a high school diploma or general
equivalency diploma. The program of education may include
but not be limited to basic education, prevocational training,
work ethic skills, conflict resolution counseling, substance
abuse intervention, and anger management counseling. The
curriculum may balance these and other rehabilitation, work,
and training components.
(3) The department shall, to the extent possible and considering all available funds, prioritize its resources to meet
the following goals for inmates in the order listed:
(a) Achievement of basic academic skills through
obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent and
achievement of vocational skills necessary for purposes of
work programs and for an inmate to qualify for work upon
release;
(b) Additional work and education programs based on
assessments and placements under subsection (5) of this section; and
(c) Other work and education programs as appropriate.
(4) The department shall establish, by rule, objective
medical standards to determine when an inmate is physically
or mentally unable to participate in available education or
work programs. When the department determines an inmate
is permanently unable to participate in any available education or work program due to a medical condition, the inmate
is exempt from the requirement under subsection (1) of this
section. When the department determines an inmate is temporarily unable to participate in an education or work program due to a medical condition, the inmate is exempt from
the requirement of subsection (1) of this section for the period
of time he or she is temporarily disabled. The department
shall periodically review the medical condition of all temporarily disabled inmates to ensure the earliest possible entry or
reentry by inmates into available programming.
(5) The department shall establish, by rule, standards for
participation in department-approved education and work
programs. The standards shall address the following areas:
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
(a) Assessment. The department shall assess all inmates
for their basic academic skill levels using a professionally
accepted method of scoring reading, math, and language
skills as grade level equivalents. The department shall determine an inmate’s education history, work history, and vocational or work skills. The initial assessment shall be conducted, whenever possible, within the first thirty days of an
inmate’s entry into the correctional system, except that initial
assessments are not required for inmates who are sentenced
to life without the possibility of release, assigned to an intensive management unit within the first thirty days after entry
into the correctional system, are returning to the correctional
system within one year of a prior release, or whose physical
or mental condition renders them unable to complete the
assessment process. The department shall track and record
changes in the basic academic skill levels of all inmates
reflected in any testing or assessment performed as part of
their education programming;
(b) Placement. The department shall follow the policies
set forth in subsection (1) of this section in establishing criteria for placing inmates in education and work programs. The
department shall, to the extent possible, place all inmates
whose composite grade level score for basic academic skills
is below the eighth grade level in a combined education and
work program. The placement criteria shall include at least
the following factors:
(i) An inmate’s release date and custody level. An
inmate shall not be precluded from participating in an education or work program solely on the basis of his or her release
date, except that inmates with a release date of more than one
hundred twenty months in the future shall not comprise more
than ten percent of inmates participating in a new class I correctional industry not in existence on June 10, 2004;
(ii) An inmate’s education history and basic academic
skills;
(iii) An inmate’s work history and vocational or work
skills;
(iv) An inmate’s economic circumstances, including but
not limited to an inmate’s family support obligations; and
(v) Where applicable, an inmate’s prior performance in
department-approved education or work programs;
(c) Performance and goals. The department shall establish, and periodically review, inmate behavior standards and
program goals for all education and work programs. Inmates
shall be notified of applicable behavior standards and program goals prior to placement in an education or work program and shall be removed from the education or work program if they consistently fail to meet the standards or goals;
(d) Financial responsibility. (i) The department shall
establish a formula by which inmates, based on their ability
to pay, shall pay all or a portion of the costs or tuition of certain programs. Inmates shall, based on the formula, pay a
portion of the costs or tuition of participation in:
(A) Second and subsequent vocational programs associated with an inmate’s work programs; and
(B) An associate of arts or baccalaureate degree program
when placement in a degree program is the result of a placement made under this subsection;
(ii) Inmates shall pay all costs and tuition for participation in:
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.460
(A) Any postsecondary academic degree program which
is entered independently of a placement decision made under
this subsection; and
(B) Second and subsequent vocational programs not
associated with an inmate’s work program.
Enrollment in any program specified in (d)(ii) of this
subsection shall only be allowed by correspondence or if
there is an opening in an education or work program at the
institution where an inmate is incarcerated and no other
inmate who is placed in a program under this subsection will
be displaced; and
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section,
an inmate sentenced to life without the possibility of release:
(i) Shall not be required to participate in education programming; and
(ii) May receive not more than one postsecondary academic degree in a program offered by the department or its
contracted providers.
If an inmate sentenced to life without the possibility of
release requires prevocational or vocational training for a
work program, he or she may participate in the training subject to this section.
(6) The department shall coordinate education and work
programs among its institutions, to the greatest extent possible, to facilitate continuity of programming among inmates
transferred between institutions. Before transferring an
inmate enrolled in a program, the department shall consider
the effect the transfer will have on the inmate’s ability to continue or complete a program. This subsection shall not be
used to delay or prohibit a transfer necessary for legitimate
safety or security concerns.
(7) Before construction of a new correctional institution
or expansion of an existing correctional institution, the
department shall adopt a plan demonstrating how cable,
closed-circuit, and satellite television will be used for education and training purposes in the institution. The plan shall
specify how the use of television in the education and training
programs will improve inmates’ preparedness for available
work programs and job opportunities for which inmates may
qualify upon release.
(8) The department shall adopt a plan to reduce the perpupil cost of instruction by, among other methods, increasing
the use of volunteer instructors and implementing technological efficiencies. The plan shall be adopted by December
1996 and shall be transmitted to the legislature upon adoption. The department shall, in adoption of the plan, consider
distance learning, satellite instruction, video tape usage, computer-aided instruction, and flexible scheduling of offender
instruction.
(9) Following completion of the review required by section 27(3), chapter 19, Laws of 1995 1st sp. sess. the department shall take all necessary steps to assure the vocation and
education programs are relevant to work programs and skills
necessary to enhance the employability of inmates upon
release. [2004 c 167 § 5; 1998 c 244 § 10; 1997 c 338 § 43;
1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 5.]
Effective date—1998 c 244 § 10: "Section 10 of this act takes effect
September 1, 1998." [1998 c 244 § 18.]
Severability—1998 c 244: See RCW 28A.193.901.
Finding—Evaluation—Report—1997 c 338: See note following
RCW 13.40.0357.
[Title 72 RCW—page 37]
72.09.470
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Severability—Effective dates—1997 c 338: See notes following
RCW 5.60.060.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.470
72.09.470 Inmate contributions for cost of privileges—Standards. To the greatest extent practical, all
inmates shall contribute to the cost of privileges. The department shall establish standards by which inmates shall contribute a portion of the department’s capital costs of providing privileges, including television cable access, extended
family visitation, weight lifting, and other recreational sports
equipment and supplies. The standards shall also require
inmates to contribute a significant portion of the department’s operating costs directly associated with providing
privileges, including staff and supplies. Inmate contributions
may be in the form of individual user fees assessed against an
inmate’s institution account, deductions from an inmate’s
gross wages or gratuities, or inmates’ collective contributions
to the institutional welfare/betterment fund. The department
shall make every effort to maximize individual inmate contributions to payment for privileges. The department shall not
limit inmates’ financial support for privileges to contributions from the institutional welfare/ betterment fund. The
standards shall consider the assets available to the inmates,
the cost of administering compliance with the contribution
requirements, and shall promote a responsible work ethic.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 7.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.480
72.09.480 Inmate funds subject to deductions—Definitions—Exceptions—Child support collection actions.
(1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to this section.
(a) "Cost of incarceration" means the cost of providing
an inmate with shelter, food, clothing, transportation, supervision, and other services and supplies as may be necessary
for the maintenance and support of the inmate while in the
custody of the department, based on the average per inmate
costs established by the department and the office of financial
management.
(b) "Minimum term of confinement" means the minimum amount of time an inmate will be confined in the custody of the department, considering the sentence imposed and
adjusted for the total potential earned early release time available to the inmate.
(c) "Program" means any series of courses or classes
necessary to achieve a proficiency standard, certificate, or
postsecondary degree.
(2) When an inmate, except as provided in subsection (7)
of this section, receives any funds in addition to his or her
wages or gratuities, except settlements or awards resulting
from legal action, the additional funds shall be subject to the
following deductions and the priorities established in chapter
72.11 RCW:
(a) Five percent to the public safety and education
account for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation;
(b) Ten percent to a department personal inmate savings
account;
[Title 72 RCW—page 38]
(c) Twenty percent to the department to contribute to the
cost of incarceration;
(d) Twenty percent for payment of legal financial obligations for all inmates who have legal financial obligations
owing in any Washington state superior court; and
(e) Fifteen percent for any child support owed under a
support order.
(3) When an inmate, except as provided in subsection (7)
of this section, receives any funds from a settlement or award
resulting from a legal action, the additional funds shall be
subject to the deductions in RCW 72.09.111(1)(a) and the
priorities established in chapter 72.11 RCW.
(4) The amount deducted from an inmate’s funds under
subsection (2) of this section shall not exceed the department’s total cost of incarceration for the inmate incurred during the inmate’s minimum or actual term of confinement,
whichever is longer.
(5) The deductions required under subsection (2) of this
section shall not apply to funds received by the department on
behalf of an offender for payment of one fee-based education
or vocational program that is associated with an inmate’s
work program or a placement decision made by the department under RCW 72.09.460 to prepare an inmate for work
upon release.
An inmate may, prior to the completion of the fee-based
education or vocational program authorized under this subsection, apply to a person designated by the secretary for permission to make a change in his or her program. The secretary, or his or her designee, may approve the application
based solely on the following criteria: (a) The inmate has
been transferred to another institution by the department for
reasons unrelated to education or a change to a higher security classification and the offender’s current program is
unavailable in the offender’s new placement; (b) the inmate
entered an academic program as an undeclared major and
wishes to declare a major. No inmate may apply for more
than one change to his or her major and receive the exemption from deductions specified in this subsection; (c) the educational or vocational institution is terminating the inmate’s
current program; or (d) the offender’s training or education
has demonstrated that the current program is not the appropriate program to assist the offender to achieve a placement
decision made by the department under RCW 72.09.460 to
prepare the inmate for work upon release.
(6) The deductions required under subsection (2) of this
section shall not apply to any money received by the department, on behalf of an inmate, from family or other outside
sources for the payment of postage expenses. Money
received under this subsection may only be used for the payment of postage expenses and may not be transferred to any
other account or purpose. Money that remains unused in the
inmate’s postage fund at the time of release shall be subject to
the deductions outlined in subsection (2) of this section.
(7) When an inmate sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole, or to death under chapter
10.95 RCW, receives any funds in addition to his or her gratuities, except settlements or awards resulting from legal
action, the additional funds shall be subject to: Deductions of
five percent to the public safety and education account for the
purpose of crime victims’ compensation, twenty percent to
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
the department to contribute to the cost of incarceration, and
fifteen percent to child support payments.
(8) When an inmate sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole, or to death under chapter
10.95 RCW, receives any funds from a settlement or award
resulting from a legal action in addition to his or her gratuities, the additional funds shall be subject to: Deductions of
five percent to the public safety and education account for the
purpose of crime victims’ compensation and twenty percent
to the department to contribute to the cost of incarceration.
(9) The interest earned on an inmate savings account created as a result of the *plan in section 4, chapter 325, Laws of
1999 shall be exempt from the mandatory deductions under
this section and RCW 72.09.111.
(10) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of
the department of social and health services division of child
support from taking collection action against an inmate’s
moneys, assets, or property pursuant to chapter 26.23, 74.20,
or 74.20A RCW including, but not limited to, the collection
of moneys received by the inmate from settlements or awards
resulting from legal action. [2003 c 271 § 3; 1999 c 325 § 1;
1998 c 261 § 2; 1997 c 165 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: 1999 c 325 § 4 requires the secretary of corrections to
prepare and submit a plan to the governor and legislature by December 1,
1999.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.490
72.09.490 Policy on extended family visitation. (1)
The department shall establish a uniform policy on the privilege of extended family visitation. Not fewer than sixty days
before making any changes in any policy on extended family
visitation, the department shall: (a) Notify the appropriate
legislative committees of the proposed change; and (b) notify
the committee created under *RCW 72.09.570 of the proposed change. The department shall seek the advice of the
committee established under *RCW 72.09.570 and other
appropriate committees on all proposed changes and shall,
before the effective date of any change, offer the committees
an opportunity to provide input on proposed changes.
(2) In addition to its duties under chapter 34.05 RCW,
the department shall provide the committee established under
*RCW 72.09.570 and other appropriate committees of the
legislature a written copy of any proposed adoption, revision,
or repeal of any rule relating to extended family visitation.
Except for adoption, revision, or repeal of a rule on an emergency basis, the copy shall be provided not fewer than thirty
days before any public hearing scheduled on the rule. [1995
1st sp.s. c 19 § 9.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 72.09.570 expired July 1, 1997.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.500
72.09.500 Prohibition on weight-lifting. An inmate
found by the superintendent in the institution in which the
inmate is incarcerated to have committed an aggravated
assault against another person, under rules adopted by the
department, is prohibited from participating in weight lifting
for a period of two years from the date the finding is made. At
the conclusion of the two-year period the superintendent shall
review the inmate’s infraction record to determine if addi(2006 Ed.)
72.09.540
tional weight-lifting prohibitions are appropriate. If, based on
the review, it is determined by the superintendent that the
inmate poses a threat to the safety of others or the order of the
facility, or otherwise does not meet requirements for the
weight-lifting privilege, the superintendent may impose an
additional reasonable restriction period. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19
§ 10.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.510
72.09.510 Limitation on purchasing recreational
equipment and dietary supplements that increase muscle
mass. Purchases of recreational equipment following June
15, 1995, shall be cost-effective and, to the extent possible,
minimize an inmate’s ability to substantially increase muscle
mass. Dietary supplements made for the sole purpose of
increasing muscle mass shall not be available for purchase by
inmates unless prescribed by a physician for medical purposes or for inmates officially competing in department-sanctioned competitive weight lifting. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 11.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.520
72.09.520 Limitation on purchase of televisions. No
inmate may acquire or possess a television for personal use
for at least sixty days following completion of his or her
intake and evaluation process at the Washington Corrections
Center or the Washington Corrections Center for Women.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 12.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.530
72.09.530 Prohibition on receipt or possession of contraband—Rules. The secretary shall, in consultation with
the attorney general, adopt by rule a uniform policy that prohibits receipt or possession of anything that is determined to
be contraband. The rule shall provide consistent maximum
protection of legitimate penological interests, including
prison security and order and deterrence of criminal activity.
The rule shall protect the legitimate interests of the public and
inmates in the exchange of ideas. The secretary shall establish a method of reviewing all incoming and outgoing material, consistent with constitutional constraints, for the purpose
of confiscating anything determined to be contraband. The
secretary shall consult regularly with the committee created
under *RCW 72.09.570 on the development of the policy and
implementation of the rule. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 13.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 72.09.570 expired July 1, 1997.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.540
72.09.540 Inmate name change—Limitations on
use—Penalty. The department may require an offender who
obtains an order under RCW 4.24.130 to use the name under
which he or she was committed to the department during all
official communications with department personnel and in all
matters relating to the offender’s incarceration or community
supervision. An offender officially communicating with the
department may also use his or her new name in addition to
the name under which he or she was committed. Violation of
this section is a misdemeanor. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 15.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 39]
72.09.560
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.560
72.09.560 Camp for alien offenders. The department
is authorized to establish a camp for alien offenders and shall
be ready to assign offenders to the camp not later than January 1, 1997. The secretary shall locate the camp within the
boundaries of an existing department facility. [1998 c 245 §
140; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 21.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.09.580
72.09.580 Offender records and reports. Except as
specifically prohibited by other law, and for purposes of
determining, modifying, or monitoring compliance with conditions of community custody, community placement, or
community supervision as authorized under *RCW
9.94A.505 and 9.94A.545, the department:
(1) Shall have access to all relevant records and information in the possession of public agencies relating to offenders,
including police reports, prosecutors’ statements of probable
cause, complete criminal history information, psychological
evaluations and psychiatric hospital reports, sex offender
treatment program reports, and juvenile records; and
(2) May require periodic reports from providers of treatment or other services required by the court or the department, including progress reports, evaluations and assessments, and reports of violations of conditions imposed by the
court or the department. [1999 c 196 § 12.]
*Reviser’s note: Effective July 1, 2001, conditions of community custody, community placement, and community supervision are also contained
in various sections of chapter 9.94A RCW.
Construction—Short title—1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and
72.09.905.
Severability—1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
72.09.585
72.09.585 Mental health services information—
Required inquiries and disclosures—Release to court,
individuals, indeterminate sentence review board, state
and local agencies. (1) When the department is determining
an offender’s risk management level, the department shall
inquire of the offender and shall be told whether the offender
is subject to court-ordered treatment for mental health services or chemical dependency services. The department shall
request and the offender shall provide an authorization to
release information form that meets applicable state and federal requirements and shall provide the offender with written
notice that the department will request the offender’s mental
health and substance abuse treatment information. An
offender’s failure to inform the department of court-ordered
treatment is a violation of the conditions of supervision if the
offender is in the community and an infraction if the offender
is in confinement, and the violation or infraction is subject to
sanctions.
(2) When an offender discloses that he or she is subject
to court-ordered mental health services or chemical dependency treatment, the department shall provide the mental
health services provider or chemical dependency treatment
provider with a written request for information and any necessary authorization to release information forms. The written request shall comply with rules adopted by the depart[Title 72 RCW—page 40]
ment of social and health services or protocols developed
jointly by the department and the department of social and
health services. A single request shall be valid for the duration of the offender’s supervision in the community. Disclosures of information related to mental health services made
pursuant to a department request shall not require consent of
the offender.
(3) The information received by the department under
RCW 71.05.445 or *71.34.225 may be released to the indeterminate sentence review board as relevant to carry out its
responsibility of planning and ensuring community protection with respect to persons under its jurisdiction. Further
disclosure by the indeterminate sentence review board is subject to the limitations set forth in subsections (5) and (6) of
this section and must be consistent with the written policy of
the indeterminate sentence review board. The decision to
disclose or not shall not result in civil liability for the indeterminate sentence review board or its employees provided that
the decision was reached in good faith and without gross negligence.
(4) The information received by the department under
RCW 71.05.445 or *71.34.225 may be used to meet the statutory duties of the department to provide evidence or report
to the court. Disclosure to the public of information provided
to the court by the department related to mental health services shall be limited in accordance with RCW 9.94A.500 or
this section.
(5) The information received by the department under
RCW 71.05.445 or *71.34.225 may be disclosed by the
department to other state and local agencies as relevant to
plan for and provide offenders transition, treatment, and
supervision services, or as relevant and necessary to protect
the public and counteract the danger created by a particular
offender, and in a manner consistent with the written policy
established by the secretary. The decision to disclose or not
shall not result in civil liability for the department or its
employees so long as the decision was reached in good faith
and without gross negligence. The information received by a
state or local agency from the department shall remain confidential and subject to the limitations on disclosure set forth in
chapters 70.02, 71.05, and 71.34 RCW and, subject to these
limitations, may be released only as relevant and necessary to
counteract the danger created by a particular offender.
(6) The information received by the department under
RCW 71.05.445 or *71.34.225 may be disclosed by the
department to individuals only with respect to offenders who
have been determined by the department to have a high risk
of reoffending by a risk assessment, as defined in RCW
9.94A.030, only as relevant and necessary for those individuals to take reasonable steps for the purpose of self-protection,
or as provided in RCW 72.09.370(2). The information may
not be disclosed for the purpose of engaging the public in a
system of supervision, monitoring, and reporting offender
behavior to the department. The department must limit the
disclosure of information related to mental health services to
the public to descriptions of an offender’s behavior, risk he or
she may present to the community, and need for mental
health treatment, including medications, and shall not disclose or release to the public copies of treatment documents
or records, except as otherwise provided by law. All disclosure of information to the public must be done in a manner
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Corrections
consistent with the written policy established by the secretary. The decision to disclose or not shall not result in civil
liability for the department or its employees so long as the
decision was reached in good faith and without gross negligence. Nothing in this subsection prevents any person from
reporting to law enforcement or the department behavior that
he or she believes creates a public safety risk. [2004 c 166 §
5; 2000 c 75 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 71.34.225 was recodified as RCW 71.34.345
pursuant to 2005 c 371 § 6.
Severability—Effective dates—2004 c 166: See notes following
RCW 71.05.040.
Intent—2000 c 75: See note following RCW 71.05.445.
72.09.590 Community safety. To the extent practicable, the department shall deploy community corrections staff
on the basis of geographic areas in which offenders under the
department’s jurisdiction are located, and shall establish a
systematic means of assessing risk to the safety of those communities. [1999 c 196 § 13.]
72.09.590
Construction—Short title—1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and
72.09.905.
Severability—1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
72.09.600 Rules—Chapter 196, Laws of 1999. The
secretary of corrections may adopt rules to implement sections 1 through 13, chapter 196, Laws of 1999. [1999 c 196
§ 14.]
72.09.600
Construction—Short title—1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and
72.09.905.
72.09.650
tute shall provide to the legislature a final report on the findings of the study.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section expire December 31, 2010. [1999 c 196 § 16.]
Construction—Short title—1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and
72.09.905.
Severability—1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
72.09.620
72.09.620 Extraordinary medical placement—
Reports. The secretary shall report annually to the legislature on the number of offenders considered for an extraordinary medical placement, the number of offenders who were
granted such a placement, the number of offenders who were
denied such a placement, the length of time between initial
consideration and the placement decision for each offender
who was granted an extraordinary medical placement, the
number of offenders granted an extraordinary medical placement who were later returned to total confinement, and the
cost savings realized by the state. [1999 c 324 § 7.]
72.09.630
72.09.630 Custodial sexual misconduct—Investigation of allegations. The department shall investigate any
alleged violations of RCW 9A.44.160 or 9A.44.170 that are
alleged to have been committed by an employee or contract
personnel of the department, to determine whether there is
probable cause to believe that the allegation is true before
reporting the alleged violation to a prosecuting attorney.
[1999 c 45 § 7.]
Severability—1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
72.09.650
72.09.610 Community custody study. (Expires
December 31, 2010.) (1) The Washington state institute for
public policy shall conduct a study of the effect of the use of
community custody under chapter 196, Laws of 1999. The
study shall include the effect of chapter 196, Laws of 1999 on
recidivism and other outcomes. In its study the institute shall
consider:
(a) Recidivism, according to the definition adopted by
the institute pursuant to section 59, chapter 338, Laws of
1997;
(b) The number and seriousness level of violations of
conditions;
(c) The application of the graduated sanctions by the
department;
(d) Unauthorized absences from supervision;
(e) Payment of legal financial obligations;
(f) Unlawful use of controlled substances;
(g) Use of alcohol when abstention or treatment for alcoholism is a condition of supervision;
(h) Effects on the number of offenders who are
employed or participate in vocational rehabilitation;
(i) Participation in vocational and education programs;
and
(j) Impact on the receipt of public assistance.
(2) By January 1, 2000, the institute shall report to the
legislature on the design for the study. By January 1st of each
year thereafter, the institute shall report to the legislature on
the progress and findings of the study and make recommendations based on its findings. By January 1, 2010, the insti72.09.610
(2006 Ed.)
72.09.650 Use of force by limited authority Washington peace officers—Detention of persons. (1) An employee
of the department who is a limited authority Washington
peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use reasonable
force to detain, search, or remove persons who enter or
remain without permission within a correctional facility or
institutional grounds or whenever, upon probable cause, it
appears to such employee that a person has committed or is
attempting to commit a crime, or possesses contraband within
a correctional facility or institutional grounds. Should any
person be detained, the department shall immediately notify a
local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the
correctional facility or institutional grounds of the detainment. The department is authorized to detain the person for a
reasonable time to search the person and confiscate any contraband, and until custody of the person and any illegal contraband can be transferred to a law enforcement officer when
appropriate. An employee of the department who is a limited
authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020
may use that force necessary in the protection of persons and
properties located within the confines of the correctional
facility or institutional grounds.
(2) The rights granted in subsection (1) of this section are
in addition to any others that may exist by law including, but
not limited to, the rights granted in RCW 9A.16.020. [2001 c
11 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 11: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 13, 2001]." [2001 c 11 § 2.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 41]
72.09.660
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.09.660
72.09.660 Therapeutic drug and alcohol treatment—
Additional placements. (Expires June 30, 2010.) (1)
Through June 30, 2010, it is the intent of the legislature to
provide one hundred additional placements for therapeutic
drug and alcohol treatment in the state’s correctional institutions, above the level of placements provided on January 1,
2006.
(2) This section expires June 30, 2010. [2006 c 339 §
102.]
Intent—Part headings not law—2006 c 339: See notes following
RCW 70.96A.325.
Chapter 72.10 RCW
HEALTH CARE SERVICES—DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS
Chapter 72.10
Sections
72.10.005
72.10.010
72.10.020
72.10.030
72.10.040
72.10.050
72.10.060
Intent—Application.
Definitions.
Health services delivery plan—Reports to the legislature—
Policy for distribution of personal hygiene items—Expiration of subsection.
Contracts for services.
Rules.
Rules to implement RCW 72.10.020.
Inmates who have received mental health treatment—Notification to treatment provider at time of release.
72.09.900
72.09.900 Effective date—1981 c 136. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1981.
[1981 c 136 § 124.]
72.09.901
72.09.901 Short title. This chapter may be known and
cited as the corrections reform act of 1981. [1981 c 136 § 1.]
72.09.902
72.09.902 Construction—1981 c 136. All references
to the department or secretary of social and health services in
other chapters of the Revised Code of Washington shall be
construed as meaning the department or secretary of corrections when referring to the functions established by this chapter. [1981 c 136 § 29.]
72.09.903
72.09.903 Savings—1981 c 136. All rules and all pending business before the secretary of social and health services
and the department of social and health services pertaining to
matters transferred by RCW 72.09.040 shall be continued
and acted upon by the department of corrections.
All existing contracts and obligations pertaining to the
powers, duties, and functions transferred shall remain in full
force and effect and shall be performed by the department of
corrections.
The transfer of powers, duties, and functions under RCW
72.09.040 shall not affect the validity of any act performed
prior to July 1, 1981, by the department of social and health
services or its secretary and, except as otherwise specifically
provided, shall not affect the validity of any rights existing on
July 1, 1981.
If questions arise regarding whether any sort of obligation is properly that of the department of social and health
services or the department of corrections, such questions
shall be resolved by the director of financial management.
[1981 c 136 § 30.]
72.09.904
72.09.904 Construction—1999 c 196. Nothing in
chapter 196, Laws of 1999 shall be construed to create an
immunity or defense from liability for personal injury or
wrongful death based solely on availability of funds. [1999 c
196 § 17.]
72.09.905
72.09.905 Short title—1999 c 196. This act may be
known and cited as the offender accountability act. [1999 c
196 § 18.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 42]
72.10.005 Intent—Application. It is the intent of the
legislature that inmates in the custody of the department of
corrections receive such basic medical services as may be
mandated by the federal Constitution and the Constitution of
the state of Washington. Notwithstanding any other laws, it is
the further intent of the legislature that the department of corrections may contract directly with any persons, firms, agencies, or corporations qualified to provide such services. Nothing in this chapter is to be construed to authorize a reduction
in state employment in service component areas presently
rendering such services or to preclude work typically and historically performed by department employees. [1989 c 157 §
1.]
72.10.005
72.10.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Department" means the department of corrections.
(2) "Health care practitioner" means an individual or
firm licensed or certified to actively engage in a regulated
health profession.
(3) "Health profession" means those licensed or regulated professions set forth in RCW 18.120.020(4).
(4) "Health care facility" means any hospital, hospice
care center, licensed or certified health care facility, health
maintenance organization regulated under chapter 48.46
RCW, federally qualified health maintenance organization,
federally approved renal dialysis center or facility, or federally approved blood bank.
(5) "Health care services" means medical, dental, and
mental health care services.
(6) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department.
(7) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the department, or
his or her designee. [1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 16; 1989 c 157 § 2.]
72.10.010
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.10.020 Health services delivery plan—Reports to
the legislature—Policy for distribution of personal
hygiene items—Expiration of subsection. (1) Upon entry
into the correctional system, offenders shall receive an initial
medical examination. The department shall prepare a health
profile for each offender that includes at least the following
information: (a) An identification of the offender’s serious
medical and dental needs; (b) an evaluation of the offender’s
capacity for work and recreation; and (c) a financial assessment of the offender’s ability to pay for all or a portion of his
or her health care services from personal resources or private
insurance.
72.10.020
(2006 Ed.)
Health Care Services—Department of Corrections
(2)(a) The department may develop and implement a
plan for the delivery of health care services and personal
hygiene items to offenders in the department’s correctional
facilities, at the discretion of the secretary, and in conformity
with federal law.
(b) To discourage unwarranted use of health care services caused by unnecessary visits to health care providers,
offenders shall participate in the costs of their health care services by paying a nominal amount of no less than three dollars per visit, as determined by the secretary. Under the
authority granted in RCW 72.01.050(2), the secretary may
authorize the superintendent to collect this amount directly
from an offender’s institution account. All copayments collected from offenders’ institution accounts shall be deposited
into the general fund.
(c) Offenders are required to make copayments for initial
health care visits that are offender initiated and, by rule
adopted by the department, may be charged a copayment for
subsequent visits related to the medical condition which
caused the initial visit. Offenders are not required to pay for
emergency treatment or for visits initiated by health care staff
or treatment of those conditions that constitute a serious
health care need.
(d) No offender may be refused any health care service
because of indigence.
(e) At no time shall the withdrawal of funds for the payment of a medical service copayment result in reducing an
offender’s institution account to an amount less than the level
of indigency as defined in chapter 72.09 RCW.
(3)(a) The department shall report annually to the legislature the following information for the fiscal year preceding
the report: (i) The total number of health care visits made by
offenders; (ii) the total number of copayments assessed; (iii)
the total dollar amount of copayments collected; (iv) the total
number of copayments not collected due to an offender’s
indigency; and (v) the total number of copayments not
assessed due to the serious or emergent nature of the health
care treatment or because the health care visit was not
offender initiated.
(b) The first report required under this section shall be
submitted not later than October 1, 1996, and shall include, at
a minimum, all available information collected through the
second half of fiscal year 1996. This subsection (3)(b) shall
expire December 1, 1996.
(4)(a) The secretary shall adopt, by rule, a uniform policy relating to the distribution and replenishment of personal
hygiene items for inmates incarcerated in all department
institutions. The policy shall provide for the initial distribution of adequate personal hygiene items to inmates upon their
arrival at an institution.
(b) The acquisition of replenishment personal hygiene
items is the responsibility of inmates, except that indigent
inmates shall not be denied adequate personal hygiene items
based on their inability to pay for them.
(c) The policy shall provide that the replenishment personal hygiene items be distributed to inmates only in authorized quantities and at intervals that reflect prudent use and
customary wear and consumption of the items.
(5) The following become a debt and are subject to RCW
72.09.450:
(2006 Ed.)
72.10.060
(a) All copayments under subsection (2) of this section
that are not collected when the visit occurs; and
(b) All charges for replenishment personal hygiene items
that are not collected when the item is distributed. [1995 1st
sp.s. c 19 § 17; 1989 c 157 § 3.]
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.10.030 Contracts for services. (1) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of law, the secretary may enter into contracts with health care practitioners, health care facilities, and
other entities or agents as may be necessary to provide basic
medical care to inmates. The contracts shall not cause the termination of classified employees of the department rendering
the services at the time the contract is executed.
(2) In contracting for services, the secretary is authorized
to provide for indemnification of health care practitioners
who cannot obtain professional liability insurance through
reasonable effort, from liability on any action, claim, or proceeding instituted against them arising out of the good faith
performance or failure of performance of services on behalf
of the department. The contracts may provide that for the purposes of chapter 4.92 RCW only, those health care practitioners with whom the department has contracted shall be considered state employees. [1989 c 157 § 4.]
72.10.030
72.10.040 Rules. The secretary shall have the power to
make rules necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter.
[1989 c 157 § 5.]
72.10.040
72.10.050 Rules to implement RCW 72.10.020. The
department shall adopt rules to implement RCW 72.10.020.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 18.]
72.10.050
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
72.10.060 Inmates who have received mental health
treatment—Notification to treatment provider at time of
release. The secretary shall, for any person committed to a
state correctional facility after July 1, 1998, inquire at the
time of commitment whether the person had received outpatient mental health treatment within the two years preceding
confinement and the name of the person providing the treatment.
The secretary shall inquire of the treatment provider if he
or she wishes to be notified of the release of the person from
confinement, for purposes of offering treatment upon the
inmate’s release. If the treatment provider wishes to be notified of the inmate’s release, the secretary shall attempt to provide such notice at least seven days prior to release.
At the time of an inmate’s release if the secretary is
unable to locate the treatment provider, the secretary shall
notify the regional support network in the county the inmate
will most likely reside following release.
If the secretary has, prior to the release from the facility,
evaluated the inmate and determined he or she requires postrelease mental health treatment, a copy of relevant records
and reports relating to the inmate’s mental health treatment or
status shall be promptly made available to the offender’s
present or future treatment provider. The secretary shall
determine which records and reports are relevant and may
72.10.060
[Title 72 RCW—page 43]
Chapter 72.11
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
provide a summary in lieu of copies of the records. [1998 c
297 § 48.]
Effective dates—Severability—Intent—1998 c 297: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.
Chapter 72.11 RCW
OFFENDERS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEGAL
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Further, unless specifically altered herein, court-ordered
legal financial obligations shall be paid. [2002 c 126 § 1;
1989 c 252 § 23.]
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
Chapter 72.11
Sections
72.11.010
72.11.020
72.11.030
72.11.040
Definitions.
Inmate funds—Legal financial obligations—Disbursal by secretary.
Inmate accounts—Legal financial obligations—Priority—
Deductions.
Cost of supervision fund.
72.11.010
72.11.010 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context, the following words and
phrases as hereafter used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Court-ordered legal financial obligation" means a
sum of money that is ordered by a superior court of the state
of Washington for payment of restitution to a victim, statutorily imposed crime victims compensation fee, court costs, a
county or interlocal drug fund, court-appointed attorneys’
fees and costs of defense, fines, and any other legal financial
obligation that is assessed as a result of a felony conviction.
(2) "Department" means the department of corrections.
(3) "Offender" means an individual who is currently
under the jurisdiction of the Washington state department of
corrections, and who also has a court-ordered legal financial
obligation as a result of a felony conviction.
(4) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of
corrections or the secretary’s designee.
(5) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Washington
state department of corrections. [1989 c 252 § 22.]
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.11.020
72.11.020 Inmate funds—Legal financial obligations—Disbursal by secretary. The secretary shall be custodian of all funds of a convicted person that are in his or her
possession upon admission to a state institution, or that are
sent or brought to the person, or earned by the person while in
custody, or that are forwarded to the superintendent on behalf
of a convicted person. All such funds shall be deposited in the
personal account of the convicted person within the institutional resident deposit account as established by the office of
financial management pursuant to RCW 43.88.195, and the
secretary shall have authority to disburse money from such
person’s personal account for the purposes of satisfying a
court-ordered legal financial obligation to the court. Legal
financial obligation deductions shall be made as stated in
RCW 72.09.111(1) and 72.65.050 without exception. Unless
specifically granted authority herein, at no time shall the
withdrawal of funds for the payment of a legal financial obligation result in reducing the inmate’s account to an amount
less than the defined level of indigency to be determined by
the department.
[Title 72 RCW—page 44]
72.11.030
72.11.030 Inmate accounts—Legal financial obligations—Priority—Deductions. (1) Except as otherwise provided herein, all court-ordered legal financial obligations
shall take priority over any other statutorily imposed mandatory withdrawals from inmate’s accounts.
(2) For those inmates who are on work release pursuant
to chapter 72.65 RCW, before any legal financial obligations
are withdrawn from the inmate’s account, the inmate is entitled to payroll deductions that are required by law, or such
payroll deductions as may reasonably be required by the
nature of the employment unless any such amount which his
or her work release plan specifies should be retained to help
meet the inmate’s needs, including costs necessary for his or
her participation in the work release plan such as travel,
meals, clothing, tools, and other incidentals.
(3) Before the payment of any court-ordered legal financial obligation is required, the department is entitled to reimbursement for any expenses advanced for vocational training
pursuant to RCW 72.65.020(2), for expenses incident to a
work release plan pursuant to RCW 72.65.090, payments for
board and room charges for the work release participant, and
payments that are necessary for the support of the work
release participant’s dependents, if any. [1989 c 252 § 24.]
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.11.040
72.11.040 Cost of supervision fund. The cost of supervision fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All
receipts from assessments made under RCW 9.94A.780 and
72.04A.120 shall be deposited into the fund. Expenditures
from the fund may be used only to support the collection of
legal financial obligations. During the 2005-2007 biennium,
funds from the account may also be used for costs associated
with the department’s supervision of the offenders in the
community. Only the secretary of the department of corrections or the secretary’s designee may authorize expenditures
from the fund. The fund is subject to allotment procedures
under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required
for expenditures. [2005 c 518 § 943; 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 §
936; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 7 § 919; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 914; 1999
c 309 § 921; 1989 c 252 § 26.]
Severability—Effective date—2005 c 518: See notes following RCW
28A.305.210.
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Severability—Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.320.110.
Severability—Effective date—2000 2nd sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 41.05.143.
Severability—Effective date—1999 c 309: See notes following RCW
41.06.152.
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
(2006 Ed.)
Green Hill School
Chapter 72.16
Chapter 72.16 RCW
GREEN HILL SCHOOL
Sections
72.16.010
72.16.020
72.19.050
Educational programs for residential school residents: RCW 28A.190.020
through 28A.190.060.
72.19.010
School established.
Purpose of school.
Basic juvenile court act: Chapter 13.04 RCW.
Child under eighteen convicted of crime amounting to felony—Placement—
Segregation from adult offenders: RCW 72.01.410.
Commitment: Chapter 13.04 RCW.
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
Disturbances at state penal facilities
development of contingency plans—Scope—Local participation: RCW
72.02.150.
reimbursement to cities and counties for certain expenses incurred: RCW
72.72.050, 72.72.060.
utilization of outside law enforcement personnel—Scope: RCW
72.02.160.
Educational programs for residential school residents: RCW 28A.190.020
through 28A.190.060.
Financial responsibility for cost of detention of minor: RCW 13.16.085.
Fugitives of this state: Chapter 10.34 RCW.
72.19.010 Institution established—Location. There is
hereby established under the supervision and control of the
secretary of social and health services a correctional institution for the confinement and rehabilitation of juveniles committed by the juvenile courts to the department of social and
health services. Such institution shall be situated upon publicly owned lands within King county, under the supervision
of the department of natural resources, which land is located
in the vicinity of Echo Lake and more particularly situated in
Section 34, Township 24 North, Range 7 East W.M. and that
portion of Section 3, Township 23 North, Range 7 East W.M.
lying north of U.S. Highway 10, together with necessary
access routes thereto, all of which tract is leased by the
department of natural resources to the department of social
and health services for the establishment and construction of
the correctional institution authorized and provided for in this
chapter. [1979 c 141 § 222; 1963 c 165 § 1; 1961 c 183 § 1.]
72.19.020
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
72.16.010
72.16.010 School established. There is established at
Chehalis, Lewis county, an institution which shall be known
as the Green Hill school. [1959 c 28 § 72.16.010. Prior: 1955
c 230 § 1. (i) 1909 c 97 p 256 § 1; RRS § 4624. (ii) 1907 c 90
§ 1; 1890 p 271 § 1; RRS § 10299.]
72.16.020 Purpose of school. The said school shall be
for the keeping and training of all boys between the ages of
eight and eighteen years who are residents of the state of
Washington and who are lawfully committed to said institution. [1959 c 28 § 72.16.020. Prior: (i) 1909 c 97 p 256 § 2;
RRS § 4625. (ii) 1890 p 272 § 2; RRS § 10300.]
72.16.020
Chapter 72.19 RCW
JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN
KING COUNTY
Chapter 72.19
Sections
72.19.010
72.19.020
72.19.030
72.19.040
72.19.050
72.19.060
72.19.070
72.19.100
72.19.110
72.19.120
72.19.130
Institution established—Location.
Rules and regulations.
Superintendent—Appointment.
Associate superintendents—Appointment—Acting superintendent.
Powers and duties of superintendent.
Male, female, juveniles—Residential housing, separation—
Correctional programs, separation, combination.
General obligation bond issue to provide buildings—Authorized—Form, terms, etc.
General obligation bond issue to provide buildings—Bond
redemption fund—Payment from sales tax.
General obligation bond issue to provide buildings—Legislature may provide additional means of revenue.
General obligation bond issue to provide buildings—Bonds
legal investment for state and municipal corporation funds.
Referral to electorate.
Disturbances at state penal facilities
development of contingency plans—Scope—Local participation: RCW
72.02.150.
reimbursement to cities and counties for certain expenses incurred: RCW
72.72.050, 72.72.060.
utilization of outside law enforcement personnel—Scope: RCW
72.02.160.
(2006 Ed.)
72.19.020 Rules and regulations. The secretary may
make, amend and repeal rules and regulations for the administration of the juvenile correctional institution established by
this chapter in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter
and not inconsistent with law. [1979 c 141 § 223; 1961 c 183
§ 4.]
72.19.030
72.19.030 Superintendent—Appointment. The
superintendent of the correctional institution established by
this chapter shall be appointed by the secretary. [1983 1st
ex.s. c 41 § 27; 1979 c 141 § 224; 1963 c 165 § 3.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
72.19.040
72.19.040 Associate superintendents—Appointment—Acting superintendent. The superintendent, subject
to the approval of the secretary, shall appoint such associate
superintendents as shall be deemed necessary. In the event
the superintendent shall be absent from the institution, or during periods of illness or other situations incapacitating the
superintendent from properly performing his duties, one of
the associate superintendents of such institution shall act as
superintendent during such period of absence, illness or incapacity as may be designated by the secretary. [1979 c 141 §
225; 1963 c 165 § 4.]
72.19.050
72.19.050 Powers and duties of superintendent. The
superintendent shall have the following powers, duties and
responsibilities:
(1) Subject to the rules of the department, the superintendent shall have the supervision and management of the institution, of the grounds and buildings, the subordinate officers
and employees, and of the juveniles received at such institution and the custody of such persons until released or transferred as provided by law.
(2) Subject to the rules of the department and the Washington personnel resources board, appoint all subordinate
officers and employees.
(3) The superintendent shall be the custodian of the personal property of all juveniles in the institution and shall
[Title 72 RCW—page 45]
72.19.060
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
make rules governing the accounting and disposition of all
moneys received by such juveniles, not inconsistent with the
law, and subject to the approval of the secretary. [1993 c 281
§ 65; 1979 c 141 § 226; 1963 c 165 § 5.]
Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
72.19.060
72.19.060 Male, female, juveniles—Residential housing, separation—Correctional programs, separation,
combination. The plans and construction of the juvenile correctional institution established by this chapter shall provide
for adequate separation of the residential housing of the male
juvenile from the female juvenile. In all other respects, the
juvenile correctional programs for both boys and girls may be
combined or separated as the secretary deems most reasonable and effective to accomplish the reformation, training and
rehabilitation of the juvenile offender, realizing all possible
economies from the lack of necessity for duplication of facilities. [1979 c 141 § 227; 1963 c 165 § 7.]
72.19.070
72.19.070 General obligation bond issue to provide
buildings—Authorized—Form, terms, etc. For the purpose of providing needful buildings at the correctional institution for the confinement and rehabilitation of juveniles situated in King county in the vicinity of Echo Lake which institution was established by the provisions of this chapter, the
state finance committee is hereby authorized to issue, at any
time prior to January 1, 1970, general obligation bonds of the
state of Washington in the sum of four million six hundred
thousand dollars, or so much thereof as shall be required to
finance the program above set forth, to be paid and discharged within twenty years of the date of issuance.
The state finance committee is authorized to prescribe
the form of such bonds, and the time of sale of all or any portion or portions of such bonds, and the conditions of sale and
issuance thereof: PROVIDED, That none of the bonds herein
authorized shall be sold for less than the par value thereof,
nor shall they bear interest at a rate in excess of four percent
per annum.
The bonds shall pledge the full faith and credit of the
state of Washington and contain an unconditional promise to
pay the principal and interest when due. The committee may
provide that the bonds, or any of them, may be called prior to
the due date thereof under such terms and conditions as it
may determine. The state finance committee may authorize
the use of facsimile signatures in the issuance of the bonds.
[1963 ex.s. c 27 § 1.]
72.19.100
72.19.100 General obligation bond issue to provide
buildings—Bond redemption fund—Payment from sales
tax. The juvenile correctional institution building bond
redemption fund is hereby created in the state treasury, which
fund shall be exclusively devoted to the payment of interest
on and retirement of the bonds authorized by RCW 72.19.070
through 72.19.130. The state finance committee shall, on or
before June 30th of each year, certify to the state treasurer the
amount needed in the ensuing twelve months to meet bond
retirement and interest requirements and the state treasurer
shall thereupon deposit such amount in said juvenile correctional institution building bond redemption fund from moneys transmitted to the state treasurer by the department of rev[Title 72 RCW—page 46]
enue and certified by the department of revenue to be sales
tax collections and such amount certified by the state finance
committee to the state treasurer shall be a prior charge against
all retail sales tax revenues of the state of Washington, except
that portion thereof heretofore pledged for the payment of
bond principal and interest.
The owner and holder of each of said bonds or the trustee
for any of the bonds may by mandamus or other appropriate
proceeding require and compel the transfer and payment of
funds as directed herein. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 35; 1963
ex.s. c 27 § 4.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
72.19.110
72.19.110 General obligation bond issue to provide
buildings—Legislature may provide additional means of
revenue. The legislature may provide additional means for
raising moneys for the payment of the interest and principal
of the bonds authorized herein and RCW 72.19.070 through
72.19.130 shall not be deemed to provide an exclusive
method for such payment. [1963 ex.s. c 27 § 5.]
72.19.120
72.19.120 General obligation bond issue to provide
buildings—Bonds legal investment for state and municipal corporation funds. The bonds herein authorized shall be
a legal investment for all state funds or for funds under state
control and all funds of municipal corporations. [1963 ex.s. c
27 § 6.]
72.19.130
72.19.130 Referral to electorate. This act shall be submitted to the people for their adoption and ratification, or
rejection, at the general election to be held in this state on the
Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November,
1964, in accordance with the provisions of section 3, Article
VIII of the state Constitution; and in accordance with the provisions of section 1, Article II of the state Constitution, as
amended, and the laws adopted to facilitate the operation
thereof. [1963 ex.s. c 27 § 7.]
Chapter 72.20
Chapter 72.20 RCW
MAPLE LANE SCHOOL
Sections
72.20.001
72.20.010
72.20.020
72.20.040
72.20.050
72.20.060
72.20.065
72.20.070
72.20.090
Definitions.
School established.
Management—Superintendent.
Duties of superintendent.
Parole or discharge—Behavior credits.
Conditional parole—Apprehension on escape or violation of
parole.
Intrusion—Enticement away of girls—Interference—Penalty.
Eligibility restricted.
Hiring out—Apprenticeships—Compensation.
Basic juvenile court act: Chapter 13.04 RCW.
Child under eighteen convicted of crime amounting to felony—Placement—
Segregation from adult offenders: RCW 72.01.410.
Commitment: Chapter 13.04 RCW.
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
Disturbances at state penal facilities
development of contingency plans—Scope—Local participation: RCW
72.02.150.
(2006 Ed.)
Maple Lane School
reimbursement to cities and counties for certain expenses incurred: RCW
72.72.050, 72.72.060.
utilization of outside law enforcement personnel—Scope: RCW
72.02.160.
Educational programs for residential school residents: RCW 28A.190.020
through 28A.190.060.
Financial responsibility for cost of detention of minor: RCW 13.16.085.
Fugitives of this state: Chapter 10.34 RCW.
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
72.20.001
72.20.001 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Department" means the department of social and health
services; and
"Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services. [1981 c 136 § 98.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.20.010
72.20.010 School established. There is established at
Grand Mound, Thurston county, an institution which shall be
known as the Maple Lane school. [1959 c 28 § 72.20.010.
Prior: 1955 c 230 § 2; 1913 c 157 § 1; RRS § 4631.]
72.20.020
72.20.020 Management—Superintendent. The government, control and business management of such school
shall be vested in the secretary. The secretary shall, with the
approval of the governor, appoint a suitable superintendent of
said school, and shall designate the number of subordinate
officers and employees to be employed, and fix their respective salaries, and have power, with the like approval, to make
and enforce all such rules and regulations for the administration, government and discipline of the school as the secretary
may deem just and proper, not inconsistent with this chapter.
[1979 c 141 § 228; 1959 c 39 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.20.020.
Prior: 1913 c 157 § 3; RRS § 4633.]
Appointment of chief executive officers and subordinate employees, general
provisions: RCW 72.01.060.
72.20.040
72.20.040 Duties of superintendent. The superintendent, subject to the direction and approval of the secretary
shall:
(1) Have general supervision and control of the grounds
and buildings of the institution, the subordinate officers and
employees, and the inmates thereof, and all matters relating
to their government and discipline.
(2) Make such rules, regulations and orders, not inconsistent with law or with the rules, regulations or directions of
the secretary, as may seem to him proper or necessary for the
government of such institution and for the employment, discipline and education of the inmates, except for the program
of education provided pursuant to RCW 28A.190.030
through 28A.190.050 which shall be governed by the school
district conducting the program.
(3) Exercise such other powers, and perform such other
duties as the secretary may prescribe. [1990 c 33 § 593; 1979
ex.s. c 217 § 10; 1979 c 141 § 229; 1959 c 39 § 2; 1959 c 28
§ 72.20.040. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 5; RRS § 4635.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 217: See notes following
RCW 28A.190.020.
(2006 Ed.)
72.20.090
72.20.050
72.20.050 Parole or discharge—Behavior credits.
The department, acting with the superintendent, shall, under
a system of marks, or otherwise, fix upon a uniform plan by
which girls may be paroled or discharged from the school,
which system shall be subject to revision from time to time.
Each girl shall be credited for personal demeanor, diligence
in labor or study and for the results accomplished, and
charged for derelictions, negligence or offense. The standing
of each girl shall be made known to her as often as once a
month. [1959 c 28 § 72.20.050. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 8; RRS
§ 4638.]
72.20.060
72.20.060 Conditional parole—Apprehension on
escape or violation of parole. Every girl shall be entitled to
a trial on parole before reaching the age of twenty years, such
parole to continue for at least one year unless violated. The
superintendent and resident physician, with the approval of
the secretary, shall determine whether such parole has been
violated. Any girl committed to the school who shall escape
therefrom, or who shall violate a parole, may be apprehended
and returned to the school by any officer or citizen on written
order or request of the superintendent. [1979 c 141 § 230;
1959 c 28 § 72.20.060. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 9, part; RRS §
4639, part.]
72.20.065
72.20.065 Intrusion—Enticement away of girls—
Interference—Penalty. Any person who shall go upon the
school grounds except on lawful business, or by consent of
the superintendent, or who shall entice any girl away from the
school, or who shall in any way interfere with its management or discipline, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [1959 c
28 § 72.20.065. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 9, part; RRS § 4639,
part.]
72.20.070
72.20.070 Eligibility restricted. No girl shall be
received in the Maple Lane school who is not of sound mind,
or who is subject to epileptic or other fits, or is not possessed
of that degree of bodily health which should render her a fit
subject for the discipline of the school. It shall be the duty of
the court committing her to cause such girl to be examined by
a reputable physician to be appointed by the court, who will
certify to the above facts, which certificate shall be forwarded
to the school with the commitment. Any girl who may have
been committed to the school, not complying with the above
requirements, may be returned by the superintendent to the
court making the commitment, or to the officer or institution
last having her in charge. The department shall arrange for
the transportation of all girls to and from the school. [1959 c
28 § 72.20.070. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 10; RRS § 4640.]
72.20.090
72.20.090 Hiring out—Apprenticeships—Compensation. The superintendent shall have power to place any girl
under the age of eighteen years at any employment for
account of the institution or the girl employed, and receive
and hold the whole or any part of her wages for the benefit of
the girl less the amount necessary for her board and keep, and
may also, with the consent of any girl over fourteen years of
age, and the approval of the secretary endorsed thereon, execute indentures of apprenticeship, which shall be binding on
all parties thereto. In case any girl so apprenticed shall prove
[Title 72 RCW—page 47]
Chapter 72.23
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
untrustworthy or unsatisfactory, the superintendent may permit her to be returned to the school, and the indenture may
thereupon be canceled. If such girl shall have an unsuitable
employer, the superintendent may, with the approval of the
secretary, take her back to the school, and cancel the indenture of apprenticeship. All indentures so made shall be filed
and kept in the school. A system may also be established,
providing for compensation to girls for services rendered, and
payments may be made from time to time, not to exceed in
the aggregate to any one girl the sum of twenty-five dollars
for each year of service. [1979 c 141 § 232; 1959 c 28 §
72.20.090. Prior: 1913 c 157 § 12; RRS § 4642.]
Chapter 72.23 RCW
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FACILITIES FOR
MENTALLY ILL
Chapter 72.23
Sections
72.23.010
72.23.020
72.23.025
72.23.027
72.23.030
72.23.035
72.23.040
72.23.050
72.23.060
72.23.080
72.23.100
72.23.110
72.23.120
72.23.125
72.23.130
72.23.160
72.23.170
72.23.180
72.23.190
72.23.200
72.23.210
72.23.230
72.23.240
72.23.250
72.23.260
72.23.280
72.23.290
72.23.300
72.23.390
72.23.400
72.23.410
72.23.420
72.23.430
72.23.440
72.23.451
72.23.900
72.23.910
Definitions.
State hospitals designated.
Eastern and western state hospital boards established—Primary diagnosis of mental disorder—Duties—Institutes for
the study and treatment of mental disorders established.
Integrated service delivery—Incentives to discourage inappropriate placement—Specialized care programs.
Superintendent—Powers—Direction of clinical care, exception.
Background checks of prospective employees.
Seal of hospital.
Superintendent as witness—Exemptions from military duty.
Gifts—Record—Use.
Voluntary patients—Legal competency—Record.
Voluntary patients—Policy—Duration.
Voluntary patients—Limitation as to number.
Voluntary patients—Charges for hospitalization.
Temporary residential observation and evaluation of persons
requesting treatment.
History of patient.
Escape—Apprehension and return.
Escape of patient—Penalty for assisting.
Discharge, parole, death, escape—Notice—Certificate of discharge.
Death—Report to coroner.
Persons under eighteen—Confinement in adult wards.
Persons under eighteen—Special wards and attendants.
Patient’s property—Superintendent as custodian—Management and accounting.
Patient’s property—Delivery to superintendent as acquittance—Defense, indemnity.
Funds donated to patients.
Federal patients—Agreements authorized.
Nonresidents—Hospitalization.
Transfer of patients—Authority of transferee.
Bringing narcotics, intoxicating liquors, weapons, etc., into
institution or its grounds prohibited—Penalty.
Safe patient handling.
Workplace safety plan.
Violence prevention training.
Record of violent acts.
Noncompliance—Citation under chapter 49.17 RCW.
Technical assistance and training.
Annual report to the legislature.
Construction—Purpose—1959 c 28.
Construction—Effect on laws relating to the criminally
insane—"Insane" as used in other statutes.
Commitment to veterans’ administration or other federal agency: RCW
73.36.165.
County hospitals: Chapter 36.62 RCW.
Private mental establishments: Chapter 71.12 RCW.
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
Sexual psychopaths: Chapter 71.06 RCW.
72.23.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Court" means the superior court of the state of
Washington.
(2) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(3) "Employee" means an employee as defined in RCW
49.17.020.
(4) "Licensed physician" means an individual permitted
to practice as a physician under the laws of the state, or a
medical officer, similarly qualified, of the government of the
United States while in this state in performance of his or her
official duties.
(5) "Mentally ill person" means any person who, pursuant to the definitions contained in RCW 71.05.020, as a result
of a mental disorder presents a likelihood of serious harm to
others or himself or herself or is gravely disabled.
(6) "Patient" means a person under observation, care, or
treatment in a state hospital, or a person found mentally ill by
the court, and not discharged from a state hospital, or other
facility, to which such person had been ordered hospitalized.
(7) "Resident" means a resident of the state of Washington.
(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health
services.
(9) "State hospital" means any hospital, including a child
study and treatment center, operated and maintained by the
state of Washington for the care of the mentally ill.
(10) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a
state hospital.
(11) "Violence" or "violent act" means any physical
assault or attempted physical assault against an employee or
patient of a state hospital.
Wherever used in this chapter, the masculine shall
include the feminine and the singular shall include the plural.
[2000 c 22 § 2; 1981 c 136 § 99; 1974 ex.s. c 145 § 2; 1973
1st ex.s. c 142 § 3; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.010. Prior: 1951 c 139
§ 2. Formerly RCW 71.02.010.]
72.23.010
Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Severability—Construction—Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 142:
See RCW 71.05.900 through 71.05.930.
72.23.020 State hospitals designated. There are
hereby permanently located and established the following
state hospitals: Western state hospital at Fort Steilacoom,
Pierce county; eastern state hospital at Medical Lake, Spokane county; and northern state hospital near Sedro Woolley,
Skagit county. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.020. Prior: 1951 c 139 §
6. Formerly RCW 71.02.440.]
72.23.020
Division of mental health: Chapter 43.20A RCW.
72.23.025 Eastern and western state hospital boards
established—Primary diagnosis of mental disorder—
Duties—Institutes for the study and treatment of mental
disorders established. (1) It is the intent of the legislature to
72.23.025
Mental illness, commitment procedures, rights, etc.: Chapter 71.05 RCW.
Minors—Mental health services, commitment: Chapter 71.34 RCW.
Out-of-state physicians, conditional license to practice in conjunction with
institutions: RCW 18.71.095.
[Title 72 RCW—page 48]
(2006 Ed.)
Public and Private Facilities for Mentally Ill
improve the quality of service at state hospitals, eliminate
overcrowding, and more specifically define the role of the
state hospitals. The legislature intends that eastern and western state hospitals shall become clinical centers for handling
the most complicated long-term care needs of patients with a
primary diagnosis of mental disorder. To this end, the legislature intends that funds appropriated for mental health programs, including funds for regional support networks and the
state hospitals be used for persons with primary diagnosis of
mental disorder. The legislature finds that establishment of
the eastern state hospital board, the western state hospital
board, and institutes for the study and treatment of mental
disorders at both eastern state hospital and western state hospital will be instrumental in implementing the legislative
intent.
(2)(a) The eastern state hospital board and the western
state hospital board are each established. Members of the
boards shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of
the senate. Each board shall include:
(i) The director of the institute for the study and treatment of mental disorders established at the hospital;
(ii) One family member of a current or recent hospital
resident;
(iii) One consumer of services;
(iv) One community mental health service provider;
(v) Two citizens with no financial or professional interest in mental health services;
(vi) One representative of the regional support network
in which the hospital is located;
(vii) One representative from the staff who is a physician;
(viii) One representative from the nursing staff;
(ix) One representative from the other professional staff;
(x) One representative from the nonprofessional staff;
and
(xi) One representative of a minority community.
(b) At least one representative listed in (a)(viii), (ix), or
(x) of this subsection shall be a union member.
(c) Members shall serve four-year terms. Members of
the board shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided
in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 and shall receive compensation as provided in RCW 43.03.240.
(3) The boards established under this section shall:
(a) Monitor the operation and activities of the hospital;
(b) Review and advise on the hospital budget;
(c) Make recommendations to the governor and the legislature for improving the quality of service provided by the
hospital;
(d) Monitor and review the activities of the hospital in
implementing the intent of the legislature set forth in this section; and
(e) Consult with the secretary regarding persons the secretary may select as the superintendent of the hospital whenever a vacancy occurs.
(4)(a) There is established at eastern state hospital and
western state hospital, institutes for the study and treatment
of mental disorders. The institutes shall be operated by joint
operating agreements between state colleges and universities
and the department of social and health services. The institutes are intended to conduct training, research, and clinical
program development activities that will directly benefit
(2006 Ed.)
72.23.027
mentally ill persons receiving treatment in Washington state
by performing the following activities:
(i) Promote recruitment and retention of highly qualified
professionals at the state hospitals and community mental
health programs;
(ii) Improve clinical care by exploring new, innovative,
and scientifically based treatment models for persons presenting particularly difficult and complicated clinical syndromes;
(iii) Provide expanded training opportunities for existing
staff at the state hospitals and community mental health programs;
(iv) Promote bilateral understanding of treatment orientation, possibilities, and challenges between state hospital
professionals and community mental health professionals.
(b) To accomplish these purposes the institutes may,
within funds appropriated for this purpose:
(i) Enter joint operating agreements with state universities or other institutions of higher education to accomplish
the placement and training of students and faculty in psychiatry, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, nursing,
and other relevant professions at the state hospitals and community mental health programs;
(ii) Design and implement clinical research projects to
improve the quality and effectiveness of state hospital services and operations;
(iii) Enter into agreements with community mental
health service providers to accomplish the exchange of professional staff between the state hospitals and community
mental health service providers;
(iv) Establish a student loan forgiveness and conditional
scholarship program to retain qualified professionals at the
state hospitals and community mental health providers when
the secretary has determined a shortage of such professionals
exists.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the
contrary, the institutes may enter into agreements with the
department or the state hospitals which may involve changes
in staffing necessary to implement improved patient care programs contemplated by this section.
(d) The institutes are authorized to seek and accept public or private gifts, grants, contracts, or donations to accomplish their purposes under this section. [2006 c 333 § 204;
1998 c 245 § 141; 1992 c 230 § 1; 1989 c 205 § 21.]
Finding—Purpose—Intent—Severability—Part headings not
law—Effective dates—2006 c 333: See notes following RCW 71.24.016.
Intent—1992 c 230: "It is the intent of this act to:
(1) Focus, restate, and emphasize the legislature’s commitment to the
mental health reform embodied in chapter 111 [205], Laws of 1989 (SB
5400);
(2) Eliminate, or schedule for repeal, statutes that are no longer relevant to the regulation of the state’s mental health program; and
(3) Reaffirm the state’s commitment to provide incentives that reduce
reliance on inappropriate state hospital or other inpatient care." [1992 c 230
§ 3.]
Evaluation of transition to regional systems—1989 c 205: See note
following RCW 71.24.015.
72.23.027
72.23.027 Integrated service delivery—Incentives to
discourage inappropriate placement—Specialized care
programs. The secretary shall develop a system of more
integrated service delivery, including incentives to discour[Title 72 RCW—page 49]
72.23.030
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
age the inappropriate placement of persons with developmental disabilities, head injury, and substance abuse, at state
mental hospitals and encourage their care in community settings. By December 1, 1992, the department shall submit an
implementation strategy, including budget proposals, to the
appropriate committees of the legislature for this system.
Under the system, state, local, or community agencies
may be given financial or other incentives to develop appropriate crisis intervention and community care arrangements.
The secretary may establish specialized care programs
for persons described in this section on the grounds of the
state hospitals. Such programs may operate according to professional standards that do not conform to existing federal or
private hospital accreditation standards. [1992 c 230 § 2.]
Intent—1992 c 230: See note following RCW 72.23.025.
72.23.030
72.23.030 Superintendent—Powers—Direction of
clinical care, exception. The superintendent of a state hospital subject to rules of the department, shall have control of
the internal government and economy of a state hospital and
shall appoint and direct all subordinate officers and employees. If the superintendent is not a psychiatrist, clinical care
shall be under the direction of a qualified psychiatrist. [1983
1st ex.s. c 41 § 28; 1969 c 56 § 2; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.030.
Prior: 1951 c 139 § 7. Formerly RCW 71.02.510.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Appointment of chief executive officers: RCW 72.01.060.
72.23.035
72.23.035 Background checks of prospective employees. In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary shall have the power and duty to investigate the conviction record and the protection proceeding record information under chapter 43.43 RCW of each prospective employee
of a state hospital. [1989 c 334 § 12.]
72.23.040
72.23.040 Seal of hospital. The superintendent shall
provide an official seal upon which shall be inscribed the statutory name of the hospital under his charge and the name of
the state. He shall affix the seal of the hospital to any notice,
order of discharge, or other paper required to be given by him
or issued. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.040. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 8. Formerly RCW 71.02.540.]
72.23.050
72.23.050 Superintendent as witness—Exemptions
from military duty. The superintendent shall not be
required to attend any court as a witness in a civil or juvenile
court proceedings, but parties desiring his testimony can take
and use his deposition; nor shall he be required to attend as a
witness in any criminal case, unless the court before which
his testimony shall be desired shall, upon being satisfied of
the materiality of his testimony require his attendance; and, in
time of peace, he and all other persons employed at the hospital shall be exempt from performing military duty; and the
certificate of the superintendent shall be evidence of such
employment. [1979 ex.s. c 135 § 5; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.050.
Prior: 1951 c 139 § 9. Formerly RCW 71.02.520.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 135: See note following RCW 2.36.080.
72.23.060
72.23.060 Gifts—Record—Use. The superintendent is
authorized to accept and receive from any person or organi[Title 72 RCW—page 50]
zation gifts of money or personal property on behalf of the
state hospital under his charge, or on behalf of the patients
therein. The superintendent is authorized to use such money
or personal property for the purposes specified by the donor
where such purpose is consistent with law. In the absence of
a specified use the superintendent may use such money or
personal property for the benefit of the state hospital under
his charge or for the general benefit of the patients therein.
The superintendent shall keep an accurate record of the
amount or kind of gift, the date received, and the name and
address of the donor. The superintendent may deposit any
money received as he sees fit upon the giving of adequate
security. Any increase resulting from such gift may be used
for the same purpose as the original gift. Gratuities received
for services rendered by a state hospital staff in their official
capacity shall be used for the purposes specified in this section. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.060. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 10. Formerly RCW 71.02.600.]
72.23.080
72.23.080 Voluntary patients—Legal competency—
Record. Any person received and detained in a state hospital
under chapter 71.34 RCW is deemed a voluntary patient and,
except as chapter 9.41 RCW may limit the right of a person to
purchase or possess a firearm or to qualify for a concealed
pistol license, shall not suffer a loss of legal competency by
reason of his or her application and admission. Upon the
admission of a voluntary patient to a state hospital the superintendent shall immediately forward to the department the
record of such patient showing the name, address, sex, date of
birth, place of birth, occupation, social security number, date
of admission, name of nearest relative, and such other information as the department may from time to time require.
[1994 sp.s. c 7 § 442; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.080. Prior: 1951 c
139 § 12; 1949 c 198 § 19, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6953-19,
part. Formerly RCW 71.02.040.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 401-410, 413-416, 418-437, and 439460: See note following RCW 9.41.010.
72.23.100
72.23.100 Voluntary patients—Policy—Duration. It
shall be the policy of the department to permit liberal use of
the foregoing sections for the admission of those cases that
can be benefited by treatment and returned to normal life and
mental condition, in the opinion of the superintendent, within
a period of six months. No person shall be carried as a voluntary patient for a period of more than one year. [1973 1st
ex.s. c 142 § 5; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.100. Prior: 1951 c 139 §
14; 1949 c 198 § 19, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6953-19, part.
Formerly RCW 71.02.060.]
Severability—Construction—Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 142:
See RCW 71.05.900 through 71.05.930.
72.23.110
72.23.110 Voluntary patients—Limitation as to number. If it becomes necessary because of inadequate facilities
or staff, the department may limit applicants for voluntary
admission in accordance with such rules and regulations as it
may establish. The department may refuse all applicants for
voluntary admission where lack of adequate facilities or staff
make such action necessary. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.110. Prior:
1951 c 139 § 15. Formerly RCW 71.02.070.]
(2006 Ed.)
Public and Private Facilities for Mentally Ill
72.23.120 Voluntary patients—Charges for hospitalization. Payment of hospitalization charges shall not be a
necessary requirement for voluntary admission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The department may request payment
of hospitalization charges, or any portion thereof, from the
patient or relatives of the patient within the following classifications: Spouse, parents, or children. Where the patient or
relatives within the above classifications refuse to make the
payments requested, the department shall have the right to
discharge such patient or initiate proceedings for involuntary
hospitalization. The maximum charge shall be the same for
voluntary and involuntary hospitalization. [1959 c 28 §
72.23.120. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 16. Formerly RCW
71.02.080.]
72.23.120
72.23.125 Temporary residential observation and
evaluation of persons requesting treatment. The department is directed to establish at each state hospital a procedure, including the necessary resources, to provide temporary
residential observation and evaluation of persons who request
treatment, unless admitted under *RCW 72.23.070. Temporary residential observation and evaluation under this section
shall be for a period of not less than twenty-four hours nor
more than forty-eight hours and may be provided informally
without complying with the admission procedure set forth in
*RCW 72.23.070 or the rules and regulations established
thereunder.
It is the intent of the legislature that temporary observation and evaluation as described in this section be provided in
all cases except where an alternative such as: (1) Delivery to
treatment outside the hospital, or (2) no need for treatment is
clearly indicated. [1979 ex.s. c 215 § 18.]
72.23.125
*Reviser’s note: RCW 72.23.070 was repealed by 1985 c 354 § 34,
effective January 1, 1986. Later enactment, see chapter 71.34 RCW.
72.23.130 History of patient. It shall be the duty of the
superintendent to ascertain by diligent inquiry and correspondence, the history of each and every patient admitted to his
hospital. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.130. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 40.
Formerly RCW 71.02.530.]
72.23.130
72.23.160 Escape—Apprehension and return. If a
patient shall escape from a state hospital the superintendent
shall cause immediate search to be made for him and return
him to said hospital wherever found. Notice of such escape
shall be given to the committing court who may issue an
order of apprehension and return directed to any peace officer
within the state. Notice may be given to any sheriff or peace
officer, who, when requested by the superintendent, may
apprehend and detain such escapee or return him to the state
hospital without warrant. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.160. Prior:
1951 c 139 § 43. Formerly RCW 71.02.630.]
72.23.160
72.23.170 Escape of patient—Penalty for assisting.
Any person who procures the escape of any patient of any
state hospital for the mentally ill, or institutions for psychopaths to which such patient has been lawfully committed, or
who advises, connives at, aids, or assists in such escape or
conceals any such escape, is guilty of a class C felony and
shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional
institution for a term of not more than five years or by a fine
72.23.170
(2006 Ed.)
72.23.210
of not more than five hundred dollars or by both imprisonment and fine. [2003 c 53 § 364; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.170.
Prior: 1957 c 225 § 1, part; 1949 c 198 § 20, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 6953-20, part. Formerly RCW 71.12.620, part.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
72.23.180
72.23.180 Discharge, parole, death, escape—
Notice—Certificate of discharge. Whenever a patient dies,
escapes, or is paroled or discharged from a state hospital, the
superintendent shall immediately notify the clerk of the court
which ordered such patient’s hospitalization. A copy of such
notice shall be given to the next of kin or next friend of such
patient if their names or addresses are known or can, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained. Whenever a patient is discharged the superintendent shall issue such patient a certificate of discharge. Such notice or certificate shall give the date
of parole, discharge, or death of said patient, and shall state
the reasons for parole or discharge, or the cause of death, and
shall be signed by the superintendent. [1959 c 28 §
72.23.180. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 44. Formerly RCW
71.02.640.]
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
72.23.190
72.23.190 Death—Report to coroner. In the event of
the sudden or mysterious death of any patient at a state hospital, not on parole or escape therefrom, such fact shall be
reported by the superintendent thereof to the coroner of the
county in which the death occurs. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.190.
Prior: 1951 c 139 § 45. Formerly RCW 71.02.660.]
72.23.200
72.23.200 Persons under eighteen—Confinement in
adult wards. No mentally ill person under the age of sixteen
years shall be regularly confined in any ward in any state hospital which ward is designed and operated for the care of the
mentally ill eighteen years of age or over. No person of the
ages of sixteen and seventeen shall be placed in any such
ward, when in the opinion of the superintendent such placement would be detrimental to the mental condition of such a
person or would impede his recovery or treatment. [1971
ex.s. c 292 § 52; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.200. Prior: 1951 c 139 §
46; 1949 c 198 § 17; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6953-17. Formerly
RCW 71.02.550.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 292: See note following RCW 26.28.010.
72.23.210
72.23.210 Persons under eighteen—Special wards
and attendants. The department may designate one or more
wards at one or more state hospitals as may be deemed necessary for the sole care and treatment of persons under eighteen
years of age admitted thereto. Nurses and attendants for such
ward or wards shall be selected for their special aptitude and
sympathy with such young people, and occupational therapy
and recreation shall be provided as may be deemed necessary
for their particular age requirements and mental improvement. [1971 ex.s. c 292 § 53; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.210. Prior:
1951 c 139 § 47; 1949 c 198 § 18; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
6953-18. Formerly RCW 71.02.560.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 292: See note following RCW 26.28.010.
[Title 72 RCW—page 51]
72.23.230
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.23.230
72.23.230 Patient’s property—Superintendent as
custodian—Management and accounting. The superintendent of a state hospital shall be the custodian without compensation of such personal property of a patient involuntarily
hospitalized therein as may come into the superintendent’s
possession while the patient is under the jurisdiction of the
hospital. As such custodian, the superintendent shall have
authority to disburse moneys from the patients’ funds for the
following purposes only and subject to the following limitations:
(1) The superintendent may disburse any of the funds in
his possession belonging to a patient for such personal needs
of that patient as may be deemed necessary by the superintendent; and
(2) Whenever the funds belonging to any one patient
exceed the sum of one thousand dollars or a greater sum as
established by rules and regulations of the department, the
superintendent may apply the excess to reimbursement for
state hospitalization and/or outpatient charges of such patient
to the extent of a notice and finding of responsibility issued
under RCW 43.20B.340; and
(3) When a patient is paroled, the superintendent shall
deliver unto the said patient all or such portion of the funds or
other property belonging to the patient as the superintendent
may deem necessary and proper in the interests of the
patient’s welfare, and the superintendent may during the
parole period deliver to the patient such additional property
or funds belonging to the patient as the superintendent may
from time to time determine necessary and proper. When a
patient is discharged from the jurisdiction of the hospital, the
superintendent shall deliver to such patient all funds or other
property belonging to the patient, subject to the conditions of
subsection (2) of this section.
All funds held by the superintendent as custodian may be
deposited in a single fund. Annual reports of receipts and
expenditures shall be forwarded to the department, and shall
be open to inspection by interested parties: PROVIDED,
That all interest accruing from, or as a result of the deposit of
such moneys in a single fund shall be used by the superintendent for the general welfare of all the patients of such institution: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That when the personal
accounts of patients exceed three hundred dollars, the interest
accruing from such excess shall be credited to the personal
accounts of such patients. All such expenditures shall be
accounted for by the superintendent.
The appointment of a guardian for the estate of such
patient shall terminate the superintendent’s authority to pay
state hospitalization charges from funds subject to the control
of the guardianship upon the superintendent’s receipt of a
certified copy of letters of guardianship. Upon the guardian’s
request, the superintendent shall forward to such guardian
any funds subject to the control of the guardianship or other
property of the patient remaining in the superintendent’s possession, together with a final accounting of receipts and
expenditures. [1987 c 75 § 21; 1985 c 245 § 4; 1971 c 82 § 1;
1959 c 60 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.230. Prior: 1953 c 217 § 2;
1951 c 139 § 49. Formerly RCW 71.02.570.]
Savings—Severability—1987 c 75: See RCW 43.20B.900 and
43.20B.901.
Guardianship of estate: Chapters 11.88 and 11.92 RCW.
[Title 72 RCW—page 52]
72.23.240
72.23.240 Patient’s property—Delivery to superintendent as acquittance—Defense, indemnity. Upon
receipt of a written request signed by the superintendent stating that a designated patient of such hospital is involuntarily
hospitalized therein, and that no guardian of his estate has
been appointed, any person, bank, firm or corporation having
possession of any money, bank accounts, or choses in action
owned by such patient, may, if the balance due does not
exceed one thousand dollars, deliver the same to the superintendent and mail written notice thereof to such patient at such
hospital. The receipt of the superintendent shall be full and
complete acquittance for such payment and the person, bank,
firm or corporation making such payment shall not be liable
to the patient or his legal representatives. All funds so
received by the superintendent shall be deposited in such
patient’s personal account at such hospital and be administered in accordance with this chapter.
If any proceeding is brought in any court to recover
property so delivered, the attorney general shall defend the
same without cost to the person, bank, firm or corporation
effecting such delivery, and the state shall indemnify such
person, bank, firm or corporation against any judgment rendered as a result of such proceeding. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.240.
Prior: 1953 c 217 § 1. Formerly RCW 71.02.575.]
72.23.250
72.23.250 Funds donated to patients. The superintendent shall also have authority to receive funds for the benefit
of individual patients and may disburse such funds according
to the instructions of the donor of such funds. [1959 c 28 §
72.23.250. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 50. Formerly RCW
71.02.580.]
72.23.260
72.23.260 Federal patients—Agreements authorized.
The department shall have the power, in the name of the state,
to enter into contracts with any duly authorized representative of the United States government, providing for the
admission to, and the separate or joint observation, maintenance, care, treatment and custody in, state hospitals of persons entitled to or requiring the same, at the expense of the
United States, and contracts providing for the separate or
joint maintenance, care, treatment or custody of such persons
hospitalized in the manner provided by law, and to perform
such contracts, which contracts shall provide that all payments due the state of Washington from the United States for
services rendered under said contracts shall be paid to the
department. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.260. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 65.
Formerly RCW 71.02.460.]
72.23.280
72.23.280 Nonresidents—Hospitalization. Nonresidents of this state conveyed or coming herein while mentally
ill shall not be hospitalized in a state hospital, but this prohibition shall not prevent the hospitalization and temporary
care in said hospitals of such persons stricken with mental illness while traveling or temporarily sojourning in this state, or
sailors attacked with mental illness upon the high seas and
first arriving thereafter in some port within this state. [1959
c 28 § 72.23.280. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 67. Formerly RCW
71.02.470.]
(2006 Ed.)
Public and Private Facilities for Mentally Ill
72.23.290
72.23.290 Transfer of patients—Authority of transferee. Whenever it appears to be to the best interests of the
patients concerned, the department shall have the authority to
transfer such patients among the various state hospitals pursuant to rules and regulations established by said department.
The superintendent of a state hospital shall also have authority to transfer patients eligible for treatment to the veterans
administration or other United States government agency
where such transfer is satisfactory to such agency. Such
agency shall possess the same authority over such patients as
the superintendent would have possessed had the patient
remained in a state hospital. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.290. Prior:
1951 c 139 § 68. Formerly RCW 71.02.480.]
Commitment to veterans’ administration or other federal agency: RCW
73.36.165.
72.23.300
72.23.300 Bringing narcotics, intoxicating liquors,
weapons, etc., into institution or its grounds prohibited—
Penalty. Any person not authorized by law so to do, who
brings into any state institution for the care and treatment of
mental illness or within the grounds thereof, any opium, morphine, cocaine or other narcotic, or any intoxicating liquor of
any kind whatever, except for medicinal or mechanical purposes, or any firearms, weapons, or explosives of any kind is
guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter
9A.20 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 365; 1959 c 28 § 72.23.300. Prior:
1949 c 198 § 52; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6932-52. Formerly
RCW 71.12.630.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Uniform controlled substances act: Chapter 69.50 RCW.
72.23.390
72.23.390 Safe patient handling. (1) The definitions in
this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Lift team" means hospital employees specially
trained to conduct patient lifts, transfers, and repositioning
using lifting equipment when appropriate.
(b) "Safe patient handling" means the use of engineering
controls, lifting and transfer aids, or assistive devices, by lift
teams or other staff, instead of manual lifting to perform the
acts of lifting, transferring, and repositioning health care
patients and residents.
(c) "Musculoskeletal disorders" means conditions that
involve the nerves, tendons, muscles, and supporting structures of the body.
(2) By February 1, 2007, each hospital must establish a
safe patient handling committee either by creating a new
committee or assigning the functions of a safe patient handling committee to an existing committee. The purpose of
the committee is to design and recommend the process for
implementing a safe patient handling program. At least half
of the members of the safe patient handling committee shall
be frontline nonmanagerial employees who provide direct
care to patients unless doing so will adversely affect patient
care.
(3) By December 1, 2007, each hospital must establish a
safe patient handling program. As part of this program, a
hospital must:
(a) Implement a safe patient handling policy for all shifts
and units of the hospital. Implementation of the safe patient
(2006 Ed.)
72.23.400
handling policy may be phased-in with the acquisition of
equipment under subsection (4) of this section;
(b) Conduct a patient handling hazard assessment. This
assessment should consider such variables as patient-handling tasks, types of nursing units, patient populations, and
the physical environment of patient care areas;
(c) Develop a process to identify the appropriate use of
the safe patient handling policy based on the patient’s physical and medical condition and the availability of lifting
equipment or lift teams;
(d) Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the
program to determine its effectiveness, with the results of the
evaluation reported to the safe patient handling committee.
The evaluation shall determine the extent to which implementation of the program has resulted in a reduction in musculoskeletal disorder claims and days of lost work attributable to musculoskeletal disorder caused by patient handling,
and include recommendations to increase the program’s
effectiveness; and
(e) When developing architectural plans for constructing
or remodeling a hospital or a unit of a hospital in which
patient handling and movement occurs, consider the feasibility of incorporating patient handling equipment or the physical space and construction design needed to incorporate that
equipment at a later date.
(4) By January 30, 2010, hospitals must complete acquisition of their choice of: (a) One readily available lift per
acute care unit on the same floor, unless the safe patient handling committee determines a lift is unnecessary in the unit;
(b) one lift for every ten acute care available inpatient beds;
or (c) equipment for use by lift teams. Hospitals must train
staff on policies, equipment, and devices at least annually.
(5) Nothing in this section precludes lift team members
from performing other duties as assigned during their shift.
(6) A hospital shall develop procedures for hospital
employees to refuse to perform or be involved in patient handling or movement that the hospital employee believes in
good faith will expose a patient or a hospital employee to an
unacceptable risk of injury. A hospital employee who in
good faith follows the procedure developed by the hospital in
accordance with this subsection shall not be the subject of
disciplinary action by the hospital for the refusal to perform
or be involved in the patient handling or movement. [2006 c
165 § 3.]
Findings—2006 c 165: See note following RCW 70.41.390.
72.23.400
72.23.400 Workplace safety plan. (1) By November 1,
2000, each state hospital shall develop a plan, for implementation by January 1, 2001, to reasonably prevent and protect
employees from violence at the state hospital. The plan shall
be developed with input from the state hospital’s safety committee, which includes representation from management,
unions, nursing, psychiatry, and key function staff as appropriate. The plan shall address security considerations related
to the following items, as appropriate to the particular state
hospital, based upon the hazards identified in the assessment
required under subsection (2) of this section:
(a) The physical attributes of the state hospital including
access control, egress control, door locks, lighting, and alarm
systems;
[Title 72 RCW—page 53]
72.23.410
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(b) Staffing, including security staffing;
(c) Personnel policies;
(d) First aid and emergency procedures;
(e) Reporting violent acts, taking appropriate action in
response to violent acts, and follow-up procedures after violent acts;
(f) Development of criteria for determining and reporting verbal threats;
(g) Employee education and training; and
(h) Clinical and patient policies and procedures including those related to smoking; activity, leisure, and therapeutic
programs; communication between shifts; and restraint and
seclusion.
(2) Before the development of the plan required under
subsection (1) of this section, each state hospital shall conduct a security and safety assessment to identify existing or
potential hazards for violence and determine the appropriate
preventive action to be taken. The assessment shall include,
but is not limited to analysis of data on violence and worker’s
compensation claims during at least the preceding year, input
from staff and patients such as surveys, and information relevant to subsection (1)(a) through (h) of this section.
(3) In developing the plan required by subsection (1) of
this section, the state hospital may consider any guidelines on
violence in the workplace or in the state hospital issued by the
department of health, the department of social and health services, the department of labor and industries, the federal
occupational safety and health administration, medicare, and
state hospital accrediting organizations.
(4) The plan must be evaluated, reviewed, and amended
as necessary, at least annually. [2000 c 22 § 3.]
Findings—2000 c 22: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Workplace safety is of paramount importance in state hospitals for
patients and the staff that treat them;
(2) Based on an analysis of workers’ compensation claims, the department of labor and industries reports that state hospital employees face high
rates of workplace violence in Washington state;
(3) State hospital violence is often related to the nature of the patients
served, people who are both mentally ill and too dangerous for treatment in
their home community, and people whose behavior is driven by elements of
mental illness including desperation, confusion, delusion, or hallucination;
(4) Patients and employees should be assured a reasonably safe and
secure environment in state hospitals;
(5) The state hospitals have undertaken efforts to assure that patients
and employees are safe from violence, but additional personnel training and
appropriate safeguards may be needed to prevent workplace violence and
minimize the risk and dangers affecting people in state hospitals; and
(6) Duplication and redundancy should be avoided so as to maximize
resources available for patient care." [2000 c 22 § 1.]
72.23.410
72.23.410 Violence prevention training. By July 1,
2001, and at least annually thereafter, as set forth in the plan
developed under RCW 72.23.400, each state hospital shall
provide violence prevention training to all its affected
employees as determined by the plan. Initial training shall
occur prior to assignment to a patient unit, and in addition to
his or her ongoing training as determined by the plan. The
training may vary by the plan and may include, but is not limited to, classes, videotapes, brochures, verbal training, or
other verbal or written training that is determined to be appropriate under the plan. The training shall address the following
topics, as appropriate to the particular setting and to the
duties and responsibilities of the particular employee being
[Title 72 RCW—page 54]
trained, based upon the hazards identified in the assessment
required under RCW 72.23.400:
(1) General safety procedures;
(2) Personal safety procedures and equipment;
(3) The violence escalation cycle;
(4) Violence-predicting factors;
(5) Obtaining patient history for patients with violent
behavior or a history of violent acts;
(6) Verbal and physical techniques to de-escalate and
minimize violent behavior;
(7) Strategies to avoid physical harm;
(8) Restraining techniques;
(9) Documenting and reporting incidents;
(10) The process whereby employees affected by a violent act may debrief;
(11) Any resources available to employees for coping
with violence;
(12) The state hospital’s workplace violence prevention
plan;
(13) Use of the intershift reporting process to communicate between shifts regarding patients who are agitated; and
(14) Use of the multidisciplinary treatment process or
other methods for clinicians to communicate with staff
regarding patient treatment plans and how they can collaborate to prevent violence. [2000 c 22 § 4.]
Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.
72.23.420
72.23.420 Record of violent acts. Beginning no later
than July 1, 2000, each state hospital shall keep a record of
any violent act against an employee or a patient occurring at
the state hospital. Each record shall be kept for at least five
years following the act reported during which time it shall be
available for inspection by the department of labor and industries upon request. At a minimum, the record shall include:
(1) Necessary information for the state hospital to comply with the requirements of chapter 49.17 RCW related to
employees that may include:
(a) A full description of the violent act;
(b) When the violent act occurred;
(c) Where the violent act occurred;
(d) To whom the violent act occurred;
(e) Who perpetrated the violent act;
(f) The nature of the injury;
(g) Weapons used;
(h) Number of witnesses; and
(i) Action taken by the state hospital in response to the
violence; and
(2) Necessary information for the state hospital to comply with current and future expectations of the joint commission on hospital accreditation related to violence perpetrated
upon patients which may include:
(a) The nature of the violent act;
(b) When the violent act occurred;
(c) To whom it occurred; and
(d) The nature and severity of any injury. [2000 c 22 §
5.]
Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.
72.23.430
72.23.430 Noncompliance—Citation under chapter
49.17 RCW. Failure of a state hospital to comply with this
(2006 Ed.)
Nonresident Mentally Ill, Sexual Psychopaths, and Psychopathic Delinquents
chapter shall subject the hospital to citation under chapter
49.17 RCW. [2000 c 22 § 6.]
Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.
72.23.440
72.23.440 Technical assistance and training. A state
hospital needing assistance to comply with RCW 72.23.400
through 72.23.420 may contact the department of labor and
industries for assistance. The state departments of labor and
industries, social and health services, and health shall collaborate with representatives of state hospitals to develop technical assistance and training seminars on plan development and
implementation, and shall coordinate their assistance to state
hospitals. [2000 c 22 § 7.]
Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.
72.23.451
72.23.451 Annual report to the legislature. By September 1st of each year, the department shall report to the
house committee on commerce and labor and the senate committee on commerce and trade, or successor committees, on
the department’s efforts to reduce violence in the state hospitals. [2005 c 187 § 1.]
72.23.900 Construction—Purpose—1959 c 28. The
provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so that
persons who are in need of care and treatment for mental illness shall receive humane care and treatment and be restored
to normal mental condition as rapidly as possible with an
avoidance of loss of civil rights where not necessary, and
with as little formality as possible, still preserving all rights
and all privileges of the person as guaranteed by the Constitution. [1959 c 28 § 72.23.900. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 1.]
Civil rights
loss of: State Constitution Art. 6 § 3, RCW 29A.08.520.
restoration of: RCW 9.92.066, 9.94A.637, 9.94A.885, 9.95.260, chapter
9.96 RCW.
72.23.910
72.23.910 Construction—Effect on laws relating to
the criminally insane—"Insane" as used in other statutes.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the
laws of this state relating to the criminally insane or insane
inmates of penal institutions. Where the term "insane" is used
in other statutes of this state its meaning shall be synonymous
with mental illness as defined in this chapter. [1959 c 28 §
72.23.910. Prior: 1951 c 139 § 4; 1949 c 198 § 15; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 6953-15. Formerly RCW 71.02.020.]
Chapter 72.25 RCW
NONRESIDENT MENTALLY ILL,
SEXUAL PSYCHOPATHS, AND
PSYCHOPATHIC DELINQUENTS—
DEPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION
Sections
72.25.010
72.25.020
72.25.030
Deportation of aliens—Return of residents.
Return of nonresidents—Reciprocity—Expense—Resident of
this state defined.
Assistance—Payment of expenses.
Council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect: Chapter 43.121
RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
72.25.010
72.25.010 Deportation of aliens—Return of residents. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the department
of social and health services, in cooperation with the United
States bureau of immigration and/or the United States department of the interior, to arrange for the deportation of all alien
sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill
persons who are now confined in, or who may hereafter be
committed to, any state hospital for the sexual psychopath,
psychopathic delinquent, or the mentally ill in this state; to
transport such alien sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons to such point or points as may
be designated by the United States bureau of immigration or
by the United States department of the interior; and to give
written permission for the return of any resident of Washington now or hereafter confined in a hospital for the sexual psychopath, psychopathic delinquent, or the mentally ill in a territory of the United States or in a foreign country. Mentally ill
person for the purposes of this section shall be any person
defined as mentally ill under RCW 72.23.010, as now or
hereafter amended. [1977 ex.s. c 80 § 49; 1965 c 78 § 1; 1959
c 28 § 72.25.010. Prior: 1957 c 29 § 1; 1953 c 232 § 1. Formerly RCW 71.04.270.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.23.900
Chapter 72.25
72.25.020
Minors—Mental health services, commitment: Chapter 71.34 RCW.
Sexual psychopaths: Chapter 71.06 RCW.
72.25.020
72.25.020 Return of nonresidents—Reciprocity—
Expense—Resident of this state defined. The secretary
shall also return all nonresident sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons who are now confined in or who may hereafter be committed to a state hospital
for the sexual psychopath, psychopathic delinquent, or the
mentally ill in this state to the states or state in which they
may have a legal residence. For the purpose of facilitating the
return of such persons the secretary may enter into a reciprocal agreement with any other state for the mutual exchange of
sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill
persons now confined in or hereafter committed to any hospital for the sexual psychopath, psychopathic delinquent, or the
mentally ill in one state whose legal residence is in the other,
and he may give written permission for the return of any resident of Washington now or hereafter confined in a hospital
for the sexual psychopath, psychopathic delinquent, or the
mentally ill in another state. Such residents may be returned
directly to the proper Washington state institution without
further court proceedings: PROVIDED, That if the superintendent of such institution is of the opinion that the returned
person is not a sexual psychopath, a psychopathic delinquent,
or mentally ill person he may discharge said patient: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if such superintendent deems such
person a sexual psychopath, a psychopathic delinquent, or
mentally ill person, he shall file an application for commitment within ninety days of arrival at the Washington institution.
A person shall be deemed to be a resident of this state
within the meaning of this chapter who has maintained his
domiciliary residence in this state for a period of one year
preceding commitment to a state institution without receiving
assistance from any tax supported organization and who has
not subsequently acquired a domicile in another state: PRO[Title 72 RCW—page 55]
72.25.030
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
VIDED, That any period of time spent by such person while
an inmate of a state hospital or state institution or while on
parole, escape, or leave of absence therefrom shall not be
counted in determining the time of residence in this or
another state.
All expenses incurred in returning sexual psychopaths,
psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons from this to
another state may be paid by this state, but the expense of
returning residents of this state shall be borne by the state
making the return. Mentally ill person for the purposes of this
section shall be any person defined as mentally ill under
RCW 72.23.010, as now or hereafter amended. [1977 ex.s. c
80 § 50; 1965 c 78 § 2; 1959 c 28 § 72.25.020. Prior: 1957 c
29 § 2; 1953 c 232 § 2. Formerly RCW 71.04.280.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.25.030
72.25.030 Assistance—Payment of expenses. For the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter the secretary may employ all help necessary in arranging for and
transporting such alien and nonresident sexual psychopaths,
psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons, and the
cost and expense of providing such assistance, and all
expenses incurred in effecting the transportation of such alien
and nonresident sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons, shall be paid from the funds
appropriated for that purpose upon vouchers approved by the
department. Mentally ill person for the purposes of this section shall be any person defined as mentally ill under RCW
72.23.010, as now or hereafter amended. [1977 ex.s. c 80 §
51; 1965 c 78 § 3; 1959 c 28 § 72.25.030. Prior: 1957 c 29 §
3; 1953 c 232 § 3. Formerly RCW 71.04.290.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
Chapter 72.27 RCW
INTERSTATE COMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Chapter 72.27
Sections
72.27.010
72.27.020
72.27.030
72.27.040
72.27.050
72.27.060
72.27.070
Compact enacted.
Secretary is compact administrator—Rules and regulations—
Cooperation with other agencies.
Supplementary agreements.
Financial arrangements.
Prerequisites for transfer of person to another party state—
Release or return of residents, jurisdiction, laws applicable.
Transmittal of copies of chapter.
Right to deport aliens and return residents of nonparty states
preserved.
72.27.010
72.27.010 Compact enacted. The Interstate Compact
on Mental Health is hereby enacted into law and entered into
by this state with all other states legally joining therein in the
form substantially as follows:
The contracting states solemnly agree that:
ARTICLE I
The party states find that the proper and expeditious
treatment of the mentally ill and mentally deficient can be
facilitated by cooperative action, to the benefit of the
patients, their families, and society as a whole. Further, the
party states find that the necessity of and desirability for furnishing such care and treatment bears no primary relation to
[Title 72 RCW—page 56]
the residence or citizenship of the patient but that, on the contrary, the controlling factors of community safety and humanitarianism require that facilities and services be made available for all who are in need of them. Consequently, it is the
purpose of this compact and of the party states to provide the
necessary legal basis for the institutionalization or other
appropriate care and treatment of the mentally ill and mentally deficient under a system that recognizes the paramount
importance of patient welfare and to establish the responsibilities of the party states in terms of such welfare.
ARTICLE II
As used in this compact:
(a) "Sending state" shall mean a party state from which a
patient is transported pursuant to the provisions of the compact or from which it is contemplated that a patient may be so
sent.
(b) "Receiving state" shall mean a party state to which a
patient is transported pursuant to the provisions of the compact or to which it is contemplated that a patient may be so
sent.
(c) "Institution" shall mean any hospital or other facility
maintained by a party state or political subdivision thereof for
the care and treatment of mental illness or mental deficiency.
(d) "Patient" shall mean any person subject to or eligible
as determined by the laws of the sending state, for institutionalization or other care, treatment, or supervision pursuant to
the provisions of this compact.
(e) "After-care" shall mean care, treatment and services
provided a patient, as defined herein, on convalescent status
or conditional release.
(f) "Mental illness" shall mean mental disease to such
extent that a person so afflicted requires care and treatment
for his own welfare, or the welfare of others, or of the community.
(g) "Mental deficiency" shall mean mental deficiency as
defined by appropriate clinical authorities to such extent that
a person so afflicted is incapable of managing himself and his
affairs, but shall not include mental illness as defined herein.
(h) "State" shall mean any state, territory or possession
of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
ARTICLE III
(a) Whenever a person physically present in any party
state shall be in need of institutionalization by reason of mental illness or mental deficiency, he shall be eligible for care
and treatment in an institution in that state irrespective of his
residence, settlement or citizenship qualifications.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this article to the
contrary notwithstanding, any patient may be transferred to
an institution in another state whenever there are factors
based upon clinical determinations indicating that the care
and treatment of said patient would be facilitated or improved
thereby. Any such institutionalization may be for the entire
period of care and treatment or for any portion or portions
thereof. The factors referred to in this paragraph shall include
the patient’s full record with due regard for the location of the
patient’s family, character of the illness and probable duration thereof, and such other factors as shall be considered
appropriate.
(2006 Ed.)
Interstate Compact on Mental Health
(c) No state shall be obliged to receive any patient pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this article unless the
sending state has given advance notice of its intention to send
the patient; furnished all available medical and other pertinent records concerning the patient; given the qualified medical or other appropriate clinical authorities of the receiving
state an opportunity to examine the patient if said authorities
so wish; and unless the receiving state shall agree to accept
the patient.
(d) In the event that the laws of the receiving state establish a system of priorities for the admission of patients, an
interstate patient under this compact shall receive the same
priority as a local patient and shall be taken in the same order
and at the same time that he would be taken if he were a local
patient.
(e) Pursuant to this compact, the determination as to the
suitable place of institutionalization for a patient may be
reviewed at any time and such further transfer of the patient
may be made as seems likely to be in the best interest of the
patient.
ARTICLE IV
(a) Whenever, pursuant to the laws of the state in which
a patient is physically present, it shall be determined that the
patient should receive after-care or supervision, such care or
supervision may be provided in a receiving state. If the medical or other appropriate clinical authorities having responsibility for the care and treatment of the patient in the sending
state shall have reason to believe that after-care in another
state would be in the best interest of the patient and would not
jeopardize the public safety, they shall request the appropriate authorities in the receiving state to investigate the desirability of affording the patient such after-care in said receiving state, and such investigation shall be made with all reasonable speed. The request for investigation shall be
accompanied by complete information concerning the
patient’s intended place of residence and the identity of the
person in whose charge it is proposed to place the patient, the
complete medical history of the patient, and such other documents as may be pertinent.
(b) If the medical or other appropriate clinical authorities
having responsibility for the care and treatment of the patient
in the sending state and the appropriate authorities in the
receiving state find that the best interest of the patient would
be served thereby, and if the public safety would not be jeopardized thereby, the patient may receive after-care or supervision in the receiving state.
(c) In supervising, treating, or caring for a patient on
after-care pursuant to the terms of this article, a receiving
state shall employ the same standards of visitation, examination, care, and treatment that it employs for similar local
patients.
ARTICLE V
Whenever a dangerous or potentially dangerous patient
escapes from an institution in any party state, that state shall
promptly notify all appropriate authorities within and without
the jurisdiction of the escape in a manner reasonably calculated to facilitate the speedy apprehension of the escapee.
Immediately upon the apprehension and identification of any
such dangerous or potentially dangerous patient, he shall be
(2006 Ed.)
72.27.010
detained in the state where found pending disposition in
accordance with law.
ARTICLE VI
The duly accredited officers of any state party to this
compact, upon the establishment of their authority and the
identity of the patient, shall be permitted to transport any
patient being moved pursuant to this compact through any
and all states party to this compact, without interference.
ARTICLE VII
(a) No person shall be deemed a patient of more than one
institution at any given time. Completion of transfer of any
patient to an institution in a receiving state shall have the
effect of making the person a patient of the institution in the
receiving state.
(b) The sending state shall pay all costs of and incidental
to the transportation of any patient pursuant to this compact,
but any two or more party states may, by making a specific
agreement for that purpose, arrange for a different allocation
of costs as among themselves.
(c) No provision of this compact shall be construed to
alter or affect any internal relationships among the departments, agencies and officers of and in the government of a
party state, or between a party state and its subdivisions, as to
the payment of costs, or responsibilities therefor.
(d) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent
any party state or subdivision thereof from asserting any right
against any person, agency or other entity in regard to costs
for which such party state or subdivision thereof may be
responsible pursuant to any provision of this compact.
(e) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to invalidate any reciprocal agreement between a party state and a
nonparty state relating to institutionalization, care or treatment of the mentally ill or mentally deficient, or any statutory
authority pursuant to which such agreements may be made.
ARTICLE VIII
(a) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to abridge,
diminish, or in any way impair the rights, duties, and responsibilities of any patient’s guardian on his own behalf or in
respect of any patient for whom he may serve, except that
where the transfer of any patient to another jurisdiction
makes advisable the appointment of a supplemental or substitute guardian, any court of competent jurisdiction in the
receiving state may make such supplemental or substitute
appointment and the court which appointed the previous
guardian shall upon being duly advised of the new appointment, and upon the satisfactory completion of such accounting and other acts as such court may by law require, relieve
the previous guardian of power and responsibility to whatever extent shall be appropriate in the circumstances: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in the case of any patient having
settlement in the sending state, the court of competent jurisdiction in the sending state shall have the sole discretion to
relieve a guardian appointed by it or continue his power and
responsibility, whichever it shall deem advisable. The court
in the receiving state may, in its discretion, confirm or reappoint the person or persons previously serving as guardian in
[Title 72 RCW—page 57]
72.27.020
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
the sending state in lieu of making a supplemental or substitute appointment.
(b) The term "guardian" as used in paragraph (a) of this
article shall include any guardian, trustee, legal committee,
conservator, or other person or agency however denominated
who is charged by law with power to act for or responsibility
for the person or property of a patient.
ARTICLE IX
(a) No provision of this compact except Article V shall
apply to any person institutionalized while under sentence in
a penal or correctional institution or while subject to trial on
a criminal charge, or whose institutionalization is due to the
commission of an offense for which, in the absence of mental
illness or mental deficiency, said person would be subject to
incarceration in a penal or correctional institution.
(b) To every extent possible, it shall be the policy of
states party to this compact that no patient shall be placed or
detained in any prison, jail or lockup, but such patient shall,
with all expedition, be taken to a suitable institutional facility
for mental illness or mental deficiency.
ARTICLE X
(a) Each party state shall appoint a "compact administrator" who, on behalf of his state, shall act as general coordinator of activities under the compact in his state and who shall
receive copies of all reports, correspondence, and other documents relating to any patient processed under the compact
by his state either in the capacity of sending or receiving
state. The compact administrator or his duly designated representative shall be the official with whom other party states
shall deal in any matter relating to the compact or any patient
processed thereunder.
(b) The compact administrators of the respective party
states shall have power to promulgate reasonable rules and
regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.
ARTICLE XI
The duly constituted administrative authorities of any
two or more party states may enter into supplementary agreements for the provision of any service or facility or for the
maintenance of any institution on a joint or cooperative basis
whenever the states concerned shall find that such agreements will improve services, facilities, or institutional care
and treatment in the fields of mental illness or mental deficiency. No such supplementary agreement shall be construed
so as to relieve any party state of any obligation which it otherwise would have under other provisions of this compact.
ARTICLE XII
This compact shall enter into full force and effect as to
any state when enacted by it into law and such state shall
thereafter be a party thereto with any and all states legally
joining therein.
ARTICLE XIII
(a) A state party to this compact may withdraw therefrom by enacting a statute repealing the same. Such withdrawal shall take effect one year after notice thereof has been
[Title 72 RCW—page 58]
communicated officially and in writing to the governors and
compact administrators of all other party states. However, the
withdrawal of any state shall not change the status of any
patient who has been sent to said state or sent out of said state
pursuant to the provisions of the compact.
(b) Withdrawal from any agreement permitted by Article
VII(b) as to costs or from any supplementary agreement
made pursuant to Article XI shall be in accordance with the
terms of such agreement.
ARTICLE XIV
This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact
shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this
compact and the applicability thereof to any government,
agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of
any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force
and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and
effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
[1965 ex.s. c 26 § 1.]
Chapter added: "The foregoing provisions of this act are added to
chapter 28, Laws of 1959 and to Title 72 RCW, and shall constitute a new
chapter therein." [1965 ex.s. c 26 § 8.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 26: "This act shall take effect upon July 1,
1965." [1965 ex.s. c 26 § 9.]
72.27.020
72.27.020 Secretary is compact administrator—
Rules and regulations—Cooperation with other agencies.
Pursuant to said compact provided in RCW 72.27.010, the
secretary of social and health services shall be the compact
administrator and who, acting jointly with like officers of
other party states, shall have power to promulgate rules and
regulations to carry out more effectively the terms of the
compact. The compact administrator is hereby authorized,
empowered and directed to cooperate with all departments,
agencies and officers of and in the government of this state
and its subdivisions in facilitating the proper administration
of the compact or any supplementary agreement or agreements entered into by this state thereunder. [1979 c 141 §
233; 1965 ex.s. c 26 § 2.]
72.27.030
72.27.030 Supplementary agreements. The compact
administrator is hereby authorized and empowered to enter
into supplementary agreements with appropriate officials of
other states pursuant to Articles VII and XI of the compact. In
the event that such supplementary agreements shall require or
contemplate the use of any institution or facility of this state
or require or contemplate the provision of any service by this
state, no such agreement shall have force or effect until
approved by the head of the department or agency under
whose jurisdiction said institution or facility is operated or
whose department or agency will be charged with the rendering of such service. [1965 ex.s. c 26 § 3.]
72.27.040
72.27.040 Financial arrangements. The compact
administrator, subject to the moneys available therefor, may
(2006 Ed.)
Multi-Use Facilities for the Mentally or Physically Handicapped or the Mentally Ill
make or arrange for any payments necessary to discharge any
financial obligations imposed upon this state by the compact
or by any supplementary agreement entered into thereunder.
[1965 ex.s. c 26 § 4.]
72.27.050 Prerequisites for transfer of person to
another party state—Release or return of residents, jurisdiction, laws applicable. No person shall be transferred to
another party state pursuant to this chapter unless the compact administrator first shall have obtained either:
(a) The written consent to such transfer by the proposed
transferee or by others on his behalf, which consent shall be
executed in accordance with the requirements of *RCW
72.23.070, and if such person was originally committed
involuntarily, such consent also shall be approved by the
committing court; or
(b) An order of the superior court approving such transfer, which order shall be obtained from the committing court,
if such person was committed involuntarily, otherwise from
the superior court of the county where such person resided at
the time of such commitment; and such order shall be issued
only after notice and hearing in the manner provided for the
involuntary commitment of mentally ill or mentally deficient
persons as the case may be.
The courts of this state shall have concurrent jurisdiction
with the appropriate courts of other party states to hear and
determine petitions seeking the release or return of residents
of this state who have been transferred from this state under
this chapter to the same extent as if such persons were hospitalized in this state; and the laws of this state relating to the
release of such persons shall govern the disposition of any
such proceeding. [1965 ex.s. c 26 § 5.]
72.27.050
*Reviser’s note: RCW 72.23.070 was repealed by 1985 c 354 § 34,
effective January 1, 1986. Later enactment, see chapter 71.34 RCW.
72.27.060 Transmittal of copies of chapter. Duly
authorized copies of this chapter shall, upon its approval be
transmitted by the secretary of state to the governor of each
state, the attorney general and the administrator of general
services of the United States, and the council of state governments. [1965 ex.s. c 26 § 6.]
72.27.060
72.27.070 Right to deport aliens and return residents
of nonparty states preserved. Nothing in this chapter shall
affect the right of the secretary of social and health services to
deport aliens and return residents of nonparty states as provided in chapter 72.25 RCW. [1979 c 141 § 234; 1965 ex.s.
c 26 § 7.]
72.27.070
Chapter 72.29 RCW
MULTI-USE FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY OR
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED OR
THE MENTALLY ILL
Chapter 72.29
Harrison Memorial Hospital property and facilities (Olympic
Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation).
72.29.010 Harrison Memorial Hospital property and
facilities (Olympic Center for Mental Health and Mental
Retardation). After the acquisition of Harrison Memorial
72.29.010
(2006 Ed.)
Hospital, the department of social and health services is
authorized to enter into contracts for the repair or remodeling
of the hospital to the extent they are necessary and reasonable, in order to establish a multi-use facility for the mentally
or physically handicapped or the mentally ill. The secretary
of the department of social and health services is authorized
to determine the most feasible and desirable use of the facility
and to operate the facility in the manner he deems most beneficial to the mentally and physically handicapped, or the
mentally ill, and is authorized, but not limited to programs for
out-patient, diagnostic and referral, day care, vocational and
educational services to the community which he determines
are in the best interest of the state. [1977 ex.s. c 80 § 52; 1965
c 11 § 3.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
Declaration of purpose—1965 c 11: "The state facilities to provide
community services to the mentally and physically deficient and the mentally ill are inadequate to meet the present demand. Great savings to the taxpayers can be achieved while helping to meet these worthwhile needs. It is
therefore the purpose of this act to provide for acquisition or lease of Harrison Memorial Hospital property and facilities and the operation thereof as a
multi-use facility for the mentally and physically deficient and the mentally
ill." [1965 c 11 § 1.]
Department created—Powers and duties transferred to: RCW 43.20A.030.
Use of Harrison Memorial Hospital property for services for persons with
developmental disabilities: RCW 71A.20.040.
Chapter 72.36
Chapter 72.36 RCW
SOLDIERS’ AND VETERANS’ HOMES
Sections
72.36.010
72.36.020
72.36.030
72.36.035
72.36.037
72.36.040
72.36.045
72.36.050
72.36.055
72.36.060
72.36.070
72.36.075
72.36.077
72.36.090
72.36.100
72.36.110
72.36.120
72.36.140
72.36.145
72.36.150
72.36.160
72.36.1601
Establishment of soldiers’ home.
Superintendents—Licensed nursing home administrator.
Admission—Applicants must apply for federal and state benefits.
Definitions.
Resident rights.
Colony established—Who may be admitted.
State veterans’ homes—Maintenance defined.
Regulations of home applicable—Rations, medical attendance, clothing.
Domiciliary and nursing care to be provided.
Federal funds.
Washington veterans’ home.
Eastern Washington veterans’ home.
Eastern Washington veterans’ home—Funding—Intent.
Hobby promotion.
Purchase of equipment, materials for therapy, hobbies.
Burial of deceased member or deceased spouse.
Deposit of veteran income—Expenditures and revenue control.
Medicaid qualifying operations.
Reduction in allowable income—Certification of qualifying
operations.
Resident council—Generally.
Personal needs allowance.
Findings.
Charitable organizations—Application for registration—Contents—Fee—
Veterans’ affairs—Notice, advice: RCW 19.09.075.
Commitment to veterans administration or other federal agency: RCW
73.36.165.
Sections
72.29.010
Chapter 72.36
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
Employment of dental hygienist without supervision of dentist authorized in
state institutions: RCW 18.29.056.
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
[Title 72 RCW—page 59]
72.36.010
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.36.010
72.36.010 Establishment of soldiers’ home. There is
established at Orting, Pierce county, an institution which
shall be known as the Washington soldiers’ home. [1959 c 28
§ 72.36.010. Prior: 1901 c 167 § 1; 1890 p 269 § 1; RRS §
10727.]
72.36.020
72.36.020 Superintendents—Licensed nursing home
administrator. The director of the department of veterans
affairs shall appoint a superintendent for each state veterans’
home. The superintendent shall exercise management and
control of the institution in accordance with either policies or
procedures promulgated by the director of the department of
veterans affairs, or both, and rules and regulations of the
department. In accordance with chapter 18.52 RCW, the individual appointed as superintendent for either state veterans’
home shall be a licensed nursing home administrator. The
department may request a waiver to, or seek an alternate
method of compliance with, the federal requirement for a
licensed on-site administrator during a transition phase from
July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994. [1993 sp.s. c 3 § 4; 1977 c 31
§ 2; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.020. Prior: 1890 p 271 § 7; RRS §
10728.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
Chief executive officers, general provisions: RCW 72.01.060.
72.36.030
72.36.030 Admission—Applicants must apply for
federal and state benefits. All of the following persons who
have been actual bona fide residents of this state at the time of
their application, and who are indigent and unable to support
themselves and their families may be admitted to a state veterans’ home under rules as may be adopted by the director of
the department, unless sufficient facilities and resources are
not available to accommodate these people:
(1)(a) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of
the armed forces of the United States or merchant marines;
(b) members of the state militia disabled while in the line of
duty; (c) Filipino World War II veterans who swore an oath
to American authority and who participated in military
engagements with American soldiers; and (d) the spouses of
these veterans, merchant marines, and members of the state
militia. However, it is required that the spouse was married to
and living with the veteran three years prior to the date of
application for admittance, or, if married to him or her since
that date, was also a resident of a state veterans’ home in this
state or entitled to admission thereto;
(2)(a) The spouses of: (i) All honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces; (ii) merchant
marines; and (iii) members of the state militia who were disabled while in the line of duty and who were residents of a
state veterans’ home in this state or were entitled to admission to one of this state’s state veteran homes at the time of
death; (b) the spouses of: (i) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of the United States armed forces; (ii) merchant marines; and (iii) members of the state militia who
would have been entitled to admission to one of this state’s
state veterans’ homes at the time of death, but for the fact that
the spouse was not indigent, but has since become indigent
and unable to support himself or herself and his or her family.
However, the included spouse shall be at least fifty years old
[Title 72 RCW—page 60]
and have been married to and living with their husband or
wife for three years prior to the date of their application. The
included spouse shall not have been married since the death
of his or her husband or wife to a person who is not a resident
of one of this state’s state veterans’ homes or entitled to
admission to one of this state’s state veterans’ homes; and
(3) All applicants for admission to a state veterans’ home
shall apply for all federal and state benefits for which they
may be eligible, including medical assistance under chapter
74.09 RCW. [1998 c 322 § 49; 1993 sp.s. c 3 § 5; 1977 ex.s.
c 186 § 1; 1975 c 13 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.030. Prior: 1915
c 106 § 1; 1911 c 124 § 1; 1905 c 152 § 1; 1901 c 167 § 2;
1890 p 270 § 2; RRS § 10729.]
Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 1-37, 40-49, and 52-54: See RCW
74.46.906.
Severability—1998 c 322: See RCW 74.46.907.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 186 § 12.]
72.36.035 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Actual bona fide residents of this state" means persons who have a domicile in the state of Washington immediately prior to application for admission to a state veterans’
home.
(2) "Department" means the Washington state department of veterans affairs.
(3) "Domicile" means a person’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation, and shall be the place
where the person intends to remain, and to which the person
expects to return when the person leaves without intending to
establish a new domicile elsewhere.
(4) "State veterans’ homes" means the Washington soldiers’ home and colony in Orting, the Washington veterans’
home in Retsil, and the eastern Washington veterans’ home.
(5) "Veteran" has the same meaning established in RCW
41.04.007. [2002 c 292 § 5; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 2; 1993 sp.s.
c 3 § 6; 1991 c 240 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 186 § 11.]
72.36.035
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.037
72.36.037 Resident rights. Chapter 70.129 RCW
applies to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter. [1994 c 214 § 23.]
Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—Captions not
law—1994 c 214: See RCW 70.129.900 through 70.129.902.
72.36.040 Colony established—Who may be admitted. There is hereby established what shall be known as the
"Colony of the State Soldiers’ Home." All of the following
persons who reside within the limits of Orting school district
and have been actual bona fide residents of this state at the
time of their application and who have personal property of
less than one thousand five hundred dollars and/or a monthly
income insufficient to meet their needs outside of residence
in such colony and soldiers’ home as determined by stan72.36.040
(2006 Ed.)
Soldiers’ and Veterans’ Homes
dards of the department of veterans’ affairs, may be admitted
to membership in said colony under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the department.
(1) All honorably discharged veterans who have served
in the armed forces of the United States during wartime,
members of the state militia disabled while in the line of duty,
and their respective spouses with whom they have lived for
three years prior to application for membership in said colony. Also, the spouse of any such veteran or disabled member
of the state militia is eligible for membership in said colony,
if such spouse is the widow or widower of a veteran who was
a member of a soldiers’ home or colony in this state or entitled to admission thereto at the time of death: PROVIDED,
That such veterans and members of the state militia shall,
while they are members of said colony, be living with their
said spouses.
(2) The spouses of all veterans who were members of a
soldiers’ home or colony in this state or entitled to admission
thereto at the time of death, and the spouses of all veterans
who would have been entitled to admission to a soldiers’
home or colony in this state at the time of death but for the
fact that they were not indigent and unable to support themselves and families, which spouses have since the death of
their said husbands or wives become indigent and unable to
earn a support for themselves: PROVIDED, That such
spouses are not less than fifty years of age and have not been
married since the decease of their said husbands or wives to
any person not a member of a soldiers’ home or colony in this
state or entitled to admission thereto. Any resident of said
colony may be admitted to the state soldiers’ home for temporary care when requiring treatment. [1977 ex.s. c 186 § 2.
Prior: 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 102; 1973 c 101 § 1; 1959 c 235
§ 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.040; prior: 1947 c 190 § 1; 1925 ex.s.
c 74 § 1; 1915 c 106 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10730.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.045
72.36.045 State veterans’ homes—Maintenance
defined. In the maintenance of the state veterans’ homes by
the state through the department of veterans’ affairs, such
maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, the provision
of members’ room and board, medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, and recreational activities,
with the necessary implementing transportation, equipment,
and personnel therefor. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c
186 § 10.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.050
72.36.050 Regulations of home applicable—Rations,
medical attendance, clothing. The members of the colony
established in RCW 72.36.040 as now or hereafter amended
shall, to all intents and purposes, be members of the state soldiers’ home and subject to all the rules and regulations
thereof, except the requirements of fatigue duty, and each
member shall, in accordance with rules and regulations
adopted by the director, be supplied with medical attendance
and supplies from the home dispensary, rations, and clothing
for a member and spouse, or for a spouse admitted under
RCW 72.36.040 as now or hereafter amended. The value of
the supplies, rations, and clothing furnished such persons
shall be determined by the director of veterans affairs and be
(2006 Ed.)
72.36.077
included in the biennial budget. [1979 c 65 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 154 § 103; 1967 c 112 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.050. Prior:
1947 c 190 § 2; 1939 c 161 § 1; 1927 c 276 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c
74 § 1; 1915 c 106 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10731.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
72.36.055
72.36.055 Domiciliary and nursing care to be provided. The state veterans’ homes shall provide both domiciliary and nursing care. The level of domiciliary members shall
remain consistent with the facilities available to accommodate those members: PROVIDED, That nothing in this section shall preclude the department from moving residents
between nursing and domiciliary care in order to better utilize
facilities and maintain the appropriate care for the members.
[2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 186 § 6.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.060
72.36.060 Federal funds. The state treasurer is authorized to receive any and all moneys appropriated or paid by
the United States under the act of congress entitled "An Act
to provide aid to state or territorial homes for disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States," approved August 27,
1888, or under any other act or acts of congress for the benefit
of such homes. Such moneys shall be deposited in the general
fund and shall be expended for the maintenance of the state
veterans’ homes. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c 186 §
3; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.060. Prior: 1897 c 67 § 1; RRS §
10735.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.070
72.36.070 Washington veterans’ home. There shall be
established and maintained in this state a branch of the state
soldiers’ home, under the name of the "Washington veterans’
home," which branch shall be a home for honorably discharged veterans who have served the United States government in any of its wars, members of the state militia disabled
while in the line of duty, and who are bona fide citizens of the
state, and also the spouses of such veterans. [1977 ex.s. c 186
§ 4; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.070. Prior: 1907 c 156 § 1; RRS §
10733.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.075
72.36.075 Eastern Washington veterans’ home.
There shall be established and maintained in this state a
branch of the state soldiers’ home, under the name of the
"eastern Washington veterans’ home," which branch shall be
a home for veterans and their spouses who meet admission
requirements contained in RCW 72.36.030. [2001 2nd sp.s.
c 4 § 6.]
72.36.077
72.36.077 Eastern Washington veterans’ home—
Funding—Intent. The department of veterans affairs indicates that it may acquire and staff an existing one-hundredbed skilled nursing facility in Spokane and reopen it as an
eastern Washington veterans’ home by using a combination
of funding sources. Funding sources include federal per diem
payments, contributions from residents’ incomes, and federal
and state medicaid payments. In authorizing the establishment of an eastern Washington veterans’ home, it is the intent
of the legislature that the state general fund shall not provide
[Title 72 RCW—page 61]
72.36.090
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
support in future biennia for the eastern Washington veterans’ home except for amounts required to pay the state share
of medicaid costs. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 1.]
72.36.090
72.36.090 Hobby promotion. The superintendents of
the state veterans’ homes are hereby authorized to:
(1) Institute programs of hobby promotion designed to
improve the general welfare and mental condition of the persons under their supervision;
(2) Provide for the financing of these programs by grants
from funds in the superintendent’s custody through operation
of canteens and exchanges at such institutions;
(3) Limit the hobbies sponsored to projects which will,
in their judgment, be self-liquidating or self-sustaining.
[2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 8; 1977 ex.s. c 186 § 9; 1959 c 28 §
72.36.090. Prior: 1949 c 114 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 107361.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
72.36.100
72.36.100 Purchase of equipment, materials for therapy, hobbies. The superintendent of each institution referred
to in RCW 72.36.090 may purchase, from the appropriation
to the institution, for operations, equipment or materials
designed to initiate the programs authorized by RCW
72.36.090. [1959 c 28 § 72.36.100. Prior: 1949 c 114 § 2;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10736-2.]
Division of purchasing: RCW 43.19.190.
72.36.110
72.36.110 Burial of deceased member or deceased
spouse. The superintendent of the Washington veterans’
home and the superintendent of the Washington soldiers’
home and colony are hereby authorized to provide for the
burial of deceased members in the cemeteries provided at the
Washington veterans’ home and Washington soldiers’ home:
PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed to prevent any relative from assuming jurisdiction of such deceased
persons: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the superintendent
of the Washington soldiers’ home and colony is hereby
authorized to provide for the burial of husbands and wives of
members of the colony of the Washington soldiers’ home.
[1959 c 120 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.110. Prior: 1955 c 247 §
7.]
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
72.36.120
72.36.120 Deposit of veteran income—Expenditures
and revenue control. All income of residents of a state veterans’ home, other than the personal needs allowance and
income from therapeutic employment, shall be deposited in
the state general fund— local and be available to apply
against the cost of care provided by the state veterans’ homes.
The resident council created under RCW 72.36.150 may
make recommendations on expenditures under this section.
All expenditures and revenue control shall be subject to chapter 43.88 RCW. [1993 sp.s. c 3 § 7; 1977 ex.s. c 186 § 7.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 72.36.030.
[Title 72 RCW—page 62]
72.36.140
72.36.140 Medicaid qualifying operations. Qualifying operations at state veterans’ homes operated by the
department of veterans affairs, may be provided under the
state’s medicaid reimbursement system as administered by
the department of social and health services.
The department of veterans affairs may contract with the
department of social and health services under the authority
of RCW 74.09.120 but shall be exempt from RCW
74.46.660(6), and the provisions of *RCW 74.46.420
through 74.46.590 shall not apply to the medicaid rate-setting
and reimbursement systems. The nursing care operations at
the state veterans’ homes shall be subject to inspection by the
department of social and health services. This includes every
part of the state veterans’ home’s premises, an examination
of all records, including financial records, methods of administration, general and special dietary programs, the disbursement of drugs, methods of supply, and any other records the
department of social and health services deems relevant.
[1993 sp.s. c 3 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.420 through 74.46.590 were repealed by
1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 98, effective June 30, 1998.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1993." [1993 sp.s. c 3 § 12.]
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
72.36.145
72.36.145 Reduction in allowable income—Certification of qualifying operations. No reduction in the allowable
income provided for in current department rules may take
effect until the effective date of certification of qualifying
operations at state veterans’ homes for participation in the
state’s medicaid reimbursement system. [1993 sp.s. c 3 §
10.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
72.36.150
72.36.150 Resident council—Generally. The department of veterans affairs shall provide by rule for the annual
election of a resident council for each state veterans’ home.
The council shall annually elect a chair from among its members, who shall call and preside at council meetings. The resident council shall serve in an advisory capacity to the director of the department of veterans affairs and to the superintendent in all matters related to policy and operational decisions
affecting resident care and life in the home.
By October 31, 1993, the department shall adopt rules
that provide for specific duties and procedures of the resident
council which create an appropriate and effective relationship
between residents and the administration. These rules shall be
adopted after consultation with the resident councils and the
state long-term care ombuds, and shall include, but not be
limited to the following:
(1) Provision of staff technical assistance to the councils;
(2) Provision of an active role for residents in developing
choices regarding activities, foods, living arrangements, personal care, and other aspects of resident life;
(3) A procedure for resolving resident grievances; and
(4) The role of the councils in assuring that resident
rights are observed.
(2006 Ed.)
State Schools for Blind, Deaf, Sensory Handicapped
The development of these rules should include consultation with all residents through the use of both questionnaires
and group discussions.
The resident council for each state veterans’ home shall
annually review the proposed expenditures from the benefit
fund that shall contain all private donations to the home, all
bequeaths, and gifts. Disbursements from each benefit fund
shall be for the benefit and welfare of the residents of the state
veterans’ homes. Disbursements from the benefits funds shall
be on the authorization of the superintendent or his or her
authorized representative after approval has been received
from the home’s resident council.
The superintendent or his or her designated representative shall meet with the resident council at least monthly. The
director of the department of veterans affairs shall meet with
each resident council at least three times each year. [1993
sp.s. c 3 § 3.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
72.36.160
72.36.160 Personal needs allowance. The legislature
finds that to meet the objectives of RCW 72.36.1601, the personal needs allowance for all nursing care residents of the
state veterans’ homes shall be an amount approved by the
federal health care financing authority, but not less than
ninety dollars or more than one hundred sixty dollars per
month during periods of residency. For all domiciliary residents, the personal needs allowance shall be one hundred
sixty dollars per month, or a higher amount defined in rules
adopted by the department. [1993 sp.s. c 3 § 9.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
72.36.1601
72.36.1601 Findings. The legislature finds that continued operation of state veterans’ homes is necessary to meet
the needs of eligible veterans for shelter, personal and nursing care, and related services; that certain residents of veterans’ homes or services provided to them may be eligible for
participation in the state’s medicaid reimbursement system;
and that authorizing medicaid participation is appropriate to
address the homes’ long-term funding needs. The legislature
also finds that it is important to maintain the dignity and selfrespect of residents of veterans’ homes, by providing for continued resident involvement in the homes’ operation, and
through retention of current law guaranteeing a minimum
amount of allowable personal income necessary to meet the
greater costs for these residents of transportation, communication, and participation in family and community activities
that are vitally important to their maintenance and rehabilitation. [1993 sp.s. c 3 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Chapter 72.40
Chapter 72.40 RCW
STATE SCHOOLS FOR BLIND, DEAF,
SENSORY HANDICAPPED
Sections
72.40.010
72.40.019
(2006 Ed.)
Schools established—Purpose—Direction.
State school for the deaf—Appointment of superintendent—
Qualifications.
72.40.020
72.40.022
72.40.023
72.40.024
72.40.028
72.40.031
72.40.040
72.40.050
72.40.060
72.40.070
72.40.080
72.40.090
72.40.100
72.40.110
72.40.120
72.40.200
72.40.210
72.40.220
72.40.230
72.40.240
72.40.250
72.40.260
72.40.270
72.40.280
72.40.019
State school for the blind—Appointment of superintendent—
Qualifications.
Superintendent of the state school for the blind—Powers and
duties.
Superintendent of the state school for the deaf—Powers and
duties.
Superintendents—Additional powers and duties.
Teachers’ qualifications—Salaries—Provisional certification.
School year—School term—Legal holidays—Use of schools.
Who may be admitted.
Admission of nonresidents.
Duty of school districts.
Duty of educational service districts.
Duty of parents.
Weekend transportation—Expense.
Penalty.
Employees’ hours of labor.
School for the deaf—School for the blind—Appropriations.
Safety of students and protection from child abuse and neglect.
Reports to parents—Requirement.
Behavior management policies, procedures, and techniques.
Staff orientation and training.
Residential staffing requirement.
Protection from child abuse and neglect—Supervision of
employees and volunteers—Procedures.
Protection from child abuse and neglect—Student instruction.
Protection from sexual victimization—Policy.
Monitoring of residential program by department of social and
health services—Recommendations—Comprehensive child
health and safety reviews—Access to records and documents—Safety standards.
Disposition of property of deceased inmate of state institution: RCW
11.08.101, 11.08.111, 11.08.120.
Employment of dental hygienist without supervision of dentist authorized in
state institutions: RCW 18.29.056.
Handicapped children, parental responsibility, commitment: Chapter 26.40
RCW.
Record as to patients or inmates for purposes of vital statistics: RCW
70.58.270.
Teachers’ qualifications at state schools for the deaf and blind: RCW
72.40.028.
72.40.010
72.40.010 Schools established—Purpose—Direction.
There are established at Vancouver, Clark county, a school
which shall be known as the state school for the blind, and a
separate school which shall be known as the state school for
the deaf. The primary purpose of the state school for the blind
and the state school for the deaf is to educate and train hearing and visually impaired children.
The school for the blind shall be under the direction of
the superintendent with the advice of the board of trustees.
The school for the deaf shall be under the direction of the
superintendent and the board of trustees. [2002 c 209 § 1;
1985 c 378 § 11; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.010. Prior: 1913 c 10 §
1; 1886 p 136 § 1; RRS § 4645.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.019
72.40.019 State school for the deaf—Appointment of
superintendent—Qualifications. The governor shall
appoint a superintendent for the state school for the deaf. The
superintendent shall have a masters degree from an accredited college or university in school administration or deaf
education, five years of experience teaching deaf students in
the classroom, and three years administrative or supervisory
experience in programs for deaf students. [1985 c 378 § 14.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
[Title 72 RCW—page 63]
72.40.020
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.40.020
72.40.020 State school for the blind—Appointment
of superintendent—Qualifications. The governor shall
appoint a superintendent for the state school for the blind.
The superintendent shall have a masters degree from an
accredited college or university in school administration or
blind education, five years of experience teaching blind students in the classroom, and three years administrative or
supervisory experience in programs for blind students. [1985
c 378 § 13; 1979 c 141 § 247; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.020. Prior:
1909 c 97 p 258 § 5; RRS § 4649.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.022
72.40.022 Superintendent of the state school for the
blind—Powers and duties. In addition to any other powers
and duties prescribed by law, the superintendent of the state
school for the blind:
(1) Shall have full control of the school and the property
of various kinds.
(2) May establish criteria, in addition to state certification, for teachers at the school.
(3) Shall employ members of the faculty, administrative
officers, and other employees, who shall all be subject to
chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, unless specifically exempted by other provisions of law.
(4) Shall establish the course of study including vocational training, with the assistance of the faculty and the
advice of the board of trustees.
(5) May establish new facilities as needs demand.
(6) May adopt rules, under chapter 34.05 RCW, as
deemed necessary for the government, management, and
operation of the housing facilities.
(7) Shall control the use of the facilities and authorize the
use of the facilities for night school, summer school, public
meetings, or other purposes consistent with the purposes of
the school.
(8) May adopt rules for pedestrian and vehicular traffic
on property owned, operated, and maintained by the school.
(9) Shall purchase all supplies and lease or purchase
equipment and other personal property needed for the operation or maintenance of the school.
(10) Except as otherwise provided by law, may enter into
contracts as the superintendent deems essential to the purpose
of the school.
(11) May receive gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and
bequests of real or personal property from whatever source,
as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise,
whenever the terms and conditions will aid in carrying out the
programs of the school; sell, lease or exchange, invest, or
expend the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income
thereof except as limited by the terms and conditions thereof;
and adopt rules to govern the receipt and expenditure of the
proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof.
(12) May, except as otherwise provided by law, enter
into contracts the superintendent deems essential for the
operation of the school.
(13) May adopt rules providing for the transferability of
employees between the school for the deaf and the school for
the blind consistent with collective bargaining agreements in
effect.
[Title 72 RCW—page 64]
(14) Shall prepare and administer the school’s budget
consistent with RCW 43.88.160 and the budget and accounting act, chapter 43.88 RCW generally, as applicable.
(15) May adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW and perform all other acts not forbidden by law as the superintendent
deems necessary or appropriate to the administration of the
school. [2002 c 209 § 2; 1993 c 147 § 1; 1985 c 378 § 15.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.023
72.40.023 Superintendent of the state school for the
deaf—Powers and duties. In addition to any other powers
and duties prescribed by law, the superintendent of the state
school for the deaf:
(1) Shall have the responsibility for the supervision and
management of the school and the property of various kinds.
(2) May establish criteria, in addition to state certification, for the teachers at the school.
(3) Shall employ members of the faculty, administrative
officers, and other employees, who shall all be subject to
chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, unless specifically exempted by other provisions of law.
(4) Shall establish the course of study including vocational training, with the assistance of the faculty and the
approval of the board of trustees.
(5) May establish, with the approval of the board of trustees, new facilities as needs demand.
(6) May adopt rules, under chapter 34.05 RCW, as
approved by the board of trustees, as deemed necessary for
the governance, management, and operation of the housing
facilities.
(7) Shall, as approved by the board of trustees, control
the use of the facilities and authorize the use of the facilities
for night school, summer school, public meetings, or other
purposes consistent with the purposes of the school.
(8) May adopt rules, as approved by the board of trustees, for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on property owned,
operated, and maintained by the school.
(9) Shall purchase all supplies and lease or purchase
equipment and other personal property needed for the operation or maintenance of the school.
(10) Except as otherwise provided by law, may enter into
contracts as the superintendent deems essential to the purpose
of the school.
(11) May receive gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and
bequests of real or personal property from whatever source,
as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise,
whenever the terms and conditions will aid in carrying out the
programs of the school; sell, lease or exchange, invest, or
expend the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income
thereof except as limited by the terms and conditions thereof;
and adopt rules to govern the receipt and expenditure of the
proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof.
(12) May adopt rules, as approved by the board of trustees, providing for the transferability of employees between
the school for the deaf and the school for the blind consistent
with collective bargaining agreements in effect.
(13) Shall prepare, submit to the board of trustees for
approval, and administer the budget consistent with RCW
(2006 Ed.)
State Schools for Blind, Deaf, Sensory Handicapped
43.88.160 and the budget and accounting act, chapter 43.88
RCW generally, as applicable.
(14) May adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW, as
approved by the board of trustees, and perform all other acts
not forbidden by law as the superintendent deems necessary
or appropriate to the administration of the school. [2002 c
209 § 3.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
72.40.024
72.40.024 Superintendents—Additional powers and
duties. In addition to the powers and duties under RCW
72.40.022 and 72.40.023, the superintendent of each school
shall:
(1) Monitor the location and educational placement of
each student reported to the superintendents by the educational service district superintendents;
(2) Provide information about educational programs,
instructional techniques, materials, equipment, and resources
available to students with visual or auditory impairments to
the parent or guardian, educational service district superintendent, and the superintendent of the school district where
the student resides; and
(3) Serve as a consultant to the office of the superintendent of public instruction, provide instructional leadership,
and assist school districts in improving their instructional
programs for students with visual or hearing impairments.
[2002 c 209 § 4; 1993 c 147 § 2; 1985 c 378 § 17.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.028 Teachers’ qualifications—Salaries—Provisional certification. All teachers at the state school for the
deaf and the state school for the blind shall meet all certification requirements and the programs shall meet all accreditation requirements and conform to the standards defined by
law or by rule of the Washington professional educator standards board or the office of the state superintendent of public
instruction. The superintendents, by rule, may adopt additional educational standards for their respective schools. Salaries of all certificated employees shall be set so as to conform to and be contemporary with salaries paid to other certificated employees of similar background and experience in
the school district in which the program or facility is located.
The superintendents may provide for provisional certification
for teachers in their respective schools including certification
for emergency, temporary, substitute, or provisional duty.
[2006 c 263 § 829; 1985 c 378 § 18.]
72.40.028
Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes
following RCW 28A.150.230.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.050
lent number of days as are now required by law, and the regulations of the superintendent of public instruction as now or
hereafter amended, during the school year in the public
schools. The school shall observe all legal holidays, in the
same manner as other agencies of state government, and the
schools will not be in session on such days and such other
days as may be approved by the respective superintendents.
During the period when the schools are not in session during
the regular school term, schools may be operated, subject to
the approval of the respective superintendents, for the
instruction of students or for such other reasons which are in
furtherance of the objects and purposes of such schools.
[1985 c 378 § 16; 1979 c 141 § 248; 1970 ex.s. c 50 § 6.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.040
72.40.040 Who may be admitted. (1) The schools
shall be free to residents of the state between the ages of three
and twenty-one years, who are blind/visually impaired or
deaf/hearing impaired, or with other disabilities where a
vision or hearing disability is the major need for services.
(2) The schools may provide nonresidential services to
children ages birth through three who meet the eligibility criteria in this section, subject to available funding.
(3) Each school shall admit and retain students on a
space available basis according to criteria developed and
published by each school superintendent in consultation with
each board of trustees and school faculty: PROVIDED, That
students over the age of twenty-one years, who are otherwise
qualified may be retained at the school, if in the discretion of
the superintendent in consultation with the faculty they are
proper persons to receive further training given at the school
and the facilities are adequate for proper care, education, and
training.
(4) The admission and retention criteria developed and
published by each school superintendent shall contain a provision allowing the schools to refuse to admit or retain a student who is an adjudicated sex offender except that the
schools shall not admit or retain a student who is an adjudic a t ed l ev e l I I I s e x o f f e n d e r a s p r o v i d e d in R C W
13.40.217(3). [2000 c 125 § 8; 1993 c 147 § 3; 1985 c 378 §
19; 1984 c 160 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 80 § 68; 1969 c 39 § 1; 1959
c 28 § 72.40.040. Prior: 1955 c 260 § 1; 1909 c 97 p 258 § 3;
1903 c 140 § 1; 1897 c 118 § 229; 1886 p 136 § 2; RRS §
4647.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Severability—1984 c 160: See note following RCW 28A.155.020.
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.40.031
72.40.031 School year—School term—Legal holidays—Use of schools. The school year for the state school
for the blind and the state school for the deaf shall commence
on the first day of July of each year and shall terminate on the
30th day of June of the succeeding year. The regular school
term shall be for a period of nine months and shall commence
as near as reasonably practical at the time of the commencement of regular terms in the public schools, with the equiva(2006 Ed.)
72.40.050
72.40.050 Admission of nonresidents. (1) The superintendents may admit to their respective schools visually or
hearing impaired children from other states as appropriate,
but the parents or guardians of such children or other state
will be required to pay annually or quarterly in advance a sufficient amount to cover the cost of maintaining and educating
such children as set by the applicable superintendent.
[Title 72 RCW—page 65]
72.40.060
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(2) The admission and retention criteria developed and
published by each school superintendent shall contain a provision allowing the schools to refuse to admit or retain a nonresident student who is an adjudicated sex offender, or the
equivalent under the laws of the state in which the student
resides, except that the schools shall not admit or retain a
nonresident student who is an adjudicated level III sex
offender or the equivalent under the laws of the state in which
the student resides. [2000 c 125 § 9; 1985 c 378 § 20; 1979 c
141 § 249; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.050. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 258 §
4; 1897 c 118 § 251; 1886 p 141 § 32; RRS § 4648.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.060
72.40.060 Duty of school districts. It shall be the duty
of all school districts in the state, to report to their respective
educational service districts the names of all visually or hearing impaired youth residing within their respective school
districts who are between the ages of three and twenty-one
years. [1985 c 378 § 21; 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 § 151; 1969
ex.s. c 176 § 97; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.060. Prior: 1909 c 97 p
258 § 6; 1897 c 118 § 252; 1890 p 497 § 1; RRS § 4650.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 176: The effective date of this section,
RCW 72.40.070, 72.40.080, and 72.40.100 was April 25, 1969.
Rights preserved—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 176: See notes following RCW 28A.310.010.
Superintendent’s duties: RCW 28A.400.030.
72.40.070
72.40.070 Duty of educational service districts. It
shall be the duty of each educational service district to make
a full and specific report of visually or hearing impaired
youth to the superintendent of the school for the blind or the
school for the deaf, as the case may be and the superintendent
of public instruction, annually. The superintendent of public
instruction shall report about the hearing or visually impaired
youth to the school for the blind and the school for the deaf,
as the case may be, annually. [1985 c 378 § 22; 1979 c 141 §
250; 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 § 152; 1969 ex.s. c 176 § 98; 1959
c 28 § 72.40.070. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 259 § 7; 1897 c 118 §
253; 1890 p 497 § 2; RRS § 4651.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 176: See note following RCW 72.40.060.
Rights preserved—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 176: See notes following RCW 28A.310.010.
Educational service districts—Superintendents—Boards: Chapter 28A.310
RCW.
72.40.080
72.40.080 Duty of parents. It shall be the duty of the
parents or the guardians of all such visually or hearing
impaired youth to send them each year to the proper school.
Full and due consideration shall be given to the parent’s or
guardian’s preference as to which program the child should
attend. The educational service district superintendent shall
take all action necessary to enforce this section. [1993 c 147
§ 4; 1985 c 378 § 23; 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 § 153; 1969 ex.s. c
[Title 72 RCW—page 66]
176 § 99; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.080. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 259 § 8;
1897 c 118 § 254; 1890 p 498 § 3; RRS § 4652.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 176: See note following RCW 72.40.060.
Rights preserved—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 176: See notes following RCW 28A.310.010.
Handicapped children, parental responsibility, commitment: Chapter 26.40
RCW.
72.40.090
72.40.090 Weekend transportation—Expense. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state school for
the blind and the school for the deaf may arrange and provide
for weekend transportation to and from schools. This transportation shall be at no cost to students and parents, as
allowed within the appropriations allocated to the schools.
[1993 c 147 § 5; 1985 c 378 § 24; 1975 c 51 § 1; 1959 c 28 §
72.40.090. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 259 § 9; 1899 c 142 § 28; 1899
c 81 § 2; 1897 c 118 § 255; RRS § 4653.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.100
72.40.100 Penalty. Any parent, guardian, or educational service district superintendent who, without proper
cause, fails to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof, upon the complaint of any officer or citizen of the
county or state, before any district or superior court, shall be
fined in any sum not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars. [1987 c 202 § 229; 1985 c 378 § 25; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 275 § 154; 1969 ex.s. c 176 § 100; 1959 c 28 §
72.40.100. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 259 § 10; 1897 c 118 § 256;
1890 p 498 § 5; RRS § 4654.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 176: See note following RCW 72.40.060.
Rights preserved—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 176: See notes following RCW 28A.310.010.
72.40.110
72.40.110 Employees’ hours of labor. Employees’
hours of labor shall follow all state merit rules as they pertain
to various work classifications and current collective bargaining agreements. [1993 c 147 § 6; 1985 c 378 § 12.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.120
72.40.120 School for the deaf—School for the blind—
Appropriations. Any appropriation for the school for the
deaf or the school for the blind shall be made directly to the
school for the deaf or the school for the blind. [1991 c 65 §
1.]
Effective date—1991 c 65: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 c 65 § 3.]
72.40.200
72.40.200 Safety of students and protection from
child abuse and neglect. The state school for the deaf and
the state school for the blind shall promote the personal safety
of students and protect the children who attend from child
(2006 Ed.)
State Schools for Blind, Deaf, Sensory Handicapped
abuse and neglect as defined in RCW 26.44.020. [2000 c 125
§ 1.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules
adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary
condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [2000 c 125 § 11.]
72.40.210
72.40.210 Reports to parents—Requirement. The
superintendents of the state school for the deaf and the state
school for the blind or their designees shall immediately
report to the persons indicated the following events:
(1) To the child’s parent, custodian, or guardian:
(a) The death of the child;
(b) Hospitalization of a child in attendance or residence
at the school;
(c) Allegations of child abuse or neglect in which the
parent’s child in attendance or residence at the school is the
alleged victim;
(d) Allegations of physical or sexual abuse in which the
parent’s child in attendance or residence at the school is the
alleged perpetrator;
(e) Life-threatening illness;
(f) The attendance at the school of any child who is a registered sex offender under RCW 9A.44.130 as permitted by
RCW 4.24.550.
(2) Notification to the parent shall be made by the means
most likely to be received by the parent. If initial notification
is made by telephone, such notification shall be followed by
notification in writing within forty-eight hours after the initial
oral contact is made. [2000 c 125 § 2.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.40.220
72.40.220 Behavior management policies, procedures, and techniques. (1) The superintendents of the state
school for the deaf and the state school for the blind shall
maintain in writing and implement behavior management
policies and procedures that accomplish the following:
(a) Support the child’s appropriate social behavior, selfcontrol, and the rights of others;
(b) Foster dignity and self-respect for the child;
(c) Reflect the ages and developmental levels of children
in care.
(2) The state school for the deaf and the state school for
the blind shall use proactive, positive behavior support techniques to manage potential child behavior problems. These
techniques shall include but not be limited to:
(a) Organization of the physical environment and staffing patterns to reduce factors leading to behavior incidents;
(b) Intervention before behavior becomes disruptive, in
the least invasive and least restrictive manner available;
(c) Emphasis on verbal deescalation to calm the upset
child;
(d) Redirection strategies to present the child with alternative resolution choices. [2000 c 125 § 3.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
(2006 Ed.)
72.40.250
72.40.230
72.40.230 Staff orientation and training. (1) The state
school for the deaf and the state school for the blind shall
ensure that all staff, within two months of beginning employment, complete a minimum of fifteen hours of job orientation
which shall include, but is not limited to, presentation of the
standard operating procedures manual for each school,
describing all policies and procedures specific to the school.
(2) The state school for the deaf and the state school for
the blind shall ensure that all new staff receive thirty-two
hours of job specific training within ninety days of employment which shall include, but is not limited to, promoting and
protecting student personal safety. All staff shall receive
thirty-two hours of ongoing training in these areas every two
years. [2000 c 125 § 4.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.40.240
72.40.240 Residential staffing requirement. The residential program at the state school for the deaf and the state
school for the blind shall employ residential staff in sufficient
numbers to ensure the physical and emotional needs of the
residents are met. Residential staff shall be on duty in sufficient numbers to ensure the safety of the children residing
there.
For purposes of this section, "residential staff" means
staff in charge of supervising the day-to-day living situation
of the children in the residential portion of the schools. [2000
c 125 § 5.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.40.250
72.40.250 Protection from child abuse and neglect—
Supervision of employees and volunteers—Procedures.
In addition to the powers and duties under RCW 72.40.022
and 72.40.024, the superintendents of the state school for the
deaf and the state school for the blind shall:
(1) Develop written procedures for the supervision of
employees and volunteers who have the potential for contact
with students. Such procedures shall be designed to prevent
child abuse and neglect by providing for adequate supervision of such employees and volunteers, taking into consideration such factors as the student population served, architectural factors, and the size of the facility. Such procedures
shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
(a) Staffing patterns and the rationale for such;
(b) Responsibilities of supervisors;
(c) The method by which staff and volunteers are made
aware of the identity of all supervisors, including designated
on-site supervisors;
(d) Provision of written supervisory guidelines to
employees and volunteers;
(e) Periodic supervisory conferences for employees and
volunteers; and
(f) Written performance evaluations of staff to be conducted by supervisors in a manner consistent with applicable
provisions of the civil service law.
(2) Develop written procedures for the protection of students when there is reason to believe an incident has occurred
which would render a child student an abused or neglected
child within the meaning of RCW 26.44.020. Such procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
[Title 72 RCW—page 67]
72.40.260
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(a) Investigation. Immediately upon notification that a
report of child abuse or neglect has been made to the department of social and health services or a law enforcement
agency, the superintendent shall:
(i) Preserve any potential evidence through such actions
as securing the area where suspected abuse or neglect
occurred;
(ii) Obtain proper and prompt medical evaluation and
treatment, as needed, with documentation of any evidence of
abuse or neglect; and
(iii) Provide necessary assistance to the department of
social and health services and local law enforcement in their
investigations;
(b) Safety. Upon notification that a report of suspected
child abuse or neglect has been made to the department of
social and health services or a law enforcement agency, the
superintendent or his or her designee, with consideration for
causing as little disruption as possible to the daily routines of
the students, shall evaluate the situation and immediately take
appropriate action to assure the health and safety of the students involved in the report and of any other students similarly situated, and take such additional action as is necessary
to prevent future acts of abuse or neglect. Such action may
include:
(i) Consistent with federal and state law:
(A) Removing the alleged perpetrator from the school;
(B) Increasing the degree of supervision of the alleged
perpetrator; and
(C) Initiating appropriate disciplinary action against the
alleged perpetrator;
(ii) Provision of increased training and increased supervision to volunteers and staff pertinent to the prevention and
remediation of abuse and neglect;
(iii) Temporary removal of the students from a program
and reassignment of the students within the school, as an
emergency measure, if it is determined that there is a risk to
the health or safety of such students in remaining in that program. Whenever a student is removed, pursuant to this subsection (2)(b)(iii), from a special education program or service specified in his or her individualized education program,
the action shall be reviewed in an individualized education
program meeting; and
(iv) Provision of counseling to the students involved in
the report or any other students, as appropriate;
(c) Corrective action plans. Upon receipt of the results of
an investigation by the department of social and health services pursuant to a report of suspected child abuse or neglect,
the superintendent, after consideration of any recommendations by the department of social and health services for preventive and remedial action, shall implement a written plan
of action designed to assure the continued health and safety
of students and to provide for the prevention of future acts of
abuse or neglect. [2000 c 125 § 6.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.40.260 Protection from child abuse and neglect—
Student instruction. In consideration of the needs and circumstances of the program, the state school for the deaf and
the state school for the blind shall provide instruction to all
students in techniques and procedures which will enable the
72.40.260
[Title 72 RCW—page 68]
students to protect themselves from abuse and neglect. Such
instruction shall be described in a written plan to be submitted to the board of trustees for review and approval, and shall
be:
(1) Appropriate for the age, individual needs, and particular circumstances of students, including the existence of
mental, physical, emotional, or sensory disabilities;
(2) Provided at different times throughout the year in a
manner which will ensure that all students receive such
instruction; and
(3) Provided by individuals who possess appropriate
knowledge and training, documentation of which shall be
maintained by the school. [2000 c 125 § 7.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.40.270
72.40.270 Protection from sexual victimization—Policy. (1) The schools shall implement a policy for the children
who reside at the schools protecting those who are vulnerable
to sexual victimization by other children who are sexually
aggressive and residing at the schools. The policy shall
include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(a) Development and use of an assessment process for
identifying children, within thirty days of beginning residence at the schools, who present a moderate or high risk of
sexually aggressive behavior for the purposes of this section.
The assessment process need not require that every child who
is adjudicated or convicted of a sex offense as defined in
RCW 9.94A.030 be determined to be sexually aggressive,
nor shall a sex offense adjudication or conviction be required
in order to determine a child is sexually aggressive. Instead,
the assessment process shall consider the individual circumstances of the child, including his or her age, physical size,
sexual abuse history, mental and emotional condition, and
other factors relevant to sexual aggressiveness. The definition of "sexually aggressive youth" in RCW 74.13.075 does
not apply to this section to the extent that it conflicts with this
section;
(b) Development and use of an assessment process for
identifying children, within thirty days of beginning residence at the schools, who may be vulnerable to victimization
by children identified under (a) of this subsection as presenting a moderate or high risk of sexually aggressive behavior.
The assessment process shall consider the individual circumstances of the child, including his or her age, physical size,
sexual abuse history, mental and emotional condition, and
other factors relevant to vulnerability;
(c) Development and use of placement criteria to avoid
assigning children who present a moderate or high risk of
sexually aggressive behavior to the same sleeping quarters as
children assessed as vulnerable to sexual victimization,
except that they may be assigned to the same multiple-person
sleeping quarters if those sleeping quarters are regularly
monitored by visual surveillance equipment or staff checks;
(d) Development and use of procedures for minimizing,
within available funds, unsupervised contact in the residential facilities of the schools between children presenting moderate to high risk of sexually aggressive behavior and children assessed as vulnerable to sexual victimization. The procedures shall include taking reasonable steps to prohibit any
child residing at the schools who present a moderate to high
(2006 Ed.)
Board of Trustees—School for the Blind
risk of sexually aggressive behavior from entering any sleeping quarters other than the one to which they are assigned,
unless accompanied by an authorized adult.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the following meanings:
(a) "Sleeping quarters" means the bedrooms or other
rooms within a residential facility where children are
assigned to sleep.
(b) "Unsupervised contact" means contact occurring outside the sight or hearing of a responsible adult for more than
a reasonable period of time under the circumstances. [2000 c
125 § 10.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 125: See note following
RCW 72.40.200.
72.41.040
72.41.060
72.41.070
72.41.020
Powers and duties.
Travel expenses.
Meetings.
72.41.010
72.41.010 Intention—Purpose. It is the intention of
the legislature in creating a board of trustees for the state
school for the blind to perform the duties set forth in this
chapter, that the board of trustees perform needed advisory
services to the legislature and to the superintendent of the
Washington state school for the blind, in the development of
programs for the visually impaired, and in the operation of
the Washington state school for the blind. [1985 c 378 § 28;
1973 c 118 § 1.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.40.280
72.40.280 Monitoring of residential program by
department of social and health services—Recommendations—Comprehensive child health and safety reviews—
Access to records and documents—Safety standards. (1)
The department of social and health services must periodically monitor the residential program at the state school for
the deaf, including but not limited to examining the residential-related policies and procedures as well as the residential
facilities. The department of social and health services must
make recommendations to the school’s superintendent and
the board of trustees or its successor board on health and
safety improvements related to child safety and well-being.
The department of social and health services must conduct
the monitoring reviews at least quarterly until December 1,
2006.
(2) The department of social and health services must
conduct a comprehensive child health and safety review, as
defined in rule, of the residential program at the state school
for the deaf every three years. The department of social and
health services must deliver the first health and safety review
to the governor, the legislature, the school’s superintendent,
and the school’s board of trustees or successor board by
December 1, 2004.
(3) The state school for the deaf must provide the department of social and health services’ staff with full and complete access to all records and documents that the department
staff may request to carry out the requirements of this section.
The department of social and health services must have full
and complete access to all students and staff of the state
school for the deaf to conduct interviews to carry out the
requirements of this section.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the department of
social and health services must use the safety standards established in this chapter when conducting the reviews. [2002 c
208 § 2.]
Chapter 72.41 RCW
BOARD OF TRUSTEES—SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
Chapter 72.41
Sections
72.41.010
72.41.015
72.41.020
72.41.025
72.41.030
(2006 Ed.)
Intention—Purpose.
"Superintendent" defined.
Board of trustees—Membership—Terms—Vacancies—
Officers—Rules and regulations.
Membership, effect of creation of new congressional districts
or boundaries.
Bylaws—Rules and regulations—Officers.
72.41.015
72.41.015 "Superintendent" defined. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter "superintendent" means superintendent of the state school for the
blind. [1985 c 378 § 27.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.41.020
72.41.020 Board of trustees—Membership—
Terms—Vacancies—Officers—Rules and regulations.
There is hereby created a board of trustees for the state school
for the blind to be composed of a resident from each of the
state’s congressional districts now or hereafter existing.
Trustees with voting privileges shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. A representative of the
parent-teachers association of the Washington state school
for the blind, a representative of the Washington council of
the blind, a representative of the national federation of the
blind of Washington, one representative designated by the
teacher association of the Washington state school for the
blind, and a representative of the classified staff designated
by his or her exclusive bargaining representative shall each
be ex officio and nonvoting members of the board of trustees
and shall serve during their respective tenures in such positions.
Trustees shall be appointed by the governor to serve for
a term of five years except that any person appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term shall be
appointed within sixty days of the vacancy and appointed
only for the remainder of the term.
One trustee shall be a resident and qualified elector from
each of the state’s congressional districts. The board shall not
be deemed to be unlawfully constituted and a trustee shall not
be deemed ineligible to serve the remainder of the trustee’s
unexpired term on the board solely by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts.
No voting trustee may be an employee of the state school for
the blind, a member of the board of directors of any school
district, a member of the governing board of any public or
private educational institution, a school district or educational service district administrator, appointed after July 1,
1986, or an elected officer or member of the legislative
authority or any municipal corporation.
The board of trustees shall organize itself by electing a
chairman from its members. The board shall adopt a seal and
may adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it deems
[Title 72 RCW—page 69]
72.41.025
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
necessary for its own government. A majority of the voting
members of the board in office shall constitute a quorum, but
a lesser number may convene from time to time and may
compel the attendance of absent members in such manner as
prescribed in its bylaws, rules, or regulations. The superintendent of the state school for the blind shall serve as, or may
designate another person to serve as, the secretary of the
board, who shall not be deemed to be a member of the board.
[1993 c 147 § 7; 1985 c 378 § 29; 1982 1st ex.s. c 30 § 13;
1973 c 118 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.41.025
72.41.025 Membership, effect of creation of new congressional districts or boundaries. The terms of office of
trustees on the board for the state school for the blind who are
appointed from the various congressional districts shall not
be affected by the creation of either new boundaries for congressional districts or additional districts. In such an event,
each trustee may continue to serve in office for the balance of
the term for which he or she was appointed: PROVIDED,
That the trustee continues to reside within the boundaries of
the congressional district as they existed at the time of his or
her appointment. Vacancies which occur in a trustee position
during the balance of any such term shall be filled pursuant to
RCW 72.41.020, as now or hereafter amended, by a successor who resides within the boundaries of the congressional
district from which the member whose office was vacated
was appointed as they existed at the time of his or her election. At the completion of such term, and thereafter, a successor shall be appointed from the congressional district which
corresponds in number with the congressional district from
which the incumbent was appointed. [1982 1st ex.s. c 30 §
14.]
72.41.030
72.41.030 Bylaws—Rules and regulations—Officers.
Within thirty days of their appointment or July 1, 1973,
whichever is sooner, the board of trustees shall organize,
adopt bylaws for its own government, and make such rules
and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter as they
deem necessary. At such organizational meeting it shall elect
from among its members a chairman and a vice chairman,
each to serve for one year, and annually thereafter shall elect
such officers to serve until their successors are appointed or
qualified. [1973 c 118 § 3.]
the superintendent all be subject to chapter 41.06 RCW, the
state civil service law, unless specifically exempted by other
provisions of law. All employees and personnel classified
under chapter 41.06 RCW shall continue, after July 1, 1986,
to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that
may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws
and rules governing the state civil service law;
(4) Shall submit an evaluation of the superintendent to
the governor by July 1 of each odd-numbered year and may
recommend to the governor that the superintendent be
removed for misfeasance, malfeasance, or wilful neglect of
duty;
(5) May recommend to the superintendent the establishment of new facilities as needs demand;
(6) May recommend to the superintendent rules and regulations for the government, management, and operation of
such housing facilities deemed necessary or advisable;
(7) May make recommendations to the superintendent
concerning classrooms and other facilities to be used for
summer or night schools, or for public meetings and for any
other uses consistent with the use of such classrooms or facilities for the school for the blind;
(8) May make recommendations to the superintendent
for adoption of rules and regulations for pedestrian and
vehicular traffic on property owned, operated, or maintained
by the school for the blind;
(9) Shall recommend to the superintendent, with the
assistance of the faculty, the course of study including vocational training in the school for the blind, in accordance with
other applicable provisions of law and rules and regulations;
(10) May grant to every student, upon graduation or
completion of a program or course of study, a suitable
diploma, nonbaccalaureate degree, or certificate;
(11) Shall participate in the development of, and monitor
the enforcement of the rules and regulations pertaining to the
school for the blind;
(12) Shall perform any other duties and responsibilities
prescribed by the superintendent. [1985 c 378 § 30; 1973 c
118 § 4.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.41.040
72.41.040 Powers and duties. The board of trustees of
the state school for the blind:
(1) Shall monitor and inspect all existing facilities of the
state school for the blind, and report its findings to the superintendent;
(2) Shall study and recommend comprehensive programs of education and training and review the admission
policy as set forth in RCW 72.40.040 and 72.40.050, and
make appropriate recommendations to the superintendent;
(3) Shall submit a list of three qualified candidates for
superintendent to the governor and shall advise the superintendent about the criteria and policy to be used in the selection of members of the faculty and such other administrative
officers and other employees, who shall with the exception of
[Title 72 RCW—page 70]
72.41.060
72.41.060 Travel expenses. Each member of the board
of trustees shall receive travel expenses as provided in RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter
amended, and such payments shall be a proper charge to any
funds appropriated or allocated for the support of the state
school for the blind. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 167; 1973 c
118 § 6.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
72.41.070
72.41.070 Meetings. The board of trustees shall meet at
least quarterly. [1993 c 147 § 8; 1973 c 118 § 7.]
(2006 Ed.)
Board of Trustees—School for the Deaf
Chapter 72.42 RCW
BOARD OF TRUSTEES—SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
Chapter 72.42
Sections
72.42.010
72.42.015
72.42.016
72.42.021
72.42.031
72.42.041
72.42.060
72.42.070
Intention—Purpose.
"Superintendent" defined.
"School" defined.
Board of trustees—Membership—Terms—Effect of new or
revised boundaries for congressional districts—Vacancies.
Bylaws—Rules—Officers—Quorum.
Powers and duties.
Travel expenses.
Meetings.
72.42.010
72.42.010 Intention—Purpose. It is the intention of
the legislature, in creating a board of trustees for the state
school for the deaf to perform the duties set forth in this chapter, that the board of trustees perform needed oversight services to the governor and the legislature of the Washington
state school for the deaf in the development of programs for
the hearing impaired, and in the operation of the Washington
state school for the deaf. [2002 c 209 § 5; 1985 c 378 § 31;
1972 ex.s. c 96 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.42.015
72.42.015 "Superintendent" defined. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise as used in this chapter "superintendent" means superintendent of the Washington state
school for the deaf. [1985 c 378 § 32.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 378: See notes following RCW
72.01.050.
72.42.016
72.42.016 "School" defined. Unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter "school"
means the Washington state school for the deaf. [2002 c 209
§ 6.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
72.42.021
72.42.021 Board of trustees—Membership—
Terms—Effect of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts—Vacancies. (1) The governance of the
school shall be vested in a board of trustees. The board shall
consist of nine members appointed by the governor, with the
consent of the senate. The board shall be composed of a resident from each of the state’s congressional districts and may
include:
(a) One member who is deaf or hearing impaired;
(b) Two members who are experienced educational professionals;
(c) One member who is experienced in providing residential services to youth; and
(d) One member who is the parent of a child who is deaf
or hearing impaired and who is receiving or has received educational services related to deafness or hearing impairment
from a public educational institution.
(2) No voting trustee may be an employee of the school,
a member of the board of directors of any school district, a
member of the governing board of any public or private educational institution, a school district or educational service
district administrator appointed after July 1, 1986, or an
(2006 Ed.)
72.42.041
elected officer or member of the legislative authority of any
municipal corporation.
(3) Trustees shall be appointed by the governor to serve
a term of five years, except that any person appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of a term shall be
appointed within sixty days of the vacancy and appointed
only for the remainder of the term. Of the initial members,
three must be appointed for two-year terms, three must be
appointed for three-year terms, and the remainder must be
appointed for five-year terms.
(4) The board shall not be deemed unlawfully constituted
and a trustee shall not be deemed ineligible to serve the
remainder of the trustee’s unexpired term on the board solely
by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries
for congressional districts. In such an event, each trustee may
continue to serve in office for the balance of the term for
which he or she was appointed so long as the trustee continues to reside within the boundaries of the congressional district as they existed at the time of his or her appointment.
Vacancies which occur in a trustee position during the balance of any term shall be filled pursuant to subsection (3) of
this section by a successor who resides within the boundaries
of the congressional district from which the member whose
office was vacated was appointed as they existed at the time
of his or her appointment. At the completion of such term,
and thereafter, a successor shall be appointed from the congressional district which corresponds in number with the congressional district from which the incumbent was appointed.
[2002 c 209 § 7.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002, except
that the governor may appoint the members of the board of trustees under
section 7 of this act prior to the beginning of their terms of office on July 1,
2002." [2002 c 209 § 12.]
72.42.031
72.42.031 Bylaws—Rules—Officers—Quorum. (1)
The board of trustees shall organize, adopt bylaws for its own
governance, and adopt rules not inconsistent with this chapter
as they deem necessary. At such organizational meeting it
shall elect from among its members a chairman and a vicechairman, each to serve for one year, and annually thereafter
shall elect such officers to serve until their successors are
appointed or qualified.
(2) A majority of the voting members of the board in
office constitutes a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn
from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent
members in such manner as prescribed by its bylaws, rules, or
regulations. [2002 c 209 § 9.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
72.42.041
72.42.041 Powers and duties. The board of trustees of
the school:
(1) Shall adopt rules and regulations for its own governance;
(2) Shall direct the development of, approve, and monitor the enforcement of policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to the school, including but not limited to:
(a) The use of classrooms and other facilities for summer
or night schools or for public meetings and any other uses;
(b) Pedestrian and vehicular traffic on property owned,
operated, or maintained by the school;
[Title 72 RCW—page 71]
72.42.060
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
(c) Governance, management, and operation of the residential facilities;
(d) Transferability of employees between the school for
the deaf and the school for the blind consistent with collective
bargaining agreements in effect; and
(e) Compliance with state and federal education civil
rights laws at the school;
(3) Shall develop a process for recommending candidates for the position of superintendent and upon a vacancy
shall submit a list of three qualified candidates for superintendent to the governor;
(4) Shall submit an evaluation of the superintendent to
the governor by July 1st of each odd-numbered year that
includes a recommendation regarding the retention of the
superintendent;
(5) May recommend to the governor at any time that the
superintendent be removed for conduct deemed by the board
to be detrimental to the interests of the school;
(6) Shall prepare and submit by July 1st of each evennumbered year a report to the governor and the appropriate
committees of the legislature which contains a detailed summary of the school’s progress on performance objectives and
the school’s work, facility conditions, and revenues and costs
of the school for the previous year and which contains those
recommendations it deems necessary and advisable for the
governor and the legislature to act on;
(7) Shall approve the school’s budget and all funding
requests, both operating and capital, submitted to the governor;
(8) Shall direct and approve the development and implementation of comprehensive programs of education, training,
and as needed residential living, such that students served by
the school receive a challenging and quality education in a
safe school environment;
(9) Shall direct, monitor, and approve the implementation of a comprehensive continuous quality improvement
system for the school;
(10) Shall monitor and inspect all existing facilities of
the school and report its findings in its biennial report to the
governor and appropriate committees of the legislature; and
(11) May grant to every student, upon graduation or
completion of a program or course of study, a suitable
diploma, nonbaccalaureate degree, or certificate. [2002 c 209
§ 8.]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
72.42.060 Travel expenses. Each member of the board
of trustees shall receive travel expenses as provided in RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter
amended, and such payments shall be a proper charge to any
funds appropriated or allocated for the support of the state
school for the deaf. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 168; 1972
ex.s. c 96 § 6.]
72.42.060
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
72.42.070 Meetings. The board of trustees shall meet at
least quarterly but may meet more frequently at such times as
the board by resolution determines or the bylaws of the board
prescribe. [2002 c 209 § 10; 1993 c 147 § 10; 1972 ex.s. c 96
§ 7.]
72.42.070
[Title 72 RCW—page 72]
Effective date—2002 c 209: See note following RCW 72.42.021.
Chapter 72.49 RCW
NARCOTIC OR DANGEROUS DRUGS—
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
Chapter 72.49
Sections
72.49.010
72.49.020
Purpose.
Treatment and rehabilitation programs authorized—Rules and
regulations.
72.49.010
72.49.010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to
provide additional programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons suffering from narcotic and dangerous drug
abuse. [1969 ex.s. c 123 § 1.]
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 123: "The effective date of this act shall
be July 1, 1969." [1969 ex.s. c 123 § 3.]
72.49.020
72.49.020 Treatment and rehabilitation programs
authorized—Rules and regulations. There may be established at an institution, or portion thereof, to be designated by
the secretary of the department of social and health services,
programs for treatment and rehabilitation of persons in need
of medical care and treatment due to narcotic abuse or dangerous drug abuse. Such programs may include facilities for
both residential and outpatient treatment. The secretary of the
department of social and health services shall promulgate
rules and regulations governing the voluntary admission,
treatment, and release of such patients, and all other matters
incident to the proper administration of this section. [1975’76 2nd ex.s. c 103 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 123 § 2.]
Effective date—1969 ex. s. c 123: See note following RCW 72.49.010.
Chapter 72.60
Chapter 72.60 RCW
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES
(Formerly: Institutional industries)
Sections
72.60.100
72.60.102
72.60.110
72.60.160
72.60.220
72.60.235
Civil rights of inmates not restored—Other laws inapplicable.
Industrial insurance—Application to certain inmates.
Employment of inmates according to needs of state.
State agencies and subdivisions may purchase goods—Purchasing preference required of certain institutions.
List of goods to be supplied to all departments, institutions,
agencies.
Implementation plan for prison industries.
Correctional industries administered by department of corrections: RCW
72.09.070 through 72.09.120.
72.60.100
72.60.100 Civil rights of inmates not restored—
Other laws inapplicable. Nothing in this chapter is intended
to restore, in whole or in part, the civil rights of any inmate.
No inmate compensated for work in correctional industries
shall be considered as an employee or to be employed by the
state or the department, nor shall any such inmate, except
those provided for in RCW 72.60.102 and 72.64.065, come
within any of the provisions of the workers’ compensation
act, or be entitled to any benefits thereunder whether on
behalf of himself or of any other person. [1989 c 185 § 10;
1987 c 185 § 38; 1981 c 136 § 101; 1972 ex.s. c 40 § 1; 1959
c 28 § 72.60.100. Prior: 1955 c 314 § 10. Formerly RCW
43.95.090.]
(2006 Ed.)
Correctional Industries
Intent—Severability—1987 c 185: See notes following RCW
51.12.130.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 40: "This act shall be effective July 1,
1973." [1972 ex.s. c 40 § 4.]
Restoration of civil rights: Chapter 9.96 RCW.
72.60.102
72.60.102 Industrial insurance—Application to certain inmates. From and after July 1, 1973, any inmate
employed in classes I, II, and IV of correctional industries as
defined in RCW 72.09.100 is eligible for industrial insurance
benefits as provided by Title 51 RCW. However, eligibility
for benefits for either the inmate or the inmate’s dependents
or beneficiaries for temporary disability or permanent total
disability as provided in RCW 51.32.090 or 51.32.060,
respectively, shall not take effect until the inmate is released
pursuant to an order of parole by the indeterminate sentence
review board, or discharged from custody upon expiration of
the sentence, or discharged from custody by order of a court
of appropriate jurisdiction. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to confer eligibility for any industrial insurance
benefits to any inmate who is employed in class III or V of
correctional industries as defined in RCW 72.09.100. [1989
c 185 § 11; 1983 1st ex.s. c 52 § 7; 1981 c 136 § 102; 1979
ex.s. c 160 § 3; 1972 ex.s. c 40 § 2.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 52: See RCW 63.42.900.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 40: See note following RCW 72.60.100.
72.60.110
72.60.110 Employment of inmates according to needs
of state. The department is hereby authorized and empowered to cause the inmates in the state institutions of this state
to be employed in the rendering of such services and in the
production and manufacture of such articles, materials, and
supplies as are now, or may hereafter be, needed by the state,
or any political subdivision thereof, or that may be needed by
any public institution of the state or of any political subdivision thereof. [1959 c 28 § 72.60.110. Prior: 1955 c 314 § 11.
Formerly RCW 43.95.100.]
72.60.160
72.60.160 State agencies and subdivisions may purchase goods—Purchasing preference required of certain
institutions. All articles, materials, and supplies herein
authorized to be produced or manufactured in correctional
institutions may be purchased from the institution producing
or manufacturing the same by any state agency or political
subdivision of the state, and the secretary shall require those
institutions under his direction to give preference to the purchasing of their needs of such articles as are so produced.
[1981 c 136 § 103; 1979 c 141 § 260; 1959 c 28 § 72.60.160.
Prior: 1955 c 314 § 16. Formerly RCW 43.95.150.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.60.220
72.60.220 List of goods to be supplied to all departments, institutions, agencies. The department may cause to
be prepared annually, at such times as it may determine, lists
containing the descriptions of all articles and supplies manufactured and produced in state correctional institutions; copies of such list shall be sent to the supervisor of purchasing
and to all departments, institutions and agencies of the state
(2006 Ed.)
72.60.235
of Washington. [1981 c 136 § 105; 1959 c 28 § 72.60.220.
Prior: 1957 c 30 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.95.210.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.60.235
72.60.235 Implementation plan for prison industries.
(1) The department of corrections shall develop, in accordance with RCW 72.09.010, a site-specific implementation
plan for prison industries space at Clallam Bay corrections
center, McNeil Island corrections center, and the one thousand twenty-four bed medium security prison as appropriated
for and authorized by the legislature.
(2) Each implementation plan shall include, but not be
limited to, sufficient space and design elements that try to
achieve a target of twenty-five percent of the total inmates in
class I employment programs and twenty-five percent of the
total inmates in class II employment programs or as much of
the target as possible without jeopardizing the efficient and
necessary day-to-day operation of the prison. The implementation plan shall also include educational opportunities and
employment, wage, and other incentives. The department
shall include in the implementation plans an incentive program based on wages, and the opportunity to contribute all or
a portion of their wages towards an array of incentives. The
funds recovered from the sale, lease, or rental of incentives
should be considered as a possible source of revenue to cover
the capitalized cost of the additional space necessary to
accommodate the increased class I and class II industries programs.
(3) The incentive program shall be developed so that
inmates can earn higher wages based on performance and
production. Only those inmates employed in class I and class
II jobs may participate in the incentive program. The department shall develop special program criteria for inmates with
physical or mental handicaps so that they can participate in
the incentive program.
(4) The department shall propose rules specifying that
inmate wages, other than the amount an inmate owes for
taxes, legal financial obligations, and to the victim restitution
fund, shall be returned to the department to pay for the cost of
prison operations, including room and board.
(5) The plan shall identify actual or potential legal or
operational obstacles, or both, in implementing the components of the plan as specified in this section, and recommend
strategies to remove the obstacles.
(6) The department shall submit the plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature and to the governor by October 1, 1991. [1991 c 256 § 2.]
Finding—1991 c 256: "The legislature finds that the rehabilitation process may be enhanced by participation in training, education, and employment-related incentive programs and may be a consideration in reducing
time in confinement." [1991 c 256 § 1.]
Application to prison construction—1991 c 256: "The overall prison
design plans for new construction at Clallam Bay corrections center, McNeil
Island corrections center, and the one thousand twenty-four bed medium
security prison as appropriated for and authorized by the legislature shall not
be inconsistent with the implementation plan outlined in this act. No provision under this act shall require the department of corrections to redesign,
postpone, or delay the construction of any of the facilities outlined in RCW
72.60.235." [1991 c 256 § 3.]
Severability—1991 c 256: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 c 256 § 4.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 73]
Chapter 72.62
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Chapter 72.62 RCW
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Chapter 72.62
each vocation taught within the vocational education programs in the state correctional system. [1972 ex.s. c 7 § 5.]
Sections
72.62.010
72.62.020
72.62.030
72.62.040
72.62.050
Purpose.
"Vocational education" defined.
Sale of products—Recovery of costs.
Crediting of proceeds of sales.
Trade advisory and apprenticeship committees.
72.62.010 Purpose. The legislature declares that programs of vocational education are essential to the habilitation
and rehabilitation of residents of state correctional institutions and facilities. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide
for greater reality and relevance in the vocational education
programs within the correctional institutions of the state.
[1972 ex.s. c 7 § 1.]
72.62.010
72.62.020 "Vocational education" defined. When
used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
The term "vocational education" means a planned series
of learning experiences, the specific objective of which is to
prepare individuals for gainful employment as semiskilled or
skilled workers or technicians or subprofessionals in recognized occupations and in new and emerging occupations, but
shall not mean programs the primary characteristic of which
is repetitive work for the purpose of production, including the
correctional industries program. Nothing in this section shall
be construed to prohibit the correctional industries board of
directors from identifying and establishing trade advisory or
apprenticeship committees to advise them on correctional
industries work programs. [1989 c 185 § 12; 1972 ex.s. c 7 §
2.]
72.62.020
72.62.030 Sale of products—Recovery of costs. Products goods, wares, articles, or merchandise manufactured or
produced by residents of state correctional institutions or
facilities within or in conjunction with vocational education
programs for the training, habilitation, and rehabilitation of
inmates may be sold on the open market. When services are
performed by residents within or in conjunction with such
vocational education programs, the cost of materials used and
the value of depreciation of equipment used may be recovered. [1983 c 255 § 6; 1972 ex.s. c 7 § 3.]
72.62.030
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.62.040 Crediting of proceeds of sales. The secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary of corrections, as the case may be, shall credit the proceeds derived from the sale of such products, goods, wares,
articles, or merchandise manufactured or produced by
inmates of state correctional institutions within or in conjunction with vocational education programs to the institution
where manufactured or produced to be deposited in a revolving fund to be expended for the purchase of supplies, materials and equipment for use in vocational education. [1981 c
136 § 107; 1972 ex.s. c 7 § 4.]
72.62.040
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.62.050 Trade advisory and apprenticeship committees. Labor-management trade advisory and apprenticeship committees shall be constituted by the department for
72.62.050
[Title 72 RCW—page 74]
Chapter 72.63 RCW
PRISON WORK PROGRAMS—FISH AND GAME
Chapter 72.63
Sections
72.63.010
72.63.020
72.63.030
72.63.040
Legislative finding.
Prison work programs for fish and game projects.
Department of fish and wildlife to provide professional assistance—Identification of projects—Loan of facilities and
property—Resources to be provided.
Available funds to support costs of implementation.
72.63.010
72.63.010 Legislative finding. The legislature finds
and declares that the establishment of prison work programs
that allow prisoners to undertake food fish, shellfish, and
game fish rearing projects and game bird and game animal
improvement, restoration, and protection projects is needed
to reduce idleness, promote the growth of prison industries,
and provide prisoners with skills necessary for their successful reentry into society. [1985 c 286 § 1.]
72.63.020
72.63.020 Prison work programs for fish and game
projects. The departments of corrections and fish and wildlife shall establish at or near appropriate state institutions, as
defined in RCW 72.65.010, prison work programs that use
prisoners to undertake state food fish, shellfish, and game
fish rearing projects and state game bird and game animal
improvement, restoration, and protection projects and that
meet the requirements of RCW 72.09.100.
The department of corrections shall seek to identify a
group of prisoners at each appropriate state institution, as
defined by RCW 72.65.010, that are interested in participating in prison work programs established by this chapter.
If the department of corrections is unable to identify a
group of prisoners to participate in work programs authorized
by this chapter, it may enter into an agreement with the
department of fish and wildlife for the purpose of designing
projects for any institution. Costs under this section shall be
borne by the department of corrections.
The departments of corrections and fish and wildlife
shall use prisoners, where appropriate, to perform work in
state projects that may include the following types:
(1) Food fish, shellfish, and game fish rearing projects,
including but not limited to egg planting, egg boxes, juvenile
planting, pen rearing, pond rearing, raceway rearing, and egg
taking;
(2) Game bird and game animal projects, including but
not limited to habitat improvement and restoration, replanting and transplanting, nest box installation, pen rearing, game
protection, and supplemental feeding: PROVIDED, That no
project shall be established at the department of fish and
wildlife’s south Tacoma game farm;
(3) Manufacturing of equipment for use in fish and game
volunteer cooperative projects permitted by the department
of fish and wildlife, or for use in prison work programs with
fish and game; and
(4) Maintenance, repair, restoration, and redevelopment
of facilities operated by the department of fish and wildlife.
[1994 c 264 § 43; 1988 c 36 § 29; 1985 c 286 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Labor and Employment of Prisoners
72.63.030
72.63.030 Department of fish and wildlife to provide
professional assistance—Identification of projects—Loan
of facilities and property—Resources to be provided. (1)
The department of fish and wildlife shall provide professional assistance from biologists, fish culturists, pathologists,
engineers, habitat managers, and other departmental staff to
assist the development and productivity of prison work programs under RCW 72.63.020, upon agreement with the
department of corrections.
(2) The department of fish and wildlife shall identify and
describe potential and pilot projects that are compatible with
the goals of the various departments involved and that are
particularly suitable for prison work programs.
(3) The department of fish and wildlife may make available surplus hatchery rearing space, net pens, egg boxes, portable rearing containers, incubators, and any other departmental facilities or property that are available for loan to the
department of corrections to carry out prison work programs
under RCW 72.63.020.
(4) The department of fish and wildlife shall provide live
fish eggs, bird eggs, juvenile fish, game animals, or other
appropriate seed stock, juveniles, or brood stock of acceptable disease history and genetic composition for the prison
work projects at no cost to the department of corrections, to
the extent that such resources are available. Fish food, bird
food, or animal food may be provided by the department of
fish and wildlife to the extent that funding is available.
(5) The department of natural resources shall assist in the
implementation of the program where project sites are
located on public beaches or state owned aquatic lands.
[1994 c 264 § 44; 1988 c 36 § 30; 1985 c 286 § 3.]
72.63.040
72.63.040 Available funds to support costs of implementation. The costs of implementation of the projects prescribed by this chapter shall be supported to the extent that
funds are available under the provisions of chapter 77.100
RCW, and from correctional industries funds. [2003 c 39 §
31; 1989 c 185 § 13; 1985 c 286 § 4.]
Chapter 72.64 RCW
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS
Chapter 72.64
Sections
72.64.001
72.64.010
72.64.020
72.64.030
72.64.040
72.64.050
72.64.060
72.64.065
72.64.070
72.64.080
72.64.090
72.64.100
72.64.110
72.64.150
72.64.160
Definitions.
Useful employment of prisoners—Contract system barred.
Rules and regulations.
Prisoners required to work—Private benefit of enforcement
officer prohibited.
Crediting of earnings—Payment.
Branch institutions—Work camps for certain purposes.
Labor camps authorized—Type of work permitted—Contracts.
Industrial insurance—Application to certain inmates—Payment of premiums and assessments.
Industrial insurance—Eligibility for employment—Procedure—Return.
Industrial insurance—Duties of employing agency—Costs—
Supervision.
Industrial insurance—Department’s jurisdiction.
Regional jail camps—Authorized—Purposes—Rules.
Contracts to furnish county prisoners confinement, care, and
employment—Reimbursement by county—Sheriff’s
order—Return of prisoner.
Interstate forest fire suppression compact.
Inmate forest fire suppression crews—Classification.
Contract system barred: State Constitution Art. 2 § 29.
(2006 Ed.)
72.64.050
Correctional industries: Chapter 72.60 RCW.
Labor prescribed by the indeterminate sentence review board: RCW
9.95.090.
72.64.001
72.64.001 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Department" means the department of corrections; and
"Secretary" means the secretary of corrections. [1981 c
136 § 108.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.64.010
72.64.010 Useful employment of prisoners—Contract system barred. The secretary shall have the power and
it shall be his duty to provide for the useful employment of
prisoners in the adult correctional institutions: PROVIDED,
That no prisoners shall be employed in what is known as the
contract system of labor. [1979 c 141 § 265; 1959 c 28 §
72.64.010. Prior: 1943 c 175 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 102791. Formerly RCW 72.08.220.]
72.64.020
72.64.020 Rules and regulations. The secretary shall
make the necessary rules and regulations governing the
employment of prisoners, the conduct of all such operations,
and the disposal of the products thereof, under such restrictions as provided by law. [1979 c 141 § 266; 1959 c 28 §
72.64.020. Prior: 1943 c 175 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 102792. Formerly RCW 72.08.230.]
72.64.030
72.64.030 Prisoners required to work—Private benefit of enforcement officer prohibited. Every prisoner in a
state correctional facility shall be required to work in such
manner as may be prescribed by the secretary, other than for
the private financial benefit of any enforcement officer.
[1992 c 7 § 54; 1979 c 141 § 267; 1961 c 171 § 1; 1959 c 28
§ 72.64.030. Prior: 1927 c 305 § 1; RRS § 10223-1.]
72.64.040
72.64.040 Crediting of earnings—Payment. Where a
prisoner is employed at any occupation for which pay is
allowed or permitted, or at any gainful occupation from
which the state derives an income, the department shall credit
the prisoner with the total amount of his earnings.
The amount of earnings credited but unpaid to a prisoner
may be paid to the prisoner’s spouse, children, mother,
father, brother, or sister as the inmate may direct upon
approval of the superintendent. Upon release, parole, or discharge, all unpaid earnings of the prisoner shall be paid to
him. [1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 105; 1959 c 28 § 72.64.040.
Prior: 1957 c 19 § 1; 1927 c 305 § 3; RRS § 10223-3. Formerly RCW 72.08.250.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
72.64.050
72.64.050 Branch institutions—Work camps for certain purposes. The secretary shall also have the power to
establish temporary branch institutions for state correctional
facilities in the form of camps for the employment of prisoners therein in farming, reforestation, wood-cutting, land
clearing, processing of foods in state canneries, forest fire
fighting, forest fire suppression and prevention, stream clearance, watershed improvement, development of parks and recreational areas, and other work to conserve the natural
resources and protect and improve the public domain and
[Title 72 RCW—page 75]
72.64.060
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
construction of water supply facilities to state institutions.
[1992 c 7 § 55; 1979 c 141 § 268; 1961 c 171 § 2; 1959 c 28
§ 72.64.050. Prior: 1943 c 175 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1943 §
10279-3. Formerly RCW 72.08.240.]
Leaves of absence for inmates: RCW 72.01.365 through 72.01.380.
The secretary may return to prison any prisoner transferred to camp pursuant to this section, when the need for
such prisoner’s labor has ceased or when the prisoner is
guilty of any violation of the rules and regulations of the
prison or camp. [1979 c 141 § 270; 1959 c 28 § 72.64.070.
Prior: 1955 c 128 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.28.510.]
72.64.060
72.64.060 Labor camps authorized—Type of work
permitted—Contracts. Any department, division, bureau,
commission, or other agency of the state of Washington or
any agency of any political subdivision thereof or the federal
government may use, or cause to be used, prisoners confined
in state penal or correctional institutions to perform work
necessary and proper, to be done by them at camps to be
established pursuant to the authority granted by RCW
72.64.060 through 72.64.090: PROVIDED, That such prisoners shall not be authorized to perform work on any public
road, other than access roads to forestry lands. The secretary
may enter into contracts for the purposes of RCW 72.64.060
through 72.64.090. [1979 c 141 § 269; 1961 c 171 § 3; 1959
c 28 § 72.64.060. Prior: 1955 c 128 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.28.500.]
72.64.065
72.64.065 Industrial insurance—Application to certain inmates—Payment of premiums and assessments.
From and after July 1, 1973, any inmate working in a department of natural resources adult honor camp established and
operated pursuant to RCW 72.64.050, 72.64.060, and
72.64.100 shall be eligible for the benefits provided by Title
51 RCW, as now or hereafter amended, relating to industrial
insurance, with the exceptions herein provided.
No inmate as herein described, until released upon an
order of parole by the state *board of prison terms and
paroles, or discharged from custody upon expiration of sentence, or discharged from custody by order of a court of
appropriate jurisdiction, or his dependents or beneficiaries,
shall be entitled to any payment for temporary disability or
permanent total disability as provided for in RCW 51.32.090
or 51.32.060 respectively, as now or hereafter enacted, or to
the benefits of chapter 51.36 RCW relating to medical aid.
Any and all premiums or assessments as may arise under
this section pursuant to the provisions of Title 51 RCW shall
be the obligation of and be paid by the state department of
natural resources. [1972 ex.s. c 40 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 40: See note following RCW 72.60.100.
72.64.070
72.64.070 Industrial insurance—Eligibility for
employment—Procedure—Return. The department shall
determine which prisoners shall be eligible for employment
under RCW 72.64.060, and shall establish and modify lists of
prisoners eligible for such employment, upon the requisition
of an agency mentioned in RCW 72.64.060. The secretary
may send to the place, and at the time designated, the number
of prisoners requisitioned, or such number thereof as have
been determined to be eligible for such employment and are
available. No prisoner shall be eligible or shall be released for
such employment until his eligibility therefor has been determined by the department.
[Title 72 RCW—page 76]
72.64.080
72.64.080 Industrial insurance—Duties of employing
agency—Costs—Supervision. The agency providing for
prisoners under RCW 72.64.060 through 72.64.090 shall designate and supervise all work done under the provisions
thereof. The agency shall provide, erect and maintain any
necessary camps, except that where no funds are available to
the agency, the department may provide, erect and maintain
the necessary camps. The secretary shall supervise and manage the necessary camps and commissaries. [1979 c 141 §
271; 1959 c 28 § 72.64.080. Prior: 1955 c 128 § 3. Formerly
RCW 43.28.520.]
72.64.090
72.64.090 Industrial insurance—Department’s jurisdiction. The department shall have full jurisdiction at all
times over the discipline and control of the prisoners performing work under RCW 72.64.060 through 72.64.090.
[1959 c 28 § 72.64.090. Prior: 1955 c 128 § 4. Formerly
RCW 43.28.530.]
72.64.100
72.64.100 Regional jail camps—Authorized—Purposes—Rules. The secretary is authorized to establish and
operate regional jail camps for the confinement, treatment,
and care of persons sentenced to jail terms in excess of thirty
days, including persons so imprisoned as a condition of probation. The secretary shall make rules and regulations governing the eligibility for commitment or transfer to such
camps and rules and regulations for the government of such
camps. Subject to the rules and regulations of the secretary,
and if there is in effect a contract entered into pursuant to
RCW 72.64.110, a county prisoner may be committed to a
regional jail camp in lieu of commitment to a county jail or
other county detention facility. [1979 c 141 § 272; 1961 c
171 § 4.]
72.64.110
72.64.110 Contracts to furnish county prisoners confinement, care, and employment—Reimbursement by
county—Sheriff’s order—Return of prisoner. (1) The
secretary may enter into a contract with any county of the
state, upon the request of the sheriff thereof, wherein the secretary agrees to furnish confinement, care, treatment, and
employment of county prisoners. The county shall reimburse
the state for the cost of such services. Each county shall pay
to the state treasurer the amounts found to be due.
(2) The secretary shall accept such county prisoner if he
believes that the prisoner can be materially benefited by such
confinement, care, treatment and employment, and if adequate facilities to provide such care are available. No such
person shall be transported to any facility under the jurisdiction of the secretary until the secretary has notified the referring court of the place to which said person is to be transmitted and the time at which he can be received.
(3) The sheriff of the county in which such an order is
made placing a misdemeanant in a jail camp pursuant to this
(2006 Ed.)
Labor and Employment of Prisoners
chapter, or any other peace officer designated by the court,
shall execute an order placing such county prisoner in the jail
camp or returning him therefrom to the court.
(4) The secretary may return to the committing authority,
or to confinement according to his sentence, any person committed or transferred to a regional jail camp pursuant to this
chapter when there is no suitable employment or when such
person is guilty of any violation of rules and regulations of
the regional jail camp. [1980 c 17 § 1. Prior: 1979 c 147 § 1;
1979 c 141 § 273; 1961 c 171 § 5.]
72.64.150
72.64.150 Interstate forest fire suppression compact.
The Interstate Forest Fire Suppression Compact as set forth
in this section is hereby enacted into law and entered into on
behalf of this state with any and all other states legally joining
therein in a form substantially as follows:
INTERSTATE FOREST FIRE
SUPPRESSION COMPACT
ARTICLE I—Purpose
The purpose of this compact is to provide for the development and execution of programs to facilitate the use of
offenders in the forest fire suppression efforts of the party
states for the ultimate protection of life, property, and natural
resources in the party states. The purpose of this compact is
also to, in emergent situations, allow a sending state to cross
state lines with an inmate when, due to weather or road conditions, it is necessary to cross state lines to facilitate the
transport of an inmate.
ARTICLE II—Definitions
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:
(a) "Sending state" means a state party to this compact
from which a fire suppression unit is traveling.
(b) "Receiving state" means a state party to this compact
to which a fire suppression unit is traveling.
(c) "Inmate" means a male or female offender who is
under sentence to or confined in a prison or other correctional
institution.
(d) "Institution" means any prison, reformatory, honor
camp, or other correctional facility, except facilities for the
mentally ill or mentally handicapped, in which inmates may
lawfully be confined.
(e) "Fire suppression unit" means a group of inmates
selected by the sending states, corrections personnel, and any
other persons deemed necessary for the transportation, supervision, care, security, and discipline of inmates to be used in
forest fire suppression efforts in the receiving state.
(f) "Forest fire" means any fire burning in any land designated by a party state or federal land management agencies
as forest land.
ARTICLE III—Contracts
Each party state may make one or more contracts with
any one or more of the other party states for the assistance of
one or more fire suppression units in forest fire suppression
efforts. Any such contract shall provide for matters as may be
necessary and appropriate to fix the obligations, responsibilities, and rights of the sending and receiving state.
(2006 Ed.)
72.64.150
The terms and provisions of this compact shall be part of
any contract entered into by the authority of, or pursuant to,
this compact. Nothing in any such contract may be inconsistent with this compact.
ARTICLE IV—Procedures and Rights
(a) Each party state shall appoint a liaison for the coordination and deployment of the fire suppression units of each
party state.
(b) Whenever the duly constituted judicial or administrative authorities in a state party to this compact that has
entered into a contract pursuant to this compact decides that
the assistance of a fire suppression unit of a party state is
required for forest fire suppression efforts, such authorities
may request the assistance of one or more fire suppression
units of any state party to this compact through an appointed
liaison.
(c) Inmates who are members of a fire suppression unit
shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction of the sending
state, and at all times shall be under the ultimate custody of
corrections officers duly accredited by the sending state.
(d) The receiving state shall make adequate arrangements for the confinement of inmates who are members of a
fire suppression unit of a sending state in the event corrections officers duly accredited by the sending state make a discretionary determination that an inmate requires institutional
confinement.
(e) Cooperative efforts shall be made by corrections
officers and personnel of the receiving state located at a fire
camp with the corrections officers and other personnel of the
sending state in the establishment and maintenance of fire
suppression unit base camps.
(f) All inmates who are members of a fire suppression
unit of a sending state shall be cared for and treated equally
with such similar inmates of the receiving state.
(g) Further, in emergent situations a sending state shall
be granted authority and all the protections of this compact to
cross state lines with an inmate when, due to weather or road
conditions, it is necessary to facilitate the transport of an
inmate.
ARTICLE V—Acts Not Reviewable in Receiving
State; Extradition
(a) If while located within the territory of a receiving
state there occurs against the inmate within such state any
criminal charge or if the inmate is suspected of committing
within such state a criminal offense, the inmate shall not be
returned without the consent of the receiving state until discharged from prosecution or other form of proceeding,
imprisonment, or detention for such offense. The duly
accredited officers of the sending state shall be permitted to
transport inmates pursuant to this compact through any and
all states party to this compact without interference.
(b) An inmate member of a fire suppression unit of the
sending state who is deemed to have escaped by a duly
accredited corrections officer of a sending state shall be under
the jurisdiction of both the sending state and the receiving
state. Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed to
prevent or affect the activities of officers and guards of any
jurisdiction directed toward the apprehension and return of an
escapee.
[Title 72 RCW—page 77]
72.64.160
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
ARTICLE VI—Entry into Force
This compact shall enter into force and become effective
and binding upon the states so acting when it has been
enacted into law by any two states from among the states of
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
ARTICLE VII—Withdrawal and Termination
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding
upon a party state until it has enacted a statute repealing the
same and providing for the sending of formal written notice
of withdrawal from the compact to the appropriate officials
of all other party states.
ARTICLE VIII—Other Arrangements Unaffected
Nothing contained in this compact may be construed to
abrogate or impair any agreement that a party state may have
with a nonparty state for the confinement, rehabilitation, or
treatment of inmates nor to repeal any other laws of a party
state authorizing the making of cooperative institutional
arrangements.
ARTICLE IX—Construction and Severability
The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence,
or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the
constitution of any participating state or of the United States
or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the
remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any
government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be
affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the
constitution of any state participating therein, the compact
shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states
and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. [1991 c 131 § 1.]
Severability—1991 c 131: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 c 131 § 3.]
72.64.160
72.64.160 Inmate forest fire suppression crews—
Classification. For the purposes of RCW 72.64.150, inmate
forest fire suppression crews may be considered a class I free
venture industry, as defined in RCW 72.09.100, when fighting fires on federal lands. [1991 c 131 § 2.]
Severability—1991 c 131: See note following RCW 72.64.150.
Chapter 72.65
Chapter 72.65 RCW
WORK RELEASE PROGRAM
Sections
72.65.010
72.65.020
72.65.030
72.65.040
72.65.050
72.65.060
72.65.080
Definitions.
Places of confinement—Extension of limits authorized, conditions—Application of section.
Application of prisoner to participate in program, contents—
Application of section.
Approval or denial of application—Adoption of work release
plan—Terms and conditions—Revocation—Reapplication—Application of section.
Disposition of earnings.
Earnings not subject to legal process.
Contracts with authorities for payment of expenses for housing
participants—Procurement of housing facilities.
[Title 72 RCW—page 78]
72.65.090
72.65.100
72.65.110
72.65.120
72.65.130
72.65.200
72.65.210
72.65.220
72.65.900
Transportation, clothing, supplies for participants.
Powers and duties of secretary—Rules and regulations—
Cooperation of other state agencies directed.
Earnings to be deposited in personal funds—Disbursements.
Participants not considered agents or employees of the state—
Contracting with persons, companies, etc., for labor of participants prohibited—Employee benefits and privileges
extended to.
Authority of board of prison terms and paroles not impaired.
Participation in work release plan or program must be authorized by sentence or RCW 9.94A.728.
Inmate participation eligibility standards—Department to conduct overall review of work release program.
Facility siting process.
Effective date—1967 c 17.
Victims of crimes, reimbursement by convicted person as condition of work
release or parole: RCW 7.68.120.
72.65.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Department" shall mean the department of corrections.
(2) "Secretary" shall mean the secretary of corrections.
(3) "State correctional institutions" shall mean and
include all state adult correctional facilities established pursuant to law under the jurisdiction of the department for the
treatment of convicted felons sentenced to a term of confinement.
(4) "Prisoner" shall mean a person either male or female,
convicted of a felony and sentenced by the superior court to a
term of confinement and treatment in a state correctional
institution under the jurisdiction of the department.
(5) "Superintendent" shall mean the superintendent of a
state correctional institution, camp or other facility now or
hereafter established under the jurisdiction of the department
pursuant to law. [1992 c 7 § 56; 1985 c 350 § 4; 1981 c 136
§ 110; 1979 c 141 § 274; 1967 c 17 § 1.]
72.65.010
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Administrative departments and agencies—General provisions: RCW
43.17.010, 43.17.020.
72.65.020
72.65.020 Places of confinement—Extension of limits
authorized, conditions—Application of section. (1) The
secretary is authorized to extend the limits of the place of
confinement and treatment within the state of any prisoner
convicted of a felony, sentenced to a term of confinement and
treatment by the superior court, and serving such sentence in
a state correctional institution under the jurisdiction of the
department, by authorizing a work release plan for such prisoner, permitting him, under prescribed conditions, to do any
of the following:
(a) Work at paid employment.
(b) Participate in a vocational training program: PROVIDED, That the tuition and other expenses of such a vocational training program shall be paid by the prisoner, by
someone in his behalf, or by the department: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That any expenses paid by the department shall
be recovered by the department pursuant to the terms of
RCW 72.65.050.
(c) Interview or make application to a prospective
employer or employers, or enroll in a suitable vocational
training program.
Such work release plan of any prison shall require that he
be confined during the hours not reasonably necessary to
implement the plan, in (1) a state correctional institution, (2)
(2006 Ed.)
Work Release Program
a county or city jail, which jail has been approved after
inspection pursuant to *RCW 70.48.050, or (3) any other
appropriate, supervised facility, after an agreement has been
entered into between the department and the appropriate
authorities of the facility for the housing of work release prisoners.
(2) This section applies only to persons sentenced for
crimes that were committed before July 1, 1984. [1984 c 209
§ 28; 1979 ex.s. c 160 § 1; 1979 c 141 § 275; 1967 c 17 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 70.48.050 was repealed by 1987 c 462 § 23,
effective January 1, 1988.
Effective dates—1984 c 209: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.65.030
72.65.030 Application of prisoner to participate in
program, contents—Application of section. (1) Any prisoner serving a sentence in a state correctional institution may
make application to participate in the work release program
to the superintendent of the institution in which he is confined. Such application shall set forth the name and address
of his proposed employer or employers or shall specify the
vocational training program, if any, in which he is enrolled. It
shall include a statement to be executed by such prisoner that
if his application be approved he agrees to abide faithfully by
all terms and conditions of the particular work release plan
adopted for him. It shall further set forth such additional
information as the department or the secretary shall require.
(2) This section applies only to persons sentenced for
crimes that were committed before July 1, 1984. [1984 c 209
§ 29; 1979 c 141 § 276; 1967 c 17 § 3.]
Effective dates—1984 c 209: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.65.040
72.65.040 Approval or denial of application—Adoption of work release plan—Terms and conditions—Revocation—Reapplication—Application of section. (1) The
superintendent of the state correctional institution in which a
prisoner who has made application to participate in the work
release program is confined, after careful study of the prisoner’s conduct, attitude and behavior within the institutions
under the jurisdiction of the department, his criminal history
and all other pertinent case history material, shall determine
whether or not there is reasonable cause to believe that the
prisoner will honor his trust as a work release participant.
After having made such determination, the superintendent, in
his discretion, may deny the prisoner’s application, or recommend to the secretary, or such officer of the department as the
secretary may designate, that the prisoner be permitted to participate in the work release program. The secretary or his designee, may approve, reject, modify, or defer action on such
recommendation. In the event of approval, the secretary or
his designee, shall adopt a work release plan for the prisoner,
which shall constitute an extension of the limits of confinement and treatment of the prisoner when released pursuant
thereto, and which shall include such terms and conditions as
may be deemed necessary and proper under the particular circumstances. The plan shall be signed by the prisoner under
oath that he will faithfully abide by all terms and conditions
thereof. Further, as a condition, the plan shall specify where
such prisoner shall be confined when not released for the purpose of the work release plan. At any time after approval has
been granted to any prisoner to participate in the work release
(2006 Ed.)
72.65.050
program, such approval may be revoked, and if the prisoner
has been released on a work release plan, he may be returned
to a state correctional institution, or the plan may be modified, in the sole discretion of the secretary or his designee.
Any prisoner who has been initially rejected either by the
superintendent or the secretary or his designee, may reapply
for permission to participate in a work release program after
a period of time has elapsed from the date of such rejection.
This period of time shall be determined by the secretary or his
designee, according to the individual circumstances in each
case.
(2) This section applies only to persons sentenced for
crimes that were committed before July 1, 1984. [1984 c 209
§ 30; 1979 c 141 § 277; 1967 c 17 § 4.]
Effective dates—1984 c 209: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.65.050
72.65.050 Disposition of earnings. A prisoner
employed under a work release plan shall surrender to the
secretary, or to the superintendent of such state correctional
institution as shall be designated by the secretary in the plan,
his or her total earnings, less payroll deductions required by
law, or such payroll deductions as may reasonably be
required by the nature of the employment and less such
amount which his or her work release plan specifies he or she
should retain to help meet his or her personal needs, including costs necessary for his or her participation in the work
release plan such as expenses for travel, meals, clothing, tools
and other incidentals. The secretary, or the superintendent of
the state correctional institution designated in the work
release plan shall deduct from such earnings, and make payments from such work release participant’s earnings in the
following order of priority:
(1) Reimbursement to the department for any expenses
advanced for vocational training pursuant to RCW
72.65.020(2), or for expenses incident to a work release plan
pursuant to RCW 72.65.090.
(2) Payment of board and room charges for the work
release participant: PROVIDED, That if the participant is
housed at a state correctional institution, the average daily per
capita cost for the operation of such correctional institution,
excluding capital outlay expenditures, shall be paid from the
work release participant’s earnings to the general fund of the
state treasury: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if such work
release participant is housed in another facility pursuant to
agreement, then the charges agreed to between the department and the appropriate authorities of such facility shall be
paid from the participant’s earnings to such appropriate
authorities.
(3) Payments for the necessary support of the work
release participant’s dependents, if any.
(4) Ten percent for payment of legal financial obligations for all work release participants who have legal financial obligations owing in any Washington state superior
court.
(5) Payments to creditors of the work release participant,
which may be made at his or her discretion and request, upon
proper proof of personal indebtedness.
(6) Payments to the work release participant himself or
herself upon parole or discharge, or for deposit in his or her
personal account if returned to a state correctional institution
[Title 72 RCW—page 79]
72.65.060
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
for confinement and treatment. [2002 c 126 § 3; 1979 c 141
§ 278; 1967 c 17 § 5.]
72.65.060
72.65.060 Earnings not subject to legal process. The
earnings of a work release participant shall not be subject to
garnishment, attachment, or execution while such earnings
are either in the possession of the employer or any state
officer authorized to hold such funds, except for payment of
a court-ordered legal financial obligation as that term is
defined in RCW 72.11.010. [1989 c 252 § 21; 1967 c 17 § 6.]
Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.
72.65.080
72.65.080 Contracts with authorities for payment of
expenses for housing participants—Procurement of housing facilities. The secretary may enter into contracts with the
appropriate authorities for the payment of the cost of feeding
and lodging and other expenses of housing work release participants. Such contracts may include any other terms and
conditions as may be appropriate for the implementation of
the work release program. In addition the secretary is authorized to acquire, by lease or contract, appropriate facilities for
the housing of work release participants and providing for
their subsistence and supervision. Such work release participants placed in leased or contracted facilities shall be
required to reimburse the department the per capita cost of
subsistence and lodging in accordance with the provisions
and in the priority established by RCW 72.65.050(2). The
location of such facilities shall be subject to the zoning laws
of the city or county in which they may be situated. [1982 1st
ex.s. c 48 § 18; 1981 c 136 § 111; 1979 c 141 § 279; 1969 c
109 § 1; 1967 c 17 § 8.]
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 48: See note following RCW
28B.14G.900.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Effective date—1969 c 109: "This act shall become effective on July
1, 1969." [1969 c 109 § 2.]
72.65.090
72.65.090 Transportation, clothing, supplies for participants. The department may provide transportation for
work release participants to the designated places of housing
under the work release plan, and may supply suitable clothing
and such other equipment, supplies and other necessities as
may be reasonably needed for the implementation of the
plans adopted for such participation from the community services revolving fund as established in RCW 9.95.360: PROVIDED, That costs and expenditures incurred for this purpose may be deducted by the department from the earnings of
the participants and deposited in the community services
revolving fund. [1986 c 125 § 6; 1967 c 17 § 9.]
72.65.100
72.65.100 Powers and duties of secretary—Rules and
regulations—Cooperation of other state agencies
directed. The secretary is authorized to make rules and regulations for the administration of the provisions of this chapter to administer the work release program. In addition, the
department shall:
(1) Supervise and consult with work release participants;
(2) Locate available employment or vocational training
opportunities for qualified work release participants;
[Title 72 RCW—page 80]
(3) Effect placement of work release participants under
the program;
(4) Collect, account for and make disbursement from
earnings of work release participants under the provisions of
this chapter, including accounting for all inmate debt in the
community services revolving fund. RCW 9.95.370 applies
to inmates assigned to work/training release facilities who
receive assistance as provided in RCW 9.95.310, 9.95.320,
72.65.050, and 72.65.090;
(5) Promote public understanding and acceptance of the
work release program.
All state agencies shall cooperate with the department in
the administration of the work release program as provided
by this chapter. [1986 c 125 § 7; 1981 c 136 § 112; 1979 c
141 § 280; 1967 c 17 § 10.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.65.110
72.65.110 Earnings to be deposited in personal
funds—Disbursements. All earnings of work release participants shall be deposited by the secretary, or the superintendent of a state correctional institution designated by the secretary in the work release plan, in personal funds. All disbursements from such funds shall be made only in
accordance with the work release plans of such participants
and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. [1979
c 141 § 281; 1967 c 17 § 11.]
72.65.120
72.65.120 Participants not considered agents or
employees of the state—Contracting with persons, companies, etc., for labor of participants prohibited—
Employee benefits and privileges extended to. All participants who become engaged in employment or training under
the work release program shall not be considered as agents,
employees or involuntary servants of state and the department is prohibited from entering into a contract with any person, co-partnership, company or corporation for the labor of
any participant under its jurisdiction: PROVIDED, That such
work release participants shall be entitled to all benefits and
privileges in their employment under the provisions of this
chapter to the same extent as other employees of their
employer, except that such work release participants shall not
be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to any of the provisions of Title 50 RCW until released on
parole or discharged on expiration of their maximum sentences. [1967 c 17 § 12.]
72.65.130
72.65.130 Authority of board of prison terms and
paroles not impaired. This chapter shall not be construed as
affecting the authority of the *board of prison terms and
paroles pursuant to the provisions of chapter 9.95 RCW over
any person who has been approved for participation in the
work release program. [1971 ex.s. c 58 § 1; 1967 c 17 § 13.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 58: See note following RCW 72.66.010.
72.65.200
72.65.200 Participation in work release plan or program must be authorized by sentence or RCW 9.94A.728.
The secretary may permit a prisoner to participate in any
(2006 Ed.)
Furloughs for Prisoners
work release plan or program but only if the participation is
authorized pursuant to the prisoner’s sentence or pursuant to
RCW 9.94A.728. This section shall become effective July 1,
1984. [1981 c 137 § 35.]
Severability—1981 c 137: See RCW 9.94A.910.
72.65.210
72.65.210 Inmate participation eligibility standards—Department to conduct overall review of work
release program. (1) The department shall establish, by
rule, inmate eligibility standards for participation in the work
release program.
(2) The department shall:
(a) Conduct an annual examination of each work release
facility and its security procedures;
(b) Investigate and set standards for the inmate supervision policies of each work release facility;
(c) Establish physical standards for future work release
structures to ensure the safety of inmates, employees, and the
surrounding communities;
(d) Evaluate its recordkeeping of serious infractions to
determine if infractions are properly and consistently
assessed against inmates eligible for work release;
(e) The department shall establish a written treatment
plan best suited to the inmate’s needs, cost, and the relationship of community placement and community corrections
officers to a system of case management;
(f) Adopt a policy to encourage businesses employing
work release inmates to contact the appropriate work release
facility whenever an inmate is absent from his or her work
schedule. The department of corrections shall provide each
employer with written information and instructions on who
should be called if a work release employee is absent from
work or leaves the job site without authorization; and
(g) Develop a siting policy, in conjunction with cities,
counties, community groups, and the department of community, trade, and economic development for the establishment
of additional work release facilities. Such policy shall include
at least the following elements: (i) Guidelines for appropriate
site selection of work-release facilities; (ii) notification
requirements to local government and community groups of
intent to site a work release facility; and (iii) guidelines for
effective community relations by the work release program
operator.
The department shall comply with the requirements of
this section by July 1, 1990. [1998 c 245 § 142; 1995 c 399 §
203; 1989 c 89 § 1.]
72.65.220
72.65.220 Facility siting process. (1) The department
or a private or public entity under contract with the department may establish or relocate for the operation of a work
release or other community-based facility only after public
notifications and local public meetings have been completed
consistent with this section.
(2) The department and other state agencies responsible
for siting department-owned, operated, or contracted facilities shall establish a process for early and continuous public
participation in establishing or relocating work release or
other community-based facilities. This process shall include
public meetings in the local communities affected, opportuni(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 72.66
ties for written and oral comments, and wide dissemination of
proposals and alternatives, including at least the following:
(a) When the department or a private or public entity
under contract with the department has selected three or
fewer sites for final consideration of a department-owned,
operated, or contracted work release or other communitybased facility, the department or contracting organization
shall make public notification and conduct public hearings in
the local communities of the final three or fewer proposed
sites. An additional public hearing after public notification
shall also be conducted in the local community selected as the
final proposed site.
(b) Notifications required under this section shall be provided to the following:
(i) All newspapers of general circulation in the local area
and all local radio stations, television stations, and cable networks;
(ii) Appropriate school districts, private schools, kindergartens, city and county libraries, and all other local government offices within a one-half mile radius of the proposed
site or sites;
(iii) The local chamber of commerce, local economic
development agencies, and any other local organizations that
request such notification from the department; and
(iv) In writing to all residents and/or property owners
within a one-half mile radius of the proposed site or sites.
(3) When the department contracts for the operation of a
work release or other community-based facility that is not
owned or operated by the department, the department shall
require as part of its contract that the contracting entity comply with all the public notification and public hearing requirements as provided in this section for each located and relocated work release or other community-based facility. [1997
c 348 § 1; 1994 c 271 § 1001.]
Effective date—1994 c 271 § 1001: "Section 1001 of this act shall take
effect July 1, 1994." [1994 c 271 § 1101.]
Purpose—Severability—1994 c 271: See notes following RCW
9A.28.020.
72.65.900
72.65.900 Effective date—1967 c 17. This act shall
become effective on July 1, 1967. [1967 c 17 § 14.]
Chapter 72.66
Chapter 72.66 RCW
FURLOUGHS FOR PRISONERS
Sections
72.66.010
72.66.012
72.66.014
72.66.016
72.66.018
72.66.022
72.66.024
72.66.026
72.66.028
72.66.032
72.66.034
72.66.036
72.66.038
72.66.042
72.66.044
72.66.050
72.66.070
72.66.080
Definitions.
Granting of furloughs authorized.
Ineligibility.
Minimum time served requirement.
Grounds for granting furlough.
Application—Contents.
Sponsor.
Furlough terms and conditions.
Furlough order—Contents.
Furlough identification card.
Applicant’s personality and conduct—Examination.
Furlough duration—Extension.
Furlough infractions—Reporting—Regaining custody.
Emergency furlough—Waiver of certain requirements.
Application proceeding not deemed adjudicative proceeding.
Revocation or modification of furlough plan—Reapplication.
Transportation, clothing and funds for furloughed prisoners.
Powers and duties of secretary—Certain agreements—Rules
and regulations.
[Title 72 RCW—page 81]
72.66.010
72.66.090
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
Violation or revocation of furlough—Authority of secretary to
issue arrest warrants—Enforcement of warrants by law
enforcement officers—Authority of probation and parole
officer to suspend furlough.
Reviser’s note: Throughout this chapter "this act" has been changed to
"this chapter." "This act" [1971 ex.s. c 58] consists of this chapter and the
1971 amendment to RCW 72.65.130.
Leaves of absence for inmates: RCW 72.01.365 through 72.01.380.
72.66.010
72.66.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Department" means the department of corrections.
(2) "Furlough" means an authorized leave of absence for
an eligible resident, without any requirement that the resident
be accompanied by, or be in the custody of, any law enforcement or corrections official while on such leave.
(3) "Emergency furlough" means a specially expedited
furlough granted to a resident to enable him to meet an emergency situation, such as the death or critical illness of a member of his family.
(4) "Resident" means a person convicted of a felony and
serving a sentence for a term of confinement in a state correctional institution or facility, or a state approved work or training release facility.
(5) "Secretary" means the secretary of corrections, or his
designee or designees. [1981 c 136 § 113; 1973 c 20 § 2;
1971 ex.s. c 58 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
Construction—Prior rules and regulations—1973 c 20: "The provisions of this 1973 amendatory act shall not affect the validity of any rule or
regulation adopted prior to the effective date of this 1973 amendatory act
[June 7, 1973], if such rule or regulation is not in conflict with any provision
of this 1973 amendatory act." [1973 c 20 § 17.]
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 58: "This act shall become effective on
July 1, 1971." [1971 ex.s. c 58 § 11.]
72.66.012
72.66.012 Granting of furloughs authorized. The secretary may grant a furlough but only if not precluded from
doing so under RCW 72.66.014, 72.66.016, 72.66.018,
72.66.024, 72.66.034, or 72.66.036. [1973 c 20 § 3.]
72.66.014
72.66.014 Ineligibility. A resident may apply for a furlough if he is not precluded from doing so under this section.
A resident shall be ineligible to apply for a furlough if:
(1) He is not classified by the secretary as eligible for or
on minimum security status; or
(2) His minimum term of imprisonment has not been set;
or
(3) He has a valid detainer pending and the agency holding the detainer has not provided written approval for him to
be placed on a furlough-eligible status. Such written approval
may include either specific approval for a particular resident
or general approval for a class or group of residents. [1973 c
20 § 4.]
72.66.016
72.66.016 Minimum time served requirement. (1) A
furlough shall not be granted to a resident if the furlough
would commence prior to the time the resident has served the
minimum amounts of time provided under this section:
(a) If his minimum term of imprisonment is longer than
twelve months, he shall have served at least six months of the
term;
[Title 72 RCW—page 82]
(b) If his minimum term of imprisonment is less than
twelve months, he shall have served at least ninety days and
shall have no longer than six months left to serve on his minimum term;
(c) If he is serving a mandatory minimum term of confinement, he shall have served all but the last six months of
such term.
(2) A person convicted and sentenced for a violent
offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 is not eligible for furlough until the person has served at least one-half of the minimum term as established by the *board of prison terms and
paroles or the sentencing guidelines commission. [1983 c
255 § 8; 1973 c 20 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.66.018 Grounds for granting furlough. A furlough
may only be granted to enable the resident:
(1) To meet an emergency situation, such as death or
critical illness of a member of his family;
(2) To obtain medical care not available in a facility
maintained by the department;
(3) To seek employment or training opportunities, but
only when:
(a) There are scheduled specific work interviews to take
place during the furlough;
(b) The resident has been approved for work or training
release but his work or training placement has not occurred or
been concluded; or
(c) When necessary for the resident to prepare a parole
plan for a parole meeting scheduled to take place within one
hundred and twenty days of the commencement of the furlough;
(4) To make residential plans for parole which require
his personal appearance in the community;
(5) To care for business affairs in person when the inability to do so could deplete the assets or resources of the resident so seriously as to affect his family or his future economic security;
(6) To visit his family for the purpose of strengthening or
preserving relationships, exercising parental responsibilities,
or preventing family division or disintegration; or
(7) For any other purpose deemed to be consistent with
plans for rehabilitation of the resident. [1973 c 20 § 6.]
72.66.018
72.66.022 Application—Contents. Each resident
applying for a furlough shall include in his application for the
furlough:
(1) A furlough plan which shall specify in detail the purpose of the furlough and how it is to be achieved, the address
at which the applicant would reside, the names of all persons
residing at such address and their relationships to the applicant;
(2) A statement from the applicant’s proposed sponsor
that he agrees to undertake the responsibilities provided in
RCW 72.66.024; and
(3) Such other information as the secretary shall require
in order to protect the public or further the rehabilitation of
the applicant. [1973 c 20 § 7.]
72.66.022
(2006 Ed.)
Furloughs for Prisoners
72.66.024
72.66.024 Sponsor. No furlough shall be granted
unless the applicant for the furlough has procured a person to
act as his sponsor. No person shall qualify as a sponsor unless
he satisfies the secretary that he knows the applicant’s furlough plan, is familiar with the furlough conditions prescribed pursuant to RCW 72.66.026, and submits a statement
that he agrees to:
(1) See to it that the furloughed person is provided with
appropriate living quarters for the duration of the furlough;
(2) Notify the secretary immediately if the furloughed
person does not appear as scheduled, departs from the furlough plan at any time, becomes involved in serious difficulty
during the furlough, or experiences problems that affect his
ability to function appropriately;
(3) Assist the furloughed person in other appropriate
ways, such as discussing problems and providing transportation to job interviews; and
(4) Take reasonable measures to assist the resident to
return from furlough. [1973 c 20 § 8.]
72.66.044
(10) The furloughed person shall comply with any other
terms or conditions which the secretary may prescribe. [1973
c 20 § 9.]
72.66.028
72.66.028 Furlough order—Contents. Whenever the
secretary grants a furlough, he shall do so by a special order
which order shall contain each condition and term of furlough prescribed pursuant to RCW 72.66.026 and each additional condition and term which the secretary may prescribe
as being appropriate for the particular person to be furloughed. [1973 c 20 § 10.]
72.66.032
72.66.032 Furlough identification card. The secretary
shall issue a furlough identification card to each resident
granted a furlough. The card shall contain the name of the
resident and shall disclose the fact that he has been granted a
furlough and the time period covered by the furlough. [1973
c 20 § 11.]
72.66.034
72.66.026
72.66.026 Furlough terms and conditions. The terms
and conditions prescribed under this section shall apply to
each furlough, and each resident granted a furlough shall
agree to abide by them.
(1) The furloughed person shall abide by the terms of his
furlough plan.
(2) Upon arrival at the destination indicated in his furlough plan, the furloughed person shall, when so required,
report to a state probation and parole officer in accordance
with instructions given by the secretary prior to release on
furlough. He shall report as frequently as may be required by
the state probation and parole officer.
(3) The furloughed person shall abide by all local, state
and federal laws.
(4) With approval of the state probation and parole
officer designated by the secretary, the furloughed person
may accept temporary employment during a period of furlough.
(5) The furloughed person shall not leave the state at any
time while on furlough.
(6) Other limitations on movement within the state may
be imposed as a condition of furlough.
(7) The furloughed person shall not, in any public place,
drink intoxicating beverages or be in an intoxicated condition. A furloughed person shall not enter any tavern, bar, or
cocktail lounge.
(8) A furloughed person who drives a motor vehicle
shall:
(a) have a valid Washington driver’s license in his possession,
(b) have the owner’s written permission to drive any
vehicle not his own or his spouse’s,
(c) have at least minimum personal injury and property
damage liability coverage on the vehicle he is driving, and
(d) observe all traffic laws.
(9) Each furloughed person shall carry with him at all
times while on furlough a copy of his furlough order prescribed pursuant to RCW 72.66.028 and a copy of the identification card issued to him pursuant to RCW 72.66.032.
(2006 Ed.)
72.66.034 Applicant’s personality and conduct—
Examination. Prior to the granting of any furlough, the secretary shall examine the applicant’s personality and past conduct and determine whether or not he represents a satisfactory
risk for furlough. The secretary shall not grant a furlough to
any person whom he believes represents an unsatisfactory
risk. [1973 c 20 § 12.]
72.66.036
72.66.036 Furlough duration—Extension. (1) The
furlough or furloughs granted to any one resident, excluding
furloughs for medical care, may not exceed thirty consecutive
days or a total of sixty days during a calendar year.
(2) Absent unusual circumstances, each first furlough
and each second furlough granted to a resident shall not
exceed a period of five days and each emergency furlough
shall not exceed forty-eight hours plus travel time.
(3) A furlough may be extended within the maximum
time periods prescribed under this section. [1983 c 255 § 7;
1973 c 20 § 13.]
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.66.038
72.66.038 Furlough infractions—Reporting—
Regaining custody. Any employee of the department having
knowledge of a furlough infraction shall report the facts to
the secretary. Upon verification, the secretary shall cause the
custody of the furloughed person to be regained, and for this
purpose may cause a warrant to be issued. [1973 c 20 § 14.]
72.66.042
72.66.042 Emergency furlough—Waiver of certain
requirements. In the event of an emergency furlough, the
secretary may waive all or any portion of RCW 72.66.014(2),
72.66.016, 72.66.022, 72.66.024, and 72.66.026. [1973 c 20
§ 15.]
72.66.044
72.66.044 Application proceeding not deemed adjudicative proceeding. Any proceeding involving an application for a furlough shall not be deemed an adjudicative proceeding under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the
Administrative Procedure Act. [1989 c 175 § 144; 1973 c 20
§ 16.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
[Title 72 RCW—page 83]
72.66.050
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.66.050
72.66.050 Revocation or modification of furlough
plan—Reapplication. At any time after approval has been
granted for a furlough to any prisoner, such approval or order
of furlough may be revoked, and if the prisoner has been
released on an order of furlough, he may be returned to a state
correctional institution, or the plan may be modified, in the
discretion of the secretary. Any prisoner whose furlough
application is rejected may reapply for a furlough after such
period of time has elapsed as shall be determined at the time
of rejection by the superintendent or secretary, whichever
person initially rejected the application for furlough, such
time period being subject to modification. [1971 ex.s. c 58 §
6.]
72.66.070
72.66.070 Transportation, clothing and funds for
furloughed prisoners. The department may provide or
arrange for transportation for furloughed prisoners to the designated place of residence within the state and may, in addition, supply funds not to exceed forty dollars and suitable
clothing, such clothing to be returned to the institution on the
expiration of furlough. [1971 ex.s. c 58 § 8.]
72.66.080
72.66.080 Powers and duties of secretary—Certain
agreements—Rules and regulations. The secretary may
enter into agreements with any agency of the state, a county,
a municipal corporation or any person, corporation or association for the purpose of implementing furlough plans, and, in
addition, may make such rules and regulations in furtherance
of this chapter as he may deem necessary. [1971 ex.s. c 58 §
9.]
Chapter 72.68 RCW
TRANSFER, REMOVAL, TRANSPORTATION—
DETENTION CONTRACTS
Chapter 72.68
Sections
72.68.001
72.68.010
72.68.012
72.68.020
72.68.031
72.68.032
72.68.035
72.68.037
72.68.040
72.68.045
72.68.050
72.68.060
72.68.070
72.68.075
72.68.080
72.68.090
72.68.100
Definitions.
Transfer of prisoners.
Transfer to private institutions—Intent—Authority.
Transportation of prisoners.
Transfer or removal of person in correctional institution to
institution for mentally ill.
Transfer or removal of person in institution for mentally ill to
other institution.
Transfer or removal of committed or confined persons—State
institution or facility for the care of the mentally ill, defined.
Transfer or removal of committed or confined persons—
Record—Notice.
Contracts for detention of felons convicted in this state.
Transfer to out-of-state institution—Notice to victims.
Contracts with other governmental units for detention of felons convicted in this state—Notice of transfer of prisoner.
Contracts with other governmental units for detention of felons convicted in this state—Procedure when transferred prisoner’s presence required in judicial proceedings.
Contracts with other governmental units for detention of felons convicted in this state—Procedure regarding prisoner
when contract expires.
Contracts with other states or territories for care, confinement
or rehabilitation of female prisoners.
Federal prisoners, or from other state—Authority to receive.
Federal prisoners, or from other state—Per diem rate for keep.
Federal prisoners, or from other state—Space must be available.
Child under eighteen convicted of crime amounting to felony—Placement—
Segregation from adult offenders: RCW 72.01.410.
Correctional employees: RCW 9.94.050.
Western interstate corrections compact: Chapter 72.70 RCW.
72.68.001
72.66.090
72.66.090 Violation or revocation of furlough—
Authority of secretary to issue arrest warrants—Enforcement of warrants by law enforcement officers—Authority of probation and parole officer to suspend furlough.
The secretary may issue warrants for the arrest of any prisoner granted a furlough, at the time of the revocation of such
furlough, or upon the failure of the prisoner to report as designated in the order of furlough. Such arrest warrants shall
authorize any law enforcement, probation and parole or peace
officer of this state, or any other state where such prisoner
may be located, to arrest such prisoner and to place him in
physical custody pending his return to confinement in a state
correctional institution. Any state probation and parole
officer, if he has reasonable cause to believe that a person
granted a furlough has violated a condition of his furlough,
may suspend such person’s furlough and arrest or cause the
arrest and detention in physical custody of the furloughed
prisoner, pending the determination of the secretary whether
the furlough should be revoked. The probation and parole
officer shall report to the secretary all facts and circumstances
and the reasons for the action of suspending such furlough.
Upon the basis of the report and such other information as the
secretary may obtain, he may revoke, reinstate or modify the
conditions of furlough, which shall be by written order of the
secretary. If the furlough is revoked, the secretary shall issue
a warrant for the arrest of the furloughed prisoner and his
return to a state correctional institution. [1971 ex.s. c 58 §
10.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 84]
72.68.001 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Department" means the department of corrections; and
"Secretary" means the secretary of corrections. [1981 c
136 § 114.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.68.010
72.68.010 Transfer of prisoners. (1) Whenever in its
judgment the best interests of the state or the welfare of any
prisoner confined in any penal institution will be better
served by his or her transfer to another institution or to a foreign country of which the prisoner is a citizen or national, the
secretary may effect such transfer consistent with applicable
federal laws and treaties. The secretary has the authority to
transfer offenders out-of-state to private or governmental
institutions if the secretary determines that transfer is in the
best interest of the state or the offender. The determination of
what is in the best interest of the state or offender may include
but is not limited to considerations of overcrowding, emergency conditions, or hardship to the offender. In determining
whether the transfer will impose a hardship on the offender,
the secretary shall consider: (a) The location of the
offender’s family and whether the offender has maintained
contact with members of his or her family; (b) whether, if the
offender has maintained contact, the contact will be significantly disrupted by the transfer due to the family’s inability to
maintain the contact as a result of the transfer; and (c)
whether the offender is enrolled in a vocational or educational program that cannot reasonably be resumed if the
offender is returned to the state.
(2006 Ed.)
Transfer, Removal, Transportation—Detention Contracts
(2) If directed by the governor, the secretary shall, in carrying out this section and RCW 43.06.350, adopt rules under
chapter 34.05 RCW to effect the transfer of prisoners requesting transfer to foreign countries. [2000 c 62 § 2; 1983 c 255
§ 10; 1979 c 141 § 282; 1959 c 28 § 72.68.010. Prior: 1955 c
245 § 2; 1935 c 114 § 5; RRS § 10249-5. Formerly RCW
9.95.180.]
72.68.040
tional institutions or facilities. [1981 c 136 § 115; 1972 ex.s.
c 59 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.68.032
Effective date—2000 c 62: See note following RCW 72.68.012.
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.68.012
72.68.012 Transfer to private institutions—Intent—
Authority. The legislature has in the past allowed funding
for transfer of convicted felons to a private institution in
another state. It is the legislature’s intent to clarify the law to
reflect that the secretary of corrections has authority to contract with private corporations to house felons out-of-state
and has had that authority since before February 1, 1999,
when specific authority to expend funds during specified
bienniums was granted under RCW 72.09.050. The secretary
has the authority to expend funds between February 1, 1999,
and June 30, 2001, for contracts with private corporations to
house felons out-of-state. [2000 c 62 § 1.]
Effective date—2000 c 62: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 22, 2000]." [2000 c 62 § 5.]
72.68.020
72.68.020 Transportation of prisoners. (1) The secretary shall transport prisoners under supervision:
(a) To and between state correctional facilities under the
jurisdiction of the secretary;
(b) From a county, city, or municipal jail to an institution
mentioned in (a) of this subsection and to a county, city, or
municipal jail from an institution mentioned in (a) of this subsection.
(2) The secretary may employ necessary persons for
such purpose. [1992 c 7 § 57; 1979 c 141 § 283; 1959 c 28 §
72.68.020. Prior: 1955 c 245 § 1. Formerly RCW 9.95.181.]
72.68.032 Transfer or removal of person in institution for mentally ill to other institution. When, in the judgment of the secretary of the department of social and health
services, the welfare of any person committed to or confined
in any state institution or facility for the care of the mentally
ill necessitates that such person be transferred or moved for
observation, diagnosis, or treatment, or for different security
status while being observed, diagnosed or treated to any other
state institution or facility for the care of the mentally ill, the
secretary of social and health services is authorized to order
and effect such move or transfer. [1981 c 136 § 116; 1972
ex.s. c 59 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.68.035
72.68.035 Transfer or removal of committed or confined persons—State institution or facility for the care of
the mentally ill, defined. As used in RCW 72.68.031 and
72.68.032, the phrase "state institution or facility for the care
of the mentally ill" shall mean any hospital, institution or
facility operated and maintained by the state of Washington
which has as its principal purpose the care of the mentally ill,
whether such hospital, institution or facility is physically
located within or outside the geographical or structural confines of a state correctional institution or facility: PROVIDED, That whether a state institution or facility for the
care of the mentally ill be physically located within or outside
the geographical or structural confines of a state correctional
institution or facility, it shall be administered separately from
the state correctional institution or facility, and in conformity
with its principal purpose. [1972 ex.s. c 59 § 3.]
72.68.037
Correctional employees: RCW 9.94.050.
72.68.031
72.68.031 Transfer or removal of person in correctional institution to institution for mentally ill. When, in
the judgment of the secretary, the welfare of any person committed to or confined in any state correctional institution or
facility necessitates that such person be transferred or moved
for observation, diagnosis or treatment to any state institution
or facility for the care of the mentally ill, the secretary, with
the consent of the secretary of social and health services, is
authorized to order and effect such move or transfer: PROVIDED, That the sentence of such person shall continue to
run as if he remained confined in a correctional institution or
facility, and that such person shall not continue so detained or
confined beyond the maximum term to which he was sentenced: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the secretary and the
*board of prison terms and paroles shall adopt and implement
procedures to assure that persons so transferred shall, while
detained or confined at such institution or facility for the care
of the mentally ill, be provided with substantially similar
opportunities for parole or early release evaluation and determination as persons detained or confined in the state correc(2006 Ed.)
72.68.037 Transfer or removal of committed or confined persons—Record—Notice. Whenever a move or
transfer is made pursuant to RCW 72.68.031 or 72.68.032, a
record shall be made and the relatives, attorney, if any, and
guardian, if any, of the person moved shall be notified of the
move or transfer. [1972 ex.s. c 59 § 4.]
72.68.040
72.68.040 Contracts for detention of felons convicted
in this state. The secretary may contract with the authorities
of the federal government, or the authorities of any state of
the United States, private companies in other states, or any
county or city in this state providing for the detention in an
institution or jail operated by such entity, for prisoners convicted of a felony in the courts of this state and sentenced to a
term of imprisonment therefor in a state correctional institution for convicted felons under the jurisdiction of the department. After the making of a contract under this section, prisoners sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a state correctional institution for convicted felons may be conveyed by
the superintendent or his assistants to the institution or jail
named in the contract. The prisoners shall be delivered to the
authorities of the institution or jail, there to be confined until
[Title 72 RCW—page 85]
72.68.045
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
their sentences have expired or they are otherwise discharged
by law, paroled or until they are returned to a state correctional institution for convicted felons for further confinement. [2000 c 62 § 3; 1981 c 136 § 117; 1979 c 141 § 284;
1967 c 60 § 1; 1959 c 47 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.68.040. Prior:
1957 c 27 § 1. Formerly RCW 9.95.184.]
Effective date—2000 c 62: See note following RCW 72.68.012.
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
dent or his assistants may, by direction of the secretary or of
the court, or a judge thereof, deliver such prisoner into the
custody of the sheriff of the county in which he was convicted, or may, by like order, return such prisoner to a state
correctional institution for convicted felons or the institution
from which he was taken. [1979 c 141 § 285; 1967 c 60 § 3;
1959 c 47 § 3; 1959 c 28 § 72.68.060. Prior: 1957 c 27 § 3.
Formerly RCW 9.95.186.]
72.68.070
72.68.045
72.68.045 Transfer to out-of-state institution—
Notice to victims. (1) If the secretary transfers any offender
to an institution in another state after March 22, 2000, the
secretary shall, prior to the transfer, review the records of victims registered with the department. If any registered victim
of the offender resides: (a) In the state to which the offender
is to be transferred; or (b) in close proximity to the institution
to which the offender is to be transferred, the secretary shall
notify the victim prior to the transfer and consider the victim’s concerns about the transfer.
(2) Any victim notified under subsection (1) of this section shall also be notified of the return of the offender to a
facility in Washington, prior to the return.
(3) The secretary shall develop a written policy to define
"close proximity" for purposes of this section. [2000 c 62 §
4.]
Effective date—2000 c 62: See note following RCW 72.68.012.
72.68.050
72.68.050 Contracts with other governmental units
for detention of felons convicted in this state—Notice of
transfer of prisoner. Whenever a prisoner who is serving a
sentence imposed by a court of this state is transferred from a
state correctional institution for convicted felons under RCW
72.68.040 through 72.68.070, the superintendent shall send
to the clerk of the court pursuant to whose order or judgment
the prisoner was committed to a state correctional institution
for convicted felons a notice of transfer, disclosing the name
of the prisoner transferred and giving the name and location
of the institution to which the prisoner was transferred. The
superintendent shall keep a copy of all notices of transfer on
file as a public record open to inspection; and the clerk of the
court shall file with the judgment roll in the appropriate case
a copy of each notice of transfer which he receives from the
superintendent. [1967 c 60 § 2; 1959 c 47 § 2; 1959 c 28 §
72.68.050. Prior: 1957 c 27 § 2. Formerly RCW 9.95.185.]
72.68.070 Contracts with other governmental units
for detention of felons convicted in this state—Procedure
regarding prisoner when contract expires. Upon the expiration of any contract entered into under RCW 72.68.040
through 72.68.070, all prisoners of this state confined in such
institution or jail shall be returned by the superintendent or
his assistants to a state correctional institution for convicted
felons of this state, or delivered to such other institution as the
secretary has contracted with under RCW 72.68.040 through
72.68.070. [1979 c 141 § 286; 1967 c 60 § 4; 1959 c 47 § 4;
1959 c 28 § 72.68.070. Prior: 1957 c 27 § 4. Formerly RCW
9.95.187.]
72.68.075
72.68.075 Contracts with other states or territories
for care, confinement or rehabilitation of female prisoners. The secretary is hereby authorized to contract for the
care, confinement and rehabilitation of female prisoners of
other states or territories of the United States, as more specifically provided in the Western Interstate Corrections Compact, as contained in chapter 72.70 RCW as now or hereafter
amended. [1979 c 141 § 287; 1967 ex.s. c 122 § 12.]
72.68.080
72.68.080 Federal prisoners, or from other state—
Authority to receive. All persons sentenced to prison by the
authority of the United States or of any state or territory of the
United States may be received by the department and imprisoned in a state correctional institution as defined in RCW
72.65.010 in accordance with the sentence of the court by
which they were tried. The prisoners so confined shall be
subject in all respects to discipline and treatment as though
committed under the laws of this state. [1983 c 255 § 11;
1967 ex.s. c 122 § 10; 1959 c 28 § 72.68.080. Prior: 1951 c
135 § 1. Formerly RCW 72.08.350.]
Severability—1983 c 255: See RCW 72.74.900.
72.68.090
72.68.060
72.68.060 Contracts with other governmental units
for detention of felons convicted in this state—Procedure
when transferred prisoner’s presence required in judicial
proceedings. Should the presence of any prisoner confined,
under authority of RCW 72.68.040 through 72.68.070, in an
institution of another state or the federal government or in a
county or city jail, be required in any judicial proceeding of
this state, the superintendent of a state correctional institution
for convicted felons or his assistants shall, upon being so
directed by the secretary, or upon the written order of any
court of competent jurisdiction, or of a judge thereof, procure
such prisoner, bring him to the place directed in such order
and hold him in custody subject to the further order and direction of the secretary, or of the court or of a judge thereof, until
he is lawfully discharged from such custody. The superinten[Title 72 RCW—page 86]
72.68.090 Federal prisoners, or from other state—
Per diem rate for keep. The secretary is authorized to enter
into contracts with the proper officers or agencies of the
United States and of other states and territories of the United
States relative to the per diem rate to be paid the state of
Washington for the conditions of the keep of each prisoner.
[1979 c 141 § 288; 1959 c 28 § 72.68.090. Prior: 1951 c 135
§ 2. Formerly RCW 72.08.360.]
72.68.100
72.68.100 Federal prisoners, or from other state—
Space must be available. The secretary shall not enter into
any contract for the care or commitment of any prisoner of
the federal government or any other state unless there is
vacant space and unused facilities in state correctional facilities. [1992 c 7 § 58; 1979 c 141 § 289; 1967 ex.s. c 122 § 11;
(2006 Ed.)
Western Interstate Corrections Compact
1959 c 28 § 72.68.100. Prior: 1951 c 135 § 3. Formerly RCW
72.08.370.]
Chapter 72.70
Chapter 72.70 RCW
WESTERN INTERSTATE
CORRECTIONS COMPACT
Sections
72.70.010
72.70.020
72.70.030
72.70.040
72.70.050
72.70.060
72.70.900
Compact enacted—Provisions.
Secretary authorized to receive or transfer inmates pursuant to
contract.
Responsibilities of courts, departments, agencies and officers.
Hearings.
Secretary may enter into contracts.
Secretary may provide clothing, etc., to inmate released in
another state.
Severability—Liberal construction—1959 c 287.
Compacts for out-of-state supervision of parolees or probationers: RCW
9.95.270.
Interstate compact on juveniles: Chapter 13.24 RCW.
72.70.010 Compact enacted—Provisions. The Western Interstate Corrections Compact as contained herein is
hereby enacted into law and entered into on behalf of this
state with any and all other states legally joining therein in a
form substantially as follows:
72.70.010
WESTERN INTERSTATE
CORRECTIONS COMPACT
ARTICLE I—Purpose and Policy
The party states, desiring by common action to improve
their institutional facilities and provide programs of sufficiently high quality for the confinement, treatment and rehabilitation of various types of offenders, declare that it is the
policy of each of the party states to provide such facilities and
programs on a basis of cooperation with one another, thereby
serving the best interests of such offenders and of society.
The purpose of this compact is to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation for the
confinement, treatment and rehabilitation of offenders.
ARTICLE II—Definitions
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:
(a) "State" means a state of the United States, or, subject
to the limitation contained in Article VII, Guam.
(b) "Sending state" means a state party to this compact in
which conviction was had.
(c) "Receiving state" means a state party to this compact
to which an inmate is sent for confinement other than a state
in which conviction was had.
(d) "Inmate" means a male or female offender who is
under sentence to or confined in a prison or other correctional
institution.
(e) "Institution" means any prison, reformatory or other
correctional facility except facilities for the mentally ill or
mentally handicapped in which inmates may lawfully be confined.
ARTICLE III—Contracts
(a) Each party state may make one or more contracts
with any one or more of the other party states for the confine(2006 Ed.)
72.70.010
ment of inmates on behalf of a sending state in institutions
situated within receiving states. Any such contract shall provide for:
1. Its duration.
2. Payments to be made to the receiving state by the
sending state for inmate maintenance, extraordinary medical
and dental expenses, and any participation in or receipt by
inmates of rehabilitative or correctional services, facilities,
programs or treatment not reasonably included as part of normal maintenance.
3. Participation in programs of inmate employment, if
any; the disposition or crediting of any payments received by
inmates on account thereof; and the crediting of proceeds
from or disposal of any products resulting therefrom.
4. Delivery and retaking of inmates.
5. Such other matters as may be necessary and appropriate to fix the obligations, responsibilities and rights of the
sending and receiving states.
(b) Prior to the construction or completion of construction of any institution or addition thereto by a party state, any
other party state or states may contract therewith for the
enlargement of the planned capacity of the institution or addition thereto, or for the inclusion therein of particular equipment or structures, and for the reservation of a specific percentum of the capacity of the institution to be kept available
for use by inmates of the sending state or states so contracting. Any sending state so contracting may, to the extent that
monies are legally available therefor, pay to the receiving
state, a reasonable sum as consideration for such enlargement
of capacity, or provision of equipment or structures, and reservation of capacity. Such payment may be in a lump sum or
in installments as provided in the contract.
(c) The terms and provisions of this compact shall be a
part of any contract entered into by the authority of or pursuant thereto, and nothing in any such contract shall be inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE IV—Procedures and Rights
(a) Whenever the duly constituted judicial or administrative authorities in a state party to this compact, and which has
entered into a contract pursuant to Article III, shall decide
that confinement in, or transfer of an inmate to, an institution
within the territory of another party state is necessary in order
to provide adequate quarters and care or desirable in order to
provide an appropriate program of rehabilitation or treatment, said officials may direct that the confinement be within
an institution within the territory of said other party state, the
receiving state to act in that regard solely as agent for the
sending state.
(b) The appropriate officials of any state party to this
compact shall have access, at all reasonable times, to any
institution in which it has a contractual right to confine
inmates for the purpose of inspecting the facilities thereof
and visiting such of its inmates as may be confined in the
institution.
(c) Inmates confined in an institution pursuant to the
terms of this compact shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction of the sending state and may at any time be removed
therefrom for transfer to a prison or other institution within
the sending state, for transfer to another institution in which
the sending state may have a contractual or other right to con[Title 72 RCW—page 87]
72.70.010
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
fine inmates, for release on probation or parole, for discharge,
or for any other purpose permitted by the laws of the sending
state; provided that the sending state shall continue to be obligated to such payments as may be required pursuant to the
terms of any contract entered into under the terms of Article
III.
(d) Each receiving state shall provide regular reports to
each sending state on the inmates of that sending state in
institutions pursuant to this compact including a conduct
record of each inmate and certify said record to the official
designated by the sending state, in order that each inmate
may have the benefit of his or her record in determining and
altering the disposition of said inmate in accordance with the
law which may obtain in the sending state and in order that
the same may be a source of information for the sending state.
(e) All inmates who may be confined in an institution
pursuant to the provisions of this compact shall be treated in
a reasonable and humane manner and shall be cared for and
treated equally with such similar inmates of the receiving
state as may be confined in the same institution. The fact of
confinement in a receiving state shall not deprive any inmate
so confined of any legal rights which said inmate would have
had if confined in an appropriate institution of the sending
state.
(f) Any hearing or hearings to which an inmate confined
pursuant to this compact may be entitled by the laws of the
sending state may be had before the appropriate authorities of
the sending state, or of the receiving state if authorized by the
sending state. The receiving state shall provide adequate
facilities for such hearings as may be conducted by the appropriate officials of a sending state. In the event such hearing or
hearings are had before officials of the receiving state, the
governing law shall be that of the sending state and a record
of the hearing or hearings as prescribed by the sending state
shall be made. Said record together with any recommendations of the hearing officials shall be transmitted forthwith to
the official or officials before whom the hearing would have
been had if it had taken place in the sending state. In any and
all proceedings had pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, the officials of the receiving state shall act solely as
agents of the sending state and no final determination shall be
made in any matter except by the appropriate officials of the
sending state. Costs of records made pursuant to this subdivision shall be borne by the sending state.
(g) Any inmate confined pursuant to this compact shall
be released within the territory of the sending state unless the
inmate, and the sending and receiving states, shall agree upon
release in some other place. The sending state shall bear the
cost of such return to its territory.
(h) Any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this
compact shall have any and all rights to participate in and
derive any benefits or incur or be relieved of any obligations
or have such obligations modified or his status changed on
account of any action or proceeding in which he could have
participated if confined in any appropriate institution of the
sending state located within such state.
(i) The parent, guardian, trustee, or other person or persons entitled under the laws of the sending state to act for,
advise, or otherwise function with respect to any inmate shall
not be deprived of or restricted in his exercise of any power
[Title 72 RCW—page 88]
in respect of any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this
compact.
ARTICLE V—Acts Not Reviewable In Receiving
State; Extradition
(a) Any decision of the sending state in respect of any
matter over which it retains jurisdiction pursuant to this compact shall be conclusive upon and not reviewable within the
receiving state, but if at the time the sending state seeks to
remove an inmate from an institution in the receiving state
there is pending against the inmate within such state any
criminal charge or if the inmate is suspected of having committed within such state a criminal offense, the inmate shall
not be returned without the consent of the receiving state until
discharged from prosecution or other form of proceeding,
imprisonment or detention for such offense. The duly accredited officers of the sending state shall be permitted to transport inmates pursuant to this compact through any and all
states party to this compact without interference.
(b) An inmate who escapes from an institution in which
he is confined pursuant to this compact shall be deemed a
fugitive from the sending state and from the state in which the
institution is situated. In the case of an escape to a jurisdiction
other than the sending or receiving state, the responsibility
for institution of extradition proceedings shall be that of the
sending state, but nothing contained herein shall be construed
to prevent or affect the activities of officers and agencies of
any jurisdiction directed toward the apprehension and return
of an escapee.
ARTICLE VI—Federal Aid
Any state party to this compact may accept federal aid
for use in connection with an institution or program, the use
of which is or may be affected by this compact or any contract pursuant thereto and any inmate in a receiving state pursuant to this compact may participate in any such federally
aided program or activity for which the sending and receiving
states have made contractual provision; provided that if such
program or activity is not part of the customary correctional
regimen the express consent of the appropriate official of the
sending state shall be required therefor.
ARTICLE VII—Entry Into Force
This compact shall enter into force and become effective
and binding upon the states so acting when it has been
enacted into law by any two contiguous states from among
the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming. For the purposes of this
article, Alaska and Hawaii shall be deemed contiguous to
each other; to any and all of the states of California, Oregon
and Washington; and to Guam. Thereafter, this compact shall
enter into force and become effective and binding as to any
other of said states, or any other state contiguous to at least
one party state upon similar action by such state. Guam may
become party to this compact by taking action similar to that
provided for joinder by any other eligible party state and
upon the consent of Congress to such joinder. For the purposes of this article, Guam shall be deemed contiguous to
Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington.
(2006 Ed.)
Criminal Behavior of Residents of Institutions
ARTICLE VIII—Withdrawal and Termination
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding
upon a party state until it shall have enacted a statute repealing the same and providing for the sending of formal written
notice of withdrawal from the compact to the appropriate
officials of all other party states. An actual withdrawal shall
not take effect until two years after the notices provided in
said statute have been sent. Such withdrawal shall not relieve
the withdrawing state from its obligations assumed hereunder
prior to the effective date of withdrawal. Before the effective
date of withdrawal, a withdrawing state shall remove to its
territory, at its own expense, such inmates as it may have confined pursuant to the provisions of this compact.
Chapter 72.72
72.70.040
72.70.040 Hearings. The secretary and members of the
*board of prison terms and paroles are hereby authorized and
directed to hold such hearings as may be requested by any
other party state pursuant to Article IV(f) of the Western
Interstate Corrections Compact. Additionally, the secretary
and members of the *board of prison terms and paroles may
hold out-of-state hearings in connection with the case of any
inmate of this state confined in an institution of another state
party to the Western Interstate Corrections Compact. [1979 c
141 § 291; 1959 c 287 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: The "board of prison terms and paroles" was redesignated the "indeterminate sentence review board" by 1986 c 224, effective
July 1, 1986.
72.70.050
ARTICLE IX—Other Arrangements Unaffected
Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed to
abrogate or impair any agreement or other arrangement
which a party state may have with a non-party state for the
confinement, rehabilitation or treatment of inmates nor to
repeal any other laws of a party state authorizing the making
of cooperative institutional arrangements.
ARTICLE X—Construction and Severability
The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence
or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the
constitution of any participating state or of the United States
or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the
remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any
government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be
affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the
constitution of any state participating therein, the compact
shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states
and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. [1977 ex.s. c 80 § 69; 1959 c 287 § 1.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
72.70.020
72.70.020 Secretary authorized to receive or transfer
inmates pursuant to contract. The secretary of corrections
is authorized to receive or transfer an inmate as defined in
Article II(d) of the Western Interstate Corrections Compact
to any institution as defined in Article II(e) of the Western
Interstate Corrections Compact within this state or without
this state, if this state has entered into a contract or contracts
for the confinement of inmates in such institutions pursuant
to Article III of the Western Interstate Corrections Compact.
[1981 c 136 § 118; 1979 c 141 § 290; 1959 c 287 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.70.030
72.70.030 Responsibilities of courts, departments,
agencies and officers. The courts, departments, agencies
and officers of this state and its subdivisions shall enforce this
compact and shall do all things appropriate to the effectuation
of its purposes and intent which may be within their respective jurisdictions including but not limited to the making and
submission of such reports as are required by the compact.
[1959 c 287 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
72.70.050 Secretary may enter into contracts. The
secretary of corrections is hereby empowered to enter into
such contracts on behalf of this state as may be appropriate to
implement the participation of this state in the Western Interstate Corrections Compact pursuant to Article III thereof. No
such contract shall be of any force or effect until approved by
the attorney general. [1981 c 136 § 119; 1979 c 141 § 292;
1959 c 287 § 5.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.70.060
72.70.060 Secretary may provide clothing, etc., to
inmate released in another state. If any agreement between
this state and any other state party to the Western Interstate
Corrections Compact enables the release of an inmate of this
state confined in an institution of another state to be released
in such other state in accordance with Article IV(g) of this
compact, then the secretary is authorized to provide clothing,
transportation and funds to such inmate in accordance with
the provisions of chapter 72.02 RCW. [1983 c 3 § 186; 1979
c 141 § 293; 1959 c 287 § 6.]
72.70.900
72.70.900 Severability—Liberal construction—1959
c 287. The provisions of this act shall be severable and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this act is declared to
be unconstitutional or the applicability thereof to any state,
agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of this act and the applicability thereof to any other
state, agency, person or circumstance shall, with respect to all
severable matters, not be affected thereby. It is the legislative
intent that the provisions of this act be reasonably and liberally construed. [1959 c 287 § 7.]
Chapter 72.72 RCW
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OF RESIDENTS
OF INSTITUTIONS
Chapter 72.72
Sections
72.72.010
72.72.020
72.72.030
72.72.040
72.72.050
72.72.060
Legislative intent.
Definitions.
Institutional impact account—Reimbursement to political subdivisions—Limitations.
Reimbursement—Rules.
Disturbances at state penal facilities—Reimbursement to cities
and counties for certain expenses incurred—Funding.
Disturbances at state penal facilities—Reimbursement to cities
and counties for physical injury benefit costs—Limitations.
Reviser’s note: 1979 ex.s. c 108 was to be added to chapter 72.06 RCW
but has been codified as chapter 72.72 RCW.
[Title 72 RCW—page 89]
72.72.010
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.72.010
72.72.010 Legislative intent. The legislature finds that
political subdivisions in which state institutions are located
incur a disproportionate share of the criminal justice costs
due to criminal behavior of the residents of such institutions.
To redress this inequity, it shall be the policy of the state of
Washington to reimburse political subdivisions which have
incurred such costs. [1979 ex.s. c 108 § 1.]
72.72.020
72.72.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Political subdivisions" means counties, cities, and
towns.
(2) "Institution" means any state institution for the confinement of adult offenders committed pursuant to chapters
10.64, 10.77, and 71.06 RCW or juvenile offenders committed pursuant to chapter 13.40 RCW. [1983 c 279 § 1; 1981 c
136 § 120; 1979 ex.s. c 108 § 2.]
Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.
72.72.030
72.72.030 Institutional impact account—Reimbursement to political subdivisions—Limitations. (1) There is
hereby created, in the state treasury, an institutional impact
account. The secretary of social and health services may
reimburse political subdivisions for criminal justice costs
incurred directly as a result of crimes committed by offenders
residing in an institution as defined herein under the jurisdiction of the secretary of social and health services. Such reimbursement shall be made to the extent funds are available
from the institutional impact account. Reimbursements shall
be limited to law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, and jail
facilities costs which are documented to be strictly related to
the criminal activities of the offender.
(2) The secretary of corrections may reimburse political
subdivisions for criminal justice costs incurred directly as a
result of crimes committed by offenders residing in an institution as defined herein under the jurisdiction of the secretary
of corrections. Such reimbursement shall be made to the
extent funds are available from the institutional impact
account. Reimbursements shall be limited to law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, and jail facilities costs which
are documented to be strictly related to the criminal activities
of the offender. [1991 sp.s. c 13 § 10; 1985 c 57 § 71; 1983 c
279 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 108 § 3.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
72.72.040
72.72.040 Reimbursement—Rules. (1) The secretary
of social and health services and the secretary of corrections
shall each promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW
regarding the reimbursement process for their respective
agencies.
(2) Reimbursement shall not be made if otherwise provided pursuant to other provisions of state law. [1983 c 279
§ 3; 1979 ex.s. c 108 § 4.]
72.72.050
72.72.050 Disturbances at state penal facilities—
Reimbursement to cities and counties for certain expenses
incurred—Funding. The state shall reimburse cities and
[Title 72 RCW—page 90]
counties for their expenses incurred directly as a result of
their providing personnel and material pursuant to a contingency plan adopted under RCW 72.02.150. Reimbursement
to cities and counties shall be expended solely from the institutional impact account within funds available in that
account. If the costs of reimbursements to cities and counties
exceed available funds, the secretary of corrections shall
request the legislature to appropriate sufficient funds to
enable the secretary of corrections to make full reimbursement. [1983 c 279 § 4; 1982 c 49 § 3.]
72.72.060
72.72.060 Disturbances at state penal facilities—
Reimbursement to cities and counties for physical injury
benefit costs—Limitations. The state shall reimburse cities
and counties for their costs incurred under chapter 41.26
RCW if the costs are the direct result of physical injuries sustained in the implementation of a contingency plan adopted
under RCW 72.02.150 and if reimbursement is not precluded
by the following provisions: If the secretary of corrections
identifies in the contingency plan the prison walls or other
perimeter of the secured area, then reimbursement will not be
made unless the injuries occur within the walls or other
perimeter of the secured area. If the secretary of corrections
does not identify prison walls or other perimeter of the
secured area, then reimbursement shall not be made unless
the injuries result from providing assistance, requested by the
secretary of corrections or the secretary’s designee, which is
beyond the description of the assistance contained in the contingency plan. In no case shall reimbursement be made when
the injuries result from conduct which either is not requested
by the secretary of corrections or the secretary’s designee, or
is in violation of orders by superiors of the local law enforcement agency. [1983 c 279 § 5; 1982 c 49 § 4.]
Chapter 72.74 RCW
INTERSTATE CORRECTIONS COMPACT
Chapter 72.74
Sections
72.74.010
72.74.020
72.74.030
72.74.040
72.74.050
72.74.060
72.74.070
72.74.900
Short title.
Authority to execute, terms of compact.
Authority to receive or transfer inmates.
Enforcement.
Hearings.
Contracts for implementation.
Clothing, transportation, and funds for state inmates released
in other states.
Severability—1983 c 255.
72.74.010
72.74.010 Short title. This chapter shall be known and
may be cited as the Interstate Corrections Compact. [1983 c
255 § 12.]
72.74.020
72.74.020 Authority to execute, terms of compact.
The secretary of the department of corrections is hereby
authorized and requested to execute, on behalf of the state of
Washington, with any other state or states legally joining
therein a compact which shall be in form substantially as follows:
The contracting states solemnly agree that:
(1) The party states, desiring by common action to fully
utilize and improve their institutional facilities and provide
adequate programs for the confinement, treatment, and reha(2006 Ed.)
Interstate Corrections Compact
bilitation of various types of offenders, declare that it is the
policy of each of the party states to provide such facilities and
programs on a basis of cooperation with one another, and
with the federal government, thereby serving the best interest
of such offenders and of society and effecting economies in
capital expenditures and operational costs. The purpose of
this compact is to provide for the mutual development and
execution of such programs of cooperation for the confinement, treatment, and rehabilitation of offenders with the most
economical use of human and material resources.
(2) As used in this compact, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:
(a) "State" means a state of the United States; the United
States of America; a territory or possession of the United
States; the District of Columbia; and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
(b) "Sending state" means a state party to this compact in
which conviction or court commitment was had.
(c) "Receiving state" means a state party to this compact
to which an inmate is sent for confinement other than a state
in which conviction or court commitment was had.
(d) "Inmate" means a male or female offender who is
committed, under sentence to, or confined in a penal or correctional institution.
(e) "Institution" means any penal or correctional facility,
including but not limited to a facility for the mentally ill or
mentally defective, in which inmates as defined in subsection
(2)(d) of this section may lawfully be confined.
(3)(a) Each party state may make one or more contracts
with any one or more of the other party states, or with the federal government, for the confinement of inmates on behalf of
a sending state in institutions situated within receiving states.
Any such contract shall provide for:
(i) Its duration;
(ii) Payments to be made to the receiving state or to the
federal government, by the sending state for inmate maintenance, extraordinary medical and dental expenses, and any
participation in or receipt by inmates of rehabilitative or correctional services, facilities, programs or treatment not reasonably included as part of normal maintenance;
(iii) Participation in programs of inmate employment, if
any; the disposition or crediting of any payments received by
inmates on account thereof; and the crediting of proceeds
from or disposal of any products resulting therefrom;
(iv) Delivery and retaking of inmates;
(v) Such other matters as may be necessary and appropriate to fix the obligations, responsibilities and rights of the
sending and receiving states.
(b) The terms and provisions of this compact shall be a
part of any contract entered into by the authority of or pursuant thereto and nothing in any such contract shall be inconsistent therewith.
(4)(a) Whenever the duly constituted authorities in a
state party to this compact, and which has entered into a contract pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section, shall decide
that confinement in, or transfer of an inmate to, an institution
within the territory of another party state is necessary or
desirable in order to provide adequate quarters and care or an
appropriate program of rehabilitation or treatment, said officials may direct that the confinement be within an institution
(2006 Ed.)
72.74.020
within the territory of said other party state, the receiving
state to act in that regard solely as agent for the sending state.
(b) The appropriate officials of any state party to this
compact shall have access, at all reasonable times, to any
institution in which it has a contractual right to confine
inmates for the purpose of inspecting the facilities thereof
and visiting such of its inmates as may be confined in the
institution.
(c) Inmates confined in an institution pursuant to the
terms of this compact shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction of the sending state and may at any time be removed
therefrom for transfer to a prison or other institution within
the sending state, for transfer to another institution in which
the sending state may have a contractual or other right to confine inmates, for release on probation or parole, for discharge,
or for any other purpose permitted by the laws of the sending
state, provided that the sending state shall continue to be obligated to such payments as may be required pursuant to the
terms of any contract entered into under the terms of subsection (3)(a) of this section.
(d) Each receiving state shall provide regular reports to
each sending state on the inmates of that sending state in
institutions pursuant to this compact, including a conduct
record of each inmate, and certify said record to the official
designated by the sending state, in order that each inmate
may have official review of his or her record in determining
and altering the disposition of said inmate in accordance with
the law which may obtain in the sending state and in order
that the same may be a source of information for the sending
state.
(e) All inmates who may be confined in an institution
pursuant to the provisions of this compact shall be treated in
a reasonable and humane manner and shall be treated equally
with such similar inmates of the receiving state as may be
confined in the same institution. The fact of confinement in a
receiving state shall not deprive any inmate so confined of
any legal rights which said inmate would have had if confined in an appropriate institution of the sending state.
(f) Any hearing or hearings to which an inmate confined
pursuant to this compact may be entitled by the laws of the
sending state may be had before the appropriate authorities of
the sending state, or of the receiving state if authorized by the
sending state. The receiving state shall provide adequate
facilities for such hearings as may be conducted by the appropriate officials of a sending state. In the event such hearing or
hearings are had before officials of the receiving state, the
governing law shall be that of the sending state and a record
of the hearing or hearings as prescribed by the sending state
shall be made. Said record, together with any recommendations of the hearing officials, shall be transmitted forthwith to
the official or officials before whom the hearing would have
been had if it had taken place in the sending state. In any and
all proceedings had pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, the officials of the receiving state shall act solely as
agents of the sending state and no final determination shall be
made in any matter except by the appropriate officials of the
sending state.
(g) Any inmate confined pursuant to this compact shall
be released within the territory of the sending state unless the
inmate, and the sending and receiving states, shall agree upon
[Title 72 RCW—page 91]
72.74.030
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
release in some other place. The sending state shall bear the
cost of such return to its territory.
(h) Any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this
compact shall have any and all rights to participate in and
derive any benefits or incur or be relieved of any obligations
or have such obligations modified or his status changed on
account of any action or proceeding in which he could have
participated if confined in any appropriate institution of the
sending state located within such state.
(i) The parents, guardian, trustee, or other person or persons entitled under the laws of the sending state to act for,
advise or otherwise function with respect to any inmate shall
not be deprived of or restricted in his exercise of any power
in respect of any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this
compact.
(5)(a) Any decision of the sending state in respect to any
matter over which it retains jurisdiction pursuant to this compact shall be conclusive upon and not reviewable within the
receiving state, but if at the time the sending state seeks to
remove an inmate from an institution in the receiving state
there is pending against the inmate within such state any
criminal charge or if the inmate is formally accused of having
committed within such state a criminal offense, the inmate
shall not be returned without the consent of the receiving
state until discharge from prosecution or other form of proceeding, imprisonment or detention for such offense. The
duly accredited officers of the sending state shall be permitted to transport inmates pursuant to this compact through any
and all states party to this compact without interference.
(b) An inmate who escapes from an institution in which
he is confined pursuant to this compact shall be deemed a
fugitive from the sending state and from the state in which the
institution is situated. In the case of an escape to a jurisdiction
other than the sending or receiving state, the responsibility
for institution of extradition or rendition proceedings shall be
that of the sending state, but nothing contained herein shall be
construed to prevent or affect the activities of officers and
agencies of any jurisdiction directed toward the apprehension
and return of an escapee.
(6) Any state party to this compact may accept federal
aid for use in connection with any institution or program, the
use of which is or may be affected by this compact or any
contract pursuant hereto; and any inmate in a receiving state
pursuant to this compact may participate in any such federally-aided program or activity for which the sending and
receiving states have made contractual provision, provided
that if such program or activity is not part of the customary
correctional regimen, the express consent of the appropriate
official of the sending state shall be required therefor.
(7) This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding upon the states so acting when it has been
enacted into law by any two states. Thereafter, this compact
shall enter into force and become effective and binding as to
any other of said states upon similar action by such state.
(8) This compact shall continue in force and remain
binding upon a party state until it shall have enacted a statute
repealing the same and providing for the sending of formal
written notice of withdrawal from the compact to the appropriate official of all other party states. An actual withdrawal
shall not take effect until one year after the notice provided in
said statute has been sent. Such withdrawal shall not relieve
[Title 72 RCW—page 92]
the withdrawing state from its obligations assumed hereunder
prior to the effective date of withdrawal. Before effective
date of withdrawal, a withdrawing state shall remove to its
territory, at its own expense, such inmates as it may have confined pursuant to the provisions of this compact.
(9) Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed
to abrogate or impair any agreement or other arrangement
which a party state may have with a nonparty state for the
confinement, rehabilitation or treatment of inmates nor to
repeal any other laws of a party state authorizing the making
of cooperative institutional arrangements.
(10) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally
construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary
to the constitution of any participating state or of the United
States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency,
person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the
remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any
government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be
affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the
constitution of any state participating therein, the compact
shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states
and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. [1983 c 255 § 13.]
72.74.030
72.74.030 Authority to receive or transfer inmates.
The secretary of corrections is authorized to receive or transfer an inmate as defined in the Interstate Corrections Compact to any institution as defined in the Interstate Corrections
Compact within this state or without this state, if this state has
entered into a contract or contracts for the confinement of
inmates in such institutions pursuant to subsection (3) of the
Interstate Corrections Compact. [1983 c 255 § 14.]
72.74.040
72.74.040 Enforcement. The courts, departments,
agencies, and officers of this state and its subdivisions shall
enforce this compact and shall do all things appropriate to the
effectuation of its purposes and intent which may be within
their respective jurisdictions including but not limited to the
making and submission of such reports as are required by the
compact. [1983 c 255 § 15.]
72.74.050
72.74.050 Hearings. The secretary is authorized and
directed to hold such hearings as may be requested by any
other party state pursuant to subsection (4)(f) of the Interstate
Corrections Compact. Additionally, the secretary may hold
out-of-state hearings in connection with the case of any
inmate of this state confined in an institution of another state
party to the Interstate Corrections Compact. [1983 c 255 §
16.]
72.74.060
72.74.060 Contracts for implementation. The secretary of corrections is empowered to enter into such contracts
on behalf of this state as may be appropriate to implement the
participation of this state in the Interstate Corrections Compact pursuant to subsection (3) of the compact. No such contract shall be of any force or effect until approved by the
attorney general. [1983 c 255 § 17.]
(2006 Ed.)
Intrastate Corrections Compact
72.74.070
72.74.070 Clothing, transportation, and funds for
state inmates released in other states. If any agreement
between this state and any other state party to the Interstate
Corrections Compact enables an inmate of this state confined
in an institution of another state to be released in such other
state in accordance with subsection (4)(g) of this compact,
then the secretary is authorized to provide clothing, transportation, and funds to such inmate in accordance with RCW
72.02.100. [1983 c 255 § 18.]
72.74.900
72.74.900 Severability—1983 c 255. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1983 c 255 § 20.]
Chapter 72.76 RCW
INTRASTATE CORRECTIONS COMPACT
Chapter 72.76
Sections
72.76.005
72.76.010
72.76.020
72.76.030
72.76.040
72.76.900
Intent.
Compact enacted—Provisions.
Costs and accounting of offender days.
Contracts authorized for implementation of participation—
Application of chapter.
Fiscal management.
Short title.
72.76.005
72.76.005 Intent. It is the intent of the legislature to
enable and encourage a cooperative relationship between the
department of corrections and the counties of the state of
Washington, and to provide adequate facilities and programs
for the confinement, care, treatment, and employment of
offenders through the exchange or transfer of offenders.
[1989 c 177 § 2.]
72.76.010
72.76.010 Compact enacted—Provisions. The Washington intrastate corrections compact is enacted and entered
into on behalf of this state by the department with any and all
counties of this state legally joining in a form substantially as
follows:
WASHINGTON INTRASTATE
CORRECTIONS COMPACT
A compact is entered into by and among the contracting
counties and the department of corrections, signatories
hereto, for the purpose of maximizing the use of existing
resources and to provide adequate facilities and programs for
the confinement, care, treatment, and employment of offenders.
The contracting counties and the department do solemnly agree that:
(1) As used in this compact, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:
(a) "Department" means the Washington state department of corrections.
(b) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of
corrections or designee.
(c) "Compact jurisdiction" means the department of corrections or any county of the state of Washington which has
executed this compact.
(2006 Ed.)
72.76.010
(d) "Sending jurisdiction" means a county party to this
agreement or the department of corrections to whom the
courts have committed custody of the offender.
(e) "Receiving jurisdiction" means the department of
corrections or a county party to this agreement to which an
offender is sent for confinement.
(f) "Offender" means a person who has been charged
with and/or convicted of an offense established by applicable
statute or ordinance.
(g) "Convicted felony offender" means a person who has
been convicted of a felony established by state law and is
eighteen years of age or older, or who is less than eighteen
years of age, but whose case has been transferred by the
appropriate juvenile court to a criminal court pursuant to
RCW 13.40.110 or has been tried in a criminal court pursuant
to *RCW 13.04.030(1)(e)(iv).
(h) An "offender day" includes the first day an offender
is delivered to the receiving jurisdiction, but ends at midnight
of the day immediately preceding the day of the offender’s
release or return to the custody of the sending jurisdiction.
(i) "Facility" means any state correctional institution,
camp, or other unit established or authorized by law under the
jurisdiction of the department of corrections; any jail, holding, detention, special detention, or correctional facility operated by the county for the housing of adult offenders; or any
contract facility, operated on behalf of either the county or
the state for the housing of adult offenders.
(j) "Extraordinary medical expense" means any medical
expense beyond that which is normally provided by contract
or other health care providers at the facility of the receiving
jurisdiction.
(k) "Compact" means the Washington intrastate corrections compact.
(2)(a) Any county may make one or more contracts with
one or more counties, the department, or both for the
exchange or transfer of offenders pursuant to this compact.
Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution, or otherwise in
accordance with the law of the governing bodies of the participating counties shall be necessary before the contract may
take effect. The secretary is authorized and requested to execute the contracts on behalf of the department. Any such contract shall provide for:
(i) Its duration;
(ii) Payments to be made to the receiving jurisdiction by
the sending jurisdiction for offender maintenance, extraordinary medical and dental expenses, and any participation in or
receipt by offenders of rehabilitative or correctional services,
facilities, programs, or treatment not reasonably included as
part of normal maintenance;
(iii) Participation in programs of offender employment,
if any; the disposition or crediting of any payments received
by offenders on their accounts; and the crediting of proceeds
from or the disposal of any products resulting from the
employment;
(iv) Delivery and retaking of offenders;
(v) Such other matters as may be necessary and appropriate to fix the obligations, responsibilities and rights of the
sending and receiving jurisdictions.
(b) The terms and provisions of this compact shall be a
part of any contract entered into by the authority of or pursu[Title 72 RCW—page 93]
72.76.010
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
ant to the contract. Nothing in any contract may be inconsistent with the compact.
(3)(a) Whenever the duly constituted authorities of any
compact jurisdiction decide that confinement in, or transfer
of an offender to a facility of another compact jurisdiction is
necessary or desirable in order to provide adequate housing
and care or an appropriate program of rehabilitation or treatment, the officials may direct that the confinement be within
a facility of the other compact jurisdiction, the receiving
jurisdiction to act in that regard solely as agent for the sending jurisdiction.
(b) The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible for the
supervision of all offenders which it accepts into its custody.
(c) The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible to
establish screening criteria for offenders it will accept for
transfer. The sending jurisdiction shall be responsible for
ensuring that all transferred offenders meet the screening criteria of the receiving jurisdiction.
(d) The sending jurisdiction shall notify the sentencing
courts of the name, charges, cause numbers, date, and place
of transfer of any offender, prior to the transfer, on a form to
be provided by the department. A copy of this form shall
accompany the offender at the time of transfer.
(e) The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible for
providing an orientation to each offender who is transferred.
The orientation shall be provided to offenders upon arrival
and shall address the following conditions at the facility of
the receiving jurisdiction:
(i) Requirements to work;
(ii) Facility rules and disciplinary procedures;
(iii) Medical care availability; and
(iv) Visiting.
(f) Delivery and retaking of inmates shall be the responsibility of the sending jurisdiction. The sending jurisdiction
shall deliver offenders to the facility of the receiving jurisdiction where the offender will be housed, at the dates and times
specified by the receiving jurisdiction. The receiving jurisdiction retains the right to refuse or return any offender. The
sending jurisdiction shall be responsible to retake any transferred offender who does not meet the screening criteria of
the receiving jurisdiction, or who is refused by the receiving
jurisdiction. If the receiving jurisdiction has notified the
sending jurisdiction to retake an offender, but the sending
jurisdiction does not do so within a seven-day period, the
receiving jurisdiction may return the offender to the sending
jurisdiction at the expense of the sending jurisdiction.
(g) Offenders confined in a facility under the terms of
this compact shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction of
the sending jurisdiction and may at any time be removed
from the facility for transfer to another facility within the
sending jurisdiction, for transfer to another facility in which
the sending jurisdiction may have a contractual or other right
to confine offenders, for release or discharge, or for any other
purpose permitted by the laws of the state of Washington.
(h) Unless otherwise agreed, the sending jurisdiction
shall provide at least one set of the offender’s personal clothing at the time of transfer. The sending jurisdiction shall be
responsible for searching the clothing to ensure that it is free
of contraband. The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible
for providing work clothing and equipment appropriate to the
offender’s assignment.
[Title 72 RCW—page 94]
(i) The sending jurisdiction shall remain responsible for
the storage of the offender’s personal property, unless prior
arrangements are made with the receiving jurisdiction. The
receiving jurisdiction shall provide a list of allowable items
which may be transferred with the offender.
(j) Copies or summaries of records relating to medical
needs, behavior, and classification of the offender shall be
transferred by the sending jurisdiction to the receiving jurisdiction at the time of transfer. At a minimum, such records
shall include:
(i) A copy of the commitment order or orders legally
authorizing the confinement of the offender;
(ii) A copy of the form for the notification of the sentencing courts required by subsection (3)(d) of this section;
(iii) A brief summary of any known criminal history,
medical needs, behavioral problems, and other information
which may be relevant to the classification of the offender;
and
(iv) A standard identification card which includes the
fingerprints and at least one photograph of the offender.
Disclosure of public records shall be the responsibility of the
sending jurisdiction, except for those documents generated
by the receiving jurisdiction.
(k) The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible for
providing regular medical care, including prescription medication, but extraordinary medical expenses shall be the
responsibility of the sending jurisdiction. The costs of
extraordinary medical care incurred by the receiving jurisdiction for transferred offenders shall be reimbursed by the sending jurisdiction. The receiving jurisdiction shall notify the
sending jurisdiction as far in advance as practicable prior to
incurring such costs. In the event emergency medical care is
needed, the sending jurisdiction shall be advised as soon as
practicable after the offender is treated. Offenders who are
required by the medical authority of the sending jurisdiction
to take prescription medication at the time of the transfer
shall have at least a three-day supply of the medication transferred to the receiving jurisdiction with the offender, and at
the expense of the sending jurisdiction. Costs of prescription
medication incurred after the use of the supply shall be borne
by the receiving jurisdiction.
(l) Convicted offenders transferred under this agreement
may be required by the receiving jurisdiction to work. Transferred offenders participating in programs of offender
employment shall receive the same reimbursement, if any, as
other offenders performing similar work. The receiving jurisdiction shall be responsible for the disposition or crediting of
any payments received by offenders, and for crediting the
proceeds from or disposal of any products resulting from the
employment. Other programs normally provided to offenders
by the receiving jurisdiction such as education, mental health,
or substance abuse treatment shall also be available to transferred offenders, provided that usual program screening criteria are met. No special or additional programs will be provided except by mutual agreement of the sending and receiving jurisdiction, with additional expenses, if any, to be borne
by the sending jurisdiction.
(m) The receiving jurisdiction shall notify offenders
upon arrival of the rules of the jurisdiction and the specific
rules of the facility. Offenders will be required to follow all
rules of the receiving jurisdiction. Disciplinary detention, if
(2006 Ed.)
Intrastate Corrections Compact
necessary, shall be provided at the discretion of the receiving
jurisdiction. The receiving jurisdiction may require the sending jurisdiction to retake any offender found guilty of a serious infraction; similarly, the receiving jurisdiction may
require the sending jurisdiction to retake any offender whose
behavior requires segregated or protective housing.
(n) Good-time calculations and notification of each
offender’s release date shall be the responsibility of the sending jurisdiction. The sending jurisdiction shall provide the
receiving jurisdiction with a formal notice of the date upon
which each offender is to be released from custody. If the
receiving jurisdiction finds an offender guilty of a violation
of its disciplinary rules, it shall notify the sending jurisdiction
of the date and nature of the violation. If the sending jurisdiction resets the release date according to its good-time policies, it shall provide the receiving jurisdiction with notice of
the new release date.
(o) The sending jurisdiction shall retake the offender at
the receiving jurisdiction’s facility on or before his or her
release date, unless the sending and receiving jurisdictions
shall agree upon release in some other place. The sending
jurisdiction shall bear the transportation costs of the return.
(p) Each receiving jurisdiction shall provide monthly
reports to each sending jurisdiction on the number of offenders of that sending jurisdiction in its facilities pursuant to this
compact.
(q) Each party jurisdiction shall notify the others of its
coordinator who is responsible for administrating the jurisdiction’s responsibilities under the compact. The coordinators shall arrange for alternate contact persons in the event of
an extended absence of the coordinator.
(r) Upon reasonable notice, representatives of any party
to this compact shall be allowed to visit any facility in which
another party has agreed to house its offenders, for the purpose of inspecting the facilities and visiting its offenders that
may be confined in the institution.
(4) This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding upon the participating parties when it has
been executed by two or more parties. Upon request, each
party county shall provide any other compact jurisdiction
with a copy of a duly enacted resolution or ordinance authorizing entry into this compact.
(5) A party participating may withdraw from the compact by formal resolution and by written notice to all other
parties then participating. The withdrawal shall become
effective, as it pertains to the party wishing to withdraw,
thirty days after written notice to the other parties. However,
such withdrawal shall not relieve the withdrawing party from
its obligations assumed prior to the effective date of withdrawal. Before the effective date of withdrawal, a withdrawing participant shall notify the other parties to retake the
offenders it has housed in its facilities and shall remove to its
facilities, at its own expense, offenders it has confined under
the provisions of this compact.
(6) Legal costs relating to defending actions brought by
an offender challenging his or her transfer to another jurisdiction under this compact shall be borne by the sending jurisdiction. Legal costs relating to defending actions arising from
events which occur while the offender is in the custody of a
receiving jurisdiction shall be borne by the receiving jurisdiction.
(2006 Ed.)
72.76.030
(7) The receiving jurisdiction shall not be responsible to
provide legal services to offenders placed under this agreement. Requests for legal services shall be referred to the
sending jurisdiction.
(8) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence,
or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the
Constitution or laws of the state of Washington or is held
invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and its
applicability to any county or the department shall not be
affected.
(9) Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed
to abrogate or impair any agreement or other arrangement
which a county or the department may have with each other
or with a nonparty county for the confinement, rehabilitation,
or treatment of offenders. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 539; 1989 c 177
§ 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 13.04.030 was amended by 1997 c 341 § 3,
changing subsection (1)(e)(iv) to subsection (1)(e)(v).
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
72.76.020
72.76.020 Costs and accounting of offender days. (1)
The costs per offender day to the sending jurisdiction for the
custody of offenders transferred according to the terms of this
agreement shall be at the rate set by the state of Washington,
office of financial management under RCW 70.48.440,
unless the parties agree to another rate in a particular transfer.
The costs may not include extraordinary medical costs, which
shall be billed separately. Except in the case of prisoner
exchanges, as described in subsection (2) of this section, the
sending jurisdiction shall be billed on a monthly basis by the
receiving jurisdiction. Payment shall be made within thirty
days of receipt of the invoice.
(2) When two parties to this agreement transfer offenders
to each other, there shall be an accounting of the number of
"offender days." If the number is exactly equal, no payment
is necessary for the affected period. The payment by the jurisdiction with the higher net number of offender days may be
reduced by the amount otherwise due for the number of
offender days its offenders were held by the receiving jurisdiction. Billing and reimbursement shall remain on the
monthly schedule, and shall be supported by the forms and
procedures provided by applicable regulations. The accounting of offender days exchanged may be reconciled on a
monthly basis, but shall be at least quarterly. [1989 c 177 §
4.]
72.76.030
72.76.030 Contracts authorized for implementation
of participation—Application of chapter. The secretary is
empowered to enter into contracts on behalf of this state on
the terms and conditions as may be appropriate to implement
the participation of the department in the Washington intrastate corrections compact under RCW 72.76.010(2). Nothing
in this chapter is intended to create any right or entitlement in
any offender transferred or housed under the authority
granted in this chapter. The failure of the department or the
county to comply with any provision of this chapter as to any
particular offender or transfer shall not invalidate the transfer
nor give rise to any right for such offender. [1989 c 177 § 5.]
[Title 72 RCW—page 95]
72.76.040
Title 72 RCW: State Institutions
72.76.040
72.76.040 Fiscal management. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of law, payments received by the department
pursuant to contracts entered into under the authority of this
chapter shall be treated as nonappropriated funds and shall be
exempt from the allotment controls established under chapter
43.88 RCW. The secretary may use such funds, in addition to
appropriated funds, to provide institutional and community
corrections programs. The secretary may, in his or her discretion and in lieu of direct fiscal payment, offset the obligation
of any sending jurisdiction against any obligation the department may have to the sending jurisdiction. Outstanding obligations of the sending jurisdiction may be carried forward
across state fiscal periods by the department as a credit
against future obligations of the department to the sending
jurisdiction. [1989 c 177 § 6.]
72.76.900
72.76.900 Short title. This chapter shall be known and
may be cited as the Washington Intrastate Corrections Compact. [1989 c 177 § 1.]
Chapter 72.98
Chapter 72.98 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
with the exception of RCW 72.01.280 the effective date of
which section is July 1, 1959. [1959 c 28 § 72.98.060.]
Chapter 72.99 RCW
STATE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ACT
Chapter 72.99
Sections
72.99.100
72.99.120
Limited obligation bonds—Form, term, sale, payment, legal
investment, etc.
State building construction bond redemption fund—Purpose,
deposits—Priority as to sales tax revenue.
72.99.100 Limited obligation bonds—Form, term,
sale, payment, legal investment, etc.
72.99.100
Reviser’s note: RCW 72.99.100 was amended by 1983 c 3 § 187 without reference to its repeal by 1983 c 189 § 4. It has been decodified for publication purposes pursuant to RCW 1.12.025.
72.99.120 State building construction bond redemption fund—Purpose, deposits—Priority as to sales tax
revenue.
72.99.120
Reviser’s note: RCW 72.99.120 was amended by 1983 c 3 § 188 without reference to its repeal by 1983 c 189 § 4. It has been decodified for publication purposes pursuant to RCW 1.12.025.
Sections
72.98.010
72.98.020
72.98.030
72.98.040
72.98.050
72.98.060
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Repeals and saving.
Bonding acts exempted.
Emergency—1959 c 28.
72.98.010
72.98.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1959 c 28 §
72.98.010.]
72.98.020
72.98.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title do not constitute any part of
the law. [1959 c 28 § 72.98.020.]
72.98.030
72.98.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any provision of this title, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the title, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected. [1959 c 28 § 72.98.030.]
72.98.040
72.98.040 Repeals and saving.
72.98.040.
See 1959 c 28 §
72.98.050
72.98.050 Bonding acts exempted. This act shall not
repeal nor otherwise affect the provisions of the institutional
bonding acts (chapter 230, Laws of 1949 and chapters 298
and 299, Laws of 1957). [1959 c 28 § 72.98.050.]
72.98.060
72.98.060 Emergency—1959 c 28. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately,
[Title 72 RCW—page 96]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 73
Chapters
73.04
73.08
73.16
73.20
73.24
73.36
73.40
Title 73
VETERANS AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
73.04.130
General provisions.
Veterans’ relief.
Employment and reemployment.
Acknowledgments and powers of attorney.
Burial.
Uniform veterans’ guardianship act.
Veterans’ memorials.
Colony of the state soldiers’ home: RCW 72.36.040.
Estates of absentees: Chapter 11.80 RCW.
Firemen’s retirement, credit for military service: RCW 41.16.220,
41.18.150.
Liquor control board employment, veteran preference: RCW 66.08.016.
Mental illness, commitment: Chapter 71.05 RCW.
Militia and military affairs: Title 38 RCW.
Nuncupative wills: RCW 11.12.025.
Oaths, military personnel, who may administer: RCW 38.38.844.
Police retirement, credit for military service: RCW 41.20.050.
Professional, occupational licenses, moratorium: RCW 43.24.130.
Property taxation exemptions: RCW 84.36.030.
Public employment, veterans’ scoring criteria status in examinations: RCW
41.04.010.
Soldiers’ and veterans’ homes: Chapter 72.36 RCW.
State employees’ retirement
credit for military service: RCW 41.40.170.
exception from membership: RCW 41.40.023(6).
State hospitals for insane, war veterans: RCW 73.36.165.
Statewide city employees’ retirement, prior service credit: RCW
41.44.120(4).
Teachers’ retirement, credit for military service: RCW 41.32.260.
Veterans’ rehabilitation council: Chapter 43.61 RCW.
Wills
proof when witness in war service: RCW 11.20.040.
who may make: RCW 11.12.010.
Chapter 73.04
Chapter 73.04 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
73.04.010
73.04.020
73.04.030
73.04.040
73.04.042
73.04.050
73.04.060
73.04.070
73.04.080
73.04.090
73.04.110
73.04.115
73.04.120
(2006 Ed.)
Pension papers—Fees not to be charged.
Pension papers—Fees not to be charged—Penalty.
Discharges recorded without charge—Exemption from public
disclosure—Fee.
Discharges recorded without charge—Certified copy as proof.
Honorable discharge recorded—Veterans of Spanish-American War and World War I.
Right to peddle, vend, sell goods without license—License fee
on business established under act of congress prohibited.
Right to peddle, vend, sell goods without license—Issuance of
license.
Meeting hall may be furnished veterans’ organizations.
Meeting place rental may be paid out of county fund.
Benefits, preferences, exemptions, etc., limited to veterans
subject to full, continuous military control.
Free license plates for disabled veterans, prisoners of war—
Penalty.
Free license plates for surviving spouses of deceased prisoners
of war.
Certificate stating marital status available free.
73.04.131
73.04.135
73.04.140
73.04.150
73.04.160
Veteran estate management program—Director authority—
Criteria.
Veteran estate management program—Definitions.
Veteran estate management program—Claims against veteran’s estate—Account created.
Guardians—Department officers and employees prohibited.
Joint committee on veterans’ and military affairs.
Veterans’ history awareness month—Commemoration of contributions of veterans.
Department of veterans affairs: Chapter 43.60A RCW.
Veterans classified as resident students: RCW 28B.15.014.
73.04.010
73.04.010 Pension papers—Fees not to be charged.
No judge, or clerk of court, county clerk, county auditor, or
any other county officer, shall be allowed to charge any honorably discharged soldier or seaman, or the spouse, orphan,
or legal representative thereof, any fee for administering any
oath, or giving any official certificate for the procuring of any
pension, bounty, or back pay, nor for administering any oath
or oaths and giving the certificate required upon any voucher
for collection of periodical dues from the pension agent, nor
any fee for services rendered in perfecting any voucher.
[1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 106; 1891 c 14 § 1; RRS § 4232.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
73.04.020
73.04.020 Pension papers—Fees not to be charged—
Penalty. Any such officer who may require and accept fees
for such services shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less
than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars. [1891 c 14 § 2;
RRS § 4233.]
73.04.030
73.04.030 Discharges recorded without charge—
Exemption from public disclosure—Fee. Each county
auditor of the several counties of the state of Washington
shall record upon presentation without expense, in a suitable
permanent record the discharge of any veteran of the armed
forces of the United States who is residing in the state of
Washington.
The department of veterans affairs, in consultation with
the association of county auditors, shall develop and distribute to county auditors the form referred to in RCW 42.56.440
entitled "request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers."
The county auditor may charge a basic recording fee and
preservation fee that together shall not exceed a total of seven
dollars for the recording of the "request for exemption from
public disclosure of discharge papers."
County auditors shall develop a form for requestors of
military discharge papers (form DD214) to verify that the
requestor is authorized to receive or view the military discharge paper. [2005 c 274 § 349; 2002 c 224 § 3; 1989 c 50
§ 1; 1943 c 38 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10758-10. FORMER
PART OF SECTION: 1923 c 17 § 1 now codified as RCW
73.04.042.]
[Title 73 RCW—page 1]
73.04.040
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Working group on veterans’ records: See note following RCW
42.56.210.
73.04.040
73.04.040 Discharges recorded without charge—
Certified copy as proof. A certified copy of such record
shall be prima facie proof for all purposes of the services rendered, citizenship, place and date of birth of such veteran.
[1943 c 38 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10758-11.]
73.04.042
73.04.042 Honorable discharge recorded—Veterans
of Spanish-American War and World War I. It shall be
the duty of county auditors to record without charge, in a
book kept for that purpose, the certificate of discharge of any
honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine who served
with the United States forces in the war with Germany and
her allies and veterans of the Spanish-American War. [1923
c 17 § 1; 1919 c 86 § 1; RRS § 4094-1. Formerly RCW
73.04.030, part.]
73.04.050
73.04.050 Right to peddle, vend, sell goods without
license—License fee on business established under act of
congress prohibited. Every honorably discharged soldier,
sailor or marine of the military or naval service of the United
States, who is a resident of this state, shall have the right to
peddle, hawk, vend and sell goods, other than his own manufacture and production, without paying for the license as now
provided by law, by those who engage in such business; but
any such soldier, sailor or marine may engage in such business by procuring a license for that purpose as provided in
RCW 73.04.060.
No county, city or political subdivision in this state shall
charge or collect any license fee on any business established
by any veteran under the provisions of Public Law 346 of the
78th congress. [1945 c 144 § 9; 1903 c 69 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 10755. Formerly RCW 73.04.050, part and 73.04.060.
FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1945 c 144 § 10 now codified as RCW 73.04.060.]
Reviser’s note: 1945 c 144 §§ 9 and 10 amending 1903 c 69 §§ 1 and
2 were declared unconstitutional in Larsen v. City of Shelton, 37 Wn. (2d)
481.
Peddlers’ and hawkers’ licenses: Chapter 36.71 RCW.
73.04.060
73.04.060 Right to peddle, vend, sell goods without
license—Issuance of license. On presentation to the county
auditor or city clerk of the county in which any such soldier,
sailor or marine may reside, of a certificate of honorable discharge from the army or naval service of the United States,
such county auditor or city clerk, as the case may be, shall
issue without cost to such soldier, sailor or marine, a license
authorizing him to carry on the business of peddler, as provided in RCW 73.04.050. [1945 c 144 § 10; 1903 c 69 § 2;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10756. Formerly RCW 73.04.050, part.
FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1945 c 144 § 9, part now
codified in RCW 73.04.050.]
Reviser’s note: 1945 c 144 § 10 amending 1903 c 69 § 2 declared
unconstitutional, see note following RCW 73.04.050.
73.04.070
73.04.070 Meeting hall may be furnished veterans’
organizations. Counties, cities and other political subdivi[Title 73 RCW—page 2]
sions of the state of Washington are authorized to furnish free
of charge a building, office and/or meeting hall for the exclusive use of the several nationally recognized veterans’ organizations and their auxiliaries, subject to the direction of the
committee or person in charge of such building, office and/or
meeting hall. The several nationally recognized veterans’
organizations shall have access at all times to said building,
office and/or meeting hall. Counties, cities and other political
subdivisions shall further have the right to furnish heat, light,
utilities, furniture and janitor service at no cost to the veterans’ organizations and their auxiliaries. [1945 c 108 § 1;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10758-60.]
73.04.080
73.04.080 Meeting place rental may be paid out of
county fund. Any post, camp or chapter of any national
organization of veterans now, or which may hereafter be,
chartered by an act of congress which has qualified to accept
relief from the veteran’s assistance fund of any county may
draw upon said county fund for the payment of the rent of its
regular meeting place: PROVIDED, That no post, camp or
chapter shall be allowed to draw on such fund for this purpose to exceed a reasonable amount approved by the county
legislative authority in any one year, or in any amount for hall
rental where said post, camp or chapter is furnished quarters
by the state or by any municipality.
Before such claims are ordered paid by the county legislative authority, the commander or authorized disbursing
officer of such posts, camps or chapters shall file a proper
claim each month with the county auditor for such rental.
[1985 c 181 § 1; 1947 c 180 § 7; 1945 c 144 § 8; 1921 c 41 §
8; 1915 c 69 § 1; 1909 c 64 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10743.]
73.04.090
73.04.090 Benefits, preferences, exemptions, etc.,
limited to veterans subject to full, continuous military
control. All benefits, advantages or emoluments, not available upon equal terms to all citizens, including but not being
limited to preferred rights to public employment, civil service
preference, exemption from license fees or other impositions,
preference in purchasing state property, which by any law of
this state have been made specially available to war veterans
or to persons who have served in the armed forces or defense
forces of the United States, shall be available only to persons
who have been subject to full and continuous military control
and discipline as actual members of the federal armed forces
or to persons defined as "veterans" in RCW 41.04.007. Service with such forces in a civilian capacity, or in any capacity
wherein a person retained the right to terminate his or her service or to refuse full obedience to military superiors, shall not
be the basis for eligibility for such benefits. Service in any of
the following shall not for purposes of this section be considered as military service: The office of emergency services or
any component thereof; the American Red Cross; the United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary; United States Coast Guard
Reserve Temporary; United States Coast and Geodetic Survey; American Field Service; Civil Air Patrol; Cadet Nurse
Corps, and any other similar organization. [2002 c 292 § 6;
1991 c 240 § 3; 1974 ex.s. c 171 § 45; 1947 c 142 § 1; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 10758-115.]
Emergency management: Chapter 38.52 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions
73.04.110
73.04.110 Free license plates for disabled veterans,
prisoners of war—Penalty. (1) Any person who is a veteran
as defined in RCW 41.04.007 who submits to the department
of licensing satisfactory proof of a service-connected disability rating from the veterans administration or the military service from which the veteran was discharged and:
(a) Has lost the use of both hands or one foot;
(b) Was captured and incarcerated for more than twentynine days by an enemy of the United States during a period of
war with the United States;
(c) Has become blind in both eyes as the result of military service; or
(d) Is rated by the veterans administration or the military
service from which the veteran was discharged and is receiving service-connected compensation at the one hundred percent rate that is expected to exist for more than one year;
is entitled to regular or special license plates issued by the
department of licensing. The special license plates shall bear
distinguishing marks, letters, or numerals indicating that the
motor vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran or former prisoner of war. This license shall be issued annually for one personal use vehicle without payment of any license fees or
excise tax thereon. Whenever any person who has been
issued license plates under the provisions of this section
applies to the department for transfer of the plates to a subsequently acquired motor vehicle, a transfer fee of ten dollars
shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. The
department may periodically verify the one hundred percent
rate as provided in subsection (1)(d) of this section.
(2) Any person who has been issued free motor vehicle
license plates under this section prior to July 1, 1983, shall
continue to be eligible for the annual free license plates.
(3) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Blind" means
the definition of "blind" used by the state of Washington in
determining eligibility for financial assistance to the blind
under Title 74 RCW; and (b) "special license plates" does not
include any plate from the armed forces license plate collection established in RCW 46.16.30920.
Any unauthorized use of a special plate is a gross misdemeanor. [2005 c 216 § 6. Prior: 2004 c 223 § 6; 2004 c 125
§ 1; 1987 c 98 § 2; 1983 c 230 § 2; 1982 c 115 § 1; 1980 c 88
§ 2; 1979 c 158 § 221; 1972 ex.s. c 60 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 193 §
1; 1951 c 206 § 1; 1949 c 178 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 636050-1.]
Effective date—1983 c 230: See note following RCW 41.04.005.
Persons with disabilities, versions of special plates for: RCW 46.16.385.
73.04.115
73.04.115 Free license plates for surviving spouses of
deceased prisoners of war. (1) The department shall issue
to the surviving spouse of any deceased former prisoner of
war described in *RCW 73.04.110(2), one set of regular or
special license plates for use on a personal passenger vehicle
registered to that person.
(2) The plates shall be issued without the payment of any
license fees or excise tax on the vehicle. Whenever any person who has been issued license plates under this section
applies to the department for transfer of the plates to a subsequently acquired motor vehicle, a transfer fee of five dollars
shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. If
the surviving spouse remarries, he or she shall return the spe(2006 Ed.)
73.04.130
cial plates to the department within fifteen days and apply for
regular license plates.
(3) For purposes of this section, the term "special license
plates" does not include any plate from the armed forces
license plate collection established in RCW 46.16.30920.
[2005 c 216 § 5; 1990 c 250 § 91; 1987 c 98 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 73.04.110 was amended by 2005 c 216 § 6,
changing subsection (2) to subsection (1)(b).
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
Persons with disabilities, versions of special plates for: RCW 46.16.385.
73.04.120
73.04.120 Certificate stating marital status available
free. County clerks and county auditors, respectively, are
authorized and directed to furnish free of charge to the legal
representative, surviving spouse, child or parent of any
deceased veteran certified copies of marriage certificates,
decrees of divorce or annulment, or other documents contained in their files and to record and issue, free of charge,
certified copies of such documents from other states, territories, or foreign countries affecting the marital status of such
veteran whenever any such document shall be required in
connection with any claim pending before the United States
veterans’ bureau or other governmental agency administering
benefits to war veterans. Where these same documents are
required of service personnel of the armed forces of the
United States for determining entitlement to family allowances and other benefits, they shall be provided without
charge by county clerks and county auditors upon request of
the person in the service or his dependents. [1985 c 44 § 19;
1984 c 84 § 1; 1967 c 89 § 1; 1949 c 16 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949
§ 10758-13b.]
73.04.130
73.04.130 Veteran estate management program—
Director authority—Criteria. The director is authorized to
implement a veteran estate management program and manage the estate of any incapacitated veteran or incapacitated
veteran’s dependent who:
(1) Is a bona fide resident of the state of Washington; and
(2) The United States department of veterans affairs or
the social security administration has determined that the
payment of benefits or entitlements is dependent upon the
appointment of a federal fiduciary or representative payee;
and
(3) Requires the services of a fiduciary and a responsible
family member is not available; or
(4) Is deceased and has not designated an executor to dispose of the estate.
The director or any other interested person may petition
the appropriate authority for the appointment as fiduciary for
an incapacitated veteran or as the executor of the deceased
veteran’s estate. If appointed, the director may serve without
bond. This section shall not affect the prior right to act as
administrator of a veteran’s estate of such persons as are
denominated in RCW 11.28.120 (1) and (2), nor shall this
section affect the appointment of executor made in the last
will of any veteran. [1994 c 147 § 2; 1979 c 64 § 1; 1977 c
31 § 3; 1974 ex.s. c 63 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 4 § 1.]
[Title 73 RCW—page 3]
73.04.131
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
73.04.131
73.04.131 Veteran estate management program—
Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
the definitions in this section apply throughout this title.
(1) "Director" means the director of the department of
veterans affairs or the director’s designee.
(2) "Veteran estate management program" means the
program under which the director serves as administrator or
federal fiduciary of an incapacitated veteran’s estate or incapacitated veteran’s dependent’s estate, or the executor of a
deceased veteran’s estate. [1994 c 147 § 1.]
73.04.135 Veteran estate management program—
Claims against veteran’s estate—Account created. (1)
The director may place a claim against the estate of an incapacitated or deceased veteran who is a veteran estate management program client. The claim shall not exceed the amount
allowed by rule of the United States department of veterans
affairs and charges for reasonable expenses incurred in the
execution or administration of the estate. The director shall
waive all or any portion of the claim if the payment or a portion thereof would pose a hardship to the veteran.
(2) The veteran estate management account is hereby
created in the custody of the state treasurer. Fees, reimbursements, and grants collected from estates of incapacitated veterans or incapacitated veterans’ dependents shall be deposited into the account. Funds in the account shall be expended
solely for the purpose of providing financial operating and
maintenance support to the veteran estate management program and shall be the sole source of funding for the program.
Only the director or the director’s designee may authorize
expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the
allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an
appropriation is not required for expenditures. [2006 c 372 §
905; 1994 c 147 § 3.]
73.04.135
Severability—2006 c 372: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2006 c 372 § 908.]
Effective date—2006 c 372: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 31, 2006]." [2006 c 372 § 909.]
73.04.140
73.04.140 Guardians—Department officers and
employees prohibited. The director or any other department
of veterans affairs employee shall not serve as guardian for
any resident at the Washington state veterans’ homes. [1994
c 147 § 5.]
73.04.150 Joint committee on veterans’ and military
affairs. (1) There is hereby created a joint committee on veterans’ and military affairs. The committee shall consist of:
(a) Eight members of the senate appointed by the president of
the senate, four of whom shall be members of the majority
party and four of whom shall be members of the minority
party; and (b) eight members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker, four of whom shall be members of
the majority party and four of whom shall be members of the
minority party. Members of the committee shall be
73.04.150
[Title 73 RCW—page 4]
appointed before the close of the 2005 legislative session, and
before the close of each regular session during an odd-numbered year thereafter.
(2) Each member’s term of office shall run from the
close of the session in which he or she was appointed until the
close of the next regular session held in an odd-numbered
year. If a successor is not appointed during a session, the
member’s term shall continue until the member is reappointed or a successor is appointed. The term of office for a
committee member who does not continue as a member of
the senate or house of representatives shall cease upon the
convening of the next session of the legislature during an
odd-numbered year after the member’s appointment, or upon
the member’s resignation, whichever is earlier. Vacancies on
the committee shall be filled by appointment in the same
manner as described in subsection (1) of this section. All
such vacancies shall be filled from the same political party
and from the same house as the member whose seat was
vacated.
(3) The committee shall establish an executive committee of four members, two of whom are members of the senate
and two of whom are members of the house of representatives. The executive committee shall appoint one cochair
from the two executive committee members who are senators
and one cochair from the two executive committee members
who are representatives. The two cochairs shall be from different political parties and their terms of office shall run from
the close of the session in which they are appointed until the
close of the next regular session in an odd-numbered year.
The executive committee is responsible for performing all
general administrative and personnel duties assigned to it in
the rules and procedures adopted by the joint committee, as
well as other duties delegated to it by the joint committee.
(4) The joint committee on veterans’ and military affairs
has the following powers and duties:
(a) To study veterans’ issues, active military forces
issues, and national guard and reserve component issues, and
make recommendations to the legislature; and
(b) To study structure and administration of the department of veterans affairs and the military department, and
make recommendations to the legislature.
(5) The joint committee shall adopt rules and procedures
for its orderly operation. The joint committee may create
subcommittees to perform duties under this section. [2005 c
141 § 1; 2001 c 268 § 1.]
73.04.160
73.04.160 Veterans’ history awareness month—
Commemoration of contributions of veterans. The legislature declares that:
(1) November of each year will be known as veterans’
history awareness month;
(2) The week in November in which veterans’ day
occurs is designated as a time for people of this state to celebrate the contributions to the state by veterans; and
(3) Educational institutions, public entities, and private
organizations are encouraged to designate time for appropriate activities in commemoration of the contributions of
America’s veterans. [2003 c 161 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
Veterans’ Relief
Chapter 73.08
Chapter 73.08 RCW
VETERANS’ RELIEF
Sections
73.08.005
73.08.010
73.08.035
73.08.060
73.08.070
73.08.080
73.08.090
Definitions.
County veterans’ assistance programs for indigent veterans
and families—Requirements.
Veterans’ advisory boards.
Restrictions on sending veterans or families to almshouses,
etc.
County burial of indigent deceased veterans.
Tax levy authorized.
Public assistance eligibility.
Soldiers’ and veterans’ homes: Chapter 72.36 RCW.
Soldiers’ home: State Constitution Art. 10 § 3.
73.08.005
73.08.005 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Direct costs" includes those allowable costs that can
be readily assigned to the statutory objectives of this chapter,
consistent with the cost principles promulgated by the federal
office of management and budget in circular No. A-87, dated
May 10, 2004.
(2) "Family" means the spouse, widow, widower, and
dependent children of a living or deceased veteran.
(3) "Indigent" means a person who is defined as such by
the county legislative authority using one or more of the following definitions:
(a) Receiving one of the following types of public assistance: Temporary assistance for needy families, general
assistance, poverty-related veterans’ benefits, food stamps or
food stamp benefits transferred electronically, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, or supplemental security income;
(b) Receiving an annual income, after taxes, of up to one
hundred fifty percent or less of the current federally established poverty level, or receiving an annual income not
exceeding a higher qualifying income established by the
county legislative authority; or
(c) Unable to pay reasonable costs for shelter, food, utilities, and transportation because his or her available funds are
insufficient.
(4) "Indirect costs" includes those allowable costs that
are generally associated with carrying out the statutory objectives of this chapter, but the identification and tracking of
those costs cannot be readily assigned to a specific statutory
objective without an accounting effort that is disproportionate to the benefit received. A county legislative authority
may allocate allowable indirect costs to its veterans’ assistance fund if it is accomplished in a manner consistent with
the cost principles promulgated by the federal office of management and budget in circular No. A-87, dated May 10,
2004.
(5) "Veteran" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
41.04.005 and 41.04.007.
(6) "Veterans’ advisory board" means a board established by a county legislative authority under the authority of
RCW 73.08.035.
(7) "Veterans’ assistance fund" means an account in the
custody of the county auditor, or the chief financial officer in
a county operating under a charter, that is funded by taxes
levied under the authority of RCW 73.08.080.
(2006 Ed.)
73.08.010
(8) "Veterans’ assistance program" means a program
approved by the county legislative authority under the
authority of RCW 73.08.010 that is fully or partially funded
by the veterans’ assistance fund authorized by RCW
73.08.080. [2005 c 250 § 2.]
Intent—2005 c 250: "(1) It is the intent of the legislature that each
county establish a veterans’ assistance program to benefit indigent veterans
and their families. These programs must be funded, at least in part, by veterans’ assistance funds. The legislature intends also for each county to establish a veterans’ advisory board responsible for advising the county legislative authority on needed and appropriate assistance programs for local indigent veterans and their families. Recognizing the valuable insight and
perspectives that veterans offer, it is the intent of the legislature that each
board be comprised entirely of veterans.
(2) The legislature recognizes that ongoing veterans’ relief or assistance programs in some areas of the state have provided meaningful assistance to indigent veterans and family members. The legislature further recognizes that veterans’ service organizations have traditionally been the initial point of contact for indigent veterans and family members seeking
assistance. In recognition of these factors, the legislature intends to authorize, upon the satisfaction of certain administrative requirements, existing
veterans’ relief or assistance programs to continue providing needed and
effective assistance to indigent veterans and their families.
(3) The legislature recognizes that counties respond to the needs of
indigent veterans and family members in the manner most appropriate to the
needs and resources of the county. The legislature intends for the provisions
of this act to facilitate the effective use of assistance funds through efficient
model programs that benefit veterans and family members experiencing
financial hardships.
(4) It is the policy of the state of Washington that bias shall not play a
role in the distribution of the veterans’ assistance fund." [2005 c 250 § 1.]
73.08.010
73.08.010 County veterans’ assistance programs for
indigent veterans and families—Requirements. (1) For
the relief of indigent veterans, their families, and the families
of deceased indigent veterans, the legislative authority of
each county shall establish a veterans’ assistance program to
address the needs of local indigent veterans and their families. The county legislative authority shall consult with and
solicit recommendations from the veterans’ advisory board
established under RCW 73.08.035 to determine the appropriate services needed for local indigent veterans. Veterans’
assistance programs shall be funded, at least in part, by the
veterans’ assistance fund created under the authority of RCW
73.08.080.
(2) The county legislative authority may authorize other
entities to administer a veterans’ assistance program or programs through grants, contracts, or interlocal agreements. If
the county legislative authority authorizes another entity to
administer a veterans’ assistance program or programs, the
terms of the grant, contract, or interlocal agreement must, for
each program, specify:
(a) The details of the program;
(b) The responsibilities of all parties;
(c) The duration of the program;
(d) The costs and sources of funding;
(e) Any insurance or bond requirements;
(f) The format and frequency of progress and final
reports; and
(g) Any other information deemed necessary or appropriate by either party.
(3) If the county legislative authority authorizes another
entity to administer a veterans’ assistance program or programs, the authorized entity should, to the extent feasible and
consistent with this chapter, ensure that a local branch of a
[Title 73 RCW—page 5]
73.08.035
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
nationally recognized veterans’ service organization is the
initial point of contact for a veteran or family member seeking assistance.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit or be construed
as prohibiting a county from authorizing the continued operation of a veterans’ relief or assistance program or programs
existing on January 1, 2005, if the authorizing legislative
authority:
(a) Solicits advice from the veterans’ advisory board
established in RCW 73.08.035; and
(b) Satisfies the grant, contractual, or interlocal agreement requirements of subsection (2) of this section. [2005 c
250 § 3; 2002 c 292 § 7; 1983 c 295 § 1; 1947 c 180 § 1; 1945
c 144 § 1; 1921 c 41 § 1; 1919 c 83 § 1; 1907 c 64 § 1; 1893
c 37 § 1; 1888 p 208 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10737. Cf. 1935
c 38 § 1.]
Intent—2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.
Soldiers’ home and colony: Chapter 72.36 RCW.
Veterans’ rehabilitation council: Chapter 43.61 RCW.
73.08.035
73.08.035 Veterans’ advisory boards. (1) The legislative authority for each county must establish a veterans’ advisory board. Upon its establishment, the board shall advise the
county legislative authority on the needs of local indigent
veterans, the resources available to local indigent veterans,
and programs that could benefit the needs of local indigent
veterans and their families.
(2) The county legislative authority must solicit representatives from either local branches of nationally recognized
veterans’ service organizations or the veterans’ community at
large, or both, to serve on the board. No fewer than a majority of the board members shall be members from nationally
recognized veterans’ service organizations and only veterans
are eligible to serve as board members.
(3) Service on the board is voluntary. The county legislative authority may provide for reimbursement to board
members for expenses incurred. [2005 c 250 § 4.]
Intent—2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.
73.08.060
73.08.060 Restrictions on sending veterans or families to almshouses, etc. County legislative authorities are
hereby prohibited from sending indigent or disabled veterans
as defined in RCW 41.04.007 or their families or the families
of the deceased to any almshouse (or orphan asylum) without
the concurrence and consent of the commander and relief
committee of the post, camp or chapter of any national organization of veterans now, or which may hereafter be, chartered by an act of congress as provided in RCW 73.08.010
and *73.08.030. Indigent veterans shall, whenever practicable, be provided for and relieved at their homes in such city,
town or precinct in which they shall have a residence, in the
manner provided in RCW 73.08.010 and *73.08.030. Indigent or disabled veterans as defined in RCW 41.04.007, who
are not insane and have no families or friends with whom
they may be domiciled, may be sent to any soldiers’ home.
[2002 c 292 § 8; 1983 c 295 § 4; 1947 c 180 § 5; 1945 c 144
§ 5; 1919 c 83 § 5; 1907 c 64 § 5; 1888 p 209 § 5; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 10741.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 73.08.030 was repealed by 2005 c 250 § 8.
[Title 73 RCW—page 6]
73.08.070 County burial of indigent deceased veterans. (1) The legislative authority for each county must designate a proper authority to be responsible, at the expense of
the county, for the burial or cremation of any deceased indigent veteran or deceased family member of an indigent veteran who died without leaving means sufficient to defray
funeral expenses. The costs of such a burial or cremation
may not exceed the limit established by the county legislative
authority nor be less than three hundred dollars.
(2) If the deceased has relatives or friends who desire to
conduct the burial or cremation of such deceased person, then
a sum not to exceed the limit established by the county legislative authority nor less than three hundred dollars shall be
paid to the relatives or friends by the county auditor, or by the
chief financial officer in a county operating under a charter.
Payment shall be made to the relatives or friends upon presenting to the auditor or chief financial officer due proof of
the death, burial or cremation, and expenses incurred.
(3) Expenses incurred for the burial or cremation of a
deceased indigent veteran or the deceased family member of
an indigent veteran as provided by this section shall be paid
from the veterans’ assistance fund authorized by RCW
73.08.080. [2005 c 250 § 5; 2002 c 292 § 9; 1997 c 286 § 1;
1983 c 295 § 5; 1949 c 15 § 1; 1947 c 180 § 6; 1945 c 144 §
6; 1921 c 41 § 6; 1919 c 83 § 6; 1917 c 42 § 1; 1907 c 64 § 6;
1899 c 99 § 1; 1888 p 209 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10757.
Formerly RCW 73.24.010.]
73.08.070
Intent—2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.
Counties, disposal of remains of indigent persons: RCW 36.39.030.
73.08.080 Tax levy authorized. (1) The legislative
authority in each county shall levy, in addition to the taxes
now levied by law, a tax in a sum equal to the amount which
would be raised by not less than one and one-eighth cents per
thousand dollars of assessed value, and not greater than
twenty-seven cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
against the taxable property of their respective counties, to be
levied and collected as now prescribed by law for the assessment and collection of taxes, for the purpose of creating a veterans’ assistance fund. Expenditures from the veterans’
assistance fund, and interest earned on balances from the
fund, may be used only for:
(a) The veterans’ assistance programs authorized by
RCW 73.08.010;
(b) The burial or cremation of a deceased indigent veteran or deceased family member of an indigent veteran as
authorized by RCW 73.08.070; and
(c) The direct and indirect costs incurred in the administration of the fund as authorized by subsection (2) of this section.
(2) If the funds on deposit in the veterans’ assistance
fund, less outstanding warrants, on the first Tuesday in September exceed the expected yield of one and one-eighth cents
per thousand dollars of assessed value against the taxable
property of the county, the county legislative authority may
levy a lesser amount. The direct and indirect costs incurred
in the administration of the veterans’ assistance fund shall be
computed by the county auditor, or the chief financial officer
in a county operating under a charter, not less than annually.
Following the computation of these direct and indirect costs,
an amount equal to these costs may then be transferred from
73.08.080
(2006 Ed.)
Employment and Reemployment
73.16.031
the veterans’ assistance fund to the county current expense
fund.
(3) The amount of a levy allocated to the purposes specified in this section may be reduced in the same proportion as
the regular property tax levy of the county is reduced by
chapter 84.55 RCW. [2005 c 250 § 6; 1985 c 181 § 2; 1983 c
295 § 6; 1980 c 155 § 6; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 195 § 86; 1970 ex.s. c 47 § 9; 1969 c 57 § 1; 1945 c 144 §
7; 1921 c 41 § 7; 1919 c 83 § 7; 1907 c 64 § 7; 1893 c 37 § 2;
1888 p 210 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10742. Formerly RCW
73.08.020.]
(b) Minimize the disruption to the lives of persons performing service in the uniformed services as well as to their
employers, their fellow employees, and their communities,
by providing for the prompt reemployment of such persons
upon their completion of such service; and
(c) Prohibit discrimination against persons because of
their service in the uniformed services.
(3) Therefore, the legislature intends that the governmental agencies of the state of Washington, and all the political subdivisions thereof, should be model employers in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. [2001 c 133 § 1.]
Intent—2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.
Effective date—Applicability—1980 c 155: See note following RCW
84.40.030.
Emergency—Effective dates—1973 2nd ex.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Effective date—2001 c 133: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 2, 2001]." [2001 c 133 § 15.]
73.08.090 Public assistance eligibility. The department of social and health services shall exempt payments
provided under RCW 73.08.005, 73.08.035, 73.08.010,
73.08.070, and 73.08.080 when determining eligibility for
public assistance. [2005 c 250 § 7.]
73.08.090
Intent—2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.
Chapter 73.16 RCW
EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT
Chapter 73.16
Sections
73.16.005
73.16.010
73.16.015
73.16.020
73.16.031
73.16.032
73.16.033
73.16.035
73.16.041
73.16.051
73.16.053
73.16.055
73.16.061
73.16.070
73.16.080
73.16.090
73.16.100
Intent—Purpose.
Preference in public employment.
Enforcement of preference—Civil action.
Failure to comply—Infraction.
Definitions.
Employment rights—Prohibited actions.
Reemployment of returned veterans.
Eligibility requirements—Exceptions—Burden of proof.
Leaves of absence of elective and judicial officers.
Restoration without loss of seniority or benefits.
Continuation of health plan coverage during absence—Reinstatement of health plan coverage upon reemployment.
Determination of pension benefits and liabilities for reemployed persons.
Enforcement of provisions.
Federal act to apply in state courts.
Bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees—Offset of military pay.
Application of chapter—Other rights and benefits preserved.
Legislative declaration—Other civil actions abolished.
73.16.005 Intent—Purpose. (1) It is the intent of the
legislature to guarantee employment rights of members of the
reserve and national guard forces who are called to active
duty. The federal uniformed services employment and reemployment rights act of 1994 protects all such federal personnel. The legislature intends that similar provisions should
apply to all such state personnel. Therefore, the legislature
intends for chapter 133, Laws of 2001 to ensure protections
for state-activated personnel similar to those provided by federal law for federal-activated personnel.
(2) The purposes of this chapter are to:
(a) Encourage noncareer service in the uniformed services by eliminating or minimizing the disadvantages to
civilian careers and employment that can result from such
service;
73.16.005
(2006 Ed.)
73.16.010 Preference in public employment. In every
public department, and upon all public works of the state, and
of any county thereof, honorably discharged soldiers, sailors,
and marines who are veterans of any war of the United States,
or of any military campaign for which a campaign ribbon
shall have been awarded, and their widows or widowers,
shall be preferred for appointment and employment. Age,
loss of limb, or other physical impairment, which does not in
fact incapacitate, shall not be deemed to disqualify them, provided they possess the capacity necessary to discharge the
duties of the position involved: PROVIDED, That spouses of
honorably discharged veterans who have a service connected
permanent and total disability shall also be preferred for
appointment and employment. [1975 1st ex.s. c 198 § 1;
1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 107; 1951 c 29 § 1; 1943 c 141 § 1;
1919 c 26 § 1; 1915 c 129 § 1; 1895 c 84 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1943 § 10753.]
73.16.010
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
Veterans to receive scoring criteria status in competitive examinations for
public employment: RCW 41.04.010.
73.16.015
73.16.015 Enforcement of preference—Civil action.
Any veteran entitled to the benefits of RCW 73.16.010 may
enforce his or her rights hereunder by civil action in superior
court. [2001 c 133 § 2; 1951 c 29 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.020 Failure to comply—Infraction. All officials or other persons having power to appoint to or employment in the public service set forth in RCW 73.16.010, are
charged with a faithful compliance with its terms, both in letter and in spirit, and a failure therein shall be a class 1 civil
infraction. [1987 c 456 § 30; 1895 c 84 § 2; RRS § 10754.]
73.16.020
Legislative finding—1987 c 456: See RCW 7.80.005.
Effective date—1987 c 456 §§ 9 through 31: See RCW 7.80.901.
73.16.031 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Attorney general" means the attorney general of the
state of Washington or any person designated by the attorney
general to carry out a responsibility of the attorney general
under this chapter.
(2) "Benefit," "benefit of employment," or "rights and
benefits" means any advantage, profit, privilege, gain, status,
73.16.031
[Title 73 RCW—page 7]
73.16.032
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
account, or interest (other than wages or salary for work performed) that accrues by reason of an employment contract or
agreement or an employer policy, plan, or practice and
includes rights and benefits under a pension plan, a health
plan, an employee stock ownership plan, insurance coverage
and awards, bonuses, severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacations, and the opportunity to select
work hours or location of employment.
(3) "Employee" means a person in a position of employment.
(4) "Employer" means the person, firm, or corporation,
the state, or any elected or appointed public official currently
having control over the position that has been vacated.
(5) "Health plan" means an insurance policy or contract,
medical or hospital service agreement, membership or subscription contract, or other arrangement under which health
services for individuals are provided or the expenses of such
services are paid.
(6) "Notice" means any written or verbal notification of
an obligation or intention to perform service in the uniformed
services provided to an employer by the employee who will
perform such service or by the uniformed service in which
such service is to be performed.
(7) "Position of employment" means any position (other
than temporary) wherein a person is engaged for a private
employer, company, corporation, or the state.
(8) "Qualified," with respect to an employment position,
means having the ability to perform the essential tasks of the
position.
(9) "Rejectee" means a person rejected because he or she
is not, physically or otherwise, qualified to enter the uniformed service.
(10) "Resident" means any person residing in the state
with the intent to remain other than on a temporary or transient basis.
(11) "Seniority" means longevity in employment
together with any benefits of employment which accrue with,
or are determined by, longevity in employment.
(12) "Service in the uniformed services" means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes active
duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training,
inactive duty training, full-time national guard duty (including state-ordered active duty), and a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose
of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to
perform any such duty.
(13) "State" means the state of Washington, including
the agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(14) "Temporary position" means a position of short
duration which, after being vacated, ceases to exist and
wherein the employee has been advised as to its temporary
nature prior to his or her engagement.
(15) "Undue hardship," in the case of actions taken by an
employer, means actions requiring significant difficulty or
expense when considered in light of:
(a) The nature and cost of the action needed under this
chapter;
(b) The overall financial resources of the facility or facilities involved in the provision of the action; the number of
persons employed at such facility; the effect on expenses and
[Title 73 RCW—page 8]
resources; or the impact otherwise of such action upon the
operation of the facility; and
(c) The type of operation or operations of the employer,
including the composition, structure, and functions of the
work force of such employer, the geographic separateness,
administrative, or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the employer.
(16) "Uniformed services" means the armed forces, the
army national guard, and the air national guard of any state,
territory, commonwealth, possession, or district when
engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training,
full-time national guard duty, or state active duty, the commissioned corps of the public health service, the coast guard,
and any other category of persons designated by the president
of the United States in time of war or national emergency.
[2001 c 133 § 3; 1953 c 212 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
Employment and reemployment rights of members of organized militia upon
return from militia duty: RCW 38.24.060.
73.16.032 Employment rights—Prohibited actions.
(1) A person who is a member of, applies to be a member of,
performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform service in a uniformed service shall not be
denied initial employment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the
basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation.
(2) An employer may not discriminate in employment
against or take any adverse employment action against any
person because such person (a) has taken an action to enforce
a protection afforded any person under this chapter, (b) has
testified or otherwise made a statement in or in connection
with any proceeding under this chapter, (c) has assisted or
otherwise participated in an investigation under this chapter,
or (d) has exercised a right provided for in this chapter. The
prohibition in this subsection (2) applies with respect to a person regardless of whether that person has performed service
in the uniformed services.
(3) An employer shall be considered to have engaged in
actions prohibited:
(a) Under subsection (1) of this section, if the person’s
membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed
services is a motivating factor in the employer’s action,
unless the employer can prove that the action would have
been taken in the absence of such membership, application
for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service; or
(b) Under subsection (2) of this section if the person’s (i)
action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this
chapter, (ii) testimony or making of a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter, (iii) assistance or other participation in an investigation under this
chapter, or (iv) exercise of a right provided for in this chapter,
is a motivating factor in the employer’s action, unless the
employer can prove that the action would have been taken in
the absence of such person’s enforcement action, testimony,
statement, assistance, participation, or exercise of a right.
[2001 c 133 § 4.]
73.16.032
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
(2006 Ed.)
Employment and Reemployment
73.16.033
73.16.033 Reemployment of returned veterans. Any
person who is a resident of this state or is employed within
this state, and who voluntarily or upon order from competent
authority, vacates a position of employment for service in the
uniformed services, shall, provided he or she meets the
requirements of RCW 73.16.035, be reemployed forthwith:
PROVIDED, That the employer need not reemploy such person if circumstances have so changed such that reemployment would be impossible or unreasonable due to a change in
the employer’s circumstances, or would impose an undue
hardship on the employer: PROVIDED FURTHER, That
this section shall not apply to a temporary position.
If such person is still qualified to perform the duties of
his or her former position, he or she shall be restored to that
position or to a position of like seniority, status and pay. If he
or she is not so qualified as a result of disability sustained
during his or her service in the uniformed services, but is nevertheless qualified to perform the duties of another position,
under the control of the same employer, he or she shall be
reemployed in such other position: PROVIDED, That such
position shall provide him or her with like seniority, status,
and pay, or the nearest approximation thereto consistent with
the circumstances of the case. [2001 c 133 § 5; 1953 c 212 §
2.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.035
73.16.035 Eligibility requirements—Exceptions—
Burden of proof. (1) In order to be eligible for the benefits
of this chapter, an applicant must comply with the following
requirements:
(a) The applicant must notify his or her employer as to
his or her membership in the uniformed services within a reasonable time of accepting employment or becoming a member of the uniformed services. An employer may not take any
action prohibited in RCW 73.16.032 against a person because
the person provided notice of membership in the uniformed
services to the employer.
(b) The applicant must furnish a receipt of an honorable,
or under honorable conditions discharge, report of separation,
certificate of satisfactory service, or other proof of having
satisfactorily completed his or her service. Rejectees must
furnish proof of orders for examination and rejection.
(c) The applicant must make written application to the
employer or his or her representative as follows:
(i) In the case of an applicant whose period of service in
the uniformed services was less than thirty-one days, by
reporting to the employer:
(A) Not later than the beginning of the first full regularly
scheduled work period on the first full calendar day following the completion of the period of service and the expiration
of eight hours after a period allowing for the safe transportation of the applicant from the place of that service to the
applicant’s residence; or
(B) As soon as possible after the expiration of the
eight-hour period in (c)(i)(A) of this subsection, if reporting
within that period is impossible or unreasonable through no
fault of the applicant;
(ii) In the case of an applicant who is absent from a position of employment for a period of any length for the purposes of an examination to determine the applicant’s fitness
(2006 Ed.)
73.16.035
to perform service in the uniformed services, by reporting in
the manner and time referred to in (c)(i) of this subsection;
(iii) In the case of an applicant whose period of service in
the uniformed services was for more than thirty days but less
than one hundred eighty-one days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the employer not later than fourteen days after the completion of the period of service or if
submitting such application within such period is impossible
or unreasonable through no fault of the applicant, the next
first full calendar day when submission of such application
becomes possible;
(iv) In the case of an applicant whose period of service in
the uniformed services was for more than one hundred eighty
days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the
employer not later than ninety days after the completion of
the period of service;
(v) In the case of an applicant who is hospitalized for, or
convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred or aggravated
during the performance of service in the uniformed services,
at the end of the period that is necessary for the applicant to
recover from such illness or injury, the applicant shall submit
an application for reemployment with such employer. The
period of recovery may not exceed two years. This two-year
period shall be extended by the minimum time required to
accommodate the circumstances beyond the applicant’s control that make reporting within the two-year period impossible or unreasonable;
(vi) In the case of an applicant who fails to report or
apply for employment or reemployment within the appropriate period specified in this subsection (1)(c), the applicant
does not automatically forfeit his or her entitlement to the
rights and benefits conferred by this chapter, but is subject to
the conduct rules, established policy, and general practices of
the employer pertaining to explanations and discipline with
respect to absence from scheduled work.
(d) An applicant who submits an application for reemployment shall provide to the applicant’s employer, upon the
request of that employer, documentation to establish that:
(i) The application is timely;
(ii) The applicant has not exceeded the service limitations set forth in this section, except as permitted under (c)(v)
of this subsection; and
(iii) The applicant’s entitlement to the benefits under this
chapter has not been terminated pursuant to (e) of this subsection.
(e) The applicant must return and reenter the office or
position within the appropriate period specified in (c) of this
subsection after serving four years or less in the uniformed
services other than state-ordered active duty: PROVIDED,
That any period of additional service imposed by law, from
which one is unable to obtain orders relieving him or her
from active duty, will not affect reemployment rights.
(f) The applicant must return and reenter the office or
position within the appropriate period specified in (c) of this
subsection after serving twelve weeks or less in a calendar
year in state-ordered active duty: PROVIDED, That the governor, when declaring an emergency that necessitates a
longer period of service, may extend the period of service in
state-ordered active duty to up to twelve months after which
the applicant is eligible for the benefits of this chapter.
[Title 73 RCW—page 9]
73.16.041
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
(2) The failure of an applicant to provide documentation
that satisfies rules adopted pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of
this section shall not be a basis for denying reemployment in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter if the failure
occurs because such documentation does not exist or is not
readily available at the time of the request of the employer. If,
after such reemployment, documentation becomes available
that establishes that the applicant does not meet one or more
of the requirements referred to in subsection (1)(d) of this
section, that applicant’s employer may terminate the employment of the person and the provision of any rights or benefits
afforded the person under this chapter.
(3) An employer may not delay or attempt to defeat a
reemployment obligation by demanding documentation that
does not then exist or is not then readily available.
(4) The application in subsection (1) of this section is not
required if the giving of such application is precluded by military necessity or, under all of the relevant circumstances, the
giving of such notice is otherwise impossible or unreasonable. A determination of military necessity for the purposes
of this subsection shall be made by the adjutant general of the
state of Washington military department and is not subject to
judicial review.
(5) In any proceeding involving an issue of whether (a)
reemployment is impossible or unreasonable because of a
change in an employer’s circumstances, (b) reemployment
would impose an undue hardship on the employer, or (c) the
employment is for a temporary position, the employer has the
burden of proving the impossibility or unreasonableness,
undue hardship, or the brief or nonrecurrent nature of the
employment without a reasonable expectation of continuing
indefinitely or for a significant period. [2001 c 133 § 6; 1969
c 16 § 1; 1953 c 212 § 3.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.041
73.16.041 Leaves of absence of elective and judicial
officers. When any elective officer of this state or any political subdivision thereof, including any judicial officer, shall
enter upon active service or training as provided in RCW
73.16.031, 73.16.033 and 73.16.035, the proper officer,
board or other agency, which would ordinarily be authorized
to grant leave of absence or fill a vacancy created by the death
or resignation of the elective official so ordered to such service, shall grant an extended leave of absence to cover the
period of such active service or training and may appoint a
temporary successor to the position so vacated. No leave of
absence provided for herein shall operate to extend the term
for which the occupant of any elective position shall have
been elected. [1953 c 212 § 4.]
73.16.051
73.16.051 Restoration without loss of seniority or
benefits. Any person who is entitled to be restored to a position in accordance with this chapter shall be considered as
having been on furlough or leave of absence, from his or her
position of employment, during his or her period of active
military duty or service, and he or she shall be so restored
without loss of seniority. He or she shall further be entitled to
participate in insurance, vacations, retirement pay, and other
benefits offered by the employer pursuant to established rules
and practices relating to employees on furlough or leave of
[Title 73 RCW—page 10]
absence in effect with the employer at the time such person
was ordered into the service; and he or she shall not be discharged from such position without cause within one year
after restoration. [2001 c 133 § 7; 1953 c 212 § 5.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.053
73.16.053 Continuation of health plan coverage during absence—Reinstatement of health plan coverage
upon reemployment. (1) If a person, or the person’s dependents, have coverage under a health plan in connection with
the person’s position of state employment, and the person is
absent from his or her position of state employment by reason
of service in the uniformed services, the plan shall provide
that the person may elect to continue the coverage as provided in this section. The maximum period of coverage of a
person and person’s dependents under such an election shall
be the lesser of:
(a) The eighteen-month period beginning on the date on
which the person’s absence begins; or
(b) The day after the date on which the person fails to
apply for or return to a position of state employment, as determined under RCW 73.16.035.
(2) A person who elects to continue health plan coverage
under this section may be required to pay not more than one
hundred two percent of the full premium under the plan associated with the coverage for the state employer’s other
employees, except that in the case of a person who performs
service in the uniformed services for less than thirty-one
days, the person may not be required to pay more than the
employee share, if any, for the coverage.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if
a person’s coverage under a health plan was terminated
because of service in the uniformed services, an exclusion or
waiting period may not be imposed in connection with the
reinstatement of the coverage upon reemployment under this
chapter if an exclusion or waiting period would not have been
imposed under a health plan had coverage of the person by
the plan not been terminated as a result of his or her service.
This subsection applies to the person who is reemployed and
to any dependent who is covered by the plan because of the
reinstatement of the coverage of the person. [2001 c 133 § 8.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.055
73.16.055 Determination of pension benefits and liabilities for reemployed persons. (1)(a) In the case of a right
provided under any state law governing pension benefits for
state employees, the right to pension benefits of a person
reemployed under this chapter shall be determined under this
section.
(b) A person reemployed under this chapter shall be
treated as not having incurred a break in service with the state
because of the person’s period of service in the uniformed
services.
(c) Each period served by a person in the uniformed services shall, upon reemployment under this chapter, be
deemed to constitute service with the state for the purpose of
determining the nonforfeitability of the person’s accrued benefits and for the purpose of determining the accrual of benefits under the plan.
(2006 Ed.)
Acknowledgments and Powers of Attorney
(2) When the state is reemploying a person under this
chapter, the state is liable to an employee pension benefit
plan for funding any obligation of the plan to provide the pension benefits described in this section and shall allocate the
amounts of any employer contribution for the person in the
same manner and to the same extent the allocation occurs for
other employees during the period of service. For purposes of
determining the amount of such liability and any obligation
of the plan, earnings and forfeitures shall not be included. For
purposes of determining the amount of such liability and purposes of a state law governing pension benefits for state
employees, service in the uniformed services that is deemed
under subsection (1) of this section to be service with the
state shall be deemed to be service with the state under the
terms of the plan or any applicable collective bargaining
agreement.
(3) A person reemployed by the state under this chapter
is entitled to accrued benefits pursuant to subsection (1)(a) of
this section that are contingent on the making of, or derived
from, employee contributions or elective deferrals (as
defined in section 402(g)(3) of the internal revenue code of
1986) only to the extent the person makes payment to the
plan with respect to such contributions or deferrals. No such
payment may exceed the amount the person would have been
permitted or required to contribute had the person remained
continuously employed by the state throughout the period of
uniformed service. Any payment to the plan described in this
subsection shall be made during the period beginning with
the date of reemployment and whose duration is three times
the period of the person’s services, such payment period in
the uniformed services, not to exceed five years.
(4) For purposes of computing an employer’s liability of
the employee’s contributions under subsection (2) of this section, the employee’s compensation during the period of service shall be computed:
(a) At the rate the employee would have received but for
the period of service in subsection (1)(b) of this section; or
(b) In the case that the determination of such rate is not
reasonably certain, on the basis of the employee’s average
rate of compensation during the twelve-month period immediately preceding such period or if shorter, the period of
employment immediately preceding such period. [2001 c
133 § 9.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.061
73.16.061 Enforcement of provisions. (1) In case any
employer, his or her successor or successors fails or refuses
to comply with the provisions of RCW 73.16.031 through
73.16.061 and 73.16.090, the attorney general shall bring
action in the superior court in the county in which the
employer is located or does business to obtain an order to
specifically require such employer to comply with the provisions of this chapter, and, as an incident thereto, to compensate such person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by
reason of such employer’s unlawful act if:
(a) The service in question was state duty not covered by
the uniformed services employment and reemployment rights
act of 1994, P.L. 103-353 (38 U.S.C. Sec. 4301 et seq.); and
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 73.20
(b) The employer support for guard and reserve ombudsman, or his or her designee, has inquired in the matter and has
been unable to resolve it.
(2) If the conditions in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this
section are met, any such person who does not desire the services of the attorney general may, by private counsel, bring
such action. [2001 c 133 § 10; 1953 c 212 § 6.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.070
73.16.070 Federal act to apply in state courts. The
federal soldiers’ and sailors’ civil relief act of 1940, Public
Act No. 861, is hereby specifically declared to apply in
proper cases in all the courts of this state. [2001 c 133 § 11;
1941 c 201 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10758-7.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.080
73.16.080 Bona fide executive, administrative, and
professional employees—Offset of military pay. An offset
of any military pay for temporary service in the uniformed
services in a particular week against the salary of a bona fide
executive, administrative, or professional employee in a particular week shall not be a factor in determining whether the
employee is exempt under RCW 49.46.010(5)(c). [2001 c
133 § 12.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.090
73.16.090 Application of chapter—Other rights and
benefits preserved. This chapter shall not supersede, nullify, or diminish any federal or state law, ordinance, rule, regulation, contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or other
matter that establishes a right or benefit that is more beneficial to, or is in addition to, a right or benefit provided for such
person in this chapter. [2001 c 133 § 13.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
73.16.100
73.16.100 Legislative declaration—Other civil
actions abolished. The legislature declares that the public
policies articulated in chapter 133, Laws of 2001 depend on
the procedures established in chapter 133, Laws of 2001. No
civil or criminal action may be maintained relying on the
public policies articulated in chapter 133, Laws of 2001 without complying with the procedures in this chapter. To that
end, all civil actions and civil causes of action for such injuries and all jurisdiction of the courts of this state over such
causes are hereby abolished, except as provided in this chapter. [2001 c 133 § 14.]
Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.
Chapter 73.20 RCW
Chapter 73.20
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND POWERS
OF ATTORNEY
Sections
73.20.010
73.20.050
73.20.060
73.20.070
73.20.080
Acknowledgments.
Agency created by power of attorney not revoked by unverified report of death.
Affidavit of agent as to knowledge of revocation.
"Missing in action" report not construed as actual knowledge.
Provision in power for revocation not affected.
[Title 73 RCW—page 11]
73.20.010
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
73.20.010
73.20.010 Acknowledgments. In addition to the
acknowledgment of instruments and the performance of other
notarial acts in the manner and form and as otherwise authorized by law, instruments may be acknowledged, documents
attested, oaths and affirmations administered, depositions
and affidavits executed, and other notarial acts performed,
before or by any commissioned officer in active service of the
armed forces of the United States with the rank of second
lieutenant or higher in the army or marine corps, or with the
rank of ensign or higher in the navy or coast guard, or with
equivalent rank in any other component part of the armed
forces of the United States, by any person who either
(1) is a member of the armed forces of the United States,
or
(2) is serving as a merchant seaman outside the limits of
the United States included within the forty-eight states and
the District of Columbia; or
(3) is outside said limits by permission, assignment or
direction of any department or official of the United States
government, in connection with any activity pertaining to the
prosecution of any war in which the United States is then
engaged.
Such acknowledgment of instruments, attestation of documents, administration of oaths and affirmations, execution
of depositions and affidavits, and performance of other notarial acts, heretofore or hereafter made or taken, are hereby
declared legal, valid and binding, and instruments and documents so acknowledged, authenticated, or sworn to shall be
admissible in evidence and eligible to record in this state
under the same circumstances, and with the same force and
effect as if such acknowledgment, attestation, oath, affirmation, deposition, affidavit, or other notarial act, had been
made or taken within this state before or by a duly qualified
officer or official as otherwise provided by law.
In the taking of acknowledgments and the performing of
other notarial acts requiring certification, a certificate
endorsed upon or attached to the instrument or documents,
which shows the date of the notarial act and which states, in
substance, that the person appearing before the officer
acknowledged the instrument as his act or made or signed the
instrument or document under oath, shall be sufficient for all
intents and purposes. The instrument or document shall not
be rendered invalid by the failure to state the place of execution or acknowledgment.
If the signature, rank, and branch of service or subdivision thereof, of any such commissioned officer appear upon
such instrument or document or certificate, no further proof
of the authority of such officer so to act shall be required and
such action by such commissioned officer shall be prima
facie evidence that the person making such oath or acknowledgment is within the purview of this section. [1945 c 271 §
1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10758-13a. See also, 1943 c 47. Formerly RCW 73.20.010 through 73.20.040.]
seaman outside the limits of the United States, included
within the forty-eight states and the District of Columbia; or
(3) a person outside said limits by permission, assignment or
direction of any department or official of the United States
government, in connection with any activity pertaining to or
connected with the prosecution of any war in which the
United States is then engaged, shall be revoked or terminated
by the death of the principal, as to the agent or other person
who, without actual knowledge or actual notice of the death
of the principal, shall have acted or shall act, in good faith,
under or in reliance upon such power of attorney or agency,
and any action so taken, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, shall be binding on the heirs, devisees, legatees, or
personal representatives of the principal. [1945 c 139 § 1;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10758-70.]
Severability—1945 c 139: "If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance be held invalid, such invalidity
shall not affect any other provision or application of the act which can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this act are declared to be severable." [1945 c 139 § 5.]
73.20.060
73.20.060 Affidavit of agent as to knowledge of revocation. An affidavit, executed by the attorney in fact or
agent, setting forth that the maker of the power of attorney is
a member of the armed forces of the United States or within
the class of persons described in RCW 73.20.050, and that he
has not or had not, at the time of doing any act pursuant to the
power of attorney, received actual knowledge or actual notice
of the revocation or termination of the power of attorney, by
death or otherwise, or notice of any facts indicating the same,
shall, in the absence of fraud, be conclusive proof of the nonrevocation or nontermination of the power at such time. If the
exercise of the power requires execution and delivery of any
instrument which is recordable under the laws of this state,
such affidavit shall likewise be recordable. [1945 c 139 § 2;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10758-71.]
73.20.070
73.20.070 "Missing in action" report not construed
as actual knowledge. No report or listing, either official or
otherwise, of "missing" or "missing in action", as such words
are used in military parlance, shall constitute or be interpreted
as constituting actual knowledge or actual notice of the death
of such principal or notice of any facts indicating the same, or
shall operate to revoke the agency. [1945 c 139 § 3; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 10758-72.]
73.20.080
73.20.080 Provision in power for revocation not
affected. RCW 73.20.050 through 73.20.070 shall not be
construed so as to alter or affect any provision for revocation
or termination contained in such power of attorney. [1945 c
139 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10758-73.]
Chapter 73.24
Acknowledgments, generally: Chapter 64.08 RCW.
73.20.050
73.20.050 Agency created by power of attorney not
revoked by unverified report of death. No agency created
by a power of attorney in writing given by a principal who is
at the time of execution, or who, after executing such power
of attorney, becomes either (1) a member of the armed forces
of the United States, or (2) a person serving as a merchant
[Title 73 RCW—page 12]
Chapter 73.24 RCW
BURIAL
Sections
73.24.020
73.24.030
Contract for care of veterans’ plot at Olympia.
Authorized burials in plot.
73.24.020
73.24.020 Contract for care of veterans’ plot at
Olympia. The director of the *department of finance, budget
(2006 Ed.)
Uniform Veterans’ Guardianship Act
and business is hereby authorized and directed to contract
with Olympia Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M., a corporation for the
improvement and perpetual care of the state veterans’ plot in
the Masonic cemetery at Olympia; such care to include the
providing of proper curbs and walks, cultivating, reseeding
and fertilizing grounds, repairing and resetting the bases and
monuments in place on the ground, leveling grounds, and
transporting and setting headstones for graves of persons
hereafter buried on the plot. [1937 c 36 § 1; RRS § 10758-1.]
*Reviser’s note: Powers and duties of the "department of finance, budget and business" have devolved upon the department of general administration through a chain of statutes as follows: 1935 c 176 § 11; 1947 c 114 § 5;
and 1955 c 285 §§ 4, 14, 16, and 18 (RCW 43.19.010 and 43.19.015).
Cemeteries, endowment and nonendowment care: Chapters 68.40, 68.44
RCW.
73.24.030 Authorized burials in plot. The said plot
shall be available, to the extent such space is available, without charge or cost for the burial of persons who have served
in the army, navy, or marine corps in the United States, in the
Spanish-American war, Philippine insurrection, or the Chinese Relief Expedition, or who served in any said branches of
said service at any time between April 21, 1898 and July 4,
1902 and any veteran as defined in RCW 41.04.007. [2002 c
292 § 10; 1977 c 31 § 4; 1937 c 36 § 2; RRS § 10758-2.]
73.24.030
Chapter 73.36 RCW
UNIFORM VETERANS’ GUARDIANSHIP ACT
Chapter 73.36
Sections
73.36.010
73.36.020
73.36.030
73.36.040
73.36.050
73.36.060
73.36.080
73.36.090
73.36.100
73.36.110
73.36.120
73.36.130
73.36.140
73.36.150
73.36.155
73.36.160
73.36.165
73.36.170
73.36.180
73.36.190
Terms defined.
Administrator party in interest in guardianship proceedings—
Notice.
Appointment of guardian—Necessary when.
Guardian—Number of wards permitted.
Guardian—Appointment—Contents of petition.
Guardian for minor—Appointment—Prima facie evidence.
Notice of petition.
Guardian’s bond.
Accounting by guardian—Copies of all proceedings to be furnished administration—Hearings.
Failure to account—Penalties.
Compensation of guardian.
Investment of funds—Procedure.
Use of funds—Procedure.
Purchase of real estate—Procedure.
Public records—Free copies.
Discharge of guardian—Final account.
Commitment to veterans administration or other federal
agency.
Application of chapter to other guardianships of veterans.
Construction of chapter—Uniformity.
Short title.
Guardianship, generally: Chapters 11.88, 11.92 RCW.
73.36.010 Terms defined. As used in this chapter:
"Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation or an association.
"Veterans administration" means the veterans administration, its predecessors or successors.
"Income" means moneys received from the veterans
administration and revenue or profit from any property
wholly or partially acquired therewith.
"Estate" means income on hand and assets acquired partially or wholly with "income".
"Benefits" means all moneys paid or payable by the
United States through the veterans administration.
73.36.010
(2006 Ed.)
73.36.050
"Administrator" means the administrator of veterans
affairs of the United States or his successor.
"Ward" means a beneficiary of the veterans administration.
"Guardian" means any fiduciary for the person or estate
of a ward. [1951 c 53 § 1.]
73.36.020
73.36.020 Administrator party in interest in guardianship proceedings—Notice. The administrator shall be a
party in interest in any proceeding for the appointment or
removal of a guardian or for the removal of the disability of
minority or mental incapacity of a ward, and in any suit or
other proceeding affecting in any manner the administration
by the guardian of the estate of any present or former ward
whose estate includes assets derived in whole or in part from
benefits heretofore or hereafter paid by the veterans administration. Not less than fifteen days prior to hearing in such
matter notice in writing of the time and place thereof shall be
given by mail (unless waived in writing) to the office of the
veterans administration having jurisdiction over the area in
which any such suit or any such proceeding is pending.
[1951 c 53 § 2.]
73.36.030
73.36.030 Appointment of guardian—Necessary
when. Whenever, pursuant to any law of the United States or
regulation of the veterans administration, it is necessary,
prior to payment of benefits, that a guardian be appointed, the
appointment may be made in the manner hereinafter provided. [1951 c 53 § 3.]
73.36.040
73.36.040 Guardian—Number of wards permitted.
No person other than a bank or trust company shall be guardian of more than five wards at one time, unless all the wards
are members of one family. Upon presentation of a petition
by an attorney of the veterans administration or other interested person, alleging that a guardian is acting in a fiduciary
capacity for more than five wards as herein provided and
requesting his discharge for that reason, the court, upon proof
substantiating the petition, shall require a final accounting
forthwith from such guardian and shall discharge him from
guardianships in excess of five and forthwith appoint a successor. [1951 c 53 § 4.]
73.36.050
73.36.050 Guardian—Appointment—Contents of
petition. (1) A petition for the appointment of a guardian
may be filed by any relative or friend of the ward or by any
person who is authorized by law to file such a petition. If
there is no person so authorized or if the person so authorized
refuses or fails to file such a petition within thirty days after
mailing of notice by the veterans administration to the last
known address of the person, if any, indicating the necessity
for the same, a petition for appointment may be filed by any
resident of this state.
(2) The petition for appointment shall set forth the name,
age, place of residence of the ward, the name and place of residence of the nearest relative, if known, and the fact that the
ward is entitled to receive benefits payable by or through the
veterans administration and shall set forth the amount of
moneys then due and the amount of probable future payments.
[Title 73 RCW—page 13]
73.36.060
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
(3) The petition shall also set forth the name and address
of the person or institution, if any, having actual custody of
the ward and the name, age, relationship, if any, occupation
and address of the proposed guardian and if the nominee is a
natural person, the number of wards for whom the nominee is
presently acting as guardian. Notwithstanding any law as to
priority of persons entitled to appointment, or the nomination
in the petition, the court may appoint some other individual
or a bank or trust company as guardian, if the court determines it is for the best interest of the ward.
(4) In the case of a mentally incompetent ward the petition shall show that such ward has been rated incompetent by
the veterans administration on examination in accordance
with the laws and regulations governing the veterans administration.
(5) All proceedings under this chapter shall be governed
by the provisions of chapters 11.88 and 11.92 RCW which
shall prevail over any conflicting provisions of this chapter.
[1994 c 147 § 4; 1951 c 53 § 5.]
Prohibitions: RCW 73.04.140.
73.36.060
73.36.060 Guardian for minor—Appointment—
Prima facie evidence. Where a petition is filed for the
appointment of a guardian for a minor, a certificate of the
administrator or his authorized representative, setting forth
the age of such minor as shown by the records of the veterans
administration and the fact that the appointment of a guardian
is a condition precedent to the payment of any moneys due
the minor by the veterans administration shall be prima facie
evidence of the necessity for such appointment. [1951 c 53 §
6.]
73.36.080
73.36.080 Notice of petition. Upon the filing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian under this chapter,
notice shall be given to the ward, to such other persons, and
in such manner as is provided by the general law of this state,
and also to the veterans administration as provided by this
chapter. [1951 c 53 § 8.]
73.36.090
73.36.090 Guardian’s bond. (1) Upon the appointment
of a guardian, he shall execute and file a bond to be approved
by the court in an amount not less than the estimated value of
the personal estate and anticipated income of the ward during
the ensuing two years, except in cases where banks or trust
companies are appointed as guardian and no bond is required
by the general state law. The bond shall be in the form and be
conditioned as required of guardians appointed under the
general guardianship laws of this state. The court may from
time to time require the guardian to file an additional bond.
(2) Where a bond is tendered by a guardian with personal
sureties, there shall be at least two such sureties and they shall
file with the court a certificate under oath which shall
describe the property owned, both real and personal, and
shall state that each is worth the sum named in the bond as the
penalty thereof over and above all his debts and liabilities and
the aggregate of other bonds in which he is principal or surety
and exclusive of property exempt from execution. The court
may require additional security or may require a corporate
surety bond, the premium thereon to be paid from the ward’s
estate. [1951 c 53 § 9.]
[Title 73 RCW—page 14]
Guardianship, generally: Chapters 11.88 and 11.92 RCW.
73.36.100
73.36.100 Accounting by guardian—Copies of all
proceedings to be furnished administration—Hearings.
(1) Every guardian, who has received or shall receive on
account of his ward any money or other thing of value from
the veterans administration, at the expiration of two years
from date of his appointment, and every two years thereafter
on the anniversary date of his appointment, or as much
oftener as the court may require, shall file with the court a
full, true and accurate account under oath of all moneys or
other things of value received by him, all earnings, interest or
profits derived therefrom, and all property acquired therewith
and of all disbursements therefrom, and showing the balance
thereof in his hands at the date of the account and how
invested. Each year when not required to file an account with
the court, the guardian shall file an account with the proper
office of the veterans administration. If the interim account
be not filed with the veterans administration, or, if filed, shall
be unsatisfactory, the court shall upon receipt of notice
thereof from the veterans administration require the guardian
forthwith to file an account which shall be subject in all
respects to the next succeeding paragraphs. Any account filed
with the veterans administration and approved by the chief
attorney thereof may be filed with the court and be approved
by the court without hearing, unless a hearing thereon be
requested by some party in interest.
(2) The guardian, at the time of filing any account with
the court or veterans administration shall exhibit all securities
or investments held by him to an officer of the bank or other
depository wherein said securities or investments are held for
safekeeping or to an authorized representative of the corporation which is surety on his bond, or to the judge or clerk of a
court of record in this state, or upon request of the guardian or
other interested party, to any other reputable person designated by the court, who shall certify in writing that he has
examined the securities or investments and identified them
with those described in the account and shall note any omissions or discrepancies. If the depository is the guardian, the
certifying officer shall not be the officer verifying the
account. The guardian may exhibit the securities or investments to the judge of the court, who shall endorse on the
account and copy thereof, a certificate that the securities or
investments shown therein as held by the guardian were each
in fact exhibited to him and that those exhibited to him were
the same as those in the account and noting any omission or
discrepancy. The certificate, and the certificate of an official
of the bank in which are deposited any funds for which the
guardian is accountable, showing the amount on deposit,
shall be prepared and signed in duplicate and one of each
shall be filed by the guardian with his account.
(3) At the time of filing in the court any account, a certified copy thereof and a signed duplicate of each certificate
filed with the court shall be sent by the guardian to the office
of the veterans administration having jurisdiction over the
area in which such court is located. A duplicate signed copy
or a certified copy of any petition, motion or other pleading
pertaining to an account, or to any matter other than an
account, and which is filed in the guardianship proceedings
or in any proceedings for the purpose of removing the disability of minority or mental incapacity, shall be furnished by the
(2006 Ed.)
Uniform Veterans’ Guardianship Act
persons filing the same to the proper office of the veterans
administration. Unless hearing be waived in writing by the
attorney of the veterans administration and by all other persons, if any, entitled to notice, the court shall fix a time and
place for the hearing on the account, petition, motion or other
pleading, not less than fifteen days nor more than sixty days
from the date same is filed, unless a different available date
be stipulated in writing. Unless waived in writing, written
notice of the time and place of hearing shall be given the veterans administration office concerned and to the guardian and
any others entitled to notice, not less than fifteen days prior to
the date fixed for the hearing. The notice may be given by
mail, in which event it shall be deposited in the mails not less
than fifteen days prior to said date. The court or clerk thereof,
shall mail to said veterans administration office a copy of
each order entered in any guardianship proceeding wherein
the administrator is an interested party.
(4) If the guardian is accountable for property derived
from sources other than the veterans administration, he shall
be accountable as is or may be required under the applicable
law of this state pertaining to the property of minors or persons of unsound mind who are not beneficiaries of the veterans administration, and as to such other property shall be
entitled to the compensation provided by such law. The
account for other property may be combined with the account
filed in accordance with this section. [1951 c 53 § 10.]
73.36.110
73.36.110 Failure to account—Penalties. If any
guardian shall fail to file with the court any account as
required by this chapter, or by an order of the court, when any
account is due or within thirty days after citation issues and
provided by law, or shall fail to furnish the veterans administration a true copy of any account, petition or pleading as
required by this chapter, such failure may in the discretion of
the court be ground for his removal, in addition to other penalties provided by law. [1951 c 53 § 11.]
73.36.120
73.36.120 Compensation of guardian. Compensation
payable to guardians shall be based upon services rendered
and shall not exceed five percent of the amount of moneys
received during the period covered by the account, except
that the court may allow a fee of not exceeding twenty-five
dollars per year, as a minimum fee, upon the approval of the
chief attorney for the veterans administration. In the event of
extraordinary services by any guardian, the court, upon petition and hearing thereon may authorize reasonable additional
compensation therefor. A copy of the petition and notice of
hearing thereon shall be given the proper office of the veterans administration in the manner provided in the case of hearing on a guardian’s account or other pleading. No commission or compensation shall be allowed on the moneys or other
assets received from a prior guardian nor upon the amount
received from liquidation of loans or other investments.
[1951 c 53 § 12.]
73.36.130
73.36.130 Investment of funds—Procedure. Every
guardian shall invest the surplus funds of his ward’s estate in
such securities or property as authorized under the laws of
this state but only upon prior order of the court; except that
the funds may be invested, without prior court authorization,
(2006 Ed.)
73.36.160
in direct unconditional interest-bearing obligations of this
state or of the United States and in obligations the interest and
principal of which are unconditionally guaranteed by the
United States. A signed duplicate or certified copy of the
petition for authority to invest shall be furnished the proper
office of the veterans administration, and notice of hearing
thereon shall be given said office as provided in the case of
hearing on a guardian’s account. [1951 c 53 § 13.]
73.36.140
73.36.140 Use of funds—Procedure. A guardian shall
not apply any portion of the income or the estate for the support or maintenance of any person including the ward, the
spouse and the minor children of the ward, except upon petition to and prior order of the court after a hearing. A signed
duplicate or certified copy of said petition shall be furnished
the proper office of the veterans administration and notice of
hearing thereon shall be given said office as provided in the
case of hearing on a guardian’s account or other pleading.
[1951 c 53 § 14.]
73.36.150
73.36.150 Purchase of real estate—Procedure. (1)
The court may authorize the purchase of the entire fee simple
title to real estate in this state in which the guardian has no
interest, but only as a home for the ward, or to protect his
interest, or (if he is not a minor) as a home for his dependent
family. Such purchase of real estate shall not be made except
upon the entry of an order of the court after hearing upon verified petition. A copy of the petition shall be furnished the
proper office of the veterans administration and notice of
hearing thereon shall be given said office as provided in the
case of hearing on a guardian’s account.
(2) Before authorizing such investment the court shall
require written evidence of value and of title and of the advisability of acquiring such real estate. Title shall be taken in the
ward’s name. This section does not limit the right of the
guardian on behalf of his ward to bid and to become the purchaser of real estate at a sale thereof pursuant to decree of
foreclosure of lien held by or for the ward, or at a trustee’s
sale, to protect the ward’s right in the property so foreclosed
or sold; nor does it limit the right of the guardian, if such be
necessary to protect the ward’s interest and upon prior order
of the court in which the guardianship is pending, to agree
with cotenants of the ward for a partition in kind, or to purchase from cotenants the entire undivided interests held by
them, or to bid and purchase the same at a sale under a partition decree, or to compromise adverse claims of title to the
ward’s realty. [1951 c 53 § 15.]
73.36.155
73.36.155 Public records—Free copies. When a copy
of any public record is required by the veterans administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to
participate in benefits made available by the veterans administration, the official custodian of such public record shall
without charge provide the applicant for such benefits or any
person acting on his behalf or the authorized representative of
the veterans administration with a certified copy of such
record. [1951 c 53 § 16. Formerly RCW 73.04.025.]
73.36.160
73.36.160 Discharge of guardian—Final account. In
addition to any other provisions of law relating to judicial res[Title 73 RCW—page 15]
73.36.165
Title 73 RCW: Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs
toration and discharge of guardian, a certificate by the veterans administration showing that a minor ward has attained
majority, or that an incompetent ward has been rated competent by the veterans administration upon examination in
accordance with law shall be prima facie evidence that the
ward has attained majority, or has recovered his competency.
Upon hearing after notice as provided by this chapter and the
determination by the court that the ward has attained majority
or has recovered his competency, an order shall be entered to
that effect, and the guardian shall file a final account. Upon
hearing after notice to the former ward and to the veterans
administration as in case of other accounts, upon approval of
the final account, and upon delivery to the ward of the assets
due him from the guardian, the guardian shall be discharged
and his sureties released. [1951 c 53 § 17.]
73.36.165
73.36.165 Commitment to veterans administration
or other federal agency. (1) Whenever, in any proceeding
under the laws of this state for the commitment of a person
alleged to be of unsound mind or otherwise in need of confinement in a hospital or other institution for his proper care,
it is determined after such adjudication of the status of such
person as may be required by law that commitment to a hospital for mental disease or other institution is necessary for
safekeeping or treatment and it appears that such person is
eligible for care or treatment by the veterans administration
or other agency of the United States government, the court,
upon receipt of a certificate from the veterans administration
or such other agency showing that facilities are available and
that such person is eligible for care or treatment therein, may
commit such person to said veterans administration or other
agency. The person whose commitment is sought shall be
personally served with notice of the pending commitment
proceeding in the manner as provided by the law of this state;
and nothing in this chapter shall affect his right to appear and
be heard in the proceedings. Upon commitment, such person,
when admitted to any hospital operated by any such agency
within or without this state shall be subject to the rules and
regulations of the veterans administration or other agency.
The chief officer of any hospital of the veterans administration or institution operated by any other agency of the United
States to which the person is so committed shall with respect
to such person be vested with the same powers as superintendents of state hospitals for mental diseases within this state
with respect to retention of custody, transfer, parole or discharge. Jurisdiction is retained in the committing or other
appropriate court of this state at any time to inquire into the
mental condition of the person so committed, and to determine the necessity for continuance of his restraint, and all
commitments pursuant to this chapter are so conditioned.
(2) The judgment or order of commitment by a court of
competent jurisdiction of another state or of the District of
Columbia, committing a person to the veterans administration, or other agency of the United States government for care
or treatment shall have the same force and effect as to the
committed person while in this state as in the jurisdiction in
which is situated the court entering the judgment or making
the order; and the courts of the committing state, or of the
District of Columbia, shall be deemed to have retained jurisdiction of the person so committed for the purpose of inquiring into the mental condition of such person, and of determin[Title 73 RCW—page 16]
ing the necessity for continuance of his restraint; as is provided in subsection (1) of this section with respect to persons
committed by the courts of this state. Consent is hereby given
to the application of the law of the committing state or district
in respect to the authority of the chief officer of any hospital
of the veterans administration, or of any institution operated
in this state by any other agency of the United States to retain
custody, or transfer, parole or discharge the committed person.
(3) Upon receipt of a certificate of the veterans administration or such other agency of the United States that facilities
are available for the care or treatment of any person heretofore committed to any hospital for the insane or other institution for the care or treatment of persons similarly afflicted
and that such person is eligible for care or treatment, the
superintendent of the institution may cause the transfer of
such person to the veterans administration or other agency of
the United States for care or treatment. Upon effecting any
such transfer, the committing court or proper officer thereof
shall be notified thereof by the transferring agency. No person shall be transferred to the veterans administration or
other agency of the United States if he be confined pursuant
to conviction of any felony or misdemeanor or if he has been
acquitted of the charge solely on the ground of insanity,
unless prior to transfer the court or other authority originally
committing such person shall enter an order for such transfer
after appropriate motion and hearing.
Any person transferred as provided in this section shall
be deemed to be committed to the veterans administration or
other agency of the United States pursuant to the original
commitment. [1951 c 53 § 18. Formerly RCW 71.02.700
through 71.02.720.]
73.36.170
73.36.170 Application of chapter to other guardianships of veterans. The provisions of this chapter relating to
surety bonds and the administration of estates of wards shall
apply to all "income" and "estate" as defined in RCW
73.36.010 whether the guardian shall have been appointed
under this chapter or under any other law of this state, special
or general, prior or subsequent to the enactment hereof.
[1951 c 53 § 21.]
73.36.180
73.36.180 Construction of chapter—Uniformity.
This chapter shall be so construed to make uniform the law of
those states which enact it. [1951 c 53 § 19.]
73.36.190
73.36.190 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the
"uniform veterans’ guardianship act". [1951 c 53 § 20.]
Chapter 73.40
Chapter 73.40 RCW
VETERANS’ MEMORIALS
Sections
73.40.010
73.40.030
73.40.040
73.40.060
Memorial honoring state residents who died or are missing-inaction in southeast Asia.
Memorial honoring state residents who died or are missing-inaction in southeast Asia—Display of individual names.
Memorial honoring state residents who died or are missing-inaction in the Korean conflict.
National World War II memorial account.
(2006 Ed.)
Veterans’ Memorials
73.40.060
73.40.010 Memorial honoring state residents who
died or are missing-in-action in southeast Asia. The secretary of state shall coordinate the design, construction, and
placement of a memorial within the state capitol building
honoring Washington state residents who died or are "missing-in-action" in the southeast Asia theater of operations.
[1984 c 81 § 1. Formerly RCW 40.14.200.]
73.40.010
73.40.030 Memorial honoring state residents who
died or are missing-in-action in southeast Asia—Display
of individual names. The memorial authorized by *RCW
40.14.200 through 40.14.210 shall display the individual
names of the Washington state residents who died or are
"missing-in-action" in the southeast Asia theater of operations. [1984 c 81 § 3. Formerly RCW 40.14.210.]
73.40.030
*Reviser’s note: RCW 40.14.200 through 40.14.210 were recodified as
RCW 73.40.010 through 73.40.030.
73.40.040 Memorial honoring state residents who
died or are missing-in-action in the Korean conflict. The
director of the department of veterans affairs shall coordinate
the design, construction, and placement of a memorial within
the state capitol grounds honoring Washington state residents
who died or are "missing-in-action" in the Korean conflict.
[1989 c 235 § 1. Formerly RCW 40.14.220.]
73.40.040
73.40.060 National World War II memorial account.
The national World War II memorial account is created in the
custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from appropriations and other sources must be deposited into the account.
Expenditures from the account may be used only for the
national World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. Only
the director of the department of veterans’ affairs or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account.
The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. [2000 c 12 § 2.]
73.40.060
Intent—2000 c 12: "It is the intent of the legislature to recognize the
dedication of the men and women of Washington state who served or were
wounded, killed, or missing in action during World War II by making a contribution towards the construction of a national World War II memorial to be
located in Washington, D.C. The national World War II memorial will be the
first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II. All
military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation atlarge, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation’s
call to arms will be honored with this memorial." [2000 c 12 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 73 RCW—page 17]
Title 74
Title 74
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Chapters
74.04
General provisions—Administration.
74.08
Eligibility generally—Standards of assistance.
74.08A
Washington WorkFirst temporary assistance
for needy families.
74.09
Medical care.
74.09A
Medical assistance—Coordination of benefits—Computerized information transfer.
74.12
Temporary assistance for needy families.
74.12A
Incentive to work—Economic independence.
74.13
Child welfare services.
74.14A
Children and family services.
74.14B
Children’s services.
74.14C
Family preservation services.
74.15
Care of children, expectant mothers, developmentally disabled.
74.18
Department of services for the blind.
74.20
Support of dependent children.
74.20A
Support of dependent children—Alternative
method—1971 act.
74.25
Job opportunities and basic skills training program.
74.25A
Employment partnership program.
74.26
Services for children with multiple handicaps.
74.29
Rehabilitation services for individuals with
disabilities.
74.32
Advisory committees on vendor rates.
74.34
Abuse of vulnerable adults.
74.36
Funding for community programs for the
aging.
74.38
Senior citizens services act.
74.39
Long-term care service options.
74.39A
Long-term care services options—Expansion.
74.41
Respite care services.
74.42
Nursing homes—Resident care, operating
standards.
74.46
Nursing facility medicaid payment system.
74.50
Alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and
support.
74.55
Children’s system of care.
74.98
Construction.
Chapter 74.04 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS—ADMINISTRATION
Chapter 74.04
Sections
74.04.005
74.04.00511
74.04.0052
74.04.006
74.04.011
74.04.015
74.04.025
74.04.033
74.04.040
74.04.050
74.04.055
74.04.057
74.04.060
74.04.062
74.04.070
74.04.080
74.04.120
74.04.180
74.04.200
74.04.205
74.04.210
74.04.230
74.04.265
74.04.266
74.04.270
74.04.280
74.04.290
74.04.300
74.04.310
74.04.330
74.04.340
74.04.350
74.04.360
74.04.370
74.04.380
74.04.385
Assistance and relief by counties: Chapter 36.39 RCW.
Assistance for parolees, work release, and discharged prisoners: RCW
9.95.310 through 9.95.370.
Child abuse or neglect, reports by practitioners of healing arts: Chapter
26.44 RCW.
Displaced homemaker act: Chapter 28B.04 RCW.
74.04.480
74.04.500
74.04.510
74.04.515
74.04.520
74.04.600
74.04.610
Domestic violence prevention: Chapter 26.50 RCW.
Jurisdiction over Indians as to public assistance: Chapter 37.12 RCW.
Low-income patients, malpractice insurance for retired physicians providing health care services: RCW 43.70.460.
Missing children clearinghouse and hot line: Chapter 13.60 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.620
74.04.630
Definitions—Eligibility.
Limitations on "resource" and "income."
Teen applicants’ living situation—Criteria—Presumption—
Protective payee—Adoption referral.
Contract of sale of property—Availability as a resource or
income—Establishment.
Secretary’s authority—Personnel.
Secretary responsible officer to administer federal funds, etc.
Bilingual services for non-English speaking applicants and
recipients—Bilingual personnel, when—Primary language pamphlets and written materials.
Notification of availability of basic health plan.
Public assistance a joint federal, state, and county function—
Notice required.
Department to administer public assistance programs.
Cooperation with federal government—Construction—Conflict with federal requirements.
Promulgation of rules and regulations to qualify for federal
funds.
Records, confidential—Exceptions—Penalty.
Disclosure of recipient location to police officer or immigration official.
County office—Administrator.
County administrator—Personnel—Bond.
Basis of state’s allocation of federal aid funds—County budget.
Joint county administration.
Standards—Established, enforced.
Simplified reporting for the food stamp program.
Basis of allocation of moneys to counties.
General assistance—Mental health services.
Earnings—Deductions from grants.
General assistance—Earned income exemption to be established for unemployable persons.
Audit of accounts—Uniform accounting system.
Assistance nontransferable and exempt from process.
Subpoena of witnesses, books, records, etc.
Recovery of payments improperly received—Lien—Recipient reporting requirements.
Authority to accept contributions.
Annual reports by assistance organizations—Penalty.
Federal surplus commodities—Certification of persons eligible to receive commodities.
Federal surplus commodities—Not to be construed as public
assistance, eligibility not affected.
Federal surplus commodities—Certification deemed administrative expense of department.
Federal surplus commodities—County program, expenses,
handling of commodities.
Federal and other surplus food commodities—Agreements—
Personnel—Facilities—Cooperation with other agencies—Discontinuance of program.
Unlawful practices relating to surplus commodities—Penalty.
Educational leaves of absence for personnel.
Food stamp program—Authorized.
Food stamp program—Rules.
Food stamp program—Discrimination prohibited.
Food stamp program—Confidentiality.
Supplemental security income program—Purpose.
Supplemental security income program—Termination of
federal financial assistance payments—Supersession by
supplemental security income program.
State supplement to national program of supplemental security income—Authorized—Reimbursement of interim
assistance, attorneys’ fees.
State supplementation to national program of supplemental
security income—Contractual agreements with federal
government.
[Title 74 RCW—page 1]
74.04.005
74.04.635
74.04.640
74.04.650
74.04.660
74.04.750
74.04.760
74.04.770
74.04.790
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
State supplement to national program of supplemental security income—World War II Philippine veterans.
Acceptance of referrals for vocational rehabilitation—Reimbursement.
Individuals failing to comply with federal requirements.
Family emergency assistance program.
Reporting requirements—Food stamp allotments and rent or
housing subsidies, consideration as income.
Minimum amount of monthly assistance payments.
Consolidated standards of need—Rateable reductions—
Grant maximums.
Supplementary program—Reimbursement for employees
being victims of assault.
Collection agencies to collect public debts: RCW 19.16.500.
Identicards—Issuance to nondrivers and public assistance recipients: RCW
46.20.117.
74.04.005
74.04.005 Definitions—Eligibility. For the purposes of
this title, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following
definitions shall apply:
(1) "Public assistance" or "assistance"—Public aid to
persons in need thereof for any cause, including services,
medical care, assistance grants, disbursing orders, work
relief, general assistance and federal-aid assistance.
(2) "Department"—The department of social and health
services.
(3) "County or local office"—The administrative office
for one or more counties or designated service areas.
(4) "Director" or "secretary" means the secretary of
social and health services.
(5) "Federal-aid assistance"—The specific categories of
assistance for which provision is made in any federal law
existing or hereafter passed by which payments are made
from the federal government to the state in aid or in respect to
payment by the state for public assistance rendered to any
category of needy persons for which provision for federal
funds or aid may from time to time be made, or a federally
administered needs-based program.
(6)(a) "General assistance"—Aid to persons in need
who:
(i) Are not eligible to receive federal-aid assistance,
other than food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred
electronically and medical assistance; however, an individual
who refuses or fails to cooperate in obtaining federal-aid
assistance, without good cause, is not eligible for general
assistance;
(ii) Meet one of the following conditions:
(A) Pregnant: PROVIDED, That need is based on the
current income and resource requirements of the federal temporary assistance for needy families program; or
(B) Subject to chapter 165, Laws of 1992, incapacitated
from gainful employment by reason of bodily or mental infirmity that will likely continue for a minimum of ninety days as
determined by the department.
(C) Persons who are unemployable due to alcohol or
drug addiction are not eligible for general assistance. Persons
receiving general assistance on July 26, 1987, or becoming
eligible for such assistance thereafter, due to an alcohol or
drug-related incapacity, shall be referred to appropriate
assessment, treatment, shelter, or supplemental security
income referral services as authorized under chapter 74.50
RCW. Referrals shall be made at the time of application or at
the time of eligibility review. Alcoholic and drug addicted
clients who are receiving general assistance on July 26, 1987,
[Title 74 RCW—page 2]
may remain on general assistance if they otherwise retain
their eligibility until they are assessed for services under
chapter 74.50 RCW. Subsection (6)(a)(ii)(B) of this section
shall not be construed to prohibit the department from granting general assistance benefits to alcoholics and drug addicts
who are incapacitated due to other physical or mental conditions that meet the eligibility criteria for the general assistance program;
(iii) Are citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise residing in the United States
under color of law; and
(iv) Have furnished the department their social security
account number. If the social security account number cannot be furnished because it has not been issued or is not
known, an application for a number shall be made prior to
authorization of assistance, and the social security number
shall be provided to the department upon receipt.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(6)(a)(i), (ii), and (c) of this section, general assistance shall
be provided to the following recipients of federal-aid assistance:
(i) Recipients of supplemental security income whose
need, as defined in this section, is not met by such supplemental security income grant because of separation from a
spouse; or
(ii) To the extent authorized by the legislature in the
biennial appropriations act, to recipients of temporary assistance for needy families whose needs are not being met
because of a temporary reduction in monthly income below
the entitled benefit payment level caused by loss or reduction
of wages or unemployment compensation benefits or some
other unforeseen circumstances. The amount of general
assistance authorized shall not exceed the difference between
the entitled benefit payment level and the amount of income
actually received.
(c) General assistance shall be provided only to persons
who are not members of assistance units receiving federal aid
assistance, except as provided in subsection (6)(a)(ii)(A) and
(b) of this section, and will accept available services which
can reasonably be expected to enable the person to work or
reduce the need for assistance unless there is good cause to
refuse. Failure to accept such services shall result in termination until the person agrees to cooperate in accepting such
services and subject to the following maximum periods of
ineligibility after reapplication:
(i) First failure: One week;
(ii) Second failure within six months: One month;
(iii) Third and subsequent failure within one year: Two
months.
(d) Persons found eligible for general assistance based
on incapacity from gainful employment may, if otherwise eligible, receive general assistance pending application for federal supplemental security income benefits. Any general
assistance that is subsequently duplicated by the person’s
receipt of supplemental security income for the same period
shall be considered a debt due the state and shall by operation
of law be subject to recovery through all available legal remedies.
(e) The department shall adopt by rule medical criteria
for general assistance eligibility to ensure that eligibility
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions—Administration
decisions are consistent with statutory requirements and are
based on clear, objective medical information.
(f) The process implementing the medical criteria shall
involve consideration of opinions of the treating or consulting physicians or health care professionals regarding incapacity, and any eligibility decision which rejects uncontroverted
medical opinion must set forth clear and convincing reasons
for doing so.
(g) Recipients of general assistance based upon a finding
of incapacity from gainful employment who remain otherwise eligible shall have their benefits discontinued unless the
recipient demonstrates no material improvement in their
medical or mental condition. The department may discontinue benefits when there was specific error in the prior determination that found the recipient eligible by reason of incapacitation. Recipients of general assistance based upon pregnancy who relinquish their child for adoption, remain
otherwise eligible, and are not eligible to receive benefits
under the federal temporary assistance for needy families
program shall not have their benefits terminated until the end
of the month in which the period of six weeks following the
birth of the recipient’s child falls. Recipients of the federal
temporary assistance for needy families program who lose
their eligibility solely because of the birth and relinquishment
of the qualifying child may receive general assistance
through the end of the month in which the period of six weeks
following the birth of the child falls.
(h) No person may be considered an eligible individual
for general assistance with respect to any month if during that
month the person:
(i) Is fleeing to avoid prosecution of, or to avoid custody
or confinement for conviction of, a felony, or an attempt to
commit a felony, under the laws of the state of Washington or
the place from which the person flees; or
(ii) Is violating a condition of probation, community
supervision, or parole imposed under federal or state law for
a felony or gross misdemeanor conviction.
(7) "Applicant"—Any person who has made a request,
or on behalf of whom a request has been made, to any county
or local office for assistance.
(8) "Recipient"—Any person receiving assistance and in
addition those dependents whose needs are included in the
recipient’s assistance.
(9) "Standards of assistance"—The level of income
required by an applicant or recipient to maintain a level of
living specified by the department.
(10) "Resource"—Any asset, tangible or intangible,
owned by or available to the applicant at the time of application, which can be applied toward meeting the applicant’s
need, either directly or by conversion into money or its equivalent. The department may by rule designate resources that
an applicant may retain and not be ineligible for public assistance because of such resources. Exempt resources shall
include, but are not limited to:
(a) A home that an applicant, recipient, or their dependents is living in, including the surrounding property;
(b) Household furnishings and personal effects;
(c) A motor vehicle, other than a motor home, used and
useful having an equity value not to exceed five thousand
dollars;
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.005
(d) A motor vehicle necessary to transport a physically
disabled household member. This exclusion is limited to one
vehicle per physically disabled person;
(e) All other resources, including any excess of values
exempted, not to exceed one thousand dollars or other limit
as set by the department, to be consistent with limitations on
resources and exemptions necessary for federal aid assistance. The department shall also allow recipients of temporary assistance for needy families to exempt savings accounts
with combined balances of up to an additional three thousand
dollars;
(f) Applicants for or recipients of general assistance shall
have their eligibility based on resource limitations consistent
with the temporary assistance for needy families program
rules adopted by the department; and
(g) If an applicant for or recipient of public assistance
possesses property and belongings in excess of the ceiling
value, such value shall be used in determining the need of the
applicant or recipient, except that: (i) The department may
exempt resources or income when the income and resources
are determined necessary to the applicant’s or recipient’s restoration to independence, to decrease the need for public
assistance, or to aid in rehabilitating the applicant or recipient
or a dependent of the applicant or recipient; and (ii) the
department may provide grant assistance for a period not to
exceed nine months from the date the agreement is signed
pursuant to this section to persons who are otherwise ineligible because of excess real property owned by such persons
when they are making a good faith effort to dispose of that
property: PROVIDED, That:
(A) The applicant or recipient signs an agreement to
repay the lesser of the amount of aid received or the net proceeds of such sale;
(B) If the owner of the excess property ceases to make
good faith efforts to sell the property, the entire amount of
assistance may become an overpayment and a debt due the
state and may be recovered pursuant to RCW 43.20B.630;
(C) Applicants and recipients are advised of their right to
a fair hearing and afforded the opportunity to challenge a
decision that good faith efforts to sell have ceased, prior to
assessment of an overpayment under this section; and
(D) At the time assistance is authorized, the department
files a lien without a sum certain on the specific property.
(11) "Income"—(a) All appreciable gains in real or personal property (cash or kind) or other assets, which are
received by or become available for use and enjoyment by an
applicant or recipient during the month of application or after
applying for or receiving public assistance. The department
may by rule and regulation exempt income received by an
applicant for or recipient of public assistance which can be
used by him or her to decrease his or her need for public
assistance or to aid in rehabilitating him or her or his or her
dependents, but such exemption shall not, unless otherwise
provided in this title, exceed the exemptions of resources
granted under this chapter to an applicant for public assistance. In addition, for cash assistance the department may
disregard income pursuant to RCW 74.08A.230 and
74.12.350.
(b) If, under applicable federal requirements, the state
has the option of considering property in the form of lump
sum compensatory awards or related settlements received by
[Title 74 RCW—page 3]
74.04.00511
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
an applicant or recipient as income or as a resource, the
department shall consider such property to be a resource.
(12) "Need"—The difference between the applicant’s or
recipient’s standards of assistance for himself or herself and
the dependent members of his or her family, as measured by
the standards of the department, and value of all nonexempt
resources and nonexempt income received by or available to
the applicant or recipient and the dependent members of his
or her family.
(13) For purposes of determining eligibility for public
assistance and participation levels in the cost of medical care,
the department shall exempt restitution payments made to
people of Japanese and Aleut ancestry pursuant to the Civil
Liberties Act of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island
Restitution Act passed by congress, P.L. 100-383, including
all income and resources derived therefrom.
(14) In the construction of words and phrases used in this
title, the singular number shall include the plural, the masculine gender shall include both the feminine and neuter genders and the present tense shall include the past and future
tenses, unless the context thereof shall clearly indicate to the
contrary. [2003 1st sp.s. c 10 § 1; 2000 c 218 § 1. Prior:
1998 c 80 § 1; 1998 c 79 § 6; prior: 1997 c 59 § 10; 1997 c
58 § 309; prior: 1992 c 165 § 1; 1992 c 136 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c
10 § 1; 1991 c 126 § 1; 1990 c 285 § 2; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 §
816; prior: 1987 c 406 § 9; 1987 c 75 § 31; 1985 c 335 § 2;
1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 36; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 5; 1981 1st
ex.s. c 6 § 1; prior: 1981 c 8 § 1; prior: 1980 c 174 § 1; 1980
c 84 § 1; 1979 c 141 § 294; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c
2 § 1; 1963 c 228 § 1; 1961 c 235 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.005;
prior: (i) 1947 c 289 § 1; 1939 c 216 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
10007-101a. (ii) 1957 c 63 § 1; 1953 c 174 § 17; 1951 c 122
§ 1; 1951 c 1 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 178, approved
November 7, 1950); 1949 c 6 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 999833c.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—1991 sp.s. c 10: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 sp.s. c 10 § 2.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 10: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 sp.s. c 10 § 3.]
Findings—Purpose—1990 c 285: "(1) The legislature finds that each
year less than five percent of pregnant teens relinquish their babies for adoption in Washington state. Nationally, fewer than eight percent of pregnant
teens relinquish their babies for adoption.
(2) The legislature further finds that barriers such as lack of information about adoption, inability to voluntarily enter into adoption agreements,
and current state public assistance policies act as disincentives to adoption.
(3) It is the purpose of this act to support adoption as an option for
women with unintended pregnancies by removing barriers that act as disincentives to adoption." [1990 c 285 § 1.]
Severability—1990 c 285: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1990 c 285 § 10.]
Effective date—Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910
and 43.70.920.
Savings—Severability—1987 c 75: See RCW 43.20B.900 and
43.20B.901.
[Title 74 RCW—page 4]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1981." [1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 31.]
Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 30.]
Consolidated standards of need: RCW 74.04.770.
74.04.00511
74.04.00511 Limitations on "resource" and
"income." For purposes of RCW 74.04.005 (10) and (11),
"resource" and "income" do not include educational assistance awarded under *the gaining independence for students
with dependents program as defined in chapter 19, Laws of
2003 for recipients of temporary assistance for needy families. [2003 c 19 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: The gaining independence for students with dependents program is codified in chapter 28B.133 RCW.
Finding—Intent—Short title—Captions not law—2003 c 19: See
RCW 28B.133.005, 28B.133.900, and 28B.133.901.
74.04.0052
74.04.0052 Teen applicants’ living situation—Criteria—Presumption—Protective payee—Adoption referral. (1) The department shall determine, after consideration
of all relevant factors and in consultation with the applicant,
the most appropriate living situation for applicants under
eighteen years of age, unmarried, and pregnant who are eligible for general assistance as defined in RCW
74.04.005(6)(a)(ii)(A). An appropriate living situation shall
include a place of residence that is maintained by the applicant’s parents, parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative
as their or his or her own home and that the department finds
would provide an appropriate supportive living arrangement.
It also includes a living situation maintained by an agency
that is licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW that the department
finds would provide an appropriate supportive living arrangement. Grant assistance shall not be provided under this chapter if the applicant does not reside in the most appropriate living situation, as determined by the department.
(2) A pregnant minor residing in the most appropriate
living situation, as provided under subsection (1) of this section, is presumed to be unable to manage adequately the
funds paid to the minor or on behalf of the dependent child or
children and, unless the minor provides sufficient evidence to
rebut the presumption, shall be subject to the protective payee
requirements provided for under RCW 74.12.250 and
74.08.280.
(3) The department shall consider any statements or
opinions by either parent of the unmarried minor parent or
pregnant minor applicant as to an appropriate living situation
for the minor, whether in the parental home or other situation.
If the parents or a parent of the minor request, they or he or
she shall be entitled to a hearing in juvenile court regarding
designation of the parental home or other relative placement
as the most appropriate living situation for the pregnant or
parenting minor.
The department shall provide the parents or parent with
the opportunity to make a showing that the parental home, or
home of the other relative placement, is the most appropriate
living situation. It shall be presumed in any administrative or
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions—Administration
judicial proceeding conducted under this subsection that the
parental home or other relative placement requested by the
parents or parent is the most appropriate living situation. This
presumption is rebuttable.
(4) In cases in which the minor is unmarried and unemployed, the department shall, as part of the determination of
the appropriate living situation, provide information about
adoption including referral to community-based organizations providing counseling.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "most appropriate
living situation" shall not include a living situation including
an adult male who fathered the qualifying child and is found
to meet the elements of rape of a child as set forth in RCW
9A.44.079. [1997 c 58 § 502; 1994 c 299 § 34.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
Aid to families with dependent children: RCW 74.12.255.
74.04.006
74.04.006 Contract of sale of property—Availability
as a resource or income—Establishment. The department
may establish, by rule and regulation, the availability of a
contract of sale of real or personal property as a resource or
income as defined in RCW 74.04.005. [1973 1st ex.s. c 49 §
2.]
74.04.011
74.04.011 Secretary’s authority—Personnel. The
secretary of social and health services shall be the administrative head and appointing authority of the department of social
and health services and he shall have the power to and shall
employ such assistants and personnel as may be necessary for
the general administration of the department: PROVIDED,
That such employment is in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the state merit system. The secretary shall
through and by means of his assistants and personnel exercise
such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by
the public assistance laws of this state.
The authority vested in the secretary as appointing
authority may be delegated by the secretary or his designee to
any suitable employee of the department. [1979 c 141 § 295;
1969 ex.s. c 173 § 4; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.011. Prior: 1953 c
174 § 3. (i) 1937 c 111 § 3; RRS § 10785-2. (ii) 1937 c 111 §
5; RRS § 10785-4.]
State civil service law: Chapter 41.06 RCW.
74.04.015
74.04.015 Secretary responsible officer to administer
federal funds, etc. The secretary of social and health services shall be the responsible state officer for the administration of, and the disbursement of all funds, goods, commodities and services, which may be received by the state in connection with programs of public assistance or services related
directly or indirectly to assistance programs, and all other
matters included in the federal social security act approved
August 14, 1935, or any other federal act or as the same may
be amended excepting those specifically required to be
administered by other entities.
He shall make such reports and render such accounting
as may be required by the federal agency having authority in
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.033
the premises. [1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 2; 1981 c 8 § 2; 1979 c 141
§ 296; 1963 c 228 § 2; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.015. Prior: 1953 c
174 § 49; 1937 c 111 § 12; RRS § 10785-11.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
Children’s center for research and training in mental retardation, assistant
secretaries as advisory committee members: RCW 28B.20.412.
74.04.025
74.04.025 Bilingual services for non-English speaking applicants and recipients—Bilingual personnel,
when—Primary language pamphlets and written materials. (1) The department and the office of administrative hearings shall ensure that bilingual services are provided to nonEnglish speaking applicants and recipients. The services shall
be provided to the extent necessary to assure that non-English
speaking persons are not denied, or unable to obtain or maintain, services or benefits because of their inability to speak
English.
(2) If the number of non-English speaking applicants or
recipients sharing the same language served by any community service office client contact job classification equals or
exceeds fifty percent of the average caseload of a full-time
position in such classification, the department shall, through
attrition, employ bilingual personnel to serve such applicants
or recipients.
(3) Regardless of the applicant or recipient caseload of
any community service office, each community service
office shall ensure that bilingual services required to supplement the community service office staff are provided through
contracts with interpreters, local agencies, or other community resources.
(4) Initial client contact materials shall inform clients in
all primary languages of the availability of interpretation services for non-English speaking persons. Basic informational
pamphlets shall be translated into all primary languages.
(5) To the extent all written communications directed to
applicants or recipients are not in the primary language of the
applicant or recipient, the department and the office of
administrative hearings shall include with the written communication a notice in all primary languages of applicants or
recipients describing the significance of the communication
and specifically how the applicants or recipients may receive
assistance in understanding, and responding to if necessary,
the written communication. The department shall assure that
sufficient resources are available to assist applicants and
recipients in a timely fashion with understanding, responding
to, and complying with the requirements of all such written
communications.
(6) As used in this section, "primary languages" includes
but is not limited to Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Chinese. [1998 c 245 § 143; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 §
33.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.04.033
74.04.033 Notification of availability of basic health
plan. The department shall notify any applicant for public
assistance who resides in a local area served by the Washington basic health plan and is under sixty-five years of age of
the availability of basic health care coverage to qualified
enrollees in the Washington basic health plan under chapter
70.47 RCW, unless the Washington basic health plan admin[Title 74 RCW—page 5]
74.04.040
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
istrator has notified the department of a closure of enrollment
in the area. The department shall maintain a supply of Washington basic health plan enrollment application forms, which
shall be provided in reasonably necessary quantities by the
administrator, in each appropriate community service office
for the use of persons wishing to apply for enrollment in the
Washington basic health plan. [1987 1st ex.s. c 5 § 18.]
Severability—1987 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 70.47.901.
74.04.040
74.04.040 Public assistance a joint federal, state, and
county function—Notice required. The care, support, and
relief of needy persons is hereby declared to be a joint federal, state, and county function. County offices are charged
with the responsibility for the administration of public assistance within the respective county or counties or parts thereof
as local offices of the department as prescribed by the rules
and regulations of the department.
Whenever a city or town establishes a program or policy
for the care, support, and relief of needy persons it shall provide notice of the program or policy to the county or counties
within which the city or town is located. [1981 c 191 § 1;
1959 c 26 § 74.04.040. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 12; 1939 c 216 §
5; RRS § 10007-105a.]
74.04.050
74.04.050 Department to administer public assistance programs. The department shall serve as the single
state agency to administer public assistance. The department
is hereby empowered and authorized to cooperate in the
administration of such federal laws, consistent with the public assistance laws of this state, as may be necessary to qualify for federal funds for:
(1) Medical assistance;
(2) Aid to dependent children;
(3) Child welfare services; and
(4) Any other programs of public assistance for which
provision for federal grants or funds may from time to time
be made.
The state hereby accepts and assents to all the present
provisions of the federal law under which federal grants or
funds, goods, commodities and services are extended to the
state for the support of programs administered by the department, and to such additional legislation as may subsequently
be enacted as is not inconsistent with the purposes of this
title, authorizing public welfare and assistance activities. The
provisions of this title shall be so administered as to conform
with federal requirements with respect to eligibility for the
receipt of federal grants or funds.
The department shall periodically make application for
federal grants or funds and submit such plans, reports and
data, as are required by any act of congress as a condition precedent to the receipt of federal funds for such assistance. The
department shall make and enforce such rules and regulations
as shall be necessary to insure compliance with the terms and
conditions of such federal grants or funds. [1981 1st ex.s. c 6
§ 3; 1981 c 8 § 3; 1963 c 228 § 3; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.050.
Prior: 1955 c 273 § 21; 1953 c 174 § 6; 1939 c 216 § 6; RRS
§ 10007-106a.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
[Title 74 RCW—page 6]
74.04.055
74.04.055 Cooperation with federal government—
Construction—Conflict with federal requirements. In
furtherance of the policy of this state to cooperate with the
federal government in the programs included in this title the
secretary shall issue such rules and regulations as may
become necessary to entitle this state to participate in federal
grants-in-aid, goods, commodities and services unless the
same be expressly prohibited by this title. Any section or provision of this title which may be susceptible to more than one
construction shall be interpreted in favor of the construction
most likely to satisfy federal laws entitling this state to
receive federal matching or other funds for the various programs of public assistance. If any part of this chapter is found
to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the receipts of federal funds to the state,
the conflicting part of this chapter is hereby inoperative
solely to the extent of the conflict with respect to the agencies
directly affected, and such finding or determination shall not
affect the operation of the remainder of this chapter. [1991 c
126 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 298; 1963 c 228 § 4; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.055. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 50.]
74.04.057
74.04.057 Promulgation of rules and regulations to
qualify for federal funds. The department is authorized to
promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to
qualify for any federal funds available under Title XVI of the
federal social security act, and any other combination of
existing programs of assistance consistent with federal law
and regulations. [1969 ex.s. c 173 § 3.]
74.04.060
74.04.060 Records, confidential—Exceptions—Penalty. (1)(a) For the protection of applicants and recipients,
the department and the county offices and their respective
officers and employees are prohibited, except as hereinafter
provided, from disclosing the contents of any records, files,
papers and communications, except for purposes directly
connected with the administration of the programs of this
title. In any judicial proceeding, except such proceeding as is
directly concerned with the administration of these programs,
such records, files, papers and communications, and their
contents, shall be deemed privileged communications and
except for the right of any individual to inquire of the office
whether a named individual is a recipient of welfare assistance and such person shall be entitled to an affirmative or
negative answer.
(b) Upon written request of a parent who has been
awarded visitation rights in an action for divorce or separation or any parent with legal custody of the child, the department shall disclose to him or her the last known address and
location of his or her natural or adopted children. The secretary shall adopt rules which establish procedures for disclosing the address of the children and providing, when appropriate, for prior notice to the custodian of the children. The
notice shall state that a request for disclosure has been
received and will be complied with by the department unless
the department receives a copy of a court order which enjoins
the disclosure of the information or restricts or limits the
requesting party’s right to contact or visit the other party or
the child. Information supplied to a parent by the department
shall be used only for purposes directly related to the enforcement of the visitation and custody provisions of the court
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions—Administration
order of separation or decree of divorce. No parent shall disclose such information to any other person except for the purpose of enforcing visitation provisions of the said order or
decree.
(c) The department shall review methods to improve the
protection and confidentiality of information for recipients of
welfare assistance who have disclosed to the department that
they are past or current victims of domestic violence or stalking.
(2) The county offices shall maintain monthly at their
offices a report showing the names and addresses of all recipients in the county receiving public assistance under this title,
together with the amount paid to each during the preceding
month.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly
designated representatives of approved private welfare agencies, public officials, members of legislative interim committees and advisory committees when performing duties
directly connected with the administration of this title, such
as regulation and investigation directly connected therewith:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any information so obtained
by such persons or groups shall be treated with such degree of
confidentiality as is required by the federal social security
law.
(4) It shall be unlawful, except as provided in this section, for any person, body, association, firm, corporation or
other agency to solicit, publish, disclose, receive, make use
of, or to authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or acquiesce in the use of any lists or names for commercial or political purposes of any nature. The violation of this section shall
be a gross misdemeanor. [2006 c 259 § 5; 1987 c 435 § 29;
1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 32; 1973 c 152 § 1; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.060. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 7; 1950 ex.s. c 10 § 1; 1941
c 128 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10007-106b.]
74.04.180
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—1973 c 152: See note following RCW 74.04.060.
74.04.070
74.04.070 County office—Administrator. There may
be established in each county of the state a county office
which shall be administered by an executive officer designated as the county administrator. The county administrator
shall be appointed by the secretary in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the state merit system. [1979 c 141 §
299; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.070. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 13; 1941 c
128 § 2, part; 1939 c 216 § 4, part; Code 1881 §§ 2680, 2696;
1854 p 422 § 19; 1854 p 395 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10007104a, part.]
74.04.080
74.04.080 County administrator—Personnel—Bond.
The county administrator shall have the power to, and shall,
employ such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this title, which employment shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state merit system,
and in accordance with personnel and administrative standards established by the department. The county administrator before qualifying shall furnish a surety bond in such
amount as may be fixed by the secretary, but not less than
five thousand dollars, conditioned that the administrator will
faithfully account for all money and property that may come
into his possession or control. The cost of such bond shall be
an administrative expense and shall be paid by the department. [1979 c 141 § 300; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.080. Prior: 1953
c 174 § 14; 1941 c 128 § 2, part; 1939 c 216 § 4, part; Code
1881 §§ 2680, 2696; 1854 p 422 § 19; 1854 p 395 § 1; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 10007-104a, part.]
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Severability—1973 c 152: "If any provision of this 1973 act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1973 c 152 § 3.]
Child support, department may disclose information to internal revenue
department: RCW 74.20.160.
74.04.062
74.04.062 Disclosure of recipient location to police
officer or immigration official. Upon written request of a
person who has been properly identified as an officer of the
law or a properly identified United States immigration official the department shall disclose to such officer the current
address and location of a recipient of public welfare if the
officer furnishes the department with such person’s name and
social security account number and satisfactorily demonstrates that such recipient is a fugitive, that the location or
apprehension of such fugitive is within the officer’s official
duties, and that the request is made in the proper exercise of
those duties.
When the department becomes aware that a public assistance recipient is the subject of an outstanding warrant, the
department may contact the appropriate law enforcement
agency and, if the warrant is valid, provide the law enforcement agency with the location of the recipient. [1997 c 58 §
1006; 1973 c 152 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.120
74.04.120 Basis of state’s allocation of federal aid
funds—County budget. Allocations of state and federal
funds shall be made upon the basis of need within the respective counties as disclosed by the quarterly budgets, considered in conjunction with revenues available for the satisfaction of that need: PROVIDED, That in preparing his quarterly budget for federal aid assistance, the administrator shall
include the aggregate of the individual case load approved by
the department to date on the basis of need and the secretary
shall approve and allocate an amount sufficient to service the
aggregate case load as included in said budget, and in the
event any portion of the budgeted case load cannot be serviced with moneys available for the particular category for
which an application is made the committee may on the
administrator’s request authorize the transfer of sufficient
general assistance funds to the appropriation for such category to service such case load and secure the benefit of federal matching funds. [1979 c 141 § 301; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.120. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 8, part; RRS § 10007-108a,
part.]
74.04.180
74.04.180 Joint county administration. Public assistance may be administered through a single administrator and
a single administrative office for one or more counties. There
may be a local office for the transaction of official business
[Title 74 RCW—page 7]
74.04.200
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
maintained in each county. [1959 c 26 § 74.04.180. Prior:
1953 c 174 § 15; 1939 c 216 § 12; RRS § 10007-112a.]
74.04.200
74.04.200 Standards—Established, enforced. It shall
be the duty of the department of social and health services to
establish statewide standards which may vary by geographical areas to govern the granting of assistance in the several
categories of this title and it shall have power to compel compliance with such standards as a condition to the receipt of
state and federal funds by counties for social security purposes. [1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 4; 1981 c 8 § 4; 1979 c 141 § 302;
1959 c 26 § 74.04.200. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 14; RRS § 10007114a.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.04.205
74.04.205 Simplified reporting for the food stamp
program. (1) To the maximum extent allowable by federal
law, the department shall implement simplified reporting for
the food stamp program by October 31, 2004.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "simplified reporting" means the only change in circumstance that a recipient
of a benefit program must report between eligibility reviews
is an increase of income that would result in ineligibility for
the benefit program or a change of address. Every six months
the assistance unit must either complete a semiannual report
or participate in an eligibility review. [2004 c 54 § 3.]
Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—2004 c 54: See
notes following RCW 28A.235.160.
74.04.210
74.04.210 Basis of allocation of moneys to counties.
The moneys appropriated for public assistance purposes and
subject to allocation as in this title provided shall be allocated
to counties on the basis of past experience and established
case load history. [1959 c 26 § 74.04.210. Prior: 1939 c 216
§ 15; RRS § 10007-115a.]
74.04.270
74.04.270 Audit of accounts—Uniform accounting
system. It shall be the duty of the state auditor to audit the
accounts, books and records of the department of social and
health services. The public assistance committee shall establish and install a uniform accounting system for all categories
of public assistance, applicable to all officers, boards, commissions, departments or other agencies having to do with the
allowance and disbursement of public funds for assistance
purposes, which said uniform accounting system shall conform to the accounting methods required by the federal government in respect to the administration of federal funds for
assistance purposes. [1979 c 141 § 304; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.270. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 21; RRS § 10007-121a.]
74.04.280
74.04.280 Assistance nontransferable and exempt
from process. Assistance given under this title shall not be
transferable or assignable at law or in equity and none of the
moneys received by recipients under this title shall be subject
to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal
process, or to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency
law. [1959 c 26 § 74.04.280. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 25; RRS §
10007-125a.]
74.04.290
74.04.290 Subpoena of witnesses, books, records, etc.
In carrying out any of the provisions of this title, the secretary, county administrators, hearing examiners, or other duly
authorized officers of the department shall have power to
subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and
compel the production of such papers, books, records and
documents as they may deem relevant to the performance of
their duties. Subpoenas issued under this power shall be
under RCW 43.20A.605. [1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 22; 1979 ex.s.
c 171 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 305; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 2; 1959 c 26
§ 74.04.290. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 26; RRS § 10007-126a.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.04.300
74.04.230
74.04.230 General assistance—Mental health services. Persons eligible for general assistance under RCW
74.04.005 are eligible for mental health services to the extent
that they meet the client definitions and priorities established
by chapter 71.24 RCW. [1982 c 204 § 16.]
Clients to be charged for mental health services: RCW 71.24.215.
74.04.265
74.04.265 Earnings—Deductions from grants. The
secretary may issue rules consistent with federal laws and
with memorials of the legislature, as will recognize the
income of any persons without the deduction in full thereof
from the amount of their grants. [1979 c 141 § 303; 1965
ex.s. c 35 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.265. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 16.]
74.04.266
74.04.266 General assistance—Earned income
exemption to be established for unemployable persons. In
determining need for general assistance for unemployable
persons as defined in RCW 74.04.005(6)(a), the department
may by rule and regulation establish a monthly earned
income exemption in an amount not to exceed the exemption
allowable under disability programs authorized in Title XVI
of the federal social security act. [1977 ex.s. c 215 § 1.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 8]
74.04.300 Recovery of payments improperly
received—Lien—Recipient reporting requirements. If a
recipient receives public assistance and/or food stamps or
food stamp benefits transferred electronically for which the
recipient is not eligible, or receives public assistance and/or
food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically
in an amount greater than that for which the recipient is eligible, the portion of the payment to which the recipient is not
entitled shall be a debt due the state recoverable under RCW
43.20B.030 and 43.20B.620 through 43.20B.645. It shall be
the duty of recipients of cash benefits to notify the department of changes to earned income as defined in RCW
74.04.005(11). It shall be the duty of recipients of cash benefits to notify the department of changes to liquid resources
as defined in RCW 74.04.005(10) that would result in ineligibility for cash benefits. It shall be the duty of recipients of
food benefits to report changes in income that result in ineligibility for food benefits. All recipients shall report changes
required in this section by the tenth of the month following
the month in which the change occurs. The department shall
make a determination of eligibility within ten days from the
date it receives the reported change from the recipient. The
department shall adopt rules consistent with federal law and
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions—Administration
regulations for additional reporting requirements. The
department shall advise applicants for assistance that failure
to report as required, failure to reveal resources or income,
and false statements will result in recovery by the state of any
overpayment and may result in criminal prosecution. [2003 c
208 § 1; 1998 c 79 § 7; 1987 c 75 § 32; 1982 c 201 § 16; 1980
c 84 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 306; 1973 1st ex.s. c 49 § 1; 1969 ex.s.
c 173 § 18; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.300. Prior: 1957 c 63 § 3; 1953
c 174 § 35; 1939 c 216 § 27; RRS § 10007-127a.]
Savings—Severability—1987 c 75: See RCW 43.20B.900 and
43.20B.901.
74.04.310
74.04.310 Authority to accept contributions. In furthering the purposes of this title, the secretary or any county
administrator may accept contributions or gifts in cash or otherwise from persons, associations or corporations, such contributions to be disbursed in the same manner as moneys
appropriated for the purposes of this title: PROVIDED, That
the donor of such gifts may stipulate the manner in which
such gifts shall be expended. [1979 c 141 § 309; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.310. Prior: 1939 c 216 § 28; RRS § 10007-128a.]
74.04.330
74.04.330 Annual reports by assistance organizations—Penalty. Every person, firm, corporation, association
or organization receiving twenty-five percent or more of its
income from contributions, gifts, dues, or other payments
from persons receiving assistance, community work and
training, federal-aid assistance, or any other form of public
assistance from the state of Washington or any agency or subdivision thereof, and engaged in political or other activities in
behalf of such persons receiving such public assistance, shall,
within ninety days after the close of each calendar year, make
a report to the secretary of social and health services for the
preceding year, which report shall contain:
(1) A statement of the total amount of contributions,
gifts, dues, or other payments received;
(2) The names of any and all persons, firms, corporations, associations or organizations contributing the sum of
twenty-five dollars or more during such year, and the
amounts contributed by such persons, firms, corporations,
associations, or organizations;
(3) A full and complete statement of all disbursements
made during such year, including the names of all persons,
firms, corporations, associations, or organizations to whom
any moneys were paid, and the amounts and purposes of such
payments; and
(4) Every such report so filed shall constitute a public
record.
(5) Any person, firm, or corporation, and any officer or
agent of any firm, corporation, association or organization,
violating this section by failing to file such report, or in any
other manner, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1979
c 141 § 310; 1963 c 228 § 5; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.330. Prior:
1941 c 170 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10007-138.]
74.04.340
74.04.340 Federal surplus commodities—Certification of persons eligible to receive commodities. The state
department of social and health services is authorized to
assist needy families and individuals to obtain federal surplus
commodities for their use, by certifying, when such is the
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.380
case, that they are eligible to receive such commodities.
However, only those who are receiving or are eligible for
public assistance or care and such others as may qualify in
accordance with federal requirements and standards shall be
certified as eligible to receive such commodities. [1979 c
141 § 311; 1959 c 26 § 74.04.340. Prior: 1957 c 187 § 2.]
Purchase of federal property: Chapter 39.32 RCW.
74.04.350
74.04.350 Federal surplus commodities—Not to be
construed as public assistance, eligibility not affected.
Federal surplus commodities shall not be deemed or construed to be public assistance and care or a substitute, in
whole or in part, therefor; and the receipt of such commodities by eligible families and individuals shall not subject
them, their legally responsible relatives, their property or
their estates to any demand, claim or liability on account
thereof. A person’s need or eligibility for public assistance or
care shall not be affected by his receipt of federal surplus
commodities. [1959 c 26 § 74.04.350. Prior: 1957 c 187 § 3.]
74.04.360
74.04.360 Federal surplus commodities—Certification deemed administrative expense of department.
Expenditures made by the state department of social and
health services for the purpose of certifying eligibility of
needy families and individuals for federal surplus commodities shall be deemed to be expenditures for the administration
of public assistance and care. [1979 c 141 § 312; 1959 c 26 §
74.04.360. Prior: 1957 c 187 § 4.]
74.04.370
74.04.370 Federal surplus commodities—County
program, expenses, handling of commodities. See RCW
36.39.040.
74.04.380
74.04.380 Federal and other surplus food commodities—Agreements—Personnel—Facilities—Cooperation
with other agencies—Discontinuance of program. The
secretary of social and health services, from funds appropriated to the department for such purpose, shall, upon receipt of
authorization from the governor, provide for the receiving,
warehousing and distributing of federal and other surplus
food commodities for the use and assistance of recipients of
public assistance or other needy families and individuals certified as eligible to obtain such commodities. The secretary is
authorized to enter into such agreements as may be necessary
with the federal government or any state agency in order to
participate in any program of distribution of surplus food
commodities including but not limited to a food stamp or
benefit program. The secretary shall hire personnel, establish
distribution centers and acquire such facilities as may be
required to carry out the intent of this section; and the secretary may carry out any such program as a sole operation of
the department or in conjunction or cooperation with any
similar program of distribution by private individuals or
organizations, any department of the state or any political
subdivision of the state.
The secretary shall discontinue such program, or any
part thereof, whenever in the determination of the governor
such program, or any part thereof, is no longer in the best
interest of the state. [1998 c 79 § 8; 1979 c 141 § 313; 1963
c 219 § 1; 1961 c 112 § 1.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 9]
74.04.385
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.04.385
74.04.385 Unlawful practices relating to surplus
commodities—Penalty. It shall be unlawful for any recipient of federal or other surplus commodities received under
RCW 74.04.380 to sell, transfer, barter or otherwise dispose
of such commodities to any other person. It shall be unlawful
for any person to receive, possess or use any surplus commodities received under RCW 74.04.380 unless he has been
certified as eligible to receive, possess and use such commodities by the state department of social and health services.
Violation of the provisions of RCW 74.04.380 or this
section shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail
for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than
five hundred dollars or both. [1979 c 141 § 314; 1963 c 219
§ 2.]
which households shall be certified or recertified to be eligible to receive food stamps, coupons, or food stamp or coupon
benefits transferred electronically under this plan. [1998 c 79
§ 10; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 5; 1981 c 8 § 5; 1969 ex.s. c 172 §
6.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.04.515
74.04.515 Food stamp program—Discrimination
prohibited. In administering the food stamp or benefits program, there shall be no discrimination against any applicant
or recipient by reason of age, sex, handicap, religious creed,
political beliefs, race, color, or national origin. [1998 c 79 §
11; 1991 c 126 § 4; 1969 ex.s. c 172 § 7.]
74.04.520
74.04.480
74.04.480 Educational leaves of absence for personnel. The state department of social and health services is
hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the granting to any employee of the department, other
than a provisional employee, a leave of absence for educational purposes to attend an institution of learning for the purpose of improving his skill, knowledge and technique in the
administration of social welfare programs which will benefit
the department.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the department,
employees of the department who are engaged in the administration of public welfare programs may (1) attend courses
of training provided by institutions of higher learning; (2)
attend special courses of study or seminars of short duration
conducted by experts on a temporary basis for the purpose;
(3) accept fellowships or traineeships at institutions of higher
learning with such stipends as are permitted by regulations of
the federal government.
The department of social and health services is hereby
authorized to accept any funds from the federal government
or any other public or private agency made available for
training purposes for public assistance personnel and to conform with such requirements as are necessary in order to
receive such funds. [1979 c 141 § 321; 1963 c 228 § 15.]
74.04.500
74.04.500 Food stamp program—Authorized. The
department is authorized to establish a food stamp or benefit
program under the federal food stamp act of 1977, as
amended. [1998 c 79 § 9; 1991 c 126 § 3; 1979 c 141 § 322;
1969 ex.s. c 172 § 4.]
Overpayment, recovery: RCW 74.04.300.
Unlawful use of food stamps: RCW 9.91.140.
74.04.510
74.04.510 Food stamp program—Rules. The department shall adopt rules conforming to federal laws, rules, and
regulations required to be observed in maintaining the eligibility of the state to receive from the federal government and
to issue or distribute to recipients, food stamps, coupons, or
food stamp or coupon benefits transferred electronically
under a food stamp or benefits plan. Such rules shall relate to
and include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The classifications of and requirements of eligibility of households to
receive food stamps, coupons, or food stamp or coupon benefits transferred electronically; and (2) the periods during
[Title 74 RCW—page 10]
74.04.520 Food stamp program—Confidentiality.
The provisions of RCW 74.04.060 relating to disclosure of
information regarding public assistance recipients shall apply
to recipients of food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically. [1998 c 79 § 12; 1969 ex.s. c 172 § 8.]
74.04.600
74.04.600 Supplemental security income program—
Purpose. The purpose of RCW 74.04.600 through 74.04.650
is to recognize and accept that certain act of congress known
as Public Law 92-603 and Public Law 93-66, and to enable
the department of social and health services to take advantage
of and implement the provisions of that act. The state shall
provide assistance to those individuals who were eligible or
would have been eligible for benefits under this state’s old
age assistance, disability assistance, and aid to the blind programs as they were in effect in December, 1973 but who will
no longer be eligible for such program due to Title XVI of the
Social Security Act. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 1.]
74.04.610
74.04.610 Supplemental security income program—
Termination of federal financial assistance payments—
Supersession by supplemental security income program.
Effective January 1, 1974, the financial assistance payments
under the federal aid categories of old age assistance, disability assistance, and blind assistance provided in chapters
74.08, *74.10, and 74.16 RCW, respectively, and the corresponding provisions of RCW 74.04.005, shall be terminated
and superseded by the national program to provide supplemental security income to individuals who have attained age
sixty-five or are blind or disabled as established by Public
Law 92-603 and Public Law 93-66: PROVIDED, That the
agreements between the department of social and health services and the United States department of health, education
and welfare receive such legislative authorization and/or ratification as required by **RCW 74.04.630. [1973 2nd ex.s. c
10 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Chapter 74.10 RCW was repealed by 1981 1st
ex.s. c 6 § 28, effective July 1, 1982; chapter 74.16 RCW was repealed by
1983 c 194 § 30, effective June 30, 1983.
**(2) The legislative authorization and/or ratification requirements in
RCW 74.04.630 were eliminated by 1986 c 158 § 22.
74.04.620
74.04.620 State supplement to national program of
supplemental security income—Authorized—Reimbursement of interim assistance, attorneys’ fees. (1) The
department is authorized to establish a program of state sup(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions—Administration
plementation to the national program of supplemental security income consistent with Public Law 92-603 and Public
Law 93-66 to those persons who are in need thereof in accordance with eligibility requirements established by the department.
(2) The department is authorized to establish reasonable
standards of assistance and resource and income exemptions
specifically for such program of state supplementation which
shall be consistent with the provisions of the Social Security
Act.
(3) The department is authorized to make payments to
applicants for supplemental security income, pursuant to
agreements as provided in Public Law 93-368, who are otherwise eligible for general assistance.
(4) Any agreement between the department and a supplemental security income applicant providing for the reimbursement of interim assistance to the department shall provide, if the applicant has been represented by an attorney, that
twenty-five percent of the reimbursement received shall be
withheld by the department and all or such portion thereof as
has been approved as a fee by the United States department of
health and human services shall be released directly to the
applicant’s attorney. The secretary may maintain such
records as are deemed appropriate to measure the cost and
effectiveness of such agreements and may make recommendations concerning the continued use of such agreements to
the legislature. [1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 37; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 §
7; 1981 c 8 § 6; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 3.]
Retroactive application—1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 37: "Section 37, chapter 41, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. shall be applied retroactively by the department of social and health services to all reimbursement of interim assistance
received on or after August 23, 1983, so long as the attorney of the applicant
for whom reimbursement is received began representing the applicant on or
after August 23, 1983." [1985 c 100 § 1.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.04.630
74.04.630 State supplementation to national program of supplemental security income—Contractual
agreements with federal government. The department may
enter into contractual agreements with the United States
department of health, education and welfare, consistent with
the provisions of Public Laws 92-603 and 93-66, and to be
effective January 1, 1974, for the purpose of enabling the secretary of the department of health, education and welfare to
perform administrative functions of state supplementation to
the national supplemental security income program and the
determination of medicaid eligibility on behalf of the state.
The department is authorized to transfer and make payments
of state funds to the secretary of the department of health,
education and welfare as required by Public Laws 92-603 and
93-66. These agreements shall be submitted for review and
comment to the social and health services committees of the
senate and house of representatives. The department of social
and health services shall administer the state supplemental
program as established in RCW 74.04.620. [2001 2nd sp.s. c
5 § 1; 1986 c 158 § 22; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 4.]
74.04.635
74.04.635 State supplement to national program of
supplemental security income—World War II Philippine
(2006 Ed.)
74.04.640
veterans. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
any person receiving benefits under RCW 74.04.620 on
December 14, 1999, and who meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section is eligible to receive benefits under
this section although he or she does not retain a residence in
the state and returns to the Republic of the Philippines, if he
or she maintains a permanent residence in the Republic of the
Philippines without any lapse of his or her presence in the
Republic of the Philippines.
(2) A person subject to subsection (1) of this section is
eligible to receive benefits pursuant to this section if he or she
was receiving benefits pursuant to RCW 74.04.620 on
December 14, 1999, and meets both the following requirements:
(a) He or she is a veteran of World War II; and
(b)(i) He or she was a member of the government of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces who was in
the service of the United States on July 26, 1941, or thereafter; or
(ii) He or she was a Regular Philippine Scout who
enlisted in Filipino-manned units of the United States army
prior to October 6, 1945; or
(iii) He or she was a member of the Special Philippine
Scouts who enlisted in the United States Armed Forces
between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947.
(3) Within funds appropriated for this purpose, the
department is authorized to make a one-time lump sum payment of one thousand five hundred dollars to each person eligible for benefits under this section.
(a) Benefits paid under this section are in lieu of benefits
paid under RCW 74.04.620 for the period for which the benefits are paid.
(b) Benefits are to be paid under this section for any
period during which the recipient is receiving benefits under
Title 8 of the federal social security act as a result of the
application of federal Public Law 106-169, subject to any
limitations imposed by this section.
(4) This section applies only to an individual who returns
to the Republic of the Philippines for the period during which
the individual establishes and maintains a residence in the
Republic of the Philippines. [2001 c 111 § 2.]
Findings—2001 c 111: "The legislature finds and declares:
(1) That soldiers who were members of the government of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces who were in the service of
the United States of America on July 31, 1941, including the organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief of the Southwest Pacific Area or other
competent authority in the Army of the United States, performed an invaluable function during World War II.
(2) It is in the public interest for the state of Washington to recognize
those courageous soldiers who fought and defended American interests during World War II and who are currently receiving supplemental state benefits under RCW 74.04.620 as of December 14, 1999, by permitting them to
return to their homeland to spend their last days without a complete forfeiture of benefits." [2001 c 111 § 1.]
74.04.640
74.04.640 Acceptance of referrals for vocational
rehabilitation—Reimbursement. Referrals to the state
department of social and health services for vocational rehabilitation made in accordance with section 1615 of Title XVI
of the Social Security Act, as amended, shall be accepted by
the state.
[Title 74 RCW—page 11]
74.04.650
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
The department shall be reimbursed by the secretary of
the department of health, education and welfare for the costs
it incurs in providing such vocational rehabilitation services.
[1973 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 5.]
74.04.650 Individuals failing to comply with federal
requirements. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
RCW 74.04.600 through 74.04.650, those individuals who
have been receiving supplemental security income assistance
and failed to comply with any federal requirements, including
those relating to drug abuse and alcoholism treatment and
rehabilitation, shall be ineligible for state assistance. [1981
1st ex.s. c 6 § 8; 1981 c 8 § 7; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 6.]
74.04.650
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.04.660 Family emergency assistance program.
The department shall establish a consolidated emergency
assistance program for families with children. Assistance
may be provided in accordance with this section.
(1) Benefits provided under this program shall be limited
to one period of time, as determined by the department,
within any consecutive twelve-month period.
(2) Benefits under this program shall be provided to alleviate emergent conditions resulting from insufficient income
and resources to provide for: Food, shelter, clothing, medical
care, or other necessary items, as defined by the department.
Benefits may also be provided for family reconciliation services, family preservation services, home-based services,
short-term substitute care in a licensed agency as defined in
RCW 74.15.020, crisis nurseries, therapeutic child care, or
other necessary services as defined by the department. Benefits shall be provided only in an amount sufficient to cover
the cost of the specific need, subject to the limitations established in this section.
(3)(a) The department shall, by rule, establish assistance
standards and eligibility criteria for this program in accordance with this section.
(b) Eligibility for benefits or services under this section
does not automatically entitle a recipient to medical assistance.
(4) The department shall seek federal emergency assistance funds to supplement the state funds appropriated for the
operation of this program as long as other departmental programs are not adversely affected by the receipt of federal
funds.
(5) If state funds appropriated for the consolidated emergency assistance program are exhausted, the department may
discontinue the program. [1994 c 296 § 1; 1993 c 63 § 1;
1989 c 11 § 26; 1985 c 335 § 3; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 6.]
74.04.660
in determining eligibility for and assistance to be provided by
public assistance programs. If the department considers food
stamp allotments or food stamp benefits transferred electronically as income in determining eligibility for assistance,
applicants or recipients for any grant assistance program
must apply for and take all reasonable actions necessary to
establish and maintain eligibility for food stamps or food
stamp benefits transferred electronically. [1998 c 79 § 13;
1981 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 1.]
74.04.760
74.04.760 Minimum amount of monthly assistance
payments. Payment of assistance shall not be made for any
month if the payment prior to any adjustments would be less
than ten dollars. However, if payment is denied solely by reason of this section, the individual with respect to whom such
payment is denied is determined to be a recipient of assistance for purposes of eligibility for other programs of assistance except for a community work experience program.
[1981 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 2.]
74.04.770
74.04.770 Consolidated standards of need—Rateable
reductions—Grant maximums. The department shall
establish consolidated standards of need each fiscal year
which may vary by geographical areas, program, and family
size, for temporary assistance for needy families, refugee
assistance, supplemental security income, and general assistance. Standards for temporary assistance for needy families,
refugee assistance, and general assistance shall be based on
studies of actual living costs and generally recognized inflation indices and shall include reasonable allowances for shelter, fuel, food, transportation, clothing, household maintenance and operations, personal maintenance, and necessary
incidentals. The standard of need may take into account the
economies of joint living arrangements, but unless explicitly
required by federal statute, there shall not be proration of any
portion of assistance grants unless the amount of the grant
standard is equal to the standard of need.
The department is authorized to establish rateable reductions and grant maximums consistent with federal law.
Payment level will be equal to need or a lesser amount if
rateable reductions or grant maximums are imposed. In no
case shall a recipient of supplemental security income receive
a state supplement less than the minimum required by federal
law.
The department may establish a separate standard for
shelter provided at no cost. [1997 c 59 § 11; 1983 1st ex.s. c
41 § 38; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 4.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.04.790
Severability—1989 c 11: See note following RCW 9A.56.220.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.04.750 Reporting requirements—Food stamp
allotments and rent or housing subsidies, consideration as
income. (1) Applicants and recipients under this title must
satisfy all reporting requirements imposed by the department.
(2) The secretary shall have the discretion to consider:
(a) Food stamp allotments or food stamp benefits transferred
electronically and/or (b) rent or housing subsidies as income
74.04.750
[Title 74 RCW—page 12]
74.04.790 Supplementary program—Reimbursement for employees being victims of assault. (1) For purposes of this section only, "assault" means an unauthorized
touching of a child protective, child welfare, or adult protective services worker employed by the department of social
and health services resulting in physical injury to the
employee.
(2) In recognition of the hazardous nature of employment in child protective, child welfare, and adult protective
services, the legislature hereby provides a supplementary
program to reimburse employees of the department, for some
(2006 Ed.)
Eligibility Generally—Standards of Assistance
of their costs attributable to their being the victims of assault
while in the course of discharging their assigned duties. This
program shall be limited to the reimbursement provided in
this section.
(3) An employee is only entitled to receive the reimbursement provided in this section if the secretary of social
and health services, or the secretary’s designee, finds that
each of the following has occurred:
(a) A person has assaulted the employee while the
employee was in the course of performing his or her official
duties and, as a result thereof, the employee has sustained
demonstrated physical injuries which have required the
employee to miss days of work;
(b) The assault cannot be attributable to any extent to the
employee’s negligence, misconduct, or failure to comply
with any rules or conditions of employment; and
(c) The department of labor and industries has approved
the employee’s workers’ compensation application pursuant
to chapter 51.32 RCW.
(4) The reimbursement authorized under this section
shall be as follows:
(a) The employee’s accumulated sick leave days shall
not be reduced for the workdays missed;
(b) For each workday missed for which the employee is
not eligible to receive compensation under chapter 51.32
RCW, the employee shall receive full pay; and
(c) In respect to workdays missed for which the
employee will receive or has received compensation under
chapter 51.32 RCW, the employee shall be reimbursed in an
amount which, when added to that compensation, will result
in the employee receiving full pay for the workdays missed.
(5) Reimbursement under this section may not last
longer than three hundred sixty-five consecutive days after
the date of the injury.
(6) The employee shall not be entitled to the reimbursement provided in subsection (4) of this section for any workday for which the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, finds
that the employee has not diligently pursued his or her compensation remedies under chapter 51.32 RCW.
(7) The reimbursement shall only be made for absences
which the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, believes are
justified.
(8) While the employee is receiving reimbursement
under this section, he or she shall continue to be classified as
a state employee and the reimbursement amount shall be considered as salary or wages.
(9) All reimbursement payments required to be made to
employees under this section shall be made by the department. The payments shall be considered as a salary or wage
expense and shall be paid by the department in the same manner and from the same appropriations as other salary and
wage expenses of the department.
(10) Should the legislature revoke the reimbursement
authorized under this section or repeal this section, no
affected employee is entitled thereafter to receive the reimbursement as a matter of contractual right. [2006 c 95 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 95: "The legislature finds that employees
of the department of social and health services who provide child protective,
child welfare, and adult protective services are sometimes faced with highly
volatile, hostile, and/or threatening situations during the course of performing their official duties. The legislature finds that the work group convened
by the department of social and health services pursuant to chapter 389,
(2006 Ed.)
74.08.025
Laws of 2005, has made various recommendations regarding policies and
protocols to address the safety of workers. The legislature intends to implement the work group’s recommendations for statutory changes in recognition of the sometimes hazardous nature of employment in child protective,
child welfare, and adult protective services." [2006 c 95 § 1.]
Chapter 74.08 RCW
ELIGIBILITY GENERALLY—STANDARDS
OF ASSISTANCE
Chapter 74.08
Sections
74.08.025
74.08.030
74.08.043
74.08.044
74.08.045
74.08.046
74.08.050
74.08.055
74.08.060
74.08.080
74.08.090
74.08.100
74.08.105
74.08.210
74.08.260
74.08.278
74.08.280
74.08.283
74.08.290
74.08.331
74.08.335
74.08.338
74.08.340
74.08.370
74.08.380
74.08.390
74.08.580
74.08.900
Eligibility for public assistance—Temporary assistance for
needy families—Limitations for new residents, drug or alcohol-dependent persons.
Old age assistance eligibility requirements.
Need for personal and special care—Authority to consider in
determining living requirements.
Need for personal and special care—Licensing—Rules and
regulations.
Need for personal and special care—Purchase of personal and
special care by department.
Energy assistance allowance.
Applications for grants.
Verification of applications—Penalty.
Action on applications—Contingent eligibility—Employment
and training services.
Grievances—Departmental and judicial review.
Rule-making authority and enforcement.
Age and residency verification—Felony.
Out-of-state recipients.
Grants not assignable nor subject to execution.
Federal act to control in event of conflict.
Central operating fund established.
Payments to persons incapable of self-care—Protective payee
services.
Services provided to attain self-care.
Suspension of payments—Need lapse—Imprisonment—Conviction under RCW 74.08.331.
Unlawful practices—Obtaining assistance—Disposal of
realty—Penalties.
Transfers of property to qualify for assistance.
Real property transfers for inadequate consideration.
No vested rights conferred.
Old age assistance grants charged against general fund.
Acceptance of federal act.
Research, projects, to effect savings by restoring self-support—Waiver of public assistance requirements.
Electronic benefit cards—Prohibited uses—Violations.
Limited application.
Public assistance eligibility—Payments exempt: RCW 43.185C.140.
74.08.025
74.08.025 Eligibility for public assistance—Temporary assistance for needy families—Limitations for new
residents, drug or alcohol-dependent persons. (1) Public
assistance may be awarded to any applicant:
(a) Who is in need and otherwise meets the eligibility
requirements of department assistance programs; and
(b) Who has not made a voluntary assignment of property or cash for the purpose of qualifying for an assistance
grant; and
(c) Who is not an inmate of a public institution except as
a patient in a medical institution or except as an inmate in a
public institution who could qualify for federal aid assistance: PROVIDED, That the assistance paid by the department to recipients in nursing homes, or receiving nursing
home care, may cover the cost of clothing and incidentals and
general maintenance exclusive of medical care and health
services. The department may pay a grant to cover the cost of
clothing and personal incidentals in public or private medical
institutions and institutions for tuberculosis. The department
shall allow recipients in nursing homes to retain, in addition
[Title 74 RCW—page 13]
74.08.030
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
to the grant to cover the cost of clothing and incidentals,
wages received for work as a part of a training or rehabilitative program designed to prepare the recipient for less restrictive placement to the extent permitted under Title XIX of the
federal social security act.
(2) Any person otherwise qualified for temporary assistance for needy families under this title who has resided in the
state of Washington for fewer than twelve consecutive
months immediately preceding application for assistance is
limited to the benefit level in the state in which the person
resided immediately before Washington, using the eligibility
rules and other definitions established under this chapter, that
was obtainable on the date of application in Washington
state, if the benefit level of the prior state is lower than the
level provided to similarly situated applicants in Washington
state. The benefit level under this subsection shall be in
effect for the first twelve months a recipient is on temporary
assistance for needy families in Washington state.
(3) Any person otherwise qualified for temporary assistance for needy families who is assessed through the state
alcohol and substance abuse program as drug or alcoholdependent and requiring treatment to become employable
shall be required by the department to participate in a drug or
alcohol treatment program as a condition of benefit receipt.
(4) Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 862a(d)(1), the department
shall exempt individuals from the eligibility restrictions of 21
U.S.C. 862a(a)(1) and (2) to ensure eligibility for temporary
assistance for needy families benefits and federal food assistance. [2005 c 174 § 2; 2004 c 54 § 5; 1997 c 58 § 101; 1981
1st ex.s. c 6 § 9; 1981 c 8 § 8; 1980 c 79 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 169
§ 1; 1967 ex.s. c 31 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.025. Prior: 1953
c 174 § 19.]
Findings—2005 c 174: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Too many families with children in Washington are unable to
afford shelter, clothing, and other necessities of life; basic necessities that are
at the core of economic security and family stability.
(2) Parents who lack resources for shelter, clothing, and transportation
are less likely to obtain employment or have the ability to adequately provide
for their children’s physical and emotional well-being and educational success.
(3) Washington’s temporary assistance for needy families helps financially struggling families find jobs, keep their jobs, get better jobs, and build
a better life for their children through the WorkFirst program.
(4) Participation in the WorkFirst program through temporary assistance for needy families is an important step towards self-sufficiency and
decreased long-term reliance on governmental assistance.
(5) Removing this barrier to participation in temporary assistance for
needy families and WorkFirst will serve to strengthen families and communities throughout the state.
(6) Preventing even one percent of these individuals from reoffending
by extending economic and employment opportunities will result in law
enforcement and correctional savings that substantially exceed the cost of
temporary assistance for needy families and WorkFirst services." [2005 c
174 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 174: "This act takes effect September 1, 2005."
[2005 c 174 § 3.]
Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—2004 c 54: See
notes following RCW 28A.235.160.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
[Title 74 RCW—page 14]
74.08.030
74.08.030 Old age assistance eligibility requirements.
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of RCW
74.08.025, an applicant for old age assistance must be an
applicant who:
(1) Has attained the age of sixty-five: PROVIDED, That
if an applicant for old age assistance is already on the assistance rolls in some other program or category of assistance,
such applicant shall be considered eligible the first of the
month immediately preceding the date on which such applicant will attain the age of sixty-five; and
(2) Is a resident of the state of Washington. [1971 ex.s.
c 169 § 2; 1961 c 248 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.030. Prior: 1953
c 174 § 20; 1951 c 165 § 1; 1951 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure
No. 178, approved November 7, 1950); 1949 c 6 § 4; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 9998-33d.]
74.08.043
74.08.043 Need for personal and special care—
Authority to consider in determining living requirements.
In determining the living requirements of otherwise eligible
applicants and recipients of supplemental security income
and general assistance, the department is authorized to consider the need for personal and special care and supervision
due to physical and mental conditions. [1981 1st ex.s. c 6 §
12; 1981 c 8 § 11; 1969 ex.s. c 172 § 10.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.08.044
74.08.044 Need for personal and special care—
Licensing—Rules and regulations. The department is
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing
eligibility for alternate living arrangements, and license the
same, including minimum standards of care, based upon need
for personal care and supervision beyond the level of board
and room only, but less than the level of care required in a
hospital or a nursing facility as defined in the federal social
security act. [1991 sp.s. c 8 § 5; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 52 § 1;
1969 ex.s. c 172 § 11.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
74.08.045
74.08.045 Need for personal and special care—Purchase of personal and special care by department. The
department may purchase such personal and special care at
reasonable rates established by the department from substitute homes and intermediate care facilities providing [provided] this service is in compliance with standards of care
established by the regulations of the department. [1969 ex.s.
c 172 § 12.]
74.08.046
74.08.046 Energy assistance allowance. There is designated to be included in the public assistance payment level
a monthly energy assistance allowance. The allowance shall
be excluded from consideration as income for the purpose of
determining eligibility and benefit levels of food stamp or
benefits program recipients to the maximum extent exclusion
is authorized by federal law. The allowance shall be calculated on a seasonal basis for the period of November 1st
through April 30th. [1998 c 79 § 14; 1982 c 127 § 1.]
Legislative intent—1982 c 127: "It is the continuing intention of the
legislature that first priority in the use of increased appropriations, expenditures, and payment levels for the 1981-83 biennium to income assistance
recipients be for an energy allowance to offset the high and escalating costs
(2006 Ed.)
Eligibility Generally—Standards of Assistance
of energy. Of the total amount appropriated or transferred for public assistance, an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 is designated as energy assistance allowance to meet the high cost of energy. This designation is consistent with the legislative intent of section 11, chapter 6, Laws of 1981 1st ex.
sess. to assist public assistance recipients in meeting the high costs of
energy." [1982 c 127 § 2.]
Effective date—1982 c 127: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1,
1982." [1982 c 127 § 4.]
74.08.050
74.08.050 Applications for grants. Application for a
grant in any category of public assistance shall be made to the
county office by the applicant or by another on his behalf, and
shall be reduced to writing upon standard forms prescribed
by the department, and a written acknowledgment of receipt
of the application by the department shall be given to each
applicant at the time of making application. [1971 ex.s. c 169
§ 3; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.050. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 26; 1949 c 6
§ 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 9998-33f.]
74.08.055
74.08.055 Verification of applications—Penalty. (1)
Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance shall
make an application for assistance which shall contain or be
verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. The secretary, by rule and regulation, may
require that any other forms filled out by applicants or recipients of public assistance shall contain or be verified by a
written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury and such declaration shall be in lieu of any oath otherwise required, and each applicant shall be so informed at the
time of the signing.
(2) Any applicant for or recipient of public assistance
who willfully makes and subscribes any application, statement or other paper which contains or is verified by a written
declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury and
which he or she does not believe to be true and correct as to
every material matter is guilty of a class B felony punishable
according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 366; 1979 c
141 § 323; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.055. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 27.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
74.08.060
74.08.060 Action on applications—Contingent eligibility—Employment and training services. The department shall be required to approve or deny the application
within forty-five days after the filing thereof and shall immediately notify the applicant in writing of its decision: PROVIDED, That if the department is not able within forty-five
days, despite due diligence, to secure all information necessary to establish his eligibility, the department is charged to
continue to secure such information and if such information,
when established, makes applicant eligible, the department
shall pay his grant from date of authorization or forty-five
days after date of application whichever is sooner.
Any person currently ineligible, who will become eligible after the occurrence of a specific event, may apply for
assistance within forty-five days of that event.
The department is authorized, in respect to work requirements, to provide employment and training services, including job search, job placement, work orientation, and necessary support services to verify eligibility. [1985 c 335 § 4;
(2006 Ed.)
74.08.080
1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 13; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 6; 1959 c 26 §
74.08.060. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 28; 1949 c 6 § 7; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 9998-33g.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.08.080
74.08.080 Grievances—Departmental and judicial
review. (1)(a) A public assistance applicant or recipient who
is aggrieved by a decision of the department or an authorized
agency of the department has the right to an adjudicative proceeding. A current or former recipient who is aggrieved by a
department claim that he or she owes a debt for an overpayment of assistance or food stamps or food stamp benefits
transferred electronically, or both, has the right to an adjudicative proceeding.
(b) An applicant or recipient has no right to an adjudicative proceeding when the sole basis for the department’s
decision is a state or federal law that requires an assistance
adjustment for a class of recipients.
(2) The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the
Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, and this
subsection.
(a) The applicant or recipient must file the application
for an adjudicative proceeding with the secretary within
ninety days after receiving notice of the aggrieving decision.
(b) The hearing shall be conducted at the local community services office or other location in Washington convenient to the appellant.
(c) The appellant or his or her representative has the right
to inspect his or her department file and, upon request, to
receive copies of department documents relevant to the proceedings free of charge.
(d) The appellant has the right to a copy of the tape
recording of the hearing free of charge.
(e) The department is limited to recovering an overpayment arising from assistance being continued pending the
adjudicative proceeding to the amount recoverable up to the
sixtieth day after the secretary’s receipt of the application for
an adjudicative proceeding.
(f) If the final adjudicative order is made in favor of the
appellant, assistance shall be paid from the date of denial of
the application for assistance or thirty days following the date
of application for temporary assistance for needy families or
forty-five days after date of application for all other programs, whichever is sooner; or in the case of a recipient, from
the effective date of the local community services office decision.
(g) This subsection applies only to an adjudicative proceeding in which the appellant is an applicant for or recipient
of medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the
medically needy and the issue is his or her eligibility or ineligibility due to the assignment or transfer of a resource. The
burden is on the department to prove by a preponderance of
the evidence that the person knowingly and willingly
assigned or transferred the resource at less than market value
for the purpose of qualifying or continuing to qualify for
medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the
medically needy. If the prevailing party in the adjudicative
proceeding is the applicant or recipient, he or she is entitled
to reasonable attorney’s fees.
[Title 74 RCW—page 15]
74.08.090
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(3) When a person files a petition for judicial review as
provided in RCW 34.05.514 of an adjudicative order entered
in a public assistance program, no filing fee shall be collected
from the person and no bond shall be required on any appeal.
In the event that the superior court, the court of appeals, or the
supreme court renders a decision in favor of the appellant,
said appellant shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees
and costs. If a decision of the court is made in favor of the
appellant, assistance shall be paid from date of the denial of
the application for assistance or thirty days after the application for temporary assistance for needy families or forty-five
days following the date of application, whichever is sooner;
or in the case of a recipient, from the effective date of the
local community services office decision. [1998 c 79 § 15;
1997 c 59 § 12; 1989 c 175 § 145; 1988 c 202 § 58; 1971 c 81
§ 136; 1969 ex.s. c 172 § 2; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.080. Prior:
1953 c 174 § 31; 1949 c 6 § 9; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 9998-33i.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
74.08.090
74.08.090 Rule-making authority and enforcement.
The department is hereby authorized to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this title to the
end that this title shall be administered uniformly throughout
the state, and that the spirit and purpose of this title may be
complied with. The department shall have the power to compel compliance with the rules and regulations established by
it. Such rules and regulations shall be filed in accordance
with the Administrative Procedure Act, as it is now or hereafter amended, and copies shall be available for public inspection in the office of the department and in each county office.
[1969 ex.s. c 173 § 5; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.090. Prior: 1953 c
174 § 5; 1949 c 6 § 10; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 9998-33j.]
74.08.100
74.08.100 Age and residency verification—Felony.
Proof of age and length of residence in the state of any applicant may be established as provided by the rules and regulations of the department: PROVIDED, That if an applicant is
unable to establish proof of age or length of residence in the
state by any other method he or she may make a statement
under oath of his or her age on the date of application or the
length of his or her residence in the state, before any judge of
the superior court, any judge of the court of appeals, or any
justice of the supreme court of the state of Washington, and
such statement shall constitute sufficient proof of age of
applicant or of length of residence in the state: PROVIDED
HOWEVER, That any applicant who willfully makes a false
statement as to his or her age or length of residence in the
state under oath before a judge of the superior court, a judge
of the court of appeals, or a justice of the supreme court, as
provided above, shall be guilty of a class B felony punishable
according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 367; 1971 c
81 § 137; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.100. Prior: 1949 c 6 § 11; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 9998-33k.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
74.08.105
74.08.105 Out-of-state recipients. No assistance payments shall be made to recipients living outside the state of
Washington unless in the discretion of the secretary there is
[Title 74 RCW—page 16]
sound social reason for such out-of-state payments: PROVIDED, That the period for making such payments when
authorized shall not exceed the length of time required to satisfy the residence requirements in the other state in order to
be eligible for a grant in the same category of assistance as
the recipient was eligible to receive in Washington. [1979 c
141 § 325; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.105. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 39.]
74.08.210
74.08.210 Grants not assignable nor subject to execution. Grants awarded under this title shall not be transferable
or assignable, at law or in equity, and none of the money paid
or payable under this title shall be subject to execution, levy,
attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the
operation of bankruptcy or insolvency law. [1959 c 26 §
74.08.210. Prior: 1941 c 1 § 16; 1935 c 182 § 17; 1933 c 29
§ 13; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 9998-49.]
74.08.260
74.08.260 Federal act to control in event of conflict.
If any plan of administration of this title submitted to the federal security agency shall be found to be not in conformity
with the federal social security act by reason of any conflict
of any section, portion, clause or part of this title and the federal social security act, such conflicting section, portion,
clause or part of this title is hereby declared to be inoperative
to the extent that it is so in conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the remainder of this title. [1959 c
26 § 74.08.260. Prior: 1949 c 6 § 17; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
9998-33q.]
74.08.278
74.08.278 Central operating fund established. In
order to comply with federal statutes and regulations pertaining to federal matching funds and to provide for the prompt
payment of initial grants and adjusting payments of grants the
secretary is authorized to make provisions for the cash payment of assistance by the secretary or county administrators
by the establishment of a central operating fund. The secretary may establish such a fund with the approval of the state
auditor from moneys appropriated to the department for the
payment of general assistance in a sum not to exceed one million dollars. Such funds shall be deposited as agreed upon by
the secretary and the state auditor in accordance with the laws
regulating the deposits of public funds. Such security shall be
required of the depository in connection with the fund as the
state treasurer may prescribe. Moneys remaining in the fund
shall be returned to the general fund at the end of the biennium, or an accounting of proper expenditures from the fund
shall be made to the state auditor. All expenditures from such
central operating fund shall be reimbursed out of and charged
to the proper program appropriated by the use of such forms
and vouchers as are approved by the secretary of the department and the state auditor. Expenditures from such fund shall
be audited by the director of financial management and the
state auditor from time to time and a report shall be made by
the state auditor and the secretary as are required by law.
[1979 c 141 § 327; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.278. Prior: 1953 c 174
§ 42; 1951 c 261 § 1.]
74.08.280
74.08.280 Payments to persons incapable of selfcare—Protective payee services. If any person receiving
public assistance has demonstrated an inability to care for
(2006 Ed.)
Eligibility Generally—Standards of Assistance
oneself or for money, the department may direct the payment
of the installments of public assistance to any responsible
person, social service agency, or corporation or to a legally
appointed guardian for his benefit. The state may contract
with persons, social service agencies, or corporations
approved by the department to provide protective payee services for a fixed amount per recipient receiving protective
payee services to cover administrative costs. The department
may by rule specify a fee to cover administrative costs. Such
fee shall not be withheld from a recipient’s grant.
If the state requires the appointment of a guardian for
this purpose, the department shall pay all costs and reasonable fees as fixed by the court. [1987 c 406 § 10; 1979 c 141
§ 328; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.280. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 40; 1937 c
156 § 7; 1935 c 182 § 10; RRS § 9998-10.]
Living situation presumption: RCW 74.12.255, 74.04.0052.
74.08.283
74.08.283 Services provided to attain self-care. The
department is authorized to provide such social and related
services as are reasonably necessary to the end that applicants
for or recipients of public assistance are helped to attain selfcare. [1963 c 228 § 16; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.283. Prior: 1957 c
63 § 6.]
74.08.290
74.08.290 Suspension of payments—Need lapse—
Imprisonment—Conviction under RCW 74.08.331. The
department is hereby authorized to suspend temporarily the
public assistance granted to any person for any period during
which such person is not in need thereof.
If a recipient is convicted of any crime or offense, and
punished by imprisonment, no payment shall be made during
the period of imprisonment.
If a recipient is convicted of unlawful practices under
RCW 74.08.331, no payment shall be made for a period to be
determined by the court, but in no event less than six months
upon the first conviction and no less than twelve months for a
second or subsequent violation. This suspension of public
assistance shall apply regardless of whether the recipient is
subject to complete or partial confinement upon conviction,
or incurs some lesser penalty. [1995 c 379 § 2; 1959 c 26 §
74.08.290. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 38; 1935 c 182 § 12; RRS §
9998-12.]
Finding—1995 c 379: "The legislature finds that welfare fraud damages the state’s ability to use its limited resources to help those in need who
legitimately qualify for assistance. In addition, it affects the credibility and
integrity of the system, promoting disdain for the law.
Persons convicted of committing such fraud should be barred, for a
period of time, from receiving additional public assistance." [1995 c 379 §
1.]
74.08.338
whatever source derived, including unemployment insurance, or any other change in circumstances affecting the person’s eligibility or need for assistance, or other fraudulent
device, obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any person to obtain any public assistance to which the person is not
entitled or greater public assistance than that to which he or
she is justly entitled is guilty of theft in the first degree under
RCW 9A.56.030 and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not
more than fifteen years.
(2) Any person who by means of a willfully false statement or representation or by impersonation or other fraudulent device aids or abets in buying, selling, or in any other
way disposing of the real property of a recipient of public
assistance without the consent of the secretary is guilty of a
gross misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year in the
county jail or a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars or
by both. [2003 c 53 § 368; 1998 c 79 § 16; 1997 c 58 § 303;
1992 c 7 § 59; 1979 c 141 § 329; 1965 ex.s. c 34 § 1.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.08.335
74.08.335 Transfers of property to qualify for assistance. Temporary assistance for needy families and general
assistance shall not be granted to any person who has made
an assignment or transfer of property for the purpose of rendering himself or herself eligible for the assistance. There is a
rebuttable presumption that a person who has transferred or
transfers any real or personal property or any interest in property within two years of the date of application for the assistance without receiving adequate monetary consideration
therefor, did so for the purpose of rendering himself or herself eligible for the assistance. Any person who transfers
property for the purpose of rendering himself or herself eligible for assistance, or any person who after becoming a recipient transfers any property or any interest in property without
the consent of the secretary, shall be ineligible for assistance
for a period of time during which the reasonable value of the
property so transferred would have been adequate to meet the
person’s needs under normal conditions of living: PROVIDED, That the secretary is hereby authorized to allow
exceptions in cases where undue hardship would result from
a denial of assistance. [1997 c 59 § 13; 1980 c 79 § 2; 1979 c
141 § 330; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.335. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 33.]
74.08.331
74.08.331 Unlawful practices—Obtaining assistance—Disposal of realty—Penalties. (1) Any person who
by means of a willfully false statement, or representation, or
impersonation, or a willful failure to reveal any material fact,
condition, or circumstance affecting eligibility or need for
assistance, including medical care, surplus commodities, and
food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically,
as required by law, or a willful failure to promptly notify the
county office in writing as required by law or any change in
status in respect to resources, or income, or need, or family
composition, money contribution and other support, from
(2006 Ed.)
74.08.338
74.08.338 Real property transfers for inadequate
consideration. When the consideration for a deed executed
and delivered by a recipient is not paid, or when the consideration does not approximate the fair cash market value of the
property, such deed shall be prima facie fraudulent as to the
state and the department may proceed under RCW
43.20B.660. [1987 c 75 § 40; 1979 c 141 § 331; 1959 c 26 §
74.08.338. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 37.]
Savings—Severability—1987 c 75: See RCW 43.20B.900 and
43.20B.901.
[Title 74 RCW—page 17]
74.08.340
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.08.340
74.08.340 No vested rights conferred. All assistance
granted under this title shall be deemed to be granted and to
be held subject to the provisions of any amending or repealing act that may hereafter be enacted, and no recipient shall
have any claim for compensation, or otherwise, by reason of
his assistance being affected in any way by such amending or
repealing act. There is no legal entitlement to public assistance. [1997 c 58 § 102; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.340. Prior: 1935
c 182 § 21; RRS § 9998-21.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.08.370
74.08.370 Old age assistance grants charged against
general fund. All old age assistance grants under this title
shall be a charge against and payable out of the general fund
of the state. Payment thereof shall be by warrant drawn upon
vouchers duly prepared and verified by the secretary of the
department of social and health services or his official representative. [1973 c 106 § 33; 1959 c 26 § 74.08.370. Prior:
1935 c 182 § 24; RRS § 9998-24. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1935 c 182 § 25; RRS § 9998-25, now codified as
RCW 74.08.375.]
74.08.380
74.08.380 Acceptance of federal act. The state hereby
accepts the provisions of that certain act of the congress of
the United States entitled, An Act to provide for the general
welfare by establishing a system of federal old age benefits,
and by enabling the several states to make more adequate
provisions for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and
crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health,
and the administration of their unemployment compensation
laws; to establish a social security board; to raise revenue;
and for other purposes, and such other act with like or similar
objects as may be enacted. [1959 c 26 § 74.08.380. Prior:
1937 c 156 § 12; 1935 c 182 § 26; RRS § 9998-26.]
74.08.390
74.08.390 Research, projects, to effect savings by
restoring self-support—Waiver of public assistance
requirements. The department of social and health services
may conduct research studies, pilot projects, demonstration
projects, surveys and investigations for the purpose of determining methods to achieve savings in public assistance programs by means of restoring individuals to maximum selfsupport and personal independence and preventing social and
physical disablement, and for the accomplishment of any of
such purposes may employ consultants or enter into contracts
with any agency of the federal, state or local governments,
nonprofit corporations, universities or foundations.
Pursuant to this authority the department may waive the
enforcement of specific statutory requirements, regulations,
and standards in one or more counties or on a statewide basis
by formal order of the secretary. The order establishing the
waiver shall provide alternative methods and procedures of
administration, shall not be in conflict with the basic purposes, coverage, or benefits provided by law, shall not be
general in scope but shall apply only for the duration of such
a project and shall not take effect unless the secretary of
health, education and welfare of the United States has agreed,
for the same project, to waive the public assistance plan
[Title 74 RCW—page 18]
requirements relative to statewide uniformity. [1979 c 141 §
332; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 7; 1963 c 228 § 17.]
74.08.580 Electronic benefit cards—Prohibited
uses—Violations. (1) Any person receiving public assistance is prohibited from using electronic benefit cards or cash
obtained with electronic benefit cards:
(a) For the purpose of participating in any of the activities authorized under chapter 9.46 RCW;
(b) For the purpose of parimutuel wagering authorized
under chapter 67.16 RCW; or
(c) To purchase lottery tickets or shares authorized under
chapter 67.70 RCW.
(2)(a) The department shall notify, in writing, all recipients of electronic benefit cards that any violation of subsection (1) of this section could result in legal proceedings and
forfeiture of all cash public assistance.
(b) Whenever the department receives notice that a person has violated subsection (1) of this section, the department
shall notify the person in writing that the violation could
result in legal proceedings and forfeiture of all cash public
assistance.
(c) The department shall assign a protective payee to the
person receiving public assistance who violates subsection
(1) of this section. [2002 c 252 § 1.]
74.08.580
74.08.900 Limited application. Nothing in this chapter
except RCW *74.08.070 and 74.08.080 applies to chapter
74.50 RCW. [1989 c 3 § 3.]
74.08.900
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.08.070 was repealed by 1989 c 175 § 185,
effective July 1, 1989.
Chapter 74.08A RCW
WASHINGTON WORKFIRST TEMPORARY
ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
Chapter 74.08A
Sections
74.08A.010
74.08A.020
74.08A.030
74.08A.040
74.08A.050
74.08A.060
74.08A.100
74.08A.110
74.08A.120
74.08A.130
74.08A.200
74.08A.210
74.08A.220
74.08A.230
74.08A.240
74.08A.250
74.08A.260
74.08A.270
74.08A.275
74.08A.280
74.08A.285
74.08A.290
74.08A.300
74.08A.310
74.08A.320
74.08A.330
Time limits—Transitional food stamp assistance.
Electronic benefit transfer.
Provision of services by religiously affiliated organizations—Rules.
Indian tribes—Program access—Funding—Rules.
Indian tribes—Tribal program—Fiscal year.
Food stamp work requirements.
Immigrants—Eligibility.
Immigrants—Sponsor deeming.
Immigrants—Food assistance.
Immigrants—Naturalization facilitation.
Intent—Washington WorkFirst.
Diversion program—Emergency assistance.
Individual development accounts—Microcredit and
microenterprise approaches—Rules.
Earnings disregards and earned income cutoffs.
Noncustodial parents in work programs.
"Work activity" defined.
Work activity—Referral—Individual responsibility plan—
Refusal to work.
Good cause.
Employability screening.
Program goal—Collaboration to develop work programs—
Contracts—Service areas—Regional plans.
Job search instruction and assistance.
Competitive performance-based contracting—Evaluation of
contracting practices—Contracting strategies.
Placement bonuses.
Self-employment assistance—Training and placement programs.
Wage subsidy program.
Community service program.
(2006 Ed.)
Washington WorkFirst Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
74.08A.340
74.08A.350
74.08A.380
74.08A.400
74.08A.410
74.08A.420
74.08A.430
74.08A.900
74.08A.901
74.08A.902
74.08A.903
74.08A.904
Funding restrictions.
Questionnaires—Job opportunities for welfare recipients.
Teen parents—Education requirements.
Outcome measures—Intent.
Outcome measures—Development—Benchmarks.
Outcome measures—Evaluations—Awarding contracts—
Bonuses.
Outcome measures—Report to legislature.
Short title—1997 c 58.
Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—1997 c
58.
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—1997 c 58.
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 58.
Severability—1997 c 58.
Interagency task force on unintended pregnancy: RCW 43.41.905.
74.08A.010
74.08A.010 Time limits—Transitional food stamp
assistance. (1) A family that includes an adult who has
received temporary assistance for needy families for sixty
months after July 27, 1997, shall be ineligible for further temporary assistance for needy families assistance.
(2) For the purposes of applying the rules of this section,
the department shall count any month in which an adult family member received a temporary assistance for needy families cash assistance grant unless the assistance was provided
when the family member was a minor child and not the head
of the household or married to the head of the household.
(3) The department shall refer recipients who require
specialized assistance to appropriate department programs,
crime victims’ programs through the department of community, trade, and economic development, or the crime victims’
compensation program of the department of labor and industries.
(4) The department may exempt a recipient and the
recipient’s family from the application of subsection (1) of
this section by reason of hardship or if the recipient meets the
family violence options of section 402(A)(7) of Title IVA of
the federal social security act as amended by P.L. 104-193.
The number of recipients and their families exempted from
subsection (1) of this section for a fiscal year shall not exceed
twenty percent of the average monthly number of recipients
and their families to which assistance is provided under the
temporary assistance for needy families program.
(5) The department shall not exempt a recipient and his
or her family from the application of subsection (1) of this
section until after the recipient has received fifty-two months
of assistance under this chapter.
(6) Beginning on October 31, 2005, the department shall
provide transitional food stamp assistance for a period of five
months to a household that ceases to receive temporary assistance for needy families assistance and is not in sanction status. If necessary, the department shall extend the household’s food stamp certification until the end of the transition
period. [2004 c 54 § 4; 1997 c 58 § 103.]
Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—2004 c 54: See
notes following RCW 28A.235.160.
74.08A.020
74.08A.020 Electronic benefit transfer. By October
2002, the department shall develop and implement an electronic benefit transfer system to be used for the delivery of
public assistance benefits, including without limitation, food
assistance.
The department shall comply with P.L. 104-193, and
shall cooperate with relevant federal agencies in the design
(2006 Ed.)
74.08A.060
and implementation of the electronic benefit transfer system.
[1997 c 58 § 104.]
74.08A.030
74.08A.030 Provision of services by religiously affiliated organizations—Rules. (1) The department shall allow
religiously affiliated organizations to provide services to
families receiving temporary assistance for needy families on
the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider, without impairing the religious character of such organizations,
and without diminishing the religious freedom of beneficiaries of assistance funded under chapter 74.12 RCW.
(2) The department shall adopt rules implementing this
section, and the applicable sections of P.L. 104-193 related to
services provided by charitable, religious, or private organizations. [1997 c 58 § 106.]
74.08A.040
74.08A.040 Indian tribes—Program access—Funding—Rules. The department shall (1) provide eligible Indian
tribes ongoing, meaningful opportunities to participate in the
development, oversight, and operation of the state temporary
assistance for needy families program; (2) certify annually
that it is providing equitable access to the state temporary
assistance for needy families program to Indian people whose
tribe is not administering a tribal temporary assistance for
needy families program; (3) coordinate and cooperate with
eligible Indian tribes that elect to operate a tribal temporary
assistance for needy families program as provided for in P.L.
104-193; (4) upon approval by the secretary of the federal
department of health and human services of a tribal temporary assistance for needy families program, transfer a fair and
equitable amount of the state maintenance of effort funds to
the eligible Indian tribe; and (5) establish rules related to the
operation of this section and RCW 74.08A.050, covering, at
a minimum, appropriate uses of state maintenance of effort
funds and annual reports on program operations. The legislature shall specify the amount of state maintenance of effort
funds to be transferred in the biennial appropriations act.
[1997 c 58 § 107.]
Reviser’s note: 1997 c 58 directed that this section be added to chapter
74.12 RCW. This section has been codified in chapter 74.08A RCW, which
relates more directly to the temporary assistance for needy families program.
74.08A.050
74.08A.050 Indian tribes—Tribal program—Fiscal
year. An eligible Indian tribe exercising its authority under
P.L. 104-193 to operate a tribal temporary assistance for
needy families program shall operate the program on a state
fiscal year basis. If a tribe decides to cancel a tribal temporary
assistance for needy families program, it shall notify the
department no later than ninety days prior to the start of the
state fiscal year. [1997 c 58 § 108.]
Reviser’s note: 1997 c 58 directed that this section be added to chapter
74.12 RCW. This section has been codified in chapter 74.08A RCW, which
relates more directly to the temporary assistance for needy families program.
74.08A.060
74.08A.060 Food stamp work requirements. Single
adults without dependents between eighteen and fifty years
of age shall comply with federal food stamp work requirements as a condition of eligibility. The department may
exempt any counties or subcounty areas from the federal food
stamp work requirements in P.L. 104-193, unless the department receives written evidence of official action by a county
[Title 74 RCW—page 19]
74.08A.100
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
or subcounty governing entity, taken after noticed consideration, that indicates that a county or subcounty area chooses
not to use an exemption to the federal food stamp work
requirements. [1997 c 58 § 110.]
Reviser’s note: 1997 c 58 directed that this section be added to chapter
74.12 RCW. This section has been codified in chapter 74.08A RCW, which
relates more directly to the temporary assistance for needy families program.
74.08A.100
74.08A.100 Immigrants—Eligibility. The state shall
exercise its option under P.L. 104-193 to continue services to
legal immigrants under temporary assistance for needy families, medicaid to the extent allowed by federal law, the state’s
basic health plan as provided in chapter 70.47 RCW, and
social services block grant programs. Eligibility for these
benefits for legal immigrants arriving after August 21, 1996,
is limited to those families where the parent, parents, or legal
guardians have been in residence in Washington state for a
period of twelve consecutive months before making their
application for assistance. Legal immigrants who lose benefits under the supplemental security income program as a
result of P.L. 104-193 are immediately eligible for benefits
under the state’s general assistance-unemployable program.
The department shall redetermine income and resource eligibility at least annually, in accordance with existing state policy. [2002 c 366 § 1; 1997 c 57 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 366: "This act takes effect October 1, 2002."
[2002 c 366 § 3.]
Captions not law—1997 c 57: "Captions used in this act are not any
part of the law." [1997 c 57 § 4.]
74.08A.110
74.08A.110 Immigrants—Sponsor deeming. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, qualified
aliens and aliens permanently residing under color of law
shall have their eligibility for assistance redetermined.
(2) In determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of a qualified alien or an alien permanently residing
under color of law for public assistance under this title, the
income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include
the income and resources of any person and his or her spouse
who executed an affidavit of support pursuant to section
213A of the federal immigration and naturalization act on
behalf of the alien for a period of five years following the
execution of that affidavit of support. The deeming provisions of this subsection shall be waived if the sponsor dies or
is permanently incapacitated during the period the affidavit
of support is valid.
(3) As used in this section, "qualified alien" has the
meaning provided it in P.L. 104-183.
(4)(a) Qualified aliens specified under sections 403, 412,
and 552 (e) and (f), subtitle B, Title IV, of P.L. 104-193 and
in P.L. 104-208, are exempt from this section.
(b) Qualified aliens who served in the armed forces of an
allied country, or were employed by an agency of the federal
government, during a military conflict between the United
States of America and a military adversary are exempt from
the provisions of this section.
(c) Qualified aliens who are victims of domestic violence
and petition for legal status under the federal violence against
women act are exempt from the provisions of this section.
[1997 c 57 § 2.]
Captions not law—1997 c 57: See note following RCW 74.08A.100.
[Title 74 RCW—page 20]
74.08A.120
74.08A.120 Immigrants—Food assistance. (1) The
department may establish a food assistance program for legal
immigrants who are ineligible for the federal food stamp program.
(2) The rules for the state food assistance program shall
follow exactly the rules of the federal food stamp program
except for the provisions pertaining to immigrant status.
(3) The benefit under the state food assistance program
shall be established by the legislature in the biennial operating budget.
(4) The department may enter into a contract with the
United States department of agriculture to use the existing
federal food stamp program coupon system for the purposes
of administering the state food assistance program.
(5) In the event the department is unable to enter into a
contract with the United States department of agriculture, the
department may issue vouchers to eligible households for the
purchase of eligible foods at participating retailers. [1999 c
120 § 4; 1997 c 57 § 3.]
Captions not law—1997 c 57: See note following RCW 74.08A.100.
74.08A.130
74.08A.130 Immigrants—Naturalization facilitation.
The department shall make an affirmative effort to identify
and proactively contact legal immigrants receiving public
assistance to facilitate their applications for naturalization.
The department shall obtain a complete list of legal immigrants in Washington who are receiving correspondence
regarding their eligibility from the social security administration. The department shall inform immigrants regarding how
citizenship may be attained. In order to facilitate the citizenship process, the department shall coordinate and contract, to
the extent necessary, with existing public and private
resources and shall, within available funds, ensure that those
immigrants who qualify to apply for naturalization are
referred to or otherwise offered classes. The department shall
assist eligible immigrants in obtaining appropriate test
exemptions, and other exemptions in the naturalization process, to the extent permitted under federal law. The department shall report annually by December 15th to the legislature regarding the progress and barriers of the immigrant naturalization facilitation effort. It is the intent of the legislature
that persons receiving naturalization assistance be facilitated
in obtaining citizenship within two years of their eligibility to
apply. [1997 c 58 § 204.]
74.08A.200
74.08A.200 Intent—Washington WorkFirst. It is the
intent of the legislature that all applicants to the Washington
WorkFirst program shall be focused on obtaining paid,
unsubsidized employment. The focus of the Washington
WorkFirst program shall be work for all recipients. [1997 c
58 § 301.]
74.08A.210
74.08A.210 Diversion program—Emergency assistance. (1) In order to prevent some families from developing
dependency on temporary assistance for needy families, the
department shall make available to qualifying applicants a
diversion program designed to provide brief, emergency
assistance for families in crisis whose income and assets
would otherwise qualify them for temporary assistance for
needy families.
(2006 Ed.)
Washington WorkFirst Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(2) Diversion assistance may include cash or vouchers in
payment for the following needs:
(a) Child care;
(b) Housing assistance;
(c) Transportation-related expenses;
(d) Food;
(e) Medical costs for the recipient’s immediate family;
(f) Employment-related expenses which are necessary to
keep or obtain paid unsubsidized employment.
(3) Diversion assistance is available once in each twelvemonth period for each adult applicant. Recipients of diversion assistance are not included in the temporary assistance
for needy families program.
(4) Diversion assistance may not exceed one thousand
five hundred dollars for each instance.
(5) To be eligible for diversion assistance, a family must
otherwise be eligible for temporary assistance for needy families.
(6) Families ineligible for temporary assistance for
needy families or general assistance due to sanction, noncompliance, the lump sum income rule, or any other reason are
not eligible for diversion assistance.
(7) Families must provide evidence showing that a bona
fide need exists according to subsection (2) of this section in
order to be eligible for diversion assistance.
An adult applicant may receive diversion assistance of
any type no more than once per twelve-month period. If the
recipient of diversion assistance is placed on the temporary
assistance for needy families program within twelve months
of receiving diversion assistance, the prorated dollar value of
the assistance shall be treated as a loan from the state, and
recovered by deduction from the recipient’s cash grant.
[1997 c 58 § 302.]
74.08A.220 Individual development accounts—
Microcredit and microenterprise approaches—Rules.
The department shall carry out a program to fund individual
development accounts established by recipients eligible for
assistance under the temporary assistance for needy families
program.
(1) An individual development account may be established by or on behalf of a recipient eligible for assistance
provided under the temporary assistance for needy families
program operated under this title for the purpose of enabling
the recipient to accumulate funds for a qualified purpose
described in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) A qualified purpose as described in this subsection is
one or more of the following, as provided by the qualified
entity providing assistance to the individual:
(a) Postsecondary expenses paid from an individual
development account directly to an eligible educational institution;
(b) Qualified acquisition costs with respect to a qualified
principal residence for a qualified first-time home buyer, if
paid from an individual development account directly to the
persons to whom the amounts are due;
(c) Amounts paid from an individual development
account directly to a business capitalization account which is
established in a federally insured financial institution and is
restricted to use solely for qualified business capitalization
expenses.
74.08A.220
(2006 Ed.)
74.08A.240
(3) A recipient may only contribute to an individual
development account such amounts as are derived from
earned income, as defined in section 911(d)(2) of the internal
revenue code of 1986.
(4) The department shall establish rules to ensure funds
held in an individual development account are only withdrawn for a qualified purpose as provided in this section.
(5) An individual development account established
under this section shall be a trust created or organized in the
United States and funded through periodic contributions by
the establishing recipient and matched by or through a qualified entity for a qualified purpose as provided in this section.
(6) For the purpose of determining eligibility for any
assistance provided under this title, all funds in an individual
development account under this section shall be disregarded
for such purpose with respect to any period during which
such individual maintains or makes contributions into such
an account.
(7) The department shall adopt rules authorizing the use
of organizations using microcredit and microenterprise
approaches to assisting low-income families to become
financially self-sufficient.
(8) The department shall adopt rules implementing the
use of individual development accounts by recipients of temporary assistance for needy families.
(9) For the purposes of this section, "eligible educational
institution," "postsecondary educational expenses," "qualified acquisition costs," "qualified business," "qualified business capitalization expenses," "qualified expenditures,"
"qualified first-time home buyer," "date of acquisition,"
"qualified plan," and "qualified principal residence" include
the meanings provided for them in P.L. 104-193. [1997 c 58
§ 307.]
74.08A.230
74.08A.230 Earnings disregards and earned income
cutoffs. (1) In addition to their monthly benefit payment, a
family may earn and keep one-half of its earnings during
every month it is eligible to receive assistance under this section.
(2) In no event may a family be eligible for temporary
assistance for needy families if its monthly gross earned
income exceeds the maximum earned income level as set by
the department. In calculating a household’s gross earnings,
the department shall disregard the earnings of a minor child
who is:
(a) A full-time student; or
(b) A part-time student carrying at least half the normal
school load and working fewer than thirty-five hours per
week. [1997 c 58 § 308.]
74.08A.240
74.08A.240 Noncustodial parents in work programs.
The department may provide Washington WorkFirst activities or make cross-referrals to existing programs to qualifying
noncustodial parents of children receiving temporary assistance for needy families who are unable to meet their child
support obligations. Services authorized under this section
shall be provided within available funds. [1997 c 58 § 310.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 21]
74.08A.250
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.08A.250
74.08A.250 "Work activity" defined. (Effective until
January 1, 2007.) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter, "work activity" means:
(1) Unsubsidized paid employment in the private or public sector;
(2) Subsidized paid employment in the private or public
sector, including employment through the state or federal
work-study program for a period not to exceed twenty-four
months;
(3) Work experience, including:
(a) An internship or practicum, that is paid or unpaid and
is required to complete a course of vocational training or to
obtain a license or certificate in a high demand field, as determined by the employment security department. No internship
or practicum shall exceed twelve months; or
(b) Work associated with the refurbishing of publicly
assisted housing, if sufficient paid employment is not available;
(4) On-the-job training;
(5) Job search and job readiness assistance;
(6) Community service programs;
(7) Vocational educational training, not to exceed twelve
months with respect to any individual;
(8) Job skills training directly related to employment;
(9) Education directly related to employment, in the case
of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or
a GED;
(10) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a
course of study leading to a GED, in the case of a recipient
who has not completed secondary school or received such a
certificate;
(11) The provision of child care services to an individual
who is participating in a community service program;
(12) Internships, that shall be paid or unpaid work experience performed by an intern in a business, industry, or government or nongovernmental agency setting;
(13) Practicums, which include any educational program
in which a student is working under the close supervision of
a professional in an agency, clinic, or other professional practice setting for purposes of advancing their skills and knowledge; and
(14) Services required by the recipient under RCW
74.08.025(3) and 74.08A.010(3) to become employable.
[2000 c 10 § 1; 1997 c 58 § 311.]
74.08A.250
74.08A.250 "Work activity" defined. (Effective January 1, 2007.) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
as used in this chapter, "work activity" means:
(1) Unsubsidized paid employment in the private or public sector;
(2) Subsidized paid employment in the private or public
sector, including employment through the state or federal
work-study program for a period not to exceed twenty-four
months;
(3) Work experience, including:
(a) An internship or practicum, that is paid or unpaid and
is required to complete a course of vocational training or to
obtain a license or certificate in a high demand field, as determined by the employment security department. No internship or practicum shall exceed twelve months; or
[Title 74 RCW—page 22]
(b) Work associated with the refurbishing of publicly
assisted housing, if sufficient paid employment is not available;
(4) On-the-job training;
(5) Job search and job readiness assistance;
(6) Community service programs;
(7) Vocational educational training, not to exceed twelve
months with respect to any individual;
(8) Job skills training directly related to employment;
(9) Education directly related to employment, in the case
of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or
a GED;
(10) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a
course of study leading to a GED, in the case of a recipient
who has not completed secondary school or received such a
certificate;
(11) The provision of child care services to an individual
who is participating in a community service program;
(12) Internships, that shall be paid or unpaid work experience performed by an intern in a business, industry, or government or nongovernmental agency setting;
(13) Practicums, which include any educational program
in which a student is working under the close supervision of
a professional in an agency, clinic, or other professional practice setting for purposes of advancing their skills and knowledge;
(14) Services required by the recipient under RCW
74.08.025(3) and 74.08A.010(3) to become employable; and
(15) Financial literacy activities designed to be effective
in assisting a recipient in becoming self-sufficient and financially stable. [2006 c 107 § 2; 2000 c 10 § 1; 1997 c 58 §
311.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 107: "The legislature finds that for a variety
of reasons, many citizens may lack the basic financial knowledge necessary
to spend their money wisely, save for the future, and manage money challenges, such as a job loss, financing a college education, or a catastrophic
injury. The legislature also finds that financial literacy is an essential element in achieving financial stability and self-sufficiency. The legislature
intends to encourage participation in financial literacy training by WorkFirst
participants, in order to promote their ability to make financial decisions that
will contribute to their long-term financial well-being." [2006 c 107 § 1.]
Effective date—2006 c 107: "This act takes effect January 1, 2007."
[2006 c 107 § 4.]
74.08A.260
74.08A.260 Work activity—Referral—Individual
responsibility plan—Refusal to work. (Effective until
January 1, 2007.) (1) Each recipient shall be assessed after
determination of program eligibility and before referral to job
search. Assessments shall be based upon factors that are critical to obtaining employment, including but not limited to
education, availability of child care, history of family violence, history of substance abuse, and other factors that affect
the ability to obtain employment. Assessments may be performed by the department or by a contracted entity. The
assessment shall be based on a uniform, consistent, transferable format that will be accepted by all agencies and organizations serving the recipient. Based on the assessment, an
individual responsibility plan shall be prepared that: (a) Sets
forth an employment goal and a plan for moving the recipient
immediately into employment; (b) contains the obligation of
the recipient to become and remain employed; (c) moves the
recipient into whatever employment the recipient is capable
(2006 Ed.)
Washington WorkFirst Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
of handling as quickly as possible; and (d) describes the services available to the recipient to enable the recipient to
obtain and keep employment.
(2) Recipients who are not engaged in work and work
activities, and do not qualify for a good cause exemption
under RCW 74.08A.270, shall engage in self-directed service
as provided in RCW 74.08A.330.
(3) If a recipient refuses to engage in work and work
activities required by the department, the family’s grant shall
be reduced by the recipient’s share, and may, if the department determines it appropriate, be terminated.
(4) The department may waive the penalties required
under subsection (3) of this section, subject to a finding that
the recipient refused to engage in work for good cause provided in RCW 74.08A.270.
(5) In implementing this section, the department shall
assign the highest priority to the most employable clients,
including adults in two-parent families and parents in singleparent families that include older preschool or school-age
children to be engaged in work activities.
(6) In consultation with the recipient, the department or
contractor shall place the recipient into a work activity that is
available in the local area where the recipient resides. [2003
c 383 § 1; 1997 c 58 § 313.]
74.08A.260 Work activity—Referral—Individual
responsibility plan—Refusal to work. (Effective January
1, 2007.) (1) Each recipient shall be assessed after determination of program eligibility and before referral to job search.
Assessments shall be based upon factors that are critical to
obtaining employment, including but not limited to education, availability of child care, history of family violence, history of substance abuse, and other factors that affect the ability to obtain employment. Assessments may be performed by
the department or by a contracted entity. The assessment
shall be based on a uniform, consistent, transferable format
that will be accepted by all agencies and organizations serving the recipient. Based on the assessment, an individual
responsibility plan shall be prepared that: (a) Sets forth an
employment goal and a plan for moving the recipient immediately into employment; (b) contains the obligation of the
recipient to become and remain employed; (c) moves the
recipient into whatever employment the recipient is capable
of handling as quickly as possible; and (d) describes the services available to the recipient to enable the recipient to
obtain and keep employment.
(2) Recipients who are not engaged in work and work
activities, and do not qualify for a good cause exemption
under RCW 74.08A.270, shall engage in self-directed service
as provided in RCW 74.08A.330.
(3) If a recipient refuses to engage in work and work
activities required by the department, the family’s grant shall
be reduced by the recipient’s share, and may, if the department determines it appropriate, be terminated.
(4) The department may waive the penalties required
under subsection (3) of this section, subject to a finding that
the recipient refused to engage in work for good cause provided in RCW 74.08A.270.
(5) In implementing this section, the department shall
assign the highest priority to the most employable clients,
including adults in two-parent families and parents in single74.08A.260
(2006 Ed.)
74.08A.270
parent families that include older preschool or school-age
children to be engaged in work activities.
(6) In consultation with the recipient, the department or
contractor shall place the recipient into a work activity that is
available in the local area where the recipient resides.
(7) Assessments conducted under this section shall
include a consideration of the potential benefit to the recipient of engaging in financial literacy activities. The department shall consider the options for financial literacy activities
available in the community, including information and
resources available through the financial literacy public-private partnership created under RCW 28A.300.450. The
department may authorize up to ten hours of financial literacy
activities as a core activity or an optional activity under
WorkFirst. [2006 c 107 § 3; 2003 c 383 § 1; 1997 c 58 §
313.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2006 c 107: See notes following
RCW 74.08A.250.
74.08A.270
74.08A.270 Good cause. (1) Good cause reasons for
failure to participate in WorkFirst program components
include: (a) Situations where the recipient is a parent or other
relative personally providing care for a child under the age of
six years, and formal or informal child care, or day care for an
incapacitated individual living in the same home as a dependent child, is necessary for an individual to participate or continue participation in the program or accept employment, and
such care is not available, and the department fails to provide
such care; or (b) the recipient is a parent with a child under
the age of one year, except that at the time a child reaches the
age of three months, the recipient is required to participate in
one of the following for up to twenty hours per week:
(i) Instruction or training which has the purpose of
improving parenting skills or child well-being;
(ii) Preemployment or job readiness training;
(iii) Course study leading to a high school diploma or
GED; or
(iv) Volunteering in a child care facility licensed under
chapter 74.15 RCW so long as the child care facility agrees to
accept the recipient as a volunteer and the child without compensation while the parent is volunteering at the facility. The
volunteer recipient and his or her child shall not be counted
for the purposes of determining licensed capacity or the staff
to child ratio of the facility.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent a recipient from
participating fully in the WorkFirst program on a voluntary
basis. A recipient who chooses to participate fully in the
WorkFirst program shall be considered to be fulfilling the
requirements of this section.
(3) For any recipient who claims a good cause reason for
failure to participate in the WorkFirst program based on the
fact that the recipient has a child under the age of one year,
the department shall, within existing resources, conduct an
assessment of the recipient within ninety days and before a
job search component is initiated in order to determine if the
recipient has any specific service needs or employment barriers. The assessment may include identifying the need for substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or domestic
violence services, and shall be used in developing the recipient’s individual responsibility plan.
[Title 74 RCW—page 23]
74.08A.275
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(4) A parent may only receive the exemption under subsection (1)(b) of this section one time, for one child. [2002 c
89 § 1; 1997 c 58 § 314.]
74.08A.275
74.08A.275 Employability screening. Each recipient
approved to receive temporary assistance for needy families
shall be subject to an employability screening under RCW
74.08A.260 after determination of program eligibility and
before referral to job search. If the employability screening
determines the recipient is not employable, or meets the criteria specified in RCW 74.08A.270 for a good cause exemption to work requirements, the department shall defer the job
search requirement under RCW 74.08A.285. [2003 c 383 §
2; 1999 c 340 § 1.]
74.08A.280
74.08A.280 Program goal—Collaboration to develop
work programs—Contracts—Service areas—Regional
plans. (1) The legislature finds that moving those eligible for
assistance to self-sustaining employment is a goal of the
WorkFirst program. It is the intent of WorkFirst to aid a participant’s progress to self-sufficiency by allowing flexibility
within the statewide program to reflect community resources,
the local characteristics of the labor market, and the composition of the caseload. Program success will be enhanced
through effective coordination at regional and local levels,
involving employers, labor representatives, educators, community leaders, local governments, and social service providers.
(2) The department, through its regional offices, shall
collaborate with employers, recipients, frontline workers,
educational institutions, labor, private industry councils, the
work force training and education coordinating board, community rehabilitation employment programs, employment
and training agencies, local governments, the employment
security department, and community action agencies to
develop work programs that are effective and work in their
communities. For planning purposes, the department shall
collect and make accessible to regional offices successful
work program models from around the United States, including the employment partnership program, apprenticeship programs, microcredit, microenterprise, self-employment, and
W-2 Wisconsin works. Work programs shall incorporate
local volunteer citizens in their planning and implementation
phases to ensure community relevance and success.
(3) To reduce administrative costs and to ensure equal
statewide access to services, the department may develop
contracts for statewide welfare-to-work services. These statewide contracts shall support regional flexibility and ensure
that resources follow local labor market opportunities and
recipients’ needs.
(4) The secretary shall establish WorkFirst service areas
for purposes of planning WorkFirst programs and for distributing WorkFirst resources. Service areas shall reflect department regions.
(5) By July 31st of each odd-numbered year, a plan for
the WorkFirst program shall be developed for each region.
The plan shall be prepared in consultation with local and
regional sources, adapting the statewide WorkFirst program
to achieve maximum effect for the participants and the communities within which they reside. Local consultation shall
[Title 74 RCW—page 24]
include to the greatest extent possible input from local and
regional planning bodies for social services and work force
development. The regional and local administrator shall consult with employers of various sizes, labor representatives,
training and education providers, program participants, economic development organizations, community organizations,
tribes, and local governments in the preparation of the service
area plan.
(6) The secretary has final authority in plan approval or
modification. Regional program implementation may deviate
from the statewide program if specified in a service area plan,
as approved by the secretary. [1997 c 58 § 315.]
74.08A.285
74.08A.285 Job search instruction and assistance.
The WorkFirst program operated by the department to meet
the federal work requirements specified in P.L. 104-193 shall
contain a job search component. The component shall consist of instruction on how to secure a job and assisted job
search activities to locate and retain employment. Nonexempt recipients of temporary assistance for needy families
shall participate in an initial job search for no more than
twelve consecutive weeks. Each recipient shall receive a
work skills assessment upon referral to the job search program. The work skills assessment shall include but not be
limited to education, employment history, employment
strengths, and job skills. The recipient’s ability to obtain
employment will be reviewed periodically thereafter and, if it
is clear at any time that further participation in a job search
will not be productive, the department shall assess the recipient pursuant to RCW 74.08A.260. The department shall refer
recipients unable to find employment through the initial job
search period to work activities that will develop their skills
or knowledge to make them more employable, including
additional job search and job readiness assistance. [2003 c
383 § 3; 1998 c 89 § 1.]
74.08A.290
74.08A.290 Competitive performance-based contracting—Evaluation of contracting practices—Contracting strategies. (1) It is the intent of the legislature that
the department is authorized to engage in competitive contracting using performance-based contracts to provide all
work activities authorized in chapter 58, Laws of 1997,
including the job search component authorized in *section
312 of this act.
(2) The department may use competitive performancebased contracting to select which vendors will participate in
the WorkFirst program. Performance-based contracts shall be
awarded based on factors that include but are not limited to
the criteria listed in RCW 74.08A.410, past performance of
the contractor, demonstrated ability to perform the contract
effectively, financial strength of the contractor, and merits of
the proposal for services submitted by the contractor. Contracts shall be made without regard to whether the contractor
is a public or private entity.
(3) The department may contract for an evaluation of the
competitive contracting practices and outcomes to be performed by an independent entity with expertise in government privatization and competitive strategies. The evaluation
shall include quarterly progress reports to the fiscal committees of the legislature and to the governor, starting at the first
(2006 Ed.)
Washington WorkFirst Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
quarter after the effective date of the first competitive contract and ending two years after the effective date of the first
competitive contract.
(4) The department shall seek independent assistance in
developing contracting strategies to implement this section.
Assistance may include but is not limited to development of
contract language, design of requests for proposal, developing full cost information on government services, evaluation
of bids, and providing for equal competition between private
and public entities. [1997 c 58 § 316.]
*Reviser’s note: Section 312 of this act was vetoed by the governor.
74.08A.300
74.08A.300 Placement bonuses. In the case of service
providers that are not public agencies, initial placement
bonuses of no greater than five hundred dollars may be provided by the department for service entities responsible for
placing recipients in an unsubsidized job for a minimum of
twelve weeks, and the following additional bonuses shall also
be provided:
(1) A percent of the initial bonus if the job pays double
the minimum wage;
(2) A percent of the initial bonus if the job provides
health care;
(3) A percent of the initial bonus if the job includes
employer-provided child care needed by the recipient; and
(4) A percent of the initial bonus if the recipient is continuously employed for two years. [1997 c 58 § 317.]
74.08A.310
74.08A.310 Self-employment assistance—Training
and placement programs. The department shall:
(1) Notify recipients of temporary assistance for needy
families that self-employment is one method of leaving state
assistance. The department shall provide its regional offices,
recipients of temporary assistance for needy families, and any
contractors providing job search, training, or placement services notification of programs available in the state for entrepreneurial training, technical assistance, and loans available
for start-up businesses;
(2) Provide recipients of temporary assistance for needy
families and service providers assisting such recipients
through training and placement programs with information it
receives about the skills and training required by firms locating in the state;
(3) Encourage recipients of temporary assistance for
needy families that are in need of basic skills to seek out programs that integrate basic skills training with occupational
training and workplace experience. [1997 c 58 § 324.]
74.08A.320
74.08A.320 Wage subsidy program. The department
shall establish a wage subsidy program for recipients of temporary assistance for needy families. The department shall
give preference in job placements to private sector employers
that have agreed to participate in the wage subsidy program.
The department shall identify characteristics of employers
who can meet the employment goals stated in RCW
74.08A.410. The department shall use these characteristics in
identifying which employers may participate in the program.
The department shall adopt rules for the participation of
recipients of temporary assistance for needy families in the
wage subsidy program. Participants in the program estab(2006 Ed.)
74.08A.340
lished under this section may not be employed if: (1) The
employer has terminated the employment of any current
employee or otherwise caused an involuntary reduction of its
work force in order to fill the vacancy so created with the participant; or (2) the participant displaces or partially displaces
current employees. Employers providing positions created
under this section shall meet the requirements of chapter
49.46 RCW. This section shall not diminish or result in the
infringement of obligations or rights under chapters 41.06,
41.56, and 49.36 RCW and the national labor relations act, 29
U.S.C. Ch. 7. The department shall establish such local and
statewide advisory boards, including business and labor representatives, as it deems appropriate to assist in the implementation of the wage subsidy program. Once the recipient is
hired, the wage subsidy shall be authorized for up to nine
months. [1997 c 58 § 325.]
74.08A.330
74.08A.330 Community service program. The
department shall establish the community service program to
provide the experience of work for recipients of public assistance. The program is intended to promote a strong work
ethic for participating public assistance recipients. Under this
program, public assistance recipients are required to volunteer to work for charitable nonprofit organizations and public
agencies, or engage in another activity designed to benefit the
recipient, the recipient’s family, or the recipient’s community, as determined by the department on a case-by-case
basis. Participants in a community service or work experience program established by this chapter are deemed employees for the purpose of chapter 49.17 RCW. The cost of premiums under Title 51 RCW shall be paid for by the department
for participants in a community service or work experience
program. Participants in a community service or work experience program may not be placed if: (1) An employer has
terminated the employment of any current employee or otherwise caused an involuntary reduction of its work force in
order to fill the vacancy so created with the participant; or (2)
the participant displaces or partially displaces current
employees. [1997 c 58 § 326.]
74.08A.340
74.08A.340 Funding restrictions. The department of
social and health services shall operate the Washington
WorkFirst program authorized under RCW 74.08A.200
through 74.08A.330, 43.330.145, 74.13.0903 and 74.25.040,
and chapter 74.12 RCW within the following constraints:
(1) The full amount of the temporary assistance for
needy families block grant, plus qualifying state expenditures
as appropriated in the biennial operating budget, shall be
appropriated to the department each year in the biennial
appropriations act to carry out the provisions of the program
authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330,
43.330.145, 74.13.0903 and 74.25.040, and chapter 74.12
RCW.
(2)(a) The department may expend funds defined in subsection (1) of this section in any manner that will effectively
accomplish the outcome measures defined in RCW
74.08A.410 with the following exception: Beginning with
the 2007-2009 biennium, funds that constitute the working
connections child care program, child care quality programs,
and child care licensing functions.
[Title 74 RCW—page 25]
74.08A.350
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(b) Beginning in the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium, the legislature shall appropriate and the department of early learning
shall expend funds defined in subsection (1) of this section
that constitute the working connections child care program,
child care quality programs, and child care licensing functions in a manner that is consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410.
(c) No more than fifteen percent of the amount provided
in subsection (1) of this section may be spent for administrative purposes. For the purpose of this subsection, "administrative purposes" does not include expenditures for information technology and computerization needed for tracking and
monitoring required by P.L. 104-193. The department shall
not increase grant levels to recipients of the program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330 and
43.330.145 and chapter 74.12 RCW.
(3) The department shall implement strategies that
accomplish the outcome measures identified in RCW
74.08A.410 that are within the funding constraints in this section. Specifically, the department shall implement strategies
that will cause the number of cases in the program authorized
in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330 and 43.330.145
and chapter 74.12 RCW to decrease by at least fifteen percent
during the 1997-99 biennium and by at least five percent in
the subsequent biennium. The department may transfer
appropriation authority between funding categories within
the economic services program in order to carry out the
requirements of this subsection.
(4) The department shall monitor expenditures against
the appropriation levels provided for in subsection (1) of this
section. The department shall quarterly make a determination as to whether expenditure levels will exceed available
funding and communicate its finding to the legislature. If the
determination indicates that expenditures will exceed funding at the end of the fiscal year, the department shall take all
necessary actions to ensure that all services provided under
this chapter shall be made available only to the extent of the
availability and level of appropriation made by the legislature. [2006 c 265 § 209; 1997 c 58 § 321.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
74.08A.350
74.08A.350 Questionnaires—Job opportunities for
welfare recipients. The department of social and health services shall create a questionnaire, asking businesses for information regarding available and upcoming job opportunities
for welfare recipients. The department of revenue shall
include the questionnaire in a regular quarterly mailing. The
department of social and health services shall receive
responses and use the information to develop work activities
in the areas where jobs will be available. [1997 c 58 § 1007.]
74.08A.380 Teen parents—Education requirements.
All applicants under the age of eighteen years who are
approved for assistance and, within one hundred eighty days
after the date of federal certification of the Washington temporary assistance for needy families program, all unmarried
minor parents or pregnant minor applicants shall, as a condition of receiving benefits, actively progress toward the completion of a high school diploma or a GED. [1997 c 58 §
503.]
74.08A.380
[Title 74 RCW—page 26]
74.08A.400
74.08A.400 Outcome measures—Intent. It is the
intent of the legislature that the Washington WorkFirst program focus on work and on personal responsibility for recipients. The program shall be evaluated among other evaluations, through a limited number of outcome measures
designed to hold each community service office and economic services region accountable for program success.
[1997 c 58 § 701.]
Effective dates—1997 c 58: See note following RCW 74.20A.320.
74.08A.410
74.08A.410 Outcome measures—Development—
Benchmarks. (1) The WorkFirst program shall develop outcome measures for use in evaluating the WorkFirst program
authorized in chapter 58, Laws of 1997, which may include
but are not limited to:
(a) Caseload reduction;
(b) Recidivism to caseload after two years;
(c) Job retention;
(d) Earnings;
(e) Reduction in average grant through increased recipient earnings; and
(f) Placement of recipients into private sector, unsubsidized jobs.
(2) The department shall require that contractors for
WorkFirst services collect outcome measure information and
report outcome measures to the department regularly. The
department shall develop benchmarks that compare outcome
measure information from all contractors to provide a clear
indication of the most effective contractors. Benchmark
information shall be published quarterly and provided to the
legislature, the governor, and all contractors for WorkFirst
services. [1997 c 58 § 702.]
Effective dates—1997 c 58: See note following RCW 74.20A.320.
74.08A.420
74.08A.420 Outcome measures—Evaluations—
Awarding contracts—Bonuses. Every WorkFirst office,
region, contract, employee, and contractor shall be evaluated
using the criteria in RCW 74.08A.410. The department shall
award contracts to the highest performing entities according
to the criteria in RCW 74.08A.410. The department may provide for bonuses to offices, regions, and employees with the
best outcomes according to measures in RCW 74.08A.410.
[1997 c 58 § 703.]
Effective dates—1997 c 58: See note following RCW 74.20A.320.
74.08A.430
74.08A.430 Outcome measures—Report to legislature. The department shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on achievement of the outcome measures by region and contract on an annual basis, no
later than January 15th of each year, beginning in 1999. The
report shall include how the department is using the outcome
measure information obtained under RCW 74.08A.410 to
manage the WorkFirst program. [1997 c 58 § 704.]
Effective dates—1997 c 58: See note following RCW 74.20A.320.
74.08A.900
74.08A.900 Short title—1997 c 58. This act may be
known and cited as the Washington WorkFirst temporary
assistance for needy families act. [1997 c 58 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
74.08A.901
74.08A.901 Part headings, captions, table of contents
not law—1997 c 58. Part headings, captions, and the table of
contents used in this act are not any part of the law. [1997 c
58 § 1008.]
74.08A.902
74.08A.902 Exemptions and waivers from federal
law—1997 c 58. The governor and the department of social
and health services shall seek all necessary exemptions and
waivers from and amendments to federal statutes, rules, and
regulations and shall report to the appropriate committees in
the house of representatives and senate quarterly on the
efforts to secure the federal changes to permit full implementation of this act at the earliest possible date. [1997 c 58 §
1009.]
74.08A.903
74.08A.903 Conflict with federal requirements—
1997 c 58. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with
federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the
allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and
with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding
does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its
application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this
act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state. As used in
this section, "allocation of federal funds to the state" means
the allocation of federal funds that are appropriated by the
legislature to the department of social and health services and
on which the department depends for carrying out any provision of the operating budget applicable to it. [1997 c 58 §
1011.]
74.08A.904
74.08A.904 Severability—1997 c 58. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1997 c 58 § 1012.]
74.09.185
74.09.190
74.09.200
74.09.210
74.09.220
74.09.230
74.09.240
74.09.250
74.09.260
74.09.270
74.09.280
74.09.290
74.09.300
74.09.402
74.09.405
74.09.415
74.09.425
74.09.435
74.09.450
74.09.500
74.09.510
74.09.520
74.09.522
74.09.5221
74.09.5225
74.09.5227
74.09.523
74.09.5241
74.09.5243
74.09.5245
74.09.5247
74.09.5249
74.09.5251
74.09.5253
74.09.5254
Chapter 74.09
Chapter 74.09 RCW
MEDICAL CARE
74.09.5255
74.09.5256
Sections
74.09.010
74.09.035
74.09.037
74.09.050
74.09.053
74.09.055
74.09.075
74.09.080
74.09.085
74.09.110
74.09.120
74.09.150
74.09.160
74.09.180
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Medical care services—Eligibility, standards—Limits.
Identification card—Social security number restriction.
Secretary’s responsibilities and duties—Personnel—Medical
screeners—Medical directors.
Annual reporting requirement.
Copayment, deductible, coinsurance, other cost-sharing
requirements authorized.
Employability and disability evaluation—Medical condition—Medical reports—Medical consultations and assistance.
Methods of performing administrative responsibilities.
Contracts—Performance measures—Financial incentives.
Administrative personnel—Professional consultants and
screeners.
Purchases of services, care, supplies—Nursing homes—Veterans’ homes—Institutions for mentally retarded—Institutions for mental diseases.
Personnel to be under existing merit system.
Presentment of charges by contractors.
Chapter does not apply if another party is liable—Exception—
Subrogation—Lien—Reimbursement—Delegation of lien
and subrogation rights.
74.09.530
74.09.540
74.09.545
74.09.555
74.09.565
74.09.575
74.09.585
74.09.595
74.09.600
74.09.650
74.09.660
74.09.700
74.09.720
74.09.725
74.09.730
74.09.740
74.09.755
Chapter 74.09
Third party has legal liability to make payments—State
acquires rights—Lien—Equitable subrogation does not
apply.
Religious beliefs—Construction of chapter.
Audits and investigations—Legislative declaration—State
authority.
Fraudulent practices—Penalties.
Liability for receipt of excess payments.
False statements, fraud—Penalties.
Bribes, kickbacks, rebates—Self-referrals—Penalties.
False statements regarding institutions, facilities—Penalties.
Excessive charges, payments—Penalties.
Failure to maintain trust funds in separate account—Penalties.
False verification of written statements—Penalties.
Department audits and investigations of providers—Patient
records—Penalties.
Department to report penalties to appropriate licensing agency
or disciplinary board.
Children’s health care—Findings—Intent.
Children’s health program—Purpose.
Children’s health program established.
Children’s health care accessibility—Community action.
Children’s health program—Biennial evaluation.
Children’s health insurance program—Intent—Department
duties.
Medical assistance—Established.
Medical assistance—Eligibility.
Medical assistance—Care and services included—Funding
limitations.
Medical assistance—Agreements with managed health care
systems required for services to recipients of temporary
assistance for needy families—Principles to be applied in
purchasing managed health care.
Medical assistance—Federal standards—Waivers—Application.
Medical assistance—Payments for services provided by rural
hospitals.
Implementation date—Payments for services provided by
rural hospitals.
PACE program—Definitions—Requirements.
Special education programs—Medical services—Finding—
Intent.
Special education programs—Definitions.
Special education programs—Medical services—Billing agent
contract process.
Special education programs—Medical services—District as
billing agent—Administrative fee.
Special education programs—Medical services—Billing agent
duties.
Special education programs—Medical services—Categories
of services—Reimbursement system.
Special education programs—Medical services—Student
information—Report to legislature.
Special education programs—Medical services—Reports to
superintendent of public instruction.
Special education programs—Medical services—Incentive
payments.
Special education programs—Medical services—Disbursement of revenue.
Medical assistance—Powers and duties of department.
Medical assistance—Working disabled—Intent.
Medical assistance or limited casualty program—Eligibility—
Agreements between spouses to transfer future income—
Community income.
Medical assistance—Reinstatement upon release from confinement—Expedited eligibility determinations.
Medical assistance for institutionalized persons—Treatment
of income between spouses.
Medical assistance for institutionalized persons—Treatment
of resources.
Medical assistance for institutionalized persons—Period of
ineligibility for transfer of resources.
Medical assistance for institutionalized persons—Due process
procedures.
Post audit examinations by state auditor.
Prescription drug assistance program.
Prescription drug education for seniors—Grant qualifications.
Medical care—Limited casualty program.
Prevention of blindness program.
Prostate cancer screening.
Disproportionate share hospital adjustment.
Amendments to state plan—Federal approval required.
AIDS—Community-based care—Federal social security act
waiver.
[Title 74 RCW—page 27]
74.09.010
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
MATERNITY CARE ACCESS PROGRAM
74.09.760
74.09.770
74.09.780
74.09.790
74.09.800
74.09.810
74.09.820
74.09.850
74.09.900
74.09.910
Short title—1989 1st ex.s. c 10.
Maternity care access system established.
Reservation of legislative power.
Definitions.
Maternity care access program established.
Alternative maternity care service delivery system established—Remedial action report.
Maternity care provider’s loan repayment program.
Conflict with federal requirements.
Other laws applicable.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 152.
Requirements to seek federal waivers and state law changes to medical
assistance program: RCW 43.20A.860.
74.09.010
74.09.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Children’s health program" means the health care
services program provided to children under eighteen years
of age and in households with incomes at or below the federal
poverty level as annually defined by the federal department
of health and human services as adjusted for family size, and
who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance or the
limited casualty program for the medically needy.
(2) "Committee" means the children’s health services
committee created in *section 3 of this act.
(3) "County" means the board of county commissioners,
county council, county executive, or tribal jurisdiction, or its
designee. A combination of two or more county authorities or
tribal jurisdictions may enter into joint agreements to fulfill
the requirements of RCW 74.09.415 through 74.09.435.
(4) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(5) "Department of health" means the Washington state
department of health created pursuant to RCW 43.70.020.
(6) "Internal management" means the administration of
medical assistance, medical care services, the children’s
health program, and the limited casualty program.
(7) "Limited casualty program" means the medical care
program provided to medically needy persons as defined
under Title XIX of the federal social security act, and to medically indigent persons who are without income or resources
sufficient to secure necessary medical services.
(8) "Medical assistance" means the federal aid medical
care program provided to categorically needy persons as
defined under Title XIX of the federal social security act.
(9) "Medical care services" means the limited scope of
care financed by state funds and provided to general assistance recipients, and recipients of alcohol and drug addiction
services provided under chapter 74.50 RCW.
(10) "Nursing home" means nursing home as defined in
RCW 18.51.010.
(11) "Poverty" means the federal poverty level determined annually by the United States department of health and
human services, or successor agency.
(12) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health
services. [1990 c 296 § 6; 1987 c 406 § 11; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6
§ 18; 1981 c 8 § 17; 1979 c 141 § 333; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.010.
Prior: 1955 c 273 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: "Section 3 of this act" [1990 c 296] which created the
committee was vetoed by the governor.
Effective date—1990 c 296: See note following RCW 74.09.405.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
[Title 74 RCW—page 28]
74.09.035
74.09.035 Medical care services—Eligibility, standards—Limits. (1) To the extent of available funds, medical
care services may be provided to recipients of general assistance, and recipients of alcohol and drug addiction services
provided under chapter 74.50 RCW, in accordance with medical eligibility requirements established by the department.
(2) Determination of the amount, scope, and duration of
medical care services shall be limited to coverage as defined
by the department, except that adult dental, and routine foot
care shall not be included unless there is a specific appropriation for these services.
(3) The department shall establish standards of assistance and resource and income exemptions, which may
include deductibles and co-insurance provisions. In addition,
the department may include a prohibition against the voluntary assignment of property or cash for the purpose of qualifying for assistance.
(4) Residents of skilled nursing homes, intermediate care
facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally
retarded who are eligible for medical care services shall be
provided medical services to the same extent as provided to
those persons eligible under the medical assistance program.
(5) Payments made by the department under this program shall be the limit of expenditures for medical care services solely from state funds.
(6) Eligibility for medical care services shall commence
with the date of certification for general assistance or the date
of eligibility for alcohol and drug addiction services provided
under chapter 74.50 RCW. [1987 c 406 § 12; 1985 c 5 § 1;
1983 1st ex.s. c 43 § 2; 1982 1st ex.s. c 19 § 3; 1981 1st ex.s.
c 6 § 19.]
Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 43: See note following RCW
74.09.700.
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 19: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
April 1, 1982 [April 3, 1982]." [1982 1st ex.s. c 19 § 6.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.09.037
74.09.037 Identification card—Social security number restriction. Any card issued after December 31, 2005,
by the department or a managed health care system to a person receiving services under this chapter, that must be presented to providers for purposes of claims processing, may
not display an identification number that includes more than
a four-digit portion of the person’s complete social security
number. [2004 c 115 § 3.]
74.09.050
74.09.050 Secretary’s responsibilities and duties—
Personnel—Medical screeners—Medical directors. The
secretary shall appoint such professional personnel and other
assistants and employees, including professional medical
screeners, as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the
provisions of this chapter. The medical screeners shall be
supervised by one or more physicians who shall be appointed
by the secretary or his or her designee. The secretary shall
appoint a medical director who is licensed under chapter
18.57 or 18.71 RCW. [2000 c 5 § 15; 1979 c 141 § 335; 1959
c 26 § 74.09.050. Prior: 1955 c 273 § 6.]
Intent—Purpose—2000 c 5: See RCW 48.43.500.
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
Application—Short title—Captions not law—Construction—Severability—Application to contracts—Effective dates—2000 c 5: See
notes following RCW 48.43.500.
74.09.053
74.09.053 Annual reporting requirement. (1) The
department of social and health services, in coordination with
the health care authority, shall by November 15th of each
year report to the legislature:
(a) The number of medical assistance recipients who: (i)
Upon enrollment or recertification had reported being
employed, and beginning with the 2008 report, the month and
year they reported being hired; or (ii) upon enrollment or
recertification had reported being the dependent of someone
who was employed, and beginning with the 2008 report, the
month and year they reported the employed person was hired.
For recipients identified under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, the department shall report the basis for their medical
assistance eligibility, including but not limited to family
medical coverage, transitional medical assistance, children’s
medical or aged or disabled coverage; member months; and
the total cost to the state for these recipients, expressed as
general fund-state, health services account and general
fund-federal dollars. The information shall be reported by
employer [size] for employers having more than fifty
employees as recipients or with dependents as recipients.
This information shall be provided for the preceding January
and June of that year.
(b) The following aggregated information: (i) The number of employees who are recipients or with dependents as
recipients by private and governmental employers; (ii) the
number of employees who are recipients or with dependents
as recipients by employer size for employers with fifty or
fewer employees, fifty-one to one hundred employees, one
hundred one to one thousand employees, one thousand one to
five thousand employees and more than five thousand
employees; and (iii) the number of employees who are recipients or with dependents as recipients by industry type.
[(2)] For each aggregated classification, the report will
include the number of hours worked, the number of department of social and health services covered lives, and the total
cost to the state for these recipients. This information shall be
for each quarter of the preceding year. [2006 c 264 § 2.]
74.09.055
74.09.055 Copayment, deductible, coinsurance, other
cost-sharing requirements authorized. The department is
authorized to establish copayment, deductible, or coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements for recipients of any
medical programs defined in RCW 74.09.010, except that
premiums shall not be imposed on children in households at
or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
[2006 c 24 § 1; 2003 1st sp.s. c 14 § 1; 1993 c 492 § 231; 1982
c 201 § 19.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 14: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July
1, 2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 14 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.120
74.09.075
74.09.075 Employability and disability evaluation—
Medical condition—Medical reports—Medical consultations and assistance. The department shall provide (a) for
evaluation of employability when a person is applying for
public assistance representing a medical condition as a basis
for need, and (b) for medical reports to be used in the evaluation of total and permanent disability. It shall further provide
for medical consultation and assistance in determining the
need for special diets, housekeeper and attendant services,
and other requirements as found necessary because of the
medical condition under the rules promulgated by the secretary. [1979 c 141 § 337; 1967 ex.s. c 30 § 2.]
74.09.080
74.09.080 Methods of performing administrative
responsibilities. In carrying out the administrative responsibility of this chapter, the department may contract with an
individual or a group, may utilize existing local state public
assistance offices, or establish separate welfare medical care
offices on a county or multicounty unit basis as found necessary. [1979 c 141 § 338; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.080. Prior: 1955
c 273 § 9.]
74.09.085
74.09.085 Contracts—Performance measures—
Financial incentives. The secretary shall, in collaboration
with other state agencies that administer state purchased
health care programs, private health care purchasers, health
care facilities, providers, and carriers, use evidence-based
medicine principles to develop common performance measures and implement financial incentives in contracts with
insuring entities, health care facilities, and providers that:
(1) Reward improvements in health outcomes for individuals with chronic diseases, increased utilization of appropriate preventive health services, and reductions in medical
errors; and
(2) Increase, through appropriate incentives to insuring
entities, health care facilities, and providers, the adoption and
use of information technology that contributes to improved
health outcomes, better coordination of care, and decreased
medical errors. [2005 c 446 § 3.]
74.09.110
74.09.110 Administrative personnel—Professional
consultants and screeners. The department shall employ
administrative personnel in both state and local offices and
employ the services of professional screeners and consultants
as found necessary to carry out the proper administration of
the program. [1979 c 141 § 339; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.110.
Prior: 1955 c 273 § 12.]
74.09.120
74.09.120 Purchases of services, care, supplies—
Nursing homes—Veterans’ homes—Institutions for mentally retarded—Institutions for mental diseases. The
department shall purchase necessary physician and dentist
services by contract or "fee for service." The department
shall purchase nursing home care by contract and payment
for the care shall be in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 74.46 RCW and rules adopted by the department
under the authority of RCW 74.46.800. No payment shall be
made to a nursing home which does not permit inspection by
the department of social and health services of every part of
its premises and an examination of all records, including
[Title 74 RCW—page 29]
74.09.150
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
financial records, methods of administration, general and
special dietary programs, the disbursement of drugs and
methods of supply, and any other records the department
deems relevant to the regulation of nursing home operations,
enforcement of standards for resident care, and payment for
nursing home services.
The department may purchase nursing home care by
contract in veterans’ homes operated by the state department
of veterans affairs and payment for the care shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 74.46 RCW and rules
adopted by the department under the authority of RCW
74.46.800.
The department may purchase care in institutions for the
mentally retarded, also known as intermediate care facilities
for the mentally retarded. The department shall establish
rules for reasonable accounting and reimbursement systems
for such care. Institutions for the mentally retarded include
licensed nursing homes, public institutions, licensed boarding homes with fifteen beds or less, and hospital facilities certified as intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded
under the federal medicaid program to provide health, habilitative, or rehabilitative services and twenty-four hour supervision for mentally retarded individuals or persons with
related conditions and includes in the program "active treatment" as federally defined.
The department may purchase care in institutions for
mental diseases by contract. The department shall establish
rules for reasonable accounting and reimbursement systems
for such care. Institutions for mental diseases are certified
under the federal medicaid program and primarily engaged in
providing diagnosis, treatment, or care to persons with mental diseases, including medical attention, nursing care, and
related services.
The department may purchase all other services provided under this chapter by contract or at rates established by
the department. [1998 c 322 § 45; 1993 sp.s. c 3 § 8; 1992 c
8 § 1; 1989 c 372 § 15; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 44; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 11 § 6; 1981 1st ex.s. c 2 § 11; (1980 c 177 § 84
repealed by 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 48); 1975 1st ex.s. c 213 §
1; 1967 ex.s. c 30 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.120. Prior: 1955 c
273 § 13.]
Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 1-37, 40-49, and 52-54: See RCW
74.46.906.
Severability—1998 c 322: See RCW 74.46.907.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.
Severability—Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 67: See RCW
74.46.905 and 74.46.901.
Severability—Effective dates—1981 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes following RCW 18.51.010.
Effective dates—1980 c 177: See RCW 74.46.901.
Conflict with federal requirements and this section: RCW 74.46.840.
74.09.150
74.09.150 Personnel to be under existing merit system. All personnel employed in the administration of the
medical care program shall be covered by the existing merit
system under the Washington personnel resources board.
[1993 c 281 § 66; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.150. Prior: 1955 c 273 §
16.]
Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
[Title 74 RCW—page 30]
74.09.160
74.09.160 Presentment of charges by contractors.
Each vendor or group who has a contract and is rendering service to eligible persons as defined in this chapter shall submit
such charges as agreed upon between the department and the
individual or group no later than twelve months from the date
of service. If the final charges are not presented within the
twelve-month period, they shall not be a charge against the
state. Said twelve-month period may also be extended by regulation, but only if required by applicable federal law or regulation, and to no more than the extension of time so
required. For services rendered prior to July 28, 1991, final
charges shall not be a charge against the state unless they are
presented within one hundred twenty days from the date of
service. [1991 c 103 § 1; 1980 c 32 § 11; 1979 ex.s. c 81 § 1;
1973 1st ex.s. c 48 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.160. Prior: 1955 c
273 § 17.]
74.09.180
74.09.180 Chapter does not apply if another party is
liable—Exception—Subrogation—Lien—Reimbursement—Delegation of lien and subrogation rights. (1) The
provisions of this chapter shall not apply to recipients whose
personal injuries are occasioned by negligence or wrong of
another: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the secretary may
furnish assistance, under the provisions of this chapter, for
the results of injuries to or illness of a recipient, and the
department shall thereby be subrogated to the recipient’s
rights against the recovery had from any tort feasor or the tort
feasor’s insurer, or both, and shall have a lien thereupon to
the extent of the value of the assistance furnished by the
department. To secure reimbursement for assistance provided
under this section, the department may pursue its remedies
under RCW 43.20B.060.
(2) The rights and remedies provided to the department
in this section to secure reimbursement for assistance, including the department’s lien and subrogation rights, may be delegated to a managed health care system by contract entered
into pursuant to RCW 74.09.522. A managed health care system may enforce all rights and remedies delegated to it by the
department to secure and recover assistance provided under a
managed health care system consistent with its agreement
with the department. [1997 c 236 § 1; 1990 c 100 § 2; 1987
c 283 § 14; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 14; 1971 ex.s. c 306 § 1; 1969
ex.s. c 173 § 8; 1959 c 26 § 74.09.180. Prior: 1955 c 273 §
19.]
Application—1990 c 100 §§ 2, 4, 7(1), 8(2): See note following RCW
43.20B.060.
Severability—Savings—1987 c 283: See notes following RCW
43.20A.020.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.09.185
74.09.185 Third party has legal liability to make payments—State acquires rights—Lien—Equitable subrogation does not apply. To the extent that payment for covered
expenses has been made under medical assistance for health
care items or services furnished to an individual, in any case
where a third party has a legal liability to make payments, the
state is considered to have acquired the rights of the individual to payment by any other party for those health care items
or services. Recovery pursuant to the subrogation rights,
assignment, or enforcement of the lien granted to the department by this section shall not be reduced, prorated, or applied
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
to only a portion of a judgment, award, or settlement, except
as provided in RCW 43.20B.050 and 43.20B.060. The doctrine of equitable subrogation shall not apply to defeat,
reduce, or prorate recovery by the department as to its assignment, lien, or subrogation rights. [1995 c 34 § 6.]
74.09.190
74.09.190 Religious beliefs—Construction of chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as empowering the secretary to compel any recipient of public assistance
and a medical indigent person to undergo any physical examination, surgical operation, or accept any form of medical
treatment contrary to the wishes of said person who relies on
or is treated by prayer or spiritual means in accordance with
the creed and tenets of any well recognized church or religious denomination. [1979 c 141 § 342; 1959 c 26 §
74.09.190. Prior: 1955 c 273 § 23.]
74.09.240
shall not apply to any acts or omissions occurring prior to
September 1, 1979. RCW 43.20A.215 governs notice of a
civil fine and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding.
(3) A criminal action need not be brought against a person for that person to be civilly liable under this section.
(4) In all proceedings under this section, service, adjudicative proceedings, and judicial review of such determinations shall be in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, the
Administrative Procedure Act.
(5) Civil penalties shall be deposited in the general fund
upon their receipt. [1989 c 175 § 146; 1987 c 283 § 7; 1979
ex.s. c 152 § 2.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—Savings—1987 c 283: See notes following RCW
43.20A.020.
74.09.220 Liability for receipt of excess payments.
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
agency, institution or other legal entity, but not including an
individual public assistance recipient of health care, that,
without intent to violate this chapter, obtains benefits or payments under this code to which such person or entity is not
entitled, or in a greater amount than that to which entitled,
shall be liable for (1) any excess benefits or payments
received, and (2) interest calculated at the rate and in the
manner provided in RCW 43.20B.695. Whenever a penalty is
due under RCW 74.09.210 or interest is due under RCW
43.20B.695, such penalty or interest shall not be reimbursable by the state as an allowable cost under any of the provisions of this chapter. [1987 c 283 § 8; 1979 ex.s. c 152 § 3.]
74.09.220
74.09.200
74.09.200 Audits and investigations—Legislative
declaration—State authority. The legislature finds and
declares it to be in the public interest and for the protection of
the health and welfare of the residents of the state of Washington that a proper regulatory and inspection program be
instituted in connection with the providing of medical, dental,
and other health services to recipients of public assistance
and medically indigent persons. In order to effectively
accomplish such purpose and to assure that the recipient of
such services receives such services as are paid for by the
state of Washington, the acceptance by the recipient of such
services, and by practitioners of reimbursement for performing such services, shall authorize the secretary of the department of social and health services or his designee, to inspect
and audit all records in connection with the providing of such
services. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 1.]
Severability—Savings—1987 c 283: See notes following RCW
43.20A.020.
74.09.230 False statements, fraud—Penalties. Any
person, including any corporation, that
(1) knowingly makes or causes to be made any false
statement or representation of a material fact in any application for any payment under any medical care program authorized under this chapter, or
(2) at any time knowingly makes or causes to be made
any false statement or representation of a material fact for use
in determining rights to such payment, or knowingly falsifies,
conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact in connection with such application or payment, or
(3) having knowledge of the occurrence of any event
affecting (a) the initial or continued right to any payment, or
(b) the initial or continued right to any such payment of any
other individual in whose behalf he has applied for or is
receiving such payment, conceals or fails to disclose such
event with an intent fraudulently to secure such payment
either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no
such payment is authorized,
shall be guilty of a class C felony: PROVIDED, That the
fine, if imposed, shall not be in an amount more than twentyfive thousand dollars, except as authorized by RCW
9A.20.030. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 4.]
74.09.230
74.09.210
74.09.210 Fraudulent practices—Penalties. (1) No
person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency,
institution, or other legal entity, but not including an individual public assistance recipient of health care, shall, on behalf
of himself or others, obtain or attempt to obtain benefits or
payments under this chapter in a greater amount than that to
which entitled by means of:
(a) A willful false statement;
(b) By willful misrepresentation, or by concealment of
any material facts; or
(c) By other fraudulent scheme or device, including, but
not limited to:
(i) Billing for services, drugs, supplies, or equipment that
were unfurnished, of lower quality, or a substitution or misrepresentation of items billed; or
(ii) Repeated billing for purportedly covered items,
which were not in fact so covered.
(2) Any person or entity knowingly violating any of the
provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall be liable for
repayment of any excess benefits or payments received, plus
interest at the rate and in the manner provided in RCW
43.20B.695. Such person or other entity shall further, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, be subject to civil
penalties. The secretary may assess civil penalties in an
amount not to exceed three times the amount of such excess
benefits or payments: PROVIDED, That these civil penalties
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.240 Bribes, kickbacks, rebates—Self-referrals—Penalties. (1) Any person, including any corporation,
that solicits or receives any remuneration (including any
74.09.240
[Title 74 RCW—page 31]
74.09.250
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
kickback, bribe, or rebate) directly or indirectly, overtly or
covertly, in cash or in kind
(a) in return for referring an individual to a person for the
furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part
under this chapter, or
(b) in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering any
goods, facility, service, or item for which payment may be
made in whole or in part under this chapter,
shall be guilty of a class C felony; however, the fine, if
imposed, shall not be in an amount more than twenty-five
thousand dollars, except as authorized by RCW 9A.20.030.
(2) Any person, including any corporation, that offers or
pays any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or
rebate) directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in
kind to any person to induce such person
(a) to refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or
arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which
payment may be made, in whole or in part, under this chapter,
or
(b) to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any goods, facility,
service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or
in part under this chapter,
shall be guilty of a class C felony; however, the fine, if
imposed, shall not be in an amount more than twenty-five
thousand dollars, except as authorized by RCW 9A.20.030.
(3)(a) Except as provided in 42 U.S.C. 1395 nn, physicians are prohibited from self-referring any client eligible
under this chapter for the following designated health services to a facility in which the physician or an immediate
family member has a financial relationship:
(i) Clinical laboratory services;
(ii) Physical therapy services;
(iii) Occupational therapy services;
(iv) Radiology including magnetic resonance imaging,
computerized axial tomography, and ultrasound services;
(v) Durable medical equipment and supplies;
(vi) Parenteral and enteral nutrients equipment and supplies;
(vii) Prosthetics, orthotics, and prosthetic devices;
(viii) Home health services;
(ix) Outpatient prescription drugs;
(x) Inpatient and outpatient hospital services;
(xi) Radiation therapy services and supplies.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, "financial relationship" means the relationship between a physician and an
entity that includes either:
(i) An ownership or investment interest; or
(ii) A compensation arrangement.
For purposes of this subsection, "compensation arrangement" means an arrangement involving remuneration
between a physician, or an immediate family member of a
physician, and an entity.
(c) The department is authorized to adopt by rule amendments to 42 U.S.C. 1395 nn enacted after July 23, 1995.
(d) This section shall not apply in any case covered by a
general exception specified in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395 nn.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall not apply
to
[Title 74 RCW—page 32]
(a) a discount or other reduction in price obtained by a
provider of services or other entity under this chapter if the
reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately
reflected in the costs claimed or charges made by the provider
or entity under this chapter, and
(b) any amount paid by an employer to an employee
(who has a bona fide employment relationship with such
employer) for employment in the provision of covered items
or services.
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section, if applicable
to the conduct involved, shall supersede the criminal provisions of chapter 19.68 RCW, but shall not preclude administrative proceedings authorized by chapter 19.68 RCW. [1995
c 319 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 152 § 5.]
74.09.250
74.09.250 False statements regarding institutions,
facilities—Penalties. Any person, including any corporation, that knowingly makes or causes to be made, or induces
or seeks to induce the making of, any false statement or representation of a material fact with respect to the conditions or
operations of any institution or facility in order that such
institution or facility may qualify (either upon initial certification or upon recertification) as a hospital, nursing facility,
or home health agency, shall be guilty of a class C felony:
PROVIDED, That the fine, if imposed, shall not be in an
amount more than five thousand dollars. [1991 sp.s. c 8 § 6;
1979 ex.s. c 152 § 6.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
74.09.260
74.09.260 Excessive charges, payments—Penalties.
Any person, including any corporation, that knowingly:
(1) Charges, for any service provided to a patient under
any medical care plan authorized under this chapter, money
or other consideration at a rate in excess of the rates established by the department of social and health services; or
(2) Charges, solicits, accepts, or receives, in addition to
any amount otherwise required to be paid under such plan,
any gift, money, donation, or other consideration (other than
a charitable, religious, or philanthropic contribution from an
organization or from a person unrelated to the patient):
(a) As a precondition of admitting a patient to a hospital
or nursing facility; or
(b) As a requirement for the patient’s continued stay in
such facility,
when the cost of the services provided therein to the patient is
paid for, in whole or in part, under such plan, shall be guilty
of a class C felony: PROVIDED, That the fine, if imposed,
shall not be in an amount more than twenty-five thousand
dollars, except as authorized by RCW 9A.20.030. [1991 sp.s.
c 8 § 7; 1979 ex.s. c 152 § 7.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
74.09.270
74.09.270 Failure to maintain trust funds in separate
account—Penalties. (1) Any person having any patient trust
funds in his possession, custody, or control, who, knowing
that he is violating any statute, regulation, or agreement,
deliberately fails to deposit, transfer, or maintain said funds
in a separate, designated, trust bank account as required by
such statute, regulation, or agreement shall be guilty of a
gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
for not more than one year in the county jail, or by a fine of
not more than ten thousand dollars or as authorized by RCW
9A.20.030, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) "Patient trust funds" are funds received by any health
care facility which belong to patients and are required by any
state or federal statute, regulation, or by agreement to be kept
in a separate trust bank account for the benefit of such
patients.
(3) This section shall not be construed to prevent a prosecution for theft. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 8.]
74.09.280
74.09.280 False verification of written statements—
Penalties. The secretary of social and health services may by
rule require that any application, statement, or form filled out
by suppliers of medical care under this chapter shall contain
or be verified by a written statement that it is made under the
penalties of perjury and such declaration shall be in lieu of
any oath otherwise required, and each such paper shall in
such event so state. The making or subscribing of any such
papers or forms containing any false or misleading information may be prosecuted and punished under chapter 9A.72
RCW. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 9.]
74.09.290
74.09.290 Department audits and investigations of
providers—Patient records—Penalties. The secretary of
the department of social and health services or his authorized
representative shall have the authority to:
(1) Conduct audits and investigations of providers of
medical and other services furnished pursuant to this chapter,
except that the Washington state medical quality assurance
commission shall generally serve in an advisory capacity to
the secretary in the conduct of audits or investigations of physicians. Any overpayment discovered as a result of an audit
of a provider under this authority shall be offset by any
underpayments discovered in that same audit sample. In
order to determine the provider’s actual, usual, customary, or
prevailing charges, the secretary may examine such random
representative records as necessary to show accounts billed
and accounts received except that in the conduct of such
examinations, patient names, other than public assistance
applicants or recipients, shall not be noted, copied, or otherwise made available to the department. In order to verify
costs incurred by the department for treatment of public
assistance applicants or recipients, the secretary may examine patient records or portions thereof in connection with services to such applicants or recipients rendered by a health
care provider, notwithstanding the provisions of RCW
5.60.060, 18.53.200, 18.83.110, or any other statute which
may make or purport to make such records privileged or confidential: PROVIDED, That no original patient records shall
be removed from the premises of the health care provider,
and that the disclosure of any records or information by the
department of social and health services is prohibited and
shall be punishable as a class C felony according to chapter
9A.20 RCW, unless such disclosure is directly connected to
the official purpose for which the records or information were
obtained: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the disclosure of
patient information as required under this section shall not
subject any physician or other health services provider to any
liability for breach of any confidential relationship between
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.402
the provider and the patient, but no evidence resulting from
such disclosure may be used in any civil, administrative, or
criminal proceeding against the patient unless a waiver of the
applicable evidentiary privilege is obtained: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That the secretary shall destroy all copies of
patient medical records in their possession upon completion
of the audit, investigation or proceedings;
(2) Approve or deny applications to participate as a provider of services furnished pursuant to this chapter;
(3) Terminate or suspend eligibility to participate as a
provider of services furnished pursuant to this chapter; and
(4) Adopt, promulgate, amend, and repeal administrative
rules, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act,
chapter 34.05 RCW, to carry out the policies and purposes of
RCW 74.09.200 through 74.09.290. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 749;
1990 c 100 § 5; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 23; 1979 ex.s. c 152 §
10.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.09.300 Department to report penalties to appropriate licensing agency or disciplinary board. Whenever
the secretary of the department of social and health services
imposes a civil penalty under RCW 74.09.210, or terminates
or suspends a provider’s eligibility under RCW 74.09.290, he
shall, if the provider is licensed pursuant to Titles 18, 70, or
71 RCW, give written notice of such imposition, termination,
or suspension to the appropriate licensing agency or disciplinary board. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 11.]
74.09.300
74.09.402 Children’s health care—Findings—Intent.
(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) The health of the children of Washington state is critical to their success in school and throughout their lives.
Children with health insurance coverage have better health
outcomes than those who lack coverage. Children without
health insurance coverage are more likely to be in poor health
and more likely to delay receiving, or go without, needed
health care services;
(b) Access to preventive and well-child health services
for children is a cost-effective investment of both public and
private dollars that improves the health of children and of our
communities at large; and
(c) Health care coverage for children in Washington state
is the product of critical efforts in both the private and public
sectors to help children succeed. Private health insurance
coverage is complemented by public programs that meet
needs of low-income children whose parents are not offered
health insurance coverage through their employer or who
cannot otherwise afford the costs of coverage. In 2004,
thirty-five percent of children in Washington state had some
form of public health coverage. Yet, even with the efforts of
both the private and public sectors, too many children in
Washington state lack health insurance coverage. In 2004,
almost one hundred thousand children were uninsured. Twothirds of these children are low income.
(2) It is therefore the intent of the legislature that all children in the state of Washington have health care coverage by
2010. This should be accomplished by building upon and
strengthening the successes of private health insurance cover74.09.402
[Title 74 RCW—page 33]
74.09.405
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
age and publicly supported children’s health insurance programs in Washington state. Access to coverage should be
streamlined and efficient, with reductions in unnecessary
administrative costs and mechanisms to expeditiously link
children with a medical home. [2005 c 279 § 1.]
74.09.405
74.09.405 Children’s health program—Purpose. It is
the purpose of RCW 74.09.405 through 74.09.435 and
74.09.010 to provide, consistent with appropriated funds,
health care access and services to children in poverty in this
state. To this end, a children’s health program is established
based on the following principles:
(1) Access to preventive and other health care services
should be made more readily available for children in poverty.
(2) Unnecessary barriers to health care for children in
poverty should be removed.
(3) The status of children’s health and their access to
health care providers should be evaluated at appropriate
intervals to determine program effectiveness and need for
modification.
(4) Health care services should be delivered in a costeffective manner.
(5) The program should be sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences among children in poverty. [1990 c 296 § 1.]
Effective date—1990 c 296: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1990."
[1990 c 296 § 9.]
74.09.415
74.09.415 Children’s health program established. (1)
There is hereby established a program to be known as the
children’s health program. The legislature finds that the children’s health program is a more appropriate mechanism for
providing health services to poor children who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance than grants to community
clinics to offset uncompensated care or coverage through the
Washington basic health plan.
To the extent of available funds:
(a) Health care services may be provided to persons who
are under eighteen years of age with household incomes at or
below the federal poverty level and not otherwise eligible for
medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the
medically needy.
(b) The determination of eligibility of recipients for
health care services shall be the responsibility of the department. The department shall make eligibility determinations
within the time frames for establishing eligibility for children
on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510.
(c) The amount, scope, and duration of health care services provided to eligible children under the children’s health
program shall be the same as that provided to children under
medical assistance, as defined in RCW 74.09.520.
(2) Enrollment in the children’s health program shall not
result in expenditures that exceed the amount that has been
appropriated for the program in the operating budget. If it
appears that continued enrollment will result in expenditures
exceeding the appropriated level for a particular fiscal year,
the department may freeze new enrollment in the program for
that year. [2005 c 279 § 2; 2002 c 366 § 2; 1998 c 245 § 144;
1990 c 296 § 2.]
Effective date—2002 c 366: See note following RCW 74.08A.100.
[Title 74 RCW—page 34]
Effective date—1990 c 296: See note following RCW 74.09.405.
74.09.425
74.09.425 Children’s health care accessibility—
Community action. Local communities are encouraged to
take actions necessary to make health care more accessible to
children in poverty in their communities, such as coordinating the development of alternative health care delivery systems. To support communities in their efforts, *the committee, in coordination with counties and to the extent funds are
available, shall: (1) Advise the secretary and the secretary of
health regarding the dispensing of technical assistance to
counties to enable them to develop provider resources and
expand coordinated provision of health care to children in
poverty, and (2) recommend to the secretary financial incentives to be provided within counties requesting assistance
according to *section 3 of this act. [1990 c 296 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: "Section 3 of this act" [1990 c 296], which created
"the committee," was vetoed by the governor.
Effective date—1990 c 296: See note following RCW 74.09.405.
74.09.435
74.09.435 Children’s health program—Biennial
evaluation. *The committee, in coordination with the
department of health, shall reevaluate the state of access to
care for children in poverty on at least a biennial basis and
shall provide this information, along with information on the
implementation of RCW 74.09.405 through 74.09.425, to the
board of health for consideration of possible inclusion in the
biennial state health report. [1990 c 296 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: The section that created "the committee" [1990 c 296
§ 3] was vetoed by the governor.
Effective date—1990 c 296: See note following RCW 74.09.405.
74.09.450
74.09.450 Children’s health insurance program—
Intent—Department duties. (1) It is the intent of the legislature to create the children’s health insurance program, the
benefits of which are not an entitlement, to provide health
care to children who are eligible for health care coverage
under Title XXI of the federal social security act.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "children’s health
insurance program" means the program established in compliance with Title XXI of the federal social security act for
health care coverage of children: (a) Who are under the age
of nineteen; (b) whose family income at the time of enrollment exceeds two hundred percent, but does not exceed two
hundred fifty percent, of the federal poverty level as adjusted
for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services; (c) who choose to obtain
health care coverage in return for periodic payments; and (d)
who are otherwise eligible under Title XXI.
(3) Consistent with appropriated funds, the department
shall design and administer the children’s health insurance
program under Title XXI of the federal social security act.
The benefit and cost-sharing designs shall comply with Title
XXI. The primary mechanism for purchasing and delivery of
health care for the program shall be through contracts with
managed health care systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522.
Consistent with Title XXI, the department may purchase
health coverage for uninsured children whose families have
access to dependent coverage.
(4) The department shall: Accept applications for enrollment in the children’s health insurance program; establish
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Medical Care
appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine, upon application and based on a reasonable schedule defined by the department, eligibility due to
current family income. No assistance may be paid with
respect to any children’s health insurance enrollee whose current family income is less than two hundred percent or greater
than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level or,
is not otherwise eligible under Title XXI of the federal social
security act.
(5) The department shall make every effort to obtain a
change in federal law such that the state of Washington is
authorized to use its children’s health insurance program
allotment to provide health care coverage for children whose
family income at the time of enrollment is less than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level. By December 1,
1999, the department shall report to the legislature describing
its efforts and the congressional response. [1999 c 370 § 1.]
74.09.500
74.09.500 Medical assistance—Established. There is
hereby established a new program of federal-aid assistance to
be known as medical assistance to be administered by the
state department of social and health services. The department of social and health services is authorized to comply
with the federal requirements for the medical assistance program provided in the Social Security Act and particularly
Title XIX of Public Law (89-97) in order to secure federal
matching funds for such program. [1979 c 141 § 343; 1967
ex.s. c 30 § 3.]
74.09.510
74.09.510 Medical assistance—Eligibility. Medical
assistance may be provided in accordance with eligibility
requirements established by the department, as defined in the
social security Title XIX state plan for mandatory categorically needy persons and: (1) Individuals who would be eligible for cash assistance except for their institutional status; (2)
individuals who are under twenty-one years of age, who
would be eligible for medicaid, but do not qualify as dependent children and who are in (a) foster care, (b) subsidized
adoption, (c) a nursing facility or an intermediate care facility
for the mentally retarded, or (d) inpatient psychiatric facilities; (3) the aged, blind, and disabled who: (a) Receive only
a state supplement, or (b) would not be eligible for cash assistance if they were not institutionalized; (4) categorically eligible individuals who meet the income and resource requirements of the cash assistance programs; (5) individuals who
are enrolled in managed health care systems, who have otherwise lost eligibility for medical assistance, but who have not
completed a current six-month enrollment in a managed
health care system, and who are eligible for federal financial
participation under Title XIX of the social security act; (6)
children and pregnant women allowed by federal statute for
whom funding is appropriated; (7) working individuals with
disabilities authorized under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the
social security act for whom funding is appropriated; (8)
other individuals eligible for medical services under RCW
74.09.035 and 74.09.700 for whom federal financial participation is available under Title XIX of the social security act;
(9) persons allowed by section 1931 of the social security act
for whom funding is appropriated; and (10) women who: (a)
Are under sixty-five years of age; (b) have been screened for
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.520
breast and cervical cancer under the national breast and cervical cancer early detection program administered by the
department of health or tribal entity and have been identified
as needing treatment for breast or cervical cancer; and (c) are
not otherwise covered by health insurance. Medical assistance provided under this subsection is limited to the period
during which the woman requires treatment for breast or cervical cancer, and is subject to any conditions or limitations
specified in the omnibus appropriations act. [2001 2nd sp.s.
c 15 § 3; 2001 1st sp.s. c 4 § 1. Prior: 1997 c 59 § 14; 1997 c
58 § 201; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 8; 1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 8; 1989 c 87
§ 2; 1985 c 5 § 2; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 5; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 §
20; 1981 c 8 § 19; 1971 ex.s. c 169 § 4; 1970 ex.s. c 60 § 1;
1967 ex.s. c 30 § 4.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2001 1st sp.s. c 4 § 1 and
by 2001 2nd sp.s. c 15 § 3, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Intent—2001 2nd sp.s. c 15: See note following RCW
74.09.540.
Effective date—2001 1st sp.s. c 4: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1,
2001." [2001 1st sp.s. c 4 § 2.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See notes following RCW 11.94.050.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1981 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 8.]
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.09.520
74.09.520 Medical assistance—Care and services
included—Funding limitations. (1) The term "medical
assistance" may include the following care and services: (a)
Inpatient hospital services; (b) outpatient hospital services;
(c) other laboratory and X-ray services; (d) nursing facility
services; (e) physicians’ services, which shall include prescribed medication and instruction on birth control devices;
(f) medical care, or any other type of remedial care as may be
established by the secretary; (g) home health care services;
(h) private duty nursing services; (i) dental services; (j) physical and occupational therapy and related services; (k) prescribed drugs, dentures, and prosthetic devices; and eyeglasses prescribed by a physician skilled in diseases of the
eye or by an optometrist, whichever the individual may
select; (l) personal care services, as provided in this section;
(m) hospice services; (n) other diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services; and (o) like services when
furnished to a child by a school district in a manner consistent
with the requirements of this chapter. For the purposes of this
section, the department may not cut off any prescription medications, oxygen supplies, respiratory services, or other lifesustaining medical services or supplies.
"Medical assistance," notwithstanding any other provision of law, shall not include routine foot care, or dental services delivered by any health care provider, that are not man[Title 74 RCW—page 35]
74.09.522
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
dated by Title XIX of the social security act unless there is a
specific appropriation for these services.
(2) The department shall amend the state plan for medical assistance under Title XIX of the federal social security
act to include personal care services, as defined in 42 C.F.R.
440.170(f), in the categorically needy program.
(3) The department shall adopt, amend, or rescind such
administrative rules as are necessary to ensure that Title XIX
personal care services are provided to eligible persons in conformance with federal regulations.
(a) These administrative rules shall include financial eligibility indexed according to the requirements of the social
security act providing for medicaid eligibility.
(b) The rules shall require clients be assessed as having a
medical condition requiring assistance with personal care
tasks. Plans of care for clients requiring health-related consultation for assessment and service planning may be
reviewed by a nurse.
(c) The department shall determine by rule which clients
have a health-related assessment or service planning need
requiring registered nurse consultation or review. This definition may include clients that meet indicators or protocols
for review, consultation, or visit.
(4) The department shall design and implement a means
to assess the level of functional disability of persons eligible
for personal care services under this section. The personal
care services benefit shall be provided to the extent funding is
available according to the assessed level of functional disability. Any reductions in services made necessary for funding reasons should be accomplished in a manner that assures
that priority for maintaining services is given to persons with
the greatest need as determined by the assessment of functional disability.
(5) Effective July 1, 1989, the department shall offer
hospice services in accordance with available funds.
(6) For Title XIX personal care services administered by
aging and disability services administration of the department, the department shall contract with area agencies on
aging:
(a) To provide case management services to individuals
receiving Title XIX personal care services in their own home;
and
(b) To reassess and reauthorize Title XIX personal care
services or other home and community services as defined in
RCW 74.39A.009 in home or in other settings for individuals
consistent with the intent of this section:
(i) Who have been initially authorized by the department
to receive Title XIX personal care services or other home and
community services as defined in RCW 74.39A.009; and
(ii) Who, at the time of reassessment and reauthorization,
are receiving such services in their own home.
(7) In the event that an area agency on aging is unwilling
to enter into or satisfactorily fulfill a contract or an individual
consumer’s need for case management services will be met
through an alternative delivery system, the department is
authorized to:
(a) Obtain the services through competitive bid; and
(b) Provide the services directly until a qualified contractor can be found. [2004 c 141 § 2; 2003 c 279 § 1; 1998 c 245
§ 145; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 39; 1994 c 21 § 4. Prior: 1993 c
149 § 10; 1993 c 57 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 9; prior: 1991 c 233
[Title 74 RCW—page 36]
§ 1; 1991 c 119 § 1; prior: 1990 c 33 § 594; 1990 c 25 § 1;
prior: 1989 c 427 § 10; 1989 c 400 § 3; 1985 c 5 § 3; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 19 § 4; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 21; 1981 c 8 § 20; 1979 c
141 § 344; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 11; 1967 ex.s. c 30 § 5.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—1994 c 21: See
notes following RCW 43.20B.080.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
Intent—1989 c 400: See note following RCW 28A.150.390.
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 19: See note following RCW
74.09.035.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
Legislative confirmation of effect of 1994 c 21: RCW 43.20B.090.
74.09.522
74.09.522 Medical assistance—Agreements with
managed health care systems required for services to
recipients of temporary assistance for needy families—
Principles to be applied in purchasing managed health
care. (1) For the purposes of this section, "managed health
care system" means any health care organization, including
health care providers, insurers, health care service contractors, health maintenance organizations, health insuring organizations, or any combination thereof, that provides directly
or by contract health care services covered under RCW
74.09.520 and rendered by licensed providers, on a prepaid
capitated basis and that meets the requirements of section
1903(m)(1)(A) of Title XIX of the federal social security act
or federal demonstration waivers granted under section
1115(a) of Title XI of the federal social security act.
(2) The department of social and health services shall
enter into agreements with managed health care systems to
provide health care services to recipients of temporary assistance for needy families under the following conditions:
(a) Agreements shall be made for at least thirty thousand
recipients statewide;
(b) Agreements in at least one county shall include
enrollment of all recipients of temporary assistance for needy
families;
(c) To the extent that this provision is consistent with
section 1903(m) of Title XIX of the federal social security act
or federal demonstration waivers granted under section
1115(a) of Title XI of the federal social security act, recipients shall have a choice of systems in which to enroll and
shall have the right to terminate their enrollment in a system:
PROVIDED, That the department may limit recipient termination of enrollment without cause to the first month of a
period of enrollment, which period shall not exceed twelve
months: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the department
shall not restrict a recipient’s right to terminate enrollment in
a system for good cause as established by the department by
rule;
(d) To the extent that this provision is consistent with
section 1903(m) of Title XIX of the federal social security
act, participating managed health care systems shall not
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
enroll a disproportionate number of medical assistance recipients within the total numbers of persons served by the managed health care systems, except as authorized by the department under federal demonstration waivers granted under section 1115(a) of Title XI of the federal social security act;
(e) In negotiating with managed health care systems the
department shall adopt a uniform procedure to negotiate and
enter into contractual arrangements, including standards
regarding the quality of services to be provided; and financial
integrity of the responding system;
(f) The department shall seek waivers from federal
requirements as necessary to implement this chapter;
(g) The department shall, wherever possible, enter into
prepaid capitation contracts that include inpatient care. However, if this is not possible or feasible, the department may
enter into prepaid capitation contracts that do not include
inpatient care;
(h) The department shall define those circumstances
under which a managed health care system is responsible for
out-of-plan services and assure that recipients shall not be
charged for such services; and
(i) Nothing in this section prevents the department from
entering into similar agreements for other groups of people
eligible to receive services under this chapter.
(3) The department shall ensure that publicly supported
community health centers and providers in rural areas, who
show serious intent and apparent capability to participate as
managed health care systems are seriously considered as contractors. The department shall coordinate its managed care
activities with activities under chapter 70.47 RCW.
(4) The department shall work jointly with the state of
Oregon and other states in this geographical region in order to
develop recommendations to be presented to the appropriate
federal agencies and the United States congress for improving health care of the poor, while controlling related costs.
(5) The legislature finds that competition in the managed
health care marketplace is enhanced, in the long term, by the
existence of a large number of managed health care system
options for medicaid clients. In a managed care delivery system, whose goal is to focus on prevention, primary care, and
improved enrollee health status, continuity in care relationships is of substantial importance, and disruption to clients
and health care providers should be minimized. To help
ensure these goals are met, the following principles shall
guide the department in its healthy options managed health
care purchasing efforts:
(a) All managed health care systems should have an
opportunity to contract with the department to the extent that
minimum contracting requirements defined by the department are met, at payment rates that enable the department to
operate as far below appropriated spending levels as possible,
consistent with the principles established in this section.
(b) Managed health care systems should compete for the
award of contracts and assignment of medicaid beneficiaries
who do not voluntarily select a contracting system, based
upon:
(i) Demonstrated commitment to or experience in serving low-income populations;
(ii) Quality of services provided to enrollees;
(iii) Accessibility, including appropriate utilization, of
services offered to enrollees;
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.522
(iv) Demonstrated capability to perform contracted services, including ability to supply an adequate provider network;
(v) Payment rates; and
(vi) The ability to meet other specifically defined contract requirements established by the department, including
consideration of past and current performance and participation in other state or federal health programs as a contractor.
(c) Consideration should be given to using multiple year
contracting periods.
(d) Quality, accessibility, and demonstrated commitment
to serving low-income populations shall be given significant
weight in the contracting, evaluation, and assignment process.
(e) All contractors that are regulated health carriers must
meet state minimum net worth requirements as defined in
applicable state laws. The department shall adopt rules establishing the minimum net worth requirements for contractors
that are not regulated health carriers. This subsection does not
limit the authority of the department to take action under a
contract upon finding that a contractor’s financial status seriously jeopardizes the contractor’s ability to meet its contract
obligations.
(f) Procedures for resolution of disputes between the
department and contract bidders or the department and contracting carriers related to the award of, or failure to award, a
managed care contract must be clearly set out in the procurement document. In designing such procedures, the department shall give strong consideration to the negotiation and
dispute resolution processes used by the Washington state
health care authority in its managed health care contracting
activities.
(6) The department may apply the principles set forth in
subsection (5) of this section to its managed health care purchasing efforts on behalf of clients receiving supplemental
security income benefits to the extent appropriate. [1997 c 59
§ 15; 1997 c 34 § 1; 1989 c 260 § 2; 1987 1st ex.s. c 5 § 21;
1986 c 303 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1997 c 34 § 1 and by
1997 c 59 § 15, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1997 c 34: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 16, 1997]." [1997 c 34 § 3.]
Severability—1987 1st ex.s. c 5: See note following RCW 70.47.901.
Legislative findings—Intent—1986 c 303: "(1) The legislature finds
that:
(a) Good health care for indigent persons is of importance to the state;
(b) To ensure the availability of a good level of health care, efforts must
be made to encourage cost consciousness on the part of providers and consumers, while maintaining medical assistance recipients within the mainstream of health care delivery;
(c) Managed health care systems have been found to be effective in
controlling costs while providing good health care services;
(d) By enrolling medical assistance recipients within managed health
care systems, the state’s goal is to ensure that medical assistance recipients
receive at least the same quality of care they currently receive.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to develop and implement new strategies that promote the use of managed health care systems for medical assistance recipients by establishing prepaid capitated programs for both inpatient and out-patient services." [1986 c 303 § 1.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 37]
74.09.5221
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.09.5221
74.09.5221 Medical assistance—Federal standards—
Waivers—Application. To the extent that federal statutes or
regulations, or provisions of waivers granted to the department of social and health services by the federal department
of health and human services, include standards that differ
from the minimums stated in *sections 101 through 106, 109,
and 111 of this act, those sections do not apply to contracts
with health carriers awarded pursuant to RCW 74.09.522.
[1997 c 231 § 112.]
*Reviser’s note: Sections 101 through 106, 109, and 111 of this act
were vetoed by the governor.
Short title—Part headings and captions not law—Severability—
Effective dates—1997 c 231: See notes following RCW 48.43.005.
74.09.5225
74.09.5225 Medical assistance—Payments for services provided by rural hospitals. (1) Payments for recipients eligible for medical assistance programs under this chapter for services provided by hospitals, regardless of the beneficiary’s managed care enrollment status, shall be made based
on allowable costs incurred during the year, when services
are provided by a rural hospital certified by the centers for
medicare and medicaid services as a critical access hospital.
Any additional payments made by the medical assistance
administration for the healthy options program shall be no
more than the additional amounts per service paid under this
section for other medical assistance programs.
(2) Beginning on July 24, 2005, a moratorium shall be
placed on additional hospital participation in critical access
hospital payments under this section. However, rural hospitals that applied for certification to the centers for medicare
and medicaid services prior to January 1, 2005, but have not
yet completed the process or have not yet been approved for
certification, remain eligible for medical assistance payments
under this section. [2005 c 383 § 1; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 2 § 2.]
Findings—2001 2nd sp.s. c 2: "The legislature finds that promoting a
financially viable health care system in all parts of the state is a paramount
interest. The health care financing administration has recognized the crucial
role that hospitals play in providing care in rural areas by creating the critical
access hospital program to allow small, rural hospitals that qualify to receive
reasonable cost-based reimbursement for medicare services. The legislature
further finds that creating a similar reimbursement system for the state’s
medical assistance programs in small, rural hospitals that qualify will help
assure the long-term financial viability of the rural health system in those
communities." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 2 § 1.]
74.09.5227
74.09.5227 Implementation date—Payments for services provided by rural hospitals. The department shall
implement the program created in RCW 74.09.5225 within
sixty days of September 20, 2001, regardless of the beneficiary’s managed care status. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 2 § 3.]
Findings—2001 2nd sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW 74.09.5225.
74.09.523
74.09.523 PACE program—Definitions—Requirements. (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "PACE" means the program of all-inclusive care for
the elderly, a managed care medicare/medicaid program
authorized under sections 1894, 1905(a), and 1934 of the
social security act and administered by the department.
(b) "PACE program agreement" means an agreement
between a PACE organization, the health care financing
administration, and the department.
[Title 74 RCW—page 38]
(2) A PACE program may operate in the state only in
accordance with a PACE program agreement with the department.
(3) A PACE program shall at the time of entering into the
initial PACE program agreement, and at each renewal
thereof, demonstrate cash reserves to cover expenses in the
event of insolvency.
(a) The cash reserves at a minimum shall equal the sum
of:
(i) One month’s total capitation revenue; and
(ii) One month’s average payment to subcontractors.
(b) The program may demonstrate cash reserves to cover
expenses of insolvency with one or more of the following:
Reasonable and sufficient net worth, insolvency insurance, or
parental guarantees.
(4) A PACE program must provide full disclosure
regarding the terms of enrollment and the option to disenroll
at any time to all persons who seek to participate or who are
participants in the program. [2001 c 191 § 2.]
Finding—2001 c 191: "The legislature finds that PACE programs provide essential care to the frail elderly in the state of Washington. PACE
serves to enhance the quality of life and autonomy for frail, older adults,
maximize the dignity of and respect for older adults, enable frail and older
adults to live in their homes and their community as long as medically possible, and preserve and support the older adult’s family unit." [2001 c 191 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 191: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 7, 2001]." [2001 c 191 § 4.]
74.09.5241 Special education programs—Medical
services—Finding—Intent. The legislature finds that there
is increasing demand for medical services provided through
the state’s special education programs and that many of these
services qualify for federal financial participation under Title
XIX of the federal social security act. The legislature further
finds that these services may be covered under private insurance policies. The legislature intends to establish a statewide
system of billing medicaid and private insurers for eligible
medical services provided through special education programs, in order that federal funding of medical services in
special education programs will be maximized and that additional revenue be made available for education programs. It is
the further intent of the legislature that the program be administered by a public or private agency in such a fashion as to
ensure that the additional administrative workloads for the
districts and the health practitioners in the schools are kept to
a minimum. [1993 c 149 § 1.]
74.09.5241
Conflict with federal requirements—1993 c 149: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The
rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1993 c 149 § 12.]
Severability—1993 c 149: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 c 149 § 13.]
Effective dates—1993 c 149: "(1) Sections 1 through 10 and 12
through 14 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [April 30,
1993].
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
(2) Section 11 of this act takes effect September 1, 1993." [1993 c 149
§ 15.]
74.09.5243
74.09.5243 Special education programs—Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout RCW 74.09.5241
through 74.09.5253 and 74.09.5254 through 74.09.5256.
(1) "District" means a school district, educational service
district, or educational cooperatives offering special education services under chapter 28A.155 RCW.
(2) "Medical assistance" and "medicaid" means federal
and state-funded programs under which medical services are
provided under Title XIX of the federal social security act.
(3) "Medical services" means district services that qualify for medicaid funding. [1994 c 180 § 1; 1993 c 149 § 2.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 180: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The
rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1994 c 180 § 10.]
Severability—1994 c 180: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1994 c 180 § 11.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
74.09.5245
74.09.5245 Special education programs—Medical
services—Billing agent contract process. The superintendent of public instruction shall take necessary steps to establish a competitive bidding process for a contract to act as the
state’s billing agent for medical services provided through its
special education programs. The process must be open to private firms and public entities. [1993 c 149 § 3.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
74.09.5247
74.09.5247 Special education programs—Medical
services—District as billing agent—Administrative fee.
(1) Chapter 149, Laws of 1993 does not apply to contracts
between individual districts and private firms entered into for
the purpose of billing either medicaid or private insurers, or
both, for medical services and agreed to before April 30,
1993, except as provided in *RCW 28A.155.150(2).
(2) A district may elect to act as its own billing agent as
of the start of any school year. For a district being served by
the statewide billing agent, the district shall notify the billing
agent in writing, no less than thirty days before the start of the
school year, of its intent to terminate the agency relationship.
A district that acts as its own billing agent or a district with a
preexisting contract under subsection (1) of this section is
entitled to an administrative fee equivalent to that of the statewide billing agent. [1994 c 180 § 2; 1993 c 149 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 28A.155.150 was repealed by 1994 c 180 § 9.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.5251
74.09.5249
74.09.5249 Special education programs—Medical
services—Billing agent duties. (1) The agency awarded the
contract under RCW 74.09.5245 shall:
(a) Enroll all districts in this state, except those with preexisting contracts under RCW 74.09.5247, as medicaid providers effective the beginning of the 1993-94 school year;
(b) Develop a statewide system of billing the department
and private insurers for medical services provided in special
education programs;
(c) Train health care practitioners employed by or contracting with districts in medicaid and insurer billing;
(d) Verify the medicaid eligibility of students enrolled in
special education programs in each district;
(e) Provide ongoing technical assistance to practitioners
and districts; and
(f) Process and forward all medicaid claims to the
department and all other claims to private insurers.
(2) For each student, individual districts may, in consultation with the billing agent, deliver to the student’s parent or
guardian a letter, prepared by the billing agent, requesting the
consent of the parent or guardian to bill the student’s health
insurance carrier for services provided through the special
education program. If a district chooses to do this, the letter
must be accompanied by a consent form, on which the parent
may identify the student’s health insurance carrier so that the
billing agent may bill the carrier for medical services provided to the student. The letter must clearly state the following:
(a) That the billing program is designed in part to raise
additional funds to improve education services;
(b) That under no circumstances will the parent or guardian be personally charged for any portion of the bill not paid
by the insurer, including copayments, deductibles, or uncovered services;
(c) That the amount of the billing will apply to the policy’s annual deductible even though the parent will not be
billed for the amount of the deductible;
(d) That the amount of the billing, will, however, apply
towards annual or lifetime benefit caps if these are included
in the policy;
(e) That it is possible that their premiums would be
increased as a result of their consent;
(f) That if any of the possible negative consequences of
consent were to affect them, they are free to withdraw their
consent at any time; and
(g) That their consent is entirely voluntary and that the
services the student receives through the district will not be
affected by their willingness or refusal to consent to the billing of their private insurer. [1994 c 180 § 3; 1993 c 149 § 5.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
74.09.5251
74.09.5251 Special education programs—Medical
services—Categories of services—Reimbursement system. The medical assistance administration in the department of social and health services shall establish categories
of medical services and a reimbursement system based on the
costs of providing medical services provided in special education programs. [1993 c 149 § 6.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 39]
74.09.5253
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
74.09.5253
74.09.5253 Special education programs—Medical
services—Student information—Report to legislature.
(1) Each district shall participate in the program of billing for
medical services provided in the district’s special education
program. Each participating district shall provide the superintendent of public instruction with a list, as of the first school
day in October, December, and May of each year, of all students enrolled in special education programs within the area
served by the district, for purposes of verifying the medicaid
eligibility of the students.
(2) A person employed by or contracting with a district
who provides medical services shall provide the billing agent
with information necessary to promptly complete monthly
billings for each medicaid-eligible student he or she serves as
part of the district’s special education program.
(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall submit
to the legislature at the beginning of each legislative session
a report indicating the district-by-district participation and
the medicaid and private insurance payment receipts during
the preceding fiscal year. The report must further indicate for
each district the total number of special education students,
and the number eligible for medicaid, as determined by the
medical assistance administration. The superintendent may
require a letter of explanation from any district whose billings for medical assistance under the program, in the judgment of the superintendent, indicate nonparticipation or
underparticipation. [1994 c 180 § 4; 1993 c 149 § 7.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective
dates—1993 c 149: See notes following RCW 74.09.5241.
74.09.5254
74.09.5254 Special education programs—Medical
services—Reports to superintendent of public instruction. (1) Each district that has elected to act as its own billing
agent under RCW 74.09.5247(2) and each firm that is a party
to a preexisting contract under RCW 74.09.5247(1) shall, at
times designated by the superintendent of public instruction,
provide the office of the superintendent of public instruction
with a report indicating the total amount of medicaid and private insurance moneys billed by the district.
(2) The state billing agent shall, at times designated by
the superintendent of public instruction, provide the superintendent of public instruction with a report for each district
enrolled by the billing agent, indicating the total amount of
medicaid and private insurance moneys billed through medicaid and private insurer billing. [1994 c 180 § 5.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
only be used by districts for children with disabilities. [1999
c 318 § 2; 1999 c 318 § 1; 1994 c 180 § 6.]
Effective dates—1999 c 318: "(1) Sections 1 and 3 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety,
or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
take effect immediately [May 14, 1999].
(2) Sections 2 and 4 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 1999." [1999
c 318 § 5.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
74.09.5256
74.09.5256 Special education programs—Medical
services—Disbursement of revenue. (1) Districts shall
reassign medicaid payments to be received under RCW
74.09.5249 through 74.09.5253, 74.09.5254 and 74.09.5255,
and this section to the superintendent of public instruction.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall receive
medicaid payments from the department of social and health
services for all state and federal moneys under Title XIX of
the federal social security act due to districts for medical
assistance provided in the district’s special education program.
(3) The superintendent shall use reports from the department of social and health services, the state billing agent, districts acting as their own billing agent, and firms to calculate
the appropriate amounts of incentive payments and state special education program moneys due each district.
(4) Moneys received by the superintendent of public
instruction shall be disbursed for the following purposes:
(a) Reimbursement to the department of social and
health services for the state-funded portion of medicaid payments;
(b) Reimbursement for billing agent’s fees, including
those of districts acting as their own agent and billing fees of
firms;
(c) Incentive payments to each school district equal to
one-half of the percent of potential medicaid eligible students
billed by the school district as calculated by the superintendent multiplied by the federal portion of medicaid payments
after deduction for billing fees; and
(d) The remainder shall be distributed to districts as part
of state allocations for the special education program provided under RCW 28A.150.390.
(5) With respect to private insurer funds received by districts, the superintendent of public instruction shall reduce
state special education program allocations to districts by one
minus the percent calculated by the superintendent in subsection (4)(c) of this section, after deduction for billing fees.
[1999 c 318 § 4; 1999 c 318 § 3; 1994 c 180 § 7.]
Effective dates—1999 c 318: See note following RCW 74.09.5255.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1994 c 180: See
notes following RCW 74.09.5243.
74.09.5255
74.09.5255 Special education programs—Medical
services—Incentive payments. Of the projected federal
medicaid and private insurance revenue collected under
RCW 74.09.5249, one-half of the percent of potential medicaid eligible students billed by the school district as calculated
by the superintendent multiplied by the federal portion of
medicaid payments, after deduction for billing fees, shall be
for incentive payments to districts. Incentive payments shall
[Title 74 RCW—page 40]
74.09.530
74.09.530 Medical assistance—Powers and duties of
department. The amount and nature of medical assistance
and the determination of eligibility of recipients for medical
assistance shall be the responsibility of the department of
social and health services. The department shall establish reasonable standards of assistance and resource and income
exemptions which shall be consistent with the provisions of
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
the Social Security Act and with the regulations of the secretary of health, education and welfare for determining eligibility of individuals for medical assistance and the extent of
such assistance to the extent that funds are available from the
state and federal government. The department shall not consider resources in determining continuing eligibility for
recipients eligible under section 1931 of the social security
act. [2000 c 218 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 345; 1967 ex.s. c 30 § 6.]
74.09.540
74.09.540 Medical assistance—Working disabled—
Intent. (1) It is the intent of the legislature to remove barriers
to employment for individuals with disabilities by providing
medical assistance to the working disabled through a buy-in
program in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the
social security act and eligibility and cost-sharing requirements established by the department.
(2) The department shall establish income, resource, and
cost-sharing requirements for the buy-in program in accordance with federal law and any conditions or limitations
specified in the omnibus appropriations act. The department
shall establish and modify eligibility and cost-sharing
requirements in order to administer the program within available funds. The department shall make every effort to coordinate benefits with employer-sponsored coverage available to
the working disabled receiving benefits under this chapter.
[2001 2nd sp.s. c 15 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2001 2nd sp.s. c 15: "The legislature finds that
individuals with disabilities face many barriers and disincentives to employment. Individuals with disabilities are often unable to obtain health insurance
that provides the services and supports necessary to allow them to live independently and enter or rejoin the work force. The legislature finds that there
is a compelling public interest in eliminating barriers to work by continuing
needed health care coverage for individuals with disabilities who enter and
maintain employment.
The legislature intends to strengthen the state’s policy of supporting
individuals with disabilities in leading fully productive lives by supporting
the implementation of the federal ticket to work and work incentives
improvement act of 1999, Public Law 106-170. This shall include improving
incentives to work by continuing coverage for health care and support services, by seeking federal funding for innovative programs, and by exploring
options which provide individuals with disabilities a choice in receiving services needed to obtain and maintain employment." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 15 § 1.]
74.09.545
74.09.545 Medical assistance or limited casualty program—Eligibility—Agreements between spouses to
transfer future income—Community income. (1) An
agreement between spouses transferring or assigning rights to
future income from one spouse to the other shall be invalid
for purposes of determining eligibility for medical assistance
or the limited casualty program for the medically needy, but
this subsection does not affect agreements between spouses
transferring or assigning resources, and income produced by
transferred or assigned resources shall continue to be recognized as the separate income of the transferee; and
(2) In determining eligibility for medical assistance or
the limited casualty program for the medically needy for a
married person in need of institutional care, or care under
home and community based waivers as defined in Title XIX
of the Social Security Act, if the community income received
in the name of the nonapplicant spouse exceeds the community income received in the name of the applicant spouse, the
applicant’s interest in that excess shall be considered unavailable to the applicant. [1986 c 220 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.555
74.09.555
74.09.555 Medical assistance—Reinstatement upon
release from confinement—Expedited eligibility determinations. (1) The department shall adopt rules and policies
providing that when persons with a mental disorder, who
were enrolled in medical assistance immediately prior to confinement, are released from confinement, their medical assistance coverage will be fully reinstated on the day of their
release, subject to any expedited review of their continued
eligibility for medical assistance coverage that is required
under federal or state law.
(2) The department, in collaboration with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the department
of corrections, and the regional support networks, shall establish procedures for coordination between department field
offices, institutions for mental disease, and correctional institutions, as defined in RCW 9.94.049, that result in prompt
reinstatement of eligibility and speedy eligibility determinations for persons who are likely to be eligible for medical
assistance services upon release from confinement. Procedures developed under this subsection must address:
(a) Mechanisms for receiving medical assistance services applications on behalf of confined persons in anticipation of their release from confinement;
(b) Expeditious review of applications filed by or on
behalf of confined persons and, to the extent practicable,
completion of the review before the person is released;
(c) Mechanisms for providing medical assistance services identity cards to persons eligible for medical assistance
services immediately upon their release from confinement;
and
(d) Coordination with the federal social security administration, through interagency agreements or otherwise, to
expedite processing of applications for federal supplemental
security income or social security disability benefits, including federal acceptance of applications on behalf of confined
persons.
(3) Where medical or psychiatric examinations during a
person’s confinement indicate that the person is disabled, the
correctional institution or institution for mental diseases shall
provide the department with that information for purposes of
making medical assistance eligibility and enrollment determinations prior to the person’s release from confinement.
The department shall, to the maximum extent permitted by
federal law, use the examination in making its determination
whether the person is disabled and eligible for medical assistance.
(4) For purposes of this section, "confined" or "confinement" means incarcerated in a correctional institution, as
defined in RCW 9.94.049, or admitted to an institute for mental disease, as defined in 42 C.F.R. part 435, Sec. 1009 on
July 24, 2005.
(5) For purposes of this section, "likely to be eligible"
means that a person:
(a) Was enrolled in medicaid or supplemental security
income or general assistance immediately before he or she
was confined and his or her enrollment was terminated during his or her confinement; or
(b) Was enrolled in medicaid or supplemental security
income or general assistance at any time during the five years
before his or her confinement, and medical or psychiatric
examinations during the person’s confinement indicate that
[Title 74 RCW—page 41]
74.09.565
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
the person continues to be disabled and the disability is likely
to last at least twelve months following release.
(6) The economic services administration shall adopt
standardized statewide screening and application practices
and forms designed to facilitate the application of a confined
person who is likely to be eligible for medicaid. [2005 c 503
§ 12.]
Correction of references—Savings—Severability—2005 c 503: See
notes following RCW 71.24.015.
74.09.565
74.09.565 Medical assistance for institutionalized
persons—Treatment of income between spouses. (1) An
agreement between spouses transferring or assigning rights to
future income from one spouse to the other shall be invalid
for purposes of determining eligibility for medical assistance
or the limited casualty program for the medically needy, but
this subsection does not affect agreements between spouses
transferring or assigning resources, and income produced by
transferred or assigned resources shall continue to be recognized as the separate income of the transferee.
(2) In determining eligibility for medical assistance or
the limited casualty program for the medically needy for a
married person in need of institutional care, or care under
home and community-based waivers as defined in Title XIX
of the social security act, if the community income received
in the name of the nonapplicant spouse exceeds the community income received in the name of the applicant spouse, the
applicant’s interest in that excess shall be considered unavailable to the applicant.
(3) The department shall adopt rules consistent with the
provisions of section 1924 of the social security act entitled
"Treatment of Income and Resources for Certain Institutionalized Spouses," in determining the allocation of income
between an institutionalized and community spouse.
(4) The department shall establish the monthly maintenance needs allowance for the community spouse up to the
maximum amount allowed by state appropriation or within
available funds and permitted in section 1924 of the social
security act. The total monthly needs allowance shall not
exceed one thousand five hundred dollars, subject to adjustment provided in section 1924 of the social security act.
[1989 c 87 § 4.]
Captions not law—1989 c 87: "Section captions, as found in sections
4 through 8 of this act, constitute no part of the law." [1989 c 87 § 10.]
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 11.94.050.
munity spouse, shall allow up to a maximum of forty thousand dollars in resources for the community spouse. For the
fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2005, and each fiscal biennium thereafter, the maximum resource allowance amount
for the community spouse shall be adjusted for economic
trends and conditions by increasing the amount allowable by
the consumer price index as published by the federal bureau
of labor statistics. However, in no case shall the amount
allowable exceed the maximum resource allowance permissible under the social security act. [2003 1st sp.s. c 28 § 1;
1989 c 87 § 5.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 28: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July
1, 2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 28 § 2.]
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 11.94.050.
Captions not law—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 74.09.565.
74.09.585
74.09.585 Medical assistance for institutionalized
persons—Period of ineligibility for transfer of resources.
(1) The department shall establish standards consistent with
section 1917 of the social security act in determining the
period of ineligibility for medical assistance due to the transfer of resources.
(2) There shall be no penalty imposed for the transfer of
assets that are excluded in a determination of the individual’s
eligibility for medicaid to the extent such assets are protected
by the long-term care insurance policy or contract pursuant to
chapter 48.85 RCW.
(3) The department may waive a period of ineligibility if
the department determines that denial of eligibility would
work an undue hardship. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 81; 1989 c 87
§ 7.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 11.94.050.
Captions not law—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 74.09.565.
74.09.595
74.09.595 Medical assistance for institutionalized
persons—Due process procedures. The department shall in
compliance with section 1924 of the social security act adopt
procedures which provide due process for institutionalized or
community spouses who request a fair hearing as to the valuation of resources, the amount of the community spouse
resource allowance, or the monthly maintenance needs
allowance. [1989 c 87 § 8.]
74.09.575
74.09.575 Medical assistance for institutionalized
persons—Treatment of resources. (1) The department
shall promulgate rules consistent with the treatment of
resources provisions of section 1924 of the social security act
entitled "Treatment of Income and Resources for Certain
Institutionalized Spouses," in determining the allocation of
resources between the institutionalized and community
spouse.
(2) In the interest of supporting the community spouse
the department shall allow the maximum resource allowance
amount permissible under the social security act for the community spouse for persons institutionalized before August 1,
2003.
(3) For persons institutionalized on or after August 1,
2003, the department, in the interest of supporting the com[Title 74 RCW—page 42]
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 11.94.050.
Captions not law—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 74.09.565.
74.09.600
74.09.600 Post audit examinations by state auditor.
Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the state auditor from
conducting post audit examinations of public funds pursuant
to RCW 43.09.330 or other applicable law. [1977 ex.s. c 260
§ 6.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 260: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 260 § 8.]
74.09.650
74.09.650 Prescription drug assistance program. (1)
To the extent funds are appropriated specifically for this pur(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
pose, and subject to any conditions placed on appropriations
made for this purpose, the department shall design a medicaid
prescription drug assistance program. Neither the benefits of,
nor eligibility for, the program is considered to be an entitlement.
(2) The department shall request any federal waiver necessary to implement this program. Consistent with federal
waiver conditions, the department may charge enrollment
fees, premiums, or point-of-service cost-sharing to program
enrollees.
(3) Eligibility for this program is limited to persons:
(a) Who are eligible for medicare or age sixty-five and
older;
(b) Whose family income does not exceed two hundred
percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size
and determined annually by the federal department of health
and human services;
(c) Who lack insurance that provides prescription drug
coverage; and
(d) Who are not otherwise eligible under Title XIX of the
federal social security act.
(4) The department shall use a cost-effective prescription
drug benefit design. Consistent with federal waiver conditions, this benefit design may be different than the benefit
design offered under the medical assistance program. The
benefit design may include a deductible benefit that provides
coverage when enrollees incur higher prescription drug costs
as defined by the department. The department also may offer
more than one benefit design.
(5) The department shall limit enrollment of persons who
qualify for the program so as to prevent an overexpenditure
of appropriations for this program or to assure necessary
compliance with federal waiver budget neutrality requirements. The department may not reduce existing medical
assistance program eligibility or benefits to assure compliance with federal waiver budget neutrality requirements.
(6) Premiums paid by medicaid enrollees not in the medicaid prescription drug assistance program may not be used to
finance the medicaid prescription drug assistance program.
(7) This program will be terminated within twelve
months after implementation of a prescription drug benefit
under Title XVIII of the federal social security act.
(8) The department shall provide recommendations to
the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by November 15, 2003, on financing options available to support the medicaid prescription drug assistance program. In recommending financing options, the department
shall explore every opportunity to maximize federal funding
to support the program. [2003 1st sp.s. c 29 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2003 1st sp.s. c 29: "The legislature finds that prescription drugs are an effective and important part of efforts to maintain and
improve the health of Washington state residents. However, their increased
cost and utilization is straining the resources of many state health care programs, and is particularly hard on low-income elderly people who lack insurance coverage for such drugs. Furthermore, inappropriate use of prescription
drugs can result in unnecessary expenditures and lead to serious health consequences. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to support the establishment by the state of an evidence-based prescription drug program that identifies preferred drugs, develop programs to provide prescription drugs at an
affordable price to those in need, and increase public awareness regarding
their safe and cost-effective use." [2003 1st sp.s. c 29 § 1.]
Severability—2003 1st sp.s. c 29: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.700
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [2003 1st sp.s. c 29 § 14.]
Conflict with federal requirements—2003 1st sp.s. c 29: "If any part
of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with
respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the
operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are
a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [2003 1st
sp.s. c 29 § 15.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 29: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately [June 26, 2003]." [2003 1st sp.s. c 29 § 16.]
74.09.660
74.09.660 Prescription drug education for seniors—
Grant qualifications. Each of the state’s area agencies on
aging shall implement a program intended to inform and train
persons sixty-five years of age and older in the safe and
appropriate use of prescription and nonprescription medications. To further this purpose, the department shall award
development grants averaging up to twenty-five thousand
dollars to each of the agencies upon a showing that:
(1) The agency has the ability to effectively administer
such a program, including an understanding of the relevant
issues and appropriate outreach and follow-up;
(2) The agency can bring resources to the program in
addition to those funded by the grant; and
(3) The program will be a collaborative effort between
the agency and other health care programs and providers in
the location to be served, including doctors, pharmacists, and
long-term care providers. [2003 1st sp.s. c 29 § 8.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW
74.09.650.
74.09.700
74.09.700 Medical care—Limited casualty program.
(1) To the extent of available funds and subject to any conditions placed on appropriations made for this purpose, medical
care may be provided under the limited casualty program to
persons not otherwise eligible for medical assistance or medical care services who are medically needy as defined in the
social security Title XIX state plan and medical indigents in
accordance with eligibility requirements established by the
department. The eligibility requirements may include minimum levels of incurred medical expenses. This includes residents of nursing facilities, residents of intermediate care
facilities for the mentally retarded, and individuals who are
otherwise eligible for section 1915(c) of the federal social
security act home and community-based waiver services,
administered by the department of social and health services
aging and adult services administration, who are aged, blind,
or disabled as defined in Title XVI of the federal social security act and whose income exceeds three hundred percent of
the federal supplement security income benefit level.
(2) Determination of the amount, scope, and duration of
medical coverage under the limited casualty program shall be
the responsibility of the department, subject to the following:
(a) Only the following services may be covered:
(i) For persons who are medically needy as defined in the
social security Title XIX state plan: Inpatient and outpatient
[Title 74 RCW—page 43]
74.09.720
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
hospital services, and home and community-based waiver
services;
(ii) For persons who are medically needy as defined in
the social security Title XIX state plan, and for persons who
are medical indigents under the eligibility requirements
established by the department: Rural health clinic services;
physicians’ and clinic services; prescribed drugs, dentures,
prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses; nursing facility services;
and intermediate care facility services for the mentally
retarded; home health services; hospice services; other laboratory and X-ray services; rehabilitative services, including
occupational therapy; medically necessary transportation;
and other services for which funds are specifically provided
in the omnibus appropriations act;
(b) Medical care services provided to the medically indigent and received no more than seven days prior to the date of
application shall be retroactively certified and approved for
payment on behalf of a person who was otherwise eligible at
the time the medical services were furnished: PROVIDED,
That eligible persons who fail to apply within the seven-day
time period for medical reasons or other good cause may be
retroactively certified and approved for payment.
(3) The department shall establish standards of assistance and resource and income exemptions. All nonexempt
income and resources of limited casualty program recipients
shall be applied against the cost of their medical care services. [2001 c 269 § 1; 1993 c 57 § 2. Prior: 1991 sp.s. c 9 §
7; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 10; 1991 c 233 § 2; 1989 c 87 § 3; 1985 c
5 § 4; 1983 1st ex.s. c 43 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 19 § 1; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 10 § 6; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 6; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 22.]
Effective dates—1991 sp.s. c 9: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July
1, 1991, except sections 1 through 6 and 9 of this act which shall take effect
on September 1, 1991." [1991 sp.s. c 9 § 11.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
(3) The department of social and health services and the
department of services for the blind shall formulate a cooperative agreement concerning referral of clients between the
two agencies and the coordination of policies and services.
[1983 c 194 § 26.]
Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 194: See RCW 74.18.902 and
74.18.903.
74.09.725
74.09.725 Prostate cancer screening. The department
shall provide coverage for prostate cancer screening under
this chapter, provided that the screening is delivered upon the
recommendation of the patient’s physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. [2006 c 367 §
8.]
74.09.730
74.09.730 Disproportionate share hospital adjustment. In establishing Title XIX payments for inpatient hospital services:
(1) The department of social and health services shall
provide a disproportionate share hospital adjustment considering the following components:
(a) A low-income care component based on a hospital’s
medicaid utilization rate, its low-income utilization rate, its
provision of obstetric services, and other factors authorized
by federal law;
(b) A medical indigency care component based on a hospital’s services to persons who are medically indigent; and
(c) A state-only component, to be paid from available
state funds to hospitals that do not qualify for federal payments under (b) of this subsection, based on a hospital’s services to persons who are medically indigent;
(2) The payment methodology for disproportionate share
hospitals shall be specified by the department in regulation.
[1991 sp.s. c 9 § 8; 1989 c 260 § 1; 1987 1st ex.s. c 5 § 20.]
Effective dates—1989 c 87: See note following RCW 11.94.050.
Effective dates—1991 sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW 74.09.700.
Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 43: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
on July 1, 1983." [1983 1st ex.s. c 43 § 3.]
Severability—1987 1st ex.s. c 5: See note following RCW 70.47.901.
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 19: See note following RCW
74.09.035.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 3: See note following RCW 74.09.510.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.09.720
74.09.720 Prevention of blindness program. (1) A
prevention of blindness program is hereby established in the
department of social and health services to provide prompt,
specialized medical eye care, including assistance with costs
when necessary, for conditions in which sight is endangered
or sight can be restored or significantly improved. The
department of social and health services shall adopt rules
concerning program eligibility, levels of assistance, and the
scope of services.
(2) The department of social and health services shall
employ on a part-time basis an ophthalmological and/or an
optometrical consultant to provide liaison with participating
eye physicians and to review medical recommendations
made by an applicant’s eye physician to determine whether
the proposed services meet program standards.
[Title 74 RCW—page 44]
74.09.740
74.09.740 Amendments to state plan—Federal
approval required. The department must seek approval
from the federal health care financing administration of any
amendments to the existing state plan or waivers necessary to
ensure federal financial participation in the provision of services to consumers under Title XIX of the federal social security act. [2002 c 3 § 14 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved
November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.09.755
74.09.755 AIDS—Community-based care—Federal
social security act waiver. The department shall prepare
and request a waiver under section 1915(c) of the federal
social security act to provide community based long-term
care services to persons with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions who qualify for the medical assistance program under
RCW 74.09.510 or the limited casualty program for the medically needy under RCW 74.09.700. Respite services shall be
included as a service available under the waiver. [1989 c 427
§ 12.]
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Care
MATERNITY CARE ACCESS PROGRAM
74.09.800
repeal this chapter [subchapter] at any time. [1989 1st ex.s. c
10 § 3.]
74.09.760
74.09.760 Short title—1989 1st ex.s. c 10. This act
may be known and cited as the "maternity care access act of
1989." [1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 1.]
74.09.770
74.09.770 Maternity care access system established.
(1) The legislature finds that Washington state and the nation
as a whole have a high rate of infant illness and death compared with other industrialized nations. This is especially true
for minority and low-income populations. Premature and low
weight births have been directly linked to infant illness and
death. The availability of adequate maternity care throughout
the course of pregnancy has been identified as a major factor
in reducing infant illness and death. Further, the investment
in preventive health care programs, such as maternity care,
contributes to the growth of a healthy and productive society
and is a sound approach to health care cost containment. The
legislature further finds that access to maternity care for lowincome women in the state of Washington has declined significantly in recent years and has reached a crisis level.
(2) It is the purpose of this chapter [subchapter] to provide, consistent with appropriated funds, maternity care necessary to ensure healthy birth outcomes for low-income families. To this end, a maternity care access system is established based on the following principles:
(a) The family is the fundamental unit in our society and
should be supported through public policy.
(b) Access to maternity care for eligible persons to
ensure healthy birth outcomes should be made readily available in an expeditious manner through a single service entry
point.
(c) Unnecessary barriers to maternity care for eligible
persons should be removed.
(d) Access to preventive and other health care services
should be available for low-income children.
(e) Each woman should be encouraged to and assisted in
making her own informed decisions about her maternity care.
(f) Unnecessary barriers to the provision of maternity
care by qualified health professionals should be removed.
(g) The system should be sensitive to cultural differences
among eligible persons.
(h) To the extent possible, decisions about the scope,
content, and delivery of services should be made at the local
level involving a broad representation of community interests.
(i) The maternity care access system should be evaluated
at appropriate intervals to determine effectiveness and need
for modification.
(j) Maternity care services should be delivered in a costeffective manner. [1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 2.]
74.09.780
74.09.780 Reservation of legislative power. The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal all or any part of
this chapter [subchapter] at any time and there shall be no
vested private right of any kind against such amendment or
repeal. All rights, privileges, or immunities conferred by this
chapter [subchapter] or any acts done pursuant thereto shall
exist subject to the power of the legislature to amend or
(2006 Ed.)
74.09.790
74.09.790 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout RCW 74.09.760 through 74.09.820 and
74.09.510:
(1) "At-risk eligible person" means an eligible person
determined by the department to need special assistance in
applying for and obtaining maternity care, including pregnant
women who are substance abusers, pregnant and parenting
adolescents, pregnant minority women, and other eligible
persons who need special assistance in gaining access to the
maternity care system.
(2) "County authority" means the board of county commissioners, county council, or county executive having the
authority to participate in the maternity care access program
or its designee. Two or more county authorities may enter
into joint agreements to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.
(3) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(4) "Eligible person" means a woman in need of maternity care or a child, who is eligible for medical assistance pursuant to this chapter or the prenatal care program administered by the department.
(5) "Maternity care services" means inpatient and outpatient medical care, case management, and support services
necessary during prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods.
(6) "Support services" means, at least, public health
nursing assessment and follow-up, health and childbirth education, psychological assessment and counseling, outreach
services, nutritional assessment and counseling, needed vitamin and nonprescriptive drugs, transportation, family planning services, and child care. Support services may include
alcohol and substance abuse treatment for pregnant women
who are addicted or at risk of being addicted to alcohol or
drugs to the extent funds are made available for that purpose.
(7) "Family planning services" means planning the number of one’s children by use of contraceptive techniques.
[1993 c 407 § 9; 1990 c 151 § 4; 1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 4.]
74.09.800
74.09.800 Maternity care access program established. The department shall, consistent with the state budget
act, develop a maternity care access program designed to
ensure healthy birth outcomes as follows:
(1) Provide maternity care services to low-income pregnant women and health care services to children in poverty to
the maximum extent allowable under the medical assistance
program, Title XIX of the federal social security act;
(2) Provide maternity care services to low-income
women who are not eligible to receive such services under
the medical assistance program, Title XIX of the federal
social security act;
(3) By January 1, 1990, have the following procedures in
place to improve access to maternity care services and eligibility determinations for pregnant women applying for maternity care services under the medical assistance program, Title
XIX of the federal social security act:
(a) Use of a shortened and simplified application form;
[Title 74 RCW—page 45]
74.09.810
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(b) Outstationing department staff to make eligibility
determinations;
(c) Establishing local plans at the county and regional
level, coordinated by the department; and
(d) Conducting an interview for the purpose of determining medical assistance eligibility within five working days of
the date of an application by a pregnant woman and making
an eligibility determination within fifteen working days of
the date of application by a pregnant woman;
(4) Establish a maternity care case management system
that shall assist at-risk eligible persons with obtaining medical assistance benefits and receiving maternity care services,
including transportation and child care services;
(5) Within available resources, establish appropriate
reimbursement levels for maternity care providers;
(6) Implement a broad-based public education program
that stresses the importance of obtaining maternity care early
during pregnancy;
(7) Refer persons eligible for maternity care services
under the program established by this section to persons,
agencies, or organizations with maternity care service practices that primarily emphasize healthy birth outcomes;
(8) Provide family planning services including information about the synthetic progestin capsule implant form of
contraception, for twelve months immediately following a
pregnancy to women who were eligible for medical assistance under the maternity care access program during that
pregnancy or who were eligible only for emergency labor and
delivery services during that pregnancy; and
(9) Within available resources, provide family planning
services to women who meet the financial eligibility requirements for services under subsections (1) and (2) of this section. [1993 c 407 § 10; 1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 5.]
74.09.810 Alternative maternity care service delivery
system established—Remedial action report. (1) The
department shall establish an alternative maternity care service delivery system, if it determines that a county or a group
of counties is a maternity care distressed area. A maternity
care distressed area shall be defined by the department, in
rule, as a county or a group of counties where eligible women
are unable to obtain adequate maternity care. The department
shall include the following factors in its determination:
(a) Higher than average percentage of eligible persons in
the distressed area who receive late or no prenatal care;
(b) Higher than average percentage of eligible persons in
the distressed area who go out of the area to receive maternity
care;
(c) Lower than average percentage of obstetrical care
providers in the distressed area who provide care to eligible
persons;
(d) Higher than average percentage of infants born to eligible persons per obstetrical care provider in the distressed
area; and
(e) Higher than average percentage of infants that are of
low birth weight, five and one-half pounds or two thousand
five hundred grams, born to eligible persons in the distressed
area.
(2) If the department determines that a maternity care
distressed area exists, it shall notify the relevant county
authority. The county authority shall, within one hundred
twenty days, submit a brief report to the department recommending remedial action. The report shall be prepared in consultation with the department and its local community service
offices, the local public health officer, community health
clinics, health care providers, hospitals, the business community, labor representatives, and low-income advocates in the
distressed area. A county authority may contract with a local
nonprofit entity to develop the report. If the county authority
is unwilling or unable to develop the report, it shall notify the
department within thirty days, and the department shall
develop the report for the distressed area.
(3) The department shall review the report and use it, to
the extent possible, in developing strategies to improve
maternity care access in the distressed area. The department
may contract with or directly employ qualified maternity care
health providers to provide maternity care services, if access
to such providers in the distressed area is not possible by
other means. In such cases, the department is authorized to
pay that portion of the health care providers’ malpractice liability insurance that represents the percentage of maternity
care provided to eligible persons by that provider through
increased medical assistance payments. [1989 1st ex.s. c 10
§ 6.]
74.09.820
74.09.820 Maternity care provider’s loan repayment
program. To the extent that federal matching funds are
available, the department or the *department of health if one
is created shall establish, in consultation with the health science programs of the state’s colleges and universities, and
community health clinics, a loan repayment program that will
encourage maternity care providers to practice in medically
underserved areas in exchange for repayment of part or all of
their health education loans. [1989 1st ex.s. c 10 § 7.]
74.09.810
[Title 74 RCW—page 46]
*Reviser’s note: The department of health was created by 1989 1st
ex.s. c 9.
Health professional scholarships: Chapter 28B.115 RCW.
74.09.850
74.09.850 Conflict with federal requirements. If any
part of this chapter is found to conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of
federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this chapter
is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the
conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the
operation of the remainder of this chapter. [1981 2nd ex.s. c
3 § 7.]
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 3: See note following RCW 74.09.510.
74.09.900
74.09.900 Other laws applicable. All the provisions of
Title 74 RCW, not otherwise inconsistent herewith, shall
apply to the provisions of this chapter. [1959 c 26 §
74.09.900. Prior: 1955 c 273 § 22.]
74.09.910
74.09.910 Severability—1979 ex.s. c 152. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1979 ex.s. c 152 § 12.]
(2006 Ed.)
Medical Assistance—Coordination of Benefits—Computerized Information Transfer
Chapter 74.09A RCW
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE—COORDINATION OF
BENEFITS—COMPUTERIZED
INFORMATION TRANSFER
Chapter 74.09A
Sections
74.09A.005 Finding.
74.09A.010 Definitions.
74.09A.020 Computerized information—Provision to private insurers.
74.09A.005
74.09A.005 Finding. The legislature finds that:
(1) Simplification in the administration of payment of
health benefits is important for the state, providers, and private insurers;
(2) The state, providers, and private insurers should take
advantage of all opportunities to streamline operations
through automation and the use of common computer standards; and
(3) It is in the best interests of the state, providers, and
private insurers to identify all third parties that are obligated
to cover the cost of health care coverage of joint beneficiaries.
Therefore, the legislature declares that to improve the
coordination of benefits between the department of social and
health services and private insurers to ensure that medical
insurance benefits are properly utilized, a transfer of uniform
information from the department of social and health services
to Washington state private insurers should be instituted.
[1993 c 10 § 1.]
74.09A.010
74.09A.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Health insurance coverage" includes any coverage
under which medical services are provided by an employer or
a union whether that coverage is provided through a selfinsurance program, under the employee retirement income
security act of 1974, a commercial insurer pursuant to chapters 48.20 and 48.21 RCW, a health care service contractor
pursuant to chapter 48.44 RCW, or a health maintenance
organization pursuant to chapter 48.46 RCW, and medical
assistance under chapter 74.09 RCW, and the state through
this chapter.
(2) "Insurer" means a commercial insurance company
providing disability insurance under chapter 48.20 or 48.21
RCW, a health care service contractor providing health care
coverage under chapter 48.44 RCW, a health maintenance
organization providing comprehensive health care services
under chapter 48.46 RCW, and shall also include any
employer or union that is providing health insurance coverage on a self-insured basis.
(3) "Medical assistance administration" means the division within the department of social and health services
authorized under chapter 74.09 RCW.
(4) "Computerized" means on-line or batch processing
with standardized format via magnetic tape output.
(5) "Insurance coverage" means subscriber and beneficiary eligibility and benefit coverage data.
(6) "Joint beneficiary" is a resident of Washington state
who has private insurance coverage and is a recipient of public assistance benefits under chapter 74.09 RCW. [1993 c 10
§ 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 74.12
74.09A.020 Computerized information—Provision
to private insurers. (1) The medical assistance administration shall provide routine and periodic computerized information to private insurers regarding client eligibility and coverage information. Private insurers shall use this information
to identify joint beneficiaries. Identification of joint
beneficiaries shall be transmitted to the medical assistance
administration. The medical assistance administration shall
use this information to improve accuracy and currency of
health insurance coverage and promote improved coordination of benefits.
(2) To the maximum extent possible, necessary data elements and a compatible data base shall be developed by
affected health insurers and the medical assistance administration. The medical assistance administration shall establish
a representative group of insurers and state agency representatives to develop necessary technical and file specifications
to promote a standardized data base. The data base shall
include elements essential to the medical assistance administration and its population’s insurance coverage information.
(3) If the state and private insurers enter into other agreements regarding the use of common computer standards, the
data base identified in this section shall be replaced by the
new common computer standards.
(4) The information provided will be of sufficient detail
to promote reliable and accurate benefit coordination and
identification of individuals who are also eligible for medical
assistance administration programs.
(5) The frequency of updates will be mutually agreed to
by each insurer and the medical assistance administration
based on frequency of change and operational limitations. In
no event shall the computerized data be provided less than
semiannually.
(6) The insurers and the medical assistance administration shall safeguard and properly use the information to protect records as provided by law, including but not limited to
chapters 42.48, 74.09, 74.04, 70.02, and 42.56 RCW, and 42
U.S.C. Sec. 1396a and 42 C.F.R. Sec. 43 et seq. The purpose
of this exchange of information is to improve coordination
and administration of benefits and ensure that medical insurance benefits are properly utilized.
(7) The medical assistance administration shall target
implementation of this chapter to those private insurers with
the highest probability of joint beneficiaries. [2005 c 274 §
350; 1993 c 10 § 3.]
74.09A.020
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Chapter 74.12 RCW
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
Chapter 74.12
(Formerly: Aid to families with dependent children)
Sections
74.12.010
74.12.030
74.12.035
74.12.240
74.12.250
74.12.255
74.12.260
74.12.280
Definitions.
Eligibility.
Additional eligibility requirements—Students—Exceptions.
Services provided to help attain maximum self-support and
independence of parents and relatives.
Payment of grant to another—Limited guardianship.
Teen applicants’ living situation—Criteria—Presumption—
Protective payee—Adoption referral.
Persons to whom grants shall be made—Proof of use for benefit of children.
Rules for coordination of services.
[Title 74 RCW—page 47]
74.12.010
74.12.290
74.12.300
74.12.310
74.12.320
74.12.330
74.12.340
74.12.350
74.12.361
74.12.400
74.12.410
74.12.420
74.12.425
74.12.450
74.12.460
74.12.900
74.12.901
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Suitability of home—Evaluation.
Grant during period required to eliminate undesirable conditions.
Placement of child with other relatives.
Placement of child pursuant to chapter 13.04 RCW.
Assistance not to be denied for want of relative or court order.
Day care.
Child’s income set aside for future needs—Irrevocable
trusts—Educational accounts.
Supplemental security income program—Enrollment of disabled persons.
Reduce reliance on aid—Work and job training—Family planning—Staff training.
Family planning information—Cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction—Abstinence education and
motivation programs, contracts—Legislative review and
oversight of programs and contracts.
Long-term recipients—Benefit reduction—Limitation—Food
stamp benefit computation.
Long-term recipients—Benefit reduction—Computation.
Application for assistance—Report on suspected child abuse
or neglect—Notice to parent about application, location of
child, and family reconciliation act.
Notice to parent—Required within seven days of approval of
application.
Welfare reform implementation—1994 c 299.
Federal waivers and legislation—1994 c 299.
Agencies for care of children, expectant mothers, developmentally disabled:
Chapter 74.15 RCW.
Children and youth services: Chapter 72.05 RCW.
Enforcement of support of dependent children: Chapters 74.20 and 74.20A
RCW.
Sale or gift of tobacco to minor is gross misdemeanor: RCW 26.28.080.
State schools for blind and deaf: Chapter 72.40 RCW.
74.12.010
74.12.010 Definitions. For the purposes of the administration of temporary assistance for needy families, the term
"dependent child" means any child in need under the age of
eighteen years who is living with a relative as specified under
federal temporary assistance for needy families program
requirements, in a place of residence maintained by one or
more of such relatives as his or their homes. The term a
"dependent child" shall, notwithstanding the foregoing, also
include a child who would meet such requirements except for
his removal from the home of a relative specified above as a
result of a judicial determination that continuation therein
would be contrary to the welfare of such child, for whose
placement and care the state department of social and health
services or the county office is responsible, and who has been
placed in a licensed or approved child care institution or foster home as a result of such determination and who: (1) Was
receiving an aid to families with dependent children grant for
the month in which court proceedings leading to such determination were initiated; or (2) would have received aid to
families with dependent children for such month if application had been made therefor; or (3) in the case of a child who
had been living with a specified relative within six months
prior to the month in which such proceedings were initiated,
would have received aid to families with dependent children
for such month if in such month he had been living with such
a relative and application had been made therefor, as authorized by the Social Security Act.
"Temporary assistance for needy families" means money
payments, services, and remedial care with respect to a
dependent child or dependent children and the needy parent
or relative with whom the child lives. [1999 c 120 § 1; 1997
c 59 § 16; 1992 c 136 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 40; 1981 1st
ex.s. c 6 § 23; 1981 c 8 § 21; 1979 c 141 § 350; 1973 2nd ex.s.
[Title 74 RCW—page 48]
c 31 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 13; 1965 ex.s. c 37 § 1; 1963 c
228 § 18; 1961 c 265 § 1; 1959 c 26 § 74.12.010. Prior: 1957
c 63 § 10; 1953 c 174 § 24; 1941 c 242 § 1; 1937 c 114 § 1;
Rem. Supp. 1941 § 9992-101.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.12.030
74.12.030 Eligibility. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of RCW 74.08.025, as now or hereafter
amended, an applicant for temporary assistance for needy
families must be a needy child who is a resident of the state
of Washington. [1997 c 59 § 17; 1971 ex.s. c 169 § 6; 1963
c 228 § 19; 1959 c 26 § 74.12.030. Prior: 1953 c 174 § 23;
1941 c 242 § 2; 1937 c 114 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 9992104.]
74.12.035
74.12.035 Additional eligibility requirements—Students—Exceptions. (1) Children over eighteen years of age
and under nineteen years of age who are full-time students
reasonably expected to complete a program of secondary
school, or the equivalent level of vocational or technical
training, before reaching nineteen years of age are eligible to
receive temporary assistance for needy families: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That if such students do not successfully complete such program before reaching nineteen years
of age, the assistance rendered under this subsection during
such period shall not be a debt due the state.
(2) Children with disabilities who are eighteen years of
age and under twenty-one years of age and who are full-time
students whose education is being provided in accordance
with RCW 28A.155.020 are eligible to receive temporary
assistance for needy families benefits.
(3) The department is authorized to grant exceptions to
the eligibility restrictions for children eighteen years of age
and under twenty-one years of age under subsections (1) and
(2) of this section only when it determines by reasonable,
objective criteria that such exceptions are likely to enable the
children to complete their high school education, general
equivalency diploma or vocational education. [1999 c 120 §
2; 1997 c 59 § 18; 1985 c 335 § 1; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 3.]
State consolidated standards of need: RCW 74.04.770.
74.12.240
74.12.240 Services provided to help attain maximum
self-support and independence of parents and relatives.
The department is authorized to provide such social and
related services as are reasonably necessary to encourage the
care of dependent children in their own homes or in the
homes of relatives, to help maintain and strengthen family
life and to help such parents or relatives to attain maximum
self-support and personal independence consistent with the
maintenance of continuing parental care and protection. In
the provision of such services, maximum utilization of other
agencies providing similar or related services shall be
effected. [1959 c 26 § 74.12.240. Prior: 1957 c 63 § 8.]
74.12.250
74.12.250 Payment of grant to another—Limited
guardianship. If the department, after investigation, finds
that any applicant for assistance under this chapter or any
recipient of funds under this chapter would not use, or is not
(2006 Ed.)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
utilizing, the grant adequately for the needs of his or her child
or children or would dissipate the grant or is dissipating such
grant, or would be or is unable to manage adequately the
funds paid on behalf of said child and that to provide or continue payments to the applicant or recipient would be contrary to the welfare of the child, the department may make
such payments to another individual who is interested in or
concerned with the welfare of such child and relative: PROVIDED, That the department shall provide such counseling
and other services as are available and necessary to develop
greater ability on the part of the relative to manage funds in
such manner as to protect the welfare of the family. Periodic
review of each case shall be made by the department to determine if said relative is able to resume management of the
assistance grant. If after a reasonable period of time the payments to the relative cannot be resumed, the department may
request the attorney general to file a petition in the superior
court for the appointment of a guardian for the child or children. Such petition shall set forth the facts warranting such
appointment. Notice of the hearing on such petition shall be
served upon the recipient and the department not less than ten
days before the date set for such hearing. Such petition may
be filed with the clerk of superior court and all process issued
and served without payment of costs. If upon the hearing of
such petition the court is satisfied that it is for the best interest
of the child or children, and all parties concerned, that a
guardian be appointed, he shall order the appointment, and
may require the guardian to render to the court a detailed
itemized account of expenditures of such assistance payments at such time as the court may deem advisable.
It is the intention of this section that the guardianship
herein provided for shall be a special and limited guardianship solely for the purpose of safeguarding the assistance
grants made to dependent children. Such guardianship shall
terminate upon the termination of such assistance grant, or
sooner on order of the court, upon good cause shown. [1997
c 58 § 506; 1963 c 228 § 21; 1961 c 206 § 1.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.12.255
74.12.255 Teen applicants’ living situation—Criteria—Presumption—Protective payee—Adoption referral. (1) The department shall determine, after consideration
of all relevant factors and in consultation with the applicant,
the most appropriate living situation for applicants under
eighteen years of age, unmarried, and either pregnant or having a dependent child or children in the applicant’s care. An
appropriate living situation shall include a place of residence
that is maintained by the applicant’s parents, parent, legal
guardian, or other adult relative as their or his or her own
home and that the department finds would provide an appropriate supportive living arrangement. It also includes a living
situation maintained by an agency that is licensed under
chapter 74.15 RCW that the department finds would provide
an appropriate supportive living arrangement. Grant assistance shall not be provided under this chapter if the applicant
does not reside in the most appropriate living situation, as
determined by the department.
(2006 Ed.)
74.12.260
(2) An unmarried minor parent or pregnant minor applicant residing in the most appropriate living situation, as provided under subsection (1) of this section, is presumed to be
unable to manage adequately the funds paid to the minor or
on behalf of the dependent child or children and, unless the
minor provides sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption,
shall be subject to the protective payee requirements provided for under RCW 74.12.250 and 74.08.280.
(3) The department shall consider any statements or
opinions by either parent of the unmarried minor parent or
pregnant minor applicant as to an appropriate living situation
for the minor and his or her children, whether in the parental
home or other situation. If the parents or a parent of the minor
request, they or he or she shall be entitled to a hearing in juvenile court regarding designation of the parental home or other
relative placement as the most appropriate living situation for
the pregnant or parenting minor.
The department shall provide the parents or parent with
the opportunity to make a showing that the parental home, or
home of the other relative placement, is the most appropriate
living situation. It shall be presumed in any administrative or
judicial proceeding conducted under this subsection that the
parental home or other relative placement requested by the
parents or parent is the most appropriate living situation. This
presumption is rebuttable.
(4) In cases in which the minor is unmarried and unemployed, the department shall, as part of the determination of
the appropriate living situation, make an affirmative effort to
provide current and positive information about adoption
including referral to community-based organizations for
counseling and provide information about the manner in
which adoption works, its benefits for unmarried, unemployed minor parents and their children, and the meaning and
availability of open adoption.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "most appropriate
living situation" shall not include a living situation including
an adult male who fathered the qualifying child and is found
to meet the elements of rape of a child as set forth in RCW
9A.44.079. [1997 c 58 § 501; 1994 c 299 § 33.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
General assistance: RCW 74.04.0052.
74.12.260
74.12.260 Persons to whom grants shall be made—
Proof of use for benefit of children. Temporary assistance
for needy families grants shall be made to persons specified
in RCW 74.12.010 as amended or such others as the federal
department of health, education and welfare shall recognize
for the sole purposes of giving benefits to the children whose
needs are included in the grant paid to such persons. The
recipient of each temporary assistance for needy families
grant shall be and hereby is required to present reasonable
proof to the department of social and health services as often
as may be required by the department that all funds received
in the form of a temporary assistance for needy families grant
for the children represented in the grant are being spent for
[Title 74 RCW—page 49]
74.12.280
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
the benefit of the children. [1997 c 59 § 21; 1979 c 141 §
351; 1963 c 228 § 22.]
74.12.280
74.12.280 Rules for coordination of services. The
department is hereby authorized to adopt rules that will provide for coordination between the services provided pursuant
to chapter 74.13 RCW and the services provided under the
temporary assistance for needy families program in order to
provide welfare and related services which will best promote
the welfare of such children and their families and conform
with the provisions of Public Law 87-543 (HR 10606). [1997
c 59 § 22; 1983 c 3 § 191; 1963 c 228 § 24.]
74.12.290
74.12.290 Suitability of home—Evaluation. The
department of social and health services shall, during the initial and any subsequent determination of eligibility, evaluate
the suitability of the home in which the dependent child lives,
consideration to be given to physical care and supervision
provided in the home; social, educational, and the moral
atmosphere of the home as compared with the standards of
the community; the child’s physical and mental health and
emotional security, special needs occasioned by the child’s
physical handicaps or illnesses, if any; the extent to which
desirable factors outweigh the undesirable in the home; and
the apparent possibility for improving undesirable conditions
in the home. [1979 c 141 § 352; 1963 c 228 § 25.]
74.12.330
74.12.330 Assistance not to be denied for want of relative or court order. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
chapter a child otherwise eligible for aid shall not be denied
such assistance where a relative as specified in the social
security act is unavailable or refuses to accept custody and
the juvenile court fails to enter an order removing the child
from the custody of the parent, relative or guardian then having custody. [1963 c 228 § 29.]
74.12.340
74.12.340 Day care. (1) The department is authorized
to adopt rules governing the provision of day care as a part of
child welfare services when the secretary determines that a
need exists for such day care and that it is in the best interests
of the child, the parents, or the custodial parent and in determining the need for such day care priority shall be given to
geographical areas having the greatest need for such care and
to members of low income groups in the population: PROVIDED, That where the family is financially able to pay part
or all of the costs of such care, fees shall be imposed and paid
according to the financial ability of the family.
(2) This section does not affect the authority of the
department of early learning to adopt rules governing child
day care and early learning programs. [2006 c 265 § 208;
1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 111; 1963 c 228 § 30.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
Child welfare services: Chapter 74.13 RCW.
74.12.300
74.12.300 Grant during period required to eliminate
undesirable conditions. If the home in which the child lives
is found to be unsuitable, but there is reason to believe that
elimination of the undesirable conditions can be effected, and
the child is otherwise eligible for aid, a grant shall be initiated
or continued for such time as the state department of social
and health services and the family require to remedy the conditions. [1979 c 141 § 353; 1963 c 228 § 26.]
74.12.310
74.12.310 Placement of child with other relatives.
When intensive efforts over a reasonable period have failed
to improve the home conditions, the department shall determine if any other relatives specified by the social security act
are maintaining a suitable home and are willing to take the
care and custody of the child in their home. Upon an affirmative finding the department shall, if the parents or relatives
with whom the child is living consent, take the necessary
steps for placement of the child with such other relatives, but
if the parents or relatives with whom the child lives refuse
their consent to the placement then the department shall file a
petition in the juvenile court for a decree adjudging the home
unsuitable and placing the dependent child with such other
relatives. [1963 c 228 § 27.]
74.12.320
74.12.320 Placement of child pursuant to chapter
13.04 RCW. If a diligent search reveals no other relatives as
specified in the social security act maintaining a suitable
home and willing to take custody of the child, then the department may file a petition in the appropriate juvenile court for
placement of the child pursuant to the provisions of chapter
13.04 RCW. [1963 c 228 § 28.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 50]
74.12.350
74.12.350 Child’s income set aside for future needs—
Irrevocable trusts—Educational accounts. The department of social and health services is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in conformity with the provisions of Public Law 87-543 to allow all or any portion of a
dependent child’s earned or other income to be set aside for
the identifiable future needs of the dependent child which
will make possible the realization of the child’s maximum
potential as an independent and useful citizen.
The transfer into, or accumulation of, a child’s income or
resources in an irrevocable trust account is hereby allowed.
The amount allowable is four thousand dollars. The department will provide income assistance recipients with clear and
simple information on how to set up educational accounts,
including how to assure that the accounts comply with federal law by being adequately earmarked for future educational use, and are irrevocable. [1994 c 299 § 31; 1979 c 141
§ 354; 1963 c 226 § 1.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
74.12.361
74.12.361 Supplemental security income program—
Enrollment of disabled persons. The department shall
actively develop mechanisms for the income assistance program, the medical assistance program, and the community
services administration to facilitate the enrollment in the federal supplemental security income program of disabled persons currently part of assistance units receiving temporary
assistance for needy families benefits. [1997 c 59 § 23; 1994
c 299 § 35.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
(2006 Ed.)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
74.12.400
74.12.400 Reduce reliance on aid—Work and job
training—Family planning—Staff training. The department shall train financial services and social work staff who
provide direct service to recipients of temporary assistance
for needy families to:
(1) Effectively communicate the transitional nature of
temporary assistance for needy families and the expectation
that recipients will enter employment;
(2) Actively refer clients to the job opportunities and
basic skills program;
(3) Provide social services needed to overcome obstacles
to employability; and
(4) Provide family planning information and assistance,
including alternatives to abortion, which shall be conducted
in consultation with the department of health. [1997 c 59 §
24; 1994 c 299 § 2.]
Intent—1994 c 299: "The legislature finds that lengthy stays on welfare, lack of access to vocational education and training, the inadequate
emphasis on employment by the social welfare system, and teen pregnancy
are obstacles to achieving economic independence. Therefore, the legislature
intends that:
(1) Income and employment assistance programs emphasize the temporary nature of welfare and set goals of responsibility, work, and independence;
(2) State institutions take an active role in preventing pregnancy in
young teens;
(3) Family planning assistance be readily available to welfare recipients;
(4) Support enforcement be more effective and the level of responsibility of noncustodial parents be significantly increased; and
(5) Job search, job skills training, and vocational education resources
are to be used in the most cost-effective manner possible." [1994 c 299 § 1.]
Finding—1994 c 299: "The legislature finds that the reliable receipt of
child support payments by custodial parents is essential to maintaining economic self-sufficiency. It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that child
support payments received by custodial parents when such support is owed
are retained by those parents regardless of future claims made against such
payments." [1994 c 299 § 17.]
74.12.450
under P.L. 104-193 and Title V of the federal social security
act, 42 U.S.C. 701 et seq., as amended, for the establishment
of qualifying abstinence education and motivation programs.
The department of health shall contract, by competitive bid,
with entities qualified to provide abstinence education and
motivation programs in the state.
(4) The department of health shall seek and accept local
matching funds to the maximum extent allowable from qualified abstinence education and motivation programs.
(5)(a) For purposes of this section, "qualifying abstinence education and motivation programs" are those bidders
with experience in the conduct of the types of abstinence education and motivation programs set forth in Title V of the federal social security act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., as
amended.
(b) The application for federal funds, contracting for
abstinence education and motivation programs and performance of contracts under this section are subject to review
and oversight by a joint committee of the legislature, composed of four legislative members, appointed by each of the
two caucuses in each house. [1997 c 58 § 601; 1994 c 299 §
3.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
74.12.420
74.12.420 Long-term recipients—Benefit reduction—Limitation—Food stamp benefit computation.
Reviser’s note: RCW 74.12.420 was amended by 1997 c 59 § 26 without reference to its repeal by 1997 c 58 § 105. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
74.12.425
Severability—1994 c 299: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1994 c 299 § 40.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The
rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1994 c 299 § 41.]
74.12.410
74.12.410 Family planning information—Cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction—Abstinence education and motivation programs, contracts—
Legislative review and oversight of programs and contracts. (1) At time of application or reassessment under this
chapter the department shall offer or contract for family planning information and assistance, including alternatives to
abortion, and any other available locally based teen pregnancy prevention programs, to prospective and current recipients of aid to families with dependent children.
(2) The department shall work in cooperation with the
superintendent of public instruction to reduce the rate of illegitimate births and abortions in Washington state.
(3) The department of health shall maximize federal
funding by timely application for federal funds available
(2006 Ed.)
74.12.425 Long-term recipients—Benefit reduction—Computation.
Reviser’s note: RCW 74.12.425 was amended by 1997 c 59 § 27 without reference to its repeal by 1997 c 58 § 105. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
74.12.450
74.12.450 Application for assistance—Report on suspected child abuse or neglect—Notice to parent about
application, location of child, and family reconciliation
act. (1) Whenever the department receives an application for
assistance on behalf of a child under this chapter and an
employee of the department has reason to believe that the
child has suffered abuse or neglect, the employee shall cause
a report to be made as provided under chapter 26.44 RCW.
(2) Whenever the department approves an application
for assistance on behalf of a child under this chapter, the
department shall make a reasonable effort to determine
whether the child is living with a parent of the child. Whenever the child is living in the home of a relative other than a
parent of the child, the department shall make reasonable
efforts to notify the parent with whom the child has most
recently resided that an application for assistance on behalf of
the child has been approved by the department and shall
advise the parent of his or her rights under this section, RCW
74.12.460, and *sections 4 and 5 of this act, unless good
cause exists not to do so based on a substantiated claim that
the parent has abused or neglected the child.
[Title 74 RCW—page 51]
74.12.460
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(3) Upon written request of the parent, the department
shall notify the parent of the address and location of the child,
unless there is a current investigation or pending case involving abuse or neglect by the parent under chapter 13.34 RCW.
(4) The department shall notify and advise the parent of
the provisions of the family reconciliation act under chapter
13.32A RCW. [1995 c 401 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: Sections 4 and 5 of this act were vetoed by the governor.
Severability—1995 c 401: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 401 § 7.]
74.12.460
74.12.460 Notice to parent—Required within seven
days of approval of application. The department shall
make reasonable efforts to notify the parent under RCW
74.12.450(2) as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than
seven days after approval of the application by the department. [1995 c 401 § 3.]
Severability—1995 c 401: See note following RCW 74.12.450.
74.12.900
74.12.900 Welfare reform implementation—1994 c
299. The revisions to the temporary assistance for needy
families program and job opportunities and basic skills training program shall be implemented by the department of
social and health services on a statewide basis. [1997 c 59 §
28; 1994 c 299 § 12.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
74.12.901
74.12.901 Federal waivers and legislation—1994 c
299. By October 1, 1994, the department shall request the
governor to seek congressional action on any federal legislation that may be necessary to implement any sections of
chapter 299, Laws of 1994. By October 1, 1994, the department shall request the governor to seek federal agency action
on any federal regulation that may require a federal waiver.
[1994 c 299 § 39.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
Chapter 74.12A
Chapter 74.12A RCW
INCENTIVE TO WORK—
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
Sections
74.12A.020 Job support services—Grants to community action agencies or
nonprofit organizations.
74.12A.030 Federal waiver—Governor to seek.
74.12A.020
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 312: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Public assistance is intended to be a temporary financial relief program, recognizing that families can be confronted with a financial crisis at
any time in life. Successful public assistance programs depend on the availability of adequate resources to assist individuals deemed eligible for the
benefits of such a program. In this way, eligible families are given sufficient
assistance to reenter productive employment in a minimal time period.
(2) The current public assistance system requires a reduction in grant
standards when income is received. In most cases, family income is limited
to levels substantially below the standard of need. This is a strong disincentive to work. To remove this disincentive, the legislature intends to allow
families to retain a greater percentage of income before it results in the
reduction or termination of benefits;
(3) Employment, training, and education services provided to employable recipients of public assistance are effective tools in achieving economic
self-sufficiency. Support services that are targeted to the specific needs of
the individual offer the best hope of achieving economic self-sufficiency in
a cost-effective manner;
(4) State welfare-to-work programs, which move individuals from
dependence to economic independence, must be operated cooperatively and
collaboratively between state agencies and programs. They also must include
public assistance recipients as active partners in self-sufficiency planning
activities. Participants in economic independence programs and services will
benefit from the concepts of personal empowerment, self-motivation, and
self-esteem;
(5) Many barriers to economic independence are found in federal statutes and rules, and provide states with limited options for restructuring existing programs in order to create incentives for employment over continued
dependence;
(6) The legislature finds that the personal and societal costs of teenage
childbearing are substantial. Teen parents are less likely to finish high school
and more likely to depend upon public assistance than women who delay
childbearing until adulthood; and
(7) The legislature intends that an effort be made to ensure that each
teenage parent who is a public assistance recipient live in a setting that
increases the likelihood that the teen parent will complete high school and
achieve economic independence." [1993 c 312 § 1.]
Emergency—1993 c 312: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions." [1993 c 312 § 19.]
Implementation program design—1993 c 312: "The department of
social and health services shall design a program for implementation involving recipients of aid to families with dependent children. A goal of this program is to develop a system that segments the aid to families with dependent
children recipient population and identifies subgroups, matches services to
the needs of the subgroup, and prioritizes available services. The department
shall specify the services to be offered in each population segment. The general focus of the services offered shall be on job training, work force preparedness, and job retention.
The program shall be designed for statewide implementation on July 1,
1994. A proposal for implementation may include phasing certain components over time or geographic area. The department shall submit this program to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 1993." [1993 c 312 § 9.]
74.12A.030
74.12A.030 Federal waiver—Governor to seek. By
October 1, 1993, the department shall request the governor to
seek congressional and federal agency action on any federal
legislation or federal regulation that may be necessary to
implement chapter 74.12A RCW and *sections 3 and 4,
chapter 312, Laws of 1993, and any other section of chapter
312, Laws of 1993 that may require a federal waiver. [1993
c 312 § 12.]
74.12A.020 Job support services—Grants to community action agencies or nonprofit organizations. The
department shall provide grants to community action agencies or other local nonprofit organizations to provide job
opportunities and basic skills training program participants
with transitional support services, one-to-one assistance, case
management, and job retention services. [1997 c 58 § 327;
1993 c 312 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: Sections 3 and 4, chapter 312, Laws of 1993 failed to
become law due to lack of specific funding.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
Findings—Intent—Emergency—1993 c 312: See notes following
RCW 74.12A.020.
[Title 74 RCW—page 52]
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
Chapter 74.13
Chapter 74.13 RCW
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Sections
74.13.010
74.13.013
74.13.017
74.13.020
74.13.021
74.13.025
74.13.031
74.13.0311
74.13.032
74.13.0321
74.13.033
74.13.034
74.13.035
74.13.036
74.13.037
74.13.039
74.13.040
74.13.042
74.13.045
74.13.050
74.13.055
74.13.060
74.13.065
74.13.070
74.13.075
74.13.077
74.13.080
74.13.085
74.13.0902
74.13.0903
74.13.095
74.13.109
74.13.112
74.13.115
74.13.116
74.13.118
74.13.121
74.13.124
74.13.127
74.13.130
74.13.133
74.13.136
74.13.139
74.13.145
74.13.150
74.13.152
74.13.153
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.155
74.13.156
Declaration of purpose.
Finding—Accreditation of children’s services.
Accreditation—Completion date.
Definitions—"Child," "child welfare services"—Duty to provide services to homeless families with children.
Developmentally disabled child—Defined.
Counties may administer and provide services under RCW
13.32A.197—Plan for at-risk youth required.
Duties of department—Child welfare services—Children’s
services advisory committee.
Provided under deferred prosecution order.
Crisis residential centers—Establishment—Staff—Duties—
Semi-secure facilities—Secure facilities.
Crisis residential centers—Limit on reimbursement or compensation.
Crisis residential centers—Removal from—Services available—Unauthorized leave.
Crisis residential centers—Removal to another center or
secure facility—Placement in secure juvenile detention
facility.
Crisis residential centers—Annual records, contents—Multiple licensing.
Implementation of chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW—Report
to legislature.
Transitional living programs for youth in the process of being
emancipated—Rules.
Runaway hot line.
Rules and regulations for coordination of services.
Petition by the department for order compelling disclosure of
record or information.
Complaint resolution process.
Day care—Rules and regulations governing the provision of
day care as a part of child welfare services.
Foster care—Length of stay—Cooperation with private sector.
Secretary as custodian of funds of person placed with department—Authority—Limitations—Termination.
Out-of-home care—Social study required.
Moneys in possession of secretary not subject to certain proceedings.
Sexually aggressive youth—Defined—Expenditure of treatment funds—Tribal jurisdiction.
Sexually aggressive youth—Transfer of surplus funds for
treatment.
Group care placement—Prerequisites for payment.
Child care services—Declaration of policy.
Child care partnership employer liaison.
Child care services—Duties of department of early learning.
Child care expansion grant fund.
ADOPTION SUPPORT DEMONSTRATION ACT OF 1971
74.13.100
74.13.103
74.13.106
74.13.154
Adoption support—State policy enunciated.
Prospective adoptive parent’s fee for cost of adoption services.
Adoption services—Disposition of fees—Use—Federal
funds—Gifts and grants.
Adoption support program administration—Rules and regulations—Disbursements from general fund, criteria.
Factors determining payments or adjustment in standards.
Both continuing payments and lump sum payments authorized.
Application—1996 c 130.
Review of support payments.
Adoptive parent’s financial information.
Agreements as contracts within state and federal Constitutions—State’s continuing obligation.
Voluntary amendments to agreements—Procedure when
adoptive parties disagree.
Nonrecurring adoption expenses.
Records—Confidentiality.
Recommendations for support of the adoption of certain children.
"Secretary" and "department" defined.
Short title—1971 act.
Adoption support reconsideration program.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Findings.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Purpose.
74.13.157
74.13.158
74.13.159
74.13.165
74.13.170
74.13.200
74.13.210
74.13.220
74.13.230
Chapter 74.13
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Definitions.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Authorization.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Required provisions.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Additional provisions.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Medical assistance for children residing in this
state—Penalty for fraudulent claims.
Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special
needs—Adoption assistance and medical assistance in state
plan.
Home studies for adoption—Purchase of services from nonprofit agencies.
Therapeutic family home program for youth in custody under
chapter 13.34 RCW.
Demonstration project for protection, care, and treatment of
children at-risk of abuse or neglect.
Project day care center—Definition.
Project services.
Project shall utilize community services.
FOSTER CARE
74.13.250
74.13.260
74.13.270
74.13.280
74.13.285
74.13.287
74.13.288
74.13.289
74.13.290
74.13.300
74.13.310
74.13.315
74.13.320
74.13.325
74.13.330
74.13.332
74.13.333
74.13.334
74.13.335
74.13.340
74.13.350
74.13.500
74.13.505
74.13.510
74.13.515
74.13.520
74.13.525
74.13.530
74.13.540
74.13.550
74.13.560
74.13.570
74.13.580
74.13.590
74.13.600
74.13.610
74.13.621
74.13.625
74.13.630
74.13.640
74.13.650
74.13.660
74.13.900
Preservice training.
On-site monitoring program.
Respite care.
Client information.
Passports—Information to be provided to foster parents.
Intent—Infant, foster family health.
Blood-borne pathogens—Testing—Report.
Blood-borne pathogens—Client information—Training.
Fewest possible placements for children.
Notification of proposed placement changes.
Foster parent training.
Child care for foster parents attending meetings or training.
Recruitment of foster homes and adoptive homes for special
needs children.
Foster care and adoptive home recruitment program.
Responsibilities of foster parents.
Rights of foster parents.
Rights of foster parents—Complaints—Report.
Department to respond to foster parents’ complaints.
Foster care—Reimbursement—Property damage.
Foster parent liaison.
Developmentally disabled children—Out-of-home placement—Voluntary placement agreement.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Factors—Exception.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Information to be disclosed.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Consideration of effects.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Fatalities.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Information not to be
disclosed.
Disclosure of child welfare records—Immunity from liability.
Child placement—Conflict of interest.
Independent living services.
Child placement—Policy of educational continuity.
Educational continuity—Protocol development.
Oversight committee—Duties.
Educational stability during shelter care hearing—Protocol
development.
Tasks to be performed based on available resources.
Kinship caregivers—Definition—Placement of children with
kin a priority—Strategies.
Kinship caregivers—Grant proposal—Pilot projects.
Kinship care oversight committee.
Foster health care unit—Duties.
Family decision meetings.
Child fatality review—Report.
Foster parent critical support and retention program.
Foster parent critical support and retention program—Availability, assessment, training, referral.
Severability—1965 c 30.
Consistency required in administration of statutes applicable to runaway
youth, at-risk youth, and families in conflict: RCW 43.20A.770.
Education of children in short-term foster care: RCW 28A.300.800 and
28A.630.005.
Shaken baby syndrome: RCW 43.121.140.
[Title 74 RCW—page 53]
74.13.010
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.13.010 Declaration of purpose. The purpose of this
chapter is to safeguard, protect and contribute to the welfare
of the children of the state, through a comprehensive and
coordinated program of public child welfare services providing for: Social services and facilities for children who require
guidance, care, control, protection, treatment or rehabilitation; setting of standards for social services and facilities for
children; cooperation with public and voluntary agencies,
organizations, and citizen groups in the development and
coordination of programs and activities in behalf of children;
and promotion of community conditions and resources that
help parents to discharge their responsibilities for the care,
development and well-being of their children. [1965 c 30 §
2.]
74.13.010
74.13.013 Finding—Accreditation of children’s services. The legislature finds that accreditation of children’s
services by an independent entity can significantly improve
the quality of services provided to children and families.
Accreditation involves an ongoing commitment to meeting
nationally recognized standards of practice in child welfare
and holds organizations accountable for achieving improved
outcomes for children.
Accreditation is a structured process designed to facilitate organizational change and improvement within individual local offices. Standards require improved case management, documentation, internal case management practices,
and accountability. Accreditation requires the establishment
of clear communication with biological parents, foster and
adoptive parents, providers, the courts, and members of the
community. [2001 c 265 § 1.]
74.13.013
74.13.017 Accreditation—Completion date. The
department shall undertake the process of accreditation with
the goal of completion by July 2006. [2003 c 207 § 8; 2001 c
265 § 2.]
74.13.017
74.13.020 Definitions—"Child," "child welfare services"—Duty to provide services to homeless families
with children. As used in Title 74 RCW, child welfare services shall be defined as public social services including
adoption services which strengthen, supplement, or substitute
for, parental care and supervision for the purpose of:
(1) Preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution
of problems which may result in families in conflict, or the
neglect, abuse, exploitation, or criminal behavior of children;
(2) Protecting and caring for dependent or neglected
children;
(3) Assisting children who are in conflict with their parents, and assisting parents who are in conflict with their children with services designed to resolve such conflicts;
(4) Protecting and promoting the welfare of children,
including the strengthening of their own homes where possible, or, where needed;
(5) Providing adequate care of children away from their
homes in foster family homes or day care or other child care
agencies or facilities.
As used in this chapter, child means a person less than
eighteen years of age.
The department’s duty to provide services to homeless
families with children is set forth in RCW 43.20A.790 and in
74.13.020
[Title 74 RCW—page 54]
appropriations provided by the legislature for implementation of the plan. [1999 c 267 § 7; 1979 c 155 § 76; 1977 ex.s.
c 291 § 21; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 71 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 292 § 66;
1965 c 30 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 291: See notes following
RCW 13.04.005.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 292: See note following RCW 26.28.010.
74.13.021
74.13.021 Developmentally disabled child—Defined.
As used in this chapter, "developmentally disabled child" is a
child who has a developmental disability as defined in RCW
71A.10.020 and whose parent, guardian, or legal custodian
and with the department mutually agree that services appropriate to the child’s needs can not be provided in the home.
[1998 c 229 § 3; 1997 c 386 § 15.]
74.13.025
74.13.025 Counties may administer and provide services under RCW 13.32A.197—Plan for at-risk youth
required. Any county or group of counties may make application to the department of social and health services in the
manner and form prescribed by the department to administer
and provide the services established under RCW 13.32A.197.
Any such application must include a plan or plans for providing such services to at-risk youth. [1998 c 296 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1998 c 296: "The legislature finds it is often necessary for parents to obtain mental health or chemical dependency treatment
for their minor children prior to the time the child’s condition presents a likelihood of serious harm or the child becomes gravely disabled. The legislature
finds that treatment of such conditions is not the equivalent of incarceration
or detention, but is a legitimate act of parental discretion, when supported by
decisions of credentialed professionals. The legislature finds that, consistent
with Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584 (1979), state action is not involved in the
determination of a parent and professional person to admit a minor child to
treatment and finds this act provides sufficient independent review by the
department of social and health services, as a neutral fact-finder, to protect
the interests of all parties. The legislature intends and recognizes that children affected by the provisions of this act are not children whose mental or
substance abuse problems are adequately addressed by chapters 70.96A and
71.34 RCW. Therefore, the legislature finds it is necessary to provide parents
a statutory process, other than the petition process provided in chapters
70.96A and 71.34 RCW, to obtain treatment for their minor children without
the consent of the children.
The legislature finds that differing standards of admission and review
in parent-initiated mental health and chemical dependency treatment for
their minor children are necessary and the admission standards and procedures under state involuntary treatment procedures are not adequate to provide safeguards for the safety and well-being of all children. The legislature
finds the timeline for admission and reviews under existing law do not provide sufficient opportunities for assessment of the mental health and chemically dependent status of every minor child and that additional time and different standards will facilitate the likelihood of successful treatment of children who are in need of assistance but unwilling to obtain it voluntarily. The
legislature finds there are children whose behavior presents a clear need of
medical treatment but is not so extreme as to require immediate state intervention under the state involuntary treatment procedures." [1998 c 296 § 6.]
Part headings not law—1998 c 296: "Part headings used in this act do
not constitute any part of the law." [1998 c 296 § 43.]
Short title—1998 c 296: "This act may be known and cited as "the
Becca act of 1998."" [1998 c 296 § 44.]
74.13.031
74.13.031 Duties of department—Child welfare services—Children’s services advisory committee. The
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
department shall have the duty to provide child welfare services and shall:
(1) Develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and
strengthens services for the protection and care of runaway,
dependent, or neglected children.
(2) Within available resources, recruit an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular
and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority,
including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups,
handicapped and emotionally disturbed, teens, pregnant and
parenting teens, and annually report to the governor and the
legislature concerning the department’s success in: (a) Meeting the need for adoptive and foster home placements; (b)
reducing the foster parent turnover rate; (c) completing home
studies for legally free children; and (d) implementing and
operating the passport program required by RCW 74.13.285.
The report shall include a section entitled "Foster Home
Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations."
(3) Investigate complaints of any recent act or failure to
act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death,
serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or
exploitation, or that presents an imminent risk of serious
harm, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation,
offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such
parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis,
and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate
court, or another community agency: PROVIDED, That an
investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which
are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by
the child’s parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in
loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime against
a child may have been committed, the department shall notify
the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(4) Offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.
(5) Monitor out-of-home placements, on a timely and
routine basis, to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of
care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the
legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010, and
annually submit a report measuring the extent to which the
department achieved the specified goals to the governor and
the legislature.
(6) Have authority to accept custody of children from
parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile
courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child
welfare services including placement for adoption, to provide
for the routine and necessary medical, dental, and mental
health care, or necessary emergency care of the children, and
to provide for the physical care of such children and make
payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where
required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption
from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race,
creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.
(7) Have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to
crisis residential centers.
(8) Have authority to purchase care for children; and
shall follow in general the policy of using properly approved
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.031
private agency services for the actual care and supervision of
such children insofar as they are available, paying for care of
such children as are accepted by the department as eligible
for support at reasonable rates established by the department.
(9) Establish a children’s services advisory committee
which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private
sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare,
licensing of child care agencies, adoption, and services
related thereto. At least one member shall represent the
adoption community.
(10)(a) Have authority to provide continued foster care
or group care as needed to participate in or complete a high
school or vocational school program.
(b)(i) Beginning in 2006, the department has the authority to allow up to fifty youth reaching age eighteen to continue in foster care or group care as needed to participate in or
complete a posthigh school academic or vocational program,
and to receive necessary support and transition services.
(ii) In 2007 and 2008, the department has the authority to
allow up to fifty additional youth per year reaching age eighteen to remain in foster care or group care as provided in
(b)(i) of this subsection.
(iii) A youth who remains eligible for such placement
and services pursuant to department rules may continue in
foster care or group care until the youth reaches his or her
twenty-first birthday. Eligibility requirements shall include
active enrollment in a posthigh school academic or vocational program and maintenance of a 2.0 grade point average.
(11) Refer cases to the division of child support whenever state or federal funds are expended for the care and
maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability who is placed as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, unless the department finds that there is good
cause not to pursue collection of child support against the
parent or parents of the child. Cases involving individuals
age eighteen through twenty shall not be referred to the division of child support unless required by federal law.
(12) Have authority within funds appropriated for foster
care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in
the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally
licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent,
tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for
whom the department purchases care.
Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW
13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and 74.13.032 through
74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the
department of social and health services under subsections
(4), (6), and (7) of this section, subject to the limitations of
these subsections, may be provided by any program offering
such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974.
(13) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, provide preventive services to families with children
that prevent or shorten the duration of an out-of-home placement.
(14) Have authority to provide independent living services to youths, including individuals who have attained
eighteen years of age, and have not attained twenty-one years
[Title 74 RCW—page 55]
74.13.0311
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
of age who are or have been in foster care. [2006 c 266 § 1;
2006 c 221 § 3; 2004 c 183 § 3; 2001 c 192 § 1; 1999 c 267 §
8; 1998 c 314 § 10. Prior: 1997 c 386 § 32; 1997 c 272 § 1;
1995 c 191 § 1; 1990 c 146 § 9; prior: 1987 c 505 § 69; 1987
c 170 § 10; 1983 c 246 § 4; 1982 c 118 § 3; 1981 c 298 § 16;
1979 ex.s. c 165 § 22; 1979 c 155 § 77; 1977 ex.s. c 291 § 22;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 71 § 4; 1973 1st ex.s. c 101 § 2; 1967 c
172 § 17.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 221 § 3 and by
2006 c 266 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Construction—2006 c 266: "Nothing in this act shall be construed to
create:
(1) An entitlement to services;
(2) Judicial authority to extend the jurisdiction of juvenile court in a
proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW to a youth who has attained eighteen
years of age or to order the provision of services to the youth; or
(3) A private right of action or claim on the part of any individual,
entity, or agency against the department of social and health services or any
contractor of the department." [2006 c 266 § 2.]
Adoption of rules—2006 c 266: "The department of social and health
services is authorized to adopt rules establishing eligibility for independent
living services and placement for youths under this act." [2006 c 266 § 3.]
Study and report—2006 c 266: "(1) Beginning in July 2008 and subject to the approval of its governing board, the Washington state institute for
public policy shall conduct a study measuring the outcomes for foster youth
who have received continued support pursuant to RCW 74.13.031(10). The
study should include measurements of any savings to the state and local government. The institute shall issue a report containing its preliminary findings
to the legislature by December 1, 2008, and a final report by December 1,
2009.
(2) The institute is authorized to accept nonstate funds to conduct the
study required in subsection (1) of this section." [2006 c 266 § 4.]
Finding—2006 c 221: See note following RCW 13.34.315.
Effective date—2004 c 183: See note following RCW 13.34.160.
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
Application—Effective date—1997 c 386: See notes following RCW
13.50.010.
Effective date—1997 c 272: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 272 § 8.]
Effective date—1987 c 170 §§ 10 and 11: "Sections 10 and 11 of this
act shall take effect July 1, 1988." [1987 c 170 § 16.]
Severability—1987 c 170: See note following RCW 13.04.030.
Severability—1981 c 298: See note following RCW 13.32A.040.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 291: See notes following
RCW 13.04.005.
74.13.032
74.13.032 Crisis residential centers—Establishment—Staff—Duties—Semi-secure facilities—Secure
facilities. (1) The department shall establish, by contracts
with private or public vendors, regional crisis residential centers with semi-secure facilities. These facilities shall be structured group care facilities licensed under rules adopted by the
department and shall have an average of at least four adult
staff members and in no event less than three adult staff
members to every eight children.
(2) Within available funds appropriated for this purpose,
the department shall establish, by contracts with private or
public vendors, regional crisis residential centers with secure
facilities. These facilities shall be facilities licensed under
rules adopted by the department. These centers may also
include semi-secure facilities and to such extent shall be subject to subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The department shall, in addition to the facilities
established under subsections (1) and (2) of this section,
establish additional crisis residential centers pursuant to contract with licensed private group care facilities.
(4) The staff at the facilities established under this section shall be trained so that they may effectively counsel
juveniles admitted to the centers, provide treatment, supervision, and structure to the juveniles that recognize the need for
support and the varying circumstances that cause children to
leave their families, and carry out the responsibilities stated
in RCW 13.32A.090. The responsibilities stated in RCW
13.32A.090 may, in any of the centers, be carried out by the
department.
(5) The secure facilities located within crisis residential
centers shall be operated to conform with the definition in
RCW 13.32A.030. The facilities shall have an average of no
less than one adult staff member to every ten children. The
staffing ratio shall continue to ensure the safety of the children.
(6) If a secure crisis residential center is located in or
adjacent to a secure juvenile detention facility, the center
shall be operated in a manner that prevents in-person contact
between the residents of the center and the persons held in
such facility. [1998 c 296 § 4; 1995 c 312 § 60; 1979 c 155 §
78.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Short title—1998 c 296:
See notes following RCW 74.13.025.
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
Severability—1967 c 172: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
Declaration of purpose—1967 c 172: See RCW 74.15.010.
Abuse of child: Chapter 26.44 RCW.
Licensing of agencies caring for or placing children, expectant mothers, and
developmentally disabled persons: Chapter 74.15 RCW.
74.13.0311
74.13.0311 Provided under deferred prosecution
order. The department or its contractors may provide child
welfare services pursuant to a deferred prosecution plan
ordered under chapter 10.05 RCW. Child welfare services
provided under this chapter pursuant to a deferred prosecution order may not be construed to prohibit the department
from providing services or undertaking proceedings pursuant
to chapter 13.34 or 26.44 RCW. [2002 c 219 § 13.]
Intent—Finding—2002 c 219: See note following RCW 9A.42.037.
[Title 74 RCW—page 56]
74.13.0321
74.13.0321 Crisis residential centers—Limit on reimbursement or compensation. No contract may provide
reimbursement or compensation to a crisis residential center’s secure facility for any service delivered or provided to a
resident child after five consecutive days of residence. [1995
c 312 § 61.]
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
74.13.033
74.13.033 Crisis residential centers—Removal
from—Services available—Unauthorized leave. (1) If a
resident of a center becomes by his or her behavior disruptive
to the facility’s program, such resident may be immediately
removed to a separate area within the facility and counseled
on an individual basis until such time as the child regains his
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
or her composure. The department may set rules and regulations establishing additional procedures for dealing with
severely disruptive children on the premises.
(2) When the juvenile resides in this facility, all services
deemed necessary to the juvenile’s reentry to normal family
life shall be made available to the juvenile as required by
chapter 13.32A RCW. In assessing the child and providing
these services, the facility staff shall:
(a) Interview the juvenile as soon as possible;
(b) Contact the juvenile’s parents and arrange for a counseling interview with the juvenile and his or her parents as
soon as possible;
(c) Conduct counseling interviews with the juvenile and
his or her parents, to the end that resolution of the child/parent conflict is attained and the child is returned home as soon
as possible;
(d) Provide additional crisis counseling as needed, to the
end that placement of the child in the crisis residential center
will be required for the shortest time possible, but not to
exceed five consecutive days; and
(e) Convene, when appropriate, a multidisciplinary
team.
(3) Based on the assessments done under subsection (2)
of this section the facility staff may refer any child who, as
the result of a mental or emotional disorder, or intoxication
by alcohol or other drugs, is suicidal, seriously assaultive, or
seriously destructive toward others, or otherwise similarly
evidences an immediate need for emergency medical evaluation and possible care, for evaluation pursuant to chapter
71.34 RCW, to a mental health professional pursuant to chapter 71.05 RCW, or to a chemical dependency specialist pursuant to chapter 70.96A RCW whenever such action is
deemed appropriate and consistent with law.
(4) A juvenile taking unauthorized leave from a facility
shall be apprehended and returned to it by law enforcement
officers or other persons designated as having this authority
as provided in RCW 13.32A.050. If returned to the facility
after having taken unauthorized leave for a period of more
than twenty-four hours a juvenile shall be supervised by such
a facility for a period, pursuant to this chapter, which, unless
where otherwise provided, may not exceed five consecutive
days on the premises. Costs of housing juveniles admitted to
crisis residential centers shall be assumed by the department
for a period not to exceed five consecutive days. [2000 c 162
§ 16; 2000 c 162 § 7; 1995 c 312 § 62; 1992 c 205 § 213; 1979
c 155 § 79.]
Effective date—2000 c 162 §§ 11-17: See note following RCW
13.32A.060.
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Part headings not law—Severability—1992 c 205: See notes following RCW 13.40.010.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
74.13.034
74.13.034 Crisis residential centers—Removal to
another center or secure facility—Placement in secure
juvenile detention facility. (1) A child taken into custody
and taken to a crisis residential center established pursuant to
RCW 74.13.032 may, if the center is unable to provide appropriate treatment, supervision, and structure to the child, be
taken at department expense to another crisis residential cen(2006 Ed.)
74.13.035
ter, the nearest regional secure crisis residential center, or a
secure facility with which it is collocated under RCW
74.13.032. Placement in both locations shall not exceed five
consecutive days from the point of intake as provided in
RCW 13.32A.130.
(2) A child taken into custody and taken to a crisis residential center established by this chapter may be placed physically by the department or the department’s designee and, at
departmental expense and approval, in a secure juvenile
detention facility operated by the county in which the center
is located for a maximum of forty-eight hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if the child has taken unauthorized leave from the center and the person in charge of the
center determines that the center cannot provide supervision
and structure adequate to ensure that the child will not again
take unauthorized leave. Juveniles placed in such a facility
pursuant to this section may not, to the extent possible, come
in contact with alleged or convicted juvenile or adult offenders.
(3) Any child placed in secure detention pursuant to this
section shall, during the period of confinement, be provided
with appropriate treatment by the department or the department’s designee, which shall include the services defined in
RCW 74.13.033(2). If the child placed in secure detention is
not returned home or if an alternative living arrangement
agreeable to the parent and the child is not made within
twenty-four hours after the child’s admission, the child shall
be taken at the department’s expense to a crisis residential
center. Placement in the crisis residential center or centers
plus placement in juvenile detention shall not exceed five
consecutive days from the point of intake as provided in
RCW 13.32A.130.
(4) Juvenile detention facilities used pursuant to this section shall first be certified by the department to ensure that
juveniles placed in the facility pursuant to this section are
provided with living conditions suitable to the well-being of
the child. Where space is available, juvenile courts, when certified by the department to do so, shall provide secure placement for juveniles pursuant to this section, at department
expense. [2000 c 162 § 17; 2000 c 162 § 8; 1995 c 312 § 63;
1992 c 205 § 214; 1991 c 364 § 5; 1981 c 298 § 17; 1979 ex.s.
c 165 § 21; 1979 c 155 § 80.]
Effective date—2000 c 162 §§ 11-17: See note following RCW
13.32A.060.
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Part headings not law—Severability—1992 c 205: See notes following RCW 13.40.010.
Conflict with federal requirements—1991 c 364: See note following
RCW 70.96A.020.
Severability—1981 c 298: See note following RCW 13.32A.040.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
Child admitted to secure facility—Maximum hours of custody—Reconciliation effort—Information to parent and child—Written statement of services and rights: RCW 13.32A.130.
74.13.035
74.13.035 Crisis residential centers—Annual
records, contents—Multiple licensing. Crisis residential
centers shall compile yearly records which shall be transmitted to the department and which shall contain information
regarding population profiles of the children admitted to the
[Title 74 RCW—page 57]
74.13.036
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
centers during each past calendar year. Such information
shall include but shall not be limited to the following:
(1) The number, age, and sex of children admitted to custody;
(2) Who brought the children to the center;
(3) Services provided to children admitted to the center;
(4) The circumstances which necessitated the children
being brought to the center;
(5) The ultimate disposition of cases;
(6) The number of children admitted to custody who ran
away from the center and their ultimate disposition, if any;
(7) Length of stay.
The department may require the provision of additional information and may require each center to provide all such necessary information in a uniform manner.
A center may, in addition to being licensed as such, also
be licensed as a family foster home or group care facility and
may house on the premises juveniles assigned for foster or
group care. [1979 c 155 § 81.]
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
74.13.036
74.13.036 Implementation of chapters 13.32A and
13.34 RCW—Report to legislature. (1) The department of
social and health services shall oversee implementation of
chapter 13.34 RCW and chapter 13.32A RCW. The oversight shall be comprised of working with affected parts of the
criminal justice and child care systems as well as with local
government, legislative, and executive authorities to effectively carry out these chapters. The department shall work
with all such entities to ensure that chapters 13.32A and
13.34 RCW are implemented in a uniform manner throughout the state.
(2) The department shall develop a plan and procedures,
in cooperation with the statewide advisory committee, to
insure the full implementation of the provisions of chapter
13.32A RCW. Such plan and procedures shall include but
are not limited to:
(a) Procedures defining and delineating the role of the
department and juvenile court with regard to the execution of
the child in need of services placement process;
(b) Procedures for designating department staff responsible for family reconciliation services;
(c) Procedures assuring enforcement of contempt proceedings in accordance with RCW 13.32A.170 and
13.32A.250; and
(d) Procedures for the continued education of all individuals in the criminal juvenile justice and child care systems
who are affected by chapter 13.32A RCW, as well as members of the legislative and executive branches of government.
There shall be uniform application of the procedures
developed by the department and juvenile court personnel, to
the extent practicable. Local and regional differences shall
be taken into consideration in the development of procedures
required under this subsection.
(3) In addition to its other oversight duties, the department shall:
(a) Identify and evaluate resource needs in each region of
the state;
(b) Disseminate information collected as part of the
oversight process to affected groups and the general public;
[Title 74 RCW—page 58]
(c) Educate affected entities within the juvenile justice
and child care systems, local government, and the legislative
branch regarding the implementation of chapters 13.32A and
13.34 RCW;
(d) Review complaints concerning the services, policies,
and procedures of those entities charged with implementing
chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW; and
(e) Report any violations and misunderstandings regarding the implementation of chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW.
(4) The department shall provide an annual report to the
legislature not later than December 1 of each year only when
it has declined to accept custody of a child from a law
enforcement agency or it has received a report of a child
being released without placement. The report shall indicate
the number of times it has declined to accept custody of a
child from a law enforcement agency under chapter 13.32A
RCW and the number of times it has received a report of a
child being released without placement under RCW
13.32A.060(1)(c). The report shall include the dates, places,
and reasons the department declined to accept custody and
the dates and places children are released without placement.
[2003 c 207 § 2; 1996 c 133 § 37; 1995 c 312 § 65; 1989 c 175
§ 147; 1987 c 505 § 70; 1985 c 257 § 11; 1981 c 298 § 18;
1979 c 155 § 82.]
Findings—Short title—Intent—Construction—1996 c 133: See
notes following RCW 13.32A.197.
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1985 c 257: See note following RCW 13.34.165.
Severability—1981 c 298: See note following RCW 13.32A.040.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
74.13.037
74.13.037 Transitional living programs for youth in
the process of being emancipated—Rules. Within available funds appropriated for this purpose, the department shall
establish, by contracts with private vendors, transitional living programs for youth who are being assisted by the department in being emancipated as part of their permanency plan
under chapter 13.34 RCW. These programs shall be licensed
under rules adopted by the department. [1997 c 146 § 9; 1996
c 133 § 39.]
Findings—Short title—Intent—Construction—1996 c 133: See
notes following RCW 13.32A.197.
74.13.039
74.13.039 Runaway hot line. The department of social
and health services shall maintain a toll-free hot line to assist
parents of runaway children. The hot line shall provide parents with a complete description of their rights when dealing
with their runaway child. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 501.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
74.13.040
74.13.040 Rules and regulations for coordination of
services. See RCW 74.12.280.
74.13.042
74.13.042 Petition by the department for order compelling disclosure of record or information. If the department is denied lawful access to records or information, or
requested records or information is not provided in a timely
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
manner, the department may petition the court for an order
compelling disclosure.
(1) The petition shall be filed in the juvenile court for the
county in which the record or information is located or the
county in which the person who is the subject of the record or
information resides. If the person who is the subject of the
record or information is a party to or the subject of a pending
proceeding under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW, the petition
shall be filed in such proceeding.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the persons from whom and about whom the record or information
is sought shall be served with a summons and a petition at
least seven calendar days prior to a hearing on the petition.
The court may order disclosure upon ex parte application of
the department, without prior notice to any person, if the
court finds there is reason to believe access to the record or
information is necessary to determine whether the child is in
imminent danger and in need of immediate protection.
(3) The court shall grant the petition upon a showing that
there is reason to believe that the record or information
sought is necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the
child who is currently receiving child welfare services. [1995
c 311 § 14.]
74.13.045
74.13.045 Complaint resolution process. The department shall develop and implement an informal, nonadversarial complaint resolution process to be used by clients of the
department, foster parents, and other affected individuals
who have complaints regarding a department policy or procedure, or the application of such a policy or procedure, related
to programs administered under this chapter. The process
shall not apply in circumstances where the complainant has
the right under Title 13, 26, or 74 RCW to seek resolution of
the complaint through judicial review or through an adjudicative proceeding.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to create substantive or procedural rights in any person. Participation in
the complaint resolution process shall not entitle any person
to an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW or to
superior court review. Participation in the process shall not
affect the right of any person to seek other statutorily or constitutionally permitted remedies.
The department shall develop procedures to assure that
clients and foster parents are informed of the availability of
the complaint resolution process and how to access it. The
department shall incorporate information regarding the complaint resolution process into the training for foster parents
and caseworkers.
The department shall compile complaint resolution data
including the nature of the complaint and the outcome of the
process. [1998 c 245 § 146; 1991 c 340 § 2.]
Intent—1991 c 340: "It is the intent of the legislature to provide timely,
thorough, and fair procedures for resolution of grievances of clients, foster
parents, and the community resulting from decisions made by the department
of social and health services related to programs administered pursuant to
this chapter. Grievances should be resolved at the lowest level possible.
However, all levels of the department should be accountable and responsible
to individuals who are experiencing difficulties with agency services or decisions. It is the intent of the legislature that grievance procedures be made
available to individuals who do not have other remedies available through
judicial review or adjudicative proceedings." [1991 c 340 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.060
74.13.050
74.13.050 Day care—Rules and regulations governing the provision of day care as a part of child welfare services. See RCW 74.12.340.
74.13.055
74.13.055 Foster care—Length of stay—Cooperation
with private sector. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW which establish goals as to the
maximum number of children who will remain in foster care
for a period of longer than twenty-four months. The department shall also work cooperatively with the major private
child care providers to assure that a partnership plan for utilizing the resources of the public and private sector in all matters pertaining to child welfare is developed and implemented. [1998 c 245 § 147; 1982 c 118 § 1.]
74.13.060
74.13.060 Secretary as custodian of funds of person
placed with department—Authority—Limitations—Termination. The secretary or his designees or delegatees shall
be the custodian without compensation of such moneys and
other funds of any person which may come into the possession of the secretary during the period such person is placed
with the department of social and health services pursuant to
chapter 74.13 RCW. As such custodian, the secretary shall
have authority to disburse moneys from the person’s funds
for the following purposes only and subject to the following
limitations:
(1) The secretary may disburse any of the funds belonging to such person for such personal needs of such person as
the secretary may deem proper and necessary.
(2) The secretary may apply such funds against the
amount of public assistance otherwise payable to such person. This includes applying, as reimbursement, any benefits,
payments, funds, or accrual paid to or on behalf of said person from any source against the amount of public assistance
expended on behalf of said person during the period for
which the benefits, payments, funds or accruals were paid.
(3) All funds held by the secretary as custodian may be
deposited in a single fund, the receipts and expenditures
therefrom to be accurately accounted for by him on an individual basis. Whenever, the funds belonging to any one person exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, the secretary may
deposit said funds in a savings and loan association account
on behalf of that particular person.
(4) When the conditions of placement no longer exist
and public assistance is no longer being provided for such
person, upon a showing of legal competency and proper
authority, the secretary shall deliver to such person, or the
parent, person, or agency legally responsible for such person,
all funds belonging to the person remaining in his possession
as custodian, together with a full and final accounting of all
receipts and expenditures made therefrom.
(5) The appointment of a guardian for the estate of such
person shall terminate the secretary’s authority as custodian
of said funds upon receipt by the secretary of a certified copy
of letters of guardianship. Upon the guardian’s request, the
secretary shall immediately forward to such guardian any
funds of such person remaining in the secretary’s possession
together with full and final accounting of all receipts and
expenditures made therefrom. [1971 ex.s. c 169 § 7.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 59]
74.13.065
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.13.065
74.13.065 Out-of-home care—Social study required.
(1) The department, or agency responsible for supervising a
child in out-of-home care, shall conduct a social study whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care under the supervision of the department or other agency. The study shall be
conducted prior to placement, or, if it is not feasible to conduct the study prior to placement due to the circumstances of
the case, the study shall be conducted as soon as possible following placement.
(2) The social study shall include, but not be limited to,
an assessment of the following factors:
(a) The physical and emotional strengths and needs of
the child;
(b) Emotional bonds with siblings and the need to maintain regular sibling contacts;
(c) The proximity of the child’s placement to the child’s
family to aid reunification;
(d) The possibility of placement with the child’s relatives
or extended family;
(e) The racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious background
of the child;
(f) The least-restrictive, most family-like placement reasonably available and capable of meeting the child’s needs;
and
(g) Compliance with RCW 13.34.260 regarding parental
preferences for placement of their children. [2002 c 52 § 8;
1995 c 311 § 26.]
Intent—2002 c 52: See note following RCW 13.34.025.
74.13.070
74.13.070 Moneys in possession of secretary not subject to certain proceedings. None of the moneys or other
funds which come into the possession of the secretary under
chapter 169, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process or
other operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law. [1971
ex.s. c 169 § 8.]
74.13.075
74.13.075 Sexually aggressive youth—Defined—
Expenditure of treatment funds—Tribal jurisdiction. (1)
For the purposes of funds appropriated for the treatment of
sexually aggressive youth, the term "sexually aggressive
youth" means those juveniles who:
(a) Have been abused and have committed a sexually
aggressive act or other violent act that is sexual in nature; and
(i) Are in the care and custody of the state or a federally
recognized Indian tribe located within the state; or
(ii) Are the subject of a proceeding under chapter 13.34
RCW or a child welfare proceeding held before a tribal court
located within the state; or
(b) Cannot be detained under the juvenile justice system
due to being under age twelve and incompetent to stand trial
for acts that could be prosecuted as sex offenses as defined by
RCW 9.94A.030 if the juvenile was over twelve years of age,
or competent to stand trial if under twelve years of age.
(2) In expending these funds, the department of social
and health services shall establish in each region a case
review committee to review all cases for which the funds are
used. In determining whether to use these funds in a particular case, the committee shall consider:
(a) The age of the juvenile;
[Title 74 RCW—page 60]
(b) The extent and type of abuse to which the juvenile
has been subjected;
(c) The juvenile’s past conduct;
(d) The benefits that can be expected from the treatment;
(e) The cost of the treatment; and
(f) The ability of the juvenile’s parent or guardian to pay
for the treatment.
(3) The department may provide funds, under this section, for youth in the care and custody of a tribe or through a
tribal court, for the treatment of sexually aggressive youth
only if: (a) The tribe uses the same or equivalent definitions
and standards for determining which youth are sexually
aggressive; and (b) the department seeks to recover any federal funds available for the treatment of youth. [1994 c 169 §
1. Prior: 1993 c 402 § 3; 1993 c 146 § 1; 1990 c 3 § 305.]
Index, part headings not law—Severability—Effective dates—
Application—1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.
74.13.077 Sexually aggressive youth—Transfer of
surplus funds for treatment. The secretary of the department of social and health services is authorized to transfer
surplus, unused treatment funds from the civil commitment
center operated under chapter 71.09 RCW to the division of
children and family services to provide treatment services for
sexually aggressive youth. [1993 c 402 § 4.]
74.13.077
74.13.080 Group care placement—Prerequisites for
payment. The department shall not make payment for any
child in group care placement unless the group home is
licensed and the department has the custody of the child and
the authority to remove the child in a cooperative manner
after at least seventy-two hours notice to the child care provider; such notice may be waived in emergency situations.
However, this requirement shall not be construed to prohibit
the department from making or mandate the department to
make payment for Indian children placed in facilities licensed
by federally recognized Indian tribes pursuant to chapter
74.15 RCW. [1987 c 170 § 11; 1982 c 118 § 2.]
74.13.080
Effective date—1987 c 170 §§ 10 and 11: See note following RCW
74.13.031.
Severability—1987 c 170: See note following RCW 13.04.030.
74.13.085 Child care services—Declaration of policy.
It shall be the policy of the state of Washington to:
(1) Recognize the family as the most important social
and economic unit of society and support the central role parents play in child rearing. All parents are encouraged to care
for and nurture their children through the traditional methods
of parental care at home. The availability of quality, affordable child care is a concern for working parents, the costs of
care are often beyond the resources of working parents, and
child care facilities are not located conveniently to work
places and neighborhoods. Parents are encouraged to participate fully in the effort to improve the quality of child care
services.
(2) Promote a variety of culturally and developmentally
appropriate child care settings and services of the highest
possible quality in accordance with the basic principle of
continuity of care. These settings shall include, but not be
limited to, family day care homes, mini-centers, centers and
schools.
74.13.085
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
(3) Promote the growth, development and safety of children by working with community groups including providers
and parents to establish standards for quality service, training
of child care providers, fair and equitable monitoring, and
salary levels commensurate with provider responsibilities
and support services.
(4) Promote equal access to quality, affordable, socioeconomically integrated child care for all children and families.
(5) Facilitate broad community and private sector
involvement in the provision of quality child care services to
foster economic development and assist industry through the
department of early learning. [2006 c 265 § 202; 1989 c 381
§ 2; 1988 c 213 § 1.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Findings—1989 c 381: "The legislature finds that the increasing difficulty of balancing work life and family needs for parents in the workforce
has made the availability of quality, affordable child care a critical concern
for the state and its citizens. The prospect for labor shortages resulting from
the aging of the population and the importance of the quality of the workforce to the competitiveness of Washington businesses make the availability
of quality child care an important concern for the state and its businesses.
The legislature further finds that making information on child care
options available to businesses can help the market for child care adjust to
the needs of businesses and working families. The legislature further finds
that investments are necessary to promote partnerships between the public
and private sectors, educational institutions, and local governments to
increase the supply, affordability, and quality of child care in the state."
[1989 c 381 § 1.]
Severability—1989 c 381: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 381 § 7.]
Severability—1988 c 213: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1988 c 213 § 5.]
74.13.0902
74.13.0902 Child care partnership employer liaison.
An employer liaison position is established in the department
of early learning to be colocated with the department of community, trade, and economic development. The employer
liaison shall, within appropriated funds:
(1) Staff and assist the child care partnership in the
implementation of its duties;
(2) Provide technical assistance to employers regarding
child care services, working with and through local resource
and referral organizations whenever possible. Such technical
assistance shall include at a minimum:
(a) Assessing the child care needs of employees and prospective employees;
(b) Reviewing options available to employers interested
in increasing access to child care for their employees;
(c) Developing techniques to permit small businesses to
increase access to child care for their employees;
(d) Reviewing methods of evaluating the impact of child
care activities on employers; and
(e) Preparing, collecting, and distributing current information for employers on options for increasing involvement
in child care; and
(3) Provide assistance to local child care resource and
referral organizations to increase their capacity to provide
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.0903
quality technical assistance to employers in their community.
[2006 c 265 § 203; 1989 c 381 § 6.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Findings—Severability—1989 c 381: See notes following RCW
74.13.085.
74.13.0903
74.13.0903 Child care services—Duties of department of early learning. The department of early learning
shall:
(1) Work in conjunction with the statewide child care
resource and referral network as well as local governments,
nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community child
care advocates to create local child care resource and referral
organizations. These organizations may carry out needs
assessments, resource development, provider training, technical assistance, and parent information and training;
(2) Actively seek public and private money for distribution as grants to the statewide child care resource and referral
network and to existing or potential local child care resource
and referral organizations;
(3) Adopt rules regarding the application for and distribution of grants to local child care resource and referral organizations. The rules shall, at a minimum, require an applicant
to submit a plan for achieving the following objectives:
(a) Provide parents with information about child care
resources, including location of services and subsidies;
(b) Carry out child care provider recruitment and training
programs, including training under RCW 74.25.040;
(c) Offer support services, such as parent and provider
seminars, toy-lending libraries, and substitute banks;
(d) Provide information for businesses regarding child
care supply and demand;
(e) Advocate for increased public and private sector
resources devoted to child care;
(f) Provide technical assistance to employers regarding
employee child care services; and
(g) Serve recipients of temporary assistance for needy
families and working parents with incomes at or below
household incomes of one hundred seventy-five percent of
the federal poverty line;
(4) Provide staff support and technical assistance to the
statewide child care resource and referral network and local
child care resource and referral organizations;
(5) Maintain a statewide child care licensing data bank
and work with department licensors to provide information to
local child care resource and referral organizations about
licensed child care providers in the state;
(6) Through the statewide child care resource and referral network and local resource and referral organizations,
compile data about local child care needs and availability for
future planning and development;
(7) Coordinate with the statewide child care resource and
referral network and local child care resource and referral
organizations for the provision of training and technical
assistance to child care providers; and
(8) Collect and assemble information regarding the
availability of insurance and of federal and other child care
funding to assist state and local agencies, businesses, and
other child care providers in offering child care services.
[Title 74 RCW—page 61]
74.13.095
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
[2006 c 265 § 204; 2005 c 490 § 10; 1997 c 58 § 404; 1993 c
453 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 16 § 924; 1989 c 381 § 5.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
ods to assure compliance with the purposes described in this
section. [1988 c 213 § 3.]
Severability—1988 c 213: See note following RCW 74.13.085.
ADOPTION SUPPORT DEMONSTRATION
ACT OF 1971
Effective date—2005 c 490: See note following RCW 43.215.540.
Finding—1997 c 58: "The legislature finds that informed choice is
consistent with individual responsibility and that parents should be given a
range of options for available child care while participating in the program."
[1997 c 58 § 401.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Finding—1993 c 453: "The legislature finds that building a system of
quality, affordable child care requires coordinated efforts toward constructing partnerships at state and community levels. Through the office of child
care policy, the department of social and health services is responsible for
facilitating the coordination of child care efforts and establishing working
partnerships among the affected entities within the public and private sectors. Through these collaborative efforts, the office of child care policy
encouraged the coalition of locally based child care resource and referral
agencies into a statewide network. The statewide network, in existence since
1989, supports the development and operation of community-based resource
and referral programs, improves the quality and quantity of child care available in Washington by fostering statewide strategies, and generates then nurtures effective public-private partnerships. The statewide network provides
important training, standards of service, and general technical assistance to
its locally based child care resource and referral programs. The locally based
programs enrich the availability, affordability, and quality of child care in
their communities." [1993 c 453 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 c 453: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 17, 1993]." [1993 c 453 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 16: See notes following
RCW 9.46.100.
74.13.100
74.13.100 Adoption support—State policy enunciated. It is the policy of this state to enable the secretary to
charge fees for certain services to adoptive parents who are
able to pay for such services.
It is, however, also the policy of this state that the secretary of the department of social and health services shall be
liberal in waiving, reducing, or deferring payment of any
such fee to the end that adoptions shall be encouraged in
cases where prospective adoptive parents lack means.
It is the policy of this state to encourage, within the limits
of available funds, the adoption of certain hard to place children in order to make it possible for children living in, or
likely to be placed in, foster homes or institutions to benefit
from the stability and security of permanent homes in which
such children can receive continuous parental care, guidance,
protection, and love and to reduce the number of such children who must be placed or remain in foster homes or institutions until they become adults.
It is also the policy of this state to try, by means of the
program of adoption support authorized in RCW 26.33.320
and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, to reduce the total cost to
the state of foster home and institutional care. [1985 c 7 §
133; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 1.]
74.13.103
Findings—Severability—1989 c 381: See notes following RCW
74.13.085.
74.13.095
74.13.095 Child care expansion grant fund. (1) The
legislature recognizes that a severe shortage of child care
exists to the detriment of all families and employers throughout the state. Many workers are unable to enter or remain in
the work force due to a shortage of child care resources. The
high costs of starting a child care business create a barrier to
the creation of new slots, especially for children with special
needs.
(2) A child care expansion grant fund is created in the
custody of the secretary of the department of social and
health services. Grants shall be awarded on a one-time only
basis to persons, organizations, or schools needing assistance
to start a child care center or mini-center as defined by the
department by rule, or to existing licensed child care providers, including family home providers, for the purpose of making capital improvements in order to accommodate handicapped children as defined under chapter 72.40 RCW, sick
children, or infant care, or children needing night time care.
No grant may exceed ten thousand dollars. Start-up costs
shall not include operational costs after the first three months
of business.
(3) Child care expansion grants shall be awarded on the
basis of need for the proposed services in the community,
within appropriated funds.
(4) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05
RCW setting forth criteria, application procedures, and meth[Title 74 RCW—page 62]
74.13.103 Prospective adoptive parent’s fee for cost
of adoption services. When a child proposed for adoption is
placed with a prospective adoptive parent the department
may charge such parent a fee in payment or part payment of
such adoptive parent’s part of the cost of the adoption services rendered and to be rendered by the department.
In charging such fees the department shall treat a husband and wife as a single prospective adoptive parent.
Each such fee shall be fixed according to a sliding scale
based on the ability to pay of the prospective adoptive parent
or parents.
Such fee scale shall be annually fixed by the secretary
after considering the recommendations of the committee designated by the secretary to advise him on child welfare and
pursuant to the regulations to be issued by the secretary in
accordance with the provisions of Title 34 RCW.
The secretary may waive, defer, or provide for payment
in installments without interest of, any such fee whenever in
his judgment payment or immediate payment would cause
economic hardship to such adoptive parent or parents.
Nothing in this section shall require the payment of a fee
to the state of Washington in a case in which an adoption
results from independent placement or placement by a
licensed child-placing agency. [1971 ex.s. c 63 § 2.]
74.13.106
74.13.106 Adoption services—Disposition of fees—
Use—Federal funds—Gifts and grants. All fees paid for
adoption services pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100
through 74.13.145 shall be credited to the general fund.
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
Expenses incurred in connection with supporting the adoption of hard to place children shall be paid by warrants drawn
against such appropriations as may be available. The secretary may for such purposes, contract with any public agency
or licensed child placing agency and/or adoptive parent and is
authorized to accept funds from other sources including federal, private, and other public funding sources to carry out
such purposes.
The secretary shall actively seek, where consistent with
the policies and programs of the department, and shall make
maximum use of, such federal funds as are or may be made
available to the department for the purpose of supporting the
adoption of hard to place children. The secretary may, if permitted by federal law, deposit federal funds for adoption support, aid to adoptions, or subsidized adoption in the general
fund and may use such funds, subject to such limitations as
may be imposed by federal or state law, to carry out the program of adoption support authorized by RCW 26.33.320 and
74.13.100 through 74.13.145. [1985 c 7 § 134; 1979 ex.s. c
67 § 7; 1975 c 53 § 1; 1973 c 61 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 3.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 67: See note following RCW 19.28.351.
74.13.109
74.13.109 Adoption support program administration—Rules and regulations—Disbursements from general fund, criteria. The secretary shall issue rules and regulations to assist in the administration of the program of adoption support authorized by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100
through 74.13.145.
Disbursements from the appropriations available from
the general fund shall be made pursuant to such rules and regulations and pursuant to agreements conforming thereto to be
made by the secretary with parents for the purpose of supporting the adoption of children in, or likely to be placed in,
foster homes or child caring institutions who are found by the
secretary to be difficult to place in adoption because of physical or other reasons; including, but not limited to, physical or
mental handicap, emotional disturbance, ethnic background,
language, race, color, age, or sibling grouping.
Such agreements shall meet the following criteria:
(1) The child whose adoption is to be supported pursuant
to such agreement shall be or have been a child hard to place
in adoption.
(2) Such agreement must relate to a child who was or is
residing in a foster home or child-caring institution or a child
who, in the judgment of the secretary, is both eligible for, and
likely to be placed in, either a foster home or a child-caring
institution.
(3) Such agreement shall provide that adoption support
shall not continue beyond the time that the adopted child
reaches eighteen years of age, becomes emancipated, dies, or
otherwise ceases to need support, provided that if the secretary shall find that continuing dependency of such child after
such child reaches eighteen years of age warrants the continuation of support pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100
through 74.13.145 the secretary may do so, subject to all the
provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145, including annual review of the amount of such
support.
(4) Any prospective parent who is to be a party to such
agreement shall be a person who has the character, judgment,
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.115
sense of responsibility, and disposition which make him or
her suitable as an adoptive parent of such child. [1990 c 285
§ 7; 1985 c 7 § 135; 1982 c 118 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 67 § 8; 1971
ex.s. c 63 § 4.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—1990 c 285: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 67: See note following RCW 19.28.351.
74.13.112
74.13.112 Factors determining payments or adjustment in standards. The factors to be considered by the secretary in setting the amount of any payment or payments to be
made pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145 and in adjusting standards hereunder shall include:
The size of the family including the adoptive child, the usual
living expenses of the family, the special needs of any family
member including education needs, the family income, the
family resources and plan for savings, the medical and hospitalization needs of the family, the family’s means of purchasing or otherwise receiving such care, and any other expenses
likely to be needed by the child to be adopted. In setting the
amount of any initial payment made pursuant to RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, the secretary is
authorized to establish maximum payment amounts that are
reasonable and allow permanency planning goals related to
adoption of children under RCW 13.34.145 to be achieved at
the earliest possible date.
The amounts paid for the support of a child pursuant to
RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 may vary
from family to family and from year to year. Due to changes
in economic circumstances or the needs of the child such payments may be discontinued and later resumed.
Payments under RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145 may be continued by the secretary subject to
review as provided for herein, if such parent or parents having such child in their custody establish their residence in
another state or a foreign jurisdiction.
In fixing the standards to govern the amount and character of payments to be made for the support of adopted children pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145 and before issuing rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145, the secretary shall consider the comments and recommendations of the committee designated by the secretary
to advise him with respect to child welfare. [1996 c 130 § 1;
1985 c 7 § 136; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 5.]
74.13.115
74.13.115 Both continuing payments and lump sum
payments authorized. To carry out the program authorized
by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, the
secretary may make continuing payments or lump sum payments of adoption support. In lieu of continuing payments, or
in addition to them, the secretary may make one or more specific lump sum payments for or on behalf of a hard to place
child either to the adoptive parents or directly to other persons to assist in correcting any condition causing such child
to be hard to place for adoption.
Consistent with a particular child’s needs, continuing
adoption support payments shall include, if necessary to
facilitate or support the adoption of a special needs child, an
amount sufficient to remove any reasonable financial barrier
[Title 74 RCW—page 63]
74.13.116
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
to adoption as determined by the secretary under RCW
74.13.112.
After determination by the secretary of the amount of a
payment or the initial amount of continuing payments, the
prospective parent or parents who desire such support shall
sign an agreement with the secretary providing for the payment, in the manner and at the time or times prescribed in
regulations to be issued by the secretary subject to the provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145,
of the amount or amounts of support so determined.
Payments shall be subject to review as provided in RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145. [1996 c 130 §
2; 1985 c 7 § 137; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 6.]
74.13.116
74.13.116 Application—1996 c 130. Chapter 130,
Laws of 1996 applies to adoption support payments for eligible children whose eligibility is determined on or after July 1,
1996. Chapter 130, Laws of 1996 does not apply retroactively to current recipients of adoption support payments.
[1996 c 130 § 3.]
74.13.118
74.13.118 Review of support payments. At least once
every five years, the secretary shall review the need of any
adoptive parent or parents receiving continuing support pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145,
or the need of any parent who is to receive more than one
lump sum payment where such payments are to be spaced
more than one year apart.
At the time of such review and at other times when
changed conditions, including variations in medical opinions,
prognosis and costs, are deemed by the secretary to warrant
such action, appropriate adjustments in payments shall be
made based upon changes in the needs of the child, in the
adoptive parents’ income, resources, and expenses for the
care of such child or other members of the family, including
medical and/or hospitalization expense not otherwise covered by or subject to reimbursement from insurance or other
sources of financial assistance.
Any parent who is a party to such an agreement may at
any time in writing request, for reasons set forth in such
request, a review of the amount of any payment or the level
of continuing payments. Such review shall be begun not later
than thirty days from the receipt of such request. Any adjustment may be made retroactive to the date such request was
received by the secretary. If such request is not acted on
within thirty days after it has been received by the secretary,
such parent may invoke his rights under the hearing provisions set forth in RCW 74.13.127. [1995 c 270 § 2; 1985 c 7
§ 138; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 7.]
Finding—1995 c 270: "The legislature finds that it is in the best interest
of the people of the state of Washington to support the adoption process in a
variety of ways, including easing administrative burdens on adoptive parents
receiving financial support, providing finality for adoptive placements and
stable homes for children, and not delaying adoptions." [1995 c 270 § 1.]
74.13.121
74.13.121 Adoptive parent’s financial information.
So long as any adoptive parent is receiving support pursuant
to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 he or
she shall, upon request, file with the secretary a copy of his or
her federal income tax return. Such return and any information thereon shall be marked by the secretary "confidential",
[Title 74 RCW—page 64]
shall be used by the secretary solely for the purposes of RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, and shall not be
revealed to any other person, institution or agency, public or
private, including agencies of the United States government,
other than a superior court, judge or commissioner before
whom a petition for adoption of a child being supported or to
be supported pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100
through 74.13.145 is then pending.
In carrying on the review process authorized by RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 the secretary
may require the adoptive parent or parents to disclose such
additional financial information, not privileged, as may
enable him or her to make determinations and adjustments in
support to the end that the purposes and policies of this state
expressed in RCW 74.13.100 may be carried out, provided
that no adoptive parent or parents shall be obliged, by virtue
of this section, to sign any agreement or other writing waiving any constitutional right or privilege nor to admit to his or
her home any agent, employee, or official of any department
of this state, or of the United States government.
Such information shall be marked "confidential" by the
secretary, shall be used by him or her solely for the purposes
of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, and
shall not be revealed to any other person, institution, or
agency, public or private, including agencies of the United
States government other than a superior court judge or commission before whom a petition for adoption of a child being
supported or to be supported pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and
74.13.100 through 74.13.145 is then pending. [1995 c 270 §
3; 1985 c 7 § 139; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 8.]
Finding—1995 c 270: See note following RCW 74.13.118.
74.13.124
74.13.124 Agreements as contracts within state and
federal Constitutions—State’s continuing obligation. An
agreement for adoption support made pursuant to *RCW
26.32.115 before January 1, 1985, or RCW 26.33.320 and
74.13.100 through 74.13.145, although subject to review and
adjustment as provided for herein, shall, as to the standard
used by the secretary in making such review or reviews and
any such adjustment, constitutes a contract within the meaning of section 10, Article I of the United States Constitution
and section 23, Article I of the state Constitution. For that
reason once such an agreement has been made any review of
and adjustment under such agreement shall as to the standards used by the secretary, be made only subject to the provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145
and such rules and regulations relating thereto as they exist
on the date of the initial determination in connection with
such agreement or such more generous standard or parts of
such standard as may hereafter be provided for by law or regulation. Once made such an agreement shall constitute a solemn undertaking by the state of Washington with such adoptive parent or parents. The termination of the effective period
of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 or a
decision by the state or federal government to discontinue or
reduce general appropriations made available for the purposes to be served by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145, shall not affect the state’s specific continuing obligations to support such adoptions, subject to such annual
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
review and adjustment for all such agreements as have theretofore been entered into by the state.
The purpose of this section is to assure any such parent
that, upon his consenting to assume the burdens of adopting a
hard to place child, the state will not in future so act by way
of general reduction of appropriations for the program authorized by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 or
ratable reductions, to impair the trust and confidence necessarily reposed by such parent in the state as a condition of
such parent taking upon himself the obligations of parenthood of a difficult to place child.
Should the secretary and any such adoptive parent differ
as to whether any standard or part of a standard adopted by
the secretary after the date of an initial agreement, which
standard or part is used by the secretary in making any review
and adjustment, is more generous than the standard in effect
as of the date of the initial determination with respect to such
agreement such adoptive parent may invoke his rights,
including all rights of appeal under the fair hearing provisions, available to him under RCW 74.13.127. [1985 c 7 §
140; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 9.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 26.32.115 was repealed by 1984 c 155 § 38,
effective January 1, 1985.
74.13.127 Voluntary amendments to agreements—
Procedure when adoptive parties disagree. Voluntary
amendments of any support agreement entered into pursuant
to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 may be
made at any time. In proposing any such amending action
which relates to the amount or level of a payment or payments, the secretary shall, as provided in RCW 74.13.124,
use either the standard which existed as of the date of the initial determination with respect to such agreement or any subsequent standard or parts of such standard which both parties
to such agreement agree is more generous than those in effect
as of the date of such initial agreement. If the parties do not
agree to the level of support, the secretary shall set the level.
The secretary shall give the adoptive parent or parents written
notice of the determination. The adoptive parent or parents
aggrieved by the secretary’s determination have the right to
an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by
RCW 74.08.080 and chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative
Procedure Act. [1989 c 175 § 148; 1985 c 7 § 141; 1971 ex.s.
c 63 § 10.]
74.13.127
74.13.150
the department. [1990 c 285 § 8; 1985 c 7 § 142; 1979 ex.s.
c 67 § 9; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 11.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—1990 c 285: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 67: See note following RCW 19.28.351.
74.13.133
74.13.133 Records—Confidentiality. The secretary
shall keep such general records as are needed to evaluate the
effectiveness of the program of adoption support authorized
by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 in
encouraging and effectuating the adoption of hard to place
children. In so doing the secretary shall, however, maintain
the confidentiality required by law with respect to particular
adoptions. [1985 c 7 § 143; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 13.]
74.13.136
74.13.136 Recommendations for support of the adoption of certain children. Any child-caring agency or person
having a child in foster care or institutional care and wishing
to recommend to the secretary support of the adoption of such
child as provided for in RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100
through 74.13.145 may do so, and may include in its or his
recommendation advice as to the appropriate level of support
and any other information likely to assist the secretary in carrying out the functions vested in the secretary by RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145. Such agency
may, but is not required to, be retained by the secretary to
make the required preplacement study of the prospective
adoptive parent or parents. [1985 c 7 § 144; 1971 ex.s. c 63
§ 14.]
74.13.139
74.13.139 "Secretary" and "department" defined.
As used in RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145
the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of
social and health services or his designee.
(2) "Department" means the department of social and
health services. [1985 c 7 § 145; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 15.]
74.13.145
74.13.145 Short title—1971 act. RCW 26.33.320 and
74.13.100 through 74.13.145 may be known and cited as the
"Adoption Support Demonstration Act of 1971". [1985 c 7 §
146; 1971 ex.s. c 63 § 17.]
74.13.150
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
74.13.130 Nonrecurring adoption expenses. The secretary may authorize the payment, from the appropriations
available from the general fund, of all or part of the nonrecurring adoption expenses incurred by a prospective parent.
"Nonrecurring adoption expenses" means those expenses
incurred by a prospective parent in connection with the adoption of a difficult to place child including, but not limited to,
attorneys’ fees, court costs, and agency fees. Payment shall
be made in accordance with rules adopted by the department.
This section shall have retroactive application to January
1, 1987. For purposes of retroactive application, the secretary
may provide reimbursement to any parent who adopted a difficult to place child between January 1, 1987, and one year
following June 7, 1990, regardless of whether the parent had
previously entered into an adoption support agreement with
74.13.130
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.150 Adoption support reconsideration program. (1) The department of social and health services shall
establish, within funds appropriated for the purpose, a reconsideration program to provide medical and counseling services through the adoption support program for children of
families who apply for services after the adoption is final.
Families requesting services through the program shall provide any information requested by the department for the purpose of processing the family’s application for services.
(2) A child meeting the eligibility criteria for registration
with the program is one who:
(a) Was residing in a preadoptive placement funded by
the department or in foster care funded by the department
immediately prior to the adoptive placement;
(b) Had a physical or mental handicap or emotional disturbance that existed and was documented prior to the adoption or was at high risk of future physical or mental handicap
[Title 74 RCW—page 65]
74.13.152
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
or emotional disturbance as a result of conditions exposed to
prior to the adoption; and
(c) Resides in the state of Washington with an adoptive
parent who lacks the necessary financial means to care for the
child’s special need.
(3) If a family is accepted for registration and meets the
criteria in subsection (2) of this section, the department may
enter into an agreement for services. Prior to entering into an
agreement for services through the program, the medical
needs of the child must be reviewed and approved by the
department.
(4) Any services provided pursuant to an agreement
between a family and the department shall be met from the
department’s medical program. Such services shall be limited
to:
(a) Services provided after finalization of an agreement
between a family and the department pursuant to this section;
(b) Services not covered by the family’s insurance or
other available assistance; and
(c) Services related to the eligible child’s identified
physical or mental handicap or emotional disturbance that
existed prior to the adoption.
(5) Any payment by the department for services provided pursuant to an agreement shall be made directly to the
physician or provider of services according to the department’s established procedures.
(6) The total costs payable by the department for services
provided pursuant to an agreement shall not exceed twenty
thousand dollars per child. [1997 c 131 § 1; 1990 c 285 § 5.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—1990 c 285: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.13.152
74.13.152 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Findings. The legislature finds
that:
(1) Finding adoptive families for children for whom state
assistance under RCW 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 is desirable and assuring the protection of the interest of the children
affected during the entire assistance period require special
measures when the adoptive parents move to other states or
are residents of another state.
(2) Provision of medical and other necessary services for
children, with state assistance, encounters special difficulties
when the provision of services takes place in other states.
[1997 c 31 § 1.]
74.13.153
74.13.153 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Purpose. The purposes of RCW
74.13.152 through 74.13.159 are to:
(1) Authorize the department to enter into interstate
agreements with agencies of other states for the protection of
children on behalf of whom adoption assistance is being provided by the department; and
(2) Provide procedures for interstate children’s adoption
assistance payments, including medical payments. [1997 c
31 § 2.]
74.13.154
74.13.154 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Definitions. The definitions in
[Title 74 RCW—page 66]
this section apply throughout RCW 74.13.152 through
74.13.159 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) "Adoption assistance state" means the state that is
signatory to an adoption assistance agreement in a particular
case.
(2) "Residence state" means the state where the child is
living.
(3) "State" means a state of the United States, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, or a territory or possession of or administered by the
United States. [1997 c 31 § 3.]
74.13.155
74.13.155 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Authorization. The department
is authorized to develop, participate in the development of,
negotiate, and enter into one or more interstate compacts on
behalf of this state with other states to implement one or more
of the purposes set forth in RCW 74.13.152 through
74.13.159. When entered into, and for so long as it remains in
force, such a compact has the force and effect of law. [1997
c 31 § 4.]
74.13.156
74.13.156 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Required provisions. A compact
entered into pursuant to the authority conferred by RCW
74.13.152 through 74.13.159 must have the following content:
(1) A provision making it available for joinder by all
states;
(2) A provision for withdrawal from the compact upon
written notice to the parties, but with a period of one year
between the date of the notice and the effective date of the
withdrawal;
(3) A requirement that the protections afforded by or
pursuant to the compact continue in force for the duration of
the adoption assistance and be applicable to all children and
their adoptive parents who, on the effective date of the withdrawal, are receiving adoption assistance from a party state
other than the one in which they are resident and have their
principal place of abode;
(4) A requirement that each instance of adoption assistance to which the compact applies be covered by an adoption
assistance agreement that is (a) in writing between the adoptive parents and the state child welfare agency of the state that
undertakes to provide the adoption assistance, and (b)
expressly for the benefit of the adopted child and enforceable
by the adoptive parents and the state agency providing the
adoption assistance; and
(5) Such other provisions as are appropriate to implement the proper administration of the compact. [1997 c 31 §
5.]
74.13.157
74.13.157 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Additional provisions. A compact entered into pursuant to the authority conferred by RCW
74.13.152 through 74.13.159 may contain provisions in addition to those required under RCW 74.13.156, as follows:
(1) Provisions establishing procedures and entitlement to
medical and other necessary social services for the child in
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
accordance with applicable laws, even though the child and
the adoptive parents are in a state other than the one responsible for or providing the services or the funds to defray part
or all of the costs of the services; and
(2) Such other provisions as are appropriate or incidental
to the proper administration of the compact. [1997 c 31 § 6.]
74.13.158
74.13.158 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Medical assistance for children
residing in this state—Penalty for fraudulent claims. (1)
A child with special needs who resides in this state and is the
subject of an adoption assistance agreement with another
state is entitled to receive a medical assistance identification
card from this state upon the filing with the department of a
certified copy of the adoption assistance agreement obtained
from the adoption assistance state. In accordance with regulations of the medical assistance administration, the adoptive
parents are required at least annually to show that the agreement is still in force or has been renewed.
(2) The medical assistance administration shall consider
the holder of a medical assistance identification under this
section as any other holder of a medical assistance identification under the laws of this state and shall process and make
payment on claims in the same manner and under the same
conditions and procedures as for other recipients of medical
assistance.
(3) The medical assistance administration shall provide
coverage and benefits for a child who is in another state and
is covered by an adoption assistance agreement made by the
department for the coverage or benefits, if any, not provided
by the residence state. Adoptive parents acting for the child
may submit evidence of payment for services or benefit
amounts not payable in the residence state for reimbursement. No reimbursement may be made for services or benefit
amounts covered under any insurance or other third party
medical contract or arrangement held by the child or the
adoptive parents. The department shall adopt rules implementing this subsection. The additional coverage and benefit
amounts provided under this subsection must be for services
to the cost of which there is no federal contribution, or which,
if federally aided, are not provided by the residence state. The
rules must include procedures to be followed in obtaining
prior approval for services if required for the assistance.
(4) The submission of any claim for payment or reimbursement for services or benefits under this section or the
making of any statement that the person knows or should
know to be false, misleading, or fraudulent is punishable as
perjury under chapter 9A.72 RCW.
(5) This section applies only to medical assistance for
children under adoption assistance agreements from states
that have entered into a compact with this state under which
the other state provided medical assistance to children with
special needs under adoption assistance agreements made by
this state. All other children entitled to medical assistance
under an adoption assistance agreement entered into by this
state are eligible to receive assistance in accordance with the
applicable laws and procedures. [1997 c 31 § 7.]
74.13.220
cal assistance in state plan. Consistent with federal law, the
department, in connection with the administration of RCW
74.13.152 through 74.13.158 and any pursuant compact shall
include in any state plan made pursuant to the adoption assistance and child welfare act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272), Titles
IV(e) and XIX of the social security act, and any other applicable federal laws, the provision of adoption assistance and
medical assistance for which the federal government pays
some or all of the cost. The department shall apply for and
administer all relevant federal aid in accordance with law.
[1997 c 31 § 8.]
74.13.165 Home studies for adoption—Purchase of
services from nonprofit agencies. The secretary or the secretary’s designee may purchase services from nonprofit agencies for the purpose of conducting home studies for legally
free children who have been awaiting adoption finalization
for more than ninety days. The home studies selected to be
done under this section shall be for the children who have
been legally free and awaiting adoption finalization the longest period of time. [1997 c 272 § 4.]
74.13.165
Reviser’s note: 1997 c 272 directed that this section be added to chapter 43.20A RCW. Since this placement appears inappropriate, this section
has been codified as part of chapter 74.13 RCW.
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
74.13.170 Therapeutic family home program for
youth in custody under chapter 13.34 RCW. The department of social and health services may implement a therapeutic family home program for up to fifteen youth in the custody of the department under chapter 13.34 RCW. The program shall strive to develop and maintain a mutually
reinforcing relationship between the youth and the therapeutic staff associated with the program. [1991 c 326 § 2.]
74.13.170
Part headings not law—Severability—1991 c 326: See RCW
71.36.900 and 71.36.901.
74.13.200 Demonstration project for protection,
care, and treatment of children at-risk of abuse or
neglect. The department of social and health services shall
conduct a two-year demonstration project for the purpose of
contracting with an existing day care center to provide for the
protection, care, and treatment of children who are at risk of
being abused or neglected. The children who shall be served
by this project shall range in age from birth to twenty-four
months. The client population served shall not exceed thirty
children at any one time. [1979 ex.s. c 248 § 1.]
74.13.200
74.13.210 Project day care center—Definition. For
the purposes of RCW 74.13.200 through 74.13.230 "day care
center" means an agency, other than a residence, which regularly provides care for children for any part of the twenty-four
hour day. No day care center shall be located in a private family residence unless that portion of the residence to which the
children have access is used exclusively for the children during the hours the center is in operation or is separate from the
usual living quarters of the family. [1979 ex.s. c 248 § 2.]
74.13.210
74.13.220 Project services. The services provided
through this project shall include:
(1) Transportation to and from the child’s home;
74.13.220
74.13.159
74.13.159 Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Adoption assistance and medi(2006 Ed.)
[Title 74 RCW—page 67]
74.13.230
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(2) Daily monitoring of the child’s physical and emotional condition;
(3) Developmentally oriented programs designed to
meet the unique needs of each child in order to overcome the
effects of parental abuse or neglect;
(4) Family counseling and treatment; and
(5) Evaluation by the department of social and health
services assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of day
care centers operated under the project. [1979 ex.s. c 248 §
3.]
74.13.260
74.13.260 On-site monitoring program. Regular onsite monitoring of foster homes to assure quality care
improves care provided to children in family foster care. An
on-site monitoring program shall be established by the
department to assure quality care and regularly identify problem areas. Monitoring shall be done by the department on a
random sample basis of no less than ten percent of the total
licensed family foster homes licensed by the department on
July 1 of each year. [1998 c 245 § 148; 1990 c 284 § 4.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.230
74.13.230 Project shall utilize community services.
The department of social and health services shall utilize
existing community services and promote cooperation
between the services in implementing the intent of RCW
74.13.200 through 74.13.230. [1979 ex.s. c 248 § 4.]
FOSTER CARE
74.13.250
74.13.250 Preservice training. (1) Preservice training
is recognized as a valuable tool to reduce placement disruptions, the length of time children are in care, and foster parent
turnover rates. Preservice training also assists potential foster
parents in making their final decisions about foster parenting
and assists social service agencies in obtaining information
about whether to approve potential foster parents.
(2) Foster parent preservice training shall include information about the potential impact of placement on foster children; social service agency administrative processes; the
requirements, responsibilities, expectations, and skills
needed to be a foster parent; attachment, separation, and loss
issues faced by birth parents, foster children, and foster parents; child management and discipline; birth family relationships; and helping children leave foster care. Preservice training shall assist applicants in making informed decisions
about whether they want to be foster parents. Preservice
training shall be designed to enable the agency to assess the
ability, readiness, and appropriateness of families to be foster
parents. As a decision tool, effective preservice training provides potential foster parents with enough information to
make an appropriate decision, affords potential foster parents
an opportunity to discuss their decision with others and consider its implications for their family, clarifies foster family
expectations, presents a realistic picture of what foster
parenting involves, and allows potential foster parents to consider and explore the different types of children they might
serve.
(3) Preservice training shall be completed prior to the
issuance of a foster care license, except that the department
may, on a case by case basis, issue a written waiver that
allows the foster parent to complete the training after licensure, so long as the training is completed within ninety days
following licensure. [1990 c 284 § 2.]
Finding—1990 c 284: "The legislature finds that the foster care system
plays an important role in preserving families and giving consistent and nurturing care to children placed in its care. The legislature further finds that
foster parents play an integral and important role in the system and particularly in the child’s chances for the earliest possible reunification with his or
her family." [1990 c 284 § 1.]
Effective date—1990 c 284: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1990,
however the secretary may immediately take any steps necessary to ensure
implementation of section 17 of this act on July 1, 1990." [1990 c 284 § 27.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 68]
74.13.270
74.13.270 Respite care. The legislature recognizes the
need for temporary short-term relief for foster parents who
care for children with emotional, mental, or physical handicaps. For purposes of this section, respite care means appropriate, temporary, short-term care for these foster children
placed with licensed foster parents. The purpose of this care
is to give the foster parents temporary relief from the stresses
associated with the care of these foster children. The department shall design a program of respite care that will minimize
disruptions to the child and will serve foster parents within
these priorities, based on input from foster parents, foster parent associations, and reliable research if available. [1990 c
284 § 8.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.280
74.13.280 Client information. (1) Except as provided
in RCW 70.24.105, whenever a child is placed in out-ofhome care by the department or a child-placing agency, the
department or agency shall share information about the child
and the child’s family with the care provider and shall consult
with the care provider regarding the child’s case plan. If the
child is dependent pursuant to a proceeding under chapter
13.34 RCW, the department or agency shall keep the care
provider informed regarding the dates and location of dependency review and permanency planning hearings pertaining
to the child.
(2) Any person who receives information about a child
or a child’s family pursuant to this section shall keep the
information confidential and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as authorized by law.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the
authority of the department or child-placing agencies to disclose client information or to maintain client confidentiality
as provided by law. [2001 c 318 § 3; 1997 c 272 § 7; 1995 c
311 § 21; 1991 c 340 § 4; 1990 c 284 § 10.]
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.285
74.13.285 Passports—Information to be provided to
foster parents. (1) Within available resources, the department shall prepare a passport containing all known and available information concerning the mental, physical, health, and
educational status of the child for any child who has been in
a foster home for ninety consecutive days or more. The passport shall contain education records obtained pursuant to
RCW 28A.150.510. The passport shall be provided to a foster
parent at any placement of a child covered by this section.
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
The department shall update the passport during the regularly
scheduled court reviews required under chapter 13.34 RCW.
New placements after July 1, 1997, shall have first priority in the preparation of passports. Within available
resources, the department may prepare passports for any
child in a foster home on July 1, 1997, provided that no time
spent in a foster home before July 1, 1997, shall be included
in the computation of the ninety days.
(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of
this section, the department shall, within available resources,
notify a foster parent before placement of a child of any
known health conditions that pose a serious threat to the child
and any known behavioral history that presents a serious risk
of harm to the child or others.
(3) The department shall hold harmless the provider for
any unauthorized disclosures caused by the department.
[2000 c 88 § 2; 1997 c 272 § 5.]
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
74.13.287
74.13.287 Intent—Infant, foster family health. The
legislature intends to establish a policy with the goal of ensuring that the health and well-being of both infants in foster
care and the families providing for their care are protected.
[2004 c 40 § 1.]
74.13.288
74.13.288 Blood-borne pathogens—Testing—
Report. (1) The department of health shall develop recommendations concerning evidence-based practices for testing
for blood-borne pathogens of children under one year of age
who have been placed in out-of-home care and shall identify
the specific pathogens for which testing is recommended.
(2) The department shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the recommendations developed
in accordance with subsection (1) of this section by January
1, 2005. [2004 c 40 § 2.]
74.13.289
74.13.289 Blood-borne pathogens—Client information—Training. (1) Upon any placement, the department of
social and health services shall inform each out-of-home care
provider if the child to be placed in that provider’s care is
infected with a blood-borne pathogen, and shall identify the
specific blood-borne pathogen for which the child was tested
if known by the department.
(2) All out-of-home care providers licensed by the
department shall receive training related to blood-borne
pathogens, including prevention, transmission, infection control, treatment, testing, and confidentiality.
(3) Any disclosure of information related to HIV must be
in accordance with RCW 70.24.105.
(4) The department of health shall identify by rule the
term "blood-borne pathogen" as used in this section. [2004 c
40 § 3.]
74.13.290
74.13.290 Fewest possible placements for children.
To provide stability to children in out-of-home care, placement selection shall be made with a view toward the fewest
possible placements for each child. If possible, the initial
placement shall be viewed as the only placement for the
child. The use of short-term interim placements of thirty days
or less to protect the child’s health or safety while the place(2006 Ed.)
74.13.315
ment of choice is being arranged is not a violation of this
principle. [1990 c 284 § 11.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.300
74.13.300 Notification of proposed placement
changes. (1) Whenever a child has been placed in a foster
family home by the department or a child-placing agency and
the child has thereafter resided in the home for at least ninety
consecutive days, the department or child-placing agency
shall notify the foster family at least five days prior to moving
the child to another placement, unless:
(a) A court order has been entered requiring an immediate change in placement;
(b) The child is being returned home;
(c) The child’s safety is in jeopardy; or
(d) The child is residing in a receiving home or a group
home.
(2) If the child has resided in a foster family home for
less than ninety days or if, due to one or more of the circumstances in subsection (1) of this section, it is not possible to
give five days’ notification, the department or child-placing
agency shall notify the foster family of proposed placement
changes as soon as reasonably possible.
(3) This section is intended solely to assist in minimizing
disruption to the child in changing foster care placements.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that a
court hearing be held prior to changing a child’s foster care
placement nor to create any substantive custody rights in the
foster parents. [1990 c 284 § 12.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.310
74.13.310 Foster parent training. Adequate foster
parent training has been identified as directly associated with
increasing the length of time foster parents are willing to provide foster care and reducing the number of placement disruptions for children. Placement disruptions can be harmful
to children by denying them consistent and nurturing support.
Foster parents have expressed the desire to receive training in
addition to the foster parent SCOPE training currently
offered. Foster parents who care for more demanding children, such as children with severe emotional, mental, or
physical handicaps, would especially benefit from additional
training. The department shall develop additional training for
foster parents that focuses on skills to assist foster parents in
caring for emotionally, mentally, or physically handicapped
children. [1990 c 284 § 13.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.315
74.13.315 Child care for foster parents attending
meetings or training. The department may provide child
care for all foster parents who are required to attend department-sponsored meetings or training sessions. If the department does not provide such child care, the department, where
feasible, shall conduct the activities covered by this section in
the foster parent’s home or other location acceptable to the
foster parent. [1997 c 272 § 6.]
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
[Title 74 RCW—page 69]
74.13.320
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.13.320
74.13.320 Recruitment of foster homes and adoptive
homes for special needs children. The legislature finds that
during the fiscal years 1987 to 1989 the number of children in
foster care has risen by 14.3 percent. At the same time there
has been a 31 percent turnover rate in foster homes because
many foster parents have declined to continue to care for foster children. This situation has caused a dangerously critical
shortage of foster homes.
The department of social and health services shall
develop and implement a project to recruit more foster homes
and adoptive homes for special needs children by developing
a request for proposal to licensed private foster care, licensed
adoption agencies, and other organizations qualified to provide this service.
The project shall consist of one statewide administrator
of recruitment programs, and one or more licensed foster care
or adoption agency contracts in each of the six departmental
regions. These contracts shall enhance currently provided
services and may not replace services currently funded by the
agencies. No more than sixty thousand dollars may be spent
annually to fund the administrator position.
The agencies shall recruit foster care homes and adoptive
homes for children classified as special needs children under
chapter 74.08 RCW. The agencies shall utilize their own network of contacts and shall also develop programs similar to
those used effectively in other states. The department shall
expand the foster-adopt program statewide to encourage stable placements for foster children for whom permanent outof-home placement is a likelihood. The department shall
carefully consider existing programs to eliminate duplication
of services.
The department shall assist the private contractors by
providing printing services for informational brochures and
other necessary recruitment materials. No more than fifty
thousand dollars of the funds provided for this section may be
expended annually for recruitment materials. [1990 c 284 §
15.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
74.13.325
74.13.325 Foster care and adoptive home recruitment program. Within available resources, the department
shall increase the number of adoptive and foster families
available to accept children through an intensive recruitment
and retention program. The department shall contract with a
private agency to coordinate foster care and adoptive home
recruitment activities for the department and private agencies. [1997 c 272 § 3.]
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
74.13.330
74.13.330 Responsibilities of foster parents. Foster
parents are responsible for the protection, care, supervision,
and nurturing of the child in placement. As an integral part of
the foster care team, foster parents shall, if appropriate and
they desire to: Participate in the development of the service
plan for the child and the child’s family; assist in family visitation, including monitoring; and model effective parenting
behavior for the natural family. [1990 c 284 § 23.]
Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW
74.13.250.
[Title 74 RCW—page 70]
74.13.332
74.13.332 Rights of foster parents. Foster parents
have the right to be free of coercion, discrimination, and
reprisal in serving foster children, including the right to voice
grievances about treatment furnished or not furnished to the
foster child. [2001 c 318 § 1.]
74.13.333
74.13.333 Rights of foster parents—Complaints—
Report. A foster parent who believes that a department
employee has retaliated against the foster parent or in any
other manner discriminated against the foster parent because:
(1) The foster parent made a complaint with the office of
the family and children’s ombudsman, the attorney general,
law enforcement agencies, or the department, provided information, or otherwise cooperated with the investigation of
such a complaint;
(2) The foster parent has caused to be instituted any proceedings under or related to Title 13 RCW;
(3) The foster parent has testified or is about to testify in
any proceedings under or related to Title 13 RCW;
(4) The foster parent has advocated for services on
behalf of the foster child;
(5) The foster parent has sought to adopt a foster child in
the foster parent’s care; or
(6) The foster parent has discussed or consulted with
anyone concerning the foster parent’s rights under this chapter or chapter 74.15 or 13.34 RCW,
may file a complaint with the office of the family and children’s ombudsman. The office of the family and children’s
ombudsman shall include its recommendations regarding
complaints filed under this section in its annual report pursuant to RCW 43.06A.030. The office of the family and children’s ombudsman shall identify trends which may indicate a
need to improve relations between the department and foster
parents. [2004 c 181 § 1.]
74.13.334
74.13.334 Department to respond to foster parents’
complaints. The department shall develop procedures for
responding to recommendations of the office of the family
and children’s ombudsman as a result of any and all complaints filed by foster parents under RCW 74.13.333. [2004
c 181 § 2.]
74.13.335
74.13.335 Foster care—Reimbursement—Property
damage. Within available funds and subject to such conditions and limitations as may be established by the department
or by the legislature in the omnibus appropriations act, the
department of social and health services shall reimburse foster parents for property damaged or destroyed by foster children placed in their care. The department shall establish by
rule a maximum amount that may be reimbursed for each
occurrence. The department shall reimburse the foster parent
for the replacement value of any property covered by this section. If the damaged or destroyed property is covered and
reimbursed under an insurance policy, the department shall
reimburse foster parents for the amount of the deductible
associated with the insurance claim, up to the limit per occurrence as established by the department. [1999 c 338 § 2.]
Intent—1999 c 338: "The legislature recognizes that Washington state
is experiencing a significant shortage of quality foster homes and that the
majority of children entering the system are difficult to place due to their
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
complex needs. The legislature intends to provide additional assistance to
those families willing to serve as foster parents." [1999 c 338 § 1.]
74.13.340
74.13.340 Foster parent liaison. Within available
resources, the department shall provide a foster parent liaison
position in each department region. The department shall
contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide the
foster parent liaison function. The foster parent liaison shall
enhance the working relationship between department case
workers and foster parents. The foster parent liaison shall
provide expedited assistance for the unique needs and
requirements posed by special needs foster children in out-ofhome care. Any contract entered into under this section for a
foster parent liaison shall include a requirement that the contractor substantially reduce the turnover rate of foster parents
in the region by an agreed upon percentage. The department
shall evaluate whether an organization that has a contract
under this section has reduced the turnover rate by the agreed
upon amount or more when determining whether to extend or
renew a contract under this section. [1997 c 272 § 2.]
Effective date—1997 c 272: See note following RCW 74.13.031.
74.13.350
74.13.350 Developmentally disabled children—Outof-home placement—Voluntary placement agreement. It
is the intent of the legislature that parents are responsible for
the care and support of children with developmental disabilities. The legislature recognizes that, because of the intense
support required to care for a child with developmental disabilities, the help of an out-of-home placement may be
needed. It is the intent of the legislature that, when the sole
reason for the out-of-home placement is the child’s developmental disability, such services be offered by the department
to these children and their families through a voluntary placement agreement. In these cases, the parents shall retain legal
custody of the child.
As used in this section, "voluntary placement agreement" means a written agreement between the department
and a child’s parent or legal guardian authorizing the department to place the child in a licensed facility. Under the terms
of this agreement, the parent or legal guardian shall retain
legal custody and the department shall be responsible for the
child’s placement and care. The agreement shall at a minimum specify the legal status of the child and the rights and
obligations of the parent or legal guardian, the child, and the
department while the child is in placement. The agreement
must be signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian and the
department to be in effect, except that an agreement regarding an Indian child shall not be valid unless executed in writing before the court and filed with the court as provided in
RCW 13.34.245. Any party to a voluntary placement agreement may terminate the agreement at any time. Upon termination of the agreement, the child shall be returned to the care
of the child’s parent or legal guardian unless the child has
been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or
26.44.050, placed in shelter care pursuant to RCW 13.34.060,
or placed in foster care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130.
As used in this section, "out-of-home placement" and
"out-of-home care" mean the placement of a child in a foster
family home or group care facility licensed under chapter
74.15 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.500
Whenever the department places a child in out-of-home
care under a voluntary placement pursuant to this section, the
department shall have the responsibility for the child’s placement and care. The department shall develop a permanency
plan of care for the child no later than sixty days from the date
that the department assumes responsibility for the child’s
placement and care. Within the first one hundred eighty days
of the placement, the department shall obtain a judicial determination pursuant to RCW 13.04.030(1)(j) and 13.34.270
that the placement is in the best interests of the child. If the
child’s out-of-home placement ends before one hundred
eighty days have elapsed, no judicial determination under
RCW 13.04.030(1)(b) is required. The permanency planning
hearings shall review whether the child’s best interests are
served by continued out-of-home placement and determine
the future legal status of the child.
The department shall provide for periodic administrative
reviews as required by federal law. A review may be called
at any time by either the department, the parent, or the legal
guardian.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from
filing a dependency petition if there is reason to believe that
the child is a dependent child as defined in RCW 13.34.030.
The department shall adopt rules providing for the
implementation of chapter 386, Laws of 1997 and the transfer
of responsibility for out-of-home placements from the dependency process under chapter 13.34 RCW to the process under
this chapter.
It is the intent of the legislature that the department
undertake voluntary out-of-home placement in cases where
the child’s developmental disability is such that the parent,
guardian, or legal custodian is unable to provide the necessary care for the child, and the parent, guardian, or legal custodian has determined that the child would benefit from
placement outside of the home. If the department does not
accept a voluntary placement agreement signed by the parent,
a petition may be filed and an action pursued under chapter
13.34 RCW. The department shall inform the parent, guardian, or legal custodian in writing of their right to civil action
under chapter 13.34 RCW.
Nothing in this section prohibits the department from
seeking support from parents of a child, including a child
with a developmental disability if the child has been placed
into care as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW,
when state or federal funds are expended for the care and
maintenance of that child or when the department receives an
application for services from the physical custodian of the
child, unless the department finds that there is good cause not
to pursue collection of child support against the parent or parents. [2004 c 183 § 4; 1998 c 229 § 1; 1997 c 386 § 16.]
Effective date—2004 c 183: See note following RCW 13.34.160.
74.13.500
74.13.500 Disclosure of child welfare records—Factors—Exception. (1) Consistent with the provisions of
chapter 42.56 RCW and applicable federal law, the secretary,
or the secretary’s designee, shall disclose information regarding the abuse or neglect of a child, the investigation of the
abuse, neglect, or near fatality of a child, and any services
related to the abuse or neglect of a child if any one of the following factors is present:
[Title 74 RCW—page 71]
74.13.505
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(a) The subject of the report has been charged in an accusatory instrument with committing a crime related to a report
maintained by the department in its case and management
information system;
(b) The investigation of the abuse or neglect of the child
by the department or the provision of services by the department has been publicly disclosed in a report required to be
disclosed in the course of their official duties, by a law
enforcement agency or official, a prosecuting attorney, any
other state or local investigative agency or official, or by a
judge of the superior court;
(c) There has been a prior knowing, voluntary public disclosure by an individual concerning a report of child abuse or
neglect in which such individual is named as the subject of
the report; or
(d) The child named in the report has died and the child’s
death resulted from abuse or neglect or the child was in the
care of, or receiving services from the department at the time
of death or within twelve months before death.
(2) The secretary is not required to disclose information
if the factors in subsection (1) of this section are present if he
or she specifically determines the disclosure is contrary to the
best interests of the child, the child’s siblings, or other children in the household.
(3) Except for cases in subsection (1)(d) of this section,
requests for information under this section shall specifically
identify the case about which information is sought and the
facts that support a determination that one of the factors specified in subsection (1) of this section is present.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "near fatality" means
an act that, as certified by a physician, places the child in serious or critical condition. The secretary is under no obligation
to have an act certified by a physician in order to comply with
this section. [2005 c 274 § 351; 1999 c 339 § 1; 1997 c 305
§ 2.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Effective date—1999 c 339: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 14, 1999]." [1999 c 339 § 2.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned.
Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1997 c 305 §
8.]
74.13.505
74.13.505 Disclosure of child welfare records—Information to be disclosed. For purposes of RCW 74.13.500,
the following information shall be disclosable:
(1) The name of the abused or neglected child;
(2) The determination made by the department of the
referrals, if any, for abuse or neglect;
(3) Identification of child protective or other services
provided or actions, if any, taken regarding the child named
in the report and his or her family as a result of any such
report or reports. These records include but are not limited to
administrative reports of fatality, fatality review reports, case
[Title 74 RCW—page 72]
files, inspection reports, and reports relating to social work
practice issues; and
(4) Any actions taken by the department in response to
reports of abuse or neglect of the child. [1997 c 305 § 3.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: See note following
RCW 74.13.500.
74.13.510
74.13.510 Disclosure of child welfare records—Consideration of effects. In determining under RCW 74.13.500
whether disclosure will be contrary to the best interests of the
child, the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, must consider the effects which disclosure may have on efforts to
reunite and provide services to the family. [1997 c 305 § 4.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: See note following
RCW 74.13.500.
74.13.515
74.13.515 Disclosure of child welfare records—Fatalities. For purposes of RCW 74.13.500(1)(d), the secretary
must make the fullest possible disclosure consistent with
chapter 42.56 RCW and applicable federal law in cases of all
fatalities of children who were in the care of, or receiving services from, the department at the time of their death or within
the twelve months previous to their death.
If the secretary specifically determines that disclosure of
the name of the deceased child is contrary to the best interests
of the child’s siblings or other children in the household, the
secretary may remove personally identifying information.
For the purposes of this section, "personally identifying
information" means the name, street address, social security
number, and day of birth of the child who died and of private
persons who are relatives of the child named in child welfare
records. "Personally identifying information" shall not
include the month or year of birth of the child who has died.
Once this personally identifying information is removed, the
remainder of the records pertaining to a child who has died
must be released regardless of whether the remaining facts in
the records are embarrassing to the unidentifiable other private parties or to identifiable public workers who handled the
case. [2005 c 274 § 352; 1997 c 305 § 5.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: See note following
RCW 74.13.500.
74.13.520
74.13.520 Disclosure of child welfare records—Information not to be disclosed. Except as it applies directly to
the cause of the abuse or neglect of the child and any actions
taken by the department in response to reports of abuse or
neglect of the child, nothing in RCW 74.13.500 through
74.13.515 is deemed to authorize the release or disclosure of
the substance or content of any psychological, psychiatric,
therapeutic, clinical, or medical reports, evaluations, or like
materials, or information pertaining to the child or the child’s
family. [1997 c 305 § 6.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: See note following
RCW 74.13.500.
74.13.525
74.13.525 Disclosure of child welfare records—
Immunity from liability. The department, when acting in
good faith, is immune from any criminal or civil liability,
except as provided under RCW 42.56.550, for any action
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
74.13.570
taken under RCW 74.13.500 through 74.13.520. [2005 c 274
§ 353; 1997 c 305 § 7.]
schools they were attending at the time they entered foster
care. [2003 c 112 § 2.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Findings—Intent—2003 c 112: "The legislature finds that the educational attainment of children in foster care is significantly lower than that of
children not in foster care. The legislature finds that many factors influence
educational outcomes for children in foster care, including the disruption of
the educational process because of repeatedly changing schools.
The legislature recognizes the importance of educational stability for
foster children, and encourages the ongoing efforts of the department of
social and health services and the office of the superintendent of public
instruction to improve educational attainment of children in foster care. It is
the intent of the legislature that efforts continue such as the recruitment of
foster homes in school districts with high rates of foster care placements, the
development and dissemination of informational materials regarding the
challenges faced by children in foster care, and the expansion to other school
districts of best practices identified in pilot projects." [2003 c 112 § 1.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 305: See note following
RCW 74.13.500.
74.13.530
74.13.530 Child placement—Conflict of interest. (1)
No child may be placed or remain in a specific out-of-home
placement under this chapter or chapter 13.34 RCW when
there is a conflict of interest on the part of any adult residing
in the home in which the child is to be or has been placed. A
conflict of interest exists when:
(a) There is an adult in the home who, as a result of: (i)
His or her employment; and (ii) an allegation of abuse or
neglect of the child, conducts or has conducted an investigation of the allegation; or
(b) The child has been, is, or is likely to be a witness in
any pending cause of action against any adult in the home
when the cause includes: (i) An allegation of abuse or
neglect against the child or any sibling of the child; or (ii) a
claim of damages resulting from wrongful interference with
the parent-child relationship of the child and his or her biological or adoptive parent.
(2) For purposes of this section, "investigation" means
the exercise of professional judgment in the review of allegations of abuse or neglect by: (a) Law enforcement personnel;
(b) persons employed by, or under contract with, the state; (c)
persons licensed to practice law and their employees; and (d)
mental health professionals as defined in chapter 71.05
RCW.
(3) The prohibition set forth in subsection (1) of this section may not be waived or deferred by the department under
any circumstance or at the request of any person, regardless
of who has made the request or the length of time of the
requested placement. [2001 c 318 § 4.]
74.13.540
74.13.540 Independent living services. Independent
living services include assistance in achieving basic educational requirements such as a GED, enrollment in vocational
and technical training programs offered at the community
and vocational colleges, and obtaining and maintaining
employment; and accomplishing basic life skills such as
money management, nutrition, preparing meals, and cleaning
house. A baseline skill level in ability to function productively and independently shall be determined at entry. Performance shall be measured and must demonstrate improvement
from involvement in the program. Each recipient shall have a
plan for achieving independent living skills by the time the
recipient reaches age twenty-one. The plan shall be written
within the first thirty days of placement and reviewed every
ninety days. A recipient who fails to consistently adhere to
the elements of the plan shall be subject to reassessment by
the professional staff of the program and may be declared
ineligible to receive services. [2001 c 192 § 2.]
74.13.550
74.13.550 Child placement—Policy of educational
continuity. It is the policy of the state of Washington that,
whenever practical and in the best interest of the child, children placed into foster care shall remain enrolled in the
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.560
74.13.560 Educational continuity—Protocol development. The administrative regions of the department shall
develop protocols with the respective school districts in their
regions specifying specific strategies for communication,
coordination, and collaboration regarding the status and
progress of foster children placed in the region, in order to
maximize the educational continuity and achievement for
foster children. The protocols shall include methods to
assure effective sharing of information consistent with RCW
28A.225.330. [2003 c 112 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 112: See note following RCW 74.13.550.
74.13.570
74.13.570 Oversight committee—Duties. (1) The
department shall establish an oversight committee composed
of staff from the children’s administration of the department,
the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the
higher education coordinating board, foster youth, former
foster youth, foster parents, and advocacy agencies to
develop strategies for maintaining foster children in the
schools they were attending at the time they entered foster
care and to promote opportunities for foster youth to participate in postsecondary education or training.
(2) The duties of the oversight committee shall include,
but are not limited to:
(a) Developing strategies for school-based recruitment
of foster homes;
(b) Monitoring the progress of current pilot projects that
assist foster children to continue attending the schools they
were attending at the time they entered foster care;
(c) Overseeing the expansion of the number of pilot
projects;
(d) Promoting the use of best practices, throughout the
state, demonstrated by the pilot projects and other programs
relating to maintaining foster children in the schools they
were attending at the time they entered foster care;
(e) Informing the legislature of the status of efforts to
maintain foster children in the schools they were attending at
the time they entered foster care;
(f) Assessing the scope and nature of statewide need
among current and former foster youth for assistance to pursue and participate in postsecondary education or training
opportunities;
(g) Identifying available sources of funding available in
the state for services to former foster youth to pursue and participate in postsecondary education or training opportunities;
[Title 74 RCW—page 73]
74.13.580
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(h) Reviewing the effectiveness of activities in the state
to support former foster youth to pursue and participate in
postsecondary education or training opportunities;
(i) Identifying new activities, or existing activities that
should be modified or expanded, to best meet statewide
needs; and
(j) Reviewing on an ongoing basis the progress toward
improving educational and vocational outcomes for foster
youth. [2005 c 93 § 2; 2003 c 112 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—2005 c 93: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) The majority of foster youth fail to thrive in our educational system
and, relative to nonfoster youth, disproportionately few enroll in college or
other postsecondary training programs. As a result, former foster youth generally have poor employment and life satisfaction outcomes; and
(b) Low expectations, lack of information, fragmented support services, and financial hardship are the most frequently cited reasons for failure
of foster youth to pursue postsecondary education or training. Initiatives
have been undertaken at both the state and community levels in Washington
to improve outcomes for foster youth in transition to independence; however, these initiatives are often not coordinated to complement one another.
(2) The legislature intends to encourage and support foster youth to
pursue postsecondary education or training opportunities. A coordination
committee that provides statewide planning and oversight of related efforts
will improve the effectiveness of both current and future initiatives to
improve postsecondary educational outcomes for foster youth. In addition,
the state can provide financial support to former foster youth pursuing higher
education or training by setting aside portions of the state need grant and the
state work study programs specifically for foster youth." [2005 c 93 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 112: See note following RCW 74.13.550.
74.13.580 Educational stability during shelter care
hearing—Protocol development. The department shall
work with the administrative office of the courts to develop
protocols to ensure that educational stability is addressed during the shelter care hearing. [2003 c 112 § 5.]
74.13.580
Findings—Intent—2003 c 112: See note following RCW 74.13.550.
74.13.590 Tasks to be performed based on available
resources. The department shall perform the tasks provided
in RCW 74.13.550 through 74.13.580 based on available
resources. [2003 c 112 § 6.]
74.13.590
or when a child is placed under a voluntary placement agreement. To assist with implementation of the procedures, the
department shall request that the juvenile court require parents to disclose to the department all contact information for
available and appropriate kin within two weeks of an entered
order. For placements under signed voluntary agreements,
the department shall encourage the parents to disclose to the
department all contact information for available and appropriate kin within two weeks of the date the parent signs the
voluntary placement agreement.
(b) Development of procedures for conducting active
outreach efforts to identify and locate kin during all searches.
The procedures must include at least the following elements:
(i) Reasonable efforts to interview known kin, friends,
teachers, and other identified community members who may
have knowledge of the child’s kin, within sixty days of the
child entering out-of-home care;
(ii) Increased use of those procedures determined by
research to be the most effective methods of promoting reunification efforts, permanency planning, and placement decisions;
(iii) Contacts with kin identified through outreach efforts
and interviews under this subsection as part of permanency
planning activities and change of placement discussions;
(iv) Establishment of a process for ongoing contact with
kin who express interest in being considered as a placement
resource for the child; and
(v) A requirement that when the decision is made to not
place the child with any kin, the department provides documentation as part of the child’s individual service and safety
plan that clearly identifies the rationale for the decision and
corrective action or actions the kin must take to be considered
as a viable placement option.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create an
entitlement to services or to create judicial authority to order
the provision of services to any person or family if the services are unavailable or unsuitable or the child or family is
not eligible for such services. [2003 c 284 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 112: See note following RCW 74.13.550.
74.13.610 Kinship caregivers—Grant proposal—
Pilot projects. (Expires January 1, 2007.) (1) The department of social and health services shall collaborate with one
or more nonprofit community-based agencies to develop a
grant proposal for submission to potential funding sources,
including governmental entities and private foundations, to
establish a minimum of two pilot projects to assist kinship
caregivers with understanding and navigating the system of
services for children in out-of-home care. The proposal must
seek to establish at least one project in eastern Washington
and one project in western Washington, each project to be
managed by a participating community-based agency.
(2) The kinship care navigators funded through the proposal shall be responsible for at least the following:
(a) Understanding the various state agency systems serving kinship caregivers;
(b) Working in partnership with local community service
providers;
(c) Tracking trends, concerns, and other factors related to
kinship caregivers; and
(d) Assisting in establishing stable, respectful relationships between kinship caregivers and department staff.
74.13.610
74.13.600
74.13.600 Kinship caregivers—Definition—Placement of children with kin a priority—Strategies. (1) For
the purposes of this section, "kin" means persons eighteen
years of age or older to whom the child is related by blood,
adoption, or marriage, including marriages that have been
dissolved, and means: (a) Any person denoted by the prefix
"grand" or "great"; (b) sibling, whether full, half, or step; (c)
uncle or aunt; (d) nephew or niece; or (e) first cousin.
(2) The department shall plan, design, and implement
strategies to prioritize the placement of children with willing
and able kin when out-of-home placement is required.
These strategies must include at least the following:
(a) Development of standardized, statewide procedures
to be used when searching for kin of children prior to out-ofhome placement. The procedures must include a requirement
that documentation be maintained in the child’s case record
that identifies kin, and documentation that identifies the
assessment criteria and procedures that were followed during
all kin searches. The procedures must be used when a child
is placed in out-of-home care under authority of chapter
13.34 RCW, when a petition is filed under RCW 13.32A.140,
[Title 74 RCW—page 74]
(2006 Ed.)
Child Welfare Services
(3) Implementation of the kinship care navigator pilot
projects is contingent upon receipt of nonstate or private
funding for that purpose.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "kinship" has the
same meaning as "kin" given in RCW 74.13.600(1).
(5) This section expires January 1, 2007. [2003 c 284 §
2.]
74.13.621 Kinship care oversight committee.
(Expires January 1, 2010.) (1) Within existing resources,
the department shall establish an oversight committee to
monitor, guide, and report on kinship care recommendations
and implementation activities. The committee shall:
(a) Draft a kinship care definition that is restricted to persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, including marriages that have been dissolved, or for a minor defined as an
"Indian child" under the federal Indian child welfare act (25
U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), the definition of "extended family
member" under the federal Indian child welfare act, and a set
of principles. If the committee concludes that one or more
programs or services would be more efficiently and effectively delivered under a different definition of kin, it shall
state what definition is needed, and identify the program or
service in the report. It shall also provide evidence of how
the program or service will be more efficiently and effectively delivered under the different definition. The department shall not adopt rules or policies changing the definition
of kin without authorizing legislation;
(b) Monitor and provide consultation on the implementation of recommendations contained in the 2002 kinship care
report, including but not limited to the recommendations
relating to legal and respite care services and resources;
(c) Partner with nonprofit organizations and private sector businesses to guide a public education awareness campaign; and
(d) Assist with developing future recommendations on
kinship care issues.
(2) The department shall consult with the oversight committee on its efforts to better collaborate and coordinate services to benefit kinship care families.
(3) The oversight committee must consist of a minimum
of thirty percent kinship caregivers, who shall represent a
diversity of kinship families. Statewide representation with
geographic, ethnic, and gender diversity is required. Other
members shall include representatives of the department, representatives of relevant state agencies, representatives of the
private nonprofit and business sectors, child advocates, representatives of Washington state Indian tribes as defined under
the federal Indian welfare act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.),
and representatives of the legal or judicial field. Birth parents, foster parents, and others who have an interest in these
issues may also be included.
(4) To the extent funding is available, the department
may reimburse nondepartmental members of the oversight
committee for costs incurred in participating in the meetings
of the oversight committee.
(5) The kinship care oversight committee shall update
the legislature and governor annually on committee activities, with the first update due by January 1, 2006.
(6) This section expires January 1, 2010. [2005 c 439 §
1.]
74.13.621
(2006 Ed.)
74.13.625
74.13.625
74.13.625 Foster health care unit—Duties. (Expires
January 1, 2007.) Within existing resources, the department
shall establish a foster care health unit within the children’s
administration. The children’s administration and the health
and recovery services administration within the department
shall integrally collaborate to accomplish the following tasks:
(1) The health unit shall review and provide recommendations to the legislature by September 1, 2006, regarding
issues including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Creation of an office within the department to consolidate and coordinate physical, dental, and mental health services provided to children who are in the custody of the
department;
(b) Alternative payment structures for health care organization. The department may consider managed care as an
alternative structure for health care. The department may not
implement managed care for health care services for children
in foster care for cost containment purposes; however, the
department may institute managed care if the managed care is
in the foster child’s best interest;
(c) Improving coordination of health care for children in
foster care, including medical, dental, and mental health care;
(d) Improving access to health information available to
the children’s administration for providers of health services
for children in foster care, including the use of the child profile as a means to facilitate access to such information;
(e) Establishing a medical home for each child placed in
foster care to ensure that appropriate, timely, and necessary
quality care is available through a coordinated system of care
and analyzing how a medical home might be utilized to meet
the unique needs of children in foster care. In establishing a
medical home, the department shall consider primary care
that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective;
(f) Examining how existing resources are being utilized
to provide health care for foster children and options for
improving how the resources are utilized. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the following:
(i) Whether the health care services provided to foster
children are evidence-based;
(ii) Whether resources are duplicative or redundant
between agencies or departments in the provision of medical,
dental, or mental health services for children; and
(iii) Identification of where resources are inadequate to
meet the routine and necessary medical, dental, and mental
health needs of children in foster care; and
(g) Any other issues related to medical, dental, or mental
health care for children in foster care.
(2)(a) The foster care health unit, in collaboration with
regional medical consultants, shall develop a statewide, uniform role for the regional medical consultants with emphasis
placed on the mental health needs of the children in foster
care.
(b) By September 1, 2006, the department shall implement the utilization of the statewide, uniform role for the
regional medical consultants developed in (a) of this subsection.
(3) This section expires January 1, 2007. [2006 c 221 §
4.]
Finding—2006 c 221: See note following RCW 13.34.315.
[Title 74 RCW—page 75]
74.13.630
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.13.630
74.13.630 Family decision meetings. (1) By January 1,
2005, the department shall:
(a) Consider options for the use of family decision meetings in cases in which a child is involved in the child welfare
system;
(b) Develop strategies for implementing a policy of
meaningful family involvement throughout the state within
existing resources; and
(c) Present implementation recommendations to the
appropriate committees of the legislature regarding (a) and
(b) of this subsection.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "family decision
meeting" means a family-focused intervention facilitated by
dedicated professional staff that is designed to build and
strengthen the natural caregiving system for the child. Family decision meetings may include, but are not limited to,
family group conferences, family mediation, family support
meetings, or other professionally recognized interventions
that include extended family and rely upon the family to
make shared decisions about planning for its children. The
purpose of the family decision meeting is to establish a plan
that provides for the safety and permanency needs of the
child. [2004 c 182 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2004 c 182: "(1) The legislature finds that engaging
families in decision making when their children are involved in the child
welfare system generally improves the outcomes for children. By involving
families in the decision-making process, it is anticipated that the number of
out-of-home placements can be reduced, as well as the incidence of behavioral, physical, and mental health problems for individual children. For
those children in out-of-home placements, the number of placements for
individual children, the likelihood of placing individual children with siblings, and successful reunifications are expected to improve as a result of
family engagement. Based on the experience in the state where families
have been engaged in decision making, these improved outcomes will result
in cost savings to the state as fewer and less costly services and supports for
children and families are needed.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage and support meaningful family involvement in the decision making related to planning for children involved in the child welfare system, in those instances where family is
available and family involvement is in the best interest of the child." [2004
c 182 § 1.]
74.13.640
74.13.640 Child fatality review—Report. (1) The
department of social and health services shall conduct a child
fatality review in the event of an unexpected death of a minor
in the state who is in the care of or receiving services
described in chapter 74.13 RCW from the department or who
has been in the care of or received services described in chapter 74.13 RCW from the department within one year preceding the minor’s death.
(2) Upon conclusion of a child fatality review required
pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the department
shall issue a report on the results of the review to the appropriate committees of the legislature and shall make copies of
the report available to the public upon request.
(3) The department shall develop and implement procedures to carry out the requirements of subsections (1) and (2)
of this section. [2004 c 36 § 1.]
74.13.650
74.13.650 Foster parent critical support and retention program. A foster parent critical support and retention
program is established to retain foster parents who care for
sexually reactive children, physically assaultive children, or
children with other high-risk behaviors. Services shall con[Title 74 RCW—page 76]
sist of short-term therapeutic and educational interventions to
support the stability of the placement. The foster parent critical support and retention program is to be implemented
under the division of children and family services’ contract
and supervision. A contractor must demonstrate experience
providing in-home case management, as well as experience
working with caregivers of children with significant behavioral issues that pose a threat to others or themselves or the
stability of the placement. [2006 c 353 § 2.]
Findings—2006 c 353: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Foster parents are able to successfully maintain placements of sexually reactive children, physically assaultive children, or children with other
high-risk behaviors when they are provided with proper training and support.
Lack of support contributes to placement disruptions and multiple moves
between foster homes.
(2) Young children who have experienced repeated early abuse and
trauma are at high risk for behavior later in life that is sexually deviant, if left
untreated. Placement with a well-trained, prepared, and supported foster
family can break this cycle." [2006 c 353 § 1.]
74.13.660
74.13.660 Foster parent critical support and retention program—Availability, assessment, training, referral. Under the foster parent critical support and retention
program, foster parents who care for sexually reactive children, physically assaultive children, or children with other
high-risk behaviors shall receive:
(1) Availability at any time of the day or night to address
specific concerns related to the identified child;
(2) Assessment of risk and development of a safety and
supervision plan;
(3) Home-based foster parent training utilizing evidencebased models; and
(4) Referral to relevant community services and training
provided by the local children’s administration office or community agencies. [2006 c 353 § 3.]
Findings—2006 c 353: See note following RCW 74.13.650.
74.13.900
74.13.900 Severability—1965 c 30. If any provision of
this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1965 c 30 § 6.]
Chapter 74.14A
Chapter 74.14A RCW
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Sections
74.14A.010 Legislative declaration.
74.14A.020 Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children,
potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict.
74.14A.025 Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children,
potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict—
Policy updated.
74.14A.030 Treatment of juvenile offenders—Nonresidential communitybased programs.
74.14A.040 Treatment of juvenile offenders—Involvement of family unit.
74.14A.050 Identification of children in a state-assisted support system—
Program development for long-term care—Foster care caseload—Emancipation of minors study.
74.14A.060 Blended funding projects—Department to make annual
reports.
74.14A.900 Short title—1983 c 192.
74.14A.901 Severability—1983 c 192.
Shaken baby syndrome: RCW 43.121.140.
(2006 Ed.)
Children and Family Services
74.14A.010
74.14A.010 Legislative declaration. The legislature
reaffirms its declarations under RCW 13.34.020 that the family unit is the fundamental resource of American life which
should be nurtured and that the family unit should remain
intact in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary.
The legislature declares that the goal of serving emotionally
disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent
children, and families-in-conflict in their own homes to avoid
out-of-home placement of the child, when that form of care is
premature, unnecessary, or inappropriate, is a high priority of
this state. [1983 c 192 § 1.]
74.14A.020
74.14A.020 Services for emotionally disturbed and
mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and
families-in-conflict. State efforts shall address the needs of
children and their families, including emotionally disturbed
and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and
families-in-conflict by:
(1) Serving children and families as a unit in the least
restrictive setting available and in close proximity to the family home, consistent with the best interests and special needs
of the child;
(2) Ensuring that appropriate social and health services
are provided to the family unit both prior to and during the
removal of a child from the home and after family reunification;
(3) Ensuring that the safety and best interests of the child
are the paramount considerations when making placement
and service delivery decisions;
(4) Recognizing the interdependent and changing nature
of families and communities, building upon their inherent
strengths, maintaining their dignity and respect, and tailoring
programs to their specific circumstances;
(5) Developing and implementing comprehensive, preventive, and early intervention social and health services
which have demonstrated the ability to delay or reduce the
need for out-of-home placements and ameliorate problems
before they become chronic or severe;
(6) Authorizing and facilitating blended funding for children who require services and residential treatment from
multiple services systems; including child welfare services,
mental health, alcohol and drug, and juvenile rehabilitation;
(7) Being sensitive to the family and community culture,
norms, values, and expectations, ensuring that all services are
provided in a culturally appropriate and relevant manner, and
ensuring participation of racial and ethnic minorities at all
levels of planning, delivery, and evaluation efforts;
(8)(a) Developing coordinated social and health services
which:
(i) Identify problems experienced by children and their
families early and provide services which are adequate in
availability, appropriate to the situation, and effective;
(ii) Seek to bring about meaningful change before family
situations become irreversibly destructive and before disturbed psychological behavioral patterns and health problems
become severe or permanent;
(iii) Serve children and families in their own homes thus
preventing unnecessary out-of-home placement or institutionalization;
(iv) Focus resources on social and health problems as
they begin to manifest themselves rather than waiting for
(2006 Ed.)
74.14A.025
chronic and severe patterns of illness, criminality, and dependency to develop which require long-term treatment, maintenance, or custody;
(v) Reduce duplication of and gaps in service delivery;
(vi) Improve planning, budgeting, and communication
among all units of the department and among all agencies that
serve children and families; and
(vii) Utilize outcome standards for measuring the effectiveness of social and health services for children and families.
(b) In developing services under this subsection, local
communities must be involved in planning and developing
community networks that are tailored to their unique needs.
[2000 c 219 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 102; 1983 c 192 § 2.]
Severability—2000 c 219: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2000 c 219 § 3.]
Effective date—2000 c 219: "This act takes effect July 1, 2000." [2000
c 219 § 4.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1983 c 192: "Sections 2 through 4 of this act shall take
effect January 1, 1984." [1983 c 192 § 8.]
74.14A.025
74.14A.025 Services for emotionally disturbed and
mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and
families-in-conflict—Policy updated. To update, specify,
and expand the policy stated in RCW 74.14A.020, the following is declared:
It is the policy of the state of Washington to promote:
(1) Family-oriented services and supports that:
(a) Respond to the changing nature of families; and
(b) Respond to what individuals and families say they
need, and meet those needs in a way that maintains their dignity and respects their choices;
(2) Culturally relevant services and supports that:
(a) Explicitly recognize the culture and beliefs of each
family and use these as resources on behalf of the family;
(b) Provide equal access to culturally unique communities in planning and programs, and day-to-day work, and
actively address instances where clearly disproportionate
needs exist; and
(c) Enhance every culture’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency and contribute in a productive way to the larger community;
(3) Coordinated services that:
(a) Develop strategies and skills for collaborative planning, problem solving, and service delivery;
(b) Encourage coordination and innovation by providing
both formal and informal ways for people to communicate
and collaborate in planning and programs;
(c) Allow clients, vendors, community people, and other
agencies to creatively provide the most effective, responsive,
and flexible services; and
(d) Commit to an open exchange of skills and information; and expect people throughout the system to treat each
other with respect, dignity, and understanding;
(4) Locally planned services and supports that:
(a) Operate on the belief that each community has special characteristics, needs, and strengths;
[Title 74 RCW—page 77]
74.14A.030
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(b) Include a cross-section of local community partners
from the public and private sectors, in the planning and delivery of services and supports; and
(c) Support these partners in addressing the needs of
their communities through both short-range and long-range
planning and in establishing priorities within state and federal
standards;
(5) Community-based prevention that encourages and
supports state residents to create positive conditions in their
communities to promote the well-being of families and
reduce crises and the need for future services;
(6) Outcome-based services and supports that:
(a) Include a fair and realistic system for measuring both
short-range and long-range progress and determining
whether efforts make a difference;
(b) Use outcomes and indicators that reflect the goals
that communities establish for themselves and their children;
(c) Work towards these goals and outcomes at all staff
levels and in every agency; and
(d) Provide a mechanism for informing the development
of program policies;
(7) Customer service that:
(a) Provides a climate that empowers staff to deliver
quality programs and services;
(b) Is provided by courteous, sensitive, and competent
professionals; and
(c) Upholds the dignity and respect of individuals and
families by providing appropriate staff recognition, information, training, skills, and support;
(8) Creativity that:
(a) Increases the flexibility of funding and programs to
promote innovation in planning, development, and provision
of quality services; and
(b) Simplifies and reduces or eliminates rules that are
barriers to coordination and quality services. [1992 c 198 §
2.]
Severability—Effective date—1992 c 198: See RCW 70.190.910 and
70.190.920.
Family policy council: Chapter 70.190 RCW.
74.14A.030
74.14A.030 Treatment of juvenile offenders—Nonresidential community-based programs. The department
shall address the needs of juvenile offenders whose standard
range sentences do not include commitment by developing
nonresidential community-based programs designed to
reduce the incidence of manifest injustice commitments
when consistent with public safety. [1983 c 192 § 3.]
Effective date—1983 c 192: See note following RCW 74.14A.020.
74.14A.040
74.14A.040 Treatment of juvenile offenders—
Involvement of family unit. The department shall involve a
juvenile offender’s family as a unit in the treatment process.
The department need not involve the family as a unit in cases
when family ties have by necessity been irrevocably broken.
When the natural parents have been or will be replaced by a
foster family or guardian, the new family will be involved in
the treatment process. [1983 c 192 § 4.]
Effective date—1983 c 192: See note following RCW 74.14A.020.
[Title 74 RCW—page 78]
74.14A.050
74.14A.050 Identification of children in a stateassisted support system—Program development for longterm care—Foster care caseload—Emancipation of
minors study. The secretary shall:
(1)(a) Consult with relevant qualified professionals to
develop a set of minimum guidelines to be used for identifying all children who are in a state-assisted support system,
whether at-home or out-of-home, who are likely to need
long-term care or assistance, because they face physical,
emotional, medical, mental, or other long-term challenges;
(b) The guidelines must, at a minimum, consider the following criteria for identifying children in need of long-term
care or assistance:
(i) Placement within the foster care system for two years
or more;
(ii) Multiple foster care placements;
(iii) Repeated unsuccessful efforts to be placed with a
permanent adoptive family;
(iv) Chronic behavioral or educational problems;
(v) Repetitive criminal acts or offenses;
(vi) Failure to comply with court-ordered disciplinary
actions and other imposed guidelines of behavior, including
drug and alcohol rehabilitation; and
(vii) Chronic physical, emotional, medical, mental, or
other similar conditions necessitating long-term care or assistance;
(2) Develop programs that are necessary for the longterm care of children and youth that are identified for the purposes of this section. Programs must: (a) Effectively address
the educational, physical, emotional, mental, and medical
needs of children and youth; and (b) incorporate an array of
family support options, to individual needs and choices of the
child and family. The programs must be ready for implementation by January 1, 1995;
(3) Conduct an evaluation of all children currently within
the foster care agency caseload to identify those children who
meet the criteria set forth in this section. All children entering the foster care system must be evaluated for identification
of long-term needs within thirty days of placement;
(4) As a result of the passage of chapter 232, Laws of
2000, the department is conducting a pilot project to do a
comparative analysis of a variety of assessment instruments
to determine the most effective tools and methods for evaluation of children. The pilot project may extend through
August 31, 2001. The department shall report to the appropriate committees in the senate and house of representatives
by September 30, 2001, on the results of the pilot project.
The department shall select an assessment instrument that
can be implemented within available resources. The department shall complete statewide implementation by December
31, 2001. The department shall report to the appropriate
committees in the senate and house of representatives on how
the use of the selected assessment instrument has affected
department policies, by no later than December 31, 2002,
December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2006;
(5) Use the assessment tool developed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section in making out-of-home placement
decisions for children;
(6) Each region of the department shall make the appropriate number of referrals to the foster care assessment program to ensure that the services offered by the program are
(2006 Ed.)
Children’s Services
used to the extent funded pursuant to the department’s contract with the program. The department shall report to the
legislature by November 30, 2000, on the number of referrals, by region, to the foster care assessment program. If the
regions are not referring an adequate number of cases to the
program, the department shall include in its report an explanation of what action it is or has taken to ensure that the referrals are adequate;
(7) The department shall report to the legislature by
December 15, 2000, on how it will use the foster care assessment program model to assess children as they enter out-ofhome care;
(8) The department is to accomplish the tasks listed in
subsections (4) through (7) of this section within existing
resources;
(9) Study and develop a comprehensive plan for the evaluation and identification of all children and youth in need of
long-term care or assistance, including, but not limited to, the
mentally ill, developmentally disabled, medically fragile,
seriously emotionally or behaviorally disabled, and physically impaired;
(10) Study and develop a plan for the children and youth
in need of long-term care or assistance to ensure the coordination of services between the department’s divisions and
between other state agencies who are involved with the child
or youth;
(11) Study and develop guidelines for transitional services, between long-term care programs, based on the person’s age or mental, physical, emotional, or medical condition; and
(12) Study and develop a statutory proposal for the
emancipation of minors. [2003 c 207 § 9; 2001 c 255 § 1;
2000 c 232 § 1; 1998 c 245 § 149; 1993 c 508 § 7; 1993 c 505
§ 5.]
Section captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 508: See
RCW 74.39A.900 through 74.39A.903.
Emancipation of minors: Chapter 13.64 RCW.
74.14A.060
74.14A.060 Blended funding projects—Department
to make annual reports. The secretary of the department of
social and health services shall charge appropriated funds to
support blended funding projects for youth subject to any
current or future waiver the department receives to the
requirements of IV-E funding. To be eligible for blended
funding a child must be eligible for services designed to
address a behavioral, mental, emotional, or substance abuse
issue from the department of social and health services and
require services from more than one categorical service
delivery system. Before any blended funding project is established by the secretary, any entity or person proposing the
project shall seek input from the public health and safety network or networks established in the catchment area of the
project. The network or networks shall submit recommendations on the blended funding project to the family policy
council. The family policy council shall advise the secretary
whether to approve the proposed blended funding project.
The network shall review the proposed blended funding
project pursuant to its authority to examine the decategorization of program funds under RCW 70.190.110, within the
current appropriation level. The department shall document
the number of children who participate in blended funding
(2006 Ed.)
74.14B.010
projects, the total blended funding amounts per child, the
amount charged to each appropriation by program, and services provided to each child through each blended funding
project and report this information to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of each year, beginning in December 1, 2000. [2000 c 219 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—2000 c 219: See notes following RCW
74.14A.020.
74.14A.900
74.14A.900 Short title—1983 c 192. This act may be
known and cited as the "children and family services act."
[1983 c 192 § 6.]
74.14A.901
74.14A.901 Severability—1983 c 192. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1983 c 192 § 7.]
Chapter 74.14B
Chapter 74.14B RCW
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Sections
74.14B.010
74.14B.020
74.14B.030
74.14B.040
74.14B.050
74.14B.060
74.14B.070
74.14B.080
74.14B.900
74.14B.901
74.14B.902
Children’s services workers—Hiring and training.
Foster parent training.
Child abuse and neglect—Multidisciplinary teams.
Child abuse and neglect—Therapeutic day care and treatment.
Child abuse and neglect—Counseling referrals.
Sexually abused children—Treatment services.
Child victims of sexual assault or sexual abuse—Early identification, treatment.
Liability insurance for foster parents.
Captions.
Severability—1987 c 503.
Effective date—1987 c 503.
Shaken baby syndrome: RCW 43.121.140.
74.14B.010
74.14B.010 Children’s services workers—Hiring and
training. (1) Caseworkers employed in children services
shall meet minimum standards established by the department
of social and health services. Comprehensive training for
caseworkers shall be completed before such caseworkers are
assigned to case-carrying responsibilities without direct
supervision. Intermittent, part-time, and standby workers
shall be subject to the same minimum standards and training.
(2) On-going specialized training shall be provided for
persons responsible for investigating child sexual abuse.
Training participants shall have the opportunity to practice
interview skills and receive feedback from instructors.
(3) The department, the criminal justice training commission, the Washington association of sheriffs and police
chiefs, and the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys shall design and implement statewide training that contains consistent elements for persons engaged in the interviewing of children, including law enforcement, prosecution,
and child protective services.
(4) The training shall: (a) Be based on research-based
practices and standards; (b) minimize the trauma of all persons who are interviewed during abuse investigations; (c)
provide methods of reducing the number of investigative
interviews necessary whenever possible; (d) assure, to the
extent possible, that investigative interviews are thorough,
objective, and complete; (e) recognize needs of special popu[Title 74 RCW—page 79]
74.14B.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
lations, such as persons with developmental disabilities; (f)
recognize the nature and consequences of victimization; (g)
require investigative interviews to be conducted in a manner
most likely to permit the interviewed persons the maximum
emotional comfort under the circumstances; (h) address
record retention and retrieval; and (i) documentation of
investigative interviews. [1999 c 389 § 5; 1987 c 503 § 8.]
74.14B.020
74.14B.020 Foster parent training. The department
shall, within funds appropriated for this purpose, provide foster parent training as an ongoing part of the foster care program. The department shall contract for a variety of support
services to foster parents to reduce isolation and stress, and to
increase skills and confidence. [1987 c 503 § 11.]
74.14B.030
74.14B.030 Child abuse and neglect—Multidisciplinary teams. The department shall establish and maintain
one or more multidisciplinary teams in each state region of
the division of children and family services. The team shall
consist of at least four persons, selected by the department,
from professions which provide services to abused and
neglected children and/or the parents of such children. The
teams shall be available for consultation on all cases where a
risk exists of serious harm to the child and where there is dispute over whether out-of-home placement is appropriate.
[1987 c 503 § 12.]
professionals on a one-to-one or group basis as may be
deemed appropriate.
(3) Funds appropriated under this section shall be provided solely for contracts or direct purchase of specific treatment services from community organizations and private service providers for child victims of sexual assault and sexual
abuse. Funds shall be disbursed through the request for proposal or request for qualifications process.
(4) As part of the request for proposal or request for qualifications process the department of community, trade, and
economic development shall ensure that there be no duplication of services with existing programs including the crime
victims’ compensation program as provided in chapter 7.68
RCW. The department shall also ensure that victims exhaust
private insurance benefits available to the child victim before
providing services to the child victim under this section.
[1996 c 123 § 8; 1990 c 3 § 1402.]
Transfer of powers and duties—1996 c 123: "The powers and duties
of the department of social and health services to provide services and funding for services to sexually abused children under RCW 74.14B.060 shall be
transferred to the department of community, trade, and economic development on July 1, 1996. The department of social and health services shall
transfer all unspent appropriated funds, records, and documents necessary to
facilitate a successful transfer." [1996 c 123 § 10.]
Effective date—1996 c 123: See note following RCW 43.280.010.
Index, part headings not law—Severability—Effective dates—
Application—1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.
74.14B.070
74.14B.040
74.14B.040 Child abuse and neglect—Therapeutic
day care and treatment. The department shall, within funds
appropriated for this purpose, provide therapeutic day care
and day treatment to children who have been abused or
neglected and meet program eligibility criteria. [1987 c 503
§ 13.]
74.14B.050
74.14B.050 Child abuse and neglect—Counseling
referrals. The department of social and health services shall
inform victims of child abuse and neglect and their families
of the availability of state-supported counseling through the
crime victims’ compensation program, community mental
health centers, domestic violence and sexual assault programs, and other related programs. The department shall
assist victims with referrals to these services. [1987 c 503 §
14.]
74.14B.060
74.14B.060 Sexually abused children—Treatment
services. (1) Treatment services for children who have been
sexually assaulted must be designed and delivered in a manner that accommodates their unique developmental needs and
also considers the impact of family dynamics on treatment
issues. In addition, the complexity of the civil and criminal
justice systems requires that children who are involved
receive appropriate consideration and attention that recognizes their unique vulnerability in a system designed primarily for adults.
(2) The department of community, trade, and economic
development shall provide, subject to available funds, comprehensive sexual assault services to sexually abused children and their families. The department shall provide treatment services by qualified, registered, certified, or licensed
[Title 74 RCW—page 80]
74.14B.070 Child victims of sexual assault or sexual
abuse—Early identification, treatment. The department of
social and health services through its division of children and
family services shall, subject to available funds, establish a
system of early identification and referral to treatment of
child victims of sexual assault or sexual abuse. The system
shall include schools, physicians, sexual assault centers,
domestic violence centers, child protective services, and foster parents. A mechanism shall be developed to identify communities that have experienced success in this area and share
their expertise and methodology with other communities
statewide. [1990 c 3 § 1403.]
Index, part headings not law—Severability—Effective dates—
Application—1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.
74.14B.080
74.14B.080 Liability insurance for foster parents. (1)
Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the secretary of
social and health services shall provide liability insurance to
foster parents licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW. The coverage shall be for personal injury and property damage caused
by foster parents or foster children that occurred while the
children were in foster care. Such insurance shall cover acts
of ordinary negligence but shall not cover illegal conduct or
bad faith acts taken by foster parents in providing foster care.
Moneys paid from liability insurance for any claim are limited to the amount by which the claim exceeds the amount
available to the claimant from any valid and collectible liability insurance.
(2) The secretary of social and health services may purchase the insurance required in subsection (1) of this section
or may choose a self-insurance method. The total moneys
expended pursuant to this authorization shall not exceed five
hundred thousand dollars per biennium. If the secretary elects
a method of self-insurance, the expenditure shall include all
(2006 Ed.)
Family Preservation Services
administrative and staff costs. If the secretary elects a method
of self-insurance, he or she may, by rule, place a limit on the
maximum amount to be paid on each claim.
(3) Nothing in this section or RCW 4.24.590 is intended
to modify the foster parent reimbursement plan in place on
July 1, 1991.
(4) The liability insurance program shall be available by
July 1, 1991. [1991 c 283 § 2.]
Findings—1991 c 283: "The legislature recognizes the unique legal
risks that foster parents face in taking children into their care. Third parties
have filed claims against foster parents for losses and damage caused by foster children. Additionally, foster children and their parents have sued foster
parents for actions occurring while the children were in foster care. The legislature finds that some potential foster parents are unwilling to subject themselves to potential liability without insurance protection. The legislature further finds that to encourage those people to serve as foster parents, it is necessary to assure that such insurance is available to them." [1991 c 283 § 1.]
Effective date—1991 c 283: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 c 283 § 5.]
74.14B.900
74.14B.900 Captions. Section headings as used in this
chapter do not constitute any part of the law. [1987 c 503 §
19.]
74.14B.901
74.14B.901 Severability—1987 c 503. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1987 c 503 § 21.]
74.14B.902
74.14B.902 Effective date—1987 c 503. This act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1987.
[1987 c 503 § 22.]
Chapter 74.14C
Chapter 74.14C RCW
FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES
Sections
74.14C.005
74.14C.010
74.14C.020
74.14C.030
74.14C.032
74.14C.040
74.14C.042
74.14C.050
74.14C.060
74.14C.065
74.14C.070
74.14C.080
74.14C.090
74.14C.100
74.14C.900
74.14C.005
Findings and intent.
Definitions.
Preservation services.
Department duties.
Preservation services contracts.
Intensive family preservation services—Eligibility criteria.
Family preservation services—Eligibility criteria.
Implementation and evaluation plan.
Funds, volunteer services.
Federal funds.
Appropriations—Transfer of funds from foster care services to
family preservation services—Annual report.
Data collection—Reports to the legislature.
Reports on referrals and services.
Training and consultation for department personnel—Training
for judges and service providers.
Severability—1992 c 214.
74.14C.005 Findings and intent. (1) The legislature
believes that protecting the health and safety of children is
paramount. The legislature recognizes that the number of
children entering out-of-home care is increasing and that a
number of children receive long-term foster care protection.
Reasonable efforts by the department to shorten out-of-home
(2006 Ed.)
74.14C.010
placement or avoid it altogether should be a major focus of
the child welfare system. It is intended that providing upfront services decrease the number of children entering outof-home care and have the effect of eventually lowering foster care expenditures and strengthening the family unit.
Within available funds, the legislature directs the department to focus child welfare services on protecting the child,
strengthening families and, to the extent possible, providing
necessary services in the family setting, while drawing upon
the strengths of the family. The legislature intends services be
locally based and offered as early as possible to avoid disruption to the family, out-of-home placement of the child, and
entry into the dependency system. The legislature also
intends that these services be used for those families whose
children are returning to the home from out-of-home care.
These services are known as family preservation services and
intensive family preservation services and are characterized
by the following values, beliefs, and goals:
(a) Safety of the child is always the first concern;
(b) Children need their families and should be raised by
their own families whenever possible;
(c) Interventions should focus on family strengths and be
responsive to the individual family’s cultural values and
needs;
(d) Participation should be voluntary; and
(e) Improvement of family functioning is essential in
order to promote the child’s health, safety, and welfare and
thereby allow the family to remain intact and allow children
to remain at home.
(2) Subject to the availability of funds for such purposes,
the legislature intends for these services to be made available
to all eligible families on a statewide basis through a phasedin process. Except as otherwise specified by statute, the
department of social and health services shall have the
authority and discretion to implement and expand these services as provided in this chapter. The department shall consult with the community public health and safety networks
when assessing a community’s resources and need for services.
(3) It is the legislature’s intent that, within available
funds, the department develop services in accordance with
this chapter.
(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to create an
entitlement to services nor to create judicial authority to order
the provision of preservation services to any person or family
if the services are unavailable or unsuitable or that the child
or family are not eligible for such services. [1995 c 311 § 1;
1992 c 214 § 1.]
74.14C.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(2) "Community support systems" means the support
that may be organized through extended family members,
friends, neighbors, religious organizations, community programs, cultural and ethnic organizations, or other support
groups or organizations.
(3) "Family preservation services" means in-home or
community-based services drawing on the strengths of the
74.14C.010
[Title 74 RCW—page 81]
74.14C.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
family and its individual members while addressing family
needs to strengthen and keep the family together where possible and may include:
(a) Respite care of children to provide temporary relief
for parents and other caregivers;
(b) Services designed to improve parenting skills with
respect to such matters as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, safety, and nutrition; and
(c) Services designed to promote the well-being of children and families, increase the strength and stability of families, increase parents’ confidence and competence in their
parenting abilities, promote a safe, stable, and supportive
family environment for children, and otherwise enhance children’s development.
Family preservation services shall have the characteristics delineated in RCW 74.14C.020 (2) and (3).
(4) "Imminent" means a decision has been made by the
department that, without intensive family preservation services, a petition requesting the removal of a child from the
family home will be immediately filed under chapter 13.32A
or 13.34 RCW, or that a voluntary placement agreement will
be immediately initiated.
(5) "Intensive family preservation services" means community-based services that are delivered primarily in the
home, that follow intensive service models with demonstrated effectiveness in reducing or avoiding the need for
unnecessary imminent out-of-home placement, and that have
all of the characteristics delineated in RCW 74.14C.020 (1)
and (3).
(6) "Out-of-home placement" means a placement in a
foster family home or group care facility licensed pursuant to
chapter 74.15 RCW or placement in a home, other than that
of the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, not
required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.
(7) "Paraprofessional worker" means any individual who
is trained and qualified to provide assistance and community
support systems development to families and who acts under
the supervision of a preservation services therapist. The paraprofessional worker is not intended to replace the role and
responsibilities of the preservation services therapist.
(8) "Preservation services" means family preservation
services and intensive family preservation services that consider the individual family’s cultural values and needs. [1996
c 240 § 2; 1995 c 311 § 2; 1992 c 214 § 2.]
74.14C.020
74.14C.020 Preservation services. (1) Intensive family preservation services shall have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Services are provided by specially trained service
providers who have received at least forty hours of training
from recognized intensive in-home services experts. Service
providers deliver the services in the family’s home, and other
environments of the family, such as their neighborhood or
schools;
(b) Caseload size averages two families per service provider unless paraprofessional services are utilized, in which
case a provider may, but is not required to, handle an average
caseload of five families;
(c) The services to the family are provided by a single
service provider who may be assisted by paraprofessional
[Title 74 RCW—page 82]
workers, with backup providers identified to provide assistance as necessary;
(d) Services are available to the family within twentyfour hours following receipt of a referral to the program; and
(e) Duration of service is limited to a maximum of forty
days, unless paraprofessional workers are used, in which case
the duration of services is limited to a maximum of ninety
days. The department may authorize an additional provision
of service through an exception to policy when the department and provider agree that additional services are needed.
(2) Family preservation services shall have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Services are delivered primarily in the family home
or community;
(b) Services are committed to reinforcing the strengths of
the family and its members and empowering the family to
solve problems and become self-sufficient;
(c) Services are committed to providing support to families through community organizations including but not limited to school, church, cultural, ethnic, neighborhood, and
business;
(d) Services are available to the family within forty-eight
hours of referral unless an exception is noted in the file;
(e) Duration of service is limited to a maximum of six
months, unless the department requires additional follow-up
on an individual case basis; and
(f) Caseload size no more than ten families per service
provider, which can be adjusted when paraprofessional workers are used or required by the department.
(3) Preservation services shall include the following
characteristics:
(a) Services protect the child and strengthen the family;
(b) Service providers have the authority and discretion to
spend funds, up to a maximum amount specified by the
department, to help families obtain necessary food, shelter, or
clothing, or to purchase other goods or services that will
enhance the effectiveness of intervention;
(c) Services are available to the family twenty-four hours
a day and seven days a week;
(d) Services enhance parenting skills, family and personal self-sufficiency, functioning of the family, and reduce
stress on families; and
(e) Services help families locate and use additional assistance including, but not limited to, the development and
maintenance of community support systems, counseling and
treatment services, housing, child care, education, job training, emergency cash grants, state and federally funded public
assistance, and other basic support services. [1996 c 240 § 3;
1995 c 311 § 3; 1992 c 214 § 3.]
74.14C.030 Department duties. (1) The department
shall be the lead administrative agency for preservation services and may receive funding from any source for the implementation or expansion of such services. The department
shall:
(a) Provide coordination and planning with the advice of
the community networks for the implementation and expansion of preservation services; and
(b) Monitor and evaluate such services to determine
whether the programs meet measurable standards specified
by this chapter and the department.
74.14C.030
(2006 Ed.)
Family Preservation Services
(2) The department may: (a) Allow its contractors for
preservation services to use paraprofessional workers when
the department and provider determine the use appropriate.
The department may also use paraprofessional workers, as
appropriate, when the department provides preservation services; and (b) allow follow-up to be provided, on an individual case basis, when the department and provider determine
the use appropriate.
(3) In carrying out the requirements of this section, the
department shall consult with qualified agencies that have
demonstrated expertise and experience in preservation services.
(4) The department may provide preservation services
directly and shall, within available funds, enter into outcomebased, competitive contracts with social service agencies to
provide preservation services, provided that such agencies
meet measurable standards specified by this chapter and by
the department. The standards shall include, but not be limited to, satisfactory performance in the following areas:
(a) The number of families appropriately connected to
community resources;
(b) Avoidance of new referrals accepted by the department for child protective services or family reconciliation
services within one year of the most recent case closure by
the department;
(c) Consumer satisfaction;
(d) For reunification cases, reduction in the length of stay
in out-of-home placement; and
(e) Reduction in the level of risk factors specified by the
department.
(5)(a) The department shall not provide intensive family
preservation services unless it is demonstrated that provision
of such services prevent out-of-home placement in at least
seventy percent of the cases served for a period of at least six
months following termination of services. The department’s
caseworkers may only provide preservation services if there
is no other qualified entity willing or able to do so.
(b) Contractors shall demonstrate that provision of intensive family preservation services prevent out-of-home placement in at least seventy percent of the cases served for a
period of no less than six months following termination of
services. The department may increase the period of time
based on additional research and data. If the contractor fails
to meet the seventy percent requirement the department may:
(i) Review the conditions that may have contributed to the
failure to meet the standard and renew the contract if the
department determines: (A) The contractor is making
progress to meet the standard; or (B) conditions unrelated to
the provision of services, including case mix and severity of
cases, contributed to the failure; or (ii) reopen the contract for
other bids.
(c) The department shall cooperate with any person who
has a contract under this section in providing data necessary
to determine the amount of reduction in foster care. For the
purposes of this subsection "prevent out-of-home placement"
means that a child who has been a recipient of intensive family preservation services has not been placed outside of the
home, other than for a single, temporary period of time not
exceeding fourteen days.
(6) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
chapter. [1996 c 240 § 4; 1995 c 311 § 4; 1992 c 214 § 4.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.14C.042
74.14C.032 Preservation services contracts. The initial contracts under *RCW 74.14C.030(3) shall be executed
not later than July 1996 and shall expire June 30, 1997. Subsequent contracts shall be for periods not to exceed twentyfour months. [1995 c 311 § 13.]
74.14C.032
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.14C.030 was amended by 1996 c 240 § 4,
changing subsection (3) to subsection (4).
74.14C.040 Intensive family preservation services—
Eligibility criteria. (1) Intensive family preservation services may be provided to children and their families only
when the department has determined that:
(a) The child has been placed out-of-home or is at imminent risk of an out-of-home placement due to:
(i) Child abuse or neglect;
(ii) A serious threat of substantial harm to the child’s
health, safety, or welfare; or
(iii) Family conflict; and
(b) There are no other reasonably available services
including family preservation services that will prevent outof-home placement of the child or make it possible to immediately return the child home.
(2) The department shall refer eligible families to intensive family preservation services on a twenty-four hour
intake basis. The department need not refer otherwise eligible
families, and intensive family preservation services need not
be provided, if:
(a) The services are not available in the community in
which the family resides;
(b) The services cannot be provided because the program
is filled to capacity and there are no current service openings;
(c) The family refuses the services;
(d) The department, or the agency that is supervising the
foster care placement, has developed a case plan that does not
include reunification of the child and family; or
(e) The department or the service provider determines
that the safety of a child, a family member, or persons providing the service would be unduly threatened.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent provision of
intensive family preservation services to nonfamily members
when the department or the service provider deems it necessary or appropriate to do so in order to assist the family or
child. [1995 c 311 § 6; 1992 c 214 § 5.]
74.14C.040
74.14C.042 Family preservation services—Eligibility
criteria. (1) Family preservation services may be provided
to children and their families only when the department has
determined that without intervention, the child faces a substantial likelihood of out-of-home placement due to:
(a) Child abuse or neglect;
(b) A serious threat of substantial harm to the child’s
health, safety, or welfare; or
(c) Family conflict.
(2) The department need not refer otherwise eligible
families and family preservation services need not be provided, if:
(a) The services are not available in the community in
which the family resides;
(b) The services cannot be provided because the program
is filled to capacity;
(c) The family refuses the services; or
74.14C.042
[Title 74 RCW—page 83]
74.14C.050
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(d) The department or the service provider determines
that the safety of a child, a family member, or persons providing the services would be unduly threatened.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent provision of
family preservation services to nonfamily members when the
department or the service provider deems it necessary or
appropriate to do so in order to assist the family or the child.
[1995 c 311 § 7.]
74.14C.050
74.14C.050 Implementation and evaluation plan. By
December 1, 1995, the department, with the assistance of the
family policy council, two urban and two rural public health
and safety networks to be chosen by the family policy council, and two private, nonprofit agencies with expertise and
experience in preservation services shall submit to the legislature an implementation and evaluation plan that identifies:
(1) A valid and reliable process that can be used by caseworkers for accurately identifying clients who are eligible for
intensive family preservation services and family preservation services. The plan shall recognize the due process rights
of families that receive preservation services and recognize
that family preservation services are not intended to be investigative for purposes of chapter 13.34 RCW;
(2) Necessary data by which program success will be
measured, projections of service needs, budget requests, and
long-range planning;
(3) Regional and statewide projections of service needs;
(4) A cost estimate for statewide implementation and
expansion of preservation services on a phased-in basis
beginning no later than July 1, 1996;
(5) A plan and time frame for phased-in implementation
of preservation services on a statewide basis to be accomplished as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 1997;
(6) Data regarding the number of children in foster care,
group care, institutional placements, and other out-of-home
placements due to medical needs, mental health needs, developmental disabilities, and juvenile offenses, and an assessment of the feasibility of providing preservation services to
include all of these children;
(7) Standards and outcome measures for the department
when the department provides preservation services directly;
and
(8) A process to assess outcome measures identified in
RCW 74.14C.030 for contractors providing preservation services. [1995 c 311 § 9; 1992 c 214 § 6.]
74.14C.060 may be used to supplant state funds to carry out
the purposes of this chapter. [1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 922; 1992
c 214 § 11.]
Severability—Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 19.118.110.
74.14C.070
74.14C.070 Appropriations—Transfer of funds from
foster care services to family preservation services—
Annual report. The secretary of social and health services,
or the secretary’s regional designee, may transfer funds
appropriated for foster care services to purchase preservation
services and other preventive services for children at imminent risk of out-of-home placement or who face a substantial
likelihood of out-of-home placement. This transfer may be
made in those regions that lower foster care expenditures
through efficient use of preservation services and permanency planning efforts. The transfer shall be equivalent to
the amount of reduced foster care expenditures and shall be
made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and
with the approval of the office of financial management. The
department shall present an annual report to the legislature
regarding any transfers under this section only if transfers
occur. The department shall include caseload, expenditure,
cost avoidance, identified improvements to the out-of-home
care system, and outcome data related to the transfer in the
report. The department shall also include in the report information regarding:
(1) The percent of cases where a child is placed in out-ofhome care after the provision of intensive family preservation
services or family preservation services;
(2) The average length of time before the child is placed
out-of-home;
(3) The average length of time the child is placed out-ofhome; and
(4) The number of families that refused the offer of
either family preservation services or intensive family preservation services. [2003 c 207 § 3; 1995 c 311 § 11; 1994 c 288
§ 3; 1992 c 214 § 9.]
Funds transfer review: "The juvenile issues task force established
under chapter 234, Laws of 1991, shall review the advisability of transferring
appropriated funds from foster care to purchase family preservation services
for children at imminent risk of foster care placement and include findings
and recommendations on the transfer of funds to the appropriate committees
of the senate and house of representatives by December 15, 1992. The task
force shall identify ways to improve the foster care system and expand family preservation services with the savings generated by avoiding the placement of children at imminent risk of foster care placement through the provision of family preservation services." [1992 c 214 § 10.]
74.14C.060
74.14C.060 Funds, volunteer services. For the purpose of providing preservation services the department may:
(1) Solicit and use any available federal or private
resources, which may include funds, in-kind resources, or
volunteer services; and
(2) Use any available state resources, which may include
in-kind resources or volunteer services. [1995 c 311 § 10;
1992 c 214 § 7.]
74.14C.065
74.14C.065 Federal funds. Any federal funds made
available under RCW 74.14C.060 shall be used to supplement and shall not supplant state funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter. However, during the 1995-97 fiscal
biennium, federal funds made available under RCW
[Title 74 RCW—page 84]
74.14C.080
74.14C.080 Data collection—Reports to the legislature. The department shall collect data regarding the rates at
which intensive family preservation services prevent out-ofhome placements over varying periods of time. The department shall make an initial report to the appropriate committees of the legislature of the data, and the proposed rules to
implement this section, by December 1, 1995. The department shall present a report to the appropriate committees of
the legislature on September 1st of each odd-numbered year,
commencing on September 1, 1997. [1995 c 311 § 5.]
74.14C.090
74.14C.090 Reports on referrals and services. Each
department caseworker who refers a client for preservation
(2006 Ed.)
Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Developmentally Disabled
services shall file a report with his or her direct supervisor
stating the reasons for which the client was referred. The
caseworker’s supervisor shall verify in writing his or her
belief that the family who is the subject of a referral for preservation services meets the eligibility criteria for services as
provided in this chapter. The direct supervisor shall report
monthly to the regional administrator on the provision of
these services. The regional administrator shall report to the
assistant secretary quarterly on the provision of these services
for the entire region. The assistant secretary shall make a
semiannual report to the secretary on the provision of these
services on a statewide basis. [1995 c 311 § 8.]
74.15.020
74.15.030
74.15.035
74.15.040
74.15.050
74.15.060
74.15.070
74.15.080
74.15.090
74.15.100
74.15.110
74.15.120
74.15.125
74.15.130
74.15.132
74.14C.100
74.14C.100 Training and consultation for department personnel—Training for judges and service providers. (1) The department shall, within available funds, provide for ongoing training and consultation to department personnel to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Such
training may:
(a) Include the family unit as the primary focus of service; identifying family member strengths; empowering families; child, adult, and family development; stress management; and may include parent training and family therapy
techniques;
(b) Address intake and referral, assessment of risk, case
assessment, matching clients to services, and service planning issues in the context of the home-delivered service
model, including strategies for engaging family members,
defusing violent situations, and communication and conflict
resolution skills;
(c) Cover methods of helping families acquire the skills
they need, including home management skills, life skills,
parenting, child development, and the use of community
resources;
(d) Address crisis intervention and other strategies for
the management of depression, and suicidal, assaultive, and
other high-risk behavior; and
(e) Address skills in collaborating with other disciplines
and services in promoting the safety of children and other
family members and promoting the preservation of the family.
(2) The department and the administrative office of the
courts shall, within available funds, collaborate in providing
training to judges, and others involved in the provision of services pursuant to this title, including service providers, on the
function and use of preservation services. [2005 c 282 § 48;
1995 c 311 § 12.]
74.15.134
74.15.140
74.15.150
74.15.160
74.15.170
74.15.180
74.15.190
74.15.200
74.15.210
74.15.220
74.15.230
74.15.240
74.15.250
74.15.260
74.15.270
74.15.280
74.15.300
74.15.900
74.15.901
74.15.010
Definitions.
Powers and duties of secretary.
Negotiated rule making—Family child care licensees—Intent.
Licenses for foster-family homes required—Inspections.
Fire protection—Powers and duties of chief of the Washington
state patrol.
Health protection—Powers and duties of secretary of health.
Articles of incorporation and amendments—Copies to be furnished to department.
Access to agencies, records.
Licenses required for agencies.
License application, issuance, duration—Reclassification.
Renewal of licenses.
Initial licenses.
Probationary licenses.
Licenses—Denial, suspension, revocation, modification—
Procedures—Adjudicative proceedings—Penalties.
Adjudicative proceedings—Training for administrative law
judges.
License or certificate suspension—Noncompliance with support order—Reissuance.
Action against licensed or unlicensed agencies authorized.
Penalty for operating without license.
Continuation of existing licensing rules.
Agencies, homes conducted by religious organizations—
Application of chapter.
Designating home or facility as semi-secure facility.
Authority of Indian tribes to license agencies within reservations—Placement of children.
Child abuse and neglect prevention training to parents and day
care providers.
Community facility—Service provider must report juvenile
infractions or violations—Violations by service provider—
Secretary’s duties—Rules.
HOPE centers—Establishment—Requirements.
Responsible living skills programs—Established—Requirements.
Responsible living skills program—Eligibility.
HOPE centers—Responsible living skills programs—Licensing authority—Rules.
HOPE centers—Responsible living skills programs—Grant
proposals—Technical assistance.
HOPE centers—Responsible living skills programs—Awarding of contracts.
Emergency respite centers—Licensing—Rules.
Enforcement action—Definition.
Short title—Purpose—Entitlement not granted—1999 c 267
§§ 10-26.
Federal waivers—1999 c 267 §§ 10-26.
Adoption: Chapter 26.33 RCW.
Age of majority: Chapter 26.28 RCW.
Birthing centers: Chapter 18.46 RCW.
Child abuse: Chapter 26.44 RCW.
Immunization program, applicability to day care centers: RCW
28A.210.060 through 28A.210.170.
Liability insurance for foster parents: RCW 74.14B.080.
Liability of foster parents: RCW 4.24.590.
Out-of-home placement—Court action upon filing of child in need of services petition—Child placement: RCW 13.32A.160.
Uniform Parentage Act: Chapter 26.26 RCW.
74.14C.900
74.14C.900 Severability—1992 c 214. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1992 c 214 § 13.]
Chapter 74.15 RCW
CARE OF CHILDREN, EXPECTANT MOTHERS,
DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
Chapter 74.15
Sections
74.15.010
(2006 Ed.)
Declaration of purpose.
74.15.010
74.15.010 Declaration of purpose. The purpose of
chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 is:
(1) To safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of
children, expectant mothers and developmentally disabled
persons receiving care away from their own homes, which is
paramount over the right of any person to provide care;
(2) To strengthen and encourage family unity and to sustain parental rights and responsibilities to the end that foster
care is provided only when a child’s family, through the use
of all available resources, is unable to provide necessary care;
(3) To promote the development of a sufficient number
and variety of adequate child-care and maternity-care facili[Title 74 RCW—page 85]
74.15.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
ties, both public and private, through the cooperative efforts
of public and voluntary agencies and related groups;
(4) To provide consultation to agencies caring for children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons
in order to help them to improve their methods of and facilities for care;
(5) To license agencies as defined in RCW 74.15.020
and to assure the users of such agencies, their parents, the
community at large and the agencies themselves that adequate minimum standards are maintained by all agencies caring for children, expectant mothers and developmentally disabled persons. [1995 c 302 § 2; 1983 c 3 § 192; 1977 ex.s. c
80 § 70; 1967 c 172 § 1.]
Intent—1995 c 302: "The legislature declares that the state of Washington has a compelling interest in protecting and promoting the health, welfare, and safety of children, including those who receive care away from
their own homes. The legislature further declares that no person or agency
has a right to be licensed under this chapter to provide care for children. The
health, safety, and well-being of children must be the paramount concern in
determining whether to issue a license to an applicant, whether to suspend or
revoke a license, and whether to take other licensing action. The legislature
intends, through the provisions of this act, to provide the department of
social and health services with additional enforcement authority to carry out
the purpose and provisions of this act. Furthermore, administrative law
judges should receive specialized training so that they have the specialized
expertise required to appropriately review licensing decisions of the department.
Children placed in foster care are particularly vulnerable and have a
special need for placement in an environment that is stable, safe, and nurturing. For this reason, foster homes should be held to a high standard of care,
and department decisions regarding denial, suspension, or revocation of foster care licenses should be upheld on review if there are reasonable grounds
for such action." [1995 c 302 § 1.]
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
Severability—1967 c 172: "If any provision of this 1967 amendatory
act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1967 c 172 § 24.]
74.15.020
74.15.020 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter
and RCW 74.13.031, and unless otherwise clearly indicated
by the context thereof, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Agency" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or facility which receives children,
expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for control, care, or maintenance outside their own
homes, or which places, arranges the placement of, or assists
in the placement of children, expectant mothers, or persons
with developmental disabilities for foster care or placement
of children for adoption, and shall include the following irrespective of whether there is compensation to the agency or to
the children, expectant mothers or persons with developmental disabilities for services rendered:
(a) "Child-placing agency" means an agency which
places a child or children for temporary care, continued care,
or for adoption;
(b) "Community facility" means a group care facility
operated for the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185. A county detention facility that
houses juveniles committed to the department under RCW
13.40.185 pursuant to a contract with the department is not a
community facility;
(c) "Crisis residential center" means an agency which is
a temporary protective residential facility operated to per[Title 74 RCW—page 86]
form the duties specified in chapter 13.32A RCW, in the
manner provided in RCW 74.13.032 through 74.13.036;
(d) "Emergency respite center" is an agency that may be
commonly known as a crisis nursery, that provides emergency and crisis care for up to seventy-two hours to children
who have been admitted by their parents or guardians to prevent abuse or neglect. Emergency respite centers may operate for up to twenty-four hours a day, and for up to seven days
a week. Emergency respite centers may provide care for children ages birth through seventeen, and for persons eighteen
through twenty with developmental disabilities who are
admitted with a sibling or siblings through age seventeen.
Emergency respite centers may not substitute for crisis residential centers or HOPE centers, or any other services
defined under this section, and may not substitute for services
which are required under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW;
(e) "Foster-family home" means an agency which regularly provides care on a twenty-four hour basis to one or more
children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental
disabilities in the family abode of the person or persons under
whose direct care and supervision the child, expectant
mother, or person with a developmental disability is placed;
(f) "Group-care facility" means an agency, other than a
foster-family home, which is maintained and operated for the
care of a group of children on a twenty-four hour basis;
(g) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary to provide temporary residential placement and other
services to street youth. A street youth may remain in a
HOPE center for thirty days while services are arranged and
permanent placement is coordinated. No street youth may
stay longer than thirty days unless approved by the department and any additional days approved by the department
must be based on the unavailability of a long-term placement
option. A street youth whose parent wants him or her
returned to home may remain in a HOPE center until his or
her parent arranges return of the youth, not longer. All other
street youth must have court approval under chapter 13.34 or
13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center up to thirty days;
(h) "Maternity service" means an agency which provides
or arranges for care or services to expectant mothers, before
or during confinement, or which provides care as needed to
mothers and their infants after confinement;
(i) "Responsible living skills program" means an agency
licensed by the secretary that provides residential and transitional living services to persons ages sixteen to eighteen who
are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and who have been
unable to live in his or her legally authorized residence and,
as a result, the minor lived outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for occupancy by the minor. Dependent
minors ages fourteen and fifteen may be eligible if no other
placement alternative is available and the department
approves the placement;
(j) "Service provider" means the entity that operates a
community facility.
(2) "Agency" shall not include the following:
(a) Persons related to the child, expectant mother, or person with developmental disability in the following ways:
(i) Any blood relative, including those of half-blood, and
including first cousins, nephews or nieces, and persons of
preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand, great,
or great-great;
(2006 Ed.)
Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Developmentally Disabled
(ii) Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister;
(iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child’s
parent as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance with state law;
(iv) Spouses of any persons named in (i), (ii), or (iii) of
this subsection (2)(a), even after the marriage is terminated;
or
(v) Extended family members, as defined by the law or
custom of the Indian child’s tribe or, in the absence of such
law or custom, a person who has reached the age of eighteen
and who is the Indian child’s grandparent, aunt or uncle,
brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or
nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent who provides
care in the family abode on a twenty-four-hour basis to an
Indian child as defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903(4);
(b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant mother, or persons with developmental disabilities;
(c) Persons who care for a neighbor’s or friend’s child or
children, with or without compensation, where the parent and
person providing care on a twenty-four-hour basis have
agreed to the placement in writing and the state is not providing any payment for the care;
(d) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity
that provides placement or similar services to exchange students or international student exchange visitors or persons
who have the care of an exchange student in their home;
(e) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity
that provides placement or similar services to international
children who have entered the country by obtaining visas that
meet the criteria for medical care as established by the United
States immigration and naturalization service, or persons
who have the care of such an international child in their
home;
(f) Schools, including boarding schools, which are
engaged primarily in education, operate on a definite school
year schedule, follow a stated academic curriculum, accept
only school-age children and do not accept custody of children;
(g) Hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 70.41 RCW
when performing functions defined in chapter 70.41 RCW,
nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW and boarding homes licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW;
(h) Licensed physicians or lawyers;
(i) Facilities approved and certified under chapter
71A.22 RCW;
(j) Any agency having been in operation in this state ten
years prior to June 8, 1967, and not seeking or accepting
moneys or assistance from any state or federal agency, and is
supported in part by an endowment or trust fund;
(k) Persons who have a child in their home for purposes
of adoption, if the child was placed in such home by a
licensed child-placing agency, an authorized public or tribal
agency or court or if a replacement report has been filed
under chapter 26.33 RCW and the placement has been
approved by the court;
(l) An agency operated by any unit of local, state, or federal government or an agency licensed by an Indian tribe pursuant to RCW 74.15.190;
(2006 Ed.)
74.15.020
(m) A maximum or medium security program for juvenile offenders operated by or under contract with the department;
(n) An agency located on a federal military reservation,
except where the military authorities request that such agency
be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(3) "Department" means the state department of social
and health services.
(4) "Family child care licensee" means a person who: (a)
Provides regularly scheduled care for a child or children in
the home of the provider for periods of less than twenty-four
hours or, if necessary due to the nature of the parent’s work,
for periods equal to or greater than twenty-four hours; (b)
does not receive child care subsidies; and (c) is licensed by
the state under RCW 74.15.030.
(5) "Juvenile" means a person under the age of twentyone who has been sentenced to a term of confinement under
the supervision of the department under RCW 13.40.185.
(6) "Probationary license" means a license issued as a
disciplinary measure to an agency that has previously been
issued a full license but is out of compliance with licensing
standards.
(7) "Requirement" means any rule, regulation, or standard of care to be maintained by an agency.
(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health
services.
(9) "Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not
intended for occupancy by the minor and who is not residing
with his or her parent or at his or her legally authorized residence.
(10) "Transitional living services" means at a minimum,
to the extent funds are available, the following:
(a) Educational services, including basic literacy and
computational skills training, either in local alternative or
public high schools or in a high school equivalency program
that leads to obtaining a high school equivalency degree;
(b) Assistance and counseling related to obtaining vocational training or higher education, job readiness, job search
assistance, and placement programs;
(c) Counseling and instruction in life skills such as
money management, home management, consumer skills,
parenting, health care, access to community resources, and
transportation and housing options;
(d) Individual and group counseling; and
(e) Establishing networks with federal agencies and state
and local organizations such as the United States department
of labor, employment and training administration programs
including the job training partnership act which administers
private industry councils and the job corps; vocational rehabilitation; and volunteer programs. [2006 c 265 § 401; 2006
c 90 § 1; 2006 c 54 § 7. Prior: 2001 c 230 § 1; 2001 c 144 §
1; 2001 c 137 § 3; 1999 c 267 § 11; 1998 c 269 § 3; 1997 c
245 § 7; prior: 1995 c 311 § 18; 1995 c 302 § 3; 1994 c 273
§ 21; 1991 c 128 § 14; 1988 c 176 § 912; 1987 c 170 § 12;
1982 c 118 § 5; 1979 c 155 § 83; 1977 ex.s. c 80 § 71; 1967 c
172 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 54 § 7, 2006 c 90
§ 1, and by 2006 c 265 § 401, each without reference to the other. All
amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
[Title 74 RCW—page 87]
74.15.030
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Part headings not law—Severability—Conflict with federal
requirements—Short title—2006 c 54: See RCW 41.56.911 through
41.56.914.
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
Alphabetization—1998 c 269: See note following RCW 13.50.010.
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
Severability—Effective date—1991 c 128: See RCW 19.166.900 and
19.166.901.
Severability—1988 c 176: See RCW 71A.10.900.
Severability—1987 c 170: See note following RCW 13.04.030.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
74.15.030 Powers and duties of secretary. The secretary shall have the power and it shall be the secretary’s duty:
(1) In consultation with the children’s services advisory
committee, and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to designate categories of facilities for which separate or different
requirements shall be developed as may be appropriate
whether because of variations in the ages, sex and other characteristics of persons served, variations in the purposes and
services offered or size or structure of the agencies to be
licensed hereunder, or because of any other factor relevant
thereto;
(2) In consultation with the children’s services advisory
committee, and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to
adopt and publish minimum requirements for licensing applicable to each of the various categories of agencies to be
licensed.
The minimum requirements shall be limited to:
(a) The size and suitability of a facility and the plan of
operation for carrying out the purpose for which an applicant
seeks a license;
(b) The character, suitability and competence of an
agency and other persons associated with an agency directly
responsible for the care and treatment of children, expectant
mothers or developmentally disabled persons. In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary shall
investigate the conviction record or pending charges and
dependency record information under chapter 43.43 RCW of
each agency and its staff seeking licensure or relicensure. No
unfounded allegation of child abuse or neglect as defined in
RCW 26.44.020 may be disclosed to a child-placing agency,
private adoption agency, or any other provider licensed under
this chapter. In order to determine the suitability of applicants for an agency license, licensees, their employees, and
other persons who have unsupervised access to children in
care, and who have not resided in the state of Washington
during the three-year period before being authorized to care
for children shall be fingerprinted. The fingerprints shall be
forwarded to the Washington state patrol and federal bureau
of investigation for a criminal history records check. The fingerprint criminal history records checks will be at the
74.15.030
[Title 74 RCW—page 88]
expense of the licensee except that in the case of a foster family home, if this expense would work a hardship on the licensee, the department shall pay the expense. The licensee
may not pass this cost on to the employee or prospective
employee, unless the employee is determined to be unsuitable
due to his or her criminal history record. The secretary shall
use the information solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for a license and for determining the character, suitability, and competence of those persons or agencies, excluding parents, not required to be licensed who are authorized to
care for children, expectant mothers, and developmentally
disabled persons. Criminal justice agencies shall provide the
secretary such information as they may have and that the secretary may require for such purpose;
(c) The number of qualified persons required to render
the type of care and treatment for which an agency seeks a
license;
(d) The safety, cleanliness, and general adequacy of the
premises to provide for the comfort, care and well-being of
children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons;
(e) The provision of necessary care, including food,
clothing, supervision and discipline; physical, mental and
social well-being; and educational, recreational and spiritual
opportunities for those served;
(f) The financial ability of an agency to comply with
minimum requirements established pursuant to chapter 74.15
RCW and RCW 74.13.031; and
(g) The maintenance of records pertaining to the admission, progress, health and discharge of persons served;
(3) To investigate any person, including relatives by
blood or marriage except for parents, for character, suitability, and competence in the care and treatment of children,
expectant mothers, and developmentally disabled persons
prior to authorizing that person to care for children, expectant
mothers, and developmentally disabled persons. However, if
a child is placed with a relative under RCW 13.34.065 or
13.34.130, and if such relative appears otherwise suitable and
competent to provide care and treatment the criminal history
background check required by this section need not be completed before placement, but shall be completed as soon as
possible after placement;
(4) On reports of alleged child abuse and neglect, to
investigate agencies in accordance with chapter 26.44 RCW,
including child day-care centers and family day-care homes,
to determine whether the alleged abuse or neglect has
occurred, and whether child protective services or referral to
a law enforcement agency is appropriate;
(5) To issue, revoke, or deny licenses to agencies pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031. Licenses
shall specify the category of care which an agency is authorized to render and the ages, sex and number of persons to be
served;
(6) To prescribe the procedures and the form and contents of reports necessary for the administration of chapter
74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 and to require regular
reports from each licensee;
(7) To inspect agencies periodically to determine
whether or not there is compliance with chapter 74.15 RCW
and RCW 74.13.031 and the requirements adopted hereunder;
(2006 Ed.)
Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Developmentally Disabled
(8) To review requirements adopted hereunder at least
every two years and to adopt appropriate changes after consultation with the children’s services advisory committee for
requirements for other agencies;
(9) To engage in negotiated rule making pursuant to
RCW 34.05.310(2)(a) with the exclusive representative of
the family child care licensees selected in accordance with
RCW 74.15.035 and with other affected interests before
adopting requirements that affect family child care licensees;
and
(10) To consult with public and private agencies in order
to help them improve their methods and facilities for the care
of children, expectant mothers and developmentally disabled
persons. [2006 c 265 § 402; 2006 c 54 § 8; 2005 c 490 § 11.
Prior: 2000 c 162 § 20; 2000 c 122 § 40; 1997 c 386 § 33;
1995 c 302 § 4; 1988 c 189 § 3; prior: 1987 c 524 § 13; 1987
c 486 § 14; 1984 c 188 § 5; 1982 c 118 § 6; 1980 c 125 § 1;
1979 c 141 § 355; 1977 ex.s. c 80 § 72; 1967 c 172 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 54 § 8 and by
2006 c 265 § 402, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Part headings not law—Severability—Conflict with federal
requirements—Short title—2006 c 54: See RCW 41.56.911 through
41.56.914.
Effective date—2005 c 490: See note following RCW 43.215.540.
Application—Effective date—1997 c 386: See notes following RCW
13.50.010.
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
74.15.035
74.15.035 Negotiated rule making—Family child
care licensees—Intent. (1) Solely for the purposes of negotiated rule making pursuant to RCW 34.05.310(2)(a) and
74.15.030, a statewide unit of all family child care licensees
is appropriate. As of June 7, 2006, the exclusive representative of family child care licensees in the statewide unit shall
be the representative selected as the majority representative
in the election held under the directive of the governor to the
secretary of the department of social and health services,
dated September 16, 2005. If family child care licensees seek
to select a different representative thereafter, the family child
care licensees may request that the American arbitration
association conduct an election and certify the results of the
election.
(2) In enacting this section, the legislature intends to provide state action immunity under federal and state antitrust
laws for the joint activities of family child care licensees and
their exclusive representative to the extent such activities are
authorized by this chapter. [2006 c 54 § 6.]
Part headings not law—Severability—Conflict with federal
requirements—Short title—2006 c 54: See RCW 41.56.911 through
41.56.914.
74.15.040
74 .1 5.04 0 Licenses fo r fo ster-f am ily hom es
required—Inspections. An agency seeking to accept and
serve children, developmentally disabled persons, or expectant mothers as a foster-family home shall make application
for license in such form and substance as required by the
(2006 Ed.)
74.15.060
department. The department shall maintain a list of applicants
through which placement may be undertaken. However,
agencies and the department shall not place a child, developmentally disabled person, or expectant mother in a home until
the home is licensed. Foster-family homes shall be inspected
prior to licensure, except that inspection by the department is
not required if the foster-family home is under the supervision of a licensed agency upon certification to the department
by the licensed agency that such homes meet the requirements for foster homes as adopted pursuant to chapter 74.15
RCW and RCW 74.13.031. [1982 c 118 § 7; 1979 c 141 §
356; 1967 c 172 § 4.]
74.15.050
74.15.050 Fire protection—Powers and duties of
chief of the Washington state patrol. The chief of the
Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, shall have the power and it shall be his or her duty:
(1) In consultation with the children’s services advisory
committee and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to
adopt recognized minimum standard requirements pertaining
to each category of agency established pursuant to chapter
74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031, except foster-family homes
and child-placing agencies, necessary to protect all persons
residing therein from fire hazards;
(2) To make or cause to be made such inspections and
investigations of agencies, other than foster-family homes or
child-placing agencies, as he or she deems necessary;
(3) To make a periodic review of requirements under
RCW 74.15.030(7) and to adopt necessary changes after consultation as required in subsection (1) of this section;
(4) To issue to applicants for licenses hereunder, other
than foster-family homes or child-placing agencies, who
comply with the requirements, a certificate of compliance, a
copy of which shall be presented to the department of social
and health services before a license shall be issued, except
that a *provisional license may be issued as provided in RCW
74.15.120. [1995 c 369 § 62; 1986 c 266 § 123; 1982 c 118 §
8; 1979 c 141 § 357; 1967 c 172 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: "Provisional license" redesignated "initial license" by
1995 c 311 § 22.
Effective date—1995 c 369: See note following RCW 43.43.930.
Severability—1986 c 266: See note following RCW 38.52.005.
74.15.060
74.15.060 Health protection—Powers and duties of
secretary of health. The secretary of health shall have the
power and it shall be his or her duty:
In consultation with the children’s services advisory
committee and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to
develop minimum requirements pertaining to each category
of agency established pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and
RCW 74.13.031, necessary to promote the health of all persons residing therein.
The secretary of health or the city, county, or district
health department designated by the secretary shall have the
power and the duty:
(1) To make or cause to be made such inspections and
investigations of agencies as may be deemed necessary; and
[Title 74 RCW—page 89]
74.15.070
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(2) To issue to applicants for licenses hereunder who
comply with the requirements adopted hereunder, a certificate of compliance, a copy of which shall be presented to the
department of social and health services before a license shall
be issued, except that a *provisional license may be issued as
provided in RCW 74.15.120. [1991 c 3 § 376; 1989 1st ex.s.
c 9 § 265; 1987 c 524 § 14; 1982 c 118 § 9; 1970 ex.s. c 18 §
14; 1967 c 172 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: "Provisional license" redesignated "initial license" by
1995 c 311 § 22.
Effective date—Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910
and 43.70.920.
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
74.15.070 Articles of incorporation and amendments—Copies to be furnished to department. A copy of
the articles of incorporation of any agency or amendments to
the articles of existing corporation agencies shall be sent by
the secretary of state to the department of social and health
services at the time such articles or amendments are filed.
[1979 c 141 § 358; 1967 c 172 § 7.]
74.15.070
days unless the application is for licensure as a foster-family
home, in which case RCW 74.15.040 shall govern. A license
shall be granted if the agency meets the minimum requirements set forth in chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031
and the departmental requirements consistent herewith,
except that an initial license may be issued as provided in
RCW 74.15.120. Licenses provided for in chapter 74.15
RCW and RCW 74.13.031 shall be issued for a period of
three years. The licensee, however, shall advise the secretary
of any material change in circumstances which might constitute grounds for reclassification of license as to category.
The license issued under this chapter is not transferable and
applies only to the licensee and the location stated in the
application. For licensed foster-family homes having an
acceptable history of child care, the license may remain in
effect for two weeks after a move, except that this will apply
only if the family remains intact. [2006 c 265 § 403; 1995 c
302 § 8; 1982 c 118 § 11; 1979 c 141 § 360; 1967 c 172 § 10.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
74.15.110
74.15.080
74.15.080 Access to agencies, records. All agencies
subject to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 shall
accord the department of social and health services, the secretary of health, the chief of the Washington state patrol, and
the director of fire protection, or their designees, the right of
entrance and the privilege of access to and inspection of
records for the purpose of determining whether or not there is
compliance with the provisions of chapter 74.15 RCW and
RCW 74.13.031 and the requirements adopted thereunder.
[1995 c 369 § 63; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 266; 1986 c 266 § 124;
1979 c 141 § 359; 1967 c 172 § 8.]
Effective date—1995 c 369: See note following RCW 43.43.930.
Effective date—Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910
and 43.70.920.
Severability—1986 c 266: See note following RCW 38.52.005.
74.15.090 Licenses required for agencies. Except as
provided in RCW 74.15.190, it shall hereafter be unlawful for
any agency to receive children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons for supervision or care, or
arrange for the placement of such persons, unless such
agency is licensed as provided in chapter 74.15 RCW. [1987
c 170 § 14; 1982 c 118 § 10; 1977 ex.s. c 80 § 73; 1967 c 172
§ 9.]
74.15.090
Severability—1987 c 170: See note following RCW 13.04.030.
Purpose—Intent—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 80: See notes following RCW 4.16.190.
74.15.100 License application, issuance, duration—
Reclassification. Each agency shall make application for a
license or renewal of license to the department of social and
health services on forms prescribed by the department. A
licensed agency having foster-family homes under its supervision may make application for a license on behalf of any
such foster-family home. Such a foster home license shall
cease to be valid when the home is no longer under the supervision of that agency. Upon receipt of such application, the
department shall either grant or deny a license within ninety
74.15.100
[Title 74 RCW—page 90]
74.15.110 Renewal of licenses. If a licensee desires to
apply for a renewal of its license, a request for a renewal shall
be filed ninety days prior to the expiration date of the license
except that a request for renewal of a foster family home
license shall be filed prior to the expiration of the license. If
the department has failed to act at the time of the expiration
date of the license, the license shall continue in effect until
such time as the department shall act. [1991 c 14 § 1; 1967 c
172 § 11.]
74.15.120
74.15.120 Initial licenses. The secretary of social and
health services may, at his or her discretion, issue an initial
license instead of a full license, to an agency or facility for a
period not to exceed six months, renewable for a period not to
exceed two years, to allow such agency or facility reasonable
time to become eligible for full license. An initial license
shall not be granted to any foster-family home except as specified in this section. An initial license may be granted to a foster-family home only if the following three conditions are
met: (1) The license is limited so that the licensee is authorized to provide care only to a specific child or specific children; (2) the department has determined that the licensee has
a relationship with the child, and the child is comfortable
with the licensee, or that it would otherwise be in the child’s
best interest to remain or be placed in the licensee’s home;
and (3) the initial license is issued for a period not to exceed
ninety days. [1995 c 311 § 22; 1979 c 141 § 361; 1967 c 172
§ 12.]
74.15.125
74.15.125 Probationary licenses. (1) The department
may issue a probationary license to a licensee who has had a
license but is temporarily unable to comply with a rule or has
been the subject of multiple complaints or concerns about
noncompliance if:
(a) The noncompliance does not present an immediate
threat to the health and well-being of the children but would
be likely to do so if allowed to continue; and
(2006 Ed.)
Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Developmentally Disabled
(b) The licensee has a plan approved by the department
to correct the area of noncompliance within the probationary
period.
(2) A probationary license may be issued for up to six
months, and at the discretion of the department it may be
extended for an additional six months. The department shall
immediately terminate the probationary license, if at any time
the noncompliance for which the probationary license was
issued presents an immediate threat to the health or wellbeing of the children.
(3) The department may, at any time, issue a probationary license for due cause that states the conditions of probation.
(4) An existing license is invalidated when a probationary license is issued.
(5) At the expiration of the probationary license, the
department shall reinstate the original license for the remainder of its term, issue a new license, or revoke the original
license.
(6) A right to an adjudicative proceeding shall not accrue
to the licensee whose license has been placed on probationary
status unless the licensee does not agree with the placement
on probationary status and the department then suspends,
revokes, or modifies the license. [1995 c 302 § 7.]
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
74.15.130
74.15.130 Licenses—Denial, suspension, revocation,
modification—Procedures—Adjudicative proceedings—
Penalties. (1) An agency may be denied a license, or any
license issued pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW
74.13.031 may be suspended, revoked, modified, or not
renewed by the secretary upon proof (a) that the agency has
failed or refused to comply with the provisions of chapter
74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 or the requirements promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 74.15 RCW and
RCW 74.13.031; or (b) that the conditions required for the
issuance of a license under chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW
74.13.031 have ceased to exist with respect to such licenses.
RCW 43.20A.205 governs notice of a license denial, revocation, suspension, or modification and provides the right to an
adjudicative proceeding.
(2) In any adjudicative proceeding regarding the denial,
modification, suspension, or revocation of a foster family
home license, the department’s decision shall be upheld if
there is reasonable cause to believe that:
(a) The applicant or licensee lacks the character, suitability, or competence to care for children placed in out-of-home
care, however, no unfounded report of child abuse or neglect
may be used to deny employment or a license;
(b) The applicant or licensee has failed or refused to
comply with any provision of chapter 74.15 RCW, RCW
74.13.031, or the requirements adopted pursuant to such provisions; or
(c) The conditions required for issuance of a license
under chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 have ceased
to exist with respect to such licenses.
(3) In any adjudicative proceeding regarding the denial,
modification, suspension, or revocation of any license under
this chapter, other than a foster family home license, the
(2006 Ed.)
74.15.132
department’s decision shall be upheld if it is supported by a
preponderance of the evidence.
(4) The department may assess civil monetary penalties
upon proof that an agency has failed or refused to comply
with the rules adopted under the provisions of this chapter
and RCW 74.13.031 or that an agency subject to licensing
under this chapter and RCW 74.13.031 is operating without a
license except that civil monetary penalties shall not be levied against a licensed foster home. Monetary penalties levied
against unlicensed agencies that submit an application for
licensure within thirty days of notification and subsequently
become licensed will be forgiven. These penalties may be
assessed in addition to or in lieu of other disciplinary actions.
Civil monetary penalties, if imposed, may be assessed and
collected, with interest, for each day an agency is or was out
of compliance. Civil monetary penalties shall not exceed two
hundred fifty dollars per violation for group homes and childplacing agencies. Each day upon which the same or substantially similar action occurs is a separate violation subject to
the assessment of a separate penalty. The department shall
provide a notification period before a monetary penalty is
effective and may forgive the penalty levied if the agency
comes into compliance during this period. The department
may suspend, revoke, or not renew a license for failure to pay
a civil monetary penalty it has assessed pursuant to this chapter within ten days after such assessment becomes final.
Chapter 43.20A RCW governs notice of a civil monetary
penalty and provides the right of an adjudicative proceeding.
The preponderance of evidence standard shall apply in adjudicative proceedings related to assessment of civil monetary
penalties. [2006 c 265 § 404; 2005 c 473 § 6; 1998 c 314 § 6;
1995 c 302 § 5; 1989 c 175 § 149; 1982 c 118 § 12; 1979 c
141 § 362; 1967 c 172 § 13.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—Severability—2006 c 265:
See RCW 43.215.904 through 43.215.906.
Purpose—2005 c 473: See note following RCW 74.15.300.
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
74.15.132
74.15.132 Adjudicative proceedings—Training for
administrative law judges. (1) The office of administrative
hearings shall not assign nor allow an administrative law
judge to preside over an adjudicative hearing regarding
denial, modification, suspension, or revocation of any license
to provide child care, including foster care, under this chapter, unless such judge has received training related to state
and federal laws and department policies and procedures
regarding:
(a) Child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment;
(b) Child protective services investigations and standards;
(c) Licensing activities and standards;
(d) Child development; and
(e) Parenting skills.
(2) The office of administrative hearings shall develop
and implement a training program that carries out the requirements of this section. The office of administrative hearings
shall consult and coordinate with the department in developing the training program. The department may assist the
[Title 74 RCW—page 91]
74.15.134
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
office of administrative hearings in developing and providing
training to administrative law judges. [1995 c 302 § 6.]
Intent—1995 c 302: See note following RCW 74.15.010.
74.15.134 License or certificate suspension—Noncompliance with support order—Reissuance. The secretary shall immediately suspend the license or certificate of a
person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320
by the department of social and health services as a person
who is not in compliance with a support order or a *residential or visitation order. If the person has continued to meet all
other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension,
reissuance of the license or certificate shall be automatic
upon the secretary’s receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the licensee is
in compliance with the order. [1997 c 58 § 858.]
74.15.134
*Reviser’s note: 1997 c 58 § 887 requiring a court to order certification
of noncompliance with residential provisions of a court-ordered parenting
plan was vetoed. Provisions ordering the department of social and health services to certify a responsible parent based on a court order to certify for noncompliance with residential provisions of a parenting plan were vetoed. See
RCW 74.20A.320.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
74.15.140 Action against licensed or unlicensed agencies authorized. Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of
any other remedy, the secretary may, in the manner provided
by law, upon the advice of the attorney general, who shall
represent the department in the proceeding, maintain an
action in the name of the state for injunction or such other
relief as he may deem advisable against any agency subject to
licensing under the provisions of chapter 74.15 RCW and
RCW 74.13.031 or against any such agency not having a
license as heretofore provided in chapter 74.15 RCW and
RCW 74.13.031. [1979 c 141 § 363; 1967 c 172 § 14.]
74.15.140
74.15.150 Penalty for operating without license. Any
agency operating without a license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. This section shall not be enforceable against an
agency until sixty days after the effective date of new rules,
applicable to such agency, have been adopted under chapter
74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031. [1982 c 118 § 13; 1967 c
172 § 15.]
74.15.150
74.15.160 Continuation of existing licensing rules.
Existing rules for licensing adopted pursuant to *chapter
74.14 RCW, sections 74.14.010 through 74.14.150, chapter
26, Laws of 1959, shall remain in force and effect until new
rules are adopted under chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW
74.13.031, but not thereafter. [1982 c 118 § 14; 1967 c 172 §
16.]
74.15.160
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 74.14 RCW was repealed by 1967 c 172 § 23.
74.15.170 Agencies, homes conducted by religious
organizations—Application of chapter. Nothing in this
chapter or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto
shall be construed as authorizing the supervision, regulation,
74.15.170
[Title 74 RCW—page 92]
or control of the remedial care or treatment of residents of
any agency, children’s institution, child placing agency,
maternity home, day or hourly nursery, foster home or other
related institution conducted for or by members of a recognized religious sect, denomination or organization which in
accordance with its creed, tenets, or principles depends for
healing upon prayer in the practice of religion, nor shall the
existence of any of the above conditions militate against the
licensing of such a home or institution. [1967 c 172 § 21.]
74.15.180
74.15.180 Designating home or facility as semisecure facility. The department, pursuant to rules, may
enable any licensed foster family home or group care facility
to be designated as a semi-secure facility, as defined by RCW
13.32A.030. [1979 c 155 § 84.]
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW
13.04.011.
74.15.190
74.15.190 Authority of Indian tribes to license agencies within reservations—Placement of children. (1)(a)
The state of Washington recognizes the authority of Indian
tribes within the state to license agencies, located within the
boundaries of a federally recognized Indian reservation, to
receive children for control, care, and maintenance outside
their own homes, or to place, receive, arrange the placement
of, or assist in the placement of children for foster care or
adoption.
(b) The state of Washington recognizes the ability of the
Indian tribes within the state to enter into agreements with the
state to license agencies located on or near the federally recognized Indian reservation or, for those federally recognized
tribes that do not have a reservation, then on or near the federally designated service delivery area, to receive children for
control, care, and maintenance outside their own homes, or to
place, receive, arrange the placement of, or assist in the
placement of children for foster care.
(c) The department and state licensed child-placing
agencies may place children in tribally licensed facilities if
the requirements of RCW 74.15.030 (2)(b) and (3) and supporting rules are satisfied before placing the children in such
facilities by the department or any state licensed child-placing agency.
(2) The department may enter into written agreements
with Indian tribes within the state to define the terms under
which the tribe may license agencies pursuant to subsection
(1) of this section. The agreements shall include a definition
of what are the geographic boundaries of the tribe for the purposes of licensing and may include locations on or near the
federally recognized Indian reservation or, for those federally
recognized tribes that do not have a reservation, then on or
near the federally designated service delivery area.
(3) The department and its employees are immune from
civil liability for damages arising from the conduct of agencies licensed by a tribe. [2006 c 90 § 2; 1987 c 170 § 13.]
Severability—1987 c 170: See note following RCW 13.04.030.
74.15.200
74.15.200 Child abuse and neglect prevention training to parents and day care providers. The department of
social and health services shall have primary responsibility
for providing child abuse and neglect prevention training to
(2006 Ed.)
Care of Children, Expectant Mothers, Developmentally Disabled
parents and licensed child day care providers of preschool
age children participating in day care programs meeting the
requirements of chapter 74.15 RCW. The department may
limit training under this section to trainers’ workshops and
curriculum development using existing resources. [1987 c
489 § 5.]
Intent—1987 c 489: See note following RCW 28A.300.150.
74.15.210 Community facility—Service provider
must report juvenile infractions or violations—Violations
by service provider—Secretary’s duties—Rules. (1)
Whenever the secretary contracts with a service provider to
operate a community facility, the contract shall include a
requirement that each service provider must report to the
department any known infraction or violation of conditions
committed by any juvenile under its supervision. The report
must be made immediately upon learning of serious infractions or violations and within twenty-four hours for other
infractions or violations.
(2) The secretary shall adopt rules to implement and
enforce the provisions of this section. The rules shall contain
a schedule of monetary penalties not to exceed the total compensation set forth in the contract, and include provisions that
allow the secretary to terminate all contracts with a service
provider that has violations of this section and the rules
adopted under this section.
(3) The secretary shall document in writing all violations
of this section and the rules adopted under this section, penalties, actions by the department to remove juveniles from a
community facility, and contract terminations. The department shall give great weight to a service provider’s record of
violations, penalties, actions by the department to remove
juveniles from a community facility, and contract terminations in determining to execute, renew, or renegotiate a contract with a service provider. [1998 c 269 § 7.]
74.15.210
Intent—Finding—Effective date—1998 c 269: See notes following
RCW 72.05.020.
74.15.220 HOPE centers—Establishment—Requirements. The secretary shall establish HOPE centers that provide no more than seventy-five beds across the state and may
establish HOPE centers by contract, within funds appropriated by the legislature specifically for this purpose. HOPE
centers shall be operated in a manner to reasonably assure
that street youth placed there will not run away. Street youth
may leave a HOPE center during the course of the day to
attend school or other necessary appointments, but the street
youth must be accompanied by an administrator or an administrator’s designee. The street youth must provide the administration with specific information regarding his or her destination and expected time of return to the HOPE center. Any
street youth who runs away from a HOPE center shall not be
readmitted unless specifically authorized by the street
youth’s placement and liaison specialist, and the placement
and liaison specialist shall document with specific factual
findings an appropriate basis for readmitting any street youth
to a HOPE center. HOPE centers are required to have the following:
(1) A license issued by the secretary;
(2) A professional with a master’s degree in counseling,
social work, or related field and at least one year of experi74.15.220
(2006 Ed.)
74.15.220
ence working with street youth or a bachelor of arts degree in
social work or a related field and five years of experience
working with street youth. This professional staff person may
be contractual or a part-time employee, but must be available
to work with street youth in a HOPE center at a ratio of one
to every fifteen youth staying in a HOPE center. This professional shall be known as a placement and liaison specialist.
Preference shall be given to those professionals cross-credentialed in mental health and chemical dependency. The placement and liaison specialist shall:
(a) Conduct an assessment of the street youth that
includes a determination of the street youth’s legal status
regarding residential placement;
(b) Facilitate the street youth’s return to his or her legally
authorized residence at the earliest possible date or initiate
processes to arrange legally authorized appropriate placement. Any street youth who may meet the definition of
dependent child under RCW 13.34.030 must be referred to
the department. The department shall determine whether a
dependency petition should be filed under chapter 13.34
RCW. A shelter care hearing must be held within seventytwo hours to authorize out-of-home placement for any youth
the department determines is appropriate for out-of-home
placement under chapter 13.34 RCW. All of the provisions of
chapter 13.32A RCW must be followed for children in need
of services or at-risk youth;
(c) Interface with other relevant resources and system
representatives to secure long-term residential placement and
other needed services for the street youth;
(d) Be assigned immediately to each youth and meet
with the youth within eight hours of the youth receiving
HOPE center services;
(e) Facilitate a physical examination of any street youth
who has not seen a physician within one year prior to residence at a HOPE center and facilitate evaluation by a countydesignated mental health professional, a chemical dependency specialist, or both if appropriate; and
(f) Arrange an educational assessment to measure the
street youth’s competency level in reading, writing, and basic
mathematics, and that will measure learning disabilities or
special needs;
(3) Staff trained in development needs of street youth as
determined by the secretary, including an administrator who
is a professional with a master’s degree in counseling, social
work, or a related field and at least one year of experience
working with street youth, or a bachelor of arts degree in
social work or a related field and five years of experience
working with street youth, who must work with the placement and liaison specialist to provide appropriate services on
site;
(4) A data collection system that measures outcomes for
the population served, and enables research and evaluation
that can be used for future program development and service
delivery. Data collection systems must have confidentiality
rules and protocols developed by the secretary;
(5) Notification requirements that meet the notification
requirements of chapter 13.32A RCW. The youth’s arrival
date and time must be logged at intake by HOPE center staff.
The staff must immediately notify law enforcement and
dependency caseworkers if a street youth runs away from a
HOPE center. A child may be transferred to a secure facility
[Title 74 RCW—page 93]
74.15.230
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
as defined in RCW 13.32A.030 whenever the staff reasonably believes that a street youth is likely to leave the HOPE
center and not return after full consideration of the factors set
forth in RCW 13.32A.130(2)(a) (i) and (ii). The street
youth’s temporary placement in the HOPE center must be
authorized by the court or the secretary if the youth is a
dependent of the state under chapter 13.34 RCW or the
department is responsible for the youth under chapter 13.32A
RCW, or by the youth’s parent or legal custodian, until such
time as the parent can retrieve the youth who is returning to
home;
(6) HOPE centers must identify to the department any
street youth it serves who is not returning promptly to home.
The department then must contact the missing children’s
clearinghouse identified in chapter 13.60 RCW and either
report the youth’s location or report that the youth is the subject of a dependency action and the parent should receive
notice from the department;
(7) Services that provide counseling and education to the
street youth; and
(8) The department shall only award contracts for the
operation of HOPE center beds and responsible living skills
programs in departmental regions: (a) With operating secure
crisis residential centers; or (b) in which the secretary finds
significant progress is made toward opening a secure crisis
residential center. [1999 c 267 § 12.]
Phase in of beds—1999 c 267 §§ 12 and 13: "Within funds specifically
appropriated by the legislature, HOPE center beds referenced in section 12
of this act and responsible living skills program beds referenced in section 13
of this act shall be phased in at the rate of twenty-five percent each year
beginning January 1, 2000, until the maximum is attained." [1999 c 267 §
26.]
Effective date—1999 c 267 §§ 12 and 13: "Sections 12 and 13 of this
act take effect January 1, 2000." [1999 c 267 § 27.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.230
74.15.230 Responsible living skills programs—
Established—Requirements. The secretary shall establish
responsible living skills programs that provide no more than
seventy-five beds across the state and may establish responsible living skills programs by contract, within funds appropriated by the legislature specifically for this purpose. Responsible living skills programs shall have the following:
(1) A license issued by the secretary;
(2) A professional with a master’s degree in counseling,
social work, or related field and at least one year of experience working with street youth available to serve residents or
a bachelor of arts degree in social work or a related field and
five years of experience working with street youth. The professional shall provide counseling services and interface with
other relevant resources and systems to prepare the minor for
adult living. Preference shall be given to those professionals
cross-credentialed in mental health and chemical dependency;
(3) Staff trained in development needs of older adolescents eligible to participate in responsible living skills programs as determined by the secretary;
(4) Transitional living services and a therapeutic model
of service delivery that provides necessary program supervision of residents and at the same time includes a philosophy,
program structure, and treatment planning that emphasizes
[Title 74 RCW—page 94]
achievement of competency in independent living skills.
Independent living skills include achieving basic educational
requirements such as a GED, enrollment in vocational and
technical training programs offered at the community and
vocational colleges, obtaining and maintaining employment;
accomplishing basic life skills such as money management,
nutrition, preparing meals, and cleaning house. A baseline
skill level in ability to function productively and independently shall be determined at entry. Performance shall be
measured and must demonstrate improvement from involvement in the program. Each resident shall have a plan for
achieving independent living skills by the time the resident
leaves the placement. The plan shall be written within the
first thirty days of placement and reviewed every ninety days.
A resident who fails to consistently adhere to the elements of
the plan shall be subject to reassessment by the professional
staff of the program and may be placed outside the program;
and
(5) A data collection system that measures outcomes for
the population served, and enables research and evaluation
that can be used for future program development and service
delivery. Data collection systems must have confidentiality
rules and protocols developed by the secretary.
(6) The department shall not award contracts for the
operation of responsible living skills programs until HOPE
center beds are operational. [1999 c 267 § 13.]
Phase in of beds—Effective date—1999 c 267 §§ 12 and 13: See
notes following RCW 74.15.220.
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.240
74.15.240 Responsible living skills program—Eligibility. To be eligible for placement in a responsible living
skills program, the minor must be dependent under chapter
13.34 RCW and must have lived in a HOPE center or in a
secure crisis residential center. Responsible living skills centers are intended as a placement alternative for dependent
youth that the department chooses for the youth because no
other services or alternative placements have been successful. Responsible living skills centers are not for dependent
youth whose permanency plan includes return to home or
family reunification. [1999 c 267 § 14.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.250
74.15.250 HOPE centers—Responsible living skills
programs—Licensing authority—Rules. The secretary is
authorized to license HOPE centers and responsible living
skills programs that meet statutory and rule requirements created by the secretary. The secretary is authorized to develop
rules necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 10
through 26, chapter 267, Laws of 1999. The secretary may
rely upon existing licensing provisions in development of
licensing requirements for HOPE centers and responsible living skills programs, as are appropriate to carry out the intent
of sections 10 through 26, chapter 267, Laws of 1999. HOPE
centers and responsible living skills programs shall be
required to adhere to departmental regulations prohibiting the
use of alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, violence, and
sexual activity between residents. [1999 c 267 § 15.]
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Services for the Blind
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.260
74.15.260 HOPE centers—Responsible living skills
programs—Grant proposals—Technical assistance. The
department shall provide technical assistance in preparation
of grant proposals for HOPE centers and responsible living
skills programs to nonprofit organizations unfamiliar with
and inexperienced in submission of requests for proposals to
the department. [1999 c 267 § 21.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.270
74.15.270 HOPE centers—Responsible living skills
programs—Awarding of contracts. The department shall
consider prioritizing, on an ongoing basis, the awarding of
contracts for HOPE centers and responsible living skills programs to providers who have not traditionally been awarded
contracts with the department. [1999 c 267 § 22.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.280
74.15.280 Emergency respite centers—Licensing—
Rules. The secretary is authorized to license emergency
respite centers. The department may adopt rules to specify
licensing requirements for emergency respite centers. [2001
c 230 § 2.]
74.15.300
74.15.300 Enforcement action—Definition. For the
purposes of chapter 473, Laws of 2005, "enforcement action"
means denial, suspension, revocation, modification, or nonrenewal of a license pursuant to RCW 74.15.130(1) or assessment of civil monetary penalties pursuant to RCW
74.15.130(4). [2005 c 473 § 2.]
Purpose—2005 c 473: "The legislature recognizes that child care providers provide valuable services for the families of Washington state and are
an important part of ensuring the healthy growth and development of young
children. It also recognizes the importance of ensuring that operators of
child day-care centers and family day-care providers are providing safe and
quality care and operating in compliance with minimal standards.
The legislature further recognizes that parents, as consumers, have an
interest in obtaining access to information that is relevant to making
informed decisions about the persons with whom they entrust the care of
their children. The purpose of this act is to establish a system, consistent
throughout the state, through which parents, guardians, and other persons
acting in loco parentis can obtain certain information about child care providers." [2005 c 473 § 1.]
74.15.900
74.15.900 Short title—Purpose—Entitlement not
granted—1999 c 267 §§ 10-26. Sections 10 through 26,
chapter 267, Laws of 1999 may be referred to as the homeless
youth prevention, protection, and education act, or the HOPE
act. Every day many youth in this state seek shelter out on the
street. A nurturing nuclear family does not exist for them, and
state-sponsored alternatives such as foster homes do not meet
the demand and isolate youth, who feel like outsiders in families not their own. The legislature recognizes the need to
develop placement alternatives for dependent youth ages sixteen to eighteen, who are living on the street. The HOPE act
is an effort to engage youth and provide them access to services through development of life skills in a setting that supports them. Nothing in sections 10 through 26, chapter 267,
(2006 Ed.)
74.18.010
Laws of 1999 shall constitute an entitlement. [1999 c 267 §
10.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
74.15.901 Federal waivers—1999 c 267 §§ 10-26. The
department of social and health services shall seek any necessary federal waivers for federal funding of the programs created under sections 10 through 26, chapter 267, Laws of
1999. The department shall pursue federal funding sources
for the programs created under sections 10 through 26, chapter 267, Laws of 1999, and report to the legislature any statutory barriers to federal funding. [1999 c 267 § 23.]
74.15.901
Findings—Intent—Severability—1999 c 267: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.790.
Chapter 74.18 RCW
DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
Chapter 74.18
Sections
74.18.010
74.18.020
74.18.030
74.18.040
74.18.045
74.18.050
74.18.060
74.18.070
74.18.080
74.18.090
74.18.100
74.18.110
74.18.120
74.18.123
74.18.127
74.18.130
74.18.140
74.18.150
74.18.170
74.18.180
74.18.190
74.18.200
74.18.210
74.18.220
74.18.230
74.18.901
74.18.902
74.18.903
Intent.
Definitions.
Department created.
Director—Appointment—Salary.
Telephonic reading service.
Appointment of personnel.
Department—Powers and duties.
Rehabilitation council for the blind—Membership.
Rehabilitation council for the blind—Meetings—Travel
expenses.
Rehabilitation council for the blind—Powers.
Rehabilitation council for the blind—Director to consult.
Receipt of gifts, grants, and bequests.
Administrative hearing—Appeal—Rules.
Background checks—Individuals having unsupervised access
to persons with significant disabilities—Rules.
Confidentiality of personal information, records—Rules.
Vocational rehabilitation—Eligibility.
Vocational rehabilitation—Services.
Vocational rehabilitation—Grants of equipment and material.
Rehabilitation or habilitation facilities authorized.
Services for independent living.
Services to blind children and their families.
Business enterprises program—Definitions.
Business enterprises program—Purposes.
Business enterprises program—Vending facilities in public
buildings.
Business enterprises revolving account.
Conflict with federal requirements.
Severability—1983 c 194.
Effective dates—1983 c 194.
74.18.010
74.18.010 Intent. The purposes of this chapter are to
promote employment and independence of blind persons in
the state of Washington through their complete integration
into society on the basis of equality, and to encourage public
acceptance of the abilities of blind persons. [2003 c 409 § 2;
1983 c 194 § 1.]
Findings—2003 c 409: "The legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Thousands of citizens in the state have disabilities, including blindness or visual impairment, that prevent them from using conventional print
material.
(2) Governmental and nonprofit organizations provide access to reading material by specialized means, including books and magazines prepared
in braille, audio, and large-type formats.
(3) Access to time-sensitive or local or regional publications, or both,
is not feasible to produce through these traditional means and formats.
(4) Lack of direct and prompt access to information included in newspapers, magazines, newsletters, schedules, announcements, and other timesensitive materials limits educational opportunities, literacy, and full partici[Title 74 RCW—page 95]
74.18.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
pation in society by people with print disabilities.
(5) Creation and storage of information by computer results in electronic files used for publishing and distribution.
(6) The use of high-speed computer and telecommunications technology combined with customized software provides a practical and cost-effective means to convert electronic text-based information, including daily
newspapers, into synthetic speech suitable for statewide distribution by telephone.
(7) Telephonic distribution of time-sensitive information, including
daily newspapers, will enhance the state’s current efforts to meet the needs
of blind and disabled citizens for access to information which is otherwise
available in print, thereby reducing isolation and supporting full integration
and equal access for such individuals." [2003 c 409 § 1.]
74.18.020
74.18.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Department" means an agency of state government
called the department of services for the blind.
(2) "Director" means the director of the department of
services for the blind. The director is appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate.
(3) "Rehabilitation council for the blind" means the body
of members appointed by the governor in accordance with
the provisions of RCW 74.18.070 to advise the state agency.
(4) "Blind person" means a person who: (a) Has no
vision or whose vision with corrective lenses is so limited
that the individual requires alternative methods or skills to do
efficiently those things that are ordinarily done with sight by
individuals with normal vision; (b) has an eye condition of a
progressive nature which may lead to blindness; or (c) is
blind for purposes of the business enterprise program as set
forth in RCW 74.18.200 through 74.18.230 in accordance
with requirements of the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936.
(5) "Telephonic reading service" means audio information provided by telephone, including the acquisition and distribution of daily newspapers and other information of local,
state, or national interest. [2003 c 409 § 3; 1983 c 194 § 2.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.030
74.18.030 Department created. There is hereby created an agency of state government to be known as the
department of services for the blind. The department shall
deliver services to blind persons to the extent that appropriations are made available, provided that applicants meet the
eligibility criteria for services authorized by this chapter.
[1983 c 194 § 3.]
74.18.040
74.18.040 Director—Appointment—Salary. The
executive head of the department shall be the director of the
department of services for the blind. The director shall be
appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and
hold office at the pleasure of the governor. The director’s salary shall be fixed by the governor in accordance with the provisions of RCW 43.03.040. [1983 c 194 § 4.]
74.18.045
74.18.045 Telephonic reading service. (1)(a) The
director shall provide access to a telephonic reading service
for blind and disabled persons.
(b) The director shall establish criteria for eligibility for
blind and disabled persons who may receive the telephonic
reading services. The criteria may be based upon the eligibility criteria for persons who receive services established by
[Title 74 RCW—page 96]
the national library service for the blind and physically handicapped of the library of congress.
(2) The director may enter into contracts or other agreements that he or she determines to be appropriate to provide
telephonic reading services pursuant to this section.
(3) The director may expand the type and scope of materials available on the telephonic reading service in order to
meet the local, regional, or foreign language needs of blind or
visually impaired residents of this state. The director may
also expand the scope of services and availability of telephonic reading services by current methods and technologies
that may be developed. The director may inform current and
potential patrons of the availability of telephonic reading services through appropriate means, including, but not limited
to, direct mailings, direct telephonic contact, and public service announcements.
(4) The director may expend moneys from the business
enterprises revolving account accrued from vending machine
sales in state and local government buildings, as well as
donations and grants, for the purpose of supporting the cost
of activities described in this section. [2003 c 409 § 4.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.050
74.18.050 Appointment of personnel. The director
may appoint such personnel as necessary, none of whom
shall be members of the rehabilitation council for the blind.
The director and other personnel who are assigned substantial
responsibility for formulating agency policy or directing and
controlling a major administrative division, together with
their confidential secretaries, up to a maximum of six persons, shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06
RCW. [2003 c 409 § 5; 1983 c 194 § 5.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.060
74.18.060 Department—Powers and duties. The
department shall:
(1) Serve as the sole agency of the state for contracting
for and disbursing all federal and state funds appropriated for
programs established by and within the jurisdiction of this
chapter, and make reports and render accounting as may be
required;
(2) Adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW,
necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(3) Negotiate agreements with other state agencies to
provide services so that individuals of any age who are blind
or are both blind and otherwise disabled receive the most
beneficial services. [2003 c 409 § 6; 1983 c 194 § 6.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.070
74.18.070 Rehabilitation council for the blind—
Membership. (1) There is hereby created the rehabilitation
council for the blind. The rehabilitation council shall consist
of the minimum number of voting members to meet the
requirements of the rehabilitation council required under the
federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter
amended. A majority of the voting members shall be blind
persons. Rehabilitation council members shall be residents
of the state of Washington, and shall be appointed in accordance with the categories of membership specified in the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter amended.
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Services for the Blind
The director of the department shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member.
(2) The governor shall appoint members of the rehabilitation council for terms of three years, except that the initial
appointments shall be as follows: (a) Three members for
terms of three years; (b) two members for terms of two years;
and (c) other members for terms of one year. Vacancies in
the membership of the rehabilitation council shall be filled by
the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(3) The governor may remove members of the rehabilitation council for cause. [2003 c 409 § 7; 2000 c 57 § 1; 1983
c 194 § 7.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.080
74.18.080 Rehabilitation council for the blind—
Meetings—Travel expenses. (1) The rehabilitation council
for the blind shall meet officially with the director of the
department quarterly to perform the duties enumerated in
RCW 74.18.090. Additional meetings of the rehabilitation
council may be convened at the call of the chairperson or of a
majority of the members. The rehabilitation council shall
elect a chairperson from among its members for a term of one
year or until a successor has been elected.
(2) Rehabilitation council members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of
their official duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060. [2000 c 57 § 2; 1983 c 194 § 8.]
74.18.090
74.18.090 Rehabilitation council for the blind—Powers. The rehabilitation council for the blind may:
(1) Provide counsel to the director in developing,
reviewing, making recommendations, and agreeing on the
department’s state plan for vocational rehabilitation, budget
requests, permanent rules concerning services to blind persons, and other major policies which impact the quality or
quantity of services for blind persons;
(2) Undertake annual reviews with the director of the
needs of blind persons, the effectiveness of the services and
priorities of the department to meet those needs, and the measures that could be taken to improve the department’s services;
(3) Annually make recommendations to the governor
and the legislature on issues related to the department, other
state agencies, or state laws which have a significant effect on
the opportunities, services, or rights of blind persons;
(4) Advise and make recommendations to the governor
on the criteria and qualifications pertinent to the selection of
the director;
(5) Perform additional functions as required by the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter amended.
[2003 c 409 § 8; 2000 c 57 § 3; 1983 c 194 § 9.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.100
74.18.100 Rehabilitation council for the blind—
Director to consult. It shall be the duty of the director to
consult in a timely manner with the rehabilitation council for
the blind on the matters enumerated in RCW 74.18.090. The
director shall provide appropriate departmental resources for
the use of the rehabilitation council in conducting its official
business. [2000 c 57 § 4; 1983 c 194 § 10.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.18.123
74.18.110
74.18.110 Receipt of gifts, grants, and bequests. The
department may receive, accept, and disburse gifts, grants,
conveyances, devises, and bequests from public or private
sources, in trust or otherwise, if the terms and conditions
thereof will provide services for blind persons in a manner
consistent with the purposes of this chapter and with other
provisions of law. Any money so received shall be deposited
in the state treasury for investment or expenditure in accordance with the conditions of its receipt. [2003 c 409 § 9;
1983 c 194 § 11.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.120
74.18.120 Administrative hearing—Appeal—Rules.
(1) An applicant or eligible person who is dissatisfied with a
decision, action, or inaction made by the department or its
agents regarding that person’s eligibility or department services provided to that person is entitled to an administrative
hearing. Such administrative hearings shall be conducted
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW by an administrative law
judge.
(2) The applicant or eligible individual may appeal final
decisions issued following administrative hearings under
RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598.
(3) The department shall develop rules governing other
processes for dispute resolution as required under the federal
rehabilitation act of 1973. [2003 c 409 § 10; 1989 c 175 §
150; 1983 c 194 § 12.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
74.18.123
74.18.123 Background checks—Individuals having
unsupervised access to persons with significant disabilities—Rules. (1) The department shall investigate the conviction records, pending charges, and disciplinary board final
decisions of individuals acting on behalf of the department
who will or may have unsupervised access to persons with
significant disabilities as defined by the federal rehabilitation
act of 1973. This includes:
(a) Current employees of the department;
(b) Applicants seeking or being considered for any position with the department; and
(c) Any service provider, contractor, student intern, volunteer, or other individual acting on behalf of the department.
(2) The investigation shall consist of a background check
as allowed through the Washington state criminal records privacy act under RCW 10.97.050, the Washington state patrol
criminal identification system under RCW 43.43.832 through
43.43.834, and the federal bureau of investigation. The background check shall include a fingerprint check using a complete Washington state criminal identification fingerprint
card. If the applicant or service provider has had a background check within the previous two years, the department
may waive the requirement.
(3) When necessary, applicants may be employed and
service providers may be engaged on a conditional basis
pending completion of the background check.
(4) The department shall use the information solely to
determine the character, suitability, and competence of
employees, applicants, service providers, contractors, student
[Title 74 RCW—page 97]
74.18.127
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
interns, volunteers, and other individuals in accordance with
RCW 41.06.475.
(5) The department shall adopt rules addressing procedures for undertaking background checks which shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) The manner in which the individual will be provided
access to and review of information obtained based on the
background check required;
(b) Assurance that access to background check information shall be limited to only those individuals processing the
information at the department;
(c) Action that shall be taken against a current employee,
service provider, contractor, student intern, or volunteer who
is disqualified from a position because of a background check
not previously performed.
(6) The department shall determine who will pay costs
associated with the background check. [2003 c 409 § 11.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.127
74.18.127 Confidentiality of personal information,
records—Rules. (1) Personal information and records
obtained and retained by the department concerning applicants and eligible individuals are confidential, are not subject
to public disclosure, and may be released only in accordance
with law or with this provision.
(2) The department shall adopt rules and develop contract language to safeguard the confidentiality of all personal
information, including photographs and lists of names. Rules
and contract language shall ensure that:
(a) Specific safeguards are established to protect all current and future stored personal information;
(b) Specific safeguards and procedures are established
for the release of personal health information in accordance
with the health insurance portability and accountability act of
1996, 45 C.F.R. 160 through 45 C.F.R. 164;
(c) All applicants and eligible individuals and, as appropriate, those individuals’ representatives, service providers,
cooperating agencies, and interested persons are informed
upon initial intake of the confidentiality of personal information and the conditions for accessing and releasing this information;
(d) All applicants or their representatives are informed
about the department’s need to collect personal information
and the policies governing its use, including: (i) Identification of the authority under which information is collected; (ii)
explanation of the principal purposes for which the department intends to use or release the information; (iii) explanation of whether providing requested information to the
department is mandatory or voluntary and the effects of not
providing requested information; (iv) identification of those
situations in which the department requires or does not
require informed written consent of the individual before
information may be released; and (v) identification of other
agencies to which information is routinely released; and
(e) An explanation of department policies and procedures affecting personal information will be provided at
intake or on request to each individual in that individual’s
native language and in an appropriate format including but
not limited to braille, audio recording, electronic media, or
large print. [2003 c 409 § 12.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 98]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.130
74.18.130 Vocational rehabilitation—Eligibility. The
department shall provide a program of vocational rehabilitation to assist blind persons to overcome barriers to employment and to develop skills necessary for employment and
independence. Applicants eligible for vocational rehabilitation services shall be blind persons who also meet eligibility
requirements as specified in the federal rehabilitation act of
1973. [2003 c 409 § 13; 1983 c 194 § 13.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.140
74.18.140 Vocational rehabilitation—Services. The
department shall ensure that vocational rehabilitation services in accordance with requirements under the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 are available to meet the identified
requirements of each eligible individual in preparing for,
securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that
is consistent with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed
choice. [2003 c 409 § 14; 1983 c 194 § 14.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.150
74.18.150 Vocational rehabilitation—Grants of
equipment and material. The department may grant to eligible participants in the vocational rehabilitation program
equipment and materials in accordance with the provisions
related to transfer of capital assets as set forth by the office of
financial management in the state administrative and
accounting manual, provided that the equipment or materials
are required by the individual’s plan for employment and are
used in a manner consistent therewith. The department shall
adopt rules to implement this section. [2003 c 409 § 15; 1996
c 7 § 1; 1983 c 194 § 15.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.170
74.18.170 Rehabilitation or habilitation facilities
authorized. The department may establish, construct, and/or
operate rehabilitation or habilitation facilities to provide
instruction in alternative skills necessary to adjust to blindness or substantial vision loss, to assist blind persons to
develop increased confidence and independence, or to provide other services consistent with the purposes of this chapter. The department shall adopt rules concerning selection
criteria for participation, services, and other matters necessary for efficient and effective operation of such facilities.
[2003 c 409 § 16; 1983 c 194 § 16.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.180
74.18.180 Services for independent living. (1) The
department may provide a program of independent living services for blind persons who are not seeking vocational rehabilitation services.
(2) Independent living services may include, but are not
limited to, instruction in adaptive skills of blindness, counseling regarding adjustment to vision loss, and provision of
adaptive devices that enable service recipients to participate
in the community and maintain or increase their independence. [2003 c 409 § 17; 1983 c 194 § 18.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Services for the Blind
74.18.190
74.18.190 Services to blind children and their families. (1) The department may offer services to assist blind
children and their families to learn skills and locate resources
which increase the child’s ability for personal development
and participation in society.
(2) Services provided under this section may include:
(a) Direct consultation with blind children and their families to provide needs assessment, counseling, developmental
training, adaptive skills, and information regarding other
available resources;
(b) Consultation and technical assistance in all sectors of
society, at the request of a blind child, his or her family, or a
service provider working with the child or family, to assure
the blind child’s rights to participate fully in educational,
vocational, and social opportunities. The department is
encouraged to establish working agreements and arrangements with community organizations and other state agencies
which provide services to blind children.
(3) To facilitate the coordination of services to blind
children and their families, the office of superintendent of
public instruction and the department of services for the blind
shall negotiate an interagency agreement providing for coordinated service delivery and the sharing of information
between the two agencies, including an annual register of
blind students in the state of Washington. [1983 c 194 § 19.]
74.18.230
the jurisdiction and control of a local board of education
without the consent of such board.
(7) "Priority" means the department has first and primary
right to operate the food service and vending facilities,
including vending machines, on federal, state, county, municipal, and other local government property except those otherwise exempted by statute. Such right may, at the sole discretion of the department, be waived in the event that the department is temporarily unable to assert the priority. [2003 c 409
§ 18; 1985 c 97 § 1; 1983 c 194 § 20.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.210
74.18.210 Business enterprises program—Purposes.
The department shall maintain or cause to be maintained a
business enterprises program for blind persons to operate
vending facilities in public buildings. The purposes of the
business enterprises program are to implement the RandolphSheppard Act and thereby give priority to qualified blind persons in operating vending facilities on federal property, to
make similar provisions for vending facilities in public buildings in the state of Washington and thereby increase employment opportunities for blind persons, and to encourage blind
persons to become successful, independent business persons.
[2003 c 409 § 19; 1983 c 194 § 21.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.18.200
74.18.200 Business enterprises program—Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply in RCW 74.18.200 through
74.18.230.
(1) "Business enterprises program" means a program
operated by the department under the federal RandolphSheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 107 et seq., and under this
chapter in support of blind persons operating vending businesses in public buildings.
(2) "Vending facility" means any stand, snack bar, cafeteria, or business at which food, tobacco, sundries, or other
retail merchandise or service is sold or provided.
(3) "Vending machine" means any coin-operated
machine that sells or provides food, tobacco, sundries, or
other retail merchandise or service.
(4) "Blind person" means a person whose central visual
acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is
accompanied by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye
to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle of
no greater than twenty degrees. In determining whether an
individual is blind, there shall be an examination by a physician skilled in diseases of the eye, or by an optometrist,
whichever the individual selects.
(5) "Licensee" means a blind person licensed by the state
of Washington under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, this chapter, and the rules issued hereunder.
(6) "Public building" means any building and immediately adjacent outdoor space associated therewith, such as a
patio or entryway, which is: (a) Owned by the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof or any space
leased by the state of Washington or any political subdivision
thereof in any privately-owned building; and (b) dedicated to
the administrative functions of the state or any political subdivision. However, this term shall not include property under
(2006 Ed.)
74.18.220
74.18.220 Business enterprises program—Vending
facilities in public buildings. (1) The department is authorized to license blind persons to operate vending facilities and
vending machines on federal property and in public buildings.
(2) The state, political subdivisions thereof, and agencies
of the state, or political subdivisions thereof shall give priority to licensees in the operation of vending facilities and
vending machines in public buildings. [1983 c 194 § 22.]
74.18.230
74.18.230 Business enterprises revolving account. (1)
There is established in the state treasury an account known as
the business enterprises revolving account.
(2) The net proceeds from any vending machine operation in a public building, other than an operation managed by
a licensee, shall be made payable to the business enterprises
program, which will pay only the blind vendors’ portion, at
the subscriber’s rate, for the purpose of funding a plan of
health insurance for blind vendors, as provided in RCW
41.05.225. Net proceeds, for purposes of this section, means
gross sales less state sales tax and a fair minimum return to
the vending machine owner or service provider, which return
shall be a reasonable amount to be determined by the department.
(3) All federal moneys in the business enterprises revolving account shall be expended only for development and
expansion of locations, equipment, management services,
and payments to licensees in the business enterprises program.
(4) The business enterprises program shall be supported
by the business enterprises revolving account and by income
which may accrue to the department pursuant to the federal
Randolph-Sheppard Act. [2003 c 409 § 20; 2002 c 71 § 2;
[Title 74 RCW—page 99]
74.18.901
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
1993 c 369 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 13 §§ 19, 116. Prior: 1985 c 97
§ 2; 1985 c 57 § 72; 1983 c 194 § 23.]
Findings—2003 c 409: See note following RCW 74.18.010.
74.20.280
74.20.300
74.20.310
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
74.20.320
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
74.20.330
74.18.901
74.18.901 Conflict with federal requirements. If any
part of this chapter is found to be in conflict with federal
requirements which are a condition precedent to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this
chapter is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the
extent of the conflict, and the findings or determination shall
not affect the operation of the remainder of this chapter.
[1983 c 194 § 25.]
74.18.902
74.18.902 Severability—1983 c 194. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1983 c 194 § 31.]
74.18.903
74.18.903 Effective dates—1983 c 194. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions. Section 27 of this act which transfers functions from the commission for the blind to the
department of social and health services and section 26 of this
act shall take effect immediately. All other sections of this act
shall take effect June 30, 1983. [1983 c 194 § 33.]
Chapter 74.20
Chapter 74.20 RCW
SUPPORT OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Sections
74.20.010
74.20.021
74.20.040
74.20.045
74.20.055
74.20.057
74.20.060
74.20.065
74.20.101
74.20.160
74.20.210
74.20.220
74.20.225
74.20.230
74.20.240
74.20.250
74.20.260
Purpose—Legislative intent—Chapter to be liberally construed.
Definitions.
Duty of department to enforce child support—Requests for
support enforcement services—Schedule of fees—Waiver—
Rules.
Employment status—Self-employed individuals—Enforcement.
Designated agency under federal law—Role of prosecuting
attorneys.
Adjudicative proceedings—Role of department.
Cooperation by person having custody of child—Penalty.
Wrongful deprivation of custody—Legal custodian excused
from support payments.
Payment of support moneys to state support registry—
Notice—Effects of noncompliance.
Department may disclose information to internal revenue
department.
Attorney general may act under Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act pursuant to agreement with prosecuting
attorney.
Powers of department through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney.
Subpoena authority—Enforcement.
Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance.
Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance—Order—Powers
of court.
Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance—Waiver of filing
fees.
Financial statements by parent whose absence is basis of application for public assistance.
[Title 74 RCW—page 100]
74.20.340
74.20.350
74.20.360
Central unit for information and administration—Cooperation
enjoined—Availability of records.
Department exempt from fees relating to paternity or support.
Guardian ad litem in actions brought to determine parent and
child relationship—Notice.
Custodian to remit support moneys when department has support obligation—Noncompliance.
Payment of public assistance as assignment of rights to support—Department authorized to provide services.
Employees’ case workload standards.
Costs and attorneys’ fees.
Orders for genetic testing.
Child support registry: Chapter 26.23 RCW.
Temporary assistance for needy families: Chapter 74.12 RCW.
74.20.010
74.20.010 Purpose—Legislative intent—Chapter to
be liberally construed. It is the responsibility of the state of
Washington through the state department of social and health
services to conserve the expenditure of public assistance
funds, whenever possible, in order that such funds shall not
be expended if there are private funds available or which can
be made available by judicial process or otherwise to partially or completely meet the financial needs of the children
of this state. The failure of parents to provide adequate financial support and care for their children is a major cause of
financial dependency and a contributing cause of social
delinquency.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the state of
Washington, through the department of social and health services, a more effective and efficient way to effect the support
of dependent children by the person or persons who, under
the law, are primarily responsible for such support and to
lighten the heavy burden of the taxpayer, who in many
instances is paying toward the support of dependent children
while those persons primarily responsible are avoiding their
obligations. It is the intention of the legislature that the powers delegated to the said department in this chapter be liberally construed to the end that persons legally responsible for
the care and support of children within the state be required to
assume their legal obligations in order to reduce the financial
cost to the state of Washington in providing public assistance
funds for the care of children. It is the intention of the legislature that the department provide sufficient staff to carry out
the purposes of this chapter, chapter 74.20A RCW, the abandonment and nonsupport statutes, and any applicable federal
support enforcement statute administered by the department.
It is also the intent of the legislature that the staff responsible
for support enforcement be encouraged to conduct their support enforcement duties with fairness, courtesy, and the highest professional standards. [1979 ex.s. c 171 § 24; 1979 c 141
§ 364; 1963 c 206 § 1; 1959 c 322 § 2.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.021
74.20.021 Definitions.
See RCW 74.20A.020.
74.20.040
74.20.040 Duty of department to enforce child support—Requests for support enforcement services—
Schedule of fees—Waiver—Rules. (1) Whenever the
department receives an application for public assistance on
behalf of a child, the department shall take appropriate action
under the provisions of this chapter, chapter 74.20A RCW, or
other appropriate statutes of this state to establish or enforce
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children
support obligations against the parent or other persons owing
a duty to pay support moneys.
(2) The secretary may accept a request for support
enforcement services on behalf of persons who are not recipients of public assistance and may take appropriate action to
establish or enforce support obligations against the parent or
other persons owing a duty to pay moneys. Requests accepted
under this subsection may be conditioned upon the payment
of a fee as required through regulation issued by the secretary. The secretary may establish by regulation, reasonable
standards and qualifications for support enforcement services
under this subsection.
(3) The secretary may accept requests for support
enforcement services from child support enforcement agencies in other states operating child support programs under
Title IV-D of the social security act or from foreign countries,
and may take appropriate action to establish and enforce support obligations, or to enforce subpoenas, information
requests, orders for genetic testing, and collection actions
issued by the other agency against the parent or other person
owing a duty to pay support moneys, the parent or other person’s employer, or any other person or entity properly subject
to child support collection or information-gathering processes. The request shall contain and be accompanied by such
information and documentation as the secretary may by rule
require, and be signed by an authorized representative of the
agency. The secretary may adopt rules setting forth the duration and nature of services provided under this subsection.
(4) The department may take action to establish, enforce,
and collect a support obligation, including performing related
services, under this chapter and chapter 74.20A RCW, or
through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney for
action under chapter 26.09, 26.18, 26.20, *26.21, or 26.26
RCW or other appropriate statutes or the common law of this
state.
(5) Whenever a support order is filed with the Washington state support registry under chapter 26.23 RCW, the
department may take appropriate action under the provisions
of this chapter, chapter 26.23 or 74.20A RCW, or other
appropriate law of this state to establish or enforce the support obligations contained in that order against the responsible parent or other persons owing a duty to pay support moneys.
(6) The secretary may charge and collect a fee from the
person obligated to pay support to compensate the department for services rendered in establishment of or enforcement of support obligations. This fee shall be limited to not
more than ten percent of any support money collected as a
result of action taken by the secretary. The fee charged shall
be in addition to the support obligation. In no event may any
moneys collected by the department from the person obligated to pay support be retained as satisfaction of fees
charged until all current support obligations have been satisfied. The secretary shall by regulation establish reasonable
fees for support enforcement services and said schedule of
fees shall be made available to any person obligated to pay
support. The secretary may, on showing of necessity, waive
or defer any such fee.
(7) Fees, due and owing, may be collected as delinquent
support moneys utilizing any of the remedies in chapter 74.20
RCW, chapter 74.20A RCW, *chapter 26.21 RCW, or any
(2006 Ed.)
74.20.057
other remedy at law or equity available to the department or
any agencies with whom it has a cooperative or contractual
arrangement to establish, enforce, or collect support moneys
or support obligations.
(8) The secretary may waive the fee, or any portion
thereof, as a part of a compromise of disputed claims or may
grant partial or total charge off of said fee if the secretary
finds there are no available, practical, or lawful means by
which said fee may be collected or to facilitate payment of
the amount of delinquent support moneys owed.
(9) The secretary shall adopt rules conforming to federal
laws, rules, and regulations required to be observed in maintaining the state child support enforcement program required
under Title IV-D of the federal social security act. The adoption of these rules shall be calculated to promote the costeffective use of the agency’s resources and not otherwise
cause the agency to divert its resources from its essential
functions. [1997 c 58 § 891; 1989 c 360 § 12; 1985 c 276 §
1; 1984 c 260 § 29; 1982 c 201 § 20; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 1;
1971 ex.s. c 213 § 1; 1963 c 206 § 3; 1959 c 322 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 26.21 RCW was repealed by 2002 c 198 §
901, effective January 1, 2007. Later enactment, see chapter 26.21A RCW.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—1984 c 260: See RCW 26.18.900.
74.20.045
74.20.045 Employment status—Self-employed individuals—Enforcement. The office of support enforcement
shall, as a matter of policy, use all available remedies for the
enforcement of support obligations where the obligor is a
self-employed individual. The office of support enforcement
shall not discriminate in favor of certain obligors based upon
employment status. [1994 c 299 § 16.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
74.20.055
74.20.055 Designated agency under federal law—
Role of prosecuting attorneys. The department of social
and health services office of support enforcement is the designated agency in Washington state to administer the child
support program under Title IV-D of the federal social security act and is responsible for providing necessary and mandated support enforcement services and ensuring that such
services are available statewide. It is the intent of the legislature to enhance the total child support program in this state by
granting the office of support enforcement administrative
powers and flexibility. If the exercise of this authority is used
to supplant or replace the role of the prosecuting attorneys for
reasons other than economy or federal compliance, the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys shall report to the
committees on judiciary of the senate and house of representatives. [1985 c 276 § 17.]
74.20.057
74.20.057 Adjudicative proceedings—Role of
department. When the department appears or participates in
an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 26.23 or 74.20A
RCW it shall:
(1) Act in furtherance of the state’s financial interest in
the matter;
[Title 74 RCW—page 101]
74.20.060
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(2) Act in the best interests of the children of the state;
(3) Facilitate the resolution of the controversy; and
(4) Make independent recommendations to ensure the
integrity and proper application of the law and process.
In the proceedings the department does not act on behalf
or as an agent or representative of an individual. [1994 c 230
§ 18.]
last known address of the payee, together with information
about the procedure to contest the determination. [1989 c
360 § 7; 1987 c 435 § 30; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 13; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 183 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 16.]
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.160
74.20.060
74.20.060 Cooperation by person having custody of
child—Penalty. Any person having the care, custody or
control of any dependent child or children who shall fail or
refuse to cooperate with the department of social and health
services, any prosecuting attorney or the attorney general in
the course of administration of provisions of this chapter
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [1979 c 141 § 365; 1959 c
322 § 7.]
74.20.065
74.20.065 Wrongful deprivation of custody—Legal
custodian excused from support payments. If the legal
custodian has been wrongfully deprived of physical custody,
the department is authorized to excuse the custodian from
support payments for a child or children receiving or on
whose behalf public assistance was provided under chapter
74.12 RCW, or for a child or children on behalf of whom the
department is providing nonassistance support enforcement
services. [2002 c 199 § 4; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 31.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.20.101
74.20.101 Payment of support moneys to state support registry—Notice—Effects of noncompliance. (1) A
responsible parent shall make all support payments through
the office of support enforcement or the Washington state
support registry if:
(a) The parent’s support order contains a provision
directing the parent to make support payments through the
office of support enforcement or the Washington state support registry; or
(b) If the parent has received written notice from the
office of support enforcement under RCW 26.23.110,
74.20A.040, or 74.20A.055 that all future support payments
must be made through the office of support enforcement or
the Washington state support registry.
(2) A responsible parent who has been ordered or notified to make support payments to the office of support
enforcement or the Washington state support registry shall
not receive credit for payments which are not paid to the
office of support enforcement or the Washington state support registry unless:
(a) The department determines that the granting of credit
would not prejudice the rights of the residential parent or
other person or agency entitled to receive the support payments and circumstances of an equitable nature exist; or
(b) A court, after a hearing at which all interested parties
were given an opportunity to be heard, on equitable principles, orders that credit be given.
(3) The rights of the payee under an order for support
shall not be prejudiced if the department grants credit under
subsection (2)(a) of this section. If the department determines
that credit should be granted pursuant to subsection (2) of this
section, the department shall mail notice of its decision to the
[Title 74 RCW—page 102]
74.20.160 Department may disclose information to
internal revenue department. Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 74.04.060, upon approval of the department of
health, education and welfare of the federal government, the
department of social and health services may disclose to and
keep the internal revenue department of the treasury of the
United States advised of the names of all persons who are
under legal obligation to support any dependent child or children and who are not doing so, to the end that the internal revenue department may have available to it the names of such
persons for review in connection with income tax returns and
claims of dependencies made by persons filing income tax
returns. [1979 c 141 § 366; 1963 c 206 § 5; 1959 c 322 § 17.]
74.20.210
74.20.210 Attorney general may act under Uniform
Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act pursuant to
agreement with prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting
attorney of any county except a county with a population of
one million or more may enter into an agreement with the
attorney general whereby the duty to initiate petitions for
support authorized under the provisions of *chapter 26.21
RCW as it is now or hereafter amended (**Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act) in cases where the petitioner
has applied for or is receiving public assistance on behalf of a
dependent child or children shall become the duty of the
attorney general. Any such agreement may also provide that
the attorney general has the duty to represent the petitioner in
intercounty proceedings within the state initiated by the attorney general which involve a petition received from another
county. Upon the execution of such agreement, the attorney
general shall be empowered to exercise any and all powers of
the prosecuting attorney in connection with said petitions.
[1991 c 363 § 150; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 14; 1963 c 206 § 6.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Chapter 26.21 RCW was repealed by 2002 c 198
§ 901, effective January 1, 2007. Later enactment, see chapter 26.21A
RCW.
**(2) The "Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act" was
redesignated the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act" by 1993 c 318.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
74.20.220
74.20.220 Powers of department through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney. In order to carry out
its responsibilities imposed under this chapter and as required
by federal law, the state department of social and health services, through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, is
hereby authorized to:
(1) Initiate an action in superior court to obtain a support
order or obtain other relief related to support for a dependent
child on whose behalf the department is providing public
assistance or support enforcement services under RCW
74.20.040, or to enforce a superior court order.
(2) Appear as a party in dissolution, child support, parentage, maintenance suits, or other proceedings, for the pur(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children
pose of representing the financial interest and actions of the
state of Washington therein.
(3) Petition the court for modification of a superior court
order when the office of support enforcement is providing
support enforcement services under RCW 74.20.040.
(4) When the attorney general or prosecuting attorney
appears in, defends, or initiates actions to establish, modify,
or enforce child support obligations he or she represents the
state, the best interests of the child relating to parentage, and
the best interests of the children of the state, but does not represent the interests of any other individual.
(5) If public assistance has been applied for or granted on
behalf of a child of parents who are divorced or legally separated, the attorney general or prosecuting attorney may apply
to the superior court in such action for an order directing
either parent or both to show cause:
(a) Why an order of support for the child should not be
entered, or
(b) Why the amount of support previously ordered
should not be increased, or
(c) Why the parent should not be held in contempt for his
or her failure to comply with any order of support previously
entered.
(6) Initiate any civil proceedings deemed necessary by
the department to secure reimbursement from the parent or
parents of minor dependent children for all moneys expended
by the state in providing assistance or services to said children.
(7) Nothing in this section limits the authority of the
attorney general or prosecuting attorney to use any and all
civil and criminal remedies to enforce, establish, or modify
child support obligations whether or not the custodial parent
receives public assistance. [1991 c 367 § 44; 1979 c 141 §
367; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 112; 1969 ex.s. c 173 § 15; 1963
c 206 § 7.]
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See
notes following RCW 26.09.015.
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
74.20.225
74.20.225 Subpoena authority—Enforcement. In
carrying out the provisions of this chapter or chapters 26.18,
26.23, 26.26, and 74.20A RCW, the secretary and other duly
authorized officers of the department may subpoena witnesses, take testimony, and compel the production of such
papers, books, records, and documents as they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties. The division of child
support may enforce subpoenas issued under this power
according to RCW 74.20A.350. [1997 c 58 § 898.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20.230
74.20.230 Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance. Any married parent with minor children, natural or
legally adopted children who is receiving public assistance
may apply to the superior court of the county in which such
parent resides or in which the spouse may be found for an
order upon such spouse, if such spouse is the natural or adoptive mother or father of such children, to provide for such
(2006 Ed.)
74.20.280
spouse’s support and the support of such spouse’s minor children by filing in such county a petition setting forth the facts
and circumstances upon which such spouse relies for such
order. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that such
parent is without funds to employ counsel, the state department of social and health services through the attorney general may file such petition on behalf of such parent. If satisfied that a just cause exists, the court shall direct that a citation issue to the other spouse requiring such spouse to appear
at a time set by the court to show cause why an order of support should not be entered in the matter. [1973 1st ex.s. c 154
§ 113; 1963 c 206 § 8.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
74.20.240
74.20.240 Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance—Order—Powers of court. (1) After the hearing of
the petition for an order of support the court shall make an
order granting or denying it and fixing, if allowed, the terms
and amount of the support. (2) The court has the same power
to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of
testimony as in actions and suits, to make such decree or
orders as are equitable in view of the circumstances of both
parties and to punish violations thereof as other contempts
are punished. [1963 c 206 § 9.]
74.20.250
74.20.250 Petition for support order by married parent with minor children who are receiving public assistance—Waiver of filing fees. The court may, upon satisfactory showing that the petitioner is without funds to pay the
filing fee, order that the petition and other papers be filed
without payment of the fee. [1963 c 206 § 10.]
74.20.260
74.20.260 Financial statements by parent whose
absence is basis of application for public assistance. Any
parent in the state whose absence is the basis upon which an
application is filed for public assistance on behalf of a child
shall be required to complete a statement, under oath, of his
current monthly income, his total income over the past twelve
months, the number of dependents for whom he is providing
support, the amount he is contributing regularly toward the
support of all children for whom application for such assistance is made, his current monthly living expenses and such
other information as is pertinent to determining his ability to
support his children. Such statement shall be provided upon
demand made by the state department of social and health
services or attorney general, and if assistance based upon
such application is granted on behalf of such child, additional
statements shall be filed annually thereafter with the state
department of social and health services until such time as the
child is no longer receiving such assistance. Failure to comply with this section shall constitute a misdemeanor. [1979 c
141 § 368; 1963 c 206 § 11.]
74.20.280
74.20.280 Central unit for information and administration—Cooperation enjoined—Availability of records.
The department is authorized and directed to establish a central unit to serve as a registry for the receipt of information,
for answering interstate inquiries concerning the parents of
dependent children, to coordinate and supervise departmental
[Title 74 RCW—page 103]
74.20.300
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
activities in relation to such parents, to assure effective cooperation with law enforcement agencies, and to perform other
functions authorized by state and federal support enforcement and child custody statutes and regulations.
To effectuate the purposes of this section, the secretary
may request from state, county and local agencies all information and assistance as authorized by this chapter. Upon the
request of the department of social and health services, all
state, county and city agencies, officers and employees shall
cooperate in the location of the parents of a dependent child
and shall supply the department with all information relative
to the location, income and property of such parents, notwithstanding any provision of law making such information confidential.
Any records established pursuant to the provisions of
this section shall be available only to the attorney general,
prosecuting attorneys, courts having jurisdiction in support
and/or abandonment proceedings or actions, or other authorized agencies or persons for use consistent with the intent of
state and federal support enforcement and child custody statutes and regulations. [1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 15; 1979 c 141 §
370; 1963 c 206 § 13.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.20.300
74.20.300 Department exempt from fees relating to
paternity or support. No filing or recording fees, court fees,
or fees for making copies of documents shall be required
from the state department of social and health services by any
county clerk, county auditor, or other county officer for the
filing of any actions or documents necessary to establish
paternity or enforce or collect support moneys.
Filing fees shall also not be required of any prosecuting
attorney or the attorney general for action to establish paternity or enforce or collect support moneys. [1979 ex.s. c 171
§ 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 3; 1963 c 206 § 15.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 171 § 28.]
74.20.310
74.20.310 Guardian ad litem in actions brought to
determine parent and child relationship—Notice. (1) The
provisions of RCW 26.26.555 requiring appointment of a
guardian ad litem to represent the child in an action brought
to determine the parent and child relationship do not apply to
actions brought under chapter 26.26 RCW if:
(a) The action is brought by the attorney general on
behalf of the department of social and health services and the
child; or
(b) The action is brought by any prosecuting attorney on
behalf of the state and the child when referral has been made
to the prosecuting attorney by the department of social and
health services requesting such action.
(2) On the issue of parentage, the attorney general or
prosecuting attorney functions as the child’s guardian ad
litem provided the interests of the state and the child are not
in conflict.
(3) The court, on its own motion or on motion of a party,
may appoint a guardian ad litem when necessary.
(4) The summons shall contain a notice to the parents
that pursuant to RCW 26.26.555 the parents have a right to
[Title 74 RCW—page 104]
move the court for a guardian ad litem for the child other than
the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general subject to
subsection (2) of this section. [2002 c 302 § 705; 1991 c 367
§ 45; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 15.]
Application—Construction—Short title—Severability—2002 c
302: See RCW 26.26.903, 26.26.911, and 26.26.912.
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See
notes following RCW 26.09.015.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.320
74.20.320 Custodian to remit support moneys when
department has support obligation—Noncompliance.
Whenever a custodian of children, or other person, receives
support moneys paid to them which moneys are paid in whole
or in part in satisfaction of a support obligation which has
been assigned to the department pursuant to Title IV-A of the
federal social security act as amended by the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996 or
RCW 74.20.330 or to which the department is owed a debt
pursuant to RCW 74.20A.030, the moneys shall be remitted
to the department within eight days of receipt by the custodian or other person. If not so remitted the custodian or other
person shall be indebted to the department as a support debt
in an amount equal to the amount of the support money
received and not remitted.
By not paying over the moneys to the department, a custodial parent or other person is deemed, without the necessity
of signing any document, to have made an irrevocable assignment to the department of any support delinquency owed
which is not already assigned to the department or to any support delinquency which may accrue in the future in an
amount equal to the amount of support money retained. The
department may utilize the collection procedures in chapter
74.20A RCW to collect the assigned delinquency to effect
recoupment and satisfaction of the debt incurred by reason of
the failure of the custodial parent or other person to remit.
The department is also authorized to make a set-off to effect
satisfaction of the debt by deduction from support moneys in
its possession or in the possession of any clerk of the court or
other forwarding agent which are paid to the custodial parent
or other person for the satisfaction of any support delinquency. Nothing in this section authorizes the department to
make set-off as to current support paid during the month for
which the payment is due and owing. [1997 c 58 § 935; 1979
ex.s. c 171 § 17.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.330
74.20.330 Payment of public assistance as assignment of rights to support—Department authorized to
provide services. (1) Whenever public assistance is paid
under a state program funded under Title IV-A of the federal
social security act as amended by the personal responsibility
and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996, each applicant or recipient is deemed to have made assignment to the
department of any rights to a support obligation from any
other person the applicant or recipient may have in his or her
own behalf or in behalf of any other family member for
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children
whom the applicant or recipient is applying for or receiving
public assistance, including any unpaid support obligation or
support debt which has accrued at the time the assignment is
made.
(2) Payment of public assistance under a state-funded
program, or a program funded under Title IV-A or IV-E of
the federal social security act as amended by the personal
responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of
1996 shall:
(a) Operate as an assignment by operation of law; and
(b) Constitute an authorization to the department to provide the assistance recipient with support enforcement services. [2000 c 86 § 6; 1997 c 58 § 936; 1989 c 360 § 13; 1988
c 275 § 19; 1985 c 276 § 3; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 22.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Severability—1988 c 275: See notes following
RCW 26.19.001.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.340
74.20.340 Employees’ case workload standards. The
department shall develop workload standards for each
employee classification involved in support enforcement
activities for each category of support enforcement cases.
[1998 c 245 § 150; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 25.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.350
74.20.350 Costs and attorneys’ fees. In order to facilitate and ensure compliance with Title IV-D of the federal
social security act, now existing or hereafter amended,
wherein the state is required to undertake to establish paternity of such children as are born out of wedlock, the secretary
of social and health services may pay the reasonable and
proper fees of attorneys admitted to practice before the courts
of this state, who are engaged in private practice for the purpose of maintaining actions under chapter 26.26 RCW on
behalf of such children, to the end that parent and child relationships be determined and financial support obligations be
established by superior court order. The secretary or the secretary’s designee shall make the determination in each case as
to which cases shall be referred for representation by such
private attorneys. The secretary may advance, pay, or reimburse for payment of, such reasonable costs as may be attendant to an action under chapter 26.26 RCW. The representation by a private attorney shall be only on behalf of the subject child, the custodial natural parent, and the child’s
personal representative or guardian ad litem, and shall not in
any manner be, or be construed to be, in representation of the
department of social and health services or the state of Washington, such representation being restricted to that provided
pursuant to chapters 43.10 and 36.27 RCW. [1979 ex.s. c 171
§ 19.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20.360
(a) Is appropriate in an action under chapter 26.26 RCW,
the uniform parentage act;
(b) Is appropriate in an action to establish support under
RCW 74.20A.056; or
(c) Would assist the parties or the division of child support in determining whether it is appropriate to proceed with
an action to establish or disestablish paternity.
(2) The order for genetic testing shall be served on the
alleged parent or parents and the legal parent by personal service or by any form of mail requiring a return receipt.
(3) Within twenty days of the date of service of an order
for genetic testing, any party required to appear for genetic
testing, the child, or a guardian on the child’s behalf, may
petition in superior court under chapter 26.26 RCW to bar or
postpone genetic testing.
(4) The order for genetic testing shall contain:
(a) An explanation of the right to proceed in superior
court under subsection (3) of this section;
(b) Notice that if no one proceeds under subsection (3) of
this section, the agency issuing the order will schedule
genetic testing and will notify the parties of the time and
place of testing by regular mail;
(c) Notice that the parties must keep the agency issuing
the order for genetic testing informed of their residence
address and that mailing a notice of time and place for genetic
testing to the last known address of the parties by regular mail
constitutes valid service of the notice of time and place;
(d) Notice that the order for genetic testing may be
enforced through:
(i) Public assistance grant reduction for noncooperation,
pursuant to agency rule, if the child and custodian are receiving public assistance;
(ii) Termination of support enforcement services under
Title IV-D of the federal social security act if the child and
custodian are not receiving public assistance;
(iii) A referral to superior court for an appropriate action
under chapter 26.26 RCW; or
(iv) A referral to superior court for remedial sanctions
under RCW 7.21.060.
(5) The department may advance the costs of genetic
testing under this section.
(6) If an action is pending under chapter 26.26 RCW, a
judgment for reimbursement of the cost of genetic testing
may be awarded under RCW 26.26.570.
(7) If no action is pending in superior court, the department may impose an obligation to reimburse costs of genetic
testing according to rules adopted by the department to
implement RCW 74.20A.056. [2002 c 302 § 706; 1997 c 58
§ 901.]
Application—Construction—Short title—Severability—2002 c
302: See RCW 26.26.903, 26.26.911, and 26.26.912.
74.20.360
74.20.360 Orders for genetic testing. (1) The division
of child support may issue an order for genetic testing when
providing services under this chapter and Title IV-D of the
federal social security act if genetic testing:
(2006 Ed.)
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
[Title 74 RCW—page 105]
Chapter 74.20A
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Chapter 74.20A RCW
SUPPORT OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN—
ALTERNATIVE METHOD—1971 ACT
Chapter 74.20A
Child support enforcement: Chapter 26.18 RCW.
Child support registry: Chapter 26.23 RCW.
74.20A.010 Purpose—Remedies additional. Common law and statutory procedures governing the remedies for
enforcement of support for financially dependent minor children by responsible parents have not proven sufficiently
effective or efficient to cope with the increasing incidence of
financial dependency. The increasing workload of courts,
prosecuting attorneys, and the attorney general has made
such remedies uncertain, slow and inadequate, thereby resulting in a growing burden on the financial resources of the
state, which is constrained to provide public assistance grants
for basic maintenance requirements when parents fail to meet
their primary obligations. The state of Washington, therefore,
exercising its police and sovereign power, declares that the
common law and statutory remedies pertaining to family
desertion and nonsupport of minor dependent children shall
be augmented by additional remedies directed to the real and
personal property resources of the responsible parents. In
order to render resources more immediately available to meet
the needs of minor children, it is the legislative intent that the
remedies herein provided are in addition to, and not in lieu of,
existing law. It is declared to be the public policy of this state
that this chapter be construed and administered to the end that
children shall be maintained from the resources of responsible parents, thereby relieving, at least in part, the burden presently borne by the general citizenry through welfare programs. [1971 ex.s. c 164 § 1.]
74.20A.010
Sections
74.20A.010 Purpose—Remedies additional.
74.20A.020 Definitions.
74.20A.030 Department subrogated to rights for support—Enforcement
actions—Certain parents exempt.
74.20A.035 Augmentation of paternity establishment services.
74.20A.040 Notice of support debt—Service or mailing—Contents—
Action on, when.
74.20A.055 Notice and finding of financial responsibility of responsible
parent—Service—Hearing—Decisions.
74.20A.056 Notice and finding of financial responsibility pursuant to an
affidavit of paternity—Procedure for contesting—Rules (as
amended by 2002 c 199).
74.20A.056 Notice and finding of financial responsibility pursuant to an
affidavit of paternity—Procedure for contesting—Rules (as
amended by 2002 c 302).
74.20A.057 Jurisdiction over responsible parent.
74.20A.059 Modification of administrative orders establishing child support—Petition—Grounds—Procedure.
74.20A.060 Assertion of lien—Effect.
74.20A.070 Service of lien.
74.20A.080 Order to withhold and deliver—Issuance and service—Contents—Effect—Duties of person served—Processing fee.
74.20A.090 Certain amount of earnings exempt from lien or order—"Earnings" and "disposable earnings" defined.
74.20A.095 Support enforcement services—Action against earnings
within state—Notice.
74.20A.100 Civil liability upon failure to comply with order or lien—Collection.
74.20A.110 Release of excess to debtor.
74.20A.120 Banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions—Service
on main office or branch, effect—Collection actions against
community bank account, right to adjudicative proceeding.
74.20A.130 Distraint, seizure and sale of property subject to liens under
RCW 74.20A.060—Procedure.
74.20A.140 Action for foreclosure of support lien—Satisfaction.
74.20A.150 Satisfaction of lien after foreclosure proceedings instituted—
Redemption.
74.20A.160 Secretary may set debt payment schedule, release funds in certain hardship cases.
74.20A.170 Secretary may release lien or order or return seized property—
Effect.
74.20A.180 Secretary may make demand, file and serve liens, when payments appear in jeopardy.
74.20A.188 Request for assistance on automated enforcement of interstate
case—Certification required.
74.20A.200 Judicial relief after administrative remedies exhausted.
74.20A.220 Charging off child support debts as uncollectible—Compromise—Waiver of any bar to collection.
74.20A.230 Employee debtor rights protected—Remedies.
74.20A.240 Assignment of earnings to be honored—Effect—Processing
fee.
74.20A.250 Secretary empowered to act as attorney, endorse drafts.
74.20A.260 Industrial insurance disability payments subject to collection
by office of support enforcement.
74.20A.270 Department claim for support moneys—Notice—Answer—
Adjudicative proceeding—Judicial review—Moneys not
subject to claim.
74.20A.275 Support payments in possession of third parties—Collection.
74.20A.280 Department to respect privacy of recipients.
74.20A.290 Applicant for adjudicative proceeding must advise department
of current address.
74.20A.300 Health insurance coverage required.
74.20A.310 Federal and state cooperation—Rules—Construction.
74.20A.320 License suspension program—Noncompliance with a child
support order—Certification of noncompliance—Notice,
adjudicative proceeding—Stay of certification—Rules.
74.20A.330 License suspension—Agreements between department and
licensing entities—Identification of responsible parents.
74.20A.350 Noncompliance—Notice—Fines—License suspension—
Hearings—Rules.
74.20A.360 Records access—Confidentiality—Nonliability—Penalty for
noncompliance.
74.20A.370 Financial institution data matches.
74.20A.900 Severability—Alternative when method of notification held
invalid.
74.20A.910 Savings clause.
Birth certificate—Establishing paternity: RCW 70.58.080.
[Title 74 RCW—page 106]
74.20A.020 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context, the following words and
phrases as hereinafter used in this chapter and chapter 74.20
RCW shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Department" means the state department of social
and health services.
(2) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of
social and health services, the secretary’s designee or authorized representative.
(3) "Dependent child" means any person:
(a) Under the age of eighteen who is not self-supporting,
married, or a member of the armed forces of the United
States; or
(b) Over the age of eighteen for whom a court order for
support exists.
(4) "Support obligation" means the obligation to provide
for the necessary care, support, and maintenance, including
medical expenses, of a dependent child or other person as
required by statutes and the common law of this or another
state.
(5) "Superior court order" means any judgment, decree,
or order of the superior court of the state of Washington, or a
court of comparable jurisdiction of another state, establishing
the existence of a support obligation and ordering payment of
a set or determinable amount of support moneys to satisfy the
support obligation. For purposes of RCW 74.20A.055, orders
for support which were entered under the uniform reciprocal
enforcement of support act by a state where the responsible
parent no longer resides shall not preclude the department
from establishing an amount to be paid as current and future
support.
74.20A.020
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
(6) "Administrative order" means any determination,
finding, decree, or order for support pursuant to RCW
74.20A.055, or by an agency of another state pursuant to a
substantially similar administrative process, establishing the
existence of a support obligation and ordering the payment of
a set or determinable amount of support moneys to satisfy the
support obligation.
(7) "Responsible parent" means a natural parent, adoptive parent, or stepparent of a dependent child or a person
who has signed an affidavit acknowledging paternity which
has been filed with the state office of vital statistics.
(8) "Stepparent" means the present spouse of the person
who is either the mother, father, or adoptive parent of a
dependent child, and such status shall exist until terminated
as provided for in RCW 26.16.205.
(9) "Support moneys" means any moneys or in-kind providings paid to satisfy a support obligation whether denominated as child support, spouse support, alimony, maintenance, or any other such moneys intended to satisfy an obligation for support of any person or satisfaction in whole or in
part of arrears or delinquency on such an obligation.
(10) "Support debt" means any delinquent amount of
support moneys which is due, owing, and unpaid under a
superior court order or an administrative order, a debt for the
payment of expenses for the reasonable or necessary care,
support, and maintenance, including medical expenses, of a
dependent child or other person for whom a support obligation is owed; or a debt under RCW 74.20A.100 or
74.20A.270. Support debt also includes any accrued interest,
fees, or penalties charged on a support debt, and attorneys
fees and other costs of litigation awarded in an action to
establish and enforce a support obligation or debt.
(11) "State" means any state or political subdivision, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(12) "Account" means a demand deposit account, checking or negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account,
time deposit account, or money-market mutual fund account.
(13) "Child support order" means a superior court order
or an administrative order.
(14) "Financial institution" means:
(a) A depository institution, as defined in section 3(c) of
the federal deposit insurance act;
(b) An institution-affiliated party, as defined in section
3(u) of the federal deposit insurance act;
(c) Any federal or state credit union, as defined in section
101 of the federal credit union act, including an institutionaffiliated party of such credit union, as defined in section
206(r) of the federal deposit insurance act; or
(d) Any benefit association, insurance company, safe
deposit company, money-market mutual fund, or similar
entity.
(15) "License" means a license, certificate, registration,
permit, approval, or other similar document issued by a
licensing entity to a licensee evidencing admission to or
granting authority to engage in a profession, occupation,
business, industry, recreational pursuit, or the operation of a
motor vehicle. "License" does not mean the tax registration
or certification issued under Title 82 RCW by the department
of revenue.
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.030
(16) "Licensee" means any individual holding a license,
certificate, registration, permit, approval, or other similar
document issued by a licensing entity evidencing admission
to or granting authority to engage in a profession, occupation,
business, industry, recreational pursuit, or the operation of a
motor vehicle.
(17) "Licensing entity" includes any department, board,
commission, or other organization authorized to issue, renew,
suspend, or revoke a license authorizing an individual to
engage in a business, occupation, profession, industry, recreational pursuit, or the operation of a motor vehicle, and
includes the Washington state supreme court, to the extent
that a rule has been adopted by the court to implement suspension of licenses related to the practice of law.
(18) "Noncompliance with a child support order" for the
purposes of the license suspension program authorized under
RCW 74.20A.320 means a responsible parent has:
(a) Accumulated arrears totaling more than six months of
child support payments;
(b) Failed to make payments pursuant to a written agreement with the department towards a support arrearage in an
amount that exceeds six months of payments; or
(c) Failed to make payments required by a superior court
order or administrative order towards a support arrearage in
an amount that exceeds six months of payments.
(19) "Noncompliance with a residential or visitation
order" means that a court has found the parent in contempt of
court under RCW 26.09.160(3) for failure to comply with a
residential provision of a court-ordered parenting plan. [1997
c 58 § 805; 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 § 15. Prior: 1989 c 175 § 151;
1989 c 55 § 1; 1985 c 276 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 3; 1971 ex.s.
c 164 § 2.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
Effective dates—Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes following RCW 26.09.100.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
Birth certificate—Establishing paternity: RCW 70.58.080.
74.20A.030
74.20A.030 Department subrogated to rights for support—Enforcement actions—Certain parents exempt.
(1) The department shall be subrogated to the right of any
dependent child or children or person having the care, custody, and control of said child or children, if public assistance
money is paid to or for the benefit of the child, or for the care
and maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability if the child has been placed into care as a
result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, under a statefunded program, or a program funded under Title IV-A or
IV-E of the federal social security act as amended by the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act
of 1996, to prosecute or maintain any support action or execute any administrative remedy existing under the laws of the
state of Washington to obtain reimbursement of moneys
expended, based on the support obligation of the responsible
parent established by a child support order. Distribution of
[Title 74 RCW—page 107]
74.20A.035
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
any support moneys shall be made in accordance with RCW
26.23.035.
(2) The department may initiate, continue, maintain, or
execute an action to establish, enforce, and collect a support
obligation, including establishing paternity and performing
related services, under this chapter and chapter 74.20 RCW,
or through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney under
chapter 26.09, 26.18, 26.20, *26.21, 26.23, or 26.26 RCW or
other appropriate statutes or the common law of this state, for
so long as and under such conditions as the department may
establish by regulation.
(3) Public assistance moneys shall be exempt from collection action under this chapter except as provided in RCW
74.20A.270.
(4) No collection action shall be taken against parents of
children eligible for admission to, or children who have been
discharged from, a residential habilitation center as defined
by RCW 71A.10.020(8) unless the child with a developmental disability is placed as a result of an action under chapter
13.34 RCW. The child support obligation shall be calculated
pursuant to chapter 26.19 RCW. [2004 c 183 § 5; 2000 c 86
§ 7; 1997 c 58 § 934; 1993 sp.s. c 24 § 926; 1989 c 360 § 14.
Prior: 1988 c 275 § 20; 1988 c 176 § 913; 1987 c 435 § 31;
1985 c 276 § 5; 1984 c 260 § 40; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 4; 1979 c
141 § 371; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 26.21 RCW was repealed by 2002 c 198 §
901, effective January 1, 2007. Later enactment, see chapter 26.21A RCW.
Effective date—2004 c 183: See note following RCW 13.34.160.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 24: See notes following
RCW 28A.310.020.
Effective dates—Severability—1988 c 275: See notes following
RCW 26.19.001.
Severability—1988 c 176: See RCW 71A.10.900.
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
Severability—1984 c 260: See RCW 26.18.900.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.035
74.20A.035 Augmentation of paternity establishment
services. The department of social and health services shall
augment its present paternity establishment services through
the hiring of additional assistant attorneys general, or contracting with prosecutors or private attorneys licensed in the
state of Washington in those judicial districts experiencing
delay or an accumulation of unserved paternity cases. The
employment of private attorneys shall be limited in scope to
renewable six-month periods in judicial districts where the
prosecutor or the attorney general cannot provide adequate,
cost-effective service. The department of social and health
services shall provide a written report of the circumstances
requiring employment of private attorneys to the judiciary
committees of the senate and house of representatives and
provide copies of such reports to the office of the attorney
general and to the Washington association of prosecuting
attorneys. [1987 c 441 § 3.]
Legislative findings—1987 c 441: "The state of Washington through
the department of social and health services is required by state and federal
statutes to provide paternity establishment services. These statutes require
that reasonable efforts to establish paternity be made, if paternity of the child
[Title 74 RCW—page 108]
is in question, in all public assistance cases and whenever such services are
requested in nonassistance cases.
The increasing number of children being born out of wedlock together
with improved awareness of the benefits to the child and society of having
paternity established have resulted in a greater demand on the existing judicial paternity establishment system." [1987 c 441 § 1.]
74.20A.040
74.20A.040 Notice of support debt—Service or mailing—Contents—Action on, when. (1) The secretary may
issue a notice of a support debt accrued and/or accruing based
upon RCW 74.20A.030, assignment of a support debt or a
request for support enforcement services under RCW
74.20.040 (2) or (3), to enforce and collect a support debt created by a superior court order or administrative order. The
payee under the order shall be informed when a notice of support debt is issued under this section.
(2) The notice may be served upon the debtor in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action
or be mailed to the debtor at his last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, demanding payment
within twenty days of the date of receipt.
(3) The notice of debt shall include:
(a) A statement of the support debt accrued and/or accruing, computable on the amount required to be paid under any
superior court order to which the department is subrogated or
is authorized to enforce and collect under RCW 74.20A.030,
has an assigned interest, or has been authorized to enforce
pursuant to RCW 74.20.040 (2) or (3);
(b) A statement that the property of the debtor is subject
to collection action;
(c) A statement that the property is subject to lien and
foreclosure, distraint, seizure and sale, or order to withhold
and deliver; and
(d) A statement that the net proceeds will be applied to
the satisfaction of the support debt.
(4) Action to collect a support debt by lien and foreclosure, or distraint, seizure and sale, or order to withhold and
deliver shall be lawful after twenty days from the date of service upon the debtor or twenty days from the receipt or
refusal by the debtor of said notice of debt.
(5) The secretary shall not be required to issue or serve
such notice of support debt prior to taking collection action
under this chapter when a responsible parent’s support order:
(a) Contains language directing the parent to make support payments to the Washington state support registry; and
(b) Includes a statement that income-withholding action
under this chapter may be taken without further notice to the
responsible parent, as provided in RCW 26.23.050(1). [1989
c 360 § 8; 1985 c 276 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 5; 1971 ex.s.
c 164 § 4.]
74.20A.055
74.20A.055 Notice and finding of financial responsibility of responsible parent—Service—Hearing—Decisions. (1) The secretary may, if there is no order that establishes the responsible parent’s support obligation or specifically relieves the responsible parent of a support obligation or
pursuant to an establishment of paternity under chapter 26.26
RCW, serve on the responsible parent or parents and custodial parent a notice and finding of financial responsibility
requiring the parents to appear and show cause in an adjudicative proceeding why the finding of responsibility and/or the
amount thereof is incorrect, should not be finally ordered, but
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
should be rescinded or modified. This notice and finding
shall relate to the support debt accrued and/or accruing under
this chapter and/or RCW 26.16.205, including periodic payments to be made in the future. The hearing shall be held pursuant to this section, chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative
Procedure Act, and the rules of the department. A custodian
who has physical custody of a child has the same rights that a
custodial parent has under this section.
(2) The notice and finding of financial responsibility
shall be served in the same manner prescribed for the service
of a summons in a civil action or may be served on the
responsible parent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The receipt shall be prima facie evidence of service. The
notice shall be served upon the debtor within sixty days from
the date the state assumes responsibility for the support of the
dependent child or children on whose behalf support is
sought. If the notice is not served within sixty days from such
date, the department shall lose the right to reimbursement of
payments made after the sixty-day period and before the date
of notification: PROVIDED, That if the department exercises reasonable efforts to locate the debtor and is unable to
do so the entire sixty-day period is tolled until such time as
the debtor can be located. The notice may be served upon the
custodial parent who is the nonassistance applicant or public
assistance recipient by first class mail to the last known
address. If the custodial parent is not the nonassistance applicant or public assistance recipient, service shall be in the
same manner as for the responsible parent.
(3) The notice and finding of financial responsibility
shall set forth the amount the department has determined the
responsible parent owes, the support debt accrued and/or
accruing, and periodic payments to be made in the future. The
notice and finding shall also include:
(a) A statement of the name of the custodial parent and
the name of the child or children for whom support is sought;
(b) A statement of the amount of periodic future support
payments as to which financial responsibility is alleged;
(c) A statement that the responsible parent or custodial
parent may object to all or any part of the notice and finding,
and file an application for an adjudicative proceeding to show
cause why the terms set forth in the notice should not be
ordered;
(d) A statement that, if neither the responsible parent nor
the custodial parent files in a timely fashion an application for
an adjudicative proceeding, the support debt and payments
stated in the notice and finding, including periodic support
payments in the future, shall be assessed and determined and
ordered by the department and that this debt and amounts due
under the notice shall be subject to collection action;
(e) A statement that the property of the debtor, without
further advance notice or hearing, will be subject to lien and
foreclosure, distraint, seizure and sale, order to withhold and
deliver, notice of payroll deduction or other collection action
to satisfy the debt and enforce the support obligation established under the notice.
(4) A responsible parent or custodial parent who objects
to the notice and finding of financial responsibility may file
an application for an adjudicative proceeding within twenty
days of the date of service of the notice or thereafter as provided under this subsection.
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.055
(a) If the responsible parent or custodial parent files the
application within twenty days, the office of administrative
hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding to hear
the parent’s or parents’ objection and determine the support
obligation for the entire period covered by the notice and
finding of financial responsibility. The filing of the application stays collection action pending the entry of a final
administrative order;
(b) If both the responsible parent and the custodial parent
fail to file an application within twenty days, the notice and
finding shall become a final administrative order. The
amounts for current and future support and the support debt
stated in the notice are final and subject to collection, except
as provided under (c) and (d) of this subsection;
(c) If the responsible parent or custodial parent files the
application more than twenty days after, but within one year
of the date of service, the office of administrative hearings
shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding to hear the parent’s
or parents’ objection and determine the support obligation for
the entire period covered by the notice and finding of financial responsibility. The filing of the application does not stay
further collection action, pending the entry of a final administrative order, and does not affect any prior collection action;
(d) If the responsible parent or custodial parent files the
application more than one year after the date of service, the
office of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding at which the parent who requested the late
hearing must show good cause for failure to file a timely
application. The filing of the application does not stay future
collection action and does not affect prior collection action:
(i) If the presiding officer finds that good cause exists,
the presiding officer shall proceed to hear the parent’s objection to the notice and determine the support obligation;
(ii) If the presiding officer finds that good cause does not
exist, the presiding officer shall treat the application as a petition for prospective modification of the amount for current
and future support established under the notice and finding.
In the modification proceeding, the presiding officer shall set
current and future support under chapter 26.19 RCW. The
petitioning parent need show neither good cause nor a substantial change of circumstances to justify modification of
current and future support;
(e) If the responsible parent’s support obligation was
based upon imputed median net income, the grant standard,
or the family need standard, the division of child support may
file an application for adjudicative proceeding more than
twenty days after the date of service of the notice. The office
of administrative hearings shall schedule an adjudicative proceeding and provide notice of the hearing to the responsible
parent and the custodial parent. The presiding officer shall
determine the support obligation for the entire period covered
by the notice, based upon credible evidence presented by the
division of child support, the responsible parent, or the custodial parent, or may determine that the support obligation set
forth in the notice is correct. The division of child support
demonstrates good cause by showing that the responsible
parent’s support obligation was based upon imputed median
net income, the grant standard, or the family need standard.
The filing of the application by the division of child support
does not stay further collection action, pending the entry of a
[Title 74 RCW—page 109]
74.20A.056
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
final administrative order, and does not affect any prior collection action.
(f) The department shall retain and/or shall not refund
support money collected more than twenty days after the date
of service of the notice. Money withheld as the result of collection action shall be delivered to the department. The
department shall distribute such money, as provided in published rules.
(5) If an application for an adjudicative proceeding is
filed, the presiding or reviewing officer shall determine the
past liability and responsibility, if any, of the alleged responsible parent and shall also determine the amount of periodic
payments to be made in the future, which amount is not limited by the amount of any public assistance payment made to
or for the benefit of the child. If deviating from the child support schedule in making these determinations, the presiding
or reviewing officer shall apply the standards contained in the
child support schedule and enter written findings of fact supporting the deviation.
(6) If either the responsible parent or the custodial parent
fails to attend or participate in the hearing or other stage of an
adjudicative proceeding, upon a showing of valid service, the
presiding officer shall enter an order of default against each
party who did not appear and may enter an administrative
order declaring the support debt and payment provisions
stated in the notice and finding of financial responsibility to
be assessed and determined and subject to collection action.
The parties who appear may enter an agreed settlement or
consent order, which may be different than the terms of the
department’s notice. Any party who appears may choose to
proceed to the hearing, after the conclusion of which the presiding officer or reviewing officer may enter an order that is
different than the terms stated in the notice, if the obligation
is supported by credible evidence presented by any party at
the hearing.
(7) The final administrative order establishing liability
and/or future periodic support payments shall be superseded
upon entry of a superior court order for support to the extent
the superior court order is inconsistent with the administrative order.
(8) Debts determined pursuant to this section, accrued
and not paid, are subject to collection action under this chapter without further necessity of action by a presiding or
reviewing officer. [2002 c 199 § 5; 1997 c 58 § 940; 1996 c
21 § 1; 1991 c 367 § 46; 1990 1st ex.s. c 2 § 21; 1989 c 175 §
152; 1988 c 275 § 10; 1982 c 189 § 8; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 12;
1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 25.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See
notes following RCW 26.09.015.
Effective dates—Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes following RCW 26.09.100.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Effective dates—Severability—1988 c 275: See notes following
RCW 26.19.001.
Effective date—1982 c 189: See note following RCW 34.12.020.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
[Title 74 RCW—page 110]
74.20A.056
74.20A.056 Notice and finding of financial responsibility pursuant
to an affidavit of paternity—Procedure for contesting—Rules (as
amended by 2002 c 199). (1) If an alleged father has signed an affidavit
acknowledging paternity which has been filed with the state registrar of vital
statistics before July 1, 1997, the division of child support may serve a notice
and finding of parental responsibility on him and the custodial parent. Procedures for and responsibility resulting from acknowledgments filed after July
1, 1997, are in subsections (8) and (9) of this section. Service of the notice
shall be in the same manner as a summons in a civil action or by certified
mail, return receipt requested, on the alleged father. The custodial parent
shall be served by first class mail to the last known address. If the custodial
parent is not the nonassistance applicant or public assistance recipient, service shall be in the same manner as for the responsible parent. The notice
shall have attached to it a copy of the affidavit or certification of birth record
information advising of the existence of a filed affidavit, provided by the
state registrar of vital statistics, and shall state that:
(a) The alleged father or custodial parent may file an application for an
adjudicative proceeding at which ((he)) they both will be required to appear
and show cause why the amount stated in the finding of financial responsibility as to support is incorrect and should not be ordered;
(b) An alleged father or mother, if she is also the custodial parent, may
request that a blood or genetic test be administered to determine whether
such test would exclude him from being a natural parent and, if not excluded,
may subsequently request that the division of child support initiate an action
in superior court to determine the existence of the parent-child relationship;
and
(c) If neither the alleged father ((does not request)) nor the custodial
parent requests that a blood or genetic test be administered or file [files] an
application for an adjudicative proceeding, the amount of support stated in
the notice and finding of parental responsibility shall become final, subject
only to a subsequent determination under *RCW 26.26.060 that the parentchild relationship does not exist.
(2) An alleged father or custodial parent who objects to the amount of
support requested in the notice may file an application for an adjudicative
proceeding up to twenty days after the date the notice was served. An application for an adjudicative proceeding may be filed within one year of service
of the notice and finding of parental responsibility without the necessity for
a showing of good cause or upon a showing of good cause thereafter. An
adjudicative proceeding under this section shall be pursuant to RCW
74.20A.055. The only issues shall be the amount of the accrued debt, the
amount of the current and future support obligation, and the reimbursement
of the costs of blood or genetic tests if advanced by the department. A custodian who is not the parent of a child and who has physical custody of a child
has the same notice and hearing rights that a custodial parent has under this
section.
(3) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed within
twenty days of service of the notice, collection action shall be stayed pending
a final decision by the department. If no application is filed within twenty
days:
(a) The amounts in the notice shall become final and the debt created
therein shall be subject to collection action; and
(b) Any amounts so collected shall neither be refunded nor returned if
the alleged father is later found not to be a responsible parent.
(4) An alleged father ((who denies being a responsible parent)) or the
mother, if she is also the custodial parent, may request that a blood or genetic
test be administered at any time. The request for testing shall be in writing,
or as the department may specify by rule, and served on the division of child
support ((personally or by registered or certified mail)). If a request for testing is made, the department shall arrange for the test and, pursuant to rules
adopted by the department, may advance the cost of such testing. The department shall mail a copy of the test results by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the alleged father’s and mother’s, if she is also the custodial
parent, last known address.
(5) If the test excludes the alleged father from being a natural parent,
the division of child support shall file a copy of the results with the state registrar of vital statistics and shall dismiss any pending administrative collection proceedings based upon the affidavit in issue. The state registrar of vital
statistics shall remove the alleged father’s name from the birth certificate and
change the child’s surname to be the same as the mother’s maiden name as
stated on the birth certificate, or any other name which the mother may
select.
(6) The alleged father or mother, if she is also the custodial parent,
may, within twenty days after the date of receipt of the test results, request
the division of child support to initiate an action under *RCW 26.26.060 to
determine the existence of the parent-child relationship. If the division of
child support initiates a superior court action at the request of the alleged
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
father or mother and the decision of the court is that the alleged father is a
natural parent, the ((alleged father)) parent who requested the test shall be
liable for court costs incurred.
(7) If the alleged father or mother, if she is also the custodial parent,
does not request the division of child support to initiate a superior court
action, or ((if the alleged father)) fails to appear and cooperate with blood or
genetic testing, the notice of parental responsibility shall become final for all
intents and purposes and may be overturned only by a subsequent superior
court order entered under *RCW 26.26.060.
(8)(a) If an alleged father has signed an affidavit acknowledging paternity that has been filed with the state registrar of vital statistics after July 1,
1997, within sixty days from the date of filing of the acknowledgment:
(i) The division of child support may serve a notice and finding of
parental responsibility on him and the custodial parent as set forth under this
section; and
(ii) The alleged father or any other signatory may rescind his acknowledgment of paternity. The rescission shall be notarized and delivered to the
state registrar of vital statistics personally or by registered or certified mail.
The state registrar shall remove the father’s name from the birth certificate
and change the child’s surname to be the same as the mother’s maiden name
as stated on the birth certificate or any other name that the mother may select.
The state registrar shall file rescission notices in a sealed file. All future
paternity actions on behalf of the child in question shall be performed under
court order.
(b) If neither the alleged father ((does not)) nor the custodial parent
files an application for an adjudicative proceeding or ((rescind his)) rescinds
the acknowledgment of paternity, the amount of support stated in the notice
and finding of parental responsibility becomes final, subject only to a subsequent determination under *RCW 26.26.060 that the parent-child relationship does not exist.
(c) An alleged father or custodial parent who objects to the amount of
support requested in the notice may file an application for an adjudicative
proceeding up to twenty days after the date the notice was served. An application for an adjudicative proceeding may be filed within one year of service
of the notice and finding of parental responsibility without the necessity for
a showing of good cause or upon a showing of good cause thereafter. An
adjudicative proceeding under this section shall be pursuant to RCW
74.20A.055. The only issues shall be the amount of the accrued debt and the
amount of the current and future support obligation.
(i) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed within
twenty days of service of the notice, collection action shall be stayed pending
a final decision by the department.
(ii) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is not filed within
twenty days of the service of the notice, any amounts collected under the
notice shall be neither refunded nor returned if the alleged father is later
found not to be a responsible parent.
(d) If an alleged father or mother, if she is also the custodial parent,
makes a request for genetic testing, the department shall proceed as set forth
under RCW 74.20.360.
(e) If neither the alleged father ((does not)) nor the custodial parent
requests an adjudicative proceeding, or if neither the alleged father ((fails to
rescind his)) nor the mother rescinds the filed acknowledgment of paternity,
the notice of parental responsibility becomes final for all intents and purposes and may be overturned only by a subsequent superior court order
entered under *RCW 26.26.060.
(9) Affidavits acknowledging paternity that are filed after July 1, 1997,
are subject to requirements of chapters 26.26 and 70.58 RCW.
(10) The department and the department of health may adopt rules to
implement the requirements under this section. [2002 c 199 § 6; 1997 c 58 §
941. Prior: 1994 c 230 § 19; 1994 c 146 § 5; 1989 c 55 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 26.26.060 was repealed by 2002 c 302 § 711.
Later enactment, see RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630.
74.20A.056
74.20A.056 Notice and finding of financial responsibility pursuant
to an affidavit of paternity—Procedure for contesting—Rules (as
amended by 2002 c 302). (1) If an alleged father has signed an affidavit
acknowledging paternity which has been filed with the state registrar of vital
statistics before July 1, 1997, the division of child support may serve a notice
and finding of parental responsibility on him. ((Procedures for and responsibility resulting from acknowledgments filed after July 1, 1997, are in subsections (8) and (9) of this section.)) Service of the notice shall be in the same
manner as a summons in a civil action or by certified mail, return receipt
requested. The notice shall have attached to it a copy of the affidavit or certification of birth record information advising of the existence of a filed affidavit, provided by the state registrar of vital statistics, and shall state that:
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.056
(a) The alleged father may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding at which he will be required to appear and show cause why the
amount stated in the finding of financial responsibility as to support is incorrect and should not be ordered;
(b) An alleged father may request that a blood or genetic test be
administered to determine whether such test would exclude him from being
a natural parent and, if not excluded, may subsequently request that the division of child support initiate an action in superior court to determine the
existence of the parent-child relationship; and
(c) If the alleged father does not request that a blood or genetic test be
administered or file an application for an adjudicative proceeding, the
amount of support stated in the notice and finding of parental responsibility
shall become final, subject only to a subsequent determination under ((RCW
26.26.060)) RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630 that the parent-child relationship does not exist.
(2) An alleged father who objects to the amount of support requested in
the notice or who requests genetic tests may file an application for an adjudicative proceeding up to twenty days after the date the notice was served. An
application for an adjudicative proceeding may be filed within one year of
service of the notice and finding of parental responsibility without the necessity for a showing of good cause or upon a showing of good cause thereafter.
An adjudicative proceeding under this section shall be pursuant to RCW
74.20A.055. The only issues shall be the amount of the accrued debt, the
amount of the current and future support obligation, and the reimbursement
of the costs of blood or genetic tests if advanced by the department.
(3) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed within
twenty days of service of the notice, collection action shall be stayed pending
a final decision by the department. If no application is filed within twenty
days:
(a) The amounts in the notice shall become final and the debt created
therein shall be subject to collection action; and
(b) Any amounts so collected shall neither be refunded nor returned if
the alleged father is later found not to be a responsible parent.
(4) An alleged father who denies being a responsible parent may
request that a blood or genetic test be administered at any time. The request
for testing shall be in writing and served on the division of child support personally or by registered or certified mail. If a request for testing is made, the
department shall arrange for the test and, pursuant to rules adopted by the
department, may advance the cost of such testing. The department shall mail
a copy of the test results by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
alleged father’s last known address.
(5) If the test excludes the alleged father from being a natural parent,
the division of child support shall file a copy of the results with the state registrar of vital statistics and shall dismiss any pending administrative collection proceedings based upon the affidavit in issue. The state registrar of vital
statistics shall remove the alleged father’s name from the birth certificate and
change the child’s surname to be the same as the mother’s maiden name as
stated on the birth certificate, or any other name which the mother may
select.
(6) The alleged father may, within twenty days after the date of receipt
of the test results, request the division of child support to initiate an action
under ((RCW 26.26.060)) RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630 to determine
the existence of the parent-child relationship. If the division of child support
initiates a superior court action at the request of the alleged father and the
decision of the court is that the alleged father is a natural parent, the alleged
father shall be liable for court costs incurred.
(7) If the alleged father does not request the division of child support to
initiate a superior court action, or if the alleged father fails to appear and
cooperate with blood or genetic testing, the notice of parental responsibility
shall become final for all intents and purposes and may be overturned only
by a subsequent superior court order entered under ((RCW 26.26.060))
RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630.
(8)(a) Subsections (1) through (7) of this section do not apply to
acknowledgments of paternity filed with the state registrar of vital statistics
after July 1, 1997.
(b) If an ((alleged)) acknowledged father has signed an ((affidavit
acknowledging)) acknowledgment of paternity that has been filed with the
state registrar of vital statistics after July 1, 1997((, within sixty days from
the date of filing of the acknowledgment)):
(i) The division of child support may serve a notice and finding of
((parental responsibility on him as set forth under this section)) financial
responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055 based on the acknowledgment. The
division of child support shall attach a copy of the acknowledgment or certification of the birth record information advising of the existence of a filed
acknowledgment of paternity to the notice; ((and))
[Title 74 RCW—page 111]
74.20A.057
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(ii) The notice shall include a statement that the ((alleged)) acknowledged father or any other signatory may ((rescind his acknowledgment of
paternity. The rescission shall be notarized and delivered to the state registrar
of vital statistics personally or by registered or certified mail. The state registrar shall remove the father’s name from the birth certificate and change the
child’s surname to be the same as the mother’s maiden name as stated on the
birth certificate or any other name that the mother may select. The state registrar shall file rescission notices in a sealed file. All future paternity actions
on behalf of the child in question shall be performed under court order))
commence a proceeding in court to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial of paternity under RCW 26.26.330 and 26.26.335; and
(iii) The party commencing the action to rescind or challenge the
acknowledgment or denial must serve notice on the division of child support
and the office of the prosecuting attorney in the county in which the proceeding is commenced. Commencement of a proceeding to rescind or challenge
the acknowledgment or denial stays the establishment of the notice and finding of financial responsibility, if the notice has not yet become a final order.
(((b))) (c) If the ((alleged)) acknowledged father or other party to the
notice does not file an application for an adjudicative proceeding or ((rescind
his)) the signatories to the acknowledgment or denial do not commence a
proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment of paternity, the
amount of support stated in the notice and finding of ((parental)) financial
responsibility becomes final, subject only to a subsequent determination
under ((RCW 26.26.060)) RCW 26.26.500 through 26.26.630 that the parent-child relationship does not exist. The division of child support does not
refund nor return any amounts collected under a notice that becomes final
under this section or RCW 74.20A.055, even if a court later determines that
the acknowledgment is void.
(((c))) (d) An ((alleged)) acknowledged father or other party to the
notice who objects to the amount of support requested in the notice may file
an application for an adjudicative proceeding up to twenty days after the date
the notice was served. An application for an adjudicative proceeding may be
filed within one year of service of the notice and finding of parental responsibility without the necessity for a showing of good cause or upon a showing
of good cause thereafter. An adjudicative proceeding under this section shall
be pursuant to RCW 74.20A.055. The only issues shall be the amount of the
accrued debt and the amount of the current and future support obligation.
(i) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is filed within
twenty days of service of the notice, collection action shall be stayed pending
a final decision by the department.
(ii) If the application for an adjudicative proceeding is not filed within
twenty days of the service of the notice, any amounts collected under the
notice shall be neither refunded nor returned if the alleged father is later
found not to be a responsible parent.
(((d) If an alleged father makes a request for genetic testing, the department shall proceed as set forth under RCW 74.20.360.))
(e) If the ((alleged)) acknowledged father or other party to the notice
does not request ((an)) a timely adjudicative proceeding, or if ((the alleged
father fails to rescind his filed acknowledgment of paternity)) no timely
action is brought to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial after
service of the notice, the notice of ((parental)) financial responsibility
becomes final for all intents and purposes and may be overturned only by a
subsequent superior court order entered under ((RCW 26.26.060)) RCW
26.26.500 through 26.26.630.
(9) ((Affidavits acknowledging)) Acknowledgments of paternity that
are filed after July 1, 1997, are subject to requirements of chapters 26.26, the
uniform parentage act, and 70.58 RCW.
(10) The department and the department of health may adopt rules to
implement the requirements under this section. [2002 c 302 § 707; 1997 c 58
§ 941. Prior: 1994 c 230 § 19; 1994 c 146 § 5; 1989 c 55 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: RCW 74.20A.056 was amended twice during the 2002
legislative session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025.
Application—Construction—Short title—Severability—2002 c
302: See RCW 26.26.903, 26.26.911, and 26.26.912.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Birth certificate—Establishing paternity: RCW 70.58.080.
74.20A.057
74.20A.057 Jurisdiction over responsible parent. A
support obligation arising under the statutes or common law
[Title 74 RCW—page 112]
of this state binds the responsible parent, present in this state,
regardless of the presence or residence of the custodian or
children. The obligor is presumed to have been present in the
state of Washington during the period for which support is
sought until otherwise shown. The department may establish
an administrative order pursuant to RCW 74.20A.055 that is
based upon any support obligation imposed or imposable
under the statutes or common law of any state in which the
obligor was present during the period for which support is
sought. [1985 c 276 § 15.]
74.20A.059 Modification of administrative orders
establishing child support—Petition—Grounds—Procedure. (1) The department, the physical custodian, or the
responsible parent may petition for a prospective modification of a final administrative order if:
(a) The administrative order has not been superseded by
a superior court order; and
(b) There has been a substantial change of circumstances, except as provided under RCW 74.20A.055(4)(d).
(2) An order of child support may be modified one year
or more after it has been entered without showing a substantial change of circumstances:
(a) If the order in practice works a severe economic hardship on either party or the child; or
(b) If a party requests an adjustment in an order for child
support that was based on guidelines which determined the
amount of support according to the child’s age, and the child
is no longer in the age category on which the current support
amount was based; or
(c) If a child is a full-time student and reasonably
expected to complete secondary school or the equivalent
level of vocational or technical training before the child
becomes nineteen years of age upon a finding that there is a
need to extend support beyond the eighteenth birthday.
(3) An order may be modified without showing a substantial change of circumstances if the requested modification is to:
(a) Require health insurance coverage for a child covered
by the order; or
(b) Modify an existing order for health insurance coverage.
(4) Support orders may be adjusted once every twentyfour months based upon changes in the income of the parents
without a showing of substantially changed circumstances.
(5)(a) All administrative orders entered on, before, or
after September 1, 1991, may be modified based upon
changes in the child support schedule established in chapter
26.19 RCW without a substantial change of circumstances.
The petition may be filed based on changes in the child support schedule after twelve months has expired from the entry
of the administrative order or the most recent modification
order setting child support, whichever is later. However, if a
party is granted relief under this provision, twenty-four
months must pass before another petition for modification
may be filed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.
(b) If, pursuant to subsection (4) of this section or (a) of
this subsection, the order modifies a child support obligation
by more than thirty percent and the change would cause significant hardship, the change may be implemented in two
equal increments, one at the time of the entry of the order and
74.20A.059
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
the second six months from the entry of the order. Twentyfour months must pass following the second change before a
petition for modification under subsection (4) of this section
may be filed.
(6) An increase in the wage or salary of the parent or custodian who is receiving the support transfer payments as
defined in *section 24 of this act is not a substantial change in
circumstances for purposes of modification under subsection
(1)(b) of this section. An obligor’s voluntary unemployment
or voluntary underemployment, by itself, is not a substantial
change of circumstances.
(7) The department shall file the petition and a supporting affidavit with the secretary or the secretary’s designee
when the department petitions for modification.
(8) The responsible parent or the physical custodian shall
follow the procedures in this chapter for filing an application
for an adjudicative proceeding to petition for modification.
(9) Upon the filing of a proper petition or application, the
secretary or the secretary’s designee shall issue an order
directing each party to appear and show cause why the order
should not be modified.
(10) If the presiding or reviewing officer finds a modification is appropriate, the officer shall modify the order and
set current and future support under chapter 26.19 RCW.
[1991 c 367 § 47.]
74.20A.080
lien, such property shall not be paid over, released, sold,
transferred, encumbered or conveyed, except as provided for
by the exemptions contained in RCW 74.20A.090 and
74.20A.130, unless:
(a) A written release or waiver signed by the secretary
has been delivered to said person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision or department of the state; or
(b) A determination has been made in an adjudicative
proceeding pursuant to RCW 74.20A.055 or by a superior
court ordering release of said support lien on the basis that no
debt exists or that the debt has been satisfied. [1997 c 58 §
906. Prior: 1989 c 360 § 9; 1989 c 175 § 153; 1979 ex.s. c
171 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 6.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—1989 c 360 §§ 9, 10, 16, and 39: "(1) Sections 9, 10,
and 16 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [May 12, 1989].
(2) Section 39 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1990." [1989 c 360 §
43.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.070
*Reviser’s note: "Section 24 of this act" was vetoed by the governor.
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See
notes following RCW 26.09.015.
74.20A.060 Assertion of lien—Effect. (1) The secretary may assert a lien upon the real or personal property of a
responsible parent:
(a) When a support payment is past due, if the parent’s
support order contains notice that liens may be enforced
against real and personal property, or notice that action may
be taken under this chapter;
(b) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support
debt under RCW 74.20A.040;
(c) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding
of financial responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055;
(d) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding
of parental responsibility;
(e) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support
owed under RCW 26.23.110; or
(f) When appropriate under RCW 74.20A.270.
(2) The division of child support may use uniform interstate lien forms adopted by the United States department of
health and human services to assert liens on a responsible
parent’s real and personal property located in another state.
(3) The claim of the department for a support debt, not
paid when due, shall be a lien against all property of the
debtor with priority of a secured creditor. This lien shall be
separate and apart from, and in addition to, any other lien created by, or provided for, in this title. The lien shall attach to
all real and personal property of the debtor on the date of filing of such statement with the county auditor of the county in
which such property is located.
(4) Whenever a support lien has been filed and there is in
the possession of any person, firm, corporation, association,
political subdivision or department of the state having notice
of said lien any property which may be subject to the support
74.20A.060
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.070 Service of lien. (1) The secretary may at
any time after filing of a support lien serve a copy of the lien
upon any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state in possession of earnings,
or deposits or balances held in any bank account of any
nature which are due, owing, or belonging to said debtor.
(2) The support lien shall be served upon the person,
firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or
department of the state:
(a) In the manner prescribed for the service of summons
in a civil action;
(b) By certified mail, return receipt requested; or
(c) By electronic means if there is an agreement between
the secretary and the person, firm, corporation, association,
political subdivision, or department of the state to accept service by electronic means.
(3) No lien filed under RCW 74.20A.060 shall have any
effect against earnings or bank deposits or balances unless it
states the amount of the support debt accrued and unless service upon the person, firm, corporation, association, political
subdivision, or department of the state in possession of earnings or bank accounts, deposits or balances is accomplished
pursuant to this section. [1997 c 130 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183
§ 8; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 7.]
Civil procedure—Commencement of actions: Chapter 4.28 RCW.
74.20A.080 Order to withhold and deliver—Issuance
and service—Contents—Effect—Duties of person
served—Processing fee. (1) The secretary may issue to any
person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision,
department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States, an order to withhold and deliver
property of any kind, including but not restricted to earnings
which are or might become due, owing, or belonging to the
debtor, when the secretary has reason to believe that there is
in the possession of such person, firm, corporation, associa74.20A.080
[Title 74 RCW—page 113]
74.20A.080
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
tion, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency,
subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States property
which is or might become due, owing, or belonging to said
debtor. Such order to withhold and deliver may be issued:
(a) At any time, if a responsible parent’s support order:
(i) Contains notice that withholding action may be taken
against earnings, wages, or assets without further notice to
the parent; or
(ii) Includes a statement that other income-withholding
action under this chapter may be taken without further notice
to the responsible parent;
(b) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support
debt under RCW 74.20A.040;
(c) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding
of parental responsibility under RCW 74.20A.056;
(d) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support
owed under RCW 26.23.110;
(e) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding
of financial responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055; or
(f) When appropriate under RCW 74.20A.270.
(2) The order to withhold and deliver shall:
(a) State the amount to be withheld on a periodic basis if
the order to withhold and deliver is being served to secure
payment of monthly current support;
(b) State the amount of the support debt accrued;
(c) State in summary the terms of RCW 74.20A.090 and
74.20A.100;
(d) Be served:
(i) In the manner prescribed for the service of a summons
in a civil action;
(ii) By certified mail, return receipt requested;
(iii) By electronic means if there is an agreement
between the secretary and the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or
agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States
to accept service by electronic means;
(iv) By regular mail to a responsible parent’s employer
unless the division of child support reasonably believes that
service of process in the manner prescribed in (d)(i) or (ii) of
this subsection is required for initiating an action to ensure
employer compliance with the withholding requirement; or
(v) By regular mail to an address if designated by the
financial institution as a central levy or garnishment address,
and if the notice is clearly identified as a levy or garnishment
order. Before the division of child support may initiate an
action for noncompliance with a withholding action against a
financial institution, the division of child support must serve
the order to withhold and deliver on the financial institution
in the manner described in (d)(i) or (ii) of this subsection.
(3) The division of child support may use uniform interstate withholding forms adopted by the United States department of health and human services to take withholding
actions under this section when the responsible parent is
owed money or property that is located in this state or in
another state.
(4) Any person, firm, corporation, association, political
subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision,
or instrumentality of the United States upon whom service
has been made is hereby required to:
(a) Answer said order to withhold and deliver within
twenty days, exclusive of the day of service, under oath and
[Title 74 RCW—page 114]
in writing, and shall make true answers to the matters
inquired of therein; and
(b) Provide further and additional answers when
requested by the secretary.
(5) The returned answer or a payment remitted to the
division of child support by the employer constitutes proof of
service of the order to withhold and deliver in the case where
the order was served by regular mail.
(6) Any such person, firm, corporation, association,
political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States in possession
of any property which may be subject to the claim of the
department shall:
(a)(i) Immediately withhold such property upon receipt
of the order to withhold and deliver; and
(ii) Within seven working days deliver the property to
the secretary;
(iii) Continue to withhold earnings payable to the debtor
at each succeeding disbursement interval as provided for in
RCW 74.20A.090, and deliver amounts withheld from earnings to the secretary within seven working days of the date
earnings are payable to the debtor;
(iv) Deliver amounts withheld from periodic payments
to the secretary within seven working days of the date the
payments are payable to the debtor;
(v) Inform the secretary of the date the amounts were
withheld as requested under this section; or
(b) Furnish to the secretary a good and sufficient bond,
satisfactory to the secretary, conditioned upon final determination of liability.
(7) An order to withhold and deliver served under this
section shall not expire until:
(a) Released in writing by the division of child support;
(b) Terminated by court order;
(c) A person or entity, other than an employer as defined
in Title 50 RCW, who has received the order to withhold and
deliver does not possess property of or owe money to the
debtor; or
(d) An employer who has received the order to withhold
and deliver no longer employs, contracts, or owes money to
the debtor under a contract of employment, express or
implied.
(8) Where money is due and owing under any contract of
employment, express or implied, or is held by any person,
firm, corporation, or association, political subdivision, or
department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States subject to withdrawal by the
debtor, such money shall be delivered by remittance payable
to the order of the secretary.
(9) Delivery to the secretary of the money or other property held or claimed shall satisfy the requirement and serve as
full acquittance of the order to withhold and deliver.
(10) A person, firm, corporation, or association, political
subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision,
or instrumentality of the United States that complies with the
order to withhold and deliver under this chapter is not civilly
liable to the debtor for complying with the order to withhold
and deliver under this chapter.
(11) The secretary may hold the money or property
delivered under this section in trust for application on the
indebtedness involved or for return, without interest, in
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
accordance with final determination of liability or nonliability.
(12) Exemptions contained in RCW 74.20A.090 apply to
orders to withhold and deliver issued under this section.
(13) The secretary shall also, on or before the date of service of the order to withhold and deliver, mail or cause to be
mailed a copy of the order to withhold and deliver to the
debtor at the debtor’s last known post office address, or, in
the alternative, a copy of the order to withhold and deliver
shall be served on the debtor in the same manner as a summons in a civil action on or before the date of service of the
order or within two days thereafter. The copy of the order
shall be mailed or served together with a concise explanation
of the right to petition for judicial review. This requirement is
not jurisdictional, but, if the copy is not mailed or served as in
this section provided, or if any irregularity appears with
respect to the mailing or service, the superior court, in its discretion on motion of the debtor promptly made and supported
by affidavit showing that the debtor has suffered substantial
injury due to the failure to mail the copy, may set aside the
order to withhold and deliver and award to the debtor an
amount equal to the damages resulting from the secretary’s
failure to serve on or mail to the debtor the copy.
(14) An order to withhold and deliver issued in accordance with this section has priority over any other wage
assignment, garnishment, attachment, or other legal process.
(15) The division of child support shall notify any person, firm, corporation, association, or political subdivision,
department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States required to withhold and deliver the
earnings of a debtor under this action that they may deduct a
processing fee from the remainder of the debtor’s earnings,
even if the remainder would otherwise be exempt under
RCW 74.20A.090. The processing fee shall not exceed ten
dollars for the first disbursement to the department and one
dollar for each subsequent disbursement under the order to
withhold and deliver. [2002 c 199 § 7; 2000 c 86 § 8; 1998 c
160 § 1. Prior: 1997 c 130 § 7; 1997 c 58 § 907; 1994 c 230
§ 20; prior: 1989 c 360 § 10; 1989 c 175 § 154; 1985 c 276 §
6; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 9; 1971 ex.s. c
164 § 8.]
Effective date—1998 c 160 §§ 1, 5, and 8: "Sections 1, 5, and 8 of this
act take effect October 1, 1998." [1998 c 160 § 9.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—1989 c 360 §§ 9, 10, 16, and 39: See note following
RCW 74.20A.060.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.090
74.20A.090 Certain amount of earnings exempt from
lien or order—"Earnings" and "disposable earnings"
defined. Whenever a support lien or order to withhold and
deliver is served upon any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state asserting
a support debt against earnings and there is in the possession
of such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state, any such earnings, RCW
6.27.150 shall not apply, but fifty percent of the disposable
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.100
earnings shall be exempt and may be disbursed to the debtor
whether such earnings are paid, or to be paid weekly,
monthly, or at other intervals and whether there be due the
debtor earnings for one week or for a longer period. The lien
or order to withhold and deliver shall continue to operate and
require said person, firm, corporation, association, political
subdivision, or department of the state to withhold the nonexempt portion of earnings at each succeeding earnings disbursement interval until the entire amount of the support debt
stated in the lien or order to withhold and deliver has been
withheld. As used in this chapter, the term "earnings" means
compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether
denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law making such payments exempt from garnishment, attachment, or
other process to satisfy support obligation, specifically
includes periodic payments pursuant to pension or retirement
programs, or insurance policies of any type, but does not
include payments made under Title 50 RCW, except as provided in RCW 50.40.020 and 50.40.050 or Title 74 RCW.
Earnings shall specifically include all gain derived from capital, from labor, or from both combined, not including profit
gained through sale or conversion of capital assets. The term
"disposable earnings" means that part of the earnings of any
individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings
of any amount required by law to be withheld. [1982 1st ex.s.
c 18 § 12. Prior: 1982 c 201 § 21; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 10; 1973
1st ex.s. c 183 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 9.]
Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1982 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 50.12.200.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.095
74.20A.095 Support enforcement services—Action
against earnings within state—Notice. When providing
support enforcement services, the office of support enforcement may take action, under this chapter and chapter 26.23
RCW, against a responsible parent’s earnings or assets,
located in, or subject to the jurisdiction of, the state of Washington regardless of the presence or residence of the responsible parent. If the responsible parent resides in another state
or country, the office of support enforcement shall, unless
otherwise authorized by state or federal law, serve a notice
under RCW 74.20A.040 more than sixty days before taking
collection action. [2000 c 86 § 9; 1991 c 367 § 48.]
Severability—Effective date—Captions not law—1991 c 367: See
notes following RCW 26.09.015.
74.20A.100
74.20A.100 Civil liability upon failure to comply with
order or lien—Collection. (1) Any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the
state shall be liable to the department, or to the agency or firm
providing child support enforcement for another state, under
Title IV-D of the federal social security act and issuing a
notice, garnishment, or wage assignment attaching wages or
earnings in satisfaction of a support obligation, in the amount
that should have been withheld, together with costs, interest,
and reasonable attorney fees if that person or entity:
(a) Fails to answer an order to withhold and deliver, or
substantially similar action issued by the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state, under
[Title 74 RCW—page 115]
74.20A.110
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Title IV-D of the federal social security act, within the time
prescribed herein;
(b) Fails or refuses to deliver property pursuant to said
order;
(c) After actual notice of filing of a support lien, pays
over, releases, sells, transfers, or conveys real or personal
property subject to a support lien to or for the benefit of the
debtor or any other person;
(d) Fails or refuses to surrender property distrained under
RCW 74.20A.130 upon demand; or
(e) Fails or refuses to honor an assignment of earnings
presented by the secretary.
(2) The secretary is authorized to issue a notice of noncompliance under RCW 74.20A.350 or to proceed in superior
court to obtain a judgment for noncompliance under this section. [1997 c 296 § 15; 1997 c 58 § 895; 1989 c 360 § 5; 1985
c 276 § 7; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 11; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 10.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1997 c 58 § 895 and by
1997 c 296 § 15, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.110
74.20A.110 Release of excess to debtor. Whenever
any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision or department of the state has in its possession earnings,
deposits, accounts, or balances in excess of the amount of the
debt claimed by the department, such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision or department of the
state may, without liability under this chapter, release said
excess to the debtor. [1979 ex.s. c 171 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 164
§ 11.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.120
74.20A.120 Banks, savings and loan associations,
credit unions—Service on main office or branch, effect—
Collection actions against community bank account, right
to adjudicative proceeding. A lien, order to withhold and
deliver, or any other notice or document authorized by this
chapter or chapter 26.23 RCW may be served on the main
office of a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union
or on a branch office of such financial institution. Service on
the main office shall be effective to attach the deposits of a
responsible parent in the financial institution and compensation payable for personal services due the responsible parent
from the financial institution. Service on a branch office shall
be effective to attach the deposits, accounts, credits, or other
personal property of the responsible parent, excluding compensation payable for personal services, in the possession or
control of the particular branch served.
If the department initiates collection action under this
chapter against a community bank account, the debtor or the
debtor’s spouse, upon service on the department of a timely
application, has a right to an adjudicative proceeding governed by chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure
Act, to establish that the funds in the account, or a portion of
those funds, were the earnings of the nonobligated spouse,
and are exempt from the satisfaction of the child support obli[Title 74 RCW—page 116]
gation of the debtor pursuant to RCW 26.16.200. [1989 c 360
§ 30; 1989 c 175 § 155; 1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c
164 § 12.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1989 c 175 § 155 and by
1989 c 360 § 30, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
74.20A.130
74.20A.130 Distraint, seizure and sale of property
subject to liens under RCW 74.20A.060—Procedure.
Whenever a support lien has been filed pursuant to RCW
74.20A.060, the secretary may collect the support debt stated
in said lien by the distraint, seizure, and sale of the property
subject to said lien. Not less than ten days prior to the date of
sale, the secretary shall cause a copy of the notice of sale to
be transmitted by regular mail and by any form of mailing
requiring a return receipt to the debtor and any person known
to have or claim an interest in the property. Said notice shall
contain a general description of the property to be sold and
the time, date, and place of the sale. The notice of sale shall
be posted in at least two public places in the county wherein
the distraint has been made. The time of sale shall not be less
than ten nor more than twenty days from the date of posting
of such notices. Said sale shall be conducted by the secretary,
who shall proceed to sell such property by parcel or by lot at
a public auction, and who may set a minimum reasonable
price to include the expenses of making a levy and of advertising the sale, and if the amount bid for such property at the
sale is not equal to the price so fixed, the secretary may
declare such property to be purchased by the department for
such price, or may conduct another sale of such property pursuant to the provisions of this section. In the event of sale, the
debtor’s account shall be credited with the amount for which
the property has been sold. Property acquired by the department as herein prescribed may be sold by the secretary at
public or private sale, and the amount realized shall be placed
in the state general fund to the credit of the department of
social and health services. In all cases of sale, as aforesaid,
the secretary shall issue a bill of sale or a deed to the purchaser and said bill of sale or deed shall be prima facie evidence of the right of the secretary to make such sale and conclusive evidence of the regularity of his proceeding in making the sale, and shall transfer to the purchaser all right, title,
and interest of the debtor in said property. The proceeds of
any such sale, except in those cases wherein the property has
been acquired by the department, shall be first applied by the
secretary to reimbursement of the costs of distraint and sale,
and thereafter in satisfaction of the delinquent account. Any
excess which shall thereafter remain in the hands of the secretary shall be refunded to the debtor. Sums so refundable to
a debtor may be subject to seizure or distraint by any taxing
authority of the state or its political subdivisions or by the
secretary for new sums due and owing subsequent to the subject proceeding. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, there shall be exempt from distraint, seizure, and sale
under this chapter such property as is exempt therefrom
under the laws of this state. [1987 c 435 § 32; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 183 § 12; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 13.]
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
74.20A.140
74.20A.140 Action for foreclosure of support lien—
Satisfaction. Whenever a support lien has been filed, an
action in foreclosure of lien upon real or personal property
may be brought in the superior court of the county where real
or personal property is or was located and the lien was filed
and judgment shall be rendered in favor of the department for
the amount due, with costs, and the court shall allow, as part
of the costs, the moneys paid for making and filing the claim
of lien, and a reasonable attorney’s fee, and the court shall
order any property upon which any lien provided for by this
chapter is established, to be sold by the sheriff of the proper
county to satisfy the lien and costs. The payment of the lien
debt, costs and reasonable attorney fees, at any time before
sale, shall satisfy the judgment of foreclosure. Where the net
proceeds of sale upon application to the debt claimed do not
satisfy the debt in full, the department shall have judgment
over for any deficiency remaining unsatisfied and further
levy and sales upon other property of the judgment debtor
may be made under the same execution. In all sales contemplated under this section, advertising of notice shall only be
necessary for two weeks in a newspaper published in the
county where said property is located, and if there be no
newspaper therein, then in the most convenient newspaper
having a circulation in such county. Remedies provided for
herein are alternatives to remedies provided for in other sections of this chapter. [1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 13; 1971 ex.s. c
164 § 14.]
74.20A.150
74.20A.150 Satisfaction of lien after foreclosure proceedings instituted—Redemption. Any person owning real
property, or any interest in real property, against which a support lien has been filed and foreclosure instituted, shall have
the right to pay the amount due, together with expenses of the
proceedings and reasonable attorney fees to the secretary and
upon such payment the secretary shall restore said property to
him and all further proceedings in the said foreclosure action
shall cease. Said person shall also have the right within two
hundred forty days after sale of property foreclosed under
RCW 74.20A.140 to redeem said property by making payment to the purchaser in the amount paid by the purchaser
plus interest thereon at the rate of six percent per annum.
[1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 14; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 15.]
74.20A.160
74.20A.160 Secretary may set debt payment schedule, release funds in certain hardship cases. With respect
to any arrearages on a support debt assessed under this chapter, the secretary may at any time consistent with the income,
earning capacity and resources of the debtor, set or reset a
level and schedule of payments to be paid upon a support
debt. The secretary may, upon petition of the debtor providing sufficient evidence of hardship, after consideration of the
child support schedule adopted under *RCW 26.19.040,
release or refund moneys taken pursuant to RCW 74.20A.080
to provide for the reasonable necessities of the responsible
parent or parents and minor children in the home of the
responsible parent. Nothing in this section shall be construed
to require the secretary to take any action which would
require collection of less than the obligation for current support required under a superior court order or an administrative order or to take any action which would result in a bar of
collection of arrearages from the debtor by reason of the stat(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.200
ute of limitations. [1988 c 275 § 11; 1985 c 276 § 8; 1979
ex.s. c 171 § 8; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 16.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 26.19.040 was repealed by 1991 sp.s. c 28 § 8,
effective September 1, 1991.
Effective dates—Severability—1988 c 275: See notes following
RCW 26.19.001.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.170
74.20A.170 Secretary may release lien or order or
return seized property—Effect. The secretary may at any
time release a support lien, or order to withhold and deliver,
on all or part of the property of the debtor, or return seized
property without liability, if assurance of payment is deemed
adequate by the secretary, or if said action will facilitate the
collection of the debt, but said release or return shall not operate to prevent future action to collect from the same or other
property. [1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 15; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 17.]
74.20A.180
74.20A.180 Secretary may make demand, file and
serve liens, when payments appear in jeopardy. If the secretary finds that the collection of any support debt, accrued
under a support order, based upon subrogation or an authorization to enforce and collect under RCW 74.20A.030, or
assignment of, or a request for support enforcement services
to enforce and collect the amount of support ordered by any
support order is in jeopardy, the secretary may make a written
demand under RCW 74.20A.040 for immediate payment of
the support debt and, upon failure or refusal immediately to
pay said support debt, may file and serve liens pursuant to
RCW 74.20A.060 and 74.20A.070, without regard to the
twenty day period provided for in RCW 74.20A.040: PROVIDED, That no further action under RCW 74.20A.080,
74.20A.130, and 74.20A.140 may be taken until the notice
requirements of RCW 74.20A.040 are met. [2000 c 86 § 10;
1985 c 276 § 9; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 16; 1971 ex.s. c 164 §
18.]
74.20A.188
74.20A.188 Request for assistance on automated
enforcement of interstate case—Certification required.
(1) Before the state may assist another state or jurisdiction
with a high-volume automated administrative enforcement of
an interstate case, the requesting state must certify that:
(a) The requesting state has met all due process requirements for the establishment of the support order;
(b) The requesting state has met all due process requirements for the enforcement of the support order, including that
the obligor has been notified that another state may take
action against the obligor’s wages, earnings, assets, or benefits, and may enforce against the obligor’s real and personal
property under the child support statutes of this state or any
other state without further notice; and
(c) The amount of arrears transmitted by the requesting
state is due under the support order.
(2) Receipt of a request for assistance on automated
enforcement of an interstate case by the state constitutes certification under this section. [2000 c 86 § 11.]
74.20A.200
74.20A.200 Judicial relief after administrative remedies exhausted. Any person against whose property a support lien has been filed or an order to withhold and deliver has
[Title 74 RCW—page 117]
74.20A.220
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
been served pursuant to this chapter may apply for relief to
the superior court of the county wherein the property is
located. It is the intent of this chapter that jurisdictional and
constitutional issues, if any, shall be subject to review, but
that administrative remedies be exhausted prior to judicial
review. [1985 c 276 § 10; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 9; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 183 § 18; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 20.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.220
74.20A.220 Charging off child support debts as
uncollectible—Compromise—Waiver of any bar to collection. Any support debt due the department from a responsible parent may be written off and cease to be accounted as
an asset if the secretary finds there are no cost-effective
means of collecting the debt.
The department may accept offers of compromise of disputed claims or may grant partial or total charge-off of support arrears owed to the department up to the total amount of
public assistance paid to or for the benefit of the persons for
whom the support obligation was incurred. The department
shall adopt rules as to the considerations to be made in the
granting or denial of partial or total charge-off and offers of
compromise of disputed claims of debt for support arrears.
The rights of the payee under an order for support shall not be
prejudiced if the department accepts an offer of compromise,
or grants a partial or total charge-off under this section.
The responsible parent owing a support debt may execute a written extension or waiver of any statute which may
bar or impair the collection of the debt and the extension or
waiver shall be effective according to its terms. [1989 c 360
§ 4; 1989 c 78 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 16; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183
§ 20; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 22.]
honor, according to its terms, a duly executed assignment of
earnings presented by the secretary as a plan to satisfy or
retire a support debt or obligation. This requirement to honor
the assignment of earnings and the assignment of earnings
itself shall be applicable whether said earnings are to be paid
presently or in the future and shall continue in force and
effect until released in writing by the secretary. Payment of
moneys pursuant to an assignment of earnings presented by
the secretary shall serve as full acquittance under any contract
of employment. A person, firm, corporation, association,
political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States that complies
with the assignment of earnings under this chapter is not civilly liable to the debtor for complying with the assignment of
earnings under this chapter. The secretary shall be released
from liability for improper receipt of moneys under an
assignment of earnings upon return of any moneys so
received.
An assignment of earnings presented by the secretary in
accordance with this section has priority over any other wage
assignment, garnishment, attachment, or other legal process
except for another wage assignment, garnishment, attachment, or other legal process for support moneys.
The employer may deduct a processing fee from the
remainder of the debtor’s earnings, even if the remainder
would be exempt under RCW 74.20A.090. The processing
fee shall not exceed fifteen dollars from the first disbursement to the department and one dollar for each subsequent
disbursement under the assignment of earnings. [1997 c 296
§ 16; 1994 c 230 § 21; 1985 c 276 § 12; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183
§ 22; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 24.]
74.20A.250
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1989 c 78 § 2 and by
1989 c 360 § 4, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.230
74.20A.230 Employee debtor rights protected—
Remedies. No employer shall discharge or discipline an
employee or refuse to hire a person for reason that an assignment of earnings has been presented in settlement of a support debt or that a support lien or order to withhold and
deliver has been served against said employee’s earnings. If
an employer discharges or disciplines an employee or refuses
to hire a person in violation of this section, the employee or
person shall have a cause of action against the employer. The
employer shall be liable for double the amount of lost wages
and any other damages suffered as a result of the violation
and for costs and reasonable attorney fees, and shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars for each violation. The employer may also be
ordered to hire, rehire, or reinstate the aggrieved individual.
[1985 c 276 § 11; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 21; 1971 ex.s. c 164
§ 23.]
74.20A.240
74.20A.240 Assignment of earnings to be honored—
Effect—Processing fee. Any person, firm, corporation,
association, political subdivision, department of the state, or
agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States
employing a person owing a support debt or obligation, shall
[Title 74 RCW—page 118]
74.20A.250 Secretary empowered to act as attorney,
endorse drafts. Whenever the secretary has been authorized
under RCW 74.20.040 to take action to establish, enforce,
and collect support moneys, the custodial parent and the child
or children are deemed, without the necessity of signing any
document, to have appointed the secretary as his or her true
and lawful attorney in fact to act in his or her name, place,
and stead to perform the specific act of endorsing any and all
drafts, checks, money orders or other negotiable instruments
representing support payments which are received on behalf
of said child or children to effect proper and lawful distribution of the support moneys in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Sec.
657. [1985 c 276 § 13; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 20; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 183 § 23; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 25.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.260
74.20A.260 Industrial insurance disability payments
subject to collection by office of support enforcement.
Disability payments made pursuant to Title 51 RCW shall be
classified as earnings and shall be subject to collection action
by the office for support enforcement under this chapter and
all other applicable state statutes. [1987 c 435 § 34; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 183 § 24.]
Effective date—1987 c 435: See RCW 26.23.900.
74.20A.270
74.20A.270 Department claim for support moneys—
Notice—Answer—Adjudicative proceeding—Judicial
review—Moneys not subject to claim. (1) The secretary
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
may issue a notice of retained support or notice to recover a
support payment to any person:
(a) Who is in possession of support moneys, or who has
had support moneys in his or her possession at some time in
the past, which support moneys were or are claimed by the
department as the property of the department by assignment,
subrogation, or by operation of law or legal process under
chapter 74.20A RCW;
(b) Who has received a support payment erroneously
directed to the wrong payee, or issued by the department in
error; or
(c) Who is in possession of a support payment obtained
through the internal revenue service tax refund offset process,
which payment was later reclaimed from the department by
the internal revenue service as a result of an amended tax
return filed by the obligor or the obligor’s spouse.
(2) The notice shall state the legal basis for the claim and
shall provide sufficient detail to enable the person to identify
the support moneys in issue.
(3) The department shall serve the notice by certified
mail, return receipt requested, or in the manner of a summons
in a civil action.
(4) The amounts claimed in the notice shall become
assessed, determined, and subject to collection twenty days
from the date of service of the notice unless within those
twenty days the person in possession of the support moneys:
(a) Acknowledges the department’s right to the moneys
and executes an agreed settlement providing for repayment of
the moneys; or
(b) Requests an adjudicative proceeding to determine the
rights to ownership of the support moneys in issue. The hearing shall be held pursuant to this section, chapter 34.05 RCW,
the Administrative Procedure Act, and the rules of the department. The burden of proof to establish ownership of the support moneys claimed is on the department.
(5) After the twenty-day period, a person served with a
notice under this section may, at any time within one year
from the date of service of the notice of support debt, petition
the secretary or the secretary’s designee for an adjudicative
proceeding upon a showing of any of the grounds enumerated
in RCW 4.72.010 or superior court civil rule 60. A copy of
the petition shall also be served on the department. The filing
of the petition shall not stay any collection action being
taken, but the debtor may petition the secretary or the secretary’s designee for an order staying collection action pending
the final administrative order. Any such moneys held and/or
taken by collection action after the date of any such stay shall
be held by the department pending the final order, to be disbursed in accordance with the final order.
(6) If the debtor fails to attend or participate in the hearing or other stage of an adjudicative proceeding, the presiding
officer shall, upon showing of valid service, enter an order
declaring the amount of support moneys, as claimed in the
notice, to be assessed and determined and subject to collection action.
(7) The department may take action to collect an obligation established under this section using any remedy available under this chapter or chapter 26.09, 26.18, 26.23, or
74.20 RCW for the collection of child support.
(8) If, at any time, the superior court enters judgment for
an amount of debt at variance with the amount determined by
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.280
the final order in an adjudicative proceeding, the judgment
shall supersede the final administrative order. The department may take action pursuant to chapter 74.20 or 74.20A
RCW to obtain such a judgment or to collect moneys determined by such a judgment to be due and owing.
(9) If a person owing a debt established under this section is receiving public assistance, the department may collect the debt by offsetting up to ten percent of the grant payment received by the person. No collection action may be
taken against the earnings of a person receiving cash public
assistance to collect a debt assessed under this section.
(10) Payments not credited against the department’s debt
pursuant to RCW 74.20.101 may not be assessed or collected
under this section. [1997 c 58 § 896. Prior: 1989 c 360 § 35;
1989 c 175 § 156; 1985 c 276 § 14; 1984 c 260 § 41; 1979
ex.s. c 171 § 18.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1984 c 260: See RCW 26.18.900.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.275
74.20A.275 Support payments in possession of third
parties—Collection. (1) If a person or entity not entitled to
child support payments wrongfully or negligently retains
child support payments owed to another or to the Washington
state support registry, those payments retain their character as
child support payments and may be collected by the division
of child support using any remedy available to the division of
child support under Washington law for the collection of
child support.
(2) Child support moneys subject to collection under this
section may be collected for the duration of the statute of limitations as it applies to the support order governing the support obligations, and any legislative or judicial extensions
thereto.
(3) This section applies to the following:
(a) Cases in which an employer or other entity obligated
to withhold child support payments from the parent’s pay,
bank, or escrow account, or from any other asset or distribution of money to the parent, has withheld those payments and
failed to remit them to the payee;
(b) Cases in which child support moneys have been paid
to the wrong person or entity in error;
(c) Cases in which child support recipients have retained
child support payments in violation of a child support assignment executed or arising by operation of law in exchange for
the receipt of public assistance; and
(d) Any other case in which child support payments are
retained by a party not entitled to them.
(4) This section does not apply to fines levied under
RCW 74.20A.350(3)(b). [1997 c 58 § 892.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.280
74.20A.280 Department to respect privacy of recipients. While discharging its responsibilities to enforce the
[Title 74 RCW—page 119]
74.20A.290
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
support obligations of responsible parents, the department
shall respect the right of privacy of recipients of public assistance and of other persons. Any inquiry about sexual activity
shall be limited to that necessary to identify and locate possible fathers and to gather facts needed in the adjudication of
parentage. [1987 c 441 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 23.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.290
74.20A.290 Applicant for adjudicative proceeding
must advise department of current address. Whenever
any person files an application for an adjudicative proceeding
under RCW 74.20A.055 or 74.20A.270, after the department
has notified the person of the requirements of this section, it
shall be the responsibility of the person to notify the department of the person’s mailing address at the time the application for an adjudicative proceeding is made and also to notify
the department of any subsequent change of mailing address
during the pendency of the administrative proceeding and
any judicial review. Whenever the person has a duty under
this section to advise the department of the person’s mailing
address, mailing by the department by certified mail to the
person’s last known address constitutes service as required
by chapters 74.20A and 34.05 RCW. [1989 c 175 § 157;
1979 ex.s. c 171 § 21.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
74.20A.300
74.20A.300 Health insurance coverage required. (1)
Whenever a support order is entered or modified under this
chapter, the department shall require the responsible parent to
maintain or provide health insurance coverage for any dependent child as provided under RCW 26.09.105.
(2) "Health insurance coverage" as used in this section
does not include medical assistance provided under chapter
74.09 RCW.
(3) A parent ordered to provide health insurance coverage shall provide proof of such coverage or proof that such
coverage is unavailable to the department within twenty days
of the entry of the order.
(4) Every order requiring a parent to provide health
insurance coverage shall be entered in compliance with
*RCW 26.23.050 and be subject to direct enforcement as
provided under chapter 26.18 RCW. [1994 c 230 § 22; 1989
c 416 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: The reference to RCW 26.23.050 appears to refer to
the amendments made by 1989 c 416 § 8 that were subsequently vetoed by
the governor.
74.20A.310
74.20A.310 Federal and state cooperation—Rules—
Construction. In furtherance of the policy of the state to
cooperate with the federal government in the administration
of the child support enforcement program, the department
may adopt such rules and regulations as may become necessary to entitle the state to participate in federal funds, unless
such rules would be expressly prohibited by law. Any section
or provision of law dealing with the child support program
which may be susceptible to more than one construction shall
be interpreted in favor of the construction most likely to comply with federal laws entitling the state to receive federal
funds. If any law dealing with the child support enforcement
[Title 74 RCW—page 120]
program is ruled to be in conflict with federal requirements
which are a prescribed condition of the allocation of federal
funds, such conflicting law is declared to be inoperative
solely to the extent of the conflict. [1989 c 416 § 7.]
74.20A.320 License suspension program—Noncompliance with a child support order—Certification of noncompliance—Notice, adjudicative proceeding—Stay of
certification—Rules. (1) The department may serve upon a
responsible parent a notice informing the responsible parent
of the department’s intent to submit the parent’s name to the
department of licensing and any appropriate licensing entity
as a licensee who is not in compliance with a child support
order. The department shall attach a copy of the responsible
parent’s child support order to the notice. Service of the
notice must be by certified mail, return receipt requested. If
service by certified mail is not successful, service shall be by
personal service.
(2) The notice of noncompliance must include the
address and telephone number of the department’s division of
child support office that issues the notice and must inform the
responsible parent that:
(a) The parent may request an adjudicative proceeding to
contest the issue of compliance with the child support order.
The only issues that may be considered at the adjudicative
proceeding are whether the parent is required to pay child
support under a child support order and whether the parent is
in compliance with that order;
(b) A request for an adjudicative proceeding shall be in
writing and must be received by the department within
twenty days of the date of service of the notice;
(c) If the parent requests an adjudicative proceeding
within twenty days of service, the department will stay action
to certify the parent to the department of licensing and any
licensing entity for noncompliance with a child support order
pending entry of a written decision after the adjudicative proceeding;
(d) If the parent does not request an adjudicative proceeding within twenty days of service and remains in noncompliance with a child support order, the department will
certify the parent’s name to the department of licensing and
any appropriate licensing entity for noncompliance with a
child support order;
(e) The department will stay action to certify the parent
to the department of licensing and any licensing entity for
noncompliance if the parent agrees to make timely payments
of current support and agrees to a reasonable payment schedule for payment of the arrears. It is the parent’s responsibility
to contact in person or by mail the department’s division of
child support office indicated on the notice within twenty
days of service of the notice to arrange for a payment schedule. The department may stay certification for up to thirty
days after contact from a parent to arrange for a payment
schedule;
(f) If the department certifies the responsible parent to
the department of licensing and a licensing entity for noncompliance with a child support order, the licensing entity
will suspend or not renew the parent’s license and the department of licensing will suspend or not renew any driver’s
license that the parent holds until the parent provides the
department of licensing and the licensing entity with a release
74.20A.320
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
from the department stating that the responsible parent is in
compliance with the child support order;
(g) If the department certifies the responsible parent as a
person who is in noncompliance with a child support order,
the department of fish and wildlife will suspend the fishing
license, hunting license, commercial fishing license, or any
other license issued under chapters 77.32, 77.28 *[75.28],
and *75.25 RCW that the responsible parent may possess.
Notice from the department of licensing that a responsible
parent’s driver’s license has been suspended shall serve as
notice of the suspension of a license issued under chapters
77.32 and *75.25 RCW;
(h) Suspension of a license will affect insurability if the
responsible parent’s insurance policy excludes coverage for
acts occurring after the suspension of a license;
(i) If after receiving the notice of noncompliance with a
child support order, the responsible parent files a motion to
modify support with the court or requests the department to
amend a support obligation established by an administrative
decision, or if a motion for modification of a court or administrative order for child support is pending, the department or
the court may stay action to certify the parent to the department of licensing and any licensing entity for noncompliance
with a child support order. A stay shall not exceed six months
unless the department finds good cause. The responsible parent has the obligation to notify the department that a modification proceeding is pending and provide a copy of the
motion or request for modification; and
(j) If the responsible parent subsequently becomes in
compliance with the child support order, the department will
promptly provide the parent with a release stating that the
parent is in compliance with the order, and the parent may
request that the licensing entity or the department of licensing
reinstate the suspended license.
(3) A responsible parent may request an adjudicative
proceeding upon service of the notice described in subsection
(1) of this section. The request for an adjudicative proceeding
must be received by the department within twenty days of
service. The request must be in writing and indicate the current mailing address and daytime phone number, if available,
of the responsible parent. The proceedings under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements
of chapter 34.05 RCW. The issues that may be considered at
the adjudicative proceeding are limited to whether:
(a) The person named as the responsible parent is the
responsible parent;
(b) The responsible parent is required to pay child support under a child support order; and
(c) The responsible parent is in compliance with the
order.
(4) The decision resulting from the adjudicative proceeding must be in writing and inform the responsible parent of
his or her rights to review. The parent’s copy of the decision
may be sent by regular mail to the parent’s most recent
address of record.
(5) If a responsible parent contacts the department’s division of child support office indicated on the notice of noncompliance within twenty days of service of the notice and
requests arrangement of a payment schedule, the department
shall stay the certification of noncompliance during negotiation of the schedule for payment of arrears. In no event shall
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.320
the stay continue for more than thirty days from the date of
contact by the parent. The department shall establish a schedule for payment of arrears that is fair and reasonable, and that
considers the financial situation of the responsible parent and
the needs of all children who rely on the responsible parent
for support. At the end of the thirty days, if no payment
schedule has been agreed to in writing and the department has
acted in good faith, the department shall proceed with certification of noncompliance.
(6) If a responsible parent timely requests an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the
department may not certify the name of the parent to the
department of licensing or a licensing entity for noncompliance with a child support order unless the adjudicative proceeding results in a finding that the responsible parent is not
in compliance with the order.
(7) The department may certify to the department of
licensing and any appropriate licensing entity the name of a
responsible parent who is not in compliance with a child support order or a residential or visitation order if:
(a) The responsible parent does not timely request an
adjudicative proceeding upon service of a notice issued under
subsection (1) of this section and is not in compliance with a
child support order twenty-one days after service of the
notice;
(b) An adjudicative proceeding results in a decision that
the responsible parent is not in compliance with a child support order;
(c) The court enters a judgment on a petition for judicial
review that finds the responsible parent is not in compliance
with a child support order;
(d) The department and the responsible parent have been
unable to agree on a fair and reasonable schedule of payment
of the arrears;
(e) The responsible parent fails to comply with a payment schedule established pursuant to subsection (5) of this
section; or
**The department shall send by regular mail a copy of
any certification of noncompliance filed with the department
of licensing or a licensing entity to the responsible parent at
the responsible parent’s most recent address of record.
(8) The department of licensing and a licensing entity
shall, without undue delay, notify a responsible parent certified by the department under subsection (7) of this section
that the parent’s driver’s license or other license has been suspended because the parent’s name has been certified by the
department as a responsible parent who is not in compliance
with a child support order or a residential or visitation order.
(9) When a responsible parent who is served notice
under subsection (1) of this section subsequently complies
with the child support order, or when the department receives
a court order under ***section 886 of this act stating that the
parent is in compliance with a residential or visitation order,
the department shall promptly provide the parent with a
release stating that the responsible parent is in compliance
with the order. A copy of the release shall be transmitted by
the department to the appropriate licensing entities.
(10) The department may adopt rules to implement and
enforce the requirements of this section. The department shall
deliver a copy of rules adopted to implement and enforce this
section to the legislature by June 30, 1998.
[Title 74 RCW—page 121]
74.20A.330
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(11) Nothing in this section prohibits a responsible parent from filing a motion to modify support with the court or
from requesting the department to amend a support obligation established by an administrative decision. If there is a
reasonable likelihood that a pending motion or request will
significantly change the amount of the child support obligation, the department or the court may stay action to certify the
responsible parent to the department of licensing and any
licensing entity for noncompliance with a child support order.
A stay shall not exceed six months unless the department
finds good cause to extend the stay. The responsible parent
has the obligation to notify the department that a modification proceeding is pending and provide a copy of the motion
or request for modification.
(12) The department of licensing and a licensing entity
may renew, reinstate, or otherwise extend a license in accordance with the licensing entity’s or the department of licensing’s rules after the licensing entity or the department of
licensing receives a copy of the release specified in subsection (9) of this section. The department of licensing and a
licensing entity may waive any applicable requirement for
reissuance, renewal, or other extension if it determines that
the imposition of that requirement places an undue burden on
the person and that waiver of the requirement is consistent
with the public interest.
(13) The procedures in chapter 58, Laws of 1997, constitute the exclusive administrative remedy for contesting the
establishment of noncompliance with a child support order
and suspension of a license under this section, and satisfy the
requirements of RCW 34.05.422. [1997 c 58 § 802.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Chapters 75.25 and 75.28 RCW were recodified,
repealed, or decodified by 2000 c 107. See Comparative Table for that chapter in the Table of Disposition of Former RCW Sections, Volume 0.
**(2) Subsection (7)(f) of this section was vetoed by the governor. The
vetoed language is as follows:
"(f) The department is ordered to certify the responsible parent by a
court order under section 887 of this act."
***(3) Section 886 of this act was vetoed by the governor.
Effective dates—1997 c 58: "*(2) Sections 801 through 887, 889, and
890 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and take effect July 1, 1997.
(3) Sections 701 through 704 of this act take effect January 1, 1998.
(4) Section 944 of this act takes effect October 1, 1998." [1997 c 58 §
1013.]
ments, the department shall proceed with certification to a licensing entity or
the department of licensing that the person is not in compliance with a child
support order." [1997 c 58 § 801.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.330
74.20A.330 License suspension—Agreements
between department and licensing entities—Identification of responsible parents. (1) The department and all of
the various licensing entities subject to RCW 74.20A.320
shall enter into such agreements as are necessary to carry out
the requirements of the license suspension program established in RCW 74.20A.320.
(2) The department and all licensing entities subject to
RCW 74.20A.320 shall compare data to identify responsible
parents who may be subject to the provisions of chapter 58,
Laws of 1997. The comparison may be conducted electronically, or by any other means that is jointly agreeable between
the department and the particular licensing entity. The data
shared shall be limited to those items necessary to [for]
implementation of chapter 58, Laws of 1997. The purpose of
the comparison shall be to identify current licensees who are
not in compliance with a child support order, and to provide
to the department the following information regarding those
licensees:
(a) Name;
(b) Date of birth;
(c) Address of record;
(d) Federal employer identification number and social
security number;
(e) Type of license;
(f) Effective date of license or renewal;
(g) Expiration date of license; and
(h) Active or inactive status. [1997 c 58 § 803.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
74.20A.350
*Reviser’s note: Subsection (1) of this section was vetoed by the governor. The vetoed language is as follows:
"(1) Sections 1, 2, 101 through 110, 201 through 207, 301 through 329,
401 through 404, 501 through 506, 601, 705, 706, 888, 891 through 943, 945
through 948, and 1002 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government
and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately."
Intent—1997 c 58: "It is the intent of the legislature to provide a strong
incentive for persons owing child support to make timely payments, and to
cooperate with the department of social and health services to establish an
appropriate schedule for the payment of any arrears. To further ensure that
child support obligations are met, sections 801 through 890 of this act establish a program by which certain licenses may be suspended or not renewed if
a person is one hundred eighty days or more in arrears on child support payments.
In the implementation and management of this program, it is the legislature’s intent that the objective of the department of social and health services be to obtain payment in full of arrears, or where that is not possible, to
enter into agreements with delinquent obligors to make timely support payments and make reasonable payments towards the arrears. The legislature
intends that if the obligor refuses to cooperate in establishing a fair and reasonable payment schedule for arrears or refuses to make timely support pay[Title 74 RCW—page 122]
74.20A.350 Noncompliance—Notice—Fines—
License suspension—Hearings—Rules. (1) The division of
child support may issue a notice of noncompliance to any
person, firm, entity, or agency of state or federal government
that the division believes is not complying with:
(a) A notice of payroll deduction issued under chapter
26.23 RCW;
(b) A lien, order to withhold and deliver, or assignment
of earnings issued under this chapter;
(c) Any other wage assignment, garnishment, attachment, or withholding instrument properly served by the
agency or firm providing child support enforcement services
for another state, under Title IV-D of the federal social security act;
(d) A subpoena issued by the division of child support, or
the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for
another state, under Title IV-D of the federal social security
act;
(2006 Ed.)
Support of Dependent Children—Alternative Method—1971 Act
(e) An information request issued by the division of child
support, or the agency or firm providing child support
enforcement for another state under Title IV-D of the federal
social security act, to an employer or entity required to
respond to such requests under RCW 74.20A.360; or
(f) The duty to report newly hired employees imposed by
RCW 26.23.040.
(2) Liability for noncompliance with a wage withholding, garnishment, order to withhold and deliver, or any other
lien or attachment issued to secure payment of child support
is governed by RCW 26.23.090 and 74.20A.100, except that
liability for noncompliance with remittance time frames is
governed by subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The division of child support may impose fines of up
to one hundred dollars per occurrence for:
(a) Noncompliance with a subpoena or an information
request issued by the division of child support, or the agency
or firm providing child support enforcement services for
another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security
act;
(b) Noncompliance with the required time frames for
remitting withheld support moneys to the Washington state
support registry, or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement services for another state, except that no liability shall be established for failure to make timely remittance unless the division of child support has provided the
person, firm, entity, or agency of state or federal government
with written warning:
(i) Explaining the duty to remit withheld payments
promptly;
(ii) Explaining the potential for fines for delayed submission; and
(iii) Providing a contact person within the division of
child support with whom the person, firm, entity, or agency
of state or federal government may seek assistance with child
support withholding issues.
(4) The division of child support may assess fines
according to RCW 26.23.040 for failure to comply with
employer reporting requirements.
(5) The division of child support may suspend licenses
for failure to comply with a subpoena issued under RCW
74.20.225.
(6) The division of child support may serve a notice of
noncompliance by personal service or by any method of
mailing requiring a return receipt.
(7) The liability asserted by the division of child support
in the notice of noncompliance becomes final and collectible
on the twenty-first day after the date of service, unless within
that time the person, firm, entity, or agency of state or federal
government:
(a) Initiates an action in superior court to contest the
notice of noncompliance;
(b) Requests a hearing by delivering a hearing request to
the division of child support in accordance with rules adopted
by the secretary under this section; or
(c) Contacts the division of child support and negotiates
an alternate resolution to the asserted noncompliance or demonstrates that the person, firm, entity, or agency of state or
federal government has complied with the child support processes.
(8) The notice of noncompliance shall contain:
(2006 Ed.)
74.20A.360
(a) A full and fair disclosure of the rights and obligations
created by this section; and
(b) Identification of the:
(i) Child support process with respect to which the division of child support is alleging noncompliance; and
(ii) State child support enforcement agency issuing the
original child support process.
(9) In an administrative hearing convened under subsection (7)(b) of this section, the presiding officer shall determine whether or not, and to what extent, liability for noncompliance exists under this section, and shall enter an order containing these findings. If liability does exist, the presiding
officer shall include language in the order advising the parties
to the proceeding that the liability may be collected by any
means available to the division of child support under subsection (12) of this section without further notice to the liable
party.
(10) Hearings under this section are governed by the
administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
(11) After the twenty days following service of the
notice, the person, firm, entity, or agency of state or federal
government may petition for a late hearing. A petition for a
late hearing does not stay any collection action to recover the
debt. A late hearing is available upon a showing of any of the
grounds stated in civil rule 60 for the vacation of orders.
(12) The division of child support may collect any obligation established under this section using any of the remedies available under chapter 26.09, 26.18, *26.21, 26.23,
74.20, or 74.20A RCW for the collection of child support.
(13) The division of child support may enter agreements
for the repayment of obligations under this section. Agreements may:
(a) Suspend the obligation imposed by this section conditioned on future compliance with child support processes.
Such suspension shall end automatically upon any failure to
comply with a child support process. Amounts suspended
become fully collectible without further notice automatically
upon failure to comply with a child support process;
(b) Resolve amounts due under this section and provide
for repayment.
(14) The secretary may adopt rules to implement this
section. [1997 c 58 § 893.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 26.21 RCW was repealed by 2002 c 198 §
901, effective January 1, 2007. Later enactment, see chapter 26.21A RCW.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.360
74.20A.360 Records access—Confidentiality—Nonliability—Penalty for noncompliance. (1) Notwithstanding
any other provision of Washington law, the division of child
support, the Washington state support registry, or the agency
or firm providing child support enforcement services for
another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security
act may access records of the following nature, in the possession of any agency or entity listed in this section:
(a) Records of state and local agencies, including but not
limited to:
(i) The state registrar, including but not limited to
records of birth, marriage, and death;
[Title 74 RCW—page 123]
74.20A.370
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(ii) Tax and revenue records, including, but not limited
to, information on residence addresses, employers, and
assets;
(iii) Records concerning real and titled personal property;
(iv) Records of occupational, professional, and recreational licenses and records concerning the ownership and
control of corporations, partnerships, and other business entities;
(v) Employment security records;
(vi) Records of agencies administering public assistance
programs; and
(vii) Records of the department of corrections, and of
county and municipal correction or confinement facilities;
(b) Records of public utilities and cable television companies relating to persons who owe or are owed support, or
against whom a support obligation is sought, including
names and addresses of the individuals, and employers’
names and addresses pursuant to RCW 74.20.225 and RCW
74.20A.120; and
(c) Records held by financial institutions, pursuant to
RCW 74.20A.370.
(2) Upon the request of the division of child support, the
Washington state support registry, or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement services for another state
under Title IV-D of the social security act, any employer
shall provide information as to the employment, earnings,
benefits, and residential address and phone number of any
employee.
(3) Entities in possession of records described in subsection (1)(a) and (c) of this section must provide information
and records upon the request of the division of child support,
the Washington state support registry, or the agency or firm
providing child support enforcement services for another
state under Title IV-D of the federal social security act. The
division of child support may enter into agreements providing for electronic access to these records.
(4) Public utilities and cable television companies must
provide the information in response to a judicial or administrative subpoena issued by the division of child support, the
Washington state support registry, or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement services for another state
under Title IV-D of the federal social security act.
(5) Entities responding to information requests and subpoenas under this section are not liable for disclosing information pursuant to the request or subpoena.
(6) The division of child support shall maintain all information gathered under this section confidential and shall only
disclose this information as provided under RCW 26.23.120.
(7) The division of child support may impose fines for
noncompliance with this section using the notice of noncompliance under RCW 74.20A.350. [1997 c 58 § 897.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.370
74.20A.370 Financial institution data matches. (1)
Each calendar quarter financial institutions doing business in
the state of Washington shall report to the department the
name, record address, social security number or other tax[Title 74 RCW—page 124]
payer identification number, and other information determined necessary by the department for each individual who
maintains an account at such institution and is identified by
the department as owing a support debt.
(2) The department and financial institutions shall enter
into agreements to develop and operate a data match system,
using automated data exchanges to the extent feasible, to
minimize the cost of providing information required under
subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The department may pay a reasonable fee to a financial institution for conducting the data match not to exceed
the actual costs incurred.
(4) A financial institution is not liable for any disclosure
of information to the department under this section.
(5) The division of child support shall maintain all information gathered under this section confidential and shall only
disclose this information as provided under RCW 26.23.120.
[1997 c 58 § 899.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
74.20A.900
74.20A.900 Severability—Alternative when method
of notification held invalid. If any provision of this chapter
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions
or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this chapter are severable.
If any method of notification provided for in this chapter
is held invalid, service as provided for by the laws of the state
of Washington for service of process in a civil action shall be
substituted for the method held invalid. [1971 ex.s. c 164 §
27.]
Civil procedure—Commencement of actions: Chapter 4.28 RCW.
74.20A.910
74.20A.910 Savings clause. The repeal of RCW
74.20A.050 and the amendment of RCW 74.20A.030 and
74.20A.250 by this 1979 act is not intended to affect any
existing or accrued right, any action or proceeding already
taken or instituted, any administrative action already taken,
or any rule, regulation, or order already promulgated. The
repeal and amendments are not intended to revive any law
heretofore repealed. [1979 ex.s. c 171 § 27.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 171: See note following RCW 74.20.300.
Chapter 74.25
Chapter 74.25 RCW
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BASIC SKILLS
TRAINING PROGRAM
Sections
74.25.010
74.25.040
State policy—Legislative findings.
Volunteer work—Child care or other work—Training.
74.25.010
74.25.010 State policy—Legislative findings.
Reviser’s note: RCW 74.25.010 was amended by 1997 c 59 § 29 without reference to its repeal by 1997 c 58 § 322. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
(2006 Ed.)
Employment Partnership Program
74.25.040
74.25.040 Volunteer work—Child care or other
work—Training. (1) Recipients of temporary assistance for
needy families who are employed or participating in a work
activity under *section 312 of this act may volunteer or work
in a licensed child care facility. Licensed child care facilities
participating in this effort shall provide care for the recipient’s children and provide for the development of positive
child care skills.
(2) The department shall train two hundred fifty recipients of temporary assistance for needy families to become
family child care providers or child care center teachers. The
department shall offer the training in rural and urban communities. The department shall adopt rules to implement the
child care training program in this section.
(3) Recipients trained under this section shall provide
child care services to clients of the department for two years
following the completion of their child care training. [1997 c
59 § 30; 1997 c 58 § 405; 1994 c 299 § 8.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Section 312 of this act was vetoed by the governor.
(2) This section was amended by 1997 c 58 § 405 and by 1997 c 59 §
30, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent—1997 c 58: See note following RCW 74.13.0903.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299: See notes following RCW 74.12.400.
Chapter 74.25A RCW
EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Chapter 74.25A
Sections
74.25A.005
74.25A.010
74.25A.020
74.25A.030
74.25A.040
74.25A.045
74.25A.050
74.25A.060
Legislative findings.
Employment partnership program—Created—Goals.
Pilot projects—Grants to be used as wage subsidies—Criteria.
Employer eligibility—Conditions.
Diversion of grants to worker-owned businesses.
Local employment partnership council.
Program participants—Eligibility for assistance programs.
Program participants—Benefits and salary not to be diminished.
74.25A.070 Program participants—Classification under federal job training law.
74.25A.080 Department of social and health services to seek federal funds.
74.25A.900 Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal
requirements—1994 c 299.
74.25A.005
74.25A.005 Legislative findings. The legislature finds
that the restructuring in the Washington economy has created
rising public assistance caseloads and declining real wages
for Washington workers. There is a profound need to develop
partnership programs between the private and public sectors
to create new jobs with adequate salaries and promotional
opportunities for chronically unemployed and underemployed citizens of the state. Most public assistance recipients
want to become financially independent through paid
employment. A voluntary program which utilizes public
wage subsidies and employer matching salaries has provided
a beneficial financial incentive allowing public assistance
recipients transition to permanent full-time employment.
[1994 c 299 § 19; 1986 c 172 § 1. Formerly RCW 50.63.010.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.25A.020
Report—1994 c 299: "The department of social and health services
shall report to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and
senate on the implementation of this employment partnership program for
recipients of aid to families with dependent children by October 1, 1995."
[1994 c 299 § 27.]
74.25A.010
74.25A.010 Employment partnership program—
Created—Goals. The employment partnership program is
created to develop a series of geographically distributed
model projects to provide permanent full-time employment
for low-income and unemployed persons. The program shall
be administered by the department of social and health services. The department shall contract for the program through
local public or private nonprofit organizations. The goals of
the program are as follows:
(1) To reduce inefficiencies in administration and provide model coordination of agencies with responsibilities for
employment and human service delivery to unemployed persons;
(2) To create voluntary financial incentives to simultaneously reduce unemployment and welfare caseloads;
(3) To provide other state and federal support services to
the client population to enable economic independence;
(4) To improve partnerships between the public and private sectors designed to move recipients of public assistance
into productive employment; and
(5) To provide employers with information on federal
targeted jobs tax credit and other state and federal tax incentives for participation in the program. [1994 c 299 § 20; 1986
c 172 § 2. Formerly RCW 50.63.020.]
74.25A.020
74.25A.020 Pilot projects—Grants to be used as
wage subsidies—Criteria. The secretary of the department
of social and health services shall establish pilot projects that
enable grants to be used as a wage subsidy. The department
of social and health services shall comply with applicable
federal statutes and regulations, and shall seek any waivers
from the federal government necessary to operate the
employment partnership program. The projects shall be
available on an individual case-by-case basis or subject to the
limitations outlined in RCW 74.25A.040 for the start-up or
reopening of a plant under worker ownership. The projects
shall be subject to the following criteria:
(1) It shall be a voluntary program and no person may
have any sanction applied for failure to participate.
(2) Employment positions established by this chapter
shall not be created as the result of, nor result in, any of the
following:
(a) Displacement of current employees, including overtime currently worked by these employees;
(b) The filling of positions that would otherwise be promotional opportunities for current employees;
(c) The filling of a position, before compliance with
applicable personnel procedures or provisions of collective
bargaining agreements;
(d) The filling of a position created by termination, layoff, or reduction in workforce;
(e) The filling of a work assignment customarily performed by a worker in a job classification within a recognized
collective bargaining unit in that specific work site, or the
filling of a work assignment in any bargaining unit in which
[Title 74 RCW—page 125]
74.25A.030
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
funded positions are vacant or in which regular employees
are on layoff;
(f) A strike, lockout, or other bona fide labor dispute, or
violation of any existing collective bargaining agreement
between employees and employers;
(g) Decertification of any collective bargaining unit.
(3) Wages shall be paid at the usual and customary rate
of comparable jobs and may include a training wage if permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations;
(4) A recoupment process shall recover state supplemented wages from an employer when a job does not last six
months following the subsidization period for reasons other
than the employee voluntarily quitting or being fired for good
cause as determined by the local employment partnership
council under rules prescribed by the secretary;
(5) Job placements shall have promotional opportunities
or reasonable opportunities for wage increases;
(6) Other necessary support services such as training,
day care, medical insurance, and transportation shall be provided to the extent possible;
(7) Employers shall provide monetary matching funds of
at least fifty percent of total wages;
(8) Wages paid to participants shall be a minimum of
five dollars an hour; and
(9) The projects shall target the populations in the priority and for the purposes set forth in *RCW 74.25.020, to the
extent that necessary support services are available. [1994 c
299 § 21; 1986 c 172 § 3. Formerly RCW 50.63.030.]
*Reviser’s note: The 1994 c 299 amendments to RCW 74.25.020 were
vetoed by the governor. RCW 74.25.020 was subsequently repealed by 1997
c 58 § 322.
74.25A.030
74.25A.030 Employer eligibility—Conditions. An
employer, before becoming eligible to fill a position under
the employment partnership program, shall certify to the
local employment partnership council that the employment,
offer of employment, or work activity complies with the following conditions:
(1) The conditions of work are reasonable and not in violation of applicable federal, state, or local safety and health
standards;
(2) The assignments are not in any way related to political, electoral, or partisan activities;
(3) The employer shall provide industrial insurance coverage as required by Title 51 RCW;
(4) The employer shall provide unemployment compensation coverage as required by Title 50 RCW;
(5) The employment partnership program participants
hired following the completion of the program shall be provided benefits equal to those provided to other employees
including social security coverage, sick leave, the opportunity to join a collective bargaining unit, and medical benefits.
[1994 c 299 § 22; 1986 c 172 § 4. Formerly RCW 50.63.040.]
74.25A.040
74.25A.040 Diversion of grants to worker-owned
businesses. Grants may be diverted for the start-up or retention of worker-owned businesses if:
(1) A feasibility study or business plan is completed on
the proposed business; and
(2) The project is approved by the loan committee of the
*Washington state development loan fund as created by
[Title 74 RCW—page 126]
RCW 43.168.110. [1986 c 172 § 5. Formerly RCW
50.63.050.]
*Reviser’s note: The "Washington state development loan fund" was
renamed the "rural Washington loan fund" pursuant to 1999 c 164 § 504.
74.25A.045
74.25A.045 Local employment partnership council.
A local employment partnership council shall be established
in each pilot project area to assist the department of social
and health services in the administration of this chapter and to
allow local flexibility in dealing with the particular needs of
each pilot project area. Each council shall be primarily
responsible for recruiting and encouraging participation of
employment providers in the project site. Each council shall
be composed of nine members who shall be appointed by the
county legislative authority of the county in which the pilot
project operates. Councilmembers shall be residents of or
employers in the pilot project area in which they are
appointed and shall serve three-year terms. The council shall
have two members who are current or former recipients of the
aid to families with dependent children or temporary assistance for needy families programs or food stamp or benefits
program, two members who represent labor, and five members who represent the local business community. In addition, one person representing the local community service
office of the department of social and health services, one
person representing a community action agency or other nonprofit service provider, and one person from a local city or
county government shall serve as nonvoting members. [1998
c 79 § 17; 1997 c 59 § 31; 1994 c 299 § 23.]
74.25A.050
74.25A.050 Program participants—Eligibility for
assistance programs. Participants shall be considered recipients of temporary assistance for needy families and remain
eligible for medicaid benefits even if the participant does not
receive a residual grant. Work supplementation participants
shall be eligible for (1) the thirty-dollar plus one-third of
earned income exclusion from income, (2) the work related
expense disregard, and (3) any applicable child care expense
disregard deemed available to recipient of aid in computing
his or her grant under this chapter, unless prohibited by federal law. [1997 c 59 § 32; 1994 c 299 § 24; 1986 c 172 § 6.
Formerly RCW 50.63.060.]
74.25A.060
74.25A.060 Program participants—Benefits and salary not to be diminished. An applicant or recipient of aid
under this chapter who participates in the employment partnership program shall be guaranteed that the value of the benefits available to him or her before entry into the program
shall not be diminished. In addition, a participant employed
under this chapter shall be treated in the same manner as are
regular employees, and the participant’s salary shall be the
amount that he or she would have received if employed in
that position and not participating under this chapter. [1986 c
172 § 7. Formerly RCW 50.63.070.]
74.25A.070
74.25A.070 Program participants—Classification
under federal job training law. Applicants for and recipients of aid under this chapter are "individuals in special need"
of training as described in section 2 of the federal job training
partnership act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1501 et seq., "individuals who
(2006 Ed.)
Services for Children with Multiple Handicaps
require special assistance" as provided in section 123 of that
act, and "most in need" of employment and training opportunities as described in section 141 of that act. [1986 c 172 § 8.
Formerly RCW 50.63.080.]
74.25A.080
74.25A.080 Department of social and health services
to seek federal funds. The department of social and health
services shall seek any federal funds available for implementation of this chapter, including, but not limited to, funds
available under Title IV of the federal social security act (42
U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.) for the job opportunities and basic
skills program. [1994 c 299 § 25; 1986 c 172 § 9. Formerly
RCW 50.63.090.]
74.25A.900
74.25A.900 Intent—Finding—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 299. See notes
following RCW 74.12.400.
Chapter 74.26
Chapter 74.26 RCW
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH
MULTIPLE HANDICAPS
Sections
74.26.010
74.26.020
74.26.030
74.26.040
74.26.050
74.26.060
Legislative intent.
Eligibility criteria.
Program plan for services—Local agency support.
Administrative responsibility—Regulations.
Contracts for services—Supervision.
Program costs—Liability of insurers.
74.26.010
74.26.010 Legislative intent. In recognition of the fact
that there is a small population of children with multiple disabilities and specific and continuing medical needs now
being served in high-daily-cost hospitals that could be more
appropriately and cost-efficiently served in alternative residential alternatives, it is the intent of the legislature to establish a controlled program to develop and review an alternative service delivery system for certain multiply handicapped
children who have continuing intensive medical needs but
who are not required to continue in residence in a hospital
setting. [1980 c 106 § 1.]
74.26.020
74.26.020 Eligibility criteria. (1) To be eligible for services under this alternative program, a person must meet all
the following criteria:
(a) The individual must be under twenty-two years of
age;
(b) The individual must be under the care of a physician
and such physician must diagnose the child’s condition as
sufficiently serious to warrant eligibility;
(c) The individual must be presently residing in, or in
immediate jeopardy of residing in, a hospital or other residential medical facility for the purpose of receiving intensive
support medical services; and
(d) The individual must fall within one of the four functional/medical definitional categories listed in subsection (2)
of this section.
(2) Functional/medical definitional categories:
(a) Respiratory impaired; with an acquired or congenital
defect of the oropharynx, trachea, bronchial tree, or lung
requiring continuing dependency on a respiratory assistive
(2006 Ed.)
74.26.030
device in order to allow the disease process to heal or the
individual to grow to a sufficient size to live as a normal person;
(b) Respiratory with multiple physical impairments; with
acquired or congenital defects of the central nervous system
or multiple organ systems requiring continued dependency
on a respiratory assistive device and/or other medical, surgical, and physical therapy treatments in order to allow the disease process to heal or the individual to gain sufficient size to
permit surgical correction of the defect or the individual to
grow large and strong enough and acquire sufficient skills in
self-care to allow survival in a nonmedical/therapy intensive
environment;
(c) Multiply physically impaired; with congenital or
acquired defects of multiple systems and at least some central
nervous system impairment that causes loss of urine and stool
sphincter control as well as paralysis or loss or reduction of
two or more extremities, forcing the individual to be dependent on a wheelchair or other total body mobility device, also
requiring medical, surgical, and physical therapy intervention
in order to allow the individual to grow to a size that permits
surgical correction of the defects or allows the individual to
grow large and strong enough and acquire sufficient skills in
self-care to allow survival in a nonmedical/therapy intensive
environment;
(d) Static encephalopathies; with severe brain insults of
acquired or congenital origin causing the individual to be
medically diagnosed as totally dependent for all bodily and
social functions except cardiorespiratory so that the individual requires continuous long-term daily medical/nursing care.
[1980 c 106 § 2.]
74.26.030
74.26.030 Program plan for services—Local agency
support. (1) A written individual program plan shall be
developed for each child served under this controlled program by the division of developmental disabilities in cooperation with the child’s parents or if available, legal guardians,
and under the supervision of the child’s primary health care
provider.
(2) The plan shall provide for the systematic provision of
all required services. The services to be available as required
by the child’s individual needs shall include: (a) Nursing
care, including registered and licensed practical nurses, and
properly trained nurse’s aides; (b) physicians, including surgeons, general and family practitioners, and specialists in the
child’s particular diagnosis on either a referral, consultive, or
on-going treatment basis; (c) respiratory therapists and
devices; (d) dental care of both routine and emergent nature;
(e) on-going nutritional consultation from a trained professional; (f) communication disorder therapy; (g) physical and
occupational habilitation and rehabilitation therapy and
devices; (h) special and regular education; (i) recreation therapy; (j) psychological counseling; and (k) transportation.
(3) A portion of these required services can be provided
from state and local agencies having primary responsibility
for such services, but the ultimate responsibility for ensuring
and coordinating the delivery of all necessary services shall
rest with the division of developmental disabilities. [1980 c
106 § 3.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 127]
74.26.040
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.26.040
74.26.040 Administrative responsibility—Regulations. The department of social and health services, division
of developmental disabilities, shall bear all administrative
responsibility for the effective and rapid implementation of
this controlled program. The division shall promulgate regulations within sixty days after June 12, 1980, to provide minimum standards and qualifications for the following program
elements:
(1) Residential services;
(2) Medical services;
(3) Day program;
(4) Facility requirements and accessibility for all buildings in which the program is to be conducted;
(5) Staff qualifications;
(6) Staff training;
(7) Program evaluation; and
(8) Protection of client’s rights, confidentiality, and
informed consent. [1980 c 106 § 4.]
74.26.050
74.26.050 Contracts for services—Supervision. The
division of developmental disabilities shall implement this
controlled program through a "request-for-proposal" method
and subsequent contracts for services with any local, county,
or state agency demonstrating a probable ability to meet the
program’s goals. The proposals must demonstrate an ability
to provide or insure the provision of all services set forth in
RCW 74.26.030 if necessary for the children covered by the
proposals.
The division of developmental disabilities shall thoroughly supervise, review, and audit fiscal and program performance for the individuals served under this control program. A comparison of all costs incurred by all public agencies for each individual prior to the implementation of this
program and all costs incurred after one year under this program shall be made and reported back to the legislature in the
1982 session. [1980 c 106 § 5.]
74.26.060
74.26.060 Program costs—Liability of insurers. This
program or any components necessary to the child shall be
available to eligible children at no cost to their parents provided that any medical insurance benefits available to the
child for his/her medical condition shall remain liable for
payment for his/her cost of care. [1980 c 106 § 6.]
Chapter 74.29 RCW
REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
Chapter 74.29
(Formerly: Vocational rehabilitation and services for handicapped persons)
Sections
74.29.005
74.29.010
74.29.020
74.29.037
74.29.050
74.29.055
74.29.080
Purpose.
Definitions.
Powers and duties of state agency.
Cooperative agreements with state and local agencies.
Acceptance of federal aid—Generally.
Acceptance of federal aid—Construction of chapter when part
thereof in conflict with federal requirements which are condition precedent to allocation of federal funds.
Rehabilitation and job support services—Procedure—Register
of eligible individuals and organizations.
Department of social and health services (including division of vocational
rehabilitation): Chapter 43.20A RCW.
[Title 74 RCW—page 128]
Investment of industrial insurance funds in student loans for vocational
training and education: RCW 51.44.100.
74.29.005
74.29.005 Purpose. The purposes of this chapter are (1)
to rehabilitate individuals with disabilities who have a barrier
to employment so that they may prepare for and engage in a
gainful occupation; (2) to provide persons with physical,
mental, or sensory disabilities with a program of services
which will result in greater opportunities for them to enter
more fully into life in the community; (3) to promote activities which will assist individuals with disabilities to become
self-sufficient and self-supporting; and (4) to encourage and
develop community rehabilitation programs, job support services, and other resources needed by individuals with disabilities. [1993 c 213 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.10.005. Prior:
1967 c 118 § 1. Formerly RCW 28A.10.005, 28.10.005.]
74.29.010
74.29.010 Definitions. (1) "Individual with disabilities"
means an individual:
(a) Who has a physical, mental, or sensory disability,
which requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare
for, enter into, engage in, retain, or engage in and retain gainful employment consistent with his or her capacities and abilities; or
(b) Who has a physical, mental, or sensory impairment
whose ability to function independently in the family or community or whose ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in
employment is substantially limited and for whom the delivery of vocational rehabilitation or independent living services
will improve the ability to function, continue functioning, or
move towards functioning independently in the family or
community or to continue in employment.
(2) "Individual with severe disabilities" means an individual with disabilities:
(a) Who has a physical, mental, or sensory impairment
that seriously limits one or more functional capacities, such
as mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, or work skills, in terms of
employment outcome, and/or independence and participation
in family or community life;
(b) Whose rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple rehabilitation services over an extended period of time;
and
(c) Who has one or more physical, mental, or sensory
disabilities resulting from amputation, arthritis, autism,
blindness, burn injury, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis,
deafness, head injury, heart disease, hemiplegia, hemophilia,
respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, mental retardation,
mental illness, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders (including
stroke and epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia, other spinal
cord conditions, sickle cell anemia, specific learning disability, end-stage renal disease, or another disability or combination of disabilities determined on the basis of an assessment
for determining eligibility and rehabilitation needs to cause
comparable substantial functional limitation.
(3) "Physical, mental, or sensory disability" means a
physical, mental, or sensory condition which materially limits, contributes to limiting or, if not corrected or accommodated, will probably result in limiting an individual’s activities or functioning.
(2006 Ed.)
Rehabilitation Services for Individuals with Disabilities
(4) "Rehabilitation services" means goods or services
provided to: (a) Determine eligibility and rehabilitation
needs of individuals with disabilities, and/or (b) enable individuals with disabilities to attain or retain employment and/or
independence, and/or (c) contribute substantially to the rehabilitation of a group of individuals with disabilities. To the
extent federal funds are available, goods and services may
include, but are not limited to, the establishment, construction, development, operation and maintenance of community
rehabilitation programs and independent living centers, as
well as special demonstration projects.
(5) "Independence" means a reasonable degree of restoration from dependency upon others to self-direction and
greater control over circumstances of one’s life for personal
needs and care and includes but is not limited to the ability to
live in one’s home.
(6) "Job support services" means ongoing goods and services provided after vocational rehabilitation, subject to
available funds, that support an individual with severe disabilities in employment. Such services include, but are not
limited to, extraordinary supervision or job coaching.
(7) "State agency" means the department of social and
health services. [1993 c 213 § 2; 1970 ex.s. c 18 § 52; 1969
ex.s. c 223 § 28A.10.010. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 8 § 41; 1967 c
118 § 2; 1957 c 223 § 1; 1933 c 176 § 2; RRS § 4925-2. Formerly RCW 28A.10.010, 28.10.010.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
74.29.020 Powers and duties of state agency. Subject
to available funds, and consistent with federal law and regulations the state agency shall:
(1) Develop statewide rehabilitation programs;
(2) Provide vocational rehabilitation services, independent living services, and/or job support services to individuals with disabilities or severe disabilities;
(3) Disburse all funds provided by law and may receive,
accept and disburse such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises
and bequests of real and personal property from public or private sources, as may be made from time to time, in trust or
otherwise, whenever the terms and conditions thereof will aid
in carrying out rehabilitation services as specified by law and
the regulations of the state agency; and may sell, lease or
exchange real or personal property according to the terms and
conditions thereof. Any money so received shall be deposited
in the state treasury for investment, reinvestment or expenditure in accordance with the conditions of its receipt and RCW
43.88.180;
(4) Appoint and fix the compensation and prescribe the
duties, of the personnel necessary for the administration of
this chapter, unless otherwise provided by law;
(5) Make exploratory studies, do reviews, and research
relative to rehabilitation;
(6) Coordinate with the state rehabilitation advisory
council and the state independent living advisory council on
the administration of the programs;
(7) Report to the governor and to the legislature on the
administration of this chapter, as requested; and
(8) Adopt rules, in accord with chapter 34.05 RCW, necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. [1993 c 213
§ 3; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.10.020. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 8 §
74.29.020
(2006 Ed.)
74.29.080
42; 1967 c 118 § 6; 1963 c 135 § 1; 1957 c 223 § 3; 1933 c
176 § 3; RRS § 4925-3. Formerly RCW 28A.10.020,
28.10.030.]
74.29.037
74.29.037 Cooperative agreements with state and
local agencies. The state agency may establish cooperative
agreements with other state and local agencies. [1993 c 213
§ 6; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.10.037. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 8 §
45; 1967 c 118 § 7. Formerly RCW 28A.10.037, 28.10.037.]
74.29.050
74.29.050 Acceptance of federal aid—Generally. The
state of Washington does hereby:
(1) Accept the provisions and maximum possible benefits resulting from any acts of congress which provide benefits for the purposes of this chapter;
(2) Designate the state treasurer as custodian of all moneys received by the state from appropriations made by the
congress of the United States for purposes of this chapter, and
authorize the state treasurer to make disbursements therefrom
upon the order of the state agency; and
(3) Empower and direct the state agency to cooperate
with the federal government in carrying out the provisions of
this chapter or of any federal law or regulation pertaining to
vocational rehabilitation, and to comply with such conditions
as may be necessary to assure the maximum possible benefits
resulting from any such federal law or regulation. [1969 ex.s.
c 223 § 28A.10.050. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 8 § 43; 1967 c 118 §
9; 1957 c 223 § 5; 1955 c 371 § 1; 1933 c 176 § 5; RRS §
4925-5. Formerly RCW 28A.10.050, 28.10.050.]
74.29.055
74.29.055 Acceptance of federal aid—Construction
of chapter when part thereof in conflict with federal
requirements which are condition precedent to allocation
of federal funds. If any part of this chapter shall be found to
be in conflict with federal requirements which are a condition
precedent to the allocation of federal funds to the state, such
conflicting part of this chapter is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of such conflict, and such findings
or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this chapter. [1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.10.055. Prior:
1967 c 118 § 10. Formerly RCW 28A.10.055, 28.10.055.]
74.29.080
74.29.080 Rehabilitation and job support services—
Procedure—Register of eligible individuals and organizations. (1) Determination of eligibility and need for rehabilitation services and determination of eligibility for job support
services shall be made by the state agency for each individual
according to its established rules, policies, procedures, and
standards.
(2) The state agency may purchase, from any source,
rehabilitation services and job support services for individuals with disabilities, subject to the individual’s income or
other resources that are available to contribute to the cost of
such services.
(3) The state agency shall maintain registers of individuals and organizations which meet required standards and
qualify to provide rehabilitation services and job support services to individuals with disabilities. Eligibility of such individuals and organizations shall be based upon standards and
criteria promulgated by the state agency. [1993 c 213 § 4;
[Title 74 RCW—page 129]
Chapter 74.32
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
1983 1st ex.s. c 41 § 16; 1979 c 151 § 11; 1972 ex.s. c 15 § 1;
1970 ex.s. c 18 § 53; 1970 ex.s. c 15 § 23; 1969 ex.s. c 223 §
28A.10.080. Prior: 1969 c 105 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 8 § 46; 1967
c 118 § 8. Formerly RCW 28A.10.080, 28.10.080.]
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW 28A.230.160.
Chapter 74.32 RCW
ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON VENDOR RATES
Chapter 74.32
Sections
74.32.100
74.32.110
74.32.120
74.32.130
74.32.140
74.32.150
74.32.160
74.32.170
74.32.180
Advisory committee on vendor rates—Created—Members—
Chairman.
Advisory committee on vendor rates—"Vendor rates" defined.
Advisory committee on vendor rates—Meetings—Travel
expenses.
Advisory committee on vendor rates—Powers and duties.
Investigation to determine if additional requirements or standards affecting vendor group.
Investigation to determine if additional requirements or standards affecting vendor group—Scope of investigation.
Investigation to determine if additional requirements or standards affecting vendor group—Changes investigated regardless of source.
Investigation to determine if additional requirements or standards affecting vendor group—Prevailing wage scales and
fringe benefit programs to be considered.
Investigation to determine if additional requirements or standards affecting vendor group—Additional factors to be
accounted for.
74.32.100
74.32.100 Advisory committee on vendor rates—
Created—Members—Chairman. There is hereby created
a governor’s advisory committee on vendor rates. The committee shall be composed of nine members appointed by the
governor. In addition, the secretary of the department of
social and health services or his designee shall be an ex officio member of the committee. Members shall be selected on
the basis of their interest in problems related to the department of social and health services, and no less than two members shall be licensed certified public accountants. The members shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The governor
shall select one member to serve as chairman of the committee and he shall serve as such at the pleasure of the governor.
[1971 ex.s. c 87 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 203 § 1.]
74.32.110
74.32.110 Advisory committee on vendor rates—
"Vendor rates" defined. The term "vendor rates" as used
throughout RCW 74.32.100 through 74.32.130 shall include,
but not be limited to, the cost reimbursement basis upon
which all participating hospital organizations receive compensation. [1969 ex.s. c 203 § 2.]
74.32.120
74.32.120 Advisory committee on vendor rates—
Meetings—Travel expenses. The committee shall meet at
least a total of three and no more than twelve times per year
at such specific times and places as may be determined by the
chairman. Members shall be entitled to reimbursement for
travel expenses as provided for in RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060, as now existing or hereafter amended. [1975-’76
2nd ex.s. c 34 § 170; 1969 ex.s. c 203 § 3.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
[Title 74 RCW—page 130]
74.32.130 Advisory committee on vendor rates—
Powers and duties. The committee shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1) Study and review the methods and procedures for
establishing the rates and/or fees of all vendors of goods, services and care purchased by the department of social and
health services including all medical and welfare care and
services.
(2) Provide each professional and trade association or
other representative groups of each of the service areas, the
opportunity to present to the committee their evidence for
justifying the methods of computing and the justification for
the rates and/or fees they propose.
(3) The committee shall have the authority to request
vendors to appoint a fiscal intermediary to provide the committee with an evaluation and justification of the method of
establishing rates and/or fees.
(4) Prepare and submit a written report to the governor,
at least sixty days prior to each session of the legislature,
which contains its findings and recommendations concerning
the methods and procedures for establishing rates and/or fees
and the specific rates and/or fees that should be paid by the
department of social and health services to the various designated vendors. This report shall include the suggested effective dates of the recommended rates and/or fees when appropriate.
The vendors shall furnish adequate documented evidence related to the cost of providing their particular services,
care or supplies, in the form, to the extent and at such times
as the committee may determine.
The chairman of this committee, shall have the same
authority as provided in RCW 74.04.290 as it is now or hereafter amended. [1971 ex.s. c 87 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 203 § 4.]
74.32.130
74.32.140 Investigation to determine if additional
requirements or standards affecting vendor group.
Before completing its recommendations regarding rates, the
governor’s committee on vendor rates shall conduct an extensive investigation to determine the nature and extent of any
additional requirements or standards established which affect
any vendor group if the same have not been fully considered
and provided for in the committee’s last recommendations,
and shall similarly determine the nature and effect of any
additional requirements or standards which are expected to
be imposed during the period covered by the committee’s
recommendations. [1971 ex.s. c 298 § 1.]
74.32.140
74.32.150 Investigation to determine if additional
requirements or standards affecting vendor group—
Scope of investigation. The additional requirements and
standards referred to in RCW 74.32.140 shall include but
shall not be limited to changes in minimum wage or overtime
provisions, changes in building code or facility requirements
for occupancy or licensing, and changes in requirements for
staffing, available equipment, or methods and procedures.
[1971 ex.s. c 298 § 2.]
74.32.150
74.32.160 Investigation to determine if additional
requirements or standards affecting vendor group—
Changes investigated regardless of source. The committee
shall investigate such changes whether their source is or may
74.32.160
(2006 Ed.)
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
be federal, state, or local governmental agencies, departments
and officers, and shall give full consideration to the cost of
such changes and expected changes in the vendor rates recommended. [1971 ex.s. c 298 § 3.]
74.32.170
74.32.170 Investigation to determine if additional
requirements or standards affecting vendor group—Prevailing wage scales and fringe benefit programs to be considered. The committee shall also consider prevailing wage
scales and fringe benefit programs affecting the vendor’s
industry or affecting related or associated industries or vendor classes, and shall consider in its rate recommendations a
scale of competitive wages, to assure the availability of necessary personnel in each vendor program. [1971 ex.s. c 298
§ 4.]
74.32.180
74.32.180 Investigation to determine if additional
requirements or standards affecting vendor group—
Additional factors to be accounted for. The committee
shall further fully account in its recommended rate structure
for the effect of changes in payroll and property taxes[,] accurate costs of insurance, and increased or lowered costs of borrowing money. [1971 ex.s. c 298 § 5.]
Chapter 74.34
Chapter 74.34 RCW
ABUSE OF VULNERABLE ADULTS
Sections
74.34.005
74.34.020
74.34.021
74.34.025
74.34.035
74.34.040
74.34.050
74.34.053
74.34.063
74.34.067
74.34.068
74.34.070
74.34.080
74.34.090
74.34.095
74.34.110
74.34.120
74.34.130
74.34.140
74.34.145
74.34.150
74.34.160
74.34.165
74.34.170
74.34.180
74.34.200
74.34.205
74.34.210
74.34.900
74.34.901
Findings.
Definitions.
Vulnerable adult—Definition.
Limitation on recovery for protective services and benefits.
Reports—Mandated and permissive—Contents—Confidentiality.
Reports—Contents—Identity confidential.
Immunity from liability.
Failure to report—False reports—Penalties.
Response to reports—Timing—Reports to law enforcement
agencies—Notification to licensing authority.
Investigations—Interviews—Ongoing case planning—Conclusion of investigation.
Investigation results—Report—Rules.
Cooperative agreements for services.
Injunctions.
Data collection system—Confidentiality.
Confidential information—Disclosure.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Petition for protective order.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Hearing.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Judicial relief.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Execution of protective
order.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Notice of criminal penalties
for violation—Enforcement under RCW 26.50.110.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Department may seek relief.
Protection of vulnerable adults—Proceedings are supplemental.
Rules.
Services of department discretionary—Funding.
Retaliation against whistleblowers and residents—Remedies—Rules.
Abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a
vulnerable adult—Cause of action for damages—Legislative
intent.
Abandonment, abuse, or neglect—Exceptions.
Order for protection or action for damages—Standing—Jurisdiction.
Severability—1984 c 97.
Severability—1986 c 187.
Domestic violence prevention, authority of department of social and health
services to seek relief on behalf of vulnerable adults: RCW 26.50.021.
Patients in nursing homes and hospitals, abuse: Chapter 70.124 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
74.34.020
74.34.005 Findings. The legislature finds and declares
74.34.005
that:
(1) Some adults are vulnerable and may be subjected to
abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment by a
family member, care provider, or other person who has a relationship with the vulnerable adult;
(2) A vulnerable adult may be home bound or otherwise
unable to represent himself or herself in court or to retain
legal counsel in order to obtain the relief available under this
chapter or other protections offered through the courts;
(3) A vulnerable adult may lack the ability to perform or
obtain those services necessary to maintain his or her wellbeing because he or she lacks the capacity for consent;
(4) A vulnerable adult may have health problems that
place him or her in a dependent position;
(5) The department and appropriate agencies must be
prepared to receive reports of abandonment, abuse, financial
exploitation, or neglect of vulnerable adults;
(6) The department must provide protective services in
the least restrictive environment appropriate and available to
the vulnerable adult. [1999 c 176 § 2.]
Findings—Purpose—1999 c 176: "The legislature finds that the provisions for the protection of vulnerable adults found in chapters 26.44,
70.124, and 74.34 RCW contain different definitions for abandonment,
abuse, exploitation, and neglect. The legislature finds that combining the
sections of these chapters that pertain to the protection of vulnerable adults
would better serve this state’s population of vulnerable adults. The purpose
of chapter 74.34 RCW is to provide the department and law enforcement
agencies with the authority to investigate complaints of abandonment, abuse,
financial exploitation, or neglect of vulnerable adults and to provide protective services and legal remedies to protect these vulnerable adults." [1999 c
176 § 1.]
Severability—1999 c 176: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 c 176 § 36.]
Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: "If any part of this
act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules
adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary
condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1999 c 176 § 37.]
74.34.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person
or entity with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves
the vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain
necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care.
(2) "Abuse" means the willful action or inaction that
inflicts injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or
punishment on a vulnerable adult. In instances of abuse of a
vulnerable adult who is unable to express or demonstrate
physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, the abuse is presumed to cause physical harm, pain, or mental anguish.
Abuse includes sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse,
and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, which have the following meanings:
(a) "Sexual abuse" means any form of nonconsensual
sexual contact, including but not limited to unwanted or inappropriate touching, rape, sodomy, sexual coercion, sexually
explicit photographing, and sexual harassment. Sexual abuse
74.34.020
[Title 74 RCW—page 131]
74.34.021
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
includes any sexual contact between a staff person, who is
not also a resident or client, of a facility or a staff person of a
program authorized under chapter 71A.12 RCW, and a vulnerable adult living in that facility or receiving service from a
program authorized under chapter 71A.12 RCW, whether or
not it is consensual.
(b) "Physical abuse" means the willful action of inflicting bodily injury or physical mistreatment. Physical abuse
includes, but is not limited to, striking with or without an
object, slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, prodding, or the use of chemical restraints or physical restraints
unless the restraints are consistent with licensing requirements, and includes restraints that are otherwise being used
inappropriately.
(c) "Mental abuse" means any willful action or inaction
of mental or verbal abuse. Mental abuse includes, but is not
limited to, coercion, harassment, inappropriately isolating a
vulnerable adult from family, friends, or regular activity, and
verbal assault that includes ridiculing, intimidating, yelling,
or swearing.
(d) "Exploitation" means an act of forcing, compelling,
or exerting undue influence over a vulnerable adult causing
the vulnerable adult to act in a way that is inconsistent with
relevant past behavior, or causing the vulnerable adult to perform services for the benefit of another.
(3) "Consent" means express written consent granted
after the vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative has
been fully informed of the nature of the services to be offered
and that the receipt of services is voluntary.
(4) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(5) "Facility" means a residence licensed or required to
be licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, boarding homes;
chapter 18.51 RCW, nursing homes; chapter 70.128 RCW,
adult family homes; chapter 72.36 RCW, soldiers’ homes; or
chapter 71A.20 RCW, residential habilitation centers; or any
other facility licensed by the department.
(6) "Financial exploitation" means the illegal or
improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust
funds of the vulnerable adult by any person for any person’s
profit or advantage.
(7) "Individual provider" means a person under contract
with the department to provide services in the home under
chapter 74.09 or 74.39A RCW.
(8) "Mandated reporter" is an employee of the department; law enforcement officer; social worker; professional
school personnel; individual provider; an employee of a facility; an operator of a facility; an employee of a social service,
welfare, mental health, adult day health, adult day care, home
health, home care, or hospice agency; county coroner or medical examiner; Christian Science practitioner; or health care
provider subject to chapter 18.130 RCW.
(9) "Neglect" means (a) a pattern of conduct or inaction
by a person or entity with a duty of care that fails to provide
the goods and services that maintain physical or mental
health of a vulnerable adult, or that fails to avoid or prevent
physical or mental harm or pain to a vulnerable adult; or (b)
an act or omission that demonstrates a serious disregard of
consequences of such a magnitude as to constitute a clear and
present danger to the vulnerable adult’s health, welfare, or
[Title 74 RCW—page 132]
safety, including but not limited to conduct prohibited under
RCW 9A.42.100.
(10) "Permissive reporter" means any person, employee
of a financial institution, attorney, or volunteer in a facility or
program providing services for vulnerable adults.
(11) "Protective services" means any services provided
by the department to a vulnerable adult with the consent of
the vulnerable adult, or the legal representative of the vulnerable adult, who has been abandoned, abused, financially
exploited, neglected, or in a state of self-neglect. These services may include, but are not limited to case management,
social casework, home care, placement, arranging for medical evaluations, psychological evaluations, day care, or referral for legal assistance.
(12) "Self-neglect" means the failure of a vulnerable
adult, not living in a facility, to provide for himself or herself
the goods and services necessary for the vulnerable adult’s
physical or mental health, and the absence of which impairs
or threatens the vulnerable adult’s well-being. This definition may include a vulnerable adult who is receiving services
through home health, hospice, or a home care agency, or an
individual provider when the neglect is not a result of inaction by that agency or individual provider.
(13) "Vulnerable adult" includes a person:
(a) Sixty years of age or older who has the functional,
mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself; or
(b) Found incapacitated under chapter 11.88 RCW; or
(c) Who has a developmental disability as defined under
RCW 71A.10.020; or
(d) Admitted to any facility; or
(e) Receiving services from home health, hospice, or
home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under
chapter 70.127 RCW; or
(f) Receiving services from an individual provider.
[2006 c 339 § 109; 2003 c 230 § 1; 1999 c 176 § 3; 1997 c 392
§ 523; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 84; 1984 c 97 § 8.]
Intent—Part headings not law—2006 c 339: See notes following
RCW 70.96A.325.
Effective date—2003 c 230: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 12, 2003]." [2003 c 230 § 3.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.34.021 Vulnerable adult—Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "vulnerable adult" includes
persons receiving services from any individual who for compensation serves as a personal aide to a person who selfdirects his or her own care in his or her home under chapter
336, Laws of 1999. [1999 c 336 § 6.]
74.34.021
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: See note following RCW 74.39.007.
74.34.025 Limitation on recovery for protective services and benefits. The cost of benefits and services provided to a vulnerable adult under this chapter with state funds
only does not constitute an obligation or lien and is not recov74.34.025
(2006 Ed.)
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
erable from the recipient of the services or from the recipient’s estate, whether by lien, adjustment, or any other means
of recovery. [1999 c 176 § 4; 1997 c 392 § 304.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
74.34.035
74.34.035 Reports—Mandated and permissive—
Contents—Confidentiality. (1) When there is reasonable
cause to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred, mandated
reporters shall immediately report to the department.
(2) When there is reason to suspect that sexual assault
has occurred, mandated reporters shall immediately report to
the appropriate law enforcement agency and to the department.
(3) When there is reason to suspect that physical assault
has occurred or there is reasonable cause to believe that an act
has caused fear of imminent harm:
(a) Mandated reporters shall immediately report to the
department; and
(b) Mandated reporters shall immediately report to the
appropriate law enforcement agency, except as provided in
subsection (4) of this section.
(4) A mandated reporter is not required to report to a law
enforcement agency, unless requested by the injured vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative or family member,
an incident of physical assault between vulnerable adults that
causes minor bodily injury and does not require more than
basic first aid, unless:
(a) The injury appears on the back, face, head, neck,
chest, breasts, groin, inner thigh, buttock, genital, or anal
area;
(b) There is a fracture;
(c) There is a pattern of physical assault between the
same vulnerable adults or involving the same vulnerable
adults; or
(d) There is an attempt to choke a vulnerable adult.
(5) Permissive reporters may report to the department or
a law enforcement agency when there is reasonable cause to
believe that a vulnerable adult is being or has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited, or neglected.
(6) No facility, as defined by this chapter, agency
licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127
RCW, or facility or agency under contract with the department to provide care for vulnerable adults may develop policies or procedures that interfere with the reporting requirements of this chapter.
(7) Each report, oral or written, must contain as much as
possible of the following information:
(a) The name and address of the person making the
report;
(b) The name and address of the vulnerable adult and the
name of the facility or agency providing care for the vulnerable adult;
(c) The name and address of the legal guardian or alternate decision maker;
(d) The nature and extent of the abandonment, abuse,
financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect;
(2006 Ed.)
74.34.053
(e) Any history of previous abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect;
(f) The identity of the alleged perpetrator, if known; and
(g) Other information that may be helpful in establishing
the extent of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation,
neglect, or the cause of death of the deceased vulnerable
adult.
(8) Unless there is a judicial proceeding or the person
consents, the identity of the person making the report under
this section is confidential. [2003 c 230 § 2; 1999 c 176 § 5.]
Effective date—2003 c 230: See note following RCW 74.34.020.
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.040
74.34.040 Reports—Contents—Identity confidential.
The reports made under *RCW 74.34.030 shall contain the
following information if known:
(1) Identification of the vulnerable adult;
(2) The nature and extent of the suspected abuse, neglect,
exploitation, or abandonment;
(3) Evidence of previous abuse, neglect, exploitation, or
abandonment;
(4) The name and address of the person making the
report; and
(5) Any other helpful information.
Unless there is a judicial proceeding or the person consents, the identity of the person making the report is confidential. [1986 c 187 § 2; 1984 c 97 § 10.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.34.030 was repealed by 1999 c 176 § 35.
74.34.050 Immunity from liability. (1) A person participating in good faith in making a report under this chapter
or testifying about alleged abuse, neglect, abandonment,
financial exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult in
a judicial or administrative proceeding under this chapter is
immune from liability resulting from the report or testimony.
The making of permissive reports as allowed in this chapter
does not create any duty to report and no civil liability shall
attach for any failure to make a permissive report as allowed
under this chapter.
(2) Conduct conforming with the reporting and testifying
provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed a violation of
any confidential communication privilege. Nothing in this
chapter shall be construed as superseding or abridging remedies provided in chapter 4.92 RCW. [1999 c 176 § 6; 1997 c
386 § 34; 1986 c 187 § 3; 1984 c 97 § 11.]
74.34.050
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Application—Effective date—1997 c 386: See notes following RCW
13.50.010.
74.34.053 Failure to report—False reports—Penalties. (1) A person who is required to make a report under this
chapter and who knowingly fails to make the report is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) A person who intentionally, maliciously, or in bad
faith makes a false report of alleged abandonment, abuse,
financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult is
guilty of a misdemeanor. [1999 c 176 § 7.]
74.34.053
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
[Title 74 RCW—page 133]
74.34.063
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.34.063
74.34.063 Response to reports—Timing—Reports to
law enforcement agencies—Notification to licensing
authority. (1) The department shall initiate a response to a
report, no later than twenty-four hours after knowledge of the
report, of suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult.
(2) When the initial report or investigation by the department indicates that the alleged abandonment, abuse, financial
exploitation, or neglect may be criminal, the department shall
make an immediate report to the appropriate law enforcement
agency. The department and law enforcement will coordinate in investigating reports made under this chapter. The
department may provide protective services and other remedies as specified in this chapter.
(3) The law enforcement agency or the department shall
report the incident in writing to the proper county prosecutor
or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed.
(4) The department and law enforcement may share
information contained in reports and findings of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect of vulnerable
adults, consistent with RCW 74.04.060, chapter 42.56 RCW,
and other applicable confidentiality laws.
(5) The department shall notify the proper licensing
authority concerning any report received under this chapter
that alleges that a person who is professionally licensed, certified, or registered under Title 18 RCW has abandoned,
abused, financially exploited, or neglected a vulnerable adult.
[2005 c 274 § 354; 1999 c 176 § 8.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
(5) If the department determines that the vulnerable adult
has suffered from abuse, neglect, self-neglect, abandonment,
or financial exploitation, and lacks the ability or capacity to
consent, and needs the protection of a guardian, the department may bring a guardianship action under chapter 11.88
RCW as an interested person.
(6) When the investigation is completed and the department determines that an incident of abandonment, abuse,
financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect has occurred,
the department shall inform the vulnerable adult of their right
to refuse protective services, and ensure that, if necessary,
appropriate protective services are provided to the vulnerable
adult, with the consent of the vulnerable adult. The vulnerable adult has the right to withdraw or refuse protective services.
(7) The department may photograph a vulnerable adult
or their environment for the purpose of providing documentary evidence of the physical condition of the vulnerable
adult or his or her environment. When photographing the vulnerable adult, the department shall obtain permission from
the vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative unless
immediate photographing is necessary to preserve evidence.
However, if the legal representative is alleged to have abused,
neglected, abandoned, or exploited the vulnerable adult, consent from the legal representative is not necessary. No such
consent is necessary when photographing the physical environment.
(8) When the investigation is complete and the department determines that the incident of abandonment, abuse,
financial exploitation, or neglect has occurred, the department shall inform the facility in which the incident occurred,
consistent with confidentiality requirements concerning the
vulnerable adult, witnesses, and complainants. [1999 c 176 §
9.]
74.34.067
74.34.067 Investigations—Interviews—Ongoing case
planning—Conclusion of investigation. (1) Where appropriate, an investigation by the department may include a private interview with the vulnerable adult regarding the alleged
abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or selfneglect.
(2) In conducting the investigation, the department shall
interview the complainant, unless anonymous, and shall use
its best efforts to interview the vulnerable adult or adults
harmed, and, consistent with the protection of the vulnerable
adult shall interview facility staff, any available independent
sources of relevant information, including if appropriate the
family members of the vulnerable adult.
(3) The department may conduct ongoing case planning
and consultation with: (a) Those persons or agencies
required to report under this chapter or submit a report under
this chapter; (b) consultants designated by the department;
and (c) designated representatives of Washington Indian
tribes if client information exchanged is pertinent to cases
under investigation or the provision of protective services.
Information considered privileged by statute and not directly
related to reports required by this chapter must not be
divulged without a valid written waiver of the privilege.
(4) The department shall prepare and keep on file a
report of each investigation conducted by the department for
a period of time in accordance with policies established by
the department.
[Title 74 RCW—page 134]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.068
74.34.068 Investigation results—Report—Rules. (1)
After the investigation is complete, the department may provide a written report of the outcome of the investigation to an
agency or program described in this subsection when the
department determines from its investigation that an incident
of abuse, abandonment, financial exploitation, or neglect
occurred. Agencies or programs that may be provided this
report are home health, hospice, or home care agencies, or
after January 1, 2002, any in-home services agency licensed
under chapter 70.127 RCW, a program authorized under
chapter 71A.12 RCW, an adult day care or day health program, regional support networks authorized under chapter
71.24 RCW, or other agencies. The report may contain the
name of the vulnerable adult and the alleged perpetrator. The
report shall not disclose the identity of the person who made
the report or any witness without the written permission of
the reporter or witness. The department shall notify the
alleged perpetrator regarding the outcome of the investigation. The name of the vulnerable adult must not be disclosed
during this notification.
(2) The department may also refer a report or outcome of
an investigation to appropriate state or local governmental
authorities responsible for licensing or certification of the
agencies or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section.
(2006 Ed.)
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
(3) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. [2001 c 233 § 2.]
Finding—2001 c 233: "The legislature recognizes that vulnerable
adults, while living in their own homes, may be abused, neglected, financially exploited, or abandoned by individuals entrusted to provide care for
them. The individuals who abuse, neglect, financially exploit, or abandon
vulnerable adults may be employed by, under contract with, or volunteering
for an agency or program providing care for vulnerable adults. The legislature has given the department of social and health services the responsibility
to investigate complaints of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or
neglect of vulnerable adults and to provide protective services and other
legal remedies to protect these vulnerable adults. The legislature finds that in
order to continue to protect vulnerable adults, the department of social and
health services be given the authority to release report information and to
release the results of an investigation to the agency or program with which
the individual investigated is employed, contracted, or engaged as a volunteer." [2001 c 233 § 1.]
74.34.070
74.34.070 Cooperative agreements for services. The
department may develop cooperative agreements with community-based agencies providing services for vulnerable
adults. The agreements shall cover: (1) The appropriate roles
and responsibilities of the department and community-based
agencies in identifying and responding to reports of alleged
abuse; (2) the provision of case-management services; (3)
standardized data collection procedures; and (4) related coordination activities. [1999 c 176 § 10; 1997 c 386 § 35; 1995
1st sp.s. c 18 § 87; 1984 c 97 § 13.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.34.080
74.34.080 Injunctions. If access is denied to an
employee of the department seeking to investigate an allegation of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect
of a vulnerable adult by an individual, the department may
seek an injunction to prevent interference with the investigation. The court shall issue the injunction if the department
shows that:
(1) There is reasonable cause to believe that the person is
a vulnerable adult and is or has been abandoned, abused,
financially exploited, or neglected; and
(2) The employee of the department seeking to investigate the report has been denied access. [1999 c 176 § 11;
1984 c 97 § 14.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.090
74.34.090 Data collection system—Confidentiality.
The department shall maintain a system for statistical data
collection, accessible for bona fide research only as the
department by rule prescribes. The identity of any person is
strictly confidential. [1984 c 97 § 15.]
74.34.120
(c) All files, reports, records, communications, and
working papers used or developed in the investigation or provision of protective services.
(2) Information considered confidential may be disclosed only for a purpose consistent with this chapter or as
authorized by chapter 18.20, 18.51, or 74.39A RCW, or as
authorized by the long-term care ombudsman programs
under federal law or state law, chapter 43.190 RCW.
(3) A court or presiding officer in an administrative proceeding may order disclosure of confidential information
only if the court, or presiding officer in an administrative proceeding, determines that disclosure is essential to the administration of justice and will not endanger the life or safety of
the vulnerable adult or individual who made the report. The
court or presiding officer in an administrative hearing may
place restrictions on such disclosure as the court or presiding
officer deems proper. [2000 c 87 § 4; 1999 c 176 § 17.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.110
74.34.110 Protection of vulnerable adults—Petition
for protective order. An action known as a petition for an
order for protection of a vulnerable adult in cases of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect is created.
(1) A vulnerable adult may seek relief from abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, or the threat
thereof, by filing a petition for an order for protection in superior court.
(2) A petition shall allege that the petitioner is a vulnerable adult and that the petitioner has been abandoned, abused,
financially exploited, or neglected, or is threatened with
abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect by
respondent.
(3) A petition shall be accompanied by affidavit made
under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances which
demonstrate the need for the relief sought.
(4) A petition for an order may be made whether or not
there is a pending lawsuit, complaint, petition, or other action
between the parties.
(5) A petitioner is not required to post bond to obtain
relief in any proceeding under this section.
(6) An action under this section shall be filed in the
county where the petitioner resides; except that if the petitioner has left the residence as a result of abandonment,
abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, or in order to avoid
abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, the
petitioner may bring an action in the county of either the previous or new residence.
(7) The filing fee for the petition may be waived at the
discretion of the court. [1999 c 176 § 12; 1986 c 187 § 5.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.120
74.34.095
74.34.095 Confidential information—Disclosure. (1)
The following information is confidential and not subject to
disclosure, except as provided in this section:
(a) A report of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect made under this chapter;
(b) The identity of the person making the report; and
(2006 Ed.)
74.34.120 Protection of vulnerable adults—Hearing.
The court shall order a hearing on a petition under RCW
74.34.110 not later than fourteen days from the date of filing
the petition. Personal service shall be made upon the respondent not less than five court days before the hearing. If timely
service cannot be made, the court may set a new hearing date.
A petitioner may move for temporary relief under chapter
7.40 RCW. [1986 c 187 § 6.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 135]
74.34.130
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.34.130
74.34.130 Protection of vulnerable adults—Judicial
relief. The court may order relief as it deems necessary for
the protection of the petitioner, including, but not limited to
the following:
(1) Restraining respondent from committing acts of
abandonment, abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation;
(2) Excluding the respondent from petitioner’s residence
for a specified period or until further order of the court;
(3) Prohibiting contact by respondent for a specified
period or until further order of the court;
(4) Prohibiting the respondent from knowingly coming
within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance
from a specified location;
(5) Requiring an accounting by respondent of the disposition of petitioner’s income or other resources;
(6) Restraining the transfer of property for a specified
period not exceeding ninety days; and
(7) Requiring the respondent to pay the filing fee and
court costs, including service fees, and to reimburse the petitioner for costs incurred in bringing the action, including a
reasonable attorney’s fee.
Any relief granted by an order for protection, other than
a judgment for costs, shall be for a fixed period not to exceed
one year. The clerk of the court shall enter any order for protection issued under this section into the judicial information
system. [2000 c 119 § 27; 2000 c 51 § 2; 1999 c 176 § 13;
1986 c 187 § 7.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2000 c 51 § 2 and by
2000 c 119 § 27, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Application—2000 c 119: See note following RCW 26.50.021.
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.140
74.34.140 Protection of vulnerable adults—Execution of protective order. When an order for protection
under RCW 74.34.130 is issued upon request of the petitioner, the court may order a peace officer to assist in the execution of the order of protection. [1986 c 187 § 8.]
74.34.145
74.34.145 Protection of vulnerable adults—Notice of
criminal penalties for violation—Enforcement under
RCW 26.50.110. (1) An order for protection of a vulnerable
adult issued under this chapter which restrains the respondent
or another person from committing acts of abuse, prohibits
contact with the petitioner, excludes the person from any
specified location, or prohibits the person from coming
within a specified distance from a location, shall prominently
bear on the front page of the order the legend: VIOLATION
OF THIS ORDER WITH ACTUAL NOTICE OF ITS
TERMS IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER CHAPTER
26.50 RCW AND WILL SUBJECT A VIOLATOR TO
ARREST.
(2) Whenever an order for protection of a vulnerable
adult is issued under this chapter, and the respondent or person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of a provision restraining the person from committing acts of abuse,
prohibiting contact with the petitioner, excluding the person
from any specified location, or prohibiting the person from
coming within a specified distance of a location, shall be pun[Title 74 RCW—page 136]
ishable under RCW 26.50.110, regardless of whether the person is a family or household member as defined in RCW
26.50.010. [2000 c 119 § 2.]
Application—2000 c 119: See note following RCW 26.50.021.
74.34.150
74.34.150 Protection of vulnerable adults—Department may seek relief. The department of social and health
services, in its discretion, may seek relief under RCW
74.34.110 through 74.34.140 on behalf of and with the consent of any vulnerable adult. Neither the department of social
and health services nor the state of Washington shall be liable
for failure to seek relief on behalf of any persons under this
section. [1986 c 187 § 9.]
74.34.160
74.34.160 Protection of vulnerable adults—Proceedings are supplemental. Any proceeding under RCW
74.34.110 through 74.34.150 is in addition to any other civil
or criminal remedies. [1986 c 187 § 11.]
74.34.165
74.34.165 Rules. The department may adopt rules relating to the reporting, investigation, and provision of protective
services in in-home settings, consistent with the objectives of
this chapter. [1999 c 176 § 18.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.170
74.34.170 Services of department discretionary—
Funding. The provision of services under RCW *74.34.030,
74.34.040, 74.34.050, and **74.34.100 through 74.34.160
are discretionary and the department shall not be required to
expend additional funds beyond those appropriated. [1986 c
187 § 10.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 74.34.030 was repealed by 1999 c 176 § 35.
**(2) RCW 74.34.100 was recodified as RCW 74.34.015 pursuant to
1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 89, effective July 1, 1995. RCW 74.34.015 was subsequently repealed by 1999 c 176 § 35.
74.34.180
74.34.180 Retaliation against whistleblowers and residents—Remedies—Rules. (1) An employee or contractor
who is a whistleblower and who as a result of being a whistleblower has been subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory
action, has the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW.
RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520, providing certain protection to persons who communicate to government agencies,
apply to complaints made under this section. The identity of
a whistleblower who complains, in good faith, to the department or the department of health about suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect by any person
in a facility, licensed or required to be licensed, or care provided in a facility or in a home setting, by any person associated with a hospice, home care, or home health agency
licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW or other in-home provider, may remain confidential if requested. The identity of
the whistleblower shall subsequently remain confidential
unless the department determines that the complaint was not
made in good faith.
(2)(a) An attempt to expel a resident from a facility, or
any type of discriminatory treatment of a resident who is a
consumer of hospice, home health, home care services, or
other in-home services by whom, or upon whose behalf, a
complaint substantiated by the department or the department
(2006 Ed.)
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
of health has been submitted to the department or the department of health or any proceeding instituted under or related to
this chapter within one year of the filing of the complaint or
the institution of the action, raises a rebuttable presumption
that the action was in retaliation for the filing of the complaint.
(b) The presumption is rebutted by credible evidence
establishing the alleged retaliatory action was initiated prior
to the complaint.
(c) The presumption is rebutted by a review conducted
by the department that shows that the resident or consumer’s
needs cannot be met by the reasonable accommodations of
the facility due to the increased needs of the resident.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Whistleblower" means a resident or a person with a
mandatory duty to report under this chapter, or any person
licensed under Title 18 RCW, who in good faith reports
alleged abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or
neglect to the department, or the department of health, or to a
law enforcement agency;
(b) "Workplace reprisal or retaliatory action" means, but
is not limited to: Denial of adequate staff to perform duties;
frequent staff changes; frequent and undesirable office
changes; refusal to assign meaningful work; unwarranted and
unsubstantiated report of misconduct under Title 18 RCW;
letters of reprimand or unsatisfactory performance evaluations; demotion; denial of employment; or a supervisor or
superior encouraging coworkers to behave in a hostile manner toward the whistleblower. The protections provided to
whistleblowers under this chapter shall not prevent a facility
or an agency licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW from: (i)
Terminating, suspending, or disciplining a whistleblower for
other lawful purposes; or (ii) for facilities licensed under
chapter 70.128 RCW, reducing the hours of employment or
terminating employment as a result of the demonstrated
inability to meet payroll requirements. The department shall
determine if the facility cannot meet payroll in cases in which
a whistleblower has been terminated or had hours of employment reduced because of the inability of a facility to meet
payroll; and
(c) "Reasonable accommodation" by a facility to the
needs of a prospective or current resident has the meaning
given to this term under the federal Americans with disabilities act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq. and other applicable federal or state antidiscrimination laws and regulations.
(4) This section does not prohibit a facility or an agency
licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW from exercising its
authority to terminate, suspend, or discipline any employee
who engages in workplace reprisal or retaliatory action
against a whistleblower.
(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement procedures for filing, investigation, and resolution of whistleblower complaints that are integrated with complaint procedures under this chapter.
(6)(a) Any vulnerable adult who relies upon and is being
provided spiritual treatment in lieu of medical treatment in
accordance with the tenets and practices of a well-recognized
religious denomination may not for that reason alone be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected.
(b) Any vulnerable adult may not be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected under this chapter by any health
(2006 Ed.)
74.34.205
care provider, facility, facility employee, agency, agency
employee, or individual provider who participates in good
faith in the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining
treatment from a vulnerable adult under chapter 70.122
RCW, or who acts in accordance with chapter 7.70 RCW or
other state laws to withhold or withdraw treatment, goods, or
services.
(7) The department, and the department of health for
facilities, agencies, or individuals it regulates, shall adopt
rules designed to discourage whistleblower complaints made
in bad faith or for retaliatory purposes. [1999 c 176 § 14;
1997 c 392 § 202.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
74.34.200
74.34.200 Abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult—Cause of action for
damages—Legislative intent. (1) In addition to other remedies available under the law, a vulnerable adult who has been
subjected to abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or
neglect either while residing in a facility or in the case of a
person residing at home who receives care from a home
health, hospice, or home care agency, or an individual provider, shall have a cause of action for damages on account of
his or her injuries, pain and suffering, and loss of property
sustained thereby. This action shall be available where the
defendant is or was a corporation, trust, unincorporated association, partnership, administrator, employee, agent, officer,
partner, or director of a facility, or of a home health, hospice,
or home care agency licensed or required to be licensed under
chapter 70.127 RCW, as now or subsequently designated, or
an individual provider.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature, however, that where
there is a dispute about the care or treatment of a vulnerable
adult, the parties should use the least formal means available
to try to resolve the dispute. Where feasible, parties are
encouraged but not mandated to employ direct discussion
with the health care provider, use of the long-term care
ombudsman or other intermediaries, and, when necessary,
recourse through licensing or other regulatory authorities.
(3) In an action brought under this section, a prevailing
plaintiff shall be awarded his or her actual damages, together
with the costs of the suit, including a reasonable attorney’s
fee. The term "costs" includes, but is not limited to, the reasonable fees for a guardian, guardian ad litem, and experts, if
any, that may be necessary to the litigation of a claim brought
under this section. [1999 c 176 § 15; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 85.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.34.205
74.34.205 Abandonment, abuse, or neglect—Exceptions. (1) Any vulnerable adult who relies upon and is being
provided spiritual treatment in lieu of medical treatment in
accordance with the tenets and practices of a well-recognized
religious denomination may not for that reason alone be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected.
[Title 74 RCW—page 137]
74.34.210
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(2) Any vulnerable adult may not be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected under this chapter by any health
care provider, facility, facility employee, agency, agency
employee, or individual provider who participates in good
faith in the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining
treatment from a vulnerable adult under chapter 70.122
RCW, or who acts in accordance with chapter 7.70 RCW or
other state laws to withhold or withdraw treatment, goods, or
services. [1999 c 176 § 16.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
74.34.210
74.34.210 Order for protection or action for damages—Standing—Jurisdiction. A petition for an order for
protection or an action for damages under this chapter may be
brought by the plaintiff, or where necessary, by his or her
family members and/or guardian or legal fiduciary, or as otherwise provided under this chapter. The death of the plaintiff
shall not deprive the court of jurisdiction over a petition or
claim brought under this chapter. Upon petition, after the
death of the vulnerable person, the right to initiate or maintain the action shall be transferred to the executor or administrator of the deceased, for the benefit of the surviving spouse,
child or children, or other heirs set forth in chapter 4.20
RCW. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 86.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.34.900
74.34.900 Severability—1984 c 97. If any provision of
this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1984 c 97 § 18.]
74.34.901
74.34.901 Severability—1986 c 187. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1986 c 187 § 12.]
Chapter 74.36 RCW
FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
FOR THE AGING
Chapter 74.36
Sections
74.36.100
74.36.110
74.36.120
74.36.130
Department to participate in and administer Federal Older
Americans Act of 1965.
Community programs and projects for the aging—Allotments
for—Purpose.
Community programs and projects for the aging—Standards
for eligibility and approval—Informal hearing on denial of
approval.
Community programs and projects for the aging—State funding, limitations—Payments, type.
State council on aging: RCW 43.20A.680.
available under said act. [1970 ex.s. c 18 § 27; 1967 ex.s. c
33 § 1.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.010.
74.36.110 Community programs and projects for the
aging—Allotments for—Purpose. The secretary of the
department of social and health services or his designee is
authorized to allot for such purposes all or a portion of whatever state funds the legislature appropriates or are otherwise
made available for the purpose of matching local funds dedicated to community programs and projects for the aging. The
purpose of RCW 74.36.110 through 74.36.130 is to stimulate
and assist local communities to obtain federal funds made
available under the Federal Older Americans Act of 1965 as
amended. [1971 ex.s. c 169 § 10.]
74.36.110
Moneys in possession of secretary not subject to certain proceedings: RCW
74.13.070.
74.36.120
74.36.120 Community programs and projects for the
aging—Standards for eligibility and approval—Informal
hearing on denial of approval. (1) The secretary or his designee shall adopt and set forth standards for determining the
eligibility and approval of community projects and priorities
therefor, and shall have final authority to approve or deny
such projects and funding requested under RCW 74.36.110
through 74.36.130.
(2) Only community project proposals submitted by
local public agencies, by private nonprofit agencies or organizations, or by public or other nonprofit institutions of
higher education, shall be eligible for approval.
(3) Any community project applicant whose application
for approval is denied will be afforded an opportunity for an
informal hearing before the secretary or his designee, but the
administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, shall not
apply. [1971 ex.s. c 169 § 11.]
74.36.130
74.36.130 Community programs and projects for the
aging—State funding, limitations—Payments, type. (1)
State funds made available under RCW 74.36.110 through
74.36.130 for any project shall not exceed fifty per centum of
the nonfederal share of the costs. To the extent that federal
law permits, and the secretary or his designee deems appropriate, the local community share and/or the state share may
be in the form of cash or in-kind resources.
(2) Payments made under RCW 74.36.110 through
74.36.130 may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in such installments and on such conditions as the
secretary or his designee may determine, including provisions for adequate accounting systems, reasonable record
retention periods and financial audits. [1971 ex.s. c 169 §
12.]
Moneys in possession of secretary not subject to certain proceedings: RCW
74.13.070.
74.36.100
74.36.100 Department to participate in and administer Federal Older Americans Act of 1965. The department
of social and health services is authorized to take advantage
of and participate in the Federal Older Americans Act of
1965 (Public Law 89-73, 89th Congress, 79 Stat. 220) and to
accept, administer and disburse any federal funds that may be
[Title 74 RCW—page 138]
Chapter 74.38
Chapter 74.38 RCW
SENIOR CITIZENS SERVICES ACT
Sections
74.38.010
74.38.020
Legislative recognition—Public policy.
Definitions.
(2006 Ed.)
Senior Citizens Services Act
74.38.030
74.38.040
74.38.050
74.38.060
74.38.061
74.38.070
74.38.900
74.38.905
Administration of community based services program—Area
plans—Annual state plan—Determination of low income
eligible persons.
Scope and extent of community based services program.
Availability of services for persons other than those of low
income—Utilization of volunteers and public assistance
recipients—Private agencies—Well-adult clinics—Fee
schedule, exceptions.
Expansion of federal programs authorized.
Expansion of federal programs authorized.
Reduced utility rates for low-income senior citizens and other
low-income citizens.
Short title.
Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131.
74.38.010
74.38.010 Legislative recognition—Public policy.
The legislature recognizes the need for the development and
expansion of alternative services and forms of care for senior
citizens. Such services should be designed to restore individuals to, or maintain them at, the level of independent living
they are capable of attaining. These alternative services and
forms of care should be designed to both complement the
present forms of institutional care and create a system
whereby appropriate services can be rendered according to
the care needs of an individual. The provision of service
should continue until the client is able to function independently, moves to an institution, moves from the state, dies, or
withdraws from the program.
Therefore, it shall be the policy of this state to develop,
expand, or maintain those programs which provide an alternative to institutional care when that form of care is premature, unnecessary, or inappropriate. [1977 ex.s. c 321 § 1;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 1.]
74.38.020
74.38.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meaning
unless the content clearly requires otherwise:
(1) "Area agency" means an agency, other than a state
agency, designated by the department to carry out programs
or services approved by the department in a designated geographical area of the state.
(2) "Area plan" means the document submitted annually
by an area agency to the department for approval which sets
forth (a) goals and measurable objectives, (b) review of past
expenditures and accounting of revenue for the previous year,
(c) estimated revenue and expenditures for the ensuing year,
and (d) the planning, coordination, administration, social services, and evaluation activities to be undertaken to carry out
the purposes of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
Sec. 3024 et seq.), as now or hereafter amended.
(3) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(4) "Office" shall mean the office on aging which is the
organizational unit within the department responsible for
coordinating and administering aging problems.
(5) "Eligible persons" means senior citizens who are:
(a) Sixty-five years of age or more; or
(b) Sixty years of age or more and are either (i) nonemployed, or (ii) employed for twenty hours per week or less;
and
(c) In need of services to enable them to remain in their
customary homes because of physical, mental, or other debilitating impairments.
(2006 Ed.)
74.38.040
(6) "Low income" means initial resources or subsequent
income at or below forty percent of the state median income
as promulgated by the secretary of the United States department of health, education and welfare for Title XX of the
Social Security Act, or, in the alternative, a level determined
by the department and approved by the legislature.
(7) "Income" shall have the same meaning as in chapter
74.04 RCW, as now or hereafter amended; except, that
money received from RCW 74.38.060 shall be excluded from
this definition.
(8) "Resource" shall have the same meaning as in chapter 74.04 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.
(9) "Need" shall have the same meaning as in chapter
74.04 RCW, as now or hereafter amended. [1989 1st ex.s. c
9 § 817; 1977 ex.s. c 321 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 2.]
Effective date—Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910
and 43.70.920.
74.38.030 Administration of community based services program—Area plans—Annual state plan—Determination of low income eligible persons. (1) The program
of community based services authorized under this chapter
shall be administered by the department. Such services may
be provided by the department or through purchase of service
contracts, vendor payments or direct client grants.
The department shall, under stipend or grant programs
provided under RCW 74.38.060, utilize, to the maximum
staffing level possible, eligible persons in its administration,
supervision, and operation.
(2) The department shall be responsible for planning,
coordination, monitoring and evaluation of services provided
under this chapter but shall avoid duplication of services.
(3) The department may designate area agencies in cities
of not less than twenty thousand population or in regional
areas within the state. These agencies shall submit area plans,
as required by the department. They shall also submit, in the
manner prescribed by the department, such other program or
fiscal data as may be required.
(4) The department shall develop an annual state plan
pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965, as now or hereafter amended. This plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Area agencies’ programs and services approved by
the department;
(b) Other programs and services authorized by the
department; and
(c) Coordination of all programs and services.
(5) The department shall establish rules and regulations
for the determination of low income eligible persons. Such
determination shall be related to need based on the initial
resources and subsequent income of the person entering into
a program or service. This determination shall not prevent the
eligible person from utilizing a program or service provided
by the department or area agency. However, if the determination is that such eligible person is nonlow income, the provision of RCW 74.38.050 shall be applied as of the date of such
determination. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 3.]
74.38.030
74.38.040 Scope and extent of community based services program. The community based services for lowincome eligible persons provided by the department or the
respective area agencies may include:
74.38.040
[Title 74 RCW—page 139]
74.38.050
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(1) Access services designed to provide identification of
eligible persons, assessment of individual needs, reference to
the appropriate service, and follow-up service where
required. These services shall include information and referral, outreach, transportation and counseling;
(2) Day care offered on a regular, recurrent basis. General nursing, rehabilitation, personal care, nutritional services, social casework, mental health as provided pursuant to
chapter 71.24 RCW and/or limited transportation services
may be made available within this program;
(3) In-home care for persons, including basic health care;
performance of various household tasks and other necessary
chores, or, a combination of these services;
(4) Counseling on death for the terminally ill and care
and attendance at the time of death; except, that this is not to
include reimbursement for the use of life-sustaining mechanisms;
(5) Health services which will identify health needs and
which are designed to avoid institutionalization; assist in
securing admission to medical institutions or other health
related facilities when required; and, assist in obtaining
health services from public or private agencies or providers
of health services. These services shall include health screening and evaluation, in-home services, health education, and
such health appliances which will further the independence
and well-being of the person;
(6) The provision of low cost, nutritionally sound meals
in central locations or in the person’s home in the instance of
incapacity. Also, supportive services may be provided in
nutritional education, shopping assistance, diet counseling
and other services to sustain the nutritional well-being of
these persons;
(7) The provisions of services to maintain a person’s
home in a state of adequate repair, insofar as is possible, for
their safety and comfort. These services shall be limited, but
may include housing counseling, minor repair and maintenance, and moving assistance when such repair will not attain
standards of health and safety, as determined by the department;
(8) Civil legal services, as limited by RCW 2.50.100, for
counseling and representation in the areas of housing, consumer protection, public entitlements, property, and related
fields of law;
(9) Long-term care ombudsman programs for residents
of all long-term care facilities. [1983 c 290 § 14; 1977 ex.s.
c 321 § 3; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 4.]
Severability—1983 c 290: See RCW 43.190.900.
74.38.050
74.38.050 Availability of services for persons other
than those of low income—Utilization of volunteers and
public assistance recipients—Private agencies—Welladult clinics—Fee schedule, exceptions. The services provided in RCW 74.38.040 may be provided to nonlow income
eligible persons: PROVIDED, That the department and the
area agencies on aging shall utilize volunteer workers and
public assistant recipients to the maximum extent possible to
provide the services provided in RCW 74.38.040: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the department and the area agencies shall utilize the bid procedure pursuant to chapter 43.19
RCW for providing such services to low income and nonlow
[Title 74 RCW—page 140]
income persons whenever the services to be provided are
available through private agencies at a cost savings to the
department. The department shall establish a fee schedule
based on the ability to pay and graduated to full recovery of
the cost of the service provided; except, that nutritional services, health screening, services under the long-term care
ombudsman program under chapter 43.190 RCW and access
services provided in RCW 74.38.040 shall not be based on
need and no fee shall be charged; except further, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, that well adult
clinic services may be provided in lieu of health screening
services if such clinics use the fee schedule established by
this section. [1983 c 290 § 15; 1979 ex.s. c 147 § 1; 1977
ex.s. c 321 § 4; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 5.]
Severability—1983 c 290: See RCW 43.190.900.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 147: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 147 § 4.]
74.38.060
74.38.060 Expansion of federal programs authorized. The department may expand the foster grandparent,
senior companion and retired senior volunteer programs
funded under the Federal Volunteer Agency (ACTION) (P.L.
93-113 Title II), or its successor agency, which provide
senior citizens with volunteer stipends, out-of-pocket
expenses, or wages to perform services in the community.
[1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 6.]
RSVP funding: RCW 43.63A.275.
74.38.061
74.38.061 Expansion of federal programs authorized. The department may expand the foster grandparent,
senior companion, and retired senior volunteer programs
funded under the Federal Volunteer Agency (ACTION) (P.L.
93-113 Title II), or its successor agency, which provide
senior citizens with volunteer stipends, out-of-pocket
expenses, or wages to perform services in the community.
[1977 ex.s. c 321 § 5.]
74.38.070
74.38.070 Reduced utility rates for low-income
senior citizens and other low-income citizens. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any county, city, town,
public utility district or other municipal corporation, or quasi
municipal corporation providing utility services may provide
such services at reduced rates for low-income senior citizens
or other low-income citizens: PROVIDED, That, for the purposes of this section, "low-income senior citizen" or "other
low-income citizen" shall be defined by appropriate ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of the
county, city, town, public utility district or other municipal
corporation, or quasi municipal corporation providing the
utility services. Any reduction in rates granted in whatever
manner to low-income senior citizens or other low-income
citizens in one part of a service area shall be uniformly
extended to low-income senior citizens or other low-income
citizens in all other parts of the service area. [2002 c 270 § 1;
1998 c 300 § 8; 1990 c 164 § 1; 1988 c 44 § 1; 1980 c 160 §
1; 1979 c 116 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1998 c 300: See RCW 19.29A.005.
Construction—Severability—1998 c 300: See RCW 19.29A.900 and
19.29A.901.
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Service Options
74.38.900
74.38.900 Short title. Sections 1 through 6 of this act
shall be known and may be cited as the "Senior Citizens Services Act". [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 7.]
74.38.905
74.38.905 Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131. If
any provision of this act, or its application to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 131 § 10.]
Chapter 74.39 RCW
LONG-TERM CARE SERVICE OPTIONS
Chapter 74.39
Sections
74.39.001
74.39.005
74.39.007
74.39.010
74.39.020
74.39.030
74.39.041
74.39.050
74.39.060
74.39.070
74.39.900
Finding.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Option—Flexibility—Title XIX of the federal social security
act.
Opportunities—Increase of federal funds—Title XIX of the
federal social security act.
Community options program entry system—Waiver—Respite
services.
Community residential options—Nursing facility eligible clients.
Individuals with functional disabilities—Self-directed care.
Personal aide providers—Registration.
Personal aide—Qualification exemptions.
Severability—1989 c 427.
74.39.010
(6) Develop a systematic plan for the coordination, planning, budgeting, and administration of long-term care services now fragmented between the division of developmental
disabilities, division of mental health, aging and adult services administration, division of children and family services,
division of vocational rehabilitation, office on AIDS, division
of health, and bureau of alcohol and substance abuse;
(7) Encourage the development of a statewide long-term
care case management system that effectively coordinates the
plan of care and services provided to eligible clients;
(8) Ensure that individuals and organizations affected by
or interested in long-term care programs have an opportunity
to participate in identification of needs and priorities, policy
development, planning, and development, implementation,
and monitoring of state supported long-term care programs;
(9) Support educational institutions in Washington state
to assist in the procurement of federal support for expanded
research and training in long-term care; and
(10) Facilitate the development of a coordinated system
of long-term care education that is clearly articulated
between all levels of higher education and reflective of both
in-home care needs and institutional care needs of functionally disabled persons. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 10; 1989 c 427 §
2.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39.001
74.39.001 Finding. The legislature finds that:
Washington’s chronically functionally disabled population is growing at a rapid pace. This growth, along with economic and social changes and the coming age wave, presents
opportunities for the development of long-term care community services networks and enhanced volunteer participation
in those networks, and creates a need for different approaches
to currently fragmented long-term care programs. The legislature further recognizes that persons with functional disabilities should receive long-term care services that encourage
individual dignity, autonomy, and development of their fullest human potential. [1989 c 427 § 1.]
74.39.005
74.39.005 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Establish a balanced range of health, social, and supportive services that deliver long-term care services to chronically, functionally disabled persons of all ages;
(2) Ensure that functional ability shall be the determining
factor in defining long-term care service needs and that these
needs will be determined by a uniform system for comprehensively assessing functional disability;
(3) Ensure that services are provided in the most independent living situation consistent with individual needs;
(4) Ensure that long-term care service options shall be
developed and made available that enable functionally disabled persons to continue to live in their homes or other community residential facilities while in the care of their families
or other volunteer support persons;
(5) Ensure that long-term care services are coordinated
in a way that minimizes administrative cost, eliminates
unnecessarily complex organization, minimizes program and
service duplication, and maximizes the use of financial
resources in directly meeting the needs of persons with functional limitations;
(2006 Ed.)
74.39.007
74.39.007 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 74.39.007, 74.39.050, 74.39.060,
74.39.070, 43.190.060, and section 1, chapter 336, Laws of
1999 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Self-directed care" means the process in which an
adult person, who is prevented by a functional disability from
performing a manual function related to health care that an
individual would otherwise perform for himself or herself,
chooses to direct and supervise a paid personal aide to perform those tasks.
(2) "Personal aide" means an individual, working privately or as an individual provider under contract or agreement with the department of social and health services, who
acts at the direction of an adult person with a functional disability living in his or her own home and provides that person
with health care services that a person without a functional
disability can perform. [1999 c 336 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: "(1) The legislature finds that certain
aspects of health licensure laws have the unintended consequence of limiting
the right of persons with functional disabilities to care for themselves in their
own home, and of securing assistance from other persons in performing routine health-related tasks that persons without these disabilities customarily
perform.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to clarify the right of adults with
functional disabilities to choose to self-direct their own health-related tasks
through personal aides, and to describe the circumstances under which selfdirected care may take place in the home setting. The legislature declares that
it is in the public interest to preserve the autonomy and dignity of persons
with functional disabilities to care for themselves in their own homes, among
the continuum of options for health care services where the judgment and
control over the care rests with the individual." [1999 c 336 § 1.]
74.39.010
74.39.010 Option—Flexibility—Title XIX of the federal social security act. A valuable option available to
Washington state to achieve the goals of RCW 74.39.001 and
74.39.005 is the flexibility in personal care and other long[Title 74 RCW—page 141]
74.39.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
term care services encouraged by the federal government
under Title XIX of the federal social security act. These services include options to expand community-based long-term
care services, such as adult family homes, congregate care
facilities, respite, chore services, hospice, and case management. [1989 c 427 § 3.]
74.39.020
74.39.020 Opportunities—Increase of federal
funds—Title XIX of the federal social security act. Title
XIX of the federal social security act offers valuable opportunities to increase federal funds available to provide community-based long-term care services to functionally disabled
persons in their homes, and in noninstitutional residential
facilities, such as adult family homes and congregate care
facilities. [1989 c 427 § 9.]
74.39.030
74.39.030 Community options program entry system—Waiver—Respite services. The department shall
request an amendment to its community options program
entry system waiver under section 1905(c) of the federal
social security act to include respite services as a service
available under the waiver. [1989 c 427 § 11.]
74.39.041
74.39.041 Community residential options—Nursing
facility eligible clients. (1) To the extent of available funds
and subject to any conditions placed on appropriations for
this purpose, the department may provide one or more home
and community-based waiver programs in accordance with
section 1915(c) of the federal social security act for Washington residents who have a gross income in excess of three hundred percent of the federal supplemental security income
benefit level. The waiver services provided in accordance
with this section may differ from, and shall operate with a
separate limit or limits on total enrollment than, those provided for persons who are categorically needy as defined in
Title XIX of the federal social security act. The department
shall adopt rules to establish eligibility criteria, applicable
income standards, and the specific waiver services to be provided. Total annual enrollment levels and the services to be
provided shall be as specified in the waiver agreement or
agreements with the federal government, subject to any conditions on appropriations for this purpose.
(2) If a nursing facility resident becomes eligible for
home and community-based waiver service alternatives to
nursing facility care, but chooses to continue to reside in a
nursing facility, the department must allow that choice. However, if the resident is a medicaid recipient, the resident must
require a nursing facility level of care.
(3) If a recipient of home and community-based waiver
services may continue to receive home and community-based
waiver services, despite an otherwise disqualifying level of
income, but chooses to seek admission to a nursing facility,
the department must allow that choice. However, if the resident is a medicaid recipient, the resident must require a nursing facility level of care.
(4) The department will fully disclose to all individuals
eligible for waiver services under this section the services
available in different long-term care settings. [2001 c 269 §
2.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 142]
74.39.050
74.39.050 Individuals with functional disabilities—
Self-directed care. (1) An adult person with a functional
disability living in his or her own home may direct and supervise a paid personal aide in the performance of a health care
task.
(2) The following requirements shall guide the provision
of self-directed care under chapter 336, Laws of 1999:
(a) Health care tasks are those medical, nursing, or home
health services that enable the person to maintain independence, personal hygiene, and safety in his or her own home,
and that are services that a person without a functional disability would customarily and personally perform without the
assistance of a licensed health care provider.
(b) The individual who chooses to self-direct a health
care task is responsible for initiating self-direction by informing the health care professional who has ordered the treatment which involves that task of the individual’s intent to
perform that task through self-direction.
(c) When state funds are used to pay for self-directed
tasks, a description of those tasks will be included in the client’s comprehensive assessment, and subject to review with
each annual reassessment.
(d) When a licensed health care provider orders treatment involving a health care task to be performed through
self-directed care, the responsibility to ascertain that the
patient understands the treatment and will be able to follow
through on the self-directed care task is the same as it would
be for a patient who performs the health care task for himself
or herself, and the licensed health care provider incurs no
additional liability when ordering a health care task which is
to be performed through self-directed care.
(e) The role of the personal aide in self-directed care is
limited to performing the physical aspect of health care tasks
under the direction of the person for whom the tasks are being
done. This shall not affect the ability of a personal aide to
provide other home care services, such as personal care or
homemaker services, which enable the client to remain at
home.
(f) The responsibility to initiate self-directed health care
tasks, to possess the necessary knowledge and training for
those tasks, and to exercise judgment regarding the manner of
their performance rests and remains with the person who has
chosen to self-direct those tasks, including the decision to
employ and dismiss a personal aide. [1999 c 336 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: See note following RCW 74.39.007.
74.39.060
74.39.060 Personal aide providers—Registration.
Any individual who, for compensation, serves as a personal
aide provider under contract or agreement with the department of social and health services, to a person who selfdirects his or her own care in his or her own home, shall register with the department of social and health services. [1999
c 336 § 4.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: See note following RCW 74.39.007.
74.39.070
74.39.070 Personal aide—Qualification exemptions.
A personal aide, in the performance of a health care task, who
is directed and supervised by a person with a functional disability in his or her own home, is exempt from any legal
requirement to qualify and be credentialed by the department
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
of health as a health care provider under Title 18 RCW to the
extent of the responsibilities provided and health care tasks
performed under chapter 336, Laws of 1999. [1999 c 336 §
8.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: See note following RCW 74.39.007.
74.39.900 Severability—1989 c 427. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1989 c 427 § 43.]
74.39.900
Chapter 74.39A
Chapter 74.39A RCW
LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES
OPTIONS—EXPANSION
Sections
74.39A.005
74.39A.007
74.39A.009
74.39A.010
74.39A.020
74.39A.030
74.39A.040
74.39A.050
74.39A.060
74.39A.070
74.39A.080
74.39A.090
74.39A.095
74.39A.100
74.39A.110
74.39A.120
74.39A.130
74.39A.140
74.39A.150
74.39A.160
74.39A.170
74.39A.180
74.39A.190
74.39A.200
74.39A.210
74.39A.220
74.39A.230
74.39A.240
74.39A.250
74.39A.260
74.39A.270
74.39A.280
74.39A.290
74.39A.300
74.39A.310
74.39A.320
74.39A.900
74.39A.901
74.39A.902
(2006 Ed.)
Findings.
Purpose and intent.
Definitions.
Assisted living services and enhanced adult residential care—
Contracts—Rules.
Adult residential care—Contracts—Rules.
Expansion of home and community services—Payment rates.
Department assessment of and assistance to hospital patients
in need of long-term care.
Quality improvement principles.
Toll-free telephone number for complaints—Investigation and
referral—Rules—Discrimination or retaliation prohibited.
Rules for qualifications and training requirements—Requirement that contractors comply with federal and state regulations.
Department authority to take actions in response to noncompliance or violations.
Discharge planning—Contracts for case management services
and reassessment and reauthorization—Assessment of case
management roles and quality of in-home care services—
Plan of care model language.
Case management services—Agency on aging oversight—
Plan of care—Termination of contract—Rejection of individual provider.
Chore services—Legislative finding, intent.
Chore services—Legislative policy and intent regarding available funds—Levels of service.
Chore services—Expenditure limitation—Priorities—Rule on
patient resource limit.
Chore services—Department to develop program.
Chore services—Employment of public assistance recipients.
Chore services for disabled persons—Eligibility.
Transfer of assets—Penalties.
Recovery of payments—Transfer of assets rules for eligibility—Disclosure of estate recovery costs, terms, and conditions.
Authority to pay for probate actions and collection of bad
debts.
Community long-term care training and education steering
committee.
Training curricula, materials—In public domain—Exceptions.
Disclosure of employee information—Employer immunity—
Rebuttable presumption.
Findings—2002 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 775).
Authority created.
Definitions.
Authority duties.
Department duties.
Collective bargaining—Circumstances in which individual
providers are considered public employees—Exceptions.
Powers.
Performance review.
Funding.
Contract for individual home care services providers—Cost of
increase in wages and benefits funded—Formula.
Establishment of capital add-on rate—Determination of medicaid occupancy percentage.
Section captions—1993 c 508.
Conflict with federal requirements.
Severability—1993 c 508.
74.39A.009
74.39A.903 Effective date—1993 c 508.
74.39A.005 Findings. The legislature finds that the
aging of the population and advanced medical technology
have resulted in a growing number of persons who require
assistance. The primary resource for long-term care continues to be family and friends. However, these traditional caregivers are increasingly employed outside the home. There is
a growing demand for improvement and expansion of home
and community-based long-term care services to support and
complement the services provided by these informal caregivers.
The legislature further finds that the public interest
would best be served by a broad array of long-term care services that support persons who need such services at home or
in the community whenever practicable and that promote
individual autonomy, dignity, and choice.
The legislature finds that as other long-term care options
become more available, the relative need for nursing home
beds is likely to decline. The legislature recognizes, however,
that nursing home care will continue to be a critical part of the
state’s long-term care options, and that such services should
promote individual dignity, autonomy, and a homelike environment.
The legislature finds that many recipients of in-home
services are vulnerable and their health and well-being are
dependent on their caregivers. The quality, skills, and knowledge of their caregivers are often the key to good care. The
legislature finds that the need for well-trained caregivers is
growing as the state’s population ages and clients’ needs
increase. The legislature intends that current training standards be enhanced. [2000 c 121 § 9; 1993 c 508 § 1.]
74.39A.005
74.39A.007 Purpose and intent. It is the legislature’s
intent that:
(1) Long-term care services administered by the department of social and health services include a balanced array of
health, social, and supportive services that promote individual choice, dignity, and the highest practicable level of independence;
(2) Home and community-based services be developed,
expanded, or maintained in order to meet the needs of consumers and to maximize effective use of limited resources;
(3) Long-term care services be responsive and appropriate to individual need and also cost-effective for the state;
(4) Nursing home care is provided in such a manner and
in such an environment as will promote maintenance or
enhancement of the quality of life of each resident and timely
discharge to a less restrictive care setting when appropriate;
and
(5) State health planning for nursing home bed supply
take into account increased availability of other home and
community-based service options. [1993 c 508 § 2.]
74.39A.007
74.39A.009 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Adult family home" means a home licensed under
chapter 70.128 RCW.
(2) "Adult residential care" means services provided by a
boarding home that is licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW and
74.39A.009
[Title 74 RCW—page 143]
74.39A.010
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
that has a contract with the department under RCW
74.39A.020 to provide personal care services.
(3) "Assisted living services" means services provided
by a boarding home that has a contract with the department
under RCW 74.39A.010 to provide personal care services,
intermittent nursing services, and medication administration
services, and the resident is housed in a private apartmentlike unit.
(4) "Boarding home" means a facility licensed under
chapter 18.20 RCW.
(5) "Cost-effective care" means care provided in a setting of an individual’s choice that is necessary to promote the
most appropriate level of physical, mental, and psychosocial
well-being consistent with client choice, in an environment
that is appropriate to the care and safety needs of the individual, and such care cannot be provided at a lower cost in any
other setting. But this in no way precludes an individual from
choosing a different residential setting to achieve his or her
desired quality of life.
(6) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(7) "Enhanced adult residential care" means services
provided by a boarding home that is licensed under chapter
18.20 RCW and that has a contract with the department under
RCW 74.39A.010 to provide personal care services, intermittent nursing services, and medication administration services.
(8) "Functionally disabled person" is synonymous with
chronic functionally disabled and means a person who
because of a recognized chronic physical or mental condition
or disease, including chemical dependency, is impaired to the
extent of being dependent upon others for direct care, support, supervision, or monitoring to perform activities of daily
living. "Activities of daily living", in this context, means
self-care abilities related to personal care such as bathing,
eating, using the toilet, dressing, and transfer. Instrumental
activities of daily living may also be used to assess a person’s
functional abilities as they are related to the mental capacity
to perform activities in the home and the community such as
cooking, shopping, house cleaning, doing laundry, working,
and managing personal finances.
(9) "Home and community services" means adult family
homes, in-home services, and other services administered or
provided by contract by the department directly or through
contract with area agencies on aging or similar services provided by facilities and agencies licensed by the department.
(10) "Long-term care" is synonymous with chronic care
and means care and supports delivered indefinitely, intermittently, or over a sustained time to persons of any age disabled
by chronic mental or physical illness, disease, chemical
dependency, or a medical condition that is permanent, not
reversible or curable, or is long-lasting and severely limits
their mental or physical capacity for self-care. The use of this
definition is not intended to expand the scope of services,
care, or assistance by any individuals, groups, residential care
settings, or professions unless otherwise expressed by law.
(11) "Nursing home" means a facility licensed under
chapter 18.51 RCW.
(12) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health
services.
(13) "Tribally licensed boarding home" means a boarding home licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe
[Title 74 RCW—page 144]
which home provides services similar to boarding homes
licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW. [2004 c 142 § 14; 1997
c 392 § 103.]
Effective dates—2004 c 142: See note following RCW 18.20.020.
Short title—1997 c 392: "This act shall be known and may be cited as
the Clara act." [1997 c 392 § 101.]
Findings—1997 c 392: "The legislature finds and declares that the
state’s current fragmented categorical system for administering services to
persons with disabilities and the elderly is not client and family-centered and
has created significant organizational barriers to providing high quality, safe,
and effective care and support. The present fragmented system results in
uncoordinated enforcement of regulations designed to protect the health and
safety of disabled persons, lacks accountability due to the absence of management information systems’ client tracking data, and perpetuates difficulty
in matching client needs and services to multiple categorical funding
sources.
The legislature further finds that Washington’s chronically functionally disabled population of all ages is growing at a rapid pace due to a population of the very old and increased incidence of disability due in large measure to technological improvements in acute care causing people to live
longer. Further, to meet the significant and growing long-term care needs
into the near future, rapid, fundamental changes must take place in the way
we finance, organize, and provide long-term care services to the chronically
functionally disabled.
The legislature further finds that the public demands that long-term
care services be safe, client and family-centered, and designed to encourage
individual dignity, autonomy, and development of the fullest human potential at home or in other residential settings, whenever practicable." [1997 c
392 § 102.]
Construction—Conflict with federal requirements—1997 c 392:
"Any section or provision of this act that may be susceptible to more than one
construction shall be interpreted in favor of the construction most likely to
comply with federal laws entitling this state to receive federal funds for the
various programs of the department of health or the department of social and
health services. If any section of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition of the allocation of federal
funds to the state, or to any departments or agencies thereof, the conflicting
part is declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict. The
rules issued under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1997 c 392 §
504.]
Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: "Part headings and
captions used in this act are not part of the law." [1997 c 392 § 531.]
74.39A.010
74.39A.010 Assisted living services and enhanced
adult residential care—Contracts—Rules. (1) To the
extent of available funding, the department of social and
health services may contract with licensed boarding homes
under chapter 18.20 RCW and tribally licensed boarding
homes for assisted living services and enhanced adult residential care. The department shall develop rules for facilities
that contract with the department for assisted living services
or enhanced adult residential care to establish:
(a) Facility service standards consistent with the principles in RCW 74.39A.050 and consistent with chapter 70.129
RCW;
(b) Standards for resident living areas consistent with
RCW 74.39A.030;
(c) Training requirements for providers and their staff.
(2) The department’s rules shall provide that services in
assisted living and enhanced adult residential care:
(a) Recognize individual needs, privacy, and autonomy;
(b) Include, but not be limited to, personal care, nursing
services, medication administration, and supportive services
that promote independence and self-sufficiency;
(c) Are of sufficient scope to assure that each resident
who chooses to remain in the assisted living or enhanced
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
adult residential care may do so, to the extent that the care
provided continues to be cost-effective and safe and promote
the most appropriate level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being consistent with client choice;
(d) Are directed first to those persons most likely, in the
absence of enhanced adult residential care or assisted living
services, to need hospital, nursing facility, or other out-ofhome placement; and
(e) Are provided in compliance with applicable facility
and professional licensing laws and rules.
(3) When a facility contracts with the department for
assisted living services or enhanced adult residential care,
only services and facility standards that are provided to or in
behalf of the assisted living services or enhanced adult residential care client shall be subject to the department’s rules.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 14; 1993 c 508 § 3.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.020
74.39A.020 Adult residential care—Contracts—
Rules. (1) To the extent of available funding, the department
of social and health services may contract for adult residential care.
(2) The department shall, by rule, develop terms and
conditions for facilities that contract with the department for
adult residential care to establish:
(a) Facility service standards consistent with the principles in RCW 74.39A.050 and consistent with chapter 70.129
RCW; and
(b) Training requirements for providers and their staff.
(3) The department shall, by rule, provide that services in
adult residential care facilities:
(a) Recognize individual needs, privacy, and autonomy;
(b) Include personal care and other services that promote
independence and self-sufficiency and aging in place;
(c) Are directed first to those persons most likely, in the
absence of adult residential care services, to need hospital,
nursing facility, or other out-of-home placement; and
(d) Are provided in compliance with applicable facility
and professional licensing laws and rules.
(4) When a facility contracts with the department for
adult residential care, only services and facility standards that
are provided to or in behalf of the adult residential care client
shall be subject to the adult residential care rules.
(5) To the extent of available funding, the department
may also contract under this section with a tribally licensed
boarding home for the provision of services of the same
nature as the services provided by adult residential care facilities. The provisions of subsections (2)(a) and (b) and (3)(a)
through (d) of this section apply to such a contract. [2004 c
142 § 15; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 15.]
Effective dates—2004 c 142: See note following RCW 18.20.020.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.030
74.39A.030 Expansion of home and community services—Payment rates. (1) To the extent of available funding, the department shall expand cost-effective options for
home and community services for consumers for whom the
state participates in the cost of their care.
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.030
(2) In expanding home and community services, the
department shall: (a) Take full advantage of federal funding
available under Title XVIII and Title XIX of the federal
social security act, including home health, adult day care,
waiver options, and state plan services; and (b) be authorized
to use funds available under its community options program
entry system waiver granted under section 1915(c) of the federal social security act to expand the availability of in-home,
adult residential care, adult family homes, enhanced adult
residential care, and assisted living services. By June 30,
1997, the department shall undertake to reduce the nursing
home medicaid census by at least one thousand six hundred
by assisting individuals who would otherwise require nursing
facility services to obtain services of their choice, including
assisted living services, enhanced adult residential care, and
other home and community services. If a resident, or his or
her legal representative, objects to a discharge decision initiated by the department, the resident shall not be discharged if
the resident has been assessed and determined to require
nursing facility services. In contracting with nursing homes
and boarding homes for enhanced adult residential care
placements, the department shall not require, by contract or
through other means, structural modifications to existing
building construction.
(3)(a) The department shall by rule establish payment
rates for home and community services that support the provision of cost-effective care. In the event of any conflict
between any such rule and a collective bargaining agreement
entered into under RCW 74.39A.270 and 74.39A.300, the
collective bargaining agreement prevails.
(b) The department may authorize an enhanced adult residential care rate for nursing homes that temporarily or permanently convert their bed use for the purpose of providing
enhanced adult residential care under chapter 70.38 RCW,
when the department determines that payment of an
enhanced rate is cost-effective and necessary to foster expansion of contracted enhanced adult residential care services.
As an incentive for nursing homes to permanently convert a
portion of its nursing home bed capacity for the purpose of
providing enhanced adult residential care, the department
may authorize a supplemental add-on to the enhanced adult
residential care rate.
(c) The department may authorize a supplemental
assisted living services rate for up to four years for facilities
that convert from nursing home use and do not retain rights to
the converted nursing home beds under chapter 70.38 RCW,
if the department determines that payment of a supplemental
rate is cost-effective and necessary to foster expansion of
contracted assisted living services. [2002 c 3 § 10 (Initiative
Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001); 1995 1st
sp.s. c 18 § 2.]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
Conflict with federal requirements—1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "If any part
of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with
respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the
operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a
necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1995 1st
sp.s. c 18 § 74.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 145]
74.39A.040
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
Severability—1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 119.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 120.]
74.39A.040
74.39A.040 Department assessment of and assistance
to hospital patients in need of long-term care. The department shall work in partnership with hospitals in assisting
patients and their families to find long-term care services of
their choice. The department shall not delay hospital discharges but shall assist and support the activities of hospital
discharge planners. The department also shall coordinate
with home health and hospice agencies whenever appropriate. The role of the department is to assist the hospital and to
assist patients and their families in making informed choices
by providing information regarding home and community
options to individuals who are hospitalized and likely to need
long-term care.
(1) To the extent of available funds, the department shall
assess individuals who:
(a) Are medicaid clients, medicaid applicants, or eligible
for both medicare and medicaid; and
(b) Apply or are likely to apply for admission to a nursing facility.
(2) For individuals who are reasonably expected to
become medicaid recipients within one hundred eighty days
of admission to a nursing facility, the department shall, to the
extent of available funds, offer an assessment and information regarding appropriate in-home and community services.
(3) When the department finds, based on assessment,
that the individual prefers and could live appropriately and
cost-effectively at home or in some other community-based
setting, the department shall:
(a) Advise the individual that an in-home or other community service is appropriate;
(b) Develop, with the individual or the individual’s representative, a comprehensive community service plan;
(c) Inform the individual regarding the availability of
services that could meet the applicant’s needs as set forth in
the community service plan and explain the cost to the applicant of the available in-home and community services relative to nursing facility care; and
(d) Discuss and evaluate the need for on-going involvement with the individual or the individual’s representative.
(4) When the department finds, based on assessment,
that the individual prefers and needs nursing facility care, the
department shall:
(a) Advise the individual that nursing facility care is
appropriate and inform the individual of the available nursing
facility vacancies;
(b) If appropriate, advise the individual that the stay in
the nursing facility may be short term; and
(c) Describe the role of the department in providing nursing facility case management. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 6.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
[Title 74 RCW—page 146]
74.39A.050
74.39A.050 Quality improvement principles. The
department’s system of quality improvement for long-term
care services shall use the following principles, consistent
with applicable federal laws and regulations:
(1) The system shall be client-centered and promote privacy, independence, dignity, choice, and a home or homelike environment for consumers consistent with chapter 392,
Laws of 1997.
(2) The goal of the system is continuous quality
improvement with the focus on consumer satisfaction and
outcomes for consumers. This includes that when conducting
licensing or contract inspections, the department shall interview an appropriate percentage of residents, family members,
resident case managers, and advocates in addition to interviewing providers and staff.
(3) Providers should be supported in their efforts to
improve quality and address identified problems initially
through training, consultation, technical assistance, and case
management.
(4) The emphasis should be on problem prevention both
in monitoring and in screening potential providers of service.
(5) Monitoring should be outcome based and responsive
to consumer complaints and based on a clear set of health,
quality of care, and safety standards that are easily understandable and have been made available to providers, residents, and other interested parties.
(6) Prompt and specific enforcement remedies shall also
b e im p l e m e n t ed wi th o u t d e l ay , p u r su a n t to R C W
74.39A.080, RCW 70.128.160, chapter 18.51 RCW, or chapter 74.42 RCW, for providers found to have delivered care or
failed to deliver care resulting in problems that are serious,
recurring, or uncorrected, or that create a hazard that is causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to one or more
residents. These enforcement remedies may also include,
when appropriate, reasonable conditions on a contract or
license. In the selection of remedies, the safety, health, and
well-being of residents shall be of paramount importance.
(7) To the extent funding is available, all long-term care
staff directly responsible for the care, supervision, or treatment of vulnerable persons should be screened through background checks in a uniform and timely manner to ensure that
they do not have a criminal history that would disqualify
them from working with vulnerable persons. Whenever a
state conviction record check is required by state law, persons
may be employed or engaged as volunteers or independent
contractors on a conditional basis according to law and rules
adopted by the department.
(8) No provider or staff, or prospective provider or staff,
with a stipulated finding of fact, conclusion of law, an agreed
order, or finding of fact, conclusion of law, or final order
issued by a disciplining authority, a court of law, or entered
into a state registry finding him or her guilty of abuse,
neglect, exploitation, or abandonment of a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in chapter 74.34 RCW shall be
employed in the care of and have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.
(9) The department shall establish, by rule, a state registry which contains identifying information about personal
care aides identified under this chapter who have substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or
abandonment of a vulnerable adult as defined in RCW
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
74.34.020. The rule must include disclosure, disposition of
findings, notification, findings of fact, appeal rights, and fair
hearing requirements. The department shall disclose, upon
request, substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, financial
exploitation, or abandonment to any person so requesting this
information.
(10) The department shall by rule develop training
requirements for individual providers and home care agency
providers. Effective March 1, 2002, individual providers and
home care agency providers must satisfactorily complete
department-approved orientation, basic training, and continuing education within the time period specified by the department in rule. The department shall adopt rules by March 1,
2002, for the implementation of this section based on the recommendations of the community long-term care training and
education steering committee established in RCW
74.39A.190. The department shall deny payment to an individual provider or a home care provider who does not complete the training requirements within the time limit specified
by the department by rule.
(11) In an effort to improve access to training and education and reduce costs, especially for rural communities, the
coordinated system of long-term care training and education
must include the use of innovative types of learning strategies
such as internet resources, videotapes, and distance learning
using satellite technology coordinated through community
colleges or other entities, as defined by the department.
(12) The department shall create an approval system by
March 1, 2002, for those seeking to conduct departmentapproved training. In the rule-making process, the department shall adopt rules based on the recommendations of the
community long-term care training and education steering
committee established in RCW 74.39A.190.
(13) The department shall establish, by rule, training,
background checks, and other quality assurance requirements
for personal aides who provide in-home services funded by
medicaid personal care as described in RCW 74.09.520, community options program entry system waiver services as
described in RCW 74.39A.030, or chore services as
described in RCW 74.39A.110 that are equivalent to requirements for individual providers.
(14) Under existing funds the department shall establish
internally a quality improvement standards committee to
monitor the development of standards and to suggest modifications.
(15) Within existing funds, the department shall design,
develop, and implement a long-term care training program
that is flexible, relevant, and qualifies towards the requirements for a nursing assistant certificate as established under
chapter 18.88A RCW. This subsection does not require completion of the nursing assistant certificate training program by
providers or their staff. The long-term care teaching curriculum must consist of a fundamental module, or modules, and a
range of other available relevant training modules that provide the caregiver with appropriate options that assist in
meeting the resident’s care needs. Some of the training modules may include, but are not limited to, specific training on
the special care needs of persons with developmental disabilities, dementia, mental illness, and the care needs of the elderly. No less than one training module must be dedicated to
workplace violence prevention. The nursing care quality
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.060
assurance commission shall work together with the department to develop the curriculum modules. The nursing care
quality assurance commission shall direct the nursing assistant training programs to accept some or all of the skills and
competencies from the curriculum modules towards meeting
the requirements for a nursing assistant certificate as defined
in chapter 18.88A RCW. A process may be developed to test
persons completing modules from a caregiver’s class to verify that they have the transferable skills and competencies for
entry into a nursing assistant training program. The department may review whether facilities can develop their own
related long-term care training programs. The department
may develop a review process for determining what previous
experience and training may be used to waive some or all of
the mandatory training. The department of social and health
services and the nursing care quality assurance commission
shall work together to develop an implementation plan by
December 12, 1998. [2004 c 140 § 6; 2000 c 121 § 10; 1999
c 336 § 5; 1998 c 85 § 1; 1997 c 392 § 209; 1995 1st sp.s. c
18 § 12.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 336: See note following RCW 74.39.007.
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.060
74.39A.060 Toll-free telephone number for complaints—Investigation and referral—Rules—Discrimination or retaliation prohibited. (1) The aging and adult services administration of the department shall establish and
maintain a toll-free telephone number for receiving complaints regarding a facility that the administration licenses or
with which it contracts for long-term care services.
(2) All facilities that are licensed by, or that contract with
the aging and adult services administration to provide chronic
long-term care services shall post in a place and manner
clearly visible to residents and visitors the department’s tollfree complaint telephone number and the toll-free number
and program description of the long-term care ombudsman as
provided by RCW 43.190.050.
(3) The aging and adult services administration shall
investigate complaints if the subject of the complaint is
within its authority unless the department determines that:
(a) The complaint is intended to willfully harass a licensee or
employee of the licensee; or (b) there is no reasonable basis
for investigation; or (c) corrective action has been taken as
determined by the ombudsman or the department.
(4) The aging and adult services administration shall
refer complaints to appropriate state agencies, law enforcement agencies, the attorney general, the long-term care
ombudsman, or other entities if the department lacks authority to investigate or if its investigation reveals that a followup referral to one or more of these entities is appropriate.
(5) The department shall adopt rules that include the following complaint investigation protocols:
(a) Upon receipt of a complaint, the department shall
make a preliminary review of the complaint, assess the severity of the complaint, and assign an appropriate response time.
Complaints involving imminent danger to the health, safety,
or well-being of a resident must be responded to within two
[Title 74 RCW—page 147]
74.39A.070
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
days. When appropriate, the department shall make an on-site
investigation within a reasonable time after receipt of the
complaint or otherwise ensure that complaints are responded
to.
(b) The complainant must be: Promptly contacted by the
department, unless anonymous or unavailable despite several
attempts by the department, and informed of the right to discuss the alleged violations with the inspector and to provide
other information the complainant believes will assist the
inspector; informed of the department’s course of action; and
informed of the right to receive a written copy of the investigation report.
(c) In conducting the investigation, the department shall
interview the complainant, unless anonymous, and shall use
its best efforts to interview the vulnerable adult or adults
allegedly harmed, and, consistent with the protection of the
vulnerable adult shall interview facility staff, any available
independent sources of relevant information, including if
appropriate the family members of the vulnerable adult.
(d) Substantiated complaints involving harm to a resident, if an applicable law or rule has been violated, shall be
subject to one or more of the actions provided in RCW
74.39A.080 or 70.128.160. Whenever appropriate, the
department shall also give consultation and technical assistance to the provider.
(e) After a department finding of a violation for which a
stop placement has been imposed, the department shall make
an on-site revisit of the provider within fifteen working days
from the request for revisit, to ensure correction of the violation. For violations that are serious or recurring or uncorrected following a previous citation, and create actual or
threatened harm to one or more residents’ well-being, including violations of residents’ rights, the department shall make
an on-site revisit as soon as appropriate to ensure correction
of the violation. Verification of correction of all other violations may be made by either a department on-site revisit or by
written or photographic documentation found by the department to be credible. This subsection does not prevent the
department from enforcing license or contract suspensions or
revocations. Nothing in this subsection shall interfere with or
diminish the department’s authority and duty to ensure that
the provider adequately cares for residents, including to make
departmental on-site revisits as needed to ensure that the provider protects residents and to enforce compliance with this
chapter.
(f) Substantiated complaints of neglect, abuse, exploitation, or abandonment of residents, or suspected criminal violations, shall also be referred by the department to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, the attorney general, and
appropriate professional disciplining authority.
(6) The department may provide the substance of the
complaint to the licensee or contractor before the completion
of the investigation by the department unless such disclosure
would reveal the identity of a complainant, witness, or resident who chooses to remain anonymous. Neither the substance of the complaint provided to the licensee or contractor
nor any copy of the complaint or related report published,
released, or made otherwise available shall disclose, or reasonably lead to the disclosure of, the name, title, or identity of
any complainant, or other person mentioned in the complaint,
except that the name of the provider and the name or names
[Title 74 RCW—page 148]
of any officer, employee, or agent of the department conducting the investigation shall be disclosed after the investigation
has been closed and the complaint has been substantiated.
The department may disclose the identity of the complainant
if such disclosure is requested in writing by the complainant.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with
the obligation of the long-term care ombudsman program or
department staff to monitor the department’s licensing, contract, and complaint investigation files for long-term care
facilities.
(7) The resident has the right to be free of interference,
coercion, discrimination, and reprisal from a facility in exercising his or her rights, including the right to voice grievances
about treatment furnished or not furnished. A facility that
provides long-term care services shall not discriminate or
retaliate in any manner against a resident, employee, or any
other person on the basis or for the reason that such resident
or any other person made a complaint to the department, the
attorney general, law enforcement agencies, or the long-term
care ombudsman, provided information, or otherwise cooperated with the investigation of such a complaint. Any attempt
to discharge a resident against the resident’s wishes, or any
type of retaliatory treatment of a resident by whom or upon
whose behalf a complaint substantiated by the department
has been made to the department, the attorney general, law
enforcement agencies, or the long-term care ombudsman,
within one year of the filing of the complaint, raises a rebuttable presumption that such action was in retaliation for the
filing of the complaint. "Retaliatory treatment" means, but is
not limited to, monitoring a resident’s phone, mail, or visits;
involuntary seclusion or isolation; transferring a resident to a
different room unless requested or based upon legitimate
management reasons; withholding or threatening to withhold
food or treatment unless authorized by a terminally ill resident or his or her representative pursuant to law; or persistently delaying responses to a resident’s request for service or
assistance. A facility that provides long-term care services
shall not willfully interfere with the performance of official
duties by a long-term care ombudsman. The department shall
sanction and may impose a civil penalty of not more than
three thousand dollars for a violation of this subsection.
[2001 c 193 § 1; 1999 c 176 § 34; 1997 c 392 § 210; 1995 1st
sp.s. c 18 § 13.]
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.070
74.39A.070 Rules for qualifications and training
requirements—Requirement that contractors comply
with federal and state regulations. (1) The department
shall, by rule, establish reasonable minimum qualifications
and training requirements to assure that assisted living service, enhanced adult residential care service, and adult residential care providers with whom the department contracts
are capable of providing services consistent with this chapter.
The rules shall apply only to residential capacity for which
the state contracts.
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
(2) The department shall not contract for assisted living,
enhanced adult residential care, or adult residential care services with a provider if the department finds that the provider
or any partner, officer, director, managerial employee, or
owner of five percent or more of the provider has a history of
significant noncompliance with federal or state regulations,
rules, or laws in providing care or services to vulnerable
adults or to children. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 16.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.080
74.39A.080 Department authority to take actions in
response to noncompliance or violations. (1) The department is authorized to take one or more of the actions listed in
subsection (2) of this section in any case in which the department finds that a provider of assisted living services, adult
residential care services, or enhanced adult residential care
services has:
(a) Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of
this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;
(b) Operated without a license or under a revoked
license;
(c) Knowingly, or with reason to know, made a false
statement of material fact on his or her application for license
or any data attached thereto, or in any matter under investigation by the department; or
(d) Willfully prevented or interfered with any inspection
or investigation by the department.
(2) When authorized by subsection (1) of this section, the
department may take one or more of the following actions:
(a) Refuse to issue a contract;
(b) Impose reasonable conditions on a contract, such as
correction within a specified time, training, and limits on the
type of clients the provider may admit or serve;
(c) Impose civil penalties of not more than one hundred
dollars per day per violation;
(d) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a contract; or
(e) Suspend admissions to the facility by imposing stop
placement on contracted services.
(3) When the department orders stop placement, the
facility shall not admit any person admitted by contract until
the stop placement order is terminated. The department may
approve readmission of a resident to the facility from a hospital or nursing home during the stop placement. The department shall terminate the stop placement when: (a) The violations necessitating the stop placement have been corrected;
and (b) the provider exhibits the capacity to maintain correction of the violations previously found deficient. However, if
upon the revisit the department finds new violations that the
department reasonably believes will result in a new stop
placement, the previous stop placement shall remain in effect
until the new stop placement is imposed.
After a department finding of a violation for which a stop
placement has been imposed, the department shall make an
on-site revisit of the provider within fifteen working days
from the request for revisit, to ensure correction of the violation. For violations that are serious or recurring or uncorrected following a previous citation, and create actual or
threatened harm to one or more residents’ well-being, including violations of residents’ rights, the department shall make
an on-site revisit as soon as appropriate to ensure correction
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.090
of the violation. Verification of correction of all other violations may be made by either a department on-site revisit or by
written or photographic documentation found by the department to be credible. This subsection does not prevent the
department from enforcing license suspensions or revocations. Nothing in this subsection shall interfere with or diminish the department’s authority and duty to ensure that the provider adequately cares for residents, including to make
departmental on-site revisits as needed to ensure that the provider protects residents, and to enforce compliance with this
chapter.
(4) Chapter 34.05 RCW applies to department actions
under this section, except that orders of the department
imposing contracts suspension, stop placement, or conditions
for continuation of a contract are effective immediately upon
notice and shall continue pending any hearing. [2001 c 193 §
3; 1996 c 193 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 17.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.090
74.39A.090 Discharge planning—Contracts for case
management services and reassessment and reauthorization—Assessment of case management roles and quality
of in-home care services—Plan of care model language.
(1) The legislature intends that any staff reassigned by the
department as a result of shifting of the reauthorization
responsibilities by contract outlined in this section shall be
dedicated for discharge planning and assisting with discharge
planning and information on existing discharge planning
cases. Discharge planning, as directed in this section, is
intended for residents and patients identified for discharge to
long-term care pursuant to RCW 70.41.320, 74.39A.040, and
74.42.058. The purpose of discharge planning is to protect
residents and patients from the financial incentives inherent
in keeping residents or patients in a more expensive higher
level of care and shall focus on care options that are in the
best interest of the patient or resident.
(2) The department shall contract with area agencies on
aging:
(a) To provide case management services to consumers
receiving home and community services in their own home;
and
(b) To reassess and reauthorize home and community
services in home or in other settings for consumers consistent
with the intent of this section:
(i) Who have been initially authorized by the department
to receive home and community services; and
(ii) Who, at the time of reassessment and reauthorization,
are receiving home and community services in their own
home.
(3) In the event that an area agency on aging is unwilling
to enter into or satisfactorily fulfill a contract or an individual
consumer’s need for case management services will be met
through an alternative delivery system, the department is
authorized to:
(a) Obtain the services through competitive bid; and
(b) Provide the services directly until a qualified contractor can be found.
(4) The department shall include, in its oversight and
monitoring of area agency on aging performance, assessment
of case management roles undertaken by area agencies on
[Title 74 RCW—page 149]
74.39A.095
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
aging in this section. The scope of oversight and monitoring
includes, but is not limited to, assessing the degree and quality of the case management performed by area agency on
aging staff for elderly and disabled persons in the community.
(5) Area agencies on aging shall assess the quality of the
in-home care services provided to consumers who are receiving services under the medicaid personal care, community
options programs entry system or chore services program
through an individual provider or home care agency. Quality
indicators may include, but are not limited to, home care consumers satisfaction surveys, how quickly home care consumers are linked with home care workers, and whether the plan
of care under RCW 74.39A.095 has been honored by the
agency or the individual provider.
(6) The department shall develop model language for the
plan of care established in RCW 74.39A.095. The plan of
care shall be in clear language, and written at a reading level
that will ensure the ability of consumers to understand the
rights and responsibilities expressed in the plan of care.
[2004 c 141 § 3; 1999 c 175 § 2; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 38.]
Findings—1999 c 175: "(1) The legislature finds that the quality of
long-term care services provided to, and protection of, Washington’s lowincome elderly and disabled residents is of great importance to the state. The
legislature further finds that revised in-home care policies are needed to
more effectively address concerns about the quality of these services.
(2) The legislature finds that consumers of in-home care services frequently are in contact with multiple health and long-term care providers in
the public and private sector. The legislature further finds that better coordination between these health and long-term care providers, and case managers, can increase the consumer’s understanding of their plan of care, maximize the health benefits of coordinated care, and facilitate cost efficiencies
across health and long-term care systems." [1999 c 175 § 1.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.095
74.39A.095 Case management services—Agency on
aging oversight—Plan of care—Termination of contract—Rejection of individual provider. (1) In carrying
out case management responsibilities established under
RCW 74.39A.090 for consumers who are receiving services
under the medicaid personal care, community options programs entry system or chore services program through an
individual provider, each area agency on aging shall provide
oversight of the care being provided to consumers receiving
services under this section to the extent of available funding.
Case management responsibilities incorporate this oversight,
and include, but are not limited to:
(a) Verification that any individual provider who has not
been referred to a consumer by the authority established
under chapter 3, Laws of 2002 has met any training requirements established by the department;
(b) Verification of a sample of worker time sheets;
(c) Monitoring the consumer’s plan of care to verify that
it adequately meets the needs of the consumer, through activities such as home visits, telephone contacts, and responses to
information received by the area agency on aging indicating
that a consumer may be experiencing problems relating to his
or her home care;
(d) Reassessment and reauthorization of services;
(e) Monitoring of individual provider performance. If, in
the course of its case management activities, the area agency
on aging identifies concerns regarding the care being pro[Title 74 RCW—page 150]
vided by an individual provider who was referred by the
authority, the area agency on aging must notify the authority
regarding its concerns; and
(f) Conducting criminal background checks or verifying
that criminal background checks have been conducted for
any individual provider who has not been referred to a consumer by the authority.
(2) The area agency on aging case manager shall work
with each consumer to develop a plan of care under this section that identifies and ensures coordination of health and
long-term care services that meet the consumer’s needs. In
developing the plan, they shall utilize, and modify as needed,
any comprehensive community service plan developed by the
department as provided in RCW 74.39A.040. The plan of
care shall include, at a minimum:
(a) The name and telephone number of the consumer’s
area agency on aging case manager, and a statement as to
how the case manager can be contacted about any concerns
related to the consumer’s well-being or the adequacy of care
provided;
(b) The name and telephone numbers of the consumer’s
primary health care provider, and other health or long-term
care providers with whom the consumer has frequent contacts;
(c) A clear description of the roles and responsibilities of
the area agency on aging case manager and the consumer
receiving services under this section;
(d) The duties and tasks to be performed by the area
agency on aging case manager and the consumer receiving
services under this section;
(e) The type of in-home services authorized, and the
number of hours of services to be provided;
(f) The terms of compensation of the individual provider;
(g) A statement by the individual provider that he or she
has the ability and willingness to carry out his or her responsibilities relative to the plan of care; and
(h)(i) Except as provided in (h)(ii) of this subsection, a
clear statement indicating that a consumer receiving services
under this section has the right to waive any of the case management services offered by the area agency on aging under
this section, and a clear indication of whether the consumer
has, in fact, waived any of these services.
(ii) The consumer’s right to waive case management services does not include the right to waive reassessment or
reauthorization of services, or verification that services are
being provided in accordance with the plan of care.
(3) Each area agency on aging shall retain a record of
each waiver of services included in a plan of care under this
section.
(4) Each consumer has the right to direct and participate
in the development of their plan of care to the maximum
practicable extent of their abilities and desires, and to be provided with the time and support necessary to facilitate that
participation.
(5) A copy of the plan of care must be distributed to the
consumer’s primary care provider, individual provider, and
other relevant providers with whom the consumer has frequent contact, as authorized by the consumer.
(6) The consumer’s plan of care shall be an attachment to
the contract between the department, or their designee, and
the individual provider.
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
(7) If the department or area agency on aging case manager finds that an individual provider’s inadequate performance or inability to deliver quality care is jeopardizing the
health, safety, or well-being of a consumer receiving service
under this section, the department or the area agency on aging
may take action to terminate the contract between the department and the individual provider. If the department or the
area agency on aging has a reasonable, good faith belief that
the health, safety, or well-being of a consumer is in imminent
jeopardy, the department or area agency on aging may summarily suspend the contract pending a fair hearing. The consumer may request a fair hearing to contest the planned action
of the case manager, as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
When the department or area agency on aging terminates or
summarily suspends a contract under this subsection, it must
provide oral and written notice of the action taken to the
authority. The department may by rule adopt guidelines for
implementing this subsection.
(8) The department or area agency on aging may reject a
request by a consumer receiving services under this section to
have a family member or other person serve as his or her individual provider if the case manager has a reasonable, good
faith belief that the family member or other person will be
unable to appropriately meet the care needs of the consumer.
The consumer may request a fair hearing to contest the decision of the case manager, as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
The department may by rule adopt guidelines for implementing this subsection. [2004 c 141 § 1; 2002 c 3 § 11 (Initiative
Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001); 2000 c 87 §
5; 1999 c 175 § 3.]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
Findings—1999 c 175: See note following RCW 74.39A.090.
74.39A.100 Chore services—Legislative finding,
intent. The legislature finds that it is desirable to provide a
coordinated and comprehensive program of in-home services
for certain citizens in order that such persons may remain in
their own homes, obtain employment if possible, and maintain a closer contact with the community. Such a program
will seek to prevent mental and psychological deterioration
which our citizens might otherwise experience. The legislature intends that the services will be provided in a fashion
which promotes independent living. [1980 c 137 § 1; 1973
1st ex.s. c 51 § 1. Formerly RCW 74.08.530.]
74.39A.100
74.39A.110 Chore services—Legislative policy and
intent regarding available funds—Levels of service. It is
the intent of the legislature that chore services be provided to
eligible persons within the limits of funds appropriated for
that purpose. Therefore, the department shall provide services only to those persons identified as at risk of being
placed in a long-term care facility in the absence of such services. The department shall not provide chore services to any
individual who is eligible for, and whose needs can be met by
another community service administered by the department.
Chore services shall be provided to the extent necessary to
maintain a safe and healthful living environment. It is the policy of the state to encourage the development of volunteer
chore services in local communities as a means of meeting
chore care service needs and directing financial resources. In
74.39A.110
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.120
determining eligibility for chore services, the department
shall consider the following:
(1) The kind of services needed;
(2) The degree of service need, and the extent to which
an individual is dependent upon such services to remain in his
or her home or return to his or her home;
(3) The availability of personal or community resources
which may be utilized to meet the individual’s need; and
(4) Such other factors as the department considers necessary to insure service is provided only to those persons whose
chore service needs cannot be met by relatives, friends, nonprofit organizations, other persons, or by other programs or
resources.
In determining the level of services to be provided under
this chapter, the client shall be assessed using an instrument
designed by the department to determine the level of functional disability, the need for service and the person’s risk of
long-term care facility placement. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 36;
1989 c 427 § 5; 1981 1st ex.s. c 6 § 16. Formerly RCW
74.08.545.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
Effective date—Severability—1981 1st ex.s. c 6: See notes following
RCW 74.04.005.
74.39A.120
74.39A.120 Chore services—Expenditure limitation—Priorities—Rule on patient resource limit. (1) The
department shall establish a monthly dollar lid for each
region on chore services expenditures within the legislative
appropriation. Priority for services shall be given to the following situations:
(a) People who were receiving chore personal care services as of June 30, 1995;
(b) People for whom chore personal care services are
necessary to return to the community from a nursing home;
(c) People for whom chore personal care services are
necessary to prevent unnecessary nursing home placement;
and
(d) People for whom chore personal care services are
necessary as a protective measure based on referrals resulting
from an adult protective services investigation.
(2) The department shall require a client to participate in
the cost of chore services as a necessary precondition to
receiving chore services paid for by the state. The client shall
retain an amount equal to one hundred percent of the federal
poverty level, adjusted for household size, for maintenance
needs. The department shall consider the remaining income
as the client participation amount for chore services except
for those persons whose participation is established under
*RCW 74.08.570.
(3) The department shall establish, by rule, the maximum
amount of resources a person may retain and be eligible for
chore services. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 37.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.08.570 was recodified as RCW 74.39A.150
pursuant to 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 34.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
[Title 74 RCW—page 151]
74.39A.130
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.39A.130
74.39A.130 Chore services—Department to develop
program. (1) The department is authorized to develop a program to provide for chore services under this chapter.
(2) The department may provide assistance in the recruiting of providers of the services enumerated in RCW
74.39A.120 and seek to assure the timely provision of services in emergency situations.
(3) The department shall assure that all providers of the
chore services under this chapter are compensated for the
delivery of the services on a prompt and regular basis. [1995
1st sp.s. c 18 § 40; 1989 c 427 § 6; 1983 c 3 § 189; 1980 c 137
§ 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 51 § 3. Formerly RCW 74.08.550.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
74.39A.140
74.39A.140 Chore services—Employment of public
assistance recipients. In developing the program set forth in
*RCW 74.08.550, the department shall, to the extent possible, and consistent with federal law, enlist the services of persons receiving grants under the provisions of chapter 74.08
RCW and chapter 74.12 RCW to carry out the services enumerated under **RCW 74.08.541. To this end, the department shall establish appropriate rules and regulations
designed to determine eligibility for employment under this
section, as well as regulations designed to notify persons
receiving such grants of eligibility for such employment. The
department shall further establish a system of compensation
to persons employed under the provisions of this section
which provides that any grants they receive under chapter
74.08 RCW or chapter 74.12 RCW shall be diminished by
such percentage of the compensation received under this section as the department shall establish by rules and regulations. [1983 c 3 § 190; 1973 1st ex.s. c 51 § 4. Formerly
RCW 74.08.560.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 74.08.550 was recodified as RCW
74.39A.130 pursuant to 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 34, effective July 1, 1995.
**(2) RCW 74.08.541 was repealed by 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 35, effective July 1, 1995.
74.39A.150
74.39A.150 Chore services for disabled persons—
Eligibility. (1) An otherwise eligible disabled person shall
not be deemed ineligible for chore services under this chapter
if the person’s gross income from employment, adjusted
downward by the cost of the chore services to be provided
and the disabled person’s work expenses, does not exceed the
maximum eligibility standard established by the department
for such chore services. The department shall establish a
methodology for client participation that allows such disabled persons to be employed.
(2) If a disabled person arranges for chore services
through an individual provider arrangement, the client’s contribution shall be counted as first dollar toward the total
amount owed to the provider for chore services rendered.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Gross income" means total earned wages, commissions, salary, and any bonus;
(b) "Work expenses" includes:
(i) Payroll deductions required by law or as a condition
of employment, in amounts actually withheld;
[Title 74 RCW—page 152]
(ii) The necessary cost of transportation to and from the
place of employment by the most economical means, except
rental cars; and
(iii) Expenses of employment necessary for continued
employment, such as tools, materials, union dues, transportation to service customers if not furnished by the employer,
and uniforms and clothing needed on the job and not suitable
for wear away from the job;
(c) "Employment" means any work activity for which a
recipient receives monetary compensation;
(d) "Disabled" means:
(i) Permanently and totally disabled as defined by the
department and as such definition is approved by the federal
social security administration for federal matching funds;
(ii) Eighteen years of age or older;
(iii) A resident of the state of Washington; and
(iv) Willing to submit to such examinations as are
deemed necessary by the department to establish the extent
and nature of the disability. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 41; 1989 c
427 § 7; 1980 c 137 § 3. Formerly RCW 74.08.570.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
74.39A.160
74.39A.160 Transfer of assets—Penalties. (1) A person who receives an asset from an applicant for or recipient
of long-term care services for less than fair market value shall
be subject to a civil fine payable to the department if:
(a) The applicant for or recipient of long-term care services transferred the asset for the purpose of qualifying for
state or federal coverage for long-term care services and the
person who received the asset was aware, or should have
been aware, of this purpose;
(b) Such transfer establishes a period of ineligibility for
such service under state or federal laws or regulations; and
(c) The department provides coverage for such services
during the period of ineligibility because the failure to provide such coverage would result in an undue hardship for the
applicant or recipient.
(2) The civil fine imposed under this section shall be
imposed in a judicial proceeding initiated by the department
and shall equal (a) up to one hundred fifty percent of the
amount the department expends for the care of the applicant
or recipient during the period of ineligibility attributable to
the amount transferred to the person subject to the civil fine
plus (b) the department’s court costs and legal fees.
(3) Transfers subject to a civil fine under this section
shall be considered null and void and a fraudulent conveyance as to the department. The department shall have the
right to petition a court to set aside such transfers and require
all assets transferred returned to the applicant or recipient.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 55.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.170
74.39A.170 Recovery of payments—Transfer of
assets rules for eligibility—Disclosure of estate recovery
costs, terms, and conditions. (1) All payments made in
state-funded long-term care shall be recoverable as if they
were medical assistance payments subject to recovery under
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396p and chapter 43.20B RCW, but without
regard to the recipient’s age.
(2) In determining eligibility for state-funded long-term
care services programs, the department shall impose the same
rules with respect to the transfer of assets for less than fair
market value as are imposed under 42 U.S.C. 1396p with
respect to nursing home and home and community services.
(3) It is the responsibility of the department to fully disclose in advance verbally and in writing, in easy to understand language, the terms and conditions of estate recovery to
all persons offered long-term care services subject to recovery of payments.
(4) In disclosing estate recovery costs to potential clients, and to family members at the consent of the client, the
department shall provide a written description of the community service options.
(5) The department of social and health services shall
develop an implementation plan for notifying the client or his
or her legal representative at least quarterly of the types of
services used and the cost of those services (debt) that will be
charged against the estate. The estate planning implementation plan shall be submitted by December 12, 1999, to the
appropriate standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and to the joint legislative and executive
task force on long-term care. [1999 c 354 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s.
c 18 § 56.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Recovery for state-funded long-term care—Legislative intent: RCW
43.20B.090.
74.39A.180
74.39A.180 Authority to pay for probate actions and
collection of bad debts. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
(1) In order to facilitate and ensure compliance with the
federal social security act, Title XIX, as now existing or hereafter amended, later enactment to be adopted by reference by
the director by rule, and other state laws mandating recovery
of assets from estates of persons receiving long-term care services, the secretary of the department, with the approval of
the office of the attorney general, may pay the reasonable and
proper fees of attorneys admitted to practice before courts of
this state, and associated professionals such as guardians,
who are engaged in probate practice for the purpose of maintaining actions under Title 11 RCW, to the end that assets are
not wasted, but are rather collected and preserved, and used
for the care of the client or the reimbursement of the department pursuant to this chapter or chapter 43.20B RCW.
(2) The department may hire such other agencies and
professionals on a contingency basis or otherwise as are necessary and cost-effective to collect bad debts owed to the
department for long-term care services. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 §
57.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.39A.190
74.39A.190 Community long-term care training and
education steering committee. (1) The secretary shall
appoint a steering committee for community long-term care
training and education to advise the department on the development of criteria for training materials, the development of
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.200
competency tests, the development of criteria for trainers,
and the development of exemptions from training. The community long-term care training and education steering committee shall also review the effectiveness of the training program or programs, including the qualifications and availability of the trainers. The steering committee shall advise the
department on flexible and innovative learning strategies that
accomplish the training goals, such as competency and outcome-based models and distance learning. The steering committee shall review and recommend the most appropriate
length of time between an employee’s date of first hire and
the start of the employee’s basic training.
(2) The steering committee shall, at a minimum, consist
of a representative from each of the following: Each of the
statewide boarding home associations, two adult family
home associations, each of the statewide home care associations, the long-term care ombudsman program, the area agencies on aging, the department of health representing the nursing care quality assurance commission, and a consumer, or
their nonprovider designee, from a boarding home, adult
family home, home care served by an agency, and home care
served by an individual provider. A majority of the members
currently serving constitute a quorum.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the adult family
home advisory committee from enhancing training requirements for adult family providers and resident managers, regulated under *chapter 18.48 RCW, at the cost of those providers and resident managers.
(4) Establishment of the steering committee does not
prohibit the department from utilizing other advisory activities that the department deems necessary for program development. However, when the department obtains input from
other advisory sources, the department shall present the information to the steering committee for their review.
(5) Each member of the steering committee shall serve
without compensation. Consumer representatives may be
reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized in RCW
43.03.060.
(6) The steering committee recommendations must
implement the intent of RCW 74.39A.050(14) to create training that includes skills and competencies that are transferable
to nursing assistant training.
(7) The steering committee shall cease to exist July 1,
2003. [2002 c 233 § 4; 2000 c 121 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 18.48 RCW was repealed in its entirety by
2002 c 223 § 2.
Effective date—2002 c 233: See note following RCW 18.20.270.
74.39A.200
74.39A.200 Training curricula, materials—In public
domain—Exceptions. All training curricula and material,
except competency testing material, developed by or for the
department and used in part or in whole for the purpose of
improving provider and caregiver knowledge and skill are in
the public domain unless otherwise protected by copyright
law and are subject to disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
Any training curricula and material developed by a private
entity through a contract with the department are also considered part of the public domain and shall be shared subject to
copyright restrictions. Any proprietary curricula and material developed by a private entity for the purposes of training
staff in facilities licensed under chapter 18.20 or 70.128
[Title 74 RCW—page 153]
74.39A.210
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
RCW or individual providers and home care agency providers under this chapter and approved for training by the department are not part of the public domain. [2005 c 274 § 355;
2000 c 121 § 11.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
74.39A.210 Disclosure of employee information—
Employer immunity—Rebuttable presumption. An
employer providing home and community services, including
facilities licensed under chapters 18.51, 18.20, and 70.128
RCW, an employer of a program authorized under RCW
71A.12.040(10), or an in-home services agency employer
licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective
home and community services employer, nursing home
employer, or are an in-home services agency employer, is
presumed to be acting in good faith and is immune from civil
and criminal liability for such disclosure or its consequences
if the disclosed information relates to: (1) The employee’s
ability to perform his or her job; (2) the diligence, skill, or
reliability with which the employee carried out the duties of
his or her job; or (3) any illegal or wrongful act committed by
the employee when related to his or her ability to care for a
vulnerable adult. For purposes of this section, the presumption of good faith may only be rebutted upon a showing by
clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed
by the employer was knowingly false or made with reckless
disregard for the truth of the information disclosed. Should
the employee successfully rebut the presumption of good
faith standard in a court of competent jurisdiction, and therefore be the prevailing party, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees against the
employer. Nothing in this section shall affect or limit any
other state, federal, or constitutional right otherwise available. [2001 c 319 § 13.]
74.39A.210
74.39A.220
74.39A.220 Findings—2002 c 3 (Initiative Measure
No. 775). The people of the state of Washington find as follows:
(1) Thousands of Washington seniors and persons with
disabilities live independently in their own homes, which
they prefer and is less costly than institutional care such as
nursing homes.
(2) Many Washington seniors and persons with disabilities currently receive long-term in-home care services from
individual providers hired directly by them under the medicaid personal care, community options programs entry system,
or chore services program.
(3) Quality long-term in-home care services allow
Washington seniors, persons with disabilities, and their families the choice of allowing seniors and persons with disabilities to remain in their homes, rather than forcing them into
institutional care such as nursing homes. Long-term in-home
care services are also less costly, saving Washington taxpayers significant amounts through lower reimbursement rates.
(4) The quality of long-term in-home care services in
Washington would benefit from improved regulation, higher
standards, better accountability, and improved access to such
services. The quality of long-term in-home care services
would further be improved by a well-trained, stable individ[Title 74 RCW—page 154]
ual provider work force earning reasonable wages and benefits.
(5) Washington seniors and persons with disabilities
would benefit from the establishment of an authority that has
the power and duty to regulate and improve the quality of
long-term in-home care services.
(6) The authority should ensure that the quality of longterm in-home care services provided by individual providers
is improved through better regulation, higher standards,
increased accountability, and the enhanced ability to obtain
services. The authority should also encourage stability in the
individual provider work force through collective bargaining
and by providing training opportunities. [2002 c 3 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Captions not law—2002 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 775): "Captions
used in this act are not any part of the law." [2002 c 3 § 16 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 775): "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [2002 c 3 § 17 (Initiative Measure
No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
74.39A.230
74.39A.230 Authority created. (1) The home care
quality authority is established to regulate and improve the
quality of long-term in-home care services by recruiting,
training, and stabilizing the work force of individual providers.
(2) The authority consists of a board of nine members
appointed by the governor. Five board members shall be current and/or former consumers of long-term in-home care services provided for functionally disabled persons, at least one
of whom shall be a person with a developmental disability;
one board member shall be a representative of the developmental disabilities planning council; one board member shall
be a representative of the governor’s committee on disability
issues and employment; one board member shall be a representative of the state council on aging; and one board member
shall be a representative of the Washington state association
of area agencies on aging. Each board member serves a term
of three years. If a vacancy occurs, the governor will make an
appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term. Each board member is eligible for reappointment
and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. In making appointments, the governor will take into consideration
any nominations or recommendations made by the groups or
agencies represented. [2002 c 3 § 2 (Initiative Measure No.
775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.240 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 74.39A.030 and 74.39A.095 and
74.39A.220 through 74.39A.300, 41.56.026, 70.127.041, and
74.09.740 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Authority" means the home care quality authority.
(2) "Board" means the board created under RCW
74.39A.230.
(3) "Consumer" means a person to whom an individual
provider provides any such services.
(4) "Individual provider" means a person, including a
personal aide, who has contracted with the department to pro74.39A.240
(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
vide personal care or respite care services to functionally disabled persons under the medicaid personal care, community
options program entry system, chore services program, or
respite care program, or to provide respite care or residential
services and support to persons with developmental disabilities under chapter 71A.12 RCW, or to provide respite care as
defined in RCW 74.13.270. [2002 c 3 § 3 (Initiative Measure
No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.250
74.39A.250 Authority duties. (1) The authority must
carry out the following duties:
(a) Establish qualifications and reasonable standards for
accountability for and investigate the background of individual providers and prospective individual providers, except in
cases where, after the department has sought approval of any
appropriate amendments or waivers under RCW 74.09.740,
federal law or regulation requires that such qualifications and
standards for accountability be established by another entity
in order to preserve eligibility for federal funding. Qualifications established must include compliance with the minimum
requirements for training and satisfactory criminal background checks as provided in RCW 74.39A.050 and confirmation that the individual provider or prospective individual
provider is not currently listed on any long-term care abuse
and neglect registry used by the department at the time of the
investigation;
(b) Undertake recruiting activities to identify and recruit
individual providers and prospective individual providers;
(c) Provide training opportunities, either directly or
through contract, for individual providers, prospective individual providers, consumers, and prospective consumers;
(d) Provide assistance to consumers and prospective
consumers in finding individual providers and prospective
individual providers through the establishment of a referral
registry of individual providers and prospective individual
providers. Before placing an individual provider or prospective individual provider on the referral registry, the authority
shall determine that:
(i) The individual provider or prospective individual provider has met the minimum requirements for training set
forth in RCW 74.39A.050;
(ii) The individual provider or prospective individual
provider has satisfactorily undergone a criminal background
check conducted within the prior twelve months; and
(iii) The individual provider or prospective individual
provider is not listed on any long-term care abuse and neglect
registry used by the department;
(e) Remove from the referral registry any individual provider or prospective individual provider the authority determines not to meet the qualifications set forth in (d) of this
subsection or to have committed misfeasance or malfeasance
in the performance of his or her duties as an individual provider. The individual provider or prospective individual provider, or the consumer to which the individual provider is
providing services, may request a fair hearing to contest the
removal from the referral registry, as provided in chapter
34.05 RCW;
(f) Provide routine, emergency, and respite referrals of
individual providers and prospective individual providers to
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.270
consumers and prospective consumers who are authorized to
receive long-term in-home care services through an individual provider;
(g) Give preference in the recruiting, training, referral,
and employment of individual providers and prospective
individual providers to recipients of public assistance or other
low-income persons who would qualify for public assistance
in the absence of such employment; and
(h) Cooperate with the department, area agencies on
aging, and other federal, state, and local agencies to provide
the services described and set forth in this section. If, in the
course of carrying out its duties, the authority identifies concerns regarding the services being provided by an individual
provider, the authority must notify the relevant area agency
or department case manager regarding such concerns.
(2) In determining how best to carry out its duties, the
authority must identify existing individual provider recruitment, training, and referral resources made available to consumers by other state and local public, private, and nonprofit
agencies. The authority may coordinate with the agencies to
provide a local presence for the authority and to provide consumers greater access to individual provider recruitment,
training, and referral resources in a cost-effective manner.
Using requests for proposals or similar processes, the authority may contract with the agencies to provide recruitment,
training, and referral services if the authority determines the
agencies can provide the services according to reasonable
standards of performance determined by the authority. The
authority must provide an opportunity for consumer participation in the determination of the standards. [2002 c 3 § 4
(Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.260
74.39A.260 Department duties. The department must
perform criminal background checks for individual providers
and prospective individual providers and ensure that the
authority has ready access to any long-term care abuse and
neglect registry used by the department. [2002 c 3 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.270
74.39A.270 Collective bargaining—Circumstances
in which individual providers are considered public
employees—Exceptions. (1) Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under subsections
(2) and (3) of this section, the governor is the public
employer, as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW, of individual
providers, who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW.
To accommodate the role of the state as payor for the community-based services provided under this chapter and to
ensure coordination with state employee collective bargaining under chapter 41.80 RCW and the coordination necessary
to implement RCW 74.39A.300, the public employer shall be
represented for bargaining purposes by the governor or the
governor’s designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW.
The governor or governor’s designee shall periodically consult with the authority during the collective bargaining process to allow the authority to communicate issues relating to
[Title 74 RCW—page 155]
74.39A.270
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
the long-term in-home care services received by consumers.
The governor or the governor’s designee shall consult the
authority on all issues for which the exclusive bargaining representative requests to engage in collective bargaining under
subsection (6) of this section. The authority shall work with
the developmental disabilities council, the governor’s committee on disability issues and employment, the state council
on aging, and other consumer advocacy organizations to
obtain informed input from consumers on their interests,
including impacts on consumer choice, for all issues proposed for collective bargaining under subsection (6) of this
section.
(2) Chapter 41.56 RCW governs the collective bargaining relationship between the governor and individual providers, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter
and except as follows:
(a) The only unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.060 is a statewide unit of
all individual providers;
(b) The showing of interest required to request an election under RCW 41.56.060 is ten percent of the unit, and any
intervener seeking to appear on the ballot must make the
same showing of interest;
(c) The mediation and interest arbitration provisions of
RCW 41.56.430 through 41.56.470 and 41.56.480 apply,
except that:
(i) With respect to commencement of negotiations
between the governor and the bargaining representative of
individual providers, negotiations shall be commenced by
May 1st of any year prior to the year in which an existing collective bargaining agreement expires;
(ii) With respect to factors to be taken into consideration
by an interest arbitration panel, the panel shall consider the
financial ability of the state to pay for the compensation and
fringe benefit provisions of a collective bargaining agreement; and
(iii) The decision of the arbitration panel is not binding
on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the
request for funds necessary to implement the compensation
and fringe benefit provisions of the arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, is not binding on the authority or the
state;
(d) Individual providers do not have the right to strike;
and
(e) Individual providers who are related to, or family
members of, consumers or prospective consumers are not, for
that reason, exempt from this chapter or chapter 41.56 RCW.
(3) Individual providers who are public employees
solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under subsection (1) of this section are not, for that reason, employees of
the state, its political subdivisions, or an area agency on aging
for any purpose. Chapter 41.56 RCW applies only to the
governance of the collective bargaining relationship between
the employer and individual providers as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) Consumers and prospective consumers retain the
right to select, hire, supervise the work of, and terminate any
individual provider providing services to them. Consumers
may elect to receive long-term in-home care services from
individual providers who are not referred to them by the
authority.
[Title 74 RCW—page 156]
(5) In implementing and administering this chapter, neither the authority nor any of its contractors may reduce or
increase the hours of service for any consumer below or
above the amount determined to be necessary under any
assessment prepared by the department or an area agency on
aging.
(6) Except as expressly limited in this section and RCW
74.39A.300, the wages, hours, and working conditions of
individual providers are determined solely through collective
bargaining as provided in this chapter. No agency or department of the state may establish policies or rules governing the
wages or hours of individual providers. However, this subsection does not modify:
(a) The department’s authority to establish a plan of care
for each consumer or its core responsibility to manage longterm in-home care services under this chapter, including
determination of the level of care that each consumer is eligible to receive. However, at the request of the exclusive bargaining representative, the governor or the governor’s designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW shall engage in collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030(4), with the
exclusive bargaining representative over how the department’s core responsibility affects hours of work for individual providers. This subsection shall not be interpreted to
require collective bargaining over an individual consumer’s
plan of care;
(b) The department’s authority to terminate its contracts
with individual providers who are not adequately meeting the
needs of a particular consumer, or to deny a contract under
RCW 74.39A.095(8);
(c) The consumer’s right to assign hours to one or more
individual providers selected by the consumer within the
maximum hours determined by his or her plan of care;
(d) The consumer’s right to select, hire, terminate, supervise the work of, and determine the conditions of employment for each individual provider providing services to the
consumer under this chapter;
(e) The department’s obligation to comply with the federal medicaid statute and regulations and the terms of any
community-based waiver granted by the federal department
of health and human services and to ensure federal financial
participation in the provision of the services; and
(f) The legislature’s right to make programmatic modifications to the delivery of state services under this title,
including standards of eligibility of consumers and individual
providers participating in the programs under this title, and
the nature of services provided. The governor shall not enter
into, extend, or renew any agreement under this chapter that
does not expressly reserve the legislative rights described in
this subsection (6)(f).
(7)(a) The state, the department, the authority, the area
agencies on aging, or their contractors under this chapter may
not be held vicariously or jointly liable for the action or inaction of any individual provider or prospective individual provider, whether or not that individual provider or prospective
individual provider was included on the authority’s referral
registry or referred to a consumer or prospective consumer.
The existence of a collective bargaining agreement, the
placement of an individual provider on the referral registry,
or the development or approval of a plan of care for a consumer who chooses to use the services of an individual pro(2006 Ed.)
Long-Term Care Services Options—Expansion
vider and the provision of case management services to that
consumer, by the department or an area agency on aging,
does not constitute a special relationship with the consumer.
(b) The members of the board are immune from any liability resulting from implementation of this chapter.
(8) Nothing in this section affects the state’s responsibility with respect to unemployment insurance for individual
providers. However, individual providers are not to be considered, as a result of the state assuming this responsibility,
employees of the state. [2006 c 106 § 1; 2004 c 3 § 1; 2002 c
3 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6,
2001).]
Effective date—2006 c 106: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 17, 2006]." [2006 c 106 § 2.]
Severability—2004 c 3: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2004 c 3 § 8.]
Effective date—2004 c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 9, 2004]." [2004 c 3 § 9.]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.280
74.39A.280 Powers. In carrying out its duties under
chapter 3, Laws of 2002, the authority may:
(1) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments
necessary or convenient for the performance of its duties or
exercise of its powers, including contracts with public and
private agencies, organizations, corporations, and individuals
to pay them for services rendered or furnished;
(2) Offer and provide recruitment, training, and referral
services to providers of long-term in-home care services
other than individual providers and prospective individual
providers, for a fee to be determined by the authority;
(3) Issue rules under the administrative procedure act,
chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary for the purpose and policies of chapter 3, Laws of 2002;
(4) Establish offices, employ and discharge employees,
agents, and contractors as necessary, and prescribe their
duties and powers and fix their compensation, incur
expenses, and create such liabilities as are reasonable and
proper for the administration of chapter 3, Laws of 2002;
(5) Solicit and accept for use any grant of money, services, or property from the federal government, the state, or
any political subdivision or agency thereof, including federal
matching funds under Title XIX of the federal social security
act, and do all things necessary to cooperate with the federal
government, the state, or any political subdivision or agency
thereof in making an application for any grant;
(6) Coordinate its activities and cooperate with similar
agencies in other states;
(7) Establish technical advisory committees to assist the
board;
(8) Keep records and engage in research and the gathering of relevant statistics;
(9) Acquire, hold, or dispose of real or personal property
or any interest therein, and construct, lease, or otherwise provide facilities for the activities conducted under this chapter,
(2006 Ed.)
74.39A.300
provided that the authority may not exercise any power of
eminent domain;
(10) Sue and be sued in its own name;
(11) Delegate to the appropriate persons the power to
execute contracts and other instruments on its behalf and delegate any of its powers and duties if consistent with the purposes of this chapter; and
(12) Do other acts necessary or convenient to execute the
powers expressly granted to it. [2002 c 3 § 7 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.290
74.39A.290 Performance review. (1) The joint legislative audit and review committee will conduct a performance
review of the authority every two years and submit the review
to the legislature and the governor. The first review will be
submitted before December 1, 2006.
(2) The performance review will include an evaluation of
the health, welfare, and satisfaction with services provided of
the consumers receiving long-term in-home care services
from individual providers under chapter 3, Laws of 2002,
including the degree to which all required services have been
delivered, the degree to which consumers receiving services
from individual providers have ultimately required additional
or more intensive services, such as home health care, or have
been placed in other residential settings or nursing homes, the
promptness of response to consumer complaints, and any
other issue the committee deems relevant.
(3) The performance review will provide an explanation
of the full cost of individual provider services, including the
administrative costs of the authority, unemployment compensation, social security and medicare payroll taxes paid by the
department, and area agency on aging home care oversight
costs.
(4) The performance review will make recommendations
to the legislature and the governor for any amendments to
chapter 3, Laws of 2002 that will further ensure the wellbeing of consumers and prospective consumers under chapter
3, Laws of 2002, and the most efficient means of delivering
required services. In addition, the first performance review
will include findings and recommendations regarding the
appropriateness of the authority’s assumption of responsibility for verification of hours worked by individual providers,
payment of individual providers, and other duties. [2002 c 3
§ 8 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6,
2001).]
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.300
74.39A.300 Funding. (1) Upon meeting the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, the governor must
submit, as a part of the proposed biennial or supplemental
operating budget submitted to the legislature under RCW
43.88.030, a request for funds necessary to administer chapter 3, Laws of 2002 and to implement the compensation and
fringe benefits provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into under RCW 74.39A.270 or for legislation
necessary to implement such agreement.
(2) A request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of a collective bar[Title 74 RCW—page 157]
74.39A.310
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
gaining agreement entered into under RCW 74.39A.270 shall
not be submitted by the governor to the legislature unless
such request:
(a) Has been submitted to the director of financial management by October 1st prior to the legislative session at
which the request is to be considered; and
(b) Has been certified by the director of financial management as being feasible financially for the state or reflects
the binding decision of an arbitration panel reached under
RCW 74.39A.270(2)(c).
(3) The legislature must approve or reject the submission
of the request for funds as a whole. If the legislature rejects
or fails to act on the submission, any such agreement will be
reopened solely for the purpose of renegotiating the funds
necessary to implement the agreement.
(4) When any increase in individual provider wages or
benefits is negotiated or agreed to, no increase in wages or
benefits negotiated or agreed to under this chapter will take
effect unless and until, before its implementation, the department has determined that the increase is consistent with federal law and federal financial participation in the provision of
services under Title XIX of the federal social security act.
(5) The governor shall periodically consult with the joint
committee on employment relations established by RCW
41.80.010 regarding appropriations necessary to implement
the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of any collective bargaining agreement and, upon completion of negotiations, advise the committee on the elements of the agreement and on any legislation necessary to implement such
agreement.
(6) After the expiration date of any collective bargaining
agreement entered into under RCW 74.39A.270, all of the
terms and conditions specified in any such agreement remain
in effect until the effective date of a subsequent agreement,
not to exceed one year from the expiration date stated in the
agreement, except as provided in RCW 74.39A.270(6)(f).
(7) If, after the compensation and benefit provisions of
an agreement are approved by the legislature, a significant
revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations,
as declared by proclamation of the governor or by resolution
of the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into
collective bargaining for a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement. [2004 c 3 § 2; 2002 c 3 § 9 (Initiative
Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001).]
Severability—Effective date—2004 c 3: See notes following RCW
74.39A.270.
Findings—Captions not law—Severability—2002 c 3 (Initiative
Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.
74.39A.310
74.39A.310 Contract for individual home care services providers—Cost of increase in wages and benefits
funded—Formula. (1) The department shall create a formula that converts the cost of the increase in wages and benefits negotiated and funded in the contract for individual providers of home care services pursuant to RCW 74.39A.270
and 74.39A.300, into a per-hour amount, excluding those
benefits defined in subsection (2) of this section. That
per-hour amount shall be added to the statewide home care
agency vendor rate and shall be used exclusively for improving the wages and benefits of home care agency workers who
provide direct care. The formula shall account for:
[Title 74 RCW—page 158]
(a) All types of wages, benefits, and compensation negotiated and funded each biennium, including but not limited to:
(i) Regular wages;
(ii) Benefit pay, such as vacation, sick, and holiday pay;
(iii) Taxes on wages/benefit pay; and
(iv) Mileage; and
(b) The increase in the average cost of worker’s compensation for home care agencies and application of the increases
identified in (a) of this subsection to all hours required to be
paid, including travel time, of direct service workers under
the wage and hour laws and associated employer taxes.
(2) The contribution rate for health care benefits, including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision benefits, for
eligible agency home care workers shall be paid by the
department to home care agencies at the same rate as negotiated and funded in the collective bargaining agreement for
individual providers of home care services. [2006 c 9 § 1.]
Temporary rate increase—2006 c 9: "For the fiscal year ending June
30, 2007, the per-hour amount added to the home care agency vendor rate
pursuant to section 1(1)(a) of this act shall be limited to the cost of: (1) A
$0.02 per-hour increase in wages, plus the employer share of unemployment
and social security taxes on the amount of the increase; and (2) the cost of
annual leave benefits negotiated and funded for individual providers of home
care services. This section expires June 30, 2007." [2006 c 9 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 9: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006 c
9 § 3.]
74.39A.320 Establishment of capital add-on rate—
Determination of medicaid occupancy percentage. (1) To
the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the department shall establish a capital add-on rate, not less than the
July 1, 2005, capital add-on rate established by the department, for those assisted living facilities contracting with the
department that have a medicaid occupancy percentage of
sixty percent or greater.
(2) Effective for July 1, 2006, and for each July 1st
rate-setting period thereafter, the department shall determine
the facility’s medicaid occupancy percentage using the last
six months’ medicaid resident days from the preceding calendar year divided by the product of all its licensed boarding
home beds irrespective of use, times calendar days for the
six-month period. For the purposes of this section, medicaid
resident days include those clients who are enrolled in a medicaid managed long-term care program, including but not
limited to the program for all inclusive care and the medicaid
integration project.
(3) The medicaid occupancy percentage established
beginning on July 1, 2006, and for each July 1st thereafter,
shall be used to determine whether an assisted living facility
qualifies for the capital add-on rate under this section. Those
facilities that qualify for the capital add-on rate shall receive
the capital add-on rate throughout the applicable fiscal year.
[2006 c 260 § 1.]
74.39A.320
Effective date—2006 c 260: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 260 § 2.]
74.39A.900
74.39A.900 Section captions—1993 c 508. Section
captions as used in this act constitute no part of the law.
[1993 c 508 § 10.]
74.39A.901
74.39A.901 Conflict with federal requirements. If
any part of this chapter or a collective bargaining agreement
(2006 Ed.)
Respite Care Services
under this chapter is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the
state, the conflicting part of this chapter or the agreement is
inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with
respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does
not affect the operation of the remainder of this chapter or the
agreement in its application to the agencies concerned. The
rules under this chapter shall meet federal requirements that
are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the
state. [2004 c 3 § 5; 1993 c 508 § 11.]
Severability—Effective date—2004 c 3: See notes following RCW
74.39A.270.
74.39A.902
74.39A.902 Severability—1993 c 508. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1993 c 508 § 12.]
74.39A.903
74.39A.903 Effective date—1993 c 508. This act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 18, 1993]. [1993 c 508 § 13.]
Chapter 74.41
Chapter 74.41 RCW
RESPITE CARE SERVICES
Sections
74.41.010
74.41.020
74.41.030
74.41.040
74.41.050
74.41.060
74.41.070
74.41.080
74.41.090
74.41.010
74.41.020
74.41.020 Intent. It is the intent of the legislature to
provide a comprehensive program of long-term care information and support, including in-home and out-of-home respite
care services, for family and other unpaid caregivers who
provide the daily services required when caring for adults
with functional disabilities. The family caregiver long-term
care information and support services shall:
(1) Provide information, relief, and support to family or
other unpaid caregivers of adults with functional disabilities;
(2) Encourage family and other nonpaid individuals to
provide care for adults with functional disabilities at home,
and thus offer a viable alternative to placement in a long-term
care facility;
(3) Ensure that respite care is made generally available
on a sliding-fee basis to eligible participants in the program
according to priorities established by the department;
(4) Be provided in the least restrictive setting available
consistent with the individually assessed needs of the adults
with functional disabilities;
(5) Include services appropriate to the needs of persons
caring for individuals with dementing illnesses; and
(6) Provide unpaid family and other unpaid caregivers
with services that enable them to make informed decisions
about current and future care plans, solve day-to-day caregiving problems, learn essential caregiving skills, and locate services that may strengthen their capacity to provide care.
[2000 c 207 § 2; 1987 c 409 § 1; 1984 c 158 § 2.]
Short title—2000 c 207: "This act shall be known and cited as the Fred
Mills act." [2000 c 207 § 1.]
74.41.030
Legislative findings.
Intent.
Definitions.
Administration—Rules—Program standards.
Family caregiver long-term care information and support services—Respite services, evaluation of need, caregiver abilities.
Respite care program—Criteria.
Family caregiver long-term care information and support services—Data.
Health care practitioners and facilities not impaired.
Entitlement not created.
74.41.010 Legislative findings. The legislature recognizes that:
(1) Most care provided for functionally disabled adults is
delivered by family members or friends who are not compensated for their services. Family involvement is a crucial element for avoiding or postponing institutionalization of the
disabled adult.
(2) Family or other caregivers who provide continuous
care in the home are frequently under substantial stress, physical, psychological, and financial. The stress, if unrelieved by
family or community support to the caregiver, may lead to
premature or unnecessary nursing home placement.
(3) Respite care and other community-based supportive
services for the caregiver and for the disabled adult could
relieve some of the stresses, maintain and strengthen the family structure, and postpone or prevent institutionalization.
(4) With family and friends providing the primary care
for the disabled adult, supplemented by community health
and social services, long-term care may be less costly than if
the individual were institutionalized. [1984 c 158 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.41.030
74.41.030 Definitions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Family caregiver long-term care information and
support services" means providing long-term care information and support services to unpaid family and other unpaid
caregivers of adults with functional disabilities, including but
not limited to providing: (a) Information about available
public and private long-term care support services; (b) assistance in gaining access to an array of appropriate long-term
care family caregiver services; (c) promotion and implementation of support groups; (d) caregiver training to assist the
nonpaid caregivers in making decisions and solving challenges relating to their caregiving roles; (e) respite care services; and (f) additional supportive long-term care services
that may include but not be limited to translating/interpreter
services, specialized transportation, coordination of health
care services, help purchasing needed supplies, durable
goods, or equipment, and other forms of information and support necessary to maintain the unpaid caregiving activity.
(2) "Respite care services" means relief care for families
or other caregivers of adults with functional disabilities, eligibility for which shall be determined by the department by
rule. The services provide temporary care or supervision of
adults with functional disabilities in substitution for the caregiver. The term includes adult day services.
(3) "Eligible participant for family caregiver long-term
care information and support services" means an adult who
needs substantially continuous care or supervision by reason
of his or her functional disability and may be at risk of placement into a long-term care facility.
[Title 74 RCW—page 159]
74.41.040
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(4) "Eligible participant for respite care services" means
an adult who needs substantially continuous care or supervision by reason of his or her functional disability and is also
assessed as requiring placement into a long-term care facility
in the absence of an unpaid family or other unpaid caregiver.
(5) "Unpaid caregiver" means a spouse, relative, or
friend who has primary responsibility for the care of an adult
with a functional disability and who does not receive financial compensation for the care. To be eligible for respite care
and for family caregiver support services, the caregiver is
considered the client.
(6) "Adult day services" means nonmedical services to
persons who live with their families, cannot be left unsupervised, and are at risk of being placed in a twenty-four-hour
care facility if their families do not receive some relief from
constant care.
(7) "Department" means the department of social and
health services. [2000 c 207 § 3; 1987 c 409 § 2; 1984 c 158
§ 3.]
(1) Make maximum use of services which provide care
to the greatest number of eligible participants with the fewest
number of staff consistent with adequate care;
(2) Provide for use of one-on-one care when necessary;
(3) Provide for both day care and overnight care;
(4) Provide personal care to continue at the same level
which the caregiver ordinarily provides to the eligible participant; and
(5) Provide for the utilization of family home settings.
[1984 c 158 § 6.]
74.41.070
74.41.070 Family caregiver long-term care information and support services—Data. The area agencies on
aging administering family caregiver long-term care information and support services shall maintain data which indicates demand for family caregiver long-term care information and support services. [2000 c 207 § 5; 1998 c 245 § 151;
1987 c 409 § 5; 1984 c 158 § 7.]
Short title—2000 c 207: See note following RCW 74.41.020.
Short title—2000 c 207: See note following RCW 74.41.020.
74.41.080
74.41.040
74.41.040 Administration—Rules—Program standards. The department shall administer this chapter and
shall establish such rules and standards as the department
deems necessary in carrying out this chapter. The department
shall not require the development of plans of care or discharge plans by nursing homes providing respite care service
under this chapter.
The department shall develop standards for the respite
program in conjunction with the selected area agencies on
aging. The program standards shall serve as the basis for
soliciting bids, entering into subcontracts, and developing
sliding fee scales to be used in determining the ability of eligible participants to participate in paying for respite care.
[1987 c 409 § 3; 1984 c 158 § 4.]
74.41.050
74.41.050 Family caregiver long-term care information and support services—Respite services, evaluation of
need, caregiver abilities. The department shall contract
with area agencies on aging or other appropriate agencies to
conduct family caregiver long-term care information and
support services to the extent of available funding. The
responsibilities of the agencies shall include but not be limited to: (1) Administering a program of family caregiver
long-term care information and support services; and (2)
negotiating rates of payment, administering sliding-fee scales
to enable eligible participants to participate in paying for
respite care, and arranging for respite care information, training, and other support services. In evaluating the need for
respite services, consideration shall be given to the mental
and physical ability of the caregiver to perform necessary caregiver functions. [2000 c 207 § 4; 1989 c 427 § 8; 1987 c 409
§ 4; 1984 c 158 § 5.]
Short title—2000 c 207: See note following RCW 74.41.020.
Severability—1989 c 427: See RCW 74.39.900.
74.41.060
74.41.060 Respite care program—Criteria. The
department shall insure that the respite care program is
designed to meet the following criteria:
[Title 74 RCW—page 160]
74.41.080 Health care practitioners and facilities not
impaired. Nothing in this chapter shall impair the practice of
any licensed health care practitioner or licensed health care
facility. [1984 c 158 § 8.]
74.41.090
74.41.090 Entitlement not created. Nothing in this
chapter creates or provides any individual with an entitlement
to services or benefits. It is the intent of the legislature that
services under this chapter shall be made available only to the
extent of the availability and level of appropriation made by
the legislature. [1987 c 409 § 6.]
Chapter 74.42
Chapter 74.42 RCW
NURSING HOMES—RESIDENT CARE,
OPERATING STANDARDS
Sections
74.42.010
74.42.020
74.42.030
74.42.040
74.42.050
74.42.055
74.42.056
74.42.057
74.42.058
74.42.060
74.42.070
74.42.080
74.42.090
74.42.100
74.42.110
74.42.120
74.42.130
74.42.140
74.42.150
74.42.160
74.42.170
74.42.180
74.42.190
74.42.200
74.42.210
74.42.220
Definitions.
Minimum standards.
Resident to receive statement of rights, rules, services, and
charges.
Resident’s rights regarding medical condition, care, and treatment.
Residents to be treated with consideration, respect—Complaints.
Discrimination against medicaid recipients prohibited.
Department assessment of medicaid eligible individuals—
Requirements.
Notification regarding resident likely to become medicaid eligible.
Department case management services.
Management of residents’ financial affairs.
Privacy.
Confidentiality of records.
Work tasks by residents.
Personal mail.
Freedom of association—Limits.
Personal possessions.
Individual financial records.
Prescribed plan of care—Treatment, medication, diet services.
Plan of care—Goals—Program—Responsibilities—Review.
Nursing care.
Rehabilitative services.
Social services.
Activities program—Recreation areas, equipment.
Supervision of health care by physician—When required.
Pharmacist services.
Contracts for professional services from outside the agency.
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Homes—Resident Care, Operating Standards
74.42.225
74.42.230
74.42.240
74.42.250
74.42.260
74.42.270
74.42.280
74.42.285
74.42.290
74.42.300
74.42.310
74.42.320
74.42.330
74.42.340
74.42.350
74.42.360
74.42.370
74.42.380
74.42.390
74.42.400
74.42.410
74.42.420
74.42.430
74.42.440
74.42.450
74.42.460
74.42.470
74.42.480
74.42.490
74.42.500
74.42.510
74.42.520
74.42.530
74.42.540
74.42.550
74.42.560
74.42.570
74.42.580
74.42.600
74.42.620
74.42.630
74.42.640
74.42.900
74.42.910
74.42.920
Self-medication programs for residents—Educational program—Implementation.
Physician or authorized practitioner to prescribe medication.
Administering medication.
Medication stop orders—Procedure for developmentally disabled.
Drug storage, security, inventory.
Drug disposal.
Adverse drug reaction.
Immunizations—Rules.
Meal intervals—Food handling—Utensils—Disposal.
Nutritionist—Menus, special diets.
Staff duties at meals.
Sanitary procedures for food preparation.
Food storage.
Administrative support—Purchasing—Inventory control.
Organization chart.
Adequate staff.
Licensed administrator.
Director of nursing services.
Communication system.
Engineering and maintenance personnel.
Laundry services.
Resident record system.
Written policy guidelines.
Facility rated capacity not to be exceeded.
Residents limited to those the facility qualified to care for—
Transfer or discharge of residents—Appeal of department
discharge decision—Reasonable accommodation.
Organization plan and procedures.
Infected employees.
Living areas.
Room requirements—Waiver.
Toilet and bathing facilities.
Room for dining, recreation, social activities—Waiver.
Therapy area.
Isolation areas.
Building requirements.
Handrails.
Emergency lighting for facilities housing developmentally disabled persons.
Health and safety requirements.
Penalties for violation of standards.
Department inspections—Notice of noncompliance—Penalties—Coordination with department of health.
Departmental rules.
Conflict with federal requirements.
Quality assurance committee.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 211.
Construction—Conflict with federal requirements.
Chapter 74.42 RCW suspended—Effective date delayed until
January 1, 1981.
Effective date—Chapter 74.42 RCW: See RCW 74.42.920.
74.42.010
74.42.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Department" means the department of social and
health services and the department’s employees.
(2) "Facility" refers to a nursing home as defined in
RCW 18.51.010.
(3) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person licensed to
practice practical nursing under chapter 18.79 RCW.
(4) "Medicaid" means Title XIX of the Social Security
Act enacted by the social security amendments of 1965 (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1396; 79 Stat. 343), as amended.
(5) "Nursing care" means that care provided by a registered nurse, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, a
licensed practical nurse, or a nursing assistant in the regular
performance of their duties.
(6) "Qualified therapist" means:
(a) An activities specialist who has specialized education, training, or experience specified by the department.
(2006 Ed.)
74.42.030
(b) An audiologist who is eligible for a certificate of clinical competence in audiology or who has the equivalent education and clinical experience.
(c) A mental health professional as defined in chapter
71.05 RCW.
(d) A mental retardation professional who is a qualified
therapist or a therapist approved by the department and has
specialized training or one year experience in treating or
working with the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled.
(e) An occupational therapist who is a graduate of a program in occupational therapy or who has equivalent education or training.
(f) A physical therapist as defined in chapter 18.74
RCW.
(g) A social worker who is a graduate of a school of
social work.
(h) A speech pathologist who is eligible for a certificate
of clinical competence in speech pathology or who has equivalent education and clinical experience.
(7) "Registered nurse" means a person licensed to practice registered nursing under chapter 18.79 RCW.
(8) "Resident" means an individual residing in a nursing
home, as defined in RCW 18.51.010.
(9) "Physician assistant" means a person practicing pursuant to chapters 18.57A and 18.71A RCW.
(10) "Nurse practitioner" means a person licensed to
practice advanced registered nursing under chapter 18.79
RCW. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 750; 1993 c 508 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 211
§ 1.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Section captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 508: See
RCW 74.39A.900 through 74.39A.903.
74.42.020
74.42.020 Minimum standards. The standards in
RCW 74.42.030 through 74.42.570 are the minimum standards for facilities licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That RCW 74.42.040, 74.42.140
through 74.42.280, 74.42.300, 74.42.360, 74.42.370,
74.42.380, 74.42.420 (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7), 74.42.430(3),
74.42.450 (2) and (3), 74.42.520, 74.42.530, 74.42.540,
74.42.570, and 74.42.580 shall not apply to any nursing home
or institution conducted for those who rely upon treatment by
prayer or spiritual means in accordance with the creed or
tenets of any well-recognized church or religious denomination, or for any nursing home or institution operated for the
exclusive care of members of a convent as defined in RCW
84.36.800 or rectory, monastery, or other institution operated
for the care of members of the clergy. [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 §
68; 1982 c 120 § 1; 1980 c 184 § 6; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 2.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.42.030
74.42.030 Resident to receive statement of rights,
rules, services, and charges. Each resident or guardian or
legal representative, if any, shall be fully informed and
receive in writing, in a language the resident or his or her representative understands, the following information:
(1) The resident’s rights and responsibilities in the facility;
[Title 74 RCW—page 161]
74.42.040
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(2) Rules governing resident conduct;
(3) Services, items, and activities available in the facility; and
(4) Charges for services, items, and activities, including
those not included in the facility’s basic daily rate or not paid
by medicaid.
The facility shall provide this information before admission, or at the time of admission in case of emergency, and as
changes occur during the resident’s stay. The resident and his
or her representative must be informed in writing in advance
of changes in the availability or charges for services, items, or
activities, or of changes in the facility’s rules. Except in
unusual circumstances, thirty days’ advance notice must be
given prior to the change. The resident or legal guardian or
representative shall acknowledge in writing receipt of this
information.
The written information provided by the facility pursuant to this section, and the terms of any admission contract
executed between the facility and an individual seeking
admission to the facility, must be consistent with the requirements of this chapter and chapter 18.51 RCW and, for facilities certified under medicaid or medicare, with the applicable
federal requirements. [1997 c 392 § 212; 1979 ex.s. c 211 §
3.]
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
74.42.040
74.42.040 Resident’s rights regarding medical condition, care, and treatment. The facility shall insure that each
resident and guardian, if any:
(1) Is fully informed by a physician about his or her
health and medical condition unless the physician decides
that informing the resident is medically contraindicated and
the physician documents this decision in the resident’s
record;
(2) Has the opportunity to participate in his or her total
care and treatment;
(3) Has the opportunity to refuse treatment; and
(4) Gives informed, written consent before participating
in experimental research. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 4.]
74.42.050
74.42.050 Residents to be treated with consideration,
respect—Complaints. (1) Residents shall be treated with
consideration, respect, and full recognition of their dignity
and individuality. Residents shall be encouraged and assisted
in the exercise of their rights as residents of the facility and as
citizens.
(2) A resident or guardian, if any, may submit complaints or recommendations concerning the policies of the
facility to the staff and to outside representatives of the resident’s choice. No facility may restrain, interfere, coerce, discriminate, or retaliate in any manner against a resident who
submits a complaint or recommendation. [1979 ex.s. c 211 §
5.]
74.42.055 Discrimination against medicaid recipients
prohibited. (1) The purpose of this section is to prohibit discrimination against medicaid recipients by nursing homes
which have contracted with the department to provide skilled
or intermediate nursing care services to medicaid recipients.
74.42.055
[Title 74 RCW—page 162]
(2) A nursing facility shall readmit a resident, who has
been hospitalized or on therapeutic leave, immediately to the
first available bed in a semiprivate room if the resident:
(a) Requires the services provided by the facility; and
(b) Is eligible for medicaid nursing facility services.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any nursing home which has
a medicaid contract with the department:
(a) To require, as a condition of admission, assurance
from the patient or any other person that the patient is not eligible for or will not apply for medicaid;
(b) To deny or delay admission or readmission of a person to a nursing home because of his or her status as a medicaid recipient;
(c) To transfer a patient, except from a private room to
another room within the nursing home, because of his or her
status as a medicaid recipient;
(d) To transfer a patient to another nursing home because
of his or her status as a medicaid recipient;
(e) To discharge a patient from a nursing home because
of his or her status as a medicaid recipient; or
(f) To charge any amounts in excess of the medicaid rate
from the date of eligibility, except for any supplementation
permitted by the department pursuant to RCW 18.51.070.
(4) Any nursing home which has a medicaid contract
with the department shall maintain one list of names of persons seeking admission to the facility, which is ordered by
the date of request for admission. This information shall be
retained for one year from the month admission was
requested. However, except as provided in subsection (2) of
this section, a nursing facility is permitted to give preferential
admission to individuals who seek admission from a boarding home, licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or from independent retirement housing, provided the nursing facility is
owned by the same entity that owns the boarding home or
independent housing which are located within the same proximate geographic area; and provided further, the purpose of
such preferential admission is to allow continued provision
of: (a) Culturally or faith-based services, or (b) services provided by a continuing care retirement community as defined
in RCW 70.38.025.
(5) The department may assess monetary penalties of a
civil nature, not to exceed three thousand dollars for each violation of this section.
(6) Because it is a matter of great public importance to
protect senior citizens who need medicaid services from discriminatory treatment in obtaining long-term health care, any
violation of this section shall be construed for purposes of the
application of the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86
RCW, to constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice or
unfair method of competition in the conduct of trade or commerce.
(7) It is not an act of discrimination under this chapter to
refuse to admit a patient if admitting that patient would prevent the needs of the other patients residing in that facility
from being met at that facility, or if the facility’s refusal is
consistent with subsection (4) of this section. [2004 c 34 § 1;
1987 c 476 § 30; 1985 c 284 § 3.]
Effective date—2004 c 34: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 22, 2004]." [2004 c 34 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Homes—Resident Care, Operating Standards
74.42.056
74.42.056 Department assessment of medicaid eligible individuals—Requirements. A nursing facility shall
not admit any individual who is medicaid eligible unless that
individual has been assessed by the department. Appropriate
hospital discharge shall not be delayed pending the assessment.
To ensure timely hospital discharge of medicaid eligible
persons, the date of the request for a department long-term
care assessment, or the date that nursing home care actually
begins, whichever is later, shall be deemed the effective date
of the initial service and payment authorization. The department shall respond promptly to such requests.
A nursing facility admitting an individual without a
request for a department assessment shall not be reimbursed
by the department and shall not be allowed to collect payment
from a medicaid eligible individual for any care rendered
before the date the facility makes a request to the department
for an assessment. The date on which a nursing facility makes
a request for a department long-term care assessment, or the
date that nursing home care actually begins, whichever is
later, shall be deemed the effective date of initial service and
payment authorization for admissions regardless of the
source of referral.
A medicaid eligible individual residing in a nursing
facility who is transferred to an acute care hospital shall not
be required to have a department assessment under this section prior to returning to the same or another nursing facility.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 7.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.42.057
74.42.057 Notification regarding resident likely to
become medicaid eligible. If a nursing facility has reason to
know that a resident is likely to become financially eligible
for medicaid benefits within one hundred eighty days, the
nursing facility shall notify the patient or his or her representative and the department. The department may:
(1) Assess any such resident to determine if the resident
prefers and could live appropriately at home or in some other
community-based setting; and
(2) Provide case management services to the resident.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 8.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.42.058
74.42.058 Department case management services.
(1) To the extent of available funding, the department shall
provide case management services to assist nursing facility
residents, in conjunction and partnership with nursing facility
staff. The purpose of the case management services is to
assist residents and their families to assess the appropriateness and availability of home and community services that
could meet the resident’s needs so that the resident and family can make informed choices.
(2) To the extent of available funding, the department
shall provide case management services to nursing facility
residents who are:
(a) Medicaid funded;
(b) Dually medicaid and medicare eligible;
(c) Medicaid applicants; and
(2006 Ed.)
74.42.130
(d) Likely to become financially eligible for medicaid
within one hundred eighty days, pursuant to RCW 74.42.057.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 9.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.42.060
74.42.060 Management of residents’ financial
affairs. The facility shall allow a resident or the resident’s
guardian to manage the resident’s financial affairs. The facility may assist a resident in the management of his or her
financial affairs if the resident requests assistance in writing
and the facility complies with the record-keeping requirements of RCW 74.42.130 and the provisions of *chapter . . .
(Senate Bill No. 2335), Laws of 1979. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: Senate Bill No. 2335 was not enacted during the 1979
legislative sessions. A similar bill was enacted in 1980 and became 1980 c
177, which is codified primarily in chapter 74.46 RCW.
74.42.070
74.42.070 Privacy. Residents shall be given privacy
during treatment and care of personal needs. Married residents shall be given privacy during visits with their spouses.
If both husband and wife are residents of the facility, the
facility shall permit the husband and wife to share a room,
unless medically contraindicated. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 7.]
74.42.080
74.42.080 Confidentiality of records. Residents’
records, including information in an automatic data bank,
shall be treated confidentially. The facility shall not release
information from a resident’s record to a person not otherwise authorized by law to receive the information without the
resident’s or the resident’s guardian’s written consent. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 8.]
74.42.090
74.42.090 Work tasks by residents. No resident may
be required to perform services for the facility; except that a
resident may be required to perform work tasks specified or
included in the comprehensive plan of care. [1979 ex.s. c 211
§ 9.]
74.42.100
74.42.100 Personal mail. The facility shall not open
the personal mail that residents send or receive. [1979 ex.s. c
211 § 10.]
74.42.110
74.42.110 Freedom of association—Limits. Residents
shall be allowed to communicate, associate, meet privately
with individuals of their choice, and participate in social, religious, and community group activities unless this infringes
on the rights of other residents. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 11.]
74.42.120
74.42.120 Personal possessions. The facility shall
allow residents to have personal possessions as space or security permits. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 12.]
74.42.130
74.42.130 Individual financial records. The facility
shall keep a current, written financial record for each resident. The record shall include written receipts for all personal
possessions and funds received by or deposited with the facility and for all disbursements made to or for the resident. The
resident or guardian and the resident’s family shall have
access to the financial record. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 13.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 163]
74.42.140
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.42.140
74.42.140 Prescribed plan of care—Treatment, medication, diet services. The facility shall care for residents by
providing residents with authorized medical services which
shall include treatment, medication, and diet services, and
any other services contained in the comprehensive plan of
care or otherwise prescribed by the attending physician.
[1979 ex.s. c 211 § 14.]
74.42.150
74.42.150 Plan of care—Goals—Program—Responsibilities—Review. (1) Under the attending physician’s
instructions, qualified facility staff will establish and maintain a comprehensive plan of care for each resident which
shall be kept on file by the facility and be evaluated through
review and assessment by the department. The comprehensive plan contains:
(a) Goals for each resident to accomplish;
(b) An integrated program of treatment, therapies and
activities to help each resident achieve those goals; and
(c) The persons responsible for carrying out the programs in the plan.
(2) Qualified facility staff shall review the comprehensive plan of care at least quarterly. [1980 c 184 § 7; 1979
ex.s. c 211 § 15.]
designed to encourage each resident to maintain normal
activity and help each resident return to self care. A staff
member qualified by experience or training in directing
group activities shall be responsible for the activities program. The facility shall provide adequate recreation areas
with sufficient equipment and materials to support the program. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 19.]
74.42.200
74.42.200 Supervision of health care by physician—
When required. The health care of each resident shall be
under the continuing supervision of a physician: PROVIDED, That a resident of a facility licensed pursuant to
chapter 18.51 RCW but not certified by the federal government under Title XVIII or Title XIX of the Social Security
Act as now or hereafter amended shall not be required to
receive the continuing supervision of a health care practitioner licensed pursuant to chapter 18.22, 18.25, 18.32, 18.57,
18.71, and 18.83 RCW, nor shall the state of Washington
require such continuing supervision as a condition of licensing. The physician shall see the resident whenever necessary,
and as required and/or consistent with state and federal regulations. [1980 c 184 § 8; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 20.]
74.42.210
74.42.160
74.42.160 Nursing care. The facility shall provide the
nursing care required for the classification given each resident. The nursing care shall help each resident to achieve and
maintain the highest possible degree of function, self-care,
and independence to the extent medically possible. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 16.]
74.42.210 Pharmacist services. The facility shall
either employ a licensed pharmacist responsible for operating
the facility’s pharmacy or have a written agreement with a
licensed pharmacist who will advise the facility on ordering,
storage, administration, disposal, and recordkeeping of drugs
and biologicals. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 21.]
74.42.220
74.42.170
74.42.170 Rehabilitative services. (1) The facility
shall provide rehabilitative services itself or arrange for the
provision of rehabilitative services with qualified outside
resources for each resident whose comprehensive plan of
care requires the provision of rehabilitative services.
(2) The rehabilitative service personnel shall be qualified
therapists, qualified therapists’ assistants, or mental health
professionals. Other support personnel under appropriate
supervision may perform the duties of rehabilitative service
personnel.
(3) The rehabilitative services shall be designed to maintain and improve the resident’s ability to function independently; prevent, as much as possible, advancement of progressive disabilities; and restore maximum function. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 17.]
74.42.180
74.42.180 Social services. (1) The facility shall provide
social services, or arrange for the provision of social services
with qualified outside resources, for each resident whose
comprehensive plan of care requires the provision of social
services.
(2) The facility shall designate one staff member qualified by training or experience to be responsible for arranging
for social services in the facility or with qualified outside
resources and integrating social services with other elements
of the plan of care. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 18.]
74.42.190
74.42.190 Activities program—Recreation areas,
equipment. The facility shall have an activities program
[Title 74 RCW—page 164]
74.42.220 Contracts for professional services from
outside the agency. (1) If the facility does not employ a
qualified professional to furnish required services, the facility
shall have a written contract with a qualified professional or
agency outside the facility to furnish the required services.
The terms of the contract, including terms about responsibilities, functions, and objectives, shall be specified. The contract shall be signed by the administrator, or the administrator’s representative, and the qualified professional.
(2) All contracts for these services shall require the standards in RCW 74.42.010 through 74.42.570 to be met. [1980
c 184 § 9; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 22.]
74.42.225
74.42.225 Self-medication programs for residents—
Educational program—Implementation. The department
shall develop an educational program for attending and staff
physicians and patients on self-medication. The department
shall actively encourage the implementation of such selfmedication programs for residents. [1980 c 184 § 18.]
74.42.230
74.42.230 Physician or authorized practitioner to
prescribe medication. (1) The resident’s attending or staff
physician or authorized practitioner approved by the attending physician shall order all medications for the resident. The
order may be oral or written and shall be limited by time. An
"authorized practitioner," as used in this section, is a registered nurse under chapter 18.79 RCW when authorized by the
nursing care quality assurance commission, an osteopathic
physician assistant under chapter 18.57A RCW when authorized by the committee of osteopathic examiners, or a physi(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Homes—Resident Care, Operating Standards
cian assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW when authorized
by the medical quality assurance commission.
(2) An oral order shall be given only to a licensed nurse,
pharmacist, or another physician. The oral order shall be
recorded and signed immediately by the person receiving the
order. The attending physician shall sign the record of the
oral order in a manner consistent with good medical practice.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 751; 1982 c 120 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 23.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
74.42.240
74.42.240 Administering medication. (1) No staff
member may administer any medication to a resident unless
the staff member is licensed to administer medication: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting
graduate nurses or student nurses from administering medications when permitted to do so under chapter 18.79 RCW and
rules adopted thereunder.
(2) The facility may only allow a resident to give himself
or herself medication with the attending physician’s permission.
(3) Medication shall only be administered to or used by
the resident for whom it is ordered. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 752;
1989 c 372 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 24.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
74.42.250
74.42.250 Medication stop orders—Procedure for
developmentally disabled. (1) When the physician’s order
for medication does not include a specific time limit or a specific number of dosages, the facility shall notify the physician
that the medication will be stopped at a date certain unless the
medication is ordered continued by the physician. The facility shall so notify the physician every thirty days.
(2) A facility for the developmentally disabled shall have
an automatic stop order on all drugs, unless such stoppage
will place the patient in jeopardy. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 25.]
74.42.260
74.42.260 Drug storage, security, inventory. (1) The
facility shall store drugs under proper conditions of sanitation, temperature, light, moisture, ventilation, segregation,
and security. Poisons, drugs used externally, and drugs taken
internally shall be stored on separate shelves or in separate
cabinets at all locations. When medication is stored in a
refrigerator containing other items, the medication shall be
kept in a separate compartment with proper security. All
drugs shall be kept under lock and key unless an authorized
individual is in attendance.
(2) The facility shall meet the drug security requirements
of federal and state laws that apply to storerooms, pharmacies, and living units.
(3) If there is a drug storeroom separate from the pharmacy, the facility shall keep a perpetual inventory of receipts
and issues of all drugs from that storeroom. [1979 ex.s. c 211
§ 26.]
74.42.270
74.42.270 Drug disposal. Any drug that is discontinued or outdated and any container with a worn, illegible, or
missing label shall be properly disposed. [1979 ex.s. c 211 §
27.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.42.290
74.42.280
74.42.280 Adverse drug reaction. Medication errors
and adverse drug reactions shall be recorded and reported
immediately to the practitioner who ordered the drug. The
facility shall report adverse drug reactions consistent with
good medical practice. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 28.]
74.42.285
74.42.285 Immunizations—Rules. (1) Long-term care
facilities shall:
(a) Provide access on-site or make available elsewhere
for all residents to obtain the influenza virus immunization on
an annual basis;
(b) Require that each resident, or the resident’s legal representative, upon admission to the facility, be informed verbally and in writing of the benefits of receiving the influenza
virus immunization and, if not previously immunized against
pneumococcal disease, the benefits of the pneumococcal
immunization.
(2) As used in this section, "long-term care facility" is
limited to nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW.
(3) The department of social and health services shall
adopt rules to implement this section.
(4) This section and rules adopted under this section
shall not apply to nursing homes conducted for those who
rely exclusively upon treatment by nonmedical religious
healing methods, including prayer. [2002 c 256 § 2.]
Intent—Findings—2002 c 256: "It is the intent of the legislature to
ensure that long-term care facilities are safe.
(1) The long-term care resident immunization act is intended to:
(a) Prevent and reduce the occurrence and severity of the influenza
virus and pneumococcal disease by increasing the use of immunizations
licensed by the food and drug administration;
(b) Avoid pain, suffering, and deaths that may result from the influenza
virus and pneumococcal disease;
(c) Improve the well-being and quality of life of residents of long-term
care facilities; and
(d) Reduce avoidable costs associated with treating the influenza virus
and pneumococcal disease.
(2) The legislature finds that:
(a) Recent studies show that it is important to immunize older citizens
against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease;
(b) The centers for disease control and prevention recommend individuals living in long-term care facilities and those over age sixty-five receive
immunizations against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease;
(c) The influenza virus and pneumococcal disease have been identified
as leading causes of death for citizens over age sixty-five; and
(d) Immunizations licensed by the food and drug administration are
readily available and effective in reducing and preventing the severity of the
influenza virus and pneumococcal disease." [2002 c 256 § 1.]
Short title—2002 c 256: "This act may be known and cited as the longterm care resident immunization act of 2002." [2002 c 256 § 3.]
74.42.290
74.42.290 Meal intervals—Food handling—Utensils—Disposal. (1) The facility shall serve at least three
meals, or their equivalent, daily at regular times with not
more than fourteen hours between a substantial evening meal
and breakfast on the following day and not less than ten hours
between breakfast and a substantial evening meal on the
same day.
(2) Food shall be procured, stored, transported, and prepared under sanitary conditions in compliance with state and
local regulations.
(3) Food of an appropriate quantity at an appropriate
temperature shall be served in a form consistent with the
needs of the resident;
[Title 74 RCW—page 165]
74.42.300
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(4) Special eating equipment and utensils shall be provided for residents who need them; and
(5) Food served and uneaten shall be discarded. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 29.]
(d) Train and assist personnel to do purchase, supply,
and property control functions. [1980 c 184 § 11; 1979 ex.s.
c 211 § 34.]
74.42.350
74.42.300
74.42.300 Nutritionist—Menus, special diets. (1) The
facility shall have a staff member trained or experienced in
food management and nutrition responsible for planning
menus that meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this
section and supervising meal preparation and service to
insure that the menu plan is followed.
(2) The menu plans shall follow the orders of the resident’s physician.
(3) The facility shall:
(a) Meet the nutritional needs of each resident;
(b) Have menus written in advance;
(c) Provide a variety of foods at each meal;
(d) Provide daily and weekly variations in the menus;
and
(e) Adjust the menus for seasonal changes.
(4) If the facility has residents who require medically
prescribed special diets, the menus for those residents shall
be planned by a professionally qualified dietitian or reviewed
and approved by the attending physician. The preparation and
serving of meals shall be supervised to insure that the resident
accepts the special diet. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 30.]
74.42.310
74.42.310 Staff duties at meals. (1) A facility shall
have sufficient personnel to supervise the residents, direct
self-help dining skills, and to insure that each resident
receives enough food.
(2) A facility shall provide table service for all residents,
including residents in wheelchairs, who are capable and willing to eat at tables. [1980 c 184 § 10; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 31.]
74.42.320
74.42.320 Sanitary procedures for food preparation.
Facilities shall have effective sanitary procedures for the food
preparation staff including procedures for cleaning food
preparation equipment and food preparation areas. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 32.]
74.42.330
74.42.330 Food storage. The facility shall store dry or
staple food items at an appropriate height above the floor in a
ventilated room not subject to sewage or waste water backflow or contamination by condensation, leakage, rodents or
vermin. Perishable foods shall be stored at proper temperatures to conserve nutritive values. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 33.]
74.42.350 Organization chart. The facility shall have
and keep current an organization chart showing:
(1) The major operating programs of the facility;
(2) The staff divisions of the facility;
(3) The administrative personnel in charge of the programs and divisions; and
(4) The lines of authority, responsibility, and communication of administrative personnel. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 35.]
74.42.360
74.42.360 Adequate staff. The facility shall have staff
on duty twenty-four hours daily sufficient in number and
qualifications to carry out the provisions of RCW 74.42.010
through 74.42.570 and the policies, responsibilities, and programs of the facility. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 36.]
74.42.370
74.42.370 Licensed administrator. The facility shall
have an administrator who is a licensed nursing home administrator under chapter 18.52 RCW. The administrator is
responsible for managing the facility and implementing
established policies and procedures. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 37.]
74.42.380
74.42.380 Director of nursing services. (1) The facility shall have a director of nursing services. The director of
nursing services shall be a registered nurse or an advanced
registered nurse practitioner.
(2) The director of nursing services is responsible for:
(a) Coordinating the plan of care for each resident;
(b) Permitting only licensed personnel to administer
medications: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting graduate nurses or student nurses from
administering medications when permitted to do so under
chapter 18.79 RCW and rules adopted under it: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting persons certified under chapter 18.135 RCW from practicing pursuant to the delegation and supervision requirements of chapter 18.135 RCW and rules adopted under it; and
(c) Insuring that the licensed practical nurses and the registered nurses comply with chapter 18.79 RCW, and persons
certified under chapter 18.135 RCW comply with the provisions of that chapter and rules adopted under it. [1994 sp.s. c
9 § 753; 1989 c 372 § 6; 1985 c 284 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 211 §
38.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
74.42.340
74.42.340 Administrative support—Purchasing—
Inventory control. (1) The facility shall provide adequate
administrative support to efficiently meet the needs of residents and facilitate attainment of the facility’s goals and
objectives.
(2) The facility shall:
(a) Document the purchasing process;
(b) Adequately operate the inventory control system and
stockroom;
(c) Have appropriate storage facilities for all supplies
and surplus equipment; and
[Title 74 RCW—page 166]
74.42.390
74.42.390 Communication system. The facility shall
have a communication system, including telephone service,
that insures prompt contact of on-duty personnel and prompt
notification of responsible personnel in an emergency. [1979
ex.s. c 211 § 39.]
74.42.400
74.42.400 Engineering and maintenance personnel.
The facility shall have sufficient trained and experienced personnel for necessary engineering and maintenance functions.
[1979 ex.s. c 211 § 40.]
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Homes—Resident Care, Operating Standards
74.42.410
74.42.410 Laundry services. The facility shall manage
laundry services to meet the residents’ daily clothing and
linen needs. The facility shall have available at all times
enough linen for the proper care and comfort of the residents.
[1979 ex.s. c 211 § 41.]
74.42.420
74.42.420 Resident record system. The facility shall
maintain an organized record system containing a record for
each resident. The record shall contain:
(1) Identification information;
(2) Admission information, including the resident’s
medical and social history;
(3) A comprehensive plan of care and subsequent
changes to the comprehensive plan of care;
(4) Copies of initial and subsequent periodic examinations, assessments, evaluations, and progress notes made by
the facility and the department;
(5) Descriptions of all treatments, services, and medications provided for the resident since the resident’s admission;
(6) Information about all illnesses and injuries including
information about the date, time, and action taken; and
(7) A discharge summary.
Resident records shall be available to the staff members
directly involved with the resident and to appropriate representatives of the department. The facility shall protect resident records against destruction, loss, and unauthorized use.
The facility shall keep a resident’s record after the resident is
discharged as provided in RCW 18.51.300. [1979 ex.s. c 211
§ 42.]
74.42.430
74.42.430 Written policy guidelines. The facility shall
develop written guidelines governing:
(1) All services provided by the facility;
(2) Admission, transfer or discharge;
(3) The use of chemical and physical restraints, the personnel authorized to administer restraints in an emergency,
and procedures for monitoring and controlling the use of the
restraints;
(4) Procedures for receiving and responding to residents’
complaints and recommendations;
(5) Access to, duplication of, and dissemination of information from the resident’s record;
(6) Residents’ rights, privileges, and duties;
(7) Procedures if the resident is adjudicated incompetent
or incapable of understanding his or her rights and responsibilities;
(8) When to recommend initiation of guardianship proceedings under chapter 11.88 RCW; and
(9) Emergencies;
(10) Procedures for isolation of residents with infectious
diseases;
(11) Procedures for residents to refuse treatment and for
the facility to document informed refusal.
The written guidelines shall be made available to the
staff, residents, members of residents’ families, and the public. [1980 c 184 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 43.]
74.42.440
74.42.440 Facility rated capacity not to be exceeded.
The facility may only admit individuals when the facility’s
rated capacity will not be exceeded and when the facility has
(2006 Ed.)
74.42.450
the capability to provide adequate treatment, therapy, and
activities. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 44.]
74.42.450 Residents limited to those the facility qualified to care for—Transfer or discharge of residents—
Appeal of department discharge decision—Reasonable
accommodation. (1) The facility shall admit as residents
only those individuals whose needs can be met by:
(a) The facility;
(b) The facility cooperating with community resources;
or
(c) The facility cooperating with other providers of care
affiliated or under contract with the facility.
(2) The facility shall transfer a resident to a hospital or
other appropriate facility when a change occurs in the resident’s physical or mental condition that requires care or service that the facility cannot provide. The resident, the resident’s guardian, if any, the resident’s next of kin, the attending physician, and the department shall be consulted at least
fifteen days before a transfer or discharge unless the resident
is transferred under emergency circumstances. The department shall use casework services or other means to insure
that adequate arrangements are made to meet the resident’s
needs.
(3) A resident shall be transferred or discharged only for
medical reasons, the resident’s welfare or request, the welfare
of other residents, or nonpayment. A resident may not be discharged for nonpayment if the discharge would be prohibited
by the medicaid program.
(4) If a resident chooses to remain in the nursing facility,
the department shall respect that choice, provided that if the
resident is a medicaid recipient, the resident continues to
require a nursing facility level of care.
(5) If the department determines that a resident no longer
requires a nursing facility level of care, the resident shall not
be discharged from the nursing facility until at least thirty
days after written notice is given to the resident, the resident’s surrogate decision maker and, if appropriate, a family
member or the resident’s representative. A form for requesting a hearing to appeal the discharge decision shall be
attached to the written notice. The written notice shall include
at least the following:
(a) The reason for the discharge;
(b) A statement that the resident has the right to appeal
the discharge; and
(c) The name, address, and telephone number of the state
long-term care ombudsman.
(6) If the resident appeals a department discharge decision, the resident shall not be discharged without the resident’s consent until at least thirty days after a final order is
entered upholding the decision to discharge the resident.
(7) Before the facility transfers or discharges a resident,
the facility must first attempt through reasonable accommodations to avoid the transfer or discharge unless the transfer
or discharge is agreed to by the resident. The facility shall
admit or retain only individuals whose needs it can safely and
appropriately serve in the facility with available staff or
through the provision of reasonable accommodations
required by state or federal law. "Reasonable accommodations" has the meaning given to this term under the federal
Americans with disabilities act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec.
74.42.450
[Title 74 RCW—page 167]
74.42.460
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
12101 et seq. and other applicable federal or state antidiscrimination laws and regulations. [1997 c 392 § 216; 1995
1st sp.s. c 18 § 64; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 45.]
Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See
notes following RCW 74.39A.009.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
not used for corridor traffic for dining, recreation, and social
activities. A multipurpose room may be used if it is large
enough to accommodate all of the activities without the activities interfering with each other: PROVIDED, That the
department may waive the provisions of this section for facilities constructed prior to January 1, 1980. [1979 ex.s. c 211 §
51.]
74.42.520
74.42.460 Organization plan and procedures. The
facility shall have a written staff organization plan and
detailed written procedures to meet potential emergencies
and disasters. The facility shall clearly communicate and
periodically review the plan and procedures with the staff and
residents. The plan and procedures shall be posted at suitable
locations throughout the facility. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 46.]
74.42.460
74.42.520 Therapy area. The facility’s therapy area
shall be large enough and designed to accommodate the necessary equipment, conduct an examination, and provide treatment: PROVIDED, That developmentally disabled facilities
shall not be subject to the provisions of this section if therapeutic services are obtained by contract with other facilities.
[1979 ex.s. c 211 § 52.]
74.42.530
74.42.470 Infected employees. No employee with
symptoms of a communicable disease may work in a facility.
The facility shall have written guidelines that will help
enforce this section. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 47.]
74.42.470
74.42.480 Living areas. The facility shall design and
equip the resident living areas for the comfort and privacy of
each resident. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 48.]
74.42.480
74.42.490 Room requirements—Waiver. Each resident’s room shall:
(1) Be equipped with or conveniently located near toilet
and bathing facilities;
(2) Be at or above grade level;
(3) Contain a suitable bed for each resident and other
appropriate furniture;
(4) Have closet space that provides security and privacy
for clothing and personal belongings;
(5) Contain no more than four beds;
(6) Have adequate space for each resident; and
(7) Be equipped with a device for calling the staff member on duty.
The department may waive the space, occupancy, and
certain equipment requirements of this section for an existing
building constructed prior to January 1, 1980, or space and
certain equipment for new intermediate care facilities for the
mentally retarded for as long as the department considers
appropriate if the department finds that the requirements
would result in unreasonable hardship on the facility, the
waiver serves the particular needs of the residents, and the
waiver does not adversely affect the health and safety of the
residents. [1980 c 184 § 13; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 49.]
74.42.490
74.42.500 Toilet and bathing facilities. Toilet and
bathing facilities shall be located in or near residents’ rooms
and shall be appropriate in number, size, and design to meet
the needs of the residents. The facility shall provide an adequate supply of hot water at all times for resident use. Plumbing shall be equipped with control valves that automatically
regulate the temperature of the hot water used by residents.
[1979 ex.s. c 211 § 50.]
74.42.500
74.42.510 Room for dining, recreation, social activities—Waiver. The facility shall provide one or more areas
74.42.510
[Title 74 RCW—page 168]
74.42.530 Isolation areas. The facility shall have isolation areas for residents with infectious diseases or make other
provisions for isolating these residents. [1979 ex.s. c 211 §
53.]
74.42.540
74.42.540 Building requirements. (1) The facility
shall be accessible to and usable by all residents, personnel,
and the public, including individuals with disabilities: PROVIDED, That no substantial structural changes shall be
required in any facilities constructed prior to January 1, 1980.
(2) The facility shall meet the requirements of American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard No. A117.1
(1961), or, if applicable, the requirements of chapter 70.92
RCW if the requirements are stricter than ANSI standard No.
A117.1 (1961), unless the department waives the requirements of ANSI standard No. A117.1 (1961) under subsection
(3) of this section.
(3) The department may waive, for as long as the department considers appropriate, provisions of ANSI standard No.
A117.1 (1961) if:
(a) The construction plans for the facility or a part of the
facility were approved by the department before March 18,
1974;
(b) The provisions would result in unreasonable hardship
on the facility if strictly enforced; and
(c) The waiver does not adversely affect the health and
safety of the residents. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 54.]
74.42.550
74.42.550 Handrails. The facility shall have handrails
that are firmly attached to the walls in all corridors used by
residents: PROVIDED, That the department may waive the
provisions of this section in developmentally disabled facilities. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 55.]
74.42.560
74.42.560 Emergency lighting for facilities housing
developmentally disabled persons. If a living unit of a
facility for the developmentally disabled houses more than
fifteen residents, the living unit shall have emergency lighting with automatic switches for stairs and exits. [1979 ex.s. c
211 § 56.]
74.42.570
74.42.570 Health and safety requirements. The facility shall meet state and local laws, rules, regulations, and
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Homes—Resident Care, Operating Standards
codes pertaining to health and safety. [1980 c 184 § 14; 1979
ex.s. c 211 § 57.]
74.42.640
this act; the rules and regulations under this act shall meet
federal requirements which are a necessary condition to the
receipt of federal funds by the state. [1980 c 184 § 21.]
74.42.580
74.42.580 Penalties for violation of standards. The
department may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a
license or provisional license, assess monetary penalties of a
civil nature, deny payment, seek receivership, order stop
placement, appoint temporary management, order emergency
closure, or order emergency transfer as provided in RCW
18.51.054 and 18.51.060 for violations of requirements of
this chapter or, in the case of medicaid contractors, the
requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as
amended, or rules adopted thereunder. Chapter 34.05 RCW
shall apply to any such actions, except for receivership, and
except that stop placement, appointment of temporary management, emergency closure, emergency transfer, and summary license suspension shall be effective pending any hearing, and except that denial of payment shall be effective
pending any hearing when the department determines deficiencies jeopardize the health and safety of the residents or
seriously limit the nursing home’s capacity to provide adequate care. [1989 c 372 § 13; 1987 c 476 § 27; 1980 c 184 §
15; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 58.]
74.42.600
74.42.600 Department inspections—Notice of noncompliance—Penalties—Coordination with department
of health. (1) In addition to the inspection required by chapter 18.51 RCW, the department shall inspect the facility for
compliance with resident rights and direct care standards of
this chapter. The department may inspect any and all other
provisions randomly, by exception profiles, or during complaint investigations.
(2) If the facility has not complied with all the requirements of this chapter, the department shall notify the facility
in writing that the facility is in noncompliance and describe
the reasons for the facility’s noncompliance and the department may impose penalties in accordance with RCW
18.51.060.
(3) To avoid unnecessary duplication in inspections, the
department shall coordinate with the department of health
when inspecting medicaid-certified or medicare-certified, or
both, long-term care beds in hospitals for compliance with
Title XVIII or XIX of the social security act. [1995 c 282 §
5; 1987 c 476 § 28; 1982 c 120 § 3; 1980 c 184 § 17; 1979
ex.s. c 211 § 60.]
74.42.620
74.42.620 Departmental rules. The department shall
adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to
carry out the policies and provisions of RCW 74.42.010
through 74.42.570. The department shall amend or repeal any
rules that are in conflict with RCW 74.42.010 through
74.42.570. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 62.]
74.42.630
74.42.630 Conflict with federal requirements. If any
part of chapter 184, Laws of 1980 shall be found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, such conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative
solely to the extent of such conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of
(2006 Ed.)
74.42.640 Quality assurance committee. (1) To
ensure the proper delivery of services and the maintenance
and improvement in quality of care through self-review, each
facility may maintain a quality assurance committee that, at a
minimum, includes:
(a) The director of nursing services;
(b) A physician designated by the facility; and
(c) Three other members from the staff of the facility.
(2) When established, the quality assurance committee
shall meet at least quarterly to identify issues that may
adversely affect quality of care and services to residents and
to develop and implement plans of action to correct identified
quality concerns or deficiencies in the quality of care provided to residents.
(3) To promote quality of care through self-review without the fear of reprisal, and to enhance the objectivity of the
review process, the department shall not require, and the
long-term care ombudsman program shall not request, disclosure of any quality assurance committee records or reports,
unless the disclosure is related to the committee’s compliance
with this section, if:
(a) The records or reports are not maintained pursuant to
statutory or regulatory mandate; and
(b) The records or reports are created for and collected
and maintained by the committee.
(4) The department may request only information related
to the quality assurance committee that may be necessary to
determine whether a facility has a quality assurance committee and that it is operating in compliance with this section.
(5) Good faith attempts by the committee to identify and
correct quality deficiencies shall not be used as a basis for
imposing sanctions.
(6) If the facility offers the department documents generated by, or for, the quality assurance committee as evidence
of compliance with nursing facility requirements, the documents are protected as quality assurance committee documents under subsections (7) and (9) of this section when in
the possession of the department. The department is not liable for an inadvertent disclosure, a disclosure related to a
required federal or state audit, or disclosure of documents
incorrectly marked as quality assurance committee documents by the facility.
(7) Information and documents, including the analysis of
complaints and incident reports, created specifically for, and
collected and maintained by, a quality assurance committee
are not subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in
any civil action, and no person who was in attendance at a
meeting of such committee or who participated in the creation, collection, or maintenance of information or documents specifically for the committee shall be permitted or
required to testify in any civil action as to the content of such
proceedings or the documents and information prepared specifically for the committee. This subsection does not preclude: (a) In any civil action, the discovery of the identity of
persons involved in the care that is the basis of the civil action
whose involvement was independent of any quality improvement committee activity; and (b) in any civil action, the testi74.42.640
[Title 74 RCW—page 169]
74.42.900
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
mony of any person concerning the facts which form the
basis for the institution of such proceedings of which the person had personal knowledge acquired independently of their
participation in the quality assurance committee activities.
(8) A quality assurance committee under subsection (1)
of this section, RCW 18.20.390, 70.41.200, 4.24.250, or
43.70.510 may share information and documents, including
the analysis of complaints and incident reports, created specifically for, and collected and maintained by, the committee,
with one or more other quality assurance committees created
under subsection (1) of this section, RCW 18.20.390,
70.41.200, 4.24.250, or 43.70.510 for the improvement of the
quality of care and services rendered to nursing facility residents. Information and documents disclosed by one quality
assurance committee to another quality assurance committee
and any information and documents created or maintained as
a result of the sharing of information and documents shall not
be subject to the discovery process and confidentiality shall
be respected as required by subsections (7) and (9) of this
section, RCW 18.20.390 (6) and (8), 43.70.510(4),
70.41.200(3), and 4.24.250(1). The privacy protections of
chapter 70.02 RCW and the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 and its implementing regulations apply to the sharing of individually identifiable
patient information held by a coordinated quality improvement program. Any rules necessary to implement this section
shall meet the requirements of applicable federal and state
privacy laws.
(9) Information and documents, including the analysis of
complaints and incident reports, created specifically for, and
collected and maintained by, a quality assurance committee
are exempt from disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
(10) Notwithstanding any records created for the quality
assurance committee, the facility shall fully set forth in the
resident’s records, available to the resident, the department,
and others as permitted by law, the facts concerning any incident of injury or loss to the resident, the steps taken by the
facility to address the resident’s needs, and the resident outcome.
(11) A facility operated as part of a hospital licensed
under chapter 70.41 RCW may maintain a quality assurance
committee in accordance with this section which shall be
subject to the provisions of subsections (1) through (10) of
this section or may conduct quality improvement activities
for the facility through a quality improvement committee
under RCW 70.41.200 which shall be subject to the provisions of RCW 70.41.200(9). [2006 c 209 § 13; 2005 c 33 §
3.]
the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part
of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the
extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly
affected, and such finding or determination shall not affect
the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to
the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet
federal requirements which are a necessary condition to the
receipt of federal funds by the state. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 70.]
74.42.920 Chapter 74.42 RCW suspended—Effective
date delayed until January 1, 1981. Chapter 74.42 RCW
shall be suspended immediately, and its effective date
delayed so that it shall take effect on January 1, 1981. [1980
c 184 § 19; 1979 ex.s. c 211 § 72.]
74.42.920
Effective date—1980 c 184 § 19: "Section 19 of this 1980 act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect immediately [April 4, 1980]." [1980 c 184 § 22.]
Chapter 74.46
(Formerly: Nursing home auditing and cost reimbursement act of 1980)
Sections
74.46.010
74.46.020
74.42.900
74.42.900 Severability—1979 ex.s. c 211. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1979 ex.s. c 211 § 69.]
74.42.910
74.42.910 Construction—Conflict with federal
requirements. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict
with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to
[Title 74 RCW—page 170]
Short title—Purpose.
Definitions.
PART A
REPORTING
74.46.030
74.46.040
74.46.050
74.46.060
74.46.080
74.46.090
74.46.091
Principles of reporting requirements.
Due dates for cost reports.
Improperly completed or late cost report—Fines—Adverse
rate actions—Rules.
Completing cost reports and maintaining records.
Requirements for retention of records by the contractor.
Retention of cost reports and resident assessment information
by the department.
Additional reporting requirements for quality maintenance fee.
PART B
AUDIT
74.46.100
Purposes of department audits—Examination—Incomplete or
incorrect reports—Contractor’s duties—Access to facility—
Fines—Adverse rate actions.
PART C
SETTLEMENT
74.46.155
74.46.165
Reconciliation of medicaid resident days to billed days and
medicaid payments—Payments due—Accrued interest—
Withholding funds.
Proposed settlement report—Payment refunds—Overpayments—Determination of unused rate funds—Total and
component payment rates.
PART D
ALLOWABLE COSTS
Effective date—2006 c 209: See RCW 42.56.903.
Findings—2005 c 33: See note following RCW 18.20.390.
Chapter 74.46 RCW
NURSING FACILITY MEDICAID
PAYMENT SYSTEM
74.46.190
74.46.200
74.46.220
74.46.230
74.46.240
74.46.250
74.46.270
74.46.280
74.46.290
74.46.300
74.46.310
74.46.320
74.46.330
74.46.340
74.46.350
Principles of allowable costs.
Offset of miscellaneous revenues.
Payments to related organizations—Limits—Documentation.
Initial cost of operation.
Education and training.
Owner or relative—Compensation.
Disclosure and approval or rejection of cost allocation.
Management fees, agreements—Limitation on scope of services.
Expense for construction interest.
Operating leases of office equipment—Rules.
Capitalization.
Depreciation expense.
Depreciable assets.
Land, improvements—Depreciation.
Methods of depreciation.
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
74.46.360
74.46.370
74.46.380
74.46.390
74.46.410
Cost basis of land and depreciation base of depreciable assets.
Lives of assets.
Depreciable assets.
Gains and losses upon replacement of depreciable assets.
Unallowable costs.
PART E
RATE SETTING
74.46.421
74.46.431
74.46.433
74.46.435
74.46.437
74.46.439
74.46.441
74.46.445
74.46.475
74.46.485
74.46.496
74.46.501
74.46.506
74.46.508
74.46.511
74.46.515
74.46.521
74.46.531
74.46.535
Purpose of part E—Nursing facility medicaid payment rates.
Nursing facility medicaid payment rate allocations—Components—Minimum wage—Rules.
Variable return component rate allocation.
Property component rate allocation.
Financing allowance component rate allocation.
Facilities leased in arm’s-length agreements—Recomputation
of financing allowance—Reimbursement for annualized
lease payments—Rate adjustment.
Public disclosure of rate-setting information.
Contractors—Rate adjustments.
Submitted cost report—Analysis and adjustment by department.
Case mix classification methodology.
Case mix weights—Determination—Revisions.
Average case mix indexes determined quarterly—Facility
average case mix index—Medicaid average case mix index.
Direct care component rate allocations—Determination—
Quarterly updates—Fines.
Direct care component rate allocation—Increases—Rules.
Therapy care component rate allocation—Determination.
Support services component rate allocation—Determination.
Operations component rate allocation—Determination.
Department may adjust component rates—Contractor may
request—Errors or omissions.
Quality maintenance fee.
PART F
BILLING/PAYMENT
74.46.600
74.46.610
74.46.620
74.46.625
74.46.630
74.46.640
74.46.650
Billing period.
Billing procedure—Rules.
Payment.
Supplemental payments.
Charges to patients.
Suspension of payments.
Termination of payments.
PART G
ADMINISTRATION
74.46.660
74.46.680
74.46.690
Conditions of participation.
Change of ownership—Assignment of department’s contract.
Change of ownership—Final reports—Settlement.
PART H
PATIENT TRUST FUNDS
74.46.700
74.46.711
Resident personal funds—Records—Rules.
Resident personal funds—Conveyance upon death of resident.
PART I
MISCELLANEOUS
74.46.770
74.46.780
74.46.790
74.46.800
74.46.803
74.46.807
74.46.820
74.46.835
74.46.840
74.46.900
74.46.901
74.46.902
74.46.905
74.46.906
74.46.907
74.46.010
Contractor appeals—Challenges of laws, rules, or contract
provisions—Challenge based on federal law.
Appeals or exception procedure.
Denial, suspension, or revocation of license or provisional
license—Penalties.
Rule-making authority.
Certificate of capital authorization—Rules.
Capital authorization—Determination.
Public disclosure.
AIDS pilot nursing facility—Payment for direct care.
Conflict with federal requirements.
Severability—1980 c 177.
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 67; 1980 c 177.
Section captions—1980 c 177.
Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 67.
Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 1-37, 40-49, and 52-54.
Severability—1998 c 322.
74.46.010 Short title—Purpose. This chapter may be
known and cited as the "nursing facility medicaid payment
system."
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.020
The purposes of this chapter are to specify the manner by
which legislative appropriations for medicaid nursing facility
services are to be allocated as payment rates among nursing
facilities, and to set forth auditing, billing, and other administrative standards associated with payments to nursing home
facilities. [1998 c 322 § 1; 1980 c 177 § 1.]
74.46.020
74.46.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Accrual method of accounting" means a method of
accounting in which revenues are reported in the period when
they are earned, regardless of when they are collected, and
expenses are reported in the period in which they are
incurred, regardless of when they are paid.
(2) "Appraisal" means the process of estimating the fair
market value or reconstructing the historical cost of an asset
acquired in a past period as performed by a professionally
designated real estate appraiser with no pecuniary interest in
the property to be appraised. It includes a systematic, analytic determination and the recording and analyzing of property facts, rights, investments, and values based on a personal
inspection and inventory of the property.
(3) "Arm’s-length transaction" means a transaction
resulting from good-faith bargaining between a buyer and
seller who are not related organizations and have adverse
positions in the market place. Sales or exchanges of nursing
home facilities among two or more parties in which all parties
subsequently continue to own one or more of the facilities
involved in the transactions shall not be considered as arm’slength transactions for purposes of this chapter. Sale of a
nursing home facility which is subsequently leased back to
the seller within five years of the date of sale shall not be considered as an arm’s-length transaction for purposes of this
chapter.
(4) "Assets" means economic resources of the contractor, recognized and measured in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
(5) "Audit" or "department audit" means an examination
of the records of a nursing facility participating in the medicaid payment system, including but not limited to: The contractor’s financial and statistical records, cost reports and all
supporting documentation and schedules, receivables, and
resident trust funds, to be performed as deemed necessary by
the department and according to department rule.
(6) "Bad debts" means amounts considered to be uncollectible from accounts and notes receivable.
(7) "Beneficial owner" means:
(a) Any person who, directly or indirectly, through any
contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise has or shares:
(i) Voting power which includes the power to vote, or to
direct the voting of such ownership interest; and/or
(ii) Investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of such ownership interest;
(b) Any person who, directly or indirectly, creates or
uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement,
or any other contract, arrangement, or device with the purpose or effect of divesting himself or herself of beneficial
ownership of an ownership interest or preventing the vesting
[Title 74 RCW—page 171]
74.46.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
of such beneficial ownership as part of a plan or scheme to
evade the reporting requirements of this chapter;
(c) Any person who, subject to (b) of this subsection, has
the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such ownership
interest within sixty days, including but not limited to any
right to acquire:
(i) Through the exercise of any option, warrant, or right;
(ii) Through the conversion of an ownership interest;
(iii) Pursuant to the power to revoke a trust, discretionary
account, or similar arrangement; or
(iv) Pursuant to the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account, or similar arrangement;
except that, any person who acquires an ownership interest or
power specified in (c)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection with
the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of
the contractor, or in connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon
such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner
of the ownership interest which may be acquired through the
exercise or conversion of such ownership interest or power;
(d) Any person who in the ordinary course of business is
a pledgee of ownership interest under a written pledge agreement shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such
pledged ownership interest until the pledgee has taken all formal steps necessary which are required to declare a default
and determines that the power to vote or to direct the vote or
to dispose or to direct the disposition of such pledged ownership interest will be exercised; except that:
(i) The pledgee agreement is bona fide and was not
entered into with the purpose nor with the effect of changing
or influencing the control of the contractor, nor in connection
with any transaction having such purpose or effect, including
persons meeting the conditions set forth in (b) of this subsection; and
(ii) The pledgee agreement, prior to default, does not
grant to the pledgee:
(A) The power to vote or to direct the vote of the pledged
ownership interest; or
(B) The power to dispose or direct the disposition of the
pledged ownership interest, other than the grant of such
power(s) pursuant to a pledge agreement under which credit
is extended and in which the pledgee is a broker or dealer.
(8) "Capitalization" means the recording of an expenditure as an asset.
(9) "Case mix" means a measure of the intensity of care
and services needed by the residents of a nursing facility or a
group of residents in the facility.
(10) "Case mix index" means a number representing the
average case mix of a nursing facility.
(11) "Case mix weight" means a numeric score that identifies the relative resources used by a particular group of a
nursing facility’s residents.
(12) "Certificate of capital authorization" means a certification from the department for an allocation from the biennial capital financing authorization for all new or replacement building construction, or for major renovation projects,
receiving a certificate of need or a certificate of need exemption under chapter 70.38 RCW after July 1, 2001.
(13) "Contractor" means a person or entity licensed
under chapter 18.51 RCW to operate a medicare and medicaid certified nursing facility, responsible for operational deci[Title 74 RCW—page 172]
sions, and contracting with the department to provide services to medicaid recipients residing in the facility.
(14) "Default case" means no initial assessment has been
completed for a resident and transmitted to the department by
the cut-off date, or an assessment is otherwise past due for the
resident, under state and federal requirements.
(15) "Department" means the department of social and
health services (DSHS) and its employees.
(16) "Depreciation" means the systematic distribution of
the cost or other basis of tangible assets, less salvage, over the
estimated useful life of the assets.
(17) "Direct care" means nursing care and related care
provided to nursing facility residents. Therapy care shall not
be considered part of direct care.
(18) "Direct care supplies" means medical, pharmaceutical, and other supplies required for the direct care of a nursing
facility’s residents.
(19) "Entity" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or any other association of
individuals capable of entering enforceable contracts.
(20) "Equity" means the net book value of all tangible
and intangible assets less the recorded value of all liabilities,
as recognized and measured in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
(21) "Essential community provider" means a facility
which is the only nursing facility within a commuting distance radius of at least forty minutes duration, traveling by
automobile.
(22) "Facility" or "nursing facility" means a nursing
home licensed in accordance with chapter 18.51 RCW,
excepting nursing homes certified as institutions for mental
diseases, or that portion of a multiservice facility licensed as
a nursing home, or that portion of a hospital licensed in accordance with chapter 70.41 RCW which operates as a nursing
home.
(23) "Fair market value" means the replacement cost of
an asset less observed physical depreciation on the date for
which the market value is being determined.
(24) "Financial statements" means statements prepared
and presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles including, but not limited to, balance sheet,
statement of operations, statement of changes in financial
position, and related notes.
(25) "Generally accepted accounting principles" means
accounting principles approved by the financial accounting
standards board (FASB).
(26) "Goodwill" means the excess of the price paid for a
nursing facility business over the fair market value of all net
identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, as measured in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(27) "Grouper" means a computer software product that
groups individual nursing facility residents into case mix
classification groups based on specific resident assessment
data and computer logic.
(28) "High labor-cost county" means an urban county in
which the median allowable facility cost per case mix unit is
more than ten percent higher than the median allowable facility cost per case mix unit among all other urban counties,
excluding that county.
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
(29) "Historical cost" means the actual cost incurred in
acquiring and preparing an asset for use, including feasibility
studies, architect’s fees, and engineering studies.
(30) "Home and central office costs" means costs that are
incurred in the support and operation of a home and central
office. Home and central office costs include centralized services that are performed in support of a nursing facility. The
department may exclude from this definition costs that are
nonduplicative, documented, ordinary, necessary, and related
to the provision of care services to authorized patients.
(31) "Imprest fund" means a fund which is regularly
replenished in exactly the amount expended from it.
(32) "Joint facility costs" means any costs which represent resources which benefit more than one facility, or one
facility and any other entity.
(33) "Lease agreement" means a contract between two
parties for the possession and use of real or personal property
or assets for a specified period of time in exchange for specified periodic payments. Elimination (due to any cause other
than death or divorce) or addition of any party to the contract,
expiration, or modification of any lease term in effect on January 1, 1980, or termination of the lease by either party by
any means shall constitute a termination of the lease agreement. An extension or renewal of a lease agreement, whether
or not pursuant to a renewal provision in the lease agreement,
shall be considered a new lease agreement. A strictly formal
change in the lease agreement which modifies the method,
frequency, or manner in which the lease payments are made,
but does not increase the total lease payment obligation of the
lessee, shall not be considered modification of a lease term.
(34) "Medical care program" or "medicaid program"
means medical assistance, including nursing care, provided
under RCW 74.09.500 or authorized state medical care services.
(35) "Medical care recipient," "medicaid recipient," or
"recipient" means an individual determined eligible by the
department for the services provided under chapter 74.09
RCW.
(36) "Minimum data set" means the overall data component of the resident assessment instrument, indicating the
strengths, needs, and preferences of an individual nursing
facility resident.
(37) "Net book value" means the historical cost of an
asset less accumulated depreciation.
(38) "Net invested funds" means the net book value of
tangible fixed assets employed by a contractor to provide services under the medical care program, including land, buildings, and equipment as recognized and measured in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
(39) "Nonurban county" means a county which is not
located in a metropolitan statistical area as determined and
defined by the United States office of management and budget or other appropriate agency or office of the federal government.
(40) "Operating lease" means a lease under which rental
or lease expenses are included in current expenses in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(41) "Owner" means a sole proprietor, general or limited
partners, members of a limited liability company, and beneficial interest holders of five percent or more of a corporation’s
outstanding stock.
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.020
(42) "Ownership interest" means all interests beneficially owned by a person, calculated in the aggregate, regardless of the form which such beneficial ownership takes.
(43) "Patient day" or "resident day" means a calendar
day of care provided to a nursing facility resident, regardless
of payment source, which will include the day of admission
and exclude the day of discharge; except that, when admission and discharge occur on the same day, one day of care
shall be deemed to exist. A "medicaid day" or "recipient day"
means a calendar day of care provided to a medicaid recipient
determined eligible by the department for services provided
under chapter 74.09 RCW, subject to the same conditions
regarding admission and discharge applicable to a patient day
or resident day of care.
(44) "Professionally designated real estate appraiser"
means an individual who is regularly engaged in the business
of providing real estate valuation services for a fee, and who
is deemed qualified by a nationally recognized real estate
appraisal educational organization on the basis of extensive
practical appraisal experience, including the writing of real
estate valuation reports as well as the passing of written
examinations on valuation practice and theory, and who by
virtue of membership in such organization is required to subscribe and adhere to certain standards of professional practice
as such organization prescribes.
(45) "Qualified therapist" means:
(a) A mental health professional as defined by chapter
71.05 RCW;
(b) A mental retardation professional who is a therapist
approved by the department who has had specialized training
or one year’s experience in treating or working with the mentally retarded or developmentally disabled;
(c) A speech pathologist who is eligible for a certificate
of clinical competence in speech pathology or who has the
equivalent education and clinical experience;
(d) A physical therapist as defined by chapter 18.74
RCW;
(e) An occupational therapist who is a graduate of a program in occupational therapy, or who has the equivalent of
such education or training; and
(f) A respiratory care practitioner certified under chapter
18.89 RCW.
(46) "Rate" or "rate allocation" means the medicaid perpatient-day payment amount for medicaid patients calculated
in accordance with the allocation methodology set forth in
part E of this chapter.
(47) "Real property," whether leased or owned by the
contractor, means the building, allowable land, land improvements, and building improvements associated with a nursing
facility.
(48) "Rebased rate" or "cost-rebased rate" means a facility-specific component rate assigned to a nursing facility for
a particular rate period established on desk-reviewed,
adjusted costs reported for that facility covering at least six
months of a prior calendar year designated as a year to be
used for cost-rebasing payment rate allocations under the
provisions of this chapter.
(49) "Records" means those data supporting all financial
statements and cost reports including, but not limited to, all
general and subsidiary ledgers, books of original entry, and
[Title 74 RCW—page 173]
74.46.030
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
transaction documentation, however such data are maintained.
(50) "Related organization" means an entity which is
under common ownership and/or control with, or has control
of, or is controlled by, the contractor.
(a) "Common ownership" exists when an entity is the
beneficial owner of five percent or more ownership interest in
the contractor and any other entity.
(b) "Control" exists where an entity has the power,
directly or indirectly, significantly to influence or direct the
actions or policies of an organization or institution, whether
or not it is legally enforceable and however it is exercisable
or exercised.
(51) "Related care" means only those services that are
directly related to providing direct care to nursing facility residents. These services include, but are not limited to, nursing
direction and supervision, medical direction, medical
records, pharmacy services, activities, and social services.
(52) "Resident assessment instrument," including federally approved modifications for use in this state, means a federally mandated, comprehensive nursing facility resident care
planning and assessment tool, consisting of the minimum
data set and resident assessment protocols.
(53) "Resident assessment protocols" means those components of the resident assessment instrument that use the
minimum data set to trigger or flag a resident’s potential
problems and risk areas.
(54) "Resource utilization groups" means a case mix
classification system that identifies relative resources needed
to care for an individual nursing facility resident.
(55) "Restricted fund" means those funds the principal
and/or income of which is limited by agreement with or
direction of the donor to a specific purpose.
(56) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department
of social and health services.
(57) "Support services" means food, food preparation,
dietary, housekeeping, and laundry services provided to nursing facility residents.
(58) "Therapy care" means those services required by a
nursing facility resident’s comprehensive assessment and
plan of care, that are provided by qualified therapists, or support personnel under their supervision, including related
costs as designated by the department.
(59) "Title XIX" or "medicaid" means the 1965 amendments to the social security act, P.L. 89-07, as amended and
the medicaid program administered by the department.
(60) "Urban county" means a county which is located in
a metropolitan statistical area as determined and defined by
the United States office of management and budget or other
appropriate agency or office of the federal government.
(61) "Vital local provider" means a facility reporting a
home office that meets the following qualifications:
(a) The home office address is located in Washington
state; and
(b) The sum of medicaid days for all Washington facilities reporting the home office as their home office was
greater than two hundred fifteen thousand in 2003. [2006 c
258 § 1; 2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 1; 1999 c 353 § 1; 1998 c 322 §
2; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 90; 1993 sp.s. c 13 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 8
§ 11; 1989 c 372 § 17; 1987 c 476 § 6; 1985 c 361 § 16; 1982
c 117 § 1; 1980 c 177 § 2.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 174]
Effective date—2006 c 258: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 258 § 8.]
Severability—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 21.]
Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: "(1) Sections 1 through 19 of this
act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health,
or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2001.
(2) Section 20 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect June 29, 2001." [2001 1st sp.s.
c 8 § 22.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions. Section 11 of this act takes effect
immediately [May 17, 1999], and sections 1 through 10 and 12 through 17
take effect July 1, 1999." [1999 c 353 § 18.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 13: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1993." [1993 sp.s. c 13 § 21.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Savings—1985 c 361: "This act shall not be construed as affecting any
existing right acquired or any obligation or liability incurred under the statutes amended or repealed by this act or any rule, regulation, or order adopted
under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those
sections." [1985 c 361 § 20.]
PART A
REPORTING
74.46.030
74.46.030 Principles of reporting requirements. The
principle inherent within RCW 74.46.040 through 74.46.090
is that the department shall receive complete, annual reporting of costs and financial condition of the contractor prepared
and presented in a standardized manner. [1980 c 177 § 3.]
74.46.040
74.46.040 Due dates for cost reports. (1) Not later
than March 31st of each year, each contractor shall submit to
the department an annual cost report for the period from January 1st through December 31st of the preceding year.
(2) Not later than one hundred twenty days following the
termination or assignment of a contract, the terminating or
assigning contractor shall submit to the department a cost
report for the period from January 1st through the date the
contract was terminated or assigned.
(3) Two extensions of not more than thirty days each
may be granted by the department upon receipt of a written
request setting forth the circumstances which prohibit the
contractor from compliance with a report due date; except,
that the department shall establish the grounds for extension
in rule. Such request must be received by the department at
least ten days prior to the due date. [1998 c 322 § 3; 1985 c
361 § 4; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 1; 1980 c 177 § 4.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.050
74.46.050 Improperly completed or late cost
report—Fines—Adverse rate actions—Rules. (1) If the
cost report is not properly completed or if it is not received by
the due date, all or part of any payments due under the con(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
tract may be withheld by the department until such time as
the required cost report is properly completed and received.
(2) The department may impose civil fines, or take
adverse rate action against contractors and former contractors
who do not submit properly completed cost reports by the
applicable due date. The department is authorized to adopt
rules addressing fines and adverse rate actions including procedures, conditions, and the magnitude and frequency of
fines. [1998 c 322 § 4; 1985 c 361 § 5; 1980 c 177 § 5.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.060
74.46.060 Completing cost reports and maintaining
records. (1) Cost reports shall be prepared in a standard
manner and form, as determined by the department. Costs
reported shall be determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, the provisions of this chapter,
and such additional rules established by the department. In
the event of conflict, rules adopted and instructions issued by
the department take precedence over generally accepted
accounting principles.
(2) The records shall be maintained on the accrual
method of accounting and agree with or be reconcilable to the
cost report. All revenue and expense accruals shall be
reversed against the appropriate accounts unless they are
received or paid, respectively, within one hundred twenty
days after the accrual is made. However, if the contractor can
document a good faith billing dispute with the supplier or
vendor, the period may be extended, but only for those portions of billings subject to good faith dispute. Accruals for
vacation, holiday, sick pay, payroll, and real estate taxes may
be carried for longer periods, provided the contractor follows
generally accepted accounting principles and pays this type
of accrual when due. [1998 c 322 § 5; 1985 c 361 § 6; 1983
1st ex.s. c 67 § 2; 1980 c 177 § 6.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.080
74.46.080 Requirements for retention of records by
the contractor. (1) All records supporting the required cost
reports, as well as trust funds established by RCW 74.46.700,
shall be retained by the contractor for a period of four years
following the filing of such reports at a location in the state of
Washington specified by the contractor.
(2) The department may direct supporting records to be
retained for a longer period if there remain unresolved questions on the cost reports. All such records shall be made available upon demand to authorized representatives of the department, the office of the state auditor, and the United States
department of health and human services.
(3) When a contract is terminated or assigned, all payments due the terminating or assigning contractor will be
withheld until accessibility and preservation of the records
within the state of Washington are assured. [1998 c 322 § 6;
1985 c 361 § 7; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 3; 1980 c 177 § 8.]
74.46.100
Resident assessment information and records shall be
retained as provided elsewhere in statute or by department
rule. [1998 c 322 § 7; 1985 c 361 § 8; 1980 c 177 § 9.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.091 Additional reporting requirements for
quality maintenance fee. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1)
By July 1st of each year, each nursing facility operator shall
file a report with the department of social and health services
listing the patient days and the gross income for the prior calendar year for each nursing facility that he or she operates.
(2) By August 1, 2003, the department of social and
health services shall submit for approval to the federal
department of health and human services a request for a
waiver pursuant to 42 C.F.R. 433.68. The waiver shall identify the nursing facilities that the department proposes to
exempt from the quality maintenance fee. Those facilities
shall include at least:
(a) Nursing facilities operated by any agency of the state
of Washington;
(b) Nursing facilities operated by a public hospital district; and
(c) As many nursing facilities with no or disproportionately low numbers of medicaid-funded residents as, within
the judgment of the department, may be exempted from the
fee pursuant to 42 C.F.R. 433.68.
(3) The department of social and health services shall
notify the department of revenue and the nursing facility
operator of the nursing facilities that would be exempted
from the quality maintenance fee pursuant to the waiver
request submitted to the federal department of health and
human services. The nursing facilities included in the waiver
request may withhold payment of the fee pending final action
by the federal government on the request for waiver.
(4) If the request for waiver is approved, the department
of social and health services shall notify the department of
revenue and the nursing facility operator that no quality
maintenance fee is due from the facility. If the request for
waiver is denied, nursing facility operators who have withheld payment of the fee shall pay all such fees as have been
withheld. No interest or penalties shall be due upon such
withheld payments for the period during which final federal
action was pending.
(5) The department of social and health services shall
take whatever action is necessary to continue the waiver from
the federal government.
(6) The department of social and health services may
adopt such rules, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, as
necessary to provide for effective administration of this section and *RCW 74.46.535. [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 4.]
74.46.091
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.535 was repealed by 2006 c 241 § 1,
effective July 1, 2007.
Contingent expiration date—Severability—Effective date—2003
1st sp.s. c 16: See notes following RCW 82.71.020.
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
PART B
AUDIT
74.46.090
74.46.090 Retention of cost reports and resident
assessment information by the department. The department will retain the required cost reports for a period of one
year after final settlement or reconciliation, or the period
required under chapter 40.14 RCW, whichever is longer.
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.100
74.46.100 Purposes of department audits—Examination—Incomplete or incorrect reports—Contractor’s
duties—Access to facility—Fines—Adverse rate actions.
[Title 74 RCW—page 175]
74.46.155
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(1) The purposes of department audits under this chapter are
to ascertain, through department audit of the financial and
statistical records of the contractor’s nursing facility operation, that:
(a) Allowable costs for each year for each medicaid nursing facility are accurately reported;
(b) Cost reports accurately reflect the true financial condition, revenues, expenditures, equity, beneficial ownership,
related party status, and records of the contractor;
(c) The contractor’s revenues, expenditures, and costs of
the building, land, land improvements, building improvements, and movable and fixed equipment are recorded in
compliance with department requirements, instructions, and
generally accepted accounting principles; and
(d) The responsibility of the contractor has been met in
the maintenance and disbursement of patient trust funds.
(2) The department shall examine the submitted cost
report, or a portion thereof, of each contractor for each nursing facility for each report period to determine if the information is correct, complete, reported in conformance with
department instructions and generally accepted accounting
principles, the requirements of this chapter, and rules as the
department may adopt. The department shall determine the
scope of the examination.
(3) If the examination finds that the cost report is incorrect or incomplete, the department may make adjustments to
the reported information for purposes of establishing component rate allocations or in determining amounts to be recovered in direct care, therapy care, and support services under
RCW 74.46.165 (3) and (4) or in any component rate resulting from undocumented or misreported costs. A schedule of
the adjustments shall be provided to the contractor, including
dollar amount and explanations for the adjustments. Adjustments shall be subject to review if desired by the contractor
under the appeals or exception procedure established by the
department.
(4) Examinations of resident trust funds and receivables
shall be reported separately and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and rules adopted by the department.
(5) The contractor shall:
(a) Provide access to the nursing facility, all financial
and statistical records, and all working papers that are in support of the cost report, receivables, and resident trust funds.
To ensure accuracy, the department may require the contractor to submit for departmental review any underlying financial statements or other records, including income tax returns,
relating to the cost report directly or indirectly;
(b) Prepare a reconciliation of the cost report with (i)
applicable federal income and federal and state payroll tax
returns; and (ii) the records for the period covered by the cost
report;
(c) Make available to the department’s auditor an individual or individuals to respond to questions and requests for
information from the auditor. The designated individual or
individuals shall have sufficient knowledge of the issues,
operations, or functions to provide accurate and reliable
information.
(6) If an examination discloses material discrepancies,
undocumented costs, or mishandling of resident trust funds,
the department may open or reopen one or both of the two
preceding cost report or resident trust fund periods, whether
[Title 74 RCW—page 176]
examined or unexamined, for indication of similar discrepancies, undocumented costs, or mishandling of resident trust
funds.
(7) Any assets, liabilities, revenues, or expenses reported
as allowable that are not supported by adequate documentation in the contractor’s records shall be disallowed. Documentation must show both that costs reported were incurred
during the period covered by the report and were related to
resident care, and that assets reported were used in the provision of resident care.
(8) When access is required at the facility or at another
location in the state, the department shall notify a contractor
of its intent to examine all financial and statistical records,
and all working papers that are in support of the cost report,
receivables, and resident trust funds.
(9) The department is authorized to assess civil fines and
take adverse rate action if a contractor, or any of its employees, does not allow access to the contractor’s nursing facility
records.
(10) Part B of this chapter, and rules adopted by the
department pursuant thereto prior to January 1, 1998, shall
continue to govern the medicaid nursing facility audit process
for periods prior to January 1, 1997, as if these statutes and
rules remained in full force and effect. [1998 c 322 § 8; 1985
c 361 § 9; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 4; 1980 c 177 § 10.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
PART C
SETTLEMENT
74.46.155
74.46.155 Reconciliation of medicaid resident days to
billed days and medicaid payments—Payments due—
Accrued interest—Withholding funds. (1) The department
shall reconcile medicaid resident days to billed days and
medicaid payments for each medicaid nursing facility for the
preceding calendar year, or for that portion of the calendar
year the provider’s contract was in effect.
(2) The contractor shall make any payment owed the
department, determined by the process of reconciliation, by
the process of settlement at the lower of cost or rate in direct
care, therapy care, and support services component rate allocations, as authorized in this chapter, within sixty days after
notification and demand for payment is sent to the contractor.
(3) The department shall make any payment due the contractor within sixty days after it determines the underpayment
exists and notification is sent to the contractor.
(4) Interest at the rate of one percent per month accrues
against the department or the contractor on an unpaid balance
existing sixty days after notification is sent to the contractor.
Accrued interest shall be adjusted back to the date it began to
accrue if the payment obligation is subsequently revised after
administrative or judicial review.
(5) The department is authorized to withhold funds from
the contractor’s payment for services, and to take all other
actions authorized by law, to recover amounts due and payable from the contractor, including any accrued interest. Neither a timely filed request to pursue any administrative
appeals or exception procedure that the department may
establish in rule, nor commencement of judicial review as
may be available to the contractor in law, to contest a pay(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
ment obligation determination shall delay recovery from the
contractor or payment to the contractor. [1998 c 322 § 9.]
74.46.165 Proposed settlement report—Payment
refunds—Overpayments—Determination of unused rate
funds—Total and component payment rates. (1) Contractors shall be required to submit with each annual nursing
facility cost report a proposed settlement report showing
underspending or overspending in each component rate during the cost report year on a per-resident day basis. The
department shall accept or reject the proposed settlement
report, explain any adjustments, and issue a revised settlement report if needed.
(2) Contractors shall not be required to refund payments
made in the operations, variable return, property, and financing allowance component rates in excess of the adjusted costs
of providing services corresponding to these components.
(3) The facility will return to the department any overpayment amounts in each of the direct care, therapy care, and
support services rate components that the department identifies following the audit and settlement procedures as
described in this chapter, provided that the contractor may
retain any overpayment that does not exceed 1.0% of the
facility’s direct care, therapy care, and support services component rate. However, no overpayments may be retained in a
cost center to which savings have been shifted to cover a deficit, as provided in subsection (4) of this section. Facilities
that are not in substantial compliance for more than ninety
days, and facilities that provide substandard quality of care at
any time, during the period for which settlement is being calculated, will not be allowed to retain any amount of overpayment in the facility’s direct care, therapy care, and support
services component rate. The terms "not in substantial compliance" and "substandard quality of care" shall be defined by
federal survey regulations.
(4) Determination of unused rate funds, including the
amounts of direct care, therapy care, and support services to
be recovered, shall be done separately for each component
rate, and, except as otherwise provided in this subsection,
neither costs nor rate payments shall be shifted from one
component rate or corresponding service area to another in
determining the degree of underspending or recovery, if any.
In computing a preliminary or final settlement, savings in the
support services cost center shall be shifted to cover a deficit
in the direct care or therapy cost centers up to the amount of
any savings, but no more than twenty percent of the support
services component rate may be shifted. In computing a preliminary or final settlement, savings in direct care and therapy care may be shifted to cover a deficit in these two cost
centers up to the amount of savings in each, regardless of the
percentage of either component rate shifted. Contractorretained overpayments up to one percent of direct care, therapy care, and support services rate components, as authorized
in subsection (3) of this section, shall be calculated and
applied after all shifting is completed.
(5) Total and component payment rates assigned to a
nursing facility, as calculated and revised, if needed, under
the provisions of this chapter and those rules as the department may adopt, shall represent the maximum payment for
nursing facility services rendered to medicaid recipients for
the period the rates are in effect. No increase in payment to a
74.46.165
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.200
contractor shall result from spending above the total payment
rate or in any rate component.
(6) *RCW 74.46.150 through 74.46.180, and rules
adopted by the department prior to July 1, 1998, shall continue to govern the medicaid settlement process for periods
prior to October 1, 1998, as if these statutes and rules
remained in full force and effect.
(7) For calendar year 1998, the department shall calculate split settlements covering January 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998, and October 1, 1998, through December 31,
1998. For the period beginning October 1, 1998, rules specified in this chapter shall apply. The department shall, by rule,
determine the division of calendar year 1998 adjusted costs
for settlement purposes. [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 2; 1998 c 322 §
10.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.150 through 74.46.180 were repealed by
1998 c 322 § 52, effective July 1, 1998.
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
PART D
ALLOWABLE COSTS
74.46.190
74.46.190 Principles of allowable costs. (1) The substance of a transaction will prevail over its form.
(2) All documented costs which are ordinary, necessary,
related to care of medical care recipients, and not expressly
unallowable under this chapter or department rule, are to be
allowable. Costs of providing therapy care are allowable,
subject to any applicable limit contained in this chapter, provided documentation establishes the costs were incurred for
medical care recipients and other sources of payment to
which recipients may be legally entitled, such as private
insurance or medicare, were first fully utilized.
(3) The payment for property usage is to be independent
of ownership structure and financing arrangements.
(4) Allowable costs shall not include costs reported by a
contractor for a prior period to the extent such costs, due to
statutory exemption, will not be incurred by the nursing facility in the period to be covered by the rate.
(5) Any costs deemed allowable under this chapter are
subject to the provisions of RCW 74.46.421. The allowability
of a cost shall not be construed as creating a legal right or
entitlement to reimbursement of the cost. [1998 c 322 § 11;
1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 96; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 12; 1980 c 177
§ 19.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.46.200
74.46.200 Offset of miscellaneous revenues. (1)
Allowable costs shall be reduced by the contractor whenever
the item, service, or activity covered by such costs generates
revenue or financial benefits other than through the contractor’s normal billing for care services; except that, unrestricted
grants, gifts, and endowments, and interest therefrom, will
not be deducted from the allowable costs of a nonprofit facility.
(2) Where goods or services are sold, the amount of the
reduction shall be the actual cost relating to the item, service,
or activity. In the absence of adequate documentation of cost,
it shall be the full amount of the revenue received. Where
[Title 74 RCW—page 177]
74.46.220
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
financial benefits such as purchase discounts or rebates are
received, the amount of the reduction shall be the amount of
the discount or rebate. [1980 c 177 § 20.]
74.46.220
74.46.220 Payments to related organizations—Limits—Documentation. (1) Costs applicable to services, facilities, and supplies furnished by a related organization to the
contractor shall be allowable only to the extent they do not
exceed the lower of the cost to the related organization or the
price of comparable services, facilities, or supplies purchased
elsewhere.
(2) Documentation of costs to the related organization
shall be made available to the department. Payments to or for
the benefit of the related organization will be disallowed
where the cost to the related organization cannot be documented. [1998 c 322 § 12; 1980 c 177 § 22.]
74.46.230
74.46.230 Initial cost of operation. (1) The necessary
and ordinary one-time expenses directly incident to the preparation of a newly constructed or purchased building by a
contractor for operation as a licensed facility shall be allowable costs. These expenses shall be limited to start-up and
organizational costs incurred prior to the admission of the
first patient.
(2) Start-up costs shall include, but not be limited to,
administrative and nursing salaries, utility costs, taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and training; except, that they
shall exclude expenditures for capital assets. These costs will
be allowable in the operations cost center if they are amortized over a period of not less than sixty months beginning
with the month in which the first patient is admitted for care.
(3) Organizational costs are those necessary, ordinary,
and directly incident to the creation of a corporation or other
form of business of the contractor including, but not limited
to, legal fees incurred in establishing the corporation or other
organization and fees paid to states for incorporation; except,
that they do not include costs relating to the issuance and sale
of shares of capital stock or other securities. Such organizational costs will be allowable in the operations cost center if
they are amortized over a period of not less than sixty months
beginning with the month in which the first patient is admitted for care. [1998 c 322 § 13; 1993 sp.s. c 13 § 3; 1980 c 177
§ 23.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.240
74.46.240 Education and training. (1) Necessary and
ordinary expenses of on-the-job training and in-service training required for employee orientation and certification training directly related to the performance of duties assigned will
be allowable costs.
(2) Necessary and ordinary expenses of recreational and
social activity training conducted by the contractor for volunteers will be allowable costs. [1980 c 177 § 24.]
74.46.250
74.46.250 Owner or relative—Compensation. (1)
Total compensation of an owner or relative of an owner shall
be limited to ordinary compensation for necessary services
actually performed.
(a) Compensation is ordinary if it is the amount usually
paid for comparable services in a comparable facility to an
[Title 74 RCW—page 178]
unrelated employee, and does not exceed limits set out in this
chapter.
(b) A service is necessary if it is related to patient care
and would have had to be performed by another person if the
owner or relative had not done it.
(2) The contractor, in maintaining customary time
records adequate for audit, shall include such records for
owners and relatives who receive compensation. [1980 c 177
§ 25.]
74.46.270
74.46.270 Disclosure and approval or rejection of
cost allocation. (1) The contractor shall disclose to the
department:
(a) The nature and purpose of all costs which represent
allocations of joint facility costs; and
(b) The methodology of the allocation utilized.
(2) Such disclosure shall demonstrate that:
(a) The services involved are necessary and nonduplicative; and
(b) Costs are allocated in accordance with benefits
received from the resources represented by those costs.
(3) Such disclosure shall be made not later than September 30th for the following calendar year; except that a new
contractor shall submit the first year’s disclosure at least sixty
days prior to the date the new contract becomes effective.
(4) The department shall by December 31st, for all disclosures that are complete and timely submitted, either
approve or reject the disclosure. The department may request
additional information or clarification.
(5) Acceptance of a disclosure or approval of a joint cost
methodology by the department may not be construed as a
determination that the allocated costs are allowable in whole
or in part. However, joint facility costs not disclosed, allocated, and reported in conformity with this section and
department rules are unallowable.
(6) An approved methodology may be revised or
amended subject to approval as provided in rules and regulations adopted by the department. [1998 c 322 § 14; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 67 § 13; 1980 c 177 § 27.]
74.46.280
74.46.280 Management fees, agreements—Limitation on scope of services. (1) Management fees will be
allowed only if:
(a) A written management agreement both creates a principal/agent relationship between the contractor and the manager, and sets forth the items, services, and activities to be
provided by the manager; and
(b) Documentation demonstrates that the services contracted for were actually delivered.
(2) To be allowable, fees must be for necessary, nonduplicative services.
(3) A management fee paid to or for the benefit of a
related organization will be allowable to the extent it does not
exceed the lower of the actual cost to the related organization
of providing necessary services related to patient care under
the agreement or the cost of comparable services purchased
elsewhere. Where costs to the related organization represent
joint facility costs, the measurement of such costs shall comply with RCW 74.46.270.
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
(4) A copy of the agreement must be received by the
department at least sixty days before it is to become effective.
A copy of any amendment to a management agreement must
also be received by the department at least thirty days in
advance of the date it is to become effective. Failure to meet
these deadlines will result in the unallowability of cost
incurred more than sixty days prior to submitting a management agreement and more than thirty days prior to submitting
an amendment.
(5) The scope of services to be performed under a management agreement cannot be so extensive that the manager
or managing entity is substituted for the contractor in fact,
substantially relieving the contractor/licensee of responsibility for operating the facility. [1998 c 322 § 15; 1993 sp.s. c
13 § 4; 1980 c 177 § 28.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.290
74.46.290 Expense for construction interest. (1)
Interest expense and loan origination fees relating to construction of a facility incurred during the period of construction shall be capitalized and amortized over the life of the
facility pursuant to RCW 74.46.360. The period of construction shall extend from the date of the construction loan to the
date the facility is put into service for patient care.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter, the period provided
for in subsection (1) of this section shall not exceed the
project certificate of need time period pursuant to RCW
70.38.125. [1980 c 177 § 29.]
74.46.300
74.46.300 Operating leases of office equipment—
Rules. Rental or lease costs under arm’s-length operating
leases of office equipment shall be allowable to the extent the
cost is necessary and ordinary. The department may adopt
rules to limit the allowability of office equipment leasing
expenses. [1998 c 322 § 16; 1980 c 177 § 30.]
Effective dates—1980 c 177: See RCW 74.46.901.
74.46.310
74.46.310 Capitalization. The following costs shall be
capitalized:
(1) Expenses for facilities or equipment with historical
cost in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars per unit and a
useful life of more than one year from the date of purchase;
and
(2) Expenses for equipment with historical cost of seven
hundred fifty dollars or less per unit if either:
(a) The item was acquired in a group purchase where the
total cost exceeded seven hundred fifty dollars; or
(b) The item was part of the initial stock of the facility.
(3) Dollar limits in this section may be adjusted for economic trends and conditions by the department as established
by rule and regulation. [1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 16; 1980 c 177
§ 31.]
74.46.320
74.46.320 Depreciation expense. Depreciation
expense on depreciable assets which are required in the regular course of providing patient care will be an allowable cost.
It shall be computed using the depreciation base, lives, and
methods specified in this chapter. [1980 c 177 § 32.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.350
74.46.330 Depreciable assets. Tangible assets of the
following types in which a contractor has an interest through
ownership or leasing are subject to depreciation:
(1) Building - the basic structure or shell and additions
thereto;
(2) Building fixed equipment - attachments to buildings,
including, but not limited to, wiring, electrical fixtures,
plumbing, elevators, heating system, and air conditioning
system. The general characteristics of this equipment are:
(a) Affixed to the building and not subject to transfer;
and
(b) A fairly long life, but shorter than the life of the
building to which affixed;
(3) Major movable equipment including, but not limited
to, beds, wheelchairs, desks, and X-ray machines. The general characteristics of this equipment are:
(a) A relatively fixed location in the building;
(b) Capable of being moved as distinguished from building equipment;
(c) A unit cost sufficient to justify ledger control;
(d) Sufficient size and identity to make control feasible
by means of identification tags; and
(e) A minimum life greater than one year;
(4) Minor equipment including, but not limited to, waste
baskets, bed pans, syringes, catheters, silverware, mops, and
buckets which are properly capitalized. No depreciation shall
be taken on items which are not properly capitalized as
directed in RCW 74.46.310. The general characteristics of
minor equipment are:
(a) In general, no fixed location and subject to use by
various departments;
(b) Small in size and unit cost;
(c) Subject to inventory control;
(d) Large number in use; and
(e) Generally, a useful life of one to three years;
(5) Land improvements including, but not limited to,
paving, tunnels, underpasses, on-site sewer and water lines,
parking lots, shrubbery, fences, and walls where replacement
is the responsibility of the contractor; and
(6) Leasehold improvements - betterments and additions
made by the lessee to the leased property, which become the
property of the lessor after the expiration of the lease. [1980
c 177 § 33.]
74.46.330
74.46.340 Land, improvements—Depreciation. Land
is not depreciable. The cost of land includes but is not limited
to, off-site sewer and water lines, public utility charges necessary to service the land, governmental assessments for
street paving and sewers, the cost of permanent roadways and
grading of a nondepreciable nature, and the cost of curbs and
sidewalks, replacement of which is not the responsibility of
the contractor. [1980 c 177 § 34.]
74.46.340
74.46.350 Methods of depreciation. (1) Buildings,
land improvements, and fixed equipment shall be depreciated
using the straight-line method of depreciation. For new or
replacement building construction or for major renovations,
either of which receives certificate of need approval or certificate of need exemption under chapter 70.38 RCW on or after
July 1, 1999, the number of years used to depreciate fixed
equipment shall be the same number of years as the life of the
74.46.350
[Title 74 RCW—page 179]
74.46.360
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
building to which it is affixed. Major-minor equipment shall
be depreciated using either the straight-line method, the sumof-the-years’ digits method, or declining balance method not
to exceed one hundred fifty percent of the straight line rate.
Contractors who have elected to take either the sum-of-theyears’ digits method or the declining balance method of
depreciation on major-minor equipment may change to the
straight-line method without permission of the department.
(2) The annual provision for depreciation shall be
reduced by the portion allocable to use of the asset for purposes which are neither necessary nor related to patient care.
(3) No further depreciation shall be claimed after an
asset has been fully depreciated unless a new depreciation
base is established pursuant to RCW 74.46.360. [1999 c 353
§ 13; 1980 c 177 § 35.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.360
74.46.360 Cost basis of land and depreciation base of
depreciable assets. (1) For all partial or whole rate periods
after December 31, 1984, the cost basis of land and depreciation base of depreciable assets shall be the historical cost of
the contractor or lessor, when the assets are leased by the contractor, in acquiring the asset in an arm’s-length transaction
and preparing it for use, less goodwill, and less accumulated
depreciation, if applicable, which has been incurred during
periods that the assets have been used in or as a facility by
any contractor, such accumulated depreciation to be measured in accordance with subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this
section and *RCW 74.46.350 and 74.46.370. If the department challenges the historical cost of an asset, or if the contractor cannot or will not provide the historical costs, the
department will have the department of general administration, through an appraisal procedure, determine the fair market value of the assets at the time of purchase. The cost basis
of land and depreciation base of depreciable assets will not
exceed such fair market value.
(2) For new or replacement building construction or for
substantial building additions requiring the acquisition of
land and which commenced to operate on or after July 1,
1997, the department shall determine allowable land costs of
the additional land acquired for the replacement construction
or building additions to be the lesser of:
(a) The contractor’s or lessor’s actual cost per square
foot; or
(b) The square foot land value as established by an
appraisal that meets the latest publication of the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and
the financial institutions reform, recovery, and enhancement
act (FIRREA).
(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, if, in the course of financing a project, an arm’s-length
lender has ordered a Uniform Standards of Professional
Appraisal Practice appraisal on the land that meets financial
institutions reform, recovery, and enhancement act standards
and the arm’s-length lender has accepted the ordered
appraisal, the department shall accept the appraisal value as
allowable land costs for calculation of payment.
If the contractor or lessor is unable or unwilling to provide or cause to be provided to the department, or the department is unable to obtain from the arm’s-length lender, a
[Title 74 RCW—page 180]
lender-approved appraisal that meets the standards of the
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and
financial institutions reform, recovery, and enhancement act,
the department shall order such an appraisal and accept the
appraisal as the allowable land costs. If the department orders
the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and
financial institutions reform, recovery, and enhancement act
appraisal, the contractor shall immediately reimburse the
department for the costs incurred.
(4) The historical cost of depreciable and nondepreciable
donated assets, or of depreciable and nondepreciable assets
received through testate or intestate distribution, shall be the
lesser of:
(a) Fair market value at the date of donation or death; or
(b) The historical cost base of the owner last contracting
with the department, if any.
(5) Estimated salvage value of acquired, donated, or
inherited assets shall be deducted from historical cost where
the straight-line or sum-of-the-years’ digits method of depreciation is used.
(6)(a) For facilities, other than those described under
subsection (2) of this section, operating prior to July 1, 1997,
where land or depreciable assets are acquired that were used
in the medical care program subsequent to January 1, 1980,
the cost basis or depreciation base of the assets will not
exceed the net book value which did exist or would have
existed had the assets continued in use under the previous
contract with the department; except that depreciation shall
not be assumed to accumulate during periods when the assets
were not in use in or as a facility.
(b) The provisions of (a) of this subsection shall not
apply to the most recent arm’s-length acquisition if it occurs
at least ten years after the ownership of the assets has been
previously transferred in an arm’s-length transaction nor to
the first arm’s-length acquisition that occurs after January 1,
1980, for facilities participating in the medical care program
prior to January 1, 1980. The new cost basis or depreciation
base for such acquisitions shall not exceed the fair market
value of the assets as determined by the department of general administration through an appraisal procedure. A determination by the department of general administration of fair
market value shall be final unless the procedure used to make
such determination is shown to be arbitrary and capricious.
For all partial or whole rate periods after July 17, 1984, this
subsection is inoperative for any transfer of ownership of any
asset, depreciable or nondepreciable, occurring on or after
July 18, 1984, leaving (a) of this subsection to apply alone to
such transfers: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this subsection shall apply to transfers of ownership of assets occurring
prior to January 1, 1985, if the costs of such assets have never
been reimbursed under medicaid cost reimbursement on an
owner-operated basis or as a related-party lease: PROVIDED FURTHER, That for any contractor that can document in writing an enforceable agreement for the purchase of
a nursing home dated prior to July 18, 1984, and submitted to
the department prior to January 1, 1988, the cost basis of
allowable land and the depreciation base of the nursing home,
for rates established after July 18, 1984, shall not exceed the
fair market value of the assets at the date of purchase as determined by the department of general administration through
an appraisal procedure. For medicaid cost reimbursement
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
purposes, an agreement to purchase a nursing home dated
prior to July 18, 1984, is enforceable, even though such
agreement contains no legal description of the real property
involved, notwithstanding the statute of frauds or any other
provision of law.
(c) In the case of land or depreciable assets leased by the
same contractor since January 1, 1980, in an arm’s-length
lease, and purchased by the lessee/contractor, the lessee/contractor shall have the option:
(i) To have the provisions of subsection (b) of this section apply to the purchase; or
(ii) To have the reimbursement for property and financing allowance calculated pursuant to this chapter based upon
the provisions of the lease in existence on the date of the purchase, but only if the purchase date meets one of the following criteria:
(A) The purchase date is after the lessor has declared
bankruptcy or has defaulted in any loan or mortgage held
against the leased property;
(B) The purchase date is within one year of the lease
expiration or renewal date contained in the lease;
(C) The purchase date is after a rate setting for the facility in which the reimbursement rate set pursuant to this chapter no longer is equal to or greater than the actual cost of the
lease; or
(D) The purchase date is within one year of any purchase
option in existence on January 1, 1988.
(d) For all rate periods past or future where land or
depreciable assets are acquired from a related organization,
the contractor’s cost basis and depreciation base shall not
exceed the base the related organization had or would have
had under a contract with the department.
(e) Where the land or depreciable asset is a donation or
distribution between related organizations, the cost basis or
depreciation base shall be the lesser of (i) fair market value,
less salvage value, or (ii) the cost basis or depreciation base
the related organization had or would have had for the asset
under a contract with the department. [1999 c 353 § 2; 1997
c 277 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 18; 1989 c 372 § 14. Prior: 1988 c
221 § 1; 1988 c 208 § 1; 1986 c 175 § 1; 1980 c 177 § 36.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.350 and 74.46.370 were repealed by
1999 c 353 § 17, effective June 30, 2001.
74.46.410
(2) Effective July 1, 1997, for asset acquisitions and new
facilities, major remodels, and major repair projects that
begin operations on or after July 1, 1997, the department shall
use the most current edition of Estimated Useful Lives of
Depreciable Hospital Assets, or as it may be renamed, published by the American Hospital Publishing, Inc., an American hospital association company, for determining the useful
life of new buildings, major remodels, and major repair
projects, however, the shortest life that may be used for new
buildings receiving certificate of need approval or certificate
of need exemptions under chapter 70.38 RCW on or after
July 1, 1999, is forty years. New buildings, major remodels,
and major repair projects include those projects that meet or
exceed the expenditure minimum established by the department of health pursuant to chapter 70.38 RCW.
(3) Building improvements, other than major remodels
and major repairs, shall be depreciated over the remaining
useful life of the building, as modified by the improvement.
(4) Improvements to leased property which are the
responsibility of the contractor under the terms of the lease
shall be depreciated over the useful life of the improvement.
(5) A contractor may change the estimate of an asset’s
useful life to a longer life for purposes of depreciation.
(6) For new or replacement building construction or for
major renovations, either of which receives certificate of
need approval or certificate of need exemption under chapter
70.38 RCW on or after July 1, 1999, the number of years used
to depreciate fixed equipment shall be the same number of
years as the life of the building to which it is affixed. [1999 c
353 § 14; 1997 c 277 § 2; 1980 c 177 § 37.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.380
74.46.380 Depreciable assets. (1) Where depreciable
assets are disposed of through sale, trade-in, scrapping,
exchange, theft, wrecking, or fire or other casualty, depreciation shall no longer be taken on the assets. No further depreciation shall be taken on permanently abandoned assets.
(2) Where an asset has been retired from active use but is
being held for stand-by or emergency service, and the department has determined that it is needed and can be effectively
used in the future, depreciation may be taken. [1993 sp.s. c
13 § 5; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 12; 1980 c 177 § 38.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Effective dates—1980 c 177: See RCW 74.46.901.
74.46.390
74.46.370
74.46.370 Lives of assets. (1) Except for new buildings, major remodels, and major repair projects, as defined in
subsection (2) of this section, the contractor shall use lives
which reflect the estimated actual useful life of the asset and
which shall be no shorter than guideline lives as established
by the department. Lives shall be measured from the date on
which the assets were first used in the medical care program
or from the date of the most recent arm’s-length acquisition
of the asset, whichever is more recent. In cases where RCW
74.46.360(6)(a) does apply, the shortest life that may be used
for buildings is the remaining useful life under the prior contract. In all cases, lives shall be extended to reflect periods, if
any, when assets were not used in or as a facility.
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.390 Gains and losses upon replacement of
depreciable assets. If the retired asset is replaced, the gain
or loss shall be applied against or added to the cost of the
replacement asset, provided that a loss will only be so applied
if the contractor has made a reasonable effort to recover at
least the outstanding book value of the asset. [1980 c 177 §
39.]
74.46.410
74.46.410 Unallowable costs. (1) Costs will be unallowable if they are not documented, necessary, ordinary, and
related to the provision of care services to authorized
patients.
(2) Unallowable costs include, but are not limited to, the
following:
[Title 74 RCW—page 181]
74.46.410
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(a) Costs of items or services not covered by the medical
care program. Costs of such items or services will be unallowable even if they are indirectly reimbursed by the department as the result of an authorized reduction in patient contribution;
(b) Costs of services and items provided to recipients
which are covered by the department’s medical care program
but not included in the medicaid per-resident day payment
rate established by the department under this chapter;
(c) Costs associated with a capital expenditure subject to
section 1122 approval (part 100, Title 42 C.F.R.) if the
department found it was not consistent with applicable standards, criteria, or plans. If the department was not given
timely notice of a proposed capital expenditure, all associated
costs will be unallowable up to the date they are determined
to be reimbursable under applicable federal regulations;
(d) Costs associated with a construction or acquisition
project requiring certificate of need approval, or exemption
from the requirements for certificate of need for the replacement of existing nursing home beds, pursuant to chapter
70.38 RCW if such approval or exemption was not obtained;
(e) Interest costs other than those provided by RCW
74.46.290 on and after January 1, 1985;
(f) Salaries or other compensation of owners, officers,
directors, stockholders, partners, principals, participants, and
others associated with the contractor or its home office,
including all board of directors’ fees for any purpose, except
reasonable compensation paid for service related to patient
care;
(g) Costs in excess of limits or in violation of principles
set forth in this chapter;
(h) Costs resulting from transactions or the application of
accounting methods which circumvent the principles of the
payment system set forth in this chapter;
(i) Costs applicable to services, facilities, and supplies
furnished by a related organization in excess of the lower of
the cost to the related organization or the price of comparable
services, facilities, or supplies purchased elsewhere;
(j) Bad debts of non-Title XIX recipients. Bad debts of
Title XIX recipients are allowable if the debt is related to
covered services, it arises from the recipient’s required contribution toward the cost of care, the provider can establish
that reasonable collection efforts were made, the debt was
actually uncollectible when claimed as worthless, and sound
business judgment established that there was no likelihood of
recovery at any time in the future;
(k) Charity and courtesy allowances;
(l) Cash, assessments, or other contributions, excluding
dues, to charitable organizations, professional organizations,
trade associations, or political parties, and costs incurred to
improve community or public relations;
(m) Vending machine expenses;
(n) Expenses for barber or beautician services not
included in routine care;
(o) Funeral and burial expenses;
(p) Costs of gift shop operations and inventory;
(q) Personal items such as cosmetics, smoking materials,
newspapers and magazines, and clothing, except those used
in patient activity programs;
(r) Fund-raising expenses, except those directly related
to the patient activity program;
[Title 74 RCW—page 182]
(s) Penalties and fines;
(t) Expenses related to telephones, radios, and similar
appliances in patients’ private accommodations;
(u) Televisions acquired prior to July 1, 2001;
(v) Federal, state, and other income taxes;
(w) Costs of special care services except where authorized by the department;
(x) Expenses of an employee benefit not in fact made
available to all employees on an equal or fair basis, for example, key-man insurance and other insurance or retirement
plans;
(y) Expenses of profit-sharing plans;
(z) Expenses related to the purchase and/or use of private
or commercial airplanes which are in excess of what a prudent contractor would expend for the ordinary and economic
provision of such a transportation need related to patient care;
(aa) Personal expenses and allowances of owners or relatives;
(bb) All expenses of maintaining professional licenses or
membership in professional organizations;
(cc) Costs related to agreements not to compete;
(dd) Amortization of goodwill, lease acquisition, or any
other intangible asset, whether related to resident care or not,
and whether recognized under generally accepted accounting
principles or not;
(ee) Expenses related to vehicles which are in excess of
what a prudent contractor would expend for the ordinary and
economic provision of transportation needs related to patient
care;
(ff) Legal and consultant fees in connection with a fair
hearing against the department where a decision is rendered
in favor of the department or where otherwise the determination of the department stands;
(gg) Legal and consultant fees of a contractor or contractors in connection with a lawsuit against the department;
(hh) Lease acquisition costs, goodwill, the cost of bed
rights, or any other intangible assets;
(ii) All rental or lease costs other than those provided in
RCW 74.46.300 on and after January 1, 1985;
(jj) Postsurvey charges incurred by the facility as a result
of subsequent inspections under RCW 18.51.050 which
occur beyond the first postsurvey visit during the certification
survey calendar year;
(kk) Compensation paid for any purchased nursing care
services, including registered nurse, licensed practical nurse,
and nurse assistant services, obtained through service contract arrangement in excess of the amount of compensation
paid for such hours of nursing care service had they been paid
at the average hourly wage, including related taxes and benefits, for in-house nursing care staff of like classification at the
same nursing facility, as reported in the most recent cost
report period;
(ll) For all partial or whole rate periods after July 17,
1984, costs of land and depreciable assets that cannot be
reimbursed under the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 and
implementing state statutory and regulatory provisions;
(mm) Costs reported by the contractor for a prior period
to the extent such costs, due to statutory exemption, will not
be incurred by the contractor in the period to be covered by
the rate;
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
(nn) Costs of outside activities, for example, costs allocated to the use of a vehicle for personal purposes or related
to the part of a facility leased out for office space;
(oo) Travel expenses outside the states of Idaho, Oregon,
and Washington and the province of British Columbia. However, travel to or from the home or central office of a chain
organization operating a nursing facility is allowed whether
inside or outside these areas if the travel is necessary, ordinary, and related to resident care;
(pp) Moving expenses of employees in the absence of
demonstrated, good-faith effort to recruit within the states of
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and the province of British
Columbia;
(qq) Depreciation in excess of four thousand dollars per
year for each passenger car or other vehicle primarily used by
the administrator, facility staff, or central office staff;
(rr) Costs for temporary health care personnel from a
nursing pool not registered with the secretary of the department of health;
(ss) Payroll taxes associated with compensation in
excess of allowable compensation of owners, relatives, and
administrative personnel;
(tt) Costs and fees associated with filing a petition for
bankruptcy;
(uu) All advertising or promotional costs, except reasonable costs of help wanted advertising;
(vv) Outside consultation expenses required to meet
department-required minimum data set completion proficiency;
(ww) Interest charges assessed by any department or
agency of this state for failure to make a timely refund of
overpayments and interest expenses incurred for loans
obtained to make the refunds;
(xx) All home office or central office costs, whether on
or off the nursing facility premises, and whether allocated or
not to specific services, in excess of the median of those
adjusted costs for all facilities reporting such costs for the
most recent report period; and
(yy) Tax expenses that a nursing facility has never
incurred. [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 3; 1998 c 322 § 17; 1995 1st
sp.s. c 18 § 97; 1993 sp.s. c 13 § 6; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 15; 1989
c 372 § 2; 1986 c 175 § 3; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 17; 1980 c 177
§ 41.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Effective date—1989 c 372 § 2: "Section 2 of this act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support
of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect July 1, 1989." [1989 c 372 § 19.]
PART E
RATE SETTING
74.46.421
74.46.421 Purpose of part E—Nursing facility medicaid payment rates. (1) The purpose of part E of this chapter
is to determine nursing facility medicaid payment rates that,
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.431
in the aggregate for all participating nursing facilities, are in
accordance with the biennial appropriations act.
(2)(a) The department shall use the nursing facility medicaid payment rate methodologies described in this chapter to
determine initial component rate allocations for each medicaid nursing facility.
(b) The initial component rate allocations shall be subject to adjustment as provided in this section in order to
assure that the statewide average payment rate to nursing
facilities is less than or equal to the statewide average payment rate specified in the biennial appropriations act.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating
a legal right or entitlement to any payment that (a) has not
been adjusted under this section or (b) would cause the statewide average payment rate to exceed the statewide average
payment rate specified in the biennial appropriations act.
(4)(a) The statewide average payment rate for any state
fiscal year under the nursing facility payment system,
weighted by patient days, shall not exceed the annual statewide weighted average nursing facility payment rate identified for that fiscal year in the biennial appropriations act.
(b) If the department determines that the weighted average nursing facility payment rate calculated in accordance
with this chapter is likely to exceed the weighted average
nursing facility payment rate identified in the biennial appropriations act, then the department shall adjust all nursing
facility payment rates proportional to the amount by which
the weighted average rate allocations would otherwise
exceed the budgeted rate amount. Any such adjustments shall
only be made prospectively, not retrospectively, and shall be
applied proportionately to each component rate allocation for
each facility. [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 4; 1999 c 353 § 3; 1998 c
322 § 18.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.431 Nursing facility medicaid payment rate
allocations—Components—Minimum wage—Rules. (1)
Effective July 1, 1999, nursing facility medicaid payment
rate allocations shall be facility-specific and shall have seven
components: Direct care, therapy care, support services,
operations, property, financing allowance, and variable
return. The department shall establish and adjust each of
these components, as provided in this section and elsewhere
in this chapter, for each medicaid nursing facility in this state.
(2) Component rate allocations in therapy care, support
services, variable return, operations, property, and financing
allowance for essential community providers as defined in
this chapter shall be based upon a minimum facility occupancy of eighty-five percent of licensed beds, regardless of
how many beds are set up or in use. For all facilities other
than essential community providers, effective July 1, 2001,
component rate allocations in direct care, therapy care, support services, variable return, operations, property, and
financing allowance shall continue to be based upon a minimum facility occupancy of eighty-five percent of licensed
beds. For all facilities other than essential community providers, effective July 1, 2002, the component rate allocations
in operations, property, and financing allowance shall be
based upon a minimum facility occupancy of ninety percent
74.46.431
[Title 74 RCW—page 183]
74.46.431
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
of licensed beds, regardless of how many beds are set up or in
use. For all facilities, effective July 1, 2006, the component
rate allocation in direct care shall be based upon actual facility occupancy.
(3) Information and data sources used in determining
medicaid payment rate allocations, including formulas, procedures, cost report periods, resident assessment instrument
formats, resident assessment methodologies, and resident
classification and case mix weighting methodologies, may be
substituted or altered from time to time as determined by the
department.
(4)(a) Direct care component rate allocations shall be
established using adjusted cost report data covering at least
six months. Adjusted cost report data from 1996 will be used
for October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2001, direct care component rate allocations; adjusted cost report data from 1999
will be used for July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2006, direct
care component rate allocations. Adjusted cost report data
from 2003 will be used for July 1, 2006, and later direct care
component rate allocations.
(b) Direct care component rate allocations based on 1996
cost report data shall be adjusted annually for economic
trends and conditions by a factor or factors defined in the
biennial appropriations act. A different economic trends and
conditions adjustment factor or factors may be defined in the
biennial appropriations act for facilities whose direct care
component rate is set equal to their adjusted June 30, 1998,
rate, as provided in RCW 74.46.506(5)(i).
(c) Direct care component rate allocations based on 1999
cost report data shall be adjusted annually for economic
trends and conditions by a factor or factors defined in the
biennial appropriations act. A different economic trends and
conditions adjustment factor or factors may be defined in the
biennial appropriations act for facilities whose direct care
component rate is set equal to their adjusted June 30, 1998,
rate, as provided in RCW 74.46.506(5)(i).
(d) Direct care component rate allocations based on 2003
cost report data shall be adjusted annually for economic
trends and conditions by a factor or factors defined in the
biennial appropriations act. A different economic trends and
conditions adjustment factor or factors may be defined in the
biennial appropriations act for facilities whose direct care
component rate is set equal to their adjusted June 30, 2006,
rate, as provided in RCW 74.46.506(5)(i).
(5)(a) Therapy care component rate allocations shall be
established using adjusted cost report data covering at least
six months. Adjusted cost report data from 1996 will be used
for October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2001, therapy care
component rate allocations; adjusted cost report data from
1999 will be used for July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2005,
therapy care component rate allocations. Adjusted cost
report data from 1999 will continue to be used for July 1,
2005, and later therapy care component rate allocations.
(b) Therapy care component rate allocations shall be
adjusted annually for economic trends and conditions by a
factor or factors defined in the biennial appropriations act.
(6)(a) Support services component rate allocations shall
be established using adjusted cost report data covering at
least six months. Adjusted cost report data from 1996 shall
be used for October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2001, support
services component rate allocations; adjusted cost report data
[Title 74 RCW—page 184]
from 1999 shall be used for July 1, 2001, through June 30,
2005, support services component rate allocations. Adjusted
cost report data from 1999 will continue to be used for July 1,
2005, and later support services component rate allocations.
(b) Support services component rate allocations shall be
adjusted annually for economic trends and conditions by a
factor or factors defined in the biennial appropriations act.
(7)(a) Operations component rate allocations shall be
established using adjusted cost report data covering at least
six months. Adjusted cost report data from 1996 shall be
used for October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2001, operations
component rate allocations; adjusted cost report data from
1999 shall be used for July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2006,
operations component rate allocations. Adjusted cost report
data from 2003 will be used for July 1, 2006, and later operations component rate allocations.
(b) Operations component rate allocations shall be
adjusted annually for economic trends and conditions by a
factor or factors defined in the biennial appropriations act. A
different economic trends and conditions adjustment factor or
factors may be defined in the biennial appropriations act for
facilities whose operations component rate is set equal to
their adjusted June 30, 2006, rate, as provided in RCW
74.46.521(4).
(8) For July 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998, a
facility’s property and return on investment component rates
shall be the facility’s June 30, 1998, property and return on
investment component rates, without increase. For October
1, 1998, through June 30, 1999, a facility’s property and
return on investment component rates shall be rebased utilizing 1997 adjusted cost report data covering at least six
months of data.
(9) Total payment rates under the nursing facility medicaid payment system shall not exceed facility rates charged to
the general public for comparable services.
(10) Medicaid contractors shall pay to all facility staff a
minimum wage of the greater of the state minimum wage or
the federal minimum wage.
(11) The department shall establish in rule procedures,
principles, and conditions for determining component rate
allocations for facilities in circumstances not directly
addressed by this chapter, including but not limited to: The
need to prorate inflation for partial-period cost report data,
newly constructed facilities, existing facilities entering the
medicaid program for the first time or after a period of
absence from the program, existing facilities with expanded
new bed capacity, existing medicaid facilities following a
change of ownership of the nursing facility business, facilities banking beds or converting beds back into service, facilities temporarily reducing the number of set-up beds during a
remodel, facilities having less than six months of either resident assessment, cost report data, or both, under the current
contractor prior to rate setting, and other circumstances.
(12) The department shall establish in rule procedures,
principles, and conditions, including necessary threshold
costs, for adjusting rates to reflect capital improvements or
new requirements imposed by the department or the federal
government. Any such rate adjustments are subject to the
provisions of RCW 74.46.421.
(13) Effective July 1, 2001, medicaid rates shall continue
to be revised downward in all components, in accordance
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
74.46.435
with department rules, for facilities converting banked beds
to active service under chapter 70.38 RCW, by using the
facility’s increased licensed bed capacity to recalculate minimum occupancy for rate setting. However, for facilities other
than essential community providers which bank beds under
chapter 70.38 RCW, after May 25, 2001, medicaid rates shall
be revised upward, in accordance with department rules, in
direct care, therapy care, support services, and variable return
components only, by using the facility’s decreased licensed
bed capacity to recalculate minimum occupancy for rate setting, but no upward revision shall be made to operations,
property, or financing allowance component rates. The direct
care component rate allocation shall be adjusted, without
using the minimum occupancy assumption, for facilities that
convert banked beds to active service, under chapter 70.38
RCW, beginning on July 1, 2006.
(14) Facilities obtaining a certificate of need or a certificate of need exemption under chapter 70.38 RCW after June
30, 2001, must have a certificate of capital authorization in
order for (a) the depreciation resulting from the capitalized
addition to be included in calculation of the facility’s property component rate allocation; and (b) the net invested funds
associated with the capitalized addition to be included in calculation of the facility’s financing allowance rate allocation.
[2006 c 258 § 2; 2005 c 518 § 944; 2004 c 276 § 913; 2001
1st sp.s. c 8 § 5; 1999 c 353 § 4; 1998 c 322 § 19.]
highest quartile, and one percent to facilities in the highest
quartile.
(c) The department shall, subject to (d) of this subsection, compute the variable return allowance by multiplying a
facility’s assigned percentage by the sum of the facility’s
direct care, therapy care, support services, and operations
component rates determined in accordance with this chapter
and rules adopted by the department.
(d) Effective July 1, 2001, if a facility’s examined and
documented direct care cost per resident day for the preceding report year is lower than its average direct care component rate weighted by medicaid resident days for the same
year, the facility’s direct care cost shall be substituted for its
July 1, 2001, direct care component rate, and its variable
return component rate shall be determined or adjusted each
July 1st by multiplying the facility’s assigned percentage by
the sum of the facility’s July 1, 2001, therapy care, support
services, and operations component rates, and its direct care
cost per resident day for the preceding year.
(e) Effective July 1, 2006, the variable return component
rate allocation for each facility shall be the facility’s June 30,
2006, variable return component rate allocation.
(2) The variable return rate allocation calculated in
accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent
necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421. [2006 c 258 § 3;
2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 6; 1999 c 353 § 9.]
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Severability—Effective date—2005 c 518: See notes following RCW
28A.305.210.
Severability—Effective date—2004 c 276: See notes following RCW
43.330.167.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.435 Property component rate allocation. (1)
Effective July 1, 2001, the property component rate allocation for each facility shall be determined by dividing the sum
of the reported allowable prior period actual depreciation,
subject to RCW 74.46.310 through 74.46.380, adjusted for
any capitalized additions or replacements approved by the
department, and the retained savings from such cost center,
by the greater of a facility’s total resident days for the facility
in the prior period or resident days as calculated on eightyfive percent facility occupancy. Effective July 1, 2002, the
property component rate allocation for all facilities, except
essential community providers, shall be set by using the
greater of a facility’s total resident days from the most recent
cost report period or resident days calculated at ninety percent facility occupancy. If a capitalized addition or retirement
of an asset will result in a different licensed bed capacity during the ensuing period, the prior period total resident days
used in computing the property component rate shall be
adjusted to anticipated resident day level.
(2) A nursing facility’s property component rate allocation shall be rebased annually, effective July 1st, in accordance with this section and this chapter.
(3) When a certificate of need for a new facility is
requested, the department, in reaching its decision, shall take
into consideration per-bed land and building construction
costs for the facility which shall not exceed a maximum to be
established by the secretary.
(4) Effective July 1, 2001, for the purpose of calculating
a nursing facility’s property component rate, if a contractor
has elected to bank licensed beds prior to April 1, 2001, or
74.46.435
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.433
74.46.433 Variable return component rate allocation. (1) The department shall establish for each medicaid
nursing facility a variable return component rate allocation.
In determining the variable return allowance:
(a) Except as provided in (e) of this subsection, the variable return array and percentage shall be assigned whenever
rebasing of noncapital rate allocations is scheduled under
RCW 74.46.431 (4), (5), (6), and (7).
(b) To calculate the array of facilities for the July 1,
2001, rate setting, the department, without using peer groups,
shall first rank all facilities in numerical order from highest to
lowest according to each facility’s examined and documented, but unlidded, combined direct care, therapy care,
support services, and operations per resident day cost from
the 1999 cost report period. However, before being combined with other per resident day costs and ranked, a facility’s direct care cost per resident day shall be adjusted to
reflect its facility average case mix index, to be averaged
from the four calendar quarters of 1999, weighted by the
facility’s resident days from each quarter, under RCW
74.46.501(7)(b)(ii). The array shall then be divided into four
quartiles, each containing, as nearly as possible, an equal
number of facilities, and four percent shall be assigned to
facilities in the lowest quartile, three percent to facilities in
the next lowest quartile, two percent to facilities in the next
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 74 RCW—page 185]
74.46.437
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
elects to convert banked beds to active service at any time,
under chapter 70.38 RCW, the department shall use the facility’s new licensed bed capacity to recalculate minimum occupancy for rate setting and revise the property component rate,
as needed, effective as of the date the beds are banked or converted to active service. However, in no case shall the department use less than eighty-five percent occupancy of the facility’s licensed bed capacity after banking or conversion.
Effective July 1, 2002, in no case, other than essential community providers, shall the department use less than ninety
percent occupancy of the facility’s licensed bed capacity after
conversion.
(5) The property component rate allocations calculated
in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent
necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421. [2001 1st sp.s. c
8 § 7; 1999 c 353 § 10; 1998 c 322 § 29.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.437
74.46.437 Financing allowance component rate allocation. (1) Beginning July 1, 1999, the department shall
establish for each medicaid nursing facility a financing
allowance component rate allocation. The financing allowance component rate shall be rebased annually, effective July
1st, in accordance with the provisions of this section and this
chapter.
(2) Effective July 1, 2001, the financing allowance shall
be determined by multiplying the net invested funds of each
facility by .10, and dividing by the greater of a nursing facility’s total resident days from the most recent cost report
period or resident days calculated on eighty-five percent
facility occupancy. Effective July 1, 2002, the financing
allowance component rate allocation for all facilities, other
than essential community providers, shall be set by using the
greater of a facility’s total resident days from the most recent
cost report period or resident days calculated at ninety percent facility occupancy. However, assets acquired on or after
May 17, 1999, shall be grouped in a separate financing allowance calculation that shall be multiplied by .085. The financing allowance factor of .085 shall not be applied to the net
invested funds pertaining to new construction or major renovations receiving certificate of need approval or an exemption from certificate of need requirements under chapter
70.38 RCW, or to working drawings that have been submitted to the department of health for construction review
approval, prior to May 17, 1999. If a capitalized addition,
renovation, replacement, or retirement of an asset will result
in a different licensed bed capacity during the ensuing period,
the prior period total resident days used in computing the
financing allowance shall be adjusted to the greater of the
anticipated resident day level or eighty-five percent of the
new licensed bed capacity. Effective July 1, 2002, for all
facilities, other than essential community providers, the total
resident days used to compute the financing allowance after a
capitalized addition, renovation, replacement, or retirement
of an asset shall be set by using the greater of a facility’s total
resident days from the most recent cost report period or resident days calculated at ninety percent facility occupancy.
(3) In computing the portion of net invested funds representing the net book value of tangible fixed assets, the same
[Title 74 RCW—page 186]
assets, depreciation bases, lives, and methods referred to in
RCW 74.46.330, 74.46.350, 74.46.360, 74.46.370, and
74.46.380, including owned and leased assets, shall be utilized, except that the capitalized cost of land upon which the
facility is located and such other contiguous land which is
reasonable and necessary for use in the regular course of providing resident care shall also be included. Subject to provisions and limitations contained in this chapter, for land purchased by owners or lessors before July 18, 1984, capitalized
cost of land shall be the buyer’s capitalized cost. For all partial or whole rate periods after July 17, 1984, if the land is
purchased after July 17, 1984, capitalized cost shall be that of
the owner of record on July 17, 1984, or buyer’s capitalized
cost, whichever is lower. In the case of leased facilities where
the net invested funds are unknown or the contractor is
unable to provide necessary information to determine net
invested funds, the secretary shall have the authority to determine an amount for net invested funds based on an appraisal
conducted according to RCW 74.46.360(1).
(4) Effective July 1, 2001, for the purpose of calculating
a nursing facility’s financing allowance component rate, if a
contractor has elected to bank licensed beds prior to May 25,
2001, or elects to convert banked beds to active service at any
time, under chapter 70.38 RCW, the department shall use the
facility’s new licensed bed capacity to recalculate minimum
occupancy for rate setting and revise the financing allowance
component rate, as needed, effective as of the date the beds
are banked or converted to active service. However, in no
case shall the department use less than eighty-five percent
occupancy of the facility’s licensed bed capacity after banking or conversion. Effective July 1, 2002, in no case, other
than for essential community providers, shall the department
use less than ninety percent occupancy of the facility’s
licensed bed capacity after conversion.
(5) The financing allowance rate allocation calculated in
accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent
necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421. [2001 1st sp.s. c
8 § 8; 1999 c 353 § 11.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.439
74.46.439 Facilities leased in arm’s-length agreements—Recomputation of financing allowance—Reimbursement for annualized lease payments—Rate adjustment. (1) In the case of a facility that was leased by the contractor as of January 1, 1980, in an arm’s-length agreement,
which continues to be leased under the same lease agreement,
and for which the annualized lease payment, plus any interest
and depreciation expenses associated with contractor-owned
assets, for the period covered by the prospective rates,
divided by the contractor’s total resident days, minus the
property component rate allocation, is more than the sum of
the financing allowance and the variable return rate determined according to this chapter, the following shall apply:
(a) The financing allowance shall be recomputed substituting the fair market value of the assets as of January 1,
1982, as determined by the department of general administration through an appraisal procedure, less accumulated depreciation on the lessor’s assets since January 1, 1982, for the net
book value of the assets in determining net invested funds for
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
the facility. A determination by the department of general
administration of fair market value shall be final unless the
procedure used to make such a determination is shown to be
arbitrary and capricious.
(b) The sum of the financing allowance computed under
(a) of this subsection and the variable return rate shall be
compared to the annualized lease payment, plus any interest
and depreciation associated with contractor-owned assets, for
the period covered by the prospective rates, divided by the
contractor’s total resident days, minus the property component rate. The lesser of the two amounts shall be called the
alternate return on investment rate.
(c) The sum of the financing allowance and variable
return rate determined according to this chapter or the alternate return on investment rate, whichever is greater, shall be
added to the prospective rates of the contractor.
(2) In the case of a facility that was leased by the contractor as of January 1, 1980, in an arm’s-length agreement, if the
lease is renewed or extended under a provision of the lease,
the treatment provided in subsection (1) of this section shall
be applied, except that in the case of renewals or extensions
made subsequent to April 1, 1985, reimbursement for the
annualized lease payment shall be no greater than the reimbursement for the annualized lease payment for the last year
prior to the renewal or extension of the lease.
(3) The alternate return on investment component rate
allocations calculated in accordance with this section shall be
adjusted to the extent necessary to comply with RCW
74.46.421. [1999 c 353 § 12.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.441
74.46.441 Public disclosure of rate-setting information. The department shall disclose to any member of the
public all rate-setting information consistent with requirements of state and federal laws. [1998 c 322 § 20.]
74.46.445
74.46.445 Contractors—Rate adjustments. If a contractor experiences an increase in state or county property
taxes as a result of new building construction, replacement
building construction, or substantial building additions that
require the acquisition of land, then the department shall
adjust the contractor’s prospective rates to cover the medicaid share of the tax increase. The rate adjustments shall only
apply to construction and additions completed on or after
July 1, 1997. The rate adjustments authorized by this section
are effective on the first day after July 1, 1999, on which the
increased tax payment is due. Rate adjustments made under
this section are subject to all applicable cost limitations contained in this chapter. [1999 c 353 § 15.]
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.475
74.46.475 Submitted cost report—Analysis and
adjustment by department. (1) The department shall analyze the submitted cost report or a portion thereof of each
contractor for each report period to determine if the information is correct, complete, reported in conformance with
department instructions and generally accepted accounting
principles, the requirements of this chapter, and such rules as
the department may adopt. If the analysis finds that the cost
report is incorrect or incomplete, the department may make
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.496
adjustments to the reported information for purposes of
establishing payment rate allocations. A schedule of such
adjustments shall be provided to contractors and shall include
an explanation for the adjustment and the dollar amount of
the adjustment. Adjustments shall be subject to review and
appeal as provided in this chapter.
(2) The department shall accumulate data from properly
completed cost reports, in addition to assessment data on
each facility’s resident population characteristics, for use in:
(a) Exception profiling; and
(b) Establishing rates.
(3) The department may further utilize such accumulated
data for analytical, statistical, or informational purposes as
necessary. [1998 c 322 § 21; 1985 c 361 § 13; 1983 1st ex.s.
c 67 § 23.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.485
74.46.485 Case mix classification methodology. (1)
The department shall employ the resource utilization group
III case mix classification methodology. The department
shall use the forty-four group index maximizing model for
the resource utilization group III grouper version 5.10, but
the department may revise or update the classification methodology to reflect advances or refinements in resident assessment or classification, subject to federal requirements.
(2) A default case mix group shall be established for
cases in which the resident dies or is discharged for any purpose prior to completion of the resident’s initial assessment.
The default case mix group and case mix weight for these
cases shall be designated by the department.
(3) A default case mix group may also be established for
cases in which there is an untimely assessment for the resident. The default case mix group and case mix weight for
these cases shall be designated by the department. [1998 c
322 § 22.]
74.46.496
74.46.496 Case mix weights—Determination—Revisions. (1) Each case mix classification group shall be
assigned a case mix weight. The case mix weight for each
resident of a nursing facility for each calendar quarter shall be
based on data from resident assessment instruments completed for the resident and weighted by the number of days
the resident was in each case mix classification group. Days
shall be counted as provided in this section.
(2) The case mix weights shall be based on the average
minutes per registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and
certified nurse aide, for each case mix group, and using the
health care financing administration of the United States
department of health and human services 1995 nursing facility staff time measurement study stemming from its multistate nursing home case mix and quality demonstration
project. Those minutes shall be weighted by statewide ratios
of registered nurse to certified nurse aide, and licensed practical nurse to certified nurse aide, wages, including salaries
and benefits, which shall be based on 1995 cost report data
for this state.
(3) The case mix weights shall be determined as follows:
(a) Set the certified nurse aide wage weight at 1.000 and
calculate wage weights for registered nurse and licensed
practical nurse average wages by dividing the certified nurse
[Title 74 RCW—page 187]
74.46.501
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
aide average wage into the registered nurse average wage and
licensed practical nurse average wage;
(b) Calculate the total weighted minutes for each case
mix group in the resource utilization group III classification
system by multiplying the wage weight for each worker classification by the average number of minutes that classification of worker spends caring for a resident in that resource
utilization group III classification group, and summing the
products;
(c) Assign a case mix weight of 1.000 to the resource utilization group III classification group with the lowest total
weighted minutes and calculate case mix weights by dividing
the lowest group’s total weighted minutes into each group’s
total weighted minutes and rounding weight calculations to
the third decimal place.
(4) The case mix weights in this state may be revised if
the health care financing administration updates its nursing
facility staff time measurement studies. The case mix
weights shall be revised, but only when direct care component rates are cost-rebased as provided in subsection (5) of
this section, to be effective on the July 1st effective date of
each cost-rebased direct care component rate. However, the
department may revise case mix weights more frequently if,
and only if, significant variances in wage ratios occur among
direct care staff in the different caregiver classifications identified in this section.
(5) Case mix weights shall be revised when direct care
component rates are cost-rebased as provided in RCW
74.46.431(4). [2006 c 258 § 4; 1998 c 322 § 23.]
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.501
74.46.501 Average case mix indexes determined
quarterly—Facility average case mix index—Medicaid
average case mix index. (1) From individual case mix
weights for the applicable quarter, the department shall determine two average case mix indexes for each medicaid nursing facility, one for all residents in the facility, known as the
facility average case mix index, and one for medicaid residents, known as the medicaid average case mix index.
(2)(a) In calculating a facility’s two average case mix
indexes for each quarter, the department shall include all residents or medicaid residents, as applicable, who were physically in the facility during the quarter in question based on the
resident assessment instrument completed by the facility and
the requirements and limitations for the instrument’s completion and transmission (January 1st through March 31st, April
1st through June 30th, July 1st through September 30th, or
October 1st through December 31st).
(b) The facility average case mix index shall exclude all
default cases as defined in this chapter. However, the medicaid average case mix index shall include all default cases.
(3) Both the facility average and the medicaid average
case mix indexes shall be determined by multiplying the case
mix weight of each resident, or each medicaid resident, as
applicable, by the number of days, as defined in this section
and as applicable, the resident was at each particular case mix
classification or group, and then averaging.
(4)(a) In determining the number of days a resident is
classified into a particular case mix group, the department
[Title 74 RCW—page 188]
shall determine a start date for calculating case mix grouping
periods as follows:
(i) If a resident’s initial assessment for a first stay or a
return stay in the nursing facility is timely completed and
transmitted to the department by the cutoff date under state
and federal requirements and as described in subsection (5) of
this section, the start date shall be the later of either the first
day of the quarter or the resident’s facility admission or readmission date;
(ii) If a resident’s significant change, quarterly, or annual
assessment is timely completed and transmitted to the department by the cutoff date under state and federal requirements
and as described in subsection (5) of this section, the start
date shall be the date the assessment is completed;
(iii) If a resident’s significant change, quarterly, or
annual assessment is not timely completed and transmitted to
the department by the cutoff date under state and federal
requirements and as described in subsection (5) of this section, the start date shall be the due date for the assessment.
(b) If state or federal rules require more frequent assessment, the same principles for determining the start date of a
resident’s classification in a particular case mix group set
forth in subsection (4)(a) of this section shall apply.
(c) In calculating the number of days a resident is classified into a particular case mix group, the department shall
determine an end date for calculating case mix grouping periods as follows:
(i) If a resident is discharged before the end of the applicable quarter, the end date shall be the day before discharge;
(ii) If a resident is not discharged before the end of the
applicable quarter, the end date shall be the last day of the
quarter;
(iii) If a new assessment is due for a resident or a new
assessment is completed and transmitted to the department,
the end date of the previous assessment shall be the earlier of
either the day before the assessment is due or the day before
the assessment is completed by the nursing facility.
(5) The cutoff date for the department to use resident
assessment data, for the purposes of calculating both the
facility average and the medicaid average case mix indexes,
and for establishing and updating a facility’s direct care component rate, shall be one month and one day after the end of
the quarter for which the resident assessment data applies.
(6) A threshold of ninety percent, as described and calculated in this subsection, shall be used to determine the case
mix index each quarter. The threshold shall also be used to
determine which facilities’ costs per case mix unit are
included in determining the ceiling, floor, and price. For
direct care component rate allocations established on and
after July 1, 2006, the threshold of ninety percent shall be
used to determine the case mix index each quarter and to
determine which facilities’ costs per case mix unit are
included in determining the ceiling and price. If the facility
does not meet the ninety percent threshold, the department
may use an alternate case mix index to determine the facility
average and medicaid average case mix indexes for the quarter. The threshold is a count of unique minimum data set
assessments, and it shall include resident assessment instrument tracking forms for residents discharged prior to completing an initial assessment. The threshold is calculated by
dividing a facility’s count of residents being assessed by the
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
average census for the facility. A daily census shall be
reported by each nursing facility as it transmits assessment
data to the department. The department shall compute a
quarterly average census based on the daily census. If no
census has been reported by a facility during a specified quarter, then the department shall use the facility’s licensed beds
as the denominator in computing the threshold.
(7)(a) Although the facility average and the medicaid
average case mix indexes shall both be calculated quarterly,
the facility average case mix index will be used throughout
the applicable cost-rebasing period in combination with cost
report data as specified by RCW 74.46.431 and 74.46.506, to
establish a facility’s allowable cost per case mix unit. A
facility’s medicaid average case mix index shall be used to
update a nursing facility’s direct care component rate quarterly.
(b) The facility average case mix index used to establish
each nursing facility’s direct care component rate shall be
based on an average of calendar quarters of the facility’s
average case mix indexes.
(i) For October 1, 1998, direct care component rates, the
department shall use an average of facility average case mix
indexes from the four calendar quarters of 1997.
(ii) For July 1, 2001, direct care component rates, the
department shall use an average of facility average case mix
indexes from the four calendar quarters of 1999.
(iii) Beginning on July 1, 2006, when establishing the
direct care component rates, the department shall use an average of facility case mix indexes from the four calendar quarters occurring during the cost report period used to rebase the
direct care component rate allocations as specified in RCW
74.46.431.
(c) The medicaid average case mix index used to update
or recalibrate a nursing facility’s direct care component rate
quarterly shall be from the calendar quarter commencing six
months prior to the effective date of the quarterly rate. For
example, October 1, 1998, through December 31, 1998,
direct care component rates shall utilize case mix averages
from the April 1, 1998, through June 30, 1998, calendar quarter, and so forth. [2006 c 258 § 5; 2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 9; 1998
c 322 § 24.]
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.506
74.46.506 Direct care component rate allocations—
Determination—Quarterly updates—Fines. (1) The
direct care component rate allocation corresponds to the provision of nursing care for one resident of a nursing facility for
one day, including direct care supplies. Therapy services and
supplies, which correspond to the therapy care component
rate, shall be excluded. The direct care component rate
includes elements of case mix determined consistent with the
principles of this section and other applicable provisions of
this chapter.
(2) Beginning October 1, 1998, the department shall
determine and update quarterly for each nursing facility serving medicaid residents a facility-specific per-resident day
direct care component rate allocation, to be effective on the
first day of each calendar quarter. In determining direct care
component rates the department shall utilize, as specified in
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.506
this section, minimum data set resident assessment data for
each resident of the facility, as transmitted to, and if necessary corrected by, the department in the resident assessment
instrument format approved by federal authorities for use in
this state.
(3) The department may question the accuracy of assessment data for any resident and utilize corrected or substitute
information, however derived, in determining direct care
component rates. The department is authorized to impose
civil fines and to take adverse rate actions against a contractor, as specified by the department in rule, in order to obtain
compliance with resident assessment and data transmission
requirements and to ensure accuracy.
(4) Cost report data used in setting direct care component
rate allocations shall be 1996, 1999, and 2003 for rate periods
as specified in RCW 74.46.431(4)(a).
(5) Beginning October 1, 1998, the department shall
rebase each nursing facility’s direct care component rate allocation as described in RCW 74.46.431, adjust its direct care
component rate allocation for economic trends and conditions as described in RCW 74.46.431, and update its medicaid average case mix index, consistent with the following:
(a) Reduce total direct care costs reported by each nursing facility for the applicable cost report period specified in
RCW 74.46.431(4)(a) to reflect any department adjustments,
and to eliminate reported resident therapy costs and adjustments, in order to derive the facility’s total allowable direct
care cost;
(b) Divide each facility’s total allowable direct care cost
by its adjusted resident days for the same report period,
increased if necessary to a minimum occupancy of eightyfive percent; that is, the greater of actual or imputed occupancy at eighty-five percent of licensed beds, to derive the
facility’s allowable direct care cost per resident day. However, effective July 1, 2006, each facility’s allowable direct
care costs shall be divided by its adjusted resident days without application of a minimum occupancy assumption;
(c) Adjust the facility’s per resident day direct care cost
by the applicable factor specified in RCW 74.46.431(4) (b),
(c), and (d) to derive its adjusted allowable direct care cost
per resident day;
(d) Divide each facility’s adjusted allowable direct care
cost per resident day by the facility average case mix index
for the applicable quarters specified by RCW 74.46.501(7)(b)
to derive the facility’s allowable direct care cost per case mix
unit;
(e) Effective for July 1, 2001, rate setting, divide nursing
facilities into at least two and, if applicable, three peer
groups: Those located in nonurban counties; those located in
high labor-cost counties, if any; and those located in other
urban counties;
(f) Array separately the allowable direct care cost per
case mix unit for all facilities in nonurban counties; for all
facilities in high labor-cost counties, if applicable; and for all
facilities in other urban counties, and determine the median
allowable direct care cost per case mix unit for each peer
group;
(g) Except as provided in (i) of this subsection, from
October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2000, determine each
facility’s quarterly direct care component rate as follows:
[Title 74 RCW—page 189]
74.46.506
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(i) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit is
less than eighty-five percent of the facility’s peer group
median established under (f) of this subsection shall be
assigned a cost per case mix unit equal to eighty-five percent
of the facility’s peer group median, and shall have a direct
care component rate allocation equal to the facility’s assigned
cost per case mix unit multiplied by that facility’s medicaid
average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified
in RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(ii) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit
is greater than one hundred fifteen percent of the peer group
median established under (f) of this subsection shall be
assigned a cost per case mix unit equal to one hundred fifteen
percent of the peer group median, and shall have a direct care
component rate allocation equal to the facility’s assigned cost
per case mix unit multiplied by that facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in
RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(iii) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit
is between eighty-five and one hundred fifteen percent of the
peer group median established under (f) of this subsection
shall have a direct care component rate allocation equal to the
facility’s allowable cost per case mix unit multiplied by that
facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(h) Except as provided in (i) of this subsection, from July
1, 2000, through June 30, 2006, determine each facility’s
quarterly direct care component rate as follows:
(i) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit is
less than ninety percent of the facility’s peer group median
established under (f) of this subsection shall be assigned a
cost per case mix unit equal to ninety percent of the facility’s
peer group median, and shall have a direct care component
rate allocation equal to the facility’s assigned cost per case
mix unit multiplied by that facility’s medicaid average case
mix index from the applicable quarter specified in RCW
74.46.501(7)(c);
(ii) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit
is greater than one hundred ten percent of the peer group
median established under (f) of this subsection shall be
assigned a cost per case mix unit equal to one hundred ten
percent of the peer group median, and shall have a direct care
component rate allocation equal to the facility’s assigned cost
per case mix unit multiplied by that facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in
RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(iii) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit
is between ninety and one hundred ten percent of the peer
group median established under (f) of this subsection shall
have a direct care component rate allocation equal to the
facility’s allowable cost per case mix unit multiplied by that
facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(i)(i) Between October 1, 1998, and June 30, 2000, the
department shall compare each facility’s direct care component rate allocation calculated under (g) of this subsection
with the facility’s nursing services component rate in effect
on September 30, 1998, less therapy costs, plus any exceptional care offsets as reported on the cost report, adjusted for
economic trends and conditions as provided in RCW
74.46.431. A facility shall receive the higher of the two rates.
[Title 74 RCW—page 190]
(ii) Between July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2002, the department shall compare each facility’s direct care component rate
allocation calculated under (h) of this subsection with the
facility’s direct care component rate in effect on June 30,
2000. A facility shall receive the higher of the two rates.
Between July 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002, if during any quarter a facility whose rate paid under (h) of this subsection is
greater than either the direct care rate in effect on June 30,
2000, or than that facility’s allowable direct care cost per case
mix unit calculated in (d) of this subsection multiplied by that
facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in RCW 74.46.501(7)(c), the facility
shall be paid in that and each subsequent quarter pursuant to
(h) of this subsection and shall not be entitled to the greater of
the two rates.
(iii) Between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2006, all direct
care component rate allocations shall be as determined under
(h) of this subsection.
(iv) Effective July 1, 2006, for all providers, except vital
local providers as defined in this chapter, all direct care component rate allocations shall be as determined under (j) of this
subsection.
(v) Effective July 1, 2006, for vital local providers, as
defined in this chapter, direct care component rate allocations
shall be determined as follows:
(A) The department shall calculate:
(I) The sum of each facility’s July 1, 2006, direct care
component rate allocation calculated under (j) of this subsection and July 1, 2006, operations component rate calculated
under RCW 74.46.521; and
(II) The sum of each facility’s June 30, 2006, direct care
and operations component rates.
(B) If the sum calculated under (i)(v)(A)(I) of this subsection is less than the sum calculated under (i)(v)(A)(II) of
this subsection, the facility shall have a direct care component rate allocation equal to the facility’s June 30, 2006,
direct care component rate allocation.
(C) If the sum calculated under (i)(v)(A)(I) of this subsection is greater than or equal to the sum calculated under
(i)(v)(A)(II) of this subsection, the facility’s direct care component rate shall be calculated under (j) of this subsection;
(j) Except as provided in (i) of this subsection, from July
1, 2006, forward, and for all future rate setting, determine
each facility’s quarterly direct care component rate as follows:
(i) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit is
greater than one hundred twelve percent of the peer group
median established under (f) of this subsection shall be
assigned a cost per case mix unit equal to one hundred twelve
percent of the peer group median, and shall have a direct care
component rate allocation equal to the facility’s assigned cost
per case mix unit multiplied by that facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in
RCW 74.46.501(7)(c);
(ii) Any facility whose allowable cost per case mix unit
is less than or equal to one hundred twelve percent of the peer
group median established under (f) of this subsection shall
have a direct care component rate allocation equal to the
facility’s allowable cost per case mix unit multiplied by that
facility’s medicaid average case mix index from the applicable quarter specified in RCW 74.46.501(7)(c).
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
(6) The direct care component rate allocations calculated
in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent
necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421.
(7) Costs related to payments resulting from increases in
direct care component rates, granted under authority of RCW
74.46.508(1) for a facility’s exceptional care residents, shall
be offset against the facility’s examined, allowable direct
care costs, for each report year or partial period such
increases are paid. Such reductions in allowable direct care
costs shall be for rate setting, settlement, and other purposes
deemed appropriate by the department. [2006 c 258 § 6;
2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 10. Prior: 1999 c 353 § 5; 1999 c 181 §
1; 1998 c 322 § 25.]
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.508
74.46.508 Direct care component rate allocation—
Increases—Rules. (1) The department is authorized to
increase the direct care component rate allocation calculated
under RCW 74.46.506(5) for residents who have unmet
exceptional care needs as determined by the department in
rule. The department may, by rule, establish criteria, patient
categories, and methods of exceptional care payment.
(2) The department may by July 1, 2003, adopt rules and
implement a system of exceptional care payments for therapy
care.
(a) Payments may be made on behalf of facility residents
who are under age sixty-five, not eligible for medicare, and
can achieve significant progress in their functional status if
provided with intensive therapy care services.
(b) Payments may be made only after approval of a rehabilitation plan of care for each resident on whose behalf a
payment is made under this subsection, and each resident’s
progress must be periodically monitored. [2003 1st sp.s. c 6
§ 1; 1999 c 181 § 2.]
74.46.511
74.46.511 Therapy care component rate allocation—
Determination. (1) The therapy care component rate allocation corresponds to the provision of medicaid one-on-one
therapy provided by a qualified therapist as defined in this
chapter, including therapy supplies and therapy consultation,
for one day for one medicaid resident of a nursing facility.
The therapy care component rate allocation for October 1,
1998, through June 30, 2001, shall be based on adjusted therapy costs and days from calendar year 1996. The therapy
component rate allocation for July 1, 2001, through June 30,
2004, shall be based on adjusted therapy costs and days from
calendar year 1999. The therapy care component rate shall be
adjusted for economic trends and conditions as specified in
RCW 74.46.431(5)(b), and shall be determined in accordance
with this section.
(2) In rebasing, as provided in RCW 74.46.431(5)(a), the
department shall take from the cost reports of facilities the
following reported information:
(a) Direct one-on-one therapy charges for all residents by
payer including charges for supplies;
(b) The total units or modules of therapy care for all residents by type of therapy provided, for example, speech or
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.511
physical. A unit or module of therapy care is considered to be
fifteen minutes of one-on-one therapy provided by a qualified
therapist or support personnel; and
(c) Therapy consulting expenses for all residents.
(3) The department shall determine for all residents the
total cost per unit of therapy for each type of therapy by
dividing the total adjusted one-on-one therapy expense for
each type by the total units provided for that therapy type.
(4) The department shall divide medicaid nursing facilities in this state into two peer groups:
(a) Those facilities located within urban counties; and
(b) Those located within nonurban counties.
The department shall array the facilities in each peer
group from highest to lowest based on their total cost per unit
of therapy for each therapy type. The department shall determine the median total cost per unit of therapy for each therapy type and add ten percent of median total cost per unit of
therapy. The cost per unit of therapy for each therapy type at
a nursing facility shall be the lesser of its cost per unit of therapy for each therapy type or the median total cost per unit
plus ten percent for each therapy type for its peer group.
(5) The department shall calculate each nursing facility’s
therapy care component rate allocation as follows:
(a) To determine the allowable total therapy cost for each
therapy type, the allowable cost per unit of therapy for each
type of therapy shall be multiplied by the total therapy units
for each type of therapy;
(b) The medicaid allowable one-on-one therapy expense
shall be calculated taking the allowable total therapy cost for
each therapy type times the medicaid percent of total therapy
charges for each therapy type;
(c) The medicaid allowable one-on-one therapy expense
for each therapy type shall be divided by total adjusted medicaid days to arrive at the medicaid one-on-one therapy cost
per patient day for each therapy type;
(d) The medicaid one-on-one therapy cost per patient
day for each therapy type shall be multiplied by total adjusted
patient days for all residents to calculate the total allowable
one-on-one therapy expense. The lesser of the total allowable
therapy consultant expense for the therapy type or a reasonable percentage of allowable therapy consultant expense for
each therapy type, as established in rule by the department,
shall be added to the total allowable one-on-one therapy
expense to determine the allowable therapy cost for each
therapy type;
(e) The allowable therapy cost for each therapy type
shall be added together, the sum of which shall be the total
allowable therapy expense for the nursing facility;
(f) The total allowable therapy expense will be divided
by the greater of adjusted total patient days from the cost
report on which the therapy expenses were reported, or
patient days at eighty-five percent occupancy of licensed
beds. The outcome shall be the nursing facility’s therapy care
component rate allocation.
(6) The therapy care component rate allocations calculated in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the
extent necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421.
(7) The therapy care component rate shall be suspended
for medicaid residents in qualified nursing facilities designated by the department who are receiving therapy paid by
the department outside the facility daily rate under RCW
[Title 74 RCW—page 191]
74.46.515
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.46.508(2). [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 11. Prior: 1999 c 353 § 6;
1999 c 181 § 3; 1998 c 322 § 26.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.515
74.46.515 Support services component rate allocation—Determination. (1) The support services component
rate allocation corresponds to the provision of food, food
preparation, dietary, housekeeping, and laundry services for
one resident for one day.
(2) Beginning October 1, 1998, the department shall
determine each medicaid nursing facility’s support services
component rate allocation using cost report data specified by
RCW 74.46.431(6).
(3) To determine each facility’s support services component rate allocation, the department shall:
(a) Array facilities’ adjusted support services costs per
adjusted resident day for each facility from facilities’ cost
reports from the applicable report year, for facilities located
within urban counties, and for those located within nonurban
counties and determine the median adjusted cost for each
peer group;
(b) Set each facility’s support services component rate at
the lower of the facility’s per resident day adjusted support
services costs from the applicable cost report period or the
adjusted median per resident day support services cost for
that facility’s peer group, either urban counties or nonurban
counties, plus ten percent; and
(c) Adjust each facility’s support services component
rate for economic trends and conditions as provided in RCW
74.46.431(6).
(4) The support services component rate allocations calculated in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to
the extent necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421. [2001
1st sp.s. c 8 § 12; 1999 c 353 § 7; 1998 c 322 § 27.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.521
74.46.521 Operations component rate allocation—
Determination. (1) The operations component rate allocation corresponds to the general operation of a nursing facility
for one resident for one day, including but not limited to management, administration, utilities, office supplies, accounting
and bookkeeping, minor building maintenance, minor equipment repairs and replacements, and other supplies and services, exclusive of direct care, therapy care, support services,
property, financing allowance, and variable return.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section,
beginning October 1, 1998, the department shall determine
each medicaid nursing facility’s operations component rate
allocation using cost report data specified by RCW
74.46.431(7)(a). Effective July 1, 2002, operations component rates for all facilities except essential community providers shall be based upon a minimum occupancy of ninety
percent of licensed beds, and no operations component rate
shall be revised in response to beds banked on or after May
25, 2001, under chapter 70.38 RCW.
[Title 74 RCW—page 192]
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section,
to determine each facility’s operations component rate the
department shall:
(a) Array facilities’ adjusted general operations costs per
adjusted resident day, as determined by dividing each facility’s total allowable operations cost by its adjusted resident
days for the same report period, increased if necessary to a
minimum occupancy of ninety percent; that is, the greater of
actual or imputed occupancy at ninety percent of licensed
beds, for each facility from facilities’ cost reports from the
applicable report year, for facilities located within urban
counties and for those located within nonurban counties and
determine the median adjusted cost for each peer group;
(b) Set each facility’s operations component rate at the
lower of:
(i) The facility’s per resident day adjusted operations
costs from the applicable cost report period adjusted if necessary to a minimum occupancy of eighty-five percent of
licensed beds before July 1, 2002, and ninety percent effective July 1, 2002; or
(ii) The adjusted median per resident day general operations cost for that facility’s peer group, urban counties or
nonurban counties; and
(c) Adjust each facility’s operations component rate for
economic trends and conditions as provided in RCW
74.46.431(7)(b).
(4)(a) Effective July 1, 2006, for any facility whose
direct care component rate allocation is set equal to its June
30, 2006, direct care component rate allocation, as provided
in RCW 74.46.506(5)(i), the facility’s operations component
rate allocation shall also be set equal to the facility’s June 30,
2006, operations component rate allocation.
(b) The operations component rate allocation for facilities whose operations component rate is set equal to their
June 30, 2006, operations component rate, shall be adjusted
for economic trends and conditions as provided in RCW
74.46.431(7)(b).
(5) The operations component rate allocations calculated
in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent
necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421. [2006 c 258 § 7;
2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 13; 1999 c 353 § 8; 1998 c 322 § 28.]
Effective date—2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Effective dates—1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.531 Department may adjust component
rates—Contractor may request—Errors or omissions.
(1) The department may adjust component rates for errors or
omissions made in establishing component rates and determine amounts either overpaid to the contractor or underpaid
by the department.
(2) A contractor may request the department to adjust its
component rates because of:
(a) An error or omission the contractor made in completing a cost report; or
(b) An alleged error or omission made by the department
in determining one or more of the contractor’s component
rates.
(3) A request for a rate adjustment made on incorrect
cost reporting must be accompanied by the amended cost
74.46.531
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
report pages prepared in accordance with the department’s
written instructions and by a written explanation of the error
or omission and the necessity for the amended cost report
pages and the rate adjustment.
(4) The department shall review a contractor’s request
for a rate adjustment because of an alleged error or omission,
even if the time period has expired in which the contractor
must appeal the rate when initially issued, pursuant to rules
adopted by the department under RCW 74.46.780. If the
request is received after this time period, the department has
the authority to correct the rate if it agrees an error or omission was committed. However, if the request is denied, the
contractor shall not be entitled to any appeals or exception
review procedure that the department may adopt under RCW
74.46.780.
(5) The department shall notify the contractor of the
amount of the overpayment to be recovered or additional
payment to be made to the contractor reflecting a rate adjustment to correct an error or omission. The recovery from the
contractor of the overpayment or the additional payment to
the contractor shall be governed by the reconciliation, settlement, security, and recovery processes set forth in this chapter and by rules adopted by the department in accordance
with this chapter.
(6) Component rate adjustments approved in accordance
with this section are subject to the provisions of RCW
74.46.421. [1998 c 322 § 31.]
74.46.535
74.46.535 Quality maintenance fee. (Effective until
July 1, 2007.) The department of social and health services
shall prospectively add the medicaid cost of the quality maintenance fee under *RCW 82.71.020 to the nursing facility
component rate allocation calculated after application of all
other provisions of RCW 74.46.521. [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.71.020 was repealed by 2006 c 241 § 1,
effective July 1, 2007.
Contingent expiration date—Severability—Effective date—2003
1st sp.s. c 16: See notes following RCW 82.71.020.
PART F
BILLING/PAYMENT
74.46.600
74.46.600 Billing period. A contractor shall bill the
department for care provided to medical care recipients from
the first through the last day of each calendar month. [1980 c
177 § 60.]
74.46.610
74.46.610 Billing procedure—Rules. (1) A contractor
shall bill the department each month by completing and
returning a facility billing statement as provided by the
department. The statement shall be completed and filed in
accordance with rules established by the department.
(2) A facility shall not bill the department for service
provided to a recipient until an award letter of eligibility of
such recipient under rules established under chapter 74.09
RCW has been received by the facility. However a facility
may bill and shall be reimbursed for all medical care recipients referred to the facility by the department prior to the
receipt of the award letter of eligibility or the denial of such
eligibility.
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.630
(3) Billing shall cover the patient days of care. [1998 c
322 § 32; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 33; 1980 c 177 § 61.]
74.46.620
74.46.620 Payment. (1) The department will pay a contractor for service rendered under the facility contract and
billed in accordance with RCW 74.46.610.
(2) The amount paid will be computed using the appropriate rates assigned to the contractor.
(3) For each recipient, the department will pay an
amount equal to the appropriate rates, multiplied by the number of medicaid resident days each rate was in effect, less the
amount the recipient is required to pay for his or her care as
set forth by RCW 74.46.630. [1998 c 322 § 33; 1980 c 177 §
62.]
74.46.625
74.46.625 Supplemental payments. To the extent the
federal government approves such payments under the state’s
plan for medical assistance, and only to the extent that funds
are specifically appropriated for this purpose in the biennial
appropriations act, the department shall make supplemental
payments to nursing facilities operated by public hospital districts. The payments shall be calculated and distributed in
accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the
biennial appropriations act. The payments shall be supplemental to the component rate allocations calculated in accordance with part E of this chapter, and neither the provisions
of part E of this chapter nor the provisions of part C of this
chapter apply to these supplemental payments. [1999 c 392 §
1.]
74.46.630
74.46.630 Charges to patients. (1) The department
will notify a contractor of the amount each medical care
recipient is required to pay for care provided under the contract and the effective date of such required contribution. It is
the contractor’s responsibility to collect that portion of the
cost of care from the patient, and to account for any authorized reduction from his or her contribution in accordance
with rules established by the department.
(2) If a contractor receives documentation showing a
change in the income or resources of a recipient which will
mean a change in his or her contribution toward the cost of
care, this shall be reported in writing to the department within
seventy-two hours and in a manner specified by rules established by the department. If necessary, appropriate corrections will be made in the next facility statement, and a copy
of documentation supporting the change will be attached. If
increased funds for a recipient are received by a contractor,
an amount determined by the department shall be allowed for
clothing and personal and incidental expense, and the balance
applied to the cost of care.
(3) The contractor shall accept the payment rates established by the department as full compensation for all services
provided under the contract, certification as specified by Title
XIX, and licensure under chapter 18.51 RCW. The contractor
shall not seek or accept additional compensation from or on
behalf of a recipient for any or all such services. [1998 c 322
§ 34; 1980 c 177 § 63.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 193]
74.46.640
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
74.46.640
74.46.640 Suspension of payments. (1) Payments to a
contractor may be withheld by the department in each of the
following circumstances:
(a) A required report is not properly completed and filed
by the contractor within the appropriate time period, including any approved extension. Payments will be released as
soon as a properly completed report is received;
(b) State auditors, department auditors, or authorized
personnel in the course of their duties are refused access to a
nursing facility or are not provided with existing appropriate
records. Payments will be released as soon as such access or
records are provided;
(c) A refund in connection with a settlement or rate
adjustment is not paid by the contractor when due. The
amount withheld will be limited to the unpaid amount of the
refund and any accumulated interest owed to the department
as authorized by this chapter;
(d) Payment for the final sixty days of service prior to
termination or assignment of a contract will be held in the
absence of adequate alternate security acceptable to the
department pending settlement of all periods when the contract is terminated or assigned; and
(e) Payment for services at any time during the contract
period in the absence of adequate alternate security acceptable to the department, if a contractor’s net medicaid overpayment liability for one or more nursing facilities or other
debt to the department, as determined by settlement, civil
fines imposed by the department, third-party liabilities or
other source, reaches or exceeds fifty thousand dollars,
whether subject to good faith dispute or not, and for each subsequent increase in liability reaching or exceeding twentyfive thousand dollars. Payments will be released as soon as
practicable after acceptable security is provided or refund to
the department is made.
(2) No payment will be withheld until written notification of the suspension is provided to the contractor, stating
the reason for the withholding, except that neither a timely
filed request to pursue any administrative appeals or exception procedure that the department may establish by rule nor
commencement of judicial review, as may be available to the
contractor in law, shall delay suspension of payment. [1998
c 322 § 35; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 112; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 34;
1980 c 177 § 64.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
PART G
ADMINISTRATION
74.46.660
74.46.660 Conditions of participation. In order to participate in the nursing facility medicaid payment system
established by this chapter, the person or legal entity responsible for operation of a facility shall:
(1) Obtain a state certificate of need and/or federal capital expenditure review (section 1122) approval pursuant to
chapter 70.38 RCW and Part 100, Title 42 CFR where
required;
(2) Hold the appropriate current license;
(3) Hold current Title XIX certification;
(4) Hold a current contract to provide services under this
chapter;
(5) Comply with all provisions of the contract and all
applicable regulations, including but not limited to the provisions of this chapter; and
(6) Obtain and maintain medicare certification, under
Title XVIII of the social security act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395, as
amended, for a portion of the facility’s licensed beds. [1998
c 322 § 37; 1992 c 215 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 8 § 13; 1980 c 177 §
66.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
74.46.680
74.46.680 Change of ownership—Assignment of
department’s contract. (1) On the effective date of a
change of ownership the department’s contract with the old
owner shall be automatically assigned to the new owner,
unless: (a) The new owner does not desire to participate in
medicaid as a nursing facility provider; (b) the department
elects not to continue the contract with the new owner for
good cause; or (c) the new owner elects not to accept assignment and requests certification and a new contract. The old
owner shall give the department sixty days’ written notice of
such intent to change ownership and assign. When certificate
of need and/or section 1122 approval is required pursuant to
chapter 70.38 RCW and Part 100, Title 42 CFR, for the new
owner to acquire the facility, and the new owner wishes to
continue to provide service to recipients without interruption,
certificate of need and/or section 1122 approval shall be
obtained before the old owner submits a notice of intent to
change ownership and assign.
(2) If the new owner desires to participate in the nursing
facility medicaid payment system, it shall meet the conditions
specified in RCW 74.46.660. The facility contract with the
new owner shall be effective as of the date of the change of
ownership. [1998 c 322 § 38; 1985 c 361 § 2; 1980 c 177 §
68.]
74.46.650
74.46.650 Termination of payments. All payments to
a contractor will end no later than sixty days after any of the
following occurs:
(1) A contract is terminated, assigned, or is not renewed;
(2) A facility license is revoked; or
(3) A facility is decertified as a Title XIX facility; except
that, in situations where the department determines that residents must remain in such facility for a longer period because
of the resident’s health or safety, payments for such residents
shall continue. [1998 c 322 § 36; 1980 c 177 § 65.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 194]
Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 38 and 39: "Sections 38 and 39 of this
act take effect October 1, 1998." [1998 c 322 § 59.]
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.690
74.46.690 Change of ownership—Final reports—
Settlement. (1) When there is a change of ownership for any
reason, final reports shall be submitted as required by RCW
74.46.040.
(2) Upon a notification of intent to change ownership,
the department shall determine by settlement or reconciliation the amount of any overpayments made to the assigning
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
or terminating contractor, including overpayments disputed
by the assigning or terminating contractor. If settlements are
unavailable for any period up to the date of assignment or termination, the department shall make a reasonable estimate of
any overpayment or underpayments for such periods. The
reasonable estimate shall be based upon prior period settlements, available audit findings, the projected impact of prospective rates, and other information available to the department. The department shall also determine and add in the
total of all other debts and potential debts owed to the department regardless of source, including, but not limited to, interest owed to the department as authorized by this chapter, civil
fines imposed by the department, or third-party liabilities.
(3) For all cost reports filed after December 31, 1997, the
assigning or terminating contractor shall provide security, in
a form deemed adequate by the department, equal to the total
amount of determined and estimated overpayments and all
debts and potential debts from any source, whether or not the
overpayments are the subject of good faith dispute including
but not limited to, interest owed to the department, civil fines
imposed by the department, and third-party liabilities. Security shall consist of one or more of the following:
(a) Withheld payments due the assigning or terminating
contractor under the contract being assigned or terminated;
(b) An assignment of funds to the department;
(c) The new contractor’s assumption of liability for the
prior contractor’s debt or potential debt;
(d) An authorization to withhold payments from one or
more medicaid nursing facilities that continue to be operated
by the assigning or terminating contractor;
(e) A promissory note secured by a deed of trust; or
(f) Other collateral or security acceptable to the department.
(4) An assignment of funds shall:
(a) Be at least equal to the amount of determined or estimated debt or potential debt minus withheld payments or
other security provided; and
(b) Provide that an amount equal to any recovery the
department determines is due from the contractor from any
source of debt to the department, but not exceeding the
amount of the assigned funds, shall be paid to the department
if the contractor does not pay the debt within sixty days following receipt of written demand for payment from the
department to the contractor.
(5) The department shall release any payment withheld
as security if alternate security is provided under subsection
(3) of this section in an amount equivalent to the determined
and estimated debt.
(6) If the total of withheld payments and assigned funds
is less than the total of determined and estimated debt, the
unsecured amount of such debt shall be a debt due the state
and shall become a lien against the real and personal property
of the contractor from the time of filing by the department
with the county auditor of the county where the contractor
resides or owns property, and the lien claim has preference
over the claims of all unsecured creditors.
(7) A properly completed final cost report shall be filed
in accordance with the requirements of RCW 74.46.040,
which shall be examined by the department in accordance
with the requirements of RCW 74.46.100.
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.700
(8) Security held pursuant to this section shall be
released to the contractor after all debts, including accumulated interest owed the department, have been paid by the old
owner.
(9) If, after calculation of settlements for any periods, it
is determined that overpayments exist in excess of the value
of security held by the state, the department may seek recovery of these additional overpayments as provided by law.
(10) Regardless of whether a contractor intends to
change ownership, if a contractor’s net medicaid overpayments and erroneous payments for one or more settlement
periods, and for one or more nursing facilities, combined
with debts due the department, reaches or exceeds a total of
fifty thousand dollars, as determined by settlement, civil fines
imposed by the department, third-party liabilities or by any
other source, whether such amounts are subject to good faith
dispute or not, the department shall demand and obtain security equivalent to the total of such overpayments, erroneous
payments, and debts and shall obtain security for each subsequent increase in liability reaching or exceeding twenty-five
thousand dollars. Such security shall meet the criteria in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, except that the department
shall not accept an assumption of liability. The department
shall withhold all or portions of a contractor’s current contract payments or impose liens, or both, if security acceptable
to the department is not forthcoming. The department shall
release a contractor’s withheld payments or lift liens, or both,
if the contractor subsequently provides security acceptable to
the department.
(11) Notwithstanding the application of security measures authorized by this section, if the department determines
that any remaining debt of the old owner is uncollectible from
the old owner, the new owner is liable for the unsatisfied debt
in all respects. If the new owner does not accept assignment
of the contract and the contingent liability for all debt of the
prior owner, a new certification survey shall be done and no
payments shall be made to the new owner until the department determines the facility is in substantial compliance for
the purposes of certification.
(12) Medicaid provider contracts shall only be assigned
if there is a change of ownership, and with approval by the
department. [1998 c 322 § 39; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 113; 1985
c 361 § 3; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 36; 1980 c 177 § 69.]
Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 38 and 39: See note following RCW
74.46.680.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
PART H
PATIENT TRUST FUNDS
74.46.700
74.46.700 Resident personal funds—Records—
Rules. Each nursing home shall establish and maintain, as a
service to the resident, a bookkeeping system incorporated
into the business records for all resident moneys entrusted to
the contractor and received by the facility for the resident.
The department shall adopt rules to ensure that resident
personal funds handled by the facility are maintained by each
nursing home in a manner that is, at a minimum, consistent
[Title 74 RCW—page 195]
74.46.711
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
with federal requirements. [1991 sp.s. c 8 § 19; 1980 c 177 §
70.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 8: See note following RCW 18.51.050.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
74.46.790 Denial, suspension, or revocation of license
or provisional license—Penalties. The department is authorized to deny, suspend, or revoke a license or provisional
license or, in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, assess monetary penalties of a civil nature not to exceed one thousand
dollars per violation in any case in which it finds that the licensee, or any partner, officer, director, owner of five percent
or more of the assets of the nursing home, or managing
employee:
(1) Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of
this chapter or the rules and regulations established hereunder; or
(2) Has knowingly or with reason to know made a false
statement of a material fact in any record required by this
chapter; or
(3) Refused to allow representatives or agents of the
department to inspect all books, records, and files required by
this chapter to be maintained or any portion of the premises
of the nursing home; or
(4) Wilfully prevented, interfered with, or attempted to
impede in any way the work of any duly authorized representative of the department and the lawful enforcement of any
provision of this chapter; or
(5) Wilfully prevented or interfered with any representative of the department in the preservation of evidence of any
violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules
and regulations promulgated hereunder. [1980 c 177 § 79.]
74.46.790
74.46.711
74.46.711 Resident personal funds—Conveyance
upon death of resident. Upon the death of a resident with a
personal fund deposited with the facility, the facility must
convey within thirty days the resident’s funds, and a final
accounting of those funds, to the individual or probate jurisdiction administering the resident’s estate; but in the case of
a resident who received long-term care services paid in whole
or in part by the department, the funds and accounting shall
be sent to the state of Washington, department of social and
health services, office of financial recovery. The department
shall establish a release procedure for use for burial expenses.
[2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 14; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 69.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
PART I
MISCELLANEOUS
74.46.770
74.46.770 Contractor appeals—Challenges of laws,
rules, or contract provisions—Challenge based on federal
law. (1) If a contractor wishes to contest the way in which a
rule relating to the medicaid payment system was applied to
the contractor by the department, it shall pursue any appeals
or exception procedure that the department may establish in
rule authorized by RCW 74.46.780.
(2) If a contractor wishes to challenge the legal validity
of a statute, rule, or contract provision or wishes to bring a
challenge based in whole or in part on federal law, any
appeals or exception procedure that the department may
establish in rule may not be used for these purposes. This prohibition shall apply regardless of whether the contractor
wishes to obtain a decision or ruling on an issue of validity or
federal compliance or wishes only to make a record for the
purpose of subsequent judicial review.
(3) If a contractor wishes to challenge the legal validity
of a statute, rule, or contract provision relating to the medicaid payment rate system, or wishes to bring a challenge based
in whole or in part on federal law, it must bring such action de
novo in a court of proper jurisdiction as may be provided by
law. [1998 c 322 § 40; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 114; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 67 § 39; 1980 c 177 § 77.]
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—
1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.
74.46.780
74.46.780 Appeals or exception procedure. The
department shall establish in rule, consistent with federal
requirements for nursing facilities participating in the medicaid program, an appeals or exception procedure that allows
individual nursing care providers an opportunity to submit
additional evidence and receive prompt administrative
review of payment rates with respect to such issues as the
department deems appropriate. [1998 c 322 § 41; 1995 1st
sp.s. c 18 § 115; 1989 c 175 § 159; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 40;
1980 c 177 § 78.]
[Title 74 RCW—page 196]
74.46.800 Rule-making authority. (1) The department
shall have authority to adopt, amend, and rescind such
administrative rules and definitions as it deems necessary to
carry out the policies and purposes of this chapter and to
resolve issues and develop procedures that it deems necessary to implement, update, and improve the case mix elements of the nursing facility medicaid payment system.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require
the department to adopt or employ any calculations, steps,
tests, methodologies, alternate methodologies, indexes, formulas, mathematical or statistical models, concepts, or procedures for medicaid rate setting or payment that are not
expressly called for in this chapter. [1998 c 322 § 42; 1980 c
177 § 80.]
74.46.800
74.46.803 Certificate of capital authorization—
Rules. The department shall establish rules for issuing a certificate of capital authorization. Applications for a certificate
of capital authorization shall be submitted and approved on a
biennial basis. The rules for a certificate of capital authorization shall be consistent with the following principles:
(1) The certificate of capital authorization shall be
approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
(2) Those projects that do not receive approval in one
authorization period shall have priority the following biennium should the project be resubmitted.
(3) The department shall have the authority to give priority for a project that is necessitated by an emergency situation
even if the project is not submitted in a timely fashion. The
74.46.803
(2006 Ed.)
Nursing Facility Medicaid Payment System
department shall establish rules for determining what constitutes an emergency.
(4) The department shall establish deadlines for progress
and the department shall have the authority to withdraw the
certificate of capital authorization where the holder of the
certificate has not complied with those deadlines in a good
faith manner. [2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 16.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.807
74.46.807 Capital authorization—Determination.
The total capital authorization available for any biennial
period shall be specified in the biennial appropriations act
and shall be calculated on an annual basis. When setting the
capital authorization level, the legislature shall consider both
the need for, and the cost of, new and replacement beds.
[2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 15.]
Severability—Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.820
74.46.820 Public disclosure. (1) Cost reports and their
final audit reports filed by the contractor shall be subject to
public disclosure pursuant to the requirements of chapter
42.56 RCW.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not prevent a contractor from having access to its own records or from authorizing an agent or designee to have access to the contractor’s
records.
(3) Regardless of whether any document or report submitted to the secretary pursuant to this chapter is subject to
public disclosure, copies of such documents or reports shall
be provided by the secretary, upon written request, to the legislature and to state agencies or state or local law enforcement
officials who have an official interest in the contents thereof.
[2005 c 274 § 356; 1998 c 322 § 43; 1985 c 361 § 14; 1983
1st ex.s. c 67 § 41; 1980 c 177 § 82.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Savings—1985 c 361: See note following RCW 74.46.020.
74.46.835
74.46.835 AIDS pilot nursing facility—Payment for
direct care. (1) Payment for direct care at the pilot nursing
facility in King county designed to meet the service needs of
residents living with AIDS, as defined in RCW 70.24.017,
and as specifically authorized for this purpose under chapter
9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess., shall be exempt from case mix
methods of rate determination set forth in this chapter and
shall be exempt from the direct care metropolitan statistical
area peer group cost limitation set forth in this chapter.
(2) Direct care component rates at the AIDS pilot facility
shall be based on direct care reported costs at the pilot facility, utilizing the same three-year, rate-setting cycle prescribed for other nursing facilities, and as supported by a
staffing benchmark based upon a department-approved acuity measurement system.
(3) The provisions of RCW 74.46.421 and all other ratesetting principles, cost lids, and limits, including settlement
as provided in RCW 74.46.165 shall apply to the AIDS pilot
facility.
(4) This section applies only to the AIDS pilot nursing
facility. [1998 c 322 § 46.]
(2006 Ed.)
74.46.905
74.46.840
74.46.840 Conflict with federal requirements. If any
part of this chapter or RCW 18.51.145 or 74.09.120 is found
by an agency of the federal government to be in conflict with
federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the
receipts of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this chapter or RCW 18.51.145 or 74.09.120 is declared inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to
the agencies directly affected, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this
chapter or RCW 18.51.145 or 74.09.120 in its application to
the agencies concerned. In the event that any portion of this
chapter or RCW 18.51.145 or 74.09.120 is found to be in
conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the receipt of federal funds, the secretary, to the extent
that the secretary finds it to be consistent with the general
policies and intent of chapters 18.51, 74.09, and 74.46 RCW,
may adopt such rules as to resolve a specific conflict and that
do meet minimum federal requirements. In addition, the secretary shall submit to the next regular session of the legislature a summary of the specific rule changes made and recommendations for statutory resolution of the conflict. [1998 c
322 § 44; 1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 42; 1980 c 177 § 92.]
74.46.900
74.46.900 Severability—1980 c 177. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1980 c 177 § 93.]
74.46.901
74.46.901 Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 67; 1980 c
177. (1) Sections 2, 7, 83, 85, 86, and 91 of chapter 177,
Laws of 1980 are necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect on April 4, 1980.
(2) Section 27 of chapter 177, Laws of 1980 shall take
effect on July 1, 1980.
(3) RCW 74.46.300, 74.46.360, *74.46.510, and
*74.46.530 shall take effect on January 1, 1985.
(4) All other sections of chapter 74.46 RCW, except
those which took effect before July 1, 1983, shall take effect
on July 1, 1983, which shall be "the effective date of this act"
where that term is used in chapter 177, Laws of 1980. [1983
1st ex.s. c 67 § 49; 1981 1st ex.s. c 2 § 10; 1980 c 177 § 94.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.510 and 74.46.530 were repealed by
1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 98, effective June 30, 1998.
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 67: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions and shall take effect
on July 1, 1983, with the exception of section 28 of this act, which shall take
effect on January 1, 1985." [1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 51.]
Severability—Effective dates—1981 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes following RCW 18.51.010.
74.46.902
74.46.902 Section captions—1980 c 177. Section captions as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.
[1980 c 177 § 89.]
74.46.905
74.46.905 Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 67. If any
provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
[Title 74 RCW—page 197]
74.46.906
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1983 1st ex.s. c 67 § 43.]
74.46.906 Effective date—1998 c 322 §§ 1-37, 40-49,
and 52-54. Sections 1 through 37, 40 through 49, and 52
through 54 of this act take effect July 1, 1998. [1998 c 322 §
55.]
74.46.906
74.46.907 Severability—1998 c 322. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1998 c 322 § 56.]
74.46.907
Chapter 74.50 RCW
ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION
TREATMENT AND SUPPORT
Chapter 74.50
Sections
74.50.010
74.50.011
74.50.035
74.50.040
74.50.050
74.50.055
74.50.060
74.50.070
74.50.080
74.50.900
Legislative findings.
Additional legislative findings.
Shelter services—Eligibility.
Client assessment, treatment, and support services.
Treatment services.
Treatment services—Eligibility.
Shelter assistance program.
County multipurpose diagnostic center or detention center.
Rules—Discontinuance of service.
Short title.
Alcoholism, intoxication, and drug addiction treatment: Chapters 70.96 and
70.96A RCW.
Applicability of chapter 74.08 RCW: RCW 74.08.900.
74.50.010 Legislative findings. The legislature finds:
(1) There is a need for reevaluation of state policies and
programs regarding indigent alcoholics and drug addicts;
(2) The practice of providing a cash grant may be causing rapid caseload growth and attracting transients to the
state;
(3) Many chronic public inebriates have been recycled
through county detoxification centers repeatedly without
apparent improvement;
(4) The assumption that all individuals will recover
through treatment has not been substantiated;
(5) The state must modify its policies and programs for
alcoholics and drug addicts and redirect its resources in the
interests of these individuals, the community, and the taxpayers; and
(6) Treatment resources should be focused on persons
willing to commit to rehabilitation; and
(7) It is the intent of the legislature that, to the extent possible, shelter services be developed under this chapter that do
not result in the displacement of existing emergency shelter
beds. To the extent that shelter operators do not object, it is
the intent of the legislature that any vacant shelter beds contracted for under this chapter be made available to provide
emergency temporary shelter to homeless individuals. [1988
c 163 § 1; 1987 c 406 § 2.]
74.50.010
74.50.011 Additional legislative findings. The legislature recognizes that alcoholism and drug addiction are treatable diseases and that most persons with this illness can
recover. For this reason, this chapter provides a range of sub74.50.011
[Title 74 RCW—page 198]
stance abuse treatment services. In addition, the legislature
recognizes that when these diseases have progressed to the
stage where a person’s alcoholism or drug addiction has
resulted in physiological or organic damage or cognitive
impairment, shelter services may be appropriate. The legislature further recognizes that distinguishing alcoholics and
drug addicts from persons incapacitated due to physical disability or mental illness is necessary in order to provide an
incentive for alcoholics and drug addicts to seek appropriate
treatment and in order to avoid use of programs that are not
oriented toward their conditions. [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 1.]
Study and report—1989 1st ex.s. c 18: "The department of social and
health services shall:
(1) Collect and maintain relevant demographic data regarding persons
receiving or awaiting treatment services under this chapter;
(2) Collect and maintain utilization data on inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, shelter services, and medical services;
(3) Monitor contracted service providers to ensure conformance with
the omnibus appropriations act and the treatment priorities established in this
chapter;
(4) Report the results of the data collection and monitoring provided
for in this section to appropriate committees of the legislature on or before
December 1, 1989, and December 1, 1990." [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 7.]
Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 18: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 9.]
Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c 18: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1989." [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 10.]
74.50.035
74.50.035 Shelter services—Eligibility. A person is
eligible for shelter services under this chapter only if he or
she:
(1) Meets the financial eligibility requirements contained
in RCW 74.04.005;
(2) Is incapacitated from gainful employment due to a
condition contained in subsection (3) of this section, which
incapacity will likely continue for a minimum of sixty days;
and
(3)(a) Suffers from active addiction to alcohol or drugs
manifested by physiological or organic damage resulting in
functional limitation, based on documented evidence from a
physician, psychologist, or alcohol or drug treatment professional who is determined by the department to be qualified to
make this finding; or
(b) Suffers from active addiction to alcohol or drugs to
the extent that impairment of the applicant’s cognitive ability
will not dissipate with sobriety or detoxification, based on
documented evidence from a physician, psychologist, or
alcohol or drug treatment professional who is determined by
the department to be qualified to make this finding. [1989 1st
ex.s. c 18 § 2.]
Study and report—Severability—Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 74.50.011.
74.50.040
74.50.040 Client assessment, treatment, and support
services. (1) The department shall provide client assessment,
treatment, and support services. The assessment services
shall include diagnostic evaluation and arranging for admission into treatment or supported living programs.
(2) The department shall assist clients in making application for supplemental security benefits and in obtaining the
(2006 Ed.)
Children’s System of Care
necessary documentation required by the federal social security administration for such benefits. [1987 c 406 § 5.]
74.50.050
74.50.050 Treatment services. (1) The department
shall establish a treatment program to provide, within available funds, alcohol and drug treatment services for indigent
persons eligible under this chapter. The treatment services
may include but are not limited to:
(a) Intensive inpatient treatment services;
(b) Recovery house treatment;
(c) Outpatient treatment and counseling, including assistance in obtaining employment, and including a living allowance while undergoing outpatient treatment. The living
allowance may not be used to provide shelter to clients in a
dormitory setting that does not require sobriety as a condition
of residence. The living allowance shall be administered on
the clients’ behalf by the outpatient treatment facility or other
social service agency designated by the department. The
department is authorized to pay the facility a fee for administering this allowance.
(2) The department may require an applicant or recipient
selecting treatment to complete inpatient and recovery house
treatment when, in the judgment of a designated assessment
center, such treatment is necessary prior to providing the outpatient program. [2002 c 64 § 1; 1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 5; 1988
c 163 § 3; 1987 c 406 § 6.]
Study and report—Severability—Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 74.50.011.
74.50.055 Treatment services—Eligibility. (1) A person shall not be eligible for treatment services under this
chapter unless he or she:
(a) Meets the financial eligibility requirements contained
in RCW 74.04.005; and
(b) Is incapacitated from gainful employment, which
incapacity will likely continue for a minimum of sixty days.
(2) First priority for receipt of treatment services shall be
given to pregnant women and parents of young children.
(3) In order to rationally allocate treatment services, the
department may establish by rule caseload ceilings and additional eligibility criteria, including the setting of priorities
among classes of persons for the receipt of treatment services. Any such rules shall be consistent with any conditions
or limitations contained in any appropriations for treatment
services. [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 4.]
74.50.055
Study and report—Severability—Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 74.50.011.
not displace existing emergency shelter beds for use as shelter under this chapter. In areas of the state in which it is not
feasible to develop shelters, due to low numbers of people
needing shelter services, or in which sufficient numbers of
shelter beds are not available, the department may provide
shelter through an intensive protective payee program, unless
the department grants an exception on an individual basis for
less intense supervision.
(2) Persons continuously eligible for the general assistance—unemployable program since July 25, 1987, who
transfer to the program established by this chapter, have the
option to continue their present living situation, but only
through a protective payee. [1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 3; 1988 c
163 § 4; 1987 c 406 § 7.]
Study and report—Severability—Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 74.50.011.
74.50.070
74.50.070 County multipurpose diagnostic center or
detention center. (1) If a county elects to establish a multipurpose diagnostic center or detention center, the alcoholism
and drug addiction assessment service under RCW 74.50.040
may be integrated into the services provided by such a center.
(2) The center may be financed from funds made available by the department for alcoholism and drug addiction
assessments under this chapter and funds contained in the
department’s budget for detoxification, involuntary detention, and involuntary treatment under chapters 70.96A and
71.05 RCW. The center may be operated by the county or
pursuant to contract between the county and a qualified organization. [1987 c 406 § 8.]
74.50.080
74.50.080 Rules—Discontinuance of service. The
department by rule may establish procedures for the administration of the services provided by this chapter. Any rules
shall be consistent with any conditions or limitations on
appropriations provided for these services. If funds provided
for any service under this chapter have been fully expended,
the department shall immediately discontinue that service.
[1989 1st ex.s. c 18 § 6; 1989 c 3 § 2.]
Study and report—Severability—Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c
18: See notes following RCW 74.50.011.
74.50.900
74.50.900 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the
alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and support act.
[1987 c 406 § 1.]
Chapter 74.55
74.50.060
74.50.060 Shelter assistance program. (1) The department shall establish a shelter assistance program to provide,
within available funds, shelter for persons eligible under this
chapter. "Shelter," "shelter support," or "shelter assistance"
means a facility under contract to the department providing
room and board in a supervised living arrangement, normally
in a group or dormitory setting, to eligible recipients under
this chapter. This may include supervised domiciliary facilities operated under the auspices of public or private agencies.
No facility under contract to the department shall allow the
consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises. The
department may contract with counties and cities for such
shelter services. To the extent possible, the department shall
(2006 Ed.)
74.55.010
Chapter 74.55 RCW
CHILDREN’S SYSTEM OF CARE
Sections
74.55.010
74.55.020
74.55.030
74.55.050
Demonstration sites—Selection criteria—Definition.
Goals.
Collaboration contract or memorandum of understanding.
Funding—Report.
74.55.010
74.55.010 Demonstration sites—Selection criteria—
Definition. (1) The secretary shall establish demonstration
sites for statewide implementation of a children’s system of
care. The demonstration sites shall be selected using the following criteria:
[Title 74 RCW—page 199]
74.55.020
Title 74 RCW: Public Assistance
(a) The system administrator must be the recipient of
funding by the federal center for mental health services for
the purpose of developing a system of care for children with
emotional and behavioral disorders;
(b) The system administrator must have established a
process for ongoing input and coordination from the public
health and safety network or networks established in the
catchment area of the project; and
(c) The system administrator may be a project site under
a Title IV-E waiver.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "children’s system of
care" means a centralized community care coordination system representing a philosophy about the way services should
be delivered to children and their families, using existing
resources of various child-serving agencies addressing the
problems of children with emotional and behavioral disorders. The agencies represented may include providers of
mental health services, drug and alcohol services, services for
the developmentally disabled, county juvenile justice and
state juvenile rehabilitation, child welfare, and special education. [2002 c 309 § 1.]
74.55.020
74.55.020 Goals. The goals of the children’s system of
care are to:
(1) Maintain a multiagency collaborative planning and
system management mechanism at the state and local levels
through the establishment of an oversight committee at the
local level in accordance with the principles and program
requirements associated with the federal center for children’s
mental health services;
(2) Recommend and make necessary financing changes
to support individualized and flexible home and communitybased services and supports that are child centered, family
driven, strength based, and culturally competent;
(3) Support a common screening tool and integrated care
coordination system;
(4) Recommend and make necessary changes in contracting to support integrated service delivery;
(5) Promote and increase the expansion of system capacity for children and their families in each demonstration site
community;
(6) Develop the capacity of family members to provide
support for one another and to strengthen the family voice in
system implementation through the utilization of a citizens’
advisory board as described in *RCW 74.55.040 and through
other outreach activities;
(7) Conduct research and draw on outside consultation to
identify best practices to inform system development and
refinement; and
(8) Demonstrate cost-effectiveness by creating system
efficiencies that generate savings from the current level of
expenditures for children being served by the participating
agencies. These savings must be used to provide more services to the children involved in the project, or to serve more
children. [2002 c 309 § 2.]
ated directly by the department or by departmental contractors. A collaboration contract or memorandum of understanding shall be developed by the demonstration site and the secretary for that purpose. [2002 c 309 § 3.]
74.55.050
74.55.050 Funding—Report. Funding for children’s
system of care projects following the expiration of the federal
grant shall be determined using the process established in
RCW 74.14A.060 and funded children’s system of care
projects shall be included in the annual report required by that
section. [2002 c 309 § 5.]
Chapter 74.98
Chapter 74.98 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
Sections
74.98.010
74.98.020
74.98.030
74.98.040
74.98.050
74.98.060
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Purpose—1959 c 26.
Repeals and saving.
Emergency—1959 c 26.
74.98.010
74.98.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1959 c 26 §
74.98.010.]
74.98.020
74.98.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title do not constitute any part of
the law. [1959 c 26 § 74.98.020.]
74.98.030
74.98.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any provision of this title, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the title, the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected. [1959 c 26 § 74.98.030.]
74.98.040
74.98.040 Purpose—1959 c 26. It is the purpose and
intent of this title to provide for the public welfare by making
available, in conjunction with federal matching funds, such
public assistance as is necessary to insure to recipients
thereof a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency
and health. [1959 c 26 § 74.98.040.]
74.98.050
74.98.050 Repeals and saving.
74.98.050.
See 1959 c 26 §
74.98.060
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.55.040 expired January 1, 2004.
74.55.030
74.55.030 Collaboration contract or memorandum of
understanding. The secretary shall assure collaboration
with each demonstration site by child-serving entities oper[Title 74 RCW—page 200]
74.98.060 Emergency—1959 c 26. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
[1959 c 26 § 74.98.060.]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 76
Title 76
FORESTS AND FOREST PRODUCTS
Chapters
76.01 General provisions.
76.04 Forest protection.
76.06 Forest insect and disease control.
76.09 Forest practices.
76.10 Surface mining.
76.13 Stewardship of nonindustrial forests and woodlands.
76.14 Forest rehabilitation.
76.15 Community and urban forestry.
76.36 Marks and brands.
76.42 Wood debris—Removal from navigable waters.
76.44 Institute of forest resources.
76.48 Specialized forest products.
76.52 Cooperative forest management services act.
76.56 Center for international trade in forest products.
Access roads to public and state forest lands: Chapter 79.38 RCW.
County timber: Chapter 36.34 RCW.
Easements over public lands: Chapter 79.36 RCW.
Exchange of state lands to facilitate marketing of forest products or to consolidate state lands: RCW 79.17.010.
Excise tax on conveyance of standing timber: Chapter 82.45 RCW.
Forest management, major line at state universities: RCW 28B.10.115,
28B.20.060.
Forest roads, county: RCW 36.82.140.
Infractions: Chapter 7.84 RCW.
Lien for labor and services on timber and lumber: Chapter 60.24 RCW.
Limitation on liability of forest landowner for injuries to recreation users:
RCW 4.24.210.
Logging railroads: Title 81 RCW.
Logging trucks, special permits for use of roads and highways: RCW
46.44.047.
Logs on county highways and bridges: RCW 36.86.090.
Measurement of timber and wood products, fraud, penalty: RCW 9.45.122
through 9.45.126.
Motor vehicle size, weight and load: Chapter 46.44 RCW.
National forests, jurisdiction: Chapter 37.08 RCW.
Pest control compact: Chapter 17.34 RCW.
Reservation of timber on sale of county tax-title lands: RCW 36.35.120.
Safety supervisor: RCW 43.22.040.
Sustained yield plan and cooperative agreements: Chapter 79.10 RCW.
Taxation and/or assessment of lands lying both within fire protection district
and forest protection assessment area: RCW 52.16.170.
Transportation of forest products, applicability of public utility tax: RCW
82.16.020.
University demonstration forest and experiment station: RCW 79.17.030.
Chapter 76.01
Chapter 76.01 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
76.01.080
76.01.090
(2006 Ed.)
Lacey compound—Light industrial facilities/land—Sale or
exchange.
Proposal for exchange or sale—Lacey compound site.
76.01.080
76.01.080 Lacey compound—Light industrial facilities/land—Sale or exchange. Except as provided in RCW
76.01.090, the department of natural resources may sell or
exchange the light industrial facilities and land in Thurston
county, known as the Lacey compound, which was acquired
as an administrative site. This land and the facilities may be
sold or exchanged for other lands and facilities in Thurston
county, or counties adjacent to Thurston county, for use as an
administrative site. The property may be exchanged for public or private property. The department is authorized to accept
cash or expend cash from appropriated funds in order to balance a proposed exchange. Alternatively, the department may
sell the Lacey compound at public auction or under *RCW
79.01.009. The sale or exchange must be for at least market
value. Transactions involving the construction of improvements must be conducted pursuant to Title 39 RCW, as applicable, and must comply with all other applicable laws and
rules. Proceeds received from the sale or exchange of the
Lacey compound must be deposited into the park land trust
revolving fund to be used to acquire a replacement administrative site. Funds received from the exchange or sale that are
not used to either replace or construct, or both, the administrative site must be deposited pursuant to **RCW 76.01.030
or into the appropriate trust account as determined by the
department. [2001 c 189 § 1.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 79.01.009 was recodified as RCW
79.17.200 pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 560.
**(2) RCW 76.01.030 was repealed by 2003 c 334 § 235.
76.01.090
76.01.090 Proposal for exchange or sale—Lacey
compound site. Before proceeding with an exchange or sale
of the Lacey compound site, the department of natural
resources shall submit a proposal for an exchange or sale to
the office of financial management for review and approval.
The proposal shall include:
(1) A determination of the ownership by trust of the
Lacey compound site;
(2) A determination of the market value of the Lacey
compound site;
(3) A determination of prospective proportional use of
the future site based on function and an assessment of the
financial responsibility for the new site based on the functional analysis; and
(4) A financing plan for the future site based on prospective use.
The location of a future site is subject to the approval of
the board of natural resources and the state capitol committee.
Any additional funding requirements shall be submitted
for approval by the legislature by January 1, 2002. [2001 c
189 § 2.]
[Title 76 RCW—page 1]
Chapter 76.04
Chapter 76.04
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
Chapter 76.04 RCW
FOREST PROTECTION
Sections
ADMINISTRATION
76.04.005
76.04.015
76.04.016
76.04.025
76.04.035
76.04.045
76.04.055
76.04.065
76.04.075
76.04.085
76.04.095
76.04.105
76.04.115
76.04.125
76.04.135
76.04.145
76.04.155
76.04.165
76.04.167
76.04.175
76.04.177
Definitions.
Fire protection powers and duties of department—Enforcement—Investigation—Administration.
Fire prevention and suppression capacity—Duties owed to
public in general—Legislative intent.
Federal funds.
Wardens—Appointment—Duties.
Rangers—Appointment—Ex officio rangers—Compensation.
Service of notices.
Arrests without warrants.
Rules—Penalty.
Penalty for violations.
Cooperative protection.
Contracts for protection and development.
Articles of incorporation—Requirements.
Requisites of contract.
Cooperative agreements—Public agencies.
Forest fire advisory board.
Fire fighting—Employment—Assistance.
Legislative declaration—Forest protection zones.
Legislative declaration—Equitable sharing of forest fire protection costs—Coordinated forest fire protection and suppression.
Fire suppression equipment—Comparison of costs.
Fire suppression equipment—Requirement to utilize private
equipment.
PERMITS
76.04.205
76.04.215
76.04.235
76.04.246
Burning permits.
Burning mill wood waste—Arresters.
Dumping mill waste, forest debris—Penalty.
Use of blasting fuse.
76.04.305
76.04.315
76.04.325
Closed to entry—Designation.
Suspension of burning permits/privileges.
Closure of forest operations or forest lands.
76.04.405
Steam, internal combustion, or electrical engines and other
spark-emitting equipment regulated.
Penalty for violations—Work stoppage notice.
Unauthorized entry into sealed fire tool box.
Deposit of fire or live coals.
Reports of fire.
Lighted material, etc.—Receptacles in conveyances.
Certain snags to be felled currently with logging.
Reimbursement for costs of suppression action.
Escaped slash burns—Obligations.
Negligent starting of fires or allowance of extreme fire hazard
or debris—Liability—Recovery of reasonable expenses—
Lien.
CLOSURES/SUSPENSIONS
FIRE PROTECTION REGULATION
76.04.415
76.04.425
76.04.435
76.04.445
76.04.455
76.04.465
76.04.475
76.04.486
76.04.495
ASSESSMENTS, OBLIGATIONS, FUNDS
76.04.600
76.04.610
76.04.620
76.04.630
Owners to protect forests.
Forest fire protection assessment.
State funds—Loans—Recovery of funds from the landowner
contingency forest fire suppression account.
Landowner contingency forest fire suppression account—
Expenditures—Assessments.
HAZARD ABATEMENT
76.04.650
76.04.660
Disposal of forest debris—Permission to allow trees to fall on
another’s land.
Additional fire hazards—Extreme fire hazard areas—Abatement, isolation or reduction—Summary action—Recovery
of costs.
76.04.700
76.04.710
76.04.720
76.04.730
76.04.740
Failure to extinguish campfire.
Wilful setting of fire.
Removal of notices.
Negligent fire—Spread.
Reckless burning.
FIRE REGULATION
[Title 76 RCW—page 2]
76.04.750
76.04.900
Uncontrolled fire a public nuisance—Suppression—Duties—
Summary action—Recovery of costs.
Captions—1986 c 100.
Burning permits within fire protection districts: RCW 52.12.101.
Christmas trees—Cutting, breaking, removing: RCW 79.02.340 and
79.02.350.
Excessive steam in boilers, penalty: RCW 70.54.080.
Steam boilers and pressure vessels, construction, installation, inspection,
and certification: Chapter 70.79 RCW.
Treble damages for removal of trees: RCW 64.12.030 and 79.02.320.
ADMINISTRATION
76.04.005 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Additional fire hazard" means a condition existing
on any land in the state covered wholly or in part by forest
debris which is likely to further the spread of fire and thereby
endanger life or property. The term "additional fire hazard"
does not include green trees or snags left standing in upland
or riparian areas under the provisions of RCW 76.04.465 or
chapter 76.09 RCW.
(2) "Closed season" means the period between April 15
and October 15, unless the department designates different
dates because of prevailing fire weather conditions.
(3) "Department" means the department of natural
resources, or its authorized representatives, as defined in
chapter 43.30 RCW.
(4) "Department protected lands" means all lands subject
to the forest protection assessment under RCW 76.04.610 or
covered under contract or agreement pursuant to RCW
76.04.135 by the department.
(5) "Emergency fire costs" means those costs incurred or
approved by the department for emergency forest fire suppression, including the employment of personnel, rental of
equipment, and purchase of supplies over and above costs
regularly budgeted and provided for nonemergency fire
expenses for the biennium in which the costs occur.
(6) "Forest debris" includes forest slash, chips, and any
other vegetative residue resulting from activities on forest
land.
(7) "Forest fire service" includes all wardens, rangers,
and other persons employed especially for preventing or
fighting forest fires.
(8) "Forest land" means any unimproved lands which
have enough trees, standing or down, or flammable material,
to constitute in the judgment of the department, a fire menace
to life or property. Sagebrush and grass areas east of the summit of the Cascade mountains may be considered forest lands
when such areas are adjacent to or intermingled with areas
supporting tree growth. Forest land, for protection purposes,
does not include structures.
(9) "Forest landowner," "owner of forest land," "landowner," or "owner" means the owner or the person in possession of any public or private forest land.
(10) "Forest material" means forest slash, chips, timber,
standing or down, or other vegetation.
(11) "Landowner operation" means every activity, and
supporting activities, of a forest landowner and the landowner’s agents, employees, or independent contractors or
permittees in the management and use of forest land subject
76.04.005
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Protection
to the forest protection assessment under RCW 76.04.610 for
the primary benefit of the owner. The term includes, but is
not limited to, the growing and harvesting of forest products,
the development of transportation systems, the utilization of
minerals or other natural resources, and the clearing of land.
The term does not include recreational and/ or residential
activities not associated with these enumerated activities.
(12) "Participating landowner" means an owner of forest
land whose land is subject to the forest protection assessment
under RCW 76.04.610.
(13) "Slash" means organic forest debris such as tree
tops, limbs, brush, and other dead flammable material
remaining on forest land as a result of a landowner operation.
(14) "Slash burning" means the planned and controlled
burning of forest debris on forest lands by broadcast burning,
underburning, pile burning, or other means, for the purposes
of silviculture, hazard abatement, or reduction and prevention
or elimination of a fire hazard.
(15) "Suppression" means all activities involved in the
containment and control of forest fires, including the patrolling thereof until such fires are extinguished or considered by
the department to pose no further threat to life or property.
(16) "Unimproved lands" means those lands that will
support grass, brush and tree growth, or other flammable
material when such lands are not cleared or cultivated and, in
the opinion of the department, are a fire menace to life and
property. [1992 c 52 § 24; 1986 c 100 § 1.]
76.04.015 Fire protection powers and duties of
department—Enforcement—Investigation—Administration. (1) The department may, at its discretion, appoint
trained personnel possessing the necessary qualifications to
carry out the duties and supporting functions of the department and may determine their respective salaries.
(2) The department shall have direct charge of and supervision of all matters pertaining to the forest fire service of the
state.
(3) The department shall:
(a) Enforce all laws within this chapter;
(b) Be empowered to take charge of and direct the work
of suppressing forest fires;
(c) Investigate the origin and cause of all forest fires to
determine whether either a criminal act or negligence by any
person, firm, or corporation caused the starting, spreading, or
existence of the fire. In conducting investigations, the department shall work cooperatively, to the extent possible, with
utilities, property owners, and other interested parties to identify and preserve evidence. Except as provided otherwise in
this subsection, the department in conducting investigations
is authorized, without court order, to take possession or control of relevant evidence found in plain view and belonging to
any person, firm, or corporation. To the extent possible, the
department shall notify the person, firm, or corporation of its
intent to take possession or control of the evidence. The person, firm, or corporation shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to view the evidence and, before the department takes
possession or control of the evidence, also shall be afforded
reasonable opportunity to examine, document, and photograph it. If the person, firm, or corporation objects in writing
to the department’s taking possession or control of the evidence, the department must either return the evidence within
76.04.015
(2006 Ed.)
76.04.016
seven days after the day on which the department is provided
with the written objections or obtain a court order authorizing
the continued possession or control.
Absent a court order authorizing otherwise, the department may not take possession or control of evidence over the
objection of the owner of the evidence if: (i) The evidence is
used by the owner in conducting a business or in providing an
electric utility service; and (ii) the department’s taking possession or control of the evidence would substantially and
materially interfere with the operation of the business or provision of electric utility service.
Absent a court order authorizing otherwise, the department may not take possession or control of evidence over the
objection of an electric utility when the evidence is not
owned by the utility but has caused damage to property
owned by the utility. However, this paragraph does not apply
if the department has notified the utility of its intent to take
possession or control of the evidence and provided the utility
with reasonable time to examine, document, and photograph
the evidence.
Only personnel qualified to work on electrical equipment may take possession or control of evidence owned or
controlled by an electric utility;
(d) Furnish notices or information to the public calling
attention to forest fire dangers and the penalties for violation
of this chapter;
(e) Be familiar with all timbered and cut-over areas of
the state; and
(f) Regulate and control the official actions of its
employees, the wardens, and the rangers.
(4) The department may:
(a) Authorize all needful and proper expenditures for forest protection;
(b) Adopt rules for the prevention, control, and suppression of forest fires as it considers necessary including but not
limited to: Fire equipment and materials; use of personnel;
and fire prevention standards and operating conditions
including a provision for reducing these conditions where
justified by local factors such as location and weather;
(c) Remove at will the commission of any ranger or suspend the authority of any warden;
(d) Inquire into:
(i) The extent, kind, value, and condition of all timber
lands within the state;
(ii) The extent to which timber lands are being destroyed
by fire and the damage thereon.
(5) When the department considers it to be in the best
interest of the state, it may cooperate with any agency of
another state, the United States or any agency thereof, the
Dominion of Canada or any agency or province thereof, and
any county, town, corporation, individual, or Indian tribe
within the state of Washington in forest fire fighting and
patrol. [1993 c 196 § 3; 1986 c 100 § 2.]
76.04.016 Fire prevention and suppression capacity—Duties owed to public in general—Legislative intent.
The department when acting, in good faith, in its statutory
capacity as a fire prevention and suppression agency, is carrying out duties owed to the public in general and not to any
individual person or class of persons separate and apart from
the public. Nothing contained in this title, including but not
76.04.016
[Title 76 RCW—page 3]
76.04.025
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
limited to any provision dealing with payment or collection
of forest protection or fire suppression assessments, may be
construed to evidence a legislative intent that the duty to prevent and suppress forest fires is owed to any individual person or class of persons separate and apart from the public in
general. This section does not alter the department’s duties
and responsibilities as a landowner. [1993 c 196 § 1.]
76.04.025
76.04.025 Federal funds. The department shall receive
and disburse any and all moneys contributed, allotted, or paid
by the United States under the authority of any act of Congress for use in cooperation with the state of Washington in
protecting and developing forests. [1986 c 100 § 3.]
76.04.035
76.04.035 Wardens—Appointment—Duties. (1) The
department may appoint any of its employees as wardens, at
the times and localities as it considers the public welfare
demands, within any area of the state where there is forest
land requiring protection.
(2) The duties of wardens shall be:
(a) To provide forest fire prevention and protection
information to the public;
(b) To investigate discovered or reported fires on forest
lands and take appropriate action;
(c) To patrol their areas as necessary;
(d) To visit all parts of their area, and frequented places
and camps as far as possible, and warn campers or other users
and visitors of fire hazards;
(e) To see that all locomotives and all steam, internal
combustion, and other spark-emitting equipment are provided with spark arresters and adequate devices for preventing the escape of fire or sparks in accordance with the law;
(f) To see that operations or activities on forest land have
all required fire prevention and suppression equipment or
devices as required by law;
(g) To extinguish wildfires;
(h) To set back-fires to control fires;
(i) To summons, impress, and employ help in controlling
wildfires;
(j) To see that all laws for the protection of forests are
enforced;
(k) To investigate, arrest, and initiate prosecution of all
offenders of this chapter or other chapters as allowed by law;
and
(l) To perform all other duties as prescribed by law and
as the department directs.
(3) All wardens and rangers shall render reports to the
department on blanks or forms, or in the manner and at the
times as may be ordered, giving a summary of how
employed, the area visited, expenses incurred, and other
information as required by the department.
(4) The department may suspend the authority of any
warden who may be incompetent or unwilling to discharge
properly the duties of the office.
(5) The department shall determine the placement of the
wardens and, upon its request to the county commissioners of
any county, the county commissioners shall designate and
furnish the wardens with suitably equipped office quarters in
the county courthouse.
[Title 76 RCW—page 4]
(6) The authority of the wardens regarding the prevention, suppression, and control of forest fires, summoning,
impressing, or employing help, or making arrests for violations of this chapter may extend to any part of the state.
[1986 c 100 § 4.]
76.04.045
76.04.045 Rangers—Appointment—Ex officio rangers—Compensation. (1) All Washington state patrol officers, fish and wildlife officers, deputy state fire marshals, and
state park rangers, while in their respective jurisdictions,
shall be ex officio rangers.
(2) Employees of the United States forest service, when
recommended by their forest supervisor, and citizens of the
state advantageously located may, at the discretion of the
department, be commissioned as rangers and vested with the
certain powers and duties of wardens as specified in this
chapter and as directed by the department.
(3) Rangers shall receive no compensation for their services except when employed in cooperation with the state
and under the provisions of this chapter and shall not create
any indebtedness or incur any liability on behalf of the state:
PROVIDED, That rangers actually engaged in extinguishing
or preventing the spread of fire on forest land or elsewhere
that may endanger forest land shall, when their accounts for
such service have been approved by the department, be entitled to receive compensation for such services at a rate to be
fixed by the department.
(4) The department may cancel the commission of any
ranger or authority granted to any ex officio ranger who may
be incompetent or unwilling to discharge properly the duties
of the office. [2001 c 253 § 9; 1986 c 100 § 5.]
76.04.055
76.04.055 Service of notices. Any notice required by
law to be served by the department, warden, or ranger shall
be sufficient if a written or printed copy thereof is delivered,
mailed, telegraphed, or electronically transmitted by the
department, warden, or ranger to the person to receive the
notice or to his or her responsible agent. If the name or
address of the person or agent is unknown and cannot be
obtained by reasonable diligence, the notice may be served
by posting the copy in a conspicuous place upon the premises
concerned by the notice. [1986 c 100 § 6.]
76.04.065
76.04.065 Arrests without warrants. Department
employees appointed as wardens, persons commissioned as
rangers, and all police officers may arrest persons violating
this chapter, without warrant, as prescribed by law. [1986 c
100 § 7.]
76.04.075
76.04.075 Rules—Penalty. Any person who violates
any of the orders or rules adopted under this chapter for the
protection of forests from fires is guilty of a misdemeanor
and subject to the penalties for a misdemeanor under RCW
9A.20.021, unless another penalty is provided. [1986 c 100 §
8.]
76.04.085
76.04.085 Penalty for violations. Unless specified otherwise, violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be a
misdemeanor and subject to the penalties for a misdemeanor
under RCW 9A.20.021. [1986 c 100 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Protection
76.04.095
76.04.095 Cooperative protection. When any responsible protective agency or agencies composed of timber owners other than the state agrees to undertake systematic forest
protection in cooperation with the state and such cooperation
appears to the department to be more advantageous to the
state than the state-provided forest fire services, the department may designate suitable areas to be official cooperative
districts and substitute cooperative services for the state-provided services. The department may cooperate in the compensation for expenses of preventing and controlling fire in
cooperative districts to the extent it considers equitable on
behalf of the state. [1986 c 100 § 10.]
76.04.105
76.04.105 Contracts for protection and development.
The department may enter into contracts and undertakings
with private corporations for the protection and development
of the forest lands within the state, subject to the provisions of
this chapter. [1986 c 100 § 11.]
76.04.115
76.04.115 Articles of incorporation—Requirements.
Before any private corporation may enter into any contract
under RCW 76.04.105, there shall be incorporated into the
articles of incorporation or charter of such corporation a provision requiring that the corporation, out of its earnings or
earned surplus, and in a manner satisfactory to the department, annually set apart funds to discharge any contract
entered into between such corporation and the department.
[1986 c 100 § 12.]
76.04.125
76.04.125 Requisites of contract. Any undertaking for
the protection and development of the forest lands of the state
under RCW 76.04.105 shall be regulated and controlled by a
contract to be entered into between the private corporation
and the department. The contract shall outline the lands
involved and the conditions and details of the undertaking,
including an exact specification of the amount of funds to be
made available by the corporation and the time and manner of
disbursement. Before entering into any such contract, the
department shall be satisfied that the private corporation is
financially solvent and will be able to carry out the project
outlined in the contract. The department shall have charge of
the project for the protection and development of the forest
lands described in the contract, and any expense incurred by
the department under any such contract shall be payable
solely by the corporation from the funds provided by it for
these purposes. The state of Washington shall not in any
event be responsible to any person, firm, company, or corporation for any indebtedness created by any corporation under
a contract pursuant to RCW 76.04.105. [1986 c 100 § 13.]
76.04.135
76.04.135 Cooperative agreements—Public agencies.
(1) For the purpose of promoting and facilitating cooperation
between fire protection agencies and to more adequately protect life, property, and the natural resources of the state, the
department may enter into a contract or agreement with a
municipality, county, state, or federal agency to provide fire
detection, prevention, presuppression, or suppression services on property which they are responsible to protect.
(2) Contracts or agreements under subsection (1) of this
section may contain provisions for the exchange of services
(2006 Ed.)
76.04.165
on a cooperative basis or services in return for cash payment
or other compensation.
(3) No charges may be made when the department determines that under a cooperative contract or agreement the
assistance received from a municipality, county, or federal
agency on state protected lands equals that provided by the
state on municipal, county, or federal lands. [1986 c 100 §
14.]
76.04.145
76.04.145 Forest fire advisory board. (1) There is
hereby created a forest fire advisory board, consisting of
seven members who shall represent private and public forest
landowners and other interested segments of the public. The
members shall be appointed by the commissioner of public
lands and shall serve at the commissioner’s pleasure, without
compensation.
(2) The duties of the forest fire advisory board shall be
strictly advisory and shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:
(a) Reviewing forest fire prevention and suppression
policies of the department;
(b) Monitoring expenditures from and recoveries for the
landowner contingency forest fire suppression account;
(c) Recommending appropriate assessments and allocations for establishment and replenishment of the account
based upon the proportionate expenditures necessitated by
participating landowner operations in western and eastern
Washington;
(d) Recommending to the department appropriate rules
or amendments to existing rules and reviewing nonemergency rules affecting the protection of forest lands from fire,
including reasonable alternative means or procedures for the
abatement, isolation, or reduction of forest fire hazards.
(3) Except where an emergency exists, all rules concerning matters listed in subsection (2)(d) of this section shall be
adopted by the department after consultation with the forest
fire advisory board. [1986 c 100 § 15.]
76.04.155
76.04.155 Fire fighting—Employment—Assistance.
(1) The department may employ a sufficient number of persons to extinguish or prevent the spreading of any fire that
may be in danger of damaging or destroying any timber or
other property on department protected lands. The department may provide needed tools and supplies and may provide
transportation when necessary for persons so employed.
(2) Every person so employed is entitled to compensation at a rate to be fixed by the department. The department
shall, upon request, show the person the number of hours
worked by that person and the rate established for payment.
After approval of the department, that person is entitled to
receive payment from the state.
(3) It is unlawful to fail to render assistance when called
upon by the department to aid in guarding or extinguishing
any fire. [1986 c 100 § 16.]
76.04.165
76.04.165 Legislative declaration—Forest protection
zones. (1) The legislature finds and declares that forest lands
within the state are increasingly being used for residential
purposes; that the risk to life and property is increasing from
forest fires which may destroy developed property; that,
[Title 76 RCW—page 5]
76.04.167
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
based on the primary missions for the respective fire control
agencies established in this chapter, adjustment of the geographic areas of responsibility has not kept pace with the
increasing use of forest lands for residential purposes; and
that the department should work with the state’s other fire
control agencies to define geographic areas of responsibility
that are more consistent with their respective primary missions.
(2) To accomplish the purposes of subsection (1) of this
section, the department shall establish a procedure to clarify
its geographic areas of responsibility. The areas of department protection shall be called forest protection zones. The
forest protection zones shall include all forest land which the
department is obligated to protect but shall not include forest
land within rural fire districts or municipal fire districts
which affected local fire control agencies agree, by mutual
consent with the department, is not appropriate for department protection. Forest land not included within a forest protection zone established by mutual agreement of the department and a rural fire district or a municipal fire district shall
not be assessed under RCW 76.04.610 or 76.04.630.
(3) After the department and any affected local fire protection agencies have agreed on the boundary of a forest protection zone, the department shall establish the boundary by
rule under chapter 34.05 RCW.
(4) Except by agreement of the affected parties, the
establishment of forest protection zones shall not alter any
mutual aid agreement. [1995 c 151 § 2; 1988 c 273 § 2.]
76.04.167
76.04.167 Legislative declaration—Equitable sharing of forest fire protection costs—Coordinated forest fire
protection and suppression. (1) The legislature hereby
finds and declares that:
(a) Forest wild fires are a threat to public health and
safety and can cause catastrophic damage to public and private resources, including clean air, clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, timber resources, forest soils, scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, economic and employment opportunities, structures, and other improvements;
(b) Forest landowners and the public have a shared interest in protecting forests and forest resources by preventing
and suppressing forest wild fires;
(c) A recent independent analysis of the state fire program considered it imperative to restore a more equitable
split between the general fund and forest protection assessments;
(d) Without a substantial increase in forest protection
funds, the state’s citizens will be paying much more money
for emergency fire suppression; and
(e) It is therefore the intent of the legislature that the
costs of fire protection be equitably shared between the forest
protection assessment account and state contributions to
ensure that there will be sufficient fire fighters who are
equipped and trained to respond quickly to fires in order to
keep fires small and manage those large fires that do occur. In
recognition of increases in landowner assessments, the legislature declares its intent that increases in the state’s share for
forest protection should be provided to stabilize the funding
for the forest protection program, and that sufficient state
funds should be committed to the forest protection program
[Title 76 RCW—page 6]
so that the recommendations contained in the 1997 tridata
report can be implemented on an equitable basis.
(2) The legislature hereby finds and declares that it is in
the public interest to establish and maintain a complete, cooperative, and coordinated forest fire protection and suppression program for the state; that, second only to saving lives,
the primary mission of the department is protecting forest
resources and suppressing forest wild fires; that a primary
mission of rural fire districts and municipal fire departments
is protecting improved property and suppressing structural
fires; and that the most effective way to protect structures is
for the department to focus its efforts and resources on
aggressively suppressing forest wild fires.
(3) The legislature also acknowledges the natural role of
fire in forest ecosystems, and finds and declares it in the public interest to use fire under controlled conditions to prevent
wild fires by maintaining healthy forests and eliminating
sources of fuel. [2001 c 279 § 1; 1995 c 151 § 1.]
76.04.175
76.04.175 Fire suppression equipment—Comparison
of costs. (1) The department shall, by June 1 of each year,
establish a list of fire suppression equipment, such as portable
showers, kitchens, water tanks, dozers, and hauling equipment, provided by the department so that the cost by unit or
category can be determined and can be compared to the
expense of utilizing private vendors.
(2) The department shall establish a roster of quotes by
vendors who are able to provide equipment to respond to
incidents involving wildfires on department-protected lands.
The department shall use these quotes from private vendors
to make a comparison with the costs established in subsection
(1) of this section. The department shall utilize the most
effective and efficient resource available for responding to
wildfires. [1995 c 113 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—1995 c 113: "The legislature finds that it is frequently in the best interest of the state to utilize fire suppression equipment
from private vendors whenever possible in responding to incidents involving
wildfires on department-protected lands. It is the intent of the legislature to
encourage the department of natural resources to utilize kitchen, shower, and
other fire suppression equipment from private vendors as allowed in RCW
76.04.015(4)(b), when such utilization will be most effective and efficient."
[1995 c 113 § 1.]
76.04.177
76.04.177 Fire suppression equipment—Requirement to utilize private equipment. Before constructing or
purchasing any equipment listed in RCW 76.04.175(1) for
wildfire suppression, the department shall compare the per
use cost of the equipment to be purchased or constructed with
the per use cost of utilizing private equipment. If utilizing private equipment is more effective and efficient, the department may not construct or purchase the equipment but shall
utilize the equipment from the lowest responsive bidder.
[1995 c 113 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—1995 c 113: See note following RCW 76.04.175.
PERMITS
76.04.205
76.04.205 Burning permits. (1) Except in certain areas
designated by the department or as permitted under rules
adopted by the department, a person shall have a valid written
burning permit obtained from the department to burn:
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Protection
(a) Any flammable material on any lands under the protection of the department; or
(b) Refuse or waste forest material on forest lands protected by the department.
(2) To be valid a permit must be signed by both the
department and the permittee. Conditions may be imposed in
the permit for the protection of life, property, or air quality
and [the department] may suspend or revoke the permits
when conditions warrant. A permit shall be effective only
under the conditions and for the period stated therein. Signing
of the permit shall indicate the permittee’s agreement to and
acceptance of the conditions of the permit.
(3) The department may inspect or cause to be inspected
the area involved and may issue a burning permit if:
(a) All requirements relating to fire fighting equipment,
the work to be done, and precautions to be taken before commencing the burning have been met;
(b) No unreasonable danger will result; and
(c) Burning will be done in compliance with air quality
standards established by chapter 70.94 RCW.
(4) The department, authorized employees thereof, or
any warden or ranger may refuse, revoke, or postpone the use
of permits to burn when necessary for the safety of adjacent
property or when necessary in their judgment to prevent air
pollution as provided in chapter 70.94 RCW. [1986 c 100 §
17.]
76.04.215
76.04.215 Burning mill wood waste—Arresters. (1)
It is unlawful for anyone manufacturing lumber or shingles,
or other forest products, to destroy wood waste material by
burning within one-fourth of one mile of any forest material
without properly confining the place of the burning and without further safeguarding the surrounding property against
danger from the burning by such additional devices as the
department may require.
(2) It is unlawful for anyone to destroy any wood waste
material by fire within any burner or destructor operated
within one-fourth of one mile of any forest material, or to
operate any power-producing plant using in connection therewith any smokestack, chimney, or other spark-emitting outlet, without installing and maintaining on such burner, or
destructor, or on such smokestack, chimney, or other sparkemitting outlet, a safe and suitable device for arresting
sparks. [1986 c 100 § 18.]
76.04.325
76.04.246
76.04.246 Use of blasting fuse. It is unlawful to use
fuse for blasting on any area of logging slash or area of actual
logging operation without a permit during the closed season.
Upon the issuance of a written permit by the department or
warden or ranger, fuse may be used during the closed season
under the conditions specified in the permit. [1986 c 100 §
20.]
CLOSURES/SUSPENSIONS
76.04.305
76.04.305 Closed to entry—Designation. (1) When, in
the opinion of the department, any forest land is particularly
exposed to fire danger, the department may designate such
land as a region of extra fire hazard subject to closure, and the
department shall adopt rules for the protection thereof.
(2) All such rules shall be published in such newspapers
of general circulation in the counties wherein such region is
situated and for such length of time as the department may
determine.
(3) When in the opinion of the department it becomes
necessary to close the region to entry, posters carrying the
wording "Region of extra fire hazard-CLOSED TO ENTRYexcept as provided by RCW 76.04.305" and indicating the
beginning and ending dates of the closures shall be posted on
the public highways entering the regions.
(4) The rules shall be in force from the time specified
therein, but when in the opinion of the department such forest
region continues to be exposed to fire danger, or ceases to be
so exposed, the department may extend, suspend, or terminate the closure by proclamation.
(5) This section does not authorize the department to
prohibit the conduct of industrial operations, public work, or
access of permanent residents to their own property within
the closed area, but no one legally entering the region of extra
fire hazard may use the area for recreational purposes which
are prohibited to the general public under the terms of this
section. [1986 c 100 § 21.]
76.04.315
76.04.315 Suspension of burning permits/privileges.
In times and localities of unusual fire danger, the department
may issue an order suspending any or all burning permits or
privileges authorized by RCW 76.04.205 and may prohibit
absolutely the use of fire in such locations. [1986 c 100 § 22.]
76.04.325
76.04.235
76.04.235 Dumping mill waste, forest debris—Penalty. (1) No person may dump mill waste from forest products, or forest debris of any kind, in quantities that the department declares to constitute a forest fire hazard on or threatening forest lands located in this state without first obtaining a
written permit issued by the department on such terms and
conditions determined by the department pursuant to rules
enacted to protect forest lands from fire. The permit is in
addition to any other permit required by law.
(2) Any person who dumps such mill waste, or forest
debris, without a permit, or in violation of a permit is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor and subject to the penalties for a
gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021 and may further
be required to remove all materials dumped. [1986 c 100 §
19.]
(2006 Ed.)
76.04.325 Closure of forest operations or forest
lands. (1) When in the opinion of the department weather
conditions arise which present an extreme fire hazard,
whereby life and property may be endangered, the department may issue an order shutting down all logging, land
clearing, or other industrial operations which may cause a fire
to start. The shutdown shall be for the periods and regions
designated in the order. During shutdowns, all persons are
excluded from logging operating areas and areas of logging
slash, except those present in the interest of fire protection.
(2) When in the opinion of the department extreme fire
weather exists, whereby forest lands may be endangered, the
department may issue an order restricting access to and activities on forest lands. The order shall describe the regions and
extent of restrictions necessary to protect forest lands. During
the period in which the order is in effect, all persons may be
[Title 76 RCW—page 7]
76.04.405
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
excluded from the regions described, except those persons
present in the interest of fire protection.
(3) Each day’s violation of an order under this section
shall constitute a separate offense. [1986 c 100 § 23.]
FIRE PROTECTION REGULATION
76.04.405
76.04.405 Steam, internal combustion, or electrical
engines and other spark-emitting equipment regulated. It
is unlawful during the closed season for any person to operate
any steam, internal combustion, or electric engine, or any
other spark-emitting equipment or device, on any forest land
or in any place where, in the opinion of the department, fire
could spread to forest land, without first complying with the
requirements as may be established by the department by rule
pursuant to this chapter. [1986 c 100 § 24.]
brush areas except on roads, cleared landings, gravel pits, or
any similar area free of flammable material.
(3) Every conveyance operated through or above forest,
range, brush, or grain areas shall be equipped in each compartment with a suitable receptacle for the disposition of
lighted tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, matches, or other flammable material.
(4) Every person operating a public conveyance through
or above forest, range, brush, or grain areas shall post a copy
of this section in a conspicuous place within the smoking
compartment of the conveyance; and every person operating
a saw mill or a logging camp in any such areas shall post a
copy of this section in a conspicuous place upon the ground
or buildings of the milling or logging operation. [1986 c 100
§ 29.]
76.04.465
76.04.415
76.04.415 Penalty for violations—Work stoppage
notice. (1) Every person upon receipt of written notice
issued by the department that such person has or is violating
any of the provisions of RCW 76.04.215, 76.04.305,
76.04.405, or 76.04.650 or any rule adopted by the department concerning fire prevention and fire suppression preparedness shall cease operations until compliance with the
provisions of the sections or rules specified in such notice.
(2) The department may specify in the notice of violation
the special conditions and precautions under which the operation would be allowed to continue until the end of that working day. [1986 c 100 § 25.]
76.04.425
76.04.425 Unauthorized entry into sealed fire tool
box. It is unlawful to enter into a sealed fire tool box without
authorization. [1986 c 100 § 26.]
76.04.435
76.04.435 Deposit of fire or live coals. No person
operating a railroad may permit to be deposited by any
employee, and no one may deposit fire or live coals, upon the
right of way within one-fourth of one mile of any forest material, during the closed season, unless the fire or live coals are
immediately extinguished. [1986 c 100 § 27.]
76.04.445
76.04.445 Reports of fire. (1) Any person engaged in
any activity on forest lands shall immediately report to the
department, in person or by radio, telephone, or telegraph,
any fires on forest lands.
(2) Railroad companies and other public carriers operating on or through forest lands shall immediately report to the
department, in person or by radio, telephone, or telegraph,
any fires on or adjacent to their right of way or route. [1986
c 100 § 28.]
76.04.455
76.04.455 Lighted material, etc.—Receptacles in conveyances. (1) It is unlawful during the closed season for any
person to throw away any lighted tobacco, cigars, cigarettes,
matches, fireworks, charcoal, or other lighted material or to
discharge any tracer or incendiary ammunition in any forest,
brush, range, or grain areas.
(2) It is unlawful during the closed season for any individual to smoke any flammable material when in forest or
[Title 76 RCW—page 8]
76.04.465 Certain snags to be felled currently with
logging. Standing dead trees constitute a substantial deterrent to effective fire control action in forest areas, but are also
an important and essential habitat for many species of wildlife. To insure continued existence of these wildlife species
and continued forest growth while minimizing the risk of
destruction by conflagration, only certain snags must be
felled currently with the logging. The department shall adopt
rules relating to effective fire control action to require that
only certain snags be felled, taking into consideration the
need to protect the wildlife habitat. [1986 c 100 § 30.]
76.04.475
76.04.475 Reimbursement for costs of suppression
action. Any person, firm, or corporation, public or private,
obligated to take suppression action on any forest fire is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable costs incurred, subject
to the following:
(1) No reimbursement is allowed under this section to a
person, firm, or corporation whose negligence is responsible
for the starting or existence of any fire for which costs may be
recoverable pursuant to law. Reimbursement for fires resulting from slash burns are subject to RCW 76.04.486.
(2) If the fire is started in the course of or as a result of
land clearing operations, right of way clearing, or a landowner operation, the person, firm, or corporation conducting
the operation shall supply:
(a) At no cost to the department, all equipment and ablebodied persons under contract, control, employment, or ownership that are requested by the department and are reasonably available until midnight of the day on which the fire
started; and
(b) After midnight of the day on which the fire started, at
no cost to the department, all equipment and able-bodied persons under contract, control, employment, or ownership that
were within a one-half mile radius of the fire at the time of
discovery, until the fire is declared out by the department. In
no case may the person, firm, or corporation provide less than
one suitable bulldozer and five able-bodied persons, or other
equipment accepted by the department as equivalent, unless
the department determines less is needed for the purpose of
suppressing the fire; and
(c) If the person, firm, or corporation has no personnel or
equipment within one-half mile of the fire, payment shall be
made to the department for the minimum requirement of one
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Protection
suitable bulldozer and five able-bodied persons, for the duration of the fire; and
(d) If, after midnight of the day on which the fire started,
additional personnel and equipment are requested by the
department, the person, firm, or corporation shall supply the
personnel and equipment under contract, control, employment, or ownership outside the one-half mile radius, if reasonably available, but shall be reimbursed for such personnel
and equipment as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) When a fire which occurred in the course of or as a
result of land clearing operations, right of way clearing, or a
landowner operation, which had previously been suppressed,
rekindles, the person, firm, or corporation shall supply the
same personnel and equipment, under the same conditions, as
were required at the time of the original fire.
(4) Claims for reimbursement shall be submitted within
a reasonable time to the department which shall upon verifying the amounts therein and the necessity thereof authorize
payment at such rates as established by the department for
wages and equipment rental. [1986 c 100 § 31.]
76.04.610
taxable court costs, if the expense was authorized or subsequently approved by the department. The authority granted
under this subsection allowing the recovery of reasonable
expenses incurred by fire protection agencies of the United
States shall apply only to such expenses incurred after June
30, 1993.
(2) The department or agency incurring such expense
shall have a lien for the same against any property of the person, firm, or corporation liable under subsection (1) of this
section by filing a claim of lien naming the person, firm, or
corporation, describing the property against which the lien is
claimed, specifying the amount expended on the lands on
which the fire fighting took place and the period during
which the expenses were incurred, and signing the claim with
post office address. No claim of lien is valid unless filed, with
the county auditor of the county in which the property sought
to be charged is located, within a period of ninety days after
the expenses of the claimant are incurred. The lien may be
foreclosed in the same manner as a mechanic’s lien is foreclosed under the statutes of the state of Washington. [1993 c
196 § 2; 1986 c 100 § 33.]
76.04.486
76.04.486 Escaped slash burns—Obligations. (1) All
personnel and equipment required by the burning permit
issued for a slash burn may be required by the department, at
the permittee’s expense, for suppression of a fire resulting
from the slash burn until the fire is declared out by the department. In no case may the permittee provide less than one suitable bulldozer and five persons capable of taking suppression
action. In addition, if a slash burn becomes an uncontrolled
fire the department may recover from the landowner the
actual costs incurred in suppressing the fire. The amount collected from the landowner shall be limited to and calculated
at the rate of one dollar per acre for the landowner’s total forest lands protected by the department, up to a maximum
charge of fifty thousand dollars per escaped slash burn.
(2) The landowner contingency forest fire suppression
account shall be used to pay and the permittee shall not be
responsible for fire suppression expenditures greater than
fifty thousand dollars or the total amount calculated for forest
lands owned as determined in subsection (1) of this section
for each escaped slash burn.
(3) All expenses incurred in suppressing a fire resulting
from a slash burn in which negligence was involved shall be
the obligation of the landowner. [1986 c 100 § 32.]
76.04.495
76.04.495 Negligent starting of fires or allowance of
extreme fire hazard or debris—Liability—Recovery of
reasonable expenses—Lien. (1) Any person, firm, or corporation: (a) Whose negligence is responsible for the starting or
existence of a fire which spreads on forest land; or (b) who
creates or allows an extreme fire hazard under RCW
76.04.660 to exist and which hazard contributes to the spread
of a fire; or (c) who allows forest debris subject to RCW
76.04.650 to exist and which debris contributes to the spread
of fire, shall be liable for any reasonable expenses made necessary by (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection. The state, a municipality, a forest protective association, or any fire protection
agency of the United States may recover such reasonable
expenses in fighting the fire, together with costs of investigation and litigation including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
(2006 Ed.)
ASSESSMENTS, OBLIGATIONS, FUNDS
76.04.600
76.04.600 Owners to protect forests. Every owner of
forest land in the state of Washington shall furnish or provide, during the season of the year when there is danger of
forest fires, adequate protection against the spread of fire
thereon or therefrom which shall meet with the approval of
the department. [1986 c 100 § 34.]
76.04.610
76.04.610 Forest fire protection assessment. (1) If
any owner of forest land within a forest protection zone
neglects or fails to provide adequate fire protection as
required by RCW 76.04.600, the department shall provide
such protection and shall annually impose the following
assessments on each parcel of such land: (a) A flat fee assessment of fourteen dollars and fifty cents; and (b) twenty-five
cents on each acre exceeding fifty acres. Assessors may, at
their option, collect the assessment on tax exempt lands. If
the assessor elects not to collect the assessment, the department may bill the landowner directly.
(2) An owner who has paid assessments on two or more
parcels, each containing fewer than fifty acres and each
within the same county, may obtain the following refund:
(a) If all the parcels together contain less than fifty acres,
then the refund is equal to the flat fee assessments paid,
reduced by the total of (i) fourteen dollars and (ii) the total of
the amounts retained by the county from such assessments
under subsection (5) of this section.
(b) If all the parcels together contain fifty or more acres,
then the refund is equal to the flat fee assessments paid,
reduced by the total of (i) fourteen dollars, (ii) twenty-five
cents for each acre exceeding fifty acres, and (iii) the total of
the amounts retained by the county from such assessments
under subsection (5) of this section.
Applications for refunds shall be submitted to the department on a form prescribed by the department and in the same
year in which the assessments were paid. The department
may not provide refunds to applicants who do not provide
[Title 76 RCW—page 9]
76.04.620
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
verification that all assessments and property taxes on the
property have been paid. Applications may be made by mail.
In addition to the procedures under this subsection, property owners with multiple parcels in a single county who
qualify for a refund under this section may apply to the
department on an application listing all the parcels owned in
order to have the assessment computed on all parcels but
billed to a single parcel. Property owners with the following
number of parcels may apply to the department in the year
indicated:
Year
2002
2003
2004 and thereafter
Number of Parcels
10 or more parcels
8 or more parcels
6 or more parcels
The department must compute the correct assessment
and allocate one parcel in the county to use to collect the
assessment. The county must then bill the forest fire protection assessment on that one allocated identified parcel. The
landowner is responsible for notifying the department of any
changes in parcel ownership.
(3) Beginning January 1, 1991, under the administration
and at the discretion of the department up to two hundred
thousand dollars per year of this assessment shall be used in
support of those rural fire districts assisting the department in
fire protection services on forest lands.
(4) For the purpose of this chapter, the department may
divide the forest lands of the state, or any part thereof, into
districts, for fire protection and assessment purposes, may
classify lands according to the character of timber prevailing,
and the fire hazard existing, and place unprotected lands
under the administration of the proper district. Amounts paid
or contracted to be paid by the department for protection of
forest lands from funds at its disposal shall be a lien upon the
property protected, unless reimbursed by the owner within
ten days after October 1st of the year in which they were
incurred. The department shall be prepared to make statement thereof, upon request, to a forest owner whose own protection has not been previously approved as to its adequacy,
the department shall report the same to the assessor of the
county in which the property is situated. The assessor shall
extend the amounts upon the tax rolls covering the property,
and upon authorization from the department shall levy the
forest protection assessment against the amounts of unimproved land as shown in each ownership on the county assessor’s records. The assessor may then segregate on the
records to provide that the improved land and improvements
thereon carry the millage levy designed to support the rural
fire protection districts as provided for in RCW 52.16.170.
(5) The amounts assessed shall be collected at the time,
in the same manner, by the same procedure, and with the
same penalties attached that general state and county taxes on
the same property are collected, except that errors in assessments may be corrected at any time by the department certifying them to the treasurer of the county in which the land
involved is situated. Assessments shall be known and designated as assessments of the year in which the amounts
became reimbursable. Upon the collection of assessments
the county treasurer shall place fifty cents of the total assessments paid on a parcel for fire protection into the county current expense fund to defray the costs of listing, billing, and
[Title 76 RCW—page 10]
collecting these assessments. The treasurer shall then transmit the balance to the department. Collections shall be
applied against expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section, including necessary and reasonable
administrative costs incurred by the department in the
enforcement of these provisions. The department may also
expend sums collected from owners of forest lands or
received from any other source for necessary administrative
costs in connection with the enforcement of RCW 76.04.660.
(6) When land against which forest protection assessments are outstanding is acquired for delinquent taxes and
sold at public auction, the state shall have a prior lien on the
proceeds of sale over and above the amount necessary to satisfy the county’s delinquent tax judgment. The county treasurer, in case the proceeds of sale exceed the amount of the
delinquent tax judgment, shall immediately remit to the
department the amount of the outstanding forest protection
assessments.
(7) All nonfederal public bodies owning or administering forest land included in a forest protection zone shall pay
the forest protection assessments provided in this section and
the special forest fire suppression account assessments under
RCW 76.04.630. The forest protection assessments and special forest fire suppression account assessments shall be payable by nonfederal public bodies from available funds within
thirty days following receipt of the written notice from the
department which is given after October 1st of the year in
which the protection was provided. Unpaid assessments are
not a lien against the nonfederal publicly owned land but
shall constitute a debt by the nonfederal public body to the
department and are subject to interest charges at the legal
rate.
(8) A public body, having failed to previously pay the
forest protection assessments required of it by this section,
which fails to suppress a fire on or originating from forest
lands owned or administered by it, is liable for the costs of
suppression incurred by the department or its agent and is not
entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred by the public
body in the suppression activities.
(9) The department may adopt rules to implement this
section, including, but not limited to, rules on levying and
collecting forest protection assessments. [2004 c 216 § 1;
2001 c 279 § 2; 1993 c 36 § 1; 1989 c 362 § 1; 1988 c 273 §
3; 1986 c 100 § 35.]
Effective date—1993 c 36: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[April 15, 1993]." [1993 c 36 § 3.]
76.04.620
76.04.620 State funds—Loans—Recovery of funds
from the landowner contingency forest fire suppression
account. Biennial general fund appropriations to the department of natural resources normally provide funds for the purpose of paying the emergency fire costs and expenses
incurred and/or approved by the department in forest fire suppression or in reacting to any potential forest fire situation.
When a determination is made that the fire started in the
course of or as a result of a landowner operation, moneys
expended from such appropriations in the suppression of the
fire shall be recovered from the landowner contingency forest
fire suppression account. The department shall transmit to the
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Protection
state treasurer for deposit in the general fund any such moneys which are later recovered. Moneys recovered during the
biennium in which they are expended may be spent for purposes set forth in this section during the same biennium,
without reappropriation. Loans between the general fund and
the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account
are authorized for emergency fire suppression. The loans
shall not exceed the amount appropriated for emergency forest fire suppression costs and shall bear interest at the then
current rate of interest as determined by the state treasurer.
[1986 c 100 § 36.]
76.04.630
76.04.630 Landowner contingency forest fire suppression account—Expenditures—Assessments. There is
created a landowner contingency forest fire suppression
account in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be
spent only as provided in this section. Disbursements from
the account shall be on authorization of the commissioner of
public lands or the commissioner’s designee. The account is
subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter
43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.
The department may expend from this account the
amounts as may be available and as it considers appropriate
for the payment of emergency fire costs resulting from a participating landowner fire. The department may, when moneys
are available from the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account, expend moneys for summarily abating, isolating, or reducing an extreme fire hazard under RCW
76.04.660. All moneys recovered as a result of the department’s actions, from the owner or person responsible, under
RCW 76.04.660 shall be deposited in the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.
When a determination is made that the fire was started
by other than a landowner operation, moneys expended from
this account in the suppression of such fire shall be recovered
from the general fund appropriations as may be available for
emergency fire suppression costs. The department shall
deposit in the landowner contingency forest fire suppression
account moneys paid out of the account which are later
recovered, less reasonable costs of recovery.
This account shall be established and renewed by an
annual special forest fire suppression account assessment
paid by participating landowners at a rate to be established by
the department. In establishing assessments, the department
shall seek to establish and thereafter reestablish a balance in
the account of three million dollars. The department may
establish a flat fee assessment of no more than seven dollars
and fifty cents for participating landowners owning parcels of
fifty acres or less. For participating landowners owning parcels larger than fifty acres, the department may charge the flat
fee assessment plus a per acre assessment for every acre over
fifty acres. The per acre assessment established by the department may not exceed fifteen cents per acre per year. The
assessments may differ to equitably distribute the assessment
based on emergency fire suppression cost experience necessitated by landowner operations. Amounts assessed for this
account shall be a lien upon the forest lands with respect to
which the assessment is made and may be collected as
directed by the department in the same manner as forest protection assessments. Payment of emergency costs from this
(2006 Ed.)
76.04.660
account shall in no way restrict the right of the department to
recover costs pursuant to RCW 76.04.495 or other laws.
When the department determines that a forest fire was
started in the course of or as a result of a landowner operation, it shall notify the forest fire advisory board of the determination. The determination shall be final, unless, within
ninety days of the notification, the forest fire advisory board
or an interested party serves a request for a hearing before the
department. The hearing shall constitute an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, and an appeal shall be in accordance with RCW
34.05.510 through 34.05.598. [1993 c 36 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 13
§ 31. Prior: 1989 c 362 § 2; 1989 c 175 § 162; 1986 c 100 §
37.]
Effective date—1993 c 36: See note following RCW 76.04.610.
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
HAZARD ABATEMENT
76.04.650
76.04.650 Disposal of forest debris—Permission to
allow trees to fall on another’s land. Everyone clearing
land or clearing right of way for railroad, public highway, private road, ditch, dike, pipe or wire line, or for any other transmission, or transportation utility right of way, shall pile and
burn or dispose of by other satisfactory means, all forest
debris cut thereon, as rapidly as the clearing or cutting
progresses, or at such other times as the department may
specify, and if during the closed season, in compliance with
the law requiring burning permits.
No person clearing any land or right of way, or in cutting
or logging timber for any purpose, may fell, or permit to be
felled, any trees so that they may fall onto land owned by
another without first obtaining permission from the owner in
addition to complying with the terms of this section for the
disposal of refuse. All the terms of this section and other forest laws of the state shall be observed in all clearings of right
of way or other land on behalf of the state itself or any county
thereof, either directly or by contract, and, unless unavoidable emergency prevents, provision shall be made by all officials directing the work for withholding a sufficient portion
of the payment therefor until the disposal is completed, to
insure the completion of the disposal in compliance with this
section. [1986 c 100 § 38.]
76.04.660
76.04.660 Additional fire hazards—Extreme fire
hazard areas—Abatement, isolation or reduction—Summary action—Recovery of costs. (1) The owner of land
which is an additional fire hazard and the person responsible
for the existence of an additional fire hazard shall take reasonable measures to reduce the danger of fire spreading from
the area and may abate the hazard by burning or other satisfactory means.
(2) The department shall adopt rules defining areas of
extreme fire hazard that the owner and person responsible
shall abate. The areas shall include but are not limited to high
risk areas such as where life or buildings may be endangered,
areas adjacent to public highways, and areas of frequent public use.
[Title 76 RCW—page 11]
76.04.700
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
(3) The department may adopt rules, after consultation
with the forest fire advisory board, defining other conditions
of extreme fire hazard with a high potential for fire spreading
to lands in other ownerships. The department may prescribe
additional measures that shall be taken by the owner and person responsible to isolate or reduce the extreme fire hazard.
(4) The owner or person responsible for the existence of
the extreme fire hazard is required to abate, isolate, or reduce
the hazard. The duty to abate, isolate, or reduce, and liability
under this chapter, arise upon creation of the extreme fire
hazard. Liability shall include but not be limited to all fire
suppression expenses incurred by the department, regardless
of fire cause.
(5) If the owner or person responsible for the existence
of the extreme fire hazard or forest debris subject to RCW
76.04.650 refuses, neglects, or unsuccessfully attempts to
abate, isolate, or reduce the same, the department may summarily abate, isolate, or reduce the hazard as required by this
chapter and recover twice the actual cost thereof from the
owner or person responsible. Landowner contingency forest
fire suppression account moneys may be used by the department, when available, for this purpose. Moneys recovered by
the department pursuant to this section shall be returned to
the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.
(6) Such costs shall include all salaries and expenses of
people and equipment incurred therein, including those of the
department. All such costs shall also be a lien upon the land
enforceable in the same manner with the same effect as a
mechanic’s lien.
(7) The summary action may be taken only after ten
days’ notice in writing has been given to the owner or reputed
owner of the land on which the extreme fire hazard or forest
debris subject to RCW 76.04.650 exists. The notice shall
include a suggested method of abatement and estimated cost
thereof. The notice shall be by personal service or by registered or certified mail addressed to the owner or reputed
owner at the owner’s last known place of residence. [1986 c
100 § 39.]
FIRE REGULATION
76.04.700
76.04.700 Failure to extinguish campfire. It is unlawful for any person to start any fire upon any camping ground
and upon leaving the camping ground fail to extinguish the
fire. [1986 c 100 § 40.]
76.04.710
76.04.710 Wilful setting of fire. It is unlawful for any
person to wilfully start a fire, whether on his or her land or the
land of another, whereby forest lands or the property of
another is endangered, under circumstances not amounting to
arson in either the first or second degree or reckless burning
in either the first or second degree. [1986 c 100 § 41.]
76.04.720
76.04.720 Removal of notices. It is unlawful for any
person to wilfully and without authorization deface or
remove any warning notice posted under the requirements of
this chapter. [1986 c 100 § 42.]
son’s own property to spread to the property of another.
[1986 c 100 § 43.]
76.04.740
76.04.740 Reckless burning. (1) It is unlawful to
knowingly cause a fire or explosion and thereby place forest
lands in danger of destruction or damage.
(2) This section does not apply to acts amounting to
reckless burning in the first degree under RCW 9A.48.040.
(3) Terms used in this section shall have the meanings
given to them in Title 9A RCW.
(4) A violation of this section shall be punished as a
gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021. [1986 c 100 §
44.]
76.04.750
76.04.750 Uncontrolled fire a public nuisance—Suppression—Duties—Summary action—Recovery of costs.
Any fire on or threatening any forest land burning uncontrolled and without proper action being taken to prevent its
spread, notwithstanding the origin of the fire, is a public nuisance by reason of its menace to life and property. Any person engaged in any activity on such lands, having knowledge
of the fire, notwithstanding the origin or subsequent spread
thereof on his or her own or other forest lands, and the landowner, shall make every reasonable effort to suppress the
fire. If the person has not suppressed the fire and the fire is on
or threatening forest land within a forest protection zone, the
department shall summarily suppress the fire. If the owner,
lessee, other possessor of such land, or an agent or contractor
of the owner, lessee, or possessor, having knowledge of the
fire, has not made a reasonable effort to suppress the fire, the
cost thereof may be recovered from the owner, lessee, or
other possessor of the land and the cost of the work shall also
constitute a lien upon the real property or chattels under the
person’s ownership. The lien may be filed by the department
in the office of the county auditor and foreclosed in the same
manner provided by law for the foreclosure of mechanics’
liens. The prosecuting attorney shall bring the action to
recover the cost or foreclose the lien, upon the request of the
department. In the absence of negligence, no costs, other than
those provided in RCW 76.04.475, shall be recovered from
any landowner for lands subject to the forest protection
assessment with respect to the land on which the fire burns.
When a fire occurs in a land clearing, right of way clearing, or landowner operation it shall be fought to the full limit
of the available employees and equipment, and the fire fighting shall be continued with the necessary crews and equipment in such numbers as are, in the opinion of the department, sufficient to suppress the fire. The fire shall not be left
without a fire fighting crew or fire patrol until authority has
been granted in writing by the department. [1988 c 273 § 4;
1986 c 100 § 45.]
76.04.900
76.04.730
76.04.730 Negligent fire—Spread. It is unlawful for
any person to negligently allow fire originating on the per[Title 76 RCW—page 12]
76.04.900 Captions—1986 c 100. As used in this act
subchapter and section captions constitute no part of the law.
[1986 c 100 § 60.]
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Insect and Disease Control
Chapter 76.06 RCW
FOREST INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL
Chapter 76.06
Sections
76.06.010
76.06.020
76.06.030
76.06.040
76.06.050
76.06.060
76.06.070
76.06.080
76.06.090
76.06.110
76.06.130
76.06.140
76.06.150
Forest insects and tree diseases are public nuisance.
Definitions.
Administration.
Owner must control pests and diseases.
Infestation control district—Creation—Notice to owners.
Department to control pests and diseases if owner fails.
Lien for costs of control—Collection.
Owner complying with notice is exempt.
Dissolution of infestation control district.
Deposit of moneys in general fund—Allotment as unanticipated receipts.
Exotic forest insect or disease control—Department’s authority and duties—Declaration of forest health emergency.
Forest health problems—Findings.
Forest health—Commissioner of public land designated as
state’s lead—Report to legislature.
76.06.010
76.06.010 Forest insects and tree diseases are public
nuisance. The legislature finds and declares that:
(1) Forest insects and forest tree diseases which threaten
the permanent timber production of the forested areas of the
state of Washington are a public nuisance.
(2) Exotic forest insects or diseases, even in small numbers, can constitute serious threats to native forests. Native
tree species may lack natural immunity. There are often no
natural control agents such as diseases, predators, or parasites
to limit populations of exotic forest insects or diseases.
Exotic forest insects or diseases can also outcompete, displace, or destroy habitat of native species. It is in the public
interest to identify, control, and eradicate outbreaks of exotic
forest insects or diseases that threaten the diversity, abundance, and survivability of native forest trees and the environment. [2003 c 314 § 1; 1951 c 233 § 1.]
Findings—2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.
76.06.020
76.06.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Agent" means the recognized legal representative,
representatives, agent, or agents for any owner.
(2) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(3) "Owner" means and includes persons or their agents.
(4) "Timber land" means any land on which there is a
sufficient number of trees, standing or down, to constitute, in
the judgment of the department, a forest insect or forest disease breeding ground of a nature to constitute a menace, injurious and dangerous to permanent forest growth in the district
under consideration.
(5) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(6) "Exotic" means not native to forest lands in Washington state.
(7) "Forest land" means any land on which there are sufficient numbers and distribution of trees and associated species to, in the judgment of the department, contribute to the
spread of forest insect or forest disease outbreaks that could
be injurious to forest health.
(8) "Forest health" means the condition of a forest being
sound in ecological function, sustainable, resilient, and resis(2006 Ed.)
76.06.050
tant to insects, diseases, fire, and other disturbance, and having the capacity to meet landowner objectives.
(9) "Forest health emergency" means the introduction of,
or an outbreak of, an exotic forest insect or disease that poses
an imminent danger of damage to the environment by threatening the survivability of native tree species.
(10) "Forest insect or disease" means a living stage of an
insect, other invertebrate animal, or disease-causing organism or agent that can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in trees, or parts of trees, or in processed or
manufactured wood, or other products of trees.
(11) "Integrated pest management" means a strategy that
uses various combinations of pest control methods, including
biological, cultural, and chemical methods, in a compatible
manner to achieve satisfactory control and ensure favorable
economic and environmental consequences.
(12) "Native" means having populated Washington’s
forested lands prior to European settlement.
(13) "Outbreak" means a rapidly expanding population
of insects or diseases with potential to spread.
(14) "Person" means any individual, partnership, private,
public, or municipal corporation, county, federal, state, or
local governmental agency, tribes, or association of individuals of whatever nature. [2003 c 314 § 2; 2000 c 11 § 2; 1988
c 128 § 15; 1951 c 233 § 2.]
Findings—2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.
76.06.030
76.06.030 Administration. This chapter shall be
administered by the department. [1988 c 128 § 16; 1951 c
233 § 3.]
76.06.040
76.06.040 Owner must control pests and diseases.
Every owner of timber lands, or his agent, shall make every
reasonable effort to control, destroy and eradicate such forest
insect pests and forest tree diseases which threaten the existence of any stand of timber or provide for the same to be done
on timber lands owned by him or under his control. In the
event he fails, neglects, or is unable to accomplish such control, the action may be performed as provided for in this chapter. [1951 c 233 § 4.]
76.06.050
76.06.050 Infestation control district—Creation—
Notice to owners. Whenever the department finds timber
lands threatened by infestations of forest insects or forest tree
diseases, and if it finds that such infestation is of such character as to threaten destruction of timber stands, the department
shall declare and certify an infestation control district and fix
and declare the boundaries thereof, so as to definitely
describe such district. Said district may include timber lands
threatened by the infestation as well as those timber lands
already infested.
Thereafter the department shall at once serve written
notice to all owners of timber lands or their agents within the
said district to proceed under the provisions of this chapter
without delay to control, destroy and eradicate the said forest
insect pests or forest tree diseases as provided herein. The
said notice may be made by personal service, or by mail
addressed to the last known place or address of such owner or
agent. Said notice shall list and describe the method or methods of action that will be acceptable to the department if the
[Title 76 RCW—page 13]
76.06.060
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
owner or agent elects to control, destroy and eradicate said
insects or diseases on his own property.
Said notice when published for five consecutive days in
at least one daily newspaper or in two consecutive issues of a
weekly newspaper, either paper having a general circulation
in said district will serve as the written notice to owners of
noncommercial timber lands. [1988 c 128 § 17; 1961 c 72 §
1; 1951 c 233 § 5.]
76.06.060
76.06.060 Department to control pests and diseases if
owner fails. If the owner or agent so notified shall fail,
refuse, neglect or is unable to comply with the requirements
of said notice, within a period of thirty days after the date
thereof, it shall be the duty of the department or its agents,
using such funds as have been, or hereafter may be, made
available to proceed with the control, eradication and destruction of such forest pests or forest tree diseases with or without
the cooperation of the owner involved in a manner approved
by the department. [1988 c 128 § 18; 1951 c 233 § 6.]
76.06.090 Dissolution of infestation control district.
Whenever the department shall determine that insect control
work within the designated district of infestation is no longer
necessary or feasible, the department may dissolve said district. [1988 c 128 § 21; 1951 c 233 § 12.]
76.06.090
76.06.110
76.06.110 Deposit of moneys in general fund—Allotment as unanticipated receipts. All moneys collected
under the provisions of RCW 76.06.070, together with such
moneys as may be contributed by the federal government or
by any owner or agent, shall be deposited in the state general
fund for the purposes of this chapter.
Any additional revenue earmarked for the purposes of
this chapter which was not anticipated in the budget adopted
by the legislature may be deposited in the general fund and
allotted as unanticipated receipts pursuant to RCW 43.79.270
through 43.79.282 as now existing or hereafter amended.
[1979 ex.s. c 67 § 12; 1951 c 233 § 9.]
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 67: "Sections 12, 13, and 19 of this 1979
act shall take effect on July 1, 1981." [1979 ex.s. c 67 § 21.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 67: See note following RCW 19.28.351.
76.06.070
76.06.070 Lien for costs of control—Collection.
Upon the completion of the work directed, authorized and
performed under the provisions of this chapter, the department shall prepare a verified statement of the expenses necessarily incurred in performing the work of controlling, eradicating and destroying said forest insects or forest tree diseases. The balance of such expenses after deducting such
amounts as may be contributed to the control costs by the
state, by the federal government, or by any other agencies,
companies, corporations or individuals, shall be a lien to be
prorated per acre upon the property, or properties involved:
PROVIDED, That the amount of said lien shall not exceed
twenty-five percent of the total costs incurred on such
owner’s lands including necessary buffer strips. Said lien
shall be reported by the department to the county assessor of
the county in which said lands are situated, and shall be levied and collected with the next taxes on such lands in the
same manner and with the same interest, penalty and cost
charges as apply to ad valorem property taxes in this state:
PROVIDED FURTHER, Such report and levy shall be made
only on commercial timber lands. The assessor shall extend
the amounts on the assessment roll in a separate column, and
the procedure provided by law for the collection of taxes and
delinquent taxes shall be applicable thereto, and, upon the
collection thereof, the county treasurer shall repay the same
to the department to be applied to the expenses incurred in
carrying out the provisions of this chapter. [1988 c 128 § 19;
1951 c 233 § 7.]
76.06.080
76.06.080 Owner complying with notice is exempt.
Every owner, and all owners or representatives, who upon
receiving notice as provided in RCW 76.06.050, shall proceed and continue in good faith to control, eradicate and
destroy said forest insects and forest tree diseases in accordance with standards established by the department shall be
exempt from the provisions hereof as to the lands upon which
he or they are so proceeding. [1988 c 128 § 20; 1951 c 233 §
11.]
[Title 76 RCW—page 14]
76.06.130
76.06.130 Exotic forest insect or disease control—
Department’s authority and duties—Declaration of forest
health emergency. The department is authorized to contribute resources and expertise to assist the department of agriculture in control or eradication efforts authorized under
chapter 17.24 RCW in order to protect forest lands of the
state.
If either the department of agriculture has not taken
action under chapter 17.24 RCW or the commissioner finds
that additional efforts are required to control or prevent an
outbreak of an exotic forest insect or disease which has not
become so habituated that it can no longer be eradicated and
that poses an imminent danger of damage to the forested
environment by threatening the diversity, abundance, and
survivability of native tree species, or both, the commissioner
may declare a forest health emergency.
Upon declaration of a forest health emergency, the
department must delineate the area at risk and determine the
most appropriate integrated pest management methods to
control the outbreak, in consultation with other interested
agencies, affected tribes, and affected forest landowners. The
department must notify affected forest landowners of its
intent to conduct control operations.
Upon declaration of a forest health emergency by the
commissioner, the department is authorized to enter into
agreements with forest landowners, companies, individuals,
tribal entities, and federal, state, and local agencies to accomplish control of exotic forest insects or diseases on any
affected forest lands using such funds as have been, or may
be, made available.
The department must proceed with the control of the
exotic forest insects or diseases on affected nonfederal and
nontribal forest lands with or without the cooperation of the
owner. The department may reimburse cooperating forest
landowners and agencies for actual cost of equipment, labor,
and materials utilized in cooperative exotic forest insect or
disease control projects, as agreed to by the department.
A forest health emergency no longer exists when the
department finds that the exotic forest insect or disease has
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
been controlled or eradicated, that the imminent threat no
longer exists, or that there is no longer good likelihood of
effective control.
Nothing under this chapter diminishes the authority and
responsibility of the department of agriculture under chapter
17.24 RCW. [2003 c 314 § 3.]
Findings—2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.
Chapter 76.09
(3) The commissioner of public lands shall report to the
chairs of the appropriate standing committees of the legislature every year on progress under this section, including the
identification, if deemed appropriate by the commissioner, of
any needed statutory changes, policy issues, or funding
needs. [2004 c 218 § 2.]
Effective date—2004 c 218: See note following RCW 76.06.140.
76.06.140
76.06.140 Forest health problems—Findings. (1) The
legislature finds that Washington faces serious forest health
problems where forests are overcrowded or trees are infested
with or susceptible to insects, diseases, wind, ice storms, and
fire. The causes and contributions to these susceptible conditions include fire suppression, past timber harvesting and silvicultural practices, and the amplified risks that occur when
the urban interface penetrates forest land.
(2) The legislature further finds that forest health problems may exist on forest land regardless of ownership, and
the state should explore all possible avenues for working in
collaboration with the federal government to address common health deficiencies.
(3) The legislature further finds that healthy forests benefit not only the economic interests that rely on forest products but also provide environmental benefits, such as
improved water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife.
[2004 c 218 § 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 218: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 29, 2004]." [2004 c 218 § 11.]
76.06.150
76.06.150 Forest health—Commissioner of public
land designated as state’s lead—Report to legislature. (1)
The commissioner of public lands is designated as the state of
Washington’s lead for all forest health issues.
(2) The commissioner of public lands shall strive to promote communications between the state and the federal government regarding forest land management decisions that
potentially affect the health of forests in Washington and will
allow the state to have an influence on the management of
federally owned land in Washington. Such government-togovernment cooperation is vital if the condition of the state’s
public and private forest lands are to be protected. These
activities may include, when deemed by the commissioner to
be in the best interest of the state:
(a) Representing the state’s interest before all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies;
(b) Assuming the lead state role for developing formal
comments on federal forest management plans that may have
an impact on the health of forests in Washington; and
(c) Pursuing in an expedited manner any available and
appropriate cooperative agreements, including cooperating
agency status designation, with the United States forest service and the United States bureau of land management that
allow for meaningful participation in any federal land management plans that could affect the department’s strategic
plan for healthy forests and effective fire prevention and suppression, including the pursuit of any options available for
giving effect to the cooperative philosophy contained within
the national environmental policy act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec.
4331).
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 76.09
Chapter 76.09 RCW
FOREST PRACTICES
Sections
76.09.010
76.09.020
76.09.030
76.09.040
76.09.050
76.09.055
76.09.060
76.09.063
76.09.065
76.09.067
76.09.070
76.09.080
76.09.090
76.09.100
76.09.110
76.09.120
76.09.130
76.09.140
76.09.150
76.09.160
76.09.170
76.09.180
76.09.190
76.09.210
76.09.220
76.09.230
76.09.240
76.09.250
76.09.260
76.09.270
76.09.280
76.09.285
76.09.290
76.09.300
76.09.305
Legislative finding and declaration.
Definitions.
Forest practices board—Created—Membership—Terms—
Vacancies—Meetings—Compensation, travel expenses—
Staff.
Forest practices rules—Adoption—Review of proposed
rules—Hearings—Riparian open space program.
Rules establishing classes of forest practices—Applications
for classes of forest practices—Approval or disapproval—
Notifications—Procedures—Appeals—Waiver.
Findings—Emergency rule making authorized.
Applications for forest practices—Form—Contents—Conversion of forest land to other use—Six-year moratorium—New
applications—Approval—Emergencies.
Forest practices permit—Habitat incentives agreement.
Forest practices application or notification—Fee.
Application for forest practices—Owner of perpetual timber
rights.
Reforestation—Requirements—Procedures—Notification on
sale or transfer.
Stop work orders—Grounds—Contents—Procedure—
Appeals.
Notice of failure to comply—Contents—Procedures—
Appeals—Hearing—Final order—Limitations on actions.
Failure to comply with water quality protection—Department
of ecology authorized to petition appeals board—Action on
petition.
Final orders or final decisions binding upon all parties.
Failure of owner to take required course of action—Notice of
cost—Department authorized to complete course of action—
Liability of owner for costs—Lien.
Failure to obey stop work order—Departmental action authorized—Liability of owner or operator for costs.
Enforcement.
Inspection—Right of entry.
Right of entry by department of ecology.
Violations—Conversion to nontimber operation—Penalties—
Remission or mitigation—Appeals—Lien.
Disposition of moneys received as penalties, reimbursement
for damages.
Additional penalty, gross misdemeanor.
Forest practices appeals board—Created—Membership—
Terms—Vacancies—Removal.
Forest practices appeals board—Compensation—Travel
expenses—Chair—Office—Quorum—Powers and duties—
Jurisdiction—Review.
Forest practices appeals board—Mediation—Appeal procedure—Judicial review.
Class IV forest practices—Counties and cities adopt standards—Administration and enforcement of regulations—
Restrictions upon local political subdivisions or regional
entities—Exceptions and limitations.
Policy for continuing program of orientation and training.
Department to represent state’s interest—Cooperation with
other public agencies—Grants and gifts.
Annual determination of state’s research needs—Recommendations.
Removal of log and debris jams from streams.
Water quality standards affected by forest practices.
Inspection of lands—Reforestation.
Mass earth movements and fluvial processes—Program to correct hazardous conditions on sites associated with roads and
railroad grades—Hazard-reduction plans.
Advisory committee to review hazard-reduction plans authorized—Compensation, travel expenses.
[Title 76 RCW—page 15]
76.09.010
76.09.310
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
Hazard-reduction program—Notice to landowners within
areas selected for review—Proposed plans—Objections to
plan, procedure—Final plans—Appeal.
Implementation of hazard-reduction measures—Election—
Notice and application for cost-sharing funds—Inspection—
Letter of compliance—Limitations on liability.
Implementation of hazard-reduction program—Cost sharing
by department—Limitations.
Legislative findings—Liability from naturally falling trees
required to be left standing.
Certain forest practices exempt from rules and policies under
this chapter.
Long-term multispecies landscape management plans—Pilot
projects, selection—Plan approval, elements—Notice of
agreement recorded—Memorandums of agreements—
Report, evaluation.
Single multiyear permit.
Intent—Small forest landowners—Alternate plan processes/alternate harvest restrictions—Report to the legislature.
Findings—Forests and fish report—Adoption of rules.
Report to the legislature—Emergency rules—Permanent
rules.
Sale of land or timber rights with continuing obligations—
Notice—Failure to notify—Exemption.
Forests and fish account—Created.
Forest and fish support account—Created.
Road maintenance and abandonment plans—Fish passage barriers.
Road maintenance and abandonment plans—Rules—Checklist—Report to the legislature—Emergency rules.
Application to RCW 76.13.150.
Small forest landowner—Fish passage barriers.
Small forest landowner—Defined.
Short title.
Air pollution laws not modified.
Shoreline management act, hydraulics act, other statutes and
ordinances not modified—Exceptions.
Repeal and savings.
Application for extension of prior permits.
Effective dates—1974 ex.s. c 137.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 137.
(d) Promote efficiency by permitting maximum operating freedom consistent with the other purposes and policies
stated herein;
(e) Provide for regulation of forest practices so as to
avoid unnecessary duplication in such rules;
(f) Provide for interagency input and intergovernmental
and tribal coordination and cooperation;
(g) Achieve compliance with all applicable requirements
of federal and state law with respect to nonpoint sources of
water pollution from forest practices;
(h) To consider reasonable land use planning goals and
concepts contained in local comprehensive plans and zoning
regulations;
(i) Foster cooperation among managers of public
resources, forest landowners, Indian tribes and the citizens of
the state; and
(j) Develop a watershed analysis system that addresses
the cumulative effect of forest practices on, at a minimum,
the public resources of fish, water, and public capital
improvements of the state and its political subdivisions.
(3) The legislature further finds and declares that it is
also in the public interest of the state to encourage forest
landowners to undertake corrective and remedial action to
reduce the impact of mass earth movements and fluvial processes.
(4) The legislature further finds and declares that it is in
the public interest that the applicants for state forest practices
permits should assist in paying for the cost of review and permitting necessary for the environmental protection of these
resources. [1999 sp.s. c 4 § 901; 1993 c 443 § 1; 1987 c 95 §
1; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 1.]
Chapter 76.09 RCW to be used to satisfy federal water pollution act requirements: RCW 90.48.425.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.315
76.09.320
76.09.330
76.09.340
76.09.350
76.09.360
76.09.368
76.09.370
76.09.380
76.09.390
76.09.400
76.09.405
76.09.410
76.09.420
76.09.430
76.09.440
76.09.450
76.09.900
76.09.905
76.09.910
76.09.915
76.09.920
76.09.925
76.09.935
76.09.010
76.09.010 Legislative finding and declaration. (1)
The legislature hereby finds and declares that the forest land
resources are among the most valuable of all resources in the
state; that a viable forest products industry is of prime importance to the state’s economy; that it is in the public interest for
public and private commercial forest lands to be managed
consistent with sound policies of natural resource protection;
that coincident with maintenance of a viable forest products
industry, it is important to afford protection to forest soils,
fisheries, wildlife, water quantity and quality, air quality, recreation, and scenic beauty.
(2) The legislature further finds and declares it to be in
the public interest of this state to create and maintain through
the adoption of this chapter a comprehensive statewide system of laws and forest practices rules which will achieve the
following purposes and policies:
(a) Afford protection to, promote, foster and encourage
timber growth, and require such minimum reforestation of
commercial tree species on forest lands as will reasonably
utilize the timber growing capacity of the soil following current timber harvest;
(b) Afford protection to forest soils and public resources
by utilizing all reasonable methods of technology in conducting forest practices;
(c) Recognize both the public and private interest in the
profitable growing and harvesting of timber;
[Title 76 RCW—page 16]
Effective date—1993 c 443: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 15, 1993]." [1993 c 443 § 6.]
76.09.020
76.09.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Adaptive management" means reliance on scientific
methods to test the results of actions taken so that the management and related policy can be changed promptly and
appropriately.
(2) "Appeals board" means the forest practices appeals
board created by RCW 76.09.210.
(3) "Aquatic resources" includes water quality, salmon,
other species of the vertebrate classes Cephalaspidomorphi
and Osteichthyes identified in the forests and fish report, the
Columbia torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri), the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae), the Olympic torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton olympian), the Dunn’s
salamander (Plethodon dunni), the Van Dyke’s salamander
(Plethodon vandyke), the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei), and
their respective habitats.
(4) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(5) "Contiguous" means land adjoining or touching by
common corner or otherwise. Land having common owner(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
ship divided by a road or other right of way shall be considered contiguous.
(6) "Conversion to a use other than commercial timber
operation" means a bona fide conversion to an active use
which is incompatible with timber growing and as may be
defined by forest practices rules.
(7) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(8) "Fish passage barrier" means any artificial instream
structure that impedes the free passage of fish.
(9) "Forest land" means all land which is capable of supporting a merchantable stand of timber and is not being
actively used for a use which is incompatible with timber
growing. Forest land does not include agricultural land that
is or was enrolled in the conservation reserve enhancement
program by contract if such agricultural land was historically
used for agricultural purposes and the landowner intends to
continue to use the land for agricultural purposes in the
future. As it applies to the operation of the road maintenance
and abandonment plan element of the forest practices rules
on small forest landowners, the term "forest land" excludes:
(a) Residential home sites, which may include up to five
acres; and
(b) Cropfields, orchards, vineyards, pastures, feedlots,
fish pens, and the land on which appurtenances necessary to
the production, preparation, or sale of crops, fruit, dairy products, fish, and livestock exist.
(10) "Forest landowner" means any person in actual control of forest land, whether such control is based either on
legal or equitable title, or on any other interest entitling the
holder to sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the timber
on such land in any manner. However, any lessee or other
person in possession of forest land without legal or equitable
title to such land shall be excluded from the definition of "forest landowner" unless such lessee or other person has the
right to sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the timber
located on such forest land.
(11) "Forest practice" means any activity conducted on
or directly pertaining to forest land and relating to growing,
harvesting, or processing timber, including but not limited to:
(a) Road and trail construction;
(b) Harvesting, final and intermediate;
(c) Precommercial thinning;
(d) Reforestation;
(e) Fertilization;
(f) Prevention and suppression of diseases and insects;
(g) Salvage of trees; and
(h) Brush control.
"Forest practice" shall not include preparatory work such as
tree marking, surveying and road flagging, and removal or
harvesting of incidental vegetation from forest lands such as
berries, ferns, greenery, mistletoe, herbs, mushrooms, and
other products which cannot normally be expected to result in
damage to forest soils, timber, or public resources.
(12) "Forest practices rules" means any rules adopted
pursuant to RCW 76.09.040.
(13) "Forest road," as it applies to the operation of the
road maintenance and abandonment plan element of the forest practices rules on small forest landowners, means a road
or road segment that crosses land that meets the definition of
forest land, but excludes residential access roads.
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.020
(14) "Forest trees" does not include hardwood trees cultivated by agricultural methods in growing cycles shorter
than fifteen years if the trees were planted on land that was
not in forest use immediately before the trees were planted
and before the land was prepared for planting the trees. "Forest trees" includes Christmas trees, but does not include
Christmas trees that are cultivated by agricultural methods, as
that term is defined in RCW 84.33.035.
(15) "Forests and fish report" means the forests and fish
report to the board dated April 29, 1999.
(16) "Application" means the application required pursuant to RCW 76.09.050.
(17) "Operator" means any person engaging in forest
practices except an employee with wages as his or her sole
compensation.
(18) "Person" means any individual, partnership, private,
public, or municipal corporation, county, the department or
other state or local governmental entity, or association of
individuals of whatever nature.
(19) "Public resources" means water, fish and wildlife,
and in addition shall mean capital improvements of the state
or its political subdivisions.
(20) "Small forest landowner" has the same meaning as
defined in RCW 76.09.450.
(21) "Timber" means forest trees, standing or down, of a
commercial species, including Christmas trees. However,
"timber" does not include Christmas trees that are cultivated
by agricultural methods, as that term is defined in RCW
84.33.035.
(22) "Timber owner" means any person having all or any
part of the legal interest in timber. Where such timber is subject to a contract of sale, "timber owner" shall mean the contract purchaser.
(23) "Board" means the forest practices board created in
RCW 76.09.030.
(24) "Unconfined avulsing channel migration zone"
means the area within which the active channel of an unconfined avulsing stream is prone to move and where the movement would result in a potential near-term loss of riparian forest adjacent to the stream. Sizeable islands with productive
timber may exist within the zone.
(25) "Unconfined avulsing stream" means generally fifth
order or larger waters that experience abrupt shifts in channel
location, creating a complex flood plain characterized by
extensive gravel bars, disturbance species of vegetation of
variable age, numerous side channels, wall-based channels,
oxbow lakes, and wetland complexes. Many of these streams
have dikes and levees that may temporarily or permanently
restrict channel movement. [2003 c 311 § 3; 2002 c 17 § 1.
Prior: 2001 c 102 § 1; 2001 c 97 § 2; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 301;
1974 ex.s. c 137 § 2.]
Findings—2003 c 311: "(1) The legislature finds that chapter 4, Laws
of 1999 sp. sess. strongly encouraged the forest practices board to adopt
administrative rules that were substantially similar to the recommendations
presented to the legislature in the form of the forests and fish report. The
rules adopted pursuant to the 1999 legislation require all forest landowners
to complete a road maintenance and abandonment plan, and those rules cannot be changed by the forest practices board without either a final order from
a court, direct instructions from the legislature, or a recommendation from
the adaptive management process. In the time since the enactment of chapter
4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess., it has become clear that both the planning aspect
and the implementation aspect of the road maintenance and abandonment
plan requirement may cause an unforeseen and unintended disproportionate
[Title 76 RCW—page 17]
76.09.030
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
financial hardship on small forest landowners.
(2) The legislature further finds that the commissioner of public lands
and the governor have explored solutions that minimize the hardship caused
to small forest landowners by the forest road maintenance and abandonment
requirements of the forests and fish law, while maintaining protection for
public resources. This act represents recommendations stemming from that
process.
(3) The legislature further finds that it is in the state’s interest to help
small forest landowners comply with the requirements of the forest practices
rules in a way that does not require the landowner to spend unreasonably
high and unpredictable amounts of money to complete road maintenance and
abandonment plan preparation and implementation. Small forest landowners provide significant wildlife habitat and serve as important buffers
between urban development and Washington’s public forest land holdings."
[2003 c 311 § 1.]
Effective date—2003 c 311: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 14, 2003]." [2003 c 311 § 13.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.030
76.09.030 Forest practices board—Created—Membership—Terms—Vacancies—Meetings—Compensation, travel expenses—Staff. (1) There is hereby created the
forest practices board of the state of Washington as an agency
of state government consisting of members as follows:
(a) The commissioner of public lands or the commissioner’s designee;
(b) The director of the department of community, trade,
and economic development or the director’s designee;
(c) The director of the department of agriculture or the
director’s designee;
(d) The director of the department of ecology or the
director’s designee;
(e) The director of the department of fish and wildlife or
the director’s designee;
(f) An elected member of a county legislative authority
appointed by the governor: PROVIDED, That such member’s service on the board shall be conditioned on the member’s continued service as an elected county official; and
(g) Six members of the general public appointed by the
governor, one of whom shall be an owner of not more than
five hundred acres of forest land, and one of whom shall be
an independent logging contractor.
(2) The director of the department of fish and wildlife’s
service on the board may be terminated two years after
August 18, 1999, if the legislature finds that after two years
the department has not made substantial progress toward
integrating the laws, rules, and programs governing forest
practices, chapter 76.09 RCW, and the laws, rules, and programs governing hydraulic projects, chapter 77.55 RCW.
Such a finding shall be based solely on whether the department of fish and wildlife makes substantial progress as
defined in this subsection, and will not be based on other
actions taken as a member of the board. Substantial progress
shall include recommendations to the legislature for closer
integration of the existing rule-making authorities of the
board and the department of fish and wildlife, and closer integration of the forest practices and hydraulics permitting processes, including exploring the potential for a consolidated
permitting process. These recommendations shall be
designed to resolve problems currently associated with the
existing dual regulatory and permitting processes.
[Title 76 RCW—page 18]
(3) The members of the initial board appointed by the
governor shall be appointed so that the term of one member
shall expire December 31, 1975, the term of one member
shall expire December 31, 1976, the term of one member
shall expire December 31, 1977, the terms of two members
shall expire December 31, 1978, and the terms of two members shall expire December 31, 1979. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of four years. Vacancies on
the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointments. Each member of the board shall continue in
office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.
The commissioner of public lands or the commissioner’s designee shall be the chairman of the board.
(4) The board shall meet at such times and places as shall
be designated by the chairman or upon the written request of
the majority of the board. The principal office of the board
shall be at the state capital.
(5) Members of the board, except public employees and
elected officials, shall be compensated in accordance with
RCW 43.03.250. Each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(6) The board may employ such clerical help and staff
pursuant to chapter 41.06 RCW as is necessary to carry out its
duties. [2003 c 39 § 32; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 1001; 1995 c 399 §
207; 1993 c 257 § 1; 1987 c 330 § 1301; 1985 c 466 § 70;
1984 c 287 § 108; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 173; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 200 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 3.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330: See
notes following RCW 28B.12.050.
Effective date—Severability—1985 c 466: See notes following RCW
43.31.125.
Legislative findings—Severability—Effective date—1984 c 287:
See notes following RCW 43.03.220.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
76.09.040
76.09.040 Forest practices rules—Adoption—
Review of proposed rules—Hearings—Riparian open
space program. (1) Where necessary to accomplish the purposes and policies stated in RCW 76.09.010, and to implement the provisions of this chapter, the board shall adopt forest practices rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW and in
accordance with the procedures enumerated in this section
that:
(a) Establish minimum standards for forest practices;
(b) Provide procedures for the voluntary development of
resource management plans which may be adopted as an
alternative to the minimum standards in (a) of this subsection
if the plan is consistent with the purposes and policies stated
in RCW 76.09.010 and the plan meets or exceeds the objectives of the minimum standards;
(c) Set forth necessary administrative provisions;
(d) Establish procedures for the collection and administration of forest practice fees as set forth by this chapter; and
(e) Allow for the development of watershed analyses.
Forest practices rules pertaining to water quality protection shall be adopted by the board after reaching agreement
with the director of the department of ecology or the direc(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
tor’s designee on the board with respect thereto. All other forest practices rules shall be adopted by the board.
Forest practices rules shall be administered and enforced
by either the department or the local governmental entity as
provided in this chapter. Such rules shall be adopted and
administered so as to give consideration to all purposes and
policies set forth in RCW 76.09.010.
(2) The board shall prepare proposed forest practices
rules. In addition to any forest practices rules relating to
water quality protection proposed by the board, the department of ecology may submit to the board proposed forest
practices rules relating to water quality protection.
Prior to initiating the rule making process, the proposed
rules shall be submitted for review and comments to the
department of fish and wildlife and to the counties of the
state. After receipt of the proposed forest practices rules, the
department of fish and wildlife and the counties of the state
shall have thirty days in which to review and submit comments to the board, and to the department of ecology with
respect to its proposed rules relating to water quality protection. After the expiration of such thirty day period the board
and the department of ecology shall jointly hold one or more
hearings on the proposed rules pursuant to chapter 34.05
RCW. At such hearing(s) any county may propose specific
forest practices rules relating to problems existing within
such county. The board may adopt and the department of
ecology may approve such proposals if they find the proposals are consistent with the purposes and policies of this chapter.
(3) The board shall establish by rule a riparian open
space program that includes acquisition of a fee interest in, or
at the landowner’s option, a conservation easement on lands
within unconfined avulsing channel migration zones. Once
acquired, these lands may be held and managed by the
department, transferred to another state agency, transferred to
an appropriate local government agency, or transferred to a
private nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined
in RCW 64.04.130, in fee or transfer of management obligation. The board shall adopt rules governing the acquisition by
the state or donation to the state of such interest in lands
including the right of refusal if the lands are subject to unacceptable liabilities. The rules shall include definitions of
qualifying lands, priorities for acquisition, and provide for
the opportunity to transfer such lands with limited warranties
and with a description of boundaries that does not require full
surveys where the cost of securing the surveys would be
unreasonable in relation to the value of the lands conveyed.
The rules shall provide for the management of the lands for
ecological protection or fisheries enhancement. Because
there are few, if any, comparable sales of forest land within
unconfined avulsing channel migration zones, separate from
the other lands or assets, these lands are likely to be extraordinarily difficult to appraise and the cost of a conventional
appraisal often would be unreasonable in relation to the value
of the land involved. Therefore, for the purposes of voluntary
sales under this section, the legislature declares that these
lands are presumed to have a value equal to: (a) The acreage
in the sale multiplied by the average value of commercial forest land in the region under the land value tables used for
property tax purposes under *RCW 84.33.120; plus (b) the
cruised volume of any timber located within the channel
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.050
migration multiplied by the appropriate quality code stumpage value for timber of the same species shown on the appropriate table used for timber harvest excise tax purposes under
RCW 84.33.091. For purposes of this section, there shall be
an eastside region and a westside region as defined in the forests and fish report as defined in RCW 76.09.020.
(4) Subject to appropriations sufficient to cover the cost
of such an acquisition program and the related costs of
administering the program, the department is directed to purchase a fee interest or, at the owner’s option, a conservation
easement in land that an owner tenders for purchase; provided that such lands have been taxed as forest lands and are
located within an unconfined avulsing channel migration
zone. Lands acquired under this section shall become riparian
open space. These acquisitions shall not be deemed to trigger
the compensating tax of chapters 84.33 and 84.34 RCW.
(5) Instead of offering to sell interests in qualifying
lands, owners may elect to donate the interests to the state.
(6) Any acquired interest in qualifying lands by the state
under this section shall be managed as riparian open space.
[2000 c 11 § 3; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 701; 1997 c 173 § 1; 1994 c
264 § 48; 1993 c 443 § 2; 1988 c 36 § 46; 1987 c 95 § 8; 1974
ex.s. c 137 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 84.33.120 was amended by 2001 c 305 § 1 and
by 2001 c 185 § 3 and also repealed by 2001 c 249 § 16. RCW 84.33.120
was subsequently repealed by 2003 c 170 § 7.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Effective date—1993 c 443: See note following RCW 76.09.010.
76.09.050
76.09.050 Rules establishing classes of forest practices—Applications for classes of forest practices—
Approval or disapproval—Notifications—Procedures—
Appeals—Waiver. (1) The board shall establish by rule
which forest practices shall be included within each of the
following classes:
Class I: Minimal or specific forest practices that have no
direct potential for damaging a public resource and that may
be conducted without submitting an application or a notification except that when the regulating authority is transferred to
a local governmental entity, those Class I forest practices that
involve timber harvesting or road construction within "urban
growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW,
are processed as Class IV forest practices, but are not subject
to environmental review under chapter 43.21C RCW;
Class II: Forest practices which have a less than ordinary potential for damaging a public resource that may be
conducted without submitting an application and may begin
five calendar days, or such lesser time as the department may
determine, after written notification by the operator, in the
manner, content, and form as prescribed by the department, is
received by the department. However, the work may not
begin until all forest practice fees required under RCW
76.09.065 have been received by the department. Class II
shall not include forest practices:
(a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in
chapter 58.17 RCW or on lands that have or are being converted to another use;
(b) Which require approvals under the provisions of the
hydraulics act, RCW 77.55.021;
[Title 76 RCW—page 19]
76.09.050
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
(c) Within "shorelines of the state" as defined in RCW
90.58.030;
(d) Excluded from Class II by the board; or
(e) Including timber harvesting or road construction
within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter
36.70A RCW, which are Class IV;
Class III: Forest practices other than those contained in
Class I, II, or IV. A Class III application must be approved or
disapproved by the department within thirty calendar days
from the date the department receives the application. However, the applicant may not begin work on that forest practice
until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065
have been received by the department;
Class IV: Forest practices other than those contained in
Class I or II: (a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, as
provided in chapter 58.17 RCW, (b) on lands that have or are
being converted to another use, (c) on lands which, pursuant
to RCW 76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended, are not to be
reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to
urban development, (d) involving timber harvesting or road
construction on lands that are contained within "urban growth
areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except
where the forest landowner provides: (i) A written statement
of intent signed by the forest landowner not to convert to a
use other than commercial forest product operations for ten
years, accompanied by either a written forest management
plan acceptable to the department or documentation that the
land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW;
or (ii) a conversion option harvest plan approved by the local
governmental entity and submitted to the department as part
of the application, and/or (e) which have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore require an
evaluation by the department as to whether or not a detailed
statement must be prepared pursuant to the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW. Such evaluation shall be
made within ten days from the date the department receives
the application: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be
construed to prevent any local or regional governmental
entity from determining that a detailed statement must be prepared for an action pursuant to a Class IV forest practice
taken by that governmental entity concerning the land on
which forest practices will be conducted. A Class IV application must be approved or disapproved by the department
within thirty calendar days from the date the department
receives the application, unless the department determines
that a detailed statement must be made, in which case the
application must be approved or disapproved by the department within sixty calendar days from the date the department
receives the application, unless the commissioner of public
lands, through the promulgation of a formal order, determines that the process cannot be completed within such
period. However, the applicant may not begin work on that
forest practice until all forest practice fees required under
RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department.
Forest practices under Classes I, II, and III are exempt
from the requirements for preparation of a detailed statement
under the state environmental policy act.
(2) Except for those forest practices being regulated by
local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this
chapter, no Class II, Class III, or Class IV forest practice shall
be commenced or continued after January 1, 1975, unless the
[Title 76 RCW—page 20]
department has received a notification with regard to a Class
II forest practice or approved an application with regard to a
Class III or Class IV forest practice containing all information required by RCW 76.09.060 as now or hereafter
amended. However, in the event forest practices regulations
necessary for the scheduled implementation of this chapter
and RCW 90.48.420 have not been adopted in time to meet
such schedules, the department shall have the authority to
regulate forest practices and approve applications on such
terms and conditions consistent with this chapter and RCW
90.48.420 and the purposes and policies of RCW 76.09.010
until applicable forest practices regulations are in effect.
(3) Except for those forest practices being regulated by
local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this
chapter, if a notification or application is delivered in person
to the department by the operator or the operator’s agent, the
department shall immediately provide a dated receipt thereof.
In all other cases, the department shall immediately mail a
dated receipt to the operator.
(4) Except for those forest practices being regulated by
local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this
chapter, forest practices shall be conducted in accordance
with the forest practices regulations, orders and directives as
authorized by this chapter or the forest practices regulations,
and the terms and conditions of any approved applications.
(5) Except for those forest practices being regulated by
local governmental entities as provided elsewhere in this
chapter, the department of natural resources shall notify the
applicant in writing of either its approval of the application or
its disapproval of the application and the specific manner in
which the application fails to comply with the provisions of
this section or with the forest practices regulations. Except as
provided otherwise in this section, if the department fails to
either approve or disapprove an application or any portion
thereof within the applicable time limit, the application shall
be deemed approved and the operation may be commenced:
PROVIDED, That this provision shall not apply to applications which are neither approved nor disapproved pursuant to
the provisions of subsection (7) of this section: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That if seasonal field conditions prevent the
department from being able to properly evaluate the application, the department may issue an approval conditional upon
further review within sixty days: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
That the department shall have until April 1, 1975, to approve
or disapprove an application involving forest practices
allowed to continue to April 1, 1975, under the provisions of
subsection (2) of this section. Upon receipt of any notification or any satisfactorily completed application the department shall in any event no later than two business days after
such receipt transmit a copy to the departments of ecology
and fish and wildlife, and to the county, city, or town in
whose jurisdiction the forest practice is to be commenced.
Any comments by such agencies shall be directed to the
department of natural resources.
(6) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, if the county, city, or town believes that an
application is inconsistent with this chapter, the forest practices regulations, or any local authority consistent with RCW
76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, it may so notify the
department and the applicant, specifying its objections.
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
(7) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, the department shall not approve portions of
applications to which a county, city, or town objects if:
(a) The department receives written notice from the
county, city, or town of such objections within fourteen business days from the time of transmittal of the application to the
county, city, or town, or one day before the department acts
on the application, whichever is later; and
(b) The objections relate to lands either:
(i) Platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter
58.17 RCW; or
(ii) On lands that have or are being converted to another
use.
The department shall either disapprove those portions of
such application or appeal the county, city, or town objections to the appeals board. If the objections related to subparagraphs (b)(i) and (ii) of this subsection are based on local
authority consistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter
amended, the department shall disapprove the application
until such time as the county, city, or town consents to its
approval or such disapproval is reversed on appeal. The
applicant shall be a party to all department appeals of county,
city, or town objections. Unless the county, city, or town
either consents or has waived its rights under this subsection,
the department shall not approve portions of an application
affecting such lands until the minimum time for county, city,
or town objections has expired.
(8) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, in addition to any rights under the above
paragraph, the county, city, or town may appeal any department approval of an application with respect to any lands
within its jurisdiction. The appeals board may suspend the
department’s approval in whole or in part pending such
appeal where there exists potential for immediate and material damage to a public resource.
(9) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, appeals under this section shall be made to
the appeals board in the manner and time provided in RCW
76.09.220(8). In such appeals there shall be no presumption
of correctness of either the county, city, or town or the department position.
(10) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, the department shall, within four business
days notify the county, city, or town of all notifications,
approvals, and disapprovals of an application affecting lands
within the county, city, or town, except to the extent the
county, city, or town has waived its right to such notice.
(11) For those forest practices regulated by the board and
the department, a county, city, or town may waive in whole or
in part its rights under this section, and may withdraw or
modify any such waiver, at any time by written notice to the
department.
(12) Notwithstanding subsections (2) through (5) of this
section, forest practices applications or notifications are not
required for exotic insect and disease control operations conducted in accordance with RCW 76.09.060(8) where eradication can reasonably be expected. [2005 c 146 § 1003; 2003 c
314 § 4; 2002 c 121 § 1; 1997 c 173 § 2; 1994 c 264 § 49;
1993 c 443 § 3; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 61; 1988 c 36 § 47; 1987
c 95 § 9; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 2; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 5.]
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.060
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Findings—2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.
Effective date—1993 c 443: See note following RCW 76.09.010.
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
76.09.055
76.09.055 Findings—Emergency rule making authorized. (1) The legislature finds that the levels of fish stocks
throughout much of the state require immediate action to be
taken to help these fish runs where possible. The legislature
also recognizes that federal and state agencies, tribes, county
representatives, and private timberland owners have spent
considerable effort and time to develop the forests and fish
report. Given the agreement of the parties, the legislature
believes that the immediate adoption of emergency rules is
appropriate in this particular instance. These rules can implement many provisions of the forests and fish report to protect
the economic well-being of the state, and to minimize the risk
to the state and landowners to legal challenges. This authority is not designed to set any precedents for the forest practices board in future rule making or set any precedents for
other rule-making bodies of the state.
(2) The forest practices board is authorized to adopt
emergency rules amending the forest practices rules with
respect to the protection of aquatic resources, in accordance
with RCW 34.05.350, except: (a)(i) That the rules adopted
under this section may remain in effect until permanent rules
are adopted, or until June 30, 2001, whichever is sooner; (ii)
that the rules adopted under RCW 76.09.420(5) must remain
in effect until permanent rules are adopted; (b) notice of the
proposed rules must be published in the Washington State
Register as provided in RCW 34.05.320; (c) at least one public hearing must be conducted with an opportunity to provide
oral and written comments; and (d) a rule-making file must
be maintained as required by RCW 34.05.370. In adopting
emergency rules consistent with this section, the board is not
required to prepare a small business economic impact statement under chapter 19.85 RCW, prepare a statement indicating whether the rules constitute a significant legislative rule
under RCW 34.05.328, prepare a significant legislative rule
analysis under RCW 34.05.328, or follow the procedural
requirements of the state environmental policy act, chapter
43.21C RCW. Except as provided in RCW 76.09.420, the
forest practices board may only adopt recommendations contained in the forests and fish report as emergency rules under
this section. [2003 c 311 § 5; 2000 c 11 § 4; 1999 sp.s. c 4 §
201.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 4 §§ 201, 202, and 203: "Sections 201,
202, and 203 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [June 7, 1999]."
[1999 sp.s. c 4 § 1405.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.060
76.09.060 Applications for forest practices—Form—
Contents—Conversion of forest land to other use—Sixyear moratorium—New applications—Approval—Emergencies. The following shall apply to those forest practices
[Title 76 RCW—page 21]
76.09.060
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
administered and enforced by the department and for which
the board shall promulgate regulations as provided in this
chapter:
(1) The department shall prescribe the form and contents
of the notification and application. The forest practices rules
shall specify by whom and under what conditions the notification and application shall be signed or otherwise certified
as acceptable. The application or notification shall be delivered in person to the department, sent by first class mail to the
department or electronically filed in a form defined by the
department. The form for electronic filing shall be readily
convertible to a paper copy, which shall be available to the
public pursuant to chapter 42.56 RCW. The information
required may include, but is not limited to:
(a) Name and address of the forest landowner, timber
owner, and operator;
(b) Description of the proposed forest practice or practices to be conducted;
(c) Legal description and tax parcel identification numbers of the land on which the forest practices are to be conducted;
(d) Planimetric and topographic maps showing location
and size of all lakes and streams and other public waters in
and immediately adjacent to the operating area and showing
all existing and proposed roads and major tractor roads;
(e) Description of the silvicultural, harvesting, or other
forest practice methods to be used, including the type of
equipment to be used and materials to be applied;
(f) Proposed plan for reforestation and for any revegetation necessary to reduce erosion potential from roadsides and
yarding roads, as required by the forest practices rules;
(g) Soil, geological, and hydrological data with respect
to forest practices;
(h) The expected dates of commencement and completion of all forest practices specified in the application;
(i) Provisions for continuing maintenance of roads and
other construction or other measures necessary to afford protection to public resources;
(j) An affirmation that the statements contained in the
notification or application are true; and
(k) All necessary application or notification fees.
(2) Long range plans may be submitted to the department
for review and consultation.
(3) The application for a forest practice or the notification of a Class II forest practice is subject to the three-year
reforestation requirement.
(a) If the application states that any such land will be or
is intended to be so converted:
(i) The reforestation requirements of this chapter and of
the forest practices rules shall not apply if the land is in fact
so converted unless applicable alternatives or limitations are
provided in forest practices rules issued under RCW
76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended;
(ii) Completion of such forest practice operations shall
be deemed conversion of the lands to another use for purposes of chapters 84.33 and 84.34 RCW unless the conversion is to a use permitted under a current use tax agreement
permitted under chapter 84.34 RCW;
(iii) The forest practices described in the application are
subject to applicable county, city, town, and regional govern[Title 76 RCW—page 22]
mental authority permitted under RCW 76.09.240 as now or
hereafter amended as well as the forest practices rules.
(b) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, if the
application or notification does not state that any land covered by the application or notification will be or is intended to
be so converted:
(i) For six years after the date of the application the
county, city, town, and regional governmental entities shall
deny any or all applications for permits or approvals, including building permits and subdivision approvals, relating to
nonforestry uses of land subject to the application;
(A) The department shall submit to the local governmental entity a copy of the statement of a forest landowner’s
intention not to convert which shall represent a recognition
by the landowner that the six-year moratorium shall be
imposed and shall preclude the landowner’s ability to obtain
development permits while the moratorium is in place. This
statement shall be filed by the local governmental entity with
the county recording officer, who shall record the documents
as provided in chapter 65.04 RCW, except that lands designated as forest lands of long-term commercial significance
under chapter 36.70A RCW shall not be recorded due to the
low likelihood of conversion. Not recording the statement of
a forest landowner’s conversion intention shall not be construed to mean the moratorium is not in effect.
(B) The department shall collect the recording fee and
reimburse the local governmental entity for the cost of
recording the application.
(C) When harvesting takes place without an application,
the local governmental entity shall impose the six-year moratorium provided in (b)(i) of this subsection from the date the
unpermitted harvesting was discovered by the department or
the local governmental entity.
(D) The local governmental entity shall develop a process for lifting the six-year moratorium, which shall include
public notification, and procedures for appeals and public
hearings.
(E) The local governmental entity may develop an
administrative process for lifting or waiving the six-year
moratorium for the purposes of constructing a single-family
residence or outbuildings, or both, on a legal lot and building
site. Lifting or waiving of the six-year moratorium is subject
to compliance with all local ordinances.
(F) The six-year moratorium shall not be imposed on a
forest practices application that contains a conversion option
harvest plan approved by the local governmental entity
unless the forest practice was not in compliance with the
approved forest practice permit. Where not in compliance
with the conversion option harvest plan, the six-year moratorium shall be imposed from the date the application was
approved by the department or the local governmental entity;
(ii) Failure to comply with the reforestation requirements
contained in any final order or decision shall constitute a
removal of designation under the provisions of RCW
84.33.140, and a change of use under the provisions of RCW
84.34.080, and, if applicable, shall subject such lands to the
payments and/or penalties resulting from such removals or
changes; and
(iii) Conversion to a use other than commercial forest
product operations within six years after approval of the forest practices without the consent of the county, city, or town
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
shall constitute a violation of each of the county, municipal
city, town, and regional authorities to which the forest practice operations would have been subject if the application had
so stated.
(c) The application or notification shall be signed by the
forest landowner and accompanied by a statement signed by
the forest landowner indicating his or her intent with respect
to conversion and acknowledging that he or she is familiar
with the effects of this subsection.
(4) Whenever an approved application authorizes a forest practice which, because of soil condition, proximity to a
water course or other unusual factor, has a potential for causing material damage to a public resource, as determined by
the department, the applicant shall, when requested on the
approved application, notify the department two days before
the commencement of actual operations.
(5) Before the operator commences any forest practice in
a manner or to an extent significantly different from that
described in a previously approved application or notification, there shall be submitted to the department a new application or notification form in the manner set forth in this section.
(6) Except as provided in RCW 76.09.350(4), the notification to or the approval given by the department to an application to conduct a forest practice shall be effective for a term
of two years from the date of approval or notification and
shall not be renewed unless a new application is filed and
approved or a new notification has been filed. At the option
of the applicant, an application or notification may be submitted to cover a single forest practice or a number of forest
practices within reasonable geographic or political boundaries as specified by the department. An application or notification that covers more than one forest practice may have
an effective term of more than two years. The board shall
adopt rules that establish standards and procedures for
approving an application or notification that has an effective
term of more than two years. Such rules shall include
extended time periods for application or notification approval
or disapproval. On an approved application with a term of
more than two years, the applicant shall inform the department before commencing operations.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
no prior application or notification shall be required for any
emergency forest practice necessitated by fire, flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other emergency as defined by the
board, but the operator shall submit an application or notification, whichever is applicable, to the department within
forty-eight hours after commencement of such practice or as
required by local regulations.
(8) Forest practices applications or notifications are not
required for forest practices conducted to control exotic forest insect or disease outbreaks, when conducted by or under
the direction of the department of agriculture in carrying out
an order of the governor or director of the department of agriculture to implement pest control measures as authorized
under chapter 17.24 RCW, and are not required when conducted by or under the direction of the department in carrying
out emergency measures under a forest health emergency
declaration by the commissioner of public lands as provided
in RCW 76.06.130.
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.063
(a) For the purposes of this subsection, exotic forest
insect or disease has the same meaning as defined in RCW
76.06.020.
(b) In order to minimize adverse impacts to public
resources, control measures must be based on integrated pest
management, as defined in RCW 17.15.010, and must follow
forest practices rules relating to road construction and maintenance, timber harvest, and forest chemicals, to the extent
possible without compromising control objectives.
(c) Agencies conducting or directing control efforts must
provide advance notice to the appropriate regulatory staff of
the department of the operations that would be subject to
exemption from forest practices application or notification
requirements.
(d) When the appropriate regulatory staff of the department are notified under (c) of this subsection, they must consult with the landowner, interested agencies, and affected
tribes, and assist the notifying agencies in the development of
integrated pest management plans that comply with forest
practices rules as required under (b) of this subsection.
(e) Nothing under this subsection relieves agencies conducting or directing control efforts from requirements of the
federal clean water act as administered by the department of
ecology under RCW 90.48.260.
(f) Forest lands where trees have been cut as part of an
exotic forest insect or disease control effort under this subsection are subject to reforestation requirements under RCW
76.09.070.
(g) The exemption from obtaining approved forest practices applications or notifications does not apply to forest
practices conducted after the governor, the director of the
department of agriculture, or the commissioner of public
lands have declared that an emergency no longer exists
because control objectives have been met, that there is no
longer an imminent threat, or that there is no longer a good
likelihood of control. [2005 c 274 § 357; 2003 c 314 § 5.
Prior: 1997 c 290 § 3; 1997 c 173 § 3; 1993 c 443 § 4; 1992
c 52 § 22; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 62; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 3;
1974 ex.s. c 137 § 6.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Findings—2003 c 314: See note following RCW 17.24.220.
Effective date—1993 c 443: See note following RCW 76.09.010.
Effective date—1992 c 52 § 22: "Section 22 of this act shall take effect
August 1, 1992." [1992 c 52 § 27.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
76.09.063
76.09.063 Forest practices permit—Habitat incentives agreement. When a private landowner is applying for
a forest practices permit under this chapter and that landowner has entered into a habitat incentives agreement with
the department and the department of fish and wildlife as provided in *RCW 77.55.300, the department shall comply with
the terms of that agreement when evaluating the permit application. [2003 c 39 § 33; 1997 c 425 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.300 was recodified as RCW 77.55.121
pursuant to 2005 c 146 § 1001.
Finding—Intent—1997 c 425: See note following RCW 77.55.121.
[Title 76 RCW—page 23]
76.09.065
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
76.09.065 Forest practices application or notification—Fee. (1) Effective July 1, 1997, an applicant shall pay
an application fee and a recording fee, if applicable, at the
time an application or notification is submitted to the department or to the local governmental entity as provided in this
chapter.
(2) For applications and notifications submitted to the
department, the application fee shall be fifty dollars for class
II, III, and IV forest practices applications or notifications
relating to the commercial harvest of timber. However, the
fee shall be five hundred dollars for class IV forest practices
applications on lands being converted to other uses or on
lands which are not to be reforested because of the likelihood
of future conversion to urban development or on lands that
are contained within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except the fee shall be fifty dollars on those lands where the forest landowner provides:
(a) A written statement of intent signed by the forest
landowner not to convert to a use other than commercial forest product operations for ten years, accompanied by either a
written forest management plan acceptable to the department
or documentation that the land is enrolled under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW; or
(b) A conversion option harvest plan approved by the
local governmental entity and submitted to the department as
part of the forest practices application.
All money collected from fees under this subsection shall be
deposited in the state general fund.
(3) For applications submitted to the local governmental
entity, the fee shall be five hundred dollars for class IV forest
practices on lands being converted to other uses or lands that
are contained within "urban growth areas," designated pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, except as otherwise provided in
this section, unless a different fee is otherwise provided by
the local governmental entity.
(4) Recording fees shall be as provided in chapter 36.18
RCW.
(5) An application fee under subsection (2) of this section shall be refunded or credited to the applicant if either the
application or notification is disapproved by the department
or the application or notification is withdrawn by the applicant due to restrictions imposed by the department. [2000 c
11 § 5; 1997 c 173 § 4; 1993 c 443 § 5.]
76.09.065
Effective date—1993 c 443: See note following RCW 76.09.010.
76.09.067 Application for forest practices—Owner of
perpetual timber rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, for the purposes of RCW
76 .0 9.0 50 (1 ), 76 .0 9.06 0( 3 ) ( b) (i) (A) and ( c), and
76.09.065(2)(a), where timber rights have been transferred
by deed to a perpetual owner who is different from the forest
landowner, the owner of perpetual timber rights may sign the
forest practices application and the statement of intent not to
convert for a set period of time. The forest practices application is not complete until the holder of perpetual timber rights
has submitted evidence to the department that the signed forest practices application and the signed statement of intent
have been served on the forest landowner. [1998 c 100 § 1.]
76.09.067
76.09.070 Reforestation—Requirements—Procedures—Notification on sale or transfer. After the comple76.09.070
[Title 76 RCW—page 24]
tion of a logging operation, satisfactory reforestation as
defined by the rules and regulations promulgated by the
board shall be completed within three years: PROVIDED,
That: (1) A longer period may be authorized if seed or seedlings are not available; (2) a period of up to five years may be
allowed where a natural regeneration plan is approved by the
department; and (3) the department may identify low-productivity lands on which it may allow for a period of up to ten
years for natural regeneration. Upon the completion of a
reforestation operation a report on such operation shall be
filed with the department of natural resources. Within twelve
months of receipt of such a report the department shall
inspect the reforestation operation, and shall determine either
that the reforestation operation has been properly completed
or that further reforestation and inspection is necessary.
Satisfactory reforestation is the obligation of the owner
of the land as defined by forest practices regulations, except
the owner of perpetual rights to cut timber owned separately
from the land is responsible for satisfactory reforestation. The
reforestation obligation shall become the obligation of a new
owner if the land or perpetual timber rights are sold or otherwise transferred.
Prior to the sale or transfer of land or perpetual timber
rights subject to a reforestation obligation, the seller shall
notify the buyer of the existence and nature of the obligation
and the buyer shall sign a notice of reforestation obligation
indicating the buyer’s knowledge thereof. The notice shall be
on a form prepared by the department and shall be sent to the
department by the seller at the time of sale or transfer of the
land or perpetual timber rights. If the seller fails to notify the
buyer about the reforestation obligation, the seller shall pay
the buyer’s costs related to reforestation, including all legal
costs which include reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by
the buyer in enforcing the reforestation obligation against the
seller. Failure by the seller to send the required notice to the
department at the time of sale shall be prima facie evidence,
in an action by the buyer against the seller for costs related to
reforestation, that the seller did not notify the buyer of the
reforestation obligation prior to sale.
The forest practices regulations may provide alternatives
to or limitations on the applicability of reforestation requirements with respect to forest lands being converted in whole
or in part to another use which is compatible with timber
growing. The forest practices regulations may identify classifications and/or areas of forest land that have the likelihood
of future conversion to urban development within a ten year
period. The reforestation requirements may be modified or
eliminated on such lands: PROVIDED, That such identification and/or such conversion to urban development must be
consistent with any local or regional land use plans or ordinances. [1987 c 95 § 10; 1982 c 173 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200
§ 4; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 7.]
Effective date—1982 c 173: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1982."
[1982 c 173 § 2.]
76.09.080
76.09.080 Stop work orders—Grounds—Contents—
Procedure—Appeals. (1) The department shall have the
authority to serve upon an operator a stop work order which
shall be a final order of the department if:
(a) There is any violation of the provisions of this chapter or the forest practices regulations; or
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
(b) There is a deviation from the approved application;
or
(c) Immediate action is necessary to prevent continuation of or to avoid material damage to a public resource.
(2) The stop work order shall set forth:
(a) The specific nature, extent, and time of the violation,
deviation, damage, or potential damage;
(b) An order to stop all work connected with the violation, deviation, damage, or potential damage;
(c) The specific course of action needed to correct such
violation or deviation or to prevent damage and to correct
and/or compensate for damage to public resources which has
resulted from any violation, unauthorized deviation, or willful or negligent disregard for potential damage to a public
resource; and/or those courses of action necessary to prevent
continuing damage to public resources where the damage is
resulting from the forest practice activities but has not
resulted from any violation, unauthorized deviation, or negligence; and
(d) The right of the operator to a hearing before the
appeals board.
The department shall immediately file a copy of such
order with the appeals board and mail a copy thereof to the
timber owner and forest land owner at the addresses shown
on the application. The operator, timber owner, or forest land
owner may commence an appeal to the appeals board within
fifteen days after service upon the operator. If such appeal is
commenced, a hearing shall be held not more than twenty
days after copies of the notice of appeal were filed with the
appeals board. Such proceeding shall be an adjudicative proceeding within the meaning of chapter 34.05 RCW, the
Administrative Procedure Act. The operator shall comply
with the order of the department immediately upon being
served, but the appeals board if requested shall have authority
to continue or discontinue in whole or in part the order of the
department under such conditions as it may impose pending
the outcome of the proceeding. [1989 c 175 § 163; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 200 § 5; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 8.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
76.09.100
gard for potential damage to a public resource; and/or those
courses of action necessary to prevent continuing damage to
public resources where the damage is resulting from the forest practice activities but has not resulted from any violation,
unauthorized deviation, or negligence.
The department shall mail a copy thereof to the forest
land owner and the timber owner at the addresses shown on
the application, showing the date of service upon the operator. Such notice to comply shall become a final order of the
department: PROVIDED, That no direct appeal to the
appeals board will be allowed from such final order. Such
operator shall undertake the course of action so ordered by
the department unless, within fifteen days after the date of
service of such notice to comply, the operator, forest land
owner, or timber owner, shall request the department in writing to schedule a hearing. If so requested, the department
shall schedule a hearing on a date not more than twenty days
after receiving such request. Within ten days after such hearing, the department shall issue a final order either withdrawing its notice to comply or clearly setting forth the specific
course of action to be followed by such operator. Such operator shall undertake the course of action so ordered by the
department unless within thirty days after the date of such
final order, the operator, forest land owner, or timber owner
appeals such final order to the appeals board.
No person shall be under any obligation under this section to prevent, correct, or compensate for any damage to
public resources which occurs more than one year after the
date of completion of the forest practices operations involved
exclusive of reforestation, unless such forest practices were
not conducted in accordance with forest practices rules and
regulations: PROVIDED, That this provision shall not
relieve the forest land owner from any obligation to comply
with forest practices rules and regulations pertaining to providing continuing road maintenance. No action to recover
damages shall be taken under this section more than two
years after the date the damage involved occurs. [1975 1st
ex.s. c 200 § 6; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 9.]
76.09.100
76.09.090
76.09.090 Notice of failure to comply—Contents—
Procedures—Appeals—Hearing—Final order—Limitations on actions. If a violation, a deviation, material damage
or potential for material damage to a public resource has
occurred and the department determines that a stop work
order is unnecessary, then the department shall issue and
serve upon the operator or land owner a notice, which shall
clearly set forth:
(1)(a) The specific nature, extent, and time of failure to
comply with the approved application; or identifying the
damage or potential damage; and/or
(b) The relevant provisions of this chapter or of the forest
practice regulations relating thereto;
(2) The right of the operator or land owner to a hearing
before the department; and
(3) The specific course of action ordered by the department to be followed by the operator to correct such failure to
comply and to prevent, correct and/or compensate for material damage to public resources which resulted from any violation, unauthorized deviation, or wilful or negligent disre(2006 Ed.)
76.09.100 Failure to comply with water quality protection—Department of ecology authorized to petition
appeals board—Action on petition. If the department of
ecology determines that a person has failed to comply with
the forest practices regulations relating to water quality protection, and that the department of natural resources has not
issued a stop work order or notice to comply, the department
of ecology shall inform the department thereof. If the department of natural resources fails to take authorized enforcement action within twenty-four hours under RCW 76.09.080,
76.09.090, 76.09.120, or 76.09.130, the department of ecology may petition to the chairman of the appeals board, who
shall, within forty-eight hours, either deny the petition or
direct the department of natural resources to immediately
issue a stop work order or notice to comply, or to impose a
penalty. No civil or criminal penalties shall be imposed for
past actions or omissions if such actions or omissions were
conducted pursuant to an approval or directive of the department of natural resources. [1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 7; 1974
ex.s. c 137 § 10.]
[Title 76 RCW—page 25]
76.09.110
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
76.09.110 Final orders or final decisions binding
upon all parties. Unless declared invalid on appeal, a final
order of the department or a final decision of the appeals
board shall be binding upon all parties. [1974 ex.s. c 137 §
11.]
76.09.110
76.09.120 Failure of owner to take required course of
action—Notice of cost—Department authorized to complete course of action—Liability of owner for costs—
Lien. If an operator fails to undertake and complete any
course of action with respect to a forest practice, as required
by a final order of the department or a final decision of the
appeals board or any court pursuant to RCW 76.09.080 and
76.09.090, the department may determine the cost thereof
and give written notice of such cost to the operator, the timber
owner and the owner of the forest land upon or in connection
with which such forest practice was being conducted. If such
operator, timber owner, or forest land owner fails within
thirty days after such notice is given to undertake such course
of action, or having undertaken such course of action fails to
complete it within a reasonable time, the department may
expend any funds available to undertake and complete such
course of action and such operator, timber owner, and forest
land owner shall be jointly and severally liable for the actual,
direct cost thereof, but in no case more than the amount set
forth in the notice from the department. If not paid within
sixty days after the department completes such course of
action and notifies such forest land owner in writing of the
amount due, such amount shall become a lien on such forest
land and the department may collect such amount in the same
manner provided in chapter 60.04 RCW for mechanics’ liens.
[1974 ex.s. c 137 § 12.]
76.09.120
76.09.130 Failure to obey stop work order—Departmental action authorized—Liability of owner or operator
for costs. When the operator has failed to obey a stop work
order issued under the provisions of RCW 76.09.080 the
department may take immediate action to prevent continuation of or avoid material damage to public resources. If a final
order or decision fixes liability with the operator, timber
owner, or forest land owner, they shall be jointly and severally liable for such emergency costs which may be collected
in the manner provided for in RCW 76.09.120. [1974 ex.s. c
137 § 13.]
76.09.130
76.09.140 Enforcement. (1) The department of natural
resources may take any necessary action to enforce any final
order or final decision, and may disapprove any forest practices application or notification submitted by any person who
has failed to comply with a final order or final decision or has
failed to pay any civil penalties as provided in RCW
76.09.170, for up to one year from the issuance of a notice of
intent to disapprove notifications and applications under this
section or until the violator pays all outstanding civil penalties and complies with all validly issued and outstanding
notices to comply and stop work orders, whichever is longer.
For purposes of chapter 482, Laws of 1993, the terms "final
order" and "final decision" shall mean the same as set forth in
RCW 76.09.080, 76.09.090, and 76.09.110. The department
shall provide written notice of its intent to disapprove an
application or notification under this subsection. The depart76.09.140
[Title 76 RCW—page 26]
ment shall forward copies of its notice of intent to disapprove
to any affected landowner. The disapproval period shall run
from thirty days following the date of actual notice or when
all administrative and judicial appellate processes, if any,
have been exhausted. Any person provided the notice may
seek review from the appeals board by filing a request for
review within thirty days of the date of the notice of intent.
While the notice of intent to disapprove is in effect, the violator may not serve as a person in charge of, be employed by,
manage, or otherwise participate to any degree in forest practices.
(2) On request of the department, the attorney general
may take action necessary to enforce this chapter, including,
but not limited to: Seeking penalties, interest, costs, and
attorneys’ fees; enforcing final orders or decisions; and seeking civil injunctions, show cause orders, or contempt orders.
(3) A county may bring injunctive, declaratory, or other
actions for enforcement for forest practice activities within its
jurisdiction in the superior court as provided by law against
the department, the forest landowner, timber owner or operator to enforce the forest practices rules or any final order of
the department, or the appeals board. No civil or criminal
penalties shall be imposed for past actions or omissions if
such actions or omissions were conducted pursuant to an
approval or directive of the department. Injunctions, declaratory actions, or other actions for enforcement under this subsection may not be commenced unless the department fails to
take appropriate action after ten days written notice to the
department by the county of a violation of the forest practices
rules or final orders of the department or the appeals board.
(4)(a) The department may require financial assurance
prior to the conduct of any further forest practices from an
operator or landowner who within the preceding three-year
period has:
(i) Operated without an approved forest practices application, other than an unintentional operation in connection
with an approved application outside the approved boundary
of such an application;
(ii) Continued to operate in breach of, or failed to comply
with, the terms of an effective stop work order or notice to
comply; or
(iii) Failed to pay any civil or criminal penalty.
(b) The department may deny any application for failure
to submit financial assurances as required. [2000 c 11 § 6;
1999 sp.s. c 4 § 801; 1993 c 482 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 8;
1974 ex.s. c 137 § 14.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.150
76.09.150 Inspection—Right of entry. (1) The department shall make inspections of forest lands, before, during
and after the conducting of forest practices as necessary for
the purpose of ensuring compliance with this chapter and the
forest practices rules and to ensure that no material damage
occurs to the natural resources of this state as a result of such
practices.
(2) Any duly authorized representative of the department
shall have the right to enter upon forest land at any reasonable
time to enforce the provisions of this chapter and the forest
practices rules.
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
(3) The department or the department of ecology may
apply for an administrative inspection warrant to either Thurston county superior court, or the superior court in the county
in which the property is located. An administrative inspection
warrant may be issued where:
(a) The department has attempted an inspection of forest
lands under this chapter to ensure compliance with this chapter and the forest practices rules or to ensure that no potential
or actual material damage occurs to the natural resources of
this state, and access to all or part of the forest lands has been
actually or constructively denied; or
(b) The department has reasonable cause to believe that
a violation of this chapter or of rules adopted under this chapter is occurring or has occurred.
(4) In connection with any watershed analysis, any
review of a pending application by an identification team
appointed by the department, any compliance studies, any
effectiveness monitoring, or other research that has been
agreed to by a landowner, the department may invite representatives of other agencies, tribes, and interest groups to
accompany a department representative and, at the landowner’s election, the landowner, on any such inspections.
Reasonable efforts shall be made by the department to notify
the landowner of the persons being invited onto the property
and the purposes for which they are being invited. [2000 c 11
§ 7; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 802; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 15.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.160 Right of entry by department of ecology.
Any duly authorized representative of the department of ecology shall have the right to enter upon forest land at any reasonable time to administer the provisions of this chapter and
RCW 90.48.420. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 16.]
76.09.160
76.09.170 Violations—Conversion to nontimber
operation—Penalties—Remission or mitigation—
Appeals—Lien. (1) Every person who violates any provision of RCW 76.09.010 through 76.09.280 or of the forest
practices rules, or who converts forest land to a use other than
commercial timber operation within three years after completion of the forest practice without the consent of the county,
city, or town, shall be subject to a penalty in an amount of not
more than ten thousand dollars for every such violation. Each
and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct
offense. In case of a failure to comply with a stop work order,
every day’s continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation. Every person who through an act of commission or
omission procures, aids or abets in the violation shall be considered to have violated the provisions of this section and
shall be subject to the penalty in this section. No penalty shall
be imposed under this section upon any governmental official, an employee of any governmental department, agency,
or entity, or a member of any board or advisory committee
created by this chapter for any act or omission in his or her
duties in the administration of this chapter or of any rule
adopted under this chapter.
(2) The department shall develop and recommend to the
board a penalty schedule to determine the amount to be
imposed under this section. The board shall adopt by rule,
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, such penalty schedule to be
76.09.170
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.170
effective no later than January 1, 1994. The schedule shall be
developed in consideration of the following:
(a) Previous violation history;
(b) Severity of the impact on public resources;
(c) Whether the violation of this chapter or its rules was
intentional;
(d) Cooperation with the department;
(e) Repairability of the adverse effect from the violation;
and
(f) The extent to which a penalty to be imposed on a forest landowner for a forest practice violation committed by
another should be reduced because the owner was unaware of
the violation and has not received substantial economic benefits from the violation.
(3) The penalty in this section shall be imposed by a
notice in writing, either by certified mail with return receipt
requested or by personal service, to the person incurring the
same from the department describing the violation with reasonable particularity. Within fifteen days after the notice is
received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the department for the remission or mitigation of such
penalty. Upon receipt of the application, that department may
remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms that
department in its discretion deems proper, provided the
department deems such remission or mitigation to be in the
best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The
department shall have authority to ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in such reasonable manner and
under such rule as it may deem proper.
(4) Any person incurring a penalty under this section
may appeal the penalty to the forest practices appeals board.
Such appeals shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of
notice imposing any penalty unless an application for remission or mitigation is made to the department. When such an
application for remission or mitigation is made, such appeals
shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of notice from the
department setting forth the disposition of the application for
remission or mitigation.
(5) The penalty imposed under this section shall become
due and payable thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing
the same unless application for remission or mitigation is
made or an appeal is filed. When such an application for
remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred under
this section shall become due and payable thirty days after
receipt of notice setting forth the disposition of such application unless an appeal is filed from such disposition. Whenever an appeal of the penalty incurred is filed, the penalty
shall become due and payable only upon completion of all
administrative and judicial review proceedings and the issuance of a final decision confirming the penalty in whole or in
part.
(6) If the amount of any penalty is not paid to the department within thirty days after it becomes due and payable, the
attorney general, upon the request of the department, shall
bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the
superior court of Thurston county or of any county in which
such violator may do business, to recover such penalty, interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees. In all such actions the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary
civil action except as otherwise in this chapter provided. In
addition to or as an alternative to seeking enforcement of pen[Title 76 RCW—page 27]
76.09.180
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
alties in superior court, the department may bring an action in
district court as provided in Title 3 RCW, to collect penalties,
interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees.
(7) Penalties imposed under this section for violations
associated with a conversion to a use other than commercial
timber operation shall be a lien upon the real property of the
person assessed the penalty and the department may collect
such amount in the same manner provided in chapter 60.04
RCW for mechanics’ liens.
(8) Any person incurring a penalty imposed under this
section is also responsible for the payment of all costs and
attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the penalty and
interest accruing on the unpaid penalty amount. [1999 sp.s. c
4 § 803; 1993 c 482 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 9; 1974 ex.s.
c 137 § 17.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Effective date—1993 c 482 § 2(1) and (3) through (7): "The following portions of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1994: Subsections (1)
and (3) through (7) of section 2 of this act." [1993 c 482 § 3.]
76.09.180
76.09.180 Disposition of moneys received as penalties, reimbursement for damages. All penalties received or
recovered by state agency action for violations as prescribed
in RCW 76.09.170 shall be deposited in the state general
fund. All such penalties recovered as a result of local government action shall be deposited in the local government general fund. Any funds recovered as reimbursement for damages pursuant to RCW 76.09.080 and 76.09.090 shall be
transferred to that agency with jurisdiction over the public
resource damaged, including but not limited to political subdivisions, the department of fish and wildlife, the department
of ecology, the department of natural resources, or any other
department that may be so designated: PROVIDED, That
nothing herein shall be construed to affect the provisions of
RCW 90.48.142. [1994 c 264 § 50; 1988 c 36 § 48; 1974
ex.s. c 137 § 18.]
76.09.190
76.09.190 Additional penalty, gross misdemeanor. In
addition to the penalties imposed pursuant to RCW
76.09.170, any person who conducts any forest practice or
knowingly aids or abets another in conducting any forest
practice in violation of any provisions of RCW 76.09.010
through 76.09.280 or 90.48.420, or of the regulations implementing RCW 76.09.010 through 76.09.280 or 90.48.420,
shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or by
imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or by both
fine and imprisonment for each separate violation. Each day
upon which such violation occurs shall constitute a separate
violation. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 19.]
76.09.210
76.09.210 Forest practices appeals board—Created—Membership—Terms—Vacancies—Removal. (1)
There is hereby created within the environmental hearings
office under RCW 43.21B.005 the forest practices appeals
board of the state of Washington.
(2) The forest practices appeals board shall consist of
three members qualified by experience and training in pertinent matters pertaining to the environment, and at least one
[Title 76 RCW—page 28]
member of the appeals board shall have been admitted to the
practice of law in this state and shall be engaged in the legal
profession at the time of his appointment. The appeals board
shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, and no more than two of the members at
the time of appointment or during their term shall be members of the same political party.
(3) Members shall be appointed for a term of six years
and shall serve until their successors are appointed and have
qualified. In case of a vacancy, it shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired portion of the term in
which such vacancy occurs. The terms of the first three members of the appeals board shall be staggered so that their terms
shall expire after two, four, and six years.
(4) Any member may be removed for inefficiency, malfeasance or misfeasance in office, upon specific written
charges filed by the governor, who shall transmit such written
charges to the member accused and to the chief justice of the
supreme court. The chief justice shall thereupon designate a
tribunal composed of three judges of the superior court to
hear and adjudicate the charges. Such tribunal shall fix the
time of the hearing, which shall be public, and the procedure
for the hearing, and the decision of such tribunal shall be final
and not subject to review by the supreme court. Removal of
any member by the tribunal shall disqualify such member for
reappointment.
(5) Each member of the appeals board:
(a) Shall not be a candidate for nor hold any other public
office or trust, and shall not engage in any occupation or business interfering with or inconsistent with his duty as a member, nor shall he serve on or under any committee of any
political party; and
(b) Shall not for a period of one year after the termination
of his membership, act in a representative capacity before the
appeals board on any matter. [1979 ex.s. c 47 § 4; 1974 ex.s.
c 137 § 21.]
Intent—1979 ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 43.21B.005.
76.09.220
76.09.220 Forest practices appeals board—Compensation—Travel expenses—Chair—Office—Quorum—
Powers and duties—Jurisdiction—Review. (1) The
appeals board shall operate on either a part-time or a full-time
basis, as determined by the governor. If it is determined that
the appeals board shall operate on a full-time basis, each
member shall receive an annual salary to be determined by
the governor. If it is determined that the appeals board shall
operate on a part-time basis, each member shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250. The director of
the environmental hearings office shall make the determination, required under RCW 43.03.250, as to what statutorily
prescribed duties, in addition to attendance at a hearing or
meeting of the board, shall merit compensation. This compensation shall not exceed ten thousand dollars in a fiscal
year. Each member shall receive reimbursement for travel
expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties in
accordance with the provisions of RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060.
(2) The appeals board shall as soon as practicable after
the initial appointment of the members thereof, meet and
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
elect from among its members a chair, and shall at least biennially thereafter meet and elect or reelect a chair.
(3) The principal office of the appeals board shall be at
the state capital, but it may sit or hold hearings at any other
place in the state. A majority of the appeals board shall constitute a quorum for making orders or decisions, adopting
rules necessary for the conduct of its powers and duties, or
transacting other official business, and may act though one
position on the board be vacant. One or more members may
hold hearings and take testimony to be reported for action by
the board when authorized by rule or order of the board. The
appeals board shall perform all the powers and duties granted
to it in this chapter or as otherwise provided by law.
(4) The appeals board shall make findings of fact and
prepare a written decision in each case decided by it, and such
findings and decision shall be effective upon being signed by
two or more members and upon being filed at the appeals
board’s principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.
(5) The appeals board shall either publish at its expense
or make arrangements with a publishing firm for the publication of those of its findings and decisions which are of general public interest, in such form as to assure reasonable distribution thereof.
(6) The appeals board shall maintain at its principal
office a journal which shall contain all official actions of the
appeals board, with the exception of findings and decisions,
together with the vote of each member on such actions. The
journal shall be available for public inspection at the principal office of the appeals board at all reasonable times.
(7) The forest practices appeals board shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals arising from an action or
determination by the department, and the department of fish
and wildlife, and the department of ecology with respect to
management plans provided for under RCW 76.09.350.
(8)(a) Any person aggrieved by the approval or disapproval of an application to conduct a forest practice or the
approval or disapproval of any landscape plan or permit or
watershed analysis may, except as otherwise provided in
chapter 43.21L RCW, seek review from the appeals board by
filing a request for the same within thirty days of the approval
or disapproval. Concurrently with the filing of any request
for review with the board as provided in this section, the
requestor shall file a copy of his or her request with the
department and the attorney general. The attorney general
may intervene to protect the public interest and ensure that
the provisions of this chapter are complied with.
(b) The review proceedings authorized in (a) of this subsection are subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW
pertaining to procedures in adjudicative proceedings. [2003
c 393 § 20; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 902; 1999 c 90 § 1. Prior: 1997
c 423 § 2; 1997 c 290 § 5; 1989 c 175 § 164; 1984 c 287 §
109; 1979 ex.s. c 47 § 5; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 174; 1975
1st ex.s. c 200 § 10; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 22.]
Implementation—Effective date—2003 c 393: See RCW 43.21L.900
and 43.21L.901.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Finding—1997 c 423: "The legislature finds that the functions of the
forest practices appeals board have overriding sensitivity and are of impor(2006 Ed.)
76.09.230
tance to the public welfare and operation of state government." [1997 c 423
§ 1.]
Effective date—1997 c 423: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 423 § 3.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Legislative findings—Severability—Effective date—1984 c 287:
See notes following RCW 43.03.220.
Intent—1979 ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 43.21B.005.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
76.09.230
76.09.230 Forest practices appeals board—Mediation—Appeal procedure—Judicial review. (1) In all
appeals over which the appeals board has jurisdiction, upon
request of one or more parties and with the consent of all parties, the appeals board shall promptly schedule a conference
for the purpose of attempting to mediate the case. The mediation conference shall be held prior to the hearing on not less
than seven days’ advance written notice to all parties. All
other proceedings pertaining to the appeal shall be stayed
until completion of mediation, which shall continue so long
as all parties consent: PROVIDED, That this shall not prevent the appeals board from deciding motions filed by the
parties while mediation is ongoing: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That discovery may be conducted while mediation is
ongoing if agreed to by all parties. Mediation shall be conducted by an administrative appeals judge or other duly
authorized agent of the appeals board who has received training in dispute resolution techniques or has a demonstrated
history of successfully resolving disputes, as determined by
the appeals board. A person who mediates in a particular
appeal shall not participate in a hearing on that appeal or in
writing the decision and order in the appeal. Documentary
and other physical evidence presented and evidence of conduct or statements made during the course of mediation shall
be treated by the mediator and the parties in a confidential
manner and shall not be admissible in subsequent proceedings in the appeal except in accordance with the provisions of
the Washington rules of evidence pertaining to compromise
negotiations.
(2) In all appeals the appeals board shall have all powers
relating to administration of oaths, issuance of subpoenas,
and taking of depositions, but such powers shall be exercised
in conformity with chapter 34.05 RCW.
(3) In all appeals the appeals board, and each member
thereof, shall be subject to all duties imposed upon and shall
have all powers granted to, an agency by those provisions of
chapter 34.05 RCW relating to adjudicative proceedings.
(4) All proceedings before the appeals board or any of its
members shall be conducted in accordance with such rules of
practice and procedure as the board may prescribe. The
appeals board shall publish such rules and arrange for the reasonable distribution thereof.
(5) Judicial review of a decision of the appeals board
may be obtained only pursuant to RCW 34.05.510 through
34.05.598. [1994 c 253 § 9; 1992 c 52 § 23; 1989 c 175 §
165; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 23.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
[Title 76 RCW—page 29]
76.09.240
76.09.240
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
76.09.240 Class IV forest practices—Counties and
cities adopt standards—Administration and enforcement
of regulations—Restrictions upon local political subdivisions or regional entities—Exceptions and limitations. (1)
By December 31, 2005, each county and each city shall adopt
ordinances or promulgate regulations setting standards for
those Class IV forest practices regulated by local government. The regulations shall: (a) Establish minimum standards for Class IV forest practices; (b) set forth necessary
administrative provisions; and (c) establish procedures for
the collection and administration of forest practices and
recording fees as set forth in this chapter.
(2) Class IV forest practices regulations shall be administered and enforced by the counties and cities that promulgate them.
(3) The forest practices board shall continue to promulgate regulations and the department shall continue to administer and enforce the regulations promulgated by the board in
each county and each city for all forest practices as provided
in this chapter until such time as, in the opinion of the department, the county or city has promulgated forest practices regulations that meet the requirements as set forth in this section
and that meet or exceed the standards set forth by the board in
regulations in effect at the time the local regulations are
adopted. Regulations promulgated by the county or city
thereafter shall be reviewed in the usual manner set forth for
county or city rules or ordinances. Amendments to local ordinances must meet or exceed the forest practices rules at the
time the local ordinances are amended.
(a) Department review of the initial regulations promulgated by a county or city shall take place upon written request
by the county or city. The department, in consultation with
the department of ecology, may approve or disapprove the
regulations in whole or in part.
(b) Until January 1, 2006, the department shall provide
technical assistance to all counties or cities that have adopted
forest practices regulations acceptable to the department and
that have assumed regulatory authority over all Class IV forest practices within their jurisdiction.
(c) Decisions by the department approving or disapproving the initial regulations promulgated by a county or city
may be appealed to the forest practices appeals board, which
has exclusive jurisdiction to review the department’s
approval or disapproval of regulations promulgated by counties and cities.
(4) For those forest practices over which the board and
the department maintain regulatory authority no county, city,
municipality, or other local or regional governmental entity
shall adopt or enforce any law, ordinance, or regulation pertaining to forest practices, except that to the extent otherwise
permitted by law, such entities may exercise any:
(a) Land use planning or zoning authority: PROVIDED,
That exercise of such authority may regulate forest practices
only: (i) Where the application submitted under RCW
76.09.060 as now or hereafter amended indicates that the
lands have been or will be converted to a use other than commercial forest product production; or (ii) on lands which have
been platted after January 1, 1960, as provided in chapter
58.17 RCW: PROVIDED, That no permit system solely for
forest practices shall be allowed; that any additional or more
stringent regulations shall not be inconsistent with the forest
[Title 76 RCW—page 30]
practices regulations enacted under this chapter; and such
local regulations shall not unreasonably prevent timber harvesting;
(b) Taxing powers;
(c) Regulatory authority with respect to public health;
and
(d) Authority granted by chapter 90.58 RCW, the
"Shoreline Management Act of 1971". [2002 c 121 § 2; 1997
c 173 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 11; 1974 ex.s. c 137 § 24.]
76.09.250
76.09.250 Policy for continuing program of orientation and training. The board shall establish a policy for a
continuing program of orientation and training to be conducted by the department with relation to forest practices and
the regulation thereof pursuant to RCW 76.09.010 through
76.09.280. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 25.]
76.09.260
76.09.260 Department to represent state’s interest—
Cooperation with other public agencies—Grants and
gifts. The department shall represent the state’s interest in
matters pertaining to forestry and forest practices, including
federal matters, and may consult with and cooperate with the
federal government and other states, as well as other public
agencies, in the study and enhancement of forestry and forest
practices. The department is authorized to accept, receive,
disburse, and administer grants or other funds or gifts from
any source, including private individuals or agencies, the federal government, and other public agencies for the purposes
of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall modify the designation of
the department of ecology as the agency representing the
state for all purposes of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 26.]
76.09.270
76.09.270 Annual determination of state’s research
needs—Recommendations. The department, along with
other affected agencies and institutions, shall annually determine the state’s needs for research in forest practices and the
impact of such practices on public resources and shall recommend needed projects to the governor and the legislature.
[1974 ex.s. c 137 § 27.]
76.09.280
76.09.280 Removal of log and debris jams from
streams. Forest land owners shall permit reasonable access
requested by appropriate agencies for removal from stream
beds abutting their property of log and debris jams accumulated from upstream ownerships. Any owner of logs in such
jams in claiming or removing them shall be required to
remove all unmerchantable material from the stream bed in
accordance with the forest practices regulations. Any material removed from stream beds must also be removed in compliance with all applicable laws administered by other agencies. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 28.]
76.09.285
76.09.285 Water quality standards affected by forest
practices. See RCW 90.48.420.
76.09.290
76.09.290 Inspection of lands—Reforestation. The
department shall inspect, or cause to be inspected, deforested
lands of the state and ascertain if the lands are valuable
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
chiefly for agriculture, timber growing, or other purposes,
with a view to reforestation. [1986 c 100 § 49.]
76.09.300
76.09.300 Mass earth movements and fluvial processes—Program to correct hazardous conditions on sites
associated with roads and railroad grades—Hazardreduction plans. (1) Mass earth movements and fluvial processes can endanger public resources and public safety. In
some cases, action can be taken which has a probability of
reducing the danger to public resources and public safety. In
other cases it may be best to take no action. In order to determine where and what, if any, actions should be taken on forest lands, the department shall develop a program to correct
hazardous conditions on identified sites associated with roads
and railroad grades constructed on private and public forest
lands prior to January 1, 1987. The first priority treatment
shall be accorded to those roads and railroad grades constructed before the effective date of the forest practices act of
1974.
(2) This program shall be designed to accomplish the
purposes and policies set forth in RCW 76.09.010. For each
geographic area studied, the department shall produce a hazard-reduction plan which shall consist of the following elements:
(a) Identification of sites where the department determines that earth movements or fluvial processes pose a significant danger to public resources or public safety: PROVIDED, That no liability shall attach to the state of Washington or the department for failure to identify such sites;
(b) Recommendations for the implementation of any
appropriate hazard-reduction measures on the identified sites,
which minimize interference with natural processes and disturbance to the environment;
(c) Analysis of the costs and benefits of each of the hazard-reduction alternatives, including a no-action alternative.
(3) In developing these plans, it is intended that the
department utilize appropriate scientific expertise including a
geomorphologist, a forest hydrologist, and a forest engineer.
(4) In developing these plans, the department shall consult with affected tribes, landowners, governmental agencies,
and interested parties.
(5) Unless requested by a forest landowner under RCW
76.09.320, the department shall study geographic areas for
participation in the program only to the extent that funds have
been appropriated for cost sharing of hazard-reduction measures under RCW 76.09.320. [1987 c 95 § 2.]
76.09.305
76.09.305 Advisory committee to review hazardreduction plans authorized—Compensation, travel
expenses. The forest practices board may, upon request of
the department or at its own discretion, appoint an advisory
committee consisting of not more than five members qualified by appropriate experience and training to review and
comment upon such draft hazard reduction plans prepared by
the department as the department submits for review.
If an advisory committee is established, and within
ninety days following distribution of a draft plan, the advisory committee shall prepare a written report on each hazard
reduction plan submitted to it. The report, which shall be kept
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.315
on file by the department, shall address each of those elements described in RCW 76.09.300(2).
Final authority for each plan is vested in the department,
and advisory committee comments and decisions shall be
advisory only. The exercise by advisory committee members
of their authority to review and comment shall not imply or
create any liability on their part. Advisory committee members shall be compensated as provided for in RCW 43.03.250
and shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses as provided by RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. [1987 c 95 § 3.]
76.09.310
76.09.310 Hazard-reduction program—Notice to
landowners within areas selected for review—Proposed
plans—Objections to plan, procedure—Final plans—
Appeal. (1) The department shall send a notice to all forest
landowners, both public and private, within the geographic
area selected for review, stating that the department intends
to study the area as part of the hazard-reduction program.
(2) The department shall prepare a proposed plan for
each geographic area studied. The department shall provide
the proposed plan to affected landowners, Indian tribes, interested parties, and to the advisory committee, if established
pursuant to RCW 76.09.305.
(3) Any aggrieved landowners, agencies, tribes, and
other persons who object to any or all of the proposed hazardreduction plan may, within thirty days of issuance of the plan,
request the department in writing to schedule a conference. If
so requested, the department shall schedule a conference on a
date not more than thirty days after receiving such request.
(4) Within ten days after such a conference, the department shall either amend the proposed plan or respond in writing indicating why the objections were not incorporated into
the plan.
(5) Within one hundred twenty days following the issuance of the proposed plan as provided in subsection (2) of this
section, the department shall distribute a final hazard-reduction plan designating those sites for which hazard-reduction
measures are recommended and those sites where no action is
recommended. For each hazard-reduction measure recommended, a description of the work and cost estimate shall be
provided.
(6) Any aggrieved landowners, agencies, tribes, and
other persons are entitled to appeal the final hazard-reduction
plan to the forest practices appeals board if, within thirty days
of the issuance of the final plan, the party transmits a notice
of appeal to the forest practices appeals board and to the
department.
(7) A landowner’s failure to object to the recommendations or to appeal the final hazard-reduction plan shall not be
deemed an admission that the hazard-reduction recommendations are appropriate.
(8) The department shall provide a copy of the final hazard-reduction plan to the department of ecology and to each
affected county. [1987 c 95 § 4.]
76.09.315
76.09.315 Implementation of hazard-reduction measures—Election—Notice and application for cost-sharing
funds—Inspection—Letter of compliance—Limitations
on liability. (1) When a forest landowner elects to implement the recommended hazard-reduction measures, the land[Title 76 RCW—page 31]
76.09.320
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
owner shall notify the department and apply for cost-sharing
funds. Upon completion, the department shall inspect the
remedial measures undertaken by the forest landowner. If, in
the department’s opinion, the remedial measures have been
properly implemented, the department shall promptly transmit a letter to the landowner stating that the landowner has
complied with the hazard-reduction measures.
(2) Forest landowners, public and private, of hazardreduction sites reviewed by the department and who have
complied with the department’s recommendations for sites
which require action shall not be liable for any personal injuries or property damage, occurring on or off the property
reviewed, arising from mass earth movements or fluvial processes associated with the hazard-reduction site reviewed.
The limitation on liability contained in this subsection shall
also cover personal injuries or property damage arising from
mass earth movements or fluvial processes which are associated with those areas disturbed by activities required to
acquire site access and to execute the plan when such activities are approved as part of a hazard-reduction plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, a landowner may be liable when the landowner had actual knowledge of a dangerous artificial latent condition on the property
that was not disclosed to the department.
(3) The exercise by the department of its authority,
duties, and responsibilities provided for developing and
implementing the hazard-reduction program and plans shall
not imply or create any liability in the state of Washington or
the department except that the department may be liable if the
department is negligent in making a final hazard-reduction
plan or in approving the implementation of specific hazardreduction measures. [1987 c 95 § 5.]
76.09.320
76.09.320 Implementation of hazard-reduction program—Cost sharing by department—Limitations. (1)
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the department shall pay fifty percent of the cost of implementing the
hazard-reduction program, except as provided in subsection
(2) of this section.
(2) In the event department funds described in subsection
(1) of this section are not available for all or a portion of a forest landowner’s property, the landowner may request application of the hazard-reduction program to the owner’s lands,
provided the landowner funds one hundred percent of the
cost of implementation of the department’s recommended
actions on his property.
(3) No cost-sharing funds may be made available for
sites where the department determines that the hazardous
condition results from a violation of then-prevailing standards as established by statute or rule. [1987 c 95 § 6.]
76.09.330
76.09.330 Legislative findings—Liability from naturally falling trees required to be left standing. The legislature hereby finds and declares that riparian ecosystems on
forest lands in addition to containing valuable timber
resources, provide benefits for wildlife, fish, and water quality. The legislature further finds and declares that leaving
riparian areas unharvested and leaving snags and green trees
for large woody debris recruitment for streams and rivers provides public benefits including but not limited to benefits for
[Title 76 RCW—page 32]
threatened and endangered salmonids, other fish, amphibians, wildlife, and water quality enhancement. The legislature
further finds and declares that leaving upland areas unharvested for wildlife and leaving snags and green trees for
future snag recruitment provides benefits for wildlife. Forest
landowners may be required to leave trees standing in riparian and upland areas to benefit public resources. It is recognized that these trees may blow down or fall into streams and
that organic debris may be allowed to remain in streams. This
is beneficial to riparian dependent and other wildlife species.
Further, it is recognized that trees may blow down, fall onto,
or otherwise cause damage or injury to public improvements,
private property, and persons. Notwithstanding any statutory
provision, rule, or common law doctrine to the contrary, the
landowner, the department, and the state of Washington shall
not be held liable for any injury or damages resulting from
these actions, including but not limited to wildfire, erosion,
flooding, personal injury, property damage, damage to public
improvements, and other injury or damages of any kind or
character resulting from the trees being left. [1999 sp.s. c 4 §
602; 1992 c 52 § 5; 1987 c 95 § 7.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.340
76.09.340 Certain forest practices exempt from rules
and policies under this chapter. Forest practices consistent
with a habitat conservation plan approved prior to March 25,
1996, by the secretary of the interior or commerce under 16
U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq., and the endangered species act of
1973 as amended, are exempt from rules and policies under
this chapter, provided the proposed forest practices indicated
in the application are in compliance with the plan, and provided this exemption applies only to rules and policies
adopted primarily for the protection of one or more species,
including unlisted species, covered by the plan. Such forest
practices are deemed not to have the potential for a substantial impact on the environment but may be found to have the
potential for a substantial impact on the environment due to
other reasons under RCW 76.09.050.
Nothing in this section is intended to limit the board’s
rule-making authority under this chapter. [1996 c 136 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 136: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 25, 1996]." [1996 c 136 § 2.]
76.09.350
76.09.350 Long-term multispecies landscape management plans—Pilot projects, selection—Plan approval,
elements—Notice of agreement recorded—Memorandums of agreements—Report, evaluation. The legislature
recognizes the importance of providing the greatest diversity
of habitats, particularly riparian, wetland, and old growth
habitats, and of assuring the greatest diversity of species
within those habitats for the survival and reproduction of
enough individuals to maintain the native wildlife of Washington forest lands. The legislature also recognizes the
importance of long-term habitat productivity for natural and
wild fish, for the protection of hatchery water supplies, and
for the protection of water quality and quantity to meet the
needs of people, fish, and wildlife. The legislature recognizes the importance of maintaining and enhancing fish and
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
wildlife habitats capable of sustaining the commercial and
noncommercial uses of fish and wildlife. The legislature further recognizes the importance of the continued growth and
development of the state’s forest products industry which has
a vital stake in the long-term productivity of both the public
and private forest land base.
The development of a landscape planning system would
help achieve these goals. Landowners and resource managers should be provided incentives to voluntarily develop
long-term multispecies landscape management plans that
will provide protection to public resources. Because landscape planning represents a departure from the use of standard baseline rules and may result in unintended consequences to both the affected habitats and to a landowner’s
economic interests, the legislature desires to establish up to
seven experimental pilot programs to gain experience with
landscape planning that may prove useful in fashioning legislation of a more general application.
(1) Until December 31, 2000, the department in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of ecology when relating to water quality protection, is
granted authority to select not more than seven pilot projects
for the purpose of developing individual landowner multispecies landscape management plans.
(a) Pilot project participants must be selected by the
department in cooperation with the department of fish and
wildlife, and the department of ecology when relating to
water quality protection, no later than October 1, 1997.
(b) The number and the location of the pilot projects are
to be determined by the department in cooperation with the
department of fish and wildlife, and the department of ecology when relating to water quality protection, and should be
selected on the basis of risk to the habitat and species, variety
and importance of species and habitats in the planning area,
geographic distribution, surrounding ownership, other ongoing landscape and watershed planning activities in the area,
potential benefits to water quantity and quality, financial and
staffing capabilities of participants, and other factors that will
contribute to the creation of landowner multispecies landscape planning efforts.
(c) Each pilot project shall have a landscape management plan with the following elements:
(i) An identification of public resources selected for coverage under the plan and measurable objectives for the protection of the selected public resources;
(ii) A termination date of not later than 2050;
(iii) A general description of the planning area including
its geographic location, physical and biological features, habitats, and species known to be present;
(iv) An identification of the existing forest practices
rules that will not apply during the term of the plan;
(v) Proposed habitat management strategies or prescriptions;
(vi) A projection of the habitat conditions likely to result
from the implementation of the specified management strategies or prescriptions;
(vii) An assessment of habitat requirements and the current habitat conditions of representative species included in
the plan;
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.350
(viii) An assessment of potential or likely impacts to representative species resulting from the prescribed forest practices;
(ix) A description of the anticipated benefits to those
species or other species as a result of plan implementation;
(x) A monitoring plan;
(xi) Reporting requirements including a schedule for
review of the plan’s performance in meeting its objectives;
(xii) Conditions under which a plan may be modified,
including a procedure for adaptive management;
(xiii) Conditions under which a plan may be terminated;
(xiv) A procedure for adaptive management that evaluates the effectiveness of the plan to meet its measurable public resources objectives, reflects changes in the best available
science, and provides changes to its habitat management
strategies, prescriptions, and hydraulic project standards to
the extent agreed to in the plan and in a timely manner and
schedule;
(xv) A description of how the plan relates to publicly
available plans of adjacent federal, state, tribal, and private
timberland owners; and
(xvi) A statement of whether the landowner intends to
apply for approval of the plan under applicable federal law.
(2) Until December 31, 2000, the department, in agreement with the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of ecology when the landowner elects to cover water
quality in the plan, shall approve a landscape management
plan and enter into a binding implementation agreement with
the landowner when such departments find, based upon the
best scientific data available, that:
(a) The plan contains all of the elements required under
this section including measurable public resource objectives;
(b) The plan is expected to be effective in meeting those
objectives;
(c) The landowner has sufficient financial resources to
implement the management strategies or prescriptions to be
implemented by the landowner under the plan;
(d) The plan will:
(i) Provide better protection than current state law for the
public resources selected for coverage under the plan considered in the aggregate; and
(ii) Compared to conditions that could result from compliance with current state law:
(A) Not result in poorer habitat conditions over the life
of the plan for any species selected for coverage that is listed
as threatened or endangered under federal or state law, or that
has been identified as a candidate for such listing, at the time
the plan is approved; and
(B) Measurably improve habitat conditions for species
selected for special consideration under the plan;
(e) The plan shall include watershed analysis or provide
for a level of protection that meets or exceeds the protection
that would be provided by watershed analysis, if the landowner selects fish or water quality as a public resource to be
covered under the plan. Any alternative process to watershed
analysis would be subject to timely peer review;
(f) The planning process provides for a public participation process during the development of the plan, which shall
be developed by the department in cooperation with the landowner.
[Title 76 RCW—page 33]
76.09.360
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
The management plans must be submitted to the department and the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of ecology when the landowner elects to cover water
quality in the plan, no later than March 1, 2000. The department shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the
proposed plan. The comment period shall not be less than
forty-five days. The department shall approve or reject plans
within one hundred twenty days of submittal by the landowner of a final plan. The decision by the department, in
agreement with the department of fish and wildlife, and the
department of ecology when the landowner has elected to
cover water quality in the plan, to approve or disapprove the
management plan is subject to the environmental review process of chapter 43.21C RCW, provided that any public comment period provided for under chapter 43.21C RCW shall
run concurrently with the public comment period provided in
this subsection (2).
(3) After a landscape management plan is adopted:
(a) Forest practices consistent with the plan need not
comply with:
(i) The specific forest practices rules identified in the
plan; and
(ii) Any forest practice rules and policies adopted after
the approval of the plan to the extent that the rules:
(A) Have been adopted primarily for the protection of a
public resource selected for coverage under the plan; or
(B) Provide for procedural or administrative obligations
inconsistent with or in addition to those provided for in the
plan with respect to those public resources; and
(b) If the landowner has selected fish as one of the public
resources to be covered under the plan, the plan shall serve as
the hydraulic project approval for the life of the plan, in compliance with *RCW 77.55.100.
(4) The department is authorized to issue a single landscape level permit valid for the life of the plan to a landowner
who has an approved landscape management plan and who
has requested a landscape permit from the department. Landowners receiving a landscape level permit shall meet annually with the department and the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of ecology where water quality has
been selected as a public resource to be covered under the
plan, to review the specific forest practices activities planned
for the next twelve months and to determine whether such
activities are in compliance with the plan. The departments
will consult with the affected Indian tribes and other interested parties who have expressed an interest in connection
with the review. The landowner is to provide ten calendar
days’ notice to the department prior to the commencement of
any forest practices authorized under a landscape level permit. The landscape level permit will not impose additional
conditions relating to the public resources selected for coverage under the plan beyond those agreed to in the plan. For the
purposes of chapter 43.21C RCW, forest practices conducted
in compliance with an approved plan are deemed not to have
the potential for a substantial impact on the environment as to
any public resource selected for coverage under the plan.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in a plan, the agreement implementing the landscape management plan is an
agreement that runs with the property covered by the
approved landscape management plan and the department
shall record notice of the plan in the real property records of
[Title 76 RCW—page 34]
the counties in which the affected properties are located.
Prior to its termination, no plan shall permit forest land covered by its terms to be withdrawn from such coverage,
whether by sale, exchange, or other means, nor to be converted to nonforestry uses except to the extent that such withdrawal or conversion would not measurably impair the
achievement of the plan’s stated public resource objectives.
If a participant transfers all or part of its interest in the property, the terms of the plan still apply to the new landowner for
the plan’s stated duration unless the plan is terminated under
its terms or unless the plan specifies the conditions under
which the terms of the plan do not apply to the new landowner.
(6) The departments of natural resources, fish and wildlife, and ecology shall seek to develop memorandums of
agreements with federal agencies and affected Indian tribes
relating to tribal issues in the landscape management plans.
The departments shall solicit input from affected Indian
tribes in connection with the selection, review, and approval
of any landscape management plan. If any recommendation
is received from an affected Indian tribe and is not adopted by
the departments, the departments shall provide a written
explanation of their reasons for not adopting the recommendation.
(7) The department is directed to report to the forest
practices board annually through the year 2000, but no later
than December 31st of each year, on the status of each pilot
project. The department is directed to provide to the forest
practices board, no later than December 31, 2000, an evaluation of the pilot projects including a determination if a permanent landscape planning process should be established along
with a discussion of what legislative and rule modifications
are necessary. [2003 c 39 § 34; 1997 c 290 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.100 was repealed by 2005 c 146 § 1006.
76.09.360
76.09.360 Single multiyear permit. The department
together with the department of fish and wildlife, and the
department of ecology relating to water quality protection,
shall develop a suitable process to permit landowners to
secure all permits required for the conduct of forest practices
in a single multiyear permit to be jointly issued by the departments and the departments shall report their findings to the
legislature not later than December 31, 2000. [1997 c 290 §
2.]
76.09.368
76.09.368 Intent—Small forest landowners—Alternate plan processes/alternate harvest restrictions—
Report to the legislature. The legislature intends that small
forest landowners have access to alternate plan processes or
alternate harvest restrictions, or both if necessary, that meet
the public resource protection standard set forth in RCW
76.09.370(3), but which also lowers the overall cost of regulation to small forest landowners including, but not limited
to, timber value forgone, layout costs, and operating costs.
The forest practices board shall consult with the small forest
landowner office advisory committee in developing these
alternate approaches. By July 1, 2003, the forest practices
board shall provide the legislature with a written report that
describes the board’s progress in developing alternate plan
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
processes or alternate harvest restrictions, or both if necessary, that meet legislative intent.
As used in this section, "small forest landowner" has the
same meaning as defined in RCW 76.13.120(2). [2002 c 120
§ 4.]
76.09.370 Findings—Forests and fish report—Adoption of rules. (1) The legislature finds that the process that
produced the forests and fish report was instigated by the forest practices board, the report is the product of considerable
negotiations between several diverse interest groups, and the
report has the support of key federal agencies. When adopting permanent rules under this section, the forest practices
board is strongly encouraged to follow the recommendations
of the forests and fish report, but may include other alternatives for protection of aquatic resources. If the forest practices board chooses to adopt rules under this section that are
not consistent with the recommendations contained in the
forests and fish report, the board must notify the appropriate
legislative committees of the proposed deviations, the reasons for the proposed deviations, and whether the parties to
the forests and fish report still support the agreement. The
board shall defer final adoption of such rules for sixty days of
the legislative session to allow for the opportunity for additional public involvement and legislative oversight.
(2) The forest practices board shall follow the regular
rules adoption process contained in the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, when adopting permanent rules
pertaining to forest practices and the protection of aquatic
resources except as limited by subsection (1) of this section.
The permanent rules must accomplish the policies stated in
RCW 76.09.010 without jeopardizing the economic viability
of the forest products industry.
(3) The rules adopted under this section should be as specific as reasonably possible while also allowing an applicant
to propose alternate plans in response to site-specific physical
features. Alternate plans should provide protection to public
resources at least equal in overall effectiveness by alternate
means.
(4) Rule making under subsection (2) of this section shall
be completed by June 30, 2001.
(5) The board should consider coordinating any environmental review process under chapter 43.21C RCW relating to
the adoption of rules under subsection (2) of this section with
any review of a related proposal under the national environmental policy act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321, et seq.).
(6) After the board has adopted permanent rules under
subsection (2) of this section, changes to those rules and any
new rules covering aquatic resources may be adopted by the
board but only if the changes or new rules are consistent with
recommendations resulting from the scientifically based
adaptive management process established by a rule of the
board. Any new rules or changes under this subsection need
not be based upon the recommendations of the adaptive management process if: (a) The board is required to adopt or
modify rules by the final order of any court having jurisdiction thereof; or (b) future state legislation directs the board to
adopt or modify the rules.
(7) In adopting permanent rules, the board shall incorporate the scientific-based adaptive management process
described in the forests and fish report which will be used to
76.09.370
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.390
determine the effectiveness of the new forest practices rules
in aiding the state’s salmon recovery effort. The purpose of
an adaptive management process is to make adjustments as
quickly as possible to forest practices that are not achieving
the resource objectives. The adaptive management process
shall incorporate the best available science and information,
include protocols and standards, regular monitoring, a scientific and peer review process, and provide recommendations
to the board on proposed changes to forest practices rules to
meet timber industry viability and salmon recovery. [1999
sp.s. c 4 § 204.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.380
76.09.380 Report to the legislature—Emergency
rules—Permanent rules. Prior to the adoption of permanent
rules as required by chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess. and no
later than January 1, 2000, the board shall report to the appropriate legislative committees regarding the substance of
emergency rules that have been adopted under chapter 4,
Laws of 1999 sp. sess. In addition, the report shall include
information on changes made to the forests and fish report
after April 29, 1999, and an update on the status of the adoption of permanent rules, including the anticipated substance
of the rules and the anticipated date of final adoption. The
board shall additionally provide a report to the appropriate
legislative committees by January 1, 2001.
On January 1, 2006, the board shall provide a summary
to the appropriate legislative committees regarding modifications made to the forests and fish report made after January 1,
2000, and to the permanent rules according to the adaptive
management process as set forth in the forests and fish report.
[1999 sp.s. c 4 § 205.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.390
76.09.390 Sale of land or timber rights with continuing obligations—Notice—Failure to notify—Exemption.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, prior
to the sale or transfer of land or perpetual timber rights subject to continuing forest land obligations under the forest
practices rules adopted under RCW 76.09.370, as specifically
identified in the forests and fish report the seller shall notify
the buyer of the existence and nature of such a continuing
obligation and the buyer shall sign a notice of continuing forest land obligation indicating the buyer’s knowledge thereof.
The notice shall be on a form prepared by the department and
shall be sent to the department by the seller at the time of sale
or transfer of the land or perpetual timber rights and retained
by the department. If the seller fails to notify the buyer about
the continuing forest land obligation, the seller shall pay the
buyer’s costs related to such continuing forest land obligation, including all legal costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees,
incurred by the buyer in enforcing the continuing forest land
obligation against the seller. Failure by the seller to send the
required notice to the department at the time of sale shall be
prima facie evidence, in an action by the buyer against the
seller for costs related to the continuing forest land obligation, that the seller did not notify the buyer of the continuing
forest land obligation prior to sale.
[Title 76 RCW—page 35]
76.09.400
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
76.09.400 Forests and fish account—Created. The
forests and fish account is created in the state treasury.
Receipts from appropriations, federal grants, and gifts from
private organizations and individuals or other sources may be
deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be
spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account
may only be used for the establishment and operation of the
small forest landowner office under RCW 76.13.110, the purchase of easements under RCW 76.13.120, the purchase of
lands under RCW 76.09.040, or other activities necessary to
implement chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess. [1999 sp.s. c 4
§ 1402.]
est practices application or notification, and hydraulics
approval, and that fish passage barrier becomes a high priority for fish passage based on the watershed ranking in *RCW
76.13.150, one hundred percent public funding shall be provided.
(5) The preparation of a road maintenance and abandonment plan can require technical expertise that may require
large expenditures before the time that the landowner plans to
conduct any revenue-generating operations on his or her
land; therefore, small forest landowners should be allowed to
complete a simplified road maintenance and abandonment
plan checklist, that does not require professional engineering
or forestry expertise to complete, and that does not need to be
submitted until the time that the landowner submits a forest
practices application or notification for final or intermediate
harvesting, or for salvage of trees. Chapter 311, Laws of
2003 is intended to provide an alternate way for small forest
landowners to comply with the road maintenance and abandonment plan goals identified in the forest practices rules.
[2003 c 311 § 2.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
*Reviser’s note: The reference to RCW 76.13.150 appears to be erroneous. Reference to RCW 77.12.755 was apparently intended.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to
checklist road maintenance and abandonment plans created
by RCW 76.09.420. [2003 c 311 § 6; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 707.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.09.400
76.09.405
76.09.405 Forest and fish support account—Created.
The forest and fish support account is hereby created in the
state treasury. Receipts from appropriations, the surcharge
imposed under RCW 82.04.260(12), and other sources must
be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account
shall be used for activities pursuant to the state’s implementation of the forests and fish report as defined in chapter 76.09
RCW and related activities, including, but not limited to,
adaptive management, monitoring, and participation grants
to tribes, state and local agencies, and not-for-profit public
interest organizations. Expenditures from the account may
be made only after appropriation by the legislature. [2006 c
300 § 3.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
76.09.410
76.09.410 Road maintenance and abandonment
plans—Fish passage barriers. (1) The state may not require
a small forest landowner to invest in upgrades, replacements,
or other engineering of a forest road, and any fish passage
barriers that are a part of the road, that do not threaten public
resources or create a barrier to the passage of fish.
(2) Participation in the forests and fish agreement provides a benefit to both the landowner in terms of federal
assurances, and the public in terms of aquatic habitat preservation and water quality enhancement; therefore, if conditions do threaten public resources or create a fish passage barrier, the road maintenance and abandonment planning process may not require a small forest landowner to take a
positive action that will result in high cost without a significant portion of that cost being shared by the public.
(3) Some fish passage barriers are more of a threat to
public resources than others; therefore, no small forest landowner should be required to repair a fish passage barrier until
higher priority fish passage barriers on other lands in the
watershed have been repaired.
(4) If an existing fish passage barrier on land owned by a
small forest landowner was installed under an approved for[Title 76 RCW—page 36]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.09.420
76.09.420 Road maintenance and abandonment
plans—Rules—Checklist—Report to the legislature—
Emergency rules. (1) The board must amend the forest
practices rules relating to road maintenance and abandonment plans that exist on May 14, 2003, to reflect the following:
(a) A forest landowner who owns a total of eighty acres
or less of forest land in Washington is not required to submit
a road maintenance and abandonment plan for any block of
forest land that is twenty contiguous acres or less in area;
(b) A landowner who satisfies the definition of a small
forest landowner, but who does not qualify under (a) of this
subsection, is only required to submit a checklist road maintenance and abandonment plan with the abbreviated content
requirements provided for in subsection (3) of this section,
and is not required to comply with annual reporting and
review requirements; and
(c) Existing forest roads must be maintained only to the
extent necessary to prevent damage to public resources.
(2) The department must provide a landowner who is
either exempted from submitting a road maintenance and
abandonment plan under subsection (1)(a) of this section, or
who qualifies for a checklist road maintenance and abandonment plan under subsection (1)(b) of this section, with an
educational brochure outlining road maintenance standards
and requirements. In addition, the department must develop
a series of nonmandatory educational workshops on the rules
associated with road construction and maintenance.
(3)(a) A landowner who qualifies for a checklist road
maintenance and abandonment plan under subsection (1)(b)
of this section is only required to submit a checklist, designed
by the department in consultation with the small forest landowner office advisory committee created in RCW 76.13.110,
that confirms that the landowner is applying the checklist criteria to forest roads covered or affected by a forest practices
application or notification. When developing the checklist
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Practices
road maintenance and abandonment plan, the department
shall ensure that the checklist does not exceed current state
law. Nothing in this subsection increases or adds to small
forest landowners’ duties or responsibilities under any other
section of the forest practices rules or any other state law or
rule.
(b) A landowner who qualifies for the checklist road
maintenance and abandonment plan is not required to submit
the checklist before the time that he or she submits a forest
practices application or notification for final or intermediate
harvesting, or for salvage of trees. The department may
encourage and accept checklists prior to the time that they are
due.
(4) The department must monitor the extent of the checklist road maintenance and abandonment plan approach and
report its findings to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2013.
(5) The board shall adopt emergency rules under RCW
34.05.090 by October 31, 2003, to implement this section.
The emergency rules shall remain in effect until permanent
rules can be adopted. The forest practices rules that relate to
road maintenance and abandonment plans shall remain in
effect as they existed on May 14, 2003, until emergency rules
have been adopted under this section.
(6) This section is only intended to relate to the board’s
duties as they relate to the road maintenance and abandonment plan element of the forests and fish report. Nothing in
this section alters any forest landowner’s duties and responsibilities under any other section of the forest practices rules, or
any other state law or rule. [2003 c 311 § 4.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.09.430
76.09.430 Application to RCW 76.13.150. RCW
76.13.150 applies to road maintenance and abandonment
plans under this chapter. [2003 c 311 § 8.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.09.440
76.09.440 Small forest landowner—Fish passage
barriers. The department shall not disapprove a forest practices application filed by a small forest landowner on the
basis that fish passage barriers have not been removed or
replaced if the small forest landowner filing the application
has committed to participate in the program established in
RCW 76.13.150 for all fish passage barriers existing on the
block of forest land covered by the forest practices application, and the fish passage barriers existing on the block of forest land covered by the forest practices application are lower
on the funding order list established for the program than the
current projects that are capable of being funded by the program. [2003 c 311 § 9.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.09.450
76.09.450 Small forest landowner—Defined. For the
purposes of this chapter and RCW 76.13.150 and 77.12.755,
"small forest landowner" means an owner of forest land who,
at the time of submission of required documentation to the
department, has harvested from his or her own lands in this
state no more than an average timber volume of two million
(2006 Ed.)
76.09.915
board feet per year during the three years prior to submitting
documentation to the department and who certifies that he or
she does not expect to harvest from his or her own lands in
the state more than an average timber volume of two million
board feet per year during the ten years following the submission of documentation to the department. However, any
landowner who exceeded the two million board feet annual
average timber harvest threshold from their land in the three
years prior to submitting documentation to the department, or
who expects to exceed the threshold during any of the following ten years, shall still be deemed a "small forest landowner"
if he or she establishes to the department’s reasonable satisfaction that the harvest limits were, or will be, exceeded in
order to raise funds to pay estate taxes or for an equally compelling and unexpected obligation, such as for a courtordered judgment or for extraordinary medical expenses.
[2003 c 311 § 11.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.09.900
76.09.900 Short title. Sections 1 through 28 of this
1974 act shall be known and may be cited as the "Forest Practices Act of 1974". [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 29.]
76.09.905
76.09.905 Air pollution laws not modified. Nothing in
RCW 76.09.010 through 76.09.280 or 90.48.420 shall modify chapter 70.94 RCW or any other provision of law relating
to the control of air pollution. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 31.]
76.09.910
76.09.910 Shoreline management act, hydraulics act,
other statutes and ordinances not modified—Exceptions.
Nothing in RCW 76.09.010 through 76.09.280 as now or
hereafter amended shall modify any requirements to comply
with the Shoreline Management Act of 1971 except as limited by RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, or the
hydraulics act (*RCW 77.55.100), other state statutes in
effect on January 1, 1975, and any local ordinances not
inconsistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter
amended. [2003 c 39 § 35; 1975 1st ex.s. c 200 § 12; 1974
ex.s. c 137 § 32.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.100 was repealed by 2005 c 146 § 1006.
76.09.915
76.09.915 Repeal and savings. (1) The following acts
or parts of acts are each repealed:
(a) Section 2, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 1,
chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 1, chapter 44, Laws of
1953, section 1, chapter 79, Laws of 1957, section 10, chapter
207, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 76.08.010;
(b) Section 1, chapter 193, Laws of 1945 and RCW
76.08.020;
(c) Section 3, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 2,
chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 1, chapter 115, Laws of
1955 and RCW 76.08.030;
(d) Section 4, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 3,
chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 2, chapter 79, Laws of
1957 and RCW 76.08.040;
(e) Section 5, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 4,
chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 3, chapter 79, Laws of
1957, section 11, chapter 207, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and
RCW 76.08.050;
[Title 76 RCW—page 37]
76.09.920
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
(f) Section 6, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 5, chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 2, chapter 44, Laws of 1953,
section 12, chapter 207, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW
76.08.060;
(g) Section 7, chapter 193, Laws of 1945 and RCW
76.08.070;
(h) Section 8, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 6,
chapter 218, Laws of 1947, section 3, chapter 44, Laws of
1953, section 2, chapter 115, Laws of 1955, section 1, chapter
40, Laws of 1961 and RCW 76.08.080; and
(i) Section 9, chapter 193, Laws of 1945, section 4, chapter 44, Laws of 1953 and RCW 76.08.090.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing repealer, obligations
under such sections or permits issued thereunder and in effect
on the effective date of this section shall continue in full force
and effect, and no liability thereunder, civil or criminal, shall
be in any way modified. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 34.]
76.09.920
76.09.920 Application for extension of prior permits.
Permits issued by the department under the provisions of
RCW 76.08.030 during 1974 shall be effective until April 1,
1975 if an application has been submitted under the provisions of RCW 76.09.050 prior to January 1, 1975. [1974
ex.s. c 137 § 35.]
76.09.925
76.09.925 Effective dates—1974 ex.s. c 137. RCW
76.09.030, 76.09.040, 76.09.050, 76.09.060, 76.09.200,
90.48.420, and 76.09.935 are necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately. RCW 76.09.010,
76.09.020, 76.09.070, 76.09.080, 76.09.090, 76.09.100,
76.09.110, 76.09.120, 76.09.130, 76.09.140, 76.09.150,
76.09.160, 76.09.170, 76.09.180, 76.09.190, 76.09.210,
76.09.220, 76.09.230, 76.09.240, 76.09.250, 76.09.260,
76.09.270, 76.09.280, 76.09.900, 76.09.905, 76.09.910,
76.09.930, 76.09.915, and 76.09.920 shall take effect January
1, 1975. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 37.]
76.09.935
76.09.935 Severability—1974 ex.s. c 137. If any provision of this 1974 act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. [1974 ex.s. c 137 § 36.]
Chapter 76.10 RCW
SURFACE MINING
Chapter 76.10
Reviser’s note: Chapter 64, Laws of 1970 ex. sess. has been codified as
chapter 78.44 RCW, "Mines, minerals, and petroleum" although section 1 of
the act states "Sections 2 through 25 of this act shall constitute a new chapter
in Title 76 RCW." As the act pertains solely to surface mining, the change
in placement has been made to preserve the subject matter arrangement of
the code.
Chapter 76.13 RCW
STEWARDSHIP OF NONINDUSTRIAL FORESTS
AND WOODLANDS
Chapter 76.13
Sections
76.13.005
Finding.
[Title 76 RCW—page 38]
76.13.007
76.13.010
76.13.020
76.13.030
76.13.100
76.13.110
76.13.120
76.13.130
76.13.140
76.13.150
76.13.160
Purpose.
Definitions.
Authority.
Funding sources—Fees—Contracts.
Findings.
Small forest landowner office—Establishment—Duties—
Advisory committee—Report to the legislature.
Findings—Definitions—Forestry riparian easement program.
Small parcels—Alternative management plans.
Small forest landowners—Value of buffer trees.
Fish passage barriers—Cost-sharing program.
Qualifying small forest landowner—Review of certain
records.
76.13.005
76.13.005 Finding. The legislature hereby finds and
declares that:
(1) Over half of the private forest and woodland acreage
in Washington is owned by landowners with less than five
thousand acres who are not in the business of industrial handling or processing of timber products.
(2) Nonindustrial forests and woodlands are absorbing
more demands and impacts on timber, fish, wildlife, water,
recreation, and aesthetic resources, due to population growth
and a shrinking commercial forest land base.
(3) Nonindustrial forests and woodlands provide valuable habitat for many of the state’s numerous fish, wildlife,
and plant species, including some threatened and endangered
species, and many habitats can be protected and improved
through knowledgeable forest resource stewardship.
(4) Providing for long-term stewardship of nonindustrial
forests and woodlands in growth areas and rural areas is an
important factor in maintaining Washington’s special character and quality of life.
(5) In order to encourage and maintain nonindustrial forests and woodlands for their present and future benefit to all
citizens, Washington’s nonindustrial forest and woodland
owners’ long-term commitments to stewardship of forest
resources must be recognized and supported by the citizens
of Washington state. [1991 c 27 § 1.]
76.13.007
76.13.007 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Promote the coordination and delivery of services
with federal, state, and local agencies, colleges and universities, landowner assistance organizations, consultants, forest
resource-related industries and environmental organizations
to nonindustrial forest and woodland owners.
(2) Facilitate the production of forest products, enhancement of wildlife and fisheries, protection of streams and wetlands, culturing of special plants, availability of recreation
opportunities and the maintenance of scenic beauty for the
enjoyment and benefit of nonindustrial forest and woodland
owners and the citizens of Washington by meeting the landowners’ stewardship objectives. [1991 c 27 § 2.]
76.13.010
76.13.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to
RCW 76.13.005, 76.13.007, 76.13.020, and 76.13.030.
(1) "Cooperating organization" means federal, state, and
local agencies, colleges and universities, landowner assistance organizations, consultants, forest resource-related
industries, and environmental organizations which promote
and maintain programs designed to provide information and
technical assistance services to nonindustrial forest and
woodland owners.
(2006 Ed.)
Stewardship of Nonindustrial Forests and Woodlands
(2) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(3) "Landowner" means an individual, partnership, private, public or municipal corporation, Indian tribe, state
agency, county, or local government entity, educational institution, or association of individuals of whatever nature that
own nonindustrial forests and woodlands.
(4) "Nonindustrial forests and woodlands" are those suburban acreages and rural lands supporting or capable of supporting trees and other flora and fauna associated with a forest ecosystem, comprised of total individual land ownerships
of less than five thousand acres and not directly associated
with wood processing or handling facilities.
(5) "Stewardship" means managing by caring for, promoting, protecting, renewing, or reestablishing or both, forests and associated resources for the benefit of the landowner,
the natural resources and the citizens of Washington state, in
accordance with each landowner’s objectives, best management practices, and legal requirements. [2000 c 11 § 11;
1999 sp.s. c 4 § 502; 1991 c 27 § 3.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.13.020
76.13.020 Authority. In order to accomplish the purposes stated in RCW 76.13.007, the department may:
(1) Establish and maintain a nonindustrial forest and
woodland owner assistance program, and through such a program, assist nonindustrial forest and woodland owners in
meeting their stewardship objectives.
(2) Provide direct technical assistance through development of management plans, advice, and information to nonindustrial forest land owners to meet their stewardship objectives.
(3) Assist and facilitate efforts of cooperating organizations to provide stewardship education, information, technical assistance, and incentives to nonindustrial forest and
woodland owners.
(4) Provide financial assistance to landowners and cooperating organizations.
(5) Appoint a stewardship advisory committee to assist
in establishing and operating this program.
(6) Loan or rent surplus equipment to assist cooperating
organizations and nonindustrial forest and woodland owners.
(7) Work with local governments to explain the importance of maintaining nonindustrial forests and woodlands.
(8) Take such other steps as are necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter. [1991 c 27 § 4.]
76.13.030
76.13.030 Funding sources—Fees—Contracts. The
department may:
(1) Receive and disburse any and all moneys contributed, allotted, or paid by the United States under authority of
any act of congress for the purposes of this chapter.
(2) Receive such gifts, grants, bequests, and endowments
and donations of moneys, labor, material, seedlings, and
equipment from public or private sources as may be made for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter and
may spend the gifts, grants, bequests, endowments, and donations as well as other moneys from public or private sources
according to their terms.
(2006 Ed.)
76.13.110
(3) Charge fees for attendance at workshops and conferences, for various publications and other materials which the
department may prepare.
(4) Enter into contracts with cooperating organizations
having responsibility to carry out programs of similar purposes to this chapter. [1991 c 27 § 5.]
76.13.100
76.13.100 Findings. (1) The legislature finds that
increasing regulatory requirements continue to diminish the
economic viability of small forest landowners. The concerns
set forth in RCW 77.85.180 about the importance of sustaining forestry as a viable land use are particularly applicable to
small landowners because of the location of their holdings,
the expected complexity of the regulatory requirements, and
the need for significant technical expertise not readily available to small landowners. The further reduction in harvestable timber owned by small forest landowners as a result of
the rules to be adopted under RCW 76.09.055 will further
erode small landowners’ economic viability and willingness
or ability to keep the lands in forestry use and, therefore,
reduce the amount of habitat available for salmon recovery
and conservation of other aquatic resources, as defined in
RCW 76.09.020.
(2) The legislature finds that the concerns identified in
subsection (1) of this section should be addressed by establishing within the department of natural resources a small forest landowner office that shall be a resource and focal point
for small forest landowner concerns and policies. The legislature further finds that a forestry riparian easement program
shall be established to acquire easements from small landowners along riparian and other areas of value to the state for
protection of aquatic resources. The legislature further finds
that small forest landowners should have the option of alternate management plans or alternate harvest restrictions on
smaller harvest units that may have a relatively low impact on
aquatic resources. The small forest landowner office should
be responsible for assisting small landowners in the development and implementation of these plans or restrictions.
[2003 c 39 § 36; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 501.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.13.110 Small forest landowner office—Establishment—Duties—Advisory committee—Report to the legislature. (1) The department of natural resources shall establish and maintain a small forest landowner office. The small
forest landowner office shall be a resource and focal point for
small forest landowner concerns and policies, and shall have
significant expertise regarding the management of small forest holdings, governmental programs applicable to such holdings, and the forestry riparian easement program.
(2) The small forest landowner office shall administer
the provisions of the forestry riparian easement program created under RCW 76.13.120.
(3) The small forest landowner office shall assist in the
development of small landowner options through alternate
management plans or alternate harvest restrictions appropriate to small landowners. The small forest landowner office
shall develop criteria to be adopted by the forest practices
board in rules and a manual for alternate management plans
or alternate harvest restrictions. These alternate plans or alter76.13.110
[Title 76 RCW—page 39]
76.13.120
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
nate harvest restrictions shall meet riparian functions while
requiring less costly regulatory prescriptions. At the landowner’s option, alternate plans or alternate harvest restrictions may be used to further meet riparian functions.
The small forest landowner office shall evaluate the
cumulative impact of such alternate management plans or
alternate harvest restrictions on essential riparian functions at
the subbasin or watershed level. The small forest landowner
office shall adjust future alternate management plans or alternate harvest restrictions in a manner that will minimize the
negative impacts on essential riparian functions within a subbasin or watershed.
(4) An advisory committee is established to assist the
small forest landowner office in developing policy and recommending rules to the forest practices board. The advisory
committee shall consist of seven members, including a representative from the department of ecology, the department of
fish and wildlife, and a tribal representative. Four additional
committee members shall be small forest landowners who
shall be appointed by the commissioner of public lands from
a list of candidates submitted by the board of directors of the
Washington farm forestry association or its successor organization. The association shall submit more than one candidate
for each position. The commissioner shall designate two of
the initial small forest landowner appointees to serve fiveyear terms and the other two small forest landowner appointees to serve four-year terms. Thereafter, appointees shall
serve for a term of four years. The small forest landowner
office shall review draft rules or rule concepts with the committee prior to recommending such rules to the forest practices board. The office shall reimburse nongovernmental
committee members for reasonable expenses associated with
attending committee meetings as provided in RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(5) By December 1, 2002, the small forest landowner
office shall provide a report to the board and the legislature
containing:
(a) Estimates of the amounts of nonindustrial forests and
woodlands in holdings of twenty acres or less, twenty-one to
one hundred acres, one hundred to one thousand acres, and
one thousand to five thousand acres, in western Washington
and eastern Washington, and the number of persons having
total nonindustrial forest and woodland holdings in those size
ranges;
(b) Estimates of the number of parcels of nonindustrial
forests and woodlands held in contiguous ownerships of
twenty acres or less, and the percentages of those parcels containing improvements used: (i) As primary residences for
half or more of most years; (ii) as vacation homes or other
temporary residences for less than half of most years; and (iii)
for other uses;
(c) The watershed administrative units in which significant portions of the riparian areas or total land area are nonindustrial forests and woodlands;
(d) Estimates of the number of forest practices applications and notifications filed per year for forest road construction, silvicultural activities to enhance timber growth, timber
harvest not associated with conversion to nonforest land uses,
with estimates of the number of acres of nonindustrial forests
and woodlands on which forest practices are conducted under
those applications and notifications; and
[Title 76 RCW—page 40]
(e) Recommendations on ways the board and the legislature could provide more effective incentives to encourage
continued management of nonindustrial forests and woodlands for forestry uses in ways that better protect salmon,
other fish and wildlife, water quality, and other environmental values.
(6) By December 1, 2004, and every four years thereafter, the small forest landowner office shall provide to the
board and the legislature an update of the report described in
subsection (5) of this section, containing more recent information and describing:
(a) Trends in the items estimated under subsection (5)(a)
through (d) of this section;
(b) Whether, how, and to what extent the forest practices
act and rules contributed to those trends; and
(c) Whether, how, and to what extent: (i) The board and
legislature implemented recommendations made in the previous report; and (ii) implementation of or failure to implement
those recommendations affected those trends. [2002 c 120 §
1; 2001 c 280 § 1; 2000 c 11 § 12; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 503.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.13.120
76.13.120 Findings—Definitions—Forestry riparian
easement program. (1) The legislature finds that the state
should acquire easements along riparian and other sensitive
aquatic areas from small forest landowners willing to sell or
donate such easements to the state provided that the state will
not be required to acquire such easements if they are subject
to unacceptable liabilities. The legislature therefore establishes a forestry riparian easement program.
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section and RCW 76.13.100 and 76.13.110 unless the
context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Forestry riparian easement" means an easement covering qualifying timber granted voluntarily to the state by a
small forest landowner.
(b) "Qualifying timber" means those trees covered by a
forest practices application that the small forest landowner is
required to leave unharvested under the rules adopted under
RCW 76.09.055 and 76.09.370 or that is made uneconomic
to harvest by those rules, and for which the small landowner
is willing to grant the state a forestry riparian easement.
"Qualifying timber" is timber within or bordering a commercially reasonable harvest unit as determined under rules
adopted by the forest practices board, or timber for which an
approved forest practices application for timber harvest cannot be obtained because of restrictions under the forest practices rules.
(c) "Small forest landowner" means a landowner meeting all of the following characteristics: (i) A forest landowner as defined in RCW 76.09.020 whose interest in the
land and timber is in fee or who has rights to the timber to be
included in the forestry riparian easement that extend at least
fifty years from the date the forest practices application associated with the easement is submitted; (ii) an entity that has
harvested from its own lands in this state during the three
years prior to the year of application an average timber volume that would qualify the owner as a small harvester under
RCW 84.33.035; and (iii) an entity that certifies at the time of
application that it does not expect to harvest from its own
(2006 Ed.)
Stewardship of Nonindustrial Forests and Woodlands
lands more than the volume allowed by RCW 84.33.035 during the ten years following application. If a landowner’s
prior three-year average harvest exceeds the limit of RCW
84.33.035, or the landowner expects to exceed this limit during the ten years following application, and that landowner
establishes to the department of natural resources’ reasonable
satisfaction that the harvest limits were or will be exceeded to
raise funds to pay estate taxes or equally compelling and
unexpected obligations such as court-ordered judgments or
extraordinary medical expenses, the landowner shall be
deemed to be a small forest landowner.
For purposes of determining whether a person qualifies
as a small forest landowner, the small forest landowner
office, created in RCW 76.13.110, shall evaluate the landowner under this definition, pursuant to RCW 76.13.160, as
of the date that the forest practices application is submitted or
the date the landowner notifies the department that the harvest is to begin with which the forestry riparian easement is
associated. A small forest landowner can include an individual, partnership, corporate, or other nongovernmental legal
entity. If a landowner grants timber rights to another entity
for less than five years, the landowner may still qualify as a
small forest landowner under this section. If a landowner is
unable to obtain an approved forest practices application for
timber harvest for any of his or her land because of restrictions under the forest practices rules, the landowner may still
qualify as a small forest landowner under this section.
(d) "Completion of harvest" means that the trees have
been harvested from an area and that further entry into that
area by mechanized logging or slash treating equipment is
not expected.
(3) The department of natural resources is authorized and
directed to accept and hold in the name of the state of Washington forestry riparian easements granted by small forest
landowners covering qualifying timber and to pay compensation to such landowners in accordance with subsections (6)
and (7) of this section. The department of natural resources
may not transfer the easements to any entity other than
another state agency.
(4) Forestry riparian easements shall be effective for fifty
years from the date the forest practices application associated
with the qualifying timber is submitted to the department of
natural resources, unless the easement is terminated earlier by
the department of natural resources voluntarily, based on a
determination that termination is in the best interest of the
state, or under the terms of a termination clause in the easement.
(5) Forestry riparian easements shall be restrictive only,
and shall preserve all lawful uses of the easement premises by
the landowner that are consistent with the terms of the easement and the requirement to protect riparian functions during
the term of the easement, subject to the restriction that the
leave trees required by the rules to be left on the easement
premises may not be cut during the term of the easement. No
right of public access to or across, or any public use of the
easement premises is created by this statute or by the easement. Forestry riparian easements shall not be deemed to
trigger the compensating tax of or otherwise disqualify land
from being taxed under chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW.
(6) Upon application of a small forest landowner for a
riparian easement that is associated with a forest practices
(2006 Ed.)
76.13.120
application and the landowner’s marking of the qualifying
timber on the qualifying lands, the small forest landowner
office shall determine the compensation to be offered to the
small forest landowner as provided for in this section. The
small forest landowner office shall also determine the compensation to be offered to a small forest landowner for qualifying timber for which an approved forest practices application for timber harvest cannot be obtained because of restrictions under the forest practices rules. The legislature
recognizes that there is not readily available market transaction evidence of value for easements of this nature, and thus
establishes the following methodology to ascertain the value
for forestry riparian easements. Values so determined shall
not be considered competent evidence of value for any other
purpose.
The small forest landowner office shall establish the volume of the qualifying timber. Based on that volume and
using data obtained or maintained by the department of revenue under RCW 84.33.074 and 84.33.091, the small forest
landowner office shall attempt to determine the fair market
value of the qualifying timber as of the date the forest practices application associated with the qualifying timber was
submitted or the date the landowner notifies the department
that the harvest is to begin. Removal of any qualifying timber
before the expiration of the easement must be in accordance
with the forest practices rules and the terms of the easement.
There shall be no reduction in compensation for reentry.
(7) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section,
the small forest landowner office shall, subject to available
funding, offer compensation to the small forest landowner in
the amount of fifty percent of the value determined in subsection (6) of this section, plus the compliance and reimbursement costs as determined in accordance with RCW
76.13.140. If the landowner accepts the offer for qualifying
timber that will be harvested pursuant to an approved forest
practices application, the department of natural resources
shall pay the compensation promptly upon (a) completion of
harvest in the area covered by the forestry riparian easement;
(b) verification that there has been compliance with the rules
requiring leave trees in the easement area; and (c) execution
and delivery of the easement to the department of natural
resources. If the landowner accepts the offer for qualifying
timber for which an approved forest practices application for
timber harvest cannot be obtained because of restrictions
under the forest practices rules, the department of natural
resources shall pay the compensation promptly upon (i) verification that there has been compliance with the rules requiring leave trees in the easement area; and (ii) execution and
delivery of the easement to the department of natural
resources. Upon donation or payment of compensation, the
department of natural resources may record the easement.
(8) For approved forest practices applications where the
regulatory impact is greater than the average percentage
impact for all small landowners as determined by the department of natural resources analysis under the regulatory fairness act, chapter 19.85 RCW, the compensation offered will
be increased to one hundred percent for that portion of the
regulatory impact that is in excess of the average. Regulatory
impact includes trees left in buffers, special management
zones, and those rendered uneconomic to harvest by these
rules. A separate average or high impact regulatory threshold
[Title 76 RCW—page 41]
76.13.130
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
shall be established for western and eastern Washington. Criteria for these measurements and payments shall be established by the small forest landowner office.
(9) The forest practices board shall adopt rules under the
administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, to implement the forestry riparian easement program, including the
following:
(a) A standard version or versions of all documents necessary or advisable to create the forestry riparian easements
as provided for in this section;
(b) Standards for descriptions of the easement premises
with a degree of precision that is reasonable in relation to the
values involved;
(c) Methods and standards for cruises and valuation of
forestry riparian easements for purposes of establishing the
compensation. The department of natural resources shall perform the timber cruises of forestry riparian easements
required under this chapter and chapter 76.09 RCW. Any
rules concerning the methods and standards for valuations of
forestry riparian easements shall apply only to the department
of natural resources, small forest landowners, and the small
forest landowner office;
(d) A method to determine that a forest practices application involves a commercially reasonable harvest, and adopt
criteria for entering into a forest riparian easement where a
commercially reasonable harvest is not possible or a forest
practices application that has been submitted cannot be
approved because of restrictions under the forest practices
rules;
(e) A method to address blowdown of qualified timber
falling outside the easement premises;
(f) A formula for sharing of proceeds in relation to the
acquisition of qualified timber covered by an easement
through the exercise or threats of eminent domain by a federal or state agency with eminent domain authority, based on
the present value of the department of natural resources’ and
the landowner’s relative interests in the qualified timber;
(g) High impact regulatory thresholds;
(h) A method to determine timber that is qualifying timber because it is rendered uneconomic to harvest by the rules
adopted under RCW 76.09.055 and 76.09.370; and
(i) A method for internal department of natural resources
review of small forest landowner office compensation decisions under subsection (7) of this section. [2004 c 102 § 1;
2002 c 120 § 2; 2001 c 280 § 2; 2000 c 11 § 13; 1999 sp.s. c
4 § 504.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
cent leave tree level shall be computed as a rotating stand volume and shall be regulated through flexible forest practices
as the stream buffer is managed over time to meet riparian
functions.
On parcels of twenty contiguous acres or less the small
forest landowner office shall work with landowners with a
total parcel ownership of less than eighty acres to develop
alternative management plans for riparian buffers. Such alternative plans shall provide for the removal of leave trees as
other new trees grow in order to ensure the most effective
protection of critical riparian function. The office may recommend reasonable modifications in alternative management plans of such landowners to further reduce risks to public resources and endangered species so long as the anticipated operating costs are not unreasonably increased and the
landowner is not required to leave a greater volume than the
threshold level. To qualify for the provisions of this section,
parcels must be twenty acres or less in contiguous ownership,
and owners cannot have ownership interests in a total of more
than eighty acres of forest lands within the state. [1999 sp.s.
c 4 § 505.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.13.140 Small forest landowners—Value of buffer
trees. In order to assist small forest landowners to remain
economically viable, the legislature intends that the small forest landowners be able to net fifty percent of the value of the
trees left in the buffer areas. The amount of compensation
offered in RCW 76.13.120 shall also include the compliance
costs for participation in the riparian easement program. For
purposes of this section, "compliance costs" includes the cost
of preparing and recording the easement, and any business
and occupation tax and real estate excise tax imposed because
of entering into the easement. The office may contract with
private consultants that the office finds qualified to perform
timber cruises of forestry riparian easements or to lay out
streamside buffers and comply with other forest and fish regulatory requirements related to the forest riparian easement
program. The department shall reimburse small forest landowners for the actual costs incurred for laying out the streamside buffers and marking the qualifying timber once a contract has been executed for the forestry riparian easement program. Reimbursement is subject to the work being acceptable
to the department. The small forest landowner office shall
determine how the reimbursement costs will be calculated.
[2002 c 120 § 3; 2001 c 280 § 3.]
76.13.140
76.13.150 Fish passage barriers—Cost-sharing program. (1) The legislature finds that a state-led cost-sharing
program is necessary to assist small forest landowners with
removing and replacing fish passage barriers that were added
to their land prior to May 14, 2003, to help achieve the goals
of the forests and fish report, and to assist small forest landowners in complying with the state’s fish passage requirements.
(2) The small forest landowner office must, in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife, establish a program designed to assist small forest landowners with repairing or removing fish passage barriers and assist lead entities
in acquiring the data necessary to fill any gaps in fish passage
76.13.150
76.13.130
76.13.130 Small parcels—Alternative management
plans. On parcels of twenty contiguous acres or less, landowners with a total parcel ownership of less than eighty acres
shall not be required to leave riparian buffers adjacent to
streams according to forest practices rules adopted under the
forests and fish report as defined in RCW 76.09.020. These
landowners shall be subject to the permanent forest practices
rules in effect as of January 1, 1999, but may additionally be
required to leave timber adjacent to streams that is equivalent
to no greater than fifteen percent of a volume of timber contained in a stand of well managed fifty-year old commercial
timber covering the harvest area. The additional fifteen per[Title 76 RCW—page 42]
(2006 Ed.)
Stewardship of Nonindustrial Forests and Woodlands
barrier information. The small forest landowner office and
the department of fish and wildlife must work closely with
lead entities or other local watershed groups to make maximum use of current information regarding the location and
priority of current fish passage barriers. Where additional
fish passage barrier inventories are necessary, funding will be
sought for the collection of this information. Methods, protocols, and formulas for data gathering and prioritizing must be
developed in consultation with the department of fish and
wildlife. The department of fish and wildlife must assist in
the training and management of fish passage barrier location
data collection.
(3) The small forest landowner office must actively seek
out funding for the program authorized in this section. The
small forest landowner office must work with consenting
landowners to identify and secure funding from local, state,
federal, tribal, or nonprofit habitat restoration organizations
and other private sources, including the salmon recovery
funding board, the United States department of agriculture,
the United States department of transportation, the Washington state department of transportation, the United States
department of commerce, and the federal highway administration.
(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,
the small forest landowner office, in implementing the program established in this section, must provide the highest
proportion of public funding available for the removal or
replacement of any fish passage barrier.
(b) In no case shall a small forest landowner be required
to pay more than the lesser of either: (i) Twenty-five percent
of any costs associated with the removal or replacement of a
particular fish passage barrier; or (ii) five thousand dollars for
the removal or replacement of a particular fish passage barrier. No small forest landowner shall be required to pay more
than the maximum total annual costs in (c) of this subsection.
(c) The portion of the total cost of removing or replacing
fish passage barriers that a small forest landowner must pay
in any calendar year shall be determined based on the average
annual timber volume harvested from the landowner’s lands
in this state during the three preceding calendar years, and
whether the fish passage barrier is in eastern or western
Washington.
(i) In western Washington (west of the Cascade Crest), a
small forest landowner who has harvested an average annual
timber volume of less than five hundred thousand board feet
shall not be required to pay more than a total of eight thousand dollars during that calendar year, a small forest landowner who has harvested an annual average timber volume
between five hundred thousand and nine hundred ninety-nine
thousand board feet shall not be required to pay more than a
total of sixteen thousand dollars during that calendar year, a
small forest landowner who has harvested an average annual
timber volume between one million and one million four
hundred ninety-nine thousand board feet shall not be required
to pay more than a total of twenty-four thousand dollars during that calendar year, and a small forest landowner who has
harvested an average annual timber volume greater than or
equal to one million five hundred thousand board feet shall
not be required to pay more than a total of thirty-two thousand dollars during that calendar year, regardless of the num(2006 Ed.)
76.13.150
ber of fish passage barriers removed or replaced on the landowner’s lands during that calendar year.
(ii) In eastern Washington (east of the Cascade Crest), a
small forest landowner who has harvested an average annual
timber volume of less than five hundred thousand board feet
shall not be required to pay more than a total of two thousand
dollars during that calendar year, a small forest landowner
who has harvested an annual average timber volume between
five hundred thousand and nine hundred ninety-nine thousand board feet shall not be required to pay more than a total
of four thousand dollars during that calendar year, a small
forest landowner who has harvested an average annual timber
volume between one million and one million four hundred
ninety-nine thousand board feet shall not be required to pay
more than a total of twelve thousand dollars during that calendar year, and a small forest landowner who has harvested
an average annual timber volume greater than or equal to one
million five hundred thousand board feet shall not be
required to pay more than a total of sixteen thousand dollars
during that calendar year, regardless of the number of fish
passage barriers removed or replaced on the landowner’s
lands during that calendar year.
(iii) Maximum total annual costs for small forest landowners with fish passage barriers in both western and eastern
Washington shall be those specified under (c)(i) and (ii) of
this subsection.
(d) If an existing fish passage barrier on land owned by a
small forest landowner was installed under an approved forest practices application or notification, and hydraulics
approval, and that fish passage barrier becomes a high priority for fish passage based on the watershed ranking in *RCW
76.13.150, one hundred percent public funding shall be provided.
(5) If a small forest landowner is required to contribute a
portion of the funding under the cost-share program established in this section, that landowner may satisfy his or her
required proportion by providing either direct monetary contributions or in-kind services to the project. In-kind services
may include labor, equipment, materials, and other landowner-provided services determined by the department to
have an appropriate value to the removal of a particular fish
passage barrier.
(6)(a) The department, using fish passage barrier assessments and ranked inventory information provided by the
department of fish and wildlife and the appropriate lead
entity as delineated in RCW 77.12.755, must establish a prioritized list for the funding of fish passage barrier removals
on property owned by small forest landowners that ensures
that funding is provided first to the known fish passage barriers existing on forest land owned by small forest landowners
that cause the greatest harm to public resources.
(b) As the department collects information about the
presence of fish passage barriers from submitted checklists, it
must share this information with the department of fish and
wildlife and the technical advisory groups established in
**RCW 77.85.070. If the addition of the information collected in the checklists or any other changes to the scientific
instruments described in RCW 77.12.755 alter the analysis
conducted under RCW 77.12.755, the department must alter
the funding order appropriately to reflect the new information.
[Title 76 RCW—page 43]
76.13.160
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
(7) The department may accept commitments from small
forest landowners that they will participate in the program to
remove fish passage barriers from their land at any time,
regardless of the funding order given to the fish passage barriers on a particular landowner’s property. [2003 c 311 § 7.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) The reference to RCW 76.13.150 appears to be
erroneous. Reference to RCW 77.12.755 was apparently intended.
**(2) RCW 77.85.070 was repealed by 2005 c 309 § 10.
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
76.13.160 Qualifying small forest landowner—
Review of certain records. When establishing a forest riparian easement program applicant’s status as a qualifying small
forest landowner pursuant to RCW 76.13.120, the department shall not review the applicant’s timber harvest records,
or any other tax-related documents, on file with the department of revenue. The department of revenue may confirm or
deny an applicant’s status as a small forest landowner at the
request of the department; however, for the purposes of this
section, the department of revenue may not disclose more
information than whether or not the applicant has reported a
harvest or harvests totaling greater than or less than the qualifying thresholds established in RCW 76.13.120. Nothing in
this section, or RCW 84.33.280, prohibits the department
from reviewing aggregate or general information provided by
the department of revenue. [2004 c 102 § 2.]
76.13.160
Chapter 76.14
Chapter 76.14 RCW
FOREST REHABILITATION
Sections
76.14.010
76.14.020
76.14.030
76.14.040
76.14.050
76.14.051
76.14.060
76.14.070
76.14.080
76.14.090
76.14.100
76.14.110
76.14.120
76.14.130
Definitions.
Yacolt burn designated high hazard area—Rehabilitation
required.
Administration.
Duties.
Firebreaks—Powers of department—Grazing lands.
Firebreaks—Preexisting agreements not altered.
Powers and duties—Private lands.
Powers and duties—Expenditure of public funds.
Fire protection projects—Assessments—Payment.
Fire protection projects—Notice—Hearing.
Fire protection projects—Collection of assessments.
Fire protection projects—Credit on assessment for private
expenditure.
Landowner’s responsibility under other laws.
Lands not to be included in project.
by the establishment of extensive protection facilities and by
the restocking of denuded areas artificially to restore the productivity of the land. [1953 c 74 § 1.]
76.14.030
76.14.030 Administration. This chapter shall be
administered by the department. [1988 c 128 § 38; 1953 c 74
§ 3.]
76.14.040
76.14.040 Duties. The department shall use funds
placed at its disposal to map, survey, fell snags, build firebreaks and access roads, increase forest protection activities
and do all work deemed necessary to protect forest lands
from fire in the rehabilitation zone, and to perform reforestation and do other improvement work on state lands in the
rehabilitation zone. [1988 c 128 § 39; 1955 c 171 § 1; 1953 c
74 § 4.]
76.14.050
76.14.050 Firebreaks—Powers of department—
Grazing lands. The department is authorized to cooperate
with owners of land located in the area described in RCW
76.14.020 in establishing firebreaks in their most logical
position regardless of land ownership. The department may
by gift, purchase, condemnation or otherwise acquire easements for road rights of way and land or interests therein
located in the high hazard forest area described in RCW
76.14.020 for any purpose deemed necessary for access for
forest protection, reforestation, development and utilization,
and for access to state owned lands within the area described
in RCW 76.14.020 for all other purposes, and the department
shall have authority to regulate the use thereof. When the
landowner is using the land for agricultural grazing purposes
the state shall maintain gates or adequate cattle guards at each
place the road enters upon the private landowner’s fenced
lands. [1988 c 128 § 40; 1975 1st ex.s. c 101 § 1; 1955 c 171
§ 2; 1953 c 74 § 5.]
76.14.051
76.14.051 Firebreaks—Preexisting agreements not
altered. Nothing in the provisions of RCW 76.14.050 as
now or hereafter amended shall be construed to otherwise
alter the terms of any existing agreements heretofore entered
into by the state and private parties under the authority of
RCW 76.14.050 as now or hereafter amended. [1975 1st
ex.s. c 101 § 2.]
76.14.060
76.14.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Department" means the department of natural
resources;
(2) "Forest land" means any lands considered best
adapted for the growing of trees; and
(3) The term "owner" means and includes individuals,
partnerships, corporations, associations, federal land managing agencies, state of Washington, counties, municipalities,
and other forest landowners. [2000 c 11 § 14; 1988 c 128 §
37; 1953 c 74 § 2.]
76.14.010
76.14.020 Yacolt burn designated high hazard
area—Rehabilitation required. The Yacolt burn situated in
Clark, Skamania, and Cowlitz counties in townships 2, 3, 4,
5, 6 and 7 north, ranges 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 1/2 and 8 east is hereby
designated a high hazard forest area requiring rehabilitation
76.14.060 Powers and duties—Private lands. The
department shall have authority to acquire the right by purchase, condemnation or otherwise to cause snags on private
land to be felled, slash to be disposed of, and to take such
other measures on private land necessary to carry out the
objectives of this chapter. [1988 c 128 § 41; 1955 c 171 § 3.]
76.14.070
76.14.070 Powers and duties—Expenditure of public
funds. The department shall have authority to expend public
money for the purposes and objectives provided in this chapter. [1988 c 128 § 42; 1955 c 171 § 4.]
76.14.020
[Title 76 RCW—page 44]
76.14.080
76.14.080 Fire protection projects—Assessments—
Payment. The department shall develop fire protection
projects within the high hazard forest area and shall determine the boundaries thereof in accordance with the lands
(2006 Ed.)
Forest Rehabilitation
benefited thereby and shall assess one-sixth of the cost of
such projects equally upon all forest lands within the project
on an acreage basis. Such assessment shall not, however,
exceed twenty-five cents per acre annually nor more than one
dollar and fifty cents per acre in the aggregate and shall constitute a lien upon any forest products harvested therefrom.
The landowner may by written notice to the department elect
to pay his assessment on a deferred basis at a rate of ten cents
per thousand board feet and/or one cent per Christmas tree
when these products are harvested from the lands for commercial use until the assessment plus two percent interest
from the date of completion of each project has been paid for
each acre. Payments under the deferred plan shall be credited
by forty acre tracts and shall be first applied to payment of the
assessment against the forty acre tract from which the funds
were derived and secondly to other forty acre tracts held and
designated by the payor. In the event total ownership is less
than forty acres then payment shall be applied on an undivided basis to the entire areas as to which the assessment
remains unpaid. The landowner who elects to pay on deferred
basis may pay any unpaid assessment and interest at any
time. [1988 c 128 § 43; 1955 c 171 § 5.]
76.14.090
76.14.090 Fire protection projects—Notice—Hearing. Notice of each project, the estimated assessment per
acre and a description of the boundaries thereof shall be given
by publication in a local newspaper of general circulation
thirty days in advance of commencing work. Any person
owning land within the project may within ten days after publication of notice demand a hearing before the department in
Olympia and present any reasons why he feels the assessment
should not be made upon his land. Thereafter, the department
may change the boundaries of said project to eliminate land
from the project which it determines in its discretion will not
be benefited by the project. [1988 c 128 § 44; 1955 c 171 §
6.]
76.14.100
76.14.100 Fire protection projects—Collection of
assessments. Except when the owner has notified the department in writing that he will make payment on the deferred
plan, the assessment shall be collected by the department
reporting the same to the county assessor of the county in
which the property is situated upon completion of the work in
that project and the assessor shall annually extend the
amounts upon the tax rolls covering the property, and the
amounts shall be collected in the same manner, by the same
procedure, and with the same penalties attached as the next
general state and county taxes on the same property are collected. Errors in assessments may be corrected at any time by
the department by certifying them to the treasurer of the
county in which the land involved is situated. Upon the collection of such assessments the county treasurer shall transmit them to the department. Payment on the deferred plan
shall be made directly to the department. Such payment must
be made by January 31st for any timber or Christmas trees
harvested during the previous calendar year and must be
accompanied by a statement of the amount of timber or number of Christmas trees harvested and the legal description of
the property from which they were harvested. Whenever an
owner paying on the deferred plan desires to pay any unpaid
(2006 Ed.)
76.14.130
balance or portion thereof, he may make direct payment to
the department. [1988 c 128 § 45; 1955 c 171 § 7.]
Collection of taxes: Chapter 84.56 RCW.
76.14.110
76.14.110 Fire protection projects—Credit on assessment for private expenditure. Where the department finds
that a portion of the work in any project, except road building, has been done by private expenditures for fire protection
purposes only and that the work was not required by other
forestry laws having general application, then the department
shall appraise the work on the basis of what it would have
cost the state and shall credit the amount of the appraisal
toward payment of any sums assessed against lands contained in the project and owned by the person or his predecessors in title making the expenditure. Such appraisal shall be
added to the cost of the project for purposes of determining
the general assessment. [1988 c 128 § 46; 1955 c 171 § 8.]
76.14.120
76.14.120 Landowner’s responsibility under other
laws. This chapter shall not relieve the landowner of providing adequate fire protection for forest land pursuant to RCW
76.04.610 or, in lieu thereof, of paying the forest fire protection assessment specified, but shall be deemed as providing
solely for extra fire protection needed in the extrahazardous
fire area. [1986 c 100 § 56; 1955 c 171 § 9.]
76.14.130
76.14.130 Lands not to be included in project.
Projects pursuant to RCW 76.14.080 shall not be developed
to include lands outside the following described boundary
within the high hazard forest areas: Beginning at a point on
the east boundary of section 24, township 4 north, range 4
east 1/4 mile south of the northeast corner; thence west 1/4
mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/4 mile; north 1/16 mile; west
1/2 mile; south 1/8 mile; west 1/4 mile; south 1/8 mile; west
1/2 mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/16 mile;
west 1/8 mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/2 mile; south 1/16
mile; west 3/4 mile; north 1/16 mile; west 1/4 mile; north
1/16 mile; west 1/2 mile; north 1/16 mile; west 1/4 mile;
north 1/16 mile; west 1 3/4 miles to the west quarter corner of
section 19, township 4 north, range 4 east. Thence north 1/4
mile; west 1/4 mile; north 1/8 mile; west 1/8 mile; north 1/8
mile; west 1/16 mile; north 1/4 mile; west 1/16 mile; north
1/8 mile; west 1/8 mile; north 1/8 mile; west 3/16 mile; south
1/8 mile; west 3/16 mile; south 1/8 mile; east 3/16 mile; south
1/4 mile; west 2 3/16 miles; south 1/8 mile; west 1/8 mile;
south 1/4 mile; east 1/8 mile; south 1/16 mile; east 1/4 mile;
south 3/16 mile; east 3/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; east 1/8 mile;
south 1/16 mile; east 3/16 mile; south 7/16 mile; west 3/16
mile; south 1/4 mile; west 3/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; east
15/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/4 mile; east
1/4 mile; south 3/4 mile; to the southwest corner of section
36, township 4 north, range 3 east. Thence west 3/8 mile;
south 1/8 mile; east 1/8 mile; south 1/2 mile; west 1/8 mile;
south 3/8 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/4 mile; west 1/4 mile;
south 1/2 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/4 mile; east 3/8 mile;
south 7/16 mile; west 1/4 mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/4
mile; south 1/2 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/4 mile; east 1/8
mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/4 mile; south 1/4 mile; east 1/2
mile; south 3/16 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/16 mile; east
7/16 mile; south 3/16 mile; east 9/16 mile; south 1/4 mile;
[Title 76 RCW—page 45]
Chapter 76.15
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
east 1/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; east 1/16 mile; south 1/8 mile;
east 1/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; west 1/16 mile; south 5/8 mile;
west 3/16 mile; south 1/16 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/16
mile; east 1/8 mile; south 3/16 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/16
mile; west 11/16 mile; south 3/16 mile; east 15/16 mile, being
1/16 mile north of the southeast corner of section 36, township 3 north, range 3 east. Thence east 1 mile; south 1/16
mile; west 7/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/4
mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; west 3/16 mile; south 1/4
mile; west 7/16 mile; north 1/8 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/8
mile; west 5/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; west 3/16 mile; south
1/16 mile; east 1/2 mile; north 1/16 mile; east 1/4 mile; south
1/8 mile; east 1/8 mile; north 1/8 mile; east 1/8 mile being the
southeast corner of section 1, township 2 north, range 3 east.
Thence south 1/4 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/16 mile; east
1/4 mile; south 1/16 mile; east 1/4 mile; south 1/8 mile; east
1/8 mile; north 1/8 mile; east 3/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; east
1/16 mile; north 1/4 mile; east 7/16 mile; north 1/8 mile; east
9/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; west 1/16 mile; south 1/8 mile;
west 1/8 mile; south 1/8 mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/8 mile;
west 1/16 mile; south 1/4 mile; west 1/16 mile; south 1/8
mile; west 1/8 mile; south 1/16 mile; west 1/4 mile; south
5/16 mile; to the center of section 17, township 2 north, range
4 east. Thence east 1 mile; south 1/16 mile; east 2 miles;
north 1/16 mile; east 1 1/2 miles; to the east quarter corner of
section 13, township 2 north, range 4 east. Thence easterly 9
miles following Bonneville Power Administration’s power
transmission line through sections 18, 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13,
township 2 north, range 5 east and sections 18, 17 and 16,
township 2 north, range 6 east to the southeast corner of section 16, township 2 north, range 6 east. Thence easterly 3 3/4
miles; north 1 1/4 miles; east 1/4 mile; north 2 1/4 miles; west
3/4 mile; north 1 1/2 miles; east 3/4 mile; north 1/2 mile; east
1 mile; north 1/2 mile; east 1 mile; north 1 mile; east 2 miles;
south 1 mile; east 1 mile; north 3 miles; to the northeast corner of section 1, township 3 north, range 7 east. Thence west
4 miles; south 1 mile; west 2 miles; north 1/2 mile; west 2
miles; south 1/2 mile; west 1 mile; south 1/2 mile; west 2
miles; north 1 1/2 miles; west 1 mile; south 1 mile; west 2
miles; south 1 1/2 miles; east 1 mile; south 1/2 mile; west 1
mile; south 1/2 mile; west 1/2 mile; south 1/2 mile; west 3 1/2
miles to the northwest corner of section 30, township 3 north,
range 5 east. Thence north along Gifford Pinchot National
Forest boundary to the point of beginning. [1955 c 171 § 10.]
Chapter 76.15 RCW
COMMUNITY AND URBAN FORESTRY
Chapter 76.15
Sections
76.15.005
76.15.007
76.15.010
76.15.020
76.15.030
76.15.040
76.15.050
76.15.060
Finding.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Authority.
Funding sources—Fees—Contracts.
Primary duty, department’s—Cooperation.
Agreements for urban tree planting.
Urban tree planting to be encouraged.
76.15.005
76.15.005 Finding. (1) Trees and other woody vegetation are a necessary and important part of community and
urban environments. Community and urban forests have
many values and uses including conserving energy, reducing
[Title 76 RCW—page 46]
air and water pollution and soil erosion, contributing to property values, attracting business, reducing glare and noise, providing aesthetic and historical values, providing wood products, and affording comfort and protection for humans and
wildlife.
(2) As urban and community areas in Washington state
grow, the need to plan for and protect community and urban
forests increases. Cities and communities benefit from assistance in developing and maintaining community and urban
forestry programs that also address future growth.
(3) Assistance and encouragement in establishment,
retention, and enhancement of these forests and trees by local
governments, citizens, organizations, and professionals are in
the interest of the state based on the contributions these forests make in preserving and enhancing the quality of life of
Washington’s municipalities and counties while providing
opportunities for economic development. [1991 c 179 § 1.]
76.15.007
76.15.007 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Encourage planting and maintenance and management of trees in the state’s municipalities and counties and
maximize the potential of tree and vegetative cover in
improving the quality of the environment.
(2) Encourage the coordination of state and local agency
activities and maximize citizen participation in the development and implementation of community and urban forestryrelated programs.
(3) Foster healthy economic activity for the state’s community and urban forestry-related businesses through cooperative and supportive contracts with the private business sector.
(4) Facilitate the creation of employment opportunities
related to community and urban forestry activities including
opportunities for inner city youth to learn teamwork, resource
conservation, environmental appreciation, and job skills.
(5) Provide meaningful voluntary opportunities for the
state’s citizens and organizations interested in community
and urban forestry activities. [1991 c 179 § 2.]
76.15.010
76.15.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Community and urban forest" is that land in and
around human settlements ranging from small communities
to metropolitan areas, occupied or potentially occupied by
trees and associated vegetation. Community and urban forest
land may be planted or unplanted, used or unused, and
includes public and private lands, lands along transportation
and utility corridors, and forested watershed lands within
populated areas.
(2) "Community and urban forestry" means the planning,
establishment, protection, care, and management of trees and
associated plants individually, in small groups, or under forest conditions within municipalities and counties.
(3) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(4) "Municipality" means a city, town, port district, public school district, community college district, irrigation district, weed control district, park district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(2006 Ed.)
Marks and Brands
(5) "Person" means an individual, partnership, private or
public municipal corporation, Indian tribe, state entity,
county or local governmental entity, or association of individuals of whatever nature. [2000 c 11 § 15; 1991 c 179 § 3.]
76.36.020
and urban forestry program under this chapter. [1993 c 204 §
10.]
Findings—1993 c 204: See note following RCW 35.92.390.
76.15.060
76.15.020
76.15.020 Authority. (1) The department may establish
and maintain a program in community and urban forestry to
accomplish the purpose stated in RCW 76.15.007. The
department may assist municipalities and counties in establishing and maintaining community and urban forestry programs and encourage persons to engage in appropriate and
improved tree management and care.
(2) The department may advise, encourage, and assist
municipalities, counties, and other public and private entities
in the development and coordination of policies, programs,
and activities for the promotion of community and urban forestry.
(3) The department may appoint a committee or council
to advise the department in establishing and carrying out a
program in community and urban forestry.
(4) The department may assist municipal and county tree
maintenance programs by making surplus equipment available on loan where feasible for community and urban forestry
programs and cooperative projects. [1991 c 179 § 4.]
76.15.030
76.15.030 Funding sources—Fees—Contracts. The
department may:
(1) Receive and disburse any and all moneys contributed, allotted, or paid by the United States under authority of
any act of congress for the purposes of this chapter.
(2) Receive such gifts, grants, bequests, and endowments
and donations of labor, material, seedlings, and equipment
from public or private sources as may be made for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, and may
spend the gifts, grants, bequests, endowments, and donations
as well as other moneys from public or private sources.
(3) Charge fees for attendance at workshops and conferences, and for various publications and other materials that
the department may prepare.
(4) Enter into agreements and contracts with persons
having community and urban forestry-related responsibilities. [1991 c 179 § 5.]
76.15.040
76.15.040 Primary duty, department’s—Cooperation. The department shall assume the primary responsibility
of carrying out this chapter and shall cooperate with other private and public, state and federal persons, any agency of
another state, the United States, any agency of the United
States, or any agency or province of Canada. [1991 c 179 §
6.]
76.15.050
76.15.050 Agreements for urban tree planting. The
department may enter into agreements with one or more nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is urban tree
planting. The agreements shall be to further public education
about and support for urban tree planting, and for obtaining
voluntary activities by the local community organizations in
tree planting programs. The agreements shall ensure that such
programs are consistent with the purposes of the community
(2006 Ed.)
76.15.060 Urban tree planting to be encouraged. The
department shall encourage urban planting of tree varieties
that are site-appropriate and provide the best combination of
energy and water conservation, fire safety and other safety,
wildlife habitat, and aesthetic value. The department may
provide technical assistance in developing programs in tree
planting for energy conservation in areas of the state where
such programs are most cost-effective. [1993 c 204 § 11.]
Findings—1993 c 204: See note following RCW 35.92.390.
Chapter 76.36
Chapter 76.36 RCW
MARKS AND BRANDS
Sections
76.36.010
76.36.020
76.36.035
76.36.060
76.36.070
76.36.090
76.36.100
76.36.110
76.36.120
76.36.130
76.36.140
76.36.160
76.36.900
Definitions.
Forest products to be marked.
Registration of brands—Assignments—Fee—Rules—Penalty.
Impression of mark—Presumption.
Cancellation of registration.
Catch brands.
Right of entry to retake branded products.
Penalty for false branding, etc.
Forgery of mark, etc.—Penalty.
Sufficiency of mark.
Application of chapter to eastern Washington.
Deposit of fees—Use.
Severability—1925 ex.s. c 154.
76.36.010
76.36.010 Definitions. The words and phrases herein
used, unless the same be clearly contrary to or inconsistent
with the context of this chapter or the section in which used,
shall be construed as follows:
(1) "Booming equipment" includes boom sticks and
boom chains.
(2) "Brand" means a unique symbol or mark placed on or
in forest products for the purpose of identifying ownership.
(3) "Catch brand" means a mark or brand used by a person as an identifying mark placed upon forest products and
booming equipment previously owned by another.
(4) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(5) "Forest products" means logs, spars, piles, and poles,
boom sticks, and shingle bolts and every form into which a
fallen tree may be cut before it is manufactured into lumber
or run through a sawmill, shingle mill, or tie mill, or cut into
cord wood, stove wood, or hewn ties.
(6) "Person" includes the plural and all corporations, foreign and domestic, copartnerships, firms, and associations of
persons.
(7) "Waters of this state" includes any and all bodies of
fresh and salt water within the jurisdiction of the state capable
of being used for the transportation or storage of forest products, including all rivers and lakes and their tributaries, harbors, bays, bayous, and marshes. [2000 c 11 § 16; 1984 c 60
§ 1; 1925 ex.s. c 154 § 1; RRS § 8381-1.]
76.36.020
76.36.020 Forest products to be marked. Persons who
wish to identify any of their forest products which will be
[Title 76 RCW—page 47]
76.36.035
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
stored or transported in or on the waters of the state shall
place a registered mark or brand in a conspicuous place on
each forest product item. Placement of the registered mark or
brand is prima facie evidence of ownership over forest product items which have escaped from storage or transportation.
Unbranded or unmarked stray logs or forest products become
the property of the state when recovered. [1984 c 60 § 2;
1925 ex.s. c 154 § 2; RRS § 8381-2. Prior: 1890 p 110 § 1.]
latest in point of time. [1984 c 60 § 3; 1957 c 36 § 4; 1925
ex.s. c 154 § 6; RRS § 8381-6. Prior: 1890 p 111 § 4.]
76.36.070
76.36.070 Cancellation of registration. The department, upon the petition of the owner of a registered mark or
brand, may cancel the registration in which case the mark or
brand shall be open to registration by any person subsequently applying therefor. [1984 c 60 § 4; 1957 c 36 § 5;
1925 ex.s. c 154 § 7; RRS § 8381-7.]
76.36.035
76.36.035 Registration of brands—Assignments—
Fee—Rules—Penalty. (1) All applications for brands, catch
brands, renewals, and assignments thereof shall be submitted
to and approved by the department prior to use. The department may refuse to approve any brand or catch brand which
is identical to or closely resembles a registered brand or catch
brand, or is in use by any other person or was not selected in
good faith for the marking or branding of forest products. If
approval is denied the applicant will select another brand.
(2) The registration for all existing brands or catch
brands shall expire on December 31, 1984, unless renewed
prior to that date. Renewals or new approved applications
shall be for five-year periods or portions thereof beginning on
January 1, 1985. On or before September 30, 1984, and September 30th immediately preceding the end of each successive five-year period the department shall notify by mail all
registered owners of brands or catch brands of the forthcoming expiration of their brands and the requirements for
renewal.
(3) A fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged by the department for registration of all brands, catch brands, renewals or
assignments prior to January 1, 1985. Thereafter the fee shall
be twenty-five dollars.
(4) Abandoned or canceled brands shall not be reissued
for a period of at least one year. The department shall determine the right to use brands or catch brands in dispute by
applicants.
(5) The department may adopt and enforce rules implementing the provisions of this chapter.
(6)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a violation of any rule adopted by the department under this [the]
authority of this section is a misdemeanor.
(b) The department may specify by rule, when not inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of a specific
rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. [2003 c 53 §
370; 1987 c 380 § 18; 1984 c 60 § 8.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—Severability—1987 c 380: See RCW 7.84.900 and
7.84.901.
76.36.060
76.36.060 Impression of mark—Presumption. All
forest products and booming equipment having impressed
thereupon a registered mark or brand are presumed to belong
to the person appearing on the records of the department as
the owner of such mark or brand. All forest products having
impressed thereupon a registered catch brand are presumed to
belong to the owner of the registered catch brand, unless
there is impressed thereupon more than one registered catch
brand, in which event they are presumed to belong to the
owner whose registered catch brand was placed thereupon
[Title 76 RCW—page 48]
76.36.090
76.36.090 Catch brands. A person desiring to use a
catch brand as an identifying mark upon forest products or
booming equipment purchased or lawfully acquired from
another, shall before using it, make application for the registration thereof to the department in the manner prescribed for
the registration of other marks or brands as herein required.
The provisions contained in this chapter in reference to registration, certifications, assignment, and cancellation, and the
fees to be paid to the department shall apply equally to catch
brands. The certificate of the department shall designate the
mark or brand as a catch brand, and the mark or brand
selected by the applicant as a catch brand shall be inclosed in
the letter C, which shall identify the mark or brand as, and
shall be used only in connection with, a catch brand. [1984 c
60 § 5; 1957 c 36 § 6; 1925 ex.s. c 154 § 9; RRS § 8381-9.]
76.36.100
76.36.100 Right of entry to retake branded products.
The owner of any mark or brand registered as herein provided, by himself or his duly authorized agent or representative, shall have a lawful right, at any time and in any peaceable manner, to enter into or upon any tidelands, marshes and
beaches of this state and any mill, mill yard, mill boom, rafting or storage grounds and any forest products or raft or
boom thereof, for the purpose of searching for any forest
products and booming equipment having impressed thereupon or cut therein a registered mark or brand belonging to
him and to retake any forest products and booming equipment so found by him. [1925 ex.s. c 154 § 10; RRS § 838110. Prior: 1901 c 123 § 4.]
76.36.110
76.36.110 Penalty for false branding, etc. Every person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor:
(1) Except boom companies organized as corporations
for the purpose of catching or reclaiming and holding or disposing of forest products for the benefit of the owners, and
authorized to do business under the laws of this state, who has
or takes in tow or into custody or possession or under control,
without the authorization of the owner of a registered mark or
brand thereupon, any forest products or booming equipment
having thereupon a mark or brand registered as required by
the terms of this chapter, or, with or without such authorization, any forest products or booming equipment which may
be branded under the terms of this chapter with a registered
mark or brand and having no registered mark or brand
impressed thereupon or cut therein; or,
(2) Who impresses upon or cut in any forest products or
booming equipment a mark or brand that is false, forged or
counterfeit; or,
(3) Who interferes with, prevents, or obstructs the owner
of any registered mark or brand, or his or her duly authorized
(2006 Ed.)
Wood Debris—Removal from Navigable Waters
agent or representative, entering into or upon any tidelands,
marshes or beaches of this state or any mill, mill site, mill
yard or mill boom or rafting or storage grounds or any forest
products or any raft or boom thereof for the purpose of
searching for forest products and booming equipment having
impressed thereupon a registered mark or brand belonging to
him or her or retaking any forest products or booming equipment so found by him or her; or,
(4) Who impresses or cuts a catch brand that is not registered under the terms of this chapter upon or into any forest
products or booming equipment upon which there is a registered mark or brand as authorized by the terms of this chapter
or a catch brand, whether registered or not, upon any forest
products or booming equipment that was not purchased or
lawfully acquired by him or her from the owner. [2003 c 53
§ 371; 1994 c 163 § 1; 1984 c 60 § 6; 1925 ex.s. c 154 § 11;
RRS § 8381-11. Prior: 1890 p 112 § 8.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
76.36.120 Forgery of mark, etc.—Penalty. Every person is guilty of a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW who, with an intent to injure or defraud the
owner:
(1) Shall falsely make, forge or counterfeit a mark or
brand registered as herein provided and use it in marking or
branding forest products or booming equipment; or,
(2) Shall cut out, destroy, alter, deface, or obliterate any
registered mark or brand impressed upon or cut into any forest products or booming equipment; or,
(3) Shall sell, encumber or otherwise dispose of or deal
in, or appropriate to his or her own use, any forest products or
booming equipment having impressed thereupon a mark or
brand registered as required by the terms of this chapter; or
(4) Shall buy or otherwise acquire or deal in any forest
products or booming equipment having impressed thereupon
a registered mark or brand. [2003 c 53 § 372; 1925 ex.s. c
154 § 12; RRS § 8381-12. Prior: 1890 p 111 §§ 6, 7.]
76.36.120
76.42.030
ure to mark or brand such forest products shall not apply:
PROVIDED, That any person operating within such east portion of the state may select a mark or brand and cause it to be
registered with the department pursuant to the terms of this
chapter, and use it for the purpose of marking or branding forest products and booming equipment, and, in the event of the
registration of such mark or brand and the use of it in marking
or branding forest products or booming equipment, the provisions hereof shall apply as to the forest products and booming
equipment so marked or branded. [1988 c 128 § 48; 1957 c
36 § 8; 1925 ex.s. c 154 § 14; RRS § 8381-14.]
76.36.160 Deposit of fees—Use. The department shall
deposit all moneys received under this chapter in the general
fund to be used exclusively for the administration of this
chapter by the department. [1984 c 60 § 7; 1957 c 36 § 10.]
76.36.160
76.36.900 Severability—1925 ex.s. c 154. If any section or provision of this chapter shall be adjudged to be
invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect
the validity of the chapter as a whole or any section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
[1925 ex.s. c 154 § 15; RRS § 8381-15.]
76.36.900
Chapter 76.42
Chapter 76.42 RCW
WOOD DEBRIS—REMOVAL FROM
NAVIGABLE WATERS
Sections
76.42.010
76.42.020
76.42.030
76.42.060
76.42.070
Removal of debris authorized—Enforcement of chapter—
Department of natural resources.
Definitions.
Removal of wood debris—Authorized.
Navigable waters—Unlawful to deposit wood debris into—
Exception.
Rules and regulations—Administration of chapter—Authority
to adopt and enforce.
Navigation and harbor improvements: Title 88 RCW.
76.42.010 Removal of debris authorized—Enforcement of chapter—Department of natural resources. This
chapter authorizes the removal of wood debris from navigable waters of the state of Washington. It shall be the duty of
the department of natural resources to administer and enforce
the provisions of this chapter. [1973 c 136 § 2.]
76.42.010
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
76.36.130 Sufficiency of mark. A mark or brand cut in
boom sticks with an ax or other sharp instrument shall be sufficient for the purposes of this chapter if it substantially conforms to the impression or drawing and written description
on file with the department. [1988 c 128 § 47; 1957 c 36 § 7;
1925 ex.s. c 154 § 13; RRS § 8381-13.]
76.36.130
76.36.140
76.36.140 Application of chapter to eastern Washington. In view of the different conditions existing in the
logging industry of this state between the parts of the state
lying respectively east and west of the crest of the Cascade
mountains, forest products may be put into the water of this
state or shipped on common carrier railroads without having
thereon a registered mark or brand, as herein required, within
that portion of the state lying east of the crest of the Cascade
mountains and composed of the following counties to wit:
Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry,
Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima; and the penalties herein provided for fail(2006 Ed.)
76.42.020
76.42.020 Definitions. (1) "Removal" as used in this
chapter shall include all activities necessary for the collection
and disposal of such wood debris: PROVIDED, That nothing
herein provided shall permit removal of wood debris from
private property without written consent of the owner.
(2) "Wood debris" as used in this chapter is wood that is
adrift on navigable waters or has been adrift thereon and
stranded on beaches, marshes, or tidal and shorelands. [2000
c 11 § 17; 1994 c 163 § 2; 1973 c 136 § 3.]
76.42.030
76.42.030 Removal of wood debris—Authorized.
The department of natural resources may by contract, license,
or permit, or other arrangements, cause such wood debris to
be removed by private contractors, department of natural
resources employees, or by other public bodies. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any individual from using
[Title 76 RCW—page 49]
76.42.060
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
any nonmerchantable wood debris for his own personal use.
[1994 c 163 § 3; 1973 c 136 § 4.]
foreign, where such cooperation advances these objectives.
[1979 c 50 § 5; 1947 c 177 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10831-3.]
Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.
76.42.060
76.42.060 Navigable waters—Unlawful to deposit
wood debris into—Exception. It shall be unlawful to dispose of wood debris by depositing such material into any of
the navigable waters of this state, except as authorized by law
including any discharge or deposit allowed to be made under
and in compliance with chapter 90.48 RCW and any rules
duly adopted thereunder or any deposit allowed to be made
under and in compliance with chapter 76.09 or 77.85 RCW
and any rules duly adopted under those chapters. Violation
of this section shall be a misdemeanor. [2003 c 39 § 37; 1999
sp.s. c 4 § 601; 1973 c 136 § 7.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
76.42.070
76.42.070 Rules and regulations—Administration of
chapter—Authority to adopt and enforce. The department
of natural resources shall adopt and enforce such rules and
regulations as may be deemed necessary for administering
this chapter. [1973 c 136 § 8.]
Chapter 76.44
Chapter 76.44 RCW
INSTITUTE OF FOREST RESOURCES
Sections
76.44.010
76.44.020
76.44.030
76.44.040
76.44.050
Institute created.
Administration of institute.
Duties.
Dissemination of research results.
Contributions may be accepted.
76.44.010
76.44.010 Institute created. There is hereby created
the institute of forest resources of the state of Washington
which shall operate under the authority of the board of
regents of the University of Washington. [1979 c 50 § 1;
1947 c 177 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10831-1.]
Severability—1979 c 50: "If any provision of this amendatory act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 c 50 § 8.]
76.44.020
76.44.020 Administration of institute. The institute of
forest resources shall be administered by the dean of the college of forest resources of the University of Washington who
shall also be the director of the institute. [1988 c 81 § 21;
1979 c 50 § 2; 1959 c 306 § 1; 1947 c 177 § 2; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 10831-2.]
Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.
76.44.030
76.44.030 Duties. The institute of forest resources shall
pursue research and education related to the forest resource
and its multiple use including its conservation, management
and utilization; its evaluation of forest land use and the maintenance of its rural environment; the manufacture and marketing of forest products and the provision of recreation and
aesthetic values.
In pursuit of these objectives, the institute of forest
resources is authorized to cooperate with other universities,
state and federal agencies, industrial institutions, domestic or
[Title 76 RCW—page 50]
76.44.040
76.44.040 Dissemination of research results. The
results of any research undertaken by the institute or in which
the institute participates shall be available to all industries
and citizens of the state of Washington and the institute is
authorized to disseminate such information. [1979 c 50 § 6;
1947 c 177 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10831-4.]
Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.
76.44.050
76.44.050 Contributions may be accepted. The institute is authorized to solicit and/or accept funds through
grants, contracts, or institutional consulting arrangements for
the prosecution of any research or education activity which it
may undertake in pursuit of its objectives. [1979 c 50 § 7;
1947 c 177 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 10831-5.]
Severability—1979 c 50: See note following RCW 76.44.010.
Chapter 76.48
Chapter 76.48 RCW
SPECIALIZED FOREST PRODUCTS
Sections
76.48.010
76.48.020
76.48.030
76.48.040
76.48.050
76.48.060
76.48.062
76.48.070
76.48.075
76.48.080
76.48.085
76.48.086
76.48.094
76.48.096
76.48.098
76.48.100
76.48.110
76.48.120
76.48.130
76.48.140
76.48.150
76.48.200
76.48.900
76.48.901
76.48.902
76.48.910
Declaration of public interest.
Definitions.
Unlawful acts.
Agencies responsible for enforcement of chapter.
Specialized forest products permits—Expiration—Specifications.
Specialized forest products permits—Required—Forms—Filing.
Validation of specialized forest product permits—Authorized
agents.
Transporting or possessing cedar or other specialized forest
products—Requirements.
Specialized forest products from out-of-state.
Contents of authorization, sales invoice, or bill of lading.
Purchase of specialized forest products—Required records.
Records of buyers available for research.
Cedar or specialty wood processors—Records of purchase,
possession, or retention of cedar products, salvage, or specialty wood—Bill of lading.
Obtaining products from suppliers not having specialized forest products permit unlawful.
Display of valid registration certificate required.
Exemptions.
Violations—Seizure and disposition of products and other
items—Disposition of proceeds.
False, fraudulent, stolen or forged specialized forest products
permit, sales invoice, bill of lading, etc.—Penalty.
Penalties.
Disposition of fines.
Department to develop specialized forest products permit/education material.
Assistance and training for minority groups.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 47.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 147.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 94.
Saving—1967 ex.s. c 47.
76.48.010
76.48.010 Declaration of public interest. It is in the
public interest of this state to protect a great natural resource
and to provide a high degree of protection to the landowners
of the state of Washington from the theft of specialized forest
products. [1967 ex.s. c 47 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Specialized Forest Products
76.48.020
76.48.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Authorization" means a properly completed preprinted form authorizing the transportation or possession of
Christmas trees which contains the information required by
RCW 76.48.080, a sample of which is filed before the harvesting occurs with the sheriff of the county in which the harvesting is to occur.
(2) "Bill of lading" means a written or printed itemized
list or statement of particulars pertinent to the transportation
or possession of a specialized forest product.
(3) "Cascara bark" means the bark of a Cascara tree.
(4) "Cedar processor" means any person who purchases,
takes, or retains possession of cedar products or cedar salvage
for later sale in the same or modified form following removal
and delivery from the land where harvested.
(5) "Cedar products" means cedar shakeboards, shake
and shingle bolts, and rounds one to three feet in length.
(6) "Cedar salvage" means cedar chunks, slabs, stumps,
and logs having a volume greater than one cubic foot and
being harvested or transported from areas not associated with
the concurrent logging of timber stands (a) under a forest
practices application approved or notification received by the
department of natural resources, or (b) under a contract or
permit issued by an agency of the United States government.
(7) "Christmas trees" means any evergreen trees or the
top thereof, commonly known as Christmas trees, with limbs
and branches, with or without roots, including fir, pine,
spruce, cedar, and other coniferous species.
(8) "Cut or picked evergreen foliage," commonly known
as brush, means evergreen boughs, huckleberry, salal, fern,
Oregon grape, rhododendron, mosses, bear grass, scotch
broom (Cytisus scoparius), and other cut or picked evergreen
products. "Cut or picked evergreen foliage" does not mean
cones, berries, any foliage that does not remain green yearround, or seeds.
(9) "Harvest" means to separate, by cutting, prying, picking, peeling, breaking, pulling, splitting, or otherwise removing, a specialized forest product (a) from its physical connection or contact with the land or vegetation upon which it is or
was growing or (b) from the position in which it is lying upon
the land.
(10) "Harvest site" means each location where one or
more persons are engaged in harvesting specialized forest
products close enough to each other that communication can
be conducted with an investigating law enforcement officer
in a normal conversational tone.
(11) "Landowner" means, with regard to real property,
the private owner, the state of Washington or any political
subdivision, the federal government, or a person who by
deed, contract, or lease has authority to harvest and sell forest
products of the property. "Landowner" does not include the
purchaser or successful high bidder at a public or private timber sale.
(12) "Native ornamental trees and shrubs" means any
trees or shrubs which are not nursery grown and which have
been removed from the ground with the roots intact.
(13) "Permit area" means a designated tract of land that
may contain single or multiple harvest sites.
(2006 Ed.)
76.48.020
(14) "Person" includes the plural and all corporations,
foreign or domestic, copartnerships, firms, and associations
of persons.
(15) "Processed cedar products" means cedar shakes,
shingles, fence posts, hop poles, pickets, stakes, rails, or
rounds less than one foot in length.
(16) "Sheriff" means, for the purpose of validating specialized forest products permits, the county sheriff, deputy
sheriff, or an authorized employee of the sheriff’s office or an
agent of the office.
(17) "Specialized forest products" means Christmas
trees, native ornamental trees and shrubs, cut or picked evergreen foliage, cedar products, cedar salvage, processed cedar
products, specialty wood, wild edible mushrooms, and Cascara bark.
(18) "Specialized forest products permit" means a
printed document in a form printed by the department of natural resources, or true copy thereof, that is signed by a landowner or his or her authorized agent or representative,
referred to in this chapter as "permittors" and validated by the
county sheriff and authorizes a designated person, referred to
in this chapter as "permittee," who has also signed the permit,
to harvest and transport a designated specialized forest product from land owned or controlled and specified by the permittor and that is located in the county where the permit is
issued.
(19) "Specialty wood" means wood that is:
(a) In logs less than eight feet in length, chunks, slabs,
stumps, or burls; and
(b) One or more of the following:
(i) Of the species western red cedar, Englemann spruce,
Sitka spruce, big leaf maple, or western red alder;
(ii) Without knots in a portion of the surface area at least
twenty-one inches long and seven and a quarter inches wide
when measured from the outer surface toward the center; or
(iii) Suitable for the purposes of making musical instruments or ornamental boxes.
(20) "Specialty wood buyer" means the first person that
receives any specialty wood product after it leaves the harvest
site.
(21) "Specialty wood processor" means any person who
purchases, takes, or retains possession of specialty wood
products or specialty wood salvage for later sale in the same
or modified form following removal and delivery from the
land where harvested.
(22) "Transportation" means the physical conveyance of
specialized forest products outside or off of a harvest site by
any means.
(23) "True copy" means a replica of a validated specialized forest products permit as reproduced by a copy machine
capable of effectively reproducing the information contained
on the permittee’s copy of the specialized forest products permit. A copy is made true by the permittee or the permittee
and permittor signing in the space provided on the face of the
copy. A true copy will be effective until the expiration date
of the specialized forest products permit unless the permittee
or the permittee and permittor specify an earlier date. A permittor may require the actual signatures of both the permittee
and permittor for execution of a true copy by so indicating in
the space provided on the original copy of the specialized forest products permit. A permittee, or, if so indicated, the per[Title 76 RCW—page 51]
76.48.030
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
mittee and permittor, may condition the use of the true copy
to harvesting only, transportation only, possession only, or
any combination thereof.
(24) "Wild edible mushrooms" means edible mushrooms
not cultivated or propagated by artificial means. [2005 c 401
§ 1; 2000 c 11 § 18; 1995 c 366 § 1; 1992 c 184 § 1; 1979
ex.s. c 94 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 3.]
Severability—1995 c 366: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 366 § 19.]
76.48.030
76.48.030 Unlawful acts. It is unlawful for any person
to:
(1) Harvest specialized forest products as described in
RCW 76.48.020, in the quantities specified in RCW
76.48.060, without first obtaining a validated specialized forest products permit;
(2) Engage in activities or phases of harvesting specialized forest products not authorized by the permit; or
(3) Harvest specialized forest products in any lesser
quantities than those specified in RCW 76.48.060, as now or
hereafter amended, without first obtaining permission from
the landowner or his or her duly authorized agent or representative. [1995 c 366 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 147
§ 2; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 4.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.040
76.48.040 Agencies responsible for enforcement of
chapter. Agencies charged with the enforcement of this
chapter shall include, but not be limited to, the Washington
state patrol, county sheriffs and their deputies, county or
municipal police forces, authorized personnel of the United
States forest service, and authorized personnel of the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife. Primary
enforcement responsibility lies in the county sheriffs and
their deputies. The legislature encourages county sheriffs’
offices to enter into interlocal agreements with these other
agencies in order to receive additional assistance with their
enforcement responsibilities. [1995 c 366 § 3; 1994 c 264 §
51; 1988 c 36 § 49; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 3;
1967 ex.s. c 47 § 5.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.050 Specialized forest products permits—
Expiration—Specifications. Specialized forest products
permits shall consist of properly completed permit forms validated by the sheriff of the county in which the specialized
forest products are to be harvested. Each permit shall be separately numbered and the issuance of the permits shall be by
consecutive numbers. All specialized forest products permits
shall expire at the end of the calendar year in which issued, or
sooner, at the discretion of the permittor. A properly completed specialized forest products permit form shall include:
(1) The date of its execution and expiration;
(2) The name, address, telephone number, if any, and
signature of the permittor;
(3) The name, address, telephone number, if any, and
signature of the permittee;
(4) The type of specialized forest products to be harvested or transported;
76.48.050
[Title 76 RCW—page 52]
(5) The approximate amount or volume of specialized
forest products to be harvested or transported;
(6) The legal description of the property from which the
specialized forest products are to be harvested or transported,
including the name of the county, or the state or province if
outside the state of Washington;
(7) A description by local landmarks of where the harvesting is to occur, or from where the specialized forest products are to be transported;
(8) For cedar products, cedar salvage, and specialty
wood, a copy of a map or aerial photograph, with defined permitted boundaries, included as an attachment to the permit;
(9) A copy of a valid picture identification; and
(10) Any other condition or limitation which the permittor may specify.
Except for the harvesting of Christmas trees, the permit
or true copy thereof must be carried by the permittee and the
permittee’s agents and be available for inspection at all times.
For the harvesting of Christmas trees only a single permit or
true copy thereof is necessary to be available at the harvest
site. [2005 c 401 § 2; 1995 c 366 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 4;
1977 ex.s. c 147 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 6.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.060
76.48.060 Specialized forest products permits—
Required—Forms—Filing. (1) A specialized forest products permit validated by the county sheriff shall be obtained
by a person prior to harvesting from any lands, including his
or her own, more than five Christmas trees, more than five
native ornamental trees or shrubs, more than five pounds of
cut or picked evergreen foliage, any cedar products, cedar
salvage, processed cedar products, or more than five pounds
of Cascara bark, or more than five United States gallons of a
single species of wild edible mushroom.
(2) Specialized forest products permit forms shall be provided by the department of natural resources, and shall be
made available through the office of the county sheriff to permittees or permittors in reasonable quantities. A permit form
shall be completed in triplicate for each permittor’s property
on which a permittee harvests specialized forest products. A
properly completed permit form shall be mailed or presented
for validation to the sheriff of the county in which the specialized forest products are to be harvested.
(3) Before a permit form is validated by the sheriff, sufficient personal identification may be required to reasonably
identify the person mailing or presenting the permit form and
the sheriff may conduct other investigations as deemed necessary to determine the validity of the information alleged on
the form. When the sheriff is reasonably satisfied as to the
truth of the information, the form shall be validated with the
sheriff’s validation stamp.
(4) Upon validation, the form shall become the specialized forest products permit authorizing the harvesting, possession, or transportation of specialized forest products, subject to any other conditions or limitations which the permittor
may specify. Two copies of the permit shall be given or
mailed to the permittor, or one copy shall be given or mailed
to the permittor and the other copy given or mailed to the permittee. The original permit shall be retained in the office of
the county sheriff validating the permit.
(2006 Ed.)
Specialized Forest Products
(5) In the event a single land ownership is situated in two
or more counties, a specialized forest product permit shall be
completed as to the land situated in each county.
(6) While engaged in harvesting of specialized forest
products, permittees, or their agents or employees, must have
readily available at each harvest site a valid permit or true
copy of the permit. [2005 c 401 § 3; 1995 c 366 § 5; 1992 c
184 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 5; 1967 ex.s.
c 47 § 7.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.062
76.48.062 Validation of specialized forest product
permits—Authorized agents. County sheriffs may contract
with other entities to serve as authorized agents to validate
specialized forest product permits. These entities include the
United States forest service, the bureau of land management,
the department of natural resources, local police departments,
and other entities as decided upon by the county sheriffs’
departments. An entity that contracts with a county sheriff to
serve as an authorized agent to validate specialized forest
product permits may make reasonable efforts to verify the
information provided on the permit form such as the section,
township, and range of the area where harvesting is to occur.
[1995 c 366 § 15.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.070
76.48.070 Transporting or possessing cedar or other
specialized forest products—Requirements. (1) Except as
provided in RCW 76.48.100 and 76.48.075, it is unlawful for
any person (a) to possess, (b) to transport, or (c) to possess
and transport within the state of Washington, subject to any
other conditions or limitations specified in the specialized
forest products permit by the permittor, more than five
Christmas trees, more than five native ornamental trees or
shrubs, more than five pounds of cut or picked evergreen foliage, any processed cedar products, or more than five pounds
of Cascara bark, or more than five gallons of a single species
of wild edible mushroom without having in his or her possession a written authorization, sales invoice, bill of lading, or
specialized forest products permit or a true copy thereof evidencing his or her title to or authority to have possession of
specialized forest products being so possessed or transported.
(2) It is unlawful for any person either (a) to possess, (b)
to transport, or (c) to possess and transport within the state of
Washington any cedar products, cedar salvage, or specialty
wood without having in his or her possession a specialized
forest products permit or a true copy thereof evidencing his or
her title to or authority to have possession of the materials
being so possessed or transported. The specialized forest
products permit or true copy are valid to possess, transport, or
possess and transport the cedar products, cedar salvage, or
specialty wood from the harvest site to the first cedar or specialty wood processor or buyer. For purposes of this subsection, a true copy requires the actual signatures of both the permittee and the permittor for the execution of a true copy.
[2005 c 401 § 4; 1995 c 366 § 6; 1992 c 184 § 3; 1979 ex.s. c
94 § 6; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 6; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 8.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
(2006 Ed.)
76.48.080
76.48.075
76.48.075 Specialized forest products from out-ofstate. (1) It is unlawful for any person to transport or cause
to be transported into this state from any other state or province specialized forest products, except those harvested from
that person’s own property, without: (a) First acquiring and
having readily available for inspection a document indicating
the true origin of the specialized forest products as being outside the state, or (b) without acquiring a specialized forest
products permit as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(2) Any person transporting or causing to be transported
specialized forest products into this state from any other state
or province shall, upon request of any person to whom the
specialized forest products are sold or delivered or upon
request of any law enforcement officer, prepare and sign a
statement indicating the true origin of the specialized forest
products, the date of delivery, and the license number of the
vehicle making delivery, and shall leave the statement with
the person making the request.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to possess specialized
forest products, transported into this state, with knowledge
that the products were introduced into this state in violation
of this chapter.
(4) When any person transporting or causing to be transported into this state specialized forest products elects to
acquire a specialized forest products permit, the specialized
forest products transported into this state shall be deemed to
be harvested in the county of entry, and the sheriff of that
county may validate the permit as if the products were so harvested, except that the permit shall also indicate the actual
harvest site outside the state.
(5) A cedar or specialty wood processor shall comply
with RCW 76.48.096 by requiring a person transporting specialized forest products into this state from any other state or
province to display a specialized forest products permit, or
true copy thereof, or other governmental document indicating
the true origin of the specialized forest products as being outside the state. For purposes of this subsection, a true copy
requires the actual signatures of both the permittee and the
permittor for the execution of a true copy. The cedar or specialty wood processor shall make and maintain a record of the
purchase, taking possession, or retention of cedar products
and cedar salvage in compliance with RCW 76.48.094.
(6) If, under official inquiry, investigation, or other
authorized proceeding regarding specialized forest products
not covered by a valid specialized forest products permit or
other acceptable document, the inspecting law enforcement
officer has probable cause to believe that the specialized forest products were harvested in this state or wrongfully
obtained in another state or province, the officer may take
into custody and detain, for a reasonable time, the specialized
forest products, all supporting documents, invoices, and bills
of lading, and the vehicle in which the products were transported until the true origin of the specialized forest products
can be determined. [2005 c 401 § 5; 1995 c 366 § 7; 1979
ex.s. c 94 § 15.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.080
76.48.080 Contents of authorization, sales invoice, or
bill of lading. The authorization, sales invoice, or bill of lading required by RCW 76.48.070 shall specify:
(1) The date of its execution.
[Title 76 RCW—page 53]
76.48.085
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
(2) The number and type of products sold or being transported.
(3) The name and address of the owner, vendor, or donor
of the specialized forest products.
(4) The name and address of the vendee, donee, or
receiver of the specialized forest products.
(5) The location of origin of the specialized forest products. [1979 ex.s. c 94 § 7; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 9.]
76.48.085
76.48.085 Purchase of specialized forest products—
Required records. Buyers who purchase specialized forest
products are required to record (1) the permit number; (2) the
type of forest product purchased; (3) the permit holder’s
name; and (4) the amount of forest product purchased. The
buyer or processor shall keep a record of this information for
a period of one year from the date of purchase and must make
the records available for inspection upon demand by authorized enforcement officials.
The buyer of specialized forest products must record the
license plate number of the vehicle transporting the forest
products on the bill of sale, as well as the seller’s permit number on the bill of sale. This section shall not apply to transactions involving Christmas trees.
This section shall not apply to buyers of specialized forest products at the retail sales level. [2005 c 401 § 6; 2000 c
11 § 19; 1995 c 366 § 14.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.086
76.48.086 Records of buyers available for research.
Records of buyers of specialized forest products collected
under the requirements of RCW 76.48.085 may be made
available to colleges and universities for the purpose of
research. [1995 c 366 § 16.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.094
76.48.094 Cedar or specialty wood processors—
Records of purchase, possession, or retention of cedar
products, salvage, or specialty wood—Bill of lading. (1)
Cedar or specialty wood processors shall make and maintain
a record of the purchase, taking possession, or retention of
cedar products, cedar salvage, or specialty wood for at least
one year after the date of receipt. The record must be legible
and must be made at the time each delivery is made.
(2) The bill of lading must accompany all cedar products,
cedar salvage, or specialty wood products after the products
are received by the cedar or specialty wood processor. The
bill of lading must include the specialized forest products
permit number or the information provided for in RCW
76.48.075(5) and must also specify:
(a) The date of transportation;
(b) The name and address of the first cedar or specialty
wood processor or buyer who recorded the specialized forest
products information;
(c) The name and address from where the cedar or specialty wood products are being transported;
(d) The name of the person receiving the cedar or specialty wood products;
(e) The address to where the cedar or specialty wood
products are being transported;
(f) The name of the driver;
[Title 76 RCW—page 54]
(g) The vehicle license number;
(h) The type of cedar or specialty wood product being
shipped; and
(i) The amount of cedar or specialty wood product being
shipped. [2005 c 401 § 7; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 9; 1977 ex.s. c
147 § 11.]
76.48.096
76.48.096 Obtaining products from suppliers not
having specialized forest products permit unlawful. It is
unlawful for any cedar or specialty wood buyer or processor
to purchase, take possession, or retain cedar or specialty
wood products or cedar salvage subsequent to the harvesting
and prior to the retail sale of the products, unless the supplier
thereof displays a specialized forest products permit, or true
copy thereof that appears to be valid, or obtains the information under RCW 76.48.075(5). [2005 c 401 § 8; 1995 c 366
§ 8; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 10; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 12.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.098
76.48.098 Display of valid registration certificate
required. Every cedar or specialty wood buyer or processor
shall prominently display a valid registration certificate, or
copy thereof, obtained from the department of revenue under
RCW 82.32.030 at each location where the buyer or processor receives cedar products, cedar salvage, or specialty wood.
Permittees shall sell cedar products, cedar salvage, or
specialty wood products only to cedar or specialty wood processors displaying registration certificates which appear to be
valid. [2005 c 401 § 9; 1995 c 366 § 9; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 11;
1977 ex.s. c 147 § 13.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.100
76.48.100 Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter
do not apply to:
(1) Nursery grown products.
(2) Logs (except as included in the definition of "cedar
salvage" under RCW 76.48.020), poles, pilings, or other
major forest products from which substantially all of the
limbs and branches have been removed, specialty wood, and
cedar salvage when harvested concurrently with timber
stands (a) under an approved forest practices application or
notification, or (b) under a contract or permit issued by an
agency of the United States government.
(3) The activities of a landowner, his or her agent, or representative, or of a lessee of land in carrying on noncommercial property management, maintenance, or improvements on
or in connection with the land of the landowner or lessee.
[2005 c 401 § 10; 1995 c 366 § 10; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 12; 1977
ex.s. c 147 § 7; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 11.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.110
76.48.110 Violations—Seizure and disposition of
products and other items—Disposition of proceeds. (1)
Whenever any law enforcement officer has probable cause to
believe that a person is harvesting or is in possession of or
transporting specialized forest products in violation of the
provisions of this chapter, he or she may, at the time of making an arrest, seize and take possession of any specialized forest products found. If the specialized forest product is a cedar
product, cedar salvage, or specialty wood, at the time of mak(2006 Ed.)
Specialized Forest Products
ing an arrest the law enforcement officer may seize and take
possession of any equipment, vehicles, tools, or paperwork.
The law enforcement officer shall provide reasonable protection for the equipment, vehicles, tools, paperwork, or specialized forest products involved during the period of litigation
or he or she shall dispose of the equipment, vehicles, tools,
paperwork, or specialized forest products at the discretion or
order of the court before which the arrested person is ordered
to appear.
(2) Upon any disposition of the case by the court, the
court shall make a reasonable effort to return the equipment,
vehicles, tools, paperwork, or specialized forest products to
its rightful owner or pay the proceeds of any sale of specialized forest products less any reasonable expenses of the sale
to the rightful owner. If for any reason, the proceeds of the
sale cannot be disposed of to the rightful owner, the proceeds,
less the reasonable expenses of the sale, shall be paid to the
treasurer of the county in which the violation occurred. The
county treasurer shall deposit the same in the county general
fund. The return of the equipment, vehicles, tools, paperwork, or specialized forest products or the payment of the
proceeds of any sale of products seized to the owner shall not
preclude the court from imposing any fine or penalty upon
the violator for the violation of the provisions of this chapter.
[2005 c 401 § 11; 1995 c 366 § 11; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 13; 1977
ex.s. c 147 § 8; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 12.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.120
76.48.120 False, fraudulent, stolen or forged specialized forest products permit, sales invoice, bill of lading,
etc.—Penalty. (1) It is unlawful for any person, upon official inquiry, investigation, or other authorized proceedings,
to offer as genuine any paper, document, or other instrument
in writing purporting to be a specialized forest products permit, or true copy thereof, authorization, sales invoice, or bill
of lading, or to make any representation of authority to possess or conduct harvesting or transporting of specialized forest products, knowing the same to be in any manner false,
fraudulent, forged, or stolen.
(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates
this section is guilty of a class C felony punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional institution for a maximum term
fixed by the court of not more than five years or by a fine of
not more than five thousand dollars, or by both imprisonment
and fine.
(3) Whenever any law enforcement officer reasonably
suspects that a specialized forest products permit or true copy
thereof, authorization, sales invoice, or bill of lading is
forged, fraudulent, or stolen, it may be retained by the officer
until its authenticity can be verified. [2003 c 53 § 373; 1995
c 366 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 94 § 14; 1977 ex.s. c 147 § 9; 1967
ex.s. c 47 § 13.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
76.48.901
by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed one year or by
both a fine and imprisonment. [1995 c 366 § 13; 1977 ex.s. c
147 § 10; 1967 ex.s. c 47 § 14.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.140
76.48.140 Disposition of fines. All fines collected for
violations of any provision of this chapter shall be paid into
the general fund of the county treasury of the county in which
the violation occurred and distributed equally among the district courts in the county, the county sheriff’s office, and the
county’s general fund. [2005 c 401 § 12; 1977 ex.s. c 147 §
15.]
76.48.150
76.48.150 Department to develop specialized forest
products permit/education material. The department of
natural resources is the designated agency to develop and
print the specialized forest products permit and distribute it to
the county sheriffs. In addition, the department of natural
resources shall develop educational material and other
printed information for law enforcement, forest landowners,
and specialized forest products harvesters, buyers, and processors specific to this chapter. [2005 c 401 § 13.]
76.48.200
76.48.200 Assistance and training for minority
groups. Minority groups have long been participants in the
specialized forest products industry. The legislature encourages agencies serving minority communities, communitybased organizations, refugee centers, social service agencies,
agencies and organizations with expertise in the specialized
forest products industry, and other interested groups to work
cooperatively to accomplish the following purposes:
(1) To provide assistance and make referrals on translation services and to assist in translating educational materials,
laws, and rules regarding specialized forest products;
(2) To hold clinics to teach techniques for effective picking; and
(3) To work with both minority and nonminority permittees in order to protect resources and foster understanding
between minority and nonminority permittees.
To the extent practicable within their existing resources,
the commission on Asian-American affairs, the commission
on Hispanic affairs, and the department of natural resources
are encouraged to coordinate this effort. [1995 c 366 § 17.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.900
76.48.900 Severability—1967 ex.s. c 47. If any section, provision, or part thereof of this chapter shall be
adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication
shall not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole, or any
section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or
unconstitutional. [1967 ex.s. c 47 § 15.]
Severability—1995 c 366: See note following RCW 76.48.020.
76.48.901
76.48.130
76.48.130 Penalties. A person who violates a provision
of this chapter, other than the provisions contained in RCW
76.48.120, as now or hereafter amended, is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished
(2006 Ed.)
76.48.901 Severability—1977 ex.s. c 147. If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the
act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. [1977 ex.s. c 147 § 16.]
[Title 76 RCW—page 55]
76.48.902
Title 76 RCW: Forests and Forest Products
76.48.902
Chapter 76.56 RCW
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN
FOREST PRODUCTS
Chapter 76.56
76.48.902 Severability—1979 ex.s. c 94. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1979 ex.s. c 94 § 17.]
76.48.910
76.48.910 Saving—1967 ex.s. c 47. This chapter is not
intended to repeal or modify any provision of existing law.
[1967 ex.s. c 47 § 16.]
Sections
76.56.010
76.56.020
76.56.030
76.56.040
76.56.050
76.56.900
Chapter 76.52
Center for international trade in forest products created at the
University of Washington.
Duties.
Director—Appointment.
Use of center’s programs, research, and advisory services—
Schedule of fees.
Solicitation of financial contributions and support—Annual
report—Use of other funds.
Severability—1985 c 122.
Chapter 76.52 RCW
76.56.010
COOPERATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT
SERVICES ACT
Sections
76.52.010
76.52.020
76.52.030
76.52.040
Short title.
Contracts with landowners.
Extending department forest management services to landowners.
Disposition of funds from landowners.
76.52.010
76.52.010 Short title. This chapter shall be known and
cited as the "cooperative forest management services act."
[1979 c 100 § 1.]
76.52.020
76.52.020 Contracts with landowners. The department of natural resources may, by agreement, make available
to forest landowners, equipment, materials, and personnel for
the purpose of more intensively managing or protecting the
land when the department determines that such services are
not otherwise available at a cost which would encourage the
landowner to so avail himself, and that the use of department
equipment, materials, or personnel will not jeopardize the
management of state lands or other programs of the department. The department shall enter into a contractual agreement with the landowner for services rendered and shall
recover the costs thereof. [1979 c 100 § 2.]
76.52.030
76.52.030 Extending department forest management
services to landowners. The department may, by agreement, extend forest management services to private lands as
a condition of carrying out such services on state lands when
the private lands are adjacent to or in close proximity to the
state lands being treated. The agreement shall include provisions requiring the parties to pay all costs attributable to the
conducting of the services on their respective lands. [1979 c
100 § 3.]
76.52.040
76.52.040 Disposition of funds from landowners.
Costs recovered by the department as a result of extending
forest management practices to private lands shall be credited
to the program or programs providing the services. The
department will report by December 31 of each odd numbered year up to and including 1985 to the house and senate
natural resources committees the private acres treated as a
result of this chapter. [1979 c 100 § 4.]
[Title 76 RCW—page 56]
76.56.010 Center for international trade in forest
products created at the University of Washington. There
is created a center for international trade in forest products at
the University of Washington in the college of forest
resources, which shall be referred to in this chapter as "the
center." The center shall operate under the authority of the
board of regents of the University of Washington. [1985 c
122 § 1.]
76.56.020
76.56.020 Duties. The center shall:
(1) Coordinate the University of Washington’s college
of forest resources’ faculty and staff expertise to assist in:
(a) The development of research and analysis for developing policies and strategies which will expand forest-based
international trade, including a major focus on secondary
manufacturing;
(b) The development of technology or commercialization support for manufactured products that will meet the
evolving needs of international customers;
(c) The development of research and analysis on other
factors critical to forest-based trade, including the quality and
availability of raw wood resources; and
(d) The coordination, development, and dissemination of
market and technical information relevant to international
trade in forest products, including a major focus on secondary
manufacturing;
(2) Further develop and maintain computer data bases on
world-wide forest products production and trade in order to
monitor and report on trends significant to the Northwest forest products industry and support the center’s research functions; and coordinate this system with state, federal, and private sector efforts to insure a cost-effective information
resource that will avoid unnecessary duplication;
(3) Monitor international forest products markets and
assess the status of the state’s forest products industry,
including the competitiveness of small and medium-sized
secondary manufacturing firms in the forest products industry, which for the purposes of this chapter shall be firms with
annual revenues of twenty-five million or less, and including
the increased exports of Washington-produced products of
small and medium-sized secondary manufacturing firms;
(4) Provide high-quality research and graduate education
and professional nondegree training in international trade in
forest products in cooperation with the University of Washington’s graduate school of business administration, the
school of law, the Jackson school of international studies, the
Northwest policy center of the graduate school of public
administration, and other supporting academic units;
(2006 Ed.)
Center for International Trade in Forest Products
(5) Develop cooperative linkages with the international
marketing program for agricultural commodities and trade at
Washington State University, the international trade project
of the United States forest service, the department of natural
resources, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the small business export finance assistance center, and other state and federal agencies to avoid
duplication of effort and programs;
(6) Cooperate with personnel from the state’s community and technical colleges in their development of wood
products manufacturing and wood technology curriculum
and offer periodic workshops on wood products manufacturing, wood technology, and trade opportunities to community
colleges and private educators and trainers;
(7) Provide for public dissemination of research, analysis, and results of the center’s programs to all groups, including direct assistance groups, through technical workshops,
short courses, international and national symposia, cooperation with private sector networks and marketing associations,
or other means, including appropriate publications;
(8) Establish an executive policy board, including representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, with at
least fifty percent of its business members representing small
businesses with one hundred or fewer employees and
medium-sized businesses with one hundred to five hundred
employees. The executive policy board shall also include a
representative of the community and technical colleges, representatives of state and federal agencies, and a representative of a wood products manufacturing network or trade association of small and medium-sized wood product manufacturers. The executive policy board shall provide advice on:
Overall policy direction and program priorities, state and federal budget requests, securing additional research funds,
identifying priority areas of focus for research efforts, selection of projects for research, and dissemination of results of
research efforts; and
(9) Establish advisory or technical committees for each
research program area, to advise on research program area
priorities, consistent with the international trade opportunities achievable by the forest products sector of the state and
region, to help ensure projects are relevant to industry needs,
and to advise on and support effective dissemination of
research results. Each advisory or technical committee shall
include representatives of forest products industries that
might benefit from this research.
Service on the committees and the executive policy
board established in subsections (8) and (9) of this section
shall be without compensation but actual travel expenses
incurred in connection with service to the center may be
reimbursed from appropriated funds in accordance with
RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. [1994 c 282 § 1; 1992 c 121
§ 1; 1987 c 195 § 16; 1985 c 122 § 2.]
76.56.900
76.56.040 Use of center’s programs, research, and
advisory services—Schedule of fees. The governor, the legislature, state agencies, and the public may use the center’s
programs, research, and advisory services as may be needed.
The center shall establish a schedule of fees for actual services rendered. [1985 c 122 § 4.]
76.56.040
76.56.050 Solicitation of financial contributions and
support—Annual report—Use of other funds. The center
shall aggressively solicit financial contributions and support
from the forest products industry, federal and state agencies,
and other granting sources or through other arrangements to
assist in conducting its activities. Subject to RCW 40.07.040,
the center shall report annually to the governor and the legislature on its success in obtaining funding from nonstate
sources and on its accomplishments in meeting the provisions
of this chapter. It may also use separately appropriated funds
of the University of Washington for the center’s activities.
[1994 c 282 § 2; 1987 c 505 § 74; 1985 c 122 § 5.]
76.56.050
Effective date—1994 c 282: See note following RCW 76.56.020.
76.56.900 Severability—1985 c 122. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 122 § 6.]
76.56.900
Effective date—1994 c 282: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 282 § 6.]
76.56.030
76.56.030 Director—Appointment. The center shall
be administered by a director appointed by the dean of the
college of forest resources of the University of Washington.
The director shall be a member of the professional staff of
that college. [1985 c 122 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 76 RCW—page 57]
Title 77
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Title 77
Chapters
77.04
77.08
77.12
77.15
77.18
77.32
77.36
77.44
77.50
77.55
77.57
77.60
77.65
77.70
77.75
77.80
77.85
77.90
77.95
77.100
77.105
77.110
77.115
77.120
77.125
Department of fish and wildlife.
General terms defined.
Powers and duties.
Fish and wildlife enforcement code.
Game fish mitigation.
Licenses.
Wildlife damage.
Warm water game fish enhancement program.
Limitations on certain commercial fisheries.
Construction projects in state waters.
Fishways, flow, and screening.
Shellfish.
Food fish and shellfish—Commercial licenses.
License limitation programs.
Compacts and other agreements.
Program to purchase fishing vessels and
licenses.
Salmon recovery.
Salmon enhancement facilities—Bond issue.
Salmon enhancement program.
Volunteer fish and wildlife enhancement program.
Recreational salmon and marine fish enhancement program.
Salmon and steelhead trout—Management of
resources.
Aquaculture disease control.
Ballast water management.
Marine fin fish aquaculture programs.
Carrier or racing pigeons—Injury to: RCW 9.61.190 and 9.61.200.
Control of predatory birds injurious to agriculture: RCW 15.04.110 through
15.04.120.
Coyote getters—Use in killing of coyotes: RCW 9.41.185.
Hood Canal bridge, public sport fishing from: RCW 47.56.366.
Infractions: Chapter 7.84 RCW.
Operation and maintenance of fish collection facility on Toutle river: RCW
77.57.080.
Volunteer cooperative fish and wildlife enhancement program: Chapter
77.100 RCW.
Wildlife and recreation lands; funding of maintenance and operation:
Chapter 79A.20 RCW.
Chapter 77.04 RCW
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 77.04
(Formerly: Department of wildlife)
Sections
77.04.010
77.04.012
77.04.013
77.04.020
77.04.030
77.04.040
77.04.055
77.04.060
77.04.080
77.04.090
(2006 Ed.)
Short title.
Mandate of department and commission.
Findings and intent.
Composition of department—Powers and duties.
Commission—Appointment.
Commission—Qualifications of members.
Commission—Duties.
Commission—Meetings—Officers—Compensation, travel
expenses.
Director—Qualifications—Duties—Salary.
Rule-making authority—Certified copy as evidence.
77.04.120
77.04.130
77.04.140
77.04.150
77.04.160
77.04.170
Director—Research—Reports.
Adoption and certification of rules.
Unofficial printings of laws or rules—Approval required.
Disabled hunters and fishers—Advisory committee—Composition—Terms—Pilot project—Report to the legislature.
Surplus salmon report.
Funding for fish stock protection or recovery programs—Prioritization and selection process requirements—Development of outcome-focused performance measures.
Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees:
RCW 19.16.500.
77.04.010
77.04.010 Short title. This title is known and may be
cited as "Fish and Wildlife Code of the State of Washington."
[2000 c 107 § 201; 1990 c 84 § 1; 1980 c 78 § 2; 1955 c 36 §
77.04.010. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599211.]
Effective date—1980 c 78: "This act shall take effect on July 1, 1981."
[1980 c 78 § 137.]
Intent, construction—1980 c 78: "In enacting this 1980 act, it is the
intent of the legislature to revise and reorganize the game code of this state
to clarify and improve the administration of the state’s game laws. Unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, the revisions made to the game code by
this act are not to be construed as substantive." [1980 c 78 § 1.]
Savings—1980 c 78: "This act shall not have the effect of terminating
or in any way modifying any proceeding or liability, civil or criminal, which
exists on the effective date of this act." [1980 c 78 § 138.]
Severability—1980 c 78: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1980 c 78 § 139.]
77.04.012
77.04.012 Mandate of department and commission.
Wildlife, fish, and shellfish are the property of the state. The
commission, director, and the department shall preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage the wildlife and food fish, game
fish, and shellfish in state waters and offshore waters.
The department shall conserve the wildlife and food fish,
game fish, and shellfish resources in a manner that does not
impair the resource. In a manner consistent with this goal, the
department shall seek to maintain the economic well-being
and stability of the fishing industry in the state. The department shall promote orderly fisheries and shall enhance and
improve recreational and commercial fishing in this state.
The commission may authorize the taking of wildlife,
food fish, game fish, and shellfish only at times or places, or
in manners or quantities, as in the judgment of the commission does not impair the supply of these resources.
The commission shall attempt to maximize the public
recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
Recognizing that the management of our state wildlife,
food fish, game fish, and shellfish resources depends heavily
on the assistance of volunteers, the department shall work
cooperatively with volunteer groups and individuals to
achieve the goals of this title to the greatest extent possible.
[Title 77 RCW—page 1]
77.04.013
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Nothing in this title shall be construed to infringe on the
right of a private property owner to control the owner’s private property. [2000 c 107 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 5; 1975
1st ex.s. c 183 § 1; 1949 c 112 § 3, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-201, part. Formerly RCW 75.08.012, 43.25.020.]
State policy regarding improvement of recreational salmon fishing: See
note following RCW 77.65.150.
77.04.013
77.04.013 Findings and intent. The legislature supports the recommendations of the state fish and wildlife commission with regard to the commission’s responsibilities in
the merged department of fish and wildlife. It is the intent of
the legislature that, beginning July 1, 1996, the commission
assume regulatory authority for food fish and shellfish in
addition to its existing authority for game fish and wildlife. It
is also the intent of the legislature to provide to the commission the authority to review and approve department agreements, to review and approve the department’s budget proposals, to adopt rules for the department, and to select commission staff and the director of the department.
The legislature finds that all fish, shellfish, and wildlife
species should be managed under a single comprehensive set
of goals, policies, and objectives, and that the decision-making authority should rest with the fish and wildlife commission. The commission acts in an open and deliberative process that encourages public involvement and increases public
confidence in department decision making. [1995 1st sp.s. c
2 § 1 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995).
Formerly RCW 75.08.013.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: "This act shall be submitted
to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next succeeding general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II,
section 1 of the state Constitution, as amended, and the laws adopted to facilitate the operation thereof." [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 46.] Referendum Bill No.
45 was approved by the electorate at the November 7, 1995, election.
77.04.020
77.04.020 Composition of department—Powers and
duties. The department consists of the state fish and wildlife
commission and the director. The commission may delegate
to the director any of the powers and duties vested in the commission. [2000 c 107 § 202; 1996 c 267 § 32; 1993 sp.s. c 2
§ 59; 1987 c 506 § 4; 1980 c 78 § 3; 1955 c 36 § 77.04.020.
Prior: 1947 c 275 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-12.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: "Washington’s fish and
wildlife resources are the responsibility of all residents of the state. We all
benefit economically, recreationally, and aesthetically from these resources.
Recognizing the state’s changing environment, the legislature intends to continue to provide opportunities for the people to appreciate wildlife in its
native habitat. However, the wildlife management in the state of Washington
shall not cause a reduction of recreational opportunity for hunting and fishing activities. The paramount responsibility of the department remains to
preserve, protect, and perpetuate all wildlife species. Adequate funding for
proper management, now and for future generations, is the responsibility of
everyone.
The intent of the legislature is: (1) To allow the governor to select the
director of wildlife; (2) to retain the authority of the wildlife commission to
establish the goals and objectives of the department; (3) to insure a high level
of public involvement in the decision-making process; (4) to provide effective communications among the commission, the governor, the legislature,
and the public; (5) to expand the scope of appropriate funding for the man[Title 77 RCW—page 2]
agement, conservation, and enhancement of wildlife; (6) to not increase the
cost of license, tag, stamp, permit, and punchcard fees prior to January 1,
1990; and (7) for the commission to carry out any other responsibilities prescribed by the legislature in this title." [1987 c 506 § 1.]
References—1987 c 506: "All references in the Revised Code of
Washington to the department of game, the game commission, the director of
game, and the game fund shall mean, respectively, the department of wildlife, the wildlife commission, the director of wildlife, and the wildlife fund."
[1987 c 506 § 99.]
Continuation of rules, director, game commission—1987 c 506:
"Rules of the department of game existing prior to July 26, 1987, shall
remain in effect unless or until amended or repealed by the director of wildlife or the wildlife commission pursuant to Title 77 RCW. The director of
game on July 26, 1987, shall continue as the director of wildlife until resignation or removal in accordance with the provisions of RCW 43.17.020. The
game commission on July 26, 1987, shall continue as the wildlife commission." [1987 c 506 § 100.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.04.030
77.04.030 Commission—Appointment. The fish and
wildlife commission consists of nine registered voters of the
state. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor
shall appoint with the advice and consent of the senate three
registered voters to the commission to serve for terms of six
years from that January or until their successors are
appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs on the commission prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall
appoint a registered voter within sixty days to complete the
term. Three members shall be residents of that portion of the
state lying east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and
three shall be residents of that portion of the state lying west
of the summit of the Cascade mountains. Three additional
members shall be appointed at-large. No two members may
be residents of the same county. The legal office of the commission is at the administrative office of the department in
Olympia. [2001 c 155 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 203; 1994 c 264 §
52; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 60; 1987 c 506 § 5; 1981 c 338 § 11; 1980
c 78 § 4; 1955 c 36 § 77.04.030. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 3; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-13.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 7, 60, 80, and 82-100: See RCW
77.105.100.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.04.040
77.04.040 Commission—Qualifications of members.
Persons eligible for appointment as members of the commission shall have general knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and wildlife and shall not hold another state,
county, or municipal elective or appointive office. In making
these appointments, the governor shall seek to maintain a balance reflecting all aspects of fish and wildlife, including representation recommended by organized groups representing
sportfishers, commercial fishers, hunters, private landowners, and environmentalists. Persons eligible for appointment
as fish and wildlife commissioners shall comply with the provisions of chapters 42.52 and 42.17 RCW. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2
§ 3 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1993 sp.s. c 2 § 61; 1987 c 506 § 6; 1980 c 78 § 5; 1955 c 36
§ 77.04.040. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599214.]
(2006 Ed.)
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.04.055 Commission—Duties. (1) In establishing
policies to preserve, protect, and perpetuate wildlife, fish, and
wildlife and fish habitat, the commission shall meet annually
with the governor to:
(a) Review and prescribe basic goals and objectives
related to those policies; and
(b) Review the performance of the department in implementing fish and wildlife policies.
The commission shall maximize fishing, hunting, and
outdoor recreational opportunities compatible with healthy
and diverse fish and wildlife populations.
(2) The commission shall establish hunting, trapping,
and fishing seasons and prescribe the time, place, manner,
and methods that may be used to harvest or enjoy game fish
and wildlife.
(3) The commission shall establish provisions regulating
food fish and shellfish as provided in RCW 77.12.047.
(4) The commission shall have final approval authority
for tribal, interstate, international, and any other department
agreements relating to fish and wildlife.
(5) The commission shall adopt rules to implement the
state’s fish and wildlife laws.
(6) The commission shall have final approval authority
for the department’s budget proposals.
(7) The commission shall select its own staff and shall
appoint the director of the department. The director and commission staff shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.
[2000 c 107 § 204; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 4 (Referendum Bill
No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 62;
1990 c 84 § 2; 1987 c 506 § 7.]
77.04.055
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
77.04.060 Commission—Meetings—Officers—Compensation, travel expenses. The commission shall hold at
least one regular meeting during the first two months of each
calendar quarter, and special meetings when called by the
chair and by five members. Five members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The commission at a meeting in each odd-numbered year
shall elect one of its members as chairman and another member as vice chairman, each of whom shall serve for a term of
two years or until a successor is elected and qualified.
77.04.060
(2006 Ed.)
77.04.090
Members of the commission shall be compensated in
accordance with RCW 43.03.250. In addition, members are
allowed their travel expenses incurred while absent from
their usual places of residence in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 63. Prior: 1987 c
506 § 8; 1987 c 114 § 1; 1984 c 287 § 110; 1980 c 78 § 6;
1977 c 75 § 89; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 175; 1961 c 307 §
9; 1955 c 352 § 1; 1955 c 36 § 77.04.060; prior: 1949 c 205
§ 1; 1947 c 275 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5992-16.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Legislative findings—Severability—Effective date—1984 c 287:
See notes following RCW 43.03.220.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
77.04.080
77.04.080 Director—Qualifications—Duties—Salary. Persons eligible for appointment as director shall have
practical knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and
wildlife. The director shall supervise the administration and
operation of the department and perform the duties prescribed by law and delegated by the commission. The director shall carry out the basic goals and objectives prescribed
under RCW 77.04.055. The director may appoint and employ
necessary personnel. The director may delegate, in writing, to
department personnel the duties and powers necessary for
efficient operation and administration of the department.
Only persons having general knowledge of the fisheries
and wildlife resources and of the commercial and recreational
fishing industry in this state are eligible for appointment as
director. The director shall not have a financial interest in the
fishing industry or a directly related industry. The director
shall receive the salary fixed by the governor under RCW
43.03.040.
The director is the ex officio secretary of the commission
and shall attend its meetings and keep a record of its business.
[2000 c 107 § 205; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 5 (Referendum Bill
No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 64;
1987 c 506 § 9; 1980 c 78 § 8; 1955 c 36 § 77.04.080. Prior:
1947 c 275 § 8; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-18.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.04.090 Rule-making authority—Certified copy as
evidence. The commission shall adopt permanent rules and
amendments to or repeals of existing rules by approval of a
majority of the members by resolution, entered and recorded
in the minutes of the commission: PROVIDED, That the
77.04.090
[Title 77 RCW—page 3]
77.04.120
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
commission may not adopt rules after July 23, 1995, that are
based solely on a section of law stating a statute’s intent or
purpose, on the enabling provisions of the statute establishing
the agency, or on any combination of such provisions, for
statutory authority to adopt any rule. The commission shall
adopt emergency rules by approval of a majority of the members. The commission, when adopting emergency rules under
RCW 77.12.150, shall adopt rules in conformance with chapter 34.05 RCW. Judicial notice shall be taken of the rules
filed and published as provided in RCW 34.05.380 and
34.05.210.
A copy of an emergency rule, certified as a true copy by
a member of the commission, the director, or by a person
authorized in writing by the director to make the certification,
is admissible in court as prima facie evidence of the adoption
and validity of the rule. [1996 c 267 § 35; 1995 c 403 § 111;
1984 c 240 § 1; 1980 c 78 § 16; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.050. Prior:
1947 c 275 § 15; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-25. Formerly
RCW 77.12.050.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Findings—Short title—Intent—1995 c 403: See note following RCW
34.05.328.
Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 403: See RCW
43.05.903 and 43.05.904.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.04.120
77.04.120 Director—Research—Reports. (1) The
director shall investigate the habits, supply, and economic
use of food fish and shellfish in state and offshore waters.
(2) The director shall make an annual report to the governor on the operation of the department and the statistics of
the fishing industry.
(3) Subject to RCW 40.07.040, the director shall provide
a comprehensive biennial report of all departmental operations to the chairs of the committees on natural resources of
the senate and house of representatives, the senate ways and
means committee, and the house of representatives appropriations committee, including one copy to the staff of each of
the committees, to reflect the previous fiscal period. The format of the report shall be similar to reports issued by the
department from 1964-1970 and the report shall include, but
not be limited to, descriptions of all department activities
including: Revenues generated, program costs, capital
expenditures, personnel, special projects, new and ongoing
research, environmental controls, cooperative projects, intergovernmental agreements, and outlines of ongoing litigation,
recent court decisions and orders on major issues with the
potential for state liability. The report shall describe the status
of the resource and its recreational, commercial, and tribal
utilization. The report shall be made available to the public.
[2000 c 107 § 3; 1988 c 36 § 31; 1987 c 505 § 71; 1985 c 208
§ 1; 1985 c 93 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 7; 1977 c 75 § 87;
1955 c 12 § 75.08.020. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 7(3), (6), (7);
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-206 (3), (6), (7). Formerly RCW
75.08.020.]
Director of fish and wildlife to develop proposals to reinstate salmon and
steelhead in Tilton and Cowlitz rivers: RCW 77.12.765.
[Title 77 RCW—page 4]
77.04.130
77.04.130 Adoption and certification of rules. (1)
Rules of the commission shall be adopted by the commission
or a designee in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2) Rules of the commission shall be admitted as evidence in the courts of the state when accompanied by an affidavit from the commission or a designee certifying that the
rule has been lawfully adopted and the affidavit is prima facie
evidence of the adoption of the rule.
(3) The commission may designate department employees to act on the commission’s behalf in the adoption and certification of rules. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 12 (Referendum Bill
No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
16; 1973 c 93 § 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.090. Prior: 1949 c 112
§ 6, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-205, part. Formerly RCW
75.08.090.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.04.140
77.04.140 Unofficial printings of laws or rules—
Approval required. Provisions of this title or rules of the
commission shall not be printed in a pamphlet unless the
pamphlet is clearly marked as an unofficial version. This section does not apply to printings approved by the commission.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 13 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 17; 1955 c 12 §
75.08.110. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 16; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780215. Formerly RCW 75.08.110.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.04.150
77.04.150 Disabled hunters and fishers—Advisory
committee—Composition—Terms—Pilot project—
Report to the legislature. (1) The commission must appoint
an advisory committee to generally represent the interests of
disabled hunters and fishers on matters including, but not
limited to, special hunts, modified sporting equipment,
access to public land, and hunting and fishing opportunities.
The advisory committee is composed of seven members,
each being a person with a disability. The advisory committee members must represent the entire state. The members
must be appointed so that each of the six department administrative regions, as they existed on January 1, 2001, are represented with one resident on the advisory committee. One
additional member must be appointed at large. The chair of
the advisory committee must be a member of the advisory
committee and shall be selected by the members of the advisory committee.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person with a disability includes but is not limited to:
(a) A permanently disabled person who is not ambulatory over natural terrain without a prosthesis or assistive
device;
(b) A permanently disabled person who is unable to walk
without the use of assistance from a brace, cane, crutch,
wheelchair, scooter, walker, or other assistive device;
(c) A person who has a cardiac condition to the extent
that the person’s functional limitations are severe;
(2006 Ed.)
General Terms Defined
(d) A person who is restricted by lung disease to the
extent that the person’s functional limitations are severe;
(e) A person who is totally blind or visually impaired; or
(f) A permanently disabled person with upper or lower
extremity impairments who does not have the use of one or
both upper or lower extremities.
(3) The members of the advisory committee are
appointed for a four-year term. If a vacancy occurs on the
advisory committee prior to the expiration of a term, the commission must appoint a replacement within sixty days to
complete the term.
(4) The advisory committee must meet at least semiannually, and may meet at other times as requested by a majority of the advisory committee members for any express purpose that directly relates to the duties set forth in subsection
(1) of this section. A majority of members currently serving
on the advisory committee constitutes a quorum. The department must provide staff support for all official advisory committee meetings.
(5) Each member of the advisory committee shall serve
without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel
expenses as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(6) The members of the advisory committee, or individuals acting on their behalf, are immune from civil liability for
official acts performed in the course of their duties.
(7) The provisions of this section constitute a pilot program that expires July 1, 2008. On December 1, 2007, the
commission shall present a report to the appropriate legislative committees detailing the effectiveness of the advisory
committee, including, but not limited to, the participation
levels, general interest, quality of advice, and recommendations as to the advisory committee’s continuance or modification. [2005 c 149 § 1; 2001 c 312 § 1.]
77.08.010
(4) The report shall be included in the biennial state of
the salmon report required by *RCW 77.85.020 and other
similar state reports on salmon.
(5) The report shall include an assessment of the infrastructure needs and facility modifications necessary to implement chapter 337, Laws of 2001. [2001 c 337 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.85.020 was amended by 2005 c 309 § 3,
removing the "state of the salmon report" requirement.
77.04.170 Funding for fish stock protection or recovery programs—Prioritization and selection process
requirements—Development of outcome-focused performance measures. In administering programs funded with
moneys from the capital budget related to protection or
recovery of fish stocks, the department shall incorporate the
environmental benefits of a project into its prioritization and
selection process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used
both for management and performance assessment of the program. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural
resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The
department shall consult with affected interest groups in
implementing this section. [2001 c 227 § 11.]
77.04.170
Findings—Intent—2001 c 227: See note following RCW 43.41.270.
Chapter 77.08
Chapter 77.08 RCW
GENERAL TERMS DEFINED
Sections
77.08.010
77.08.020
77.08.022
77.08.024
77.08.030
77.08.045
Definitions.
"Game fish" defined.
"Food fish" defined.
"Salmon" defined.
"Big game" defined.
Migratory waterfowl terms defined.
77.04.160
77.04.160 Surplus salmon report. (1) The department
shall prepare an annual surplus salmon report. This report
shall include the disposition of adult salmonids that have
returned to salmonid hatchery facilities operated under the
jurisdiction of the state that:
(a) Have not been harvested; and
(b) Were not allowed to escape for natural spawning.
(2) The report shall include, by species, the number and
estimated weight of surplus salmon and steelhead and a
description of the disposition of the adult carcasses including,
but not limited to, the following categories:
(a) Disposed in landfills;
(b) Transferred to another government agency for reproductive purposes;
(c) Sold to contract buyers in the round;
(d) Sold to contract buyers after spawning;
(e) Transferred to Native American tribes;
(f) Donated to food banks; and
(g) Used in stream nutrient enrichment programs.
(3) The report shall also include, by species, information
on the number of requests for viable salmon eggs, the number
of these requests that were granted and the number that were
denied, the geographic areas for which these requests were
granted or denied, and a brief explanation given for each
denial of a request for viable salmon eggs.
(2006 Ed.)
77.08.010 Definitions. As used in this title or rules
adopted under this title, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise:
(1) "Director" means the director of fish and wildlife.
(2) "Department" means the department of fish and wildlife.
(3) "Commission" means the state fish and wildlife commission.
(4) "Person" means and includes an individual; a corporation; a public or private entity or organization; a local, state,
or federal agency; all business organizations, including corporations and partnerships; or a group of two or more individuals acting with a common purpose whether acting in an individual, representative, or official capacity.
(5) "Fish and wildlife officer" means a person appointed
and commissioned by the director, with authority to enforce
this title and rules adopted pursuant to this title, and other
statutes as prescribed by the legislature. Fish and wildlife
officer includes a person commissioned before June 11,
1998, as a wildlife agent or a fisheries patrol officer.
(6) "Ex officio fish and wildlife officer" means a commissioned officer of a municipal, county, state, or federal
agency having as its primary function the enforcement of
criminal laws in general, while the officer is in the appropriate jurisdiction. The term "ex officio fish and wildlife
77.08.010
[Title 77 RCW—page 5]
77.08.010
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
officer" includes special agents of the national marine fisheries service, state parks commissioned officers, United States
fish and wildlife special agents, department of natural
resources enforcement officers, and United States forest service officers, while the agents and officers are within their
respective jurisdictions.
(7) "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill,
injure, capture, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.
(8) "To trap" and its derivatives means a method of hunting using devices to capture wild animals or wild birds.
(9) "To fish," "to harvest," and "to take," and their derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, or catch a fish or
shellfish.
(10) "Open season" means those times, manners of taking, and places or waters established by rule of the commission for the lawful hunting, fishing, taking, or possession of
game animals, game birds, game fish, food fish, or shellfish
that conform to the special restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the commission or that have otherwise been deemed legal to hunt, fish, take, harvest, or possess by rule of the commission. "Open season" includes the
first and last days of the established time.
(11) "Closed season" means all times, manners of taking,
and places or waters other than those established by rule of
the commission as an open season. "Closed season" also
means all hunting, fishing, taking, or possession of game animals, game birds, game fish, food fish, or shellfish that do not
conform to the special restrictions or physical descriptions
established by rule of the commission as an open season or
that have not otherwise been deemed legal to hunt, fish, take,
harvest, or possess by rule of the commission as an open season.
(12) "Closed area" means a place where the hunting of
some or all species of wild animals or wild birds is prohibited.
(13) "Closed waters" means all or part of a lake, river,
stream, or other body of water, where fishing or harvesting is
prohibited.
(14) "Game reserve" means a closed area where hunting
for all wild animals and wild birds is prohibited.
(15) "Bag limit" means the maximum number of game
animals, game birds, or game fish which may be taken,
caught, killed, or possessed by a person, as specified by rule
of the commission for a particular period of time, or as to
size, sex, or species.
(16) "Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom
whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. This
includes but is not limited to mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The term "wildlife" does
not include feral domestic mammals, old world rats and mice
of the family Muridae of the order Rodentia, or those fish,
shellfish, and marine invertebrates classified as food fish or
shellfish by the director. The term "wildlife" includes all
stages of development and the bodily parts of wildlife members.
(17) "Wild animals" means those species of the class
Mammalia whose members exist in Washington in a wild
state and the species Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog). The term
"wild animal" does not include feral domestic mammals or
old world rats and mice of the family Muridae of the order
Rodentia.
[Title 77 RCW—page 6]
(18) "Wild birds" means those species of the class Aves
whose members exist in Washington in a wild state.
(19) "Protected wildlife" means wildlife designated by
the commission that shall not be hunted or fished.
(20) "Endangered species" means wildlife designated by
the commission as seriously threatened with extinction.
(21) "Game animals" means wild animals that shall not
be hunted except as authorized by the commission.
(22) "Fur-bearing animals" means game animals that
shall not be trapped except as authorized by the commission.
(23) "Game birds" means wild birds that shall not be
hunted except as authorized by the commission.
(24) "Predatory birds" means wild birds that may be
hunted throughout the year as authorized by the commission.
(25) "Deleterious exotic wildlife" means species of the
animal kingdom not native to Washington and designated as
dangerous to the environment or wildlife of the state.
(26) "Game farm" means property on which wildlife is
held or raised for commercial purposes, trade, or gift. The
term "game farm" does not include publicly owned facilities.
(27) "Person of disability" means a permanently disabled
person who is not ambulatory without the assistance of a
wheelchair, crutches, or similar devices.
(28) "Fish" includes all species classified as game fish or
food fish by statute or rule, as well as all fin fish not currently
classified as food fish or game fish if such species exist in
state waters. The term "fish" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of fish species.
(29) "Raffle" means an activity in which tickets bearing
an individual number are sold for not more than twenty-five
dollars each and in which a permit or permits are awarded to
hunt or for access to hunt big game animals or wild turkeys
on the basis of a drawing from the tickets by the person or
persons conducting the raffle.
(30) "Youth" means a person fifteen years old for fishing
and under sixteen years old for hunting.
(31) "Senior" means a person seventy years old or older.
(32) "License year" means the period of time for which a
recreational license is valid. The license year begins April
1st, and ends March 31st.
(33) "Saltwater" means those marine waters seaward of
river mouths.
(34) "Freshwater" means all waters not defined as saltwater including, but not limited to, rivers upstream of the
river mouth, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.
(35) "State waters" means all marine waters and fresh
waters within ordinary high water lines and within the territorial boundaries of the state.
(36) "Offshore waters" means marine waters of the
Pacific Ocean outside the territorial boundaries of the state,
including the marine waters of other states and countries.
(37) "Concurrent waters of the Columbia river" means
those waters of the Columbia river that coincide with the
Washington-Oregon state boundary.
(38) "Resident" means:
(a) A person who has maintained a permanent place of
abode within the state for at least ninety days immediately
preceding an application for a license, has established by formal evidence an intent to continue residing within the state,
and who is not licensed to hunt or fish as a resident in another
state; and
(2006 Ed.)
General Terms Defined
(b) A person age eighteen or younger who does not qualify as a resident under (a) of this subsection, but who has a
parent that qualifies as a resident under (a) of this subsection.
(39) "Nonresident" means a person who has not fulfilled
the qualifications of a resident.
(40) "Shellfish" means those species of marine and
freshwater invertebrates that have been classified and that
shall not be taken except as authorized by rule of the commission. The term "shellfish" includes all stages of development
and the bodily parts of shellfish species.
(41) "Commercial" means related to or connected with
buying, selling, or bartering.
(42) "To process" and its derivatives mean preparing or
preserving fish, wildlife, or shellfish.
(43) "Personal use" means for the private use of the individual taking the fish or shellfish and not for sale or barter.
(44) "Angling gear" means a line attached to a rod and
reel capable of being held in hand while landing the fish or a
hand-held line operated without rod or reel.
(45) "Fishery" means the taking of one or more particular species of fish or shellfish with particular gear in a particular geographical area.
(46) "Limited-entry license" means a license subject to a
license limitation program established in chapter 77.70
RCW.
(47) "Seaweed" means marine aquatic plant species that
are dependent upon the marine aquatic or tidal environment,
and exist in either an attached or free floating form, and
includes but is not limited to marine aquatic plants in the
classes Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta.
(48) "Trafficking" means offering, attempting to engage,
or engaging in sale, barter, or purchase of fish, shellfish,
wildlife, or deleterious exotic wildlife.
(49) "Invasive species" means a plant species or a nonnative animal species that either:
(a) Causes or may cause displacement of, or otherwise
threatens, native species in their natural communities;
(b) Threatens or may threaten natural resources or their
use in the state;
(c) Causes or may cause economic damage to commercial or recreational activities that are dependent upon state
waters; or
(d) Threatens or harms human health.
(50) "Prohibited aquatic animal species" means an invasive species of the animal kingdom that has been classified as
a prohibited aquatic animal species by the commission.
(51) "Regulated aquatic animal species" means a potentially invasive species of the animal kingdom that has been
classified as a regulated aquatic animal species by the commission.
(52) "Unregulated aquatic animal species" means a nonnative animal species that has been classified as an unregulated aquatic animal species by the commission.
(53) "Unlisted aquatic animal species" means a nonnative animal species that has not been classified as a prohibited
aquatic animal species, a regulated aquatic animal species, or
an unregulated aquatic animal species by the commission.
(54) "Aquatic plant species" means an emergent, submersed, partially submersed, free-floating, or floating-leaving plant species that grows in or near a body of water or wetland.
(2006 Ed.)
77.08.020
(55) "Retail-eligible species" means commercially harvested salmon, crab, and sturgeon. [2005 c 104 § 1; 2003 c
387 § 1; 2002 c 281 § 2; 2001 c 253 § 10; 2000 c 107 § 207;
1998 c 190 § 111; 1996 c 207 § 2; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 66; 1989 c
297 § 7; 1987 c 506 § 11; 1980 c 78 § 9; 1955 c 36 §
77.08.010. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 9; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599219.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: "The legislature recognizes the potential economic and environmental damage that can occur from the introduction of
invasive aquatic species. The purpose of this act is to increase public awareness of invasive aquatic species and enhance the department of fish and wildlife’s regulatory capability to address threats posed by these species." [2002
c 281 § 1.]
Intent—1996 c 207: "It is the intent of the legislature to clarify hunting
and fishing laws in light of the decision in State v. Bailey, 77 Wn. App. 732
(1995). The fish and wildlife commission has the authority to establish hunting and fishing seasons. These seasons are defined by limiting the times,
manners of taking, and places or waters for lawful hunting, fishing, or possession of game animals, game birds, or game fish, as well as by limiting the
physical characteristics of the game animals, game birds, or game fish which
may be lawfully taken at those times, in those manners, and at those places
or waters." [1996 c 207 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.08.020
77.08.020 "Game fish" defined. (1) As used in this
title or rules of the commission, "game fish" means those species of the class Osteichthyes that shall not be fished for
except as authorized by rule of the commission and includes:
Scientific Name
Ambloplites rupestris
Coregonus clupeaformis
Ictalurus furcatus
Ictalurus melas
Ictalurus natalis
Ictalurus nebulosus
Ictalurus punctatus
Lepomis cyanellus
Lepomis gibbosus
Lepomis gulosus
Lepomis macrochirus
Lota lota
Micropterus dolomieui
Micropterus salmoides
Oncorhynchus nerka (in its
landlocked form)
Perca flavescens
Pomixis annularis
Pomixis nigromaculatus
Prosopium williamsoni
Oncorhynchus aquabonita
Oncorhynchus clarkii
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmo salar (in its landlocked form)
Salmo trutta
Salvelinus fontinalis
Salvelinus malma
Common Name
rock bass
lake white fish
blue catfish
black bullhead
yellow bullhead
brown bullhead
channel catfish
green sunfish
pumpkinseed
warmouth
bluegill
burbot or fresh water ling
smallmouth bass
largemouth bass
kokanee or silver trout
yellow perch
white crappie
black crappie
mountain white fish
golden trout
cutthroat trout
rainbow or steelhead trout
Atlantic salmon
brown trout
eastern brook trout
Dolly Varden trout
[Title 77 RCW—page 7]
77.08.022
Salvelinus namaycush
Stizostedion vitreum
Thymallus articus
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
lake trout
Walleye
arctic grayling
(2) Private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in
RCW 15.85.020 are not game fish. [1989 c 218 § 2; 1985 c
457 § 21; 1980 c 78 § 10; 1969 ex.s. c 19 § 1; 1955 c 36 §
77.08.020. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 10; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599220.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
(4) "Prints and artwork" means replicas of the original
stamp design that are sold to the general public. Prints and
artwork are not to be construed to be the migratory bird stamp
that is required by RCW 77.32.350. Artwork may be any facsimile of the original stamp design, including color renditions, metal duplications, or any other kind of design; and
(5) "Migratory waterfowl art committee" means the
committee created by RCW 77.12.680. The committee’s primary function is to select the annual migratory bird stamp
design. [1998 c 191 § 31; 1987 c 506 § 12; 1985 c 243 § 2.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.050.
77.08.022 "Food fish" defined. "Food fish" means
those species of the classes Osteichthyes, Agnatha, and
Chondrichthyes that have been classified and that shall not be
fished for except as authorized by rule of the commission.
The term "food fish" includes all stages of development and
the bodily parts of food fish species. [2000 c 107 § 208.]
77.08.022
77.08.024
77.08.024 "Salmon" defined. "Salmon" means all species of the genus Oncorhynchus, except those classified as
game fish in RCW 77.08.020, and includes:
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Chapter 77.12
Sections
77.12.010
77.12.020
77.12.031
77.12.035
Scientific Name
Common Name
77.12.037
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Oncorhynchus keta
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Oncorhynchus nerka
Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Chum salmon
Pink salmon
Sockeye salmon
77.12.039
[2000 c 107 § 209.]
77.08.030 "Big game" defined. As used in this title or
rules of the commission, "big game" means the following
species:
77.08.030
Scientific Name
Common Name
Cervus canadensis
Odocoileus hemionus
Odocoileus virginianus
Alces americana
Oreamnos americanus
Rangifer caribou
Ovis canadensis
Antilocapra americana
Felis concolor
Euarctos americana
Ursus horribilis
elk or wapiti
blacktail deer or mule deer
whitetail deer
moose
mountain goat
caribou
mountain sheep
pronghorn antelope
cougar or mountain lion
black bear
grizzly bear
77.12.043
77.12.045
77.12.047
77.12.065
77.12.140
77.12.150
77.12.152
77.12.154
77.12.170
77.12.177
77.12.184
77.12.190
77.12.201
77.12.203
77.12.204
77.12.210
77.12.220
77.12.230
77.12.240
77.12.260
77.12.262
77.12.264
[1980 c 78 § 11; 1971 ex.s. c 166 § 1.]
77.12.275
77.12.285
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.315
77.12.320
77.08.045 Migratory waterfowl terms defined. As
used in this title or rules adopted pursuant to this title:
(1) "Migratory waterfowl" means members of the family
Anatidae, including brants, ducks, geese, and swans;
(2) "Migratory bird" means migratory waterfowl and
coots, snipe, doves, and band-tailed pigeon;
(3) "Migratory bird stamp" means the stamp that is
required by RCW 77.32.350 to be in the possession of all persons to hunt migratory birds;
77.08.045
[Title 77 RCW—page 8]
Chapter 77.12 RCW
POWERS AND DUTIES
77.12.323
77.12.325
77.12.330
77.12.360
77.12.370
77.12.380
77.12.390
77.12.420
Limitation on prohibiting fishing with bait or artificial lures.
Wildlife to be classified.
Llamas and alpacas.
Protection of grizzly bears—Limitation on transplantation or
introduction—Negotiations with federal and state agencies.
Acquisition, use, and management of property—Condemnation—When authorized.
Acceptance of funds or property for damage claims or conservation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources.
Contracts and agreements for propagation of fish or shellfish.
Territorial authority of commission—Adoption of federal regulations and rules of fisheries commissions and compacts.
Scope of commission’s authority to adopt rules—Application
to private tideland owners or lessees of the state.
Wildlife viewing tourism.
Acquisition or sale of wildlife.
Game seasons—Opening and closing—Special hunt.
Commission may designate fishing areas.
Right of entry—Aircraft operated by department.
State wildlife account—Deposits.
Disposition of moneys collected—Proceeds from sale of food
fish or shellfish—Unanticipated receipts.
Deposit of moneys from various activities—Production of regulation booklets.
Diversion of wildlife fund moneys prohibited.
Counties may elect to receive an amount in lieu of taxes—
County to record collections for violations of law or rules—
Deposit.
In lieu payments authorized—Procedure—Game lands
defined.
Grazing lands—Fish and wildlife goals—Implementation.
Department property—Management, sale.
Acquisition or transfer of property.
Local assessments against department property.
Authority to take wildlife—Disposition.
Agreements to prevent damage to private property.
Fish and wildlife officers compensation insurance—Medical
aid.
Fish and wildlife officers—Relieved from active duty when
injured—Compensation.
Agreements with department of defense.
Agreements with United States to protect Columbia River
fish—Fish cultural stations and protective devices.
Dogs harassing deer and elk—Declaration of emergency—
Taking dogs into custody or destroying—Immunity.
Agreements for purposes related to fish, shellfish, and wildlife—Acceptance of compensation, gifts, grants.
Special wildlife account—Investments.
Cooperation with Oregon to assure yields of Columbia river
fish, shellfish, and wildlife.
Exclusive fishing waters for youths.
Withdrawal of state land from lease—Compensation.
Withdrawal of state land from lease—County procedures,
approval, hearing.
Withdrawal of state land from lease—Actions by commissioner of public lands.
Withdrawal of state land from lease—Payment.
Improvement of conditions for growth of game fish.
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
77.12.451
77.12.453
77.12.455
77.12.459
77.12.465
77.12.540
77.12.550
77.12.560
77.12.570
77.12.580
77.12.590
77.12.600
77.12.605
77.12.610
77.12.620
77.12.630
77.12.650
77.12.655
77.12.670
77.12.680
77.12.690
77.12.710
77.12.722
77.12.755
77.12.760
77.12.765
77.12.790
77.12.800
77.12.810
77.12.820
77.12.850
77.12.852
77.12.854
77.12.856
77.12.858
77.12.860
77.12.865
77.12.870
77.12.875
77.12.878
77.12.879
77.12.880
Director may take or sell fish or shellfish—Restrictions on sale
of salmon.
Salmon fishing by Wanapum (Sokulk) Indians.
Prevention and suppression of diseases and pests.
Release and recapture of salmon or steelhead prohibited.
Abandoned or derelict vessels.
Public shooting grounds—Effect of filing—Use for booming.
Tidelands used as public shooting grounds—Diversion.
Tidelands used as public shooting grounds—Rules.
Game farm licenses—Rules—Exemption.
Game farms—Authority to dispose of eggs.
Game farms—Tagging of products—Exemption.
Game farms—Shipping of wildlife—Exemption.
Whidbey Island game farm—Sale of property.
Check stations—Purpose.
Check stations—Stopping for inspection.
Check stations—Other inspections, powers.
Protection of bald eagles and their habitats—Cooperation
required.
Habitat buffer zones for bald eagles—Rules.
Migratory bird stamp/migratory bird license validations—
Deposit and use of revenues.
Migratory waterfowl art committee—Membership—Terms—
Vacancies—Chairman—Review of expenditures—Compensation.
Migratory waterfowl art committee—Duties—Deposit and
use of funds—Audits.
Game fish production—Double by year 2000.
Canada goose hunting—Season or bag limit restriction.
Ranked inventory of fish passage barriers.
Steelhead trout fishery.
Tilton and Cowlitz rivers—Proposals to reinstate salmon and
steelhead.
Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program—Purpose.
Pheasant hunting—Opportunities for juvenile hunters.
Small game hunting license—Disposition of fee.
Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account—Created—Use of moneys.
Definitions.
Washington salmon stamp program—Creation.
Washington junior salmon stamp program—Creation.
Salmon stamp selection committee—Creation.
Deposit of receipts—Expenditures.
Stamp design—Department’s rule-making authority.
Derelict fishing gear—Guidelines for removal and disposal.
Derelict fishing gear data base.
Prohibited aquatic animal species—Infested state waters.
Infested waters—Rapid response plan.
Aquatic invasive species prevention account—Aquatic invasive species prevention program—Training—Report to the
legislature.
Wildlife program management.
Wild salmonid policy: RCW 77.65.420.
77.12.010
77.12.010 Limitation on prohibiting fishing with bait
or artificial lures. The commission shall not adopt rules that
categorically prohibit fishing with bait or artificial lures in
streams, rivers, beaver ponds, and lakes except that the commission may adopt rules and regulations restricting fishing
methods upon a determination by the director that an individual body of water or part thereof clearly requires a fishing
method prohibition to conserve or enhance the fisheries
resource or to provide selected fishing alternatives. [2000 c
107 § 210; 1985 c 438 § 1; 1980 c 78 § 12; 1977 c 74 § 1;
1955 c 36 § 77.12.010. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 11; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-21.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.020
77.12.020 Wildlife to be classified. (1) The director
shall investigate the habits and distribution of the various
species of wildlife native to or adaptable to the habitats of the
state. The commission shall determine whether a species
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.020
should be managed by the department and, if so, classify it
under this section.
(2) The commission may classify by rule wild animals as
game animals and game animals as fur-bearing animals.
(3) The commission may classify by rule wild birds as
game birds or predatory birds. All wild birds not otherwise
classified are protected wildlife.
(4) In addition to those species listed in RCW 77.08.020,
the commission may classify by rule as game fish other species of the class Osteichthyes that are commonly found in
fresh water except those classified as food fish by the director.
(5) The director may recommend to the commission that
a species of wildlife should not be hunted or fished. The commission may designate species of wildlife as protected.
(6) If the director determines that a species of wildlife is
seriously threatened with extinction in the state of Washington, the director may request its designation as an endangered
species. The commission may designate an endangered species.
(7) If the director determines that a species of the animal
kingdom, not native to Washington, is dangerous to the environment or wildlife of the state, the director may request its
designation as deleterious exotic wildlife. The commission
may designate deleterious exotic wildlife.
(8) Upon recommendation by the director, the commission may classify nonnative aquatic animal species according
to the following categories:
(a) Prohibited aquatic animal species: These species are
considered by the commission to have a high risk of becoming an invasive species and may not be possessed, imported,
purchased, sold, propagated, transported, or released into
state waters except as provided in RCW 77.15.253;
(b) Regulated aquatic animal species: These species are
considered by the commission to have some beneficial use
along with a moderate, but manageable risk of becoming an
invasive species, and may not be released into state waters,
except as provided in RCW 77.15.253. The commission shall
classify the following commercial aquaculture species as regulated aquatic animal species, and allow their release into
state waters pursuant to rule of the commission: Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), kumamoto oyster (Crassostrea sikamea), European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), eastern oyster
(Crassostrea virginica), manila clam (Tapes philippinarum),
blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), and suminoe oyster
(Crassostrea ariankenisis);
(c) Unregulated aquatic animal species: These species
are considered by the commission as having some beneficial
use along with a low risk of becoming an invasive species,
and are not subject to regulation under this title;
(d) Unlisted aquatic animal species: These species are
not designated as a prohibited aquatic animal species, regulated aquatic animal species, or unregulated aquatic animal
species by the commission, and may not be released into state
waters. Upon request, the commission may determine the
appropriate category for an unlisted aquatic animal species
and classify the species accordingly;
(e) This subsection (8) does not apply to the transportation or release of nonnative aquatic animal species by ballast
water or ballast water discharge.
[Title 77 RCW—page 9]
77.12.031
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(9) Upon recommendation by the director, the commission may develop a work plan to eradicate native aquatic species that threaten human health. Priority shall be given to
water bodies that the department of health has classified as
representing a threat to human health based on the presence
of a native aquatic species. [2002 c 281 § 3; 1994 c 264 § 53;
1987 c 506 § 13; 1980 c 78 § 13; 1969 ex.s. c 18 § 1; 1955 c
36 § 77.12.020. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 12; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-22.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.031
77.12.031 Llamas and alpacas. The authority of the
department does not extend to preventing, controlling, or
suppressing diseases in llamas or alpacas or to controlling the
movement or sale of llamas or alpacas.
This section shall not be construed as granting or denying authority to the department to prevent, control, or suppress diseases in any animals other than llamas and alpacas.
[1994 c 264 § 54; 1993 c 80 § 4.]
Tidelands reserved for recreational use and taking of fish and shellfish:
RCW 79.125.740, 79.125.750.
77.12.039
77.12.039 Acceptance of funds or property for damage claims or conservation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife
resources. The director may accept money or real property
from persons under conditions requiring the use of the property or money for the protection, rehabilitation, preservation,
or conservation of the state wildlife, fish, and shellfish
resources, or in settlement of claims for damages to wildlife,
fish, and shellfish resources. The director shall only accept
real property useful for the protection, rehabilitation, preservation, or conservation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife
resources. [2001 c 253 § 11; 2000 c 107 § 5; 1995 1st sp.s. c
2 § 24 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7,
1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 11; 1955 c 12 § 75.16.050. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 51; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-325. Formerly
RCW 75.08.045, 75.16.050.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.12.043
77.12.035
77.12.035 Protection of grizzly bears—Limitation on
transplantation or introduction—Negotiations with federal and state agencies. The commission shall protect grizzly bears and develop management programs on publicly
owned lands that will encourage the natural regeneration of
grizzly bears in areas with suitable habitat. Grizzly bears
shall not be transplanted or introduced into the state. Only
grizzly bears that are native to Washington state may be utilized by the department for management programs. The
department is directed to fully participate in all discussions
and negotiations with federal and state agencies relating to
grizzly bear management and shall fully communicate, support, and implement the policies of this section. [2000 c 107
§ 211; 1995 c 370 § 1.]
77.12.043 Contracts and agreements for propagation
of fish or shellfish. (1) The director may enter into contracts
and agreements with a person to secure fish or shellfish or for
the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities for
the propagation of fish or shellfish.
(2) The director may enter into contracts and agreements
to procure from private aquaculturists fish or shellfish with
which to stock state waters. [2001 c 253 § 12; 1985 c 458 §
7; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 13; 1955 c 12 § 75.16.070. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 53; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-327. Formerly
RCW 75.08.065, 75.16.070.]
Severability—1985 c 458: See RCW 77.95.900.
77.12.045
77.12.037 Acquisition, use, and management of property—Condemnation—When authorized. The commission may acquire by gift, easement, purchase, lease, or condemnation lands, buildings, water rights, rights of way, or
other necessary property, and construct and maintain necessary facilities for purposes consistent with this title. The commission may authorize the director to acquire property under
this section, but the power of condemnation may only be
exercised by the director when an appropriation has been
made by the legislature for the acquisition of a specific property, except to clear title and acquire access rights of way.
The commission may sell, lease, convey, or grant concessions upon real or personal property under the control of
the department. [2000 c 107 § 4; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 23 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 9; 1955 c 212 § 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.040. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 7(2); Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-206(2). Formerly
RCW 75.08.040.]
77.12.045 Territorial authority of commission—
Adoption of federal regulations and rules of fisheries
commissions and compacts. Consistent with federal law,
the commission’s authority extends to all areas and waters
within the territorial boundaries of the state, to the offshore
waters, and to the concurrent waters of the Columbia river.
Consistent with federal law, the commission’s authority
extends to fishing in offshore waters by residents of this state.
The commission may adopt rules consistent with the regulations adopted by the United States department of commerce for the offshore waters. The commission may adopt
rules consistent with the recommendations or regulations of
the Pacific marine fisheries commission, Columbia river
compact, the Pacific salmon commission as provided in chapter 77.75 RCW, or the international Pacific halibut commission. [2001 c 253 § 13; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 10 (Referendum
Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1989 c 130 § 1;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 14; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.070. Prior: 1949
c 112 § 6, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-205, part. Formerly
RCW 75.08.070.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.12.037
[Title 77 RCW—page 10]
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
77.12.047
77.12.047 Scope of commission’s authority to adopt
rules—Application to private tideland owners or lessees
of the state. (1) The commission may adopt, amend, or
repeal rules as follows:
(a) Specifying the times when the taking of wildlife, fish,
or shellfish is lawful or unlawful.
(b) Specifying the areas and waters in which the taking
and possession of wildlife, fish, or shellfish is lawful or
unlawful.
(c) Specifying and defining the gear, appliances, or other
equipment and methods that may be used to take wildlife,
fish, or shellfish, and specifying the times, places, and manner in which the equipment may be used or possessed.
(d) Regulating the importation, transportation, possession, disposal, landing, and sale of wildlife, fish, shellfish, or
seaweed within the state, whether acquired within or without
the state.
(e) Regulating the prevention and suppression of diseases and pests affecting wildlife, fish, or shellfish.
(f) Regulating the size, sex, species, and quantities of
wildlife, fish, or shellfish that may be taken, possessed, sold,
or disposed of.
(g) Specifying the statistical and biological reports
required from fishers, dealers, boathouses, or processors of
wildlife, fish, or shellfish.
(h) Classifying species of marine and freshwater life as
food fish or shellfish.
(i) Classifying the species of wildlife, fish, and shellfish
that may be used for purposes other than human consumption.
(j) Regulating the taking, sale, possession, and distribution of wildlife, fish, shellfish, or deleterious exotic wildlife.
(k) Establishing game reserves and closed areas where
hunting for wild animals or wild birds may be prohibited.
(l) Regulating the harvesting of fish, shellfish, and wildlife in the federal exclusive economic zone by vessels or individuals registered or licensed under the laws of this state.
(m) Authorizing issuance of permits to release, plant, or
place fish or shellfish in state waters.
(n) Governing the possession of fish, shellfish, or wildlife so that the size, species, or sex can be determined visually
in the field or while being transported.
(o) Other rules necessary to carry out this title and the
purposes and duties of the department.
(2) Subsections (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), and (f) of this section
do not apply to private tideland owners and lessees and the
immediate family members of the owners or lessees of state
tidelands, when they take or possess oysters, clams, cockles,
borers, or mussels, excluding razor clams, produced on their
own private tidelands or their leased state tidelands for personal use.
"Immediate family member" for the purposes of this section means a spouse, brother, sister, grandparent, parent,
child, or grandchild.
(3) Except for subsection (1)(g) of this section, this section does not apply to private sector cultured aquatic products
as defined in RCW 15.85.020. Subsection (1)(g) of this section does apply to such products. [2001 c 253 § 14; 2000 c
107 § 7; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 11 (Referendum Bill No. 45,
approved November 7, 1995); 1993 c 117 § 1; 1985 c 457 §
17; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 15; 1980 c 55 § 1; 1955 c 12 §
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.150
75.08.080. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 6, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-205, part. Formerly RCW 75.08.080.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.12.065
77.12.065 Wildlife viewing tourism. The department
shall manage wildlife programs in a manner that provides for
public opportunities to view wildlife and supports wildlife
viewing tourism without impairing the state’s wildlife
resources. [2003 c 183 § 1.]
77.12.140
77.12.140 Acquisition or sale of wildlife. The director,
acting in a manner not inconsistent with criteria established
by the commission, may obtain by purchase, gift, or
exchange and may sell or transfer wildlife and their eggs for
stocking, research, or propagation. [1987 c 506 § 23; 1980 c
78 § 28; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.140. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 24; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-34.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.150
77.12.150 Game seasons—Opening and closing—
Special hunt. (1) By emergency rule only, and in accordance
with criteria established by the commission, the director may
close or shorten a season for game animals, game birds, or
game fish, and after a season has been closed or shortened,
may reopen it and reestablish bag limits on game animals,
game birds, or game fish during that season. The director
shall advise the commission of the adoption of emergency
rules. A copy of an emergency rule, certified as a true copy
by the director or by a person authorized in writing by the
director to make the certification, is admissible in court as
prima facie evidence of the adoption and validity of the rule.
(2)(a) If the director finds that game animals have
increased in numbers in an area of the state so that they are
damaging public or private property or over-utilizing their
habitat, the commission may establish a special hunting season and designate the time, area, and manner of taking and
the number and sex of the animals that may be killed or possessed by a licensed hunter. The director shall include notice
of the special season in the rules establishing open seasons.
(b) When the department receives six complaints concerning damage to commercial agricultural and horticultural
crop production by wildlife from the owner or tenant of real
property, or from several owners or tenants in a locale, the
commission shall conduct a special hunt or special hunts or
take remedial action to reduce the potential for the damage,
and shall authorize either one or two permits per hunter.
Each complaint must be confirmed by qualified department
staff, or their designee.
(c) The director shall determine by random selection the
identity of hunters who may hunt within the area of the special hunt and shall determine the conditions and requirements
of the selection process. Within this process, the department
must maintain a list of all persons holding valid wildlife hunting licenses, arranged by county of residence, who may hunt
deer or elk that are causing damage to crops. The department
[Title 77 RCW—page 11]
77.12.152
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
must update the list annually and utilize the list when contacting persons to assist in controlling game damage to crops.
The department must make all reasonable efforts to contact
individuals residing within the county where the hunting of
deer or elk will occur before contacting a person who is not a
resident of that county. The department must randomize the
names of people on the list in order to provide a fair distribution of the hunting opportunities. Hunters who participate in
hunts under this section must report any kills to the department. The department must include a summary of the wildlife harvested in these hunts in the annual game management
reports it makes available to the public. [2003 c 385 § 2;
1987 c 506 § 24; 1984 c 240 § 4; 1980 c 78 § 29; 1977 ex.s. c
58 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 102 § 1; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.150. Prior:
1949 c 205 § 2; 1947 c 275 § 25; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 599235.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Special hunting season permits: RCW 77.32.370.
77.12.152
77.12.152 Commission may designate fishing areas.
The commission may designate the boundaries of fishing
areas by driving piling or by establishing monuments or by
description of landmarks or section lines and directional
headings. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 14 (Referendum Bill No. 45,
approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 18; 1955
c 12 § 75.08.120. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 10; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-209. Formerly RCW 75.08.120.]
Wildlife license plate collection as provided in chapter 46.16
RCW;
(f) Articles or wildlife sold by the director under this
title;
(g) Compensation for damage to department property or
wildlife losses or contributions, gifts, or grants received
under RCW 77.12.320;
(h) Excise tax on anadromous game fish collected under
chapter 82.27 RCW;
(i) The sale of personal property seized by the department for fish, shellfish, or wildlife violations;
(j) The department’s share of revenues from auctions and
raffles authorized by the commission; and
(k) The sale of watchable wildlife decals under RCW
77.32.560.
(2) State and county officers receiving any moneys listed
in subsection (1) of this section shall deposit them in the state
treasury to be credited to the state wildlife account. [2005 c
418 § 3; 2005 c 225 § 4; 2005 c 224 § 4; 2005 c 42 § 4; 2004
c 248 § 4; 2003 c 317 § 3; 2001 c 253 § 15; 2000 c 107 § 216.
Prior: 1998 c 191 § 38; 1998 c 87 § 2; 1996 c 101 § 7; 1989
c 314 § 4; 1987 c 506 § 25; 1984 c 258 § 334; prior: 1983 1st
ex.s. c 8 § 2; 1983 c 284 § 1; 1981 c 310 § 2; 1980 c 78 § 30;
1979 c 56 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 200 § 12 (Referendum Bill No.
33); 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 33; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.170; prior:
1947 c 275 § 27; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-37.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 42 § 4, 2005 c 224
§ 4, 2005 c 225 § 4, and by 2005 c 418 § 3, each without reference to the
other. All amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section
under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Findings—2003 c 317: See note following RCW 77.32.560.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1998 c 87: See note following RCW 77.32.380.
77.12.154
77.12.154 Right of entry—Aircraft operated by
department. The director, fish and wildlife officers, ex officio fish and wildlife officers, and department employees may
enter upon any land or waters and remain there while performing their duties without liability for trespass.
It is lawful for aircraft operated by the department to
land and take off from the beaches or waters of the state.
[1998 c 190 § 71; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 19; 1955 c 12 §
75.08.160. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 13; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780212. Formerly RCW 75.08.160.]
77.12.170
77.12.170 State wildlife account—Deposits. (1) There
is established in the state treasury the state wildlife account
which consists of moneys received from:
(a) Rentals or concessions of the department;
(b) The sale of real or personal property held for department purposes;
(c) The assessment of administrative penalties, and the
sale of licenses, permits, tags, and stamps required by chapter
77.32 RCW and RCW 77.65.490, except annual resident
adult saltwater and all annual razor clam and shellfish
licenses, which shall be deposited into the state general fund;
(d) Fees for informational materials published by the
department;
(e) Fees for personalized vehicle, Wild on Washington,
and Endangered Wildlife license plates and Washington’s
[Title 77 RCW—page 12]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
Finding—1989 c 314: See note following RCW 77.15.098.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—
Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Intent—1984 c 258: See note following RCW 3.46.120.
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
Effective dates—1981 c 310: "(1) Sections 9 and 10 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect on July 1, 1981.
(2) Section 13 of this act shall take effect on May 1, 1982.
(3) Sections 8, 11, 12, and 14 of this act shall take effect on July 1,
1982.
(4) All other sections of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1982."
[1981 c 310 § 32.]
Legislative intent—1981 c 310: "The legislature finds that abundant
deer and elk populations are in the best interest of the state, and for many reasons the state’s deer and elk populations have apparently declined. The legislature further finds that antlerless deer and elk seasons have been an issue
of great controversy throughout the state, and that antlerless deer and elk seasons may contribute to a further decline in the state’s deer and elk populations." [1981 c 310 § 1.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.177
77.12.177 Disposition of moneys collected—Proceeds
from sale of food fish or shellfish—Unanticipated
receipts. (1) Except as provided in this title, state and county
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
officers receiving the following moneys shall deposit them in
the state general fund:
(a) The sale of commercial licenses required under this
title, except for licenses issued under RCW 77.65.490; and
(b) Moneys received for damages to food fish or shellfish.
(2) The director shall make weekly remittances to the
state treasurer of moneys collected by the department.
(3) All fines and forfeitures collected or assessed by a
district court for a violation of this title or rule of the department shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW.
(4) Proceeds from the sale of food fish or shellfish taken
in test fishing conducted by the department, to the extent that
these proceeds exceed the estimates in the budget approved
by the legislature, may be allocated as unanticipated receipts
under RCW 43.79.270 to reimburse the department for unanticipated costs for test fishing operations in excess of the
allowance in the budget approved by the legislature.
(5) Proceeds from the sale of salmon carcasses and
salmon eggs from state general funded hatcheries by the
department of general administration shall be deposited in the
regional fisheries enhancement group account established in
RCW 77.95.090.
(6) Moneys received by the commission under RCW
77.12.039, to the extent these moneys exceed estimates in the
budget approved by the legislature, may be allocated as unanticipated receipts under RCW 43.79.270. Allocations under
this subsection shall be made only for the specific purpose for
which the moneys were received, unless the moneys were
received in settlement of a claim for damages to food fish or
shellfish, in which case the moneys may be expended for the
conservation of these resources.
(7) Proceeds from the sale of herring spawn on kelp fishery licenses by the department, to the extent those proceeds
exceed estimates in the budget approved by the legislature,
may be allocated as unanticipated receipts under RCW
43.79.270. Allocations under this subsection shall be made
only for herring management, enhancement, and enforcement. [2001 c 253 § 16; 2000 c 107 § 10; 1996 c 267 § 3;
1995 c 367 § 11; 1993 c 340 § 48; 1989 c 176 § 4; 1987 c 202
§ 230; 1984 c 258 § 332; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 23; 1979 c 151
§ 175; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 33; 1975 1st ex.s. c 223 § 1; 1969
ex.s. c 199 § 31; 1969 ex.s. c 16 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 72 § 2; 1955
c 12 § 75.08.230. Prior: 1951 c 271 § 2; 1949 c 112 § 25;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-223. Formerly RCW 75.08.230.]
Intent—1996 c 267: "It is the intent of this legislation to begin to make
the statutory changes required by the fish and wildlife commission in order
to successfully implement Referendum Bill No. 45." [1996 c 267 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 267: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 267 § 36.]
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—
Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Intent—1984 c 258: See note following RCW 3.46.120.
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 327: See notes following
RCW 77.65.150.
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.201
77.12.184
77.12.184 Deposit of moneys from various activities—Production of regulation booklets. (1) The department shall deposit all moneys received from the following
activities into the *state wildlife fund:
(a) The sale of interpretive, recreational, historical, educational, and informational literature and materials;
(b) The sale of advertisements in regulation pamphlets
and other appropriate mediums; and
(c) Enrollment fees in department-sponsored educational
training events.
(2) Moneys collected under subsection (1) of this section
shall be spent primarily for producing regulation booklets for
users and for the development, production, reprinting, and
distribution of informational and educational materials. The
department may also spend these moneys for necessary
expenses associated with training activities, and other activities as determined by the director.
(3) Regulation pamphlets may be subsidized through
appropriate advertising, but must be made available free of
charge to the users.
(4) The director may enter into joint ventures with other
agencies and organizations to generate revenue for providing
public information and education on wildlife and hunting and
fishing rules. [2000 c 252 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
77.12.190
77.12.190 Diversion of *wildlife fund moneys prohibited. Moneys in the *state wildlife fund may be used only for
the purposes of this title, including the payment of principal
and interest on bonds issued for capital projects. [1991 sp.s.
c 31 § 17; 1987 c 506 § 27; 1980 c 78 § 34; 1955 c 36 §
77.12.190. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 28; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599238.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Severability—1991 sp.s. c 31: See RCW 43.99I.900.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.201
77.12.201 Counties may elect to receive an amount in
lieu of taxes—County to record collections for violations
of law or rules—Deposit. The legislative authority of a
county may elect, by giving written notice to the director and
the treasurer prior to January 1st of any year, to obtain for the
following year an amount in lieu of real property taxes on
game lands as provided in RCW 77.12.203. Upon the election, the county shall keep a record of all fines, forfeitures,
reimbursements, and costs assessed and collected, in whole
or in part, under this title for violations of law or rules
adopted pursuant to this title and shall monthly remit an
amount equal to the amount collected to the state treasurer for
deposit in the public safety and education account established
under RCW 43.08.250. The election shall continue until the
department is notified differently prior to January 1st of any
year. [1987 c 506 § 29. Prior: 1984 c 258 § 335; 1984 c 214
§ 1; 1980 c 78 § 36; 1977 ex.s. c 59 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 97 § 2.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
[Title 77 RCW—page 13]
77.12.203
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—
Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Intent—1984 c 258: See note following RCW 3.46.120.
Effective date—1984 c 214: "This act takes effect on January 1, 1985."
[1984 c 214 § 3.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.203 In lieu payments authorized—Procedure—Game lands defined. (Effective until July 1, 2007.)
(1) Notwithstanding RCW 84.36.010 or other statutes to the
contrary, the director shall pay by April 30th of each year on
game lands in each county, if requested by an election under
RCW 77.12.201, an amount in lieu of real property taxes
equal to that amount paid on similar parcels of open space
land taxable under chapter 84.34 RCW or the greater of seventy cents per acre per year or the amount paid in 1984 plus
an additional amount for control of noxious weeds equal to
that which would be paid if such lands were privately owned.
This amount shall not be assessed or paid on department
buildings, structures, facilities, game farms, fish hatcheries,
tidelands, or public fishing areas of less than one hundred
acres.
(2) "Game lands," as used in this section and RCW
77.12.201, means those tracts one hundred acres or larger
owned in fee by the department and used for wildlife habitat
and public recreational purposes. All lands purchased for
wildlife habitat, public access or recreation purposes with
federal funds in the Snake River drainage basin shall be considered game lands regardless of acreage.
(3) This section shall not apply to lands transferred after
April 23, 1990, to the department from other state agencies.
[1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 11; 1984 c 214 § 2; 1980 c 78 § 37;
1965 ex.s. c 97 § 3.]
77.12.203
Limitations—1990 1st ex.s. c 15: "Amounts saved by operation of section 11 of this act during the 1989-91 fiscal biennium may be used only for
financing capital facilities." [1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 12.]
Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW
43.99H.010.
Effective date—1984 c 214: See note following RCW 77.12.201.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.203 In lieu payments authorized—Procedure—Game lands defined. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1)
Notwithstanding RCW 84.36.010 or other statutes to the contrary, the director shall pay by April 30th of each year on
game lands in each county, if requested by an election under
RCW 77.12.201, an amount in lieu of real property taxes
equal to that amount paid on similar parcels of open space
land taxable under chapter 84.34 RCW or the greater of seventy cents per acre per year or the amount paid in 1984 plus
an additional amount for control of noxious weeds equal to
that which would be paid if such lands were privately owned.
This amount shall not be assessed or paid on department
buildings, structures, facilities, game farms, fish hatcheries,
tidelands, or public fishing areas of less than one hundred
acres.
(2) "Game lands," as used in this section and RCW
77.12.201, means those tracts one hundred acres or larger
owned in fee by the department and used for wildlife habitat
and public recreational purposes. All lands purchased for
77.12.203
[Title 77 RCW—page 14]
wildlife habitat, public access or recreation purposes with
federal funds in the Snake River drainage basin shall be considered game lands regardless of acreage.
(3) This section shall not apply to lands transferred after
April 23, 1990, to the department from other state agencies.
(4) The county shall distribute the amount received
under this section in lieu of real property taxes to all property
taxing districts except the state in appropriate tax code areas
the same way it would distribute local property taxes from
private property. The county shall distribute the amount
received under this section for weed control to the appropriate weed district. [2005 c 303 § 14; 1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 11;
1984 c 214 § 2; 1980 c 78 § 37; 1965 ex.s. c 97 § 3.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Limitations—1990 1st ex.s. c 15: "Amounts saved by operation of section 11 of this act during the 1989-91 fiscal biennium may be used only for
financing capital facilities." [1990 1st ex.s. c 15 § 12.]
Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW
43.99H.010.
Effective date—1984 c 214: See note following RCW 77.12.201.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.204
77.12.204 Grazing lands—Fish and wildlife goals—
Implementation. The department of fish and wildlife shall
implement practices necessary to meet the standards developed under *RCW 79.01.295 on agency-owned and managed
agricultural and grazing lands. The standards may be modified on a site-specific basis as necessary and as determined by
the department of fish and wildlife to achieve the goals established under *RCW 79.01.295(1). Existing lessees shall be
provided an opportunity to participate in any site-specific
field review. Department agricultural and grazing leases
issued after December 31, 1994, shall be subject to practices
to achieve the standards that meet those developed pursuant
to *RCW 79.01.295.
This section shall in no way prevent the department of
fish and wildlife from managing its lands according to the
provisions of RCW 77.04.012, 77.12.210, or rules adopted
pursuant to this chapter. [2001 c 253 § 17; 2000 c 107 § 217;
1993 sp.s. c 4 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.295 was recodified as RCW 79.13.610
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 557.
Findings—Grazing lands—1993 sp.s. c 4: See RCW 79.13.600.
77.12.210
77.12.210 Department property—Management, sale.
The director shall maintain and manage real or personal property owned, leased, or held by the department and shall control the construction of buildings, structures, and improvements in or on the property. The director may adopt rules for
the operation and maintenance of the property.
The commission may authorize the director to sell, lease,
convey, or grant concessions upon real or personal property
under the control of the department. This includes the authority to sell timber, gravel, sand, and other materials or products from real property held by the department, and to sell or
lease the department’s real or personal property or grant concessions or rights of way for roads or utilities in the property.
Oil and gas resources owned by the state which lie below
lands owned, leased, or held by the department shall be
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
offered for lease by the commissioner of public lands pursuant to chapter 79.14 RCW with the proceeds being deposited
in the *state wildlife fund: PROVIDED, That the commissioner of public lands shall condition such leases at the
request of the department to protect wildlife and its habitat.
If the commission determines that real or personal property held by the department cannot be used advantageously
by the department, the director may dispose of that property
if it is in the public interest.
If the state acquired real property with use limited to specific purposes, the director may negotiate terms for the return
of the property to the donor or grantor. Other real property
shall be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. After
appraisal, notice of the auction shall be published at least
once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county where the property is
located at least twenty days prior to sale.
Proceeds from the sales shall be deposited in the *state
wildlife fund. [2000 c 107 § 218; 1987 c 506 § 30; 1980 c 78
§ 38; 1969 ex.s. c 73 § 1; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.210. Prior: 1947
c 275 § 30; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-40.]
77.12.264
77.12.230. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 32; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 599242.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.240
77.12.240 Authority to take wildlife—Disposition.
The director may authorize the removal or killing of wildlife
that is destroying or injuring property, or when it is necessary
for wildlife management or research.
The director or other employees of the department shall
dispose of wildlife taken or possessed by them under this title
in the manner determined by the director to be in the best
interest of the state. Proceeds from sales shall be deposited in
the state treasury to be credited to the *state wildlife fund.
[1989 c 197 § 1; 1987 c 506 § 33; 1980 c 78 § 41; 1955 c 36
§ 77.12.240. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 33; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-43.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.220
77.12.220 Acquisition or transfer of property. For
purposes of this title, the commission may make agreements
to obtain real or personal property or to transfer or convey
property held by the state to the United States or its agencies
or instrumentalities, units of local government of this state,
public service companies, or other persons, if in the judgment
of the commission and the attorney general the transfer and
conveyance is consistent with public interest. For purposes of
this section, "local government" means any city, town,
county, special district, municipal corporation, or quasimunicipal corporation.
If the commission agrees to a transfer or conveyance
under this section or to a sale or return of real property under
RCW 77.12.210, the director shall certify, with the attorney
general, to the governor that the agreement has been made.
The certification shall describe the real property. The governor then may execute and the secretary of state attest and
deliver to the appropriate entity or person the instrument necessary to fulfill the agreement. [2000 c 107 § 219; 1987 c 506
§ 31; 1980 c 78 § 39; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.220. Prior: 1949 c
205 § 3; 1947 c 275 § 31; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5992-41.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.230
77.12.230 Local assessments against department
property. The director may pay lawful local improvement
district assessments for projects that may benefit wildlife or
wildlife-oriented recreation made against lands held by the
state for department purposes. The payments may be made
from money appropriated from the *state wildlife fund to the
department. [1987 c 506 § 32; 1980 c 78 § 40; 1955 c 36 §
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.260
77.12.260 Agreements to prevent damage to private
property. The director may make written agreements to prevent damage to private property by wildlife. The department
may furnish money, material, or labor under these agreements. [1987 c 506 § 34; 1980 c 78 § 43; 1955 c 36 §
77.12.260. Prior: 1949 c 238 § 1; 1947 c 275 § 35; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 5992-45.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.262
77.12.262 Fish and wildlife officers compensation
insurance—Medical aid. The director shall provide compensation insurance for fish and wildlife officers, insuring
these employees against injury or death in the performance of
enforcement duties not covered under the workers’ compensation act of the state. The beneficiaries and the compensation and benefits under the compensation insurance shall be
the same as provided in chapter 51.32 RCW, and the compensation insurance also shall provide for medical aid and hospitalization to the extent and amount as provided in RCW
51.36.010 and 51.36.020. [2000 c 107 § 8; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46
§ 20; 1971 ex.s. c 289 § 73; 1953 c 207 § 14. Formerly RCW
75.08.206, 43.25.047.]
Effective date—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 289: See RCW 51.98.060
and 51.98.070.
77.12.264
77.12.264 Fish and wildlife officers—Relieved from
active duty when injured—Compensation. The director
shall relieve from active duty fish and wildlife officers who
are injured in the performance of their official duties to such
an extent as to be incapable of active service. While relieved
[Title 77 RCW—page 15]
77.12.275
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
from active duty, the employees shall receive one-half of
their salary less any compensation received through the provisions of RCW 41.26.470, 41.40.200, 41.40.220, and
77.12.262. [2006 c 39 § 2; 2001 c 253 § 18; 2000 c 107 § 9;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 22; 1957 c 216 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.08.208, 75.08.024.]
Effective date—2006 c 39: See note following RCW 41.26.470.
77.12.275
77.12.275 Agreements with department of defense.
The commission may negotiate agreements with the United
States department of defense to coordinate fishing in state
waters over which the department of defense has assumed
control. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 7 (Referendum Bill No. 45,
approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 8; 1955 c
12 § 75.08.025. Prior: 1953 c 207 § 11. Formerly RCW
75.08.025.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.12.285
77.12.285 Agreements with United States to protect
Columbia River fish—Fish cultural stations and protective devices. (1) The commission may enter into agreements
with and receive funds from the United States for the construction, maintenance, and operation of fish cultural stations, laboratories, and devices in the Columbia River basin
for improvement of feeding and spawning conditions for fish,
for the protection of migratory fish from irrigation projects
and for facilitating free migration of fish over obstructions.
(2) The director and the department may acquire by gift,
purchase, lease, easement, or condemnation the use of lands
where the construction or improvement is to be carried on by
the United States. [2000 c 107 § 6; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 8 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 23; 1987 c 506 § 94; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 12; 1955
c 12 § 75.16.060. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 52; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-326. Formerly RCW 75.08.055, 75.16.060.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
77.12.315
77.12.315 Dogs harassing deer and elk—Declaration
of emergency—Taking dogs into custody or destroying—
Immunity. If the director determines that a severe problem
exists in an area of the state because deer and elk are being
pursued, harassed, attacked or killed by dogs, the director
may declare by emergency rule that an emergency exists and
specify the area where it is lawful for fish and wildlife officers to take into custody or destroy the dogs if necessary. Fish
and wildlife officers who take into custody or destroy a dog
pursuant to this section are immune from civil or criminal liability arising from their actions. [2000 c 107 § 221; 1987 c
506 § 40; 1980 c 78 § 49; 1971 ex.s. c 183 § 1.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 16]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.320
77.12.320 Agreements for purposes related to fish,
shellfish, and wildlife—Acceptance of compensation,
gifts, grants. (1) The commission may make agreements
with persons, political subdivisions of this state, or the United
States or its agencies or instrumentalities, regarding fish,
shellfish, and wildlife-oriented recreation and the propagation, protection, conservation, and control of fish, shellfish,
and wildlife.
(2) The director may make written agreements with the
owners or lessees of real or personal property to provide for
the use of the property for fish, shellfish, and wildlife-oriented recreation. The director may adopt rules governing the
conduct of persons in or on the real property.
(3) The director may accept compensation for fish, shellfish, and wildlife losses or gifts or grants of personal property
for use by the department. [2001 c 253 § 19; 1987 c 506 § 41;
1980 c 78 § 50; 1975 1st ex.s. c 207 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 67 § 1;
1955 c 36 § 77.12.320. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 37; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-47.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.323
77.12.323 Special wildlife account—Investments. (1)
There is established in the *state wildlife fund a special wildlife account. Moneys received under RCW 77.12.320 as now
or hereafter amended as compensation for wildlife losses
shall be deposited in the state treasury to be credited to the
special wildlife account.
(2) The director may advise the state treasurer and the
state investment board of a surplus in the special wildlife
account above the current needs. The state investment board
may invest and reinvest the surplus, as the commission deems
appropriate, in an investment authorized by RCW 43.84.150
or in securities issued by the United States government as
defined by RCW 43.84.080 (1) and (4). Income received
from the investments shall be deposited to the credit of the
special wildlife account. [1987 c 506 § 42; 1982 c 10 § 15.
Prior: 1981 c 3 § 43; 1980 c 78 § 51; 1975 1st ex.s. c 207 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Severability—1982 c 10: See note following RCW 6.13.080.
Effective dates—Severability—1981 c 3: See notes following RCW
43.33A.010.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.325
77.12.325 Cooperation with Oregon to assure yields
of Columbia river fish, shellfish, and wildlife. The commission may cooperate with the Oregon fish and wildlife
commission in the adoption of rules to ensure an annual yield
of fish, shellfish, and wildlife on the Columbia river and to
prevent the taking of fish, shellfish, and wildlife at places or
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
times that might endanger fish, shellfish, and wildlife. [2001
c 253 § 20; 1980 c 78 § 52; 1959 c 315 § 2.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.330
77.12.330 Exclusive fishing waters for youths. The
commission may establish by rule exclusive fishing waters
for minors within specified ages. [1980 c 78 § 53; 1955 c 36
§ 77.12.330. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 38; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-48.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.360
77.12.360 Withdrawal of state land from lease—
Compensation. Upon written request of the department, the
department of natural resources may withdraw from lease
state-owned lands described in the request. The request shall
bear the endorsement of the county legislative authority if the
lands were acquired under *RCW 76.12.030 or 76.12.080.
Withdrawals shall conform to the state outdoor recreation
plan. If the lands are held for the benefit of the common
school fund or another fund, the department shall pay compensation equal to the lease value of the lands to the appropriate fund. [1980 c 78 § 54; 1969 ex.s. c 129 § 3; 1955 c 36 §
77.12.360. Prior: 1947 c 130 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 813610.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 76.12.030 and 76.12.080 were recodified as
RCW 79.22.040 and 79.22.020, respectively, by 2003 c 334 § 245.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.370
77.12.370 Withdrawal of state land from lease—
County procedures, approval, hearing. Prior to the forwarding of a request needing endorsement under RCW
77.12.360, the director shall present the request to the legislative authority of the county in which the lands are located for
its approval. The legislative authority, before acting on the
request, may call a public hearing. The hearing shall take
place within thirty days after presentation of the request to the
legislative authority.
The director shall publish notice of the public hearing
called by the legislative authority in a newspaper of general
circulation within the county at least once a week for two successive weeks prior to the hearing. The notice shall contain a
copy of the request and the time and place of the hearing.
The chairman of the county legislative authority shall
preside at the public hearing. The proceedings shall be informal and all persons shall have a reasonable opportunity to be
heard.
Within ten days after the hearing, the county legislative
authority shall endorse its decision on the request for withdrawal. The decision is final and not subject to appeal. [1987
c 506 § 43; 1980 c 78 § 55; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.370. Prior:
1947 c 130 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 8136-11.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.380
77.12.380 Withdrawal of state land from lease—
Actions by commissioner of public lands. Upon receipt of
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.451
a request under RCW 77.12.360, the commissioner of public
lands shall determine if the withdrawal would benefit the
people of the state. If the withdrawal would be beneficial, the
commissioner shall have the lands appraised for their lease
value. Before withdrawal, the department shall transmit to
the commissioner a voucher authorizing payment from the
*state wildlife fund in favor of the fund for which the lands
are held. The payment shall equal the amount of the lease
value for the duration of the withdrawal. [1987 c 506 § 44;
1980 c 78 § 56; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.380. Prior: 1947 c 130 §
3; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 8136-12.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.390
77.12.390 Withdrawal of state land from lease—Payment. Upon receipt of a voucher under RCW 77.12.380, the
commissioner of public lands shall withdraw the lands from
lease. The commissioner shall forward the voucher to the
state treasurer, who shall draw a warrant against the *state
wildlife fund in favor of the fund for which the withdrawn
lands are held. [1987 c 506 § 45; 1980 c 78 § 57; 1973 c 106
§ 35; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.390. Prior: 1947 c 130 § 4; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 8136-13.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.420
77.12.420 Improvement of conditions for growth of
game fish. The director may spend moneys to improve natural growing conditions for fish by constructing fishways,
installing screens, and removing obstructions to migratory
fish. The eradication of undesirable fish shall be authorized
by the commission. The director may enter into cooperative
agreements with state, county, municipal, and federal agencies, and with private individuals for these purposes. [1987 c
506 § 46; 1980 c 78 § 59; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.420. Prior: 1947
c 127 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5944-1.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.451
77.12.451 Director may take or sell fish or shellfish—
Restrictions on sale of salmon. (1) The director may take or
remove any species of fish or shellfish from the waters or
beaches of the state.
(2) The director may sell food fish or shellfish caught or
taken during department test fishing operations.
(3) The director shall not sell inedible salmon for human
consumption. Salmon and carcasses may be given to state
institutions or schools or to economically depressed people,
unless the salmon are unfit for human consumption. Salmon
not fit for human consumption may be sold by the director for
animal food, fish food, or for industrial purposes.
[Title 77 RCW—page 17]
77.12.453
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(4) In the sale of surplus salmon from state hatcheries,
the division of purchasing shall require that a portion of the
surplus salmon be processed and returned to the state by the
purchaser. The processed salmon shall be fit for human consumption and in a form suitable for distribution to individuals. The division of purchasing shall establish the required
percentage at a level that does not discourage competitive
bidding for the surplus salmon. The measure of the percentage is the combined value of all of the surplus salmon sold.
The department of social and health services shall distribute
the processed salmon to economically depressed individuals
and state institutions pursuant to rules adopted by the department of social and health services. [1990 c 36 § 1; 1985 c 28
§ 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 26; 1979 c 141 § 382; 1969 ex.s. c
16 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 72 § 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.12.130. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 41; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-315. Formerly
RCW 75.08.255, 75.12.130.]
77.12.453
77.12.453 Salmon fishing by Wanapum (Sokulk)
Indians. The director may issue permits to members of the
Wanapum band of Indians to take salmon for ceremonial and
subsistence purposes. The department shall establish the
areas in which the permits are valid and shall regulate the
times for and manner of taking the salmon. This section does
not create a right to fish commercially. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
27; 1981 c 251 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.08.265, 75.12.310.]
Legislative findings—1981 c 251: "The legislature finds that the
Sokulk Indians, otherwise known as the Wanapum band of Indians, have
made a significant effort to maintain their traditional tribal culture, including
the activity of taking salmon for ceremonial and subsistence purposes. The
legislature further finds that previously the state has encouraged ceremonial
and subsistence fishing by the Wanapums by chapter 210, Laws of 1939 and
other permission. Therefore, the intent of the legislature in enacting RCW
75.08.265 is to recognize the cultural importance of salmon fishing to only
the Wanapum Indians by authorizing these people a ceremonial and subsistence fishery, while also preserving the state’s ability to conserve and manage the salmon resource." [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 62; 1981 c 251 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.12.300.]
77.12.455
77.12.455 Prevention and suppression of diseases
and pests. The commission may prohibit the introduction,
transportation or transplanting of fish, shellfish, organisms,
material, or other equipment which in the commission’s judgment may transmit any disease or pests affecting fish or shellfish. [2001 c 253 § 22; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 16 (Referendum
Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46
§ 29; 1955 c 12 § 75.16.030. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 43; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 5780-317. Formerly RCW 75.08.285,
75.16.030.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.12.459
77.12.459 Release and recapture of salmon or steelhead prohibited. A person other than the United States, an
Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal government,
the state, a subdivision of the state, or a municipal corporation or an agency of such a unit of government shall not
release salmon or steelhead trout into the public waters of the
state and subsequently to recapture and commercially harvest
such salmon or trout. This section shall not prevent any person from rearing salmon or steelhead trout in pens or in a con[Title 77 RCW—page 18]
fined area under circumstances where the salmon or steelhead trout are confined and never permitted to swim freely in
open water. [1998 c 190 § 74; 1985 c 457 § 12. Formerly
RCW 75.08.300.]
77.12.465
77.12.465 Abandoned or derelict vessels. The director
has the authority, subject to the processes and limitation outlined in chapter 79.100 RCW, to store, strip, use, auction,
sell, salvage, scrap, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict
vessel found on or above publicly or privately owned aquatic
lands within the jurisdiction of the department. [2002 c 286
§ 19.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 286: See RCW 79.100.900 and
79.100.901.
77.12.540
77.12.540 Public shooting grounds—Effect of filing—Use for booming. Upon filing a certificate with the
commissioner of public lands that shows that lands will be
used for public shooting grounds by the department, the lands
shall be withdrawn from sale or lease and then may be used
as public shooting grounds under control of the department.
The commissioner of public lands may also use the lands for
booming purposes. [1980 c 78 § 128; 1955 c 36 § 77.40.080.
Prior: 1945 c 179 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7993-5b. Formerly
RCW 77.40.080.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.550
77.12.550 Tidelands used as public shooting
grounds—Diversion. Tidelands granted to the department
to be used as public shooting grounds shall revert to the state
if used for another purpose. The department shall certify the
reversion to the commissioner of public lands who shall then
supervise and control the lands as provided in Title 79 RCW.
[1980 c 78 § 126; 1955 c 36 § 77.40.050. Prior: 1941 c 190 §
3; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7993-8. Formerly RCW 77.40.050.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.560
77.12.560 Tidelands used as public shooting
grounds—Rules. The commission may adopt rules regarding the use of the tidelands as shooting grounds. [1980 c 78
§ 127; 1955 c 36 § 77.40.060. Prior: 1941 c 190 § 4; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 7993-9. Formerly RCW 77.40.060.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.570
77.12.570 Game farm licenses—Rules—Exemption.
The commission shall establish the qualifications and conditions for issuing a game farm license. The director shall adopt
rules governing the operation of game farms. Private sector
cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are
exempt from regulation under this section. [1987 c 506 § 49;
1985 c 457 § 22; 1980 c 78 § 98; 1975 1st ex.s. c 15 § 2; 1970
ex.s. c 29 § 14; 1955 c 36 § 77.28.020. Prior: 1947 c 275 §
82; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-91. Formerly RCW 77.28.020.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
77.12.580
77.12.580 Game farms—Authority to dispose of eggs.
A licensed game farmer may purchase, sell, give away, or
dispose of the eggs of game birds or game fish lawfully possessed as provided by rule of the director. [1987 c 506 § 50;
1980 c 78 § 99; 1955 c 36 § 77.28.070. Prior: 1947 c 275 §
87; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-96. Formerly RCW 77.28.070.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.590
77.12.590 Game farms—Tagging of products—
Exemption. Wildlife given away, sold, or transferred by a
licensed game farmer shall have attached to each wildlife
member, package, or container, a tag, seal, or invoice as
required by rule of the director. Private sector cultured
aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are exempt
from regulation under this section. [1987 c 506 § 51; 1985 c
457 § 23; 1980 c 78 § 100; 1955 c 36 § 77.28.080. Prior:
1947 c 275 § 88; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-97. Formerly
RCW 77.28.080.]
77.12.655
77.12.610
77.12.610 Check stations—Purpose. The purposes of
RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 are to facilitate the
department’s gathering of biological data for managing wildlife, fish, and shellfish resources of this state and to protect
these resources by assuring compliance with Title 77 RCW,
and rules adopted thereunder, in a manner designed to minimize inconvenience to the public. [2000 c 107 § 225; 1982 c
155 § 1.]
77.12.620
77.12.620 Check stations—Stopping for inspection.
The department is authorized to require hunters and fishermen occupying a motor vehicle approaching or entering a
check station to stop and produce for inspection: (1) Any
wildlife, fish, shellfish, or seaweed in their possession; (2)
licenses, permits, tags, stamps, or catch record cards, required
under Title 77 RCW, or rules adopted thereunder. For these
purposes, the department is authorized to operate check stations which shall be plainly marked by signs, operated by at
least one uniformed fish and wildlife officer, and operated in
a safe manner. [2000 c 107 § 226; 1982 c 155 § 2.]
77.12.630
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.600
77.12.600 Game farms—Shipping of wildlife—
Exemption. A common carrier may transport wildlife
shipped by a licensed game farmer if the wildlife is tagged,
sealed, or invoiced as provided in RCW 77.12.590. Packages
containing wildlife shall have affixed to them tags or labels
showing the name of the licensee and the consignee. For purposes of this section, wildlife does not include private sector
cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020.
However, if a means of identifying such products is required
by rules adopted under RCW 15.85.060, this exemption from
the definition of wildlife applies only if the aquatic products
are identified in conformance with those rules. [1985 c 457 §
24; 1980 c 78 § 101; 1955 c 36 § 77.28.090. Prior: 1947 c
275 § 89; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-98. Formerly RCW
77.28.090.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.605
77.12.605 Whidbey Island game farm—Sale of property. (1) The department shall endeavor to sell the property
known as Whidbey Island game farm, Island county.
(2) If the sale takes place one year or less from May 7,
1999, the property may be sold only to a nonprofit corporation, a consortium of nonprofit corporations, or a municipal
corporation that intends to preserve, to the extent practicable,
the property for purposes of undeveloped open space and historical preservation.
(3) If the sale takes place more than one year after May
7, 1999, the conditions in subsection (2) of this section do not
apply. [1999 c 205 § 1.]
Effective date—1999 c 205: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 7, 1999]." [1999 c 205 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.630 Check stations—Other inspections, powers. The powers conferred by RCW 77.12.610 through
77.12.630 are in addition to all other powers conferred by law
upon the department. Nothing in RCW 77.12.610 through
77.12.630 shall be construed to prohibit the department from
operating wildlife information stations at which persons shall
not be required to stop and report, or from executing arrests,
searches, or seizures otherwise authorized by law. [2000 c
107 § 227; 1982 c 155 § 4.]
77.12.650
77.12.650 Protection of bald eagles and their habitats—Cooperation required. The department shall cooperate with other local, state, and federal agencies and governments to protect bald eagles and their essential habitats
through existing governmental programs, including but not
limited to:
(1) The natural heritage program managed by the department of natural resources under chapter 79.70 RCW;
(2) The natural area preserve program managed by the
department of natural resources under chapter 79.70 RCW;
(3) The shoreline management master programs adopted
by local governments and approved by the department of
ecology under chapter 90.58 RCW. [1987 c 506 § 52; 1984 c
239 § 2.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Legislative declaration—1984 c 239: "The legislature hereby declares
that the protection of the bald eagle is consistent with a societal concern for
the perpetuation of natural life cycles, the sensitivity and vulnerability of
particular rare and distinguished species, and the quality of life of humans."
[1984 c 239 § 1.]
77.12.655
77.12.655 Habitat buffer zones for bald eagles—
Rules. The department, in accordance with chapter 34.05
RCW, shall adopt and enforce necessary rules defining the
extent and boundaries of habitat buffer zones for bald eagles.
Rules shall take into account the need for variation of the
extent of the zone from case to case, and the need for protection of bald eagles. The rules shall also establish guidelines
and priorities for purchase or trade and establishment of con[Title 77 RCW—page 19]
77.12.670
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
servation easements and/or leases to protect such designated
properties. The department shall also adopt rules to provide
adequate notice to property owners of their options under
RCW 77.12.650 and this section. [2000 c 107 § 228; 1990 c
84 § 3; 1984 c 239 § 3.]
Legislative declaration—1984 c 239: See note following RCW
77.12.650.
77.12.670
77.12.670 Migratory bird stamp/migratory bird
license validations—Deposit and use of revenues. (1) The
migratory bird stamp to be produced by the department shall
use the design as provided by the migratory waterfowl art
committee.
(2) All revenue derived from the sale of migratory bird
license validations or stamps by the department to any person
hunting waterfowl or to any stamp collector shall be deposited in the *state wildlife fund and shall be used only for that
portion of the cost of printing and production of the stamps
for migratory waterfowl hunters as determined by subsection
(4) of this section, and for those migratory waterfowl projects
specified by the director of the department for the acquisition
and development of migratory waterfowl habitat in the state
and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of
migratory waterfowl in the state. Migratory bird license validation and stamp funds may not be used on lands controlled
by private hunting clubs or on private lands that charge a fee
for public access. Migratory bird license validation and stamp
funds may be used for migratory waterfowl projects on private land where public hunting is provided by written permission or on areas established by the department as waterfowl
hunting closures.
(3) All revenue derived from the sale of the license validation and stamp by the department to persons hunting solely
nonwaterfowl migratory birds shall be deposited in the *state
wildlife fund and shall be used only for that portion of the
cost of printing and production of the stamps for nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters as determined by subsection (4)
of this section, and for those nonwaterfowl migratory bird
projects specified by the director for the acquisition and
development of nonwaterfowl migratory bird habitat in the
state and for the enhancement, protection, and propagation of
nonwaterfowl migratory birds in the state.
(4) With regard to the revenue from license validation
and stamp sales that is not the result of sales to stamp collectors, the department shall determine the proportion of migratory waterfowl hunters and solely nonwaterfowl migratory
bird hunters by using the yearly migratory bird hunter harvest
information program survey results or, in the event that these
results are not available, other similar survey results. A twoyear average of the most recent survey results shall be used to
determine the proportion of the revenue attributed to migratory waterfowl hunters and the proportion attributed to solely
nonwaterfowl migratory bird hunters for each fiscal year. For
fiscal year 1998-99 and for fiscal year 1999-2000, ninety-six
percent of the stamp revenue shall be attributed to migratory
waterfowl hunters and four percent of the stamp revenue shall
be attributed to solely nonwaterfowl migratory game hunters.
(5) Acquisition shall include but not be limited to the
acceptance of gifts of real estate or any interest therein or the
rental, lease, or purchase of real estate or any interest therein.
If the department acquires any fee interest, leasehold, or
[Title 77 RCW—page 20]
rental interest in real property under this section, it shall
allow the general public reasonable access to that property
and shall, if appropriate, ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest allows such access to the general
public. If the department obtains a covenant in real property
in its favor or an easement or any other interest in real property under this section, it shall exercise its best efforts to
ensure that the deed or other instrument creating the interest
grants to the general public in the form of a covenant running
with the land reasonable access to the property. The private
landowner from whom the department obtains such a covenant or easement shall retain the right of granting access to
the lands by written permission, but may not charge a fee for
access.
(6) The department may produce migratory bird stamps
in any given year in excess of those necessary for sale in that
year. The excess stamps may be sold to the migratory waterfowl art committee for sale to the public. [2002 c 283 § 2;
1998 c 191 § 32; 1987 c 506 § 53; 1985 c 243 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.050.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
77.12.680
77.12.680 Migratory waterfowl art committee—
Membership—Terms—Vacancies—Chairman—Review
of expenditures—Compensation. (1) There is created the
migratory waterfowl art committee which shall be composed
of nine members.
(2)(a) The committee shall consist of one member
appointed by the governor, six members appointed by the
director, one member appointed by the chairman of the state
arts commission, and one member appointed by the director
of the department of agriculture.
(b) The member appointed by the director of the department of agriculture shall represent statewide farming interests.
(c) The member appointed by the chairman of the state
arts commission shall be knowledgeable in the area of fine art
reproduction.
(d) The members appointed by the governor and the
director shall be knowledgeable about waterfowl and waterfowl management. The six members appointed by the director shall represent, respectively:
(i) An eastern Washington sports group;
(ii) A western Washington sports group;
(iii) A group with a major interest in the conservation
and propagation of migratory waterfowl;
(iv) A statewide conservation organization;
(v) A statewide sports hunting group; and
(vi) The general public.
The members of the committee shall serve three-year
staggered terms and at the expiration of their term shall serve
until qualified successors are appointed. Of the nine members, three shall serve initial terms of four years, three shall
serve initial terms of three years, and three shall serve initial
terms of two years. The appointees of the governor, the chairman of the state arts commission, and the director of agriculture shall serve the initial terms of four years. Vacancies shall
be filled for unexpired terms consistent with this section. A
(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
77.12.722
Reviser’s note: *(1) The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state
wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
(2) This section was amended by 1998 c 191 § 33 and by 1998 c 245 §
158, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.050.
increase both hatchery and naturally spawning game fish to a
level that will support the production goal established in this
section consistent with department policies. Steelhead trout,
searun cutthroat trout, resident trout, and warmwater fish producing areas of the state shall be included in the plan.
The plan shall include the following critical elements:
(1) Methods of determining current catch and production, and catch and production in the year 2000;
(2) Methods of involving fishing groups, including
Indian tribes, in a cooperative manner;
(3) Methods for using low capital cost projects to produce game fish as inexpensively as possible;
(4) Methods for renovating and modernizing all existing
hatcheries and rearing ponds to maximize production capability;
(5) Methods for increasing the productivity of natural
spawning game fish;
(6) Application of new technology to increase hatchery
and natural productivity;
(7) Analysis of the potential for private contractors to
produce game fish for public fisheries;
(8) Methods to optimize public volunteer efforts and
cooperative projects for maximum efficiency;
(9) Methods for development of trophy game fish fisheries;
(10) Elements of coordination with the Pacific Northwest Power Council programs to ensure maximum Columbia
river benefits;
(11) The role that should be played by private consulting
companies in developing and implementing the plan;
(12) Coordination with federal fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, and department fish production programs;
(13) Future needs for game fish predator control measures;
(14) Development of disease control measures;
(15) Methods for obtaining access to waters currently not
available to anglers; and
(16) Development of research programs to support game
fish management and enhancement programs.
The department, in cooperation with the department of
revenue, shall assess various funding mechanisms and make
recommendations to the legislature in the plan. The department, in cooperation with the department of community,
trade, and economic development, shall prepare an analysis
of the economic benefits to the state that will occur when the
game fish production is increased by one hundred percent in
the year 2000. [1998 c 245 § 159; 1995 c 399 § 208; 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 70; 1990 c 110 § 2.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
chairman shall be elected annually by the committee. The
committee shall review the director’s expenditures of the previous year of both the stamp money and the prints and related
artwork money. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation. [1987 c 506 § 54; 1985 c 243 § 5.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
77.12.690
77.12.690 Migratory waterfowl art committee—
Duties—Deposit and use of funds—Audits. The migratory
waterfowl art committee is responsible for the selection of
the annual migratory bird stamp design and shall provide the
design to the department. If the committee does not perform
this duty within the time frame necessary to achieve proper
and timely distribution of the stamps to license dealers, the
director shall initiate the art work selection for that year. The
committee shall create collector art prints and related artwork, utilizing the same design as provided to the department. The administration, sale, distribution, and other matters
relating to the prints and sales of stamps with prints and
related artwork shall be the responsibility of the migratory
waterfowl art committee.
The total amount brought in from the sale of prints and
related artwork shall be deposited in the *state wildlife fund.
The costs of producing and marketing of prints and related
artwork, including administrative expenses mutually agreed
upon by the committee and the director, shall be paid out of
the total amount brought in from sales of those same items.
Net funds derived from the sale of prints and related artwork
shall be used by the director to contract with one or more
appropriate individuals or nonprofit organizations for the
development of waterfowl propagation projects within
Washington which specifically provide waterfowl for the
Pacific flyway. The department shall not contract with any
individual or organization that obtains compensation for
allowing waterfowl hunting except if the individual or organization does not permit hunting for compensation on the
subject property.
The migratory waterfowl art committee shall have an
annual audit of its finances conducted by the state auditor and
shall furnish a copy of the audit to the commission. [1998 c
245 § 158; 1998 c 191 § 33; 1987 c 506 § 55; 1985 c 243 § 6.]
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.12.710 Game fish production—Double by year
2000. The legislature hereby directs the department to determine the feasibility and cost of doubling the statewide game
fish production by the year 2000. The department shall seek
to equalize the effort and investment expended on anadromous and resident game fish programs. The department shall
provide the legislature with a specific plan for legislative
approval that will outline the feasibility of increasing game
fish production by one hundred percent over current levels by
the year 2000. The plan shall contain specific provisions to
77.12.710
(2006 Ed.)
Finding—1990 c 110: "The legislature finds that the anadromous and
resident game fish resource of the state can be greatly increased to benefit
recreational fishermen and the economy of the state. Investments in the
increase of anadromous and resident game fish stocks will provide benefits
many times the cost of the program and will act as a catalyst for many additional benefits in the tourism and associated industries, while enhancing the
livability of the state." [1990 c 110 § 1.]
77.12.722
77.12.722 Canada goose hunting—Season or bag
limit restriction. For the purposes of establishing a season
or bag limit restriction on Canada goose hunting, the com[Title 77 RCW—page 21]
77.12.755
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
mission shall not consider leg length or bill length of dusky
Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis). [2000 c 107
§ 259; 1998 c 190 § 119; 1996 c 207 § 3; 1987 c 506 § 59;
1983 c 3 § 196; 1981 c 310 § 3; 1980 c 78 § 70; 1977 c 44 §
1; 1955 c 36 § 77.16.020. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 41; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-50. Formerly RCW 77.16.020.]
Intent—1996 c 207: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.12.755
77.12.755 Ranked inventory of fish passage barriers.
In coordination with the department of natural resources and
lead entity groups, the department must establish a ranked
inventory of fish passage barriers on land owned by small
forest landowners based on the principle of fixing the worst
first within a watershed consistent with the fish passage priorities of the forest and fish report. The department shall first
gather and synthesize all available existing information about
the locations and impacts of fish passage barriers in Washington. This information must include, but not be limited to,
the most recently available limiting factors analysis conducted pursuant to RCW 77.85.060(2), the stock status information contained in the department of fish and wildlife
salmonid stock inventory (SASSI), the salmon and steelhead
habitat inventory and assessment project (SSHIAP), and any
comparable science-based assessment when available. The
inventory of fish passage barriers must be kept current and at
a minimum be updated by the beginning of each calendar
year. Nothing in this section grants the department or others
additional right of entry onto private property. [2003 c 311 §
10.]
Findings—Effective date—2003 c 311: See notes following RCW
76.09.020.
77.12.760
77.12.760 Steelhead trout fishery. Steelhead trout
shall be managed solely as a recreational fishery for nonIndian fishermen under the rule-setting authority of the fish
and wildlife commission.
Commercial non-Indian steelhead fisheries are not
authorized. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 78.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.12.765
77.12.765 Tilton and Cowlitz rivers—Proposals to
reinstate salmon and steelhead. The director shall develop
proposals to reinstate the natural salmon and steelhead trout
fish runs in the Tilton and upper Cowlitz rivers in accordance
with RCW 77.04.120(3). [2000 c 107 § 206; 1993 sp.s. c 2 §
65; 1985 c 208 § 2. Formerly RCW 77.04.100.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.12.790
77.12.790 Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program—Purpose. There is created within the
department the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement
[Title 77 RCW—page 22]
program. The purpose of the program is to improve the harvest of pheasants by releasing pen-reared rooster pheasants
on sites accessible for public hunting and by providing grants
for habitat enhancement on public or private lands under
agreement with the department. The department may either
purchase rooster pheasants from private contractors, or produce rooster pheasants from department-sanctioned cooperative projects, whichever is less expensive, provided that the
pheasants released meet minimum department standards for
health and maturity. Any surplus hen pheasants from pheasant farms or projects operated by the department or the
department of corrections for this enhancement program shall
be made available to landowners who voluntarily open their
lands to public pheasant hunting. Pheasants produced for the
eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program must not
detrimentally affect the production or operation of the department’s western Washington pheasant release program. The
release of pheasants for hunting purposes must not conflict
with or supplant other department efforts to improve upland
bird habitat or naturally produced upland birds. [1997 c 422
§ 2.]
Findings—1997 c 422: "The legislature finds that pheasant populations
in eastern Washington have greatly decreased from their historic high levels
and that pheasant hunting success rates have plummeted. The number of
pheasant hunters has decreased due to reduced hunting success. There is an
opportunity to enhance the pheasant population by release of pen-reared
pheasants and habitat enhancements to create increased hunting opportunities on publicly owned and managed lands." [1997 c 422 § 1.]
77.12.800
77.12.800 Pheasant hunting—Opportunities for
juvenile hunters. The commission must establish special
pheasant hunting opportunities for juvenile hunters in eastern
Washington for the 1998 season and future seasons. [1997 c
422 § 3.]
Findings—1997 c 422: See note following RCW 77.12.790.
77.12.810
77.12.810 Small game hunting license—Disposition
of fee. As provided in RCW 77.32.440, a portion of each
small game hunting license fee shall be deposited in the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account created in
RCW 77.12.820. [1998 c 191 § 30; 1997 c 422 § 4.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Findings—1997 c 422: See note following RCW 77.12.790.
77.12.820
77.12.820 Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account—Created—Use of moneys. The eastern
Washington pheasant enhancement account is created in the
custody of the state treasurer. All receipts under RCW
77.12.810 must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the
account are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be
used for the purpose of funding the eastern Washington
pheasant enhancement program. The department may use
moneys from the account to improve pheasant habitat or to
purchase or produce pheasants. Not less than eighty percent
of expenditures from the account must be used to purchase or
produce pheasants. The eastern Washington pheasant
enhancement account funds must not be used for the purchase of land. The account may be used to offer grants to
improve pheasant habitat on public or private lands that are
open to public hunting. The department may enter partnerships with private landowners, nonprofit corporations, coop(2006 Ed.)
Powers and Duties
erative groups, and federal or state agencies for the purposes
of pheasant habitat enhancement in areas that will be available for public hunting. [1997 c 422 § 5.]
Findings—1997 c 422: See note following RCW 77.12.790.
77.12.850
77.12.850 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 77.12.850 through 77.12.860 unless
the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Salmon" means all species of the genus Oncorhynchus, except those classified as game fish in this title, and
includes:
Scientific Name
Common Name
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Oncorhynchus keta
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Oncorhynchus nerka
Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Chum salmon
Pink salmon
Sockeye salmon
(2) "Department" means the department of fish and wildlife.
(3) "Committee" means the salmon stamp selection committee created in RCW 77.12.856.
(4) "Stamp" means the stamp created under the Washington salmon stamp program and the Washington junior
salmon stamp program, created in RCW 77.12.850 through
77.12.860. [1999 c 342 § 2.]
Finding—1999 c 342: "The legislature finds that salmon recovery in
Washington state will involve everyone and will require funds to accomplish
recovery measures. Several species of salmon in Washington are, or are
expected to be, listed as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act. At present, these species include chinook, chum, bull trout
and coho. To bring attention to the importance of the recovery of salmon and
their place in Washington’s heritage, raise funds for salmon recovery
projects, and involve citizens of all ages, the Washington salmon stamp and
Washington junior salmon stamp programs are created." [1999 c 342 § 1.]
77.12.852
77.12.852 Washington salmon stamp program—
Creation. (1) The Washington salmon stamp program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will portray a salmonid species native to
Washington and will be used for stamps, prints, and posters
that can be sold in a wide range of prices and editions to
appeal to citizens and collectors interested in supporting
salmon restoration. The proceeds from the sale of the Washington salmon stamp shall be used for protection, preservation, and restoration of salmonid habitat in Washington.
(2) Every year the department will announce competition, open to all Washington artists, for the creation of the
year’s Washington salmon stamp. The department will market the stamp and prints through a wide distribution method
including web sites, license sites, and at public events.
(3) The winning artist will receive a monetary award and
a certain number of artist proof prints. [1999 c 342 § 3.]
Finding—1999 c 342: See note following RCW 77.12.850.
77.12.854
77.12.854 Washington junior salmon stamp program—Creation. (1) The Washington junior salmon stamp
program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will portray a salmonid
species native to Washington and will be used for stamps,
prints, and posters that can be sold in a wide range of prices
(2006 Ed.)
77.12.865
and editions to appeal to citizens and collectors interested in
supporting salmon restoration.
(2) Every year the department will announce a competition for the Washington junior salmon stamp program among
Washington K-12 students. The top winner will receive a
scholarship award. [1999 c 342 § 4.]
Finding—1999 c 342: See note following RCW 77.12.850.
77.12.856
77.12.856 Salmon stamp selection committee—Creation. The salmon stamp selection committee is created. The
committee is comprised of five individuals selected by the
governor who will judge and select the winning entrant for
the Washington salmon stamp program and Washington junior salmon stamp program. The governor will select names
from a collection of names forwarded from the department
and from the state arts commission in the following categories: Artist, not competing in the salmon stamp program; art
collector; fish biologist; printer; and public school teacher.
[1999 c 342 § 5.]
Finding—1999 c 342: See note following RCW 77.12.850.
77.12.858
77.12.858 Deposit of receipts—Expenditures. All
receipts from the salmon stamp program created under RCW
77.12.850 through 77.12.860 must be deposited into the
regional fisheries enhancement salmonid recovery account
created under RCW 77.95.130. Expenditures from the
account may be used only for the purposes specified in RCW
77.95.130 and chapter 342, Laws of 1999. The department
shall report biennially to the legislature on the amount of
money the salmon stamp program has generated. [2000 c
107 § 230; 1999 c 342 § 6.]
Finding—1999 c 342: See note following RCW 77.12.850.
77.12.860
77.12.860 Stamp design—Department’s rule-making
authority. The department is granted the authority to establish by rule the method for selecting appropriate designs for
the Washington salmon stamp program and Washington junior salmon stamp program. The stamp shall be designed and
produced in accordance with department rules. [1999 c 342
§ 7.]
Finding—1999 c 342: See note following RCW 77.12.850.
77.12.865
77.12.865 Derelict fishing gear—Guidelines for
removal and disposal. (1) As used in this section and RCW
77.12.870, "derelict fishing gear" includes lost or abandoned
fishing nets, fishing lines, crab pots, shrimp pots, and other
commercial and recreational fishing equipment. The term
does not include lost or abandoned vessels.
(2) The department, in partnership with the Northwest
straits commission, the department of natural resources, and
other interested parties, must publish guidelines for the safe
removal and disposal of derelict fishing gear. The guidelines
must be completed by August 31, 2002, and made available
to any person interested in derelict fishing gear removal.
(3) Derelict fishing gear removal conducted in accordance with the guidelines prepared in subsection (2) of this
section is not subject to permitting under RCW 77.55.021.
[2005 c 146 § 1004; 2002 c 20 § 2.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
[Title 77 RCW—page 23]
77.12.870
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Finding—Purpose—2002 c 20: "The legislature finds that fishing gear
that is lost or abandoned may continue to catch marine organisms long after
the gear is lost. The purpose of this act is to develop safe, effective methods
to remove derelict fishing gear, eliminate regulatory barriers to gear
removal, and discourage future losses of fishing gear." [2002 c 20 § 1.]
77.12.870
77.12.870 Derelict fishing gear data base. (1) The
department, in consultation with the Northwest straits commission, the department of natural resources, and other interested parties, must create and maintain a data base of known
derelict fishing gear, including the type of gear and its location.
(2) A person who loses or abandons commercial fishing
gear within the waters of the state is encouraged to report the
location of the loss and the type of gear lost to the department
within forty-eight hours of the loss.
(3) The department, in consultation with fishing industry
groups and tribal comanagers, must evaluate methods to
reduce future losses of fishing gear and report the results of
this evaluation to the appropriate legislative committees by
January 1, 2003. [2002 c 20 § 3.]
Finding—Purpose—2002 c 20: See note following RCW 77.12.865.
77.12.875
77.12.875 Prohibited aquatic animal species—
Infested state waters. (1) The commission may designate
by rule state waters as infested if the director determines that
these waters contain a prohibited aquatic animal species.
(2) The commission, in consultation with the department
of ecology, may designate state waters as infested if it is
determined that these waters contain an invasive aquatic
plant species.
(3) The department shall work with the aquatic nuisance
species committee and its member agencies to create educational materials informing the public of state waters that are
infested with invasive species, and advise them of applicable
rules and practices designed to reduce the spread of the invasive species infesting the waters. [2002 c 281 § 5.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
77.12.879 Aquatic invasive species prevention
account—Aquatic invasive species prevention program—
Training—Report to the legislature. (1) The aquatic invasive species prevention account is created in the state treasury. Moneys directed to the account from RCW 88.02.050
must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the
account may only be used as provided in this section. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
(2) Funds in the aquatic invasive species prevention
account may be appropriated to the department to develop an
aquatic invasive species prevention program for recreational
watercraft. Funds must be expended as follows:
(a) To inspect watercraft, watercraft trailers, and outboard motors at selected boat launching sites;
(b) To educate general law enforcement officers on how
to enforce state laws relating to preventing the spread of
aquatic invasive species;
(c) To evaluate and survey the risk posed by marine recreational watercraft in spreading aquatic invasive species into
Washington state waters;
(d) To evaluate the risk posed by float planes in spreading aquatic invasive species into Washington state waters;
and
(e) To implement an aquatic invasive species early
detection and rapid response plan.
(3) The department shall provide training to Washington
state patrol employees working at port of entry weigh stations
on how to inspect recreational watercraft for the presence of
zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species. The
department shall also cooperatively work with the Washington state patrol to set up random check stations to inspect
watercraft at areas of high boating activity.
(4) The department shall submit a biennial report to the
appropriate legislative committees describing the actions
taken to implement this section along with suggestions on
how to better fulfill the intent of chapter 464, Laws of 2005.
The first report is due December 1, 2007. [2005 c 464 § 3.]
77.12.879
Findings—Intent—2005 c 464: See note following RCW 88.02.050.
77.12.878
77.12.878 Infested waters—Rapid response plan. (1)
The director shall create a rapid response plan in cooperation
with the aquatic nuisance species committee and its member
agencies that describes actions to be taken when a prohibited
aquatic animal species is found to be infesting a water body.
These actions include eradication or control programs where
feasible and containment of infestation where practical
through notification, public education, and the enforcement
of regulatory programs.
(2) The commission may adopt rules to implement the
rapid response plan.
(3) The director, the department of ecology, and the
Washington state parks and recreation commission may post
signs at water bodies that are infested with aquatic animal
species that are classified as prohibited aquatic animal species under RCW 77.12.020 or with invasive species of the
plant kingdom. The signs should identify the prohibited plant
and animal species present and warn users of the water body
of the hazards and penalties for possessing and transporting
these species. Educational signs may be placed at uninfested
sites. [2002 c 281 § 6.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
[Title 77 RCW—page 24]
77.12.880 Wildlife program management. The
department shall manage wildlife programs in a manner that
provides for public opportunities to view wildlife and supports nature-based and wildlife viewing tourism without
impairing the state’s wildlife resources. [2003 c 153 § 3.]
77.12.880
Findings—2003 c 153: See note following RCW 43.330.090.
Chapter 77.15 RCW
FISH AND WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT CODE
Chapter 77.15
Sections
77.15.005
77.15.010
77.15.020
77.15.030
77.15.040
77.15.050
77.15.060
77.15.065
77.15.070
77.15.075
77.15.080
77.15.085
77.15.090
77.15.092
Finding—Intent.
Exemption for department actions.
Authority to define violation of rule as infraction.
Individual animal unlawfully taken—Separate offense.
Jurisdiction.
"Conviction" defined.
Reference to chapters 7.84 and 9A.20 RCW.
Authority of attorney general if prosecuting attorney defaults.
Civil forfeiture of property used for violation of chapter.
Enforcement authority of fish and wildlife officers.
Fish and wildlife officers—Inspection authority.
Seizure without warrant.
Search, arrest warrant—Issuance—Execution.
Arrest without warrant.
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
77.15.094
77.15.096
77.15.098
77.15.100
77.15.110
77.15.120
77.15.130
77.15.140
77.15.150
77.15.160
77.15.170
77.15.180
77.15.190
77.15.191
77.15.192
77.15.194
77.15.196
77.15.198
77.15.210
77.15.212
77.15.220
77.15.230
77.15.240
77.15.245
77.15.250
77.15.253
77.15.260
77.15.270
77.15.280
77.15.290
77.15.300
77.15.310
77.15.320
77.15.330
77.15.340
77.15.350
77.15.360
77.15.370
77.15.380
77.15.390
77.15.400
77.15.410
77.15.420
77.15.425
77.15.430
77.15.440
77.15.450
77.15.460
77.15.470
77.15.480
77.15.500
77.15.510
77.15.520
77.15.530
77.15.540
77.15.550
77.15.552
77.15.554
77.15.560
77.15.565
77.15.568
77.15.570
(2006 Ed.)
Search without warrant—Seizure of evidence, property—
Limitation.
Inspection without warrant—Commercial fish and wildlife
entities—Limitations.
Willful misconduct/gross negligence—Civil liability.
Forfeited wildlife and articles—Disposition—Department
authority—Sale.
Acting for commercial purposes—When—Proof.
Endangered fish or wildlife—Unlawful taking—Penalty.
Protected fish or wildlife—Unlawful taking—Penalty.
Unclassified fish or wildlife—Unlawful taking—Penalty.
Poison or explosives—Unlawful use—Penalty.
Infractions—Record catch—Barbed hooks—Other rule violations.
Waste of fish and wildlife—Penalty.
Unlawful interference with fishing or hunting gear—Penalty.
Unlawful trapping—Penalty.
Revocation of trapper’s license—Placement of unauthorized
traps.
Definitions.
Unlawful traps—Penalty.
Unlawful poison—Penalty.
Violation of RCW 77.15.194 or 77.15.196—Penalty.
Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife—Penalty.
Damages due to violation of RCW 77.15.210—Civil action.
Unlawful posting—Penalty.
Department lands or facilities—Unlawful use—Penalty.
Unlawful use of dogs—Public nuisance—Penalty.
Unlawful practices—Black bear baiting—Exceptions—Illegal
hunting—Use of dogs—Exceptions—Penalties.
Unlawful release of fish, shellfish, or wildlife—Penalty—
Unlawful release of deleterious exotic wildlife—Penalty.
Unlawful use of prohibited aquatic animal species—Penalty.
Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife—Penalty.
Providing false information—Penalty.
Reporting of fish or wildlife harvest—Rules violation—Penalty.
Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife—Unlawful transport of aquatic plants—Penalty.
Unlawful hydraulic project activities—Penalty.
Unlawful failure to use or maintain approved fish guard on
water diversion device—Penalty.
Unlawful failure to provide, maintain, or operate fishway for
dam or other obstruction—Penalty.
Unlawful hunting or fishing contests—Penalty.
Unlawful operation of a game farm—Penalty.
Inspection and disease control of aquatic farms—Rules violation—Penalty.
Unlawful interfering in department operations—Penalty.
Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree—Penalty.
Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree—Penalty.
Seaweed—Unlawful taking—Penalty.
Unlawful hunting of wild birds—Violation of a rule requiring
nontoxic shot—Penalty.
Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty.
Illegally taken or possessed wildlife—Criminal wildlife penalty assessed.
Fish and wildlife enforcement reward account.
Unlawful hunting of wild animals—Penalty.
Weapons, traps, or dogs on game reserves—Unlawful use—
Penalty.
Spotlighting big game—Penalty.
Loaded firearm in vehicle—Unlawful use or possession—
Penalty.
Wildlife check stations or field inspections—Unlawful avoidance—Penalty.
Certain devices declared public nuisances.
Commercial fishing without a license—Penalty.
Commercial fish guiding or chartering without a license—
Penalty.
Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty.
Unlawful use of a nondesignated vessel—Penalty.
Unlawful use of a commercial fishery license—Penalty.
Violation of commercial fishing area or time—Penalty.
Qualifying commercial fishing violations.
License suspension review committee.
Commercial fish, shellfish harvest or delivery—Failure to
report—Penalty.
Wholesale fish dealers—Accounting of commercial harvest—
Penalties.
Retail fish seller’s failure to account for commercial harvest—
Penalty.
Participation of non-Indians in Indian fishery forbidden—
Exceptions, definitions, penalty.
77.15.580
77.15.590
77.15.600
77.15.610
77.15.620
77.15.630
77.15.640
77.15.650
77.15.660
77.15.670
77.15.675
77.15.680
77.15.690
77.15.700
77.15.710
77.15.720
77.15.730
77.15.732
77.15.900
77.15.901
77.15.902
77.15.020
Unlawful use of net to take fish—Penalty.
Commercial fishing vessel—Unlawful use for recreational or
charter fishing—Penalty.
Engaging in commercial wildlife activity without a license—
Penalty.
Unlawful use of a commercial wildlife license—Penalty.
Engaging in fish dealing activity—Unlicensed—Penalty.
Fish buying and dealing licenses—Unlawful use—Penalty.
Wholesale fish buying and dealing—Rules violations—Penalty.
Unlawful purchase or use of a license—Penalty.
Unlawful use of scientific permit—Penalty.
Suspension of department privileges—Violation—Penalty.
Hunting while intoxicated—Penalty.
Department authority to suspend privileges—Form and procedure.
Department authority to revoke licenses.
Grounds for department revocation and suspension of privileges.
Conviction for assault—Revocation of licenses and suspension of privileges.
Shooting another person, livestock—Director’s authority to
suspend privileges.
Wildlife violator compact citations and convictions.
Citations from wildlife violator compact party state—Failure
to comply.
Short title.
Captions not law.
Savings—1998 c 190.
77.15.005
77.15.005 Finding—Intent. The legislature finds that
merger of the departments of fisheries and wildlife resulted in
two criminal codes applicable to fish and wildlife, and that it
has become increasingly difficult to administer and enforce
the two criminal codes. Furthermore, laws defining crimes
involving fish and wildlife have evolved over many years of
changing uses and management objectives for fish and wildlife. The resulting two codes make it difficult for citizens to
comply with the law and unnecessarily complicate enforcement of laws against violators.
The legislature intends by chapter 190, Laws of 1998 to
revise and recodify the criminal laws governing fish and
wildlife, ensuring that all people involved with fish and wildlife are able to know and understand the requirements of the
laws and the risks of violation. Additionally, the legislature
intends to create a more uniform approach to criminal laws
governing fish and wildlife and to the laws authorizing prosecution, sentencing, and punishments, including repealing
crimes that are redundant to other provisions of the criminal
code.
Chapter 190, Laws of 1998 is not intended to alter existing powers of the commission or the director to adopt rules or
exercise powers over fish and wildlife. In some places reference is made to violation of department rules, but this is
intended to conform with current powers of the commission,
director, or both, to adopt rules governing fish and wildlife
activities. [1998 c 190 § 1.]
77.15.010
77.15.010 Exemption for department actions. A person is not guilty of a crime under this chapter if the person is
an officer, employee, or agent of the department lawfully acting in the course of his or her authorized duties. [1998 c 190
§ 2.]
77.15.020
77.15.020 Authority to define violation of rule as
infraction. If the commission or director has authority to
adopt a rule that is punishable as a crime under this chapter,
then the commission or director may provide that violation of
[Title 77 RCW—page 25]
77.15.030
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
the rule shall be punished with notice of infraction under
RCW 7.84.030. Neither the commission nor the director
have the authority to adopt a rule providing that a violation
punishable as an infraction shall be a crime. [2005 c 321 § 2;
1998 c 190 § 3.]
77.15.030
77.15.030 Individual animal unlawfully taken—Separate offense. Where it is unlawful to hunt, take, fish, possess, or traffic in big game or protected or endangered fish or
wildlife, then each individual animal unlawfully taken or possessed is a separate offense. [1999 c 258 § 1; 1998 c 190 § 4.]
77.15.040
77.15.040 Jurisdiction. District courts have jurisdiction concurrent with superior courts for misdemeanors and
gross misdemeanors committed in violation of this chapter
and may impose the punishment provided for these offenses.
Superior courts have jurisdiction over felonies committed in
violation of this chapter. Venue for offenses occurring in offshore waters shall be in a county bordering on the Pacific
Ocean, or the county where fish or wildlife from the offense
are landed. [1998 c 190 § 5.]
77.15.050
77.15.050 "Conviction" defined. Unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter, "conviction" means a final conviction in a state or municipal court or
an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to
secure the defendant’s appearance in court. A plea of guilty,
or a finding of guilt for a violation of this title or rule of the
commission or director constitutes a conviction regardless of
whether the imposition of sentence is deferred or the penalty
is suspended. [1998 c 190 § 6.]
77.15.060
77.15.060 Reference to chapters 7.84 and 9A.20
RCW. Crimes defined by this chapter shall be punished as
infractions, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, or felonies,
based on the classification of crimes set out in chapters 7.84
and 9A.20 RCW. [1998 c 190 § 7.]
77.15.065
77.15.065 Authority of attorney general if prosecuting attorney defaults. If the prosecuting attorney of the
county in which a violation of this title or rule of the department occurs fails to file an information against the alleged
violator, the attorney general upon request of the commission
may file an information in the superior court of the county
and prosecute the case in place of the prosecuting attorney.
The commission may request prosecution by the attorney
general if thirty days have passed since the commission
informed the county prosecuting attorney of the alleged violation. [1996 c 267 § 9; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 41; 1949 c 112
§ 24; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-222. Formerly RCW
75.10.100, 75.08.275, 43.25.070.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
77.15.070
77.15.070 Civil forfeiture of property used for violation of chapter. (1) Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio
fish and wildlife officers may seize without warrant boats,
airplanes, vehicles, motorized implements, conveyances,
gear, appliances, or other articles they have probable cause to
believe have been held with intent to violate or used in viola[Title 77 RCW—page 26]
tion of this title or rule of the commission or director. However, fish and wildlife officers or ex officio fish and wildlife
officers may not seize any item or article, other than for evidence, if under the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude
that the violation was inadvertent. The property seized is
subject to forfeiture to the state under this section regardless
of ownership. Property seized may be recovered by its owner
by depositing with the department or into court a cash bond
or equivalent security equal to the value of the seized property but not more than one hundred thousand dollars. Such
cash bond or security is subject to forfeiture in lieu of the
property. Forfeiture of property seized under this section is a
civil forfeiture against property and is intended to be a remedial civil sanction.
(2) In the event of a seizure of property under this section, jurisdiction to begin the forfeiture proceedings shall
commence upon seizure. Within fifteen days following the
seizure, the seizing authority shall serve a written notice of
intent to forfeit property on the owner of the property seized
and on any person having any known right or interest in the
property seized. Notice may be served by any method authorized by law or court rule, including service by certified mail
with return receipt requested. Service by mail is deemed
complete upon mailing within the fifteen-day period following the seizure.
(3) Persons claiming a right of ownership or right to possession of property are entitled to a hearing to contest forfeiture. Such a claim shall specify the claim of ownership or
possession and shall be made in writing and served on the
director within forty-five days of the seizure. If the seizing
authority has complied with notice requirements and there is
no claim made within forty-five days, then the property shall
be forfeited to the state.
(4) If any person timely serves the director with a claim
to property, the person shall be afforded an opportunity to be
heard as to the person’s claim or right. The hearing shall be
before the director or director’s designee, or before an administrative law judge appointed under chapter 34.12 RCW,
except that a person asserting a claim or right may remove the
matter to a court of competent jurisdiction if the aggregate
value of the property seized is more than five thousand dollars. The department may settle a person’s claim of ownership prior to the administrative hearing.
(5) The hearing to contest forfeiture and any subsequent
appeal shall be as provided for in chapter 34.05 RCW, the
administrative procedure act. The seizing authority has the
burden to demonstrate that it had reason to believe the property was held with intent to violate or was used in violation of
this title or rule of the commission or director. The person
contesting forfeiture has the burden of production and proof
by a preponderance of evidence that the person owns or has a
right to possess the property and:
(a) That the property was not held with intent to violate
or used in violation of this title; or
(b) If the property is a boat, airplane, or vehicle, that the
illegal use or planned illegal use of the boat, airplane, or vehicle occurred without the owner’s knowledge or consent, and
that the owner acted reasonably to prevent illegal uses of such
boat, airplane, or vehicle.
(6) A forfeiture of a conveyance encumbered by a perfected security interest is subject to the interest of the secured
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
party if the secured party neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission. No security interest in seized
property may be perfected after seizure.
(7) If seized property is forfeited under this section the
department may retain it for official use unless the property is
required to be destroyed, or upon application by any law
enforcement agency of the state, release such property to the
agency for the use of enforcing this title, or sell such property, and deposit the proceeds to the fish and wildlife enforcement reward account created in RCW 77.15.425. [2005 c
406 § 2; 2000 c 107 § 231; 1998 c 190 § 69.]
77.15.075
77.15.075 Enforcement authority of fish and wildlife
officers. (1) Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and
wildlife officers shall enforce this title, rules of the department, and other statutes as prescribed by the legislature. Fish
and wildlife officers who are not ex officio officers shall have
and exercise, throughout the state, such police powers and
duties as are vested in sheriffs and peace officers generally.
An applicant for a fish and wildlife officer position must be a
citizen of the United States of America who can read and
write the English language. All fish and wildlife officers
employed after June 13, 2002, must successfully complete
the basic law enforcement academy course, known as the
basic course, sponsored by the criminal justice training commission, or the basic law enforcement equivalency certification, known as the equivalency course, provided by the criminal justice training commission. All officers employed on
June 13, 2002, must have successfully completed the basic
course, the equivalency course, or the supplemental course in
criminal law enforcement, known as the supplemental
course, offered under chapter 155, Laws of 1985. Any
officer who has not successfully completed the basic course,
the equivalency course, or the supplemental course must
complete the basic course or the equivalency course within
fifteen months of June 13, 2002.
(2) Fish and wildlife officers are peace officers.
(3) Any liability or claim of liability under chapter 4.92
RCW that arises out of the exercise or alleged exercise of
authority by a fish and wildlife officer rests with the department unless the fish and wildlife officer acts under the direction and control of another agency or unless the liability is
otherwise assumed under an agreement between the department and another agency.
(4) Fish and wildlife officers may serve and execute warrants and processes issued by the courts. [2003 c 388 § 3;
2002 c 128 § 4; 2000 c 107 § 212; 1998 c 190 § 112; 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 67; 1988 c 36 § 50; 1987 c 506 § 16; 1985 c 155 §
2; 1980 c 78 § 17. Formerly RCW 77.12.055.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.092
person and check for valid licenses, tags, permits, stamps, or
catch record cards, and to inspect all fish, shellfish, seaweed,
and wildlife in possession as well as the equipment being
used to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title,
and may request the person to write his or her signature for
comparison with the signature on the license. Failure to comply with the request is prima facie evidence that the person is
not the person named on the license. For licenses purchased
over the internet or telephone, fish and wildlife officers may
require the person, if age eighteen or older, to exhibit a
driver’s license or other photo identification.
(2) Based upon articulable facts that a person is transporting a prohibited aquatic animal species or any aquatic
plant, fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers have the authority to temporarily stop the person
and inspect the watercraft to ensure that the watercraft and
associated equipment are not transporting prohibited aquatic
animal species or aquatic plants. [2002 c 281 § 8. Prior:
2001 c 306 § 1; 2001 c 253 § 23; 2000 c 107 § 233; 1998 c
190 § 113.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
77.15.085
77.15.085 Seizure without warrant. Fish and wildlife
officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may seize
without a warrant wildlife, fish, and shellfish they have probable cause to believe have been taken, transported, or possessed in violation of this title or rule of the commission or
director. [2000 c 107 § 232.]
77.15.090
77.15.090 Search, arrest warrant—Issuance—Execution. On a showing of probable cause that there has been a
violation of any fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife law of the
state of Washington, or upon a showing of probable cause to
believe that evidence of such violation may be found at a
place, a court shall issue a search warrant or arrest warrant.
Fish and wildlife officers may execute any such arrest or
search warrant reasonably necessary to their duties under this
title and may seize fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife or
any evidence of a crime and the fruits or instrumentalities of
a crime as provided by warrant. The court may have a building, enclosure, vehicle, vessel, container, or receptacle
opened or entered and the contents examined. [2001 c 253 §
24; 2000 c 107 § 234; 1998 c 190 § 117; 1980 c 78 § 26; 1955
c 36 § 77.12.120. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 22; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-32. Formerly RCW 77.12.120.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.092
77.15.092 Arrest without warrant. Fish and wildlife
officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may arrest
without warrant persons found violating the law or rules
adopted pursuant to this title. [2000 c 107 § 213; 1998 c 190
§ 114; 1987 c 506 § 19; 1980 c 78 § 20; 1971 ex.s. c 173 § 2;
1961 c 68 § 3; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.080. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 18;
Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-28. Formerly RCW 77.12.080.]
77.15.080
77.15.080 Fish and wildlife officers—Inspection
authority. (1) Based upon articulable facts that a person is
engaged in fishing, harvesting, or hunting activities, fish and
wildlife officers have the authority to temporarily stop the
(2006 Ed.)
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
[Title 77 RCW—page 27]
77.15.094
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.15.094
77.15.094 Search without warrant—Seizure of evidence, property—Limitation. Fish and wildlife officers
and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may make a reasonable search without warrant of a vessel, conveyances, vehicles, containers, packages, or other receptacles for fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife which they have reason to
believe contain evidence of a violation of law or rules
adopted pursuant to this title and seize evidence as needed for
law enforcement. This authority does not extend to quarters
in a boat, building, or other property used exclusively as a
private domicile, does not extend to transitory residences in
which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, and
does not allow search and seizure without a warrant if the
thing or place is protected from search without warrant
within the meaning of Article I, section 7 of the state Constitution. Seizure of property as evidence of a crime does not
preclude seizure of the property for forfeiture as authorized
by law. [2001 c 253 § 25; 2000 c 107 § 214; 1998 c 190 §
115; 1987 c 506 § 20; 1980 c 78 § 21; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.090.
Prior: 1947 c 275 § 19; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-29. Formerly RCW 77.12.090.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.096
77.15.096 Inspection without warrant—Commercial
fish and wildlife entities—Limitations. Fish and wildlife
officers may inspect without warrant at reasonable times and
in a reasonable manner the premises, containers, fishing
equipment, fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife, and records
required by the department of any commercial fisher or
wholesale dealer or fish buyer. Fish and wildlife officers may
similarly inspect without warrant the premises, containers,
fishing equipment, fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and records
required by the department of any shipping agent or other
person placing or attempting to place fish, shellfish, or wildlife into interstate commerce, any cold storage plant that the
department has probable cause to believe contains fish, shellfish, or wildlife, or of any taxidermist or fur buyer. Fish and
wildlife officers may inspect without warrant the records
required by the department of any retail outlet selling fish,
shellfish, or wildlife, and, if the officers have probable cause
to believe a violation of this title or rules of the commission
has occurred, they may inspect without warrant the premises,
containers, and fish, shellfish, and wildlife of any retail outlet
selling fish, shellfish, or wildlife. Authority granted under
this section does not extend to quarters in a boat, building, or
other property used exclusively as a private domicile, does
not extend to transitory residences in which a person has a
reasonable expectation of privacy, and does not allow search
and seizure without a warrant if the thing or place is protected
from search without warrant within the meaning of Article I,
section 7 of the state Constitution. [2002 c 128 § 5; 2001 c
253 § 26; 1998 c 190 § 116; 1982 c 152 § 1; 1980 c 78 § 22.
Formerly RCW 77.12.095.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.098
77.15.098 Willful misconduct/gross negligence—
Civil liability. (1) An authorized state, county, or municipal
[Title 77 RCW—page 28]
officer may be subject to civil liability under RCW 77.15.070
for willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties.
(2) The director, the fish and wildlife commission, or the
department may be subject to civil liability for their willful or
reckless misconduct in matters involving the seizure and forfeiture of personal property involved with fish or wildlife
offenses. [2000 c 107 § 215; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 68; 1989 c 314
§ 3. Formerly RCW 77.12.103.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Finding—1989 c 314: "In order to improve the enforcement of wildlife
laws it is important to increase the penalties upon poachers by seizing the
conveyances and gear that are used in poaching activities and to cause forfeiture of those items to the department." [1989 c 314 § 1.]
77.15.100
77.15.100 Forfeited wildlife and articles—Disposition—Department authority—Sale. (1) Unless otherwise
provided in this title, fish, shellfish, or wildlife unlawfully
taken or possessed, or involved in a violation shall be forfeited to the state upon conviction. Unless already held by,
sold, destroyed, or disposed of by the department, the court
shall order such fish or wildlife to be delivered to the department. Where delay will cause loss to the value of the property
and a ready wholesale buying market exists, the department
may sell property to a wholesale buyer at a fair market value.
(2) When seized property is forfeited to the department,
the department may retain it for official use unless the property is required to be destroyed, or upon application by any
law enforcement agency of the state, release the property to
the agency for the use of enforcing this title, or sell such property and deposit the proceeds into the *state wildlife fund
established under RCW 77.12.170. Any sale of other property shall be at public auction or after public advertisement
reasonably designed to obtain the highest price. The time,
place, and manner of holding the sale shall be determined by
the director. The director may contract for the sale to be
through the department of general administration as state surplus property, or, except where not justifiable by the value of
the property, the director shall publish notice of the sale once
a week for at least two consecutive weeks before the sale in at
least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in
which the sale is to be held. [2000 c 107 § 235; 1998 c 190 §
63.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
77.15.110
77.15.110 Acting for commercial purposes—When—
Proof. (1) For purposes of this chapter, a person acts for
commercial purposes if the person engages in conduct that
relates to commerce in fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife or
any parts thereof. Commercial conduct may include taking,
delivering, selling, buying, or trading fish, seaweed, shellfish,
or wildlife where there is present or future exchange of
money, goods, or any valuable consideration. Evidence that a
person acts for commercial purposes includes, but is not limited to, the following conduct:
(a) Using gear typical of that used in commercial fisheries;
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
(b) Exceeding the bag or possession limits for personal
use by taking or possessing more than three times the amount
of fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife allowed;
(c) Delivering or attempting to deliver fish, seaweed,
shellfish, or wildlife to a person who sells or resells fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife including any licensed or unlicensed wholesaler;
(d) Taking fish or shellfish using a vessel designated on
a commercial fishery license or using gear not authorized in a
personal use fishery;
(e) Using a commercial fishery license;
(f) Selling or dealing in raw furs; or
(g) Performing taxidermy service on fish, shellfish, or
wildlife belonging to another person for a fee or receipt of
goods or services.
(2) For purposes of this chapter, the value of any fish,
seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife may be proved based on evidence of legal or illegal sales involving the person charged or
any other person, of offers to sell or solicitation of offers to
sell by the person charged or by any other person, or of any
market price for the fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife
including market price for farm-raised game animals. The
value assigned to specific fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife
by RCW 77.15.420 may be presumed to be the value of such
fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife. It is not relevant to proof
of value that the person charged misrepresented that the fish,
seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife was taken in compliance with
law if the fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife was unlawfully
taken and had no lawful market value. [2002 c 127 § 2; 2001
c 253 § 27; 1998 c 190 § 8.]
Intent—2002 c 127: "The legislature intends to clarify that when a
crime under chapter 77.15 RCW requires proof that a person acted for commercial purposes, that element refers to engaging in particular conduct that is
commercial in nature and the element does not imply that a particular state of
mind must exist. This act revises the existing definition of that element to
confirm that the element is fulfilled by engaging in commercial conduct and
to eliminate any implication that a particular mental state of mind must be
shown. Examples are given of the type of conduct that may be considered as
evidence that a person acts for a commercial purpose; however, these examples do not create a conclusive presumption that a person acts for a commercial purpose." [2002 c 127 § 1.]
77.15.120
77.15.120 Endangered fish or wildlife—Unlawful
taking—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking
of endangered fish or wildlife in the second degree if the person hunts, fishes, possesses, maliciously harasses or kills fish
or wildlife, or maliciously destroys the nests or eggs of fish or
wildlife and the fish or wildlife is designated by the commission as endangered, and the taking has not been authorized by
rule of the commission.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of endangered
fish or wildlife in the first degree if the person has been:
(a) Convicted under subsection (1) of this section or convicted of any crime under this title involving the killing, possessing, harassing, or harming of endangered fish or wildlife;
and
(b) Within five years of the date of the prior conviction
the person commits the act described by subsection (1) of this
section.
(3)(a) Unlawful taking of endangered fish or wildlife in
the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.160
(b) Unlawful taking of endangered fish or wildlife in the
first degree is a class C felony. The department shall revoke
any licenses or tags used in connection with the crime and
order the person’s privileges to hunt, fish, trap, or obtain
licenses under this title to be suspended for two years. [2000
c 107 § 236; 1998 c 190 § 13.]
77.15.130
77.15.130 Protected fish or wildlife—Unlawful taking—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of
protected fish or wildlife if:
(a) The person hunts, fishes, possesses, or maliciously
kills protected fish or wildlife, or the person possesses or
maliciously destroys the eggs or nests of protected fish or
wildlife, and the taking has not been authorized by rule of the
commission; or
(b) The person violates any rule of the commission
regarding the taking, harming, harassment, possession, or
transport of protected fish or wildlife.
(2) Unlawful taking of protected fish or wildlife is a misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 14.]
77.15.140
77.15.140 Unclassified fish or wildlife—Unlawful
taking—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking
of unclassified fish or wildlife if:
(a) The person kills, hunts, fishes, takes, holds, possesses, transports, or maliciously injures or harms fish or
wildlife that is not classified as big game, game fish, game
animals, game birds, food fish, shellfish, protected wildlife,
or endangered wildlife; and
(b) The act violates any rule of the commission or the
director.
(2) Unlawful taking of unclassified fish or wildlife is a
misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 15.]
77.15.150
77.15.150 Poison or explosives—Unlawful use—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of poison or
explosives if:
(a) The person lays out, sets out, or uses a drug, poison,
or other deleterious substance that kills, injures, harms, or
endangers fish, shellfish, or wildlife, except if the person is
using the substance in compliance with federal and state laws
and label instructions; or
(b) The person lays out, sets out, or uses an explosive
that kills, injures, harms, or endangers fish, shellfish, or wildlife, except if authorized by law or permit of the director.
(2) Unlawful use of poison or explosives is a gross misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 28; 1998 c 190 § 16.]
77.15.160
77.15.160 Infractions—Record catch—Barbed
hooks—Other rule violations. A person is guilty of an
infraction, which shall be cited and punished as provided
under chapter 7.84 RCW, if the person:
(1) Fails to immediately record a catch of fish or shellfish on a catch record card required by RCW 77.32.430, or
required by rule of the commission under this title; or
(2) Fishes for personal use using barbed hooks in violation of any rule; or
(3) Violates any other rule of the commission or director
that is designated by rule as an infraction. [2000 c 107 § 237;
1998 c 190 § 17.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 29]
77.15.170
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.15.170 Waste of fish and wildlife—Penalty. (1) A
person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife in the second
degree if:
(a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or
wildlife and the value of the fish, shellfish, or wildlife is
greater than twenty dollars but less than two hundred fifty
dollars; and
(b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or
wildlife to be wasted.
(2) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife in the
first degree if:
(a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or
wildlife having a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more
or wildlife classified as big game; and
(b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or
wildlife to be wasted.
(3)(a) Waste of fish and wildlife in the second degree is
a misdemeanor.
(b) Waste of fish and wildlife in the first degree is a gross
misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke
any license or tag used in the crime and shall order suspension of the person’s privileges to engage in the activity in
which the person committed waste of fish and wildlife in the
first degree for a period of one year.
(4) It is prima facie evidence of waste if a processor purchases or engages a quantity of food fish, shellfish, or game
fish that cannot be processed within sixty hours after the food
fish, game fish, or shellfish are taken from the water, unless
the food fish, game fish, or shellfish are preserved in good
marketable condition. [1999 c 258 § 5; 1998 c 190 § 21.]
77.15.170
77.15.180 Unlawful interference with fishing or
hunting gear—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful
interference with fishing or hunting gear in the second degree
if the person:
(a) Takes or releases a wild animal from another person’s trap without permission;
(b) Springs, pulls up, damages, possesses, or destroys
another person’s trap without the owner’s permission; or
(c) Interferes with recreational gear used to take fish or
shellfish.
(2) Unlawful interference with fishing or hunting gear in
the second degree is a misdemeanor.
(3) A person is guilty of unlawful interference with fishing or hunting gear in the first degree if the person:
(a) Takes or releases fish or shellfish from commercial
fishing gear without the owner’s permission; or
(b) Intentionally destroys or interferes with commercial
fishing gear.
(4) Unlawful interference with fishing or hunting gear in
the first degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(5) A person is not in violation of unlawful interference
with fishing or hunting gear if the person removes a trap
placed on property owned, leased, or rented by the person.
[2001 c 253 § 29; 1998 c 190 § 22.]
77.15.180
77.15.190 Unlawful trapping—Penalty. (1) A person
is guilty of unlawful trapping if the person:
(a) Sets out traps that are capable of taking wild animals,
game animals, or furbearing mammals and does not possess
all licenses, tags, or permits required under this title;
77.15.190
[Title 77 RCW—page 30]
(b) Violates any rule of the commission or director
regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed areas
including game reserves, closed times, or any other rule governing the trapping of wild animals; or
(c) Fails to identify the owner of the traps or devices by
neither (i) attaching a metal tag with the owner’s departmentassigned identification number or the name and address of
the trapper legibly written in numbers or letters not less than
one-eighth inch in height nor (ii) inscribing into the metal of
the trap such number or name and address.
(2) Unlawful trapping is a misdemeanor. [1999 c 258 §
9; 1998 c 190 § 34.]
77.15.191 Revocation of trapper’s license—Placement of unauthorized traps. The director may revoke the
trapper’s license of a person placing unauthorized traps on
private property and may remove those traps. [2000 c 107 §
268; 1987 c 372 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.65.470, 77.32.199.]
77.15.191
77.15.192 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 77.15.194 through 77.15.198.
(1) "Animal" means any nonhuman vertebrate.
(2) "Body-gripping trap" means a trap that grips an animal’s body or body part. Body-gripping trap includes, but is
not limited to, steel-jawed leghold traps, padded-jaw leghold
traps, Conibear traps, neck snares, and nonstrangling foot
snares. Cage and box traps, suitcase-type live beaver traps,
and common rat and mouse traps are not considered bodygripping traps.
(3) "Person" means a human being and, where appropriate, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government, or a governmental instrumentality.
(4) "Raw fur" means a pelt that has not been processed
for purposes of retail sale.
(5) "Animal problem" means any animal that threatens
or damages timber or private property or threatens or injures
livestock or any other domestic animal. [2001 c 1 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 713, approved November 7, 2000).]
77.15.192
Finding—2001 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713): "The people of the
state of Washington find that this act is necessary in order to protect people
and domestic pets and to protect and conserve wildlife from the dangers of
cruel and indiscriminate steel-jawed leghold traps and poisons, and to
encourage the use of humane methods of trapping when trapping is necessary to ensure public health and safety, protect livestock or property, safeguard threatened and endangered species, or conduct field research on wildlife." [2001 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713, approved November 7,
2000).]
Severability—2001 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713): "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [2001 c 1 § 6 (Initiative Measure
No. 713, approved November 7, 2000).]
77.15.194 Unlawful traps—Penalty. (1) It is unlawful
to use or authorize the use of any steel-jawed leghold trap,
neck snare, or other body-gripping trap to capture any mammal for recreation or commerce in fur.
(2) It is unlawful to knowingly buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange, or offer to buy, sell, barter, or otherwise
exchange the raw fur of a mammal or a mammal that has been
trapped in this state with a steel-jawed leghold trap or any
other body-gripping trap, whether or not pursuant to permit.
77.15.194
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
(3) It is unlawful to use or authorize the use of any steeljawed leghold trap or any other body-gripping trap to capture
any animal, except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of
this section.
(4) Nothing in this section prohibits the use of a Conibear trap in water, a padded leghold trap, or a nonstrangling
type foot snare with a special permit granted by the director
under (a) through (d) of this subsection. Issuance of the special permits shall be governed by rules adopted by the department and in accordance with the requirements of this section.
Every person granted a special permit to use a trap or device
listed in this subsection shall check the trap or device at least
every twenty-four hours.
(a) Nothing in this section prohibits the director, in consultation with the department of social and health services or
the United States department of health and human services
from granting a permit to use traps listed in this subsection
for the purpose of protecting people from threats to their
health and safety.
(b) Nothing in this section prohibits the director from
granting a special permit to use traps listed in this subsection
to a person who applies for such a permit in writing, and who
establishes that there exists on a property an animal problem
that has not been and cannot be reasonably abated by the use
of nonlethal control tools, including but not limited to guard
animals, electric fencing, or box and cage traps, or if such
nonlethal means cannot be reasonably applied. Upon making
a finding in writing that the animal problem has not been and
cannot be reasonably abated by nonlethal control tools or if
the tools cannot be reasonably applied, the director may
authorize the use, setting, placing, or maintenance of the traps
for a period not to exceed thirty days.
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits the director from
granting a special permit to department employees or agents
to use traps listed in this subsection where the use of the traps
is the only practical means of protecting threatened or endangered species as designated under RCW 77.08.010.
(d) Nothing in this section prohibits the director from
issuing a permit to use traps listed in this subsection, excluding Conibear traps, for the conduct of legitimate wildlife
research.
(5) Nothing in this section prohibits the United States
fish and wildlife service, its employees or agents, from using
a trap listed in subsection (4) of this section where the fish
and wildlife service determines, in consultation with the
director, that the use of such traps is necessary to protect species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal
endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.).
(6) A person violating this section is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 374; 2001 c 1 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 713, approved November 7, 2000).]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Finding—Severability—2001 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713): See
notes following RCW 77.15.192.
77.15.196
77.15.196 Unlawful poison—Penalty. (1) It is unlawful to poison or attempt to poison any animal using sodium
fluoroacetate, also known as compound 1080, or sodium cyanide.
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.220
(2) A person violating this section is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 375; 2001 c 1 § 4 (Initiative Measure No. 713, approved November 7, 2000).]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Finding—Severability—2001 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713): See
notes following RCW 77.15.192.
77.15.198
77.15.198 Violation of RCW 77.15.194 or
77.15.196—Penalty. In addition to appropriate criminal
penalties, the director shall revoke the trapping license of any
person convicted of a violation of RCW 77.15.194 or
77.15.196. The director shall not issue the violator a trapping
license for a period of five years following the revocation.
Following a subsequent conviction for a violation of RCW
77.15.194 or 77.15.196 by the same person, the director shall
not issue a trapping license to the person at any time. [2003
c 53 § 376; 2001 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 713,
approved November 7, 2000).]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Finding—Severability—2001 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 713): See
notes following RCW 77.15.192.
77.15.210
77.15.210 Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or
wildlife—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of obstructing the
taking of fish[, shellfish,] or wildlife if the person:
(a) Harasses, drives, or disturbs fish, shellfish, or wildlife
with the intent of disrupting lawful pursuit or taking thereof;
or
(b) Harasses, intimidates, or interferes with an individual
engaged in the lawful taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife or
lawful predator control with the intent of disrupting lawful
pursuit or taking thereof.
(2) Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife is
a gross misdemeanor.
(3) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for
obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife that the
person charged was:
(a) Interfering with a person engaged in hunting outside
the legally established hunting season; or
(b) Preventing or attempting to prevent unauthorized
trespass on private property.
(4) The person raising a defense under subsection (3) of
this section has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the
evidence. [2001 c 253 § 30; 1998 c 190 § 24.]
77.15.212
77.15.212 Damages due to violation of RCW
77.15.210—Civil action. Any person who is damaged by
any act prohibited in RCW 77.15.210 may bring a civil action
to enjoin further violations, and recover damages sustained,
including a reasonable attorneys’ fee. The trial court may
increase the award of damages to an amount not to exceed
three times the damages sustained. A party seeking civil damages under this section may recover upon proof of a violation
by a preponderance of the evidence. The state of Washington
may bring a civil action to enjoin violations of this section.
[2000 c 107 § 238.]
77.15.220
77.15.220 Unlawful posting—Penalty. (1) A person is
guilty of unlawful posting if the individual posts signs pre[Title 77 RCW—page 31]
77.15.230
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
venting hunting or fishing on any land not owned or leased by
the individual, or without the permission of the person who
owns, leases, or controls the land posted.
(2) Unlawful posting is a misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 §
25.]
77.15.230
77.15.230 Department lands or facilities—Unlawful
use—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of
department lands or facilities if the person enters upon, uses,
or remains upon department-owned or department-controlled
lands or facilities in violation of any rule of the department.
(2) Unlawful use of department lands or facilities is a
misdemeanor. [1999 c 258 § 6; 1998 c 190 § 26.]
77.15.240
77.15.240 Unlawful use of dogs—Public nuisance—
Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of dogs if the
person:
(a) Negligently fails to prevent a dog under the person’s
control from pursuing or injuring deer, elk, or an animal classified as endangered under this title;
(b) Uses the dog to hunt deer or elk; or
(c) During the closed season for a species of game animal or game bird, negligently fails to prevent the dog from
pursuing such animal or destroying the nest of a game bird.
(2) Unlawful use of dogs is a misdemeanor. A dog that is
the basis for a violation of this section may be declared a public nuisance. [1998 c 190 § 30.]
77.15.245
77.15.245 Unlawful practices—Black bear baiting—
Exceptions—Illegal hunting—Use of dogs—Exceptions—
Penalties. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW
77.12.240, 77.36.020, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of
law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the
aid of bait.
(a) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the killing of black bear with the aid of bait by employees or agents of county, state, or federal agencies while acting
in their official capacities for the purpose of protecting livestock, domestic animals, private property, or the public
safety.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the establishment and operation of feeding stations for
black bear in order to prevent damage to commercial timberland.
(c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the director from issuing a permit or memorandum of
understanding to a public agency, university, or scientific or
educational institution for the use of bait to attract black bear
for scientific purposes.
(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance
placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area
where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them.
(2) Notwithstanding RCW 77.12.240, 77.36.020,
77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to
hunt or pursue black bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx with the aid
of a dog or dogs.
(a) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the killing of black bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx with the
aid of a dog or dogs by employees or agents of county, state,
[Title 77 RCW—page 32]
or federal agencies while acting in their official capacities for
the purpose of protecting livestock, domestic animals, private
property, or the public safety. A dog or dogs may be used by
the owner or tenant of real property consistent with a permit
issued and conditioned by the director.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the director from issuing a permit or memorandum of
understanding to a public agency, university, or scientific or
educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs for the pursuit, capture and relocation, of black bear, cougar, bobcat, or
lynx for scientific purposes.
(c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the director from issuing a permit or memorandum of
understanding to a public agency, university, or scientific or
educational institution for the use of a dog or dogs for the killing of black bear, cougar, or bobcat, for the protection of a
state and/or federally listed threatened or endangered species.
(3)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, the
commission shall authorize the use of dogs only in selected
areas within a game management unit to address a public
safety need presented by one or more cougar. This authority
may only be exercised after the commission has determined
that no other practical alternative to the use of dogs exists,
and after the commission has adopted rules describing the
conditions in which dogs may be used. Conditions that may
warrant the use of dogs within a game management unit
include, but are not limited to, confirmed cougar/human
safety incidents, confirmed cougar/livestock and cougar/pet
depredations, and the number of cougar capture attempts and
relocations.
(b) The department shall post on their internet web site
the known details of all reported cougar/human, cougar/pet,
or cougar/livestock interactions within ten days of receiving
the report. The posted material must include, but is not limited to, the location and time of all reported sightings, and the
known details of any cougar/livestock incidents.
(4) A person who violates subsection (1) or (2) of this
section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. In addition to
appropriate criminal penalties, the department shall revoke
the hunting license of a person who violates subsection (1) or
(2) of this section and order the suspension of wildlife hunting privileges for a period of five years following the revocation. Following a subsequent violation of subsection (1) or
(2) of this section by the same person, a hunting license shall
not be issued to the person at any time. [2005 c 107 § 1; 2001
c 253 § 31. Prior: 2000 c 248 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 260; 1997 c
1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 655, approved November 5,
1996). Formerly RCW 77.16.360.]
Effective date—2000 c 248: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 31, 2000]." [2000 c 248 § 2.]
Severability—1997 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 655): "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [1997 c 1 § 2 (Initiative Measure
No. 655, approved November 5, 1996).]
77.15.250
77.15.250 Unlawful release of fish, shellfish, or wildlife—Penalty—Unlawful release of deleterious exotic
wildlife—Penalty. (1)(a) A person is guilty of unlawfully
releasing, planting, or placing fish, shellfish, or wildlife if the
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
person knowingly releases, plants, or places live fish, shellfish, wildlife, or aquatic plants within the state, and the fish,
shellfish, or wildlife have not been classified as deleterious
wildlife. This subsection does not apply to a release of game
fish into private waters for which a game fish stocking permit
has been obtained, or the planting of fish or shellfish by permit of the commission.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor. In addition, the department shall order the person to
pay all costs the department incurred in capturing, killing, or
controlling the fish, shellfish, aquatic plants, or wildlife
released or its progeny. This does not affect the existing
authority of the department to bring a separate civil action to
recover costs of capturing, killing, controlling the fish, shellfish, aquatic plants, or wildlife released or their progeny, or
restoration of habitat necessitated by the unlawful release.
(2)(a) A person is guilty of unlawful release of deleterious exotic wildlife if the person knowingly releases, plants,
or places live fish, shellfish, or wildlife within the state and
such fish, shellfish, or wildlife has been classified as deleterious exotic wildlife by rule of the commission.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a class C felony. In
addition, the department shall also order the person to pay all
costs the department incurred in capturing, killing, or controlling the fish, shellfish, or wildlife released or its progeny.
This does not affect the existing authority of the department
to bring a separate civil action to recover costs of capturing,
killing, controlling the fish, shellfish, or wildlife released or
their progeny, or restoration of habitat necessitated by the
unlawful release. [2001 c 253 § 32; 1998 c 190 § 31.]
77.15.253 Unlawful use of prohibited aquatic animal
species—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of
a prohibited aquatic animal species if he or she possesses,
imports, purchases, sells, propagates, transports, or releases a
prohibited aquatic animal species within the state, except as
provided in this section.
(2) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a person may:
(a) Transport prohibited aquatic animal species to the
department, or to another destination designated by the director, in a manner designated by the director, for purposes of
identifying a species or reporting the presence of a species;
(b) Possess a prohibited aquatic animal species if he or
she is in the process of removing it from watercraft or equipment in a manner specified by the department;
(c) Release a prohibited aquatic animal species if the
species was caught while fishing and it is being immediately
returned to the water from which it came; or
(d) Possess, transport, or release a prohibited aquatic animal species as the commission may otherwise prescribe.
(3) Unlawful use of a prohibited aquatic animal species
is a gross misdemeanor. A subsequent violation of subsection
(1) of this section within five years is a class C felony.
(4) A person is guilty of unlawful release of a regulated
aquatic animal species if he or she releases a regulated
aquatic animal species into state waters, unless allowed by
the commission.
(5) Unlawful release of a regulated aquatic animal species is a gross misdemeanor.
(6) A person is guilty of unlawful release of an unlisted
aquatic animal species if he or she releases an unlisted
77.15.253
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.280
aquatic animal species into state waters without requesting a
commission designation under RCW 77.12.020.
(7) Unlawful release of an unlisted aquatic animal species is a gross misdemeanor.
(8) This section does not apply to the transportation or
release of organisms in ballast water. [2002 c 281 § 4.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
77.15.260
77.15.260 Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or
wildlife—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the second degree if
the person traffics in fish, shellfish, or wildlife with a wholesale value of less than two hundred fifty dollars and:
(a) The fish or wildlife is classified as game, food fish,
shellfish, game fish, or protected wildlife and the trafficking
is not authorized by statute or rule of the department; or
(b) The fish, shellfish, or wildlife is unclassified and the
trafficking violates any rule of the department.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful trafficking in fish,
shellfish, or wildlife in the first degree if the person commits
the act described by subsection (1) of this section and:
(a) The fish, shellfish, or wildlife has a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more; or
(b) The fish, shellfish, or wildlife is designated as an
endangered species or deleterious exotic wildlife and such
trafficking is not authorized by any statute or rule of the
department.
(3)(a) Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife
in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(b) Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in
the first degree is a class C felony. [2001 c 253 § 33; 1998 c
190 § 42.]
77.15.270
77.15.270 Providing false information—Penalty. (1)
A person is guilty of providing false information regarding
fish, shellfish, or wildlife if the person knowingly provides
false or misleading information required by any statute or
rule to be provided to the department regarding the taking,
delivery, possession, transportation, sale, transfer, or any
other use of fish, shellfish, or wildlife.
(2) Providing false information regarding fish, shellfish,
or wildlife is a gross misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 34; 1998 c
190 § 46.]
77.15.280
77.15.280 Reporting of fish or wildlife harvest—
Rules violation—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of violating
rules requiring reporting of fish or wildlife harvest if the person:
(a) Fails to make a harvest log report of a commercial
fish or shellfish catch in violation of any rule of the commission or the director;
(b) Fails to maintain a trapper’s report or taxidermist ledger in violation of any rule of the commission or the director;
(c) Fails to submit any portion of a big game animal for
a required inspection required by rule of the commission or
the director; or
(d) Fails to return a catch record card to the department
as required by rule of the commission or director.
(2) Violating rules requiring reporting of fish or wildlife
harvest is a misdemeanor. [2005 c 418 § 2; 1998 c 190 § 47.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 33]
77.15.290
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.15.290
77.15.290 Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife—Unlawful transport of aquatic plants—Penalty. (1)
A person is guilty of unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the second degree if the person:
(a) Knowingly imports, moves within the state, or
exports fish, shellfish, or wildlife in violation of any rule of
the commission or the director governing the transportation
or movement of fish, shellfish, or wildlife and the transportation does not involve big game, endangered fish or wildlife,
deleterious exotic wildlife, or fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value greater than two hundred fifty dollars; or
(b) Possesses but fails to affix or notch a big game transport tag as required by rule of the commission or director.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful transportation of fish
or wildlife in the first degree if the person:
(a) Knowingly imports, moves within the state, or
exports fish, shellfish, or wildlife in violation of any rule of
the commission or the director governing the transportation
or movement of fish, shellfish, or wildlife and the transportation involves big game, endangered fish or wildlife, deleterious exotic wildlife, or fish, shellfish, or wildlife with a value
of two hundred fifty dollars or more; or
(b) Knowingly transports shellfish, shellstock, or equipment used in commercial culturing, taking, handling, or processing shellfish without a permit required by authority of
this title.
(3)(a) Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the
second degree is a misdemeanor.
(b) Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the first
degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(4) A person is guilty of unlawful transport of aquatic
plants if the person transports aquatic plants on any state or
public road, including forest roads, except as provided in this
section.
(5) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a person may
transport aquatic plants:
(a) To the department, or to another destination designated by the director, in a manner designated by the department, for purposes of identifying a species or reporting the
presence of a species;
(b) When legally obtained for aquarium use, wetland or
lakeshore restoration, or ornamental purposes;
(c) When transporting a commercial aquatic plant harvester to a suitable location for purposes of removing aquatic
plants;
(d) In a manner that prevents their unintentional dispersal, to a suitable location for disposal, research, or educational purposes; or
(e) As the commission may otherwise prescribe.
(6) Unlawful transport of aquatic plants is a misdemeanor. [2002 c 281 § 7; 2001 c 253 § 35; 1998 c 190 § 48.]
Purpose—2002 c 281: See note following RCW 77.08.010.
77.15.300
77.15.300 Unlawful hydraulic project activities—
Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawfully undertaking
hydraulic project activities if the person constructs any form
of hydraulic project or performs other work on a hydraulic
project and:
(a) Fails to have a hydraulic project approval required
under chapter 77.55 RCW for such construction or work; or
[Title 77 RCW—page 34]
(b) Violates any requirements or conditions of the
hydraulic project approval for such construction or work.
(2) Unlawfully undertaking hydraulic project activities is
a gross misdemeanor. [2000 c 107 § 239; 1998 c 190 § 52.]
77.15.310 Unlawful failure to use or maintain
approved fish guard on water diversion device—Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful failure to use or maintain an
approved fish guard on a diversion device if the person owns,
controls, or operates a device used for diverting or conducting water from a lake, river, or stream and:
(a) The device is not equipped with a fish guard, screen,
or bypass approved by the director as required by *RCW
77.55.040 or 77.55.320; or
(b) The person knowingly fails to maintain or operate an
approved fish guard, screen, or bypass so as to effectively
screen or prevent fish from entering the intake.
(2) Unlawful failure to use or maintain an approved fish
guard, screen, or bypass on a diversion device is a gross misdemeanor. Following written notification to the person from
the department that there is a violation, each day that a diversion device is operated without an approved or maintained
fish guard, screen, or bypass is a separate offense. [2003 c 39
§ 38; 2000 c 107 § 240; 1998 c 190 § 53.]
77.15.310
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.040 and 77.55.320 were recodified as
RCW 77.57.010 and 77.57.070, respectively, pursuant to 2005 c 146 § 1002.
77.15.320 Unlawful failure to provide, maintain, or
operate fishway for dam or other obstruction—Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful failure to provide, maintain, or operate a fishway for dam or other obstruction if the
person owns, operates, or controls a dam or other obstruction
to fish passage on a river or stream and:
(a) The dam or obstruction is not provided with a durable
and efficient fishway approved by the director as required by
*RCW 77.55.060;
(b) Fails to maintain a fishway in efficient operating condition; or
(c) Fails to continuously supply a fishway with a sufficient supply of water to allow the free passage of fish.
(2) Unlawful failure to provide, maintain, or operate a
fishway for dam or other obstruction is a gross misdemeanor.
Following written notification to the person from the department that there is a violation, each day of unlawful failure to
provide, maintain, or operate a fishway is a separate offense.
[2000 c 107 § 241; 1998 c 190 § 54.]
77.15.320
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.060 was recodified as RCW 77.57.030
pursuant to 2005 c 146 § 1002.
77.15.330 Unlawful hunting or fishing contests—
Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawfully holding a hunting or fishing contest if the person:
(a) Conducts, holds, or sponsors a hunting contest, a fishing contest involving game fish, or a competitive field trial
using live wildlife without the permit required by RCW
77.65.480; or
(b) Violates any rule of the commission or the director
applicable to a hunting contest, fishing contest involving
game fish, or a competitive field trial using live wildlife.
(2) Unlawfully holding a hunting or fishing contest is a
misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 36; 1998 c 190 § 56.]
77.15.330
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
77.15.340
77.15.340 Unlawful operation of a game farm—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful operation of a game
farm if the person (a) operates a game farm without the
license required by RCW 77.65.480; or (b) violates any rule
of the commission or the director applicable to game farms
under RCW 77.12.570, 77.12.580, and 77.12.590.
(2) Unlawful operation of a game farm is a gross misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 37; 1998 c 190 § 57.]
77.15.400
(b) The action violates any rule of the commission or the
director regarding seasons, bag or possession limits but less
than two times the bag or possession limit, closed areas,
closed times, or any other rule addressing the manner or
method of fishing or possession of fish, except for use of a net
to take fish as provided for in RCW 77.15.580.
(2) Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree is
a misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 39; 2000 c 107 § 244; 1998 c
190 § 18.]
77.15.350
77.15.350 Inspection and disease control of aquatic
farms—Rules violation—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of
violating a rule regarding inspection and disease control of
aquatic farms if the person:
(a) Violates any rule adopted under chapter 77.115 RCW
regarding the inspection and disease control program for an
aquatic farm; or
(b) Fails to register or report production from an aquatic
farm as required by chapter 77.115 RCW.
(2) A violation of a rule regarding inspection and disease
control of aquatic farms is a misdemeanor. [2000 c 107 §
242; 1998 c 190 § 58.]
77.15.360
77.15.360 Unlawful interfering in department operations—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful interfering in department operations if the person prevents department employees from carrying out duties authorized by this
title, including but not limited to interfering in the operation
of department vehicles, vessels, or aircraft.
(2) Unlawful interfering in department operations is a
gross misdemeanor. [2000 c 107 § 243; 1998 c 190 § 61.]
77.15.370
77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in the first
degree—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree if:
(a) The person takes, possesses, or retains two times or
more than the bag limit or possession limit of fish or shellfish
allowed by any rule of the director or commission setting the
amount of food fish, game fish, or shellfish that can be taken,
possessed, or retained for noncommercial use;
(b) The person fishes in a fishway;
(c) The person shoots, gaffs, snags, snares, spears, dipnets, or stones fish or shellfish in state waters, or possesses
fish or shellfish taken by such means, unless such means are
authorized by express rule of the commission or director; or
(d) The person fishes for or possesses a fish listed as
threatened or endangered in 50 C.F.R. Sec. 17.11 (2002),
unless fishing for or possession of such fish is specifically
allowed under federal or state law.
(2) Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree is a
gross misdemeanor. [2005 c 406 § 3; 2001 c 253 § 38; 1998
c 190 § 19.]
77.15.380
77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in the second
degree—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree if the person fishes for,
takes, possesses, or harvests fish or shellfish and:
(a) The person does not have and possess the license or
the catch record card required by chapter 77.32 RCW for
such activity; or
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.390
77.15.390 Seaweed—Unlawful taking—Penalty. (1)
A person is guilty of unlawful taking of seaweed if the person
takes, possesses, or harvests seaweed and:
(a) The person does not have and possess the license
required by chapter 77.32 RCW for taking seaweed; or
(b) The action violates any rule of the department or the
department of natural resources regarding seasons, possession limits, closed areas, closed times, or any other rule
addressing the manner or method of taking, possessing, or
harvesting of seaweed.
(2) Unlawful taking of seaweed is a misdemeanor. This
does not affect rights of the state to recover civilly for trespass, conversion, or theft of state-owned valuable materials.
[2001 c 253 § 40; 2000 c 107 § 245; 1998 c 190 § 20.]
77.15.400
77.15.400 Unlawful hunting of wild birds—Violation
of a rule requiring nontoxic shot—Penalty. (1) A person is
guilty of unlawful hunting of wild birds in the second degree
if the person:
(a) Hunts for, takes, or possesses a wild bird and the person does not have and possess all licenses, tags, stamps, and
permits required under this title;
(b) Maliciously destroys, takes, or harms the eggs or
nests of a wild bird except when authorized by permit;
(c) Violates any rule of the commission or director
regarding seasons, bag or possession limits but less than two
times the bag or possession limit, closed areas, closed times,
or other rule addressing the manner or method of hunting or
possession of wild birds; or
(d) Possesses a wild bird taken during a closed season for
that wild bird or taken from a closed area for that wild bird.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of wild birds
in the first degree if the person takes or possesses two times
or more than the possession or bag limit for wild birds
allowed by rule of the commission or director.
(3)(a) Unlawful hunting of wild birds in the second
degree is a misdemeanor.
(b) Unlawful hunting of wild birds in the first degree is a
gross misdemeanor.
(4) In addition to the penalties set forth in this section, if
a person, other than a youth as defined in RCW 77.08.010 for
hunting purposes, violates a rule adopted by the commission
under the authority of this title that requires the use of nontoxic shot, upon conviction:
(a) The court shall require a payment of one thousand
dollars as a criminal wildlife penalty assessment that must be
paid to the clerk of the court and distributed to the state treasurer for deposit in the fish and wildlife enforcement reward
account created in RCW 77.15.425. The criminal wildlife
penalty assessment must be imposed regardless of and in
[Title 77 RCW—page 35]
77.15.410
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
addition to any sentence, fine, or costs imposed for violating
this section. The criminal wildlife penalty assessment must
be included by the court in any pronouncement of sentence
and may not be suspended, waived, modified, or deferred in
any respect; and
(b) The department shall revoke the hunting license of
the person and order a suspension of small game hunting
privileges for two years. [2006 c 148 § 1; 2001 c 253 § 41;
1999 c 258 § 2; 1998 c 190 § 9.]
77.15.410
77.15.410 Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the
second degree if the person:
(a) Hunts for, takes, or possesses big game and the person does not have and possess all licenses, tags, or permits
required under this title;
(b) Violates any rule of the commission or director
regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed areas
including game reserves, closed times, or any other rule governing the hunting, taking, or possession of big game; or
(c) Possesses big game taken during a closed season for
that big game or taken from a closed area for that big game.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in
the first degree if the person was previously convicted of any
crime under this title involving unlawful hunting, killing,
possessing, or taking big game, and within five years of the
date that the prior conviction was entered the person:
(a) Hunts for big game and does not have and possess all
licenses, tags, or permits required under this title;
(b) Acts in violation of any rule of the commission or
director regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed
areas including game reserves, or closed times; or
(c) Possesses big game taken during a closed season for
that big game or taken from a closed area for that big game.
(3)(a) Unlawful hunting of big game in the second
degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction of an
offense involving killing or possession of big game taken
during a period of time when hunting for the particular species is not permitted, or in excess of the bag or possession
limit, the department shall revoke all hunting licenses and
tags and order a suspension of hunting privileges for two
years.
(b) Unlawful hunting of big game in the first degree is a
class C felony. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke
all hunting licenses or tags and the department shall order the
person’s hunting privileges suspended for ten years. [2005 c
406 § 4; 1999 c 258 § 3; 1998 c 190 § 10.]
77.15.420
77.15.420 Illegally taken or possessed wildlife—
Criminal wildlife penalty assessed. (1) If a person is convicted of violating RCW 77.15.410 and that violation results
in the death of wildlife listed in this section, the court shall
require payment of the following amounts for each animal
killed or possessed. This shall be a criminal wildlife penalty
assessment that shall be paid to the clerk of the court and distributed each month to the state treasurer for deposit in the
fish and wildlife enforcement reward account created in
RCW 77.15.425.
[Title 77 RCW—page 36]
(a) Moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat,
and all wildlife species classified as
endangered by rule of the commission, except for mountain caribou and
grizzly bear as listed under (d) of this
subsection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) Elk, deer, black bear, and cougar. . . . . . .
(c) Trophy animal elk and deer . . . . . . . . . . .
(d) Mountain caribou, grizzly bear, and trophy
animal mountain sheep. . . . . . . . . . .
$4,000
$2,000
$6,000
$12,000
(2) No forfeiture of bail may be less than the amount of
the bail established for hunting during closed season plus the
amount of the criminal wildlife penalty assessment in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) For the purpose of this section a "trophy animal" is:
(a) A buck deer with four or more antler points on both
sides, not including eyeguards;
(b) A bull elk with five or more antler points on both
sides, not including eyeguards; or
(c) A mountain sheep with a horn curl of three-quarter
curl or greater.
For purposes of this subsection, "eyeguard" means an
antler protrusion on the main beam of the antler closest to the
eye of the animal.
(4) If two or more persons are convicted of illegally possessing wildlife in subsection (1) of this section, the criminal
wildlife penalty assessment shall be imposed on them jointly
and separately.
(5) The criminal wildlife penalty assessment shall be
imposed regardless of and in addition to any sentence, fines,
or costs otherwise provided for violating any provision of this
title. The criminal wildlife penalty assessment shall be
included by the court in any pronouncement of sentence and
may not be suspended, waived, modified, or deferred in any
respect. This section may not be construed to abridge or alter
alternative rights of action or remedies in equity or under
common law or statutory law, criminal or civil.
(6) A defaulted criminal wildlife penalty assessment
may be collected by any means authorized by law for the
enforcement of orders of the court or collection of a fine or
costs, including but not limited to vacation of a deferral of
sentencing or vacation of a suspension of sentence.
(7) A person assessed a criminal wildlife penalty assessment under this section shall have his or her hunting license
revoked and all hunting privileges suspended until the penalty assessment is paid through the registry of the court in
which the penalty assessment was assessed.
(8) The criminal wildlife penalty assessments provided
in subsection (1) of this section shall be doubled in the following instances:
(a) When a person is convicted of spotlighting big game
under RCW 77.15.450;
(b) When a person commits a violation that requires payment of a wildlife penalty assessment within five years of a
prior gross misdemeanor or felony conviction under this title;
(c) When the person killed the animal in question with
the intent of bartering, selling, or otherwise deriving economic profit from the animal or the animal’s parts; or
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
(d) When a person kills the animal under the supervision
of a licensed guide. [2005 c 406 § 5; 1998 c 190 § 62.]
77.15.425
77.15.425 Fish and wildlife enforcement reward
account. The fish and wildlife enforcement reward account
is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts
from criminal wildlife penalty assessments under RCW
77.15.420 and 77.15.400 must be deposited into the account.
The department may accept money or personal property from
persons under conditions requiring the property or money to
be used consistent with the intent of expenditures from the
fish and wildlife enforcement reward account. Expenditures
from the account may be used only for investigation and
prosecution of fish and wildlife offenses, to provide rewards
to persons informing the department about violations of this
title and rules adopted under this title, and for other valid
enforcement uses as determined by the commission. Only
the director or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment
procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is
not required for expenditures. [2006 c 148 § 2; 2005 c 406 §
1.]
77.15.430
77.15.430 Unlawful hunting of wild animals—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of wild animals in the second degree if the person:
(a) Hunts for, takes, or possesses a wild animal that is not
classified as big game, and does not have and possess all
licenses, tags, or permits required by this title;
(b) Violates any rule of the commission or director
regarding seasons, bag or possession limits but less than two
times the bag or possession limit, closed areas including
game reserves, closed times, or other rule addressing the
manner or method of hunting or possession of wild animals
not classified as big game; or
(c) Possesses a wild animal that is not classified as big
game taken during a closed season for that wild animal or
from a closed area for that wild animal.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of wild animals in the first degree if the person takes or possesses two
times or more than the possession or bag limit for wild animals that are not classified as big game animals as allowed by
rule of the commission or director.
(3)(a) Unlawful hunting of wild animals in the second
degree is a misdemeanor.
(b) Unlawful hunting of wild animals in the first degree
is a gross misdemeanor. [1999 c 258 § 4; 1998 c 190 § 11.]
77.15.440
77.15.440 Weapons, traps, or dogs on game
reserves—Unlawful use—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of
unlawful use of weapons, traps, or dogs on game reserves if:
(a) The person uses firearms, other hunting weapons, or
traps on a game reserve; or
(b) The person negligently allows a dog upon a game
reserve.
(2) This section does not apply to persons on a public
highway or if the conduct is authorized by rule of the department.
(3) This section does not apply to a person in possession
of a handgun if the person in control of the handgun pos(2006 Ed.)
77.15.460
sesses a valid concealed pistol license and the handgun is
concealed on the person.
(4) Unlawful use of weapons, traps, or dogs on game
reserves is a misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 12.]
77.15.450
77.15.450 Spotlighting big game—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if
the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other
artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession
or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow. For
purposes of this section, "night vision equipment" includes
electronic light amplification devices, thermal imaging
devices, and other comparable equipment used to enhance
night vision.
(2) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the first
degree if:
(a) The person has any prior conviction for gross misdemeanor or felony for a crime under this title involving big
game including but not limited to subsection (1) of this section or RCW 77.15.410; and
(b) Within ten years of the date that such prior conviction
was entered the person commits the act described by subsection (1) of this section.
(3)(a) Spotlighting big game in the second degree is a
gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the department shall
revoke all hunting licenses and tags and order a suspension of
the person’s hunting privileges for two years.
(b) Spotlighting big game in the first degree is a class C
felony. Upon conviction, the department shall order suspension of all privileges to hunt wildlife for a period of ten years.
(4) A person convicted under this section shall be
assessed a criminal wildlife penalty assessment as provided
in RCW 77.15.420. [2005 c 406 § 6; 1998 c 190 § 27.]
77.15.460
77.15.460 Loaded firearm in vehicle—Unlawful use
or possession—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful
possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle if:
(a) The person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or
controls a rifle or shotgun in or on a motor vehicle; and
(b) The rifle or shotgun contains shells or cartridges in
the magazine or chamber, or is a muzzle-loading firearm that
is loaded and capped or primed.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm
if the person negligently shoots a firearm from, across, or
along the maintained portion of a public highway.
(3) Unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in a motor
vehicle or unlawful use of a loaded firearm is a misdemeanor.
(4) This section does not apply if the person:
(a) Is a law enforcement officer who is authorized to
carry a firearm and is on duty within the officer’s respective
jurisdiction;
(b) Possesses a disabled hunter’s permit as provided by
RCW 77.32.237 and complies with all rules of the department concerning hunting by persons with disabilities.
(5) For purposes of this section, a firearm shall not be
considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not
inserted in or attached to the firearm. [1999 c 258 § 7; 1998
c 190 § 28.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 37]
77.15.470
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.15.470
77.15.470 Wildlife check stations or field inspections—Unlawful avoidance—Penalty. (1) A person is
guilty of unlawfully avoiding wildlife check stations or field
inspections if the person fails to:
(a) Obey check station signs;
(b) Stop and report at a check station if directed to do so
by a uniformed fish and wildlife officer; or
(c) Produce for inspection upon request by a fish and
wildlife officer: (i) Hunting or fishing equipment; (ii) seaweed, fish, shellfish, or wildlife; or (iii) licenses, permits,
tags, stamps, or catch record cards required by this title.
(2) Unlawfully avoiding wildlife check stations or field
inspections is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) Wildlife check stations may not be established upon
interstate highways or state routes. [2000 c 107 § 246; 1998
c 190 § 29.]
77.15.480
77.15.480 Certain devices declared public nuisances.
Articles or devices unlawfully used, possessed, or maintained
for catching, taking, killing, attracting, or decoying wildlife,
fish, and shellfish are public nuisances. If necessary, fish and
wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may
seize, abate, or destroy these public nuisances without warrant or process. [2001 c 253 § 42; 2000 c 107 § 247; 1980 c
78 § 27; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.130. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 23; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-33. Formerly RCW 77.12.130.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.500
77.15.500 Commercial fishing without a license—
Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of commercial fishing without a license in the second degree if the person fishes for,
takes, or delivers food fish, shellfish, or game fish while acting for commercial purposes and:
(a) The person does not hold a fishery license or delivery
license under chapter 77.65 RCW for the food fish or shellfish; or
(b) The person is not a licensed operator designated as an
alternate operator on a fishery or delivery license under chapter 77.65 RCW for the food fish or shellfish.
(2) A person is guilty of commercial fishing without a
license in the first degree if the person commits the act
described by subsection (1) of this section and:
(a) The violation involves taking, delivery, or possession
of food fish or shellfish with a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more; or
(b) The violation involves taking, delivery, or possession
of food fish or shellfish from an area that was closed to the
taking of such food fish or shellfish by any statute or rule.
(3)(a) Commercial fishing without a license in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(b) Commercial fishing without a license in the first
degree is a class C felony. [2000 c 107 § 248; 1998 c 190 §
35.]
77.15.510
77.15.510 Commercial fish guiding or chartering
without a license—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of commercial fish guiding or chartering without a license if:
(a) The person operates a charter boat and does not hold
the charter boat license required for the food fish taken;
[Title 77 RCW—page 38]
(b) The person acts as a professional salmon guide and
does not hold a professional salmon guide license; or
(c) The person acts as a game fish guide and does not
hold a game fish guide license.
(2) Commercial fish guiding or chartering without a
license is a gross misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 43; 1998 c 190
§ 36.]
77.15.520
77.15.520 Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or
methods—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of commercial
fishing using unlawful gear or methods if the person acts for
commercial purposes and takes or fishes for any fish or shellfish using any gear or method in violation of a rule of the
department specifying, regulating, or limiting the gear or
method for taking, fishing, or harvesting of such fish or shellfish.
(2) Commercial fishing using unlawful gear or methods
is a gross misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 37.]
77.15.530
77.15.530 Unlawful use of a nondesignated vessel—
Penalty. (1) A person who holds a fishery license required
by chapter 77.65 RCW, or who holds an operator’s license
and is designated as an alternate operator on a fishery license
required by chapter 77.65 RCW, is guilty of unlawful use of
a nondesignated vessel if the person takes, fishes for, or
delivers from that fishery using a vessel not designated on the
person’s license, when vessel designation is required by
chapter 77.65 RCW.
(2) Unlawful use of a nondesignated vessel is a gross
misdemeanor.
(3) A nondesignated vessel may be used, subject to
appropriate notification to the department and in accordance
with rules established by the commission, when a designated
vessel is inoperative because of accidental damage or
mechanical breakdown.
(4) If the person commits the act described by subsection
(1) of this section and the vessel designated on the person’s
fishery license was used by any person in the fishery on the
same day, then the violation for using a nondesignated vessel
is a class C felony. Upon conviction the department shall
order revocation and suspension of all commercial fishing
privileges under chapter 77.65 RCW for a period of one year.
[2000 c 107 § 249; 1998 c 190 § 38.]
77.15.540
77.15.540 Unlawful use of a commercial fishery
license—Penalty. (1) A person who holds a fishery license
required by chapter 77.65 RCW, or who holds an operator’s
license and is designated as an alternate operator on a fishery
license required by chapter 77.65 RCW, is guilty of unlawful
use of a commercial fishery license if the person:
(a) Does not have the commercial fishery license or
operator’s license in possession during fishing or delivery; or
(b) Violates any rule of the department regarding the use,
possession, display, or presentation of the person’s license,
decals, or vessel numbers.
(2) Unlawful use of a commercial fishery license is a
misdemeanor. [2000 c 107 § 250; 1998 c 190 § 39.]
77.15.550
77.15.550 Violation of commercial fishing area or
time—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of violating commer(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
cial fishing area or time in the second degree if the person
acts for commercial purposes and takes, fishes for, possesses,
delivers, or receives fish or shellfish:
(a) At a time not authorized by statute or rule;
(b) From an area that was closed to the taking of such
fish or shellfish for commercial purposes by statute or rule; or
(c) If such fish or shellfish do not conform to the special
restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the
department.
(2) A person is guilty of violating commercial fishing
area or time in the first degree if the person commits the act
described by subsection (1) of this section and:
(a) The person acted with knowledge that the area or
time was not open to the taking or fishing of fish or shellfish
for commercial purposes; and
(b) The violation involved two hundred fifty dollars or
more worth of fish or shellfish.
(3)(a) Violating commercial fishing area or time in the
second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(b) Violating commercial fishing area or time in the first
degree is a class C felony. [2001 c 253 § 44; 1999 c 258 § 10;
1998 c 190 § 40.]
77.15.552 Qualifying commercial fishing violations.
(1) If a person is convicted of two or more qualifying commercial fishing violations within a three-year period, the person’s privileges to participate in the commercial fishery to
which the violations applied may be suspended by the director for up to one year. A commercial fishery license that is
suspended under this section may not be transferred after the
director issues a notice of suspension, or used by an alternative operator or transferred during the period of suspension, if
the person who is the subject of the suspension notice is the
person who owns the commercial fishery license.
(2) For the purposes of this section only, "qualifying
commercial fishing violation" means either:
(a) A conviction under RCW 77.15.500, 77.15.510,
77.15.520, 77.15.530, 77.15.550(1)(a), 77.15.570, 77.15.580,
or 77.15.590;
(b) A gross misdemeanor or felony involving commercial fish harvesting, buying, or selling that is unlawful under
the terms of the license, this title, or the rules issued pursuant
to this title, if the quantity of unlawfully harvested, possessed, bought, or sold fish, other than shellfish, groundfish,
or coastal pelagic species of baitfish totals greater than six
percent, by weight, of the harvest available for inspection at
the time of citation and the cumulative value of the unlawfully harvested fish is more than two hundred fifty dollars at
the time of citation;
(c) A gross misdemeanor or felony involving commercial groundfish or coastal pelagic baitfish harvest, buying, or
selling that is unlawful under the terms of the license, this
title, or the rules issued under this title, if: (i) The quantity of
unlawfully harvested, possessed, bought, or sold groundfish
or coastal pelagic baitfish totals greater than ten percent, by
weight, of the harvest available for inspection at the time of
citation and has a cumulative value greater than five hundred
dollars; or (ii) the quantity, by weight, of the unlawfully commercially harvested groundfish or coastal pelagic baitfish is
ten percent greater than the landing allowances provided
under rules adopted by the department for species catego77.15.552
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.554
rized as over-fished by the national marine fisheries service;
or
(d) A gross misdemeanor or felony involving commercial shellfish harvesting, buying, or selling that is unlawful
under the terms of the license, this title, or the rules issued
pursuant to this title, if the quantity of unlawfully harvested,
possessed, bought, or sold shellfish: (i) Totals greater than
six percent of the harvest available for inspection at the time
of citation; and (ii) totals fifty or more individual shellfish.
(3)(a) The director may refer a person convicted of one
qualifying commercial fishing violation to the license suspension review committee if the director feels that the qualifying commercial fishing violation was of a severe enough
magnitude to justify suspension of the individual’s license
renewal privileges.
(b) The director may refer any person convicted of one
egregious shellfish violation to the license suspension review
committee.
(c) For the purposes of this section only, "egregious
shellfish violation" means a gross misdemeanor or felony
involving commercial shellfish harvesting, buying, or selling
that is unlawful under the terms of the license, this title, or the
rules issued pursuant to this title, if the quantity of unlawfully
harvested, possessed, bought, or sold shellfish: (i) Totals
more than twenty percent of the harvest available for inspection at the time of citation; (ii) totals five hundred or more
individual shellfish; and (iii) is valued at two thousand five
hundred dollars or more.
(4) A person who has a commercial fishing license suspended or revoked under this section may file an appeal with
the license suspension review committee pursuant to RCW
77.15.554. An appeal must be filed within thirty-one days of
notice of license suspension or revocation. If an appeal is
filed, the suspension or revocation issued by the department
does not take effect until after the license suspension review
committee has delivered an opinion. If no appeal is filed
within thirty-one days of notice of license suspension or
revocation, the right to an appeal is considered waived. All
suspensions ordered under this section take effect either
thirty-one days following the conviction for the second qualifying commercial fishing violation, or upon a decision pursuant to RCW 77.15.554, whichever is later.
(5) A fishing privilege suspended under this section is in
addition to the statutory penalties assigned to the underlying
crime.
(6) For the purposes of this section only, the burden is on
the state to show the dollar amount or the percent of a harvest
that is comprised of unlawfully harvested, bought, or sold
individual fish or shellfish. [2003 c 386 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 386: See note following RCW 77.15.700.
77.15.554
77.15.554 License suspension review committee. (1)
The license suspension review committee is created. The
license suspension review committee may only hear appeals
from commercial fishers who have had a license revoked or
suspended pursuant to RCW 77.15.552.
(2)(a) The license suspension review committee is composed of five voting members and up to four alternates.
(b) Two of the members must be appointed by the director and may be department employees.
[Title 77 RCW—page 39]
77.15.560
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(c) Three members, and up to four alternates, must be
peer-group members, who are individuals owning a commercial fishing license issued by the department. If a peer-group
member appears before the license suspension review committee because of a qualifying commercial fishing violation,
the member must recuse himself or herself from the proceedings relating to that violation. No two voting peer-group
members may reside in the same county. All peer-group
members must be appointed by the commission, who may
accept recommendations from professional organizations
that represent commercial fishing interests or from the legislative authority of any Washington county.
(d) All license suspension review committee members
serve a two-year renewable term.
(e) The commission may develop minimum member
standards for service on the license suspension review committee, and standards for terminating a member before the
expiration of his or her term.
(3) The license suspension review committee must convene and deliver an opinion on a license renewal suspension
within three months of appeal or of referral from the department. The director shall consider the committee’s opinion
and make a decision and may issue, not issue, or modify the
license suspension.
(4) The license suspension review committee shall collect the information and hear the testimony that it feels necessary to deliver an opinion on the proper length, if any, of a
suspension of a commercial license. The opinion may be
based on extenuating circumstances presented by the individual convicted of the qualifying commercial fishing violation
or considerations of the type and magnitude of violations that
have been committed by the individual. The maximum
length of any suspension may not exceed one year.
(5) All opinions of the license suspension review committee must be by a majority vote of all voting members.
Alternate committee members may only vote when one of the
voting members is unavailable, has been recused, or has
decided not to vote on the case before the committee. Nonvoting alternates may be present and may participate at all
license suspension review committee meetings.
(6) Members of the license suspension review committee
serve as volunteers, and are not eligible for compensation
other than travel expenses pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060.
(7) Staff of the license suspension review committee
must be provided by the department. [2003 c 386 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 386: See note following RCW 77.15.700.
(2) Failing to report a commercial fish harvest or delivery is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) For purposes of this section, "delivery" of fish or
shellfish occurs when there is a transfer or conveyance of title
or control from the person who took, fished for, or otherwise
harvested the fish or shellfish. [1998 c 190 § 41.]
77.15.565
77.15.565 Wholesale fish dealers—Accounting of
commercial harvest—Penalties. Since violation of the
rules of the department relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish result in damage to
the resources of the state, liability for damage to food fish and
shellfish resources is imposed on a wholesale fish dealer or
the holder of a direct retail endorsement for violation of a
provision in chapter 77.65 RCW or a rule of the department
related to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food
fish and shellfish and shall be for the actual damages or for
damages imposed as follows:
(1) For violation of rules requiring the timely presentation to the department of documents relating to the accounting of commercial harvest, fifty dollars for each of the first
fifteen documents in a series and ten dollars for each subsequent document in the same series. If documents relating to
the accounting of commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish are lost or destroyed and the wholesale dealer or holder
of a direct retail endorsement notifies the department in writing within seven days of the loss or destruction, the director
shall waive the requirement for timely presentation of the
documents.
(2) For violation of rules requiring accurate and legible
information relating to species, value, harvest area, or amount
of harvest, twenty-five dollars for each of the first five violations of this subsection following July 28, 1985, and fifty dollars for each violation after the first five violations.
(3) For violations of rules requiring certain signatures,
fifty dollars for each of the first two violations and one hundred dollars for each subsequent violation. For the purposes
of this subsection, each signature is a separate requirement.
(4) For other violations of rules relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest, fifty dollars for each separate
violation. [2002 c 301 § 6; 2000 c 107 § 12; 1996 c 267 § 14;
1985 c 248 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.10.150.]
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Wholesale fish dealers—Documentation of commercial harvest: RCW
77.65.310.
77.15.568
77.15.560
77.15.560 Commercial fish, shellfish harvest or delivery—Failure to report—Penalty. (1) Except as provided in
RCW 77.15.640, a person is guilty of failing to report a commercial fish or shellfish harvest or delivery if the person acts
for commercial purposes and takes or delivers any fish or
shellfish, and the person:
(a) Fails to sign a fish-receiving ticket that documents
the delivery of fish or shellfish or otherwise documents the
taking or delivery; or
(b) Fails to report or document the taking, landing, or
delivery as required by any rule of the department.
[Title 77 RCW—page 40]
77.15.568 Retail fish seller’s failure to account for
commercial harvest—Penalty. Since violation of rules of
the department relating to the accounting of the commercial
harvest of food fish, commercialized game fish, and shellfish
result in damage to the resources of the state, persons selling
such fish and shellfish at retail, including but not limited to
stores, markets, and restaurants, must maintain sufficient
records for the department to be able to ascertain the origin of
the fish and shellfish in their possession.
(1) A retail fish seller is guilty of retail fish seller’s failure to account for commercial harvest if the retail seller sells
fish or shellfish at retail, the fish or shellfish were required to
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
be entered on a Washington state fish receiving ticket, the
seller is not a wholesale fish dealer or fisher selling under a
direct retail sale endorsement, and the seller fails to maintain
sufficient records at the location where the fish or shellfish
are being sold to determine the following:
(a) The name of the wholesale fish dealer or fisher selling under a direct retail sale endorsement from whom the fish
were purchased;
(b) The wholesale fish dealer’s license number or the
number of the fisher’s sale under a direct retail sale endorsement;
(c) The fish receiving ticket number documenting original receipt, if known;
(d) The date of purchase; and
(e) The amount of fish or shellfish originally purchased
from the wholesale dealer or fisher selling under a direct
retail sale endorsement.
(2) A retail fish seller’s failure to account for commercial
harvest is a misdemeanor. [2003 c 336 § 1.]
77.15.570
77.15.570 Participation of non-Indians in Indian
fishery forbidden—Exceptions, definitions, penalty. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, it is
unlawful for a person who is not a treaty Indian fisherman to
participate in the taking of fish or shellfish in a treaty Indian
fishery, or to be on board a vessel, or associated equipment,
operating in a treaty Indian fishery. A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
(2) A person who violates subsection (1) of this section
with the intent of acting for commercial purposes, including
any sale of catch, control of catch, profit from catch, or payment for fishing assistance, is guilty of a class C felony. Upon
conviction, the department shall order revocation of any
license and a one-year suspension of all commercial fishing
privileges requiring a license under chapter 77.65 or 77.70
RCW.
(3)(a) The spouse, forebears, siblings, children, and
grandchildren of a treaty Indian fisherman may assist the
fisherman in exercising treaty Indian fishing rights when the
treaty Indian fisherman is present at the fishing site.
(b) Other treaty Indian fishermen with off-reservation
treaty fishing rights in the same usual and accustomed places,
whether or not the fishermen are members of the same tribe
or another treaty tribe, may assist a treaty Indian fisherman in
exercising treaty Indian fishing rights when the treaty Indian
fisherman is present at the fishing site.
(c) Biologists approved by the department may be on
board a vessel operating in a treaty Indian fishery.
(4) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Treaty Indian fisherman" means a person who may
exercise treaty Indian fishing rights as determined under
United States v. Washington, 384 F. Supp. 312 (W.D. Wash.
1974), or Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Oregon
1969), and post-trial orders of those courts;
(b) "Treaty Indian fishery" means a fishery open to only
treaty Indian fishermen by tribal or federal regulation;
(c) "To participate" and its derivatives mean an effort to
operate a vessel or fishing equipment, provide immediate
supervision in the operation of a vessel or fishing equipment,
or otherwise assist in the fishing operation, to claim posses(2006 Ed.)
77.15.600
sion of a share of the catch, or to represent that the catch was
lawfully taken in an Indian fishery.
(5) A violation of this section constitutes illegal fishing
and is subject to the suspensions provided for commercial
fishing violations. [2000 c 107 § 251; 1998 c 190 § 49; 1983
1st ex.s. c 46 § 63; 1982 c 197 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.12.320.]
77.15.580
77.15.580 Unlawful use of net to take fish—Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a net to take fish in
the second degree if the person:
(a) Lays, sets, uses, or controls a net or other device or
equipment capable of taking fish from the waters of this state,
except if the person has a valid license for such fishing gear
from the director under this title and is acting in accordance
with all rules of the commission and director; or
(b) Fails to return unauthorized fish to the water immediately while otherwise lawfully operating a net under a valid
license.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a net to take fish
in the first degree if the person:
(a) Commits the act described by subsection (1) of this
section; and
(b) The violation occurs within five years of entry of a
prior conviction for a gross misdemeanor or felony under this
title involving fish, other than a recreational fishing violation,
or involving unlawful use of nets.
(3)(a) Unlawful use of a net to take fish in the second
degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke any license held under this title allowing
commercial net fishing used in connection with the crime.
(b) Unlawful use of a net to take fish in the first degree is
a class C felony. Upon conviction, the department shall order
a one-year suspension of all commercial fishing privileges
requiring a license under this title.
(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, it is lawful to use a landing net to land fish otherwise
legally hooked. [2000 c 107 § 252; 1998 c 190 § 50.]
77.15.590
77.15.590 Commercial fishing vessel—Unlawful use
for recreational or charter fishing—Penalty. (1) A person
is guilty of unlawful use of a commercial fishing vessel,
except as may be authorized by rule of the commission, for
recreational or charter fishing if the person uses, operates, or
controls a vessel on the same day for both:
(a) Charter or recreational fishing; and
(b) Commercial fishing or shellfish harvesting.
(2) Unlawful use of a commercial fishing vessel for recreational or charter fishing is a gross misdemeanor. [1998 c
190 § 51.]
77.15.600
77.15.600 Engaging in commercial wildlife activity
without a license—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of engaging in commercial wildlife activity without a license if the
person:
(a) Deals in raw furs for commercial purposes and does
not hold a fur dealer license required by chapter 77.65 RCW;
or
[Title 77 RCW—page 41]
77.15.610
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(b) Practices taxidermy for commercial purposes and
does not hold a taxidermy license required by chapter 77.65
RCW.
(2) Engaging in commercial wildlife activities without a
license is a gross misdemeanor. [2001 c 253 § 45; 1999 c 258
§ 8; 1998 c 190 § 32.]
77.15.610
77.15.610 Unlawful use of a commercial wildlife
license—Penalty. (1) A person who holds a fur buyer’s
license or taxidermy license is guilty of unlawful use of a
commercial wildlife license if the person:
(a) Fails to have the license in possession while engaged
in fur buying or practicing taxidermy for commercial purposes; or
(b) Violates any rule of the department regarding the use,
possession, display, or presentation of the taxidermy or fur
buyer’s license.
(2) Unlawful use of a commercial wildlife license is a
misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 33.]
77.15.620
77.15.620 Engaging in fish dealing activity—Unlicensed—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of engaging in fish
dealing activity without a license in the second degree if the
person:
(a) Engages in the commercial processing of fish or
shellfish, including custom canning or processing of personal
use fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale dealer’s
license required by RCW 77.65.280(1) or 77.65.480 for
anadromous game fish, or a direct retail endorsement under
RCW 77.65.510;
(b) Engages in the wholesale selling, buying, or brokering of food fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale
dealer’s or buying license required by RCW 77.65.280(2) or
77.65.480 for anadromous game fish;
(c) Is a fisher who lands and sells his or her catch or harvest in the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale
dealer within or outside the state and does not hold a direct
retail endorsement required by RCW 77.65.510; or
(d) Engages in the commercial manufacture or preparation of fertilizer, oil, meal, caviar, fish bait, or other byproducts from food fish or shellfish and does not hold a wholesale
dealer’s license required by RCW 77.65.280(4) or 77.65.480
for anadromous game fish.
(2) Engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in
the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) A person is guilty of engaging in fish dealing activity
without a license in the first degree if the person commits the
act described by subsection (1) of this section and the violation involves fish or shellfish worth two hundred fifty dollars
or more. Engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in
the first degree is a class C felony. [2002 c 301 § 7; 2000 c
107 § 253; 1998 c 190 § 43.]
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
77.15.630
77.15.630 Fish buying and dealing licenses—Unlawful use—Penalty. (1) A person who holds a fish dealer’s
license required by RCW 77.65.280, an anadromous game
fish buyer’s license required by RCW 77.65.480, or a fish
buyer’s license required by RCW 77.65.340 is guilty of
[Title 77 RCW—page 42]
unlawful use of fish buying and dealing licenses in the second
degree if the person:
(a) Possesses or receives fish or shellfish for commercial
purposes worth less than two hundred fifty dollars; and
(b) Fails to document such fish or shellfish with a fishreceiving ticket required by statute or rule of the department.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of fish buying and
dealing licenses in the first degree if the person commits the
act described by subsection (1) of this section and:
(a) The violation involves fish or shellfish worth two
hundred fifty dollars or more;
(b) The person acted with knowledge that the fish or
shellfish were taken from a closed area, at a closed time, or by
a person not licensed to take such fish or shellfish for commercial purposes; or
(c) The person acted with knowledge that the fish or
shellfish were taken in violation of any tribal law.
(3)(a) Unlawful use of fish buying and dealing licenses
in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
(b) Unlawful use of fish buying and dealing licenses in
the first degree is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the
department shall suspend all privileges to engage in fish buying or dealing for two years. [2000 c 107 § 254; 1998 c 190
§ 44.]
77.15.640
77.15.640 Wholesale fish buying and dealing—Rules
violations—Penalty. (1) A person who holds a wholesale
fish dealer’s license required by RCW 77.65.280, an anadromous game fish buyer’s license required by RCW 77.65.480,
a fish buyer’s license required by RCW 77.65.340, or a direct
retail endorsement under RCW 77.65.510 is guilty of violating rules governing wholesale fish buying and dealing if the
person:
(a) Fails to possess or display his or her license when
engaged in any act requiring the license;
(b) Fails to display or uses the license in violation of any
rule of the department;
(c) Files a signed fish-receiving ticket but fails to provide
all information required by rule of the department; or
(d) Violates any other rule of the department regarding
wholesale fish buying and dealing.
(2) Violating rules governing wholesale fish buying and
dealing is a gross misdemeanor. [2002 c 301 § 8; 2000 c 107
§ 255; 1998 c 190 § 45.]
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
77.15.650
77.15.650 Unlawful purchase or use of a license—
Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful purchase or use
of a license in the second degree if the person buys, holds,
uses, displays, transfers, or obtains any license, tag, permit,
or approval required by this title and the person:
(a) Uses false information to buy, hold, use, display, or
obtain a license, permit, tag, or approval;
(b) Acquires, holds, or buys in excess of one license, permit, or tag for a license year if only one license, permit, or tag
is allowed per license year;
(c) Uses or displays a license, permit, tag, or approval
that was issued to another person;
(2006 Ed.)
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Code
(d) Permits or allows a license, permit, tag, or approval
to be used or displayed by another person not named on the
license, permit, tag, or approval;
(e) Acquires or holds a license while privileges for the
license are revoked or suspended.
(2) A person is guilty of unlawful purchase or use of a
license in the first degree if the person commits the act
described by subsection (1) of this section and the person was
acting with intent that the license, permit, tag, or approval be
used for any commercial purpose. A person is presumed to be
acting with such intent if the violation involved obtaining,
holding, displaying, or using a license or permit for participation in any commercial fishery issued under this title or a
license authorizing fish or wildlife buying, trafficking, or
wholesaling.
(3)(a) Unlawful purchase or use of a license in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the
department shall revoke any unlawfully used or held licenses
and order a two-year suspension of participation in the activities for which the person unlawfully obtained, held, or used
a license.
(b) Unlawful purchase or use of a license in the first
degree is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the department
shall revoke any unlawfully used or held licenses and order a
five-year suspension of participation in any activities for
which the person unlawfully obtained, held, or used a license.
(4) For purposes of this section, a person "uses" a
license, permit, tag, or approval if the person engages in any
activity authorized by the license, permit, tag, or approval
held or possessed by the person. Such uses include but are not
limited to fishing, hunting, taking, trapping, delivery or landing fish or wildlife, and selling, buying, or wholesaling of
fish or wildlife.
(5) Any license obtained in violation of this section is
void upon issuance and is of no legal effect. [2000 c 107 §
256; 1998 c 190 § 59.]
77.15.660
77.15.660 Unlawful use of scientific permit—Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a scientific permit if
the person:
(a) Violates any terms or conditions of a scientific permit
issued by the director;
(b) Buys or sells fish or wildlife taken with a scientific
permit; or
(c) Violates any rule of the commission or the director
applicable to the issuance or use of scientific permits.
(2) Unlawful use of a scientific permit is a gross misdemeanor. [1998 c 190 § 55.]
77.15.670
77.15.670 Suspension of department privileges—
Violation—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of violating a
suspension of department privileges in the second degree if
the person engages in any activity that is licensed by the
department and the person’s privileges to engage in that
activity were revoked or suspended by any court or the
department.
(2) A person is guilty of violating a suspension of department privileges in the first degree if the person commits the
act described by subsection (1) of this section and:
(2006 Ed.)
77.15.690
(a) The suspension of privileges that was violated was a
permanent suspension;
(b) The person takes or possesses more than two hundred
fifty dollars’ worth of unlawfully taken food fish, wildlife,
game fish, seaweed, or shellfish; or
(c) The violation involves the hunting, taking, or possession of fish or wildlife classified as endangered or threatened
or big game.
(3)(a) Violating a suspension of department privileges in
the second degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction,
the department shall order permanent suspension of the person’s privileges to engage in such hunting or fishing activities.
(b) Violating a suspension of department privileges in
the first degree is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the
department shall order permanent suspension of all privileges
to hunt, fish, trap, or take wildlife, food fish, or shellfish.
(4) As used in this section, hunting includes trapping
with a trapping license. [1999 c 258 § 11; 1998 c 190 § 60.]
77.15.675
77.15.675 Hunting while intoxicated—Penalty. (1) A
person is guilty of hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person hunts wild animals or
wild birds while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
drugs.
(2) Hunting while under the influence of intoxicating
liquor or drugs is a gross misdemeanor. [1999 c 258 § 12;
1980 c 78 § 75; 1955 c 36 § 77.16.070. Prior: 1947 c 275 §
45 a; Rem . Sup p. 1 94 7 § 59 92- 55 . For mer ly RCW
77.16.070.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.15.680
77.15.680 Department authority to suspend privileges—Form and procedure. (1) If any crime in this chapter is punishable by a suspension of privileges, then the
department shall issue an order that specifies the privileges
suspended and period when such suspension shall begin and
end. The department has no authority to issue licenses, permits, tags, or stamps for the suspended activity until the suspension ends and any license, tag, stamp, or other permission
obtained in violation of an order of suspension is void and
ineffective.
(2) A court sentence may include a suspension of privileges only if grounds are provided by statute. There is no
right to seek reinstatement of privileges from the department
during a period of court-ordered suspension.
(3) If this chapter makes revocation or suspension of
privileges mandatory, then the department shall impose the
punishment in addition to any other punishments authorized
by law. [1998 c 190 § 65.]
77.15.690
77.15.690 Department authority to revoke licenses.
(1) Upon any conviction of any violation of this chapter, the
department may revoke any license, tag, or stamp, or other
permit involved in the violation or held by the person convicted, in addition to other penalties provided by law.
(2) If the department orders that a license, tag, stamp, or
other permit be revoked, that order is effective upon entry of
the order and any such revoked license, tag, stamp, or other
[Title 77 RCW—page 43]
77.15.700
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
permit is void as a result of such order of revocation. The
department shall order such license, tag, stamp, or other permit turned over to the department, and shall order the person
not to acquire a replacement or duplicate for the remainder of
the period for which the revoked license, tag, stamp, or other
permit would have been valid. During this period when a
license is revoked, the person is subject to punishment under
this chapter. If the person appeals the sentence by the court,
the revocation shall be effective during the appeal.
(3) If an existing license, tag, stamp, or other permit is
voided and revoked under this chapter, the department and its
agents shall not be required to refund or restore any fees,
costs, or money paid for the license, nor shall any person
have any right to bring a collateral appeal under chapter
34.05 RCW to attack the department order. [1998 c 190 §
64.]
77.15.700
77.15.700 Grounds for department revocation and
suspension of privileges. The department shall impose revocation and suspension of privileges in the following circumstances:
(1) Upon conviction, if directed by statute for an offense;
(2) Upon conviction, if the department finds that actions
of the defendant demonstrated a willful or wanton disregard
for conservation of fish or wildlife. Such suspension of privileges may be permanent. This subsection (2) does not apply
to violations involving commercial fishing;
(3) If a person is convicted twice within ten years for a
violation involving unlawful hunting, killing, or possessing
big game, the department shall order revocation and suspension of all hunting privileges for two years. RCW 77.12.722
or *77.16.050 as it existed before June 11, 1998, may comprise one of the convictions constituting the basis for revocation and suspension under this subsection;
(4)(a) If a person is convicted of an offense, has an
uncontested notice of infraction, fails to appear at a hearing to
contest an infraction, or is found to have committed an infraction three times in ten years involving any violation of recreational hunting or fishing laws or rules, the department shall
order a revocation and suspension of all recreational hunting
and fishing privileges for two years.
(b) A violation punishable as an infraction counts
towards the revocation and suspension of recreational hunting and fishing privileges only where that violation is:
(i) Punishable as a crime on July 24, 2005, and is subsequently decriminalized; or
(ii) One of the following violations, as they exist on July
24, 2005: RCW 77.15.160 (1) or (2); WAC 220-56-116;
WAC 220-56-315(11); or WAC 220-56-355 (1) through (4).
(c) The commission may, by rule, designate additional
infractions that do not count towards the revocation and suspension of recreational hunting and fishing privileges. [2005
c 321 § 1; 2003 c 386 § 2; 2001 c 253 § 46; 1998 c 190 § 66.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.16.050 was repealed by 1998 c 190 § 124.
Findings—Intent—2003 c 386: "(1)(a) The legislature finds that existing law as it relates to the suspension of commercial fishing licenses does not
take into account the real-life circumstances faced by the state’s commercial
fishing fleets. The nature of the commercial fishing industry, together with
the complexity of fisheries regulations, is such that honest mistakes can be
made by well-meaning and otherwise law-abiding fishers. Commercial fishing violations that occur within an acceptable margin of error should not
result in the suspension of fishing privileges. Likewise, fishers facing the
[Title 77 RCW—page 44]
possibility of license suspension or revocation deserve the opportunity to
explain any extenuating circumstances prior to having his or her professional
privileges suspended.
(b) The legislature intends, by creating the license suspension review
committee, to provide a fisher with the opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that led to a commercial fishing violation. The legislature
intends for the license suspension review committee to give serious considerations to the case-specific facts and scenarios leading up to a violation, and
for license suspensions to issue only when the facts indicate a willful act that
undermines the conservation of fish stocks. Frivolous violations should not
result in the suspension of privileges, and should be punished only by the
criminal sanctions attached to the underlying crime.
(2)(a) The legislature further finds that gross abuses of fish stocks
should not be tolerated. Individuals convicted of even one violation that is
egregious in nature, causing serious detriment to a fishery or the competitive
disposition of other fishers, should have his or her license suspended and
revoked.
(b) The legislature intends for the license suspension review committee
to take egregious fisheries’ violations seriously. When dealing with individuals convicted of only one violation, the license suspension review committee should only consider suspension for individuals that are convicted of violations that are of a severe magnitude and show a wanton disregard for the
public’s resource." [2003 c 386 § 1.]
77.15.710
77.15.710 Conviction for assault—Revocation of
licenses and suspension of privileges. (1) The commission
shall revoke all hunting, fishing, or other licenses issued
under this title and order a ten-year suspension of all privileges extended under the authority of the department of a person convicted of assault on a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio officer, employee, agent, or personnel acting for the
department, if the employee assaulted was on duty at the time
of the assault and carrying out the provisions of this title. The
suspension shall be continued beyond this period if any damages to the victim have not been paid by the suspended person.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the definition of
assault includes:
(a) RCW 9A.32.030; murder in the first degree;
(b) RCW 9A.32.050; murder in the second degree;
(c) RCW 9A.32.060; manslaughter in the first degree;
(d) RCW 9A.32.070; manslaughter in the second degree;
(e) RCW 9A.36.011; assault in the first degree;
(f) RCW 9A.36.021; assault in the second degree; and
(g) RCW 9A.36.031; assault in the third degree. [2000 c
107 § 257; 1998 c 190 § 67; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 43 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993 sp.s. c
2 § 74; 1991 c 211 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.16.135.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.15.720
77.15.720 Shooting another person, livestock—
Director’s authority to suspend privileges. (1) If a person
shoots another person or domestic livestock while hunting,
the director shall revoke all hunting licenses and suspend all
hunting privileges for three years. If the shooting of another
person or livestock is the result of criminal negligence or
reckless or intentional conduct, then the person’s privileges
shall be suspended for ten years. The suspension shall be continued beyond these periods if damages owed to the victim or
(2006 Ed.)
Game Fish Mitigation
livestock owner have not been paid by the suspended person.
A hunting license shall not be reissued to the suspended person unless authorized by the director.
(2) Within twenty days of service of an order suspending
privileges or imposing conditions under this section or RCW
77.15.710, a person may petition for administrative review
under chapter 34.05 RCW by serving the director with a petition for review. The order is final and unappealable if there is
no timely petition for administrative review.
(3) The commission may by rule authorize petitions for
reinstatement of administrative suspensions and define circumstances under which reinstatement will be allowed.
[2000 c 107 § 258; 1998 c 190 § 68.]
77.15.900
77.15.900 Short title. This chapter may be known and
cited as the fish and wildlife enforcement code. [1998 c 190
§ 126.]
77.15.901
77.15.901 Captions not law. Captions used in this
chapter are not any part of the law. [1998 c 190 § 127.]
77.15.902
77.15.902 Savings—1998 c 190. The enactment of
chapter 190, Laws of 1998 does not terminate, or in any way
modify, any liability, civil or criminal, that was in existence
on June 11, 1998. [1998 c 190 § 129.]
Chapter 77.18
77.15.730
77.15.730 Wildlife violator compact citations and
convictions. (1) Upon receipt of a report of failure to comply
with the terms of a citation issued for a recreational violation
from the licensing authority of a state that is a party to the
wildlife violator compact under RCW 77.75.070, the department shall suspend the violator’s recreational license privileges under this title until there is satisfactory evidence of
compliance with the terms of the wildlife citation. The
department shall adopt by rule procedures for the timely notification and administrative review of such suspension of recreational licensing privileges.
(2) Upon receipt of a report of a conviction for a recreational offense from the licensing authority of a state that is a
party to the wildlife violator compact under RCW 77.75.070,
the department shall enter such conviction in its records and
shall treat such conviction as if it occurred in the state of
Washington for the purposes of suspension, revocation, or
forfeiture of recreational license privileges. [2001 c 253 §
47; 1994 c 264 § 45; 1993 c 82 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.10.220.]
Revoked licenses—Application—1993 c 82: See note following
RCW 77.75.070.
77.15.732
77.15.732 Citations from wildlife violator compact
party state—Failure to comply. (1) Upon receipt of a
report of failure to comply with the terms of a citation from
the licensing authority of a state that is a party to the wildlife
violator compact under RCW 77.75.070, the department shall
suspend the violator’s license privileges under this title until
satisfactory evidence of compliance with the terms of the
wildlife citation has been furnished by the issuing state to the
department. The department shall adopt by rule procedures
for the timely notification and administrative review of such
suspension of licensing privileges.
(2) Upon receipt of a report of a conviction from the
licensing authority of a state that is a party to the wildlife violator compact under RCW 77.75.070, the department shall
enter such conviction in its records and shall treat such conviction as if it occurred in the state of Washington for the purposes of suspension, revocation, or forfeiture of license privileges. [2000 c 107 § 263; 1993 c 82 § 5. Formerly RCW
77.21.090.]
Revoked licenses—Application—1993 c 82: See note following
RCW 77.75.070.
(2006 Ed.)
77.18.060
Chapter 77.18 RCW
GAME FISH MITIGATION
Sections
77.18.050
77.18.060
Planting privately produced trout.
Determination of appropriate waters.
77.18.050
77.18.050 Planting privately produced trout. The
legislature finds that it is beneficial to improve opportunities
for trout fishing in order to satisfy the public’s demand for
recreational fishing during a time of declining opportunities
to catch anadromous salmon and steelhead trout.
Fish farmers can produce trout in a triploid genetic configuration for the purpose of certifying that the fish are sterile
and that they cannot interbreed with wild trout. These fish are
ideally suited to planting into public lakes and ponds to provide immediate recreational fishing at a reasonable cost. The
fish continue to grow throughout their life cycle and have the
potential to grow to trophy size.
Planting of these catchable trout can provide increased
angler participation, increased fishing license sales, increased
tourism activities, and a boost to local economies.
The department of fish and wildlife is authorized to purchase these privately produced fish to supplement existing
department trout hatchery production. The planting of these
catchable trout in water bodies with water quality sufficient
to support fish life must not have an adverse impact on the
wild trout population. [1999 c 363 § 1.]
Report to the legislature—1999 c 363: "The department of fish and
wildlife shall report to the appropriate legislative committees by February 1,
2001, regarding the implementation of this act. The report shall include
information regarding the location and number of fish planted, the size of the
fish planted, and information relating to the cost-effectiveness of the catchable trout program, including an estimate of new license revenues generated
by the programs." [1999 c 363 § 4.]
Effective date—1999 c 363: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 17, 1999]." [1999 c 363 § 6.]
77.18.060
77.18.060 Determination of appropriate waters. The
fish and wildlife commission in consultation with the department is authorized to determine which waters of the state are
appropriate for this use. In making this determination, the
commission shall seek geographic distribution to assure
opportunity to fishers statewide.
The commission in consultation with the department will
determine the maximum number of fish that may be planted
into state waters so as not to compete with the wild popula[Title 77 RCW—page 45]
Chapter 77.32
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
tions of fish species in the water body. [2005 c 87 § 1; 1999
c 363 § 2.]
Report to the legislature—Effective date—1999 c 363: See notes following RCW 77.18.050.
Chapter 77.32
Chapter 77.32 RCW
LICENSES
Sections
77.32.007
77.32.010
77.32.014
77.32.025
77.32.050
77.32.070
77.32.090
77.32.155
77.32.237
77.32.238
77.32.240
77.32.250
77.32.256
77.32.320
77.32.350
77.32.370
77.32.380
77.32.400
77.32.410
77.32.420
77.32.430
77.32.440
77.32.450
77.32.460
77.32.470
77.32.480
77.32.490
77.32.500
77.32.510
77.32.520
77.32.525
77.32.530
77.32.535
77.32.540
77.32.545
77.32.550
77.32.555
77.32.560
"Special hunting season" defined.
Recreational license required—Activities—Permit for parking.
Licenses, tags, and stamps—Revocation/privileges suspended
for noncompliance with support order.
Establishment of times and places for family fishing with no
license or catch record card—Authorized.
Recreational licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets
issued by authorized officials—Rules—Fees—Transaction
fee.
Information required from license applicants—Reports on taking/effort to harvest fish, shellfish, and wildlife—Administrative penalty.
Licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets—Rules for
form, display, procedures.
Hunter education training program—Certificate.
Disabled hunter’s permits.
Disabled hunter’s permits—Shooting from a motor vehicle—
Assistance from nondisabled hunter.
Scientific permit—Procedures—Penalties—Fee.
Licenses nontransferable.
Duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and stamps—Fees.
Required licenses, tags—Transport tags for game.
Pheasant or migratory birds—Supplemental permit, stamp—
Fees.
Special hunting season permits—Fee.
Fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit—Improved access
facility—Fee—Youth groups—Display—Transfer between
vehicles—Penalty.
Disabled persons—Designated harvester card—Fish and
shellfish.
Personal use fishing license—Reciprocity with Oregon in concurrent waters of Columbia river and coastal waters.
Recreational licenses—Nontransferable—Enforcement provisions.
Catch record card—Disposition of funds.
Enhancement programs—Funding levels—Rules—Deposit to
warm water game fish account.
Big game hunting license—Fees.
Small game hunting license—Turkey tags—Fees.
Personal use fishing licenses—Fees—Temporary fishing
license—Family fishing weekend license—Rules.
Reduced rate licenses.
Reduced rate combination fishing license.
Saltwater, freshwater transition areas—Rule-making authority.
Recreational license fees—Disposition of appropriation.
Personal use shellfish and seaweed license—Razor clam
license—Fees—License visible on licensee.
Hunting and fishing contests—Field trials for dogs—Rules—
Limitation.
Hunting big game—Auction or raffle—Procedure.
Private lands—Raffle authorization to hunt big game.
Hunting and fishing contests—Field trials for dogs—Permit—
Rules.
Removal of trap—Identification of traps—Disclosure of identities.
Group fishing permit.
Surcharge to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring.
Watchable wildlife decals.
77.32.007
77.32.007 "Special hunting season" defined. For the
purposes of this chapter "special hunting season" means a
hunting season established by rule of the commission for the
purpose of taking specified wildlife under a special hunting
permit. [1984 c 240 § 8.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 46]
77.32.010 Recreational license required—Activities—Permit for parking. (1) Except as otherwise provided
in this chapter, a recreational license issued by the director is
required to hunt for or take wild animals or wild birds, fish
for, take, or harvest fish, shellfish, and seaweed. A recreational fishing or shellfish license is not required for carp,
smelt, and crawfish, and a hunting license is not required for
bullfrogs.
(2) A permit issued by the department is required to park
a motor vehicle upon improved department access facilities.
[2006 c 57 § 1; 2001 c 253 § 49; 2000 c 107 § 264; 1998 c 191
§ 7; 1987 c 506 § 76; 1985 c 457 § 25; 1983 c 284 § 2; 1981
c 310 § 7; 1980 c 78 § 103; 1979 ex.s. c 3 § 1; 1959 c 245 §
1; 1955 c 36 § 77.32.010. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 93; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-102.]
77.32.010
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.014 Licenses, tags, and stamps—Revocation/privileges suspended for noncompliance with support order. Licenses, tags, and stamps issued pursuant to
this chapter shall be revoked and the privileges suspended for
any period in which a person is certified by the department of
social and health services or a court of competent jurisdiction
as a person in noncompliance with a support order. Fish and
wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers shall
enforce this section through checks of the department of
licensing’s computer data base. A listing on the department
of licensing’s data base that an individual’s license is currently suspended pursuant to RCW 46.20.291(8) shall be
prima facie evidence that the individual is in noncompliance
with a support order. Presentation of a written release issued
by the department of social and health services stating that
the person is in compliance with an order shall serve as prima
facie proof of compliance with a support order. [2001 c 253
§ 50; 2000 c 107 § 265; 1998 c 191 § 8; 1997 c 58 § 881.]
77.32.014
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
77.32.025
77.32.025 Establishment of times and places for family fishing with no license or catch record card—Authorized. Notwithstanding RCW 77.32.010, the commission
may adopt rules designating times and places for the purposes of family fishing days when licenses and catch record
cards are not required to fish or to harvest shellfish. [1998 c
191 § 9; 1996 c 20 § 2; 1987 c 506 § 103.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1996 c 20: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 20 § 3.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
(2006 Ed.)
Licenses
77.32.050 Recreational licenses, permits, tags,
stamps, and raffle tickets issued by authorized officials—
Rules—Fees—Transaction fee. All recreational licenses,
permits, tags, and stamps required by this title and raffle tickets authorized under chapter 77.12 RCW shall be issued
under the authority of the commission. The commission shall
adopt rules for the issuance of recreational licenses, permits,
tags, stamps, and raffle tickets, and for the collection, payment, and handling of license fees, terms and conditions to
govern dealers, and dealers’ fees. A transaction fee on recreational documents issued through an automated licensing
system may be set by the commission and collected from licensees. The department may authorize all or part of such fee
to be paid directly to a contractor providing automated licensing system services. Fees retained by dealers shall be uniform throughout the state. The department shall authorize
dealers to collect and retain dealer fees of at least two dollars
for purchase of a standard hunting or fishing recreational
license document, except that the commission may set a
lower dealer fee for issuance of tags or when a licensee buys
a license that involves a stamp or display card format rather
than a standard department licensing document form. [2003
c 389 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 266; 1999 c 243 § 2; 1998 c 191 § 10;
1996 c 101 § 8; 1995 c 116 § 1; 1987 c 506 § 77; 1981 c 310
§ 16; 1980 c 78 § 106; 1979 ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1955 c 36 §
77.32.050. Prior: 1953 c 75 § 2; 1947 c 275 § 97; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-106.]
77.32.050
Finding—1999 c 243: "The legislature finds that recreational license
dealers are private businesses that provide the service of license sales in
every part of the state. The dealers who sell recreational fishing and hunting
licenses for the department of fish and wildlife perform a valuable public service function for those members of the public who purchase licenses as well
as a revenue generating function for the department. The modernized fishing
and hunting license format will require additional investments by license
dealers in employee training and public education." [1999 c 243 § 1.]
Effective date—1999 c 243: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 10, 1999]." [1999 c 243 § 4.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: "Sections 10, 24, 31 through 33, 37, 43,
and 45 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and take effect immediately [March 27, 1998]." [1998 c
191 § 49.]
Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.155
the report. The department must provide reasonable options
for a licensee to submit information to a live operator prior to
the reporting deadline.
(2) The commission may, by rule, set an administrative
penalty for failure to comply with rules requiring the reporting of taking or effort to harvest wildlife. The commission
may also adopt rules requiring hunters who have not reported
for the previous license year to complete a report and pay the
assessed administrative penalty before a new hunting license
is issued.
(a) The total administrative penalty per hunter set by the
commission must not exceed ten dollars.
(b) By December 31st of each year, the department shall
report the rate of hunter compliance with the harvest reporting requirement, the administrative penalty imposed for failing to report, and the amount of administrative penalties collected during that year to the appropriate fiscal and policy
committees of the senate and house of representatives. [2005
c 418 § 1; 2004 c 248 § 3; 1998 c 191 § 11; 1995 c 116 § 3;
1987 c 506 § 79; 1981 c 310 § 18; 1980 c 78 § 108; 1955 c 36
§ 77.32.070. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 99; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-108.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.090
77.32.090 Licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle
tickets—Rules for form, display, procedures. The commission may adopt rules pertaining to the form, period of
validity, use, possession, and display of licenses, permits,
tags, stamps, and raffle tickets required by this chapter.
[2000 c 107 § 267; 1998 c 191 § 12; 1996 c 101 § 10; 1995 c
116 § 4; 1987 c 506 § 80; 1981 c 310 § 19; 1980 c 78 § 109;
1955 c 36 § 77.32.090. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 101; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-110.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.155
77.32.070
77.32.070 Information required from license applicants—Reports on taking/effort to harvest fish, shellfish,
and wildlife—Administrative penalty. (1) Applicants for a
license, permit, tag, or stamp shall furnish the information
required by the director. However, the director may not
require the purchaser of a razor clam license under RCW
77.32.520 to provide any personal information except for
proof of residency. The commission may adopt rules requiring licensees or permittees to keep records and make reports
concerning the taking of or effort to harvest fish, shellfish,
and wildlife. The reporting requirement may be waived
where, for any reason, the department is not able to receive
(2006 Ed.)
77.32.155 Hunter education training program—Certificate. (1) When purchasing any hunting license, persons
under the age of eighteen shall present certification of completion of a course of instruction of at least ten hours in the
safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and sportsmanship. All persons purchasing any hunting license for the
first time, if born after January 1, 1972, shall present such
certification.
(2) The director may establish a program for training
persons in the safe handling of firearms, conservation, and
sportsmanship and shall prescribe the type of instruction and
the qualifications of the instructors. The director may cooperate with the National Rifle Association, organized sports[Title 77 RCW—page 47]
77.32.237
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
men’s groups, or other public or private organizations when
establishing the training program.
(3) Upon the successful completion of a course established under this section, the trainee shall receive a hunter
education certificate signed by an authorized instructor. The
certificate is evidence of compliance with this section.
(4) The director may accept certificates from other states
that persons have successfully completed firearm safety,
hunter education, or similar courses as evidence of compliance with this section.
(5) To encourage the participation of an adequate number of instructors for the training program, the commission
shall develop nonmonetary incentives available to individuals who commit to serving as an instructor. The incentives
may include additional hunting opportunities for instructors.
[2006 c 23 § 1; 1998 c 191 § 17; 1993 c 85 § 1; 1987 c 506 §
81; 1981 c 310 § 21; 1980 c 78 § 104; 1957 c 17 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.32.015.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.237 Disabled hunter’s permits. The commission shall attempt to enhance the hunting opportunities of
persons of disability. The commission shall authorize the
director to issue disabled hunter permits to persons of disability. The commission shall adopt rules governing the conduct
of disabled hunters and their nondisabled companions. [1989
c 297 § 1.]
77.32.237
permit. The director may require a bond of up to one thousand dollars to ensure compliance with the permit. Permits
are valid for the time specified, unless sooner revoked.
Holders of permits may exchange specimens with the
approval of the director.
A permit holder who violates this section shall forfeit the
permit and bond and shall not receive a similar permit for one
year. The fee for a scientific permit is twelve dollars. [1998
c 191 § 21; 1991 sp.s. c 7 § 6; 1981 c 310 § 28; 1980 c 78 §
119; 1955 c 36 § 77.32.240. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 113; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 5992-122.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.250
77.32.250 Licenses nontransferable. Licenses, permits, tags, and stamps required by this chapter and raffle tickets authorized under this chapter shall not be transferred.
[2001 c 253 § 51; 2000 c 107 § 269; 1998 c 191 § 22; 1996 c
101 § 12; 1995 c 116 § 5; 1981 c 310 § 29; 1980 c 78 § 120;
1955 c 36 § 77.32.250. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 114; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-123.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.256
77.32.238
77.32.238 Disabled hunter’s permits—Shooting from
a motor vehicle—Assistance from nondisabled hunter.
(1) A disabled hunter who possesses a disabled hunter permit
and all appropriate hunting licenses may possess a loaded
firearm or other legal hunting device in and may discharge a
firearm or other legal hunting device from a nonmoving
motor vehicle that has the engine turned off. Disabled hunters
shall not be exempt from permit requirements for carrying
concealed weapons, or from rules, laws, or ordinances concerning the discharge of these weapons. No hunting shall be
permitted from a motor vehicle that is parked on or beside the
maintained portion of a public road.
(2) A person of disability holding a disabled hunter permit may be accompanied by one nondisabled licensed hunter
who may assist the disabled hunter by killing game wounded
by the disabled hunter, and by tagging and retrieving game
killed by the disabled hunter. A nondisabled hunter shall not
possess a loaded gun in, or shoot from, a motor vehicle.
[1989 c 297 § 2.]
77.32.240
77.32.240 Scientific permit—Procedures—Penalties—Fee. A scientific permit allows the holder to collect for
research or display food fish, game fish, shellfish, and wildlife, including avian nests and eggs as required in RCW
77.32.010, under conditions prescribed by the director.
Before a permit is issued, the applicant shall demonstrate to
the director their qualifications and establish the need for the
[Title 77 RCW—page 48]
77.32.256 Duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags,
and stamps—Fees. The director shall by rule establish the
conditions and fees for issuance of duplicate licenses,
rebates, permits, tags, and stamps required by this chapter.
The fee for duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and
stamps, except catch record cards, may not exceed the actual
cost to the department for issuing the duplicate. [2003 c 318
§ 2; 2002 c 222 § 1; 1995 c 116 § 6; 1994 c 255 § 13; 1991
sp.s. c 7 § 7; 1987 c 506 § 86; 1985 c 464 § 7; 1981 c 310 §
30; 1980 c 78 § 121; 1975 1st ex.s. c 15 § 32.]
Effective date—2003 c 318: See note following RCW 77.32.430.
Effective date—1994 c 255 §§ 1-13: See note following RCW
77.32.520.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—1985 c 464: See note following RCW 77.32.191.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW
77.65.450.
77.32.320
77.32.320 Required licenses, tags—Transport tags
for game. (1) The correct licenses and tags are required to
hunt deer, elk, black bear, cougar, sheep, mountain goat,
moose, or wild turkey except as provided in RCW 77.32.450.
(2006 Ed.)
Licenses
(2) Persons who kill deer, elk, bear, cougar, mountain
goat, sheep, moose, or wild turkey shall immediately validate
and attach their own transport tag to the carcass as provided
by rule of the director. [1998 c 191 § 23; 1997 c 114 § 1;
1990 c 84 § 4; 1987 c 506 § 87; 1981 c 310 § 8.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
77.32.350
77.32.350 Pheasant or migratory birds—Supplemental permit, stamp—Fees. In addition to a small game hunting license, a supplemental permit or stamp is required to
hunt for western Washington pheasant or migratory birds.
(1) A western Washington pheasant permit is required to
hunt for pheasant in western Washington. Western Washington pheasant permits must contain numbered spaces for
recording the location and date of harvest of each western
Washington pheasant.
(2) The permit shall be available as a season option, a
youth full season option, or a three-day option. The fee for
this permit is:
(a) For the resident and nonresident full season option,
thirty-six dollars;
(b) For the youth full season option, eighteen dollars;
(c) For the three-day option, twenty dollars.
(3) A migratory bird validation is required for all persons
sixteen years of age or older to hunt migratory birds. The fee
for the validation for hunters is ten dollars for residents and
nonresidents. The fee for the stamp for collectors is ten dollars.
(4) The migratory bird license must be validated at the
time of signature of the licensee. [2002 c 283 § 1; 2000 c 107
§ 270; 1998 c 191 § 25; 1998 c 191 § 24; 1992 c 41 § 1; 1991
sp.s. c 7 § 9; 1990 c 84 § 6; 1989 c 365 § 1; 1987 c 506 § 105.
Prior: 1985 c 464 § 9; 1985 c 243 § 1; 1984 c 240 § 6; 1981
c 310 § 12.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1992 c 41: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1993.
The director of wildlife may take steps necessary to ensure that this act is
implemented on its effective date." [1992 c 41 § 2.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—1985 c 464: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
77.32.370
77.32.370 Special hunting season permits—Fee. (1)
A special hunting season permit is required to hunt in each
special season established under chapter 77.12 RCW.
(2) Persons may apply for special hunting season permits
as provided by rule of the commission.
(3) The application fee to enter the drawing for a special
hunting permit is five dollars for residents, fifty dollars for
nonresidents, and three dollars for youth. [1998 c 191 § 26;
1991 sp.s. c 7 § 11; 1987 c 506 § 89; 1984 c 240 § 7; 1981 c
310 § 14.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
(2006 Ed.)
77.32.380
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
77.32.380
77.32.380 Fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit—Improved access facility—Fee—Youth groups—
Display—Transfer between vehicles—Penalty. (1) Persons who enter upon or use clearly identified department
improved access facilities with a motor vehicle may be
required to display a current annual fish and wildlife lands
vehicle use permit on the motor vehicle while within or while
using an improved access facility. An "improved access
facility" is a clearly identified area specifically created for
motor vehicle parking, and includes any boat launch or boat
ramp associated with the parking area, but does not include
the department parking facilities at the Gorge Concert Center
near George, Washington. One vehicle use permit shall be
issued at no charge with an initial purchase of either an
annual saltwater, freshwater, combination, small game hunting, big game hunting, or trapping license, or a watchable
wildlife decal, issued by the department. The annual fee for
a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, if purchased separately, is ten dollars. A person to whom the department has
issued a vehicle use permit or who has purchased a vehicle
use permit separately may purchase additional vehicle use
permits from the department at a cost of five dollars per vehicle use permit. Revenue derived from the sale of fish and
wildlife lands vehicle use permits shall be used solely for the
stewardship and maintenance of department improved access
facilities.
Youth groups may use department improved access
facilities without possessing a vehicle use permit when
accompanied by a vehicle use permit holder.
(2) The vehicle use permit must be displayed from the
interior of the motor vehicle so that it is clearly visible from
outside of the motor vehicle before entering upon or using the
motor vehicle on a department improved access facility. The
vehicle use permit can be transferred between two vehicles
and must contain space for the vehicle license numbers of
each vehicle.
(3) Failure to display the fish and wildlife lands vehicle
use permit if required by this section is an infraction under
chapter 7.84 RCW, and department employees are authorized
to issue a notice of infraction to the registered owner of any
motor vehicle entering upon or using a department improved
access facility without such a vehicle use permit. The penalty
for failure to clearly display the vehicle use permit is sixty-six
dollars. This penalty is reduced to thirty dollars if the registered owner provides proof to the court that he or she purchased a vehicle use permit within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation. [2003 c 317 § 4; 2001 c 243 §
1; 2000 c 107 § 271; 1998 c 87 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 77; 1991
sp.s. c 7 § 12; 1988 c 36 § 52; 1987 c 506 § 90; 1985 c 464 §
11; 1981 c 310 § 15.]
Findings—2003 c 317: See note following RCW 77.32.560.
Effective date—1998 c 87: "This act takes effect January 1, 1999."
[1998 c 87 § 3.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
[Title 77 RCW—page 49]
77.32.400
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—1985 c 464: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
77.32.400
77.32.400 Disabled persons—Designated harvester
card—Fish and shellfish. (1) The commission shall authorize the director to issue designated harvester cards to persons
of disability. The commission shall adopt rules governing the
conduct of persons of disability who fish and harvest shellfish and their designated harvesters.
(2) It is lawful to fish for, take, or possess the personaluse daily bag limit of shellfish, game fish, or food fish for a
disabled person if the harvester is licensed and has a designated harvester card, and if the disabled person is present on
site and in possession of a combination fishing license issued
under RCW 77.32.490.
(3) A designated harvester card will be issued to such a
licensee upon written application to the director. The application must be submitted on a department official form and
must be accompanied by a licensed medical doctor’s certification of disability.
(4) A person with a combination fishing license issued
under RCW 77.32.490 is not required to be present at the
location where the designated harvester is harvesting shellfish for the disabled person. The licensee is required to be in
the direct line of sight of the designated harvester who is harvesting shellfish for him or her, unless it is not possible to be
in a direct line of sight because of a physical obstruction or
other barrier. If such a barrier or obstruction exists, the licensee is required to be within one-quarter mile of the designated harvester who is harvesting shellfish for him or her.
(5) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section,
the disabled person needs to be present and participating in
the fishing activity. [1998 c 191 § 1. Prior: 1993 sp.s. c 17 §
5; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 42; 1993 c 201 § 1; 1989 c 305 § 4; 1983
1st ex.s. c 46 § 92; 1980 c 81 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.25.080.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: "Sections 1 through 9, 11 through 23, 25
through 30, 34 through 36, 38 through 42, and 44 of this act take effect January 1, 1999." [1998 c 191 § 48.]
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Effective date—1980 c 81: "This act shall take effect on July 1, 1980."
[1980 c 81 § 3.]
77.32.410
77.32.410 Personal use fishing license—Reciprocity
with Oregon in concurrent waters of Columbia river and
coastal waters. In concurrent waters of the Columbia river
and in Washington coastal territorial waters from the OregonWashington boundary to a point five nautical miles north, an
Oregon angling license comparable to the Washington personal use fishing license is valid if Oregon recognizes as
valid the Washington personal use fishing license in comparable Oregon waters.
If Oregon recognizes as valid the Washington personal
use fishing license southward to Cape Falcon in the coastal
[Title 77 RCW—page 50]
territorial waters from the Washington-Oregon boundary and
in concurrent waters of the Columbia river then Washington
shall recognize a valid Oregon license comparable to the
Washington personal use fishing license northward to Leadbetter Point.
Oregon licenses are not valid for the taking of food fish
or game fish when angling in concurrent waters of the
Columbia river from the Washington shore. [1998 c 191 § 3;
1994 c 255 § 6; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 7; 1989 c 305 § 9; 1987 c 87
§ 4; 1985 c 174 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 96; 1977 ex.s. c 327
§ 17. Formerly RCW 75.25.120, 75.28.670.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1994 c 255 §§ 1-13: See note following RCW
77.32.520.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Declaration of state policy—Severability—Effective date—1977
ex.s. c 327: See notes following RCW 77.65.150.
77.32.420
77.32.420 Recreational licenses—Nontransferable—
Enforcement provisions.
Reviser’s note: RCW 77.32.420 was amended by 2001 c 306 § 2 without reference to its repeal by 2001 c 253 § 62. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
77.32.430
77.32.430 Catch record card—Disposition of funds.
(1) Catch record card information is necessary for proper
management of the state’s food fish and game fish species
and shellfish resources. Catch record card administration
shall be under rules adopted by the commission. There is no
charge for an initial catch record card. Each subsequent or
duplicate catch record card costs ten dollars.
(2) A license to take and possess Dungeness crab is only
valid in Puget Sound waters east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line
if the fisher has in possession a valid catch record card officially endorsed for Dungeness crab. The endorsement shall
cost no more than three dollars, including any or all fees
authorized under RCW 77.32.050, when purchased for a personal use saltwater, combination, or shellfish and seaweed
license. The endorsement shall cost no more than one dollar,
including any or all fees authorized under RCW 77.32.050,
when purchased for a temporary combination fishing license
authorized under RCW 77.32.470(3)(a).
(3) Catch record cards issued with affixed temporary
short-term charter stamp licenses are not subject to the tendollar charge nor to the Dungeness crab endorsement fee provided for in this section. Charter boat or guide operators issuing temporary short-term charter stamp licenses shall affix
the stamp to each catch record card issued before fishing
commences. Catch record cards issued with a temporary
short-term charter stamp are valid for one day.
(4) The department shall include provisions for recording marked and unmarked salmon in catch record cards
issued after March 31, 2004.
(5) The funds received from the sale of catch record
cards and the Dungeness crab endorsement must be deposited
into the *wildlife fund. The funds received from the Dungeness crab endorsement may be used only for the sampling,
monitoring, and management of catch associated with the
Dungeness crab recreational fisheries. Moneys allocated
under this section shall supplement and not supplant other
(2006 Ed.)
Licenses
federal, state, and local funds used for Dungeness crab recreational fisheries management. [2005 c 192 § 2; 2004 c 107 §
2; 2003 c 318 § 1; 1998 c 191 § 5; 1989 c 305 § 10. Formerly
RCW 75.25.190.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Intent—2004 c 107: "It is the intent of the legislature to optimize the
management of the recreational allocation of Dungeness crab in Washington
state. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to accurately and efficiently
quantify the total catch by recreational fishers for Dungeness crab using data
from catch record cards. Therefore, an endorsement fee on the catch record
card paid at the time of purchasing a recreational fishing license will be
required for Dungeness crab to specifically identify the recreational crab harvesting population. The endorsement fee will significantly improve the precision of the catch estimates by eliminating the current practice of sampling
fishers who do not participate in the recreational crab fishery." [2004 c 107
§ 1.]
Report—2004 c 107: "After the completion of one season using the
Dungeness crab endorsement fee for Puget Sound recreational Dungeness
crab fisheries, the department of fish and wildlife shall evaluate the effectiveness of the endorsement fee as a method for improving the accuracy of
catch estimates for the Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab fishery.
The department’s report shall include how the method has affected their ability to more accurately estimate the preseason allocation of the Puget Sound
recreational Dungeness crab fishery and monitor in-season catch. The
department shall report their findings to the appropriate committees of the
legislature by May 15, 2006." [2004 c 107 § 3.]
Effective date—2004 c 107: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect May 15, 2004."
[2004 c 107 § 4.]
Effective date—2003 c 318: "This act takes effect April 1, 2004."
[2003 c 318 § 3.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.440
77.32.440 Enhancement programs—Funding levels—Rules—Deposit to warm water game fish account.
(1) The commission shall adopt rules to continue funding
current enhancement programs at levels equal to the participation of licensees in each of the individual enhancement
programs. All enhancement funding will continue to be
deposited directly into the individual accounts created for
each enhancement.
(2) In implementing subsection (1) of this section with
regard to warm water game fish, the department shall deposit
in the warm water game fish account the sum of one million
two hundred fifty thousand dollars each fiscal year during the
fiscal years 1999 and 2000, based on two hundred fifty thousand warm water anglers. Beginning in fiscal year 2001, and
each year thereafter, the deposit to the warm water game fish
account established in this subsection shall be adjusted annually to reflect the actual numbers of license holders fishing
for warm water game fish based on an annual survey of
licensed anglers from the previous year conducted by the
department beginning with the April 1, 1999, to March 31,
2000, license year survey. [1999 c 235 § 2; 1998 c 191 § 13.]
Effective date—1999 c 235: See note following RCW 77.44.050.
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.450
77.32.450 Big game hunting license—Fees. (1) A big
game hunting license is required to hunt for big game. A big
game license allows the holder to hunt for forest grouse,
unclassified wildlife, and the individual species identified
within a specific big game combination license package.
Each big game license includes one transport tag for each
(2006 Ed.)
77.32.450
species purchased in that package. A hunter may not purchase more than one license for each big game species except
as authorized by rule of the commission. The fees for annual
big game combination packages are as follows:
(a) Big game number 1: Deer, elk, bear, and cougar.
The fee for this license is sixty-six dollars for residents, six
hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and thirty-three dollars for youth.
(b) Big game number 2: Deer and elk. The fee for this
license is fifty-six dollars for residents, five hundred sixty
dollars for nonresidents, and twenty-eight dollars for youth.
(c) Big game number 3: Deer or elk, bear, and cougar.
At the time of purchase, the holder must identify either deer
or elk. The fee for this license is forty-six dollars for residents, four hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and
twenty-three dollars for youth.
(d) Big game number 4: Deer or elk. At the time of purchase, the holder must identify either deer or elk. The fee for
this license is thirty-six dollars for residents, three hundred
sixty dollars for nonresidents, and eighteen dollars for youth.
(e) Big game number 5: Bear and cougar. The fee for
this license is twenty dollars for residents, two hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
(2) In the event that the commission authorizes a two
animal big game limit, the fees for the second animal are as
follows:
(a) Elk: The fee is twenty dollars for residents, two hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
(b) Deer: The fee is twenty dollars for residents, two
hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
(c) Bear: The fee is ten dollars for residents, one hundred dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
(d) Cougar: The fee is ten dollars for residents, one hundred dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
(3) In the event that the commission authorizes a special
permit hunt for goat, sheep, or moose, the permit fees are as
follows:
(a) Mountain goat: The fee is one hundred dollars for
residents, one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty
dollars for youth.
(b) Sheep: The fee is one hundred dollars for residents,
one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty dollars for
youth.
(c) Moose: The fee is one hundred dollars for residents,
one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty dollars for
youth.
(4) Multiple season big game permit: The commission
may, by rule, offer permits for hunters to hunt deer or elk during more than one general season. Only one deer or elk may
be harvested annually under a multiple season big game permit. The fee is one hundred fifty dollars for residents and one
thousand five hundred dollars for nonresidents.
(5) Authorization to hunt the species set out under subsection (3)(a) through (c) of this section or in multiple seasons as set out in subsection (4) of this section is by special
permit issued under RCW 77.32.370.
(6) The commission may adopt rules to reduce the price
of a license or eliminate the transportation tag requirements
concerning bear or cougar when necessary to meet harvest
objectives. [2005 c 140 § 1; 2000 c 109 § 1; 1998 c 191 § 14.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
[Title 77 RCW—page 51]
77.32.460
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.32.460
77.32.460 Small game hunting license—Turkey
tags—Fees. (1) A small game hunting license is required to
hunt for all classified wild animals and wild birds, except big
game. A small game license also allows the holder to hunt
for unclassified wildlife.
(a) The fee for this license is thirty dollars for residents,
one hundred fifty dollars for nonresidents, and fifteen dollars
for youth.
(b) The fee for this license if purchased in conjunction
with a big game combination license package is sixteen dollars for residents, eighty dollars for nonresidents, and eight
dollars for youth.
(c) The fee for a three-consecutive-day small game
license is fifty dollars for nonresidents.
(2) In addition to a small game license, a turkey tag is
required to hunt for turkey.
(a) The fee for a primary turkey tag is fourteen dollars for
residents and forty dollars for nonresidents. A primary turkey tag will, on request, be issued to the purchaser of a youth
small game license at no charge.
(b) The fee for each additional turkey tag is fourteen dollars for residents, sixty dollars for nonresidents, and nine dollars for youth.
(c) All moneys received from turkey tags must be deposited in the state wildlife account. One-third of the moneys
received from turkey tags must be appropriated solely for the
purposes of turkey management. An additional one-third of
the moneys received from turkey tags must be appropriated
solely for upland game bird management. Moneys received
from turkey tags may not supplant existing funds provided
for these purposes. [2006 c 15 § 1; 2000 c 109 § 2; 1998 c
191 § 15.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.470
77.32.470 Personal use fishing licenses—Fees—Temporary fishing license—Family fishing weekend license—
Rules. (1) A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, temporary, or family fishing weekend license is required
for all persons fifteen years of age or older to fish for or possess fish taken for personal use from state waters or offshore
waters.
(2) The fees for annual personal use saltwater, freshwater, or combination licenses are as follows:
(a) A combination license allows the holder to fish for or
possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed from state waters or offshore waters. The fee for this license is thirty-six dollars for
residents, seventy-two dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
(b) A saltwater license allows the holder to fish for or
possess fish taken from saltwater areas. The fee for this
license is eighteen dollars for residents, thirty-six dollars for
nonresidents, and five dollars for resident seniors.
(c) A freshwater license allows the holder to fish for,
take, or possess food fish or game fish species in all freshwater areas. The fee for this license is twenty dollars for residents, forty dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for resident seniors.
(3)(a) A temporary combination fishing license is valid
for one to five consecutive days and allows the holder to fish
for or possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed taken from state
[Title 77 RCW—page 52]
waters or offshore waters. The fee for this temporary fishing
license is:
(i) One day - Seven dollars for residents and fourteen
dollars for nonresidents;
(ii) Two days - Ten dollars for residents and twenty dollars for nonresidents;
(iii) Three days - Thirteen dollars for residents and
twenty-six dollars for nonresidents;
(iv) Four days - Fifteen dollars for residents and thirty
dollars for nonresidents; and
(v) Five days - Seventeen dollars for residents and thirtyfour dollars for nonresidents.
(b) The fee for a charter stamp is seven dollars for a oneday temporary combination fishing license for residents and
nonresidents for use on a charter boat as defined in RCW
77.65.150.
(c) A transaction fee to support the automated licensing
system will be taken from the amounts set forth in this subsection for temporary licenses.
(d) Except for active duty military personnel serving in
any branch of the United States armed forces, the temporary
combination fishing license is not valid on game fish species
for an eight-consecutive-day period beginning on the opening
day of the lowland lake fishing season.
(4) A family fishing weekend license allows for a maximum of six anglers: One resident and five youth; two residents and four youth; or one resident, one nonresident, and
four youth. This license allows the holders to fish for or possess fish taken from state waters or offshore waters. The fee
for this license is twenty dollars. This license is only valid
during periods as specified by rule of the department.
(5) The commission may adopt rules to create and sell
combination licenses for all hunting and fishing activities at
or below a fee equal to the total cost of the individual license
contained within any combination. [2005 c 192 § 1; 2003 c
181 § 1; 1998 c 191 § 16.]
Effective date—2003 c 181: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 9, 2003]." [2003 c 181 § 2.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.480
77.32.480 Reduced rate licenses. All hunting licenses
shall, upon written application, be issued at the reduced rate
of a youth hunting license fee for the following individuals:
(1) A resident sixty-five years old or older who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces
having a service-connected disability;
(2) Residents who are honorably discharged veterans of
the United States armed forces with a thirty percent or more
service-connected disability; and
(3) An honorably discharged veteran of the United States
armed forces who is a resident and is confined to a wheelchair. [1998 c 191 § 18.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.490
77.32.490 Reduced rate combination fishing license.
A combination fishing license shall, upon written application,
be issued at the reduced rate of five dollars to the following
individuals:
(2006 Ed.)
Licenses
77.32.530
(1) Residents who are honorably discharged veterans of
the United States armed forces with a thirty percent or more
service-connected disability;
(2) A person who is blind;
(3) A person with a developmental disability as defined
in RCW 71A.10.020 with documentation of the disability
certified by a physician licensed to practice in this state; and
(4) A person who is physically disabled and confined to
a wheelchair. [1998 c 191 § 19.]
Finding—1993 sp.s. c 17: "The legislature finds that additional cost
savings can be realized by simplifying the department of fisheries recreational licensing system. The legislature finds that significant benefits will
accrue to recreational fishers from streamlining the department of fisheries
recreational licensing system. The legislature finds recreational license fees
and commercial landing taxes have not been increased in recent years. The
legislature finds that reduction in important department of fisheries programs
can be avoided by increasing license fees and commercial landing taxes. The
legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to avoid significant
reductions in current department of fisheries activities." [1993 sp.s. c 17 §
1.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17: "This act shall take effect
January 1, 1994, except that sections 13 through 30 of this act shall take
effect only if Senate Bill No. 5124 does not become law by August 1, 1993."
[1993 sp.s. c 17 § 32.] Senate Bill No. 5124 [1993 c 340] did become law;
sections 13 through 30 of 1993 sp.s. c 17 did not become law.
77.32.500
77.32.500 Saltwater, freshwater transition areas—
Rule-making authority. In order to simplify fishing license
requirements in transition areas between saltwater and freshwater, the commission may adopt rules designating specific
waters where either a freshwater or a saltwater license is
valid. [1998 c 191 § 41.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.32.510
77.32.510 Recreational license fees—Disposition of
appropriation. As provided in RCW 77.12.170(1)(c), all
recreational license fees deposited into the general fund shall
be appropriated for the management, enhancement, research,
and enforcement of shellfish and saltwater programs of the
department. [1998 c 191 § 43.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.050.
77.32.520
77.32.520 Personal use shellfish and seaweed
license—Razor clam license—Fees—License visible on
licensee. (1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is
required for all persons other than residents or nonresidents
under fifteen years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess
seaweed or shellfish, including razor clams, for personal use
from state waters or offshore waters including national park
beaches.
(2) A razor clam license allows a person to harvest only
razor clams for personal use from state waters, including
national park beaches.
(3) The fees for annual personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses are:
(a) For a resident fifteen years of age or older, seven dollars;
(b) For a nonresident fifteen years of age or older, twenty
dollars; and
(c) For a senior, five dollars.
(4) The fee for an annual razor clam license is five dollars and fifty cents for residents and eleven dollars for nonresidents.
(5) The fee for a three-day razor clam license is three
dollars and fifty cents for both residents and nonresidents.
(6) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license or razor
clam license must be visible on the licensee while harvesting
shellfish or seaweed. [2004 c 248 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 27; 1999
c 243 § 3; 1998 c 191 § 2; 1994 c 255 § 4; 1993 sp.s. c 17 §
3. Formerly RCW 75.25.092.]
Finding—Effective date—1999 c 243: See notes following RCW
77.32.050.
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective date—1994 c 255 §§ 1-13: "Sections 1 through 13 of this act
shall take effect January 1, 1995." [1994 c 255 § 23.]
(2006 Ed.)
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 sp.s. c 17 § 53.]
77.32.525
77.32.525 Hunting and fishing contests—Field trials
for dogs—Rules—Limitation. The director shall administer rules adopted by the commission governing the time,
place, and manner of holding hunting and fishing contests
and competitive field trials involving live wildlife for hunting
dogs. The department shall prohibit contests and field trials
that are not in the best interests of wildlife. [1987 c 506 § 48;
1980 c 78 § 67. Formerly RCW 77.12.530.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Contests and field trials: RCW 77.32.540.
77.32.530
77.32.530 Hunting big game—Auction or raffle—
Procedure. (1) The commission in consultation with the
director may authorize hunting of big game animals and wild
turkeys through auction. The department may conduct the
auction for the hunt or contract with a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to conduct the auction for the hunt.
(2) The commission in consultation with the director
may authorize hunting of up to a total of fifteen big game animals and wild turkeys per year through raffle. The department may conduct raffles or contract with a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to conduct raffles for hunting
these animals. In consultation with the gambling commission, the director may adopt rules for the implementation of
raffles involving hunting.
(3) The director shall establish the procedures for the
hunts, which shall require any participants to obtain any
required license, permit, or tag. Representatives of the department may participate in the hunt upon the request of the commission to ensure that the animals to be killed are properly
identified.
(4) After deducting the expenses of conducting an auction or raffle, any revenues retained by a nonprofit organization, as specified under contract with the department, shall be
devoted solely for wildlife conservation, consistent with its
qualification as a bona fide nonprofit organization for wildlife conservation.
(5) The department’s share of revenues from auctions
and raffles shall be deposited in the *state wildlife fund. The
revenues shall be used to improve the habitat, health, and
[Title 77 RCW—page 53]
77.32.535
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
welfare of the species auctioned or raffled and shall supplement, rather than replace, other funds budgeted for management of that species. The commission may solicit input from
groups or individuals with special interest in and expertise on
a species in determining how to use these revenues.
(6) A nonprofit wildlife conservation organization may
petition the commission to authorize an auction or raffle for a
special hunt for big game animals and wild turkeys. [1996 c
101 § 5. Formerly RCW 77.12.770.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Findings—1996 c 101: "The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of recreational hunters to provide them with the variety of hunting opportunities provided by auctions and raffles. Raffles provide an affordable
opportunity for most hunters to participate in special hunts for big game animals and wild turkeys. The legislature also finds that wildlife management
and recreation are not adequately funded and that such auctions and raffles
can increase revenues to improve wildlife management and recreation."
[1996 c 101 § 1.]
number of the trapper or the name and address of the trapper
in English letters not less than one-eighth inch in height.
When a property owner, lessee, or tenant presents a trapper identification number to the department for a trap found
upon the property of the owner, lessee, or tenant and requests
identification of the trapper, the department shall provide the
requestor with the name and address of the trapper. Prior to
disclosure of the trapper’s name and address, the department
shall obtain the name and address of the requesting individual
in writing and after disclosing the trapper’s name and address
to the requesting individual, the requesting individual’s name
and address shall be disclosed in writing to the trapper whose
name and address was disclosed. [1998 c 190 § 121; 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 75; 1988 c 36 § 51; 1987 c 372 § 1; 1980 c 78 § 85;
1955 c 36 § 77.16.170. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 56; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 5992-65. Formerly RCW 77.16.170.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.32.535
77.32.535 Private lands—Raffle authorization to
hunt big game. If a private entity has a private lands wildlife
management area agreement in effect with the department,
the commission may authorize the private entity to conduct
raffles for access to hunt for big game animals and wild turkeys to meet the conditions of the agreement. The private
entity shall comply with all applicable rules adopted under
RCW 77.32.530 for the implementation of raffles; however,
raffle hunts conducted pursuant to this section shall not be
counted toward the number of raffle hunts the commission
may authorize under RCW 77.32.530. The director shall
establish the procedures for the hunts, which shall require any
participants to obtain any required license, permit, or tag.
Representatives of the department may participate in the hunt
upon the request of the commission to ensure that the animals
to be killed are properly identified. [2001 c 253 § 52; 1996 c
101 § 6. Formerly RCW 77.12.780.]
Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
77.32.540
77.32.540 Hunting and fishing contests—Field trials
for dogs—Permit—Rules. A person shall not promote, conduct, hold, or sponsor a contest for the hunting or fishing of
wildlife or a competitive field trial involving live wildlife for
hunting dogs without first obtaining a hunting or fishing contest permit. Contests and field trials shall be held in accordance with established rules. [1998 c 190 § 118; 1987 c 506
§ 58; 1980 c 78 § 69; 1955 c 36 § 77.16.010. Prior: 1947 c
275 § 39; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-49. Formerly RCW
77.16.010.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Contests and field trials: RCW 77.32.525.
77.32.545
77.32.545 Removal of trap—Identification of traps—
Disclosure of identities. A property owner, lessee, or tenant
may remove a trap placed on the owner’s, lessee’s, or tenant’s posted or fenced property by a trapper.
Trappers shall attach to the chain of their traps or devices
a legible metal tag with either the department identification
[Title 77 RCW—page 54]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.32.550 Group fishing permit. (1) A group fishing
permit allows a group of individuals to fish, and harvest
shellfish, without individual licenses or the payment of individual license fees.
(2) The director must issue a group fishing permit on a
seasonal basis to a state-operated facility or state-licensed
nonprofit facility or program for physically or mentally disabled persons, mentally ill persons, hospital patients, handicapped persons, seriously or terminally ill persons, persons
who are dependent on the state because of emotional or physical developmental disabilities, or senior citizens who are in
the care of the facility. The permit is valid only for use during
open season.
(3) The director may set conditions and issue a group
fishing permit to groups working in partnership with and participating in department outdoor education programs. At the
discretion of the director, a processing fee may be applied.
(4) The commission may adopt rules that provide the
conditions under which a group fishing permit is issued.
[2006 c 16 § 1; 2002 c 266 § 1.]
77.32.550
77.32.555
77.32.555 Surcharge to fund biotoxin testing and
monitoring. In addition to the fees authorized in this chapter, the department shall include a surcharge to fund biotoxin
testing and monitoring by the department of health of
beaches used for recreational shellfishing, and to fund monitoring by the Olympic region harmful algal bloom program
of the Olympic natural resources center at the University of
Washington. A surcharge of three dollars applies to resident
and nonresident shellfish and seaweed licenses as authorized
by RCW 77.32.520(3) (a) and (b); a surcharge of two dollars
applies to resident and nonresident adult combination
licenses as authorized by RCW 77.32.470(2)(a); a surcharge
of two dollars applies to annual resident and nonresident
razor clam licenses as authorized by RCW 77.32.520(4); and
a surcharge of one dollar applies to the three-day razor clam
license authorized by RCW 77.32.520(5). Amounts collected from these surcharges must be deposited in the general
fund—local account managed by the department of health,
(2006 Ed.)
Wildlife Damage
except that one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year shall
be deposited in the general fund—local account managed by
the University of Washington.
Unspent amounts from the surcharges deposited in the
general fund—local accounts managed by the department of
health and the University of Washington shall carry over to
ensuing biennia to pay for the ongoing costs of the programs.
The department of health and the University of Washington
shall, by December 1st of each year, provide a letter to the
relevant legislative policy and fiscal committees on the status
of expenditures. This letter shall include, but is not limited
to, the annual appropriation amount, the amount not
expended, account fund balance, and reasons for not spending the full annual appropriation. [2005 c 416 § 1; 2004 c 248
§ 2; 2003 c 263 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 416: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 11, 2005]." [2005 c 416 § 2.]
Findings—2003 c 263: "The legislature finds that testing and monitoring of beaches used for recreational shellfishing is essential to ensure the
health of recreational shellfishers. The legislature also finds that it is essential to have a stable and reliable source of funding for such biotoxin testing
and monitoring. The legislature also finds that the cost of the resident and
nonresident personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses is undervalued and
not properly aligned with neighboring states and provinces." [2003 c 263 §
1.]
Effective date—2003 c 263: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003."
[2003 c 263 § 4.]
77.32.560
77.32.560 Watchable wildlife decals. (1) The department may sell watchable wildlife decals. Proceeds from the
sale of the decal must be deposited into the *state wildlife
fund created in RCW 77.12.170 and must be dedicated to the
support of the department’s watchable wildlife activities.
The department may also use proceeds from the sale of the
decal for marketing the decal and for marketing watchable
wildlife activities in the state.
(2) The term "watchable wildlife activities" includes but
is not limited to: Initiating partnerships with communities to
jointly develop watchable wildlife projects, building infrastructure to serve wildlife viewers, assisting and training
communities in conducting wildlife watching events, developing destination wildlife viewing corridors and trails, tours,
maps, brochures, and travel aides, and offering grants to
assist rural communities in identifying key wildlife attractions and ways to protect and promote them.
(3) The commission must adopt by rule the cost of the
watchable wildlife decal. A person may, at their discretion,
contribute more than the cost as set by the commission by
rule for the watchable wildlife decal in order to support
watchable wildlife activities. A person who purchases a
watchable wildlife decal must be issued one vehicle use permit free of charge. [2003 c 317 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Findings—2003 c 317: "The legislature finds that healthy wildlife populations significantly contribute to the economic vitality of Washington’s
rural areas through increased opportunities for watchable wildlife and related
tourism. Travel related to watchable wildlife is one of the fastest growing
segments of the travel industry. Much of this travel occurs off-season, creating jobs and providing revenue to local businesses and governments during
(2006 Ed.)
77.36.005
otherwise slow periods. The watchable wildlife industry is particularly
important to Washington’s rural economies.
The legislature also finds that it is vital to support programs that
enhance watchable wildlife activities and tourism, while also protecting the
wildlife resources that attract the viewers. A revenue source must be created
and directed to the watchable wildlife programs of the department of fish and
wildlife to develop watchable wildlife opportunities in cooperation with
other local, state, and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations."
[2003 c 317 § 1.]
Chapter 77.36
Chapter 77.36 RCW
WILDLIFE DAMAGE
Sections
77.36.005
77.36.010
77.36.020
77.36.030
77.36.040
77.36.050
77.36.060
77.36.070
77.36.080
77.36.900
77.36.901
Findings.
Definitions.
Game damage control—Special hunt/remedial action.
Trapping or killing wildlife causing damage—Emergency situations.
Payment of claims for damages—Procedure—Limitations.
Claimant refusal—Excessive claims.
Claim refused—Posted property.
Limit on total claims from wildlife fund per fiscal year.
Limit on total claims from general fund per fiscal year—Emergency exceptions.
Application—1996 c 54.
Effective date—1996 c 54.
77.36.005
77.36.005 Findings. The legislature finds that:
(1) As the number of people in the state grows and wildlife habitat is altered, people will encounter wildlife more frequently. As a result, conflicts between humans and wildlife
will also increase. Wildlife is a public resource of significant
value to the people of the state and the responsibility to minimize and resolve these conflicts is shared by all citizens of
the state.
(2) In particular, the state recognizes the importance of
commercial agricultural and horticultural crop production
and the value of healthy deer and elk populations, which can
damage such crops. The legislature further finds that damage
prevention is key to maintaining healthy deer and elk populations, wildlife-related recreational opportunities, and commercially productive agricultural and horticultural crops, and
that the state, participants in wildlife recreation, and private
landowners and tenants share the responsibility for damage
prevention. Toward this end, the legislature encourages landowners and tenants to contribute through their land management practices to healthy wildlife populations and to provide
access for related recreation. It is in the best interests of the
state for the department of fish and wildlife to respond
quickly to wildlife damage complaints and to work with these
landowners and tenants to minimize and/or prevent damages
and conflicts while maintaining deer and elk populations for
enjoyment by all citizens of the state.
(3) A timely and simplified process for resolving claims
for damages caused by deer and elk for commercial agricultural or horticultural products is beneficial to the claimant
and the state. [1996 c 54 § 1; (2001 c 274 § 1 expired June
30, 2004).]
Expiration date—2001 c 274 §§ 1-3: "The following expire June 30,
2004:
(1) Section 1, chapter 274, Laws of 2001;
(2) Section 2, chapter 274, Laws of 2001; and
(3) Section 3, chapter 274, Laws of 2001." [2001 c 274 § 5.]
Effective date—2001 c 274: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state gov[Title 77 RCW—page 55]
77.36.010
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
ernment and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 274 § 6.]
77.36.010
77.36.010 Definitions. Unless otherwise specified, the
following definitions apply throughout this chapter:
(1) "Crop" means a commercially raised horticultural
and/or agricultural product and includes growing or harvested product but does not include livestock. For the purposes of this chapter all parts of horticultural trees shall be
considered a crop and shall be eligible for claims.
(2) "Emergency" means an unforeseen circumstance
beyond the control of the landowner or tenant that presents a
real and immediate threat to crops, domestic animals, or fowl.
(3) "Immediate family member" means spouse, brother,
sister, grandparent, parent, child, or grandchild. [1996 c 54 §
2; (2001 c 274 § 2 expired June 30, 2004).]
Expiration date—2001 c 274 §§ 1-3: See note following RCW
77.36.005.
(c) On privately owned cattle ranching lands, the land
owner or lessee may declare an emergency only when the
department has not responded within forty-eight hours after
having been contacted by the land owner or lessee regarding
damage caused by wild animals or wild birds. In such an
emergency, the owner or lessee may trap or kill any deer, elk,
or other protected wildlife that is causing the damage but deer
and elk may only be killed if such lands were open to public
hunting during the previous hunting season, or the closure to
public hunting was coordinated with the department to protect property and livestock.
(2) Except for coyotes and Columbian ground squirrels,
wildlife trapped or killed under this section remain the property of the state, and the person trapping or killing the wildlife
shall notify the department immediately. The department
shall dispose of wildlife so taken within three days of receiving such a notification and in a manner determined by the
director to be in the best interest of the state. [1996 c 54 § 4.]
Effective date—2001 c 274: See note following RCW 77.36.005.
77.36.040
77.36.020
77.36.020 Game damage control—Special
hunt/remedial action. The department shall work closely
with landowners and tenants suffering game damage problems to control damage without killing the animals when
practical, to increase the harvest of damage-causing animals
in hunting seasons, and to kill the animals when no other
practical means of damage control is feasible.
If the department receives recurring complaints regarding property being damaged as described in this section or
RCW 77.36.030 from the owner or tenant of real property, or
receives such complaints from several such owners or tenants
in a locale, the commission shall conduct a special hunt or
special hunts or take remedial action to reduce the potential
for such damage. The commission shall authorize either one
or two antlerless permits per hunter for special hunts held in
damage areas where qualified department staff, or their designee, have confirmed six incidents of crop damage by deer
or elk.
As an alternative to hunting, the department shall work
with affected entities to relocate deer and elk when needed to
augment existing herds. [2003 c 385 § 1; 1996 c 54 § 3.]
77.36.030
77.36.030 Trapping or killing wildlife causing damage—Emergency situations. (1) Subject to the following
limitations and conditions, the owner, the owner’s immediate
family member, the owner’s documented employee, or a tenant of real property may trap or kill on that property, without
the licenses required under RCW 77.32.010 or authorization
from the director under RCW 77.12.240, wild animals or
wild birds that are damaging crops, domestic animals, or
fowl:
(a) Threatened or endangered species shall not be
hunted, trapped, or killed;
(b) Except in an emergency situation, deer, elk, and protected wildlife shall not be killed without a permit issued and
conditioned by the director or the director’s designee. In an
emergency, the department may give verbal permission followed by written permission to trap or kill any deer, elk, or
protected wildlife that is damaging crops, domestic animals,
or fowl; and
[Title 77 RCW—page 56]
77.36.040 Payment of claims for damages—Procedure—Limitations. (1) Pursuant to this section, the director
or the director’s designee may distribute money appropriated
to pay claims for damages to crops caused by wild deer or elk
in an amount of up to ten thousand dollars per claim. Damages payable under this section are limited to the value of
such commercially raised horticultural or agricultural crops,
whether growing or harvested, and shall be paid only to the
owner of the crop at the time of damage, without assignment.
Damages shall not include damage to other real or personal
property including other vegetation or animals, damages
caused by animals other than wild deer or elk, lost profits,
consequential damages, or any other damages whatsoever.
These damages shall comprise the exclusive remedy for
claims against the state for damages caused by wildlife.
(2) The director may adopt rules for the form of affidavits or proof to be provided in claims under this section. The
director may adopt rules to specify the time and method of
assessing damage. The burden of proving damages shall be
on the claimant. Payment of claims shall remain subject to
the other conditions and limits of this chapter.
(3) If funds are limited, payments of claims shall be prioritized in the order that the claims are received. No claim
may be processed if:
(a) The claimant did not notify the department within ten
days of discovery of the damage. If the claimant intends to
take steps that prevent determination of damages, such as
harvest of damaged crops, then the claimant shall notify the
department as soon as reasonably possible after discovery so
that the department has an opportunity to document the damage and take steps to prevent additional damage; or
(b) The claimant did not present a complete, written
claim within sixty days after the damage, or the last day of
damaging if the damage was of a continuing nature.
(4) The director or the director’s designee may examine
and assess the damage upon notice. The department and
claimant may agree to an assessment of damages by a neutral
person or persons knowledgeable in horticultural or agricultural practices. The department and claimant shall share
equally in the costs of such third party examination and
assessment of damage.
(5) There shall be no payment for damages if:
(2006 Ed.)
Warm Water Game Fish Enhancement Program
(a) The crops are on lands leased from any public
agency;
(b) The landowner or claimant failed to use or maintain
applicable damage prevention materials or methods furnished by the department, or failed to comply with a wildlife
damage prevention agreement under RCW 77.12.260;
(c) The director has expended all funds appropriated for
payment of such claims for the current fiscal year; or
(d) The damages are covered by insurance. The claimant
shall notify the department at the time of claim of insurance
coverage in the manner required by the director. Insurance
coverage shall cover all damages prior to any payment under
this chapter.
(6) When there is a determination of claim by the director or the director’s designee pursuant to this section, the
claimant has sixty days to accept the claim or it is deemed
rejected. [1996 c 54 § 5.]
77.36.050
77.36.050 Claimant refusal—Excessive claims. If the
claimant does not accept the director’s decision under RCW
77.36.040, or if the claim exceeds ten thousand dollars, then
the claim may be filed with the office of risk management
under *RCW 4.92.040(5). The office of risk management
shall recommend to the legislature whether the claim should
be paid. If the legislature approves the claim, the director
shall pay it from moneys appropriated for that purpose. No
funds shall be expended for damages under this chapter
except as appropriated by the legislature. [1996 c 54 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 4.92.040 was amended by 2002 c 332 § 11,
changing the filing of claims under subsection (5) to the risk management
division.
ited by a county, municipality, or other public entity during
the season prior to the occurrence of the damage.
(2) The legislature may declare an emergency, defined
for the purposes of this section as any happening arising from
weather, other natural conditions, or fire that causes unusually great damage to commercially raised agricultural or horticultural crops by deer or elk. In an emergency, the department may pay as much as may be subsequently appropriated,
in addition to the funds authorized under subsection (1) of
this section, for claims under RCW 77.36.040 and for assessment and compromise of claims. Such money shall be used to
pay animal damage claims only if the claim meets the conditions of RCW 77.36.040 and the department has expended all
funds authorized under RCW 77.36.070 or subsection (1) of
this section. [1996 c 54 § 9; (2001 c 274 § 3 expired June 30,
2004).]
Expiration date—2001 c 274 §§ 1-3: See note following RCW
77.36.005.
Effective date—2001 c 274: See note following RCW 77.36.005.
77.36.900
77.36.900 Application—1996 c 54. Chapter 54, Laws
of 1996 applies prospectively only and not retroactively. It
applies only to claims that arise on or after July 1, 1996.
[1996 c 54 § 10.]
77.36.901
77.36.901 Effective date—1996 c 54. Sections 1
through 12 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1996. [1996 c
54 § 13.]
Chapter 77.44
77.36.060
77.36.060 Claim refused—Posted property. The
director may refuse to consider and pay claims of persons
who have posted the property against hunting or who have
not allowed public hunting during the season prior to the
occurrence of the damages. [1996 c 54 § 7.]
77.36.070
77.36.070 Limit on total claims from *wildlife fund
per fiscal year. The department may pay no more than one
hundred twenty thousand dollars per fiscal year from the
*wildlife fund for claims under RCW 77.36.040 and for
assessment costs and compromise of claims. Such money
shall be used to pay animal damage claims only if the claim
meets the conditions of RCW 77.36.040 and the damage
occurred in a place where the opportunity to hunt was not
restricted or prohibited by a county, municipality, or other
public entity during the season prior to the occurrence of the
damage. [1996 c 54 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
77.36.080
77.36.080 Limit on total claims from general fund
per fiscal year—Emergency exceptions. (1) The department may pay no more than thirty thousand dollars per fiscal
year from the general fund for claims under RCW 77.36.040
and for assessment costs and compromise of claims unless
the legislature declares an emergency. Such money shall be
used to pay animal damage claims only if the claim meets the
conditions of RCW 77.36.040 and the damage occurred in a
place where the opportunity to hunt was restricted or prohib(2006 Ed.)
77.44.007
Chapter 77.44 RCW
WARM WATER GAME FISH
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Sections
77.44.005
77.44.007
77.44.010
77.44.030
77.44.040
77.44.050
77.44.060
77.44.070
Public interest declaration.
Definitions.
Warm water game fish enhancement program—Created.
Freshwater, combination fishing license—Disposition of fee.
Program goals.
Warm water game fish account—Created—Use of moneys.
Specifications—Purchases from aquatic farmers.
Purchases from aquatic farmers for stocking purposes.
77.44.005
77.44.005 Public interest declaration. The legislature
declares that the public and private propagation, production,
protection, and enhancement of fish is in the public interest.
[1991 c 253 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.18.005.]
77.44.007
77.44.007 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Contract" means an agreement setting at a minimum, price, quantity of fish to be delivered, time of delivery,
and fish health requirements.
(2) "Fish health requirements" means those site specific
fish health and genetic requirements actually used by the
department of fish and wildlife in fish stocking.
(3) "Aquatic farmer" means a private sector person who
commercially farms and manages private sector cultured
aquatic products on the person’s own land or on land in
which the person has a present right of possession.
[Title 77 RCW—page 57]
77.44.010
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(4) "Warm water game fish" includes the following species: Bass, channel catfish, walleye, crappie, and other species as defined by the department. [2000 c 107 § 262; 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 76; 1991 c 253 § 2. Formerly RCW 77.18.010.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.44.010
77.44.010 Warm water game fish enhancement program—Created. A warm water game fish enhancement
program is created in the department. The enhancement program shall be designed to increase the opportunities to fish
for and catch warm water game fish including: Largemouth
black bass, smallmouth black bass, channel catfish, black
crappie, white crappie, walleye, and tiger musky. The program shall be designed to use a practical applied approach to
increasing warm water fishing. The department shall use the
funds available efficiently to assure the greatest increase in
the fishing for warm water fish at the lowest cost. This
approach shall involve the minimization of overhead and
administrative costs and the maximization of productive inthe-field activities. [1998 c 191 § 39; 1996 c 222 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective dates—1996 c 222: "(1) Sections 1, 2, and 4 through 6 of this
act shall take effect July 1, 1996.
(2) Section 3 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1997." [1996 c 222
§ 8.]
77.44.030
77.44.030 Freshwater, combination fishing license—
Disposition of fee. (1) As provided in RCW 77.32.440, a
portion of each freshwater and combination fishing license
fee shall be deposited into the warm water game fish account.
(2) The department shall use the most cost-effective format in designing and administering the warm water game fish
surcharge [account].
(3) A warm water game fish account shall be used for
enhancement of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye,
black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish, and tiger
musky. [1998 c 191 § 29; 1996 c 222 § 3.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Effective dates—1996 c 222: See note following RCW 77.44.010.
77.44.040
77.44.040 Program goals. The goals of the warm water
game fish enhancement program are to improve the fishing
for warm water game fish using cost-effective management.
Development of new ponds and lakes shall be an important
and integral part of the program. The department shall work
with the department of natural resources to coordinate the
reclamation of surface mines and the development of warm
water game fish ponds. Improvement of warm water fishing
shall be coordinated with the protection and conservation of
cold water fish populations. This shall be accomplished by
carefully designing the warm water projects to have minimal
adverse effects upon the cold water fish populations. New
pond and lake development should have beneficial effects
upon wildlife due to the increase in lacustrine and wetland
habitat that will accompany the improvement of warm water
fish habitat. The department shall not develop projects that
will increase the populations of undesirable or deleterious
fish species such as carp, squawfish, walking catfish, and others.
[Title 77 RCW—page 58]
Fish culture programs shall be used in conditions where
they will prove to be cost-effective, and may include the purchase of warm water fish from aquatic farmers defined in
RCW 15.85.020. Consideration should be made for development of urban area enhancement of fishing opportunity for
put-and-take species, such as channel catfish, that are amenable to production by low-cost fish culture methods. Fish culture shall also be used for stocking of high value species, such
as walleye, smallmouth bass, and tiger musky. Introduction
of special genetic strains that show high potential for recreational fishing improvement, including Florida strain largemouth bass and striped bass, shall be considered.
Transplantation and introduction of exotic warm water
fish shall be carefully reviewed to assure that adverse effects
to native fish and wildlife populations do not occur. This
review shall include an analysis of consequences from disease and parasite introduction.
Population management through the use of fish toxicants, including rotenone or derris root, shall be an integral
part of the warm water game fish enhancement program.
However, any use of fish toxicants shall be subject to a thorough review to prevent adverse effects to cold water fish,
desirable warm water fish, and other biota. Eradication of
deleterious fish species shall be a goal of the program.
Habitat improvement shall be a major aspect of the warm
water game fish enhancement program. Habitat improvement
opportunities shall be defined with scientific investigations,
field surveys, and by using the extensive experience of other
state management entities. Installation of cover, structure,
water flow control structures, screens, spawning substrate,
vegetation control, and other management techniques shall
be fully used. The department shall work to gain access to
privately owned waters that can be developed with habitat
improvements to improve the warm water resource for public
fishing.
The department shall use the resources of cooperative
groups to assist in the planning and implementation of the
warm water game fish enhancement program. In the development of the program the department shall actively involve the
organized fishing clubs that primarily fish for warm water
fish. The warm water fish enhancement program shall be
cooperative between the department and private landowners;
private landowners shall not be required to alter the uses of
their private property to fulfill the purposes of the warm
water fish enhancement program. The director shall not
impose restrictions on the use of private property, or take private property, for the purpose of the warm water fish
enhancement program. [1996 c 222 § 4.]
Effective dates—1996 c 222: See note following RCW 77.44.010.
77.44.050
77.44.050 Warm water game fish account—Created—Use of moneys. The warm water game fish account is
hereby created in the *state wildlife fund. Moneys in the
account are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be
used for the purpose of funding the warm water game fish
enhancement program, including the development of warm
water pond and lake habitat, culture of warm water game fish,
improvement of warm water fish habitat, management of
warm water fish populations, and other practical activities
that will improve the fishing for warm water fish. Funds for
(2006 Ed.)
Limitations on Certain Commercial Fisheries
77.50.010
Limitations on commercial fishing for salmon in Puget Sound
waters.
Limitations on commercial fishing for chinook or coho salmon
in Pacific Ocean and Straits of Juan de Fuca.
Salmon fishing gear.
Commercial net fishing for salmon in tributaries of Columbia
river—Boundaries defined.
Reef net salmon fishing gear—Reef net areas specified.
Unauthorized fishing vessels entering state waters.
Limitation on salmon fishing gear in Pacific Ocean.
Possession or transportation in Pacific Ocean of salmon taken
by other than troll lines or angling gear.
Bottom trawling not authorized—Areas specified.
Hood Canal shrimp—Limitation on number of shrimp pots.
Commercial salmon fishing—Unauthorized gear.
Maintaining consistent salmon harvest levels.
Purpose—2000 c 107.
waters described in subsection (2) of this section only during
the period June 10th to July 25th and for other salmon only
from the second Monday of September through November
30th, except during the hours between 4:00 p.m. of Friday
and 4:00 p.m. of the following Sunday.
(2) All waters east and south of a line commencing at a
concrete monument on Angeles Point in Clallam county near
the mouth of the Elwha River on which is inscribed "Angeles
Point Monument" (latitude 48° 9’ 3" north, longitude 123°
33’ 01" west of Greenwich Meridian); thence running east on
a line 81° 30’ true across the flashlight and bell buoy off Partridge Point and thence continued to longitude 122° 40’ west;
thence north to the southerly shore of Sinclair Island; thence
along the southerly shore of the island to the most easterly
point of the island; thence 46° true to Carter Point, the most
southerly point of Lummi Island; thence northwesterly along
the westerly shore line of Lummi Island to where the shore
line intersects line of longitude 122° 40’ west; thence north to
the mainland, including: The southerly portion of Hale Passage, Bellingham Bay, Padilla Bay, Fidalgo Bay, Guemes
Channel, Skagit Bay, Similk Bay, Saratoga Passage, Holmes
Harbor, Possession Sound, Admiralty Inlet, Hood Canal,
Puget Sound, and their inlets, passages, waters, waterways,
and tributaries.
(3) The commission may authorize commercial fishing
for salmon with gill net, purse seine, and other lawful gear
prior to the second Monday in September within the waters of
Hale Passage, Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, Padilla Bay,
Fidalgo Bay, Guemes Channel, Skagit Bay, and Similk Bay,
to wit: Those waters northerly and easterly of a line commencing at Stanwood, thence along the south shore of Skagit
Bay to Rocky Point on Camano Island; thence northerly to
Polnell Point on Whidbey Island.
(4) Whenever the commission determines that a stock or
run of salmon cannot be harvested in the usual manner, and
that the stock or run of salmon may be in danger of being
wasted and surplus to natural or artificial spawning requirements, the commission may authorize units of gill net and
purse seine gear in any number or equivalents, by time and
area, to fully utilize the harvestable portions of these salmon
runs for the economic well being of the citizens of this state.
Gill net and purse seine gear other than emergency and test
gear authorized by the director shall not be used in Lake
Washington.
(5) The commission may authorize commercial fishing
for pink salmon in each odd-numbered year from August 1st
through September 1st in the waters lying inside of a line
commencing at the most easterly point of Dungeness Spit and
thence projected to Point Partridge on Whidbey Island and a
line commencing at Olele Point and thence projected easterly
to Bush Point on Whidbey Island. [2002 c 311 § 2; 1998 c
190 § 75; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 25 (Referendum Bill No. 45,
approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 46; 1973
1st ex.s. c 220 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 283 § 13; 1955 c 12 §
75.12.010. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 28; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780301. Formerly RCW 75.12.010.]
77.50.010 Limitations on commercial fishing for
salmon in Puget Sound waters. (1) The commission may
authorize commercial fishing for sockeye salmon within the
Findings—2002 c 311: "The legislature finds that the economic wellbeing and stability of the fishing industry and the conservation of the food
fish resources of the state of Washington are best served by providing managers with all available tools to stabilize and distribute the commercial harvest of targeted Puget Sound salmon stocks. In recent years, segments of the
warm water game fish as provided in RCW 77.32.440 shall
not serve as replacement funding for department-operated
warm water fish projects existing on December 31, 1994,
except that an amount not to exceed ninety-one thousand dollars may be used for warm water fish culture at the Rod
Meseberg warm water fish production facility during the
biennium ending June 30, 2001. [1999 c 235 § 1; 1996 c 222
§ 5.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Effective date—1999 c 235: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 10, 1999]." [1999 c 235 § 4.]
Effective dates—1996 c 222: See note following RCW 77.44.010.
77.44.060
77.44.060 Specifications—Purchases from aquatic
farmers. If the department requires, pursuant to its authority
relative to environmental permits or licenses, that resident
hatchery game fish be stocked by the permittee or licensee for
mitigation of environmental damage, the department shall
specify the pounds or numbers, species, stock, and/or race of
resident game fish that are to be provided. The department
shall offer the permittee or licensee the option of purchasing
under contract from aquatic farmers in Washington, those
game fish, unless the fish specified by the department are not
available from Washington growers. [1991 c 253 § 3. Formerly RCW 77.18.020.]
77.44.070
77.44.070 Purchases from aquatic farmers for stocking purposes. Any agency of state or federal government,
political subdivision of the state, private or public utility
company, corporation, or sports group, or any purchaser of
fish under RCW 77.44.060 may purchase resident game fish
from an aquatic farmer for stocking purposes if permit
requirements of this title and the department have been met.
[2001 c 253 § 53; 1991 c 253 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.18.030.]
Chapter 77.50
Chapter 77.50 RCW
LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
(Formerly: Unlawful acts)
Sections
77.50.010
77.50.020
77.50.030
77.50.040
77.50.050
77.50.060
77.50.070
77.50.080
77.50.090
77.50.100
77.50.110
77.50.120
77.50.900
77.50.010
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 77 RCW—page 59]
77.50.020
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
industry in cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife have funded
studies examining modification of harvest practices and fishing gear, particularly purse seine gear, to minimize or avoid impacts on nontargeted Puget
Sound salmon stocks.
The legislature finds that the new Pacific salmon treaty agreement of
1999 will drastically reduce the commercial harvest of Fraser river sockeye
salmon while likely providing increased harvest opportunities in areas of
Puget Sound where only gill net gear is now authorized. This exclusive limitation is contrary to the long-term needs of the fishing industry and inconsistent with the legislature’s intent to stabilize harvest levels while selectively
targeting healthy salmon stocks." [2002 c 311 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 311 § 2: "Section 2 of this act takes effect July
1, 2002." [2002 c 311 § 3.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Legislative declaration: "The preservation of the fishing industry and
food fish and shellfish resources of the state of Washington is vital to the
state’s economy, and effective measures and remedies are necessary to prevent the depletion of these resources." [1973 1st ex.s. c 220 § 1.]
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 283: See note following RCW
77.65.170.
77.50.020
77.50.020 Limitations on commercial fishing for chinook or coho salmon in Pacific Ocean and Straits of Juan
de Fuca. (1) The commission may authorize commercial
fishing for coho salmon in the Pacific Ocean and the Straits
of Juan de Fuca only from June 16th through October 31st.
(2) The commission may authorize commercial fishing
for chinook salmon in the Pacific Ocean and the Straits of
Juan de Fuca only from March 15th through October 31st.
[1998 c 190 § 76; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 26 (Referendum Bill
No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
48; 1955 c 12 § 75.18.020. Prior: 1953 c 147 § 3. Formerly
RCW 75.12.015, 75.18.020.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.50.030
77.50.030 Salmon fishing gear. (1) A person shall not
use, operate, or maintain a gill net which exceeds one thousand five hundred feet in length or a drag seine in the waters
of the Columbia river for catching salmon.
(2) A person shall not construct, install, use, operate, or
maintain within state waters a pound net, round haul net, lampara net, fish trap, fish wheel, scow fish wheel, set net, weir,
or fixed appliance for catching salmon or steelhead except
under the authority of a trial or experimental fishery permit,
when an emerging commercial fishery has been designated
allowing use of one or more of these gear types. The director
must consult with the commercial fishing interests that would
be affected by the trial or experimental fishery permit. The
director may authorize the use of this gear for scientific
investigations.
(3) The department, in coordination with the Oregon
department of fish and wildlife, shall adopt rules to regulate
the use of monofilament in gill net webbing on the Columbia
river. [2001 c 163 § 2; 1998 c 190 § 77; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 27;
1985 c 147 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 52; 1955 c 12 §
75.12.040. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 29; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780303. Formerly RCW 75.12.040.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 60]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.50.040 Commercial net fishing for salmon in tributaries of Columbia river—Boundaries defined. (1) The
commission shall adopt rules defining geographical boundaries of the following Columbia river tributaries and sloughs:
(a) Washougal river;
(b) Camas slough;
(c) Lewis river;
(d) Kalama river;
(e) Cowlitz river;
(f) Elokomin river;
(g) Elokomin sloughs;
(h) Skamokawa sloughs;
(i) Grays river;
(j) Deep river;
(k) Grays bay.
(2) The commission may authorize commercial net fishing for salmon in the tributaries and sloughs from September
1st to November 30th only, if the time, areas, and level of
effort are regulated in order to maximize the recreational fishing opportunity while minimizing excess returns of fish to
hatcheries. The commission shall not authorize commercial
net fishing if a significant catch of steelhead would occur.
[1998 c 190 § 78; 1984 c 80 § 5; 1983 c 245 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.12.132.]
77.50.040
77.50.050 Reef net salmon fishing gear—Reef net
areas specified. The commission shall not authorize use of
reef net fishing gear except in the reef net areas described in
this section.
(1) Point Roberts reef net fishing area includes those
waters within 250 feet on each side of a line projected 129°
true from a point at longitude 123° 01’ 15" W. latitude 48°
58’ 38" N. to a point one mile distant, as such description is
shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
map numbered 6300, published September, 1941, in Washington, D.C., eleventh edition.
(2) Cherry Point reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside the 10-fathom line between lines
projected 205° true from points on the mainland at longitude
122° 44’ 54" latitude 48° 51’ 48" and longitude 122° 44’ 18"
latitude 48° 51’ 33", a [as] such descriptions are shown upon
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(3) Lummi Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside a line projected from Village Point
208° true to a point 900 yards distant, thence 129° true to the
point of intersection with a line projected 259° true from the
shore of Lummi Island 122° 40’ 42" latitude 48° 41’ 32", as
such descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March,
1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition, revised 11-25-57,
save and except that there shall be excluded therefrom all
waters lying inside of a line projected 259° true from a point
at 122° 40’ 42" latitude 48° 41’ 32" to a point 300 yards distant from high tide, thence in a northerly direction to the
77.50.050
(2006 Ed.)
Limitations on Certain Commercial Fisheries
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey reference mark
number 2, 1941-1950, located on that point on Lummi Island
known as Lovers Point, as such descriptions are shown upon
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map number
6380 as aforesaid. The term "Village Point" as used herein
shall be construed to mean a point of location on Village
Point, Lummi Island, at the mean high tide line on a true bearing of 43° 53’ a distance of 457 feet to the center of the chimney of a wood frame house on the east side of the county
road. Said chimney and house being described as Village
Point Chimney on page 612 of the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey list of geographic positions No. G-5455,
Rosario Strait.
(4) Sinclair Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside a line projected from the northern
point of Sinclair Island to Boulder reef, thence 200° true to
the northwesterly point of Sinclair Island, as such descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in
Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(5) Flat Point reef net fishing area includes those waters
within a radius of 175 feet of a point off Lopez Island located
at longitude 122° 55’ 24" latitude 48° 32’ 33", as such
description is shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in
Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(6) Lopez Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters within 400 yards of shore between lines projected true
west from points on the shore of Lopez Island at longitude
122° 55’ 04" latitude 48° 31’ 59" and longitude 122° 55’ 54"
latitude 48° 30’ 55", as such descriptions are shown upon the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(7) Iceberg Point reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside a line projected from Davis Point on
Lopez Island to the west point of Long Island, thence to the
southern point of Hall Island, thence to the eastern point at
the entrance to Jones Bay, and thence to the southern point at
the entrance to Mackaye Harbor on Lopez Island; and those
waters inland and inside a line projected 320° from Iceberg
Point light on Lopez Island, a distance of 400 feet, thence
easterly to the point on Lopez Island at longitude 122° 53’
00" latitude 48° 25’ 39", as such descriptions are shown upon
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(8) Aleck Bay reef net fishing area includes those waters
inland and inside a line projected from the southwestern point
at the entrance to Aleck Bay on Lopez Island at longitude
122° 51’ 11" latitude 48° 25’ 14" southeasterly 800 yards to
the submerged rock shown on U.S.G.S. map number 6380,
thence northerly to the cove on Lopez Island at longitude
122° 50’ 49" latitude 48° 25’ 42", as such descriptions are
shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in Washington,
D.C., eighth edition.
(9) Shaw Island reef net fishing area number 1 includes
those waters within 300 yards of shore between lines projected true south from points on Shaw Island at longitude
(2006 Ed.)
77.50.050
122° 56’ 14" latitude 48° 33’ 28" and longitude 122° 57’ 29"
latitude 48° 32’ 58", as such descriptions are shown upon the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(10) Shaw Island reef net fishing area number 2 includes
those waters inland and inside a line projected from Point
George on Shaw Island to the westerly point of Neck Point on
Shaw Island, as such description is shown upon the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(11) Stuart Island reef net fishing area number 1 includes
those waters within 600 feet of the shore of Stuart Island
between lines projected true east from points at longitude
123° 10’ 47" latitude 48° 39’ 47" and longitude 123° 10’ 47"
latitude 48° 39’ 33", as such descriptions are shown upon the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(12) Stuart Island reef net fishing area number 2 includes
those waters within 250 feet of Gossip Island, also known as
Happy Island, as such description is shown upon the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(13) Johns Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside a line projected from the eastern
point of Johns Island to the northwestern point of Little Cactus Island, thence northwesterly to a point on Johns Island at
longitude 123° 09’ 24" latitude 48° 39’ 59", as such descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in
Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(14) Battleship Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters lying within 350 feet of Battleship Island, as such
description is shown upon the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March, 1947, in
Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(15) Open Bay reef net fishing area includes those waters
lying within 150 feet of shore between lines projected true
east from a point on Henry Island at longitude 123° 11’ 34
1/2" latitude 48° 35’ 27 1/2" at a point 250 feet south, as such
descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March,
1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(16) Mitchell Reef net fishing area includes those waters
within a line beginning at the rock shown on U.S.G.S. map
number 6380 at longitude 123° 10’ 56" latitude 48° 34’ 49
1/2", and projected 50 feet northwesterly, thence southwesterly 250 feet, thence southeasterly 300 feet, thence northeasterly 250 feet, thence to the point of beginning, as such
descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March,
1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(17) Smugglers Cove reef fishing area includes those
waters within 200 feet of shore between lines projected true
west from points on the shore of San Juan Island at longitude
123° 10’ 29" latitude 48° 33’ 50" and longitude 123° 10’ 31"
latitude 48° 33’ 45", as such descriptions are shown upon the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
[Title 77 RCW—page 61]
77.50.060
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition.
(18) Andrews Bay reef net fishing area includes those
waters lying within 300 feet of the shore of San Juan Island
between a line projected true south from a point at the northern entrance of Andrews Bay at longitude 123° 09’ 53 1/2"
latitude 48° 33’ 00" and the cable crossing sign in Andrews
Bay, at longitude 123° 09’ 45" latitude 48° 33’ 04", as such
descriptions are shown upon the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey map numbered 6380, published March,
1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth edition.
(19) Orcas Island reef net fishing area includes those
waters inland and inside a line projected true west a distance
of 1,000 yards from the shore of Orcas Island at longitude
122° 57’ 40" latitude 48° 41’ 06" thence northeasterly to a
point 500 feet true west of Point Doughty, then true east to
Point Doughty, as such descriptions are shown upon the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey map numbered
6380, published March, 1947, in Washington, D.C., eighth
edition. [1998 c 190 § 79; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 59; 1965 c 64
§ 1; 1961 c 236 § 1; 1959 c 309 § 1; 1955 c 276 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.12.140.]
77.50.060
77.50.060 Unauthorized fishing vessels entering state
waters. In order to protect the welfare of the citizens of the
state of Washington by protecting the natural resources of the
state from illegal fishing in state waters, commercial fishing
vessels which are not authorized by law to fish for salmon in
Washington state waters cannot enter Washington state
waters unless all salmon fishing gear is stowed below deck or
placed in a position so that it is not readily available for fishing. [1987 c 262 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.12.155.]
77.50.070
77.50.070 Limitation on salmon fishing gear in
Pacific Ocean. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of
this section, the commission shall not authorize gear other
than troll gear or angling gear for taking salmon within the
offshore waters or the waters of the Pacific Ocean over which
the state has jurisdiction lying west of the following line:
Commencing at the point of intersection of the international
boundary line in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and a line drawn
between the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island in Clallam County
and Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island; thence southerly to
the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island; thence southerly to the
most westerly point of Cape Flattery; thence southerly along
the state shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, crossing any river
mouths at their most westerly points of land, to Point Brown
at the entrance to Grays Harbor; thence southerly to Point
Chehalis Light on Point Chehalis; thence southerly from
Point Chehalis along the state shoreline of the Pacific Ocean
to the Cape Shoalwater tower at the entrance to Willapa Bay;
thence southerly to Leadbetter Point; thence southerly along
the state shoreline of the Pacific Ocean to the inshore end of
the North jetty at the entrance to the Columbia River; thence
southerly to the knuckle of the South jetty at the entrance to
said river.
(2) The commission may authorize the use of nets for
taking salmon in the waters described in subsection (1) of this
section for scientific investigations. [1998 c 190 § 80; 1993
[Title 77 RCW—page 62]
c 20 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 60; 1957 c 108 § 3. Formerly
RCW 75.12.210.]
Purpose—1993 c 20: "The purpose of this act is to correct references
to a geographical landmark on Cape Shoalwater that no longer exists. Cape
Shoalwater Light has been removed and a new tower has been constructed
four hundred yards to the west. It is not intended that this act make any substantive change in the boundaries of the areas described in RCW 75.12.210
and 75.28.012 beyond the minor adjustment necessitated by the replacement
of the landmark." [1993 c 20 § 1.]
Preamble—1957 c 108: "The state has a vital interest in the salmon
resources of the Pacific Ocean both within and beyond the territorial limits
of the state, in that a large number of such salmon spawn in its fresh water
streams, migrate to the waters of the Pacific Ocean and, in response to their
anadromous cycle, return to the fresh water streams to spawn.
Expansion of fishing for salmon by the use of nets in waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, which has occurred in the past year, will result in a substantial depletion of salmon originating within the state because the salmon
runs are intercepted before they separate to move in toward the rivers of their
origin. Oregon, California and Canada, through their respective fisheries
agencies, have likewise expressed a deep concern over this problem since
portions of such salmon originate within their respective jurisdictions. Short
of absolute prohibition, it appears to be presently impracticable to regulate
salmon net fishing in such waters of the Pacific Ocean by any known scientific fisheries management techniques in order to insure adequate salmon
escapement to the three Pacific Coast states and Canada, the reason being
that salmon stocks and races are so commingled in such Pacific Ocean
waters that they are indistinguishable as to origin until they enter the harbors,
bays, straits and estuaries of the respective jurisdictions.
Canada, through its authorized officials, has proposed to prohibit its
nationals from net fishing for salmon in Pacific Ocean waters provided the
United States or the three Pacific Coast states apply such appropriate conservation measures to their respective citizens. Inasmuch as there is presently
no congressional legislation prohibiting such fishing, and inasmuch as
authorized officials of the state department of the United States have
expressed a desire to have the states act in this area, the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission has proposed and recommended appropriate legislation to
the three Pacific Coast states to insure the survival of their valuable salmon
resources." [1957 c 108 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.12.200.]
77.50.080
77.50.080 Possession or transportation in Pacific
Ocean of salmon taken by other than troll lines or angling
gear. Within the waters described in RCW 77.50.070, a person shall not transport or possess salmon on board a vessel
carrying fishing gear of a type other than troll lines or angling
gear, unless accompanied by a certificate issued by a state or
country showing that the salmon have been lawfully taken
within the territorial waters of the state or country. [2000 c
107 § 13; 1998 c 190 § 81; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 61; 1963 c
234 § 2; 1957 c 108 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.12.230.]
Preamble—1957 c 108: See note following RCW 77.50.070.
77.50.090
77.50.090 Bottom trawling not authorized—Areas
specified. The commission shall not authorize commercial
bottom trawling for food fish and shellfish in all areas of
Hood Canal south of a line projected from Tala Point to Foulweather Bluff and in Puget Sound south of a line projected
from Foulweather Bluff to Double Bluff and including all
marine waters east of Whidbey Island and Camano Island.
[1998 c 190 § 82; 1989 c 172 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.12.390.]
77.50.100
77.50.100 Hood Canal shrimp—Limitation on number of shrimp pots. The commission shall not authorize any
commercial fisher to use more than fifty shrimp pots while
commercially fishing for shrimp in that portion of Hood
Canal lying south of the Hood Canal floating bridge. [1998 c
190 § 83; 1993 c 340 § 50; 1989 c 316 § 9; 1983 1st ex.s. c 31
§ 2. Formerly RCW 75.12.440, 75.28.134.]
(2006 Ed.)
Construction Projects in State Waters
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 31: "This act shall take effect January
1, 1984." [1983 1st ex.s. c 31 § 4.]
77.50.110
77.50.110 Commercial salmon fishing—Unauthorized gear. The commission shall not authorize angling gear
or other personal use gear for commercial salmon fishing.
[1998 c 190 § 84; 1996 c 267 § 24; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 69;
1969 ex.s. c 23 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.12.650.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 23: "The provisions of this act shall
become effective January 1, 1970." [1969 ex.s. c 23 § 2.]
77.50.120
77.50.120 Maintaining consistent salmon harvest levels. It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that a sustainable level of salmon is made available for harvest for commercial fishers in the state. Maintaining consistent harvest
levels has become increasingly difficult with the listing of
salmonid species under the federal endangered species act.
Without a stable level of harvest, fishers cannot develop
niche markets that maximize the economic value of the harvest. New tools and approaches are needed by fish managers
to bring increased stability to the fishing industry.
In the short term, it is the legislature’s intent to provide
managers with tools to assure that commercial harvest of targeted stocks can continue and expand under the constraints of
the federal endangered species act. There are experimental
types of commercial fishing gear that could allow fishers to
stabilize harvest levels by selectively targeting healthy
salmon stocks.
For the longer term, the department of fish and wildlife
shall proceed with changes to the operation of certain hatcheries in order to stabilize harvest levels by allowing naturally
spawning and hatchery origin fish to be managed as a single
run. Scientific information from such hatcheries would guide
the department’s approach to reducing the need to mass mark
hatchery origin salmon where appropriate. [2001 c 163 § 1.]
77.50.900
77.50.900 Purpose—2000 c 107. The purpose of chapter 107, Laws of 2000 is to recodify Titles 75 and 77 RCW
into Title 77 RCW ensuant to the merger of the departments
of wildlife and fisheries. [2000 c 107 § 1.]
Chapter 77.55 RCW
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN STATE WATERS
Chapter 77.55
Sections
77.55.011
77.55.021
77.55.031
77.55.041
77.55.051
77.55.061
77.55.071
77.55.081
77.55.091
77.55.101
77.55.111
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Permit.
Driving across established ford.
Derelict fishing gear—Removal.
Spartina/purple loosestrife—Removal or control.
Hazardous substance remedial actions—Procedural requirements not applicable.
Certain secure community transition facilities not subject to
this chapter.
Removal or control of aquatic noxious weeds—Rules—Pamphlet.
Small scale prospecting and mining—Rules.
Environmental excellence program agreements—Effect on
chapter.
Habitat incentives agreement.
77.55.121
77.55.131
77.55.141
77.55.151
77.55.161
77.55.171
77.55.181
77.55.191
77.55.201
77.55.211
77.55.221
77.55.231
77.55.241
77.55.251
77.55.261
77.55.271
77.55.281
77.55.291
77.55.301
77.55.311
77.55.011
Habitat incentives program—Goal—Requirements of agreement—Application evaluation factors.
Dike vegetation management guidelines—Memorandum of
agreement.
Marine beach front protective bulkheads or rockwalls.
Marina or marine terminal.
Storm water discharges.
Watershed restoration projects—Permit processing.
Fish habitat enhancement project—Permit review and
approval process.
Columbia river anadromous fish sanctuary—Restrictions.
Landscape management plan.
Informational brochure.
Flood damage repair and reduction activities—Five-year
maintenance permit agreements.
Conditions imposed upon a permit—Reasonably related to
project.
Off-site mitigation.
Mitigation plan review.
Placement of woody debris as condition of permit.
Sediment dredging or capping actions—Dredging of existing
channels and berthing areas—Mitigation not required.
Fishways on certain agricultural drainage facilities.
Civil penalty.
Hydraulic appeals board—Members—Jurisdiction—Procedures.
Hydraulic appeals board—Procedures.
77.55.011
77.55.011 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Bed" means the land below the ordinary high water
lines of state waters. This definition does not include irrigation ditches, canals, storm water runoff devices, or other artificial watercourses except where they exist in a natural watercourse that has been altered by man.
(2) "Board" means the hydraulic appeals board created in
RCW 77.55.301.
(3) "Commission" means the state fish and wildlife commission.
(4) "Department" means the department of fish and wildlife.
(5) "Director" means the director of the department of
fish and wildlife.
(6) "Emergency" means an immediate threat to life, the
public, property, or of environmental degradation.
(7) "Hydraulic project" means the construction or performance of work that will use, divert, obstruct, or change the
natural flow or bed of any of the salt or freshwaters of the
state.
(8) "Imminent danger" means a threat by weather, water
flow, or other natural conditions that is likely to occur within
sixty days of a request for a permit application.
(9) "Marina" means a public or private facility providing
boat moorage space, fuel, or commercial services. Commercial services include but are not limited to overnight or liveaboard boating accommodations.
(10) "Marine terminal" means a public or private commercial wharf located in the navigable water of the state and
used, or intended to be used, as a port or facility for the storing, handling, transferring, or transporting of goods to and
from vessels.
(11) "Ordinary high water line" means the mark on the
shores of all water that will be found by examining the bed
and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of
waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in
ordinary years as to mark upon the soil or vegetation a character distinct from the abutting upland. Provided, that in any
[Title 77 RCW—page 63]
77.55.021
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
area where the ordinary high water line cannot be found, the
ordinary high water line adjoining saltwater is the line of
mean higher high water and the ordinary high water line
adjoining fresh water is the elevation of the mean annual
flood.
(12) "Permit" means a hydraulic project approval permit
issued under this chapter.
(13) "Sandbars" includes, but is not limited to, sand,
gravel, rock, silt, and sediments.
(14) "Small scale prospecting and mining" means the use
of only the following methods: Pans; nonmotorized sluice
boxes; concentrators; and minirocker boxes for the discovery
and recovery of minerals.
(15) "Spartina," "purple loosestrife," and "aquatic noxious weeds" have the same meanings as defined in RCW
17.26.020.
(16) "Streambank stabilization" means those projects
that prevent or limit erosion, slippage, and mass wasting.
These projects include, but are not limited to, bank resloping,
log and debris relocation or removal, planting of woody vegetation, bank protection using rock or woody material or
placement of jetties or groins, gravel removal, or erosion control.
(17) "Tide gate" means a one-way check valve that prevents the backflow of tidal water.
(18) "Waters of the state" and "state waters" means all
salt and fresh waters waterward of the ordinary high water
line and within the territorial boundary of the state. [2005 c
146 § 101.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [2005 c 146 § 1007.]
77.55.021
77.55.021 Permit. (1) Except as provided in RCW
77.55.031, 77.55.051, and 77.55.041, in the event that any
person or government agency desires to undertake a hydraulic project, the person or government agency shall, before
commencing work thereon, secure the approval of the department in the form of a permit as to the adequacy of the means
proposed for the protection of fish life.
(2) A complete written application for a permit may be
submitted in person or by registered mail and must contain
the following:
(a) General plans for the overall project;
(b) Complete plans and specifications of the proposed
construction or work within the mean higher high water line
in saltwater or within the ordinary high water line in freshwater;
(c) Complete plans and specifications for the proper protection of fish life; and
(d) Notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act, unless otherwise
provided for in this chapter.
(3)(a) Protection of fish life is the only ground upon
which approval of a permit may be denied or conditioned.
Approval of a permit may not be unreasonably withheld or
unreasonably conditioned. Except as provided in this subsection and subsections (8), (10), and (11) of this section, the
department has forty-five calendar days upon receipt of a
complete application to grant or deny approval of a permit.
The forty-five day requirement is suspended if:
[Title 77 RCW—page 64]
(i) After ten working days of receipt of the application,
the applicant remains unavailable or unable to arrange for a
timely field evaluation of the proposed project;
(ii) The site is physically inaccessible for inspection;
(iii) The applicant requests a delay; or
(iv) The department is issuing a permit for a storm water
discharge and is complying with the requirements of RCW
77.55.161(3)(b).
(b) Immediately upon determination that the forty-five
day period is suspended, the department shall notify the
applicant in writing of the reasons for the delay.
(c) The period of forty-five calendar days may be
extended if the permit is part of a multiagency permit streamlining effort and all participating permitting agencies and the
permit applicant agree to an extended timeline longer than
forty-five calendar days.
(4) If the department denies approval of a permit, the
department shall provide the applicant a written statement of
the specific reasons why and how the proposed project would
adversely affect fish life. Issuance, denial, conditioning, or
modification of a permit shall be appealable to the department or the board as specified in RCW 77.55.301 within
thirty days of the notice of decision.
(5)(a) The permittee must demonstrate substantial
progress on construction of that portion of the project relating
to the permit within two years of the date of issuance.
(b) Approval of a permit is valid for a period of up to five
years from the date of issuance, except as provided in (c) of
this subsection and in RCW 77.55.151.
(c) A permit remains in effect without need for periodic
renewal for hydraulic projects that divert water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes and that involve
seasonal construction or other work. A permit for streambank stabilization projects to protect farm and agricultural
land as defined in RCW 84.34.020 remains in effect without
need for periodic renewal if the problem causing the need for
the streambank stabilization occurs on an annual or more frequent basis. The permittee must notify the appropriate
agency before commencing the construction or other work
within the area covered by the permit.
(6) The department may, after consultation with the permittee, modify a permit due to changed conditions. The modification becomes effective unless appealed to the department
or the board as specified in RCW 77.55.301 within thirty
days from the notice of the proposed modification. For
hydraulic projects that divert water for agricultural irrigation
or stock watering purposes, or when the hydraulic project or
other work is associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020,
the burden is on the department to show that changed conditions warrant the modification in order to protect fish life.
(7) A permittee may request modification of a permit due
to changed conditions. The request must be processed within
forty-five calendar days of receipt of the written request. A
decision by the department may be appealed to the board
within thirty days of the notice of the decision. For hydraulic
projects that divert water for agricultural irrigation or stock
watering purposes, or when the hydraulic project or other
work is associated with streambank stabilization to protect
farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020, the
burden is on the permittee to show that changed conditions
(2006 Ed.)
Construction Projects in State Waters
warrant the requested modification and that such a modification will not impair fish life.
(8) The department or the county legislative authority
may declare and continue an emergency. The county legislative authority shall immediately notify the department if it
declares an emergency under this subsection. The department, through its authorized representatives, shall issue
immediately, upon request, oral approval for a stream crossing, or work to remove any obstructions, repair existing
structures, restore streambanks, protect fish life, or protect
property threatened by the stream or a change in the stream
flow without the necessity of obtaining a written permit prior
to commencing work. Conditions of the emergency oral permit must be established by the department and reduced to
writing within thirty days and complied with as provided for
in this chapter. The department may not require the provisions of the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C
RCW, to be met as a condition of issuing a permit under this
subsection.
(9) All state and local agencies with authority under this
chapter to issue permits or other authorizations in connection
with emergency water withdrawals and facilities authorized
under RCW 43.83B.410 shall expedite the processing of such
permits or authorizations in keeping with the emergency
nature of such requests and shall provide a decision to the
applicant within fifteen calendar days of the date of application.
(10) The department or the county legislative authority
may determine an imminent danger exists. The county legislative authority shall notify the department, in writing, if it
determines that an imminent danger exists. In cases of imminent danger, the department shall issue an expedited written
permit, upon request, for work to remove any obstructions,
repair existing structures, restore banks, protect fish
resources, or protect property. Expedited permit requests
require a complete written application as provided in subsection (2) of this section and must be issued within fifteen calendar days of the receipt of a complete written application.
Approval of an expedited permit is valid for up to sixty days
from the date of issuance. The department may not require
the provisions of the state environmental policy act, chapter
43.21C RCW, to be met as a condition of issuing a permit
under this subsection.
(11) The department may issue an expedited written permit in those instances where normal permit processing would
result in significant hardship for the applicant or unacceptable damage to the environment. Expedited permit requests
require a complete written application as provided in subsection (2) of this section and must be issued within fifteen calendar days of the receipt of a complete written application.
Approval of an expedited permit is valid for up to sixty days
from the date of issuance. The department may not require
the provisions of the state environmental policy act, chapter
43.21C RCW, to be met as a condition of issuing a permit
under this subsection. [2005 c 146 § 201.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.031
77.55.031 Driving across established ford. The act of
driving across an established ford is exempt from a permit.
Driving across streams or on wetted streambeds at areas other
(2006 Ed.)
77.55.081
than established fords requires a permit. Work within the
ordinary high water line of state waters to construct or repair
a ford or crossing requires a permit. [2005 c 146 § 301.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.041 Derelict fishing gear—Removal. The
removal of derelict fishing gear does not require a permit
under this chapter if the gear is removed according to the
guidelines described in RCW 77.12.865. [2005 c 146 § 302;
2002 c 20 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.55.330.]
77.55.041
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Purpose—2002 c 20: See note following RCW 77.12.865.
77.55.051 Spartina/purple loosestrife—Removal or
control. (1) An activity conducted solely for the removal or
control of spartina does not require a permit.
(2) An activity conducted solely for the removal or control of purple loosestrife and which is performed with handheld tools, handheld equipment, or equipment carried by a
person does not require a permit. [2005 c 146 § 303.]
77.55.051
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.061 Hazardous substance remedial actions—
Procedural requirements not applicable. The procedural
requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any person
conducting a remedial action at a facility pursuant to a consent decree, order, or agreed order issued pursuant to chapter
70.105D RCW, or to the department of ecology when it conducts a remedial action under chapter 70.105D RCW. The
department of ecology shall ensure compliance with the substantive requirements of this chapter through the consent
decree, order, or agreed order issued pursuant to chapter
70.105D RCW, or during the department-conducted remedial
action, through the procedures developed by the department
pursuant to RCW 70.105D.090. [1994 c 257 § 18. Formerly
RCW 77.55.030, 75.20.025.]
77.55.061
Severability—1994 c 257: See note following RCW 36.70A.270.
77.55.071 Certain secure community transition facilities not subject to this chapter. (Expires June 30, 2009.)
An emergency has been caused by the need to expeditiously
site facilities to house sexually violent predators who have
been committed under chapter 71.09 RCW. To meet this
emergency, secure community transition facilities sited pursuant to the preemption provisions of RCW 71.09.342 and
secure facilities sited pursuant to the preemption provisions
of RCW 71.09.250 are not subject to the provisions of this
chapter.
This section expires June 30, 2009. [2002 c 68 § 14.
Formerly RCW 77.55.360.]
77.55.071
Purpose—Severability—Effective date—2002 c 68: See notes following RCW 36.70A.200.
77.55.081 Removal or control of aquatic noxious
weeds—Rules—Pamphlet. (1) By June 30, 1997, the
department shall develop rules for projects conducted solely
for the removal or control of various aquatic noxious weeds
other than spartina and purple loosestrife and for activities or
77.55.081
[Title 77 RCW—page 65]
77.55.091
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
hydraulic projects for controlling purple loosestrife not covered by RCW 77.55.051(2). Following the adoption of the
rules, the department shall produce and distribute a pamphlet
describing the methods of removing or controlling the
aquatic noxious weeds that are approved under the rules. The
pamphlet serves as the permit for any project that is conducted solely for the removal or control of such aquatic noxious weeds and that is conducted as described in the pamphlet. No further permit is required for such a project.
(2) From time to time as information becomes available,
the department shall adopt similar rules for additional aquatic
noxious weeds or additional activities for removing or controlling aquatic noxious weeds not governed by RCW
77.55.051 (1) and (2) and shall produce and distribute one or
more pamphlets describing these methods of removal or control. Such a pamphlet serves as the permit for any project that
is conducted solely for the removal or control of such aquatic
noxious weeds and that is conducted as described in the pamphlet. No further permit is required for such a project.
(3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the department
from requiring a permit for those parts of hydraulic projects
that are not specifically for the control or removal of spartina,
purple loosestrife, or other aquatic noxious weeds. [2005 c
146 § 401; 1995 c 255 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.55.150,
75.20.108.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 255: See RCW 17.26.900 and
17.26.901.
77.55.091
77.55.091 Small scale prospecting and mining—
Rules. (1) Small scale prospecting and mining shall not
require a permit under this chapter if the prospecting is conducted in accordance with rules established by the department.
(2) By December 31, 1998, the department shall adopt
rules applicable to small scale prospecting and mining activities subject to this section. The department shall develop the
rules in cooperation with the recreational mining community
and other interested parties.
(3) Within two months of adoption of the rules, the
department shall distribute an updated gold and fish pamphlet
that describes methods of mineral prospecting that are consistent with the department’s rule. The pamphlet shall be written to clearly indicate the prospecting methods that require a
permit under this chapter and the prospecting methods that
require compliance with the pamphlet. To the extent possible, the department shall use the provisions of the gold and
fish pamphlet to minimize the number of specific provisions
of a written permit issued under this chapter. [2005 c 146 §
402; 1997 c 415 § 2. Formerly RCW 77.55.270, 75.20.330.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Findings—1997 c 415: "The legislature finds that small scale prospecting and mining: (1) Is an important part of the heritage of the state; (2) provides economic benefits to the state; and (3) can be conducted in a manner
that is beneficial to fish habitat and fish propagation. Now, therefore, the
legislature declares that small scale prospecting and mining shall be regulated in the least burdensome manner that is consistent with the state’s fish
management objectives and the federal endangered species act." [1997 c 415
§ 1.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 66]
77.55.101 Environmental excellence program agreements—Effect on chapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any legal requirement under this chapter,
including any standard, limitation, rule, or order is superseded and replaced in accordance with the terms and provisions of an environmental excellence program agreement,
entered into under chapter 43.21K RCW. [1997 c 381 § 25.
Formerly RCW 77.55.020, 75.20.015.]
77.55.101
Purpose—1997 c 381: See RCW 43.21K.005.
77.55.111 Habitat incentives agreement. When a private landowner is applying for a permit under this chapter
and that landowner has entered into a habitat incentives
agreement with the department and the department of natural
resources as provided in RCW 77.55.121, the department
shall comply with the terms of that agreement when evaluating the request for a permit. [2005 c 146 § 403; 2001 c 253 §
54; 1997 c 425 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.55.280, 75.20.340.]
77.55.111
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Intent—1997 c 425: See note following RCW 77.55.121.
77.55.121 Habitat incentives program—Goal—
Requirements of agreement—Application evaluation factors. (1) Beginning in January 1998, the department and the
department of natural resources shall implement a habitat
incentives program based on the recommendations of federally recognized Indian tribes, landowners, the regional fisheries enhancement groups, the timber, fish, and wildlife cooperators, and other interested parties. The program shall allow
a private landowner to enter into an agreement with the
departments to enhance habitat on the landowner’s property
for food fish, game fish, or other wildlife species. In
exchange, the landowner shall receive state regulatory certainty with regard to future applications for a permit or a forest practices permit on the property covered by the agreement. The overall goal of the program is to provide a mechanism that facilitates habitat development on private property
while avoiding an adverse state regulatory impact to the landowner at some future date. A single agreement between the
departments and a landowner may encompass up to one thousand acres. A landowner may enter into multiple agreements
with the departments, provided that the total acreage covered
by such agreements with a single landowner does not exceed
ten thousand acres. The departments are not obligated to
enter into an agreement unless the departments find that the
agreement is in the best interest of protecting fish or wildlife
species or their habitat.
(2) A habitat incentives agreement shall be in writing
and shall contain at least the following: (a) A description of
the property covered by the agreement; (b) an expiration date;
(c) a description of the condition of the property prior to the
implementation of the agreement; and (d) other information
needed by the landowner and the departments for future reference and decisions.
(3) As part of the agreement, the department may stipulate the factors that will be considered when the department
evaluates a landowner’s application for a permit on property
covered by the agreement. The department’s identification of
these evaluation factors shall be in concurrence with the
department of natural resources and affected federally recog77.55.121
(2006 Ed.)
Construction Projects in State Waters
nized Indian tribes. In general, future decisions related to the
issuance, conditioning, or denial of a permit must be based on
the conditions present on the landowner’s property at the
time of the agreement, unless all parties agree otherwise.
(4) As part of the agreement, the department of natural
resources may stipulate the factors that will be considered
when the department of natural resources evaluates a landowner’s application for a forest practices permit under chapter 76.09 RCW on property covered by the agreement. The
department of natural resources’ identification of these evaluation factors shall be in concurrence with the department
and affected federally recognized Indian tribes. In general,
future decisions related to the issuance, conditioning, or
denial of forest practices permits shall be based on the conditions present on the landowner’s property at the time of the
agreement, unless all parties agree otherwise.
(5) The agreement is binding on and may be used by only
the landowner who entered into the agreement with the
department. The agreement shall not be appurtenant with the
land. However, if a new landowner chooses to maintain the
habitat enhancement efforts on the property, the new landowner and the department and the department of natural
resources may jointly choose to retain the agreement on the
property.
(6) If the department and the department of natural
resources receive multiple requests for agreements with private landowners under the habitat incentives program, the
departments shall prioritize these requests and shall enter into
as many agreements as possible within available budgetary
resources. [2005 c 146 § 404; 2000 c 107 § 229; 1997 c 425
§ 3. Formerly RCW 77.55.300, 77.12.830.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Intent—1997 c 425: "In an effort to increase the amount of
habitat available for fish and wildlife, the legislature finds that it is desirable
for the department of fish and wildlife, the department of natural resources,
and other interested parties to work closely with private landowners to
achieve habitat enhancements. In some instances, private landowners avoid
enhancing habitat because of a concern that the presence of fish or wildlife
may make future land management more difficult. It is the intent of this act
to provide a mechanism that facilitates habitat development while avoiding
an adverse impact on the landowner at a later date. The habitat incentives
program is not intended to supercede any federal laws." [1997 c 425 § 1.]
77.55.131
77.55.131 Dike vegetation management guidelines—
Memorandum of agreement. The department and the
department of ecology will work cooperatively with the
United States army corps of engineers to develop a memorandum of agreement outlining dike vegetation management
guidelines so that dike owners are eligible for coverage under
P.L. 84-99, and state requirements established pursuant to
RCW 77.55.021 are met. [2005 c 146 § 405; 2000 c 107 § 18;
1993 sp.s. c 2 § 34; 1991 c 322 § 19. Formerly RCW
77.55.130, 75.20.1041.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.
(2006 Ed.)
77.55.151
77.55.141
77.55.141 Marine beach front protective bulkheads
or rockwalls. (1) In order to protect the property of marine
waterfront shoreline owners it is necessary to facilitate issuance of permits for bulkheads or rockwalls under certain conditions.
(2) The department shall issue a permit with or without
conditions within forty-five days of receipt of a complete and
accurate application which authorizes commencement of
construction, replacement, or repair of a marine beach front
protective bulkhead or rockwall for single-family type residences or property under the following conditions:
(a) The waterward face of a new bulkhead or rockwall
shall be located only as far waterward as is necessary to excavate for footings or place base rock for the structure and
under no conditions shall be located more than six feet waterward of the ordinary high water line;
(b) Any bulkhead or rockwall to replace or repair an
existing bulkhead or rockwall shall be placed along the same
alignment as the bulkhead or rockwall it is replacing. However, the replaced or repaired bulkhead or rockwall may be
placed waterward of and directly abutting the existing structure only in cases where removal of the existing bulkhead or
rockwall would result in environmental degradation or
removal problems related to geological, engineering, or
safety considerations; and
(c) Construction of a new bulkhead or rockwall, or
replacement or repair of an existing bulkhead or rockwall
waterward of the existing structure shall not result in the permanent loss of critical food fish or shellfish habitats; and
(d) Timing constraints shall be applied on a case-by-case
basis for the protection of critical habitats, including but not
limited to migration corridors, rearing and feeding areas, and
spawning habitats, for the proper protection of fish life.
(3) Any bulkhead or rockwall construction, replacement,
or repair not meeting the conditions in this section shall be
processed under this chapter in the same manner as any other
application.
(4) Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a permit under this section may
formally appeal the decision to the board pursuant to this
chapter. [2005 c 146 § 501; 1991 c 279 § 1. Formerly RCW
77.55.200, 75.20.160.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.151
77.55.151 Marina or marine terminal. (1) For a
marina or marine terminal in existence on June 6, 1996, or a
marina or marine terminal that has received a permit for its
initial construction, a renewable, five-year permit shall be
issued, upon request, for regular maintenance activities of the
marina or marine terminal.
(2) Upon construction of a new marina or marine terminal that has received a permit, a renewable, five-year permit
shall be issued, upon request, for regular maintenance activities of the marina or marine terminal.
(3) For the purposes of this section, regular maintenance
activities are only those activities necessary to restore the
marina or marine terminal to the conditions approved in the
initial permit. These activities may include, but are not limited to, dredging, piling replacement, and float replacement.
[Title 77 RCW—page 67]
77.55.161
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(4) The five-year permit must include a requirement that
a fourteen-day notice be given to the department before regular maintenance activities begin. [2005 c 146 § 502; 2002 c
368 § 7; 1996 c 192 § 2. Formerly RCW 77.55.220,
75.20.180.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Intent—2002 c 368: See note following RCW 77.55.340.
Finding—Intent—1996 c 192: "The legislature finds that initial construction of a marina and some maintenance activities change the natural
flow or bed of the salt or fresh water body in which the marina is constructed.
Because of this disturbance, it is appropriate that plans for initial marina construction as well as some maintenance activities undergo the hydraulic
project review and approval process established in chapter 75.20 RCW.
It is the intent of the legislature that after a marina has received a
hydraulic project approval and been constructed, a renewable, five-year
hydraulic project approval be issued, upon request, for regular maintenance
activities within the marina." [1996 c 192 § 1.]
77.55.161
77.55.161 Storm water discharges. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, all permits related to
storm water discharges must follow the provisions established in this section.
(2) Permits issued in locations covered by a national pollution discharge elimination system municipal storm water
general permit may not be conditioned or denied for water
quality or quantity impacts arising from storm water discharges. A permit is required only for the actual construction
of any storm water outfall or associated structures pursuant to
this chapter.
(3)(a) In locations not covered by a national pollution
discharge elimination system municipal storm water general
permit, the department may issue permits that contain provisions that protect fish life from adverse effects, such as scouring or erosion of the bed of the water body, resulting from the
direct hydraulic impacts of the discharge.
(b) Prior to the issuance of a permit issued under this
subsection (3), the department must:
(i) Make a finding that the discharge from the outfall will
cause harmful effects to fish life;
(ii) Transmit the findings to the applicant and to the city
or county where the project is being proposed; and
(iii) Allow the applicant an opportunity to use local ordinances or other mechanisms to avoid the adverse effects
resulting from the direct hydraulic discharge. The forty-five
day requirement for permit issuance under RCW 77.55.021 is
suspended during the time period the department is meeting
the requirements of this subsection (3)(b).
(c) After following the procedures set forth in (b) of this
subsection, the department may issue a permit that prescribes
the discharge rates from an outfall structure that will prevent
adverse effects to the bed or flow of the waterway. The
department may recommend, but not specify, the measures
required to meet these discharge rates. The department may
not require changes to the project design above the mean
higher high water mark of marine waters, or the ordinary high
water mark of freshwaters of the state. Nothing in this section alters any authority the department may have to regulate
other types of projects under this chapter. [2005 c 146 § 503;
2002 c 368 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.55.340.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
[Title 77 RCW—page 68]
Finding—Intent—2002 c 368: "The legislature finds that hydraulic
project approvals should ensure that fish life is properly protected, but conditions attached to the approval of these permits must reasonably relate to the
potential harm that the projects may produce. The legislature is particularly
concerned over the current overlap of agency jurisdiction regarding storm
water projects, and believes that there is an immediate need to address this
issue to ensure that project applicants are not given conflicting directions
over project design. Requiring a major redesign of a project results in major
delays, produces exponentially rising costs for both public and private
project applicants, and frequently produces only marginal benefits for fish.
The legislature recognizes that the department of ecology is primarily
responsible for the approval of storm water projects. The legislature believes
that once the department of ecology approves a proposed storm water
project, it is inappropriate for the department of fish and wildlife to require a
major redesign of that project in order for the applicant to obtain hydraulic
project approval. The legislature further believes that it is more appropriate
for the department of fish and wildlife to defer the design elements of a storm
water project to the department of ecology and focus its own efforts on determining reasonable mitigation or conditions for the project based upon the
project’s potential harm to fish. It is the intent of the legislature to restore
some balance over conditions attached to hydraulic permits, and to minimize
overlapping state regulatory authority regarding storm water projects in
order to reduce waste in both time and money while still providing ample
protection for fish life." [2002 c 368 § 1.]
77.55.171
77.55.171 Watershed restoration projects—Permit
processing. A permit required by the department for a watershed restoration project as defined in RCW 89.08.460 shall
be processed in compliance with RCW 89.08.450 through
89.08.510. [2005 c 146 § 504; 1995 c 378 § 14. Formerly
RCW 77.55.210, 75.20.170.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.181
77.55.181 Fish habitat enhancement project—Permit review and approval process. (1) In order to receive the
permit review and approval process created in this section, a
fish habitat enhancement project must meet the criteria under
(a) and (b) of this subsection:
(a) A fish habitat enhancement project must be a project
to accomplish one or more of the following tasks:
(i) Elimination of human-made fish passage barriers,
including culvert repair and replacement;
(ii) Restoration of an eroded or unstable streambank
employing the principle of bioengineering, including limited
use of rock as a stabilization only at the toe of the bank, and
with primary emphasis on using native vegetation to control
the erosive forces of flowing water; or
(iii) Placement of woody debris or other instream structures that benefit naturally reproducing fish stocks.
The department shall develop size or scale threshold
tests to determine if projects accomplishing any of these tasks
should be evaluated under the process created in this section
or under other project review and approval processes. A
project proposal shall not be reviewed under the process created in this section if the department determines that the scale
of the project raises concerns regarding public health and
safety; and
(b) A fish habitat enhancement project must be approved
in one of the following ways:
(i) By the department pursuant to chapter 77.95 or
77.100 RCW;
(ii) By the sponsor of a watershed restoration plan as
provided in chapter 89.08 RCW;
(2006 Ed.)
Construction Projects in State Waters
(iii) By the department as a department-sponsored fish
habitat enhancement or restoration project;
(iv) Through the review and approval process for the
jobs for the environment program;
(v) Through the review and approval process for conservation district-sponsored projects, where the project complies
with design standards established by the conservation commission through interagency agreement with the United
States fish and wildlife service and the natural resource conservation service;
(vi) Through a formal grant program established by the
legislature or the department for fish habitat enhancement or
restoration; and
(vii) Through other formal review and approval processes established by the legislature.
(2) Fish habitat enhancement projects meeting the criteria of subsection (1) of this section are expected to result in
beneficial impacts to the environment. Decisions pertaining
to fish habitat enhancement projects meeting the criteria of
subsection (1) of this section and being reviewed and
approved according to the provisions of this section are not
subject to the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).
(3)(a) A permit is required for projects that meet the criteria of subsection (1) of this section and are being reviewed
and approved under this section. An applicant shall use a
joint aquatic resource permit application form developed by
the office of regulatory assistance to apply for approval under
this chapter. On the same day, the applicant shall provide
copies of the completed application form to the department
and to each appropriate local government. Local governments shall accept the application as notice of the proposed
project. The department shall provide a fifteen-day comment
period during which it will receive comments regarding environmental impacts. Within forty-five days, the department
shall either issue a permit, with or without conditions, deny
approval, or make a determination that the review and
approval process created by this section is not appropriate for
the proposed project. The department shall base this determination on identification during the comment period of
adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated by the conditioning
of a permit. If the department determines that the review and
approval process created by this section is not appropriate for
the proposed project, the department shall notify the applicant and the appropriate local governments of its determination. The applicant may reapply for approval of the project
under other review and approval processes.
(b) Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a permit under this section may
formally appeal the decision to the board pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(4) No local government may require permits or charge
fees for fish habitat enhancement projects that meet the criteria of subsection (1) of this section and that are reviewed and
approved according to the provisions of this section. [2005 c
146 § 505; 2001 c 253 § 55; 1998 c 249 § 3. Formerly RCW
77.55.290, 75.20.350.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Findings—Purpose—1998 c 249: "The legislature finds that fish habitat enhancement projects play a key role in the state’s salmon and steelhead
recovery efforts. The legislature finds that there are over two thousand bar(2006 Ed.)
77.55.191
riers to fish passage at road crossings throughout the state, blocking fish
access to as much as three thousand miles of freshwater spawning and rearing habitat. The legislature further finds that removal of these barriers and
completion of other fish habitat enhancement projects should be done in a
cost-effective manner, which includes providing technical assistance and
training to people who will undertake projects such as removal of barriers to
salmon passage and minimizing the expense and delays of various permitting processes. The purpose of this act is to take immediate action to facilitate the review and approval of fish habitat enhancement projects, to encourage efforts that will continue to improve the process in the future, to address
known fish passage barriers immediately, and to develop over time a comprehensive system to inventory and prioritize barriers on a statewide basis."
[1998 c 249 § 1.]
Joint aquatic resource permit application form—Modification—
1998 c 249: "The department of ecology permit assistant [assistance] center
shall immediately modify the joint aquatic resource permit application form
to incorporate the permit process established in section 3 of this act." [1998
c 249 § 2.]
Finding—Report—1998 c 249: "The legislature finds that, while the
process created in this act can improve the speed with which fish habitat
enhancement projects are put into place, additional efforts can improve the
review and approval process for the future. The legislature directs the
department of fish and wildlife, the conservation commission, local governments, fish habitat enhancement project applicants, and other interested parties to work together to continue to improve the permitting review and
approval process. Specific efforts shall include the following:
(1) Development of common acceptable design standards, best management practices, and standardized hydraulic project approval conditions
for each type of fish habitat enhancement project;
(2) An evaluation of the potential for using technical evaluation teams
in evaluating specific project proposals or stream reaches;
(3) An evaluation of techniques appropriate for restoration and
enhancement of pasture and crop land adjacent to riparian areas;
(4) A review of local government shoreline master plans to identify and
correct instances where the local plan does not acknowledge potentially beneficial instream work;
(5) An evaluation of the potential for local governments to incorporate
fish habitat enhancement projects into their comprehensive planning process; and
(6) Continued work with the federal government agencies on federal
permitting for fish habitat enhancement projects.
The department of fish and wildlife shall coordinate this joint effort
and shall report back to the legislature on the group’s progress by December
1, 1998." [1998 c 249 § 15.]
Effective date—1998 c 249: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 1, 1998]." [1998 c 249 § 18.]
77.55.191
77.55.191 Columbia river anadromous fish sanctuary—Restrictions. (1) Except for the north fork of the
Lewis river and the White Salmon river, all streams and rivers tributary to the Columbia river downstream from McNary
dam are established as an anadromous fish sanctuary. This
sanctuary is created to preserve and develop the food fish and
game fish resources in these streams and rivers and to protect
them against undue industrial encroachment.
(2) Within the sanctuary area:
(a) The department shall not issue a permit to construct a
dam greater than twenty-five feet high within the migration
range of anadromous fish as determined by the department.
(b) A person shall not divert water from rivers and
streams in quantities that will reduce the respective stream
flow below the annual average low flow, based upon data
published in United States geological survey reports.
(3) The commission may acquire and abate a dam or
other obstruction, or acquire any water right vested on a sanctuary stream or river, which is in conflict with the provisions
of subsection (2) of this section.
[Title 77 RCW—page 69]
77.55.201
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(4) Subsection (2)(a) of this section does not apply to the
sediment retention structure to be built on the North Fork
Toutle river by the United States army corps of engineers.
[2005 c 146 § 506; 1998 c 190 § 89; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 27
(Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1993 sp.s. c 2 § 36; 1988 c 36 § 36; 1985 c 307 § 5; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 76; 1961 c 4 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 25,
approved November 8, 1960). Formerly RCW 77.55.160,
75.20.110.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Severability—1961 c 4: "If any section or provision or part thereof of
this act shall be held unconstitutional or for any other reason invalid, the
invalidity of such section, provision or part thereof shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, provisions or parts thereof which are not
judged to be invalid or unconstitutional." [1961 c 4 § 3 (Initiative Measure
No. 25, approved November 8, 1960).]
77.55.201
77.55.201 Landscape management plan. A landscape
management plan approved by the department and the
department of natural resources under RCW 76.09.350(2)
shall serve as a permit for the life of the plan if fish are
selected as one of the public resources for coverage under
such a plan. [2005 c 146 § 507.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.211
77.55.211 Informational brochure. The department,
the department of ecology, and the department of natural
resources shall jointly develop an informational brochure that
describes when permits and any other authorizations are
required for flood damage prevention and reduction projects,
and recommends ways to best proceed through the various
regulatory permitting processes. [2005 c 146 § 406; 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 28; 1991 c 322 § 21. Formerly RCW 77.55.010,
75.20.005.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.231
77.55.231 Conditions imposed upon a permit—Reasonably related to project. (1) Conditions imposed upon a
permit must be reasonably related to the project. The permit
conditions must ensure that the project provides proper protection for fish life, but the department may not impose conditions that attempt to optimize conditions for fish life that
are out of proportion to the impact of the proposed project.
(2) The permit must contain provisions allowing for
minor modifications to the plans and specifications without
requiring reissuance of the permit. [2005 c 146 § 601; 2002
c 368 § 5. Formerly RCW 77.55.350.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Intent—2002 c 368: See note following RCW 77.55.340.
77.55.241
77.55.241 Off-site mitigation. (1) The legislature finds
that the construction of hydraulic projects may require mitigation for the protection of fish life, and that the mitigation
may be most cost-effective and provide the most benefit to
the fish resource if the mitigation is allowed to be applied in
locations that are off-site of the hydraulic project location.
The department may approve off-site mitigation plans that
are submitted by permit applicants.
(2) If a permit applicant proposes off-site mitigation and
the department does not approve the permit or conditions the
permit in such a manner as to render off-site mitigation
unpracticable, the project proponent must be given the opportunity to submit the permit application to the board for
approval. [2005 c 146 § 602; 1996 c 276 § 1. Formerly RCW
77.55.230, 75.20.190.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.251
77.55.251 Mitigation plan review. When reviewing a
mitigation plan under RCW 77.55.021, the department shall,
at the request of the project proponent, follow the guidance
contained in RCW 90.74.005 through 90.74.030. [2005 c
146 § 603; 2000 c 107 § 15; 1997 c 424 § 6. Formerly RCW
77.55.090, 75.20.098.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.261
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.
77.55.221
77.55.221 Flood damage repair and reduction activities—Five-year maintenance permit agreements. The
department shall, at the request of a county, develop five-year
maintenance permit agreements, consistent with comprehensive flood control management plans adopted under the
authority of RCW 86.12.200, or other watershed plan
approved by a county legislative authority, to allow for work
on public and private property for bank stabilization, bridge
repair, removal of sandbars and debris, channel maintenance,
and other flood damage repair and reduction activity under
agreed-upon conditions and times without obtaining permits
for specific projects. [2005 c 146 § 508.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 70]
77.55.261 Placement of woody debris as condition of
permit. Whenever the placement of woody debris is
required as a condition of a permit issued under RCW
77.55.021, the department, upon request, shall invite comment regarding that placement from the local governmental
authority, affected tribes, affected federal and state agencies,
and the project applicant. [2005 c 146 § 604; 2000 c 107 §
17; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 33; 1991 c 322 § 18. Formerly RCW
77.55.120, 75.20.104.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.
(2006 Ed.)
Construction Projects in State Waters
77.55.271
77.55.271 Sediment dredging or capping actions—
Dredging of existing channels and berthing areas—Mitigation not required. The department shall not require mitigation for sediment dredging or capping actions that result in
a cleaner aquatic environment and equal or better habitat
functions and values, if the actions are taken under a state or
federal cleanup action.
This chapter shall not be construed to require habitat mitigation for navigation and maintenance dredging of existing
channels and berthing areas. [1997 c 424 § 5. Formerly RCW
77.55.260, 75.20.325.]
77.55.281
77.55.281 Fishways on certain agricultural drainage
facilities. (1) The department may not require a fishway on a
tide gate, flood gate, or other associated man-made agricultural drainage facilities as a condition of a permit if such a
fishway was not originally installed as part of an agricultural
drainage system existing on or before May 20, 2003.
(2) Any condition requiring a self-regulating tide gate to
achieve fish passage in an existing permit under this chapter
may not be enforced. [2005 c 146 § 605.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.55.291
77.55.291 Civil penalty. (1) The department may levy
civil penalties of up to one hundred dollars per day for violation of any provisions of RCW 77.55.021. The penalty provided shall be imposed by notice in writing, either by certified mail or personal service to the person incurring the penalty, from the director or the director’s designee describing
the violation.
(2) Any person incurring any penalty under this chapter
may appeal the same under chapter 34.05 RCW to the director. Appeals shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of
notice imposing any penalty.
(3) The penalty imposed shall become due and payable
thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing the penalty
unless an appeal is filed. Whenever an appeal of any penalty
incurred under this chapter is filed, the penalty shall become
due and payable only upon completion of all review proceedings and the issuance of a final order confirming the penalty
in whole or in part.
(4) If the amount of any penalty is not paid within thirty
days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney general,
upon the request of the director, shall bring an action in the
name of the state of Washington in the superior court of
Thurston county or of any county in which such violator may
do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions the
procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary civil action. All penalties recovered under this section
shall be paid into the state’s general fund. [2005 c 146 § 701;
2000 c 107 § 19; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 35; 1988 c 36 § 35; 1986 c
173 § 6. Formerly RCW 77.55.140, 75.20.106.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.55.301
77.55.301 Hydraulic appeals board—Members—
Jurisdiction—Procedures. (1) There is created within the
(2006 Ed.)
77.55.311
environmental hearings office under RCW 43.21B.005 the
hydraulic appeals board of the state of Washington.
(2) The board consists of three members: The director of
the department of ecology or the director’s designee, the
director of the department of agriculture or the director’s designee, and the director or the director’s designee of the
department. A decision must be agreed to by at least two
members of the board to be final.
(3) The board may adopt rules necessary for the conduct
of its powers and duties or for transacting other official business.
(4) The board shall make findings of fact and prepare a
written decision in each case decided by it. The finding and
decision shall be effective upon being signed by two or more
board members and upon being filed at the board’s principal
office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable
times.
(5) The board has exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals
arising from the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a permit issued by the department: (a) Under the
authority granted in RCW 77.55.021 for the diversion of
water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes or
when associated with streambank stabilization to protect
farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020; (b)
under the authority granted in RCW 77.55.241 for off-site
mitigation proposals; (c) under the authority granted in RCW
77.55.141; or (d) under the authority granted in RCW
77.55.181.
(6)(a) Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial,
conditioning, or modification of a permit under RCW
77.55.021 may, except as otherwise provided in chapter
43.21L RCW, seek review from the board by filing a request
for the same within thirty days of notice of the approval,
denial, conditioning, or modification of the permit.
(b) The review proceedings authorized in (a) of this subsection are subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW
pertaining to procedures in adjudicative proceedings. [2005
c 146 § 801; 2003 c 393 § 21; 2000 c 107 § 20; 1996 c 276 §
2; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 37; 1989 c 175 § 160; 1988 c 272 § 3; 1988
c 36 § 37; 1986 c 173 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.55.170,
75.20.130.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Implementation—Effective date—2003 c 393: See RCW 43.21L.900
and 43.21L.901.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Severability—1988 c 272: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1988 c 272 § 6.]
77.55.311
77.55.311 Hydraulic appeals board—Procedures.
(1) In all appeals, the board shall have all powers relating to
administration of oaths, issuance of subpoenas, and taking of
depositions, but such powers shall be exercised in conformity
with chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2) In all appeals, the board, and each member thereof,
shall be subject to all duties imposed upon and shall have all
[Title 77 RCW—page 71]
Chapter 77.57
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
powers granted to, an agency by those provisions of chapter
34.05 RCW relating to adjudicative proceedings.
(3) All proceedings before the board or any of its members shall be conducted in accordance with such rules of practice and procedure as the board may prescribe. Such rules
shall be published and distributed.
(4) Judicial review of a decision of the board may be
obtained only pursuant to RCW 34.05.510 through
34.05.598. [2005 c 146 § 802; 1995 c 382 § 7; 1989 c 175 §
161; 1986 c 173 § 5. Formerly RCW 77.55.180, 75.20.140.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Chapter 77.57
Chapter 77.57 RCW
FISHWAYS, FLOW, AND SCREENING
Sections
77.57.010
77.57.020
77.57.030
77.57.040
77.57.050
77.57.060
77.57.070
77.57.080
Fish guards required on diversion devices—Penalties, remedies for failure.
Review of permit applications to divert or store water—Water
flow policy.
Fishways required in dams, obstructions—Penalties, remedies
for failure.
Director may modify inadequate fishways and fish guards.
If fishway is impractical, fish hatchery or cultural facility may
be provided in lieu.
Director may modify inadequate fishways and protective
devices.
Diversion of water—Screen, bypass required.
Operation and maintenance of fish collection facility on Toutle
river.
77.57.010
77.57.010 Fish guards required on diversion
devices—Penalties, remedies for failure. (1) A diversion
device used for conducting water from a lake, river, or stream
for any purpose shall be equipped with a fish guard approved
by the director to prevent the passage of fish into the diversion device. The fish guard shall be maintained at all times
when water is taken into the diversion device. The fish
guards shall be installed at places and times prescribed by the
director upon thirty days’ notice to the owner of the diversion
device.
(2) Each day the diversion device is not equipped with an
approved fish guard is a separate offense. If within thirty
days after notice to equip a diversion device the owner fails to
do so, the director may take possession of the diversion
device and close the device until it is properly equipped.
Expenses incurred by the department constitute the value of a
lien upon the diversion device and upon the real and personal
property of the owner. Notice of the lien shall be filed and
recorded in the office of the county auditor of the county in
which the action is taken. [2005 c 146 § 901; 1998 c 190 §
85; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 70; 1955 c 12 § 75.20.040. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 45; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-319. Formerly
RCW 77.55.040, 75.20.040.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
77.57.020
77.57.020 Review of permit applications to divert or
store water—Water flow policy. It is the policy of this state
that a flow of water sufficient to support game fish and food
fish populations be maintained at all times in the streams of
this state.
[Title 77 RCW—page 72]
The director of ecology shall give the director notice of
each application for a permit to divert or store water. The
director has thirty days after receiving the notice to state his
or her objections to the application. The permit shall not be
issued until the thirty-day period has elapsed.
The director of ecology may refuse to issue a permit if, in
the opinion of the director of ecology, issuing the permit
might result in lowering the flow of water in a stream below
the flow necessary to adequately support food fish and game
fish populations in the stream.
The provisions of this section shall in no way affect
existing water rights. [2005 c 146 § 902; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 29;
1988 c 36 § 32; 1986 c 173 § 7; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 71; 1955
c 12 § 75.20.050. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 46; Rem. Supp. 1949
§ 5780-320. Formerly RCW 77.55.050, 75.20.050.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.57.030
77.57.030 Fishways required in dams, obstructions—
Penalties, remedies for failure. (1) Subject to subsection
(3) of this section, a dam or other obstruction across or in a
stream shall be provided with a durable and efficient fishway
approved by the director. Plans and specifications shall be
provided to the department prior to the director’s approval.
The fishway shall be maintained in an effective condition and
continuously supplied with sufficient water to freely pass
fish.
(2)(a) If a person fails to construct and maintain a fishway or to remove the dam or obstruction in a manner satisfactory to the director, then within thirty days after written
notice to comply has been served upon the owner, his or her
agent, or the person in charge, the director may construct a
fishway or remove the dam or obstruction. Expenses
incurred by the department constitute the value of a lien upon
the dam and upon the personal property of the person owning
the dam. Notice of the lien shall be filed and recorded in the
office of the county auditor of the county in which the dam or
obstruction is situated. The lien may be foreclosed in an
action brought in the name of the state.
(b) If, within thirty days after notice to construct a fishway or remove a dam or obstruction, the owner, his or her
agent, or the person in charge fails to do so, the dam or
obstruction is a public nuisance and the director may take
possession of the dam or obstruction and destroy it. No liability shall attach for the destruction.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "other obstruction"
does not include tide gates, flood gates, and associated manmade agricultural drainage facilities that were originally
installed as part of an agricultural drainage system on or
before May 20, 2003, or the repair, replacement, or improvement of such tide gates or flood gates. [2005 c 146 § 903;
2003 c 391 § 1; 1998 c 190 § 86; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 72;
1955 c 12 § 75.20.060. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 47; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 5780-321. Formerly RCW 77.55.060, 75.20.060.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Severability—2003 c 391: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
(2006 Ed.)
Shellfish
Chapter 77.60
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2003 c 391 § 8.]
Effective date—2003 c 391: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 20, 2003]." [2003 c 391 § 9.]
device. [2001 c 253 § 21; 1980 c 78 § 90; 1963 c 152 § 1.
Formerly RCW 77.55.310, 77.12.425, 77.16.221.]
77.57.040 Director may modify inadequate fishways
and fish guards. If the director determines that a fishway or
fish guard described in *RCW 77.55.040 and 77.55.060 and
in existence on September 1, 1963, is inadequate, in addition
to other authority granted in this chapter, the director may
remove, relocate, reconstruct, or modify the device, without
cost to the owner. The director shall not materially modify
the amount of flow of water through the device. After the
department has completed the improvements, the fishways
and fish guards shall be operated and maintained at the
expense of the owner in accordance with *RCW 77.55.040
and 77.55.060. [2000 c 107 § 14; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 73;
1963 c 153 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.55.070, 75.20.061.]
Director of fish and wildlife may modify inadequate fishways and fish
guards: RCW 77.57.040.
77.57.040
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.040 and 77.55.060 were recodified as
RCW 77.57.010 and 77.57.030, respectively, pursuant to 2005 c 146 § 1002.
Director of fish and wildlife may modify, etc., inadequate fishways and protective devices: RCW 77.57.060.
77.57.050 If fishway is impractical, fish hatchery or
cultural facility may be provided in lieu. Before a person
commences construction on a dam or other hydraulic project
for which the director determines that a fishway is impractical, the person shall at the option of the director:
(1) Convey to the state a fish cultural facility on a site
satisfactory to the director and constructed according to plans
and specifications approved by the director, and enter into an
agreement with the director secured by sufficient bond, to
furnish water and electricity, without expense, and funds necessary to operate and maintain the facilities; or
(2) Enter into an agreement with the director secured by
sufficient bond to make payments to the state as the director
determines are necessary to expand, maintain, and operate
additional facilities at existing hatcheries within a reasonable
distance of the dam or other hydraulic work to compensate
for the damages caused by the dam or other hydraulic work.
(3) A decision of the director under this section is subject
to review in the superior court of the state for Thurston
county. Each day that a person carries on construction work
or operates a dam or hydraulic project without complying
with this section is a separate offense. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
74; 1955 c 12 § 75.20.090. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 48; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 5780-322. Formerly RCW 77.55.080,
75.20.090.]
77.57.050
77.57.060 Director may modify inadequate fishways
and protective devices. The director may authorize
removal, relocation, reconstruction, or other modification of
an inadequate fishway or fish protective device required by
*RCW 77.55.320 which device was in existence on September 1, 1963, without cost to the owner for materials and labor.
The modification may not materially alter the amount of
water flowing through the fishway or fish protective device.
Following modification, the fishway or fish protective device
shall be maintained at the expense of the person or governmental agency owning the obstruction or water diversion
77.57.060
(2006 Ed.)
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.320 was recodified as RCW 77.57.070
pursuant to 2005 c 146 § 1002.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.57.070
77.57.070 Diversion of water—Screen, bypass
required. (1) A person shall not divert water from a lake,
river, or stream containing game fish unless the water diversion device is equipped at or near its intake with a fish guard
or screen to prevent the passage of game fish into the device
and, if necessary, with a means of returning game fish from
immediately in front of the fish guard or screen to the waters
of origin. A person who was, on June 11, 1947, otherwise
lawfully diverting water from a lake, river, or stream shall not
be deemed guilty of a violation of this section.
(2) Plans for the fish guard, screen, and bypass shall be
approved by the director prior to construction. The installation shall be approved by the director prior to the diversion of
water.
(3) The director or the director’s designee may close a
water diversion device operated in violation of this section
and keep it closed until it is properly equipped with a fish
guard, screen, or bypass. [2005 c 146 § 904; 2001 c 253 § 48;
1998 c 190 § 122; 1980 c 78 § 89; 1955 c 36 § 77.16.220.
Prior: 1947 c 275 § 61; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 5992-70. Formerly RCW 77.55.320, 77.16.220.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.57.080
77.57.080 Operation and maintenance of fish collection facility on Toutle river. The legislature recognizes the
need to mitigate the effects of sedimentary build-up and
resultant damage to fish population in the Toutle river resulting from the Mt. St. Helens eruption. The state has entered
into a contractual agreement with the United States army
corps of engineers designed to minimize fish habitat disruption created by the sediment retention structure on the Toutle
river, under which the corps has agreed to construct a fish
collection facility at the sediment retention structure site conditional upon the state assuming the maintenance and operation costs of the facility. The department shall operate and
maintain a fish collection facility on the Toutle river. [1993
sp.s. c 2 § 39; 1988 c 36 § 39; 1987 c 506 § 101. Formerly
RCW 77.55.240, 75.20.310.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Chapter 77.60
Chapter 77.60 RCW
SHELLFISH
Sections
77.60.010
State oyster reserves established.
[Title 77 RCW—page 73]
77.60.010
77.60.020
77.60.030
77.60.040
77.60.050
77.60.060
77.60.070
77.60.080
77.60.090
77.60.100
77.60.110
77.60.120
77.60.130
77.60.150
77.60.160
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Sale or lease of state oyster reserves.
State oyster reserves management policy—Personal use harvesting—Inventory—Management categories—Cultch permits.
Olympia oysters—Cultivation on reserves in Puget Sound.
Sale of shellfish from state oyster reserves.
Restricted shellfish areas—Infestations—Permit.
Geoduck clams, commercial harvesting—Unauthorized
acts—Gear requirements.
Imported oyster seed—Permit and inspection required.
Imported oyster seed—Inspection—Costs.
Establishment of reserves on state shellfish lands.
Zebra mussels and European green crabs—Draft rules—Prevention of introduction and dispersal.
Infested waters—List published.
Aquatic nuisance species committee.
Oyster reserve land—Pilot project—Advisory committee—
Report—Lease administration.
Oyster reserve land account.
77.60.010
77.60.010 State oyster reserves established. The following areas are the state oyster reserves and are more completely described in maps and plats on file in the office of the
commissioner of public lands and in the office of the auditor
of the county in which the reserve is located:
1. PUGET SOUND OYSTER RESERVES:
(a) Totten Inlet reserves (sometimes known as Oyster
Bay reserves), located in Totten Inlet, Thurston county;
(b) Eld Inlet reserves (sometimes known as Mud Bay
reserves), located in Mud Bay, Thurston county;
(c) Oakland Bay reserves, located in Oakland Bay,
Mason county;
(d) North Bay reserves (sometimes known as Case Inlet
reserves), located in Case Inlet, Mason county.
2. WILLAPA HARBOR OYSTER RESERVES:
(a) Nemah reserve, south and west sides of reserve
located along Nemah River channel, Pacific county;
(b) Long Island reserve, located at south end and along
west side of Long Island, Willapa Harbor, Pacific county;
(c) Long Island Slough reserve, located at south end and
along east side of Long Island, Willapa Harbor, Pacific
county;
(d) Bay Center reserve, located in the Palix River channel, extending from Palix River bridge to beyond Bay Center
to north of Goose Point, Willapa Harbor, Pacific county;
(e) Willapa River reserve, located in the Willapa River
channel extending west and up-river from a point approximately one-quarter mile from the blinker light marking the
division of Willapa River channel and the North River channel, Willapa Harbor, Pacific county. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
78; 1955 c 12 § 75.24.010. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 54; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 5780-01. Formerly RCW 75.24.010.]
77.60.020
77.60.020 Sale or lease of state oyster reserves. Only
upon recommendation of the commission may the state oyster reserves be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of by the
department of natural resources. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 28
(Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 79; 1955 c 12 § 75.24.030. Prior: 1949
c 112 § 55; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-402. Formerly RCW
75.24.030.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
[Title 77 RCW—page 74]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.60.030
77.60.030 State oyster reserves management policy—
Personal use harvesting—Inventory—Management categories—Cultch permits. It is the policy of the state to
improve state oyster reserves so that they are productive and
yield a revenue sufficient for their maintenance. In fixing the
price of oysters and other shellfish sold from the reserves, the
director shall take into consideration this policy. It is also the
policy of the state to maintain the oyster reserves to furnish
shellfish to growers and processors and to stock public
beaches.
Shellfish may be harvested from state oyster reserves for
personal use as prescribed by rule of the director.
The director shall periodically inventory the state oyster
reserves and assign the reserve lands into management categories:
(1) Native Olympia oyster broodstock reserves;
(2) Commercial shellfish harvesting zones;
(3) Commercial shellfish propagation zones designated
for long-term leasing to private aquaculturists;
(4) Public recreational shellfish harvesting zones;
(5) Unproductive land.
The director shall manage each category of oyster
reserve land to maximize the sustained yield production of
shellfish consistent with the purpose for establishment of
each management category.
The commission shall develop an oyster reserve management plan, to include recommendations for leasing
reserve lands, in coordination with the shellfish industry, by
January 1, 1986.
The director shall protect, reseed, improve the habitat of,
and replant state oyster reserves. The director shall also issue
cultch permits and oyster reserve fishery licenses. [2000 c
107 § 22; 1998 c 245 § 152; 1985 c 256 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c
46 § 81; 1969 ex.s. c 91 § 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.24.060. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 56; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-403. Formerly
RCW 75.24.060.]
77.60.040
77.60.040 Olympia oysters—Cultivation on reserves
in Puget Sound. The legislature finds that current environmental and economic conditions warrant a renewal of the
state’s historical practice of actively cultivating and managing its oyster reserves in Puget Sound to produce the state’s
native oyster, the Olympia oyster. The director shall reestablish dike cultivated production of Olympia oysters on such
reserves on a trial basis as a tool for planning more comprehensive cultivation by the state. [2000 c 107 § 23; 1993 sp.s.
c 2 § 40; 1985 c 256 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.24.065.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.60.050
77.60.050 Sale of shellfish from state oyster reserves.
The director shall determine the time, place, and method of
sale of oysters and other shellfish from state oyster reserves.
Any person who commercially takes shellfish from state oyster reserves must possess an oyster reserve fishery license
issued by the director pursuant to RCW 77.65.260. Any person engaged in the commercial cultching of oysters on state
(2006 Ed.)
Shellfish
oyster reserves must possess an oyster cultch permit issued
by the director pursuant to RCW 77.65.270.
To maintain local communities and industries and to
restrain the formation of monopolies in the industry, the
director shall determine the number of bushels which shall be
sold to a person. When the shellfish are sold at public auction,
the director may reject any and all bids. [2000 c 107 § 24;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 82; 1955 c 12 § 75.24.070. Prior: 1949
c 112 § 57; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-404. Formerly RCW
75.24.070.]
Oyster reserve fishery license: RCW 77.65.260.
77.60.060
77.60.060 Restricted shellfish areas—Infestations—
Permit. The director may designate as "restricted shellfish
areas" those areas in which infection or infestation of shellfish is present. A permit issued by the director is required to
transplant or transport into or out of a restricted area shellfish
or equipment used in culturing, taking, handling, or processing shellfish. [1998 c 190 § 90; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 83; 1955
c 12 § 75.24.080. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 59; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-406. Formerly RCW 75.24.080.]
77.60.070
77.60.070 Geoduck clams, commercial harvesting—
Unauthorized acts—Gear requirements. (1) The director
may not authorize a person to take geoduck clams for commercial purposes outside the harvest area designated in a current department of natural resources geoduck harvesting
agreement issued under RCW 79.135.210. The director may
not authorize commercial harvest of geoduck clams from bottoms that are shallower than eighteen feet below mean lower
low water (0.0. ft.). Vessels conducting harvest operations
must remain seaward of a line two hundred yards seaward
from and parallel to the line of ordinary high tide. This section does not apply to the harvest of private sector cultured
aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020.
(2) Commercial geoduck harvesting shall be done with a
hand-held, manually operated water jet or suction device
guided and controlled from under water by a diver. Periodically, the director shall determine the effect of each type or
unit of gear upon the geoduck population or the substrate they
inhabit. The director may require modification of the gear or
stop its use if it is being operated in a wasteful or destructive
manner or if its operation may cause permanent damage to
the bottom or adjacent shellfish populations. [2006 c 144 § 1;
2000 c 107 § 25; 1998 c 190 § 91; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 29 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993 c
340 § 51; 1984 c 80 § 2. Prior: 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 85; 1983
c 3 § 193; 1979 ex.s. c 141 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 253 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.24.100.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Liberal construction—1969 ex.s. c 253: "The provisions of this act
shall be liberally construed." [1969 ex.s. c 253 § 5.]
Severability—1969 ex.s. c 253: "If any provisions of this 1969 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1969 ex.s. c 253 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.60.110
Designation of aquatic lands for geoduck harvesting: RCW 79.135.220.
Diver license for harvesting geoducks: RCW 77.65.410.
77.60.080 Imported oyster seed—Permit and inspection required. The department may not authorize a person to
import oysters or oyster seed into this state for the purpose of
planting them in state waters without a permit from the director. The director shall issue a permit only after an adequate
inspection has been made and the oysters or oyster seed are
found to be free of disease, pests, and other substances which
might endanger oysters in state waters. [1998 c 190 § 92;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 87; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.054. Prior: 1951
c 271 § 42. Formerly RCW 75.24.110, 75.08.054.]
77.60.080
77.60.090 Imported oyster seed—Inspection—Costs.
The director may require imported oyster seed to be
inspected for diseases and pests. The director may specify the
place of inspection. Persons importing oyster seed shall pay
for the inspection costs excluding the inspector’s salary. The
cost shall be determined by the director and prorated among
the importers according to the number of cases of oyster
seeds each imports. The director shall specify the time and
manner of payment. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 88; 1967 ex.s. c 38
§ 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.056. Prior: 1951 c 271 § 43. Formerly
RCW 75.24.120, 75.08.056.]
77.60.090
77.60.100 Establishment of reserves on state shellfish
lands. The commission may examine the clam, mussel, and
oyster beds located on aquatic lands belonging to the state
and request the commissioner of public lands to withdraw
these lands from sale and lease for the purpose of establishing
reserves or public beaches. The director shall conserve, protect, and develop these reserves and the oyster, shrimp, clam,
and mussel beds on state lands. [2000 c 107 § 26; 1995 1st
sp.s. c 2 § 30 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November
7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 89; 1955 c 12 § 75.08.060.
Prior: 1949 c 112 § 7(5); Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-206(5).
Formerly RCW 75.24.130, 75.08.060.]
77.60.100
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.60.110 Zebra mussels and European green
crabs—Draft rules—Prevention of introduction and dispersal. To complement programs authorized by the federal
aquatic nuisance species task force, the department of fish
and wildlife is directed to develop draft rules for legislative
consideration to prevent the introduction and dispersal of
zebra mussels and European green crabs and to allow eradication of infestations that may occur. The department is
authorized to display and distribute material and literature
informing boaters and owners of airplanes that land on water
of the problem and to publicize and maintain a telephone
number available to the public to express concerns and report
infestations. [1998 c 153 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.24.140.]
77.60.110
Intent—1998 c 153: "The unauthorized introduction of the zebra mussel and the European green crab into Washington state waters would pose a
serious economic and environmental threat. The zebra mussel and European
green crab have adverse impacts on fisheries, waterways, public and private
facilities, and the functioning of natural ecosystems. The threat of zebra mussels and European green crabs requires a coordinated response. It is the intent
[Title 77 RCW—page 75]
77.60.120
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
of the legislature to prevent adverse economic and environmental impacts
caused by zebra mussels and European green crabs in cooperation and coordination with local governments, the public, other states, and federal agencies." [1998 c 153 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 153: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 25, 1998]." [1998 c 153 § 6.]
77.60.120
77.60.120 Infested waters—List published. The
department of fish and wildlife shall prepare, maintain, and
publish a list of all lakes, ponds, or other waters of the state
and other states infested with zebra mussels or European
green crabs. The department may participate in regional or
national groups addressing these species. [1998 c 153 § 3.
Formerly RCW 75.24.150.]
Intent—Effective date—1998 c 153: See notes following RCW
77.60.110.
77.60.130
77.60.130 Aquatic nuisance species committee. (1)
The aquatic nuisance species committee is created for the
purpose of fostering state, federal, tribal, and private cooperation on aquatic nuisance species issues. The mission of the
committee is to minimize the unauthorized or accidental
introduction of nonnative aquatic species and give special
emphasis to preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic
nuisance species. The term "aquatic nuisance species" means
a nonnative aquatic plant or animal species that threatens the
diversity or abundance of native species, the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, or recreational activities dependent on such waters.
(2) The committee consists of representatives from each
of the following state agencies: Department of fish and wildlife, department of ecology, department of agriculture,
department of health, department of natural resources, Puget
Sound water quality action team, state patrol, state noxious
weed control board, and Washington sea grant program. The
committee shall encourage and solicit participation by: Federally recognized tribes of Washington, federal agencies,
Washington conservation organizations, environmental
groups, and representatives from industries that may either be
affected by the introduction of an aquatic nuisance species or
that may serve as a pathway for their introduction.
(3) The committee has the following duties:
(a) Periodically revise the state of Washington aquatic
nuisance species management plan, originally published in
June 1998;
(b) Make recommendations to the legislature on statutory provisions for classifying and regulating aquatic nuisance species;
(c) Recommend to the state noxious weed control board
that a plant be classified under the process designated by
RCW 17.10.080 as an aquatic noxious weed;
(d) Coordinate education, research, regulatory authorities, monitoring and control programs, and participate in
regional and national efforts regarding aquatic nuisance species;
(e) Consult with representatives from industries and
other activities that may serve as a pathway for the introduction of aquatic nuisance species to develop practical strategies that will minimize the risk of new introductions; and
[Title 77 RCW—page 76]
(f) Prepare a biennial report to the legislature with the
first report due by December 1, 2001, making recommendations for better accomplishing the purposes of this chapter,
and listing the accomplishments of this chapter to date.
(4) The committee shall accomplish its duties through
the authority and cooperation of its member agencies. Implementation of all plans and programs developed by the committee shall be through the member agencies and other cooperating organizations. [2000 c 149 § 1.]
77.60.150
77.60.150 Oyster reserve land—Pilot project—Advisory committee—Report—Lease administration. (1) The
department shall initiate a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility and potential of intensively culturing shellfish on currently nonproductive oyster reserve land in Puget Sound. The
pilot program shall include no fewer than three long-term
lease agreements with commercial shellfish growers. Except
as provided in subsection (4) of this section, revenues from
the lease of such lands shall be deposited in the oyster reserve
land account created in RCW 77.60.160.
(2) The department shall form one advisory committee
each for the Willapa Bay oyster reserve lands and the Puget
Sound oyster reserve lands. The advisory committees shall
make recommendations on management practices to conserve, protect, and develop oyster reserve lands. The advisory
committees may make recommendations regarding the management practices on oyster reserve lands, in particular to
ensure that they are managed in a manner that will: (a)
Increase revenue through production of high-value shellfish;
(b) not be detrimental to the market for shellfish grown on
nonreserve lands; and (c) avoid negative impacts to existing
shellfish populations. The advisory committees may also
make recommendation on the distribution of funds in RCW
77.60.160(2)(a). The department shall attempt to structure
each advisory committee to include equal representation
between shellfish growers that participate in reserve sales and
shellfish growers that do not.
(3) The department shall submit a brief progress report
on the status of the pilot programs to the appropriate standing
committees of the legislature by January 7, 2003.
(4) The department of natural resources, in consultation
with the department of fish and wildlife, shall administer the
leases for oyster reserves entered into under this chapter. In
administering the leases, the department of natural resources
shall exercise its authority under *RCW 79.96.090. Vacation
of state oyster reserves by the department of fish and wildlife
shall not be a requirement for the department of natural
resources to lease any oyster reserves under this section. The
department of natural resources may recover reasonable costs
directly associated with the administration of the leases for
oyster reserves entered into under this chapter. All administrative fees collected by the department of natural resources
pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the resource
management cost account established in RCW 79.64.020.
The department of fish and wildlife may not assess charges to
recover the costs of consulting with the department of natural
resources under this subsection.
(5) The Puget Sound pilot program shall not include the
culture of geoduck. [2001 c 273 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.96.090 was recodified as RCW 79.135.300
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1010.
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
77.60.160 Oyster reserve land account. (1) The oyster
reserve land account is created in the state treasury. All
receipts from revenues from the lease of land or sale of shellfish from oyster reserve lands must be deposited into the
account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after
appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used
only as provided in this section.
(2) Funds in the account shall be used for the purposes
provided for in this subsection:
(a) Up to forty percent for the management expenses
incurred by the department that are directly attributable to the
management of the oyster reserve lands and for the expenses
associated with new research and development activities at
the Pt. Whitney and Nahcotta shellfish laboratories managed
by the department. As used in this subsection, "new research
and development activities" includes an emphasis on the control of aquatic nuisance species and burrowing shrimp;
(b) Up to ten percent may be deposited into the state general fund; and
(c) All remaining funds in the account shall be used for
the shellfish - on-site sewage grant program established in
RCW 90.71.100. [2001 c 273 § 2.]
77.65.270
77.65.280
77.65.290
77.65.300
77.65.310
Chapter 77.65 RCW
FOOD FISH AND SHELLFISH—
COMMERCIAL LICENSES
77.65.510
77.65.515
77.65.520
77.60.160
Chapter 77.65
77.65.320
77.65.330
77.65.340
77.65.350
77.65.360
77.65.370
77.65.380
77.65.390
77.65.400
77.65.410
77.65.420
77.65.430
77.65.440
77.65.450
77.65.460
77.65.480
77.65.490
77.65.500
77.65.900
77.65.010
Oyster cultch permit.
Wholesale fish dealer’s license—Fee—Exemption.
Wholesale fish dealer licenses—Display.
Wholesale fish dealer may be a fish buyer.
Wholesale fish dealers—Documentation of commercial harvest.
Wholesale fish dealers—Performance bond.
Wholesale fish dealers—Performance bond—Payment of liability.
Fish buyer’s license—Fee.
Salmon charter crew member—Salmon roe license—Sale of
salmon roe—Conditions.
License fee increases—Disposition.
Professional salmon guide license.
Ocean pink shrimp—Defined.
Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—Fee.
Emerging commercial fishery—Trial or experimental fishery—Licenses and permits.
Geoduck diver license.
Wild salmonid policy—Establishment.
Wild salmonid policy—Management strategies and gear
types.
Alternate operator—Geoduck diver—Salmon guide—Fees.
Trapper’s license.
Trapper’s license—Training program or examination requisite
for issuance to initial licensee.
Taxidermist, fur dealer, fishing guide, game farmer, anadromous game fish buyer—Licenses—Fish stocking and game
contest permits.
Activities requiring license/permit.
Reports required from persons with licenses or permits under
RCW 77.65.480.
Direct retail endorsement—Fee—Responsibilities of holder.
Direct retail endorsement—Requirements.
Direct retail endorsement—Compliance—Violations—Suspension.
Effective date—1989 c 316.
Sections
77.65.010
77.65.020
77.65.030
77.65.040
77.65.050
77.65.060
77.65.070
77.65.080
77.65.090
77.65.100
77.65.110
77.65.120
77.65.130
77.65.140
77.65.150
77.65.160
77.65.170
77.65.180
77.65.190
77.65.200
77.65.210
77.65.220
77.65.230
77.65.240
77.65.250
77.65.260
(2006 Ed.)
Commercial licenses and permits required—Exemption.
Transfer of licenses—Restrictions—Fees—Inheritability.
Commercial licenses and permits—Application deadline—
Exception.
Commercial licenses—Qualifications—Limited-entry
license—Nonsalmon delivery license.
Application for commercial licenses and permits—Replacement.
No commercial fishery during year—License requirement
waived or license fees refunded.
Licensees subject to statute and rules—Licenses not subject to
security interest or lien—Expiration and renewal of licenses.
License suspension—Noncompliance with support order—
Reissuance.
Vessel substitution.
Vessel designation.
Alternate operator designation—Fee.
Sale or delivery of food fish or shellfish—Conditions—Charter boat operation.
Vessel operation—License designation—Alternate operator
license required.
Alternate operators—Increase for certain licenses.
Charter licenses and angler permits—Fees—"Charter boat"
defined—Oregon charter boats—Salmon charter license
renewal.
Commercial salmon fishery licenses—Gear and geographic
designations—Fees.
Salmon delivery license—Fee—Restrictions—Revocation.
Oregon, California harvested salmon—Landing in Washington ports encouraged.
Emergency salmon delivery license—Fee—Nontransferable,
nonrenewable.
Commercial fishery licenses for food fish fisheries—Fees—
Rules for species, gear, and areas.
Nonlimited entry delivery license—Limitations—Fee.
Commercial fishery licenses for shellfish fisheries—Fees—
Rules for species, gear, and areas.
Surcharge on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses and
Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery licenses—Dungeness crab appeals account.
Surcharge on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license and
Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery license—Coastal
crab account.
Hardshell clam mechanical harvester fishery license.
State oyster reserves—Oyster reserve fishery license.
77.65.010 Commercial licenses and permit s
required—Exemption. (1) Except as otherwise provided by
this title, a person may not engage in any of the following
activities without a license or permit issued by the director:
(a) Commercially fish for or take food fish or shellfish;
(b) Deliver from a commercial fishing vessel food fish or
shellfish taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters.
As used in this subsection, "deliver" means arrival at a place
or port, and includes arrivals from offshore waters to waters
within the state and arrivals from state or offshore waters;
(c) Operate a charter boat or commercial fishing vessel
engaged in a fishery;
(d) Engage in processing or wholesaling food fish or
shellfish; or
(e) Act as a guide for salmon for personal use in freshwater rivers and streams, other than that part of the Columbia
river below the bridge at Longview.
(2) No person may engage in the activities described in
subsection (1) of this section unless the licenses or permits
required by this title are in the person’s possession, and the
person is the named license holder or an alternate operator
designated on the license and the person’s license is not suspended.
(3) A valid Oregon license that is equivalent to a license
under this title is valid in the concurrent waters of the Columbia river if the state of Oregon recognizes as valid the equivalent Washington license. The director may identify by rule
what Oregon licenses are equivalent.
(4) No license or permit is required for the production or
harvesting of private sector cultured aquatic products as
defined in RCW 15.85.020 or for the delivery, processing, or
wholesaling of such aquatic products. However, if a means
of identifying such products is required by rules adopted
77.65.010
[Title 77 RCW—page 77]
77.65.020
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
under RCW 15.85.060, the exemption from licensing or permit requirements established by this subsection applies only
if the aquatic products are identified in conformance with
those rules. [2005 c 20 § 1; 1998 c 190 § 93; 1997 c 58 § 883;
1993 c 340 § 2; 1991 c 362 § 1; 1985 c 457 § 18; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 101; 1959 c 309 § 2; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.010.
Prior: 1949 c 112 § 73; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-511. Formerly RCW 75.28.010.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
Finding—Intent—1993 c 340: "The legislature finds that the laws
governing commercial fishing licensing in this state are highly complex and
increasingly difficult to administer and enforce. The current laws governing
commercial fishing licenses have evolved slowly, one section at a time, over
decades of contention and changing technology, without general consideration for how the totality fits together. The result has been confusion and litigation among commercial fishers. Much of the confusion has arisen
because the license holder in most cases is a vessel, not a person. The legislature intends by this act to standardize licensing criteria, clarify licensing
requirements, reduce complexity, and remove inequities in commercial fishing licensing. The legislature intends that the license fees stated in this act
shall be equivalent to those in effect on January 1, 1993, as adjusted under
section 19, chapter 316, Laws of 1989." [1993 c 340 § 1.]
Captions not law—1993 c 340: "Section headings as used in this act do
not constitute any part of the law." [1993 c 340 § 57.]
Effective date—1993 c 340: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1994." [1993 c 340 § 58.]
Severability—1993 c 340: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 c 340 § 59.]
77.65.020
77.65.020 Transfer of licenses—Restrictions—
Fees—Inheritability. (1) Unless otherwise provided in this
title, a license issued under this chapter is not transferable
from the license holder to any other person.
(2) The following restrictions apply to transfers of commercial fishery licenses, salmon delivery licenses, and
salmon charter licenses that are transferable between license
holders:
(a) The license holder shall surrender the previously
issued license to the department.
(b) The department shall complete no more than one
transfer of the license in any seven-day period.
(c) The fee to transfer a license from one license holder
to another is:
(i) The same as the resident license renewal fee if the
license is not limited under chapter 77.70 RCW;
(ii) Three and one-half times the resident renewal fee if
the license is not a commercial salmon license and the license
is limited under chapter 77.70 RCW;
(iii) Fifty dollars if the license is a commercial salmon
license and is limited under chapter 77.70 RCW;
(iv) Five hundred dollars if the license is a Dungeness
crab-coastal fishery license; or
(v) If a license is transferred from a resident to a nonresident, an additional fee is assessed that is equal to the difference between the resident and nonresident license fees at the
time of transfer, to be paid by the transferee.
[Title 77 RCW—page 78]
(3) A commercial license that is transferable under this
title survives the death of the holder. Though such licenses
are not personal property, they shall be treated as analogous
to personal property for purposes of inheritance and intestacy. Such licenses are subject to state laws governing wills,
trusts, estates, intestate succession, and community property,
except that such licenses are exempt from claims of creditors
of the estate and tax liens. The surviving spouse, estate, or
beneficiary of the estate may apply for a renewal of the
license. There is no fee for transfer of a license from a license
holder to the license holder’s surviving spouse or estate, or to
a beneficiary of the estate. [2000 c 107 § 28; 1997 c 418 § 1;
1995 c 228 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 34. Formerly RCW
75.28.011.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: "Sections 34
through 47 of this act shall take effect only if Senate Bill No. 5124 becomes
law by August 1, 1993." [1993 sp.s. c 17 § 48.] Senate Bill No. 5124 [1993
c 340] did become law. Sections 34 through 47 of 1993 sp.s. c 17 did become
law.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
77.65.030
77.65.030 Commercial licenses and permits—Application deadline—Exception. The application deadline for a
commercial license or permit established in this chapter is
December 31st of the calendar year for which the license or
permit is sought. The department shall accept no license or
permit applications after December 31st of the calendar year
for which the license or permit is sought. The application
deadline in this section does not apply to a license or permit
that has not been renewed because of the death or incapacity
of the license or permit holder. The license or permit holder’s
surviving spouse, estate, estate beneficiary, attorney in fact,
or guardian must be given an additional one hundred eighty
days to renew the license or permit. [2003 c 386 § 5; 2001 c
244 § 2; 1993 c 340 § 3; 1986 c 198 § 8; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
103; 1981 c 201 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 57 § 1; 1959 c 309 § 4; 1957
c 171 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.28.014.]
Effective date—2003 c 386 § 5: "Section 5 of this act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support
of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately [May 20, 2003]." [2003 c 386 § 6.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 386: See note following RCW 77.15.700.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.040
77.65.040 Commercial licenses—Qualifications—
Limited-entry license—Nonsalmon delivery license. (1)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may hold
a commercial license established by this chapter.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual may hold a commercial license only if the individual is
sixteen years of age or older and a bona fide resident of the
United States.
(3) A corporation may hold a commercial license only if
it is authorized to do business in this state.
(4) No person may hold a limited-entry license unless the
person meets the qualifications that this title establishes for
the license.
(5) The residency requirements in subsection (2) of this
section do not apply to holders of nonsalmon delivery
licenses. [2000 c 107 § 29; 1994 c 244 § 1; 1993 c 340 § 4;
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
1989 c 47 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 104; 1963 c 171 § 1; 1955
c 12 § 75.28.020. Prior: 1953 c 207 § 9; 1949 c 112 § 63;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-501. Formerly RCW 75.28.020.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.050
77.65.050 Application for commercial licenses and
permits—Replacement. (1) Except as otherwise provided
in this title, the director shall issue commercial licenses and
permits to a qualified person upon receiving a completed
application accompanied by the required fee.
(2) An application submitted to the department under
this chapter shall contain the name and address of the applicant and any other information required by the department or
this title. An applicant for a commercial fishery license or
delivery license may designate a vessel to be used with the
license. An applicant for a commercial fishery license or
delivery license may also designate up to two alternate operators.
(3) An application submitted to the department under
this chapter shall contain the applicant’s declaration under
penalty of perjury that the information on the application is
true and correct.
(4) Upon issuing a commercial license under this chapter, the director shall assign the license a unique number that
the license shall retain upon renewal. The department shall
use the number to record any commercial catch under the
license. This does not preclude the department from using
other, additional, catch record methods.
(5) The fee to replace a license that has been lost or
destroyed is twenty dollars. [1998 c 267 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 17
§ 44; (1993 c 340 § 5 repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1983
1st ex.s. c 46 § 105; 1959 c 309 § 7; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.030.
Prior: 1953 c 207 § 2; 1949 c 112 § 65; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-503. Formerly RCW 75.28.030.]
Effective date—1998 c 267: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 1, 1998]." [1998 c 267 § 5.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
77.65.060
77.65.060 No commercial fishery during year—
License requirement waived or license fees refunded. If,
for any reason, the department does not allow any opportunity for a commercial fishery during a calendar year, the
director shall either: (1) Waive the requirement to obtain a
license for that commercial fishery for that year; or (2) refund
applicable license fees upon return of the license. [2000 c
107 § 30; 1995 c 227 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.28.034.]
77.65.070
77.65.070 Licensees subject to statute and rules—
Licenses not subject to security interest or lien—Expiration and renewal of licenses. (1) A commercial license
issued under this chapter permits the license holder to engage
in the activity for which the license is issued in accordance
with this title and the rules of the department.
(2006 Ed.)
77.65.090
(2) No security interest or lien of any kind, including tax
liens, may be created or enforced in a license issued under
this chapter.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in this title or rules of the
department, commercial licenses and permits issued under
this chapter expire at midnight on December 31st of the calendar year for which they are issued. In accordance with this
title, licenses may be renewed annually upon application and
payment of the prescribed license fees. In accordance with
RCW 77.65.030, the department must provide a license or
permit holder’s surviving spouse, estate, or estate beneficiary
a reasonable opportunity to renew the license or permit.
[2001 c 244 § 3; 1996 c 267 § 27; 1993 c 340 § 6; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 108; 1955 c 212 § 2; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.040. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 64; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-502. Formerly
RCW 75.28.040.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.080
77.65.080 License suspension—Noncompliance with
support order—Reissuance. (1) The department shall
immediately suspend the license of a person who has been
certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of
social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order.
(2) A listing on the department of licensing’s data base
that an individual’s license is currently suspended pursuant to
RCW 46.20.291(8) shall be prima facie evidence that the
individual is in noncompliance with a support order. Presentation of a written release issued by the department of social
and health services or a court stating that the person is in
compliance with an order shall serve as proof of compliance.
[2000 c 107 § 31; 1997 c 58 § 882. Formerly RCW
75.28.042.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
77.65.090
77.65.090 Vessel substitution. This section applies to
all commercial fishery licenses, delivery licenses, and charter
licenses, except for emergency salmon delivery licenses.
(1) The holder of a license subject to this section may
substitute the vessel designated on the license or designate a
vessel if none has previously been designated if the license
holder:
(a) Surrenders the previously issued license to the
department;
(b) Submits to the department an application that identifies the currently designated vessel, the vessel proposed to be
designated, and any other information required by the department; and
(c) Pays to the department a fee of thirty-five dollars.
(2) Unless the license holder owns all vessels identified
on the application described in subsection (1)(b) of this section or unless the vessel is designated on a Dungeness crabcoastal or a Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery license,
[Title 77 RCW—page 79]
77.65.100
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
the following restrictions apply to changes in vessel designation:
(a) The department shall change the vessel designation
on the license no more than four times per calendar year.
(b) The department shall change the vessel designation
on the license no more than once in any seven-day period.
[1994 c 260 § 11; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 45. Formerly RCW
75.28.044.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
(a) Whiting—Puget Sound fishery licensees may not
designate alternate operators;
(b) Emergency salmon delivery licensees may not designate alternate operators;
(c) Shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery licensees may designate no more than one alternate operator at a time; and
(d) Shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery licensees may designate no more than one alternate operator at a time.
(2) The fee to change the alternate operator designation
is twenty-two dollars. [2001 c 105 § 4; 2000 c 107 § 32; 1998
c 267 § 2; 1994 c 260 § 12; 1993 c 340 § 9. Formerly RCW
75.28.046.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Effective date—1998 c 267: See note following RCW 77.65.050.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
77.65.100
77.65.100 Vessel designation. This section applies to
all commercial fishery licenses, delivery licenses, and charter
licenses.
(1) An applicant for a license subject to this section may
designate a vessel to be used with the license. Except for
emergency salmon delivery licenses, the director may issue a
license regardless of whether the applicant designates a vessel. An applicant may designate no more than one vessel on
a license subject to this section.
(2) A license for a fishery that requires a vessel authorizes no taking or delivery of food fish or shellfish unless a
vessel is designated on the license. A delivery license authorizes no delivery of food fish or shellfish unless a vessel is
designated on the license.
(3) No vessel may be designated on more than one commercial fishery license unless the licenses are for different
fisheries, except:
(a) The same vessel may be designated on two of the following licenses, provided the licenses are owned by the same
licensee:
(i) Shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license;
(ii) Sea cucumber dive fishery license; and
(iii) Sea urchin dive fishery license.
(b) The same vessel may be designated on two Puget
Sound Dungeness crab fishery licenses, subject to the provision of RCW 77.65.130.
(4) No vessel may be designated on more than one delivery license, on more than one salmon charter license, or on
more than one nonsalmon charter license. [2005 c 82 § 1;
2001 c 105 § 3; 1998 c 190 § 94; 1993 c 340 § 7. Formerly
RCW 75.28.045.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.110
77.65.110 Alternate operator designation—Fee. This
section applies to all commercial fishery licenses, charter
boat license[s], and delivery licenses.
(1) A person designated as an alternate operator must
possess an alternate operator license issued under RCW
77.65.130, and be designated on the license prior to engaging
in the activities authorized by the license. The holder of the
commercial fishery license, charter boat license, or delivery
license may designate up to two alternate operators for the
license, except:
[Title 77 RCW—page 80]
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.120
77.65.120 Sale or delivery of food fish or shellfish—
Conditions—Charter boat operation. (1) Only the license
holder and any alternate operators designated on the license
may sell or deliver food fish or shellfish under a commercial
fishery license or delivery license. A commercial fishery
license or delivery license authorizes no taking or delivery of
food fish or shellfish unless the license holder or an alternate
operator designated on the license is present or aboard the
vessel.
(2) Notwithstanding RCW 77.65.010(1)(c), an alternate
operator license is not required for an individual to operate a
vessel as a charter boat. [2000 c 107 § 33; 1998 c 267 § 3;
1993 c 340 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.28.047.]
Effective date—1998 c 267: See note following RCW 77.65.050.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.130
77.65.130 Vessel operation—License designation—
Alternate operator license required. (1) A person who
holds a commercial fishery license or a delivery license may
operate the vessel designated on the license. A person who is
not the license holder may operate the vessel designated on
the license only if:
(a) The person holds an alternate operator license issued
by the director; and
(b) The person is designated as an alternate operator on
the underlying commercial fishery license or delivery license
under RCW 77.65.110.
(2) Only an individual at least sixteen years of age may
hold an alternate operator license.
(3) No individual may hold more than one alternate operator license. An individual who holds an alternate operator
license may be designated as an alternate operator on an
unlimited number of commercial fishery licenses or delivery
licenses under RCW 77.65.110.
(4) An individual who holds two Dungeness crab—
Puget Sound fishery licenses may operate the licenses on one
vessel if the license holder or alternate operator is on the vessel. The department shall allow a license holder to operate up
to one hundred crab pots for each license.
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
(5) Two persons owning separate Dungeness crab—
Puget Sound fishery licenses may operate both licenses on
one vessel if the license holders or their alternate operators
are on the vessel.
(6) As used in this section, to "operate" means to control
the deployment or removal of fishing gear from state waters
while aboard a vessel or to operate a vessel delivering food
fish or shellfish taken in offshore waters to a port within the
state. [2005 c 82 § 2; 2000 c 107 § 34; 1998 c 267 § 4; 1997
c 233 § 2; 1993 c 340 § 25. Formerly RCW 75.28.048.]
Effective date—1998 c 267: See note following RCW 77.65.050.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.140
77.65.140 Alternate operators—Increase for certain
licenses. The director may, by rule, increase the number of
alternate operators beyond the level authorized by RCW
77.65.050 and 77.65.110 for a commercial fishery license,
delivery license, or charter license. [2000 c 107 § 35; 1997 c
421 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.28.055.]
77.65.150
77.65.150 Charter licenses and angler permits—
Fees—"Charter boat" defined—Oregon charter boats—
Salmon charter license renewal. (1) The director shall
issue the charter licenses and angler permits listed in this section according to the requirements of this title. The licenses
and permits and their annual fees and surcharges are:
License or Permit
Annual Fee
(RCW 77.95.090 Surcharge)
Resident
(a)
(b)
Nonsalmon charter
Salmon charter
(c)
(d)
Salmon angler
Salmon roe
$225
$380
(plus $100)
$ 0
$ 95
Governing
Section
Nonresident
$375
$685
RCW 77.70.050
(plus $100)
$ 0
RCW 77.70.060
$ 95
RCW 77.65.350
(2) A salmon charter license designating a vessel is
required to operate a charter boat from which persons may,
for a fee, fish for salmon, other food fish, and shellfish. The
director may issue a salmon charter license only to a person
who meets the qualifications of RCW 77.70.050.
(3) A nonsalmon charter license designating a vessel is
required to operate a charter boat from which persons may,
for a fee, fish for food fish other than salmon and shellfish.
(4)(a) "Charter boat" means a vessel from which persons
may, for a fee, fish for food fish or shellfish for personal use
in those state waters set forth in (b) of this subsection. "Charter boat" also means a vessel from which persons may, for a
fee, fish for food fish or shellfish for personal use in offshore
waters or in the waters of other states. The director may specify by rule when a vessel is a "charter boat" within this definition.
(b) A person may not operate a vessel from which persons may, for a fee, fish for food fish or shellfish in Puget
Sound, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, Pacific Ocean waters,
Lake Washington, or the Columbia river below the bridge at
Longview unless the vessel is designated on a charter boat
license.
(5) A charter boat licensed in Oregon may fish without a
Washington charter license under the same rules as Washington charter boat operators in ocean waters within the jurisdic(2006 Ed.)
77.65.150
tion of Washington state from the southern border of the state
of Washington to Leadbetter Point, as long as the Oregon
vessel does not take on or discharge passengers for any purpose from any Washington port, the Washington shore, or a
dock, landing, or other point in Washington. The provisions
of this subsection shall be in effect as long as the state of Oregon has reciprocal laws and regulations.
(6) A salmon charter license under subsection (1)(b) of
this section may be renewed if the license holder notifies the
department by May 1st of that year that he or she will not participate in the fishery during that calendar year. The license
holder must pay the one hundred-dollar enhancement surcharge, plus a fifteen-dollar handling charge, in order to be
considered a valid renewal and eligible to renew the license
the following year. [2006 c 186 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 36; 1998 c
190 § 95; 1997 c 76 § 2; 1995 c 104 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 41.
Prior: (1993 c 340 § 21 repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47);
1989 c 316 § 2; 1989 c 147 § 1; 1989 c 47 § 2; 1988 c 9 § 1;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 112; 1979 c 60 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 5;
1971 ex.s. c 283 § 15; 1969 c 90 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.28.095.]
Effective date—1997 c 76: See note following RCW 77.65.160.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Severability—1979 c 60: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1979 c 60 § 4.]
Legislative intent—Funding of salmon enhancement facilities—Use
of license fees—1977 ex.s. c 327: "The long range economic development
goals for the state of Washington shall include the restoration of salmon runs
to provide an increased supply of this valuable renewable resource for the
benefit of commercial and recreational users and the economic well-being of
the state. For the purpose of providing funds for the planning, acquisition,
construction, improvement, and operation of salmon enhancement facilities
within the state it is the intent of the legislature that the revenues received
from fees from the issuance of vessel delivery permits, charter boat licenses,
trolling gear licenses, gill net gear licenses, purse seine gear licenses, reef net
gear licenses, anadromous salmon angling licenses and all moneys received
from all privilege fees and fish sales taxes collected on fresh or frozen
salmon or parts thereof be utilized to fund such costs.
The salmon enhancement program funded by commercial and recreational fishing fees and taxes shall be for the express benefit of all persons
whose fishing activities fall under the management authority of the Washington department of fisheries and who actively participate in the funding of
the enhancement costs through the fees and taxes set forth in chapters 75.28
and 82.27 RCW or through other adequate funding methods." [1980 c 98 §
8; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.18.100.]
Declaration of state policy—1977 ex.s. c 327: "The legislature, recognizing that anadromous salmon within the waters of the state and offshore
waters are fished for both recreational and commercial purposes and that the
recreational anadromous salmon fishery is a major recreational and economic asset to the state and improves the quality of life for all residents of the
state, declares that it is the policy of the state to enhance and improve recreational anadromous salmon fishing in the state." [1977 ex.s. c 327 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.28.600.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 327: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 327 § 34.]
Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 327: "This 1977 amendatory act shall take
effect on January 1, 1978." [1977 ex.s. c 327 § 35.]
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 283: See note following RCW
77.65.170.
Limitation on issuance of salmon charter boat licenses: RCW 77.70.050.
[Title 77 RCW—page 81]
77.65.160
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Salmon charter boats—Angler permit, when required: RCW 77.70.060.
77.65.160
77.65.160 Commercial salmon fishery licenses—
Gear and geographic designations—Fees. (1) The following commercial salmon fishery licenses are required for the
license holder to use the specified gear to fish for salmon in
state waters. Only a person who meets the qualifications of
RCW 77.70.090 may hold a license listed in this subsection.
The licenses and their annual fees and surcharges under RCW
77.95.090 are:
Fishery
License
(a) Salmon Gill Net—Grays
Harbor-Columbia river
(b) Salmon Gill Net—Puget
Sound
(c) Salmon Gill Net—Willapa
Bay-Columbia river
(d) Salmon purse seine
(e) Salmon reef net
(f) Salmon troll
Resident
Fee
Nonresident
Fee
Surcharge
$380
$685
plus $100
$380
$685
plus $100
$380
$685
plus $100
$530
$380
$380
$985
$685
$685
plus $100
plus $100
plus $100
(2) A license issued under this section authorizes no taking or delivery of salmon or other food fish unless a vessel is
designated under RCW 77.65.100.
(3) Holders of commercial salmon fishery licenses may
retain incidentally caught food fish other than salmon, subject
to rules of the department.
(4) A salmon troll license includes a salmon delivery
license.
(5) A salmon gill net license authorizes the taking of
salmon only in the geographical area for which the license is
issued. The geographical designations in subsection (1) of
this section have the following meanings:
(a) "Puget Sound" includes waters of the Strait of Juan de
Fuca, Georgia Strait, Puget Sound and all bays, inlets, canals,
coves, sounds, and estuaries lying easterly and southerly of
the international boundary line and a line at the entrance to
the Strait of Juan de Fuca projected northerly from Cape Flattery to the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island and then to Bonilla
Point on Vancouver Island.
(b) "Grays Harbor-Columbia river" includes waters of
Grays Harbor and tributary estuaries lying easterly of a line
projected northerly from Point Chehalis Light to Point Brown
and those waters of the Columbia river and tributary sloughs
and estuaries easterly of a line at the entrance to the Columbia
river projected southerly from the most westerly point of the
North jetty to the most westerly point of the South jetty.
(c) "Willapa Bay-Columbia river" includes waters of
Willapa Bay and tributary estuaries and easterly of a line projected northerly from Leadbetter Point to the Cape Shoalwater tower and those waters of the Columbia river and tributary
sloughs described in (b) of this subsection.
(6) A commercial salmon troll fishery license may be
renewed under this section if the license holder notifies the
department by May 1st of that year that he or she will not participate in the fishery during that calendar year. A commercial salmon gill net, reef net, or seine fishery license may be
renewed under this section if the license holder notifies the
department before the third Monday in September of that
year that he or she will not participate in the fishery during
that calendar year. The license holder must pay the one hun[Title 77 RCW—page 82]
dred-dollar enhancement surcharge, plus a fifteen-dollar handling charge before the third Monday in September, in order
to be considered a valid renewal and eligible to renew the
license the following year.
(7) Notwithstanding the annual license fees and surcharges established in subsection (1) of this section, a person
who holds a resident commercial salmon fishery license shall
pay an annual license fee of one hundred dollars plus the surcharge if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The license holder is at least seventy-five years of
age;
(b) The license holder owns a fishing vessel and has
fished with a resident commercial salmon fishery license for
at least thirty years; and
(c) The commercial salmon fishery license is for a geographical area other than the Puget Sound.
An alternate operator may not be designated for a license
renewed at the one hundred dollar annual fee under this subsection (7). [2001 c 244 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 37; 1997 c 76 § 1;
1996 c 267 § 28; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 35; (1993 c 340 § 12
repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1989 c 316 § 3; 1985 c 107
§ 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 113; 1965 ex.s. c 73 § 2; 1959 c 309
§ 10; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.110. Prior: 1951 c 271 § 9; 1949 c
112 § 69(1); Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-507(1). Formerly
RCW 75.28.110.]
Effective date—1997 c 76: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 19, 1997]." [1997 c 76 § 3.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Limitations on issuance of commercial salmon fishing licenses: RCW
77.70.090.
77.65.170 Salmon delivery license—Fee—Restrictions—Revocation. (1) A salmon delivery license is
required for a commercial fishing vessel to deliver salmon
taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters to a place
or port in the state. As used in this section, "deliver" and
"delivery" mean arrival at a place or port, and include arrivals
from offshore waters to waters within the state and arrivals
ashore from offshore waters. The annual fee for a salmon
delivery license is three hundred eighty dollars for residents
and six hundred eighty-five dollars for nonresidents. The
annual surcharge under RCW 77.95.090 is one hundred dollars for each license. Holders of nonlimited entry delivery
licenses issued under RCW 77.65.210 may apply the nonlimited entry delivery license fee against the salmon delivery
license fee.
(2) Only a person who meets the qualifications established in RCW 77.70.090 may hold a salmon delivery license
issued under this section.
(3) A salmon delivery license authorizes no taking of
salmon or other food fish or shellfish from the waters of the
state.
(4) If the director determines that the operation of a vessel under a salmon delivery license results in the depletion or
destruction of the state’s salmon resource or the delivery into
77.65.170
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
77.65.200
this state of salmon products prohibited by law, the director
may revoke the license under the procedures of chapter 34.05
RCW. [2005 c 20 § 2; 2000 c 107 § 38; 1998 c 190 § 96;
1994 c 260 § 22; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 36; (1993 c 340 § 13
repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1989 c 316 § 4; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 115; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 283 § 1;
1955 c 12 § 75.18.080. Prior: 1953 c 147 § 9. Formerly
RCW 75.28.113, 75.18.080.]
license. Alternate operator licenses are not required of persons delivering salmon under an emergency salmon delivery
license. Emergency salmon delivery licenses are not renewable. [2005 c 20 § 3; 2000 c 107 § 40; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 37;
(1993 c 340 § 14 repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1989 c
316 § 5; 1984 c 80 § 1. Prior: 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 116; 1983
c 297 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 4; 1974 ex.s. c 184 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.28.116, 75.28.460.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Legislative intent—Funding of salmon enhancement facilities—Use
of license fees—Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 327: See
notes following RCW 77.65.150.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Legislative intent—Funding of salmon enhancement facilities—Use
of license fees—Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 327: See
notes following RCW 77.65.150.
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 283: "The provisions of this 1971 amendatory act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect immediately. The provisions of sections 1
to 10 inclusive of this 1971 amendatory act shall take effect on January 1,
1972." [1971 ex.s. c 283 § 16.]
Limitations on issuance of salmon delivery licenses: RCW 77.70.090.
Legislative intent—Severability—1974 ex.s. c 184: See notes following RCW 77.70.090.
77.65.200
77.65.200 Commercial fishery licenses for food fish
fisheries—Fees—Rules for species, gear, and areas. (1)
This section establishes commercial fishery licenses required
for food fish fisheries and the annual fees for those licenses.
As used in this section, "food fish" does not include salmon.
The director may issue a limited-entry commercial fishery
license only to a person who meets the qualifications established in applicable governing sections of this title.
77.65.180
77.65.180 Oregon, California harvested salmon—
Landing in Washington ports encouraged. (1) The legislature finds that landing salmon into the ports of Washington
state, regardless of where such salmon have been harvested,
is economically beneficial to those ports as well as to the citizens of the state of Washington. It is therefore the intent of
the legislature to encourage this practice.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW
77.65.010(1)(b) and 77.65.170, a Washington citizen who
holds a valid Oregon or California salmon troll license may
land salmon taken during lawful seasons in Oregon and California into Washington ports without obtaining a salmon
delivery license. This exception is valid only when the
salmon were taken in offshore waters south of Cape Falcon.
(3) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules identifying the appropriate
methods for verifying that salmon were in fact taken south of
Cape Falcon. [2000 c 107 § 39; 1999 c 103 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.28.114.]
77.65.190
77.65.190 Emergency salmon delivery license—
Fee—Nontransferable, nonrenewable. A person who does
not qualify for a license under RCW 77.70.090 shall obtain a
nontransferable emergency salmon delivery license to make
one delivery from a commercial fishing vessel of salmon
taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters. As used in
this section, "delivery" means arrival at a place or port, and
include arrivals from offshore waters to waters within the
state and arrivals ashore from offshore waters. The director
shall not issue an emergency salmon delivery license unless,
as determined by the director, a bona fide emergency exists.
The license fee is two hundred twenty-five dollars for residents and four hundred seventy-five dollars for nonresidents.
An applicant for an emergency salmon delivery license shall
designate no more than one vessel that will be used with the
(2006 Ed.)
Fishery
(Governing section(s))
(a) Baitfish Lampara
(b) Baitfish purse seine
(c) Bottom fish jig
(d) Bottom fish pot
(e) Bottom fish troll
(f) Carp
(g) Columbia river
smelt
(h) Dog fish set net
(i) Emerging commercial fishery (RCW
77.70.160 and
77.65.400)
(j) Food fish drag seine
(k) Food fish set line
(l) Food fish trawlNon-Puget Sound
(m) Food fish trawlPuget Sound
(n) Herring dip bag net
(RCW 77.70.120)
(o) Herring drag seine
(RCW 77.70.120)
(p) Herring gill net
(RCW 77.70.120)
(q) Herring Lampara
(RCW 77.70.120)
(r) Herring purse seine
(RCW 77.70.120)
(s) Herring spawn-onkelp (RCW
77.70.210)
(t) Smelt dip bag net
(u) Smelt gill net
(v) Whiting-Puget
Sound (RCW
77.70.130)
Annual Fee
Resident Nonresident
Vessel
Required?
Limited
Entry?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
$185
$530
$130
$130
$130
$130
$380
$295
$985
$185
$185
$185
$185
$685
$130
$185
$185
$295
$130
$130
$240
$185
$185
$405
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
$185
$295
Yes
No
$175
$275
Yes
Yes
$175
$275
Yes
Yes
$175
$275
Yes
Yes
$175
$275
Yes
Yes
$175
$275
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Yes
Yes
$130
$380
$295
$185
$685
$520
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Determined Determined
by rule
by rule
(2) The director may by rule determine the species of
food fish that may be taken with the commercial fishery
licenses established in this section, the gear that may be used
[Title 77 RCW—page 83]
77.65.210
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
with the licenses, and the areas or waters in which the
licenses may be used. Where a fishery license has been established for a particular species, gear, geographical area, or
combination thereof, a more general fishery license may not
be used to take food fish in that fishery. [2000 c 107 § 41;
1993 sp.s. c 17 § 38; (1993 c 340 § 15 repealed by 1993 sp.s.
c 17 § 47); 1989 c 316 § 6; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 117; 1965
ex.s. c 73 § 3; 1959 c 309 § 11; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.120. Prior:
1951 c 271 § 10; 1949 c 112 § 69(2); Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-507(2). Formerly RCW 75.28.120.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Limitation on commercial herring fishing: RCW 77.70.120.
77.65.210 Nonlimited entry delivery license—Limitations—Fee. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of
this section, a person may not use a commercial fishing vessel to deliver food fish or shellfish taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters to a port in the state without a nonlimited entry delivery license. As used in this section,
"deliver" and "delivery" mean arrival at a place or port, and
include arrivals from offshore waters to waters within the
state and arrivals ashore from offshore waters. As used in
this section, "food fish" does not include salmon. As used in
this section, "shellfish" does not include ocean pink shrimp,
coastal crab, or fish or shellfish taken under an emerging
commercial fisheries license if taken from off-shore waters.
The annual license fee for a nonlimited entry delivery license
is one hundred ten dollars for residents and two hundred dollars for nonresidents.
(2) Holders of salmon troll fishery licenses issued under
RCW 77.65.160, salmon delivery licenses issued under RCW
77.65.170, crab pot fishery licenses issued under RCW
77.65.220, food fish trawl—Non-Puget Sound fishery
licenses, and emerging commercial fishery licenses issued
under RCW 77.65.200, Dungeness crab—coastal fishery
licenses, ocean pink shrimp delivery licenses, shrimp trawl—
Non-Puget Sound fishery licenses, and emerging commercial
fishery licenses issued under RCW 77.65.220 may deliver
food fish or shellfish taken in offshore waters without a nonlimited entry delivery license.
(3) A nonlimited entry delivery license authorizes no
taking of food fish or shellfish from state waters. [2005 c 20
§ 4; 2000 c 107 § 42; 1998 c 190 § 97; 1994 c 260 § 21. Prior:
1993 sp.s. c 17 § 39; 1993 c 376 § 3; (1993 c 340 § 16
repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1989 c 316 § 7; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 119; 1971 ex.s. c 283 § 5; 1965 ex.s. c 73 § 1;
1959 c 309 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.28.125, 75.28.085.]
77.65.210
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 283: See note following RCW
77.65.170.
[Title 77 RCW—page 84]
77.65.220
77.65.220 Commercial fishery licenses for shellfish
fisheries—Fees—Rules for species, gear, and areas. (1)
This section establishes commercial fishery licenses required
for shellfish fisheries and the annual fees for those licenses.
The director may issue a limited-entry commercial fishery
license only to a person who meets the qualifications established in applicable governing sections of this title.
Fishery
(Governing section(s))
(a) Burrowing shrimp
(b) Crab ring netNon-Puget Sound
(c) Crab ring netPuget Sound
(d) Dungeness crabcoastal (RCW
77.70.280)
(e) Dungeness crabcoastal, class B
(RCW 77.70.280)
(f) Dungeness crabPuget Sound
(RCW 77.70.110)
(g) Emerging commercial fishery (RCW
77.70.160 and
77.65.400)
(h) Geoduck (RCW
77.70.220)
(i) Hardshell clam
mechanical
harvester
(RCW 77.65.250)
(j) Oyster reserve
(RCW 77.65.260)
(k) Razor clam
(l) Sea cucumber dive
(RCW 77.70.190)
(m) Sea urchin dive
(RCW 77.70.150)
(n) Shellfish dive
(o) Shellfish pot
(p) Shrimp potPuget Sound
(RCW 77.70.410)
(q) Shrimp trawlNon-Puget Sound
(r) Shrimp trawlPuget Sound
(RCW 77.70.420)
(s) Squid
Annual Fee
Vessel
Resident Nonresident Required?
$185
$295
Yes
$130
$185
Yes
Limited
Entry?
No
No
$130
$185
Yes
No
$295
$520
Yes
Yes
$295
$520
Yes
Yes
$130
$185
Yes
Yes
$185
$295
$ 0
$ 0
Yes
Yes
$530
$985
Yes
No
$130
$185
No
No
$130
$130
$185
$185
No
Yes
No
Yes
$130
$185
Yes
Yes
$130
$130
$185
$185
$185
$295
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
$240
$405
Yes
No
$185
$295
Yes
Yes
$185
$295
Yes
No
Determined Determined
by rule
by rule
(2) The director may by rule determine the species of
shellfish that may be taken with the commercial fishery
licenses established in this section, the gear that may be used
with the licenses, and the areas or waters in which the
licenses may be used. Where a fishery license has been established for a particular species, gear, geographical area, or
combination thereof, a more general fishery license may not
be used to take shellfish in that fishery. [2000 c 107 § 43;
1999 c 239 § 2; 1994 c 260 § 14; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 40; (1993
c 340 § 17 repealed by 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 47); 1989 c 316 § 8;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 120; 1977 ex.s. c 327 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c
283 § 7; 1965 ex.s. c 73 § 4; 1959 c 309 § 12; 1955 c 12 §
75.28.130. Prior: 1951 c 271 § 11; 1949 c 112 § 69(3); Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 5780-507(3). Formerly RCW 75.28.130.]
Finding—Purpose—Intent—1999 c 239: "The legislature finds that it
is in the public interest to convert the Puget Sound shrimp fishery from the
status of an emerging fishery to that of a limited entry fishery. The purpose
of this act is to initiate this conversion, recognizing that additional details
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
associated with the shrimp fishery limited entry program will need to be
developed. The legislature intends to complete the development of the laws
associated with this limited entry fishery program during the next regular
legislative session and will consider recommendations from the industry and
the department during this program." [1999 c 239 § 1.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 327: See notes following
RCW 77.65.150.
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 283: See note following RCW
77.65.170.
Dungeness crab-Puget Sound fishery license endorsement: RCW 77.70.110.
77.65.230
77.65.230 Surcharge on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses and Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
licenses—Dungeness crab appeals account. A surcharge
of fifty dollars shall be collected with each Dungeness crabcoastal fishery license issued under RCW 77.65.220 until
June 30, 2000, and with each Dungeness crab-coastal class B
fishery license issued under RCW 77.65.220 until December
31, 1997. Moneys collected under this section shall be placed
in the Dungeness crab appeals account hereby created in the
state treasury. The account is subject to allotment procedures
under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required
for expenditures. Expenditures from the account shall only be
used for processing appeals related to the issuance of Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses. [2000 c 107 § 44; 1994 c
260 § 15. Formerly RCW 75.28.132.]
77.65.280
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Construction—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 253: See notes following
RCW 77.60.070.
77.65.260
77.65.260 State oyster reserves—Oyster reserve fishery license. A person who commercially takes shellfish from
state oyster reserves under RCW 77.60.050 must have an
oyster reserve fishery license. [2000 c 107 § 47; 1993 c 340
§ 20; 1989 c 316 § 14; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 131; 1969 ex.s. c
91 § 2; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.290. Prior: 1951 c 271 § 27; 1949
c 112 § 71; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-509. Formerly RCW
75.28.290.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.270
77.65.270 Oyster cultch permit. An oyster cultch permit is required for commercial cultching of oysters on state
oyster reserves. The director shall require that ten percent of
the cultch bags or other collecting materials be provided to
the state after the oysters have set, for the purposes of increasing the supply of oysters on state oyster reserves and enhancing oyster supplies on public beaches. [1989 c 316 § 15. Formerly RCW 75.28.295.]
77.65.280
77.65.250 Hardshell clam mechanical harvester fishery license. A hardshell clam mechanical harvester fishery
license is required to operate a mechanical or hydraulic
device for commercially harvesting clams, other than geoduck clams, unless the requirements of RCW 77.55.021 are
fulfilled for the proposed activity. [2005 c 146 § 1005; 2000
c 107 § 46; 1993 c 340 § 19; 1989 c 316 § 12; 1985 c 457 §
19; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 125; 1979 ex.s. c 141 § 3; 1969 ex.s.
c 253 § 3; 1955 c 212 § 8; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.280. Prior: 1951
c 271 § 26; 1949 c 112 § 70; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-508.
Formerly RCW 75.28.280.]
77.65.280 Wholesale fish dealer’s license—Fee—
Exemption. A wholesale fish dealer’s license is required for:
(1) A business in the state to engage in the commercial
processing of food fish or shellfish, including custom canning
or processing of personal use food fish or shellfish.
(2) A business in the state to engage in the wholesale
selling, buying, or brokering of food fish or shellfish. A
wholesale fish dealer’s license is not required of those businesses which buy exclusively from Washington licensed
wholesale dealers and sell solely at retail.
(3) Fishermen who land and sell their catch or harvest in
the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer
within or outside the state, unless the fisher has a direct retail
endorsement.
(4) A business to engage in the commercial manufacture
or preparation of fertilizer, oil, meal, caviar, fish bait, or other
byproducts from food fish or shellfish.
(5) A business employing a fish buyer as defined under
RCW 77.65.340.
The annual license fee for a wholesale dealer is two hundred fifty dollars. A wholesale fish dealer’s license is not
required for persons engaged in the processing, wholesale
selling, buying, or brokering of private sector cultured
aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020. However, if a
means of identifying such products is required by rules
adopted under RCW 15.85.060, the exemption from licensing requirements established by this subsection applies only
if the aquatic products are identified in conformance with
those rules. [2002 c 301 § 5; 2000 c 107 § 48; 1993 sp.s. c 17
§ 43; 1989 c 316 § 16. Prior: 1985 c 457 § 20; 1985 c 248 §
1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 132; 1979 c 66 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 28 §
1; 1955 c 212 § 11; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.300; prior: 1951 c 271
§ 28; 1949 c 112 § 72(1); Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-510(1).
Formerly RCW 75.28.300.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW
77.55.011.
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.65.240
77.65.240 Surcharge on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license and Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
license—Coastal crab account. A surcharge of one hundred
twenty dollars shall be collected with each Dungeness crabcoastal fishery license and with each Dungeness crab-coastal
class B fishery license issued under RCW 77.65.220. Moneys
collected under this section shall be placed in the coastal crab
account created under RCW 77.70.320. [2000 c 107 § 45;
1997 c 418 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.28.133.]
77.65.250
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 77 RCW—page 85]
77.65.290
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
77.65.290
77.65.290 Wholesale fish dealer licenses—Display.
Wholesale fish dealer licenses shall be displayed at the business premises of the licensee. [1993 c 340 § 52; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 110; 1955 c 12 § 75.28.070. Prior: 1949 c 112 §
74, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-512, part. Formerly RCW
75.28.302, 75.28.070.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
(5) Liability under the bond shall be maintained as long
as the wholesale fish dealer engages in activities under RCW
77.65.280 unless released. Liability under the bond may be
released only upon written notification from the department.
Notification shall be given upon acceptance by the department of a substitute bond or forty-five days after the expiration of the wholesale fish dealer’s annual license. In no event
shall the liability of the surety exceed the amount of the
surety bond required under this chapter. [2000 c 107 § 49;
1996 c 267 § 30; 1985 c 248 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.28.323.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
77.65.330
77.65.300
77.65.300 Wholesale fish dealer may be a fish buyer.
A wholesale dealer who is an individual may be a fish buyer.
[1985 c 248 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.28.305.]
77.65.310
77.65.310 Wholesale fish dealers—Documentation of
commercial harvest. Wholesale fish dealers are responsible
for documenting the commercial harvest of food fish and
shellfish according to the rules of the department. The director may allow only wholesale fish dealers or their designees
to receive the forms necessary for the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish and shellfish. [1996 c 267 § 29;
1985 c 248 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.28.315.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
77.65.320
77.65.320 Wholesale fish dealers—Performance
bond. (1) A wholesale fish dealer shall not take possession
of food fish or shellfish until the dealer has deposited with the
department an acceptable performance bond on forms prescribed and furnished by the department. This performance
bond shall be a corporate surety bond executed in favor of the
department by a corporation authorized to do business in the
state of Washington under chapter 48.28 RCW and approved
by the department. The bond shall be filed and maintained in
an amount equal to one thousand dollars for each buyer
engaged by the wholesale dealer. In no case shall the bond be
less than two thousand dollars nor more than fifty thousand
dollars.
(2) A wholesale dealer shall, within seven days of engaging additional fish buyers, notify the department and increase
the amount of the bonding required in subsection (1) of this
section.
(3) The director may suspend and refuse to reissue a
wholesale fish dealer’s license of a dealer who has taken possession of food fish or shellfish without an acceptable performance bond on deposit with the department.
(4) The bond shall be conditioned upon the compliance
with the requirements of this chapter and rules of the department relating to the payment of fines for violations of rules
for the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish or
shellfish. In lieu of the surety bond required by this section
the wholesale fish dealer may file with the department a cash
deposit, negotiable securities acceptable to the department, or
an assignment of a savings account or of a savings certificate
in a Washington bank on an assignment form prescribed by
the department.
[Title 77 RCW—page 86]
77.65.330 Wholesale fish dealers—Performance
bond—Payment of liability. The director shall promptly
notify by order a wholesale dealer and the appropriate surety
when a violation of rules relating to the accounting of commercial harvest has occurred. The notification shall specify
the type of violation, the liability to be imposed for damages
caused by the violation, and a notice that the amount of liability is due and payable to the department by the wholesale fish
dealer and the surety.
If the amount specified in the order is not paid within
thirty days after receipt of the notice, the prosecuting attorney
for any county in which the persons to whom the order is
directed do business, or the attorney general upon request of
the department, may bring an action on behalf of the state in
the superior court for Thurston county or any county in which
the persons to whom the order is directed do business to
recover the amount specified in the final order of the department. The surety shall be liable to the state to the extent of the
bond. [1985 c 248 § 7. Formerly RCW 75.28.328.]
77.65.340
77.65.340 Fish buyer’s license—Fee. (1) A fish
buyer’s license is required of and shall be carried by each
individual engaged by a wholesale fish dealer to purchase
food fish or shellfish from a licensed commercial fisherman.
A fish buyer may represent only one wholesale fish dealer.
(2) The annual fee for a fish buyer’s license is ninetyfive dollars. [2000 c 107 § 50; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 46; 1989 c
316 § 17; 1985 c 248 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.28.340.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
77.65.350
77.65.350 Salmon charter crew member—Salmon
roe license—Sale of salmon roe—Conditions. (1) A
salmon roe license is required for a crew member on a boat
designated on a salmon charter license to sell salmon roe as
provided in subsection (2) of this section. An individual
under sixteen years of age may hold a salmon roe license.
(2) A crew member on a boat designated on a salmon
charter license may sell salmon roe taken from fish caught for
personal use, subject to rules of the department and the following conditions:
(a) The salmon is taken by an angler fishing on the charter boat;
(b) The roe is the property of the angler until the roe is
given to the crew member. The crew member shall notify the
charter boat’s passengers of this fact;
(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
(c) The crew member sells the roe to a licensed wholesale dealer; and
(d) The crew member is licensed as provided in subsection (1) of this section and has the license in possession
whenever the crew member sells salmon roe. [1996 c 267 §
31; 1993 c 340 § 22; 1989 c 316 § 18; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
137; 1981 c 227 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.28.690.]
Intent—Effective date—1996 c 267: See notes following RCW
77.12.177.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.360 License fee increases—Disposition. All
revenues generated from the license fee increases in chapter
316, Laws of 1989 shall be deposited in the general fund and
shall be appropriated for the food fish and shellfish enhancement programs. [1989 c 316 § 20. Formerly RCW
75.28.700.]
77.65.360
77.65.370 Professional salmon guide license. (1) A
person shall not offer or perform the services of a professional salmon guide in the taking of salmon for personal use
in freshwater rivers and streams, other than in that part of the
Columbia river below the bridge at Longview, without a professional salmon guide license.
(2) Only an individual at least sixteen years of age may
hold a professional salmon guide license. No individual may
hold more than one professional salmon guide license. [1998
c 190 § 98; 1993 c 340 § 26; 1991 c 362 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.28.710.]
77.65.370
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.380 Ocean pink shrimp—Defined. Unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter
"ocean pink shrimp" means the species Pandalus jordani.
[1993 c 376 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.28.720.]
77.65.380
Findings—1993 c 376: "The legislature finds that the offshore Washington, Oregon, and California commercial ocean pink shrimp fishery is
composed of a mobile fleet, fishing the entire coast from Washington to California and landing its catch in the state nearest the area being fished. The
legislature further finds that the ocean pink shrimp fishery currently uses the
entire available resource, and has the potential to become overcapitalized.
The legislature further finds that overcapitalization can lead to economic
destabilization, and that reductions in fishing opportunities from licensing
restrictions imposed for conservation needs and the economic well-being of
the ocean pink shrimp industry creates uncertainty. The legislature further
finds that it is [in] the best interest of the ocean pink shrimp resource, commercial ocean pink shrimp fishers, and ocean pink shrimp processors in the
state, to limit the number of fishers who make landings of ocean pink shrimp
into the state of Washington to those persons who have historically and continuously participated in the ocean pink shrimp fishery." [1993 c 376 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 c 376: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1994." [1993 c 376 § 12.]
77.65.390 Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—
Fee. An ocean pink shrimp delivery license is required for a
commercial fishing vessel to deliver ocean pink shrimp taken
for commercial purposes in offshore waters and delivered to
a port in the state. As used in this section, "deliver" and
"delivery" mean arrival at a place or port, and include arrivals
from offshore waters to waters within the state and arrivals
from state or offshore waters. The annual license fee is one
hundred fifty dollars for residents and three hundred dollars
77.65.390
(2006 Ed.)
77.65.420
for nonresidents. Ocean pink shrimp delivery licenses are
transferable. [2005 c 20 § 5; 2000 c 107 § 51; 1993 c 376 §
4. Formerly RCW 75.28.730.]
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
77.65.400
77.65.400 Emerging commercial fishery—Trial or
experimental fishery—Licenses and permits. (1) The
director may by rule designate a fishery as an emerging commercial fishery. The director shall include in the designation
whether the fishery is one that requires a vessel.
(2) "Emerging commercial fishery" means the commercial taking of a newly classified species of food fish or shellfish, the commercial taking of a classified species with gear
not previously used for that species, or the commercial taking
of a classified species in an area from which that species has
not previously been commercially taken. Any species of food
fish or shellfish commercially harvested in Washington state
as of June 7, 1990, may be designated as a species in an
emerging commercial fishery, except that no fishery subject
to a license limitation program in chapter 77.70 RCW may be
designated as an emerging commercial fishery.
(3) A person shall not take food fish or shellfish in a fishery designated as an emerging commercial fishery without an
emerging commercial fishery license and a permit from the
director. The director shall issue two types of permits to
accompany emerging commercial fishery licenses: Trial
fishery permits and experimental fishery permits. Trial fishery permits are governed by subsection (4) of this section.
Experimental fishery permits are governed by RCW
77.70.160.
(4) The director shall issue trial fishery permits for a
fishery designated as an emerging commercial fishery unless
the director determines there is a need to limit the number of
participants under RCW 77.70.160. A person who meets the
qualifications of RCW 77.65.040 may hold a trial fishery permit. The holder of a trial fishery permit shall comply with the
terms of the permit. Trial fishery permits are not transferable
from the permit holder to any other person. [2000 c 107 § 52;
1998 c 190 § 99; 1993 c 340 § 18. Formerly RCW
75.28.740.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.65.410
77.65.410 Geoduck diver license. Every diver engaged
in the commercial harvest of geoduck clams shall obtain a
nontransferable geoduck diver license. [1993 c 340 § 24;
1990 c 163 § 6; 1989 c 316 § 13; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 130;
1979 ex.s. c 141 § 4; 1969 ex.s. c 253 § 4. Formerly RCW
75.28.750, 75.28.287.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Construction—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 253: See notes following
RCW 77.60.070.
Designation of aquatic lands for geoduck harvesting: RCW 79.135.220.
Geoducks, harvesting for commercial purposes—License: RCW 77.60.070.
77.65.420
77.65.420 Wild salmonid policy—Establishment. By
July 1, 1994, the commission jointly with the appropriate
Indian tribes, shall each establish a wild salmonid policy. The
policy shall ensure that department actions and programs are
[Title 77 RCW—page 87]
77.65.430
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
consistent with the goals of rebuilding wild stock populations
to levels that permit commercial and recreational fishing
opportunities. [2000 c 107 § 53; 1993 sp.s. c 4 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.28.760.]
Findings—Grazing lands—1993 sp.s. c 4: See RCW 79.13.600.
Salmon, impact of water diversion: RCW 90.03.360.
77.65.430
77.65.430 Wild salmonid policy—Management strategies and gear types. The director shall evaluate and recommend, in consultation with the Indian tribes, salmon fishery
management strategies and gear types, as well as a schedule
for implementation, that will minimize the impact of commercial and recreational fishing in the mixed stock fishery on
critical and depressed wild stocks of salmonids. As part of
this evaluation, the director, in conjunction with the commercial and recreational fishing industries, shall evaluate commercial and recreational salmon fishing gear types developed
by these industries. [2000 c 107 § 54; 1998 c 245 § 153; 1994
c 264 § 46; 1993 sp.s. c 4 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.28.770.]
Findings—Grazing lands—1993 sp.s. c 4: See RCW 79.13.600.
77.65.440
77.65.440 Alternate operator—Geoduck diver—
Salmon guide—Fees. The director shall issue the personal
licenses listed in this section according to the requirements of
this title. The licenses and their annual fees are:
Annual Fee
(RCW 77.95.090 Surcharge)
(1) Alternate Operator
(2) Geoduck Diver
(3) Salmon Guide
$ 35
$185
$130
(plus $20)
Resident
Governing
Section
Nonresident
$ 35
$295
$630
(plus $100)
RCW 77.65.130
RCW 77.65.410
RCW 77.65.370
[2000 c 107 § 55; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 42. Formerly RCW
75.28.780.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17 §§ 34-47: See note following RCW 77.65.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
77.65.450
77.65.450 Trapper’s license. A state trapping license
allows the holder to trap fur-bearing animals throughout the
state; however, a trapper may not place traps on private property without permission of the owner, lessee, or tenant where
the land is improved and apparently used, or where the land
is fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders or to indicate a property boundary line, or where notice is
given by posting in a conspicuous manner. A state trapping
license is void on April 1st following the date of issuance.
The fee for this license is thirty-six dollars for residents sixteen years of age or older, fifteen dollars for residents under
sixteen years of age, and one hundred eighty dollars for nonresidents. [1991 sp.s. c 7 § 3; 1987 c 372 § 3; 1985 c 464 § 4;
1981 c 310 § 23. Prior: 1980 c 78 § 113; 1980 c 24 § 2; 1975
1st ex.s. c 15 § 28. Formerly RCW 77.32.191.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 sp.s. c 7 § 14.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 88]
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Instream flows: RCW 90.22.060.
Personal License
Effective date—1985 c 464: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1985." [1985 c 464 § 13.]
Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 15: "Section 19 of this 1975 amendatory act shall be effective April 1, 1976. Sections 20 through 32 of this 1975
amendatory act shall be effective January 1, 1976." [1975 1st ex.s. c 15 §
34.]
Traps placed on private property: RCW 77.32.545, 77.15.191.
77.65.460
77.65.460 Trapper’s license—Training program or
examination requisite for issuance to initial licensee. Persons purchasing a state trapping license for the first time shall
present certification of completion of a course of instruction
in safe, humane, and proper trapping techniques or pass an
examination to establish that the applicant has the requisite
knowledge.
The director shall establish a program for training persons in trapping techniques and responsibilities, including the
use of trapping devices designed to painlessly capture or
instantly kill. The director shall cooperate with national and
state animal, humane, hunter education, and trapping organizations in the development of a curriculum. Upon successful
completion of the course, trainees shall receive a trapper’s
training certificate signed by an authorized instructor. This
certificate is evidence of compliance with this section. [1987
c 506 § 82; 1981 c 310 § 24; 1980 c 78 § 114; 1977 c 43 § 1.
Formerly RCW 77.32.197.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.65.480
77.65.480 Taxidermist, fur dealer, fishing guide,
game farmer, anadromous game fish buyer—Licenses—
Fish stocking and game contest permits. (1) A taxidermy
license allows the holder to practice taxidermy for profit. The
fee for this license is one hundred eighty dollars.
(2) A fur dealer’s license allows the holder to purchase,
receive, or resell raw furs for profit. The fee for this license is
one hundred eighty dollars.
(3) A fishing guide license allows the holder to offer or
perform the services of a professional guide in the taking of
game fish. The fee for this license is one hundred eighty dollars for a resident and six hundred dollars for a nonresident.
(4) A game farm license allows the holder to operate a
game farm to acquire, breed, grow, keep, and sell wildlife
under conditions prescribed by the rules adopted pursuant to
this title. The fee for this license is seventy-two dollars for the
first year and forty-eight dollars for each following year.
(5) A game fish stocking permit allows the holder to
release game fish into the waters of the state as prescribed by
rule of the commission. The fee for this permit is twenty-four
dollars.
(6) A fishing or field trial permit allows the holder to
promote, conduct, hold, or sponsor a fishing or field trial con(2006 Ed.)
Food Fish and Shellfish—Commercial Licenses
test in accordance with rules of the commission. The fee for a
fishing contest permit is twenty-four dollars. The fee for a
field trial contest permit is twenty-four dollars.
(7) An anadromous game fish buyer’s license allows the
holder to purchase or sell steelhead trout and other anadromous game fish harvested by Indian fishermen lawfully exercising fishing rights reserved by federal statute, treaty, or
executive order, under conditions prescribed by rule of the
director. The fee for this license is one hundred eighty dollars. [1991 sp.s. c 7 § 4; 1987 c 506 § 83; 1985 c 464 § 5;
1983 c 284 § 3; 1981 c 310 § 25; 1980 c 78 § 115; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 15 § 30. Formerly RCW 77.32.211.]
Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Effective date—1985 c 464: See note following RCW 77.65.450.
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW
77.65.450.
77.65.490
77.65.490 Activities requiring license/permit. (1) A
license issued by the director is required to:
(a) Practice taxidermy for commercial purposes;
(b) Deal in raw furs for commercial purposes;
(c) Act as a fishing guide;
(d) Operate a game farm; or
(e) Purchase or sell anadromous game fish.
(2) A permit issued by the director is required to:
(a) Conduct, hold, or sponsor hunting or fishing contests
or competitive field trials using live wildlife;
(b) Collect wild animals, wild birds, game fish, food fish,
shellfish, or protected wildlife for research or display;
(c) Stock game fish; or
(d) Conduct commercial activities on department-owned
or controlled lands.
(3) Aquaculture as defined in RCW 15.85.020 is exempt
from the requirements of this section, except when being
stocked in public waters under contract with the department.
[2001 c 253 § 56.]
77.65.500
77.65.500 Reports required from persons with
licenses or permits under RCW 77.65.480. Licensed taxidermists, fur dealers, anadromous game fish buyers, fishing
guides, game farmers, and persons stocking game fish or conducting a hunting, fishing, or field trial contest shall make
reports as required by rules of the director. [1987 c 506 § 84;
1983 c 284 § 4; 1981 c 310 § 26; 1980 c 78 § 116; 1955 c 36
§ 77.32.220. Prior: 1947 c 275 § 111; Rem. Supp. 1947 §
5992-120. Formerly RCW 77.32.220.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
Effective dates—Legislative intent—1981 c 310: See notes following
RCW 77.12.170.
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
(2006 Ed.)
77.65.510
77.65.510
77.65.510 Direct retail endorsement—Fee—Responsibilities of holder. (1) The department must establish and
administer a direct retail endorsement to serve as a single
license that permits the holder of a Washington license to
commercially harvest retail-eligible species and to clean,
dress, and sell his or her catch directly to consumers at retail,
including over the internet. The direct retail endorsement
must be issued as an optional addition to all holders of a commercial fishing license for retail-eligible species that the
department offers under this chapter.
(2) The direct retail endorsement must be offered at the
time of application for the qualifying commercial fishing
license. Individuals in possession of a qualifying commercial
fishing license issued under this chapter may add a direct
retail endorsement to their current license at any time. Individuals who do not have a commercial fishing license for
retail-eligible species issued under this chapter may not
receive a direct retail endorsement. The costs, conditions,
responsibilities, and privileges associated with the endorsed
commercial fishing license is not affected or altered in any
way by the addition of a direct retail endorsement. These
costs include the base cost of the license and any revenue and
excise taxes.
(3) An individual need only add one direct retail
endorsement to his or her license portfolio. If a direct retail
endorsement is selected by an individual holding more than
one commercial fishing license issued under this chapter, a
single direct retail endorsement is considered to be added to
all qualifying commercial fishing licenses held by that individual, and is the only license required for the individual to
sell at retail any retail-eligible species permitted by all of the
underlying endorsed licenses. The direct retail endorsement
applies only to the person named on the endorsed license, and
may not be used by an alternate operator named on the
endorsed license.
(4) In addition to any fees charged for the endorsed
licenses and harvest documentation as required by this chapter or the rules of the department, the department may set a
reasonable annual fee not to exceed the administrative costs
to the department for a direct retail endorsement.
(5) The holder of a direct retail endorsement is responsible for documenting the commercial harvest of salmon and
crab according to the provisions of this chapter, the rules of
the department for a wholesale fish dealer, and the reporting
requirements of the endorsed license. Any retail-eligible species caught by the holder of a direct retail endorsement must
be documented on fish tickets.
(6) The direct retail endorsement must be displayed in a
readily visible manner by the seller wherever and whenever a
sale to someone other than a licensed wholesale dealer
occurs. The commission may require that the holder of a
direct retail endorsement notify the department up to eighteen
hours before conducting an in-person sale of retail-eligible
species, except for in-person sales that have a cumulative
retail sales value of less than one hundred fifty dollars in a
twenty-four hour period that are sold directly from the vessel.
For sales occurring in a venue other than in person, such as
over the internet, through a catalog, or on the phone, the
direct retail endorsement number of the seller must be provided to the buyer both at the time of sale and the time of
[Title 77 RCW—page 89]
77.65.515
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
delivery. All internet sales must be conducted in accordance
with federal laws and regulations.
(7) The direct retail endorsement is to be held by a natural person and is not transferrable or assignable. If the
endorsed license is transferred, the direct retail endorsement
immediately becomes void, and the transferor is not eligible
for a full or prorated reimbursement of the annual fee paid for
the direct retail endorsement. Upon becoming void, the
holder of a direct retail endorsement must surrender the physical endorsement to the department.
(8) The holder of a direct retail endorsement must abide
by the provisions of Title 69 RCW as they apply to the processing and retail sale of seafood. The department must distribute a pamphlet, provided by the department of agriculture,
with the direct retail endorsement generally describing the
labeling requirements set forth in chapter 69.04 RCW as they
apply to seafood.
(9) The holder of a qualifying commercial fishing license
issued under this chapter must either possess a direct retail
endorsement or a wholesale dealer license provided for in
RCW 77.65.280 in order to lawfully sell their catch or harvest
in the state to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer.
(10) The direct retail endorsement entitles the holder to
sell a retail-eligible species only at a temporary food service
establishment as that term is defined in RCW 69.06.045, or
directly to a restaurant or other similar food service business.
[2003 c 387 § 2; 2002 c 301 § 2.]
Finding—2002 c 301: "The legislature finds that commercial fishing is
vitally important not just to the economy of Washington, but also to the cultural heritage of the maritime communities in the state. Fisher men and
women have a long and proud history in the Pacific Northwest. State and
local governments should seek out ways to enable and encourage these professionals to share the rewards of their craft with the nonfishing citizens of
and visitors to the state of Washington by encouraging the exploration and
development of new niche markets." [2002 c 301 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 301: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002." [2002
c 301 § 12.]
77.65.515
77.65.515 Direct retail endorsement—Requirements.
(1) Prior to being issued a direct retail endorsement, an individual must:
(a) Obtain and submit to the department a signed letter
on appropriate letterhead from the health department of the
county in which the individual makes his or her official residence or where the hailing port for any documented vessel
owned by the individual is located as to the fulfillment of all
requirements related to county health rules, including the
payment of all required fees. The local health department
generating the letter may charge a reasonable fee for any necessary inspections. The letter must certify that the methods
used by the individual to transport, store, and display any
fresh retail-eligible species meets that county’s standards and
the statewide standards adopted by the board of health for
food service operations; and
(b) Submit proof to the department that the individual
making the direct retail sales is in possession of a valid food
and beverage service worker’s permit, as provided for in
chapter 69.06 RCW.
(2) The requirements of subsection (1) of this section
must be completed each license year before a renewal direct
retail endorsement can be issued.
[Title 77 RCW—page 90]
(3) Any individual possessing a direct retail endorsement
must notify the local health department of the county in
which retail sales are to occur, except for the county that conducted the initial inspection, forty-eight hours before any
transaction and make his or her facilities available for inspection by a fish and wildlife officer, the local health department
of any county in which he or she sells any legally harvested
retail-eligible species, and any designee of the department of
health or the department of agriculture.
(4) Neither the department or a local health department
may be held liable in any judicial proceeding alleging that
consumption of or exposure to seafood sold by the holder of
a direct retail endorsement resulted in a negative health consequence, as long as the department can show that the individual holding the direct retail endorsement complied with
the requirements of subsection (1) of this section prior to
being issued his or her direct retail license, and neither the
department nor a local health department acted in a reckless
manner. For the purposes of this subsection, the department
or a local health district shall not be deemed to be acting recklessly for not conducting a permissive inspection. [2003 c
387 § 3; 2002 c 301 § 3.]
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
77.65.520
77.65.520 Direct retail endorsement—Compliance—
Violations—Suspension. (1) The direct retail endorsement
is conditioned upon compliance:
(a) With the requirements of this chapter as they apply to
wholesale fish dealers and to the rules of the department
relating to the payment of fines for violations of rules for the
accounting of the commercial harvest of retail-eligible species; and
(b) With the state board of health and local rules for food
service establishments.
(2) Violations of the requirements and rules referenced
in subsection (1) of this section may result in the suspension
of the direct retail endorsement. The suspended individual
must not be reimbursed for any portion of the suspended
endorsement. Suspension of the direct retail endorsement
may not occur unless and until:
(a) The director has notified by order the holder of the
direct retail endorsement when a violation of subsection (1)
of this section has occurred. The notification must specify
the type of violation, the liability to be imposed for damages
caused by the violation, a notice that the amount of liability is
due and payable by the holder of the direct retail endorsement, and an explanation of the options available to satisfy
the liability; and
(b) The holder of the direct retail endorsement has had at
least ninety days after the notification provided in (a) of this
subsection was received to either make full payment for all
liabilities owed or enter into an agreement with the department to pay off all liabilities within a reasonable time.
(3)(a) If, within ninety days after receipt of the order provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section, the amount specified in the order is not paid or the holder of the direct retail
endorsement has not entered into an agreement with the
department to pay off all liabilities, the prosecuting attorney
for any county in which the persons to whom the order is
directed do business, or the attorney general upon request of
(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
the department, may bring an action on behalf of the state in
the superior court for Thurston county, or any county in
which the persons to whom the order is directed do business,
to seek suspension of the individual’s direct retail endorsement for up to five years.
(b) The department may temporarily suspend the privileges provided by the direct retail endorsement for up to one
hundred twenty days following the receipt of the order provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section, unless the holder of
the direct retail endorsement has deposited with the department an acceptable performance bond on forms prescribed
and provided by the department. This performance bond
must be a corporate surety bond executed in favor of the
department by a corporation authorized to do business in the
state of Washington under chapter 48.28 RCW and approved
by the department. The bond must be filed and maintained in
an amount equal to one thousand dollars.
(4) For violations of state board of health and local rules
under subsection (1)(b) of this section only, any person
inspecting the facilities of a direct retail endorsement holder
under RCW 77.65.515 may suspend the privileges granted by
the endorsement for up to seven days. Within twenty-four
hours of the discovery of the violation, the inspecting entity
must notify the department of the violation. Upon notification, the department may proceed with the procedures outlined in this section for suspension of the endorsement. If the
violation of a state board of health rule is discovered by a
local health department, that local jurisdiction may fine the
holder of the direct retail endorsement according to the local
jurisdiction’s rules as they apply to retail food operations.
(5) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section do not apply to
a holder of a direct retail endorsement that executes a surety
bond and abides by the conditions established in RCW
77.65.320 and 77.65.330 as they apply to wholesale dealers.
[2003 c 387 § 4; 2002 c 301 § 4.]
Finding—Effective date—2002 c 301: See notes following RCW
77.65.510.
77.65.900
77.65.900 Effective date—1989 c 316. This act shall
take effect on January 1, 1990. The *director of fisheries may
immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that
this act is implemented on its effective date. [1989 c 316 §
22. Formerly RCW 75.28.900.]
*Reviser’s note: Powers, duties, and functions of the department of
fisheries and the department of wildlife were transferred to the department of
fish and wildlife by 1993 sp.s. c 2, effective July 1, 1994.
77.70.100
77.70.110
77.70.120
77.70.130
77.70.140
77.70.150
77.70.160
77.70.170
77.70.180
77.70.190
77.70.200
77.70.210
77.70.220
77.70.230
77.70.240
77.70.250
77.70.260
77.70.280
77.70.290
77.70.300
77.70.310
77.70.320
77.70.330
77.70.340
77.70.350
77.70.360
77.70.370
77.70.390
77.70.400
77.70.410
77.70.420
77.70.430
Chapter 77.70
Chapter 77.70 RCW
LICENSE LIMITATION PROGRAMS
Sections
77.70.010
77.70.020
77.70.040
77.70.050
77.70.060
77.70.070
77.70.080
77.70.090
(2006 Ed.)
License renewed subject to RCW 77.65.080.
No harvest opportunity during year—License requirements
waived—Effect on license limitation programs.
Administrative review of department’s decision—Hearing—
Procedures.
Salmon charter boats—Limitation on issuance of licenses—
Renewal—Transfer.
Salmon charter boats—Angler permit, when required.
Salmon charter boats—Angler permit—Number of anglers.
Salmon charter boats—Angler permit—Total number of
anglers limited—Permit transfer.
Commercial salmon fishing licenses and delivery licenses—
Limitations—Transfer.
77.70.440
77.70.442
77.70.450
77.70.460
77.70.470
77.70.010
Commercial salmon fishery license or salmon delivery
license—Reversion to department following government
confiscation of vessel.
Dungeness crab-Puget Sound fishery license—Limitations—
Qualifications.
Herring fishery license—Limitations on issuance.
Whiting-Puget Sound fishery license—Limitation on issuance.
Whiting-Puget Sound fishery license—Transferable to family
members.
Sea urchin dive fishery license—Limitation on issuance—Surcharge—Sea urchin dive fishery account—Transfer of
license—Issuance of new licenses.
Emerging commercial fishery designation—Experimental
fishery permits.
Emerging commercial fishery designation—Legislative
review.
Emerging commercial fishery—License status—Recommendations to legislature—Information included in report.
Sea cucumber dive fishery license—Limitation on issuance—
Surcharge—Sea cucumber dive fishery account—Transfer
of license—Issuance of new licenses.
Herring spawn on kelp fishery licenses—Number limited.
Herring spawn on kelp fishery license—Auction.
Geoduck fishery license—Conditions and limitations—OSHA
regulations—Violations.
Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—Requirements and criteria—Continuous participation.
Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—Requirements and criteria—Historical participation.
Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—License transfer—
License suspension.
Ocean pink shrimp—Single delivery license.
Crab fishery—License required—Dungeness crab-coastal
fishery license—Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
license—Coastal crab and replacement vessel defined—Federal fleet reduction program.
Crab taken in offshore waters—Criteria for landing in Washington state—Limitations.
Crab taken in offshore waters—Dungeness crab offshore
delivery license—Fee.
Transfer of Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses—Fee.
Coastal crab account—Created—Revenues—Expenditures.
Coastal crab account expenditures—Management of coastal
crab resource.
Criteria for nonresident Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
license for Oregon residents—Section effective contingent
upon reciprocal statutory authority in Oregon.
Restrictions on vessel designations and substitutions on
Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses.
Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses—Limitation on new
licenses—Requirements for renewal.
Limitation on taking crab in the exclusive economic zone of
Oregon or California—Section effective contingent upon
reciprocal legislation by both Oregon and California.
Reduction of landing requirements under RCW 77.70.280—
Procedure.
Coastal Dungeness crab resource plan.
Shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery—Limited entry fishery—
License analogous to personal property—Transferability—
Alternate operator designation.
Shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery—Limited entry fishery—
License analogous to personal property—Transferability—
Alternate operator.
Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program—Fee—Coastal crab
pot buoy tag program—Fee—Review.
Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account.
Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag account.
Commercial fisheries buyback account.
Collection of fee—Fee schedule—Deposit of moneys.
Ban on assessing fee under RCW 77.70.460.
77.70.010
77.70 .010 License renewed subject to RCW
77.65.080. (1) A license renewed under the provisions of this
chapter that has been suspended under RCW 77.65.080 shall
be subject to the following provisions:
(a) A license renewal fee shall be paid as a condition of
maintaining a current license; and
(b) The department shall waive any other license requirements, unless the department determines that the license
[Title 77 RCW—page 91]
77.70.020
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
holder has had sufficient opportunity to meet these requirements.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall
apply only to a license that has been suspended under RCW
77.65.080 for a period of twelve months or less. A license
holder shall forfeit a license subject to this chapter and may
not recover any license renewal fees previously paid if the
license holder does not meet the requirements of RCW
74.20A.320(9) within twelve months of license suspension.
[2001 c 253 § 57; 1997 c 58 § 884. Formerly RCW
75.30.015.]
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—
Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal
requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through
74.08A.904.
Effective dates—Intent—1997 c 58: See notes following RCW
74.20A.320.
77.70.020
77.70.020 No harvest opportunity during year—
License requirements waived—Effect on license limitation programs. (1) The director shall waive license requirements, including landing or poundage requirements, if, during the calendar year that a license issued pursuant to chapter
77.65 RCW is valid, no harvest opportunity occurs in the
fishery corresponding to the license.
(2) For each license limitation program, where the person failed to hold the license and failed to make landing or
poundage requirements because of a license waiver by the
director during the previous year, the person shall qualify for
a license by establishing that the person held the license during the last year in which the license was not waived. [2000
c 107 § 56; 1995 c 227 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.30.021.]
77.70.040
77.70.040 Administrative review of department’s
decision—Hearing—Procedures. A person aggrieved by a
decision of the department under this chapter may request
administrative review under the informal procedure established by this section.
In an informal hearing before a review board, the rules of
evidence do not apply. A record of the proceeding shall be
kept as provided by chapter 34.05 RCW. After hearing the
case the review board shall notify in writing the director and
the initiating party whether the review board agrees or disagrees with the department’s decision and the reasons for the
review board’s findings. Upon receipt of the review board’s
findings the director may order such relief as the director
deems appropriate under the circumstances.
Nothing in this section: (1) Impairs an aggrieved person’s right to proceed under chapter 34.05 RCW; or (2)
imposes a liability on members of a review board for their
actions under this section. [2000 c 107 § 58; 1995 1st sp.s. c
2 § 32 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7,
1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 139; 1977 ex.s. c 106 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.30.060.]
77.70.050
77.70.050 Salmon charter boats—Limitation on issuance of licenses—Renewal—Transfer. (1) After May 28,
1977, the director shall issue no new salmon charter licenses.
A person may renew an existing salmon charter license only
if the person held the license sought to be renewed during the
previous year or acquired the license by transfer from someone who held it during the previous year, and if the person
has not subsequently transferred the license to another person.
(2) Salmon charter licenses may be renewed each year. A
salmon charter license which is not renewed each year shall
not be renewed further.
(3) Subject to the restrictions in RCW 77.65.020, salmon
charter licenses are transferrable from one license holder to
another. [2000 c 107 § 59; 1993 c 340 § 28; 1983 1st ex.s. c
46 § 141; 1981 c 202 § 1; 1979 c 101 § 7; 1977 ex.s. c 106 §
2. Formerly RCW 75.30.065, 75.30.020.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Effective date—Intent—1979 c 101: See notes following RCW
77.70.060.
Legislative findings—1977 ex.s. c 106: "The legislature finds that the
wise management and economic health of the state’s salmon fishery are of
continued importance to the people of the state and to the economy of the
state as a whole. The legislature finds that charter boats licensed by the state
for use by the state’s charter boat fishing industry have increased in quantity.
The legislature finds that limitations on the number of licensed charter boats
will tend to improve the management of the charter boat fishery and the economic health of the charter boat industry. The state therefore must use its
authority to regulate the number of licensed boats in use by the state’s charter
boat industry in a manner provided in this chapter so that management and
economic health of the salmon fishery may be improved." [1977 ex.s. c 106
§ 1. Formerly RCW 75.30.010.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 106: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 106 § 10.]
77.70.060
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.70.060 Salmon charter boats—Angler permit,
when required. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of
this section, a person shall not operate a vessel as a charter
boat from which salmon are taken in salt water without an
angler permit. The angler permit shall specify the maximum
number of persons that may fish from the charter boat per
trip. The angler permit expires if the salmon charter license is
not renewed.
(2) Only a person who holds a salmon charter license
issued under RCW 77.65.150 and 77.70.050 may hold an
angler permit.
(3) An angler permit shall not be required for charter
boats licensed in Oregon and fishing in ocean waters within
the jurisdiction of Washington state from the southern border
of the state of Washington to Leadbetter Point under the same
regulations as Washington charter boat operators, as long as
the Oregon vessel does not land at any Washington port with
the purpose of taking on or discharging passengers. The provisions of this subsection shall be in effect as long as the state
of Oregon has reciprocal laws and regulations. [2000 c 107 §
60; 1998 c 190 § 100; 1993 c 340 § 29; 1989 c 147 § 2; 1983
1st ex.s. c 46 § 142; 1979 c 101 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.30.070.]
Legislative findings—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 106: See notes following RCW 77.70.050.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
[Title 77 RCW—page 92]
(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
Effective date—1979 c 101: "This act shall take effect on January 1,
1980." [1979 c 101 § 10.]
Intent—1979 c 101: "The legislature finds that wise management of
the state’s salmon fishery is essential to the well-being of the state. The legislature recognizes that further restrictions on salmon fishing in the charter
salmon industry are necessary and that a limitation on the number of persons
fishing is preferable to reductions in the fishing season or daily bag limits, or
increases in size limits." [1979 c 101 § 1.]
77.70.110
are transferable from one license holder to another. [2000 c
107 § 63; 1995 c 135 § 7. Prior: 1993 c 340 § 32; 1993 c 100
§ 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 146; 1979 c 135 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c
230 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 106 § 7; 1974 ex.s. c 184 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.30.120, 75.28.455.]
Intent—1995 c 135: See note following RCW 29A.08.760.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.070
77.70.070 Salmon charter boats—Angler permit—
Number of anglers. A salmon charter boat may not carry
more anglers than the number specified in the angler permit
issued under RCW 77.70.060. Members of the crew may fish
from the boat only to the extent that the number of anglers
specified in the angler permit exceeds the number of noncrew
passengers on the boat at that time. [2000 c 107 § 61; 1993 c
340 § 30; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 143; 1979 c 101 § 4. Formerly
RCW 75.30.090.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Effective date—Intent—1979 c 101: See notes following RCW
77.70.060.
77.70.080
77.70.080 Salmon charter boats—Angler permit—
Total number of anglers limited—Permit transfer. (1)
The total number of anglers authorized by the director shall
not exceed the total number authorized for 1980.
(2) Angler permits issued under RCW 77.70.060 are
transferable. All or a portion of the permit may be transferred
to another salmon charter license holder.
(3) The angler permit holder and proposed transferee
shall notify the department when transferring an angler permit, and the director shall issue a new angler permit certificate. If the original permit holder retains a portion of the permit, the director shall issue a new angler permit certificate
reflecting the decrease in angler capacity.
(4) The department shall collect a fee of ten dollars for
each certificate issued under subsection (3) of this section.
[2000 c 107 § 62; 1993 c 340 § 31; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 144;
1979 c 101 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.30.100.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Effective date—Intent—1979 c 101: See notes following RCW
77.70.060.
Legislative findings—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 106: See notes following RCW 77.70.050.
Legislative intent—1974 ex.s. c 184: "The legislature finds that the
protection, welfare, and economic good of the commercial salmon fishing
industry is of paramount importance to the people of this state. Scientific
advancement has increased the efficiency of salmon fishing gear. There presently exists an overabundance of commercial salmon fishing gear in our state
waters which causes great pressure on the salmon fishery resource. This situation results in great economic waste to the state and prohibits conservation
programs from achieving their goals. The public welfare requires that the
number of commercial salmon fishing licenses and salmon delivery permits
issued by the state be limited to insure that sound conservation programs can
be scientifically carried out. It is the intention of the legislature to preserve
this valuable natural resource so that our food supplies from such resource
can continue to meet the ever increasing demands placed on it by the people
of this state." [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 136; 1974 ex.s. c 184 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.28.450.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 184: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 184 § 11.]
77.70.100
77.70.100 Commercial salmon fishery license or
salmon delivery license—Reversion to department following government confiscation of vessel. Any commercial salmon fishery license issued under RCW 77.65.160 or
salmon delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.170 shall
revert to the department when any government confiscates
and sells the vessel designated on the license. Upon application of the person named on the license as license holder and
the approval of the director, the department shall transfer the
license to the applicant. Application for transfer of the license
must be made within the calendar year for which the license
was issued. [2000 c 107 § 64; 1993 c 340 § 33; 1986 c 198 §
2. Formerly RCW 75.30.125.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.110
77.70.090
77.70.090 Commercial salmon fishing licenses and
delivery licenses—Limitations—Transfer. (1) Except as
provided in subsection (2) of this section, after May 6, 1974,
the director shall issue no new commercial salmon fishery
licenses or salmon delivery licenses. A person may renew an
existing license only if the person held the license sought to
be renewed during the previous year or acquired the license
by transfer from someone who held it during the previous
year, and if the person has not subsequently transferred the
license to another person.
(2) Where the person failed to obtain the license during
the previous year because of a license suspension, the person
may qualify for a license by establishing that the person held
such a license during the last year in which the license was
not suspended.
(3) Subject to the restrictions in RCW 77.65.020, commercial salmon fishery licenses and salmon delivery licenses
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.110 Dungeness crab-Puget Sound fishery
license—Limitations—Qualifications. (1) A person shall
not commercially take Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) in
Puget Sound without first obtaining a Dungeness crab—
Puget Sound fishery license. As used in this section, "Puget
Sound" has the meaning given in RCW 77.65.160(5)(a). A
Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery license is not required
to take other species of crab, including red rock crab (Cancer
productus).
(2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (6) of this
section, after January 1, 1982, the director shall issue no new
Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery licenses. Only a person who meets the following qualification may renew an
existing license: The person shall have held the Dungeness
crab—Puget Sound fishery license sought to be renewed during the previous year or acquired the license by transfer from
someone who held it during the previous year, and shall not
have subsequently transferred the license to another person.
[Title 77 RCW—page 93]
77.70.120
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(3) Where the person failed to obtain the license during
the previous year because of a license suspension, the person
may qualify for a license by establishing that the person held
such a license during the last year in which the license was
not suspended.
(4) This section does not restrict the issuance of commercial crab licenses for areas other than Puget Sound or for species other than Dungeness crab.
(5) Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery licenses are
transferable from one license holder to another.
(6) If fewer than one hundred twenty-five persons are
eligible for Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery licenses,
the director may accept applications for new licenses. The
director shall determine by random selection the successful
applicants for the additional licenses. The number of additional licenses issued shall be sufficient to maintain one hundred twenty-five licenses in the Puget Sound Dungeness crab
fishery. The director shall adopt rules governing the application, selection, and issuance procedures for new Dungeness
crab—Puget Sound fishery licenses. [2000 c 107 § 65; 1999
c 151 § 1602; 1998 c 190 § 101. Prior: 1997 c 233 § 1; 1997
c 115 § 1; 1993 c 340 § 34; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 147; 1982 c
157 § 1; 1980 c 133 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.30.130,
75.28.275.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Severability—1980 c 133: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1980 c 133 § 8.]
Legislative findings—1980 c 133: "The legislature finds that a significant commercial crab fishery is developing within Puget Sound. The legislature further finds that the crab fishery in Puget Sound represents a separate
and distinct fishery from that of the coastal waters and is limited in quantity
and is in need of conservation. The potential for depletion of the crab stocks
in these waters is increasing, particularly as crab fishing becomes an attractive alternative to fishermen facing increasing restrictions on commercial
salmon fishing.
The legislature finds that the number of commercial fishermen engaged
in crab fishing has steadily increased. This factor, combined with advances
in fishing and marketing techniques, has resulted in strong pressures on the
supply of crab, unnecessary waste of an important natural resource, and economic loss to the citizens of the state.
The legislature finds that increased regulation of commercial crab fishing is necessary to preserve and efficiently manage the commercial crab fishery in the waters of Puget Sound." [1980 c 133 § 1.]
77.70.120
77.70.120 Herring fishery license—Limitations on
issuance. (1) A person shall not fish commercially for herring in state waters without a herring fishery license. As used
in this section, "herring fishery license" means any of the following commercial fishery licenses issued under RCW
77.65.200: Herring dip bag net; herring drag seine; herring
gill net; herring lampara; herring purse seine.
(2) Except as provided in this section, a herring fishery
license may be issued only to a person who held the license
sought to be renewed during the previous year or acquired the
license by transfer from someone who held it during the previous year, and if the person has not subsequently transferred
the license to another person.
[Title 77 RCW—page 94]
(3) Herring fishery licenses may be renewed each year.
A herring fishery license that is not renewed each year shall
not be renewed further.
(4) The director may issue additional herring fishery
licenses if the stocks of herring will not be jeopardized by
granting additional licenses.
(5) Subject to the restrictions of RCW 77.65.020, herring
fishery licenses are transferable from one license holder to
another. [2000 c 107 § 66; 1998 c 190 § 102; 1993 c 340 §
35; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 148; 1974 ex.s. c 104 § 1; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 173 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.30.140, 75.28.420.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Legislative findings—Purpose—1973 1st ex.s. c 173: "The legislature
finds that a significant commercial herring fishing industry is presently
developing in the state of Washington under the careful guidance of the
department of fisheries. The legislature further finds that the stocks of herring within the waters of this state are limited in extent and are in need of
strict preservation.
In addition, the legislature finds that the number of commercial fishermen engaged in fishing for herring has steadily increased. This factor, combined with advances made in fishing and marketing techniques, has resulted
in strong pressures on the supply of herring, unnecessary waste in one of
Washington’s valuable resources, and economic loss to the citizens of this
state. Therefore, it is the purpose of RCW 75.30.140 to establish reasonable
procedures for controlling the extent of commercial herring fishing." [1983
1st ex.s. c 46 § 135; 1973 1st ex.s. c 173 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.28.390 and
75.28.400.]
77.70.130
77.70.130 Whiting-Puget Sound fishery license—
Limitation on issuance. (1) A person shall not commercially take whiting from areas that the department designates
within the waters described in RCW 77.65.160(5)(a) without
a whiting-Puget Sound fishery license.
(2) A whiting-Puget Sound fishery license may be issued
only to an individual who:
(a) Delivered at least fifty thousand pounds of whiting
during the period from January 1, 1981, through February 22,
1985, as verified by fish delivery tickets;
(b) Possessed, on January 1, 1986, all equipment necessary to fish for whiting; and
(c) Held a whiting-Puget Sound fishery license during
the previous year or acquired such a license by transfer from
someone who held it during the previous year.
(3) After January 1, 1995, the director shall issue no new
whiting-Puget Sound fishery licenses. After January 1, 1995,
only an individual who meets the following qualifications
may renew an existing license: The individual shall have
held the license sought to be renewed during the previous
year or acquired the license by transfer from someone who
held it during the previous year, and shall not have subsequently transferred the license to another person.
(4) Whiting-Puget Sound fishery licenses may be
renewed each year. A whiting-Puget Sound fishery license
that is not renewed each year shall not be renewed further.
[2000 c 107 § 67; 1993 c 340 § 39; 1986 c 198 § 5. Formerly
RCW 75.30.170.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.140
77.70.140 Whiting-Puget Sound fishery license—
Transferable to family members. A whiting-Puget Sound
fishery license may be transferred through gift, devise,
(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
bequest, or descent to members of the license holder’s immediate family which shall be limited to spouse, children, or
stepchildren. The holder of a whiting-Puget Sound fishery
license shall be present on any vessel taking whiting under
the license. In no instance may temporary permits be issued.
The director may adopt rules necessary to implement
RCW 77.70.130 and 77.70.140. [2000 c 107 § 68; 1993 c
340 § 40; 1986 c 198 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.30.180.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.150
77.70.150 Sea urchin dive fishery license—Limitation on issuance—Surcharge—Sea urchin dive fishery
account—Transfer of license—Issuance of new licenses.
(1) A sea urchin dive fishery license is required to take sea
urchins for commercial purposes. A sea urchin dive fishery
license authorizes the use of only one diver in the water at any
time during sea urchin harvest operations. If the same vessel
has been designated on two sea urchin dive fishery licenses,
two divers may be in the water. A natural person may not
hold more than two sea urchin dive fishery licenses.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section,
the director shall issue no new sea urchin dive fishery
licenses. For licenses issued for the year 2000 and thereafter,
the director shall renew existing licenses only to a natural
person who held the license at the end of the previous year. If
a sea urchin dive fishery license is not held by a natural person as of December 31, 1999, it is not renewable. However,
if the license is not held because of revocation or suspension
of licensing privileges, the director shall renew the license in
the name of a natural person at the end of the revocation or
suspension if the license holder applies for renewal of the
license before the end of the year in which the revocation or
suspension ends.
(3) Where a licensee failed to obtain the license during
the previous year because of a license suspension or revocation by the director or the court, the licensee may qualify for
a license by establishing that the person held such a license
during the last year in which the person was eligible.
(4) Surcharges as provided for in this section shall be
collected and deposited into the sea urchin dive fishery
account hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer.
Only the director or the director’s designee may authorize
expenditures from the account. The sea urchin dive fishery
account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures. Expenditures from the account shall only be used to
retire sea urchin licenses until the number of licenses is
reduced to twenty-five, and thereafter shall only be used for
sea urchin management and enforcement.
(a) A surcharge of one hundred dollars shall be charged
with each sea urchin dive fishery license renewal for licenses
issued in 2000 through 2010.
(b) For licenses issued for the year 2000 and thereafter, a
surcharge shall be charged on the sea urchin dive fishery
license for designating an alternate operator. The surcharge
shall be as follows: Five hundred dollars for the first year or
each of the first two consecutive years after 1999 that any
alternate operator is designated and two thousand five hundred dollars each year thereafter that any alternate operator is
designated.
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.160
(5) Sea urchin dive fishery licenses are transferable.
After December 31, 1999, there is a surcharge to transfer a
sea urchin dive fishery license. The surcharge is five hundred
dollars for the first transfer of a license valid for calendar year
2000, and two thousand five hundred dollars for any subsequent transfer, whether occurring in the year 2000 or thereafter. Notwithstanding this subsection, a one-time transfer
exempt from surcharge applies for a transfer from the natural
person licensed on January 1, 2000, to that person’s spouse or
child.
(6) If fewer than twenty-five natural persons are eligible
for sea urchin dive fishery licenses, the director may accept
applications for new licenses. The additional licenses may
not cause more than twenty-five natural persons to be eligible
for a sea urchin dive fishery license. New licenses issued
under this section shall be distributed according to rules of
the department that recover the value of such licensed privilege. [2005 c 110 § 1; 2001 c 253 § 58; 1999 c 126 § 1; 1998
c 190 § 104; 1993 c 340 § 41; 1990 c 62 § 2; 1989 c 37 § 2.
Formerly RCW 75.30.210.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Legislative finding—1990 c 62; 1989 c 37: "The legislature finds that
a significant commercial sea urchin fishery is developing within state waters.
The potential for depletion of the sea urchin stocks in these waters is increasing, particularly as the sea urchin fishery becomes an attractive alternative to
fishermen facing increasing restrictions on other types of commercial fishery
activities.
The legislature finds that the number of vessels engaged in commercial
sea urchin fishing has steadily increased. This factor, combined with
advances in marketing techniques, has resulted in strong pressures on the
supply of sea urchins. The legislature desires to maintain the livelihood of
those vessel owners who have historically and continuously participated in
the sea urchin fishery. The legislature desires that the director have the
authority to consider extenuating circumstances concerning failure to meet
landing requirements for both initial endorsement issuance and endorsement
renewal.
The legislature finds that increased regulation of commercial sea
urchin fishing is necessary to preserve and efficiently manage the commercial sea urchin fishery in the waters of the state. The legislature is aware that
the continuing license provisions of the administrative procedure act, RCW
34.05.422(3) provide procedural safeguards, but finds that the pressure on
the sea urchin resource endangers both the resource and the economic wellbeing of the sea urchin fishery, and desires, therefore, to exempt sea urchin
endorsements from the continuing license provision." [1990 c 62 § 1; 1989
c 37 § 1.]
77.70.160
77.70.160 Emerging commercial fishery designation—Experimental fishery permits. (1) The director may
issue experimental fishery permits for commercial harvest in
an emerging commercial fishery for which the director has
determined there is a need to limit the number of participants.
The director shall determine by rule the number and qualifications of participants for such experimental fishery permits.
Only a person who holds an emerging commercial fishery
license issued under RCW 77.65.400 and who meets the
qualifications established in those rules may hold an experimental fishery permit. The director shall limit the number of
these permits to prevent habitat damage, ensure conservation
of the resource, and prevent overharvesting. In developing
rules for limiting participation in an emerging or expanding
commercial fishery, the director shall appoint a five-person
advisory board representative of the affected fishery industry.
The advisory board shall review and make recommendations
to the director on rules relating to the number and qualifica[Title 77 RCW—page 95]
77.70.170
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
tions of the participants for such experimental fishery permits.
(2) RCW 34.05.422(3) does not apply to applications for
new experimental fishery permits.
(3) Experimental fishery permits are not transferable
from the permit holder to any other person. [2000 c 107 § 69;
1993 c 340 § 42; 1990 c 63 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.30.220.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Legislative finding—1990 c 63: "The legislature finds that:
(1) A number of commercial fisheries have emerged or expanded in the
past decade;
(2) Scientific information is critical to the proper management of an
emerging or expanding commercial fishery; and
(3) The scientific information necessary to manage an emerging or
expanding commercial fishery can best be obtained through the use of limited experimental fishery permits allowing harvest levels that will preserve
and protect the state’s food fish and shellfish resource." [1990 c 63 § 1.]
77.70.170
77.70.170 Emerging commercial fishery designation—Legislative review. Whenever the director promulgates a rule designating an emerging commercial fishery, the
legislative standing committees of the house of representatives and senate dealing with fisheries issues shall be notified
of the rule and its justification thirty days prior to the effective date of the rule. [1990 c 63 § 3. Formerly RCW
75.30.230.]
77.70.180
77.70.180 Emerging commercial fishery—License
status—Recommendations to legislature—Information
included in report. (1) Within five years after adopting
rules to govern the number and qualifications of participants
in an emerging commercial fishery, the director shall provide
to the appropriate senate and house of representatives committees a report which outlines the status of the fishery and a
recommendation as to whether a separate commercial fishery
license, license fee, or limited harvest program should be
established for that fishery.
(2) For any emerging commercial fishery designated
under RCW 77.50.030, the report must also include:
(a) Information on the extent of the program, including
to what degree mass marking and supplementation programs
have been utilized in areas where emerging commercial fisheries using selective fishing gear have been authorized;
(b) Information on the benefit provided to commercial
fishers including information on the effectiveness of emerging commercial fisheries using selective fishing gear in providing expanded fishing opportunity within mixed stocks of
salmon;
(c) Information on the effectiveness of selective fishing
gear in minimizing postrelease mortality for nontarget stocks,
harvesting fish so that they are not damaged by the gear, and
aiding the creation of niche markets; and
(d) Information on the department’s efforts at operating
hatcheries in an experimental fashion by managing wild and
hatchery origin fish as a single run as an alternative to mass
marking and the utilization of selective fishing gear. The
department shall consult with commercial fishers, recreational fishers, federally recognized treaty tribes with a fishing right, regional fisheries enhancement groups, and other
affected parties to obtain their input in preparing the report
[Title 77 RCW—page 96]
under this subsection (2). [2001 c 163 § 3; 1993 c 340 § 43;
1990 c 63 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.30.240.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.190
77.70.190 Sea cucumber dive fishery license—Limitation on issuance—Surcharge—Sea cucumber dive fishery account—Transfer of license—Issuance of new
licenses. (1) A sea cucumber dive fishery license is required
to take sea cucumbers for commercial purposes. A sea
cucumber dive fishery license authorizes the use of only one
diver in the water at any time during sea cucumber harvest
operations. If the same vessel has been designated on two sea
cucumber dive fishery licenses, two divers may be in the
water. A natural person may not hold more than two sea
cucumber dive fishery licenses.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section,
the director shall issue no new sea cucumber dive fishery
licenses. For licenses issued for the year 2000 and thereafter,
the director shall renew existing licenses only to a natural
person who held the license at the end of the previous year. If
a sea cucumber dive fishery license is not held by a natural
person as of December 31, 1999, it is not renewable. However, if the license is not held because of revocation or suspension of licensing privileges, the director shall renew the
license in the name of a natural person at the end of the revocation or suspension if the license holder applies for renewal
of the license before the end of the year in which the revocation or suspension ends.
(3) Where a licensee failed to obtain the license during
either of the previous two years because of a license suspension by the director or the court, the licensee may qualify for
a license by establishing that the person held such a license
during the last year in which the person was eligible.
(4) Surcharges as provided for in this section shall be
collected and deposited into the sea cucumber dive fishery
account hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer.
Only the director or the director’s designee may authorize
expenditures from the account. The sea cucumber dive fishery account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures. Expenditures from the account shall only be used to
retire sea cucumber licenses until the number of licenses is
reduced to twenty-five, and thereafter shall only be used for
sea cucumber management and enforcement.
(a) A surcharge of one hundred dollars shall be charged
with each sea cucumber dive fishery license renewal for
licenses issued in 2000 through 2010.
(b) For licenses issued for the year 2000 and thereafter, a
surcharge shall be charged on the sea cucumber dive fishery
license for designating an alternate operator. The surcharge
shall be as follows: Five hundred dollars for the first year or
each of the first two consecutive years after 1999 that any
alternate operator is designated and two thousand five hundred dollars each year thereafter that any alternate operator is
designated.
(5) Sea cucumber dive fishery licenses are transferable.
After December 31, 1999, there is a surcharge to transfer a
sea cucumber dive fishery license. The surcharge is five hundred dollars for the first transfer of a license valid for calendar year 2000 and two thousand five hundred dollars for any
(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
subsequent transfer whether occurring in the year 2000 or
thereafter. Notwithstanding this subsection, a one-time transfer exempt from surcharge applies for a transfer from the natural person licensed on January 1, 2000, to that person’s
spouse or child.
(6) If fewer than twenty-five persons are eligible for sea
cucumber dive fishery licenses, the director may accept
applications for new licenses. The additional licenses may
not cause more than twenty-five natural persons to be eligible
for a sea cucumber dive fishery license. New licenses issued
under this section shall be distributed according to rules of
the department that recover the value of such licensed privilege. [2005 c 110 § 2; 2001 c 253 § 59; 1999 c 126 § 2; 1998
c 190 § 105; 1993 c 340 § 44; 1990 c 61 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.30.250.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Legislative findings—1990 c 61: "The legislature finds that a significant commercial sea cucumber fishery is developing within state waters.
The potential for depletion of the sea cucumber stocks in these waters is
increasing, particularly as the sea cucumber fishery becomes an attractive
alternative to commercial fishers who face increasing restrictions on other
types of commercial fishery activities.
The legislature finds that the number of commercial fishers engaged in
commercially harvesting sea cucumbers has rapidly increased. This factor,
combined with increases in market demand, has resulted in strong pressures
on the supply of sea cucumbers.
The legislature finds that increased regulation of commercial sea
cucumber fishing is necessary to preserve and efficiently manage the commercial sea cucumber fishery in the waters of the state.
The legislature finds that it is desirable in the long term to reduce the
number of vessels participating in the commercial sea cucumber fishery to
fifty vessels to preserve the sea cucumber resource, efficiently manage the
commercial sea cucumber fishery in the waters of the state, and reduce conflict with upland owners.
The legislature finds that it is important to preserve the livelihood of
those who have historically participated in the commercial sea cucumber
fishery that began about 1970 and that the 1988 and 1989 seasons should be
used to document historical participation." [1990 c 61 § 1.]
77.70.200
77.70.200 Herring spawn on kelp fishery licenses—
Number limited. The legislature finds that the wise management of Washington state’s herring resource is of paramount
importance to the people of the state. The legislature finds
that herring are an important part of the food chain for a number of the state’s living marine resources. The legislature
finds that both open and closed pond "spawn on kelp" harvesting techniques allow for an economic return to the state
while at the same time providing for the proper management
of the herring resource. The legislature finds that limitations
on the number of herring harvesters tends to improve the
management and economic health of the herring industry.
The maximum number of herring spawn on kelp fishery
licenses shall not exceed five annually. The state therefore
must use its authority to regulate the number of herring
spawn on kelp fishery licenses so that the management and
economic health of the herring fishery may be improved.
[1993 c 340 § 36; 1989 c 176 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.30.260,
75.28.235.]
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.210
77.70.210 Herring spawn on kelp fishery license—
Auction. (1) A herring spawn on kelp fishery license is
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.220
required to commercially take herring eggs which have been
deposited on vegetation of any type.
(2) A herring spawn on kelp fishery license may be
issued only to a person who:
(a) Holds a herring fishery license issued under RCW
77.65.200 and 77.70.120; and
(b) Is the highest bidder in an auction conducted under
subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The department shall sell herring spawn on kelp commercial fishery licenses at auction to the highest bidder. Bidders shall identify their sources of kelp. Kelp harvested from
state-owned aquatic lands as defined in *RCW 79.90.465
requires the written consent of the department of natural
resources. The department shall give all holders of herring
fishery licenses thirty days’ notice of the auction. [2000 c
107 § 70; 1993 c 340 § 37; 1989 c 176 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.30.270, 75.28.245.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.465 was repealed by 2005 c 155 § 1013.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.220
77.70.220 Geoduck fishery license—Conditions and
limitations—OSHA regulations—Violations. (1) A person
shall not harvest geoduck clams commercially without a geoduck fishery license. This section does not apply to the harvest of private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in
RCW 15.85.020.
(2) Only a person who has entered into a geoduck harvesting agreement with the department of natural resources
under *RCW 79.96.080 may hold a geoduck fishery license.
(3) A geoduck fishery license authorizes no taking of
geoducks outside the boundaries of the public lands designated in the underlying harvesting agreement, or beyond the
harvest ceiling set in the underlying harvesting agreement.
(4) A geoduck fishery license expires when the underlying geoduck harvesting agreement terminates.
(5) The director shall determine the number of geoduck
fishery licenses that may be issued for each geoduck harvesting agreement, the number of units of gear whose use the
license authorizes, and the type of gear that may be used, subject to RCW 77.60.070. In making those determinations, the
director shall seek to conserve the geoduck resource and prevent damage to its habitat.
(6) The holder of a geoduck fishery license and the
holder’s agents and representatives shall comply with all
applicable commercial diving safety regulations adopted by
the federal occupational safety and health administration
established under the federal occupational safety and health
act of 1970 as such law exists on May 8, 1979, 84 Stat. 1590
et seq.; 29 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq. A violation of those regulations is a violation of this subsection. For the purposes of
this section, persons who dive for geoducks are "employees"
as defined by the federal occupational safety and health act.
A violation of this subsection is grounds for suspension or
revocation of a geoduck fishery license following a hearing
under the procedures of chapter 34.05 RCW. The director
shall not suspend or revoke a geoduck fishery license if the
violation has been corrected within ten days of the date the
license holder receives written notice of the violation. If there
is a substantial probability that a violation of the commercial
diving standards could result in death or serious physical
[Title 77 RCW—page 97]
77.70.230
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
harm to a person engaged in harvesting geoduck clams, the
director shall suspend the license immediately until the violation has been corrected. If the license holder is not the operator of the harvest vessel and has contracted with another person for the harvesting of geoducks, the director shall not suspend or revoke the license if the license holder terminates its
business relationship with that person until compliance with
this subsection is secured. [2000 c 107 § 71; 1998 c 190 §
106; 1993 c 340 § 46. Formerly RCW 75.30.280.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.96.080 was recodified as RCW 79.135.210
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1010.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
77.70.230
77.70.230 Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—
Requirements and criteria—Continuous participation. A
person shall not commercially deliver into any Washington
state port ocean pink shrimp caught in offshore waters without an ocean pink shrimp delivery license issued under RCW
77.65.390, or an ocean pink shrimp single delivery license
issued under RCW 77.70.260. An ocean pink shrimp delivery
license shall be issued to a vessel that:
(1) Landed a total of at least five thousand pounds of
ocean pink shrimp in Washington in any single calendar year
between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1992, as documented by a valid shellfish receiving ticket; and
(2) Can show continuous participation in the Washington, Oregon, or California ocean pink shrimp fishery by
being eligible to land ocean pink shrimp in either Washington, Oregon, or California each year since the landing made
under subsection (1) of this section. Evidence of such eligibility shall be a certified statement from the relevant state
licensing agency that the applicant for a Washington ocean
pink shrimp delivery license held at least one of the following
permits:
(a) For Washington: Possession of a delivery permit or
delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.210;
(b) For Oregon: Possession of a vessel permit issued
under Oregon Revised Statute 508.880; or
(c) For California: A trawl permit issued under California Fish and Game Code sec. 8842. [2000 c 107 § 72; 1998 c
190 § 107; 1993 c 376 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.30.290.]
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
77.70.240
77.70.240 Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—
Requirements and criteria—Historical participation. An
applicant who can show historical participation under RCW
77.70.230(1) but does not satisfy the continuous participation
requirement of RCW 77.70.230(2) shall be issued an ocean
pink shrimp delivery license if:
(1) The owner can prove that the owner was in the process on December 31, 1992, of constructing a vessel for the
purpose of ocean pink shrimp harvest. For purposes of this
section, "construction" means having the keel laid, and "for
the purpose of ocean pink shrimp harvest" means the vessel is
designed as a trawl vessel. An ocean pink shrimp delivery
license issued to a vessel under construction is not renewable
after December 31, 1994, unless the vessel lands a total of at
least five thousand pounds of ocean pink shrimp into a Washington state port before December 31, 1994; or
[Title 77 RCW—page 98]
(2) The applicant’s vessel is a replacement for a vessel
that is otherwise eligible for an ocean pink shrimp delivery
license. [2000 c 107 § 73; 1993 c 376 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.30.300.]
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
77.70.250
77.70.250 Ocean pink shrimp—Delivery license—
License transfer—License suspension. After December
31, 1994, an ocean pink shrimp delivery license may only be
issued to a vessel that held an ocean pink shrimp delivery
license in 1994, and each year thereafter. If the license is
transferred to another vessel, the license history shall also be
transferred to the transferee vessel.
Where the failure to hold the license in any given year
was the result of a license suspension, the vessel may qualify
if the vessel held an ocean pink shrimp delivery license in the
year immediately preceding the year of the license suspension. [1993 c 376 § 7. Formerly RCW 75.30.310.]
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
77.70.260
77.70.260 Ocean pink shrimp—Single delivery
license. The owner of an ocean pink shrimp fishing vessel
that does not qualify for an ocean pink shrimp delivery
license issued under RCW 77.65.390 shall obtain an ocean
pink shrimp single delivery license in order to make a landing
into a state port of ocean pink shrimp taken in offshore
waters. The director shall not issue an ocean pink shrimp single delivery license unless, as determined by the director, a
bona fide emergency exists. A maximum of six ocean pink
shrimp single delivery licenses may be issued annually to any
vessel. The fee for an ocean pink shrimp single delivery
license is one hundred dollars. [2000 c 107 § 74; 1993 c 376
§ 8. Formerly RCW 75.30.320.]
Findings—Effective date—1993 c 376: See notes following RCW
77.65.380.
77.70.280
77.70.280 Crab fishery—License required—Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license—Dungeness crabcoastal class B fishery license—Coastal crab and replacement vessel defined—Federal fleet reduction program.
(1) A person shall not commercially fish for coastal crab in
Washington state waters without a Dungeness crab—coastal
or a Dungeness crab—coastal class B fishery license. Gear
used must consist of one buoy attached to each crab pot.
Each crab pot must be fished individually.
(2) A Dungeness crab—coastal fishery license is transferable. Except as provided in subsections (3) and (8) of this
section, such a license shall only be issued to a person who
proved active historical participation in the coastal crab fishery by having designated, after December 31, 1993, a vessel
or a replacement vessel on the qualifying license that singly
or in combination meets the following criteria:
(a) Made a minimum of eight coastal crab landings totaling a minimum of five thousand pounds per season in at least
two of the four qualifying seasons identified in subsection (5)
of this section, as documented by valid Washington state
shellfish receiving tickets; and showed historical and continuous participation in the coastal crab fishery by having held
one of the following licenses or their equivalents each calen(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
dar year beginning 1990 through 1993, and was designated
on the qualifying license of the person who held one of the
following licenses in 1994:
(i) Crab pot—Non-Puget Sound license, issued under
RCW 77.65.220(1)(b);
(ii) Nonsalmon delivery license, issued under RCW
77.65.210;
(iii) Salmon troll license, issued under RCW 77.65.160;
(iv) Salmon delivery license, issued under RCW
77.65.170;
(v) Food fish trawl license, issued under RCW
77.65.200; or
(vi) Shrimp trawl license, issued under RCW 77.65.220;
or
(b) Made a minimum of four Washington landings of
coastal crab totaling two thousand pounds during the period
from December 1, 1991, to March 20, 1992, and made a minimum of eight crab landings totaling a minimum of five thousand pounds of coastal crab during each of the following periods: December 1, 1991, to September 15, 1992; December 1,
1992, to September 15, 1993; and December 1, 1993, to September 15, 1994. For landings made after December 31,
1993, the vessel shall have been designated on the qualifying
license of the person making the landings; or
(c) Made any number of coastal crab landings totaling a
minimum of twenty thousand pounds per season in at least
two of the four qualifying seasons identified in subsection (5)
of this section, as documented by valid Washington state
shellfish receiving tickets, showed historical and continuous
participation in the coastal crab fishery by having held one of
the qualifying licenses each calendar year beginning 1990
through 1993, and the vessel was designated on the qualifying license of the person who held that license in 1994.
(3) A Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license shall be
issued to a person who had a new vessel under construction
between December 1, 1988, and September 15, 1992, if the
vessel made coastal crab landings totaling a minimum of five
thousand pounds by September 15, 1993, and the new vessel
was designated on the qualifying license of the person who
held that license in 1994. All landings shall be documented
by valid Washington state shellfish receiving tickets. License
applications under this subsection may be subject to review
by the advisory review board in accordance with *RCW
77.70.030. For purposes of this subsection, "under construction" means either:
(a)(i) A contract for any part of the work was signed
before September 15, 1992; and
(ii) The contract for the vessel under construction was
not transferred or otherwise alienated from the contract
holder between the date of the contract and the issuance of
the Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license; and
(iii) Construction had not been completed before
December 1, 1988; or
(b)(i) The keel was laid before September 15, 1992; and
(ii) Vessel ownership was not transferred or otherwise
alienated from the owner between the time the keel was laid
and the issuance of the Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
license; and
(iii) Construction had not been completed before
December 1, 1988.
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.280
(4) A Dungeness crab—coastal class B fishery license is
not transferable. Such a license shall be issued to persons
who do not meet the qualification criteria for a Dungeness
crab—coastal fishery license, if the person has designated on
a qualifying license after December 31, 1993, a vessel or
replacement vessel that, singly or in combination, made a
minimum of four landings totaling a minimum of two thousand pounds of coastal crab, documented by valid Washington state shellfish receiving tickets, during at least one of the
four qualifying seasons, and if the person has participated
continuously in the coastal crab fishery by having held or by
having owned a vessel that held one or more of the licenses
listed in subsection (2) of this section in each calendar year
subsequent to the qualifying season in which qualifying landings were made through 1994. Dungeness crab—coastal
class B fishery licenses cease to exist after December 31,
1999, and the continuing license provisions of RCW
34.05.422(3) are not applicable.
(5) The four qualifying seasons for purposes of this section are:
(a) December 1, 1988, through September 15, 1989;
(b) December 1, 1989, through September 15, 1990;
(c) December 1, 1990, through September 15, 1991; and
(d) December 1, 1991, through September 15, 1992.
(6) For purposes of this section and RCW 77.70.340,
"coastal crab" means Dungeness crab (cancer magister) taken
in all Washington territorial and offshore waters south of the
United States-Canada boundary and west of the BonillaTatoosh line (a line from the western end of Cape Flattery to
Tatoosh Island lighthouse, then to the buoy adjacent to Duntz
Rock, then in a straight line to Bonilla Point of Vancouver
island), Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and the Columbia river.
(7) For purposes of this section, "replacement vessel"
means a vessel used in the coastal crab fishery in 1994, and
that replaces a vessel used in the coastal crab fishery during
any period from 1988 through 1993, and which vessel’s
licensing and catch history, together with the licensing and
catch history of the vessel it replaces, qualifies a single applicant for a Dungeness crab—coastal or Dungeness crab—
coastal class B fishery license. A Dungeness crab—coastal
or Dungeness crab—coastal class B fishery license may only
be issued to a person who designated a vessel in the 1994
coastal crab fishery and who designated the same vessel in
1995.
(8) A Dungeness crab—coastal fishery license may not
be issued to a person who participates in the federal fleet
reduction program created in RCW 77.70.460 within ten
years of that person’s participation in the federal program, if
reciprocal restrictions are imposed by the states of Oregon
and California on persons participating in the federal fleet
reduction program. [2003 c 174 § 5; 2000 c 107 § 76; 1998 c
190 § 108; 1995 c 252 § 1; 1994 c 260 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.30.350.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.70.030 was repealed by 2001 c 291 § 501,
effective July 1, 2001.
Finding—1994 c 260: "The legislature finds that the commercial crab
fishery in coastal and offshore waters is overcapitalized. The legislature further finds that this overcapitalization has led to the economic destabilization
of the coastal crab industry, and can cause excessive harvesting pressures on
the coastal crab resources of Washington state. In order to provide for the
economic well-being of the Washington crab industry and to protect the livelihood of Washington crab fishers who have historically and continuously
[Title 77 RCW—page 99]
77.70.290
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
participated in the coastal crab fishery, the legislature finds that it is in the
best interests of the economic well-being of the coastal crab industry to
reduce the number of fishers taking crab in coastal waters, to reduce the
number of vessels landing crab taken in offshore waters, to limit the number
of future licenses, and to limit fleet capacity by limiting vessel size." [1994
c 260 § 1.]
Severability—1994 c 260: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1994 c 260 § 24.]
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: "Sections 1
through 5, 9 through 19, and 21 through 24 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1995." [1994 c 260 § 25.]
Dungeness crab in Washington state as authorized in RCW
77.70.290.
Fees from the offshore Dungeness crab delivery license
shall be placed in the coastal crab account created in RCW
77.70.320. [2000 c 107 § 77; 1994 c 260 § 4. Formerly RCW
75.30.370.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.310
77.70.290
77.70.290 Crab taken in offshore waters—Criteria
for landing in Washington state—Limitations. (1) The
director shall allow the landing into Washington state of crab
taken in offshore waters only if:
(a) The crab are legally caught and landed by fishers
with a valid Washington state Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
license or a valid Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
license; or
(b)(i) The director determines that the landing of offshore Dungeness crab by fishers without a Washington state
Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license or a valid Dungeness
crab-coastal class B fishery license is in the best interest of
the coastal crab processing industry; (ii) the director has been
requested to allow such landings by at least three Dungeness
crab processors; (iii) the landings are permitted only between
the dates of December 1st to February 15th inclusively; (iv)
only crab fishers commercially licensed to fish by Oregon or
California are permitted to land, if the crab was taken with
gear that consisted of one buoy attached to each crab pot, and
each crab pot was fished individually; (v) the fisher landing
the crab has obtained a valid delivery license; and (vi) the
decision is made on a case-by-case basis for the sole reason
of improving the economic stability of the commercial crab
fishery.
(2) Nothing in this section allows the commercial fishing
of Dungeness crab in waters within three miles of Washington state by fishers who do not possess a valid Dungeness
crab-coastal fishery license or a valid Dungeness crab-coastal
class B fishery license. Landings of offshore Dungeness crab
by fishers without a valid Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
license or a valid Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
license do not qualify the fisher for such licenses. [1997 c
418 § 2; 1994 c 260 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.30.360.]
77.70.310 Transfer of Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
licenses—Fee. Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses are
freely transferable on a willing seller-willing buyer basis
after paying the transfer fee in RCW 77.65.020. [2000 c 107
§ 78; 1997 c 418 § 3; 1994 c 260 § 5. Formerly RCW
75.30.380.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.320
77.70.320 Coastal crab account—Created—Revenues—Expenditures. The coastal crab account is created in
the custody of the state treasurer. The account shall consist of
revenues from fees from the transfer of each Dungeness crabcoastal fishery license assessed under RCW 77.65.020, delivery fees assessed under RCW 77.70.300, and the license surcharge under RCW 77.65.240. Only the director or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account.
The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW but no appropriation is required for expenditures.
Funds may be used for coastal crab management activities as
provided in RCW 77.70.330. [2000 c 107 § 79; 1997 c 418 §
4; 1994 c 260 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.30.390.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
77.70.330
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
77.70.330 Coastal crab account expenditures—Management of coastal crab resource. Expenditures from the
coastal crab account may be made by the department for
management of the coastal crab resource. Management activities may include studies of resource viability, interstate
negotiations concerning regulation of the offshore crab
resource, resource enhancement projects, or other activities
as determined by the department. [1994 c 260 § 8. Formerly
RCW 75.30.410.]
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 § 8: "Section 8 of this act shall take effect
January 1, 1997." [1994 c 260 § 26.]
77.70.300
77.70.300 Crab taken in offshore waters—Dungeness
crab offshore delivery license—Fee. A person commercially fishing for Dungeness crab in offshore waters outside
of Washington state jurisdiction shall obtain a Dungeness
crab offshore delivery license from the director if the person
does not possess a valid Dungeness crab-coastal fishery
license or a valid Dungeness crab-coastal class B fishery
license and the person wishes to land Dungeness crab into a
place or a port in the state. The annual fee for a Dungeness
crab offshore delivery license is two hundred fifty dollars.
The director may specify restrictions on landings of offshore
[Title 77 RCW—page 100]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
77.70.340
77.70.340 Criteria for nonresident Dungeness crabcoastal fishery license for Oregon residents—Section
effective contingent upon reciprocal statutory authority
in Oregon. (1) An Oregon resident who can show historical
and continuous participation in the Washington state coastal
crab fishery by having held a nonresident non-Puget Sound
crab pot license issued under RCW 77.65.220 each year from
1990 through 1994, and who has delivered a minimum of
eight landings totaling five thousand pounds of crab into Ore(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
gon during any two of the four qualifying seasons as provided
in RCW 77.70.280(5) as evidenced by valid Oregon fish
receiving tickets, shall be issued a nonresident Dungeness
crab-coastal fishery license valid for fishing in Washington
state waters north from the Oregon-Washington boundary to
United States latitude forty-six degrees thirty minutes north.
Such license shall be issued upon application and submission
of proof of delivery.
(2) This section shall become effective contingent upon
reciprocal statutory authority in the state of Oregon providing
for equal access for Washington state coastal crab fishers to
Oregon territorial coastal waters north of United States latitude forty-five degrees fifty-eight minutes north, and Oregon
waters of the Columbia river. [2000 c 107 § 80; 1994 c 260
§ 9. Formerly RCW 75.30.420.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.350
77.70.350 Restrictions on vessel designations and
substitutions on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses.
(1) The following restrictions apply to vessel designations
and substitutions on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses:
(a) The holder of the license may not:
(i) Designate on the license a vessel the hull length of
which exceeds ninety-nine feet; or
(ii) Change vessel designation if the hull length of the
vessel proposed to be designated exceeds the hull length designated on the license on June 7, 2006, by more than ten feet.
However, if such vessel designation is the result of an emergency transfer, the applicable vessel length would be the
most recent permanent vessel designation on the license prior
to June 7, 2006;
(b) If the hull length of the vessel proposed to be designated is comparable to or exceeds by up to one foot the hull
length of the currently designated vessel, the department may
change the vessel designation no more than once in any two
consecutive Washington state coastal crab seasons unless the
currently designated vessel is lost or in disrepair such that it
does not safely operate, in which case the department may
allow a change in vessel designation;
(c) If the hull length of the vessel proposed to be designated exceeds by between one and ten feet the hull length of
the designated vessel on June 7, 2006, the department may
change the vessel designation no more than once on or after
June 7, 2006, unless a request is made by the license holder
during a Washington state coastal crab season for an emergency change in vessel designation. If such an emergency
request is made, the director may allow a temporary change
in designation to another vessel, if the hull length of the other
vessel does not exceed by more than ten feet the hull length
of the currently designated vessel.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "hull length" means
the length overall of a vessel’s hull as shown by marine survey or by manufacturer’s specifications.
(3) By December 31, 2010, the department must, in
cooperation with the coastal crab fishing industry, evaluate
the effectiveness of this section and, if necessary, recommend
any statutory changes to the appropriate committees of the
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.390
senate and house of representatives. [2006 c 159 § 1; 1994 c
260 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.30.430.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.360
77.70.360 Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses—
Limitation on new licenses—Requirements for renewal.
Except as provided under *RCW 77.70.380, the director shall
issue no new Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses after
December 31, 1995. A person may renew an existing license
only if the person held the license sought to be renewed during the previous year or acquired the license by transfer from
someone who held it during the previous year, and if the person has not subsequently transferred the license to another
person. Where the person failed to obtain the license during
the previous year because of a license suspension, the person
may qualify for a license by establishing that the person held
such a license during the last year in which the license was
not suspended. [2000 c 107 § 81; 1994 c 260 § 13. Formerly
RCW 75.30.440.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.70.380 was repealed by 2003 c 174 § 6.
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.370
77.70.370 Limitation on taking crab in the exclusive
economic zone of Oregon or California—Section effective
contingent upon reciprocal legislation by both Oregon
and California. (1) A Dungeness crab—coastal fishery licensee shall not take Dungeness crab in the waters of the
exclusive economic zone westward of the states of Oregon or
California and land crab taken in those waters into Washington state unless the licensee also holds the licenses, permits,
or endorsements, required by Oregon or California to land
crab into Oregon or California, respectively.
(2) This section becomes effective only upon reciprocal
legislation being enacted by both the states of Oregon and
California. For purposes of this section, "exclusive economic
zone" means that zone defined in the federal fishery conservation and management act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1802) as of January 1, 1995, or as of a subsequent date adopted by rule of the
director. [1998 c 190 § 109; 1994 c 260 § 16. Formerly RCW
75.30.450.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.390
77.70.390 Reduction of landing requirements under
RCW 77.70.280—Procedure. The director may reduce the
landing requirements established under RCW 77.70.280
upon the recommendation of an advisory review board established under *RCW 77.70.030, but the director may not
entirely waive the landing requirement. The advisory review
board may recommend a reduction of the landing requirement in individual cases if in the advisory review board’s
judgment, extenuating circumstances prevented achievement
of the landing requirement. The director shall adopt rules
[Title 77 RCW—page 101]
77.70.400
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
governing the operation of the advisory review board and
defining "extenuating circumstances." Extenuating circumstances may include situations in which a person had a vessel
under construction such that qualifying landings could not be
made. In defining extenuating circumstances, special consideration shall be given to individuals who can provide evidence of lack of access to capital based on past discrimination
due to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or disability.
[2000 c 107 § 83; 1994 c 260 § 19. Formerly RCW
75.30.470.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.70.030 was repealed by 2001 c 291 § 501,
effective July 1, 2001.
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
Effective date—1994 c 260 §§ 1-5, 9-19, and 21-24: See note following RCW 77.70.280.
77.70.400
77.70.400 Coastal Dungeness crab resource plan.
The department, with input from Dungeness crab—coastal
fishery licensees and processors, shall prepare a resource plan
to achieve even-flow harvesting and long-term stability of the
coastal Dungeness crab resource. The plan may include pot
limits, further reduction in the number of vessels, individual
quotas, trip limits, area quotas, or other measures as determined by the department. The provisions of such a resource
plan that are designed to effect a gear reduction or effort
reduction based upon historical landing criteria are subject to
the provisions of RCW 77.70.390 with respect to the consideration of extenuating circumstances. [2001 c 228 § 1; 1998
c 245 § 154; 1994 c 260 § 20. Formerly RCW 75.30.480.]
Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes following RCW
77.70.280.
77.70.410
77.70.410 Shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery—Limited
entry fishery—License analogous to personal property—
Transferability—Alternate operator designation. (1) The
shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery is a limited entry fishery and
a person shall not fish for shrimp taken from Puget Sound for
commercial purposes with shrimp pot gear except under the
provisions of a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license issued
under RCW 77.65.220.
(2) A shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license shall only
be issued to a natural person who held a shrimp pot-Puget
Sound fishery license during the previous year, except upon
the death of the licensee the license shall be treated as analogous to personal property for purposes of inheritance and
intestacy.
(3) No more than two shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery
licenses may be owned by a licensee. The licensee must
transfer the second license into the licensee’s name, and designate on the second license the same vessel as is designated
on the first license at the time of the transfer. Licensees who
hold two shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery licenses may not
transfer one of the two licenses for a twelve-month period
beginning on the date the second license is transferred to the
licensee, but the licensee may transfer both licenses to
another natural person. The nontransferability provisions of
this subsection start anew for the receiver of the two licenses.
Licensees who hold two shrimp pot-Puget sound fishery
licenses may fish one and one-half times the maximum number of pots allowed for Puget Sound shrimp, and may retain
[Title 77 RCW—page 102]
and land one and one-half times the maximum catch limits
established for Puget Sound shrimp taken with shellfish pot
gear.
(4) Through December 31, 2001, shrimp pot-Puget
Sound fishery licenses are transferable only to a current
shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery licensee, or upon death of the
licensee. Beginning January 1, 2002, shrimp pot-Puget
Sound commercial fishery licenses are transferable, except
holders of two shrimp pot-Puget Sound licenses are subject to
nontransferability provisions as provided for in this section.
(5) Through December 31, 2001, a shrimp pot-Puget
Sound licensee may designate any natural person as the alternate operator for the license. Beginning January 1, 2002, a
shrimp pot-Puget Sound licensee may designate only an
immediate family member, as defined in RCW 77.12.047, as
the alternate operator. A licensee with a bona fide medical
emergency may designate a person other than an immediate
family member as the alternate operator for a period not to
exceed two years, provided the licensee documents the medical emergency with letters from two medical doctors
describing the illness or condition that prevents the licensee
from participating in the fishery. The two-year period may be
extended by the director upon recommendation of a department-appointed Puget Sound shrimp advisory board. If the
licensee has no immediate family member who is capable of
operating the license, the licensee may make a request to the
Puget Sound shrimp advisory board to designate an alternate
operator who is not an immediate family member, and upon
recommendation of the Puget Sound shrimp advisory board,
the director may allow designation of an alternate operator
who is not an immediate family member. [2001 c 105 § 1;
2000 c 107 § 84; 1999 c 239 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.30.490.]
Finding—Purpose—Intent—1999 c 239: See note following RCW
77.65.220.
77.70.420
77.70.420 Shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery—Limited entry fishery—License analogous to personal property—Transferability—Alternate operator. (1) The
shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery is a limited entry fishery
and a person shall not fish for shrimp taken from Puget Sound
for commercial purposes with shrimp trawl gear except under
the provisions of a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license
issued under RCW 77.65.220.
(2) A shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license shall
only be issued to a natural person who held a shrimp trawlPuget Sound fishery license during the previous licensing
year, except upon the death of the licensee the license shall be
treated as analogous to personal property for purposes of
inheritance and intestacy.
(3) No more than one shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery
license may be owned by a licensee.
(4) Through December 31, 2001, shrimp trawl-Puget
Sound fishery licenses are nontransferable, except upon
death of the licensee. Beginning January 1, 2002, shrimp
trawl-Puget Sound licenses are transferable.
(5) Through December 31, 2001, a shrimp trawl-Puget
Sound licensee may designate any natural person as the alternate operator for the license. Beginning January 1, 2002, a
shrimp trawl-Puget Sound licensee may designate only an
immediate family member, as defined in RCW 77.12.047, as
the alternate operator. A licensee with a bona fide medical
(2006 Ed.)
License Limitation Programs
emergency may designate a person other than an immediate
family member as the alternate operator for a period not to
exceed two years, provided the licensee documents the medical emergency with letters from two medical doctors
describing the illness or condition that prevents the immediate family member from participating in the fishery. The twoyear period may be extended by the director upon recommendation of a department-appointed Puget Sound shrimp advisory board. If the licensee has no immediate family member
who is capable of operating the license, the licensee may
make a request to the Puget Sound shrimp advisory board to
designate an alternate operator who is not an immediate family member, and upon recommendation of the Puget Sound
shrimp advisory board, the director may allow designation of
an alternate operator who is not an immediate family member. [2001 c 105 § 2; 2000 c 107 § 85; 1999 c 239 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.30.500.]
Finding—Purpose—Intent—1999 c 239: See note following RCW
77.65.220.
77.70.430
77.70.430 Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program—
Fee—Coastal crab pot buoy tag program—Fee—Review.
(1) In order to administer a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag
program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a
Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery license to reimburse
the department for the production of Puget Sound crab pot
buoy tags and the administration of a Puget Sound crab pot
buoy tag program.
(2) In order to administer a Washington coastal Dungeness crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a
fee to holders of a Dungeness crab—coastal or a Dungeness
crab coastal class B fishery license and to holders of out-ofstate licenses who are issued a pot certificate by the department to reimburse the department for the production of
Washington coastal crab pot buoy tags and the administration
of a Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag program.
(3) The department shall annually review the costs of
crab pot buoy tag production under this section with the goal
of minimizing the per tag production costs. Any savings in
production costs shall be passed on to the fishers required to
purchase crab pot buoy tags under this section in the form of
a lower tag fee. [2006 c 143 § 1; 2005 c 395 § 1; 2001 c 234
§ 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 234: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 9, 2001]." [2001 c 234 § 3.]
77.70.440
77.70.440 Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account.
The Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account is created in the
custody of the state treasurer. All revenues from fees from
RCW 77.70.430(1) must be deposited into the account.
Expenditures from this account may be used for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Puget
Sound crab pot buoy tag program. Only the director or the
director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the
account. The account is subject to allotment procedures
under chapter 43.88 RCW but no appropriation is required
for expenditures. [2005 c 395 § 2; 2001 c 234 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 234: See note following RCW 77.70.430.
(2006 Ed.)
77.70.460
77.70.442
77.70.442 Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag
account. The Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag account
is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All revenues
from fees from RCW 77.70.430(2) must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from this account may be used for the
production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a
Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag program. Only the
director or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment
procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW but no appropriation is
required for expenditures. [2005 c 395 § 3.]
77.70.450
77.70.450 Commercial fisheries buyback account.
The commercial fisheries buyback account is created in the
custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from money collected by the commission under RCW 77.70.460, moneys
appropriated for the purposes of this section, and other gifts,
grants, or donations specifically made to the fund must be
deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account
may be used only for the purpose of repaying moneys
advanced by the federal government under a groundfish fleet
reduction program established by the federal government, or
for other fleet reduction efforts, commercial fishing license
buyback programs, or similar programs designed to reduce
the harvest capacity in a commercial fishery. Only the director of the department or the director’s designee may authorize
expenditures from the account. The account is subject to
allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an
appropriation is not required for expenditures. [2003 c 174 §
1.]
77.70.460
77.70.460 Collection of fee—Fee schedule—Deposit
of moneys. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) The commission shall collect a fee upon all deliveries of fish or shellfish
from persons holding: (a) A federal pacific groundfish limited entry permit with a trawl endorsement; (b) an ocean pink
shrimp delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.390; (c) a
Dungeness crab—coastal fishery license issued under RCW
77.70.280; (d) a food fish delivery license issued under RCW
77.65.200; or (e) a shrimp trawl license under RCW
77.65.220, to repay the federal government for moneys
advanced by the federal government under a groundfish fleet
reduction program established by the federal government.
(2) The commission shall adopt a fee schedule by rule
for the collection of the fee required by subsection (1) of this
section. The fee schedule adopted shall limit the total amount
of moneys collected through the fee to the minimum amount
necessary to repay the moneys advanced by the federal government, but be sufficient to repay the debt obligation of each
fishery. The fee charged to the holders of a Dungeness
crab—coastal fishery license may not exceed two percent of
the total ex-vessel value of annual landings, and the fee
charged to all other eligible license holders may not exceed
five percent of the total ex-vessel value of annual landings.
The commission may adjust the fee schedule as necessary to
ensure that the funds collected are adequate to repay the debt
obligation of each fishery.
(3) The commission shall deposit moneys collected
under this section in the commercial fisheries buyback
account created in RCW 77.70.450. [2003 c 174 § 2.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 103]
77.70.470
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Contingent expiration date—2003 c 174 §§ 2 and 3: "Sections 2 and
3 of this act expire January 1, 2033, or when the groundfish fleet reduction
program referenced in section 2 of this act is completed, whichever is
sooner." [2003 c 174 § 4.]
77.7 0.47 0 Ban on assessing f ee under RCW
77.70.460. (Contingent expiration date.) The commission
may not assess the fee specified under RCW 77.70.460 until
after the federal government creates a groundfish fleet reduction program. [2003 c 174 § 3.]
Oregon such consent and approbation of the state of Washington as is necessary under the compact set out in RCW
77.75.010. For the purposes of RCW 77.75.010, the states of
Washington and Oregon have concurrent jurisdiction in the
concurrent waters of the Columbia river. [2000 c 107 § 86;
1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 19 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 150; 1955 c 12 §
75.40.020. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 81; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780702. Formerly RCW 75.40.020.]
Contingent expiration date—2003 c 174 §§ 2 and 3: See note following RCW 77.70.460.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
77.70.470
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Chapter 77.75 RCW
COMPACTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
Chapter 77.75
Sections
77.75.010
77.75.020
Columbia River Compact—Provisions.
Columbia River Compact—Commission to represent state.
77.75.030
77.75.040
Pacific Marine Fisheries Compact—Provisions.
Pacific Marine Fisheries Compact—Representatives of state
on Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission.
PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS COMPACT
Coastal ecosystems compact authorized.
Coastal ecosystems cooperative agreements authorized.
WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT
77.75.070
77.75.080
77.75.090
Wildlife violator compact—Established.
Licensing authority defined.
Administration facilitation.
SNAKE RIVER BOUNDARY
77.75.100
77.75.110
77.75.120
77.75.130
Snake river boundary—Cooperation with Idaho for adoption
and enforcement of rules regarding wildlife.
Snake river boundary—Concurrent jurisdiction of Idaho and
Washington courts and law enforcement officers.
Snake river boundary—Honoring licenses to take wildlife of
either state.
Snake river boundary—Purpose—Restrictions.
MISCELLANEOUS
77.75.140
77.75.150
77.75.160
77.75.030 Pacific Marine Fisheries Compact—Provisions. There exists between the states of Alaska, California,
Idaho, Oregon and Washington a definite compact and agreement as follows:
77.75.030
COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT
77.75.050
77.75.060
PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT
Treaty between United States and Canada concerning Pacific
salmon.
Wildlife restoration—Federal act.
Fish restoration and management projects—Federal act.
COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT
77.75.010 Columbia River Compact—Provisions.
There exists between the states of Washington and Oregon a
definite compact and agreement as follows:
All laws and regulations now existing or which may be
necessary for regulating, protecting or preserving fish in the
waters of the Columbia river, or its tributaries, over which the
states of Washington and Oregon have concurrent jurisdiction, or which would be affected by said concurrent jurisdiction, shall be made, changed, altered and amended in whole
or in part, only with the mutual consent and approbation of
both states. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 149; 1955 c 12 § 75.40.010.
Prior: 1949 c 112 § 80; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-701. Formerly RCW 75.40.010.]
77.75.010
77.75.020 Columbia River Compact—Commission
to represent state. The commission may give to the state of
77.75.020
[Title 77 RCW—page 104]
THE PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT
The contracting states do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
The purposes of this compact are and shall be to promote
the better utilization of fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, which are of mutual concern, and to develop a joint
program of protection and prevention of physical waste of
such fisheries in all of those areas of the Pacific Ocean and
adjacent waters over which the compacting states jointly or
separately now have or may hereafter acquire jurisdiction.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to
authorize the compacting states or any of them to limit the
production of fish or fish products for the purpose of establishing or fixing the prices thereof or creating and perpetuating a monopoly.
ARTICLE II.
This agreement shall become operative immediately as
to those states executing it whenever the compacting states
have executed it in the form that is in accordance with the
laws of the executing states and the congress has given its
consent.
ARTICLE III.
Each state joining herein shall appoint, as determined by
state statutes, one or more representatives to a commission
hereby constituted and designated as The Pacific Marine
Fisheries Commission, of whom one shall be the administrative or other officer of the agency of such state charged with
the conservation of the fisheries resources to which this compact pertains. This commission shall be a body with the powers and duties set forth herein.
The term of each commissioner of The Pacific Marine
Fisheries Commission shall be four years. A commissioner
shall hold office until his successor shall be appointed and
qualified but such successor’s term shall expire four years
from legal date of expiration of the term of his predecessor.
Vacancies occurring in the office of such commissioner from
any reason or cause shall be filled for the unexpired term, or
(2006 Ed.)
Compacts and Other Agreements
a commissioner may be removed from office, as provided by
the statutes of the state concerned. Each commissioner may
delegate in writing from time to time to a deputy the power to
be present and participate, including voting as his representative or substitute, at any meeting of or hearing by or other
proceeding of the commission.
Voting powers under this compact shall be limited to one
vote for each state regardless of the number of representatives.
ARTICLE IV.
The duty of the said commission shall be to make inquiry
and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing
about the conservation and the prevention of the depletion
and physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell, and anadromous in all of those areas of the Pacific Ocean over which the
states signatory to this compact jointly or separately now
have or may hereafter acquire jurisdiction. The commission
shall have power to recommend the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the several states within their
respective jurisdictions and said conservation zones to promote the preservation of those fisheries and their protection
against overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever and to assure a continuing yield from the fisheries
resources of the signatory parties hereto.
To that end the commission shall draft and, after consultation with the advisory committee hereinafter authorized,
recommend to the governors and legislative branches of the
various signatory states hereto legislation dealing with the
conservation of the marine, shell and anadromous fisheries in
all of those areas of the Pacific Ocean and adjacent waters
over which the signatory states jointly or separately now have
or may hereafter acquire jurisdiction. The commission shall,
more than one month prior to any regular meeting of the legislative branch in any state signatory hereto, present to the
governor of such state its recommendations relating to enactments by the legislative branch of that state in furthering the
intents and purposes of this compact.
The commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies in the signatory states with
regard to problems connected with the fisheries and recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable
and which lie within the jurisdiction of such agencies.
The commission shall have power to recommend to the
states signatory hereto the stocking of the waters of such
states with marine, shell, or anadromous fish and fish eggs or
joint stocking by some or all of such states and when two or
more of the said states shall jointly stock waters the commission shall act as the coordinating agency for such stocking.
ARTICLE V.
The commission shall elect from its number a chairman
and a vice chairman and shall appoint and at its pleasure,
remove or discharge such officers and employees as may be
required to carry the provisions of this compact into effect
and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and
compensation. Said commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. It may establish and
maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or place within the territorial
(2006 Ed.)
77.75.030
limits of the signatory states but must meet at least once a
year.
ARTICLE VI.
No action shall be taken by the commission except by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of
compacting states represented at any meeting. No recommendation shall be made by the commission in regard to any species of fish except by the vote of a majority of the compacting
states which have an interest in such species.
ARTICLE VII.
The fisheries research agencies of the signatory states
shall act in collaboration as the official research agency of
The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission.
An advisory committee to be representative of the commercial fishermen, commercial fishing industry and such
other interests of each state as the commission deems advisable shall be established by the commission as soon as practicable for the purpose of advising the commission upon such
recommendations as it may desire to make.
ARTICLE VIII.
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the
powers of any state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of
any legislation or the enforcement of any requirement by any
state imposing additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries.
ARTICLE IX.
Continued absence of representation or of any representative on the commission from any state party hereto, shall be
brought to the attention of the governor thereof.
ARTICLE X.
The states agree to make available annual funds for the
support of the commission on the following basis:
Eighty percent of the annual budget shall be shared
equally by those member states having as a boundary the
Pacific Ocean; not less than five percent of the annual budget
shall be contributed by any other member state; the balance
of the annual budget shall be shared by those member states,
having as a boundary the Pacific Ocean, in proportion to the
primary market value of the products of their commercial
fisheries on the basis of the latest five-year catch records.
The annual contribution of each member state shall be
figured to the nearest one hundred dollars.
This amended article shall become effective upon its
enactment by the states of Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon,
and Washington and upon ratification by congress by virtue
of the authority vested in it under Article I, section 10 of the
Constitution of the United States.
ARTICLE XI.
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding
upon each state until renounced by it. Renunciation of this
compact must be preceded by sending six months’ notice in
writing of intention to withdraw from the compact to the
other parties hereto.
[Title 77 RCW—page 105]
77.75.040
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
ARTICLE XII.
The states of Alaska or Hawaii, or any state having rivers
or streams tributary to the Pacific Ocean may become a contracting state by enactment of The Pacific Marine Fisheries
Compact. Upon admission of any new state to the compact,
the purposes of the compact and the duties of the commission
shall extend to the development of joint programs for the conservation, protection and prevention of physical waste of
fisheries in which the contracting states are mutually concerned and to all waters of the newly admitted state necessary
to develop such programs.
This article shall become effective upon its enactment by
the states of Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and upon ratification by congress by virtue of the authority vested in it under Article I, section 10, of the Constitution
of the United States. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 151; 1969 ex.s. c
101 § 2; 1959 ex.s. c 7 § 1; 1955 c 12 § 75.40.030. Prior:
1949 c 112 § 82(1); Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-703(1). Formerly RCW 75.40.030.]
Reviser’s note: The 24th annual report (1971 p 40) of the Pacific
Marine Fisheries Compact commission indicates congressional approval
effective July 10, 1970, by P.L. 91-315, 91st congress; 84 Stat. 415.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 101: "The provisions of this 1969 amendatory act shall not take effect until such time as the proposed amendment to
The Pacific Marine Fisheries Compact contained herein is approved by the
congress of the United States." [1969 ex.s. c 101 § 1.]
77.75.040
77.75.040 Pacific Marine Fisheries Compact—Representatives of state on Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. A member selected by or a designee of the fish and
wildlife commission, ex officio, and two appointees of the
governor representing the fishing industry shall act as the
representatives of this state on the Pacific Marine Fisheries
Commission. The appointees of the governor are subject to
confirmation by the state senate. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 20
(Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 152; 1963 c 171 § 2; 1955 c 12 §
75.40.040. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 82(2); Rem. Supp. 1949 §
5780-703(2). Formerly RCW 75.40.040.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS COMPACT
77.75.050
77.75.050 Coastal ecosystems compact authorized.
The state of Washington is authorized to enter into an interstate compact or compacts with all or any of the states of California, Idaho, and Oregon to protect and restore coastal ecosystems of these states to levels that will prevent the need for
listing any native salmonid fish species under the federal
endangered species act of 1973, as amended, or under any
comparable state legislation. [1994 c 148 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.40.100.]
Effective date—1994 c 148: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 148 § 3.]
77.75.060
77.75.060 Coastal ecosystems cooperative agreements authorized. Until such time as the agencies in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington present a final pro[Title 77 RCW—page 106]
posed interstate compact for enactment by their respective
legislative bodies, the governor may establish cooperative
agreements with the states of California, Idaho, and Oregon
that allow the states to coordinate their individual efforts in
developing state programs that further the region-wide goals
set forth under RCW 77.75.050. [2000 c 107 § 87; 1994 c
148 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.40.110.]
Effective date—1994 c 148: See note following RCW 77.75.050.
WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT
77.75.070 Wildlife violator compact—Established.
The wildlife violator compact is hereby established in the
form substantially as follows, and the Washington state
department of fish and wildlife is authorized to enter into
such compact on behalf of the state with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein:
77.75.070
ARTICLE I
FINDINGS, DECLARATION OF POLICY,
AND PURPOSE
(a) The party states find that:
(1) Wildlife resources are managed in trust by the
respective states for the benefit of all residents and visitors.
(2) The protection of their respective wildlife resources
can be materially affected by the degree of compliance with
state statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or administrative
rule relating to the management of those resources.
(3) The preservation, protection, management, and restoration of wildlife contributes immeasurably to the aesthetic,
recreational, and economic aspects of these natural resources.
(4) Wildlife resources are valuable without regard to
political boundaries, therefore, all persons should be required
to comply with wildlife preservation, protection, management, and restoration laws, ordinances, and administrative
rules and regulations of all party states as a condition precedent to the continuance or issuance of any license to hunt,
fish, trap, or possess wildlife.
(5) Violation of wildlife laws interferes with the management of wildlife resources and may endanger the safety of
persons and property.
(6) The mobility of many wildlife law violators necessitates the maintenance of channels of communications among
the various states.
(7) In most instances, a person who is cited for a wildlife
violation in a state other than the person’s home state:
(i) Must post collateral or bond to secure appearance for
a trial at a later date; or
(ii) If unable to post collateral or bond, is taken into custody until the collateral or bond is posted; or
(iii) Is taken directly to court for an immediate appearance.
(8) The purpose of the enforcement practices described
in paragraph (7) of this subdivision is to ensure compliance
with the terms of a wildlife citation by the person who, if permitted to continue on the person’s way after receiving the
citation, could return to the person’s home state and disregard
the person’s duty under the terms of the citation.
(9) In most instances, a person receiving a wildlife citation in the person’s home state is permitted to accept the citation from the officer at the scene of the violation and to
(2006 Ed.)
Compacts and Other Agreements
immediately continue on the person’s way after agreeing or
being instructed to comply with the terms of the citation.
(10) The practice described in paragraph (7) of this subdivision causes unnecessary inconvenience and, at times, a
hardship for the person who is unable at the time to post collateral, furnish a bond, stand trial, or pay the fine, and thus is
compelled to remain in custody until some alternative
arrangement can be made.
(11) The enforcement practices described in paragraph
(7) of this subdivision consume an undue amount of law
enforcement time.
(b) It is the policy of the party states to:
(1) Promote compliance with the statutes, laws, ordinances, regulations, and administrative rules relating to management of wildlife resources in their respective states.
(2) Recognize the suspension of wildlife license privileges of any person whose license privileges have been suspended by a party state and treat this suspension as if it had
occurred in their state.
(3) Allow violators to accept a wildlife citation, except as
provided in subdivision (b) of Article III, and proceed on the
violator’s way without delay whether or not the person is a
resident in the state in which the citation was issued, provided
that the violator’s home state is party to this compact.
(4) Report to the appropriate party state, as provided in
the compact manual, any conviction recorded against any
person whose home state was not the issuing state.
(5) Allow the home state to recognize and treat convictions recorded for their residents which occurred in another
party state as if they had occurred in the home state.
(6) Extend cooperation to its fullest extent among the
party states for obtaining compliance with the terms of a
wildlife citation issued in one party state to a resident of
another party state.
(7) Maximize effective use of law enforcement personnel and information.
(8) Assist court systems in the efficient disposition of
wildlife violations.
(c) The purpose of this compact is to:
(1) Provide a means through which the party states may
participate in a reciprocal program to effectuate policies enumerated in subdivision (b) of this article in a uniform and
orderly manner.
(2) Provide for the fair and impartial treatment of wildlife violators operating within party states in recognition of
the person’s right of due process and the sovereign status of a
party state.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in
this article apply through this compact and are intended only
for the implementation of this compact:
(a) "Citation" means any summons, complaint, ticket,
penalty assessment, or other official document issued by a
wildlife officer or other peace officer for a wildlife violation
containing an order which requires the person to respond.
(b) "Collateral" means any cash or other security deposited to secure an appearance for trial, in connection with the
issuance by a wildlife officer or other peace officer of a citation for a wildlife violation.
(2006 Ed.)
77.75.070
(c) "Compliance" with respect to a citation means the act
of answering the citation through appearance at a court, a tribunal, or payment of fines, costs, and surcharges, if any, or
both such appearance and payment.
(d) "Conviction" means a conviction, including any
court conviction, of any offense related to the preservation,
protection, management, or restoration of wildlife which is
prohibited by state statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or
administrative rule, or a forfeiture of bail, bond, or other
security deposited to secure appearance by a person charged
with having committed any such offense, or payment of a
penalty assessment, or a plea of nolo contendere, or the imposition of a deferred or suspended sentence by the court.
(e) "Court" means a court of law, including Magistrate’s
Court and the Justice of the Peace Court.
(f) "Home state" means the state of primary residence of
a person.
(g) "Issuing state" means the party state which issues a
wildlife citation to the violator.
(h) "License" means any license, permit, or other public
document which conveys to the person to whom it was issued
the privilege of pursuing, possessing, or taking any wildlife
regulated by statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or administrative rule of a party state.
(i) "Licensing authority" means the department or division within each party state which is authorized by law to
issue or approve licenses or permits to hunt, fish, trap, or possess wildlife.
(j) "Party state" means any state which enacts legislation
to become a member of this wildlife compact.
(k) "Personal recognizance" means an agreement by a
person made at the time of issuance of the wildlife citation
that the person will comply with the terms of that citation.
(l) "State" means any state, territory, or possession of the
United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, Provinces of Canada, or other countries.
(m) "Suspension" means any revocation, denial, or withdrawal of any or all license privileges, including the privilege
to apply for, purchase, or exercise the benefits conferred by
any license.
(n) "Terms of the citation" means those conditions and
options expressly stated upon the citation.
(o) "Wildlife" means all species of animals, including
but not necessarily limited to mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,
amphibians, mollusks, and crustaceans, which are defined as
"wildlife" and are protected or otherwise regulated by statute,
law, regulation, ordinance, or administrative rule in a party
state. "Wildlife" also means food fish and shellfish as defined
by statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or administrative rule
in a party state. Species included in the definition of "wildlife" vary from state to state and determination of whether a
species is "wildlife" for the purposes of this compact shall be
based on local law.
(p) "Wildlife law" means any statute, law, regulation,
ordinance, or administrative rule developed and enacted to
manage wildlife resources and the use thereof.
(q) "Wildlife officer" means any individual authorized
by a party state to issue a citation for a wildlife violation.
(r) "Wildlife violation" means any cited violation of a
statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or administrative rule
[Title 77 RCW—page 107]
77.75.070
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
developed and enacted to manage wildlife resources and the
use thereof.
ARTICLE VI
APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS
ARTICLE III
PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING STATE
Except as expressly required by provisions of this compact, nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right of
any party state to apply any of its laws relating to license privileges to any person or circumstance, or to invalidate or prevent any agreement or other cooperative arrangements
between a party state and a nonparty state concerning wildlife
law enforcement.
(a) When issuing a citation for a wildlife violation, a
wildlife officer shall issue a citation to any person whose primary residence is in a party state in the same manner as if the
person were a resident of the home state and shall not require
the person to post collateral to secure appearance, subject to
the exceptions contained in subdivision (b) of this article, if
the officer receives the person’s personal recognizance that
the person will comply with the terms of the citation.
(b) Personal recognizance is acceptable:
(1) If not prohibited by local law or the compact manual;
and
(2) If the violator provides adequate proof of the violator’s identification to the wildlife officer.
(c) Upon conviction or failure of a person to comply with
the terms of a wildlife citation, the appropriate official shall
report the conviction or failure to comply to the licensing
authority of the party state in which the wildlife citation was
issued. The report shall be made in accordance with procedures specified by the issuing state and shall contain the
information specified in the compact manual as minimum
requirements for effective processing by the home state.
(d) Upon receipt of the report of conviction or noncompliance required by subdivision (c) of this article, the licensing authority of the issuing state shall transmit to the licensing authority in the home state of the violator the information
in a form and content as contained in the compact manual.
ARTICLE IV
PROCEDURES FOR HOME STATE
(a) Upon receipt of a report of failure to comply with the
terms of a citation from the licensing authority of the issuing
state, the licensing authority of the home state shall notify the
violator, shall initiate a suspension action in accordance with
the home state’s suspension procedures and shall suspend the
violator’s license privileges until satisfactory evidence of
compliance with the terms of the wildlife citation has been
furnished by the issuing state to the home state licensing
authority. Due process safeguards will be accorded.
(b) Upon receipt of a report of conviction from the
licensing authority of the issuing state, the licensing authority
of the home state shall enter such conviction in its records
and shall treat such conviction as if it occurred in the home
state for the purposes of the suspension of license privileges.
(c) The licensing authority of the home state shall maintain a record of actions taken and make reports to issuing
states as provided in the compact manual.
ARTICLE V
RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION OF SUSPENSION
All party states shall recognize the suspension of license
privileges of any person by any state as if the violation on
which the suspension is based had in fact occurred in their
state and could have been the basis for suspension of license
privileges in their state.
[Title 77 RCW—page 108]
ARTICLE VII
COMPACT ADMINISTRATOR PROCEDURES
(a) For the purpose of administering the provisions of
this compact and to serve as a governing body for the resolution of all matters relating to the operation of this compact, a
board of compact administrators is established. The board
shall be composed of one representative from each of the
party states to be known as the compact administrator. The
compact administrator shall be appointed by the head of the
licensing authority of each party state and will serve and be
subject to removal in accordance with the laws of the state the
administrator represents. A compact administrator may provide for the discharge of the administrator’s duties and the
performance of the administrator’s functions as a board
member by an alternate. An alternate may not be entitled to
serve unless written notification of the alternate’s identity has
been given to the board.
(b) Each member of the board of compact administrators
shall be entitled to one vote. No action of the board shall be
binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the
total number of votes on the board are cast in favor thereof.
Action by the board shall be only at a meeting at which a
majority of the party states are represented.
(c) The board shall elect annually, from its membership,
a chairperson and vice-chairperson.
(d) The board shall adopt bylaws, not inconsistent with
the provisions of this compact or the laws of a party state, for
the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend
and rescind its bylaws.
(e) The board may accept for any of its purposes and
functions under this compact all donations and grants of
money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States, or any
governmental agency, and may receive, utilize, and dispose
of the same.
(f) The board may contract with or accept services or
personnel from any governmental or intergovernmental
agency, individual, firm, corporation, or any private nonprofit organization or institution.
(g) The board shall formulate all necessary procedures
and develop uniform forms and documents for administering
the provisions of this compact. All procedures and forms
adopted pursuant to board action shall be contained in the
compact manual.
ARTICLE VIII
ENTRY INTO COMPACT AND WITHDRAWAL
(a) This compact shall become effective when it has been
adopted by at least two states.
(2006 Ed.)
Compacts and Other Agreements
(b)(1) Entry into the compact shall be made by resolution
of ratification executed by the authorized officials of the
applying state and submitted to the chairperson of the board.
(2) The resolution shall be in a form and content as provided in the compact manual and shall include statements
that in substance are as follows:
(i) A citation of the authority by which the state is
empowered to become a party to this compact;
(ii) Agreement to comply with the terms and provisions
of the compact; and
(iii) That compact entry is with all states then party to the
compact and with any state that legally becomes a party to the
compact.
(3) The effective date of entry shall be specified by the
applying state, but shall not be less than sixty days after
notice has been given by the chairperson of the board of compact administrators or by the secretariat of the board to each
party state that the resolution from the applying state has been
received.
(c) A party state may withdraw from this compact by
official written notice to the other party states, but a withdrawal shall not take effect until ninety days after notice of
withdrawal is given. The notice shall be directed to the compact administrator of each member state. No withdrawal shall
affect the validity of this compact as to the remaining party
states.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPACT
(a) This compact may be amended from time to time.
Amendments shall be presented in resolution form to the
chairperson of the board of compact administrators and may
be initiated by one or more party states.
(b) Adoption of an amendment shall require endorsement by all party states and shall become effective thirty days
after the date of the last endorsement.
(c) Failure of a party state to respond to the compact
chairperson within one hundred twenty days after receipt of
the proposed amendment shall constitute endorsement.
ARTICLE X
CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes stated herein. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or
provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the
constitution of any party state or of the United States or the
applicability thereof to any government, agency, individual,
or circumstance is held invalid, the compact shall not be
affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the
constitution of any party state thereto, the compact shall
remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and
in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
ARTICLE XI
TITLE
This compact shall be known as the wildlife violator
compact. [1994 c 264 § 55; 1993 c 82 § 1. Formerly RCW
77.17.010.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.75.130
Revoked licenses—Application—1993 c 82: "The provisions of this
compact shall also apply to individuals whose licenses under Title 77 RCW
are currently in revoked status." [1993 c 82 § 4.]
77.75.080
77.75.080 Licensing authority defined. For purposes
of Article VII of RCW 77.75.070, the term "licensing authority," with reference to this state, means the department. The
director is authorized to appoint a compact administrator.
[2000 c 107 § 261; 1994 c 264 § 56; 1993 c 82 § 2. Formerly
RCW 77.17.020.]
Revoked licenses—Application—1993 c 82: See note following
RCW 77.75.070.
77.75.090
77.75.090 Administration facilitation. The director
shall furnish to the appropriate authorities of the participating
states any information or documents reasonably necessary to
facilitate the administration of the compact. [1994 c 264 §
57; 1993 c 82 § 3. Formerly RCW 77.17.030.]
Revoked licenses—Application—1993 c 82: See note following
RCW 77.75.070.
SNAKE RIVER BOUNDARY
77.75.100
77.75.100 Snake river boundary—Cooperation with
Idaho for adoption and enforcement of rules regarding
wildlife. The commission may cooperate with the Idaho fish
and game commission in the adoption and enforcement of
rules regarding wildlife on that portion of the Snake river
forming the boundary between Washington and Idaho. [1980
c 78 § 62; 1967 c 62 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.12.450.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.75.110
77.75.110 Snake river boundary—Concurrent jurisdiction of Idaho and Washington courts and law enforcement officers. To enforce RCW 77.75.120 and 77.75.130,
courts in the counties contiguous to the boundary waters, fish
and wildlife officers, and ex officio fish and wildlife officers
have jurisdiction over the boundary waters to the furthermost
shoreline. This jurisdiction is concurrent with the courts and
law enforcement officers of Idaho. [2000 c 107 § 222; 1980
c 78 § 63; 1967 c 62 § 3. Formerly RCW 77.12.470.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.75.120
77.75.120 Snake river boundary—Honoring licenses
to take wildlife of either state. The taking of wildlife from
the boundary waters or islands of the Snake river shall be in
accordance with the wildlife laws of the respective states.
Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife
officers shall honor the license of either state and the right of
the holder to take wildlife from the boundary waters and
islands in accordance with the laws of the state issuing the
license. [2000 c 107 § 223; 1980 c 78 § 64; 1967 c 62 § 4.
Formerly RCW 77.12.480.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.75.130
77.75.130 Snake river boundary—Purpose—
Restrictions. The purpose of RCW 77.75.100 through
77.75.130 is to avoid the conflict, confusion, and difficulty of
[Title 77 RCW—page 109]
77.75.140
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
locating the state boundary in or on the boundary waters and
islands of the Snake river. These sections do not allow the
holder of a Washington license to fish or hunt on the shoreline, sloughs, or tributaries on the Idaho side, nor allow the
holder of an Idaho license to fish or hunt on the shoreline,
sloughs, or tributaries on the Washington side. [2000 c 107 §
224; 1980 c 78 § 65; 1967 c 62 § 5. Formerly RCW
77.12.490.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
MISCELLANEOUS
intent of this 1982 amendment to RCW 77.12.440 is to provide for the allocation of the Dingell-Johnson aid for fish restoration and management
projects of the department of game and the department of fisheries. Such
funds shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature." [1982 c 26 § 1.]
Effective date—1982 c 26: "This act shall take effect on October 1,
1982." [1982 c 26 § 3.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
Chapter 77.80 RCW
PROGRAM TO PURCHASE FISHING VESSELS
AND LICENSES
Chapter 77.80
Sections
77.75.140
77.75.140 Treaty between United States and Canada
concerning Pacific salmon. The commission may adopt and
enforce the provisions of the treaty between the government
of the United States and the government of Canada concerning Pacific salmon, treaty document number 99-2, entered
into force March 18, 1985, at Quebec City, Canada, and the
regulations of the commission adopted under authority of the
treaty. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 21 (Referendum Bill No. 45,
approved November 7, 1995); 1989 c 130 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s.
c 46 § 153; 1955 c 12 § 75.40.060. Prior: 1949 c 112 § 83;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-704. Formerly RCW 75.40.060.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.75.150
77.75.150 Wildlife restoration—Federal act. The
state assents to the act of congress entitled: "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in wildlife restoration projects, and for other purposes," (50 Stat. 917; 16
U.S.C. Sec. 669). The department shall establish and conduct
cooperative wildlife restoration projects, as defined in the act,
and shall comply with the act and related rules adopted by the
secretary of agriculture. [1980 c 78 § 60; 1955 c 36 §
77.12.430. Prior: 1939 c 140 § 1; RRS § 5855-12. Formerly
RCW 77.12.430.]
Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980
c 78: See notes following RCW 77.04.010.
77.75.160
77.75.160 Fish restoration and management
projects—Federal act. The state assents to the act of congress entitled: "An Act to provide that the United States shall
aid the states in fish restoration and management projects,
and for other purposes," (64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 777).
The department shall establish, conduct, and maintain fish
restoration and management projects, as defined in the act,
and shall comply with the act and related rules adopted by the
secretary of the interior. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 69; 1987 c 506 §
47; 1982 c 26 § 2; 1980 c 78 § 61; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.440.
Prior: 1951 c 124 § 1. Formerly RCW 77.12.440.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Intent—1982 c 26: "The legislature recognizes that funds from the federal Dingell-Johnson Act (64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 777) are derived from
a tax imposed on the sale of recreational fishing tackle, and that these funds
are granted to the state for fish restoration and management projects. The
[Title 77 RCW—page 110]
77.80.010
77.80.020
77.80.030
77.80.040
77.80.050
77.80.060
Definitions.
Program authorized—Conditions.
Determination of purchase price—Maximum price.
Disposition of vessels and gear—Prohibition against using
purchased vessels for fishing purposes.
Rules—Administration of program.
Vessel, gear, license, and permit reduction fund.
77.80.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Case areas" means those areas of the Western district of Washington and in the adjacent offshore waters which
are within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington, as
defined in United States of America et al. v. State of Washington et al., Civil No. 9213, United States District Court for
Western District of Washington, February 12, 1974, and in
Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Oregon, 1969), as
amended, affirmed, and remanded 529 F. 2d 570 (9th Cir.,
1976), or an area in which fishing rights are affected by court
decision in a manner consistent with the above-mentioned
decisions;
(2) "Program" means the program established under
RCW 77.80.010 through 77.80.060. [2000 c 107 § 88; 1985
c 7 § 150; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 155; 1977 ex.s. c 230 § 3;
1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.44.100,
75.28.505.]
77.80.010
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: "The legislature
finds that the protection, welfare, and economic well-being of the commercial fishing industry is important to the people of this state. There presently
exists an overabundance of commercial fishing gear in our state waters
which causes great pressure on the fishing resources. This results in great
economic waste to the state and prohibits conservation and harvesting programs from achieving their goals. This adverse situation has been compounded by the federal court decisions, United States of America et al. v.
State of Washington et al., Civil No. 9213, United States District Court for
the Western District of Washington, February 12, 1974, and Sohappy v.
Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Oregon, 1969), as amended, affirmed, and
remanded 529 F. 2d 570 (9th Cir., 1976). As a result, large numbers of commercial fishermen face personal economic hardship, and the state commercial fishing industry is confronted with economic difficulty. The public welfare requires that the state have the authority to purchase commercial fishing
vessels, licenses, gear, and permits offered for sale, as appropriate, in a manner which will provide relief to the individual vessel owner, and which will
effect a reduction in the amount of commercial fishing gear in use in the state
so as to insure increased economic opportunity for those persons in the
industry and to insure that sound scientific conservation and harvesting programs can be carried out. It is the intention of the legislature to provide relief
to commercial fishermen adversely affected by the current economic situation in the state fishery and to preserve this valuable state industry and these
natural resources." [1977 ex.s. c 230 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.28.500.]
77.80.020
77.80.020 Program authorized—Conditions. The
department may purchase commercial fishing vessels and
appurtenant gear, and the current state commercial fishing
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
licenses, delivery permits, and charter boat licenses if the
license or permit holder was substantially restricted in fishing
as a result of compliance with United States of America et al.
v. State of Washington et al., Civil No. 9213, United States
District Court for Western District of Washington, February
12, 1974, and Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Oregon, 1969), as amended, affirmed, and remanded 529 F. 2d
570 (9th Cir., 1976).
The department shall not purchase a vessel without also
purchasing all current Washington commercial fishing
licenses and delivery permits and charter boat licenses issued
to the vessel or its owner. The department may purchase current licenses and delivery permits without purchasing the
vessel. [1984 c 67 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 156; 1979 ex.s.
c 43 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 230 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.44.110, 75.28.510.]
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: See note following RCW 77.80.010.
77.80.030
77.80.030 Determination of purchase price—Maximum price. The purchase price of a vessel and appurtenant
gear shall be based on a survey conducted by a qualified
marine surveyor. A license or delivery permit shall be valued
separately.
The director may specify a maximum price to be paid for
a vessel, gear, license, or delivery permit purchased under
RCW 77.80.020. A license or delivery permit purchased
under RCW 77.80.020 shall be permanently retired by the
department. [2000 c 107 § 89; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 157; 1975
1st ex.s. c 183 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.44.120, 75.28.515.]
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: See note following RCW 77.80.010.
77.80.040
77.80.040 Disposition of vessels and gear—Prohibition against using purchased vessels for fishing purposes.
The department may arrange for the insurance, storage, and
resale or other disposition of vessels and gear purchased
under RCW 77.80.020. Vessels shall not be resold by the
department to the seller or the seller’s immediate family. The
vessels shall not be used by any owner or operator: (1) As a
commercial fishing or charter vessel in state waters; or (2) to
deliver fish to a place or port in the state. The department
shall require that the purchasers and other users of vessels
sold by the department execute suitable instruments to insure
compliance with the requirements of this section. The director may commence suit or be sued on such an instrument in a
state court of record or United States district court having
jurisdiction. [2000 c 107 § 90; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 158;
1979 ex.s. c 43 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.44.130, 75.28.520.]
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: See note following RCW 77.80.010.
77.85.005
Effective date—1995 c 269: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.
Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 13.40.005.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: See note following RCW 77.80.010.
77.80.060 Vessel, gear, license, and permit reduction
fund. The director is responsible for the administration and
disbursement of all funds, goods, commodities, and services
received by the state under the program.
There is created within the state treasury a fund to be
known as the "vessel, gear, license, and permit reduction
fund". This fund shall be used for purchases under RCW
77.80.020 and for the administration of the program. This
fund shall be credited with federal or other funds received to
carry out the purposes of the program and the proceeds from
the sale or other disposition of property purchased under
RCW 77.80.020. [2000 c 107 § 91; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 160;
1977 ex.s. c 230 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 9. Formerly RCW
75.44.150, 75.28.535.]
77.80.060
Legislative finding and intent—1975 1st ex.s. c 183: See note following RCW 77.80.010.
Chapter 77.85
Chapter 77.85 RCW
SALMON RECOVERY
Sections
77.85.005
77.85.010
77.85.020
77.85.030
77.85.040
77.85.050
77.85.060
77.85.080
77.85.090
77.85.100
77.85.110
77.85.120
77.85.130
77.85.135
77.85.140
77.85.150
77.85.160
77.85.170
77.85.180
77.85.190
77.85.200
77.85.220
77.85.230
77.85.900
Findings—Intent.
Definitions.
Report to the legislature.
Governor’s salmon recovery office—Creation—Purpose.
Independent science panel—Selection—Terms—Purpose.
Habitat project lists.
Critical pathways methodology—Habitat work schedule.
Sea grant program—Technical assistance authorized.
Southwest Washington salmon recovery region—Created—
Recognition as a regional recovery organization.
Work group—Evaluation of mitigation alternatives.
Salmon recovery funding board—Creation—Membership.
Board responsibilities—Grants and loans administration assistance.
Allocation of funds—Procedures and criteria.
Habitat project funding—Statement of environmental benefits—Development of outcome-focused performance measures.
Habitat project lists—Tracking of funds—Report.
Statewide salmon recovery strategy—Prospective application.
Salmon monitoring data, information.
Salmon recovery account.
Findings.
Federal assurances in forests and fish report—Events constituting failure of assurances—Governor’s authority to negotiate.
Salmon and steelhead recovery program—Management
board—Duties—Termination of program.
Salmon intertidal habitat restoration planning process—Task
force—Reports.
Intertidal salmon enhancement plan—Elements—Initial and
final plan.
Captions not law.
77.80.050
77.80.050 Rules—Administration of program. The
director shall adopt rules for the administration of the program. To assist the department in the administration of the
program, the director may contract with persons not
employed by the state and may enlist the aid of other state
agencies. [1995 c 269 § 3201; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 159; 1979
ex.s. c 43 § 4; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 172; 1975 1st ex.s. c
183 § 8. Formerly RCW 75.44.140, 75.28.530.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.005 Findings—Intent. The legislature finds that
repeated attempts to improve salmonid fish runs throughout
the state of Washington have failed to avert listings of salmon
and steelhead runs as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.).
These listings threaten the sport, commercial, and tribal fishing industries as well as the economic well-being and vitality
77.85.005
[Title 77 RCW—page 111]
77.85.010
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
of vast areas of the state. It is the intent of the legislature to
begin activities required for the recovery of salmon stocks as
soon as possible, although the legislature understands that
successful recovery efforts may not be realized for many
years because of the life cycle of salmon and the complex
array of natural and human-caused problems they face.
The legislature finds that it is in the interest of the citizens of the state of Washington for the state to retain primary
responsibility for managing the natural resources of the state,
rather than abdicate those responsibilities to the federal government, and that the state may best accomplish this objective
by integrating local and regional recovery activities into a
statewide strategy that can make the most effective use of
provisions of federal laws allowing for a state lead in salmon
recovery, delivered through implementation activities consistent with regional and watershed recovery plans. The legislature also finds that a statewide salmon recovery strategy must
be developed and implemented through an active public
involvement process in order to ensure public participation
in, and support for, salmon recovery. The legislature also
finds that there is a substantial link between the provisions of
the federal endangered species act and the federal clean water
act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.). The legislature further
finds that habitat restoration is a vital component of salmon
recovery efforts. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature
to specifically address salmon habitat restoration in a coordinated manner and to develop a structure that allows for the
coordinated delivery of federal, state, and local assistance to
communities for habitat projects that will assist in the recovery and enhancement of salmon stocks. A strong watershedbased locally implemented plan is essential for local,
regional, and statewide salmon recovery.
The legislature also finds that credible scientific review
and oversight is essential for any salmon recovery effort to be
successful.
The legislature further finds that it is important to monitor the overall health of the salmon resource to determine if
recovery efforts are providing expected returns. It is important to monitor salmon habitat projects and salmon recovery
activities to determine their effectiveness in order to secure
federal acceptance of the state’s approach to salmon recovery. Adaptive management cannot exist without monitoring.
For these reasons, the legislature believes that a coordinated
and integrated monitoring system should be developed and
implemented.
The legislature therefore finds that a coordinated framework for responding to the salmon crisis is needed immediately. To that end, the salmon recovery office should be created within the governor’s office to provide overall coordination of the state’s response; an independent science panel is
needed to provide scientific review and oversight; a coordinated state funding process should be established through a
salmon recovery funding board; the appropriate local or tribal
government should provide local leadership in identifying
and sequencing habitat projects to be funded by state agencies; habitat projects should be implemented without delay;
and a strong locally based effort to restore salmon habitat
should be established by providing a framework to allow citizen volunteers to work effectively. [2005 c 309 § 1; 1999
sp.s. c 13 § 1; 1998 c 246 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.46.005.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 112]
Severability—1999 sp.s. c 13: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 sp.s. c 13 § 24.]
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1,
1999." [1999 sp.s. c 13 § 25.]
77.85.010
77.85.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Adaptive management" means reliance on scientific
methods to test the results of actions taken so that the management and related policy can be changed promptly and
appropriately.
(2) "Critical pathways methodology" means a project
scheduling and management process for examining interactions between habitat projects and salmonid species, prioritizing habitat projects, and assuring positive benefits from
habitat projects.
(3) "Habitat project list" is the list of projects resulting
from the critical pathways methodology under RCW
77.85.060(2). Each project on the list must have a written
agreement from the landowner on whose land the project will
be implemented. Projects include habitat restoration
projects, habitat protection projects, habitat projects that
improve water quality, habitat projects that protect water
quality, habitat-related mitigation projects, and habitat
project maintenance and monitoring activities.
(4) "Habitat work schedule" means those projects from
the habitat project list that will be implemented during the
current funding cycle. The schedule shall also include a list
of the entities and individuals implementing projects, the start
date, duration, estimated date of completion, estimated cost,
and funding sources for the projects.
(5) "Limiting factors" means conditions that limit the
ability of habitat to fully sustain populations of salmon.
These factors are primarily fish passage barriers and
degraded estuarine areas, riparian corridors, stream channels,
and wetlands.
(6) "Project sponsor" is a county, city, special district,
tribal government, state agency, a combination of such governments through interlocal or interagency agreements, a
nonprofit organization, regional fisheries enhancement
group, or one or more private citizens. A project sponsored
by a state agency may be funded by the board only if it is
included on the habitat project list submitted by the lead
entity for that area and the state agency has a local partner
that would otherwise qualify as a project sponsor.
(7) "Regional recovery organization" or "regional
salmon recovery organization" means an entity formed under
RCW 77.85.090 for the purpose of recovering salmon, which
is recognized in statute or by the salmon recovery office.
(8) "Salmon" includes all species of the family Salmonidae which are capable of self-sustaining, natural production.
(9) "Salmon recovery plan" means a state or regional
plan developed in response to a proposed or actual listing
under the federal endangered species act that addresses limiting factors including, but not limited to harvest, hatchery,
hydropower, habitat, and other factors of decline.
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
(10) "Salmon recovery region" means geographic areas
of the state identified or formed under RCW 77.85.090 that
encompass groups of watersheds in the state with common
stocks of salmon identified for recovery activities, and that
generally are consistent with the geographic areas within the
state identified by the national oceanic and atmospheric
administration or the United States fish and wildlife service
for activities under the federal endangered species act.
(11) "Salmon recovery strategy" means the strategy
adopted under RCW 77.85.150 and includes the compilation
of all subbasin and regional salmon recovery plans developed
in response to a proposed or actual listing under the federal
endangered species act with state hatchery, harvest, and
hydropower plans compiled in accordance with RCW
77.85.150.
(12) "Tribe" or "tribes" means federally recognized
Indian tribes.
(13) "WRIA" means a water resource inventory area
established in chapter 173-500 WAC as it existed on January
1, 1997.
(14) "Owner" means the person holding title to the land
or the person under contract with the owner to lease or manage the legal owner’s property. [2005 c 309 § 2; 2002 c 210
§ 1; 2000 c 107 § 92; 1998 c 246 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.46.010.]
77.85.020 Report to the legislature. (1) By December
1, 2006, the governor shall submit a report to the legislature
regarding the implementation of the state’s salmon recovery
strategy. The report may include the following:
(a) A description of the amount of in-kind and financial
contributions, including volunteer, private, and state, federal,
tribal as available, and local government money directly
spent on salmon recovery in response to actual, proposed, or
expected endangered species act listings;
(b) A summary of habitat projects including but not limited to:
(i) A summary of accomplishments in removing barriers
to salmon passage and an identification of existing barriers;
(ii) A summary of salmon restoration efforts undertaken
in the past two years;
(iii) A summary of the role which private volunteer initiatives contribute in salmon habitat restoration efforts; and
(iv) A summary of efforts taken to protect salmon habitat;
(c) A summary of collaborative efforts undertaken with
adjoining states or Canada;
(d) A summary of harvest and hatchery management
activities affecting salmon recovery;
(e) A summary of information regarding impediments to
successful salmon recovery efforts;
(f) A summary of the number and types of violations of
existing laws pertaining to: (i) Water quality; and (ii)
salmon. The summary shall include information about the
types of sanctions imposed for these violations;
(g) Information on the estimated carrying capacity of
new habitat created pursuant to chapter 246, Laws of 1998;
and
(h) Recommendations to the legislature that would further the success of salmon recovery. The recommendations
may include:
77.85.020
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.040
(i) The need to expand or improve nonregulatory programs and activities;
(ii) The need to expand or improve state and local laws
and regulations; and
(iii) Recommendations for state funding assistance to
recovery activities and projects.
(2) The report shall summarize the monitoring data coordinated by the monitoring forum. The summary must include
but is not limited to data and analysis related to:
(a) Measures of progress in fish recovery;
(b) Measures of factors limiting recovery as well as
trends in such factors; and
(c) The status of implementation of projects and activities. [2005 c 309 § 3; 1998 c 246 § 4. Formerly RCW
75.46.030.]
77.85.030
77.85.030 Governor’s salmon recovery office—Creation—Purpose. (Expires June 30, 2007.) (1) The salmon
recovery office is created within the office of the governor to
coordinate state strategy to allow for salmon recovery to
healthy sustainable population levels with productive commercial and recreational fisheries. The primary purpose of
the office is to coordinate and assist in the development of
regional salmon recovery plans as an integral part of a statewide strategy developed consistent with the guiding principles and procedures under RCW 77.85.150. The governor’s
salmon recovery office shall gather regional recovery plans
from regional recovery organizations and submit the plans to
the federal fish services for adoption as federal recovery
plans. The governor’s salmon recovery office may also:
(a) Assist state agencies, local governments, landowners,
and other interested parties in obtaining federal assurances
that plans, programs, or activities are consistent with fish
recovery under the federal endangered species act;
(b) Act as liaison to local governments, the state congressional delegation, the United States congress, federally recognized tribes, and the federal executive branch agencies for
issues related to the state’s salmon recovery plans; and
(c) Provide periodic reports pursuant to RCW 77.85.020.
(2) This section expires June 30, 2007. [2005 c 309 § 4;
2000 c 107 § 93; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 8; 1998 c 246 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.46.040.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.040
77.85.040 Independent science panel—Selection—
Terms—Purpose. (1) The governor shall request the
national academy of sciences, the American fisheries society,
or a comparable institution to screen candidates to serve as
members on the independent science panel. The institution
that conducts the screening of the candidates shall submit a
list of the nine most qualified candidates to the governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the majority
leader of the senate. The candidates shall reflect expertise in
habitat requirements of salmon, protection and restoration of
salmon populations, artificial propagation of salmon, hydrology, or geomorphology.
(2) The speaker of the house of representatives and the
majority leader in the senate may each remove one name
from the nomination list. The governor shall consult with
[Title 77 RCW—page 113]
77.85.050
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
tribal representatives and the governor shall appoint five scientists from the remaining names on the nomination list.
(3) The members of the independent science panel shall
serve four-year terms. Vacant positions on the panel shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
Members shall serve no more than two full terms. The independent science panel members shall elect the chair of the
panel among themselves every two years. Based upon available funding, the governor’s salmon recovery office may
contract for services with members of the independent science panel for compensation under chapter 39.29 RCW.
(4) The independent science panel shall be governed by
generally accepted guidelines and practices governing the
activities of independent science boards such as the national
academy of sciences. The purpose of the independent science panel is to help ensure that sound science is used in
salmon recovery efforts. The governor’s salmon recovery
office may request review of regional salmon recovery plans
by the science review panel. The science panel does not have
the authority to review individual projects or habitat project
lists developed under RCW 77.85.050 or 77.85.060 or to
make policy decisions. The panel shall periodically submit
its findings and recommendations under this subsection to the
legislature and the governor. [2005 c 309 § 5; 2000 c 107 §
94; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 10; 1998 c 246 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.46.050.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.050
77.85.050 Habitat project lists. (1)(a) Counties, cities,
and tribal governments must jointly designate, by resolution
or by letters of support, the area for which a habitat project
list is to be developed and the lead entity that is to be responsible for submitting the habitat project list. No project
included on a habitat project list shall be considered mandatory in nature and no private landowner may be forced or
coerced into participation in any respect. The lead entity may
be a county, city, conservation district, special district, tribal
government, regional recovery organization, or other entity.
(b) The lead entity shall establish a committee that consists of representative interests of counties, cities, conservation districts, tribes, environmental groups, business interests, landowners, citizens, volunteer groups, regional fish
enhancement groups, and other habitat interests. The purpose of the committee is to provide a citizen-based evaluation
of the projects proposed to promote salmon habitat.
(c) The committee shall compile a list of habitat projects,
establish priorities for individual projects, define the
sequence for project implementation, and submit these activities as the habitat project list. The committee shall also identify potential federal, state, local, and private funding
sources.
(2) The area covered by the habitat project list must be
based, at a minimum, on a WRIA, combination of WRIAs, or
any other area as agreed to by the counties, cities, and tribes
in resolutions or in letters of support meeting the requirements of this subsection. Preference will be given to projects
in an area that contain a salmon species that is listed or proposed for listing under the federal endangered species act.
(3) The lead entity shall submit the habitat project list to
the [salmon recovery funding] board in accordance with pro[Title 77 RCW—page 114]
cedures adopted by the board. [2005 c 309 § 6; 1999 sp.s. c
13 § 11; 1998 c 246 § 7. Formerly RCW 75.46.060.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.060
77.85.060 Critical pathways methodology—Habitat
work schedule. (1) Critical pathways methodology shall be
used to develop a habitat project list and a habitat work
schedule that ensures salmon habitat projects will be prioritized and implemented in a logical sequential manner that
produces habitat capable of sustaining healthy populations of
salmon.
(2) The critical pathways methodology shall:
(a) Include a limiting factors analysis for salmon in
streams, rivers, tributaries, estuaries, and subbasins in the
region. The technical advisory group shall have responsibility for the limiting factors analysis;
(b) Identify local habitat projects that sponsors are willing to undertake. The projects identified must have a written
agreement from the landowner on which the project is to be
implemented. Project sponsors shall have the lead responsibility for this task;
(c) Identify how projects will be monitored and evaluated. The project sponsor, in consultation with the technical
advisory group and the appropriate landowner, shall have
responsibility for this task;
(d) Include a review of monitoring data, evaluate project
performance, and make recommendations to the committee
established under RCW 77.85.050 and to the technical
review team. The technical advisory group has responsibility
for this task; and
(e) Describe the adaptive management strategy that will
be used. The committee established under RCW 77.85.050
shall have responsibility for this task. If a committee has not
been formed, the technical advisory group shall have the
responsibility for this task.
(3) The habitat work schedule shall include all projects
developed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, and shall
identify and coordinate with any other salmon habitat project
implemented in the region, including habitat preservation
projects funded through the Washington wildlife and recreation program, the conservation reserve enhancement program, and other conservancy programs. The habitat work
schedule shall also include the start date, duration, estimated
date of completion, estimated cost, and, if appropriate, the
affected salmonid species of each project. Each schedule
shall be updated on an annual basis to depict new activities.
[2000 c 107 § 95; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 12; 1998 c 246 § 8. Formerly RCW 75.46.070.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.080
77.85.080 Sea grant program—Technical assistance
authorized. The sea grant program at the University of
Washington is authorized to provide technical assistance to
volunteer groups and other project sponsors in designing and
implementing habitat projects that address the limiting factors analysis required under RCW 77.85.060. The cost for
such assistance may be covered on a fee-for-service basis.
[2000 c 107 § 98; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 14; 1998 c 246 § 11. Formerly RCW 75.46.100.]
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.090
77.85.090 Southwest Washington salmon recovery
region—Created—Recognition as a regional recovery
organization. (1) The southwest Washington salmon recovery region, whose boundaries are provided in chapter 60,
Laws of 1998, is created.
(2) Lead entities within a salmon recovery region that
agree to form a regional salmon recovery organization may
be recognized by the salmon recovery office as a regional
recovery organization. The regional recovery organization
may plan, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of a
regional recovery plan in accordance with RCW 77.85.150.
Regional recovery organizations existing as of July 24, 2005,
that have developed draft recovery plans approved by the
governor’s salmon recovery office by July 1, 2005, may continue to plan, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of
regional recovery plans. [2005 c 309 § 7; 2000 c 107 § 99;
1998 c 246 § 12. Formerly RCW 75.46.110.]
77.85.100
77.85.100 Work group—Evaluation of mitigation
alternatives. (1) The departments of transportation, fish and
wildlife, and ecology, and tribes shall convene a work group
to develop policy guidance to evaluate mitigation alternatives. The policy guidance shall be designed to enable committees established under RCW 77.85.050 to develop and
implement habitat project lists that maximize environmental
benefits from project mitigation while reducing project
design and permitting costs. The work group shall seek technical assistance to ensure that federal, state, treaty right, and
local environmental laws and ordinances are met. The purpose of this section is not to increase regulatory requirements
or expand departmental authority.
(2) The work group shall develop guidance for determining alternative mitigation opportunities. Such guidance shall
include criteria and procedures for identifying and evaluating
mitigation opportunities within a watershed. Such guidance
shall create procedures that provide alternative mitigation
that has a low risk to the environment, yet has high net environmental, social, and economic benefits compared to status
quo options.
(3) The evaluation shall include:
(a) All elements of mitigation, including but not limited
to data requirements, decision making, state and tribal agency
coordination, and permitting; and
(b) Criteria and procedures for identifying and evaluating mitigation opportunities, including but not limited to the
criteria in chapter 90.74 RCW.
(4) Committees established under RCW 77.85.050 shall
coordinate voluntary collaborative efforts between habitat
project proponents and mitigation project proponents. Mitigation funds may be used to implement projects identified by
a work plan to mitigate for the impacts of a transportation or
other development proposal or project.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "mitigation" has the
same meaning as provided in RCW 90.74.010. [2000 c 107 §
100; 1998 c 246 § 16. Formerly RCW 75.46.120.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.120
77.85.110
77.85.110 Salmon recovery funding board—Creation—Membership. (1) The salmon recovery funding
board is created consisting of ten members.
(2) Five members of the board shall be voting members
who are appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation
by the senate. One of these voting members shall be a cabinet-level appointment as the governor’s representative to the
board. Board members who represent the general public shall
not have a financial or regulatory interest in salmon recovery.
The governor shall appoint one of the general public members of the board as the chair. The voting members of the
board shall be appointed for terms of four years, except that
two members initially shall be appointed for terms of two
years and three members shall initially be appointed for terms
of three years. In making the appointments, the governor
shall seek a board membership that collectively provide the
expertise necessary to provide strong fiscal oversight of
salmon recovery expenditures, and that provide extensive
knowledge of local government processes and functions and
an understanding of issues relevant to salmon recovery in
Washington state. The governor shall appoint at least three of
the voting members of the board no later than ninety days
after July 1, 1999. Vacant positions on the board shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The
governor may remove members of the board for good cause.
In addition to the five voting members of the board, the
following five state officials shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board: The director of the department of
fish and wildlife, the executive director of the conservation
commission, the secretary of transportation, the director of
the department of ecology, and the commissioner of public
lands. The state officials serving in an ex officio capacity
may designate a representative of their respective agencies to
serve on the board in their behalf. Such designations shall be
made in writing and in such manner as is specified by the
board.
(3) Staff support to the board shall be provided by the
interagency committee for outdoor recreation. For administrative purposes, the board shall be located with the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.
(4) Members of the board who do not represent state
agencies shall be compensated as provided by RCW
43.03.250. Members of the board shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses as provided by RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060. [1999 sp.s. c 13 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.46.150.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.120
77.85.120 Board responsibilities—Grants and loans
administration assistance. (1) The salmon recovery funding board is responsible for making grants and loans for
salmon habitat projects and salmon recovery activities from
the amounts appropriated to the board for this purpose. To
accomplish this purpose the board may:
(a) Provide assistance to grant applicants regarding the
procedures and criteria for grant and loan awards;
(b) Make and execute all manner of contracts and agreements with public and private parties as the board deems necessary, consistent with the purposes of this chapter;
[Title 77 RCW—page 115]
77.85.130
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
(c) Accept any gifts, grants, or loans of funds, property,
or financial or other aid in any form from any other source on
any terms that are not in conflict with this chapter;
(d) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary
to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and
(e) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to
carry out the powers expressly granted or implied under this
chapter.
(2) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation
shall provide all necessary grants and loans administration
assistance to the board, and shall distribute funds as provided
by the board in RCW 77.85.130. [2000 c 107 § 101; 1999
sp.s. c 13 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.46.160.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.130
77.85.130 Allocation of funds—Procedures and criteria. (1) The salmon recovery funding board shall develop
procedures and criteria for allocation of funds for salmon
habitat projects and salmon recovery activities on a statewide
basis to address the highest priorities for salmon habitat protection and restoration. To the extent practicable the board
shall adopt an annual allocation of funding. The allocation
should address both protection and restoration of habitat, and
should recognize the varying needs in each area of the state
on an equitable basis. The board has the discretion to partially fund, or to fund in phases, salmon habitat projects. The
board may annually establish a maximum amount of funding
available for any individual project, subject to available funding. No projects required solely as a mitigation or a condition
of permitting are eligible for funding.
(2)(a) In evaluating, ranking, and awarding funds for
projects and activities the board shall give preference to
projects that:
(i) Are based upon the limiting factors analysis identified
under RCW 77.85.060;
(ii) Provide a greater benefit to salmon recovery based
upon the stock status information contained in the department
of fish and wildlife salmonid stock inventory (SASSI), the
salmon and steelhead habitat inventory and assessment
project (SSHIAP), and any comparable science-based assessment when available;
(iii) Will benefit listed species and other fish species;
(iv) Will preserve high quality salmonid habitat; and
(v) Are included in a regional or watershed-based
salmon recovery plan that accords the project, action, or area
a high priority for funding.
(b) In evaluating, ranking, and awarding funds for
projects and activities the board shall also give consideration
to projects that:
(i) Are the most cost-effective;
(ii) Have the greatest matched or in-kind funding;
(iii) Will be implemented by a sponsor with a successful
record of project implementation; and
(iv) Involve members of the veterans conservation corps
established in RCW 43.60A.150; and
(v) Are part of a regionwide list developed by lead entities.
(3) The board may reject, but not add, projects from a
habitat project list submitted by a lead entity for funding.
[Title 77 RCW—page 116]
(4) The board shall establish criteria for determining
when block grants may be made to a lead entity. The board
may provide block grants to the lead entity to implement habitat project lists developed under RCW 77.85.050, subject to
available funding. The board shall determine an equitable
minimum amount of project funds for each recovery region,
and shall distribute the remainder of funds on a competitive
basis. The board may also provide block grants to the lead
entity or regional recovery organization to assist in carrying
out functions described under this chapter. Block grants must
be expended consistent with the priorities established for the
board in subsection (2) of this section. Lead entities or
regional recovery organizations receiving block grants under
this subsection shall provide an annual report to the board
summarizing how funds were expended for activities consistent with this chapter, including the types of projects funded,
project outcomes, monitoring results, and administrative
costs.
(5) The board may waive or modify portions of the allocation procedures and standards adopted under this section in
the award of grants or loans to conform to legislative appropriations directing an alternative award procedure or when
the funds to be awarded are from federal or other sources
requiring other allocation procedures or standards as a condition of the board’s receipt of the funds. The board shall
develop an integrated process to manage the allocation of
funding from federal and state sources to minimize delays in
the award of funding while recognizing the differences in
state and legislative appropriation timing.
(6) The board may award a grant or loan for a salmon
recovery project on private or public land when the landowner has a legal obligation under local, state, or federal law
to perform the project, when expedited action provides a
clear benefit to salmon recovery, and there will be harm to
salmon recovery if the project is delayed. For purposes of
this subsection, a legal obligation does not include a project
required solely as a mitigation or a condition of permitting.
(7) Property acquired or improved by a project sponsor
may be conveyed to a federal agency if: (a) The agency
agrees to comply with all terms of the grant or loan to which
the project sponsor was obligated; or (b) the board approves:
(i) Changes in the terms of the grant or loan, and the revision
or removal of binding deed of right instruments; and (ii) a
memorandum of understanding or similar document ensuring
that the facility or property will retain, to the extent feasible,
adequate habitat protections; and (c) the appropriate legislative authority of the county or city with jurisdiction over the
project area approves the transfer and provides notification to
the board. [2005 c 309 § 8; 2005 c 271 § 1; 2005 c 257 § 3.
Prior: 2000 c 107 § 102; 2000 c 15 § 1; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 5.
Formerly RCW 75.46.170.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 257 § 3, 2005 c
271 § 1, and by 2005 c 309 § 8, each without reference to the other. All
amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Purpose—2005 c 257: See note following RCW
43.60A.150.
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
77.85.135
77.85.135 Habitat project funding—Statement of
environmental benefits—Development of outcomefocused performance measures. In providing funding for
habitat projects, the salmon recovery funding board shall
require recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits
of the project into their grant applications, and the board shall
utilize the statement of environmental benefits in its prioritization and selection process. The board shall also develop
appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be
used both for management and performance assessment of
the grant program. To the extent possible, the board should
coordinate its performance measure system with other natural
resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The
board shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this section. [2001 c 227 § 9.]
Findings—Intent—2001 c 227: See note following RCW 43.41.270.
77.85.140
77.85.140 Habitat project lists—Tracking of funds—
Report. (1) Habitat project lists shall be submitted to the
salmon recovery funding board for funding at least once a
year on a schedule established by the board. The board shall
provide the legislature with a list of the proposed projects and
a list of the projects funded by October 1st of each year for
informational purposes. Project sponsors who complete
salmon habitat projects approved for funding from habitat
project lists and have met grant application deadlines will be
paid by the salmon recovery funding board within thirty days
of project completion.
(2) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation
shall track all funds allocated for salmon habitat projects and
salmon recovery activities on behalf of the board, including
both funds allocated by the board and funds allocated by
other state or federal agencies for salmon recovery or water
quality improvement.
(3) Beginning in December 2000, the board shall provide
a biennial report to the governor and the legislature on
salmon recovery expenditures. This report shall be coordinated with the state of the salmon report required under
*RCW 77.85.020. [2001 c 303 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 103; 1999
sp.s. c 13 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.46.180.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.85.020 was amended by 2005 c 309 § 3,
removing the "state of the salmon report" requirement.
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.150
77.85.150 Statewide salmon recovery strategy—Prospective application. (1) The governor, with the assistance
of the salmon recovery office, shall maintain and revise a
statewide salmon recovery strategy.
(2) The governor and the salmon recovery office shall be
guided by the following considerations in maintaining and
revising the strategy:
(a) The strategy should identify statewide initiatives and
responsibilities with regional recovery plans and local watershed initiatives as the principal means for implementing the
strategy;
(b) The strategy should emphasize collaborative, incentive-based approaches;
(c) The strategy should address all factors limiting the
recovery of Washington’s listed salmon stocks, including
habitat and water quality degradation, harvest and hatchery
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.170
management, inadequate streamflows, and other barriers to
fish passage. Where other limiting factors are beyond the
state’s jurisdictional authorities to respond to, such as some
natural predators and high seas fishing, the strategy shall
include the state’s requests for federal action to effectively
address these factors;
(d) The strategy should identify immediate actions necessary to prevent extinction of a listed salmon stock, establish
performance measures to determine if restoration efforts are
working, recommend effective monitoring and data management, and recommend to the legislature clear and certain
measures to be implemented if performance goals are not
met;
(e) The strategy shall rely on the best scientific information available and provide for incorporation of new information as it is obtained;
(f) The strategy should seek a fair allocation of the burdens and costs upon economic and social sectors of the state
whose activities may contribute to limiting the recovery of
salmon; and
(g) The strategy should seek clear measures and procedures from the appropriate federal agencies for removing
Washington’s salmon stocks from listing under the federal
act.
(3) Beginning on September 1, 2000, the strategy shall
be updated through an active public involvement process,
including early and meaningful opportunity for public comment. In obtaining public comment, the salmon recovery
office shall hold public meetings throughout the state and
shall encourage regional and local recovery planning efforts
to similarly ensure an active public involvement process.
(4) This section shall apply prospectively only and not
retroactively. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
invalidate actions taken in recovery planning at the local,
regional, or state level prior to July 1, 1999. [2005 c 309 § 9;
1999 sp.s. c 13 § 9. Formerly RCW 75.46.190.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.160
77.85.160 Salmon monitoring data, information.
State salmon monitoring data provided by lead entities,
regional fisheries enhancement groups, and others shall be
included in the data base of SASSI [salmon and steelhead
stock inventory] and SSHIAP [salmon and steelhead habitat
inventory assessment project]. Information pertaining to habitat preservation projects funded through the Washington
wildlife and recreation program, the conservation reserve
enhancement program, and other conservancy programs
related to salmon habitat shall be included in the SSHIAP
data base. [1999 sp.s. c 13 § 13. Formerly RCW 75.46.200.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.170
77.85.170 Salmon recovery account. The salmon
recovery account is created in the state treasury. To the
account shall be deposited such funds as the legislature
directs or appropriates to the account. Moneys in the account
may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the
account may be used for salmon recovery. [1999 sp.s. c 13 §
16. Formerly RCW 75.46.210.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 117]
77.85.180
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
77.85.180
77.85.180 Findings. (1) The legislature finds that the
forests and fish report as defined in RCW 76.09.020 was
developed through extensive negotiations with the federal
agencies responsible for administering the endangered species act and the clean water act. The legislature further finds
that the forestry industry, small landowners, tribal governments, state and federal agencies, and counties have worked
diligently for nearly two years to reach agreement on scientifically based changes to the forest practices rules, set forth in
the forests and fish report as defined in RCW 76.09.020. The
legislature further finds that if existing forest practices rules
are amended as proposed in the forests and fish report as
defined in RCW 76.09.020, the resulting changes in forest
practices (a) will lead to: (i) Salmon habitat that meets riparian functions vital to the long-term recovery of salmon on
more than sixty thousand miles of streams in this state; (ii)
identification of forest roads contributing to habitat degradation and corrective action to remedy those problems to protect salmon habitat; (iii) increased protection of steep and
unstable slopes; and (iv) the implementation of scientifically
based adaptive management and monitoring processes for
evaluating the impacts of forest practices on aquatic
resources, as defined in RCW 76.09.020, and a process for
amending the forest practices rules to incorporate new information as it becomes available; (b) will lead to the protection
of aquatic resources to the maximum extent practicable consistent with maintaining commercial forest management as
an economically viable use of lands suitable for that purpose;
and (c) will provide a regulatory climate and structure more
likely to keep landowners from converting forest lands to
other uses that would be less desirable for salmon recovery.
(2) The legislature further finds that the changes in laws
and rules contemplated by chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess.,
taken as a whole, constitute a comprehensive and coordinated
program to provide substantial and sufficient contributions to
salmon recovery and water quality enhancement in areas
impacted by forest practices and are intended to fully satisfy
the requirements of the endangered species act (16 U.S.C.
Sec. 1531 et seq.) with respect to incidental take of salmon
and other aquatic resources and the clean water act (33
U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.) with respect to nonpoint source pollution attributable to forest practices.
(3) The legislature finds that coordination is needed
between the laws relating to forestry in chapter 76.09 RCW
and the state salmon recovery strategy being developed under
this chapter. The coordination should ensure that nonfederal
forest lands are managed in ways that make appropriate contributions to the recovery of salmonid fish, water quality, and
related environmental amenities while encouraging continued investments in those lands for commercial forestry purposes. Specifically, the legislature finds that forest practices
rules relating to water quality, salmon, certain other species
of fish, certain species of stream-associated amphibians, and
their respective habitats should be coordinated with the rules
and policies relating to other land uses through the statewide
salmon recovery planning process. The legislature further
finds that this subchapter is but one part of a comprehensive
salmon strategy as required in this chapter, and this invest[Title 77 RCW—page 118]
ment in salmon habitat will be of little value if a comprehensive state plan is not completed and fully implemented.
(4) The legislature recognizes that the adoption of forest
practices rules consistent with the forests and fish report as
defined in RCW 76.09.020 will impose substantial financial
burdens on forest landowners which, if not partially offset
through other changes in the laws and rules governing forestry, could lead to significantly reduced silvicultural investments on nonfederal lands, deterioration in the quality, condition, and amounts of forests on those lands, and long-term
adverse effects on fish and wildlife habitat and other environmental amenities associated with well managed forests.
Moreover, as the benefits of the proposed revisions to the forest practices rules will benefit the general public, chapter 4,
Laws of 1999 sp. sess. suggests that some of these costs be
shared with the general public.
(5) As an integral part of implementing the salmon
recovery strategy, chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess. (a) provides direction to the forest practices board, the department
of natural resources, and the department of ecology with
respect to the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of
rules relating to forest practices and the protection of aquatic
resources; (b) provides additional enforcement tools to the
department of natural resources to enforce the forest practices
rules; (c) anticipates the need for adequate and consistent
funding for the various programmatic elements necessary to
fully implement the strategy over time and derive the longterm benefits; (d) provides for the acquisition by the state of
forest lands within certain stream channel migration zones
where timber harvest will not be allowed; (e) provides for
small landowners to have costs shared for a portion of any
extraordinary economic losses attributable to the revisions to
the forest practices rules required by chapter 4, Laws of 1999
sp. sess.; and (f) amends other existing laws to aid in the
implementation of the recommendations set forth in the forests and fish report as defined in RCW 76.09.020. [1999 sp.s.
c 4 § 101. Formerly RCW 75.46.300.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: "Part headings used in this act
are not any part of the law." [1999 sp.s. c 4 § 1403.]
77.85.190
77.85.190 Federal assurances in forests and fish
report—Events constituting failure of assurances—Governor’s authority to negotiate. (1) Chapter 4, Laws of 1999
sp. sess. has been enacted on the assumption that the federal
assurances described in the forests and fish report as defined
in RCW 76.09.020 will be obtained and that forest practices
conducted in accordance with chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp.
sess. and the rules adopted under chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp.
sess. will not be subject to additional regulations or restrictions for aquatic resources except as provided in the forests
and fish report.
(2) The occurrence of any of the following events shall
constitute a failure of assurances:
(a) Either (i) the national marine fisheries service or the
United States fish and wildlife service fails to promulgate an
effective rule under 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533(d) covering each
aquatic resource that is listed as threatened under the endangered species act within two years after the date on which the
aquatic resource is so listed or, in the case of bull trout, within
two years after August 18, 1999; or (ii) any such rule fails to
permit any incidental take that would occur from the conduct
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
of forest practices in compliance with the rules adopted under
chapter 4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess. or fails to confirm that such
forest practices would not otherwise be in violation of the
endangered species act and the regulations promulgated
under that act. However, this subsection (2)(a) is not applicable to any aquatic resource covered by an incidental take permit described in (c) of this subsection;
(b) Either the national marine fisheries service or the
United States fish and wildlife service shall promulgate an
effective rule under 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533(d) covering any
aquatic resource that would preclude the conduct of forest
practices consistent with the prescriptions outlined in the forests and fish report. However, this subsection (2)(b) is not
applicable to any aquatic resource covered by an incidental
take permit described in (c) of this subsection;
(c) Either the secretary of the interior or the secretary of
commerce fails to issue an acceptable incidental take permit
under 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1539(a) covering all fish and wildlife
species included within aquatic resources on or before June
30, 2005. An acceptable incidental take permit will (i) permit
the incidental take, if any, of all fish and wildlife species
included within aquatic resources resulting from the conduct
of forest practices in compliance with the prescriptions outlined in the forests and fish report; (ii) provide protection to
the state of Washington and its subdivisions and to landowners and operators; (iii) not require the commitment of additional resources beyond those required to be committed under
the forests and fish report; and (iv) provide "no-surprises"
protection as described in 50 C.F.R. Parts 17 and 222 (1998);
(d) Either the national marine fisheries service or the
United States fish and wildlife service fails to promulgate an
effective rule under 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533(d) within five years
after the date on which a fish species is listed as threatened or
endangered under the endangered species act which prohibits
actions listed under 16 U.S.C. 1538;
(e) The environmental protection agency or department
of ecology fails to provide the clean water act assurances
described in appendix M to the forests and fish report; or
(f) The assurances described in (a) through (e) of this
subsection are reversed or otherwise rendered ineffective by
subsequent federal legislation or rule making or by final decision of any court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon the occurrence of a failure of assurances, any
agency, tribe, or other interested person including, without
limitation, any forest landowner, may provide written notice
of the occurrence of such failure of assurances to the legislature and to the office of the governor. Promptly upon receipt
of such a notice, the governor shall review relevant information and if he or she determines that a failure of assurances
has occurred, the governor shall make such a finding in a
written report with recommendations and deliver such report
to the legislature. Upon notice of the occurrence of a failure
of assurances, the legislature shall review chapter 4, Laws of
1999 sp. sess., all rules adopted by the forest practices board,
the department of ecology, or the department of fish and
wildlife at any time after January 1, 1999, that were adopted
primarily for the protection of one or more aquatic resources
and affect forest practices and the terms of the forests and fish
report, and shall take such action, including the termination
of funding or the modification of other statutes, as it deems
appropriate.
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.200
(3) The governor may negotiate with federal officials,
directly or through designated representatives, on behalf of
the state and its agencies and subdivisions, to obtain assurances from federal agencies to the effect that compliance with
the forest practices rules as amended under chapter 4, Laws
of 1999 sp. sess. and implementation of the recommendations
in the forests and fish report will satisfy federal requirements
under the endangered species act and the clean water act and
related regulations, including the negotiation of a rule
adopted under section 4(d) of the endangered species act,
entering into implementation agreements and receiving incidental take permits under section 10 of the endangered species act or entering into other intergovernmental agreements.
(4)(a) It is expressly understood that the state will pursue
a rule delineating federal assurances under 16 U.S.C. Sec.
1533(d) and may concurrently develop a Sec. 10(a) habitat
conservation plan by June 2005. The department of natural
resources must report regularly to the house of representatives and senate natural resources committees on the progress
of the program, and on any technical or legal issues that may
arise.
(b) The forest and fish agreement as embodied in chapter
4, Laws of 1999 sp. sess. and this chapter, the rules adopted
by the forest practices board to implement this chapter, and
all protections for small forest landowners, are reaffirmed as
part of the extension of time granted in chapter 228, Laws of
2002 and will be collectively included in the federal assurances sought by the state of Washington. [2002 c 228 § 1;
1999 sp.s. c 4 § 1301. Formerly RCW 75.46.350.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.190.
77.85.200
77.85.200 Salmon and steelhead recovery program—
Management board—Duties—Termination of program.
(1) A program for salmon and steelhead recovery is established in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum
counties within the habitat areas classified as the lower
Columbia evolutionarily significant units by the federal
national marine fisheries service. The management board
created under subsection (2) of this section is responsible for
developing and overseeing the implementation of the habitat
portion of the salmon and steelhead recovery plan and is
empowered to receive and disburse funds for the salmon and
steelhead recovery initiatives. The management board created pursuant to this section shall constitute the lead entity
and the committee established under RCW 77.85.050 responsible for fulfilling the requirements and exercising powers
under this chapter.
(2) A management board consisting of fifteen voting
members is created within the lower Columbia evolutionarily
significant units. The members shall consist of one county
commissioner or designee from each of the five participating
counties selected by each county legislative authority; one
member representing the cities contained within the lower
Columbia evolutionarily significant units as a voting member
selected by the cities in the lower Columbia evolutionarily
significant units; a representative of the Cowlitz Tribe
appointed by the tribe; one state legislator elected from one of
the legislative districts contained within the lower Columbia
evolutionarily significant units selected by that group of state
legislators representing the area; five representatives to
[Title 77 RCW—page 119]
77.85.220
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
include at least one member who represents private property
interests appointed by the five county commissioners or designees; one hydro utility representative nominated by hydro
utilities and appointed by the five county commissioners or
designees; and one representative nominated from the environmental community who resides in the lower Columbia
evolutionarily significant units appointed by the five county
commissioners or designees. The board shall appoint and
consult a technical advisory committee, which shall include
four representatives of state agencies one each appointed by
the directors of the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife,
and transportation, and the commissioner of public lands.
The board may also appoint additional persons to the technical advisory committee as needed. The chair of the board
shall be selected from among the members of the management board by the five county commissioners or designees
and the legislator on the board. In making appointments
under this subsection, the county commissioners shall consider recommendations of interested parties. Vacancies shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointments
were selected. No action may be brought or maintained
against any management board member, the management
board, or any of its agents, officers, or employees for any
noncontractual acts or omissions in carrying out the purposes
of this section.
(3)(a) The management board shall participate in the
development of a habitat recovery plan to implement its
responsibilities under (b) of this subsection. The management board shall consider local watershed efforts and activities as well as habitat conservation plans in the development
and implementation of the recovery plan. Any of the participating counties may continue its own efforts for restoring
steelhead habitat. Nothing in this section limits the authority
of units of local government to enter into interlocal agreements under chapter 39.34 RCW or any other provision of
law.
(b) The management board is responsible for the development of a lower Columbia salmon and steelhead habitat
recovery plan and for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the plan. The management board will submit all
future plans and amendments to plans to the governor’s
salmon recovery office for the incorporation of hatchery, harvest, and hydropower components of the statewide salmon
recovery strategy for all submissions to the national marine
fisheries service. In developing and implementing the habitat
recovery plan, the management board will work with appropriate federal and state agencies, tribal governments, local
governments, and the public to make sure hatchery, harvest,
and hydropower components receive consideration in context
with the habitat component. The management board may
work in cooperation with the state and the national marine
fisheries service to modify the plan, or to address habitat for
other aquatic species that may be subsequently listed under
the federal endangered species act. The management board
may not exercise authority over land or water within the individual counties or otherwise preempt the authority of any
units of local government.
(c) The management board shall prioritize as appropriate
and approve projects and programs related to the recovery of
lower Columbia river salmon and steelhead runs, including
the funding of those projects and programs, and coordinate
[Title 77 RCW—page 120]
local government efforts as prescribed in the recovery plan.
The management board shall establish criteria for funding
projects and programs based upon their likely value in
salmon and steelhead recovery. The management board may
consider local economic impact among the criteria, but jurisdictional boundaries and factors related to jurisdictional population may not be considered as part of the criteria.
(d) The management board shall assess the factors for
decline along each tributary basin in the lower Columbia.
The management board is encouraged to take a stream-bystream approach in conducting the assessment which utilizes
state and local expertise, including volunteer groups, interest
groups, and affected units of local government.
(4) The management board has the authority to hire and
fire staff, including an executive director, enter into contracts,
accept grants and other moneys, disburse funds, make recommendations to cities and counties about potential code
changes and the development of programs and incentives
upon request, pay all necessary expenses, and may choose a
fiduciary agent. The management board shall report on its
progress on a biennial basis to the legislative bodies of the
five participating counties and the state natural resourcerelated agencies. The management board shall prepare a final
report at the conclusion of the program describing its efforts
and successes in developing and implementing the lower
Columbia salmon and steelhead recovery plan. The final
report shall be transmitted to the appropriate committees of
the legislature, the legislative bodies of the participating
counties, and the state natural resource-related agencies.
(5) The program terminates on July 1, 2010.
(6) For purposes of this section, "evolutionarily significant unit" means the habitat area identified for an evolutionarily significant unit of an aquatic species listed or proposed
for listing as a threatened or endangered species under the
federal endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.).
[2005 c 308 § 1; 2001 c 135 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 121; 1998 c 60
§ 2. Formerly RCW 75.56.050.]
Effective date—2001 c 135: "This act takes effect August 1, 2001."
[2001 c 135 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—1998 c 60: "The legislature recognizes the need to
address listings that are made under the federal endangered species act (16
U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.) in a way that will make the most efficient use of
existing efforts. The legislature finds that the principle of adaptive management requires that different models should be tried so that the lessons learned
from these models can be put to use throughout the state. It is the intent of
the legislature to create a program for southwestern Washington to address
the recent steelhead listings and which takes full advantage of all state and
local efforts at habitat restoration in that area to date." [2001 c 135 § 2; 1998
c 60 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 60: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 19, 1998]." [1998 c 60 § 3.]
77.85.220
77.85.220 Salmon intertidal habitat restoration planning process—Task force—Reports. (1) If a limiting factors analysis has been conducted under this chapter for a specific geographic area and that analysis shows insufficient
intertidal salmon habitat, the department of fish and wildlife
and the county legislative authorities of the affected counties
may jointly initiate a salmon intertidal habitat restoration
planning process to develop a plan that addresses the intertidal habitat goals contained in the limiting factors analysis.
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Recovery
The fish and wildlife commission and the county legislative
authorities of the geographic area shall jointly appoint a task
force composed of the following members:
(a) One representative of the fish and wildlife commission, appointed by the chair of the commission;
(b) Two representatives of the agricultural industry
familiar with agricultural issues in the geographic area, one
appointed by an organization active in the geographic area
and one appointed by a statewide organization representing
the industry;
(c) Two representatives of environmental interest organizations with familiarity and expertise of salmon habitat,
one appointed by an organization in the geographic area and
one appointed by a statewide organization representing environmental interests;
(d) One representative of a diking and drainage district,
appointed by the individual districts in the geographic area or
by an association of diking and drainage districts;
(e) One representative of the lead entity for salmon
recovery in the geographic area, appointed by the lead entity;
(f) One representative of each county in the geographic
area, appointed by the respective county legislative authorities; and
(g) One representative from the office of the governor.
(2) Representatives of the United States environmental
protection agency, the United States natural resources conservation service, federal fishery agencies, as appointed by
their regional director, and tribes with interests in the geographic area shall be invited and encouraged to participate as
members of the task force.
(3) The task force shall elect a chair and adopt rules for
conducting the business of the task force. Staff support for
the task force shall be provided by the Washington state conservation commission.
(4) The task force shall:
(a) Review and analyze the limiting factors analysis for
the geographic area;
(b) Initiate and oversee intertidal salmon habitat studies
for enhancement of the intertidal area as provided in RCW
77.85.230;
(c) Review and analyze the completed assessments listed
in RCW 77.85.230;
(d) Develop and draft an overall plan that addresses identified intertidal salmon habitat goals that has public support;
and
(e) Identify appropriate demonstration projects and early
implementation projects that are of high priority and should
commence immediately within the geographic area.
(5) The task force may request briefings as needed on
legal issues that may need to be considered when developing
or implementing various plan options.
(6) Members of the task force shall be reimbursed by the
conservation commission for travel expenses as provided in
RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(7) The task force shall provide annual reports that provide an update on its activities to the fish and wildlife commission, to the involved county legislative authorities, and to
the lead entity formed under this chapter. [2003 c 391 § 4.]
Initiation of process—2003 c 391 §§ 4 and 5: "The process established in sections 4 and 5 of this act shall be initiated as soon as practicable
in Skagit county." [2003 c 391 § 7.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.85.230
Severability—Effective date—2003 c 391: See notes following RCW
77.57.030.
77.85.230
77.85.230 Intertidal salmon enhancement plan—Elements—Initial and final plan. (1) In consultation with the
*task force, the conservation commission may contract with
universities, private consultants, nonprofit groups, or other
entities to assist it in developing a plan incorporating the following elements:
(a) An inventory of existing tide gates located on streams
in the county. The inventory shall include location, age, type,
and maintenance history of the tide gates and other factors as
determined by the task force in consultation with the county
and diking and drainage districts;
(b) An assessment of the role of tide gates located on
streams in the county; the role of intertidal fish habitat for
various life stages of salmon; the quantity and characterization of intertidal fish habitat currently accessible to fish; the
quantity and characterization of the present intertidal fish
habitat created at the time the dikes and outlets were constructed; the quantity of potential intertidal fish habitat on
public lands and alternatives to enhance this habitat; the
effects of saltwater intrusion on agricultural land, including
the effects of backfeeding of saltwater through the underground drainage system; the role of tide gates in drainage systems, including relieving excess water from saturated soil and
providing reservoir functions between tides; the effect of saturated soils on production of crops; the characteristics of
properly functioning intertidal fish habitat; a map of agricultural lands designated by the county as having long-term
commercial significance and the effect of that designation;
and the economic impacts to existing land uses for various
alternatives for tide gate alteration; and
(c) A long-term plan for intertidal salmon habitat
enhancement to meet the goals of salmon recovery and protection of agricultural lands. The proposal shall consider all
other means to achieve salmon recovery without converting
farmland. The proposal shall include methods to increase
fish passage and otherwise enhance intertidal habitat on public lands pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, voluntary
methods to increase fish passage on private lands, a priority
list of intertidal salmon enhancement projects, and recommendations for funding of high priority projects. The task
force also may propose pilot projects that will be designed to
test and measure the success of various proposed strategies.
(2) In conjunction with other public landowners and the
*task force, the department shall develop an initial salmon
intertidal habitat enhancement plan for public lands in the
county. The initial plan shall include a list of public properties in the intertidal zone that could be enhanced for salmon,
a description of how those properties could be altered to support salmon, a description of costs and sources of funds to
enhance the property, and a strategy and schedule for prioritizing the enhancement of public lands for intertidal salmon
habitat. This initial plan shall be submitted to the task force
at least six months before the deadline established in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The final intertidal salmon enhancement plan shall be
completed within two years from the date the task force is
formed and funding has been secured. A final plan shall be
[Title 77 RCW—page 121]
77.85.900
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
submitted by the task force to the lead entity for the geographic area established under this chapter. [2003 c 391 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: The task force referred to is apparently the task force
created in RCW 77.85.220.
Initiation of process—2003 c 391 §§ 4 and 5: See note following
RCW 77.85.220.
Severability—Effective date—2003 c 391: See notes following RCW
77.57.030.
77.85.900
77.85.900 Captions not law. Captions used in this
chapter are not any part of the law. [1998 c 246 § 18. Formerly RCW 75.46.900.]
Chapter 77.90 RCW
SALMON ENHANCEMENT FACILITIES—
BOND ISSUE
terms of this chapter shall be administered by the department
subject to legislative appropriation. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 §
164; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.48.040.]
77.90.030
77.90.030 "Facilities" defined. As used in this chapter,
"facilities" means salmon propagation facilities including,
but not limited to, all equipment, utilities, structures, real
property, and interests in and improvements on real property,
as well as stream bed clearing, for or incidental to the acquisition, construction, or development of salmon propagation
facilities. Specifically, the term includes a spawning channel
on the Skagit river. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 165; 1981 c 261 §
2; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.48.050.]
Chapter 77.90
Sections
77.90.010
77.90.020
77.90.030
77.90.040
77.90.050
77.90.060
77.90.070
77.90.080
General obligation bonds authorized—Purpose—Terms—
Appropriation required.
Administration of proceeds.
"Facilities" defined.
Form, terms, conditions, etc., of bonds.
Anticipation notes—Authorized—Payment of principal and
interest on bonds and notes.
Salmon enhancement construction bond retirement fund—
Created—Purpose.
Availability of sufficient revenue required before bonds
issued.
Bonds legal investment for public funds.
77.90.010
77.90.010 General obligation bonds authorized—
Purpose—Terms—Appropriation required. For the purpose of providing funds for the planning, acquisition, construction, and improvement of salmon hatcheries, other
salmon propagation facilities including natural production
sites, and necessary supporting facilities within the state, the
state finance committee may issue general obligation bonds
of the state of Washington in the sum of twenty-nine million
two hundred thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be
required to finance the improvements defined in this chapter
and all costs incidental thereto. These bonds shall be paid and
discharged within thirty years. No bonds authorized by this
chapter may be offered for sale without prior legislative
appropriation of the proceeds of such bonds to be sold. [1990
1st ex.s. c 15 § 10. Prior: 1989 1st ex.s. c 14 § 15; 1989 c 136
§ 8; 1985 ex.s. c 4 § 10; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 162; 1981 c 261
§ 1; 1980 c 15 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.48.020.]
Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 15: See note following RCW
43.99H.010.
Severability—Effective dates—1989 1st ex.s. c 14: See RCW
43.99H.900 and 43.99H.901.
Intent—1989 c 136: See note following RCW 43.83A.020.
Severability—1985 ex.s. c 4: See RCW 43.99G.900.
Legislative finding—1977 ex.s. c 308: "The long range economic
development goals for the state of Washington must include the restoration
of salmon runs to provide an increased supply of this renewable resource for
the benefit of commercial and recreational users and the economic wellbeing of the state." [1977 ex.s. c 308 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.48.010.]
77.90.020
77.90.020 Administration of proceeds. The proceeds
from the sale of the bonds deposited in the salmon enhancement construction account of the general fund under the
[Title 77 RCW—page 122]
77.90.040
77.90.040 Form, terms, conditions, etc., of bonds.
The state finance committee may prescribe the form, terms,
conditions, and covenants of the bonds, the time or times of
sale of all or any portion of them, and the conditions and
manner of their sale and issuance. [1989 c 136 § 9; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 166; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.48.060.]
Intent—1989 c 136: See note following RCW 43.83A.020.
77.90.050
77.90.050 Anticipation notes—Authorized—Payment of principal and interest on bonds and notes. When
the state finance committee has decided to issue the bonds or
a portion thereof, it may, pending the issuing of the bonds,
issue, in the name of the state, temporary notes in anticipation
of the money to be derived from the sale of the bonds, which
notes shall be designated as "anticipation notes". The portion
of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds as may be required for
the purpose shall be applied to the payment of the principal of
and interest on the anticipation notes which have been issued.
The bonds and notes shall pledge the full faith and credit of
the state of Washington and shall contain an unconditional
promise to pay the principal and interest when due. The state
finance committee may authorize the use of a printed facsimile of the seal of the state of Washington in the issuance of the
bonds and notes. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 167; 1977 ex.s. c 308
§ 7. Formerly RCW 75.48.070.]
77.90.060
77.90.060 Salmon enhancement construction bond
retirement fund—Created—Purpose. The salmon
enhancement construction bond retirement fund is created in
the state treasury. This fund shall be exclusively devoted to
the payment of interest on and retirement of the bonds authorized by this chapter. The state finance committee shall, on or
before June 30th of each year, certify to the state treasurer the
amount required in the next succeeding twelve months for the
payment of the principal of and the interest coming due on
the bonds. Not less than thirty days prior to the date on which
the interest or principal and interest payment is due, the state
treasurer shall withdraw from any general state revenues
received in the state treasury and deposit in the salmon
enhancement construction bond retirement fund an amount
equal to the amount certified by the state finance committee
to be due on such payment date. The owner and holder of
each of the bonds or the trustee for any of the bonds may by
mandamus or other appropriate proceeding require the trans(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Enhancement Program
fer and payment of funds as directed herein. [1983 1st ex.s. c
46 § 168; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 8. Formerly RCW 75.48.080.]
77.90.070 Availability of sufficient revenue required
before bonds issued. The bonds authorized by this chapter
shall be issued only after the director has certified, based
upon reasonable estimates and data provided to the department, that sufficient revenues will be available from sport
and commercial salmon license sales and from salmon fees
and taxes to meet the requirements of RCW 77.90.060 during
the life of the bonds. [2000 c 107 § 104; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46
§ 170; 1977 ex.s. c 308 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.48.100.]
77.90.070
77.90.080 Bonds legal investment for public funds.
The bonds authorized in this chapter are a legal investment
for all state funds or for funds under state control and for all
funds of any other public body. [1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 171;
1977 ex.s. c 308 § 11. Formerly RCW 75.48.110.]
77.90.080
Chapter 77.95
Chapter 77.95 RCW
SALMON ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Sections
77.95.010
77.95.020
77.95.030
77.95.040
77.95.050
77.95.060
77.95.070
77.95.080
77.95.090
77.95.100
77.95.110
77.95.120
77.95.130
77.95.140
77.95.150
77.95.160
77.95.170
77.95.180
77.95.190
77.95.200
77.95.210
77.95.220
77.95.230
77.95.240
77.95.250
77.95.260
77.95.270
77.95.280
77.95.290
77.95.300
77.95.310
77.95.900
Legislative findings.
Long-term regional policy statements.
Salmon enhancement plan—Enhancement projects.
Commission to monitor enhancement projects and enhancement plan.
"Enhancement project" defined.
Regional fisheries enhancement group authorized.
Regional fisheries enhancement groups—Goals.
Regional fisheries enhancement groups—Incorporation prerequisites.
Regional fisheries enhancement group account—Revenue
sources, uses, and limitations.
Regional fisheries enhancement groups—Start-up funds.
Regional fisheries enhancement group advisory board.
Regional fisheries enhancement group advisory board—
Duties and authority.
Regional fisheries enhancement salmonid recovery account—
Created.
Skagit river salmon recovery plan.
Coordination with regional enhancement groups—Findings.
Fish passage barrier removal task force—Membership—Recommendations.
Salmonid fish passage—Removing impediments—Grant program—Administration—Data base directory.
Fish passage barrier removal program.
Field testing of remote site incubators.
Remote site incubator program—Reports to the legislature.
Sale of surplus salmon eggs—Order of priority.
Legislative finding.
Director’s determination of salmon production costs.
State purchase of private salmon smolts.
State purchase of private salmon smolts—Bids.
State purchase of private salmon smolts—Private ocean ranching not authorized.
State purchase of private salmon smolts—Availability of
excess salmon eggs.
Chinook and coho salmon—External marking of hatcheryproduced fish—Findings.
Chinook and coho salmon—External marking of hatcheryproduced fish—Program.
Chinook and coho salmon—External marking of hatcheryproduced fish—Rules.
Annual report—Salmon and steelhead harvest.
Severability—1985 c 458.
77.95.010 Legislative findings. Currently, many of the
salmon stocks of Washington state are critically reduced
from their sustainable level. The best interests of all fishing
groups and the citizens as a whole are served by a stable and
77.95.010
(2006 Ed.)
77.95.030
productive salmon resource. Immediate action is needed to
reverse the severe decline of the resource and to insure its
very survival. The legislature finds a state of emergency
exists and that immediate action is required to restore its fishery.
Disagreement and strife have dominated the salmon fisheries for many years. Conflicts among the various fishing
interests have only served to erode the resource. It is time for
the state of Washington to make a major commitment to
increasing productivity of the resource and to move forward
with an effective rehabilitation and enhancement program.
The commission is directed to dedicate its efforts and the
efforts of the department to seek resolution to the many conflicts that involve the resource.
Success of the enhancement program can only occur if
projects efficiently produce salmon or restore habitat. The
expectation of the program is to optimize the efficient use of
funding on projects that will increase artificially and naturally produced salmon, restore and improve habitat, or identify ways to increase the survival of salmon. The full utilization of state resources and cooperative efforts with interested
groups are essential to the success of the program. [1995 1st
sp.s. c 2 § 33 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November
7, 1995); 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 45; 1985 c 458 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.50.010.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.95.020
77.95.020 Long-term regional policy statements. (1)
The commission shall develop long-term regional policy
statements regarding the salmon fishery resources before
December 1, 1985. The commission shall consider the following in formulating and updating regional policy statements:
(a) Existing resource needs;
(b) Potential for creation of new resources;
(c) Successful existing programs, both within and outside the state;
(d) Balanced utilization of natural and hatchery production;
(e) Desires of the fishing interest;
(f) Need for additional data or research;
(g) Federal court orders; and
(h) Salmon advisory council recommendations.
(2) The commission shall review and update each policy
statement at least once each year. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 34
(Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1985 c 458 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.50.020.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s c 2: See note following RCW 43.17.020.
77.95.030
77.95.030 Salmon enhancement plan—Enhancement
projects. (1) The commission shall develop a detailed
salmon enhancement plan with proposed enhancement
projects. The plan and the regional policy statements shall be
[Title 77 RCW—page 123]
77.95.040
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
submitted to the secretary of the senate and chief clerk of the
house of representatives for legislative distribution by June
30, 1986. The enhancement plan and regional policy statements shall be provided by June 30, 1986, to the natural
resources committees of the house of representatives and the
senate. The commission shall provide a maximum opportunity for the public to participate in the development of the
salmon enhancement plan. To insure full participation by all
interested parties, the commission shall solicit and consider
enhancement project proposals from Indian tribes, sports
fishermen, commercial fishermen, private aquaculturists, and
other interested groups or individuals for potential inclusion
in the salmon enhancement plan. Joint or cooperative
enhancement projects shall be considered for funding.
(2) The following criteria shall be used by the commission in formulating the project proposals:
(a) Compatibility with the long-term policy statement;
(b) Benefit/cost analysis;
(c) Needs of all fishing interests;
(d) Compatibility with regional plans, including harvest
management plans;
(e) Likely increase in resource productivity;
(f) Direct applicability of any research;
(g) Salmon advisory council recommendations;
(h) Compatibility with federal court orders;
(i) Coordination with the salmon and steelhead advisory
commission program;
(j) Economic impact to the state;
(k) Technical feasibility; and
(l) Preservation of native salmon runs.
(3) The commission shall not approve projects that serve
as replacement funding for projects that exist prior to May
21, 1985, unless no other sources of funds are available.
(4) The commission shall prioritize various projects and
establish a recommended implementation time schedule.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 35 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); 1985 c 458 § 3. Formerly RCW
75.50.030.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.95.040
77.95.040 Commission to monitor enhancement
projects and enhancement plan. Upon approval by the legislature of funds for its implementation, the commission shall
monitor the progress of projects detailed in the salmon
enhancement plan.
The commission shall be responsible for establishing criteria which shall be used to measure the success of each
project in the salmon enhancement plan. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 §
36 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995);
1985 c 458 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.50.040.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
spawning channels, rearing ponds, egg boxes, fishways, fish
screens, stream bed clearing, erosion control, habitat restoration, net pens, applied research projects, and any equipment,
real property, or other interest necessary to the proper operation thereof. [1985 c 458 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.50.060.]
77.95.060
77.95.060 Regional fisheries enhancement group
authorized. The legislature finds that it is in the best interest
of the salmon resource of the state to encourage the development of regional fisheries enhancement groups. The accomplishments of one existing group, the Grays Harbor fisheries
enhancement task force, have been widely recognized as
being exemplary. The legislature recognizes the potential
benefits to the state that would occur if each region of the
state had a similar group of dedicated citizens working to
enhance the salmon resource.
The legislature authorizes the formation of regional fisheries enhancement groups. These groups shall be eligible for
state financial support and shall be actively supported by the
commission and the department. The regional groups shall be
operated on a strictly nonprofit basis, and shall seek to maximize the efforts of volunteer and private donations to
improve the salmon resource for all citizens of the state.
[1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 38 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 46; 1989 c 426 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.50.070.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Severability—1989 c 426: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 426 § 10.]
77.95.070
77.95.070 Regional fisheries enhancement groups—
Goals. Regional fisheries enhancement groups, consistent
with the long-term regional policy statements developed
under RCW 77.95.020, shall seek to:
(1) Enhance the salmon and steelhead resources of the
state;
(2) Maximize volunteer efforts and private donations to
improve the salmon and steelhead resources for all citizens;
(3) Assist the department in achieving the goal to double
the statewide salmon and steelhead catch by the year 2000;
and
(4) Develop projects designed to supplement the fishery
enhancement capability of the department. [2000 c 107 §
105; 1997 c 389 § 5; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 47; 1989 c 426 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.50.080.]
Findings—1997 c 389: See note following RCW 77.95.100.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Severability—1989 c 426: See note following RCW 77.95.060.
77.95.050
77.95.050 "Enhancement project" defined. As used
in this chapter, "enhancement project" means salmon propagation activities including, but not limited to, hatcheries,
[Title 77 RCW—page 124]
77.95.080
77.95.080 Regional fisheries enhancement groups—
Incorporation prerequisites. Each regional fisheries
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Enhancement Program
enhancement group shall be incorporated pursuant to Title 24
RCW. Any interested person or group shall be permitted to
join. It is desirable for the group to have representation from
all categories of fishers and other parties that have interest in
salmon within the region, as well as the general public. [1990
c 58 § 2. Formerly RCW 75.50.090.]
Findings—1990 c 58: "The legislature finds that: (1) It is in the best
interest of the state to encourage nonprofit regional fisheries enhancement
groups authorized in RCW 75.50.070 to participate in enhancing the state’s
salmon population including, but not limited to, salmon research, increased
natural and artificial production, and through habitat improvement; (2) such
regional fisheries enhancement groups interested in improving salmon habitat and rearing salmon shall be eligible for financial assistance; (3) such
regional fisheries enhancement groups should seek to maximize the efforts
of volunteer personnel and private donations; (4) this program will assist the
state in its goal to double the salmon catch by the year 2000; (5) this program
will benefit both commercial and recreational fisheries and improve cooperative efforts to increase salmon production through a coordinated approach
with similar programs in other states and Canada; and (6) the Grays Harbor
fisheries enhancement task force’s exemplary performance in salmon
enhancement provides a model for establishing regional fisheries enhancement groups by rule adopted under RCW 75.50.070, 75.50.080, and
75.50.090 through 75.50.110." [1990 c 58 § 1.]
77.95.090
77.95.090 Regional fisheries enhancement group
account—Revenue sources, uses, and limitations. The
dedicated regional fisheries enhancement group account is
created in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the commission or the commission’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment
procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is
required for expenditures.
A portion of each recreational fishing license fee shall be
used as provided in RCW 77.32.440. A surcharge of one hundred dollars shall be collected on each commercial salmon
fishery license, each salmon delivery license, and each
salmon charter license sold in the state. All receipts shall be
placed in the regional fisheries enhancement group account
and shall be used exclusively for regional fisheries enhancement group projects for the purposes of RCW 77.95.110.
Funds from the regional fisheries enhancement group
account shall not serve as replacement funding for department operated salmon projects that exist on January 1, 1991.
All revenue from the department’s sale of salmon carcasses and eggs that return to group facilities shall be deposited in the regional fisheries enhancement group account for
use by the regional fisheries enhancement group that produced the surplus. The commission shall adopt rules to
implement this section pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.
[2000 c 107 § 106. Prior: 1998 c 245 § 155; 1998 c 191 § 27;
1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 39 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); prior: 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 11; 1993 c 340
§ 53; 1990 c 58 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.50.100.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Finding, intent—Captions not law—Effective date—Severability—
1993 c 340: See notes following RCW 77.65.010.
Effective date—1990 c 58 § 3: "Section 3 of this act shall take effect
January 1, 1991." [1990 c 58 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.95.110
Findings—1990 c 58: See note following RCW 77.95.080.
77.95.100
77.95.100 Regional fisheries enhancement groups—
Start-up funds. The department may provide start-up funds
to regional fisheries enhancement groups for costs associated
with any enhancement project. The regional fisheries
enhancement group advisory board and the commission shall
develop guidelines for providing funds to the regional fisheries enhancement groups. [2000 c 107 § 107; 1997 c 389 § 2.
Formerly RCW 75.50.105.]
Findings—1997 c 389: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Currently, many of the salmon stocks on the Washington coast and
in Puget Sound are severely depressed and may soon be listed under the federal endangered species act.
(b) Immediate action is needed to reverse the severe decline of this
resource and ensure its very survival.
(c) The cooperation and participation of private landowners is crucial
in efforts to restore and enhance salmon populations.
(d) Regional fisheries enhancement groups have been exceptionally
successful in their efforts to work with private landowners to restore and
enhance salmon habitat on private lands.
(e) State funding for regional fisheries enhancement groups has been
declining and is a significant limitation to current fisheries enhancement and
habitat restoration efforts.
(f) Therefore, a stable funding source is essential to the success of the
regional enhancement groups and their efforts to work cooperatively with
private landowners to restore salmon resources.
(2) The legislature further finds that:
(a) The increasing population and continued development throughout
the state, and the transportation system needed to serve this growth, have
exacerbated problems associated with culverts, creating barriers to fish passage.
(b) These barriers obstruct habitat and have resulted in reduced production and survival of anadromous and resident fish at a time when salmonid
stocks continue to decline.
(c) Current state laws do not appropriately direct resources for the correction of fish passage obstructions related to transportation facilities.
(d) Current fish passage management efforts related to transportation
projects lack necessary coordination on a watershed, regional, and statewide
basis, have inadequate funding, and fail to maximize use of available
resources.
(e) Therefore, the legislature finds that the department of transportation
and the department of fish and wildlife should work with state, tribal, local
government, and volunteer entities to develop a coordinated, watershedbased fish passage barrier removal program." [1997 c 389 § 1.]
77.95.110
77.95.110 Regional fisheries enhancement group
advisory board. (1) A regional fisheries enhancement group
advisory board is established to make recommendations to
the commission. The members shall be appointed by the
commission and consist of two commercial fishing representatives, two recreational fishing representatives, and three atlarge positions. At least two of the advisory board members
shall be members of a regional fisheries enhancement group.
Advisory board members shall serve three-year terms. The
advisory board membership shall include two members serving ex officio to be nominated, one through the Northwest
Indian fisheries commission, and one through the Columbia
river intertribal fish commission. The chair of the regional
fisheries enhancement group advisory board shall be elected
annually by members of the regional fisheries enhancement
group advisory board. The advisory board shall meet at least
quarterly. All meetings of the advisory board shall be open to
the public under the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30
RCW.
The department shall invite the advisory board to comment and provide input into all relevant policy initiatives,
[Title 77 RCW—page 125]
77.95.120
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
including, but not limited to, wild stock, hatcheries, and habitat restoration efforts.
(2) Members shall not be compensated but shall receive
reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(3) The department may use account funds to provide
agency assistance to the groups, to provide professional,
administrative or clerical services to the advisory board, or to
implement the training and technical assistance services plan
as developed by the advisory board pursuant to RCW
77.95.120. The level of account funds used by the department
shall be determined by the commission after review of recommendation by the regional fisheries enhancement group
advisory board and shall not exceed twenty percent of annual
contributions to the account. [2000 c 107 § 108. Prior: 1995
1st sp.s. c 2 § 40 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1995 c 367 § 5; 1990 c 58 § 4. Formerly RCW
75.50.110.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
Findings—1990 c 58: See note following RCW 77.95.080.
77.95.120
77.95.120 Regional fisheries enhancement group
advisory board—Duties and authority. (1) The regional
fisheries enhancement group advisory board shall:
(a) Assess the training and technical assistance needs of
the regional fisheries enhancement groups;
(b) Develop a training and technical assistance services
plan in order to provide timely, topical technical assistance
and training services to regional fisheries enhancement
groups. The plan shall be provided to the director and to the
senate and house of representatives natural resources committees no later than October 1, 1995, and shall be updated
not less than every year. The advisory board shall provide
ample opportunity for the public and interested parties to participate in the development of the plan. The plan shall include
but is not limited to:
(i) Establishment of an information clearinghouse service that is readily available to regional fisheries enhancement groups. The information clearinghouse shall collect,
collate, and make available a broad range of information on
subjects that affect the development, implementation, and
operation of diverse fisheries and habitat enhancement
projects. The information clearinghouse service may include
periodical news and informational bulletins;
(ii) An ongoing program in order to provide direct, onsite technical assistance and services to regional fisheries
enhancement groups. The advisory board shall assist regional
fisheries enhancement groups in soliciting federal, state, and
local agencies, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, and private business for the purpose of providing
technical assistance and services to regional fisheries
enhancement group projects; and
(iii) A cost estimate for implementing the plan;
(c) Propose a budget to the director for operation of the
advisory board and implementation of the technical assistance plan;
[Title 77 RCW—page 126]
(d) Make recommendations to the director regarding
regional enhancement group project proposals and funding of
those proposals; and
(e) Establish criteria for the redistribution of unspent
project funds for any regional enhancement group that has a
year ending balance exceeding one hundred thousand dollars.
(2) The regional fisheries enhancement group advisory
board may:
(a) Facilitate resolution of disputes between regional
fisheries enhancement groups and the department;
(b) Promote community and governmental partnerships
that enhance the salmon resource and habitat;
(c) Promote environmental ethics and watershed stewardship;
(d) Advocate for watershed management and restoration;
(e) Coordinate regional fisheries enhancement group
workshops and training;
(f) Monitor and evaluate regional fisheries enhancement
projects;
(g) Provide guidance to regional fisheries enhancement
groups; and
(h) Develop recommendations to the director to address
identified impediments to the success of regional fisheries
enhancement groups.
(3)(a) The regional fisheries enhancement group advisory board shall develop recommendations for limitations on
the amount of overhead that a regional fisheries enhancement
group may charge from each of the following categories of
funding provided to the group:
(i) Federal funds;
(ii) State funds;
(iii) Local funds; and
(iv) Private donations.
(b) The advisory board shall develop recommendations
for limitations on the number and salary of paid employees
that are employed by a regional fisheries enhancement group.
The regional fisheries enhancement group advisory board
shall adhere to the founding principles for regional groups
that emphasize the volunteer nature of the groups, maximization of field-related fishery resource benefits, and minimization of overhead.
(c) The advisory board shall evaluate and make recommendations for the limitation or elimination of commissions,
finders fees, or other reimbursements to regional fisheries
enhancement group employees. [2000 c 107 § 109; 1998 c 96
§ 1; 1995 c 367 § 6. Formerly RCW 75.50.115.]
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
77.95.130
77.95.130 Regional fisheries enhancement salmonid
recovery account—Created. The regional fisheries
enhancement salmonid recovery account is created in the
state treasury. All receipts from federal sources and moneys
from state sources specified by law must be deposited into the
account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after
appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used
for the sole purpose of fisheries enhancement and habitat restoration by regional fisheries enhancement groups. [1997 c
389 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.50.125.]
Findings—1997 c 389: See note following RCW 77.95.100.
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Enhancement Program
77.95.140
77.95.140 Skagit river salmon recovery plan. The
commission shall prepare a salmon recovery plan for the
Skagit river. The plan shall include strategies for employing
displaced timber workers to conduct salmon restoration and
other tasks identified in the plan. The plan shall incorporate
the best available technology in order to achieve maximum
restoration of depressed salmon stocks. The plan must
encourage the restoration of natural spawning areas and natural rearing of salmon but must not preclude the development
of an active hatchery program. [1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 41 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1993
sp.s. c 2 § 48; 1992 c 88 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.50.130.]
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.95.150
77.95.150 Coordination with regional enhancement
groups—Findings. The legislature finds that:
(1) Regional enhancement groups are a valuable
resource for anadromous fish recovery. They improve critical
fish habitat and directly contribute to anadromous fish populations through fish restoration technology.
(2) Due to a decrease in recreational and commercial
salmon license sales, regional enhancement groups are
receiving fewer financial resources at a time when recovery
efforts are needed most.
(3) To maintain regional enhancement groups as an
effective enhancement resource, technical assets of state
agencies must be coordinated and utilized to maximize the
financial resources of regional enhancement groups and overall fish recovery efforts. [1995 c 367 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.50.150.]
Severability—1995 c 367: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 367 § 12.]
Effective date—1995 c 367: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 16, 1995]." [1995 c 367 § 13.]
77.95.160
77.95.160 Fish passage barrier removal task force—
Membership—Recommendations. The department and the
department of transportation shall convene a fish passage
barrier removal task force. The task force shall consist of one
representative each from the department, the department of
transportation, the department of ecology, tribes, cities, counties, a business organization, an environmental organization,
regional fisheries enhancement groups, and other interested
entities as deemed appropriate by the cochairs. The persons
representing the department and the department of transportation shall serve as cochairs of the task force and shall
appoint members to the task force. The task force shall make
recommendations to expand the program in RCW 77.95.180
to identify and expedite the removal of human-made or
caused impediments to anadromous fish passage in the most
efficient manner practical. Program recommendations shall
include a funding mechanism and other necessary mecha(2006 Ed.)
77.95.170
nisms to coordinate and prioritize state, tribal, local, and volunteer efforts within each water resource inventory area. A
priority shall be given to projects that immediately increase
access to available and improved spawning and rearing habitat for depressed, threatened, and endangered stocks. The
department or the department of transportation may contract
with cities and counties to assist in the identification and
removal of impediments to anadromous fish passage. [2000
c 107 § 110; 1997 c 389 § 6; 1995 c 367 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.50.160.]
Findings—1997 c 389: See note following RCW 77.95.100.
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
77.95.170
77.95.170 Salmonid fish passage—Removing impediments—Grant program—Administration—Data base
directory. (1) The department of transportation and the
department of fish and wildlife may administer and coordinate all state grant programs specifically designed to assist
state agencies, local governments, private landowners, tribes,
organizations, and volunteer groups in identifying and
removing impediments to salmonid fish passage. The transportation improvement board may administer all grant programs specifically designed to assist cities, counties, and
local governments with fish passage barrier corrections associated with transportation projects. All grant programs must
be administered and be consistent with the following:
(a) Salmonid-related corrective projects, inventory,
assessment, and prioritization efforts;
(b) Salmonid projects subject to a competitive application process; and
(c) A minimum dollar match rate that is consistent with
the funding authority’s criteria. If no funding match is specified, a match amount of at least twenty-five percent per
project is required. For local, private, and volunteer projects,
in-kind contributions may be counted toward the match
requirement.
(2) Priority shall be given to projects that immediately
increase access to available and improved spawning and rearing habitat for depressed, threatened, and endangered stocks.
Priority shall also be given to project applications that are
coordinated with other efforts within a watershed.
(3) Except for projects administered by the transportation improvement board, all projects shall be reviewed and
approved by the fish passage barrier removal task force or an
alternative oversight committee designated by the state legislature.
(4) Other agencies that administer natural resource based
grant programs that may include fish passage barrier removal
projects shall use fish passage selection criteria that are consistent with this section.
(5) The departments of transportation and fish and wildlife shall establish a centralized data base directory of all fish
passage barrier information. The data base directory must
include, but is not limited to, existing fish passage inventories, fish passage projects, grant program applications, and
other data bases. These data must be used to coordinate and
assist in habitat recovery and project mitigation projects.
[1999 c 242 § 4; 1998 c 249 § 16. Formerly RCW 75.50.165.]
Findings—Purpose—Report—Effective date—1998 c 249: See
notes following RCW 77.55.181.
[Title 77 RCW—page 127]
77.95.180
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
77.95.180
77.95.180 Fish passage barrier removal program. To
maximize available state resources, the department and the
department of transportation shall work in partnership with
the regional fisheries enhancement group advisory board to
identify cooperative projects to eliminate fish passage barriers caused by state roads and highways. The advisory board
may provide input to the department to aid in identifying priority barrier removal projects that can be accomplished with
the assistance of regional fisheries enhancement groups. The
department of transportation shall provide engineering and
other technical services to assist regional fisheries enhancement groups with fish passage barrier removal projects, provided that the barrier removal projects have been identified as
a priority by the department of fish and wildlife and the
department of transportation has received an appropriation to
continue the fish barrier removal program. [1995 c 367 § 3.
Formerly RCW 75.50.170.]
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
(6) The department shall evaluate the initial results of the
program and report to the legislature by December 1, 2000.
Annual reports on the progress of the program shall be provided to the fish and wildlife commission. [1998 c 251 § 2.
Formerly RCW 75.50.190.]
Finding—1998 c 251: "The legislature finds that trout and salmon populations are depleted in many state waters. Restoration of these populations
to a healthy status requires improved protection of these species and their
habitats. However, in some instances restoration of self-sustaining populations also requires the reintroduction of the fish into their native habitat.
Remote site incubators have been shown to be a cost-effective means
of bypassing the early period of high mortality experienced by salmonid eggs
that are naturally spawned in streams. In addition, remote site incubators provide an efficient method for reintroduction of fish into areas that are not
seeded by natural spawning. The technology for remote site incubators is
well developed, and their application is easily accomplished in a wide variety of habitat by persons with a moderate level of training.
It is a goal of the remote site incubator program to assist the
reestablishment of wild salmon and trout populations that are self-sustaining
through natural spawning. In other cases, where the habitat has been permanently damaged and natural populations cannot sustain themselves, the
remote site incubator program may become a cost-effective long-term solution for supplementation of fish populations." [1998 c 251 § 1.]
77.95.190
77.95.190 Field testing of remote site incubators. The
department shall coordinate with the regional fisheries
enhancement group advisory board to field test coho and chinook salmon remote site incubators. The purpose of field
testing efforts shall be to gather conclusive scientific data on
the effectiveness of coho and chinook remote site incubators.
[1995 c 367 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.50.180.]
Severability—Effective date—1995 c 367: See notes following RCW
77.95.150.
77.95.200
77.95.200 Remote site incubator program—Reports
to the legislature. (1) The department shall develop and
implement a program utilizing remote site incubators in
Washington state. The program shall identify sites in tributaries that are suitable for reestablishing self-sustaining, locally
adapted populations of coho, chum, or chinook salmon. The
initial selection of sites shall be completed by July 1, 1999,
and updated annually thereafter.
(2) The department may only approve a remote site incubator project if the department deems it is consistent with the
conservation of wild salmon and trout. The department shall
only utilize appropriate salmonid eggs in remote site incubators, and may acquire eggs by gift or purchase.
(3) The department shall depend chiefly upon volunteer
efforts to implement the remote site incubator program
through volunteer cooperative projects and the regional fisheries enhancement groups. The department may prioritize
remote site incubator projects within regional enhancement
areas.
(4) The department may purchase remote site incubators
and may use agency employees to construct remote site incubators. The director and the secretary of the department of
corrections shall jointly investigate the potential of producing
remote site incubators through the prison industries program
of the department of corrections, and shall jointly report their
finding to the natural resources committees of the house of
representatives and the senate by December 1, 1999.
(5) The department shall investigate the use of the
remote site incubator technology for the production of warm
water fish.
[Title 77 RCW—page 128]
77.95.210
77.95.210 Sale of surplus salmon eggs—Order of priority. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the department may supply, at a reasonable charge, surplus salmon eggs to a person for use in the cultivation of
salmon. The department shall not intentionally create a surplus of salmon to provide eggs for sale. The department shall
only sell salmon eggs from stocks that are not suitable for
salmon population rehabilitation or enhancement in state
waters in Washington after the salmon harvest on surplus
salmon has been first maximized by both commercial and
recreational fishers.
(2) The department shall not destroy hatchery origin
salmon for the purposes of destroying viable eggs that would
otherwise be useful for propagation or salmon recovery purposes, as determined by the department and Indian tribes with
treaty fishing rights in a collaborative manner, for replenishing fish runs. Eggs deemed surplus by the state must be provided, in the following order of priority, to:
(a) Voluntary cooperative salmon culture programs
under the supervision of the department under chapter 77.100
RCW;
(b) Regional fisheries enhancement group salmon culture programs under the supervision of the department under
this chapter;
(c) Salmon culture programs requested by lead entities
and approved by the salmon funding recovery board under
chapter 77.85 RCW;
(d) Hatcheries of federally approved tribes in Washington to whom eggs are moved, not sold, under the interlocal
cooperation act, chapter 39.34 RCW; and
(e) Governmental hatcheries in Washington, Oregon,
and Idaho.
The order of priority established in this subsection for
distributing surplus eggs does not apply when there is a shortfall in the supply of eggs.
(3) All sales, provisions, distributions, or transfers shall
be consistent with the department’s egg transfer and aquaculture disease control regulations as now existing or hereafter
amended. Prior to department determination that eggs of a
salmon stock are surplus and available for sale, the depart(2006 Ed.)
Salmon Enhancement Program
ment shall assess the productivity of each watershed that is
suitable for receiving eggs. [2001 c 337 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 11;
1988 c 115 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 25; 1974 ex.s. c 23 § 1;
1971 c 35 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.08.245, 75.16.120.]
Sale of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses by volunteer cooperative fish
projects: RCW 77.100.040.
77.95.290
336, Laws of 1989 shall authorize the practice of private
ocean ranching. Privately contracted smolts become the
property of the state at the time of release. [1989 c 336 § 5.
Formerly RCW 75.08.440.]
Severability—1989 c 336: See note following RCW 77.95.220.
77.95.270
77.95.220 Legislative finding. The legislature finds
77.95.220
that:
(1) The fishery resources of Washington are critical to
the social and economic needs of the citizens of the state;
(2) Salmon production is dependent on both wild and
artificial production;
(3) The department is directed to enhance Washington’s
salmon runs; and
(4) Full utilization of the state’s salmon rearing facilities
is necessary to enhance commercial and recreational fisheries. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 24; 1989 c 336 § 1. Formerly RCW
75.08.400.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Severability—1989 c 336: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 336 § 7.]
77.95.230 Director’s determination of salmon production costs. The director shall determine the cost of operating all state-funded salmon production facilities at full
capacity and shall provide this information with the department’s biennial budget request. [1989 c 336 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.08.410.]
77.95.230
Severability—1989 c 336: See note following RCW 77.95.220.
77.95.240
77.95.240 State purchase of private salmon smolts.
The director may contract with cooperatives or private aquaculturists for the purchase of quality salmon smolts for release
into public waters if all department fish rearing facilities are
operating at full capacity. The intent of cooperative and private sector contracting is to explore the opportunities of
cooperatively producing more salmon for the public fisheries
without incurring additional capital expense for the department. [1989 c 336 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.08.420.]
Severability—1989 c 336: See note following RCW 77.95.220.
77.95.250 State purchase of private salmon smolts—
Bids. If the director elects to contract with cooperatives or
private aquaculturists for the purpose of purchasing quality
salmon smolts, contracting shall be done by a competitive bid
process. In awarding contracts to private contractors, the
director shall give preference to nonprofit corporations. The
director shall establish the criteria for the contract, which
shall include but not be limited to species, size of smolt, stock
composition, quantity, quality, rearing location, release location, and other pertinent factors. [1989 c 336 § 4. Formerly
RCW 75.08.430.]
77.95.250
Severability—1989 c 336: See note following RCW 77.95.220.
77.95.260 State purchase of private salmon smolts—
Private ocean ranching not authorized. Nothing in chapter
77.95.260
(2006 Ed.)
77.95.270 State purchase of private salmon smolts—
Availability of excess salmon eggs. Except as provided in
RCW 77.95.210, the department may make available to private contractors salmon eggs in excess of department hatchery needs for the purpose of contract rearing to release the
smolts into public waters. However, providing salmon eggs
as specified in RCW 77.95.210(2) has the highest priority.
The priority of providing eggs surplus after meeting the
requirements of RCW 77.95.210(2) to contract rearing is a
higher priority than providing eggs to aquaculture purposes
that are not destined for release into Washington public
waters. [2001 c 337 § 2; 1989 c 336 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.08.450.]
Severability—1989 c 336: See note following RCW 77.95.220.
77.95.280
77.95.280 Chinook and coho salmon—External
marking of hatchery-produced fish—Findings. The legislature declares that the state has a vital interest in the continuation of recreational fisheries for chinook salmon and coho
salmon in mixed stock areas, and that the harvest of hatchery
origin salmon should be encouraged while wild salmon
should be afforded additional protection when required. A
program of selective harvest shall be developed utilizing
hatchery salmon that are externally marked in a conspicuous
manner, regulations that promote the unharmed release of
unmarked fish, when and where appropriate, and a public
information program that educates the public about the need
to protect depressed stocks of wild salmon.
The legislature further declares that the establishment of
other incentives for commercial fishing and fish processing
in Washington will complement the program of selective harvest in mixed stock fisheries anticipated by this legislation.
[1995 c 372 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.08.500.]
77.95.290
77.95.290 Chinook and coho salmon—External
marking of hatchery-produced fish—Program. The
department shall mark appropriate coho salmon that are
released from department operated hatcheries and rearing
ponds in such a manner that the fish are externally recognizable as hatchery origin salmon by fishers for the purpose of
maximized catch while sustaining wild and hatchery reproduction.
The department shall mark all appropriate chinook
salmon targeted for contribution to the Washington catch that
are released from department operated hatcheries and rearing
ponds in such a manner that the fish are externally recognizable as hatchery origin salmon by fishers.
The goal of the marking program is: (1) The annual
marking by June 30, 1997, of all appropriate hatchery origin
coho salmon produced by the department with marking to
begin with the 1994 Puget Sound coho brood; and (2) the
annual marking by June 30, 1999, of all appropriate hatchery
origin chinook salmon produced by the department with
marking to begin with the 1998 chinook brood. The depart[Title 77 RCW—page 129]
77.95.300
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
ment may experiment with different methods for marking
hatchery salmon with the primary objective of maximum survival of hatchery marked fish, maximum contribution to fisheries, and minimum cost consistent with the other goals.
The department shall coordinate with other entities that
are producing hatchery chinook and coho salmon for release
into public waters to enable the broadest application of the
marking program to all hatchery produced chinook and coho
salmon. The department shall work with the treaty Indian
tribes in order to reach mutual agreement on the implementation of the mass marking program. The ultimate goal of the
program is the coast-wide marking of appropriate hatchery
origin chinook and coho salmon, and the protection of all
wild chinook and coho salmon, where appropriate. [1999 c
372 § 15; 1998 c 250 § 2; 1995 c 372 § 2. Formerly RCW
75.08.510.]
Findings—Intent—1998 c 250: "The legislature finds that mass marking of hatchery-raised salmon is an effective tool for implementing selective
salmon fisheries in this state. Mass marking of coho salmon is currently
underway and holds great promise for maintaining both recreational and
commercial fishing opportunities while protecting wild stocks. In view of the
anticipated listing of Puget Sound chinook salmon as endangered under the
federal endangered species act, the legislature finds that it is essential to
expeditiously proceed with implementing a mass marking program for chinook salmon in Puget Sound and elsewhere in the state.
Through a cooperative effort by state and federal agencies and private
enterprise, appropriate technologies have been developed for marking chinook salmon. It is the intent of the legislature to use these newly developed
tools to implement chinook salmon mass marking beginning in April 1999."
[1998 c 250 § 1.]
77.95.900
77.95.900 Severability—1985 c 458. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 458 § 12. Formerly RCW 75.50.900.]
Chapter 77.100
Chapter 77.100 RCW
VOLUNTEER FISH AND WILDLIFE
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Sections
77.100.010
77.100.020
77.100.030
77.100.040
77.100.050
77.100.060
77.100.070
77.100.080
77.100.090
77.100.100
77.100.110
77.100.120
77.100.130
77.100.140
77.100.150
77.100.160
77.100.170
77.100.900
Legislative findings—Department to administer cooperative
enhancement program.
Definitions.
Cooperative projects—Types.
Cooperative projects—Sale of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses.
Duties of department.
Commission to establish rules—Subjects.
Agreements for cooperative projects—Duration.
Duties of volunteer group.
Application of chapter.
Cedar river spawning channel.
Cedar river spawning channel—Technical committee—Policy
committee.
Cedar river spawning channel—Specifications.
Cedar river spawning channel—Funding.
Cedar river spawning channel—Transfer of funds.
Cedar river spawning channel—Legislative declaration.
Cedar river spawning channel—Mitigation of water diversion
projects.
Fish hatcheries—Volunteer group projects.
Severability—1984 c 72.
77.100.010
77.95.300
77.95.300 Chinook and coho salmon—External
marking of hatchery-produced fish—Rules. The department shall adopt rules to control the mixed stock chinook and
coho fisheries of the state so as to sustain healthy stocks of
wild salmon, allow the maximum survival of wild salmon,
allow for spatially separated fisheries that target on hatchery
stocks, foster the best techniques for releasing wild chinook
and coho salmon, and contribute to the economic viability of
the fishing businesses of the state. [1995 c 372 § 3. Formerly
RCW 75.08.520.]
77.95.310
77.95.310 Annual report—Salmon and steelhead
harvest. Beginning September 1, 1998, and each September
1st thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the
appropriate standing committees of the legislature identifying the total salmon and steelhead harvest of the preceding
season. This report shall include the final commercial harvests and recreational harvests. At a minimum, the report
shall clearly identify:
(1) The total treaty tribal and nontribal harvests by species and by management unit;
(2) Where and why the nontribal harvest does not meet
the full allocation allowed under United States v. Washington, 384 F. Supp. 312 (1974) (Boldt I) including a summary
of the key policies within the management plan that result in
a less than full nontribal allocation; and
(3) The location and quantity of salmon and steelhead
harvested under the wastage provisions of United States v.
Washington, 384 F. Supp. 312 (1974). [1997 c 414 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.08.530.]
[Title 77 RCW—page 130]
77.100.010 Legislative findings—Department to
administer cooperative enhancement program. The fish
and wildlife resources of the state benefit by the contribution
of volunteer recreational and commercial fishing organizations, schools, and other volunteer groups in cooperative
projects under agreement with the department. These projects
provide educational opportunities, improve the communication between the natural resources agencies and the public,
and increase the fish and game resources of the state. In an
effort to increase these benefits and realize the full potential
of cooperative projects, the department shall administer a
cooperative fish and wildlife enhancement program and enter
agreements with volunteer groups relating to the operation of
cooperative projects. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 49; 1988 c 36 § 41;
1984 c 72 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.52.010.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.100.020
77.100.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Volunteer group" means any person or group of persons interested in or party to an agreement with the department relating to a cooperative fish or wildlife project.
(2) "Cooperative project" means a project conducted by
a volunteer group that will benefit the fish, shellfish, game
bird, nongame wildlife, or game animal resources of the state
and for which the benefits of the project, including fish and
wildlife reared and released, are available to all citizens of the
state. Indian tribes may elect to participate in cooperative fish
and wildlife projects with the department. [2000 c 107 § 111;
(2006 Ed.)
Volunteer Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Program
1993 sp.s. c 2 § 50; 1988 c 36 § 42; 1984 c 72 § 2. Formerly
RCW 75.52.020.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.100.030
77.100.030 Cooperative projects—Types. The
department shall encourage and support the development and
operation of cooperative projects of the following types:
(1) Cooperative food fish and game fish rearing projects,
including but not limited to egg planting, egg boxes, juvenile
planting, pen rearing, pond rearing, raceway rearing, and egg
taking;
(2) Cooperative fish habitat improvement projects,
including but not limited to fish migration improvement,
spawning bed rehabilitation, habitat restoration, reef construction, lake fertilization, pond construction, pollution
abatement, and endangered stock protection;
(3) Cooperative fish or game research projects if the
project is clearly of a research nature and if the results are
readily available to the public;
(4) Cooperative game bird and game animal projects,
including but not limited to habitat improvement and restoration, replanting and transplanting, nest box installation, pen
rearing, game protection, and supplemental feeding;
(5) Cooperative nongame wildlife projects, including but
not limited to habitat improvement and restoration, nest box
installation, establishment of wildlife interpretive areas or
facilities, pollution abatement, supplemental feeding, and
endangered species preservation and enhancement; and
(6) Cooperative information and education projects,
including but not limited to landowner relations, outdoor ethics, natural history of Washington’s fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and outdoor survival. [1984 c 72 § 3. Formerly RCW
75.52.030.]
77.100.040
77.100.040 Cooperative projects—Sale of surplus
salmon eggs and carcasses. The department may authorize
the sale of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses by permitted
cooperative projects for the purposes of defraying the
expenses of the cooperative project. In no instance shall the
department allow a profit to be realized through such sales.
The department shall adopt rules to implement this section
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 51; 1987 c
48 § 1. Formerly RCW 75.52.035.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Sale of surplus salmon eggs by department: RCW 77.95.210.
77.100.050
77.100.050 Duties of department. (1) The department
shall:
(a) Encourage and support the establishment of cooperative agreements for the development and operation of cooperative food fish, shellfish, game fish, game bird, game animal,
and nongame wildlife projects, and projects which provide an
opportunity for volunteer groups to become involved in
resource and habitat-oriented activities. All cooperative
projects shall be fairly considered in the approval of cooperative agreements;
(2006 Ed.)
77.100.060
(b) Identify regions and species or activities that would
be particularly suitable for cooperative projects providing
benefits compatible with department goals;
(c) Determine the availability of rearing space at operating facilities or of net pens, egg boxes, portable rearing containers, incubators, and any other rearing facilities for use in
cooperative projects, and allocate them to volunteer groups as
fairly as possible;
(d) Make viable eggs available for replenishing fish runs,
and salmon carcasses for nutrient enhancement of streams. If
a regional fisheries enhancement group, lead entity, volunteer
cooperative group, federally approved tribe in Washington,
or a governmental hatchery in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho
requests the department for viable eggs, the department must
include the request within the brood stock document prepared
for review by the regional offices. The eggs shall be distributed in accordance with the priority established in RCW
77.95.210 if they are available. A request for viable eggs may
only be denied if the eggs would not be useful for propagation or salmon recovery purposes, as determined under RCW
77.95.210;
(e) Exempt volunteer groups from payment of fees to the
department for activities related to the project;
(f) Publicize the cooperative program;
(g) Not substitute a new cooperative project for any part
of the department’s program unless mutually agreeable to the
department and volunteer group;
(h) Not approve agreements that are incompatible with
legally existing land, water, or property rights.
(2) The department may, when requested, provide to volunteer groups its available professional expertise and assist
the volunteer group to evaluate its project. The department
must conduct annual workshops in each administrative
region of the department that has fish stocks listed as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act,
16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq., in order to assist volunteer
groups with egg rearing, share information on successful
salmon recovery projects accomplished by volunteers within
the state, and provide basic training on monitoring efforts that
can be accomplished by volunteers in order to help determine
if their efforts are successful. [2001 c 337 § 3; 1987 c 505 §
73; 1984 c 72 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.52.040.]
77.100.060 Commission to establish rules—Subjects.
The commission shall establish by rule:
(1) The procedure for entering a cooperative agreement
and the application forms for a permit to release fish or wildlife required by *RCW 77.12.457. The procedure shall indicate the information required from the volunteer group as
well as the process of review by the department. The process
of review shall include the means to coordinate with other
agencies and Indian tribes when appropriate and to coordinate the review of any necessary hydraulic permit approval
applications.
(2) The procedure for providing within forty-five days of
receipt of a proposal a written response to the volunteer group
indicating the date by which an acceptance or rejection of the
proposal can be expected, the reason why the date was
selected, and a written summary of the process of review. The
response should also include any suggested modifications to
the proposal which would increase its likelihood of approval
77.100.060
[Title 77 RCW—page 131]
77.100.070
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
and the date by which such modified proposal could be
expected to be accepted. If the proposal is rejected, the
department must provide in writing the reasons for rejection.
The volunteer group may request the director or the director’s
designee to review information provided in the response.
(3) The priority of the uses to which eggs, seed, juveniles, or brood stock are put. Use by cooperative projects
shall be second in priority only to the needs of programs of
the department or of other public agencies within the territorial boundaries of the state. Sales of eggs, seed, juveniles, or
brood stock have a lower priority than use for cooperative
projects. The rules must identify and implement appropriate
protocols for brood stock handling, including the outplanting
of adult fish, spawning, incubation, rearing, and release and
establish a prioritized schedule for implementation of chapter
337, Laws of 2001, and shall include directives for allowing
more hatchery salmon to spawn naturally in areas where
progeny of hatchery fish have spawned, including the outplanting of adult fish, in order to increase the number of viable salmon eggs and restore healthy numbers of fish within
the state.
(4) The procedure for the director to notify a volunteer
group that the agreement for the project is being revoked for
cause and the procedure for revocation. Revocation shall be
documented in writing to the volunteer group. Cause for
revocation may include: (a) The unavailability of adequate
biological or financial resources; (b) the development of
unacceptable biological or resource management conflicts; or
(c) a violation of agreement provisions. Notice of cause to
revoke for a violation of agreement provisions may specify a
reasonable period of time within which the volunteer group
must comply with any violated provisions of the agreement.
(5) An appropriate method of distributing among volunteer groups fish, bird, or animal food or other supplies available for the program. [2001 c 337 § 4; 2000 c 107 § 112;
1995 1st sp.s. c 2 § 42 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved
November 7, 1995); 1984 c 72 § 5. Formerly RCW
75.52.050.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.12.457 was repealed by 2001 c 253 § 62.
Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
77.04.013.
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW
43.17.020.
77.100.070
77.100.070 Agreements for cooperative projects—
Duration. Agreements under this chapter may be for up to
five years, with the department attempting to maximize the
duration of each cooperative agreement. The duration of the
agreement should reflect the financial and volunteer commitment and the stability of the volunteer group as well as the
department’s expectation of resource availability and project
contributions to the resource. [1984 c 72 § 6. Formerly RCW
75.52.060.]
77.100.080
77.100.080 Duties of volunteer group. (1) The volunteer group shall:
(a) Provide care and diligence in conducting the cooperative project; and
(b) Maintain accurately the required records of the
project on forms provided by the department.
[Title 77 RCW—page 132]
(2) The volunteer group shall acknowledge that fish and
game reared in cooperative projects are public property and
must be handled and released for the benefit of all citizens of
the state. The fish and game are to remain public property
until reduced to private ownership under rules of the commission. [2000 c 107 § 113; 1984 c 72 § 7. Formerly RCW
75.52.070.]
77.100.090
77.100.090 Application of chapter. This chapter
applies to cooperative projects which were in existence on
June 7, 1984, or which require no further funding. Implementation of this chapter for new projects requiring funding shall
be to the extent that funds are available from the aquatic land
enhancement account. [1984 c 72 § 8. Formerly RCW
75.52.080.]
77.100.100
77.100.100 Cedar river spawning channel. A salmon
spawning channel shall be constructed on the Cedar river
with the assistance and cooperation of the department. The
department shall use existing personnel and the volunteer
fisheries enhancement program outlined under chapter
77.100 RCW to assist in the planning, construction, and operation of the spawning channel. [2000 c 107 § 114; 1993 sp.s.
c 2 § 52; 1989 c 85 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.52.100.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Project designation—1989 c 85: "The legislature hereby designates
the Cedar river sockeye salmon enhancement project as a "Washington state
centennial salmon venture."" [1989 c 85 § 1.]
Legislative finding—1989 c 85: "The legislature recognizes that King
county has a unique urban setting for a recreational fishery and that Lake
Washington and the rivers flowing into it should be developed for greater
salmon production. A Lake Washington fishery is accessible to fifty percent
of the state’s citizens by automobile in less than one hour. There has been
extensive sockeye fishing success in Lake Washington, primarily from fish
originating in the Cedar river. The legislature intends to enhance the Cedar
river fishery by active state and local management and intends to maximize
the Lake Washington sockeye salmon runs for recreational fishing for all of
the citizens of the state. A sockeye enhancement program could produce two
to three times the current numbers of returning adults. A sockeye enhancement project would increase the public’s appreciation of our state’s fisheries,
would demonstrate the role of a clean environment, and would show that
positive cooperation can exist between local and state government in planning and executing programs that directly serve the public. A spawning
channel in the Cedar river has been identified as an excellent way to enhance
the Lake Washington sockeye run. A public utility currently diverting water
from the Cedar river for beneficial public use has expressed willingness to
fund the planning, design, evaluation, construction, and operation of a
spawning channel on the Cedar river." [1989 c 85 § 2.]
Severability—1989 c 85: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 85 § 11.]
77.100.110
77.100.110 Cedar river spawning channel—Technical committee—Policy committee. The department shall
chair a technical committee, which shall review the preparation of enhancement plans and construction designs for a
Cedar river sockeye spawning channel. The technical committee shall consist of not more than eight members: One
representative each from the department, national marine
fisheries service, United States fish and wildlife service, and
Muckleshoot Indian tribe; and four representatives from the
public utility described in RCW 77.100.130. The technical
(2006 Ed.)
Recreational Salmon and Marine Fish Enhancement Program
Chapter 77.105
committee will be guided by a policy committee, also to be
chaired by the department, which shall consist of not more
than six members: One representative from the department,
one from the Muckleshoot Indian tribe, and one from either
the national marine fisheries service or the United States fish
and wildlife service; and three representatives from the public utility described in RCW 77.100.130. The policy committee shall oversee the operation and evaluation of the spawning channel. The policy committee will continue its oversight
until the policy committee concludes that the channel is
meeting the production goals specified in RCW 77.100.120.
[2000 c 107 § 115; 1998 c 245 § 156; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 53;
1989 c 85 § 4. Formerly RCW 75.52.110.]
Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85:
See notes following RCW 77.100.100.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85:
See notes following RCW 77.100.100.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85:
See notes following RCW 77.100.100.
77.100.120
77.100.120 Cedar river spawning channel—Specifications. The channel shall be designed to produce, at a minimum, fry comparable in quality to those produced in the
Cedar river and equal in number to what could be produced
naturally by the estimated two hundred sixty-two thousand
adults that could have spawned upstream of the Landsburg
diversion. Construction of the spawning channel shall commence no later than September 1, 1990. Initial construction
size shall be adequate to produce fifty percent or more of the
production goal specified in this section. [1989 c 85 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.52.120.]
Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85:
See notes following RCW 77.100.100.
77.100.130
77.100.130 Cedar river spawning channel—Funding.
The legislature recognizes that, if funding for planning,
design, evaluation, construction, and operating expenses is
provided by a public utility that diverts water for beneficial
public use, and if the performance of the spawning channel
meets the production goals described in RCW 77.100.120,
the spawning channel project will serve, at a minimum, as
compensation for lost sockeye salmon spawning habitat
upstream of the Landsburg diversion. The amount of funding
to be supplied by the utility will fully fund the total cost of
planning, design, evaluation, and construction of the spawning channel. [2000 c 107 § 116; 1989 c 85 § 6. Formerly
RCW 75.52.130.]
Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85:
See notes following RCW 77.100.100.
77.100.160
77.100.160 Cedar river spawning channel—Mitigation of water diversion projects. Should the requirements
of RCW 77.100.100 through 77.100.160 not be met, the
department shall seek immediate legal clarification of the
steps which must be taken to fully mitigate water diversion
projects on the Cedar river. [2000 c 107 § 118; 1993 sp.s. c 2
§ 54; 1989 c 85 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.52.160.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.100.170
77.100.170 Fish hatcheries—Volunteer group
projects. The manager of a state fish hatchery operated by
the department of fish and wildlife may allow nonprofit volunteer groups affiliated with the hatchery to undertake
projects to raise donations, gifts, and grants that enhance support for the hatchery or activities in the surrounding watershed that benefit the hatchery. The manager may provide
agency personnel and services, if available, to assist in the
projects and may allow the volunteer groups to conduct activities on the grounds of the hatchery.
The director of the department of fish and wildlife shall
encourage and facilitate arrangements between hatchery
managers and nonprofit volunteer groups and may establish
guidelines for such arrangements. [1995 c 224 § 1. Formerly
RCW 75.08.047.]
77.100.900
77.100.900 Severability—1984 c 72. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1984 c 72 § 9. Formerly RCW 75.52.900.]
Chapter 77.105 RCW
RECREATIONAL SALMON AND MARINE FISH
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Chapter 77.105
Sections
77.105.005
77.105.010
77.105.020
77.105.030
77.105.040
77.105.050
77.100.140 Cedar river spawning channel—Transfer
of funds.
77.105.060
77.105.070
Reviser’s note: RCW 75.52.140 was amended by 2000 c 107 § 117 and
recodified as RCW 77.100.140 without reference to its repeal by 2000 c 150
§ 2. It has been decodified, effective July 1, 2001, for publication purposes
under RCW 1.12.025.
77.105.080
77.105.090
77.105.100
77.100.140
77.105.110
77.100.150
77.100.150 Cedar river spawning channel—Legislative declaration. The legislature hereby declares that the
construction of the Cedar river sockeye spawning channel is
in the best interests of the state of Washington. [1989 c 85 §
9. Formerly RCW 75.52.150.]
(2006 Ed.)
77.105.120
77.105.130
77.105.140
77.105.150
77.105.160
Findings.
Program created—Coordinator.
Department responsibilities.
Planning and operation of programs—Assistance from nondepartmental sources.
Delayed-release chinook salmon—Freshwater rearing.
Marine bottomfish species—Research, methods, and programs for artificial rearing.
Additional research.
Siting process for enhancement projects—Cooperation with
other entities.
Public awareness program.
Management of predators.
Plans to target hatchery-produced fish—Participation by fishing interests—Feasibility of increased survival and production of chinook and coho salmon.
Coordination of sport fishing program with wild stock initiative.
Increased recreational access to salmon and marine fish
resources—Plans.
Recreational fishing projects—Contracting with entities.
Saltwater, combination fishing license—Disposition of fee.
Recreational fisheries enhancement account.
Oversight committee—Created—Duties.
[Title 77 RCW—page 133]
77.105.005
77.105.900
77.105.901
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 7, 60, 80, and 82-100.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2.
77.105.005
77.105.005 Findings. The legislature finds that recreational fishing opportunities for salmon and marine bottomfish have been dwindling in recent years. It is important to
restore diminished recreational fisheries and to enhance the
salmon and marine bottomfish resource to assure sustained
productivity. Investments made in recreational fishing programs will repay the people of the state many times over in
increased economic activity and in an improved quality of
life. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 82. Formerly RCW 75.54.005.]
77.105.010
77.105.010 Program created—Coordinator. There is
created within the department of fish and wildlife the Puget
Sound recreational salmon and marine fish enhancement program. The department of fish and wildlife shall identify a
coordinator for the program who shall act as spokesperson
for the program and shall:
(1) Coordinate the activities of the Puget Sound recreational salmon and marine fish enhancement program,
including the Lake Washington salmon fishery; and
(2) Work within and outside of the department to achieve
the goals stated in this chapter, including coordinating with
the Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement oversight committee established in RCW 77.105.160. [2003 c
173 § 1; 1998 c 245 § 157; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 83. Formerly
RCW 75.54.010.]
77.105.020
77.105.020 Department responsibilities. The department shall: Develop a short-term program of hatchery-based
salmon enhancement using freshwater pond sites for the final
rearing phase; solicit support from cooperative projects,
regional enhancement groups, and other supporting organizations; conduct comprehensive research on resident and
migratory salmon production opportunities; and conduct
research on marine bottomfish production limitations and on
methods for artificial propagation of marine bottomfish.
Long-term responsibilities of the department are to:
Fully implement enhancement efforts for Puget Sound and
Hood Canal resident salmon and marine bottomfish; identify
opportunities to reestablish salmon runs into areas where they
no longer exist; encourage naturally spawning salmon populations to develop to their fullest extent; and fully utilize
hatchery programs to improve recreational fishing. [1993
sp.s. c 2 § 84. Formerly RCW 75.54.020.]
77.105.030
77.105.030 Planning and operation of programs—
Assistance from nondepartmental sources. The department shall seek recommendations from persons who are
expert on the planning and operation of programs for
enhancement of recreational fisheries. The department shall
fully use the expertise of the University of Washington college of fisheries and the sea grant program to develop
research and enhancement programs. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 85.
Formerly RCW 75.54.030.]
77.105.040 Delayed-release chinook salmon—Freshwater rearing. The department shall develop new locations
for the freshwater rearing of delayed-release chinook salmon.
In calendar year 1994, at least one freshwater pond chinook
77.105.040
[Title 77 RCW—page 134]
salmon rearing site shall be developed and begin production
in each of the following areas: South Puget Sound, central
Puget Sound, north Puget Sound, and Hood Canal. Natural or
artificial pond sites shall be preferred to net pens due to
higher survival rates experienced from pond rearing. Rigorous predatory bird control measures shall be implemented.
The goal of the program is to increase the production and
planting of delayed-release chinook salmon to a level of three
million fish annually by the year 2000. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 86.
Formerly RCW 75.54.040.]
77.105.050
77.105.050 Marine bottomfish species—Research,
methods, and programs for artificial rearing. The department shall conduct research, develop methods, and implement programs for the artificial rearing and release of marine
bottomfish species. Lingcod, halibut, rockfish, and Pacific
cod shall be the species of primary emphasis due to their
importance in the recreational fishery. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 87.
Formerly RCW 75.54.050.]
77.105.060
77.105.060 Additional research. The department shall
undertake additional research to more fully evaluate
improved enhancement techniques, hooking mortality rates,
methods of mass marking, improvement of catch models, and
sources of marine bottomfish mortality. Research shall be
designed to give the best opportunity to provide information
that can be applied to real-world recreational fishing needs.
[1993 sp.s. c 2 § 88. Formerly RCW 75.54.060.]
77.105.070
77.105 .070 Siting process fo r enh an cement
projects—Cooperation with other entities. The department shall work with the department of ecology and local
government entities to streamline the siting process for new
enhancement projects. The department is encouraged to work
with the legislature to develop statutory changes that enable
expeditious processing and granting of permits for fish
enhancement projects. [1994 c 264 § 47; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 89.
Formerly RCW 75.54.070.]
77.105.080
77.105.080 Public awareness program. The department’s information and education section shall develop a
public awareness program designed to educate the public on
the elements of the recreational fishing program and to
recruit volunteers to assist the department in implementing
recreational fishing projects. Economic benefits of the program shall be emphasized. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 90. Formerly
RCW 75.54.080.]
77.105.090
77.105.090 Management of predators. The department shall increase efforts to document the effects of bird
predators, harbor seals, sea lions, and predatory fish upon the
salmon and marine fish resource. Every opportunity shall be
explored to convince the federal government to amend the
marine mammal protection act to allow for balanced management of predators, as well as to work with the United States
fish and wildlife service to achieve workable control measures for predatory birds. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 91. Formerly
RCW 75.54.090.]
(2006 Ed.)
Salmon and Steelhead Trout—Management of Resources
77.105.100
77.105.100 Plans to target hatchery-produced fish—
Participation by fishing interests—Feasibility of
increased survival and production of chinook and coho
salmon. Indian tribal fishing interests and non-Indian commercial fishing groups shall be invited to participate in development of plans for selective fisheries that target hatcheryproduced fish and minimize catch of naturally spawned fish.
In addition, talks shall be initiated on the feasibility of altering the rearing programs of department hatcheries to achieve
higher survival and greater production of chinook and coho
salmon. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 92. Formerly RCW 75.54.100.]
77.105.110
77.105.110 Coordination of sport fishing program
with wild stock initiative. The department shall coordinate
the sport fishing program with the wild stock initiative to
assure that the two programs are compatible and potential
conflicts are avoided. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 93. Formerly RCW
75.54.110.]
77.105.120
77.105.120 Increased recreational access to salmon
and marine fish resources—Plans. The department shall
develop plans for increased recreational access to salmon and
marine fish resources. Proposals for new boat launching
ramps and pier fishing access shall be developed. [1993 sp.s.
c 2 § 94. Formerly RCW 75.54.120.]
77.105.130
77.105.130 Recreational fishing projects—Contracting with entities. The department shall contract with private
consultants, aquatic farms, or construction firms, where
appropriate, to achieve the highest benefit-to-cost ratio for
recreational fishing projects. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 95. Formerly
RCW 75.54.130.]
shall serve for a term of two years, and may be reappointed
for subsequent two-year terms at the discretion of the director. Members of the committee serve without compensation.
(2) The Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement
oversight committee has the following duties:
(a) Advise the department on all aspects of the Puget
Sound recreational fisheries enhancement program;
(b) Review and provide guidance on the annual budget
for the recreational fisheries enhancement account;
(c) Select a chair of the committee. It is the chair’s duty
to coordinate with the department on all issues related to the
Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement program;
(d) Meet at least quarterly with the department’s coordinator of the Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement
program;
(e) Review and comment on program documents and
proposed production of salmon and other species; and
(f) Address other issues related to the purposes of the
Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement program that
are of interest to recreational fishers in Puget Sound. [2003 c
173 § 2.]
77.105.900 Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 7, 60, 80,
and 82-100. Sections 7, 60, 80, and 82 through 100 of this
act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government
and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July
1, 1993. [1993 sp.s. c 2 § 105. Formerly RCW 75.54.900.]
77.105.900
77.105.901 Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2.
43.300.901.
77.105.901
Chapter 77.110
77.105.140
77.105.140 Saltwater, combination fishing license—
Disposition of fee. As provided in RCW 77.32.440, a portion of each saltwater and combination fishing license fee
shall be deposited in the recreational fisheries enhancement
account created in RCW 77.105.150. [2000 c 107 § 119;
1998 c 191 § 28; 1997 c 197 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 97. Formerly
RCW 75.54.140.]
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.400.
77.110.030
See RCW
Chapter 77.110 RCW
SALMON AND STEELHEAD TROUT—
MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES
Sections
77.110.010
77.110.020
77.110.030
77.110.040
77.110.900
77.110.901
Declaration.
Petition to congress.
Management of natural resources—State policy.
Declaration—Denial of rights based on race, sex, origin, or
cultural heritage.
Transmittal of act to president and congress—1985 c 1.
Severability—1985 c 1.
77.105.150
77.105.150 Recreational fisheries enhancement
account. The recreational fisheries enhancement account is
created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW
77.105.140 shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in
the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for recreational fisheries enhancement programs identified in this chapter. Under
no circumstances may moneys from the account be used to
backfill shortfalls in other state funding sources. [2003 c 173
§ 3; 2000 c 107 § 120; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 98. Formerly RCW
75.54.150.]
77.105.160
77.105.160 Oversight committee—Created—Duties.
(1) The Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement
oversight committee is created. The director shall appoint at
least seven members representing sport fishing organizations
to the committee from a list of applicants, ensuring broad representation from the sport fishing community. Each member
(2006 Ed.)
77.110.010 Declaration. The people of the state of
Washington declare that an emergency exists in the management of salmon and steelhead trout resources such that both
are in great peril. An immediate resolution of this crisis is
essential to perpetuating and enhancing these resources.
[1985 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly RCW 75.56.010.]
77.110.010
77.110.020 Petition to congress. The people of the
state of Washington petition the United States Congress to
immediately make the steelhead trout a national game fish
protected under the Black Bass Act. [1985 c 1 § 2 (Initiative
Measure No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly
RCW 75.56.020.]
77.110.020
77.110.030 Management of natural resources—State
policy. The people of the state of Washington declare that
77.110.030
[Title 77 RCW—page 135]
77.110.040
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
conservation, enhancement, and proper utilization of the
state’s natural resources, including but not limited to lands,
waters, timber, fish, and game are responsibilities of the state
of Washington and shall remain within the express domain of
the state of Washington.
While fully respecting private property rights, all
resources in the state’s domain shall be managed by the state
alone such that conservation, enhancement, and proper utilization are the primary considerations. No citizen shall be
denied equal access to and use of any resource on the basis of
race, sex, origin, cultural heritage, or by and through any
treaty based upon the same. [1985 c 1 § 3 (Initiative Measure
No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly RCW
75.56.030.]
77.110.040 Declaration—Denial of rights based on
race, sex, origin, or cultural heritage. The people of the
state of Washington declare that under the Indians Citizens
Act of 1924, all Indians became citizens of the United States
and subject to the Constitution and laws of the United States
and state in which they reside. The people further declare that
any special off-reservation legal rights or privileges of Indians established through treaties that are denied to other citizens were terminated by that 1924 enactment, and any denial
of rights to any citizen based upon race, sex, origin, cultural
heritage, or by and through any treaty based upon the same is
unconstitutional.
No rights, privileges, or immunities shall be denied to
any citizen upon the basis of race, sex, origin, cultural heritage, or by and through any treaty based upon the same.
[1985 c 1 § 4 (Initiative Measure No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly RCW 75.56.040.]
77.110.040
77.110.900 Transmittal of act to president and congress—1985 c 1. The secretary of state shall transmit copies
of this act to the president of the United States senate, the
speaker of the United States house of representatives, and
each member of congress. [1985 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure
No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly RCW
75.56.900.]
77.110.900
77.110.901 Severability—1985 c 1. If any provision of
this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 1 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 456, approved November 6, 1984). Formerly RCW 75.56.905.]
77.110.901
Chapter 77.115
Chapter 77.115 RCW
AQUACULTURE DISEASE CONTROL
Sections
77.115.010
77.115.020
77.115.030
77.115.040
Disease inspection and control for aquatic farmers—Development of program—Elements—Rules—Violations.
Disease inspection and control program—User fees—Aquaculture disease control account.
Consultation required—Agreements for diagnostic field services authorized—Roster of biologists.
Registration of aquatic farmers.
77.115.010 Disease inspection and control for aquatic
farmers—Development of program—Elements—Rules—
77.115.010
[Title 77 RCW—page 136]
Violations. (1) The director of agriculture and the director
shall jointly develop a program of disease inspection and
control for aquatic farmers as defined in RCW 15.85.020.
The program shall be administered by the department under
rules established under this section. The purpose of the program is to protect the aquaculture industry and wildstock
fisheries from a loss of productivity due to aquatic diseases or
maladies. As used in this section "diseases" means, in addition to its ordinary meaning, infestations of parasites or pests.
The disease program may include, but is not limited to, the
following elements:
(a) Disease diagnosis;
(b) Import and transfer requirements;
(c) Provision for certification of stocks;
(d) Classification of diseases by severity;
(e) Provision for treatment of selected high-risk diseases;
(f) Provision for containment and eradication of highrisk diseases;
(g) Provision for destruction of diseased cultured aquatic
products;
(h) Provision for quarantine of diseased cultured aquatic
products;
(i) Provision for coordination with state and federal
agencies;
(j) Provision for development of preventative or control
measures;
(k) Provision for cooperative consultation service to
aquatic farmers; and
(l) Provision for disease history records.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules implementing this
section. However, such rules shall have the prior approval of
the director of agriculture and shall provide therein that the
director of agriculture has provided such approval. The director of agriculture or the director’s designee shall attend the
rule-making hearings conducted under chapter 34.05 RCW
and shall assist in conducting those hearings. The authorities
granted the department by these rules and by RCW
77.12.047(1)(g), 77.60.060, 77.60.080, 77.65.210,
*77.115.020, 77.115.030, and 77.115.040 constitute the only
authorities of the department to regulate private sector cultured aquatic products and aquatic farmers as defined in
RCW 15.85.020. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this
section, no action may be taken against any person to enforce
these rules unless the department has first provided the person an opportunity for a hearing. In such a case, if the hearing
is requested, no enforcement action may be taken before the
conclusion of that hearing.
(3) The rules adopted under this section shall specify the
emergency enforcement actions that may be taken by the
department, and the circumstances under which they may be
taken, without first providing the affected party with an
opportunity for a hearing. Neither the provisions of this subsection nor the provisions of subsection (2) of this section
shall preclude the department from requesting the initiation
of criminal proceedings for violations of the disease inspection and control rules.
(4) A person shall not violate the rules adopted under
subsection (2) or (3) of this section or violate RCW
77.115.040.
(2006 Ed.)
Ballast Water Management
(5) In administering the program established under this
section, the department shall use the services of a pathologist
licensed to practice veterinary medicine.
(6) The director in administering the program shall not
place constraints on or take enforcement actions in respect to
the aquaculture industry that are more rigorous than those
placed on the department or other fish-rearing entities. [2000
c 107 § 122; 1998 c 190 § 110; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 55; 1988 c 36
§ 43; 1985 c 457 § 8. Formerly RCW 75.58.010.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 75.58.020 was recodified as RCW 77.115.020
and also repealed by 2000 c 150 § 2, effective July 1, 2001.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.115.020
77.115.020 Disease inspection and control program—User fees—Aquaculture disease control account.
Reviser’s note: RCW 75.58.020 was amended by 2000 c 107 § 123 and
recodified as RCW 77.115.020 without reference to its repeal by 2000 c 150
§ 2. It has been decodified, effective July 1, 2001, for publication purposes
under RCW 1.12.025.
77.115.030
77.115.030 Consultation required—Agreements for
diagnostic field services authorized—Roster of biologists.
(1) The director shall consult regarding the disease inspection
and control program established under RCW 77.115.010 with
federal agencies and Indian tribes to assure protection of
state, federal, and tribal aquatic resources and to protect private sector cultured aquatic products from disease that could
originate from waters or facilities managed by those agencies.
(2) With regard to the program, the director may enter
into contracts or interagency agreements for diagnostic field
services with government agencies and institutions of higher
education and private industry.
(3) The director shall provide for the creation and distribution of a roster of biologists having a specialty in the diagnosis or treatment of diseases of fish or shellfish. The director
shall adopt rules specifying the qualifications which a person
must have in order to be placed on the roster. [2000 c 107 §
124; 1993 sp.s. c 2 § 57; 1988 c 36 § 44; 1985 c 457 § 10. Formerly RCW 75.58.030.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
77.115.040
77.115.040 Registration of aquatic farmers. All
aquatic farmers as defined in RCW 15.85.020 shall register
with the department. The director shall develop and maintain
a registration list of all aquaculture farms. Registered aquaculture farms shall provide the department production statistical data. The state veterinarian shall be provided with registration and statistical data by the department. [1993 sp.s. c 2
§ 58; 1988 c 36 § 45; 1985 c 457 § 11. Formerly RCW
75.58.040.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 77.120
77.120.010
Chapter 77.120 RCW
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT
Sections
77.120.005
77.120.010
77.120.020
77.120.030
77.120.040
77.120.050
77.120.060
77.120.070
77.120.080
77.120.090
77.120.900
Findings.
Definitions.
Application of chapter.
Authorized ballast water discharge—Report.
Reporting and sampling requirements.
Pilot project—Private sector ballast water treatment operation.
Report to legislature—Results of chapter.
Violation of chapter—Penalties.
Legislative review of chapter—Recommendations.
Ballast water information system—Improvements.
Severability—2000 c 108.
77.120.005 Findings. The legislature finds that some
nonindigenous species have the potential to cause economic
and environmental damage to the state and that current
efforts to stop the introduction of nonindigenous species from
shipping vessels do not adequately reduce the risk of new
introductions into Washington waters.
The legislature recognizes the international ramifications and the rapidly changing dimensions of this issue, the
lack of currently available treatment technologies, and the
difficulty that any one state has in either legally or practically
managing this issue. Recognizing the possible limits of state
jurisdiction over international issues, the state declares its
support for the international maritime organization and
United States coast guard efforts, and the state intends to
complement, to the extent its powers allow it, the United
States coast guard’s ballast water management program.
[2004 c 227 § 1; 2000 c 108 § 1.]
77.120.005
77.120.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Ballast tank" means any tank or hold on a vessel
used for carrying ballast water, whether or not the tank or
hold was designed for that purpose.
(2) "Ballast water" means any water and matter taken on
board a vessel to control or maintain trim, draft, stability, or
stresses of the vessel, without regard to the manner in which
it is carried.
(3) "Empty/refill exchange" means to pump out, until the
tank is empty or as close to empty as the master or operator
determines is safe, the ballast water taken on in ports, estuarine, or territorial waters, and then refilling the tank with open
sea waters.
(4) "Exchange" means to replace the water in a ballast
tank using either flow through exchange, empty/refill
exchange, or other exchange methodology recommended or
required by the United States coast guard.
(5) "Flow through exchange" means to flush out ballast
water by pumping in midocean water at the bottom of the
tank and continuously overflowing the tank from the top until
three full volumes of water have been changed to minimize
the number of original organisms remaining in the tank.
(6) "Nonindigenous species" means any species or other
viable biological material that enters an ecosystem beyond its
natural range.
(7) "Open sea exchange" means an exchange that occurs
fifty or more nautical miles offshore. If the United States
coast guard requires a vessel to conduct an exchange further
77.120.010
[Title 77 RCW—page 137]
77.120.020
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
offshore, then that distance is the required distance for purposes of compliance with this chapter.
(8) "Recognized marine trade association" means those
trade associations in Washington state that promote improved
ballast water management practices by educating their members on the provisions of this chapter, participating in
regional ballast water coordination through the Pacific ballast
water group, assisting the department in the collection of ballast water exchange forms, and the monitoring of ballast
water. This includes members of the Puget Sound marine
committee for Puget Sound and the Columbia river steamship
operators association for the Columbia river.
(9) "Sediments" means any matter settled out of ballast
water within a vessel.
(10) "Untreated ballast water" includes exchanged or
unexchanged ballast water that has not undergone treatment.
(11) "Vessel" means a self-propelled ship in commerce
of three hundred gross tons or more.
(12) "Voyage" means any transit by a vessel destined for
any Washington port.
(13) "Waters of the state" means any surface waters,
including internal waters contiguous to state shorelines
within the boundaries of the state. [2000 c 108 § 2.]
77.120.020 Application of chapter. (1) This chapter
applies to all vessels carrying ballast water into the waters of
the state from a voyage, except:
(a) A vessel of the United States department of defense
or United States coast guard subject to the requirements of
section 1103 of the national invasive species act of 1996, or
any vessel of the armed forces, as defined in 33 U.S.C. Sec.
1322(a)(14), that is subject to the uniform national discharge
standards for vessels of the armed forces under 33 U.S.C.
Sec. 1322(n);
(b) A vessel (i) that discharges ballast water or sediments
only at the location where the ballast water or sediments originated, if the ballast water or sediments do not mix with ballast water or sediments from areas other than open sea waters;
or (ii) that does not discharge ballast water in Washington
waters;
(c) A vessel traversing the internal waters of Washington
in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, bound for a port in Canada, and
not entering or departing a United States port, or a vessel in
innocent passage, which is a vessel merely traversing the territorial sea of the United States and not entering or departing
a United States port, or not navigating the internal waters of
the United States; and
(d) A crude oil tanker that does not exchange or discharge ballast water into the waters of the state.
(2) This chapter does not authorize the discharge of oil or
noxious liquid substances in a manner prohibited by state,
federal, or international laws or regulations. Ballast water
containing oil, noxious liquid substances, or any other pollutant shall be discharged in accordance with the applicable
requirements.
(3) The master or operator in charge of a vessel is
responsible for the safety of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers. Nothing in this chapter relieves the master or operator in charge of a vessel of the responsibility for ensuring the
safety and stability of the vessel or the safety of the crew and
passengers. [2000 c 108 § 3.]
77.120.020
[Title 77 RCW—page 138]
77.120.030
77.120.030 Authorized ballast water discharge—
Report. The owner or operator in charge of any vessel covered by this chapter is required to ensure that the vessel under
their ownership or control does not discharge ballast water
into the waters of the state except as authorized by this section.
(1) Discharge into waters of the state is authorized if the
vessel has conducted an open sea exchange of ballast water.
A vessel is exempt from this requirement if the vessel’s master reasonably determines that such a ballast water exchange
operation will threaten the safety of the vessel or the vessel’s
crew, or is not feasible due to vessel design limitations or
equipment failure. If a vessel relies on this exemption, then it
may discharge ballast water into waters of the state, subject to
any requirements of treatment under subsection (2) of this
section and subject to RCW 77.120.040.
(2) After July 1, 2007, discharge of ballast water into
waters of the state is authorized only if there has been an open
sea exchange or if the vessel has treated its ballast water to
meet standards set by the department consistent with applicable state and federal laws. When weather or extraordinary
circumstances make access to treatment unsafe to the vessel
or crew, the master of a vessel may delay compliance with
any treatment required under this subsection until it is safe to
complete the treatment.
(3) Masters, owners, operators, or persons-in-charge
shall submit to the department an interim ballast water management report by July 1, 2006, in the form and manner prescribed by the department. The report shall describe actions
needed to implement the ballast water requirements in subsection (2) of this section, including treatment methods applicable to the class of the vessel. Reports may include a statement that there are no treatment methods applicable to the
vessel for which the report is being submitted.
(4) The ballast water work group created in section 1,
chapter 282, Laws of 2002 shall develop recommendations
for the interim ballast water management report. The recommendations must include, but are not limited to:
(a) Actions that the vessel owner or operator will take to
implement the ballast water requirements in subsection (2) of
this section, including treatment methods applicable to the
class of the vessel;
(b) Necessary plan elements when there are not treatment methods applicable to the vessel for which the report is
being submitted, or which would meet the requirements of
this chapter; and
(c) The method, form, and content of reporting to be
used for such reports.
(5) For treatment technologies requiring shipyard modification that cannot reasonably be performed prior to July 1,
2007, the department shall provide the vessel owner or operator with an extension to the first scheduled drydock or shipyard period following July 1, 2007.
(6) The department shall make every effort to align ballast water standards with adopted international and federal
standards while ensuring that the goals of this chapter are
met.
(7) The requirements of this section do not apply to a
vessel discharging ballast water or sediments that originated
solely within the waters of Washington state, the Columbia
river system, or the internal waters of British Columbia south
(2006 Ed.)
Ballast Water Management
of latitude fifty degrees north, including the waters of the
Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca.
(8) Open sea exchange is an exchange that occurs fifty or
more nautical miles offshore. If the United States coast guard
requires a vessel to conduct an exchange further offshore,
then that distance is the required distance for purposes of
compliance with this chapter. [2004 c 227 § 3; 2002 c 282 §
2; 2000 c 108 § 4.]
77.120.040
77.120.040 Reporting and sampling requirements.
The owner or operator in charge of any vessel covered by this
chapter is required to ensure that the vessel under their ownership or control complies with the reporting and sampling
requirements of this section.
(1) Vessels covered by this chapter must report ballast
water management information to the department using ballast water management forms that are acceptable to the
United States coast guard. The frequency, manner, and form
of such reporting shall be established by the department by
rule. Any vessel may rely on a recognized marine trade association to collect and forward this information to the department.
(2) In order to monitor the effectiveness of national and
international efforts to prevent the introduction of nonindigenous species, all vessels covered by this chapter must submit
nonindigenous species ballast water monitoring data. The
monitoring, sampling, testing protocols, and methods of
identifying nonindigenous species in ballast water shall be
determined by the department by rule. A vessel covered by
this chapter may contract with a recognized marine trade
association to randomly sample vessels within that association’s membership, and provide data to the department.
(3) Vessels that do not belong to a recognized marine
trade association must submit individual ballast tank sample
data to the department for each voyage.
(4) All data submitted to the department under subsection (2) of this section shall be consistent with sampling and
testing protocols as adopted by the department by rule.
(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
section. The rules and recommendations shall be developed
in consultation with advisors from regulated industries and
the potentially affected parties, including but not limited to
shipping interests, ports, shellfish growers, fisheries, environmental interests, interested citizens who have knowledge
of the issues, and appropriate governmental representatives
including the United States coast guard. In recognition of the
need to have a coordinated response to ballast water management for the Columbia river system, the department must
consider rules adopted by the state of Oregon when adopting
rules under this section for ballast water management in the
navigable waters of the Columbia river system.
(a) The department shall set standards for the discharge
of treated ballast water into the waters of the state. The rules
are intended to ensure that the discharge of treated ballast
water poses minimal risk of introducing nonindigenous species. In developing this standard, the department shall consider the extent to which the requirement is technologically
and practically feasible. Where practical and appropriate, the
standards shall be compatible with standards set by the
United States coast guard and shall be developed in consulta(2006 Ed.)
77.120.070
tion with federal and state agencies to ensure consistency
with the federal clean water act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251-1387.
(b) The department shall adopt ballast water sampling
and testing protocols for monitoring the biological components of ballast water that may be discharged into the waters
of the state under this chapter. Monitoring data is intended to
assist the department in evaluating the risk of new, nonindigenous species introductions from the discharge of ballast
water, and to evaluate the accuracy of ballast water exchange
practices. The sampling and testing protocols must consist of
cost-effective, scientifically verifiable methods that, to the
extent practical and without compromising the purposes of
this chapter, utilize easily measured indices, such as salinity,
or check for species that indicate the potential presence of
nonindigenous species or pathogenic species. The department shall specify appropriate quality assurance and quality
control for the sampling and testing protocols. [2002 c 282 §
3; 2000 c 108 § 5.]
77.120.050
77.120.050 Pilot project—Private sector ballast
water treatment operation. The shipping vessel industry,
the public ports, and the department shall promote the creation of a pilot project to establish a private sector ballast
water treatment operation that is capable of servicing vessels
at all Washington ports. Federal and state agencies and private industries shall be invited to participate. The project will
develop equipment or methods to treat ballast water and
establish operational methods that do not increase the cost of
ballast water treatment at smaller ports. The legislature
intends that the cost of treatment required by this chapter is
substantially equivalent among large and small ports in
Washington. [2000 c 108 § 6.]
77.120.060
77.120.060 Report to legislature—Results of chapter.
The legislature recognizes that international and national
laws relating to this chapter are changing and that state law
must adapt accordingly. The department shall submit to the
legislature, and make available to the public, a report that
summarizes the results of this chapter and makes recommendations for improvement to this chapter on or before December 1, 2001, and a second report on or before December 1,
2004. The 2004 report shall describe how the costs of treatment required as of July 1, 2004, will be substantially equivalent among ports where treatment is required. The 2004
report must describe how the states of Washington and Oregon are coordinating their efforts for ballast water management in the Columbia river system. The department shall
strive to fund the provisions of this chapter through existing
resources, cooperative agreements with the maritime industry, and federal funding sources. [2002 c 282 § 4; 2000 c 108
§ 7.]
77.120.070
77.120.070 Violation of chapter—Penalties. (1)
Except as limited by subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the
director or the director’s designee may impose a civil penalty
or warning for a violation of the requirements of this chapter
on the owner or operator in charge of a vessel who fails to
comply with the requirements imposed under RCW
77.120.030 and 77.120.040. The penalty shall not exceed five
thousand dollars for each violation. In determining the
[Title 77 RCW—page 139]
77.120.080
Title 77 RCW: Fish and Wildlife
amount of a civil penalty, the department shall consider if the
violation was intentional, negligent, or without any fault, and
shall consider the quality and nature of risks created by the
violation. The owner or operator subject to such a penalty
may contest the determination by requesting an adjudicative
proceeding within twenty days. Any determination not timely
contested is final and may be reduced to a judgment enforceable in any court with jurisdiction. If the department prevails
using any judicial process to collect a penalty under this section, the department shall also be awarded its costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(2) The civil penalty for a violation of reporting requirements of RCW 77.120.040 shall not exceed five hundred dollars per violation.
(3) Any owner or operator who knowingly, and with
intent to deceive, falsifies a ballast water management report
form is liable for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed
five thousand dollars per violation, in addition to any criminal liability that may attach to the filing of false documents.
(4) The department, in cooperation with the United
States coast guard, may enforce the requirements of this
chapter. [2000 c 108 § 8.]
77.120.080
77.120.080 Legislative review of chapter—Recommendations. By December 31, 2005, the natural resources
committees of the legislature must review this chapter and its
implementation and make recommendations if needed to the
2006 regular session of the legislature. [2000 c 108 § 9.]
77.120.090 Ballast water information system—
Improvements. The department, working with the United
States coast guard and the marine exchanges, will work cooperatively to improve the ballast water information system and
make improvements no later than October 1, 2002. The cooperative effort will strive to obtain ballast water reports for the
United States coast guard under contract. The reports may be
used for ballast water management information under this
chapter and be forwarded to the United States coast guard for
its management purposes. Prior to July 1, 2002, the department must take steps to reduce or eliminate the costs of
reporting. [2002 c 282 § 5.]
77.120.090
77.120.900
77.120.900 Severability—2000 c 108. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[2000 c 108 § 11.]
Chapter 77.125 RCW
MARINE FIN FISH AQUACULTURE PROGRAMS
Chapter 77.125
Sections
77.125.010
77.125.020
77.125.030
77.125.040
Accidental Atlantic salmon release—Prevention measures.
Marine aquatic farming location—Defined.
Development of proposed rules—Elements.
Report to the legislature.
77.125.010 Accidental Atlantic salmon release—Prevention measures. Marine aquaculture net pen facilities in
Washington state have accidentally released Atlantic salmon
into Puget Sound. It is necessary to minimize escapes through
77.125.010
[Title 77 RCW—page 140]
the implementation of statewide prevention measures. [2001
c 86 § 1.]
77.125.020
77.125.020 Marine aquatic farming location—
Defined. For the purposes of this chapter, "marine aquatic
farming location" means a complete complex that may be
composed of various marine enclosures, net pens, or other
rearing vessels, food handling facilities, or other facilities
related to the rearing of Atlantic salmon or other fin fish in
marine waters. A marine aquatic farming location is distinguished from the individual facilities that collectively compose the location. [2001 c 86 § 2.]
77.125.030
77.125.030 Development of proposed rules—Elements. The director, in cooperation with the marine fin fish
aquatic farmers, shall develop proposed rules for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of marine fin fish
aquaculture programs. In developing such proposed rules, the
director must use a negotiated rule-making process pursuant
to RCW 34.05.310. The proposed rules shall be submitted to
the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2002, to
allow for legislative review of the proposed rules. The proposed rules shall include the following elements:
(1) Provisions for the prevention of escapes of cultured
marine fin fish aquaculture products from enclosures, net
pens, or other rearing vessels;
(2) Provisions for the development and implementation
of management plans to facilitate the most rapid recapture of
live marine fin fish aquaculture products that have escaped
from enclosures, net pens, or other rearing vessels, and to
prevent the spread or permanent escape of these products;
(3) Provisions for the development of management practices based on the latest available science, to include:
(a) Procedures for inspections of marine aquatic farming
locations on a regular basis to determine conformity with law
and the rules of the department relating to the operation of
marine aquatic farming locations; and
(b) Operating procedures at marine aquatic farming locations to prevent the escape of marine fin fish, to include the
use of net antifoulants;
(4) Provisions for the eradication of those cultured
marine fin fish aquaculture products that have escaped from
enclosures, net pens, or other rearing vessels found spawning
in state waters;
(5) Provisions for the determination of appropriate species, stocks, and races of marine fin fish aquaculture products
allowed to be cultured at specific locations and sites;
(6) Provisions for the development of an Atlantic salmon
watch program similar to the one in operation in British
Columbia, Canada. The program must provide for the monitoring of escapes of Atlantic salmon from marine aquatic
farming locations, monitor the occurrence of naturally produced Atlantic salmon, determine the impact of Atlantic
salmon on naturally produced and cultured fin fish stocks,
provide a focal point for consolidation of scientific information, and provide a forum for interaction and education of the
public; and
(7) Provisions for the development of an education program to assist marine aquatic farmers so that they operate in
an environmentally sound manner. [2001 c 86 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Marine Fin Fish Aquaculture Programs
77.125.040
77.125.040 Report to the legislature. Rules to implement this chapter shall be adopted no sooner than thirty days
following the end of the 2002 regular legislative session. The
director shall provide a written report to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2003, on the progress of the
program. [2001 c 86 § 4.]
77.125.040
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 77 RCW—page 141]
Title 78
Chapters
78.04
78.06
78.08
78.12
78.16
78.22
78.44
78.52
78.56
78.60
Title 78
MINES, MINERALS, AND PETROLEUM
Appropriation of water for industrial purposes: RCW 90.16.020.
78.04.010 Right of eminent domain. The right of eminent domain is hereby extended to all corporations incorporated or that may hereafter be incorporated under the laws of
this state or any state or territory of the United States, and
doing business in this state, for the purpose of acquiring,
owning or operating mines, mills or reduction works, or mining or milling gold and silver or other minerals, which may
desire to erect and operate surface tramways or elevated cable
tramways for the purpose of carrying, conveying or transporting the products of such mines, mills or reduction works.
[1897 c 60 § 1; RRS § 8608. FORMER PART OF SECTION:
1897 c 60 § 2; RRS § 8609 now codified as RCW 78.04.015.]
Assay—Altering or making false sample or certificate: RCW 9.45.210,
9.45.220.
Water rights—Appropriation for industrial (mining) purposes: RCW
90.16.020 and 90.16.030.
78.04.010
Mining corporations.
Mining claims—Survey reports.
Location of mining claims.
Abandoned shafts and excavations.
Mineral and petroleum leases on county lands.
Extinguishment of unused mineral rights.
Surface mining.
Oil and gas conservation.
Metals mining and milling operations.
Geothermal resources.
Boilers and unfired pressure vessels: Chapter 70.79 RCW.
Bureau of statistics: Chapter 43.07 RCW.
Department of natural resources: Chapter 43.30 RCW.
Department of community, trade, and economic development: Chapter
43.330 RCW.
Explosives: Chapter 70.74 RCW.
Franchises on county roads and bridges: Chapter 36.55 RCW.
Geological survey: RCW 43.27A.130, chapter 43.92 RCW.
Geology supervisor: RCW 43.30.600 and 43.27A.130.
Industrial safety and health: Chapter 49.17 RCW.
Labor liens on franchises, earnings, and property of certain companies:
Chapter 60.32 RCW.
Measurement of oil, gas, coal products, fraud, penalty: RCW 9.45.122
through 9.45.126.
Operating engine or boiler without spark arrester: RCW 9.40.040.
Pipelines, hazardous liquid and gas: Chapter 81.88 RCW.
Private ways of necessity: Chapter 8.24 RCW.
Protection of employees: State Constitution Art. 2 § 35.
Public lands
applications for federal certification that lands are nonmineral: RCW
79.02.110.
relinquishment to United States in certain cases of reserved mineral
rights: RCW 79.11.220.
sales and leases, reservation in contract: RCW 79.11.210.
78.04.015 Right of entry. Every corporation incorporated or that may hereafter be incorporated under the laws of
this state or any state or territory of the United States, and
doing business in this state, for the purpose of acquiring,
owning or operating mines, mills or reduction works, or mining or milling gold and silver or other minerals, which may
desire to erect and operate surface tramways or elevated cable
tramways for the purpose of carrying, conveying or transporting the products of such mines, mills or reduction works,
shall have the right to enter upon any land between the termini of the proposed lines for the purpose of examining,
locating and surveying such lines, doing no unnecessary
damage thereby. [1897 c 60 § 2; RRS § 8609. Formerly
RCW 87.04.010, part.]
78.04.015
78.04.020 Manner of exercising right of eminent
domain. Every such corporation shall have the right to
appropriate real estate or other property for right of way in
the same manner and under the same procedure as now is or
may be hereafter provided by the law in the case of other corporations authorized by the laws of this state to exercise the
right of eminent domain. [1897 c 60 § 3; RRS § 8610.]
78.04.020
Eminent domain by corporations: Chapter 8.20 RCW.
Public utilities, gas, electrical and water companies: Chapter 80.28 RCW.
Supervisor of industrial safety and health: RCW 43.22.040.
Underground storage of natural gas: Chapter 80.40 RCW.
Use of waters for irrigation, mining, manufacturing, deemed a public use:
State Constitution Art. 21.
Chapter 78.04
Chapter 78.04 RCW
MINING CORPORATIONS
Sections
78.04.010
78.04.015
78.04.020
78.04.030
78.04.040
78.04.050
(2006 Ed.)
Right of eminent domain.
Right of entry.
Manner of exercising right of eminent domain.
No stock subscription necessary.
Right of stockholder to enter and examine property.
Penalty for violations under RCW 78.04.040.
78.04.030 No stock subscription necessary. In incorporations already formed, or which may hereafter be formed
under *this chapter, where the amount of the capital stock of
such corporation consists of the aggregate valuation of the
whole number of feet, shares, or interest in any mining claim
in this state, for the working and development of which such
corporation shall be or have been formed, no actual subscription to the capital stock of such corporation shall be necessary; but each owner in said mining claim shall be deemed to
have subscribed such an amount to the capital stock of such
corporation as under its bylaws will represent the value of so
much of his interest in said mining claim, the legal title to
which he may by deed, deed of trust or other instrument vest,
or have vested in such corporation for mining purposes; such
78.04.030
[Title 78 RCW—page 1]
78.04.040
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
subscription to be deemed to have been made on the execution and delivery to such corporation of such deed, deed of
trust, or other instrument; nor shall the validity of any assessment levied by the board of trustees of such corporation be
affected by the reason of the fact that the full amount of the
capital stock of such corporation, as mentioned in its certificate of incorporation, shall not have been subscribed as provided in this section: PROVIDED, That the greater portion
of said amount of capital stock shall have been so subscribed:
AND, PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section shall not be
so construed as to prohibit the stockholders of any corporation formed, or which may be formed, for mining purposes as
provided in this section, from regulating the mode of making
subscriptions to its capital stock and calling in the same by
bylaws or express contract. [Code 1881 § 2446; 1873 p 407
§ 26; 1869 p 339 § 28; 1866 p 65 § 28; RRS § 8611.]
*Reviser’s note: The two remaining sections of "this chapter" (Code
1881 c CLXXXV) are codified in RCW 78.04.030 above and RCW
90.16.010.
78.04.040
78.04.040 Right of stockholder to enter and examine
property. Any owner of stock to the amount of one thousand
shares, in any corporation doing business under the laws of
the state of Washington for the purposes of mining, shall, at
all hours of business or labor on or about the premises or
property of such corporation, have the right to enter upon
such property and examine the same, either on the surface or
underground. And it is hereby made the duty of any and all
officers, managers, agents, superintendents, or persons in
charge, to allow any such stockholder to enter upon and
examine any of the property of such corporation at any time
during the hours of business or labor; and the presentation of
certificates of stock in the corporation of the amount of one
thousand shares, to the officer or person in charge, shall be
prima facie evidence of ownership and right to enter upon or
into, and make examinations of the property of the corporation. [1901 c 120 § 1; RRS § 8612.]
ples and techniques of the science of geology as they relate to
the search for and discovery of mineral deposits.
(2) "Geochemical surveys" means surveys on the ground
for mineral deposits by the proper application of the principles and techniques of the science of chemistry as they relate
to the search for and discovery of mineral deposits.
(3) "Geophysical surveys" means surveys on the ground
for mineral deposits through the employment of generally
recognized equipment and methods for measuring physical
differences between rock types or discontinuities in geological formations. [1959 c 119 § 1.]
78.06.020
78.06.020 Duplicate survey reports to be filed with
county auditor—Contents. All reports of geological, geophysical, or geochemical surveys on mining claims which
may be filed with the auditor of any county in this state pursuant to United States Public Law 85-876 or amendments or
revisions thereto shall be so filed in duplicate, and shall set
forth fully:
(1) The location of the survey performed in relation to
the point of discovery and boundaries of the claim.
(2) The nature, extent, and cost of the survey.
(3) The date the survey was commenced and the date
completed.
(4) The basic findings therefrom.
(5) The name, address, and professional background of
the person or persons performing or conducting the survey.
[1959 c 119 § 2.]
78.06.030
78.06.030 Auditor to forward survey reports to
department of natural resources. All county auditors
receiving for filing duplicate copies of geological, geochemical, and geophysical survey reports on mining claims shall
forward, monthly, one copy of each report received to the
department of natural resources. [1988 c 127 § 31; 1959 c
119 § 3.]
78.04.050
78.04.050 Penalty for violations under RCW
78.04.040. Any violation of any of the provisions of RCW
78.04.040 by any officer or agent of such corporation shall
constitute a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof every
such officer or agent shall be fined in a sum not greater than
two hundred dollars for each offense. [1901 c 120 § 2; RRS
§ 8613.]
Chapter 78.06
Chapter 78.06 RCW
MINING CLAIMS—SURVEY REPORTS
Sections
78.06.010
78.06.020
78.06.030
Definitions.
Duplicate survey reports to be filed with county auditor—Contents.
Auditor to forward survey reports to department of natural
resources.
Holding claim by geological, etc., survey—Reports: RCW 78.08.072.
78.06.010
78.06.010 Definitions. Words or terms used herein
have the following meanings:
(1) "Geological surveys" means surveys on the ground
for mineral deposits by the proper application of the princi[Title 78 RCW—page 2]
Chapter 78.08
Chapter 78.08 RCW
LOCATION OF MINING CLAIMS
Sections
1887 ACT
78.08.005
78.08.020
78.08.030
78.08.040
Prior claims, how governed.
Extent of lode claims.
Rights of locators.
Recording instruments affecting claim.
78.08.050
78.08.060
Location notices—Contents—Recording.
Staking of claim—Requisites—Right of person diligently
engaged in search.
Cut, excavation, tunnel or test hole in lieu of discovery shaft.
Holding claim by geological, etc., survey—Report of survey.
"Lode" defined.
Amended certificate of location.
Assessment work, affidavit of work performed or affidavit of
fees paid.
Affidavit is prima facie evidence.
Relocating abandoned claim.
Location of placer claims.
Affidavit as proof.
Application of RCW 78.08.050 through 78.08.115.
1899 AND LATER ACTS
78.08.070
78.08.072
78.08.075
78.08.080
78.08.081
78.08.082
78.08.090
78.08.100
78.08.110
78.08.115
(2006 Ed.)
Location of Mining Claims
1887 ACT
78.08.005
78.08.005 Prior claims, how governed. All mining
claims upon veins or lodes of quartz or other rock in place,
bearing gold, silver or other valuable mineral deposits heretofore located, shall be governed as to length along the vein or
lode by the customs, regulations and laws in force at the date
of such location. [1887 c 87 § 1; RRS § 8615.]
For earlier acts on this subject, see: 1867 pp 146-147, 1869 pp 386-388,
1873 pp 444-446, 1875 pp 126-127, 1877 pp 335-336. See also, act of
congress, May 10, 1872.
78.08.020
78.08.020 Extent of lode claims. A mining claim
located upon any vein or lode of quartz or other rock in place,
bearing gold, silver or other valuable mineral deposits, after
the approval of *this act by the governor, whether located by
one or more persons, may equal, but shall not exceed, one
thousand five hundred feet in length along the vein or lode;
but no location of a mining claim shall be made until the discovery of the vein or lode within the limits of the claims
located. No claims shall extend more than three hundred feet
on each side of the middle of the vein at the surface, nor shall
any claims be limited by any mining regulation to less than
fifty feet of surface on each side of the middle of such vein or
lode at the surface, excepting where adverse rights, existing
at the date of the approval of this act, shall make such limitation necessary. The end lines of each claim shall be parallel to
each other. [1887 c 87 § 2; RRS § 8616.]
*Reviser’s note: "this act" [1887 c 87], is codified in RCW 78.08.005
through 78.08.040; "date of the approval of this act" was February 2, 1888.
78.08.030
78.08.030 Rights of locators. The locators of all mining locations heretofore made or hereafter made under the
provisions of RCW 78.08.005 through 78.08.040, on any
mineral vein, lode or ledge on the public domain, and their
heirs and assigns so long as they comply with the laws of the
United States and the state and local laws relating thereto,
shall have the exclusive right to the possession and enjoyment of all surface included within the lines of their location,
and of all veins, lodes and ledges throughout their entire
depth, and the top or apex of which lies within the surface
lines of such location, extending downward vertically,
although such veins, lodes or ledges may so far depart from
the perpendicular in their course downward as to extend outside of the vertical side line of said surface location. [1887 c
87 § 3; RRS § 8617.]
78.08.040
78.08.040 Recording instruments affecting claim. All
location notices, bonds, assignments and transfers of mining
claims shall be recorded in the office of the county auditor of
the county where the same is situated within thirty days after
the execution thereof. [1979 ex.s. c 30 § 15; 1887 c 87 § 7;
RRS § 8621.]
1899 AND LATER ACTS
78.08.050
78.08.050 Location notices—Contents—Recording.
The discoverer of a lode shall within ninety days from the
date of discovery, record in the office of the auditor of the
county in which such lode is found, a notice containing the
name or names of the locators, the date of the location, the
(2006 Ed.)
78.08.072
number of feet in length claimed on each side of the discovery, the general course of the lode and such a description of
the claim or claims located by reference to some natural
object or permanent monument as will identify the claim.
[1899 c 45 § 1; RRS § 8622.]
For earlier acts on this subject, see: 1867 pp 146-147, 1869 pp 386-388,
1873 pp 444-446, 1875 pp 126-127, 1877 pp 335-336, 1887 c 87; see
also, act of congress, May 10, 1872.
78.08.060
78.08.060 Staking of claim—Requisites—Right of
person diligently engaged in search. (1) Before filing such
notice for record, the discoverer shall locate his or her claim
by posting at the discovery at the time of discovery a notice
containing the name of the lode, the name of the locator or
locators, and the date of discovery, and marking the surface
boundaries of the claim by placing substantial posts or stone
monuments bearing the name of the lode and date of location;
one post or monument must appear at each corner of such
claim; such posts or monuments must be not less than three
feet high; if posts are used they shall be not less than four
inches in diameter and shall be set in the ground in a substantial manner. If any such claim be located on ground that is
covered wholly or in part with brush or trees, such brush shall
be cut and trees be marked or blazed along the lines of such
claim to indicate the location of such lines.
(2) Prior to valid discovery the actual possession and
right of possession of one diligently engaged in the search for
minerals shall be exclusive as regards prospecting during
continuance of such possession and diligent search. As used
in this section, "diligently engaged" shall mean performing
not less than one hundred dollars worth of annual assessment
work on or for the benefit of the claim or paying any fee or
fees in lieu of assessment work in such year or years it is
required under federal law, or any larger amount that may be
designated now or later by the federal government for annual
assessment work. [1995 c 114 § 1; 1965 c 151 § 1; 1963 c 64
§ 1; 1949 c 12 § 1; 1899 c 45 § 2; RRS § 8623.]
78.08.070
78.08.070 Cut, excavation, tunnel or test hole in lieu
of discovery shaft. Any open cut, excavation or tunnel
which cuts or exposes a lode and from which a total of two
hundred cubic feet of material has been removed or in lieu
thereof a test hole drilled on the lode to a minimum depth of
twenty feet from the collar, shall hold the lode the same as if
a discovery shaft were sunk thereon, and shall be equivalent
thereto. [1955 c 357 § 1; 1899 c 45 § 3; RRS § 8624.]
78.08.072
78.08.072 Holding claim by geological, etc., survey—
Report of survey. Any geological, geochemical, or geophysical survey which reasonably involves a direct expenditure on or for the benefit of each claim of not less than the one
hundred dollars worth of annual assessment work required
under federal statute or regulations shall hold such claim for
not more than two consecutive years or more than a total of
five years: PROVIDED, That a written report of such survey
shall be filed with the county auditor at the time annual
assessment work is recorded as required under federal statute,
and said written report shall set forth fully:
(1) The location of the survey performed in relation to
the point of discovery or location notice and boundaries of
the claim.
[Title 78 RCW—page 3]
78.08.075
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(2) The nature, extent, and cost of the survey.
(3) The date the survey was commenced and the date
completed.
(4) The basic findings therefrom.
(5) The name, address, and professional background of
the person or persons performing or conducting the survey.
[1965 c 151 § 2; 1963 c 64 § 2; 1959 c 114 § 1.]
Reports of geological, etc., surveys: Chapter 78.06 RCW.
78.08.075
78.08.075 "Lode" defined. The term "lode" as used in
RCW 78.08.050 through 78.08.115 shall be construed to
mean ledge, vein or deposit. [1983 c 3 § 197; 1899 c 45 § 4;
RRS § 8625. Formerly RCW 78.08.010.]
78.08.080
78.08.080 Amended certificate of location. If at any
time the locator of any quartz or lode mining claim heretofore
or hereafter located, or his assigns, shall learn that his original
certificate was defective or that the requirements of the law
had not been complied with before filing, or shall be desirous
of changing his surface boundaries or of taking in any additional ground which is subject to location, or in any case the
original certificate was made prior to the *passage of this
law, and he shall be desirous of securing the benefits of RCW
78.08.050 through 78.08.115, such locator or his assigns may
file an amended certificate of location, subject to the provisions of RCW 78.08.050 through 78.08.115, regarding the
making of new locations. [1983 c 3 § 198; 1899 c 45 § 5;
RRS § 8626.]
*Reviser’s note: "passage of this law": 1899 c 45 (H.B. 272) passed
the house, February 27, 1899; passed the senate, March 7, 1899, and was
approved by the governor March 8, 1899.
78.08.081
78.08.081 Assessment work, affidavit of work performed or affidavit of fees paid. Within thirty days after the
expiration of the period of time fixed for the performance of
annual labor or the making of improvements upon any quartz
or lode mining claim or premises, the person in whose behalf
such work or improvement was made or some person for him
or her knowing the facts, shall make and record in the office
of the county auditor of the county wherein such claims are
situate either an affidavit or oath of labor performed on such
claim, or affidavit or oath of fee or fees paid to the federal
government in lieu of the annual labor requirement. Such
affidavit shall state the exact amount of fee or fees paid, or
the kind of labor, including the number of feet of shaft, tunnel
or open cut made on such claim, or any other kind of
improvements allowed by law made thereon. When both fee
and labor requirements have been waived by the federal government, such affidavit will contain a statement to that effect
and the state shall not require labor to be performed. Such
affidavit shall contain the section, township and range in
which such lode is located if the location be in a surveyed
area. [1995 c 114 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 30 § 16; 1955 c 357 § 3;
1899 c 45 § 6; RRS § 8627.]
dence accordingly by all the courts of this state. [1899 c 45 §
7; RRS § 8628.]
78.08.090
78.08.090 Relocating abandoned claim. The relocation of a forfeited or abandoned quartz or lode claim shall
only be made by sinking a new discovery shaft, or in lieu
thereof performing at least an equal amount of development
work within the borders of the claim, and fixing new boundaries in the same manner and to the same extent as is required
in making a new location, or the relocator may sink the original discovery shaft ten feet deeper than it was at the date of
commencement of such relocation, and shall erect new, or
make the old monuments the same as originally required; in
either case a new location monument shall be erected. [1949
c 12 § 2; 1899 c 45 § 8; RRS § 8629.]
78.08.100
78.08.100 Location of placer claims. The discoverer
of placers or other forms of deposits subject to location and
appropriation under mining laws applicable to placers shall
locate his claim in the following manner:
First. He must immediately post in a conspicuous place
at the point of discovery thereon, a notice or certificate of
location thereof, containing (1) the name of the claim; (2) the
name of the locator or locators; (3) the date of discovery and
posting of the notice hereinbefore provided for, which shall
be considered as the date of the location; (4) a description of
the claim by reference to legal subdivisions of sections, if the
location is made in conformity with the public surveys, otherwise, a description with reference to some natural object or
permanent monuments as will identify the claim; and where
such claim is located by legal subdivisions of the public surveys, such location shall, notwithstanding that fact, be
marked by the locator upon the ground the same as other
locations.
Second. Within thirty days from the date of such discovery he must record such notice or certificate of location in the
office of the auditor of the county in which such discovery is
made, and so distinctly mark his location on the ground that
its boundaries may be readily traced.
Third. Within sixty days from the date of discovery, the
discoverer shall perform labor upon such location or claim in
developing the same to an amount which shall be equivalent
in the aggregate to at least ten dollars worth of such labor for
each twenty acres, or fractional part thereof, contained in
such location or claim: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That
nothing in this subdivision shall be held to apply to lands
located under the laws of the United States as placer claims
for the purpose of the development of petroleum and natural
gas and other natural oil products.
Fourth. Such locator shall, upon the performance of such
labor, file with the auditor of the county an affidavit showing
such performance and generally the nature and kind of work
so done. [1901 c 137 § 1; 1899 c 45 § 10; RRS § 8631.]
78.08.110
78.08.082
78.08.082 Affidavit is prima facie evidence. Such affidavit when so recorded shall be prima facie evidence of the
performance of such labor or the making of such improvements, and such original affidavit after it has been recorded,
or a certified copy of record of same, shall be received as evi[Title 78 RCW—page 4]
78.08.110 Affidavit as proof. The affidavit provided
for in the last section, and the aforesaid placer notice or certificate of location when filed for record, shall be prima facie
evidence of the facts therein recited. A copy of such certificate, notice or affidavit certified by the county auditor shall
be admitted in evidence in all actions or proceeding with the
(2006 Ed.)
Abandoned Shafts and Excavations
same effect as the original and the provisions of RCW
78.08.081 and 78.08.082 shall apply to placer claims as well
as lode claims. [1899 c 45 § 11; RRS § 8632.]
78.08.115 Application of RCW 78.08.050 through
78.08.115. All locations of quartz or placer formations or
deposits hereafter made shall conform to the requirements of
RCW 78.08.050 through 78.08.115 insofar as the same are
respectively applicable thereto. [1983 c 3 § 199; 1899 c 45 §
12; RRS § 8633.]
78.08.115
78.12.060
county or to any constable or city marshal therein, directing
such officer to serve a notice in manner and form as is prescribed by law for service of summons upon any person or
persons or the authorized agent or agents of any company or
corporation named in the notice on file, as provided in RCW
78.12.020. [1984 c 258 § 139; 1890 p 121 § 3; RRS 8859.]
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—
Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Application—1984 c 258 §§ 101-139: See note following RCW
3.50.005.
78.12.040
Chapter 78.12 RCW
ABANDONED SHAFTS AND EXCAVATIONS
Chapter 78.12
Sections
78.12.010
78.12.020
78.12.030
78.12.040
78.12.050
78.12.060
78.12.061
78.12.070
Shafts, excavations to be fenced.
Complaint—Contents.
Order to serve notice.
Notice—Contents—Civil and criminal penalties.
Suit in name of state—Disposition of proceeds.
Procedure when shaft unclaimed.
Safety cage in mining shaft—Regulations.
Damage actions preserved.
78.12.010 Shafts, excavations to be fenced. Any person or persons, company, or corporation who shall hereafter
dig, sink or excavate, or cause the same to be done, or being
the owner or owners, or in the possession, under any lease or
contract, of any shaft, excavation or hole, whether used for
mining or otherwise, or whether dug, sunk or excavated for
the purpose of mining, to obtain water, or for any other purpose, within this state, shall, during the time they may be
employed in digging, sinking or excavating, or after they
have ceased work upon or abandoned the same, erect, or
cause to be erected, good and substantial fences or other safeguards, and keep the same in good repair around such works
or shafts sufficient to securely guard against danger to persons and animals from falling into such shafts or excavations.
[1890 p 121 § 1; RRS § 8857.]
78.12.010
78.12.020
78.12.020 Complaint—Contents. Three persons being
residents of the county, and knowing or having reason to
believe that the provisions of RCW 78.12.010 are being or
have been violated within such county, may file a notice with
any district or municipal court therein, which notice shall be
in writing, and shall state—First, the location, as near as may
be, of the hole, excavation or shaft. Second, that the same is
dangerous to persons or animals, and has been left or is being
worked contrary to the provisions of this chapter. Third, the
name of the person or persons, company or corporation who
is or are the owners of the same, if known, or if unknown, the
persons who were known to be employed therein. Fourth, if
abandoned and no claimant; and Fifth, the estimated cost of
fencing or otherwise securing the same against any avoidable
accidents. [1987 c 202 § 231; 1987 c 3 § 19; 1890 p 121 § 2;
RRS § 8858.]
Severability—1987 c 3: See note following RCW 3.46.020.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
78.12.030
78.12.030 Order to serve notice. Upon the filing of the
notice, as provided in RCW 78.12.020, the district or municipal court shall issue an order, directed to the sheriff of the
(2006 Ed.)
78.12.040 Notice—Contents—Civil and criminal
penalties. The notice thus served shall require the said persons to appear before the judge issuing the same, at a time to
be stated therein, not more than ten nor less than three days
from the service of said notice, and show to the satisfaction of
the court that the provisions of this chapter have been complied with; or if said person or persons fail to appear, judgment will be entered against said person or persons for double
the amount stated in the notice on file; and all proceedings
had therein shall be as prescribed by law in civil cases; and
such persons, in addition to any judgment that may be rendered against them, shall be liable and subject to a fine not
exceeding the sum of one hundred dollars for each and every
violation of the provisions of this chapter, which judgments
and fines shall be adjudged and collected as provided for by
law. [1987 c 202 § 232; 1890 p 122 § 4; RRS § 8860.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
78.12.050
78.12.050 Suit in name of state—Disposition of proceeds. Suits commenced under the provisions of this chapter
shall be in the name of the state of Washington, and all judgments and fines collected shall be paid into the county treasury for county purposes: PROVIDED, That all fees, fines,
forfeitures and penalties collected or assessed by a district
court because of the violation of a state law shall be remitted
as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as now exists or is later
amended. [1987 c 202 § 233; 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 34; 1890 p
122 § 5; RRS § 8861.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
Disposition of costs, fines, fees, penalties, and forfeitures: RCW 10.82.070.
78.12.060
78.12.060 Procedure when shaft unclaimed. If the
notice filed with the district or municipal court, as aforesaid,
shall state that the excavation, shaft or hole has been abandoned, and no person claims the ownership thereof, the court
shall notify the county legislative authority of the location of
the same, and they shall, as soon as possible thereafter, cause
the same to be so fenced, or otherwise guarded, as to prevent
accidents to persons or animals; and all expenses thus
incurred shall be paid as other county expenses: PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed
as to compel the county commissioners to fill up, fence or
otherwise guard any shaft, excavation or hole, unless in their
discretion, the same may be considered dangerous to persons
or animals. [1987 c 202 § 234; 1987 c 3 § 20; 1890 p 122 §
6; RRS § 8862.]
Severability—1987 c 3: See note following RCW 3.46.020.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
[Title 78 RCW—page 5]
78.12.061
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
78.12.061
78.12.061 Safety cage in mining shaft—Regulations.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, company or
companies, corporation or corporations, to sink or work
through any vertical shaft at a greater depth than one hundred
and fifty feet, unless the shaft shall be provided with an ironbonneted safety cage, to be used in the lowering and hoisting
of the employees of such person or persons, company or
companies, corporation or corporations. The safety apparatus, whether consisting of eccentrics, springs or other device,
shall be securely fastened to the cage, and shall be of sufficient strength to hold the cage loaded at any depth to which
the shaft may be sunk, provided the cable shall break. The
iron bonnet shall be made of boiler sheet iron of a good quality, of at least three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, and
shall cover the top of the cage in such manner as to afford the
greatest protection to life and limb from any matter falling
down the shaft.
(2) Any person or persons, company or companies, or
corporation or corporations, who shall neglect, fail, or refuse
to comply with this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and
shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than
one thousand dollars. [2003 c 53 § 377; 1890 p 123 § 7; RRS
§ 8863. Formerly RCW 78.36.850, part.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
78.12.070
78.12.070 Damage actions preserved. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to prevent
recovery being had in a suit for damages for injuries sustained by the party so injured, or his heirs or administrator or
administratrix, or anyone else now competent to sue in an
action of such character. [1890 p 123 § 9; RRS § 8865.]
Chapter 78.16 RCW
MINERAL AND PETROLEUM LEASES ON
COUNTY LANDS
Chapter 78.16
Sections
78.16.010
78.16.020
78.16.030
78.16.040
78.16.050
78.16.060
78.16.070
Leases authorized.
Order for lease—Terms—Option to purchase.
Sale and conveyance.
Option to surrender lands.
Disposition of royalties and rentals.
Surface rights.
Damages to owner.
78.16.010
78.16.010 Leases authorized. Whenever it shall appear
to the board of county commissioners of any county in this
state that it is for the best interests of said county and the taxing districts and the people thereof, that any mining claims,
reserved mineral rights, or any other county owned or tax
acquired property owned by the county, either absolutely or
as trustee, should be leased for the purpose of exploration,
development, and removal of any minerals, oil, gas and other
petroleum products therefrom, said board of county commissioners is hereby authorized to enter into written leases, under
the terms of which any county owned lands or county owned
mineral rights, or reserved mineral rights, are leased for the
aforementioned purpose, with or without an option to purchase. Any such lease shall be upon terms and conditions as
said county commissioners may deem for the best interests of
said county and the taxing districts, and as in this chapter pro[Title 78 RCW—page 6]
vided, and may be for such primary term as said board may
determine and as long thereafter as minerals, including oil,
and/or gas, may be produced therefrom. [1945 c 93 § 1; 1907
c 38 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11312.]
Construction—1945 c 93: "Chapter 38, Laws of 1907, is amended by
adding a new section to be designated as section 8, to read as follows:
Section 8. Nothing herein contained is intended to or shall be construed
as affecting any existing rights granted under chapter 38, Laws of 1907."
[1945 c 93 § 6.]
78.16.020
78.16.020 Order for lease—Terms—Option to purchase. When said commissioners, in their discretion, decide
to lease said claims or properties as provided in RCW
78.16.010, they shall enter an order to that effect upon their
records and shall fix the duration and terms and conditions of
said lease, and in case an option to purchase is given shall fix
the purchase price, which shall not be less than the total
amount of the taxes, interest and penalties due at the time the
property was acquired by the county, and may provide that
any royalties paid shall apply and be credited on the purchase
price, and said lease or lease and option shall be signed and
executed on behalf of said county by said commissioners, or
a majority of them. [1907 c 38 § 2; RRS § 11313.]
78.16.030
78.16.030 Sale and conveyance. Upon payment of the
full purchase price, in cases where an option to purchase is
given, a conveyance shall be executed to the purchaser by the
chairman of the board of county commissioners. Such conveyance shall refer to the order of the board authorizing such
leasing with the option to purchase, and shall be deemed to
convey all the estate, right, title and interest of the county in
and to the property sold; and such conveyance, when executed, shall be conclusive evidence of the regularity and
validity of all proceedings hereunder. [1907 c 38 § 3; RRS §
11314.]
78.16.040
78.16.040 Option to surrender lands. The lessee
under any such petroleum lease shall have the option of surrendering any of the lands included in said lease at any time,
and shall thereby be relieved of all liability with respect to
such lands except the payment of accrued royalties as provided in said lease. Upon such surrender, the lessee shall have
the right for a period of one hundred twenty days following
the date of such surrender, to remove all improvements
placed by him on the lands which have been surrendered.
[1945 c 93 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11314-1.]
78.16.050
78.16.050 Disposition of royalties and rentals. Any
royalties or rentals received by the said county under any
lease entered into under the provisions of this chapter, shall
be divided among the various taxing districts entitled thereto,
in the same proportion and manner as the purchase money for
said lands would have been divided in the event the said
properties had been sold. [1945 c 93 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
11314-2.]
78.16.060
78.16.060 Surface rights. Nothing in this chapter contained shall be construed as giving the county commissioners
the right to lease the surface rights of tax acquired property,
except that the lease of any property as in this chapter provided shall give the lessee the right to use such portions of the
(2006 Ed.)
Extinguishment of Unused Mineral Rights
surface on said land as may be necessary or desirable to it in
its business. [1945 c 93 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11314-3.]
78.16.070
78.16.070 Damages to owner. In the event said lease
shall be for reserved mineral rights on lands previously sold
by said county with mineral rights reserved, as provided in
RCW 36.34.010, said lease shall contain a provision that no
rights shall be exercised under said lease by the lessee, his or
her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, or assigns,
until provision has been made by the lessee, his or her heirs,
executors, administrators, successors, or assigns to pay to the
owner of the land upon which the rights reserved to the
county are sought to be exercised, full payment for all damages to said owner by reason of entering upon said land; said
rights to be determined as provided for in RCW 36.34.010:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in the event of litigation to
determine such damage, the primary term of such lease shall
be extended for a period equal to the time required for such
litigation, but not to exceed three years. [2000 c 11 § 20;
1945 c 93 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11314-4.]
Chapter 78.22
Chapter 78.22 RCW
EXTINGUISHMENT OF UNUSED
MINERAL RIGHTS
Sections
78.22.010
78.22.020
78.22.030
78.22.040
78.22.050
78.22.060
78.22.070
78.22.080
78.22.090
Extinguishment of unused mineral rights authorized.
"Mineral interest" defined.
Acts constituting use of mineral interest.
Statement of claim—Contents—Fees—Filing.
Extinguishment of mineral interest—Procedure.
Presumption of extinguishment—Conditions—Statement of
claim—Filing, recording, indexing.
Statement of claim—Notice and affidavit of publication—
Auditor’s duties.
Exemptions from claim of abandonment and extinguishment.
Waiver prohibited.
78.22.010
78.22.010 Extinguishment of unused mineral rights
authorized. Any mineral interest, if unused for a period of
twenty years, may be extinguished by the surface owner as
set forth in RCW 78.22.050 and 78.22.060. [1984 c 252 § 1.]
78.22.020
78.22.020 "Mineral interest" defined. A mineral
interest means the interest which is created by an instrument
transferring, either by grant, assignment, or reservation, or
otherwise an interest, of any kind, in any subsurface mineral.
[1984 c 252 § 2.]
78.22.030
78.22.030 Acts constituting use of mineral interest. A
mineral interest is used if:
(1) Any minerals produced have been in connection with
the mineral interest;
(2) Operations for injection, withdrawal, storage or disposal of water, gas, or other fluid substances have been conducted in connection with the mineral interest;
(3) Rents or royalties have been paid for the purpose of
delaying or enjoying the use or exercise of the mineral interest;
(4) The use or the exercise of the mineral interest has
been carried out on any tract with which the mineral interest
may be unitized or pooled for production purposes;
(2006 Ed.)
78.22.050
(5) In the case of coal or other solid minerals, minerals
have been produced from a common vein or seam;
(6) Taxes have been paid on such mineral interest;
(7) Any use pursuant to or authorized by the instrument
creating such mineral interest has been taken;
(8) A sale, lease, mortgage, or other transfer of the mineral interest has been recorded in the county auditor’s office
in the county in which the land affected by the mineral interest is located prior to the end of the twenty-year period set
forth in RCW 78.22.010 or within two years after June 7,
1984, whichever is later; or
(9) A statement of claim has been filed by the owner of
the mineral interest in the manner set forth in RCW 78.22.040
or 78.22.060. [1984 c 252 § 3.]
78.22.040
78.22.040 Statement of claim—Contents—Fees—Filing. The statement of claim referred to in RCW 78.22.030(9)
shall be filed by the current owner of the mineral interest
prior to the end of the twenty-year period set forth in RCW
78.22.010 or within two years after June 7, 1984, whichever
is later. The statement of claim shall contain the name and
address of the current owner of such interest, and the name of
the original holder of the mineral interest substantially as that
name is shown on the instrument that originally created the
mineral interest and shall be accompanied by payment of the
fees provided in RCW 36.18.010.
The statement of claim shall be filed in the county auditor’s office in the county in which such land affected by the
mineral interest is located. [1984 c 252 § 4.]
78.22.050
78.22.050 Extinguishment of mineral interest—Procedure. (1) After the later of the expiration of the twentyyear period set forth in RCW 78.22.010 or two years after
June 7, 1984, the surface owner may extinguish the mineral
interest held by another person and acquire ownership of that
interest by providing sixty days notice of intention to file a
claim of abandonment and extinguishment of the mineral
interest upon the current mineral interest owner. Notice shall
be served by personal service or by mailing the notice by registered mail to the last known address of the current mineral
interest owner. The county treasurer shall supply the name
and address of the current mineral interest owner as they
appear on the county property tax records to the surface
owner without charge. If the current mineral interest owner is
unknown to the county treasurer, and the current mineral
interest owner cannot be determined after due diligence, the
surface owner may serve the notice upon the current mineral
interest owner by publishing the notice at least once each
week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the county in which the property
interest is located, and if there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county, then in a newspaper of general circulation published in an adjoining county, and if there is no
such newspaper in an adjoining county, then in a newspaper
of general circulation published at the capital of the state.
(2) The notice of intention to file a claim of abandonment and extinguishment shall contain:
(a) The name and address, if known, of the holder of the
mineral interest, as shown of record;
[Title 78 RCW—page 7]
78.22.060
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(b) A reference to the instrument originally creating the
mineral interest, including where it is recorded;
(c) A description of the lands affected by the mineral
interest;
(d) The name and address of the person giving notice;
(e) The date of the first publication of the notice if notice
is by publication; and
(f) A statement that a claim of abandonment and extinguishment of the mineral interest will be filed upon the expiration of a period of sixty days after the date of the last publication or the date service was perfected by personal service or
registered mail on the current mineral interest owner, unless
the current mineral interest owner files a statement of claim
of mineral interest in the form prescribed in RCW 78.22.040.
(3) A copy of the notice of intention to file a claim of
abandonment and extinguishment and an affidavit of publication shall be submitted to the county auditor within fifteen
days after the date of the last publication or the date service
was perfected by personal service or registered mail on the
current mineral interest owner.
(4) The affidavit of publication shall contain either:
(a) A statement that a copy of the notice has been personally served upon or mailed to the owner of the current mineral
interest and the address to which it was mailed; or
(b) If a copy of the notice was not mailed, a detailed
description, including dates, of the efforts made to determine
with due diligence the address of the current owner of the
mineral interest. [1984 c 252 § 5.]
78.22.060
78.22.060 Presumption of extinguishment—Conditions—Statement of claim—Filing, recording, indexing.
Upon payment of fees provided in RCW 36.18.010, and if the
surface owner files the claim of abandonment and extinguishment, together with a copy of the notice and the affidavit of
publication, as required in RCW 78.22.050, in the county
auditor’s office for the county where such interest is located
then the mineral interest shall be conclusively presumed to be
extinguished.
If a statement of claim of mineral interest is filed by the
current mineral interest owner within the sixty-day period
provided in RCW 78.22.050, together with payment of fees
provided in RCW 36.18.010, the county auditor shall record,
index, and make special notation in the index of the filing.
[1984 c 252 § 6.]
78.22.070
78.22.070 Statement of claim—Notice and affidavit
of publication—Auditor’s duties. Upon receipt, the county
auditor shall record a statement of claim or a notice and affidavit of publication in the dormant mineral interest index.
When possible, the auditor shall also indicate by marginal
notation on the instrument originally creating the mineral
interest the recording of the statement of claim or notice and
affidavit of publication. The county auditor shall record a
statement of claim by cross-referencing in the dormant mineral interest index the name of the current owner of the mineral interest and the name of the original holder of the mineral
interest as set out in the statement of claim. [1984 c 252 § 7.]
78.22.080
78.22.080 Exemptions from claim of abandonment
and extinguishment. Mineral interests retained or owned by
[Title 78 RCW—page 8]
any public entity or mineral interests resulting from land
exchanges between public and private owners shall not be
subject to a claim of abandonment and extinguishment.
[1984 c 252 § 8.]
78.22.090 Waiver prohibited. The provisions of this
chapter may not be waived at any time prior to the expiration
of the twenty-year period under RCW 78.22.010. [1984 c
252 § 9.]
78.22.090
Chapter 78.44
Chapter 78.44 RCW
SURFACE MINING
Sections
78.44.010
78.44.011
78.44.020
78.44.031
78.44.040
78.44.045
78.44.050
78.44.055
78.44.060
78.44.070
78.44.081
78.44.083
78.44.085
78.44.087
78.44.091
78.44.101
78.44.111
78.44.121
78.44.131
78.44.141
78.44.151
78.44.161
78.44.171
78.44.181
78.44.190
78.44.200
78.44.210
78.44.220
78.44.230
78.44.240
78.44.250
78.44.260
78.44.270
78.44.280
78.44.300
78.44.310
78.44.320
78.44.330
78.44.340
78.44.350
78.44.360
78.44.910
78.44.920
78.44.930
Legislative finding.
Intent.
Purposes.
Definitions.
Administration of chapter—Rule-making authority.
Surface mining reclamation account.
Exclusive authority to regulate reclamation—Department may
delegate enforcement authority to counties, cities, towns—
Other laws not affected.
Surface mining of coal—Preemption of chapter by federal
laws, programs.
Investigations, research, etc.—Dissemination of information.
Cooperation with other agencies—Receipt and expenditure of
funds.
Reclamation permits required—Applications.
Reclamation permit—Refusal to issue.
Application fee—Annual permit fee—Confidential records—
Appeals—Collection of fees.
Performance security required—Department authority.
Reclamation plans—Approval process.
Joint reclamation plans may be required.
Segmental reclamation—Primary objective.
Reclamation setbacks—Exemption.
Reclamation specifics—Basic objective—Modifications for
metals mining and milling operations—Timeline.
Reclamation—Minimum standards—Waiver.
Reclamation plans—Modification, when required—SEPA.
Reclamation compliance—Inspection of disturbed area—Special inspection requirements for metals mining and milling
operations.
Reclamation—Transfer of permits.
Reclamation—Report by permit holder on anniversary date.
Deficiencies—Order to rectify—Time extension.
Immediate danger—Emergency notice and order to rectify
deficiencies—Emergency order to suspend surface mining.
Order to suspend surface mining—Injunction.
Declaration of abandonment—Reclamation—Subsequent
miner.
Abandonment—Cancellation of the reclamation permit.
Reclamation by the department—Order to submit performance security—Cost recovery.
Fines—Civil penalties—Damage recovery.
Operating without permit—Penalty.
Appeals—Standing.
Underground operation—Surface disturbances subject to
chapter.
Reclamation awards—Recognition of excellence.
Reclamation consulting—No cost service.
Definitions applicable to RCW 78.44.330.
Mineral trespass—Penalty.
Mineral trespass—Limitation on application.
Blanket performance security.
Performance security insufficient to cover cost of reclamation—Lien established in favor of department.
Previously mined land.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 64.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 64.
78.44.010 Legislative finding. The legislature recognizes that the extraction of minerals by surface mining is an
essential activity making an important contribution to the
economic well-being of the state and nation. It is not possible
78.44.010
(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
to extract minerals without producing some environmental
impacts. At the same time, comprehensive regulation of mining and thorough reclamation of mined lands is necessary to
prevent or mitigate conditions that would be detrimental to
the environment and to protect the general welfare, health,
safety, and property rights of the citizens of the state. Surface
mining takes place in diverse areas where the geologic, topographic, climatic, biologic, and social conditions are significantly different, and reclamation specifications must vary
accordingly. Therefore, the legislature finds that a balance
between appropriate environmental regulation and the production and conservation of minerals is in the best interests of
the citizens of the state. [1993 c 518 § 2; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 2.]
Captions—1993 c 518: "Captions used in this act do not constitute any
part of the law." [1993 c 518 § 41.]
Severability—1993 c 518: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 c 518 § 43.]
Effective date—1993 c 518: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1993." [1993 c 518 § 44.]
78.44.011
78.44.011 Intent. The legislature recognizes that the
extraction of minerals through surface mining has historically
included regulatory involvement by both state and local governments.
It is the intent of the legislature to clarify that surface
mining is an appropriate land use, subject to reclamation
authority exercised by the department of natural resources
and land use and operation regulatory authority by counties,
cities, and towns. [1993 c 518 § 1.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.020
78.44.020 Purposes. The purposes of this chapter are
to:
(1) Provide that the usefulness, productivity, and scenic
values of all lands and waters involved in surface mining
within the state will receive the greatest practical degree of
protection and reclamation at the earliest opportunity following completion of surface mining;
(2) Provide for the greatest practical degree of statewide
consistency in the regulation of surface mines;
(3) Apportion regulatory authority between state and
local governments in order to minimize redundant regulation
of mining; and
(4) Ensure that reclamation is consistent with local land
use plans. [2000 c 11 § 21; 1993 c 518 § 3; 1970 ex.s. c 64 §
3.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.031
78.44.031 Definitions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Approved subsequent use" means the post surfacemining land use contained in an approved reclamation plan
and approved by the local land use authority.
(2) "Completion of surface mining" means the cessation
of mining and directly related activities in any segment of a
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.031
surface mine that occurs when essentially all minerals that
can be taken under the terms of the reclamation permit have
been depleted except minerals required to accomplish reclamation according to the approved reclamation plan.
(3) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(4) "Determination" means any action by the department
including permit issuance, reporting, reclamation plan
approval or modification, permit transfers, orders, fines, or
refusal to issue permits.
(5) "Disturbed area" means any place where activities
clearly in preparation for, or during, surface mining have
physically disrupted, covered, compacted, moved, or otherwise altered the characteristics of soil, bedrock, vegetation, or
topography that existed prior to such activity. Disturbed areas
may include but are not limited to: Working faces, water
bodies created by mine-related excavation, pit floors, the land
beneath processing plant and stock pile sites, spoil pile sites,
and equipment staging areas. Disturbed areas shall also
include aboveground waste rock sites and tailing facilities,
and other surface manifestations of underground mines.
Disturbed areas do not include:
(a) Surface mine access roads unless these have characteristics of topography, drainage, slope stability, or ownership that, in the opinion of the department, make reclamation
necessary;
(b) Lands that have been reclaimed to all standards outlined in this chapter, rules of the department, any applicable
SEPA document, and the approved reclamation plan; and
(c) Subsurface aspects of underground mines, such as
portals, tunnels, shafts, pillars, and stopes.
(6) "Miner" means any person or persons, any partnership, limited partnership, or corporation, or any association of
persons, including every public or governmental agency
engaged in surface mining.
(7) "Minerals" means clay, coal, gravel, industrial minerals, metallic substances, peat, sand, stone, topsoil, and any
other similar solid material or substance to be excavated from
natural deposits on or in the earth for commercial, industrial,
or construction use.
(8) "Operations" means all mine-related activities, exclusive of reclamation, that include, but are not limited to activities that affect noise generation, air quality, surface and
ground water quality, quantity, and flow, glare, pollution,
traffic safety, ground vibrations, and/or significant or substantial impacts commonly regulated under provisions of
land use or other permits of local government and local ordinances, or other state laws.
Operations specifically include:
(a) The mining or extraction of rock, stone, gravel, sand,
earth, and other minerals;
(b) Blasting, equipment maintenance, sorting, crushing,
and loading;
(c) On-site mineral processing including asphalt or concrete batching, concrete recycling, and other aggregate recycling;
(d) Transporting minerals to and from the mine, on site
road maintenance, road maintenance for roads used extensively for surface mining activities, traffic safety, and traffic
control.
[Title 78 RCW—page 9]
78.44.040
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(9) "Overburden" means the earth, rock, soil, and topsoil
that lie above mineral deposits.
(10) "Permit holder" means any person or persons, any
partnership, limited partnership, or corporation, or any association of persons, either natural or artificial, including every
public or governmental agency engaged in surface mining
and/or the operation of surface mines, whether individually,
jointly, or through subsidiaries, agents, employees, operators,
or contractors who holds a state reclamation permit.
(11) "Reclamation" means rehabilitation for the appropriate future use of disturbed areas resulting from surface
mining including areas under associated mineral processing
equipment, areas under stockpiled materials, and aboveground waste rock and tailing facilities, and all other surface
disturbances associated with underground mines. Although
both the need for and the practicability of reclamation will
control the type and degree of reclamation in any specific surface mine, the basic objective shall be to reestablish on a perpetual basis the vegetative cover, soil stability, and water
conditions appropriate to the approved subsequent use of the
surface mine and to prevent or mitigate future environmental
degradation.
(12) "Reclamation setbacks" include those lands along
the margins of surface mines wherein minerals and overburden shall be preserved in sufficient volumes to accomplish
reclamation according to the approved plan and the minimum
reclamation standards. Maintenance of reclamation setbacks
may not preclude other mine-related activities within the reclamation setback.
(13) "Recycling" means the reuse of minerals or rock
products.
(14) "Screening" consists of vegetation, berms or other
topography, fencing, and/or other screens that may be
required to mitigate impacts of surface mining on adjacent
properties and/or the environment.
(15) "Segment" means any portion of the surface mine
that, in the opinion of the department:
(a) Has characteristics of topography, drainage, slope
stability, ownership, mining development, or mineral distribution, that make reclamation necessary;
(b) Is not in use as part of surface mining and/or related
activities; and
(c) Is larger than seven acres and has more than five hundred linear feet of working face except as provided in a segmental reclamation agreement approved by the department.
(16) "SEPA" means the state environmental policy act,
chapter 43.21C RCW and rules adopted thereunder.
(17)(a) "Surface mine" means any area or areas in close
proximity to each other, as determined by the department,
where extraction of minerals results in:
(i) More than three acres of disturbed area;
(ii) Surface mined slopes greater than thirty feet high and
steeper than 1.0 foot horizontal to 1.0 foot vertical; or
(iii) More than one acre of disturbed area within an eight
acre area, when the disturbed area results from mineral prospecting or exploration activities.
(b) Surface mines include areas where mineral extraction
from the surface or subsurface occurs by the auger method or
by reworking mine refuse or tailings, when the disturbed area
exceeds the size or height thresholds listed in (a) of this subsection.
[Title 78 RCW—page 10]
(c) Surface mining occurs when operations have created
or are intended to create a surface mine as defined by this
subsection.
(d) Surface mining shall exclude excavations or grading
used:
(i) Primarily for on-site construction, on-site road maintenance, or on-site landfill construction;
(ii) For the purpose of public safety or restoring the land
following a natural disaster;
(iii) For the purpose of removing stockpiles;
(iv) For forest or farm road construction or maintenance
on site or on contiguous lands;
(v) Primarily for public works projects if the mines are
owned or primarily operated by counties with 1993 populations of less than twenty thousand persons, and if each mine
has less than seven acres of disturbed area; and
(vi) For sand authorized by RCW 79A.05.630.
(18) "Topsoil" means the naturally occurring upper part
of a soil profile, including the soil horizon that is rich in
humus and capable of supporting vegetation together with
other sediments within four vertical feet of the ground surface. [2000 c 11 § 22; 1999 c 252 § 1; 1997 c 142 § 1; 1993
c 518 § 4.]
Severability—1999 c 252: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 c 252 § 3.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.040
78.44.040 Administration of chapter—Rule-making
authority. The department of natural resources is charged
with the administration of reclamation under this chapter. In
order to implement and enforce this chapter, the department,
under the administrative procedure act (chapter 34.05 RCW),
may from time to time adopt those rules necessary to carry
out the purposes of this chapter. [1993 c 518 § 6; 1984 c 215
§ 2; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 5.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.045
78.44.045 Surface mining reclamation account. (1)
The surface mining reclamation account is created in the state
treasury. Annual mining fees, funds received by the department from state, local, or federal agencies for research purposes, as well as other mine-related funds and fines received
by the department shall be deposited into this account.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the surface mine
[mining] reclamation account may be used by the department
only to:
(a) Administer its regulatory program pursuant to this
chapter;
(b) Undertake research relating to surface mine regulation, reclamation of surface mine lands, and related issues;
and
(c) Cover costs arising from appeals from determinations
made under this chapter.
(2) At the end of each fiscal biennium, any money collected from fees charged under RCW 78.44.085 that was not
used for the administration and enforcement of surface mining regulation under this chapter must be used by the depart(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
ment for surveying and mapping sand and gravel sites in the
state.
(3) Fines, interest, and other penalties collected by the
department under the provisions of this chapter shall be used
to reclaim surface mines abandoned prior to 1971. [2006 c
341 § 2; 1993 c 518 § 10.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.050
78.44.050 Exclusive authority to regulate reclamation—Department may delegate enforcement authority to
counties, cities, towns—Other laws not affected. The
department shall have the exclusive authority to regulate surface mine reclamation. No county, city, or town may require
for its review or approval a separate reclamation plan or
application. The department may, however, delegate some or
all of its enforcement authority by contractual agreement to a
county, city, or town that employs personnel who are, in the
opinion of the department, qualified to enforce plans
approved by the department. All counties, cities, or towns
shall have the authority to zone surface mines and adopt ordinances regulating operations as provided in this chapter,
except that county, city, or town operations ordinances may
be preempted by the department during the emergencies outlined in RCW 78.44.200 and related rules.
This chapter shall not alter or preempt any provisions of
the state water allocation and use laws (chapters 90.03 and
90.44 RCW), the state water pollution control laws (chapter
90.48 RCW), the state fish and wildlife laws (Title 77 RCW),
state noise laws or air quality laws (Title 70 RCW), shoreline
management (chapter 90.58 RCW), the state environmental
policy act (chapter 43.21C RCW), state growth management
(chapter 36.70A RCW), state drinking water laws (chapters
43.20 and 70.119A RCW), or any other state statutes. [2003
c 39 § 39; 1997 c 185 § 1; 1993 c 518 § 7; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 6.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.055
78.44.055 Surface mining of coal—Preemption of
chapter by federal laws, programs. In the event state law is
preempted under federal surface mining laws relating to surface mining of coal or the department of natural resources
determines that a federal program and its rules and regulations relating to the surface mining of coal are as stringent
and effective as the provisions of this chapter, the provisions
of this chapter shall not apply to such surface mining for
which federal permits are issued until such preemption ceases
or the department determines such chapter should apply.
[1984 c 215 § 8. Formerly RCW 78.44.175.]
78.44.060
78.44.060 Investigations, research, etc.—Dissemination of information. The department shall have the authority
to conduct, authorize, and/or participate in investigations,
research, experiments, and demonstrations, and to collect and
disseminate information relating to surface mining and reclamation of surface mined lands. [1993 c 518 § 8; 1970 ex.s. c
64 § 7.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.083
78.44.070
78.44.070 Cooperation with other agencies—Receipt
and expenditure of funds. The department may cooperate
with other governmental and private agencies and agencies of
the federal government, and may reasonably reimburse them
for any services the department requests that they provide.
The department may also receive any federal funds, state
funds and any other funds and expend them for reclamation
of land affected by surface mining and for purposes enumerated in RCW 78.44.060. [1993 c 518 § 9; 1970 ex.s. c 64 §
8.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.081
78.44.081 Reclamation permits required—Applications. After July 1, 1993, no miner or permit holder may
engage in surface mining without having first obtained a reclamation permit from the department. Operating permits
issued by the department between January 1, 1971, and June
30, 1993, shall be considered reclamation permits. A separate
permit shall be required for each noncontiguous surface
mine. The reclamation permit shall consist of the permit
forms and any exhibits attached thereto. The permit holder
shall comply with the provisions of the reclamation permit
unless waived and explained in writing by the department.
Prior to receiving a reclamation permit, an applicant
must submit an application on forms provided by the department that shall contain the following information and shall be
considered part of the reclamation permit:
(1) Name and address of the legal landowner, or purchaser of the land under a real estate contract;
(2) The name of the applicant and, if the applicants are
corporations or other business entities, the names and
addresses of their principal officers and resident agent for service of process;
(3) A reasonably accurate description of the minerals to
be surface mined;
(4) Type of surface mining to be performed;
(5) Estimated starting date, date of completion, and date
of completed reclamation of surface mining;
(6) Size and legal description of the permit area and
maximum lateral and vertical extent of the disturbed area;
(7) Expected area to be disturbed by surface mining during (a) the next twelve months, and (b) the following twentyfour months;
(8) Any applicable SEPA documents; and
(9) Other pertinent data as required by the department.
The reclamation permit shall be granted for the period
required to deplete essentially all minerals identified in the
reclamation permit on the land covered by the reclamation
plan. The reclamation permit shall be valid until the reclamation is complete unless the permit is canceled by the department. [1997 c 192 § 1; 1993 c 518 § 11.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.083
78.44.083 Reclamation permit—Refusal to issue.
The department shall refuse to issue a reclamation permit if it
is determined during the SEPA process that the impacts of a
proposed surface mine cannot be adequately mitigated.
The department or county, city, or town may refuse to
issue any other permit at any other location to any miner or
[Title 78 RCW—page 11]
78.44.085
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
permit holder who fails to rectify deficiencies set forth in an
order of the department within the requisite time schedule.
However, the department or county, city, or town shall issue
all appropriate permits when all deficiencies are corrected at
each surface mining site. [1993 c 518 § 33.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.085
78.44.085 Application fee—Annual permit fee—
Confidential records—Appeals—Collection of fees. (1)
An applicant for an expansion of a permitted surface mine, a
new reclamation permit under RCW 78.44.081, or for combining existing public or private reclamation permits, shall
pay a nonrefundable application fee to the department before
being granted the requested permit or permit expansion. The
amount of the application fee shall be two thousand five hundred dollars.
(2) Permit holders submitting a revision to an application
for an existing reclamation plan that is not an expansion shall
pay a nonrefundable reclamation plan revision fee of one
thousand dollars.
(3) After June 30, 2006, each public or private permit
holder shall pay an annual permit fee in an amount pursuant
to this section. The annual permit fee shall be payable to the
department prior to the reclamation permit being issued and
on the anniversary of the permit date each year thereafter.
(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,
each public or private permit holder must pay an annual fee
under this section based on the categories of aggregate or
mineral mined or extracted during the previous twelve
months, as follows:
(i) Zero to fifty thousand tons: A fee of one thousand
two hundred fifty dollars;
(ii) More than fifty thousand tons to three hundred fifty
thousand tons: A fee of two thousand five hundred dollars;
(iii) More than three hundred fifty thousand tons: A fee
of three thousand five hundred dollars.
(b) Annual fees paid by a county for mines used exclusively for public works projects and having less than seven
acres of disturbed area per mine shall not exceed one thousand dollars.
(c) Annual fees are waived for all mines used primarily
for public works projects if the mines are owned and primarily operated by counties with 1993 populations of less than
twenty thousand persons, and if each mine has less than
seven acres of disturbed area.
(5) Any production records, mineral assessments, and
trade secrets submitted by a permit holder, mine operator, or
landowner to the department are to be held as confidential
and not released as part of a public records request under
chapter 42.56 RCW.
(6) Appeals from any determination of the department
shall not stay the requirement to pay any annual permit fee.
Failure to pay the annual fees may constitute grounds for an
order to suspend surface mining, pay fines, or cancel the reclamation permit as provided in this chapter.
(7) All fees collected by the department shall be deposited into the surface mining reclamation account created in
RCW 78.44.045.
[Title 78 RCW—page 12]
(8) If the department delegates enforcement responsibilities to a county, city, or town, the department may allocate
funds collected under this section to the county, city, or town.
(9) Within sixty days after receipt of an application for a
new or expanded permit, the department shall advise applicants of any information necessary to successfully complete
the application.
(10) In addition to other enforcement authority, the
department may refer matters to a collection agency licensed
under chapter 19.16 RCW when permit fees or fines are past
due. The collection agency may impose its own fees for collecting delinquent permit fees or fines. [2006 c 341 § 1; 2001
1st sp.s. c 5 § 1; 1997 c 413 § 1; 1996 c 70 § 1; 1993 c 518 §
14.]
Effective date—2001 1st sp.s. c 5: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1,
2001." [2001 1st sp.s. c 5 § 3.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.087
78.44.087 Performance security required—Department authority. (1) The department should ensure that a
sufficient performance security is available to reclaim each
surface mine permitted under this chapter. To ensure sufficient funds are available:
(a) The department shall not issue a reclamation permit,
except to public or governmental agencies, until the applicant
has either deposited with the department an acceptable performance security on forms prescribed by the department that
is deemed adequate by the department to cover reclamation
costs or has complied with the blanket performance security
option in RCW 78.44.350. A public or governmental agency
shall not be required to post performance security.
(b) No person may create a disturbed area that meets or
exceeds the minimum threshold for a reclamation permit
without first submitting an adequate and acceptable performance security to the department and complying with all
requirements of this chapter.
(2) The department may refuse to accept any performance security that the department, for any reason, deems to
be inadequate to cover reclamation costs or is not in a form
that is acceptable to the department.
(3) Acceptable forms of performance security are:
(a) Bank letters of credit acceptable to the department or
irrevocable bank letters of credit from a bank or financial
institution or organization authorized to transact business in
the United States;
(b) A cash deposit;
(c) Other forms of performance securities acceptable to
the department as determined by rule;
(d) An assignment of a savings account;
(e) A savings certificate in a Washington bank on an
assignment form prescribed by the department;
(f) Approved participants in a state security pool if one is
established; or
(g) A corporate surety bond executed in favor of the
department by a corporation authorized to do business in the
state of Washington under Title 48 RCW and authorized by
the department.
(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
(4) The performance security shall be conditioned upon
the faithful performance of the requirements set forth in this
chapter, the rules adopted under it, and the reclamation permit.
(5)(a) The department must determine the amount of the
performance security as prescribed by this subsection.
(b) The department may determine the amount of the
performance security based on the estimated cost of: (i)
Completing reclamation according to the requirements of this
chapter; or (ii) the reclamation permit for the area to be surface mined during the upcoming thirty-six months and any
previously disturbed areas that have not been reclaimed.
(c) The department may determine the amount of the
performance security based on an engineering cost estimate
for reclamation that is provided by the permit holder. The
engineering cost estimate must be prepared using engineering
principles and methods that are acceptable to the department.
If the department does not approve the engineering cost estimate, the department shall determine the amount of the performance security using a standardized performance security
formula developed by the department by rule.
(6) The department may recalculate a surface mine’s performance security based on subsection (5) of this section.
When the department recalculates a performance security,
the new calculation will not be prejudiced by the existence of
any previous calculation. A new performance security must
be submitted to the department within thirty days of the
department’s written request.
(7) Liability under the performance security and the permit holder’s obligation to maintain the calculated performance security amount shall be maintained until the surface
mine is reclaimed, unless released as hereinafter provided.
Partial drawings will proportionately reduce the value of a
performance security but will not extinguish the remaining
value. Liability under the performance security may be
released only when the surface mine is reclaimed as evidenced by the department in writing or after the department
receives and approves a substitute performance security. The
department will notify the permit holder, and surety if applicable, when reclamation is accepted by the department as
complete or upon the department’s acceptance of an alternate
security. The liability of the surety shall not exceed the
amount of security required by this section and the department’s reasonable legal fees to recover the security.
(8) Any interest or appreciation on the performance
security shall be held by the department until the surface
mine is reclaimed. The department may collect and use
appreciation or interest accrued on a performance security to
the same extent as for the underlying performance security.
If the permit holder meets its obligations under this chapter,
rules adopted under this chapter, and its approved reclamation permit and plan by completing reclamation, the department will return any unused performance security and
accrued interest or appreciation.
(9) No other state agency or local government other than
the department shall require performance security for the purposes of surface mine reclamation. However, nothing in this
section prohibits a state agency or local government from
requiring a performance security when the state agency or
local government is acting in its capacity as a landowner and
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.091
contracting for extraction-related activities on state or local
government property.
(10) The department may enter into written agreements
with federal agencies in order to avoid redundant bonding of
any surface mine that is located on both federal and nonfederal lands in Washington state. [2006 c 341 § 3; 1997 c 186
§ 1; 1995 c 223 § 3; 1994 c 232 § 23; 1993 c 518 § 15.]
Severability—1994 c 232: See RCW 78.56.900.
Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 1-5, 9-17, and 23-31: See RCW
78.56.901.
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.091
78.44.091 Reclamation plans—Approval process.
An applicant shall provide a reclamation plan and copies
acceptable to the department prior to obtaining a reclamation
permit. The department shall have the sole authority to
approve reclamation plans. Reclamation plans or modified
reclamation plans submitted to the department after June 30,
1993, shall meet or exceed the minimum reclamation standards set forth in this chapter and by the department in rule.
Each applicant shall also supply copies of the proposed plans
and final reclamation plan approved by the department to the
county, city, or town in which the mine will be located. The
department shall solicit comment from local government
prior to approving a reclamation plan. The reclamation plan
shall include:
(1) A written narrative describing the proposed mining
and reclamation scheme with:
(a) A statement of a proposed subsequent use of the land
after reclamation that is consistent with the local land use
designation. Approval of the reclamation plan shall not vest
the proposed subsequent use of the land;
(b) If the permit holder is not the sole landowner, a copy
of the conveyance or a written statement that expressly grants
or reserves the right to extract minerals by surface mining
methods;
(c) A simple and accurate legal description of the permit
area and disturbed areas;
(d) The maximum depth of mining;
(e) A reasonably accurate description of the minerals to
be mined;
(f) A description of the method of mining;
(g) A description of the sequence of mining that will provide, within limits of normal procedures of the industry, for
completion of surface mining and associated disturbance on
each portion of the permit area so that reclamation can be initiated at the earliest possible time on each segment of the
mine;
(h) A schedule for progressive reclamation of each segment of the mine;
(i) Where mining on flood plains or in river or stream
channels is contemplated, a thoroughly documented hydrogeologic evaluation that will outline measures that would
protect against or would mitigate avulsion and erosion as
determined by the department;
(j) Where mining is contemplated within critical aquifer
recharge areas, special protection areas as defined by chapter
90.48 RCW and implementing rules, public water supply
watersheds, sole source aquifers, wellhead protection areas,
and designated aquifer protection areas as set forth in chapter
[Title 78 RCW—page 13]
78.44.101
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
36.36 RCW, a thoroughly documented hydrogeologic analysis of the reclamation plan may be required; and
(k) Additional information as required by the department
including but not limited to: The positions of reclamation
setbacks and screening, conservation of topsoil, interim reclamation, revegetation, postmining erosion control, drainage
control, slope stability, disposal of mine wastes, control of fill
material, development of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and
impoundments, and rehabilitation of topography.
(2) Maps of the surface mine showing:
(a) All applicable data required in the narrative portion
of the reclamation plan;
(b) Existing topographic contours;
(c) Contours depicting specifications for surface gradient
restoration appropriate to the proposed subsequent use of the
land and meeting the minimum reclamation standards;
(d) Locations and names of all roads, railroads, and utility lines on or adjacent to the area;
(e) Locations and types of proposed access roads to be
built in conjunction with the surface mining;
(f) Detailed and accurate boundaries of the permit area,
screening, reclamation setbacks, and maximum extent of the
disturbed area; and
(g) Estimated depth to ground water and the locations of
surface water bodies and wetlands both prior to and after
mining.
(3) At least two cross sections of the mine including all
applicable data required in the narrative and map portions of
the reclamation plan.
(4) Evidence that the proposed surface mine has been
approved under local zoning and land use regulations.
(5) Written approval of the reclamation plan by the landowner for mines permitted after June 30, 1993.
(6) Other supporting data and documents regarding the
surface mine as reasonably required by the department.
If the department refuses to approve a reclamation plan
in the form submitted by an applicant or permit holder, it
shall notify the applicant or permit holder stating the reasons
for its determination and describe such additional requirements to the applicant or permit holder’s reclamation plan as
are necessary for the approval of the plan by the department.
If the department refuses to approve a complete reclamation
plan within one hundred twenty days, the miner or permit
holder may appeal this determination under the provisions of
this chapter.
Only insignificant deviations may occur from the
approved reclamation plan without prior written approval by
the department for the proposed change. [1997 c 192 § 2;
1993 c 518 § 12.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.101
78.44.101 Joint reclamation plans may be required.
Where two or more surface mines join along a common
boundary, the department may require submission of a joint
reclamation plan in order to provide for optimum reclamation
or to avoid waste of mineral resources. Such joint reclamation plans may be in the form of a single collaborative plan
submitted by all affected permit holders or as individual reclamation plans in which the schedule of reclamation, finished
[Title 78 RCW—page 14]
contours, and revegetation match reclamation plans of adjacent permit holders. [1993 c 518 § 13.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.111
78.44.111 Segmental reclamation—Primary objective. The permit holder shall reclaim each segment of the
mine within two years of completion of surface mining on
that segment except as provided in a segmental reclamation
agreement approved in writing by the department. The primary objective of a segmental reclamation agreement should
be to enhance final reclamation. [1993 c 518 § 5.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.121
78.44.121 Reclamation setbacks—Exemption. Reclamation setbacks shall be as follows unless waived by the
department:
(1) The reclamation setback for unconsolidated deposits
within mines permitted after June 30, 1993, shall be equal to
the maximum anticipated height of the adjacent working face
or as determined by the department. Setbacks and buffers
may be destroyed as part of final reclamation of each segment
if approved by the department.
(2) The minimum reclamation setback for consolidated
materials within mines permitted after June 30, 1993, shall be
thirty feet or as determined by the department.
(3) An exemption from this section may be granted by
the department following a written request. The department
may consider submission of a plan for backfilling acceptable
to the department, a geotechnical slope-stability study, proof
of a dedicated source of fill materials, written approval of
contiguous landowners, and other information before granting an exemption. [1993 c 518 § 18.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.131
78.44.131 Reclamation specifics—Basic objective—
Modifications for metals mining and milling operations—
Timeline. The need for, and the practicability of, reclamation shall control the type and degree of reclamation in any
specific instance. However, the basic objective of reclamation is to reestablish on a continuing basis the vegetative
cover, slope stability, water conditions, and safety conditions
suitable to the proposed subsequent use consistent with local
land use plans for the surface mine site.
Each permit holder shall comply with the minimum reclamation standards in effect on the date the permit was issued
and any additional reclamation standards set forth in the
approved reclamation plan. The department may modify, on
a site specific basis, the minimum reclamation standards for
metals mining and milling operations regulated under chapter
232, Laws of 1994 in order to achieve the reclamation and
closure objectives of that chapter. The basic objective of reclamation for these operations is the reestablishment on a continuing basis of vegetative cover, slope stability, water conditions, and safety conditions.
Reclamation activities, particularly those relating to control of erosion and mitigation of impacts of mining to adjacent areas, shall, to the extent feasible, be conducted simultaneously with surface mining, and in any case shall be initi(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
ated at the earliest possible time after completion of surface
mining on any segment of the permit area.
All reclamation activities shall be completed not more
than two years after completion or abandonment of surface
mining on each segment of the area for which a reclamation
permit is in force.
The department may by contract delegate enforcement
of provisions of reclamation plans to counties, cities, and
towns. A county, city, or town performing enforcement functions may not impose any additional fees on permit holders.
[1994 c 232 § 24; 1993 c 518 § 20.]
Severability—1994 c 232: See RCW 78.56.900.
Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 1-5, 9-17, and 23-31: See RCW
78.56.901.
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.141
78.44.141 Reclamation—Minimum standards—
Waiver. Reclamation of surface mines permitted after June
30, 1993, and reclamation of surface mine segments
addressed by reclamation plans modified after June 30, 1994,
shall meet the following minimum standards except as
waived in writing by the department.
(1) Prior to surface mining, permit holders shall carefully
stockpile all topsoil on the site for use in reclamation, or
immediately move topsoil to reclaim adjacent segments,
except when the approved subsequent use does not require
replacing the topsoil. Topsoil needed for reclamation shall
not be sold as a mineral nor mixed with sterile soils. Stockpiled materials used as screening shall not be used for reclamation until such time as the appropriate county or municipal
government has given its approval.
(2) The department may require that clearly visible, permanent monuments delineating the permit boundaries and
maximum extent of the disturbed area be set at appropriate
places around the mine site. The permit holder shall maintain
the monuments until termination of the reclamation permit.
(3) All minimum reclamation standards may be waived
in writing by the department in order to accommodate unique
and beneficial reclamation schemes such as parks, swimming
facilities, buildings, and wildlife reserves. Such waivers shall
be granted only after written approval by the department of a
reclamation plan describing the variances to the minimum
reclamation standards, receipt of documentation of SEPA
compliance, and written approvals from the landowner and
by the local land use authority.
(4) All surface-mined slopes shall be reclaimed to the
following minimum standards:
(a) In surface mines in soil, sand, gravel, and other
unconsolidated materials, all reclaimed slopes shall:
(i) Have varied steepness;
(ii) Have a sinuous appearance in both profile and plan
view;
(iii) Have no large rectilinear topographic elements;
(iv) Generally have slopes of between 2.0 and 3.0 feet
horizontal to 1.0 foot vertical or flatter except in limited areas
where steeper slopes are necessary in order to create sinuous
topography and to control drainage;
(v) Not exceed 1.5 feet horizontal to 1.0 foot vertical
except as necessary to blend with adjacent natural slopes;
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.141
(vi) Be compacted if significant backfilling is required to
produce the final reclaimed slopes and if the department
determines that compaction is necessary.
(b) Slopes in consolidated materials shall have no prescribed slope angle or height, but where a severely hazardous
condition is created by mining and that is not indigenous to
the immediate area, the slopes shall not exceed 2.0 feet horizontal to 1.0 foot vertical. Steeper slopes shall be acceptable
in areas where evidence is submitted that demonstrates that
the geologic or topographic characteristics of the site preclude reclamation of slopes to such angle or height or that
such slopes constitute an acceptable subsequent use under
local land use regulations.
(c) Surface mines in which the seasonal or permanent
water tables have been penetrated, thereby creating swamps,
ponds, or lakes useful for recreational, wildlife habitat, water
quality control, or other beneficial wetland purposes shall be
reclaimed in the following manner:
(i) For slopes that are below the permanent water table in
soil, sand, gravel, and other unconsolidated materials, the
slope angle shall be no steeper than 1.5 feet horizontal to 1.0
foot vertical;
(ii) Generally, solid rock banks shall be shaped so that a
person can escape from the water, however steeper slopes
and lack of water egress shall be acceptable in rural, forest, or
mountainous areas or where evidence is provided that such
slopes would constitute an acceptable subsequent use under
local land use regulations;
(iii) Both standpipes and armored spillways or other
measures to prevent undesirable overflow or seepage shall be
provided to stabilize all such water bodies within the disturbed area; and
(iv) Where lakes, ponds, or swamps are created, the permit holder shall provide measures to establish a beneficial
wetland by developing natural wildlife habitat and incorporating such measures as irregular shoreline configurations,
sinuous bathymetry and shorelines, varied water depths, peninsulas, islands, and subaqueous areas less than 1.5 foot deep
during summer low-water levels. Clay-bearing material
placed below water level may be required to avoid creating
sterile wetlands.
(d) Final topography shall generally comprise sinuous
contours, chutes and buttresses, spurs, and rolling mounds
and hills, all of which shall blend with adjacent topography to
a reasonable extent. Straight planar slopes and right angles
should be avoided.
(e) The floors of mines shall generally grade gently into
postmining drainages to preclude sheet-wash erosion during
intense precipitation, except where backgrading is appropriate for drainage control, to establish wetlands, or to trap sediment.
(f) Topsoil shall be restored as necessary to promote
effective revegetation and to stabilize slopes and mine floors.
Where limited topsoil is available, topsoil shall be placed and
revegetated in such a way as to ensure that little topsoil is lost
to erosion.
(g) Where surface mining has exposed natural materials
that may create polluting conditions, including but not limited to acid-forming coals and metalliferous rock or soil, such
conditions shall be addressed according to a method
approved by the department. The final ground surface shall
[Title 78 RCW—page 15]
78.44.151
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
be graded so that surface water drains away from these materials.
(h) All grading and backfilling shall be made with nonnoxious, noncombustible, and relatively incompactible solids
unless the permit holder provides:
(i) Written approval from all appropriate solid waste regulatory agencies; and
(ii) Any and all revisions to such written approval during
the entire time the reclamation permit is in force.
(i) Final reclaimed slopes should be left roughly graded,
preserving equipment tracks, depressions, and small mounds
to trap clay-bearing soil and promote natural revegetation.
Where reasonable, final equipment tracks should be oriented
in order to trap soil and seeds and to inhibit erosion.
(j) Pit floors should be bulldozed or ripped to foster
revegetation.
(5) Drainages shall be graded and contain adequate
energy dissipation devices so that essentially natural conditions of water velocity, volume, and turbidity are reestablished within six months of reclamation of each segment of
the mine. Ditches and other artificial drainages shall be constructed on each reclaimed segment to control surface water,
erosion, and siltation and to direct runoff to a safe outlet.
Diversion ditches including but not limited to channels,
flumes, tightlines and retention ponds shall be capable of carrying the peak flow at the mine site that has the probable
recurrence frequency of once in twenty-five years as determined from data for the twenty-five year, twenty-four hour
precipitation event published by the national oceanic and
atmospheric administration. The grade of such ditches and
channels shall be constructed to limit erosion and siltation.
Natural and other drainage channels shall be kept free of
equipment, wastes, stockpiles, and overburden.
(6) Impoundment of water shall be an acceptable reclamation technique provided that approvals of other agencies
with jurisdiction are obtained and:
(a) Proper measures are taken to prevent undesirable
seepage that could cause flooding outside the permitted area
or adversely affect the stability of impoundment dikes or
adjacent slopes;
(b) Both standpipes and armored spillways or other measures necessary to control overflow are provided.
(7) Revegetation shall be required as appropriate to stabilize slopes, generate new topsoil, reduce erosion and turbidity, mask rectilinear contours, and restore the scenic value
of the land to the extent feasible as appropriate to the
approved subsequent use. Although the scope of and necessity for revegetation will vary according to the geography,
precipitation, and approved subsequent use of the site, the
objective of segmental revegetation is to reestablish self-sustaining vegetation and conditions of slope stability, surface
water quality, and appearance before release of the reclamation permit. Revegetation shall normally meet the following
standards:
(a) Revegetation shall commence during the first proper
growing season following restoration of slopes on each segment unless the department has granted the permit holder a
written time extension.
(b) In eastern Washington, the permit holder may not be
able to achieve continuous ground cover owing to arid conditions or sparse topsoil. However, revegetation shall be as
[Title 78 RCW—page 16]
continuous as reasonably possible as determined by the
department.
(c) Revegetation generally shall include but not be limited to diverse evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, grasses,
and deep-rooted ground cover.
(i) For western Washington, nitrogen-fixing species
including but not limited to alder, white clover, and lupine
should be included in dry areas. In wet areas, tubers, sedges,
wetland grasses, willow, cottonwood, cedar, and alder are
appropriate.
(ii) In eastern Washington, lupine, white clover, Russian
olive, black locust, junipers, and pines are among appropriate
plants. In wet areas, cottonwood, tubers, and sedges are
appropriate.
(d) The requirements for revegetation may be reduced or
waived by the department where erosion will not be a problem in rural areas where precipitation exceeds thirty inches
per annum, or where revegetation is inappropriate for the
approved subsequent use of the surface mine.
(e) In areas where revegetation is critical and conditions
are harsh, the department may require irrigation, fertilization,
and importation of clay or humus-bearing soils to establish
effective vegetation.
(f) The department may refuse to release a reclamation
permit or performance security until it deems that effective
revegetation has commenced. [1993 c 518 § 21.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.151 Reclamation plans—Modification, when
required—SEPA. (1) The permit holder may modify the
reclamation plan at any time during the term of the permit
provided that the modified reclamation plan meets the protections, mitigations, and reclamation goals of RCW 78.44.091,
78.44.131, and 78.44.141.
(2) The department may require a permit holder to modify the reclamation plan if the department determines:
(a) That the previously approved reclamation plan has
not been modified during the past ten years; or
(b) That the permit holder has violated or is not substantially following the previously approved reclamation plan.
(3) Modified reclamation plans shall be reviewed by the
department as lead agency under SEPA. Such SEPA analyses
shall consider only those impacts relating directly to the proposed modifications. Copies of proposed and approved modifications shall be sent to the appropriate county, city, or
town. [1997 c 192 § 3; 1993 c 518 § 23.]
78.44.151
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.161
78.44.161 Reclamation compliance—Inspection of
disturbed area—Special inspection requirements for metals mining and milling operations. The department may
order at any time an inspection of the disturbed area to determine if the miner or permit holder has complied with the reclamation permit, rules, and this chapter.
The department shall have special inspection requirements for metals mining and milling operations regulated
under chapter 232, Laws of 1994. The department shall
inspect these mining operations at least quarterly, unless prevented by inclement weather conditions, in order to ensure
(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
that the permit holder is in compliance with the reclamation
permit, rules, and this chapter. The department shall conduct
additional inspections as needed during the construction
phase of these mining operations in order to ensure compliance with the reclamation permit, rules, and this chapter.
[1994 c 232 § 22; 1993 c 518 § 25.]
Severability—1994 c 232: See RCW 78.56.900.
Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 6-8 and 18-22: See RCW 78.56.902.
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.171 Reclamation—Transfer of permits. Reclamation permits shall be transferred to a subsequent permit
holder and the department shall release the former permit
holder from the duties imposed by this chapter if:
(1) Both permit holders comply with all rules of the
department addressing requirements for transferring a permit; and
(2) Unless waived by the department, the mine and all
others operated by both the former and subsequent permit
holders and their principal officers or owners are in compliance with this chapter and rules. [1993 c 518 § 22.]
78.44.171
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.220
(3) The approved reclamation plan; or
(4) The reclamation permit;
and that activity has created a situation involving an immediate danger to the public health, safety, welfare, or environment requiring immediate action, the department may issue
an emergency notice and order to rectify deficiencies, and/or
an emergency order to suspend surface mining. These orders
shall be effective when entered. The department may take
such action as is necessary to prevent or avoid the danger to
the public health, safety, welfare, or environment that justifies use of emergency adjudication. The department shall
give such notice as is practicable to the permit holder or
miner who is required to comply with the order. The order
shall comply with the requirements of the administrative procedure act.
Regulations of surface mining operations administered
by other state and local agencies shall be preempted by this
section to the extent that the time schedule and procedures
necessary to rectify the emergency situation, as determined
by the department, conflict with such local regulation. [1993
c 518 § 27.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.210
78.44.181 Reclamation—Report by permit holder on
anniversary date. On the anniversary date of the reclamation permit and each year thereafter until reclamation is completed and approved, the permit holder shall file a report of
activities completed during the preceding year. The report
shall be on a form prescribed by the department. [1993 c 518
§ 24.]
78.44.181
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.190 Deficiencies—Order to rectify—Time
extension. The department may issue an order to rectify
deficiencies when a miner or permit holder is conducting surface mining in any manner not authorized by:
(1) This chapter;
(2) The rules adopted by the department;
(3) The authorized reclamation plan; or
(4) The reclamation permit.
The order shall describe the deficiencies and shall
require that the miner or permit holder correct all deficiencies
no later than sixty days from issuance of the order. The
department may extend the period for correction for delays
clearly beyond the miner or permit holder’s control, but only
when the miner or permit holder is, in the opinion of the
department, making every reasonable effort to comply.
[1993 c 518 § 26.]
78.44.190
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.200 Immediate danger—Emergency notice
and order to rectify deficiencies—Emergency order to
suspend surface mining. When the department finds that a
permit holder is conducting surface mining in any manner not
authorized by:
(1) This chapter;
(2) The rules adopted by the department;
78.44.200
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.210 Order to suspend surface mining—Injunction. Upon the failure of a miner or permit holder to comply
with a department order to rectify deficiencies, the department may issue an order to suspend surface mining when a
miner or permit holder is conducting surface mining in any
manner not authorized by:
(1) This chapter;
(2) The rules adopted by the department;
(3) The approved reclamation plan;
(4) The reclamation permit; or
(5) If the miner or permit holder fails to comply with any
final order of the department.
The order to suspend surface mining shall require the
miner or permit holder to suspend part or all of the miner’s or
permit holder’s mining operations until the conditions resulting in the issuance of the order have been mitigated to the satisfaction of the department.
The attorney general may take the necessary legal action
to enjoin, or otherwise cause to be stopped, surface mining in
violation of an order to suspend surface mining. [1993 c 518
§ 28.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.220
78.44.220 Declaration of abandonment—Reclamation—Subsequent miner. The department may issue a declaration of abandonment when it determines that all surface
mining has ceased for a period of one hundred eighty consecutive days not set forth in the permit holder’s reclamation
plan or when, by reason of inspection of the permit area, or by
any other means, the department determines that the mine has
in fact been abandoned by the permit holder except that abandonment shall not include normal interruptions of surface
mining resulting from labor disputes, economic conditions
associated with lack of smelting capacity or availability of
appropriate transportation, war, social unrest, demand for
minerals, maintenance and repairs, and acts of God.
[Title 78 RCW—page 17]
78.44.230
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
Following a declaration of abandonment, the department
shall require the permit holder to complete reclamation in
accordance with this chapter. If the permit holder fails to do
so, the department shall proceed to do the necessary reclamation work pursuant to RCW 78.44.240.
If another miner applies for a permit on a site that has
been declared abandoned, the department may, in its discretion, cancel the reclamation permit of the permit holder and
issue a new reclamation permit to the applicant. The department shall not issue a new permit unless it determines that
such issuance will be an effective means of assuring that the
site will ultimately be reclaimed. The applicant must agree to
assume the reclamation responsibilities left unfinished by the
first miner, in addition to meeting all requirements for issuance of a new permit. [1993 c 518 § 29.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.230
78.44.230 Abandonment—Cancellation of the reclamation permit. When the department determines that a surface mine has been abandoned, it may cancel the reclamation
permit. The permit holder shall be informed of such actions
by a department notification of illegal abandonment and cancellation of the reclamation permit. [1993 c 518 § 30.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.240
78.44.240 Reclamation by the department—Order to
submit performance security—Cost recovery. The department may, with the staff, equipment, and material under its
control, or by contract with others, reclaim the disturbed
areas when it finds that reclamation has not occurred in any
segment of a surface mine within two years of completion of
mining or of declaration of abandonment and the permit
holder is not actively pursuing reclamation.
If the department intends to undertake the reclamation,
the department shall issue an order to submit performance
security requiring the permit holder or surety to submit to the
department the amount of moneys posted pursuant to RCW
78.44.087. If the amount specified in the order to submit
performance security is not paid within twenty days after
issuance of the notice, the attorney general upon request of
the department shall bring an action on behalf of the state in
a superior court to recover the amount specified and associated legal fees.
The department may proceed at any time after issuing
the order to submit performance security with reclamation of
the site according to the approved reclamation plan or according to a plan developed by the department that meets the minimum reclamation standards.
The department shall keep a record of all expenses
incurred in carrying out any reclamation project or activity
authorized under this section, including:
(1) Reclamation;
(2) A reasonable charge for the services performed by
the state’s personnel and the state’s equipment and materials
utilized; and
(3) Administrative and legal expenses related to reclamation of the surface mine.
The department shall refund to the surety or permit
holder all amounts received in excess of the amount of
[Title 78 RCW—page 18]
expenses incurred. If the amount received is less than the
expenses incurred, the attorney general, upon request of the
department, may bring an action against the permit holder on
behalf of the state in the superior court to recover the remaining costs listed in this section. [1993 c 518 § 31.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.250
78.44.250 Fines—Civil penalties—Damage recovery.
Each order of the department may impose a fine or fines in
the event that a miner or permit holder fails to obey the order
of the department. When a miner or permit holder fails to
comply with an order of the department, the miner or permit
holder shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not
more than ten thousand dollars for each violation plus interest
based upon a schedule of fines set forth by the department in
rule. Procedures for imposing a penalty and setting the
amount of the penalty shall be as provided in RCW
90.48.144. Each day on which a miner or permit holder continues to disobey any order of the department shall constitute
a separate violation. If the penalty and interest is not paid to
the department after it becomes due and payable, the attorney
general, upon the request of the department, may bring an
action in the name of the state of Washington to recover the
penalty, interest, mitigation for environmental damages, and
associated legal fees. Decisions of the department are subject
to review by the pollution control hearings board.
All fines, interest, penalties, and other damage recovery
costs from mines regulated by the department shall be credited to the surface mining reclamation account. [1993 c 518
§ 32.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.260
78.44.260 Operating without permit—Penalty. Any
miner or permit holder conducting surface mining within the
state of Washington without a valid reclamation permit shall
be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. Surface mining outside of
the permitted area shall constitute illegal mining without a
valid reclamation permit. Each day of mining without a valid
reclamation permit shall constitute a separate offense. [1993
c 518 § 34; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 16. Formerly RCW 78.44.150.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.270
78.44.270 Appeals—Standing. Appeals from department determinations under this chapter shall be made as follows:
Appeals from department determinations made under
this chapter shall be made under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW), and shall be
considered an adjudicative proceeding within the meaning of
the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. Only
a person aggrieved within the meaning of RCW 34.05.530
has standing and can file an appeal. [1993 c 518 § 35; 1989 c
175 § 166; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 18. Formerly RCW 78.44.170.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Surface Mining
78.44.280 Underground operation—Surface disturbances subject to chapter. Surface disturbances caused by
an underground metals mining and milling operation are subject to the requirements of this chapter if the operation is proposed after June 30, 1999. An operation is proposed when an
agency is presented with an application for an operation or
expansion of an existing operation having a probable significant adverse environmental impact under chapter 43.21C
RCW. The department of ecology shall retain authority for
reclamation of surface disturbances caused by an underground operation operating at any time prior to June 30,
1999, unless the operator requests that authority for reclamation of surface disturbances caused by such operation be
transferred to the department under the requirements of this
chapter. [1999 c 252 § 2.]
78.44.280
Severability—1999 c 252: See note following RCW 78.44.031.
78.44.300
78.44.300 Reclamation awards—Recognition of
excellence. The department shall create reclamation awards
in recognition of excellence in reclamation or reclamation
research. Such awards shall be presented to individuals, miners, operators, companies, or government agencies performing exemplary surface mining reclamation in the state of
Washington. The department shall designate a percent of the
state annual fees as funding of the awards. [1993 c 518 § 37.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.310
78.44.310 Reclamation consulting—No cost service.
The department shall establish a no-cost consulting service
within the department to assist miners, permit holders, local
government, and the public in technical matters related to
mine regulation, mine operations, and reclamation. The
department shall prepare concise, printed information for the
public explaining surface mining activities, timelines for permits and reviews, laws, and the role of governmental agencies involved in surface mining, including how to contact all
regulators. The department shall not be held liable for any
negligent advice. [1997 c 184 § 1; 1993 c 518 § 38.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.350
(6) "Rocker box" means a unit constructed of a short
trough attached to curved supports that allow the unit to be
rocked from side to side.
(7) "Sluice box" means a portable unit constructed of a
wood or metal flume or trough equipped with transverse riffles across the bottom of the unit and that is used to recover
heavy mineral sands. [2003 c 335 § 1.]
78.44.330
78.44.330 Mineral trespass—Penalty. (1) A person
commits the crime of mineral trespass if the person intentionally and without the permission of the claim holder or person
conducting the mining operation:
(a) Interferes with a lawful mining operation or stops, or
causes to be stopped, a lawful mining operation;
(b) Enters a mining claim posted as required in chapter
78.08 RCW and disturbs, removes, or attempts to remove any
mineral from the claim site;
(c) Tampers with or disturbs a flume, rocker box, bedrock sluice, sluice box, dredge, quartz mill, or other mining
equipment at a posted mining claim; or
(d) Defaces a location stake, side post, corner post, landmark, monument, or posted written notice within a posted
mining claim.
(2) Mineral trespass is a class C felony. [2003 c 335 § 2.]
78.44.340
78.44.340 Mineral trespass—Limitation on application. (1) RCW 78.44.330 does not apply to conduct that
would otherwise constitute an offense when it is required or
authorized by law or judicial decree or is performed by a public servant in the reasonable exercise of official powers,
duties, or functions.
(2) As used in subsection (1) of this section, "laws or
judicial decrees" includes but is not limited to:
(a) Laws defining duties and functions of public servants;
(b) Laws defining duties of private citizens to assist public servants in the performance of certain of their functions;
and
(c) Judgments and orders of courts. [2003 c 335 § 3.]
78.44.350
78.44.320
78.44.320 Definitions applicable to RCW 78.44.330.
The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW
78.44.330 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Bedrock sluice" means a wood or metal flume or
trough that is permanently attached to the bedrock of the
creek and is equipped with transverse riffles across the bottom of the unit and used to recover heavy mineral sands.
(2) "Dredge" means a subsurface hose from one and onehalf to ten inches in diameter that is powered by an engine
and is used to draw up auriferous material that is then separated in the sluice portion of the unit.
(3) "Flume" means a trough used to convey water.
(4) "Mining claim" means a portion of the public lands
claimed for the valuable minerals occurring in those lands
and for which the mineral rights are obtained under federal
law or a right that is recognized by the United States bureau
of land management and given an identification number.
(5) "Quartz mill" means a facility for processing ores or
gravel.
(2006 Ed.)
78.44.350 Blanket performance security. (1) A permit holder, in lieu of an individual performance security for
each mining site, may file a blanket performance security
with the department for their group of permits.
(2) The department may reduce the required performance security calculated from its standard method prescribed in RCW 78.44.087, to an amount not to exceed the
sum of reclamation security calculated by the department for
the two surface mines with the largest performance security
obligations, for nonmetal and nonfuel surface mines that
meet the following conditions:
(a) The permit holder has had a valid reclamation permit
for more than ten years and can demonstrate exemplary mining and reclamation practices that have been accepted by the
department;
(b) The landowner agrees to allow the permit holder to
hold a blanket security. The department must include, on
forms to be signed by the landowner, notice of the risk of a
lien on the landowner’s lands; and
[Title 78 RCW—page 19]
78.44.360
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(c) The permit holder can demonstrate substantial financial ability to perform the reclamation in the approved reclamation plan and permit.
(3) Permit holders are not eligible for blanket securities
if they are in violation of a final order of the department.
(4) The department must consider the compliance history and the state of the existing surface mines of the permit
holder before approving any blanket performance security.
(5) Lands covered by a blanket performance security are
subject to a lien placed by the department in the event of
abandonment.
(6) In lieu of the performance security required of the
permit holder, the department may accept a similar security
from the landowner, equal to the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the department. [2006 c 341 § 4.]
78.44.360
78.44.360 Performance security insufficient to cover
cost of reclamation—Lien established in favor of department. (1) To the extent a performance security is insufficient
to cover the cost of reclamation performed by the department,
a lien shall be established in favor of the department upon all
of the permit holder’s real and personal property.
(2) The lien attaches upon the filing of a notice of claim
of lien with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located. The notice of lien claim must contain a true
statement of the demand, the insufficiency of the performance security to compensate the department, and the failure
of the permit holder to perform the reclamation required.
(3) The lien becomes effective when filed.
(4) The lien created by this section may be foreclosed by
a suit in the superior court in the manner provided by law for
the foreclosure of other liens on real or personal property.
[2006 c 341 § 5.]
78.44.910
78.44.910 Previously mined land. Miners and permit
holders shall not be required to reclaim any segment where
all surface mining was completed prior to January 1, 1971.
However, the department shall make an effort to reclaim
previously abandoned or completed surface mining segments. [1993 c 518 § 36; 1970 ex.s. c 64 § 22.]
Captions—Severability—Effective date—1993 c 518: See notes following RCW 78.44.010.
78.44.920 Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 64. This act
shall become effective January 1, 1971. [1970 ex.s. c 64 §
23.]
78.52.031
78.52.032
78.52.033
78.52.035
78.52.037
78.52.040
78.52.045
78.52.050
78.52.070
78.52.100
78.52.120
78.52.125
78.52.130
78.52.140
78.52.150
78.52.155
78.52.200
78.52.205
78.52.210
78.52.220
78.52.230
78.52.240
78.52.245
78.52.250
78.52.253
78.52.255
78.52.257
78.52.260
78.52.270
78.52.280
78.52.290
78.52.300
78.52.310
78.52.320
78.52.330
78.52.335
78.52.345
78.52.355
78.52.365
78.52.450
78.52.460
78.52.463
78.44.920
78.44.930
78.44.930 Severability—1970 ex.s. c 64. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall
not be affected. [1970 ex.s. c 64 § 24.]
Chapter 78.52
Chapter 78.52 RCW
OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION
Sections
78.52.001
78.52.010
78.52.025
78.52.030
78.52.467
78.52.470
78.52.480
78.52.490
78.52.530
78.52.540
78.52.550
78.52.900
78.52.910
78.52.920
78.52.921
Conduct of hearings—Evidence.
Hearing examiners.
Failure of witness to attend or testify—Contempt.
Attorney for department.
State oil and gas supervisor—Deputy supervisors—Employment of personnel.
Duty and powers of department—In general.
Committee to participate in and administer federal Safe Drinking Water Act in conjunction with the departments of ecology, natural resources, and social and health services.
Rules, regulations, and orders—Time and place of hearing—
Notices.
Hearing upon petition—Time for action.
Records—Copies as evidence—Copies to be furnished.
Drilling permit required—Notice.
Environmental impact statement required when drilling affects
surface waters of the state—Drilling may be denied, when.
Waste prohibited.
Carbon black and carbon products—Permit required.
Investigations authorized.
Investigations—Powers and duties.
Development units authorized for known pools.
Development units to be prescribed for pool after discovery—
Temporary development units.
Development units—Size and shape.
Development units—Location of well.
Development units—Order must cover entire pool—Modifications.
Development units—Pooling of interests.
Pooling order—Allocation of production.
Pooled interests in well in development unit—Allocation of
costs—Rights of owners.
Pooling agreement, offer to pool, pooling order—Fairness to
nonconsenting, unleased owners.
Operations on development unit deemed operations on each
tract—Production allocated to tract deemed produced from
each tract—Shut-in well considered on each tract—Lease on
part of tract excluded from unit.
Dissolution of pooling order—Interests covered by terminated
lease—Modification or termination of pooling order—
Extension of dissolution of pooling order.
"Wildcat" or "exploratory" well data confidential.
Limitation of production to "oil allowable"—Proration.
Determining market demand—No undue discrimination in
proration of "allowable."
Limitation of production to "gas allowable"—Proration.
Limitation of gas production from one pool.
Proration of allowable production in pool—Publication of
orders—Emergency orders.
Compliance with limitation or proration required.
Unit operation of separately owned tracts.
Unit operation of pools.
Ratable purchase of oil from owners or operators of pool
required.
Ratable purchase of gas from owners or operators of pool
required.
Enforcement of RCW 78.52.345 and 78.52.355.
Participation of public lands in unit plan.
Unit plan not deemed monopolistic.
Suspension of operations for violation—Notice—Order—
Hearing—Stay of order.
Illegal oil, gas, or product—Sale, purchase, etc., prohibited—
Seizure and sale—Deposit of proceeds.
Objections to order—Hearing required—Modification of
order.
Appeal from order or decision—Rights of department.
Appeal—How taken.
Violations—Injunctions.
Violations—Injunctions by private party.
Violations—Penalty.
Short title.
Construction—1951 c 146.
Severability—1951 c 146.
Severability—1983 c 253.
Franchises on county roads and bridges: Chapter 36.55 RCW.
Gas and hazardous liquid pipelines: Chapter 81.88 RCW.
Interstate oil compact commission, governor may join: RCW 43.06.015.
Oil or natural gas exploration in marine waters: RCW 90.58.550.
Declaration of purpose.
Definitions.
Hearings and meetings of department.
Employment of personnel.
[Title 78 RCW—page 20]
78.52.001 Declaration of purpose. It is hereby
declared to be in the public interest to foster, encourage, and
78.52.001
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
promote the exploration, development, production, and utilization of oil and gas in the state in such manner as will prevent waste; to authorize and to provide for the operation and
development of oil and gas properties in such manner as to
assure that the maximum economic recovery of oil and gas
may be obtained and the rights of owners thereof fully protected; to conduct such oil and gas operations in a manner
that will maintain a safe and healthful environment for the
people of Washington and protect the state’s natural
resources; and to encourage, authorize, and provide for
cycling, recycling, pressure maintenance and secondary
recovery operations in order that the maximum economic
recovery of oil and gas may be obtained to the end that landowners, royalty owners, producers, and the general public
may realize and enjoy the greatest possible benefits from
these vital resources. [1983 c 253 § 1; 1951 c 146 § 1.]
78.52.010
78.52.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter,
unless the text otherwise requires, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
(1) "Certificate of clearance" means a permit prescribed
by the department for the transportation or the delivery of oil,
gas, or product.
(2) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(3) "Development unit" means the maximum area of a
pool which may be drained efficiently and economically by
one well.
(4) "Division order" means an instrument showing percentage of royalty or rental divisions among royalty owners.
(5) "Fair and reasonable share of the production" means,
as to each separately-owned tract or combination of tracts,
that part of the authorized production from a pool that is substantially in the proportion that the amount of recoverable oil
or gas under the development unit of that separately-owned
tract or tracts bears to the recoverable oil or gas or both in the
total of the development units in the pool.
(6) "Field" means the general area which is underlaid by
at least one pool and includes the underground reservoir or
reservoirs containing oil or gas, or both. The words "field"
and "pool" mean the same thing when only one underground
reservoir is involved; however, "field," unlike "pool," may
relate to two or more pools.
(7) "Gas" means all natural gas, all gaseous substances,
and all other fluid or gaseous hydrocarbons not defined as oil
in subsection (12) of this section, including but not limited to
wet gas, dry gas, residue gas, condensate, and distillate, as
those terms are generally understood in the petroleum industry.
(8) "Illegal oil" or "illegal gas" means oil or gas that has
been produced from any well within the state in violation of
this chapter or any rule or order of the department.
(9) "Illegal product" means any product derived in whole
or part from illegal oil or illegal gas.
(10) "Interested person" means a person with an ownership, basic royalty, or leasehold interest in oil or gas within an
existing or proposed development unit or unitized pool.
(11) "Lessee" means the lessee under an oil and gas
lease, or the owner of any land or mineral rights who has the
right to conduct or carry on any oil and gas development,
(2006 Ed.)
78.52.010
exploration and operation thereon, or any person so operating
for himself, herself, or others.
(12) "Oil" means crude petroleum, oil, and all hydrocarbons, regardless of gravity, that are in the liquid phase in the
original reservoir conditions and are produced and recovered
at the wellhead in liquid form.
(13) "Operator" means the person who operates a well or
unit or who has been designated or accepted by the owners to
operate the well or unit, and who is responsible for compliance with the department’s rules and policies.
(14) "Owner" means the person who has the right to
develop, operate, drill into, and produce from a pool and to
appropriate the oil or gas that he or she produces therefrom,
either for that person or for that person and others.
(15) "Person" means any natural person, corporation,
association, partnership, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary, or representative of any kind and
includes any governmental or political subdivision or any
agency thereof.
(16) "Pool" means an underground reservoir containing a
common accumulation of oil or gas, or both. Each zone of a
structure which is completely separated from any other zone
in the same structure such that the accumulations of oil or gas
are not common with each other is considered a separate pool
and is covered by the term "pool" as used in this chapter.
(17) "Pooling" means the integration or combination of
two or more tracts into an area sufficient to constitute a development unit of the size for one well as prescribed by the
department.
(18) "Product" means any commodity made from oil or
gas.
(19) "Protect correlative rights" means that the action or
regulation by the department should afford a reasonable
opportunity to each person entitled thereto to recover or
receive without causing waste his or her fair and reasonable
share of the oil and gas in this tract or tracts or its equivalent.
(20) "Royalty" means a right to or interest in oil or gas or
the value from or attributable to production, other than the
right or interest of a lessee, owner, or operator, as defined
herein. Royalty includes, but is not limited to the basic royalty in a lease, overriding royalty, and production payments.
Any such interest may be referred to in this chapter as "royalty" or "royalty interest." As used in this chapter "basic royalty" means the royalty reserved in a lease. "Royalty owner"
means a person who owns a royalty interest.
(21) "Supervisor" means the state oil and gas supervisor.
(22) "Unitization" means the operation of all or part of a
field or reservoir as a single entity for operating purposes.
(23) "Waste" in addition to its ordinary meaning, means
and includes:
(a) "Physical waste" as that term is generally understood
in the petroleum industry;
(b) The inefficient, excessive, or improper use of, or
unnecessary dissipation of, reservoir energy, and the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of
any oil or gas well in a manner which results or is probable to
result in reducing the quantity of oil or gas to be recovered
from any pool in this state under operations conducted in
accordance with prudent and proper practices or that causes
or tends to cause unnecessary wells to be drilled;
[Title 78 RCW—page 21]
78.52.025
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(c) The inefficient above-ground storage of oil, and the
locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing
of any oil or gas well in a manner causing or tending to cause
unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or
gas;
(d) The production of oil or gas in such manner as to
cause unnecessary water channeling, or coning;
(e) The operation of an oil well with an inefficient gasoil ratio;
(f) The drowning with water of any pool or part thereof
capable of producing oil or gas, except insofar as and to the
extent authorized by the department;
(g) Underground waste;
(h) The creation of unnecessary fire hazards;
(i) The escape into the open air, from a well producing
oil or gas, of gas in excess of the amount which is reasonably
necessary in the efficient development or production of the
well;
(j) The use of gas for the manufacture of carbon black,
except as provided in RCW 78.52.140;
(k) Production of oil and gas in excess of the reasonable
market demand;
(l) The flaring of gas from gas wells except that which is
necessary for the drilling, completing, or testing of the well;
and
(m) The unreasonable damage to natural resources
including but not limited to the destruction of the surface,
soils, wildlife, fish, or aquatic life from or by oil and gas
operations. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 809; 1983 c 253 § 2; 1951 c 146
§ 3.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.025
78.52.025 Hearings and meetings of department. The
department shall hold hearings or meetings at such times and
places as may be found by the department to be necessary to
carry out its duties. The department may establish its own
rules for the conduct of public hearings or meetings consistent with other applicable law. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 810; 1983 c
253 § 3; 1951 c 146 § 5. Formerly RCW 78.52.060.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.030 Employment of personnel. The department
shall employ all personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 811; 1951 c 146 § 6.]
78.52.030
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.031
78.52.031 Conduct of hearings—Evidence. The
department may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and
require the production of records, books, and documents for
examination at any hearing or investigation conducted by it.
No person shall be excused from attending and testifying, or
from producing books, papers, and records before the department or a court, or from obedience to the subpoena of the
department or a court, on the ground or for the reason that the
testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of
the person may tend to incriminate the person or subject the
person to a penalty or forfeiture: PROVIDED, That nothing
herein contained shall be construed as requiring any person to
[Title 78 RCW—page 22]
produce any books, papers, or records, or to testify in
response to any inquiry not pertinent to some question lawfully before the department or court for determination. No
person shall be subjected to criminal prosecution or to any
penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction,
matter, or thing concerning which, in spite of his or her objection, he or she may be required to testify or produce evidence,
documentary or otherwise before the department or court, or
in obedience to its subpoena: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
That no person testifying shall be exempt from prosecution
and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 812; 1983 c 253 § 5; 1951 c 146 § 7. Formerly
RCW 78.52.080.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.032
78.52.032 Hearing examiners. In addition to the powers and authority, either express or implied, granted to the
department by virtue of the laws of this state, the department
may, in prescribing its rules of order or procedure in connection with hearings or other proceedings before the department, provide for the appointment of one or more examiners
to conduct a hearing or hearings with respect to any matter
properly coming before the department and to make reports
and recommendations to the department with respect thereto.
Any employee of the department or any other person designated by the commissioner of public lands, or the supervisor
when this power is so delegated, may serve as an examiner.
The department shall adopt rules governing hearings to be
conducted before examiners. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 813; 1983 c
253 § 10.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.033
78.52.033 Failure of witness to attend or testify—
Contempt. In case of failure or refusal on the part of any person to comply with a subpoena issued by the department or in
case of the refusal of any witness to testify as to any matter
regarding which the witness may be interrogated, any superior court in the state, upon the application of the department,
may compel the person to comply with such subpoena, and to
attend before the department and produce such records,
books, and documents for examination, and to give his or her
testimony and shall have the power to punish for contempt as
in the case of disobedience to a like subpoena issued by the
court, or for refusal to testify therein. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 814;
1951 c 146 § 8. Formerly RCW 78.52.090.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.035
78.52.035 Attorney for department. The attorney
general shall be the attorney for the department, but in cases
of emergency, the department may call upon the prosecuting
attorney of the county where the action is to be brought, or
defended, to represent the department until such time as the
attorney general may take charge of the litigation. [1994 sp.s.
c 9 § 815; 1951 c 146 § 9. Formerly RCW 78.52.110.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
78.52.037
78.52.037 State oil and gas supervisor—Deputy
supervisors—Employment of personnel. The department
shall designate a state oil and gas supervisor who shall be
charged with duties as may be delegated by the department.
The department may designate one or more deputy supervisors and employ all personnel necessary including the
appointment of examiners as provided in RCW 78.52.032 to
carry out this chapter and the rules and orders of the department. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 816; 1983 c 253 § 4.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.040
78.52.040 Duty and powers of department—In general. The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter by the adoption of policies, and all rules,
regulations, and orders promulgated hereunder, and the
department has jurisdiction, power, and authority, over all
persons and property, public and private, necessary to
enforce effectively such duty. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 817; 1983 c
253 § 6; 1951 c 146 § 10.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.120
and with all convenient speed, and in any event within twenty
days after the conclusion of such hearing, shall take such
action with regard to the subject matter thereof as it may
deem appropriate. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 819; 1951 c 146 § 12.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.100
78.52.100 Records—Copies as evidence—Copies to
be furnished. All rules, regulations, policies, and orders of
the department, all petitions, copies of all notices and actions
with affidavits of posting, mailing, or publications pertaining
thereto, all findings of fact, and transcripts of all hearings
shall be in writing and shall be entered in full by the department in the permanent official records of the office of the
commissioner of public lands and shall be open for inspection at all times during reasonable office hours. A copy of any
rule, regulation, policy, order, or other official records of the
department, certified by the commissioner of public lands,
shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state with the
same effect as the original. The department is hereby required
to furnish to any person upon request, copies of all rules, regulations, policies, orders, and amendments thereof. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 820; 1983 c 253 § 8; 1951 c 146 § 13.]
78.52.045
78.52.045 Committee to participate in and administer federal Safe Drinking Water Act in conjunction with
the departments of ecology, natural resources, and social
and health services. See RCW 43.21A.445.
78.52.050
78.52.050 Rules, regulations, and orders—Time and
place of hearing—Notices. The department may make such
reasonable rules, regulations, and orders as may be necessary
from time to time for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter. Unless otherwise required by law or by
this chapter or by rules of procedure made under this chapter,
the department may make such rules, regulations, and orders,
after notice, as the basis therefor. The notice may be given by
publication in some newspaper of general circulation in the
state in a manner and form which may be prescribed by the
department by general rule. The public hearing shall be at the
time and in the manner and at the place prescribed by the
department, and any person having any interest in the subject
matter of the hearing shall be entitled to be heard. In addition,
written notice shall be mailed to all interested persons who
have requested, in writing, notice of department hearings, rulings, policies, and orders. The department shall establish and
maintain a mailing list for this purpose. Substantial compliance with these mailing requirements is deemed compliance
with this section. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 818; 1983 c 253 § 7; 1951
c 146 § 11.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.070
78.52.070 Hearing upon petition—Time for action.
Any interested person shall have the right to have the department call a hearing for the purpose of taking action with
respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the department
by filing a verified written petition therefor, which shall state
in substance the matter and reasons for and nature of the
action requested. Upon receipt of any such request the department, if in its judgment a hearing is warranted and justifiable,
shall promptly call a hearing thereon, and after such hearing,
(2006 Ed.)
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.120
78.52.120 Drilling permit required—Notice. Any
person desiring or proposing to drill any well in search of oil
or gas, before commencing the drilling of any such well, shall
apply to the department upon such form as the department
may prescribe, and shall pay to the state treasurer a fee of the
following amounts for each application:
(1) For each well the estimated depth of which is three
thousand five hundred feet or less, two hundred fifty dollars;
(2) From three thousand five hundred one feet to seven
thousand feet, five hundred dollars;
(3) From seven thousand one feet to twelve thousand
feet, seven hundred fifty dollars; and
(4) From twelve thousand one feet and deeper, one thousand dollars.
In addition, as pertains to the tract upon which the well is
proposed to be located, the applicant must notify the surface
landowner, the landowner’s tenant, and other surface users in
the manner provided by regulations of the department that a
drilling permit has been applied for by furnishing each such
surface landowner, tenant, and other users with a copy of the
application concurrent with the filing of the application.
Within fifteen days of receipt of the application, each such
surface landowner, the landowner’s tenant, and other surface
users have the right to inform the department of objections or
comments as to the proposed use of the surface by the applicant, and the department shall consider the objections or
comments.
The drilling of any well is prohibited until a permit is
given and such fee has been paid as provided in this section.
The department may prescribe that the said form indicate the
exact location of such well, the name and address of the
owner, operator, contractor, driller, and any other person
responsible for the conduct of drilling operations, the proposed depth of the well, the elevation of the well above sea
level, and such other relevant and reasonable information as
[Title 78 RCW—page 23]
78.52.125
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
the department may deem necessary or convenient to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
The department shall issue a permit if it finds that the
proposed drilling will be consistent with this chapter, the
rules and orders adopted under it, and is not detrimental to the
public interest. The department shall impose conditions and
restrictions as necessary to protect the public interest and to
ensure compliance with this chapter, and the rules and orders
adopted by the department. A person shall not apply to drill a
well in search of oil or gas unless that person holds an ownership or contractual right to locate and operate the drilling
operations upon the proposed drilling site. A person shall not
be issued a permit unless that person prima facie holds an
ownership or contractual right to drill to the proposed depth,
or proposed horizon. Proof of prima facie ownership shall be
presented to the department. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 821; 1983 c
253 § 11; 1951 c 146 § 14.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.125
78.52.125 Environmental impact statement required
when drilling affects surface waters of the state—Drilling
may be denied, when. Any person desiring or proposing to
drill any well in search of oil or gas, when such drilling would
be conducted through or under any surface waters of the
state, shall prepare and submit an environmental impact statement upon such form as the department of ecology shall prescribe at least one hundred and twenty days prior to commencing the drilling of any such well. Within ninety days
after receipt of such environmental statement the department
of ecology shall prepare and submit to the department of natural resources a report examining the potential environmental
impact of the proposed well and recommendations for department action thereon. If after consideration of the report the
department determines that the proposed well is likely to
have a substantial environmental impact the drilling permit
for such well may be denied.
The department shall require sufficient safeguards to
minimize the hazards of pollution of all surface and ground
waters of the state. If safeguards acceptable to the department
cannot be provided the drilling permit shall be denied. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 822; 1971 ex.s. c 180 § 8.]
Reviser’s note: The definitions of RCW 90.56.010 apply to this section. Funds for the purposes of carrying out this section are provided from
the coastal protection fund, RCW 90.48.390 and 90.48.400. The authority
and enforcement of rules pertaining to this section are covered in RCW
90.56.050 and 90.56.900.
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Severability—Short title—Construction—1971 ex.s. c 180: See
RCW 90.48.903, 90.48.906, and 90.56.900.
78.52.130
78.52.130 Waste prohibited. Waste of oil and gas, as
defined in this chapter, is prohibited. [1951 c 146 § 15.]
78.52.140
78.52.140 Carbon black and carbon products—Permit required. The use of gas from a well producing gas
only, or from a well which is primarily a gas well, for the
manufacture of carbon black or similar products predominantly carbon, is declared to constitute waste prima facie, and
such gas well shall not be used for any such purpose unless it
[Title 78 RCW—page 24]
is clearly shown, at a public hearing to be held by the department, on application of the person desiring to use such gas,
that waste would not take place by the use of such gas for the
purpose or purposes applied for, and that gas which would
otherwise be lost is not available for such purpose or purposes, and that the gas to be used cannot be used for a more
beneficial purpose, such as for light or fuel purposes, except
at prohibitive cost, and that it would be in the public interest
to grant such permit. If the department finds that the applicant
has clearly shown a right to use such gas for the purpose or
purposes applied for, it shall issue a permit upon such terms
and conditions as may be found necessary in order to permit
the use of the gas, and at the same time require compliance
with the intent of this section. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 823; 1951 c
146 § 16.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.150
78.52.150 Investigations authorized. The department
shall make such investigations as it may deem proper to
determine whether waste exists or is imminent or whether
other facts exist which justify action by the department.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 824; 1951 c 146 § 17.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.155
78.52.155 Investigations—Powers and duties. (1)
The department shall make investigations as necessary to
carry out this chapter.
(2) The department shall require:
(a) Identification of ownership of oil or gas wells, producing leases, tanks, plants, structures, and facilities for the
transportation or refining of oil or gas;
(b) The making and filing of well logs, core samples,
directional surveys, and reports on well locations, drilling,
and production;
(c) The testing of oil and gas wells;
(d) The drilling, casing, operating, and plugging of wells
in such a manner as to prevent the escape of oil or gas out of
the casings, or out of one pool into another, the intrusion of
water into an oil or gas pool, and the pollution of freshwater
supplies by oil, gas, or saltwater and to prevent blowouts,
cavings, see pages, and fires;
(e) The furnishing of adequate security acceptable to the
department, conditioned on the performance of the duty to
plug each dry or abandoned well, the duty to reclaim and
clean-up well drilling sites, the duty to repair wells causing
waste, the duty to comply with all applicable laws and rules
adopted by the department, orders of the department, all permit conditions, and this chapter;
(f) The operation of wells with efficient gas-oil and
water-oil ratios and may fix these ratios and limit production
from wells with inefficient gas-oil or water-oil ratios;
(g) The production of oil and gas from wells be accurately measured by means and upon standards prescribed by
the department, and that every person who produces, sells,
purchases, acquires, stores, transports, treats, or processes oil
or gas in this state keeps and maintains for a period of five
years within this state complete and accurate records thereof,
which records shall be available for examination by the
department or its agents at all reasonable times, and that
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
every person file with the department such reports as it may
prescribe with respect to the oil or gas; and
(h) Compliance with all applicable laws and rules of this
state.
(3) The department shall regulate:
(a) The drilling, producing, locating, spacing, and plugging of wells and all other operations for the production of oil
or gas;
(b) The physical, mechanical, and chemical treatment of
wells, and the perforation of wells;
(c) Operations to increase ultimate recovery such as
cycling of gas, the maintenance of pressure, and the introduction of gas, water, or other substances into producing formations;
(d) Disposal of saltwater and oil field brines;
(e) The storage, processing, and treatment of natural gas
and oil produced within this state; and
(f) Reclamation and clean-up of all well sites and any
areas directly affected by the drilling, production, operation,
and plugging of oil and gas wells.
(4) The department may limit and prorate oil and gas
produced in this state and may restrict future production of oil
and gas from any pool in such amounts as will offset and
compensate for any production determined by the department
to be in excess of or in violation of "oil allowable" or "gas
allowable."
(5) The department shall classify wells as oil or gas wells
for purposes material to the interpretation or enforcement of
this chapter.
(6) The department shall regulate oil and gas exploration
and drilling activities so as to prevent or remedy unreasonable or excessive waste or surface destruction. [1994 sp.s. c
9 § 825; 1983 c 253 § 9.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.200
78.52.200 Development units authorized for known
pools. When necessary to prevent waste, to avoid the drilling
of unnecessary wells, or to protect correlative rights including those of royalty owners, the department, upon its own
motion or upon application of interested persons, shall establish development units covering any known pool. Development units shall be of uniform size and shape for the entire
pool unless the department finds that it must make an exception due to geologic, geographic, or other factors. When necessary, the department may divide any pool into zones and
establish development units for each zone, which units may
differ in size and shape from those established in any other
zone. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 826; 1983 c 253 § 12; 1951 c 146 §
22.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.205
78.52.205 Development units to be prescribed for
pool after discovery—Temporary development units.
Within sixty days after the discovery of oil or gas in a pool
not then covered by an order of the department, a hearing
shall be held and the department shall issue an order prescribing development units for the pool. If sufficient geological or
other scientific data from drilling operations or other evidence is not available to determine the maximum area that
(2006 Ed.)
78.52.220
can be efficiently and economically drained by one well, the
department may establish temporary development units to
ensure the orderly development of the pool pending availability of the necessary data. A temporary order shall continue in
force for a period of not more than twenty-four months at the
expiration of which time, or upon the petition of an affected
person, the department shall require the presentation of such
geological, scientific, drilling, or other evidence as will
enable it to determine the proper development units in the
pool. During the interim period between the discovery and
the issuance of the temporary order, permits shall not be
issued for the drilling of direct offsets to a discovery well.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 827; 1983 c 253 § 13.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.210
78.52.210 Development units—Size and shape. (1)
The size and the shape of any development units shall be such
as will result in the efficient and economical development of
the pool as a whole, and the size shall not be smaller than the
maximum area that can be efficiently and economically
drained by one well as determined by competent geological,
geophysical, engineering, drilling, or other scientific testimony, data, and evidence. The department shall fix a development unit of not more than one hundred sixty acres for any
pool deemed by the department to be an oil reservoir, or of
six hundred forty acres for any pool deemed by the department to be a gas reservoir, plus a ten percent tolerance in
either case to allow for irregular sections. The department
may, at its discretion, after notice and hearing, establish
development units for oil and gas in variance of these limitations when competent geological, geophysical, engineering,
drilling, or other scientific testimony, data, and evidence is
presented and upon a finding that one well can efficiently and
economically drain a larger or smaller area and is justified
because of technical, economic, environmental, or safety
considerations.
(2) The department may establish development units of
different sizes or shapes for different parts of a pool or may
grant exceptions to the size or shapes of any development
unit or units. Where development units of different sizes or
shapes exist in a pool, the department shall, if necessary,
make such adjustments to the allowable production from the
well or wells drilled thereon so that each operator in each
development unit will have a reasonable opportunity to produce or receive his or her just and equitable share of the production. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 828; 1983 c 253 § 14; 1951 c 146
§ 23.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.220
78.52.220 Development units—Location of well. An
order establishing development units for a pool shall specify
the size and shape of each area and the location of the permitted well thereon in accordance with a reasonable uniform
spacing plan. Upon application and after notice and a hearing, if the department finds that a well drilled at the prescribed location would not produce in paying quantities, or
that surface conditions would substantially add to the burden
or hazard of drilling such well, the department may enter an
order permitting the well to be drilled pursuant to permit at a
[Title 78 RCW—page 25]
78.52.230
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
location other than that prescribed by such development
order; however, the department shall include in the order suitable provisions to prevent the production from the development unit of more than its just and equitable share of the oil
and gas in the pool. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 829; 1983 c 253 § 15;
1951 c 146 § 24.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.230
78.52.230 Development units—Order must cover
entire pool—Modifications. An order establishing development units for a pool shall cover all lands determined or
believed to be underlaid by such pool, and may be modified
by the department from time to time to include additional
areas determined to be underlaid by such pool. When the
department determines that it is necessary for the prevention
of waste, or to avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells, or to
protect correlative rights, an order establishing development
units in a pool may be modified by the department to increase
or decrease the size of development units in the pool or to
permit the drilling of additional wells on a reasonably uniform plan in the pool. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 830; 1983 c 253 § 16;
1951 c 146 § 25.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.240
78.52.240 Development units—Pooling of interests.
When two or more separately-owned tracts are embraced
within a development unit, or when there are separately
owned interests in all or a part of the development unit, then
the owners and lessees thereof may pool their interests for the
development and operation of the development unit. In the
absence of this voluntary pooling, the department, upon the
application of any interested person, shall enter an order
pooling all interests, including royalty interests, in the development unit for the development and operation thereof. Each
such pooling order shall be made after notice and hearing.
The applicant or applicants shall have the burden of proving
that all reasonable efforts have been made to obtain the consent of, or to reach agreement with, other owners. [1994 sp.s.
c 9 § 831; 1983 c 253 § 17; 1951 c 146 § 26.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.245
78.52.245 Pooling order—Allocation of production.
A pooling order shall be upon terms and conditions that are
fair and reasonable and that afford to each owner and royalty
owner his or her fair and reasonable share of production. Production shall be allocated as follows:
(1) For the purpose of determining the portions of production owned by the persons owning interests in the pooled
unit, the production shall be allocated to the respective tracts
within the unit in the proportion that the surface acres in each
tract bear to the number of surface acres included in the entire
unit.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, if the
department finds that allocation on a surface acreage basis
does not allocate to each tract its fair share, the department
shall allocate the production so that each tract will receive its
fair share. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 832; 1983 c 253 § 18.]
[Title 78 RCW—page 26]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.250
78.52.250 Pooled interests in well in development
unit—Allocation of costs—Rights of owners. (1) Each
such pooling order shall make provision for the drilling and
operation of a well on the development unit, and for the payment of the reasonable actual cost thereof by the owners of
interests required to pay such costs in the development unit,
plus a reasonable charge for supervision and storage facilities. Costs associated with production from the pooled unit
shall be allocated in the same manner as is production in
RCW 78.52.245. In the event of any dispute as to such costs
the department shall determine the proper costs.
(2) As to each owner who fails or refuses to agree to bear
his or her proportionate share of the costs of the drilling and
operation of the well, the order shall provide for reimbursement of those persons paying for the drilling and operation of
the well of the nonconsenting owner’s share of the costs
from, and only from, production from the unit representing
that person’s interest, excluding royalty or other interests not
obligated to pay any part of the cost thereof. The department
may provide that the consenting owners shall own and be
entitled to receive all production from the well after payment
of the royalty as provided in the lease, if any, applicable to
each tract or interest, and obligations payable from production, until the consenting owners have been paid the amount
due under the terms of the pooling order or order settling any
dispute.
The order shall determine the interest of each owner in
the unit and shall provide that each consenting owner is entitled to receive, subject to royalty or similar obligations, the
share of the production of the well applicable to the owner’s
interest in the unit, and, unless the owner has agreed otherwise, his or her proportionate part of the nonconsenting
owner’s share of the production until costs are recovered as
provided in this subsection. Each nonconsenting owner is
entitled to receive, subject to royalty or similar obligations,
the share of production from the well applicable to the
owner’s interest in the unit after the consenting owners have
recovered from the nonconsenting owner’s share of production the following:
(a) In respect to every such well, one hundred percent of
the nonconsenting owner’s share of the cost of surface equipment beyond the wellhead connections, including but not
limited to, stock tanks, separators, treaters, pumping equipment, and piping, plus one hundred percent of the nonconsenting owner’s share of the cost of operation of the well,
commencing with first production and continuing until the
consenting owners have recovered these costs, with the intent
that the nonconsenting owner’s share of these costs and
equipment will be that interest which would have been
chargeable to the nonconsenting owner had he or she initially
agreed to pay his or her share of the costs of the well from the
beginning of the operation;
(b) One hundred fifty percent of that portion of the costs
and expenses of staking the location, well site preparation,
rights of way, rigging-up, drilling, reworking, deepening or
plugging back, testing, and completing, after deducting any
cash contributions received by the consenting owners, and
also one hundred fifty percent of that portion of the cost of
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
equipment in the well, up to and including the wellhead connections; and
(c) If there is a dispute regarding the costs, the department shall determine the proper costs and their allocation
among working interest owners after due notice to interested
parties and a hearing on the costs.
(3) The operator of a well under a pooling order in which
there are nonconsenting owners shall furnish the nonconsenting owners with monthly statements of all costs incurred,
together with the quantity of oil or gas produced, and the
amount of proceeds realized from the sale of this production
during the preceding month. If and when the consenting owners recover from a nonconsenting owner’s relinquished interest the amounts provided for in subsection (2) of this section,
the relinquished interest of the nonconsenting owner shall
automatically revert to him or her, and the nonconsenting
owner shall own the same interest in the well and the production from it and be liable for the further costs of the operation
as if he or she had participated in the initial drilling and operation.
(4) A nonconsenting owner of a tract in a development
unit which is not subject to any lease or other contract for the
development thereof for oil and gas shall elect within fifteen
days of the issuance of the pooling order or such further time
as the department shall, in the order, allow:
(a) To be treated as a nonconsenting owner as provided
in subsections (2) and (3) of this section and is deemed to
have a basic landowners’ royalty of one-eighth, or twelve and
one-half percent, of the production allocated to the tract,
unless a higher basic royalty has been established in the
development unit. If a higher royalty has been established,
then the nonconsenting owner of a nonleased tract shall
receive the higher basic royalty. This presumed royalty shall
exist only during the time that costs and expenses are being
recovered under subsection (2) of this section, and is intended
to assure that the owner of a nonleased tract receive a basic
royalty free of all costs at all times. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the owner shall at all times retain his or
her entire ownership of the property, including the right to
execute an oil and gas lease on any terms negotiated, and be
entitled to all production subject to subsection (2) of this section; or
(b) To grant a lease to the operator at the current fair
market value for that interest for comparable leases or interests at the time of the commencement of drilling; or
(c) To pay his or her pro rata share of the costs of the well
or wells in the development unit and receive his or her pro
rata share of production, if any.
A nonconsenting owner who does not make an election
as provided in this subsection is deemed to have elected to be
treated under (a) of this subsection. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 833;
1983 c 253 § 19; 1951 c 146 § 27.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.253
78.52.253 Pooling agreement, offer to pool, pooling
order—Fairness to nonconsenting, unleased owners. A
pooling agreement, offer to pool, or pooling order is not considered fair and reasonable as applied to nonconsenting,
unleased owners only, if it provides for an operating agreement containing any of the following provisions:
(2006 Ed.)
78.52.257
(1) Preferential right of the operator to purchase mineral
interests in the unit;
(2) A call on or option to purchase production from the
unit;
(3) Operating charges that include any part of district or
central office expense other than reasonable overhead
charges; or
(4) Prohibition against nonoperators questioning the
operation of the unit. [1983 c 253 § 20.]
78.52.255
78.52.255 Operations on development unit deemed
operations on each tract—Production allocated to tract
deemed produced from each tract—Shut-in well considered on each tract—Lease on part of tract excluded from
unit. (1) Operations incident to the drilling of a well upon
any portion of a development unit covered by a pooling order
shall be deemed, for all purposes, the conduct of such operations upon each separately-owned tract in the development
unit by the several owners thereof. That portion of the production allocated to each separately-owned tract included in
a development unit covered by a pooling order shall, when
produced, be deemed for all purposes, including the payment
of royalty, to have been produced from each separatelyowned tract by a well drilled thereon. If an oil or gas well on
a pooled unit is shut-in, it shall be considered that the shut-in
well is on each separately-owned tract in the pooled unit.
(2) If only part of the tract is included in the unit, operations on, production from, or a shut-in well on the unit shall
maintain an oil and gas lease on the tract as to the part
excluded from the unit only if the lease would be maintained
had the unit been created voluntarily under the lease. [1983 c
253 § 21.]
78.52.257
78.52.257 Dissolution of pooling order—Interests
covered by terminated lease—Modification or termination of pooling order—Extension of dissolution of pooling
order. (1) An order pooling a development unit shall automatically dissolve:
(a) One year after its effective date if there has been no
production of commercial quantities or drilling operations on
lands within the unit;
(b) Six months after completion of a dry hole on the unit;
or
(c) Six months after cessation of production of commercial quantities from the unit, unless, prior to the expiration of
such six-month period, the operator shall, in good faith, commence drilling or reworking operations in an effort to restore
production.
(2) Upon the termination of a lease pooled by order of
the department under authority granted in this chapter, interests covered by the lease are considered pooled as unleased
mineral interests.
(3) Any party to a pooling order is entitled, after due
notice to all parties, to a hearing to modify or terminate a previously entered pooling order upon presenting new evidence
showing that the previous determination of reservoir conclusions are substantially incorrect.
(4) The department, after notice and hearing, may grant
additional time, for good cause shown, before a pooling order
is automatically dissolved as provided in subsection (1) of
[Title 78 RCW—page 27]
78.52.260
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
this section. In no case may such an extension be longer than
six months. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 834; 1983 c 253 § 22.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
relation to the reasonable market demand. The department
shall prorate the "allowable" in such manner as will prevent
undue discrimination against any pool or area in favor of
another or others resulting from selective buying or nomination by purchasers. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 837; 1951 c 146 § 30.]
78.52.260
78.52.260 "Wildcat" or "exploratory" well data confidential. Whenever the department requires the making and
filing of well logs, directional surveys, or reports on the drilling of, subsurface conditions found in, or reports with respect
to the substance produced, or capable of being produced
from, a "wildcat" or "exploratory" well, as those terms are
used in the petroleum industry, such logs, surveys, reports, or
information shall be kept confidential by the department for a
period of one year, if at the time of filing such logs, surveys,
reports, or other information, the owner, lessee, or operator of
such well requests that such information be kept confidential:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the department may divulge
or use such information in a public hearing or suit when it is
necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or any rule, regulation, or order made hereunder. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 835; 1951 c 146 § 28.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.270
78.52.270 Limitation of production to "oil allowable"—Proration. Whenever the total amount of oil which
all of the pools in this state can currently produce in accordance with good operating practices, exceeds the amount reasonably required to meet the reasonable market demand, the
department shall limit the oil which may be currently produced in this state to an amount, designated the "oil allowable." The department shall then prorate this "oil allowable"
among the pools on a reasonable basis, avoiding undue discrimination among the pools, and so that waste will be prevented. In determining the "oil allowable," and in prorating
such "oil allowable" among the pools in the state, the department shall take into account the producing conditions and
other relevant facts with respect to such pools, including the
separate needs for oil and gas, and separate needs for oil of
particular kinds or qualities, and shall formulate rules setting
forth standards or a program for the determination of the "oil
allowable," and shall prorate the "oil allowable" in accordance with such standards or program, and where conditions
in one pool or area are substantially similar to those in
another pool or area, then the same standards or program
shall be applied to such pools or areas so that as far as practicable a uniform program will be followed: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, That if the amount prorated to a pool as its share
of the "oil allowable" is in excess of the amount which the
pool can efficiently produce currently, then the department
shall prorate to such pool the maximum amount which can be
efficiently produced currently without waste. [1994 sp.s. c 9
§ 836; 1951 c 146 § 29.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.280
78.52.280 Determining market demand—No undue
discrimination in proration of "allowable." The department shall not be required to determine the reasonable market
demand applicable to any single pool of oil except in relation
to all pools producing oil of similar kind and quality and in
[Title 78 RCW—page 28]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.290
78.52.290 Limitation of production to "gas allowable"—Proration. Whenever the total amount of gas which
all of the pools in this state can currently produce in accordance with good operating practice exceeds the amount reasonably required to meet the reasonable market demand, the
department shall limit the gas which may be currently produced to an amount, designated as the "gas allowable," which
will not exceed the reasonable market demand for gas. The
department shall then prorate the "gas allowable" among the
pools on a reasonable basis, avoiding undue discrimination
among the pools, and so that waste will be prevented, giving
due consideration to location of pipe lines, cost of interconnecting such pipe lines, and other pertinent factors, and insofar as applicable, the provisions of RCW 78.52.270 shall be
followed in determining the "gas allowable" and in prorating
such "gas allowable" among the pools therein: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, That in determining the reasonable market
demand for gas as between pools, the department shall give
due regard to the fact that gas produced from oil pools is to be
regulated in a manner which will protect the reasonable use
of gas energy for oil production and promote the most or
maximum efficient recovery of oil from such pools. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 838; 1951 c 146 § 31.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.300
78.52.300 Limitation of gas production from one
pool. Whenever the total amount of gas which may be currently produced from all of the pools in this state has not been
limited as hereinabove provided, and the available production from any one pool containing gas only is in excess of the
reasonable market demand or available transportation facilities for gas from such pool, the department shall limit the production of gas from such pool to that amount which does not
exceed the reasonable market demand or transportation facilities for gas from such pool. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 839; 1951 c 146
§ 32.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.310
78.52.310 Proration of allowable production in
pool—Publication of orders—Emergency orders. Whenever the department limits the total amount of oil or gas
which may be produced from any pool to an amount less than
that which the pool could produce if no restrictions were
imposed (whether incidental to, or without, a limitation of the
total amount of oil which may be produced in the state) the
department shall prorate the allowable production for the
pool among the producers in the pool on a reasonable basis,
so that each producer will have opportunity to produce or
receive his or her just and equitable share, subject to the reasonable necessities for the prevention of waste, giving where
reasonable, under the circumstances, to each pool with small
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
wells of settled production, allowable production which prevents the premature abandonment of wells in the pool.
All orders establishing the "oil allowable" and "gas
allowable" for this state, and all orders prorating such allowables as herein provided, and any changes thereof, for any
month or period shall be issued by the department on or
before the fifteenth day of the month preceding the month for
which such orders are to be effective, and such orders shall be
immediately published in some newspaper of general circulation printed in Olympia, Washington. No orders establishing
such allowables, or prorating such allowables, or any changes
thereof, shall be issued without first having a hearing, after
notice, as provided in this chapter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, When in the judgment of the department, an emergency requiring immediate action is found to exist, the
department may issue an emergency order under this section
which shall have the same effect and validity as if a hearing
with respect to the same had been held after due notice. The
emergency order permitted by this section shall remain in
force no longer than thirty days, and in any event it shall
expire when the order made after due notice and hearing with
respect to the subject matter of the emergency order becomes
effective. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 840; 1951 c 146 § 33.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.320
78.52.320 Compliance with limitation or proration
required. Whenever the production of oil or gas in this state
or any pool therein is limited and the "oil allowable" or "gas
allowable" is established and prorated by the department as
provided in RCW 78.52.310, no person shall thereafter produce from any well, pool, lease, or property more than the
production which is prorated thereto. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 841;
1951 c 146 § 34.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.330
78.52.330 Unit operation of separately owned tracts.
To assist in the development of oil and gas in this state and to
further the purposes of this chapter, the persons owning interests in separate tracts of land, may validly agree to integrate
their interests and manage, operate, and develop their land as
a unit, subject to the approval of the department. [1994 sp.s.
c 9 § 842; 1951 c 146 § 35.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.335
78.52.335 Unit operation of pools. (1) The department
shall upon the application of any interested person, or upon
its own motion, hold a hearing to consider the need for the
operation as a unit of one or more pools or parts of them in a
field.
(2) The department may enter an order providing for the
unit operations if it finds that:
(a) The unit operations are necessary for secondary
recovery or enhanced recovery purposes. For purposes of this
chapter secondary or enhanced recovery means that oil or gas
or both are recovered by any method, artificial flowing or
pumping, that may be employed to produce oil or gas, or
both, through the joint use of two or more wells with an application of energy extrinsic to the pool or pools. This includes
(2006 Ed.)
78.52.335
pressuring, cycling, pressure maintenance, or injections into
the pool or pools of a substance or form of energy: PROVIDED, That this does not include the injection in a well of a
substance or form of energy for the sole purpose of (i) aiding
in the lifting of fluids in the well, or (ii) stimulation of the reservoir at or near the well by mechanical, chemical, thermal,
or explosive means;
(b) The unit operations will protect correlative rights;
(c) The operations will increase the ultimate recovery of
oil or gas, or will prevent waste, or will prevent the drilling of
unnecessary wells; and
(d) The value of the estimated additional recovery of oil
and/or gas exceeds the estimated additional cost incident to
conducting these operations.
(3) The department may also enter an order providing for
unit operations, after notice and hearing, only if the department finds that there is clear and convincing evidence that all
of the following conditions are met:
(a) In the absence of unitization, the ultimate recovery of
oil or gas, or both, will be substantially decreased because
normal production techniques and methods are not feasible
and will not result in the maximum efficient and economic
recovery of oil or gas, or both;
(b) The unit operations will protect correlative rights;
(c) The unit operations will prevent waste, or will prevent the drilling of unnecessary wells;
(d) There has been a discovery of a commercial oil or gas
field; and
(e) There has been sufficient exploration, drilling activity, and development to properly define the one or more pools
or parts of them in a field proposed to be unitized.
(4) Notwithstanding any of the above, nothing in this
chapter may be construed to prevent the voluntary agreement
of all interested persons to any plan of unit operations. The
department shall approve operations upon making a finding
consistent with subsection (2) (b) and (c) of this section.
(5) The order shall be upon terms and conditions that are
fair and reasonable and shall prescribe a plan for unit operations that includes:
(a) A description of the pool or pools or parts thereof to
be so operated, termed the unitized area;
(b) A statement of the nature of the operations contemplated;
(c) An allocation of production and costs to the separately-owned tracts in the unitized area. The allocation shall
be in accord with the agreement, if any, of the interested parties. If there is no agreement, production shall be allocated in
a manner calculated to ensure that each owner’s correlative
rights are protected, and each separately-owned tract or combination of tracts receives its fair and reasonable share of production. Costs shall be allocated on a fair and reasonable
basis;
(d) A provision, if necessary, prescribing fair, reasonable, and equitable terms and conditions as to time and rate of
interest for carrying or otherwise financing any person who is
unable to promptly meet his or her financial obligations in
connection with the unit, such carrying and interest charges
to be paid as provided by the department from the person’s
prorated share of production;
(e) A provision for the supervision and conduct of the
unit operations, in respect to which each owner shall have a
[Title 78 RCW—page 29]
78.52.335
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
vote with a value corresponding to the percentage of the costs
of unit operations chargeable against the owner’s interest;
(f) The time when the unit operations shall commence,
the timetable for development, and the manner and circumstances under which the unit operations shall terminate; and
(g) Additional provisions which are found to be appropriate for carrying out the unit operations and for the protection of correlative rights.
(6) No order of the department providing for unit operations may become effective until:
(a) The plan for unit operations approved by the department has been approved in writing by those persons who,
under the department’s order, will be required to pay at least
seventy-five percent of the costs of unit operations;
(b) The plan has been approved in writing by those persons such as royalty owners, overriding royalty owners, and
production payment owners, who own at least seventy-five
percent of the production or proceeds thereof that will be
credited to interests that are free of costs; and
(c) The department has made a finding, either in the
order providing for unit operations or in a supplemental
order, that the plan for unit operations has been so approved.
If the plan for unit operations has not been so approved at the
time the order providing for unit operations is made, the
department shall upon application and notice hold such supplemental hearings as may be required to determine if and
when the plan for unit operations has been so approved. If the
persons owning required percentages of interest in the unitized area do not approve the plan for unit operations within a
period of six months from the date on which the order providing for unit operations is made, or within such additional
period or periods of time as the department prescribes, the
order will become unenforceable and shall be vacated by the
department.
(7) An order providing for unit operations may be
amended by an order made by the department in the same
manner and subject to the same conditions as an original
order, except as provided in subsection (8) of this section,
providing for unit operations, but (a) if such an amendment
affects only the rights and interests of the owners, the
approval of the amendment by those persons who own interests that are free of costs is not required, and (b) no such
amending order may change the percentage for the allocation
of oil and gas as established for any separately-owned tract or
combination of tracts by the original order, except with the
consent of all persons owning oil and gas rights in the tract,
and no such order may change the percentage for the allocation of cost as established for any separately-owned tract or
combination of tracts by the original order, except with the
consent of all persons owning an interest in the tract or combination of tracts. An amendment that provides for the expansion of the unit area shall comply with subsection (8) of this
section.
(8) The department, by order, may provide for the unit
operation of a reservoir or reservoirs or parts thereof that
include a unitized area established by a previous order of the
department. The order, in providing for the allocation of unit
production, shall first treat the unitized area previously established as a single tract and the portion of the new unit production allocated thereto shall then be allocated among the separately-owned tracts included in the previously established
[Title 78 RCW—page 30]
unit area in the same proportions as those specified in the previous order.
(9) After the date designated by the department the unit
plan shall be effective, oil and gas leases within the unit area,
or other contracts pertaining to the development thereof, shall
be changed only to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of the unit plan, and otherwise shall remain in full
force. Operations carried on under and in accordance with the
unit plan shall be regarded and considered as fulfillment of
and compliance with all of the provisions, covenants, and
conditions, expressed or implied, of the several oil and gas
leases upon lands within the unit area, or other contracts pertaining to the development thereof, insofar as the leases or
other contracts may relate to the pool or field subject to the
unit plan. The amount of production apportioned and allocated under the unit plan to each separately-owned tract
within the unit area, and only that amount, regardless of the
location of the well within the unit area from which it may be
produced, and regardless of whether it is more or less than the
amount of production from the well, if any, on each separately-owned tract, shall for all purposes be regarded as production from the separately-owned tract. Lessees shall not be
obligated to pay royalties or make other payments, required
by the oil and gas leases or other contracts affecting each
such separately-owned tract, on production in excess of that
amount apportioned and allocated to the separately-owned
tract under the unit plan.
(10) The portion of the unit production allocated to any
tract and the proceeds from its sale are the property and
income of the several persons to whom, or to whose credit,
the portion and proceeds are allocated or payable under the
order providing for unit operations.
(11) No division order or other contract relating to the
sale, purchase, or production from a separately-owned tract
or combination of tracts may be terminated by the order providing for unit operations but shall remain in force and shall
apply to oil and gas allocated to the tract until terminated by
an amended division order or contract in accordance with the
order.
(12) Except to the extent that parties affected so agree, an
order providing for unit operations shall not be construed to
result in a transfer of all or any part of the title of any person
to the oil and gas rights in any tract in the unit area. All property, whether real or personal, that may be acquired in the
conduct of unit operations hereunder shall be acquired for the
account of the owners within the unit area, and shall be the
property of those owners in the proportion that the expenses
of unit operations are charged.
(13) After the date designated by the order of the department that a unit plan shall become effective, the designation
of one or more unit operators shall be by vote of the lessees
of land in the unit area, in a manner to be provided in the unit
plan, and any operations in conflict with such unit plan shall
be unlawful and are prohibited.
(14) A certified copy of any order of the department
entered under this section is entitled to be recorded in the
auditor’s office in the county or counties wherein all or any
portion of the unit area is located and, if recorded, constitute
notice thereof to all persons. A copy of this order shall be
mailed by certified mail to all interested persons.
(2006 Ed.)
Oil and Gas Conservation
(15) No order for unitization may be construed to allow
the drilling of a well on a tract within the unit which is not
leased or under contract for oil and gas exploration or production. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 843; 1983 c 253 § 23.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.345
78.52.345 Ratable purchase of oil from owners or
operators of pool required. Each person now or hereafter
purchasing or taking for transportation oil from any owner or
producer shall purchase or take ratably without discrimination in favor of any owner or operator over any other owner
or producer in the same pool offering to sell his or her oil produced therefrom to that person. If the person purchasing or
taking for transportation oil does not have need for all such
oil lawfully produced within a pool, or if for any reason is
unable to purchase all of the oil, then it shall purchase from
each operator in a pool ratably, taking and purchasing the
same quantity of oil from each well to the extent that each
well is capable of producing its ratable portion without waste.
Nothing in this section may be construed to require any
owner or operator to sell his or her product to only one purchaser or to require more than one pipeline connection for
each producing well. If any such purchaser or person taking
oil for transportation is likewise an operator or owner, the
purchaser or person is prohibited from discriminating in
favor of his or her own production, or production in which he
or she may be interested, and his or her own production shall
be treated as that of any other operator or owner. [1983 c 253
§ 24.]
78.52.355
78.52.355 Ratable purchase of gas from owners or
operators of pool required. Each person now or hereafter
purchasing or taking for transportation gas produced from
gas wells or from oil wells from any owner or operator shall
purchase or take ratably without discrimination in favor of
any owner or operator, over any other owner or operator in a
pool. The person shall not discriminate in the quantities purchased, the basis of measurement, or the gas transportation
facilities afforded for gas of like quantity, quality, and pressure available from such wells. For the purpose of this section
and RCW 78.52.345, reasonable differences in quantity taken
or facilities afforded do not constitute unreasonable discrimination if the differences bear a fair relationship to differences
in quality, quantity, or pressure of the gas available or the
acreage attributable to the well, market requirements, or to
the relative lengths of time during which the gas will be available to the purchaser. If the purchaser or person taking gas for
transportation is likewise an operator or owner, the purchaser
or person is prohibited from discriminating in favor of quantities taken or facilities in which he or she may be interested,
and his or her own production shall be treated as that of any
other operator or owner producing from gas wells in the same
pool. [1983 c 253 § 25.]
78.52.365
78.52.365 Enforcement of RCW 78.52.345 and
78.52.355. The department may administer and enforce
RCW 78.52.345 and 78.52.355 in accordance with the procedures in this chapter for its enforcement and with the rules
(2006 Ed.)
78.52.463
and orders of the department. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 844; 1983 c
253 § 26.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.450 Participation of public lands in unit plan.
The commissioner of public lands, or other officer or board
having the control and management of state land, and the
proper board or officer of any political, municipal, or other
subdivision or agency of the state having control and management of public lands, may, on behalf of the state or of such
political, municipal, or other subdivision or agency thereof,
with respect to land and oil and gas rights subject to the control and management of such respective body, board or
officer, consent to and participate in any unit plan. [1951 c
146 § 48.]
78.52.450
78.52.460
78.52.460 Unit plan not deemed monopolistic. No
plan for the operation of a field or pool of oil or gas as a unit,
either whole or in part, created or approved by the department
under this chapter may be held to violate any of the statutes of
this state prohibiting monopolies or acts, arrangements,
agreements, contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in
restraint of trade or commerce. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 845; 1951 c
146 § 49.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.463 Suspension of operations for violation—
Notice—Order—Hearing—Stay of order. (1) Any operation or activity that is in violation of applicable laws, rules,
orders, or permit conditions is subject to suspension by order
of the department. The order may suspend the operations
authorized in the permit in whole or in part. The order may be
issued only after the department has first notified the operator
or owner of the violations and the operator or owner has
failed to comply with the directions contained in the notification within ten days of service of the notice: PROVIDED,
That the department may issue the suspension order immediately without notice if the violations are or may cause substantial harm to adjacent property, persons, or public
resources, or has or may result in the pollution of waters in
violation of any state or federal law or rule. A suspension
shall remain in effect until the violations are corrected or
other directives are complied with unless declared invalid by
the department after hearing or an appeal. The suspension
order and notification, where applicable, shall specify the
violations and the actions required to be undertaken to be in
compliance with such laws, rules, orders, or permit conditions. The order and notification may also require remedial
actions to be undertaken to restore, prevent, or correct activities or conditions which have resulted from the violations.
The order and notification may be directed to the operator or
owner or both.
(2) The suspension order constitutes a final and binding
order unless the owner or operator to whom the order is
directed requests a hearing before the department within fifteen days after service of the order. Such a request shall not in
itself stay or suspend the order and the operator or owner
shall comply with the order immediately upon service. The
department may stay or suspend in whole or in part the sus78.52.463
[Title 78 RCW—page 31]
78.52.467
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
pension order pending a hearing if so requested. The hearing
shall constitute an adjudicative proceeding under chapter
34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act. [1994 sp.s. c
9 § 846; 1989 c 175 § 167; 1983 c 253 § 29.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
78.52.467
78.52.467 Illegal oil, gas, or product—Sale, purchase,
etc., prohibited—Seizure and sale—Deposit of proceeds.
(1) The sale, purchase, acquisition, transportation, refining,
processing, or handling of illegal oil, gas, or product is prohibited. However, no penalty by way of fine may be imposed
upon a person who sells, purchases, acquires, transports,
refines, processes, or handles illegal oil, gas, or product
unless (a) the person knows, or is put on notice of, facts indicating that illegal oil, illegal gas, or illegal product is
involved, or (b) the person fails to obtain a certificate of
clearance with respect to the oil, gas, or product if prescribed
by rule or order of the department, or fails to follow any other
method prescribed by an order of the department for the identification of the oil, gas, or product.
(2) Illegal oil, illegal gas, and illegal product are declared
to be contraband and are subject to seizure and sale as provided in this section. Seizure and sale shall be in addition to
all other remedies and penalties provided in this chapter for
violations relating to illegal oil, illegal gas, or illegal product.
If the department believes that any oil, gas, or product is illegal, the department acting through the attorney general, shall
bring a civil action in rem in the superior court of the county
in which the oil, gas, or product is found, to seize and sell the
same, or the department may include such an action in rem in
any suit brought for an injunction or penalty involving illegal
oil, illegal gas, or illegal product. A person claiming an interest in oil, gas, or product affected by an action in rem has the
right to intervene as an interested party.
(3) Actions for the seizure and sale of illegal oil, illegal
gas, or illegal product shall be strictly in rem and shall proceed in the name of the state as plaintiff against the oil, gas,
or product as defendant. No bond or similar undertaking may
be required of the plaintiff. Upon the filing of the petition for
seizure and sale, the clerk of the court shall issue a summons,
with a copy of the petition attached thereto, directed to the
sheriff of the county or to another officer or person whom the
court may designate, for service upon all persons having or
claiming any interest in the oil, gas, or product described in
the petition. The summons shall command these persons to
appear and answer within twenty days after the issuance and
service of the summons. These persons need not be named or
otherwise identified in the summons, and the summons shall
be served by posting a copy of the summons, with a copy of
the petition attached, on any public bulletin board or at the
courthouse of a county where the oil, gas, or product involved
is located, and by posting another copy at or near the place
where the oil, gas, or product is located. The posting constitutes notice of the action to all persons having or claiming
any interest in the oil, gas, or product described in the petition. In addition, if the court, on a properly verified petition,
or affidavit or affidavits, or oral testimony, finds that grounds
for seizure and for sale exist, the court shall issue an immediate order of seizure, describing the oil, gas, or product to be
[Title 78 RCW—page 32]
seized, and directing the sheriff of the county to take the oil,
gas, or product into the sheriff’s actual or constructive custody and to hold the same subject to further orders of the
court. The court, in the order of seizure, may direct the sheriff
to deliver the oil, gas, or product seized by him or her under
the order to a court-appointed agent. The agent shall give
bond in an amount and with such surety as the court may
direct, conditioned upon compliance with the orders of the
court concerning the custody and disposition of the oil, gas,
or product.
(4) Any person having an interest in oil, gas, or product
described in order of seizure and contesting the right of the
state to seize and sell the oil, gas, or product may obtain its
release prior to sale upon furnishing to the sheriff a bond
approved by the court. The bond shall be in an amount equal
to one hundred fifty percent of the market value of the oil,
gas, or product to be released and shall be conditioned upon
either redelivery to the sheriff of the released commodity or
payment to the sheriff of its market value, if and when
ordered by the court, and upon full compliance with further
orders of the court.
(5) If the court, after a hearing upon a petition for the seizure and sale of oil, gas, or product, finds that the oil, gas, or
product is contraband, the court shall order its sale by the
sheriff in the same manner and upon the same notice of sale
as provided by law for the sale of personal property on execution of judgment entered in a civil action, except that the
court may order that the oil, gas, or product be sold in specified lots or portions and at specified intervals. Upon sale, title
to the oil, gas, or product sold shall vest in the purchaser free
of all claims, and it shall be legal oil, legal gas, or legal product in the hands of the purchaser.
(6) All proceeds, less costs of suit and expenses of sale,
which are derived from the sale of illegal oil, illegal gas, or
illegal product, and all amounts paid as penalties provided for
by this chapter, shall be paid into the state treasury for the use
of the department in defraying its expenses in the same manner as other funds provided by law for the use of the department. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 847; 1983 c 253 § 30.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.470
78.52.470 Objections to order—Hearing required—
Modification of order. Any person adversely affected by
any order of the department may, within thirty days from the
effective date of such order, apply for a hearing with respect
to any matter determined therein. No cause for action arising
out of any order of the department accrues in any court to any
person unless the person makes application for a hearing as
provided in this section. Such application shall set forth specifically the ground on which the applicant considers the
order to be unlawful or unreasonable. No party shall, in any
court, urge or rely upon any ground not set forth in said application. An order made in conformity to a decision resulting
from a hearing which abrogates, changes, or modifies the
original order shall have the same force and effect as an original. Such hearing shall constitute an adjudicative proceeding
under chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure
Act, and shall be conducted in accordance with its provisions.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 848; 1989 c 175 § 168; 1983 c 253 § 27;
1951 c 146 § 50.]
(2006 Ed.)
Metals Mining and Milling Operations
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
78.52.480
78.52.480 Appeal from order or decision—Rights of
department. In proceedings for review of an order or decision of the department, the department shall be a party to the
proceedings and shall have all rights and privileges granted
by this chapter to any other party to such proceedings. [1994
sp.s. c 9 § 849; 1983 c 253 § 28; 1951 c 146 § 51.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
Chapter 78.56
regulation, or order made by the department under this chapter, then any person or party in interest adversely affected by
such violation, who has requested the department in writing
to sue, may, to prevent any or further violation, bring suit for
that purpose in the superior court of any county where the
department could have instituted such suit. If, in such suit, the
court should hold that injunctive relief should be granted,
then the state shall be made a party and shall be substituted
for the person who brought the suit, and the injunction shall
be issued as if the state had at all times been the complainant.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 852; 1951 c 146 § 57.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.490
78.52.490 Appeal—How taken. Within thirty days
after the application for a hearing is denied, or if the application is granted, then within thirty days after the rendition of
the decision on the hearing, the applicant may apply to the
superior court, at the petitioner’s option, for (a) Thurston
county, (b) the county of petitioner’s residence or place of
business, or (c) in any county where the property or property
rights owned by the petitioner is located for a review of such
rule, regulation, order, or decision. The application for
review shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the superior
court of Thurston county and shall specifically state the
grounds for review upon which the applicant relies and shall
designate the rule, regulation, order, or decision sought to be
reviewed. The applicant shall immediately serve a certified
copy of said application upon the commissioner of public
lands who shall immediately notify all parties who appeared
in the proceedings before the department that such application for review has been filed. In the event the court determines the review is solely for the purpose of determining the
validity of a rule or regulation of general applicability the
court shall transfer venue to Thurston county for a review of
such rule or regulation in the manner provided for in RCW
34.05.570. [1994 sp.s. c 9 § 850; 1983 c 253 § 32; 1951 c 146
§ 52.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.550 Violations—Penalty. Every person who
shall violate or knowingly aid and abet the violation of this
chapter or any valid orders, rules and regulations issued
thereunder, or who fails to perform any act which is herein
made his duty to perform, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1951 c 146 § 58.]
78.52.550
78.52.900 Short title. This chapter shall be known as
the "Oil and Gas Conservation Act." [1951 c 146 § 2.]
78.52.900
78.52.910 Construction—1951 c 146. It is intended
that the provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed
to accomplish the purposes authorized and provided for, or
intended to be provided for by this chapter. [1951 c 146 §
59.]
78.52.910
78.52.920 Severability—1951 c 146. If any part or
parts of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person
or circumstances be held to be unconstitutional, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of
this chapter, or the application thereof to other persons or circumstances. The legislature hereby declares that it would
have passed the remaining parts of this chapter if it had
known that said invalid part or parts thereof would be
declared unconstitutional. [1951 c 146 § 60.]
78.52.920
78.52.530
78.52.530 Violations—Injunctions. Whenever it shall
appear that any person is violating any provisions of this
chapter, or any rule, regulation, or order made by the department under this chapter, and if the department cannot, without litigation, effectively prevent further violation, the
department may bring suit in the name of the state against
such person in the superior court in the county of the residence of the defendant, or in the county of the residence of
any defendant if there be more than one defendant, or in the
county where the violation is alleged to have occurred, to
restrain such person from continuing such violation. In such
suit the department may without bond obtain injunctions prohibitory and mandatory, including temporary restraining
orders and preliminary injunctions, as the facts may warrant.
[1994 sp.s. c 9 § 851; 1951 c 146 § 56.]
Severability—Headings and captions not law—Effective date—
1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.
78.52.921 Severability—1983 c 253. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1983 c 253 § 34.]
78.52.921
Chapter 78.56 RCW
METALS MINING AND MILLING OPERATIONS
Chapter 78.56
Sections
78.56.010
78.56.020
78.56.030
78.56.040
78.56.050
78.56.060
78.56.070
78.52.540
78.52.540 Violations—Injunctions by private party.
If the department fails to bring suit within thirty days to
enjoin any apparent violation of this chapter, or of any rule,
(2006 Ed.)
78.56.080
Intent.
Definitions.
Operations subject to this chapter and other requirements.
Disclosures required with state environmental policy act
checklist—Public inspection of information.
Environmental impact statement required—Mitigation measures to be part of permit requirements—Department of
ecology to cooperate with affected local governments.
Metals mining coordinator to be appointed—Duties.
Quarterly inspections by responsible state agencies required—
Cross-training and coordination of inspections encouraged.
Metals mining account—Estimate of costs by department of
ecology and department of natural resources—Fee on operations to be established by department of ecology.
[Title 78 RCW—page 33]
78.56.010
78.56.090
78.56.100
78.56.110
78.56.120
78.56.130
78.56.140
78.56.150
78.56.160
78.56.900
78.56.901
78.56.902
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
Initial waste discharge permits for tailings facilities—Siting
criteria—Primary screening process—Technical site investigation—Site selection report.
Waste discharge permits for metals mining and milling operations tailing facilities—Pollution control standards—Waste
rock management plan—Citizen observation and verification of water samples—Voluntary reduction plan—Application of this section.
Performance security required—Conditions—Department of
ecology authority to adopt requirements—Liability under
performance security.
Remediation or mitigation by department of ecology—Order
to submit performance security.
Legislative finding—Impact analysis required for large-scale
operations—Impact fees by county legislative authority—
Application of this section—Application of chapter 82.02
RCW.
Citizen action suits.
Application of requirements to milling facilities not adjacent
to mining operation.
Moratorium on use of heap leach extraction process—Joint
review by department of ecology and department of natural
resources—Permanent prohibition of in situ extraction.
Severability—1994 c 232.
Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 1-5, 9-17, and 23-29.
Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 6-8 and 18-22.
(5) "Regulated substances" means any materials regulated under a waste discharge permit pursuant to the requirements of chapter 90.48 RCW and/or a permit issued pursuant
to chapter 70.94 RCW.
(6) "To mitigate" means: (a) To avoid the adverse
impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an
action; (b) to minimize adverse impacts by limiting the
degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation, by
using appropriate technology or by taking affirmative steps to
avoid or reduce impacts; (c) to rectify adverse impacts by
repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment; (d) to reduce or eliminate adverse impacts over time by
preservation and maintenance operations during the life of
the action; (e) to compensate for the impact by replacing,
enhancing, or providing substitute resources or environments; or (f) to monitor the adverse impact and take appropriate corrective measures. [1994 c 232 § 2.]
78.56.030
78.56.010 Intent. It is in the best interests of the citizens of the state of Washington to insure the highest degree
of environmental protection while allowing the proper development and use of its natural resources, including its mineral
resources. Metals mining can have significant positive and
adverse impacts on the state and on local communities. The
purpose of this chapter is to assure that metals mineral mining
or milling operations are designed, constructed, and operated
in a manner that promotes both economic opportunities and
environmental and public health safeguards for the citizens of
the state. It is the intent of the legislature to create a regulatory framework which yields, to the greatest extent possible,
a metals mining industry that is compatible with these policies. [1994 c 232 § 1.]
78.56.010
78.56.020
78.56.020 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Metals mining and milling operation" means a mining operation extracting from the earth precious or base metal
ore and processing the ore by treatment or concentration in a
milling facility. It also refers to an expansion of an existing
operation or any new metals mining operation if the expansion or new mining operation is likely to result in a significant, adverse environmental impact pursuant to the provisions of chapter 43.21C RCW. The extraction of dolomite,
sand, gravel, aggregate, limestone, magnesite, silica rock,
and zeolite or other nonmetallic minerals; and placer mining;
and the smelting of aluminum are not metals mining and milling operations regulated under this chapter.
(2) "Milling" means the process of grinding or crushing
ore and extracting the base or precious metal by chemical
solution, electro winning, or flotation processes.
(3) "Heap leach extraction process" means the process of
extracting base or precious metal ore by percolating solutions
through ore in an open system and includes reprocessing of
previously milled ore. The heap leach extraction process does
not include leaching in a vat or tank.
(4) "In situ extraction" means the process of dissolving
base or precious metals from their natural place in the geological setting and retrieving the solutions from which metals
can be recovered.
[Title 78 RCW—page 34]
78.56.030 Operations subject to this chapter and
other requirements. Metals mining and milling operations
are subject to the requirements of this chapter in addition to
the requirements established in other statutes and rules.
[1994 c 232 § 3.]
78.56.040
78.56.040 Disclosures required with state environmental policy act checklist—Public inspection of information. The department of ecology shall require each applicant submitting a checklist pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW
for a metals mining and milling operation to disclose the
ownership and each controlling interest in the proposed operation. The applicant shall also disclose all other mining operations within the United States which the applicant operates
or in which the applicant has an ownership or controlling
interest. In addition, the applicant shall disclose and may enumerate and describe the circumstances of: (1) Any past or
present bankruptcies involving the ownerships and their subsidiaries, (2) any abandonment of sites regulated by the
model toxics control act, chapter 70.105D RCW, or other
similar state remedial cleanup programs, or the federal comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq., as amended, (3) any
penalties in excess of ten thousand dollars assessed for violations of the provisions of 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq. or 42
U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq., and (4) any previous forfeitures of
financial assurance due to noncompliance with reclamation
or remediation requirements. This information shall be available for public inspection and copying at the department of
ecology. Ownership or control of less than ten percent of the
stock of a corporation shall not by itself constitute ownership
or a controlling interest under this section. [1994 c 232 § 4.]
78.56.050
78 .56.050 En vironmental im pact st at ement
required—Mitigation measures to be part of permit
requirements—Department of ecology to cooperate with
affected local governments. (1) An environmental impact
statement must be prepared for any proposed metals mining
and milling operation. The department of ecology shall be the
lead agency in coordinating the environmental review process under chapter 43.21C RCW and in preparing the envi(2006 Ed.)
Metals Mining and Milling Operations
ronmental impact statement, except for uranium and thorium
operations regulated under Title 70 RCW.
(2) As part of the environmental review of metals mining
and milling operations regulated under this chapter, the applicant shall provide baseline data adequate to document the
premining conditions at the proposed site of the metals mining and milling operation. The baseline data shall contain
information on the elements of the natural environment identified in rules adopted pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW.
(3) The department of ecology, after consultation with
the department of fish and wildlife, shall incorporate measures to mitigate significant probable adverse impacts to fish
and wildlife as part of the department of ecology’s permit
requirements for the proposed operation.
(4) In conducting the environmental review and preparing the environmental impact statement, the department of
ecology shall cooperate with all affected local governments
to the fullest extent practicable. [1994 c 232 § 5.]
78.56.060
78 . 5 6 .0 6 0 Met a ls min ing c o o r din at o r t o b e
appointed—Duties. The department of ecology will appoint
a metals mining coordinator. The coordinator will maintain
current information on the status of any metals mining and
milling operation regulated under this chapter from the preparation of the environmental impact statement through the
permitting, construction, operation, and reclamation phases
of the project or until the proposal is no longer active. The
coordinator shall also maintain current information on postclosure activities. The coordinator will act as a contact person
for the applicant, the operator, and interested members of the
public. The coordinator may also assist agencies with coordination of their inspection and monitoring responsibilities.
[1994 c 232 § 6.]
78.56.070
78.56.070 Quarterly inspections by responsible state
agencies required—Cross-training and coordination of
inspections encouraged. (1) State agencies with the responsibility for inspecting metals mining and milling operations
regulated under this chapter shall conduct such inspections at
least quarterly: PROVIDED, That the inspections are not
prevented by inclement weather conditions.
(2) The legislature encourages state agencies with
inspection responsibilities for metals mining and milling
operations regulated under this chapter to explore opportunities for cross-training of inspectors among state agencies and
programs. This cross-training would be for the purpose of
meeting the inspection responsibilities of these agencies in a
more efficient and cost-effective manner. If doing so would
be more efficient and cost-effective, state agency inspectors
are also encouraged to coordinate inspections with federal
and local government inspectors as well as with one another.
[1994 c 232 § 7.]
78.56.080
78.56.080 Metals mining account—Estimate of costs
by department of ecology and department of natural
resources—Fee on operations to be established by department of ecology. (1) The metals mining account is created in
the state treasury. Expenditures from this account are subject
to appropriation. Expenditures from this account may only be
used for: (a) The additional inspections of metals mining and
(2006 Ed.)
78.56.090
milling operations required by RCW 78.56.070 and (b) the
metals mining coordinator established in RCW 78.56.060.
(2)(a) As part of its normal budget development process
and in consultation with the metals mining industry, the
department of ecology shall estimate the costs required for
the department to meet its obligations for the additional
inspections of metals mining and milling operations required
by chapter 232, Laws of 1994. The department shall also estimate the cost of employing the metals mining coordinator
established in RCW 78.56.060.
(b) As part of its normal budget development process
and in consultation with the metals mining industry, the
department of natural resources shall estimate the costs
required for the department to meet its obligations for the
additional inspections of metals mining and milling operations required by chapter 232, Laws of 1994.
(3) Based on the cost estimates generated by the department of ecology and the department of natural resources, the
department of ecology shall establish the amount of a fee to
be paid by each active metals mining and milling operation
regulated under this chapter. The fee shall be established at a
level to fully recover the direct and indirect costs of the
agency responsibilities identified in subsection (2) of this
section. The amount of the fee for each operation shall be
proportional to the number of visits required per site. Each
applicant for a metals mining and milling operation shall also
be assessed the fee based on the same criterion. The department of ecology may adjust the fees established in this subsection if unanticipated activity in the industry increases or
decreases the amount of funding necessary to meet agencies’
inspection responsibilities.
(4) The department of ecology shall collect the fees
established in subsection (3) of this section. All moneys from
these fees shall be deposited into the metals mining account.
[1997 c 170 § 1; 1994 c 232 § 8.]
Effective date—1997 c 170: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 170 § 2.]
78.56.090
78.56.090 Initial waste discharge permits for tailings
facilities—Siting criteria—Primary screening process—
Technical site investigation—Site selection report. (1) In
the processing of an application for an initial waste discharge
permit for a tailings facility pursuant to the requirements of
chapter 90.48 RCW, the department of ecology shall consider
site-specific criteria in determining a preferred location of
tailings facilities of metals mining and milling operations and
incorporate the requirements of all known available and reasonable methods in order to maintain the highest possible
standards to insure the purity of all waters of the state in
accordance with the public policy identified by RCW
90.48.010.
In implementing the siting criteria, the department shall
take into account the objectives of the proponent’s application relating to mining and milling operations. These objectives shall consist of, but not be limited to (a) operational feasibility, (b) compatibility with optimum tailings placement
methods, (c) adequate volume capacity, (d) availability of
construction materials, and (e) an optimized embankment
volume.
[Title 78 RCW—page 35]
78.56.100
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(2) To meet the mandate of subsection (1) of this section,
siting of tailings facilities shall be accomplished through a
two-stage process that consists of a primary alternatives
screening phase, and a secondary technical site investigation
phase.
(3) The primary screening phase will consist of, but not
be limited to, siting criteria based on considerations as to
location as follows:
(a) Proximity to the one hundred year flood plain, as
indicated in the most recent federal emergency management
agency maps;
(b) Proximity to surface and ground water;
(c) Topographic setting;
(d) Identifiable adverse geologic conditions, such as
landslides and active faults; and
(e) Visibility impacts of the public generally and residents more particularly.
(4) The department of ecology, through the primary
screening process, shall reduce the available tailings facility
sites to one or more feasible locations whereupon a technical
site investigation phase shall be conducted by the department
for the purpose of verifying the adequacy of the remaining
potential sites. The technical site investigations phase shall
consist of, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Soil characteristics;
(b) Hydrologic characteristics;
(c) A local and structural geology evaluation, including
seismic conditions and related geotechnical investigations;
(d) A surface water control analysis; and
(e) A slope stability analysis.
(5) Upon completion of the two phase evaluation process
set forth in this section, the department of ecology shall issue
a site selection report on the preferred location. This report
shall address the above criteria as well as analyze the feasibility of reclamation and stabilization of the tailings facility.
The siting report may recommend mitigation or engineering
factors to address siting concerns. The report shall be developed in conjunction with the preparation of and contained in
an environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to
chapter 43.21C RCW. The report may be utilized by the
department of ecology for the purpose of providing information related to the suitability of the site and for ruling on an
application for a waste discharge permit.
(6) The department of ecology may, at its discretion,
require the applicant to provide the information required in
either phase one or phase two as described in subsections (3)
and (4) of this section. [1994 c 232 § 9.]
78.56.100
78.56.100 Waste discharge permits for metals mining
and milling operations tailing facilities—Pollution control
standards—Waste rock management plan—Citizen
observation and verification of water samples—Voluntary reduction plan—Application of this section. (1) In
order to receive a waste discharge permit from the department of ecology pursuant to the requirements of chapter
90.48 RCW or in order to operate a metals mining and milling tailing facility, an applicant proposing a metals mining
and milling operation regulated under this chapter must meet
the following additional requirements:
[Title 78 RCW—page 36]
(a) Any tailings facility shall be designed and operated to
prevent the release of pollution and must meet the following
standards:
(i) Operators shall apply all known available and reasonable technology to limit the concentration of potentially toxic
materials in the tailings facility to assure the protection of
wildlife and human health;
(ii) The tailings facility shall have a containment system
that includes an engineered liner system, leak detection and
leak collection elements, and a seepage collection impoundment to assure that a leak of any regulated substance under
chapter 90.48 RCW will be detected before escaping from the
containment system. The design and management of the
facility must ensure that any leaks from the tailings facility
are detected in a manner which allows for remediation pursuant to chapter 90.48 RCW. The applicant shall prepare a
detailed engineering report setting forth the facility design
and construction. The applicant shall submit the report to the
department of ecology for its review and approval of a design
as determined by the department. Natural conditions, such as
depth to ground water or net rainfall, shall be taken into
account in the facility design, but not in lieu of the protection
required by the engineered liner system;
(iii) The toxicity of mine or mill tailings and the potential
for long-term release of regulated substances from mine or
mill tailings shall be reduced to the greatest extent practicable
through stabilization, removal, or reuse of the substances;
and
(iv) The closure of the tailings facility shall provide for
isolation or containment of potentially toxic materials and
shall be designed to prevent future release of regulated substances contained in the impoundment;
(b) The applicant must develop a waste rock management plan approved by the department of ecology and the
department of natural resources which emphasizes pollution
prevention. At a minimum, the plan must contain the following elements:
(i) An accurate identification of the acid generating properties of the waste rock;
(ii) A strategy for encapsulating potentially toxic material from the environment, when appropriate, in order to prevent the release of heavy metals and acidic drainage; and
(iii) A plan for reclaiming and closing waste rock sites
which minimizes infiltration of precipitation and runoff into
the waste rock and which is designed to prevent future
releases of regulated substances contained within the waste
rock;
(c) If an interested citizen or citizen group so requests of
the department of ecology, the metals mining and milling
operator or applicant shall work with the department of ecology and the interested party to make arrangements for citizen
observation and verification in the taking of required water
samples. While it is the intent of this subsection to provide for
citizen observation and verification of water sampling activities, it is not the intent of this subsection to require additional
water sampling and analysis on the part of the mining and
milling operation or the department. The citizen observation
and verification program shall be incorporated into the applicant’s, operator’s, or department’s normal sampling regimen
and shall occur at least once every six months. There is no
duty of care on the part of the state or its employees to any
(2006 Ed.)
Metals Mining and Milling Operations
person who participates in the citizen observation and verification of water sampling under chapter 232, Laws of 1994
and the state and its employees shall be immune from any
civil lawsuit based on any injuries to or claims made by any
person as a result of that person’s participation in such observation and verification of water sampling activities. The metals mining and milling operator or applicant shall not be liable for any injuries to or claims made by any person which
result from that person coming onto the property of the metals mining and milling operator or applicant as an observer
pursuant to chapter 232, Laws of 1994. The results from these
and all other relevant water sampling activities shall be kept
on file with the relevant county and shall be available for
public inspection during normal working hours; and
(d) An operator or applicant for a metals mining and
milling operation must complete a voluntary reduction plan
in accordance with RCW 70.95C.200.
(2) Only those tailings facilities constructed after April
1, 1994, must meet the requirement established in subsection
(1)(a) of this section. Only those waste rock holdings constructed after April 1, 1994, must meet the requirement established in subsection (1)(b) of this section. [1994 c 232 § 10.]
78.56.110 Performance security required—Conditions—Department of ecology authority to adopt requirements—Liability under performance security. (1) The
department of ecology shall not issue necessary permits to an
applicant for a metals mining and milling operation until the
applicant has deposited with the department of ecology a performance security which is acceptable to the department of
ecology based on the requirements of subsection (2) of this
section. This performance security may be:
(a) Bank letters of credit;
(b) A cash deposit;
(c) Negotiable securities;
(d) An assignment of a savings account;
(e) A savings certificate in a Washington bank; or
(f) A corporate surety bond executed in favor of the
department of ecology by a corporation authorized to do
business in the state of Washington under Title 48 RCW.
The department of ecology may, for any reason, refuse
any performance security not deemed adequate.
(2) The performance security shall be conditioned on the
faithful performance of the applicant or operator in meeting
the following obligations:
(a) Compliance with the environmental protection laws
of the state of Washington administered by the department of
ecology, or permit conditions administered by the department
of ecology, associated with the construction, operation, and
closure pertaining to metals mining and milling operations,
and with the related environmental protection ordinances and
permit conditions established by local government when
requested by local government;
(b) Reclamation of metals mining and milling operations
that do not meet the threshold of surface mining as defined by
RCW 78.44.031(17);
(c) Postclosure environmental monitoring as determined
by the department of ecology; and
(d) Provision of sufficient funding as determined by the
department of ecology for cleanup of potential problems
revealed during or after closure.
78.56.110
(2006 Ed.)
78.56.120
(3) The department of ecology may, if it deems appropriate, adopt rules for determining the amount of the performance security, requirements for the performance security,
requirements for the issuer of the performance security, and
any other requirements necessary for the implementation of
this section.
(4) The department of ecology may increase or decrease
the amount of the performance security at any time to compensate for any alteration in the operation that affects meeting the obligations in subsection (2) of this section. At a minimum, the department shall review the adequacy of the performance security every two years.
(5) Liability under the performance security shall be
maintained until the obligations in subsection (2) of this section are met to the satisfaction of the department of ecology.
Liability under the performance security may be released
only upon written notification by the department of ecology.
(6) Any interest or appreciation on the performance
security shall be held by the department of ecology until the
obligations in subsection (2) of this section have been met to
the satisfaction of the department of ecology. At such time,
the interest shall be remitted to the applicant or operator.
However, if the applicant or operator fails to comply with the
obligations of subsection (2) of this section, the interest or
appreciation may be used by the department of ecology to
comply with the obligations.
(7) Only one agency may require a performance security
to satisfy the deposit requirements of RCW 78.44.087, and
only one agency may require a performance security to satisfy the deposit requirements of this section. However, a single performance security, when acceptable to both the department of ecology and the department of natural resources, may
be utilized by both agencies to satisfy the requirements of this
section and RCW 78.44.087. [1995 c 223 § 1; 1994 c 232 §
11.]
78.56.120 Remediation or mitigation by department
of ecology—Order to submit performance security. The
department of ecology may, with staff, equipment, and material under its control, or by contract with others, remediate or
mitigate any impact of a metals mining and milling operation
when it finds that the operator or permit holder has failed to
comply with relevant statutes, rules, or permits, and the operator or permit holder has failed to take adequate or timely
action to rectify these impacts.
If the department intends to remediate or mitigate such
impacts, the department shall issue an order to submit performance security requiring the permit holder or surety to submit to the department the amount of moneys posted pursuant
to RCW 78.56.110. If the amount specified in the order to
submit performance security is not paid within twenty days
after issuance of the notice, the attorney general upon request
of the department shall bring an action on behalf of the state
in a superior court to recover the amount specified and associated legal fees.
The department may proceed at any time after issuing
the order to submit performance security to remediate or mitigate adverse impacts.
The department shall keep a record of all expenses
incurred in carrying out any remediation or mitigation activities authorized under this section, including:
78.56.120
[Title 78 RCW—page 37]
78.56.130
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
(1) Remediation or mitigation;
(2) A reasonable charge for the services performed by
the state’s personnel and the state’s equipment and materials
utilized; and
(3) Administrative and legal expenses related to remediation or mitigation.
The department shall refund to the surety or permit
holder all amounts received in excess of the amount of
expenses incurred. If the amount received is less than the
expenses incurred, the attorney general, upon request of the
department of ecology, may bring an action against the permit holder on behalf of the state in the superior court to
recover the remaining costs listed in this section. [1995 c 223
§ 2; 1994 c 232 § 12.]
78.56.130 Legislative finding—Impact analysis
required for large-scale operations—Impact fees by
county legislative authority—Application of this section—Application of chapter 82.02 RCW. (1) The legislature finds that the construction and operation of large-scale
metals mining and milling facilities may create new job
opportunities and enhance local tax revenues. However, the
legislature also finds that such operations may also result in
new demands on public facilities owned and operated by
local government entities, such as public streets and roads;
publicly owned parks, open space, and recreation facilities;
school facilities; and fire protection facilities in jurisdictions
that are not part of a fire district. It is important for these economic impacts to be identified as part of any proposal for a
large-scale metals mining and milling operation. It is then
appropriate for the county legislative authority to balance
expected revenues, including revenues derived from taxes
paid by the owner of such an operation, and costs associated
with the operation to determine to what degree any new costs
require mitigation by the metals mining applicant.
(2) An applicant for a large-scale metals mining and
milling operation regulated under this chapter must submit to
the relevant county legislative authority an impact analysis
describing the economic impact of the proposed mining operation on local governmental units. For the purposes of this
section, a metals mining operation is large-scale if, in the
construction or operation of the mine and the associated milling facility, the applicant and contractors at the site employ
more than thirty-five persons during any consecutive sixmonth period. The relevant county is the county in which the
mine and mill are to be sited, unless the economic impacts to
local governmental units are projected to substantially affect
more than one county. In that case, the impact plan must be
submitted to the legislative authority of all affected counties.
Local governmental units include counties, cities, towns,
school districts, and special purpose districts.
(3) The economic impact analysis shall include at least
the following information:
(a) A timetable for development of the mining operation,
including the opening date of the operation and the estimated
closing date;
(b) The estimated number of persons coming into the
impacted area as a result of the development of the mining
operation;
(c) An estimate of the increased capital and operating
costs to local governmental units for providing services nec78.56.130
[Title 78 RCW—page 38]
essary as a result of the development of the mining operation;
and
(d) An estimate of the increased tax or other revenues
accruing to local governmental units as a result of development of the mining and milling operation.
(4) The county legislative authority of a county planning
under chapter 36.70A RCW may assess impact fees under
chapter 82.02 RCW to address economic impacts associated
with development of the mining operation. The county legislative authority shall hold at least one public hearing on the
economic impact analysis and any proposed mitigation measures.
(5) The county legislative authority of a county which is
not planning under chapter 36.70A RCW may negotiate with
the applicant on a strategy to address economic impacts associated with development of the mining operation. The county
legislative authority shall hold at least one public hearing on
the economic impact analysis and any proposed mitigation
measures.
(6) The county legislative authority must approve or disapprove the impact analysis and any associated proposals
from the applicant to address economic impacts to local governmental units resulting from development of the mining
operation. If the applicant does not submit an adequate
impact analysis to the relevant county legislative authority or
if the county legislative authority does not find the applicant’s proposals to be acceptable because of their failure to
adequately mitigate adverse economic impacts, the county
legislative authority shall refuse to issue any permits under its
jurisdiction necessary for the construction or operation of the
mine and associated mill.
(7) The requirements established in this section apply to
metals mining operations under construction or constructed
after April 1, 1994.
(8) The provisions of chapter 82.02 RCW shall apply to
new mining and milling operations. [1994 c 232 § 13.]
78.56.140 Citizen action suits. (1) Except as provided
in subsections (2) and (5) of this section, any aggrieved person may commence a civil action on his or her own behalf:
(a) Against any person, including any state agency or
local government agency, who is alleged to be in violation of
a law, rule, order, or permit pertaining to metals mining and
milling operations regulated under chapter 232, Laws of
1994;
(b) Against a state agency if there is alleged a failure of
the agency to perform any nondiscretionary act or duty under
state laws pertaining to metals mining and milling operations;
or
(c) Against any person who constructs a metals mining
and milling operation without the permits and authorizations
required by state law.
The superior courts shall have jurisdiction to enforce
metals mining laws, rules, orders, and permit conditions, or
to order the state to perform such act or duty, as the case may
be. In addition to injunctive relief, a superior court may
award a civil penalty when deemed appropriate in an amount
not to exceed ten thousand dollars per violation per day, payable to the state of Washington.
(2) No action may be commenced:
(a) Under subsection (1)(a) of this section:
78.56.140
(2006 Ed.)
Geothermal Resources
(i) Prior to sixty days after the plaintiff has given notice
of the alleged violation to the state, and to any alleged violator of a metals mining and milling law, rule, order, or permit
condition; or
(ii) If the state has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action in a court of the state or of the United
States or is diligently pursuing authorized administrative
enforcement action to require compliance with the law, rule,
order, or permit. To preclude a civil action, the enforcement
action must contain specific, aggressive, and enforceable
timelines for compliance and must provide for public notice
of and reasonable opportunity for public comment on the
enforcement action. In any such court action, any aggrieved
person may intervene as a matter of right; or
(b) Under subsection (1)(b) of this section prior to sixty
days after the plaintiff has given notice of such action to the
state.
(3)(a) Any action respecting a violation of a law, rule,
order, or permit condition pertaining to metals mining and
milling operations may be brought in the judicial district in
which such operation is located or proposed.
(b) In such action under this section, the state, if not a
party, may intervene as a matter of right.
(4) The court, in issuing any final order in any action
brought pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, may award
costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney and expert
witness fees, to any prevailing party, wherever the court
determines such award is appropriate. The court may, if a
temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is
sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in
accordance with the rules of civil procedure.
(5) A civil action to enforce compliance with a law, rule,
order, or permit may not be brought under this section if any
other statute, or the common law, provides authority for the
plaintiff to bring a civil action and, in such action, obtain the
same relief, as authorized under this section, for enforcement
of such law, rule, order, or permit. Nothing in this section
restricts any right which any person, or class of persons, may
have under any statute or common law to seek any relief,
including relief against the state or a state agency. [1994 c
232 § 14.]
natural resources and the department of ecology shall jointly
review the existing laws and regulations pertaining to the
heap leach extraction process for their adequacy in safeguarding the environment.
(2) Metals mining using the process of in situ extraction
is permanently prohibited in the state of Washington. [1998
c 245 § 161; 1994 c 232 § 16.]
78.56.900
78.56.900 Severability—1994 c 232. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1994 c 232 § 29.]
78.56.901
78.56.901 Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 1-5, 9-17,
and 23-29. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and,
with the exception of sections 6 through 8 and 18 through 22
of this act, shall take effect immediately [April 1, 1994].
[1994 c 232 § 30.]
78.56.902
78.56.902 Effective date—1994 c 232 §§ 6-8 and 1822. Sections 6 through 8 and 18 through 22 of this act shall
take effect July 1, 1995. [1994 c 232 § 31.]
Chapter 78.60
78.60.010
78.60.020
78.60.030
78.60.040
78.60.050
78.60.060
78.60.070
78.60.080
78.60.090
78.60.100
78.60.110
78.60.120
78.56.160
78.56.160 Moratorium on use of heap leach extraction process—Joint review by department of ecology and
department of natural resources—Permanent prohibition of in situ extraction. (1) Until June 30, 1996, there shall
be a moratorium on metals mining and milling operations
using the heap leach extraction process. The department of
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 78.60 RCW
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Sections
78.56.150
78.56.150 Application of requirements to milling
facilities not adjacent to mining operation. A milling facility which is not adjacent to or in the vicinity of the metals
mining operation producing the ore to be milled and which
processes precious or base metal ore by treatment or concentration is subject to the provisions of RCW 78.56.010 through
78.56.090, 78.56.100(1) (a), (c), and (d), 78.56.110 through
78.56.140, 70.94.620, and 70.105.300 and chapters 70.94,
70.105, 90.03, and 90.48 RCW and all other applicable laws.
The smelting of aluminum does not constitute a metals milling operation under this section. [1994 c 232 § 15.]
Chapter 78.60
78.60.130
78.60.140
78.60.150
78.60.160
78.60.170
78.60.180
78.60.190
78.60.200
78.60.210
78.60.220
78.60.230
78.60.240
78.60.250
78.60.260
78.60.270
78.60.280
78.60.290
78.60.300
78.60.900
Legislative declaration.
Short title.
Definitions.
Geothermal resources deemed sui generis.
Administration of chapter.
Scope of chapter.
Drilling permits—Applications—Hearing—Fees.
Drilling permits—Criteria for granting.
Casing requirements.
Plugging and abandonment of wells—Transfer of jurisdiction
to department of ecology.
Suspension of drilling, shut-in or removal of equipment for
authorized period—Unlawful abandonment.
Notification of abandonment or suspension of operations—
Required—Procedure.
Performance bond or other security—Required.
Termination or cancellation of bond or change in other security, when.
Notification of sale, exchange, etc.
Combining orders, unitization programs and well spacing—
Authority of department.
Designation of resident agent for service of process.
General authority of department.
Employment of personnel.
Drilling records, etc., to be maintained—Inspection—Filing.
Filing of records with department upon completion, abandonment or suspension of operations.
Statement of geothermal resources produced—Filing.
Confidentiality of records.
Removal, destruction, alteration, etc., of records prohibited.
Violations—Modification of permit, when necessary—
Departmental order—Issuance—Appeal.
Liability in damages for violations—Procedure.
Injunctions—Restraining orders.
Judicial review.
Violations—Penalty.
Aiding or abetting violations.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 43.
[Title 78 RCW—page 39]
78.60.010
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
78.60.010
78.60.010 Legislative declaration. The public has a
direct interest in the safe, orderly and nearly pollution-free
development of the geothermal resources of the state, as hereinafter in *RCW 79.76.030(1) defined. The legislature
hereby declares that it is in the best interests of the state to
further the development of geothermal resources for the benefit of all of the citizens of the state while at the same time
fully providing for the protection of the environment. The
development of geothermal resources shall be so conducted
as to protect the rights of landowners, other owners of interests therein, and the general public. In providing for such
development, it is the purpose of this chapter to provide for
the orderly exploration, safe drilling, production and proper
abandonment of geothermal resources in the state of Washington. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.76.010.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.76.030 was recodified as RCW 78.60.030
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 567.
78.60.020
78.60.020 Short title. This chapter shall be known as
the Geothermal Resources Act. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.76.020.]
78.60.030
78.60.030 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter,
unless the text otherwise requires, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
(1) "Geothermal resources" means only that natural heat
energy of the earth from which it is technologically practical
to produce electricity commercially and the medium by
which such heat energy is extracted from the earth, including
liquids or gases, as well as any minerals contained in any natural or injected fluids, brines and associated gas, but excluding oil, hydrocarbon gas and other hydrocarbon substances.
(2) "Waste", in addition to its ordinary meaning, shall
mean "physical waste" as that term is generally understood
and shall include:
(a) The inefficient, excessive, or improper use of, or
unnecessary dissipation of, reservoir energy; or the locating,
spacing, drilling, equipping, operating or producing of any
geothermal energy well in a manner which results, or tends to
result, in reducing the quantity of geothermal energy to be
recovered from any geothermal area in this state;
(b) The inefficient above-ground transporting or storage
of geothermal energy; or the locating, spacing, drilling,
equipping, operating, or producing of any geothermal well in
a manner causing, or tending to cause, unnecessary excessive
surface loss or destruction of geothermal energy;
(c) The escape into the open air, from a well of steam or
hot water, in excess of what is reasonably necessary in the
efficient development or production of a geothermal well.
(3) "Geothermal area" means any land that is, or reasonably appears to be, underlain by geothermal resources.
(4) "Energy transfer system" means the structures and
enclosed fluids which facilitate the utilization of geothermal
energy. The system includes the geothermal wells, cooling
towers, reinjection wells, equipment directly involved in converting the heat energy associated with geothermal resources
to mechanical or electrical energy or in transferring it to
another fluid, the closed piping between such equipment,
wells and towers and that portion of the earth which facilitates the transfer of a fluid from reinjection wells to geothermal wells: PROVIDED, That the system shall not include
[Title 78 RCW—page 40]
any geothermal resources which have escaped into or have
been released into the nongeothermal ground or surface
waters from either man-made containers or through leaks in
the structure of the earth caused by or to which access was
made possible by any drilling, redrilling, reworking or operating of a geothermal or reinjection well.
(5) "Operator" means the person supervising or in control of the operation of a geothermal resource well, whether
or not such person is the owner of the well.
(6) "Owner" means the person who possesses the legal
right to drill, convert or operate any well or other facility subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(7) "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, association of individuals, joint venture, partnership,
receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, personal
representative, or public agency that is the subject of legal
rights and duties.
(8) "Pollution" means any damage or injury to ground or
surface waters, soil or air resulting from the unauthorized
loss, escape, or disposal of any substances at any well subject
to the provisions of this chapter.
(9) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(10) "Well" means any excavation made for the discovery or production of geothermal resources, or any special
facility, converted producing facility, or reactivated or converted abandoned facility used for the reinjection of geothermal resources, or the residue thereof underground.
(11) "Core holes" are holes drilled or excavations made
expressly for the acquisition of geological or geophysical
data for the purpose of finding and delineating a favorable
geothermal area prior to the drilling of a well.
(12) A "completed well" is a well that has been drilled to
its total depth, has been adequately cased, and is ready to be
either plugged and abandoned, shut-in, or put into production.
(13) "Plug and abandon" means to place permanent
plugs in the well in such a way and at such intervals as are
necessary to prevent future leakage of fluid from the well to
the surface or from one zone in the well to the other, and to
remove all drilling and production equipment from the site,
and to restore the surface of the site to its natural condition or
contour or to such condition as may be prescribed by the
department.
(14) "Shut-in" means to adequately cap or seal a well to
control the contained geothermal resources for an interim
period. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.76.030.]
78.60.040
78.60.040 Geothermal resources deemed sui generis.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, geothermal
resources are found and hereby determined to be sui generis,
being neither a mineral resource nor a water resource and as
such are hereby declared to be the private property of the
holder of the title to the surface land above the resource.
[1979 ex.s. c 2 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 43 § 4. Formerly RCW
79.76.040.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 2: "If any provision of this 1979 act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 2 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Geothermal Resources
78.60.050
78.60.050 Administration of chapter. (1) The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and the rules, regulations, and orders relating to the drilling, operation, maintenance, abandonment and restoration of
geothermal areas, to prevent damage to and waste from
underground geothermal deposits, and to prevent damage to
underground and surface waters, land or air that may result
from improper drilling, operation, maintenance or abandonment of geothermal resource wells.
(2) In order to implement the terms and provisions of this
chapter, the department under the provisions of chapter 34.05
RCW, as now or hereafter amended, may from time to time
promulgate those rules and regulations necessary to carry out
the purposes of this chapter, including but not restricted to
defining geothermal areas; establishing security requirements, which may include bonding; providing for liens
against production; providing for casing and safety device
requirements; providing for site restoration plans to be completed prior to abandonment; and providing for abandonment
requirements. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 5. Formerly RCW
79.76.050.]
78.60.060
78.60.060 Scope of chapter. This chapter is intended to
preempt local regulation of the drilling and operation of wells
for geothermal resources but shall not be construed to permit
the locating of any well or drilling when such well or drilling
is prohibited under state or local land use law or regulations
promulgated thereunder. Geothermal resources, byproducts
and/or waste products which have escaped or been released
from the energy transfer system and/or a mineral recovery
process shall be subject to provisions of state law relating to
the pollution of ground or surface waters (Title 90 RCW),
provisions of the state fisheries law and the state game laws
(Title 77 RCW), and any other state environmental pollution
control laws. Authorization for use of byproduct water
resources for all beneficial uses, including but not limited to
greenhouse heating, warm water fish propagation, space
heating plants, irrigation, swimming pools, and hot springs
baths, shall be subject to the appropriation procedure as provided in Title 90 RCW. [2003 c 39 § 40; 1974 ex.s. c 43 § 6.
Formerly RCW 79.76.060.]
78.60.070
78.60.070 Drilling permits—Applications—Hearing—Fees. (1) Any person proposing to drill a well or redrill
an abandoned well for geothermal resources shall file with
the department a written application for a permit to commence such drilling or redrilling on a form prescribed by the
department accompanied by a permit fee of two hundred dollars. The department shall forward a duplicate copy to the
department of ecology within ten days of filing.
(2) Upon receipt of a proper application relating to drilling or redrilling the department shall set a date, time, and
place for a public hearing on the application, which hearing
shall be in the county in which the drilling or redrilling is proposed to be made, and shall instruct the applicant to publish
notices of such application and hearing by such means and
within such time as the department shall prescribe. The
department shall require that the notice so prescribed shall be
published twice in a newspaper of general circulation within
the county in which the drilling or redrilling is proposed to be
(2006 Ed.)
78.60.100
made and in such other appropriate information media as the
department may direct.
(3) Any person proposing to drill a core hole for the purpose of gathering geothermal data, including but not
restricted to heat flow, temperature gradients, and rock conductivity, shall be required to obtain a single permit for each
geothermal area according to subsection (1) of this section,
except that no permit fee shall be required, no notice need be
published, and no hearing need be held. Such core holes that
penetrate more than seven hundred and fifty feet into bedrock
shall be deemed geothermal test wells and subject to the payment of a permit fee and to the requirement in subsection (2)
of this section for public notices and hearing. In the event
geothermal energy is discovered in a core hole, the hole shall
be deemed a geothermal well and subject to the permit fee,
notices, and hearing. Such core holes as described by this
subsection are subject to all other provisions of this chapter,
including a bond or other security as specified in *RCW
79.76.130.
(4) All moneys paid to the department under this section
shall be deposited with the state treasurer for credit to the
general fund. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 7. Formerly RCW
79.76.070.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.76.130 was recodified as RCW 78.60.130
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 567.
78.60.080
78.60.080 Drilling permits—Criteria for granting. A
permit shall be granted only if the department is satisfied that
the area is suitable for the activities applied for; that the applicant will be able to comply with the provisions of this chapter
and the rules and regulations enacted hereunder; and that a
permit would be in the best interests of the state.
The department shall not allow operation of a well under
permit if it finds that the operation of any well will unreasonably decrease ground water available for prior water rights in
any aquifer or other ground water source for water for beneficial uses, unless such affected water rights are acquired by
condemnation, purchase or other means.
The department shall have the authority to condition the
permit as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of
this chapter, including but not limited to conditions to reduce
any environmental impact.
The department shall forward a copy of the permit to the
department of ecology within five days of issuance. [1974
ex.s. c 43 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.76.080.]
78.60.090
78.60.090 Casing requirements. Any operator
engaged in drilling or operating a well for geothermal
resources shall equip such well with casing of sufficient
strength and with such safety devices as may be necessary, in
accordance with methods approved by the department.
No person shall remove a casing, or any portion thereof,
from any well without prior approval of the department.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.76.090.]
78.60.100
78.60.100 Plugging and abandonment of wells—
Transfer of jurisdiction to department of ecology. Any
well drilled under authority of this chapter from which:
(1) It is not technologically practical to derive the energy
to produce electricity commercially, or the owner or operator
[Title 78 RCW—page 41]
78.60.110
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
has no intention of deriving energy to produce electricity
commercially, and
(2) Usable minerals cannot be derived, or the owner or
operator has no intention of deriving usable minerals, shall be
plugged and abandoned as provided in this chapter or, upon
the owner’s or operator’s written application to the department of natural resources and with the concurrence and
approval of the department of ecology, jurisdiction over the
well may be transferred to the department of ecology and, in
such case, the well shall no longer be subject to the provisions
of this chapter but shall be subject to any applicable laws and
regulations relating to wells drilled for appropriation and use
of ground waters. If an application is made to transfer jurisdiction, a copy of all logs, records, histories, and descriptions
shall be provided to the department of ecology by the applicant. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 10. Formerly RCW 79.76.100.]
78.60.130
78.60.130 Performance bond or other security—
Required. Every operator who engages in the drilling,
redrilling, or deepening of any well shall file with the department a reasonable bond or bonds with good and sufficient
surety, or the equivalent thereof, acceptable to the department, conditioned on compliance with the provisions of this
chapter and all rules and regulations and permit conditions
adopted pursuant to this chapter. This performance bond shall
be executed in favor of and approved by the department.
In lieu of a bond the operator may file with the department a cash deposit, negotiable securities acceptable to the
department, or an assignment of a savings account in a Washington bank on an assignment form prescribed by the department. The department, in its discretion, may accept a single
surety or security arrangement covering more than one well.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 13. Formerly RCW 79.76.130.]
78.60.140
78.60.110
78.60.110 Suspension of drilling, shut-in or removal
of equipment for authorized period—Unlawful abandonment. (1) The department may authorize the operator to suspend drilling operations, shut-in a completed well, or remove
equipment from a well for the period stated in the department’s written authorization. The period of suspension may
be extended by the department upon the operator showing
good cause for the granting of such extension.
(2) If drilling operations are not resumed by the operator,
or the well is not put into production, upon expiration of the
suspension or shut-in permit, an intention to unlawfully abandon shall be presumed.
(3) A well shall also be deemed unlawfully abandoned if,
without written approval from the department, drilling equipment is removed.
(4) An unlawful abandonment under this chapter shall be
entered in the department records and written notice thereof
shall be mailed by registered mail both to such operator at his
last known address as disclosed by records of the department
and to the operator’s surety. The department may thereafter
proceed against the operator and his surety. [1974 ex.s. c 43
§ 11. Formerly RCW 79.76.110.]
78.60.120
78.60.120 Notification of abandonment or suspension
of operations—Required—Procedure. (1) Before any
operation to plug and abandon or suspend the operation of
any well is commenced, the owner or operator shall submit in
writing a notification of abandonment or suspension of operations to the department for approval. No operation to abandon or suspend the operation of a well shall commence without approval by the department. The department shall
respond to such notification in writing within ten working
days following receipt of the notification.
(2) Failure to abandon or suspend operations in accordance with the method approved by the department shall constitute a violation of this chapter, and the department shall
take appropriate action under the provisions of *RCW
79.76.270. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 12. Formerly RCW
79.76.120.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.76.270 was recodified as RCW 78.60.270
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 567.
[Title 78 RCW—page 42]
78.60.140 Termination or cancellation of bond or
change in other security, when. The department shall not
consent to the termination and cancellation of any bond by
the operator, or change as to other security given, until the
well or wells for which it has been issued have been properly
abandoned or another valid bond for such well has been submitted and approved by the department. A well is properly
abandoned when abandonment has been approved by the
department. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 14. Formerly RCW
79.76.140.]
78.60.150
78.60.150 Notification of sale, exchange, etc. The
owner or operator of a well shall notify the department in
writing within ten days of any sale, assignment, conveyance,
exchange, or transfer of any nature which results in any
change or addition in the owner or operator of the well on
such forms with such information as may be prescribed by
the department. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 15. Formerly RCW
79.76.150.]
78.60.160
78.60.160 Combining orders, unitization programs
and well spacing—Authority of department. The department has the authority, through rules and regulations, to promulgate combining orders, unitization programs, and well
spacing, and establish proportionate costs among owners or
operators for the operation of such units as the result of said
combining orders, if good and sufficient reason is demonstrated that such measures are necessary to prevent the waste
of geothermal resources. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 16. Formerly
RCW 79.76.160.]
78.60.170
78.60.170 Designation of resident agent for service of
process. Each owner or operator of a well shall designate a
person who resides in this state as his agent upon whom may
be served all legal processes, orders, notices, and directives
of the department or any court. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 17. Formerly RCW 79.76.170.]
78.60.180
78.60.180 General authority of department. The
department shall have the authority to conduct or authorize
investigations, research, experiments, and demonstrations,
cooperate with other governmental and private agencies in
making investigations, receive any federal funds, state funds,
(2006 Ed.)
Geothermal Resources
and other funds and expend them on research programs concerning geothermal resources and their potential development within the state, and to collect and disseminate information relating to geothermal resources in the state: PROVIDED, That the department shall not construct or operate
commercial geothermal facilities. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 18. Formerly RCW 79.76.180.]
78.60.190
78.60.190 Employment of personnel. The department
shall have the authority, and it shall be its duty, to employ all
personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter
pursuant to chapter 41.06 RCW. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 19. Formerly RCW 79.76.190.]
78.60.200
78.60.200 Drilling records, etc., to be maintained—
Inspection—Filing. (1) The owner or operator of any well
shall keep or cause to be kept careful and accurate logs,
records, descriptions, and histories of the drilling, redrilling,
or deepening of the well.
(2) All logs, records, histories, and descriptions referred
to in subsection (1) of this section shall be kept in the local
office of the owner or operator, and together with other
reports of the owner or operator shall be subject during business hours to inspection by the department. Each owner or
operator, upon written request from the department, shall file
with the department a copy of the logs, records, histories,
descriptions, or other records or portions thereof pertaining to
the geothermal drilling or operation underway or suspended.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 20. Formerly RCW 79.76.200.]
78.60.210
78.60.210 Filing of records with department upon
completion, abandonment or suspension of operations.
Upon completion or plugging and abandonment of any well
or upon the suspension of operations conducted with respect
to any well for a period of at least six months, one copy of the
log, core record, electric log, history, and all other logs and
surveys that may have been run on the well, shall be filed
with the department within thirty days after such completion,
plugging and abandonment, or six months’ suspension.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 21. Formerly RCW 79.76.210.]
78.60.260
No officer, employee, or member of the department shall be
allowed to give testimony as to the contents of such records,
except as provided in this chapter for the review of a decision
of the department or in any proceeding initiated for the
enforcement of an order of the department, for the enforcement of a lien created by the enforcement of this chapter, or
for use as evidence in criminal proceedings arising out of
such records or the statements upon which they are based.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 23. Formerly RCW 79.76.230.]
78.60.240
78.60.240 Removal, destruction, alteration, etc., of
records prohibited. No person shall, for the purpose of
evading the provision of this chapter or any rule, regulation
or order of the department made thereunder, remove from
this state, or destroy, mutilate, alter or falsify any such record,
account, or writing. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 24. Formerly RCW
79.76.240.]
78.60.250
78.60.250 Violations—Modification of permit, when
necessary—Departmental order—Issuance—Appeal.
Whenever it appears with probable cause to the department
that:
(1) A violation of any provision of this chapter, regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or condition of a permit issued
pursuant to this chapter has occurred or is about to occur, or
(2) That a modification of a permit is deemed necessary
to carry out the purpose of this chapter,
the department shall issue a written order in person to the
operator or his employees or agents, or by certified mail, concerning the drilling, testing, or other operation conducted
with respect to any well drilled, in the process of being
drilled, or in the process of being abandoned or in the process
of reclamation or restoration, and the operator, owner, or designated agent of either shall comply with the terms of the
order and may appeal from the order in the manner provided
for in *RCW 79.76.280. When the department deems necessary the order may include a shutdown order to remain in
effect until the deficiency is corrected. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 25.
Formerly RCW 79.76.250.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.76.280 was recodified as RCW 78.60.280
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 567.
78.60.220
78.60.220 Statement of geothermal resources produced—Filing. The owner or operator of any well producing geothermal resources shall file with the department a
statement of the geothermal resources produced. Such report
shall be submitted on such forms and in such manner as may
be prescribed by the department. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 22. Formerly RCW 79.76.220.]
78.60.230
78.60.230 Confidentiality of records. (1) The records
of any owner or operator, when filed with the department as
provided in this chapter, shall be confidential and shall be
open to inspection only to personnel of the department for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter and to
those authorized in writing by such owner or operator, until
the expiration of a twenty-four month confidential period to
begin at the date of commencement of production or of abandonment of the well.
(2) Such records shall in no case, except as provided in
this chapter, be available as evidence in court proceedings.
(2006 Ed.)
78.60.260
78.60.260 Liability in damages for violations—Procedure. Any person who violates any of the provisions of
this chapter, or fails to perform any duty imposed by this
chapter, or violates an order or other determination of the
department made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter,
and in the course thereof causes the death of, or injury to,
fish, animals, vegetation or other resources of the state, shall
be liable to pay the state damages including an amount equal
to the sum of money necessary to restock such waters, replenish such resources, and otherwise restore the stream, lake,
other water source, or land to its condition prior to the injury,
as such condition is determined by the department. Such
damages shall be recoverable in an action brought by the
attorney general on behalf of the people of the state of Washington in the superior court of the county in which such damages occurred: PROVIDED, That if damages occurred in
more than one county the attorney general may bring action
in any of the counties where the damage occurred. Any mon[Title 78 RCW—page 43]
78.60.270
Title 78 RCW: Mines, Minerals, and Petroleum
eys so recovered by the attorney general shall be transferred
to the department under whose jurisdiction the damaged
resource occurs, for the purposes of restoring the resource.
[1974 ex.s. c 43 § 26. Formerly RCW 79.76.260.]
78.60.270
78.60.270 Injunctions—Restraining orders. Whenever it shall appear that any person is violating any provision
of this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or order made by the
department hereunder, and if the department cannot, without
litigation, effectively prevent further violation, the department may bring suit in the name of the state against such person in the court in the county of the residence of the defendant, or in the county of the residence of any defendant if
there be more than one defendant, or in the county where the
violation is alleged to have occurred, to restrain such person
from continuing such violation. In such suit the department
may, without bond, obtain injunctions prohibitory and mandatory, including temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, as the facts may warrant. [1974 ex.s. c 43 §
27. Formerly RCW 79.76.270.]
78.60.280
78.60.280 Judicial review. (1) Any person adversely
affected by any rule, regulation, order, or permit entered by
the department pursuant to this chapter may obtain judicial
review thereof in accordance with the applicable provisions
of chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2) The court having jurisdiction, insofar as is practicable, shall give precedence to proceedings for judicial review
brought under this chapter. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 28. Formerly
RCW 79.76.280.]
78.60.290
78.60.290 Violations—Penalty. Violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, order of the
department, or condition of any permit made hereunder is a
gross misdemeanor punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of
not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or by
imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months,
or both. [2003 c 53 § 381; 1974 ex.s. c 43 § 29. Formerly
RCW 79.76.290.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
78.60.300
78.60.300 Aiding or abetting violations. No person
shall knowingly aid or abet any other person in the violation
of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation or
order of the department made hereunder. [1974 ex.s. c 43 §
30. Formerly RCW 79.76.300.]
78.60.900
78.60.900 Severability—1974 ex.s. c 43. If any provision of this 1974 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1974 ex.s. c 43 § 32. Formerly RCW
79.76.900.]
[Title 78 RCW—page 44]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 79
Chapters
79.01
79.02
79.10
79.11
79.13
79.14
79.15
79.17
79.19
79.22
79.24
79.36
79.38
79.44
79.64
79.70
79.71
79.73
79.100
79.105
79.110
79.115
79.120
79.125
79.130
79.135
79.140
79.145
Title 79
PUBLIC LANDS
Forest roads, county: RCW 36.82.140.
Public lands act.
Public lands management—General.
Land management authorities and policies.
State land sales.
Land leases.
Mineral, coal, oil, and gas leases.
Sale of valuable materials.
Land transfers.
Land bank.
Acquisition, management, and disposition of
state forest lands.
Capitol building lands.
Easements over public lands.
Access roads.
Assessments and charges against lands of the
state.
Funds for managing and administering lands.
Natural area preserves.
Washington natural resources conservation
areas.
Milwaukee road corridor.
Derelict vessels.
Aquatic lands—General.
Aquatic lands—Easements and rights of way.
Aquatic lands—Harbor areas.
Aquatic lands—Waterways and streets.
Aquatic lands—Tidelands and shorelands.
Aquatic lands—Beds of navigable waters.
Aquatic lands—Oysters, geoducks, shellfish,
other aquacultural uses, and marine
aquatic plants.
Aquatic lands—Valuable materials.
Marine plastic debris.
Access to state timber: RCW 79.36.310 through 79.36.340.
Acquisition, disposition of state highway property: Chapter 47.12 RCW.
Bridges, obstructions in navigable waters: Chapter 88.28 RCW.
Commissioner of public lands: State Constitution Art. 3 §§ 23, 25; chapter
43.12 RCW.
Compact with the United States: State Constitution Art. 26.
Contracts with United States as to highway property: Chapter 47.08 RCW.
Conveyance of real property by public bodies—Recording: RCW 65.08.095.
County lands, generally: Chapter 36.34 RCW.
Diking and drainage, improvement districts, benefit to public land: RCW
85.08.370.
Donation law, conflicting claims: RCW 7.28.280.
Ejectment, quiet title: Chapter 7.28 RCW.
Eminent domain: State Constitution Art. 1 § 16.
Eminent domain by state: Chapter 8.04 RCW.
Extensions of streets over tidelands: State Constitution Art. 15 § 3.
Facilitating recovery from Mt. St. Helens eruption—Scope of state agency
action: RCW 43.01.210.
Federal areas, jurisdiction: Chapters 37.04 and 37.08 RCW.
Funds for the support of common schools, source: State Constitution Art. 9
§ 3.
Governmental lands, exemption from taxation: State Constitution Art. 7 § 1.
Harbor line commission: State Constitution Art. 15 § 1.
Harbor lines, relocation: RCW 79.115.020.
Improvement district, benefit to public land: RCW 85.08.370.
Indians and Indian lands: Chapter 37.12 RCW.
Infractions: Chapter 7.84 RCW.
Insect pests and plant diseases: Chapter 17.24 RCW.
Intergovernmental disposition of property: Chapter 39.33 RCW.
Irrigation districts may include public land: Chapter 87.03 RCW.
Lease of unnecessary lands by director of agriculture: RCW 15.04.090.
Leases of public lands for underground storage of natural gas: RCW
80.40.060.
Marine recreation land act: Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
Oil and gas unit plan, participation of public lands: RCW 78.52.450.
Parks and recreation: Chapter 79A.05 RCW.
Permanent school fund, investment: State Constitution Art. 16 § 5.
Pest districts may include public lands: Chapter 17.12 RCW.
Public lands, authority of United States over certain areas: State Constitution Art. 25 § 1.
Public shooting grounds: Chapter 77.12 RCW.
Public waterways may include public lands: Chapter 91.08 RCW.
Reclamation by state: Chapter 89.16 RCW.
Reclamation districts
may include public lands: RCW 89.30.016.
right of way across state land: RCW 89.30.223.
Restraint on disposition of certain areas bordering harbor lines: State Constitution Art. 15 § 1.
River, harbor improvements: Chapter 88.32 RCW.
Sale of other than state forest lands: RCW 79.11.005.
School and granted lands
amount offered, platting: State Constitution Art. 16 § 4.
disposition: State Constitution Art. 16 § 1.
limitations on sales: State Constitution Art. 16 § 3.
manner and terms of sale: State Constitution Art. 16 § 2.
State agency for surveys and maps: Chapter 58.24 RCW.
State boundaries: State Constitution Art. 24 § 1.
State lands subject to easements for removal of materials: RCW 79.36.370,
79.36.590.
Streets over tidelands: RCW 35.21.230 through 35.21.250.
Tidelands
declaration of state ownership: State Constitution Art. 17 § 1.
disclaimer of certain lands by state: State Constitution Art. 17 § 2.
Trespass: Chapter 64.12 RCW.
United States reclamation areas, state lands in: Chapter 89.12 RCW.
Use of state land for game purposes: RCW 77.12.360.
Washington coordinate system: Chapter 58.20 RCW.
Waste: Chapter 64.12 RCW.
Federal funds for forest management: RCW 43.30.340, 43.30.345.
Firewood on state lands: RCW 79.15.400 through 79.15.440.
Weed districts may include public lands: Chapter 17.04 RCW.
Flood control districts may include public lands: Chapter 86.09 RCW.
Wharves and landings: Chapter 88.24 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Wharves, docks, leasing and maintenance: State Constitution Art. 15 § 2.
[Title 79 RCW—page 1]
Title 79
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
INDEX OF PUBLIC LAND ACTS OF SPECIAL OR
HISTORICAL NATURE NOT CODIFIED IN RCW
Subject
Year
Chapter
Aberdeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1901
1915
Adams County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1941
1907
American Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1907
Auburn game farm, transfer to parks and recreation
commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1981
Barthen, Lenore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1951
Behme, C.R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1927
Bentley, W.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1921
1961
Benton County, state patrol land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1977
Benton County, University of Washington land. . . .
1965
Benton County, WSU land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1961
Blaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1917
Bremerton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1947
Camp Murray, conveyance for aerospace science
and modeling center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1969
Canyon Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1986
 1893
 1893
 1901
 1909
 1911
Capitol Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1913
 1915
 1917
 1925
 1927
 1945
141
78
211
191
197
ex.s.
ex.s.
ex.s.
ex.s.

Capitol Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Centralia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Centralia, city of, easement for
street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chehalis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1937
1949
1963
1945
 1935
Chelan County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1935
 1935
Cheney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1949
Christenson, Ruby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1935
 1931
Clallam County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1941
 1945
Clallam County, county park purposes . . . . . . . . . . . 1965 ex.s.
Clapp, Helen A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1941
Clark County, state school for the deaf, conveyance
of portion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1969 ex.s.
Clark County, Whipple Creek,
exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1967
1919
Clarkston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1957
1905
Columbia River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1915
1937
Colville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1939
Commercial Trust Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1907
Conconnully Lake, lake in Okanogan County designated as. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965
1915
Cowlitz County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1951
Cowlitz County, exchange of state forest lands for
lands adjacent to Seaquest State Park . . . . . . . 1971 ex.s.
Deno, Louis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1931
Deschutes Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1937
Deschutes Waterway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1939
Douglas County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1941
Drainage Ditches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1893
Eastern Washington College
1949
of Ed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1959
[Title 79 RCW—page 2]
49
59
247
38
59
191
5
76
144
207
85
7
831
138
45
20
592
50
191
167
27
225
47
160
38
81
124
50
52
53
35
51
92
94
207
51
121
62
219
75
148
28
145
86
144
197
104
157
134
158
51
159
76
117
88
35
128
Echo Glenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Everett, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fairmont Cemetery Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ferry County, Curlew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Feureur, Louis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fircrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fort Worden, department of institutions land . . . . .
Franklin County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Game department, tidelands in Clark
County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Game Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grays Harbor County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986
1943
1939
1917
1901
1986
1965 ex.s.
1931
1959
1929
1955
1913
Grays Harbor, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1957
 1935
 1935
Great Northern RR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1935
 1939
 1941
Harbor lines at Anacortes,
 1963
Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Cosmopolis,
 1967
Bellingham, Port Angeles,
Renton, Lake Forest Park, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1971
 1972
Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia,
 1977
Kalama, Bremerton, Port
 1979
Orchard, Vancouver, Port
7
272
20
86
163
7
66
100
249
173
281
27
40
50
52
53
159
117
ex.s.
ex.s.
ex.s.
ex.s.


Townsend, La Conner, Everett, relocation
Harbor lines in Lake Union, Salmon Bay, Union
Bay, Commencement Bay, relocation . . . . . . . 1967 ex.s.
Hollingsworth, Howard C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1949
Holman Waterway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1919
1919
Ilwaco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1929
1947
Ilwaco, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1957
Island County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1931
1941
Jefferson County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1941
Keystone Water Users Ass’n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1915
 1933
 1933
King County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1935
 1935
 1939
 1945
King County, University of Washington
land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1967 ex.s.
King County, unplatted tidelands deeded to state
board for community college education; reversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1971 ex.s.
 1927
Kitsap County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1931
 1941
 1947
Kitsap County, sewer disposal plant to county sewer
district No. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965 ex.s.
Kitsap County, Washington Veterans’ Home land to
department of game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965 ex.s.
Kitsap County, transfer of land from state for recreational purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975 1st ex.s.
1945
Klickitat County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1951
La Conner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1939
Lake Spokane, Long Lake redesignated
as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965
Lake Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1911
1889-90
Land Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1893
Lewis County, department of natural resources,
revesting Liberty Bay, relocation of harbor
lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1961
 1919
Mason County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1935
 1949
139
24
158
69
124
19
24
23
198
198
222
101
85
12
94
121
78
77
99
49
51
8
119
116
241
262
86
106
207
95
94
27
185
73
101
104
94
...
125
22
44
104
132
(2006 Ed.)
Public Lands
Mason County, Cemetery District No. 1, deeding of
authorized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mason County, exchange of forest trust
land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
McCroskey, Milton P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Medical Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Military department, lands in
Seattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Montesano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mt. Spokane State Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mulinowski, A.M.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Northern State Hospital at Sedro Woolley, disposition of property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Okanogan County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Soap Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1971 ex.s.
90
1973
1947
1889-90
26
26
...
1959
1933 ex.s.
1947
1955
1974 ex.s.
1939
 1907
 1917
Olympia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1947
 1949
1949
Olympia, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1953
Olympic National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1955
Olympic National Park, exchange of standing timber
for lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1963
Oregon-Wash. RR and Nav. Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1931
Pacific Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1929
Payne, J.H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1935
Peninsula, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1953
People’s Water & Gas Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1937
 1917
Pierce County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1929
 1933
 1949
Port of Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1959
Port Orchard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1951
Port Townsend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1907
Pullman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1947
Riverside State Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1939
Rohrbach, F.L.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1939
Sager, Frank T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1951
San Juan Island National Historical
Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1967
 1883
 1890
School Lands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1917
 1923
 1939
 1897
 1905
 1907
 1909
 1909
 1913
 1915
Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1925 ex.s.
 1927
 1929
 1931
 1939
 1949
 1957
 1957
 1981 1st ex.s.

Skagit County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Skagit County port, conveyance of tidelands to . . . .
Skagit County, sale or exchange of University of
Washington land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Skamania County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slininger, H.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1951
1969
1971 ex.s.
1937
1957
 1909
Snohomish County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1933
 1937
Snohomish County, reconveyance, county
park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2006 Ed.)
Title 79
1967
181
35
237
281
178
159
17
144
65
87
96
92
231
State parks, Ike Kinswas State Park—Recreation
area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State parks, land in Douglas county . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State parks, land on Whidbey Island . . . . . . . . . . . .
State parks, Mayfield Lake State Park, name
changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State parks, Wallace Falls State Park . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
50
215
49
283
163
31
173
99
37
158
95
117
48
19
19
59
State Training School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steilacoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strobach, Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunde, Olive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
94
...
...
46
61
129
28
76
3
30
221
59
115
127
267
177
33
77
81
81
252
1
University of Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
127
228
91
118
126
90
7
1949
147
40
85
374
98
20
273
25
75
216
57
56
1971
1959
1959
50
72
63
1971
1965
1933
{ 1941
1911
{ 1931
1957
1929
1935
1959
1907
{ 1907
1935
1897
 1913
 1919
 1919
 1931
 1937
 1945
 1955
 1891
 1893
 1903
 1907
 1909
 1911
50
146
106
135
27
94
131
201
51
180
16
123
104
27
68
51
161
86
91
79
231
125
122
91
3
30
94
 1913
Spokane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1937
 1955
 1921
Spokane County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1939
 1943
 1951
 1909
State Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1909
 1921
 1935
State Timber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tacoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tacoma Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tidelands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
United States. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

University of Washington, R.H. Thomson expressway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1967
University of Washington, sale or exchange of land
in Skagit county. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1971 ex.s.
Unplatted Ballard tidelands deeded to state board for
community college education; reversion. . . . . 1971 ex.s.
 1901
Vancouver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1909
 1933 ex.s.
 1937
Vancouver, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1919
Varney-Sunnyside Packing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1955
1913
Walla Walla County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1955
Walla Walla County, department of institutions land,
conveyance of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965
 1947
 1949
 1949
Washington State College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1949
 1949
 1955
 1959
 1959

Washington State University, exchanges, leases . . . 1961
Washington State University, sale or exchange of
land in Whitman
county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1971 ex.s.
116
228
241
88
95
42
163
68
130
141
376
115
48
23
24
25
207
261
59
89
76
228
18
[Title 79 RCW—page 3]
Chapter 79.01
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
1909
Washington Veterans’ Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1945
 1917
Wenatchee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1947
 1955
1931
Whitman County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1947
Whitman County, sale or exchange of WSU land . . 1971 ex.s.
 1961
 1963
Whitman County, WSU land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1965
 1967
 1967 ex.s.
 1969 ex.s.
183
79
17
43
359
50
26
228
76
78
90
116
78
28
Willapa Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
231
25
121
19
7
207
257

1927
1931
Willapa-Grays Harbor Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . { 1933
Willapa Harbor, Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1933
Woodinville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1986
Yakima County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1949
Yakima County, fairground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1955
1
Section 1 is codified as RCW 79.24.020; section 10 as RCW
79.24.090, repealed by 1959 c 257 § 48.
2Section 9 is codified as RCW 79.24.040, repealed by 1959 c 257 § 48;
section 10 as RCW 79.24.060; section 11 as RCW 79.24.070, repealed by
1959 c 257 § 48; and section 12 as RCW 79.24.030.
Chapter 79.01
Chapter 79.01 RCW
PUBLIC LANDS ACT
Sections
79.01.072
79.02.120
79.02.130
79.02.140
79.02.150
79.02.160
PART 3
CONTRACTS/RECORDS/FEES/APPLICATIONS
79.02.200
79.02.210
79.02.220
79.02.230
79.02.240
79.02.250
79.02.260
79.02.270
79.02.280
79.02.290
79.02.300
79.02.310
79.02.320
79.02.330
79.02.340
79.02.350
79.02.370
79.02.400
79.02.410
False statements—Penalty.
79.01.072 False statements—Penalty.
Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.072 was amended by 2003 c 53 § 378
without reference to its repeal by 2003 c 334 § 551. It has been decodified
for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
Chapter 79.02 RCW
PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT—GENERAL
Chapter 79.02
Sections
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.02.010
79.02.020
79.02.030
79.02.040
79.02.050
79.02.060
79.02.080
79.02.090
79.02.095
Definitions.
Witnesses—Compelling attendance.
Court review of actions.
Reconsideration of official acts.
Effect of mistake or fraud.
Scope of provisions of chapter 199, Laws of 2004.
Rewards for information regarding violations.
Transfer of county auditor’s duties.
Statutes not applicable to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor
areas, and the beds of navigable waters.
PART 2
FEDERAL LAND GRANTS
79.02.100
79.02.110
Appearance by commissioner before United States land
offices.
Applications for federal certification that lands are nonmineral.
[Title 79 RCW—page 4]
Trespass, waste, damages—Prosecutions.
Trespasser guilty of theft, when.
Removal of timber—Treble damages.
Lessee or contract holder guilty of misdemeanor.
Removal of Christmas trees—Compensation.
Intent of RCW 79.02.340.
Protection against cedar theft.
PART 5
OTHER TRUST/GRANT/FOREST RESERVE LANDS
Accreted lands, seashore conservation area, jurisdiction and powers: RCW
79A.05.630.
79.01.072
Abstracts of public lands.
Maps and plats—Record and index—Public inspection.
Seal.
Blank forms of applications for appraisal, transfer, sale, and
lease of state lands, valuable materials.
Fees.
Reasonable fees—Disposition.
Fee book.
Deed.
Assignment of contracts or leases.
Subdivision of contracts or leases—Fee.
PART 4
TRESPASS/REGULATIONS/PENALTIES
79.02.420
Multiple use concept in management and administration of state-owned
lands: Chapter 79.10 RCW.
State trust lands—Withdrawal—Revocation or modification of withdrawal
when used for recreational purposes—Board to determine most beneficial use in accordance with policy: RCW 79A.50.100.
Lieu lands—Selection agreements authorized.
Lieu lands—Examination and appraisal.
Lieu lands—Transfer of title to lands relinquished.
Selection to complete uncompleted grants.
Relinquishment on failure or rejection of selection.
Charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory real property—Inventory—Transfer.
Charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory real property—High economic return potential—Income.
Finding—Intent—Community and technical college forest
reserve land base—Management—Disposition of revenue.
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.02.010
79.02.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
(1) "Aquatic lands" means all state-owned tidelands,
shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters as
defined in *chapter 79.90 RCW that are administered by the
department.
(2) "Board" means the board of natural resources.
(3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(4) "Community and technical college forest reserve
lands" means lands managed under RCW 79.02.420.
(5) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(6) "Improvements" means anything considered a fixture
in law placed upon or attached to lands administered by the
department that has changed the value of the lands or any
changes in the previous condition of the fixtures that changes
the value of the lands.
(7) "Land bank lands" means lands acquired under RCW
79.19.020.
(8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, cooperative, public or municipal corporation, or agency of a federal, state, or local governmental unit, however designated.
(9) "Public lands" means lands of the state of Washington administered by the department including but not limited
to state lands, state forest lands, and aquatic lands.
(2006 Ed.)
Public Lands Management—General
(10) "State forest lands" means lands acquired under
RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, and 79.22.020.
(11) "State lands" includes:
(a) School lands, that is, lands held in trust for the support of the common schools;
(b) University lands, that is, lands held in trust for university purposes;
(c) Agricultural college lands, that is, lands held in trust
for the use and support of agricultural colleges;
(d) Scientific school lands, that is, lands held in trust for
the establishment and maintenance of a scientific school;
(e) Normal school lands, that is, lands held in trust for
state normal schools;
(f) Capitol building lands, that is, lands held in trust for
the purpose of erecting public buildings at the state capital for
legislative, executive, and judicial purposes;
(g) Institutional lands, that is, lands held in trust for state
charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institutions;
and
(h) Land bank, escheat, donations, and all other lands,
except aquatic lands, administered by the department that are
not devoted to or reserved for a particular use by law.
(12) "Valuable materials" means any product or material
on the lands, such as forest products, forage or agricultural
crops, stone, gravel, sand, peat, and all other materials of
value except mineral, coal, petroleum, and gas as provided
for under chapter 79.14 RCW. [2004 c 199 § 201; 2003 c 334
§ 301; 1927 c 255 § 1; RRS § 7797-1. Prior: 1911 c 36 § 1;
1907 c 256 § 1; 1897 c 89 §§ 4, 5; 1895 c 178 §§ 1, 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.004, 79.04.010.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 79.90 RCW was repealed and/or recodified in
its entirety by 2005 c 155.
Part headings—2004 c 199: "Part headings used in this act are not any
part of the law." [2004 c 199 § 302.]
Intent—2003 c 334: "This act is intended to make technical amendments to certain codified statutes that deal with the department of natural
resources. Any statutory changes made by this act should be interpreted as
technical in nature and not be interpreted to have any substantive, policy
implications." [2003 c 334 § 616.]
79.02.020
79.02.020 Witnesses—Compelling attendance. (1)
The board or the commissioner has the power to compel
through subpoena the attendance of witnesses and production
of records for:
(a) Hearings pertaining to public lands as provided by
this title;
(b) Determining the value and character of land, valuable
materials, or improvements; and
(c) Determining waste or damage to the land.
(2) A subpoena may be served by any person authorized
by law to serve process.
(3) Each witness subpoenaed is allowed the same fees
and mileage as paid witnesses in courts of records in this
state. The department shall pay these fees and mileage from
its general fund appropriation.
(4) Any witness failing to comply with a subpoena, without legal excuse, is considered in contempt.
(a) The board or commissioner shall certify the facts to
the court of the county in which the witness resides for contempt of court proceedings as provided in chapter 7.21 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
79.02.030
(b) The certificate of the board or commissioner must be
considered by the court as prima facie evidence of the guilt of
the witness.
(c) Upon legal proof of the facts, the witness is subject to
the same penalties as provided in like cases for contempt of
court. [2003 c 334 § 302.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.030
79.02.030 Court review of actions. Any applicant to
purchase, or lease, any public lands of the state, or any valuable materials thereon, and any person whose property rights
or interests will be affected by such sale or lease, feeling
aggrieved by any order or decision of the board, or the commissioner, concerning the same, may appeal therefrom to the
superior court of the county in which such lands or materials
are situated, by serving upon all parties who have appeared in
the proceedings in which the order or decision was made, or
their attorneys, a written notice of appeal, and filing such
notice, with proof, or admission, of service, with the board, or
the commissioner, within thirty days from the date of the
order or decision appealed from, and at the time of filing the
notice, or within five days thereafter, filing a bond to the
state, in the penal sum of two hundred dollars, with sufficient
sureties, to be approved by the secretary of the board, or the
commissioner, conditioned that the appellant shall pay all
costs that may be awarded against the appellant on appeal, or
the dismissal thereof. Within thirty days after the filing of
notice of appeal, the secretary of the board, or the commissioner, shall certify, under official seal, a transcript of all
entries in the records of the board, or the commissioner,
together with all processes, pleadings and other papers relating to and on file in the case, except evidence used in such
proceedings, and file such transcript and papers, at the
expense of the applicant, with the clerk of the court to which
the appeal is taken. The hearing and trial of said appeal in the
superior court shall be de novo before the court, without a
jury, upon the pleadings and papers so certified, but the court
may order the pleadings to be amended, or new and further
pleadings to be filed. Costs on appeal shall be awarded to the
prevailing party as in actions commenced in the superior
court, but no costs shall be awarded against the state, the
board, or the commissioner. Should judgment be rendered
against the appellant, the costs shall be taxed against the
appellant and the appellant’s sureties on the appeal bond,
except when the state is the only adverse party, and shall be
included in the judgment, upon which execution may issue as
in other cases. Any party feeling aggrieved by the judgment
of the superior court may seek appellate review as in other
civil cases. Unless appellate review of the judgment of the
superior court is sought, the clerk of said court shall, on
demand, certify, under the clerk’s hand and the seal of the
court, a true copy of the judgment, to the board, or the commissioner, which judgment shall thereupon have the same
force and effect as if rendered by the board, or the commissioner. In all cases of appeals from orders or decisions of the
commissioner involving the prior right to purchase tidelands
of the first class, if the appeal is not prosecuted, heard and
determined, within two years from the date of the appeal, the
attorney general shall, after thirty days’ notice to the appellant of the attorney general’s intention so to do, move the
[Title 79 RCW—page 5]
79.02.040
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
court for a dismissal of the appeal, but nothing herein shall be
construed to prevent the dismissal of such appeal at any time
in the manner provided by law. [2003 c 334 § 397. Prior:
1988 c 202 § 59; 1988 c 128 § 56; 1971 c 81 § 139; 1927 c
255 § 125; RRS § 7797-125; prior: 1901 c 62 §§ 1 through 7;
1897 c 89 § 52; 1895 c 178 § 82. Formerly RCW 79.01.500,
79.08.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
79.02.040
79.02.040 Reconsideration of official acts. The
department may review and reconsider any of its official acts
relating to public lands until such time as a lease, contract, or
deed shall have been made, executed, and finally issued, and
the department may recall any lease, contract, or deed issued
for the purpose of correcting mistakes or errors, or supplying
omissions. [2004 c 199 § 202; 2003 c 334 § 432; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 177; 1927 c 255 § 195; RRS § 7797-195. Formerly RCW 79.01.740, 43.65.080.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.96.901 through 79.96.905.
79.02.050
79.02.050 Effect of mistake or fraud. (1) Any sale,
transfer, or lease in which the purchaser, transfer recipient, or
lessee obtains the sale or lease by fraud or misrepresentation
is void, and the contract of purchase or lease shall be of no
effect. In the event of fraud, the contract, transferred property, or lease must be surrendered to the department, but the
purchaser, transfer recipient, or lessee may not be refunded
any money paid on account of the surrendered contract, transfer, or lease.
(2) In the event that a mistake is discovered in the sale or
lease, or in the sale of valuable materials, the department may
take action to correct the mistake in accordance with RCW
79.02.040 if maintaining the corrected contract, transfer, or
lease is in the best interests of the affected trust or trusts.
[2004 c 199 § 203; 2003 c 334 § 365; 2001 c 250 § 11; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 164; 1959 c 257 § 28; 1927 c 255 § 60; RRS
§ 7797-60. Prior: 1903 c 79 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.240,
79.12.280.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.02.060
79.02.060 Scope of provisions of chapter 199, Laws of
2004. The provisions of chapter 199, Laws of 2004 are not
intended to affect the trust responsibilities or trust management by the department for any trust lands granted by the federal government or legislatively created trusts. The trust obligations relating to federally granted lands, state forest lands,
community and technical college forest reserve lands, and
university repayment lands shall not be altered by the definition clarifications contained in chapter 199, Laws of 2004.
The rights, privileges, and prerogatives of the public shall not
be altered in any way by chapter 199, Laws of 2004, and no
[Title 79 RCW—page 6]
additional or changed authority or power is granted to any
person, corporation, or entity. [2004 c 199 § 301.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
79.02.080
79.02.080 Rewards for information regarding violations. The department is authorized to offer and pay a reward
not to exceed ten thousand dollars in each case for information regarding violations of any statute or rule relating to the
state’s public lands and natural resources on those lands,
except forest practices under chapter 76.09 RCW. No reward
may be paid to any federal, state, or local government or
agency employees for information obtained by them in the
normal course of their employment. The department is
authorized to adopt rules in pursuit of its authority under this
section to determine the appropriate account or fund from
which to pay the reward. The department is also authorized
to adopt rules establishing the criteria for paying a reward and
the amount to be paid. No appropriation shall be required for
disbursement. [2003 c 334 § 436; 1994 c 56 § 1; 1990 c 163
§ 8. Formerly RCW 79.01.765.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.090
79.02.090 Transfer of county auditor’s duties. The
duties of the county auditor in each county with a population
of two hundred ten thousand or more, with regard to sales and
leases dealt with under this title except RCW 79.11.250,
79.11.260, and *79.94.040, are transferred to the county treasurer. [2003 c 334 § 451; 1991 c 363 § 152; 1983 c 3 § 201;
1955 c 184 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.08.170.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.94.040 was recodified as RCW 79.125.040
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1008.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
79.02.095
79.02.095 Statutes not applicable to state tidelands,
shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable
waters. RCW 79.11.080, 79.11.010, 79.11.110, *79.01.140,
79.11.160, 79.10.125, 79.13.130, *79.01.252, *79.01.256,
*79.01.260, *79.01.264, 79.13.180, 79.02.260, 79.13.320,
79.13.410, 79.13.010, and *79.01.277 do not apply to state
tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable
waters. [2003 c 334 § 317; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 22. Formerly
RCW 79.01.093.]
Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.140, 79.01.252, 79.01.256, 79.01.260,
79.01.264, and 79.01.277 were repealed by 2003 c 334 § 551.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
PART 2
FEDERAL LAND GRANTS
79.02.100
79.02.100 Appearance by commissioner before
United States land offices. The commissioner of public
lands is authorized and directed to appear before the United
States land offices in all cases involving the validity of the
selections of any lands granted to the state, and to summon
witnesses and pay necessary witness fees and stenographer
(2006 Ed.)
Public Lands Management—General
fees in such contested cases. [1927 c 255 § 193; RRS § 7797193. Formerly RCW 79.01.732, 43.12.070.]
79.02.110
79.02.110 Applications for federal certification that
lands are nonmineral. The commissioner of public lands is
authorized and directed to make applications, and to cause
publication of notices of applications, to the interior department of the United States for certification that any land
granted to the state is nonmineral in character, in accordance
with the rules of the general land office of the United States.
[1927 c 255 § 77; RRS § 7797-77. Prior: 1897 c 89 § 33. Formerly RCW 79.01.308, 79.08.130.]
79.02.120
79.02.120 Lieu lands—Selection agreements authorized. For the purpose of obtaining from the United States
indemnity or lieu lands for such lands granted to the state for
common schools, educational, penal, reformatory, charitable,
capitol building, or other purposes, as have been or may be
lost to the state, or the title to or use or possession of which is
claimed by the United States or by others claiming by,
through or under the United States, by reason of any of the
causes entitling the state to select other lands in lieu thereof,
the inclusion of the same in any reservation by or under
authority of the United States, or any other appropriation or
disposition of the same by the United States, whether such
lands are now surveyed or unsurveyed, the department, with
the advice and approval of the attorney general, is authorized
and empowered to enter into an agreement or agreements, on
behalf of the state, with the proper officer or officers of the
United States for the relinquishment of any such lands and
the selection in lieu thereof, under the provisions of RCW
79.02.120 through 79.02.140, of lands of the United States of
equal area and value. [2003 c 334 § 488; 1988 c 128 § 63;
1913 c 102 § 1; RRS § 7824. Formerly RCW 79.28.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.130
79.02.130 Lieu lands—Examination and appraisal.
Upon the making of any such agreement, the board shall be
empowered and it shall be its duty to cause such examination
and appraisal to be made as will determine the area and value,
as nearly as may be, of the lands lost to the state, or the title
to, use or possession of which is claimed by the United States
by reason of the causes mentioned in RCW 79.02.120, and
proposed to be relinquished to the United States, and shall
cause an examination and appraisal to be made of any lands
which may be designated by the officers of the United States
as subject to selection by the state in lieu of the lands aforesaid, to the end that the state shall obtain lands in lieu thereof
of equal area and value. [2003 c 334 § 489; 1988 c 128 § 64;
1913 c 102 § 2; RRS § 7825. Formerly RCW 79.28.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.140
79.02.140 Lieu lands—Transfer of title to lands relinquished. Whenever the title to any lands selected under the
provisions of RCW 79.02.120 through 79.02.140 shall
become vested in the state of Washington by the acceptance
and approval of the lists of lands so selected, or other proper
action of the United States, the governor, on behalf of the
state of Washington, shall execute and deliver to the United
States a deed of conveyance of the lands of the state relin(2006 Ed.)
79.02.160
quished under the provisions of RCW 79.02.120 through
79.02.140, which deed shall convey to and vest in the United
States all the right, title and interest of the state of Washington therein. [2003 c 334 § 490; 1913 c 102 § 3; RRS § 7826.
Formerly RCW 79.28.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.150
79.02.150 Selection to complete uncompleted grants.
So long as any grant of lands by the United States to the state
of Washington, for any purpose, or as lieu or indemnity lands
therefor, remains incomplete, the commissioner of public
lands shall, from time to time, cause the records in his office
and in the United States land offices, to be examined for the
purpose of ascertaining what of the unappropriated lands of
the United States are open to selection, and whether any
thereof may be of sufficient value and so situated as to warrant their selection as state lands, and in that case may cause
the same to be inspected and appraised by one or more state
land inspectors, and a full report made thereon by the smallest legal subdivisions of forty acres each, classifying such
lands into grazing, farming and timbered lands, and estimating the value of each tract inspected and the quantity and
value of all valuable material thereon, and in the case of timbered lands the amount and value of the standing timber
thereon, and the estimated value of such lands after the timber is removed, which report shall be made as amply and
expeditiously as possible on blanks to be furnished by the
commissioner of public lands for that purpose, under the oath
of the inspector to the effect that he has personally examined
the tracts mentioned in each forty acres thereof, and that said
report and appraisement is made from such personal examination, and is, to the best of affiant’s knowledge and belief,
true and correct, and that the lands are not occupied by any
bona fide settler.
The commissioner of public lands shall select such unappropriated lands as he shall deem advisable, and do all things
necessary under the laws of the United States to vest title
thereto in the state, and shall assign lands of equal value, as
near as may be, to the various uncompleted grants. [1927 c
255 § 19; RRS § 7797-19. Prior: 1897 c 89 §§ 5, 7, 9, 10.
Formerly RCW 79.01.076, 79.08.050.]
Lieu lands: Chapter 79.02 RCW.
79.02.160
79.02.160 Relinquishment on failure or rejection of
selection. In case any person interested in any tract of land
heretofore selected by the territory of Washington or any
officer, board, or agent thereof or by the state of Washington
or any officer, board, or agent thereof or which may be hereafter selected by the state of Washington or the department,
in pursuance to any grant of lands made by the United States
to the territory or state of Washington for any purpose or
upon any trust whatever, the selection of which has failed or
been rejected or shall fail or shall be rejected for any reason,
shall request it, the department shall have the authority and
power on behalf of the state to relinquish to the United States
such tract of land. [2004 c 199 § 204; 2003 c 334 § 308; 1927
c 255 § 20; RRS § 7797-20. Prior: 1899 c 63 § 1. Formerly
RCW 79.01.080, 79.08.060.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 7]
79.02.200
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 3
CONTRACTS/RECORDS/FEES/APPLICATIONS
79.02.200
79.02.200 Abstracts of public lands. The department
shall cause full and correct abstracts of all the public lands to
be made and kept in suitable and well bound books, and other
suitable records. Such abstracts shall show in proper columns and pages the section or part of section, lot or block,
township and range in which each tract is situated, whether
timber or prairie, improved or unimproved, the appraised
value per acre, the value of improvements and the value of
damages, and the total value, the several values of timber,
stone, gravel, or other valuable materials thereon, the date of
sale, the name of purchaser, sale price per acre, the date of
lease, the name of lessee, the term of the lease, the annual
rental, amount of cash paid, amount unpaid and when due,
amount of annual interest, and in proper columns such other
facts as may be necessary to show a full and complete
abstract of the conditions and circumstances of each tract or
parcel of land from the time the title was acquired by the state
until the issuance of a deed or other disposition of the land by
the state. [2003 c 334 § 382; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 166; 1927
c 255 § 76; RRS § 7797-76. Prior: (i) 1897 c 89 § 32; RRS
§ 7823. (ii) 1911 c 59 § 9; RRS § 7899. Formerly RCW
79.01.304, 43.12.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.02.210
79.02.210 Maps and plats—Record and index—Public inspection. All maps, plats, and field notes of surveys,
required to be made by this title shall, after approval by the
department, be deposited and filed in the office of the department, which shall keep a careful and complete record and
index of all maps, plats, and field notes of surveys in its possession, in well bound books, which shall at all times be open
to public inspection. [2003 c 334 § 426; 1988 c 128 § 57;
1927 c 255 § 187; RRS § 7797-187. Formerly RCW
79.01.708, 43.12.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.220
79.02.220 Seal. All notices, orders, contracts, certificates, rules and regulations, or other documents or papers
made and issued by or on behalf of the department, or the
commissioner, as provided in this title, shall be authenticated
by a seal whereon shall be the vignette of George Washington, with the words "Seal of the commissioner of public
lands, State of Washington." [2003 c 334 § 427; 1988 c 128
§ 58; 1927 c 255 § 188; RRS § 7797-188. Formerly RCW
79.01.712, 43.65.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.230
79.02.230 Blank forms of applications for appraisal,
transfer, sale, and lease of state lands, valuable materials.
The department shall cause to be prepared, and furnish to
applicants, blank forms of applications for the appraisal,
transfer, and purchase of any state lands and the purchase of
valuable materials situated thereon, and for the lease of state
[Title 79 RCW—page 8]
lands. These forms shall contain instructions to inform and
aid applicants. [2003 c 334 § 310; 2001 c 250 § 1; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 150; 1959 c 257 § 2; 1927 c 255 § 21; RRS §
7797-21. Prior: 1909 c 223 § 2; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 74 §
1; 1897 c 89 § 11; 1895 c 178 §§ 17, 18. Formerly RCW
79.01.084, 79.08.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.02.240
79.02.240 Fees. The department may charge and collect
fees as determined by the board for each category of services
performed based on costs incurred. [2003 c 334 § 428; 1979
ex.s. c 109 § 18; 1959 c 153 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 190; RRS §
7797-190. Formerly RCW 79.01.720, 43.12.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.02.250
79.02.250 Reasonable fees—Disposition. (1) Applications for the purchase or use of lands and the sale of valuable
materials by the department shall be accompanied by reasonable fees to be prescribed by the board in an amount sufficient to defray the cost of performing or otherwise providing
for the processing, review, or inspection of the applications
or activities permitted pursuant to the applications for each
category of services performed.
(2) Fees shall be credited to the resource management
cost account fund as established under RCW 79.64.020, the
forest development account fund as established under RCW
79.64.100, or the agricultural college trust management
account fund as established under RCW 79.64.090, as applicable. [2003 c 334 § 313.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.260
79.02.260 Fee book. The department shall keep a fee
book, in which shall be entered all fees received, with the
date paid and the name of the person paying the same, and the
nature of the services rendered for which the fee is charged,
which book shall be verified monthly by affidavit entered
therein. All fees collected by the department shall be paid
into the state treasury, as applicable, to the resource management cost account created in RCW 79.64.020, the forest
development account created in RCW 79.64.100, or the agricultural college trust management account fund as established under RCW 79.64.090, and the receipt of the state treasurer taken and retained in the department’s Olympia office
as a voucher. [2003 c 334 § 429; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 19; 1927
c 255 § 191; RRS § 7797-191. Formerly RCW 79.01.724,
43.12.130.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.02.270
79.02.270 Deed. When the entire purchase price of any
state lands shall have been fully paid, the commissioner shall
certify such fact to the governor, and shall cause a quitclaim
deed signed by the governor and attested by the secretary of
(2006 Ed.)
Public Lands Management—General
state, with the seal of the state attached thereto, to be issued
to the purchaser and to be recorded in the department’s
Olympia office. No fee is required for any deed of land
issued by the governor other than the fee provided for in this
title. [2003 c 334 § 360; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 160; 1959 c 257
§ 25; 1927 c 255 § 55; RRS § 7797-55. Prior: 1917 c 149 §
1; 1915 c 147 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 3; 1897 c 89 § 16; 1895 c 178
§§ 25, 29. Formerly RCW 79.01.220, 79.12.390.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.02.280
79.02.280 Assignment of contracts or leases. All contracts of purchase or leases issued by the department shall be
assignable in writing by the contract holder or lessee and the
assignee shall be subject to and governed by the provisions of
law applicable to the assignor and shall have the same rights
in all respects as the original purchaser, or lessee, of the
lands, provided the assignment is approved by the department
and entered of record in its office. [2004 c 199 § 205; 2003 c
334 § 377; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 165; 1927 c 255 § 73; RRS §
7797-73. Prior: 1903 c 79 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.01.292,
79.12.270.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.02.290
79.02.320
damage to public lands, or injures publicly owned personal
property or publicly owned improvements to real property on
public lands, is liable to the state for treble the amount of the
damages. However, liability shall be for single damages if
the department determines, or the person proves upon trial,
that the person, at time of the unauthorized act or acts, did not
know, or have reason to know, that he or she lacked authorization. Damages recoverable under this section include, but
are not limited to, the market value of the use, occupancy, or
things removed, had the use, occupancy, or removal been
authorized; and any damages caused by injury to the land,
publicly owned personal property or publicly owned
improvement, including the costs of restoration. In addition,
the person is liable for reimbursing the state for its reasonable
costs, including but not limited to, its administrative costs,
survey costs to the extent they are not included in damages
awarded for restoration costs, and its reasonable attorneys’
fees and other legal costs.
(2) This section does not apply in any case where liability for damages is provided under RCW 64.12.030, 4.24.630,
79.02.320, or 79.02.340.
(3) The department is authorized and directed to investigate all trespasses and wastes upon, and damages to, public
lands of the state, and to cause prosecutions for, and/ or
actions for the recovery of the same to be commenced as is
provided by law. [2004 c 199 § 207; 2003 c 334 § 435; 1994
c 280 § 2; 1993 c 266 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 200; RRS § 7797-200.
Prior: 1897 c 89 § 64; 1895 c 178 § 99. Formerly RCW
79.01.760, 79.40.040.]
79.02.290 Subdivision of contracts or leases—Fee.
Whenever the holder of a contract of purchase or the holder
of any lease, except for mining of valuable minerals or coal,
or extraction of petroleum or gas, shall surrender the same to
the department with the request to have it divided into two or
more contracts, or leases, the department may divide the
same and issue new contracts, or leases, but no new contract,
or lease, shall issue while there is due and unpaid any interest,
rental, or taxes or assessments on the land held under such
contract or lease, nor in any case where the department is of
the opinion that the state’s security would be impaired or
endangered by the proposed division. For all such new contracts, or leases, a fee as provided under this chapter, shall be
paid by the applicant. [2004 c 199 § 206; 2003 c 334 § 363;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 163; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 8; 1959 c 257 §
27; 1955 c 394 § 2; 1927 c 255 § 59; RRS § 7797-59. Prior:
1903 c 79 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.236, 79.12.260.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Waste and trespass: Chapter 64.12 RCW.
79.02.310 Trespasser guilty of theft, when. Every person who willfully commits any trespass upon any public
lands of the state and cuts down, destroys or injures any timber, or any tree standing or growing thereon, or takes, or
removes, or causes to be taken, or removed, therefrom any
wood or timber lying thereon, or maliciously injures or severs
anything attached thereto, or the produce thereof, or digs,
quarries, mines, takes or removes therefrom any earth, soil,
stone, mineral, clay, sand, gravel, or any valuable materials,
is guilty of theft under chapter 9A.56 RCW. [2003 c 53 §
379; 1927 c 255 § 197; RRS § 7797-197. Prior: 1889-90 pp
124-125 §§ 1, 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.748, 79.40.010.]
79.02.310
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.320 Removal of timber—Treble damages.
Every person who shall cut or remove, or cause to be cut or
removed, any timber growing or being upon any public lands
of the state, or who shall manufacture the same into logs,
bolts, shingles, lumber or other articles of use or commerce,
unless expressly authorized so to do by a bill of sale from the
state, or by a lease or contract from the state under which he
holds possession of such lands, or by the provisions of law
under and by virtue of which such bill of sale, lease or contract was issued, shall be liable to the state in treble the value
of the timber or other articles so cut, removed or manufactured, to be recovered in a civil action, and shall forfeit to the
79.02.320
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
PART 4
TRESPASS/REGULATIONS/PENALTIES
79.02.300
79.02.300 Trespass, waste, damages—Prosecutions.
(1) Every person who, without authorization, uses or occupies public lands, removes any valuable material as defined
in RCW 79.02.010 from public lands, or causes waste or
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 79 RCW—page 9]
79.02.330
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
state all interest in and to any article into which said timber is
manufactured. [1927 c 255 § 199; RRS § 7797-199. Prior:
1897 c 89 § 66; 1895 c 178 § 101. Formerly RCW 79.01.756,
79.40.030.]
Firewood on state lands: Chapter 79.15 RCW.
Injunction to prevent waste on public land: RCW 64.12.050.
Injury to or removing trees, etc.—Damages: RCW 64.12.030.
79.02.370
79.02.370 Protection against cedar theft. The board
must establish procedures to protect against cedar theft and to
ensure adequate notice is given for persons interested in purchasing cedar. [2003 c 334 § 333.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 5
OTHER TRUST/GRANT/FOREST RESERVE LANDS
Penalty for destroying native flora: RCW 47.40.080.
79.02.400
79.02.330
79.02.330 Lessee or contract holder guilty of misdemeanor. Every person being in lawful possession of any
public lands of the state, under and by virtue of any lease or
contract of purchase from the state, cuts down, destroys, or
injures, or causes to be cut down, destroyed, or injured, any
timber standing or growing thereon, or takes or removes, or
causes to be taken or removed, therefrom, any wood or timber lying thereon, or maliciously injures or severs anything
attached thereto, or the produce thereof, or digs, quarries,
mines, takes, or removes therefrom, any earth, soil, clay,
sand, gravel, stone, mineral, or other valuable material, or
causes the same to be done, or otherwise injures, defaces, or
damages, or causes to be injured, defaced, or damaged, any
such lands unless expressly authorized so to do by the lease
or contract under which possession of such lands is held, or
by the provisions of law under and by virtue of which such
lease or contract was issued, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [2003 c 334 § 434; 1927 c 255 § 198; RRS § 7797198. Prior: 1899 c 34 §§ 1 through 3. Formerly RCW
79.01.752, 79.40.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.340
79.02.340 Removal of Christmas trees—Compensation. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter upon public
lands or upon any private land without the permission of the
owner thereof and to cut, break, or remove therefrom for
commercial purposes any evergreen trees, commonly known
as Christmas trees, including fir, hemlock, spruce, and pine
trees. Any person cutting, breaking, or removing or causing
to be cut, broken, or removed, or who cuts down, cuts off,
breaks, tops, or destroys any of such Christmas trees shall be
liable to the state, or to the private owner thereof, for payment
for such trees at a price of one dollar each if payment is made
immediately upon demand. Should it be necessary to institute civil action to recover the value of such trees, the state in
the case of public lands, or the owner in case of private lands,
may exact treble damages on the basis of three dollars per
tree for each tree so cut or removed. [2004 c 199 § 208; 2003
c 334 § 504; 1988 c 128 § 66; 1955 c 225 § 1; 1937 c 87 § 1;
RRS § 8074-1. Formerly RCW 79.40.070.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.400 Charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory real property—Inventory—Transfer. (1) Every
five years the department of social and health services and
other state agencies that operate institutions shall conduct an
inventory of all real property subject to the charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institution account and other
real property acquired for institutional purposes or for the
benefit of the blind, deaf, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, or otherwise disabled. The inventory shall identify
which of those real properties are not needed for state-provided residential care, custody, or treatment. By December 1,
1992, and every five years thereafter the department shall
report the results of the inventory to the house of representatives committee on capital facilities and financing, the senate
committee on ways and means, and the joint legislative audit
and review committee.
(2) Real property identified as not needed for state-provided residential care, custody, or treatment shall be transferred to the corpus of the charitable, educational, penal, and
reformatory institution account. This subsection shall not
apply to leases of real property to a consortium of three or
more counties in order for the counties to construct or otherwise acquire correctional facilities for juveniles or adults or
to real property subject to binding conditions that conflict
with the other provisions of this subsection.
(3) The department of natural resources shall manage all
property subject to the charitable, educational, penal, and
reformatory institution account and, in consultation with the
department of social and health services and other affected
agencies, shall adopt a plan for the management of real property subject to the account and other real property acquired
for institutional purposes or for the benefit of the blind, deaf,
mentally ill, developmentally disabled, or otherwise disabled.
(a) The plan shall be consistent with state trust land policies and shall be compatible with the needs of institutions
adjacent to real property subject to the plan.
(b) The plan may be modified as necessary to ensure the
quality of future management and to address the acquisition
of additional real property. [1996 c 288 § 51; 1996 c 261 § 1;
1991 c 204 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.006.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1996 c 261 § 1 and by
1996 c 288 § 51, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Department of social and health services duty: RCW 43.20A.035.
79.02.350
79.02.350 Intent of RCW 79.02.340. RCW 79.02.340
is not intended to repeal or modify any of the provisions of
existing statutes providing penalties for the unlawful removal
of timber from state lands. [2003 c 334 § 505; 1937 c 87 § 2;
RRS § 8074-2. Formerly RCW 79.40.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 10]
79.02.410
79.02.410 Charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory real property—High economic return potential—
Income. Where charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institutions land has the potential for lease for commercial, industrial, or residential uses or other uses with the
potential for high economic return and is within urban or sub(2006 Ed.)
Land Management Authorities and Policies
urban areas, the department shall make every effort consistent with trust land management principles and all other provisions of law to lease the lands for such purposes, unless the
land is subject to a lease to a state agency operating an existing state institution. The department is authorized, subject to
approval by the board and only if a higher return can be realized, to exchange such lands for lands of at least equal value
and to sell such lands and use the proceeds to acquire replacement lands. The department shall report to the appropriate
legislative committees all charitable, educational, penal, and
reformatory institutions land purchased, sold, or exchanged.
Income from the leases shall be deposited in the charitable,
educational, penal, and reformatory institutions account. The
legislature shall give priority consideration to appropriating
one-half of the money derived from lease income to providing community housing for persons who are mentally ill,
developmentally disabled, or youth who are blind, deaf, or
otherwise disabled. [2003 c 334 § 303; 1991 c 204 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.007.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.02.420
79.02.420 Finding—Intent—Community and technical college forest reserve land base—Management—Disposition of revenue. (1) The legislature finds that the state’s
community and technical colleges need a dedicated source of
revenue to augment other sources of capital improvement
funding. The intent of this section is to ensure that the forest
land purchased under section 310, chapter 16, Laws of 1990
1st ex. sess. and known as the community and technical college forest reserve land base, is managed in perpetuity and in
the same manner as state forest lands for sustainable commercial forestry and multiple use of lands consistent with
RCW 79.10.120. These lands will also be managed to provide an outdoor education and experience area for organized
groups. The lands will provide a source of revenue for the
long-term capital improvement needs of the state community
and technical college system.
(2) There has been increasing pressure to convert forest
lands within areas of the state subject to population growth.
Loss of forest land in urbanizing areas reduces the production
of forest products and the available supply of open space,
watershed protection, habitat, and recreational opportunities.
The land known as the community and technical college forest reserve land base is forever reserved from sale. However,
the timber and other products on the land may be sold, or the
land may be leased in the same manner and for the same purposes as authorized for state granted lands if the department
finds the sale or lease to be in the best interest of this forest
reserve land base and approves the terms and conditions of
the sale or lease.
(3) The land exchange and acquisition powers provided
in RCW 79.17.020 may be used by the department to reposition land within the community and technical college forest
reserve land base consistent with subsection (1) of this section.
(4) Up to twenty-five percent of the revenue from these
lands, as determined by the board, will be deposited in the
forest development account to reimburse the forest development account for expenditures from the account for management of these lands.
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 79.10
(5) The community college forest reserve account, created under section 310, chapter 16, Laws of 1990 1st ex.
sess., is renamed the community and technical college forest
reserve account. The remainder of the revenue from these
lands must be deposited in the community and technical college forest reserve account. Money in the account may be
appropriated by the legislature for the capital improvement
needs of the state community and technical college system or
to acquire additional forest reserve lands. [2003 c 334 § 225;
1996 c 264 § 1. Formerly RCW 76.12.240.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Chapter 79.10
Chapter 79.10 RCW
LAND MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES
AND POLICIES
Sections
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.10.010
79.10.020
79.10.030
79.10.040
79.10.050
79.10.060
79.10.070
79.10.080
79.10.090
Reports.
Department authority to accept land.
Management of acquired lands—Land acquired by escheat
suitable for park purposes.
Gifts of land for offices.
Gifts of county or city land for offices, warehouses, etc.—Use
of lands authorized.
Compliance with local ordinances, when.
Management of public lands within watershed area providing
water supply for city or town—Lake Whatcom municipal
watershed pilot project—Report—Exclusive method of condemnation by city or town for watershed purposes.
Classification of land after timber removed.
Economic analysis of state lands held in trust—Scope—Use.
PART 2
MULTIPLE USE
79.10.100
79.10.110
79.10.120
79.10.125
79.10.130
79.10.140
79.10.200
79.10.210
79.10.220
79.10.240
79.10.250
79.10.280
Concept to be utilized, when.
"Multiple use" defined.
Multiple uses compatible with financial obligations of trust
management—Other uses permitted, when.
Land open to public for fishing, hunting, and nonconsumptive
wildlife activities.
Scope of department’s authorized activities.
Outdoor recreation—Construction, operation, and maintenance of primitive facilities—Right of way and public
access—Use of state and federal outdoor recreation funds.
Multiple use land resource allocation plan—Adoption—Factors considered.
Public lands identified and withdrawn.
Conferring with other agencies.
Department’s existing authority and powers preserved.
Existing withdrawals for state park and state game purposes
preserved.
Land use data bank—Contents, source.
PART 3
SUSTAINABLE HARVEST
79.10.300
79.10.310
79.10.320
79.10.330
79.10.340
Definitions.
"Sustained yield plans" defined.
Sustainable harvest program.
Arrearages—End of decade.
Sustainable harvest sale.
PART 4
COOPERATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
79.10.400
79.10.410
79.10.420
79.10.430
79.10.440
79.10.450
79.10.460
79.10.470
79.10.480
Cooperative agreements.
Cooperative units.
Limitations on agreements.
Easements—Life of agreements.
Sale agreements.
Minimum price.
Contracts—Requirements.
Transfer or assignment of contracts.
Performance bond—Cash deposit.
[Title 79 RCW—page 11]
79.10.010
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.10.010
79.10.010 Reports. (1) It shall be the duty of the department to report, and recommend, to each session of the legislature, any changes in the law relating to the methods of handling the public lands of the state that the department may
deem advisable.
(2) The department shall provide a comprehensive biennial report to reflect the previous fiscal period. The report
shall include, but not be limited to, descriptions of all department activities including: Revenues generated, program
costs, capital expenditures, personnel, special projects, new
and ongoing research, environmental controls, cooperative
projects, intergovernmental agreements, the adopted sustainable harvest compared to the sales program, and outlines of
ongoing litigation, recent court decisions, and orders on
major issues with the potential for state liability. The report
shall describe the status of the resources managed and the
recreational and commercial utilization. The report must be
delivered to the appropriate committees of the legislature and
made available to the public.
(3) The department shall provide annual reports to the
respective trust beneficiaries, including each county. The
report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Acres sold, acres harvested, volume from those acres, acres
planted, number of stems per acre, acres precommercially
thinned, acres commercially thinned, acres partially cut,
acres clear cut, age of final rotation for acres clear cut, and the
total number of acres off base for harvest and an explanation
of why those acres are off base for harvest. [2003 c 334 §
433; 1997 c 448 § 3; 1987 c 505 § 76; 1985 c 93 § 3; 1927 c
255 § 196; RRS § 7797-196. Prior: 1907 c 114 § 1; RRS §
7801. Formerly RCW 79.01.744, 43.12.150.]
park facilities in the vicinity. Where the department and
commission determine that such land is suitable for park purposes, it shall be offered for transfer to the commission, or, in
the event that the commission declines to accept the land, to
the local jurisdiction providing park facilities in that area.
When so offered, the payment required by the recipient
agency shall not exceed the costs incurred by the department
in managing and protecting the land since receipt by the state.
(3) The department may review lands acquired by
escheat since January 1, 1983, for their suitability for park
purposes, and apply the evaluation and transfer procedures
authorized by subsection (2) of this section. [2003 c 334 §
398; 1993 c 49 § 1; 1984 c 222 § 13; 1927 c 255 § 154; RRS
§ 7797-154. Formerly RCW 79.01.612, 43.12.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 222: See RCW 79.19.900 and
79.19.901.
Real property distributed to state by probate court decree, jurisdiction of
commissioner of public lands over: RCW 11.08.220.
79.10.040 Gifts of land for offices. Any county, city or
town is authorized and empowered to convey to the state of
Washington any lands owned by such county, city or town
upon the selection of such lands by the department and the
department is hereby authorized to select and accept conveyances of lands from such counties, cities or towns, suitable
for use by the department as locations for offices, warehouses
and machinery storage buildings in the administration of the
forestry laws and lands of the state of Washington: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, No consideration shall be paid by the
state nor by the department for the conveyance of such lands
by such county, city or town. [1988 c 128 § 25; 1937 c 125 §
1; RRS § 5812-3c. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1937 c
125 § 2 now codified as RCW 76.12.045. Formerly RCW
76.12.040.]
79.10.040
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.050 Gifts of county or city land for offices,
warehouses, etc.—Use of lands authorized. The department is authorized to use such lands for the purposes hereinbefore expressed and to improve said lands and build thereon
any necessary structures for the purposes hereinbefore
expressed and expend in so doing such funds as may be
authorized by law therefor. [1988 c 128 § 26; 1937 c 125 § 2;
RRS § 5812-3d. Formerly RCW 76.12.045, 76.12.040.]
79.10.050
79.10.020
79.10.020 Department authority to accept land. The
department is hereby authorized, when in its judgment it
appears advisable, to accept on behalf of the state, any grant
of land within the state which shall then become a part of the
state forests. No grant may be accepted until the title has been
examined and approved by the attorney general of the state
and a report made to the board of natural resources of the
result of the examination. [1986 c 100 § 48. Formerly RCW
79.01.074.]
79.10.030
79.10.030 Management of acquired lands—Land
acquired by escheat suitable for park purposes. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the
department shall manage and control all lands acquired by
the state by escheat or under RCW 79.19.010 through
79.19.110 and all lands acquired by the state by deed of sale
or gift or by devise, except such lands which are conveyed or
devised to the state to be used for a particular purpose.
(2) When land is acquired by the state by escheat which
because of its location or features may be suitable for park
purposes, the department shall notify the state parks and recreation commission. The department and the commission
shall jointly evaluate the land for its suitability for park purposes, based upon the features of the land and the need for
[Title 79 RCW—page 12]
79.10.060 Compliance with local ordinances, when.
The department may comply with county or municipal zoning ordinances, laws, rules, or regulations affecting the use of
public lands where such regulations are consistent with the
treatment of similar private lands. [2004 c 199 § 209; 2003 c
334 § 544; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 13. Formerly RCW 79.68.110.]
79.10.060
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.070 Management of public lands within watershed area providing water supply for city or town—Lake
Whatcom municipal watershed pilot project—Report—
Exclusive method of condemnation by city or town for
watershed purposes. (1) In the management of public lands
lying within the limits of any watershed over and through
79.10.070
(2006 Ed.)
Land Management Authorities and Policies
which is derived the water supply of any city or town, the
department may alter its land management practices to provide water with qualities exceeding standards established for
intrastate and interstate waters by the department of ecology.
However, if such alterations of management by the department reduce revenues from, increase costs of management of,
or reduce the market value of public lands the city or town
requesting such alterations shall fully compensate the department.
(2) The department shall initiate a pilot project for the
municipal watershed delineated by the Lake Whatcom hydrographic boundaries to determine what factors need to be considered to achieve water quality standards beyond those
required under chapter 90.48 RCW and what additional management actions can be taken on state trust lands that can contribute to such higher water quality standards. The department shall establish an advisory committee consisting of a
representative each of the city of Bellingham, Whatcom
county, the Whatcom county water district 10, the department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, and the
department of health, and three general citizen members to
assist in this pilot project. In the event of differences of opinion among the members of the advisory committee, the committee shall attempt to resolve these differences through various means, including the retention of facilitation or mediation services.
(3) The pilot project in subsection (2) of this section shall
be completed by June 30, 2000. The department shall defer
all timber sales in the Lake Whatcom hydrographic boundaries until the pilot project is complete.
(4) Upon completion of the study, the department shall
provide a report to the natural resources committee of the
house of representatives and to the natural resources, parks,
and recreation committee of the senate summarizing the
results of the study.
(5) The exclusive manner, notwithstanding any provisions of the law to the contrary, for any city or town to
acquire by condemnation ownership or rights in public lands
for watershed purposes within the limits of any watershed
over or through which is derived the water supply of any city
or town shall be to petition the legislature for such authority.
Nothing in RCW 79.44.003 and this chapter shall be construed to affect any existing rights held by third parties in the
lands applied for. [2003 c 334 § 332; 1999 c 257 § 1; 1971
ex.s. c 234 § 11; 1927 c 255 § 32; RRS § 7797-32. Prior:
1915 c 147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 6; 1901 c 148 §
1; 1899 c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 12; 1895 c 178 § 23. Formerly
RCW 79.01.128, 79.12.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Condemnation proceedings where state land involved: RCW 8.28.010.
Municipal corporation in adjoining state may condemn watershed property:
RCW 8.28.050.
79.10.080 Classification of land after timber
removed. When the merchantable timber has been sold and
actually removed from any state lands, the department may
classify the land, and may reserve from any future sale such
portions thereof as may be found suitable for reforestation,
and in such case, shall enter such reservation in its records.
All lands reserved shall not be subject to sale or lease. The
commissioner shall certify all such reservations for reforesta79.10.080
(2006 Ed.)
79.10.110
tion so made, to the board. It shall be the duty of the department to protect such lands, and the remaining timber thereon,
from fire and to reforest the same. [2003 c 334 § 340; 1959 c
257 § 16; 1927 c 255 § 41; RRS § 7797-41. Prior: 1915 c
147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 6; 1901 c 148 § 1; 1899
c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 12; 1895 c 178 § 23. Formerly RCW
79.01.164, 79.12.200.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Acquisition, management, and disposition of state forest lands: Chapter
79.22 RCW.
79.10.090 Economic analysis of state lands held in
trust—Scope—Use. Periodically at intervals to be determined by the board, the department shall cause an economic
analysis to be made of those state lands held in trust, where
the nature of the trust makes maximization of the economic
return to the beneficiaries of income from state lands the
prime objective. The analysis shall be by specific tracts, or
where such tracts are of similar economic characteristics, by
groupings of such tracts.
The most recently made analysis shall be considered by
the department in making decisions as to whether to sell or
lease state lands, standing timber or crops thereon, or minerals therein, including but not limited to oil and gas and other
hydrocarbons, rocks, gravel, and sand.
The economic analysis shall include, but shall not be
limited to the following criteria: (1) Present and potential
sale value; (2) present and probable future returns on the
investment of permanent state funds; (3) probable future
inflationary or deflationary trends; (4) present and probable
future income from leases or the sale of land products; and
(5) present and probable future tax income derivable therefrom specifically including additional state, local, and other
tax revenues from potential private development of land currently used primarily for grazing and other similar low priority use; such private development would include, but not be
limited to, development as irrigated agricultural land. [2003
c 334 § 320; 1969 ex.s. c 131 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.01.095.]
79.10.090
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 2
MULTIPLE USE
79.10.100 Concept to be utilized, when. The legislature hereby directs that a multiple use concept be utilized by
the department in the administration of public lands where
such a concept is in the best interests of the state and the general welfare of the citizens thereof, and is consistent with the
applicable provisions of the various lands involved. [2004 c
199 § 210; 2003 c 334 § 534; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 1. Formerly
RCW 79.68.010.]
79.10.100
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.110 "Multiple use" defined. "Multiple use" as
used in RCW 79.10.070, 79.44.003, and this chapter shall
mean the management and administration of state-owned
lands under the jurisdiction of the department to provide for
several uses simultaneously on a single tract and/or planned
79.10.110
[Title 79 RCW—page 13]
79.10.120
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
rotation of one or more uses on and between specific portions
of the total ownership consistent with the provisions of RCW
79.10.100. [2003 c 334 § 535; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.68.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.120 Multiple uses compatible with financial
obligations of trust management—Other uses permitted,
when. Multiple uses additional to and compatible with those
basic activities necessary to fulfill the financial obligations of
trust management may include but are not limited to:
(1) Recreational areas;
(2) Recreational trails for both vehicular and nonvehicular uses;
(3) Special educational or scientific studies;
(4) Experimental programs by the various public agencies;
(5) Special events;
(6) Hunting and fishing and other sports activities;
(7) Nonconsumptive wildlife activities as defined by the
board of natural resources;
(8) Maintenance of scenic areas;
(9) Maintenance of historical sites;
(10) Municipal or other public watershed protection;
(11) Greenbelt areas;
(12) Public rights of way;
(13) Other uses or activities by public agencies;
If such additional uses are not compatible with the financial obligations in the management of trust land they may be
permitted only if there is compensation from such uses satisfying the financial obligations. [2003 c 182 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c
234 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.68.050.]
79.10.120
79.10.125 Land open to public for fishing, hunting,
and nonconsumptive wildlife activities. All state lands
hereafter leased for grazing or agricultural purposes shall be
open and available to the public for purposes of hunting and
fishing, and for nonconsumptive wildlife activities, as
defined by the board of natural resources, unless closed to
public entry because of fire hazard or unless the department
gives prior written approval and the area is lawfully posted by
lessee to prohibit hunting and fishing, and nonconsumptive
wildlife activities, thereon in order to prevent damage to
crops or other land cover, to improvements on the land, to
livestock, to the lessee, or to the general public, or closure is
necessary to avoid undue interference with carrying forward
a departmental or agency program. In the event any such
lands are so posted it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt
or fish, or pursue nonconsumptive wildlife activities, on any
such posted lands. Such lands shall not be open and available
for wildlife activities when access could endanger crops on
the land or when access could endanger the person accessing
the land.
The department shall insert the provisions of this section
in all new grazing and agricultural leases. [2003 c 334 § 371;
2003 c 182 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 9; 1969 ex.s. c 46 § 1; 1959
c 257 § 29; 1947 c 171 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 61; RRS § 7797-61.
Prior: 1915 c 147 § 4; 1903 c 79 § 4; 1897 c 89 § 19; 1895 c
178 § 32. Formerly RCW 79.01.244, 79.12.430.]
79.10.125
Reviser’s note: (1) This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
[Title 79 RCW—page 14]
(2) This section was amended by 2003 c 182 § 1 and by 2003 c 334 §
371, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.10.130
79.10.130 Scope of department’s authorized activities. The department is hereby authorized to carry out all
activities necessary to achieve the purposes of RCW
79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120,
79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and
*79.90.456, including, but not limited to:
(1) Planning, construction, and operation of conservation, recreational sites, areas, roads, and trails, by itself or in
conjunction with any public agency;
(2) Planning, construction, and operation of special facilities for educational, scientific, conservation, or experimental
purposes by itself or in conjunction with any other public or
private agency;
(3) Improvement of any lands to achieve the purposes of
RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120,
79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and
*79.90.456;
(4) Cooperation with public and private agencies in the
utilization of such lands for watershed purposes;
(5) The authority to make such leases, contracts, agreements, or other arrangements as are necessary to accomplish
the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100
through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330,
79.44.003, and *79.90.456. However, nothing in this section
shall affect any existing requirements for public bidding or
auction with private agencies or parties, except that agreements or other arrangements may be made with public
schools, colleges, universities, governmental agencies, and
nonprofit scientific and educational associations. [2003 c
334 § 540; 1987 c 472 § 12; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 7. Formerly
RCW 79.68.070.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.456 was recodified as RCW 79.105.050
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1987 c 472: See RCW 79.71.900.
79.10.140
79.10.140 Outdoor recreation—Construction, operation, and maintenance of primitive facilities—Right of
way and public access—Use of state and federal outdoor
recreation funds. The department is authorized:
(1) To construct, operate, and maintain primitive outdoor
recreation and conservation facilities on lands under its jurisdiction which are of primitive character when deemed necessary by the department to achieve maximum effective development of such lands and resources consistent with the purposes for which the lands are held. This authority shall be
exercised only after review by the interagency committee for
outdoor recreation and determination by the committee that
the department is the most appropriate agency to undertake
such construction, operation, and maintenance. Such review
is not required for campgrounds designated and prepared or
approved by the department;
(2006 Ed.)
Land Management Authorities and Policies
(2) To acquire right of way and develop public access to
lands under the jurisdiction of the department and suitable for
public outdoor recreation and conservation purposes;
(3) To receive and expend funds from federal and state
outdoor recreation funding measures for the purposes of this
section and RCW 79A.50.110. [2003 c 334 § 122; 1987 c
472 § 13; 1986 c 100 § 51; 1967 ex.s. c 64 § 1. Formerly
RCW 43.30.300.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1987 c 472: See RCW 79.71.900.
Construction—1967 ex.s. c 64: "Nothing in this act shall be construed
as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibility of any other state or local governmental agency, except as provided in section 1 of this act." [1967 ex.s. c
64 § 4.]
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 64: "If any provision of sections 1 through
4 of this act, or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid,
the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons
or circumstances is not affected." [1967 ex.s. c 64 § 3.]
Exchange of lands to secure private lands for parks and recreation purposes: RCW 79A.50.110.
Interagency committee for outdoor recreation: Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
79.10.200
79.10.200 Multiple use land resource allocation
plan—Adoption—Factors considered. The department
may adopt a multiple use land resource allocation plan for all
or portions of the lands under its jurisdiction providing for the
identification and establishment of areas of land uses and
identifying those uses which are best suited to achieve the
purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through
79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330,
79.44.003, and *79.90.456. Such plans shall take into consideration the various ecological conditions, elevations, soils,
natural features, vegetative cover, climate, geographical location, values, public use potential, accessibility, economic
uses, recreational potentials, local and regional land use plans
or zones, local, regional, state, and federal comprehensive
land use plans or studies, and all other factors necessary to
achieve the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070,
79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through
79.10.330, 79.44.003, and *79.90.456. [2003 c 334 § 542;
1971 ex.s. c 234 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.68.090.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.456 was recodified as RCW 79.105.050
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.210
79.10.210 Public lands identified and withdrawn.
For the purpose of providing increased continuity in the management of public lands and of facilitating long range planning by interested agencies, the department is authorized to
identify and to withdraw from all conflicting uses at such
times and for such periods as it shall determine appropriate,
limited acreages of public lands under its jurisdiction. Acreages so withdrawn shall be maintained for the benefit of the
public and, in particular, of the public schools, colleges, and
universities, as areas in which may be observed, studied,
enjoyed, or otherwise utilized the natural ecological systems
thereon, whether such systems be unique or typical to the
state of Washington. Nothing herein is intended to or shall
modify the department’s obligation to manage the land under
its jurisdiction in the best interests of the beneficiaries of
(2006 Ed.)
79.10.280
granted trust lands. [2003 c 334 § 539; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 6.
Formerly RCW 79.68.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.220
79.10.220 Conferring with other agencies. The
department may confer with other public and private agencies to facilitate the formulation of policies and/or plans providing for multiple use concepts. The department is empowered to hold public hearings from time to time to assist in
achieving the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070,
79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through
79.10.330, 79.44.003, and *79.90.456. [2003 c 334 § 543;
1971 ex.s. c 234 § 10. Formerly RCW 79.68.100.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.456 was recodified as RCW 79.105.050
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.240
79.10.240 Department’s existing authority and powers preserved. Nothing in RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070,
79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through
79.10.330, 79.44.003, and *79.90.456 shall be construed to
affect or repeal any existing authority or powers of the
department in the management or administration of the lands
under its jurisdiction. [2003 c 334 § 546; 1971 ex.s. c 234 §
12. Formerly RCW 79.68.900.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.456 was recodified as RCW 79.105.050
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.250
79.10.250 Existing withdrawals for state park and
state game purposes preserved. Nothing in RCW
79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120,
79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and
*79.90.456 shall be construed to affect, amend, or repeal any
existing withdrawal of public lands for state park or state
game purposes. [2003 c 334 § 547; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 15.
Formerly RCW 79.68.910.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.456 was recodified as RCW 79.105.050
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.280
79.10.280 Land use data bank—Contents, source.
(1) The department shall design expansion of its land use data
bank to include additional information that will assist in the
formulation, evaluation, and updating of intermediate and
long-range goals and policies for land use, population growth
and distribution, urban expansion, open space, resource preservation and utilization, and other factors which shape statewide development patterns and significantly influence the
quality of the state’s environment. The system shall be
designed to permit inclusion of other lands in the state and
will do so as financing and time permit.
(2) Such data bank shall contain any information relevant to the future growth of agriculture, forestry, industry,
business, residential communities, and recreation; the wise
use of land and other natural resources which are in accordance with their character and adaptability; the conservation
and protection of the soil, air, water, and forest resources; the
protection of the beauty of the landscape; and the promotion
of the efficient and economical uses of public resources.
[Title 79 RCW—page 15]
79.10.300
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
The information shall be assembled from all possible
sources, including but not limited to, the federal government
and its agencies, all state agencies, all political subdivisions
of the state, all state operated universities and colleges, and
any source in the private sector. All state agencies, all political subdivisions of the state, and all state universities and colleges are directed to cooperate to the fullest extent in the collection of data in their possession. Information shall be collected on all areas of the state but collection may emphasize
one region at a time.
(3) The data bank shall make maximum use of computerized or other advanced data storage and retrieval methods.
The department is authorized to engage consultants in data
processing to ensure that the data bank will be as complete
and efficient as possible.
(4) The data shall be made available for use by any governmental agency, research organization, university or college, private organization, or private person as a tool to evaluate the range of alternatives in land and resource planning in
the state. [2003 c 334 § 545; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 16. Formerly
RCW 79.68.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 3
SUSTAINABLE HARVEST
ment entered their 1984-1993 planning decade with a timber sale arrearage
which could be sold without adversely affecting the continued productivity
of the state-owned forests." [1987 c 159 § 1.]
79.10.310
79.10.310 "Sustained yield plans" defined. "Sustained yield plans" as used in RCW 79.10.070, 79.44.003,
and this chapter shall mean management of the forest to provide harvesting on a continuing basis without major prolonged curtailment or cessation of harvest. [2003 c 334 §
536; 1971 ex.s. c 234 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.68.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.320
79.10.320 Sustainable harvest program. The department shall manage the state-owned lands under its jurisdiction which are primarily valuable for the purpose of growing
forest crops on a sustained yield basis insofar as compatible
with other statutory directives. To this end, the department
shall periodically adjust the acreages designated for inclusion
in the sustained yield management program and calculate a
sustainable harvest level. [2003 c 334 § 538; 1987 c 159 § 3;
1971 ex.s. c 234 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.68.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Legislative findings—1987 c 159: See note following RCW
79.10.300.
79.10.330
79.10.300
79.10.300 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise the definitions in this section apply
throughout RCW 79.10.310, 79.10.320, and 79.10.330.
(1) "Arrearage" means the summation of the annual sustainable harvest timber volume since July 1, 1979, less the
sum of state timber sales contract default volume and the
state timber sales volume deficit since July 1, 1979.
(2) "Default" means the volume of timber remaining
when a contractor fails to meet the terms of the sales contract
on the completion date of the contract or any extension
thereof and timber returned to the state under *RCW
79.01.1335.
(3) "Deficit" means the summation of the difference
between the department’s annual planned sales program volume and the actual timber volume sold.
(4) "Planning decade" means the ten-year period covered
in the forest land management plan adopted by the board.
(5) "Sustainable harvest level" means the volume of timber scheduled for sale from state-owned lands during a planning decade as calculated by the department and approved by
the board. [2003 c 334 § 537; 1987 c 159 § 2. Formerly
RCW 79.68.035.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.1335 expired December 31, 1984.
79.10.330 Arrearages—End of decade. If an arrearage exists at the end of any planning decade, the department
shall conduct an analysis of alternatives to determine the
course of action regarding the arrearage which provides the
greatest return to the trusts based upon economic conditions
then existing and forecast, as well as impacts on the environment of harvesting the additional timber. The department
shall offer for sale the arrearage in addition to the sustainable
harvest level adopted by the board of natural resources for the
next planning decade if the analysis determined doing so will
provide the greatest return to the trusts. [1987 c 159 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.68.045.]
Legislative findings—1987 c 159: See note following RCW
79.10.300.
79.10.340
79.10.340 Sustainable harvest sale. The board of natural resources shall offer for sale the sustainable harvest as
identified in the 1984-1993 forest land management program,
or as subsequently revised. In the event that decisions made
by entities other than the department cause a decrease in the
sustainable harvest the department shall offer additional timber sales from state-managed lands. [1989 c 424 § 9. Formerly RCW 43.30.390.]
Effective date—1989 c 424: See note following RCW 43.30.810.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Legislative findings—1987 c 159: "Adequately funding construction
of the state’s educational facilities represents one of the highest priority uses
of state-owned lands. Many existing facilities need replacement and many
additional facilities will be needed by the year 2000 to house students entering the educational system. The sale of timber from state-owned lands plays
a key role in supporting the construction of school facilities. Currently and
in the future, demands for school construction funds are expected to exceed
available revenues.
The department of natural resources sells timber on a sustained yield
basis. Since 1980, purchasers defaulted on sales contracts affecting over one
billion one hundred million board feet of timber. Between 1981 and 1983,
the department sold six hundred million board feet of timber less than the
sustainable harvest level. As a consequence of the two actions, the depart[Title 79 RCW—page 16]
PART 4
COOPERATIVE FOREST
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
79.10.400
79.10.400 Cooperative agreements. The department
with regard to state forest lands and state lands is hereby
authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the
United States of America, Indian tribes, and private owners
of timber land providing for coordinated forest management,
including time, rate, and method of cutting timber and
method of silvicultural practice on a sustained yield unit.
(2006 Ed.)
Land Management Authorities and Policies
[2003 c 334 § 510; 1988 c 128 § 67; 1941 c 123 § 1; 1939 c
130 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7879-11. Formerly RCW
79.60.010, 79.52.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.410
79.10.410 Cooperative units. The department is
hereby authorized and directed to determine, define, and
declare informally the establishment of a sustained yield unit,
comprising the land area to be covered by any such cooperative agreement and include therein such other lands as may be
later acquired by the department and included under the
cooperative agreement. [2003 c 334 § 511; 1988 c 128 § 68;
1939 c 130 § 2; RRS § 7879-12. Formerly RCW 79.60.020,
79.52.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.420
79.10.420 Limitations on agreements. The department shall agree that the cutting from combined national forest lands, state forest lands, and state lands will be limited to
the sustained yield capacity of these lands in the management
unit as determined by the contracting parties and approved by
the board for state forest lands and by the department for state
lands. Cooperation with the private contracting party or parties shall be contingent on limitation of production to a specified amount as determined by the contracting parties and
approved by the board for state forest lands and by the department for state lands and shall comply with the other conditions and requirements of such cooperative agreement. [2003
c 334 § 512; 1988 c 128 § 69; 1939 c 130 § 3; RRS § 787913. Formerly RCW 79.60.030, 79.52.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.430
79.10.430 Easements—Life of agreements. The private contracting party or parties shall enjoy the right of easement over state forest lands and state lands included under
said cooperative agreement for railway, road, and other uses
necessary to the carrying out of the agreement. This easement shall be only for the life of the cooperative agreement
and shall be granted without charge with the provision that
payment shall be made for all merchantable timber cut,
removed, or damaged in the use of such easement, payment
to be based on the contract stumpage price for timber of like
value and species and to be made within thirty days from date
of cutting, removal, and/or damage of such timber and
appraisal thereof by the department. [2003 c 334 § 513; 1988
c 128 § 70; 1941 c 123 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7879-13a.
Formerly RCW 79.60.040, 79.52.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.440
79.10.440 Sale agreements. During the period when
any such cooperative agreement is in effect, the timber on the
state forest lands and state lands which the department determines shall be included in the sustained yield unit may, from
time to time, be sold at not less than its appraised value as
approved by the department for state lands and the board for
state forest lands, due consideration being given to existing
forest conditions on all lands included in the cooperative
management unit and such sales may be made in the discretion of the department and the contracting party or parties in
the cooperative sustained yield agreement. These sale agree(2006 Ed.)
79.10.480
ments shall contain such provisions as are necessary to effectually permit the department to carry out the purpose of this
section and in other ways afford adequate protection to the
public interests involved. [2003 c 334 § 514; 1988 c 128 §
71; 1939 c 130 § 4; RRS § 7879-14. Formerly RCW
79.60.050, 79.52.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.450
79.10.450 Minimum price. The sale of timber upon
state forest land and state land within such sustained yield
unit or units shall be made for not less than the appraised
value thereof as heretofore provided for the sale of timber on
state lands. However, if in the judgment of the department, it
is to the best interests of the state to do so, the timber or any
such sustained yield unit or units may be sold on a stumpage
or scale basis for a price per thousand not less than the
appraised value thereof. The department shall reserve the
right to reject any and all bids if the intent of this chapter will
not be carried out. Permanency of local communities and
industries, prospects of fulfillment of contract requirements,
and financial position of the bidder shall all be factors
included in this decision. [2003 c 334 § 515; 1988 c 128 § 72;
1939 c 130 § 5; RRS § 7879-15. Formerly RCW 79.60.060,
79.52.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.460
79.10.460 Contracts—Requirements. A written contract shall be entered into with the successful bidder which
shall fix the time when logging operations shall be commenced and concluded and require monthly payments for
timber removed as soon as scale sheets have been tabulated
and the amount of timber removed during the month determined, or require payments monthly in advance at the discretion of the board or the department. The board and the
department shall designate the price per thousand to be paid
for each species of timber and shall provide for supervision of
logging operations, the methods of scaling and report, and
shall require the purchaser to comply with all laws of the state
of Washington with respect to fire protection and logging
operation of the timber purchased; and shall contain such
other provisions as may be deemed advisable. [2003 c 334 §
516; 1939 c 130 § 6; RRS § 7879-16. Formerly RCW
79.60.070, 79.52.050, part.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.470
79.10.470 Transfer or assignment of contracts. No
transfer or assignment by the purchaser shall be valid unless
the transferee or assignee is acceptable to the department and
the transfer or assignment approved by it in writing. [2003 c
334 § 517; 1988 c 128 § 73; 1941 c 123 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1941
§ 7879-16a. Formerly RCW 79.60.080, 79.52.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.10.480
79.10.480 Performance bond—Cash deposit. The
purchaser shall, at the time of executing the contract, deliver
a performance bond or sureties acceptable in regard to terms
and amount to the department, but such performance bond or
sureties shall not exceed ten percent of the estimated value of
the timber purchased computed at the stumpage price and at
no time shall exceed a total of fifty thousand dollars. The
[Title 79 RCW—page 17]
Chapter 79.11
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
purchaser shall also be required to make a cash deposit equal
to twenty percent of the estimated value of the timber purchased, computed at the stumpage bid. Upon failure of the
purchaser to comply with the terms of the contract, the performance bond or sureties may be forfeited to the state upon
order of the department.
At no time shall the amount due the state for timber actually cut and removed exceed the amount of the deposit as set
forth in this section. The amount of the deposit shall be
returned to the purchaser upon completion and full compliance with the contract by the purchaser, or it may, at the discretion of the purchaser, be applied on final payment on the
contract. [2003 c 334 § 518; 1988 c 128 § 74; 1941 c 123 §
4; 1939 c 130 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7879-17. Formerly
RCW 79.60.090, 79.52.060.]
sion of forestry, for administrative sites, lien foreclosures, or
other purposes whenever it shall determine that the lands are
no longer or not necessary for public use.
(2) The sale may be made after public notice to the highest bidder for such a price as approved by the governor, but
not less than the fair market value of the real property, plus
the value of improvements thereon. Any instruments necessary to convey title must be executed by the governor in a
form approved by the attorney general.
(3) All amounts received from the sale must be credited
to the fund of the department of government that is responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of the property sold.
[2003 c 334 § 201; 1988 c 128 § 12; 1955 c 121 § 1. Formerly RCW 76.01.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.010
Chapter 79.11
Chapter 79.11 RCW
STATE LAND SALES
Sections
PART 1
SALE PROCEDURES
79.11.005
79.11.010
79.11.020
79.11.030
79.11.040
79.11.060
79.11.070
79.11.080
79.11.090
79.11.100
79.11.110
79.11.120
79.11.130
79.11.140
79.11.150
79.11.160
79.11.165
79.11.175
79.11.190
79.11.200
79.11.210
79.11.220
Sale of administrative sites.
Maximum and minimum acreage subject to sale—Exception—Approval by legislature or regents.
Powers/duties of department.
Terms of sale.
Who may purchase—Application—Fees.
Entire section may be inspected.
Survey to determine area subject to sale.
Inspection and appraisal.
Sales by public auction—Appraised value.
Date of sale limited by time of appraisal—Purchasers required
to make independent appraisals.
Separate appraisal of improvements.
Sale procedure—Fixing date, place, and time of sale.
Notice—Pamphlet—List of lands to be sold—Certain valuable materials exempt.
Additional advertising.
Conduct of sales.
Deposit by purchaser to cover value of improvements.
Reoffer.
Confirmation of sale.
Readvertisement of lands not sold.
Form of contract—Rate of interest.
Reservation in contract.
Relinquishment to United States, in certain cases of reserved
mineral rights.
PART 2
PLATTING
79.11.250
79.11.260
79.11.270
Lands subject to platting.
Vacation—Vested rights.
Vacation—Preference right to purchase.
PART 3
OTHER SALE PROVISIONS
79.11.290
79.11.310
79.11.320
79.11.340
Leased lands reserved from sale.
Sale of lands with low-income potential.
Assessments added to purchase price.
Sale of acquired lands.
PART 1
SALE PROCEDURES
79.11.005 Sale of administrative sites. (1) The department is authorized to sell any real property not designated or
acquired as state forest lands, but acquired by the state, either
in the name of the forest board, the forestry board, or the divi79.11.005
[Title 79 RCW—page 18]
79.11.010 Maximum and minimum acreage subject
to sale—Exception—Approval by legislature or regents.
(1) Not more than one hundred and sixty acres of any land
granted to the state by the United States shall be offered for
sale in one parcel and no university lands shall be offered for
sale except by legislative directive or with the consent of the
board of regents of the University of Washington.
(2) Any land granted to the state by the United States
may be sold for any lawful purpose in such minimum acreage
as may be fixed by the department. [2003 c 334 § 321; 1982
c 54 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 200 § 1; 1970 ex.s.
c 46 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 78 § 1; 1959 c 257 § 5; 1955 c 394 § 1;
1927 c 255 § 24; RRS § 7797-24. Prior: 1915 c 147 § 15;
1909 p 256 § 4; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 91 § 3; 1897 c 89 §
11. Formerly RCW 79.01.096, 79.12.030.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 200: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1971 ex.s. c 200 § 6.]
Public lands, funds for support of common school fund: State Constitution
Art. 9 § 3.
School and granted lands: State Constitution Art. 16.
University of Washington: Chapter 28B.20 RCW.
79.11.020
79.11.020 Powers/duties of department. The department shall exercise general supervision and control over the
sale for any purpose of land granted to the state for educational purposes. It shall be the duty of the department to prepare all reports, data, and information in its records pertaining to any such proposed sale. The department shall have
power, if it deems it advisable, to order that any particular
sale of such land be held in abeyance pending further inspection and report. The department may cause such further
inspection and report of land involved in any proposed sale to
be made and for that purpose shall have power to employ its
own inspectors, cruisers, and other technical assistants. Upon
the basis of such further inspection and report the department
shall determine whether or not, and the terms upon which, the
proposed sale shall be consummated. [2003 c 334 § 318;
(2006 Ed.)
State Land Sales
1988 c 128 § 54; 1941 c 217 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 779723A. Formerly RCW 79.01.094, 43.65.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.030
79.11.030 Terms of sale. All state lands shall be sold
on terms and conditions established by the board in light of
market conditions. Sales by real estate contract or for cash
may be authorized. All deferred payments shall draw interest
at such rate as may be fixed, from time to time, by rule
adopted by the board, and the rate of interest, as so fixed at
the date of each sale, shall be stated in all advertising for and
notice of sale and in the contract of sale. All remittances for
payment of either principal or interest shall be forwarded to
the department. [2003 c 334 § 359; 1984 c 222 § 11; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 159; 1969 ex.s. c 267 § 1; 1959 c 257 § 24; 1927
c 255 § 54; RRS § 7797-54. Prior: 1917 c 149 § 1; 1915 c
147 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 3; 1897 c 89 § 16; 1895 c 178 §§ 25,
29. Formerly RCW 79.01.216, 79.12.380.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 222: See RCW 79.19.900 and
79.19.901.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.11.040
79.11.040 Who may purchase—Application—Fees.
Any person desiring to purchase any state lands shall file an
application on the forms provided by the department and
accompanied by the fees authorized under RCW 79.02.250.
[2003 c 334 § 311; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 151; 1979 ex.s. c 109
§ 2; 1967 c 163 § 4; 1959 c 257 § 3; 1927 c 255 § 22; RRS §
7797-22. Prior: 1909 c 223 § 2; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 74 §
1; 1897 c 89 § 11; 1895 c 178 §§ 17, 18. Formerly RCW
79.01.088, 79.12.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 109: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 109 § 24.]
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: "The provisions of this 1979 amendatory act shall take effect September 26, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 109 § 25.]
79.11.100
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.11.080
79.11.080 Inspection and appraisal. When in the
judgment of the department, there is sufficient interest for the
appraisement and sale of state lands, the department shall
cause each tract of land to be inspected as to its topography,
development potential, forestry, agricultural, and grazing
qualities, coal, mineral, stone, gravel, or other valuable material, the distance from any city or town, railroad, river, irrigation canal, ditch, or other waterway, and location of utilities.
In case of an application to purchase land granted to the state
for educational purposes, the department shall submit a report
to the board, which board shall fix the value per acre of each
lot, block, subdivision, or tract proposed to be sold in one parcel, which value shall be not less than ten dollars per acre. In
case of applications to purchase state lands, other than lands
granted to the state for educational purposes and capitol
building lands, the department shall appraise and fix the
value thereof. [2003 c 334 § 314; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 3; 1967
ex.s. c 78 § 3; 1959 c 257 § 4; 1941 c 217 § 2; 1935 c 136 §
1; 1927 c 255 § 23; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7797-23. Prior: 1909
c 223 § 2; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 74 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 11; 1895
c 178 §§ 17, 18. Formerly RCW 79.01.092, 79.12.020.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.11.090
79.11.090 Sales by public auction—Appraised value.
Except as provided in RCW 79.11.340, all sales of land under
this chapter shall be at public auction, to the highest bidder,
on the terms prescribed by law and as specified in the notice
provided under RCW 79.11.120, and no land shall be sold for
less than its appraised value. [2003 c 334 § 352; (2003 c 381
§ 3 repealed by 2006 c 42 § 3); 1989 c 148 § 3; 1988 c 136 §
1; 1979 c 54 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 45 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 123 § 3;
1969 ex.s. c 14 § 4; 1961 c 73 § 3; 1959 c 257 § 21; 1933 c 66
§ 1; 1927 c 255 § 50; RRS § 7797-50. Prior: 1923 c 19 § 1;
1913 c 36 § 1; 1909 c 223 § 4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 89 §
14; 1895 c 178 § 28. Formerly RCW 79.01.200, 79.12.340.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.060
79.11.060 Entire section may be inspected. Whenever
application is made to purchase less than a section of unplatted state lands, the department may order the inspection of
the entire section or sections of which the lands applied for
form a part. [2003 c 334 § 327; 1959 c 257 § 9; 1927 c 255 §
28; RRS § 7797-28. Prior: 1909 c 223 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.01.112, 79.12.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.070
79.11.070 Survey to determine area subject to sale.
The department may cause any state lands to be surveyed for
the purpose of ascertaining and determining the area subject
to sale. [2003 c 334 § 330; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 153; 1959 c
257 § 11; 1927 c 255 § 30; RRS § 7797-30. Prior: 1909 c
223 § 2; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 74 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 11; 1895
c 178 §§ 17, 18. Formerly RCW 79.01.120, 79.12.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
(2006 Ed.)
79.11.100
79.11.100 Date of sale limited by time of appraisal—
Purchasers required to make independent appraisals. In
no case shall any lands granted to the state be offered for sale
under this chapter unless the same shall have been appraised
by the board within ninety days prior to the date fixed for the
sale. A purchaser of state lands may not rely upon the
appraisal prepared by the department or made by the board
for purposes of deciding whether to make a purchase from the
department. All purchasers are required to make their own
independent appraisals. [2004 c 199 § 211; 2003 c 334 § 328;
2001 c 250 § 2; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 152; 1959 c 257 § 10;
1935 c 55 § 1 (adding section 29 to 1927 c 255 in lieu of original section 29 which was vetoed); RRS § 7797-29. Prior:
1909 c 223 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.116, 79.12.080.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 19]
79.11.110
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.11.110
79.11.110 Separate appraisal of improvements.
Before any state lands are offered for sale, the department
may establish the fair market value of those authorized
improvements not owned by the state. [2003 c 334 § 336;
1979 ex.s. c 109 § 5; 1959 c 257 § 14; 1927 c 255 § 34; RRS
§ 7797-34. Prior: 1915 c 147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3; 1907 c 256
§ 6; 1901 c 148 § 1; 1899 c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 12; 1895 c
178 § 23. Formerly RCW 79.01.136, 79.12.130.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.11.120
79.11.120 Sale procedure—Fixing date, place, and
time of sale. When the department decides to sell any state
lands, or with the consent of the board of regents of the University of Washington, or by legislative directive, decides to
sell any lot, block, tract, or tracts of university lands, it is the
duty of the department to fix the date, place, and time of sale.
(1) No sale may be conducted on any day that is a legal
holiday.
(2) Sales must be held between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. If all sales cannot be offered within this time
period, the sale must continue on the following day between
the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(3) Sales must take place:
(a) At the department’s regional office administering the
respective sale; or
(b) On county property designated by the board of
county commissioners or county legislative authority of the
county in which the whole or majority of state lands are situated. [2003 c 334 § 344; (2003 c 381 § 2 repealed by 2006 c
42 § 3); 2001 c 250 § 6; 1997 c 116 § 2; 1989 c 148 § 2; 1988
c 136 § 3; 1983 c 2 § 17. Prior: 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 156;
1982 c 27 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 123 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 14 § 3; 1959
c 257 § 18; 1927 c 255 § 46; RRS § 7797-46; prior: 1923 c
19 § 1; 1913 c 36 § 1; 1909 c 223 § 4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c
89 § 14; 1895 c 178 § 28. Formerly RCW 79.01.184,
79.12.300.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1983 c 2 § 17: "Section 17 of this act shall take effect
on July 1, 1983." [1983 c 2 § 18.]
Severability—1983 c 2: See note following RCW 18.71.030.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
County auditor, transfer of duties: RCW 79.02.090.
School and granted lands, manner and terms of sale: State Constitution Art.
16 § 2.
Olympia office, the region headquarters administering such
sale, and in the office of the county auditor of such county.
The notice shall specify the place, date, and time of sale, the
appraised value of the land, describe with particularity each
parcel of land to be sold, and specify that the terms of sale
will be available in the region headquarters and the department’s Olympia office.
(2) The advertisement is for informational purposes
only, and under no circumstances does the information in the
notice of sale constitute a warranty that the purchaser will
receive the stated values, volumes, or acreage. All purchasers are expected to make their own measurements, evaluations, and appraisals.
(3) The department shall print a list of all public lands
and the appraised value thereof, that are to be sold. This list
should be published in a pamphlet form to be issued at least
four weeks prior to the date of any sale of the lands. The list
should be organized by county and by alphabetical order, and
provide sale information to prospective buyers. The department shall retain for free distribution in the Olympia office
and the region offices sufficient copies of the pamphlet, to be
kept in a conspicuous place, and, when requested so to do,
shall mail copies of the pamphlet as issued to any requesting
applicant. The department may seek additional means of
publishing the information in the pamphlet, such as on the
internet, to increase the number of prospective buyers.
(4) The sale of valuable materials appraised at an amount
not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars, as
described in *RCW 79.01.200 and as authorized by the board
of natural resources, are exempt from the requirements of
subsection (3) of this section. [2003 c 381 § 4; 2003 c 334 §
346; 2001 c 250 § 7; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 157; 1959 c 257 §
19; 1927 c 255 § 47; RRS § 7797-47. Prior: 1923 c 19 § 1;
1913 c 36 § 1; 1909 c 223 § 4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 89 §
14; 1895 c 178 § 28. Formerly RCW 79.01.188, 79.12.310.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 79.01.200 was recodified as RCW 79.11.090
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 556.
(2) This section was amended by 2003 c 334 § 346 and by 2003 c 381
§ 4, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
County auditor, transfer of duties: RCW 79.02.090.
79.11.140
79.11.140 Additional advertising. The department is
authorized to expend any sum in additional advertising of
such sale as it determines to be for the best interest of the
state. [2003 c 334 § 348; 1927 c 255 § 48; RRS § 7797-48.
Prior: 1923 c 19 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 14. Formerly codified as
RCW 79.01.192, 79.12.320.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.130
79.11.130 Notice—Pamphlet—List of lands to be
sold—Certain valuable materials exempt. (1) The department shall give notice of the sale by advertisement published
not fewer than two times during a four-week period prior to
the time of sale in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the whole, or any part of any lot,
block, or tract of land to be sold is situated, and by posting a
copy of the notice in a conspicuous place in the department’s
[Title 79 RCW—page 20]
79.11.150
79.11.150 Conduct of sales. Sales by public auction
under this chapter shall be conducted under the direction of
the department or its authorized representative. The department or department’s representative are hereinafter referred
to as auctioneers. On or before the time specified in the
notice of sale each bidder shall deposit with the auctioneer, in
cash or by certified check, cashier’s check, money order pay(2006 Ed.)
State Land Sales
able to the order of the department of natural resources, or by
bid guarantee in the form of bid bond acceptable to the
department, an amount equal to the deposit specified in the
notice of sale. The deposit shall include a specified amount
of the appraised price for the land offered for sale, together
with any fee required by law for the issuance of contracts,
deeds, or bills of sale. The deposit may, when prescribed in
notice of sale, be considered an opening bid of an amount not
less than the minimum appraised price established in the
notice of sale. The successful bidder’s deposit will be
retained by the auctioneer and the difference, if any, between
the deposit and the total amount due shall on the day of the
sale be paid in cash, certified check, cashier’s check, bank
draft, or money order, made payable to the department. If a
bid bond is used, the share of the total deposit due guaranteed
by the bid bond shall, within ten days of the day of sale, be
paid in cash, certified check, cashier’s check, money order, or
other acceptable payment method payable to the department.
Other deposits, if any, shall be returned to the respective bidders at the conclusion of each sale. The auctioneer shall
deliver to the purchaser a memorandum of his or her purchase
containing a description of the land or materials purchased,
the price bid, and the terms of the sale. The auctioneer shall
at once send to the department the cash, certified check, cashier’s check, bank draft, money order, bid guarantee, or other
acceptable payment method received from the purchaser, and
a copy of the memorandum delivered to the purchaser,
together with such additional report of the proceedings with
reference to such sales as may be required by the department.
[2003 c 334 § 354; 2001 c 250 § 8; 1982 c 27 § 2; 1979 c 54
§ 3; 1961 c 73 § 4; 1959 c 257 § 22; 1927 c 255 § 51; RRS §
7797-51. Prior: 1923 c 19 § 1; 1913 c 36 § 1; 1909 c 223 §
4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 14; 1895 c 178 § 28. Formerly
RCW 79.01.204, 79.12.350.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.160
79.11.160 Deposit by purchaser to cover value of
improvements. A purchaser of state lands who is not the
owner of the authorized improvements thereon shall deposit
with the auctioneer making the sale, at the time of the sale,
the appraised value of such improvements. The department
shall pay to the owner of the improvements the sum deposited. However, when the improvements are owned by the
state in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or have
been acquired by the state by escheat or operation of law, the
purchaser may pay for such improvements in equal annual
installments at the same time, and with the same rate of interest, as the installments of the purchase price of the land are
paid, and under such rules regarding use and care of the
improvements as may be fixed by the department. [2003 c
334 § 338; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 7; 1935 c 57 § 1; 1927 c 255 §
37; RRS § 7797-37. Prior: 1915 c 147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3;
1907 c 256 § 6; 1901 c 148 § 1; 1899 c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 §
12; 1895 c 178 § 23. Formerly RCW 79.01.148, 79.12.160.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
(2006 Ed.)
79.11.200
79.11.165
79.11.165 Reoffer. Any sale which has been offered,
and for which there are no bids received shall not be reoffered
until it has been readvertised as specified in RCW 79.11.130
and 79.11.140. If all sales cannot be offered within the specified time on the advertised date, the sale shall continue on
the following day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. [2003 c
334 § 349; 1965 ex.s. c 23 § 3; 1959 c 257 § 20; 1927 c 255
§ 49; RRS § 7797-49. Prior: 1923 c 19 § 1; 1913 c 36 § 1;
1909 c 223 § 4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 14; 1895 c 178 §
28. Formerly RCW 79.01.196, 79.12.330.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.175
79.11.175 Confirmation of sale. The department shall
enter upon its records a confirmation of sale and issue to the
purchaser a contract of sale if the following conditions have
been met:
(1) No fewer than ten days have passed since the auctioneer’s report has been filed;
(2) No affidavit is filed with the department showing that
the interests of the state in the sale was injuriously affected by
fraud or collusion;
(3) It appears from the auctioneer’s report that:
(a) The sale was fairly conducted; and
(b) The purchaser was the highest bidder and the bid was
not less than the appraised value of the land sold;
(4) The department is satisfied that the land sold would
not, upon being readvertised and offered for sale, sell for at
least ten percent more than the price bid by the purchaser;
(5) The payment required by law to be made at the time
of making the sale has been made;
(6) The department determines the best interests of the
state will be served by confirming the sale. [2003 c 334 §
357; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 158; 1959 c 257 § 23; 1927 c 255 §
53; RRS § 7797-53. Prior: 1907 c 256 § 7; 1903 c 79 § 2;
1897 c 89 § 15; 1895 c 178 § 29. Formerly RCW 79.01.212,
79.12.370.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
County auditor, transfer of duties: RCW 79.02.090.
79.11.190
79.11.190 Readvertisement of lands not sold. If any
land offered for sale is not sold, it may again be advertised for
sale, as provided in this chapter, whenever in the opinion of
the commissioner it shall be expedient to do so. Whenever
any person applies to the department in writing to have such
land offered for sale, agrees to pay at least the appraised value
thereof and deposits with the department at the time of making such application a sufficient sum of money to pay the cost
of advertising such sale, the land shall again be advertised
and offered for sale as provided in this chapter. [2003 c 334
§ 356; 1927 c 255 § 52; RRS § 7797-52. Prior: 1923 c 19 §
1; 1913 c 36 § 1; 1909 c 223 § 4; 1907 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 89 §
14; 1895 c 178 § 24. Formerly RCW 79.01.208, 79.12.360.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.200
79.11.200 Form of contract—Rate of interest. The
purchaser of state lands under the provisions of this chapter,
except in cases where the full purchase price is paid at the
time of the purchase, shall enter into and sign a contract with
[Title 79 RCW—page 21]
79.11.210
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
the state, to be signed by the commissioner on behalf of the
state, with the seal of the commissioner’s office attached, and
in a form to be prescribed by the attorney general, in which
the purchaser shall covenant to make the payments of principal and interest, computed from the date the contract is
issued, when due, and that the purchaser will pay all taxes
and assessments that may be levied or assessed on such land,
and that on failure to make the payments as prescribed in this
chapter when due all rights of the purchaser under said contract may, at the election of the commissioner, acting for the
state, be forfeited, and that when forfeited the state shall be
released from all obligation to convey the land. The purchaser’s rights under the real estate contract shall not be forfeited except as provided in chapter 61.30 RCW.
The contract provided for in this section shall be executed in duplicate, and one copy shall be retained by the purchaser and the other shall be filed in the department’s Olympia office.
The commissioner may, as deemed advisable, extend the
time for payment of principal and interest on contracts heretofore issued, and contracts to be issued under this chapter.
The department shall notify the purchaser of any state
lands in each instance when payment on the purchaser’s contract is overdue, and that the purchaser is liable to forfeiture if
payment is not made when due. [2003 c 334 § 361; 1985 c
237 § 18; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 162; 1959 c 257 § 26; 1927 c
255 § 57; RRS § 7797-57. Prior: 1897 c 89 §§ 17, 18, 27;
1895 c 178 §§ 30, 31. Formerly RCW 79.01.228, 79.12.400.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—Application—1985 c 237: See RCW
61.30.905 and 61.30.910.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.11.210
79.11.210 Reservation in contract. Each and every
contract for the sale of, and each deed to, state lands shall
contain the following reservation: "The party of the first part
hereby expressly saves, excepts, and reserves out of the grant
hereby made, unto itself and its successors and assigns forever, all oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils of every
name, kind, or description, and which may be in or upon said
lands above described, or any part thereof, and the right to
explore the same for such oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals,
and fossils; and it also hereby expressly saves and reserves
out of the grant hereby made, unto itself and its successors
and assigns forever, the right to enter by itself or its agents,
attorneys, and servants upon said lands, or any part or parts
thereof, at any and all times, for the purpose of opening,
developing, and working mines thereon, and taking out and
removing therefrom all such oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals,
and fossils, and to that end it further expressly reserves out of
the grant hereby made, unto itself its successors and assigns,
forever, the right by its or their agents, servants, and attorneys
at any and all times to erect, construct, maintain, and use all
such buildings, machinery, roads, and railroads, sink such
shafts, remove such soil, and to remain on said lands or any
part thereof for the business of mining and to occupy as much
of said lands as may be necessary or convenient for the successful prosecution of such mining business, hereby
expressly reserving to itself and its successors and assigns, as
aforesaid, generally, all rights and powers in, to, and over
[Title 79 RCW—page 22]
said land, whether herein expressed or not, reasonably necessary or convenient to render beneficial and efficient the complete enjoyment of the property and the rights hereby
expressly reserved.
No rights shall be exercised under the foregoing reservation, by the state or its successors or assigns, until provision
has been made by the state or its successors or assigns, to pay
to the owner of the land upon which the rights reserved under
this section to the state or its successors or assigns, are sought
to be exercised, full payment for all damages sustained by
said owner, by reason of entering upon said land: PROVIDED, That if said owner from any cause whatever refuses
or neglects to settle said damages, then the state or its successors or assigns, or any applicant for a lease or contract from
the state for the purpose of prospecting for or mining valuable
minerals, or option contract, or lease, for mining coal, or
lease for extracting petroleum or natural gas, shall have the
right to institute such legal proceedings in the superior court
of the county wherein the land is situate, as may be necessary
to determine the damages which said owner of said land may
suffer." [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 161; 1927 c 255 § 56; RRS §
7797-56. Prior: 1917 c 149 § 1; 1915 c 147 § 3; 1907 c 256
§ 3; 1897 c 89 § 16; 1895 c 178 §§ 25, 29. Formerly RCW
79.01.224, 79.12.410.]
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.11.220 Relinquishment to United States, in certain
cases of reserved mineral rights. Whenever the state shall
have heretofore sold or may hereafter sell any state lands and
issued a contract of purchase or executed a deed of conveyance therefor, in which there is a reservation of all oils, gases,
coal, ores, minerals, and fossils of every kind and of rights in
connection therewith, and the United States of America shall
have acquired for governmental purposes and uses all right,
title, claim, and interest of the purchaser, or grantee, or his or
her successors in interest or assigns, in or to the contract or
the land described therein, except such reserved rights, and
no oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, or fossils of any kind have
been discovered or are known to exist in or upon such lands,
the commissioner may, if it is advisable, cause to be prepared
a deed of conveyance to the United States of America of such
reserved rights, and certify the same to the governor in the
manner provided by law for deeds to state lands, and the governor shall be, and hereby is authorized to execute, and the
secretary of state to attest, a deed of conveyance for such
reserved rights to the United States of America. [2003 c 334
§ 449; 1931 c 105 § 1; RRS § 8124-1. Formerly RCW
79.08.110.]
79.11.220
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Certification of deed to governor: RCW 79.02.270.
PART 2
PLATTING
79.11.250 Lands subject to platting. The department
shall cause all unplatted state lands, within the limits of any
incorporated city or town, or within two miles of the boundary thereof, where the valuation of such lands is found by
appraisement to exceed one hundred dollars per acre, to be
platted into lots and blocks, of not more than five acres in a
79.11.250
(2006 Ed.)
State Land Sales
block, before the same are offered for sale, and not more than
one block shall be offered for sale in one parcel. The department may designate or describe any such plat by name, or
numeral, or as an addition to such city or town, and, upon the
filing of any such plat, it shall be sufficient to describe the
lands, or any portion thereof, embraced in such plat, according to the designation prescribed by the department. Such
plats shall be made in duplicate, and when properly authenticated by the department, one copy thereof shall be filed in the
office of the department and one copy in the office of the
county auditor in which the lands are situated, and the auditor
shall receive and file such plats without compensation or fees
and make record thereof in the same manner as required by
law for the filing and recording of other plats in the auditor’s
office.
In selling lands subject to the provisions of Article 16,
section 4, of the state Constitution, the department will be
permitted to sell the land within the required land subdivision
without being required to complete the construction of
streets, utilities, and such similar things as may be required
by any local government entity in the instance of the platting
of private or other property within their area of jurisdiction.
However, no construction will be permitted on lands so sold
until the purchaser or purchasers collectively comply with all
of the normal requirements for platting. [2003 c 334 § 324;
1967 ex.s. c 78 § 4; 1959 c 257 § 6; 1927 c 255 § 25; RRS §
7797-25. Prior: 1909 c 223 § 2; 1907 c 256 § 5; 1903 c 74 §
1; 1897 c 89 § 11; 1895 c 178 §§ 17, 18. Formerly RCW
79.01.100, 79.12.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Platting: State Constitution Art. 16 § 4.
Recording—Duties of county auditor: Chapter 65.04 RCW.
79.11.260
79.11.260 Vacation—Vested rights. When, in the
judgment of the department the best interest of the state will
be thereby promoted, the department may vacate any plat or
plats covering state lands, and vacate any street, alley, or
other public place therein situated. The vacation of any such
plat shall not affect the vested rights of any person or persons
theretofore acquired therein. In the exercise of this authority
to vacate the department shall enter an order in the records of
its office and at once forward a certified copy thereof to the
county auditor of the county wherein the platted lands are
located. The auditor shall cause the same to be recorded in
the miscellaneous records of the auditor’s office and noted on
the plat by reference to the volume and page of the record.
[2003 c 334 § 325; 1959 c 257 § 7; 1927 c 255 § 26; RRS §
7797-26. Prior: 1903 c 127 §§ 1, 2. Formerly RCW
79.01.104, 79.12.050.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.270
79.11.270 Vacation—Preference right to purchase.
Whenever all the owners and other persons having a vested
interest in the lands abutting on any street, alley, or other public place, or any portion thereof, in any plat of state lands,
lying outside the limits of any incorporated city or town, petition the department, the department may vacate any such
tract, alley, or public place or part thereof and in such case all
such streets, alleys, or other public places or portions thereof
so vacated shall be platted, appraised, and sold or leased in
(2006 Ed.)
79.11.320
the manner provided for the platting, appraisal, and sale or
lease of similar lands. However, where the area vacated can
be determined from the plat already filed it shall not be necessary to survey such area before platting the same. The
owner or owners, or other persons having a vested interest in
the lands abutting on any of the lots, blocks, or other parcels
platted upon the lands embraced within any area vacated as
provided in this section, shall have a preference right for the
period of sixty days from the date of filing with the department such plat and the appraisal of such lots, blocks, or other
parcels of land, to purchase the same at the appraised value
thereof. [2003 c 334 § 326; 1959 c 257 § 8; 1927 c 255 § 27;
RRS § 7797-27. Prior: 1903 c 127 § 3. Formerly RCW
79.01.108, 79.12.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 3
OTHER SALE PROVISIONS
79.11.290
79.11.290 Leased lands reserved from sale. State
lands held under lease as provided in RCW 79.13.370 shall
not be offered for sale, or sold, during the life of the lease,
except upon application of the lessee. [2003 c 334 § 380;
1927 c 255 § 75; RRS § 7797-75. Prior: 1897 c 89 § 23. Formerly RCW 79.01.300, 79.12.560.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.310
79.11.310 Sale of lands with low-income potential.
(1) The purpose of this section is to provide revenues to the
state and its various taxing districts through the sale of public
lands which are currently used primarily for grazing and similar low priority purposes, by enabling their development as
irrigated agricultural lands.
(2) All applications for the purchase of lands of the foregoing character, when accompanied by a proposed plan of
development of the lands for a higher priority use, shall be
individually reviewed by the board. The board shall thereupon determine whether the sale of the lands is in the public
interest and upon an affirmative finding shall offer such lands
for sale. However, any such parcel of land shall be sold to the
highest bidder but only at a bid equal to or higher than the last
appraised valuation thereof as established by appraisers for
the department for any such parcel of land. Further, any
lands lying within United States reclamation areas, the sale
price of which is limited or otherwise regulated pursuant to
federal reclamation laws or regulations thereunder, need not
be offered for sale so long as such limitations or regulations
are applicable thereto.
(3) The department shall adopt appropriate rules defining properties of such irrigated agricultural potential and
shall take into account the economic benefits to the locality in
classifying such properties for sale. [2003 c 334 § 381; 1967
ex.s. c 78 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.301.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.11.320
79.11.320 Assessments added to purchase price. (1)
When any public land of the state is offered for sale and the
state has paid assessments for local improvements, or benefits, to any municipal corporation authorized by law to assess
[Title 79 RCW—page 23]
79.11.340
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
the same, the amount of the assessments paid by the state
shall be added to the appraised value of such land.
(2) The amount of assessments paid by the state shall be
paid by the purchaser in addition to the amount due the state
for the land.
(3) In case of sale by contract under RCW 79.11.220 the
purchaser may pay the assessments in equal annual installments at the same time, and with the same rate of interest
upon deferred payments, as the installments of the purchase
price for the land are paid.
(4) No deed shall be executed until such assessments
have been paid. [2003 c 334 § 430; 1927 c 255 § 192; RRS §
7797-192. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 180 § 1; 1909 c 154 § 7; 1907
c 73 § 3; 1905 c 144 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.728,
79.44.110.]
79.13.120
79.13.130
79.13.140
79.13.150
79.13.160
79.13.170
79.13.180
PART 3
AGRICULTURAL/GRAZING LEASES
79.13.320
79.13.330
79.13.340
79.13.350
79.13.360
79.13.370
79.13.380
79.13.390
79.13.400
79.13.410
79.13.500
79.13.510
79.11.340
79.11.340 Sale of acquired lands. (1) Except as provided in RCW 79.10.030(2), the department shall manage
and control all lands acquired by the state by escheat, deed of
sale, gift, devise, or under RCW 79.19.010 through
79.19.110, except such lands that are conveyed or devised to
the state for a particular purpose.
(2) When the department determines to sell the lands,
they shall initially be offered for sale either at public auction
or direct sale to public agencies as provided in this chapter.
(3) If the lands are not sold at public auction, the department may, with approval of the board, market the lands
through persons licensed under chapter 18.85 RCW or
through other commercially feasible means at a price not
lower than the land’s appraised value.
(4) Necessary marketing costs may be paid from the sale
proceeds. For the purpose of this subsection, necessary marketing costs include reasonable costs associated with advertising the property and paying commissions.
(5) Proceeds of the sale shall be deposited into the appropriate fund in the state treasury unless the grantor in any deed
or the testator in case of a devise specifies that the proceeds
of the sale be devoted to a particular purpose. [2003 c 334 §
399.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Chapter 79.13
Chapter 79.13 RCW
LAND LEASES
Sections
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.13.010
79.13.020
79.13.030
79.13.040
79.13.050
79.13.060
79.13.070
79.13.080
79.13.090
Lease of state lands—General.
Who may lease.
Lease contents.
Inspections—Surveys.
Improvements.
Lease terms.
Forfeiture.
Disposition of crops on forfeited land.
Leases to United States for national defense.
PART 2
LEASE PROCEDURE
79.13.110
Types of lease authorization.
[Title 79 RCW—page 24]
Share crop leases authorized.
Harvest, storage of crop—Notice—Warehouse receipt.
Sale, storage, or other disposition of crops.
Insurance of crop—Division of cost.
Application of other provisions to share crop leases.
Grazing leases—Restrictions.
Livestock grazing on lieu lands.
Grazing permits—United States government.
Improvement of grazing ranges—Agreements.
Improvement of grazing ranges—Extension of permit.
PART 4
OTHER LEASES
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Assessments paid by state to be added to purchase price of land: RCW
79.44.095.
Notice of leasing.
Lease procedure—Scheduling auctions.
Public auction procedure.
Lease/rent of acquired lands.
Appraisement of improvement before lease.
Water right for irrigation as improvement.
Record of leases.
79.13.520
79.13.530
Amateur radio repeater stations—Legislative intent.
Amateur radio electronic repeater sites and units—Reduced
rental rates—Frequencies.
Nonprofit television reception improvements districts—
Rental of public lands—Intent.
Geothermal resources—Guidelines for development.
PART 5
ECOSYSTEM STANDARDS
79.13.600
79.13.610
79.13.620
Findings—Salmon stocks—Grazing lands—Coordinated
resource management plans.
Grazing lands—Fish and wildlife goals—Technical advisory
committee—Implementation.
Purpose—Ecosystem standards.
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.13.010
79.13.010 Lease of state lands—General. (1) Subject
to other provisions of this chapter and subject to rules
adopted by the board, the department may lease state lands
for purposes it deems advisable, including, but not limited to,
commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural, and recreational purposes in order to obtain a fair market rental return
to the state or the appropriate constitutional or statutory trust.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the
contrary, in leases for residential purposes, the board may
waive or modify any conditions of the lease if the waiver or
modification is necessary to enable any federal agency or
lending institution authorized to do business in this state or
elsewhere in the United States to participate in any loan
secured by a security interest in a leasehold interest.
(3) Any land granted to the state by the United States
may be leased for any lawful purpose in such minimum acreage as may be fixed by the department.
(4) The department shall exercise general supervision
and control over the lease of state lands for any lawful purpose.
(5) State lands leased or for which permits are issued or
contracts are entered into for the prospecting and extraction
of valuable materials, coal, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons are
subject to the provisions of chapter 79.14 RCW. [2003 c 334
§ 366; 1984 c 222 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 10. Formerly
RCW 79.01.242.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Land Leases
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 222: See RCW 79.19.900 and
79.19.901.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.13.020
79.13.020 Who may lease. Any person desiring to
lease any state lands for any purpose not prohibited by law
may make application to the department on forms provided
by the department and accompanied by the fee provided
under RCW 79.02.250. [2003 c 334 § 370.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.030
79.13.030 Lease contents. Every lease issued by the
department must contain:
(1) The specific use or uses to which the land is to be
employed;
(2) The improvements required, if any;
(3) Provisions providing that the rent is payable in
advance in quarterly, semiannual, or annual payments as
determined by the department, or as agreed upon by the lessee and the department;
(4) Other terms and conditions as the department deems
advisable, subject to review by the board, to achieve the purposes of the state Constitution and this chapter. [2003 c 334
§ 367.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.040
79.13.040 Inspections—Surveys. (1) When in the
judgment of the department there is sufficient interest for the
lease of state lands, it must inspect each tract of land as to its
topography, development potential, forestry, agricultural,
and grazing qualities; the presence of coal, mineral, stone,
gravel, or other valuable materials; the distance from any city
or town, railroad, river, irrigation canal, ditch, or other waterway; and location of utilities.
(2) The department may survey any state lands to determine the area subject to lease.
(3) It is the duty of the department to prepare all reports,
data, and information in its records pertaining to any proposed lease.
(4) The department may order that any particular application for a lease be held in abeyance pending further inspection and report by the department. Based on the further
inspection and report, the department must determine
whether or not, and the terms upon which, the proposed lease
is consummated. [2003 c 334 § 316.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.050
79.13.050 Improvements. (1) Only improvements
authorized in writing by the department or consistent with the
approved plan of development may be placed on the state
lands under lease. Improvements are subject to the following
conditions:
(a) A minimum reasonable time must be allowed for
completion of the improvements;
(b) Improvements become the property of the state at the
expiration or termination of the lease unless otherwise agreed
upon under the terms of the lease; and
(c) The department may require improvements to be
removed at the end of the lease term at the lessee’s expense.
(2006 Ed.)
79.13.070
(2) Any improvements placed upon any state lands without the written authority of the department become the property of the state and are considered part of the land, unless
required to be removed by the lessee under subsection (1)(c)
of this section. [2003 c 334 § 315.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.060
79.13.060 Lease terms. (1) State lands may be leased
not to exceed ten years with the following exceptions:
(a) The lands may be leased for agricultural purposes not
to exceed twenty-five years, except:
(i) Leases that authorize tree fruit or grape production
may be for up to fifty-five years;
(ii) Share crop leases may not exceed ten years;
(b) The lands may be leased for commercial, industrial,
business, or recreational purposes not to exceed fifty-five
years;
(c) The lands may be leased for public school, college, or
university purposes not to exceed seventy-five years; and
(d) The lands may be leased for residential purposes not
to exceed ninety-nine years.
(2) No lessee of state lands may remain in possession of
the land after the termination or expiration of the lease without the written consent of the department.
(a) The department may authorize a lease extension for a
specific period beyond the term of the lease for cropping
improvements for the purpose of crop rotation. These
improvements shall be deemed authorized improvements
under RCW 79.13.030.
(b) Upon expiration of the lease term, the department
may allow the lessee to continue to hold the land for a period
not exceeding one year upon such rent, terms, and conditions
as the department may prescribe, if the leased land is not otherwise utilized.
(c) Upon expiration of the one-year lease extension, the
department may issue a temporary permit to the lessee upon
terms and conditions it prescribes if the department has not
yet determined the disposition of the land for other purposes.
(d) The temporary permit shall not extend beyond a fiveyear period.
(3) If during the term of the lease of any state lands for
agricultural, grazing, commercial, residential, business, or
recreational purposes, in the opinion of the department it is in
the best interest of the state so to do, the department may, on
the application of the lessee and in agreement with the lessee,
alter and amend the terms and conditions of the lease. The
sum total of the original lease term and any extension thereof
shall not exceed the limits provided in this section. [2003 c
334 § 323.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.070
79.13.070 Forfeiture. If any rental is not paid on or
before its due date according to the terms of the lease, the
department must declare a forfeiture, cancel the lease, and
eject the lessee from the land. The department may extend
the time for payment of annual rental when in its judgment
the interests of the state will not be prejudiced by the extension. [2003 c 334 § 375.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 25]
79.13.080
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
79.13.080
79.13.080 Disposition of crops on forfeited land.
Whenever the state of Washington shall become the owner of
any growing crop, or crop grown upon, any state lands, by
reason of the forfeiture, cancellation, or termination of any
contract or lease of state lands, or from any other cause, the
department is authorized to arrange for the harvesting, sale,
or other disposition of such crop in such manner as the
department deems for the best interest of the state, and shall
pay the proceeds of any such sale into the state treasury to be
credited to the same fund as the rental of the lands upon
which the crop was grown would be credited. [2003 c 334 §
342; 1927 c 255 § 43; RRS § 7797-43. Prior: 1915 c 89 §§
1, 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.172, 79.12.240.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.090
79.13.090 Leases to United States for national
defense. State lands may be leased to the United States for
national defense purposes at the fair rental value thereof as
determined by the department, for a period of five years or
less. Such leases may be made without competitive bidding
at public auction and without payment in advance by the
United States government of the first year’s rental. Such
leases otherwise shall be negotiated and arranged in the same
manner as other leases of state lands. [2003 c 334 § 450;
1941 c 66 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8122-1. Formerly RCW
79.08.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 2
LEASE PROCEDURE
79.13.110
79.13.110 Types of lease authorization. (1) The
department may authorize the use of state land by lease at
state auction for initial leases or by negotiation for existing
leases.
(2) Leases that authorize commercial, industrial, or residential uses may be entered into by public auction or negotiations at the option of the department. Negotiations are subject to rules approved by the board. [2003 c 334 § 368.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.120
79.13.120 Notice of leasing. (1) The department must
give thirty days’ notice of leasing by public auction. The
notice must:
(a) Specify the place and time of auction, bid deposit if
any, the appraised value, describe each parcel to be leased,
and the terms and conditions of the lease;
(b) Be posted in some conspicuous place in the county
auditor’s office and the department’s regional headquarters
administering the lease; and
(c) Be published in at least two newspapers of general
circulation in the area where the state land subject to public
auction leasing is located.
(2) Notice of intent to lease by negotiation must be published in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the
area where the state land subject to lease negotiation is
located. The notice must be published within the ninety days
preceding commencement of negotiations.
[Title 79 RCW—page 26]
(3) The department is authorized to conduct any additional advertising that it determines to be in the best interest
of the state. [2003 c 334 § 369.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.130
79.13.130 Lease procedure—Scheduling auctions.
(1) When the department decides to lease any state lands at
public auction it is the duty of the department to fix the date,
place, and time when such lands shall be offered for lease.
(2) The auction must be conducted between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(3) The auction must take place:
(a) At the department’s regional office administering the
lease; or
(b) When leases are auctioned by the county auditor, in
the county where the state land to be leased is situated at such
place as specified in the notice. [2003 c 334 § 372; 1979 ex.s.
c 109 § 11; 1927 c 255 § 62; RRS § 7797-62. Prior: 1897 c
89 § 20. Formerly RCW 79.01.248, 79.12.440.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.13.140
79.13.140 Public auction procedure. (1) All leasing
by public auction shall be by oral or by sealed bid. Leases
will be awarded to the highest bidder on the terms prescribed
by law and as specified in the notice of leasing described in
RCW 79.13.120. No lease may be awarded for less than the
appraised value.
(2) The public auction must be conducted under the
direction of the department or by the auditor for the county in
which the land to be leased is located. The person conducting
the auction is called the auctioneer.
(3) The person to whom a lease of state lands is awarded
shall pay the rental in accordance with that person’s bid to the
auctioneer in cash or by certified check or accepted draft on
any bank in this state.
(4) The auctioneer shall send to the department such
cash, certified check, draft, or money order received from the
successful bidder, together with any additional report of the
auction proceeding as may be required by the department.
(5) The department may reject any and all bids when the
interests of the state justify it. If the department rejects a bid,
it must refund any rental and bid deposit to the bidder upon
return of the receipts issued.
(6) If the department approves any leasing made by the
auctioneer, it must proceed to issue a lease to the successful
bidder upon a form approved by the attorney general.
(a) All leases must be in duplicate and both copies signed
by the lessee and the department.
(b) One signed copy must be forwarded to the lessee and
one signed copy must be kept in the office of the department.
[2003 c 334 § 373.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.150
79.13.150 Lease/rent of acquired lands. (1) Except as
provided in RCW 79.10.030(2), the department shall manage
and control all lands acquired by the state through escheat,
(2006 Ed.)
Land Leases
deed of sale, gift, devise, or under RCW 79.19.010 through
79.19.110, except lands that are conveyed or devised to the
state for a particular purpose.
(2) The department shall lease the lands in the same
manner as school lands.
(3) The department may employ agents to rent any
escheated, deeded, or devised lands, or lands acquired under
RCW 79.19.010 through 79.19.110 for such rental, time, and
manner as the department directs.
(a) The agent shall not rent the property for a period
longer than one year.
(b) No tenant is entitled to compensation for any
improvement that he or she makes on the property.
(c) The agent shall cause repairs to be made to the property as the department directs.
(d) Rental shall be transmitted monthly to the department. The agent shall deduct the cost of any repairs made
under (c) of this subsection, together with such compensation
and commission as the department authorizes from the rental.
(4) Proceeds of any lease or rental shall be deposited into
the appropriate fund in the state treasury. If the grantor in any
deed or the testator in case of a devise specifies that the proceeds be devoted to a particular purpose, such proceeds shall
be so applied. [2003 c 334 § 400.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.330
application, showing the cost and benefits to be derived
thereby, may purchase or acquire a water right appurtenant to
and in order to irrigate the land leased. If such water right
shall become a valuable and permanent improvement to the
lands, then, in case of the sale or lease of such lands to other
parties, the lessee acquiring such water right shall be entitled
to receive the value thereof as in case of other improvements
which have been placed upon the land by the lessee. [2003 c
334 § 376; 1959 c 257 § 32; 1927 c 255 § 71; RRS § 7797-71.
Prior: 1903 c 79 § 7; 1897 c 89 § 31; 1895 c 178 § 41. Formerly RCW 79.01.284, 79.12.530.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.180
79.13.180 Record of leases. The department shall keep
a full and complete record of all leases issued under the provisions of the preceding sections and the payments made
thereon. [2003 c 334 § 374; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 16; 1933 c
139 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 67; RRS § 7797-67. Prior: 1915 c 147
§ 6; 1909 c 223 § 5; 1897 c 89 § 25. Formerly RCW
79.01.268, 79.12.490.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
PART 3
AGRICULTURAL/GRAZING LEASES
79.13.160
79.13.160 Appraisement of improvement before
lease. Before any state lands are offered for lease, or are
assigned, the department may establish the fair market value
of those authorized improvements not owned by the state. In
the event that agreement cannot be reached between the state
and the lessee on the fair market value, such valuation shall
be submitted to a review board of appraisers. The board is
comprised of the following members: One member to be
selected by the lessee and that person’s expenses shall be
borne by the lessee; one member selected by the state and that
person’s expenses shall be borne by the state; these members
so selected shall mutually select a third member and that person’s expenses shall be shared equally by the lessee and the
state. The majority decision of this appraisal review board
shall be binding on both parties. For this purpose, "fair market value" is defined as: The highest price in terms of money
that a property will bring in a competitive and open market
under all conditions of a fair sale, the buyer and seller, each
prudently knowledgeable and assuming the price is not
affected by undue stimulus. All damages and wastes committed upon such lands and other obligations due from the
lessee shall be deducted from the appraised value of the
improvements. However, the department on behalf of the
respective trust may purchase at fair market value those
improvements if it appears to be in the best interest of the
state from the resource management cost account created in
RCW 79.64.020. [2003 c 334 § 337.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.170
79.13.170 Water right for irrigation as improvement.
At any time during the existence of any lease of state lands,
except lands leased for the purpose of mining of valuable
minerals, or coal, or extraction of petroleum or gas, the lessee
with the consent of the department, first obtained, by written
(2006 Ed.)
79.13.320
79.13.320 Share crop leases authorized. The department may lease state lands on a share crop basis. Upon
receipt of a written application to lease state lands, the department shall make such investigations as it deems necessary. If
the department finds that such a lease would be advantageous
to the state, it may proceed with the leasing of such lands on
such terms and conditions as other state lands are leased.
[2003 c 334 § 466; 1979 ex.s. c 109 § 20; 1961 c 73 § 10;
1949 c 203 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 7895-1. Formerly RCW
79.12.570.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
79.13.330
79.13.330 Harvest, storage of crop—Notice—Warehouse receipt. When crops that are covered by a share crop
lease are harvested, the lessee shall give written notice to the
department that the crop is being harvested, and shall also
give to the department the name and address of the warehouse or elevator to which such crops are sold or in which
such crops will be stored. The lessee shall also serve on the
owner of such warehouse or elevator a written copy of so
much of the lease as shall show the percentage of division of
the proceeds of such crop as between lessee and lessor. The
owner of such warehouse or elevator shall make out a warehouse receipt, which receipt may be negotiable or nonnegotiable as directed by the state, showing the percentage of
crops belonging to the state, and the respective gross and net
amounts, grade, and location thereof, and shall deliver to the
department the receipt for the state’s percentage of such crops
[Title 79 RCW—page 27]
79.13.340
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
within ten days after the owner has received such instructions. [2003 c 334 § 467; 2000 c 18 § 1; 1949 c 203 § 4; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 7895-4. Formerly RCW 79.12.600.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.340
79.13.340 Sale, storage, or other disposition of crops.
The department shall sell the crops covered by the warehouse
receipt required in RCW 79.13.330 and may comply with the
provisions of any federal act or the regulation of any federal
agency with relation to the storage or disposition of the crop.
[2003 c 334 § 468; 1977 c 20 § 1; 1949 c 203 § 5; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 7895-5. Formerly RCW 79.12.610.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.350
79.13.350 Insurance of crop—Division of cost. The
lessee under any share crop lease issued by the department
shall notify the department as soon as an estimated yield of
the crop can be obtained. The estimate must be immediately
submitted to the department, which is hereby authorized to
insure the crop from loss by fire or hail. The cost of such
insurance shall be paid by the state and lessee on the same
basis as the crop returns to which each is entitled. [2003 c
334 § 469; 1949 c 203 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 7895-6. Formerly RCW 79.12.620.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.360
79.13.360 Application of other provisions to share
crop leases. RCW 79.13.320 through 79.13.360 shall not
repeal the provisions of the general leasing statutes of the
state of Washington and all of the general provisions of such
statutes with reference to filing of applications, deposits
required therewith, forfeiture of deposits, cancellation of
leases for noncompliance and general procedures shall apply
to all leases issued under the provisions of RCW 79.13.320
through 79.13.360. [2003 c 334 § 470; 1949 c 203 § 7; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 7895-7. Formerly RCW 79.12.630.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.370
79.13.370 Grazing leases—Restrictions. The lessee,
or assignee of any lease leased for grazing purposes, shall not
use the land for any other purpose than that expressed in the
lease. However, the lessee, or assignee, may surrender the
lease to the department and request the department to issue an
agricultural lease in lieu of the original lease. The department is authorized to issue a new lieu lease for the unexpired
portion of the term of the lease surrendered upon payment of
the fixed rental based on an appraisal of the land for agricultural purposes. Under the lieu lease the lessee shall be permitted to clear, plow, and cultivate the lands as in the case of
an original lease for agricultural purposes. [2003 c 334 §
379; 1959 c 257 § 34; 1927 c 255 § 74; RRS § 7797-74.
Prior: 1903 c 79 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.01.296, 79.12.550.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.380
79.13.380 Livestock grazing on lieu lands. The
department has the power, and it is its duty, to adopt, from
time to time, reasonable rules for the grazing of livestock on
such tracts and areas of the indemnity or lieu lands of the state
contiguous to national forests and suitable for grazing purposes, as have been, or shall be, obtained from the United
[Title 79 RCW—page 28]
States under the provisions of RCW 79.02.120. [2004 c 199
§ 212; 2003 c 334 § 491; 1923 c 85 § 1; RRS § 7826-1. Formerly RCW 79.28.040.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.390
79.13.390 Grazing permits—United States government. The department may issue permits for the grazing of
livestock on the lands described in RCW 79.13.380 in such
manner and upon such terms, as near as may be, as permits
are, or shall be, issued by the United States for the grazing of
livestock on national forest lands. The department may
charge such fees as it deems adequate and advisable. The
department may cooperate with the United States for the protection and preservation of the grazing areas on the state
lands contiguous to national forests and for the administration of the provisions of RCW 79.13.380 and 79.13.390.
[2003 c 334 § 492; 1983 c 3 § 202; 1923 c 85 § 2; RRS §
7826-2. Formerly RCW 79.28.050.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.400
79.13.400 Improvement of grazing ranges—Agreements. The department is hereby authorized on behalf of the
state of Washington to enter into cooperative agreements
with any person as defined in RCW 1.16.080 for the improvement of the state’s grazing ranges by the clearing of debris,
maintenance of trails and water holes, and other requirements
for the general improvement of the grazing ranges. [2003 c
334 § 493; 1963 c 99 § 1; 1955 c 324 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.28.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.410
79.13.410 Improvement of grazing ranges—Extension of permit. In order to encourage the improvement of
grazing ranges by holders of grazing permits, the department
shall consider (1) extension of grazing permit periods to a
maximum of ten years; and (2) reduction of grazing fees, in
situations where the permittee contributes or agrees to contribute to the improvement of the range, financially, by labor,
or otherwise. [2003 c 334 § 494; 1985 c 197 § 3; 1979 ex.s.
c 109 § 21; 1955 c 324 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.28.080.]
Reviser’s note: This section does not apply to state tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. See RCW 79.02.095.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 109: See notes following
RCW 79.11.040.
PART 4
OTHER LEASES
79.13.500
79.13.500 Amateur radio repeater stations—Legislative intent. The department leases state lands and space on
towers located on state lands to amateur radio operators for
their repeater stations. These sites are necessary to maintain
emergency communications for public safety and for use in
disaster relief and search and rescue support.
The licensed amateur radio operators of the state provide
thousands of hours of public communications service to the
state every year. Their communication network spans the
(2006 Ed.)
Land Leases
entire state, based in individual residences and linked across
the state through a series of mountain-top repeater stations.
The amateur radio operators install and maintain their radios
and the electronic repeater stations at their own expense. The
amateur radio operators who use their equipment to perform
public services should not bear the sole responsibility for
supporting the electronic repeater stations.
In recognition of the essential role performed by the
amateur radio operators in emergency communications, the
legislature intends to reduce the rental fee paid by the amateur radio operators while assuring the department full market rental for the use of state-owned property. [2003 c 334 §
461; 1988 c 209 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.12.015.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.510
79.13.510 Amateur radio electronic repeater sites
and units—Reduced rental rates—Frequencies. The
department shall determine the lease rate for amateur radio
electronic repeater sites and units available for public service
communication. For the amateur operator to qualify for a
rent of one hundred dollars per year per site, the amateur
operator shall do one of the following: (1) Register and
remain in good standing with the state’s radio amateur civil
emergency services and amateur radio emergency services
organizations, or (2) if an amateur group, sign a statement of
public service developed by the department.
The legislature’s biennial appropriations shall account
for the estimated difference between the one hundred dollar
per year, per site, per lessee paid by the qualified amateur
operators and the fair market amateur rent, as established by
the department.
The amateur radio regulatory authority approved by the
federal communication commission shall assign the radio frequencies used by amateur radio lessees. The department
shall develop guidelines to determine which lessees are to
receive reduced rental fees as moneys are available by legislative appropriation to pay a portion of the rent for electronic
repeaters operated by amateur radio operators. [2003 c 334 §
462; 1995 c 105 § 1; 1988 c 209 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.12.025.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.13.520
79.13.520 Nonprofit television reception improvements districts—Rental of public lands—Intent. The
department shall determine the fair market rental rate for
leases to nonprofit television reception improvement districts. It is the intent of the legislature to appropriate general
funds to pay a portion of the rent charged to nonprofit television reception improvement districts. It is the further intent
of the legislature that such a lessee pay an annual lease rent of
fifty percent of the fair market rental rate, as long as there is
a general fund appropriation to compensate the trusts for the
remainder of the fair market rental rate. [2003 c 334 § 464;
1994 c 294 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.12.055.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1994 c 294: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 294 § 3.]
79.13.530
79.13.530 Geothermal resources—Guidelines for
development. In an effort to increase potential revenue to
(2006 Ed.)
79.13.600
the geothermal account, the department shall, by December
1, 1991, adopt rules providing guidelines and procedures for
leasing state-owned land for the development of geothermal
resources. [2003 c 334 § 465; 1991 c 76 § 3. Formerly RCW
79.12.095.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Geothermal account: Chapter 43.140 RCW.
PART 5
ECOSYSTEM STANDARDS
79.13.600
79.13.600 Findings—Salmon stocks—Grazing
lands—Coordinated resource management plans. The
legislature finds that many wild stocks of salmonids in the
state of Washington are in a state of decline. Stocks of salmon
on the Columbia and Snake rivers have been listed under the
federal endangered species act, and the bull trout has been
petitioned for listing. Some scientists believe that numerous
other stocks of salmonids in the Pacific Northwest are in
decline or possibly extinct. The legislature declares that to
lose wild stocks is detrimental to the genetic diversity of the
fisheries resource and the economy, and will represent the
loss of a vital component of Washington’s aquatic ecosystems. The legislature further finds that there is a continuing
loss of habitat for fish and wildlife. The legislature declares
that steps must be taken in the areas of wildlife and fish habitat management, water conservation, wild salmonid stock
protection, and education to prevent further losses of Washington’s fish and wildlife heritage from a number of causes
including urban and rural subdivisions, shopping centers,
industrial park, and other land use activities.
The legislature finds that the maintenance and restoration of Washington’s rangelands and shrub-steppe vegetation
is vital to the long-term benefit of the people of the state. The
legislature finds that approximately one-fourth of the state is
open range or open-canopied grazable woodland. The legislature finds that these lands provide forage for livestock, habitat for wildlife, and innumerable recreational opportunities
including hunting, hiking, and fishing.
The legislature finds that the development of coordinated resource management plans, that take into consideration the needs of wildlife, fish, livestock, timber production,
water quality protection, and rangeland conservation on all
state-owned grazing lands will improve the stewardship of
these lands and allow for the increased development and
maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat and other multipurpose benefits the public derives from these lands.
The legislature finds that the state currently provides
insufficient technical support for coordinated resource management plans to be developed for all state-owned lands and
for many of the private lands desiring to develop such plans.
As a consequence of this lack of technical assistance, our
state grazing lands, including fish and wildlife habitat and
other resources provided by these lands, are not achieving
their potential. The legislature also finds that with many state
lands being intermixed with private grazing lands, development of coordinated resource management plans on stateowned and managed lands provides an opportunity to
improve the management and enhance the conditions of adjacent private lands.
[Title 79 RCW—page 29]
79.13.610
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
A purpose of chapter 4, Laws of 1993 sp. sess. is to
establish state grazing lands as the model in the state for the
development and implementation of standards that can be
used in coordinated resource management plans and to
thereby assist the timely development of coordinated
resource management plans for all state-owned grazing
lands. Every lessee of state lands who wishes to participate in
the development and implementation of a coordinated
resource management plan shall have the opportunity to do
so. [1996 c 163 § 2. Prior: 1993 sp.s. c 4 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.01.2951.]
79.13.610
79.13.610 Grazing lands—Fish and wildlife goals—
Technical advisory committee—Implementation. (1) By
December 31, 1993, the department of fish and wildlife shall
develop goals for the wildlife and fish that this agency manages, to preserve, protect, and perpetuate wildlife and fish on
shrub steppe habitat or on lands that are presently agricultural
lands, rangelands, or grazable woodlands. These goals shall
be consistent with the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.
(2) By July 31, 1993, the conservation commission shall
appoint a technical advisory committee to develop standards
that achieve the goals developed in subsection (1) of this section. The committee members shall include but not be limited
to technical experts representing the following interests:
Agriculture, academia, range management, utilities, environmental groups, commercial and recreational fishing interests,
the Washington rangelands committee, Indian tribes, the
department of fish and wildlife, the department of natural
resources, the department of ecology, conservation districts,
and the department of agriculture. A member of the conservation commission shall chair the committee.
(3) By December 31, 1994, the committee shall develop
standards to meet the goals developed under subsection (1) of
this section. These standards shall not conflict with the recovery of wildlife or fish species that are listed or proposed for
listing under the federal endangered species act. These standards shall be utilized to the extent possible in development
of coordinated resource management plans to provide a level
of management that sustains and perpetuates renewable
resources, including fish and wildlife, riparian areas, soil,
water, timber, and forage for livestock and wildlife. Furthermore, the standards are recommended for application to
model watersheds designated by the Northwest power planning council in conjunction with the conservation commission. The maintenance and restoration of sufficient habitat to
preserve, protect, and perpetuate wildlife and fish shall be a
major component included in the standards and coordinated
resource management plans. Application of standards to privately owned lands is voluntary and may be dependent on
funds to provide technical assistance through conservation
districts.
(4) The conservation commission shall approve the standards and shall provide them to the departments of natural
resources and fish and wildlife, each of the conservation districts, and Washington State University cooperative extension service. The conservation districts shall make these standards available to the public and for coordinated resource
management planning. Application to private lands is voluntary.
[Title 79 RCW—page 30]
(5) The department of natural resources shall implement
practices necessary to meet the standards developed pursuant
to this section on department managed agricultural and grazing lands, consistent with the trust mandate of the Washington state Constitution and Title 79 RCW. The standards may
be modified on a site-specific basis as needed to achieve the
fish and wildlife goals, and as determined by the department
of fish and wildlife, and the department of natural resources.
Existing lessees shall be provided an opportunity to participate in any site-specific field review. Department agricultural
and grazing leases issued after December 31, 1994, shall be
subject to practices to achieve the standards that meet those
developed pursuant to this section. [1998 c 245 § 162; 1993
sp.s. c 4 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.295.]
Findings—Grazing lands—1993 sp.s. c 4: See RCW 79.13.600.
79.13.620
79.13.620 Purpose—Ecosystem standards. (1) It is
the purpose of chapter 163, Laws of 1996 that all state agricultural lands, grazing lands, and grazeable woodlands shall
be managed in keeping with the statutory and constitutional
mandates under which each agency operates. Chapter 163,
Laws of 1996 is consistent with section 1, chapter 4, Laws of
1993 sp. sess.
(2) The ecosystem standards developed under chapter 4,
Laws of 1993 sp. sess. for state-owned agricultural and grazing lands are defined as desired ecological conditions. The
standards are not intended to prescribe practices. For this
reason, land managers are encouraged to use an adaptive
management approach in selecting and implementing practices that work towards meeting the standards based on the
best available science and evaluation tools.
(3) For as long as the chapter 4, Laws of 1993 sp. sess.
ecosystem standards remain in effect, they shall be applied
through a collaborative process that incorporates the following principles:
(a) The land manager and lessee or permittee shall look
at the land together and make every effort to reach agreement
on management and resource objectives for the land under
consideration;
(b) They will then discuss management options and
make every effort to reach agreement on which of the available options will be used to achieve the agreed-upon objectives;
(c) No land manager or owner ever gives up his or her
management prerogative;
(d) Efforts will be made to make land management plans
economically feasible for landowners, managers, and lessees
and to make the land management plan compatible with the
lessee’s entire operation;
(e) Coordinated resource management planning is
encouraged where either multiple ownerships, or management practices, or both, are involved;
(f) The department of fish and wildlife shall consider
multiple use, including grazing, on lands owned or managed
by the department of fish and wildlife where it is compatible
with the management objectives of the land; and
(g) The department shall allow multiple use on lands
owned or managed by the department where multiple use can
be demonstrated to be compatible with RCW 79.10.100,
79.10.110, and 79.10.120.
(2006 Ed.)
Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Leases
(4) The ecosystem standards are to be achieved by applying appropriate land management practices on riparian lands
and on the uplands in order to reach the desired ecological
conditions.
(5) The legislature urges that state agencies that manage
grazing lands make planning and implementation of chapter
163, Laws of 1996, using the coordinated resource management and planning process, a high priority, especially where
either multiple ownerships, or multiple use resources objectives, or both, are involved. In all cases, the choice of using
the coordinated resource management planning process will
be a voluntary decision by all concerned parties including
agencies, private landowners, lessees, permittees, and other
interests. [2003 c 334 § 378; 1996 c 163 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.01.2955.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 3
COAL MINING
79.14.470
79.14.480
79.14.490
79.14.500
79.14.510
79.14.520
79.14.530
79.14.540
79.14.550
79.14.560
79.14.570
79.14.580
79.14.900
PART 1
OIL AND GAS
Chapter 79.14 RCW
MINERAL, COAL, OIL, AND GAS LEASES
Sections
PART 1
OIL AND GAS
79.14.010
79.14.020
79.14.030
79.14.040
79.14.050
79.14.060
79.14.070
79.14.080
79.14.090
79.14.100
79.14.110
79.14.120
79.14.130
79.14.140
79.14.150
79.14.160
79.14.170
79.14.180
79.14.190
79.14.200
79.14.210
79.14.220
Definitions.
Leases authorized—Terms—Duration.
Rental fees—Minimum royalties.
Compensation to owners of private rights and to state for surface damage.
Drilling operations beyond lease term—Lease provisions.
Surrender of lease—Liability.
Royalties.
Leases of land within a geologic structure.
Cancellation or forfeiture of leases—New leases.
Cooperative or unit plans—Communization or drilling agreements.
Customary provisions in leases.
Rules.
Wells to be located minimum distance from boundaries—
Exception.
Rights of way over public lands—Payment for timber.
Sales of timber—Rules.
Development after discovery.
Spacing and offsetting of wells.
Lands may be withheld from leasing.
Payment of royalty share—Royalty in kind.
Prior permits validated—Relinquishment for new leases.
Assignments and subleases of leases.
Appeal from rulings of commissioner.
PART 2
PROSPECTING AND MINING
79.14.300
79.14.310
79.14.315
79.14.320
79.14.330
79.14.340
79.14.350
79.14.360
79.14.370
79.14.380
79.14.390
79.14.400
79.14.410
79.14.420
79.14.430
79.14.440
79.14.450
(2006 Ed.)
Prospecting and mining contracts—Authority.
Prospecting and mining—Public auction of mining contracts.
Recreational prospecting permits.
Department may adopt rules.
Prospecting lease—Application fee.
Compensation for loss or damage to surface rights.
Prospecting leases—Term—Rent—Conditions.
Conversion to mining contract.
Prospecting and mining—Lessee’s rights and duties.
Prospecting and mining—Termination for default.
Prospecting leases and mining contracts—Form, terms, conditions.
Prospecting and mining—Reclamation of premises.
Prospecting and mining—Minimum royalty.
Mining contracts—Renewal of contract.
Prospecting and mining—Consolidation.
Prospecting and mining—Disclosure of information.
Prospecting and mining—Disposition of materials not covered
by lease or contract.
Leases and option contracts authorized.
Application for option contract—Fee.
Investigation and issue of option contract.
Damage to surface owner or lessee.
Lease—Application, terms, royalties.
Lease without option contract.
Confidential information.
Use and sale of materials from land.
Suspension of mining—Termination of lease.
Condition of premises on termination.
Re-lease—Procedure—Preference rights.
Waste prohibited.
Severability—1955 c 131.
Franchises on county roads and bridges: Chapter 36.55 RCW.
Gas and hazardous liquid pipelines: Chapter 81.88 RCW.
Interstate oil compact commission, governor may join: RCW 43.06.015.
Oil and gas conservation: Chapter 78.52 RCW.
Chapter 79.14
(Formerly: Oil and gas leases on state lands)
79.14.030
79.14.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, "public
lands" means lands and areas belonging to or held in trust by
the state, including tide and submerged lands of the Pacific
Ocean or any arm thereof and lands of every kind and nature
including mineral rights reserved to the state. [2003 c 334 §
471; 1967 c 163 § 6; 1955 c 131 § 1. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 1.
Formerly RCW 78.28.280.]
79.14.010
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
1967 c 163 adopted to implement Amendment 42—Severability—
1967 c 163: See notes following RCW 64.16.005.
79.14.020 Leases authorized—Terms—Duration.
The department is authorized to lease public lands for the
purpose of prospecting for, developing, and producing oil,
gas, or other hydrocarbon substances. Each such lease is to
be composed of not more than six hundred forty acres or an
entire government surveyed section, except a lease on river
bed, lake bed, tide and submerged lands which is to be composed of not more than one thousand nine hundred twenty
acres. All leases shall contain such terms and conditions as
may be prescribed by the rules adopted by the commissioner
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Leases
may be for an initial term of from five up to ten years and
shall be extended for so long thereafter as lessee shall comply
with one of the following conditions: (1) Prosecute development on the leased land with the due diligence of a prudent
operator upon encountering oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon
substances; (2) produce any of said substances from the
leased lands; (3) engage in drilling, deepening, repairing, or
redrilling any well thereon; or (4) participate in a unit plan to
which the commissioner has consented under RCW
78.52.450. [2003 c 334 § 472; 1986 c 34 § 1; 1985 c 459 § 2;
1955 c 131 § 2. Prior: 1937 c 161 §§ 2, 3; 1927 c 255 §§ 175,
176. Formerly RCW 78.28.290.]
79.14.020
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1985 c 459: See note following RCW 79.14.510.
79.14.030 Rental fees—Minimum royalties. The
department shall require as a prerequisite to the issuing of any
lease a rental as set by the board but not less than one dollar
and twenty-five cents per acre or such prorated share of the
79.14.030
[Title 79 RCW—page 31]
79.14.040
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
rental per acre as the state’s mineral rights ownership for the
first year of such lease, payable in advance to the department
at the time the lease is awarded and a like rental annually in
advance thereafter so long as such lease remains in force.
However, the rental shall cease at such time as royalty
accrues to the state from production from such lease. Commencing with the lease year beginning on or after oil, gas, or
other hydrocarbon substances are first produced in quantities
deemed paying quantities by lessee on the land subject to
such lease, lessee shall pay a minimum royalty as set by the
board but not less than five dollars per acre or fraction thereof
or such prorated share of the rental per acre as the state’s mineral rights ownership at the expiration of each year. Royalties payable by the lessee shall be the royalties from production as provided for in RCW 79.14.070 or the minimum royalty provided herein, whichever is greater. However, if such
a lease is unitized, the minimum royalty shall be payable only
on the leased acreage after production is obtained in such
paying quantities from such lease. [2003 c 334 § 473; 1985 c
459 § 3; 1980 c 151 § 1; 1955 c 131 § 3. Prior: 1937 c 161 §
4; 1927 c 255 § 176. Formerly RCW 78.28.300.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1985 c 459: See note following RCW 79.14.510.
79.14.040
79.14.040 Compensation to owners of private rights
and to state for surface damage. No lessee shall commence
any operation upon lands covered by the lease until such lessee has provided for compensation to owners of private rights
therein according to law, or in lieu thereof, filed a surety bond
with the department in an amount sufficient in the opinion of
the commissioner to cover such compensation until the
amount of compensation is determined by agreement, arbitration, or judicial decision and has provided for compensation
to the state of Washington for damage to the surface rights of
the state in accordance with the rules adopted by the department. [2003 c 334 § 474; 1955 c 131 § 4. Prior: 1937 c 161
§ 6; 1927 c 255 § 175. Formerly RCW 78.28.310.]
tion continues. [1985 c 459 § 4; 1955 c 131 § 5. Prior: 1937
c 161 § 7; 1927 c 255 § 180. Formerly RCW 78.28.320.]
Severability—1985 c 459: See note following RCW 79.14.510.
79.14.060
79.14.060 Surrender of lease—Liability. Every lessee
shall have the option of surrendering his lease as to all or any
portion or portions of the land covered thereby at any time
and shall be relieved of all liability thereunder with respect to
the land so surrendered except for monetary payments theretofore accrued and except for physical damage to the premises embraced by his lease which have been occasioned by
his operations. [1955 c 131 § 6. Prior: 1937 c 161 §§ 8, 10.
Formerly RCW 78.28.330.]
79.14.070
79.14.070 Royalties. All oil and gas leases issued pursuant to this chapter shall be upon a royalty of not less than
twelve and one-half percent of the gross production of all oil,
gas or other hydrocarbons produced and saved from the lands
covered by such lease. [1955 c 131 § 7. Prior: 1937 c 161 §
9; 1927 c 255 § 176. Formerly RCW 78.28.340.]
79.14.080
79.14.080 Leases of land within a geologic structure.
Oil and gas leases shall not be issued on unleased lands which
have been classified by the department as being within a
known geologic structure of a producing oil or gas field,
except as follows: Upon application of any person, the
department shall lease in areas not exceeding six hundred
forty acres, at public auction, any or all unleased lands within
such geologic structure to the person offering the greatest
cash bonus therefor at such auction. Notice of the offer of
such lands for lease will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Olympia, Washington, and in
such other publications as the department may authorize.
The first publication shall be at least thirty days prior to the
date of sale. [2003 c 334 § 475; 1955 c 131 § 8. Prior: 1937
c 161 §§ 5, 11. Formerly RCW 78.28.350.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.090
79.14.050
79.14.050 Drilling operations beyond lease term—
Lease provisions. All leases shall provide that if oil, gas or
other hydrocarbon substances are not encountered on or
before the end of the initial term, the lease shall not terminate
if the lessee is then prosecuting drilling operations on the
leased lands with due diligence, in which event the same shall
remain in force so long as lessee shall keep one string of tools
in operation on the leased lands, allowing not to exceed
ninety days between the completion of one well and the commencement of the next until such substances are encountered
in quantities deemed paying quantities by lessee. All leases
shall further provide that if oil, gas or other hydrocarbon substances in paying quantities shall have been discovered on the
leased lands prior to the expiration of the initial term, then in
the event at any time after the expiration of the initial term
production on the leased land shall cease from any cause, the
lease shall not terminate provided lessee resumes operations
for the drilling of a well or the restoration of production
within ninety days from such cessation. The lease shall
remain in force during the prosecution of such operations,
and if production results therefrom, then so long as produc[Title 79 RCW—page 32]
79.14.090 Cancellation or forfeiture of leases—New
leases. The department is authorized to cancel any lease
issued as provided in this section for nonpayment of rentals
or royalties or nonperformance by the lessee of any provision
or requirement of the lease. However, before any such cancellation is made, the department shall mail to the lessee by
registered mail, addressed to the post office address of such
lessee shown by the records of the department, a notice of
intention to cancel such lease specifying the default for which
the lease is subject to cancellation. If lessee shall, within
thirty days after the mailing of said notice to the lessee, commence and thereafter diligently and in good faith prosecute
the remedying of the default specified in such notice, then no
cancellation of the lease shall be entered by the department.
Otherwise, the cancellation shall be made and all rights of the
lessee under the lease shall automatically terminate, except
that lessee shall retain the right to continue its possession and
operation of any well or wells in regard to which lessee is not
in default. Further, failure to pay rental and royalty required
under leases within the time prescribed therein shall automatically and without notice work a forfeiture of such leases and
of all rights thereunder. Upon the expiration, forfeiture, or
(2006 Ed.)
Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Leases
surrender of any lease, no new lease covering the lands or any
of them embraced by such expired, forfeited, or surrendered
lease, shall be issued for a period of ten days following the
date of such expiration, forfeiture, or surrender. If more than
one application for a lease covering such lands or any of them
shall be made during such ten-day period the department
shall issue a lease to such lands or any of them to the person
offering the greatest cash bonus for such lease at a public auction to be held at the time and place and in the manner as the
department shall adopt by rule. [2003 c 334 § 476; 1955 c
131 § 9. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 12; 1927 c 255 § 179. Formerly
RCW 78.28.360.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.100
79.14.100 Cooperative or unit plans—Communization or drilling agreements. For the purpose of more properly conserving the natural resources of any oil or gas pool,
field, or like area, lessees thereon and their representatives
may unite with each other, or jointly or separately with others, in collectively adopting and operating under a cooperative or unit plan of development or operation of such pool,
field, or like area, or any part thereof, whenever determined
and certified by the department to be necessary or advisable
in the public interest. The department is authorized, in its discretion, with the consent of the holders of leases involved, in
order to conform with the terms and conditions of any such
cooperative or unit plan to establish, alter, change, or revoke
exploration, drilling, producing, rental, and royalty requirements of such leases with like consent on the part of the lessees, in connection with the institution and operation of any
such cooperative or unit plan as the department may deem
necessary or proper to secure the proper protection of the
public interest.
When separate tracts cannot be independently developed
and operated in conformity with an established well spacing
or development program, any lease or any portion thereof
may be pooled with other lands, whether or not owned by the
state of Washington under a communization or drilling agreement providing for an apportionment of production or royalties among the separate tracts of land comprising the drilling
or spacing unit when determined by the department to be in
the public interest, and operations or production pursuant to
such an agreement shall be deemed to be operations or production as to each such lease committed thereto.
The term of any lease that has become the subject of any
cooperative or unit plan of development or operation of a
pool, field, or like area, which plan has the approval of the
department, shall continue in force until the termination of
such plan, and in the event such plan is terminated prior to the
expiration of any such lease, the original term of such lease
shall continue. Any lease under this chapter hereinafter committed to any such plan embracing lands that are in part
within and in part outside of the area covered by any such
plan, shall be segregated in separate leases as to the lands
committed and the land not committed as of the effective date
of unitization. [2003 c 334 § 477; 1955 c 131 § 10. Prior:
1937 c 161 § 14. Formerly RCW 78.28.370.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
(2006 Ed.)
79.14.140
79.14.110
79.14.110 Customary provisions in leases. The
department is authorized to insert in any lease issued under
the provisions of this chapter such terms as are customary and
proper for the protection of the rights of the state and of the
lessee and of the owners of the surface of the leased lands not
in conflict with the provisions of this chapter. [2003 c 334 §
478; 1955 c 131 § 11. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 15; 1927 c 255 §
178. Formerly RCW 78.28.380.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.120
79.14.120 Rules. The department is required to adopt
and publish, for the information of the public, all reasonable
rules necessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
The department may amend or rescind any rule adopted
under the authority contained in this section. However, no
rule or amendment of the same or any order rescinding any
rule shall become effective until after thirty days from the
adoption of the same by publication in a newspaper of general circulation published at the state capitol and shall take
effect and be in force at times specified therein. All rules of
the department and all amendments or revocations of existing
rules shall be recorded in an appropriate book or books, shall
be adequately indexed, and shall be kept in the office of the
department and shall constitute a public record. Such rules of
the department shall be printed in pamphlet form and furnished to the public free of cost. [2003 c 334 § 479; 1955 c
131 § 12. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 16; 1927 c 255 § 178. Formerly RCW 78.28.390.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.130
79.14.130 Wells to be located minimum distance
from boundaries—Exception. Each lease issued under this
chapter shall provide that without the approval of the department, no well shall be drilled on the lands demised thereby in
such manner or at such location that the producing interval
thereof shall be less than three hundred thirty feet from any of
the outer boundaries of the demised lands, except that if the
right to oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons underlying adjoining
lands be vested in private ownership, such approval shall not
be required. [2003 c 334 § 480; 1955 c 131 § 13. Prior: 1937
c 161 § 17. Formerly RCW 78.28.400.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.140
79.14.140 Rights of way over public lands—Payment
for timber. Any person granted a lease under the provisions
of this chapter shall have a right of way over public lands, as
provided by law, when necessary, for the drilling, recovering,
saving, and marketing of oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons.
Before any such right of way grant shall become effective, a
written application for, and a plat showing the location of
such a right of way and the land necessary for the well site
and drilling operations, with reference to adjoining lands,
shall be filed with the department. All timber on the right of
way and the land necessary for the drilling operation, shall be
appraised by the commissioner and paid for in money by the
person to whom the lease is granted. [2003 c 334 § 481; 1955
c 131 § 14. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 18. Formerly RCW
78.28.410.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 33]
79.14.150
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
79.14.150
79.14.150 Sales of timber—Rules. All sales of timber,
as prescribed in this chapter, shall be made subject to the
right, power, and authority of the department to adopt rules
governing the manner of the removal of the merchantable
timber upon any lands embraced within any lease with the
view of protecting the same and other timber against destruction or injury by fire or from other causes. The rules shall be
binding upon the lessee, his or her successors in interest, and
shall be enforced by the department. [2003 c 334 § 482; 1955
c 131 § 15. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 19. Formerly RCW
78.28.420.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.160
79.14.160 Development after discovery. After the discovery of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons in paying quantities,
lessee shall proceed to develop the oil, gas or other hydrocarbons in the lands covered thereby through the drilling of such
wells as will efficiently extract the oil, gas or other hydrocarbons therefrom and such development shall take into account
the productiveness of the producing horizon, the depth at
which it occurs, the average cost of wells, the market requirements obtaining at any given time, and the maintenance of
proper oil and gas ratios. [1955 c 131 § 16. Prior: 1937 c 161
§ 20. Formerly RCW 78.28.430.]
79.14.170
79.14.170 Spacing and offsetting of wells. All leases
shall contain such terms, conditions, and provisions as will
protect the interests of the state with reference to spacing of
wells for the purpose of offsetting any wells on privately
owned lands. [1955 c 131 § 17. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 21. Formerly RCW 78.28.440.]
79.14.180
79.14.180 Lands may be withheld from leasing.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as
requiring the department to offer any tract or tracts of land for
lease; but the department shall have power to withhold any
tract or tracts from leasing for oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons,
if, in its judgment, the best interest of the state will be served
by so doing. [2003 c 334 § 483; 1955 c 131 § 18. Prior: 1937
c 161 § 24. Formerly RCW 78.28.450.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.190
79.14.190 Payment of royalty share—Royalty in
kind. The lessee shall pay to the department the market value
at the well of the state’s royalty share of oil and other hydrocarbons except gas produced and saved and delivered by lessee from the lease. In lieu of receiving payment for the market value of the state’s royalty share of oil, the department
may elect that such royalty share of oil be delivered in kind at
the mouth of the wells into tanks provided by the department.
Lessee shall pay to the department the state’s royalty share of
the sale price received by the lessee for gas produced and
saved and sold from the lease. If such gas is not sold but is
used by lessee for the manufacture of gasoline or other products, lessee shall pay to the department the market value of
the state’s royalty share of the residue gas and other products,
less a proper allowance for extraction costs. [2003 c 334 §
484; 1955 c 131 § 19. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 25. Formerly
RCW 78.28.460.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 34]
79.14.200
79.14.200 Prior permits validated—Relinquishment
for new leases. All exploration permits issued by the department prior to June 9, 1955, which have not expired or been
legally canceled for nonperformance by the permittees, are
hereby declared to be valid and existing contracts with the
state of Washington, according to their terms and provisions.
The obligation of the state to conform to the terms and provisions of such permits is hereby recognized, and the department is directed to accept and recognize all such permits
according to their express terms and provisions. No repeal or
amendment made by this chapter shall affect any right
acquired under the law as it existed prior to such repeal or
amendment, and such right shall be governed by the law in
effect at time of its acquisition. Any permit recognized and
confirmed by this section may be relinquished to the state by
the permittee, and a new lease or, if such permit contains
more than six hundred forty acres, new leases in the form provided for in this chapter, shall be issued in lieu of same and
without bonus therefor; but the new lease or leases so issued
shall be as provided for in this chapter and governed by the
applicable provisions of this chapter instead of by the law in
effect prior thereto. [2003 c 334 § 485; 1955 c 131 § 20.
Prior: 1937 c 161 § 26. Formerly RCW 78.28.470.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.210
79.14.210 Assignments and subleases of leases. Any
oil or gas lease issued under the authority of this chapter may
be assigned or subleased as to all or part of the acreage
included therein, subject to final approval by the department,
and as to either a divided or undivided interest therein to any
person. Any assignment or sublease shall take effect as of the
first day of the lease month following the date of filing with
the department. However, at the department’s discretion, it
may disapprove an assignment of a separate zone or deposit
under any lease or of a part of a legal subdivision. Upon
approval of any assignment or sublease, the assignee or
sublessee shall be bound by the terms of the lease to the same
extent as if such assignee or sublessee were the original lessee, any conditions in the assignment or sublease to the contrary notwithstanding. Any partial assignment of any lease
shall segregate the assigned and retained portions thereof,
and upon approval of such assignment by the department, the
assignor shall be released and discharged from all obligations
thereafter accruing with respect to the assigned lands. [2003
c 334 § 486; 1955 c 131 § 21. Prior: 1937 c 161 § 27. Formerly RCW 78.28.480.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.220
79.14.220 Appeal from rulings of commissioner. Any
applicant for a lease under this chapter, feeling aggrieved by
any order, decision, or rule of the commissioner, concerning
the same, may appeal therefrom to the superior court of the
county wherein such lands are situated, as provided by RCW
79.02.030. [2003 c 334 § 487; 1955 c 131 § 22. Prior: 1937
c 161 § 28. Formerly RCW 78.28.490.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Leases
PART 2
PROSPECTING AND MINING
79.14.300
79.14.300 Prospecting and mining contracts—
Authority. The department may issue permits and leases for
prospecting, and contracts for the mining of valuable minerals and specified materials, except rock, gravel, sand, silt,
coal, or hydrocarbons, upon and from any public lands
belonging to or held in trust by the state, or which have been
sold and the minerals thereon reserved by the state in tracts
not to exceed six hundred forty acres or an entire government-surveyed section. [2003 c 334 § 401; 1987 c 20 § 1;
1965 c 56 § 2; 1927 c 255 § 155; RRS § 7797-155. Prior:
1917 c 148 § 1; 1915 c 152 § 1; 1897 c 102 § 1. Formerly
RCW 79.01.616, 78.20.010, part, and 78.20.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.310
79.14.310 Prospecting and mining—Public auction
of mining contracts. The department may offer nonrenewable placer mining contracts by public auction for the mining
of gold under terms set by the department. In the case of
lands known to contain valuable minerals or specified materials in commercially significant quantities, the department
may offer mining contracts by public auction. [2003 c 334 §
402; 1987 c 20 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.617.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.315
79.14.315 Recreational prospecting permits. The
department may issue permits for recreational mineral prospecting in designated areas containing noneconomic mineral
deposits. The term of a permit shall not exceed one year. Designated areas, equipment allowed, methods of prospecting, as
well as other appropriate permit conditions, shall be set in
rules adopted by the department. Fees shall be set by the
board of natural resources. [1987 c 20 § 15. Formerly RCW
79.01.651.]
79.14.320
79.14.320 Department may adopt rules. The department may adopt rules necessary for carrying out the mineral
leasing, contracting, and permitting provisions of RCW
79.14.300 through 79.14.450. Such rules shall be enacted
under chapter 34.05 RCW. The department may amend or
rescind any rules adopted under this section. The department
shall publish these rules in pamphlet form for the information
of the public. [2003 c 334 § 403; 1987 c 20 § 3; 1983 c 3 §
200; 1965 c 56 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.618.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.360
fail to execute the lease. [2003 c 334 § 404; 1987 c 20 § 4;
1965 c 56 § 4; 1927 c 255 § 156; RRS § 7797-156. Prior:
1917 c 148 § 2; 1901 c 151 §§ 1, 2; 1897 c 102 §§ 2, 5. Former ly RCW 79.01.620, 78.20.010, part, and RCW
78.20.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.340
79.14.340 Compensation for loss or damage to surface rights. Where the surface rights are held by a third
party, the lessee shall not exercise the rights reserved by the
state upon lands covered by the lessee’s lease or contract until
the lessee has provided the department with satisfactory evidence of compliance with the requirements of the state’s mineral rights reservations. Where the surface rights are held by
the state, the lessee shall not exercise its mineral rights upon
lands covered by the lessee’s lease or contract until the lessee
has made satisfactory arrangements with the department to
compensate the state for loss or damage to the state’s surface
rights. [1987 c 20 § 5; 1965 c 56 § 5; 1927 c 255 § 157; RRS
§ 7797-157. Prior: 1917 c 148 § 3; 1899 c 147 § 1; 1897 c
102 § 6. Formerly RCW 79.01.624, 78.20.040.]
79.14.350
79.14.350 Prospecting leases—Term—Rent—Conditions. Leases for prospecting purposes may be for a term of
up to seven years from the date of the lease. The lessee shall
pay an annual lease rental as set by the board of natural
resources. The annual lease rental shall be paid in advance.
The lessee shall not have the right to extract and remove for
commercial sale or use from the leased premises any minerals or specified materials found on the premises except upon
obtaining a mining contract. The lessee shall perform annual
prospecting work in cost amounts as set by the board of natural resources. The lessee may make payment to the department in lieu of the performance of annual prospecting work
for up to three years during the term of the lease. Prospecting
work performed must contribute to the mineral evaluation of
the leased premises.
The lessee may at any time give notice of intent to terminate the lease if all of the covenants of the lease including reclamation are met. The notice of termination of lease shall be
made by giving written notice together with copies of all
information obtained from the premises. The lease shall terminate sixty days thereafter if all arrears and sums which are
due under the lease up to the time of termination have been
paid. [1987 c 20 § 6; 1965 c 56 § 6; 1945 c 103 § 1; 1927 c
255 § 158; RRS § 7797-158. Prior: 1897 c 102 §§ 4, 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.628, 78.20.050.]
79.14.360
79.14.330
79.14.330 Prospecting lease—Application fee. Any
person desiring to obtain a lease for mineral prospecting purposes upon any lands in which the mineral rights are owned
or administered by the department, shall file in the proper
office of the department an application or applications therefor, upon the prescribed form, together with application fees.
The department may reject an application for a mineral prospecting lease when the department determines rejection to be
in the best interests of the state, and in such case shall inform
the applicant of the reason for rejection and refund the application fee. The department may also reject the application
and declare the application fee forfeited should the applicant
(2006 Ed.)
79.14.360 Conversion to mining contract. The holder
of any prospecting lease shall have a preference right to a
mining contract on the premises described in the lease if
application therefor is made to the department at least one
hundred eighty days prior to the expiration of the prospecting
lease.
A lessee applying for a mining contract shall furnish
plans for development leading toward production. The plans
shall address the reclamation of the property. A mining contract shall be for a term of twenty years.
The first year of the contract and each year thereafter, the
lessee shall perform development work in cost amounts as set
[Title 79 RCW—page 35]
79.14.370
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
by the board. The lessee may make payment to the department in lieu of development work.
The lessee may at any time give notice of intent to terminate the contract if all of the covenants of the contract including reclamation are met. The notice of termination of contract shall be made by giving written notice together with
copies of all information obtained from the premises. The
contract shall terminate sixty days thereafter if all arrears and
sums which are due under the contract up to the time of termination have been paid.
The lessee shall have sixty days from the termination
date of the contract in which to remove improvements, except
those necessary for the safety and maintenance of mine workings, from the premises without material damage to the land
or subsurface covered by the contract. However, the lessee
shall upon written request to the department be granted an
extension where forces beyond the control of the lessee prevent removal of the improvements within sixty days.
Any lessee not converting a prospecting lease to a mining contract shall not be entitled to a new prospecting lease
on the lease premises for one year from the expiration date of
the prior lease. Such lands included in the prospecting lease
shall be open to application by any person other than the prior
lessee, and the lessee’s agents or associates during the year
period described above. [2003 c 334 § 405; 1987 c 20 § 7;
1965 c 56 § 7; 1927 c 255 § 159; RRS § 7797-159. Prior:
1901 c 151 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.632, 78.20.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.370
79.14.370 Prospecting and mining—Lessee’s rights
and duties. Where the surface rights have been sold and the
minerals retained by the state, the state’s right of entry to
these lands is transferred and assigned to the lessee during the
life of the lease or contract. No lessee shall commence any
operation upon lands covered by his or her lease or contract
until the lessee has complied with RCW 79.14.340. [2003 c
334 § 406; 1987 c 20 § 8; 1965 c 56 § 8. Formerly RCW
79.01.633.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.380
79.14.380 Prospecting and mining—Termination for
default. The department shall terminate and cancel a prospecting lease or mining contract upon failure of the lessee to
make payment of the annual rental or royalties or comply
with the terms and conditions of the lease or contract upon
the date such payments and compliances are due. The lessee
shall be notified of such termination and cancellation, said
notice to be mailed to the last known address of the lessee.
Termination and cancellation shall become effective thirty
days from the date of mailing the notice. However, the
department may, upon written request from the lessee, grant
an extension of time in which to make such payment or comply with the terms and conditions. [2003 c 334 § 407; 1987 c
20 § 9; 1965 c 56 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.01.634.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.390
79.14.390 Prospecting leases and mining contracts—
Form, terms, conditions. Prospecting leases or mining contracts referred to in chapter 79.14 RCW shall be as prescribed
by, and in accordance with rules adopted by the department.
[Title 79 RCW—page 36]
The department may include in any mineral prospecting
lease or mining contract to be issued under this chapter such
terms and conditions as are customary and proper for the protection of the rights of the state and of the lessee not in conflict with this chapter, or rules adopted by the department.
Any lessee shall have the right to contract with others to
work or operate the leased premises or any part thereof or to
subcontract the same and the use of the land or any part
thereof for the purpose of mining for valuable minerals or
specified materials, with the same rights and privileges
granted to the lessee. Notice of such contracting or subcontracting with others to work or operate the property shall be
made in writing to the department. [2003 c 334 § 408; 1987
c 20 § 10; 1965 c 56 § 11; 1927 c 255 § 161; RRS § 7797-161.
Prior: 1917 c 148 § 3; 1899 c 147 § 1; 1897 c 102 § 6. Formerly RCW 79.01.640, 78.20.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.400
79.14.400 Prospecting and mining—Reclamation of
premises. At time of termination for any mineral prospecting lease, permit, mining contract, or placer mining contract,
the premises shall be reclaimed in accordance with plans
approved by the department. [1987 c 20 § 11. Formerly
RCW 79.01.642.]
79.14.410
79.14.410 Prospecting and mining—Minimum royalty. Mining contracts entered into as provided in chapter
79.14 RCW shall provide for the payment to the state of production royalties as set by the board. A lessee shall pay in
advance annually a minimum royalty which shall be set by
the board. The minimum royalty shall be allowed as a credit
against production royalties due during the contract year.
[2003 c 334 § 409; 1987 c 20 § 12; 1965 c 56 § 12; 1959 c 257
§ 38; 1945 c 103 § 2; 1927 c 255 § 162; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
7797-162. Prior: 1917 c 148 § 4; 1901 c 151 § 3; 1897 c 89
§ 7. Formerly RCW 79.01.644, 78.20.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.420
79.14.420 Mining contracts—Renewal of contract.
The lessee may apply for the renewal of a mining contract,
except placer mining contracts issued pursuant to RCW
79.14.310, to the department within ninety days before the
expiration of the contract. Upon receipt of the application,
the department shall make the necessary investigation to
determine whether the terms of the contract have been complied with, and if the department finds they have been complied with in good faith, the department shall renew the contract. The terms and conditions of the renewal contract shall
remain the same except for royalty rates, which shall be
determined by reference to then existing law. [2003 c 334 §
410; 1987 c 20 § 13. Formerly RCW 79.01.645.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.430
79.14.430 Prospecting and mining—Consolidation.
The holders of two or more mining contracts may consolidate
the contracts under a common management to permit proper
operation of large scale developments. Notification of such
consolidation shall be made to the department, together with
a statement of plans of operation and proposed consolidation.
The department may thereafter make examinations and
(2006 Ed.)
Mineral, Coal, Oil, and Gas Leases
investigations and if it finds that such consolidation is not in
the best interest of the state, it shall disapprove such consolidated operation. [2003 c 334 § 411; 1965 c 56 § 13; 1945 c
103 § 3 (adding a new section to 1927 c 255, section 162-1);
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-162a. Formerly RCW 79.01.648,
78.20.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.440
79.14.440 Prospecting and mining—Disclosure of
information. Any person designated by the department shall
have the right at any time to enter upon the lands and inspect
and examine the structures, works, and mines situated
thereon, and shall also have the right to examine such books,
records, and accounts of the lessee as are directly connected
with the determination of royalties on the property under
lease from the state but it shall be unlawful for any person so
appointed to disclose any information thus obtained to any
person other than the departmental officials and employees,
except the attorney general and prosecuting attorneys of the
state. [2003 c 334 § 412; 1965 c 56 § 14. Formerly RCW
79.01.649.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.450
79.14.450 Prospecting and mining—Disposition of
materials not covered by lease or contract. The state shall
have the right to sell or otherwise dispose of any surface
resource, timber, rock, gravel, sand, silt, coal, or hydrocarbons, except minerals or materials specifically covered by a
mineral prospecting lease or mining contract, found upon the
land during the period covered by the lease or contract. The
state shall also have the right to enter upon such land and
remove same, and shall not be obliged to withhold from any
sale any timber for prospecting or mining purposes. The lessee shall, upon payment to the department, have the right to
cut and use timber found on the leased premises for mining
purposes as provided in rules adopted by the department.
[2003 c 334 § 413; 1987 c 20 § 14; 1965 c 56 § 15. Formerly
RCW 79.01.650.]
79.14.510
time of filing the application, the sum of one dollar an acre
for the lands applied for, but in no case less than fifty dollars.
In case of the refusal of the department to execute an option
contract for the lands, any remainder of the sum so paid, after
deducting the expense incurred by the department in investigating the character of the land, shall be returned to the applicant. [2003 c 334 § 415; 1927 c 255 § 164; RRS § 7797-164.
Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.656,
78.24.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.490
79.14.490 Investigation and issue of option contract.
(1) Upon the filing of any such application, the department
shall forthwith investigate the character of the lands applied
for, and if, from such investigation, it deems it to be in the
best interests of the state, it shall enter into an option contract
with the applicant.
(2) The holder of any option contract shall be entitled,
during the period of one year from the date thereof, to:
(a) Enter upon the lands and carry on such work of
exploration, examination, and prospecting for coal as may be
necessary to determine the presence of coal upon the lands
and the feasibility of mining the same; and
(b) Use such timber found upon the lands and owned by
the state as may be necessary for steam purposes and timbering in the examination and prospecting of such lands. However, this provision shall not be construed to require the state
to withhold any such timber from sale.
(3) No coal shall be removed from such lands during the
period of such option contract except for samples and testing.
(4) At the expiration of the option contract, the applicant
shall fill or cover in a substantial manner all prospect holes
and shafts, or surround the same with substantial fences, and
shall file with the department a report showing in detail the
result of the applicant’s investigation and prospecting. [2003
c 334 § 416; 1927 c 255 § 165; RRS § 7797-165. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 155 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.660, 78.24.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.500
PART 3
COAL MINING
79.14.470
79.14.470 Leases and option contracts authorized.
The department is authorized to execute option contracts and
leases for the mining and extraction of coal from any public
lands of the state, or to which it may hereafter acquire title, or
from any lands sold or leased by the state the minerals of
which have been reserved by the state. [2003 c 334 § 414;
1927 c 255 § 163; RRS § 7797-163. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155
§ 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.652, 78.24.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.480
79.14.480 Application for option contract—Fee. Any
citizen of the United States believing coal to exist upon any
of the lands described in RCW 79.14.470 may apply to the
department for an option contract for any amount not exceeding one section for prospecting purposes, such application to
be made by legal subdivision according to the public land
surveys. The applicant shall pay to the department, at the
(2006 Ed.)
79.14.500 Damage to surface owner or lessee. In the
case of lands which the state may have sold or leased and
reserved the mineral rights therein, if the holder of any option
contract or lease is unable to agree with the owner or prior
lessee of the lands, the holder shall have a right of action in
the superior court of the county in which the land is situated
to ascertain and determine the amount of damages which will
accrue to such owner or lessee of the land by reason of the
entry thereon and prospecting for or mining coal, as the case
may be. In the event of any such action, the term of the
option contract or lease shall begin thirty days after the entry
of the final judgment in such action. [2003 c 334 § 417; 1927
c 255 § 166; RRS § 7797-166. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 4.
Formerly RCW 79.01.664, 78.24.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.510
79.14.510 Lease—Application, terms, royalties. At
any time during the life of the option contract, the holder
thereof may apply to the department for a coal mining lease
of the lands included therein, or such portion thereof as the
holder may specify, for the purpose of mining and extraction
[Title 79 RCW—page 37]
79.14.520
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
of coal therefrom. Such coal mining lease shall be for such
term, not more than twenty years, and in such form as may be
prescribed by the department, shall entitle the lessee to mine
and sell and dispose of all coal underlying said lands and to
occupy and use so much of the surface thereof as may be necessary for bunkers and other outside works, and for railroads,
buildings, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with
the mining operations. Such lease shall provide for the payment to the state of a royalty, according to the grade of coal,
for each ton of two thousand pounds of merchantable coal
taken from the lands, as follows: For lignite coal of the class
commonly found in Lewis and Thurston counties, not less
than ten cents per ton; for subbituminous coal, not less than
fifteen cents per ton; for high grade bituminous and coking
coals, not less than twenty cents per ton; but such lease shall
provide for the payment each year of a minimum royalty of
not less than one nor more than ten dollars an acre for the
lands covered thereby. However, the department may agree
with the lessee that said minimum royalty shall be graduated
for the different years of said lease so that a lower minimum
royalty shall be paid during the earlier years of the term. The
minimum royalty fixed in the lease shall be paid in advance
each year, and the lessee, at stated periods during the term of
the lease, fixed by the department, shall furnish to the department a written report under oath showing the amount of merchantable coal taken from the land during the period covered
by such report and shall remit therewith such sum in excess
of the minimum royalty theretofore paid for the current year
as may be payable as royalty for the period covered by such
report.
The department shall incorporate in every lease such
provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter and not inconsistent with good coal mining practice as it deems necessary and proper for the protection of the state, and, in addition thereto, the department is
empowered to adopt such rules, not inconsistent with this
chapter and not inconsistent with good mining practice, governing the manner and methods of mining as in its judgment
are necessary and proper. [2003 c 334 § 418; 1985 c 459 § 1;
1927 c 255 § 167; RRS § 7797-167. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155
§ 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.668, 78.24.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1985 c 459: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 459 § 10.]
accounts of the lessee as are directly connected with the operation of the mine on the property under lease from the state;
but it shall be unlawful for the commissioner or any person so
appointed to disclose any information thus obtained to any
person other than the commissioner or an employee of the
department, except the attorney general and prosecuting
attorneys of the state. [2003 c 334 § 420; 1927 c 255 § 169;
RRS § 7797-169. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 7. Formerly
RCW 79.01.676, 78.24.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.540
79.14.540 Use and sale of materials from land. The
state shall have the right to sell or otherwise dispose of any
timber, stone, or other valuable materials, except coal, found
upon the land during the period covered by any option contract, or lease issued under the foregoing provisions, with the
right to enter upon such lands and cut and remove the same,
and shall not be obliged to withhold from sale any timber for
coal mining or prospecting purposes. However, the lessee
shall be permitted to use in mining operations any timber
found upon the land, first paying therefor to the department
the value thereof as fixed by the department. Further, any bill
of sale for the removal of timber, stone, or other material
given subsequent to the coal lease shall contain provisions
preventing any interference with the operations of the coal
lease. [2003 c 334 § 421; 1927 c 255 § 170; RRS § 7797-170.
Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.01.680,
78.24.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.550
79.14.550 Suspension of mining—Termination of
lease. Should the lessee for any reason, except strikes or
inability to mine or dispose of output without loss, suspend
mining operations upon the lands included in a lease, or upon
any contiguous lands operated by the lessee in connection
therewith, for a period of six months, or should the lessee for
any reason suspend mining operations upon the lands
included in a lease or in such contiguous lands for a period of
twelve months, the department may, at its option, cancel the
lease, first giving thirty days’ notice in writing to the lessee.
The lessee shall have the right to terminate the lease after
thirty days’ written notice to the department and the payment
of all royalties and rentals then due. [2003 c 334 § 422; 1927
c 255 § 171; RRS § 7797-171. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 9.
Formerly RCW 79.01.684, 78.24.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.520
79.14.520 Lease without option contract. In the case
of lands known to contain workable coal, the department
may, in its discretion, issue coal mining leases under the provisions of RCW 79.14.510 although no option contract has
been theretofore issued for such lands. [2003 c 334 § 419;
1927 c 255 § 168; RRS § 7797-168. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155
§ 6. Formerly RCW 79.01.672, 78.24.050.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.530
79.14.530 Confidential information. The commissioner or any person designated by the commissioner has the
right at any time to enter upon the lands and inspect and
examine the structures, works, and mines situated thereon,
and also has the right to examine such books, records, and
[Title 79 RCW—page 38]
79.14.560
79.14.560 Condition of premises on termination.
Upon the termination of any lease issued under the foregoing
provisions, the lessee shall surrender the lands and premises
and leave in good order and repair all shafts, slopes, airways,
tunnels, and watercourses then in use. Unless the coal therein
is exhausted, the lessee shall also, as far as it is reasonably
practicable so to do, leave open to the face all main entries
then in use so that the work of further development and operation may not be unnecessarily hampered. The lessee shall
also leave on the premises all buildings and other structures,
but shall have the right to, without damage to such buildings
and structures, remove all tracks, machinery, and other personal property. [2003 c 334 § 423; 1927 c 255 § 172; RRS §
(2006 Ed.)
Sale of Valuable Materials
7797-172. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 10. Formerly RCW
79.01.688, 78.24.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.570
79.14.570 Re-lease—Procedure—Preference rights.
If at the expiration of any lease for the mining and extraction
of coal or any renewal thereof the lessee desires to re-lease
the lands covered thereby, the lessee may make application to
the department for a re-lease. Such application shall be in
writing and under oath, setting forth the extent, character, and
value of all improvements, development work, and structures
existing upon the land. The department may on the filing of
such application cause the lands to be inspected, and if the
department deems it for the best interests of the state to release said lands, it shall fix the royalties for the ensuing term
in accordance with the foregoing provisions relating to original leases, and issue to the applicant a renewal lease for a further term; such application for a release when received from
the lessee, or successor of any lessee, who has in good faith
developed and improved the property in a substantial manner
during the original lease to be given preference on equal
terms against the application of any new applicant. [2003 c
334 § 424; 1927 c 255 § 173; RRS § 7797-173. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 155 § 11. Formerly RCW 79.01.692, 78.24.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.580
79.14.580 Waste prohibited. It shall be unlawful for
the holder of any coal mining option contract, or any lessee,
to commit any waste upon the lands embraced therein, except
as may be incident to the work of prospecting or mining by
the option contract holder or lessee. [2003 c 334 § 425; 1927
c 255 § 174; RRS § 7797-174. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 155 § 12.
Formerly RCW 79.01.696, 78.24.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.14.900
79.14.900 Severability—1955 c 131. If any provision
or section of this chapter shall be adjudicated to be unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of this
chapter as a whole or any part thereof not adjudicated unconstitutional. If any provision of this chapter, or the application
of such provision to any person or circumstances is held
unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of
this chapter or the application of such provision to persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected
thereby. [1955 c 131 § 23. Formerly RCW 78.28.900.]
Chapter 79.15
Chapter 79.15 RCW
SALE OF VALUABLE MATERIALS
Sections
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.15.010
79.15.020
79.15.030
79.15.040
79.15.045
79.15.050
79.15.055
79.15.060
(2006 Ed.)
Valuable materials sold separately.
Duties of department.
Rules or procedures for removal of valuable materials sold.
Sale of valuable materials without application or deposit.
Who may purchase—Fee.
Type of sale—Direct sales.
Appraisal—Defined.
Date of sale limited by time of appraisal—Transfer of authority.
79.15.070
79.15.080
79.15.090
79.15.100
79.15.110
79.15.120
79.15.130
79.15.140
79.15.150
79.15.020
Time and date of sale.
Advertising sales of valuable materials.
Advertisement for informational purposes only.
Terms and conditions of sale.
Conduct of sales.
Confirmation of sale.
Bill of sale.
Valuable materials contract—Impracticable to perform/cancellation—Substitute valuable materials.
Reoffer.
PART 2
DAMAGED TIMBER
79.15.210
79.15.220
Findings—Damage to timber.
Sale of damaged valuable materials.
PART 3
ROCK, GRAVEL, ETC., SALES
79.15.300
79.15.320
Contracts—Forfeiture—Royalties—Monthly reports.
Road material—Sale to public authorities—Disposition of
proceeds.
PART 4
FIREWOOD
79.15.400
79.15.410
79.15.420
79.15.430
79.15.440
License to remove firewood authorized.
Removal only for personal use.
Issuance of license—Fee.
Removal of firewood without charge.
Penalty.
PART 5
CONTRACT HARVESTING
79.15.500
79.15.510
79.15.520
79.15.530
79.15.540
Contract harvesting—Definitions.
Contract harvesting—Program established.
Contract harvesting revolving account.
Contract harvesting—Special appraisal practices.
Intent—Contract harvesting—State trust forest land with identified forest health deficiencies.
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.15.010 Valuable materials sold separately. (1)
Valuable materials situated upon state lands and state forest
lands may be sold separate from the land, when in the judgment of the department, it is for the best interest of the state
so to sell the same.
(2) Sales of valuable materials from any university lands
require:
(a) The consent of the board of regents of the University
of Washington; or
(b) Legislative directive.
(3) When application is made for the purchase of any
valuable materials, the department shall appraise the value of
the valuable materials if the department determines it is in the
best interest of the state to sell. No valuable materials shall
be sold for less than the appraised value thereof. [2003 c 334
§ 331; 2001 c 250 § 3; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 154; 1959 c 257
§ 12; 1929 c 220 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 31; RRS § 7797-31. Prior:
1915 c 147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 6; 1901 c 148 §
1; 1899 c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 12; 1895 c 178 § 23. Formerly
RCW 79.01.124, 79.12.100.]
79.15.010
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Forests and forest products: Title 76 RCW.
79.15.020 Duties of department. (1) The department
shall exercise general supervision and control over the sale of
valuable materials.
79.15.020
[Title 79 RCW—page 39]
79.15.030
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
(2) The department shall maintain all reports, data, and
information in its records pertaining to a proposed sale.
(3) The department may hold a sale in abeyance pending
further inspection and report and may cause such further
inspection and report.
(4) The department shall determine, based on subsection
(2) of this section, and if necessary the information provided
under subsection (3) of this section, the terms upon which the
proposed sales are consummated. [2003 c 334 § 319.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.030
79.15.030 Rules or procedures for removal of valuable materials sold. All sales of valuable materials shall be
made subject to the right, power, and authority of the department to prescribe rules or procedures governing the manner
of the sale and removal of the valuable materials. Such procedures shall be binding when contained within a purchaser’s
contract for valuable materials and apply to the purchaser’s
successors in interest and shall be enforced by the department. [2004 c 199 § 213; 2003 c 334 § 339; 2001 c 250 § 5;
1959 c 257 § 15; 1927 c 255 § 40; RRS § 7797-40. Prior:
1915 c 147 § 2; 1909 c 223 § 3; 1907 c 256 § 6; 1901 c 148 §
1; 1899 c 129 § 1; 1897 c 89 § 12; 1895 c 178 § 23. Formerly
RCW 79.01.160, 79.12.190.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Forest protection: Chapter 76.04 RCW.
79.15.040
79.15.040 Sale of valuable materials without application or deposit. The department may cause valuable materials on state lands and state forest lands to be inspected and
appraised and offered for sale when authorized by the board
without an application having been filed, or deposit made, for
the purchase of the same. [2003 c 334 § 341; 1961 c 73 § 2;
1959 c 257 § 17; 1927 c 255 § 42; RRS § 7797-42. Prior:
1915 c 147 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.168, 79.12.210.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.045
79.15.045 Who may purchase—Fee. A person desiring to purchase valuable materials may make application to
the department on forms provided by the department and
accompanied by the fee provided in RCW 79.02.250. [2003
c 334 § 312.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.050
79.15.050 Type of sale—Direct sales. (1) All sales of
valuable materials exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars in
appraised value must be at public auction or by sealed bid to
the highest bidder, provided that on public lands granted to
the state for educational purposes sealed bids may be
accepted for sales of timber or stone only.
(2) A direct sale of valuable materials may be sold to the
applicant for cash at full appraised value without notice or
advertising. The board must, by resolution, establish the
value amount of a direct sale not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars in appraised sale value, and establish procedures
to ensure that competitive market prices and accountability
are guaranteed. [2006 c 42 § 1; 2003 c 334 § 353.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 40]
79.15.055
79.15.055 Appraisal—Defined. For the purposes of
this chapter, "appraisal" means an estimate of the market
value of valuable materials. The estimate must reflect the
value based on market conditions at the time of the sale or
transfer offering. The appraisal must reflect the department’s
best effort to establish a reasonable market value for the purpose of setting a minimum bid at auction or transfer. A purchaser of valuable materials may not rely upon the appraisal
prepared by the department for purposes of deciding whether
to make a purchase from the department. All purchasers are
required to make their own independent appraisals. [2004 c
199 § 214; 2003 c 334 § 309; 2001 c 250 § 10. Formerly
RCW 79.01.082.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.060
79.15.060 Date of sale limited by time of appraisal—
Transfer of authority. (1) For the sale of valuable materials
under this chapter, if the board is required by law to appraise
the sale, the board must establish a minimum appraisal value
that is valid for a period of one hundred eighty days, or a
longer period as may be established by resolution. The board
may reestablish the minimum appraisal value at any time.
For any valuable materials sales that the board is required by
law to appraise, the board may by resolution transfer this
authority to the department.
(2) Where the board has set a minimum appraisal value
for a valuable materials sale, the department may set the final
appraisal value of valuable materials for auction, which must
be equal to or greater than the board’s minimum appraisal
value. The department may also appraise any valuable materials sale not required by law to be approved by the board.
[2003 c 334 § 329.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.070
79.15.070 Time and date of sale. It is the duty of the
department to fix the date, time, and place of sale.
(1) All valuable materials shall have been appraised prior
to the date fixed for sale as prescribed in RCW 79.15.060.
(2) No sale may be conducted on any day that is a legal
holiday.
(3) Sales must be held between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. If all sales cannot be offered within this time
period, the sale must continue on the following day between
the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(4) Sales must take place:
(a) At the department’s regional office having jurisdiction over the respective sale; or
(b) On county property designated by the board of
county commissioners or county legislative authority of the
county in which the whole or majority of valuable materials
are situated. [2003 c 334 § 350.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.080
79.15.080 Advertising sales of valuable materials. (1)
Sales, other than direct sales, appraised at an amount not
exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars, when authorized by the board for sale, shall be advertised by publishing
not less than ten days prior to sale a notice of such sale in a
(2006 Ed.)
Sale of Valuable Materials
newspaper of general circulation located nearest to the property from which the valuable material is to be sold.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 79.15.050, all other proposed sales of valuable materials must be advertised through
individual notice of sale and publication of a statewide list of
sales.
(a) The notice of sale:
(i) Must specify the place, date, and time of sale, the
appraised value thereof, and describe with particularity each
parcel of land from which valuable materials are to be sold.
The estimated volume will be identified and the terms of sale
will be available in the region headquarters and the department’s Olympia office;
(ii) May prescribe that the bid deposit required in RCW
79.15.110 be considered an opening bid;
(iii) May be advertised by newspaper or by other means
of publishing the information such as on the internet; and
(iv) Must be posted in a conspicuous place in the department’s Olympia office and in the region headquarters administering the sale, and in the office of the county auditor of the
county where the material is located.
(b) The department shall print a list of all valuable material on public lands that are to be sold. The list should be
organized by county and by alphabetical order.
(i) The list should be published in a pamphlet form,
issued at least four weeks prior to the date of any sale and
provide sale information to prospective buyers.
(ii) The department must retain for free distribution in
the Olympia office and the region offices sufficient copies of
the pamphlet, to be kept in a conspicuous place, and, when
requested to do so, must mail copies of the pamphlet as issued
to any requesting applicant.
(iii) The department may seek additional means of publishing the information in the pamphlet, such as on the internet, to increase the number of prospective buyers.
(3) The department is authorized to expend any sum in
additional advertising of the sales as it deems necessary.
[2006 c 42 § 2; 2003 c 334 § 347.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.090
79.15.090 Advertisement for informational purposes
only. The advertisement of sales is for informational purposes only, and under no circumstances does the information
in the notice of sale constitute a warranty that the purchaser
will receive the stated values, volumes, or acreage. All purchasers are expected to make their own measurements, evaluations, and appraisals. [2003 c 334 § 345.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.100
79.15.100 Terms and conditions of sale. (1) Valuable
materials may be sold separately from the land as a "lump
sum sale" or as a "scale sale."
(a) "Lump sum sale" means any sale offered with a single total price applying to all the material conveyed.
(b) "Scale sale" means any sale offered with per unit
prices to be applied to the material conveyed.
(2) Payment for lump sum sales must be made as follows:
(a) Lump sum sales under five thousand dollars
appraised value require full payment on the day of sale.
(2006 Ed.)
79.15.100
(b) Lump sum sales appraised at over five thousand dollars but under one hundred thousand dollars may require full
payment on the day of sale.
(c) Lump sum sales requiring full payment on the day of
sale may be paid in cash or by certified check, cashier’s
check, bank draft, or money order, all payable to the department.
(3) Except for sales paid in full on the day of sale or sales
with adequate bid bonds, an initial deposit not to exceed
twenty-five percent of the actual or projected purchase price
shall be made on the day of sale.
(a) Sales with bid bonds are subject to the day of sale
payment and replacement requirements prescribed by RCW
79.15.110.
(b) The initial deposit must be maintained until all contract obligations of the purchaser are satisfied. However, all
or a portion of the initial deposit may be applied as the final
payment for the valuable materials in the event the department determines that adequate security exists for the performance or fulfillment of any remaining obligations of the purchaser under the sale contract.
(4) Advance payments or other adequate security acceptable to the department is required for valuable materials sold
on a scale sale basis or a lump sum sale not requiring full payment on the day of sale.
(a) The purchaser must notify the department before any
operation takes place on the sale site.
(b) Upon notification as provided in (a) of this subsection, the department must require advanced payment or may
allow purchasers to submit adequate security.
(c) The amount of advanced payments or security must
be determined by the department and must at all times equal
or exceed the value of timber cut and other valuable materials
processed or removed until paid for.
(d) Security may be bank letters of credit, payment
bonds, assignments of savings accounts, assignments of certificates of deposit, or other methods acceptable to the department as adequate security.
(5) All valuable material must be removed from the sale
area within the period specified in the contract.
(a) The specified period may not exceed five years from
date of purchase except for stone, sand, gravel, fill material,
or building stone.
(b) The specified period for stone, sand, gravel, fill material, or building stone may not exceed thirty years.
(c) In all cases, any valuable material not removed from
the land within the period specified in the contract reverts to
the state.
(6) The department may extend a contract beyond the
normal termination date specified in the sale contract as the
time for removal of valuable materials when, in the department’s judgment, the purchaser is acting in good faith and
endeavoring to remove the materials. The extension is contingent upon payment of the fees specified below.
(a) The extended time for removal shall not exceed:
(i) Forty years from date of purchase for stone, sand,
gravel, fill material, or building stone;
(ii) A total of ten years beyond the original termination
date for all other valuable materials.
(b) An extension fee fixed by the department will be
charged based on the estimated loss of income per acre to the
[Title 79 RCW—page 41]
79.15.110
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
state resulting from the granting of the extension plus interest
on the unpaid portion of the contract. The board must periodically fix and adopt by rule the interest rate, which shall not
be less than six percent per annum.
(c) The sale contract shall specify:
(i) The applicable rate of interest as fixed at the day of
sale and the maximum extension payment; and
(ii) The method for calculating the unpaid portion of the
contract upon which interest is paid.
(d) The minimum extension fee is fifty dollars per extension plus interest on the unpaid portion of the contract.
(e) Moneys received for any extension must be credited
to the same fund in the state treasury as was credited the original purchase price of the valuable material sold.
(7) The department may, in addition to any other securities, require a performance security to guarantee compliance
with all contract requirements. The security is limited to
those types listed in subsection (4) of this section. The value
of the performance security will, at all times, equal or exceed
the value of work performed or to be performed by the purchaser.
(8) The provisions of this section apply unless otherwise
provided by statute. [2004 c 177 § 5; 2003 c 334 § 334.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.110
79.15.110 Conduct of sales. (1) Sales of valuable materials must be conducted under the direction of the department
or its authorized representative.
(a) Sales of valuable materials, unless otherwise provided in this chapter, shall be at public auction or by sealed
bid to the highest bidder, except that, on public lands granted
to the state for educational purposes, sealed bids may be
accepted for sales of timber or stone only.
(b) The person conducting the sale is called the auctioneer.
(2) On or before the time specified in the notice of sale
each bidder shall deposit with the auctioneer a bid deposit
equal to the amount specified in the notice of sale plus any
fees required by law for the issuance of contracts or bill of
sale.
(a) The bid deposit must meet the requirements of RCW
79.15.100(3).
(b) The deposit may be in cash, or by certified check,
cashier’s check, or money order, all payable to the department or by bid guarantee in the form of a bid bond acceptable
to the department.
(3) The bid deposit, if prescribed in the notice of sale as
authorized in RCW 79.15.100, may be considered an opening
bid of an amount not less than the minimum appraised price
established in the notice of sale.
(4) The successful bidder’s deposit will be retained by
the auctioneer.
(a) Any difference between the bid deposit and the total
amount due including any fees required by law shall be paid
on the day of sale. Payments may be by cash, certified check,
cashier’s check, bank draft, or money order payable to the
department.
(b) Any amount of the deposit guaranteed by a bid bond
must be paid to the department within ten days of the sale day
[Title 79 RCW—page 42]
in cash, certified check, cashier’s check, money order, or
other acceptable payment method.
(c) Other deposits must be returned to the respective bidders at the conclusion of each sale.
(5) The auctioneer must deliver to the purchaser a memorandum of his or her purchase containing a description of
the materials purchased, the price bid, and the terms of the
sale.
(6) The auctioneer must at once send to the department
all payments or bid guarantees received from the purchaser
and a copy of the memorandum delivered to the purchaser,
together with additional reports of the proceedings as
required by the department. [2003 c 334 § 355.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.120
79.15.120 Confirmation of sale. The department shall
enter upon its records a confirmation of sale and issue to the
purchaser a bill of sale for valuable materials if the following
conditions have been met:
(1) No fewer than ten days have passed since the auctioneer’s report has been filed;
(2) No affidavit is filed with the department showing that
the interests of the state in the sale were injuriously affected
by fraud or collusion;
(3) It appears from the auctioneer’s report that:
(a) The sale was fairly conducted; and
(b) The purchaser was the highest bidder and the bid was
not less than the appraised value of the material sold;
(4) The department is satisfied that the valuable material
sold would not, upon being readvertised and offered for sale,
sell for at least ten percent more than the price submitted by
the apparent high bidder;
(5) The payment required by law to be made at the time
of making the sale has been made; and
(6) The department determines the best interests of the
state will be served by confirming the sale. [2003 c 334 §
358.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.130
79.15.130 Bill of sale. When valuable materials are sold
separately from the land and the purchase price is paid in full,
the department shall prepare a bill of sale. The bill of sale
shall:
(1) State the time period for removing the material;
(2) Be signed by the commissioner and attested by the
seal of the commissioner’s office upon full payment of the
purchase price and fees;
(3) Be issued to the purchaser upon payment of the fee
for the bill of sale; and
(4) Be recorded in the department. [2003 c 334 § 362;
2001 c 250 § 9; 1927 c 255 § 58; RRS § 7797-58. Formerly
RCW 79.01.232, 79.12.420.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.140
79.15.140 Valuable materials contract—Impracticable to perform/cancellation—Substitute valuable materials. (1) In the event that the department determines that regulatory requirements or some other circumstance beyond the
control of both the department and the purchaser has made a
valuable materials contract wholly or partially impracticable
(2006 Ed.)
Sale of Valuable Materials
to perform, the department may cancel any portion of the
contract which could not be performed. In the event of such
a cancellation, the purchaser shall not be liable for the purchase price of any portions of the contract so canceled. Market price fluctuations shall not constitute an impracticable situation for valuable materials contracts.
(2) Alternatively, and notwithstanding any other provision in this title, the department may substitute valuable
materials from another site in exchange for any valuable
materials which the department determines have become
impracticable to remove under the original contract. Any
substituted valuable materials must belong to the identical
trust involved in the original contract, and the substitute
materials shall be determined by the department to have an
appraised value that is not greater than the valuable materials
remaining under the original contract. The substitute valuable materials and site shall remain subject to all applicable
permitting requirements and the state environmental policy
act, chapter 43.21C RCW, for the activities proposed at that
site. In any such substitution, the value of the materials substituted shall be fixed at the purchase price of the original
contract regardless of subsequent market changes. Consent
of the purchaser shall be required for any substitution under
this section. [2003 c 334 § 364; 2001 c 250 § 18. Formerly
RCW 79.01.238.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.150
79.15.150 Reoffer. A sale of valuable materials that has
been offered, and for which there are no bids received, shall
not be reoffered until it has been readvertised as prescribed in
RCW 79.11.130. [2003 c 334 § 351.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 2
DAMAGED TIMBER
79.15.210
79.15.210 Findings—Damage to timber. From time to
time timber on state land is damaged by events such as fire,
wind storms, and flooding. After such events the timber
becomes very susceptible to loss of value and quality due to
rot and disease. To obtain maximum value for the state, it is
important to sell any damaged timber as fast as possible while
providing ample protection for the physical environment and
recognizing the sensitivity of removing timber from certain
locations. [1987 c 126 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.790.]
79.15.220
79.15.220 Sale of damaged valuable materials. When
the department finds valuable materials on state land that are
damaged by fire, wind, flood, or from any other cause, it shall
determine if the salvage of the damaged valuable materials is
in the best interest of the trust for which the land is held. If
salvaging the valuable materials is in the best interest of the
trust, the department shall proceed to offer the valuable materials for sale. The valuable materials, when offered for sale,
must be sold in the most expeditious and efficient manner as
determined by the department. In determining if the sale is in
the best interest of the trust the department shall consider the
net value of the valuable materials and relevant elements of
the physical and social environment. [2001 c 250 § 14; 1987
c 126 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.795.]
(2006 Ed.)
79.15.320
PART 3
ROCK, GRAVEL, ETC., SALES
79.15.300
79.15.300 Contracts—Forfeiture—Royalties—
Monthly reports. (1) The department, upon application by
any person, may enter into a contract providing for the sale
and removal of rock, gravel, sand, and silt located upon state
lands or state forest lands, and providing for payment to be
made on a royalty basis.
(2) The issuance of a contract shall be made after public
auction and shall not be issued for less than the appraised
value of the material.
(3) Each application made pursuant to this section shall:
(a) Set forth the estimated quantity and kind of materials
desired to be removed; and
(b) Be accompanied by a map or plat showing the area
from which the applicant wishes to remove such materials.
(4) The department may in its discretion include in any
contract such terms and conditions required to protect the
interests of the state.
(5) Every contract shall provide for a right of forfeiture
by the state, upon a failure to operate under the contract or
pay royalties for periods therein stipulated. The right of forfeiture is exercised by entry of a declaration of forfeiture in
the records of the department.
(6) The department may require a bond with a surety
company authorized to transact a surety business in this state,
as surety, to secure the performance of the terms and conditions of such contract including the payment of royalties.
(7) The amount of rock, gravel, sand, or silt taken under
the contract shall be reported monthly by the purchaser to the
department and payment therefor made on the basis of the
royalty provided in the contract.
(8) The department may inspect and audit books, contracts, and accounts of each person removing rock, gravel,
sand, or silt pursuant to any such contract and make such
other investigation and secure or receive any other evidence
necessary to determine whether or not the state is being paid
the full amount payable to it for the removal of such materials. [2003 c 334 § 335; 1985 c 197 § 1; 1961 c 73 § 11. Formerly RCW 79.01.134.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.320
79.15.320 Road material—Sale to public authorities—Disposition of proceeds. (1) Any county, city, or town
may file with the department an application to purchase any
stone, rock, gravel, or sand upon any state lands or state forest
lands to be used in the construction, maintenance, or repair of
any public street, road, or highway within such county, city,
or town.
(2) Applications shall set forth the quantity and kind of
material desired to be purchased, the location thereof, and the
name, or other designation, and location of the street, road, or
highway upon which the material is to be used.
(3) The department is authorized to appraise and sell the
material in such a manner and upon such terms as the department deems advisable for not less than the fair market value
thereof.
(4) The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid into the
state treasury and credited to the fund to which the proceeds
[Title 79 RCW—page 43]
79.15.400
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
of the sale of the land upon which the material is situated
would belong. [2003 c 334 § 343; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 155;
1927 c 255 § 44; RRS § 7797-44. Prior: 1923 c 71 § 1; 1917
c 148 § 13. Formerly RCW 79.01.176, 79.12.250.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.15.440 Penalty. Any false statement made in the
application or any violation of the provisions of RCW
79.15.400 through 79.15.430 shall constitute a gross misdemeanor and be punishable as such. [2003 c 334 § 234; 1945
c 97 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-40d. Formerly RCW
76.20.040.]
79.15.440
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 5
CONTRACT HARVESTING
PART 4
FIREWOOD
79.15.500 Contract harvesting—Definitions.
(Expires December 31, 2007.) The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 79.15.500 through 79.15.530 and
79.15.540 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(2) "Contract harvesting" means a timber operation
occurring on state forest lands, in which the department contracts with a firm or individual to perform all the necessary
harvesting work to process trees into logs sorted by department specifications. The department then sells the individual
log sorts.
(3) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(4) "Harvesting costs" are those expenses related to the
production of log sorts from a stand of timber. These
expenses typically involve road building, labor for felling,
bucking, and yarding, as well as the transporting of sorted
logs to the forest product purchasers.
(5) "Net proceeds" means gross proceeds from a contract
harvesting sale less harvesting costs.
(6) "Silvicultural treatment" means any vegetative or
other treatment applied to a managed forest to improve the
conditions of the stand, and may include harvesting, thinning,
prescribed burning, and pruning. [2004 c 218 § 8; 2003 c 313
§ 2.]
79.15.500
79.15.400
79.15.400 License to remove firewood authorized.
The department may issue licenses to residents of this state to
enter upon lands under the administration or jurisdiction of
the department for the purpose of removing therefrom, standing or downed timber which is unfit for any purpose except to
be used as firewood. [2003 c 334 § 230; 1975 c 10 § 1; 1945
c 97 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-40a. Formerly RCW
76.20.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.410
79.15.410 Removal only for personal use. In addition
to other matters which may be required to be contained in the
application for a license under this chapter the applicant must
certify that the wood so removed is to be only for the applicant’s own personal use and in his or her own home and that
the applicant will not dispose of it to any other person. [2003
c 334 § 231; 1945 c 97 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-40b.
Formerly RCW 76.20.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.420
79.15.420 Issuance of license—Fee. The application
may be made to the department, and if deemed proper, the
license may be issued upon the payment of two dollars and
fifty cents which shall be paid into the treasury of the state by
the officer collecting the same and placed in the resource
management cost account or forest development account, as
applicable; the license shall be dated as of the date of issuance and authorize the holder thereof to remove between the
dates so specified not more than six cords of wood not fit for
any use but as firewood for the use of the applicant and his or
her family from the premises described in the license under
such rules as the department may adopt. [2003 c 334 § 232;
1975 c 10 § 2; 1945 c 97 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-40c.
Formerly RCW 76.20.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.15.430
79.15.430 Removal of firewood without charge.
Whenever the department determines that it is in the best
interest of the state and there will be a benefit to the lands
involved or a state program affecting such lands it may designate specific areas and authorize the general public to enter
upon lands under its jurisdiction for the purposes of cutting
and removing standing or downed timber for use as firewood
for the personal use of the person so cutting and removing
without a charge under such terms and conditions as it may
require. [2003 c 334 § 233; 1975 c 10 § 3. Formerly RCW
76.20.035.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 44]
Effective date—2004 c 218: See note following RCW 76.06.140.
Intent—Expiration date—2004 c 218 §§ 5-8: See note following
RCW 79.15.540.
Findings—2003 c 313: "The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the trust beneficiaries to capture additional revenues while providing
for additional environmental protection on timber sales. Further, the legislature finds that contract harvesting is one method to achieve these desired outcomes. Therefore, the legislature directs the department of natural resources
to establish and implement contract harvesting where there exists the ability
to increase revenues for the beneficiaries of the trusts while obtaining
increases in environmental protection." [2003 c 313 § 1.]
Severability—2003 c 313: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2003 c 313 § 15.]
79.15.500 Contract harvesting—Definitions. (Effective December 31, 2007.) The definitions in this section
apply throughout *this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(2) "Contract harvesting" means a timber operation
occurring on state forest lands, in which the department contracts with a firm or individual to perform all the necessary
harvesting work to process trees into logs sorted by depart79.15.500
(2006 Ed.)
Sale of Valuable Materials
ment specifications. The department then sells the individual
log sorts.
(3) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(4) "Harvesting costs" are those expenses related to the
production of log sorts from a stand of timber. These
expenses typically involve road building, labor for felling,
bucking, and yarding, as well as the transporting of sorted
logs to the forest product purchasers.
(5) "Net proceeds" means gross proceeds from a contract
harvesting sale less harvesting costs. [2003 c 313 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: The reference to "this chapter" should instead refer to
RCW 79.15.500 through 79.15.530. RCW 79.15.500 through 79.15.530
were originally created in chapter 313, Laws of 2003. However, chapter
334, Laws of 2003 reorganized numerous statutes governing upland management. The subject of sections 2 through 5 (RCW 79.15.500 through
79.15.530), chapter 313, Laws of 2003 (contract harvesting) is more appropriately codified with the subject (sale of valuable materials) identified in
section 559, chapter 334, Laws of 2003.
Findings—2003 c 313: "The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the trust beneficiaries to capture additional revenues while providing
for additional environmental protection on timber sales. Further, the legislature finds that contract harvesting is one method to achieve these desired outcomes. Therefore, the legislature directs the department of natural resources
to establish and implement contract harvesting where there exists the ability
to increase revenues for the beneficiaries of the trusts while obtaining
increases in environmental protection." [2003 c 313 § 1.]
Severability—2003 c 313: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2003 c 313 § 15.]
79.15.510
79.15.510 Contract harvesting—Program established. (Expires December 31, 2007.) (1) The department
may establish a contract harvesting program for directly contracting for the removal of timber and other valuable materials from state lands and for conducting silvicultural treatments consistent with RCW 79.15.540.
(2) The contract requirements must be compatible with
the office of financial management’s guide to public service
contracts.
(3) The department may not use contract harvesting for
more than ten percent of the total annual volume of timber
offered for sale. However, volume removed primarily to
address an identified forest health issue under RCW
79.15.540 may not be included in calculating the ten percent
annual limit of contract harvesting sales. [2004 c 218 § 6;
2003 c 313 § 3.]
Effective date—2004 c 218: See note following RCW 76.06.140.
Intent—Expiration date—2004 c 218 §§ 5-8: See note following
RCW 79.15.540.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
79.15.510
79.15.510 Contract harvesting—Program established. (Effective December 31, 2007.) (1) The department
may establish a contract harvesting program by directly contracting for the removal of timber and other valuable materials from state lands.
(2) The contract requirements must be compatible with
the office of financial management’s guide to public service
contracts.
(2006 Ed.)
79.15.520
(3) The department may not use contract harvesting for
more than ten percent of the total annual volume of timber
offered for sale. [2003 c 313 § 3.]
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
79.15.520
79.15.520 Contract harvesting revolving account.
(Expires December 31, 2007.) (1) The contract harvesting
revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the gross proceeds of the sale of logs
from a contract harvesting sale must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from the account may be used only
for the payment of harvesting costs incurred on contract harvesting sales and for payment of costs incurred from silvicultural treatments necessary to improve forest health conducted
under RCW 79.15.540. Only the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee may authorize expenditures from the
account. The board of natural resources has oversight of the
account, and the commissioner must periodically report to the
board of natural resources as to the status of the account, its
disbursement, and receipts. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(2) When the logs from a contract harvesting sale are
sold, the gross proceeds must be deposited into the contract
harvesting revolving account. Moneys equal to the harvesting costs must be retained in the account and be deducted
from the gross proceeds to determine the net proceeds. The
net proceeds from the sale of the logs must be distributed in
accordance with RCW 43.30.325(1)(b). The final receipt of
gross proceeds on a contract harvesting sale must be retained
in the contract harvesting revolving account until all required
costs for that sale have been paid. The contract harvesting
revolving account is an interest-bearing account and the
interest must be credited to the account. The account balance
may not exceed one million dollars at the end of each fiscal
year. Moneys in excess of one million dollars must be disbursed according to RCW 79.22.040, 79.22.050, and
79.64.040. If the department permanently discontinues the
use of contract harvesting sales, any sums remaining in the
contract harvesting revolving account must be returned to the
resource management cost account and the forest development account in proportion to each account’s contribution to
the initial balance of the contract harvesting revolving
account. [2004 c 218 § 7; 2003 c 313 § 4.]
Effective date—2004 c 218: See note following RCW 76.06.140.
Intent—Expiration date—2004 c 218 §§ 5-8: See note following
RCW 79.15.540.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
79.15.520
79.15.520 Contract harvesting revolving account.
(Effective December 31, 2007.) The contract harvesting
revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the gross proceeds of the sale of logs
from a contract harvesting must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from the account may be used only
for the payment of harvesting costs incurred on contract harvesting sales. Only the commissioner or the commissioner’s
designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The
board of natural resources has oversight of the account, and
[Title 79 RCW—page 45]
79.15.530
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
the commissioner must periodically report to the board of
natural resources as to the status of the account, its disbursement, and receipts. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is
not required for expenditures.
When the logs from a contract harvesting sale are sold,
the gross proceeds must be deposited into the contract harvesting revolving account. Moneys equal to the harvesting
costs must be retained in the account and be deducted from
the gross proceeds to determine the net proceeds. The net
proceeds from the sale of the logs must be distributed in
accordance with *RCW 43.85.130(1)(b). The final receipt of
gross proceeds on a contract harvesting sale must be retained
in the contract harvesting revolving account until all required
costs for that sale have been paid. The contract harvesting
revolving account is an interest-bearing account and the
interest must be credited to the account. The account balance
may not exceed one million dollars at the end of each fiscal
year. Moneys in excess of one million dollars must be disbursed according to RCW **76.12.030, **76.12.120, and
79.64.040. If the department permanently discontinues the
use of contract harvesting sales, any sums remaining in the
contract harvesting revolving account must be returned to the
resource management cost account and the forest development account in proportion to each account’s contribution to
the initial balance of the contract harvesting revolving
account. [2003 c 313 § 4.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 43.85.130 was recodified as RCW
43.30.325 pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 128.
**(2) RCW 76.12.030 and 76.12.120 were recodified as RCW
79.22.040 and 79.22.050 pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 245.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
from timber lands through improved forest conditions and by
reducing the threat of forest fire to state trust forest lands.
(2) In order to implement the intent of subsection (1) of
this section, the department may initiate contract harvesting
timber sales, or other silvicultural treatments when appropriate, in specific areas of state trust forest land where the
department has identified forest health deficiencies as enumerated in RCW 76.06.140. All harvesting or silvicultural
treatments applied under this section must be tailored to
improve the health of the specific stand, must be consistent
with any applicable state forest plans and other management
agreements, and must comply with all applicable state and
federal laws and regulations regarding the harvest of timber
by the department of natural resources.
(3) In utilizing contract harvesting to address forest
health issues as outlined in this section, the department shall
give priority to silvicultural treatments that assist the department in meeting forest health strategies included in any management or landscape plans that exist for state forests. [2004
c 218 § 5.]
Intent—Expiration date—2004 c 218 §§ 5-8: "Sections 5 through 8 of
this act are intended to provide interim tools to the department of natural
resources to address forest health issues on state land prior to the completion
of the assignment given to the work group in section 4 of this act. As such,
sections 5 through 8 of this act expire December 31, 2007." [2004 c 218 §
10.]
Effective date—2004 c 218: See note following RCW 76.06.140.
Chapter 79.17
LAND TRANSFERS
Sections
PART 1
EXCHANGES
79.15.530
79.15.530 Contract harvesting—Special appraisal
practices. The board of natural resources must determine
whether any special appraisal practices are necessary for logs
sold by the contract harvesting processes, and if so, must
adopt the special appraisal practices or procedures. In its
consideration of special appraisal practices, the board of natural resources must consider and adopt procedures to rapidly
market and sell any log sorts that failed to receive the
required minimum bid at the original auction, which may
include allowing the department to set a new appraised value
for the unsold sort.
The board of natural resources must establish and adopt
policy and procedures by which the department evaluates and
selects certified contract harvesters. The procedures must
include a method whereby a certified contract harvester may
appeal a decision by the department or board of natural
resources to not include the certified contract harvester on the
list of approved contract harvesters. [2003 c 313 § 5.]
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Chapter 79.17 RCW
79.17.010
79.17.020
79.17.030
79.17.040
79.17.050
79.17.060
79.17.070
Exchange of state lands—Purposes—Conditions.
Exchange of lands to consolidate and block up holdings or
obtain lands having commercial recreational leasing potential.
University demonstration forest and experiment station.
Exchange of property acquired as administrative sites—Purposes.
Public notice—News release—Hearing.
Exchange of lands to consolidate and block up holdings—
Agreements and deeds by commissioner.
Exchange of lands to consolidate and block up holdings—
Lands acquired are subject to same laws and administered
for same fund as lands exchanged.
PART 2
PURCHASE OR LEASE OF LAND
BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
79.17.100
79.17.110
79.17.120
79.17.130
79.17.140
Application by school district.
School districts—Purchase of leased lands with improvements.
School districts—Purchases from school construction fund.
School districts—Extension of contract period.
School districts—Reversion, when.
79.15.540
79.15.540 Intent—Contract harvesting—State trust
forest land with identified forest health deficiencies.
(Expires December 31, 2007.) (1) The legislature intends to
ensure, to the extent feasible given all applicable trust responsibilities, that trust beneficiaries receive long-term income
[Title 79 RCW—page 46]
PART 3
LAND TRANSFER
79.17.200
79.17.210
Real property—Transfer or disposal without public auction.
Real property asset base—Natural resources real property
replacement account.
(2006 Ed.)
Land Transfers
PART 1
EXCHANGES
79.17.010
79.17.010 Exchange of state lands—Purposes—Conditions. (1) The department, with the approval of the board,
may exchange any state land and any timber thereon for any
land of equal value in order to:
(a) Facilitate the marketing of forest products of state
lands;
(b) Consolidate and block-up state lands;
(c) Acquire lands having commercial recreational leasing potential;
(d) Acquire county-owned lands;
(e) Acquire urban property which has greater income
potential or which could be more efficiently managed by the
department in exchange for state urban lands as defined in
RCW 79.19.100; or
(f) Acquire any other lands when such exchange is determined by the board to be in the best interest of the trust for
which the state land is held.
(2) Land exchanged under this section shall not be used
to reduce the publicly owned forest land base.
(3) The board shall determine that each land exchange is
in the best interest of the trust for which the land is held prior
to authorizing the land exchange.
(4) During the biennium ending June 30, 2005, the
department, with approval of the board, may exchange any
state land and any timber thereon for any land and proceeds
of equal value. Proceeds may be in the form of cash or services in order to achieve the purposes established in this section. Any cash received as part of an exchange transaction
shall be deposited in the resource management cost account
to pay for administrative expenses incurred in carrying out an
exchange transaction. The amount of proceeds received from
the exchange partner may not exceed five percent of the total
value of the exchange. The receipt of proceeds shall not
change the character of the transaction from an exchange to a
sale. [2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 939; 2003 c 334 § 452; 1987 c 113
§ 1; 1983 c 261 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 50 § 2; 1961 c 77 § 4;
1957 c 290 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.08.180.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 334 § 452 and by
2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 939, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Exchange to block up holdings: RCW 79.17.020, 79.17.060.
79.17.020
79.17.020 Exchange of lands to consolidate and block
up holdings or obtain lands having commercial recreational leasing potential. (1) The board of county commissioners of any county and/or the mayor and city council or
city commission of any city or town and/or the board shall
have authority to exchange, each with the other, or with the
federal forest service, the federal government or any proper
agency thereof and/or with any private landowner, county
land of any character, land owned by municipalities of any
character, and state forest land owned by the state under the
jurisdiction of the department, for real property of equal
value for the purpose of consolidating and blocking up the
(2006 Ed.)
79.17.030
respective land holdings of any county, municipality, the federal government, or the state of Washington or for the purpose of obtaining lands having commercial recreational leasing potential.
(2) During the biennium ending June 30, 2005, the
department, with approval of the board, may exchange any
state forest land and any timber thereon for any real property
and proceeds of equal value. Proceeds may be in the form of
cash or services in order to achieve the purposes established
in this section. Any cash received as part of an exchange
transaction shall be deposited in the forest development
account to pay for administrative expenses incurred in carrying out an exchange transaction. The amount of proceeds
received from the exchange partner may not exceed five percent of the total value of the exchange. The receipt of proceeds shall not change the character of the transaction from
an exchange to a sale. [2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 937; 2003 c 334
§ 209; 1973 1st ex.s. c 50 § 1; 1961 c 77 § 1; 1937 c 77 § 1;
RRS § 5812-3e. Formerly RCW 76.12.050.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 334 § 209 and by
2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 937, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.17.030
79.17.030 University demonstration forest and
experiment station. For the purpose of securing an area
suitable for a demonstration forest and forest experiment station for the University of Washington authority is hereby
granted the board of regents of the University of Washington
and the department with the approval of the board, acting
with the advice and approval of the attorney general, to
exchange all or any portion of the granted lands of the University of Washington assigned for the support of said university by section 9 of chapter 122 of the act of March 14,
1893, enacted by the legislature of Washington, being entitled, "An act providing for the location, construction and
maintenance of the University of Washington, and making an
appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency," for all
or any portion of such lands as may be acquired by the state
under and by virtue of chapter 102, Laws of 1913, being:
"An act relating to lands granted to the state for common
schools and for educational, penal, reformatory, charitable,
capitol buildings and other purposes providing for the completion of such grants and the relinquishment of certain
granted lands; and making an appropriation," approved
March 18, 1913, by exchange with the United States in the
Pilchuck-Sultan-Wallace watersheds included within the
present boundaries of the Snoqualmie national forest. The
board of regents and department with the advice and approval
required by this section are hereby authorized to execute such
agreements, writings, or relinquishments as are necessary or
proper for the purpose of carrying said exchange into effect
and such agreements or other writings to be executed in
duplicate, one to be filed with the department and one to be
delivered to the board of regents. The exchange shall be
made upon the basis of equal values to be determined by
careful valuation of the areas to be exchanged. [2003 c 334 §
446; 1917 c 66 § 1; RRS § 7848. Formerly RCW 79.08.070.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 47]
79.17.040
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
Reviser’s note: 1893 c 122 § 9 referred to herein reads as follows:
"That 100,000 acres of the lands granted by section 17 of the enabling act,
approved February 22, 1889, for state, charitable, educational, penal and
reformatory institutions are hereby assigned for the support of the University
of Washington."
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.17.040
79.17.040 Exchange of property acquired as administrative sites—Purposes. The department may exchange
surplus real property previously acquired by the department
as administrative sites. The property may be exchanged for
any public or private real property of equal value, to preserve
archeological sites on trust lands, to acquire land to be held in
natural preserves, to maintain habitats for endangered species, or to acquire or enhance sites to be dedicated for recreational purposes. [2003 c 334 § 453; 1979 c 24 § 1. Formerly
RCW 79.08.250.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.17.050
79.17.050 Public notice—News release—Hearing.
Before a proposed exchange is presented to the board involving an exchange of any lands under the administrative control
of the department, the department shall hold a public hearing
on the proposal in the county where the state-owned land or
the greatest proportion thereof is located. Ten days but not
more than twenty-five days prior to such hearing, the department shall publish a paid public notice of reasonable size in
display advertising form, setting forth the date, time, and
place of the hearing, at least once in one or more daily newspapers of general circulation in the county and at least once in
one or more weekly newspapers circulated in the area where
the state-owned land is located. A news release pertaining to
the hearing shall be disseminated among printed and electronic media in the area where the state-owned land is
located. The public notice and news release also shall identify lands involved in the proposed exchange and describe the
purposes of the exchange and proposed use of the lands
involved. A summary of the testimony presented at the hearings shall be prepared for the board’s consideration when
reviewing the department’s exchange proposal. If there is a
failure to substantially comply with the procedures set forth
in this section, then the exchange agreement shall be subject
to being declared invalid by a court. Any such suit must be
brought within one year from the date of the exchange agreement. [2003 c 334 § 445; 1979 c 54 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 107
§ 2. Formerly RCW 79.08.015.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Exchange of state land by parks and recreation commission, procedure:
RCW 79A.05.180.
79.17.070
79.17.070 Exchange of lands to consolidate and block
up holdings—Lands acquired are subject to same laws
and administered for same fund as lands exchanged.
Lands acquired by the state of Washington as the result of
any exchange shall be held and administered for the benefit
of the same fund and subject to the same laws as were the
lands exchanged therefor. [2003 c 334 § 211; 1961 c 77 § 3.
Formerly RCW 76.12.065.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 2
PURCHASE OR LEASE OF LAND
BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
79.17.100
79.17.100 Application by school district. Except as
otherwise provided in RCW 79.17.110, upon the application
of a school district or any institution of higher education for
the purchase or lease of lands granted to the state by the
United States, the department may offer such land for sale or
lease to such school district or institution of higher education
in such acreage as it may determine, consideration being
given upon application of a school district to school site criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction.
However, in the event the department thereafter proposes to
offer such land for sale or lease at public auction, such school
district or institution of higher education shall have a preference right for six months from notice of such proposal to purchase or lease such land at the appraised value determined by
the board. [2006 c 263 § 333; 2003 c 334 § 322.]
Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes
following RCW 28A.150.230.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.17.110
79.17.110 School districts—Purchase of leased lands
with improvements. Notwithstanding the provisions of
RCW 79.11.010 or any other provision of law, any school
district or institution of higher education leasing land granted
to the state by the United States and on which land such district or institution has placed improvements as defined in
RCW 79.02.010 shall be afforded the opportunity by the
department at any time to purchase such land, excepting land
over which the department retains management responsibilities, for the purposes of schoolhouse construction and/or necessary supporting facilities or structures at the appraised
value thereof less the value that any improvements thereon
added to the value of the land itself at the time of the sale
thereof. [2003 c 334 § 437; 1985 c 200 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c
31 § 1; 1980 c 115 § 8; 1971 ex.s. c 200 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.01.770.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.17.060
79.17.060 Exchange of lands to consolidate and block
up holdings—Agreements and deeds by commissioner.
The commissioner shall, with the advice and approval of the
attorney general, execute such agreements, writings, or relinquishments and certify to the governor such deeds as are necessary or proper to complete an exchange. [2003 c 334 § 210;
1961 c 77 § 2; 1937 c 77 § 2; RRS § 5812-3f. Formerly RCW
76.12.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 48]
Severability—1980 c 115: See note following RCW 28A.335.090.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 200: See note following RCW 79.11.010.
79.17.120
79.17.120 School districts—Purchases from school
construction fund. The purchases authorized under RCW
79.17.110 shall be classified as for the construction of common school plant facilities under RCW 28A.525.010 through
28A.525.222 and shall be payable out of the common school
construction fund as otherwise provided for in RCW
(2006 Ed.)
Land Bank
28A.515.320 if the school district involved was under emergency school construction classification as established by the
superintendent of public instruction at any time during the
period of its lease of state lands. [2006 c 263 § 334; 2003 c
334 § 438; 1990 c 33 § 596; 1971 ex.s. c 200 § 3. Formerly
RCW 79.01.774.]
Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes
following RCW 28A.150.230.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 200: See note following RCW 79.11.010.
79.17.130
79.17.130 School districts—Extension of contract
period. In those cases where the purchases, as authorized by
RCW 79.17.110 and 79.17.120, have been made on a ten year
contract, the board, if it deems it in the best interest of the
state, may extend the term of any such contract to not to
exceed an additional ten years under such terms and conditions as the board may determine. [2003 c 334 § 439; 1971
ex.s. c 200 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.778.]
79.19.020
appraisal and for at least fair market value, and only if such
transaction is in the best interest of the state or affected trust.
[1992 c 167 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.009.]
79.17.210 Real property asset base—Natural
resources real property replacement account. (1) The legislature finds that the department has a need to maintain the
real property asset base it manages and needs an accounting
mechanism to complete transactions without reducing the
real property asset base.
(2) The natural resources real property replacement
account is created in the state treasury. This account shall
consist of funds transferred or paid for the disposal or transfer
of real property by the department under RCW 79.17.200.
The funds in this account shall be used solely for the acquisition of replacement real property and may be spent only
when, and as, authorized by legislative appropriation. [2003
c 334 § 118; 1992 c 167 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.30.265.]
79.17.210
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Chapter 79.19
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 200: See note following RCW 79.11.010.
Chapter 79.19 RCW
LAND BANK
Sections
79.17.140 School districts—Reversion, when. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, annually the board
shall determine if lands purchased or leased by school districts or institutions of higher education under the provisions
of RCW *79.11.010 and 79.17.110 are being used for school
sites. If such land has not been used for school sites for a
period of seven years the title to such land shall revert to the
original trust for which it was held. [2003 c 334 § 440; 1971
ex.s. c 200 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.780.]
79.19.010
79.19.020
79.19.030
79.19.040
79.19.050
*Reviser’s note: The reference to RCW 79.11.010 appears to be erroneous. A reference to RCW 79.17.100 was apparently intended.
79.19.100
79.19.110
79.17.140
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 200: See note following RCW 79.11.010.
PART 3
LAND TRANSFER
79.17.200
79.17.200 Real property—Transfer or disposal without public auction. (1) For the purposes of this section,
"public agency" means any agency, political subdivision, or
unit of local government of this state including, but not limited to, municipal corporations, quasi-municipal corporations, special purpose districts, and local service districts; any
agency of the state government; any agency of the United
States; and any Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal
government.
(2) With the approval of the board of natural resources,
the department of natural resources may directly transfer or
dispose of real property, without public auction, in the following circumstances:
(a) Transfers in lieu of condemnations;
(b) Transfers to public agencies; and
(c) Transfers to resolve trespass and property ownership
disputes.
(3) Real property to be transferred or disposed of under
this section shall be transferred or disposed of only after
(2006 Ed.)
79.19.060
79.19.070
79.19.080
79.19.090
79.19.900
79.19.901
Legislative finding.
Land bank—Created—Purchase of property authorized.
Exchange or sale of property held in land bank.
Management of property held in land bank.
Appropriation of funds from forest development account or
resource management cost account—Use of income.
Reimbursement for costs and expenses.
Land bank technical advisory committee.
Identification of trust lands expected to convert to commercial,
residential, or industrial uses—Hearing—Notice—Designation as urban lands.
Exchange of urban land for land bank land—Notification of
affected public agencies.
Urban lands—Cooperative planning, development.
Lands for commercial, industrial, or residential use—Payment
of in-lieu of property tax—Distribution.
Severability—1984 c 222.
Effective date—1984 c 222.
79.19.010 Legislative finding. The legislature finds
that from time to time it may be desirable for the department
to sell state lands which have low potential for natural
resource management or low income-generating potential or
which, because of geographic location or other factors, are
inefficient for the department to manage. However, it is also
important to acquire lands for long-term management to
replace those sold so that the publicly owned land base will
not be depleted and the publicly owned forest land base will
not be reduced. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a
means to facilitate such sales and purchases so that the diversity of public uses on the trust lands will be maintained. In
making the determinations, the department shall comply with
local land use plans and applicable growth management principles. [2003 c 334 § 525; 1984 c 222 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 109 §
1. Formerly RCW 79.66.010.]
79.19.010
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.020 Land bank—Created—Purchase of property authorized. The department, with the approval of the
board, may purchase property at fair market value to be held
in a land bank, which is hereby created within the depart79.19.020
[Title 79 RCW—page 49]
79.19.030
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
ment. Property so purchased shall be property which would
be desirable for addition to the public lands of the state
because of the potential for natural resource or income production of the property. The total acreage held in the land
bank shall not exceed one thousand five hundred acres.
[2003 c 334 § 526; 1984 c 222 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 109 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.66.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.030
79.19.030 Exchange or sale of property held in land
bank. The department, with the approval of the board, may:
(1) Exchange property held in the land bank for any
other lands of equal value administered by the department,
including any lands held in trust.
(2) Exchange property held in the land bank for property
of equal or greater value which is owned publicly or privately, and which has greater potential for natural resource or
income production or which could be more efficiently managed by the department, however, no power of eminent
domain is hereby granted to the department; and
(3) Sell property held in the land bank in the manner provided by law for the sale of state lands without any requirement of platting and to use the proceeds to acquire property
for the land bank which has greater potential for natural
resource or income production or which would be more efficiently managed by the department. [2004 c 199 § 215; 2003
c 334 § 527; 1984 c 222 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 109 § 3. Formerly
RCW 79.66.030.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.040
79.19.040 Management of property held in land
bank. The department may manage the property held in the
land bank as provided in RCW 79.10.030. However, the
properties or interest in such properties shall not be withdrawn, exchanged, transferred, or sold without first obtaining
payment of the fair market value of the property or interest
therein or obtaining property of equal value in exchange.
[2003 c 334 § 528; 1984 c 222 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 109 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.66.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.050
79.19.050 Appropriation of funds from forest development account or resource management cost account—
Use of income. The legislature may authorize appropriation
of funds from the forest development account or the resource
management cost account for the purposes of this chapter.
Income from the sale or management of property in the land
bank shall be returned as a recovered expense to the forest
development account or the resource management cost
account and may be used to acquire property under RCW
79.19.020. [2003 c 334 § 529; 1984 c 222 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c
109 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.66.050.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Forest development account: RCW 79.64.100.
Resource management cost account: RCW 79.64.020.
79.19.060
79.19.060 Reimbursement for costs and expenses.
The department shall be reimbursed for actual costs and
[Title 79 RCW—page 50]
expenses incurred in managing and administering the land
bank program under this chapter from the forest development
account or the resource management cost account in an
amount not to exceed the limits provided in RCW 79.64.040.
Reimbursement from proceeds of sales shall be limited to
marketing costs provided in RCW 79.10.030. [2003 c 334 §
530; 1984 c 222 § 6. Formerly RCW 79.66.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.070
79.19.070 Land bank technical advisory committee.
(1) There is created a land bank technical advisory committee, consisting of three members. Membership shall consist
of: One member qualified by experience and training in matters pertaining to land use planning and real estate appointed
by the commissioner of public lands, one member qualified
by experience and training in public trust matters appointed
by the superintendent of public instruction, and one member
qualified by experience and training in financial matters
appointed by the state treasurer.
(2) The technical advisory committee shall provide professional advice and counsel to the board of natural resources
regarding land bank sales, purchases, and exchanges involving urban property.
(3) Members of the technical advisory committee shall
be appointed for five-year terms and shall serve until a successor is appointed. In the case of a vacancy the vacancy shall
be filled by the appointing authority. The initial term of the
appointee of the commissioner shall expire in three years.
The initial term of the appointee of the superintendent shall
expire in four years. The initial term of the appointee of the
treasurer shall expire in five years. All terms expire December 31.
(4) Members of the technical advisory committee shall
be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
[1984 c 222 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.66.070.]
79.19.080
79.19.080 Identification of trust lands expected to
convert to commercial, residential, or industrial uses—
Hearing—Notice—Designation as urban lands. Periodically, at intervals to be determined by the board, the department shall identify trust lands which are expected to convert
to commercial, residential, or industrial uses within ten years.
The department shall adhere to existing local comprehensive
plans, zoning classifications, and duly adopted local policies
when making this identification and determining the fair market value of the property.
The department shall hold a public hearing on the proposal in the county where the state land is located. At least
fifteen days but not more than thirty days before the hearing,
the department shall publish a public notice of reasonable
size in display advertising form, setting forth the date, time,
and place of the hearing, at least once in one or more daily
newspapers of general circulation in the county and at least
once in one or more weekly newspapers circulated in the area
where the trust land is located. At the same time that the published notice is given, the department shall give written
notice of the hearings to the departments of fish and wildlife
and general administration, to the parks and recreation commission, and to the county, city, or town in which the prop(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition, Management, and Disposition of State Forest Lands
erty is situated. The department shall disseminate a news
release pertaining to the hearing among printed and electronic media in the area where the trust land is located. The
public notice and news release also shall identify trust lands
in the area which are expected to convert to commercial, residential, or industrial uses within ten years.
A summary of the testimony presented at the hearings
shall be prepared for the board’s consideration. The board
shall designate trust lands which are expected to convert to
commercial, residential, or industrial uses as urban land.
Descriptions of lands designated by the board shall be made
available to the county and city or town in which the land is
situated and for public inspection and copying at the department’s administrative office in Olympia, Washington and at
each area office.
The hearing and notice requirements of this section
apply to those trust lands which have been identified by the
department prior to July 1, 1984, as being expected to convert
to commercial, residential, or industrial uses within the next
ten years, and which have not been sold or exchanged prior to
July 1, 1984. [2003 c 334 § 531; 1994 c 264 § 60; 1988 c 36
§ 53; 1984 c 222 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.66.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.090
79.19.090 Exchange of urban land for land bank
land—Notification of affected public agencies. If the
department determines to exchange urban land for land bank
land, public agencies defined in RCW 79.17.200 that may
benefit from owning the property shall be notified in writing
of the determination. The public agencies have sixty days
from the date of notice by the department to submit an application to purchase the land and shall be afforded an opportunity of up to one year, as determined by the board, to purchase the land from the land bank at fair market value directly
without public auction as authorized under RCW 79.17.200.
The board, if it deems it in the best interest of the state, may
extend the period under terms and conditions as the board
determines. If competing applications are received from governmental entities, the board shall select the application
which results in the highest monetary value. [2003 c 334 §
532; 1993 c 265 § 1; 1984 c 222 § 9. Formerly RCW
79.66.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.100
79.19.100 Urban lands—Cooperative planning,
development. The purpose of this section is to foster cooperative planning among the state, the department, and local
governments as to state-owned lands under the department’s
jurisdiction situated in urban areas.
At least once a year, prior to finalizing the department’s
urban land leasing action plan, the department and applicable
local governments shall meet to review state and local plans
and to coordinate planning in areas where urban lands are
located. The department and local governments may enter
into formal agreements for the purpose of planning the appropriate development of these state-owned urban lands.
The department shall contact those local governments
which have planning, zoning, and land-use regulation authority over areas where urban lands under its jurisdiction are
located so as to facilitate these annual or other meetings.
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 79.22
"Urban lands" as used in this section means those areas
which within ten years are expected to be intensively used for
locations of buildings or structures, and usually have urban
governmental services.
"Local government" as used in this section means counties, cities, and towns having planning and land-use regulation authority. [2003 c 334 § 441; 1979 ex.s. c 56 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.784.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.110
79.19.110 Lands for commercial, industrial, or residential use—Payment of in-lieu of property tax—Distribution. Lands purchased by the department for commercial,
industrial, or residential use shall be subject to payment of inlieu of real property tax for the period in which they are held
in the land bank. The in-lieu payment shall be equal to the
property taxes which would otherwise be paid if the land
remained subject to the tax. Payment shall be made at the end
of the calendar year to the county in which the land is located.
If a parcel is not held in the land bank for the entire year, the
in-lieu payment shall be reduced proportionately to reflect
only that period of time in which the land was held in the land
bank. The county treasurer shall distribute the in-lieu payments proportionately in accordance with RCW 84.56.230 as
though such moneys were receipts from ad valorem property
taxes. [2003 c 334 § 533; 1984 c 222 § 10. Formerly RCW
79.66.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.19.900
79.19.900 Severability—1984 c 222. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1984 c 222 § 15. Formerly RCW 79.66.900.]
79.19.901
79.19.901 Effective date—1984 c 222. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1984.
[1984 c 222 § 16. Formerly RCW 79.66.901.]
Chapter 79.22 RCW
ACQUISITION, MANAGEMENT, AND DISPOSITION
OF STATE FOREST LANDS
Chapter 79.22
Sections
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.22.010
79.22.020
79.22.030
79.22.040
79.22.050
79.22.060
79.22.070
79.22.080
79.22.090
79.22.100
79.22.110
79.22.120
Powers of department—Acquisition of land for reforestation—Taxes, cancellation.
Acquisition of forest land—Requisites.
Record of proceedings, etc.
Deed of county land to department.
Sales and leases of timber, timber land, or products thereon.
Transfer, disposal of lands without public auction—Requirements.
Forest and land management—Rules—Penalty.
Utility bonds.
Bonds—Purchase price of land limited—Retirement of bonds.
Reacquisition of lands from federal government.
Reconveyance to county in certain cases.
Reconveyance to county of certain leased lands.
[Title 79 RCW—page 51]
79.22.010
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
PART 2
TRANSFERS OF STATE FOREST LANDS
FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES
79.22.300
79.22.310
79.22.320
79.22.330
Procedure—Reconveyance back when use ceases.
Timber resource management.
Lands transferred by deed.
Provisions cumulative and nonexclusive.
PART 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.22.010
79.22.010 Powers of department—Acquisition of
land for reforestation—Taxes, cancellation. The department has the power to accept gifts and bequests of money or
other property, made in its own name, or made in the name of
the state, to promote generally the interests of reforestation or
for a specific named purpose in connection with reforestation, and to acquire in the name of the state, by purchase or
gift, any lands which by reason of their location, topography,
or geological formation, are chiefly valuable for purpose of
developing and growing timber, and to designate such lands
and any lands of the same character belonging to the state as
state forest lands; and may acquire by gift or purchase any
lands of the same character. The department has the power to
seed, plant, and develop forests on any lands, purchased,
acquired, or designated by it as state forest lands, and shall
furnish such care and fire protection for such lands as it shall
deem advisable. Upon approval of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the land is located such gift
or donation of land may be accepted subject to delinquent
general taxes thereon, and upon such acceptance of such gift
or donation subject to such taxes, the department shall record
the deed of conveyance thereof and file with the assessor and
treasurer of the county wherein such land is situated, written
notice of acquisition of such land, and that all delinquent general taxes thereon, except state taxes, shall be canceled, and
the county treasurer shall thereupon proceed to make such
cancellation in the records of the county treasurer. Thereafter, such lands shall be held in trust, protected, managed, and
administered upon, and the proceeds therefrom disposed of,
under RCW 79.22.040. [2003 c 334 § 205; 1988 c 128 § 23;
1937 c 172 § 1; 1929 c 117 § 1; 1923 c 154 § 3; RRS § 58123. Prior: 1921 c 169 § 1, part. Formerly RCW 76.12.020.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.030
79.22.030 Record of proceedings, etc. The department
shall keep in its office in a permanent bound volume a record
of all forest lands acquired by the state and any lands owned
by the state and designated as such by the department. The
record shall show the date and from whom said lands were
acquired; amount and method of payment therefor; the forest
within which said lands are embraced; the legal description
of such lands; the amount of money expended, if any, and the
date thereof, for seeding, planting, maintenance, or care for
such lands; the amount, date, and source of any income
derived from such land; and such other information and data
as may be required by the department. [2003 c 334 § 223;
1988 c 128 § 34; 1923 c 154 § 9; RRS § 5812-9. Formerly
RCW 76.12.155, 43.12.140.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.040
79.22.040 Deed of county land to department. If any
land acquired by a county through foreclosure of tax liens, or
otherwise, comes within the classification of land described
in RCW 79.22.010 and can be used as state forest land and if
the department deems such land necessary for the purposes of
this chapter, the county shall, upon demand by the department, deed such land to the department and the land shall
become a part of the state forest lands.
Such land shall be held in trust and administered and
protected by the department in the same manner as other state
forest lands.
In the event that the department sells logs using the contract harvesting process described in RCW 79.15.500 through
79.15.530, the moneys derived subject to this section are the
net proceeds from the contract harvesting sale. [2003 c 334 §
206; 2003 c 313 § 6; 1997 c 370 § 1; 1991 c 363 § 151; 1988
c 128 § 24; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 224 § 1; 1969
c 110 § 1; 1957 c 167 § 1; 1951 c 91 § 1; 1935 c 126 § 1; 1927
c 288 § 3, part (adding a new section to 1923 c 154 § 3b);
RRS § 5812-36. Formerly RCW 76.12.030.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 313 § 6 and by
2003 c 334 § 206, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
79.22.020
79.22.020 Acquisition of forest land—Requisites.
The department shall take such steps as it deems advisable for
locating and acquiring lands suitable for state forests and
reforestation. Acquisitions made pursuant to this section shall
be at no more than fair market value. No lands shall ever be
acquired by the department except upon the approval of the
title by the attorney general and on a conveyance being made
to the state of Washington by good and sufficient deed. No
forest lands shall be designated, purchased, or acquired by
the department unless the area so designated or the area to be
acquired shall, in the judgment of the department, be of sufficient acreage and so located that it can be economically
administered for forest development purposes. [2000 c 148 §
1; 1988 c 128 § 28; 1923 c 154 § 4; RRS § 5812-4. Prior:
1921 c 169 § 1, part. Formerly RCW 76.12.080.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 52]
79.22.050
79.22.050 Sales and leases of timber, timber land, or
products thereon. Except as provided in RCW 79.22.060,
all land, acquired or designated by the department as state
forest land, shall be forever reserved from sale, but the valuable materials thereon may be sold or the land may be leased
in the same manner and for the same purposes as is authorized for state lands if the department finds such sale or lease
to be in the best interests of the state and approves the terms
and conditions thereof.
In the event that the department sells logs using the contract harvesting process described in RCW 79.15.500 through
79.15.530, the moneys received subject to this section are the
net proceeds from the contract harvesting sale. [2003 c 334 §
220; 2003 c 313 § 7; 2000 c 148 § 2; 1998 c 71 § 2. Prior:
(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition, Management, and Disposition of State Forest Lands
79.22.100
1988 c 128 § 32; 1988 c 70 § 1; 1980 c 154 § 11; 1971 ex.s. c
123 § 4; 1955 c 116 § 1; 1953 c 21 § 1; 1923 c 154 § 7; RRS
§ 5812-7. Formerly RCW 76.12.120.]
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 313 § 7 and by
2003 c 334 § 220, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—Severability—1987 c 380: See RCW 7.84.900 and
7.84.901.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.080
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter 82.45 RCW digest.
Christmas trees—Cutting, breaking, removing: RCW 79.02.340 and
79.02.350.
79.22.060
79.22.060 Transfer, disposal of lands without public
auction—Requirements. (1) With the approval of the
board, the department may directly transfer or dispose of
state forest lands without public auction, if such lands consist
of ten contiguous acres or less, or have a value of twenty-five
thousand dollars or less. Such disposal may only occur in the
following circumstances:
(a) Transfers in lieu of condemnation; and
(b) Transfers to resolve trespass and property ownership
disputes.
(2) Real property to be transferred or disposed of under
this section shall be transferred or disposed of only after
appraisal and for at least fair market value, and only if such
transaction is in the best interest of the state or affected trust.
(3) The proceeds from real property transferred or disposed of under this section shall be deposited into the park
land trust revolving fund and be solely used to buy replacement land within the same county as the property transferred
or disposed. [2003 c 334 § 221; 2000 c 148 § 3. Formerly
RCW 76.12.125.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.070
79.22.070 Forest and land management—Rules—
Penalty. (1) State forest lands shall be logged, protected, and
cared for in such manner as to ensure natural reforestation of
such lands, and to that end the department shall have power,
and it shall be its duty to adopt rules, and amendments
thereto, governing logging operations on such areas, and to
embody in any contract for the sale of timber on such areas,
such conditions as it shall deem advisable, with respect to
methods of logging, disposition of slashings, and debris, and
protection and promotion of new forests. All such rules, or
amendments thereto, shall be adopted by the department
under chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, any
violation of any rule adopted by the department under the
authority of this section is a gross misdemeanor.
(b) The department may specify by rule, when not inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of a specific
rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. [2003 c 334 §
222; 2003 c 53 § 369; 2000 c 11 § 10; 1988 c 128 § 33; 1987
c 380 § 17; 1927 c 288 § 3, part (adding a new section to 1923
c 154 § 3a); RRS § 5812-3a. Prior: 1921 c 169 § 2. Formerly
RCW 76.12.140.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 53 § 369 and by
2003 c 334 § 222, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
(2006 Ed.)
79.22.080 Utility bonds. For the purpose of acquiring
and paying for lands for state forests and reforestation as
herein provided the department may issue utility bonds of the
state of Washington as may hereafter be authorized by the
legislature. The bonds shall be known as state forest utility
bonds. The principal or interest of the bonds shall not be a
general obligation of the state, but shall be payable only from
the forest development account. The department may issue
the bonds in exchange for lands selected by it in accordance
with RCW 79.64.100 and this chapter, or may sell the bonds
in such a manner as it deems advisable, and with the proceeds
purchase and acquire such lands. Any of the bonds issued in
exchange and payment for any particular tract of lands may
be made a first and prior lien against the particular land for
which they are exchanged, and upon failure to pay the bonds
and interest thereon according to their terms, the lien of the
bonds may be foreclosed by appropriate court action. [2003
c 334 § 217; 2000 c 11 § 8; 1988 c 128 § 29; 1937 c 104 § 1;
1923 c 154 § 5; RRS § 5812-5. Formerly RCW 76.12.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.090
79.22.090 Bonds—Purchase price of land limited—
Retirement of bonds. For the purpose of acquiring, seeding,
reforestation, and administering land for forests and of carrying out RCW 79.64.100 and the provisions of this chapter,
the department is authorized to issue and dispose of utility
bonds of the state of Washington in an amount not to exceed
one hundred thousand dollars in principal during the biennium expiring March 31, 1951. However, no sum in excess
of one dollar per acre shall ever be paid or allowed either in
cash, bonds, or otherwise, for any lands suitable for forest
growth, but devoid of such, nor shall any sum in excess of
three dollars per acre be paid or allowed either in cash, bonds,
or otherwise, for any lands adequately restocked with young
growth.
Any utility bonds issued under the provisions of this section may be retired from time to time, whenever there is sufficient money in the forest development account, said bonds
to be retired at the discretion of the department either in the
order of issuance, or by first retiring bonds with the highest
rate of interest. [2003 c 334 § 218; 2000 c 11 § 9; 1988 c 128
§ 30; 1949 c 80 § 1; 1947 c 66 § 1; 1945 c 13 § 1; 1943 c 123
§ 1; 1941 c 43 § 1; 1939 c 106 § 1; 1937 c 104 § 2; 1935 c 126
§ 2; 1933 c 117 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5812-11. Formerly
RCW 76.12.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.100
79.22.100 Reacquisition of lands from federal government. Whenever any forest land which shall have been
acquired by any county through the foreclosure of tax liens,
or otherwise, and which shall have been acquired by the federal government either from said county or from the state
holding said lands in trust, and shall be available for reacqui[Title 79 RCW—page 53]
79.22.110
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
sition, the board and the board of county commissioners of
any such county are authorized to enter into an agreement for
the reacquisition of such lands as state forest lands in trust for
such county. Such agreement shall provide for the price and
manner of such reacquisition. The board is authorized to provide in such agreement for the advance of funds available to
it for such purpose from the forest development account, all
or any part of the price for such reacquisition so agreed upon,
which advance shall be repaid at such time and in such manner as provided in the agreement, solely from any distribution
to be made to said county under the provisions of RCW
79.22.040; that the title to said lands shall be retained by the
state free from any trust until the state shall have been fully
reimbursed for all funds advanced in connection with such
reacquisition; and that in the event of the failure of the county
to repay such advance in the manner provided, the said forest
lands shall be retained by the state to be administered and/or
disposed of in the same manner as other state forest lands free
and clear of any trust interest therein by said county. Such
county shall make provisions for the reimbursement of the
various funds from any moneys derived from such lands so
acquired, or any other county trust forest board lands which
are distributable in a like manner, for any sums withheld from
funds for other areas which would have been distributed
thereto from time to time but for such agreement. [2003 c
334 § 208; 1959 c 87 § 1. Formerly RCW 76.12.035.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.110
79.22.110 Reconveyance to county in certain cases.
Whenever any county shall have acquired by tax foreclosure,
or otherwise, lands within the classification of RCW
79.22.010 and shall have thereafter contracted to sell such
lands to bona fide purchasers before the same may have been
selected as forest lands by the department, and has heretofore
deeded or shall hereafter deed because of inadvertence or
oversight such lands to the state or to the department to be
held under RCW 79.22.040 or any amendment thereof; the
department upon being furnished with a certified copy of
such contract of sale on file in such county and a certificate of
the county treasurer showing said contract to be in good
standing in every particular and that all due payments and
taxes have been made thereon, and upon receipt of a certified
copy of a resolution of the board of county commissioners of
such county requesting the reconveyance to the county of
such lands, is hereby authorized to reconvey such lands to
such county by quitclaim deed executed by the department.
Such reconveyance of lands hereafter so acquired shall be
made within one year from the conveyance thereof to the
state or department. [2003 c 334 § 212; 1988 c 128 § 27;
1941 c 84 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 5812-3g. Formerly RCW
76.12.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.120
79.22.120 Reconveyance to county of certain leased
lands. If the board of natural resources determines that any
forest lands deeded to the board or the state pursuant to this
chapter, which are leased to any county for uses which have
as one permitted use a sanitary landfill and/or transfer station,
are no longer appropriate for management by the board, the
board may reconvey all of the lands included within any such
[Title 79 RCW—page 54]
lease to that county. Reconveyance shall be by quitclaim
deed executed by the chairman of the board. Upon execution
of such deed, full legal and equitable title to such lands shall
be vested in that county, and any leases on such lands shall
terminate. A county that receives any such reconveyed lands
shall indemnify and hold the state of Washington harmless
from any liability or expense arising out of the reconveyed
lands. [1991 c 10 § 1. Formerly RCW 76.12.067.]
PART 2
TRANSFERS OF STATE FOREST LANDS
FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES
79.22.300
79.22.300 Procedure—Reconveyance back when use
ceases. Whenever the board of county commissioners of any
county shall determine that state forest lands, that were
acquired from such county by the state pursuant to RCW
79.22.040 and that are under the administration of the department, are needed by the county for public park use in accordance with the county and the state outdoor recreation plans,
the board of county commissioners may file an application
with the board for the transfer of such state forest lands.
Upon the filing of an application by the board of county
commissioners, the department shall cause notice of the
impending transfer to be given in the manner provided by
RCW 42.30.060. If the department determines that the proposed use is in accordance with the state outdoor recreation
plan, it shall reconvey said state forest lands to the requesting
county to have and to hold for so long as the state forest lands
are developed, maintained, and used for the proposed public
park purpose. This reconveyance may contain conditions to
allow the department to coordinate the management of any
adjacent public lands with the proposed park activity to
encourage maximum multiple use management and may
reserve rights of way needed to manage other public lands in
the area. The application shall be denied if the department
finds that the proposed use is not in accord with the state outdoor recreation plan. If the land is not, or ceases to be, used
for public park purposes the land shall be conveyed back to
the department upon request of the department. [2004 c 199
§ 216; 2003 c 334 § 213; 1983 c 3 § 195; 1969 ex.s. c 47 § 1.
Formerly RCW 76.12.072.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.310
79.22.310 Timber resource management. The timber
resources on any such state forest land transferred to the
counties under RCW 79.22.300 shall be managed by the
department to the extent that this is consistent with park purposes and meets with the approval of the board of county
commissioners. Whenever the department does manage the
timber resources of such lands, it will do so in accordance
with the general statutes relative to the management of all
other state forest lands. [2003 c 334 § 214; 1969 ex.s. c 47 §
2. Formerly RCW 76.12.073.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.320
79.22.320 Lands transferred by deed. Under provisions mutually agreeable to the board of county commission(2006 Ed.)
Capitol Building Lands
ers and the board, lands approved for transfer to a county for
public park purposes under the provisions of RCW 79.22.300
shall be transferred to the county by deed. [2003 c 334 § 215;
1969 ex.s. c 47 § 3. Formerly RCW 76.12.074.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.22.330
79.22.330 Provisions cumulative and nonexclusive.
The provisions of RCW 79.22.300 through 79.22.330 shall
be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall not repeal any
other related statutory procedure established by law. [2003 c
334 § 216; 1969 ex.s. c 47 § 4. Formerly RCW 76.12.075.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Chapter 79.24
Chapter 79.24 RCW
CAPITOL BUILDING LANDS
79.24.656
79.24.658
79.24.660
79.24.662
79.24.664
79.24.666
79.24.668
79.24.060
Signatures—Registration.
Payment of principal and interest—State building and parking
bond redemption fund—Reserve—Owner’s remedies—Disposition of proceeds of sale—Nondebt-limit revenue bond
retirement account.
Bonds as security and legal investment.
Use of bond proceeds.
Appropriation.
State capitol committee to act upon advice of legislative committee—State capitol committee powers.
Severability—1969 ex.s. c 272.
STATE CAPITOL PUBLIC AND HISTORIC FACILITIES
79.24.700
79.24.710
79.24.720
79.24.730
Findings.
Properties identified as "state capitol public and historic facilities."
Department of general administration’s responsibilities.
Funding/grants for stewardship of state capitol public and historic facilities.
Control of traffic on capitol grounds: RCW 46.08.150 and 46.08.160.
State capitol committee: Chapter 43.34 RCW.
Sections
GENERAL
GENERAL
79.24.010
79.24.020
79.24.030
79.24.060
79.24.085
79.24.087
Designation of lands—Sale, manner, consent of board.
Use of funds restricted.
Employment of assistants—Payment of expenses.
Disposition of proceeds of sale—Publication of notice of proposals or bids.
Disposition of money from sales.
Capitol grant revenue to capitol building construction account.
DESCHUTES BASIN
79.24.100
79.24.110
79.24.120
79.24.130
79.24.140
79.24.150
79.24.160
Bond issue authorized.
Sale of bonds—Price—Investment of funds in.
Life of bonds—Payment of interest.
Signatures—Registration of bonds.
Proceeds to capitol building construction account.
Bonds as security and legal investment.
Use of proceeds specified.
PARKING FACILITIES
79.24.300
79.24.310
79.24.320
79.24.330
79.24.340
Parking facilities authorized—Rental.
Number and location of facilities.
Appropriations—Parking facilities, laboratories.
Purchase of land for parking facilities authorized.
Purchase of land for parking facilities authorized—Construction of one-level facility.
SYLVESTER PARK
79.24.400
79.24.410
Sylvester Park—Grant authorized.
Sylvester Park—Subsurface parking facility.
ACCESS TO CAPITOL GROUNDS
79.24.450
Access to capitol grounds on described route authorized.
79.24.500
79.24.510
79.24.520
Property described.
Area designated as the east capitol site.
Acquisition of property authorized—Means—Other state
agencies to assist committee in executing chapter.
Department of general administration to design and develop
site and buildings—Approval of capitol committee.
State agencies may buy land and construct buildings thereon—
Requirements.
State buildings to be constructed only on capitol grounds—
Exception.
Department of general administration to rent, lease or use
properties.
Use of proceeds from site.
Use of private real estate and rights in site declared public use.
Severability—1961 c 167.
EAST CAPITOL SITE
79.24.530
79.24.540
79.24.550
79.24.560
79.24.570
79.24.590
79.24.600
STATE BUILDINGS AND PARKING FACILITIES—1969 ACT
79.24.650
79.24.652
79.24.654
(2006 Ed.)
Committee duties enumerated.
Bonds authorized—Amount—Interest and maturity—Payable
from certain revenues.
Maturities—Covenants—Section’s provisions as contract
with bond holders—Where payable.
79.24.010
79.24.010 Designation of lands—Sale, manner, consent of board. All lands granted to the state by the federal
government for the purpose of erecting public buildings at
the state capitol shall be known and designated as "Capitol
Building Lands". None of such lands, nor the timber or other
materials thereon, shall hereafter be sold without the consent
of the board of natural resources and only in the manner as
provided for public lands and materials thereon. [1959 c 257
§ 42; 1909 c 69 § 2; RRS § 7898.]
79.24.020
79.24.020 Use of funds restricted. All funds arising
from the sale of lands granted to the state of Washington for
the purpose of erecting public buildings at the state capital
shall be held intact for the purpose for which they were
granted. Lands when selected and assigned to said grant shall
not be transferred to any other grant, nor shall the moneys
derived from said lands be applied to any other purpose than
for the erection of buildings at the state capital. [1893 c 83 §
1; RRS § 7896.]
79.24.030
79.24.030 Employment of assistants—Payment of
expenses. The board of natural resources and the department
of natural resources may employ such cruisers, draughtsmen,
engineers, architects or other assistants as may be necessary
for the best interests of the state in carrying out the provisions
of RCW 79.24.010 through 79.24.085, and all expenses
incurred by the board and department, and all claims against
the capitol building construction account shall be audited by
the department and presented in vouchers to the state treasurer, who shall draw a warrant therefor against the capitol
building construction account as herein provided or out of
any appropriation made for such purpose. [1988 c 128 § 62;
1985 c 57 § 76; 1973 c 106 § 37; 1959 c 257 § 43; 1911 c 59
§ 12; 1909 c 69 § 7; RRS § 7903.]
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79.24.060
79.24.060 Disposition of proceeds of sale—Publication of notice of proposals or bids. The proceeds of such
sale of capitol building lands, or the timber or other materials
shall be paid into the capitol building construction account
which is hereby established in the state treasury to be used as
[Title 79 RCW—page 55]
79.24.085
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
in *this act provided. All contracts for the construction of
capitol buildings shall be let after notice for proposals or bids
have been advertised for at least four consecutive weeks in at
least three newspapers of general circulation throughout the
state. [1985 c 57 § 77; 1959 c 257 § 44; 1911 c 59 § 10; 1909
c 69 § 5; RRS § 7901.]
*Reviser’s note: "This act" first appears in 1909 c 69 codified as RCW
79.24.010 and 79.24.030 through 79.24.085.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79.24.085 Disposition of money from sales. All sums
of money received from sales shall be paid into the capitol
building construction account in the state treasury, and are
hereby appropriated for the purposes of *this act. [1985 c 57
§ 78; 1959 c 257 § 46; 1909 c 69 § 8; RRS § 7904.]
79.24.085
*Reviser’s note: For "this act," see note following RCW 79.24.060.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
appropriated, in such bonds at par at such rate of interest, not
exceeding five percent, as may be agreed upon between the
state finance committee and the state capitol committee.
[1947 c 186 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-11.]
Accident fund: RCW 51.44.010.
State finance committee: Chapter 43.33 RCW.
State treasurer: Chapter 43.08 RCW.
79.24.120
79.24.120 Life of bonds—Payment of interest. Bonds
issued under RCW 79.24.100 through 79.24.160 shall be
payable in such manner, at such place or places, and at such
time or times, not longer than twenty years from their date;
with the option of paying any or all of said bonds at any interest paying date, as shall be fixed by the capitol committee,
and the interest on the bonds shall be payable semiannually.
[1947 c 186 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-12.]
79.24.130
79.24.087 Capitol grant revenue to capitol building
construction account. All revenues received from leases
and sales of lands, timber and other products on the surface or
beneath the surface of the lands granted to the state of Washington by the United States pursuant to an act of Congress
approved February 22, 1889, for capitol building purposes,
shall be paid into the "capitol building construction account".
Available revenues in this account shall first be pledged to
state capitol public and historic facilities as defined under
RCW 79.24.710. [2005 c 330 § 7; 1923 c 12 § 1; RRS §
7921-1. Formerly RCW 43.34.060.]
79.24.087
DESCHUTES BASIN
79.24.100 Bond issue authorized. The state capitol
committee may issue coupon or registered bonds of the state
of Washington in an amount not exceeding one million dollars. The bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed five
percent per annum, both principal and interest to be payable
only from the capitol building construction fund from revenues hereafter received from leases and contracts of sale
heretofore or hereafter made of lands, timber, and other products from the surface or beneath the surface of the lands
granted to the state by the United States pursuant to the act of
congress approved February 22, 1889, for capitol building
purposes. [1947 c 186 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-10.]
79.24.100
Capitol building construction fund abolished and moneys transferred to capitol building construction account: RCW 43.79.330 through
43.79.334.
State capitol committee: Chapter 43.34 RCW.
79.24.110 Sale of bonds—Price—Investment of
funds in. Such bonds may be sold in such manner and in
such amount, in such denominations, and at such times as the
capitol committee shall determine, at the best price obtainable, but not for a sum so low as to make the net interest
return to the purchaser exceed five percent per annum as
computed by standard tables upon such sums; or the state
treasurer may invest surplus cash in the accident fund in such
bonds at par, at such rate of interest, not exceeding five percent as may be agreed upon between the treasurer and the
state capitol committee, and the state finance committee may
invest any surplus cash in the general fund, not otherwise
79.24.110
[Title 79 RCW—page 56]
79.24.130 Signatures—Registration of bonds. The
bonds shall be signed by the governor and state auditor under
the seal of the state, and any coupons attached thereto shall be
signed by the same officers, whose signatures thereupon may
be printed facsimile. Any of such bonds may be registered in
the name of the holder upon presentation to the state treasurer, or at the fiscal agency of the state in New York, as to
principal alone, or as to both principal and interest, under
such regulations as the state capitol committee may prescribe.
[1947 c 186 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-13.]
79.24.140
79.24.140 Proceeds to capitol building construction
account. The proceeds from the sale of the bonds hereby
authorized shall be paid into the *capitol building construction fund. [1947 c 186 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-14.]
*Reviser’s note: For "capitol building construction fund," see note following RCW 79.24.100.
79.24.150
79.24.150 Bonds as security and legal investment.
Bonds authorized by RCW 79.24.100 through 79.24.160
shall be accepted by the state, counties, cities, towns, school
districts, and other political subdivisions as security for the
deposit of any of their funds in any banking institution. Any
officer of this state, or any county, city, town, school district,
or other political subdivision may invest surplus funds, which
he is authorized to invest in securities, and where such authorization is not limited or restricted as to the class of securities
in which he may invest, in bonds issued under RCW
79.24.100 through 79.24.160. [1947 c 186 § 6; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 7921-15.]
79.24.160
79.24.160 Use of proceeds specified. Proceeds of the
bonds issued hereunder shall be expended by the state capitol
committee in the completion of the Deschutes Basin project
adjacent to the state capitol grounds. The project shall
embrace: (1) The acquisition by purchase or condemnation
of necessary lands or easements; (2) the construction of a
dam or weir along the line of Fifth Avenue in the city of
Olympia and a parkway and railroad over the same; (3) the
construction of a parkway on the west bank of the Deschutes
Basin from the Pacific highway at the Deschutes River to a
connection with the Olympic highway; (4) the construction
of a parkway from the vicinity of Ninth Avenue and Colum(2006 Ed.)
Capitol Building Lands
bia Street in the city of Olympia around the south side of the
north Deschutes Basin, using the existing railroad causeway,
to a road along Percival Creek and connecting with the Olympic highway; (5) the preservation of the precipitous banks
surrounding the basin by the acquisition of easements or
other rights whereby the cutting of trees and the building of
structures on the banks can be controlled; (6) the construction
by dredging of varying level areas at the foot of the bluffs for
access to water and to provide for boating and other recreational areas; and (7) such other undertakings as, in the judgment of the committee, are necessary to the completion of the
project.
In connection with the establishment of parkways,
causeways, streets, and highways, or the relocation thereof,
and the rerouting of railroads to effectuate the general plan of
the basin project, the committee shall at all times cooperate
with the department of transportation, the proper authorities
of the city of Olympia, and the railroad companies which
may be involved in the rerouting of railway lines. [1984 c 7
§ 370; 1947 c 186 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 7921-16.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
PARKING FACILITIES
79.24.410
from the *capitol building construction fund for the fiscal
biennium ending June 30, 1957, the sum of seven hundred
thousand dollars for the purposes of RCW 79.24.300,
79.24.310 and 79.24.320. Of this sum five hundred thousand
dollars is to be used for parking purposes as outlined above
and the remaining two hundred thousand dollars of this sum
are to be used to complete the fisheries and health laboratories in the new office building on the contingency that it is
necessary for the fisheries and health departments to move to
Olympia. [1955 c 293 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: For "capitol building construction fund," see note following RCW 79.24.100.
79.24.330
79.24.330 Purchase of land for parking facilities
authorized. For use in the construction thereon of parking
facilities in close proximity to the capitol grounds, the state
capitol committee is authorized to purchase, at a price not in
excess of one hundred thousand dollars, the following real
estate situated in the city of Olympia, Thurston county, state
of Washington, and more particularly described as: Lots two,
three, six, and seven, block eight, P.D. Moore’s addition to
the town of Olympia, according to the plat thereof recorded
in volume 1 of plats, page 32, records of said county. [1957
c 257 § 1.]
79.24.300
79.24.300 Parking facilities authorized—Rental. The
state capitol committee may construct parking facilities for
the state capitol adequate to provide parking space for automobiles, said parking facilities to be either of a single level,
multiple level, or both, and to be either on one site or more
than one site and located either on or in close proximity to the
capitol grounds, though not necessarily contiguous thereto.
The state capitol committee may select such lands as are necessary therefor and acquire them by purchase or condemnation. As an aid to such selection the committee may cause
location, topographical, economic, traffic, and other surveys
to be conducted, and for this purpose may utilize the services
of existing state agencies, may employ personnel, or may
contract for the services of any person, firm or corporation. In
selecting the location and plans for the construction of the
parking facilities the committee shall consider recommendations of the director of general administration.
Space in parking facilities may be rented to the officers
and employees of the state on a monthly basis at a rental to be
determined by the director of general administration. The
state shall not sell gasoline, oil, or any other commodities or
perform any services for any vehicles or equipment other
than state equipment. [1977 c 75 § 90; 1965 c 129 § 1; 1955
c 293 § 1.]
79.24.310
79.24.310 Number and location of facilities. The state
capitol committee may construct any two of the following
three facilities: (1) A two story parking facility south of the
transportation and public lands building in the existing parking area; (2) multiple level but not to exceed three story parking facility adjacent to the new office building; (3) multiple
level but not to exceed three story parking facility adjacent to
the new office building. [1955 c 293 § 2.]
79.24.320
79.24.320 Appropriations—Parking facilities, laboratories. There is appropriated to the state capitol committee
(2006 Ed.)
79.24.340
79.24.340 Purchase of land for parking facilities
authorized—Construction of one-level facility. After purchase of the said real estate the state capitol committee shall
construct thereon one-level parking facilities suitable for as
large a number of automobiles as may reasonably be accommodated thereon. [1957 c 257 § 2.]
SYLVESTER PARK
79.24.400
79.24.400 Sylvester Park—Grant authorized. The
city of Olympia may grant to the state of Washington its
right, title and interest in that public square situated therein
and bounded by Capitol Way, Legion Way, Washington
Street and East Seventh Street, and commonly known as
Sylvester Park, and such conveyance shall in all respects
supersede the terms and effect of any prior conveyance or
agreement concerning this property. [1955 c 216 § 1.]
79.24.410
79.24.410 Sylvester Park—Subsurface parking facility. The state capitol committee may accept such grant on
behalf of the state. Upon receipt from the city of Olympia of
the conveyance authorized by RCW 79.24.400, the state capitol committee may lease the premises thereby conveyed, to
any person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining a garage and parking facility
underneath the surface of said property.
The lease shall be for a term of not to exceed twenty-five
years and by its terms shall require the lessee to restore and
maintain the condition of the surface of the property so as to
be available and suitable for use as a public park. The lease
shall further provide that all improvements to the property
shall become the property of the state upon termination of the
lease, and may provide such further terms as the capitol committee may deem to be advantageous. [1955 c 216 § 2.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 57]
79.24.450
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
ACCESS TO CAPITOL GROUNDS
79.24.450
79.24.450 Access to capitol grounds on described
route authorized. The state capitol committee may construct a suitable access to the capitol grounds by way of fourteenth and fifteenth streets in the city of Olympia, and for the
purpose may acquire, by purchase or condemnation, such
lands along the said streets and between Capitol Way and
Cherry Street in the city of Olympia, and construct thereon
such improvements as the state capitol committee may deem
proper for the purposes of such access. [1957 c 258 § 1.]
79.24.530
79.24.530 Department of general administration to
design and develop site and buildings—Approval of capitol committee. The department of general administration
shall develop, amend and modify an overall plan for the
design and establishment of state capitol buildings and
grounds on the east capitol site in accordance with current
and prospective requisites of a state capitol befitting the state
of Washington. The overall plan, amendments and modifications thereto shall be subject to the approval of the state capitol committee. [1961 c 167 § 4.]
79.24.540
EAST CAPITOL SITE
79.24.500
79.24.500 Property described. The state capitol committee shall proceed as rapidly as their resources permit to
acquire title to the following described property for development as state capitol grounds:
That area bounded as follows: Commencing at a point
beginning at the southwest corner of Capitol Way and 15th
Avenue and proceeding westerly to the present easterly
boundary of the capitol grounds on the west; thence proceeding northerly along said easterly boundary of the capitol
grounds; thence proceeding easterly along the boundary of
the present capitol grounds to a point at the corner of Capitol
Way and 14th Avenue; thence proceeding southerly to the
point of beginning; also that area bounded by Capitol Way on
the west, 11th Avenue on the north, Jefferson Street on the
east, and 16th Avenue (Maple Park) on the south; also that
area bounded by Jefferson Street on the west, 14th Avenue on
the north, Cherry Street on the east and 14th Avenue (Interstate No. 5 access) on the south; also that area bounded by
14th Avenue (Interstate No. 5 access) on the north, the westerly boundary of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. right-of-way on the east, 16th Avenue on the
south, and Jefferson Street on the west; also that area
bounded by 15th Avenue on the north, the westerly boundary
of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. rightof-way on the east, and 14th Avenue (Interstate No. 5 access)
on the south and west; all in the city of Olympia, county of
Thurston, state of Washington, or any such portion or portions of the above described areas as may be required for
present or future expansion of the facilities of the state capitol. [1967 ex.s. c 43 § 1; 1961 c 167 § 1.]
79.24.510
79.24.510 Area designated as the east capitol site.
The area described in RCW 79.24.500 shall be known as the
east capitol site, and upon acquisition shall become part of
the state capitol grounds. [1961 c 167 § 2.]
79.24.520
79.24.520 Acquisition of property authorized—
Means—Other state agencies to assist committee in executing chapter. The state capitol committee may acquire
such property by gift, exchange, purchase, option to purchase, condemnation, or any other means of acquisition not
expressly prohibited by law. All other state agencies shall aid
and assist the state capitol committee in carrying out the provisions of RCW 79.24.500 through 79.24.600. [1961 c 167 §
3.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 58]
79.24.540 State agencies may buy land and construct
buildings thereon—Requirements. State agencies which
are authorized by law to acquire land and construct buildings,
whether from appropriated funds or from funds not subject to
appropriation by the legislature, may buy land in the east capitol site and construct buildings thereon so long as the location, design and construction meet the requirements established by the department of general administration and
approved by the state capitol committee. [1961 c 167 § 5.]
79.24.550
79.24.550 State buildings to be constructed only on
capitol grounds—Exception. No state agency shall undertake construction of buildings in Thurston county except
upon the state capitol grounds: PROVIDED, That the state
capitol committee may authorize exceptions upon a finding
by the state capitol committee that appropriate locations on
the capitol grounds or east capitol site are unavailable. [1961
c 167 § 6.]
79.24.560
79.24.560 Department of general administration to
rent, lease or use properties. The department of general
administration shall have the power to rent, lease, or otherwise use any of the properties acquired in the east capitol site.
[1961 c 167 § 7.]
79.24.570
79.24.570 Use of proceeds from site. All moneys
received by the department of general administration from
the management of the east capitol site, excepting (1) funds
otherwise dedicated prior to April 28, 1967, (2) parking and
rental charges and fines which are required to be deposited in
other accounts, and (3) reimbursements of service and other
utility charges made to the department of general administration, shall be deposited in the capitol purchase and development account of the state general fund. [2000 c 11 § 24; 1969
ex.s. c 273 § 11; 1963 c 157 § 1; 1961 c 167 § 8.]
79.24.590
79.24.590 Use of private real estate and rights in site
declared public use. The use of the private real estate,
rights, and interests in the east capitol site is hereby declared
to be a public use. [1961 c 167 § 10.]
79.24.600
79.24.600 Severability—1961 c 167. If any provision
of RCW 79.24.500 through 79.24.590, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
RCW 79.24.500 through 79.24.590, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1961 c 167 § 11.]
(2006 Ed.)
Capitol Building Lands
STATE BUILDINGS AND PARKING FACILITIES—
1969 ACT
79.24.650
79.24.650 Committee duties enumerated. The state
capitol committee shall provide for the construction, remodeling, and furnishing of capitol office buildings, parking
facilities, governor’s mansion, and such other buildings and
facilities as are determined by the state capitol committee to
be necessary to provide space for the legislature by way of
offices, committee rooms, hearing rooms, and work rooms,
and to provide executive office space and housing for the
governor, and to provide executive office space for other
elective officials and such other state agencies as may be necessary, and to pay for all costs and expenses in issuing the
bonds and to pay interest thereon during construction of the
facilities for which the bonds were issued and six months
thereafter. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 1.]
79.24.652
79.24.652 Bonds authorized—Amount—Interest and
maturity—Payable from certain revenues. In addition to
any authority previously granted, the state capitol committee
is authorized and directed to issue coupon or registered revenue bonds of the state in an amount not to exceed fifteen million dollars. The bonds may be sold in such manner and
amounts, and in such denominations, at such times, at such
price and shall bear interest at such rates and mature at such
times as the state capitol committee shall determine by resolution. Both principal and interest shall be payable only from
revenues hereafter received from leases and contracts of sale
heretofore or hereafter made of lands, timber, and other products from the surface or beneath the surface of the lands
granted to the state by the United States pursuant to the act of
congress approved February 22, 1889, for capitol building
purposes and from any parking revenues derived from state
capitol parking facilities. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 2.]
79.24.654
79.24.654 Maturities—Covenants—Section’s provisions as contract with bond holders—Where payable.
Bonds issued under RCW 79.24.650 through 79.24.668 shall
mature at such time or times, and include such provisions for
optional redemption, premiums, coverage, guarantees, and
other covenants as in the opinion of the state capitol committee may be necessary. In issuing such bonds and including
such provisions, the state capitol committee shall act for the
state and all officers, departments and agencies thereof
affected by such provisions, and the state and such other
officers, departments and agencies shall adhere to and be
bound by such covenants. As long as any of such bonds shall
be outstanding, neither the state, nor any of its officers,
departments, agencies or instrumentalities, shall divert any of
the proceeds and revenues actually pledged to secure the payment of the bonds and interest thereon, and the provisions of
this section shall restrict and limit the powers of the legislature of the state of Washington in respect to the matters
herein mentioned as long as the bonds are outstanding and
unpaid and shall constitute a contract to that effect for the
benefit of the holders of all such bonds. The principal and
interest of said bonds shall be payable at the office of the state
treasurer, or at the office of the fiscal agent of the state in
(2006 Ed.)
79.24.658
New York City at the option of the holder of any such bond
or bonds. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 3.]
79.24.656
79.24.656 Signatures—Registration. The bonds shall
be signed by the governor and state treasurer under the seal of
the state which may be printed or engraved in the border of
such bonds. The signature of the governor may be a facsimile
printed upon the bonds and any coupons attached thereto
shall be signed with the facsimile signature of said officials.
Any of such bonds may be registered in the name of the
holder upon presentation to the state treasurer, or at the fiscal
agency of the state in New York City, as to principal alone, or
as to both principal and interest, under such regulations as the
treasurer may prescribe. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 4.]
79.24.658
79.24.658 Payment of principal and interest—State
building and parking bond redemption fund—Reserve—
Owner’s remedies—Disposition of proceeds of sale—
Nondebt-limit revenue bond retirement account. For the
purpose of paying the principal and interest of the bonds as
the bonds become due, or as the bonds become callable at the
option of the capitol committee, there is created a fund to be
denominated the "state building and parking bond redemption fund". While any of the bonds remain outstanding and
unpaid, it shall be the duty of the capitol committee on or
before June 30th of each year to determine the amount that
will be required for the redemption of bonds and the payment
of interest during the next fiscal year, and certify the amount
to the state treasurer in writing. The state treasurer shall forthwith and thereafter during that fiscal year and at least fifteen
days prior to each interest and principal payment date deposit
into the state building and parking bond redemption fund all
receipts from any parking facilities and to the extent necessary from receipts from leases and contracts of sale heretofore or hereafter made of lands, timber, and other products
from the surface or beneath the surface of the lands granted to
the state by the United States pursuant to the act of congress
until the amount certified to the treasurer by the capitol committee has accrued to the state building and parking bond
redemption fund. Nothing in RCW 79.24.650 through
79.24.668 shall prohibit the use of such receipts from leases
and contracts of sale for any other lawfully authorized purpose when not required for the redemption and payment of
interest and meeting the covenant requirements of the bonds
authorized herein.
In addition to certifying and providing for the annual
amounts required to pay the principal and interest of the
bonds, the capitol committee may, under such terms and conditions and at such times and in such amounts as may be
found necessary to insure the sale of the bonds, provide for
additional payments into the state building and parking bond
redemption fund to be held as a reserve to secure the payment
of the principal and interest of such bonds.
The owner and holder of any of the bonds or the trustee
for any of the bonds may by mandamus or other appropriate
proceeding require and compel the deposit and payment of
funds as directed herein.
The proceeds from the sale of the bonds hereby authorized shall be paid into the general fund—state building construction account.
[Title 79 RCW—page 59]
79.24.660
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
If a nondebt-limit revenue bond retirement account is
created in the state treasury by chapter 456, Laws of 1997 and
becomes effective prior to the issuance of any of the bonds
authorized by this chapter, the nondebt-limit revenue bond
retirement account shall be used for the purposes of this chapter in lieu of the state building and parking bond redemption
fund. [1997 c 456 § 28; 1969 ex.s. c 272 § 5.]
Severability—1997 c 456: See RCW 43.99L.900.
Effective date—1997 c 456 §§ 9-43: See RCW 43.99M.901.
should be managed and maintained to the highest standards
of excellence, model the best of historic preservation practice, and maximize opportunities for public access and enjoyment. The purpose of chapter 330, Laws of 2005 is to provide authority and direction for the care and stewardship of
the public and historic facilities of the state capitol, to facilitate public access, use, and enjoyment of these assets, and to
carefully preserve them for the benefit of future generations.
[2005 c 330 § 1.]
79.24.710
79.24.660
79.24.660 Bonds as security and legal investment.
Bonds authorized by RCW 79.24.650 through 79.24.668
shall be accepted by the state, counties, cities, towns, school
districts, and other political subdivisions as security for the
deposit of any of their funds in any banking institution. Any
officer of this state, or any county, city, town, school district,
or other political subdivision may invest surplus funds, which
he is authorized to invest in securities, and where such authorization is not limited or restricted as to the class of securities
in which he may invest, in bonds issued under RCW
79.24.650 through 79.24.668. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 6.]
79.24.662
79.24.662 Use of bond proceeds. Proceeds of the
bonds issued hereunder shall be expended by the state capitol
committee for the purposes enumerated in RCW 79.24.650.
[1969 ex.s. c 272 § 7.]
79.24.664
79.24.664 Appropriation. There is appropriated to the
department of general administration from the general
fund—state building construction account the sum of fifteen
million dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary to
accomplish the purposes set forth in RCW 79.24.650. [1969
ex.s. c 272 § 8.]
79.24.666
79.24.666 State capitol committee to act upon advice
of legislative committee—State capitol committee powers.
The state capitol committee shall perform the foregoing in
accordance with law and after consultation with and advice of
such committee of the senate and house of representatives as
the legislature may appoint for this purpose. The state capitol
committee shall have power to do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of RCW
79.24.650 through 79.24.668 subject to and in accordance
with the provisions of RCW 79.24.650 through 79.24.668
and chapters 43.19 and 79.24 RCW. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 9.]
79.24.668
79.24.668 Severability—1969 ex.s. c 272. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances, is not
affected. [1969 ex.s. c 272 § 11.]
STATE CAPITOL PUBLIC AND HISTORIC FACILITIES
79.24.700
79.24.700 Findings. The legislature finds that the historic facilities of the Washington state capitol are the most
important public facilities in the state. They are a source of
beauty and pride, a resource for celebrating our heritage and
democratic ideals, and an exceptional educational resource.
The public and historic facilities of the state capitol campus
[Title 79 RCW—page 60]
79.24.710 Properties identified as "state capitol public and historic facilities." For the purposes of RCW
79.24.720, 79.24.730, 43.01.090, 43.19.500, and 79.24.087,
"state capitol public and historic facilities" includes:
(1) The east, west and north capitol campus grounds,
Sylvester park, Heritage park, Marathon park, Centennial
park, the Deschutes river basin commonly known as Capitol
lake, the interpretive center, Deschutes parkway, and the
landscape, memorials, artwork, fountains, streets, sidewalks,
lighting, and infrastructure in each of these areas not including state-owned aquatic lands in these areas managed by the
department of natural resources under *RCW 79.90.450;
(2) The public spaces and the historic interior and exterior elements of the following buildings: The visitor center,
the Governor’s mansion, the legislative building, the John L.
O’Brien building, the Cherberg building, the Newhouse
building, the Pritchard building, the temple of justice, the
insurance building, the Dolliver building, capitol court, and
the old capitol buildings, including the historic state-owned
furnishings and works of art commissioned for or original to
these buildings; and
(3) Other facilities or elements of facilities as determined
by the state capitol committee, in consultation with the
department of general administration. [2005 c 330 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.90.450 was recodified as RCW 79.105.010
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1003.
79.24.720
79.24.720 Department of general administration’s
responsibilities. The department of general administration is
responsible for the stewardship, preservation, operation, and
maintenance of the public and historic facilities of the state
capitol, subject to the policy direction of the state capitol
committee and the legislative buildings committee as created
in chapter . . . (*House Bill No. 1301), Laws of 2005, and the
guidance of the capitol campus design advisory committee.
In administering this responsibility, the department shall:
(1) Apply the United States secretary of the interior’s
standards for the treatment of historic properties;
(2) Seek to balance the functional requirements of state
government operations with public access and the long-term
preservation needs of the properties themselves; and
(3) Consult with the capitol furnishings preservation
committee, the state historic preservation officer, the state
arts commission, and the state facilities accessibility advisory
committee in fulfilling the responsibilities provided for in
this section. [2005 c 330 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: House Bill No. 1301 failed to become law.
79.24.730
79.24.730 Funding/grants for stewardship of state
capitol public and historic facilities. (1) To provide for
(2006 Ed.)
Easements Over Public Lands
responsible stewardship of the state capitol public and historic facilities, funding for:
(a) Maintenance and operational needs shall be authorized in the state’s omnibus appropriations act and funded by
the general administration services account as provided under
RCW 43.19.500;
(b) Development and preservation needs shall be authorized in the state’s capital budget. To the extent revenue is
available, the capitol building construction account under
RCW 79.24.087 shall fund capital budget needs. If capitol
building construction account funds are not available, the
state building construction account funds may be authorized
for this purpose.
(2) The department of general administration may seek
grants, gifts, or donations to support the stewardship of state
capitol public and historic facilities. The department may:
(a) Purchase historic state capitol furnishings or artifacts; or
(b) sell historic state capitol furnishings and artifacts that
have been designated as state surplus by the capitol furnishings preservation committee under RCW 27.48.040(6).
Funds generated from grants, gifts, donations, or sales for
omnibus appropriations act needs shall be deposited into the
general administration services account. Funds generated for
capital budget needs shall be deposited into the capitol building construction account. [2005 c 330 § 4.]
Chapter 79.36
Chapter 79.36 RCW
EASEMENTS OVER PUBLIC LANDS
Sections
PART 1
ACQUISITION
79.36.310
79.36.320
79.36.330
79.36.340
Acquisition of property interests for access authorized.
Condemnation—Duty of attorney general.
Disposal of property interests acquired.
Acquisition—Payment.
PART 2
GRANTING
79.36.350
79.36.355
79.36.360
79.36.370
79.36.380
79.36.390
79.36.400
79.36.410
79.36.430
79.36.440
79.36.450
79.36.460
79.36.470
79.36.480
79.36.490
79.36.500
79.36.510
79.36.520
79.36.530
79.36.540
79.36.550
79.36.560
79.36.570
79.36.580
79.36.590
79.36.600
79.36.610
(2006 Ed.)
Application for right of way.
Grant of easements and rights in public land.
Condemnation proceedings involving state land.
Lands subject to easements for removal of valuable materials.
Private easement subject to common user.
Reasonable facilities and service for transportation must be
furnished.
Duty of utilities and transportation commission.
Penalty for violation of orders.
Forfeiture for nonuse.
Right of way for public roads.
Railroad right of way.
Railroad right of way—Procedure to acquire.
Railroad right of way—Appraisement.
Railroad right of way—Improvements—Appraisal.
Railroad right of way—Release or payment of damages.
Railroad right of way—Certificate.
Utility pipe lines, transmission lines, etc.
Utility pipe lines, transmission lines, etc.—Procedure to
acquire.
Utility pipe lines—Appraisal—Certificate—Reversion.
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes.
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes—
Procedure to acquire.
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes—
Appraisal—Certificate.
Grant of overflow rights.
Construction of foregoing sections.
Easement reserved in later grants.
Private easement over state lands.
Easement over public lands subject to common user.
79.36.620
79.36.630
79.36.640
79.36.650
79.36.330
Reservations in grants and leases.
Duty of utilities and transportation commission.
Penalty for violating utilities and transportation commission’s
order.
Applications—Appraisement—Certificate—Forfeiture—Fee.
Diking district right of way: RCW 85.05.080.
Flood control district right of way: Chapter 86.09 RCW.
Reclamation district right of way: RCW 89.30.223.
PART 1
ACQUISITION
79.36.310 Acquisition of property interests for access
authorized. Whenever the department finds that it is in the
best interests of the state of Washington to acquire any property or use of a road in private ownership to afford access to
state timber and other valuable material for the purpose of
developing, caring for, or selling the same, the acquisition of
such property, or use thereof, is hereby declared to be necessary for the public use of the state of Washington, and the
department is authorized to acquire such property or the use
of such roads by gift, purchase, exchange, or condemnation,
and subject to all of the terms and conditions of such gift, purchase, exchange, or decree of condemnation to maintain such
property or roads as part of the department’s land management road system. [2003 c 334 § 226; 1963 c 140 § 1; 1945
c 239 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 5823-30. Formerly RCW
76.16.010.]
79.36.310
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Eminent domain: State Constitution Art. 1 § 16; chapter 8.04 RCW.
State lands subject to easements for removal of materials: RCW 79.36.370
and 79.36.590.
79.36.320 Condemnation—Duty of attorney general.
The attorney general of the state of Washington is hereby
required and authorized to condemn said property interests
found to be necessary for the public purposes of the state of
Washington, as provided in RCW 79.36.310, and upon being
furnished with a certified copy of the resolution of the department, describing said property interests found to be necessary
for the purposes set forth in RCW 79.36.310, the attorney
general shall immediately take steps to acquire said property
interests by exercising the state’s right of eminent domain
under the provisions of chapter 8.04 RCW, and in any condemnation action herein authorized, the resolution so
describing the property interests found to be necessary for the
purposes set forth above shall, in the absence of a showing of
bad faith, arbitrary, capricious, or fraudulent action, be conclusive as to the public use and real necessity for the acquisition of said property interests for a public purpose, and said
property interests shall be awarded to the state without the
necessity of either pleading or proving that the department
was unable to agree with the owner or owners of said private
property interest for its purchase. Any condemnation action
herein authorized shall have precedence over all actions,
except criminal actions, and shall be summarily tried and disposed of. [2003 c 334 § 227; 1963 c 140 § 2; 1945 c 239 § 2;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 5823-31. Formerly RCW 76.16.020.]
79.36.320
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.330 Disposal of property interests acquired. In
the event the department should determine that the property
79.36.330
[Title 79 RCW—page 61]
79.36.340
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
interests acquired under the authority of this chapter are no
longer necessary for the purposes for which they were
acquired, the department shall dispose of the same in the following manner, when in the discretion of the department it is
to the best interests of the state of Washington to do so,
except that property purchased with educational funds or held
in trust for educational purposes shall be sold only in the
same manner as are state lands:
(1) Where the state property necessitating the acquisition
of private property interests for access purposes under
authority of this chapter is sold or exchanged, the acquired
property interests may be sold or exchanged as an appurtenance of the state property when it is determined by the
department that sale or exchange of the state property and
acquired property interests as one parcel is in the best interests of the state.
(2) If the acquired property interests are not sold or
exchanged as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the
department shall notify the person or persons from whom the
property interest was acquired, stating that the property interests are to be sold, and that the person or persons shall have
the right to purchase the same at the appraised price. The
notice shall be given by registered letter or certified mail,
return receipt requested, mailed to the last known address of
the person or persons. If the address of the person or persons
is unknown, the notice shall be published twice in an official
newspaper of general circulation in the county where the
lands or a portion thereof is located. The second notice shall
be published not less than ten nor more than thirty days after
the notice is first published. The person or persons shall have
thirty days after receipt of the registered letter or five days
after the last date of publication, as the case may be, to notify
the department, in writing, of their intent to purchase the
offered property interest. The purchaser shall include with
his or her notice of intention to purchase, cash payment, certified check, or money order in an amount not less than onethird of the appraised price. No instrument conveying property interests shall issue from the department until the full
price of the property is received by the department. All costs
of publication required under this section shall be added to
the appraised price and collected by the department upon sale
of the property interests.
(3) If the property interests are not sold or exchanged as
provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department shall notify the owners of land abutting the property
interests in the same manner as provided in subsection (2) of
this section and their notice of intent to purchase shall be
given in the manner and in accordance with the same time
limits as are set forth in subsection (2) of this section. However, if more than one abutting owner gives notice of intent to
purchase the property interests, the department shall apportion them in relation to the lineal footage bordering each side
of the property interests to be sold, and apportion the costs to
the interested purchasers in relation thereto. Further, no sale
is authorized by this section unless the department is satisfied
that the amounts to be received from the several purchasers
will equal or exceed the appraised price of the entire parcel
plus any costs of publishing notices.
(4) If no sale or exchange is consummated as provided in
subsections (1) through (3) of this section, the department
[Title 79 RCW—page 62]
shall sell the properties in the same manner as state lands are
sold.
(5) Any disposal of property interests authorized by this
chapter shall be subject to any existing rights previously
granted by the department. [2004 c 199 § 217; 2003 c 334 §
228; 1963 c 140 § 3; 1945 c 239 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
5823-32. Formerly RCW 76.16.030.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.340
79.36.340 Acquisition—Payment. The department in
acquiring any property interests under the provisions of this
chapter, either by purchase or condemnation, is hereby authorized to pay for the same out of any moneys available to the
department for this purpose. [2003 c 334 § 229; 1963 c 140
§ 4; 1945 c 239 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 5823-33. Formerly
RCW 76.16.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
PART 2
GRANTING
79.36.350
79.36.350 Application for right of way. Any person,
firm, or corporation engaged in the business of logging or
lumbering, quarrying, mining or removing sand, gravel, or
other valuable materials from land, and desirous of obtaining
a right of way for the purpose of transporting or moving timber, minerals, stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials
from other lands, over and across any state lands, or tide or
shore lands belonging to the state, or any such lands sold or
leased by the state since the fifteenth day of June, 1911, shall
file with the department upon a form to be furnished for that
purpose, a written application for such right of way, accompanied by a plat showing the location of the right of way
applied for with references to the boundaries of the government section in which the lands over and across which such
right of way is desired are located. Upon the filing of such
application and plat, the department shall cause the lands
embraced within the right of way applied for, to be inspected,
and all timber thereon, and all damages to the lands affected
which may be caused by the use of such right of way, to be
appraised, and shall notify the applicant of the appraised
value of such timber and such appraisement of damages.
Upon the payment to the department of the amount of the
appraised value of timber and damages, the department shall
issue in duplicate a right of way certificate setting forth the
terms and conditions upon which such right of way is
granted, as provided in the preceding sections, and providing
that whenever such right of way shall cease to be used for the
purpose for which it was granted, or shall not be used in
accordance with such terms and conditions, it shall be
deemed forfeited. One copy of such certificate shall be filed
in the office of the department and one copy delivered to the
applicant. [2003 c 334 § 383; 1927 c 255 § 83; RRS § 779783. Prior: 1921 c 55 § 1; 1915 c 147 § 12; 1897 c 89 § 34;
1895 c 178 § 45. Formerly RCW 79.01.332, 79.36.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.650.
(2006 Ed.)
Easements Over Public Lands
79.36.355 Grant of easements and rights in public
land. The department may grant to any person such easements and rights in public lands, not otherwise provided in
law, as the applicant applying therefor may acquire in privately owned lands. No grant shall be made under this section until such time as the full market value of the estate or
interest granted together with damages to all remaining property of the state of Washington has been ascertained and
safely secured to the state. [2004 c 199 § 218; 2003 c 334 §
396; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 175; 1961 c 73 § 12. Formerly
RCW 79.01.414.]
79.36.355
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.36.360 Condemnation proceedings involving state
land. See RCW 8.28.010.
79.36.400
shall hereafter acquire, any lands containing valuable materials contiguous to, or in proximity to, such right of way, or
who has so acquired or shall hereafter acquire such valuable
materials situated upon public lands or contiguous to, or in
proximity to, such right of way, of having such valuable
materials transported or moved over such private railroad,
skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement, after
the same is or has been put in operation, upon paying therefor
just and reasonable rates for transportation, or for the use of
such private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or
other easement, and upon complying with just, reasonable
and proper rules and regulations relating to such transportation or use, which rates, rules, and regulations, shall be under
the supervision and control of the utilities and transportation
commission. [2004 c 199 § 219; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 168;
1927 c 255 § 79; RRS § 7797-79. Prior: 1911 c 109 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.316, 79.36.020.]
79.36.360
79.36.370
79.36.370 Lands subject to easements for removal of
valuable materials. All state lands granted, sold or leased
since the fifteenth day of June, 1911, or hereafter granted,
sold or leased, containing timber, minerals, stone, sand,
gravel, or other valuable materials, or when other state lands
contiguous or in proximity thereto contain any such valuable
materials, shall be subject to the right of the state, or any
grantee or lessee thereof who has acquired such other lands,
or any such valuable materials thereon, since the fifteenth day
of June, 1911, or hereafter acquiring such other lands or valuable materials thereon, to acquire the right of way over such
lands so granted, sold or leased, for private railroads, skid
roads, flumes, canals, watercourses or other easements for the
purpose of, and to be used in, transporting and moving such
valuable materials from such other lands, over and across the
lands so granted or leased, upon the state, or its grantee or lessee, paying to the owner of lands so granted or sold, or the
lessee of the lands so leased, reasonable compensation therefor. In case the parties interested cannot agree upon the damages incurred, the same shall be ascertained and assessed in
the same manner as damages are ascertained and assessed
against a railroad company seeking to condemn private property. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 167; 1927 c 255 § 78; RRS §
7797-78. Prior: 1911 c 109 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.312,
79.36.010.]
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Railroads, eminent domain: RCW 81.36.010 and 81.53.180.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.590.
State lands, eminent domain: RCW 8.28.010.
79.36.380 Private easement subject to common user.
Every grant, deed, conveyance, contract to purchase or lease
made since June 15, 1911, or hereafter made to any person,
firm, or corporation, for a right of way for a private railroad,
skid road, canal, flume, watercourse, or other easement, over
or across any public lands for the purpose of, and to be used
in, transporting and moving timber, minerals, stone, sand,
gravel, or other valuable materials of the land, shall be subject to the right of the state, or any grantee or lessee thereof,
or other person who has acquired since June 15, 1911, or
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.600.
Washington utilities and transportation commission: Chapter 80.01 RCW.
79.36.390
79.36.390 Reasonable facilities and service for transportation must be furnished. Any person, firm, or corporation, having acquired such right of way or easement since
June 15, 1911, or hereafter acquiring such right of way or
easement over any public lands for the purpose of transporting or moving timber, mineral, stone, sand, gravel, or other
valuable materials, and engaged in such business thereon,
shall accord to the state, or any grantee or lessee thereof, having since June 15, 1911, acquired, or hereafter acquiring,
from the state, any public lands containing timber, mineral,
stone, sand, gravel, or other valuable materials, contiguous to
or in proximity to such right of way or easement, or any person, firm, or corporation, having since June 15, 1911,
acquired, or hereafter acquiring, the timber, mineral, stone,
sand, gravel, or other valuable materials upon any public
lands contiguous to or in proximity to the lands over which
such right of way or easement is operated, proper and reasonable facilities and service for transporting and moving such
valuable materials, under reasonable rules and regulations
and upon payment of just and reasonable charges therefor, or,
if such right of way or other easement is not then in use, shall
accord the use of such right of way or easement for transporting and moving such valuable materials, under reasonable
rules and regulations and upon the payment of just and reasonable charges therefor. [2004 c 199 § 220; 1982 1st ex.s. c
21 § 169; 1927 c 255 § 80; RRS § 7797-80. Prior: 1911 c
109 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.320, 79.36.030.]
79.36.380
(2006 Ed.)
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.610.
79.36.400
79.36.400 Duty of utilities and transportation commission. Should the owner or operator of any private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or other easement
operating over lands acquired since the fifteenth day of June,
[Title 79 RCW—page 63]
79.36.410
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
1911, or hereafter acquired, from the state, as in the previous
sections provided, fail to agree with the state, or any grantee
thereof, as to the reasonable and proper rules, regulations and
charges, concerning the transportation of timber, mineral,
stone, sand, gravel or other valuable materials, from lands
contiguous to, or in proximity to, the lands over which such
private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or other
easement, is operated, for transporting or moving such valuable materials, the state, or such person, firm or corporation,
owning and desiring to have such valuable materials transported or moved, may apply to the state utilities and transportation commission and have the reasonableness of the rules
and regulations and charges inquired into, and it shall be the
duty of the utilities and transportation commission to inquire
into the same and it is hereby given the same power and
authority to investigate the same as it is now authorized to
investigate or inquire into the reasonableness of rules, regulations and charges made by railroad companies, and it is
authorized and empowered to make any such order as it
would make in an inquiry against a railroad company, and in
case such private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or easement, is not then in use, may make such reasonable, proper and just rules and regulations concerning the use
thereof for the purposes aforesaid as may be just and proper,
and such order shall have the same force and effect, and be
binding upon the parties to such hearing, as though such hearing and order was made affecting a common carrier railroad.
[1983 c 4 § 6; 1927 c 255 § 81; RRS § 7797-81. Prior: 1911
c 109 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.324, 79.36.040.]
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.630.
Transportation, general regulations: Chapter 81.04 RCW.
79.36.410
79.36.410 Penalty for violation of orders. In case any
person, firm or corporation, owning or operating any private
railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or other easement, over and across any state lands, or any lands acquired
since the fifteenth day of June, 1911, or hereafter acquired,
from the state, subject to the provisions of the preceding sections, shall violate or fail to comply with any rule, regulation
or order made by the utilities and transportation commission,
after an inquiry and hearing as provided in the preceding section, such person, firm or corporation, shall be subject to a
penalty of not to exceed one thousand dollars for each and
every violation thereof, and in addition thereto such right of
way, private road, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or
other easement and all improvements and structures on such
right of way, and connected therewith, shall revert to the state
or to the owner of the land over which such right of way is
located, and may be recovered in an action instituted in any
court of competent jurisdiction. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 170;
1927 c 255 § 82; RRS § 7797-82. Prior: 1911 c 109 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.328, 79.36.050.]
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
ture of any such right of way heretofore granted, or granted
under the provisions of the preceding sections, shall be rendered effective by the mailing of a notice of such forfeiture to
the grantee thereof at his or her last known post office address
and by stamping a copy of such certificate, or other record of
the grant, in the office of the department with the word "canceled", and the date of such cancellation. [2003 c 334 § 384;
1927 c 255 § 84; RRS § 7797-84. Prior: 1921 c 55 § 1; 1915
c 147 § 12; 1897 c 89 § 34; 1895 c 178 § 45. Formerly RCW
79.01.336, 79.36.070.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.650.
79.36.440
79.36.440 Right of way for public roads. Any county
or city or the United States of America or state agency desiring to locate, establish, and construct a road or street over and
across any state lands of the state of Washington shall by resolution of the board of county commissioners of such county,
or city council or other governing body of such city, or proper
agency of the United States of America, or state agency,
cause to be filed in the office of the department a petition for
a right of way for such road or street, setting forth the reasons
for the establishment thereof, accompanied by a duly attested
copy of a plat made by the county or city engineer or proper
agency of the United States of America, or state agency,
showing the location of the proposed road or street with reference to the legal subdivisions, or lots and blocks of the official plat, or the lands, over and across which such right of
way is desired, the amount of land to be taken and the amount
of land remaining in each portion of each legal subdivision or
lot or block bisected by such proposed road or street.
Upon the filing of such petition and plat the department,
if deemed for the best interest of the state to grant the petition,
shall cause the land proposed to be taken to be inspected and
shall appraise the value of the land and valuable materials
thereon and notify the petitioner of such appraised value.
If there are no valuable materials on the proposed right
of way, or upon the payment of the appraised value of the
land and valuable materials thereon, to the department in
cash, or by certified check drawn upon any bank in this state,
or money order, except for all rights of way granted to the
department on which the valuable materials, if any, shall be
sold at public auction or by sealed bid, the department may
approve the plat filed with the petition and file and enter the
same in the records of its office, and such approval and record
shall constitute a grant of such right of way from the state.
[2003 c 334 § 385; 2001 c 250 § 12; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 171;
1961 c 73 § 5; 1945 c 145 § 1; 1927 c 255 § 85; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 7797-85. Prior: 1917 c 148 § 9; 1903 c 20 § 1; 1897
c 89 § 35; 1895 c 178 § 46. Formerly RCW 79.01.340,
79.36.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.640.
79.36.450
79.36.430
79.36.430 Forfeiture for nonuse. Any such right of
way heretofore granted which has never been used, or has
ceased to be used for the purpose for which it was granted, for
a period of two years, shall be deemed forfeited. The forfei[Title 79 RCW—page 64]
79.36.450 Railroad right of way. A right of way
through, over and across any state lands not held under a contract of sale, is hereby granted to any railroad company organized under the laws of this state, or any state or territory of
the United States, or under any act of congress of the United
(2006 Ed.)
Easements Over Public Lands
States, to any extent not exceeding fifty feet on either side of
the center line of any railroad now constructed, or hereafter to
be constructed, and for such greater width as is required for
excavations, embankments, depots, station grounds, passing
tracks or borrow pits, which extra width shall not in any case
exceed two hundred feet on either side of said right of way.
[1927 c 255 § 86; RRS § 7797-86. Prior: 1907 c 104 § 1;
1901 c 173 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.344, 79.36.090.]
Railroad rights of way: Chapter 81.52 RCW.
79.36.460
79.36.460 Railroad right of way—Procedure to
acquire. In order to obtain the benefits of RCW 79.36.450,
any railroad company hereafter constructing, or proposing to
construct, a railroad, shall file with the department a copy of
its articles of incorporation, due proof of organization thereunder, a map or maps, accompanied by the field notes of the
survey, showing the location of the line of said railroad, the
width of the right of way and extra widths, if any, and shall
pay to the department as hereinafter provided the amount of
the appraised value of the lands included within the right of
way, and extra widths if any are required, and the damages to
any lands affected by the right of way or extra widths. [2003
c 334 § 386; 1927 c 255 § 87; RRS § 7797-87. Prior: 1907 c
104 § 1; 1901 c 173 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.01.348,
79.36.100.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.470
79.36.470 Railroad right of way—Appraisement. All
state lands over which a right of way of any railroad to be
hereafter constructed, shall be located, shall be appraised in
the same manner as in the case of applications for the purchase of state lands, fixing the appraised value per acre for
each lot or block, quarter section or subdivision thereof, less
the improvements, if any, and the damages to any state lands
affected by such right of way, shall be appraised in like manner, and the appraisement shall be recorded and the evidence
or report upon which the same is based shall be preserved of
record, in the office of the department, and the department
shall send notice to the railroad company applying for the
right of way that such appraisement has been made. [2003 c
334 § 387; 1927 c 255 § 88; RRS § 7797-88. Prior: 1901 c
173 §§ 2, 5. Formerly RCW 79.01.352, 79.36.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.480
79.36.480 Railroad right of way—Improvements—
Appraisal. Should any improvements, made by anyone not
holding adversely to the state at the time of making such
improvements or made in good faith by a lessee of the state
whose lease had not been canceled or was not subject to cancellation for any cause, or made upon the land by mistake, be
upon any of such lands at the time of the appraisement, the
same shall be separately appraised, together with the damage
and waste done to said lands, or to adjacent lands, by the use
and occupancy of the same, and after deducting from the
amount of the appraisement for improvements the amount of
such damage and waste, the balance shall be regarded as the
value of said improvements, and the railroad company, if not
the owner of such improvements, shall deposit with the
department the value of the same, as shown by the appraisement, within thirty days next following the date thereof. The
(2006 Ed.)
79.36.510
department shall hold such moneys for a period of three
months, and unless a demand and proof of ownership of such
improvements shall be made upon the department within said
period of three months, the same shall be deemed forfeited to
the state and deposited with the state treasurer and paid into
the general fund. If two or more persons shall file claims of
ownership of said improvements, within said period of three
months, with the department, the department shall hold such
moneys until the claimants agree or a certified copy of the
judgment decreeing the ownership of said improvements
shall be filed with the department. When notice of agreement
or a certified copy of a judgment has been so filed, the department shall pay over to the owner of the improvements the
money so deposited. [2003 c 334 § 388; 1927 c 255 § 89;
RRS § 7797-89. Prior: 1915 c 147 § 13; 1901 c 173 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.356, 79.36.120.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.490
79.36.490 Railroad right of way—Release or payment of damages. When the construction or proposed construction of said railroad affects the value of improvements
on state lands not situated on the right of way or extra widths,
the applicant for said right of way shall file with the department a valid release of damages duly executed by the owner
or owners of such improvements, or a certified copy of a
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, showing that
compensation for the damages resulting to such owner or
owners, as ascertained in accordance with existing law, has
been made or paid into the registry of such court. [2003 c 334
§ 389; 1927 c 255 § 90; RRS § 7797-90. Prior: 1915 c 147 §
13; 1901 c 173 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.01.360, 79.36.130.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.500
79.36.500 Railroad right of way—Certificate. Upon
full payment of the appraised value of any right of way for a
railroad and of damages to state lands affected, the department shall issue to the railroad company applying for such
right of way a certificate in such form as the department may
prescribe, in which the terms and conditions of said easement
shall be set forth and the lands covered thereby described,
and any future grant, or lease, by the state, of the lands
crossed or affected by such right of way shall be subject to the
easement described in the certificate. [2003 c 334 § 390;
1927 c 255 § 91; RRS § 7797-91. Prior: 1915 c 147 § 14;
1901 c 173 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.01.364, 79.36.140.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.510
79.36.510 Utility pipe lines, transmission lines, etc. A
right of way through, over, and across any state lands or state
forest lands, may be granted to any municipal or private corporation, company, association, individual, or the United
States of America, constructing or proposing to construct, or
which has heretofore constructed, any telephone line, ditch,
flume, or pipe line for the domestic water supply of any
municipal corporation or transmission line for the purpose of
generating or transmitting electricity for light, heat, or power.
[1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 172; 1961 c 73 § 6; 1945 c 147 § 1;
1927 c 255 § 96; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-96. Prior: 1925 c
6 § 1; 1921 c 148 § 1; 1919 c 97 § 1; 1909 c 188 § 1. Formerly
RCW 79.01.384, 79.36.150.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 65]
79.36.520
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.36.520
79.36.520 Utility pipe lines, transmission lines, etc.—
Procedure to acquire. In order to obtain the benefits of the
grant made in RCW 79.36.510, the municipal or private corporation or company, association, individual, or the United
States of America, constructing or proposing to construct, or
which has heretofore constructed, such telephone line, ditch,
flume, pipe line, or transmission line, shall file, with the
department, a map, accompanied by the field notes of the survey and location of such telephone line, ditch, flume, pipe
line, or transmission line, and shall make payment therefor as
provided in RCW 79.36.530. The land within the right of
way shall be limited to an amount necessary for the construction of said telephone line, ditch, flume, pipe line, or transmission line sufficient for the purposes required, together
with sufficient land on either side thereof for ingress and
egress to maintain and repair the same, and the grant shall
include the right to cut all standing timber, and/or reproduction within said right of way. The grant shall also include the
right to cut trees marked as danger trees by the applicant outside of the right of way, which shall be dangerous to the operation and maintenance of the telephone line, ditch, flume,
pipe line, or transmission line upon full payment of the
appraised value thereof. [2003 c 334 § 391; 1961 c 73 § 7;
1959 c 257 § 35; 1945 c 147 § 2; 1927 c 255 § 97; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 7797-97. Prior: 1921 c 148 § 2; 1919 c 97 § 2; 1909
c 188 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.388, 79.36.160.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.530
79.36.530 Utility pipe lines—Appraisal—Certificate—Reversion. Upon the filing of the plat and field notes,
as provided in RCW 79.36.520, the land applied for and the
valuable materials on the right of way applied for, and the
marked danger trees to be felled off the right of way, if any,
and the improvements included in the right of way applied
for, if any, shall be appraised as in the case of an application
to purchase state lands. Upon full payment of the appraised
value of the land applied for, or upon payment of an annual
rental when the department deems a rental to be in the best
interests of the state, and upon full payment of the appraised
value of the valuable materials and improvements, if any, the
department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of the
grant of such right of way stating the terms and conditions
thereof and shall enter the same in the abstracts and records in
its office, and thereafter any sale or lease of the lands affected
by such right of way shall be subject to the easement of such
right of way. Should the corporation, company, association,
individual, state agency, political subdivision of the state, or
the United States of America, securing such right of way ever
abandon the use of the same for a period of sixty months or
longer for the purposes for which it was granted, the right of
way shall revert to the state, or the state’s grantee. [2003 c
334 § 392; 2001 c 250 § 13; 1961 c 73 § 8; 1959 c 257 § 36;
1945 c 147 § 3; 1927 c 255 § 98; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797-98.
Prior: 1909 c 188 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.392,
79.36.170.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 66]
79.36.540 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes. A right of way through, over and across
any state lands is hereby granted to any irrigation district, or
irrigation company duly organized under the laws of this
state, and to any association, individual, or the United States
of America, constructing or proposing to construct an irrigation ditch or pipe line for irrigation, or to any diking and
drainage district or any diking and drainage improvement
district proposing to construct a dike or drainage ditch. [1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 173; 1945 c 147 § 4; 1927 c 255 § 99; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 7797-99. Prior: 1917 c 148 § 6; 1907 c 161 § 1.
Formerly RCW 79.01.396, 79.36.180.]
79.36.540
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.36.550 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes—Procedure to acquire. In order to
obtain the benefits of the grant provided for in RCW
79.36.540, the irrigation district, irrigation company, association, individual, or the United States of America, constructing or proposing to construct such irrigation ditch or pipe line
for irrigation, or the diking and drainage district or diking and
drainage improvement district constructing or proposing to
construct any dike or drainage ditch, shall file with the
department a map accompanied by the field notes of the survey and location of the proposed irrigation ditch, pipe line,
dike, or drainage ditch, and shall pay to the state as hereinafter provided, the amount of the appraised value of the said
lands used for or included within such right of way. The land
within said right of way shall be limited to an amount necessary for the construction of the irrigation ditch, pipe line,
dike, or drainage ditch for the purposes required, together
with sufficient land on either side thereof for ingress and
egress to maintain and repair the same. [2003 c 334 § 393;
1945 c 147 § 5; 1927 c 255 § 100; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7797100. Prior: 1917 c 148 § 7; 1907 c 161 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.01.400, 79.36.190.]
79.36.550
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.560 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes—Appraisal—Certificate. Upon the filing of the plat and field notes as provided in RCW 79.36.550,
the lands included within the right of way applied for shall be
appraised as in the case of an application to purchase such
lands, at the full market value thereof. Upon full payment of
the appraised value of the lands the department shall issue to
the applicant a certificate of right of way, and enter the same
in the records in its office and thereafter any sale or lease by
the state of the lands affected by such right of way shall be
subject thereto. [2003 c 334 § 394; 1927 c 255 § 101; RRS §
7797-101. Prior: 1907 c 161 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.01.404,
79.36.200.]
79.36.560
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.570 Grant of overflow rights. The department
shall have the power to grant to any person or corporation the
right, privilege, and authority to perpetually back and hold
water upon or over any state lands, and overflow such lands
and inundate the same, whenever the department shall deem
it necessary for the purpose of erecting, constructing, maintaining, or operating any water power plant, reservoir, or
79.36.570
(2006 Ed.)
Easements Over Public Lands
works for impounding water for power purposes, irrigation,
mining, or other public use, but no such rights shall be
granted until the value of the lands to be overflowed and any
damages to adjoining lands of the state, appraised as in the
case of an application to purchase such lands, shall have been
paid by the person or corporation seeking the grant, and if the
construction or erection of any such water power plant, reservoir, or works for impounding water for the purposes heretofore specified, shall not be commenced and diligently prosecuted and completed within such time as the department may
prescribe at the time of the grant, the same may be forfeited
by the department by serving written notice of such forfeiture
upon the person or corporation to whom the grant was made,
but the department, for good cause shown to its satisfaction,
may extend the time within which such work shall be completed. [2003 c 334 § 395; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 174; 1927 c
255 § 102; RRS § 7797-102. Prior: 1915 c 147 §§ 10, 11;
1907 c 125 §§ 1, 2. Formerly RCW 79.01.408, 79.36.210.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
Operating agencies: Chapter 43.52 RCW.
79.36.580
79.36.580 Construction of foregoing sections. The
foregoing sections relating to the acquiring of rights of way
and overflow rights through, over and across lands belonging
to the state, shall not be construed as exclusive or as affecting
the right of municipal and public service corporations to
acquire lands belonging to or under control of the state, or
rights of way or other rights thereover, by condemnation proceedings. [1927 c 255 § 103; RRS § 7797-103. Formerly
RCW 79.01.412, 79.36.220.]
Railroad rights of way: Chapter 81.52 RCW.
79.36.590
79.36.590 Easement reserved in later grants. All state
lands hereafter granted, sold or leased shall be subject to the
right of the state, or any grantee or lessee or successor in
interest thereof hereafter acquiring other state lands, or
acquiring the timber, stone, mineral or other natural products
thereon, or the manufactured products thereof to acquire the
right of way over such lands so granted, for logging and/or
lumbering railroads, private railroads, skid roads, flumes,
canals, watercourses, or other easements for the purpose of
and to be used in the transporting and moving of such timber,
stone, mineral or other natural products thereon, and the manufactured products thereof from such state land, and all necessary machinery, supplies or materials to be used in transporting, cutting, manufacturing, mining or quarrying any or
all of such products over and across the lands so granted or
leased, upon the state or its grantee or successor in interest
thereof, paying to the owner of the lands so granted, sold, or
leased reasonable compensation therefor. In case the parties
interested cannot agree upon the damages incurred, the same
shall be ascertained and assessed in the same manner as damages are ascertained and assessed against a railroad seeking to
condemn private property. [1927 c 312 § 1; RRS § 8107-1.
Prior: 1911 c 109 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.36.230.]
Severability—1927 c 312: "If any section, subdivision, sentence or
clause in this act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication
shall not affect the validity of the act as a whole, or any section, provision or
(2006 Ed.)
79.36.610
part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional." [1927 c 312 § 8.]
This applies to RCW 79.36.230 through 79.36.290.
Railroads, eminent domain: RCW 81.36.010 and 81.53.180.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.370.
79.36.600
79.36.600 Private easement over state lands. Every
grant, deed, conveyance, lease or contract hereafter made to
any person, firm or corporation over and across any state
lands for the purpose of right of way for any logging and/or
lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse or other easement to be used in the hauling of
timber, stone, mineral or other natural products of the land
and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary
machinery, supplies or materials to be used in transporting,
cutting, manufacturing, mining or quarrying any or all of
such products, shall be subject to the right of the state, or any
grantee or successor in interest thereof, owning or hereafter
acquiring from the state any timber, stone, mineral, or other
natural products, or any state lands containing valuable timber, stone, mineral or other natural products of the land, of
having such timber, stone, mineral or other natural products,
and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary
machinery, supplies or materials to be used in transporting,
cutting, manufacturing, mining or quarrying any or all of
such products transported or moved over such railroad, skid
road, flume, canal, watercourse or other easement, after the
same is or has been put in operation, upon paying therefor
just and reasonable rates for transportation or for the use of
such railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse or other
easement, and upon complying with just, reasonable and
proper rules affecting such transportation, which rates, rules
and regulations shall be under the supervision and control of
the utilities and transportation commission of the state of
Washington. [1983 c 4 § 7; 1927 c 312 § 2; RRS § 8107-2.
Prior: 1911 c 109 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.36.240.]
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.380.
79.36.610
79.36.610 Easement over public lands subject to
common user. Any person, firm or corporation hereafter
acquiring the right of way or other easement over state lands
or over any tide or shore lands belonging to the state, or over
and across any navigable water or stream for the purpose of
transporting or moving timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products of the lands, and the manufactured products
thereof and engaged in such business thereon, shall accord to
the state or any grantee or successor in interest thereof hereafter acquiring state lands containing valuable timber, stone,
mineral or other natural products of the land, or any person,
firm or corporation hereafter acquiring the timber, stone,
mineral or other natural products situate upon state lands, or
the manufactured products thereof proper and reasonable
facilities and service, including physical connection therewith, for the transportation and moving of such timber, stone,
mineral and other natural products of the land, and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary machinery, supplies or materials to be used in transporting, cutting, manufacturing, mining or quarrying any or all of such products
under reasonable rules and regulations upon payment of just
and reasonable charges therefor, or, if such right of way or
other easement is not then in use to have the right to use such
right of way or easement for transporting and moving such
[Title 79 RCW—page 67]
79.36.620
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
products under such reasonable rules and regulations and
upon payment of just and reasonable charges therefor. [1927
c 312 § 3; RRS § 8107-3. Prior: 1911 c 109 § 3. Formerly
RCW 79.36.250.]
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.390.
79.36.620
79.36.620 Reservations in grants and leases. Whenever any person, firm, or corporation shall hereafter purchase,
lease, or acquire any state lands, or any easement or interest
therein, or any timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products thereon, or the manufactured products thereof the purchase, lease, or grant shall be subject to the condition or reservation that such person, firm, or corporation, or their successors in interest, shall, whenever any of the timber, stone,
mineral, or other natural products on said lands or the manufactured products thereof are removed, by any logging and/or
lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse, or other easement, owned, leased, or operated
by such person, firm, or corporation, or their successors in
interest, accord to any other person, firm, or corporation, or
their successors in interest, having the right to remove any
timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products or the manufactured products thereof from any other lands, owned or formerly owned by the state, proper and reasonable facilities and
service, including physical connection therewith, for the
transportation and moving of such other timber, stone, mineral, and other natural products, and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary machinery, supplies, or materials to be used in transporting, cutting, manufacturing, mining,
or quarrying any or all of such products under reasonable
rules and upon payment of just and reasonable charges therefor; and that any conveyance, lease, or mortgage of such logging and/or lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road,
flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement, shall be subject
to the right of the person, firm, or corporation, or their successors in interest, having the right to remove timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products or the manufactured products
thereof from such other state lands, to be accorded such
proper and reasonable facilities and service, including physical connection therewith, for the transportation and moving
of such other timber, stone, mineral, and other natural products and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary
machinery, supplies, or materials to be used in transporting,
cutting, manufacturing, mining, or quarrying any or all of
such products under reasonable rules and upon payment of
just and reasonable charges therefor; and such purchase,
lease, or grant from the state shall also be subject to the condition or reservation that whenever any of the timber, stone,
mineral, or other natural products on such lands or the manufactured products thereof are about to be removed, by means
of any logging and/or lumbering railroad, private railroad,
skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement, not
owned, controlled, or operated by the person, firm, or corporation owning or having the right to remove, and about to
remove such timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products
or the manufactured products thereof shall exact and require
from the owners and operators of such logging and/or lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse, or other easement, which shall be binding upon
the successors in interest of such owners and operators, an
[Title 79 RCW—page 68]
agreement and promise, as a part of the contract for removal,
and by virtue of RCW 79.36.590 through 79.36.650 there
shall be deemed to be a part of any such express or implied
contract for removal, an agreement, and promise that such
owners and operators, and their successors in interest, shall
accord to any person, firm, or corporation and their successors in interest, having the right to remove any timber, stone,
mineral, or other natural products or the manufactured products thereof from any lands, owned, or formerly owned by the
state, proper and reasonable facilities and service, including
physical connection therewith, for the transportation and
moving of such timber, stone, mineral, and other natural
products and the manufactured products thereof and all necessary machinery, supplies, or materials to be used in transporting, cutting, manufacturing, mining, or quarrying any or
all of such products and under reasonable rules and upon payment of just and reasonable charges therefor. [2003 c 334 §
495; 1927 c 312 § 4; RRS § 8107-4. Formerly RCW
79.36.260.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.36.630
79.36.630 Duty of utilities and transportation commission. Should the owner or operator of any logging and/or
lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse, or other easement operating over lands hereafter
acquired from the state, as in RCW 79.36.590 through
79.36.650 set out, fail to agree with the state or with any subsequent grantee or successor in interest thereof as to the reasonable and proper rules and charges concerning the transportation of timber, stone, mineral, or other natural products
of the land, or the manufactured products thereof and all necessary machinery, supplies, or materials to be used in transporting, cutting, manufacturing, mining, or quarrying any or
all of such products for carrying and transporting such products or for the use of the railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse, or other easement in transporting such products,
the state or such person, firm, or corporation owning and
desiring to ship such products may apply to the utilities and
transportation commission and have the reasonableness of
the rules and charges inquired into and it shall be the duty of
the utilities and transportation commission to inquire into the
same in the same manner, and it is hereby given the same
power and authority to investigate the same as it is now
authorized to investigate and inquire into the rules and
charges made by railroads and is authorized and empowered
to make such order as it would make in an inquiry against a
railroad, and in case such logging and/or lumbering railroad,
private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other
easement is not then in use, may adopt such reasonable,
proper, and just rules concerning the use thereof for the purposes aforesaid as may be just and proper and such order
shall have the same force and effect and shall be binding
upon the parties to such hearing as though such hearing and
order was made affecting a railroad. [2003 c 334 § 496; 1983
c 4 § 8; 1927 c 312 § 5; RRS § 8107-5. Prior: 1911 c 109 §
4. Formerly RCW 79.36.270.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.400.
(2006 Ed.)
Access Roads
79.36.640
79.36.640 Penalty for violating utilities and transportation commission’s order. In case any person, firm, or corporation owning and/or operating any logging and/or lumbering railroad, private railroad, skid road, flume, canal, watercourse, or other easement subject to the provisions of RCW
79.36.590 through 79.36.650 shall fail to comply with any
rule or order made by the utilities and transportation commission, after an inquiry as provided for in RCW 79.36.630, each
person, firm, or corporation shall be subject to a penalty not
exceeding one thousand dollars, and in addition thereto, the
right of way over state lands theretofore granted to such person, firm, or corporation, and all improvements and structures on such right of way and connected therewith, shall
revert to the state of Washington, and may be recovered by it
in an action instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction,
unless such state lands have been sold. [2003 c 334 § 497;
1983 c 4 § 9; 1927 c 312 § 7; RRS § 8107-7. Prior: 1911 c
109 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.36.280.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.410.
79.36.650
79.36.650 Applications—Appraisement—Certificate—Forfeiture—Fee. Any person, firm, or corporation
shall have a right of way over public lands, subject to the provisions of RCW 79.36.590 through 79.36.650, when necessary, for the purpose of hauling or removing timber, stone,
mineral, or other natural products or the manufactured products thereof of the land. Before, however, any such right of
way grant shall become effective, a written application for
and a plat showing the location of such right of way, with reference to the adjoining lands, shall be filed with the department, and all timber on the right of way, together with the
damages to the land, shall be appraised and paid for in cash
by the person, firm, or corporation applying for such right of
way. The department shall then cause to be issued in duplicate to such person, firm, or corporation a right of way certificate setting forth the conditions and terms upon which the
right of way is granted. Whenever the right of way shall
cease to be used, for a period of two years, for the purpose for
which it was granted, it shall be deemed forfeited, and the
right of way certificate shall contain such a provision. However, any right of way for logging purposes heretofore issued
which has never been used, or has ceased to be used, for a
period of two years, for the purpose of which it was granted,
shall be deemed forfeited and shall be canceled upon the
records of the department. One copy of each certificate shall
be filed with the department and one copy delivered to the
applicant. The forfeiture of the right of way, as herein provided, shall be rendered effective by the mailing of notice of
such a forfeiture to the grantee thereof to his or her last
known post office address and by stamping the copy of the
certificate in the department canceled and the date of such
cancellation. For the issuance of such a certificate the same
fee shall be charged as provided in the case of certificates for
railroad rights of way. [2003 c 334 § 498; 1988 c 128 § 65;
1927 c 312 § 6; RRS § 8107-6. Prior: 1921 c 55 § 1; 1915 c
147 § 12; 1897 c 89 § 34; 1895 c 178 § 45. Formerly RCW
79.36.290.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Certificates for railroad rights of way: RCW 79.36.500.
(2006 Ed.)
79.38.030
Fees, generally: RCW 79.02.240.
Similar enactment: RCW 79.36.350 and 79.36.430.
Chapter 79.38
Chapter 79.38 RCW
ACCESS ROADS
Sections
79.38.010
79.38.020
79.38.030
79.38.040
79.38.050
79.38.060
79.38.070
79.38.900
Acquisition of property for access to public lands.
Exchange of easement rights.
Use of roads by purchasers of valuable materials.
Permits for use of roads.
Access road revolving fund.
Use of moneys not deposited in revolving fund.
Department-county agreements for improvement of access
roads.
Severability—1961 c 44.
79.38.010
79.38.010 Acquisition of property for access to public
lands. In addition to any authority otherwise granted by law,
the department shall have the authority to acquire lands,
interests in lands, and other property for the purpose of
affording access by road to public lands from any public
highway. [2004 c 199 § 221; 2003 c 334 § 499; 1961 c 44 §
1.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.38.020
79.38.020 Exchange of easement rights. To facilitate
the carrying out of the purpose of this chapter, the department
may:
(1) Grant easements, rights of way, and permits to cross
public lands to any person in exchange for similar rights over
lands not under its jurisdiction;
(2) Enter into agreements with any person or agency
relating to purchase, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, regulation, and use of access roads or public
roads used to provide access to public lands;
(3) Dispose, by sale, exchange, or otherwise, of any
interest in an access road in the event it determines such interest is no longer necessary for the purposes of this chapter.
[2004 c 199 § 222; 1981 c 204 § 1; 1961 c 44 § 2.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
79.38.030
79.38.030 Use of roads by purchasers of valuable
materials. Purchasers of valuable materials from public
lands may use access roads or public roads for the removal of
such materials where the rights acquired by the state will permit, but use shall be subject to the right of the department:
(1) To impose reasonable terms for the use, construction,
reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of such access roads;
and
(2) To impose reasonable charges for the use of such
access roads or public roads which have been constructed or
reconstructed through funding by the department. [2004 c
199 § 223; 2003 c 334 § 500; 1981 c 204 § 2; 1961 c 44 § 3.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 69]
79.38.040
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
79.38.040 Permits for use of roads. Whenever the
department finds that it is for the best interest of the state and
where the rights acquired by the state will permit, the department may grant permits for the use of access roads to any person. Any permit issued under the authority of this section
shall be subject to reasonable regulation by the department.
Such regulation shall include, but is not limited to, the following matters:
(1) Requirements for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair;
(2) Limitations as to extent and time of use;
(3) Provision for revocation at the discretion of the
department; and
(4) Charges for use. [2003 c 334 § 501; 1961 c 44 § 4.]
79.38.040
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.38.050 Access road revolving fund. The department shall create, maintain, and administer a revolving fund,
to be known as the access road revolving fund in which shall
be deposited all moneys received by it from users of access
roads as payment for costs incurred or to be incurred in maintaining, repairing, and reconstructing access roads, or public
roads used to provide access to public lands. The department
may use moneys in the fund for the purposes for which they
were obtained without appropriation by the legislature.
[2004 c 199 § 224; 2003 c 334 § 502; 1981 c 204 § 3; 1961 c
44 § 5.]
the amount that may be used as advance payments to counties
for road improvements; and
(4) Determine the equitable distribution, if any, of costs
of such improvements between the county and the state
through negotiation of terms and conditions of any resulting
repayment to the fund or funds financing the improvements.
[2003 c 334 § 224; 1981 c 204 § 5. Formerly RCW
76.12.180.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.38.900 Severability—1961 c 44. If any provisions
of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1961 c 44 § 7.]
79.38.900
79.38.050
Chapter 79.44 RCW
ASSESSMENTS AND CHARGES AGAINST LANDS
OF THE STATE
Chapter 79.44
Sections
79.44.003
79.44.004
79.44.010
79.44.020
79.44.030
79.44.040
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.050
79.44.060
79.44.070
79.44.080
79.38.060 Use of moneys not deposited in revolving
fund. All moneys received by the department from users of
access roads that are not deposited in the access road revolving fund shall be paid as follows:
(1) To reimburse the state fund or account from which
expenditures have been made for the acquisition, construction, or improvement of the access road or public road, and
upon full reimbursement, then
(2) To the funds or accounts for which the public lands,
to which access is provided, are pledged by law or constitutional provision, in which case the department shall make an
equitable apportionment between funds and accounts so that
no fund or account shall benefit at the expense of another.
[2004 c 199 § 225; 2003 c 334 § 503; 1981 c 204 § 4; 1961 c
44 § 6.]
79.44.090
79.44.095
79.38.060
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.100
79.44.120
79.44.130
79.44.140
79.44.190
79.44.900
"Assessing district" defined.
"Assessment" defined.
Lands subject to local assessments.
State to be charged its proportion of cost—Construction of
chapter.
Apportioning cost on leaseholds.
Notice to state of intention to improve, or impose assessment—Consent—Notice to port commission.
Certification of roll—Penalties, interest.
Payment procedure—Lands not subject to lien, exception.
Enforcement against lessee or contract holder.
Foreclosure against leasehold or contract interest—Cancellation of lease or contract.
Payment by state after forfeiture of lease or contract.
Assessments paid by state to be added to purchase price of
land.
Assignment of lease or contract to purchaser at foreclosure
sale.
When assessments need not be added in certain cases.
Local provisions superseded.
Application of chapter—Eminent domain assessments.
Acquisition of property by state or political subdivision which
is subject to unpaid assessments or delinquencies—Payment
of lien or installments.
Severability—1963 c 20.
Diking, drainage and sewerage improvement district assessments: RCW
85.08.370.
Diking and drainage district assessments: RCW 85.05.390.
Flood control district assessments: RCW 86.09.523, 86.09.526, 86.09.529.
Intercounty diking and drainage district assessments: RCW 85.24.275.
Irrigation district assessments: RCW 87.03.025.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or timber land:
RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.390.
79.44.003 "Assessing district" defined. As used in
this chapter "assessing district" means:
(1) Incorporated cities and towns;
(2) Diking districts;
(3) Drainage districts;
(4) Port districts;
(5) Irrigation districts;
(6) Water-sewer districts;
(7) Counties; and
(8) Any municipal corporation or public agency having
power to levy local improvement or other assessments, rates,
or charges which by statute are expressly made applicable to
79.44.003
79.38.070 Department-county agreements for
improvement of access roads. The department may enter
into agreements with the county to:
(1) Identify public roads used to provide access to state
forest lands in need of improvement;
(2) Establish a time schedule for the improvements;
(3) Advance payments to the county to fund the road
improvements. However, no more than fifty percent of the
access road revolving fund shall be eligible for use as
advance payments to counties. The department shall assess
the fund on January 1st and July 1st of each year to determine
79.38.070
[Title 79 RCW—page 70]
(2006 Ed.)
Assessments and Charges Against Lands of the State
lands of the state. [1999 c 153 § 68; 1989 c 243 § 13; 1971
ex.s. c 234 § 14; 1963 c 20 § 1.]
Part headings not law—1999 c 153: See note following RCW
57.04.050.
79.44.060
yet to run. [2003 c 334 § 507; 1919 c 164 § 3; RRS § 8127.
Cf. 1909 c 154 § 3; 1907 c 74 § 3.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.040
79.44.004
79.44.004 "Assessment" defined. As used in this
chapter, "assessment" shall mean any assessment, rate or
charge levied, assessed, imposed, or charged by any assessing district as defined in RCW 79.44.003, and which assessments, rates or charges by statute are expressly made applicable to lands of the state. [1989 c 243 § 16.]
79.44.010
79.44.010 Lands subject to local assessments. All
lands, including school lands, granted lands, escheated lands,
or other lands, held or owned by the state of Washington in
fee simple (in trust or otherwise), situated within the limits of
any assessing district in this state, may be assessed and
charged for the cost of local or other improvements specially
benefiting such lands which may be ordered by the proper
authorities of any such assessing district and may be assessed
by any irrigation district to the same extent as private lands
within the district are assessed: PROVIDED, That the leasehold, contractual, or possessory interest of any person, firm,
association, or private or municipal corporation in any such
lands shall be charged and assessed in the proportional
amount such leasehold, contractual, or possessory interest is
benefited: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That no lands of the
state shall be included within an irrigation district except as
provided in RCW 87.03.025 and 89.12.090. [1982 1st ex.s. c
21 § 178; 1963 c 20 § 2; 1919 c 164 § 1; RRS § 8125. Cf.
1909 c 154 §§ 1, 4.]
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c
21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.
79.44.020
79.44.020 State to be charged its proportion of cost—
Construction of chapter. In all local improvement assessment districts in any assessing district in this state, property
in such district, held or owned by the state shall be assessed
and charged for its proportion of the cost of such local
improvements in the same manner as other property in such
district, it being the intention of this chapter that the state
shall bear its just and equitable proportion of the cost of local
improvements specially benefiting lands of the state. However, none of the provisions of this chapter shall have the
effect, or be construed to have the effect, to alter or modify in
any particular any existing lease of any lands or property
owned by the state, or release or discharge any lessee of any
such lands or property from any of the obligations, covenants, or conditions of the contract under which any such
lands or property are leased or held by any such lessee. [2003
c 334 § 506; 1963 c 20 § 3; 1919 c 164 § 2; RRS § 8126. Cf.
1909 c 154 § 5.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.040 Notice to state of intention to improve, or
impose assessment—Consent—Notice to port commission. Notice of the intention to make such improvement, or
impose any assessment, together with the estimate of the
amount to be charged to each lot, tract or parcel of land, or
other property owned by the state to be assessed, shall be forwarded by registered or certified mail to the chief administrative officer of the agency of state government occupying,
using, or having jurisdiction over such lands at least thirty
days prior to the date fixed for hearing on the resolution or
petition initiating the assessment. Such assessing district,
shall not have jurisdiction to order such improvement as to
the interest of the state in harbor areas and state tidelands
until the written consent of the commissioner of public lands
to the making of such improvement shall have been obtained,
unless other means be provided for paying that portion of the
cost which would otherwise be levied on the interest of the
state of Washington in and to those tidelands, and nothing
herein shall prevent the city from assessing the proportionate
cost of the improvement against any leasehold, contractual,
or possessory interest in and to any tideland or harbor area
owned by the state: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in the
case of tidelands and harbor areas within the boundaries of
any port district, notice of intention to make such improvement shall also be forwarded to the commissioners of the port
district. [2002 c 260 § 2; 1989 c 243 § 14; 1979 c 151 § 177;
1963 c 20 § 4; 1919 c 164 § 4; RRS § 8128. Cf. 1909 c 154 §
6.]
79.44.050
79.44.050 Certification of roll—Penalties, interest.
Upon the approval and confirmation of the assessment roll
ordered by the proper authorities of any assessing district, the
treasurer of such assessing district shall certify and forward
to the chief administrative officer of the agency of state government occupying, using, or having jurisdiction over the
lands, a statement of all the lots or parcels of land held or
owned by the state and charged on such assessment roll, separately describing each such lot or parcel of the state’s land,
with the amount of the local assessment charged against it, or
the proportionate amount assessed against the fee simple
interest of the state, in case the land has been leased. The
chief administrative officer upon receipt of such statement
shall cause a proper record to be made in his office of the cost
of such assessment upon the lands occupied, used, or under
the jurisdiction of his agency.
No penalty shall be provided or enforced against the
state, and the interest upon such assessments shall be computed and paid at the rate paid by other property situated in
the same assessing district. [2002 c 260 § 3; 1989 c 243 § 15;
1979 c 151 § 178; 1963 c 20 § 5; 1933 c 108 § 1; 1919 c 164
§ 5; RRS § 8129. Cf. 1909 c 154 § 6; 1907 c 74 §§ 1, 2, 4, 5.]
79.44.030
79.44.030 Apportioning cost on leaseholds. Where
lands of the state are under lease, the proportionate amounts
to be assessed against the leasehold interest, and the fee simple interest of the state, shall be fixed with reference to the
life of the improvement and the period for which the lease has
(2006 Ed.)
79.44.060
79.44.060 Payment procedure—Lands not subject to
lien, exception. When the chief administrative officer of an
agency of state government is satisfied that an assessing district has complied with all the conditions precedent to the
[Title 79 RCW—page 71]
79.44.070
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
levy of assessments for district purposes, pursuant to this
chapter against lands occupied, used, or under the jurisdiction
of the officer’s agency, he or she shall pay them, together
with any interest thereon from any funds specifically appropriated to the agency therefor or from any funds of the agency
which under existing law have been or are required to be
expended to pay assessments on a current basis. In all other
cases, the chief administrative officer shall certify to the
director of financial management that the assessment is one
properly chargeable to the state. The director of financial
management shall pay such assessments from funds available
or appropriated for this purpose.
Except as provided in RCW 79.44.190 no lands of the
state shall be subject to a lien for unpaid assessments, nor
shall the interest of the state in any land be sold for unpaid
assessments where assessment liens attached to the lands
prior to state ownership. [2003 c 334 § 508; 1979 c 151 §
179; 1971 ex.s. c 116 § 2; 1963 c 20 § 6; 1947 c 205 § 1; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 8136a.]
FURTHER, That if such delinquent assessment or installment shall be against a leasehold interest in fresh water harbor areas within a port district, the chief administrative
officer shall notify the commissioners of that port district of
the receipt of such assignment, and the commissioners shall
forthwith cancel such lease. [2002 c 260 § 5; 1979 c 151 §
181; 1963 c 20 § 8; 1919 c 164 § 7; RRS § 8131.]
79.44.090
79.44.090 Payment by state after forfeiture of lease
or contract. If by reason of default in the payment of rentals
or installments, or other causes, the state shall cancel any
lease or contract against which assessments have been levied
as herein provided, the chief administrative officer of the
agency having jurisdiction over the lands shall cause such
assessments or installments as shall fall due subsequent to the
cancellation of said contract or leasehold interest to be paid as
provided in RCW 79.44.060, the same as if the assessments
or installments thereof had been levied on the state’s interest
in said lands. [1963 c 20 § 9; 1919 c 164 § 8; RRS § 8132.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.095
79.44.070
79.44.070 Enforcement against lessee or contract
holder. When any assessing district has made or caused to be
made an assessment against such leasehold, contractual, or
possessory interest for any such local improvement, the treasurer of that assessing district shall immediately give notice
to the chief administrative officer of the agency having jurisdiction over the lands. The assessment shall become a lien
against the leasehold, contractual, or possessory interest in
the same manner as the assessments on other property, and its
collection may be enforced against such interests as provided
by law for the enforcement of other local improvement
assessments: PROVIDED, That the assessment shall not be
made payable in installments unless the owner of such leasehold, contractual, or possessory interest shall first file with
such treasurer a satisfactory bond guaranteeing the payment
of such installments as they become due. [2002 c 260 § 4;
1979 c 151 § 180; 1963 c 20 § 7; 1919 c 164 § 6; RRS § 8130.
Cf. 1909 c 154 § 2.]
79.44.095 Assessments paid by state to be added to
purchase price of land. When any land, other than lands
occupied and used in connection with state institutions,
owned or held by the state within incorporated cities, towns,
diking, drainage or port districts in this state, against which
local improvement assessments have been paid, as herein
provided for, is offered for sale, there shall be added to the
appraised value of such land, as provided by law, such portion of the local improvement assessment paid by the state as
shall be deemed to represent the value added to such lands by
such improvement for the purpose of sale, which amount so
added shall be paid by the purchaser in cash at the time of the
sale of said land, in addition to the amounts otherwise due to
the state for said land, and no deed shall ever be executed
until such local improvement assessments have been paid,
and nothing herein shall be construed as canceling any
unpaid assessments on the land so sold by the state, but such
land shall be sold subject to all assessments unpaid at the time
of sale. [1919 c 164 § 9; RRS § 8133. Cf. 1909 c 154 § 7.]
Assessments paid to be added to purchase price of land: RCW 79.11.320.
79.44.080
79.44.080 Foreclosure against leasehold or contract
interest—Cancellation of lease or contract. Whenever any
assessing district shall have foreclosed the lien of any such
delinquent assessments, as provided by law, and shall have
obtained title to such leasehold, contractual, or possessory
interest, the chief administrative officer of the agency having
jurisdiction over the lands shall be notified by registered or
certified mail of such action and furnished a statement of all
assessments against such leasehold, contractual, or possessory interest, and the chief administrative officer shall cause
the amount of such assessments to be paid as provided in
RCW 79.44.060, and upon the receipt of an assignment from
such assessing district, the chief administrative officer shall
cancel such lease or contract: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
That unless the assessing district making the local improvement and levying the special assessment shall have used due
diligence in the foreclosure thereof, the chief administrative
officer shall not be required to pay any sum in excess of what
they deem to be the special benefits accruing to the state’s
reversionary interest in the property: AND PROVIDED
[Title 79 RCW—page 72]
79.44.100
79.44.100 Assignment of lease or contract to purchaser at foreclosure sale. Whenever any such tide, state,
school, granted or other lands situated within the limits of any
assessing district, has been included within any local
improvement district by such assessing district, and the contract, leasehold or other interest of any individual has been
sold to satisfy the lien of such assessment for local improvement, the purchaser of such interest at such sale shall be entitled to receive from the state of Washington, on demand, an
assignment of the contract, leasehold or other interest purchased by him, and shall assume, subject to the terms and
conditions of the contract or lease, the payment to the state of
the amount of the balance which his predecessor in interest
was obligated to pay. [1963 c 20 § 10; 1919 c 164 § 10; RRS
§ 8134. Cf. 1909 c 154 § 10.]
79.44.120
79.44.120 When assessments need not be added in
certain cases. Whenever any state school, granted, tide, or
other public lands of the state shall have been charged with
(2006 Ed.)
Funds for Managing and Administering Lands
local improvement assessments under any local improvement
assessment district in any incorporated city, town, irrigation,
diking, drainage, port, weed, or pest district, or any other district now authorized by law to levy assessments against lands
of the state, where such assessments are required under existing statutes to be returned to the fund of the state treasury
from which the assessments were originally paid, the department may, and is hereby authorized, to sell such lands for
their appraised valuation without regard to such assessments,
anything to the contrary in the existing statutes notwithstanding. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to
alter in any way any existing statute providing for the method
of procedure in levying assessments against lands of the state
in any of such local improvement assessment districts. [2003
c 334 § 509; 1937 c 80 § 1; RRS § 7797-192a.]
79.64.020
the property and shall be paid immediately to the county, city,
or town treasurer, whichever is applicable, in payment of and
discharge of such delinquent installment lien.
Any installment or installments not delinquent at the
time of acquisition shall become due and payable in such year
and at such date as said installment would have become due
if such property had not been so acquired: PROVIDED, That
where such property is acquired by the state of Washington,
the balance of the assessment shall be paid in full at the time
of acquisition.
For the purpose of this section, the "time of acquisition"
shall mean the date of completion of the sale, date of condemnation verdict, date of the order of immediate possession and
use pursuant to RCW 8.04.090, or the date of judgment, if not
tried to a jury. [1971 ex.s. c 116 § 1.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.44.900
79.44.130
79.44.130 Local provisions superseded. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all assessing districts as
herein defined, any charter or ordinance provisions to the
contrary notwithstanding. [1963 c 20 § 11; 1919 c 164 § 11;
RRS § 8135. Cf. 1909 c 154 § 8.]
79.44.900 Severability—1963 c 20. If any provision of
this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1963 c 20 § 16.]
Chapter 79.64
79.44.140
79.44.140 Application of chapter—Eminent domain
assessments. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all
local improvements initiated after June 11, 1919, including
assessments to pay the cost and expense of taking and damaging property by the power of eminent domain, as provided
by law: PROVIDED, That in case of eminent domain assessments, it shall not be necessary to forward notice of the intention to make such improvement, but the eminent domain
commissioners, authorized to make such assessment, shall, at
the time of filing the assessment roll with the court in the
manner provided by law, forward by registered or certified
mail to the chief administrative officer of the agency using,
occupying or having jurisdiction over the lands a notice of
such assessment, and of the day fixed by the court for the
hearing thereof: PROVIDED, That no assessment against the
state’s interest in tidelands or harbor areas shall be binding
against the state if the commissioner of public lands shall file
a disapproval of the same in court before judgment confirming the roll. [2002 c 260 § 6; 1979 c 151 § 182; 1963 c 20 §
12; 1919 c 164 § 12; RRS § 8136.]
Sections
PART 1
STATE LANDS
79.64.010
79.64.020
79.64.030
79.64.040
79.64.050
79.64.060
79.64.070
79.64.090
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Resource management cost account—Use.
Expenditures of certain funds in the resource management cost
account to be for trust lands—Use for other lands—Repayment—Ordinary cost not deductible from sale proceeds—
Accounting.
Deductions from proceeds of all transactions authorized—
Limitations.
Deductions to be paid into resource management cost account.
Rules relating to account.
Severability—1961 c 178.
Agricultural college trust management account—Creation.
PART 2
STATE FOREST LANDS
79.64.100
79.64.110
79.64.120
79.44.190
79.44.190 Acquisition of property by state or political
subdivision which is subject to unpaid assessments or
delinquencies—Payment of lien or installments. When
real property subject to an unpaid special assessment for a
local improvement levied by any political subdivision of the
state authorized to form local improvement or utility local
improvement districts is acquired by purchase or condemnation by the state or any political subdivision thereof, including but not limited to any special purpose district, the property so acquired shall continue to be subject to the assessment
lien.
An assessment lien or installment thereof, delinquent at
the time of such acquisition shall be paid at the time of acquisition, and the amount thereof, including any accrued interest
and delinquent penalties, shall be withheld from the purchase
price or condemnation award by the public body acquiring
Chapter 79.64 RCW
FUNDS FOR MANAGING AND
ADMINISTERING LANDS
Forest development account.
Revenue distribution.
Retirement of interfund loans—Transfer of timber cutting
rights on state forest lands acquired under RCW 79.22.010 to
the federal land grant trusts—Distribution of revenue from
timber management activities.
PART 1
STATE LANDS
79.64.010
79.64.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, "rule"
means rule as that term is defined by RCW 34.05.010. [2003
c 334 § 519; 1967 ex.s. c 63 § 1; 1961 c 178 § 1.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.64.020
79.64.020 Resource management cost account—Use.
A resource management cost account in the state treasury is
created to be used solely for the purpose of defraying the
costs and expenses necessarily incurred by the department in
managing and administering state lands and aquatic lands and
the making and administering of leases, sales, contracts,
[Title 79 RCW—page 73]
79.64.030
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
licenses, permits, easements, and rights of way as authorized
under the provisions of this title. Appropriations from the
resource management cost account to the department shall be
expended for no other purposes. Funds in the resource management cost account may be appropriated or transferred by
the legislature for the benefit of all of the trusts from which
the funds were derived. [2004 c 199 § 226; 2003 c 334 § 520;
1993 c 460 § 1; 1985 c 57 § 80; 1981 c 4 § 2; 1961 c 178 § 2.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1993 c 460: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1993 c 460 § 3.]
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Severability—1981 c 4: See note following RCW 28A.515.320.
79.64.030
79.64.030 Expenditures of certain funds in the
resource management cost account to be for trust lands—
Use for other lands—Repayment—Ordinary cost not
deductible from sale proceeds—Accounting. Funds in the
resource management cost account from the moneys received
from leases, sales, contracts, licenses, permits, easements,
and rights of way issued by the department and affecting
school lands, university lands, scientific school lands, normal
school lands, capitol building lands, or institutional lands
shall be pooled and expended by the department solely for the
purpose of defraying the costs and expenses necessarily
incurred in managing and administering all of the trust lands
enumerated in this section. Such funds may be used for similar costs and expenses in managing and administering other
lands managed by the department provided that such expenditures that have been or may be made on such other lands
shall be repaid to the resource management cost account
together with interest at a rate determined by the board.
Costs and expenses necessarily incurred in managing
and administering agricultural college lands shall not be
deducted from proceeds received from the sale of such lands
or from the sale of resources that are part of the lands. Costs
and expenses incurred in managing and administering agricultural college trust lands shall be funded by appropriation
under RCW 79.64.090.
An accounting shall be made annually of the accrued
expenditures from the pooled trust funds in the account. In
the event the accounting determines that expenditures have
been made from moneys received from trust lands for the
benefit of other lands, such expenditure shall be considered a
debt and an encumbrance against the property benefitted,
including state forest lands. The results of the accounting
shall be reported to the legislature at the next regular session.
The state treasurer is authorized, upon request of the department, to transfer funds between the forest development
account and the resource management cost account solely for
purpose of repaying loans pursuant to this section. [2003 c
334 § 521; 2001 c 250 § 15; 1999 c 279 § 1; 1993 c 460 § 2;
1988 c 70 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 159 § 2; 1961 c 178 § 3.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1999 c 279: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1999."
[1999 c 279 § 4.]
Effective date—1993 c 460: See note following RCW 79.64.020.
[Title 79 RCW—page 74]
Forest development account: RCW 79.64.100.
79.64.040
79.64.040 Deductions from proceeds of all transactions authorized—Limitations. (1) The board shall determine the amount deemed necessary in order to achieve the
purposes of this chapter and shall provide by rule for the
deduction of this amount from the moneys received from all
leases, sales, contracts, licenses, permits, easements, and
rights of way issued by the department and affecting state
lands and aquatic lands, provided that no deduction shall be
made from the proceeds from agricultural college lands.
(2) Moneys received as deposits from successful bidders,
advance payments, and security under RCW 79.15.100,
79.15.080, and 79.11.150 prior to December 1, 1981, which
have not been subjected to deduction under this section are
not subject to deduction under this section.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this
section, the deductions authorized under this section shall not
exceed twenty-five percent of the moneys received by the
department in connection with any one transaction pertaining
to state lands and aquatic lands other than second class tide
and shore lands and the beds of navigable waters, and fifty
percent of the moneys received by the department pertaining
to second class tide and shore lands and the beds of navigable
waters.
(4) In the event that the department sells logs using the
contract harvesting process described in RCW 79.15.500
through 79.15.530, the moneys received subject to this section are the net proceeds from the contract harvesting sale.
(5) During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the twentyfive percent limitation on deductions set in subsection (3) of
this section may be increased to thirty percent by the board.
If so increased, the department must provide a report by January 9, 2006, to the appropriate committees of the legislature
on the use of the increased amount. [2005 c 518 § 945; 2004
c 199 § 227. Prior: 2003 c 334 § 522; 2003 c 313 § 8; 2001
c 250 § 16; 1999 c 279 § 2; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 3; 1971 ex.s.
c 224 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 63 § 2; 1961 c 178 § 4.]
Severability—Effective date—2005 c 518: See notes following RCW
28A.305.210.
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Effective date—1999 c 279: See note following RCW 79.64.030.
Deductions authorized relating to common school lands—Temporary discontinued deductions for common school construction fund—
1983 1st ex.s. c 17: "(1) The deductions authorized in RCW 79.64.040 relating to common school lands may be increased by the board of natural
resources to one hundred percent after temporary discontinued deductions
result in a transfer to the common school construction fund in the amount of
approximately fourteen million dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary to maintain a positive cash balance in the common school construction
fund. The increased deductions shall continue until the additional amounts
received from the increased rate equal the amounts of the deductions that
were discontinued or transferred under subsection (2) of this section. Thereafter the deductions shall be as otherwise provided for in RCW 79.64.040.
(2) If the discontinued deductions will not result in a transfer of fourteen million dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary to maintain a
positive balance in the common school construction fund in the biennium
ending June 30, 1983, the state treasurer shall transfer the difference from the
resource management cost account to the common school construction
fund." [1983 1st ex.s. c 17 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Funds for Managing and Administering Lands
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
79.64.050
79.64.050 Deductions to be paid into resource management cost account. All deductions from moneys
received made in accordance with RCW 79.64.040 shall be
paid into the resource management cost account and the balance shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the
fund otherwise entitled to the proceeds. [2003 c 334 § 523;
2001 c 250 § 17; 1961 c 178 § 5.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.64.060
79.64.060 Rules relating to account. The board shall
adopt such rules as it deems necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of RCW 79.64.010
through 79.64.070. [1983 c 3 § 203; 1961 c 178 § 6.]
79.64.070
79.64.070 Severability—1961 c 178. If any provision
of RCW 79.64.010 through 79.64.070, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
RCW 79.64.010 through 79.64.070, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1983 c 3 § 204; 1961 c 178 § 7.]
79.64.090
79.64.090 Agricultural college trust management
account—Creation. The agricultural college trust management account is created in the state treasury. To this account
shall be deposited such funds as the legislature directs or
appropriates. Moneys in the agricultural college trust management account may be spent only after appropriation.
Expenditures from this account may be used only for the
costs of managing the assets of the agricultural school trust.
[2003 c 334 § 524; 1999 c 279 § 3.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1999 c 279: See note following RCW 79.64.030.
PART 2
STATE FOREST LANDS
79.64.100
79.64.100 Forest development account. There is created a forest development account in the state treasury. The
state treasurer shall keep an account of all sums deposited
therein and expended or withdrawn therefrom. Any sums
placed in the forest development account shall be pledged for
the purpose of paying interest and principal on the bonds
issued by the department under RCW 79.22.080 and
79.22.090 and the provisions of this chapter, and for the purchase of land for growing timber. Any bonds issued shall
constitute a first and prior claim and lien against the account
for the payment of principal and interest. No sums for the
above purposes shall be withdrawn or paid out of the account
except upon approval of the department.
Appropriations may be made by the legislature from the
forest development account to the department for the purpose
of carrying on the activities of the department on state forest
lands, lands managed on a sustained yield basis as provided
for in RCW 79.10.320, and for reimbursement of expenditures that have been made or may be made from the resource
management cost account in the management of state forest
lands. [2003 c 334 § 219; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 915; 1999 sp.s.
c 13 § 18; 1998 c 347 § 55; 1988 c 128 § 31; 1985 c 57 § 75;
(2006 Ed.)
79.64.110
1977 ex.s. c 159 § 1; 1959 c 314 § 1; 1951 c 149 § 1; 1933 c
118 § 2; 1923 c 154 § 6; RRS § 5812-6. Formerly RCW
76.12.110.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—Effective date—2000 2nd sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 41.05.143.
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 77.85.005.
Effective date—1998 c 347: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 3, 1998]." [1998 c 347 § 56.]
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79.64.110
79.64.110 Revenue distribution. Any moneys derived
from the lease of state forest lands or from the sale of valuable materials, oils, gases, coal, minerals, or fossils from
those lands, must be distributed as follows:
(1) State forest lands acquired through RCW 79.22.040
or by exchange for lands acquired through RCW 79.22.040:
(a) The expense incurred by the state for administration,
reforestation, and protection, not to exceed twenty-five percent, which rate of percentage shall be determined by the
board, must be returned to the forest development account in
the state general fund.
(b) Any balance remaining must be paid to the county in
which the land is located to be paid, distributed, and prorated,
except as otherwise provided in this section, to the various
funds in the same manner as general taxes are paid and distributed during the year of payment.
(c) Any balance remaining, paid to a county with a population of less than sixteen thousand, must first be applied to
the reduction of any indebtedness existing in the current
expense fund of the county during the year of payment.
(d) With regard to moneys remaining under this subsection (1), within seven working days of receipt of these moneys, the department shall certify to the state treasurer the
amounts to be distributed to the counties. The state treasurer
shall distribute funds to the counties four times per month,
with no more than ten days between each payment date.
(2) State forest lands acquired through RCW 79.22.010
or by exchange for lands acquired through RCW 79.22.010,
except as provided in RCW 79.64.120:
(a) Fifty percent shall be placed in the forest development account.
(b) Fifty percent shall be prorated and distributed to the
state general fund, to be dedicated for the benefit of the public
schools, and the county in which the land is located according
to the relative proportions of tax levies of all taxing districts
in the county. The portion to be distributed to the state general fund shall be based on the regular school levy rate under
RCW 84.52.065 and the levy rate for any maintenance and
operation special school levies. With regard to the portion to
be distributed to the counties, the department shall certify to
the state treasurer the amounts to be distributed within seven
working days of receipt of the money. The state treasurer
shall distribute funds to the counties four times per month,
with no more than ten days between each payment date. The
money distributed to the county must be paid, distributed,
and prorated to the various other funds in the same manner as
[Title 79 RCW—page 75]
79.64.120
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
general taxes are paid and distributed during the year of payment. [2003 c 334 § 207.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.64.120 Retirement of interfund loans—Transfer
of timber cutting rights on state forest lands acquired
under RCW 79.22.010 to the federal land grant trusts—
Distribution of revenue from timber management activities. (1) The department is authorized to:
(a) Determine the total present account balance with
interest of the interfund loans made by the resource management cost account to the forest development account in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(b) Subject to approval of the board, effectuate a transfer
of timber cutting rights on state forest lands acquired under
RCW 79.22.010 to the federal land grant trusts in such proportion that each trust receives full and fair market value for
the interfund loans and is fully repaid or so much thereof as
possible within distribution constraints described in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) After the effective date of the transfer authorized by
subsection (1)(b) of this section and until the exercise of the
cutting rights on the timber transferred has been fully satisfied, the distribution of revenue from timber management
activities on state forest lands acquired under RCW
79.22.010 on which cutting rights have been transferred shall
be as follows:
(a) As determined by the board, an amount no greater
than thirty-three and three-tenths percent to be distributed to
the federal land grant trust accounts and resource management cost account as directed by RCW 79.64.040 and
79.64.050;
(b) As determined by the board, an amount not less than
sixteen and seven-tenths percent to the forest development
account;
(c) Fifty percent to be distributed as provided in RCW
79.64.110. [2003 c 334 § 463; 1988 c 70 § 3. Formerly RCW
79.12.035.]
79.64.120
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—1988 c 70 § 3: "The purpose of RCW 79.12.035 is to provide
a means to retire interfund loans authorized by RCW 79.64.030 from the
resource management cost account to the forest development account. The
resource management cost account is an asset of the federal land grant trusts.
Section 3 of this act is intended to authorize a process by which the interfund
loans may be repaid such that the federal land grant trusts will receive full
fair market value without disruption in income to counties and the state general fund from management activities on state forest lands managed pursuant
to chapter 79.12 RCW." [1988 c 70 § 2.]
Chapter 79.70
Chapter 79.70 RCW
NATURAL AREA PRESERVES
Sections
79.70.010
79.70.020
79.70.030
79.70.040
79.70.060
79.70.070
79.70.080
79.70.090
79.70.100
79.70.110
Purpose.
Definitions.
Powers of department.
Powers as to transactions involving public lands deemed natural areas—Alienation of lands designated natural area preserves.
Legislative findings—Natural heritage resources.
Natural heritage advisory council.
Council duties.
Dedication of property as natural area.
Public hearing—Establishment of boundary.
Important bird areas.
[Title 79 RCW—page 76]
79.70.120
79.70.130
79.70.900
Important bird area—Recognition requirements.
Distribution of amount in lieu of real property taxes, weed
control assessment.
Construction—1972 ex.s. c 119.
79.70.010
79.70.010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to
establish a state system of natural area preserves and a means
whereby the preservation of these aquatic and land areas can
be accomplished.
All areas within the state, except those which are
expressly dedicated by law for preservation and protection in
their natural condition, are subject to alteration by human
activity. Natural lands, together with the plants and animals
living thereon in natural ecological systems, are valuable for
the purposes of scientific research, teaching, as habitats of
rare and vanishing species, as places of natural historic and
natural interest and scenic beauty, and as living museums of
the original heritage of the state.
It is, therefore, the public policy of the state of Washington to secure for the people of present and future generations
the benefit of an enduring resource of natural areas by establishing a system of natural area preserves, and to provide for
the protection of these natural areas. [1972 ex.s. c 119 § 1.]
79.70.020
79.70.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(2) "Natural areas" and "natural area preserves" include
such public or private areas of land or water which have
retained their natural character, although not necessarily
completely natural and undisturbed, or which are important
in preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, geological, natural historical or similar features of scientific or educational
value and which are acquired or voluntarily registered or dedicated by the owner under this chapter.
(3) "Public lands" and "state lands" have the meaning set
out in RCW 79.02.010.
(4) "Council" means the natural heritage advisory council as established in RCW 79.70.070.
(5) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
(6) "Important bird area" means those areas jointly identified by the natural heritage program and a qualifying nonprofit organization using internationally recognized scientific
criteria. These areas have been found to be necessary to conserve populations of wild waterfowl, upland game birds,
songbirds, and other birds native to and migrating through
Washington, and contain the habitats that birds are dependent
upon for breeding, migration, shelter, and sustenance.
(7) "Instrument of dedication" means any written document intended to convey an interest in real property pursuant
to chapter 64.04 RCW.
(8) "Natural heritage resources" means the plant community types, aquatic types, unique geologic types, and special
plant and animal species and their critical habitat as defined
in the natural heritage plan established under RCW
79.70.030.
(9) "Plan" means the natural heritage plan as established
under RCW 79.70.030.
(2006 Ed.)
Natural Area Preserves
(10) "Program" means the natural heritage program as
established under RCW 79.70.030.
(11) "Qualifying nonprofit organization" means a
national nonprofit organization, or a branch of a national nonprofit organization, that conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitat.
(12) "Register" means the Washington register of natural
area preserves as established under RCW 79.70.030. [2004 c
180 § 4; 2003 c 334 § 548; 1981 c 189 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 119
§ 2.]
Intent—2004 c 180: See note following RCW 79.70.110.
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.70.030
79.70.030 Powers of department. In order to set aside,
preserve, and protect natural areas within the state, the
department is authorized, in addition to any other powers, to:
(1) Establish the criteria for selection, acquisition, management, protection, and use of such natural areas, including:
(a) Limiting public access to natural area preserves consistent with the purposes of this chapter. Where appropriate,
and on a case-by-case basis, a buffer zone with an increased
low level of public access may be created around the environmentally sensitive areas;
(b) Developing a management plan for each designated
natural area preserve. The plan must identify the significant
resources to be conserved consistent with the purposes of this
chapter and identify the areas with potential for low-impact
public and environmental educational uses. The plan must
specify the types of management activities and public uses
that are permitted, consistent with the purposes of this chapter. The department must make the plans available for review
and comment by the public, and state, tribal, and local agencies, prior to final approval;
(2) Cooperate or contract with any federal, state, or local
governmental agency, private organizations, or individuals in
carrying out the purpose of this chapter;
(3) Consistent with the plan, acquire by gift, devise, purchase, grant, dedication, or means other than eminent
domain, the fee or any lesser right or interest in real property
which shall be held and managed as a natural area;
(4) Acquire by gift, devise, grant, or donation any personal property to be used in the acquisition and/or management of natural areas;
(5) Inventory existing public, state, and private lands in
cooperation with the council to assess possible natural areas
to be preserved within the state;
(6) Maintain a natural heritage program to provide assistance in the selection and nomination of areas containing natural heritage resources for registration or dedication. The
program shall maintain a classification of natural heritage
resources, an inventory of their locations, and a data bank for
such information. The department shall cooperate with the
department of fish and wildlife in the selection and nomination of areas from the data bank that relate to critical wildlife
habitats. Information from the data bank shall be made available to public and private agencies and individuals for environmental assessment and proprietary land management purposes. Usage of the classification, inventory, or data bank of
natural heritage resources for any purpose inconsistent with
the natural heritage program is not authorized;
(2006 Ed.)
79.70.040
(7) Prepare a natural heritage plan which shall govern the
natural heritage program in the conduct of activities to create
and manage a system of natural areas that includes natural
resources conservation areas, and may include areas designated under the research natural area program on federal
lands in the state;
(a) The plan shall list the natural heritage resources to be
considered for registration and shall provide criteria for the
selection and approval of natural areas under this chapter;
(b) The department shall provide opportunities for input,
comment, and review to the public, other public agencies,
and private groups with special interests in natural heritage
resources during preparation of the plan;
(c) Upon approval by the council and adoption by the
department, the plan shall be updated and submitted biennially to the appropriate committees of the legislature for their
information and review. The plan shall take effect ninety
days after the adjournment of the legislative session in which
it is submitted unless the reviewing committees suggest
changes or reject the plan; and
(8) Maintain a state register of natural areas containing
significant natural heritage resources to be called the Washington register of natural area preserves. Selection of natural
areas for registration shall be in accordance with criteria
listed in the natural heritage plan and accomplished through
voluntary agreement between the owner of the natural area
and the department. No privately owned lands may be proposed to the council for registration without prior notice to
the owner or registered without voluntary consent of the
owner. No state or local governmental agency may require
such consent as a condition of any permit or approval of or
settlement of any civil or criminal proceeding or to penalize
any landowner in any way for failure to give, or for withdrawal of, such consent.
(a) The department shall adopt rules as authorized by
RCW 43.12.065 and 79.70.030(1) and chapter 34.05 RCW
relating to voluntary natural area registration.
(b) After approval by the council, the department may
place sites onto the register or remove sites from the register.
(c) The responsibility for management of registered natural area preserves shall be with the preserve owner. A voluntary management agreement may be developed between
the department and the owners of the sites on the register.
(d) Any public agency may register lands under provisions of this chapter. [2003 c 334 § 549; 2002 c 284 § 1; 1994
c 264 § 61; 1988 c 36 § 54; 1981 c 189 § 3; 1972 ex.s. c 119
§ 3.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.70.040
79.70.040 Powers as to transactions involving public
lands deemed natural areas—Alienation of lands designated natural area preserves. The department is further
authorized to purchase, lease, set aside, or exchange any public lands which are deemed to be natural areas: PROVIDED,
That the appropriate state land trust receives the fair market
value for any interests that are disposed of: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That such transactions are approved by the board
of natural resources.
An area consisting of public land designated as a natural
area preserve shall be held in trust and shall not be alienated
[Title 79 RCW—page 77]
79.70.060
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
except to another public use upon a finding by the department
of natural resources of imperative and unavoidable public
necessity. [2004 c 199 § 228; 1972 ex.s. c 119 § 4.]
Part headings not law—2004 c 199: See note following RCW
79.02.010.
79.70.060
79.70.060 Legislative findings—Natural heritage
resources. The legislature finds:
(1) That it is necessary to establish a process and means
for public and private sector cooperation in the development
of a system of natural areas. Private and public landowners
should be encouraged to participate in a program of natural
area establishment which will benefit all citizens of the state;
(2) That there is a need for a systematic and accessible
means for providing information concerning the locations of
the state’s natural heritage resources; and
(3) That the natural heritage advisory council should utilize a specific framework for natural heritage resource conservation decision making through a classification, inventory, priority establishment, acquisition, and management
process known as the natural heritage program. Future natural areas should avoid unnecessary duplication of already
protected natural heritage resources including those which
may already be protected in existing publicly owned or privately dedicated lands such as nature preserves, natural areas,
natural resources conservation areas, parks, or wilderness.
[2002 c 284 § 2; 1981 c 189 § 2.]
79.70.070
79.70.070 Natural heritage advisory council. (1) The
natural heritage advisory council is hereby established. The
council shall consist of fifteen members, ten of whom shall
be chosen as follows and who shall elect from the council’s
membership a chairperson:
(a) Five individuals, appointed by the commissioner,
who shall be recognized experts in the ecology of natural
areas and represent the public, academic, and private sectors.
Desirable fields of expertise are biological and geological
sciences; and
(b) Five individuals, appointed by the commissioner,
who shall be selected from the various regions of the state. At
least one member shall be or represent a private forest landowner and at least one member shall be or represent a private
agricultural landowner.
(2) Members appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall serve for terms of four years.
(3) In addition to the members appointed by the commissioner, the director of the department of fish and wildlife, the
director of the department of ecology, the supervisor of the
department of natural resources, the director of the state parks
and recreation commission, and the administrator of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation, or an authorized
representative of each agency officer, shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the council.
(4) Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by
appointment for the unexpired term by the commissioner.
(5) In order to provide for staggered terms, of the initial
members of the council:
(a) Three shall serve for a term of two years;
(b) Three shall serve for a term of three years; and
(c) Three shall serve for a term of four years.
[Title 79 RCW—page 78]
(6) Members of the natural preserves advisory committee serving on July 26, 1981, shall serve as members of the
council until the commissioner appoints a successor to each.
The successor appointment shall be specifically designated to
replace a member of the natural preserves advisory committee until all members of that committee have been replaced.
A member of the natural preserves advisory committee is eligible for appointment to the council if otherwise qualified.
(7) Members of the council shall serve without compensation. Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as
provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now or hereafter amended. [1998 c 50 § 1; 1994 c 264 § 62; 1988 c 36 §
55; 1981 c 189 § 4.]
79.70.080
79.70.080 Council duties. (1) The council shall:
(a) Meet at least annually and more frequently at the
request of the chairperson;
(b) Recommend policy for the natural heritage program
through the review and approval of the natural heritage plan;
(c) Advise the department, the department of fish and
wildlife, the state parks and recreation commission, and other
state agencies managing state-owned land or natural
resources regarding areas under their respective jurisdictions
which are appropriate for natural area registration or dedication;
(d) Advise the department of rules and regulations that
the council considers necessary in carrying out this chapter;
(e) Review and approve area nominations by the department or other agencies for registration and review and comment on legal documents for the voluntary dedication of such
areas;
(f) Recommend whether new areas proposed for protection be established as natural area preserves, natural
resources conservation areas, a combination of both, or by
some other protected status; and
(g) Review and comment on management plans proposed for individual natural area preserves.
(2) From time to time, the council shall identify areas
from the natural heritage data bank which qualify for registration. Priority shall be based on the natural heritage plan and
shall generally be given to those resources which are rarest,
most threatened, or under-represented in the heritage conservation system on a statewide basis. After qualifying areas
have been identified, the department shall advise the owners
of such areas of the opportunities for acquisition or voluntary
registration or dedication. [2002 c 284 § 3; 1994 c 264 § 63;
1988 c 36 § 56; 1981 c 189 § 5.]
79.70.090
79.70.090 Dedication of property as natural area. (1)
The owner of a registered natural area, whether a private individual or an organization, may voluntarily agree to dedicate
the area as a natural area by executing with the state an instrument of dedication in a form approved by the council. The
instrument of dedication shall be effective upon its recording
in the real property records of the appropriate county or counties in which the natural area is located. The county assessor
in computing assessed valuation shall take into consideration
any reductions in property values and/or highest and best use
which result from natural area dedication.
(2006 Ed.)
Natural Area Preserves
(2) A public agency owning or managing a registered
natural area preserve may dedicate lands under the provisions
of this chapter.
(3) The department shall adopt rules as authorized by
RCW 43.12.065 and 79.70.030(1) relating to voluntary natural area dedication and defining:
(a) The types of real property interests that may be transferred;
(b) Real property transfer methods and the types of consideration of payment possible;
(c) Additional dedication provisions, such as natural area
management, custody, use, and rights and privileges retained
by the owner; and
(d) Procedures for terminating dedication arrangements.
[2003 c 334 § 550; 1981 c 189 § 6.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.70.100 Public hearing—Establishment of boundary. The department shall hold a public hearing in the county
where the majority of the land in a proposed natural area preserve is located prior to establishing the boundary. [1998 c
50 § 2.]
79.70.100
79.70.110 Important bird areas. (1) The program may
use information collected by a qualifying nonprofit organization to recognize important bird areas. The program should,
to the greatest extent possible, coordinate with and use internationally agreed-upon, scientific criteria and protocols
developed by a qualifying nonprofit organization to officially
recognize these sites throughout Washington. Prior to using
information collected by a qualifying nonprofit organization,
the program must verify that the information was collected
by individuals trained in scientific data collection, wildlife
biology, or ornithology.
(2) When the program recognizes an important bird area,
that information will be included in the program’s data bank.
An important bird area shall not be designated as a natural
area or a natural area preserve unless that area satisfies the
substantive and procedural requirements for becoming a natural area or natural area preserve under this chapter.
(3) The qualifying nonprofit organization that collected
the information used to recognize important bird areas should
be available to work with interested landowners, businesses,
and state and local governments to identify ways to maintain
or enhance the important bird areas.
(4) The recognition of private property as an important
bird area under this chapter, or the inclusion of private property in the program’s data bank, does not confer nor imply
any rights of access or trespass onto the important bird area
without full knowledge and consent of the owner pursuant to
any state statutory and common laws dealing with trespass
and access to private property.
(5) Recognition of an important bird area does not
require or create critical area designation under chapter
36.70A RCW. [2004 c 180 § 2.]
79.70.110
Intent—2004 c 180: "Washington has a rich variety of birds, wildlife,
and fish that its citizens and visitors enjoy. With over three hundred sixtyfive bird species, Washington can use this natural asset to attract nature tourists and sportsmen from all over the country and the world. According to a
United States fish and wildlife service report, thirty-six percent of Washington’s residents currently participate in bird watching, and the watchable
wildlife industry brings nearly one billion dollars per year into the state’s
(2006 Ed.)
79.70.130
economy. The economic benefits delivered to rural economies in Washington by those choosing to recreate by hunting waterfowl or upland game birds
is equally as impressive.
The legislature has long recognized the important role of waterfowl
and upland game bird hunting and other sporting pursuits in both the state’s
economy and the quality of life for Washington residents. Additionally, the
2003 legislature recognized the economic value of promoting watchable
wildlife and nature tourism when it required the departments of fish and
wildlife and community, trade, and economic development to host a watchable wildlife and nature tourism conference and write a statewide strategic
plan. The 2002 legislature recognized the value of identifying and conserving our state’s biodiversity for future generations when it created the biodiversity task force and required a plan be developed to recommend ways to
conserve biodiversity. Furthermore, over the past fifteen years, the legislature has recognized the important contributions volunteers and nonprofit
organizations have made in restoring and monitoring salmon and wildlife
habitat. Therefore, it is the goal of the legislature to promote: Partnerships
with volunteers; rural economic development; nature tourism; and conservation of biodiversity by encouraging partnerships between state government
agencies, volunteers, and nonprofit organizations to designate and conserve
natural assets that attract nature tourists and bird watchers to Washington’s
rural areas.
To accomplish this goal, the legislature recognizes the scientific work
by volunteer organizations to use internationally recognized scientific criteria and protocols to identify, conserve, and monitor areas of the state that are
important for migrating and resident birds. Scientists, ornithologists, and
qualified volunteers have identified important bird areas. Wildlife conservation organizations and their volunteers are working to develop mutually
agreed-upon bird conservation plans and monitoring plans in cooperation
with public land managers and private landowners. Volunteers and scientists
in more than one hundred countries around the world have already completed identification of fourteen thousand two hundred sixty sites that qualify
as important bird areas.
Qualified volunteers and scientists have already successfully used the
international criteria to identify fifty-three sites important for birds in Washington. Following the final round of site selection, volunteer organizations
plan to work with landowners, businesses, and local and state governments
to develop plans to maintain or enhance sites that will then become destinations for nature tourists to promote rural economic development. Therefore,
it is the intent of the legislature to have Washington participate in the recognition portion of the important bird area program by directing the natural heritage program at the department of natural resources to officially recognize
important bird areas." [2004 c 180 § 1.]
79.70.120
79.70.120 Important bird area—Recognition
requirements. Prior to recognizing an important bird area
under this chapter, the department must:
(1) Publish notice of the proposed important bird area in
the Washington state register;
(2) Publish notice of the proposed important bird area in
a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the
proposed important bird area is located; and
(3) Conduct at least one public hearing in the county
where the proposed important bird area is located. [2004 c
180 § 3.]
Intent—2004 c 180: See note following RCW 79.70.110.
79.70.130
79.70.130 Distribution of amount in lieu of real property taxes, weed control assessment. (Effective July 1,
2007.) The state treasurer, on behalf of the department, must
distribute to counties for all lands acquired for the purposes
of this chapter an amount in lieu of real property taxes equal
to the amount of tax that would be due if the land were taxable as open space land under chapter 84.34 RCW except
taxes levied for any state purpose, plus an additional amount
equal to the amount of weed control assessment that would be
due if such lands were privately owned. The county assessor
and county legislative authority shall assist in determining
the appropriate calculation of the amount of tax that would be
[Title 79 RCW—page 79]
79.70.900
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
due. The county shall distribute the amount received under
this section in lieu of real property taxes to all property taxing
districts except the state in appropriate tax code areas the
same way it would distribute local property taxes from private property. The county shall distribute the amount
received under this section for weed control to the appropriate weed district. [2005 c 303 § 11.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
79.70.900
79.70.900 Construction—1972 ex.s. c 119. Nothing in
this chapter is intended to supersede or otherwise affect any
existing legislation. [1972 ex.s. c 119 § 6.]
Chapter 79.71 RCW
WASHINGTON NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION AREAS
Chapter 79.71
Sections
79.71.010
79.71.020
79.71.030
79.71.040
79.71.050
79.71.060
79.71.070
79.71.080
79.71.090
79.71.100
79.71.120
79.71.130
79.71.900
Legislative findings.
Characteristics of lands considered for conservation purposes.
Definitions.
Acquisition of property for natural resources conservation
areas—Designation.
Transfer of trust land for natural resources conservation
areas—Use of proceeds.
Public hearing on proposed conservation area.
Management plans for designated areas.
Administration of natural resources conservation areas—Management agreements and activities.
Natural resources conservation areas stewardship account.
Designation of certain areas as natural resources conservation
areas.
Elk river natural resources conservation area—Transfer of
management—Hunting opportunities.
Distribution of amount in lieu of real property taxes, weed
control assessment.
Severability—1987 c 472.
79.71.010
79.71.010 Legislative findings. The legislature finds
that: (1) There is an increasing and continuing need by the
people of Washington for certain areas of the state to be conserved, in rural as well as urban settings, for the benefit of
present and future generations; (2) such areas are worthy of
conservation for their outstanding scenic and ecological values and provide opportunities for low-impact public use; (3)
in certain cases acquisition of property or rights in property is
necessary to protect these areas for public purposes; and (4)
there is a need for a state agency to act in an effective and
timely manner to acquire interests in such areas and to
develop appropriate management strategies for conservation
purposes. [1991 c 352 § 1; 1987 c 472 § 1.]
79.71.020
79.71.020 Characteristics of lands considered for
conservation purposes. Lands possessing the following
characteristics are considered by the legislature to be worthy
of consideration for conservation purposes:
(1) Lands identified as having high priority for conservation, natural systems, wildlife, and low-impact public use values;
(2) An area of land or water, or land and water, that has
flora, fauna, geological, archaeological, scenic, or similar
features of critical importance to the people of Washington
and that has retained to some degree or has reestablished its
natural character;
[Title 79 RCW—page 80]
(3) Examples of native ecological communities; and
(4) Environmentally significant sites threatened with
conversion to incompatible or ecologically irreversible uses.
[1991 c 352 § 2; 1987 c 472 § 2.]
79.71.030
79.71.030 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of public
lands.
"Department" means the department of natural
resources.
"Conservation purposes" include but are not limited to:
(1) Maintaining, enhancing, or restoring ecological systems,
including but not limited to aquatic, coastal, riparian, montane, and geological systems, whether such systems be
unique or typical to the state of Washington; (2) maintaining
exceptional scenic landscapes; (3) maintaining habitat for
threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; (4) enhancing
sites for primitive recreational purposes; and (5) outdoor
environmental education.
"Low-impact public use" includes public recreation uses
and improvements that do not adversely affect the resource
values, are appropriate to the maintenance of the site in a relatively unmodified natural setting, and do not detract from
long-term ecological processes.
"Management activities" may include limited production
of income from forestry, agriculture, or other resource management activities, if such actions are consistent with the
other purposes and requirements of this chapter.
"Natural resources conservation area" or "conservation
area" means an area having the characteristics identified in
RCW 79.71.020. [1991 c 352 § 3; 1987 c 472 § 3.]
79.71.040
79.71.040 Acquisition of property for natural
resources conservation areas—Designation. The department is authorized to acquire property or less than fee interests in property, as defined by RCW 64.04.130, by all means,
except eminent domain, for creating natural resources conservation areas, where acquisition is the best way to achieve
the purposes of this chapter. Areas acquired or assembled by
the department for conservation purposes will be designated
as "Washington natural resources conservation areas." [1987
c 472 § 4.]
79.71.050
79.71.050 Transfer of trust land for natural
resources conservation areas—Use of proceeds. The
department is authorized to transfer fee simple interest or less
than fee interests in trust land, as defined by Article XVI of
the Washington Constitution, for the creation of natural
resources conservation areas, provided the owner of the trust
land receives full fair market value compensation for all
rights transferred. The proceeds from such transfers shall be
used for the exclusive purpose of acquiring real property to
replace those interests utilized for the conservation area in
order to meet the department’s fiduciary obligations and to
maintain the productive land base of the various trusts. [1991
c 352 § 4; 1987 c 472 § 5.]
79.71.060
79.71.060 Public hearing on proposed conservation
area. The department shall hold a public hearing in the
county where the majority of the land in the proposed natural
(2006 Ed.)
Washington Natural Resources Conservation Areas
resources conservation area is located prior to establishing
the boundary. An area proposed for designation must contain
resources consistent with characteristics identified in RCW
79.71.020. [1991 c 352 § 5; 1987 c 472 § 6.]
79.71.070
79.71.070 Management plans for designated areas.
The department shall develop a management plan for each
designated area. The plan shall identify the significant
resources to be conserved consistent with the purposes of this
chapter and identify the areas with potential for low-impact
public and environmental educational uses. The plan shall
specify what types of management activities and public uses
that are permitted, consistent with the conservation purposes
of this chapter. The department shall make such plans available for review and comment by the public and other state,
tribal, and local agencies, prior to final approval by the commissioner. [1991 c 352 § 6; 1987 c 472 § 7.]
79.71.080
79.71.080 Administration of natural resources conservation areas—Management agreements and activities.
The department is authorized to administer natural resources
conservation areas and may enter into management agreements for these areas with federal agencies, state agencies,
local governments, and private nonprofit conservancy corporations, as defined in RCW 64.04.130, when such agreements
are consistent with the purposes of acquisition as defined in
the adopted management plan. All management activities
within a Washington natural resources conservation area will
conform with the plan. Any moneys derived from the management of these areas in conformance with the adopted plan
shall be deposited in the natural resources conservation areas
stewardship account. [1991 c 352 § 7; 1987 c 472 § 8.]
79.71.090
79.71.090 Natural resources conservation areas stewardship account. There is hereby created the natural
resources conservation areas stewardship account in the state
treasury to ensure proper and continuing management of land
acquired or designated pursuant to this chapter. Funds for the
stewardship account shall be derived from appropriations of
state general funds, federal funds, grants, donations, gifts,
bond issue receipts, securities, and other monetary instruments of value. Income derived from the management of natural resources conservation areas shall also be deposited in
this stewardship account.
Appropriations from this account to the department shall
be expended for no other purpose than the following: (1) To
manage the areas approved by the legislature in fulfilling the
purposes of this chapter; (2) to manage property acquired as
natural area preserves under chapter 79.70 RCW; (3) to manage property transferred under the authority and appropriation provided by the legislature to be managed under chapter
79.70 RCW or this chapter or acquired under chapter 79A.15
RCW; and (4) to pay for operating expenses for the natural
heritage program under chapter 79.70 RCW. [2000 c 11 §
25; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 118; 1991 c 352 § 8; 1987 c 472 § 9.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
(2006 Ed.)
79.71.130
79.71.100 Designation of certain areas as natural
resources conservation areas. The legislature hereby designates certain areas as natural resources conservation areas:
(1) The Mt. Si conservation area (King County), RCW
79A.05.725, is hereby designated the Mt. Si natural resources
conservation area. The department is directed to continue its
management of this area and to develop a plan for its continued conservation and use by the public. In accordance with
Article XVI of the Washington state Constitution, any available private lands and trust lands located within the designated boundaries of the Mt. Si conservation area shall be
leased or acquired in fee from the appropriate trust at fair
market value using funds appropriated for that purpose.
(2) Trust lands and state-owned land on Cypress Island
(Skagit County) are hereby designated as the Cypress Island
natural resources conservation area. Any available private
lands necessary to achieve the purposes of this section shall
be acquired by the department of natural resources using
funds appropriated for that purpose. Trust lands located
within the designated boundaries of the Cypress Island natural resources conservation area shall be leased or acquired in
fee from the appropriate trust at fair market value.
(3) Woodard Bay (Thurston County) is hereby designated the Woodard Bay natural resources conservation area.
The department is directed to acquire property available in
Sec. 18, T.19N, R1W using funds appropriated for that purpose.
(4) The area adjacent to the Dishman Hills natural area
(Spokane County) is hereby designated the Dishman Hills
natural resources conservation area. The department is
directed to acquire property available in Sec. 19, 29 and 30,
T.25N, R44E, using funds appropriated for that purpose.
[2000 c 11 § 26; 1987 c 472 § 10.]
79.71.100
79.71.120
79.71.120 Elk river natural resources conservation
area—Transfer of management—Hunting opportunities.
The property currently designated as the Elk river natural
area preserve is transferred from management under chapter
79.70 RCW as a natural area preserve to management under
chapter 79.71 RCW as a natural resources conservation area.
The legislature finds that hunting is a suitable low-impact
public use within the Elk river natural resources conservation
area. The department of natural resources shall incorporate
this legislative direction into the management plan developed
for the Elk river natural resources conservation area. The
department shall work with the department of fish and wildlife to identify hunting opportunities compatible with the
area’s conservation purposes. [1997 c 371 § 1.]
79.71.130
79.71.130 Distribution of amount in lieu of real property taxes, weed control assessment. (Effective July 1,
2007.) The state treasurer, on behalf of the department, must
distribute to counties for all lands acquired for the purposes
of this chapter an amount in lieu of real property taxes equal
to the amount of tax that would be due if the land were taxable as open space land under chapter 84.34 RCW except
taxes levied for any state purpose, plus an additional amount
equal to the amount of weed control assessment that would be
due if such lands were privately owned. The county assessor
and county legislative authority shall assist in determining
the appropriate calculation of the amount of tax that would be
[Title 79 RCW—page 81]
79.71.900
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
due. The county shall distribute the amount received under
this section in lieu of real property taxes to all property taxing
districts except the state in appropriate tax code areas the
same way it would distribute local property taxes from private property. The county shall distribute the amount
received under this section for weed control to the appropriate weed district. [2005 c 303 § 12.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
79.71.900
79.71.900 Severability—1987 c 472. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1987 c 472 § 20.]
Chapter 79.73
Chapter 79.73 RCW
MILWAUKEE ROAD CORRIDOR
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
Sections
79.73.010
79.73.020
79.73.030
79.73.040
79.73.050
79.73.060
(1) Enter into agreements to allow the realignment or
modification of public roads, farm crossings, water conveyance facilities, and other utility crossings;
(2) Regulate activities and restrict uses, including, but
not limited to, closing portions of the corridor to reduce fire
danger or protect public safety in consultation with local legislative authorities or fire districts;
(3) Place hazard warning signs and close hazardous
structures;
(4) Renegotiate deed restrictions upon agreement with
affected parties; and
(5) Approve and process the sale or exchange of lands or
easements if (a) such a sale or exchange will not adversely
affect the recreational, transportation, or utility potential of
the corridor and (b) the department has not entered into a
lease of the property in accordance with RCW 79.73.040.
[2003 c 334 § 458; 1984 c 174 § 8. Formerly RCW
79.08.279.]
Management and control.
Recreational use—Permit—Rules—Fees.
Powers.
Leasing—Duties with respect to unleased portions.
Authority to terminate or modify leases—Notice.
Milwaukee Road corridor—Cross-state trail—Land transfers—Rail carrier franchise.
79.73.010
79.73.010 Management and control. (Contingent
effective date.) The portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor
from the west end of the bridge structure over the Columbia
river, which point is located in section 34, township 16 north,
range 23 east, W.M., to the Idaho border purchased by the
state shall be under the management and control of the
department. [2003 c 334 § 456; (2003 c 334 § 455; 2000 c 11
§ 23; 1996 c 129 § 8 expired July 1, 2006); 1989 c 129 § 2;
1984 c 174 § 6. Formerly RCW 79.08.275.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Construction—1989 c 129: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
79.73.020
79.73.020 Recreational use—Permit—Rules—Fees.
The portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor under management and control of the department shall be open to individuals or organized groups that obtain permits from the department to travel the corridor for recreational purposes. The
department shall, for the purpose of issuing permits for corridor use, adopt rules necessary for the orderly and safe use of
the corridor and protection of adjoining landowners. Permit
fees shall be established at a level that will cover costs of
issuance. Upon request of abutting landowners, the department shall notify the landowners of permits issued for use of
the corridor adjacent to their property. [2003 c 334 § 457;
1984 c 174 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.08.277.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.73.040
79.73.040 Leasing—Duties with respect to unleased
portions. (1) The department shall offer to lease, and shall
subsequently lease if a reasonable offer is made, portions of
the Milwaukee Road corridor under its control to the person
who owns or controls the adjoining land for periods of up to
ten years commencing with June 7, 1984. The lessee shall
assume the responsibility for fire protection, weed control,
and maintenance of water conveyance facilities and culverts.
The leases shall follow standard department leasing procedures, with the following exceptions:
(a) The lessee may restrict public access pursuant to
RCW 79.73.020 and subsection (3) of this section.
(b) The right of renewal shall be to the current lessee if
the lessee still owns or controls the adjoining lands.
(c) If two persons own or control opposite sides of the
corridor, each person shall be eligible for equal portions of
the available property.
(2) The department has the authority to renew leases in
existence on June 7, 1984.
(3) The leases shall contain a provision allowing the
department to issue permits to travel the corridor for recreational purposes.
(4) Unleased portions of the Milwaukee Road property
under this section shall be managed by the department. On
these unleased portions, the department solely shall be
responsible for weed control, culvert, bridge, and other necessary maintenance and fire protection services. The department shall place hazard warning signs and close hazardous
structures on unleased portions and shall regulate activities
and restrict uses, including closing the corridor during seasons of high fire danger. [2003 c 334 § 459; 1984 c 174 § 9.
Formerly RCW 79.08.281.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
79.73.050
79.73.030
79.73.030 Powers. The department may do the following with respect to the portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor under its control:
[Title 79 RCW—page 82]
79.73.050 Authority to terminate or modify leases—
Notice. The state, through the department, shall reserve the
right to terminate a lease entered into pursuant to RCW
79.73.040 or modify authorized uses of the corridor for future
(2006 Ed.)
Derelict Vessels
recreation, transportation, or utility uses. If the state elects to
terminate the lease, the state shall provide the lessee with a
minimum of six months’ notice. [2003 c 334 § 460; 1984 c
174 § 10. Formerly RCW 79.08.283.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
79.73.060
79.73.060 Milwaukee Road corridor—Cross-state
trail—Land transfers—Rail carrier franchise. See RCW
79A.05.115 through 79A.05.130.
Chapter 79.100
Chapter 79.100 RCW
DERELICT VESSELS
Sections
79.100.005
79.100.010
79.100.020
79.100.030
79.100.040
79.100.050
79.100.060
79.100.070
79.100.080
79.100.100
79.100.110
79.100.120
79.100.900
79.100.901
Findings.
Definitions.
Chapter not exclusive remedy.
Authority of authorized public entity—Owner retains primary
responsibility.
Obtaining custody of vessel.
Use or disposal of vessel.
Reimbursement for costs.
Contract with private company/individual.
Chapter not exclusive.
Derelict vessel removal account.
Vessel abandoned or derelict upon aquatic lands—Penalty.
Contesting an authorized public entity’s decision to take temporary custody or possession of a vessel—Contesting the
amount of reimbursement.
Severability—2002 c 286.
Effective date—2002 c 286.
79.100.005
79.100.005 Findings. The legislature finds that there
has been an increase in the number of derelict and abandoned
vessels that are either grounded or anchored upon publicly or
privately owned submerged lands. These vessels are public
nuisances and safety hazards as they often pose hazards to
navigation, detract from the aesthetics of Washington’s
waterways, and threaten the environment with the potential
release of hazardous materials. The legislature further finds
that the costs associated with the disposal of derelict and
abandoned vessels are substantial, and that in many cases
there is no way to track down the current vessel owners in
order to seek compensation. As a result, the costs associated
with the removal of derelict vessels becomes a burden on
public entities and the taxpaying public. [2002 c 286 § 1.]
79.100.010
79.100.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Abandoned vessel" means the vessel’s owner is not
known or cannot be located, or if the vessel’s owner is known
and located but is unwilling to take control of the vessel, and
the vessel has been left, moored, or anchored in the same area
without the express consent, or contrary to the rules, of the
owner, manager, or lessee of the aquatic lands below or on
which the vessel is located for either a period of more than
thirty consecutive days or for more than a total of ninety days
in any three hundred sixty-five day period. For the purposes
of this subsection (1) only, "in the same area" means within a
radius of five miles of any location where the vessel was previously moored or anchored on aquatic lands.
(2006 Ed.)
79.100.030
(2) "Aquatic lands" means all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters, including lands
owned by the state and lands owned by other public or private
entities.
(3) "Authorized public entity" includes any of the following: The department of natural resources; the department
of fish and wildlife; the parks and recreation commission; a
metropolitan park district; a port district; and any city, town,
or county with ownership, management, or jurisdiction over
the aquatic lands where an abandoned or derelict vessel is
located.
(4) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(5) "Derelict vessel" means the vessel’s owner is known
and can be located, and exerts control of a vessel that:
(a) Has been moored, anchored, or otherwise left in the
waters of the state or on public property contrary to RCW
79.02.300 or rules adopted by an authorized public entity;
(b) Has been left on private property without authorization of the owner; or
(c) Has been left for a period of seven consecutive days,
and:
(i) Is sunk or in danger of sinking;
(ii) Is obstructing a waterway; or
(iii) Is endangering life or property.
(6) "Owner" means any natural person, firm, partnership,
corporation, association, government entity, or organization
that has a lawful right to possession of a vessel by purchase,
exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal action whether or
not the vessel is subject to a security interest.
(7) "Vessel" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
53.08.310. [2006 c 153 § 2; 2002 c 286 § 2.]
79.100.020
79.100.020 Chapter not exclusive remedy. This chapter is not intended to limit or constrain the ability and authority of the authorized public entities to enact and enforce ordinances or other regulations relating to derelict and abandoned
vessels, or to take any actions authorized by federal or state
law in responding to derelict or abandoned vessels. This
chapter is also not intended to be the sole remedy available to
authorized public entities against the owners of derelict and
abandoned vessels. [2002 c 286 § 3.]
79.100.030
79.100.030 Authority of authorized public entity—
Owner retains primary responsibility. (1) An authorized
public entity has the authority, subject to the processes and
limitations of this chapter, to store, strip, use, auction, sell,
salvage, scrap, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict vessel
found on or above aquatic lands within the jurisdiction of the
authorized public entity. A vessel disposal must be done in an
environmentally sound manner and in accordance with all
federal, state, and local laws, including the state solid waste
disposal provisions provided for in chapter 70.95 RCW.
Scuttling or sinking of a vessel is only permissible after
obtaining the express permission of the owner or owners of
the aquatic lands below where the scuttling or sinking would
occur, and obtaining all necessary state and federal permits or
licenses.
(2) The primary responsibility to remove a derelict or
abandoned vessel belongs to the owner, operator, or lessee of
[Title 79 RCW—page 83]
79.100.040
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
the moorage facility or the aquatic lands where the vessel is
located. If the authorized public entity with the primary
responsibility is unwilling or unable to exercise the authority
granted by this section, it may request the department to
assume the authorized public entity’s authority for a particular vessel. The department may at its discretion assume the
authorized public entity’s authority for a particular vessel
after being requested to do so. For vessels not at a moorage
facility, an authorized public entity with jurisdiction over the
aquatic lands where the vessel is located may, at its discretion, request to assume primary responsibility for that particular vessel from the owner of the aquatic lands where the vessel is located.
(3) The authority granted by this chapter is permissive,
and no authorized public entity has a duty to exercise the
authority. No liability attaches to an authorized public entity
that chooses not to exercise this authority. [2002 c 286 § 4.]
79.100.040
79.100.040 Obtaining custody of vessel. (1) Prior to
exercising the authority granted in RCW 79.100.030, the
authorized public entity must first obtain custody of the vessel. To do so, the authorized public entity must:
(a) Mail notice of its intent to obtain custody, at least
twenty days prior to taking custody, to the last known address
of the previous owner to register the vessel in any state or
with the federal government and to any lien holders or
secured interests on record. A notice need not be sent to the
purported owner or any other person whose interest in the
vessel is not recorded with a state or federal agency;
(b) Post notice of its intent clearly on the vessel for thirty
days and publish its intent at least once, more than ten days
but less than twenty days prior to taking custody, in a newspaper of general circulation for the county in which the vessel
is located; and
(c) Post notice of its intent on the department’s internet
web site on a page specifically designated for such notices. If
the authorized public entity is not the department, the department must facilitate the internet posting.
(2) All notices sent, posted, or published in accordance
with this section must, at a minimum, explain the intent of the
authorized public entity to take custody of the vessel, the
rights of the authorized public entity after taking custody of
the vessel as provided in RCW 79.100.030, the procedures
the owner must follow in order to avoid custody being taken
by the authorized public entity, the procedures the owner
must follow in order to reclaim possession after custody is
taken by the authorized public entity, and the financial liabilities that the owner may incur as provided for in RCW
79.100.060.
(3) If a vessel is in immediate danger of sinking, breaking up, or blocking navigational channels, and the owner of
the vessel cannot be located or is unwilling or unable to
assume immediate responsibility for the vessel, any authorized public entity may tow, beach, or otherwise take temporary possession of the vessel. Before taking temporary possession of the vessel, the authorized public entity must make
reasonable attempts to consult with the department or the
United States coast guard to ensure that other remedies are
not available. The basis for taking temporary possession of
the vessel must be set out in writing by the authorized public
entity within seven days of taking action and be submitted to
[Title 79 RCW—page 84]
the owner, if known, as soon thereafter as is reasonable. If
the authorized public entity has not already provided the
required notice, immediately after taking possession of the
vessel, the authorized public entity must initiate the notice
provisions in subsection (1) of this section. The authorized
public entity must complete the notice requirements of subsection (1) of this section before using or disposing of the
vessel as authorized in RCW 79.100.050. [2006 c 153 § 3;
2002 c 286 § 5.]
79.100.050
79.100.050 Use or disposal of vessel. (1) After taking
custody of a vessel, the authorized public entity may use or
dispose of the vessel in any appropriate and environmentally
sound manner without further notice to any owners, but must
give preference to uses that derive some monetary benefit
from the vessel, either in whole or in scrap. If no value can be
derived from the vessel, the authorized public entity must
give preference to the least costly, environmentally sound,
reasonable disposal option. Any disposal operations must be
consistent with the state solid waste disposal provisions provided for in chapter 70.95 RCW.
(2) If the authorized public entity chooses to offer the
vessel at a public auction, either a minimum bid may be set or
a letter of credit may be required, or both, to discourage
future reabandonment of the vessel.
(3) Proceeds derived from the sale of the vessel must
first be applied to any administrative costs that are incurred
by the authorized public entity during the notification procedures set forth in RCW 79.100.040, removal and disposal
costs, and costs associated with environmental damages
directly or indirectly caused by the vessel. If the proceeds
derived from the vessel exceed all administrative costs,
removal and disposal costs, and costs associated with environmental damages directly or indirectly caused by the vessel, the remaining moneys must be applied to satisfying any
liens registered against the vessel.
(4) Any value derived from a vessel greater than all liens
and costs incurred reverts to the derelict vessel removal
account established in RCW 79.100.100. [2002 c 286 § 6.]
79.100.060
79.100.060 Reimbursement for costs. (1) The owner
of an abandoned or derelict vessel is responsible for reimbursing an authorized public entity for all reasonable and
auditable costs associated with the removal or disposal of the
owner’s vessel under this chapter. These costs include, but
are not limited to, costs incurred exercising the authority
granted in RCW 79.100.030, all administrative costs incurred
by the authorized public entity during the procedure set forth
in RCW 79.100.040, removal and disposal costs, and costs
associated with environmental damages directly or indirectly
caused by the vessel. An authorized public entity that has
taken temporary possession of a vessel may require that all
reasonable and auditable costs associated with the removal of
the vessel be paid before the vessel is released to the owner.
(2) Reimbursement for costs may be sought from an
owner who is identified subsequent to the vessel’s removal
and disposal.
(3) If the full amount of all costs due to the authorized
public entity under this chapter is not paid to the authorized
public entity within thirty days after first notifying the
(2006 Ed.)
Derelict Vessels
responsible parties of the amounts owed, the authorized public entity or the department may bring an action in any court
of competent jurisdiction to recover the costs, plus reasonable
attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the authorized public
entity. [2006 c 153 § 4; 2002 c 286 § 7.]
79.100.070
79.100.070 Contract with private company/individual. An authorized public entity may enter into a contract
with a private company or individual to carry out the authority granted in this chapter. [2002 c 286 § 8.]
79.100.080
79.100.080 Chapter not exclusive. The rights granted
by this chapter are in addition to any other legal rights an
authorized public entity may have to obtain title to, remove,
recover, sell, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict vessel,
and in no way does this chapter alter those rights, or affect the
priority of other liens on a vessel. [2002 c 286 § 9.]
79.100.100
79.100.100 Derelict vessel removal account. (1) The
derelict vessel removal account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 79.100.050 and 79.100.060 and
those moneys specified in RCW 88.02.030 and 88.02.050
must be deposited into the account. The account is authorized to receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public or
private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or
otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of this
chapter and expend the same or any income according to the
terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments provided those
terms do not conflict with any provisions of this section or
any guidelines developed to prioritize reimbursement of
removal projects associated with this chapter. Moneys in the
account may only be spent after appropriation. Expenditures
from the account shall be used by the department to reimburse authorized public entities for up to ninety percent of the
total reasonable and auditable administrative, removal, disposal, and environmental damage costs of abandoned or derelict vessels when the previous owner is either unknown after
a reasonable search effort or insolvent. Costs associated with
removal and disposal of an abandoned or derelict vessel
under the authority granted in RCW 53.08.320 also qualify
for reimbursement from the derelict vessel removal account.
In each biennium, up to twenty percent of the expenditures
from the account may be used for administrative expenses of
the department of licensing and department of natural
resources in implementing this chapter.
(2) If the balance of the account reaches one million dollars as of March 1st of any year, the department must notify
the department of licensing and the collection of any fees
associated with this account must be suspended for the following fiscal year.
(3) Priority for use of this account is for the removal of
derelict and abandoned vessels that are in danger of sinking,
breaking up, or blocking navigation channels, or that present
environmental risks such as leaking fuel or other hazardous
substances. The department must develop criteria, in the
form of informal guidelines, to prioritize removal projects
associated with this chapter, but may not consider whether
the applicant is a state or local entity when prioritizing. The
guidelines must also include guidance to the authorized pub(2006 Ed.)
79.100.120
lic entities as to what removal activities and associated costs
are reasonable and eligible for reimbursement.
(4) The department must keep all authorized public entities apprized of the balance of the derelict vessel removal
account and the funds available for reimbursement. The
guidelines developed by the department must also be made
available to the other authorized public entities. This subsection (4) must be satisfied by utilizing the least costly method,
including maintaining the information on the department’s
internet web site, or any other cost-effective method.
(5) An authorized public entity may contribute its ten
percent of costs that are not eligible for reimbursement by
using in-kind services, including the use of existing staff,
equipment, and volunteers.
(6) This chapter does not guarantee reimbursement for
an authorized public entity. Authorized public entities seeking certainty in reimbursement prior to taking action under
this chapter may first notify the department of their proposed
action and the estimated total costs. Upon notification by an
authorized public entity, the department must make the
authorized public entity aware of the status of the fund and
the likelihood of reimbursement being available. The department may offer technical assistance and assure reimbursement for up to two years following the removal action if an
assurance is appropriate given the balance of the fund and the
details of the proposed action. [2006 c 153 § 6; 2002 c 286 §
11.]
79.100.110
79.100.110 Vessel abandoned or derelict upon
aquatic lands—Penalty. A person who causes a vessel to
become abandoned or derelict upon aquatic lands is guilty of
a misdemeanor. [2006 c 153 § 1.]
79.100.120
79.100.120 Contesting an authorized public entity’s
decision to take temporary custody or possession of a vessel—Contesting the amount of reimbursement. (1) A person seeking to contest an authorized public entity’s decision
to take temporary possession or custody of a vessel under this
chapter, or to contest the amount of reimbursement owed to
an authorized public entity under this chapter, may request a
hearing in accordance with this section.
(2)(a) If the contested decision or action was undertaken
by a state agency, a written request for a hearing related to the
decision or action must be filed with the aquatic resources
division of the department within twenty days of the date the
authorized public entity acquires custody of the vessel under
RCW 79.100.040, or if the vessel is redeemed before the
authorized public entity acquires custody, the date of redemption, or the right to a hearing is deemed waived and the vessel’s owner is liable for any costs owed the authorized public
entity. In the event of litigation, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
(b) Upon receipt of a timely hearing request, the department shall proceed to hear and determine the validity of the
decision to take the vessel into temporary possession or custody and the reasonableness of any towing, storage, or other
charges permitted under this chapter. Within five business
days after the request for a hearing is filed, the department
shall notify the vessel owner requesting the hearing and the
authorized public entity of the date, time, and location for the
[Title 79 RCW—page 85]
79.100.900
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
hearing. Unless the vessel is redeemed before the request for
hearing is filed, the department shall set the hearing on a date
that is within ten business days of the filing of the request for
hearing. If the vessel is redeemed before the request for a
hearing is filed, the department shall set the hearing on a date
that is within sixty days of the filing of the request for hearing.
(3)(a) If the contested decision or action was undertaken
by a metropolitan park district, port district, city, town, or
county, which has adopted rules or procedures for contesting
decisions or actions pertaining to derelict or abandoned vessels, those rules or procedures must be followed in order to
contest a decision to take temporary possession or custody of
a vessel, or to contest the amount of reimbursement owed.
(b) If the metropolitan park district, port district, city,
town, or county has not adopted rules or procedures for contesting decisions or actions pertaining to derelict or abandoned vessels, then a person requesting a hearing under this
section must follow the procedure established in RCW
53.08.320(5) for contesting the decisions or actions of moorage facility operators. [2006 c 153 § 5.]
79.105.250
79.105.260
79.105.270
79.105.280
79.105.290
79.105.300
79.105.310
79.105.320
79.105.330
79.105.340
79.105.350
79.105.360
Log storage rents.
Rent for leases in effect October 1, 1984.
Aquatic lands—Leases/rents for nonwater-dependent uses.
Rents and fees for recovery of mineral or geothermal
resources.
Aquatic lands—Rents for multiple uses.
Aquatic lands—Lease for water-dependent use—Rental for
nonwater-dependent use.
Aquatic lands—Rent for improvements.
Aquatic lands—Administrative review of proposed rent.
Aquatic lands—Security for leases for more than one year.
Aquatic lands—Payment of rent.
Aquatic lands—Interest rate.
Adoption of rules.
OTHER CONVEYANCES
79.105.400
79.105.410
79.105.420
79.105.430
Authority to exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands—
Rules—Limitation.
Gifts of aquatic land—Procedures and criteria.
Management of certain aquatic lands by port district—Agreement—Rent—Model management agreement.
Private recreational docks—Mooring buoys.
DREDGED MATERIAL DISPOSAL
79.105.500
79.105.510
79.105.520
Aquatic land dredged material disposal sites—Findings.
Aquatic land dredged material disposal site account.
Fees for use of aquatic land dredged material disposal sites
authorized.
OTHER MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
79.100.900
79.100.900 Severability—2002 c 286. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[2002 c 286 § 25.]
79.100.901
79.100.901 Effective date—2002 c 286. This act takes
effect January 1, 2003. [2002 c 286 § 26.]
Chapter 79.105 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—GENERAL
Chapter 79.105
Sections
79.105.001
79.105.600
79.105.900
79.105.901
79.105.902
79.105.903
79.105.904
79.105.001
79.105.001 Intent—2005 c 155. This act is intended to
make technical amendments to certain codified statutes that
deal with the department of natural resources. Any statutory
changes made by this act should be interpreted as technical in
nature and not be interpreted to have any substantive policy
implications. [2005 c 155 § 1001.]
Intent—2005 c 155.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.105.010
79.105.020
79.105.030
79.105.040
79.105.050
79.105.060
Aquatic lands—Findings.
Purpose—Articulation of management philosophy.
Aquatic lands—Management guidelines.
Application to existing property rights—Application of shoreline management act.
Fostering use of aquatic environment—Limitation.
Definitions.
GENERAL USE, SALE, AND LEASE PROVISIONS
79.105.100
79.105.110
79.105.120
79.105.130
79.105.140
79.105.150
79.105.160
Sale and lease of state-owned aquatic lands—Blank forms of
applications.
Who may purchase or lease—Application—Fees.
Survey to determine areas subject to sale or lease.
Reconsideration of official acts.
Assignment of contracts or leases.
Deposit, use of proceeds from sale or lease of aquatic lands or
valuable materials therefrom—Aquatic lands enhancement
project grant requirements—Aquatic lands enhancement
account.
Aquatic lands—Court review of actions.
LEASING AND RENTAL RATES
79.105.200
79.105.210
79.105.220
79.105.230
79.105.240
Archaeological activities on state-owned aquatic lands—
Agreements, leases, or other conveyances.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—1984 c 221.
Effective date—1984 c 221.
Severability—2005 c 155.
Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
Use and occupancy fee in lieu of lease—Construction of section.
Aquatic lands—Preservation and enhancement of waterdependent uses—Leasing authority.
Lease of tidelands in front of public parks.
Use for public parks or public recreation purposes.
Determination of annual rent rates for lease of aquatic lands
for water-dependent uses.
[Title 79 RCW—page 86]
79.105.010
79.105.010 Aquatic lands—Findings. The legislature
finds that state-owned aquatic lands are a finite natural
resource of great value and an irreplaceable public heritage.
The legislature recognizes that the state owns these aquatic
lands in fee and has delegated to the department the responsibility to manage these lands for the benefit of the public. The
legislature finds that water-dependent industries and activities have played a major role in the history of the state and
will continue to be important in the future. The legislature
finds that revenues derived from leases of state-owned
aquatic lands should be used to enhance opportunities for
public recreation, shoreline access, environmental protection,
and other public benefits associated with the aquatic lands of
the state. The legislature further finds that aquatic lands are
faced with conflicting use demands. [2005 c 155 § 139; 1984
c 221 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.90.450.]
79.105.020
79.105.020 Purpose—Articulation of management
philosophy. The purpose of RCW 79.105.060, 79.105.230,
79.105.280, and 79.105.010 through 79.105.040 is to articulate a management philosophy to guide the exercise of the
state’s ownership interest and the exercise of the depart(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—General
ment’s management authority, and to establish standards for
determining equitable and predictable lease rates for users of
state-owned aquatic lands. [2005 c 155 § 101. FORMERLY
PART OF RCW 79.90.450.]
79.105.030
79.105.030 Aquatic lands—Management guidelines.
The management of state-owned aquatic lands shall be in
conformance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The manager of state-owned aquatic lands shall strive to provide a balance of public benefits for all citizens of the state.
The public benefits provided by state-owned aquatic lands
are varied and include:
(1) Encouraging direct public use and access;
(2) Fostering water-dependent uses;
(3) Ensuring environmental protection;
(4) Utilizing renewable resources.
Generating revenue in a manner consistent with subsections (1) through (4) of this section is a public benefit. [2005
c 155 § 140; 1984 c 221 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.90.455.]
79.105.040
79.105.040 Application to existing property rights—
Application of shoreline management act. Nothing in
*this chapter or RCW 79.120.040 or 79.120.060 shall modify
or affect any existing legal rights involving the boundaries of,
title to, or vested property rights in aquatic lands or waterways. Nothing in *this chapter shall modify, alter, or otherwise affect the applicability of chapter 90.58 RCW. [2005 c
155 § 157; 1984 c 221 § 20. Formerly RCW 79.90.545.]
*Reviser’s note: The reference to "this chapter" referred to chapter
79.90 RCW, which was recodified and/or repealed in its entirety by 2005 c
155.
79.105.050
79.105.050 Fostering use of aquatic environment—
Limitation. The department shall foster the commercial and
recreational use of the aquatic environment for production of
food, fibre, income, and public enjoyment from state-owned
aquatic lands and from associated waters, and to this end the
department may develop and improve production and harvesting of seaweeds and sealife attached to or growing on
aquatic land or contained in aquaculture containers, but nothing in this section alters the responsibility of other state agencies for their normal management of fish, shellfish, game,
and water. [2005 c 155 § 141; 2003 c 334 § 541; 1971 ex.s.
c 234 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.90.456, 79.68.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.105.060
79.105.060 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout chapters 79.105 through 79.145 RCW
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Aquatic lands" means all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters.
(2) "Beds of navigable waters" means those lands lying
waterward of and below the line of navigability on rivers and
lakes not subject to tidal flow, or extreme low tide mark in
navigable tidal waters, or the outer harbor line where harbor
area has been created.
(3) "First-class shorelands" means the shores of a navigable lake or river belonging to the state, not subject to tidal
flow, lying between the line of ordinary high water and the
line of navigability, or inner harbor line where established
(2006 Ed.)
79.105.060
and within or in front of the corporate limits of any city or
within two miles of either side.
(4) "First-class tidelands" means the shores of navigable
tidal waters belonging to the state, lying within or in front of
the corporate limits of any city, or within one mile of either
side and between the line of ordinary high tide and the inner
harbor line; and within two miles of the corporate limits on
either side and between the line of ordinary high tide and the
line of extreme low tide.
(5) "Harbor area" means the area of navigable waters
determined as provided in Article XV, section 1 of the state
Constitution, which shall be forever reserved for landings,
wharves, streets, and other conveniences of navigation and
commerce.
(6) "Improvements" when referring to state-owned
aquatic lands means anything considered a fixture in law
placed within, upon, or attached to aquatic lands that has
changed the value of those lands, or any changes in the previous condition of the fixtures that changes the value of the
land.
(7) "Inflation rate" means for a given year the percentage
rate of change in the previous calendar year’s all commodity
producer price index of the bureau of labor statistics of the
United States department of commerce. If the index ceases to
be published, the department shall designate by rule a comparable substitute index.
(8) "Inner harbor line" means a line located and established in navigable waters between the line of ordinary high
tide or ordinary high water and the outer harbor line, constituting the inner boundary of the harbor area.
(9) "Log booming" means placing logs into and taking
them out of the water, assembling and disassembling log rafts
before or after their movement in water-borne commerce,
related handling and sorting activities taking place in the
water, and the temporary holding of logs to be taken directly
into a processing facility. "Log booming" does not include
the temporary holding of logs to be taken directly into a vessel.
(10) "Log storage" means the water storage of logs in
rafts or otherwise prepared for shipment in water-borne commerce, but does not include the temporary holding of logs to
be taken directly into a vessel or processing facility.
(11) "Nonwater-dependent use" means a use that can
operate in a location other than on the waterfront. Examples
include, but are not limited to, hotels, condominiums, apartments, restaurants, retail stores, and warehouses not part of a
marine terminal or transfer facility.
(12) "Outer harbor line" means a line located and established in navigable waters as provided in Article XV, section
1 of the state Constitution, beyond which the state shall never
sell or lease any rights whatever to private persons.
(13) "Person" means any private individual, partnership,
association, organization, cooperative, firm, corporation, the
state or any agency or political subdivision thereof, any public or municipal corporation, or any unit of government, however designated.
(14) "Port district" means a port district created under
Title 53 RCW.
(15) "Public utility lines" means pipes, conduits, and
similar facilities for distribution of water, electricity, natural
[Title 79 RCW—page 87]
79.105.100
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
gas, telephone, other electronic communication, and sewers,
including sewer outfall lines.
(16) "Real rate of return" means the average for the most
recent ten calendar years of the average rate of return on conventional real property mortgages as reported by the federal
home loan bank board or any successor agency, minus the
average inflation rate for the most recent ten calendar years.
(17) "Second-class shorelands" means the shores of a
navigable lake or river belonging to the state, not subject to
tidal flow, lying between the line of ordinary high water and
the line of navigability, and more than two miles from the
corporate limits of any city.
(18) "Second-class tidelands" means the shores of navigable tidal waters belonging to the state, lying outside of and
more than two miles from the corporate limits of any city, and
between the line of ordinary high tide and the line of extreme
low tide.
(19) "Shorelands," where not preceded by "first-class" or
"second-class," means both first-class shorelands and second-class shorelands.
(20) "State-owned aquatic lands" means all tidelands,
shorelands, harbor areas, the beds of navigable waters, and
waterways owned by the state and administered by the
department or managed under RCW 79.105.420 by a port
district. "State-owned aquatic lands" does not include
aquatic lands owned in fee by, or withdrawn for the use of,
state agencies other than the department.
(21) "Terminal" means a point of interchange between
land and water carriers, such as a pier, wharf, or group of
such, equipped with facilities for care and handling of either
cargo or passengers, or both.
(22) "Tidelands," where not preceded by "first-class" or
"second-class," means both first-class tidelands and secondclass tidelands.
(23) "Valuable materials" when referring to state-owned
aquatic lands means any product or material within or upon
lands, such as forest products, forage, stone, gravel, sand,
peat, agricultural crops, and all other materials of value
except mineral, coal, petroleum, and gas as provided for
under chapter 79.14 RCW. However, RCW 79.140.190 and
79.140.200 also apply to materials provided for under chapter
79.14 RCW.
(24) "Water-dependent use" means a use that cannot logically exist in any location but on the water. Examples
include, but are not limited to: Water-borne commerce; terminal and transfer facilities; ferry terminals; watercraft sales
in conjunction with other water-dependent uses; watercraft
construction, repair, and maintenance; moorage and launching facilities; aquaculture; log booming; and public fishing
piers and parks.
(25) "Water-oriented use" means a use that historically
has been dependent on a waterfront location, but with existing technology could be located away from the waterfront.
Examples include, but are not limited to, wood products manufacturing, watercraft sales, fish processing, petroleum refining, sand and gravel processing, log storage, and house boats.
For the purposes of determining rent under this chapter,
water-oriented uses shall be classified as water-dependent
uses if the activity either is conducted on state-owned aquatic
lands leased on October 1, 1984, or was actually conducted
on the state-owned aquatic lands for at least three years
[Title 79 RCW—page 88]
before October 1, 1984. If, after October 1, 1984, the activity
is changed to a use other than a water-dependent use, the
activity shall be classified as a nonwater-dependent use. If
continuation of the existing use requires leasing additional
state-owned aquatic lands and is permitted under the shoreline management act of 1971, chapter 90.58 RCW, the
department may allow reasonable expansion of the water-oriented use. [2005 c 155 § 102.]
GENERAL USE, SALE, AND LEASE PROVISIONS
79.105.100
79.105.100 Sale and lease of state-owned aquatic
lands—Blank forms of applications. The department shall
prepare, and furnish to applicants, blank forms of applications for the purchase of state-owned tidelands or shorelands,
otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, and the
purchase of valuable material situated thereon, and the lease
of state-owned tidelands, shorelands, and harbor areas, which
forms shall contain such instructions as will inform and aid
the applicants. [2005 c 155 § 104; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 15.
Formerly RCW 79.90.090.]
79.105.110
79.105.110 Who may purchase or lease—Application—Fees. Any person desiring to purchase any stateowned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under
RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, or to purchase any valuable
material situated thereon, or to lease any state-owned aquatic
lands, shall file with the department an application, on the
proper form which shall be accompanied by reasonable fees
to be prescribed by the board in its rules, in an amount sufficient to defray the cost of performing or otherwise providing
for the processing, review, or inspection of the applications
or activities permitted pursuant to the applications for each
category of services performed. These fees shall be credited
to the resource management cost account fund in the general
fund. [2005 c 155 § 105; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 16. Formerly
RCW 79.90.100.]
79.105.120
79.105.120 Survey to determine areas subject to sale
or lease. The department may cause any state-owned aquatic
lands to be surveyed for the purpose of ascertaining and
determining the area subject to sale or lease. [2005 c 155 §
108; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 18. Formerly RCW 79.90.120.]
79.105.130
79.105.130 Reconsideration of official acts. The
department may review and reconsider any of its official acts
relating to state-owned aquatic lands until such time as a
lease, contract, or deed is made, executed, and finally issued,
and the department may recall any lease, contract, or deed
issued for the purpose of correcting mistakes or errors, or
supplying omissions. [2005 c 155 § 138; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21
§ 47. Formerly RCW 79.90.410.]
79.105.140
79.105.140 Assignment of contracts or leases. All
contracts of purchase of state-owned tidelands or shorelands,
otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, and
all leases of state-owned tidelands, shorelands, or beds of
navigable waters issued by the department shall be assignable
in writing by the contract holder or lessee. The assignee shall
be subject to the provisions of law applicable to the purchaser
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—General
or lessee of whom they are the assignee, and shall have the
same rights in all respects as the original purchaser or lessee
of the lands, but only if the assignment is first approved by
the department and entered upon the records in the department. [2005 c 155 § 135; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 43. Formerly
RCW 79.90.370.]
79.105.150
79.105.150 Deposit, use of proceeds from sale or lease
of aquatic lands or valuable materials therefrom—
Aquatic lands enhancement project grant requirements—Aquatic lands enhancement account. (1) After
deduction for management costs as provided in RCW
79.64.040 and payments to towns under RCW 79.115.150(2),
all moneys received by the state from the sale or lease of
state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the
aquatic lands enhancement account which is hereby created
in the state treasury. After appropriation, these funds shall be
used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for the
purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for
public purposes; for providing and improving access to the
lands; and for volunteer cooperative fish and game projects.
(2) In providing grants for aquatic lands enhancement
projects, the department shall require grant recipients to
incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into
their grant applications, and the department shall utilize the
statement of environmental benefits in its prioritization and
selection process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used
both for management and performance assessment of the
grants. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural
resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The
department shall consult with affected interest groups in
implementing this section.
(3) During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2007, the
funds may be appropriated for boating safety, settlement
costs for aquatic lands cleanup, and shellfish management,
enforcement, and enhancement and assistance to local governments for septic system surveys and data bases. [2005 c
518 § 946; 2005 c 155 § 121; 2004 c 276 § 914; 2002 c 371 §
923; 2001 c 227 § 7; 1999 c 309 § 919; 1997 c 149 § 913;
1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 923; 1994 c 219 § 12; 1993 sp.s. c 24 §
927; 1987 c 350 § 1; 1985 c 57 § 79; 1984 c 221 § 24; 1982
2nd ex.s. c 8 § 4; 1969 ex.s. c 273 § 12; 1967 ex.s. c 105 § 3;
1961 c 167 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.90.245, 79.24.580.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 155 § 121 and by
2005 c 518 § 946, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Effective date—2005 c 518: See notes following RCW
28A.305.210.
Severability—Effective date—2004 c 276: See notes following RCW
43.330.167.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 371: See notes following RCW
9.46.100.
Findings—Intent—2001 c 227: See note following RCW 43.41.270.
Severability—Effective date—1999 c 309: See notes following RCW
41.06.152.
Severability—Effective date—1997 c 149: See notes following RCW
43.08.250.
(2006 Ed.)
79.105.210
Severability—Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 19.118.110.
Finding—1994 c 219: See note following RCW 43.88.030.
Severability—Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 24: See notes following
RCW 28A.310.020.
Effective date—1987 c 350: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1989."
[1987 c 350 § 3.]
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 221: See RCW 79.105.901 and
79.105.902.
79.105.160
79.105.160 Aquatic lands—Court review of actions.
Any applicant to purchase or lease any state-owned aquatic
lands, or any valuable materials on state-owned aquatic
lands, and any person whose property rights or interest will
be affected by the sale or lease, feeling himself or herself
aggrieved by any order or decision of the board, or the commissioner, concerning the order or decision, may appeal in
the manner provided in RCW 79.02.030. [2005 c 155 § 137;
2003 c 334 § 606; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 46. Formerly RCW
79.90.400.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
LEASING AND RENTAL RATES
79.105.200
79.105.200 Use and occupancy fee in lieu of lease—
Construction of section. (1) The department may require
the payment of a use and occupancy fee in lieu of a lease
where improvements have been placed without authorization
on state-owned aquatic lands.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent
the assertion of public ownership rights in any publicly
owned aquatic lands, or the leasing of the aquatic lands when
the leasing is not contrary to the statewide public interest.
[2005 c 155 § 516; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 102. Formerly RCW
79.94.170.]
79.105.210
79.105.210 Aquatic lands—Preservation and
enhancement of water-dependent uses—Leasing authority. (1) The management of state-owned aquatic lands shall
preserve and enhance water-dependent uses. Water-dependent uses shall be favored over other uses in state-owned
aquatic land planning and in resolving conflicts between
competing lease applications. In cases of conflict between
water-dependent uses, priority shall be given to uses which
enhance renewable resources, water-borne commerce, and
the navigational and biological capacity of the waters, and to
statewide interests as distinguished from local interests.
(2) Nonwater-dependent use of state-owned aquatic
lands is a low-priority use providing minimal public benefits
and shall not be permitted to expand or be established in new
areas except in exceptional circumstances where it is compatible with water-dependent uses occurring in or planned for
the area.
(3) The department shall consider the natural values of
state-owned aquatic lands as wildlife habitat, natural area
preserve, representative ecosystem, or spawning area prior to
issuing any initial lease or authorizing any change in use.
The department may withhold from leasing lands which it
finds to have significant natural values, or may provide
within any lease for the protection of such values.
[Title 79 RCW—page 89]
79.105.220
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
(4) The power to lease state-owned aquatic lands is
vested in the department, which has the authority to make
leases upon terms, conditions, and length of time in conformance with the state Constitution and chapters 79.105 through
79.140 RCW.
(5) State-owned aquatic lands shall not be leased to persons or organizations which discriminate on the basis of race,
color, creed, religion, sex, age, or physical or mental handicap. [2005 c 155 § 143; 1984 c 221 § 3. Formerly RCW
79.90.460.]
79.105.220
79.105.220 Lease of tidelands in front of public
parks. The department may lease state-owned tidelands that
are in front of state parks only with the approval of the state
parks and recreation commission. The department may lease
bedlands in front of state parks only after the department has
consulted with the state parks and recreation commission.
[20 05 c 155 § 14 5. FORMERLY PAR T OF RCW
79.94.010; 2002 c 152 § 2; 1984 c 221 § 5. Formerly RCW
79.90.470.]
Findings—Severability—2002 c 152: See notes following RCW
79.110.240.
79.105.230
79.105.230 Use for public parks or public recreation
purposes. Use for public parks or public recreation purposes
shall be granted without charge if the state-owned aquatic
lands and improvements are available to the general public
on a first-come, first-served basis and are not managed to
produce a profit for the operator or a concessionaire. [2005 c
155 § 144. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.90.470.]
79.105.240
79.105.240 Determination of annual rent rates for
lease of aquatic lands for water-dependent uses. Except as
otherwise provided by this chapter, annual rent rates for the
lease of state-owned aquatic lands for water-dependent uses
shall be determined as follows:
(1)(a) The assessed land value, exclusive of improvements, as determined by the county assessor, of the upland
tax parcel used in conjunction with the leased area or, if there
are no such uplands, of the nearest upland tax parcel used for
water-dependent purposes divided by the parcel area equals
the upland value.
(b) The upland value times the area of leased aquatic
lands times thirty percent equals the aquatic land value.
(2) As of July 1, 1989, and each July 1st thereafter, the
department shall determine the real capitalization rate to be
applied to water-dependent aquatic land leases commencing
or being adjusted under subsection (3)(a) of this section in
that fiscal year. The real capitalization rate shall be the real
rate of return, except that until June 30, 1989, the real capitalization rate shall be five percent and thereafter it shall not
change by more than one percentage point in any one year or
be more than seven percent or less than three percent.
(3) The annual rent shall be:
(a) Determined initially, and redetermined every four
years or as otherwise provided in the lease, by multiplying
the aquatic land value times the real capitalization rate; and
(b) Adjusted by the inflation rate each year in which the
rent is not determined under (a) of this subsection.
[Title 79 RCW—page 90]
(4) If the upland parcel used in conjunction with the
leased area is not assessed or has an assessed value inconsistent with the purposes of the lease, the nearest comparable
upland parcel used for similar purposes shall be substituted
and the lease payment determined in the same manner as provided in this section.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "upland tax parcel"
is a tax parcel, some portion of which has upland characteristics. Filled tidelands or shorelands with upland characteristics which abut state-owned aquatic land shall be considered
as uplands in determining aquatic land values.
(6) The annual rent for filled state-owned aquatic lands
that have the characteristics of uplands shall be determined in
accordance with RCW 79.105.270 in those cases in which the
state owns the fill and has a right to charge for the fill.
(7) For all new leases for other water-dependent uses,
issued after December 31, 1997, the initial annual waterdependent rent shall be determined by the methods in subsections (1) through (6) of this section. [2005 c 155 § 147; 2003
c 310 § 1; 1998 c 185 § 2; 1984 c 221 § 7. Formerly RCW
79.90.480.]
Effective date—2003 c 310: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 14, 2003]." [2003 c 310 § 2.]
Findings—Report—1998 c 185: "(1) The legislature finds that the current method for determining water-dependent rental rates for aquatic land
leases may not be achieving the management goals in RCW 79.90.455. The
current method for setting rental rates, as well as alternatives to the current
methods, should be evaluated in light of achieving management goals for
aquatic lands leases. The legislature further finds that there should be no further increases in water-dependent rental rates for marina leases before the
completion of this evaluation.
(2) The department of natural resources shall study and prepare a report
to the legislature on alternatives to the current method for determination of
water-dependent rent set forth in RCW 79.90.480. The report shall be prepared with the assistance of appropriate outside economic expertise and
stakeholder involvement. Affected stakeholders shall participate with the
department by providing information necessary to complete this study. For
each alternative, the report shall:
(a) Describe each method and the costs and benefits of each;
(b) Compare each with the current method of calculating rents;
(c) Provide the private industry perspective;
(d) Describe the public perspective;
(e) Analyze the impact on state lease revenue;
(f) Evaluate the impacts of water-dependent rates on economic development in economically distressed counties; and
(g) Evaluate the ease of administration.
(3) The report shall be presented to the legislature by November 1,
1998, with the recommendations of the department clearly identified. The
department’s recommendations shall include draft legislation as necessary
for implementation of its recommendations." [1998 c 185 § 1.]
79.105.250
79.105.250 Log storage rents. (1) Until June 30, 1989,
the log storage rents per acre shall be the average rents the log
storage leases in effect on July 1, 1984, would have had under
the formula for water-dependent leases as set out in RCW
79.105.240, except that the aquatic land values shall be thirty
percent of the assessed value of the abutting upland parcels
exclusive of improvements, if they are assessed. If the abutting upland parcel is not assessed, the nearest assessed upland
parcel shall be used.
(2) On July 1, 1989, and every four years thereafter, the
base log storage rents established under subsection (1) of this
section shall be adjusted in proportion to the change in aver(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—General
age water-dependent lease rates per acre since the date the log
storage rates were last established under this section.
(3) The annual rent shall be adjusted by the inflation rate
each year in which the rent is not determined under subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
(4) If the lease provides for seasonal use so that portions
of the leased area are available for public use without charge
part of the year, the annual rent may be discounted to reflect
such public use in accordance with rules adopted by the
board. [2005 c 155 § 148; 1984 c 221 § 8. Formerly RCW
79.90.485.]
79.105.260
79.105.260 Rent for leases in effect October 1, 1984.
(1) For leases in effect on October 1, 1984, the rent shall
remain at the annual rate in effect on September 30, 1984,
until the next lease anniversary date, at which time rent established under RCW 79.105.240 or 79.105.250 shall become
effective. If the first rent amount established is an increase of
more than one hundred dollars and is more than thirty-three
percent above the rent in effect on September 30, 1984, the
annual rent shall not increase in any year by more than thirtythree percent of the difference between the previous rent and
the rent established under RCW 79.105.240 or 79.105.250. If
the first rent amount established under RCW 79.105.240 or
79.105.250 is more than thirty-three percent below the rent in
effect on September 30, 1984, the annual rent shall not
decrease in any year by more than thirty-three percent of the
difference between the previous rent and the rent established
under RCW 79.105.240 or 79.105.250. Thereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the annual rental
established under RCW 79.105.240 or 79.105.250 shall not
increase more than fifty percent in any year.
(2) This section applies only to leases of state-owned
aquatic lands subject to RCW 79.105.240 or 79.105.250.
[2005 c 155 § 149; 1984 c 221 § 9. Formerly RCW
79.90.490.]
79.105.270
79.105.270 Aquatic lands—Leases/rents for nonwater-dependent uses. Leases for nonwater-dependent uses of
state-owned aquatic lands shall be charged the fair market
rental value of the leased lands, determined in accordance
with appraisal techniques specified by rule. However, rents
for nonwater-dependent uses shall always be more than the
amount that would be charged as rent for a water-dependent
use of the same parcel. [2005 c 155 § 150; 1984 c 221 § 11.
Formerly RCW 79.90.500.]
79.105.280
79.105.280 Rents and fees for recovery of mineral or
geothermal resources. Rents and fees for the mining or
other recovery of mineral or geothermal resources shall be
established through competitive bidding, negotiations, or as
otherwise provided by statute. [2005 c 155 § 151. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.90.500.]
79.105.290
79.105.290 Aquatic lands—Rents for multiple uses.
If water-dependent and nonwater-dependent uses occupy
separate portions of the same leased parcel of state-owned
aquatic land, the rental rate for each use shall be that established for the use by this chapter, prorated in accordance with
the proportion of the whole parcel that each use occupies. If
(2006 Ed.)
79.105.330
water-dependent and nonwater-dependent uses occupy the
same portion of a leased parcel of state-owned aquatic land,
the rental rate for the parcel shall be subject to negotiation
with the department taking into account the proportion of the
improvements each use occupies. [2005 c 155 § 152; 1984 c
221 § 12. Formerly RCW 79.90.505.]
79.105.300
79.105.300 Aquatic lands—Lease for water-dependent use—Rental for nonwater-dependent use. If a parcel
leased for water-dependent uses is used for an extended
period of time, as defined by rule of the department, for a
nonwater-dependent use, the rental for the nonwater-dependent use shall be negotiated with the department. [1984 c 221
§ 13. Formerly RCW 79.90.510.]
79.105.310
79.105.310 Aquatic lands—Rent for improvements.
(1) Except as agreed between the department and the lessee
prior to construction of the improvements, rent shall not be
charged under any lease of state-owned aquatic lands for
improvements, including fills, authorized by the department
or installed by the lessee or its predecessor before June 1,
1971, so long as the lands remain under a lease or succession
of leases without a period of three years in which no lease is
in effect or a bona fide application for a lease is pending.
(2) If improvements were installed under a good faith
belief that a state-owned aquatic lands lease was not necessary, rent shall not be charged for the improvements if, within
ninety days after specific written notification by the department that a lease is required, the owner either applies for a
lease or files suit to determine if a lease is required. [2005 c
155 § 153; 1984 c 221 § 14. Formerly RCW 79.90.515.]
79.105.320
79.105.320 Aquatic lands—Administrative review of
proposed rent. The manager shall, by rule, provide for an
administrative review of any state-owned aquatic land rent
proposed to be charged. The rules shall require that the lessee
or applicant for release file a request for review within thirty
days after the manager has notified the lessee or applicant of
the rent due. For leases issued by the department, the final
authority for the review rests with the board. For leases managed under RCW 79.105.420, the final authority for the
review rests with the appropriate port commission. If the
request for review is made within thirty days after the manager’s final determination as to the rental, the lessee may pay
rent at the preceding year’s rate pending completion of the
review, and shall pay any additional rent or be entitled to a
refund, with interest thirty days after announcement of the
decision. The interest rate shall be fixed by rule adopted by
the board and shall not be less than six percent per annum.
Nothing in this section abrogates the right of an aggrieved
party to pursue legal remedies. For purposes of this section,
"manager" is the department except where state-owned
aquatic lands are managed by a port district, in which case
"manager" is the port district. [2005 c 155 § 154; 1991 c 64
§ 1; 1984 c 221 § 15. Formerly RCW 79.90.520.]
79.105.330
79.105.330 Aquatic lands—Security for leases for
more than one year. For any lease for a term of more than
one year, the department may require that the rent be secured
by insurance, bond, or other security satisfactory to the
[Title 79 RCW—page 91]
79.105.340
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
department in an amount not exceeding two years’ rent. The
department may require additional security for other lease
provisions. The department shall not require cash deposits
exceeding one-twelfth of the annual rental. [1984 c 221 § 16.
Formerly RCW 79.90.525.]
79.105.340
79.105.340 Aquatic lands—Payment of rent. If the
annual rent charged for the use of a parcel of state-owned
aquatic lands exceeds four thousand dollars, the lessee may
pay on a prorated quarterly basis. If the annual rent exceeds
twelve thousand dollars, the lessee may pay on a prorated
monthly basis. [1984 c 221 § 17. Formerly RCW
79.90.530.]
79.105.350
79.105.350 Aquatic lands—Interest rate. The interest
rate and all interest rate guidelines shall be fixed by rule
adopted by the board and shall not be less than six percent per
annum. [2005 c 155 § 155; 1991 c 64 § 2; 1984 c 221 § 18.
Formerly RCW 79.90.535.]
79.105.360
79.105.360 Adoption of rules. The department shall
adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of
RCW 79.105.010, 79.105.030, 79.105.050, 79.105.210,
79.105.220, 79.105.240 through 79.105.260, 79.105.270,
79.105.290 through 79.105.350, 79.105.400, 79.105.420,
79.130.070, and 79.135.100, specifically including criteria
for determining under RCW 79.105.240(4) when an abutting
upland parcel has been inappropriately assessed and for
determining the nearest comparable upland parcel used for
water-dependent uses. [2005 c 155 § 156; 1984 c 221 § 19.
Formerly RCW 79.90.540.]
OTHER CONVEYANCES
79.105.400
79.105.400 Authority to exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands—Rules—Limitation. The department may exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands
with private and other public landowners if the exchange is in
the public interest and will actively contribute to the public
benefits established in RCW 79.105.030. The board shall
adopt rules which establish criteria for determining when a
proposed exchange is in the public interest and actively contributes to the public benefits established in RCW
79.105.030. The department may not exchange state-owned
harbor areas or waterways. [2005 c 155 § 142; 1995 c 357 §
1. Formerly RCW 79.90.457.]
79.105.410
79.105.410 Gifts of aquatic land—Procedures and
criteria. (1) The department is authorized to accept gifts of
aquatic land within the state, including tidelands, shorelands,
harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters, which shall
become part of the state-owned aquatic land base. Consistent
with RCW 79.105.030, the department must develop procedures and criteria that state the manner in which gifts of
aquatic land, received after July 27, 2003, may occur. No gift
of aquatic land may be accepted until: (a) An appraisal of the
value of the land has been prepared; (b) an environmental site
assessment has been conducted; and (c) the title property
report has been examined and approved by the attorney general of the state. The results of the appraisal, the site assess[Title 79 RCW—page 92]
ment, and the examination of the title property report must be
submitted to the board before the department may accept a
gift of aquatic land.
(2) The authorization to accept gifts of aquatic land
within the state extends to aquatic land accepted as gifts prior
to July 27, 2003. [2005 c 155 § 163; 2003 c 176 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.90.580.]
79.105.420
79.105.420 Management of certain aquatic lands by
port district—Agreement—Rent—Model management
agreement. (1) Upon request of a port district, the department and port district may enter into an agreement authorizing the port district to manage state-owned aquatic lands
abutting or used in conjunction with and contiguous to
uplands owned, leased, or otherwise managed by a port district, for port purposes as provided in Title 53 RCW. The
agreement shall include, but not be limited to, provisions
defining the specific area to be managed, the term, conditions
of occupancy, reservations, periodic review, and other conditions to ensure consistency with the state Constitution and the
policies of this chapter. If a port district acquires operating
management, lease, or ownership of real property which
abuts state-owned aquatic lands currently under lease from
the state to a person other than the port district, the port district shall manage state-owned aquatic lands if: (a) The port
district acquires the leasehold interest in accordance with
state law, or (b) the current lessee and the department agree to
termination of the current lease to accommodate management
by the port. The administration of state-owned aquatic lands
covered by a management agreement shall be consistent with
the aquatic land policies of chapters 79.105 through 79.140
RCW and the implementing rules adopted by the department.
The administrative procedures for management of the lands
shall be those of Title 53 RCW.
(2) No rent is due the state for the use of state-owned
aquatic lands managed under this section for water-dependent or water-oriented uses. If a port district manages stateowned aquatic lands under this section and either leases or
otherwise permits any person to use the lands, the rental fee
attributable to the state-owned aquatic land only shall be
comparable to the rent charged lessees for the same or similar
uses by the department. However, a port district need not
itemize for the lessee any charges for state-owned aquatic
lands improved by the port district for use by carriers by
water. If a port leases state-owned aquatic lands to any person for nonwater-dependent use, eighty-five percent of the
revenue attributable to the rent of the state-owned aquatic
land only shall be paid to the state.
(3) Upon application for a management agreement, and
so long as the application is pending and being diligently pursued, no rent is due the department for the lease by the port
district of state-owned aquatic lands included within the
application for water-dependent or water-oriented uses.
(4) The department and representatives of the port industry shall develop a proposed model management agreement
which shall be used as the basis for negotiating the management agreements required by this section. The model management agreement shall be reviewed and approved by the
board. [2005 c 155 § 146; 1984 c 221 § 6. Formerly RCW
79.90.475.]
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—General
79.105.430
79.105.430 Private recreational docks—Mooring
buoys. (1) The abutting residential owner to state-owned
shorelands, tidelands, or related beds of navigable waters,
other than harbor areas, may install and maintain without
charge a dock on the areas if used exclusively for private recreational purposes and the area is not subject to prior rights,
including any rights of upland, tideland, or shoreland owners
as provided in RCW 79.125.400, 79.125.460, 79.125.410,
and 79.130.010. The dock cannot be sold or leased separately from the upland residence. The dock cannot be used to
moor boats for commercial or residential use. This permission is subject to applicable local, state, and federal rules and
regulations governing location, design, construction, size,
and length of the dock. Nothing in this subsection (1) prevents the abutting owner from obtaining a lease if otherwise
provided by law.
(2) The abutting residential owner to state-owned shorelands, tidelands, or related beds of navigable waters, other
than harbor areas, may install and maintain a mooring buoy
without charge if the boat that is moored to the buoy is used
for private recreational purposes, the area is not subject to
prior rights, including any rights of upland, tideland, or
shoreland owners as provided in RCW 79.125.400,
79.125.460, 79.125.410, and 79.130.010, and the buoy will
not obstruct the use of mooring buoys previously authorized
by the department.
(a) The buoy must be located as near to the upland residence as practical, consistent with applicable rules and regulations and the provisions of this section. The buoy must be
located, or relocated if necessary, to accommodate the use of
lawfully installed and maintained buoys.
(b) If two or more residential owners, who otherwise
qualify for free use under the provisions of this section, are in
dispute over assertion of rights to install and maintain a
mooring buoy in the same location, they may seek formal settlement through adjudication in superior court for the county
in which the buoy site is located. In the adjudication, preference must be given to the residential owner that first installed
and continually maintained and used a buoy on that site, if it
meets all applicable rules, regulations, and provisions of this
section, and then to the owner of the residential property
nearest the site. Nothing in this section requires the department to mediate or otherwise resolve disputes between residential owners over the use of the same site for a mooring
buoy.
(c) The buoy cannot be sold or leased separately from the
abutting residential property. The buoy cannot be used to
moor boats for commercial or residential use, nor to moor
boats over sixty feet in length.
(d) If the department determines that it is necessary for
secure moorage, the abutting residential owner may install
and maintain a second mooring buoy, under the same provisions as the first, the use of which is limited to a second mooring line to the boat moored at the first buoy.
(e) The permission granted in this subsection (2) is subject to applicable local, state, and federal rules and regulations governing location, design, installation, maintenance,
and operation of the mooring buoy, anchoring system, and
moored boat. Nothing in this subsection (2) prevents a boat
owner from obtaining a lease if otherwise provided by law.
This subsection (2) also applies to areas that have been desig(2006 Ed.)
79.105.510
nated by the commissioner or the fish and wildlife commission as aquatic reserves.
(3) This permission to install and maintain a recreational
dock or mooring buoy may be revoked by the department, or
the department may direct the owner of a recreational dock or
mooring buoy to relocate their dock or buoy, if the department makes a finding of public necessity to protect waterward access, ingress rights of other landowners, public health
or safety, or public resources. Circumstances prompting a
finding of public necessity may include, but are not limited
to, the dock, buoy, anchoring system, or boat posing a hazard
or obstruction to navigation or fishing, contributing to degradation of aquatic habitat, or contributing to decertification of
shellfish beds otherwise suitable for commercial or recreational harvest. The revocation may be appealed as provided
for under RCW 79.105.160.
(4) Nothing in this section authorizes a boat owner to
abandon a vessel at a recreational dock, mooring buoy, or
elsewhere. [2005 c 155 § 106; 2002 c 304 § 1; 2001 c 277 §
1; 1989 c 175 § 170; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 2 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.90.105.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
DREDGED MATERIAL DISPOSAL
79.105.500
79.105.500 Aquatic land dredged material disposal
sites—Findings. The legislature finds that the department
provides, manages, and monitors aquatic land dredged material disposal sites on state-owned aquatic lands for materials
dredged from rivers, harbors, and shipping lanes. These disposal sites are approved through a cooperative planning process by the departments of natural resources and ecology, the
United States army corps of engineers, and the United States
environmental protection agency in cooperation with the
Puget Sound action team. These disposal sites are essential
to the commerce and well-being of the citizens of the state of
Washington. Management and environmental monitoring of
these sites are necessary to protect environmental quality and
to assure appropriate use of state-owned aquatic lands. The
creation of an aquatic land dredged material disposal site
account is a reasonable means to enable and facilitate proper
management and environmental monitoring of these disposal
sites. [2005 c 155 § 158; 1987 c 259 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.90.550.]
Effective date—1987 c 259: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July
1, 1987." [1987 c 259 § 5.]
79.105.510
79.105.510 Aquatic land dredged material disposal
site account. The aquatic land dredged material disposal site
account is established in the state treasury. The account shall
consist of funds appropriated to the account; funds transferred or paid to the account pursuant to settlements; court or
administrative agency orders or judgments; gifts and grants
to the account; and all funds received by the department from
users of aquatic land dredged material disposal sites. After
appropriation, moneys in the fund may be spent only for the
management and environmental monitoring of aquatic land
dredged material disposal sites. The account is subject to the
allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW.
[Title 79 RCW—page 93]
79.105.520
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
[2005 c 155 § 159; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 63; 1987 c 259 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.90.555.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1987 c 259: See note following RCW 79.105.500.
Chapter 79.110
Chapter 79.110 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—EASEMENTS AND
RIGHTS OF WAY
Sections
79.110.001
Intent—2005 c 155.
EASEMENTS FOR REMOVAL OF VALUABLE MATERIALS
79.105.520
79.105.520 Fees for use of aquatic land dredged
material disposal sites authorized. The department shall
estimate the costs of site management and environmental
monitoring at aquatic land dredged material disposal sites
and may, by rule, establish fees for use of the sites in amounts
no greater than necessary to cover the estimated costs. All
such revenues shall be placed in the aquatic land dredged
material disposal site account under RCW 79.105.510. [2005
c 155 § 160; 1987 c 259 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.90.560.]
79.110.010
79.110.020
79.110.030
79.110.040
79.110.050
Effective date—1987 c 259: See note following RCW 79.105.500.
79.110.060
OTHER MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
79.105.600
79.105.600 Archaeological activities on state-owned
aquatic lands—Agreements, leases, or other conveyances.
After consultation with the director of community, trade, and
economic development, the department may enter into agreements, leases, or other conveyances for archaeological activities on state-owned aquatic lands. The agreements, leases,
or other conveyances may contain those conditions as are
required for the department to comply with its legal rights
and duties. All agreements, leases, or other conveyances,
shall be issued in accordance with the terms of chapters
79.105 through 79.140 RCW. [2005 c 155 § 161; 1995 c 399
§ 210; 1988 c 124 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.90.565.]
Severability—Intent—Application—1988 c 124: See RCW
27.53.901 and notes following RCW 27.53.030.
79.110.070
Certain aquatic lands subject to easements for removal of valuable materials.
Certain aquatic lands subject to easements for removal of valuable materials—Private easements subject to common use in
removal of valuable materials.
Certain state and aquatic lands subject to easements for
removal of valuable materials—Reasonable facilities and
service for transporting must be furnished.
Certain state and aquatic lands subject to easements for
removal of valuable materials—Duty of utilities and transportation commission.
Certain state and aquatic lands subject to easements for
removal of valuable materials—Penalty for violation of
orders.
Certain state and aquatic lands subject to easements for
removal of valuable materials—Application for right of way.
Certain state and aquatic lands subject to easements for
removal of valuable materials—Forfeiture for nonuser.
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR ROADS, BRIDGES, AND TRESTLES
79.110.100
79.110.110
79.110.120
79.110.130
79.110.140
United States of America, state agency, county, or city right of
way for roads and streets over, and wharves over and upon
aquatic lands.
Railroad bridge rights of way across navigable streams.
Public bridges or trestles across waterways and aquatic
lands—Recovery of reasonable direct administrative costs—
Report to the legislature.
Common carriers may bridge or trestle state waterways.
Location and plans of bridge or trestle to be approved—Future
alterations.
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR UTILITY LINES
79.110.200
79.110.210
79.110.220
79.110.230
79.110.240
Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc.
Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc.—
Procedure to acquire.
Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc.—
Appraisal—Certificate—Reversion for nonuser.
Use of state-owned aquatic lands for public utility lines.
Charge for term of easement—Recovery of costs.
79.105.900
79.105.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR IRRIGATION, DIKING, AND
DRAINAGE/OVERFLOW RIGHTS
79.110.300
79.110.310
79.105.901
79.105.901 Severability—1984 c 221. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1984 c 221 § 31. Formerly RCW 79.90.901.]
79.105.902
79.105.902 Effective date—1984 c 221. This act shall
take effect on October 1, 1984. [1984 c 221 § 32. Formerly
RCW 79.90.902.]
79.110.320
79.110.330
79.110.340
79.110.350
79.110.900
79.110.901
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes.
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes—
Procedure to acquire.
Right of way for irrigation, diking, and drainage purposes—
Appraisal—Certificate.
Grant of overflow rights.
Construction of RCW 79.110.010 through 79.110.220 and
79.110.240 through 79.110.330 relating to rights of way and
overflow rights.
Grant of such easements and rights of way as applicant may
acquire in private lands by eminent domain.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79.110.001
79.105.903
79.105.903 Severability—2005 c 155. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[2005 c 155 § 1014.]
79.105.904
79.105.904 Part/subchapter headings not law—2005
c 155. Part headings and subchapter headings used in this act
are not any part of the law. [2005 c 155 § 1002.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 94]
79 . 11 0 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
See R CW
EASEMENTS FOR REMOVAL OF
VALUABLE MATERIALS
79.110.010
79.110.010 Certain aquatic lands subject to easements for removal of valuable materials. All tidelands and
shorelands originally belonging to the state, and which were
granted, sold, or leased at any time after June 15, 1911, and
which contain any valuable materials or are contiguous to or
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Easements and Rights of Way
in proximity of state lands or other tidelands or shorelands
which contain any valuable materials, shall be subject to the
right of the state or any grantee or lessee who has acquired the
other lands, or any valuable materials thereon, after June 15,
1911, to acquire the right of way over the lands so granted,
sold, or leased, for private railroads, skid roads, flumes,
canals, watercourses, or other easements for the purpose of,
and to be used in, transporting and moving valuable materials
from the other lands, over and across the lands so granted or
leased in accordance with the provisions of RCW 79.36.370.
[2005 c 155 § 201; 2003 c 334 § 607; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 48.
Formerly RCW 79.91.010.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.020
79.110.020 Certain aquatic lands subject to easements for removal of valuable materials—Private easements subject to common use in removal of valuable
materials. Every right of way for a private railroad, skid
road, canal, flume, or watercourse, or other easement, over
and across any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, for the
purpose of, and to be used in, transporting and moving valuable materials of the land, granted after June 15, 1911, shall
be subject to joint and common use in accordance with the
provisions of RCW 79.36.380. [2005 c 155 § 202; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 49. Formerly RCW 79.91.020.]
79.110.030
79.110.030 Certain state and aquatic lands subject to
easements for removal of valuable materials—Reasonable facilities and service for transporting must be furnished. Any person having acquired a right of way or easement as provided in RCW 79.110.010 and 79.110.020 over
any state-owned tidelands or shorelands or over or across
beds of any navigable water or stream for the purpose of
transporting or moving valuable materials and being engaged
in such business, or any grantee or lessee thereof acquiring
after June 15, 1911, state lands or tidelands or shorelands
containing valuable materials, where the land is contiguous to
or in proximity of the right of way or easement, shall accord
to the state or any person acquiring after June 15, 1911, valuable materials upon any such lands, proper and reasonable
facilities and service for transporting and moving valuable
materials under reasonable rules and upon payment of just
and reasonable charges in accordance with the provisions of
RCW 79.36.390. [2005 c 155 § 203; 2003 c 334 § 608; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 50. Formerly RCW 79.91.030.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.040
79.110.040 Certain state and aquatic lands subject to
easements for removal of valuable materials—Duty of
utilities and transportation commission. Should the owner
or operator of any private railroad, skid road, flume, canal,
watercourse, or other right of way or easement provided for
in RCW 79.110.020 and 79.110.030 fail to agree with the
state or any grantee or lessee, as to the reasonable and proper
rules and charges, concerning the transportation and movement of valuable materials from those lands contiguous to or
in proximity to the lands over which the private right of way
or easement is operated, the state or any grantee or lessee,
owning and desiring to have the valuable materials transported or moved, may apply to the Washington state utilities
(2006 Ed.)
79.110.100
and transportation commission for an inquiry into the reasonableness of the rules, investigate the rules, and make binding
reasonable, proper, and just rates and regulations in accordance with the provisions of RCW 79.36.400. [2005 c 155 §
204; 2003 c 334 § 609; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 51. Formerly
RCW 79.91.040.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.050
79.110.050 Certain state and aquatic lands subject to
easements for removal of valuable materials—Penalty for
violation of orders. Any person owning or operating any
right of way or easement subject to the provisions of RCW
79.110.020 through 79.110.040, over and across any stateowned tidelands or shorelands or across any beds of navigable waters, and violating or failing to comply with any rule or
order made by the utilities and transportation commission,
after inquiry, investigation, and a hearing as provided in
RCW 79.110.040, shall be subject to the same penalties provided in RCW 79.36.410. [2005 c 155 § 205; 2003 c 334 §
610; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 52. Formerly RCW 79.91.050.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.060
79.110.060 Certain state and aquatic lands subject to
easements for removal of valuable materials—Application for right of way. Any person engaged in the business of
logging or lumbering, quarrying, mining, or removing sand,
gravel, or other valuable materials from land, and desirous of
obtaining a right of way or easement provided for in RCW
79.110.010 through 79.110.030 over and across any stateowned tidelands or shorelands, or beds of navigable waters or
any lands sold or leased by the state since June 15, 1911, shall
file with the department upon a form to be furnished for that
purpose, a written application for the right of way in accordance with the provisions of RCW 79.36.350. [2005 c 155 §
206; 2003 c 334 § 611; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 53. Formerly
RCW 79.91.060.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.070
79.110.070 Certain state and aquatic lands subject to
easements for removal of valuable materials—Forfeiture
for nonuser. Any right of way or easement granted under the
provisions of RCW 79.110.010 through 79.110.030 which
has never been used, or for a period of two years has ceased
to be used for the purpose for which it was granted, shall be
deemed forfeited. The forfeiture of any such right of way
previously granted or granted under the provisions of RCW
79.110.010 through 79.110.030, shall be rendered effective
by the mailing of a notice of the forfeiture to the grantee at the
grantee’s last known post office address and by posting a
copy of the certificate, or other record of the grant, in the
department’s Olympia office with the word "canceled" and
the date of the cancellation. [2005 c 155 § 207; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 54. Formerly RCW 79.91.070.]
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR ROADS, BRIDGES,
AND TRESTLES
79.110.100
79.110.100 United States of America, state agency,
county, or city right of way for roads and streets over, and
wharves over and upon aquatic lands. Any county or city
[Title 79 RCW—page 95]
79.110.110
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
or the United States of America or any state agency desiring
to locate, establish, and construct a road or street over and
across any aquatic lands, or wharf over any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, shall by resolution of the legislative body
of the county, or city council or other governing body of the
city, or proper agency of the United States of America or state
agency, file a petition with the department for a right of way
for the road or street or wharf in accordance with the provisions of RCW 79.36.440.
The department may grant the petition if it deems it in
the best interest of the state and upon payment for the right of
way and any damages to the affected aquatic lands. [2005 c
155 § 208; 2003 c 334 § 612; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 55. Formerly RCW 79.91.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.110
79.110.110 Railroad bridge rights of way across navigable streams. Any railroad company organized under the
laws of the territory or state of Washington, or under any
other state or territory of the United States, or under any act
of the congress of the United States, and authorized to do
business in the state and to construct and operate railroads,
shall have the right to construct bridges across the navigable
streams within this state over which the line or lines of its
railway shall run for the purpose of being made a part of the
railway line, or for the more convenient use thereof, if the
bridges are constructed so as not to interfere with, impede, or
obstruct navigation on the streams. However, payment for
any right of way and any damages to those aquatic lands
affected must be paid first. [2005 c 155 § 209; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 56. Formerly RCW 79.91.090.]
79.110.120
79.110.120 Public bridges or trestles across waterways and aquatic lands—Recovery of reasonable direct
administrative costs—Report to the legislature. (1) Counties, cities, towns, and other municipalities shall have the
right to construct bridges and trestles across waterways heretofore or hereafter laid out under the authority of the state of
Washington, and over and across any tidelands, shorelands,
bedlands, or harbor areas owned and managed by the state
adjacent thereto over which the projected line or lines of
highway will run, if such bridges or trestles are constructed in
good faith for the purpose of being made a part of the constructed line of such a highway, upon payment for any natural
resource damages to those aquatic lands affected not already
covered by an approved state or federal regulatory mitigation
plan. Such a right shall be granted by easement and no
charge may be made to the county, city, town, or other
municipality, for such an easement. The department may
recover only its reasonable direct administrative costs
incurred in processing and approving the request or application, and reviewing plans for construction of the bridge or
trestle.
(2) For purposes of this section, "direct administrative
costs" means the cost of hours worked directly on an application or request, based on salaries and benefits, plus travel
reimbursement and other actual out-of-pocket costs. Direct
administrative costs recovered by the department must be
deposited into the resource management cost account.
[Title 79 RCW—page 96]
(3) By December 1, 2008, the department must deliver a
report to the legislature regarding the collection of administrative fees as described in this section. [2005 c 58 § 1; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 57. Formerly RCW 79.91.100.]
79.110.130
79.110.130 Common carriers may bridge or trestle
state waterways. Any person authorized by any state or
municipal law or ordinance to construct and operate railroads, interurban railroads, or street railroads as common carriers within this state, shall have the right to construct bridges
or trestles across waterways laid out under the authority of
the state of Washington, over which the projected line or
lines of railroad will run. The bridges or trestles shall be constructed in good faith for the purpose of being made a part of
the constructed line of the railroad, and may also include a
roadway for the accommodation of vehicles and foot passengers. Full payment for any right of way and any damages to
those aquatic lands affected by the right of way shall first be
made. [2005 c 155 § 211; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 58. Formerly
RCW 79.91.110.]
79.110.140
79.110.140 Location and plans of bridge or trestle to
be approved—Future alterations. The location and plans
of any bridge, draw bridge, or trestle proposed to be constructed under RCW 79.110.110 through 79.110.130 shall be
submitted to and approved by the department before construction is commenced. However, in case the portion of the
waterway, river, stream, or watercourse, at the place to be
crossed is navigable water of the United States, or otherwise
within the jurisdiction of the United States, the location and
plans shall also be submitted to and approved by the United
States army corps of engineers before construction is commenced. When plans for any bridge or trestle have been
approved by the department and the United States army corps
of engineers, it is unlawful to deviate from the plans either
before or after the completion of the structure, unless the
modification of the plans has previously been submitted to,
and received the approval of the department and the United
States army corps of engineers, as the case may be. Any
structure authorized and approved as indicated in this section
shall remain within the jurisdiction of the respective officer
or officers approving the structure, and shall be altered or
changed from time to time at the expense of the municipality
owning the highway, or at the expense of the common carriers, at the time owning the railway or road using the structure,
to meet the necessities of navigation and commerce in such a
manner as may be from time to time ordered by the respective
officer or officers at the time having jurisdiction of the structure, and the orders may be enforced by appropriate action at
law or in equity at the suit of the state. [2005 c 155 § 212;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 59. Formerly RCW 79.91.120.]
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR UTILITY LINES
79.110.200
79.110.200 Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc. A right of way through, over, and across
any tidelands, shorelands, beds of navigable waters, oyster
reserves belonging to the state, or the reversionary interest of
the state in oyster lands may be granted to any person or the
United States of America, constructing or proposing to con(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Easements and Rights of Way
struct, or which has constructed, any telephone line, ditch,
flume, or pipeline for the domestic water supply of any
municipal corporation or transmission line for the purpose of
generating or transmitting electricity for light, heat, or power.
[2005 c 155 § 213; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 60. Formerly RCW
79.91.130.]
79.110.210
79.110.210 Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc.—Procedure to acquire. In order to
obtain the benefits of the grant made in RCW 79.110.200, the
person or the United States of America constructing or proposing to construct, or which has constructed, a telephone
line, ditch, flume, pipeline, or transmission line, shall file,
with the department, a map accompanied by the field notes of
the survey and location of the telephone line, ditch, flume,
pipeline, or transmission line, and shall make payment as
provided in RCW 79.110.220. The land within the right of
way shall be limited to an amount necessary for the construction of the telephone line, ditch, flume, pipeline, or transmission line sufficient for the purposes required, together with
sufficient land on either side thereof for ingress and egress to
maintain and repair the telephone line, ditch, flume, pipeline,
or transmission line. The grant shall also include the right to
cut all standing timber outside the right of way marked as
danger trees located on public lands upon full payment of the
appraised value. [2005 c 155 § 214; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 61.
Formerly RCW 79.91.140.]
79.110.220
79.110.220 Right of way for utility pipelines, transmission lines, etc.—Appraisal—Certificate—Reversion
for nonuser. On the filing of the plat and field notes, as provided in RCW 79.110.210, the land applied for and any
improvements included in the right of way applied for, if any,
shall be appraised as in the case of an application to purchase
state lands. Upon full payment of the appraised value of the
state-owned aquatic land applied for, or upon payment of an
annual rental when the department deems a rental to be in the
best interests of the state, and upon full payment of the
appraised value of any danger trees and improvements, if
any, the department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of
the grant of right of way stating the terms and conditions and
shall enter the certificate in the abstracts and records in the
department’s Olympia office, and thereafter any sale or lease
of the lands affected by the right of way shall be subject to the
easement of the right of way. However, should the person or
the United States of America securing the right of way ever
abandon the use of the right of way for the purposes for which
it was granted, the right of way shall revert to the state, or the
state’s grantee. [2005 c 155 § 215; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 62.
Formerly RCW 79.91.150.]
79.110.230
79.110.230 Use of state-owned aquatic lands for public utility lines. (1) The use of state-owned aquatic lands for
public utility lines owned by a governmental entity shall be
granted by an agreement, permit, or other instrument if the
use is consistent with the purposes of RCW 79.105.010,
79.105.030, 79.105.050, 79.105.210, 79.105.400, and
79.130.070 and does not obstruct navigation or other public
uses. The department may recover only its reasonable direct
administrative costs incurred in processing and approving the
(2006 Ed.)
79.110.240
request or application, and reviewing plans for construction
of public utility lines. For purposes of this section, "direct
administrative costs" means the cost of hours worked directly
on an application or request, based on salaries and benefits,
plus travel reimbursement and other actual out-of-pocket
costs. Direct administrative costs recovered by the department must be deposited into the resource management cost
account.
(2) The use of state-owned aquatic lands for local public
utility lines owned by a nongovernmental entity will be
granted by easement if the use is consistent with the purpose
of RCW 79.105.010, 79.105.030, 79.105.050, 79.105.210,
79.105.400, and 79.130.070 and does not obstruct navigation
or other public uses. The total charge for the easement will
be determined under RCW 79.110.240.
(3) Nothing in this section limits the ability of the department to obtain payment for commodity costs, such as lost
revenue from renewable resources, resulting from the granted
use of state-owned aquatic lands for public utility lines.
[2005 c 155 § 216.]
79.110.240 Charge for term of easement—Recovery
of costs. (1) Until July 1, 2008, the charge for the term of an
easement granted under *RCW 79.105.220(2) will be determined as follows and will be paid in advance upon grant of
the easement:
(a) Five thousand dollars for individual easement crossings that are no longer than one mile in length;
(b) Twelve thousand five hundred dollars for individual
easement crossings that are more than one mile but less than
five miles in length; or
(c) Twenty thousand dollars for individual easement
crossings that are five miles or more in length.
(2) The charge for easements under subsection (1) of this
section must be adjusted annually by the rate of yearly
increase in the most recently published consumer price index,
all urban consumers, for the Seattle-Everett SMSA, over the
consumer price index for the preceding year, as compiled by
the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of
labor for the state of Washington rounded up to the nearest
fifty dollars.
(3) The term of the easement is thirty years.
(4) In addition to the charge for the easement under subsection (1) of this section, the department may recover its reasonable direct administrative costs incurred in receiving an
application for the easement, approving the easement, and
reviewing plans for and construction of the public utility
lines. For the purposes of this subsection, "direct administrative costs" means the cost of hours worked directly on an
application, based on salaries and benefits, plus travel reimbursement and other actual out-of-pocket costs. Direct
administrative costs recovered by the department must be
deposited into the resource management cost account.
(5) Applicants under *RCW 79.105.220(2) providing a
residence with an individual service connection for electrical,
natural gas, cable television, or telecommunications service
are not required to pay the charge for the easement under subsection (1) of this section but shall pay administrative costs
under subsection (4) of this section.
(6) A final decision on applications for an easement must
be made within one hundred twenty days after the department
79.110.240
[Title 79 RCW—page 97]
79.110.300
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
receives the completed application and after all applicable
regulatory permits for the aquatic easement have been
acquired. This subsection applies to applications submitted
before June 13, 2002, as well as to applications submitted on
or after June 13, 2002. Upon request of the applicant, the
department may reach a decision on an application within
sixty days and charge an additional fee for an expedited processing. The fee for an expedited processing is the greater of:
(a) Ten percent of the combined total of the easement charge
and direct administrative costs; or (b) the cost of staff overtime, calculated at time and one-half, associated with the
expedited processing. [2005 c 155 § 162; 2002 c 152 § 3.
Formerly RCW 79.90.575.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.105.220 was amended by 2005 c 155 § 145
deleting subsection (2).
Findings—2002 c 152: "The legislature finds that local public utilities
provide essential services to all of the residents of the state and that the construction and improvement of local utility infrastructure is critical to the public health, safety, and welfare, community and economic development, and
installation of modern and reliable communication and energy technology.
The legislature further finds that local utility lines must cross state-owned
aquatic lands in order to reach all state residents and that, for the benefit of
such residents, the state should permit the crossings, consistent with all
applicable state environmental laws, in a nondiscriminatory, economic, and
timely manner. The legislature further finds that this act and the valuation
methodology in section 3 of this act applies only to the uses listed in section
2 of this act, and does not establish a precedent for valuation for any other
uses on state-owned aquatic lands." [2002 c 152 § 1.]
Severability—2002 c 152: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2002 c 152 § 4.]
RIGHTS OF WAY FOR IRRIGATION, DIKING, AND
DRAINAGE/OVERFLOW RIGHTS
drainage ditch for the purposes required, together with sufficient land on either side for ingress and egress to maintain
and repair the irrigation ditch, pipeline, dike, or drainage
ditch. [2005 c 155 § 218; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 64. Formerly
RCW 79.91.170.]
79.110.320
79.110.320 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes—Appraisal—Certificate. Upon the filing of the plat and field notes as in RCW 79.110.310, the
lands included within the right of way applied for shall be
appraised as in the case of an application to purchase the
lands, at full market value. Upon full payment of the
appraised value of the lands the department shall issue to the
applicant a certificate of right of way, and enter the certificate
in the department records. Any subsequent sale or lease by
the state of the lands affected by the right of way shall be subject to the certificate of right of way. [2005 c 155 § 219; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 65. Formerly RCW 79.91.180.]
79.110.330
79.110.330 Grant of overflow rights. The department
has the power and authority to grant to any person, the right,
privilege, and authority to perpetually back and hold water
upon or over any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, and to
overflow and inundate the lands, whenever the department
deems it necessary for the purpose of erecting, constructing,
maintaining, or operating any water power plant, reservoir, or
works for impounding water for power purposes, irrigation,
mining, or other public use in accordance with the provisions
of RCW 79.36.570. [2005 c 155 § 220. FORMERLY PART
OF RCW 79.90.470; 2003 c 334 § 613; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §
66. Formerly RCW 79.91.190.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.300 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes. A right of way through, over, and across
any state-owned tidelands or shorelands is granted to any irrigation district, or irrigation company duly organized under
the laws of this state, and to any person, or the United States
of America, constructing or proposing to construct an irrigation ditch or pipeline for irrigation, or to any diking and
drainage district or any diking and drainage improvement
district proposing to construct a dike or drainage ditch. [2005
c 155 § 217; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 63. Formerly RCW
79.91.160.]
79.110.300
79.110.310 Right of way for irrigation, diking, and
drainage purposes—Procedure to acquire. In order to
obtain the benefits of the grant provided for in RCW
79.110.300, the irrigation district, irrigation company, person, or the United States of America, constructing or proposing to construct an irrigation ditch or pipeline for irrigation,
or the diking and drainage district or diking and drainage
improvement district constructing or proposing to construct
any dike or drainage ditch, shall file with the department a
map accompanied by the field notes of the survey and location of the proposed irrigation ditch, pipeline, dike, or drainage ditch, and shall pay to the state as provided in RCW
79.110.320, the amount of the appraised value of the lands
used for or included within the right of way. The land within
the right of way shall be limited to an amount necessary for
the construction of the irrigation ditch, pipeline, dike, or
79.110.340
79.110.340 Construction of RCW 79.110.010 through
79.110.220 and 79.110.240 through 79.110.330 relating to
rights of way and overflow rights. RCW 79.110.010
through 79.110.220 and 79.110.240 through 79.110.330,
relating to the acquiring of rights of way and overflow rights
through, over, and across state-owned aquatic lands, shall not
be construed as exclusive or as affecting the right of municipal and public service corporations to acquire lands belonging to or under the control of the state, or rights of way or
other rights, by condemnation proceedings. [2005 c 155 §
221; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 67. Formerly RCW 79.91.200.]
79.110.310
[Title 79 RCW—page 98]
79.110.350
79.110.350 Grant of such easements and rights of
way as applicant may acquire in private lands by eminent
domain. The department may grant to any person easements
and rights in tidelands and shorelands and oyster reserves
owned by the state as the applicant may acquire in privately
or publicly owned lands through proceedings in eminent
domain in accordance with the provisions of RCW
79.36.355. [2005 c 155 § 222; 2003 c 334 § 614; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 68. Formerly RCW 79.91.210.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.110.900
79.110.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Harbor Areas
79.110.901
79.110.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.115
Chapter 79.115 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—HARBOR AREAS
Sections
79.115.001
Intent—2005 c 155.
HARBOR LINE ESTABLISHMENT AND RELOCATION
79.115.010
79.115.020
79.115.030
79.115.040
79.115.050
Harbor lines and areas to be established.
Relocation of harbor lines by the harbor line commission.
Relocation of harbor lines authorized by legislature.
Modification of harbor lines in Port Gardner Bay.
Seizure or sale of improvements for taxes.
79.115.100
79.115.110
Terms of harbor area leases.
Construction or extension of docks, wharves, etc., in harbor
areas—New lease.
Re-leases of harbor areas.
Procedure to re-lease harbor areas.
Regulation of wharfage, dockage, and other tolls.
Harbor areas and tidelands within towns—Distribution of
rents to municipal authorities.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
HARBOR AREA LEASES
79.115.120
79.115.130
79.115.140
79.115.150
79.115.900
79.115.901
79.115.001
79 . 11 5 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
See R CW
HARBOR LINE ESTABLISHMENT AND RELOCATION
79.115.010
79.115.010 Harbor lines and areas to be established.
(1) It is the duty of the board acting as the harbor line commission to locate and establish harbor lines and determine
harbor areas, as required by Article XV, section 1 of the state
Constitution, where harbor lines and harbor areas have not
previously been located and established.
(2) The board shall locate and establish outer harbor
lines beyond which the state shall never sell or lease any
rights whatever to private persons, and to locate and establish
the inner harbor line, thereby defining the width of the harbor
area between such harbor lines. The harbor area shall be forever reserved for landings, wharves, streets, and other conveniences of navigation and commerce. [2005 c 155 § 301;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 69. Formerly RCW 79.92.010.]
79.115.020
79.115.020 Relocation of harbor lines by the harbor
line commission. Whenever it appears that the inner harbor
line of any harbor area has been so established as to overlap
or fall inside the government meander line, or for any other
good cause, the board acting as the harbor line commission is
empowered to relocate and reestablish said inner harbor line
so erroneously established, outside of the meander line. All
tidelands or shorelands within the inner harbor line so reestablished and relocated, shall belong to the state and may be
sold or leased as other first-class tidelands or shorelands in
accordance with the provisions of RCW 79.125.200. However, in all other cases, authority to relocate the inner harbor
line or outer harbor line, or both, shall first be obtained from
the legislature. [2005 c 155 § 302; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 70.
Formerly RCW 79.92.020.]
(2006 Ed.)
79.115.050
79.115.030
79.115.030 Relocation of harbor lines authorized by
legislature. The commission on harbor lines is authorized to
change, relocate, or reestablish harbor lines in Guemes Channel and Fidalgo Bay in front of the city of Anacortes, Skagit
county; in Grays Harbor in front of the cities of Aberdeen,
Hoquiam, and Cosmopolis, Grays Harbor county; Bellingham Bay in front of the city of Bellingham and in Drayton
Harbor in front of the city of Blaine, Whatcom county; in
Elliott Bay, Puget Sound and Lake Union within, and in front
of the city of Seattle, King county, and within one mile of the
limits of such city; Port Angeles harbor in front of the city of
Port Angeles, Clallam county; in Lake Washington in front of
the cities of Renton and Lake Forest Park, King county;
Commencement Bay in front of the city of Tacoma, Pierce
county; and within one mile of the limits of such city; Budd
Inlet in front of the city of Olympia, Thurston county; the
Columbia river in front of the city of Kalama, Cowlitz
county; Port Washington Narrows and Sinclair Inlet in front
of the city of Bremerton, Kitsap county; Sinclair Inlet in front
of the city of Port Orchard, Kitsap county; in Liberty Bay in
front of the city of Poulsbo, Kitsap county; the Columbia
river in front of the city of Vancouver, Clark county; Port
Townsend Bay in front of the city of Port Townsend, Jefferson county; the Swinomish Channel in front of the city of La
Conner, Skagit county; and Port Gardner Bay in front of the
city of Everett, except no harbor lines shall be established in
Port Gardener Bay west of the easterly shoreline of Jetty
Island as presently situated or west of a line extending S 37°
09’ 38" W from the Snohomish River Light (5), and in front
of the city of Edmonds, Snohomish county; in Oakland Bay
in front of the city of Shelton, Mason county; and within one
mile of the limits of such city; in Gig Harbor in front of the
city of Gig Harbor, Pierce county; and within one mile of the
limits of such city, at the entrance to the Columbia river in
front of the city of Ilwaco, Pacific county; in the Columbia
river in front of the city of Pasco, Franklin county; and in the
Columbia river in front of the city of Kennewick, Benton
county. [2005 c 155 § 303; 2004 c 219 § 1; 1989 c 79 § 1;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 71. Formerly RCW 79.92.030.]
79.115.040
79.115.040 Modification of harbor lines in Port
Gardner Bay. The harbor line commission shall modify harbor lines in Port Gardner Bay as necessary to facilitate the
con veyance thr ough exchan ge author ized in RCW
79.125.800. [2005 c 155 § 304; 1987 c 271 § 5. Formerly
RCW 79.92.035.]
Severability—1987 c 271: See note following RCW 79.130.050.
79.115.050
79.115.050 Seizure or sale of improvements for taxes.
Whenever improvements have been made on state-owned
tidelands, shorelands, or beds of navigable waters, in front of
cities or towns, prior to the location of harbor lines in front of
the cities or towns, and the reserved harbor area as located
include the improvements, no seizure or sale of the improvements for taxes shall be had until six months after the lands
have been leased or offered for lease. However, this section
shall not affect or impair the lien for taxes on the improvements. [2005 c 155 § 136; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 45. Formerly
RCW 79.90.390.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 99]
79.115.100
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
HARBOR AREA LEASES
79.115.100
79.115.100 Terms of harbor area leases. Applications, leases, and bonds of lessees shall be in such a form as
the department shall prescribe. Every lease shall provide that
the rental shall be payable to the department, and for cancellation by the department upon sixty days’ written notice for
any breach of the conditions. Every lessee shall furnish a
bond, with surety satisfactory to the department, with such
penalty as the department may prescribe, but not less than
five hundred dollars, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the terms of the lease and the payment of the rent
when due. If the department at any time deems any bond
insufficient, it may require the lessee to file a new and sufficient bond within thirty days after receiving notice to do so.
Applications for leases of harbor areas upon tidal waters
shall be accompanied by plans and drawings and other data
concerning the proposed wharves, docks, or other structures
or improvements as the department shall require. Every lease
of harbor areas shall provide that, wharves, docks, or other
conveniences of navigation and commerce adequate for the
public needs, to be specified in the lease, shall be constructed
within the time as may be fixed in each case by the department. In no case shall the construction be commenced more
than two years from the date of the lease and shall be completed within such reasonable time as the department shall
fix, any of which times may be extended by the department
either before or after their expiration, and the character of the
improvements may be changed either before or after completion with the approval of the department. However, if in its
opinion improvements existing upon such harbor area or the
tidelands adjacent thereto are adequate for public needs of
commerce and navigation, the department shall require the
maintenance of existing improvements and need not require
further improvements. [2005 c 155 § 305; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21
§ 74. Formerly RCW 79.92.060.]
79.115.110
79.115.110 Construction or extension of docks,
wharves, etc., in harbor areas—New lease. If the owner of
any harbor area lease upon tidal waters desires to construct
any wharf, dock, or other convenience of navigation or commerce, or to extend, enlarge, or substantially improve any
existing structure used in connection with the harbor area,
and deems the required expenditure not warranted by the lessee’s right to occupy the harbor area during the remainder of
the term of their lease, the lease owner may make application
to the department for a new lease of the harbor area for a
period not exceeding thirty years. Upon the filing of an application accompanied by proper plans, drawings, or other data,
the department shall investigate the application and if the
department determines that the proposed work or improvement is in the public interest and reasonably adequate for the
public needs, it shall by order fix the terms and conditions
and the rate of rental for a new lease, the rate of rental shall
be a fixed percentage, during the term of the lease, on the true
and fair value in money of the harbor area determined by the
department. The department may propose modifications of
the proposed wharf, dock, or other convenience or extensions, enlargements, or improvements. The department shall,
within ninety days from the filing of an application notify the
[Title 79 RCW—page 100]
applicant in writing of the terms and conditions upon which a
new lease will be granted, and of the rental to be paid, and if
the applicant shall within ninety days elect to accept a new
lease of the harbor area upon the terms and conditions, and at
the rental prescribed by the department, the department shall
make a new lease for the harbor area for the term applied for
and the existing lease shall be surrendered and canceled.
[2005 c 155 § 306; 2000 c 11 § 27; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 75.
Formerly RCW 79.92.070.]
79.115.120
79.115.120 Re-leases of harbor areas. Upon the expiration of any harbor area lease upon tidal waters, the lessee
may apply for a re-lease of the harbor area for a period not
exceeding thirty years. The application shall be accompanied
with maps showing the existing improvements upon the harbor area and the adjacent tidelands and with proper plans,
drawings, and other data showing any proposed extensions or
improvements of existing structures. Upon the filing of an
application the department shall investigate the application
and if it determines that the character of the wharves, docks,
or other conveniences of commerce and navigation are reasonably adequate for the public needs and in the public interest, it shall by order fix and determine the terms and conditions upon which the re-lease shall be granted and the rate of
rental to be paid, which rate shall be a fixed percentage during the term of the lease on the true and fair value in money
of the harbor area as determined by the department. [2005 c
155 § 307; 2000 c 11 § 28; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 76. Formerly
RCW 79.92.080.]
79.115.130
79.115.130 Procedure to re-lease harbor areas. Upon
completion of the valuation of any tract of harbor area
applied for under RCW 79.115.120, the department shall
notify the applicant of the terms and conditions upon which
the re-lease will be granted and of the rental fixed. The applicant or the applicant’s successor in interest shall have the
option for the period of sixty days from the date of the service
of notice in which to accept a lease on the terms and conditions and at the rental so fixed and determined by the department. If the terms and conditions and rental are accepted a
new lease shall be granted for the term applied for. If the
terms and conditions are not accepted by the applicant within
the period of time, or within such further time, not exceeding
three months, as the department shall grant, the lease shall be
deemed rejected by the applicant, and the department shall
give eight weeks’ notice by publication once a week in one or
more newspapers of general circulation in the county in
which the harbor area is located, that a lease of the harbor
area will be sold on the terms and conditions and at the rental,
at a time and place specified in the notice (which shall not be
more than three months from the date of the first publication
of the notice) to the person offering at the public sale to pay
the highest sum as a cash bonus at the time of sale of the
lease. Notice of the sale shall be served upon the applicant at
least six weeks prior to the date of sale. The person paying
the highest sum as a cash bonus shall be entitled to lease the
harbor area. However, if the lease is not sold at the public
sale the department may at any time or times again fix the
terms, conditions, and rental, and again advertise the lease for
sale as provided in this section and upon similar notice. Fur(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Waterways and Streets
ther, upon failure to secure any sale of the lease as prescribed
in this section, the department may issue revocable leases
without requirement of improvements for one year periods at
a minimum rate of two percent. [2005 c 155 § 308; 1985 c
469 § 61; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 77. Formerly RCW
79.92.090.]
79.115.140
79.115.140 Regulation of wharfage, dockage, and
other tolls. The state of Washington retains and reserves the
right to regulate the rates of wharfage, dockage, and other
tolls to be imposed by the lessee or the lessee’s assigns upon
commerce for any of the purposes for which the leased area
may be used and the right to prevent extortion and discrimination in such use. [2005 c 155 § 309; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §
78. Formerly RCW 79.92.100.]
79.115.150
79.115.150 Harbor areas and tidelands within
towns—Distribution of rents to municipal authorities. (1)
Where any leased harbor area or tideland is situated within
the limits of a town, whether or not the harbor area or tideland
lies within a port district, the rents from the leases shall be
paid by the state treasurer to the municipal authorities of the
town to be expended for water-related improvements.
(2) The state treasurer is authorized and directed to make
payments to the respective towns on the first days of July and
January of each year, of all moneys payable under the terms
of this section. [2005 c 155 § 310; 1984 c 221 § 25; 1983 c
153 § 1; 1982 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 2; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 79. Formerly RCW 79.92.110.]
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 221: See RCW 79.105.901 and
79.105.902.
Effective date—1983 c 153: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1983." [1983 c 153 § 2.]
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 2: "Section 2 of this act shall take
effect July 1, 1983." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 3.]
79.120.001
79.120.040
79 . 12 0 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
See R CW
79.120.010
79.120.010 First class tidelands and shorelands to be
platted—Public waterways and streets. It is the duty of the
department simultaneously with the establishment of harbor
lines and the determination of harbor areas in front of any city
or town, or as soon as practicable, to survey and plat all firstclass tidelands and shorelands not previously platted, and in
platting the tidelands and shorelands to lay out streets which
shall be dedicated to public use, subject to the control of the
cities or towns in which they are situated.
The department shall also establish one or more public
waterways not less than fifty nor more than one thousand feet
wide, beginning at the outer harbor line and extending inland
across the tidelands belonging to the state. These waterways
shall include within their boundaries, as nearly as practicable,
all navigable streams running through the tidelands, and shall
be located at other places as in the judgment of the department may be necessary for the present and future convenience of commerce and navigation. All waterways shall be
reserved from sale or lease and remain as public highways for
watercraft until vacated as provided for in this chapter.
The department shall appraise the value of platted tidelands and shorelands and enter the appraisals in its records.
[2005 c 155 § 401; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 80. Formerly RCW
79.93.010.]
79.120.020
79.120.020 Streets, waterways, etc., validated. All
alleys, streets, avenues, boulevards, waterways, and other
public places and highways located and platted on the firstclass tidelands and shorelands, or harbor areas, as provided
by law, and not vacated as provided by law, are validated as
public highways and dedicated to the use of the public for the
purposes for which they were intended, subject to vacation as
provided for in this chapter. [2005 c 155 § 402; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 81. Formerly RCW 79.93.020.]
79.115.900
79.115.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
79.115.901
79.115.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.120 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—WATERWAYS AND STREETS
79.120.030
79.120.030 Approval of plans/authorize construction
on state-owned aquatic lands. The department has the
power to approve plans for and authorize the construction of
slopes, with rock, riprap, or other protection, upon any stateowned aquatic lands incident to the improvement of any
abutting or adjacent street or avenue by any city or town in
this state. [2005 c 155 § 403; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 82. Formerly RCW 79.93.030.]
Chapter 79.120
Sections
79.120.001
79.120.010
79.120.020
79.120.030
79.120.040
79.120.050
79.120.060
79.120.900
79.120.901
(2006 Ed.)
Intent—2005 c 155.
First class tidelands and shorelands to be platted—Public
waterways and streets.
Streets, waterways, etc., validated.
Approval of plans/authorize construction on state-owned
aquatic lands.
Permits to use waterways.
Excavation of waterways—Waterways open to public—Tide
gates or locks.
Vacation of waterways—Extension of streets.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79.120.040
79.120.040 Permits to use waterways. If the United
States government has established pierhead lines within a
waterway created under the laws of this state at any distance
from the boundaries established by the state, structures may
be constructed in that strip of waterway between the waterway boundary and the nearest pierhead line only with the
consent of the department and upon such plans, terms, and
conditions and for such term as determined by the department. However, no permit shall extend for a period longer
than thirty years.
The department may cancel any permit upon sixty days’
notice for a substantial breach by the permittee of any of the
permit conditions.
[Title 79 RCW—page 101]
79.120.050
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
If a waterway is within the territorial limits of a port district, the duties assigned by this section to the department
may be exercised by the port commission of the port district
as provided in RCW 79.105.420.
Nothing in this section shall confer upon, create, or recognize in any abutting owner any right or privilege in or to
any strip of waterway abutting any street and between prolongations of the lines of the street, but the control of and the
right to use the strip is reserved to the state of Washington,
except as authorized by RCW 79.105.420. [2005 c 155 §
404; 1984 c 221 § 21; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 83. Formerly
RCW 79.93.040.]
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 221: See RCW 79.105.901 and
79.105.902.
Application to existing property rights: RCW 79.105.040.
79.120.050
79.120.050 Excavation of waterways—Waterways
open to public—Tide gates or locks. All waterways excavated through any state-owned tidelands or shorelands by virtue of the provisions of chapter 99, Laws of 1893, so far as
they run through the tidelands or shorelands, are declared to
be public waterways, free to all citizens upon equal terms,
and subject to the jurisdiction of the proper authorities, as
otherwise provided by law. However, where tide gates or
locks are considered by the contracting parties excavating
any waterways to be necessary to the efficiency of the waterway, the department may, in its discretion, authorize tide
gates or locks to be constructed and may authorize the parties
constructing the waterway to operate them and collect a reasonable toll from vessels passing through the tide gates or
locks. Further, the state of Washington or the United States
of America can, at any time, appropriate the tide gates or
locks upon payment to the parties erecting them of the reasonable value of the tide gates or locks at the date of the
appropriation, reasonable value to be ascertained and determined as in other cases of condemnation of private property
for public use. [2005 c 155 § 405; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 84.
Formerly RCW 79.93.050.]
79.120.060
79.120.060 Vacation of waterways—Extension of
streets. If a waterway established under the laws of this
state, or any portion of the waterway, has not been excavated,
or is not used for navigation, or is not required in the public
interest to exist as a waterway, the waterway or a portion of
the waterway may be vacated by written order of the commissioner upon request by ordinance or resolution of the city
council of the city in which such waterway is located or by
resolution of the port commission of the port district in which
the waterway is located. If the waterway or a portion of the
waterway which is vacated is navigable water of the United
States, or otherwise within the jurisdiction of the United
States, a copy of the resolution or ordinance, together with a
copy of the vacation order of the commissioner shall be submitted to the United States army corps of engineers for their
approval, and if they approve, the waterway or a portion of
the waterway is vacated. However, if a port district owns
property abutting the waterway and the provisions of this section are otherwise satisfied, the waterway, or the portion of
the waterway that abuts the port district property, shall be
vacated.
[Title 79 RCW—page 102]
Upon vacation of a waterway, the commissioner shall
notify the city in which the waterway is located, and the city
has the right, if otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200, to
extend across the portions so vacated any existing streets, or
to select portions of the waterway as the city may desire for
street purposes, in no case to exceed one hundred fifty feet in
width for any one street. The selection shall be made within
sixty days subsequent to the receipt of notice of the vacation
of the portion of the waterway.
If the city fails to make a selection within the time, or
selects only a portion of the waterway, the title of the remaining portions of the vacated waterway shall vest in the state,
unless the waterway is located within the territorial limits of
a port district, in which event, if otherwise permitted by RCW
79.125.200, the title shall vest in the port district. The title is
subject to any railroad or street railway crossings existing at
the time of the vacation. [2005 c 155 § 406; 1984 c 221 § 22;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 85. Formerly RCW 79.93.060.]
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 221: See RCW 79.105.901 and
79.105.902.
Application to existing property rights: RCW 79.105.040.
79.120.900
79.120.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
79.120.901
79.120.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.125 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—TIDELANDS
AND SHORELANDS
Chapter 79.125
Sections
79.125.001
Intent—2005 c 155.
PLAT/APPRAISAL/REPLAT
79.125.010
79.125.020
79.125.030
79.125.040
79.125.050
79.125.060
79.125.070
79.125.080
79.125.090
79.125.100
79.125.110
Location of line dividing tidelands from shorelands in tidal
rivers.
First-class tidelands and shorelands to be platted.
Second-class tidelands and shorelands may be platted.
Tidelands and shorelands—Plats—Record.
Date of sale limited by time of appraisal.
First or second-class tidelands and shorelands—Appraisal—
Record.
Tidelands and shorelands—Notice of filing plat and record of
appraisal—Appeal.
Tidelands and shorelands—Petition for replat—Replatting and
reappraisal—Vacation by replat.
Tidelands and shorelands—Dedication of replat—All interests
must join.
Tidelands and shorelands—Vacation procedure cumulative.
Tidelands and shorelands—Effect of replat.
EXCHANGE, SALE, LEASE LIMITATIONS/TERMS
79.125.200
79.125.210
79.125.220
79.125.230
79.125.240
79.125.250
79.125.260
State-owned tidelands, shorelands, and waterways—Sold only
to public entities—Leasing—Limitation.
Sale of second-class tidelands.
Second-class tidelands or shorelands—Lease for booming
purposes.
Second-class tidelands or shorelands separated from uplands
by navigable water—Sale.
Sale procedure—Terms of payment—Deferred payments, rate
of interest.
Sale procedure—Certificate to governor of payment in full—
Deed.
Sale procedure—Reservation in contract.
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
79.125.270
79.125.280
79.125.290
79.125.300
79.125.310
Sale procedure—Form of contract—Forfeiture—Extension of
time.
Subdivision of leases—Fee.
First-class tidelands and shorelands—Sale of remaining lands.
Tidelands or shorelands—Failure to re-lease tidelands or
shorelands—Appraisal of improvements.
Effect of mistake or fraud.
SALE OR LEASING PREFERENCE
79.125.400
79.125.410
79.125.420
79.125.430
79.125.440
79.125.450
79.125.460
First-class tidelands and shorelands—Lease—Preference right
of upland owner—How exercised.
First-class unplatted tidelands and shorelands—Lease preference right to upland owners—Lease for booming purposes.
Tidelands and shorelands—Vacation by replat—Preference
right of tideland or shoreland owner.
Tidelands or shorelands—Preference rights, time limit on
exercise.
Tidelands or shorelands—Accretions—Lease.
Second-class shorelands on navigable lakes—Sale.
Second-class shorelands—Sale or lease when in best public
interest—Preference right of upland owner—Procedure
upon determining sale or lease not in best public interest or
where transfer made for public use—Platting.
SECOND-CLASS SHORELANDS—SPECIAL PLATTING AND
SELECTION PROVISIONS
79.125.500
79.125.510
79.125.520
79.125.530
Second-class shorelands—Boundary of shorelands when
water lowered—Certain shorelands granted to city of Seattle.
Second-class shorelands—Survey/platting—Selection for
slips, docks, wharves, etc.—Filing of plat.
Second-class shorelands—Platting of certain shorelands of
Lake Washington for use as harbor area—Effect.
Platting of certain shorelands of Lake Washington for use as
harbor area—Selection for slips, docks, wharves, etc.—
Vesting of title.
SALES OF TIDELANDS AND SHORELANDS
79.125.600
79.125.610
79.125.620
79.125.630
79.125.640
79.125.650
79.125.660
79.125.670
79.125.680
Sale procedure—Fixing date, place, and time of sale—
Notice—Publication and posting.
List of state-owned tidelands and shorelands permitted to be
sold.
Sale procedure—Additional advertising expense.
Reoffer—Continuance.
Sale at public auction—Minimum price—Sales by leaseholder.
Highest responsible bidder—Determination.
Sale procedure—Conduct of sales—Deposits—Bid bonds—
Memorandum of purchase.
Sale procedure—Readvertisement of lands not sold.
Sale procedure—Confirmation of sale.
CONVEYANCE TO PUBLIC ENTITIES/PUBLIC USE
79.125.700
79.125.710
79.125.720
79.125.730
79.125.740
79.125.750
79.125.760
79.125.770
79.125.780
79.125.790
79.125.800
79.125.900
79.125.901
79.125.001
Sale of state-owned tidelands or shorelands to municipal corporation or state agency—Authority to execute agreements,
deeds, etc.
Grant of lands for city park or playground purposes.
Exchange of lands to secure city parks and playgrounds.
Director of ecology to assist city parks.
Certain tidelands reserved for recreational use and taking of
fish and shellfish.
Access to and from tidelands reserved for recreational use and
taking of fish and shellfish.
Use of certain tidelands, shorelands, and abutting bedlands—
Grant to the United States—Purposes—Limitations.
Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands granted to United
States—Application—Proof of upland use—Conveyance.
Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands granted to United
States—Easements over tidelands or shorelands to United
States.
Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands granted to United
States—Reversion on cessation of use.
United States Navy base—Exchange of property—Procedure.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79 . 12 5 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
(2006 Ed.)
See R CW
79.125.060
PLAT/APPRAISAL/REPLAT
79.125.010
79.125.010 Location of line dividing tidelands from
shorelands in tidal rivers. The department is authorized to
locate in all navigable rivers in this state which are subject to
tidal flow, the line dividing the tidelands in the river from the
shorelands in the river, and the classification or the location
of the dividing line shall be final and not subject to review,
and the department shall enter the location of the line upon
the plat of the tidelands and shorelands affected. [2005 c 155
§ 532; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 118. Formerly RCW 79.94.330.]
79.125.020
79.125.020 First-class tidelands and shorelands to be
platted. It is the duty of the department simultaneously with
the establishment of harbor lines and the determination of
harbor areas in front of any city or town or as soon as practicable to survey and plat all first-class tidelands and shorelands not previously platted as provided in RCW 79.120.010.
[2005 c 155 § 501; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 87. Formerly RCW
79.94.020.]
79.125.030
79.125.030 Second-class tidelands and shorelands
may be platted. The department may survey and plat any
second-class tidelands and shorelands not previously platted.
[2005 c 155 § 502; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 88. Formerly RCW
79.94.030.]
79.125.040
79.125.040 Tidelands and shorelands—Plats—
Record. The department shall prepare plats showing all tidelands and shorelands, surveyed, platted, and appraised by it in
the respective counties, on which shall be marked the location of all tidelands and shorelands, with reference to the
lines of the United States survey of the abutting upland, and
shall prepare a record of its proceedings, including a list of
the tidelands and shorelands surveyed, platted, or replatted,
and appraised by it and its appraisal of the tidelands and
shorelands, which plats and books shall be in triplicate and
the department shall file one copy of the plats and records in
the department’s Olympia office, and file one copy in the
office of the county auditor of the county where the lands
platted, or replatted, and appraised are situated, and file one
copy in the office of the city engineer of the city in which, or
within two miles of which, the lands platted, or replatted, are
situated. [2005 c 155 § 503; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 89. Formerly RCW 79.94.040.]
79.125.050
79.125.050 Date of sale limited by time of appraisal.
In no case shall any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, be
offered for sale unless the lands have been appraised by the
department within ninety days prior to the date fixed for the
sale. [2005 c 155 § 107; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 17. Formerly
RCW 79.90.110.]
79.125.060
79.125.060 First or second-class tidelands and shorelands—Appraisal—Record. In appraising tidelands or
shorelands, the department shall appraise each lot, tract, or
piece of land separately, and shall maintain a description of
each lot, tract, or piece of first or second-class tidelands or
shorelands, its full appraised value, the area and rate per acre
[Title 79 RCW—page 103]
79.125.070
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
at which it was appraised, and if any lot is covered in whole
or in part by improvements in actual use for commerce, trade,
residence, or business, on or prior to, the date of the plat or
replat, the department shall enter the name of the owner, or
reputed owner, the nature of the improvements, the area covered by the improvements, the portion of each lot, tract, or
piece of land covered, and the appraised value of the land
covered, with and exclusive of, the improvements. [2005 c
155 § 504; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 90. Formerly RCW
79.94.050.]
79.125.070
79.125.070 Tidelands and shorelands—Notice of filing plat and record of appraisal—Appeal. (1) The department shall, before filing in the department’s Olympia office
the plat and record of appraisal of any tidelands or shorelands
platted and appraised by it, publish a notice once each week
for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper published and of
general circulation in the county where the lands covered by
the plat and record are situated, stating that the plat and
record, describing it, is complete and subject to inspection at
the department’s Olympia office, and will be filed on a certain day to be named in the notice.
(2) Any person entitled to purchase under RCW
79.125.200 and claiming a preference right of purchase of
any of the tidelands or shorelands platted and appraised by
the department, and who feels aggrieved at the appraisement
fixed by the department upon the lands, or any part thereof,
may within sixty days after the filing of the plat and record in
the department’s Olympia office (which shall be done on the
day fixed in the notice), appeal from the appraisement to the
superior court of the county in which the tidelands or shorelands are situated, in the manner provided for taking appeals
from orders or decisions under RCW 79.105.160.
(3) The prosecuting attorney of any county, or city attorney of any city, in which the aquatic lands are located, shall
at the request of the governor, appeal on behalf of the state, or
the county, or city, from any appraisal in the manner provided
in this section. Notice of the appeal shall be served upon the
commissioner, and the department must immediately notify
all persons entitled to purchase under RCW 79.125.200 and
claiming a preference right to purchase the lands subject to
the appraisement.
(4) Any party, other than the state or the county or city
appealing, shall execute a bond to the state with sufficient
surety, to be approved by the department, in the sum of two
hundred dollars conditioned for the payment of costs on
appeal.
(5) The superior court to which an appeal is taken shall
hear evidence as to the value of the lands appraised and enter
an order confirming, or raising, or lowering the appraisal
appealed from, and the clerk of the court shall file a certified
copy in the department’s Olympia office. The appraisal fixed
by the court shall be final. [2005 c 155 § 505; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 91. Formerly RCW 79.94.060.]
79.125.080
79.125.080 Tidelands and shorelands—Petition for
replat—Replatting and reappraisal—Vacation by replat.
Whenever all of the owners and other persons having a vested
interest in those tidelands or shorelands embraced within any
plat of tidelands or shorelands or within any portion of any
[Title 79 RCW—page 104]
plat in which there are unsold state-owned tidelands or shorelands, shall file a petition with the department accompanied
by proof of service of the petition upon the city council, or
other governing body, of the city or town in which the tidelands or shorelands described in the petition are situated, or
upon the legislative body of the county in which the tidelands
or shorelands outside of any incorporated city or town are situated, asking for a replat of the tidelands or shorelands, the
department is authorized and empowered to replat the tidelands or shorelands described in the petition, and all unsold
tidelands or shorelands situated within the replat shall be
reappraised as provided for the original appraisal of tidelands
or shorelands. However, any streets or alleys embraced
within the plat or portion of plat, vacated by the replat shall
vest in the owner or owners of the abutting lands. [2005 c
155 § 509; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 95. Formerly RCW
79.94.100.]
79.125.090
79.125.090 Tidelands and shorelands—Dedication of
replat—All interests must join. If in the preparation of a
replat provided for in RCW 79.125.080 by the department, it
becomes desirable to appropriate any tidelands or shorelands
previously sold for use as streets, alleys, waterways, or other
public places, all persons interested in the title to the tidelands or shorelands desired for public places shall join in the
dedication of the replat before it shall become effective.
[2005 c 155 § 510; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 96. Formerly RCW
79.94.110.]
79.125.100
79.125.100 Tidelands and shorelands—Vacation
procedure cumulative. RCW 79.125.080, 79.125.090, and
79.125.420 are intended to afford a method of procedure, in
addition to other methods provided in this title for the vacation of streets, alleys, waterways, and other public places
platted on tidelands or shorelands. [2005 c 155 § 512; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 98. Formerly RCW 79.94.130.]
79.125.110
79.125.110 Tidelands and shorelands—Effect of
replat. A replat of tidelands or shorelands platted shall be in
full force and effect and shall constitute a vacation of streets,
alleys, waterways, and other dedicated public places, when
otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200, and the dedication
of new streets, alleys, waterways, and other public places
appearing upon the replat, when the replat is recorded and
filed as in the case of original plats. [2005 c 155 § 513; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 99. Formerly RCW 79.94.140.]
EXCHANGE, SALE, LEASE LIMITATIONS/TERMS
79.125.200
79.125.200 State-owned tidelands, shorelands, and
waterways—Sold only to public entities—Leasing—Limitation. (1) This section applies to:
(a) First-class tidelands as defined in RCW 79.105.060;
(b) Second-class tidelands as defined in RCW
79.105.060;
(c) First-class shorelands as defined in RCW
79.105.060;
(d) Second-class shorelands as defined in RCW
79.105.060, except as included within RCW 79.125.450;
(e) Waterways as described in RCW 79.120.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from
and after August 9, 1971, all state-owned tidelands and
shorelands enumerated in subsection (1) of this section shall
not be sold except to public entities as may be authorized by
law and they shall not be given away.
(3) Tidelands and shorelands enumerated in subsection
(1) of this section may be leased for a period not to exceed
fifty-five years. However, nothing in this section shall be
construed as modifying or canceling any outstanding lease
during its present term.
(4) Nothing in this section shall:
(a) Be construed to cancel an existing sale contract;
(b) Prohibit sale or exchange of beds and shorelands
where the water course has changed and the area now has the
characteristics of uplands;
(c) Prevent exchange involving state-owned tidelands
and shorelands;
(d) Be construed to prevent the assertion of public ownership rights in any publicly owned aquatic lands, or the leasing of such aquatic lands when such leasing is not contrary to
the statewide public interest. [2005 c 155 § 514. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.94.170; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §
100. Formerly RCW 79.94.150.]
79.125.210
79.125.210 Sale of second-class tidelands. All secondclass tidelands shall be offered for sale, when otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, and sold in the
same manner as state lands, other than capitol building lands,
but for not less than five dollars per lineal chain, measured on
the United States meander line bounding the inner shore limit
of the tidelands, and shall pay one-tenth of the purchase price
on the date of sale. [2005 c 155 § 508; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §
94. Formerly RCW 79.94.090.]
79.125.220
79.125.220 Second-class tidelands or shorelands—
Lease for booming purposes. (1) The department is authorized to lease any second-class tidelands or shorelands,
whether reserved from sale, or from lease for other purposes,
by or under authority of law, or not, except any oyster reserve
containing oysters in merchantable quantities, to any person,
for booming purposes, for any term not exceeding ten years
from the date of the lease, for annual rental and upon terms
and conditions as the department may fix and determine, and
may also provide for forfeiture and termination of any lease
at any time for failure to pay the fixed rental or for any violation of the terms or conditions.
(2) The lessee of any lands for booming purposes shall
receive, hold, and sort the logs and other timber products of
all persons requesting the service and upon the same terms
and without discrimination, and may charge and collect tolls
for the service not to exceed seventy-five cents per thousand
feet scale measure on all logs, spars, or other large timber and
reasonable rates on all other timber products, and shall be
subject to the same duties and liabilities, so far as the duties
and liabilities are applicable, as are imposed upon boom companies organized under the laws of the state. However, failure to use any lands leased under the provisions of this section for booming purposes for a period of one year shall work
a forfeiture of the lease, and the lands shall revert to the state
(2006 Ed.)
79.125.250
without any notice to the lessee upon the entry of a declaration of forfeiture in the records of the department.
(3) At the expiration of any lease issued under the provisions of this section, the lessee shall have the preference right
to re-lease the lands covered by the lessee’s original lease for
a further term, not exceeding ten years, at the rental and upon
the terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the department. [2005 c 155 § 528; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 114. Formerly
RCW 79.94.290.]
79.125.230
79.125.230 Second-class tidelands or shorelands separated from uplands by navigable water—Sale. Secondclass tidelands and shorelands that are separated from the
upland by navigable waters shall be sold, when otherwise
permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, but in no case at
less than five dollars per acre. An applicant to purchase the
tidelands or shorelands shall, at the applicant’s own expense,
survey and file with the application a plat of the surveys of
the land applied for, which survey shall be connected with,
and the plat shall show, two or more connections with the
United States survey of the uplands, and the applicant shall
file the field notes of the survey of the land with the application. The department shall examine and test the plat and field
notes of the survey, and if found incorrect or indefinite, it
shall cause the survey to be corrected or may reject the survey
and cause a new survey to be made. [2005 c 155 § 526; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 112. Formerly RCW 79.94.270.]
79.125.240
79.125.240 Sale procedure—Terms of payment—
Deferred payments, rate of interest. All state-owned tidelands and shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200 to be sold, shall be sold on the following terms:
One-tenth to be paid on the date of sale; one-tenth to be paid
one year from the date of the issuance of the contract of sale;
and one-tenth annually thereafter until the full purchase price
has been made; but any purchaser may make full payment at
any time. All deferred payments shall draw interest at the
rate as may be fixed by rule adopted by the board, and the rate
of interest, as so fixed at the date of each sale, shall be stated
in all advertising for and notice of the sale and in the contract
of sale. The first installment of interest shall become due and
payable one year after the date of the contract of sale and all
interest shall become due and payable annually on that date,
and all remittances for payment of either principal or interest
shall be forwarded to the department. [2005 c 155 § 122;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 31. Formerly RCW 79.90.250.]
79.125.250
79.125.250 Sale procedure—Certificate to governor
of payment in full—Deed. When the entire purchase price
of any state-owned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, shall have been fully
paid, the department shall certify the fact to the governor, and
shall cause a deed signed by the governor and attested by the
secretary of state, with the seal of the state attached, to be
issued to the purchaser and to be recorded in the department,
and no fee shall be required for any deed issued by the governor other than the fee provided for in this chapter. [2005 c
155 § 123; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 32. Formerly RCW
79.90.260.]
[Title 79 RCW—page 105]
79.125.260
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
79.125.260
79.125.260 Sale procedure—Reservation in contract.
Each and every contract for the sale of, and each deed to,
state-owned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted
under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, shall contain the reservation contained in RCW 79.11.210. [2005 c 155 § 124; 2003
c 334 § 601; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 33. Formerly RCW
79.90.270.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.125.270
79.125.270 Sale procedure—Form of contract—Forfeiture—Extension of time. The purchaser of state-owned
tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200 to be sold, except in cases where the full purchase
price is paid at the time of the purchase, shall enter into and
sign a contract with the state to be signed by the commissioner on behalf of the state, with the seal of the commissioner’s office attached, and in a form to be prescribed by the
attorney general, and under those terms and conditions provided in RCW 79.11.200. [2005 c 155 § 125; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 34. Formerly RCW 79.90.280.]
79.125.280
79.125.280 Subdivision of leases—Fee. Whenever the
holder of any contract to purchase any state-owned tidelands
or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to
be sold, or the holder of any lease of any lands, except for
mining of valuable minerals, or coal, or extraction of petroleum or gas, shall surrender the contract or lease to the
department with the request to have it divided into two or
more contracts or leases, the department may divide the contract or lease and issue new contracts or leases. However, no
new contract or lease shall issue while there is due and unpaid
any rental, taxes, or assessments on the land held under the
contract or lease, nor in any case where the department is of
the opinion that the state’s security would be impaired or
endangered by the proposed division. For all new contracts
or leases a fee as determined by the board for each new contract or lease issued, shall be paid by the applicant and the fee
shall be paid into the state treasury to the resource management cost account in the general fund, pursuant to RCW
79.64.020. [2005 c 155 § 133; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 41. Formerly RCW 79.90.350.]
79.125.290
79.125.290 First-class tidelands and shorelands—
Sale of remaining lands. Any first-class tidelands or shorelands remaining unsold, and where there is no pending application for purchase under claim of any preference right, when
otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, shall
be sold on the same terms and in the same manner as provided for the sale of state lands for not less than the appraised
value fixed at the time of the application to purchase, and the
department whenever it deems it advisable and for the best
interest of the state may reappraise the lands in the same manner as provided for the appraisal of state lands. [2005 c 155 §
507; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 93. Formerly RCW 79.94.080.]
interest, shall after the expiration of any lease, fail to purchase, when otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to
be purchased, or re-lease from the state the tidelands or
shorelands formerly covered by the lease, when the lands are
offered for sale or re-lease, then and in that event the department shall appraise and determine the value of all improvements existing upon the tidelands or shorelands at the expiration of the lease which are not capable of removal without
damage to the land, including the cost of filling and raising
the property above high tide, or high water, whether filled or
raised by the lessee or the lessee’s successors in interest, or
by virtue of any contract made with the state, and also including the then value to the land of all existing local improvements paid for by the lessee or the lessee’s successors in
interest. In case the lessee or the lessee’s successor in interest
is dissatisfied with the appraised value of the improvements
as determined by the department, the lessee shall have the
right of appeal to the superior court of the county where the
tidelands or shorelands are situated, within the time and
according to the method prescribed in RCW 79.105.160 for
taking appeals from decisions of the department.
(2) In case the tidelands or shorelands are leased, or sold,
to any person other than such lessee or the lessee’s successor
in interest, within three years from the expiration of the
former lease, the bid of the subsequent lessee or purchaser
shall not be accepted until payment is made by the subsequent lessee or purchaser of the appraised value of the
improvements as determined by the department, or as may be
determined on appeal, to the former lessee or the former lessee’s successor in interest.
(3) In case the tidelands or shorelands are not leased, or
sold, within three years after the expiration of the former
lease, then in that event, the improvements existing on the
lands at the time of any subsequent lease, shall belong to the
state and be considered a part of the land, and shall be taken
into consideration in appraising the value, or rental value, of
the land and sold or leased with the land. [2005 c 155 § 531;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 117. Formerly RCW 79.94.320.]
79.125.310
79.125.310 Effect of mistake or fraud. Any sale or
lease of state-owned tidelands or shorelands, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, made by mistake,
or not in accordance with law, or obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, shall be void, and the contract of purchase or
lease, issued shall be of no effect, and the holder of the contract or lease, shall be required to surrender the contract or
lease to the department, which, except in the case of fraud on
the part of the purchaser, or lessee, shall cause the money
paid on account of the surrendered contract or lease to be
refunded to the holder, provided the money has not been paid
into the state treasury. [2005 c 155 § 134; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21
§ 42. Formerly RCW 79.90.360.]
SALE OR LEASING PREFERENCE
79.125.400 First-class tidelands and shorelands—
Lease—Preference right of upland owner—How exercised. (1) Upon platting and appraisal of first-class tidelands
or shorelands as provided in this chapter, if the department
deems it for the best public interest to offer the first-class
tidelands or shorelands for lease, the department shall notify
79.125.400
79.125.300
79.125.300 Tidelands or shorelands—Failure to release tidelands or shorelands—Appraisal of improvements. (1) In case any lessee of tidelands or shorelands, for
any purpose except mining of valuable minerals or coal, or
extraction of petroleum or gas, or the lessee’s successor in
[Title 79 RCW—page 106]
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
the owner of record of uplands fronting upon the tidelands or
shorelands to be offered for lease if the upland owner is a resident of the state, or the upland owner is a nonresident of the
state, shall mail to the upland owner’s last known post office
address, as reflected in the county records, a copy of the
notice notifying the owner that the state is offering the tidelands or shorelands for lease, giving a description of those
lands and the department’s appraised fair market value of the
tidelands or shorelands for lease, and notifying the owner that
the upland owner has a preference right to apply to lease the
tidelands or shorelands at the appraised value for the lease for
a period of sixty days from the date of service of mailing of
the notice.
(2) If at the expiration of sixty days from the service or
mailing of the notice, as provided in subsection (1) of this
section, there being no conflicting applications filed, and the
owner of the uplands fronting upon the tidelands or shorelands offered for lease, has failed to avail themselves of their
preference right to apply to lease or to pay to the department
the appraised value for lease of the tidelands or shorelands
described in the notice, the tidelands or shorelands may be
offered for lease to any person and may be leased in the manner provided for in the case of lease of state lands.
(3) If at the expiration of sixty days two or more claimants asserting a preference right to lease have filed applications to lease any tract, conflicting with each other, the conflict between the claimants shall be equitably resolved by the
department as the best interests of the state require in accord
with the procedures prescribed by chapter 34.05 RCW.
However, any contract purchaser of lands or rights therein,
which upland qualifies the owner for a preference right under
this section, shall have first priority for the preference right.
[2005 c 155 § 506; 2000 c 11 § 29; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 92.
Formerly RCW 79.94.070.]
79.125.410
79.125.410 First-class unplatted tidelands and shorelands—Lease preference right to upland owners—Lease
for booming purposes. (1) The department is authorized to
lease to the abutting upland owner any unplatted first-class
tidelands or shorelands.
(2) The department shall, prior to the issuance of any
lease under the provisions of this section, fix the annual rental
for the tidelands or shorelands and prescribe the terms and
conditions of the lease. No lease issued under the provisions
of this section shall be for a longer term than ten years, and
every lease shall be subject to termination upon ninety days’
notice to the lessee in the event that the department shall
decide that it is in the best interest of the state that the tidelands or shorelands be surveyed and platted. At the expiration of any lease issued under the provisions of this section,
the lessee or the lessee’s successors or assigns shall have a
preference right to re-lease the lands covered by the original
lease or any portion of the lease, if the department deems it to
be in the best interests of the state to re-lease the lands, for
succeeding periods not exceeding five years each at the rental
and upon the terms and conditions as may be prescribed by
the department.
(3) In case the abutting uplands are not improved and
occupied for residential purposes and the abutting upland
owner has not filed an application for the lease of the lands,
the department may lease the lands to any person for boom(2006 Ed.)
79.125.450
ing purposes under the terms and conditions of this section.
However, failure to use for booming purposes any lands
leased under this section for such purposes for a period of one
year shall work a forfeiture of the lease and the land shall
revert to the state without any notice to the lessee upon the
entry of a declaration of forfeiture in the records of the
department. [2005 c 155 § 527; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 113.
Formerly RCW 79.94.280.]
79.125.420
79.125.420 Tidelands and shorelands—Vacation by
replat—Preference right of tideland or shoreland owner.
If any platted street, alley, waterway, or other public place is
vacated by a replat as provided for in RCW 79.125.080 and
79.125.090, or any new street, alley, waterway, or other public place is so laid out as to leave unsold tidelands or shorelands between a new street, alley, waterway, or other public
place, and tidelands or shorelands previously sold, the owner
of the adjacent tidelands or shorelands shall have the preference right for sixty days after the final approval of the plat to
purchase the unsold tidelands or shorelands so intervening at
the appraised value, if otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200 to be sold. [2005 c 155 § 511; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21
§ 97. Formerly RCW 79.94.120.]
79.125.430
79.125.430 Tidelands or shorelands—Preference
rights, time limit on exercise. All preference rights to purchase tidelands or shorelands, when otherwise permitted by
RCW 79.125.200 to be purchased, awarded by the department, or by the superior court in case of appeal from the
award of the department, shall be exercised by the parties to
whom the award is made within thirty days from the date of
the service of notice of the award by registered mail, by the
payment to the department of the sums required by law to be
paid for a contract, or deed, as in the case of the sale of state
lands, other than capitol building lands, and upon failure to
make the payment the preference rights shall expire. [2005 c
155 § 529; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 115. Formerly RCW
79.94.300.]
79.125.440
79.125.440 Tidelands or shorelands—Accretions—
Lease. Any accretions that may be added to any tract or
tracts of tidelands or shorelands previously sold, or that may
be sold, by the state, shall belong to the state and shall not be
sold, or offered for sale, unless otherwise permitted by this
chapter to be sold, and unless the accretions are surveyed
under the direction of the department. However, the owner of
the adjacent tidelands or shorelands shall have the preference
right to purchase the lands produced by accretion, when otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, for thirty
days after the owner of the adjacent tidelands or shorelands
shall have been notified by registered mail of the owner’s
preference right to purchase the accreted lands. [2005 c 155
§ 530; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 116. Formerly RCW 79.94.310.]
79.125.450
79.125.450 Second-class shorelands on navigable
lakes—Sale. (1) The legislature finds that maintaining public lands in public ownership is often in the public interest.
However, when second-class shorelands on navigable lakes
have minimal public value, the sale of those shorelands to the
abutting upland owner may not be contrary to the public
[Title 79 RCW—page 107]
79.125.460
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
interest. However, the purpose of this section is to remove
the prohibition contained in RCW 79.125.200 regarding the
sale of second-class shorelands to abutting owners, whose
uplands front on the shorelands. Nothing contained in this
section shall be construed to otherwise affect the rights of
interested parties relating to public or private ownership of
shorelands within the state.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 79.125.200,
the department may sell second-class shorelands on navigable lakes to abutting owners whose uplands front upon the
shorelands in cases where the board has determined that these
sales would not be contrary to the public interest. These
shorelands shall be sold at fair market value, but not less than
five percent of the fair market value of the abutting upland,
less improvements, to a maximum distance of one hundred
and fifty feet landward from the line of ordinary high water.
(3) Review of the decision of the department regarding
the sale price established for a shoreland to be sold pursuant
to this section may be obtained by the upland owner by filing
a petition with the board of tax appeals created in accordance
with chapter 82.03 RCW within thirty days after the mailing
of notification by the department to the owner regarding the
price. The board of tax appeals shall review the cases in an
adjudicative proceeding as described in chapter 34.05 RCW,
the administrative procedure act, and the board’s review shall
be de novo. Decisions of the board of tax appeals regarding
fair market values determined pursuant to this section shall
be final unless appealed to the superior court pursuant to
RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598. [2005 c 155 § 520.
Prior: 1989 c 378 § 3; 1989 c 175 § 171; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21
§ 106. Formerly RCW 79.94.210.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
79.125.460
79.125.460 Second-class shorelands—Sale or lease
when in best public interest—Preference right of upland
owner—Procedure upon determining sale or lease not in
best public interest or where transfer made for public
use—Platting. (1) If application is made to purchase or lease
any second-class shorelands and the department deems it for
the best public interest to offer second-class shorelands for
sale or lease, the department shall cause a notice to be served
upon the abutting upland owner if the owner is a resident of
the state, or if the upland owner is a nonresident of the state,
shall mail to the owner’s last known post office address, as
reflected in the county records a copy of a notice notifying
the owner that the state is offering the shorelands for sale or
lease, giving a description of the department’s appraised fair
market value of the shorelands for sale or lease, and notifying
the upland owner that he or she has a preference right to purchase, if the purchase is otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200, or lease the shorelands at the appraised value for
a period of thirty days from the date of the service or mailing
of the notice. If at the expiration of the thirty days from the
service or mailing of the notice, as provided in this section,
the abutting upland owner has failed to exercise the preference right to purchase, as otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200, or lease, or to pay to the department the
appraised value for sale or lease of the shorelands described
in the notice, then in that event, except as otherwise provided
in this section, the shorelands may be offered for sale, when
[Title 79 RCW—page 108]
otherwise permitted under RCW 79.125.200, or offered for
lease, and sold or leased in the manner provided for the sale
or lease of state lands, as otherwise permitted under this
chapter.
(2) The department shall authorize the sale or lease,
whether to abutting upland owners or others, only if the sale
or lease would be in the best public interest and is otherwise
permitted under RCW 79.125.200. It is the intent of the legislature that whenever it is in the best public interest, the second-class shorelands managed by the department shall not be
sold but shall be maintained in public ownership for the use
and benefit of the people of the state.
(3) In all cases where application is made for the lease of
any second-class shorelands adjacent to upland, under the
provisions of this section, the shorelands shall be leased per
lineal chain frontage.
(4) If, following an application by the abutting upland
owner to either purchase as otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200 or to obtain an exclusive lease at appraised full
market value or rental, the department deems that the sale or
lease is not in the best public interest, or if property rights in
state-owned second-class shorelands are at any time withdrawn, sold, or assigned in any manner authorized by law to
a public agency for a use by the general public, the department shall within one hundred and eighty days from receipt
of the application to purchase or lease, or on reaching a decision to withdraw, sell, or assign such shorelands to a public
agency, and: (a) Make a formal finding that the body of
water adjacent to the shorelands is navigable; (b) find that the
state or the public has an overriding interest inconsistent with
a sale or exclusive lease to a private person, and specifically
identify the interest and the factor or factors amounting to the
inconsistency; and (c) provide for the review of the decision
in accordance with the procedures prescribed by chapter
34.05 RCW.
(5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (4) of this
section, the department may cause any of the shorelands to be
platted as is provided for the platting of first-class shorelands,
and when so platted the lands shall be sold, when otherwise
permitted under RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, or leased in the
manner provided for the sale or lease of first-class shorelands. [2005 c 155 § 525; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 111. Formerly
RCW 79.94.260.]
SECOND-CLASS SHORELANDS—SPECIAL
PLATTING AND SELECTION PROVISIONS
79.125.500
79.125.500 Second-class shorelands—Boundary of
shorelands when water lowered—Certain shorelands
granted to city of Seattle. In every case where the state of
Washington had prior to June 13, 1913, sold to any purchaser
from the state any second-class shorelands bordering upon
navigable waters of this state by description where the water
boundary of the purchased shorelands is not defined, the
water boundary shall be the line of ordinary navigation in the
water; and whenever the waters have been or shall be lowered
by any action done or authorized either by the state of Washington or the United States, the water boundary shall be the
line of ordinary navigation as the water boundary shall be
found in the waters after the lowering, and there is granted
and confirmed to every purchaser, the purchaser’s heirs and
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
assigns, all the lands. However, this section and RCW
79.125.510 shall not apply to the portions of the second-class
shorelands which shall, as provided by RCW 79.125.510, be
selected by the department for harbor areas, slips, docks,
wharves, warehouses, streets, avenues, parkways and boulevards, alleys, or other public purposes. Further, all shorelands and the bed of Lake Washington from the southerly
margin of the plat of Lake Washington shorelands southerly
along the westerly shore of the lake to a line three hundred
feet south of and parallel with the east and west center line of
section 35, township 24 north, range 4 east, W.M., are
reserved for public uses and are granted and donated to the
city of Seattle for public park, parkway, and boulevard purposes, and as a part of its public park, parkway, and boulevard system and any diversion or attempted diversion of the
lands so donated from such purposes shall cause the title to
the lands to revert to the state. [2005 c 155 § 521; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 107. Formerly RCW 79.94.220.]
79.125.600
shall be established and platted under RCW 79.125.510 and
79.125.530, and all reservations shown upon the plat made
and filed pursuant to sections 1 and 2, chapter 183, Laws of
1913, are declared null and void, except reservations shown
for harbor area, and reservations in the harbor area, and reservations across shorelands for traversed streets which were
extensions of streets existing across shorelands at the time of
filing of such plat. The department shall in platting the harbor area make a new plat showing all the harbor area on Lake
Washington already platted under sections 1 and 2, chapter
183, Laws of 1913, and under sections 1 and 2, chapter 150,
Laws of 1917, and upon the adoption of any new plat by the
board acting as the harbor line commission, and the filing of
the plat in the department’s Olympia office, the title to all the
harbor areas so selected shall remain in the state of Washington, and the harbor areas shall not be sold, but may be leased
as provided for by law relating to the leasing of the harbor
area. [2005 c 155 § 523; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 109. Formerly
RCW 79.94.240.]
79.125.510
79.125.510 Second-class shorelands—Survey/platting—Selection for slips, docks, wharves, etc.—Filing of
plat. It is the duty of the department to survey the secondclass shorelands and in platting the survey to designate for
public use all of the shorelands as in the opinion of the department is available, convenient, or necessary to be selected for
the use of the public as harbor areas, sites for slips, docks,
wharves, warehouses, streets, avenues, parkways and boulevards, alleys, and other public purposes.
Upon the filing of the plat in the department’s Olympia
office, the title to all harbor areas so selected shall remain in
the state, the title to all selections for streets, avenues, and
alleys shall vest in any city or town within the corporate limits of which they are situated, otherwise in the county in
which they are situated, the title to and control of any lands so
selected and designated upon the plat for parkways and boulevard purposes shall, if the lands lie outside of the corporate
limits of any city or town and if the lands form a part of the
general parkway and boulevard system of a first-class city lie
in the city, and the title to all selections for slips, docks,
wharves, warehouses, and other public purposes shall vest in
the port district if they are situated in a port district, otherwise
in the county in which they are situated. [2005 c 155 § 522;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 108. Formerly RCW 79.94.230.]
79.125.520
79.125.520 Second-class shorelands—Platting of certain shorelands of Lake Washington for use as harbor
area—Effect. It is the duty of the department to plat for the
public use harbor area in front of the portions of the shorelands of Lake Washington sold as second-class shorelands by
the state of Washington as in the opinion of the department
are necessary for the use of the public as harbor area. However, this section and RCW 79.125.530 shall not be construed
to authorize the department to change the location of any
inner or outer harbor line or the boundaries or location of, or
to replat any harbor area platted under and by virtue of sections 1 and 2, chapter 183, Laws of 1913, and the title to all
shorelands purchased from the state as second-class shorelands is confirmed to the purchaser, the purchaser’s heirs and
assigns, out to the inner harbor line established and platted
under sections 1 and 2, chapter 183, Laws of 1913, or which
(2006 Ed.)
79.125.530
79.125.530 Platting of certain shorelands of Lake
Washington for use as harbor area—Selection for slips,
docks, wharves, etc.—Vesting of title. Immediately after
establishing the harbor area pr ovided f or in RCW
79.125.520, it is the duty of the department to make a plat
designating all first and second-class shorelands, not sold by
the state of Washington, and to select for the use of the public
out of the shorelands, or out of harbor areas, sites for slips,
docks, wharves, warehouses, streets, avenues, parkways,
boulevards, alleys, commercial waterways, and other public
purposes, insofar as the shorelands may be available for any
or all public purposes.
Upon the filing of the plat of shorelands with the reservations and selections in the department’s Olympia office, the
title to all selections for streets, avenues, and alleys shall vest
in any city or town within the corporate limits of which they
are situated, otherwise in the county in which they are situated. The title to and control of any land so selected and designated upon the plat for parkway and boulevard purposes
shall, if the lands lie outside the corporate limits of any city or
town, and if the lands form a part of the general parkway and
boulevard system of the first-class city, be in the city. The
title to all selections for commercial waterway purposes shall
vest in the commercial waterway district in which they are
situated, or for which selected, and the title to all selections
for slips, docks, wharves, warehouses, and other purposes
shall vest in the port district if they are situated in a port district, otherwise in the county in which they are situated, and
any sales of the shorelands when otherwise permitted by law
shall be made subject to the selection and reservation for public use. [2005 c 155 § 524; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 110. Formerly RCW 79.94.250.]
SALES OF TIDELANDS AND SHORELANDS
79.125.600
79.125.600 Sale procedure—Fixing date, place, and
time of sale—Notice—Publication and posting. (1) When
the department decides to sell any state-owned tidelands or
shorelands, otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200 to be
sold, it shall be the duty of the department to fix the date,
[Title 79 RCW—page 109]
79.125.610
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
place, and the time of sale, and no sale shall be had on any
day which is a legal holiday.
(2) The department shall give notice of the sale by advertisement published once a week for four consecutive weeks
immediately preceding the date fixed for sale in the notice, in
at least one newspaper published and of general circulation in
the county in which the whole or any part of any lot, block, or
tract of land to be sold is situated, and by causing a copy of
the notice to be posted in a conspicuous place in the department’s Olympia office and the region headquarters administering the sale.
(3) The notice shall: (a) Specify the place and time of
sale; (b) specify the appraised value; (c) describe with particularity each parcel of land to be sold; and (d) specify that the
terms of sale will be posted in the region headquarters and the
department’s Olympia office. [2005 c 155 § 112; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 23. Formerly RCW 79.90.170.]
79.125.610
79.125.610 List of state-owned tidelands and shorelands permitted to be sold. The department shall print a list
of all state-owned tidelands and shorelands otherwise permitted by RCW 79.125.200 to be sold, giving appraised value,
character of the land, and other information as may be of
interest to prospective buyers. The lists must be issued at
least four weeks prior to the date of any sale. The department
shall retain for free distribution in its office in Olympia and
the regional offices sufficient copies of the lists, to be kept in
a conspicuous place or receptacle on the counter of the general and regional office of the department, and, when
requested to do so, shall mail copies of the list as issued to
any applicant. [2005 c 155 § 113; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 24.
Formerly RCW 79.90.180.]
79.125.620
79.125.620 Sale procedure—Additional advertising
expense. The department is authorized to expend any sum in
additional advertising of the sale as shall be determined to be
in the best interests of the state. [2005 c 155 § 114; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 25. Formerly RCW 79.90.190.]
79.125.630
79.125.630 Reoffer—Continuance. Any sale that has
been offered, and for which there are no bids received shall
not be reoffered until it has been readvertised as specified in
RCW 79.125.600, 79.125.610, and 79.125.620. If all sales
cannot be offered within the specified time on the advertised
date, the sale shall continue on the following day between the
hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m. [2005 c 155
§ 115; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 26. Formerly RCW 79.90.200.]
79.125.640
79.125.640 Sale at public auction—Minimum
price—Sales by leaseholder. All sales of state-owned tidelands and shorelands otherwise permitted by RCW
79.125.200 to be sold, shall be sold at public auction to the
highest responsible bidder, on the terms prescribed by law
and as specified in the notice provided, and no land shall be
sold for less than the appraised value. Sales of aquaculture
products by a leaseholder shall be as specified in RCW
79.135.040. [2005 c 155 § 116; 2005 c 113 § 2; 1990 c 163 §
1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 27. Formerly RCW 79.90.210.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 113 § 2 and by
2005 c 155 § 116, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
[Title 79 RCW—page 110]
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
79.125.650
79.125.650 Highest responsible bidder—Determination. (1) To determine the "highest responsible bidder" under
RCW 79.125.640, the department shall be entitled to consider, in addition to price, the following:
(a) The financial and technical ability of the bidder to
perform the contract;
(b) Whether the bid contains material defects;
(c) Whether the bidder has previously or is currently
complying with terms and conditions of any other contracts
with the state or relevant contracts with entities other than the
state;
(d) Whether the bidder was the "highest responsible bidder" for a sale within the previous five years but failed to
complete the sale, such as by not entering into a resulting
contract or by not paying the difference between the deposit
and the total amount due. However, sales that were bid prior
to January 1, 2003, may not be considered for the purposes of
this subsection (1)(d);
(e) Whether the bidder has been convicted of a crime
relating to the public lands or natural resources of the state of
Washington, the United States, or any other state, tribe, or
country, where "conviction" shall include a guilty plea, or
unvacated forfeiture of bail;
(f) Whether the bidder is owned, controlled, or managed
by any person, partnership, or corporation that is not responsible under this statute; and
(g) Whether the subcontractors of the bidder, if any, are
responsible under this statute.
(2) Whenever the department has reason to believe that
the apparent high bidder is not a responsible bidder, the
department may award the sale to the next responsible bidder
or the department may reject all bids pursuant to RCW
79.125.680. [2005 c 155 § 117; 2003 c 28 § 1; 1990 c 163 §
2. Formerly RCW 79.90.215.]
79.125.660
79.125.660 Sale procedure—Conduct of sales—
Deposits—Bid bonds—Memorandum of purchase. (1)
Sales by public auction under this chapter shall be conducted
under the direction of the department or by its authorized representative. The department’s representatives are referred to
as auctioneers.
(2) On or before the time specified in the notice of sale
each bidder shall deposit with the auctioneer, in cash or by
certified check, cashier’s check, or postal money order payable to the order of the department, or by bid guarantee in the
form of bid bond acceptable to the department, an amount
equal to the deposit specified in the notice of sale. The
deposit shall include a specified amount of the appraised
price for the valuable materials offered for sale, together with
any fee required by law for the issuance of contracts or bills
of sale. The deposit may, when prescribed in the notice of
sale, be considered an opening bid of an amount not less than
the minimum appraised price established in the notice of sale.
The successful bidder’s deposit will be retained by the auctioneer and the difference, if any, between the deposit and the
total amount due shall on the day of the sale be paid in cash,
certified check, cashier’s check, draft, postal money order, or
by personal check made payable to the department. If a bid
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
bond is used, the share of the total deposit due guaranteed by
the bid bond shall, within ten days of the day of sale, be paid
in cash, certified check, cashier’s check, draft, or postal
money order payable to the department. Other deposits, if
any, shall be returned to the respective bidders at the conclusion of each sale.
(3) The auctioneer shall deliver to the purchaser a memorandum of the purchase containing a description of the land
or materials purchased, the price bid, and the terms of the
sale.
(4) The auctioneer shall at once send to the department
the cash, certified check, cashier’s check, draft, postal money
order, or bid guarantee received from the purchaser, and a
copy of the memorandum delivered to the purchaser, together
with such additional report of the auctioneer’s proceedings
with reference to the sales as may be required by the department. [2005 c 155 § 118; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 28. Formerly
RCW 79.90.220.]
79.125.670
79.125.670 Sale procedure—Readvertisement of
lands not sold. If any tideland or shoreland, when otherwise
permitted under RCW 79.125.200, offered for sale is not
sold, it may again be advertised for sale, as provided in this
chapter, whenever in the opinion of the department it is expedient to do so. Whenever any person applies to the department in writing to have the land offered for sale and agrees to
pay at least the appraised value of the land and deposits with
the department at the time of making the application a sufficient sum of money to pay the cost of advertising the sale, the
land may be advertised again and offered for sale as provided
in this chapter. [2005 c 155 § 119; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 29.
Formerly RCW 79.90.230.]
79.125.680
79.125.680 Sale procedure—Confirmation of sale.
(1) A sale of tidelands or shorelands otherwise permitted by
RCW 79.125.200 to be sold shall be confirmed if:
(a) No affidavit showing that the interest of the state in
such sale was injuriously affected by fraud or collusion, is
filed with the department’s Olympia office within ten days
from the receipt of the report of the auctioneer conducting the
sale;
(b) It appears from the report that the sale was fairly conducted, that the purchaser was the highest responsible bidder
at the sale, and that the sale price is not less than the appraised
value of the property sold;
(c) The department is satisfied that the lands sold would
not, upon being readvertised and offered for sale, sell for a
substantially higher price; and
(d) The payment required by law to be made at the time
of making the sale has been made, and that the best interests
of the state are being served.
(2) Upon confirming a sale, the department shall enter
upon its records the confirmation of sale and issue to the purchaser a contract of sale or bill of sale as the case may be, as
is provided for in this chapter. [2005 c 155 § 120; 1990 c 163
§ 3; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 30. Formerly RCW 79.90.240.]
(2006 Ed.)
79.125.720
CONVEYANCE TO PUBLIC ENTITIES/PUBLIC USE
79.125.700
79.125.700 Sale of state-owned tidelands or shorelands to municipal corporation or state agency—Authority to execute agreements, deeds, etc. The department may
with the advice and approval of the board sell state-owned
tidelands or shorelands at the appraised market value to any
municipal corporation or agency of the state of Washington
when the land is to be used solely for municipal or state purposes. However, the department shall with the advice and
approval of the attorney general, execute agreements, writings, or relinquishments and certify to the governor such
deeds as are necessary or proper to affect the sale or
exchange. [2005 c 155 § 515; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 101. Formerly RCW 79.94.160.]
79.125.710
79.125.710 Grant of lands for city park or playground purposes. Whenever application is made to the
department by any incorporated city or town or metropolitan
park district for the use of any state-owned tidelands or shorelands within the corporate limits of the city or town or metropolitan park district for municipal park and/or playground
purposes, the department shall cause the application to be
entered in the records of its office, and shall then forward the
application to the governor, who shall appoint a committee of
five representative citizens of the city or town, in addition to
the commissioner and the director of ecology, both of whom
shall be ex officio members of the committee, to investigate
the lands and determine whether they are suitable and needed
for park or playground purposes; and, if they so find, the
commissioner shall certify to the governor that the property
shall be deeded, when in accordance with RCW 79.125.200
and 79.125.700, to the city or town or metropolitan park district and the governor shall then execute a deed in the name of
the state of Washington, attested by the secretary of state,
conveying the use of the lands to the city or town or metropolitan park district for park or playground purposes for so
long as it shall continue to hold, use, and maintain the lands
for park or playground purposes. [2005 c 155 § 517; 2003 c
334 § 447; 1988 c 127 § 33; 1939 c 157 § 1; RRS § 7993-1.
Formerly RCW 79.94.175, 79.08.080.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.125.720
79.125.720 Exchange of lands to secure city parks
and playgrounds. In the event there are no state-owned tidelands or shorelands in any city or town or metropolitan park
district suitable for the purposes of RCW 79.125.710 and the
committee finds other lands which are suitable and needed
for parks or playgrounds, the department is authorized to
secure the lands by exchanging state-owned tidelands or
shorelands of equal value in the same county, and the use of
the lands so secured shall be conveyed to any city or town or
metropolitan park district as provided for in RCW
79.125.710. In all exchanges the department is authorized
and directed, with the assistance of the attorney general, to
execute agreements, writings, relinquishments, and deeds as
are necessary or proper for the purpose of carrying the
exchanges into effect. Upland owners shall be notified of the
state-owned tidelands or shorelands to be exchanged. [2005
[Title 79 RCW—page 111]
79.125.730
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
c 155 § 518; 2003 c 334 § 448; 1939 c 157 § 2; RRS § 79932. Formerly RCW 79.94.181, 79.08.090.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.125.730
79.125.730 Director of ecology to assist city parks.
The director of ecology, in addition to serving as an ex officio
member of the committee, is authorized and directed to assist
the city or town or metropolitan park district in the development and decoration of any lands so conveyed and to furnish
trees, grass, flowers, and shrubs therefor. [2005 c 155 § 519;
1988 c 127 § 34; 1939 c 157 § 3; RRS § 7993-3. Formerly
RCW 79.94.185, 79.08.100.]
79.125.740
79.125.740 Certain tidelands reserved for recreational use and taking of fish and shellfish. The following
described tidelands, being public lands of the state, are withdrawn from sale or lease and reserved as public areas for recreational use and for the taking of fish and shellfish for personal use as defined in RCW 77.08.010:
Parcel No. 1. (Point Whitney) The second-class tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of,
adjacent to or abutting upon lots 3, 4, and 5, section 7, township 26 north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 72.45
lineal chains, more or less.
Excepting, however, those portions of the abovedescribed second-class tidelands conveyed to the state of
Washington, department of fish and wildlife through deed
issued May 14, 1925, under application No. 8136, records of
department of public lands.
Parcel No. 2. (Point Whitney) The second-class tidelands lying below the line of mean low tide, owned by the
state of Washington, situate in front of lot 1, section 6, township 26 north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 21.00
lineal chains, more or less; also
The second-class tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 6
and 7, and that portion of lot 5, section 1, township 26 north,
range 1 west, W.M., lying south of a line running due west
from a point on the government meander line which is S 22°
E 1.69 chains from an angle point in said meander line which
is S 15° W 1.20 chains, more or less, from the point of intersection of the north line of said lot 5 and the meander line,
with a frontage of 40.31 lineal chains, more or less.
Parcel No. 3. (Toandos Peninsula) The second-class
tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front
of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1, 2, and 3, section 5, lots
1, 2, and 3, section 4, and lot 1, section 3, all in township 25
north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 158.41 lineal
chains, more or less.
Parcel No. 4. (Shine) The second-class tidelands, owned
by the state of Washington, situate in front of, adjacent to, or
abutting upon lots 1, 2, 3 and that portion of lot 4 lying north
of the south 8.35 chains as measured along the government
meander line, all in section 35, township 28 north, range 1
east, W.M., with a frontage of 76.70 lineal chains, more or
less.
Subject to an easement for right of way for county road
granted to Jefferson county December 8, 1941, under application No. 1731, records of department of public lands.
[Title 79 RCW—page 112]
Parcel No. 5. (Lilliwaup) The second-class tidelands,
owned by the state of Washington, lying easterly of the east
line of vacated state oyster reserve plat No. 133 produced
southerly and situate in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon
lot 9, section 30, lot 8, section 19 and lot 5 and the south 20
acres of lot 4, section 20, all in township 23 north, range 3
west, W.M., with a frontage of 62.46 lineal chains, more or
less.
Subject to easements for rights of way for state road
granted through the filing of state road plats No. 374 December 15, 1930, No. 661, March 29, 1949, and No. 666 August
25, 1949, records of department of public lands.
Parcel No. 6. (Nemah) Those portions of the secondclass tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in
front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 5, 6, and 7, section
3 and lots 1, 2, and 3, section 4, township 12 north, range 10
west, W.M., lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, section 34, section 27 and lots
1, 2, 3 and 4, section 28, township 13 north, range 10 west,
W.M., lying easterly of the easterly line of the Nemah Oyster
reserve and easterly of the easterly line of a tract of secondclass tidelands conveyed through deed issued July 28, 1938,
pursuant to the provisions of chapter 24, Laws of 1895, under
application No. 9731, with a frontage of 326.22 lineal chains,
more or less.
Parcels No. 7 and 8. (Penn Cove) The unplatted first and
second-class tidelands, owned by the state of Washington,
situate in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1 and 2,
section 33, lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, section 32, lots 2 and 3 and the
B.P. Barstow D.L.C. No. 49, sections 30 and 31 and that portion of the R.H. Lansdale D.L.C. No. 54 in section 30, lying
west of the east 3.00 chains thereof as measured along the
government meander line, all in township 32 north, range 1
east, W.M., with a frontage of 260.34 lineal chains, more or
less.
Excepting, however, the tidelands above the line of mean
low tide in front of said lot 1, section 32 which were conveyed as second-class tidelands through deed issued December 29, 1908, application No. 4957, records of department of
public lands.
Subject to an easement for right of way for transmission
cable line granted to the United States of America Army
Engineers June 7, 1943, under application No. 17511, records
of department of public lands.
Parcel No. 9. (South of Penn Cove) The second-class
tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front
of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 2, 3 and 4, section 17 and
lots 1, 2 and 3, section 20, township 31 north, range 2 east,
W.M., with a frontage of 129.97 lineal chains, more or less.
Parcel No. 10. (Mud Bay—Lopez Island) The secondclass tidelands, owned by the state of Washington situate in
front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 5, 6 and 7, section
18, lot 5, section 7 and lots 3, 4, and 5, section 8, all in township 34 north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 172.11
lineal chains, more or less.
Excepting, however, any second-class tideland in front
of said lot 3, section 8 conveyed through deeds issued April
14, 1909, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 24, Laws of
1895, under application No. 4985, records of department of
public lands.
Parcel No. 11. (Cattle Point) The second-class tidelands,
owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of, adja(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Tidelands and Shorelands
cent to, or abutting upon lot 1, section 6, lots 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, and 10, section 7, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, section 8 and
lot 1, section 5, all in township 34 north, range 2 west, W.M.,
with a frontage of 463.88 lineal chains, more or less.
Excepting, however, any second-class tidelands in front
of said lot 10, section 7 conveyed through deed issued June 1,
1912, under application No. 6906, records of department of
public lands.
Parcel No. 12. (Spencer Spit) The second-class tidelands, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of,
adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1, 3, and 4, section 7, and lot
5, section 18 all in township 35 north, range 1 west, W.M.,
with a frontage of 118.80 lineal chains, more or less. [2005 c
155 § 533; 2003 c 39 § 42; 1994 c 264 § 66; 1983 1st ex.s. c
46 § 181; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 124. Formerly RCW
79.94.390.]
Tidelands—Upland owner use: "The state department of fisheries is
authorized to permit designated portions of the following described tidelands
to be used by the upland owners thereof for the purpose of building and
maintaining docks: Tidelands of the second class owned by the state of
Washington situated in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon, the entire west
side of lot 1, section 5, Township 34 North, Range 2 West, W.M., to the
northernmost tip of said lot, and lots 2 and 3, section 8, Township 34 North,
Range 2 West, W.M. (Cattle Point)." [1967 ex.s. c 128 § 1.]
79.125.750
79.125.750 Access to and from tidelands reserved for
recreational use and taking of fish and shellfish. The
director of fish and wildlife may take appropriate action to
provide public and private access, including roads and docks,
to and from the tidelands described in RCW 79.125.740.
[2005 c 155 § 534; 1994 c 264 § 67; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 125.
Formerly RCW 79.94.400.]
79.125.800
United States for any of the purposes mentioned in RCW
79.125.760, upon proof being made to the department, that
the uplands are so held by the United States for such purposes, and upon payment for the land, it shall cause the fact
to be entered in the records of the department and the department shall certify the fact to the governor who will execute a
deed in the name of the state, attested by the secretary of
state, conveying the use of the lands, for such purposes, to the
United States, so long as it shall continue to hold for the public purposes the uplands adjoining the tidelands and shorelands. [2005 c 155 § 536; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 127. Formerly
RCW 79.94.420.]
79.125.780
79.125.780 Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands
granted to United States—Easements over tidelands or
shorelands to United States. Whenever application is made
to the department, by any department of the United States
government, for the use of any state-owned tidelands or
shorelands, for any public purpose, and the department shall
be satisfied that the United States requires or may require the
use of the tidelands or shorelands for the public purposes, the
department may reserve the tidelands or shorelands from
public sale and grant the use of them to the United States,
upon payment for the land, so long as it may require the use
of them for the public purposes. In such a case, the department shall execute an easement to the United States, which
grants the use of the tidelands or shorelands to the United
States, so long as it shall require the use of them for the public
purpose. [2005 c 155 § 537; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 128. Formerly RCW 79.94.430.]
79.125.790
79.125.760
79.125.760 Use of certain tidelands, shorelands, and
abutting bedlands—Grant to the United States—Purposes—Limitations. The use of any tidelands, shorelands,
and abutting bedlands covered with less than four fathoms of
water at ordinary low tide belonging to the state, and adjoining and bordering on any tract, piece, or parcel of land, which
may have been reserved or acquired, or which may be
reserved or acquired, by the government of the United States,
for the purposes of erecting and maintaining forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, navy yards, prisons, penitentiaries, lighthouses, fog signal stations, aviation fields, or other
aids to navigation, may be granted to the United States, upon
payment for the rights, so long as the upland adjoining the
tidelands or shorelands shall continue to be held by the government of the United States for any of the public purposes
above mentioned. However, this grant shall not extend to or
include any aquatic lands covered by more than four fathoms
of water at ordinary low tide; and shall not be construed to
prevent any citizen of the state from using the lands for the
taking of food fishes so long as the fishing does not interfere
with the public use of them by the United States. [2005 c 155
§ 535; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 126. Formerly RCW 79.94.410.]
79.125.770
79.125.770 Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands
granted to United States—Application—Proof of upland
use—Conveyance. Whenever application is made to the
department by any department of the United States government for the use of any state-owned tidelands or shorelands
and adjoining and bordering on any upland held by the
(2006 Ed.)
79.125.790 Tidelands and shorelands—Use of lands
granted to United States—Reversion on cessation of use.
Whenever the United States shall cease to hold and use any
uplands for the use and purposes mentioned in RCW
79.125.760, or shall cease to use any tidelands or shorelands
for the purpose mentioned in RCW 79.125.780, the grant or
easement of the tidelands or shorelands shall be terminated,
and the tidelands or shorelands shall revert to the state without resort to any court or tribunal. [2005 c 155 § 538; 1982
1st ex.s. c 21 § 129. Formerly RCW 79.94.440.]
79.125.800
79.125.800 United States Navy base—Exchange of
property—Procedure. The department is authorized to
deed, by exchanges of property, to the United States Navy
those tidelands necessary to facilitate the location of the
United States Navy base in Everett. In carrying out this
authority, the department shall request that the governor execute the deed in the name of the state attested to by the secretary of state. The department will follow the requirements
outlined in RCW 79.17.050 in making the exchange. The
department must exchange the state’s tidelands for lands of
equal value, and the land received in the exchange must be
suitable for natural preserves, recreational purposes, or have
commercial value. The lands must not have been previously
used as a waste disposal site. Choice of the site must be made
with the advice and approval of the board. [2003 c 334 § 615;
1987 c 271 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.94.450.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Severability—1987 c 271: See note following RCW 79.130.050.
[Title 79 RCW—page 113]
79.125.900
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
79.125.900
79.125.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
79.125.901
79.125.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.130 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—BEDS OF NAVIGABLE WATERS
Chapter 79.130
a term longer than ten years if in front of unplatted first-class
tidelands or shorelands leased under the provisions of RCW
79.125.410, in which case the lease shall be subject to the
same terms and conditions as provided for in the lease of the
unplatted first-class tidelands or shorelands. Failure to use
those beds leased under the provisions of this chapter for
booming purposes, for a period of two years shall work a forfeiture of the lease and the land shall revert to the state without notice to the lessee upon the entry of a declaration of forfeiture in the records of the department. [2005 c 155 § 602;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 131. Formerly RCW 79.95.020.]
Sections
79.130.030
79.130.001
79.130.010
79.130.020
79.130.030
79.130.040
79.130.050
79.130.060
79.130.070
79.130.900
79.130.901
Intent—2005 c 155.
Lease of beds of navigable waters.
Lease of beds of navigable waters—Terms and conditions of
lease—Forfeiture for nonuser.
Lease of beds of navigable waters—Improvements—Federal
permit—Forfeiture—Plans and specifications.
Lease of beds of navigable waters—Preference right to release.
United States Navy base—Legislative findings and declaration.
Lease of bedlands in Port Gardner Bay for dredge spoil site—
Conditions.
Exchange of bedlands—Cowlitz river.
Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st
ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79.130.001
79 . 13 0 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
See R CW
79.130.010
79.130.010 Lease of beds of navigable waters. (1)
Except as provided in RCW 79.130.060, the department may
lease to the abutting tidelands or shorelands owner or lessee,
the beds of navigable waters lying below the line of extreme
low tide in waters where the tide ebbs and flows, and below
the line of navigability in lakes and rivers claimed by the state
and defined in Article XVII, section 1 of the state Constitution.
(2) In case the abutting tidelands or shorelands or the
abutting uplands are not improved or occupied for residential
or commercial purposes, the department may lease the beds
to any person for a period not exceeding ten years for booming purposes.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall change or modify any of
the provisions of the state Constitution or laws of the state
which provide for the leasing of harbor areas and the reservation of lands lying in front of harbor areas. [2005 c 155 §
601; 1987 c 271 § 2; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 130. Formerly
RCW 79.95.010.]
Severability—1987 c 271: See note following RCW 79.130.050.
79.130.020
79.130.020 Lease of beds of navigable waters—
Terms and conditions of lease—Forfeiture for nonuser.
(1) The department shall, prior to the issuance of any lease
under the provisions of this chapter, fix the annual rental and
prescribe the terms and conditions of the lease. However, in
fixing the rental, the department shall not take into account
the value of any improvements placed upon the lands by the
lessee.
(2) No lease issued under the provisions of this chapter
shall be for a term longer than thirty years from the date
thereof if in front of second-class tidelands or shorelands; or
[Title 79 RCW—page 114]
79.130.030 Lease of beds of navigable waters—
Improvements—Federal permit—Forfeiture—Plans and
specifications. The applicant for a lease under the provisions
of this chapter shall first obtain from the United States army
corps of engineers or other federal regulatory agency, a permit to place structures or improvements in the navigable
waters and file with the department a copy of the permit. No
structures or improvements shall be constructed beyond a
point authorized by the army corps of engineers or the department and any construction beyond authorized limits will
work a forfeiture of all rights granted by the terms of any
lease issued under the provisions of this chapter. The applicant shall also file plans and specifications of any proposed
improvements to be placed upon the areas with the department, the plans and specifications to be the same as provided
for in the case of the lease of harbor areas. [2005 c 155 § 603;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 132. Formerly RCW 79.95.030.]
79.130.040
79.130.040 Lease of beds of navigable waters—Preference right to re-lease. At the expiration of any lease
issued under the provisions of this chapter, the lessee or the
lessee’s successors or assigns, shall have a preference right to
re-lease all or part of the area covered by the original lease if
the department deems it to be in the best interest of the state
to re-lease the area. Such re-lease shall be for the term as
specified by the provisions of this chapter, and at the rental
and upon the conditions as may be prescribed by the department. However, if the preference right is not exercised, the
rights and obligations of the lessee, the department, and any
subsequent lessee shall be the same as provided in RCW
79.125.300 relating to failure to re-lease tidelands or shorelands. Any person who prior to June 11, 1953, had occupied
and improved an area subject to lease under this chapter and
has secured a permit for the improvements from the United
States army corps of engineers, or other federal regulatory
agency, shall have the rights and obligations of a lessee under
this section upon the filing of a copy of the permit together
with plans and specifications of the improvements with the
department. [2005 c 155 § 604; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 133.
Formerly RCW 79.95.040.]
79.130.050
79.130.050 United States Navy base—Legislative
findings and declaration. The legislature recognizes the
importance of economic development in the state of Washington, and finds that the location of a United States Navy
base in Everett, Washington will enhance economic development. The legislature finds that the state should not assume
liability or risks resulting from any action taken by the United
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Shellfish, Other Aquacultural Uses, and Marine Aquatic Plants
States Navy, now or in the future associated with the dredge
disposal program for that project known as confined aquatic
disposal (CAD). The legislature also recognizes the importance of improving water quality and cleaning up pollution in
Puget Sound. The legislature declares these actions to be a
public purpose necessary to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of its citizens, and to promote economic growth and
improve environmental quality in the state of Washington.
The United States Navy proposes to commence the Everett
home port project immediately. [2005 c 155 § 605; 1987 c
271 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.95.050.]
Severability—1987 c 271: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1987 c 271 § 6.]
79.130.060
79.130.060 Lease of bedlands in Port Gardner Bay
for dredge spoil site—Conditions. (1) Upon application by
the United States Navy, and upon verification of the legal
description and compliance with the intent of this chapter, the
commissioner is authorized to lease bedlands in Port Gardner
Bay for a term of thirty years so the United States Navy can
utilize a dredge spoil site solely for purposes related to construction of the United States Navy base at Everett.
(2) The lease shall reserve for the state uses of the property and associated waters which are not inconsistent with the
use of the bed by the Navy as a disposal site. The lease shall
include conditions under which the Navy:
(a) Will agree to hold the state of Washington harmless
for any damage and liability relating to, or resulting from, the
use of the property by the Navy; and
(b) Will agree to comply with all terms and conditions
included in the applicable state of Washington section 401
water quality certification issued under the authority of the
federal clean water act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251, et seq.), all
terms and conditions of the army corps of engineers section
404 permit (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1344), and all requirements of
statutes, regulations, and permits relating to water quality and
aquatic life in Puget Sound and Port Gardner Bay, including
all reasonable and appropriate terms and conditions of any
permits issued under the authority of the Washington state
shoreline management act (chapter 90.58 RCW) and any
applicable shoreline master program.
(3) The ability of the state of Washington to enforce the
terms and conditions specified in subsection (2)(b) of this
section shall include, but not be limited to: (a) The terms and
conditions of the lease; (b) the section 401 water quality certification under the clean water act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251, et
seq.; (c) the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601, et seq.; (d)
the resource conservation and recovery act, 42 U.S.C. Sec.
6901, et seq.; or (e) any other applicable federal or state law.
[2005 c 155 § 606; 1987 c 271 § 3. Formerly RCW
79.95.060.]
Severability—1987 c 271: See note following RCW 79.130.050.
exist in the future through the processes of erosion and accretion.
(2) The department is also authorized to exchange bedlands and enter into boundary line agreements to resolve any
disputes that may arise over the location of state-owned lands
now comprising the dike that was created in the 1920s.
(3) For purposes of chapter 150, Laws of 2001, "Cowlitz
river near the confluence of the Columbia river" means those
tidelands and bedlands of the Cowlitz river fronting and abutting sections 10, 11, and 14, township 7 north, range 2 west,
Willamette Meridian and fronting and abutting the Huntington Donation Land Claim No. 47 and the Blakeny Donation
Land Claim No. 43, township 7 north, range 2 west, Willamette Meridian.
(4) Nothing in chapter 150, Laws of 2001 shall be
deemed to convey to the department the power of eminent
domain. [2003 c 334 § 454; 2001 c 150 § 2. Formerly RCW
79.90.458, 79.08.260.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Findings—2001 c 150: "(1) The legislature finds that in the 1920s the
Cowlitz river near the confluence of the Columbia river in Longview, Washington was diverted from its original course by dredging and construction of
a dike. As a result, a portion of the original bed of the Cowlitz river became
a nonnavigable body of shallow water. Another portion of the original bed
of the Cowlitz river became part of a dike and is indistinguishable from existing islands. The main channel of the Cowlitz river was diverted over uplands
to the south of the original bed and has continued as a navigable channel.
(2) The legislature finds that continued ownership of the nonnavigable
portion of the original bed of the Cowlitz river near the confluence of the
Columbia river no longer serves the state’s interest in navigation. Ownership of the existing navigable bed of the Cowlitz river would better serve the
state’s interest in navigation. It is also in the state’s interest to resolve any
disputes that have arisen because state-owned land is now indistinguishable
from privately owned land within the dike." [2001 c 150 § 1.]
Severability—2001 c 150: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2001 c 150 § 3.]
79.130.900
79.130.900 Savings—Captions—Severability—
Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. See RCW 79.135.900
through 79.135.904.
79.130.901
79.130.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.135 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—OYSTERS, GEODUCKS,
SHELLFISH, OTHER AQUACULTURAL USES, AND
MARINE AQUATIC PLANTS
Chapter 79.135
Sections
79.135.001
(2006 Ed.)
Intent—2005 c 155.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.135.010
79.135.020
79.135.030
79.130.070
79.130.070 Exchange of bedlands—Cowlitz river. (1)
The department is authorized to exchange bedlands abandoned through rechanneling of the Cowlitz river near the
confluence of the Columbia river so that the state obtains
clear title to the Cowlitz river as it now exists or where it may
Chapter 79.135
79.135.040
79.135.050
79.135.060
79.135.070
Bush act/Callow act lands.
Sale of reserved or reversionary rights in tidelands.
Wrongful taking of shellfish from public lands—Civil remedies.
Aquaculture products—Sale by leaseholder.
Study of Hood Canal geoduck population—Report.
Study of Hood Canal’s geoduck population levels and environmental conditions—Report.
Study of age and shell oxidation rate of Hood Canal geoduck—Report.
[Title 79 RCW—page 115]
79.135.001
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
LEASING FOR SHELLFISH CULTIVATION/AQUACULTURE USE
79.135.100
79.135.110
79.135.120
79.135.130
79.135.140
79.135.150
79.135.160
79.135.170
Rents and fees for aquatic lands used for aquaculture production and harvesting.
Leasing beds of tidal waters for shellfish cultivation or other
aquaculture use.
Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or other aquaculture
use—Who may lease—Application—Deposit.
Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or other aquaculture
use—Inspection and report by director of fish and wildlife—
Rental and term—Commercial harvest of subtidal hardshell
clams by hydraulic escalating.
Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or other aquaculture
use—Survey and boundary markers.
Renewal lease—Application.
Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or other aquaculture
use—Reversion for use other than cultivation of shellfish.
Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or other aquaculture
use—Abandonment—Application for other lands.
GEODUCK HARVEST/CULTIVATION
79.135.200
79.135.210
79.135.220
79.135.230
Geoduck harvest/cultivation—Survey of navigable waters by
private party—Record of survey.
Geoduck harvesting—Agreements, regulation.
Geoduck harvesting—Designation of aquatic lands.
Intensive management plan for geoducks.
(2) of this section intended to grant any further rights in the
subtidal lands than what was originally included under the
intent of the Bush and Callow acts. [2002 c 123 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.90.570.]
Findings—2002 c 123: "The legislature declares that shellfish farming
provides a consistent source of quality food, offers opportunities of new jobs,
increases farm income stability, and improves balance of trade. The legislature also finds that many areas of the state of Washington are scientifically
and biologically suitable for shellfish farming, and therefore the legislature
has encouraged and promoted shellfish farming activities, programs, and
development with the same status as other agricultural activities, programs,
and development within the state. It being the policy of this state to encourage the development and expansion of shellfish farming within the state and
to promote the development of a diverse shellfish farming industry, the legislature finds that the uncertainty surrounding reversionary clauses contained
in Bush act and Callow act deeds is interfering with this policy. The legislature finds that uncertainty of the grant of rights for the claim and other shellfish culture as contained in chapter 166, Laws of 1919 must be fully and
finally resolved. It is not the intent of this act to impair any vested rights in
shellfish cultivation or current shellfish aquaculture activities to which holders of Bush act and Callow act lands are entitled." [2002 c 123 § 1.]
79.135.020
OYSTER RESERVES
79.135.300
79.135.310
79.135.320
Lease of tidelands set aside as oyster reserves.
Inspection by director of fish and wildlife.
Vacation of reserve—Lease of lands—Designated state oyster
reserve lands.
79.135.400
79.135.410
Seaweed—Marine aquatic plants defined.
Seaweed—Personal use limit—Commercial harvesting prohibited—Exception—Import restriction.
Seaweed—Harvest and possession violations—Penalties and
damages.
Seaweed—Enforcement.
Savings—1982 1st ex.s. c 21.
Captions—1982 1st ex.s. c 21.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 21.
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §§ 176 and 179.
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 21.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
MARINE AQUATIC PLANTS
79.135.420
79.135.430
79.135.900
79.135.901
79.135.902
79.135.903
79.135.904
79.135.905
79 . 13 5 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
79.135.001
See R CW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
79.135.010 Bush act/Callow act lands. (1) A person in
possession of real property conveyed by the state of Washington pursuant to the authority of chapter 24, Laws of 1895
(Bush act) or chapter 25, Laws of 1895 (Callow act), wherein
such lands are subject to a possibility of reversion, shall heretofore have and are granted the further right to use all of the
property for the purpose of cultivating and propagating clams
and any shellfish.
(2) The rights granted under subsection (1) of this section do not include the right to use subtidal portions of Bush
act and Callow act lands for the harvest and cultivation of any
species of shellfish that had not commenced prior to December 31, 2001.
(3) For the purposes of this section, harvest and cultivation of any species of shellfish shall not be deemed to have
commenced unless the subtidal portions of the land had been
planted with that species of shellfish prior to December 31,
2001.
(4) No vested rights in shellfish cultivation may be
impaired by any of the provisions of chapter 123, Laws of
2002, nor is anything other than what is stated in subsection
79.135.010
[Title 79 RCW—page 116]
79.135.020 Sale of reserved or reversionary rights in
tidelands. Upon an application to purchase the reserved and
reversionary rights of the state in any tidelands sold under the
provisions of chapter 24, Laws of 1895, or chapter 25, Laws
of 1895, or chapter 165, Laws of 1919, or either the reserved
or reversionary right if only one exists, being filed in the
department’s Olympia office by the owner of the tidelands,
accompanied by an abstracter’s certificate, or other evidence
of the applicant’s title to the lands, the department, if it finds
the applicant is the owner of the tidelands, is authorized to
inspect, appraise, and sell, if otherwise permitted under RCW
79.125.200, for not less than the appraised value, such
reserved or reversionary rights of the state to the applicant,
and upon payment of the purchase price to cause a deed to be
issued as in the case of the sale of state lands, or upon the payment of one-fifth of the purchase price, to issue a contract of
sale, providing that the remainder of the purchase price may
be paid in four equal annual installments, with interest on
deferred payments at the rate of six percent per annum, or
sooner at the election of the contract holder, which contract
shall be subject to cancellation by the department for failure
to comply with its provisions, and upon the completion of the
payments as provided in the contract to cause a deed to the
lands described in the contract to be issued to the holder as in
the case of the sale of state lands. [2005 c 155 § 713; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 145. Formerly RCW 79.96.120.]
79.135.030
79.135.030 Wrongful taking of shellfish from public
lands—Civil remedies. (1) If a person wrongfully takes
shellfish or causes shellfish to be wrongfully taken from the
public lands and the wrongful taking is intentional and knowing, the person is liable for damages of treble the fair market
retail value of the amount of shellfish wrongfully taken. If a
person wrongfully takes shellfish from the public lands under
other circumstances, the person is liable for damages of double the fair market value of the amount of shellfish wrongfully taken.
(2) For purposes of this section, a person "wrongfully
takes" shellfish from public lands if the person takes shellfish: (a) Above the limits of any applicable laws that govern
the harvest of shellfish from public lands; (b) without reporting the harvest to the department of fish and wildlife or the
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Shellfish, Other Aquacultural Uses, and Marine Aquatic Plants
department where the reporting is required by law or contract; (c) outside the area or above the limits that an agreement or contract from the department allows the harvest of
shellfish from public lands; or (d) without a lease or purchase
of the shellfish where the lease or purchase is required by law
prior to harvest of the shellfish.
(3) The remedies in this section are for civil damages and
shall be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. The
department may file a civil action in Thurston county superior court or the county where the shellfish were taken against
any person liable under this section. Damages recovered
under this section shall be applied in the same way as
received under geoduck harvesting agreements authorized by
RCW 79.135.210.
(4) For purposes of the remedies created by this section,
the amount of shellfish wrongfully taken by a person may be
established either:
(a) By surveying the aquatic lands to reasonably establish the amount of shellfish taken from the immediate area
where a person is shown to have been wrongfully taking
shellfish;
(b) By weighing the shellfish on board any vessel or in
possession of a person shown to be wrongfully taking shellfish; or
(c) By any other evidence that reasonably establishes the
amount of shellfish wrongfully taken.
The amount of shellfish established by (a) or (b) of this
subsection shall be presumed to be the amount wrongfully
taken unless the defendant shows by a preponderance of evidence that the shellfish were lawfully taken or that the defendant did not take the shellfish presumed to have been wrongfully taken. Whenever there is reason to believe that shellfish
in the possession of any person were wrongfully taken, the
department or the department of fish and wildlife may require
the person to proceed to a designated off-load point and to
weigh all shellfish in possession of the person or on board the
person’s vessel.
(5) This civil remedy is supplemental to the state’s
power to prosecute any person for theft of shellfish, for other
crimes where shellfish are involved, or for violation of rules
of the department of fish and wildlife. [2005 c 155 § 714;
1994 c 264 § 73; 1990 c 163 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.96.130.]
79.135.040
79.135.040 Aquaculture products—Sale by leaseholder. Aquaculture products produced on leased stateowned aquatic land may be sold by the leaseholder as prescribed by the department without competitive bid or public
auction and consistent with statutes governing aquaculture
leases on state-owned aquatic land. [2005 c 113 § 1.]
Reviser’s note: This section was directed to be codified in chapter
79.96 RCW. However, chapter 79.96 RCW was recodified in its entirety by
2005 c 155.
79.135.050
79.135.050 Study of Hood Canal geoduck population—Report. (Expires July 1, 2008.) The department shall
conduct a study to determine if changes to the geoduck populations in Hood Canal have occurred over time. The department’s study shall compare prior population surveys with
current surveys conducted as part of this study. The study
shall incorporate geoduck beds representative of the northern, central, and southern areas of Hood Canal. No later than
(2006 Ed.)
79.135.110
January 1, 2006, the department shall submit a report describing the study results to the appropriate committees of the legislature. [2005 c 307 § 1.]
Reviser’s note: This section was directed to be codified in chapter
79.96 RCW. However, chapter 79.96 RCW was recodified in its entirety by
2005 c 155.
Expiration date—2005 c 307 §§ 1-3: "Sections 1 through 3 of this act
expire July 1, 2008." [2005 c 307 § 4.]
79.135.060
79.135.060 Study of Hood Canal’s geoduck population levels and environmental conditions—Report.
(Expires July 1, 2008.) The department shall conduct a study
to assess the relationship between the Hood Canal’s geoduck
population levels and environmental conditions, including
dissolved oxygen concentrations. To conduct this study, the
department shall establish geoduck index stations near the
department of ecology’s Hood Canal water sampling stations. The index stations shall include stations representative
of the northern, central, and southern areas of Hood Canal.
No later than December 1, 2007, the department shall submit
a report describing the study results to the appropriate committees of the legislature. [2005 c 307 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: This section was directed to be codified in chapter
79.96 RCW. However, chapter 79.96 RCW was recodified in its entirety by
2005 c 155.
Expiration date—2005 c 307 §§ 1-3: See note following RCW
79.135.050.
79.135.070
79.135.070 Study of age and shell oxidation rate of
Hood Canal geoduck—Report. (Expires July 1, 2008.)
The department shall conduct a study to establish an age profile and analyze the shell oxidation rate of Hood Canal geoduck. To conduct this study, the department shall establish
sampling stations representative of the northern, central, and
southern areas of Hood Canal. No later than December 1,
2007, the department shall submit a report describing the
study results to the appropriate committees of the legislature.
[2005 c 307 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was directed to be codified in chapter
79.96 RCW. However, chapter 79.96 RCW was recodified in its entirety by
2005 c 155.
Expiration date—2005 c 307 §§ 1-3: See note following RCW
79.135.050.
LEASING FOR SHELLFISH CULTIVATION/
AQUACULTURE USE
79.135.100
79.135.100 Rents and fees for aquatic lands used for
aquaculture production and harvesting. If state-owned
aquatic lands are used for aquaculture production or harvesting, rents and fees shall be established through competitive
bidding or negotiation. [1984 c 221 § 10. Formerly RCW
79.90.495.]
79.135.110
79.135.110 Leasing beds of tidal waters for shellfish
cultivation or other aquaculture use. (1) The beds of all
navigable tidal waters in the state lying below extreme low
tide, except as prohibited by Article XV, section 1 of the state
Constitution shall be subject to lease for the purposes of
planting and cultivating oyster beds, or for the purpose of cultivating clams or other edible shellfish, or for other aquaculture use, for periods not to exceed thirty years.
[Title 79 RCW—page 117]
79.135.120
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent any person from
leasing more than one parcel, as offered by the department.
[2005 c 155 § 701; 1993 c 295 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 134.
Formerly RCW 79.96.010.]
79.135.120
79.135.120 Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or
other aquaculture use—Who may lease—Application—
Deposit. Any person desiring to lease tidelands or beds of
navigable waters for the purpose of planting and cultivating
oyster beds, or for the purpose of cultivating clams and other
edible shellfish, shall file with the department, on a proper
form, an application in writing signed by the applicant and
accompanied by a map of the lands desired to be leased,
describing the lands by metes and bounds tied to at least two
United States government corners, and by the reference to
local geography as shall suffice to convey a knowledge of the
location of the lands with reasonable accuracy to persons
acquainted with the vicinity, and accompanied by a deposit of
ten dollars. The deposit shall be returned to the applicant in
case a lease is not granted. [2005 c 155 § 702; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 21 § 135. Formerly RCW 79.96.020.]
investigating the quantity of oysters, clams, or other edible
shellfish, present on the land applied for.
(2) When issuing new leases or reissuing existing leases
the department shall not permit the commercial harvest of
subtidal hardshell clams by means of hydraulic escalating
when the upland within five hundred feet of any lease tract is
zoned for residential development. [2005 c 155 § 703; 1994
c 264 § 68; 1987 c 374 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 136. Formerly RCW 79.96.030.]
79.135.140
79.135.140 Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or
other aquaculture use—Survey and boundary markers.
Before entering into possession of any leased tidelands or
beds of navigable waters, the applicant shall have the lands
surveyed by a registered land surveyor, and the applicant
shall furnish to the department and to the director of fish and
wildlife, a map of the leased premises signed and certified by
the registered land surveyor. The lessee shall also mark the
boundaries of the leased premises by piling monuments or
other markers of a permanent nature as the director of fish
and wildlife may direct. [2005 c 155 § 704; 1994 c 264 § 69;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 137. Formerly RCW 79.96.040.]
79.135.130
79.135.130 Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or
other aquaculture use—Inspection and report by director
of fish and wildlife—Rental and term—Commercial harvest of subtidal hardshell clams by hydraulic escalating.
(1) The department, upon the receipt of an application for a
lease for the purpose of planting and cultivating oyster beds
or for the purpose of cultivating clams or other edible shellfish, shall notify the director of fish and wildlife of the filing
of the application describing the tidelands or beds of navigable waters applied for. The director of fish and wildlife shall
cause an inspection of the lands applied for to be made and
shall make a full report to the department of the director’s
findings as to whether it is necessary, in order to protect existing natural oyster beds, and to secure adequate seeding of the
lands, to retain the lands described in the application for lease
or any part of the lands, and in the event the director deems it
advisable to retain the lands or any part of the lands for the
protection of existing natural oyster beds or to guarantee the
continuance of an adequate seed stock for existing natural
oyster beds, the lands shall not be subject to lease. However,
if the director determines that the lands applied for or any part
of the lands may be leased, the director shall so notify the
department and the director shall cause an examination of the
lands to be made to determine the presence, if any, of natural
oysters, clams, or other edible shellfish on the lands, and to
fix the rental value of the lands for use for oyster, clam, or
other edible shellfish cultivation. In the report to the department, the director shall recommend a minimum rental for the
lands and an estimation of the value of the oysters, clams, or
other edible shellfish, if any, then present on the lands applied
for. The lands approved by the director for lease may then be
leased to the applicant for a period of not less than five years
nor more than ten years at a rental not less than the minimum
rental recommended by the director of fish and wildlife. In
addition, before entering upon possession of the land, the
applicant shall pay the value of the oysters, clams, or other
edible shellfish, if any, then present on the land as determined
by the director, plus the expense incurred by the director in
[Title 79 RCW—page 118]
79.135.150
79.135.150 Renewal lease—Application. The department may, upon the filing of an application for a renewal
lease, inspect the tidelands or beds of navigable waters, and if
the department deems it in the best interests of the state to release the lands, the department shall issue to the applicant a
renewal lease for a further period not exceeding thirty years
and under the terms and conditions as may be determined by
the department. However, in the case of an application for a
renewal lease it shall not be necessary for the lands to be
inspected and reported upon by the director of fish and wildlife. [2005 c 155 § 705; 1994 c 264 § 70; 1993 c 295 § 2;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 138. Formerly RCW 79.96.050.]
79.135.160
79.135.160 Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or
other aquaculture use—Reversion for use other than cultivation of shellfish. All leases of tidelands and beds of navigable waters for the purpose of planting and cultivating oysters, clams, or other edible shellfish shall expressly provide
that if at any time after the granting of the lease, the described
lands shall cease to be used for the purpose of oyster beds,
clam beds, or other edible shellfish beds, they shall revert to
and become the property of the state and that the lands are
leased only for the purpose of cultivating oysters, clams, or
other edible shellfish thereon, and that the state reserves the
right to enter upon and take possession of the lands if at any
time the lands are used for any other purpose than the cultivation of oysters, clams, or other edible shellfish. [2005 c 155
§ 706; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 139. Formerly RCW 79.96.060.]
79.135.170
79.135.170 Leasing lands for shellfish cultivation or
other aquaculture use—Abandonment—Application for
other lands. If from any cause any lands leased for the purpose of planting and cultivating oysters, clams, or other edible shellfish become unfit and valueless for any such purposes, the lessee or the lessee’s assigns, upon certifying the
fact under oath to the department, together with the fact that
the lessee has abandoned the land, shall be entitled to make
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Shellfish, Other Aquacultural Uses, and Marine Aquatic Plants
application for other lands for such purposes. [2005 c 155 §
707; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 140. Formerly RCW 79.96.070.]
GEODUCK HARVEST/CULTIVATION
79.135.200
79.135.200 Geoduck harvest/cultivation--Survey of
navigable waters by private party--Record of survey.
Beds of navigable waters held under contract or deed from
the state of Washington upon which a private party is harvesting or cultivating geoduck shall be surveyed by the private
party and a record of survey filed in compliance with chapter
58.09 RCW prior to harvest. Property corners will be placed
in sufficient quantity and location to aid in relocation of the
oyster tract lines occurring or extending below extreme low
tide. Buoys on anchors must be placed intervisibly along and
at angle points on any ownership boundaries that extend
below extreme low tide, for the harvest term. The survey of
privately owned beds of navigable waters will be established
on the Washington coordinate system in compliance with
chapter 58.20 RCW and property corners labeled with their
coordinates on the record of survey. [2002 c 123 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.96.140.]
79.135.320
another person or entity for the harvesting of geoducks, the
harvesting agreement shall not be suspended or canceled if
the harvester terminates its business relationship with such an
entity until compliance with this subsection is secured. [2005
c 155 § 708; 2005 c 113 § 3; 2003 c 39 § 43; 1990 c 163 § 4;
1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 141. Formerly RCW 79.96.080.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Chapter 79.90 RCW was recodified and/or
repealed in its entirety by 2005 c 155.
(2) This section was amended by 2005 c 113 § 3 and by 2005 c 155 §
708, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
79.135.220
79.135.220 Geoduck harvesting—Designation of
aquatic lands. The department shall designate the areas of
state-owned aquatic lands that are available for geoduck harvesting by licensed geoduck harvesters in accordance with
*chapter 79.90 RCW. [2005 c 155 § 709; 1990 c 163 § 5;
1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 129; 1979 ex.s. c 141 § 5. Formerly
RCW 79.96.085, 75.28.286.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 79.90 RCW was recodified and/or repealed in
its entirety by 2005 c 155.
Commercial harvesting of geoducks: RCW 77.60.070, 77.65.410.
Findings—2002 c 123: See note following RCW 79.135.010.
79.135.230
79.135.210
79.135.210 Geoduck harvesting—Agreements, regulation. (1) Except as provided in RCW 79.135.040, geoducks shall be sold as valuable materials under the provisions
of *chapter 79.90 RCW. After confirmation of the sale, the
department may enter into an agreement with the purchaser
for the harvesting of geoducks. The department may place
terms and conditions in the harvesting agreements as the
department deems necessary. The department may enforce
the provisions of any harvesting agreement by suspending or
canceling the harvesting agreement or through any other
means contained in the harvesting agreement. Any geoduck
harvester may terminate a harvesting agreement entered into
pursuant to this subsection if actions of a governmental
agency, beyond the control of the harvester, its agents, or its
employees, prohibit harvesting, for a period exceeding thirty
days during the term of the harvesting agreement, except as
provided within the agreement. Upon termination of the
agreement by the harvester, the harvester shall be reimbursed
by the department for the cost paid to the department on the
agreement, less the value of the harvest already accomplished
by the harvester under the agreement.
(2) Harvesting agreements under this title for the purpose
of harvesting geoducks shall require the harvester and the
harvester’s agent or representatives to comply with all applicable commercial diving safety standards and regulations
promulgated and implemented by the federal occupational
safety and health administration established under the federal
occupational safety and health act of 1970 as the law exists or
as amended (84 Stat. 1590 et seq.; 29 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq.).
However, for the purposes of this section and RCW
77.60.070, all persons who dive for geoducks are deemed to
be employees as defined by the federal occupational safety
and health act. All harvesting agreements shall provide that
failure to comply with these standards is cause for suspension
or cancellation of the harvesting agreement. Further, for the
purposes of this subsection if the harvester contracts with
(2006 Ed.)
79.135.230 Intensive management plan for geoducks.
The department may enter into agreements with the department of fish and wildlife for the development of an intensive
management plan for geoducks including the development
and operation of a geoduck hatchery. [2005 c 155 § 718;
1994 c 264 § 74; 1984 c 221 § 26. Formerly RCW
79.96.906.]
Severability—Effective date—1984 c 221: See RCW 79.105.901 and
79.105.902.
OYSTER RESERVES
79.135.300
79.135.300 Lease of tidelands set aside as oyster
reserves. The department is authorized to lease first or second-class tidelands which have been or that are set aside as
state oyster reserves in the same manner as provided elsewhere in this chapter for the lease of those lands. [2005 c 155
§ 710; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 142. Formerly RCW 79.96.090.]
79.135.310
79.135.310 Inspection by director of fish and wildlife.
The department, upon the receipt of an application for the
lease of any first or second-class state-owned tidelands that
are set aside as state oyster reserves, shall notify the director
of fish and wildlife of the filing of the application describing
the lands applied for. It is the duty of the director of fish and
wildlife to inspect the reserve for the purpose of determining
whether the reserve or any part of the reserve should be
retained as a state oyster reserve or vacated. [2005 c 155 §
711; 1994 c 264 § 71; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 143. Formerly
RCW 79.96.100.]
79.135.320
79.135.320 Vacation of reserve—Lease of lands—
Designated state oyster reserve lands. (1) In the event that
the fish and wildlife commission approves the vacation of the
whole or any part of a reserve, the department may vacate and
offer for lease the parts or all of the reserve as it deems to be
[Title 79 RCW—page 119]
79.135.400
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
for the best interest of the state, and all moneys received for
the lease of the lands shall be paid to the department.
(2) Notwithstanding RCW 77.60.020, subsection (1) of
this section, or any other provision of state law, the state oyster reserves in Eld Inlet, Hammersley Inlet, or Totten Inlet,
situated in Mason or Thurston counties shall permanently be
designated as state oyster reserve lands. [2005 c 155 § 712;
2001 c 273 § 4; 2000 c 11 § 30; 1994 c 264 § 72; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 21 § 144. Formerly RCW 79.96.110.]
MARINE AQUATIC PLANTS
79.135.400
79.135.400 Seaweed—Marine aquatic plants defined.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definition
in this section applies throughout this chapter.
"Marine aquatic plants" means saltwater marine plant
species that are dependent upon the marine aquatic or tidal
environment, and exist in either an attached or free-floating
state. Marine aquatic plants include but are not limited to seaweed of the classes Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta. [1993 c 283 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.96.200,
79.01.800.]
Findings—1993 c 283: "The legislature finds that the plant resources
of marine aquatic ecosystems have inherent value and provide essential habitat. These resources are also becoming increasingly valuable as economic
commodities and may be declining. The legislature further finds that the regulation of harvest of these resources is currently inadequate to afford necessary protection." [1993 c 283 § 1.]
79.135.410
79.135.410 Seaweed—Personal use limit—Commercial harvesting prohibited—Exception—Import restriction. (1) The maximum daily wet weight harvest or possession of seaweed for personal use from all state-owned aquatic
lands and all privately owned tidelands is ten pounds per person. The department in cooperation with the department of
fish and wildlife may establish seaweed harvest limits of less
than ten pounds for conservation purposes. This section shall
in no way affect the ability of any state agency to prevent harvest of any species of marine aquatic plant from lands under
its control, ownership, or management.
(2) Except as provided under subsection (3) of this section, commercial harvesting of seaweed from state-owned
aquatic lands, and all privately owned tidelands is prohibited.
This subsection shall in no way affect commercial seaweed
aquaculture.
(3) Upon mutual approval by the department and the
department of fish and wildlife, seaweed species of the genus
Macrocystis may be commercially harvested for use in the
herring spawn-on-kelp fishery.
(4) Importation of seaweed species of the genus Macrocystis into Washington state for the herring spawn-on-kelp
fishery is subject to the fish and shellfish disease control policies of the department of fish and wildlife. Macrocystis shall
not be imported from areas with fish or shellfish diseases
associated with organisms that are likely to be transported
with Macrocystis. The department shall incorporate this policy on Macrocystis importation into its overall fish and shellfish disease control policies. [2005 c 155 § 715; 2003 c 334
§ 442; 1996 c 46 § 1; 1994 c 286 § 1; 1993 c 283 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.96.210, 79.01.805.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
[Title 79 RCW—page 120]
Effective date—1994 c 286: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 286 § 6.]
Findings—1993 c 283: See note following RCW 79.135.400.
79.135.420
79.135.420 Seaweed—Harvest and possession violations—Penalties and damages. (1) It is unlawful to exceed
the harvest and possession restrictions imposed under RCW
79.135.410.
(2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor, and a
violation taking place on state-owned aquatic lands is subject
to the provisions of RCW 79.02.300.
(3) A person committing a violation of this section on
private tidelands which he or she owns is liable to the state for
treble the amount of damages to the seaweed resource, and a
person trespassing on privately owned tidelands and committing a violation of this section is liable to the private tideland
owner for treble the amount of damages to the seaweed
resource. Damages recoverable include, but are not limited
to, damages for the market value of the seaweed, for injury to
the aquatic ecosystem, and for the costs of restoration. In
addition, the person is liable for reimbursing the injured party
for the party’s reasonable costs, including but not limited to
investigative costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and other
litigation-related costs. [2005 c 155 § 716. Prior: 2003 c 334
§ 443; 2003 c 53 § 380; 1994 c 286 § 2; 1993 c 283 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.96.220, 79.01.810.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1994 c 286: See note following RCW 79.135.410.
Findings—1993 c 283: See note following RCW 79.135.400.
79.135.430
79.135.430 Seaweed—Enforcement. The department
of fish and wildlife and law enforcement authorities may
enforce the provisions of RCW 79.135.410 and 79.135.420.
[2005 c 155 § 717; 2003 c 334 § 444; 1994 c 286 § 3; 1993 c
283 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.96.230, 79.01.815.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Effective date—1994 c 286: See note following RCW 79.135.410.
Findings—1993 c 283: See note following RCW 79.135.400.
79.135.900
79.135.900 Savings—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. The enactment of this act including all repeals, decodifications, and
amendments shall not be construed as affecting any existing
right acquired under the statutes repealed, decodified, or
amended or under any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto; nor as affecting any proceeding instituted thereunder. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 181. Formerly RCW
79.96.901.]
79.135.901
79.135.901 Captions—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. Chapter and
section headings as used in this act do not constitute any part
of the law. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 182. Formerly RCW
79.96.902.]
79.135.902
79.135.902 Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. If any
provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Valuable Materials
is not affected. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 184. Formerly RCW
79.96.903.]
79.135.903
79.135.903 Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 21 §§ 176
and 179. Sections 176 (amending RCW 79.01.525) and 179
(creating a new section providing for an aquatic lands joint
legislative committee) of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the
support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately. [1982 1st ex.s. c
21 § 185. Formerly RCW 79.96.904.]
79.135.904
79.135.904 Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 21. Except
as provided in *RCW 79.96.904, this act shall take effect July
1, 1983. [1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 186. Formerly RCW
79.96.905.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.96.904 was recodified as RCW 79.135.903
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1010.
79.140.050
within or upon any state-owned aquatic lands, it is the duty of
the department to fix the date, place, and time of sale, and no
sale shall be had on any day that is a legal holiday.
(2) The department shall give notice of the sale by advertisement published once a week for four consecutive weeks
immediately preceding the date fixed for sale in the notice, in
at least one newspaper published and of general circulation in
the county in which the whole or any part of any lot, block, or
tract of land containing the valuable material to be sold is situated, and by causing a copy of the notice to be posted in a
conspicuous place in the department’s Olympia office and
the region headquarters administering the sale.
(3) The notice shall: (a) Specify the place and time of
sale; (b) estimate the volume of valuable materials; (c) state
the appraised value; (d) describe with particularity each parcel of land from which valuable materials are to be sold; and
(e) specify that the terms of sale will be posted in the area
headquarters and the department’s Olympia office. [2005 c
155 § 801. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.90.170.]
79.135.905
79.135.905 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
Chapter 79.140 RCW
AQUATIC LANDS—VALUABLE MATERIALS
Chapter 79.140
Sections
79.140.001
Intent—2005 c 155.
SALE PROCEDURE
79.140.010
79.140.020
79.140.030
79.140.040
79.140.050
79.140.060
79.140.070
79.140.080
Manner of sale—Notice.
List of valuable materials.
Expenditures for advertising.
Reoffer of sale—Readvertised.
Sale by public auction/sealed bid—Exception.
Determination of highest responsible bidder.
Sales by public auction—Procedure.
Confirmation of sale.
79.140.100
Valuable materials from Columbia river—Agreements with
Oregon.
Material removed for channel or harbor improvement or flood
control—Use for public purpose.
Mt. St. Helen’s eruption—Dredge spoils—Sale by certain
landowners.
Prior appraisal required.
Bill of sale for valuable material sold separately.
Sale of rock, gravel, sand, silt, and other valuable materials.
Sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt—Application—Terms of
lease or contract—Bond—Payment—Reports.
Sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt—Investigation, audit of
books of person removing.
Contract for sale of rock, gravel, etc.—Royalties—Consideration of flood protection value.
Leases and permits for prospecting and contracts for mining
valuable minerals and specific materials from aquatic lands.
Option contracts for prospecting and leases for mining and
extraction of coal from aquatic lands.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79.140.120
79.140.130
79.140.140
79.140.150
79.140.160
79.140.170
79.140.180
79.140.190
79.140.200
79.140.900
79.140.001
79 . 14 0 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
See R CW
SALE PROCEDURE
79.140.010
79.140.010 Manner of sale—Notice. (1) When the
department decides to sell any valuable materials situated
(2006 Ed.)
79.140.020 List of valuable materials. The department
shall print a list of valuable materials contained within or
upon state-owned aquatic lands, giving appraised value, character of the land, and such other information as may be of
interest to prospective buyers. The lists must be issued at
least four weeks prior to the date of any sale. The department
shall retain for free distribution in its office in Olympia and
the regional offices sufficient copies of the lists, to be kept in
a conspicuous place or receptacle on the counter of the general and regional office of the department, and, when
requested, shall mail copies of the list as issued to any applicant. [2005 c 155 § 802. FORMERLY PART OF RCW
79.90.180.]
79.140.030
SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND LEASES
79.140.110
79.140.020
79.140.030 Expenditures for advertising. The department is authorized to expend any sum in additional advertising of the sale as is determined to be in the best interests of
the state. [2005 c 155 § 803. FORMERLY PART OF RCW
79.90.190.]
79.140.040
79.140.040 Reoffer of sale—Readvertised. Any sale
that has been offered, and for which there are no bids
received, shall not be reoffered until it has been readvertised
as specified in RCW 79.140.010 through 79.140.030. If all
sales cannot be offered within the specified time on the
advertised date, the sale shall continue on the following day
between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m.
[20 05 c 15 5 § 8 04. FOR MERLY PAR T OF RCW
79.90.200.]
79.140.050
79.140.050 Sale by public auction/sealed bid—
Exception. All sales of valuable materials shall be at public
auction or by sealed bid to the highest responsible bidder, on
the terms prescribed by law and as specified in the notice provided, and no land or materials shall be sold for less than their
appraised value. However:
(1) When valuable material has been appraised at an
amount not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, the
department, when authorized by the board, may arrange for
the sale at public auction of said valuable material and for its
[Title 79 RCW—page 121]
79.140.060
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
removal under such terms and conditions as the department
may prescribe, after the department shall have caused to be
published not less than ten days prior to sale a notice of such
sale in a newspaper of general circulation located nearest to
the property to be sold;
(2) Any sale of valuable material on state-owned aquatic
lands of an appraised value of ten thousand dollars or less
may be sold directly to the applicant for cash without notice
or advertising. [2005 c 155 § 805. FORMERLY PART OF
RCW 79.90.210.]
Sales of aquaculture products by a leaseholder: RCW 79.135.040.
79.140.060
79.140.060 Determination of highest responsible bidder. (1) To determine the "highest responsible bidder" under
RCW 79.140.050, the department shall be entitled to consider, in addition to price, the following:
(a) The financial and technical ability of the bidder to
perform the contract;
(b) Whether the bid contains material defects;
(c) Whether the bidder has previously or is currently
complying with terms and conditions of any other contracts
with the state or relevant contracts with entities other than the
state;
(d) Whether the bidder was the "highest responsible bidder" for a sale within the previous five years but failed to
complete the sale, such as by not entering into a resulting
contract or by not paying the difference between the deposit
and the total amount due. However, sales that were bid prior
to January 1, 2003, may not be considered for the purposes of
this subsection (1)(d);
(e) Whether the bidder has been convicted of a crime
relating to the public lands or natural resources of the state of
Washington, the United States, or any other state, tribe, or
country, where "conviction" includes a guilty plea, or unvacated forfeiture of bail;
(f) Whether the bidder is owned, controlled, or managed
by any person, partnership, or corporation that is not responsible under this statute; and
(g) Whether the subcontractors of the bidder, if any, are
responsible under this statute.
(2) Whenever the department has reason to believe that
the apparent high bidder is not a responsible bidder, the
department may award the sale to the next responsible bidder
or the department may reject all bids pursuant to RCW
79.140.080. [2005 c 155 § 806. FORMERLY PART OF
RCW 79.90.215.]
79.140.070
79.140.070 Sales by public auction—Procedure. (1)
Sales by public auction under this chapter shall be conducted
under the direction of the department, by its authorized representative. The department’s representatives are referred to as
auctioneers.
(2) On or before the time specified in the notice of sale
each bidder shall deposit with the auctioneer, in cash or by
certified check, cashier’s check, or postal money order payable to the order of the department, or by bid guarantee in the
form of bid bond acceptable to the department, an amount
equal to the deposit specified in the notice of sale. The
deposit shall include a specified amount of the appraised
price for the valuable materials offered for sale, together with
[Title 79 RCW—page 122]
any fee required by law for the issuance of contracts or bills
of sale. The deposit may, when prescribed in the notice of
sale, be considered an opening bid of an amount not less than
the minimum appraised price established in the notice of sale.
The successful bidder’s deposit will be retained by the auctioneer and the difference, if any, between the deposit and the
total amount due shall on the day of the sale be paid in cash,
certified check, cashier’s check, draft, postal money order, or
by personal check made payable to the department. If a bid
bond is used, the share of the total deposit due guaranteed by
the bid bond shall, within ten days of the day of sale, be paid
in cash, certified check, cashier’s check, draft, or postal
money order payable to the department. Other deposits, if
any, shall be returned to the respective bidders at the conclusion of each sale.
(3) The auctioneer shall deliver to the purchaser a memorandum of purchase containing a description of the materials purchased, the price bid, and the terms of the sale.
(4) The auctioneer shall at once send to the department
the cash, certified check, cashier’s check, draft, postal money
order, or bid guarantee received from the purchaser, and a
copy of the memorandum delivered to the purchaser, together
with such additional report of the auctioneer’s proceedings
with reference to the sales as may be required by the department. [2005 c 155 § 807. FORMERLY PART OF RCW
79.90.220.]
79.140.080 Confirmation of sale. (1) A sale of valuable materials shall be confirmed if:
(a) No affidavit showing that the interest of the state in
such a sale was injuriously affected by fraud or collusion, is
filed with the department’s Olympia office within ten days
from the receipt of the report of the auctioneer conducting the
sale;
(b) It appears from the report that the sale was fairly conducted, that the purchaser was the highest responsible bidder
at the sale, and that the sale price is not less than the appraised
value of the property sold;
(c) The department is satisfied that the material sold
would not, upon being readvertised and offered for sale, sell
for a substantially higher price; and
(d) The payment required by law to be made at the time
of making the sale has been made, and that the best interests
of the state are being served.
(2) Upon confirming a sale, the department shall enter
upon its records the confirmation of sale and issue to the purchaser a contract of sale or bill of sale as the case may be, as
is provided for in this chapter. [2005 c 155 § 808. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.90.240.]
79.140.080
SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND LEASES
79.140.100 Valuable materials from Columbia
river—Agreements with Oregon. The department is authorized and empowered to confer with and enter into any agreements with the public authorities of the state of Oregon,
which in the judgment of the department will assist the state
of Washington and the state of Oregon in securing the maximum revenues for sand, gravel, or other valuable materials
taken from the bed of the Columbia river where the river
forms the boundary line between the states. [2005 c 155 §
79.140.100
(2006 Ed.)
Aquatic Lands—Valuable Materials
109; 1991 c 322 § 24; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 19. Formerly
RCW 79.90.130.]
Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.
79.140.110 Material removed for channel or harbor
improvement or flood control—Use for public purpose.
When gravel, rock, sand, silt, or other material from any
state-owned aquatic lands is removed by any public agency
or under public contract for channel or harbor improvement,
or flood control, use of the material may be authorized by the
department for a public purpose on land owned or leased by
the state or any municipality, county, or public corporation.
However, when no public land site is available for deposit of
the material, its deposit on private land with the landowner’s
permission is authorized and may be designated by the
department to be for a public purpose. Prior to removal and
use, the state agency, municipality, county, or public corporation contemplating or arranging the use shall first obtain written permission from the department. No payment of royalty
shall be required for the gravel, rock, sand, silt, or other material used for the public purpose, but a charge will be made if
the material is subsequently sold or used for some other purpose. Further, the department may authorize the public
agency or private landowner to dispose of the material without charge when necessary to implement disposal of material.
No charge shall be required for any use of the material
obtained under the provisions of this chapter when used
solely on an authorized site. No charge shall be required for
any use of the material obtained under the provisions of this
chapter if the material is used for public purposes by local
governments. Public purposes include, but are not limited to,
construction and maintenance of roads, dikes, and levies.
Nothing in this section shall repeal or modify the provisions
of *RCW 77.55.100 or eliminate the necessity of obtaining a
permit for the removal from other state or federal agencies as
otherwise required by law. [2005 c 155 § 110; 2003 c 39 §
41; 1991 c 337 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 21. Formerly RCW
79.90.150.]
79.140.110
*Reviser’s note: RCW 77.55.100 was repealed by 2005 c 146 § 1006.
For later enactment, see RCW 77.55.021.
79.140.160
Washington. [2005 c 155 § 111; 2000 c 13 § 2; 1989 c 213 §
4; 1985 c 307 § 7; 1985 c 12 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 22.
Formerly RCW 79.90.160.]
79.140.130
79.140.130 Prior appraisal required. In no case shall
any valuable materials situated within or upon any tidelands,
shorelands, or beds of navigable waters belonging to the
state, be offered for sale unless the same shall have been
appraised by the department of natural resources within
ninety days prior to the date fixed for the sale. [2005 c 155 §
809. FORMERLY PART OF RCW 79.90.110.]
79.140.140
79.140.140 Bill of sale for valuable material sold separately. When valuable materials are sold separate from
state-owned aquatic lands and the purchase price is paid in
full, the department shall cause a bill of sale, signed by the
commissioner and attested by the seal of the commissioner’s
office, setting forth the time within which the material shall
be removed. The bill of sale shall be issued to the purchaser
and shall be recorded in the department’s Olympia office,
upon the payment of the fee provided for in this chapter.
[2005 c 155 § 126; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 35. Formerly RCW
79.90.290.]
79.140.150
79.140.150 Sale of rock, gravel, sand, silt, and other
valuable materials. The department, upon application by
any person or when determined by the department to be in the
best interest of the state, may enter into a contract or lease
providing for the removal and sale of rock, gravel, sand, and
silt, or other valuable materials located within or upon beds
of navigable waters, or upon any state-owned tidelands or
shorelands and providing for payment to be made by such
royalty as the department may fix, by negotiation, by sealed
bid, or at public auction. If application is made for the purchase of any valuable material situated within or upon stateowned aquatic lands the department shall inspect and
appraise the value of the material in the application. [2005 c
155 § 127; 1991 c 322 § 26; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 36. Formerly RCW 79.90.300.]
Findings—Intent—1991 c 322: See note following RCW 86.12.200.
79.140.120 Mt. St. Helen’s eruption—Dredge
spoils—Sale by certain landowners. (1) The legislature
finds and declares that, due to the extraordinary volume of
material washed down onto beds of navigable waters and
shorelands in the Toutle river, Coweeman river, and portions
of the Cowlitz river, the dredge spoils placed upon adjacent
publicly and privately owned property in the areas, if further
disposed, will be of nominal value to the state and that it is in
the best interests of the state to allow further disposal without
charge.
(2) All dredge spoil or materials removed from the stateowned beds and shores of the Toutle river, Coweeman river,
and that portion of the Cowlitz river from two miles above
the confluence of the Toutle river to its mouth deposited on
adjacent public and private lands during the years 1980
through December 31, 1995, as a result of dredging of these
rivers for navigation and flood control purposes may be sold,
transferred, or otherwise disposed of by owners of the lands
without the necessity of any charge by the department and
free and clear of any interest of the department of the state of
79.140.120
(2006 Ed.)
79.140.160
79.140.160 Sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt—
Application—Terms of lease or contract—Bond—Payment—Reports. Each application made pursuant to RCW
79.140.150 shall set forth the estimated quantity and kind of
materials desired to be removed and shall be accompanied by
a map or plat showing the area from which the applicant
wishes to remove the materials. The department may in its
discretion include in any lease or contract entered into pursuant to RCW 79.140.150 through 79.140.170, terms and conditions deemed necessary by the department to protect the
interests of the state. In each lease or contract the department
shall provide for a right of forfeiture by the state, upon a failure to operate under the lease or contract or pay royalties or
rent for periods therein stipulated, and the department shall
require a bond with a surety company authorized to transact a
surety business in this state, as surety to secure the performance of the terms and conditions of the contract or lease
including the payment of royalties. The right of forfeiture
shall be exercised by entry of a declaration of forfeiture in the
[Title 79 RCW—page 123]
79.140.170
Title 79 RCW: Public Lands
records of the department. The amount of rock, gravel, sand,
or silt taken under the contract or lease shall be reported
monthly by the purchaser to the department and payment
made on the basis of the royalty provided in the lease or contract. [2005 c 155 § 128; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 37. Formerly
RCW 79.90.310.]
79.140.170
79.140.170 Sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt—
Investigation, audit of books of person removing. The
department may inspect and audit books, contracts, and
accounts of each person removing rock, gravel, sand, or silt
pursuant to any lease or contract under RCW 79.140.150 and
79.140.160 and make such other investigation and secure or
receive any other evidence necessary to determine whether or
not the state is being paid the full amount payable to it for the
removal of the materials. [2005 c 155 § 129; 1982 1st ex.s. c
21 § 38. Formerly RCW 79.90.320.]
79.140.180
79.140.180 Contract for sale of rock, gravel, etc.—
Royalties—Consideration of flood protection value.
Whenever, pursuant to RCW 79.15.300, the department
enters into a contract for the sale and removal of rock, gravel,
sand, or silt out of a riverbed, the department shall, when
establishing a royalty, take into consideration flood protection value to the public that will arise as a result of the
removal. [2005 c 155 § 130; 2003 c 334 § 602; 1984 c 212 §
10. Formerly RCW 79.90.325, 79.01.135.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
Chapter 79.145
Chapter 79.145 RCW
MARINE PLASTIC DEBRIS
Sections
79.145.001
79.145.010
79.145.020
79.145.030
79.145.040
79.145.050
79.145.060
79.145.900
79.145.901
Intent—2005 c 155.
Intent.
Definitions.
Coordinating implementation—Rules.
Agreements with other entities.
Employees—Information clearinghouse contracts.
Grants, funds, or gifts.
Severability—1989 c 23.
Severability—Part/subchapter headings not law—2005 c 155.
79 . 14 5 .0 0 1 In ten t— 20 05 c 15 5 .
79.105.001.
79.145.001
See R CW
79.145.010 Intent. The legislature finds that the public
health and safety is threatened by an increase in the amount
of plastic garbage being deposited in the waters and on the
shores of the state. To address this growing problem, the
commissioner appointed the marine plastic debris task force
which presented a state action plan in October 1988. It is
necessary for the state of Washington to implement the action
plan in order to:
(1) Cleanup and prevent further pollution of the state’s
waters and aquatic lands;
(2) Increase public awareness;
(3) Coordinate federal, state, local, and private efforts;
(4) Foster the stewardship of the aquatic lands of the
state. [2005 c 155 § 901; 1989 c 23 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.97.010, 79.81.010.]
79.145.010
79.140.190
79.140.190 Leases and permits for prospecting and
contracts for mining valuable minerals and specific materials from aquatic lands. The department may issue permits
and leases for prospecting, placer mining contracts, and contracts for the mining of valuable minerals and specific materials, except rock, gravel, sand, silt, coal, or hydrocarbons,
upon and from any state-owned aquatic lands, or which have
been sold and the minerals reserved by the state in tracts not
to exceed six hundred forty acres or an entire governmentsurveyed section. The procedures contained at RCW
79.14.300 through 79.14.450, inclusive, shall apply. [2005 c
155 § 131; 2003 c 334 § 603; 1987 c 20 § 16; 1982 1st ex.s. c
21 § 39. Formerly RCW 79.90.330.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.140.200
79.140.200 Option contracts for prospecting and
leases for mining and extraction of coal from aquatic
lands. The department is authorized to execute option contracts for prospecting purposes and leases for the mining and
extraction of coal from any state-owned aquatic lands or from
which it may acquire title, or from any aquatic lands sold or
leased by the state the minerals of which have been reserved
by the state. The procedures contained at RCW 79.14.470
through 79.14.580, inclusive, shall apply. [2005 c 155 § 132;
2003 c 334 § 604; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 § 40. Formerly RCW
79.90.340.]
Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.
79.140.900
79.140.900 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
[Title 79 RCW—page 124]
79.145.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Department" means the department of natural
resources.
(2) "Action plan" means the marine plastic debris action
plan of October 1988 as presented to the commissioner by the
marine plastic debris task force. [2005 c 155 § 902; 1989 c 23
§ 2. Formerly RCW 79.97.020, 79.81.020.]
79.145.020
79.145.030 Coordinating implementation—Rules.
The department shall have the authority to coordinate implementation of the action plan with appropriate state agencies
including the parks and recreation commission and the
departments of ecology and fish and wildlife. The department is authorized to adopt, in consultation with affected
agencies, the necessary rules to provide for the cleanup and to
prevent pollution of the waters of the state and aquatic lands
by plastic and other marine debris. [2005 c 155 § 903; 1994
c 264 § 65; 1989 c 23 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.97.030,
79.81.030.]
79.145.030
79.145.040 Agreements with other entities. The
department may enter into intergovernmental agreements
with federal or state agencies and agreements with private
parties deemed necessary by the department to carry out the
provisions of this chapter. [1989 c 23 § 4. Formerly RCW
79.97.040, 79.81.040.]
79.145.040
79.145.050
79.145.050 Employees—Information clearinghouse
contracts. The department is the designated agency to coordinate implementation of the action plan and is authorized to
(2006 Ed.)
Marine Plastic Debris
79.145.901
hire such employees as are necessary to coordinate the action
plan among state and federal agencies, the private sector, and
interested public groups and organizations. The department
is authorized to contract, through an open bidding process,
with interested parties to act as the information clearinghouse
for marine plastic debris related issues. [2005 c 155 § 904;
1989 c 23 § 5. Formerly RCW 79.97.050, 79.81.050.]
79.145.060 Grants, funds, or gifts. The department is
authorized to accept, receive, disburse, and administer grants
or funds or gifts from any source including private individuals, public entities, and the federal government to supplement
the funds appropriated to carry out the purposes of this chapter. [2005 c 155 § 905; 1989 c 23 § 6. Formerly RCW
79.97.060, 79.81.060.]
79.145.060
79.145.900 Severability—1989 c 23. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1989 c 23 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.97.900, 79.81.900.]
79.145.900
79.145.901 Severability—Part/subchapter headings
not law—2005 c 155.
See RCW 79.105.903 and
79.105.904.
79.145.901
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 79 RCW—page 125]
Title 79A
Title 79A
PUBLIC RECREATIONAL LANDS
Chapters
79A.05 Parks and recreation commission.
79A.10
Outdoor recreational facilities.
79A.15
Acquisition of habitat conservation and outdoor recreation lands.
79A.20 Wildlife and recreation lands—Funding of
maintenance and operations.
79A.25 Interagency committee for outdoor recreation.
79A.30 Washington state horse park.
79A.35 Washington state recreation trails system.
79A.40 Conveyances for persons in recreational activities.
79A.45 Skiing and commercial ski activity.
79A.50
Public lands for state or city parks.
79A.55 Scenic river system.
79A.60 Regulation of recreational vessels.
79A.65
Commission moorage facilities.
79A.70
State parks gift foundation.
79A.75 State parks centennial.
Chapter 79A.05 RCW
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Chapter 79A.05
Sections
79A.05.010 Definitions.
79A.05.015 Commission created—Composition—Compensation and
expenses.
79A.05.020 Duties of commission.
79A.05.025 Chair—Meetings—Quorum.
79A.05.030 Powers and duties—Mandatory.
79A.05.035 Additional powers and duties.
79A.05.040 Director’s duties.
79A.05.045 Waste reduction and recycling.
79A.05.050 Community restitution for littering in state parks—Policy and
procedures.
79A.05.055 Additional powers and duties.
79A.05.059 State parks education and enhancement account.
79A.05.060 Parks improvement account—Transfers to state parks renewal
and stewardship account.
79A.05.065 Park passes—Eligibility.
79A.05.070 Further powers—Director of parks and recreation—Salaries.
79A.05.075 Delegation of commission’s powers and duties to director.
79A.05.080 Lease of park lands for television stations.
79A.05.085 Lease of park lands for television stations—Lease rental rates,
terms—Attachment of antennae.
79A.05.090 Exemption of persons over sixty-five from fees for collection
in state parks of wood debris for personal use.
79A.05.095 Donations of land for park purposes.
79A.05.100 Bequests and donations of money.
79A.05.105 Withdrawal of granted lands on public highways.
79A.05.110 Withdrawal of other lands—Exchange for lands on highway.
79A.05.115 Cross-state trail facility.
79A.05.120 Cross-state trail—Transfer of lands in Milwaukee Road corridor.
79A.05.125 Cross-state trail—Rail line franchise negotiations by department of transportation.
79A.05.130 Cross-state trail account—Land acquisition—Rules describing
trail.
79A.05.135 Dedication as parks and parkways.
79A.05.140 Permits for improvement of parks—Limitations.
79A.05.145 Application for permit.
79A.05.150 Plans and specifications.
79A.05.155 Surety bond.
79A.05.160 Police powers vested in commission and employees.
79A.05.165 Penalties.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.170 Transfer of surplus land—Reversionary clause required—
Release—Parkland acquisition account.
79A.05.175 Disposal of land not needed for park purposes.
79A.05.178 Real property disposal—Disputed land—Manner—Notice and
hearing—Suit for noncompliance.
79A.05.180 Exchange of state land by commission—Public notice—News
release—Hearing—Procedure.
79A.05.185 Small boat facilities for Puget Sound authorized.
79A.05.190 Recreational metal detectors—Available land.
79A.05.195 Identification of historic archaeological resources in state
parks—Plan—Availability of land for use by recreational
metal detectors.
79A.05.200 Certain tidelands transferred to commission.
79A.05.205 Certain tidelands transferred to commission—Access to and
from tidelands.
79A.05.210 Sale of state trust lands—Terms and conditions.
79A.05.215 State parks renewal and stewardship account.
79A.05.220 Trust lands—Periodic review to identify parcels appropriate
for transfer to commission.
79A.05.225 Winter recreational facilities—Commission duties—Liability.
79A.05.230 Winter recreational area parking permits—Fee—Expiration.
79A.05.235 Winter recreational program account—Deposit of parking permit fees—Winter recreation programs by public and private
agencies.
79A.05.240 Winter recreational parking areas—Restriction of overnight
parking.
79A.05.245 Penalty for violation of RCW 79A.05.240 or 46.61.585.
79A.05.250 Winter recreational parking areas—Rules.
79A.05.255 Winter recreation advisory committee—Generally.
79A.05.260 Sun Lakes state park—"Vic Meyers Golf Course" designation—"Vic Meyers Lake" designation.
79A.05.265 Hostels—Legislative declaration of intent.
79A.05.270 "Hostel" defined.
79A.05.275 Hostels—Authority of political subdivisions to establish.
79A.05.280 Hostels—Commission authorized to accept grants or moneys
for the support thereof—Rules required.
79A.05.285 Land evaluation, acquisition.
79A.05.290 Acquisition of land held by department of natural resources.
79A.05.300 Establishment of urban area state parks by parks and recreation
commission.
79A.05.305 Declaration of policy—Lands for public park purposes.
79A.05.310 Powers and duties—Program of boating safety education—
Casualty and accident reporting program.
79A.05.315 Milwaukee Road corridor—Transfer of management control
to commission.
79A.05.320 Milwaukee Road corridor—Duties.
79A.05.325 Milwaukee Road corridor—Additional duties.
79A.05.330 Recreation trail on Milwaukee Road corridor.
79A.05.335 Environmental interpretation—Authority of commission.
79A.05.340 Environmental interpretation—Scope of activities.
79A.05.345 Environmental interpretation—Assistance from other organizations.
UNDERWATER PARKS
79A.05.355 Underwater parks—Lead agency.
79A.05.360 Underwater parks—Authority to establish—Powers and
duties.
79A.05.370 Underwater parks—Diverse recreational opportunity.
79A.05.375 Underwater parks—Liability.
WATER TRAIL RECREATION PROGRAM
79A.05.380
79A.05.385
79A.05.390
79A.05.395
79A.05.400
79A.05.410
79A.05.415
79A.05.425
Water trail recreation program—Created.
Water trail recreation program—Powers and duties.
Water trail recreation program—Grants.
Water trail recreation program—Liability.
Water trail recreation program—Permits.
Water trail recreation program—Rules.
Water trail recreation program—Violation.
Water trail recreation program—Disposition of funds.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION CORPS
79A.05.500 Declaration of purpose.
[Title 79A RCW—page 1]
79A.05.010
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.05.505 Youth development and conservation division established—
Supervisory personnel.
79A.05.510 Composition of youth corps—Qualifications, conditions,
period of enrollment, etc.
79A.05.515 Compensation—Quarters—Hospital services, etc.
79A.05.520 Laws relating to hours, conditions of employment, civil service, etc., not applicable.
79A.05.525 Expenditures, gifts, government surplus materials.
79A.05.530 Agreements with private persons to enroll additional people—
Commercial activities prohibited—Authorized closures of
area.
79A.05.535 Agreements with and acceptance of grants from federal government authorized.
79A.05.540 Agreements with and acceptance of grants from federal government authorized—Length of enrollment and compensation in accordance with federal standards authorized.
79A.05.545 Conservation corps.
SEASHORE CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.600
79A.05.605
79A.05.610
79A.05.615
79A.05.620
79A.05.625
79A.05.630
79A.05.635
79A.05.640
79A.05.645
79A.05.650
79A.05.655
79A.05.660
79A.05.665
79A.05.670
79A.05.675
79A.05.680
79A.05.685
79A.05.688
79A.05.690
79A.05.693
79A.05.695
Declaration of principles.
Seashore conservation area—Established.
Jurisdiction over and administration of area.
Principles and purposes to be followed in administering area.
Cooperation and assistance of federal, state, and local agencies.
Powers and authority of department of fish and wildlife not
interfered with.
Sale, lease, and disposal of lands within the Seashore Conservation Area.
Ocean beach recreation management plans—Cooperative program.
Definitions.
Local recreation management plans.
Reservation for pedestrian use—Restrictions on motorized
traffic.
Areas reserved for pedestrian use—Exception.
Public vehicles.
Land adjoining national wildlife refuges and state parks—
Pedestrian use—Exception.
Consultation with government agencies required.
Compliance with federal and state laws required.
Hearings.
Adoption of plans—Approval—Procedure.
Appeal.
Cooperation for law enforcement.
Ocean beaches in Seashore Conservation Area declared public
highways.
Amendments to plan—Approval—Procedure.
GREEN RIVER GORGE CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.700
79A.05.705
79A.05.710
79A.05.715
Declaration.
Green River Gorge conservation area created.
Acquisition of real property, easements, or rights authorized.
Acquisition of real property, easements, or rights authorized—
Rights of other state agencies not to be infringed upon.
79A.05.725
79A.05.730
79A.05.735
79A.05.740
79A.05.745
Legislative declaration.
"Mt. Si conservation area"—Created.
Mt. Si conservation area—Management.
Mt. Si conservation area—Valuation of included lands.
Eminent domain—Use prohibited.
MOUNT SI CONSERVATION AREA
WASHINGTON STATE YAKIMA RIVER CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.750
79A.05.755
79A.05.760
79A.05.765
79A.05.770
79A.05.775
79A.05.780
79A.05.785
79A.05.790
79A.05.793
79A.05.795
Legislative declaration.
"Washington State Yakima river conservation area"—Created.
Yakima river conservation area—Size prescribed.
Yakima river conservation area—Authority of Yakima county
commissioners.
Yakima river conservation area—Land acquisition.
Intent to preserve river wetlands in their natural state.
Yakima river conservation area—Consultation between commission and Yakima county commissioners.
Yakima river conservation area—Interagency committee for
outdoor recreation directed to assist Yakima county commissioners.
County or city zoning and/or permitted land uses not affected.
Department of fish and wildlife, fish and wildlife commission—Powers, duties, and authority—No hunting in any
state park.
Acquisition of real property, etc., of another agency by
Yakima county commissioners—Agency approval required.
[Title 79A RCW—page 2]
79A.05.010
79A.05.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
(1) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation
commission.
(2) "Chair" means the member of the commission
elected pursuant to RCW 79A.05.025.
(3) "Director" and "director of the state parks and recreation commission" mean the director of parks and recreation
or the director’s designee.
(4) "Recreation" means those activities of a voluntary
and leisure time nature that aid in promoting entertainment,
pleasure, play, relaxation, or instruction.
(5) "Natural forest" means a forest that faithfully represents, or is meant to become representative of, its unaltered
state. [1999 c 249 § 101.]
Severability—1999 c 249: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 c 249 § 1901.]
79A.05.015
79A.05.015 Commission created—Composition—
Compensation and expenses. There is hereby created a
"state parks and recreation commission" consisting of seven
citizens of the state. The members of the commission shall be
appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent
of the senate and shall serve for a term of six years, expiring
on December 31st of even-numbered years, and until their
successors are appointed. In case of a vacancy, the governor
shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the commissioner whose office has become vacant.
In making the appointments to the commission, the governor shall choose citizens who understand park and recreation needs and interests. No person shall serve if he or she
holds any elective or full-time appointive state, county, or
municipal office. Members of the commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and in addition
shall be allowed their travel expenses incurred while absent
from their usual places of residence in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
Payment of expenses pertaining to the operation of the
commission shall be made upon vouchers certified to by such
persons as shall be designated by the commission. [1999 c
249 § 201; 1984 c 287 § 82; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 116;
1969 ex.s. c 31 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 132 § 1; 1965 c 8 §
43.51.020. Prior: 1947 c 271 § 1; 1945 c 36 § 1; 1921 c 7 §
10; RRS § 10768. Formerly RCW 43.51.020.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Legislative findings—Severability—Effective date—1984 c 287:
See notes following RCW 43.03.220.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
79A.05.020
79A.05.020 Duties of commission. In addition to whatever other duties may exist in law or be imposed in the future,
it is the duty of the commission to:
(1) Implement integrated pest management practices and
regulate pests as required by RCW 17.15.020;
(2) Take steps necessary to control spartina and purple
loosestrife as required by RCW 17.26.020;
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
(3) Participate in the implementation of chapter 19.02
RCW;
(4) Coordinate planning and provide staffing and administrative assistance to the Lewis and Clark trail committee as
required by *RCW 27.34.340;
(5) Administer those portions of chapter 46.10 RCW not
dealing with registration and licensing of snowmobiles as
required by RCW 46.10.210;
(6) Consult and participate in the scenic and recreational
highway system as required by chapter 47.39 RCW; and
(7) Develop, prepare, and distribute information relating
to marine oil recycling tanks and sewage holding tank pumping stations, in cooperation with other departments, as
required by chapter 88.02 RCW.
The commission has the power reasonably necessary to
carry out these duties. [1999 c 249 § 301.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 27.34.340 was repealed by 1999 c 35 § 5. See
chapter 35, Laws of 1999 for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial advisory
committee.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.025 Chair—Meetings—Quorum. The commission shall elect one of its members as chair. The commission may be convened at such times as the chair deems necessary, and a majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. [1999 c 249 § 202; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.030.
Prior: 1947 c 271 § 3; RRS § 10768-2. Formerly RCW
43.51.030.]
79A.05.025
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.030 Powers and duties—Mandatory. The
commission shall:
(1) Have the care, charge, control, and supervision of all
parks and parkways acquired or set aside by the state for park
or parkway purposes.
(2) Adopt policies, and adopt, issue, and enforce rules
pertaining to the use, care, and administration of state parks
and parkways. The commission shall cause a copy of the
rules to be kept posted in a conspicuous place in every state
park to which they are applicable, but failure to post or keep
any rule posted shall be no defense to any prosecution for the
violation thereof.
(3) Permit the use of state parks and parkways by the
public under such rules as shall be adopted.
(4) Clear, drain, grade, seed, and otherwise improve or
beautify parks and parkways, and erect structures, buildings,
fireplaces, and comfort stations and build and maintain paths,
trails, and roadways through or on parks and parkways.
(5) Grant concessions or leases in state parks and parkways, upon such rentals, fees, or percentage of income or
profits and for such terms, in no event longer than fifty years,
and upon such conditions as shall be approved by the commission: PROVIDED, That leases exceeding a twenty-year
term shall require a unanimous vote of the commission:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That if, during the term of any concession or lease, it is the opinion of the commission that it
would be in the best interest of the state, the commission
may, with the consent of the concessionaire or lessee, alter
and amend the terms and conditions of such concession or
lease: PROVIDED FURTHER, That television station leases
shall be subject to the provisions of RCW 79A.05.085, only:
79A.05.030
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.030
PROVIDED FURTHER, That the rates of such concessions
or leases shall be renegotiated at five-year intervals. No concession shall be granted which will prevent the public from
having free access to the scenic attractions of any park or
parkway.
(6) Employ such assistance as it deems necessary. Commission expenses relating to its use of volunteer assistance
shall be limited to premiums or assessments for the insurance
of volunteers by the department of labor and industries, compensation of staff who assist volunteers, materials and equipment used in authorized volunteer projects, training, reimbursement of volunteer travel as provided in RCW 43.03.050
and 43.03.060, and other reasonable expenses relating to volunteer recognition. The commission, at its discretion, may
waive commission fees otherwise applicable to volunteers.
The commission shall not use volunteers to replace or supplant classified positions. The use of volunteers may not lead
to the elimination of any employees or permanent positions
in the bargaining unit.
(7) By majority vote of its authorized membership select
and purchase or obtain options upon, lease, or otherwise
acquire for and in the name of the state such tracts of land,
including shore and tide lands, for park and parkway purposes as it deems proper. If the commission cannot acquire
any tract at a price it deems reasonable, it may, by majority
vote of its authorized membership, obtain title thereto, or any
part thereof, by condemnation proceedings conducted by the
attorney general as provided for the condemnation of rights
of way for state highways. Option agreements executed
under authority of this subsection shall be valid only if:
(a) The cost of the option agreement does not exceed one
dollar; and
(b) Moneys used for the purchase of the option agreement are from (i) funds appropriated therefor, or (ii) funds
appropriated for undesignated land acquisitions, or (iii) funds
deemed by the commission to be in excess of the amount necessary for the purposes for which they were appropriated; and
(c) The maximum amount payable for the property upon
exercise of the option does not exceed the appraised value of
the property.
(8) Cooperate with the United States, or any county or
city of this state, in any matter pertaining to the acquisition,
development, redevelopment, renovation, care, control, or
supervision of any park or parkway, and enter into contracts
in writing to that end. All parks or parkways, to which the
state contributed or in whose care, control, or supervision the
state participated pursuant to the provisions of this section,
shall be governed by the provisions hereof.
(9) Within allowable resources, maintain policies that
increase the number of people who have access to free or
low-cost recreational opportunities for physical activity,
including noncompetitive physical activity.
(10) Adopt rules establishing the requirements for a
criminal history record information search for the following:
Job applicants, volunteers, and independent contractors who
have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults, or
who will be responsible for collecting or disbursing cash or
processing credit/debit card transactions. These background
checks will be done through the Washington state patrol
criminal identification section and may include a national
check from the federal bureau of investigation, which shall be
[Title 79A RCW—page 3]
79A.05.035
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
through the submission of fingerprints. A permanent
employee of the commission, employed as of July 24, 2005,
is exempt from the provisions of this subsection. [2005 c 373
§ 1; 2005 c 360 § 5. Prior: 1999 c 249 § 302; 1999 c 155 §
1; 1999 c 59 § 1; 1989 c 175 § 106; 1980 c 89 § 1; 1979 c 10
§ 4; prior: 1977 ex.s. c 123 § 1; 1977 c 75 § 57; 1967 ex.s. c
90 § 1; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.040; prior: 1959 c 317 § 1; 1955 c
391 § 1; 1929 c 148 § 1; 1923 c 157 § 1; 1921 c 149 § 2; RRS
§ 10942. Formerly RCW 43.51.040.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 360 § 5 and by
2005 c 373 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Intent—2005 c 360: See note following RCW 36.70A.070.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Inspection of recreational devices: Chapter 79A.40 RCW.
79A.05.035 Additional powers and duties. (1) The
commission shall:
(a) Manage timber and land under its jurisdiction to
maintain and enhance aesthetic and recreational values;
(b) Apply modern conservation practices to maintain and
enhance aesthetic, recreational, and ecological resources; and
(c) Designate and preserve certain forest areas throughout the state as natural forests or natural areas for interpretation, study, and preservation purposes.
(2) Trees may be removed from state parks:
(a) When hazardous to persons, property, or facilities;
(b) As part of a park maintenance or development
project, or conservation practice;
(c) As part of a road or utility easement; or
(d) When damaged by a catastrophic forest event.
(3) Tree removal under subsection (2) of this section
shall be done by commission personnel, unless the personnel
lack necessary expertise. Except in emergencies and when
feasible, significant trees shall be removed only after they
have been marked or appraised by a professional forester.
The removal of significant trees from a natural forest may
take place only after a public hearing has been held, except in
emergencies.
(4) When feasible, felled timber shall be left on the
ground for natural purposes or used for park purposes including, but not limited to, building projects, trail mulching, and
firewood. In natural forest areas, first consideration shall be
given to leaving timber on the ground for natural purposes.
(5) The commission may issue permits to individuals
under RCW 4.24.210 and 79A.05.090 for the removal of
wood debris from state parks for personal firewood use.
(6) Only timber that qualifies for cutting or removal
under subsection (2) of this section may be sold. Timber shall
be sold only when surplus to the needs of the park.
(7) Net revenue derived from timber sales shall be
deposited in the state parks renewal and stewardship account
created in RCW 79A.05.215. [1999 c 249 § 303; 1984 c 82 §
1; 1981 c 271 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.045.]
79A.05.035
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.040 Director’s duties. In addition to other
duties the commission may from time to time impose, it is the
duty of the director to:
79A.05.040
[Title 79A RCW—page 4]
(1) Ensure the control of weeds in parks to the extent
required by RCW 17.04.160 and 17.10.205; and
(2) Participate in the operations of the environmental
enhancement and job creation task force under chapter 43.21J
RCW.
The director has the power reasonably necessary to carry
out these duties. [1999 c 249 § 401.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.045
79A.05.045 Waste reduction and recycling. (1) The
commission shall provide waste reduction and recycling
information in each state park campground and day-use area.
(2) The commission shall provide recycling receptacles
in the day-use and campground areas of at least forty state
parks. The receptacles shall be clearly marked for the disposal of at least two of the following recyclable materials:
Aluminum, glass, newspaper, plastic, and tin. The commission shall endeavor to provide recycling receptacles in parks
that are near urban centers or in heavily used parks.
(3) The commission shall provide daily maintenance of
such receptacles from April through September of each year.
(4) The commission is authorized to enter into agreements with any person, company, or nonprofit organization
to provide for the collection and transport of recyclable materials and related activities under this section. [1999 c 249 §
304; 1991 c 11 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.046.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Marinas and airports: RCW 70.93.095.
79A.05.050
79A.05.050 Community restitution for littering in
state parks—Policy and procedures. (1) The commission
shall establish a policy and procedures for supervising and
evaluating community restitution activities that may be
imposed under RCW 70.93.060(3) including a description of
what constitutes satisfactory completion of community restitution.
(2) The commission shall inform each state park of the
policy and procedures regarding community restitution activities, and each state park shall then notify the commission as
to whether or not the park elects to participate in the community restitution program. The commission shall transmit a list
notifying the district courts of each state park that elects to
participate. [2002 c 175 § 52; 1996 c 263 § 3. Formerly RCW
43.51.048.]
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
79A.05.055
79A.05.055 Additional powers and duties. The commission may:
(1) Study and appraise parks and recreational needs of
the state and assemble and disseminate information relative
to parks and recreation;
(2) Make provisions for the publication and sale of interpretive, recreational, and historical materials and literature.
Proceeds from such sales shall be directed to the parks
improvement account; and
(3) Coordinate the parks and recreational functions of the
various state departments, and cooperate with state and federal agencies in the promotion of parks and recreational
opportunities. [1997 c 137 § 1; 1987 c 225 § 1; 1965 c 8 §
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
43.51.050. Prior: 1955 c 391 § 2; 1947 c 271 § 4; RRS §
10768-3. Formerly RCW 43.51.050.]
Effective date—1997 c 137: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 137 § 6.]
79A.05.059
79A.05.059 State parks education and enhancement
account. The state parks education and enhancement
account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All
receipts from the sale of Washington state parks and recreation commission special license plates, after the deductions
permitted by RCW 46.16.313(13), must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from the account may only be used to
provide public educational opportunities and enhancement of
Washington state parks. Only the director or the director’s
designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The
account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter
43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. [2005 c 44 § 4.]
79A.05.060
79A.05.060 Parks improvement account—Transfers
to state parks renewal and stewardship account. (1) The
parks improvement account is hereby established in the state
treasury.
(2) The commission shall deposit all moneys received
from the sale of interpretive, recreational, and historical literature and materials in this account. Moneys in the account
may be spent only for development, production, and distribution costs associated with literature and materials.
(3) Disbursements from the account shall be on the
authority of the director, or the director’s designee. The
account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under
chapter 43.88 RCW. No appropriation is required for disbursement of moneys to be used for support of further production of materials provided for in RCW 79A.05.055(2).
The director may transfer a portion of the moneys in this
account to the state parks renewal and stewardship account
and may expend moneys so transferred for any purpose provided for in RCW 79A.05.215. [1999 c 249 § 402; 1997 c
137 § 2; 1987 c 225 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.052.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Effective date—1997 c 137: See note following RCW 79A.05.055.
79A.05.065
79A.05.065 Park passes—Eligibility. (1) The commission shall grant to any person who meets the eligibility
requirements specified in this section a senior citizen’s pass
which shall (a) entitle such person, and members of his or her
camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite
rental fee prescribed by the commission, and (b) entitle such
person to free admission to any state park.
(2) The commission shall grant a senior citizen’s pass to
any person who applies for the same and who meets the following requirements:
(a) The person is at least sixty-two years of age; and
(b) The person is a domiciliary of the state of Washington and meets reasonable residency requirements prescribed
by the commission; and
(c) The person and his or her spouse have a combined
income which would qualify the person for a property tax
exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.381, as now law or here(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.065
after amended. The financial eligibility requirements of this
subparagraph (c) shall apply regardless of whether the applicant for a senior citizen’s pass owns taxable property or has
obtained or applied for such property tax exemption.
(3) Each senior citizen’s pass granted pursuant to this
section is valid so long as the senior citizen meets the requirements of subsection (2)(b) of this section. Notwithstanding,
any senior citizen meeting the eligibility requirements of this
section may make a voluntary donation for the upkeep and
maintenance of state parks.
(4) A holder of a senior citizen’s pass shall surrender the
pass upon request of a commission employee when the
employee has reason to believe the holder fails to meet the
criteria in subsection (2)(a), (b), or (c) of this section. The
holder shall have the pass returned upon providing proof to
the satisfaction of the director of the parks and recreation
commission that the holder does meet the eligibility criteria
for obtaining the senior citizen’s pass.
(5) Any resident of Washington who is disabled as
defined by the social security administration and who
receives social security benefits for that disability, or any
other benefits for that disability from any other governmental
or nongovernmental source, or who is entitled to benefits for
permanent disability under RCW 71A.10.020(3) due to
unemployability full time at the minimum wage, or who is
legally blind or profoundly deaf, or who has been issued a
card, decal, or special license plate for a permanent disability
under RCW 46.16.381 shall be entitled to receive, regardless
of age and upon making application therefor, a disability pass
at no cost to the holder. The pass shall (a) entitle such person,
and members of his or her camping unit, to a fifty percent
reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission, and (b) entitle such person to free admission to any
state park.
(6) A card, decal, or special license plate issued for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 may serve as a pass
for the holder to entitle that person and members of the person’s camping unit to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite
rental fee prescribed by the commission, and to allow the
holder free admission to state parks.
(7) Any resident of Washington who is a veteran and has
a service-connected disability of at least thirty percent shall
be entitled to receive a lifetime veteran’s disability pass at no
cost to the holder. The pass shall (a) entitle such person, and
members of his or her camping unit, to free use of any campsite within any state park; (b) entitle such person to free
admission to any state park; and (c) entitle such person to an
exemption from any reservation fees.
(8) All passes issued pursuant to this section shall be
valid at all parks any time during the year: PROVIDED, That
the pass shall not be valid for admission to concessionaire
operated facilities.
(9) This section shall not affect or otherwise impair the
power of the commission to continue or discontinue any
other programs it has adopted for senior citizens.
(10) The commission shall adopt such rules as it finds
appropriate for the administration of this section. Among
other things, such rules shall prescribe a definition of "camping unit" which will authorize a reasonable number of persons traveling with the person having a pass to stay at the
campsite rented by such person, a minimum Washington res[Title 79A RCW—page 5]
79A.05.070
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
idency requirement for applicants for a senior citizen’s pass
and an application form to be completed by applicants for a
senior citizen’s pass. [1999 c 249 § 305; 1997 c 74 § 1; 1989
c 135 § 1; 1988 c 176 § 909; 1986 c 6 § 1; 1985 c 182 § 1;
1979 ex.s. c 131 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 330 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.055.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Severability—1988 c 176: See RCW 71A.10.900.
79A.05.070
79A.05.070 Further powers—Director of parks and
recreation—Salaries. The commission may:
(1) Make rules and regulations for the proper administration of its duties;
(2) Accept any grants of funds made with or without a
matching requirement by the United States, or any agency
thereof, for purposes in keeping with the purposes of this
chapter; accept gifts, bequests, devises and endowments for
purposes in keeping with such purposes; enter into cooperative agreements with and provide for private nonprofit groups
to use state park property and facilities to raise money to contribute gifts, grants, and support to the commission for the
purposes of this chapter. The commission may assist the
nonprofit group in a cooperative effort by providing necessary agency personnel and services, if available. However,
none of the moneys raised may inure to the benefit of the nonprofit group, except in furtherance of its purposes to benefit
the commission as provided in this chapter. The agency and
the private nonprofit group shall agree on the nature of any
project to be supported by such gift or grant prior to the use
of any agency property or facilities for raising money. Any
such gifts may be in the form of recreational facilities developed or built in part or in whole for public use on agency
property, provided that the facility is consistent with the purposes of the agency;
(3) Require certification by the commission of all parks
and recreation workers employed in state aided or state controlled programs;
(4) Act jointly, when advisable, with the United States,
any other state agencies, institutions, departments, boards, or
commissions in order to carry out the objectives and responsibilities of this chapter;
(5) Grant franchises and easements for any legitimate
purpose on parks or parkways, for such terms and subject to
such conditions and considerations as the commission shall
specify;
(6) Charge such fees for services, utilities, and use of
facilities as the commission shall deem proper. The commission may not charge fees for general park access or parking;
(7) Enter into agreements whereby individuals or companies may rent undeveloped parks or parkway land for grazing, agricultural, or mineral development purposes upon such
terms and conditions as the commission shall deem proper,
for a term not to exceed forty years;
(8) Determine the qualifications of and employ a director
of parks and recreation who shall receive a salary as fixed by
the governor in accordance with the provisions of RCW
43.03.040 and determine the qualifications and salary of and
employ such other persons as may be needed to carry out the
provisions hereof; and
[Title 79A RCW—page 6]
(9) Without being limited to the powers hereinbefore
enumerated, the commission shall have such other powers as
in the judgment of a majority of its members are deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter: PROVIDED, That the commission shall not have power to supervise directly any local park or recreation district, and no
funds shall be made available for such purpose. [2006 c 141
§ 1; 2003 c 186 § 1; 1999 c 249 § 307; 1995 c 211 § 3; 1993
c 156 § 1; 1987 c 225 § 3; 1980 c 89 § 2; 1969 c 99 § 1; 1965
c 8 § 43.51.060. Prior: 1961 c 307 § 12; 1955 c 391 § 3; 1947
c 271 § 5; RRS § 10768-4. Formerly RCW 43.51.060.]
Effective date—2006 c 141: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect April 9, 2006."
[2006 c 141 § 2.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Findings—Intent—1995 c 211: "The legislature finds that during the
past fourteen years, the Washington state parks and recreation commission
has endured a steady erosion of general fund operating support, which has
caused park closures, staff reductions, and growing backlog of deferred
maintenance projects. The legislature also finds that the growth of parks revenue has been constrained by staff limitations and by transfers of that revenue into the general fund.
The legislature intends to reverse the decline in operating support to its
state parks, stabilize the system’s level of general fund support, and inspire
system employees and park visitors to enhance these irreplaceable resources
and ensure their continuing availability to current and future state citizens
and visitors. To achieve these goals, the legislature intends to dedicate park
revenues to park operations, developing and renovating park facilities,
undertaking deferred maintenance, and improving park stewardship. The
legislature clearly intends that such revenues shall complement, not supplant, future general fund support." [1995 c 211 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 c 211: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 211 § 8.]
Severability—1995 c 211: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 211 § 9.]
Effective date—1969 c 99: "This 1969 amendatory act shall take effect
July 1, 1969." [1969 c 99 § 12.]
79A.05.075
79A.05.075 Delegation of commission’s powers and
duties to director. No provision of law relating to the commission shall prevent the commission from delegating to the
director such powers and duties of the commission as they
may deem proper. [1999 c 249 § 306; 1969 ex.s. c 31 § 2.
Formerly RCW 43.51.061.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.080
79A.05.080 Lease of park lands for television stations. The state parks and recreation commission is hereby
authorized to lease the use of such areas in Mount Spokane
state park, Steptoe Butte state park, Kamiak Butte state park
or any other state park for television stations as the commission may decide are suitable for that purpose: PROVIDED,
That this authority shall not extend to school lands or lands
held by the state of Washington for educational purposes.
[1965 c 8 § 43.51.062. Prior: 1953 c 39 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.062.]
Validating—1953 c 39: "Any lease authorizing the use of any portion
of Mount Spokane state park for a television station which the state parks and
recreation commission has already made is hereby validated and confirmed,
and the parties thereto are bound by the terms thereof." [1953 c 39 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
Construction—1953 c 39: "The authority conferred by this act is in
addition to the powers and authority now conferred upon the state parks and
recreation commission, and this act shall not be construed to repeal or limit,
by implication or otherwise, any authority or power now conferred by law
upon the state parks and recreation commission." [1953 c 39 § 3.]
79A.05.085
79A.05.085 Lease of park lands for television stations—Lease rental rates, terms—Attachment of antennae. The commission shall determine the fair market value
for television station leases based upon independent appraisals and existing leases for television stations shall be
extended at said fair market rental for at least one period of
not more than twenty years: PROVIDED, That the rates in
said leases shall be renegotiated at five year intervals: PROVIDED FURTHER, That said stations shall permit the
attachment of antennae of publicly operated broadcast and
microwave stations where electronically practical to combine
the towers: PROVIDED FURTHER, That notwithstanding
any term to the contrary in any lease, this section shall not
preclude the commission from prescribing new and reasonable lease terms relating to the modification, placement or
design of facilities operated by or for a station, and any extension of a lease granted under this section shall be subject to
this proviso: PROVIDED FURTHER, That notwithstanding
any other provision of law the director in his discretion may
waive any requirement that any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment be submitted as to any
lease negotiated and signed between January 1, 1974 and
December 31, 1974. [1974 ex.s. c 151 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.063.]
79A.05.090
79A.05.090 Exemption of persons over sixty-five
from fees for collection in state parks of wood debris for
personal use. Persons over the age of sixty-five are exempt
from any permit or other administrative fee imposed by the
commission for the collection of wood debris in state parks,
if such wood is for personal use. [1983 c 193 § 1. Formerly
RCW 43.51.065.]
79A.05.095
79A.05.095 Donations of land for park purposes.
The commission may receive and accept donations of lands
for state park purposes, and shall be responsible for the management and control of all lands so acquired. It may from
time to time recommend to the legislature the acquisition of
lands for park purposes by purchase or condemnation. [1999
c 249 § 901; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.070. Prior: 1913 c 113 § 2;
RRS § 10940. Formerly RCW 43.51.070.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.115
79A.05.105
79A.05.105 Withdrawal of granted lands on public
highways. Inasmuch as the value of land with standing timber is increasing and will continue to increase from year to
year and no loss will be caused to the common school fund or
other fund into which the proceeds of the sale of any land
held by the state would be paid by postponing the sale
thereof, the commissioner of public lands may, upon his own
motion, and shall, when directed so to do by the state parks
and recreation commission, withdraw from sale any land held
by the state abutting on any public highway and certify to the
commission that such land is withheld from sale pursuant to
the terms of this section.
Such lands shall not be sold until directed by the legislature, and shall in the meantime be under the care, charge, control, and supervision of the commission. [1965 c 8 §
43.51.100. Prior: 1921 c 149 § 4; RRS § 10944. Formerly
RCW 43.51.100.]
79A.05.110
79A.05.110 Withdrawal of other lands—Exchange
for lands on highway. The commissioner of public lands
may, upon his or her own motion, and shall, when directed so
to do by the commission, withdraw from sale any land held
by the state and not acquired directly from the United States
with reservations as to the manner of sale thereof and the purposes for which it may be sold, and certify to the commission
that such land is withheld from sale pursuant to the terms of
this section.
All such land shall be under the care, charge, control, and
supervision of the commission, and after appraisal in such
manner as the commission directs may be exchanged for land
of equal value, and to this end the chair and secretary of the
commission may execute deeds of conveyance in the name of
the state. [1999 c 249 § 902; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.110. Prior:
1921 c 149 § 5; RRS § 10945. Formerly RCW 43.51.110.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.115
79A.05.115 Cross-state trail facility. (Contingent
expiration date.) (1) The commission shall develop and
maintain a cross-state trail facility with appropriate appurtenances.
(2) This section expires July 1, 2009, if the department of
transportation does not enter into a franchise agreement for a
rail line over the portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor
between Ellensburg and Lind by July 1, 2009. [2006 c 160 §
1; 1999 c 301 § 1; 1996 c 129 § 2. Formerly RCW
43.51.112.]
Effective date—1999 c 301: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 13, 1999]." [1999 c 301 § 6.]
79A.05.100
79A.05.100 Bequests and donations of money. The
commission may receive in trust any money donated or
bequeathed to it, and carry out the terms of such donation or
bequest, or, in the absence of such terms, expend the same as
it may deem advisable for park or parkway purposes.
Money so received shall be deposited in the state parks
renewal and stewardship account. [1997 c 137 § 3; 1969 c 99
§ 2; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.090. Prior: 1923 c 157 § 2; 1921 c 149
§ 3; RRS § 10943. Formerly RCW 43.51.090.]
Effective date—1997 c 137: See note following RCW 79A.05.055.
(2006 Ed.)
Intent—1996 c 129: "The legislature intends to complete a cross-state
trail system while maintaining long-term ownership of the Milwaukee Road
corridor. In order to accomplish this, it will be beneficial to change the management and control of certain portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor currently managed and controlled by several state agencies and to provide a
franchise to establish and maintain a rail line. It is the intent of the legislature
that if a franchise is not agreed upon, no changes in the current management
and control shall occur." [1996 c 129 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 129: "This act takes effect July 1, 1996." [1996
c 129 § 10.]
Severability—1996 c 129: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
[Title 79A RCW—page 7]
79A.05.120
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1996 c 129 § 12.]
79A.05.120
79A.05.120 Cross-state trail—Transfer of lands in
Milwaukee Road corridor. (Contingent expiration date.)
(1) To facilitate completion of a cross-state trail under the
management of the parks and recreation commission, management and control of lands known as the Milwaukee Road
corridor shall be transferred between state agencies as follows on the date a franchise agreement is entered into for a
rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor:
(a) Portions owned by the state between Ellensburg and
the Columbia river that are managed by the parks and recreation commission are transferred to the department of transportation;
(b) Portions owned by the state between the west side of
the Columbia river and Royal City Junction and between
Warden and Lind that are managed by the department of natural resources are transferred to the department of transportation; and
(c) Portions owned by the state between Lind and the
Idaho border that are managed by the department of natural
resources are transferred to the parks and recreation commission as of June 7, 2006.
(2) The department of natural resources may, by mutual
agreement with the parks and recreation commission, transfer
management authority over portions of the Milwaukee Road
corridor to the state parks and recreation commission, at any
time prior to the department of transportation entering into a
franchise agreement.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2009, and no transfers
shall occur if the department of transportation does not enter
into a franchise agreement for a rail line over the portions of
the Milwaukee Road corridor between Ellensburg and Lind
by July 1, 2009. [2006 c 160 § 2; 1999 c 301 § 2; 1996 c 129
§ 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.1121.]
Effective date—1999 c 301: See note following RCW 79A.05.115.
Intent—Effective date—Severability—1996 c 129: See notes following RCW 79A.05.115.
see to offer or maintain adequate service or to provide service
by other carriers at commercially reasonable rates;
(e) Provisions requiring the franchisee, upon reasonable
request of any other rail operator, to provide rail service and
interchange freight over what is commonly known as the
Stampede Pass rail line from Cle Elum to Auburn at commercially reasonable rates;
(f) If any part of the franchise agreement is invalidated
by actions or rulings of the federal surface transportation
board or a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portions of the franchise agreement are not affected;
(g) Compliance with environmental standards; and
(h) Provisions for insurance and the coverage of liability.
(2) The franchise may provide for periodic review of
financial arrangements under the franchise.
(3) The department of transportation, in consultation
with the parks and recreation commission and the senate and
house transportation committees, shall negotiate the terms of
the franchise, and shall present the agreement to the parks
and recreation commission for approval of as to terms and
provisions affecting the cross-state trail or affecting the commission.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2009, if the department of
transportation does not enter into a franchise agreement for a
rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor by
July 1, 2009. [2006 c 160 § 3; 2005 c 319 § 134; 1999 c 301
§ 3; 1996 c 129 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.113.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
Effective date—1999 c 301: See note following RCW 79A.05.115.
Review and approval of franchise—Report to the legislature: "(1)
Before entering into a final agreement to issue a franchise negotiated in
accordance with RCW 43.51.113, the department of transportation shall submit the franchise to the legislative transportation committee for review and
approval.
(2) If the department of transportation has not entered into a final
agreement to franchise a rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor by December 1, 1998, a report of the progress and obstacles to such an
agreement shall be made. The report shall be submitted by December 15,
1998, to appropriate committees of the legislature." [1996 c 129 § 6.]
Intent—Effective date—Severability—1996 c 129: See notes following RCW 79A.05.115.
79A.05.125
79A.05.125 Cross-state trail—Rail line franchise
negotiations by department of transportation. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) The department of transportation
shall negotiate a franchise with a rail carrier to establish and
maintain a rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor owned by the state between Ellensburg and Lind. The
department of transportation may negotiate such a franchise
with any qualified rail carrier. Criteria for negotiating the
franchise and establishing the right of way include:
(a) Assurances that resources from the franchise will be
sufficient to compensate the state for use of the property,
including completion of a cross-state trail between Easton
and the Idaho border;
(b) Types of payment for use of the franchise, including
payment for the use of federally granted trust lands in the
transportation corridor;
(c) Standards for maintenance of the line;
(d) Provisions ensuring that both the conventional and
intermodal rail service needs of local shippers are met. Such
accommodations may comprise agreements with the franchi[Title 79A RCW—page 8]
79A.05.130
79A.05.130 Cross-state trail account—Land acquisition—Rules describing trail. (Contingent expiration date.)
(1) The cross-state trail account is created in the custody of
the state treasurer. Eleven million five hundred thousand dollars is provided to the state parks and recreation commission
to acquire, construct, and maintain a cross-state trail. This
amount may consist of: (a) Legislative appropriations
intended for trail development; (b) payments for the purchase
of federally granted trust lands; and (c) franchise fees derived
from use of the rail corridor. The legislature intends that any
amounts provided from the transportation fund are to be
repaid to the transportation fund from franchise fees.
(2) The department shall deposit franchise fees from use
of the rail corridor according to the following priority: (a) To
the department of transportation for actual costs incurred in
administering the franchise; (b) to the department of natural
resources as compensation for use of federally granted trust
lands in the rail corridor; (c) to the transportation fund to
reimburse any amounts transferred or appropriated from that
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
fund by the legislature for trail development; (d) to the crossstate trail account, not to exceed eleven million five hundred
thousand dollars, provided that this amount shall be reduced
proportionate with any funds transferred or appropriated by
the 1996 legislature or paid from franchise fees for the purchase of federally granted trust lands or for trail development; and (e) the remainder to the essential rail assistance
account, created under RCW 47.76.250. Expenditures from
the cross-state trail account may be used only for the acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of the crossstate trail. Only the director of the state parks and recreation
commission or the director’s designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment
procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is
required for expenditures.
(3) The commission may acquire land from willing sellers for the cross-state trail, but not by eminent domain.
(4) The commission shall adopt rules describing the
cross-state trail.
(5) This section expires July 1, 2009, if the department of
transportation does not enter into a franchise agreement for a
rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor by
July 1, 2009. [2006 c 160 § 4; 1999 c 301 § 4; 1996 c 129 §
5. Formerly RCW 43.51.114.]
Effective date—1999 c 301: See note following RCW 79A.05.115.
Intent—Effective date—Severability—1996 c 129: See notes following RCW 79A.05.115.
79A.05.135
79A.05.135 Dedication as parks and parkways. All
state parks and parkways, subject to the provisions of this
chapter are set apart and dedicated as public parks and parkways for the benefit and enjoyment of all the people of this
state. [1965 c 8 § 43.51.120. Prior: 1921 c 149 § 6; RRS §
10946. Formerly RCW 43.51.120.]
79A.05.140
79A.05.140 Permits for improvement of parks—
Limitations. The state parks and recreation commission may
grant permits to individuals, groups, churches, charities,
organizations, agencies, clubs, or associations to improve any
state park or parkway, or any lands belonging to the state and
withdrawn from sale under the provisions of this chapter.
These improvements shall not interfere with access to or use
of such public lands or facilities by the general public and
shall benefit the public in terms of safety, recreation, aesthetics, or wildlife or natural area preservation. These improvements on public lands and facilities shall be for the use of all
members of the general public. [1999 c 59 § 2; 1982 c 156 §
1; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.130. Prior: 1929 c 83 § 1; RRS § 109461. Formerly RCW 43.51.130.]
79A.05.145
79A.05.145 Application for permit. Any such individual, group, organization, agency, club, or association desiring
to obtain such permit shall make application therefor in writing to the commission, describing the lands proposed to be
improved and stating the nature of the proposed improvement. [1999 c 59 § 3; 1982 c 156 § 2; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.140.
Prior: 1929 c 83 § 2; RRS § 10946-2. Formerly RCW
43.51.140.]
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.165
79A.05.150
79A.05.150 Plans and specifications. If the state parks
and recreation commission determines that the proposed
improvement will substantially alter a park, parkway, or park
land, it shall require the applicant to submit detailed plans
and specifications of the proposed improvement, which, as
submitted, or as modified by the state parks and recreation
commission, shall be incorporated in the permit when
granted. [1982 c 156 § 3; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.150. Prior: 1929
c 83 § 3; RRS § 10946-3. Formerly RCW 43.51.150.]
79A.05.155
79A.05.155 Surety bond. If the commission determines it necessary, the applicant shall execute and file with
the secretary of state a bond payable to the state, in such penal
sum as the commission shall require, with good and sufficient
sureties to be approved by the commission, conditioned that
the grantee of the permit will make the improvement in
accordance with the plans and specifications contained in the
permit, and, in case the improvement is made upon lands
withdrawn from sale under the provisions of RCW
79A.05.105, will pay into the state treasury to the credit of the
fund to which the proceeds of the sale of such lands would
belong, the appraised value of all merchantable timber and
material on the land, destroyed, or used in making such
improvement. [2000 c 11 § 31; 1982 c 156 § 4; 1965 c 8 §
43.51.160. Prior: 1929 c 83 § 4; RRS § 10946-4. Formerly
RCW 43.51.160.]
79A.05.160
79A.05.160 Police powers vested in commission and
employees. The members of the state parks and recreation
commission and such of its employees as the commission
may designate shall be vested with police powers to enforce
the laws of this state. [1965 c 8 § 43.51.170. Prior: 1921 c
149 § 7; RRS § 10947. Formerly RCW 43.51.170.]
79A.05.165
79A.05.165 Penalties. (1) Every person is guilty of a
misdemeanor who:
(a) Cuts, breaks, injures, destroys, takes, or removes any
tree, shrub, timber, plant, or natural object in any park or
parkway except in accordance with such rules as the commission may prescribe; or
(b) Kills, or pursues with intent to kill, any bird or animal
in any park or parkway; or
(c) Takes any fish from the waters of any park or parkway, except in conformity with such general rules as the
commission may prescribe; or
(d) Willfully mutilates, injures, defaces, or destroys any
guidepost, notice, tablet, fence, inclosure, or work for the
protection or ornamentation of any park or parkway; or
(e) Lights any fire upon any park or parkway, except in
such places as the commission has authorized, or willfully or
carelessly permits any fire which he or she has lighted or
which is under his or her charge, to spread or extend to or
burn any of the shrubbery, trees, timber, ornaments, or
improvements upon any park or parkway, or leaves any
campfire which he or she has lighted or which has been left in
his or her charge, unattended by a competent person, without
extinguishing it; or
(f) Places within any park or parkway or affixes to any
object therein contained, without a written license from the
commission, any word, character, or device designed to
[Title 79A RCW—page 9]
79A.05.170
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
advertise any business, profession, article, thing, exhibition,
matter, or event.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person who violates any rule adopted, promulgated, or issued by
the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is
guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) The commission may specify by rule, when not
inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of the rule
is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 382;
1997 c 214 § 1; 1987 c 380 § 15; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.180. Prior:
1921 c 149 § 8; RRS § 10948. Formerly RCW 43.51.180.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—Severability—1987 c 380: See RCW 7.84.900 and
7.84.901.
79A.05.170
79A.05.170 Transfer of surplus land—Reversionary
clause required—Release—Parkland acquisition
account. (1) Any lands owned by the state parks and recreation commission, which are determined to be surplus to the
needs of the state for development for state park purposes and
which the commission proposes to deed to a local government or other entity, shall be accompanied by a clause requiring that if the land is not used for outdoor recreation purposes, ownership of the land shall revert to the state parks and
recreation commission.
(2) The state parks and recreation commission, in cases
where land subject to such a reversionary clause is proposed
for use or disposal for purposes other than recreation, shall
require that, if the land is surplus to the needs of the commission for park purposes at the time the commission becomes
aware of its proposed use for nonrecreation purposes, the
holder of the land or property shall reimburse the commission
for the release of the reversionary interest in the land. The
reimbursement shall be in the amount of the fair market value
of the reversionary interest as determined by a qualified
appraiser agreeable to the commission. Appraisal costs shall
be borne by the local entity which holds title to the land.
(3) Any funds generated under a reimbursement under
this section shall be deposited in the parkland acquisition
account which is hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys
in this account are to be used solely for the purchase or acquisition of property for use as state park property by the commission, as directed by the legislature; all such funds shall be
subject to legislative appropriation. [1991 sp.s. c 13 § 23;
1985 c 57 § 33; 1984 c 87 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.200.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79A.05.175
79A.05.175 Disposal of land not needed for park purposes. Whenever the commission finds that any land under
its control cannot advantageously be used for park purposes,
it is authorized to dispose of such land by the method provided in this section or by the method provided in RCW
79A.05.170. If such lands are school or other grant lands,
control thereof shall be relinquished by resolution of the
commission to the proper state officials. If such lands were
acquired under restrictive conveyances by which the state
may hold them only so long as they are used for park purposes, they may be returned to the donor or grantors by the
[Title 79A RCW—page 10]
commission. All other such lands may be either sold by the
commission to the highest bidder or exchanged for other
lands of equal value by the commission, and all conveyance
documents shall be executed by the governor. All such
exchanges shall be accompanied by a transfer fee, to be set by
the commission and paid by the other party to the transfer;
such fee shall be paid into the parkland acquisition account
established under RCW 79A.05.170. Sealed bids on all sales
shall be solicited at least twenty days in advance of the sale
date by an advertisement appearing at least once a week for
two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
in the county in which the land to be sold is located. If the
commission feels that no bid received adequately reflects the
fair value of the land to be sold, it may reject all bids, and
may call for new bids. All proceeds derived from the sale of
such park property shall be paid into the park land acquisition
account. All land considered for exchange shall be evaluated
by the commission to determine its adaptability to park
usage. The equal value of all lands exchanged shall first be
determined by the appraisals to the satisfaction of the commission. No sale or exchange of state park lands shall be
made without the unanimous consent of the commission.
[1999 c 249 § 601; 1998 c 42 § 1; 1984 c 87 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c
246 § 1; 1969 c 99 § 3; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.210. Prior: 1953 c
64 § 1; 1947 c 261 § 1; RRS § 10951a. Formerly RCW
43.51.210.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.178
79A.05.178 Real property disposal—Disputed
land—Manner—Notice and hearing—Suit for noncompliance. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
chapter, the commission may directly dispose of up to ten
contiguous acres of real property, without public auction, to
resolve trespass, property ownership disputes, and boundary
adjustments with adjacent private property owners. Real
property to be disposed of under this section may be disposed
of only after appraisal and for at least fair market value, and
only if the transaction is in the best interest of the state. The
commission shall cooperate with potential purchasers to
arrive at a mutually agreeable sales price. If necessary, determination of fair market value may include the use of separate
independent appraisals by each party and the review of the
appraisals, as agreed upon by the parties. All conveyance
documents shall be executed by the governor. All proceeds
from the disposal of the property shall be paid into the park
land acquisition account. No disposal of real property may be
made without the unanimous consent of the commission.
(2) Prior to the disposal of any real property under subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall hold a public
hearing on the proposal in the county where the real property,
or the greatest portion of the real property, is located. At least
ten days, but not more than twenty-five days, prior to the
hearing, the commission shall publish a paid public notice of
reasonable size in display advertising form, setting forth the
date, time, and place of the hearing, at least once in one or
more daily newspapers of general circulation in the county
and at least once in one or more weekly newspapers circulated in the area where the real property is located. A news
release concerning the public hearing must be disseminated
among print and electronic media in the area where the real
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
property is located. The public notice and news release shall
also identify the real property involved in the proposed disposal and describe the purpose of the proposed disposal. A
summary of the testimony presented at the public hearing
shall be prepared for the commission’s consideration when
reviewing the proposed disposal of real property.
(3) If there is a failure to substantially comply with the
procedures set out under this section, then the agreement to
dispose of the real property is subject to being declared
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such a suit must
be brought within one year of the date of the real property disposal agreement. [2000 c 42 § 1.]
79A.05.180 Exchange of state land by commission—
Public notice—News release—Hearing—Procedure.
Before the director of parks and recreation presents a proposed exchange to the parks and recreation commission
involving an exchange of state land pursuant to this chapter,
the director shall hold a public hearing on the proposal in the
county where the state lands or the greatest proportion
thereof is located. Ten days but not more than twenty-five
days prior to such hearing, the director shall publish a paid
public notice of reasonable size in display advertising form,
setting forth the date, time, and place of the hearing, at least
once in one or more daily newspapers of general circulation
in the county and at least once in one or more weekly newspapers circulated in the area where the state owned land is
located. A news release pertaining to the hearing shall be disseminated among printed and electronic media in the area
where the state land is located. The public notice and news
release also shall identify lands involved in the proposed
exchange and describe the purposes of the exchange and proposed use of the lands involved. A summary of the testimony
presented at the hearings shall be prepared for the commission’s consideration when reviewing the director’s exchange
proposal. If there is a failure to substantially comply with the
procedures set forth in this section, then the exchange agreement shall be subject to being declared invalid by a court.
Any such suit must be brought within one year from the date
of the exchange agreement. [1998 c 42 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c
107 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.215.]
79A.05.180
Exchange of land under control of department of natural resources, procedure: RCW 79.17.050.
79A.05.185 Small boat facilities for Puget Sound
authorized. To encourage the development of the Puget
Sound country as a recreational boating area, the commission
is authorized to establish landing, launch ramp, and other
facilities for small pleasure boats at places on Puget Sound
frequented by such boats and where the commission shall
find such facilities will be of greatest advantage to the users
of pleasure boats. The commission is authorized to acquire
land or to make use of lands belonging to the state for such
purposes, and to construct the necessary floats, launch ramp,
and other desirable structures and to make such further development of any area used in connection therewith as in the
judgment of the commission is best calculated to facilitate the
public enjoyment thereof. [1999 c 249 § 904; 1965 c 8 §
43.51.220. Prior: 1949 c 154 § 1; RRS § 10768-4d. Formerly
RCW 43.51.220.]
79A.05.185
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.200
79A.05.190
79A.05.190 Recreational metal detectors—Available
land. (1) By September 1, 1997, the commission shall
increase the area available for use by recreational metal
detectors by at least two hundred acres.
(2) Beginning September 1, 1998, and each year thereafter until August 31, 2003, the commission shall increase the
area of land available for use by recreational metal detectors
by at least fifty acres. [1997 c 150 § 2. Formerly RCW
43.51.235.]
Intent—1997 c 150: "It is the intent of the legislature that those significant historic archaeological resources on state park lands that are of importance to the history of our state, or its communities, be protected for the people of the state. At the same time, the legislature also recognizes that the recreational use of metal detectors in state parks is a legitimate form of
recreation that can be compatible with the protection of significant historic
archaeological resources." [1997 c 150 § 1.]
79A.05.195
79A.05.195 Identification of historic archaeological
resources in state parks—Plan—Availability of land for
use by recreational metal detectors. (1) The commission
shall develop a cost-effective plan to identify historic archaeological resources in at least one state park containing a military fort located in Puget Sound. The plan shall include the
use of a professional archaeologist and volunteer citizens.
(2) Any park land that is made available for use by recreational metal detectors under this section shall count toward
the requirements established in RCW 79A.05.190. [1999 c
249 § 905; 1997 c 150 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.237.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.200
79A.05.200 Certain tidelands transferred to commission. The powers, functions, and duties heretofore exercised
by the department of fish and wildlife, or its director, respecting the management, control, and operation of the following
enumerated tidelands, which are presently suitable for public
recreational use, are hereby transferred to the parks and recreation commission which shall also have respecting such
tidelands all the powers conferred by this chapter, as now or
hereafter amended, respecting parks and parkways:
Parcel No. 1. (Toandos Peninsula) The tidelands of the
second class, owned by the state of Washington, situate in
front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1, 2, and 3, section
5, lots 1, 2, and 3, section 4, and lot 1, section 3, all in township 25 north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 158.41
lineal chains, more or less.
Parcel No. 2. (Shine) The tidelands of the second class,
owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1, 2, 3 and that portion of lot 4
lying north of the south 8.35 chains thereof as measured
along the government meander line, all in section 35, township 28 north, range 1 east, W.M., with a frontage of 76.70
lineal chains, more or less.
Subject to an easement for right of way for county road
granted to Jefferson county December 8, 1941 under application No. 1731, records of department of public lands.
Parcel No. 3. (Mud Bay - Lopez Island) The tidelands of
the second class, owned by the state of Washington situate in
front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 5, 6 and 7, section
18, lot 5, section 7 and lots 3, 4, and 5, section 8, all in township 34 north, range 1 west, W.M., with a frontage of 172.11
lineal chains, more or less.
[Title 79A RCW—page 11]
79A.05.205
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
Excepting, however, any tideland of the second class in
front of said lot 3, section 8 conveyed through deeds issued
April 14, 1909 pursuant to the provisions of chapter 24, Laws
of 1895 under application No. 4985, records of department of
public lands.
Parcel No. 4. (Spencer Spit) The tidelands of the second
class, owned by the state of Washington, situate in front of,
adjacent to, or abutting upon lots 1, 3, and 4, section 7, and lot
5, section 18 all in township 35 north, range 1 west, W.M.,
with a frontage of 118.80 lineal chains, more or less.
Parcel No. 5. (Lilliwaup) The tidelands of the second
class, owned by the state of Washington, lying easterly of the
east line of vacated state oyster reserve plat No. 133 produced
southerly and situate in front of, adjacent to or abutting upon
lot 9, section 30, lot 8, section 19 and lot 5 and the south 20
acres of lot 4, section 20, all in township 23 north, range 3
west, W.M., with a frontage of 62.46 lineal chains, more or
less. [2000 c 11 § 32; 1967 ex.s. c 96 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.240.]
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 96: "If any provision of this 1967 act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
this 1967 act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1967 ex.s. c 96 § 3.]
Certain tidelands reserved for recreational use: RCW 79.125.740.
79A.05.205
79A.05.205 Certain tidelands transferred to commission—Access to and from tidelands. The state parks and
recreation commission may take appropriate action to provide public and private access, including roads and docks, to
and from the tidelands described in RCW 79A.05.200. [2000
c 11 § 33; 1967 ex.s. c 96 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.250.]
79A.05.210
79A.05.210 Sale of state trust lands—Terms and conditions. (1) The department of natural resources and the
commission shall have authority to negotiate sales to the
commission, for park and outdoor recreation purposes, of
trust lands at fair market value.
(2) The department of natural resources and the commission shall negotiate a sale to the commission of the lands and
timber thereon identified in the joint study under section 4,
chapter 163, Laws of 1985, and commonly referred to as the
Point Lawrence trust property, San Juan county — on the
extreme east point of Orcas Island. Timber conservation and
management practices provided for in RCW 79A.05.035 and
79A.05.305 shall govern the management of land and timber
transferred under this subsection as of the effective date of
the transfer, upon payment for the property, and nothing in
this chapter shall be construed as restricting or otherwise
modifying the department of natural resources’ management,
control, or use of such land and timber until such date. [1999
c 249 § 906; 1995 c 211 § 4; 1992 c 185 § 1; 1988 c 79 § 1;
1987 c 466 § 1; 1985 c 163 § 1; 1981 c 271 § 1; 1980 c 4 § 1;
1971 ex.s. c 210 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.270.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—Severability—1995 c 211: See
notes following RCW 79A.05.070.
Withdrawal of state trust lands for park and recreational purpose: RCW
79A.50.080 through 79A.50.100.
79A.05.215
79A.05.215 State parks renewal and stewardship
account. The state parks renewal and stewardship account is
[Title 79A RCW—page 12]
created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in
this chapter, all receipts from user fees, concessions, leases,
and other state park-based activities shall be deposited into
the account. Expenditures from the account may be used for
operating state parks, developing and renovating park facilities, undertaking deferred maintenance, enhancing park stewardship, and other state park purposes. Expenditures from the
account may be made only after appropriation by the legislature. [1995 c 211 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.51.275.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—Severability—1995 c 211: See
notes following RCW 79A.05.070.
79A.05.220 Trust lands—Periodic review to identify
parcels appropriate for transfer to commission. The parks
and recreation commission and the department of natural
resources may periodically conduct a joint review of trust
lands managed by the department to identify those parcels
which may be appropriate for transfer to the commission for
public recreation purposes. [1987 c 466 § 3. Formerly RCW
43.51.285.]
79A.05.220
Escheat land suitable for park purposes: RCW 79.10.030.
79A.05.225 Winter recreational facilities—Commission duties—Liability. In addition to its other powers,
duties, and functions the commission may:
(1) Plan, construct, and maintain suitable facilities for
winter recreational activities on lands administered or
acquired by the commission or as authorized on lands administered by other public agencies or private landowners by
agreement;
(2) Provide and issue upon payment of the proper fee,
under RCW 79A.05.230, 79A.05.240, and 46.61.585, with
the assistance of such authorized agents as may be necessary
for the convenience of the public, special permits to park in
designated winter recreational area parking spaces;
(3) Administer the snow removal operations for all designated winter recreational area parking spaces; and
(4) Compile, publish, and distribute maps indicating
such parking spaces, adjacent trails, and areas and facilities
suitable for winter recreational activities.
The commission may contract with any public or private
agency for the actual conduct of such duties, but shall remain
responsible for the proper administration thereof. The commission is not liable for unintentional injuries to users of
lands administered for winter recreation purposes under this
section or under RCW 46.10.210, whether the lands are
administered by the commission, by other public agencies, or
by private landowners through agreement with the commission. Nothing in this section prevents the liability of the commission for injuries sustained by a user by reason of a known
dangerous artificial latent condition for which warning signs
have not been conspicuously posted. A road covered with
snow and groomed for the purposes of winter recreation consistent with this chapter and chapter 46.10 RCW shall not be
presumed to be a known dangerous artificial latent condition
for the purposes of this chapter. [1999 c 249 § 1401. Prior:
1990 c 136 § 2; 1990 c 49 § 2; 1982 c 11 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c
209 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.290.]
79A.05.225
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1975 1st ex.s. c 209 § 9.]
79A.05.230
79A.05.230 Winter recreational area parking permits—Fee—Expiration. The fee for the issuance of special
winter recreational area parking permits shall be determined
by the commission after consultation with the winter recreation advisory committee. If the person making application
therefor is also the owner of a snowmobile registered pursuant to chapter 46.10 RCW, there shall be no fee for the issuance of an annual permit. All special winter recreational area
parking permits shall commence and expire on the dates
established by the commission. [1990 c 49 § 3; 1986 c 47 §
1; 1982 c 11 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 209 § 2. Formerly RCW
43.51.300.]
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: See note following RCW
79A.05.225.
79A.05.235
79A.05.235 Winter recreational program account—
Deposit of parking permit fees—Winter recreation programs by public and private agencies. There is hereby created the winter recreational program account in the state treasury. Special winter recreational area parking permit fees collected under this chapter shall be remitted to the state
treasurer to be deposited in the winter recreational program
account and shall be appropriated only to the commission for
nonsnowmobile winter recreation purposes including the
administration, acquisition, development, operation, planning, and maintenance of winter recreation facilities and the
development and implementation of winter recreation,
safety, enforcement, and education programs. The commission may accept gifts, grants, donations, or moneys from any
source for deposit in the winter recreational program account.
Any public agency in this state may develop and implement winter recreation programs. The commission may make
grants to public agencies and contract with any public or private agency or person to develop and implement winter recreation programs. [1991 sp.s. c 13 § 6; 1985 c 57 § 35; 1982
c 11 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 209 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.310.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: See note following RCW
79A.05.225.
79A.05.240
79A.05.240 Winter recreational parking areas—
Restriction of overnight parking. The commission may,
after consultation with the winter recreation advisory committee, adopt rules and regulations prohibiting or restricting
overnight parking at any special state winter recreational
parking areas owned or administered by it. Where such special state winter recreational parking areas are administered
by the commission pursuant to an agreement with other public agencies, such agreement may provide for prohibition or
restriction of overnight parking. [1982 c 11 § 4; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 209 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.320.]
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: See note following RCW
79A.05.225.
79A.05.255
79A.05.250
79A.05.250 Winter recreational parking areas—
Rules. The commission may adopt such rules as are necessary to implement and enforce RCW 79A.05.225 through
79A.05.240 and 46.61.585 after consultation with the winter
recreation advisory committee. [2000 c 11 § 34; 1982 c 11 §
5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 209 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.51.330.]
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: See note following RCW
79A.05.225.
79A.05.255
79A.05.255 Winter recreation advisory committee—
Generally. (1) There is created a winter recreation advisory
committee to advise the parks and recreation commission in
the administration of this chapter and to assist and advise the
commission in the development of winter recreation facilities
and programs.
(2) The committee shall consist of:
(a) Six representatives of the nonsnowmobiling winter
recreation public appointed by the commission, including a
resident of each of the six geographical areas of this state
where nonsnowmobiling winter recreation activity occurs, as
defined by the commission.
(b) Three representatives of the snowmobiling public
appointed by the commission.
(c) One representative of the department of natural
resources, one representative of the department of fish and
wildlife, and one representative of the Washington state association of counties, each of whom shall be appointed by the
director of the particular department or association.
(3) The terms of the members appointed under subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section shall begin on October 1st of
the year of appointment and shall be for three years or until a
successor is appointed, except in the case of appointments to
fill vacancies for the remainder of the unexpired term: PROVIDED, That the first of these members shall be appointed
for terms as follows: Three members shall be appointed for
one year, three members shall be appointed for two years, and
three members shall be appointed for three years.
(4) Members of the committee shall be reimbursed from
the winter recreational program account created by RCW
79A.05.235 for travel expenses as provided in RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(5) The committee shall meet at times and places it determines not less than twice each year and additionally as
required by the committee chair or by majority vote of the
committee. The chair of the committee shall be chosen under
procedures adopted by the committee. The committee shall
adopt any other procedures necessary to govern its proceedings.
(6) The director of parks and recreation or the director’s
designee shall serve as secretary to the committee and shall
be a nonvoting member. [2000 c 48 § 1; 2000 c 11 § 35; 1994
c 264 § 19; 1990 c 49 § 1; 1989 c 175 § 107; 1988 c 36 § 16;
1987 c 330 § 1101; 1986 c 47 § 2; 1982 c 11 § 6; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 209 § 8. Formerly RCW 43.51.340.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2000 c 11 § 35 and by
2000 c 48 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
79A.05.245
79A.05.245 Penalty for violation of RCW 79A.05.240
or 46.61.585. See RCW 46.61.587.
(2006 Ed.)
Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330: See
notes following RCW 28B.12.050.
[Title 79A RCW—page 13]
79A.05.260
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 209: See note following RCW
79A.05.225.
79A.05.260
79A.05.260 Sun Lakes state park—"Vic Meyers Golf
Course" designation—"Vic Meyers Lake" designation.
The legislature hereby names the golf course located at Sun
Lakes State Park the "Vic Meyers Golf Course", and Rainbow Lake shall be re-named "Vic Meyers Lake". The state
shall provide and install a proper marker in a suitable location
in the main activity area of the park which will set forth the
key role Victor Aloysius Meyers had in the development of
Sun Lakes State Park and the important part he had for many
years in the political and governmental history of the state. In
addition, the name hereby established for the golf course
shall be prominently displayed at the golf course club house.
The legislature finds it appropriate to so honor Victor
Aloysius Meyers for his long and dedicated service to the
people of this state. [1977 ex.s. c 266 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.350.]
79A.05.265
79A.05.265 Hostels—Legislative declaration of
intent. The legislature finds that there is a need for hostels in
the state for the safety and welfare of transient persons with
limited resources. It is the intent of RCW 79A.05.265
through 79A.05.275 that such facilities be established using
locally donated structures. It is the further intent of RCW
79A.05.265 through 79A.05.275 that the state dispense any
available federal or other moneys for such related projects
and provide assistance where possible. [2000 c 11 § 36; 1977
ex.s. c 281 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.360.]
tion is directed to apportion and transfer any such moneys to
contracting agencies or political subdivisions which operate
hostels: PROVIDED, That the commission shall establish
rules and regulations for the operation of hostels which are
substantially similar to the operating standards and customs
established by the American Youth Hostels Incorporated.
[1977 ex.s. c 281 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.375.]
79A.05.285
79A.05.285 Land evaluation, acquisition. The commission is authorized to evaluate and acquire land under
*RCW 79.01.612 in cooperation with the department of natural resources. [1999 c 249 § 907.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.612 was recodified as RCW 79.10.030
pursuant to 2003 c 334 § 555.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.290
79A.05.290 Acquisition of land held by department
of natural resources. The commission may select land held
by the department of natural resources for acquisition under
RCW 79A.50.010 et seq. [1999 c 249 § 908.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.300
79A.05.300 Establishment of urban area state parks
by parks and recreation commission. For the reasons specified in RCW 79A.25.250, the state parks and recreation
commission shall place a high priority on the establishment
of urban area state parks and shall revise its plan for future
state parks to achieve this priority. This section shall be
implemented by January 1, 1981. [2000 c 11 § 37; 1980 c 89
§ 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.385.]
79A.05.270
79A.05.270 "Hostel" defined. For purposes of *this
chapter, "hostel" means a simple basic structure that serves as
a safe, low-cost accommodation for mobile people of all ages
from this country and abroad. [1977 ex.s. c 281 § 2. Formerly
RCW 43.51.365.]
*Reviser’s note: "This chapter" apparently refers to RCW 43.51.360
through 43.51.375; which were subsequently recodified as RCW
79A.05.265 through 79A.05.280 pursuant to 1999 c 249 § 1601.
79A.05.275
79A.05.275 Hostels—Authority of political subdivisions to establish. Any political subdivision of the state is
authorized to establish hostels within its jurisdiction. The
facilities and services shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Short term sleeping accommodations including adequate restroom and bathing facilities; and
(2) Information and referral services, including, but not
limited to availability of employment and health services.
Details of operations and regulations, including the
establishment of appropriate fees to recover actual operating
and maintenance costs, shall be within the discretion of the
operating authority: PROVIDED, That the consumption of
alcoholic beverages or the possession or use of a controlled
substance in violation of chapter 69.50 RCW shall be prohibited. [1977 ex.s. c 281 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.370.]
79A.05.280
79A.05.280 Hostels—Commission authorized to
accept grants or moneys for the support thereof—Rules
required. The parks and recreation commission is authorized to accept grants or moneys from any federal or private
source for support of hostels. The commission at its discre[Title 79A RCW—page 14]
79A.05.305
79A.05.305 Declaration of policy—Lands for public
park purposes. The legislature declares that it is the continuing policy of the state of Washington to set aside and
manage certain lands within the state for public park purposes. To comply with public park purposes, these lands shall
be acquired and managed to:
(1) Maintain and enhance ecological, aesthetic, and recreational purposes;
(2) Preserve and maintain mature and old-growth forests
containing trees of over ninety years and other unusual ecosystems as natural forests or natural areas, which may also be
used for interpretive purposes;
(3) Protect cultural and historical resources, locations,
and artifacts, which may also be used for interpretive purposes;
(4) Provide a variety of recreational opportunities to the
public, including but not limited to use of developed recreation areas, trails, and natural areas;
(5) Preserve and maintain habitat which will protect and
promote endangered, threatened, and sensitive plants, and
endangered, threatened, and sensitive animal species; and
(6) Encourage public participation in the formulation
and implementation of park policies and programs. [1984 c
82 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.395.]
79A.05.310
79A.05.310 Powers and duties—Program of boating
safety education—Casualty and accident reporting program. The state parks and recreation commission shall:
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
(1) Coordinate a statewide program of boating safety
education using to the maximum extent possible existing programs offered by the United States power squadron and the
United States coast guard auxiliary;
(2) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW,
consistent with United States coast guard regulations, standards, and precedents, as needed for the efficient administration and enforcement of this section;
(3) Enter into agreements aiding the administration of
this chapter;
(4) Adopt and administer a casualty and accident reporting program consistent with United States coast guard regulations;
(5) Adopt and enforce recreational boating safety rules,
including but not necessarily limited to equipment and navigating requirements, consistent with United States coast
guard regulations;
(6) Coordinate with local and state agencies the development of biennial plans and programs for the enhancement of
boating safety, safety education, and enforcement of safety
rules and laws; allocate money appropriated to the commission for these programs as necessary; and accept and administer any public or private grants or federal funds which are
obtained for these purposes under chapter 43.88 RCW; and
(7) Take additional actions necessary to gain acceptance
of a program of boating safety for this state under the federal
boating safety act of 1971. [1998 c 245 § 66; 1994 c 151 § 3;
1984 c 183 § 4; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 52. Formerly RCW
43.51.400.]
Penalties for violations: RCW 88.02.110.
79A.05.315
79A.05.315 Milwaukee Road corridor—Transfer of
management control to commission. Management control
of the portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor, beginning at
the western terminus near Easton and concluding at the west
end of the bridge structure over the Columbia river, which
point is located in section 34, township 16 north, range 23
east, W.M., inclusive of the northerly spur line therefrom,
shall be transferred by the department of natural resources to
the state parks and recreation commission at no cost to the
commission. [1989 c 129 § 1; (2000 c 11 § 38; 1996 c 129 §
7 expired July 1, 2006); 1984 c 174 § 2. Formerly RCW
43.51.405.]
Contingent expiration date—1996 c 129 §§ 7 and 8: "Sections 7 and
8, chapter 129, Laws of 1996 expire July 1, 2006, if the department of transportation does not enter into a franchise agreement for a rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor by July 1, 2006." [1999 c 301 § 5;
1996 c 129 § 11.]
Construction—1989 c 129: "Nothing in this act shall be construed to
affect any existing or reversionary interests in the real property lying within
the Milwaukee Road corridor." [1989 c 129 § 4.]
Purpose—1984 c 174: "The purpose of RCW 43.51.405 through
43.51.411 and 79.08.275 through 79.08.283 is to set forth the state’s policy
regarding the approximately two hundred thirteen-mile corridor of land purchased by the state from the Milwaukee Railroad Company under section
17(21), chapter 143, Laws of 1981." [1984 c 174 § 1.]
79A.05.320
79A.05.320 Milwaukee Road corridor—Duties. The
state parks and recreation commission shall do the following
with respect to the portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor
under its control:
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.330
(1) Manage the corridor as a recreational trail except
when closed under RCW 79A.05.325;
(2) Close the corridor to hunting;
(3) Close the corridor to all motorized vehicles except:
(a) Emergency or law enforcement vehicles; (b) vehicles necessary for access to utility lines; and (c) vehicles necessary
for maintenance of the corridor, or construction of the trail;
(4) Comply with legally enforceable conditions contained in the deeds for the corridor;
(5) Control weeds under the applicable provisions of
chapters 17.04, 17.06, and 17.10 RCW; and
(6) Clean and maintain culverts. [2000 c 11 § 39; 1987 c
438 § 39; 1984 c 174 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.407.]
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
79A.05.325
79A.05.325 Milwaukee Road corridor—Additional
duties. The state parks and recreation commission may do
the following with respect to the portion of the Milwaukee
Road corridor under its control:
(1) Enter into agreements to allow the realignment or
modification of public roads, farm crossings, water conveyance facilities, and other utility crossings;
(2) Regulate activities and restrict uses, including, but
not limited to, closing portions of the corridor to reduce fire
danger or protect public safety;
(3) Place hazard warning signs and close hazardous
structures;
(4) Renegotiate deed restrictions upon agreement with
affected parties; and
(5) Approve and process the sale or exchange of lands or
easements if such a sale or exchange will not adversely affect
the recreational potential of the corridor; and
(6) Manage the portion of the Milwaukee Road corridor
lying between the eastern corporate limits of the city of Kittitas and the eastern end of the corridor under commission control for recreational access limited to holders of permits
issued by the commission. The commission shall, for the purpose of issuing permits for corridor use, adopt rules necessary
for the orderly and safe use of the corridor and the protection
of adjoining landowners, which may include restrictions on
the total numbers of permits issued, numbers in a permitted
group, and periods during which the corridor is available for
permitted users. The commission may increase recreational
management of this portion of the corridor and eliminate the
permit system as it determines in its discretion based upon
available funding and other resources. [1989 c 129 § 3; 1984
c 174 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.409.]
Construction—1989 c 129: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
79A.05.330
79A.05.330 Recreation trail on Milwaukee Road corridor. The state parks and recreation commission shall identify opportunities and encourage volunteer work, private contributions, and support from tax-exempt foundations to
develop, operate, and maintain the recreation trail on the portion of the Milwaukee Road under its control. [1984 c 174 §
5. Formerly RCW 43.51.411.]
Purpose—1984 c 174: See note following RCW 79A.05.315.
[Title 79A RCW—page 15]
79A.05.335
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.05.335
79A.05.335 Environmental interpretation—Authority of commission. The legislature finds that the lands
owned and managed by the state parks and recreation commission are a significant collection of valuable natural, historical, and cultural resources for the citizens of Washington
state. The legislature further finds that if citizens understand
and appreciate the state park ecological resources, they will
come to appreciate and understand the ecosystems and natural resources throughout the state. Therefore, the state parks
and recreation commission may increase the use of its facilities and resources to provide environmental interpretation
throughout the state parks system. [1991 c 107 § 1. Formerly
RCW 43.51.415.]
79A.05.340
79A.05.340 Environmental interpretation—Scope of
activities. The state parks and recreation commission may
provide environmental interpretative activities for visitors to
state parks that:
(1) Explain the functions, history, and cultural aspects of
ecosystems;
(2) Explain the relationship between human needs,
human behaviors and attitudes, and the environment; and
(3) Offer experiences and information to increase citizen
appreciation and stewardship of the environment and its multiple uses. [1991 c 107 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.417.]
79A.05.345
79A.05.345 Environmental interpretation—Assistance from other organizations. The state parks and recreation commission may consult and enter into agreements
with and solicit assistance from private sector organizations
and other governmental agencies that are interested in conserving and interpreting Washington’s environment. The
commission shall not permit commercial advertising in state
park lands or interpretive centers as a condition of such
agreements. Logos or credit lines for sponsoring organizations may be permitted. The commission shall maintain an
accounting of all monetary gifts provided, and expenditures
of monetary gifts shall not be used to increase personnel.
[1991 c 107 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.419.]
UNDERWATER PARKS
(2) Acquire property and enter management agreements
with other units of state government for the management of
lands, tidelands, and bedlands as underwater parks;
(3) Construct artificial reefs and other underwater features to enhance marine life and recreational uses of an
underwater park;
(4) Accept gifts and donations for the benefit of underwater parks;
(5) Facilitate private efforts to construct artificial reefs
and underwater parks;
(6) Work with the federal government, local governments and other appropriate agencies of state government,
including but not limited to: The department of natural
resources, the department of fish and wildlife and the natural
heritage council to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and
(7) Contract with other state agencies or local governments for the management of an underwater park unit. [1999
c 249 § 1301; 1994 c 264 § 20; 1993 c 267 § 2. Formerly
RCW 43.51.432.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.370
79A.05.370 Underwater parks—Diverse recreational
opportunity. In establishing an underwater park system, the
commission shall seek to create diverse recreational opportunities in areas throughout Washington state. The commission
shall place a high priority upon creating units that possess
unique or diverse marine life or underwater natural or artificial features such as shipwrecks. [1993 c 267 § 4. Formerly
RCW 43.51.436.]
79A.05.375
79A.05.375 Underwater parks—Liability. The commission is not liable for unintentional injuries to users of
underwater parks, whether the facilities are administered by
the commission or by another entity or person. However,
nothing in this section prevents the liability of the commission for injuries sustained by a user by reason of a known
dangerous artificial latent condition for which warning signs
have not been conspicuously posted. [1993 c 267 § 5. Formerly RCW 43.51.438.]
WATER TRAIL RECREATION PROGRAM
79A.05.355
79A.05.355 Underwater parks—Lead agency. The
state parks and recreation commission shall act as the lead
agency for the establishment of underwater parks in state
waters and for environmental reviews of projects necessary
to establish underwater parks. The commission may enter
into interagency agreements to facilitate timely receipt of
necessary permits from other state agencies and local governments. [1993 c 267 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.430.]
79A.05.360
79A.05.360 Underwater parks—Authority to establish—Powers and duties. The commission may establish a
system of underwater parks to provide for diverse recreational diving opportunities and to conserve and protect
unique marine resources of the state of Washington. In establishing and maintaining an underwater park system, the commission may:
(1) Plan, construct, and maintain underwater parks;
[Title 79A RCW—page 16]
79A.05.380
79A.05.380 Water trail recreation program—Created. The legislature recognizes the increase in water-oriented recreation by users of human and wind-powered,
beachable vessels such as kayaks, canoes, or day sailors on
Washington’s waters. These recreationists frequently require
overnight camping facilities along the shores of public or private beaches. The legislature now creates a water trail recreation program, to be administered by the Washington state
parks and recreation commission. The legislature recognizes
that the effort to develop water trail sites is a continuing need
and that the commission provides beneficial expertise and
consultation to water trail user groups, agencies, and private
landowners for the existing Cascadia marine trail and Willapa Bay water trail. [2003 c 338 § 1; 1993 c 182 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.440.]
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
79A.05.385
79A.05.385 Water trail recreation program—Powers and duties. In addition to its other powers, duties, and
functions, the commission may:
(1) Plan, construct, and maintain suitable facilities for
water trail activities on lands administered or acquired by the
commission or as authorized on lands administered by tribes
or other public agencies or private landowners by agreement.
(2) Compile, publish, distribute, and charge a fee for
maps or other forms of public information indicating areas
and facilities suitable for water trail activities.
(3) Contract with a public agency, private entity, or person for the actual conduct of these duties.
(4) Work with individuals or organizations who wish to
volunteer their time to support the water trail recreation program.
(5) Provide expertise and consultation to individuals,
agencies, and organizations in the continued development of
water trail sites in this state. [2003 c 338 § 2; 2003 c 126 §
601; 1993 c 182 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.442.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 126 § 601 and by
2003 c 338 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Part headings not law—2003 c 126: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [2003 c 126 § 1001.]
Effective date—2003 c 126: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003."
[2003 c 126 § 1003.]
of these alternative rules. [2003 c 338 § 3; 2003 c 126 § 603;
1993 c 182 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.51.452.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2003 c 126: See notes following RCW 79A.05.385.
79A.05.415
79A.05.415 Water trail recreation program—Violation. Violation of the provisions of the commission’s rules
governing the use of water trail facilities and property shall
constitute a civil infraction, punishable as provided under
chapter 7.84 RCW. [1993 c 182 § 8. Formerly RCW
43.51.454.]
79A.05.425
79A.05.425 Water trail recreation program—Disposition of funds. Any unspent balance of funds in the water
trail program account created in *RCW 79A.05.405 as of
June 30, 2003, must be transferred to the state parks renewal
and stewardship account created in RCW 79A.05.215. All
receipts from sales of materials under RCW 79A.05.385 and
all m onetary civ il pen alties collected und er RCW
79A.05.415 must be deposited in the state parks renewal and
stewardship account. Any gifts, grants, donations, or moneys
from any source received by the commission for the water
trail program must also be deposited in the state parks
renewal and stewardship account. Funds transferred or
deposited into the state parks renewal and stewardship
account under this section must be used solely for water trail
program purposes. [2003 c 338 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79A.05.405 was repealed by 2003 c 338 § 5.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND
CONSERVATION CORPS
79A.05.390
79A.05.390 Water trail recreation program—
Grants. The commission may make water trail program
grants to public agencies or tribal governments and may contract with any public agency, tribal government, entity, or
person to develop and implement water trail programs. [1993
c 182 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.444.]
79A.05.395
79A.05.395 Water trail recreation program—Liability. The commission is not liable for unintentional injuries to
users of facilities administered for water trail purposes under
this chapter, whether the facilities are administered by the
commission or by any other entity or person. However, nothing in this section prevents the liability of the commission for
injuries sustained by a user by reason of a known dangerous
artificial latent condition for which warning signs have not
been conspicuously posted. [1993 c 182 § 4. Formerly RCW
43.51.446.]
79A.05.400
79A.05.400 Water trail recreation program—Permits.
Reviser’s note: RCW 79A.05.400 was amended by 2003 c 126 § 602
without reference to its repeal by 2003 c 338 § 5. It has been decodified for
publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
79A.05.410
79A.05.410 Water trail recreation program—Rules.
The commission may adopt rules to administer the water trail
program and facilities on areas owned or administered by the
commission. Where water trail facilities administered by
other public or private entities are incorporated into the water
trail system, the rules adopted by those entities shall prevail.
The commission is not responsible or liable for enforcement
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.510
79A.05.500
79A.05.500 Declaration of purpose. The purpose of
RCW 79A.05.500 through 79A.05.530 is to provide: (1) The
opportunity for healthful employment of youths in programs
of conservation, developing, improving, and maintaining natural and artificial recreational areas for the welfare of the
general public; (2) the opportunity for our youths to learn
vocational and work skills, develop good work habits and a
sense of responsibility and contribution to society, improvement in personal physical and moral well being, and an
understanding and appreciation of nature. [2000 c 11 § 42;
1969 ex.s. c 96 § 1; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.500. Prior: 1961 c 215
§ 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.500.]
79A.05.505
79A.05.505 Youth development and conservation
division established—Supervisory personnel. There is
hereby created and established a youth development and conservation division within the commission. The commission
shall appoint such supervisory personnel as necessary to
carry out the purposes of RCW 79A.05.500 through
79A.05.530. [1999 c 249 § 1201; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.510.
Prior: 1961 c 215 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.510.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.510
79A.05.510 Composition of youth corps—Qualifications, conditions, period of enrollment, etc. Composition
of the corps shall consist of youths who are citizens of the
United States and residents of the state of Washington of
good character and health, and who are not more than twenty[Title 79A RCW—page 17]
79A.05.515
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
one years of age. In order to enroll, an individual must agree
to comply with rules and regulations promulgated by the
commission. The period of enrollment shall be for thirty,
sixty or ninety days or for such shorter period as determined
by the commission. If permitted by the commission an individual may reenroll. Enrollment shall basically be allocated
on a percentage basis to each of the forty-nine legislative districts on the basis of the ratio that the population of each district bears to the total population of the state of Washington,
but the commission may also take into account problems of
substantial unemployment in certain areas. [1975 c 7 § 1;
1969 ex.s. c 96 § 3; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.530. Prior: 1961 c 215
§ 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.530.]
by the cooperating private company or individual, to develop,
maintain or improve natural and artificial recreational areas
for the health and happiness of the general public. The corps
shall not be engaged in the development, improvement or
maintenance of a commercial recreational area or resort, and
the individual or corporation entering such agreement with
the commission shall make such improved areas available to
the general public without cost for a period of at least five
years. Private individuals may reserve the right to close the
area during periods of fire hazard or during periods when
excess damage would be caused by public use. [1975 c 7 § 3;
1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 85; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.570. Prior: 1961
c 215 § 8. Formerly RCW 43.51.570.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
79A.05.515
79A.05.515 Compensation—Quarters—Hospital
services, etc. (1) The minimum compensation shall be at the
rate of twenty-five dollars per week, except that up to the
minimum state wage may be paid on the basis of assigned
leadership responsibilities or special skills.
(2) Enrollees shall be furnished quarters, subsistence,
medical and hospital services, transportation, equipment, as
the commission may deem necessary and appropriate for
their needs. Such quarters, subsistence, and equipment may
be furnished by any governmental or public agency.
(3) The compensation of enrollees of any program under
this chapter may be paid biweekly. [1999 c 249 § 1202; 1982
c 70 § 1; 1975 c 7 § 2; 1965 c 8 § 43.51.540. Prior: 1961 c
215 § 5. Formerly RCW 43.51.540.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.520
79A.05.520 Laws relating to hours, conditions of
employment, civil service, etc., not applicable. Existing
provisions of law with respect to hours of work, rate of compensation, sick leave, vacation, civil service and unemployment compensation shall not be applicable to enrollees or
temporary employees working under the provisions of RCW
79A.05.500 through 79A.05.530. [2000 c 11 § 43; 1965 c 8
§ 43.51.550. Prior: 1961 c 215 § 6. Formerly RCW
43.51.550.]
79A.05.535
79A.05.535 Agreements with and acceptance of
grants from federal government authorized. The state
parks and recreation commission is authorized to enter into
agreements with and accept grants from the federal government for the support of any program within the purposes of
RCW 79A.05.500 through 79A.05.530. [2000 c 11 § 44;
1965 ex.s. c 48 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.580.]
79A.05.540
79A.05.540 Agreements with and acceptance of
grants from federal government authorized—Length of
enrollment and compensation in accordance with federal
standards authorized. Notwithstanding the provisions of
RCW 79A.05.510 and 79A.05.515, the commission may
determine the length of enrollment and the compensation of
enrollees in accordance with the standards of any federal act
or regulation under which an agreement is made with, or a
grant is received from the federal government pursuant to
RCW 79A.05.535. [2000 c 11 § 45; 1965 ex.s. c 48 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.590.]
79A.05.545
79A.05.545 Conservation corps. The commission
shall cooperate in implementing and operating the conservation corps as required by chapter 43.220 RCW. [1999 c 249
§ 701.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.525
79A.05.525 Expenditures, gifts, government surplus
materials. The commission may expend such amounts as
necessary for supplies, material and equipment to be used by
enrollees in connection with their work, recreation, health, or
welfare; the commission shall purchase government surplus
materials, supplies and equipment when available and as
needed.
The commission may accept any gifts, grants or contributions of money, material, lands, or personal property as it
deems appropriate and may administer and dispose of them
as it determines to be in the interests of the general public.
[1965 c 8 § 43.51.560. Prior: 1961 c 215 § 7. Formerly RCW
43.51.560.]
79A.05.530
79A.05.530 Agreements with private persons to
enroll additional people—Commercial activities prohibited—Authorized closures of area. The commission may,
by agreement with an individual or company enroll and
supervise additional young persons, who shall be furnished
compensation, subsistence, quarters, supplies and materials
[Title 79A RCW—page 18]
SEASHORE CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.600
79A.05.600 Declaration of principles. The beaches
bounding the Pacific Ocean from the Straits of Juan de Fuca
to Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River
constitute some of the last unspoiled seashore remaining in
the United States. They provide the public with almost unlimited opportunities for recreational activities, like swimming,
surfing and hiking; for outdoor sports, like hunting, fishing,
clamming, and boating; for the observation of nature as it
existed for hundreds of years before the arrival of white men;
and for relaxation away from the pressures and tensions of
modern life. In past years, these recreational activities have
been enjoyed by countless Washington citizens, as well as by
tourists from other states and countries. The number of people wishing to participate in such recreational activities
grows annually. This increasing public pressure makes it necessary that the state dedicate the use of the ocean beaches to
public recreation and to provide certain recreational and san(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
itary facilities. Nonrecreational use of the beach must be
strictly limited. Even recreational uses must be regulated in
order that Washington’s unrivaled seashore may be saved for
our children in much the same form as we know it today.
[1967 c 120 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.650.]
Repeal and savings—1967 c 120: "Chapter 78, Laws of 1929 (uncodified) is hereby repealed: PROVIDED, That the title of anyone who has purchased property under this act shall not be affected." [1967 c 120 § 10.]
79A.05.605
79A.05.605 Seashore conservation area—Established. There is established for the recreational use and
enjoyment of the public the Washington State Seashore Conservation Area. It shall include all lands now or hereafter
under state ownership or control lying between Cape Disappointment and Leadbetter Point; between Toke Point and the
South jetty on Point Chehalis; and between Damon Point and
the Makah Indian Reservation and occupying the area
between the line of ordinary high tide and the line of extreme
low tide, as these lines now are or may hereafter be located,
and, where applicable, between the Seashore Conservation
Line, as established by survey of the Washington state parks
and recreation commission and the line of extreme low tide,
as these lines now are or may hereafter be located; and shall
also include all state-owned nontrust accreted lands along the
ocean: PROVIDED, That no such conservation area shall
include any lands within the established boundaries of any
Indian reservation. [1969 ex.s. c 55 § 1; 1967 c 120 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.655.]
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: "No provision of this 1969 amendatory
act shall be construed as affecting any private or public property rights."
[1969 ex.s. c 55 § 8.]
79A.05.610
79A.05.610 Jurisdiction over and administration of
area. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 79A.05.600
through 79A.05.630, the Washington State Seashore Conservation Area shall be under the jurisdiction of the Washington
state parks and recreation commission, which shall administer RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.630 in accordance with
the powers granted it herein and under the appropriate provisions of this chapter. [2000 c 11 § 46; 1969 ex.s. c 55 § 2;
1967 c 120 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.660.]
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 79A.05.605.
79A.05.615
79A.05.615 Principles and purposes to be followed in
administering area. The Washington state parks and recreation commission shall administer the Washington State Seashore Conservation Area in harmony with the broad principles set forth in RCW 79A.05.600. Where feasible, the area
shall be preserved in its present state; everywhere it shall be
maintained in the best possible condition for public use. All
forms of public outdoor recreation shall be permitted and
encouraged in the area, unless specifically excluded or limited by the commission. While the primary purpose in the
establishment of the area is to preserve the coastal beaches
for public recreation, other uses shall be allowed as provided
in RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.630, or when found not
inconsistent with public recreational use by the Washington
state parks and recreation commission. [2000 c 11 § 47; 1969
ex.s. c 55 § 3; 1967 c 120 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.665.]
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 79A.05.605.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.630
79A.05.620 Cooperation and assistance of federal,
state, and local agencies. In administering the Washington
State Seashore Conservation Area, the Washington state
parks and recreation commission shall seek the cooperation
and assistance of federal agencies, other state agencies, and
local political subdivisions. All state agencies, and the governing officials of each local subdivision shall cooperate with
the commission in carrying out its duties. Except as otherwise
provided in RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.630, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, other state agencies
and local subdivisions shall perform duties in the Washington
State Seashore Conservation Area which are within their normal jurisdiction, except when such performance clearly conflicts with the purposes of RCW 79A.05.600 through
79A.05.630. [2000 c 11 § 48; 1969 ex.s. c 55 § 4; 1967 c 120
§ 5. Formerly RCW 43.51.670.]
79A.05.620
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 79A.05.605.
79A.05.625 Powers and authority of department of
fish and wildlife not interfered with. Nothing in RCW
79A.05.600 through 79A.05.630 and 79A.05.635 through
79A.05.695 shall be construed to interfere with the powers,
duties and authority of the department of fish and wildlife to
regulate the conservation or taking of food fish and shellfish.
Nor shall anything in RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.630
and 79A.05.635 through 79A.05.695 be construed to interfere with the powers, duties and authority of the department
of fish and wildlife to regulate, manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of wildlife within such area: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no hunting shall be permitted in
any state park. [2000 c 11 § 49; 1994 c 264 § 22; 1988 c 75
§ 17; 1987 c 506 § 92; 1983 c 3 § 109; 1969 ex.s. c 55 § 5;
1967 c 120 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.51.675.]
79A.05.625
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 79A.05.605.
79A.05.630 Sale, lease, and disposal of lands within
the Seashore Conservation Area. Lands within the Seashore Conservation Area shall not be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of, except as herein provided. The commission
may, under authority granted in RCW 79A.05.175 and
79A.05.180, exchange state park lands in the Seashore Conservation Area for lands of equal value to be managed by the
commission consistent with this chapter. Only state park
lands lying east of the Seashore Conservation Line, as it is
located at the time of exchange, may be so exchanged. The
department of natural resources may lease the lands within
the Washington State Seashore Conservation Area as well as
the accreted lands along the ocean in state ownership for the
exploration and production of oil and gas: PROVIDED, That
oil drilling rigs and equipment will not be placed on the Seashore Conservation Area or state-owned accreted lands.
Sale of sand from accretions shall be made to supply the
needs of cranberry growers for cranberry bogs in the vicinity
and shall not be prohibited if found by the commission to be
reasonable, and not generally harmful or destructive to the
character of the land: PROVIDED, That the commission
may grant leases and permits for the removal of sands for
construction purposes from any lands within the Seashore
79A.05.630
[Title 79A RCW—page 19]
79A.05.635
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
Conservation Area if found by the commission to be reasonable and not generally harmful or destructive to the character
of the land: PROVIDED FURTHER, That net income from
such leases shall be deposited in the state parks renewal and
stewardship account. [2000 c 11 § 50; (2003 1st sp.s. c 26 §
929 expired June 30, 2005); 1997 c 137 § 4; 1995 c 203 § 1;
1988 c 75 § 18; 1969 ex.s. c 55 § 6; 1967 c 120 § 8. Formerly
RCW 43.51.685.]
Expiration date—Severability—Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 26:
See notes following RCW 43.135.045.
Effective date—1997 c 137: See note following RCW 79A.05.055.
Effective date—1995 c 203: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 1, 1995]." [1995 c 203 § 2.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
Construction—1969 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 79A.05.605.
79A.05.635
79A.05.635 Ocean beach recreation management
plans—Cooperative program. A cooperative program to
provide recreation management plans for the ocean beaches
that comprise the Seashore Conservation Area established by
RCW 79A.05.605 is created. [2000 c 11 § 51; 1988 c 75 § 1.
Formerly RCW 43.51.695.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989."
[1988 c 75 § 20.]
79A.05.640
79A.05.640 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to
RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.695.
(1) "Local government" means a county, city, or town.
(2) "Ocean beaches" include the three ocean beaches
described in RCW 79A.05.605.
(3) "Pedestrian use" means any use that does not involve
a motorized vehicle. [2000 c 11 § 52; 1988 c 75 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.700.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.645
79A.05.645 Local recreation management plans.
Local governments having a portion of the Seashore Conservation Area within their boundaries may, individually or
through an agreement with other local governments located
on the same ocean beach, adopt a recreation management
plan which meets the requirements of RCW 79A.05.600
through 79A.05.695 for that portion of the ocean beach. The
legislature hereby encourages adoption of a single plan for
each beach. [2000 c 11 § 53; 1988 c 75 § 3. Formerly RCW
43.51.705.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.650
79A.05.650 Reservation for pedestrian use—Restrictions on motorized traffic. (1) Except as provided in RCW
79A.05.655 and 79A.05.660, a total of forty percent of the
length of the beach subject to the recreation management
plan shall be reserved for pedestrian use under this section
and RCW 79A.05.665. Restrictions on motorized traffic
under this section shall be from April 15th to the day following Labor day of each year. Local jurisdictions may adopt
provisions within recreation management plans that exceed
the requirements of this section. The commission shall not
[Title 79A RCW—page 20]
require that a plan designate for pedestrian use more than
forty percent of the land subject to the plan.
(2) In designating areas to be reserved for pedestrian use,
the plan shall consider the following:
(a) Public safety;
(b) Statewide interest in recreational use of the ocean
beaches;
(c) Protection of shorebird and marine mammal habitats;
(d) Preservation of native beach vegetation;
(e) Protection of sand dune topography;
(f) Prudent management of clam beds;
(g) Economic impacts to the local community; and
(h) Public access and parking availability. [2000 c 11 §
54; 1988 c 75 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.710.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.655 Areas reserved for pedestrian use—
Exception. Notwithstanding RCW 79A.05.650(1), recreation management plans may make provision for vehicular
traffic on areas otherwise reserved for pedestrian use in order
to:
(1) Facilitate clam digging;
(2) Accommodate organized recreational events of not
more than seven consecutive days duration;
(3) Provide for removal of wood debris under RCW
4.24.210 and 79A.05.035(5); and
(4) Accommodate removal of sand located upland from
the Seashore Conservation Area or removal of sand within
the Seashore Conservation Area under the terms of a covenant, easement, or deed. [2000 c 11 § 55; 1988 c 75 § 5. Formerly RCW 43.51.715.]
79A.05.655
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.660
79A.05.660 Public vehicles. Recreation management
plans shall not prohibit or restrict public vehicles operated in
the performance of official duties, vehicles responding to an
emergency, or vehicles specially authorized by the director or
the director’s designee. [1999 c 249 § 1101; 1988 c 75 § 6.
Formerly RCW 43.51.720.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.665
79A.05.665 Land adjoining national wildlife refuges
and state parks—Pedestrian use—Exception. Recreation
management plans shall, upon request of the commission,
reserve on a permanent, seasonal, or temporary basis, land
adjoining national wildlife refuges and state parks for pedestrian use. After a plan is approved, the commission may
require local jurisdictions to adopt amendments to the plan
governing driving on land adjoining wildlife refuges and
state parks. Land reserved for pedestrian use under this section for at least the period from April 15th through the day
following Labor Day of each year shall be included when
determining compliance with the requirements of RCW
79A.05.650. [2000 c 11 § 56; 1988 c 75 § 7. Formerly RCW
43.51.725.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.670
79A.05.670 Consultation with government agencies
required. In preparing, adopting, or approving a recreation
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
79A.05.700
management plan, local jurisdictions and the commission
shall consult with the department of fish and wildlife and the
United States fish and wildlife service. [1999 c 249 § 1102;
1988 c 75 § 8. Formerly RCW 43.51.730.]
ernment, or state agency aggrieved by a decision of the commission under this chapter may appeal under chapter 34.05
RCW. [1999 c 249 § 1103; 1988 c 75 § 12. Formerly RCW
43.51.750.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.675
79A.05.675 Compliance with federal and state laws
required. Recreation management plans shall comply with
all applicable federal and state laws. [1988 c 75 § 9. Formerly RCW 43.51.735.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.690
79A.05.690 Cooperation for law enforcement. The
commission shall cooperate with state and local law enforcement agencies in meeting the need for law enforcement
within the Seashore Conservation Area. [1988 c 75 § 13.
Formerly RCW 43.51.755.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.680
79A.05.680 Hearings. Before adopting a recreation
management plan, or amendments to an existing plan, local
jurisdictions shall conduct a public hearing. Notice of the
hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each jurisdiction adopting the plan as well as in a
newspaper of general statewide circulation on at least two
occasions not less than fourteen days before the first day of
the hearing. When a proposed recreation management plan
has been prepared by more than one jurisdiction, joint hearings may be conducted. [1988 c 75 § 10. Formerly RCW
43.51.740.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.685
79A.05.685 Adoption of plans—Approval—Procedure. Recreation management plans shall be adopted by
each participating jurisdiction and submitted to the commission by September 1, 1989. The commission shall approve
the proposed plan if, in the commission’s judgment, the plan
adequately fulfills the requirements of RCW 79A.05.600
through 79A.05.695.
If the proposed plan is not approved, the commission
shall suggest modifications to the participating local governments. Local governments shall have ninety days after
receiving the suggested modifications to resubmit a recreation management plan. Thereafter, if the commission finds
that a plan does not adequately fulfill the requirements of
RCW 79A.05.600 through 79A.05.695, the commission may
amend the proposal or adopt an alternative plan.
If a plan for all or any portion of the Seashore Conservation Area is not submitted in accordance with RCW
79A.05.635 through 79A.05.695, the commission shall adopt
a recreation management plan for that site.
Administrative rules adopted by the commission under
*RCW 43.51.680 shall remain in effect for all or any portion
of each ocean beach until a recreation management plan for
that site is adopted or approved by the commission.
The commission shall not adopt a recreation management plan for all or any portion of an ocean beach while
appeal of a commission decision regarding that site is pending. [2000 c 11 § 57; 1988 c 75 § 11. Formerly RCW
43.51.745.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 43.51.680 was repealed by 1988 c 75 § 19,
effective January 1, 1989.
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.688
79A.05.688 Appeal. Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, cooperative, local gov(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.693
79A.05.693 Ocean beaches in Seashore Conservation
Area declared public highways. The ocean beaches within
the Seashore Conservation Area are hereby declared a public
highway and shall remain forever open to the use of the public as provided in RCW 79A.05.635 through 79A.05.695.
[2000 c 11 § 58; 1988 c 75 § 14. Formerly RCW 43.51.760.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
79A.05.695
79A.05.695 Amendments to plan—Approval—Procedure. Amendments to the recreation management plan
may be adopted jointly by each local government participating in the plan and submitted to the commission for approval.
The commission shall approve a proposed amendment if, in
the commission’s judgment, the amendment adequately fulfills the requirements of RCW 79A.05.600 through
79A.05.695.
After a plan is approved, the commission may require
local jurisdictions to adopt amendments to the plan if the
commission finds that such amendments are necessary to
protect public health and safety, or to protect significant natural resources as determined by the agency having jurisdiction over the resource. [2000 c 11 § 59; 1988 c 75 § 15. Formerly RCW 43.51.765.]
Effective date—1988 c 75: See note following RCW 79A.05.635.
GREEN RIVER GORGE CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.700
79A.05.700 Declaration. The Green River Gorge,
between the town of Kanasket and the Kummer bridge in
King county, is a twelve mile spectacularly winding gorge
with steep to overhanging rock walls reaching heights of
from one hundred fifty to three hundred feet. The beauty and
natural features of the gorge are generally confined within the
canyon rim. This twelve mile gorge area contains many
examples of unique biological and geological features for
educational and recreational interpretation, almost two miles
of Eocene sediment rocks and fossils are exposed revealing
one of the most complete stratographic sections to be found
in the region. The area, a unique recreational attraction with
more than one million seven hundred thousand people living
within an hour’s driving time, is presently used by hikers,
geologists, fishermen, kayakers and canoeists, picnickers and
swimmers, and those seeking the solitude offered by this
unique area. Abutting and adjacent landowners generally
have kept the gorge lands in their natural state; however, economic and urbanization pressures for development are rap[Title 79A RCW—page 21]
79A.05.705
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
idly increasing. Local and state outdoor recreation plans
show a regional need for resources and facilities which could
be developed in this area. A twelve mile strip incorporating
the visual basins of the Green River from the Kummer bridge
to Palmer needs to be acquired and developed as a conservation area to preserve this unique area for the recreational
needs of the region. [1969 ex.s. c 162 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.900.]
79A.05.705
79A.05.705 Green River Gorge conservation area
created. There is hereby created a Washington state parks
and recreation commission conservation area to be known as
"Green River Gorge conservation area". [1969 ex.s. c 162 §
2. Formerly RCW 43.51.910.]
79A.05.710
79A.05.710 Acquisition of real property, easements,
or rights authorized. In addition to all other powers and
duties prescribed by law, the state parks and recreation commission is authorized and directed to acquire such real property, easements, or rights in the Green River Gorge in King
county, together with such real property, easements, and
rights as is necessary for such park and conservation purposes in any manner authorized by law for the acquisition of
lands for parks and parkway purposes. Except for such real
property as is necessary and convenient for development of
picnicking or camping areas and their related facilities, it is
the intent of this section that such property shall be acquired
to preserve, as much as possible, the gorge within the canyon
rim in its natural pristine state. [1969 ex.s. c 162 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.920.]
79A.05.715
79A.05.715 Acquisition of real property, easements,
or rights authorized—Rights of other state agencies not to
be infringed upon. Nothing herein shall be construed as
authorizing or directing the state parks and recreation commission to acquire any real property, easements, or rights in
the Green River Gorge in King county which are now held by
any state agency for the purposes of outdoor recreation, conservation, fish, or wildlife management or public hunting or
fishing without the approval of such agency. [1969 ex.s. c
162 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.930.]
MOUNT SI CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.725
79A.05.725 Legislative declaration. Mt. Si and Little
Si in King county offer unique scenic, natural, and geological
features which can be viewed from the I-90 highway. They
also afford outstanding recreational opportunities enjoyed by
the citizens of this state and tourists alike. The legislature recognizes the importance of guarding portions of this area from
those types of development which would permanently alter
the area’s natural form and beauty. It further recognizes the
necessity of setting forth procedures to manage the area, to
enhance the opportunities afforded the state’s citizens, onehalf of whom live within one-half hour driving time of Mt. Si,
and to safeguard to the extent possible the scenic, natural,
geological, game habitat, and recreational values therein, and
to safeguard and promote the upper Snoqualmie River valley’s economy in which the recreational use of Mt. Si plays a
pivotal role. Therefore, the legislature declares this area to be
[Title 79A RCW—page 22]
of statewide significance for the foregoing purposes to be
enhanced and safeguarded in accordance with the procedures
set forth in chapter 306, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. [1977 ex.s. c
306 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 88 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.51.940.]
79A.05.730
79A.05.730 "Mt. Si conservation area"—Created.
There is hereby created a "Mt. Si conservation area" to
include approximately twenty-five hundred acres of state,
United States government, and privately owned lands within
Sections 25, 26, 35, and 36, Township 24 North, Range 8
East, W.M., and Sections 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12 of Township 23
North, Range 8 East, W.M., as identified for inclusion in the
conservation area and described more specifically by the Mt.
Si citizen advisory subcommittee in their published report of
December 6, 1976, to the Washington state department of
natural resources and the Washington state parks and recreation commission as contained in the report filed by those
agencies to the house and senate committees on parks and
recreation, filed December 1976. [1977 ex.s. c 306 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.942.]
Designation of Mt. Si conservation area as Mt. Si natural resources conservation area: RCW 79.71.100.
79A.05.735
79A.05.735 Mt. Si conservation area—Management.
The state department of natural resources and the state parks
and recreation commission have joined together in excellent
cooperation in the conducting of this study along with the citizen advisory subcommittee and have joined together in
cooperation with the department of fish and wildlife to
accomplish other projects of multidisciplinary concern, and
because it may be in the best interests of the state to continue
such cooperation, the state parks and recreation commission,
the department of natural resources, and the department of
fish and wildlife are hereby directed to consider both short
and long term objectives, the expertise of each agency’s staff,
and alternatives such as reasonably may be expected to safeguard the conservation area’s values as described in RCW
79A.05.725 giving due regard to efficiency and economy of
management: PROVIDED, That the interests conveyed to or
by the state agencies identified in this section shall be managed by the department of natural resources until such time as
the state parks and recreation commission or other public
agency is managing public recreation areas and facilities
located in such close proximity to the conservation area
described in RCW 79A.05.730 so as to make combined management of those areas and facilities and transfer of management of the conservation area more efficient and economical
than continued management by the department of natural
resources. At that time the department of natural resources is
directed to negotiate with the appropriate public agency for
the transfer of those management responsibilities for the
interests obtained within the conservation area under RCW
79A.05.725 through 79A.05.745: PROVIDED FURTHER,
That the state agencies identified in this section may, by
mutual agreement, undertake management of portions of the
conservation area as they may from time to time determine in
accordance with those rules and regulations established for
natural area preserves under chapter 79.70 RCW, for natural
and conservation areas under present WAC 352-16-020(3)
and (6), and under chapter 77.12 RCW. [2000 c 11 § 60;
(2006 Ed.)
Parks and Recreation Commission
1994 c 264 § 23; 1988 c 36 § 17; 1977 ex.s. c 306 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.51.943.]
79A.05.740
79A.05.740 Mt. Si conservation area—Valuation of
included lands. The full market value for department of natural resources’ managed trust lands or interest therein within
the conservation area shall be determined by the department
of natural resources for any lands or interests to be dedicated
or leased as provided herein. The department of natural
resources shall determine the value of dedicating such lands
or interests in lands as it may determine to be necessary to
carry out the purposes of chapter 306, Laws of 1977 ex. sess.
either by execution of fifty-five year scenic or development
easements or by execution of fifty-five year leases, including
such conditions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes
of chapter 306, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. Any lease issued pursuant to chapter 306, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. may be subject
to renewal under the provisions of *RCW 79.01.276 as presently existing or hereafter amended. Nothing in chapter 306,
Laws of 1977 ex. sess. shall be deemed to alter or affect normal management on lands owned by the state for which no
dedication by easement or lease has been made and it is further recognized that no restrictions on management of such
lands shall be required unless the applicable trust relating to
such lands shall have been compensated. [1998 c 245 § 67;
1977 ex.s. c 306 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.51.944.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.01.276 was repealed by 1979 1st ex.s. c 109
§ 23.
79A.05.745
79A.05.745 Eminent domain—Use prohibited. No
property or interest in property shall be acquired for the purpose of chapter 306, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. by the exercise of
the power of eminent domain. [1977 ex.s. c 306 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.51.945.]
WASHINGTON STATE YAKIMA RIVER
CONSERVATION AREA
79A.05.750
79A.05.750 Legislative declaration. It is the intent of
RCW 79A.05.750 through 79A.05.795 to establish and recognize the Yakima river corridor from Selah Gap (Yakima
Ridge) to Union Gap (Rattlesnake Hills) as a uniquely valuable recreation, conservation, and scenic resource in the state
of Washington. [2000 c 11 § 61; 1977 ex.s. c 75 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.946.]
79A.05.755
79A.05.755 "Washington State Yakima river conservation area"—Created. There is hereby created an area to
be known as the "Washington State Yakima river conservation area". This area designation may be used as a common
reference by all state and local agencies, municipalities, and
federal agencies. [1977 ex.s. c 75 § 3. Formerly RCW
43.51.947.]
79A.05.760
79A.05.760 Yakima river conservation area—Size
prescribed. For the purposes of RCW 79A.05.750 through
79A.05.795, the Yakima river conservation area is to contain
no more than the area delineated in appendix D on pages D3, D-4, D-6, D-7, D-9, and D-10 of the report entitled "The
Yakima River Regional Greenway" which resulted from the
(2006 Ed.)
79A.05.785
Yakima river study authorized in section 170, chapter 269,
Laws of 1975, first extraordinary session. This area is also
defined as sections 12 and 17, township 13 north, range 18
east totaling approximately 18.0 acres, sections 7, 17, 18, 20,
21, 28, 29, 32, 33, township 13 north, range 19 east totaling
approximately 936.0 acres, and sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 17, township 12 north, range 19 east totaling approximately 793.7
acres. [1999 c 249 § 1001; 1977 ex.s. c 75 § 2. Formerly
RCW 43.51.948.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.05.765
79A.05.765 Yakima river conservation area—
Authority of Yakima county commissioners. The Yakima
county commissioners are authorized to coordinate the acquisition, development, and operation of the Yakima river conservation area in accordance with the purposes of RCW
79A.05.750 through 79A.05.795 and in cooperation with
public parks, conservation and resource managing agencies.
[2000 c 11 § 62; 1977 ex.s. c 75 § 4. Formerly RCW
43.51.949.]
79A.05.770
79A.05.770 Yakima river conservation area—Land
acquisition. The Yakima county commissioners are authorized to acquire such real property, easements or rights in
river-related lands in the Yakima river conservation area,
together with such real property, easements, and rights as are
necessary for such conservation and parks purposes in any
manner authorized by law for the acquisition of lands for conservation, parks and parkway purposes: PROVIDED, That
only the Yakima county commissioners shall have the power
of eminent domain for the purposes of this chapter. [1977
ex.s. c 75 § 5. Formerly RCW 43.51.950.]
79A.05.775
79A.05.775 Intent to preserve river wetlands in their
natural state. Except for such property as is necessary or
suitable for the development of recreational areas and their
related facilities, it is the intent of this section that such property shall be acquired to preserve, as much as possible, the
river wetlands in their natural state. [1977 ex.s. c 75 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.51.951.]
79A.05.780
79A.05.780 Yakima river conservation area—Consultation between commission and Yakima county commissioners. The Washington state parks and recreation commission is directed to consult with the Yakima county commissioners in the acquisition, development, and operation of
the Yakima river conservation area in accordance with the
purposes of RCW 79A.05.750 through 79A.05.795 and the
Yakima river study authorized in section 170, chapter 269,
Laws of 1975, first extraordinary session. [2000 c 11 § 63;
1977 ex.s. c 75 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.51.952.]
79A.05.785
79A.05.785 Yakima river conservation area—Interagency committee for outdoor recreation directed to
assist Yakima county commissioners. The interagency
committee for outdoor recreation is directed to assist the
Yakima county commissioners in obtaining state, federal,
and private funding for the acquisition, development, and
operation of the Yakima river conservation area. [1977 ex.s.
c 75 § 8. Formerly RCW 43.51.953.]
[Title 79A RCW—page 23]
79A.05.790
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.05.790
79A.05.790 County or city zoning and/or permitted
land uses not affected. Nothing herein shall be construed as
affecting nor being in conflict with existing county or city
zoning and/or permitted land uses and the right to develop,
build or expand existing uses in accordance with the said zoning or permitted land uses within the Yakima river conservation area. [1977 ex.s. c 75 § 9. Formerly RCW 43.51.954.]
79A.05.793
79A.05.793 Department of fish and wildlife, fish and
wildlife commission—Powers, duties, and authority—No
hunting in any state park. Nothing in RCW 79A.05.750
through 79A.05.795 shall be construed to interfere with the
powers, duties, and authority of the state department of fish
and wildlife or the state fish and wildlife commission to regulate, manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of wildlife within such area: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no
hunting shall be permitted in any state park. [2000 c 11 § 64;
1993 sp.s. c 2 § 19; 1987 c 506 § 93; 1977 ex.s. c 75 § 10.
Formerly RCW 43.51.955.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Legislative findings and intent—1987 c 506: See note following
RCW 77.04.020.
tion or portions of such bonds, and the conditions of sale and
issuance thereof.
The bonds shall pledge the full faith and credit of the
state of Washington and contain an unconditional promise to
pay the principal and interest when due. The committee may
provide that the bonds, or any of them, may be called prior to
the due date thereof under such terms and conditions as it
may determine. [1965 c 8 § 43.98.010. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12
§ 1. Formerly RCW 43.98.010.]
79A.10.020
79A.10.020 Disposition of proceeds of sale. The proceeds from the sale of the bonds authorized herein shall be
deposited in the parks and parkways account of the general
fund or such other account or fund as shall be established for
this purpose. Any agency or commission charged with the
administration of the account or fund is authorized to use or
permit the use of any funds derived from the sale of bonds
authorized under this chapter as matching funds in any case
where federal or other funds are made available on a matching basis for projects within the purposes of this chapter.
[1965 c 8 § 43.98.020. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12 § 2. Formerly
RCW 43.98.020.]
Outdoor recreation account, deposit of proceeds in: RCW 79A.25.060.
Parks and parkways account abolished: RCW 43.79.405.
79A.05.795
79A.05.795 Acquisition of real property, etc., of
another agency by Yakima county commissioners—
Agency approval required. Nothing herein shall be construed as authorizing or directing the Yakima county commissioners to acquire any real property, easements, or rights
in the Yakima river conservation area which are now held by
any other agency without the approval of that agency. [1977
ex.s. c 75 § 11. Formerly RCW 43.51.956.]
Chapter 79A.10 RCW
OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Chapter 79A.10
Sections
79A.10.010
79A.10.020
79A.10.030
79A.10.040
79A.10.050
79A.10.060
79A.10.070
79A.10.090
General obligation bonds authorized.
Disposition of proceeds of sale.
Bonds payable from proceeds of corporation fees.
Outdoor recreational bond redemption fund.
Remedies of bondholders.
Legislature may provide additional means of support.
Bonds legal investment for funds of state and municipal corporations.
Consent of world fair bondholders prerequisite to issuance of
bonds authorized by this chapter.
79A.10.010
79A.10.010 General obligation bonds authorized.
For the purpose of providing funds for the development of
outdoor recreational facilities in the state, the state finance
committee is hereby authorized to issue, at any time prior to
January 1, 1970, general obligation bonds of the state of
Washington in the sum of ten million dollars, or so much
thereof as shall be required to finance the program for which
these bonds are being authorized: PROVIDED, That funds
realized from the sale of such bonds shall be used solely for
the acquisition of land and attached appurtenances and such
property shall be for outdoor recreational use.
The state finance committee is authorized to prescribe
the form of such bonds and the time of sale of all or any por[Title 79A RCW—page 24]
79A.10.030
79A.10.030 Bonds payable from proceeds of corporation fees. The bonds issued under the provisions of this
chapter shall be payable from the proceeds of one-half of the
corporation fees collected under all the provisions of chapter
70, Laws of 1937, as now or hereafter amended. The bonds
and interest shall, so long as any portion thereof remains
unpaid, constitute a prior and exclusive claim, subject only to
amounts previously pledged for the payment of interest on
and retirement of bonds heretofore issued, upon that portion
of the corporation fees so collected. [1965 c 8 § 43.98.030.
Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.98.030.]
Reviser’s note: Chapter 70, Laws of 1937 referred to above is affected
by chapter 53, Laws of 1965 which enacts a new corporations code effective
July 1, 1967 (Title 23A RCW). Section 166 thereof repeals it subject to the
savings and continuation provision contained in section 165 which reads as
follows: "Nothing contained in this act shall be construed as an impairment
of any obligation of the state as evidenced by bonds held for any purpose,
and subsections 2 and 13 of section 135, subsections 1 and 2 of section 136,
and sections 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 146, and 147 shall be deemed to
be a continuation of chapter 70, Laws of 1937, as amended, for the purpose
of payment of:
(1) world’s fair bonds authorized by chapter 174, Laws of 1957 as
amended by chapter 152, Laws of 1961, and
(2) outdoor recreation bonds authorized by referendum bill number 11
(chapter 12, Laws of 1963 extraordinary session), approved by the people on
November 3, 1964."
79A.10.040
79A.10.040 Outdoor recreational bond redemption
fund. The outdoor recreational bond redemption fund is
hereby created in the state treasury, which fund shall be
exclusively devoted to the payment of interest on and retirement of the bonds authorized by this chapter. [1965 c 8 §
43.98.040. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12 § 4. Formerly RCW
43.98.040.]
79A.10.050
79A.10.050 Remedies of bondholders. The owner and
holder of each of said bonds or the trustee for any of the
bonds may by mandamus or other appropriate proceeding
(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition of Habitat Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Lands
require and compel the transfer and payment of funds as
directed herein. [1965 c 8 § 43.98.050. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12
§ 5. Formerly RCW 43.98.050.]
79A.10.060
79A.10.060 Legislature may provide additional
means of support. The legislature may provide additional
means for raising moneys for the payment of the interest and
principal of the bonds authorized herein and this chapter shall
not be deemed to provide an exclusive method for such payment. [1965 c 8 § 43.98.060. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.98.060.]
79A.10.070 Bonds legal investment for funds of state
and municipal corporations. The bonds herein authorized
shall be a legal investment for all state funds or for funds
under state control and all funds of municipal corporations.
[1965 c 8 § 43.98.070. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c 12 § 7. Formerly
RCW 43.98.070.]
79A.10.070
79A.10.090 Consent of world fair bondholders prerequisite to issuance of bonds authorized by this chapter.
No bonds authorized by this chapter shall be issued until
there shall first be obtained and filed in the office of the state
finance committee the written consent of the holders of all
outstanding bonds issued under authority of chapter 174,
Laws of 1957, as amended by chapter 152, Laws of 1961, to
the changes effected by this chapter and the 1963 amendments of *RCW 43.31.620 and 43.31.740 in the order of priority of payment of said world fair bonds out of the proceeds
of the corporation fees collected under chapter 70, Laws of
1937 as amended. [1965 c 8 § 43.98.090. Prior: 1963 ex.s. c
12 § 10. Formerly RCW 43.98.090.]
79A.10.090
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 43.31.620 and 43.31.740 were decodified
by 1985 c 466 § 75, effective June 30, 1985.
(2) See note following RCW 79A.10.030.
Chapter 79A.15 RCW
ACQUISITION OF HABITAT CONSERVATION AND
OUTDOOR RECREATION LANDS
Chapter 79A.15
Sections
79A.15.005
79A.15.010
79A.15.020
79A.15.030
79A.15.040
79A.15.050
79A.15.060
79A.15.065
79A.15.070
79A.15.080
79A.15.090
79A.15.100
79A.15.110
79A.15.120
79A.15.130
79A.15.900
Findings.
Definitions.
Habitat conservation account.
Allocation and use of moneys—Grants.
Habitat conservation account—Distribution and use of moneys.
Outdoor recreation account—Distribution and use of moneys.
Habitat conservation account—Acquisition policies and priorities.
Grants through habitat conservation account—Statement of
environmental benefits—Development of outcome-focused
performance measures.
Acquisition and development priorities—Generally.
Recommended project list—Committee authority to obligate
funds—Legislature’s authority.
Condemnation.
Report to governor and standing committees.
Review of proposed project application.
Riparian protection account—Use of funds.
Farmlands preservation account—Use of funds.
Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 14.
79A.15.005 Findings. The legislature finds:
(1) That Washington possesses an abundance of natural
wealth in the form of forests, mountains, wildlife, waters, and
79A.15.005
(2006 Ed.)
79A.15.010
other natural resources, all of which help to provide an unparalleled diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities and a
quality of life unmatched in this nation;
(2) That as the state’s population grows, the demand on
these resources is growing too, placing greater stress on
today’s already overcrowded public recreational lands and
facilities, and resulting in a significant loss of wildlife habitat
and lands of unique natural value;
(3) That public acquisition and development programs
have not kept pace with the state’s expanding population;
(4) That private investment and employment opportunities in general and the tourist industry in particular are dependent upon the continued availability of recreational opportunities and our state’s unique natural environment;
(5) That if current trends continue, some wildlife species
and rare ecosystems will be lost in the state forever and public recreational lands will not be adequate to meet public
demands;
(6) That there is accordingly a need for the people of the
state to reserve certain areas of the state, in rural as well as
urban settings, for the benefit of present and future generations.
It is therefore the policy of the state to acquire as soon as
possible the most significant lands for wildlife conservation
and outdoor recreation purposes before they are converted to
other uses, and to develop existing public recreational land
and facilities to meet the needs of present and future generations. [1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.98A.005.]
79A.15.010
79A.15.010 Definitions. (Effective until July 1, 2007.)
The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this
chapter.
(1) "Acquisition" means the purchase on a willing seller
basis of fee or less than fee interests in real property. These
interests include, but are not limited to, options, rights of first
refusal, conservation easements, leases, and mineral rights.
(2) "Committee" means the interagency committee for
outdoor recreation.
(3) "Critical habitat" means lands important for the protection, management, or public enjoyment of certain wildlife
species or groups of species, including, but not limited to,
wintering range for deer, elk, and other species, waterfowl
and upland bird habitat, fish habitat, and habitat for endangered, threatened, or sensitive species.
(4) "Local agencies" means a city, county, town, tribe,
special purpose district, port district, or other political subdivision of the state providing services to less than the entire
state.
(5) "Natural areas" means areas that have, to a significant
degree, retained their natural character and are important in
preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, geological, natural
historical, or similar features of scientific or educational
value.
(6) "Special needs populations" means physically
restricted people or people of limited means.
(7) "Trails" means public ways constructed for and open
to pedestrians, equestrians, or bicyclists, or any combination
thereof, other than a sidewalk constructed as a part of a city
street or county road for exclusive use of pedestrians.
[Title 79A RCW—page 25]
79A.15.010
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
(8) "Urban wildlife habitat" means lands that provide
habitat important to wildlife in proximity to a metropolitan
area.
(9) "Water access" means boat or foot access to marine
waters, lakes, rivers, or streams. [1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.98A.010.]
79A.15.010 Definitions. (Effective July 1, 2007.) The
definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this
chapter.
(1) "Acquisition" means the purchase on a willing seller
basis of fee or less than fee interests in real property. These
interests include, but are not limited to, options, rights of first
refusal, conservation easements, leases, and mineral rights.
(2) "Committee" means the interagency committee for
outdoor recreation.
(3) "Critical habitat" means lands important for the protection, management, or public enjoyment of certain wildlife
species or groups of species, including, but not limited to,
wintering range for deer, elk, and other species, waterfowl
and upland bird habitat, fish habitat, and habitat for endangered, threatened, or sensitive species.
(4) "Farmlands" means any land defined as "farm and
agricultural land" in RCW 84.34.020(2).
(5) "Local agencies" means a city, county, town, federally recognized Indian tribe, special purpose district, port district, or other political subdivision of the state providing services to less than the entire state.
(6) "Natural areas" means areas that have, to a significant
degree, retained their natural character and are important in
preserving rare or vanishing flora, fauna, geological, natural
historical, or similar features of scientific or educational
value.
(7) "Riparian habitat" means land adjacent to water bodies, as well as submerged land such as streambeds, which can
provide functional habitat for salmonids and other fish and
wildlife species. Riparian habitat includes, but is not limited
to, shorelines and near-shore marine habitat, estuaries, lakes,
wetlands, streams, and rivers.
(8) "Special needs populations" means physically
restricted people or people of limited means.
(9) "State agencies" means the state parks and recreation
commission, the department of natural resources, the department of general administration, and the department of fish
and wildlife.
(10) "Trails" means public ways constructed for and
open to pedestrians, equestrians, or bicyclists, or any combination thereof, other than a sidewalk constructed as a part of
a city street or county road for exclusive use of pedestrians.
(11) "Urban wildlife habitat" means lands that provide
habitat important to wildlife in proximity to a metropolitan
area.
(12) "Water access" means boat or foot access to marine
waters, lakes, rivers, or streams. [2005 c 303 § 1; 1990 1st
ex.s. c 14 § 2. Formerly RCW 43.98A.010.]
79A.15.010
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: "Sections 1 through 14 of this act
take effect July 1, 2007." [2005 c 303 § 17.]
79A.15.020 Habitat conservation account. The habitat conservation account is established in the state treasury.
The committee shall administer the account in accordance
79A.15.020
[Title 79A RCW—page 26]
with chapter 79A.25 RCW and this chapter, and shall hold it
separate and apart from all other money, funds, and accounts
of the committee. [2000 c 11 § 65; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 3.
Formerly RCW 43.98A.020.]
79A.15.030
79A.15.030 Allocation and use of moneys—Grants.
(Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1) Moneys appropriated for
this chapter shall be divided equally between the habitat conservation and outdoor recreation accounts and shall be used
exclusively for the purposes specified in this chapter.
(2) Moneys deposited in these accounts shall be invested
as authorized for other state funds, and any earnings on them
shall be credited to the respective account.
(3) All moneys deposited in the habitat conservation and
outdoor recreation accounts shall be allocated under RCW
79A.15.040 and 79A.15.050 as grants to state or local agencies for acquisition, development, and renovation within the
jurisdiction of those agencies, subject to legislative appropriation. The committee may use or permit the use of any funds
appropriated for this chapter as matching funds where federal, local, or other funds are made available for projects
within the purposes of this chapter.
(4) Projects receiving grants under this chapter that are
developed or otherwise accessible for public recreational
uses shall be available to the public on a nondiscriminatory
basis.
(5) The committee may make grants to an eligible
project from both the habitat conservation and outdoor recreation accounts and any one or more of the applicable categories under such accounts described in RCW 79A.15.040 and
79A.15.050. [2000 c 11 § 66; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.98A.030.]
Outdoor recreation account: Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
79A.15.030
79A.15.030 Allocation and use of moneys—Grants.
(Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) Moneys appropriated for this
chapter shall be divided as follows:
(a) Appropriations for a biennium of forty million dollars
or less must be allocated equally between the habitat conservation account and the outdoor recreation account.
(b) If appropriations for a biennium total more than forty
million dollars, the money must be allocated as follows: (i)
Twenty million dollars to the habitat conservation account
and twenty million dollars to the outdoor recreation account;
(ii) any amount over forty million dollars up to fifty million
dollars shall be allocated as follows: (A) Ten percent to the
habitat conservation account; (B) ten percent to the outdoor
recreation account; (C) forty percent to the riparian protection account; and (D) forty percent to the farmlands preservation account; and (iii) any amounts over fifty million dollars
must be allocated as follows: (A) Thirty percent to the habitat conservation account; (B) thirty percent to the outdoor
recreation account; (C) thirty percent to the riparian protection account; and (D) ten percent to the farmlands preservation account.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in chapter 303, Laws of
2005, moneys deposited in these accounts shall be invested as
authorized for other state funds, and any earnings on them
shall be credited to the respective account.
(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition of Habitat Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Lands
(3) All moneys deposited in the habitat conservation,
outdoor recreation, riparian protection, and farmlands preservation accounts shall be allocated as provided under RCW
79A.15.040, 79A.15.050, 79A.15.120, and 79A.15.130 as
grants to state or local agencies for acquisition, development,
and renovation within the jurisdiction of those agencies, subject to legislative appropriation. The committee may use or
permit the use of any funds appropriated for this chapter as
matching funds where federal, local, or other funds are made
available for projects within the purposes of this chapter.
Moneys appropriated to these accounts that are not obligated
to a specific project may be used to fund projects from lists of
alternate projects from the same account in biennia succeeding the biennium in which the moneys were originally appropriated.
(4) Projects receiving grants under this chapter that are
developed or otherwise accessible for public recreational
uses shall be available to the public.
(5) The committee may make grants to an eligible
project from the habitat conservation, outdoor recreation,
riparian protection, and farmlands preservation accounts and
any one or more of the applicable categories under such
accounts described in RCW 79A.15.040, 79A.15.050,
79A.15.120, and 79A.15.130.
(6) The committee may accept private donations to the
habitat conservation account, the outdoor recreation account,
the riparian protection account, and the farmlands preservation account for the purposes specified in this chapter.
(7) The committee may apply up to three percent of the
funds appropriated for this chapter for the administration of
the programs and purposes specified in this chapter.
(8) Habitat and recreation land and facilities acquired or
developed with moneys appropriated for this chapter may
not, without prior approval of the committee, be converted to
a use other than that for which funds were originally
approved. The committee shall adopt rules and procedures
governing the approval of such a conversion. [2005 c 303 §
2; 2000 c 11 § 66; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 4. Formerly RCW
43.98A.030.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Outdoor recreation account: Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
79A.15.040 Habitat conservation account—Distribution and use of moneys. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1)
Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the habitat conservation account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than thirty-five percent for the acquisition
and development of critical habitat;
(b) Not less than twenty percent for the acquisition and
development of natural areas;
(c) Not less than fifteen percent for the acquisition and
development of urban wildlife habitat; and
(d) The remaining amount shall be considered unallocated and shall be used by the committee to fund high priority
acquisition and development needs for critical habitat, natural areas, and urban wildlife habitat. During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001, the remaining amount reappropriated from the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 1999, may
be allocated for matching grants for riparian zone habitat protection projects that implement watershed plans under the
79A.15.040
(2006 Ed.)
79A.15.040
program established in section 329(6), chapter 235, Laws of
1997.
(2) In distributing these funds, the committee retains discretion to meet the most pressing needs for critical habitat,
natural areas, and urban wildlife habitat, and is not required
to meet the percentages described in subsection (1) of this
section in any one biennium.
(3) Only state agencies may apply for acquisition and
development funds for critical habitat and natural areas
projects under subsection (1)(a), (b), and (d) of this section.
(4) State and local agencies may apply for acquisition
and development funds for urban wildlife habitat projects
under subsection (1)(c) and (d) of this section. [1999 c 379 §
917; 1997 c 235 § 718; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 5. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.040.]
Effective date—1999 c 379: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 18, 1999]." [1999 c 379 § 949.]
Severability—1997 c 235: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 235 § 901.]
Effective date—1997 c 235: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 26, 1997]." [1997 c 235 § 902.]
79A.15.040
79A.15.040 Habitat conservation account—Distribution and use of moneys. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the habitat conservation
account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than forty percent through June 30, 2011, at
which time the amount shall become forty-five percent, for
the acquisition and development of critical habitat;
(b) Not less than thirty percent for the acquisition and
development of natural areas;
(c) Not less than twenty percent for the acquisition and
development of urban wildlife habitat; and
(d) Not less than ten percent through June 30, 2011, at
which time the amount shall become five percent, shall be
used by the committee to fund restoration and enhancement
projects on state lands. Only the department of natural
resources and the department of fish and wildlife may apply
for these funds to be used on existing habitat and natural area
lands.
(2)(a) In distributing these funds, the committee retains
discretion to meet the most pressing needs for critical habitat,
natural areas, and urban wildlife habitat, and is not required
to meet the percentages described in subsection (1) of this
section in any one biennium.
(b) If not enough project applications are submitted in a
category within the habitat conservation account to meet the
percentages described in subsection (1) of this section in any
biennium, the committee retains discretion to distribute any
remaining funds to the other categories within the account.
(3) Only state agencies may apply for acquisition and
development funds for natural areas projects under subsection (1) (b) of this section.
(4) State and local agencies may apply for acquisition
and development funds for critical habitat and urban wildlife
[Title 79A RCW—page 27]
79A.15.050
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
habitat projects under subsection (1)(a) and (c) of this section.
(5)(a) Any lands that have been acquired with grants
under this section by the department of fish and wildlife are
subject to an amount in lieu of real property taxes and an
additional amount for control of noxious weeds as determined by RCW 77.12.203.
(b) Any lands that have been acquired with grants under
this section by the department of natural resources are subject
to payments in the amounts required under the provisions of
RCW 79.70.130 and 79.71.130. [2005 c 303 § 3; 1999 c 379
§ 917; 1997 c 235 § 718; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 5. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.040.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Effective date—1999 c 379: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 18, 1999]." [1999 c 379 § 949.]
Severability—1997 c 235: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 235 § 901.]
Effective date—1997 c 235: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 26, 1997]." [1997 c 235 § 902.]
79A.15.050
79A.15.050 Outdoor recreation account—Distribution and use of moneys. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1)
Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the outdoor recreation account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than twenty-five percent to the state parks
and recreation commission for the acquisition and development of state parks, with at least seventy-five percent of this
money for acquisition costs. However, between July 27,
2003, and June 30, 2009, at least fifty percent of this money
for the acquisition and development of state parks must be
used for acquisition costs;
(b) Not less than twenty-five percent for the acquisition,
development, and renovation of local parks, with at least fifty
percent of this money for acquisition costs;
(c) Not less than fifteen percent for the acquisition and
development of trails;
(d) Not less than ten percent for the acquisition and
development of water access sites, with at least seventy-five
percent of this money for acquisition costs; and
(e) The remaining amount shall be considered unallocated and shall be distributed by the committee to state and
local agencies to fund high priority acquisition and development needs for parks, trails, and water access sites.
(2) In distributing these funds, the committee retains discretion to meet the most pressing needs for state and local
parks, trails, and water access sites, and is not required to
meet the percentages described in subsection (1) of this section in any one biennium.
(3) Only local agencies may apply for acquisition, development, or renovation funds for local parks under subsection
(1)(b) of this section.
(4) State and local agencies may apply for funds for trails
under subsection (1)(c) of this section.
[Title 79A RCW—page 28]
(5) State and local agencies may apply for funds for
water access sites under subsection (1)(d) of this section.
[2003 c 184 § 1; 1999 c 379 § 941; 1999 c 379 § 920; 1990
1st ex.s. c 14 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.98A.050.]
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
79A.15.050
79A.15.050 Outdoor recreation account—Distribution and use of moneys. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the outdoor recreation
account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than thirty percent to the state parks and recreation commission for the acquisition and development of
state parks, with at least fifty percent of the money for acquisition costs;
(b) Not less than thirty percent for the acquisition, development, and renovation of local parks, with at least fifty percent of this money for acquisition costs;
(c) Not less than twenty percent for the acquisition, renovation, or development of trails;
(d) Not less than fifteen percent for the acquisition, renovation, or development of water access sites, with at least
seventy-five percent of this money for acquisition costs; and
(e) Not less than five percent for development and renovation projects on state recreation lands. Only the department of natural resources and the department of fish and
wildlife may apply for these funds to be used on their existing
recreation lands.
(2)(a) In distributing these funds, the committee retains
discretion to meet the most pressing needs for state and local
parks, trails, and water access sites, and is not required to
meet the percentages described in subsection (1) of this section in any one biennium.
(b) If not enough project applications are submitted in a
category within the outdoor recreation account to meet the
percentages described in subsection (1) of this section in any
biennium, the committee retains discretion to distribute any
remaining funds to the other categories within the account.
(3) Only local agencies may apply for acquisition, development, or renovation funds for local parks under subsection
(1)(b) of this section.
(4) Only state and local agencies may apply for funds for
trails under subsection (1)(c) of this section.
(5) Only state and local agencies may apply for funds for
water access sites under subsection (1)(d) of this section.
[2005 c 303 § 4; 2003 c 184 § 1; 1999 c 379 § 941; 1999 c 379
§ 920; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.98A.050.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
79A.15.060
79A.15.060 Habitat conservation account—Acquisition policies and priorities. (Effective until July 1, 2007.)
(1) The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition
policies and priorities for distributions from the habitat conservation account.
(2) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may not be
used by the committee to fund additional staff positions or
other overhead expenses, or by a state, regional, or local
agency to fund operation and maintenance of areas acquired
under this chapter, except that the committee may use mon(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition of Habitat Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Lands
eys appropriated for this chapter for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001, for the administrative costs of implementing the pilot watershed plan implementation program established in section 329(6), chapter 235, Laws of 1997, and
developing an inventory of publicly owned lands established
in section 329(7), chapter 235, Laws of 1997.
(3) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may be used for
costs incidental to acquisition, including, but not limited to,
surveying expenses, fencing, and signing.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section,
the committee may not approve a local project where the
local agency share is less than the amount to be awarded from
the habitat conservation account.
(5) During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001, the
committee may approve a riparian zone habitat protection
project established in section 329(6), chapter 235, Laws of
1997, where the local agency share is less than the amount to
be awarded from the habitat conservation account.
(6) In determining acquisition priorities with respect to
the habitat conservation account, the committee shall consider, at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) For critical habitat and natural areas proposals:
(i) Community support;
(ii) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(iii) Uniqueness of the site;
(iv) Diversity of species using the site;
(v) Quality of the habitat;
(vi) Long-term viability of the site;
(vii) Presence of endangered, threatened, or sensitive
species;
(viii) Enhancement of existing public property;
(ix) Consistency with a local land use plan, or a regional
or statewide recreational or resource plan; and
(x) Educational and scientific value of the site.
(b) For urban wildlife habitat proposals, in addition to
the criteria of (a) of this subsection:
(i) Population of, and distance from, the nearest urban
area;
(ii) Proximity to other wildlife habitat;
(iii) Potential for public use; and
(iv) Potential for use by special needs populations.
(7) Before October 1st of each even-numbered year, the
committee shall recommend to the governor a prioritized list
of state ag en cy p rojects to be f und ed un der RCW
79A.15.040(1) (a), (b), and (c). The governor may remove
projects from the list recommended by the committee and
shall submit this amended list in the capital budget request to
the legislature. The list shall include, but not be limited to, a
description of each project; and shall describe for each
project any anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed prior to the project.
(8) Before October 1st of each year, the committee shall
recommend to the governor a prioritized list of all local
projects to be funded under RCW 79A.15.040(1)(c). The
governor may remove projects from the list recommended by
the committee and shall submit this amended list in the capital budget request to the legislature. The list shall include, but
not be limited to, a description of each project and any particular match requirement, and describe for each project any
anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed
prior to the project. [2000 c 11 § 67; 1999 c 379 § 918; 1997
(2006 Ed.)
79A.15.060
c 235 § 719; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 7. Formerly RCW
43.98A.060.]
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
Severability—Effective date—1997 c 235: See notes following RCW
79A.15.040.
79A.15.060 Habitat conservation account—Acquisition policies and priorities. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1)
The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition policies and priorities for distributions from the habitat conservation account.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 79A.15.030(7), moneys
appropriated for this chapter may not be used by the committee to fund staff positions or other overhead expenses, or by a
state, regional, or local agency to fund operation or maintenance of areas acquired under this chapter.
(3) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may be used by
grant recipients for costs incidental to acquisition, including,
but not limited to, surveying expenses, fencing, and signing.
(4) Moneys appropriated for this section may be used to
fund mitigation banking projects involving the restoration,
creation, enhancement, or preservation of critical habitat and
urban wildlife habitat, provided that the parties seeking to use
the mitigation bank meet the matching requirements of subsection (5) of this section. The moneys from this section may
not be used to supplant an obligation of a state or local agency
to provide mitigation. For the purposes of this section, a mitigation bank means a site or sites where critical habitat or
urban wildlife habitat is restored, created, enhanced, or in
exceptional circumstances, preserved expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in advance of
authorized project impacts to similar resources.
(5) The committee may not approve a local project
where the local agency share is less than the amount to be
awarded from the habitat conservation account.
(6) In determining acquisition priorities with respect to
the habitat conservation account, the committee shall consider, at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) For critical habitat and natural areas proposals:
(i) Community support for the project;
(ii) The project proposal’s ongoing stewardship program
that includes control of noxious weeds, detrimental invasive
species, and that identifies the source of the funds from which
the stewardship program will be funded;
(iii) Recommendations as part of a watershed plan or
habitat conservation plan, or a coordinated regionwide prioritization effort, and for projects primarily intended to benefit
salmon, limiting factors, or critical pathways analysis;
(iv) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(v) Uniqueness of the site;
(vi) Diversity of species using the site;
(vii) Quality of the habitat;
(viii) Long-term viability of the site;
(ix) Presence of endangered, threatened, or sensitive species;
(x) Enhancement of existing public property;
(xi) Consistency with a local land use plan, or a regional
or statewide recreational or resource plan, including projects
that assist in the implementation of local shoreline master
plans updated according to RCW 90.58.080 or local comprehensive plans updated according to RCW 36.70A.130;
79A.15.060
[Title 79A RCW—page 29]
79A.15.065
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
(xii) Educational and scientific value of the site;
(xiii) Integration with recovery efforts for endangered,
threatened, or sensitive species;
(xiv) For critical habitat proposals by local agencies, the
statewide significance of the site.
(b) For urban wildlife habitat proposals, in addition to
the criteria of (a) of this subsection:
(i) Population of, and distance from, the nearest urban
area;
(ii) Proximity to other wildlife habitat;
(iii) Potential for public use; and
(iv) Potential for use by special needs populations.
(7) Before November 1st of each even-numbered year,
the committee shall recommend to the governor a prioritized
list of all state agency and local projects to be funded under
RCW 79A.15.040(1) (a), (b), and (c). The governor may
remove projects from the list recommended by the committee
and shall submit this amended list in the capital budget
request to the legislature. The list shall include, but not be
limited to, a description of each project and any particular
match requirement, and describe for each project any anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed prior to
the project. [2005 c 303 § 8; 2000 c 11 § 67; 1999 c 379 §
918; 1997 c 235 § 719; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 7. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.060.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
Severability—Effective date—1997 c 235: See notes following RCW
79A.15.040.
79A.15.065 Grants through habitat conservation
account—Statement of environmental benefits—Development of outcome-focused performance measures. In
providing grants through the habitat conservation account,
the committee shall require grant applicants to incorporate
the environmental benefits of the project into their grant
applications, and the committee shall utilize the statement of
environmental benefits in the grant application and review
process. The committee shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used both for
management and performance assessment of the grant program. To the extent possible, the committee should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural
resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The
committee shall consult with affected interest groups in
implementing this section. [2001 c 227 § 8.]
79A.15.065
Findings—Intent—2001 c 227: See note following RCW 43.41.270.
79A.15.070 Acquisition and development priorities—Generally. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1) In determining which state parks proposals and local parks proposals
to fund, the committee shall use existing policies and priorities.
(2) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may not be
used by the committee to fund additional staff or other overhead expenses, or by a state, regional, or local agency to fund
operation and maintenance of areas acquired under this chapter, except that the committee may use moneys appropriated
for this chapter for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001,
for the administrative costs of implementing the pilot water79A.15.070
[Title 79A RCW—page 30]
shed plan implementation program established in section
329(6), chapter 235, Laws of 1997, and developing an inventory of publicly owned lands established in section 329(7),
chapter 235, Laws of 1997.
(3) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may be used for
costs incidental to acquisition, including, but not limited to,
surveying expenses, fencing, and signing.
(4) The committee may not approve a project of a local
agency where the share contributed by the local agency is less
than the amount to be awarded from the outdoor recreation
account.
(5) The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition policies and priorities for the acquisition and development of trails and water access sites to be financed from moneys in the outdoor recreation account.
(6) In determining the acquisition and development priorities, the committee shall consider, at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) For trails proposals:
(i) Community support;
(ii) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(iii) Linkage between communities;
(iv) Linkage between trails;
(v) Existing or potential usage;
(vi) Consistency with an existing local land use plan or a
regional or statewide recreational or resource plan;
(vii) Availability of water access or views;
(viii) Enhancement of wildlife habitat; and
(ix) Scenic values of the site.
(b) For water access proposals:
(i) Community support;
(ii) Distance from similar water access opportunities;
(iii) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(iv) Diversity of possible recreational uses; and
(v) Public demand in the area.
(7) Before October 1st of each even-numbered year, the
committee shall recommend to the governor a prioritized list
of state ag en cy p rojects to be f und ed u nder RCW
79A.15.050(1) (a), (c), and (d). The governor may remove
projects from the list recommended by the committee and
shall submit this amended list in the capital budget request to
the legislature. The list shall include, but not be limited to, a
description of each project; and shall describe for each
project any anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed prior to the project.
(8) Before October 1st of each year, the committee shall
recommend to the governor a prioritized list of all local
projects to be funded under RCW 79A.15.050(1) (b), (c), and
(d). The governor may remove projects from the list recommended by the committee and shall submit this amended list
in the capital budget request to the legislature. The list shall
include, but not be limited to, a description of each project
and any particular match requirement, and describe for each
project any anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed prior to the project. [2000 c 11 § 68; 1999 c 379
§ 919; 1997 c 235 § 720; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 8. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.070.]
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
Severability—Effective date—1997 c 235: See notes following RCW
79A.15.040.
(2006 Ed.)
Acquisition of Habitat Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Lands
79A.15.070
79A.15.070 Acquisition and development priorities—Generally. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) In determining which state parks proposals and local parks proposals to
fund, the committee shall use existing policies and priorities.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 79A.15.030(7), moneys
appropriated for this chapter may not be used by the committee to fund staff or other overhead expenses, or by a state,
regional, or local agency to fund operation or maintenance of
areas acquired under this chapter.
(3) Moneys appropriated for this chapter may be used by
grant recipients for costs incidental to acquisition and development, including, but not limited to, surveying expenses,
fencing, and signing.
(4) The committee may not approve a project of a local
agency where the share contributed by the local agency is less
than the amount to be awarded from the outdoor recreation
account.
(5) The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition policies and priorities for the acquisition and development of trails and water access sites to be financed from moneys in the outdoor recreation account.
(6) In determining the acquisition and development priorities, the committee shall consider, at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) For trails proposals:
(i) Community support for the project;
(ii) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(iii) Linkage between communities;
(iv) Linkage between trails;
(v) Existing or potential usage;
(vi) Consistency with a local land use plan, or a regional
or statewide recreational or resource plan, including projects
that assist in the implementation of local shoreline master
plans updated according to RCW 90.58.080 or local comprehensive plans updated according to RCW 36.70A.130;
(vii) Availability of water access or views;
(viii) Enhancement of wildlife habitat; and
(ix) Scenic values of the site.
(b) For water access proposals:
(i) Community support for the project;
(ii) Distance from similar water access opportunities;
(iii) Immediacy of threat to the site;
(iv) Diversity of possible recreational uses;
(v) Public demand in the area; and
(vi) Consistency with a local land use plan, or a regional
or statewide recreational or resource plan, including projects
that assist in the implementation of local shoreline master
plans updated according to RCW 90.58.080 or local comprehensive plans updated according to RCW 36.70A.130.
(7) Before November 1st of each even-numbered year,
the committee shall recommend to the governor a prioritized
list of all state agency and local projects to be funded under
RCW 79A.15.050(1) (a), (b), (c), and (d). The governor may
remove projects from the list recommended by the committee
and shall submit this amended list in the capital budget
request to the legislature. The list shall include, but not be
limited to, a description of each project and any particular
match requirement, and describe for each project any anticipated restrictions upon recreational activities allowed prior to
the project. [2005 c 303 § 9; 2000 c 11 § 68; 1999 c 379 §
(2006 Ed.)
79A.15.110
919; 1997 c 235 § 720; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 8. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.070.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Effective date—1999 c 379: See note following RCW 79A.15.040.
Severability—Effective date—1997 c 235: See notes following RCW
79A.15.040.
79A.15.080 Recommended project list—Committee
authority to obligate funds—Legislature’s authority.
(Effective until July 1, 2007.) The committee shall not sign
contracts or otherwise financially obligate funds from the
habitat conservation account or the outdoor recreation
account as provided in this chapter before the legislature has
appropriated funds for a specific list of projects. The legislature may remove projects from the list recommended by the
governor. [1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 9. Formerly RCW
43.98A.080.]
79A.15.080
79A.15.080 Recommended project list—Committee
authority to obligate funds—Legislature’s authority.
(Effective July 1, 2007.) The committee shall not sign contracts or otherwise financially obligate funds from the habitat
conservation account, the outdoor recreation account, the
riparian protection account, or the farmlands preservation
account as provided in this chapter before the legislature has
appropriated funds for a specific list of projects. The legislature may remove projects from the list recommended by the
governor. [2005 c 303 § 10; 1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 9. Formerly
RCW 43.98A.080.]
79A.15.080
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
79A.15.090 Condemnation. Moneys made available
under this chapter for land acquisition shall not be used to
acquire land through condemnation. [1990 1st ex.s. c 14 §
10. Formerly RCW 43.98A.090.]
79A.15.090
79A.15.100 Report to governor and standing committees. On or before November 1st of each odd-numbered
year, the committee shall submit to the governor and the
standing committees of the legislature dealing with fiscal
affairs, fish and wildlife, and natural resources a report detailing the acquisitions and development projects funded under
this chapter during the immediately preceding biennium.
[1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 11. Formerly RCW 43.98A.100.]
79A.15.100
79A.15.110 Review of proposed project application.
(Effective July 1, 2007.) A state or local agency shall review
the proposed project application with the county or city with
jurisdiction over the project area prior to applying for funds
for the acquisition of property under this chapter. The appropriate county or city legislative authority may, at its discretion, submit a letter to the committee identifying the authority’s position with regard to the acquisition project. The
committee shall make the letters received under this section
available to the governor and the legislature when the prioritized project list is submitted under RCW 79A.15.120,
79A.15.060, and 79A.15.070. [2005 c 303 § 5.]
79A.15.110
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
[Title 79A RCW—page 31]
79A.15.120
79A.15.120
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.15.120 Riparian protection account—Use of
funds. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) The riparian protection
account is established in the state treasury. The committee
must administer the account in accordance with chapter
79A.25 RCW and this chapter, and hold it separate and apart
from all other money, funds, and accounts of the committee.
(2) Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the riparian
protection account must be distributed for the acquisition or
enhancement or restoration of riparian habitat. All enhancement or restoration projects, except those qualifying under
subsection (10)(a) of this section, must include the acquisition of a real property interest in order to be eligible.
(3) State and local agencies and lead entities under chapter 77.85 RCW may apply for acquisition and enhancement
or restoration funds for riparian habitat projects under subsection (1) of this section. Other state agencies not defined in
RCW 79A.15.010, such as the department of transportation
and the department of corrections, may enter into interagency
agreements with state agencies to apply in partnership for
funds under this section.
(4) The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition policies and priorities for distributions from the riparian
protection account.
(5) Except as provided in RCW 79A.15.030(7), moneys
appropriated for this section may not be used by the committee to fund staff positions or other overhead expenses, or by a
state, regional, or local agency to fund operation or maintenance of areas acquired under this chapter.
(6) Moneys appropriated for this section may be used by
grant recipients for costs incidental to restoration and acquisition, including, but not limited to, surveying expenses,
fencing, and signing.
(7) Moneys appropriated for this section may be used to
fund mitigation banking projects involving the restoration,
creation, enhancement, or preservation of riparian habitat,
provided that the parties seeking to use the mitigation bank
meet the matching requirements of subsection (8) of this section. The moneys from this section may not be used to supplant an obligation of a state or local agency to provide mitigation. For the purposes of this section, a mitigation bank
means a site or sites where riparian habitat is restored, created, enhanced, or in exceptional circumstances, preserved
expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in advance of authorized project impacts to similar
resources.
(8) The committee may not approve a local project
where the local agency share is less than the amount to be
awarded from the riparian protection account. In-kind contributions, including contributions of a real property interest in
land may be used to satisfy the local agency’s share.
(9) State agencies receiving grants for acquisition of land
under this section must pay an amount in lieu of real property
taxes equal to the amount of tax that would be due if the land
were taxable as open space land under chapter 84.34 RCW
except taxes levied for any state purpose, plus an additional
amount for control of noxious weeds equal to that which
would be paid if such lands were privately owned. The
county assessor and county legislative authority shall assist in
determining the appropriate calculation of the amount of tax
that would be due.
[Title 79A RCW—page 32]
(10) In determining acquisition priorities with respect to
the riparian protection account, the committee must consider,
at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) Whether the project continues the conservation
reserve enhancement program. Applications that extend the
duration of leases of riparian areas that are currently enrolled
in the conservation reserve enhancement program shall be
eligible. Such applications are eligible for a conservation
lease extension of at least twenty-five years of duration;
(b) Whether the projects are identified or recommended
in a watershed planning process under chapter 247, Laws of
1998, salmon recovery planning under chapter 77.85 RCW,
or other local plans, such as habitat conservation plans, and
these must be highly considered in the process;
(c) Whether there is community support for the project;
(d) Whether the proposal includes an ongoing stewardship program that includes control of noxious weeds, detrimental invasive species, and that identifies the source of the
funds from which the stewardship program will be funded;
(e) Whether there is an immediate threat to the site;
(f) Whether the quality of the habitat is improved or, for
projects including restoration or enhancement, the potential
for restoring quality habitat including linkage of the site to
other high quality habitat;
(g) Whether the project is consistent with a local land use
plan, or a regional or statewide recreational or resource plan.
The projects that assist in the implementation of local shoreline master plans updated according to RCW 90.58.080 or
local comprehensive plans updated according to RCW
36.70A.130 must be highly considered in the process;
(h) Whether the site has educational or scientific value;
and
(i) Whether the site has passive recreational values for
walking trails, wildlife viewing, or the observation of natural
settings.
(11) Before November 1st of each even-numbered year,
the committee will recommend to the governor a prioritized
list of projects to be funded under this section. The governor
may remove projects from the list recommended by the committee and will submit this amended list in the capital budget
request to the legislature. The list must include, but not be
limited to, a description of each project and any particular
match requirement. [2005 c 303 § 6.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
79A.15.130
79A.15.130 Farmlands preservation account—Use of
funds. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) The farmlands preservation account is established in the state treasury. The committee will administer the account in accordance with chapter
79A.25 RCW and this chapter, and hold it separate and apart
from all other money, funds, and accounts of the committee.
Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the farmlands preservation account must be distributed for the acquisition and
preservation of farmlands in order to maintain the opportunity for agricultural activity upon these lands.
(2)(a) Moneys appropriated for this chapter to the farmlands preservation account may be distributed for (i) the fee
simple or less than fee simple acquisition of farmlands; (ii)
the enhancement or restoration of ecological functions on
those properties; or (iii) both. In order for a farmland preser(2006 Ed.)
Wildlife and Recreation Lands—Funding of Maintenance and Operations
vation grant to provide for an environmental enhancement or
restoration project, the project must include the acquisition of
a real property interest.
(b) If a city or county acquires a property through this
program in fee simple, the city or county shall endeavor to
secure preservation of the property through placing a conservation easement, or other form of deed restriction, on the
property which dedicates the land to agricultural use and
retains one or more property rights in perpetuity. Once an
easement or other form of deed restriction is placed on the
property, the city or county shall seek to sell the property, at
fair market value, to a person or persons who will maintain
the property in agricultural production. Any moneys from
the sale of the property shall either be used to purchase interests in additional properties which meet the criteria in subsection (9) of this section, or to repay the grant from the state
which was originally used to purchase the property.
(3) Cities and counties may apply for acquisition and
enhancement or restoration funds for farmland preservation
projects within their jurisdictions under subsection (1) of this
section.
(4) The committee may adopt rules establishing acquisition and enhancement or restoration policies and priorities for
distributions from the farmlands preservation account.
(5) The acquisition of a property right in a project under
this section by a county or city does not provide a right of
access to the property by the public unless explicitly provided
for in a conservation easement or other form of deed restriction. (6) Except as provided in RCW 79A.15.030(7), moneys
appropriated for this section may not be used by the committee to fund staff positions or other overhead expenses, or by a
city or county to fund operation or maintenance of areas
acquired under this chapter.
(7) Moneys appropriated for this section may be used by
grant recipients for costs incidental to restoration and acquisition, including, but not limited to, surveying expenses,
fencing, and signing.
(8) The committee may not approve a local project
where the local agency’s share is less than the amount to be
awarded from the farmlands preservation account. In-kind
contributions, including contributions of a real property interest in land, may be used to satisfy the local agency’s share.
(9) In determining the acquisition priorities, the committee must consider, at a minimum, the following criteria:
(a) Community support for the project;
(b) A recommendation as part of a limiting factors or
critical pathways analysis, a watershed plan or habitat conservation plan, or a coordinated regionwide prioritization effort;
(c) The likelihood of the conversion of the site to nonagricultural or more highly developed usage;
(d) Consistency with a local land use plan, or a regional
or statewide recreational or resource plan. The projects that
assist in the implementation of local shoreline master plans
updated according to RCW 90.58.080 or local comprehensive plans updated according to RCW 36.70A.130 must be
highly considered in the process;
(e) Benefits to salmonids;
(f) Benefits to other fish and wildlife habitat;
(g) Integration with recovery efforts for endangered,
threatened, or sensitive species;
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 79A.20
(h) The viability of the site for continued agricultural
production, including, but not limited to:
(i) Soil types;
(ii) On-site production and support facilities such as
barns, irrigation systems, crop processing and storage facilities, wells, housing, livestock sheds, and other farming infrastructure;
(iii) Suitability for producing different types or varieties
of crops;
(iv) Farm-to-market access;
(v) Water availability; and
(i) Other community values provided by the property
when used as agricultural land, including, but not limited to:
(i) Viewshed;
(ii) Aquifer recharge;
(iii) Occasional or periodic collector for storm water runoff;
(iv) Agricultural sector job creation;
(v) Migratory bird habitat and forage area; and
(vi) Educational and curriculum potential.
(10) In allotting funds for environmental enhancement or
restoration projects, the committee will require the projects to
meet the following criteria:
(a) Enhancement or restoration projects must further the
ecological functions of the farmlands;
(b) The projects, such as fencing, bridging watercourses,
replanting native vegetation, replacing culverts, clearing of
waterways, etc., must be less than fifty percent of the acquisition cost of the project including any in-kind contribution
by any party;
(c) The projects should be based on accepted methods of
achieving beneficial enhancement or restoration results; and
(d) The projects should enhance the viability of the preserved farmland to provide agricultural production while
conforming to any legal requirements for habitat protection.
(11) Before November 1st of each even-numbered year,
the committee will recommend to the governor a prioritized
list of all projects to be funded under this section. The governor may remove projects from the list recommended by the
committee and must submit this amended list in the capital
budget request to the legislature. The list must include, but
not be limited to, a description of each project and any particular match requirement. [2005 c 303 § 7.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
79A.15.900
79A.15.900 Severability—1990 1st ex.s. c 14. If any
provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1990 1st ex.s. c 14 § 12. Formerly RCW
43.98A.900.]
Chapter 79A.20 RCW
WILDLIFE AND RECREATION LANDS—FUNDING
OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Chapter 79A.20
Sections
79A.20.005 Findings.
79A.20.010 Definitions.
79A.20.030 Allocation and distribution of moneys.
[Title 79A RCW—page 33]
79A.20.005
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.20.900 Short title.
79A.20.901 Severability—1992 c 153.
79A.20.902 Captions not law—1992 c 153.
79A.20.005
79A.20.005 Findings. (1) The legislature finds that:
(a) The state of Washington owns and maintains a wide
variety of fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks, and
other recreation lands;
(b) The state of Washington is responsible for managing
these lands for the benefit of the citizens, wildlife, and other
natural resources of the state;
(c) The state of Washington has recently significantly
enhanced its efforts to acquire critical habitat, natural areas,
parks, and other recreation lands and to transfer suitable lands
from school trust to conservation and park purposes;
(d) Recent unprecedented population growth has greatly
increased the threat to the state’s fish and wildlife habitat and
the demands placed on the lands under (a) of this subsection;
(e) The importance of this habitat and these lands to the
state is continuing to increase as more people depend on them
to satisfy their needs and more plant and animal species
require state-owned lands for their survival;
(f) By itself, public ownership cannot guarantee that
resources will be protected, or that appropriate recreational
opportunities will be provided;
(g) Only through ongoing, responsible management can
fish and wildlife habitat, sensitive ecosystems, and recreational values be protected;
(h) The operation and maintenance funding for stateowned fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks, and
other recreation lands has not kept pace with increasing
demands placed upon such lands;
(i) Many needed operation and maintenance projects
have been deferred due to insufficient funding, resulting in
increased costs when the projects are finally undertaken; and
(j) An increase in operation and maintenance funding is
necessary to bring state-owned lands and facilities up to
acceptable standards and to protect the state’s investment in
its fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks, and other
recreation lands.
(2) Therefore, it is the policy of the state to provide adequate and continuing funding for operation and maintenance
needs of state-owned fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas,
parks, and other recreation lands to protect the state’s investment in such lands, and it is the purpose of this chapter to create a mechanism for doing so. [1992 c 153 § 2. Formerly
RCW 43.98B.005.]
79A.20.010
79A.20.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Basic stewardship" means the costs associated with
holding and protecting property to maintain the functions for
which the property was acquired. It includes, but is not limited to, costs associated with statutorily required in-lieu property taxes, weed and pest control, fire protection, fence maintenance, cultural and archaeological site protection, basic
research related to maintenance of natural area preserves and
natural resource conservation areas, basic resource and environmental protection, and meeting applicable legal requirements.
[Title 79A RCW—page 34]
(2) "Improved or developed resources" means the costs
associated with the built or manipulated environment. It
includes, but is not limited to, costs associated with maintaining buildings, grounds, roads, trails, water access sites, and
utility systems. Also included are improvements to habitat
such as bank stabilization, range rehabilitation, and food and
water sources.
(3) "Human use management" means the costs associated with visitor management, education, and protection.
(4) "Administration" means state agency costs necessary
to support subsections (1) through (3) of this section. It
includes, but is not limited to, budget and accounting, personnel support services, volunteer programs, and training. [1992
c 153 § 3. Formerly RCW 43.98B.010.]
79A.20.030 Allocation and distribution of moneys.
(1) Moneys appropriated for this chapter from the *state
wildlife and recreation lands management account shall be
expended in the following manner:
(a) Not less than thirty percent for basic stewardship;
(b) Not less than twenty percent for improved or developed resources;
(c) Not less than fifteen percent for human use management; and
(d) Not more than fifteen percent for administration.
(e) The remaining twenty to thirty-five percent shall be
considered unallocated.
(2) In the event that moneys appropriated for this chapter
to the *state wildlife and recreation lands management
account under the initial allocation prove insufficient to meet
basic stewardship needs, the unallocated amount shall be
used to fund basic stewardship needs.
(3) Each eligible agency is not required to meet this specific percentage distribution. However, funding across agencies should meet these percentages during each biennium.
(4) It is intended that moneys disbursed from this
account not replace existing operation and maintenance funding levels from other state sources.
(5) Agencies eligible to receive funds from this account
are the departments of fish and wildlife and natural resources,
and the state parks and recreation commission.
(6) Moneys appropriated for this chapter from the *state
wildlife and recreation lands management account shall be
distributed in the following manner:
(a) Not less than twenty-five percent to the state parks
and recreation commission.
(b) Not less than twenty-five percent to the department
of natural resources.
(c) Not less than twenty-five percent to the department of
fish and wildlife.
(d) The remaining funds shall be allocated to eligible
agencies based upon an evaluation of remaining unfunded
needs.
(7) The office of financial management shall review eligible state agency requests and make recommendations on
the allocation of funds provided under this chapter as part of
the governor’s operating budget request to the legislature.
[1994 c 264 § 30; 1992 c 153 § 5. Formerly RCW
43.98B.030.]
79A.20.030
*Reviser’s note: This account was created in RCW 79A.20.020 which
was repealed by 2000 c 150 § 2, effective July 1, 2001.
(2006 Ed.)
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation
79A.20.900
79A.20.900 Short title. This chapter shall be known as
the state wildlife and recreation lands management act.
[1992 c 153 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.98B.900.]
79A.20.901
79A.20.901 Severability—1992 c 153. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1992 c 153 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.98B.910.]
79A.20.902
79A.20.902 Captions not law—1992 c 153. Section
headings as used in this chapter do not constitute any part of
the law. [1992 c 153 § 8. Formerly RCW 43.98B.920.]
Chapter 79A.25 RCW
INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE FOR
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Chapter 79A.25
Sections
79A.25.005
79A.25.010
79A.25.020
79A.25.030
79A.25.040
79A.25.050
79A.25.060
79A.25.070
79A.25.080
79A.25.090
79A.25.100
79A.25.110
79A.25.120
79A.25.130
79A.25.140
79A.25.150
79A.25.160
79A.25.170
79A.25.180
79A.25.190
79A.25.200
79A.25.210
79A.25.220
79A.25.230
79A.25.240
79A.25.250
79A.25.300
79A.25.310
79A.25.320
79A.25.330
79A.25.340
79A.25.350
79A.25.360
79A.25.370
Policy—Mission of committee.
Definition of terms.
Director’s powers and duties.
Determination of proportion of motor vehicle fuel tax moneys
derived from tax on marine fuel—Studies—Costs.
Marine fuel tax refund account—Moneys derived from tax on
marine fuel—Refunding and placement in account—Exception.
Marine fuel tax refund account—Claims for refunds paid
from.
Outdoor recreation account—Deposits.
Recreation resource account, motor vehicle fund—Transfers
of moneys from marine fuel tax account.
Recreation resource account—Distribution of moneys transferred.
Interest on funds granted by committee to be returned to
source account.
Conversion of marine recreation land to other uses—
Approval—Substitution.
Interagency committee for outdoor recreation—Created—
Membership—Terms—Compensation and travel expenses.
Plans for public outdoor recreation land acquisition or
improvement—Contents—Submission—Recommendations.
Participation in federal programs—Authority.
Commitments or agreements forbidden unless sufficient funds
available—Agreements with federal agencies on behalf of
state or local agencies—Conditions.
Assistance furnished by state departments—Appointment of
director and personnel—Civil service exemption.
Washington state recreation trails system, duties of interagency committee for outdoor recreation.
Public parks and recreation sites guide.
Public parks and recreation sites guide—Review and update.
Appropriations by subsequent legislatures.
Recreation resource account.
Firearms range account—Grant program—Rules.
Firearms range advisory committee.
Firearms range account—Gifts and grants.
Grants and loan administration.
Acquisition, development, etc., of urban area parks by interagency committee for outdoor recreation.
Findings.
Washington invasive species council—Created.
Washington invasive species council—Membership.
Washington invasive species council—Goals.
Washington invasive species council—Statewide strategic
plan.
Washington invasive species council—Annual report.
Washington invasive species council—Advisory and technical
committees authorized.
Washington invasive species council—Invasive species council account.
YOUTH OR COMMUNITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES
79A.25.800 Intent.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.25.010
79A.25.820 Strategic plan—Funding eligibility—Regional coordination
and cooperative efforts—Data collection and exchange.
79A.25.830 Gifts, grants, or endowments.
CONSTRUCTION
79A.25.901 Severability—1965 c 5.
79A.25.902 Short title.
79A.25.005
79A.25.005 Policy—Mission of committee. (1) As
Washington begins its second century of statehood, the legislature recognizes that renewed efforts are needed to preserve,
conserve, and enhance the state’s recreational resources.
Rapid population growth and increased urbanization have
caused a decline in suitable land for recreation and resulted in
overcrowding and deterioration of existing facilities. Lack of
adequate recreational resources directly affects the health and
well-being of all citizens of the state, reduces the state’s economic viability, and prevents Washington from maintaining
and achieving the quality of life that it deserves.
It is therefore the policy of the state and its agencies to
preserve, conserve, and enhance recreational resources and
open space. In carrying out this policy, the mission of the
interagency committee for outdoor recreation and its staff is
to (a) create and work actively for the implementation of a
unified statewide strategy for meeting the recreational needs
of Washington’s citizens, (b) represent and promote the interests of the state on recreational issues in concert with other
state and local agencies and the governor, (c) encourage and
provide interagency and regional coordination, and interaction between public and private organizations, (d) administer
recreational grant-in-aid programs and provide technical
assistance, and (e) serve as a repository for information, studies, research, and other data relating to recreation.
(2) Washington is uniquely endowed with fresh and salt
waters rich in scenic and recreational value. This outdoor heritage enriches the lives of citizens, attracts new residents and
businesses to the state, and is a major support of its expanding
tourist industry. Rising population, increased income and leisure time, and the rapid growth of boating and other water
sports have greatly increased the demand for water related
recreation, while waterfront land is rapidly rising in value and
disappearing from public use. There is consequently an
urgent need for the acquisition or improvement of waterfront
land on fresh and salt water suitable for marine recreational
use by Washington residents and visitors. To meet this need,
it is necessary and proper that the portion of motor vehicle
fuel taxes paid by boat owners and operators on fuel consumed in their watercraft and not reclaimed as presently provided by law should be expended for the acquisition or
improvement of marine recreation land on the Pacific Ocean,
Puget Sound, bays, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and other fresh
and salt waters of the state. [1989 c 237 § 1; 1965 c 5 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.010.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on June 30,
1989." [1989 c 237 § 9.]
79A.25.010
79A.25.010 Definition of terms. Definitions: As used
in this chapter:
(1) "Marine recreation land" means any land with or
without improvements which (a) provides access to, or in
[Title 79A RCW—page 35]
79A.25.020
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
whole or in part borders on, fresh or salt water suitable for
recreational use by watercraft, or (b) may be used to create,
add to, or make more usable, bodies of water, waterways, or
land, for recreational use by watercraft.
(2) "Public body" means any county, city, town, port district, park and recreation district, metropolitan park district,
or other municipal corporation which is authorized to acquire
or improve public outdoor recreation land, and shall also
mean Indian tribes now or hereafter recognized as such by the
federal government for participation in the land and water
conservation program.
(3) "Tax on marine fuel" means motor vehicle fuel tax
which is (a) tax on fuel used in, or sold or distributed for use
in, any watercraft, (b) refundable pursuant to chapter 82.36
RCW, and (c) paid to the director of licensing with respect to
taxable sales, distributions, or uses occurring on or after
December 3, 1964.
(4) "Watercraft" means any boat, vessel, or other craft
used for navigation on or through water.
(5) "Committee" means the interagency committee for
outdoor recreation.
(6) "Director" means the director of the interagency
committee for outdoor recreation.
(7) "Council" means the Washington invasive species
council created in RCW 79A.25.310. [2006 c 152 § 9; 1989
c 237 § 2; 1979 c 158 § 108; 1972 ex.s. c 56 § 1; 1965 c 5 § 2
(Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964).
Formerly RCW 43.99.020.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
Construction—1972 ex.s. c 56: "The provisions of this 1972 amendatory act are intended to be remedial and procedural and shall be construed to
apply retroactively." [1972 ex.s. c 56 § 2.]
79A.25.020
79A.25.020 Director’s powers and duties. The director shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To supervise the administrative operations of the
committee and its staff;
(2) To administer recreation grant-in-aid programs and
provide technical assistance to state and local agencies;
(3) To prepare and update a strategic plan for the acquisition, renovation, and development of recreational resources
and the preservation and conservation of open space. The
plan shall be prepared in coordination with the office of the
governor and the office of financial management, with participation of federal, state, and local agencies having recreational responsibilities, user groups, private sector interests,
and the general public. The plan shall be submitted to the
committee for review, and the committee shall submit its recommendations on the plan to the governor. The plan shall
include, but is not limited to: (a) an inventory of current
resources; (b) a forecast of recreational resource demand; (c)
identification and analysis of actual and potential funding
sources; (d) a process for broad scale information gathering;
(e) an assessment of the capabilities and constraints, both
internal and external to state government, that affect the ability of the state to achieve the goals of the plan; (f) an analysis
of strategic options and decisions available to the state; (g) an
implementation strategy that is coordinated with executive
policy and budget priorities; and (h) elements necessary to
qualify for participation in or the receipt of aid from any federal program for outdoor recreation;
[Title 79A RCW—page 36]
(4) To represent and promote the interests of the state on
recreational issues and further the mission of the committee;
(5) Upon approval of the committee, to enter into contracts and agreements with private nonprofit corporations to
further state goals of preserving, conserving, and enhancing
recreational resources and open space for the public benefit
and use;
(6) To appoint such technical and other committees as
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(7) To create and maintain a repository for data, studies,
research, and other information relating to recreation in the
state, and to encourage the interchange of such information;
(8) To encourage and provide opportunities for interagency and regional coordination and cooperative efforts
between public agencies and between public and private entities involved in the development and preservation of recreational resources; and
(9) To prepare the state trails plan, as required by RCW
79A.35.040. [2000 c 11 § 69; 1989 c 237 § 4. Formerly RCW
43.99.025.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
79A.25.030
79A.25.030 Determination of proportion of motor
vehicle fuel tax moneys derived from tax on marine fuel—
Studies—Costs. From time to time, but at least once each
four years, the director of licensing shall determine the
amount or proportion of moneys paid to him or her as motor
vehicle fuel tax which is tax on marine fuel. The director shall
make or authorize the making of studies, surveys, or investigations to assist him or her in making such determination,
and shall hold one or more public hearings on the findings of
such studies, surveys, or investigations prior to making his or
her determination. The studies, surveys, or investigations
conducted pursuant to this section shall encompass a period
of twelve consecutive months each time. The final determination by the director shall be implemented as of the next biennium after the period from which the study data were collected. The director may delegate his or her duties and
authority under this section to one or more persons of the
department of licensing if he or she finds such delegation
necessary and proper to the efficient performance of these
duties. Costs of carrying out the provisions of this section
shall be paid from the marine fuel tax refund account created
in RCW 79A.25.040, upon legislative appropriation. [2000 c
11 § 70; 1995 c 166 § 1; 1979 c 158 § 109; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s.
c 50 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 74 § 1; 1965 c 5 § 3 (Initiative Measure
No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW
43.99.030.]
79A.25.040
79A.25.040 Marine fuel tax refund account—Moneys derived from tax on marine fuel—Refunding and
placement in account—Exception. There is created the
marine fuel tax refund account in the state treasury. The
director of licensing shall request the state treasurer to refund
monthly from the motor vehicle fund amounts which have
been determined to be tax on marine fuel. The state treasurer
shall refund such amounts and place them in the marine fuel
tax refund account to be held for those entitled thereto pursuant to chapter 82.36 RCW and RCW 79A.25.050, except that
he or she shall not refund and place in the marine fuel tax
(2006 Ed.)
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation
refund account for any period for which a determination has
been made pursuant to RCW 79A.25.030 more than the
greater of the following amounts: (1) An amount equal to
two percent of all moneys paid to him or her as motor vehicle
fuel tax for such period, (2) an amount necessary to meet all
approved claims for refund of tax on marine fuel for such
period. [2000 c 11 § 71; 1995 c 166 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 42;
1985 c 57 § 53; 1979 c 158 § 110; 1965 c 5 § 4 (Initiative
Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly
RCW 43.99.040.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79A.25.050
79A.25.050 Marine fuel tax refund account—Claims
for refunds paid from. Claims submitted pursuant to chapter 82.36 RCW for refund of tax on marine fuel which has
been placed in the marine fuel tax refund account shall, if
approved, be paid from that account. [1965 c 5 § 5 (Initiative
Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly
RCW 43.99.050.]
79A.25.060
79A.25.060 Outdoor recreation account—Deposits.
The outdoor recreation account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account are subject to legislative appropriation. The committee shall administer the account in
accordance with chapter 79A.15 RCW and this chapter, and
shall hold it separate and apart from all other money, funds,
and accounts of the committee.
Grants, gifts, or other financial assistance, proceeds
received from public bodies as administrative cost contributions, and moneys made available to the state of Washington
by the federal government for outdoor recreation, may be
deposited into the account. [2000 c 11 § 72; 1995 c 166 § 3;
1991 sp.s. c 13 § 52; 1985 c 57 § 54; 1967 ex.s. c 62 § 1; 1965
c 5 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3,
1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.060.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
79A.25.070
79A.25.070 Recreation resource account, motor
vehicle fund—Transfers of moneys from marine fuel tax
account. Upon expiration of the time limited by RCW
82.36.330 for claiming of refunds of tax on marine fuel, the
state of Washington shall succeed to the right to such refunds.
The director of licensing, after taking into account past and
anticipated claims for refunds from and deposits to the
marine fuel tax refund account and the costs of carrying out
the provisions of RCW 79A.25.030, shall request the state
treasurer to transfer monthly from the marine fuel tax refund
account an amount equal to the proportion of the moneys in
the account representing a motor vehicle fuel tax rate of: (1)
Nineteen cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1,
2003, through June 30, 2005; (2) twenty cents per gallon of
motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007;
(3) twenty-one cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from
July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2009; (4) twenty-two cents per
gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2009, through June
30, 2011; and (5) twenty-three cents per gallon of motor vehi(2006 Ed.)
79A.25.090
cle fuel beginning July 1, 2011, and thereafter, to the recreation resource account and the remainder to the motor vehicle
fund. [2003 c 361 § 409; 2000 c 11 § 73; 1995 c 166 § 4;
1990 c 42 § 116; 1979 c 158 § 111; 1965 c 5 § 7 (Initiative
Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly
RCW 43.99.070.]
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
79A.25.080
79A.25.080 Recreation resource account—Distribution of moneys transferred. Moneys transferred to the recreation resource account from the marine fuel tax refund
account may be used when appropriated by the legislature, as
well as any federal or other funds now or hereafter available,
to pay the necessary administrative and coordinative costs of
the interagency committee for outdoor recreation established
by RCW 79A.25.110. All moneys so transferred, except
those appropriated as aforesaid, shall be divided into two
equal shares and shall be used to benefit watercraft recreation
in this state as follows:
(1) One share as grants to state agencies for (a) acquisition of title to, or any interests or rights in, marine recreation
land, (b) capital improvement and renovation of marine recreation land, including periodic dredging in accordance with
subsection (3) of this section, if needed, to maintain or make
the facility more useful, or (c) matching funds in any case
where federal or other funds are made available on a matching basis for purposes described in (a) or (b) of this subsection;
(2) One share as grants to public bodies to help finance
(a) acquisition of title to, or any interests or rights in, marine
recreation land, or (b) capital improvement and renovation of
marine recreation land, including periodic dredging in accordance with subsection (3) of this section, if needed, to maintain or make the facility more useful. A public body is authorized to use a grant, together with its own contribution, as
matching funds in any case where federal or other funds are
made available for purposes described in (a) or (b) of this
subsection. The committee may prescribe further terms and
conditions for the making of grants in order to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
(3) For the purposes of this section "periodic dredging"
is limited to dredging of materials that have been deposited in
a channel due to unforeseen events. This dredging should
extend the expected usefulness of the facility for at least five
years. [2000 c 11 § 74; 1999 c 341 § 1; 1995 c 166 § 5; 1971
ex.s. c 140 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 136 § 1; 1965 c 5 § 8 (Initiative
Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly
RCW 43.99.080.]
79A.25.090
79A.25.090 Interest on funds granted by committee
to be returned to source account. Interest earned on funds
granted or made available by the committee shall not be
expended by the recipient but shall be returned to the source
account for disbursement by the committee in accordance
with general budget and accounting procedure. [1995 c 166
§ 6; 1967 ex.s. c 62 § 7. Formerly RCW 43.99.095.]
[Title 79A RCW—page 37]
79A.25.100
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.25.100
79A.25.100 Conversion of marine recreation land to
other uses—Approval—Substitution. Marine recreation
land with respect to which money has been expended under
RCW 79A.25.080 shall not, without the approval of the committee, be converted to uses other than those for which such
expenditure was originally approved. The committee shall
only approve any such conversion upon conditions which
will assure the substitution of other marine recreation land of
at least equal fair market value at the time of conversion and
of as nearly as feasible equivalent usefulness and location.
[2000 c 11 § 75; 1965 c 5 § 10 (Initiative Measure No. 215,
approved November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.100.]
79A.25.110
79A.25.110 Interagency committee for outdoor recreation—Created—Membership—Terms—Compensation and travel expenses. There is created the interagency
committee for outdoor recreation consisting of the commissioner of public lands, the director of parks and recreation,
and the director of fish and wildlife, or their designees, and,
by appointment of the governor with the advice and consent
of the senate, five members from the public at large who have
a demonstrated interest in and a general knowledge of outdoor recreation in the state. The terms of members appointed
from the public at large shall commence on January 1st of the
year of appointment and shall be for three years or until a successor is appointed, except in the case of appointments to fill
vacancies which shall be for the remainder of the unexpired
term; provided the first such members shall be appointed for
terms as follows: One member for one year, two members
for two years, and two members for three years. The governor
shall appoint one of the members from the public at large to
serve as chairman of the committee for the duration of the
member’s term. Members employed by the state shall serve
without additional pay and participation in the work of the
committee shall be deemed performance of their employment. Members from the public at large shall be compensated
in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and shall be entitled to
reimbursement individually for travel expenses incurred in
performance of their duties as members of the committee in
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. [1994 c 264
§ 31; 1988 c 36 § 21; 1985 c 77 § 1; 1984 c 287 § 84. Prior:
1981 c 338 § 7; 1981 c 206 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 §
125; 1971 c 60 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 62 § 2; 1965 c 5 § 11 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.110.]
Legislative findings—Severability—Effective date—1984 c 287:
See notes following RCW 43.03.220.
Effective date—1981 c 206: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 30,
1981." [1981 c 206 § 4.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
Construction and maintenance of outdoor recreation facilities by department of natural resources, review by interagency committee for outdoor recreation: RCW 79.10.140.
ation account, the recreation resource account, or the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account
shall submit to the committee a long-range plan for developing outdoor recreation facilities within its authority and
detailed plans for the projects sought to be financed from
these accounts, including estimated cost and such other information as the committee may require. The committee shall
analyze all proposed plans and projects, and shall recommend
to the governor for inclusion in the budget such projects as it
may approve and find to be consistent with an orderly plan
for the acquisition and improvement of outdoor recreation
lands in the state. [1995 c 166 § 7; 1983 c 3 § 114; 1965 c 5
§ 12 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3,
1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.120.]
79A.25.130
79A.25.130 Participation in federal programs—
Authority. The committee may apply to any appropriate
agency or officer of the United States for participation in or
the receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor recreation not specifically designated for another fund
or agency. It may enter into contracts and agreements with
the United States or any appropriate agency thereof, keep
financial and other records relating thereto, and furnish to
appropriate officials and agencies of the United States such
reports and information as may be reasonably necessary to
enable such officials and agencies to perform their duties
under such programs. [1967 ex.s. c 62 § 5. Formerly RCW
43.99.124.]
79A.25.140
79A.25.140 Commitments or agreements forbidden
unless sufficient funds available—Agreements with federal agencies on behalf of state or local agencies—Conditions. The committee for outdoor recreation shall make no
commitment nor enter into any agreement until it has determined that sufficient funds are available to meet project
costs. It is the legislative intent that, to such extent as may be
necessary to assure the proper operation and maintenance of
areas and facilities acquired or developed pursuant to any
program participated in by this state under authority of this
chapter, such areas and facilities shall be publicly maintained
for outdoor recreation purposes. When requested by a state
agency or public body, the committee may enter into and
administer agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof for planning, acquisition, and development projects involving participating federal-aid funds on
behalf of any state agency, public body, or subdivision of this
state: PROVIDED, That recipients of funds give necessary
assurances to the committee that they have available sufficient matching funds to meet their shares, if any, of the cost
of the project and that the acquired or developed areas will be
operated and maintained at the expense of such state agency,
public body, or subdivision for public outdoor recreation use.
[1967 ex.s. c 62 § 6. Formerly RCW 43.99.126.]
79A.25.150
79A.25.120
79A.25.120 Plans for public outdoor recreation land
acquisition or improvement—Contents—Submission—
Recommendations. Any public body or any agency of state
government authorized to acquire or improve public outdoor
recreation land which desires funds from the outdoor recre[Title 79A RCW—page 38]
79A.25.150 Assistance furnished by state departments—Appointment of director and personnel—Civil
service exemption. When requested by the committee,
members employed by the state shall furnish assistance to the
committee from their departments for the analysis and review
of proposed plans and projects, and such assistance shall be a
(2006 Ed.)
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation
proper charge against the appropriations to the several agencies represented on the committee. Assistance may be in the
form of money, personnel, or equipment and supplies, whichever is most suitable to the needs of the committee.
The director shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governor. The governor shall select the director
from a list of three candidates submitted by the committee.
However, the governor may request and the committee shall
provide an additional list or lists from which the governor
may select the director. The lists compiled by the committee
shall not be subject to public disclosure. The director shall
have background and experience in the areas of recreation
management and policy. The director shall be paid a salary to
be fixed by the governor in accordance with the provisions of
RCW 43.03.040. The director shall appoint such personnel as
may be necessary to carry out the duties of the committee.
Not more than three employees appointed by the director
shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW.
[1989 c 237 § 3; 1981 c 206 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 62 § 3; 1965 c
5 § 13 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved November 3,
1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.130.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
Effective date—1981 c 206: See note following RCW 79A.25.110.
79A.25.210
79A.25.190 Appropriations by subsequent legislatures. The 1967 and subsequent legislatures may appropriate
funds requested in the budget for grants to public bodies and
state agencies from the recreation resource account to the
committee for allocation and disbursement. The committee
shall include a list of prioritized state agency projects to be
funded from the recreation resource account with its biennial
budget request. [1995 c 166 § 8; 1965 c 5 § 15 (Initiative
Measure No. 215, approved November 3, 1964). Formerly
RCW 43.99.150.]
79A.25.190
79A.25.200
79A.25.200 Recreation resource account. The recreation resource account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in this account are subject to legislative appropriation.
The committee shall administer the account in accordance
with this chapter and chapter 79A.35 RCW and shall hold it
separate and apart from all other money, funds, and accounts
of the committee. Moneys received from the marine fuel tax
refund account under RCW 79A.25.070 shall be deposited
into the account. Grants, gifts, or other financial assistance,
proceeds received from public bodies as administrative cost
contributions, and moneys made available to the state of
Washington by the federal government for outdoor recreation
may be deposited into the account. [2000 c 11 § 77; 1995 c
166 § 10. Formerly RCW 43.99.170.]
79A.25.160
79A.25.160 Washington state recreation trails system, duties of interagency committee for outdoor recreation. See chapter 79A.35 RCW.
79A.25.170
79A.25.170 Public parks and recreation sites guide.
In addition to its other powers and duties the director is
authorized to coordinate the preparation of a comprehensive
guide of public parks and recreation sites in the state of
Washington. Such guide may include one or more maps
showing the locations of such public parks and recreation
areas, and may also include information as to the facilities
and recreation opportunities available. All state agencies providing public recreational facilities shall participate. Cooperation of federal agencies providing public recreational facilities within the state shall be solicited.
The director shall determine the costs of providing and
distributing such a guide and pursue the most feasible means
of paying the costs of initial production. The guide shall be
sold for an amount to cover the reasonable production and
distribution costs involved, and the director may contract
with any state agency, local government agency, or private
firm as otherwise allowed by law for any part of such production or distribution. [1989 c 237 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 24 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.99.142.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
Plan submittal: "The committee shall submit a plan for production and
distribution of the guide to the State Legislature on or before January 1,
1981." [1979 ex.s. c 24 § 3.]
79A.25.180
79A.25.180 Public parks and recreation sites guide—
Review and update. The director shall periodically review
and have updated the guide authorized by RCW 79A.25.170.
[2000 c 11 § 76; 1989 c 237 § 6; 1979 ex.s. c 24 § 4. Formerly
RCW 43.99.146.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.25.210
79A.25.210 Firearms range account—Grant program—Rules. The firearms range account is hereby created
in the state general fund. Moneys in the account shall be subject to legislative appropriation and shall be used for purchase and development of land, construction or improvement
of range facilities, including fixed structure construction or
remodeling, equipment purchase, safety or environmental
improvements, noise abatement, and liability protection for
public and nonprofit firearm range training and practice facilities.
Grant funds shall not be used for expendable shooting
supplies, or normal operating expenses. In making grants, the
interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall give priority to projects for noise abatement or safety improvement.
Grant funds shall not supplant funds for other organization
programs.
The funds will be available to nonprofit shooting organizations, school districts, and state, county, or local governments on a match basis. All entities receiving matching funds
must be open on a regular basis and usable by law enforcement personnel or the general public who possess Washington concealed pistol licenses or Washington hunting licenses
or who are enrolled in a firearm safety class.
Applicants for a grant from the firearms range account
shall provide matching funds in either cash or in-kind contributions. The match must represent one dollar in value for
each one dollar of the grant except that in the case of a grant
for noise abatement or safety improvements the match must
represent one dollar in value for each two dollars of the grant.
In-kind contributions include but are not limited to labor,
materials, and new property. Existing assets and existing
development may not apply to the match.
Applicants other than school districts or local or state
government must be registered as a nonprofit or not-forprofit organization with the Washington secretary of state.
[Title 79A RCW—page 39]
79A.25.220
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
The organization’s articles of incorporation must contain provisions for the organization’s structure, officers, legal
address, and registered agent.
Organizations requesting grants must provide the hours
of range availability for public and law enforcement use. The
fee structure will be submitted with the grant application.
Any nonprofit organization or agency accepting a grant
under this program will be required to pay back the entire
grant amount to the firearms range account if the use of the
range facility is discontinued less than ten years after the
grant is accepted.
Entities receiving grants must make the facilities for
which grant funding is received open for hunter safety education classes and firearm safety classes on a regular basis for
no fee.
Government units or school districts applying for grants
must open their range facility on a regular basis for hunter
safety education classes and firearm safety classes.
The interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall
adopt rules to implement chapter 195, Laws of 1990, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW. [1996 c 96 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 7 §
443; 1990 c 195 § 2. Formerly RCW 77.12.720.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 401-410, 413-416, 418-437, and 439460: See note following RCW 9.41.010.
Findings—1990 c 195: "Firearms are collected, used for hunting, recreational shooting, and self-defense, and firearm owners as well as bow users
need safe, accessible areas in which to shoot their equipment. Approved
shooting ranges provide that opportunity, while at the same time, promote
public safety. Interest in all shooting sports has increased while safe locations to shoot have been lost to the pressures of urban growth." [1990 c 195
§ 1.]
79A.25.220
79A.25.220 Firearms range advisory committee. (1)
A ten-member firearms range advisory committee is hereby
created to provide advice and counsel to the interagency committee for outdoor recreation. The members shall be
appointed by the director of the interagency committee for
outdoor recreation from the following groups:
(a) Law enforcement;
(b) Washington military department;
(c) Black powder shooting sports;
(d) Rifle shooting sports;
(e) Pistol shooting sports;
(f) Shotgun shooting sports;
(g) Archery shooting sports;
(h) Hunter education;
(i) Hunters; and
(j) General public.
(2) The firearms range advisory committee members
shall serve two-year terms with five new members being
selected each year beginning with the third year of the committee’s existence. The firearms range advisory committee
members shall not receive compensation from the firearms
range account. However, travel and per diem costs shall be
paid consistent with regulations for state employees.
(3) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation
shall provide administrative, operational, and logistical support for the firearms range advisory committee. Expenses
directly incurred for supporting this program may be charged
by the interagency committee for outdoor recreation against
[Title 79A RCW—page 40]
the firearms range account. Expenses shall not exceed ten
percent of the yearly income for the range account.
(4) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation
shall in cooperation with the firearms range advisory committee:
(a) Develop an application process;
(b) Develop an audit and accountability program;
(c) Screen, prioritize, and approve grant applications;
and
(d) Monitor compliance by grant recipients.
(5) The department of natural resources, the department
of fish and wildlife, and the Washington military department
are encouraged to provide land, facilitate land exchanges, and
support the development of shooting range facilities. [1993
sp.s. c 2 § 71; 1990 c 195 § 3. Formerly RCW 77.12.730.]
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 §§ 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW
43.300.900.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 2: See RCW 43.300.901.
Findings—1990 c 195: See note following RCW 79A.25.210.
79A.25.230
79A.25.230 Firearms range account—Gifts and
grants. The interagency committee for outdoor recreation
may accept gifts and grants upon such terms as the committee
shall deem proper. All monetary gifts and grants shall be
deposited in the firearms range account of the general fund.
[1990 c 195 § 4. Formerly RCW 77.12.740.]
Findings—1990 c 195: See note following RCW 79A.25.210.
79A.25.240
79A.25.240 Grants and loan administration. The
interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall provide
necessary grants and loan administration support to the
salmon recovery funding board as provided in RCW
77.85.120. The committee shall also be responsible for tracking salmon recovery expenditures under RCW 77.85.140.
The committee shall provide all necessary administrative
support to the board, and the board shall be located with the
committee. The committee shall provide necessary information to the salmon recovery office. [2003 c 39 § 44; 2000 c
11 § 78; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 17.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 75.46.005.
79A.25.250
79A.25.250 Acquisition, development, etc., of urban
area parks by interagency committee for outdoor recreation. Recognizing the fact that the demand for park services
is greatest in our urban areas, that parks should be accessible
to all Washington citizens, that the urban poor cannot afford
to travel to remotely located parks, that few state parks are
located in or near urban areas, that a need exists to conserve
energy, and that local governments having jurisdiction in
urban areas cannot afford the costs of maintaining and operating the extensive park systems needed to service their large
populations, the legislature hereby directs the interagency
committee for outdoor recreation to place a high priority on
the acquisition, development, redevelopment, and renovation
of parks to be located in or near urban areas and to be particularly accessible to and used by the populations of those
areas. For purposes of RCW 79A.25.250 and 79A.05.300,
"urban areas" means any incorporated city with a population
of five thousand persons or greater or any county with a pop(2006 Ed.)
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation
ulation density of two hundred fifty persons per square mile
or greater. This section shall be implemented by January 1,
1981. [2000 c 11 § 79; 1980 c 89 § 3. Formerly RCW
43.51.380.]
79A.25.300
79A.25.300 Findings. The legislature finds that:
(1) The land, water, and other resources of Washington
are being severely impacted by the invasion of an increasing
number of harmful invasive plant and animal species.
(2) These impacts are resulting in damage to Washington’s environment and causing economic hardships.
(3) The multitude of public and private organizations
with an interest in controlling and preventing the spread of
harmful invasive species in Washington need a mechanism
for cooperation, communication, collaboration, and developing a statewide plan of action to meet these threats. [2006 c
152 § 1.]
79A.25.340
(h) A county located west of the crest of the Cascade
mountains, appointed by the other members of the council.
(2) The councilmembers may add members to the council as the councilmembers deem appropriate to accomplish its
goals.
(3) The council must invite one representative each from
the United States department of agriculture, the United States
fish and wildlife service, the United States environmental
protection agency, and the United States coast guard to participate on the council in a nonvoting, ex officio capacity.
(4) A representative of the office of the governor must
convene the first meeting of the council and serve as chair
until the council selects a chair. At the first meeting of the
council, the council shall address issues including, but not
limited to, voting methods, meeting schedules, and the need
for and use of advisory and technical committees. [2006 c
152 § 3.]
79A.25.330
79A.25.310
79A.25.310 Washington invasive species council—
Created. (1) There is created the Washington invasive species council to exist until December 31, 2011. Staff support
to the council shall be provided by the committee and from
the agencies represented on the council. For administrative
purposes, the council shall be located within the committee.
(2) The purpose of the council is to provide policy level
direction, planning, and coordination for combating harmful
invasive species throughout the state and preventing the
introduction of others that may be potentially harmful.
(3) The council is a joint effort between local, tribal,
state, and federal governments, as well as the private sector
and nongovernmental interests. The purpose of the council is
to foster cooperation, communication, and coordinated
approaches that support local, state, and regional initiatives
for the prevention and control of invasive species.
(4) For the purposes of this chapter, "invasive species"
include nonnative organisms that cause economic or environmental harm and are capable of spreading to new areas of the
state. "Invasive species" does not include domestic livestock,
intentionally planted agronomic crops, or nonharmful exotic
organisms. [2006 c 152 § 2.]
79A.25.320
79A.25.320 Washington invasive species council—
Membership. (1) Membership in the council includes a representative from the following entities:
(a) The department of agriculture, represented by the
director or the director’s designee;
(b) The department of fish and wildlife, represented by
the director or the director’s designee;
(c) The department of ecology, represented by the director or the director’s designee;
(d) The department of natural resources, represented by
the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee;
(e) The department of transportation, represented by the
secretary or the secretary’s designee;
(f) The Washington state noxious weed control board,
appointed by the board;
(g) A county located east of the crest of the Cascade
mountains, appointed by the other members of the council;
and
(2006 Ed.)
79A.25.330 Washington invasive species council—
Goals. The council’s goals are to:
(1) Minimize the effects of harmful invasive species on
Washington’s citizens and ensure the economic and environmental well-being of the state;
(2) Serve as a forum for identifying and understanding
invasive species issues from all perspectives;
(3) Serve as a forum to facilitate the communication,
cooperation, and coordination of local, tribal, state, federal,
private, and nongovernmental entities for the prevention,
control, and management of nonnative invasive species;
(4) Serve as an avenue for public outreach and for raising
public awareness of invasive species issues;
(5) Develop and implement a statewide invasive species
strategic plan as described in this chapter;
(6) Review the current funding mechanisms and levels
for state agencies to manage noxious weeds on the lands
under their authority;
(7) Make recommendations for legislation necessary to
carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(8) Establish criteria for the prioritization of invasive
species response actions and projects; and
(9) Utilizing the process described in subsection (8) of
this section, select at least one project per year from the strategic plan for coordinated action by the Washington invasive
species councilmember entities. [2006 c 152 § 4.]
79A.25.340
79A.25.340 Washington invasive species council—
Statewide strategic plan. (1) The council shall develop and
periodically update a statewide strategic plan for addressing
invasive species. The strategic plan should incorporate the
reports and activities of the aquatic nuisance species committee, the state noxious weed control board, and other appropriate reports and activities. In addition, the council must coordinate with the biodiversity council created in Executive
Order 04-02 to ensure that a statewide strategy for the control
of invasive species is integrated into the thirty-year strategy
for biodiversity conservation that the biodiversity council
must submit to the legislature in 2007.
(2) The strategic plan must, at a minimum, address:
(a) Statewide coordination and intergovernmental cooperation;
[Title 79A RCW—page 41]
79A.25.350
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
(b) Prevention of new biological invasions through
deliberate or unintentional introduction;
(c) Inventory and monitoring of invasive species;
(d) Early detection of and rapid response to new invasions;
(e) Control, management, and eradication of established
populations of invasive species;
(f) Projects that can be implemented during the period
covered by the strategic plan for the control, management,
and eradication of new or established populations of invasive
species;
(g) Revegetation, reclamation, or restoration of native
species following control or eradication of invasive species;
(h) Tools that can be made available to assist state agencies that are responsible for managing public land to control
invasive noxious weeds and recommendations as to how the
agencies should be held responsible for the failure to control
invasive noxious weeds;
(i) Research and public education;
(j) Funding and resources available for invasive species
prevention, control, and management; and
(k) Recommendations for legislation necessary to carry
out the purposes of this chapter.
(3) The strategic plan must be updated at least once
every three years following its initial development. The strategic plan must be submitted to the governor and appropriate
committees of the legislature by September 15th of each
applicable year. The council shall complete the initial strategic plan within two years of June 7, 2006.
(4) Each state department and agency named to the council shall, consistent with state law, make best efforts to implement elements of the completed plan that are applicable to the
department or agency. [2006 c 152 § 5.]
79A.25.350
79A.25.350 Washington invasive species council—
Annual report. (1) The council shall submit an annual
report of its activities to the governor and the relevant policy
committees of the senate and house of representatives by
December 15th of each year. The annual report must include
an evaluation of progress made in the preceding year to
implement or carry out the strategic plan and an identification
of projects from the strategic plan that will be a focus for the
following year.
(2) Prior to the start of the 2011 legislative session, the
council must prepare a report to the appropriate committees
of the legislature that makes recommendations as to the
extension or modification of the council. [2006 c 152 § 6.]
custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations must be deposited into the
account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to
carry out the purposes of the council. The account is subject
to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW and the
approval of the director of the committee is required for
expenditures. All expenditures must be directed by the council. [2006 c 152 § 8.]
Expiration date—2006 c 152 § 8: "Section 8 of this act expires
December 31, 2011." [2006 c 152 § 10.]
YOUTH OR COMMUNITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES
79A.25.800
79A.25.800 Intent. (Contingent expiration date.) (1)
The legislature recognizes that coordinated funding efforts
are needed to maintain, develop, and improve the state’s
community outdoor athletic fields. Rapid population growth
and increased urbanization have caused a decline in suitable
outdoor fields for community athletic activities and has
resulted in overcrowding and deterioration of existing surfaces. Lack of adequate community outdoor athletic fields
directly affects the health and well-being of all citizens of the
state, reduces the state’s economic viability, and prevents
Washington from maintaining and achieving the quality of
life that it deserves. Therefore, it is the policy of the state and
its agencies to maintain, develop, fund, and improve youth or
community athletic facilities, including but not limited to
community outdoor athletic fields.
(2) In carrying out this policy, the legislature intends to
promote the building of new community outdoor athletic
fields, the upgrading of existing community outdoor athletic
fields, and the maintenance of existing community outdoor
athletic fields across the state of Washington. [2003 c 126 §
701; 2000 c 11 § 80; 1998 c 264 § 1. Formerly RCW
43.99.800.]
Contingent expiration date—2003 c 126 §§ 701 and 702: "Sections
701 and 702 of this act expire one year after *RCW 82.14.0494 expires."
[2003 c 126 § 1002.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.14.0494 has a contingent effective date. See
RCW 82.14.0494(5).
Part headings not law—Effective date—2003 c 126: See notes following RCW 79A.05.385.
Severability—1998 c 264: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1998 c 264 § 5.]
Contingent expiration date—1998 c 264: "Sections 1 through 4 of
this act expire one year after RCW 82.14.0494 expires." [1998 c 264 § 6.]
79A.25.820
79A.25.360
79A.25.360 Washington invasive species council—
Advisory and technical committees authorized. The council may establish advisory and technical committees that it
considers necessary to aid and advise the council in the performance of its functions. The committees may be continuing or temporary committees. The council shall determine
the representation, membership, terms, and organization of
the committees and appoint their members. [2006 c 152 § 7.]
79A.25.370
79A.25.370 Washington invasive species council—
Invasive species council account. (Expires December 31,
2011.) The invasive species council account is created in the
[Title 79A RCW—page 42]
79A.25.820 Strategic plan—Funding eligibility—
Regional coordination and cooperative efforts—Data collection and exchange. (Contingent expiration date.) Subject to available resources, the interagency committee for outdoor recreation may:
(1) Prepare and update a strategic plan for the development, maintenance, and improvement of community outdoor
athletic fields in the state. In the preparation of such plan, the
interagency committee for outdoor recreation may use available data from federal, state, and local agencies having community outdoor athletic responsibilities, user groups, private
sector interests, and the general public. The plan may
include, but is not limited to:
(2006 Ed.)
Washington State Horse Park
(a) An inventory of current community outdoor athletic
fields;
(b) A forecast of demand for these fields;
(c) An identification and analysis of actual and potential
funding sources; and
(d) Other information the interagency committee for outdoor recreation deems appropriate to carry out the purposes
of RCW 79A.25.800 through 79A.25.830;
(2) Determine the eligibility requirements for cities,
counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations to access
funding from the youth athletic facility account created in
RCW 43.99N.060(4);
(3) Encourage and provide opportunities for interagency
and regional coordination and cooperative efforts between
public agencies and between public entities and nonprofit
organizations involved in the maintenance, development, and
improvement of community outdoor athletic fields; and
(4) Create and maintain data, studies, research, and other
information relating to community outdoor athletic fields in
the state, and to encourage the exchange of this information.
[2003 c 126 § 702; 2000 c 11 § 81; 1998 c 264 § 3. Formerly
RCW 43.99.820.]
Contingent expiration date—2003 c 126 §§ 701 and 702: See note
following RCW 79A.25.800.
Part headings not law—Effective date—2003 c 126: See notes following RCW 79A.05.385.
Severability—Contingent expiration date—1998 c 264: See notes
following RCW 79A.25.800.
79A.25.830 Gifts, grants, or endowments. (Contingent expiration date.) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation may receive gifts, grants, or endowments
from public and private sources that are made from time to
time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of RCW 79A.25.800 through 79A.25.830 and spend
gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the
gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710. [2000
c 11 § 82; 1998 c 264 § 4. Formerly RCW 43.99.830.]
79A.25.830
Severability—Contingent expiration date—1998 c 264: See notes
following RCW 79A.25.800.
CONSTRUCTION
79A.25.901 Severability—1965 c 5. If any provision of
this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, or the application
of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1965 c 5 § 17 (Initiative Measure No. 215,
approved November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.900.]
79A.25.901
79A.25.902 Short title. This chapter shall be known
and may be cited as the Marine Recreation Land Act of 1964.
[1965 c 5 § 18 (Initiative Measure No. 215, approved
November 3, 1964). Formerly RCW 43.99.910.]
79A.25.902
Chapter 79A.30
Chapter 79A.30 RCW
WASHINGTON STATE HORSE PARK
Sections
79A.30.005 Findings—Purpose.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.30.020
79A.30.010 Definitions.
79A.30.020 Park established—Site approval—Ownership of land—Development, promotion, operation, management, and maintenance.
79A.30.030 Washington state horse park authority—Formation—Powers—Articles of incorporation—Board.
79A.30.040 Washington state horse park authority—Powers.
79A.30.050 Collaboration by authority and state on projects of shared
interest—Cooperation with groups for youth recreational
activities.
79A.30.900 Severability—1995 c 200.
79A.30.005
79A.30.005 Findings—Purpose. The legislature finds
that:
(1) Horses are part of a large, highly diverse, and vital
industry which provides significant economic, employment,
recreational, and educational contributions to residents of and
visitors to the state of Washington;
(2) Currently there is no adequate facility in the Pacific
Northwest with the acreage, services, and capacity to host
large regional horse shows, national championships, or
Olympics-quality events to showcase and promote this
important Washington industry;
(3) Establishing a first-class horse park facility in Washington would meet important needs of the state’s horse industry, attract investment, enhance recreational opportunities,
and bring new exhibitors and tourists to the state from
throughout the region and beyond; and
(4) A unique opportunity exists to form a partnership
between state, county, and private interests to create a major
horse park facility that will provide public recreational
opportunities and statewide economic and employment benefits.
It is the purpose of this legislation to create the framework for such a partnership to facilitate development of the
Washington state horse park. It is further the intent of the legislature that the state horse park shall be developed in stages,
based on factors such as the availability of funds, equipment,
and other materials donated by private sources; the availability and willingness of volunteers to work on park development; and the availability of revenues generated by the state
horse park as it is developed and utilized. [1995 c 200 § 1.
Formerly RCW 67.18.005.]
79A.30.010
79A.30.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Authority" means the Washington state horse park
authority authorized to be created in RCW 79A.30.030.
(2) "Commission" means the Washington state parks and
recreation commission.
(3) "Horses" includes all domesticated members of the
taxonomic family Equidae, including but not limited to
horses, donkeys, and mules.
(4) "State horse park" means the Washington state horse
park established in RCW 79A.30.020. [2000 c 11 § 83; 1995
c 200 § 2. Formerly RCW 67.18.010.]
79A.30.020
79A.30.020 Park established—Site approval—Ownership of land—Development, promotion, operation,
management, and maintenance. (1) The Washington state
horse park is hereby established, to be located at a site
approved by the commission. In approving a site for the state
[Title 79A RCW—page 43]
79A.30.030
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
horse park, the commission shall consider areas with large
blocks of land suitable for park development, the distance to
various population centers in the state, the ease of transportation to the site for large vehicles traveling along either a
north-south or an east-west corridor, and other factors
deemed important by the commission.
(2) Ownership of land for the state horse park shall be as
follows:
(a) The commission is vested with and shall retain ownership of land provided by the state for the state horse park.
Any lands acquired by the commission after July 23, 1995,
for the state horse park shall be purchased under chapter
79A.15 RCW. The legislature encourages the commission to
provide a long-term lease of the selected property to the
Washington state horse park authority at a minimal charge.
The lease shall contain provisions ensuring public access to
and use of the horse park facilities, and generally maximizing
public recreation opportunities at the horse park, provided
that the facility remains available primarily for horse-related
activities.
(b) Land provided for the state horse park by the county
in which the park is located shall remain in the ownership of
that county unless the county determines otherwise. The legislature encourages the county to provide a long-term lease of
selected property to the Washington state horse park authority at a minimal charge.
(c) If the authority acquires additional lands through
donations, grants, or other means, or with funds generated
from the operation of the state horse park, the authority shall
retain ownership of those lands. The authority shall also
retain ownership of horse park site improvements paid for by
or through donations or gifts to the authority.
(3) Development, promotion, operation, management,
and maintenance of the state horse park is the responsibility
of the authority created in RCW 79A.30.030. [2000 c 11 §
84; 1995 c 200 § 3. Formerly RCW 67.18.020.]
79A.30.030
79A.30.030 Washington state horse park authority—
Formation—Powers—Articles of incorporation—Board.
(1) A nonprofit corporation may be formed under the nonprofit corporation provisions of chapter 24.03 RCW to carry
out the purposes of this chapter. Except as provided in RCW
79A.30.040, the corporation shall have all the powers and be
subject to the same restrictions as are permitted or prescribed
to nonprofit corporations and shall exercise those powers
only for carrying out the purposes of this chapter and those
purposes necessarily implied therefrom. The nonprofit corporation shall be known as the Washington state horse park
authority. The articles of incorporation shall provide that it is
the responsibility of the authority to develop, promote, operate, manage, and maintain the Washington state horse park.
The articles of incorporation shall provide for appointment of
directors and other conduct of business consistent with the
requirements of this chapter.
(2)(a) The articles of incorporation shall provide for a
seven-member board of directors for the authority, all
appointed by the governor. Board members shall serve threeyear terms, except that two of the original appointees shall
serve one-year terms, and two of the original appointees shall
serve two-year terms. A board member may serve consecutive terms.
[Title 79A RCW—page 44]
(b) The articles of incorporation shall provide that the
governor appoint board members as follows:
(i) One board member shall represent the interests of the
commission. In making this appointment, the governor shall
solicit recommendations from the commission;
(ii) One board member shall represent the interests of the
county in which the park is located. In making this appointment, the governor shall solicit recommendations from the
county legislative authority; and
(iii) Five board members shall represent the geographic
and sports discipline diversity of equestrian interests in the
state, and at least one of these members shall have business
experience relevant to the organization of horse shows or
operation of a horse show facility. In making these appointments, the governor shall solicit recommendations from a
variety of active horse-related organizations in the state.
(3) The articles of incorporation shall include a policy
that provides for the preferential use of a specific area of the
horse park facilities at nominal cost for horse groups associated with youth groups and the disabled.
(4) The governor shall make appointments to fill board
vacancies for positions authorized under subsection (2) of
this section, upon additional solicitation of recommendations
from the board of directors.
(5) The board of directors shall perform their duties in
the best interests of the authority, consistent with the standards applicable to directors of nonprofit corporations under
RCW 24.03.127. [2000 c 11 § 85; 1995 c 200 § 4. Formerly
RCW 67.18.030.]
79A.30.040 Washington state horse park authority—
Powers. To meet its responsibility for developing, promoting, operating, managing, and maintaining the state horse
park, the authority is empowered to do the following:
(1) Exercise the general powers authorized for any nonprofit corporation as specified in RCW 24.03.035. All debts
of the authority shall be in the name of the authority and shall
not be debts of the state of Washington for which the state or
any state agency shall have any obligation to pay; and the
authority may not issue bonds. Neither the full faith and
credit of the state nor the state’s taxing power is pledged for
any indebtedness of the authority;
(2) Employ and discharge at its discretion employees,
agents, advisors, and other personnel;
(3) Apply for or solicit, accept, administer, and dispose
of grants, gifts, and bequests of money, services, securities,
real estate, or other property. However, if the authority
accepts a donation designated for a specific purpose, the
authority shall use the donation for the designated purpose;
(4) Establish, revise, collect, manage, and expend such
fees and charges at the state horse park as the authority deems
necessary to accomplish its responsibilities;
(5) Make such expenditures as are appropriate for paying
the administrative costs and expenses of the authority and the
state horse park;
(6) Authorize use of the state horse park facilities by the
general public and by and for compatible nonequestrian
events as the authority deems reasonable, so long as the primacy of the center for horse-related purposes is not compromised;
(7) Insure its obligations and potential liability;
79A.30.040
(2006 Ed.)
Washington State Recreation Trails System
(8) Enter into cooperative agreements with and provide
for private nonprofit groups to use the state horse park facilities and property to raise money to contribute gifts, grants,
and support to the authority for the purposes of this chapter;
(9) Grant concessions or leases at the state horse park
upon such terms and conditions as the authority deems appropriate, but in no event shall the term of a concession or lease
exceed twenty-five years. Concessions and leases shall be
consistent with the purposes of this chapter and may be renegotiated at least every five years; and
(10) Generally undertake any and all lawful acts necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes for which the
authority and the state horse park are created. [1995 c 200 §
5. Formerly RCW 67.18.040.]
79A.35.040
79A.35.080 General types of use.
79A.35.090 Guidelines.
79A.35.100 Consultation and cooperation with state, federal and local
agencies.
79A.35.110 Participation by volunteer organizations—Liability of public
agencies therefor limited.
79A.35.120 Department of transportation—Participation.
79A.35.900 Short title.
79A.35.010
79A.35.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, "IAC"
means the Washington state interagency committee for outdoor recreation, and "system" means the Washington state
recreation trails system. [1970 ex.s. c 76 § 2. Formerly RCW
67.32.020.]
Interagency committee for outdoor recreation: Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
79A.35.020
79A.30.050
79A.30.050 Collaboration by authority and state on
projects of shared interest—Cooperation with groups for
youth recreational activities. (1) If the authority and state
agencies find it mutually beneficial to do so, they are authorized to collaborate and cooperate on projects of shared interest. Agencies authorized to collaborate with the authority
include but are not limited to: The commission for activities
and projects related to public recreation; the department of
agriculture for projects related to the equine agricultural
industry; the department of community, trade, and economic
development with respect to community and economic development and tourism issues associated with development of
the state horse park; Washington State University with
respect to opportunities for animal research, education, and
extension; the department of ecology with respect to opportunities for making the state horse park’s waste treatment facilities a demonstration model for the handling of waste to protect water quality; and with local community colleges with
respect to programs related to horses, economic development, business, and tourism.
(2) The authority shall cooperate with 4-H clubs, pony
clubs, youth groups, and local park departments to provide
youth recreational activities. The authority shall also provide
for preferential use of an area of the horse park facility for
youth and the disabled at nominal cost. [1995 c 200 § 6. Formerly RCW 67.18.050.]
79A.30.900 Severability—1995 c 200. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1995 c 200 § 8. Formerly RCW 67.18.900.]
79A.30.900
Chapter 79A.35
Chapter 79A.35 RCW
WASHINGTON STATE RECREATION
TRAILS SYSTEM
Sections
79A.35.010 Definitions.
79A.35.020 Purpose.
79A.35.030 Trails to be designated by IAC—Inclusion of other trails—
Procedure.
79A.35.040 State trails plan.
79A.35.050 Proposals for designation of existing or proposed trails as state
recreational trails.
79A.35.060 Coordination by IAC.
79A.35.070 Categories of trails or areas—Policy statement as to certain
state lands.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.35.020 Purpose. (1) In order to provide for the
ever increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding resident and tourist population and to promote public access to,
travel within, and the enjoyment and appreciation of outdoor
areas of Washington, it is declared to be in the public interest
to plan a system of trails throughout the state to enable and
encourage the public to engage in outdoor recreation activities.
(2) The purpose of this chapter is to provide the means
for attaining these objectives by instituting a method for
establishing a system of state recreation trails, and by prescribing the manner by which a proposed trail may be
included in the system. [1970 ex.s. c 76 § 3. Formerly RCW
67.32.030.]
79A.35.030
79A.35.030 Trails to be designated by IAC—Inclusion of other trails—Procedure. (1) The system shall be
composed of trails as designated by the IAC. Such trails shall
meet the conditions established in this chapter and such supplementary criteria as the IAC may prescribe.
(2) The IAC shall establish a procedure whereby federal,
state, and local governmental agencies and/or public and private organizations may propose trails for inclusion within the
system. Such proposals will comply with the proposal
requirements contained in RCW 79A.35.050.
(3) In consultation with appropriate federal, state, and
local governmental agencies and public and private organizations, the IAC shall establish a procedure for public review of
the proposals considered appropriate for inclusion in the
statewide trails system. [2000 c 11 § 86; 1970 ex.s. c 76 § 4.
Formerly RCW 67.32.040.]
79A.35.040
79A.35.040 State trails plan. The director shall prepare a state trails plan as part of the statewide outdoor recreation and open space plan. Included in this plan shall be an
inventory of existing trails and potential trail routes on all
lands within the state presently being used or with potential
for use by all types of trail users. Such trails plan may include
general routes or corridors within which specific trails or segments thereof may be considered for designation as state recreation trails. [1989 c 237 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 47 § 1; 1970 ex.s.
c 76 § 5. Formerly RCW 67.32.050.]
Effective date—1989 c 237: See note following RCW 79A.25.005.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 47: See RCW 46.09.900.
Application of chapter—Permission necessary to enter upon private lands:
RCW 46.09.010.
[Title 79A RCW—page 45]
79A.35.050
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.35.050
79A.35.050 Proposals for designation of existing or
proposed trails as state recreational trails. Before any specific existing or proposed trail is considered for designation
as a state recreational trail, a proposal must be submitted to
the IAC showing the following:
(1) For existing trails:
(a) The route of such trail, including maps and illustrations, and the recommended mode or modes of travel to be
permitted thereon;
(b) The characteristics that, in the judgment of the
agency or organization proposing the trail, make it worthy of
designation as a component of a state recreation trail or trail
system;
(c) A map showing the current status of land ownership
and use along the designated route;
(d) The name of the agency or combination of agencies
that would be responsible for acquiring additional trail
rights-of-way or easements, trail improvement, operation and
maintenance, and a statement from those agencies indicating
the conditions under which they would be willing to accept
those responsibilities;
(e) Any anticipated problems of maintaining and supervising the use of such trail and any anticipated hazards to the
use of any land or resource adjacent to such trail;
(f) And such others as deemed necessary by the IAC.
(2) In addition, for proposed trails or for existing trails
which require additional right-of-way acquisition, easements,
and/or development:
(a) The method of acquiring trail rights-of-way or easements;
(b) The estimated cost of acquisition of lands, or interest
in land, if any is required;
(c) The plans for developing the trail and the estimated
cost thereof;
(d) Proposed sources of funds to accomplish (2)(a) and
(2)(b) of this section. [1970 ex.s. c 76 § 6. Formerly RCW
67.32.060.]
79A.35.060
79A.35.060 Coordination by IAC. Following designation of a state recreation trail, the IAC may coordinate:
(1) The agency or agencies that will acquire (where
appropriate), develop and/or maintain the trail;
(2) The most appropriate location for the trail;
(3) Modes of travel to be permitted;
(4) And other functions as appropriate. [1970 ex.s. c 76
§ 7. Formerly RCW 67.32.070.]
(4) Urban trails which provide opportunities within an
urban setting for walking, bicycling, horseback riding, or
other compatible activities. Where appropriate, they will connect parks, scenic areas, historical points, and neighboring
communities;
(5) Historical trails which identify and interpret routes
which were significant in the historical settlement and development of the state;
(6) ORV vehicle trails which are suitable for use by both
four-wheel drive vehicles and two-wheel vehicles. Such trails
may be included as a part of the trail systems enumerated in
subsections (1), (2), (3) and (5) of this section or may be separately designated;
(7) Off-road and off-trail areas which are suitable for use
by both four-wheel drive vehicles and two-wheel vehicles.
IAC shall coordinate an inventory and classification of such
areas giving consideration to the type of use such areas will
receive from persons operating four-wheel drive vehicles and
two-wheel vehicles.
The planning and designation of trails shall take into
account and give due regard to the interests of federal agencies, state agencies and bodies, counties, municipalities, private landowners and individuals, and interested recreation
organizations. It is not required that the above categories be
used to designate specific trails, but the IAC will assure that
full consideration is given to including trails from all categories within the system. As it relates to all classes of trails and
to all types of trail users, it is herein declared as state policy
to increase recreational trail access to and within state and
federally owned lands and private lands where access may be
obtained. It is the intent of the legislature that public recreation facilities be developed as fully as possible to provide
greater recreation opportunities for the citizens of the state.
The purpose of chapter 153, Laws of 1972 ex. sess. is to
increase the availability of trails and areas for off-road vehicles by granting authority to state and local governments to
maintain a system of ORV trails and areas, and to fund the
program to provide for such development. State lands should
be used as fully as possible for all public recreation which is
compatible with the income-producing requirements of the
various trusts. [1977 ex.s. c 220 § 21; 1972 ex.s. c 153 § 1;
1971 ex.s. c 47 § 2; 1970 ex.s. c 76 § 8. Formerly RCW
67.32.080.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 47: See RCW 46.09.900.
Application of chapter—Permission necessary to enter upon private lands:
RCW 46.09.010.
79A.35.080 General types of use. All trails designated
as state recreational trails will be constructed, maintained,
and operated to provide for one or more of the following general types of use: Foot, foot powered bicycle, horse, motor
vehicular or watercraft travel as appropriate to the terrain and
location, or to legal, administrative or other necessary
restraints. It is further provided that the same trail shall not be
designated for use by foot and vehicular travel at the same
time. [1970 ex.s. c 76 § 9. Formerly RCW 67.32.090.]
79A.35.080
79A.35.070
79A.35.070 Categories of trails or areas—Policy
statement as to certain state lands. The following seven
categories of trails or areas are hereby established for purposes of this chapter:
(1) Cross-state trails which connect scenic, historical,
geological, geographical, or other significant features which
are characteristic of the state;
(2) Water-oriented trails which provide a designated
path to, on, or along fresh and/or salt water in which the water
is the primary point of interest;
(3) Scenic-access trails which give access to quality recreation, scenic, historic or cultural areas of statewide or
national significance;
[Title 79A RCW—page 46]
79A.35.090 Guidelines. With the concurrence of any
federal or state agency administering lands through which a
state recreation trail may pass, and after consultation with
local governments, private organizations and landowners
79A.35.090
(2006 Ed.)
Conveyances for Persons in Recreational Activities
which the IAC knows or believes to be concerned, the IAC
may issue guidelines including, but not limited to: Encouraging the permissive use of volunteer organizations for planning, maintenance or trail construction assistance; trail construction and maintenance standards, a trail use reporting procedure, and a uniform trail mapping system. [1971 ex.s. c 47
§ 3; 1970 ex.s. c 76 § 10. Formerly RCW 67.32.100.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 47: See RCW 46.09.900.
Application of chapter—Permission necessary to enter upon private lands:
RCW 46.09.010.
79A.35.100
79A.35.100 Consultation and cooperation with state,
federal and local agencies. The IAC is authorized and
encouraged to consult and to cooperate with any state, federal
or local governmental agency or body including special districts subject to the provisions of chapter 85.38 RCW, with
private landowners, and with any privately owned utility having jurisdiction or control over or information concerning the
use, abandonment or disposition of roadways, utility rightsof-way, dikes or levees, or other properties suitable for the
purpose of improving or expanding the system in order to
assure, to the extent practicable, that any such properties having value for state recreation trail purposes may be made
available for such use. [1993 c 258 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 76 § 11.
Formerly RCW 67.32.110.]
79A.35.110
79A.35.110 Participation by volunteer organizations—Liability of public agencies therefor limited. Volunteer organizations may assist public agencies, with the
agency’s approval, in the construction and maintenance of
recreational trails in accordance with the guidelines issued by
the interagency committee. In carrying out such volunteer
activities the members of the organizations shall not be considered employees or agents of the public agency administering the trails, and such public agencies shall not be subject to
any liability whatsoever arising out of volunteer activities.
The liability of public agencies to members of such volunteer
organizations shall be limited in the same manner as provided
for in RCW 4.24.210. [1971 ex.s. c 47 § 4. Formerly RCW
67.32.130.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 47: See RCW 46.09.900.
Application of chapter—Permission necessary to enter upon private lands:
RCW 46.09.010.
79A.35.120
79A.35.120 Department of transportation—Participation. The department of transportation shall consider
plans for trails along and across all new construction projects,
improvement projects, and along or across any existing highways in the state system as deemed desirable by the IAC.
[1984 c 7 § 368; 1971 ex.s. c 47 § 5. Formerly RCW
67.32.140.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 47: See RCW 46.09.900.
Application of chapter—Permission necessary to enter upon private lands:
RCW 46.09.010.
79A.35.900
79A.35.900 Short title. This chapter may be cited as
the Washington State Recreation Trails System Act. [1970
ex.s. c 76 § 1. Formerly RCW 67.32.010.]
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 79A.40
79A.40.030
Chapter 79A.40 RCW
CONVEYANCES FOR PERSONS IN
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Sections
79A.40.010 Safe and adequate facilities and equipment required of owner
and operator—Operator not common carrier.
79A.40.020 Plans, specifications to be submitted to state parks and recreation commission—Approval—Penalty.
79A.40.030 Orders directing repairs, improvements, changes, etc.—
Notice—Forbidding operation.
79A.40.040 Penalty for violation of chapter or rules, etc., of parks and recreation commission.
79A.40.050 Inspector of recreational devices—Employees.
79A.40.060 Powers and duties of inspector—Condemnation of equipment—Annual inspection.
79A.40.070 Costs of inspection and plan review—Lien—Disposition of
funds.
79A.40.080 State immunity from liability—Actions deemed exercise of
police power.
79A.40.090 Rules and codes.
79A.40.100 Judicial review.
79A.40.010
79A.40.010 Safe and adequate facilities and equipment required of owner and operator—Operator not
common carrier. Every owner or operator of any recreational device designed and operated for the conveyance of
persons which aids in promoting entertainment, pleasure,
play, relaxation, or instruction, specifically including devices
generally associated with winter sports activities such as ski
lifts, ski tows, j-bars, t-bars, ski mobiles, chair lifts, and similar devices and equipment, shall construct, furnish, maintain,
and provide safe and adequate facilities and equipment with
which safely and properly to receive and transport all persons
offered to and received by the owner or operator of such
devices, and to promote the safety of such owner’s or operator’s patrons, employees and the public. The owner or operator of the devices and equipment covered by this section shall
be deemed not to be a common carrier. [1965 ex.s. c 85 § 1;
1961 c 253 § 1; 1959 c 327 § 1. Formerly RCW 70.88.010.]
79A.40.020
79A.40.020 Plans, specifications to be submitted to
state parks and recreation commission—Approval—Penalty. It shall be unlawful after June 10, 1959, to construct or
install any such recreational device as set forth in RCW
79A.40.010 without first submitting plans and specifications
for such device to the state parks and recreation commission
and receiving the approval of the commission for such construction or installation. Violation of this section shall be a
misdemeanor. [2000 c 11 § 87; 1959 c 327 § 2. Formerly
RCW 70.88.020.]
79A.40.030
79A.40.030 Orders directing repairs, improvements,
changes, etc.—Notice—Forbidding operation. The state
parks and recreation commission shall have the authority and
the responsibility for the inspection of the devices set forth in
RCW 79A.40.010 and in addition shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1) Whenever the commission, after hearing called upon
its own motion or upon complaint, finds that additional apparatus, equipment, facilities or devices for use or in connection
with the transportation or conveyance of persons upon the
devices set forth in RCW 79A.40.010, ought reasonably to be
provided, or any repairs or improvements to, or changes in,
any theretofore in use ought reasonably to be made, or any
[Title 79A RCW—page 47]
79A.40.040
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
additions or changes in construction should reasonably be
made thereto, in order to promote the security and safety of
the public or employees, it may make and serve an order
directing such repairs, improvements, changes, or additions
to be made.
(2) If the commission finds that the equipment, or appliances in connection therewith, or the apparatus, or other
structures of the recreational device set forth in RCW
79A.40.010 are defective, and that the operation thereof is
dangerous to the employees of the owner or operator of such
device or to the public, it shall immediately give notice to the
owner or operator of such device of the repairs or reconstruction necessary to place the same in a safe condition, and may
prescribe the time within which they shall be made. If, in its
opinion, it is needful or proper, the commission may forbid
the operation of the device until it is repaired and placed in a
safe condition. [2000 c 11 § 88; 1959 c 327 § 3. Formerly
RCW 70.88.030.]
79A.40.040
79A.40.040 Penalty for violation of chapter or rules,
etc., of parks and recreation commission. Any violation of
this chapter or the rules, regulations and codes of the state
parks and recreation commission relating to public safety in
the construction, operation and maintenance of the recreational devices provided for in this chapter shall be a misdemeanor. [1965 ex.s. c 85 § 2; 1959 c 327 § 4. Formerly RCW
70.88.040.]
79A.40.050
79A.40.050 Inspector of recreational devices—
Employees. The state parks and recreation commission shall
employ or retain a person qualified in engineering experience
and training who shall be designated as the inspector of recreational devices, and may employ such additional employees as are necessary to properly administer this chapter. The
inspector and such additional employees may be hired on a
temporary basis or borrowed from other state departments, or
the commission may contract with individuals or firms for
such inspecting service on an independent basis. The commission shall prescribe the salary or other remuneration for
such service. [1959 c 327 § 5. Formerly RCW 70.88.050.]
79A.40.060
79A.40.060 Powers and duties of inspector—Condemnation of equipment—Annual inspection. The inspector of recreational devices and his or her assistants shall
inspect all equipment and appliances connected with the recreational devices set forth in RCW 79A.40.010 and make
such reports of his or her inspection to the commission as
may be required. He or she shall, on discovering any defective equipment, or appliances connected therewith, rendering
the use of the equipment dangerous, immediately report the
same to the owner or operator of the device on which it is
found, and in addition report it to the commission. If in the
opinion of the inspector the continued operation of the defective equipment constitutes an immediate danger to the safety
of the persons operating or being conveyed by such equipment, the inspector may condemn such equipment and shall
immediately notify the commission of his or her action in this
respect: PROVIDED, That inspection required by this chapter must be conducted at least once each year. [2000 c 11 §
89; 1959 c 327 § 6. Formerly RCW 70.88.060.]
[Title 79A RCW—page 48]
79A.40.070
79A.40.070 Costs of inspection and plan review—
Lien—Disposition of funds. The expenses incurred in connection with making inspections under this chapter shall be
paid by the owner or operator of such recreational devices
either by reimbursing the commission for the costs incurred
or by paying directly such individuals or firms that may be
engaged by the commission to accomplish the inspection service. Payment shall be made only upon notification by the
commission of the amount due. The commission shall maintain accurate and complete records of the costs incurred for
each inspection and plan review for construction approval
and shall assess the respective owners or operators of said
recreational devices only for the actual costs incurred by the
commission for such safety inspections and plan review for
construction approval. The costs as assessed by the commission shall be a lien on the equipment of the owner or operator
of the recreational devices so inspected. Such moneys collected by the commission under this section shall be paid into
the state parks renewal and stewardship account. [1997 c 137
§ 5; 1990 c 136 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 74 § 1; 1961 c 253 § 2;
1959 c 327 § 7. Formerly RCW 70.88.070.]
Effective date—1997 c 137: See note following RCW 79A.05.055.
Parks and parkways account abolished: RCW 43.79.405.
79A.40.080
79A.40.080 State immunity from liability—Actions
deemed exercise of police power. Inspections, rules, and
orders of the state parks and recreation commission resulting
from the exercise of the provisions of this chapter and chapter
79A.45 RCW shall not in any manner be deemed to impose
liability upon the state for any injury or damage resulting
from the operation or signing of the facilities regulated by
this chapter, and all actions of the state parks and recreation
commission and its personnel shall be deemed to be an exercise of the police power of the state. [2000 c 11 § 90; 1991 c
75 § 2; 1990 c 136 § 3; 1959 c 327 § 8. Formerly RCW
70.88.080.]
79A.40.090
79A.40.090 Rules and codes. The state parks and recreation commission is empowered to adopt reasonable rules
and codes relating to public safety in the construction, operation, signing, and maintenance of the recreational devices
provided for in this chapter. The rules and codes authorized
hereunder shall be in accordance with established standards,
if any, and shall not be discriminatory in their application.
[1991 c 75 § 3; 1959 c 327 § 9. Formerly RCW 70.88.090.]
79A.40.100
79A.40.100 Judicial review. The procedure for review
of the orders or actions of the state parks and recreation commission, its agents or employees, shall be the same as that
contained in RCW 81.04.170, 81.04.180, and 81.04.190.
[1959 c 327 § 10. Formerly RCW 70.88.100.]
Chapter 79A.45 RCW
SKIING AND COMMERCIAL SKI ACTIVITY
Chapter 79A.45
Sections
79A.45.010
79A.45.020
79A.45.030
79A.45.040
Ski area sign requirements.
"Trails" or "runs" defined.
Standard of conduct—Prohibited acts—Responsibility.
Skiing outside of trails or boundaries—Notice of skier responsibility.
(2006 Ed.)
Skiing and Commercial Ski Activity
79A.45.050 Leaving scene of skiing accident—Penalty—Notice.
79A.45.060 Insurance requirements for operators.
79A.45.010
79A.45.010 Ski area sign requirements. (1) The operator of any ski area shall maintain a sign system based on
international or national standards and as may be required by
the state parks and recreation commission.
All signs for instruction of the public shall be bold in
design with wording short, simple, and to the point. All such
signs shall be prominently placed.
Entrances to all machinery, operators’, and attendants’
rooms shall be posted to the effect that unauthorized persons
are not permitted therein.
The sign "Working on Lift" or a similar warning sign
shall be hung on the main disconnect switch and at control
points for starting the auxiliary or prime mover when a person is working on the passenger tramway.
(2) All signs required for normal daytime operation shall
be in place, and those pertaining to the tramway, lift, or tow
operations shall be adequately lighted for night skiing.
(3) If a particular trail or run has been closed to the public by an operator, the operator shall place a notice thereof at
the top of the trail or run involved, and no person shall ski on
a run or trail which has been designated "Closed".
(4) An operator shall place a notice at the embarking terminal or terminals of a lift or tow which has been closed that
the lift or tow has been closed and that a person embarking on
such a lift or tow shall be considered to be a trespasser.
(5) Any snow making machines or equipment shall be
clearly visible and clearly marked. Snow grooming equipment or any other vehicles shall be equipped with a yellow
flashing light at any time the vehicle is moving on or in the
vicinity of a ski run; however, low profile vehicles, such as
snowmobiles, may be identified in the alternative with a flag
on a mast of not less than six feet in height.
(6) The operator of any ski area shall maintain a readily
visible sign on each rope tow, wire rope tow, j-bar, t-bar, ski
lift, or other similar device, advising the users of the device
that:
(a) Any person not familiar with the operation of the lift
shall ask the operator thereof for assistance and/or instruction; and
(b) The skiing-ability level recommended for users of the
lift and the runs served by the device shall be classified "easiest", "more difficult", and "most difficult". [1991 c 75 § 1;
1989 c 81 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 139 § 1. Formerly RCW
70.117.010.]
Severability—1989 c 81: See note following RCW 79A.45.020.
79A.45.020
79A.45.020 "Trails" or "runs" defined. As used in
this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Trails" or "runs" means those trails or runs that have
been marked, signed, or designated by the ski area operator as
ski trails or ski runs within the ski area boundary. [1989 c 81
§ 1. Formerly RCW 70.117.015.]
Severability—1989 c 81: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 81 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
79A.45.040
79A.45.030 Standard of conduct—Prohibited acts—
Responsibility. (1) In addition to the specific requirements
of this section, all skiers shall conduct themselves within the
limits of their individual ability and shall not act in a manner
that may contribute to the injury of themselves or any other
person.
(2) No person shall:
(a) Embark or disembark upon a ski lift except at a designated area;
(b) Throw or expel any object from any tramway, ski lift,
commercial skimobile, or other similar device while riding
on the device;
(c) Act in any manner while riding on a rope tow, wire
rope tow, j-bar, t-bar, ski lift, or similar device that may interfere with the proper or safe operation of the lift or tow;
(d) Wilfully engage in any type of conduct which may
injure any person, or place any object in the uphill ski track
which may cause another to fall, while traveling uphill on a
ski lift; or
(e) Cross the uphill track of a j-bar, t-bar, rope tow, wire
rope tow, or other similar device except at designated locations.
(3) Every person shall maintain control of his or her
speed and course at all times, and shall stay clear of any
snowgrooming equipment, any vehicle, any lift tower, and
any other equipment on the mountain.
(4) A person shall be the sole judge of his or her ability
to negotiate any trail, run, or uphill track and no action shall
be maintained against any operator by reason of the condition
of the track, trail, or run unless the condition results from the
negligence of the operator.
(5) Any person who boards a rope tow, wire rope tow, jbar, t-bar, ski lift, or other similar device shall be presumed to
have sufficient abilities to use the device. No liability shall
attach to any operator or attendant for failure to instruct the
person on the use of the device, but a person shall follow any
written or verbal instructions that are given regarding the use.
(6) Because of the inherent risks in the sport of skiing all
persons using the ski hill shall exercise reasonable care for
their own safety. However, the primary duty shall be on the
person skiing downhill to avoid any collision with any person
or object below him or her.
(7) Any person skiing outside the confines of trails open
for skiing or runs open for skiing within the ski area boundary
shall be responsible for any injuries or losses resulting from
his or her action.
(8) Any person on foot or on any type of sliding device
shall be responsible for any collision whether the collision is
with another person or with an object.
(9) A person embarking on a lift or tow without authority
shall be considered to be a trespasser. [1989 c 81 § 3; 1977
ex.s. c 139 § 2. Formerly RCW 70.117.020.]
79A.45.030
Severability—1989 c 81: See note following RCW 79A.45.020.
79A.45.040 Skiing outside of trails or boundaries—
Notice of skier responsibility. Ski area operators shall place
a notice of the provisions of RCW 79A.45.030(7) on their
trail maps, at or near the ticket booth, and at the bottom of
each ski lift or similar device. [2000 c 11 § 91; 1989 c 81 §
5. Formerly RCW 70.117.025.]
79A.45.040
Severability—1989 c 81: See note following RCW 79A.45.020.
[Title 79A RCW—page 49]
79A.45.050
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.45.050 Leaving scene of skiing accident—Penalty—Notice. (1) Any person who is involved in a skiing
accident and who departs from the scene of the accident without leaving personal identification or otherwise clearly identifying himself or herself before notifying the proper authorities or obtaining assistance, knowing that any other person
involved in the accident is in need of medical or other assistance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2) An operator shall place a prominent notice containing
the substance of this section in such places as are necessary to
notify the public. [1989 c 81 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 139 § 3. Formerly RCW 70.117.030.]
79A.45.050
Severability—1989 c 81: See note following RCW 79A.45.020.
79A.45.060
79A.45.060 Insurance requirements for operators.
(1) Every tramway, ski lift, or commercial skimobile operator
shall maintain liability insurance of not less than one hundred
thousand dollars per person per accident and of not less than
two hundred thousand dollars per accident.
(2) Every operator of a rope tow, wire rope tow, j-bar, tbar, or similar device shall maintain liability insurance of not
less than twenty-five thousand dollars per person per accident
and of not less than fifty thousand dollars per accident.
(3) This section shall not apply to operators of tramways
that are not open to the general public and that are operated
without charge, except that this section shall apply to operators of tramways that are operated by schools, ski clubs, or
similar organizations. [1977 ex.s. c 139 § 4. Formerly RCW
70.117.040.]
Chapter 79A.50 RCW
PUBLIC LANDS FOR STATE OR CITY PARKS
Chapter 79A.50
Sections
79A.50.010 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Regents’
consent, when.
79A.50.020 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Rental—
Deposit of rent.
79A.50.030 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Removal
of timber—Consent—Compensation.
79A.50.040 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands, payment of full
market value rental—Other lands, rent free.
79A.50.050 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands—Determination
of full market value by board of natural resources.
79A.50.060 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands—Full market
value rental defined—Factor in determination.
79A.50.070 State lands used for state parks—Certain funds appropriated
for rental to be deposited without deduction for management
purposes.
79A.50.080 Utilization of public lands for outdoor recreational and other
beneficial public uses—State agency cooperation.
79A.50.090 Department estopped from certain actions respecting state
parks without concurrence of commission.
79A.50.100 State trust lands—Withdrawal—Revocation or modification
of withdrawal when used for recreational purposes—Hearing—Notice—Board to determine most beneficial use in
accordance with policy.
79A.50.110 Exchange of lands to secure private lands for parks and recreation purposes.
79A.50.010
79A.50.010 Use of public lands for state or city park
purposes—Regents’ consent, when. The department of
natural resources is hereby authorized to withdraw from sale
or lease, and reserve for state or city park purposes, public
lands selected by the state parks and recreation commission,
for such time as it shall determine will be for the best interests
of the state and any particular fund for which said public
[Title 79A RCW—page 50]
lands are being held in trust: PROVIDED, None of the lands
selected under the provisions of section 3, chapter 91, Laws
of 1903, shall be withdrawn or reserved hereunder without
the consent of the board of regents of the University of Washington; except that the consent of the board of regents of the
University of Washington shall not be required with regard to
any such lands which are situated within the corporate limits
of any city or town and are presently zoned for residential
use. [1969 ex.s. c 129 § 2; 1951 c 26 § 1. Formerly RCW
79.08.102.]
Reviser’s note: 1903 c 91 § 3 referred to herein is not codified. See
Index of Public Land Acts of Special or Historical Nature not codified in
RCW following Title 79 RCW digest.
79A.50.020
79A.50.020 Use of public lands for state or city park
purposes—Rental—Deposit of rent. The department of
natural resources and the state parks and recreation commission shall fix a yearly reasonable rental for the use of public
lands reserved for state park purposes, which shall be paid by
the commission to the department for the particular fund for
which the lands had been held in trust, and which rent shall be
transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in such fund.
[1988 c 128 § 59; 1951 c 26 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.08.104.]
79A.50.030
79A.50.030 Use of public lands for state or city park
purposes—Removal of timber—Consent—Compensation. No merchantable timber shall be cut or removed from
lands reserved for state park purposes without the consent of
the department of natural resources and without payment to
the particular fund for which the lands are held in trust, the
reasonable value thereof as fixed by the department. [1988 c
128 § 60; 1951 c 26 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.08.106.]
79A.50.040
79A.50.040 State lands used for state parks—Trust
lands, payment of full market value rental—Other lands,
rent free. The parks and recreation commission shall pay to
the department of natural resources the full market value
rental for state-owned lands acquired in trust from the United
States that are used for state parks. All other state lands used
by the parks and recreation commission for state parks shall
be rent free. [1967 ex.s. c 63 § 4. Formerly RCW
79.08.1062.]
79A.50.050
79A.50.050 State lands used for state parks—Trust
lands—Determination of full market value by board of
natural resources. The full market value shall be determined by the board of natural resources for trust lands used
for state park purposes. [1969 ex.s. c 189 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 63
§ 5. Formerly RCW 79.08.1064.]
79A.50.060
79A.50.060 State lands used for state parks—Trust
lands—Full market value rental defined—Factor in
determination. The full market value rental for trust lands
used by the parks and recreation commission shall be a percentage of the full market value of the land and the board of
natural resources shall consider in its deliberations the average percentage of return realized by the state during the preceding fiscal biennium on the invested common school permanent fund. [1969 ex.s. c 189 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 63 § 6. Formerly RCW 79.08.1066.]
(2006 Ed.)
Scenic River System
79A.50.070
79A.50.070 State lands used for state parks—Certain
funds appropriated for rental to be deposited without
deduction for management purposes. Any funds appropriated to the state parks and recreation commission for payment of rental for use of state lands reserved for state park
purposes during the 1969-71 biennium and received by the
department of natural resources shall be deposited by the
department to the applicable trust land accounts without the
deduction normally applied to such revenues for management
purposes. [1969 ex.s. c 189 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.08.1069.]
79A.50.080
79A.50.080 Utilization of public lands for outdoor
recreational and other beneficial public uses—State
agency cooperation. In order to maximize outdoor recreation opportunities for the people of the state of Washington
and allow for the full utilization of state owned land, all state
departments and agencies are authorized and directed to
cooperate together in fully utilizing the public lands. All state
departments and agencies, vested with statutory authority for
utilizing land for outdoor recreation or other beneficial public
uses, are authorized and directed to apply to another state
department or agency holding suitable public lands for permission of use. The department or agency applied to is authorized and directed to grant permission of use to the applying
department or agency if the public use of the public land
would be consistent with the existing and continuing principal uses. Trust lands may be withdrawn for outdoor recreation purposes from sale or lease for other purposes by the
department of natural resources pursuant to this section subject to the constraints imposed by the Washington state Constitution and the federal enabling statute. The decision
regarding such consistency with existing and continuing principal uses shall be made by the agency owning or controlling
such lands and which decision shall be final. [1969 ex.s. c
247 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.08.1072.]
79A.50.090
79A.50.090 Department estopped from certain
actions respecting state parks without concurrence of
commission. The department of natural resources shall not
rescind the withdrawal of public land in any existing and
future state park nor sell any timber or other valuable material
therefrom or grant any right of way or easement thereon,
except as provided in the withdrawal order or for off-site
drilling, without the concurrence of the state parks and recreation commission.
The department of natural resources shall have reasonable access across such lands in order to reach other public
lands administered by the department of natural resources.
[1969 ex.s. c 247 § 2. Formerly RCW 79.08.1074.]
State trust lands—Withdrawal—Revocation or modification of withdrawal
when used for recreational purposes—Board to determine most beneficial use in accordance with policy: RCW 79A.50.100.
79A.50.100
79A.50.100 State trust lands—Withdrawal—Revocation or modification of withdrawal when used for recreational purposes—Hearing—Notice—Board to determine most beneficial use in accordance with policy. (1) A
public hearing may be held prior to any withdrawal of state
trust lands and shall be held prior to any revocation of withdrawal or modification of withdrawal of state trust lands used
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 79A.55
for recreational purposes by the department of natural
resources or by other state agencies.
(2) The department shall cause notice of the withdrawal,
revocation of withdrawal or modification of withdrawal of
state trust lands as described in subsection (1) of this section
to be published by advertisement once a week for four weeks
prior to the public hearing in at least one newspaper published and of general circulation in the county or counties in
which the state trust lands are situated, and by causing a copy
of said notice to be posted in a conspicuous place in the
department’s Olympia office, in the district office in which
the land is situated, and in the office of the county auditor in
the county where the land is situated thirty days prior to the
public hearing. The notice shall specify the time and place of
the public hearing and shall describe with particularity each
parcel of state trust lands involved in said hearing.
(3) The board of natural resources shall administer the
hearing according to its prescribed rules and regulations.
(4) The board of natural resources shall determine the
most beneficial use or combination of uses of the state trust
lands. Its decision will be conclusive as to the matter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That said decisions as to uses shall
conform to applicable state plans and policy guidelines
adopted by the department of community, trade, and economic development. [1995 c 399 § 209; 1985 c 6 § 24; 1969
ex.s. c 129 § 1. Formerly RCW 79.08.1078.]
Purchase of withdrawn state trust lands by state parks and recreation commission: RCW 79A.05.210.
Reconveyance of state forest land to counties for park purposes: RCW
79.22.300 through 79.22.330.
79A.50.110 Exchange of lands to secure private lands
for parks and recreation purposes. For the purpose of
securing and preserving privately owned lands for parks and
recreation purposes, the department of natural resources is
authorized, with the advice and approval of the state board of
natural resources, to exchange any state lands of equal value
for such lands. Lands acquired by exchange as herein provided shall be withdrawn from lease and sale and reserved for
park and recreation purposes. [1967 ex.s. c 64 § 2. Formerly
RCW 79.08.109.]
79A.50.110
Construction—Severability—1967 ex.s. c 64: See notes following
RCW 79.10.140.
Outdoor recreation facilities, construction and maintenance by department
of natural resources: RCW 79.10.140.
Chapter 79A.55
Chapter 79A.55 RCW
SCENIC RIVER SYSTEM
Sections
79A.55.005 Legislative finding—Purpose.
79A.55.010 Definitions.
79A.55.020 Management policies—Development—Hearings—Notice (as
amended by 1999 c 151).
79A.55.020 Management policies—Development—Inclusion of management plans—Identification and exclusion of unsuitably
developed lands—Boundaries of river areas—Hearings—
Notice—Meetings—Chair—Studies—Proposals for system
additions (as amended by 1999 c 249).
79A.55.030 Administration of management program—Powers, duties, and
authority of commission.
79A.55.040 State agencies and local governments to pursue policies to
conserve and enhance included river areas—Shoreline management act—Private lands—Trust lands.
79A.55.050 Criteria for inclusion of rivers within system.
[Title 79A RCW—page 51]
79A.55.005
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.55.060 Authority of department of fish and wildlife unaffected.
79A.55.070 Rivers designated as part of system.
79A.55.080 Inclusion of state’s scenic rivers in national wild and scenic
river system not precluded.
79A.55.090 Wildlife fund moneys not to be used.
79A.55.900 Severability—1977 ex.s. c 161.
79A.55.005
79A.55.005 Legislative finding—Purpose. The legislature hereby finds that many rivers of this state, with their
immediate environs, possess outstanding natural, scenic, historic, ecological, and recreational values of present and future
benefit to the public. The legislature further finds that the policy of permitting the construction of dams and other
impoundment facilities at appropriate sections of the rivers of
this state needs to be complemented by a policy that would
protect and preserve the natural character of such rivers and
fulfill other conservation purposes. It is hereby declared to be
the policy of this state that certain selected rivers of the state
which, with their immediate environs, possess the aforementioned characteristics, shall be preserved in as natural a condition as practical and that overuse of such rivers, which
tends to downgrade their natural condition, shall be discouraged.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a program for
managing publicly owned land on rivers included in the
state’s scenic river system, to indicate the river segments to
be initially included in that system, to prescribe a procedure
for adding additional components to the system, and to protect the rights of private property owners. [1977 ex.s. c 161 §
1. Formerly RCW 79.72.010.]
79A.55.010
79A.55.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in
this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation
commission.
(2) "Participating local government" means the legislative authority of any city or county, a portion of whose territorial jurisdiction is bounded by or includes a river or river
segment of the state’s scenic river system.
(3) "River" means a flowing body of water or a section,
segment, or portion thereof.
(4) "River area" means a river and the land area in its
immediate environs as established by the participating agencies not exceeding a width of one-quarter mile landward from
the streamway on either side of the river.
(5) "Scenic easement" means the negotiated right to control the use of land, including the air space above the land, for
the purpose of protecting the scenic view throughout the
visual corridor.
(6) "Streamway" means that stream-dependent corridor
of single or multiple, wet or dry, channel or channels within
which the usual seasonal or stormwater run-off peaks are
contained, and within which environment the flora, fauna,
soil, and topography is dependent on or influenced by the
height and velocity of the fluctuating river currents.
(7) "System" means all the rivers and river areas in the
state designated by the legislature for inclusion as scenic rivers but does not include tributaries of a designated river
unless specifically included by the legislature. The inclusion
of a river in the system does not mean that other rivers or tributaries in a drainage basin shall be required to be part of the
[Title 79A RCW—page 52]
management program developed for the system unless the
rivers and tributaries within the drainage basin are specifically designated for inclusion by the legislature.
(8) "Visual corridor" means that area which can be seen
in a normal summer month by a person of normal vision
walking either bank of a river included in the system. The
visual corridor shall not exceed the river area. [1999 c 249 §
801; 1999 c 151 § 1701; 1994 c 264 § 64; 1988 c 36 § 57;
1987 c 57 § 1; 1984 c 7 § 371; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 2. Formerly
RCW 79.72.020.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1999 c 151 § 1701 and
by 1999 c 249 § 801, each without reference to the other. Both amendments
are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
79A.55.020
79A.55.020 Management policies—Development—Hearings—
Notice (as amended by 1999 c 151). (1) The department shall develop and
adopt management policies for publicly owned or leased land on the rivers
designated by the legislature as being a part of the state’s scenic river system
and within the associated river areas. The department may adopt regulations
identifying river classifications which reflect the characteristics common to
various segments of scenic rivers and may adopt management policies consistent with local government’s shoreline management master plans appropriate for each such river classification. All such policies shall be ((subject to
review by the committee of participating agencies. Once such a policy has
been approved by a majority vote of the committee members, it shall be))
adopted by the department in accordance with the provisions of chapter
34.05 RCW, as now or hereafter amended. Any variance with such a policy
by any public agency shall be authorized only by the approval of the ((committee of participating agencies by majority vote,)) department and shall be
made only to alleviate unusual hardships unique to a given segment of the
system.
(2) Any policies developed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section
shall include management plans for protecting ecological, economic, recreational, aesthetic, botanical, scenic, geological, hydrological, fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, archaeological, and scientific features of the rivers
designated as being in the system. Such policies shall also include management plans to encourage any nonprofit group, organization, association, person, or corporation to develop and adopt programs for the purpose of increasing fish propagation.
(3) The ((committee of participating agencies shall, by two-thirds
majority vote,)) department shall identify on a river by river basis any publicly owned or leased lands which could be included in a river area of the system but which are developed in a manner unsuitable for land to be managed
as part of the system. The department shall exclude lands so identified from
the provisions of any management policies implementing the provisions of
this chapter.
(4) The ((committee of participating agencies, by majority vote,))
department shall determine the boundaries which shall define the river area
associated with any included river. With respect to the rivers named in
*RCW 79.72.080, the ((committee)) department shall make such determination, and those determinations authorized by subsection (3) of this section,
within one year of September 21, 1977.
(5) Before making a decision regarding the river area to be included in
the system, a variance in policy, or the excluding of land from the provisions
of the management policies, the ((committee)) department shall hold hearings in accord with chapter 34.05 RCW, with at least one public hearing to
be held in the general locale of the river under consideration. The department
shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area
which includes the river or rivers to be considered, a description, including a
map showing such river or rivers, of the material to be considered at the public hearing. Such notice shall appear at least twice in the time period between
two and four weeks prior to the public hearing.
(((6) Meetings of the committee shall be called by the department or by
written petition signed by five or more of the committee members. The chairman of the parks and recreation commission or the chairman’s designee shall
(2006 Ed.)
Scenic River System
serve as the chairman of any meetings of the committee held to implement
the provisions of this chapter.))
The ((committee)) department shall seek and receive comments from
the public regarding potential additions to the system, shall initiate studies,
and may((, through the department,)) submit to any session of the legislature
proposals for additions to the state scenic river system. These proposals shall
be accompanied by a detailed report on the factors which, in the ((committee’s)) department’s judgment, make an area a worthy addition to the system.
[1999 c 151 § 1702; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.72.030.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.72.080 was recodified as RCW 79A.55.070
pursuant to 1999 c 249 § 1601.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.
79A.55.020
79A.55.020 Management policies—Development—Inclusion of
management plans—Identification and exclusion of unsuitably developed lands—Boundaries of river areas—Hearings—Notice—Meetings—Chair—Studies—Proposals for system additions (as amended by
1999 c 249). (1) The ((department)) commission shall develop and adopt
management policies for publicly owned or leased land on the rivers designated by the legislature as being a part of the state’s scenic river system and
within the associated river areas. The ((department)) commission may adopt
((regulations)) rules identifying river classifications which reflect the characteristics common to various segments of scenic rivers and may adopt management policies consistent with local government’s shoreline management
master plans appropriate for each such river classification. All such policies
shall be subject to review by the committee of participating agencies. Once
such a policy has been approved by a majority vote of the committee members, it shall be adopted by the ((department)) commission in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.
Any variance with such a policy by any public agency shall be authorized
only by the approval of the committee of participating agencies by majority
vote, and shall be made only to alleviate unusual hardships unique to a given
segment of the system.
(2) Any policies developed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section
shall include management plans for protecting ecological, economic, recreational, aesthetic, botanical, scenic, geological, hydrological, fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, archaeological, and scientific features of the rivers
designated as being in the system. Such policies shall also include management plans to encourage any nonprofit group, organization, association, person, or corporation to develop and adopt programs for the purpose of increasing fish propagation.
(3) The committee of participating agencies shall, by two-thirds majority vote, identify on a river by river basis any publicly owned or leased lands
which could be included in a river area of the system but which are developed in a manner unsuitable for land to be managed as part of the system.
The ((department)) commission shall exclude lands so identified from the
provisions of any management policies implementing the provisions of this
chapter.
(4) The committee of participating agencies, by majority vote, shall
determine the boundaries which shall define the river area associated with
any included river. With respect to the rivers named in RCW 79A.55.070,
the committee shall make such determination, and those determinations
authorized by subsection (3) of this section, within one year of September
21, 1977.
(5) Before making a decision regarding the river area to be included in
the system, a variance in policy, or the excluding of land from the provisions
of the management policies, the committee shall hold hearings in accord
with chapter 34.05 RCW, with at least one public hearing to be held in the
general locale of the river under consideration. The ((department)) commission shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
area which includes the river or rivers to be considered, a description, including a map showing such river or rivers, of the material to be considered at the
public hearing. Such notice shall appear at least twice in the time period
between two and four weeks prior to the public hearing.
(6) Meetings of the committee shall be called by the ((department))
commission or by written petition signed by five or more of the committee
members. The ((chairman)) chair of the ((parks and recreation)) commission
or the ((chairman’s)) chair’s designee shall serve as the ((chairman)) chair of
any meetings of the committee held to implement the provisions of this chapter.
The committee shall seek and receive comments from the public
regarding potential additions to the system, shall initiate studies, and may,
through the ((department)) commission, submit to any session of the legislature proposals for additions to the state scenic river system. These proposals
(2006 Ed.)
79A.55.030
shall be accompanied by a detailed report on the factors which, in the committee’s judgment, make an area a worthy addition to the system. [1999 c
249 § 802; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 3. Formerly RCW 79.72.030.]
Reviser’s note: RCW 79A.55.020 was amended twice during the 1999
legislative session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.55.030
79A.55.030 Administration of management program—Powers, duties, and authority of commission. (1)
The management program for the system shall be administered by the commission. The commission shall have the
responsibility for coordinating the development of the program between affected state agencies and participating local
governments, and shall develop and adopt rules, in accord
with chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act,
for each portion of the system, which shall implement the
management policies. In developing rules for a specific river
in the system, the commission shall hold at least one public
hearing in the general locale of the river under consideration.
The hearing may constitute the hearing required by chapter
34.05 RCW. The commission shall cause a brief summary of
the proposed rules to be published twice in a newspaper of
general circulation in the area that includes the river to be
considered in the period of time between two and four weeks
prior to the public hearing. In addition to the foregoing
required publication, the commission shall also provide
notice of the hearings, rules, and decisions of the commission
to radio and television stations and major local newspapers in
the areas that include the river to be considered.
(2) In addition to any other powers granted to carry out
the intent of this chapter, the commission is authorized to: (a)
Purchase, within the river area, real property in fee or any
lesser right or interest in real property including, but not limited to scenic easements and future development rights,
visual corridors, wildlife habitats, unique ecological areas,
historical sites, camping and picnic areas, boat launching
sites, and/or easements abutting the river for the purpose of
preserving or enhancing the river or facilitating the use of the
river by the public for fishing, boating and other water related
activities; and (b) purchase, outside of a river area, public
access to the river area.
The right of eminent domain shall not be utilized in any
purchase made pursuant to this section.
(3) The commission is further authorized to: (a) Acquire
by gift, devise, grant, or dedication the fee, an option to purchase, a right of first refusal or any other lesser right or interest in real property and upon acquisition such real property
shall be held and managed within the scenic river system; and
(b) accept grants, contributions, or funds from any agency,
public or private, or individual for the purposes of this chapter.
(4) The commission is hereby vested with the power to
obtain injunctions and other appropriate relief against violations of any provisions of this chapter and any rules adopted
under this section or agreements made under the provisions
of this chapter. [1999 c 249 § 803; 1999 c 151 § 1703; 1989
c 175 § 169; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 4. Formerly RCW 79.72.040.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1999 c 151 § 1703 and
by 1999 c 249 § 803, each without reference to the other. Both amendments
[Title 79A RCW—page 53]
79A.55.040
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
79A.55.040
79A.55.040 State agencies and local governments to
pursue policies to conserve and enhance included river
areas—Shoreline management act—Private lands—
Trust lands. (1) All state government agencies and local
governments are hereby directed to pursue policies with
regard to their respective activities, functions, powers, and
duties which are designed to conserve and enhance the conditions of rivers which have been included in the system, in
accordance with the management policies and the rules
adopted by the commission for such rivers. Local agencies
are directed to pursue such policies with respect to all lands in
the river area owned or leased by such local agencies. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the modification of a shoreline management plan adopted by a local government and
approved by the state pursuant to chapter 90.58 RCW without
the approval of the department of ecology and local government. The policies adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be
integrated, as fully as possible, with those of the shoreline
management act of 1971.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall grant to the commission
the power to restrict the use of private land without either the
specific written consent of the owner thereof or the acquisition of rights in real property authorized by RCW
79A.55.030.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the department
of natural resources from exercising its full responsibilities
and obligations for the management of state trust lands.
[1999 c 249 § 804; 1999 c 151 § 1704; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 5.
Formerly RCW 79.72.050.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1999 c 151 § 1704 and
by 1999 c 249 § 804, each without reference to the other. Both amendments
are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
79A.55.060 Authority of department of fish and wildlife unaffected. Nothing contained in this chapter shall
affect the authority of the department of fish and wildlife to
construct facilities or make improvements to facilitate the
passage or propagation of fish nor shall anything in this chapter be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, and
authority of the department of fish and wildlife to regulate,
manage, conserve, and provide for the harvest of fish or wildlife within any area designated as being in the state’s scenic
river system. No hunting shall be permitted in any state park.
[1999 c 249 § 805; 1988 c 36 § 58; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 7. Formerly RCW 79.72.070.]
79A.55.060
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.55.070 Rivers designated as part of system. The
following rivers of the state of Washington are hereby designated as being in the scenic river system of the state of Washington:
(1) The Skykomish river from the junction of the north
and south forks of the Skykomish river:
(a) Downstream approximately fourteen miles to its
junction with the Sultan river;
(b) Upstream approximately twenty miles on the south
fork to the junction of the Tye and Foss rivers;
(c) Upstream approximately eleven miles on the north
fork to its junction with Bear creek;
(2) The Beckler river from its junction with the south
fork of the Skykomish river upstream approximately eight
miles to its junction with Rapid river;
(3) The Tye river from its junction with the south fork of
the Skykomish river upstream approximately fourteen miles
to Tye Lake; and
(4) The Little Spokane river from the upstream boundary
of the state park boat put-in site near Rutter parkway and
downstream to its confluence with the Spokane river. [1991
c 206 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 161 § 8. Formerly RCW 79.72.080.]
79A.55.070
Green River Gorge conservation area: RCW 79A.05.700 through
79A.05.715.
Washington state Yakima river conservation area: RCW 79A.05.750
through 79A.05.795.
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.
79A.55.050
79A.55.050 Criteria for inclusion of rivers within system. Rivers of a scenic nature are eligible for inclusion in the
system. Ideally, a scenic river:
(1) Is free-flowing without diversions that hinder recreational use;
(2) Has a streamway that is relatively unmodified by
riprapping and other stream bank protection;
(3) Has water of sufficient quality and quantity to be
deemed worthy of protection;
(4) Has a relatively natural setting and adequate open
space;
(5) Requires some coordinated plan of management in
order to enhance and preserve the river area; and
(6) Has some lands along its length already in public
ownership, or the possibility for purchase or dedication of
public access and/or scenic easements. [1977 ex.s. c 161 § 6.
Formerly RCW 79.72.060.]
[Title 79A RCW—page 54]
79A.55.080
79A.55.080 Inclusion of state’s scenic rivers in
national wild and scenic river system not precluded.
Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a section or segment of
the state’s scenic rivers included in the system from becoming a part of the national wild and scenic river system. [1977
ex.s. c 161 § 9. Formerly RCW 79.72.090.]
79A.55.090
79A.55.090 *Wildlife fund moneys not to be used. No
funds shall be expended from the *wildlife fund to carry out
the provisions of this chapter. [1988 c 36 § 59; 1977 ex.s. c
161 § 10. Formerly RCW 79.72.100.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
79A.55.900
79A.55.900 Severability—1977 ex.s. c 161. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person of legal
entity or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the
act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
legal entities or circumstances, shall not be affected. [1977
ex.s. c 161 § 12. Formerly RCW 79.72.900.]
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
Chapter 79A.60 RCW
REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL VESSELS
Chapter 79A.60
Sections
79A.60.010 Definitions.
79A.60.020 Violations of chapter punishable as misdemeanor—Circumstances—Violations designated as civil infractions.
79A.60.030 Operation of vessel in a negligent manner—Penalty.
79A.60.040 Operation of vessel in a reckless manner—Operation of a vessel under the influence of intoxicating liquor—Penalty.
79A.60.050 Homicide by watercraft—Penalty.
79A.60.060 Assault by watercraft—Penalty.
79A.60.070 Conviction under RCW 79A.60.050 or 79A.60.060—Community supervision or community placement—Conditions.
79A.60.080 Failure to stop for law enforcement officer.
79A.60.090 Eluding a law enforcement vessel.
79A.60.100 Enforcement—Chapter to supplement federal law.
79A.60.110 Equipment standards—Rules—Penalty.
79A.60.120 Tampering with vessel lights or signals—Exhibiting false
lights or signals—Penalty.
79A.60.130 Muffler or underwater exhaust system required—Exemptions—Enforcement—Penalty.
79A.60.140 Personal flotation devices—Inspection and approval—Rules.
79A.60.150 Failure of vessel to contain required equipment—Liability of
operator or owner—Penalty.
79A.60.160 Personal flotation devices required—Penalty.
79A.60.170 Water skiing safety—Requirements.
79A.60.180 Loading or powering vessel beyond safe operating ability—
Penalties.
79A.60.190 Operation of personal watercraft—Prohibited activities—Penalties.
79A.60.200 Duty of operator involved in collision, accident, or other casualty—Immunity from liability of persons rendering assistance—Penalties.
79A.60.210 Casualty and accident reports—Confidentiality—Use as evidence.
79A.60.220 Boating accident reports by local government agencies—
Investigation—Report of coroner.
79A.60.230 Vessels adrift—Owner to be notified.
79A.60.240 Notice—Contents—Service.
79A.60.250 Posting of notice.
79A.60.260 Compensation—Liability on failure to give notice.
79A.60.270 Disputed claims—Trial—Bond.
79A.60.280 Liability for excessive or negligent use.
79A.60.290 Unclaimed vessel—Procedure.
79A.60.300 Vessels secured pursuant to chapter 79A.65 RCW.
79A.60.400 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Purpose.
79A.60.410 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Whitewater river outfitter’s license required.
79A.60.420 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Conduct constituting misdemeanor.
79A.60.430 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Safety requirements.
79A.60.440 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Operation of vessel—Exemptions.
79A.60.450 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Use of alcohol prohibited—Vessel to be accompanied by
vessel with licensed outfitter.
79A.60.460 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Rights of way.
79A.60.470 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Designation of whitewater river sections.
79A.60.480 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Whitewater river outfitter’s license—Application—Fees—
Insurance—Penalties—State immune from civil actions arising from licensure.
79A.60.485 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
Rules to implement RCW 79A.60.480—Fees.
79A.60.490 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers—
License sanction for certain convictions.
79A.60.495 Designation as whitewater river—Rules—Schedule of fines.
79A.60.498 Uniform regulation of business and professions act.
79A.60.500 Uniform waterway marking system.
79A.60.510 Findings—Sewage disposal initiative established—Boater
environmental education—Waterway access facilities.
79A.60.520 Identification and designation of polluted and environmentally
sensitive areas.
79A.60.530 Designation of marinas, boat launches, or boater destinations
for installation of sewage pumpout or dump units.
79A.60.540 Contracts for financial assistance—Ownership of sewage
pumpout or dump unit—Ongoing costs.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.010
79A.60.550 Development by department of ecology of design, installation,
and operation of sewage pumpout and dump units—Rules.
79A.60.560 Boater environmental education program.
79A.60.570 Grants for environmental education or boat waste management
planning.
79A.60.580 Review of programs by commission.
79A.60.590 Allocation of funds.
79A.60.595 Commission to adopt rules.
79A.60.600 Liquid petroleum gas leak warning devices—Findings.
79A.60.610 Recreational boating fire prevention education program.
79A.60.620 Small spill prevention education program.
79A.60.630 Boating safety education—Commission’s duties—Fee—
Report to the legislature.
79A.60.640 Requirements to operate motor driven boats/vessels—Exemptions—Penalty.
79A.60.650 Boating safety education certification account.
79A.60.660 Operating motor driven boat or vessel for teak surfing, platform dragging, bodysurfing—Prohibition—Exceptions—
Penalty.
79A.60.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Accredited course" means a mandatory course of
instruction on boating safety education that has been
approved by the commission.
(2) "Boat wastes" includes, but is not limited to, sewage,
garbage, marine debris, plastics, contaminated bilge water,
cleaning solvents, paint scrapings, or discarded petroleum
products associated with the use of vessels.
(3) "Boater" means any person on a vessel on waters of
the state of Washington.
(4) "Boater education card" means a card issued to a person who has successfully completed a boating safety education test and has paid the registration fee for a serial number
record to be maintained in the commission’s data base.
(5) "Boating educator" means a person providing an
accredited course.
(6) "Carrying passengers for hire" means carrying passengers in a vessel on waters of the state for valuable consideration, whether given directly or indirectly or received by
the owner, agent, operator, or other person having an interest
in the vessel. This shall not include trips where expenses for
food, transportation, or incidentals are shared by participants
on an even basis. Anyone receiving compensation for skills
or money for amortization of equipment and carrying passengers shall be considered to be carrying passengers for hire on
waters of the state.
(7) "Certificate of accomplishment" means a form of certificate approved by the commission and issued by a boating
educator to a person who has successfully completed an
accredited course.
(8) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation
commission.
(9) "Darkness" means that period between sunset and
sunrise.
(10) "Environmentally sensitive area" means a restricted
body of water where discharge of untreated sewage from
boats is especially detrimental because of limited flushing,
shallow water, commercial or recreational shellfish, swimming areas, diversity of species, the absence of other pollution sources, or other characteristics.
(11) "Guide" means any individual, including but not
limited to subcontractors and independent contractors,
engaged for compensation or other consideration by a whitewater river outfitter for the purpose of operating vessels. A
79A.60.010
[Title 79A RCW—page 55]
79A.60.020
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
person licensed under RCW 77.65.480 or 77.65.440 and acting as a fishing guide is not considered a guide for the purposes of this chapter.
(12) "Marina" means a facility providing boat moorage
space, fuel, or commercial services. Commercial services
include but are not limited to overnight or live-aboard boating accommodations.
(13) "Motor driven boats and vessels" means all boats
and vessels which are self propelled.
(14) "Motor vessel safety operating and equipment
checklist" means a printed list of the safety requirements for
a vessel with a motor installed or attached to the vessel being
rented, chartered, or leased and meeting minimum requirements adopted by the commission in accordance with RCW
79A.60.630.
(15) "Muffler" or "muffler system" means a sound suppression device or system, including an underwater exhaust
system, designed and installed to abate the sound of exhaust
gases emitted from an internal combustion engine and that
prevents excessive or unusual noise.
(16) "Operate" means to steer, direct, or otherwise have
physical control of a vessel that is underway.
(17) "Operator" means an individual who steers, directs,
or otherwise has physical control of a vessel that is underway
or exercises actual authority to control the person at the helm.
(18) "Observer" means the individual riding in a vessel
who is responsible for observing a water skier at all times.
(19) "Owner" means a person who has a lawful right to
possession of a vessel by purchase, exchange, gift, lease,
inheritance, or legal action whether or not the vessel is subject to a security interest.
(20) "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship,
partnership, corporation, nonprofit corporation or organization, limited liability company, firm, association, or other
legal entity located within or outside this state.
(21) "Personal flotation device" means a buoyancy
device, life preserver, buoyant vest, ring buoy, or buoy cushion that is designed to float a person in the water and that is
approved by the commission.
(22) "Personal watercraft" means a vessel of less than
sixteen feet that uses a motor powering a water jet pump, as
its primary source of motive power and that is designed to be
operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on, or
being towed behind the vessel, rather than in the conventional
manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.
(23) "Polluted area" means a body of water used by boaters that is contaminated by boat wastes at unacceptable levels, based on applicable water quality and shellfish standards.
(24) "Public entities" means all elected or appointed bodies, including tribal governments, responsible for collecting
and spending public funds.
(25) "Reckless" or "recklessly" means acting carelessly
and heedlessly in a willful and wanton disregard of the rights,
safety, or property of another.
(26) "Rental motor vessel" means a motor vessel that is
legally owned by a person that is registered as a rental and
leasing agency for recreational motor vessels, and for which
there is a written and signed rental, charter, or lease agreement between the owner, or owner’s agent, of the vessel and
the operator of the vessel.
(27) "Sewage pumpout or dump unit" means:
[Title 79A RCW—page 56]
(a) A receiving chamber or tank designed to receive vessel sewage from a "porta-potty" or a portable container; and
(b) A stationary or portable mechanical device on land, a
dock, pier, float, barge, vessel, or other location convenient to
boaters, designed to remove sewage waste from holding
tanks on vessels.
(28) "Underway" means that a vessel is not at anchor, or
made fast to the shore, or aground.
(29) "Vessel" includes every description of watercraft on
the water, other than a seaplane, used or capable of being
used as a means of transportation on the water. However, it
does not include inner tubes, air mattresses, sailboards, and
small rafts or flotation devices or toys customarily used by
swimmers.
(30) "Water skiing" means the physical act of being
towed behind a vessel on, but not limited to, any skis, aquaplane, kneeboard, tube, or any other similar device.
(31) "Waters of the state" means any waters within the
territorial limits of Washington state.
(32) "Whitewater river outfitter" means any person who
is advertising to carry or carries passengers for hire on any
whitewater river of the state, but does not include any person
whose only service on a given trip is providing instruction in
canoeing or kayaking skills.
(33) "Whitewater rivers of the state" means those rivers
and streams, or parts thereof, within the boundaries of the
state as listed in RCW 79A.60.470 or as designated by the
commission under RCW 79A.60.495. [2005 c 392 § 2; 2003
c 39 § 45; 2000 c 11 § 92; 1998 c 219 § 5; 1997 c 391 § 1;
1993 c 244 § 5; 1933 c 72 § 1; RRS § 9851-1. Formerly
RCW 88.12.010.]
Intent—2005 c 392: See note following RCW 79A.60.630.
Intent—1993 c 244: "It is the intent of the legislature that the boating
safety laws administered by the state parks and recreation commission provide Washington’s citizens with clear and reasonable boating safety regulations and penalties. Therefore, the legislature intends to recodify, clarify,
and partially decriminalize the statewide boating safety laws in order to help
the boating community understand and comply with these laws.
It is also the intent of the legislature to increase boat registration fees in
order to provide additional funds to local governments for boating safety
enforcement and education programs. The funds are to be used for enforcement, education, training, and equipment, including vessel noise measurement equipment. The legislature encourages programs that provide boating
safety education in the primary and secondary school system for boat users
and potential future boat users. The legislature also encourages boating
safety programs that use volunteer and private sector efforts to enhance boating safety and education." [1993 c 244 § 1.]
79A.60.020
79A.60.020 Violations of chapter punishable as misdemeanor—Circumstances—Violations designated as
civil infractions. (1) A violation of this chapter designated
as an infraction is a misdemeanor, punishable under RCW
9.92.030, if the current violation is the person’s third violation of the same provision of this chapter during the past three
hundred sixty-five days.
(2) A violation designated in this chapter as a civil
infraction shall constitute a civil infraction pursuant to chapter 7.84 RCW. [1999 c 249 § 1501; 1993 c 244 § 6. Formerly
RCW 88.12.015.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
79A.60.030 Operation of vessel in a negligent manner—Penalty. A person shall not operate a vessel in a negligent manner. For the purposes of this section, to "operate in a
negligent manner" means operating a vessel in disregard of
careful and prudent operation, or in disregard of careful and
prudent rates of speed that are no greater than is reasonable
and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of traffic,
size of the lake or body of water, freedom from obstruction to
view ahead, effects of vessel wake, and so as not to unduly or
unreasonably endanger life, limb, property or other rights of
any person entitled to the use of such waters. Except as provided in RCW 79A.60.020, a violation of this section is an
infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. [2000 c 11 § 93; 1993 c
244 § 7; 1933 c 72 § 2; RRS § 9851-2. Formerly RCW
88.12.020.]
79A.60.030
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.040
79A.60.040 Operation of vessel in a reckless manner—Operation of a vessel under the influence of intoxicating liquor—Penalty. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a reckless manner.
(2) It shall be a violation for a person to operate a vessel
while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.
A person is considered to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if:
(a) The person has 0.08 grams or more of alcohol per two
hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by analysis of the person’s breath made under RCW 46.61.506; or
(b) The person has 0.08 percent or more by weight of
alcohol in the person’s blood, as shown by analysis of the
person’s blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
(c) The person is under the influence of or affected by
intoxicating liquor or any drug; or
(d) The person is under the combined influence of or
affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.
The fact that any person charged with a violation of this
section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws
of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge
of violating this section. A person cited under this subsection
may upon request be given a breath test for breath alcohol or
may request to have a blood sample taken for blood alcohol
analysis. An arresting officer shall administer field sobriety
tests when circumstances permit.
(3) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided under RCW 9.92.030. In addition, the court
may order the defendant to pay restitution for any damages or
injuries resulting from the offense. [1998 c 213 § 7; 1993 c
244 § 8. Prior: 1990 c 231 § 3; 1990 c 31 § 1; 1987 c 373 §
6; 1986 c 153 § 6; 1985 c 267 § 2. Formerly RCW 88.12.025,
88.12.100, and 88.02.095.]
Effective date—1998 c 213: See note following RCW 46.20.308.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
Effective date—Severability—1990 c 231: See notes following RCW
79A.60.170.
Legislative finding, purpose—Severability—1987 c 373: See notes
following RCW 46.61.502.
79A.60.050
79A.60.050 Homicide by watercraft—Penalty. (1)
When the death of any person ensues within three years as a
proximate result of injury proximately caused by the operat(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.070
ing of any vessel by any person, the operator is guilty of
homicide by watercraft if he or she was operating the vessel:
(a) While under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
any drug, as defined by RCW 79A.60.040;
(b) In a reckless manner; or
(c) With disregard for the safety of others.
(2) When the death is caused by a skier towed by a vessel, the operator of the vessel is not guilty of homicide by
watercraft.
(3) A violation of this section is punishable as a class A
felony according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. [2000 c 11 § 94;
1998 c 219 § 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.029.]
79A.60.060
79A.60.060 Assault by watercraft—Penalty. (1)
"Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which involves a
substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or
protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or
organ of the body.
(2) A person is guilty of assault by watercraft if he or she
operates any vessel:
(a) In a reckless manner, and this conduct is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another; or
(b) While under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
any drug, as defined by RCW 79A.60.040, and this conduct
is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another.
(3) When the injury is caused by a skier towed by a vessel, the operator of the vessel is not guilty of assault by watercraft.
(4) A violation of this section is punishable as a class B
felony according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. [2000 c 11 § 95;
1998 c 219 § 2. Formerly RCW 88.12.032.]
79A.60.070
79A.60.070 Conviction under RCW 79A.60.050 or
79A.60.060—Community supervision or community
placement—Conditions. A person convicted under RCW
79A.60.050 or 79A.60.060 shall, as a condition of community custody imposed under RCW 9.94A.545 or community
placement imposed under RCW 9.94A.700, complete a diagnostic evaluation by an alcohol or drug dependency agency
approved by the department of social and health services or a
qualified probation department, defined under RCW
46.61.516, that has been approved by the department of
social and health services. If the person is found to have an
alcohol or drug problem that requires treatment, the person
shall complete treatment in a program approved by the
department of social and health services under chapter
70.96A RCW. If the person is found not to have an alcohol or
drug problem that requires treatment, he or she shall complete a course in an information school approved by the
department of social and health services under chapter
70.96A RCW. The convicted person shall pay all costs for
any evaluation, education, or treatment required by this section, unless the person is eligible for an existing program
offered or approved by the department of social and health
services. Nothing in chapter 219, Laws of 1998 requires the
addition of new treatment or assessment facilities nor affects
the department of social and health services use of existing
programs and facilities authorized by law. [2000 c 11 § 96;
1998 c 219 § 3. Formerly RCW 88.12.033.]
[Title 79A RCW—page 57]
79A.60.080
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.60.080
79A.60.080 Failure to stop for law enforcement
officer. Any operator of a vessel who willfully fails to stop
when requested or signaled to do so by a person reasonably
identifiable as a law enforcement officer is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [1990 c 235 § 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.035,
88.12.110, and 88.08.070.]
79A.60.090
79A.60.090 Eluding a law enforcement vessel. Any
operator of a vessel who willfully fails or refuses to immediately bring the vessel to a stop and who operates the vessel in
a manner indicating a wanton or willful disregard for the lives
or property of others while attempting to elude a pursuing law
enforcement vessel, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring the vessel to a stop, shall be guilty of a class C
felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW. The signal
given by the law enforcement officer may be by hand, voice,
emergency light, or siren. The officer giving such a signal
shall be in uniform and his or her vessel shall be appropriately marked showing it to be an official law enforcement
vessel. [1990 c 235 § 2. Formerly RCW 88.12.045,
88.12.120, and 88.08.080.]
79A.60.100
79A.60.100 Enforcement—Chapter to supplement
federal law. (1) Every law enforcement officer of this state
and its political subdivisions has the authority to enforce this
chapter. Law enforcement officers may enforce recreational
boating rules adopted by the commission. Such law enforcement officers include, but are not limited to, county sheriffs,
officers of other local law enforcement entities, fish and wildlife officers, through the director, the state patrol, and state
park rangers. In the exercise of this responsibility, all such
officers may stop and board any vessel and direct it to a suitable pier or anchorage to enforce this chapter.
(2) This chapter shall be construed to supplement federal
laws and regulations. To the extent this chapter is inconsistent with federal laws and regulations, the federal laws and
regulations shall control. [2001 c 253 § 60; 1994 c 264 § 80;
1993 c 244 § 9; 1988 c 36 § 73; 1986 c 217 § 10. Formerly
RCW 88.12.055, 88.12.330, and 91.14.100.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.110
79A.60.110 Equipment standards—Rules—Penalty. In addition to the equipment standards prescribed under
this chapter, the commission shall adopt rules specifying
equipment standards for vessels. Except where the violation
is classified as a misdemeanor under this chapter, violation of
any equipment standard adopted by the commission is an
infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. [1993 c 244 § 10. Formerly RCW 88.12.065.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.120
79A.60.120 Tampering with vessel lights or signals—
Exhibiting false lights or signals—Penalty. An operator or
owner who endangers a vessel, or the persons on board the
vessel, by showing, masking, extinguishing, altering, or
removing any light or signal or by exhibiting any false light
or signal, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as provided
in RCW 9.92.030. [1993 c 244 § 11. Formerly RCW
88.12.075.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
[Title 79A RCW—page 58]
79A.60.130
79A.60.130 Muffler or underwater exhaust system
required—Exemptions—Enforcement—Penalty. (1) All
motor-propelled vessels shall be equipped and maintained
with an effective muffler that is in good working order and in
constant use. For the purpose of this section, an effective
muffler or underwater exhaust system does not produce
sound levels in excess of ninety decibels when subjected to a
stationary sound level test that shall be prescribed by rules
adopted by the commission, as of July 25, 1993, and for
engines manufactured on or after January 1, 1994, a noise
level of eighty-eight decibels when subjected to a stationary
sound level test that shall be prescribed by rules adopted by
the commission.
(2) A vessel that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section shall not be operated on the waters
of this state.
(3) No person may operate a vessel on waters of the state
in such a manner as to exceed a noise level of seventy-five
decibels measured from any point on the shoreline of the
body of water on which the vessel is being operated that shall
be specified by rules adopted by the commission, as of July
25, 1993. Such measurement shall not preclude a stationary
sound level test that shall be prescribed by rules adopted by
the commission.
(4) This section does not apply to: (a) A vessel tuning
up, testing for, or participating in official trials for speed
records or a sanctioned race conducted pursuant to a permit
issued by an appropriate governmental agency; or (b) a vessel
being operated by a vessel or marine engine manufacturer for
the purpose of testing or development. Nothing in this subsection prevents local governments from adopting ordinances
to control the frequency, duration, and location of vessel testing, tune-up, and racing.
(5) Any officer authorized to enforce this section who
has reason to believe that a vessel is not in compliance with
the noise levels established in this section may direct the
operator of the vessel to submit the vessel to an on-site test to
measure noise level, with the officer on board if the officer
chooses, and the operator shall comply with such request. If
the vessel exceeds the decibel levels established in this section, the officer may direct the operator to take immediate
and reasonable measures to correct the violation.
(6) Any officer who conducts vessel sound level tests as
provided in this section shall be qualified in vessel noise testing. Qualifications shall include but may not be limited to the
ability to select the appropriate measurement site and the calibration and use of noise testing equipment.
(7) A person shall not remove, alter, or otherwise modify
in any way a muffler or muffler system in a manner that will
prevent it from being operated in accordance with this chapter.
(8) A person shall not manufacture, sell, or offer for sale
any vessel that is not equipped with a muffler or muffler system that does not comply with this chapter. This subsection
shall not apply to power vessels designed, manufactured, and
sold for the sole purpose of competing in racing events and
for no other purpose. Any such exemption or exception shall
be documented in any and every sale agreement and shall be
formally acknowledged by signature on the part of both the
buyer and the seller. Copies of the agreement shall be main(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
tained by both parties. A copy shall be kept on board whenever the vessel is operated.
(9) Except as provided in RCW 79A.60.020, a violation
of this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
(10) Vessels that are equipped with an engine modified
to increase performance beyond the engine manufacturer’s
stock configuration shall have an exhaust system that complies with the standards in this section after January 1, 1994.
Until that date, operators or owners, or both, of such vessels
with engines that are out of compliance shall be issued a
warning and be given educational materials about types of
muffling systems available to muffle noise from such high
performance engines.
(11) Nothing in this section preempts a local government
from exercising any power that it possesses under the laws or
Constitution of the state of Washington to adopt more stringent regulations. [2000 c 11 § 97; 1993 c 244 § 39. Formerly
RCW 88.12.085.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.140
79A.60.140 Personal flotation devices—Inspection
and approval—Rules. (1) The commission shall adopt rules
providing for its inspection and approval of the personal flotation devices that may be used to satisfy the requirements of
this chapter and governing the manner in which such devices
shall be used. The commission shall prescribe the different
types of devices that are appropriate for the different uses,
such as water skiing or operation of a personal watercraft. In
adopting its rules the commission shall consider the United
States coast guard rules or regulations. The commission may
approve devices inspected and approved by the coast guard
without conducting any inspection of the devices itself.
(2) In situations where personal flotation devices are
required under provisions of this chapter, the devices shall be
in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size. If
they are not, then they shall not be considered as personal flotation devices under such provisions. [1993 c 244 § 12. Formerly RCW 88.12.095.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.150
79A.60.150 Failure of vessel to contain required
equipment—Liability of operator or owner—Penalty. If
an infraction is issued under this chapter because a vessel
does not contain the required equipment and if the operator is
not the owner of the vessel, but is operating the vessel with
the express or implied permission of the owner, then either or
both operator or owner may be cited for the infraction. [1993
c 244 § 13. Formerly RCW 88.12.105.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.160
79A.60.160 Personal flotation devices required—
Penalty. (1) No person may operate or permit the operation
of a vessel on the waters of the state without a personal flotation device on board for each person on the vessel. Each personal flotation device shall be in serviceable condition, of an
appropriate size, and readily accessible.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 79A.60.020, a violation
of subsection (1) of this section is an infraction under chapter
7.84 RCW if the vessel is not carrying passengers for hire.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.170
(3) A violation of subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9.92.030, if the vessel is
carrying passengers for hire.
(4) No person shall operate a vessel under nineteen feet
in length on the waters of this state with a child twelve years
old and under, unless the child is wearing a personal flotation
device that meets or exceeds the United States coast guard
approval standards of the appropriate size, while the vessel is
underway. For the purposes of this section, a personal flotation device is not considered readily accessible for children
twelve years old and under unless the device is worn by the
child while the vessel is underway. The personal flotation
device must be worn at all times by a child twelve years old
and under whenever the vessel is underway and the child is
on an open deck or open cockpit of the vessel. The following
circumstances are excepted:
(a) While a child is below deck or in the cabin of a boat
with an enclosed cabin;
(b) While a child is on a United States coast guard
inspected passenger-carrying vessel operating on the navigable waters of the United States; or
(c) While on board a vessel at a time and place where no
person would reasonably expect a danger of drowning to
occur.
(5) Except as provided in RCW 79A.60.020, a violation
of subsection (4) of this section is an infraction under chapter
7.84 RCW. Enforcement of subsection (4) of this section by
law enforcement officers may be accomplished as a primary
action, and need not be accompanied by the suspected violation of some other offense. [2000 c 11 § 98; 1999 c 310 § 1;
1993 c 244 § 14; 1933 c 72 § 5; RRS § 9851-5. Formerly
RCW 88.12.115 and 88.12.050.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.170
79A.60.170 Water skiing safety—Requirements. (1)
The purpose of this section is to promote safety in water skiing on the waters of Washington state, provide a means of
ensuring safe water skiing and promote the enjoyment of
water skiing.
(2) No vessel operator may tow or attempt to tow a water
skier on any waters of Washington state unless such craft
shall be occupied by at least an operator and an observer. The
observer shall continuously observe the person or persons
being towed and shall display a flag immediately after the
towed person or persons fall into the water, and during the
time preparatory to skiing while the person or persons are still
in the water. Such flag shall be a bright red or brilliant orange
color, measuring at least twelve inches square, mounted on a
pole not less than twenty-four inches long and displayed as to
be visible from every direction. This subsection does not
apply to a personal watercraft, the design of which makes no
provision for carrying an operator or any other person on
board, and that is actually operated by the person or persons
being towed. Every remote-operated personal watercraft
shall have a flag attached which meets the requirements of
this subsection. Except as provided under RCW 79A.60.020,
a violation of this subsection is an infraction under chapter
7.84 RCW.
(3) The observer and the operator shall not be the same
person. The observer shall be an individual who meets the
[Title 79A RCW—page 59]
79A.60.180
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
minimum qualifications for an observer established by rules
of the commission. Except as provided under RCW
79A.60.020, a violation of this subsection is an infraction
under chapter 7.84 RCW.
(4) No person shall engage or attempt to engage in water
skiing without wearing a personal flotation device. Except as
provided under RCW 79A.60.020, a violation of this subsection is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
(5) No person shall engage or attempt to engage in water
skiing, or operate any vessel to tow a water skier, on the
waters of Washington state during the period from one hour
after sunset until one hour prior to sunrise. A violation of this
subsection is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided under
RCW 9.92.030.
(6) No person engaged in water skiing either as operator,
observer, or skier, shall conduct himself or herself in a reckless manner that willfully or wantonly endangers, or is likely
to endanger, any person or property. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor as provided under RCW 9.92.030.
(7) The requirements of subsections (2), (3), (4), and (5)
of this section shall not apply to persons engaged in tournaments, competitions, or exhibitions that have been authorized
or otherwise permitted by the appropriate agency having
jurisdiction and authority to authorize such events. [2000 c
11 § 99; 1993 c 244 § 15; 1990 c 231 § 1; 1989 c 241 § 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.125, 88.12.080, and 88.12.070.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
Effective date—1990 c 231: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1990."
[1990 c 231 § 4.]
Severability—1990 c 231: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1990 c 231 § 5.]
79A.60.180
79A.60.180 Loading or powering vessel beyond safe
operating ability—Penalties. (1) A person shall not load or
permit to be loaded a vessel with passengers or cargo beyond
its safe carrying ability or carry passengers or cargo in an
unsafe manner taking into consideration weather and other
existing operating conditions.
(2) A person shall not operate or permit to be operated a
vessel equipped with a motor or other propulsion machinery
of a power beyond the vessel’s ability to operate safely, taking into consideration the vessel’s type, use, and construction, the weather conditions, and other existing operating
conditions.
(3) A violation of subsection (1) or (2) of this section is
an infraction punishable as provided under chapter 7.84
RCW except as provided under RCW 79A.60.020 or where
the overloading or overpowering is reasonably advisable to
effect a rescue or for some similar emergency purpose.
(4) If it appears reasonably certain to any law enforcement officer that a person is operating a vessel clearly loaded
or powered beyond its safe operating ability and in the judgment of that officer the operation creates an especially hazardous condition, the officer may direct the operator to take
immediate and reasonable steps necessary for the safety of
the individuals on board the vessel, including directing the
operator to return to shore or a mooring and to remain there
until the situation creating the hazard is corrected or ended.
Failure to follow the direction of an officer under this subsec[Title 79A RCW—page 60]
tion is a misdemeanor punishable as provided under RCW
9.92.030. [2000 c 11 § 100; 1993 c 244 § 16. Formerly RCW
88.12.135.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.190
79A.60.190 Operation of personal watercraft—Prohibited activities—Penalties. (1) A person shall not operate
a personal watercraft unless each person aboard the personal
watercraft is wearing a personal flotation device approved by
the commission. Except as provided for in RCW 79A.60.020,
a violation of this subsection is a civil infraction punishable
under RCW 7.84.100.
(2) A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by
the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch
shall attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate for the specific vessel. It
is unlawful for any person to remove or disable a cutoff
switch that was installed by the manufacturer.
(3) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft during darkness.
(4) A person under the age of fourteen shall not operate
a personal watercraft on the waters of this state.
(5) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft in a
reckless manner, including recklessly weaving through congested vessel traffic, recklessly jumping the wake of another
vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to the vessel or
when visibility around the vessel is obstructed, or recklessly
swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
(6) A person shall not lease, hire, or rent a personal
watercraft to a person under the age of sixteen.
(7) Subsections (1) through (6) of this section shall not
apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or
a person participating in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition authorized or otherwise permitted by
the appropriate agency having jurisdiction and authority to
authorize such events.
(8) Violations of subsections (2) through (6) of this section constitute a misdemeanor under RCW 9.92.030. [2000 c
11 § 101; 1993 c 244 § 17. Formerly RCW 88.12.145.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.200
79A.60.200 Duty of operator involved in collision,
accident, or other casualty—Immunity from liability of
persons rendering assistance—Penalties. (1) The operator
of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty,
to the extent the operator can do so without serious danger to
the operator’s own vessel or persons aboard, shall render all
practical and necessary assistance to persons affected by the
collision, accident, or casualty to save them from danger
caused by the incident. Under no circumstances may the rendering of assistance or other compliance with this section be
evidence of the liability of such operator for the collision,
accident, or casualty. The operator shall also give all pertinent accident information, as specified by rule by the commission, to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction:
PROVIDED, That this requirement shall not apply to operators of vessels when they are participating in an organized
competitive event authorized or otherwise permitted by the
appropriate agency having jurisdiction and authority to
authorize such events. These duties are in addition to any
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
duties otherwise imposed by law. Except as provided for in
RCW 79A.60.020 and subsection (3) of this section, a violation of this subsection is a civil infraction punishable under
RCW 7.84.100.
(2) Any person who complies with subsection (1) of this
section or who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other
casualty, without objection of the person assisted, shall not be
held liable for any civil damages as a result of the rendering
of assistance or for any act or omission in providing or
arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance, where the assisting person acts as any reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.
(3) An operator of a vessel is guilty of a class C felony
and is punishable pursuant to RCW 9A.20.021 if the operator: (a) Is involved in a collision that results in injury to a person; (b) knew or reasonably should have known that a person
was injured in the collision; and (c) leaves the scene of the
collision without rendering all practical and necessary assistance to the injured person as required pursuant to subsection
(1) of this section, under circumstances in which the operator
could have rendered assistance without serious danger to the
operator’s own vessel or persons aboard. This subsection (3)
does not apply to vessels involved in commerce, including
but not limited to tugs, barges, cargo vessels, commercial
passenger vessels, fishing vessels, and processing vessels.
[2000 c 11 § 102; 1996 c 36 § 1; 1993 c 244 § 18; 1984 c 183
§ 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 48. Formerly RCW 88.12.155,
88.12.130, and 88.02.080.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.210
79A.60.210 Casualty and accident reports—Confidentiality—Use as evidence. (1) All reports made to the
commission pursuant to RCW 79A.60.200 and 79A.05.310
shall be without prejudice to the person who makes the report
and shall be for the confidential usage of governmental agencies, except as follows:
(a) Statistical information which shall be made public;
(b) The names and addresses of the operator and owner
and the registration number or name of the vessel as documented which was involved in an accident or casualty and the
names and addresses of any witnesses which, if reported,
shall be disclosed upon written request to any person
involved in a reportable accident, or, for a reportable casualty, to any member of a decedent’s family or the personal
representatives of the family.
(2) A report made to the commission pursuant to RCW
79A.60.200 and 79A.05.310 or copy thereof shall not be used
in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident or
casualty, except that solely to prove a compliance or failure
to comply with the report requirements of RCW 79A.60.200
and 79A.05.310, a certified statement which indicates that a
report has or has not been made to the commission shall be
provided upon demand to any court or upon written request to
any person who has or claims to have made a report. [1999 c
249 § 1502; 1984 c 183 § 3. Formerly RCW 88.12.165,
88.12.140, and 43.51.402.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.240
79A.60.220
79A.60.220 Boating accident reports by local government agencies—Investigation—Report of coroner. Law
enforcement authorities, fire departments, or search and rescue units of any city or county government shall provide to
the commission a report, prepared by the local government
agency regarding any boating accident occurring within their
jurisdiction resulting in a death or injury requiring hospitalization. Such report shall be provided to the commission
within ten days of the occurrence of the accident. The results
of any investigation of the accident conducted by the city or
county governmental agency shall be included in the report
provided to the commission. At the earliest opportunity, but
in no case more than forty-eight hours after becoming aware
of an accident, the agency shall notify the commission of the
accident. The commission shall have authority to investigate
any boating accident. The results of any investigation conducted by the commission shall be made available to the local
government for further processing. This provision does not
eliminate the requirement for a boating accident report by the
operator required under RCW 79A.60.200.
The report of a county coroner, or any public official
assuming the functions of a coroner, concerning the death of
any person resulting from a boating accident, shall be submitted to the commission within one week of completion. Information in such report may be, together with information in
other such reports, incorporated into the state boating accident report provided for in RCW 79A.05.310(4), and shall be
for the confidential usage of governmental agencies as provided in RCW 79A.60.210. [1999 c 249 § 1503; 1987 c 427
§ 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.175, 88.12.150, and 43.51.403.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Boating accidents and boating safety services—Study—Report—
1987 c 427: "The parks and recreation commission shall conduct a study of
boating accidents and boating safety services in Washington including a
review of how the local option tax for funding of boating safety enforcement
is used. Further the parks and recreation commission shall develop recommendations to address identified problems and report these recommendations to the legislature by January 2, 1988." [1987 c 427 § 4.]
79A.60.230
79A.60.230 Vessels adrift—Owner to be notified.
Any person taking up any vessel found adrift, and out of the
custody of the owner, in waters of this state, shall forthwith
notify the owner thereof, if to him or her known, or if upon
reasonable inquiry he or she can ascertain the name and residence of the owner, and request such owner to pay all reasonable charges, and take such vessel away. [1993 c 244 § 19;
Code 1881 § 3242; 1854 p 386 § 1; RRS § 9891. Formerly
RCW 88.12.185, 88.12.160, and 88.20.010.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.240
79A.60.240 Notice—Contents—Service. Such notice
as is required by RCW 79A.60.230 shall be given personally,
or in writing; if in writing, it shall be served upon the owner,
or may be sent by mail to the post office where such owner
usually receives his or her letters. Such notice shall inform
the party where the vessel was taken up, and where it may be
found, and what amount the taker-up or finder demands for
his or her charges. [1999 c 249 § 1504; 1993 c 244 § 20;
Code 1881 § 3243; 1854 p 386 § 2; RRS § 9892. Formerly
RCW 88.12.195, 88.12.170, and 88.20.020.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
[Title 79A RCW—page 61]
79A.60.250
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.250
79A.60.250 Posting of notice. (1) In all cases where the
notice required by RCW 79A.60.230 is not given personally,
it shall be the duty of the taker-up to post up at the post office
nearest the place where such vessel may be taken up, a written notice of the taking up of such vessel. The written notice
shall contain a description of the vessel, with the name, if any
is painted thereon, also the place where taken up, the place
where the property may be found, and the charge for taking
the same up.
(2) If the taker-up is traveling upon waters of the state,
such notice shall additionally be posted up at the first post
office he or she shall pass after the taking up.
(3) In all cases, the person who took up the vessel shall at
the time when, and place where, he or she posts up such
notice, also mail a copy of such notice, directed to the postmaster of each post office on waters of the state, and within
fifty miles of the place where such vessel is taken up. [1999
c 249 § 1505; 1993 c 244 § 21; Code 1881 § 3244; 1854 p 386
§ 3; RRS § 9893. Formerly RCW 88.12.205, 88.12.180, and
88.20.030.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
VIDED, That in all cases the owner, after filing his or her
complaint before a district judge, shall be entitled to the possession of the vessel, upon giving bond, with security to the
satisfaction of the judge, in double the amount claimed by the
taker-up. When the complaint is filed in the superior court,
the clerk thereof shall approve the security of the bond. The
bond shall be conditioned to pay such costs as shall be
awarded to the finder or taker-up of such vessel. [1993 c 244
§ 23; 1987 c 202 § 248; Code 1881 § 3246; 1854 p 386 § 5;
RRS § 9895. Formerly RCW 88.12.218, 88.12.200, and
88.20.050.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
79A.60.280
79A.60.280 Liability for excessive or negligent use.
In case the taker-up shall use the vessel, more than is necessary to put it into a place of safety, he or she shall be liable to
the owner for such use, and for all damage; and in case it shall
suffer injury from his or her neglect to take suitable care of it,
he or she shall be liable to the owner for all damage. [1993 c
244 § 24; Code 1881 § 3247, part; 1854 p 387 § 6; RRS §
9896, part. FORMER PART OF SECTION: Code 1881 §
3247, part. Now codified as RCW 88.20.070. Formerly RCW
88.12.222, 88.12.210, and 88.20.060.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.260
79A.60.260 Compensation—Liability on failure to
give notice. Every person taking up any vessel so found
adrift, and giving the notice herein required, shall be entitled
to receive from the owner claiming the property, a reasonable
compensation for his or her time, services, expenses, and risk
in taking up said property, and take notice of the same, to be
settled by agreement between the parties. In case the person
has not, within ten days after the taking up, substantially
complied with the provisions of this chapter in giving the
notice, the person shall be entitled to no compensation, but he
or she shall be liable to all damages the owner may have suffered, and be also liable to the owner for the value of the use
of the vessel, from the time of taking it up until the same is
delivered to the owner. [1993 c 244 § 22; Code 1881 § 3245;
1854 p 386 § 4; RRS § 9894. Formerly RCW 88.12.215,
88.12.190, and 88.20.040.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.270
79A.60.270 Disputed claims—Trial—Bond. In case
the parties cannot agree on the amount to be paid the takerup, or the ownership, and the sum claimed is less than one
thousand dollars, the owner may file a complaint, setting out
the facts, and the judge, on hearing, shall decide the same
with a jury, or not, and in the same manner as is provided in
ordinary civil actions before a district judge. If the amount
claimed by the taker-up is more than one thousand dollars,
the owner shall file his or her complaint in the superior court
of the county where the property is, and trial shall be had as
in other civil actions; but if the taker-up claims more than one
thousand dollars, and a less amount is awarded him or her, he
or she shall be liable for all the costs in the superior court; and
in all cases where the taker-up shall recover a less amount
than has been tendered him or her by the owner or claimant,
previous to filing his or her complaint, he or she shall pay the
costs before the district judge or in the superior court: PRO[Title 79A RCW—page 62]
79A.60.290
79A.60.290 Unclaimed vessel—Procedure. In case
such vessel is of less value than one hundred dollars, and is
not claimed within three months, the taker-up may apply to a
district judge of the district where the property is, who, upon
being satisfied that due notice has been given, and that the
owner cannot, with reasonable diligence be found, shall order
the vessel to be sold, and after paying the taker-up such sum
as he or she shall be entitled to, and the costs, the balance
shall be paid the county treasurer as is provided in the case of
the sale of estrays. In case the vessel exceeds one hundred
dollars, and is not claimed within six months, application
shall be made to the superior court of the county, and the
same proceeding shall be thereupon had. All sales made
under this section shall be conducted as sales of personal
property on execution. [1993 c 244 § 25; 1987 c 202 § 249;
Code 1881 § 3247, part; 1854 p 387 § 7; RRS § 9896, part.
Formerly RCW 88.12.225, 88.12.220, 88.20.070, and
88.20.060, part.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
79A.60.300
79A.60.300 Vessels secured pursuant to chapter
79A.65 RCW. The provisions of RCW 79A.60.230 through
79A.60.290 do not apply to vessels secured pursuant to chapter 79A.65 RCW. [2000 c 11 § 103; 1994 c 51 § 8. Formerly
RCW 88.12.227.]
Severability—1994 c 51: See RCW 79A.65.900.
79A.60.400
79A.60.400 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Purpose. The purpose of RCW
79A.60.440 through 79A.60.480 is to further the public interest, welfare, and safety by providing for the protection and
promotion of safety in the operation of vessels carrying passengers for hire on the whitewater rivers of this state. [2000
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
c 11 § 104; 1993 c 244 § 26; 1986 c 217 § 1. Formerly RCW
88.12.230 and 91.14.005.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.410
79A.60.410 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Whitewater river outfitter’s license
required. (1) No person shall act in the capacity of a paid
whitewater river outfitter, or advertise in any newspaper or
magazine or any other trade publication, or represent himself
or herself as a whitewater river outfitter in the state, without
first obtaining a whitewater river outfitter’s license from the
department of licensi ng in accordance with R CW
79A.60.480.
(2) Every whitewater river outfitter’s license must, at all
times, be conspicuously placed on the premises set forth in
the license. [2000 c 11 § 105; 1997 c 391 § 2. Formerly RCW
88.12.232.]
Effective date—1997 c 391 §§ 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8: "Sections 2, 4, 5, 7,
and 8 of this act take effect January 1, 1998." [1997 c 391 § 12.]
79A.60.420
79A.60.420 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Conduct constituting misdemeanor.
Except as provided in RCW 79A.60.480, the commission of
a prohibited act or the omission of a required act under RCW
79A.60.430 through 79A.60.480 constitutes a misdemeanor,
punishable as provided under RCW 9.92.030. [2000 c 11 §
106; 1997 c 391 § 3; 1993 c 244 § 27. Formerly RCW
88.12.235.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.430
79A.60.430 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Safety requirements. (1) While carrying passengers for hire on whitewater rivers in this state, the
licensed whitewater river outfitter shall comply with the following requirements at the beginning of every trip:
(a) If using inflatable vessels, use only vessels with three
or more separate air chambers;
(b) Ensure that all passengers are wearing a securely fastened United States coast guard-approved type V personal
flotation device of the proper size, and that all guides are
wearing a securely fastened United States coast guardapproved type III or type V personal flotation device;
(c) Ensure that a spare United States coast guardapproved type III or type V personal flotation device in good
repair is accessible to all vessels on each trip;
(d) Ensure that each vessel has on it a bagged throwable
line with a floating line and bag;
(e) Ensure that each vessel has accessible an adequate
first-aid kit;
(f) Ensure that each vessel has a spare propelling device;
(g) Ensure that a repair kit and air pump are accessible to
inflatable vessel;
(h) Ensure that equipment to prevent and treat hypothermia is accessible to all vessels on a trip; and
(i) Ensure that each vessel is operated by a guide who has
complied with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.
(2) No person may act as a guide unless the individual is
at least eighteen years of age and has:
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.450
(a) Successfully completed a lifesaving training course
meeting standards adopted by the commission;
(b) Completed a program of guide training on whitewater rivers, conducted by a guide instructor, which program
must run for a minimum of fifty hours on a whitewater river
and must include at least the following elements:
(i) Equipment preparation and boat rigging;
(ii) Reading river characteristics including currents,
eddies, rapids, and hazards;
(iii) Methods of scouting and running rapids;
(iv) River rescue techniques, including emergency procedures and equipment recovery; and
(v) Communications with clients, including paddling
and safety instruction; and
(c) Completed at least one trip on an entire section of
whitewater river before carrying passengers for hire in a vessel on any such section of whitewater river.
(3) A guide instructor must have traveled at least one
thousand five hundred river miles, seven hundred fifty of
which must have been while acting as a guide.
(4) Any person conducting guide training on whitewater
rivers shall, upon request of a guide trainee, issue proof of
completion to the guide completing the required training program. [1997 c 391 § 4; 1993 c 244 § 30; 1986 c 217 § 6. Formerly RCW 88.12.245, 88.12.280, and 91.14.050.]
Effective date—1997 c 391 §§ 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8: See note following
RCW 79A.60.410.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.440
79A.60.440 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Operation of vessel—Exemptions.
(1) No person may operate any vessel carrying passengers for
hire on whitewater rivers in a manner that interferes with
other vessels or with the free and proper navigation of the rivers of this state.
(2) Every operator of a vessel carrying passengers for
hire on whitewater rivers shall at all times operate the vessel
in a careful and prudent manner and at such a speed as to not
endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.
(3) No vessel carrying passengers for hire on whitewater
rivers may be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe
carrying capacity taking into consideration the type and construction of the vessel and other existing operating conditions. In the case of inflatable vessels, safe carrying capacity
in whitewater shall be considered as less than the United
States coast guard capacity rating for each vessel. This subsection shall not apply in cases of an unexpected emergency
on the river.
(4) Individuals licensed under chapter 77.32 RCW and
acting as fishing guides are exempt from RCW 79A.60.420
and 79A.60.460 through 79A.60.480. [2000 c 11 § 107; 1993
c 244 § 28; 1986 c 217 § 3. Formerly RCW 88.12.250 and
91.14.020.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.450
79A.60.450 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Use of alcohol prohibited—Vessel to
be accompanied by vessel with licensed outfitter. (1)
Whitewater river outfitters and guides on any trip carrying
passengers for hire on whitewater rivers of the state shall not
[Title 79A RCW—page 63]
79A.60.460
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
allow the use of alcohol during the course of a trip on a whitewater river section in this state.
(2) Any vessel carrying passengers for hire on any whitewater river section in this state must be accompanied by at
least one other vessel being operated by a licensed whitewater river outfitter or a guide under the direction or control of a
licensed whitewater river outfitter. [1997 c 391 § 5; 1993 c
244 § 31; 1986 c 217 § 7. Formerly RCW 88.12.255,
88.12.290, and 91.14.060.]
Effective date—1997 c 391 §§ 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8: See note following
RCW 79A.60.410.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.460
79A.60.460 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Rights of way. (1) Except as provided
in subsection (2) of this section, vessels on whitewater rivers
proceeding downstream have the right of way over vessels
proceeding upstream.
(2) In all cases, vessels not under power proceeding
downstream on whitewater rivers have the right of way over
motorized craft underway. [1993 c 244 § 29; 1986 c 217 § 4.
Formerly RCW 88.12.260 and 91.14.030.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.470
79A.60.470 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Designation of whitewater river sections. Whitewater river sections include but are not limited
to:
(1) Green river above Flaming Geyser state park;
(2) Klickitat river above the confluence with Summit
creek;
(3) Methow river below the town of Carlton;
(4) Sauk river above the town of Darrington;
(5) Skagit river above Bacon creek;
(6) Suiattle river;
(7) Tieton river below Rimrock dam;
(8) Skykomish river below Sunset Falls and above the
Highway 2 bridge one mile east of the town of Gold Bar;
(9) Wenatchee river above the Wenatchee county park at
the town of Monitor;
(10) White Salmon river; and
(11) Any other section of river designated a "whitewater
river section" by the commission under RCW 79A.60.495.
[2000 c 11 § 108; 1997 c 391 § 6; 1986 c 217 § 8. Formerly
RCW 88.12.265, 88.12.300, and 91.14.070.]
79A.60.480
79A.60.480 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Whitewater river outfitter’s license—
Application—Fees—Insurance—Penalties—State
immune from civil actions arising from licensure. (1) The
department of licensing may issue a whitewater river outfitter’s license to an applicant who submits a completed application, pays the required fee, and complies with the requirements of this section.
(2) An applicant for a whitewater river outfitter’s license
shall make application upon a form provided by the department of licensing. The form must be submitted annually and
include the following information:
[Title 79A RCW—page 64]
(a) The name, residence address, and residence telephone number, and the business name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(b) Certification that all employees, subcontractors, or
independent contractors hired as guides meet training standards under RCW 79A.60.430 before carrying any passengers for hire;
(c) Proof that the applicant has liability insurance for a
minimum of three hundred thousand dollars per claim for
occurrences by the applicant and the applicant’s employees
that result in bodily injury or property damage. All guides
must be covered by the applicant’s insurance policy;
(d) Certification that the applicant will maintain the
insurance for a period of not less than one year from the date
of issuance of the license; and
(e) Certification by the applicant that for a period of not
less than twenty-four months immediately preceding the
application the applicant:
(i) Has not had a license, permit, or certificate to carry
passengers for hire on a river revoked by another state or by
an agency of the government of the United States due to a
conviction for a violation of safety or insurance coverage
requirements no more stringent than the requirements of this
chapter; and
(ii) Has not been denied the right to apply for a license,
permit, or certificate to carry passengers for hire on a river by
another state.
(3) The department of licensing shall charge a fee for
each application, to be set in accordance with RCW
43.24.086.
(4) Any person advertising or representing himself or
herself as a whitewater river outfitter who is not currently
licensed is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(5) The department of licensing shall submit annually a
list of licensed persons and companies to the department of
community, trade, and economic development, tourism promotion division.
(6) If an insurance company cancels or refuses to renew
insurance for a licensee, the insurance company shall notify
the department of licensing in writing of the termination of
coverage and its effective date not less than thirty days before
the effective date of termination.
(a) Upon receipt of an insurance company termination
notice, the department of licensing shall send written notice
to the licensee that on the effective date of termination the
department of licensing will suspend the license unless proof
of insurance as required by this section is filed with the
department of licensing before the effective date of the termination.
(b) If an insurance company fails to give notice of coverage termination, this failure shall not have the effect of continuing the coverage.
(c) The department of licensing may sanction a license
under RCW 18.235.110 if the licensee fails to maintain in full
force and effect the insurance required by this section.
(7) The state of Washington shall be immune from any
civil action arising from the issuance of a license under this
section. [2002 c 86 § 327; 2000 c 11 § 109; 1997 c 391 § 7;
1995 c 399 § 216; 1986 c 217 § 11. Formerly RCW
88.12.275, 88.12.320, and 91.14.090.]
Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
Part headings not law—Severability—2002 c 86: See RCW
18.235.902 and 18.235.903.
Effective date—1997 c 391 §§ 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8: See note following
RCW 79A.60.410.
79A.60.485
79A.60.485 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—Rules to implement RCW
79A.60.480—Fees. The department of licensing may adopt
and enforce such rules, including the setting of fees, as may
be consistent with and necessary to implement RCW
79A.60.480. The fees must approximate the cost of administration. The fees must be deposited in the master license
account. [2000 c 11 § 110; 1997 c 391 § 9. Formerly RCW
88.12.276.]
79A.60.490
79A.60.490 Vessels carrying passengers for hire on
whitewater rivers—License sanction for certain convictions. Within five days after conviction for any of the provisions of RCW 79A.60.430 through 79A.60.480, the court
shall forward a copy of the judgment to the department of
licensing. After receiving proof of conviction, the department
of licensing may sanction the license of any whitewater river
outfitter under RCW 18.235.110. Proof of compliance with
all licensing requirements and correction of the violation
under which the whitewater river outfitter was convicted may
be considered by the department as mitigating factors when
taking disciplinary action. [2002 c 86 § 328; 2000 c 11 § 111;
1997 c 391 § 8. Formerly RCW 88.12.278.]
Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.
Part headings not law—Severability—2002 c 86: See RCW
18.235.902 and 18.235.903.
Effective date—1997 c 391 §§ 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8: See note following
RCW 79A.60.410.
79A.60.495
79A.60.495 Designation as whitewater river—
Rules—Schedule of fines. The commission shall adopt
rules that designate as whitewater rivers all sections of rivers
with at least one class III rapid or greater, as described in the
American Whitewater Affiliation’s whitewater safety code.
The commission is authorized to consider the imposition of a
schedule of fines for minor violations. [1997 c 391 § 10. Formerly RCW 88.12.279.]
79A.60.498
79A.60.498 Uniform regulation of business and professions act. The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice,
the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter. [2002 c 86 § 329.]
Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.
Part headings not law—Severability—2002 c 86: See RCW
18.235.902 and 18.235.903.
79A.60.500
79A.60.500 Uniform waterway marking system. The
parks and recreation commission is hereby directed to
develop and adopt rules establishing a uniform waterway
marking system for waters of the state not serviced by such a
marking system administered by the federal government.
Such system shall be designed to provide for standardized
waterway marking buoys, floats, and other waterway marking devices which identify or specify waterway hazards, vessel traffic patterns, and similar information of necessity or
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.520
use to boaters. Any new or replacement waterway marking
buoy, float, or device installed by a unit of local government
shall be designed and installed consistent with rules adopted
by the parks and recreation commission pursuant to this section. [1987 c 427 § 3. Formerly RCW 88.12.285, 88.12.350,
and 43.51.404.]
79A.60.510
79A.60.510 Findings—Sewage disposal initiative
established—Boater environmental education—Waterway access facilities. The legislature finds that the waters of
Washington state provide a unique and valuable recreational
resource to large and growing numbers of boaters. Proper
stewardship of, and respect for, these waters requires that,
while enjoying them for their scenic and recreational benefits, boaters must exercise care to assure that such activities
do not contribute to the despoliation of these waters, and that
watercraft be operated in a safe and responsible manner. The
legislature has specifically addressed the topic of access to
clean and safe waterways by requiring the 1987 boating
safety study and by establishing the Puget Sound action team.
The legislature finds that there is a need to educate
Washington’s boating community about safe and responsible
actions on our waters and to increase the level and visibility
of the enforcement of boating laws. To address the incidence
of fatalities and injuries due to recreational boating on our
state’s waters, local and state efforts directed towards safe
boating must be stimulated. To provide for safe waterways
and public enjoyment, portions of the watercraft excise tax
and boat registration fees should be made available for boating safety and other boating recreation purposes.
In recognition of the need for clean waterways, and in
keeping with the Puget Sound action team’s water quality
work plan, the legislature finds that adequate opportunities
for responsible disposal of boat sewage must be made available. There is hereby established a five-year initiative to
install sewage pumpout or sewage dump stations at appropriate marinas.
To assure the use of these sewage facilities, a boater
environmental education program must accompany the fiveyear initiative and continue to educate boaters about boat
wastes and aquatic resources.
The legislature also finds that, in light of the increasing
numbers of boaters utilizing state waterways, a program to
acquire and develop sufficient waterway access facilities for
boaters must be undertaken.
To support boating safety, environmental protection and
education, and public access to our waterways, the legislature
declares that a portion of the income from boating-related
activities, as specified in RCW 82.49.030 and 88.02.040,
should support these efforts. [1999 c 249 § 1506; 1989 c 393
§ 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.295, 88.12.360, and 88.36.010.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.60.520
79A.60.520 Identification and designation of polluted
and environmentally sensitive areas. The commission, in
consultation with the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, natural resources, social and health services, and the
Puget Sound action team shall conduct a literature search and
analyze pertinent studies to identify areas which are polluted
or environmentally sensitive within the state’s waters. Based
[Title 79A RCW—page 65]
79A.60.530
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
on this review the commission shall designate appropriate
areas as polluted or environmentally sensitive, for the purposes of chapter 393, Laws of 1989 only. [1999 c 249 §
1507; 1994 c 264 § 81; 1989 c 393 § 3. Formerly RCW
88.12.305, 88.12.380, and 88.36.030.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.60.530
79A.60.530 Designation of marinas, boat launches,
or boater destinations for installation of sewage pumpout
or dump units. (1) A marina which meets one or more of the
following criteria shall be designated by the commission as
appropriate for installation of a sewage pumpout or dump
unit:
(a) The marina is located in an environmentally sensitive
or polluted area; or
(b) The marina has one hundred twenty-five slips or
more and there is a lack of sewage pumpout or dump units
within a reasonable distance.
(2) In addition to subsection (1) of this section, the commission may at its discretion designate a marina as appropriate for installation of a sewage pumpout or dump unit if there
is a demonstrated need for a sewage pumpout or dump unit at
the marina based on professionally conducted studies undertaken by federal, state, or local government, or the private
sector; and it meets the following criteria:
(a) The marina provides commercial services, such as
sales of food, fuel or supplies, or overnight or live-aboard
moorage opportunities;
(b) The marina is located at a heavily used boating destination or on a heavily traveled route, as determined by the
commission; or
(c) There is a lack of adequate sewage pumpout or dump
unit capacity within a reasonable distance.
(3) Exceptions to the designation made under this section
may be made by the commission if no sewer, septic, water, or
electrical services are available at the marina.
(4) In addition to marinas, the commission may designate boat launches or boater destinations as appropriate for
installation of a sewage pumpout or dump unit based on the
criteria found in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. [1993
c 244 § 32; 1989 c 393 § 4. Formerly RCW 88.12.315,
88.12.390, and 88.36.040.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.540
79A.60.540 Contracts for financial assistance—
Ownership of sewage pumpout or dump unit—Ongoing
costs. (1) Marinas and boat launches designated as appropriate for installation of a sewage pumpout or dump unit under
RCW 79A.60.530 shall be eligible for funding support for
installation of such facilities from funds specified in RCW
79A.60.590. The commission shall notify owners or operators of all designated marinas and boat launches of the designation, and of the availability of funding to support installation of appropriate sewage disposal facilities. The commission shall encourage the owners and operators to apply for
available funding.
(2) The commission shall seek to provide the most costefficient and accessible facilities possible for reducing the
amount of boat waste entering the state’s waters. The com[Title 79A RCW—page 66]
mission shall consider providing funding support for portable
pumpout facilities in this effort.
(3) The commission shall contract with, or enter into an
interagency agreement with another state agency to contract
with, applicants based on the criteria specified below:
(a)(i) Contracts may be awarded to publicly owned,
tribal, or privately owned marinas or boat launches.
(ii) Contracts may provide for state reimbursement to
cover eligible costs as deemed reasonable by commission
rule. Eligible costs include purchase, installation, or major
renovation of the sewage pumpout or dump units, including
sewer, water, electrical connections, and those costs attendant to the purchase, installation, and other necessary appurtenances, such as required pier space, as determined by the
commission.
(iii) Ownership of the sewage pumpout or dump unit will
be retained by the state through the commission in privately
owned marinas. Ownership of the sewage pumpout or dump
unit in publicly owned marinas will be held by the public
entity.
(iv) Operation, normal and expected maintenance, and
ongoing utility costs will be the responsibility of the contract
recipient. The sewage pumpout or dump unit shall be kept in
operating condition and available for public use at all times
during operating hours of the facility, excluding necessary
maintenance periods.
(v) The contract recipient agrees to allow the installation,
existence and use of the sewage pumpout or dump unit by
granting an irrevocable license for a minimum of ten years at
no cost to the commission.
(b) Contracts awarded pursuant to (a) of this subsection
shall be subject, for a period of at least ten years, to the following conditions:
(i) Any contract recipient entering into a contract under
this section must allow the boating public access to the sewage pumpout or dump unit during operating hours.
(ii) The contract recipient must agree to monitor and
encourage the use of the sewage pumpout or dump unit, and
to cooperate in any related boater environmental education
program administered or approved by the commission.
(iii) The contract recipient must agree not to charge a fee
for the use of the sewage pumpout or dump unit.
(iv) The contract recipient must agree to arrange and pay
a reasonable fee for a periodic inspection of the sewage pumpout or dump unit by the local health department or appropriate authority.
(v) Use of a free sewage pumpout or dump unit by the
boating public shall be deemed to be included in the term
"outdoor recreation" for the purposes of chapter 4.24 RCW.
[2000 c 11 § 112; 1993 c 244 § 33; 1989 c 393 § 5. Formerly
RCW 88.12.325, 88.12.400, and 88.36.050.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.550
79A.60.550 Development by department of ecology
of design, installation, and operation of sewage pumpout
and dump units—Rules. The department of ecology, in
consultation with the commission, shall, for initiation of the
statewide program only, develop criteria for the design,
installation, and operation of sewage pumpout and dump
units, taking into consideration the ease of access to the unit
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
by the boating public. The department of ecology may adopt
rules to administer the provisions of this section. [1993 c 244
§ 34; 1989 c 393 § 6. Formerly RCW 88.12.335, 88.12.410,
and 88.36.060.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.560
79A.60.560 Boater environmental education program. The commission shall undertake a statewide boater
environmental education program concerning the effects of
boat wastes. The boater environmental education program
shall provide informational materials on proper boat waste
disposal methods, environmentally safe boat maintenance
practices, locations of sewage pumpout and dump units, and
boat oil recycling facilities. [1993 c 244 § 35; 1989 c 393 §
7. Formerly RCW 88.12.345, 88.12.420, and 88.36.070.]
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.600
to support boating safety and boater environmental education
or boat waste management planning. The commission shall
administer this program. [2000 c 11 § 113; 1993 c 244 § 37;
1989 c 393 § 11. Formerly RCW 88.12.375, 88.12.450, and
88.36.100.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.49.030 was amended by 2000 c 103 § 18,
deleting subsection (3).
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.595
79A.60.595 Commission to adopt rules. The commission shall adopt rules as are necessary to carry out all sections
of chapter 393, Laws of 1989 except for RCW 79A.60.550
and 82.49.030. The commission shall comply with all applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW in adopting the rules.
[1999 c 249 § 1509; 1989 c 393 § 14. Formerly RCW
88.12.385, 88.12.460, and 88.36.110.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
79A.60.570
79A.60.570 Grants for environmental education or
boat waste management planning. The commission shall
award grants to local government entities for boater environmental education or boat waste management planning.
Grants shall be allocated according to criteria developed by
the commission. [1989 c 393 § 8. Formerly RCW 88.12.355,
88.12.430, and 88.36.080.]
79A.60.580
79A.60.580 Review of programs by commission. The
commission shall, in consultation with interested parties,
review progress on installation of sewage pumpout and dump
units, the boater environmental education program, and the
boating safety program. [1999 c 249 § 1508; 1993 c 244 §
36; 1989 c 393 § 9. Formerly RCW 88.12.365, 88.12.440,
and 88.36.090.]
Severability—1999 c 249: See note following RCW 79A.05.010.
Intent—1993 c 244: See note following RCW 79A.60.010.
79A.60.590
79A.60.590 Allocation of funds. The amounts allocated in accordance with *RCW 82.49.030(3) shall be
expended upon appropriation in accordance with the following limitations:
(1) Thirty percent of the funds shall be appropriated to
the interagency committee for outdoor recreation and be
expended for use by state and local government for public
recreational waterway boater access and boater destination
sites. Priority shall be given to critical site acquisition. The
interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall administer such funds as a competitive grants program. The amounts
provided for in this subsection shall be evenly divided
between state and local governments.
(2) Thirty percent of the funds shall be expended by the
commission exclusively for sewage pumpout or dump units
at publicly and privately owned marinas as provided for in
RCW 79A.60.530 and 79A.60.540.
(3) Twenty-five percent of the funds shall be expended
for grants to state agencies and other public entities to enforce
boating safety and registration laws and to carry out boating
safety programs. The commission shall administer such grant
program.
(4) Fifteen percent shall be expended for instructional
materials, programs or grants to the public school system,
public entities, or other nonprofit community organizations
(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.600
79A.60.600 Liquid petroleum gas leak warning
devices—Findings. (1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Washington state has the greatest length of marine
shoreline miles of the lower forty-eight states;
(b) Such marine waters and the extensive freshwater
lakes and rivers of the state provide innumerable recreational
opportunities, and support a state recreational vessel population that is one of the largest in the country;
(c) Many of Washington’s popular recreational waters
are remote from population centers and thus remote from
emergency health care facilities;
(d) Washington’s climate in the western portion of the
state, in which its marine recreational waters lie, is cool and
wet for much of the year. Much of the state’s recreational
vessel activity is conducted in the late fall and winter months
in connection with fishing activities. For these reasons the
great majority of Washington vessels are equipped with heating devices. These appliances are in use for a much greater
portion of the boating season than in other states, and are predominantly fueled by liquid petroleum gas;
(e) Current state and federal standards governing heating
and cooking appliances on vessels that are fueled by liquid
petroleum gas do not adequately protect against undetected
gas leaks. Such gas leaks have led to explosions on Washington waters, causing loss of life and property damage;
(f) The commission coordinates a statewide program of
boating safety education to communicate accident prevention
information to boaters at risk of fires, explosions, and other
hazards, and administers a boating accident reporting program to assess the effectiveness of accident prevention measures.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to address the state’s
unique local circumstances regarding inadequate protection
of Washington’s boaters from undetected leaks of liquid
petroleum gas-fueled appliances by incorporating into the
boating safety program an intensified boating fire prevention
program with special emphasis on preventing fires and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by auxiliary fuels and appliances. [1994 c 151 § 1; 1993 c 469 § 1. Formerly RCW
88.12.500.]
Severability—1993 c 469: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
[Title 79A RCW—page 67]
79A.60.610
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 c 469 § 7.]
Effective date—1993 c 469: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 17, 1993]." [1993 c 469 § 8.]
79A.60.610
79A.60.610 Recreational boating fire prevention
education program. The commission shall undertake a
statewide recreational boating fire prevention education program concerning the safe use of marine fuels and electrical
systems. The boating fire prevention education program
shall provide for the distribution of fire safety materials and
decals warning of fire hazards and for educational opportunities to educate boaters on the safety practices needed to operate heaters, stoves, and other appliances in Washington’s
unique aquatic environment. The commission shall evaluate
the boating public’s voluntary participation in the program
and the program’s impact on safe boating. [2006 c 140 § 4;
1994 c 151 § 2. Formerly RCW 88.12.505.]
Short title—2006 c 140: See note following RCW 79A.60.660.
79A.60.620
79A.60.620 Small spill prevention education program. (1) The Washington sea grant program, in consultation with the department of ecology, shall develop and conduct a voluntary spill prevention education program that targets small spills from commercial fishing vessels, ferries,
cruise ships, ports, and marinas. Washington sea grant shall
coordinate the spill prevention education program with recreational boater education performed by the state parks and recreation commission.
(2) The spill prevention education program shall illustrate ways to reduce oil contamination of bilge water, accidental spills of hydraulic fluid and other hazardous substances during routine maintenance, and reduce spillage during refueling. The program shall illustrate proper disposal of
oil and hazardous substances and promote strategies to meet
shoreside oil and hazardous substance handling, and disposal
needs of the targeted groups. The program shall include a
series of training workshops and the development of educational materials. [2000 c 11 § 114; 1991 c 200 § 110. Formerly RCW 90.56.090.]
79A.60.630
79A.60.630 Boating safety education—Commission’s
duties—Fee—Report to the legislature. (1) The commission shall establish and implement by rule a program to provide required boating safety education. The boating safety
education program shall include training on preventing the
spread of aquatic invasive species. The program shall be
phased in so that all boaters not exempted under RCW
79A.60.640(3) are required to obtain a boater education card
by January 1, 2016. To obtain a boater education card, a
boater shall provide a certificate of accomplishment issued
by a boating educator for taking and passing an accredited
boating safety education course, or pass an equivalency
exam, or provide proof of completion of a course that meets
the standard adopted by the commission.
(2) As part of the boating safety education program, the
commission shall:
(a) Establish a program to be phased over eleven years
starting July 1, 2005, with full implementation by January 1,
[Title 79A RCW—page 68]
2016. The period July 1, 2005, through December 31, 2007,
will be program development, boater notification of the new
requirements for mandatory education, and processing cards
to be issued to individuals having taken an accredited course
prior to January 1, 2008. The schedule for phase-in of the
mandatory education requirement by age group is as follows:
January 1, 2008 - All boat operators twenty years old and
younger;
January 1, 2009 - All boat operators twenty-five years old
and younger;
January 1, 2010 - All boat operators thirty years old and
younger;
January 1, 2011 - All boat operators thirty-five years old and
younger;
January 1, 2012 - All boat operators forty years old and
younger;
January 1, 2013 - All boat operators fifty years old and
younger;
January 1, 2014 - All boat operators sixty years old and
younger;
January 1, 2015 - All boat operators seventy years old and
younger;
January 1, 2016 - All boat operators;
(b) Establish a minimum standard of boating safety education accomplishment. The standard must be consistent
with the applicable standard established by the national association of state boating law administrators;
(c) Adopt minimum standards for boating safety education course of instruction and examination that ensures compliance with the national association of state boating law
administrators minimum standards;
(d) Approve and provide accreditation to boating safety
education courses operated by volunteers, or commercial or
nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to, courses
given by the United States coast guard auxiliary and the
United States power squadrons;
(e) Develop an equivalency examination that may be
taken as an alternative to the boating safety education course;
(f) Establish a fee of ten dollars for the boater education
card to fund all commission activities related to the boating
safety education program created by chapter 392, Laws of
2005, including the initial costs of developing the program.
Any surplus funds resulting from the fees received shall be
distributed by the commission as grants to local marine law
enforcement programs approved by the commission as provided in RCW 88.02.040;
(g) Establish a fee for the replacement of the boater education card that covers the cost of replacement;
(h) Consider and evaluate public agency and commercial
opportunities to assist in program administration with the
intent to keep administrative costs to a minimum;
(i) Approve and provide accreditation to boating safety
education courses offered online; and
(j) Provide a report to the legislature by January 1, 2008,
on its progress of implementation of the mandatory education
program. [2005 c 392 § 3.]
Intent—2005 c 392: "It is the intent of the legislature to establish a
boating safety education program that contributes to the reduction of accidents and increases the enjoyment of boating by all operators of all recreational vessels on the waters of this state. Based on the 2003 report to the
legislature titled "Recreational Boating Safety in Washington, A Report on
Methods to Achieve Safer Boating Practices," the legislature recognizes that
(2006 Ed.)
Regulation of Recreational Vessels
boating accidents also occur in nonmotorized vessels in this state, but, at this
time there is no national educational standard for nonmotorized vessels.
Therefore, the commission is hereby authorized and directed to work with
agencies and organizations representing nonmotorized vessel activities and
individuals operating nonmotorized vessels to decrease accidents of operators in these vessels. It is also the intent of the legislature to encourage boating safety education programs that use volunteer and private sector efforts to
enhance boating safety and education for operators of nonmotorized vessels
to work closely with the state parks and recreation commission in its efforts
to reduce all boating accidents in this state." [2005 c 392 § 1.]
79A.60.640
79A.60.640 Requirements to operate motor driven
boats/vessels—Exemptions—Penalty. (1) No person shall
operate or permit the operation of motor driven boats and
vessels with a mechanical power of fifteen horsepower or
greater unless the person:
(a) Is at least twelve years of age, except that an operator
of a personal watercraft shall comply with the age requirements under RCW 79A.60.190; and
(b)(i) Has in his or her possession a boater education
card, unless exempted under subsection (3) of this section; or
(ii) Is accompanied by and is under the direct supervision
of a person sixteen years of age or older who is in possession
of a boater education card, or who is not yet required to possess the card as provided in the program phase in RCW
79A.60.630(2)(a).
(2) Any person who can demonstrate they have successfully completed, prior to July 24, 2005, a boating safety education course substantially equivalent to the standards
adopted by the commission shall be eligible for a boater education card upon application to the commission and payment
of the fee, without having to take a course or equivalency
exam as provided in RCW 79A.60.630(1). Successful completion of a boating safety education course could include an
original or copy of an original certificate issued by the commission, the United States coast guard auxiliary, or the
United States power squadrons, or official certification by
these organizations that the individual successfully completed a course substantially equivalent to the standards
adopted by the commission.
(3) The following persons are not required to carry a
boater education card:
(a) The operator of a vessel engaged in a lawful commercial fishery operation as licensed by the department of fish
and wildlife under Title 77 RCW. However, the person when
operating a vessel for recreational purposes must carry either
a valid commercial fishing license issued by the department
of fish and wildlife or a boater education card;
(b) Any person who possesses a valid marine operator
license issued by the United States coast guard when operating a vessel authorized by such coast guard license. However, the person when operating a vessel for recreational purposes must carry either a valid marine operator license issued
by the United States coast guard or a boater education card;
(c) Any person who is legally engaged in the operation
of a vessel that is exempt from vessel registration requirements under chapter 88.02 RCW and applicable rules and is
used for purposes of law enforcement or official government
work. However, the person when operating a vessel for recreational purposes must carry a boater education card;
(d) Any person at least twelve years old renting, chartering, or leasing a motor driven boat or vessel with an engine
power of fifteen horsepower or greater who completes a com(2006 Ed.)
79A.60.650
mission-approved motor vessel safety operating and equipment checklist each time before operating the motor driven
boat or vessel, except that an operator of a personal watercraft shall comply with the age requirements under RCW
79A.60.190;
(e) Any person who is not a resident of Washington state
and who does not operate a motor driven boat or vessel with
an engine power of fifteen horsepower or greater in waters of
the state for more than sixty consecutive days;
(f) Any person who is not a resident of Washington state
and who holds a current out-of-state or out-of-country certificate or card that is equivalent to the rules adopted by the
commission;
(g) Any person who has purchased the boat or vessel
within the last sixty days, and has a bill of sale in his or her
possession to document the date of purchase;
(h) Any person, including those less than twelve years of
age, who is involved in practicing for, or engaging in, a permitted racing event where a valid document has been issued
by the appropriate local, state, or federal government agency
for the event, and is available for inspection on-site during
the racing event;
(i) Any person who is not yet required to have a boater
education card under the phased schedule in RCW
79A.60.630(2)(a); and
(j) Any person born before January 1, 1955.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (3)(a) through (i) of
this section, a boater must carry a boater education card while
operating a vessel and is required to present the boater education card, or alternative license as provided in subsection
(3)(a) and (b) of this section, to a law enforcement officer
upon request.
(5) Failure to possess a boater education card required by
this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. The
penalty shall be waived if the boater provides proof to the
court within sixty days that he or she has received a boater
education card.
(6) No person shall permit the rental, charter, or lease of
a motor driven boat or vessel with an engine power of fifteen
horsepower or greater to a person without first reviewing
with that person, and all other persons who may be permitted
by the person to operate the vessel, all the information contained in the motor vessel safety operating and equipment
checklist. [2005 c 392 § 4.]
Intent—2005 c 392: See note following RCW 79A.60.630.
79A.60.650
79A.60.650 Boating safety education certification
account. The boating safety education certification account
is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts
from fees collected for the issuance of a boater education card
shall be deposited in the account and shall be used only for
the administration of RCW 79A.60.630 and 79A.60.640.
Only the state parks and recreation commission may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to
allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an
appropriation is not required for expenditures. [2005 c 392 §
5.]
Intent—2005 c 392: See note following RCW 79A.60.630.
[Title 79A RCW—page 69]
79A.60.660
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
79A.60.660
79A.60.660 Operating motor driven boat or vessel
for teak surfing, platform dragging, bodysurfing—Prohibition—Exceptions—Penalty. (1) No person may operate a
motor driven boat or vessel or have the engine of a motor
driven boat or vessel run idle while an individual is teak surfing, platform dragging, or bodysurfing behind the motor
driven boat or vessel.
(2) No person may operate a motor driven boat or vessel
or have the engine of a motor driven boat or vessel run idle
while an individual is occupying or holding onto the swim
platform, swim deck, swim step, or swim ladder of the motor
driven boat or vessel.
(3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply when an
individual is occupying the swim platform, swim deck, swim
step, or swim ladder for a very brief period of time while
assisting with the docking or departure of the vessel, while
exiting or entering the vessel, or while the vessel is engaged
in law enforcement or emergency rescue activity.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "teak surfing" or
"platform dragging" means holding onto the swim platform,
swim deck, swim step, swim ladder, or any portion of the
exterior of the transom of a motor driven boat or vessel for
any amount of time while the motor driven boat or vessel is
underway at any speed.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "bodysurfing" means
swimming or floating on one’s stomach or on one’s back on
or in the wake directly behind a motor driven boat or vessel
that is underway.
(6) A violation of this section is a natural resource infraction punishable as provided under chapter 7.84 RCW, however the fine imposed may not exceed one hundred dollars.
[2006 c 140 § 1.]
Short title—2006 c 140: "This act may be known and cited as the Jenda
Jones and Denise Colbert safe boating act." [2006 c 140 § 5.]
Chapter 79A.65 RCW
COMMISSION MOORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 79A.65
Sections
79A.65.010 Definitions.
79A.65.020 Securing unauthorized vessels—Notice—Claiming vessels—
Abandoned vessels—Derelict vessel removal account.
79A.65.030 Sale of abandoned vessels—Notice—Redemption of vessels—Use of proceeds—Disposal of vessels.
79A.65.040 Action to recover charges—Attorneys’ fees—Costs.
79A.65.050 Rights not affected.
79A.65.900 Severability—1994 c 51.
79A.65.010
79A.65.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Charges" means charges of the commission for
moorage and storage, and all other charges related to the vessel and owing to or that become owing to the commission,
including but not limited to costs of securing, disposing, or
removing vessels, damages to any commission facility, and
any costs of sale and related legal expenses for implementing
RCW 79A.65.020 and 79A.65.030.
(2) "Commission" means the Washington state parks and
recreation commission.
(3) "Commission facility" means any moorage facility,
as that term is defined in RCW 53.08.310, owned, leased,
[Title 79A RCW—page 70]
operated, managed, or otherwise controlled by the commission or by a person pursuant to a contract with the commission.
(4) "Owner" means a person who has a lawful right to
possession of a vessel by purchase, exchange, gift, lease,
inheritance, or legal action whether or not the vessel is subject to a security interest, and shall not include the holder of a
bona fide security interest.
(5) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership,
corporation, association, organization, or any other entity.
(6)(a) "Registered owner" means any person that is
either: (i) Shown as the owner in a vessel certificate of documentation issued by the secretary of the United States
department of transportation under 46 U.S.C. Sec. 12103; or
(ii) the registered owner or legal owner of a vessel for which
a certificate of title has been issued under chapter 88.02
RCW; or (iii) the owner of a vessel registered under the vessel registration laws of another state under which laws the
commission can readily identify the ownership of vessels
registered with that state.
(b) "Registered owner" also includes: (i) Any holder of
a security interest or lien recorded with the United States
department of transportation with respect to a vessel on
which a certificate of documentation has been issued; (ii) any
holder of a security interest identified in a certificate of title
for a vessel registered under chapter 88.02 RCW; or (iii) any
holder of a security interest in a vessel where the holder is
identified in vessel registration information of a state with
vessel registration laws that fall within (a)(iii) of this subsection and under which laws the commission can readily determine the identity of the holder.
(c) "Registered owner" does not include any vessel
owner or holder of a lien or security interest in a vessel if the
vessel does not have visible information affixed to it (such as
name and hailing port or registration numbers) that will
enable the commission to obtain ownership information for
the vessel without incurring unreasonable expense.
(7) "Registered vessel" means a vessel having a registered owner.
(8) "Secured vessel" means any vessel that has been
secured by the commission that remains in the commission’s
possession and control.
(9) "Unauthorized vessel" means a vessel using a commission facility of any type whose owner has not paid the
required moorage fees or has left the vessel beyond the
posted time limits, or a vessel otherwise present without permission of the commission.
(10) "Vessel" means every watercraft or part thereof
constructed, used, or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on the water. It includes any equipment or personal property on the vessel that is used or capable of being
used for the operation, navigation, or maintenance of the vessel. [2002 c 286 § 20; 2000 c 11 § 115; 1994 c 51 § 1. Formerly RCW 88.27.010.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 286: See RCW 79.100.900 and
79.100.901.
79A.65.020
79A.65.020 Securing unauthorized vessels—
Notice—Claiming vessels—Abandoned vessels—Derelict
vessel removal account. (1) The commission may take reasonable measures, including but not limited to the use of
(2006 Ed.)
Commission Moorage Facilities
anchors, chains, ropes, and locks, or removal from the water,
to secure unauthorized vessels located at or on a commission
facility so that the unauthorized vessels are in the possession
and control of the commission. At least ten days before securing any unauthorized registered vessel, the commission shall
send notification by registered mail to the last registered
owner or registered owners of the vessel at their last known
address or addresses.
(2) The commission may take reasonable measures,
including but not limited to the use of anchors, chains, ropes,
locks, or removal from the water, to secure any vessel if the
vessel, in the opinion of the commission, is a nuisance, is in
danger of sinking or creating other damage to a commission
facility, or is otherwise a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the public or environment at a commission facility.
The costs of any such procedure shall be paid by the vessel’s
owner.
(3) At the time of securing any vessel under subsection
(1) or (2) of this section, the commission shall attach to the
vessel a readily visible notice or, when practicable, shall post
such notice in a conspicuous location at the commission
facility in the event the vessel is removed from the premises.
The notice shall be of a reasonable size and shall contain the
following information:
(a) The date and time the notice was attached or posted;
(b) A statement that the vessel has been secured by the
commission and that if the commission’s charges, if any, are
not paid and the vessel is not removed by . . . . . . (the thirtyfifth consecutive day following the date of attachment or
posting of the notice), the vessel will be considered abandoned and will be sold at public auction to satisfy the
charges;
(c) The address and telephone number where additional
information may be obtained concerning the securing of the
vessel and conditions for its release; and
(d) A description of the owner’s or secured party’s rights
under this chapter.
(4) With respect to registered vessels: Within five days
of the date that notice is attached or posted under subsection
(3) of this section, the commission shall send such notice, by
registered mail, to each registered owner.
(5) If a vessel is secured under subsection (1) or (2) of
this section, the owner, or any person with a legal right to
possess the vessel, may claim the vessel by:
(a) Making arrangements satisfactory to the commission
for the immediate removal of the vessel from the commission’s control or for authorized storage or moorage; and
(b) Making payment to the commission of all reasonable
charges incurred by the commission in securing the vessel
under subsections (1) and (2) of this section and of all moorage fees owed to the commission.
(6) A vessel is considered abandoned if, within the
thirty-five day period following the date of attachment or
posting of notice in subsection (3) of this section, the vessel
has not been claimed under subsection (5) of this section.
(7) If the owner or owners of a vessel are unable to reimburse the commission for all reasonable charges under subsections (1) and (2) of this section within a reasonable time,
the commission may seek reimbursement of seventy-five percent of all reasonable and auditable costs from the derelict
(2006 Ed.)
79A.65.030
vessel removal account established in RCW 79.100.100.
[2002 c 286 § 21; 1994 c 51 § 2. Formerly RCW 88.27.020.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 286: See RCW 79.100.900 and
79.100.901.
79A.65.030
79A.65.030 Sale of abandoned vessels—Notice—
Redemption of vessels—Use of proceeds—Disposal of
vessels. (1) The commission may provide for the public sale
of vessels considered abandoned under RCW 79A.65.020. At
such sales, the vessels shall be sold for cash to the highest and
best bidder. The commission may establish either a minimum
bid or require a letter of credit, or both, to discourage the
future reabandonment of the vessel.
(2) Before a vessel is sold, the commission shall make a
reasonable effort to provide notice of sale, at least twenty
days before the day of the sale, to each registered owner of a
registered vessel and each owner of an unregistered vessel.
The notice shall contain the time and place of the sale, a reasonable description of the vessel to be sold, and the amount of
charges then owing with respect to the vessel, and a summary
of the rights and procedures under this chapter. A notice of
sale shall be published at least once, more than ten but not
more than twenty days before the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the commission facility is located. This notice shall include: (a) If known, the
name of the vessel and the last owner and the owner’s
address; and (b) a reasonable description of the vessel. The
commission may bid all or part of its charges at the sale and
may become a purchaser at the sale.
(3) Before a vessel is sold, any person seeking to redeem
a secured vessel may commence a lawsuit in the superior
court for the county in which the vessel was secured to contest the commission’s decision to secure the vessel or the
amount of charges owing. This lawsuit shall be commenced
within fifteen days of the date the notification was posted
under RCW 79A.65.020(3), or the right to a hearing is
deemed waived and the owner is liable for any charges owing
the commission. In the event of litigation, the prevailing
party is entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
(4) The proceeds of a sale under this section shall be
applied first to the payment of the amount of the reasonable
charges incurred by the commission and moorage fees owed
to the commission, then to the owner or to satisfy any liens of
record or security interests of record on the vessel in the order
of their priority. If an owner cannot in the exercise of due diligence be located by the commission within one year of the
date of the sale, any excess funds from the sale, following the
satisfaction of any bona fide security interest, shall revert to
the derelict vessel removal account established in RCW
79.100.100. If the sale is for a sum less than the applicable
charges, the commission is entitled to assert a claim for the
deficiency against the vessel owner. Nothing in this section
prevents any lien holder or secured party from asserting a
claim for any deficiency owed the lien holder or secured
party.
(5) If no one purchases the vessel at a sale, the commission may proceed to properly dispose of the vessel in any way
the commission considers appropriate, including, but not limited to, destruction of the vessel or by negotiated sale. The
commission may assert a claim against the owner for any
charges incurred thereby. If the vessel, or any part of the ves[Title 79A RCW—page 71]
79A.65.040
Title 79A RCW: Public Recreational Lands
sel, or any rights to the vessel, are sold under this subsection,
any proceeds from the sale shall be distributed in the manner
provided in subsection (4) of this section. [2002 c 286 § 22;
2000 c 11 § 116; 1994 c 51 § 3. Formerly RCW 88.27.030.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 286: See RCW 79.100.900 and
79.100.901.
79A.65.040
79A.65.040 Action to recover charges—Attorneys’
fees—Costs. If the full amount of all charges due the commission on an unauthorized vessel is not paid to the commission within thirty days after the date on which notice is
affixed or posted under RCW 79A.65.020(3), the commission may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the charges, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees
and costs incurred by the commission. [2000 c 11 § 117;
1994 c 51 § 4. Formerly RCW 88.27.040.]
79A.65.050
79A.65.050 Rights not affected. The rights granted to
the commission under this chapter are in addition to any other
legal rights the commission may have to secure, hold, and sell
a vessel and in no manner does this section alter those rights,
or affect the priority of other liens on a vessel. [1994 c 51 §
5. Formerly 88.27.050.]
contribute to the preservation, restoration, and enhancement
of the state parks system. [2000 c 25 § 1.]
79A.70.010
79A.70.010 Purpose. The purpose of the Washington
state parks gift foundation is to solicit support for the state
parks system, cooperate with other organizations, and to
encourage gifts to support and improve the state parks. [2000
c 25 § 2.]
79A.70.020
79A.70.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Foundation" means the Washington state parks gift
foundation, created in RCW 79A.70.030.
(2) "State parks" means that system of parks administered by the commission under this title.
(3) "Eligible grant recipients" includes any and all of the
activities of the commission in carrying out the provisions of
this title.
(4) "Eligible projects" means any project, action, or part
of any project or action that serves to preserve, restore,
improve, or enhance the state parks. [2000 c 25 § 3.]
79A.70.030
79A.65.900
79A.65.900 Severability—1994 c 51. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1994 c 51 § 10. Formerly RCW 88.27.900.]
Chapter 79A.70
Chapter 79A.70 RCW
STATE PARKS GIFT FOUNDATION
Sections
79A.70.005
79A.70.010
79A.70.020
79A.70.030
Findings.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Washington state parks gift foundation—Establishment—
Board of directors—Term of service.
79A.70.040 Foundation’s duties—Grant process.
79A.70.050 Foundation moneys not to supplant preexisting funding.
79A.70.900 Severability—2000 c 25.
79A.70.005
79A.70.005 Findings. The legislature finds that:
(1) State parks are a valuable asset to the people of the
state of Washington, contributing to their health, education,
and well-being;
(2) Well maintained state parks are an attraction and contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the state of
Washington;
(3) Well maintained state parks encourage the appreciation of the natural resources and natural beauty of the state of
Washington;
(4) There is an increasing demand for more state parks
and more state parks services;
(5) There are individuals and groups who desire to contribute to the continued vitality of the state parks system;
(6) Providing a tax-deductible method for individuals
and groups to contribute is an effective way of increasing
available funds to improve the state parks system; and
(7) It is in the public interest to create a nonprofit foundation to provide such a method for individuals and groups to
[Title 79A RCW—page 72]
79A.70.030 Washington state parks gift foundation—Establishment—Board of directors—Term of service. (1) By September 1, 2000, the commission shall file
articles of incorporation in accordance with the Washington
nonprofit corporation act, chapter 24.03 RCW, to establish
the Washington state parks gift foundation. The foundation
shall not be an agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state and shall not disburse public funds.
(2) The foundation shall have a board of directors consisting of up to fifteen members. Initial members of the board
shall be appointed by the governor and collectively have
experience in business, charitable giving, outdoor recreation,
and parks administration. Initial appointments shall be made
by September 30, 2000. Subsequent board members shall be
elected by the general membership of the foundation.
(3) Members of the board shall serve three-year terms,
except for the initial terms, which shall be staggered by the
governor to achieve a balanced mix of terms on the board.
Members of the board may serve up to a maximum of three
terms. At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve
until a successor has been elected. [2000 c 25 § 4.]
79A.70.040
79A.70.040 Foundation’s duties—Grant process. (1)
As soon as practicable, the board of directors shall organize
themselves and the foundation suitably to carry out the duties
of the foundation, including achieving federal tax-exempt
status.
(2) The foundation shall actively solicit contributions
from individuals and groups for the benefit of the state parks.
(3) The foundation shall develop criteria for guiding
themselves in either the creation of an endowment, or the
making of grants to eligible grant recipients and eligible
projects in the state parks, or both.
(4) A competitive grant process shall be conducted at
least annually by the foundation to award funds to the state
parks. Competitive grant applications shall only be submitted
to the foundation by the commission. The process shall be
(2006 Ed.)
State Parks Centennial
started as soon as practicable. Grants shall be awarded to eligible projects consistent with the criteria developed by the
foundation and shall be available only for state parks use on
eligible projects. [2000 c 25 § 5.]
79A.70.050
79A.70.050 Foundation moneys not to supplant preexisting funding. Money provided to the state parks by the
foundation shall not be used to supplant preexisting funding
sources. [2000 c 25 § 6.]
79A.75.901
ernor, the office of financial management, or other sources
that choose to donate staff assistance.
(3) The committee will meet at the call of the chair.
[2004 c 14 § 2.]
79A.75.020 Expenses—Reimbursement. (Expires
December 31, 2013.) Nonlegislative committee members
will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members will be reimbursed as provided in RCW 44.04.120. [2004 c 14 § 3.]
79A.75.020
79A.70.900
79A.70.900 Severability—2000 c 25. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[2000 c 25 § 7.]
Chapter 79A.75
Chapter 79A.75 RCW
STATE PARKS CENTENNIAL
Sections
79A.75.005
79A.75.010
79A.75.020
79A.75.030
79A.75.900
79A.75.901
Finding.
Centennial advisory committee—Established—Composition.
Expenses—Reimbursement.
Centennial 2013 plan—Develop proposal.
Expiration date—2004 c 14.
Effective date—2004 c 14.
79A.75.005
79A.75.005 Finding. (Expires December 31, 2013.)
Washington state parks will mark its centennial year in 2013.
The legislature finds it fitting to commemorate the Washington state parks centennial through a coordinated effort by the
state parks and recreation commission, the governor, the legislature, and the people of the state of Washington by implementing the Washington state parks centennial 2013 plan
developed by the state parks and recreation commission in
response to the directive of the legislature in section 347,
chapter 26, Laws of 2003 1st sp. sess. [2004 c 14 § 1.]
79A.75.010
79A.75.010 Centennial advisory committee—Established—Composition. (Expires December 31, 2013.) (1)
The Washington state parks centennial advisory committee is
established, composed of eleven members selected as follows:
(a) The chair and vice-chair of the state parks and recreation commission, who shall serve as the chair and vice-chair
of the committee;
(b) A representative of the governor;
(c) A member of each of the two largest caucuses of the
senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
(d) A member of each of the two largest caucuses of the
house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives;
(e) The director of the office of financial management or
his or her designee; and
(f) Three members of the public, appointed by the chair
of the commission, consisting of a representative of the commission employees, a representative of private sector donors,
and a representative of state park users.
(2) The committee will be staffed by the commission and
by other staff as may be provided by the legislature, the gov(2006 Ed.)
79A.75.030 Centennial 2013 plan—Develop proposal. (Expires December 31, 2013.) (1) The Washington
state parks centennial advisory committee will develop a proposal to implement the centennial 2013 plan. The proposal
must include:
(a) A complete description of the policy and fiscal components of the plan;
(b) The roles of the commission, the governor, the legislature, the public, and other entities in implementing the plan;
(c) Time frames for implementing the plan;
(d) Cost estimates for implementing the plan, including
total estimated costs for each component of the plan, and estimates on a yearly or biennial basis for implementing the plan
in phases.
(2) The commission will review and may revise the plan.
The commission will submit a draft proposal to the office of
financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature, no later than September 1, 2004. That proposal must
include at least the portion of the plan that would need to be
considered during the 2005 legislative session to be implemented during the 2005-07 biennium. The commission will
submit the complete proposal to the office of financial management and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of
the legislature no later than January 1, 2005. Thereafter, the
commission must submit revised proposals to the office of
financial management and the appropriate policy and fiscal
committees of the legislature no later than June 30 of each
even-numbered year. [2004 c 14 § 4.]
79A.75.030
79A.75.900 Expiration date—2004 c 14. This act
expires December 31, 2013. [2004 c 14 § 5.]
79A.75.900
79A.75.901 Effective date—2004 c 14. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 12, 2004]. [2004 c 14 § 7.]
79A.75.901
[Title 79A RCW—page 73]
Title 80
Chapters
80.01
80.04
80.08
80.12
80.16
80.20
80.24
80.28
80.32
80.36
80.40
80.50
80.52
80.54
80.58
80.60
80.66
80.70
80.98
Title 80
PUBLIC UTILITIES
State power commission: Chapter 43.27A RCW.
Utilities and transportation commission.
Regulations—General.
Securities.
Transfers of property.
Affiliated interests.
Investigation of public service companies.
Regulatory fees.
Gas, electrical, and water companies.
Electric franchises and rights of way.
Telecommunications.
Underground Natural Gas Storage Act.
Energy facilities—Site locations.
Energy financing voter approval act.
Attachments to transmission facilities.
Nonpolluting power generation exemption.
Net metering of electricity.
Radio communications service companies.
Carbon dioxide mitigation.
Construction.
Agreements between electrical public utilities and cooperatives: Chapter
54.48 RCW.
Assessment of public utilities for property tax purposes: Chapter 84.12
RCW.
Conversion of overhead electric and communication facilities to underground: Chapter 35.96 RCW, RCW 36.88.410 through 36.88.480.
Corporate seals, effect of absence from instrument: RCW 64.04.105.
Corporations, annual license fee of public service companies: RCW
23B.01.590.
Easements of public service companies taxable as personalty: RCW
84.20.010.
Electrical advisory board: RCW 19.28.311.
Flaggers—Safety standards: RCW 49.17.350.
Franchise on county roads and bridges: Chapter 36.55 RCW.
Fraud in obtaining telecommunications service: RCW 9.26A.110.
Gas and hazardous liquid pipelines: Chapter 81.88 RCW.
Generating electricity by steam: RCW 43.21A.600 through 43.21A.642.
Hydroelectric resources, creation of separate legal authority by irrigation
districts and cities, towns, or public utility districts: RCW 87.03.825
through 87.03.840.
Mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens: Chapter 60.04 RCW.
Metropolitan municipal corporations: Chapter 35.58 RCW.
Motor vehicle fuel tax exemption for urban transportation system: RCW
82.36.275.
Municipal utilities: Chapter 35.92 RCW.
Municipal utilities, sale or lease of: Chapter 35.94 RCW.
Municipal water and sewer facilities act: Chapter 35.91 RCW.
Nuclear, thermal power facilities, joint development by cities, public utility
districts, electrical companies: Chapter 54.44 RCW.
Operating agencies: Chapter 43.52 RCW.
Party line telephone calls, emergencies: Chapter 70.85 RCW.
Power resources, state division of: Chapter 43.27A RCW.
Public utility districts: Title 54 RCW.
Public utility tax: Chapter 82.16 RCW.
State department of conservation: Chapter 43.27A RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Traffic control at work sites: RCW 47.36.200.
Underground utilities, records of location: Chapter 19.122 RCW.
Utility poles, unlawful to attach objects—Penalty: RCW 70.54.090.
Water resources, state division of: Chapter 43.27A RCW.
Chapter 80.01 RCW
UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Chapter 80.01
Sections
80.01.010
80.01.020
80.01.030
80.01.035
80.01.040
80.01.050
80.01.060
80.01.070
80.01.075
80.01.080
80.01.090
80.01.100
80.01.110
80.01.300
Commission created—Appointment of members—Terms—
Vacancies—Removal—Salary.
Commissioners—Oath, bond, and qualifications—Persons
excluded from office and employment.
Commission to employ secretary and other assistants—Secretary’s duties—Deputies.
Appointment of commissioners pro tempore.
General powers and duties of commission.
Quorum—Hearings—Actions deemed those of the commission.
Administrative law judges—Powers.
Joint investigations, hearings, orders.
Authority to initiate, participate in federal administrative
agency proceedings.
Public service revolving fund.
Proceedings public records—Seal.
Duties of attorney general.
Wholesale telecommunications services—Commission authorized to review rates, terms, conditions.
Certain provisions not to detract from commission powers,
duties, and functions.
Collection agencies, retained by public bodies to collect debts—Fees: RCW
19.16.500.
Solid waste collection districts in counties, commission findings necessary:
RCW 36.58A.030.
80.01.010
80.01.010 Commission created—Appointment of
members—Terms—Vacancies—Removal—Salary.
There is hereby created and established a state commission to
be known and designated as the Washington utilities and
transportation commission, and in this chapter referred to as
the commission.
The commission shall be composed of three members
appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate.
Not more than two members of said commission shall belong
to the same political party.
Each commissioner shall be appointed and hold office
for the term of six years. The governor shall designate one of
the commissioners to be chair of the commission during the
term of the governor.
Each commissioner shall receive a salary as may be
fixed by the governor in accordance with the provisions of
RCW 43.03.040.
Any member of the commission may be removed for
inefficiency, malfeasance or misfeasance in office, upon specific written charges filed by the governor, who shall transmit
such written charges to the member accused and to the chief
justice of the supreme court. The chief justice shall there[Title 80 RCW—page 1]
80.01.020
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
upon designate a special tribunal composed of three judges of
the superior court to hear and adjudicate the charges. Such
tribunal shall fix the time, place and procedure for the hearing, and the hearing shall be public. The decision of such tribunal shall be final and not subject to review.
If the tribunal specified herein finds the charges of the
governor to be true, the governor shall have the right to
immediately remove the commissioner from office, to
declare the position of the commissioner vacant, and appoint
another commissioner to the position in accordance with the
provisions of the law.
Any vacancy arising in the office of commissioner shall
be filled by appointment by the governor, and, except for persons appointed as pro tempore commissioners, an appointee
selected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the balance of
the full term for which his or her predecessor on the commission was appointed.
If a vacancy occurs while the senate is not in session, the
governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next
meeting of the senate, when he or she shall present to the senate his or her nomination or nominations for the office to be
filled. [2006 c 346 § 1; 1961 c 307 § 4; 1961 c 14 §
80.01.010. Prior: 1955 c 340 § 7; 1951 c 260 § 1; 1949 c 117
§ 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10964-115-1. Formerly RCW
43.53.010.]
80.01.020
80.01.020 Commissioners—Oath, bond, and qualifications—Persons excluded from office and employment.
Each commissioner shall, before entering upon the duties of
his office, take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office,
and furnish bond to the state in the sum of twenty thousand
dollars conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of
his office and for the proper accounting for all funds that may
come into his possession by virtue of his office. Each commissioner shall be a qualified elector of this state and no person in the employ of or holding any official relation to any
corporation or person, which corporation or person is subject
in whole or in part to regulation by the commission, and no
person owning stocks or bonds of any such corporation or
who is in any manner pecuniarily interested therein shall be
appointed or hold the office of commissioner or be appointed
or employed by the commission: PROVIDED, That if any
such person shall become the owner of such stocks or bonds
or become pecuniarily interested in such corporation otherwise than voluntarily, he shall within a reasonable time divest
himself of such ownership or interest, and failing to do so his
office or employment shall become vacant. [1961 c 14 §
80.01.020. Prior: 1949 c 117 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10964115-2. Formerly RCW 43.53.020 and 43.53.030.]
80.01.030
80.01.030 Commission to employ secretary and other
assistants—Secretary’s duties—Deputies. The commission shall appoint and employ a secretary and such accounting, engineering, expert and clerical assistants, and such other
qualified assistants as may be necessary to carry on the
administrative work of the commission.
The secretary shall be the custodian of the commission’s
official seal, and shall keep full and accurate minutes of all
transactions, proceedings and determinations of the commis[Title 80 RCW—page 2]
sion and perform such other duties as may be required by the
commission.
The commission may deputize one or more of its assistants to perform, in the name of the commission, such duties
of the commission as it deems expedient. The commission
may, by rule or order, delegate to designated assistants any of
the powers and duties vested in or imposed upon the commission by law except matters governed by chapter 34.05 RCW;
however, a matter may not be delegated to a person who has
worked as an advocate on the same docket. Delegated powers and duties may be exercised in the name of the commission. The commission by rule shall implement a process by
which notice shall be provided of matters designated for delegation. Any such matter shall be heard or reviewed by commissioners at the request of any commissioner or any affected
person. [2006 c 346 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 80.01.030. Prior: 1949
c 117 § 4; 1934 c 267 §§ 2, 3, 5 and 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
10964-115-4 and Rem. Supp. 1945 §§ 10459-2, 10459-3,
10459-5, 10459-6; prior: compare prior laws as follows:
1955 c 340 § 7; 1951 c 260 § 1; 1949 c 117 §§ 1, 3, 8; 1945 c
267; 1935 c 8 § 1; 1921 c 7 §§ 25, 26; 1911 c 117. Formerly
RCW 43.53.040.]
80.01.035
80.01.035 Appointment of commissioners pro tempore. When a commissioner has heard all or a substantial
part of an adjudicative proceeding and leaves office before
entry of a final order in the proceeding, at the request of the
remaining commissioners the commissioner leaving office
may be appointed by the governor as commissioner pro tempore to complete the proceeding. A proceeding is completed
when the commission enters a final order purporting to
resolve all contested issues therein, from which no party
seeks clarification or reconsideration, or upon entry of an
order on clarification or reconsideration, even though the
order is subject to a petition for judicial review. A commissioner pro tempore shall receive a reasonable compensation
to be fixed by the remaining members of the commission.
[2006 c 346 § 3.]
80.01.040
80.01.040 General powers and duties of commission.
The utilities and transportation commission shall:
(1) Exercise all the powers and perform all the duties
prescribed therefor by this title and by Title 81 RCW, or by
any other law.
(2) Regulate in the public interest, as provided by the
public service laws, the rates, services, facilities, and practices of all persons engaging in the transportation by whatever means of persons or property within this state for compensation, and related activities; including, but not limited to,
air transportation companies, auto transportation companies,
express companies, freight and freight line companies, motor
freight companies, motor transportation agents, private car
companies, railway companies, sleeping car companies,
steamboat companies, street railway companies, toll bridge
companies, storage warehousemen, and wharfingers and
warehousemen.
(3) Regulate in the public interest, as provided by the
public service laws, the rates, services, facilities, and practices of all persons engaging within this state in the business
of supplying any utility service or commodity to the public
(2006 Ed.)
Utilities and Transportation Commission
for compensation, and related activities; including, but not
limited to, electrical companies, gas companies, irrigation
companies, telecommunications companies, and water companies.
(4) Make such rules and regulations as may be necessary
to carry out its other powers and duties. [1985 c 450 § 10;
1961 c 14 § 80.01.040. Prior: (i) 1949 c 117 § 3; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 10964-115-3. (ii) 1945 c 267 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
10459-5. (iii) 1945 c 267 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10459-6.
Formerly RCW 43.53.050.]
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
Flaggers—Safety standards: RCW 49.17.350.
80.01.050 Quorum—Hearings—Actions deemed
those of the commission. A majority of the commissioners
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business,
for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise of any
power of the commission, and may hold hearings at any time
or place within or without the state. A quorum of commissioners need not affirm any matter delegated under RCW
80.01.030. Any investigation, inquiry, or hearing which the
commission has power to undertake or to hold may be undertaken or held by or before any commissioner or any administrative law judge as provided in RCW 80.01.060. All investigations, inquiries, and hearings of the commission, and all
findings, orders, or decisions, made by a commissioner or
administrative law judge, when approved and confirmed by
the commission or allowed to become final pursuant to RCW
80.01.060 and filed in its office, shall be the orders or decisions of the commission. [2006 c 346 § 4; 1995 c 331 § 2;
1961 c 14 § 80.01.050. Prior: 1949 c 117 § 6; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 10964-115-6. Formerly RCW 43.53.060.]
80.01.050
80.01.060 Administrative law judges—Powers. (1)
The commission may appoint administrative law judges
when it deems such action necessary for its general administration. The administrative law judges may administer oaths,
issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, waybills, books, accounts, documents, and
testimony, examine witnesses, make findings of probable
cause and issue complaints in the name of the commission,
and receive testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing,
or proceeding in any part of the state, under such rules as the
commission may adopt. The administrative law judges
appointed under this subsection are not subject to chapter
41.06 RCW; however, they are subject to discipline and termination, for cause, by the executive secretary of the commission. Upon written request of the person so disciplined or
terminated, the executive secretary shall state the reasons for
such action in writing. The person affected has a right of
review by the superior court of Thurston county on petition
for reinstatement or other remedy filed within thirty days of
receipt of the written reasons.
(2) In general rate increase filings by a natural gas, electric, or telecommunications company, the administrative law
judges may preside, but may not enter an initial order unless
expressly agreed to in writing by the company making the filing. In all other cases, the administrative law judge may enter
an initial order including findings of fact and conclusions of
law in accordance with RCW 34.05.461(1)(a) and (c) and (3)
80.01.060
(2006 Ed.)
80.01.080
through (9) or 34.05.485. RCW 34.05.461 (1)(b) and (2) do
not apply to entry of orders under this section.
(3) Administrative law judges may not enter final orders,
except that the commission may designate persons by rule to
preside and enter final orders in emergency adjudications
under RCW 34.05.479. Initial orders of administrative law
judges shall become final on the day following expiration of
the time established by the commission for filing a petition
for administrative review, unless, within that time, a party
petitions for administrative review or the commission notifies
parties that it will review the initial order on its own motion.
(4) If the administrative law judge does not enter an initial order as provided in subsection (2) of this section, then a
majority of the members of the commission who are to enter
the final order must hear or review substantially all of the
record submitted by any party. [2006 c 346 § 5; 1995 c 331
§ 3; 1991 c 48 § 1; 1981 c 67 § 35; 1961 c 14 § 80.01.060.
Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 164 § 1; RRS § 10779-1. Formerly RCW
43.53.070.]
Effective dates—Severability—1981 c 67: See notes following RCW
34.12.010.
80.01.070
80.01.070 Joint investigations, hearings, orders. The
commission shall have full power to make joint or concurrent
investigations, hold joint or concurrent hearings, and issue
joint or concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with
any official, board, or commission of any state or of the
United States, whether in the holding of such investigations
or hearings or in the making of such orders the commission
functions under agreements or compacts between states or
under the concurrent power of states to regulate interstate
commerce or as an agency of the federal government or otherwise. When necessary the commission may hold such joint
hearing or investigation outside the state. [1961 c 14 §
80.01.070. Prior: 1949 c 117 § 7; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10964115-7. Formerly RCW 43.53.080.]
80.01.075
80.01.075 Authority to initiate, participate in federal
administrative agency proceedings. The commission shall
have the authority as petitioner, intervenor or otherwise to
initiate and/or participate in proceedings before federal
administrative agencies in which there is at issue the authority, rates or practices for transportation or utility services
affecting the interests of the state of Washington, its businesses and general public, and to do all things necessary in its
opinion to present to such federal administrative agencies all
facts bearing upon such issues, and to similarly initiate and/or
participate in any judicial proceedings relating thereto. [1967
ex.s. c 49 § 1.]
80.01.080
80.01.080 Public service revolving fund. There is created in the state treasury a public service revolving fund.
Regulatory fees payable by all types of public service companies shall be deposited to the credit of the public service
revolving fund. Except for expenses payable out of the pipeline safety account, all expense of operation of the Washington utilities and transportation commission shall be payable
out of the public service revolving fund.
During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature
may transfer from the public service revolving fund to the
[Title 80 RCW—page 3]
80.01.090
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund
balance of the fund.
Due to the extraordinarily high winter energy costs, during the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, no more than seven million six hundred thousand dollars, as appropriated in section
1, chapter 3, Laws of 2006, shall be payable out of the public
service revolving fund to provide energy assistance to customers in accordance with the low-income energy assistance
program. [2006 c 3 § 2; 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 940; 2002 c 371
§ 924; 2001 c 238 § 8; 1961 c 14 § 80.01.080. Prior: 1949 c
117 § 11; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10964-115-11. Formerly RCW
43.53.090.]
Effective date—2006 c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[January 12, 2006]." [2006 c 3 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Chapter 80.04
Sections
80.04.010
80.04.015
80.04.020
80.04.030
80.04.040
80.04.050
80.04.060
80.04.070
80.04.075
80.04.080
80.04.090
80.04.095
80.04.100
80.04.110
80.04.120
80.04.130
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 371: See notes following RCW
9.46.100.
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
80.01.090
80.01.090 Proceedings public records—Seal. All proceedings of the commission and all documents and records in
its possession shall be public records, and it shall adopt and
use an official seal. [1998 c 245 § 163; 1987 c 505 § 77; 1977
c 75 § 91; 1961 c 14 § 80.01.090. Prior: 1949 c 117 § 5; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 10964-115-5. Formerly RCW 43.53.100.]
80.01.100
80.01.100 Duties of attorney general. It shall be the
duty of the attorney general to represent and appear for the
people of the state of Washington and the commission in all
actions and proceedings involving any question under this
title or Title 81 RCW, or under or in reference to any act or
order of the commission; and it shall be the duty of the attorney general generally to see that all laws affecting any of the
persons or corporations herein enumerated are complied
with, and that all laws, the enforcement of which devolves
upon the commission, are enforced, and to that end he is
authorized to institute, prosecute and defend all necessary
actions and proceedings. [1961 c 14 § 80.01.100. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 5; RRS § 10341.]
80.01.110
80.01.110 Wholesale telecommunications services—
Commission authorized to review rates, terms, conditions. The commission is authorized to perform the duties
required by RCW 53.08.380 and 54.16.340. [2000 c 81 §
10.]
Findings—2000 c 81: See note following RCW 53.08.005.
80.01.300
80.01.300 Certain provisions not to detract from
commission powers, duties, and functions. Nothing contained in the provisions of RCW 36.58A.010 through
36.58A.040 and 70.95.090 and this section shall detract from
the powers, duties, and functions given to the utilities and
transportation commission in chapter 81.77 RCW. [1971
ex.s. c 293 § 7.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 4]
Chapter 80.04 RCW
REGULATIONS—GENERAL
80.04.140
80.04.150
80.04.160
80.04.170
80.04.180
80.04.190
80.04.200
80.04.210
80.04.220
80.04.230
80.04.240
80.04.250
80.04.260
80.04.270
80.04.280
80.04.290
80.04.300
80.04.310
80.04.320
80.04.330
80.04.350
80.04.360
80.04.380
80.04.385
80.04.387
80.04.390
80.04.400
80.04.405
80.04.410
80.04.420
80.04.430
80.04.440
80.04.450
80.04.460
80.04.470
80.04.480
80.04.500
80.04.510
80.04.520
80.04.530
80.04.550
Definitions.
Conduct of business subject to regulation—Determination by
commission.
Procedure before commission and courts.
Number of witnesses may be limited.
Witness fees and mileage.
Protection against self-incrimination.
Depositions—Service of process.
Inspection of books, papers, and documents.
Manner of serving papers.
Annual reports.
Forms of records to be prescribed.
Protection of records containing commercial information.
Production of out-of-state books and records.
Complaints—Hearings—Water systems not meeting board of
health standards—Drinking water standards—Nonmunicipal water systems audits.
Hearing—Order—Record.
Suspension of tariff change—Mandatory measured telecommunications service—Washington telephone assistance program service—Effect of abandonment of electrical generation facility on which tax exemption for pollution control
equipment is claimed.
Order requiring joint action.
Remunerative rates cannot be changed without approval.
Rules and regulations.
Review of orders.
Supersedeas—Water companies seeking supersedeas.
Appellate review.
Rehearing before commission.
Commission may change orders.
Reparations.
Overcharges—Refund.
Action in court on reparations and overcharges.
Valuation of public service property.
Summary proceedings.
Merchandise accounts to be kept separate.
Purchase and sale of stock by employees.
Sales of stock to employees and customers.
Budgets to be filed by companies—Supplementary budgets.
Commission’s control over expenditures.
Budget rules.
Effect of unauthorized expenditure—Emergencies.
Depreciation and retirement accounts.
Earnings in excess of reasonable rate—Consideration in fixing
rates.
Penalties—Violations by public service companies.
Penalties—Violations by officers, agents, and employees of
public service companies.
Penalties—Violations by other corporations.
Penalties—Violations by persons.
Actions to recover penalties—Disposition of fines, penalties,
and forfeitures.
Additional penalties—Violations by public service companies
and officers, agents, and employees thereof.
Orders and rules conclusive.
Intervention by commission where order or rule is involved.
Findings of commission prima facie correct.
Companies liable for damages.
Certified copies of orders, rules, etc.—Evidentiary effect.
Investigation of accidents.
Commission to enforce public service laws—Employees as
peace officers.
Rights of action not released—Penalties cumulative.
Application to municipal utilities.
Duties of attorney general.
Approval of lease of utility facilities.
Local exchange company that serves less than two percent of
state’s access lines—Regulatory exemptions—Reporting
requirements.
Thermal energy—Restrictions on authority of commission.
80.04.010
80.04.010 Definitions. As used in this title, unless specifically defined otherwise or unless the context indicates
otherwise:
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
"Automatic location identification" means a system by
which information about a caller’s location, including the
seven-digit number or ten-digit number used to place a 911
call or a different seven-digit number or ten-digit number to
which a return call can be made from the public switched network, is forwarded to a public safety answering point for display.
"Automatic number identification" means a system that
allows for the automatic display of the seven-digit or tendigit number used to place a 911 call.
"Commission" means the utilities and transportation
commission.
"Commissioner" means one of the members of such
commission.
"Competitive telecommunications company" means a
telecommunications company which has been classified as
such by the commission pursuant to RCW 80.36.320.
"Competitive telecommunications service" means a service which has been classified as such by the commission
pursuant to RCW 80.36.330.
"Corporation" includes a corporation, company, association or joint stock association.
"Person" includes an individual, a firm or partnership.
"Gas plant" includes all real estate, fixtures and personal
property, owned, leased, controlled, used or to be used for or
in connection with the transmission, distribution, sale or furnishing of natural gas, or the manufacture, transmission, distribution, sale or furnishing of other type gas, for light, heat or
power.
"Gas company" includes every corporation, company,
association, joint stock association, partnership and person,
their lessees, trustees or receiver appointed by any court
whatsoever, and every city or town, owning, controlling,
operating or managing any gas plant within this state.
"Electric plant" includes all real estate, fixtures and personal property operated, owned, used or to be used for or in
connection with or to facilitate the generation, transmission,
distribution, sale or furnishing of electricity for light, heat, or
power for hire; and any conduits, ducts or other devices,
materials, apparatus or property for containing, holding or
carrying conductors used or to be used for the transmission of
electricity for light, heat or power.
"Electrical company" includes any corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership and
person, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any
court whatsoever (other than a railroad or street railroad company generating electricity solely for railroad or street railroad purposes or for the use of its tenants and not for sale to
others), and every city or town owning, operating or managing any electric plant for hire within this state. "Electrical
company" does not include a company or person employing
a cogeneration facility solely for the generation of electricity
for its own use or the use of its tenants or for sale to an electrical company, state or local public agency, municipal corporation, or quasi municipal corporation engaged in the sale
or distribution of electrical energy, but not for sale to others,
unless such company or person is otherwise an electrical
company.
"LATA" means a local access transport area as defined
by the commission in conformance with applicable federal
law.
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.010
"Private telecommunications system" means a telecommunications system controlled by a person or entity for the
sole and exclusive use of such person, entity, or affiliate
thereof, including the provision of private shared telecommunications services by such person or entity. "Private telecommunications system" does not include a system offered for
hire, sale, or resale to the general public.
"Private shared telecommunications services" includes
the provision of telecommunications and information management services and equipment within a user group located
in discrete private premises in building complexes, campuses, or high-rise buildings, by a commercial shared services provider or by a user association, through privately
owned customer premises equipment and associated data
processing and information management services and
includes the provision of connections to the facilities of a
local exchange and to interexchange telecommunications
companies.
"Private switch automatic location identification service" means a service that enables automatic location identification to be provided to a public safety answering point for
911 calls originating from station lines served by a private
switch system.
"Radio communications service company" includes
every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership, and person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court, and every city or town making
available facilities to provide radio communications service,
radio paging, or cellular communications service for hire,
sale, or resale.
"Telecommunications company" includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership and person, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed
by any court whatsoever, and every city or town owning,
operating or managing any facilities used to provide telecommunications for hire, sale, or resale to the general public
within this state.
"Noncompetitive telecommunications service" means
any service which has not been classified as competitive by
the commission.
"Facilities" means lines, conduits, ducts, poles, wires,
cables, cross-arms, receivers, transmitters, instruments,
machines, appliances, instrumentalities and all devices, real
estate, easements, apparatus, property and routes used, operated, owned or controlled by any telecommunications company to facilitate the provision of telecommunications service.
"Telecommunications" is the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable, electromagnetic, or other
similar means. As used in this definition, "information"
means knowledge or intelligence represented by any form of
writing, signs, signals, pictures, sounds, or any other symbols.
"Water system" includes all real estate, easements, fixtures, personal property, dams, dikes, head gates, weirs,
canals, reservoirs, flumes or other structures or appliances
operated, owned, used or to be used for or in connection with
or to facilitate the supply, storage, distribution, sale, furnishing, diversion, carriage, apportionment or measurement of
water for power, irrigation, reclamation, manufacturing,
municipal, domestic or other beneficial uses for hire.
[Title 80 RCW—page 5]
80.04.015
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
"Water company" includes every corporation, company,
association, joint stock association, partnership and person,
their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court
whatsoever, and every city or town owning, controlling,
operating, or managing any water system for hire within this
state: PROVIDED, That for purposes of commission jurisdiction it shall not include any water system serving less than
one hundred customers where the average annual gross revenue per customer does not exceed three hundred dollars per
year, which revenue figure may be increased annually by the
commission by rule adopted pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW
to reflect the rate of inflation as determined by the implicit
price deflator of the United States department of commerce:
AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That such measurement of
customers or revenues shall include all portions of water
companies having common ownership or control, regardless
of location or corporate designation. "Control" as used herein
shall be defined by the commission by rule and shall not
include management by a satellite agency as defined in chapter 70.116 RCW if the satellite agency is not an owner of the
water company. "Water company" also includes, for auditing
purposes only, nonmunicipal water systems which are
referred to the commission pursuant to an administrative
order from the department, or the city or county as provided
in RCW 80.04.110. However, water companies exempt from
commission regulation shall be subject to the provisions of
chapter 19.86 RCW. A water company cannot be removed
from regulation except with the approval of the commission.
Water companies subject to regulation may petition the commission for removal from regulation if the number of customers falls below one hundred or the average annual revenue per
customer falls below three hundred dollars. The commission
is authorized to maintain continued regulation if it finds that
the public interest so requires.
"Cogeneration facility" means any machinery, equipment, structure, process, or property, or any part thereof,
installed or acquired for the primary purpose of the sequential
generation of electrical or mechanical power and useful heat
from the same primary energy source or fuel.
"Public service company" includes every gas company,
electrical company, telecommunications company, and water
company. Ownership or operation of a cogeneration facility
does not, by itself, make a company or person a public service company.
"Local exchange company" means a telecommunications company providing local exchange telecommunications
service.
"Department" means the department of health.
The term "service" is used in this title in its broadest and
most inclusive sense. [1995 c 243 § 2; 1991 c 100 § 1; 1989
c 101 § 2; 1987 c 229 § 1. Prior: 1985 c 450 § 2; 1985 c 167
§ 1; 1985 c 161 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 191 § 10; 1977 ex.s. c 47 §
1; 1963 c 59 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.010; prior: 1955 c 316 §
2; prior: 1929 c 223 § 1, part; 1923 c 116 § 1, part; 1911 c
117 § 8, part; RRS § 10344, part.]
80.04.015
80.04.015 Conduct of business subject to regulation—Determination by commission. Whether or not any
person or corporation is conducting business subject to regulation under this title, or has performed or is performing any
act requiring registration or approval of the commission without securing such registration or approval, shall be a question
of fact to be determined by the commission. Whenever the
commission believes that any person or corporation is
engaged in any activity without first complying with the
requirements of this title, it may institute a special proceeding
requiring such person or corporation to appear before the
commission at a location convenient for witnesses and the
production of evidence and produce information, books,
records, accounts, and other memoranda, and give testimony
under oath as to the activities being conducted. The commission may consider any and all facts that may indicate the true
nature and extent of the operations or acts and may subpoena
such witnesses and documents as it deems necessary.
After investigation, the commission is authorized and
directed to issue the necessary order or orders declaring the
activities to be subject to, or not subject to, the provisions of
this title. In the event the activities are found to be subject to
the provisions of this title, the commission shall issue such
orders as may be necessary to require all parties involved in
the activities to comply with this title, and with respect to services found to be reasonably available from alternative
sources, to issue orders to cease and desist from providing
jurisdictional services pending full compliance.
In proceedings under this section, no person or corporation may be excused from testifying or from producing any
information, book, document, paper, or account before the
commission when ordered to do so, on the ground that the
testimony or evidence, information, book, document, or
account required may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him or her to penalty or forfeiture specified in this title;
but no person or corporation may be prosecuted, punished, or
subjected to any penalty or forfeiture specified in this title for
or on account of any account, transaction, matter, or thing
concerning which he or she shall under oath have testified or
produced documentary evidence in proceedings under this
section: PROVIDED, That no person so testifying may be
exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him or her in such testimony: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the exemption from prosecution in this section
extends only to violations of this title.
Until July 1, 1994, in any proceeding instituted under
this section to determine whether a person or corporation
owning, controlling, operating, or managing a water system
is subject to commission regulation, and where the person or
corporation has failed or refused to provide sufficient information or documentation to enable the commission to make
such a determination, the burden shall be on such person or
corporation to prove that the person’s or corporation’s operations or acts are not subject to commission regulation. [1991
c 101 § 1; 1986 c 11 § 1.]
80.04.020
Findings—Severability—1995 c 243: See notes following RCW
80.36.555.
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
[Title 80 RCW—page 6]
80.04.020 Procedure before commission and courts.
Each commissioner shall have power to administer oaths,
certify to all official acts, and to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books,
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
accounts, documents and testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding in any part of the state.
The superior court of the county in which any such
inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding may be had,
shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and
the production of papers, books, accounts, documents and
testimony as required by such subpoena. The commission or
the commissioner before which the testimony is to be given
or produced, in case of the refusal of any witness to attend or
testify or produce any papers required by the subpoena, shall
report to the superior court in and for the county in which the
proceeding is pending by petition, setting forth that due
notice has been given of the time and place of attendance of
said witnesses, or the production of said papers, and that the
witness has been summoned in the manner prescribed in this
chapter, and that the fees and mileage of the witness have
been paid or tendered to the witness for his attendance and
testimony, and that the witness has failed and refused to
attend or produce the papers required by the subpoena, before
the commission, in the cause or proceedings named in the
notice and subpoena, or has refused to answer questions propounded to him in the course of such proceeding, and ask an
order of said court, compelling the witness to attend and testify before the commission. The court, upon the petition of
the commission, shall enter an order directing the witness to
appear before said court at a time and place to be fixed by the
court in such order, and then and there show cause why he
has not responded to said subpoena. A copy of said order
shall be served upon said witness. If it shall appear to the
court that said subpoena was regularly issued by the commission, the court shall thereupon enter an order that said witness
appear before the commission at said time and place as fixed
in said order, and testify or produce the required papers, and
upon failing to obey said order, said witness shall be dealt
with as for contempt of court. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.020. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 75, part; RRS § 10413, part.]
80.04.080
nesses at any place within the state. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.050.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS 10414, part.]
Powers of each commissioner to compel attendance of witnesses: RCW
80.04.020.
80.04.060
80.04.060 Depositions—Service of process. The commission shall have the right to take the testimony of any witness by deposition, and for that purpose the attendance of
witnesses and the production of books, documents, papers
and accounts may be enforced in the same manner as in the
case of hearings before the commission, or any member
thereof. Process issued under the provisions of this chapter
shall be served as in civil cases. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.060.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS § 10414, part.]
80.04.070
80.04.070 Inspection of books, papers, and documents. The commission and each commissioner, or any person employed by the commission, shall have the right, at any
and all times, to inspect the accounts, books, papers and documents of any public service company, and the commission,
or any commissioner, may examine under oath any officer,
agent or employee of such public service company in relation
thereto, and with reference to the affairs of such company:
PROVIDED, That any person other than a commissioner
who shall make any such demand shall produce his authority
from the commission to make such inspection. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.070. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 77; RRS § 10415.]
80.04.075
80.04.075 Manner of serving papers. All notices,
applications, complaints, findings of fact, opinions and
orders required by this title to be served may be served by
mail and service thereof shall be deemed complete when a
true copy of such paper or document is deposited in the post
office properly addressed and stamped. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.075. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 7; RRS § 10458-1. Formerly
RCW 80.04.370.]
80.04.030
80.04.030 Number of witnesses may be limited. In all
proceedings before the commission the commission shall
have the right, in their discretion, to limit the number of witnesses testifying upon any subject or proceeding to be
inquired of before the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.030.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 75, part; RRS § 10413, part.]
80.04.040
80.04.040 Witness fees and mileage. Each witness
who shall appear under subpoena shall receive for his attendance four dollars per day and ten cents per mile traveled by
the nearest practicable route in going to and returning from
the place of hearing. No witness shall be entitled to fees or
mileage from the state when summoned at the instance of the
public service companies affected. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.040.
Prior: 1955 c 79 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS 10414, part.]
80.04.050
80.04.050 Protection against self-incrimination. The
claim by any witness that any testimony sought to be elicited
may tend to incriminate him shall not excuse such witness
from testifying, but such evidence or testimony shall not be
used against such person on the trial of any criminal proceeding, excepting in a prosecution for perjury. The commissioner shall have power to compel the attendance of wit(2006 Ed.)
80.04.080
80.04.080 Annual reports. Every public service company shall annually furnish to the commission a report in
such form as the commission may require, and shall specifically answer all questions propounded to it by the commission, upon or concerning which the commission may need
information. Such annual reports shall show in detail the
amount of capital stock issued, the amounts paid therefor and
the manner of payment for same, the dividends paid, the surplus fund, if any, and the number of stockholders, the funded
and floating debts and the interest paid thereon, the cost and
value of the company’s property, franchises and equipment,
the number of employees and the salaries paid each class, the
accidents to employees and other persons and the cost
thereof, the amounts expended for improvements each year,
how expended and the character of such improvements, the
earnings or receipts from each franchise or business and from
all sources, the proportion thereof earned from business moving wholly within the state and the proportion earned from
interstate business, the operating and other expenses and the
proportion of such expense incurred in transacting business
wholly within the state, and proportion incurred in transacting interstate business, such division to be shown according
to such rules of division as the commission may prescribe,
[Title 80 RCW—page 7]
80.04.090
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
the balances of profit and loss, and a complete exhibit of the
financial operations of the company each year, including an
annual balance sheet. Such report shall also contain such
information in relation to rates, charges or regulations concerning charges, or agreements, arrangements or contracts
affecting the same, as the commission may require; and the
commission may, in its discretion, for the purpose of
enabling it the better to carry out the provisions of this title,
prescribe the period of time within which all public service
companies subject to the provisions of this title shall have, as
near as may be, a uniform system of accounts, and the manner in which such accounts shall be kept. Such detailed report
shall contain all the required statistics for the period of twelve
months ending on the last day of any particular month prescribed by the commission for any public service company.
Such reports shall be made out under oath and filed with the
commission at its office in Olympia on such date as the commission specifies by rule, unless additional time be granted in
any case by the commission. The commission shall have
authority to require any public service company to file
monthly reports of earnings and expenses, and to file periodical or special, or both periodical and special, reports concerning any matter about which the commission is authorized
or required by this or any other law, to inquire into or keep
itself informed about, or which it is required to enforce, such
periodical or special reports to be under oath whenever the
commission so requires. [1989 c 107 § 1; 1961 c 14 §
80.04.080. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 78, part; RRS § 10416, part.]
80.04.090
80.04.090 Forms of records to be prescribed. The
commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of any
and all accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by public
service companies, including the accounts, records and memoranda of the movement of traffic, sales of its product, the
receipts and expenditures of money. The commission shall at
all times have access to all accounts, records and memoranda
kept by public service companies, and may employ special
agents or examiners, who shall have power to administer
oaths and authority, under the order of the commission, to
examine witnesses and to inspect and examine any and all
accounts, records and memoranda kept by such companies.
The commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of
any and all reports, accounts, records and memoranda to be
furnished and kept by any public service company whose line
or lines extend beyond the limits of this state, which are operated partly within and partly without the state, so that the
same shall show any information required by the commission
concerning the traffic movement, receipts and expenditures
appertaining to those parts of the line within the state. [1961
c 14 § 80.04.090. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 78, part; RRS § 10416,
part.]
80.04.095
80.04.095 Protection of records containing commercial information. Records, subject to chapter 42.56 RCW,
filed with the commission or the attorney general from any
person which contain valuable commercial information,
including trade secrets or confidential marketing, cost, or
financial information, or customer-specific usage and network configuration and design information, shall not be subject to inspection or copying under chapter 42.56 RCW: (1)
[Title 80 RCW—page 8]
Until notice to the person or persons directly affected has
been given; and (2) if, within ten days of the notice, the person has obtained a superior court order protecting the records
as confidential. The court shall determine that the records are
confidential and not subject to inspection and copying if disclosure would result in private loss, including an unfair competitive disadvantage. When providing information to the
commission or the attorney general, a person shall designate
which records or portions of records contain valuable commercial information. Nothing in this section shall prevent the
use of protective orders by the commission governing disclosure of proprietary or confidential information in contested
proceedings. [2005 c 274 § 358; 1987 c 107 § 1.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
80.04.100
80.04.100 Production of out-of-state books and
records. The commission may by order with or without
hearing require the production within this state, at such time
and place as it may designate, of any books, accounts, papers
or records kept by any public service company in any office
or place without this state, or at the option of the company
verified copies thereof, so that an examination thereof may be
made by the commission or under its direction. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.100. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 2; 1911 c 117 § 79; RRS §
10421.]
80.04.110
80.04.110 Complaints—Hearings—Water systems
not meeting board of health standards—Drinking water
standards—Nonmunicipal water systems audits. (1)
Complaint may be made by the commission of its own
motion or by any person or corporation, chamber of commerce, board of trade, or any commercial, mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, or any body politic or
municipal corporation, or by the public counsel section of the
office of the attorney general, or its successor, by petition or
complaint in writing, setting forth any act or thing done or
omitted to be done by any public service corporation in violation, or claimed to be in violation, of any provision of law
or of any order or rule of the commission: PROVIDED, That
no complaint shall be entertained by the commission except
upon its own motion, as to the reasonableness of the schedule
of the rates or charges of any gas company, electrical company, water company, or telecommunications company,
unless the same be signed by the mayor, council or commission of the city or town in which the company complained of
is engaged in business, or not less than twenty-five consumers or purchasers of such gas, electricity, water or telecommunications service, or at least twenty-five percent of the
consumers or purchasers of the company’s service: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That when two or more public service
corporations, (meaning to exclude municipal and other public
corporations) are engaged in competition in any locality or
localities in the state, either may make complaint against the
other or others that the rates, charges, rules, regulations or
practices of such other or others with or in respect to which
the complainant is in competition, are unreasonable, unremunerative, discriminatory, illegal, unfair or intending or tending to oppress the complainant, to stifle competition, or to
create or encourage the creation of monopoly, and upon such
complaint or upon complaint of the commission upon its own
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
motion, the commission shall have power, after notice and
hearing as in other cases, to, by its order, subject to appeal as
in other cases, correct the abuse complained of by establishing such uniform rates, charges, rules, regulations or practices in lieu of those complained of, to be observed by all of
such competing public service corporations in the locality or
localities specified as shall be found reasonable, remunerative, nondiscriminatory, legal, and fair or tending to prevent
oppression or monopoly or to encourage competition, and
upon any such hearing it shall be proper for the commission
to take into consideration the rates, charges, rules, regulations
and practices of the public service corporation or corporations complained of in any other locality or localities in the
state.
(2) All matters upon which complaint may be founded
may be joined in one hearing, and no motion shall be entertained against a complaint for misjoinder of complaints or
grievances or misjoinder of parties; and in any review of the
courts of orders of the commission the same rule shall apply
and pertain with regard to the joinder of complaints and parties as herein provided: PROVIDED, All grievances to be
inquired into shall be plainly set forth in the complaint. No
complaint shall be dismissed because of the absence of direct
damage to the complainant.
(3) Upon the filing of a complaint, the commission shall
cause a copy thereof to be served upon the person or corporation complained of, which shall be accompanied by a notice
fixing the time when and place where a hearing will be had
upon such complaint. The time fixed for such hearing shall
not be less than ten days after the date of the service of such
notice and complaint, excepting as herein provided. The
commission shall enter its final order with respect to a complaint filed by any entity or person other than the commission
within ten months from the date of filing of the complaint,
unless the date is extended for cause. Rules of practice and
procedure not otherwise provided for in this title may be prescribed by the commission. Such rules may include the
requirement that a complainant use informal processes before
filing a formal complaint.
(4) The commission shall, as appropriate, audit a nonmunicipal water system upon receipt of an administrative order
from the department, or the city or county in which the water
system is located, finding that the water delivered by a system does not meet state board of health standards adopted
under RCW 43.20.050(2)(a) or standards adopted under
chapters 70.116 and 70.119A RCW, and the results of the
audit shall be provided to the requesting department, city, or
county. However, the number of nonmunicipal water systems
referred to the commission in any one calendar year shall not
exceed twenty percent of the water companies subject to
commission regulation as defined in RCW 80.04.010.
Every nonmunicipal water system referred to the commission for audit under this section shall pay to the commission an audit fee in an amount, based on the system’s twelvemonth audited period, equal to the fee required to be paid by
regulated companies under RCW 80.24.010.
(5) Any customer or purchaser of service from a water
system or company that is subject to commission regulation
may file a complaint with the commission if he or she has reason to believe that the water delivered by the system to the
customer does not meet state drinking water standards under
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.120
chapter 43.20 or 70.116 RCW. The commission shall investigate such a complaint, and shall request that the state department of health or local health department of the county in
which the system is located test the water for compliance
with state drinking water standards, and provide the results of
such testing to the commission. The commission may decide
not to investigate the complaint if it determines that the complaint has been filed in bad faith, or for the purpose of harassment of the water system or company, or for other reasons
has no substantial merit. The water system or company shall
bear the expense for the testing. After the commission has
received the complaint from the customer and during the pendency of the commission investigation, the water system or
company shall not take any steps to terminate service to the
customer or to collect any amounts alleged to be owed to the
company by the customer. The commission may issue an
order or take any other action to ensure that no such steps are
taken by the system or company. The customer may, at the
customer’s option and expense, obtain a water quality test by
a licensed or otherwise qualified water testing laboratory, of
the water delivered to the customer by the water system or
company, and provide the results of such a test to the commission. If the commission determines that the water does not
meet state drinking water standards, it shall exercise its
authority over the system or company as provided in this title,
and may, where appropriate, order a refund to the customer
on a pro rata basis for the substandard water delivered to the
customer, and shall order reimbursement to the customer for
the cost incurred by the customer, if any, in obtaining a water
quality test. [1995 c 376 § 12. Prior: 1991 c 134 § 1; 1991 c
100 § 2; prior: 1989 c 207 § 2; 1989 c 101 § 17; 1985 c 450
§ 11; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.110; prior: 1913 c 145 § 1; 1911 c
117 § 80; RRS § 10422.]
Findings—1995 c 376: See note following RCW 70.116.060.
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
Drinking water standards: Chapters 43.21A, 70.119A, and 80.28 RCW.
80.04.120
80.04.120 Hearing—Order—Record. At the time
fixed for the hearing mentioned in RCW 80.04.110, the complainant and the person or corporation complained of shall be
entitled to be heard and introduce such evidence as he or it
may desire. The commission shall issue process to enforce
the attendance of all necessary witnesses. At the conclusion
of such hearing the commission shall make and render findings concerning the subject matter and facts inquired into and
enter its order based thereon. A copy of such order, certified
under the seal of the commission, shall be served upon the
person or corporation complained of, or his or its attorney,
which order shall, of its own force, take effect and become
operative twenty days after the service thereof, except as otherwise provided. Where an order cannot, in the judgment of
the commission, be complied with within twenty days, the
commission may prescribe such additional time as in its judgment is reasonably necessary to comply with the order, and
may, on application and for good cause shown, extend the
time for compliance fixed in its order. A full and complete
record of all proceedings had before the commission, or any
member thereof, on any formal hearing had, and all testimony shall be taken down by a stenographer appointed by the
commission, and the parties shall be entitled to be heard in
[Title 80 RCW—page 9]
80.04.130
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
person or by attorney. In case of an action to review any order
of the commission, a transcript of such testimony, together
with all exhibits introduced, and of the record and proceedings in the cause, shall constitute the record of the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.120. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 81; RRS §
10423.]
80.04.130
80.04.130 Suspension of tariff change—Mandatory
measured telecommunications service—Washington telephone assistance program service—Effect of abandonment of electrical generation facility on which tax exemption for pollution control equipment is claimed. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, whenever any public service company shall file with the commission any schedule, classification, rule, or regulation, the
effect of which is to change any rate, charge, rental, or toll
theretofore charged, the commission shall have power, either
upon its own motion or upon complaint, upon notice, to enter
upon a hearing concerning such proposed change and the reasonableness and justness thereof. Pending such hearing and
the decision thereon, the commission may suspend the operation of such rate, charge, rental, or toll for a period not
exceeding ten months from the time the same would otherwise go into effect. After a full hearing, the commission may
make such order in reference thereto as would be provided in
a hearing initiated after the same had become effective.
(2)(a) The commission shall not suspend a tariff that
makes a decrease in a rate, charge, rental, or toll filed by a
telecommunications company pending investigation of the
fairness, justness, and reasonableness of the decrease when
the filing does not contain any offsetting increase to another
rate, charge, rental, or toll and the filing company agrees to
not file for an increase to any rate, charge, rental, or toll to
recover the revenue deficit that results from the decrease for
a period of one year.
(i) The filing company shall file with any decrease sufficient information as the commission by rule may require to
demonstrate the decreased rate, charge, rental, or toll is above
the long run incremental cost of the service. A tariff decrease
that results in a rate that is below long run incremental cost,
or is contrary to commission rule or order, or the requirements of this chapter, shall be rejected for filing and returned
to the company.
(ii) The commission may prescribe a different rate to be
effective on the prospective date stated in its final order after
its investigation, if it concludes based on the record that the
originally filed and effective rate is unjust, unfair, or unreasonable.
(b) The commission shall not suspend a promotional tariff. For the purposes of this section, "promotional tariff"
means a tariff that, for a period of up to ninety days, waives
or reduces charges or conditions of service for existing or
new subscribers for the purpose of retaining or increasing the
number of customers who subscribe to or use a service.
(3) The commission may suspend the initial tariff filing
of any water company removed from and later subject to
commission jurisdiction because of the number of customers
or the average annual gross revenue per customer provisions
of RCW 80.04.010. The commission may allow temporary
rates during the suspension period. These rates shall not
exceed the rates charged when the company was last regu[Title 80 RCW—page 10]
lated. Upon a showing of good cause by the company, the
commission may establish a different level of temporary
rates.
(4) At any hearing involving any change in any schedule,
classification, rule, or regulation the effect of which is to
increase any rate, charge, rental, or toll theretofore charged,
the burden of proof to show that such increase is just and reasonable shall be upon the public service company.
(5) The implementation of mandatory local measured
telecommunications service is a major policy change in available telecommunications service. The commission shall not
accept for filing a price list, nor shall it accept for filing or
approve, prior to June 1, 2004, a tariff filed by a telecommunications company which imposes mandatory local measured
service on any customer or class of customers, except that,
upon finding that it is in the public interest, the commission
may accept for filing a price list or it may accept for filing and
approve a tariff that imposes mandatory measured service for
a telecommunications company’s extended area service or
foreign exchange service. This subsection does not apply to
land, air, or marine mobile service, or to pay telephone service, or to any service which has been traditionally offered on
a measured service basis.
(6) The implementation of Washington telephone assistance program service is a major policy change in available
telecommunications service. The implementation of Washington telephone assistance program service will aid in
achieving the stated goal of universal telephone service.
(7) If a utility claims a sales or use tax exemption on the
pollution control equipment for an electrical generation facility and abandons the generation facility before the pollution
control equipment is fully depreciated, any tariff filing for a
rate increase to recover abandonment costs for the pollution
control equipment shall be considered unjust and unreasonable for the purposes of this section. [2003 c 189 § 1; 2001 c
267 § 1; 1998 c 110 § 1; 1997 c 368 § 14; 1993 c 311 § 1;
1992 c 68 § 1; 1990 c 170 § 1; 1989 c 101 § 13. Prior: 1987
c 333 § 1; 1987 c 229 § 2; prior: 1985 c 450 § 12; 1985 c 206
§ 1; 1985 c 161 § 2; 1984 c 3 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.130;
prior: 1941 c 162 § 1; 1937 c 169 § 2; 1933 c 165 § 3; 1915
c 133 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 82; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10424.]
Effective date—2001 c 267: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 11, 2001]." [2001 c 267 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
Effective date—1993 c 311: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 12, 1993]." [1993 c 311 § 2.]
Effective date—1987 c 333: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1,
1987." [1987 c 333 § 2.]
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
80.04.140
80.04.140 Order requiring joint action. Whenever
any order of the commission shall require joint action by two
or more public service companies, such order shall specify
that the same shall be made at their joint cost, and the compa(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
nies affected shall have thirty days, or such further time, as
the commission may prescribe, within which to agree upon
the part or division of cost which each shall bear, and costs of
operation and maintenance in the future, or the proportion of
charges or revenue each shall receive from such joint service
and the rules to govern future operations. If at the expiration
of such time such companies shall fail to file with the commission a statement that an agreement has been made for the
division or apportionment of such cost, the division of costs
of operation and maintenance to be incurred in the future and
the proportion of charges or revenue each shall receive from
such joint service and the rules to govern future operations,
the commission shall have authority, after further hearing, to
enter a supplemental order fixing the proportion of such cost
or expense to be borne by each company, and the manner in
which the same shall be paid and secured. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.140. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 83; RRS § 10425.]
80.04.150
80.04.150 Remunerative rates cannot be changed
without approval. Whenever the commission shall find,
after hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint as
herein provided, that any rate, toll, rental or charge which has
been the subject of complaint and inquiry is sufficiently
remunerative to the public service company affected thereby,
it may order that such rate, toll, rental or charge shall not be
changed, altered, abrogated or discontinued, nor shall there
be any change in the classification which will change or alter
such rate, toll, rental or charge without first obtaining the
consent of the commission authorizing such change to be
made. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.150. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 84; RRS
§ 10426.]
80.04.160
80.04.160 Rules and regulations. The commission is
hereby authorized and empowered to adopt, promulgate and
issue rules and regulations covering the transmission and
delivery of messages and conversations, and the furnishing
and supply of gas, electricity and water, and any and all services concerning the same, or connected therewith; and generally such rules as pertain to the comfort and convenience of
the public concerning the subjects treated of in this title. Such
rules and regulations shall be promulgated and issued by the
commission on its own motion, and shall be served on the
public service company affected thereby as other orders of
the commission are served. Any public service company
affected thereby, and deeming such rules and regulations, or
any of them, improper, unjust, unreasonable, or contrary to
law, may within twenty days from the date of service of such
order upon it file objections thereto with the commission,
specifying the particular grounds of such objections. The
commission shall, upon receipt of such objections, fix a time
and place for hearing the same, and after a full hearing may
make such changes or modifications thereto, if any, as the
evidence may justify. The commission shall have, and it is
hereby given, power to adopt rules to govern its proceedings,
and to regulate the mode and manner of all investigations and
hearings: PROVIDED, No person desiring to be present at
such hearing shall be denied permission. Actions may be
instituted to review rules and regulations promulgated under
this section as in the case of orders of the commission. [1961
c 14 § 80.04.160. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 85; RRS § 10427.]
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.180
80.04.170
80.04.170 Review of orders. Any complainant or any
public service company affected by any findings or order of
the commission, and deeming such findings or order to be
contrary to law, may, within thirty days after the service of
the findings or order upon him or it, apply to the superior
court of Thurston county for a writ of review, for the purpose
of having the reasonableness and lawfulness of such findings
or order inquired into and determined. Such writ shall be
made returnable not later than thirty days from and after the
date of the issuance thereof, unless upon notice to all parties
affected further time be allowed by the court, and shall direct
the commission to certify its record in the case to the court.
Such cause shall be heard by the court without the intervention of a jury on the evidence and exhibits introduced before
the commission and certified to by it. Upon such hearing the
superior court shall enter judgment either affirming or setting
aside or remanding for further action the findings or order of
the commission under review. The reasonable cost of preparing the transcript of testimony taken before the commission
shall be assessable as part of the statutory court costs, and the
amount thereof, if collected by the commission, shall be
deposited in the public service revolving fund. In case such
findings or order be set aside, or reversed and remanded, the
court shall make specific findings based upon evidence in the
record indicating clearly all respects in which the commission’s findings or order are erroneous. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.170. Prior: 1937 c 169 § 3; 1911 c 117 § 86; RRS §
10428.]
80.04.180
80.04.180 Supersedeas—Water companies seeking
supersedeas. (1) The pendency of any writ of review shall
not of itself stay or suspend the operation of the order of the
commission, but the superior court in its discretion may
restrain or suspend, in whole or in part, the operation of the
commission’s order pending the final hearing and determination of the suit.
(2) No order so restraining or suspending an order of the
commission relating to rates, charges, tolls or rentals, or rules
or regulations, practices, classifications or contracts affecting
the same, shall be made by the superior court otherwise than
upon three days’ notice and after hearing. If a supersedeas is
granted the order granting the same shall contain a specific
finding, based upon evidence submitted to the court making
the order, and identified by reference thereto, that great or
irreparable damage would otherwise result to the petitioner,
and specifying the nature of the damage. A water company
seeking a supersedeas must demonstrate to the court that it is
in compliance with the state board of health standards
adopted pursuant to RCW 43.20.050 and chapter 70.116
RCW relating to the purity, volume, and pressure of water.
(3) In case the order of the commission under review is
superseded by the court, it shall require a bond, with good
and sufficient surety, conditioned that such company petitioning for such review shall answer for all damages caused
by the delay in the enforcement of the order of the commission, and all compensation for whatever sums for transmission or service any person or corporation shall be compelled
to pay pending the review proceedings in excess of the sum
such person or corporations would have been compelled to
pay if the order of the commission had not been suspended.
[Title 80 RCW—page 11]
80.04.190
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
(4) The court may, in addition to or in lieu of the bond
herein provided for, require such other or further security for
the payment of such excess charges or damages as it may
deem proper. [1989 c 207 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.180. Prior:
1933 c 165 § 6; prior: 1931 c 119 § 2; 1911 c 117 § 87; RRS
§ 10429.]
80.04.190
80.04.190 Appellate review. The commission, any
public service company or any complainant may, after the
entry of judgment in the superior court in any action of
review, seek appellate review as in other cases. [1988 c 202
§ 60; 1971 ex.s. c 107 § 4; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.190. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 88; RRS § 10430.]
any rate, toll, rental or charge for any service performed by
any public service company, and the same has been investigated by the commission, and the commission has determined that the public service company has charged an excessive or exorbitant amount for such service, and the commission has determined that any party complainant is entitled to
an award of damages, the commission shall order that the
public service company pay to the complainant the excess
amount found to have been charged, whether such excess
amount was charged and collected before or after the filing of
said complaint, with interest from the date of the collection of
said excess amount. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.220. Prior: 1943 c
258 § 1; 1937 c 29 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10433.]
Rules of court: Cf. RAP 2.2.
80.04.230
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
80.04.200
80.04.200 Rehearing before commission. Any public
service company affected by any order of the commission,
and deeming itself aggrieved, may, after the expiration of two
years from the date of such order taking effect, petition the
commission for a rehearing upon the matters involved in such
order, setting forth in such petition the grounds and reasons
for such rehearing, which grounds and reasons may comprise
and consist of changed conditions since the issuance of such
order, or by showing a result injuriously affecting the petitioner which was not considered or anticipated at the former
hearing, or that the effect of such order has been such as was
not contemplated by the commission or the petitioner, or for
any good and sufficient cause which for any reason was not
considered and determined in such former hearing. Upon the
filing of such petition, such proceedings shall be had thereon
as are provided for hearings upon complaint, and such orders
may be reviewed as are other orders of the commission:
PROVIDED, That no order superseding the order of the commission denying such rehearing shall be granted by the court
pending the review. In case any order of the commission shall
not be reviewed, but shall be complied with by the public service company, such petition for rehearing may be filed within
six months from and after the date of the taking effect of such
order, and the proceedings thereon shall be as in this section
provided. The commission, may, in its discretion, permit the
filing of a petition for rehearing at any time. No order of the
commission upon a rehearing shall affect any right of action
or penalty accruing under the original order unless so ordered
by the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.200. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 89; RRS § 10431.]
80.04.210
80.04.210 Commission may change orders. The commission may at any time, upon notice to the public service
company affected, and after opportunity to be heard as provided in the case of complaints rescind, alter or amend any
order or rule made, issued or promulgated by it, and any order
or rule rescinding, altering or amending any prior order or
rule shall, when served upon the public service company
affected, have the same effect as herein provided for original
orders and rules. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.210. Prior: 1911 c 117
§ 90; RRS § 10432.]
80.04.220
80.04.220 Reparations. When complaint has been
made to the commission concerning the reasonableness of
[Title 80 RCW—page 12]
80.04.230 Overcharges—Refund. When complaint
has been made to the commission that any public service
company has charged an amount for any service rendered in
excess of the lawful rate in force at the time such charge was
made, and the same has been investigated and the commission has determined that the overcharge allegation is true, the
commission may order that the public service company pay
to the complainant the amount of the overcharge so found,
whether such overcharge was made before or after the filing
of said complaint, with interest from the date of collection of
such overcharge. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.230. Prior: 1937 c 29 §
2; RRS § 10433-1.]
80.04.240
80.04.240 Action in court on reparations and overcharges. If the public service company does not comply with
the order of the commission for the payment of the overcharge within the time limited in such order, suit may be
instituted in any superior court where service may be had
upon the said company to recover the amount of the overcharge with interest. It shall be the duty of the commission to
certify its record in the case, including all exhibits, to the
court. Such record shall be filed with the clerk of said court
within thirty days after such suit shall have been started and
said suit shall be heard on the evidence and exhibits introduced before the commission and certified to by it. If the
complainant shall prevail in such action, the superior court
shall enter judgment for the amount of the overcharge with
interest and shall allow complainant a reasonable attorney’s
fee, and the cost of preparing and certifying said record for
the benefit of and to be paid to the commission by complainant, and deposited by the commission in the public service
revolving fund, said sums to be fixed and collected as a part
of the costs of the suit. If the order of the commission shall be
found to be contrary to law or erroneous by reason of the
rejection of testimony properly offered, the court shall
remand the cause to the commission with instructions to
receive the testimony so proffered and rejected and enter a
new order based upon the evidence theretofore taken and
such as it is directed to receive. The court may in its discretion remand any cause which is reversed by it to the commission for further action. Appeals to the supreme court shall lie
as in other civil cases. All complaints concerning overcharges
resulting from collecting unreasonable rates and charges or
from collecting amounts in excess of lawful rates shall be
filed with the commission within six months in cases involving the collection of unreasonable rates and two years in
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
cases involving the collection of more than lawful rates from
the time the cause of action accrues, and the suit to recover
the overcharge shall be filed in the superior court within one
year from the date of the order of the commission.
The procedure provided in this section is exclusive, and
neither the supreme court nor any superior court shall have
jurisdiction save in the manner hereinbefore provided. [1961
c 14 § 80.04.240. Prior: 1943 c 258 § 2; 1937 c 29 § 3; Rem.
Supp. 1943 § 10433-2.]
80.04.250
80.04.250 Valuation of public service property. The
commission shall have power upon complaint or upon its
own motion to ascertain and determine the fair value for rate
making purposes of the property of any public service company used and useful for service in this state and shall exercise such power whenever it shall deem such valuation or
determination necessary or proper under any of the provisions of this title. In determining what property is used and
useful for providing electric, gas, or water service, the commission may include the reasonable costs of construction
work in progress to the extent that the commission finds that
inclusion is in the public interest.
The commission shall have the power to make revaluations of the property of any public service company from
time to time.
The commission shall, before any hearing is had, notify
the complainants and the public service company concerned
of the time and place of such hearing by giving at least thirty
days’ written notice thereof, specifying that at the time and
place designated a hearing will be held for the purpose of
ascertaining the value of the company’s property, used and
useful as aforesaid, which notice shall be sufficient to authorize the commission to inquire into and pass upon the matters
designated in this section. [1991 c 122 § 2; 1961 c 14 §
80.04.250. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 4; 1913 c 182 § 1; 1911 c 117
§ 92; RRS § 10441.]
Findings—1991 c 122: "The legislature finds that the state is facing an
energy shortage as growth occurs and that inadequate supplies of energy will
cause harmful impacts on the entire range of state citizens. The legislature
further finds that energy efficiency improvement is the single most effective
near term measure to lessen the risk of energy shortage. In the area of electricity, the legislature additionally finds that the Northwest power planning
council has made several recommendations, including an update of the commercial building energy code and granting flexible ratemaking alternatives
for utility commissions to encourage prudent acquisition of new electric
resources." [1991 c 122 § 1.]
Severability—1991 c 122: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 c 122 § 4.]
80.04.260
80.04.260 Summary proceedings. Whenever the commission shall be of opinion that any public service company
is failing or omitting, or about to fail or omit, to do anything
required of it by law, or by order, direction or requirement of
the commission, or is doing anything, or about to do anything, or permitting anything, or about to permit anything to
be done contrary to or in violation of law or of any order,
direction or requirement of the commission authorized by
this title, it shall direct the attorney general to commence an
action or proceeding in the superior court of the state of
Washington for Thurston county, or in the superior court of
any county in which such company may do business, in the
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.280
name of the state of Washington on the relation of the commission, for the purpose of having such violations or threatened violations stopped and prevented, either by mandamus
or injunction. The attorney general shall thereupon begin
such action or proceeding by petition to such superior court,
alleging the violation complained of, and praying for the
appropriate relief by way of mandamus or injunction. It shall
thereupon be the duty of the court to specify a time, not
exceeding twenty days after the service of the copy of the
petition, within which the public service company complained of must answer the petition. In case of default in
answer or after answer, the court shall immediately inquire
into the facts and circumstances in such manner as the court
shall direct, without other or formal pleadings, and without
respect to any technical requirement. Such persons or corporations as the court may deem necessary or proper to be
joined as parties, in order to make its judgment, order or writ
effective, may be joined as parties. The final judgment in any
such action or proceeding shall either dismiss the action or
proceeding or direct that the writ of mandamus or injunction,
or both, issue as prayed for in the petition, or in such other
modified form as the court may determine will afford appropriate relief. Appellate review of the final judgment may be
sought in the same manner and with the same effect as review
of judgments of the superior court in actions to review orders
of the commission. All provisions of this chapter relating to
the time of review, the manner of perfecting the same, the filing of briefs, hearings and supersedeas, shall apply to appeals
to the supreme court or the court of appeals under the provisions of this section. [1988 c 202 § 61; 1971 c 81 § 140; 1961
c 14 § 80.04.260. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 93; RRS § 10442.]
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
80.04.270
80.04.270 Merchandise accounts to be kept separate.
Any public service company engaging in the sale of merchandise or appliances or equipment shall keep separate
accounts, as prescribed by the commission, of its capital
employed in such business and of its revenues therefrom and
operating expenses thereof. The capital employed in such
business shall not constitute a part of the fair value of said
company’s property for rate making purposes, nor shall the
revenues from or operating expenses of such business constitute a part of the operating revenues and expenses of said
company as a public service company. For purposes of this
section, the providing of competitive telephone service, as
defined in RCW 82.04.065, shall not constitute the sale of
merchandise, appliances, or equipment, unless the commission determines that it would be in the public interest to hold
otherwise. [1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 40; 1981 c 144 § 5; 1961 c
14 § 80.04.270. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 8; RRS § 10458-2.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1981 c 144: See notes following RCW 82.16.010.
80.04.280
80.04.280 Purchase and sale of stock by employees.
No public service company shall permit any employee to sell,
offer for sale, or solicit the purchase of any security of any
other person or corporation during such hours as such
employee is engaged to perform any duty of such public service company; nor shall any public service company by any
[Title 80 RCW—page 13]
80.04.290
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
means or device require any employee to purchase or contract
to purchase any of its securities or those of any other person
or corporation; nor shall any public service company require
any employee to permit the deduction from his wages or salary of any sum as a payment or to be applied as a payment of
any purchase or contract to purchase any security of such
public service company or of any other person or corporation.
[1961 c 14 § 80.04.280. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 9; RRS § 104583.]
80.04.290
80.04.290 Sales of stock to employees and customers.
A corporate public service company, either heretofore or
hereafter organized under the laws of this state, may sell to its
employees and customers any increase of its capital stock, or
part thereof, without first offering it to existing stockholders:
PROVIDED, That such sale is approved by the holders of a
majority of the capital stock, at a regular or special meeting
held after notice given as to the time, place, and object
thereof as provided by law and the bylaws of the company.
Such sales shall be at prices and in amounts for each purchaser and upon terms and conditions as set forth in the resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting, or in a resolution
passed at a subsequent meeting of the board of trustees if the
resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting shall authorize
the board to determine prices, amounts, terms, and conditions, except that in either event, a minimum price for the
stock must be fixed in the resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.290. Prior: 1955 c 79 § 2;
1923 c 110 § 1; RRS § 10344-1.]
80.04.300
80.04.300 Budgets to be filed by companies—Supplementary budgets. The commission may regulate, restrict,
and control the budgets of expenditures of public service
companies. Each company shall prepare a budget showing
the amount of money which, in its judgment, will be needed
during the ensuing year for maintenance, operation, and construction, classified by accounts as prescribed by the commission, and shall within ten days of the date it is approved by the
company file it with the commission for its investigation and
approval or rejection. When a budget has been filed the commission shall examine into and investigate it to determine
whether the expenditures therein proposed are fair and reasonable and not contrary to public interest.
Adjustments or additions to budget expenditures may be
made from time to time during the year by filing a supplementary budget with the commission for its investigation and
approval or rejection. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.300. Prior: 1959 c
248 § 11; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
80.04.310
80.04.310 Commission’s control over expenditures.
The commission may, both as to original and supplementary
budgets, prior to the making or contracting for the expenditure of any item therein, and after notice to the company and
a hearing thereon, reject any item of the budget. The commission may require any company to furnish further information,
data, or detail as to any proposed item of expenditure.
Failure of the commission to object to any item of expenditure within ninety days of the filing of any original budget
or within thirty days of the filing of any supplementary budget shall constitute authority to the company to proceed with
[Title 80 RCW—page 14]
the making of or contracting for such expenditure, but such
authority may be terminated any time by objection made
thereto by the commission prior to the making of or contracting for such expenditure.
Examination, investigation, and determination of the
budget by the commission shall not bar or estop it from later
determining whether any of the expenditures made thereunder are fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the service,
material, supplies, or equipment received. [1987 c 38 § 1;
1961 c 14 § 80.04.310. Prior: 1959 c 248 § 12; prior: 1933 c
165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
80.04.320
80.04.320 Budget rules. The commission may prescribe the necessary rules to place RCW 80.04.300 through
80.04.330 in operation. It may, by rule, establish criteria to
exempt companies in whole or in part from the operation
thereof. The commission may upon request of any company
withhold from publication during such time as the commission may deem advisable any portion of any original or supplementary budget relating to proposed capital expenditures.
[1989 c 107 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.320. Prior: 1959 c 248 §
13; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
80.04.330
80.04.330 Effect of unauthorized expenditure—
Emergencies. Any public service company may make or
contract for any rejected item of expenditure, but in such case
the same shall not be allowed as an operating expense, or as
to items of construction, as a part of the fair value of the company’s property used and useful in serving the public: PROVIDED, That such items of construction may at any time
thereafter be so allowed in whole or in part upon proof that
they are used and useful. Any company may upon the happening of any emergency caused by fire, flood, explosion,
storm, earthquake, riot, or insurrection, or for the immediate
preservation or restoration to condition of usefulness of any
of its property, the usefulness of which has been destroyed by
accident, make the necessary expenditure therefor free from
the operation of RCW 80.04.300 through 80.04.330.
Any finding and order entered by the commission shall
be in effect until vacated and set aside in proper proceedings
for review thereof. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.330. Prior: 1959 c 248
§ 14; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
80.04.350
80.04.350 Depreciation and retirement accounts.
The commission shall have power after hearing to require
any or all public service companies to carry proper and adequate depreciation or retirement accounts in accordance with
such rules, regulations and forms of accounts as the commission may prescribe. The commission may from time to time
ascertain and by order fix the proper and adequate rates of
depreciation or retirement of the several classes of property
of each public service company. Each public service company shall conform its depreciation or retirement accounts to
the rates so prescribed. In fixing the rate of the annual depreciation or retirement charge, the commission may consider
the rate and amount theretofore charged by the company for
depreciation or retirement.
The commission shall have and exercise like power and
authority over all other reserve accounts of public service
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
companies. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.350. Prior: 1937 c 169 § 4;
1933 c 165 § 13; RRS § 10458-7.]
80.04.360
80.04.360 Earnings in excess of reasonable rate—
Consideration in fixing rates. If any public service company earns in the period of five consecutive years immediately preceding the commission order fixing rates for such
company a net utility operating income in excess of a reasonable rate of return upon the fair value of its property used and
useful in the public service, the commission shall take official
notice of such fact and of whether any such excess earnings
shall have been invested in such company’s plant or otherwise used for purposes beneficial to the consumers of such
company and may consider such facts in fixing rates for such
company. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.360. Prior: 1959 c 285 § 2;
1933 c 165 § 14; RRS § 10458-8.]
80.04.405
80.04.387. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 96; RRS § 10445. Formerly
RCW 80.04.380, part.]
80.04.390
80.04.390 Penalties—Violations by persons. Every
person who, either individually, or acting as an officer or
agent of a corporation other than a public service company,
shall violate any provision of this title, or fail to observe,
obey or comply with any order made by the commission
under this title, so long as the same shall be or remain in
force, or who shall procure, aid or abet any such corporation
in its violation of this title, or in its failure to obey, observe or
comply with any such order, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.390. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 97;
RRS § 10446. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1911 c 117
§ 95 now in RCW 80.04.385.]
80.04.400
80.04.380
80.04.380 Penalties—Violations by public service
companies. Every public service company, and all officers,
agents and employees of any public service company, shall
obey, observe and comply with every order, rule, direction or
requirement made by the commission under authority of this
title, so long as the same shall be and remain in force. Any
public service company which shall violate or fail to comply
with any provision of this title, or which fails, omits or
neglects to obey, observe or comply with any order, rule, or
any direction, demand or requirement of the commission,
shall be subject to a penalty of not to exceed the sum of one
thousand dollars for each and every offense. Every violation
of any such order, direction or requirement of this title shall
be a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing
violation every day’s continuance thereof shall be and be
deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.380. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 94; RRS § 10443. Formerly
RCW 80.04.380, part. FORMER PART OF SECTION:
1911 c 117 § 96 now in RCW 80.04.387.]
80.04.385
80.04.385 Penalties—Violations by officers, agents,
and employees of public service companies. Every officer,
agent or employee of any public service company, who shall
violate or fail to comply with, or who procures, aids or abets
any violation by any public service company of any provision
of this title, or who shall fail to obey, observe or comply with
any order of the commission, or any provision of any order of
the commission, or who procures, aids or abets any such public service company in its failure to obey, observe and comply with any such order or provision, shall be guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.385. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
95; RRS § 10444. Formerly RCW 80.04.390, part.]
80.04.387
80.04.387 Penalties—Violations by other corporations. Every corporation, other than a public service company, which shall violate any provision of this title, or which
shall fail to obey, observe or comply with any order of the
commission under authority of this title, so long as the same
shall be and remain in force, shall be subject to a penalty of
not to exceed the sum of one thousand dollars for each and
every offense. Every such violation shall be a separate and
distinct offense, and the penalty shall be recovered in an
action as provided in RCW 80.04.400. [1961 c 14 §
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.400 Actions to recover penalties—Disposition
of fines, penalties, and forfeitures. Actions to recover penalties under this title shall be brought in the name of the state
of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county, or in
the superior court of any county in or through which such
public service company may do business. In all such actions
the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as in
ordinary civil actions, except as otherwise herein provided.
All fines and penalties recovered by the state under this title
shall be paid into the treasury of the state and credited to the
state general fund or such other fund as provided by law:
PROVIDED, That all fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties
collected or assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state law shall be remitted as provided in chapter
3.62 RCW as now exists or is later amended. [1987 c 202 §
238; 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 35; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.400. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 98; RRS § 10447.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
80.04.405
80.04.405 Additional penalties—Violations by public
service companies and officers, agents, and employees
thereof. In addition to all other penalties provided by law
every public service company subject to the provisions of this
title and every officer, agent or employee of any such public
service company who violates or who procures, aids or abets
in the violation of any provision of this title or any order, rule,
regulation or decision of the commission shall incur a penalty
of one hundred dollars for every such violation. Each and
every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense
and in case of a continuing violation every day’s continuance
shall be and be deemed to be a separate and distinct violation.
Every act of commission or omission which procures, aids or
abets in the violation shall be considered a violation under the
provisions of this section and subject to the penalty herein
provided for.
The penalty herein provided for shall become due and
payable when the person incurring the same receives a notice
in writing from the commission describing such violation
with reasonable particularity and advising such person that
the penalty is due. The commission may, upon written application therefor, received within fifteen days, remit or mitigate
any penalty provided for in this section or discontinue any
prosecution to recover the same upon such terms as it in its
discretion shall deem proper and shall have authority to
[Title 80 RCW—page 15]
80.04.410
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
ascertain the facts upon all such applications in such manner
and under such regulations as it may deem proper. If the
amount of such penalty is not paid to the commission within
fifteen days after receipt of notice imposing the same or
application for remission or mitigation has not been made
within fifteen days after violator has received notice of the
disposition of such application the attorney general shall
bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the
superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in
which such violator may do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions the procedure and rules of evidence
shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise herein provided. All penalties recovered under this title
shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the public
service revolving fund. [1963 c 59 § 2.]
80.04.410
80.04.410 Orders and rules conclusive. In all actions
between private parties and public service companies involving any rule or order of the commission, and in all actions for
the recovery of penalties provided for in this title, or for the
enforcement of the orders or rules issued and promulgated by
the commission, the said orders and rules shall be conclusive
unless set aside or annulled in a review as in this title provided. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.410. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 99; RRS
§ 10448.]
80.04.420
80.04.420 Intervention by commission where order
or rule is involved. In all court actions involving any rule or
order of the commission, where the commission has not been
made a party, the commission shall be served with a copy of
all pleadings, and shall be entitled to intervene. Where the
fact that the action involves a rule or order of the commission
does not appear until the time of trial, the court shall immediately direct the clerk to notify the commission of the pendency of such action, and shall permit the commission to
intervene in such action.
The failure to comply with the provisions of this section
shall render void and of no effect any judgment in such
action, where the effect of such judgment is to modify or nullify any rule or order of the commission. [1961 c 14 §
80.04.420. Prior: 1943 c 67 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 104481.]
80.04.430
80.04.430 Findings of commission prima facie correct. Whenever the commission has issued or promulgated
any order or rule, in any writ of review brought by a public
service company to determine the reasonableness of such
order or rule, the findings of fact made by the commission
shall be prima facie correct, and the burden shall be upon said
public service company to establish the order or rule to be
unreasonable or unlawful. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.430. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 100; RRS § 10449.]
tions affected thereby for all loss, damage or injury caused
thereby or resulting therefrom, and in case of recovery if the
court shall find that such act or omission was wilful, it may,
in its discretion, fix a reasonable counsel or attorney’s fee,
which shall be taxed and collected as part of the costs in the
case. An action to recover for such loss, damage or injury
may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction by any
person or corporation. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.440. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 102; RRS § 10451.]
80.04.450
80.04.450 Certified copies of orders, rules, etc.—Evidentiary effect. Upon application of any person the commission shall furnish certified copies of any classification, rate,
rule, regulation or order established by such commission, and
the printed copies published by authority of the commission,
or any certified copy of any such classification, rate, rule,
regulation or order, with seal affixed, shall be admissible in
evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be sufficient
to establish the fact that the charge, rate, rule, order or classification therein contained is the official act of the commission. When copies of any classification, rate, rule, regulation
or order not contained in the printed reports, or copies of
papers, accounts or records of public service companies filed
with the commission shall be demanded from the commission for proper use, the commission shall charge a reasonable
compensation therefor. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.450. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 103; RRS § 10452.]
80.04.460
80.04.460 Investigation of accidents. Every public
service company shall give immediate notice to the commission of every accident resulting in death or injury to any person occurring in its plant or system, in such manner as the
commission may prescribe. Such notice shall not be admitted
as evidence or used for any purpose against the company giving it in any action for damages growing out of any matter
mentioned in the notice.
The commission may investigate any accident resulting
in death or injury to any person occurring in connection with
the plant or system of any public service company. Notice of
the investigation shall be given in all cases for a sufficient
length of time to enable the company affected to participate
in the hearing and may be given orally or in writing, in such
manner as the commission may prescribe.
Such witnesses may be examined as the commission
deems necessary and proper to thoroughly ascertain the cause
of the accident and fix the responsibility therefor. The examination and investigation may be conducted by an inspector
or deputy inspector, and they may administer oaths, issue
subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses, and
when the examination is conducted by an inspector or deputy
inspector, he shall make a full and complete report thereof to
the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.460. Prior: 1953 c 104
§ 2; prior: 1911 c 117 § 63, part; RRS § 10399, part.]
80.04.440
80.04.440 Companies liable for damages. In case any
public service company shall do, cause to be done or permit
to be done any act, matter or thing prohibited, forbidden or
declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter or
thing required to be done, either by any law of this state, by
this title or by any order or rule of the commission, such public service company shall be liable to the persons or corpora[Title 80 RCW—page 16]
80.04.470
80.04.470 Commission to enforce public service
laws—Employees as peace officers. It shall be the duty of
the commission to enforce the provisions of this title and all
other acts of this state affecting public service companies, the
enforcement of which is not specifically vested in some other
officer or tribunal. Any employee of the commission may,
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
without a warrant, arrest any person found violating in his
presence any provision of this title, or any rule or regulation
adopted by the commission: PROVIDED, That each such
employee shall be first specifically designated in writing by
the commission or a member thereof as having been found to
be a fit and proper person to exercise such authority. Upon
being so designated such person shall be a peace officer and
a police officer for the purposes herein mentioned. [1961 c
173 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.470. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 101;
RRS § 10450.]
80.04.480
80.04.480 Rights of action not released—Penalties
cumulative. This title shall not have the effect to release or
waive any right of action by the state or any person for any
right, penalty or forfeiture which may have arisen or may
hereafter arise under any law of this state; and all penalties
accruing under this title shall be cumulative of each other,
and a suit for the recovery of one penalty shall not be a bar to
the recovery of any other. [1961 c 14 § 80.04.480. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 104; RRS § 10453. Formerly RCW 80.04.480
and 80.04.490.]
80.04.500
80.04.500 Application to municipal utilities. Nothing
in this title shall authorize the commission to make or enforce
any order affecting rates, tolls, rentals, contracts or charges or
service rendered, or the adequacy or sufficiency of the facilities, equipment, instrumentalities or buildings, or the reasonableness of rules or regulations made, furnished, used, supplied or in force affecting any telecommunications line, gas
plant, electrical plant or water system owned and operated by
any city or town, or to make or enforce any order relating to
the safety of any telecommunications line, electrical plant or
water system owned and operated by any city or town, but all
other provisions enumerated herein shall apply to public utilities owned by any city or town. [1985 c 450 § 13; 1969 ex.s.
c 210 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.04.500. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 105;
RRS § 10454.]
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
80.04.550
exempt any owner of the facilities from being a public utility
company under the federal Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935. [1979 ex.s. c 125 § 1.]
80.04.530
80.04.530 Local exchange company that serves less
than two percent of state’s access lines—Regulatory
exemptions—Reporting requirements. (1)(a) Except as
provided in (b) of this subsection, the following do not apply
to a local exchange company that serves less than two percent
of the access lines in the state of Washington: RCW
80.04.080, 80.04.300 through 80.04.330, and, except for
RCW 80.08.140, chapters 80.08, 80.12, and 80.16 RCW.
(b) Nothing in this subsection (1) shall affect the commission’s authority over the rates, service, accounts, valuations, estimates, or determinations of costs, as well as the
authority to determine whether any expenditure is fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the service, material, supplies, or equipment received.
(c) For purposes of this subsection, the number of access
lines served by a local exchange company includes the number of access lines served in this state by any affiliate of that
local exchange company.
(2) Any local exchange company for which an exemption is provided under this section shall not be required to file
reports or data with the commission, except each such company shall file with the commission an annual report that consists of its annual balance sheet and results of operations,
both presented on a Washington state jurisdictional basis.
This requirement may be satisfied by the filing of information or reports and underlying studies filed with exchange
carrier entities or regulatory agencies if the jurisdictionally
separated results of operations for Washington state can be
obtained from the information or reports. This subsection
shall not be applied to exempt a local exchange company
from an obligation to respond to data requests in an adjudicative proceeding in which it is a party.
(3) The commission may, in response to customer complaints or on its own motion and after notice and hearing,
establish additional reporting requirements for a specific
local exchange company. [1995 c 110 § 1.]
80.04.510
80.04.510 Duties of attorney general. It shall be the
duty of the attorney general to represent and appear for the
people of the state of Washington and the commission in all
actions and proceedings involving any question under this
title, or under or in reference to any act or order of the commission; and it shall be the duty of the attorney general generally to see that all laws affecting any of the persons or corporations herein enumerated are complied with, and that all
laws, the enforcement of which devolves upon the commission, are enforced, and to that end he is authorized to institute,
prosecute and defend all necessary actions and proceedings.
[1961 c 14 § 80.04.510. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 5; RRS § 10341.]
80.04.520
80.04.520 Approval of lease of utility facilities. In
addition to any other powers and duties under this chapter,
the commission shall have the authority to authorize and
approve the terms of any lease of utility facilities by a public
service company, as lessee, if the public service company
makes proper application to the commission certifying that
such authorization or approval is necessary or appropriate to
(2006 Ed.)
80.04.550
80.04.550 Thermal energy—Restrictions on authority of commission. (1) Nothing in this title shall authorize
the commission to make or enforce any order affecting rates,
tolls, rentals, contracts or charges for service rendered, or the
adequacy or sufficiency of the facilities, equipment, instrumentalities, or buildings, or the reasonableness of rules or
regulations made, furnished, used, supplied, or in force
affecting any district thermal energy system owned and operated by any thermal energy company.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Thermal energy company" means any private person, company, association, partnership, joint venture, or corporation engaged in or proposing to engage in developing,
producing, transmitting, distributing, delivering, furnishing,
or selling to or for the public thermal energy services for any
beneficial use other than electricity generation;
(b) "District thermal energy system" means any system
that provides thermal energy for space heating, space cooling, or process uses from a central plant, and that distributes
[Title 80 RCW—page 17]
Chapter 80.08
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
the thermal energy to two or more buildings through a network of pipes;
(c) "Thermal energy" means heat or cold in the form of
steam, heated or chilled water, or any other heated or chilled
fluid or gaseous medium; and
(d) "Thermal energy services" means the provision of
thermal energy from a district thermal energy system and
includes such ancillary services as energy audits, metering,
billing, maintenance, and repairs related to thermal energy.
[1996 c 33 § 2.]
Findings—1996 c 33: "(1) The legislature finds:
(a) The Washington utilities and transportation commission has the
authority to regulate district heating suppliers on the basis of financial solvency, system design integrity, and reasonableness of contract rates and rate
formulas under *chapter 80.62 RCW;
(b) Consumers have competitive alternatives to thermal energy companies for space heating and cooling and ancillary services;
(c) Consumers have recourse against thermal energy companies for
unfair business practices under the consumer protection act; and
(d) Technology and marketing opportunities have advanced since the
enactment of *chapter 80.62 RCW to make the provision of cooling services,
as well as heating services, an economical option for consumers.
(2) The legislature declares that the public health, safety, and welfare
does not require the regulation of thermal energy companies by the Washington utilities and transportation commission." [1996 c 33 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 80.62 RCW was repealed by 1996 c 33 § 3.
Chapter 80.08
Chapter 80.08 RCW
SECURITIES
Sections
80.08.010
80.08.020
80.08.030
80.08.040
80.08.043
80.08.047
80.08.080
80.08.090
80.08.100
80.08.110
80.08.120
80.08.130
80.08.140
80.08.150
80.08.160
Definition.
Control vested in state.
Authority to issue.
Prior to issuance—Filing required—Contents—Request for
order establishing compliance.
Issuance of notes—Compliance with RCW 80.08.040—
Exceptions.
Commission may exempt certain issuances—Order or rule—
Public interest.
Capitalization of franchises or merger contracts prohibited.
Accounting for disposition of proceeds.
Issuance made contrary to this chapter—Penalties.
Penalty against companies.
Penalty against individuals.
Assumption of obligation or liability—Compliance with filing
requirements.
State not obligated.
Authority of commission—Not affected by requirements of
this chapter.
Small local exchange company—Chapter does not apply.
80.08.010
80.08.010 Definition. The term "public service company", as used in this chapter, shall mean every company now
or hereafter engaged in business in this state as a public utility
and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities
and transportation commission under the provisions of this
title. [1961 c 14 § 80.08.010. Prior: 1959 c 248 § 2; 1953 c
95 § 4; 1933 c 151 § 1, part; RRS § 10439-1, part.]
80.08.020
80.08.020 Control vested in state. The power of public
service companies to issue stocks and stock certificates or
other evidence of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and
other evidences of indebtedness and to create liens on their
property situated within this state is a special privilege, the
right of supervision, regulation, restriction, and control of
which is and shall continue to be vested in the state, and such
power shall be exercised as provided by law and under such
[Title 80 RCW—page 18]
rules and regulations as the commission may prescribe.
[1961 c 14 § 80.08.020. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 2; RRS § 104392.]
80.08.030
80.08.030 Authority to issue. A public service company may issue stock and stock certificates or other evidence
of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes or other evidence of
indebtedness payable on demand or at periods of more than
twelve months after the date thereof, for the following purposes only: The acquisition of property, or the construction,
completion, extension, or improvement of its facilities, or the
improvement or maintenance of its service, or the issuance of
stock dividends, or the discharge or refunding of its obligations, or the reimbursement of moneys actually expended
from income or from any other moneys in the treasury of the
company not secured by or obtained from the issue of stock
or stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the
company for any of the aforesaid purposes except maintenance of service, in cases where the applicant keeps its
accounts and vouchers for such expenditures in such manner
as to enable the commission to ascertain the amount of
money so expended and the purpose for which the expenditure was made. [1961 c 14 § 80.08.030. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 5;
1937 c 30 § 1; 1933 c 151 § 3; RRS § 10439-3.]
80.08.040
80.08.040 Prior to issuance—Filing required—Contents—Request for order establishing compliance. Any
public service company that undertakes to issue stocks, stock
certificates, other evidence of interest or ownership, bonds,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall file with the
commission before such issuance:
(1) A description of the purposes for which the issuance
is made, including a certification by an officer authorized to
do so that the proceeds from any such financing is for one or
more of the purposes allowed by this chapter;
(2) A description of the proposed issuance including the
terms of financing; and
(3) A statement as to why the transaction is in the public
interest.
(4) Any public service company undertaking an issuance
and making a filing in conformance with this section may at
any time of such filing request the commission to enter a
written order that such company has complied with the
requirements of this section. The commission shall enter such
written order after such company has provided all information and statements required by subsections (1), (2), and (3)
of this section. [1994 c 251 § 1; 1987 c 106 § 1; 1961 c 14 §
80.08.040. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 4; RRS § 10439-4.]
80.08.043
80.08.043 Issuance of notes—Compliance with RCW
80.08.040—Exceptions. A public service company may
issue notes, except demand notes, for proper purposes and
not in violation of any provision of this chapter, or any other
law, payable at periods of not more than twelve months after
the date of issuance, without complying with the requirements of RCW 80.08.040, but no such note may be refunded,
in whole or in part, by any issue of stock or stock certificates
or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes, or
other evidence of indebtedness, without compliance with
(2006 Ed.)
Securities
RCW 80.08.040. However, compliance with RCW 80.08.040
is required for the issuance of any note or notes issued as part
of a single borrowing transaction of one million dollars or
more payable at periods of less than twelve months after the
date of issuance by any public service company that is subject
to the federal power act unless such note or notes aggregates
together with all other then outstanding notes and drafts of a
maturity of twelve months or less on which such public service company is primarily or secondarily liable not more than
five percent of the par value of other securities of such company then outstanding, computed, in the case of securities
having no par value, on the basis of the fair market value as
of the date of issuance. [1997 c 162 § 1.]
80.08.047
80.08.047 Commission may exempt certain issuances—Order or rule—Public interest. The commission
may from time to time by order or rule, and subject to such
terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the order or
rule, exempt any security or any class of securities for which
a filing is required under this chapter or any electrical or natural gas company or class of electrical or natural gas company from the provisions of this chapter if it finds that the
application of this chapter to such security, class of securities,
electrical or natural gas company, or class of electrical or natural gas company is not required by the public interest. [1997
c 15 § 1.]
80.08.080
80.08.080 Capitalization of franchises or merger contracts prohibited. The commission shall have no power to
authorize the capitalization of the right to be a corporation, or
to authorize the capitalization of any franchise or permit
whatsoever or the right to own, operate or enjoy any such
franchise or permit, in excess of the amount (exclusive of any
tax or annual charge) actually paid to the state or to a political
subdivision thereof as the consideration for the grant of such
franchise, permit or right; nor shall any contract for consolidation or lease be capitalized, nor shall any public service
company hereafter issue any bonds, notes or other evidences
of indebtedness against or as a lien upon any contract for consolidation or merger. [1961 c 14 § 80.08.080. Prior: 1933 c
151 § 7; RRS § 10439-7.]
80.08.090
80.08.090 Accounting for disposition of proceeds.
The commission shall have the power to require public service companies to account for the disposition of the proceeds
of all sales of stocks and stock certificates or other evidence
of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, in such form and detail as it may
deem advisable, and to establish such rules and regulations as
it may deem reasonable and necessary to insure the disposition of such proceeds for the purpose or purposes specified in
its order. [1961 c 14 § 80.08.090. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 8; RRS
§ 10439-8.]
80.08.100
80.08.100 Issuance made contrary to this chapter—
Penalties. If a public service company issues any stock, or
other evidence of interest or ownership, bond, note, or other
evidence of indebtedness contrary to the provisions of this
chapter, the company may be subject to penalty under RCW
(2006 Ed.)
80.08.140
80.08.110 and 80.08.120. [1994 c 251 § 2; 1961 c 14 §
80.08.100. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 9; RRS § 10439-9.]
80.08.110
80.08.110 Penalty against companies. Every public
service company which, directly or indirectly, issues or
causes to be issued, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness, in nonconformity with the provisions
of this chapter, or which applies the proceeds from the sale
thereof, or any part thereof, to any purpose other than the purpose or purposes allowed by this chapter, shall be subject to a
penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each
offense. Every violation shall be a separate and distinct
offense and in case of a continuing violation every day’s continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct
offense.
The act, omission or failure of any officer, agent or
employee of any public service company acting within the
scope of his official duties or employment, shall in every case
be deemed to be the act, omission or failure of such public
service company. [1994 c 251 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 80.08.110.
Prior: 1933 c 151 § 11; RRS § 10439-11.]
80.08.120
80.08.120 Penalty against individuals. Every officer,
agent, or employee of a public service company, and every
other person who knowingly authorizes, directs, aids in,
issues or executes, or causes to be issued or executed, any
stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or who knowingly
makes any false statement or representation or with knowledge of its falsity files or causes to be filed with the commission any false statement or representation, or causes or assists
to be applied the proceeds or any part thereof, from the sale
of any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest
or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness, to any purpose not allowed by this chapter, or who, with
knowledge that any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness, has been issued or executed in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, negotiates, or
causes the same to be negotiated, shall be guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [1994 c 251 § 4; 1961 c 14 § 80.08.120. Prior:
1933 c 151 § 12; RRS § 10439-12.]
80.08.130
80.08.130 Assumption of obligation or liability—
Compliance with filing requirements. Any public service
company that assumes any obligation or liability as guarantor, indorser, surety or otherwise in respect to the securities of
any other person, firm or corporation, when such securities
are payable at periods of more than twelve months after the
date thereof, shall comply with the filing requirements of
RCW 80.08.040. [1994 c 251 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 80.08.130.
Prior: 1933 c 151 § 13; RRS § 10439-13.]
80.08.140
80.08.140 State not obligated. No provision of this
chapter, and no deed or act done or performed under or in
connection therewith, shall be held or construed to obligate
the state of Washington to pay or guarantee, in any manner
whatsoever, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence
[Title 80 RCW—page 19]
80.08.150
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of
indebtedness, authorized, issued or executed under the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 § 80.08.140. Prior: 1933 c
151 § 14; RRS § 10439-14.]
80.08.150
80.08.150 Authority of commission—Not affected by
requirements of this chapter. No action by a public service
company in compliance with nor by the commission in conformance with the requirements of this chapter may in any
way affect the authority of the commission over rates, service, accounts, valuations, estimates, or determinations of
costs, or any matters whatsoever that may come before it.
[1994 c 251 § 6.]
80.08.160
80.08.160 Small local exchange company—Chapter
does not apply. Subject to RCW 80.04.530(1), this chapter
does not apply to a local exchange company that serves less
than two percent of the access lines in the state of Washington. [1995 c 110 § 2.]
Chapter 80.12
Chapter 80.12 RCW
TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY
Sections
80.12.010
80.12.020
80.12.030
80.12.040
80.12.045
80.12.050
80.12.060
Definition.
Order required to sell, merge, etc.
Disposal without authorization void.
Authority required to acquire property or securities of utility.
Small local exchange company—Chapter does not apply.
Rules and regulations.
Penalty.
80.12.010
80.12.010 Definition. The term "public service company," as used in this chapter, shall mean every company now
or hereafter engaged in business in this state as a public utility
and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities
and transportation commission under the provisions of this
title. [1961 c 14 § 80.12.010. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 6; 1941 c
159 § 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440a.]
80.12.020
80.12.020 Order required to sell, merge, etc. No public service company shall sell, lease, assign or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of its franchises, properties or
facilities whatsoever, which are necessary or useful in the
performance of its duties to the public, and no public service
company shall, by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate any of its franchises, properties
or facilities with any other public service company, without
having secured from the commission an order authorizing it
so to do: PROVIDED, That this section shall not apply to
any sale, lease, assignment or other disposal of such franchises, properties or facilities to a special purpose district as
defined in RCW 36.96.010, city, county, or town. [1981 c
117 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.12.020. Prior: 1945 c 75 § 1; 1941 c
159 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10440b.]
80.12.030
80.12.030 Disposal without authorization void. Any
such sale, lease, assignment, or other disposition, merger or
consolidation made without authority of the commission
shall be void. [1961 c 14 § 80.12.030. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 3;
Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440c.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 20]
80.12.040
80.12.040 Authority required to acquire property or
securities of utility. No public service company shall,
directly or indirectly, purchase, acquire, or become the owner
of any of the franchises, properties, facilities, capital stocks
or bonds of any other public service company unless authorized so to do by the commission. Nothing contained in this
chapter shall prevent the holding of stocks or other securities
heretofore lawfully acquired or prohibit, upon the surrender
or exchange of said stocks or other securities pursuant to a
reorganization plan, the purchase, acquisition, taking or holding by the owner of a proportionate amount of the stocks or
other securities of any new corporation organized to take over
at foreclosure or other sale, the property of the corporation
the stocks or securities of which have been thus surrendered
or exchanged. Any contract by any public service company
for the purchase, acquisition, assignment or transfer to it of
any of the stocks or other securities of any other public service company, directly or indirectly, without the approval of
the commission shall be void and of no effect. [1961 c 14 §
80.12.040. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440d.]
80.12.045
80.12.045 Small local exchange company—Chapter
does not apply. Subject to RCW 80.04.530(1), this chapter
does not apply to a local exchange company that serves less
than two percent of the access lines in the state of Washington. [1995 c 110 § 3.]
80.12.050
80.12.050 Rules and regulations. The commission
shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to make
effective the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 §
80.12.050. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440e.]
80.12.060
80.12.060 Penalty. The provisions of RCW 80.04.380
and 80.04.385 as to penalties shall be applicable to public service companies, their officers, agents and employees failing
to comply with the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 §
80.12.060. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440f.]
Chapter 80.16
Chapter 80.16 RCW
AFFILIATED INTERESTS
Sections
80.16.010
80.16.020
80.16.030
80.16.040
80.16.050
80.16.055
80.16.060
80.16.070
80.16.080
80.16.090
Definitions.
Dealings with affiliated interests—Prior filing with commission required—Commission may disapprove.
Payments to affiliated interest disallowed if not reasonable.
Satisfactory proof, what constitutes.
Commission’s control is continuing.
Small local exchange company—Chapter does not apply.
Summary order on nonapproved payments.
Summary order on payments after disallowance.
Court action to enforce orders.
Review of orders.
80.16.010
80.16.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter the term
"public service company" shall include every corporation
engaged in business as a public utility and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities and transportation
commission under the provisions of this title.
(2006 Ed.)
Affiliated Interests
As used in this chapter, the term "affiliated interest"
means:
Every corporation and person owning or holding directly
or indirectly five percent or more of the voting securities of
any public service company engaged in any intrastate business in this state;
Every corporation and person, other than those above
specified, in any chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities, the chain beginning with
the holder of the voting securities of such public service company;
Every corporation five percent or more of whose voting
securities are owned by any person or corporation owning
five percent or more of the voting securities of such public
service company or by any person or corporation in any such
chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities;
Every corporation or person with which the public service company has a management or service contract; and
Every person who is an officer or director of such public
service company or of any corporation in any chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities. [1961 c 14 § 80.16.010. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 7; 1933 c 152
§ 1, part; RRS § 10440-1, part.]
80.16.020
80.16.020 Dealings with affiliated interests—Prior
filing with commission required—Commission may disapprove. Every public service company shall file with the
commission a verified copy, or a verified summary if unwritten, of a contract or arrangement providing for the furnishing
of management, supervisory[,] construction, engineering,
accounting, legal, financial, or similar services, or any contract or arrangement for the purchase, sale, lease, or exchange
of any property, right, or thing, or for the furnishing of any
service, property, right, or thing, other than those enumerated
in this section, hereafter made or entered into between a public service company and any affiliated interest as defined in
this chapter, including open account advances from or to the
affiliated interests. The filing must be made prior to the effective date of the contract or arrangement. Modifications or
amendments to the contracts or arrangements with affiliated
interests must be filed with the commission prior to the effective date of the modification or amendment. Any time after
receipt of the contract or arrangement, the commission may
institute an investigation and disapprove the contract,
arrangement, modification, or amendment thereto if the commission finds the public service company has failed to prove
that it is reasonable and consistent with the public interest.
The commission may disapprove any such contract or
arrangement if satisfactory proof is not submitted to the commission of the cost to the affiliated interest of rendering the
services or of furnishing the property or service described in
this section. [1998 c 47 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.16.020. Prior:
1941 c 160 § 1; 1933 c 152 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440-2.]
80.16.060
pany any payment or compensation to an affiliated interest
for any services rendered or property or service furnished, as
described in this section, under existing contracts or arrangements with the affiliated interest unless the public service
company establishes the reasonableness of the payment or
compensation. In the proceeding the commission shall disallow the payment or compensation, in whole or in part, in the
absence of satisfactory proof that it is reasonable in amount.
In such a proceeding, any payment or compensation may be
disapproved or disallowed by the commission, in whole or in
part, if satisfactory proof is not submitted to the commission
of the cost to the affiliated interest of rendering the service or
furnishing the property or service described in this section.
[1998 c 47 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 80.16.030. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 3;
RRS § 10440-3.]
80.16.040
80.16.040 Satisfactory proof, what constitutes. No
proof shall be satisfactory, within the meaning of RCW
80.16.010 through 80.16.030, unless it includes the original
(or verified copies) of the relevant cost records and other relevant accounts of the affiliated interest, or such abstract
thereof or summary taken therefrom, as the commission may
deem adequate, properly identified and duly authenticated:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the commission may, where
reasonable, approve or disapprove such contracts or arrangements without the submission of such cost records or
accounts. [1961 c 14 § 80.16.040. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 4;
RRS § 10440-4.]
80.16.050
80.16.050 Commission’s control is continuing. The
commission shall have continuing supervisory control over
the terms and conditions of such contracts and arrangements
as are herein described so far as necessary to protect and promote the public interest. The commission shall have the same
jurisdiction over the modifications or amendment of contracts or arrangements as are herein described as it has over
such original contracts or arrangements. The fact that a contract or arrangement has been filed with, or the commission
has approved entry into such contracts or arrangements as
described herein shall not preclude disallowance or disapproval of payments made pursuant thereto, if upon actual
experience under such contract or arrangement, it appears
that the payments provided for or made were or are unreasonable. Every order of the commission approving any such contract or arrangement shall be expressly conditioned upon the
reserved power of the commission to revise and amend the
terms and conditions thereof, if, when, and as necessary to
protect and promote the public interest. [1998 c 47 § 3; 1961
c 14 § 80.16.050. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 5; RRS § 10440-5.]
80.16.055
80.16.055 Small local exchange company—Chapter
does not apply. Subject to RCW 80.04.530(1), this chapter
does not apply to a local exchange company that serves less
than two percent of the access lines in the state of Washington. [1995 c 110 § 4.]
80.16.030
80.16.030 Payments to affiliated interest disallowed
if not reasonable. In any proceeding, whether upon the commission’s own motion or upon complaint, involving the rates
or practices of any public service company, the commission
may exclude from the accounts of the public service com(2006 Ed.)
80.16.060
80.16.060 Summary order on nonapproved payments. Whenever the commission shall find upon investigation that any public service company is giving effect to any
such contract or arrangement without such contract or
[Title 80 RCW—page 21]
80.16.070
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
arrangement having been filed or approved, the commission
may issue a summary order prohibiting the public service
company from treating any payments made under the terms
of such contract or arrangement as operating expenses or as
capital expenditures for rate or valuation purposes, unless and
until such contract or arrangement has been filed with the
commission or until payments have received the approval of
the commission. [1998 c 47 § 4; 1961 c 14 § 80.16.060.
Prior: 1933 c 152 § 6; RRS § 10440-6.]
80.16.070
80.16.070 Summary order on payments after disallowance. Whenever the commission finds upon investigation that any public service company is making payments to
an affiliated interest, although the payments have been disallowed or disapproved by the commission in a proceeding
involving the public service company’s rates or practices, the
commission shall issue a summary order directing the public
service company to not treat the payments as operating
expenses or capital expenditures for rate or valuation purposes, unless and until the payments have received the
approval of the commission. [1998 c 47 § 5; 1961 c 14 §
80.16.070. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 7; RRS § 10440-7.]
80.16.080
80.16.080 Court action to enforce orders. The superior court of Thurston county is authorized to enforce such
orders to cease and desist by appropriate process, including
the issuance of a preliminary injunction, upon the suit of the
commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.16.080. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 8;
RRS § 10440-8.]
80.16.090
80.16.090 Review of orders. Any public service company or affiliated interest deeming any decision or order of
the commission to be in any respect or manner improper,
unjust or unreasonable may have the same reviewed in the
courts in the same manner and by the same procedure as is
now provided by law for review of any other order or decision of the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.16.090. Prior: 1933
c 152 § 9; RRS § 10440-9.]
Chapter 80.20
Chapter 80.20 RCW
INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC
SERVICE COMPANIES
Sections
80.20.010
80.20.020
80.20.030
80.20.040
80.20.050
80.20.060
Definition.
Cost of investigation may be assessed against company.
Interest on unpaid assessment—Action to collect.
Commission’s determination of necessity as evidence.
Order of commission not subject to review.
Limitation on frequency of investigation.
80.20.010
80.20.010 Definition. As used in this chapter, the term
"public service company" means any person, firm, association, or corporation, whether public or private, operating a
utility or public service enterprise subject in any respect to
regulation by the commission under the provisions of this
title. [1961 c 14 § 80.20.010. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 8; 1939 c
203 § 1; RRS § 10458-6.]
80.20.020
80.20.020 Cost of investigation may be assessed
against company. Whenever the commission in any pro[Title 80 RCW—page 22]
ceeding upon its own motion or upon complaint shall deem it
necessary in order to carry out the duties imposed upon it by
law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and activities of, or make any valuation or appraisal of the property of
any public service company, or to investigate or appraise any
phase of its operations, or to render any engineering or
accounting service to or in connection with any public service company, and the cost thereof to the commission
exceeds in amount the ordinary regulatory fees paid by such
public service company during the preceding calendar year or
estimated to be paid during the current year, whichever is
more, such public service company shall pay the expenses
reasonably attributable and allocable to such investigation,
valuation, appraisal or services. The commission shall ascertain such expenses, and, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, shall render a bill therefor by registered mail
to the public service company, either at the conclusion of the
investigation, valuation, appraisal or services, or from time to
time during its progress. Within thirty days after a bill has
been mailed such public service company shall pay to the
commission the amount of the bill, and the commission shall
transmit such payment to the state treasurer who shall credit
it to the public service revolving fund. The total amount
which any public service company shall be required to pay
under the provisions of this section in any calendar year shall
not exceed one percent of the gross operating revenues
derived by such public service company from its intrastate
operations during the last preceding calendar year. If such
company did not operate during all of the preceding year the
calculations shall be based upon estimated gross revenues for
the current year. [1961 c 14 § 80.20.020. Prior: 1939 c 203
§ 2(a); RRS § 10458-6a(a).]
80.20.030
80.20.030 Interest on unpaid assessment—Action to
collect. Amounts so assessed against any public service
company not paid within thirty days after mailing of the bill
therefor, shall draw interest at the rate of six percent per
annum from the date of mailing of the bill. Upon failure of
the public service company to pay the bill, the attorney general shall proceed in the name of the state by civil action in
the superior court for Thurston county against such public
service company to collect the amount due, together with
interest and costs of suit. [1961 c 14 § 80.20.030. Prior: 1939
c 203 § 2(b); RRS § 10458-6a(b).]
80.20.040
80.20.040 Commission’s determination of necessity
as evidence. In such action the commission’s determination
of the necessity of the investigation, valuation, appraisal or
services shall be conclusive evidence of such necessity, and
its findings and determination of facts expressed in bills rendered pursuant to RCW 80.20.020 through 80.20.060 or in
any proceedings determinative of such bills shall be prima
facie evidence of such facts. [1961 c 14 § 80.20.040. Prior:
1939 c 203 § 2(c); RRS § 10458-6a(c).]
80.20.050
80.20.050 Order of commission not subject to review.
In view of the civil action provided for in RCW 80.20.020
through 80.20.060 any order made by the commission in
determining the amount of such bill shall not be reviewable in
court, but the mere absence of such right of review shall not
(2006 Ed.)
Regulatory Fees
prejudice the rights of defendants in the civil action. [1961 c
14 § 80.20.050. Prior: 1939 c 203 § 2(d); RRS § 104586a(d).]
80.20.060
80.20.060 Limitation on frequency of investigation.
Expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation shall not be assessed against a public service company
under this chapter if such company shall have been subjected
to and paid the expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation during the preceding five years, unless the
properties or operations of the company have materially
changed or there has been a substantial change in its value for
rate making purposes or in any other circumstances and conditions affecting rates and services: PROVIDED, That the
provisions of this section shall not be a limitation on the frequency of assessment of costs of investigation where such
investigation results from a tariff filing or tariff filings by a
public service company to increase rates. [1971 ex.s. c 143 §
8; 1961 c 14 § 80.20.060. Prior: 1939 c 203 § 2(e); RRS §
10458-6a(e).]
Chapter 80.24
Chapter 80.24 RCW
REGULATORY FEES
Sections
80.24.010
80.24.020
80.24.030
80.24.040
80.24.050
80.24.060
Companies to file reports of gross revenue and pay fees—
Delinquent fee payments.
Fees to approximate reasonable cost of regulation.
Intent of legislature—Regulatory cost records to be kept by
commission.
Disposition of fees.
Penalty for failure to pay fees—Disposition of fines and penalties.
Pipeline safety fee—Reports—Procedure to contest fees—
Regulatory incentive program.
Assessment of public utilities for property tax purposes: Chapter 84.12
RCW.
Corporations, annual license fees for public service companies: RCW
23B.01.530, 23B.01.590.
Easements of public service companies taxable as personalty: RCW
84.20.010.
Public utility tax: Chapter 82.16 RCW.
80.24.010
80.24.010 Companies to file reports of gross revenue
and pay fees—Delinquent fee payments. Every public service company subject to regulation by the commission shall,
on or before the date specified by the commission for filing
annual reports under RCW 80.04.080, file with the commission a statement on oath showing its gross operating revenue
from intrastate operations for the preceding calendar year or
portion thereof and pay to the commission a fee equal to onetenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand dollars of gross
operating revenue, plus two-tenths of one percent of any
gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars:
PROVIDED, That the commission may, by rule, set minimum fees that do not exceed the cost of collecting the fees.
The commission may by rule waive any or all of the minimum fee established pursuant to this section.
The percentage rates of gross operating revenue to be
paid in any year may be decreased by the commission for any
class of companies subject to the payment of such fees, by
general order entered before March 1st of such year, and for
such purpose such companies shall be classified as follows:
(2006 Ed.)
80.24.050
Electrical, gas, water, telecommunications, and irrigation companies shall constitute class one. Every other company subject to regulation by the commission, for which regulatory fees are not otherwise fixed by law shall pay fees as
herein provided and shall constitute additional classes
according to kinds of businesses engaged in.
Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made
after its due date shall include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate
of one percent per month. [2003 c 296 § 1; 1994 c 83 § 1;
1990 c 48 § 1; 1985 c 450 § 14; 1961 c 14 § 80.24.010. Prior:
1955 c 125 § 2; prior: 1939 c 123 § 1, part; 1937 c 158 § 1,
part; 1929 c 107 § 1, part; 1923 c 107 § 1, part; 1921 c 113 §
1, part; RRS § 10417, part.]
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
80.24.020
80.24.020 Fees to approximate reasonable cost of
regulation. In fixing the percentage rates of gross operating
revenue to be paid in any year, the commission shall consider
all moneys then in the public service revolving fund and the
fees currently to be paid into such fund, to the end that the
fees collected from the several classes of companies shall be
approximately the same as the reasonable cost of supervising
and regulating such classes of companies. [1961 c 14 §
80.24.020. Prior: 1955 c 125 § 3; prior: 1939 c 123 § 1, part;
1937 c 158 § 1, part; RRS § 10417, part.]
80.24.030
80.24.030 Intent of legislature—Regulatory cost
records to be kept by commission. It is the intent and purpose of the legislature that the several groups of public service companies shall each contribute sufficient in fees to the
commission to pay the reasonable cost of regulating the several groups respectively. The commission shall keep accurate
records of the costs incurred in regulating and supervising the
several groups of companies subject to regulation or supervision and such records shall be open to inspection by all interested parties. The records and data upon which the commission’s determination is made shall be considered prima facie
correct in any proceeding instituted to challenge the reasonableness or correctness of any order of the commission fixing
fees and distributing regulatory expenses. [1961 c 14 §
80.24.030. Prior: 1937 c 158 § 7; RRS § 10417-5.]
80.24.040
80.24.040 Disposition of fees. All moneys collected
under the provisions of this chapter shall within thirty days be
paid to the state treasurer and by the state treasurer deposited
to the public service revolving fund: PROVIDED, That all
fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or assessed by
a district court because of the violation of a state law shall be
remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as now exists or is
later amended. [1987 c 202 § 239; 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 36;
1961 c 14 § 80.24.040. Prior: 1937 c 158 § 6; RRS § 104174.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
80.24.050
80.24.050 Penalty for failure to pay fees—Disposition
of fines and penalties. Every person, firm, company or corporation, or the officers, agents or employees thereof, failing
or neglecting to pay the fees herein required shall be guilty of
[Title 80 RCW—page 23]
80.24.060
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
a misdemeanor. All fines and penalties collected under the
provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into the public
service revolving fund of the state treasury: PROVIDED,
That all fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or
assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state
law shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as
now exists or is later amended. [1987 c 202 § 240; 1979 ex.s.
c 198 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 37; 1961 c 14 § 80.24.050. Prior:
1923 c 107 § 2; 1921 c 113 § 3; RRS § 10419.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
80.24.060
80.24.060 Pipeline safety fee—Reports—Procedure
to contest fees—Regulatory incentive program. (1)(a)
Every gas company and every interstate gas pipeline company subject to inspection or enforcement by the commission
shall pay an annual pipeline safety fee to the commission.
The pipeline safety fees received by the commission shall be
deposited in the pipeline safety account created in RCW
81.88.050.
(b) The aggregate amount of fees set shall be sufficient
to recover the reasonable costs of administering the pipeline
safety program, taking into account federal funds used to offset the costs. The fees established under this section shall be
designed to generate revenue not exceeding appropriated levels of funding for the current fiscal year. At a minimum, the
fees established under this section shall be sufficient to adequately fund pipeline inspection personnel, the timely review
of pipeline safety and integrity plans, the timely development
of spill response plans, the timely development of accurate
maps of pipeline locations, participation in federal pipeline
safety efforts to the extent allowed by law, and the staffing of
the citizens committee on pipeline safety.
(c) Increases in the aggregate amount of fees over the
immediately preceding fiscal year are subject to the requirements of RCW 43.135.055.
(2) The commission shall by rule establish the methodology it will use to set the appropriate fee for each entity subject
to this section. The methodology shall provide for an equitable distribution of program costs among all entities subject to
the fee. The fee methodology shall provide for:
(a) Direct assignment of average costs associated with
annual standard inspections, including the average number of
inspection days per year. In establishing these directly assignable costs, the commission shall consider the requirements
and guidelines of the federal government, state safety standards, and good engineering practice[s]; and
(b) A uniform and equitable means of estimating and
allocating costs of other duties relating to inspecting pipelines for safety that are not directly assignable, including but
not limited to design review and construction inspections,
specialized inspections, incident investigations, geographic
mapping system design and maintenance, and administrative
support.
(3) The commission shall require reports from those entities subject to this section in the form and at such time as necessary to set the fees. After considering the reports supplied
by the entities, the commission shall set the amount of the fee
payable by each entity by general order entered before July
1st of each year.
[Title 80 RCW—page 24]
(4) For companies subject to RCW 80.24.010, the commission shall collect the pipeline safety fee as part of the fee
specified in RCW 80.24.010. The commission shall allocate
the moneys collected under RCW 80.24.010 between the
pipeline safety program and for other regulatory purposes.
The commission shall adopt rules that assure that fee moneys
related to the pipeline safety program are maintained separately from other moneys collected by the commission under
this chapter.
(5) Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made
after its due date must include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees accrue interest at the rate of one
percent per month.
(6) The commission shall keep accurate records of the
costs incurred in administering its gas pipeline safety program, and the records are open to inspection by interested
parties. The records and data upon which the commission’s
determination is made shall be prima facie correct in any proceeding to challenge the reasonableness or correctness of any
order of the commission fixing fees and distributing regulatory expenses.
(7) If any entity seeks to contest the imposition of a fee
imposed under this section, that entity shall pay the fee and
request a refund within six months of the due date for the payment by filing a petition for a refund with the commission.
The commission shall establish by rule procedures for handling refund petitions and may delegate the decisions on
refund petitions to the secretary of the commission.
(8) After establishing the fee methodology by rule as
required in subsection (2) of this section, the commission
shall create a regulatory incentive program for pipeline safety
programs in collaboration with the citizens committee on
pipeline safety. The regulatory incentive program created by
the commission shall not shift costs among companies paying
pipeline safety fees and shall not decrease revenue to pipeline
safety programs. The regulatory incentive program shall not
be implemented until after the review conducted according to
RCW 81.88.150. [2001 c 238 § 2.]
Intent—Finding—2001 c 238: "The intent of this act is to ensure a sustainable, comprehensive, pipeline safety program, to protect the health and
safety of the citizens of the state of Washington, and [to] maintain the quality
of the state’s environment. The legislature finds that public safety and the
environment are best protected by securing permanent funding for this program through establishment of a regulatory fee imposed on hazardous liquids and gas pipelines." [2001 c 238 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 238: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 238 § 13.]
Chapter 80.28 RCW
GAS, ELECTRICAL, AND WATER COMPANIES
Chapter 80.28
Sections
80.28.005
80.28.010
80.28.020
80.28.022
80.28.024
80.28.025
80.28.030
Definitions.
Duties as to rates, services, and facilities—Limitations on termination of utility service for residential heating.
Commission to fix just, reasonable, and compensatory rates.
Water company rates—Reserve account.
Legislative finding.
Encouragement of energy cogeneration, conservation, and
production from renewable resources—Consideration of
water conservation goals.
Commission may order improved quality of commodity—
Water companies, board of health standards.
(2006 Ed.)
Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies
80.28.040
80.28.050
80.28.060
80.28.065
80.28.068
80.28.070
80.28.074
80.28.075
80.28.080
80.28.090
80.28.100
80.28.110
80.28.120
80.28.130
80.28.140
80.28.150
80.28.160
80.28.170
80.28.180
80.28.185
80.28.190
80.28.200
80.28.205
80.28.207
80.28.210
80.28.212
80.28.215
80.28.220
80.28.230
80.28.240
80.28.250
80.28.260
80.28.270
80.28.275
80.28.280
80.28.290
80.28.300
80.28.303
80.28.306
80.28.309
80.28.310
Commission may order improved service—Water companies,
noncompliance, receivership.
Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules.
Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception.
Tariff schedule—Energy conservation—Payment by successive property owners—Notice—Rules.
Rates—Low-income customers.
Sliding scale of charges permitted.
Legislative declaration.
Banded rates—Natural gas and electric services.
Published rates to be charged—Exceptions.
Unreasonable preference prohibited.
Rate discrimination prohibited—Exception.
Service to be furnished on reasonable notice.
Effect on existing contracts.
Repairs, improvements, changes, additions, or extensions may
be directed.
Inspection of gas and water meters.
Inspection of electric meters.
Testing apparatus to be furnished.
Testing at consumer’s request.
Rules and regulations.
Water companies within counties—Commission may regulate.
Gas companies—Certificate—Violations—Commission powers—Penalty—Fees.
Gas companies—Refunds of charges.
Enforcement of federal laws covering gas pipeline safety—
Request for federal delegation of authority.
Commission inspection of records, maps, or written procedures.
Safety rules—Pipeline transporters—Penalty.
Safety rules—Civil penalty for violation of RCW 80.28.210 or
regulations issued thereunder—Level of penalty—Compromise—Disposition of penalty.
Gas pipeline company duties after notice of excavation.
Gas companies—Right of eminent domain—Purposes.
Gas companies—Use for purpose acquired exclusive—Disposition of property.
Recovery of damages by utility company for tampering, unauthorized connections, diversion of services.
Water companies—Fire hydrants.
Adoption of policies to provide financial incentives for energy
efficiency programs.
Water companies—Extension, installation, or connection
charges.
Water companies—Assumption of substandard water system—Limited immunity from liability.
Compressed natural gas—Motor vehicle refueling stations—
Public interest.
Compressed natural gas—Refueling stations—Identify barriers.
Gas, electrical companies authorized to provide customers
with landscaping information and to request voluntary donations for urban forestry.
Conservation service tariff—Contents of filing—Rate base—
Duties of commission.
Conservation bonds—Conservation investment assets as collateral—Priority of security interests—Transfers.
Costs as bondable conservation investment.
Tariff for irrigation pumping service—Authority for electrical
companies to buy back electricity.
Construction projects in state waters: Chapter 77.55 RCW.
80.28.010
general utility mortgage of the electrical, gas, or water company;
(b) The commission has determined that the expenditures were incurred in conformance with the terms and conditions of a conservation service tariff in effect with the commission at the time the costs were incurred, and at the time of
such determination the commission finds that the company
has proven that the costs were prudent, that the terms and
conditions of the financing are reasonable, and that financing
under this chapter is more favorable to the customer than
other reasonably available alternatives;
(c) The commission has approved inclusion of the
expenditures in rate base and has not ordered that they be currently expensed; and
(d) The commission has not required that the measures
demonstrate that energy savings have persisted at a certain
level for a certain period before approving the cost of these
investments as bondable conservation investment.
(2) "Conservation bonds" means bonds, notes, certificates of beneficial interests in trusts, or other evidences of
indebtedness or ownership that:
(a) The commission determines at or before the time of
issuance are issued to finance or refinance bondable conservation investment by an electrical, gas or water company; and
(b) Rely partly or wholly for repayment on conservation
investment assets and revenues arising with respect thereto.
(3) "Conservation investment assets" means the statutory
right of an electrical, gas, or water company:
(a) To have included in rate base all of its bondable conservation investment and related carrying costs; and
(b) To receive through rates revenues sufficient to
recover the bondable conservation investment and the costs
of equity and debt capital associated with it, including, without limitation, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on conservation bonds.
(4) "Finance subsidiary" means any corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or trust that is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by an electrical, gas, or
water company, or in the case of a trust issuing conservation
bonds consisting of beneficial interests, for which an electrical, gas, or water company or a subsidiary thereof is the
grantor, or an unaffiliated entity formed for the purpose of
financing or refinancing approved conservation investment,
and that acquires conservation investment assets directly or
indirectly from such company in a transaction approved by
the commission. [1994 c 268 § 1.]
Franchises on state highways: Chapter 47.44 RCW.
80.28.010
Reduced utility rates for low-income senior citizens and other low-income
citizens: RCW 74.38.070.
80.28.005 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Bondable conservation investment" means all
expenditures made by electrical, gas, or water companies
with respect to energy or water conservation measures and
services intended to improve the efficiency of electricity, gas,
or water end use, including related carrying costs if:
(a) The conservation measures and services do not produce assets that would be bondable utility property under the
80.28.005
(2006 Ed.)
80.28.010 Duties as to rates, services, and facilities—
Limitations on termination of utility service for residential heating. (1) All charges made, demanded or received by
any gas company, electrical company or water company for
gas, electricity or water, or for any service rendered or to be
rendered in connection therewith, shall be just, fair, reasonable and sufficient.
(2) Every gas company, electrical company and water
company shall furnish and supply such service, instrumentalities and facilities as shall be safe, adequate and efficient, and
in all respects just and reasonable.
(3) All rules and regulations issued by any gas company,
electrical company or water company, affecting or pertaining
[Title 80 RCW—page 25]
80.28.020
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
to the sale or distribution of its product, shall be just and reasonable.
(4) Utility service for residential space heating shall not
be terminated between November 15 through March 15 if the
customer:
(a) Notifies the utility of the inability to pay the bill,
including a security deposit. This notice should be provided
within five business days of receiving a payment overdue
notice unless there are extenuating circumstances. If the customer fails to notify the utility within five business days and
service is terminated, the customer can, by paying reconnection charges, if any, and fulfilling the requirements of this
section, receive the protections of this chapter;
(b) Provides self-certification of household income for
the prior twelve months to a grantee of the department of
community, trade, and economic development which administers federally funded energy assistance programs. The
grantee shall determine that the household income does not
exceed the maximum allowed for eligibility under the state’s
plan for low-income energy assistance under 42 U.S.C. 8624
and shall provide a dollar figure that is seven percent of
household income. The grantee may verify information provided in the self-certification;
(c) Has applied for home heating assistance from applicable government and private sector organizations and certifies that any assistance received will be applied to the current
bill and future utility bills;
(d) Has applied for low-income weatherization assistance to the utility or other appropriate agency if such assistance is available for the dwelling;
(e) Agrees to a payment plan and agrees to maintain the
payment plan. The plan will be designed both to pay the past
due bill by the following October 15 and to pay for continued
utility service. If the past due bill is not paid by the following
October 15, the customer shall not be eligible for protections
under this chapter until the past due bill is paid. The plan shall
not require monthly payments in excess of seven percent of
the customer’s monthly income plus one-twelfth of any
arrearage accrued from the date application is made and
thereafter during November 15 through March 15. A customer may agree to pay a higher percentage during this
period, but shall not be in default unless payment during this
period is less than seven percent of monthly income plus onetwelfth of any arrearage accrued from the date application is
made and thereafter. If assistance payments are received by
the customer subsequent to implementation of the plan, the
customer shall contact the utility to reformulate the plan; and
(f) Agrees to pay the moneys owed even if he or she
moves.
(5) The utility shall:
(a) Include in any notice that an account is delinquent
and that service may be subject to termination, a description
of the customer’s duties in this section;
(b) Assist the customer in fulfilling the requirements
under this section;
(c) Be authorized to transfer an account to a new residence when a customer who has established a plan under this
section moves from one residence to another within the same
utility service area;
(d) Be permitted to disconnect service if the customer
fails to honor the payment program. Utilities may continue to
[Title 80 RCW—page 26]
disconnect service for those practices authorized by law other
than for nonpayment as provided for in this subsection. Customers who qualify for payment plans under this section who
default on their payment plans and are disconnected can be
reconnected and maintain the protections afforded under this
chapter by paying reconnection charges, if any, and by paying all amounts that would have been due and owing under
the terms of the applicable payment plan, absent default, on
the date on which service is reconnected; and
(e) Advise the customer in writing at the time it disconnects service that it will restore service if the customer contacts the utility and fulfills the other requirements of this section.
(6) A payment plan implemented under this section is
consistent with RCW 80.28.080.
(7) Every gas company and electrical company shall
offer residential customers the option of a budget billing or
equal payment plan. The budget billing or equal payment
plan shall be offered low-income customers eligible under
the state’s plan for low-income energy assistance prepared in
accordance with 42 U.S.C. 8624(C)(1) without limiting
availability to certain months of the year, without regard to
the length of time the customer has occupied the premises,
and without regard to whether the customer is the tenant or
owner of the premises occupied.
(8) Every gas company, electrical company and water
company shall construct and maintain such facilities in connection with the manufacture and distribution of its product
as will be efficient and safe to its employees and the public.
(9) An agreement between the customer and the utility,
whether oral or written, shall not waive the protections
afforded under this chapter.
(10) In establishing rates or charges for water service,
water companies as defined in RCW 80.04.010 may consider
the achievement of water conservation goals and the discouragement of wasteful water use practices. [1995 c 399 § 211.
Prior: 1991 c 347 § 22; 1991 c 165 § 4; 1990 1st ex.s. c 1 §
5; 1986 c 245 § 5; 1985 c 6 § 25; 1984 c 251 § 4; 1961 c 14 §
80.28.010; prior: 1911 c 117 § 26; RRS § 10362.]
Purposes—1991 c 347: See note following RCW 90.42.005.
Severability—1991 c 347: See RCW 90.42.900.
Findings—1991 c 165: See note following RCW 35.21.300.
80.28.020
80.28.020 Commission to fix just, reasonable, and
compensatory rates. Whenever the commission shall find,
after a hearing had upon its own motion, or upon complaint,
that the rates or charges demanded, exacted, charged or collected by any gas company, electrical company or water company, for gas, electricity or water, or in connection therewith,
or that the rules, regulations, practices or contracts affecting
such rates or charges are unjust, unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory or unduly preferential, or in any wise in violation
of the provisions of the law, or that such rates or charges are
insufficient to yield a reasonable compensation for the service rendered, the commission shall determine the just, reasonable, or sufficient rates, charges, regulations, practices or
contracts to be thereafter observed and in force, and shall fix
the same by order. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.020. Prior: 1911 c 117
§ 54, part; RRS § 10390, part.]
(2006 Ed.)
Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies
80.28.022
80.28.022 Water company rates—Reserve account.
In determining the rates to be charged by each water company subject to its jurisdiction, the commission may provide
for the funding of a reserve account exclusively for the purpose of making capital improvements approved by the
department of health as a part of a long-range plan, or
required by the department to assure compliance with federal
or state drinking water regulations, or to perform construction
or maintenance required by the department of ecology to
secure safety to life and property under RCW 43.21A.064(2).
Expenditures from the fund shall be subject to prior approval
by the commission, and shall be treated for rate-making purposes as customer contributions. [1991 c 150 § 1; 1990 c 132
§ 6.]
Legislative findings—Severability—1990 c 132: See note following
RCW 43.20.240.
80.28.040
larly available conventional energy resources which utilize
nuclear energy or fossil fuels and which the gas or electric
company could acquire to meet energy demand in the same
time period. The rate of return increment shall be allowed for
a period not to exceed thirty years after the measure or project
is first placed in the rate base.
(2) In establishing rates for water companies regulated
by this chapter, the commission may consider the achievement of water conservation goals and the discouragement of
wasteful water use practices. [1991 c 347 § 23; 1980 c 149 §
2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.35.020 was repealed by 2005 c 443 § 7,
effective July 1, 2006.
Purposes—1991 c 347: See note following RCW 90.42.005.
Severability—1991 c 347: See RCW 90.42.900.
Public utility tax exemptions relating to energy conservation and production
from renewable resources: RCW 82.16.055.
80.28.024
80.28.024 Legislative finding. The legislature finds
and declares that the potential for meeting future energy
needs through conservation measures, including energy conservation loans, energy audits, the use of appropriate tree
plantings for energy conservation, and the use of renewable
resources, such as solar energy, wind energy, wood, wood
waste, municipal waste, agricultural products and wastes,
hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy, and end-use waste
heat, may not be realized without incentives to public and private energy utilities. The legislature therefore finds and
declares that actions and incentives by state government to
promote conservation and the use of renewable resources
would be of great benefit to the citizens of this state by
encouraging efficient energy use and a reliable supply of
energy based upon renewable energy resources. [1993 c 204
§ 8; 1980 c 149 § 1.]
Findings—1993 c 204: See note following RCW 35.92.390.
80.28.025
80.28.025 Encouragement of energy cogeneration,
conservation, and production from renewable
resources—Consideration of water conservation goals.
(1) In establishing rates for each gas and electric company
regulated by this chapter, the commission shall adopt policies
to encourage meeting or reducing energy demand through
cogeneration as defined in *RCW 82.35.020, measures
which improve the efficiency of energy end use, and new
projects which produce or generate energy from renewable
resources, such as solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric
energy, geothermal energy, wood, wood waste, municipal
wastes, agricultural products and wastes, and end-use waste
heat. These policies shall include but are not limited to allowing a return on investment in measures to improve the efficiency of energy end use, cogeneration, or projects which
produce or generate energy from renewable resources which
return is established by adding an increment of two percent to
the rate of return on common equity permitted on the company’s other investment. Measures or projects encouraged
under this section are those for which construction or installation is begun after June 12, 1980, and before January 1,
1990, and which, at the time they are placed in the rate base,
are reasonably expected to save, produce, or generate energy
at a total incremental system cost per unit of energy delivered
to end use which is less than or equal to the incremental system cost per unit of energy delivered to end use from simi(2006 Ed.)
80.28.030 Commission may order improved quality
of commodity—Water companies, board of health standards. Whenever the commission shall find, after such hearing, that the illuminating or heating power, purity or pressure
of gas, the efficiency of electric lamp supply, the voltage of
the current supplied for light, heat or power, or the purity,
quality, volume, and pressure of water, supplied by any gas
company, electrical company or water company, as the case
may be, is insufficient, impure, inadequate or inefficient, it
shall order such improvement in the manufacture, distribution or supply of gas, in the manufacture, transmission or supply of electricity, or in the storage, distribution or supply of
water, or in the methods employed by such gas company,
electrical company or water company, as will in its judgment
be efficient, adequate, just and reasonable. Failure of a water
company to comply with state board of health standards
adopted under RCW 43.20.050(2)(a) or department standards
adopted under chapter 70.116 RCW for purity, volume, and
pressure shall be prima facie evidence that the water supplied
is insufficient, impure, inadequate, or inefficient.
In ordering improvements in the storage, distribution, or
supply of water, the commission shall consult and coordinate
with the department. In the event that a water company fails
to comply with an order of the commission in a timely fashion, the commission may request that the department petition
the court to place the company in receivership. [1989 c 207
§ 4; 1961 c 14 § 80.28.030. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 54, part; RRS
§ 10390, part.]
80.28.030
80.28.040 Commission may order improved service—Water companies, noncompliance, receivership.
Whenever the commission shall find, after hearing, that any
rules, regulations, measurements or the standard thereof,
practices, acts or services of any such gas company, electrical
company or water company are unjust, unreasonable,
improper, insufficient, inefficient or inadequate, or that any
service which may be reasonably demanded is not furnished,
the commission shall fix the reasonable rules, regulations,
measurements or the standard thereof, practices, acts or service to be thereafter furnished, imposed, observed and followed, and shall fix the same by order or rule.
In ordering improvements to the service of any water
company, the commission shall consult and coordinate with
80.28.040
[Title 80 RCW—page 27]
80.28.050
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
the department. In the event that a water company fails to
comply with an order of the commission within the deadline
specified in the order, the commission may request that the
department petition the court to place the company in receivership. [1989 c 207 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 80.28.040. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 54, part; RRS § 10390, part.]
80.28.050
80.28.050 Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules. Every gas company, electrical
company and water company shall file with the commission
and shall print and keep open to public inspection schedules
in such form as the commission may prescribe, showing all
rates and charges made, established or enforced, or to be
charged or enforced, all forms of contract or agreement, all
rules and regulations relating to rates, charges or service,
used or to be used, and all general privileges and facilities
granted or allowed by such gas company, electrical company
or water company. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.050. Prior: 1911 c 117
§ 27; RRS § 10363.]
Duty of company to fix rate for wholesale power on request of public utility
district: RCW 54.04.100.
charges for energy conservation measures, services, or payments provided to individual property owners or customers.
The tariff schedule shall require the electrical or gas company
to enter into an agreement with the property owner or customer receiving services at the time the conservation measures, services, or payments are initially provided. The tariff
schedule may allow for the payment of the rates or charges
over a period of time and for the application of the payment
obligation to successive property owners or customers at the
premises where the conservation measures or services were
installed or performed or with respect to which the conservation payments were made.
(2) The electrical or gas company shall record a notice of
a payment obligation, containing a legal description, resulting from an agreement under this section with the county
auditor or recording officer as provided in RCW 65.04.030.
(3) The commission may prescribe by rule other methods
by which an electrical or gas company shall notify property
owners or customers of any such payment obligation. [1993
c 245 § 2.]
Legislative findings—Intent—1993 c 245: "(1) The legislature finds
that:
80.28.060
80.28.060 Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception. Unless the commission otherwise orders, no change
shall be made in any rate or charge or in any form of contract
or agreement or in any rule or regulation relating to any rate,
charge or service, or in any general privilege or facility which
shall have been filed and published by a gas company, electrical company or water company in compliance with the
requirements of RCW 80.28.050 except after thirty days’
notice to the commission and publication for thirty days,
which notice shall plainly state the changes proposed to be
made in the schedule then in force and the time when the
change will go into effect and all proposed changes shall be
shown by printing, filing and publishing new schedules, or
shall be plainly indicated upon the schedules in force at the
time and kept open to public inspection. Proposed changes
may be suspended by the commission within thirty days or
before the stated effective date of the proposed change,
whichever is later. The commission, for good cause shown,
may allow changes without requiring the thirty days’ notice
by duly filing, in such manner as it may direct, an order specifying the changes so to be made and the time when it shall
take effect. All such changes shall be immediately indicated
upon its schedules by the company affected. When any
change is made in any rate or charge, form of contract or
agreement, or any rule or regulation relating to any rate or
charge or service, or in any general privilege or facility, the
effect of which is to increase any rate or charge, then in existence, attention shall be directed on the copy filed with the
commission to such increase by some character immediately
preceding or following the item in such schedule, such character to be in form as designated by the commission. [1989 c
152 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 80.28.060. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 28; RRS
§ 10364.]
80.28.065
80.28.065 Tariff schedule—Energy conservation—
Payment by successive property owners—Notice—Rules.
(1) Upon request by an electrical or gas company, the commission may approve a tariff schedule that contains rates or
[Title 80 RCW—page 28]
(a) The ability of utilities to acquire cost-effective conservation measures is instrumental in assuring that Washington citizens have reasonable
energy rates and that utilities have adequate energy resources to meet future
energy demands;
(b) Customers may be more willing to accept investments in energy
efficiency and conservation if real and perceived impediments to property
transactions are avoided;
(c) Potential purchasers of real property should be notified of any utility conservation charges at the earliest point possible in the sale.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage utilities to develop
innovative approaches designed to promote energy efficiency and conservation that have limited rate impacts on utility customers. It is not the intent of
the legislature to restrict the authority of the utilities and transportation commission to approve tariff schedules.
(3) It is also the intent of the legislature that utilities which establish
conservation tariffs should undertake measures to assure that potential purchasers of property are aware of the existence of any conservation tariffs.
Measures that may be considered include, but are not limited to:
(a) Recording a notice of a conservation tariff payment obligation, containing a legal description, with the county property records;
(b) Annually notifying customers who have entered agreements of the
conservation tariff obligation;
(c) Working with the real estate industry to provide for disclosure of
conservation tariff obligations in standardized listing agreements and earnest
money agreements; and
(d) Working with title insurers to provide recorded conservation tariff
obligations as an informational note to the preliminary commitment for policy of title insurance." [1993 c 245 § 1.]
80.28.068
80.28.068 Rates—Low-income customers. Upon
request by an electrical or gas company, the commission may
approve rates, charges, services, and/or physical facilities at a
discount for low-income senior customers and low-income
customers. Expenses and lost revenues as a result of these
discounts shall be included in the company’s cost of service
and recovered in rates to other customers. [1999 c 62 § 1.]
80.28.070
80.28.070 Sliding scale of charges permitted. Nothing
in this chapter shall be taken to prohibit a gas company, electrical company or water company from establishing a sliding
scale of charges, whereby a greater charge is made per unit
for a lesser than a greater quantity for gas, electricity or
water, or any service rendered or to be rendered. [1961 c 14
§ 80.28.070. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 32; RRS § 10368.]
(2006 Ed.)
Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies
80.28.074 Legislative declaration. The legislature
declares it is the policy of the state to:
(1) Preserve affordable natural gas and electric services
to the residents of the state;
(2) Maintain and advance the efficiency and availability
of natural gas and electric services to the residents of the state
of Washington;
(3) Ensure that customers pay only reasonable charges
for natural gas and electric service;
(4) Permit flexible pricing of natural gas and electric services. [1988 c 166 § 1.]
80.28.074
80.28.075 Banded rates—Natural gas and electric
services. Upon request by a natural gas company or an electrical company, the commission may approve a tariff that
includes banded rates for any nonresidential natural gas or
electric service that is subject to effective competition from
energy suppliers not regulated by the utilities and transportation commission. "Banded rate" means a rate that has a minimum and maximum rate. Rates may be changed within the
rate band upon such notice as the commission may order.
[1988 c 166 § 2.]
80.28.075
80.28.080 Published rates to be charged—Exceptions. No gas company, electrical company or water company shall charge, demand, collect or receive a greater or less
or different compensation for any service rendered or to be
rendered than the rates and charges applicable to such service
as specified in its schedule filed and in effect at the time, nor
shall any such company directly or indirectly refund or remit
in any manner or by any device any portion of the rates or
charges so specified, or furnish its product at free or reduced
rates except to its employees and their families, and its officers, attorneys, and agents; to hospitals, charitable and eleemosynary institutions and persons engaged in charitable and
eleemosynary work; to indigent and destitute persons; to
national homes or state homes for disabled volunteer soldiers
and soldiers’ and sailors’ homes: PROVIDED, That the term
"employees" as used in this paragraph shall include furloughed, pensioned and superannuated employees, persons
who have become disabled or infirm in the service of any
such company; and the term "families," as used in this paragraph, shall include the families of those persons named in
this proviso, the families of persons killed or dying in the service, also the families of persons killed, and the surviving
spouse prior to remarriage, and the minor children during
minority of persons who died while in the service of any of
the companies named in this paragraph: PROVIDED FURTHER, That water companies may furnish free or at reduced
rates water for the use of the state, or for any project in which
the state is interested: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That
gas companies, electrical companies, and water companies
may charge the defendant for treble damages awarded in lawsuits successfully litigated under RCW 80.28.240.
No gas company, electrical company or water company
shall extend to any person or corporation any form of contract
or agreement or any rule or regulation or any privilege or
facility except such as are regularly and uniformly extended
to all persons and corporations under like circumstances.
[1985 c 427 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 116; 1961 c 14 §
80.28.080. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 29; RRS § 10365.]
80.28.080
(2006 Ed.)
80.28.120
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
80.28.090
80.28.090 Unreasonable preference prohibited. No
gas company, electrical company or water company shall
make or grant any undue or unreasonable preference or
advantage to any person, corporation, or locality, or to any
particular description of service in any respect whatsoever, or
subject any particular person, corporation or locality or any
particular description of service to any undue or unreasonable
prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever. [1961 c
14 § 80.28.090. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 30; RRS § 10366.]
80.28.100
80.28.100 Rate discrimination prohibited—Exception. No gas company, electrical company or water company
shall, directly or indirectly, or by any special rate, rebate,
drawback or other device or method, charge, demand, collect
or receive from any person or corporation a greater or less
compensation for gas, electricity or water, or for any service
rendered or to be rendered, or in connection therewith, except
as authorized in this chapter, than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person or corporation for
doing a like or contemporaneous service with respect thereto
under the same or substantially similar circumstances or conditions. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.100. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 31; RRS
§ 10367.]
Reduced utility rates for low-income senior citizens and other low-income
citizens: RCW 74.38.070.
80.28.110
80.28.110 Service to be furnished on reasonable
notice. Every gas company, electrical company or water
company, engaged in the sale and distribution of gas, electricity or water, shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish to all
persons and corporations who may apply therefor and be reasonably entitled thereto, suitable facilities for furnishing and
furnish all available gas, electricity and water as demanded,
except that a water company shall not furnish water contrary
to the provisions of water system plans approved under chapter 43.20 or 70.116 RCW. [1990 c 132 § 5; 1961 c 14 §
80.28.110. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 33; RRS § 10369.]
Legislative findings—Severability—1990 c 132: See note following
RCW 43.20.240.
Duty of company to fix rate for wholesale power on request of public utility
district: RCW 54.04.100.
80.28.120
80.28.120 Effect on existing contracts. Every gas,
water or electrical company owning, operating or managing a
plant or system for the distribution and sale of gas, water or
electricity to the public for hire shall be and be held to be a
public service company as to such plant or system and as to
all gas, water or electricity distributed or furnished therefrom,
whether such gas, water or electricity be sold wholesale or
retail or be distributed wholly to the general public or in part
as surplus gas, water or electricity to manufacturing or industrial concerns or to other public service companies or municipalities for redistribution. Nothing in this title shall be construed to prevent any gas company, electrical company or
water company from continuing to furnish its product or the
use of its lines, equipment or service under any contract or
contracts in force on June 7, 1911, at the rates fixed in such
contract or contracts: PROVIDED, That the commission
shall have power, in its discretion, to direct by order that such
[Title 80 RCW—page 29]
80.28.130
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
contract or contracts shall be terminated by the company
party thereto and thereupon such contract or contracts shall
be terminated by such company as and when directed by such
order. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.120. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 1; 1911 c
117 § 34; RRS § 10370.]
for testing and proving the accuracy of gas, electric or water
meters furnished for use by it by which apparatus every meter
may be tested. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.160. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
74, part; RRS § 10410, part.]
80.28.170
80.28.130
80.28.130 Repairs, improvements, changes, additions, or extensions may be directed. Whenever the commission shall find, after hearing had upon its own motion or
upon complaint, that repairs or improvements, to, or changes
in, any gas plant, electrical plant or water system ought to be
made, or that any additions or extensions should reasonably
be made thereto, in order to promote the security or convenience of the public or employees, or in order to secure adequate service or facilities for manufacturing, distributing or
supplying gas, electricity or water, the commission may enter
an order directing that such reasonable repairs, improvements, changes, additions or extensions of such gas plant,
electrical plant or water system be made. [1961 c 14 §
80.28.130. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 70; RRS § 10406.]
80.28.140
80.28.140 Inspection of gas and water meters. The
commission may appoint inspectors of gas and water meters
whose duty it shall be when required by the commission to
inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of any and
all gas and water meters used or intended to be used for measuring or ascertaining the quantity of gas for light, heat or
power, or the quantity of water furnished for any purpose by
any public service company to or for the use of any person or
corporation, and when found to be or made to be correct such
inspectors shall seal all such meters and each of them with
some suitable device to be prescribed by the commission.
No public service company shall thereafter furnish, set
or put in use any gas or water meter which shall not have been
inspected, proved and sealed by an inspector of the commission under such rules and regulations as the commission may
prescribe. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.140. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 74,
part; RRS § 10410, part.]
80.28.170 Testing at consumer’s request. If any consumer to whom a meter has been furnished shall request the
commission in writing to inspect such meter, the commission
shall have the same inspected and tested, and if the same, on
being so tested, shall be found to be more than four percent if
an electric meter, or more than two percent if a gas meter, or
more than two percent if a water meter, defective or incorrect
to the prejudice of the consumer, the expense of such inspection and test shall be borne by the gas company, electrical
company or water company, and if the same, on being so
tested shall be found to be correct within the limits of error
prescribed by the provisions of this section, the expense of
such inspection and test shall be borne by the consumer.
[1961 c 14 § 80.28.170. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 74, part; RRS §
10410, part.]
80.28.180
80.28.180 Rules and regulations. The commission
shall prescribe such rules and regulations to carry into effect
the provisions of RCW 80.28.140 through 80.28.170 as it
may deem necessary, and shall fix the uniform and reasonable charges for the inspection and testing of meters upon
complaint. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.180. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 74,
part; RRS § 10410, part.]
80.28.185
80.28.185 Water companies within counties—Commission may regulate. The commission may develop and
enter into an agreement with a county to carry out the regulatory functions of this chapter with regard to water companies
located within the boundary of that county. The duration of
the agreement, the duties to be performed, and the remuneration to be paid by the commission are subject to agreement by
the commission and the county. [1989 c 207 § 6.]
80.28.190
80.28.150
80.28.150 Inspection of electric meters. The commission may appoint inspectors of electric meters whose duty it
shall be when required by the commission to inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of any and all electric
meters used or intended to be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of electric current furnished for light,
heat or power by any public service company to or for the use
of any person or corporation, and to inspect, examine and
ascertain the accuracy of all apparatus for testing and proving
the accuracy of electric meters, and when found to be or made
to be correct the inspector shall stamp or mark all such meters
and apparatus with some suitable device to be prescribed by
the commission. No public service company shall furnish, set
or put in use any electric meters the type of which shall not
have been approved by the commission. [1961 c 14 §
80.28.150. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 74, part; RRS § 10410, part.]
80.28.160
80.28.160 Testing apparatus to be furnished. Every
gas company, electrical company and water company shall
prepare and maintain such suitable premises, apparatus and
facilities as may be required and approved by the commission
[Title 80 RCW—page 30]
80.28.190 Gas companies—Certificate—Violations—Commission powers—Penalty—Fees. (1) No gas
company shall, after January 1, 1956, operate in this state any
gas plant for hire without first having obtained from the commission under the provisions of this chapter a certificate
declaring that public convenience and necessity requires or
will require such operation and setting forth the area or areas
within which service is to be rendered; but a certificate shall
be granted where it appears to the satisfaction of the commission that such gas company was actually operating in good
faith, within the confines of the area for which such certificate shall be sought, on June 8, 1955. Any right, privilege,
certificate held, owned or obtained by a gas company may be
sold, assigned, leased, transferred or inherited as other property, only upon authorization by the commission. The commission shall have power, after hearing, when the applicant
requests a certificate to render service in an area already
served by a certificate holder under this chapter only when
the existing gas company or companies serving such area will
not provide the same to the satisfaction of the commission
and in all other cases, with or without hearing, to issue the
certificate as prayed for; or for good cause shown to refuse to
(2006 Ed.)
Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies
issue same, or to issue it for the partial exercise only of the
privilege sought, and may attach to the exercise of the rights
granted by the certificate such terms and conditions as, in its
judgment, the public convenience and necessity may require.
(2) The commission may, at any time, by its order duly
entered after a hearing had upon notice to the holder of any
certificate hereunder, and an opportunity to such holder to be
heard, at which it shall be proven that such holder willfully
violates or refuses to observe any of its proper orders, rules or
regulations, suspend, revoke, alter or amend any certificate
issued under the provisions of this section, but the holder of
such certificate shall have all the rights of rehearing, review
and appeal as to such order of the commission as is provided
herein.
(3) In all respects in which the commission has power
and authority under this chapter applications and complaints
may be made and filed with it, process issued, hearings held,
opinions, orders and decisions made and filed, petitions for
rehearing filed and acted upon, and petitions for writs of
review to the superior court filed therewith, appeals or mandate filed with the supreme court or the court of appeals of
this state considered and disposed of by such courts in the
manner, under the conditions, and subject to the limitations
and with the effect specified in the Washington utilities and
transportation commission laws of this state.
(4) Every officer, agent, or employee of any corporation,
and every other person who violates or fails to comply with,
or who procures, aids or abets in the violation of any of the
provisions of this section or who fails to obey, observe or
comply with any order, decision, rule or regulation, directive,
demand or requirements, or any provision of this section, is
guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(5) Neither this section, RCW 80.28.200, 80.28.210, nor
any provisions thereof shall apply or be construed to apply to
commerce with foreign nations or commerce among the several states of this union except insofar as the same may be
permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the
United States and acts of congress.
(6) The commission shall collect the following miscellaneous fees from gas companies: Application for a certificate
of public convenience and necessity or to amend a certificate,
twenty-five dollars; application to sell, lease, mortgage or
transfer a certificate of public convenience and necessity or
any interest therein, ten dollars. [2003 c 53 § 383; 1971 c 81
§ 141; 1961 c 14 § 80.28.190. Prior: 1955 c 316 § 4.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
80.28.210
whole or in part, to the consumers of such company and to
order such company to pass such refund on to its consumers,
in the manner and to the extent determined just and reasonable by the commission. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.200. Prior: 1955
c 316 § 5.]
80.28.205
80.28.205 Enforcement of federal laws covering gas
pipeline safety—Request for federal delegation of authority. (1) The commission shall seek and accept federal delegation for the commission’s inspectors as federal agents for the
purposes of enforcement of federal laws covering gas pipeline safety and the associated federal rules, as they exist on
March 28, 2000. The commission shall establish and submit
to the United States secretary of transportation an inspection
program that complies with requirements for delegated interstate agent inspection authority. If the secretary of transportation delegates inspection authority to the state as provided in
this subsection, the commission, at a minimum, shall do the
following:
(a) Inspect gas pipelines periodically as specified in the
inspection program;
(b) Collect fees;
(c) Order and oversee the testing of gas pipelines as
authorized by federal law and regulation; and
(d) File reports with the United States secretary of transportation as required to maintain the delegated authority.
(2) The commission shall also seek federal authority to
adopt safety standards related to the monitoring and testing of
interstate gas pipelines.
(3) Upon designation under subsection (1) of this section
or under a grant of authority under subsection (2) of this section, to the extent authorized by federal law, the commission
shall adopt rules for interstate gas pipelines that are no less
stringent than the state’s laws and rules for intrastate gas
pipelines. [2000 c 191 § 10.]
Intent—Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—Short
title—Effective date—2000 c 191: See RCW 81.88.005 and 81.88.900
through 81.88.902.
80.28.207
80.28.207 Commission inspection of records, maps,
or written procedures. The commission may inspect any
record, map, or written procedure required by federal law to
be kept by a gas pipeline company concerning the reporting
of gas releases, and the design, construction, testing, or operation and maintenance of gas pipelines. [2000 c 191 § 12.]
Intent—Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—Short
title—Effective date—2000 c 191: See RCW 81.88.005 and 81.88.900
through 81.88.902.
80.28.200
80.28.200 Gas companies—Refunds of charges.
Whenever any gas company whose rates are subject to the
jurisdiction of the commission shall receive any refund of
amounts charged and collected from it on account of natural
gas purchased by it, by reason of any reduction of rates or disallowance of an increase in rates of the seller of such natural
gas pursuant to an order of the federal power commission,
whether such refund shall be directed by the federal power
commission or by any court upon review of such an order or
shall otherwise accrue to such company, the commission
shall have power after a hearing, upon its own motion, upon
complaint, or upon the application of such company, to determine whether or not such refund should be passed on, in
(2006 Ed.)
80.28.210
80.28.210 Safety rules—Pipeline transporters—Penalty. (1) Every person or corporation transporting natural gas
by pipeline, or having for one or more of its principal purposes the construction, maintenance or operation of pipelines
for transporting natural gas, in this state, even though such
person or corporation not be a public service company under
chapter 80.28 RCW, and even though such person or corporation does not deliver, sell or furnish any such gas to any
person or corporation within this state, shall be subject to regulation by the utilities and transportation commission insofar
as the construction and operation of such facilities shall affect
matters of public safety, and every such company shall con[Title 80 RCW—page 31]
80.28.212
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
struct and maintain such facilities as will be safe and efficient. The commission shall have the authority to prescribe
rules and regulations to effectuate the purpose of this enactment.
(2) Every such person and every such officer, agent and
employee of a corporation who, as an individual or as an
officer or agent of such corporation, violates or fails to comply with, or who procures, aids, or abets another, or his or her
company, in the violation of, or noncompliance with, any
provision of this section or any order, rule or requirement of
the commission hereunder, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[2003 c 53 § 384; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 80.28.210.
Prior: 1955 c 316 § 6.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
80.28.212
80.28.212 Safety rules—Civil penalty for violation of
RCW 80.28.210 or regulations issued thereunder—Level
of penalty—Compromise—Disposition of penalty. Any
gas company which violates any provision of RCW
80.28.210 as now exists or is later amended or of any regulation issued thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty to be
directly assessed by the commission. The level of such penalty shall be set by rule by the commission and shall not
exceed the penalties specified in federal pipeline safety laws
(49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) in effect on July 23, 1995. Any civil
penalty may be compromised by the commission. In determining the amount of the penalty, or the amount agreed upon
and compromised, the appropriateness of the penalty to the
size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the
violation, and the good faith of the gas company charged in
attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the
violation, shall be considered. The amount of the penalty,
when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon and
compromised, may be recovered in a civil action in the superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in
which such violator may do business. In all such actions for
recovery the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the
same as in ordinary civil actions. All penalties recovered
under this title shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the public service revolving fund. [1995 c 247 § 1;
1969 ex.s. c 210 § 3.]
80.28.215
80.28.215 Gas pipeline company duties after notice of
excavation. A gas pipeline company that has been notified
by an excavator that excavation work will occur near a gas
transmission pipeline shall ensure that the pipeline company’s representative consults with the excavator on-site
prior to the excavation. The gas pipeline company has the
discretion to require that the pipeline section in the vicinity of
the excavation is fully uncovered and examined for damage
prior to being reburied. [2000 c 191 § 22.]
Intent—Findings—Conflict with federal requirements—Short
title—Effective date—2000 c 191: See RCW 81.88.005 and 81.88.900
through 81.88.902.
80.28.220
80.28.220 Gas companies—Right of eminent
domain—Purposes. Every corporation having for one of its
principal purposes the transmission, distribution, sale, or furnishing of natural gas or other type gas for light, heat, or
power and holding and owning a certificate of public conve[Title 80 RCW—page 32]
nience and necessity from the utilities and transportation
commission authorizing the operation of a gas plant, may
appropriate, by condemnation, lands and property and interests therein, for the transmission, distribution, sale, or furnishing of such natural gas or other type gas through gas
mains or pipelines under the provisions of chapter 8.20
RCW. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.220. Prior: 1957 c 191 § 1.]
80.28.230
80.28.230 Gas companies—Use for purpose acquired
exclusive—Disposition of property. Any property or interest acquired as provided in RCW 80.28.220 shall be used
exclusively for the purposes for which it was acquired: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That if any such property be sold or
otherwise disposed of by said corporations, such sale or disposition shall be by public sale or disposition and advertised
in the manner of public sales in the county where such property is located. [1961 c 14 § 80.28.230. Prior: 1957 c 191 §
2.]
80.28.240
80.28.240 Recovery of damages by utility company
for tampering, unauthorized connections, diversion of
services. (1) A utility may bring a civil action for damages
against any person who commits, authorizes, solicits, aids,
abets, or attempts to:
(a) Divert, or cause to be diverted, utility services by any
means whatsoever;
(b) Make, or cause to be made, any connection or reconnection with property owned or used by the utility to provide
utility service without the authorization or consent of the utility;
(c) Prevent any utility meter or other device used in
determining the charge for utility services from accurately
performing its measuring function by tampering or by any
other means;
(d) Tamper with any property owned or used by the utility to provide utility services; or
(e) Use or receive the direct benefit of all or a portion of
the utility service with knowledge of, or reason to believe
that, the diversion, tampering, or unauthorized connection
existed at the time of the use or that the use or receipt was
without the authorization or consent of the utility.
(2) In any civil action brought under this section, the utility may recover from the defendant as damages three times
the amount of actual damages, if any, plus the cost of the suit
and reasonable attorney’s fees, plus the costs incurred on
account of the bypassing, tampering, or unauthorized reconnection, including but not limited to costs and expenses for
investigation, disconnection, reconnection, service calls, and
expert witnesses.
(3) Any damages recovered under this section in excess
of the actual damages sustained by the utility may be taken
into account by the utilities and transportation commission or
other applicable rate-making agency in establishing utility
rates.
(4) As used in this section:
(a) "Customer" means the person in whose name a utility
service is provided;
(b) "Divert" means to change the intended course or path
of electricity, gas, or water without the authorization or consent of the utility;
(2006 Ed.)
Gas, Electrical, and Water Companies
(c) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm,
association, or corporation or government agency;
(d) "Reconnection" means the commencement of utility
service to a customer or other person after service has been
lawfully disconnected by the utility;
(e) "Tamper" means to rearrange, injure, alter, interfere
with, or otherwise prevent from performing the normal or
customary function;
(f) "Utility" means any electrical company, gas company, or water company as those terms are defined in RCW
80.04.010, and includes any electrical, gas, or water system
operated by any public agency; and
(g) "Utility service" means the provision of electricity,
gas, water, or any other service or commodity furnished by
the utility for compensation. [1989 c 11 § 30; 1985 c 427 §
1.]
Severability—1989 c 11: See note following RCW 9A.56.220.
80.28.250
80.28.250 Water companies—Fire hydrants. A city,
town or county may, by ordinance or resolution, require a
water company to maintain fire hydrants in the area served by
the water company. The utilities and transportation commission has no authority to waive this obligation. [1986 c 119 §
1.]
80.28.260
80.28.260 Adoption of policies to provide financial
incentives for energy efficiency programs. (1) The commission shall adopt a policy allowing an incentive rate of
return on investment (a) for payments made under RCW
19.27A.035 and (b) for programs that improve the efficiency
of energy end use if priority is given to senior citizens and
low-income citizens in the course of carrying out such programs. The incentive rate of return on investments set forth in
this subsection is established by adding an increment of two
percent to the rate of return on common equity permitted on
the company’s other investments.
(2) The commission shall consider and may adopt a policy allowing an incentive rate of return on investment in additional programs to improve the efficiency of energy end use
or other incentive policies to encourage utility investment in
such programs.
(3) The commission shall consider and may adopt other
policies to protect a company from a reduction of short-term
earnings that may be a direct result of utility programs to
increase the efficiency of energy use. These policies may
include allowing a periodic rate adjustment for investments
in end use efficiency or allowing changes in price structure
designed to produce additional new revenue. [1996 c 186 §
520; 1990 c 2 § 9.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c
186: See notes following RCW 43.330.904.
Effective dates—1990 c 2: See note following RCW 19.27.040.
Findings—Severability—1990 c 2: See notes following RCW
19.27A.015.
80.28.270
80.28.270 Water companies—Extension, installation,
or connection charges. The commission’s jurisdiction over
the rates, charges, practices, acts or services of any water
company shall include any aspect of line extension, service
installation, or service connection. If the charges for such ser(2006 Ed.)
80.28.300
vices are not set forth by specific amount in the company’s
tariff filed with the commission pursuant to RCW 80.28.050,
the commission shall determine the fair, just, reasonable, and
sufficient charge for such extension, installation, or connection. In any such proceeding in which there is no specified
tariffed rate, the burden shall be on the company to prove that
its proposed charges are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient.
[1991 c 101 § 2.]
80.28.275
80.28.275 Water companies—Assumption of substandard water system—Limited immunity from liability. A water company assuming responsibility for a water
system that is not in compliance with state or federal requirements for public drinking water systems, and its agents and
employees, are immune from lawsuits or causes of action,
based on noncompliance with state or federal requirements
for public drinking water systems, which predate the date of
assuming responsibility and continue after the date of assuming responsibility, provided that the water company has submitted and is complying with a plan and schedule of improvements approved by the department of health. This immunity
shall expire on the earlier of the date the plan of improvements is completed or four years from the date of assuming
responsibility. This immunity does not apply to intentional
injuries, fraud, or bad faith. [1994 c 292 § 9.]
Findings—Intent—1994 c 292: See note following RCW 57.04.050.
80.28.280
80.28.280 Compressed natural gas—Motor vehicle
refueling stations—Public interest. The legislature finds
that compressed natural gas offers significant potential to
reduce vehicle emissions and to significantly decrease dependence on petroleum-based fuels. The legislature also finds
that well-developed and convenient refueling systems are
imperative if compressed natural gas is to be widely used by
the public. The legislature declares that the development of
compressed natural gas refueling stations are in the public
interest. Nothing in this section and RCW 80.28.290 is
intended to alter the regulatory practices of the commission
or allow the subsidization of one ratepayer class by another.
[1991 c 199 § 216.]
Finding—1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70.94.011.
Effective dates—Severability—Captions not law—1991 c 199: See
RCW 70.94.904 through 70.94.906.
Clean fuel: RCW 70.120.210.
80.28.290
80.28.290 Compressed natural gas—Refueling stations—Identify barriers. The commission shall identify
barriers to the development of refueling stations for vehicles
operating on compressed natural gas, and shall develop policies to remove such barriers. In developing such policies, the
commission shall consider providing rate incentives to
encourage natural gas companies to invest in the infrastructure required by such refueling stations. [1991 c 199 § 217.]
Finding—1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70.94.011.
Effective dates—Severability—Captions not law—1991 c 199: See
RCW 70.94.904 through 70.94.906.
80.28.300
80.28.300 Gas, electrical companies authorized to
provide customers with landscaping information and to
request voluntary donations for urban forestry. (1) Gas
[Title 80 RCW—page 33]
80.28.303
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
companies and electrical companies under this chapter may
provide information to their customers regarding landscaping
that includes tree planting for energy conservation.
(2) Gas companies and electrical companies under this
chapter may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purposes of urban forestry. The request may be in
the form of a check-off on the billing statement or other form
of a request for a voluntary donation. [1993 c 204 § 4.]
Findings—1993 c 204: See note following RCW 35.92.390.
80.28.303
80.28.303 Conservation service tariff—Contents of
filing—Rate base—Duties of commission. (1) An electrical, gas, or water company may file a conservation service
tariff with the commission. The tariff shall provide:
(a) The terms and conditions upon which the company
will offer the conservation measures and services specified in
the tariff;
(b) The period of time during which the conservation
measures and services will be offered; and
(c) The maximum amount of expenditures to be made
during a specified time period by the company on conservation measures and services specified in the tariff.
(2) The commission has the same authority with respect
to a proposed conservation service tariff as it has with regard
to any other schedule or classification the effect of which is to
change any rate or charge, including, without limitation, the
power granted by RCW 80.04.130 to conduct a hearing concerning a proposed conservation service tariff and the reasonableness and justness thereof, and pending such hearing and
the decision thereon the commission may suspend the operation of the tariff for a period not exceeding ten months from
the time the tariff would otherwise go into effect.
(3) An electrical, gas, or water company may from time
to time apply to the commission for a determination that specific expenditures may under its tariff constitute bondable
conservation investment. A company may request this determination by the commission in separate proceedings for this
purpose or in connection with a general rate case. The commission may designate the expenditures as bondable conservation investment as defined in RCW 80.28.005(1) if it finds
that such designation is in the public interest.
(4) The commission shall include in rate base all bondable conservation investment. The commission shall approve
rates for service by electrical, gas, and water companies at
levels sufficient to recover all of the expenditures of the
bondable conservation investment included in rate base and
the costs of equity and debt capital associated therewith,
including, without limitation, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on conservation bonds. The rates
so determined may be included in general rate schedules or
may be expressed in one or more separate rate schedules. The
commission shall not revalue bondable conservation investment for rate-making purposes, to determine that revenues
required to recover bondable conservation investment and
associated equity and debt capital costs are unjust, unreasonable, or in any way impair or reduce the value of conservation
investment assets or that would impair the timing or the
amount of revenues arising with respect to conservation
investment assets that have been pledged to secure conservation bonds.
[Title 80 RCW—page 34]
(5) Nothing in this chapter precludes the commission
from adopting or continuing other conservation policies and
programs intended to provide incentives for and to encourage
utility investment in improving the efficiency of energy or
water end use. However, the policies or programs shall not
impair conservation investment assets. This chapter is not
intended to be an exclusive or mandatory approach to conservation programs for electrical, gas, and water companies, and
no such company is obligated to file conservation service tariffs under this chapter, to apply to the commission for a determination that conservation costs constitute bondable conservation investment within the meaning of this chapter, or to
issue conservation bonds.
(6)(a) If a customer of an electrical, gas, or water company for whose benefit the company made expenditures for
conservation measures or services ceases to be a customer of
such company for one or more of the following reasons, the
commission may require that the portion of such conservation expenditures that had been included in rate base but not
theretofore recovered in the rates of such company be
removed from the rate base of the company:
(i) The customer ceases to be a customer of the supplier
of energy or water, and the customer repays to the company
the portion of the conservation expenditures made for the
benefit of such customer that has not theretofore been recovered in rates of the company; or
(ii) The company sells its property used to serve such
customer and the customer ceases to be a customer of the
company as a result of such action.
(b) An electrical, gas, or water company may include in
a contract for a conservation measure or service, and the
commission may by rule or order require to be included in
such contracts, a provision requiring that, if the customer
ceases to be a customer of that supplier of energy or water,
the customer shall repay to the company the portion of the
conservation expenditures made for the benefit of such customer that has not theretofore been recovered in rates of the
company. [1994 c 268 § 2.]
80.28.306
80.28.306 Conservation bonds—Conservation
investment assets as collateral—Priority of security interests—Transfers. (1) Electrical, gas, and water companies,
or finance subsidiaries, may issue conservation bonds upon
approval by the commission.
(2) Electrical, gas, and water companies, or finance subsidiaries may pledge conservation investment assets as collateral for conservation bonds by obtaining an order of the commission approving an issue of conservation bonds and providing for a security interest in conservation investment
assets. A security interest in conservation investment assets is
created and perfected only upon entry of an order by the commission approving a contract governing the granting of the
security interest and the filing with the department of licensing of a UCC-1 financing statement, showing such pledgor as
"debtor" and identifying such conservation investment assets
and the bondable conservation investment associated therewith. The security interest is enforceable against the debtor
and all third parties, subject to the rights of any third parties
holding security interests in the conservation investment
assets perfected in the manner described in this section, if
value has been given by the purchasers of conservation
(2006 Ed.)
Electric Franchises and Rights of Way
bonds. An approved security interest in conservation investment assets is a continuously perfected security interest in all
revenues and proceeds arising with respect to the associated
bondable conservation investment, whether or not such revenues have accrued. Upon such approval, the priority of such
security interest shall be as set forth in the contract governing
the conservation bonds. Conservation investment assets constitute property for the purposes of contracts securing conservation bonds whether or not the related revenues have
accrued.
(3) The relative priority of a security interest created
under this section is not defeated or adversely affected by the
commingling of revenues arising with respect to conservation
investment assets with other funds of the debtor. The holders
of conservation bonds shall have a perfected security interest
in all cash and deposit accounts of the debtor in which revenues arising with respect to conservation investment assets
pledged to such holders have been commingled with other
funds, but such perfected security interest is limited to an
amount not greater than the amount of such revenues
received by the debtor within twelve months before (a) any
default under the conservation bonds held by the holders or
(b) the institution of insolvency proceedings by or against the
debtor, less payments from such revenues to the holders during such twelve-month period. If an event of default occurs
under an approved contract governing conservation bonds,
the holders of conservation bonds or their authorized representatives, as secured parties, may foreclose or otherwise
enforce the security interest in the conservation investment
assets securing the conservation bonds, subject to the rights
of any third parties holding prior security interests in the conservation investment assets perfected in the manner provided
in this section. Upon application by the holders of [or] their
representatives, without limiting their other remedies, the
commission shall order the sequestration and payment to the
holders or their representatives of revenues arising with
respect to the conservation investment assets pledged to such
holders. Any such order shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any bankruptcy, reorganization, or other
insolvency proceedings with respect to the debtor. Any surplus in excess of amounts necessary to pay principal, premium, if any, interest, and expenses arising under the contract governing the conservation bonds shall be remitted to
the debtor electrical, gas, or water company or the debtor
finance subsidiary.
(4) The granting, perfection, and enforcement of security
interests in conservation investment assets to secure conservation bonds is governed by this chapter rather than by
*chapter 62A.9 RCW.
(5) A transfer of conservation investment assets by an
electrical, gas, or water company to a finance subsidiary,
which such parties have in the governing documentation
expressly stated to be a sale or other absolute transfer, in a
transaction approved in an order issued by the commission
and in connection with the issuance by such finance subsidiary of conservation bonds, shall be treated as a true sale, and
not as a pledge or other financing, of such conservation
investment assets. According the holders of conservation
bonds a preferred right to revenues of the electrical, gas, or
water company, or the provision by such company of other
credit enhancement with respect to conservation bonds, does
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 80.32
not impair or negate the characterization of any such transfer
as a true sale.
(6) Any successor to an electrical, gas, or water company
pursuant to any bankruptcy, reorganization, or other insolvency proceeding shall perform and satisfy all obligations of
the company under an approved contract governing conservation bonds, in the same manner and to the same extent as
such company before any such proceeding, including, without limitation, collecting and paying to the bondholders or
their representatives revenues arising with respect to the conservation investment assets pledged to secure the conservation bonds. [1994 c 268 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 62A.9 RCW was repealed in its entirety by
2000 c 250 § 9A-901, effective July 1, 2001. For later enactment, see chapter
62A.9A RCW.
80.28.309
80.28.309 Costs as bondable conservation investment. (1) Costs incurred before June 9, 1994, by electrical,
gas, or water companies with respect to energy or water conservation measures and services intended to improve the efficiency of energy or water end use shall constitute bondable
conservation investment for purposes of RCW 80.28.005,
80.28.303, 80.28.306, and this section, if:
(a) The commission has previously issued a rate order
authorizing the inclusion of such costs in rate base; and
(b) The commission authorizes the issuance of conservation bonds secured by conservation investment assets associated with such costs.
(2) If costs incurred before June 9, 1994, by electrical,
gas, or water companies with respect to energy or water conservation measures intended to improve the efficiency of
energy or water end use have not previously been considered
by the commission for inclusion in rate base, an electrical,
gas, or water company may apply to the commission for
approval of such costs. If the commission finds that the
expenditures are a bondable conservation investment, the
commission shall by order designate such expenditures as
bondable conservation investment, which shall be subject to
RCW 80.28.005, 80.28.303, 80.28.306, and this section.
[1994 c 268 § 4.]
80.28.310
80.28.310 Tariff for irrigation pumping service—
Authority for electrical companies to buy back electricity.
Upon request by an electrical company, the commission may
approve a tariff for irrigation pumping service that allows the
company to buy back electricity from customers to reduce
electricity usage by those customers during the electrical
company’s particular irrigation season. [2001 c 122 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 122: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 27, 2001]." [2001 c 122 § 7.]
Chapter 80.32 RCW
ELECTRIC FRANCHISES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
Chapter 80.32
Sections
80.32.010
80.32.040
80.32.050
80.32.060
Cities and counties may grant franchises—Procedure—Liability to restore road for travel.
Grant of franchise subject to referendum.
Sale or lease of plant and franchises.
Eminent domain.
[Title 80 RCW—page 35]
80.32.010
80.32.070
80.32.080
80.32.090
80.32.100
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
Right of entry.
Duties of electrical companies exercising power of eminent
domain.
Limitation on use of electricity.
Remedy for violations.
Franchises on state highways: Chapter 47.44 RCW.
80.32.010
80.32.010 Cities and counties may grant franchises—
Procedure—Liability to restore road for travel. The legislative authority of the city or town having control of any
public street or road, or, where the street or road is not within
the limits of any incorporated city or town, then the county
legislative authority of the county wherein the road or street
is situated, may grant authority for the construction, maintenance and operation of transmission lines for transmitting
electric power, together with poles, wires and other appurtenances, upon, over, along and across any such public street or
road, and in granting this authority the legislative authority of
the city or town, or the county legislative authority, as the
case may be, may prescribe the terms and conditions on
which the transmission line and its appurtenances, shall be
constructed, maintained and operated upon, over, along and
across the road or street, and the grade or elevation at which
the same shall be constructed, maintained and operated:
PROVIDED, That on application being made to the county
legislative authority for such authority, the county legislative
authority shall fix a time and place for hearing the same, and
shall cause the county auditor to give public notice thereof at
the expense of the applicant, by posting written or printed
notices in three public places in the county seat of the county,
and in at least one conspicuous place on the road or street or
part thereof, for which application is made, at least fifteen
days before the day fixed for such hearing, and by publishing
a like notice once a week for two consecutive weeks in the
official county newspaper, the last publication to be at least
five days before the day fixed for the hearing, which notice
shall state the name or names of the applicant or applicants, a
description of the roads or streets or parts thereof for which
the application is made, and the time and place fixed for the
hearing. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time by
order of the county legislative authority. If after such hearing
the county legislative authority shall deem it to be for the
public interest to grant the authority in whole or in part, it
may make and enter the proper order granting the authority
applied for or such part thereof as it deems to be for the public
interest, and shall require the transmission line and its appurtenances to be placed in such location on or along the road or
street as it finds will cause the least interference with other
uses of the road or street. In case any such transmission line
is or shall be located in part on private right of way, the owner
thereof shall have the right to construct and operate the same
across any county road or county street which intersects the
private right of way, if the crossing is so constructed and
maintained as to do no unnecessary damage: PROVIDED,
That any person or corporation constructing the crossing or
operating the transmission line on or along the county road or
county street shall be liable to the county for all necessary
expense incurred in restoring the county road or county street
to a suitable condition for travel. [1985 c 469 § 62; 1961 c 14
§ 80.32.010. Prior: 1903 c 173 § 1; RRS § 5430. Formerly
RCW 80.32.010, 80.32.020, and 80.32.030.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 36]
80.32.040
80.32.040 Grant of franchise subject to referendum.
All grants of franchises or rights for the conduct or distribution of electric energy, electric power, or electric light within
any city or town of the state of Washington by the city council or other legislative body or legislative authority thereof,
whether granted by ordinance, resolution, or other form of
grant, contract, permission or license, shall be subject to popular referendum under the general laws of this state heretofore or hereafter enacted, or as may be provided by the charter provisions, heretofore or hereafter adopted, of any such
city or town: PROVIDED, That no petition for referendum
may be filed after six months from the date of ordinance, resolution, or other form of grant, contract, permission, or
license granting such franchise. [1961 c 14 § 80.32.040.
Prior: (i) 1941 c 114 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 5430-1. (ii)
1941 c 114 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 5430-2.]
80.32.050
80.32.050 Sale or lease of plant and franchises. Any
corporation incorporated or that may hereafter be incorporated under the laws of this state or any state or territory of the
United States, for the purpose of manufacturing, transmitting
or selling electric power, may lease or purchase and operate
(except in cases where such lease or purchase is prohibited by
the Constitution of this state) the whole or any part of the
plant for manufacturing or distributing electric power or
energy of any other corporation, heretofore or hereafter constructed, together with the franchises, powers, immunities
and all other property or appurtenances appertaining thereto:
PROVIDED, That such lease or purchase has been or shall be
consented to by stockholders of record holding at least twothirds in amount of the capital stock or the lessor or grantor
corporation; and all such leases and purchases made or
entered into prior to the effective date of chapter 173, Laws of
1903, by consent of stockholders as aforesaid are for all
intents and purposes hereby ratified and confirmed, saving,
however, any vested rights of private parties. [1961 c 14 §
80.32.050. Prior: 1903 c 173 § 3; RRS § 5431.]
80.32.060
80.32.060 Eminent domain. Every corporation, incorporated or that may hereafter be incorporated under the laws
of this state, or of any other state or territory of the United
States, and doing business in this state, for the purpose of
manufacturing or transmitting electric power, shall have the
right to appropriate real estate and other property for right-ofway or for any corporate purpose, in the same manner and
under the same procedure as now is or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of ordinary railroad corporations
authorized by the laws of this state to exercise the right of
eminent domain: PROVIDED, That such right of eminent
domain shall not be exercised with respect to any public road
or street until the location of the transmission line thereon has
been authorized in accordance with RCW 80.32.010. [1961
c 14 § 80.32.060. Prior: 1903 c 173 § 2; No RRS.]
Eminent domain by corporations generally: Chapter 8.20 RCW.
80.32.070
80.32.070 Right of entry. Every such corporation shall
have the right to enter upon any land between the termini of
the proposed lines for the purpose of examining, locating and
surveying such lines, doing no unnecessary damage thereby.
[1961 c 14 § 80.32.070. Prior: 1899 c 94 § 2; RRS § 11085.]
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
80.32.080
80.32.080 Duties of electrical companies exercising
power of eminent domain. Any corporation authorized to
do business in this state, which, under the present laws of the
state, is authorized to condemn property for the purpose of
generating and transmitting electrical power for the operation
of railroads or railways, or for municipal lighting, and which
by its charter or articles of incorporation, assumes the additional right to sell electric power and electric light to private
consumers outside the limits of a municipality and to sell
electric power to private consumers within the limits of a
municipality, which shall provide in its articles that in respect
of the purposes mentioned in this section it will assume and
undertake to the state and to the inhabitants thereof the duties
and obligations of a public service corporation, shall be
deemed to be in respect of such purposes a public service corporation, and shall be held to all the duties, obligations and
control, which by law are or may be imposed upon public service corporations. Any such corporation shall have the right
to sell electric light outside the limits of a municipality and
electric power both inside and outside such limits to private
consumers from the electricity generated and transmitted by
it for public purposes and not needed by it therefor: PROVIDED, That such corporation shall furnish such excess
power at equal rates, quantity and conditions considered, to
all consumers alike, and shall supply it to the first applicants
therefor until the amount available shall be exhausted: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no such corporation shall be
obliged to furnish such excess power to any one consumer to
an amount exceeding twenty-five percent of the total amount
of such excess power generated or transmitted by it. In exercising the power of eminent domain for public purposes it
shall not be an objection thereto that a portion of the electric
current generated will be applied to private purposes, provided the principal uses intended are public: PROVIDED,
That all public service or quasi public service corporations
shall at no time sell, deliver and dispose of electrical power in
bulk to manufacturing concerns at the expense of its public
service functions, and any person, firm or corporation that is
a patron of such corporation as to such public function, shall
have the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction
to correct any violation of the provisions of RCW 80.32.080
through 80.32.100. [1961 c 14 § 80.32.080. Prior: 1907 c
159 § 1; RRS § 5432.]
80.32.090
80.32.090 Limitation on use of electricity. Whenever
any corporation has acquired any property by decree of
appropriation based on proceedings in court under the provisions of RCW 80.32.080 through 80.32.100, no portion of the
electricity generated or transmitted by it by means of the
property appropriated under the provisions of RCW
80.32.080 through 80.32.100 shall be used or applied by such
corporation for or to a business or trade not under the present
laws deemed public or quasi public conducted by itself.
[1961 c 14 § 80.32.090. Prior: 1907 c 159 § 2; RRS § 5433.]
aggrieved by the violation, or violations, complained of, to
compel such corporation to comply with the requirements of
RCW 80.32.080 and 80.32.090. A violation of RCW
80.32.080 and 80.32.090 shall cause the forfeiture of the corporate franchise if the corporation refuses or neglects to comply with the orders with respect thereto made in the suit
herein provided for. [1961 c 14 § 80.32.100. Prior: 1907 c
159 § 3; RRS § 5434.]
Chapter 80.36
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 80.36 RCW
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Sections
80.36.005
80.36.010
80.36.020
80.36.030
80.36.040
80.36.050
80.36.060
80.36.070
80.36.080
80.36.090
80.36.100
80.36.110
80.36.120
80.36.130
80.36.135
80.36.140
80.36.145
80.36.150
80.36.160
80.36.170
80.36.180
80.36.183
80.36.186
80.36.190
80.36.195
80.36.200
80.36.210
80.36.220
80.36.225
80.36.230
80.36.240
80.36.250
80.36.260
80.36.270
80.36.300
80.36.310
80.36.320
80.36.330
80.36.333
80.36.338
80.32.100
80.32.100 Remedy for violations. In the event of the
violation of any of the requirements of RCW 80.32.080 and
80.32.090 by any corporation availing itself of its provisions,
an appropriate suit may be maintained in the name of the state
upon the relation of the attorney general, or, if he shall refuse
or neglect to act, upon the relation of any individual
Chapter 80.36
80.36.340
80.36.350
80.36.360
80.36.370
80.36.375
80.36.390
Definitions.
Eminent domain.
Right of entry.
Extent of appropriation.
Use of road, street, and railroad right-of-way—When consent
of city necessary.
Use of railroad right-of-way—Penalty for refusal by railroad.
Liability for wilful injury to telecommunications property.
Liability for negligent injury to property—Notice of underwater cable.
Rates, services, and facilities.
Service to be furnished on demand.
Tariff schedules to be filed and open to public—Exceptions.
Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception.
Joint rates, contracts, etc.
Published rates to be charged—Exceptions.
Alternative regulation of telecommunications companies.
Rates and services fixed by commission, when.
Formal investigation and fact-finding—Alternative to full
adjudicative proceeding.
Contracts filed with commission.
Physical connections may be ordered, routing prescribed, and
joint rates established.
Unreasonable preference prohibited.
Rate discrimination prohibited.
Discounted message toll rates prohibited—Availability of
statewide, averaged toll rates.
Pricing of or access to noncompetitive services—Unreasonable preference or advantage prohibited.
Long and short distance provision.
Telecommunications relay system—Long distance discount
rates.
Transmission of messages of other lines.
Order of sending messages.
Duty to transmit messages—Penalty for refusal or neglect.
Pay telephones—Calls to operator without charge or coin
insertion to be provided.
Exchange areas for telecommunications companies.
Exchange areas for telephone companies—Procedure to establish.
Commission may complain of interstate rates.
Betterments may be ordered.
Effect on existing contracts.
Policy declaration.
Classification as competitive telecommunications companies,
services—Initiation of proceedings—Notice and publication—Effective date—Date for final order.
Classification as competitive telecommunications companies,
services—Factors considered—Minimal regulation—
Reclassification.
Classification as competitive telecommunications companies,
services—Effective competition defined—Minimal regulation—Prices and rates—Reclassification.
Price lists in effect before June 7, 2006—Extension.
Withdrawal of price list—Customer information, opportunity
to accept changes in rates, terms, or conditions—Cancellation period.
Banded rates.
Registration of new companies.
Exempted actions or transactions.
Certain services not regulated.
Personal wireless services—Siting microcells and/or minor
facilities—Definitions.
Telephone solicitation.
[Title 80 RCW—page 37]
80.36.005
80.36.400
80.36.410
80.36.420
80.36.430
80.36.440
80.36.450
80.36.460
80.36.470
80.36.475
80.36.500
80.36.510
80.36.520
80.36.522
80.36.524
80.36.530
80.36.540
80.36.555
80.36.560
80.36.600
80.36.610
80.36.620
80.36.850
80.36.855
80.36.900
80.36.901
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
Automatic dialing and announcing device—Commercial
solicitation by.
Washington telephone assistance program—Findings.
Washington telephone assistance program—Availability,
components.
Washington telephone assistance program—Excise tax—
Expenses of community service voice mail.
Washington telephone assistance program—Rules.
Washington telephone assistance program—Limitation.
Washington telephone assistance program—Deposit waivers,
connection fee discounts.
Washington telephone assistance program—Eligibility.
Washington telephone assistance program—Report to legislature.
Information delivery services through exclusive number prefix
or service access code.
Legislative finding.
Disclosure of alternate operator services.
Alternate operator service companies—Registration—Penalties.
Alternate operator service companies—Rules.
Violation of consumer protection act—Damages.
Telefacsimile messages—Unsolicited transmission—Penalties.
Enhanced 911 service—Residential service required.
Enhanced 911 service—Business service required.
Universal service program—Planning and preparation—Commission’s duties—Approval of legislature required—Definitions.
Universal service program—Authority of commission—
Rules—Fees—Legislative intent.
Universal service program—Rules.
Extended area service defined.
Extended area service program.
Severability—1985 c 450.
Legislative review of 1985 c 450—1989 c 101.
Arrest by telegraph, validity of telegraphic copy: RCW 10.31.060.
Bills and notes drawn by telegraph, preservation of original: RCW
5.52.040.
Divulging telegraph message: RCW 9.73.010.
Telegraph and telephone companies: State Constitution Art. 12 § 19.
80.36.010
80.36.010 Eminent domain. The right of eminent
domain is hereby extended to all telecommunications companies organized or doing business in this state. [1985 c 450 §
15; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.010. Prior: 1890 p 292 § 1; RRS §
11338.]
80.36.020
80.36.020 Right of entry. Every corporation incorporated under the laws of this state or any state or territory of the
United States for the purpose of constructing, operating or
maintaining any telecommunications line in this state shall
have the right to enter upon any land between the termini of
its proposed telecommunications lines for the purpose of
examining, locating and surveying the telecommunications
line, doing no unnecessary damage thereby. [1985 c 450 §
16; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.020. Prior: 1888 p 65 § 1; RRS §
11339.]
80.36.030
80.36.030 Extent of appropriation. Such telecommunications company may appropriate so much land as may be
actually necessary for its telecommunications line, with the
right to enter upon lands immediately adjacent thereto, for the
purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating its line
and making all necessary repair. Such telecommunications
company may also, for the purpose aforesaid, enter upon and
appropriate such portion of the right-of-way of any railroad
company as may be necessary for the construction, maintenance and operation of its telecommunications line: PROVIDED, That such appropriation shall not obstruct such railroad of the travel thereupon, nor interfere with the operation
of such railroad. [1985 c 450 § 17; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.030.
Prior: 1888 p 66 § 2; RRS § 11342.]
Telegraph communications, generally: Chapter 5.52 RCW.
80.36.040
Use of slugs to operate coin telephones: RCW 9.26A.120.
80.36.005
80.36.005 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout RCW 80.36.410 through 80.36.475, unless
the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Community agency" means local community agencies that administer community service voice mail programs.
(2) "Community service voice mail" means a computerized voice mail system that provides low-income recipients
with: (a) An individually assigned telephone number; (b) the
ability to record a personal greeting; and (c) a private security
code to retrieve messages.
(3) "Department" means the department of social and
health services.
(4) "Service year" means the period between July 1st and
June 30th.
(5) "Community action agency" means local community
action agencies or local community service agencies designated by the department of community, trade, and economic
development under chapter 43.63A RCW. [2003 c 134 § 1;
2002 c 104 § 1; 1993 c 249 § 1.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003."
[2003 c 134 § 12.]
Effective date—1993 c 249: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 7, 1993]." [1993 c 249 § 4.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 38]
80.36.040 Use of road, street, and railroad right-ofway—When consent of city necessary. Any telecommunications company, or the lessees thereof, doing business in
this state, shall have the right to construct and maintain all
necessary telecommunications lines for public traffic along
and upon any public road, street or highway, along or across
the right-of-way of any railroad corporation, and may erect
poles, posts, piers or abutments for supporting the insulators,
wires and any other necessary fixture of their lines, in such
manner and at such points as not to incommode the public use
of the railroad or highway, or interrupt the navigation of the
waters: PROVIDED, That when the right-of-way of such
corporation has not been acquired by or through any grant or
donation from the United States, or this state, or any county,
city or town therein, then the right to construct and maintain
such lines shall be secured only by the exercise of right of
eminent domain, as provided by law: PROVIDED FURTHER, That where the right-of-way as herein contemplated
is within the corporate limits of any incorporated city, the
consent of the city council thereof shall be first obtained
before such telecommunications lines can be erected thereon.
[1985 c 450 § 18; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.040. Prior: 1890 p 292
§ 5; RRS § 11352.]
80.36.050
80.36.050 Use of railroad right-of-way—Penalty for
refusal by railroad. Every railroad operated in this state,
and carrying freight and passengers for hire, or doing business in this state, is and shall be designated a "post road," and
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
the corporation or company owning the same shall allow telecommunications companies to construct and maintain telecommunications lines on and along the right-of-way of such
railroad.
In case of the refusal or neglect of any railroad company
or corporation to comply with the provisions of this section,
said company or corporation shall be liable for damages in
the sum of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than
five thousand dollars for each offense, and one hundred dollars per day during the continuance thereof. [1985 c 450 §
19; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.050. Prior: (i) 1890 p 292 § 3; RRS §
11340. (ii) 1890 p 293 § 9; RRS § 11356.]
80.36.100
80.36.090
80.36.090 Service to be furnished on demand. Every
telecommunications company operating in this state shall
provide and maintain suitable and adequate buildings and
facilities therein, or connected therewith, for the accommodation, comfort and convenience of its patrons and employees.
Every telecommunications company shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish to all persons and corporations who may
apply therefor and be reasonably entitled thereto suitable and
proper facilities and connections for telephonic communication and furnish telephone service as demanded. [1985 c 450
§ 23; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.090. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 35, part;
RRS § 10371, part.]
80.36.100
80.36.060
80.36.060 Liability for wilful injury to telecommunications property. Any person who wilfully and maliciously
does any injury to any telecommunications property mentioned in RCW 80.36.070, is liable to the company for five
times the amount of actual damages sustained thereby, to be
recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction. [1985 c 450
§ 20; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.060. Prior: 1890 p 293 § 7; RRS §
11354.]
80.36.070
80.36.070 Liability for negligent injury to property—
Notice of underwater cable. Any person who injures or
destroys, through want of proper care, any necessary or useful fixtures of any telecommunications company, is liable to
the company for all damages sustained thereby. Any vessel
which, by dragging its anchor or otherwise, breaks, injures or
destroys the subaqueous cable of a telecommunications company, subjects its owners to the damages hereinbefore specified.
No telecommunications company can recover damages
for the breaking or injury of any subaqueous telecommunications cable, unless such company has previously erected on
either bank of the waters under which the cable is placed, a
monument indicating the place where the cable lies, and publishes for one month, in some newspaper most likely to give
notice to navigators, a notice giving a description and the purpose of the monuments, and the general course, landings and
termini of the cable. [1985 c 450 § 21; 1961 c 14 §
80.36.070. Prior: (i) 1890 p 293 § 6; RRS § 11353. (ii) 1890
p 293 § 10; RRS § 11357.]
80.36.080
80.36.080 Rates, services, and facilities. All rates,
tolls, contracts and charges, rules and regulations of telecommunications companies, for messages, conversations, services rendered and equipment and facilities supplied,
whether such message, conversation or service to be performed be over one company or line or over or by two or
more companies or lines, shall be fair, just, reasonable and
sufficient, and the service so to be rendered any person, firm
or corporation by any telecommunications company shall be
rendered and performed in a prompt, expeditious and efficient manner and the facilities, instrumentalities and equipment furnished by it shall be safe, kept in good condition and
repair, and its appliances, instrumentalities and service shall
be modern, adequate, sufficient and efficient. [1985 c 450 §
22; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.080. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 35, part; RRS
§ 10371, part.]
(2006 Ed.)
80.36.100 Tariff schedules to be filed and open to
public—Exceptions. (1) Every telecommunications company shall file with the commission and shall print and keep
open to public inspection at such points as the commission
may designate, schedules showing the rates, tolls, rentals, and
charges of such companies for messages, conversations and
services rendered and equipment and facilities supplied for
messages and services to be performed within the state
between each point upon its line and all other points thereon,
and between each point upon its line and all points upon
every other similar line operated or controlled by it, and
between each point on its line or upon any line leased, operated or controlled by it and all points upon the line of any
other similar company, whenever a through service and joint
rate shall have been established or ordered between any two
such points.
(2) If no joint rate covering a through service has been
established, the several companies in such through service
shall file, print and keep open to public inspection as aforesaid the separately established rates, tolls, rentals, and
charges applicable for such through service.
(3) The schedules printed as aforesaid shall plainly state
the places between which telecommunications service, or
both, will be rendered, and shall also state separately all
charges and all privileges or facilities granted or allowed, and
any rules or regulations which may in anywise change, affect
or determine any of the aggregate of the rates, tolls, rentals or
charges for the service rendered.
(4) A schedule shall be plainly printed in large type, and
a copy thereof shall be kept by every telecommunications
company readily accessible to and for convenient inspection
by the public at such places as may be designated by the commission, which schedule shall state the rates charged from
such station to every other station on such company’s line, or
on any line controlled and used by it within the state.
(a) All or any of such schedules kept as aforesaid shall be
immediately produced by such telecommunications company
upon the demand of any person.
(b) A notice printed in bold type, and stating that such
schedules are on file and open to inspection by any person,
the places where the same are kept, and that the agent will
assist such person to determine from such schedules any rate,
toll, rental, rule or regulation which is in force shall be kept
posted by every telecommunications company in a conspicuous place in every station or office of such company.
(5) This section does not apply to telecommunications
companies classified as competitive under RCW 80.36.320
or to telecommunications services classified as competitive
[Title 80 RCW—page 39]
80.36.110
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
under RCW 80.36.330. [2006 c 347 § 1; 1989 c 101 § 9;
1985 c 450 § 24; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.100. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
36; RRS § 10372.]
80.36.110
80.36.110 Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section,
unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be
made in any rate, toll, rental, or charge, that was filed and
published by any telecommunications company in compliance with the requirements of RCW 80.36.100, except after
notice as required in this subsection.
(a) For changes to any rate, toll, rental, or charge filed
and published in a tariff, the company shall provide thirty
days’ notice to the commission and publication for thirty
days as required in the case of original schedules in RCW
80.36.100. The notice shall plainly state the changes proposed to be made in the schedule then in force, and the time
when the changed rate, toll, or charge will go into effect, and
all proposed changes shall be shown by printing, filing and
publishing new schedules, or shall be plainly indicated upon
the schedules in force at the time and kept open to public
inspection. Proposed changes may be suspended by the commission within thirty days or before the stated effective date
of the proposed change, whichever is later.
(b) The commission for good cause shown may allow
changes in rates, charges, tolls, or rentals without requiring
the notice and publication provided for in (a) of this subsection, by an order or rule specifying the change to be made and
the time when it takes effect, and the manner in which the
change will be filed and published.
(c) When any change is made in any rate, toll, rental, or
charge, the effect of which is to increase any rate, toll, rental,
or charge then existing, attention shall be directed on the
copy filed with the commission to the increase by some character immediately preceding or following the item in the
schedule, which character shall be in such a form as the commission may designate.
(2)(a) A telecommunications company may file a tariff
that decreases any rate, charge, rental, or toll with ten days’
notice to the commission and publication without receiving a
special order from the commission when the filing does not
contain an offsetting increase to another rate, charge, rental,
or toll, and the filing company agrees not to file for an
increase to any rate, charge, rental, or toll to recover the revenue deficit that results from the decrease for a period of one
year.
(b) A telecommunications company may file a promotional offering to be effective, without receiving a special
order from the commission, upon filing with the commission
and publication. For the purposes of this section, "promotional offering" means a tariff that, for a period of up to ninety
days, waives or reduces charges or conditions of service for
existing or new subscribers for the purpose of retaining or
increasing the number of customers who subscribe to or use a
service. [2006 c 347 § 2; 2003 c 189 § 2; 1997 c 166 § 1.
Prior: 1989 c 152 § 2; 1989 c 101 § 10; 1985 c 450 § 25; 1961
c 14 § 80.36.110; prior: 1911 c 117 § 37; RRS § 10373.]
80.36.120
80.36.120 Joint rates, contracts, etc. The names of the
several companies which are parties to any joint rates, tolls,
[Title 80 RCW—page 40]
contracts or charges of telecommunications companies for
messages, conversations and service to be rendered shall be
specified therein, and each of the parties thereto, other than
the one filing the same, shall file with the commission such
evidence of concurrence therein or acceptance thereof as may
be required or approved by the commission; and where such
evidence of concurrence or acceptance is filed, it shall not be
necessary for the companies filing the same to also file copies
of the tariff in which they are named as parties. [1985 c 450
§ 26; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.120. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 38; RRS §
10374.]
80.36.130
80.36.130 Published rates to be charged—Exceptions. (1) Except as provided in RCW 80.04.130 and
80.36.150, no telecommunications company shall charge,
demand, collect or receive different compensation for any
service rendered or to be rendered than the charge applicable
to such service as specified in its schedule on file and in effect
at that time, nor shall any telecommunications company
refund or remit, directly or indirectly, any portion of the rate
or charge so specified, nor extend to any person or corporation any form of contract or agreement or any rule or regulation or any privilege or facility except such as are specified in
its schedule filed and in effect at the time, and regularly and
uniformly extended to all persons and corporations under like
circumstances for like or substantially similar service.
(2) No telecommunications company subject to the provisions of this title shall, directly or indirectly, give any free
or reduced service or any free pass or frank for the transmission of messages by telecommunications between points
within this state, except to its officers, employees, agents,
pensioners, surgeons, physicians, attorneys at law, and their
families, and persons and corporations exclusively engaged
in charitable and eleemosynary work, and ministers of religion, Young Men’s Christian Associations, Young Women’s
Christian Associations; to indigent and destitute persons, and
to officers and employees of other telecommunications companies, railroad companies, and street railroad companies.
(3) The commission may accept a tariff that gives free or
reduced rate services for a temporary period of time in order
to promote the use of the services. [1992 c 68 § 2; 1989 c 101
§ 11; 1985 c 450 § 27; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.130. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 40; RRS § 10376. FORMER PART OF SECTION:
1929 c 96 § 1, part now codified in RCW 81.28.080.]
80.36.135
80.36.135 Alternative regulation of telecommunications companies. (1) The legislature declares that:
(a) Changes in technology and the structure of the telecommunications industry may produce conditions under
which traditional rate of return, rate base regulation of telecommunications companies may not in all cases provide the
most efficient and effective means of achieving the public
policy goals of this state as declared in RCW 80.36.300, this
section, and RCW 80.36.145. The commission should be
authorized to employ an alternative form of regulation if that
alternative is better suited to achieving those policy goals.
(b) Because of the great diversity in the scope and type of
services provided by telecommunications companies, alternative regulatory arrangements that meet the varying circum(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
stances of different companies and their ratepayers may be
desirable.
(2) Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter and
RCW 80.04.130, the commission may regulate telecommunications companies subject to traditional rate of return, rate
base regulation by authorizing an alternative form of regulation. The commission may determine the manner and extent
of any alternative forms of regulation as may in the public
interest be appropriate. In addition to the public policy goals
declared in RCW 80.36.300, the commission shall consider,
in determining the appropriateness of any proposed alternative form of regulation, whether it will:
(a) Facilitate the broad deployment of technological
improvements and advanced telecommunications services to
underserved areas or underserved customer classes;
(b) Improve the efficiency of the regulatory process;
(c) Preserve or enhance the development of effective
competition and protect against the exercise of market power
during its development;
(d) Preserve or enhance service quality and protect
against the degradation of the quality or availability of efficient telecommunications services;
(e) Provide for rates and charges that are fair, just, reasonable, sufficient, and not unduly discriminatory or preferential; and
(f) Not unduly or unreasonably prejudice or disadvantage any particular customer class.
(3) A telecommunications company or companies subject to traditional rate of return, rate base regulation may petition the commission to establish an alternative form of regulation. The company or companies shall submit with the petition a plan for an alternative form of regulation. The plan
shall contain a proposal for transition to the alternative form
of regulation and the proposed duration of the plan. The plan
must also contain a proposal for ensuring adequate carrier-tocarrier service quality, including service quality standards or
performance measures for interconnection, and appropriate
enforcement or remedial provisions in the event the company
fails to meet service quality standards or performance measures. The commission also may initiate consideration of
alternative forms of regulation for a company or companies
on its own motion. The commission, after notice and hearing,
shall issue an order accepting, modifying, or rejecting the
plan within nine months after the petition or motion is filed,
unless extended by the commission for good cause. The commission shall order implementation of the alternative plan of
regulation unless it finds that, on balance, an alternative plan
as proposed or modified fails to meet the considerations
stated in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Not later than sixty days from the entry of the commission’s order, the company or companies affected by the
order may file with the commission an election not to proceed
with the alternative form of regulation as authorized by the
commission.
(5) The commission may waive such regulatory requirements under Title 80 RCW for a telecommunications company subject to an alternative form of regulation as may be
appropriate to facilitate the implementation of this section.
However, the commission may not waive any grant of legal
rights to any person contained in this chapter and chapter
80.04 RCW. The commission may waive different regulatory
(2006 Ed.)
80.36.145
requirements for different companies or services if such different treatment is in the public interest.
(6) Upon petition by the company, and after notice and
hearing, the commission may rescind or modify an alternative form of regulation in the manner requested by the company.
(7) The commission or any person may file a complaint
under RCW 80.04.110 alleging that a telecommunications
company under an alternative form of regulation has not
complied with the terms and conditions set forth in the alternative form of regulation. The complainant shall bear the burden of proving the allegations in the complaint. [2000 c 82 §
1; 1995 c 110 § 5; 1989 c 101 § 1.]
80.36.140
80.36.140 Rates and services fixed by commission,
when. Whenever the commission shall find, after a hearing
had upon its own motion or upon complaint, that the rates,
charges, tolls or rentals demanded, exacted, charged or collected by any telecommunications company for the transmission of messages by telecommunications, or for the rental or
use of any telecommunications line, instrument, wire, appliance, apparatus or device or any telecommunications
receiver, transmitter, instrument, wire, cable, apparatus, conduit, machine, appliance or device, or any telecommunications extension or extension system, or that the rules, regulations or practices of any telecommunications company affecting such rates, charges, tolls, rentals or service are unjust,
unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory or unduly preferential,
or in anywise in violation of law, or that such rates, charges,
tolls or rentals are insufficient to yield reasonable compensation for the service rendered, the commission shall determine
the just and reasonable rates, charges, tolls or rentals to be
thereafter observed and in force, and fix the same by order as
provided in this title.
Whenever the commission shall find, after such hearing
that the rules, regulations or practices of any telecommunications company are unjust or unreasonable, or that the equipment, facilities or service of any telecommunications company is inadequate, inefficient, improper or insufficient, the
commission shall determine the just, reasonable, proper, adequate and efficient rules, regulations, practices, equipment,
facilities and service to be thereafter installed, observed and
used, and fix the same by order or rule as provided in this
title. [1985 c 450 § 28; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.140. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 55; RRS § 10391.]
80.36.145
80.36.145 Formal investigation and fact-finding—
Alternative to full adjudicative proceeding. (1) The legislature declares that the availability of an alternative abbreviated formal procedure for use by the commission instead of a
full adjudicative proceeding may in appropriate circumstances advance the public interest by reducing the time
required by the commission for decision and the costs
incurred by interested parties and ratepayers. Therefore, the
commission is authorized to use formal investigation and
fact-finding instead of an adjudicative proceeding under
chapter 34.05 RCW when it determines that its use is in the
public interest and that a full adjudicative hearing is not necessary to fully develop the facts relevant to the proceeding
and the positions of the parties, including intervenors.
[Title 80 RCW—page 41]
80.36.150
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
(2) The commission may use formal investigation and
fact-finding instead of the hearing provided in the following
circumstances:
(a) A complaint proceeding under RCW 80.04.110 with
concurrence of the respondent when the commission is the
complainant or with concurrence of the complainant and
respondent when not the commission;
(b) A tariff suspension under RCW 80.04.130; or
(c) A competitive classification proceeding under RCW
80.36.320 and 80.36.330.
(3) In formal investigation and fact-finding the commission may limit the record to written submissions by the parties, including intervenors. The commission shall review the
written submissions and, based thereon, shall enter appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law and its order.
When there is a reasonable expression of public interest in the
issues under consideration, the commission shall hold at least
one public hearing for the receipt of information from members of the public that are not formal intervenors in the proceeding and may elect to convert the proceeding to an adjudicative proceeding at any stage. The assignment of an agency
employee or administrative law judge to preside at such public hearing shall not require the entry of an initial order.
(4) The commission shall adopt rules of practice and procedure including rules for discovery of information necessary
for the use of formal investigation and fact-finding and for
the filing of written submissions. The commission may provide by rule for a number of rounds of written comments:
PROVIDED, That the party with the burden of proof shall
always have the opportunity to file reply comments. [1989 c
101 § 3.]
80.36.150 Contracts filed with commission. (1) Every
telecommunications company shall file with the commission,
as and when required by it, a copy of any contract, agreement
or arrangement in writing with any other telecommunications
company, or with any other corporation, association or person relating in any way to the construction, maintenance or
use of a telecommunications line or service by, or rates and
charges over and upon, any such telecommunications line.
The commission shall adopt rules that provide for the filing
by telecommunications companies on the public record of the
essential terms and conditions of every contract for service.
The commission shall not require that customer proprietary
information contained in contracts be disclosed on the public
record.
(2) The commission shall not treat contracts as tariffs or
price lists. The commission may require noncompetitive service to be tariffed unless the company demonstrates that the
use of a contract is in the public interest based upon a customer requirement or a competitive necessity for deviation
from tariffed rates, terms and conditions, or that the contract
is for a new service with limited demand.
(3) Contracts shall be for a stated time period and shall
cover the costs for the service contracted for, as determined
by commission rule or order. Contracts shall be enforceable
by the contracting parties according to their terms, unless the
contract has been rejected by the commission before its stated
effective date as improper under the commission’s rules and
orders, or the requirements of this chapter. If the commission
finds a contract to be below cost after it has gone into effect,
80.36.150
[Title 80 RCW—page 42]
based on commission rules or orders or the requirements of
this chapter in effect at the time of the execution of the contract, it may make the appropriate adjustment to the contracting company’s revenue requirement in a subsequent proceeding.
(4) Contracts executed and filed prior to July 23, 1989,
are deemed lawful and enforceable by the contracting parties
according to the contract terms. If the commission finds that
any existing contract provides for rates that are below cost,
based on commission rules or orders or the requirements of
this chapter in effect at the time of the execution of the contract, it may make the appropriate adjustment to the contracting company’s revenue requirement in a subsequent proceeding.
(5) If a contract covers competitive and noncompetitive
services, the noncompetitive services shall be unbundled and
priced separately from all other services and facilities in the
contract. Such noncompetitive services shall be made available to all purchasers under the same or substantially the
same circumstances at the same rate, terms, and conditions.
[1989 c 101 § 8; 1985 c 450 § 29; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.150.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 39; RRS § 10375.]
80.36.160
80.36.160 Physical connections may be ordered,
routing prescribed, and joint rates established. In order to
provide toll telephone service where no such service is available, or to promote the most expeditious handling or most
direct routing of toll messages and conversations, or to prevent arbitrary or unreasonable practices which may result in
the failure to utilize the toll facilities of all telecommunications companies equitably and effectively, the commission
may, on its own motion, or upon complaint, notwithstanding
any contract or arrangement between telecommunications
companies, investigate, ascertain and, after hearing, by order
(1) require the construction and maintenance of suitable connections between telephone lines for the transfer of messages
and conversations at a common point or points and, if the
companies affected fail to agree on the proportion of the cost
thereof to be borne by each such company, prescribe said
proportion of cost to be borne by each; and/or (2) prescribe
the routing of toll messages and conversations over such connections and the practices and regulations to be followed with
respect to such routing; and/or (3) establish reasonable joint
rates or charges by or over said lines and connections and
just, reasonable and equitable divisions thereof as between
the telecommunications companies participating therein.
This section shall not be construed as conferring on the
commission jurisdiction, supervision or control of the rates,
service or facilities of any mutual, cooperative or farmer line
company or association, except for the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this section. [1985 c 450 § 30; 1961 c
14 § 80.36.160. Prior: 1943 c 68 § 1; 1923 c 118 § 1; 1911 c
117 § 73; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10409.]
80.36.170
80.36.170 Unreasonable preference prohibited. No
telecommunications company shall make or give any undue
or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation or locality, or subject any particular person, corporation or locality to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever. The commission shall
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
have primary jurisdiction to determine whether any rate, regulation, or practice of a telecommunications company violates this section. This section shall not apply to contracts
offered by a telecommunications company classified as competitive or to contracts for services classified as competitive
under RCW 80.36.320 and 80.36.330. [1989 c 101 § 4; 1985
c 450 § 31; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.170. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 42;
RRS § 10378.]
80.36.180
80.36.180 Rate discrimination prohibited. No telecommunications company shall, directly or indirectly, or by
any special rate, rebate, drawback or other device or method,
unduly or unreasonably charge, demand, collect or receive
from any person or corporation a greater or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered with respect to
communication by telecommunications or in connection
therewith, except as authorized in this title or Title 81 RCW
than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other
person or corporation for doing a like and contemporaneous
service with respect to communication by telecommunications under the same or substantially the same circumstances
and conditions. The commission shall have primary jurisdiction to determine whether any rate, regulation, or practice of
a telecommunications company violates this section. This
section shall not apply to contracts offered by a telecommunications company classified as competitive or to contracts
for services classified as competitive under RCW 80.36.320
or 80.36.330. [1989 c 101 § 5; 1985 c 450 § 32; 1961 c 14 §
80.36.180. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 41; RRS § 10377.]
80.36.183
80.36.183 Discounted message toll rates prohibited—
Availability of statewide, averaged toll rates. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no telecommunications company shall offer a discounted message toll service
based on volume that prohibits aggregation of volumes
across all territory with respect to which that company functions as an interexchange carrier. The commission shall continue to have the authority to require statewide, averaged toll
rates to be made available by any telecommunications company subject to its jurisdiction. [1989 c 101 § 6.]
80.36.220
longer distance over the same line, in the same direction,
within this state, the shorter being included within the longer
distance, or charge any greater compensation for a through
service than the aggregate of the intermediate rates subject to
the provision of this title, but this shall not be construed as
authorizing any such telecommunications company to charge
and receive as great a compensation for a shorter as for a
longer distance. Upon application of any telecommunications
company the commission may, by order, authorize it to
charge less for longer than for a shorter distance service for
the transmission of conversation or messages in special cases
after investigation, but the order must specify and prescribe
the extent to which the telecommunications company making
such application is relieved from the operation of this section,
and only to the extent so specified and prescribed shall any
telecommunications company be relieved from the requirements of this section. [1985 c 450 § 33; 1961 c 14 §
80.36.190. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 44; RRS § 10380.]
80.36.195
80.36.195 Telecommunications relay system—Long
distance discount rates. Each telecommunications company providing intrastate interexchange voice transmission
service shall offer discounts from otherwise applicable long
distance rates for service used in conjunction with the statewide relay service authorized under RCW 43.20A.725. Such
long distance discounts shall be determined in relation to the
additional time required to translate calls through relay operators. In the case of intrastate long distance services provided
pursuant to tariff, the commission shall require the incorporation of such discounts. [1992 c 144 § 5.]
Legislative findings—Severability—1992 c 144: See notes following
RCW 43.20A.720.
80.36.200
80.36.200 Transmission of messages of other lines.
Every telecommunications company operating in this state
shall receive, transmit and deliver, without discrimination or
delay, the messages of any other telecommunications company. [1985 c 450 § 34; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.200. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 45; RRS § 10381.]
80.36.210
80.36.186
80.36.186 Pricing of or access to noncompetitive services—Unreasonable preference or advantage prohibited. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no
telecommunications company providing noncompetitive services shall, as to the pricing of or access to noncompetitive
services, make or grant any undue or unreasonable preference
or advantage to itself or to any other person providing telecommunications service, nor subject any telecommunications company to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or
competitive disadvantage. The commission shall have primary jurisdiction to determine whether any rate, regulation,
or practice of a telecommunications company violates this
section. [1989 c 101 § 7.]
80.36.190
80.36.190 Long and short distance provision. No
telecommunications company subject to the provisions of
this title shall charge or receive any greater compensation in
the aggregate for the transmission of any long distance conversation or message of like kind for a shorter than for a
(2006 Ed.)
80.36.210 Order of sending messages. It shall be the
duty of any telegraph company, doing business in this state,
to transmit all dispatches in the order in which they are
received, under the penalty of one hundred dollars, to be
recovered with costs of suit, by the person or persons whose
dispatch is postponed out of its order: PROVIDED, That
communications to and from public officers on official business, may have precedence over all other communications:
AND, PROVIDED FURTHER, That intelligence of general
and public interest may be transmitted for publication out of
its order. [1961 c 14 § 80.36.210. Prior: Code 1881 § 2361;
RRS § 11344; prior: 1866 p 77 § 20.]
80.36.220
80.36.220 Duty to transmit messages—Penalty for
refusal or neglect. Telecommunications companies shall
receive, exchange and transmit each other’s messages without delay or discrimination, and all telecommunications companies shall receive and transmit messages for any person.
In case of the refusal or neglect of any telecommunications company to comply with the provisions of this section,
[Title 80 RCW—page 43]
80.36.225
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
the penalty for the same shall be a fine of not more than five
hundred nor less than one hundred dollars for each offense.
[1985 c 450 § 35; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.220. Prior: (i) 1890 p
292 § 2; RRS § 11343. (ii) 1890 p 293 § 8; RRS § 11355.]
80.36.225
80.36.225 Pay telephones—Calls to operator without
charge or coin insertion to be provided. All telecommunications companies and customer-owned, pay telephone providers doing business in this state and utilizing pay telephones shall provide a system whereby calls may be made to
the operator without charge and without requiring the use of
credit cards or other payment devices, or insertion of any
coins into such pay telephone. [1985 c 450 § 36; 1975 c 21 §
1.]
Emergency calls, yielding line: Chapter 70.85 RCW.
80.36.230
80.36.230 Exchange areas for telecommunications
companies. The commission is hereby granted the power to
prescribe exchange area boundaries and/or territorial boundaries for telecommunications companies. [1985 c 450 § 37;
1961 c 14 § 80.36.230. Prior: 1941 c 137 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1941 § 11358-1.]
80.36.240
80.36.240 Exchange areas for telephone companies—
Procedure to establish. The commission in conducting
hearings, promulgating rules, and otherwise proceeding to
make effective the provisions of RCW 80.36.230 and
80.36.240, shall be governed by, and shall have the powers
provided in this title, as amended; all provisions as to review
of the commission’s orders and appeals to the supreme court
or the court of appeals contained in said title, as amended,
shall be available to all companies and parties affected by the
commission’s orders issued under authority of RCW
80.36.230 and 80.36.240. [1971 c 81 § 142; 1961 c 14 §
80.36.240. Prior: 1941 c 137 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 113582.]
ably be made thereto in order to promote the security or convenience of the public or employees, or in order to secure
adequate service or facilities for telecommunications communications, the commission shall make and serve an order
directing that such repairs, improvements, changes, additions
or extensions be made in the manner to be specified therein.
[1985 c 450 § 38; 1961 c 14 § 80.36.260. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
71; RRS § 10407.]
80.36.270
80.36.270 Effect on existing contracts. Nothing in this
title shall be construed to prevent any telecommunications
company from continuing to furnish the use of its line, equipment or service under any contract or contracts in force on
June 7, 1911 or upon the taking effect of any schedule or
schedules of rates subsequently filed with the commission, as
herein provided, at the rates fixed in such contract or contracts. [1989 c 101 § 12; 1985 c 450 § 39; 1961 c 14 §
80.36.270. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 43; RRS § 10379.]
80.36.300
80.36.300 Policy declaration. The legislature declares
it is the policy of the state to:
(1) Preserve affordable universal telecommunications
service;
(2) Maintain and advance the efficiency and availability
of telecommunications service;
(3) Ensure that customers pay only reasonable charges
for telecommunications service;
(4) Ensure that rates for noncompetitive telecommunications services do not subsidize the competitive ventures of
regulated telecommunications companies;
(5) Promote diversity in the supply of telecommunications services and products in telecommunications markets
throughout the state; and
(6) Permit flexible regulation of competitive telecommunications companies and services. [1985 c 450 § 1.]
80.36.310
80.36.250
80.36.250 Commission may complain of interstate
rates. The commission may investigate all interstate rates
and charges, classifications, or rules or practices relating
thereto, for or in relation to the transmission of messages or
conversations. Where any acts in relation thereto take place
within this state which, in the opinion of the commission, are
excessive or discriminatory, or are levied or laid in violation
of the federal communications act of June 19, 1934, and acts
amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, or are in conflict with the rulings, orders, or regulations of the Federal
Communications Commission, the commission shall apply
by petition to the Federal Communications Commission for
relief, and may present to such federal commission all facts
coming to its knowledge respecting violations of such act or
the rulings, orders, or regulations of the federal commission.
[1961 c 14 § 80.36.250. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 58; RRS §
10394.]
80.36.260
80.36.260 Betterments may be ordered. Whenever
the commission shall find, after a hearing had on its own
motion or upon complaint, that repairs or improvements to,
or changes in, any telecommunications line ought reasonably
be made, or that any additions or extensions should reason[Title 80 RCW—page 44]
80.36.310 Classification as competitive telecommunications companies, services—Initiation of proceedings—
Notice and publication—Effective date—Date for final
order. (1) Telecommunications companies may petition to
be classified as competitive telecommunications companies
under RCW 80.36.320 or to have services classified as competitive telecommunications services under RCW 80.36.330.
The commission may initiate classification proceedings on its
own motion. The commission may require all regulated telecommunications companies potentially affected by a classification proceeding to appear as parties for a determination of
their classification.
(2) Any company petition or commission motion for
competitive classification shall state an effective date not
sooner than thirty days from the filing date. The company
must provide notice and publication of the proposed competitive classification in the same manner as provided in RCW
80.36.110 for tariff changes. The proposed classification
shall take effect on the stated effective date unless suspended
by the commission and set for hearing under chapter 34.05
RCW or set for a formal investigation and fact-finding under
RCW 80.36.145. The commission shall enter its final order
with respect to any suspended classification within six
months from the date of filing of a company’s petition or the
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
commission’s motion. [1998 c 337 § 4; 1989 c 101 § 14;
1985 c 450 § 3.]
Severability—1998 c 337: See note following RCW 80.36.600.
80.36.320
80.36.320 Classification as competitive telecommunications companies, services—Factors considered—Minimal regulation—Reclassification. (1) The commission
shall classify a telecommunications company as a competitive telecommunications company if the services it offers are
subject to effective competition. Effective competition
means that the company’s customers have reasonably available alternatives and that the company does not have a significant captive customer base. In determining whether a company is competitive, factors the commission shall consider
include but are not limited to:
(a) The number and sizes of alternative providers of service;
(b) The extent to which services are available from alternative providers in the relevant market;
(c) The ability of alternative providers to make functionally equivalent or substitute services readily available at competitive rates, terms, and conditions; and
(d) Other indicators of market power which may include
market share, growth in market share, ease of entry, and the
affiliation of providers of services.
The commission shall conduct the initial classification
and any subsequent review of the classification in accordance
with such procedures as the commission may establish by
rule.
(2) Competitive telecommunications companies shall be
subject to minimal regulation. The commission may waive
any regulatory requirement under this title for competitive
telecommunications companies when it determines that competition will serve the same purposes as public interest regulation. The commission may waive different regulatory
requirements for different companies if such different treatment is in the public interest. A competitive telecommunications company shall at a minimum:
(a) Keep its accounts according to regulations as determined by the commission;
(b) File financial reports with the commission as
required by the commission and in a form and at times prescribed by the commission; and
(c) Cooperate with commission investigations of customer complaints.
(3) The commission may revoke any waivers it grants
and may reclassify any competitive telecommunications
company if the revocation or reclassification would protect
the public interest.
(4) The commission may waive the requirements of
RCW 80.36.170 and 80.36.180 in whole or in part for a competitive telecommunications company if it finds that competition will serve the same purpose and protect the public interest. [2006 c 347 § 3; 2003 c 189 § 3; 1998 c 337 § 5; 1989 c
101 § 15; 1985 c 450 § 4.]
Severability—1998 c 337: See note following RCW 80.36.600.
80.36.330
80.36.330 Classification as competitive telecommunications companies, services—Effective competition
defined—Minimal regulation—Prices and rates—Reclas(2006 Ed.)
80.36.330
sification. (1) The commission may classify a telecommunications service provided by a telecommunications company
as a competitive telecommunications service if the service is
subject to effective competition. Effective competition
means that customers of the service have reasonably available alternatives and that the service is not provided to a significant captive customer base. In determining whether a service is competitive, factors the commission shall consider
include but are not limited to:
(a) The number and size of alternative providers of services;
(b) The extent to which services are available from alternative providers in the relevant market;
(c) The ability of alternative providers to make functionally equivalent or substitute services readily available at competitive rates, terms, and conditions; and
(d) Other indicators of market power, which may include
market share, growth in market share, ease of entry, and the
affiliation of providers of services.
(2) Competitive telecommunications services are subject
to minimal regulation. The commission may waive any regulatory requirement under this title for companies offering a
competitive telecommunications service when it determines
that competition will serve the same purposes as public interest regulation. The commission may waive different regulatory requirements for different companies if such different
treatment is in the public interest. A company offering a
competitive telecommunications service shall at a minimum:
(a) Keep its accounts according to rules adopted by the
commission;
(b) File financial reports for competitive telecommunications services with the commission as required by the commission and in a form and at times prescribed by the commission; and
(c) Cooperate with commission investigations of customer complaints.
(3) Prices or rates charged for competitive telecommunications services shall cover their cost. The commission shall
determine proper cost standards to implement this section,
provided that in making any assignment of costs or allocating
any revenue requirement, the commission shall act to preserve affordable universal telecommunications service.
(4) The commission may investigate prices for competitive telecommunications services upon complaint. In any
complaint proceeding initiated by the commission, the telecommunications company providing the service shall bear
the burden of proving that the prices charged cover cost, and
are fair, just, and reasonable.
(5) Telecommunications companies shall provide the
commission with all data it deems necessary to implement
this section.
(6) No losses incurred by a telecommunications company in the provision of competitive services may be recovered through rates for noncompetitive services. The commission may order refunds or credits to any class of subscribers
to a noncompetitive telecommunications service which has
paid excessive rates because of below cost pricing of competitive telecommunications services.
(7) The commission may reclassify any competitive telecommunications service if reclassification would protect the
public interest.
[Title 80 RCW—page 45]
80.36.333
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
(8) The commission may waive the requirements of
RCW 80.36.170 and 80.36.180 in whole or in part for a service classified as competitive if it finds that competition will
serve the same purpose and protect the public interest. [2006
c 347 § 4; 2003 c 189 § 4; 1998 c 337 § 6; 1989 c 101 § 16;
1985 c 450 § 5.]
Severability—1998 c 337: See note following RCW 80.36.600.
80.36.333
80.36.333 Price lists in effect before June 7, 2006—
Extension. (1) Until June 30, 2007, a telecommunications
company may continue to maintain on file with the commission any price list that, pursuant to RCW 80.36.100,
80.36.320, and 80.36.330, was on file and in effect before
June 7, 2006. The price list is subject to the statutes and rules
in effect immediately before June 7, 2006.
(2) The commission may, upon petition by a company
with a price list on file before June 7, 2006, extend the deadline in subsection (1) of this section until June 30, 2008. The
commission may approve an extension only if the petitioning
company demonstrates that it cannot reasonably implement a
replacement for its price list by June 30, 2007, and that the
extension of time will not result in harm to customers or competition. [2006 c 347 § 5.]
80.36.338
80.36.338 Withdrawal of price list—Customer information, opportunity to accept changes in rates, terms, or
conditions—Cancellation period. Each company withdrawing a filed price list shall provide each customer receiving service under the price list with information about the
rates, terms, and conditions under which the service will continue to be provided. If the rates, terms, and conditions do not
change upon withdrawal of the price list, such rates, terms,
and conditions shall be binding to the same extent as the price
list. If any of the rates, terms, and conditions do change upon
withdrawal of the price list, the company must provide each
customer with a reasonable opportunity to decide whether to
accept the changed rate, term, or condition. If a customer
does not cancel service within thirty days after notice of the
change is given, the customer will be deemed to have
accepted all the rates, terms, and conditions offered by the
company. [2006 c 347 § 6.]
80.36.340
80.36.340 Banded rates. The commission may
approve a tariff which includes banded rates for any telecommunications service if such tariff is in the public interest.
"Banded rate" means a rate which has a minimum and a maximum rate. The minimum rate in the rate band shall cover the
cost of the service. Rates may be changed within the rate
band upon such notice as the commission may order. [1985
c 450 § 6.]
80.36.350
80.36.350 Registration of new companies. Each telecommunications company not operating under tariff in
Washington on January 1, 1985, shall register with the commission before beginning operations in this state. The registration shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and
shall contain such information as the commission may by
rule require, but shall include as a minimum the name and
address of the company; the name and address of its registered agent, if any; the name, address, and title of each officer
[Title 80 RCW—page 46]
or director; its most current balance sheet; its latest annual
report, if any; and a description of the telecommunications
services it offers or intends to offer.
The commission may require as a precondition to registration the procurement of a performance bond sufficient to
cover any advances or deposits the telecommunications company may collect from its customers, or order that such
advances or deposits be held in escrow or trust.
The commission may deny registration to any telecommunications company which:
(1) Does not provide the information required by this
section;
(2) Fails to provide a performance bond, if required;
(3) Does not possess adequate financial resources to provide the proposed service; or
(4) Does not possess adequate technical competency to
provide the proposed service.
The commission shall take action to approve or issue a
notice of hearing concerning any application for registration
within thirty days after receiving the application. The commission may approve an application with or without a hearing. The commission may deny an application after a hearing.
A telecommunications company may also submit a petition for competitive classification under RCW 80.36.310 at
the time it applies for registration. The commission may act
on the registration application and the competitive classification petition at the same time. [1990 c 10 § 1; 1985 c 450 §
7.]
80.36.360
80.36.360 Exempted actions or transactions. For the
purposes of RCW 19.86.170, actions or transactions of competitive telecommunications companies, or associated with
competitive telecommunications services, shall not be
deemed otherwise permitted, prohibited, or regulated by the
commission. [1985 c 450 § 8.]
80.36.370
80.36.370 Certain services not regulated. The commission shall not regulate the following:
(1) One way broadcast or cable television transmission
of television or radio signals;
(2) Private telecommunications systems;
(3) Telegraph services;
(4) Any sale, lease, or use of customer premises equipment except such equipment as is regulated on July 28, 1985;
(5) Private shared telecommunications services, unless
the commission finds, upon notice and investigation, that
customers of such services have no alternative access to local
exchange telecommunications companies. If the commission
makes such a finding, it may require the private shared telecommunications services provider to make alternative facilities or conduit space available on reasonable terms and conditions at reasonable prices;
(6) Radio communications services provided by a regulated telecommunications company, except that when those
services are the only voice grade, local exchange telecommunications service available to a customer of the company the
commission may regulate the radio communication service of
that company. [1990 c 118 § 1; 1985 c 450 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
80.36.375 Personal wireless services—Siting microcells and/or minor facilities—Definitions. (1) If a personal
wireless service provider applies to site several microcells
and/or minor facilities in a single geographical area:
(a) If one or more of the microcells and/or minor facilities are not exempt from the requirements of RCW
43.21C.030(2)(c), local governmental entities are encouraged: (i) To allow the applicant, at the applicant’s discretion,
to file a single set of documents required by chapter 43.21C
RCW that will apply to all the microcells and/or minor facilities to be sited; and (ii) to render decisions under chapter
43.21C RCW regarding all the microcells and/or minor facilities in a single administrative proceeding; and
(b) Local governmental entities are encouraged: (i) To
allow the applicant, at the applicant’s discretion, to file a single set of documents for land use permits that will apply to all
the microcells and/or minor facilities to be sited; and (ii) to
render decisions regarding land use permits for all the microcells and/or minor facilities in a single administrative proceeding.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Personal wireless services" means commercial
mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common
carrier wireless exchange access services, as defined by federal laws and regulations.
(b) "Microcell" means a wireless communication facility
consisting of an antenna that is either: (i) Four feet in height
and with an area of not more than five hundred eighty square
inches; or (ii) if a tubular antenna, no more than four inches
in diameter and no more than six feet in length.
(c) "Minor facility" means a wireless communication
facility consisting of up to three antennas, each of which is
either: (i) Four feet in height and with an area of not more
than five hundred eighty square inches; or (ii) if a tubular
antenna, no more than four inches in diameter and no more
than six feet in length; and the associated equipment cabinet
that is six feet or less in height and no more than forty-eight
square feet in floor area. [1997 c 219 § 2; 1996 c 323 § 3.]
80.36.375
Findings—1996 c 323: See note following RCW 43.70.600.
80.36.390 Telephone solicitation. (1) As used in this
section, "telephone solicitation" means the unsolicited initiation of a telephone call by a commercial or nonprofit company or organization to a residential telephone customer and
conversation for the purpose of encouraging a person to purchase property, goods, or services or soliciting donations of
money, property, goods, or services. "Telephone solicitation"
does not include:
(a) Calls made in response to a request or inquiry by the
called party. This includes calls regarding an item that has
been purchased by the called party from the company or
organization during a period not longer than twelve months
prior to the telephone contact;
(b) Calls made by a not-for-profit organization to its own
list of bona fide or active members of the organization;
(c) Calls limited to polling or soliciting the expression of
ideas, opinions, or votes; or
(d) Business-to-business contacts.
For purposes of this section, each individual real estate
agent or insurance agent who maintains a separate list from
other individual real estate or insurance agents shall be
80.36.390
(2006 Ed.)
80.36.390
treated as a company or organization. For purposes of this
section, an organization as defined in *RCW 29.01.090 or
29.01.100 and organized pursuant to *RCW 29.42.010 shall
not be considered a commercial or nonprofit company or
organization.
(2) A person making a telephone solicitation must identify him or herself and the company or organization on whose
behalf the solicitation is being made and the purpose of the
call within the first thirty seconds of the telephone call.
(3) If, at any time during the telephone contact, the called
party states or indicates that he or she does not wish to be
called again by the company or organization or wants to have
his or her name and individual telephone number removed
from the telephone lists used by the company or organization
making the telephone solicitation, then:
(a) The company or organization shall not make any
additional telephone solicitation of the called party at that
telephone number within a period of at least one year; and
(b) The company or organization shall not sell or give
the called party’s name and telephone number to another
company or organization: PROVIDED, That the company or
organization may return the list, including the called party’s
name and telephone number, to the company or organization
from which it received the list.
(4) A violation of subsection (2) or (3) of this section is
punishable by a fine of up to one thousand dollars for each
violation.
(5) The attorney general may bring actions to enforce
compliance with this section. For the first violation by any
company or organization of this section, the attorney general
shall notify the company with a letter of warning that the section has been violated.
(6) A person aggrieved by repeated violations of this section may bring a civil action in superior court to enjoin future
violations, to recover damages, or both. The court shall award
damages of at least one hundred dollars for each individual
violation of this section. If the aggrieved person prevails in a
civil action under this subsection, the court shall award the
aggrieved person reasonable attorneys’ fees and cost of the
suit.
(7) The utilities and transportation commission shall by
rule ensure that telecommunications companies inform their
residential customers of the provisions of this section. The
notification may be made by (a) annual inserts in the billing
statements mailed to residential customers, or (b) conspicuous publication of the notice in the consumer information
pages of local telephone directories. [1987 c 229 § 13; 1986
c 277 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 29.01.090, 29.01.100, and 29.42.010 were
recodified as RCW 29A.04.085, 29A.04.097, and 29A.80.010, respectively,
pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.085 and
29A.80.010 were subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW 29A.04.085 and 29A.80.010, see RCW 29A.04.086 and
29A.80.011.
Legislative finding—1986 c 277: "The legislature finds that certain
kinds of telephone solicitation are increasing and that these solicitations
interfere with the legitimate privacy rights of the citizens of the state. A study
conducted by the utilities and transportation commission, as directed by the
forty-ninth legislature, has found that the level of telephone solicitation in
this state is significant to warrant regulatory action to protect the privacy
rights of the citizens of the state. It is the intent of the legislature to clarify
and establish the rights of individuals to reject unwanted telephone solicitations." [1986 c 277 § 1.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 47]
80.36.400
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
Charitable solicitations: Chapter 19.09 RCW.
Commercial telephone solicitation: Chapter 19.158 RCW.
80.36.400
80.36.400 Automatic dialing and announcing
device—Commercial solicitation by. (1) As used in this
section:
(a) An automatic dialing and announcing device is a
device which automatically dials telephone numbers and
plays a recorded message once a connection is made.
(b) Commercial solicitation means the unsolicited initiation of a telephone conversation for the purpose of encouraging a person to purchase property, goods, or services.
(2) No person may use an automatic dialing and
announcing device for purposes of commercial solicitation.
This section applies to all commercial solicitation intended to
be received by telephone customers within the state.
(3) A violation of this section is a violation of chapter
19.86 RCW. It shall be presumed that damages to the recipient of commercial solicitations made using an automatic dialing and announcing device are five hundred dollars.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent
the Washington utilities and transportation commission from
adopting additional rules regulating automatic dialing and
announcing devices. [1986 c 281 § 2.]
Legislative finding—1986 c 281: "The legislature finds that the use of
automatic dialing and announcing devices for purposes of commercial solicitation: (1) Deprives consumers of the opportunity to immediately question
a seller about the veracity of their claims; (2) subjects consumers to unwarranted invasions of their privacy; and (3) encourages inefficient and potentially harmful use of the telephone network. The legislature further finds that
it is in the public interest to prohibit the use of automatic dialing and
announcing devices for purposes of commercial solicitation." [1986 c 281 §
1.]
(1) A discount on service connection fees of fifty percent
or more as set forth in RCW 80.36.460.
(2) A waiver of deposit requirements on local exchange
service, as set forth in RCW 80.36.460.
(3) A discounted flat rate service for local exchange service, which shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The commission shall establish a single telephone
assistance rate for all local exchange companies operating in
the state of Washington. The telephone assistance rate shall
include any federal end user charges and any other charges
necessary to obtain local exchange service.
(b) The commission shall, in establishing the telephone
assistance rate, consider all charges for local exchange service, including federal end user charges, mileage charges,
extended area service, and any other charges necessary to
obtain local exchange service.
(c) The telephone assistance rate shall only be available
to eligible customers subscribing to the lowest priced local
exchange flat rate service, where the lowest priced local
exchange flat rate service, including any federal end user
charges and any other charges necessary to obtain local
exchange service, is greater than the telephone assistance
rate.
(d) The cost of providing the service shall be paid, to the
maximum extent possible, by a waiver of all or part of federal
end user charges and, to the extent necessary, from the telephone assistance fund created by RCW 80.36.430.
(4) A discount on a community service voice mailbox
that provides recipients with (a) an individually assigned telephone number; (b) the ability to record a personal greeting;
and (c) a secure private security code to retrieve messages.
[2003 c 134 § 3; 1990 c 170 § 2; 1987 c 229 § 4.]
80.36.410
80.36.410 Washington telephone assistance program—Findings. (1) The legislature finds that universal
telephone service is an important policy goal of the state. The
legislature further finds that: (a) Recent changes in the telecommunications industry, such as federal access charges,
raise concerns about the ability of low-income persons to
continue to afford access to local exchange telephone service;
and (b) many low-income persons making the transition to
independence from receiving supportive services through
community agencies do not qualify for economic assistance
from the department.
(2) Therefore, the legislature finds that: (a) It is in the
public interest to take steps to mitigate the effects of these
changes on low-income persons; and (b) advances in telecommunications technologies, such as community service
voice mail provide new and economically efficient ways to
secure many of the benefits of universal service to lowincome persons who are not customers of local exchange
telephone service. [2003 c 134 § 2; 2002 c 104 § 2; 1987 c
229 § 3.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.420
80.36.420 Washington telephone assistance program—Availability, components. The Washington telephone assistance program shall be available to participants of
programs set forth in RCW 80.36.470. Assistance shall consist of the following components:
[Title 80 RCW—page 48]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.430
80.36.430 Washington telephone assistance program—Excise tax—Expenses of community service voice
mail. (1) The Washington telephone assistance program
shall be funded by a telephone assistance excise tax on all
switched access lines and by funds from any federal government or other programs for this purpose. Switched access
lines are defined in RCW 82.14B.020. The telephone assistance excise tax shall be applied equally to all residential and
business access lines not to exceed fourteen cents per month.
The department shall submit an approved annual budget for
the Washington telephone assistance program to the department of revenue no later than March 1st prior to the beginning of each fiscal year. The department of revenue shall
then determine the amount of telephone assistance excise tax
to be placed on each switched access line and shall inform
local exchange companies and the utilities and transportation
commission of this amount no later than May 1st. The
department of revenue shall determine the amount of telephone assistance excise tax by dividing the total of the program budget funded by the telephone assistance excise tax, as
submitted by the department, by the total number of switched
access lines in the prior calendar year. The telephone assistance excise tax shall be separately identified on each ratepayer’s bill as the "Washington telephone assistance program." All money collected from the telephone assistance
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
excise tax shall be transferred to a telephone assistance fund
administered by the department.
(2) Local exchange companies shall bill the fund for
their expenses incurred in offering the telephone assistance
program, including administrative and program expenses.
The department shall disburse the money to the local
exchange companies. The department is exempted from having to conclude a contract with local exchange companies in
order to effect this reimbursement. The department shall
recover its administrative costs from the fund. The department may specify by rule the range and extent of administrative and program expenses that will be reimbursed to local
exchange companies.
(3) The department shall enter into an agreement with
the department of community, trade, and economic development for an amount not to exceed eight percent of the prior
fiscal year’s total revenue for the administrative and program
expenses of providing community service voice mail services. The community service voice mail service may
include toll-free lines in community action agencies through
which recipients can access their community service voice
mailboxes at no charge. [2004 c 254 § 2; 2003 c 134 § 4;
1990 c 170 § 3; 1987 c 229 § 5.]
Responsibility for collection of tax—Implementation—2004 c 254:
See notes following RCW 43.20A.725.
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
80.36.500
ment fees spread over a period of months. A subscriber may,
however, choose to pay the connection fee in a lump sum.
Costs associated with the waiver and discount shall be
accounted for separately and recovered from the telephone
assistance fund. [2003 c 134 § 7; 1990 c 170 § 5; 1987 c 229
§ 8.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.470
80.36.470 Washington telephone assistance program—Eligibility. (1) Adult recipients of departmentadministered programs for the financially needy which provide continuing financial or medical assistance, food stamps,
or supportive services to persons in their own homes are eligible for participation in the telephone assistance program.
The department shall notify the participants of their eligibility.
(2) Participants in community service voice mail programs are eligible for participation in services available
under RCW 80.36.420 (1), (2), and (3) after completing use
of community service voice mail services. Eligibility shall be
for a period including the remainder of the current service
year and the following service year. Community agencies
shall notify the department of participants eligible under this
subsection. [2003 c 134 § 8; 2002 c 104 § 3; 1990 c 170 § 6;
1987 c 229 § 9.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.475
80.36.440
80.36.440 Washington telephone assistance program—Rules. (1) The commission and the department may
adopt any rules necessary to implement RCW 80.36.410
through 80.36.470.
(2) Rules necessary for the implementation of community service voice mail services shall be made by the commission and the department in consultation with the department
of community, trade, and economic development. [2003 c
134 § 5; 1990 c 170 § 4; 1987 c 229 § 6.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.475 Washington telephone assistance program—Report to legislature. The department shall report
to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives
and the senate by December 1 of each year on the status of the
Washington telephone assistance program. The report shall
include the number of participants by qualifying social service programs receiving benefits from the telephone assistance program and the type of benefits participants receive.
The report shall also include a description of the geographical
distribution of participants, the program’s annual revenue
and expenditures, and any recommendations for legislative
action. [2003 c 134 § 9; 1990 c 170 § 7.]
80.36.450
80.36.450 Washington telephone assistance program—Limitation. The Washington telephone assistance
program shall limit reimbursement to one residential
switched access line per eligible household, or one discounted community service voice mailbox per eligible person. [2003 c 134 § 6; 1993 c 249 § 2; 1987 c 229 § 7.]
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
Effective date—1993 c 249: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.460
80.36.460 Washington telephone assistance program—Deposit waivers, connection fee discounts. Local
exchange companies shall waive deposits on local exchange
service for eligible subscribers and provide a fifty percent
discount on the company’s customary charge for commencing telecommunications service for eligible subscribers. Part
or all of the remaining fifty percent of service connection fees
may be paid by funds from federal government or other programs for this purpose. The commission or other appropriate
agency shall make timely application for any available federal funds. The remaining portion of the connection fee to be
paid by the subscriber shall be expressly payable by install(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—2003 c 134: See note following RCW 80.36.005.
80.36.500
80.36.500 Information delivery services through
exclusive number prefix or service access code. (1) As
used in this section:
(a) "Information delivery services" means telephone
recorded messages, interactive programs, or other information services that are provided for a charge to a caller through
an exclusive telephone number prefix or service access code.
(b) "Information providers" means the persons or corporations that provide the information, prerecorded message, or
interactive program for the information delivery service. The
information provider generally receives a portion of the revenue from the calls.
(c) "Interactive program" means a program that allows
an information delivery service caller, once connected to the
information provider’s announcement machine, to use the
caller’s telephone device to access more specific information.
(2) The utilities and transportation commission shall by
rule require any local exchange company that offers information delivery services to a local telephone exchange to pro[Title 80 RCW—page 49]
80.36.510
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
vide each residential telephone subscriber the opportunity to
block access to all information delivery services offered
through the local exchange company. The rule shall take
effect by October 1, 1988.
(3) All costs of complying with this section shall be
borne by the information providers.
(4) The local exchange company shall inform subscribers of the availability of the blocking service through a bill
insert and by publication in a local telephone directory.
[1991 c 191 § 8; 1988 c 123 § 2.]
Legislative finding, intent—1988 c 123: "(1) The legislature finds that
throughout the state there is widespread use of information delivery services,
which are also known as information-access telephone services and commonly provided on a designated telephone number prefix. These services
operate on a charge-per-call basis, providing revenue for both the information provider and the local exchange company. The marketing practices for
these telephone services have at times been misleading to consumers and at
other times specifically directed toward minors. The result has been placement of calls by individuals, particularly by children, who are uninformed
about the charges that might apply. In addition, children may have secured
access to obscene, indecent, and salacious material through these services.
The legislature finds that these services can be blocked by certain local
exchange companies at switching locations, and that devices exist which
allow for blocking within a residence. Therefore, the legislature finds that
residential telephone users in the state are entitled to the option of having
their phones blocked from access to information delivery services.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature that the utilities and transportation
commission and local exchange companies, to the extent feasible, distinguish between information delivery services that are misleading to consumers, directed at minors, or otherwise objectionable and adopt policies and
rules that accomplish the purposes of RCW 80.36.500 with the least adverse
effect on information delivery services that are not misleading to consumers,
directed at minors, or otherwise objectionable." [1988 c 123 § 1.]
Investigation and report by commission: "By October 1, 1988, the
commission shall investigate and report to the committees on energy and
utilities in the house of representatives and the senate on methods to protect
minors from obscene, indecent, and salacious materials available through the
use of information delivery services. The investigation shall include a study
of personal identification numbers, credit cards, scramblers, and beep-tone
devices as methods of limiting access." [1988 c 123 § 3.]
Severability—1988 c 123: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1988 c 123 § 4.]
Information delivery services: Chapter 19.162 RCW.
80.36.510
80.36.510 Legislative finding. The legislature finds
that a growing number of companies provide, in a nonresidential setting, telecommunications services necessary to
long distance service without disclosing the services provided or the rate, charge or fee. The legislature finds that provision of these services without disclosure to consumers is a
deceptive trade practice. [1988 c 91 § 1.]
80.36.520
80.36.520 Disclosure of alternate operator services.
The utilities and transportation commission shall by rule
require, at a minimum, that any telecommunications company, operating as or contracting with an alternate operator
services company, assure appropriate disclosure to consumers of the provision and the rate, charge or fee of services provided by an alternate operator services company.
For the purposes of this chapter, "alternate operator services company" means a person providing a connection to
intrastate or interstate long-distance services from places
including, but not limited to, hotels, motels, hospitals, and
customer-owned pay telephones. [1988 c 91 § 2.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 50]
80.36.522 Alternate operator service companies—
Registration—Penalties. All alternate operator service
companies providing services within the state shall register
with the commission as a telecommunications company
before providing alternate operator services. The commission
may deny an application for registration of an alternate operator services company if, after a hearing, it finds that the services and charges to be offered by the company are not for the
public convenience and advantage. The commission may
suspend the registration of an alternate operator services
company if, after a hearing, it finds that the company does not
meet the service or disclosure requirements of the commission. Any alternate operator services company that provides
service without being properly registered with the commission shall be subject to a penalty of not less than five hundred
dollars and not more than one thousand dollars for each and
every offense. In case of a continuing offense, every day’s
continuance shall be a separate offense. The penalty shall be
recovered in an action as provided in RCW 80.04.400. [1990
c 247 § 2.]
80.36.522
80.36.524 Alternate operator service companies—
Rules. The commission may adopt rules that provide for
minimum service levels for telecommunications companies
providing alternate operator services. The rules may provide
a means for suspending the registration of a company providing alternate operator services if the company fails to meet
minimum service levels or if the company fails to provide
appropriate disclosure to consumers of the protection
afforded under this chapter. [1990 c 247 § 3.]
80.36.524
80.36.530 Violation of consumer protection act—
Damages. In addition to the penalties provided in this title, a
violation of RCW 80.36.510, 80.36.520, or 80.36.524 constitutes an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce in violation of chapter 19.86 RCW, the consumer protection act. Acts
in violation of RCW 80.36.510, 80.36.520, or 80.36.524 are
not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business, and constitute matters vitally affecting the
public interest for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. It shall be presumed that
damages to the consumer are equal to the cost of the service
provided plus two hundred dollars. Additional damages must
be proved. [1990 c 247 § 4; 1988 c 91 § 3.]
80.36.530
80.36.540 Telefacsimile messages—Unsolicited
transmission—Penalties. (1) As used in this section, "telefacsimile message" means the transmittal of electronic signals over telephone lines for conversion into written text.
(2) No person, corporation, partnership, or association
shall initiate the unsolicited transmission of telefacsimile
messages promoting goods or services for purchase by the
recipient.
(3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, this
section shall not apply to telefacsimile messages sent to a
recipient with whom the initiator has had a prior contractual
or business relationship.
(b) A person shall not initiate an unsolicited telefacsimile
message under the provisions of (a) of this subsection if the
person knew or reasonably should have known that the recipient is a governmental entity.
80.36.540
(2006 Ed.)
Telecommunications
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, it is
unlawful to initiate any telefacsimile message to a recipient
who has previously sent a written or telefacsimile message to
the initiator clearly indicating that the recipient does not want
to receive telefacsimile messages from the initiator.
(5) The unsolicited transmission of telefacsimile messages promoting goods or services for purchase by the recipient is a matter affecting the public interest for the purpose of
applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
The transmission of unsolicited telefacsimile messages is not
reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of
business. A violation of this section is an unfair or deceptive
act in trade or commerce for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. Damages to the
recipient of telefacsimile messages in violation of this section
are five hundred dollars or actual damages, whichever is
greater.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent
the Washington utilities and transportation commission from
adopting additional rules regulating transmissions of telefacsimile messages. [1990 c 221 § 1.]
80.36.555
80.36.555 Enhanced 911 service—Residential service
required. By January 1, 1997, or one year after enhanced
911 service becomes available or a private switch automatic
location identification service approved by the Washington
utilities and transportation commission is available from the
serving local exchange telecommunications company,
whichever is later, any private shared telecommunications
services provider that provides service to residential customers shall assure that the telecommunications system is connected to the public switched network such that calls to 911
result in automatic location identification for each residential
unit in a format that is compatible with the existing or
planned county enhanced 911 system. [1995 c 243 § 3.]
Findings—1995 c 243: "The legislature finds that citizens of the state
increasingly rely on the dependability of enhanced 911, a system that allows
the person answering an emergency call to immediately determine the location of the emergency without the need of the caller to speak. The legislature
further finds that in some cases, calls made from telephones connected to private telephone systems may not be precisely located by the answerer, eliminating some of the benefit of enhanced 911, and that this condition could
additionally imperil citizens calling from these locations in an emergency.
The legislature also finds that until national standards have been developed
to address this condition, information-forwarding requirements should be
mandated for only those settings with the most risk, including schools, residences, and some business settings." [1995 c 243 § 1.]
Severability—1995 c 243: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 243 § 12.]
80.36.560
80.36.560 Enhanced 911 service—Business service
required. By January 1, 1997, or one year after enhanced
911 service becomes available or a private switch automatic
location identification service approved by the Washington
utilities and transportation commission is available from the
serving local exchange telecommunications company,
whichever is later, any commercial shared services provider
of private shared telecommunications services for hire or
resale to the general public to multiple unaffiliated business
users from a single system shall assure that such a system is
connected to the public switched network such that calls to
(2006 Ed.)
80.36.600
911 result in automatic location identification for each telephone in a format that is compatible with the existing or
planned county enhanced 911 system. This section shall
apply only to providers of service to businesses containing a
physical area exceeding twenty-five thousand square feet, or
businesses on more than one floor of a building, or businesses
in multiple buildings. [1995 c 243 § 5.]
Findings—Severability—1995 c 243: See notes following RCW
80.36.555.
80.36.600 Universal service program—Planning and
preparation—Commission’s duties—Approval of legislature required—Definitions. (1) The commission shall plan
and prepare to implement a program for the preservation and
advancement of universal telecommunications service which
shall not take effect until the legislature approves the program. The purpose of the universal service program is to benefit telecommunications ratepayers in the state by minimizing
implicit sources of support and maximizing explicit sources
of support that are specific, sufficient, competitively neutral,
and technologically neutral to support basic telecommunications services for customers of telecommunications companies in high-cost locations.
(2) In preparing a universal service program for approval
by the legislature, the commission shall:
(a) Estimate the cost of supporting all lines located in
high-cost locations and the cost of supporting one primary
telecommunications line for each residential or business customer located in high-cost locations;
(b) Determine the assessments that must be made on all
telecommunications carriers, and the manner of collection, to
provide support for:
(i) All residential and business lines located in high-cost
locations;
(ii) Only one primary line for each residential or business
customer located in high-cost locations;
(c) Designate those telecommunications carriers serving
high-cost locations that are eligible to receive support for the
benefit of their customers in those locations;
(d) Adopt or prepare to adopt all necessary rules for
administration of the program; and
(e) Provide a schedule of all fees and payments proposed
or expected to be proposed by the commission under subsection (3)(d) of this section.
(3) Once a program is approved by the legislature and
subsequently established, the following provisions apply
unless otherwise directed by the legislature:
(a) All transfers of money necessary to provide the support shall be outside the state treasury and not be subject to
appropriation;
(b) The commission may delegate to the commission
secretary or other staff the authority to resolve disputes or
make other decisions necessary to the administration of the
program;
(c) The commission may contract with an independent
program administrator subject to the direction and control of
the commission and may authorize the establishment of an
account or accounts in independent financial institutions
should that be necessary for administration of the program;
(d) The expenses of an independent program administrator shall be authorized by the commission and shall be paid
80.36.600
[Title 80 RCW—page 51]
80.36.610
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
out of contributions by the telecommunications carriers participating in the program;
(e) The commission may require the carriers participating in the program, as part of their contribution, to pay into
the public service revolving fund the costs of the commission
attributable to supervision and administration of the program
that are not otherwise recovered through fees paid to the commission.
(4) The commission shall establish standards for review
or testing of all telecommunications carriers’ compliance
with the program for the purpose of ensuring the support
received by a telecommunications carrier is used only for the
purposes of the program and that each telecommunications
carrier is making its proper contribution to the program. The
commission may conduct the review or test, or contract with
an independent administrator or other person to conduct the
review or test.
(5) The commission shall coordinate administration of
the program with any federal universal service program and
may administer the federal fund in conjunction with the state
program if so authorized by federal law.
(6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Telecommunications carrier" has the same meaning
as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 153(44).
(b) "Basic telecommunications services" means the following services:
(i) Single-party service;
(ii) Voice grade access to the public switched network;
(iii) Support for local usage;
(iv) Dual tone multifrequency signaling (touch-tone);
(v) Access to emergency services (911);
(vi) Access to operator services;
(vii) Access to interexchange services;
(viii) Access to directory assistance; and
(ix) Toll limitation services.
(c) "High-cost location" means a location where the cost
of providing telecommunications services is greater than a
benchmark established by the commission by rule.
(7) Each telecommunications carrier that provides intrastate telecommunications services shall provide whatever
information the commission may reasonably require in order
to fulfill the commission’s responsibilities under subsection
(2) of this section. [1999 c 372 § 16; 1998 c 337 § 1.]
Severability—1998 c 337: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1998 c 337 § 8.]
80.36.610
80.36.610 Universal service program—Authority of
commission—Rules—Fees—Legislative intent. (1) The
commission is authorized to take actions, conduct proceedings, and enter orders as permitted or contemplated for a state
commission under the federal telecommunications act of
1996, P.L. 104-104 (110 Stat. 56), but the commission’s
authority to either establish a new state program or to adopt
new rules to preserve and advance universal service under
section 254(f) of the federal act is limited to the actions
expressly authorized by RCW 80.36.600. The commission
may establish by rule fees to be paid by persons seeking commission action under the federal act, and by parties to pro[Title 80 RCW—page 52]
ceedings under that act, to offset in whole or part the commission’s expenses that are not otherwise recovered through fees
in implementing the act, but new fees or assessments charged
telecommunications carriers to either establish a state program or to adopt rules to preserve and advance universal service under section 254(f) of the federal act do not take effect
until the legislature has approved a state universal service
program.
(2) The legislature intends that under the future universal
service program established in this state:
(a) Every telecommunications carrier that provides intrastate telecommunications services shall contribute, on an
equitable and nondiscriminatory basis, to the preservation
and advancement of universal service in the state;
(b) The contributions shall be competitively and technologically neutral; and
(c) The universal service program to be established in
accordance with RCW 80.36.600 shall not be inconsistent
with the requirements of 47 U.S.C. Sec. 254. [1998 c 337 §
2.]
Severability—1998 c 337: See note following RCW 80.36.600.
80.36.620
80.36.620 Universal service program—Rules. Any
rules regarding universal service adopted by the utilities and
transportation commission shall comply with the purpose, as
stated in RCW 80.36.600, for establishing a program for the
preservation and advancement of universal telecommunications service. Services to be supported are only those basic
services defined in *RCW 80.36.600(7). [1998 c 337 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 80.36.600 was amended by 1999 c 372 § 16,
changing subsection (7) to subsection (6).
Severability—1998 c 337: See note following RCW 80.36.600.
80.36.850
80.36.850 Extended area service defined. As used in
RCW 80.36.855, "extended area service" means the ability to
call from one exchange to another exchange without incurring a toll charge. [1989 c 282 § 2.]
Policy—Program limitations—Report to legislative committees—
Program expiration—1989 c 282: See notes following RCW 80.36.855.
80.36.855
80.36.855 Extended area service program. Any business, resident, or community may petition for and shall
receive extended area service within the service territory of
the local exchange company that provides service to the petitioner under the following conditions:
(1) Any customer, business or residential, interested in
obtaining extended area service in their community must collect and submit to the commission the signatures of a representative majority of affected customers in the community. A
"representative majority" for purposes of this section consists
of fifteen percent of the access lines in that community;
(2) After receipt of the signatures, the commission shall
authorize a study to be conducted by the affected local
exchange company in order to determine whether a community of interest exists for the implementation of extended area
service. For purposes of this section a community of interest
shall be found if the average number of calls per customer per
month from the area petitioning for extended area service to
the area to which extended area service will be implemented
is at least five;
(2006 Ed.)
Underground Natural Gas Storage Act
(3) If a community of interest exists, the commission
shall then calculate any increased rate that would be applied
to the area which would have extended area service granted
to it. This rate shall be based on the charges to a rate group
having the same or similar calling capability as set forth in
the tariffs of the local exchange telecommunications company involved;
(4) The affected telecommunications company shall be
given the opportunity to propose an alternative plan that
might be priced differently and that plan shall be included in
the poll of subscribers as an alternative under subsection (5)
of this section;
(5) After determining the amount of any additional rate,
the commission shall notify the subscribers who will be
affected by the increased rate and conduct a poll of those subscribers. If a simple majority votes its approval the commission shall order extended area service; and
(6) Any extended area service program adopted pursuant
to this section shall be considered experimental and not binding on the commission in subsequent extended area service
proceedings. If an extended area service program adopted
pursuant to this section results in a revenue deficiency for a
local exchange company, the commission shall allocate the
resulting revenue requirement in a manner which produces
fair, just and reasonable rates for all classes of customers.
[1989 c 282 § 3.]
Policy—1989 c 282: "Universal telephone service for the people of the
state of Washington is a policy goal of the legislature and has been enacted
previously into Washington law. Access to universal and affordable telephone service enhances the economic and social well-being of Washington
citizens." [1989 c 282 § 1.]
Program limitations—Report to legislative committees—1989 c
282: "The pilot program specified in sections 2 and 3 of this act applies only
to extended area service petitions which meet the conditions under section 3
of this act, and have been filed with the commission by January 1, 1989. Any
petitions for extended area service filed after January 1, 1989, shall be
addressed under terms and conditions determined by the commission. By
December 1, 1990, the commission shall submit to the energy and utilities
committees of the house of representatives and the senate a report on
extended area service. The report shall include:
(1) The status of any experimental, pilot program which provides
extended area service developed under this section, and whether such an
experimental, pilot program approach should continue to be made available;
(2) The status of all extended area service petitions pending at the commission;
(3) Commission action on the recommendations of the local extended
calling advisory committee; and
(4) Commission recommendations for any other legislation addressing
the issue of extended area service." [1989 c 282 § 4.] Section 2 of this act is
the enactment of RCW 80.36.850. Section 3 of this act is the enactment of
RCW 80.36.855.
Program expiration—1989 c 282: "The extended area service program under sections 2 through 5 of this act shall expire on December 1, 1990,
except for any extended area service obtained by any business residence or
community and put in place under section 3 of this act." [1989 c 282 § 5.]
80.36.900
80.36.900 Severability—1985 c 450. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 450 § 42.]
80.40.030
determine whether the purposes of chapter 450, Laws of 1985
have been achieved and if further relaxation of regulatory
requirements is in the public interest. [1989 c 101 § 18; 1985
c 450 § 44.]
Chapter 80.40 RCW
UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS STORAGE ACT
Chapter 80.40
Sections
80.40.010
80.40.020
80.40.030
80.40.040
80.40.050
80.40.060
80.40.070
80.40.900
80.40.910
80.40.920
Definitions.
Declaration concerning the public interest.
Eminent domain.
Eminent domain—Application to oil and gas conservation
committee prerequisite to eminent domain—Procedure.
Rights of company using storage—Rights of owners of condemned land and interests therein.
Leases by commissioner of public lands.
Leases by county commissioners.
Short title.
Chapter to be liberally construed.
Severability—1963 c 201.
80.40.010
80.40.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless
specifically defined otherwise or unless the context indicates
otherwise:
"Commission" shall mean the Washington utilities and
transportation commission;
"Committee" shall mean the oil and gas conservation
committee established by *RCW 78.52.020;
"Natural gas" shall mean gas either in the earth in its
original state or after the same has been produced by removal
therefrom of component parts not essential to its use for light
and fuel;
"Natural gas company" shall mean every corporation,
company, association, joint stock association, partnership or
person authorized to do business in this state and engaged in
the transportation, distribution, or underground storage of
natural gas;
"Underground reservoir" shall mean any subsurface
sand, strata, formation, aquifer, cavern or void whether natural or artificially created, suitable for the injection and storage
of natural gas therein and the withdrawal of natural gas therefrom;
"Underground storage" shall mean the process of injecting and storing natural gas within and withdrawing natural
gas from an underground reservoir: PROVIDED, The withdrawal of gas from an underground reservoir shall not be
deemed a taking or producing within the terms of RCW
82.04.100. [1963 c 201 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 78.52.020 was repealed by 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 869,
effective July 1, 1994.
80.40.020
80.40.020 Declaration concerning the public interest.
The underground storage of natural gas will promote the economic development of the state and provide for more economic distribution of natural gas to the domestic, commercial
and industrial consumers of this state, thereby serving the
public interest. [1963 c 201 § 3.]
80.40.030
80.36.901
80.36.901 Legislative review of 1985 c 450—1989 c
101. The legislature shall conduct an intensive review of
chapter 450, Laws of 1985 during the 1991-1993 biennium to
(2006 Ed.)
80.40.030 Eminent domain. Any natural gas company
having received an order under RCW 80.40.040 shall have
the right of eminent domain to be exercised in the manner
provided in and subject to the provisions of chapter 8.20
[Title 80 RCW—page 53]
80.40.040
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
RCW to acquire for its use for the underground storage of
natural gas any underground reservoir, as well as such other
property or interests in property as may be required to adequately maintain and utilize the underground reservoir for the
underground storage of natural gas, including easements and
rights of way for access to and egress from the underground
storage reservoir. The right of eminent domain granted
hereby shall apply to property or property interests held in
private ownership, provided condemnor has exercised good
faith in negotiations for private sale or lease. No property
shall be taken or damaged until the compensation to be made
therefor shall have been ascertained and paid. Any property
or interest therein so acquired by any natural gas company
shall be used exclusively for the purposes for which it was
acquired. Any decree of appropriation hereunder shall define
and limit the rights condemned and shall provide for the
reversion of such rights to the defendant or defendants or
their successors in interest upon abandonment of the underground storage project. Good faith exploration work or development work relative to the storage reservoir is conclusive
evidence that its use has not been abandoned. The court may
include in such decree such other relevant conditions, covenants and restrictions as it may deem fair and equitable.
[1963 c 201 § 4.]
gas company has acquired the right by grant, lease or other
agreement to store natural gas under at least sixty-five percent of the area of the surface of the land under which such
proposed underground storage reservoir extends; (5) the natural gas company carries public liability insurance or has
deposited collateral in amounts satisfactory to the committee
or has furnished a financial statement showing assets in a satisfactory amount, to secure payment of any liability resulting
from any occurrence arising out of or caused by the operation
or use of any underground reservoir or facilities incidental
thereto; (6) the underground storage project will not injure,
pollute, or contaminate any usable fresh water resources; (7)
the underground storage project will not injure, interfere
with, or endanger any mineral resources or the development
or extraction thereof. The order of the committee may be
reviewed in the manner provided by chapter 34.05 RCW:
PROVIDED, That if an appeal is not commenced within
thirty days of the date of the order of the committee, the same
shall be final and conclusive. [1988 c 127 § 35; 1963 c 201 §
5.]
*Reviser’s note: The duties of the oil and gas conservation committee
were transferred to the department of natural resources by 1994 sp.s. c 9,
effective July 1, 1994.
80.40.050
80.40.040
80.40.040 Eminent domain—Application to *oil and
gas conservation committee prerequisite to eminent
domain—Procedure. Any natural gas company desiring to
exercise the right of eminent domain to condemn any property or interest in property for the underground storage of natural gas shall first make application to the *oil and gas conservation committee for an order approving the proposed
project. Notice of such application shall be given by the committee to the utilities and transportation commission, to the
director of ecology, to the commissioner of public lands, and
to all other persons known to have an interest in the property
to be condemned. Said notice shall be given in the manner
provided by RCW 8.20.020 as amended. The committee shall
publish notice of said application at least once each week for
three successive weeks in some newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the proposed underground storage project is located. If no written requests for
hearing on the application are received by the committee
within forty-five days from the date of service of notice of the
application and publication thereof, the committee may proceed without hearing and issue its order. If a hearing is
requested, a public hearing on the application will be held
within the county or one of the counties where the proposed
underground storage project is located. Any order approving
the proposed underground storage project shall contain findings that (1) the underground storage of natural gas in the
lands or property sought to be condemned is in the public
interest and welfare; (2) the underground reservoir is reasonably practicable, and the applicant has complied with all
applicable oil and gas conservation laws of the state of Washington; (3) the underground reservoir sought to be condemned is nonproductive of economically recoverable valuable minerals or materials, or of oil or gas in commercial
quantities under either primary or secondary recovery methods, and nonproductive of fresh water in commercial quantities with feasible and reasonable pumping lift; (4) the natural
[Title 80 RCW—page 54]
80.40.050 Rights of company using storage—Rights
of owners of condemned land and interests therein. All
natural gas in an underground reservoir utilized for underground storage, whether acquired by eminent domain or otherwise, shall at all times be the property of the natural gas
company utilizing said underground storage, its heirs, successors, or assigns; and in no event shall such gas be subject to
any right of the owner of the surface of the land under which
said underground reservoir lies or of the owner of any mineral interest therein or of any person other than the said natural gas company, its heirs, successors and assigns to release,
produce, take, reduce to possession, or otherwise interfere
with or exercise any control thereof: PROVIDED, That the
right of condemnation hereby granted shall be without prejudice to the rights of the owner of the condemned lands or of
the rights and interest therein to drill or bore through the
underground reservoir in such a manner as shall protect the
underground reservoir against pollution and against the
escape of natural gas in a manner which complies with the
orders, rules and regulations of the *oil and gas conservation
committee issued for the purpose of protecting underground
storage and shall be without prejudice to the rights of the
owners of said lands or other rights or interests therein as to
all other uses thereof. The additional cost of complying with
regulations or orders to protect the underground storage shall
be paid by the condemnor. [1963 c 201 § 6.]
*Reviser’s note: The duties of the oil and gas conservation committee
were transferred to the department of natural resources by 1994 sp.s. c 9,
effective July 1, 1994.
80.40.060
80.40.060 Leases by commissioner of public lands.
The commissioner of public lands is authorized to lease public lands, property, or any interest therein for the purpose of
underground storage of natural gas. Any such lease shall be
upon such terms and conditions as the said commissioner
may deem for the best interests of the state and as are customary and proper for the protection of the rights of the state and
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Facilities—Site Locations
of the lessee and of the owners of the surface of the leased
lands, and may be for such primary term as said commissioner may determine and as long thereafter as the lessee continues to use such lands, property, or interest therein for
underground storage of gas. [1963 c 201 § 7.]
80.40.070
80.40.070 Leases by county commissioners. Whenever it shall appear to the board of county commissioners of
any county that it is for the best interests of said county, the
taxing districts and the people thereof, that any county-owned
or tax-acquired property owned by the county, either absolutely or as trustee, should be leased for the purpose of underground storage of natural gas therein, said board of county
commissioners is hereby authorized to enter into written
leases under the terms of which any county-owned lands,
property, or interest therein are leased for the aforementioned
purposes, with or without an option to purchase the land surface. Any such lease shall be upon such terms and conditions
as said county commissioners may deem for the best interests
of said county and the taxing districts, and may be for such
primary term as said board may determine and as long thereafter as the lessee continues to use the said lands, property, or
interest therein for underground storage of natural gas. [1963
c 201 § 8.]
80.40.900
80.40.900 Short title. This act shall be known as the
"Underground Natural Gas Storage Act." [1963 c 201 § 9.]
80.40.910
80.40.910 Chapter to be liberally construed. It is
intended that the provisions of this chapter shall be liberally
construed to accomplish the purposes authorized and provided for. [1963 c 201 § 10.]
80.40.920
80.40.920 Severability—1963 c 201. If any part or
parts of this chapter or the application thereof to any person
or circumstances is held to be unconstitutional such invalidity
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
chapter, or the application thereof to other persons or circumstances. [1963 c 201 § 11.]
Chapter 80.50 RCW
ENERGY FACILITIES—SITE LOCATIONS
Chapter 80.50
Sections
80.50.010
80.50.020
80.50.030
80.50.040
80.50.045
80.50.060
80.50.071
80.50.075
80.50.080
80.50.085
80.50.090
80.50.100
80.50.105
(2006 Ed.)
Legislative finding—Policy—Intent.
Definitions.
Energy facility site evaluation council—Created—Membership—Support.
Energy facility site evaluation council—Powers enumerated.
Recommendations to secretary, federal energy regulatory
commission—Siting electrical transmission corridors—
Council designated as state authority for siting transmission
facilities.
Energy facilities to which chapter applies—Applications for
certification—Forms—Information.
Council to receive applications—Fees or charges for application processing or certification monitoring.
Expedited processing of applications.
Counsel for the environment.
Council staff to assist applicants, make recommendations.
Public hearings.
Recommendations to governor—Approval or rejection of certification—Reconsideration.
Transmission facilities for petroleum products—Recommendations to governor.
80.50.110
80.50.120
80.50.130
80.50.140
80.50.150
80.50.160
80.50.175
80.50.180
80.50.190
80.50.300
80.50.310
80.50.320
80.50.900
80.50.901
80.50.902
80.50.903
80.50.904
80.50.010
Chapter governs and supersedes other law or regulations—
Preemption of regulation and certification by state.
Effect of certification.
Revocation or suspension of certification—Grounds.
Review.
Enforcement of compliance—Penalties.
Availability of information.
Study of potential sites—Fee—Disposition of payments.
Proposals and actions by other state agencies and local political subdivisions pertaining to energy facilities exempt from
"detailed statement" required by RCW 43.21C.030.
Disposition of receipts from applicants.
Unfinished nuclear power projects—Transfer of all or a portion of a site to a political subdivision or subdivisions of the
state—Water rights.
Council actions—Exemption from chapter 43.21C RCW.
Governor to evaluate council efficiency, make recommendations.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 45.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 110.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 371.
Severability—1996 c 4.
Effective date—1996 c 4.
Reviser’s note: Powers and duties of the department of social and
health services and the secretary of social and health services transferred to
the department of health and the secretary of health. See RCW 43.70.060.
Energy supply emergencies: Chapter 43.21G RCW.
Regulation of dangerous wastes associated with energy facilities: RCW
70.105.110.
State energy office: Chapter 43.21F RCW.
Water pollution control, energy facilities, permits, etc., duties of energy
facility site evaluation council: RCW 90.48.262.
80.50.010
80.50.010 Legislative finding—Policy—Intent. The
legislature finds that the present and predicted growth in
energy demands in the state of Washington requires the
development of a procedure for the selection and utilization
of sites for energy facilities and the identification of a state
position with respect to each proposed site. The legislature
recognizes that the selection of sites will have a significant
impact upon the welfare of the population, the location and
growth of industry and the use of the natural resources of the
state.
It is the policy of the state of Washington to recognize
the pressing need for increased energy facilities, and to
ensure through available and reasonable methods, that the
location and operation of such facilities will produce minimal
adverse effects on the environment, ecology of the land and
its wildlife, and the ecology of state waters and their aquatic
life.
It is the intent to seek courses of action that will balance
the increasing demands for energy facility location and operation in conjunction with the broad interests of the public.
Such action will be based on these premises:
(1) To assure Washington state citizens that, where
applicable, operational safeguards are at least as stringent as
the criteria established by the federal government and are
technically sufficient for their welfare and protection.
(2) To preserve and protect the quality of the environment; to enhance the public’s opportunity to enjoy the
esthetic and recreational benefits of the air, water and land
resources; to promote air cleanliness; and to pursue beneficial
changes in the environment.
(3) To provide abundant energy at reasonable cost.
(4) To avoid costs of complete site restoration and demolition of improvements and infrastructure at unfinished
nuclear energy sites, and to use unfinished nuclear energy
[Title 80 RCW—page 55]
80.50.020
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
facilities for public uses, including economic development,
under the regulatory and management control of local governments and port districts.
(5) To avoid costly duplication in the siting process and
ensure that decisions are made timely and without unnecessary delay. [2001 c 214 § 1; 1996 c 4 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s.
c 108 § 29; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 1.]
Severability—2001 c 214: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2001 c 214 § 33.]
Effective date—2001 c 214: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 8, 2001]." [2001 c 214 § 34.]
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
Nuclear power facilities, joint operation: Chapter 54.44 RCW.
State energy office: Chapter 43.21F RCW.
80.50.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Applicant" means any person who makes application for a site certification pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter.
(2) "Application" means any request for approval of a
particular site or sites filed in accordance with the procedures
established pursuant to this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires.
(3) "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, private or public corporation, association, firm, public
service company, political subdivision, municipal corporation, government agency, public utility district, or any other
entity, public or private, however organized.
(4) "Site" means any proposed or approved location of
an energy facility.
(5) "Certification" means a binding agreement between
an applicant and the state which shall embody compliance to
the siting guidelines, in effect as of the date of certification,
which have been adopted pursuant to RCW 80.50.040 as now
or hereafter amended as conditions to be met prior to or concurrent with the construction or operation of any energy facility.
(6) "Associated facilities" means storage, transmission,
handling, or other related and supporting facilities connecting
an energy plant with the existing energy supply, processing,
or distribution system, including, but not limited to, communications, controls, mobilizing or maintenance equipment,
instrumentation, and other types of ancillary transmission
equipment, off-line storage or venting required for efficient
operation or safety of the transmission system and overhead,
and surface or subsurface lines of physical access for the
inspection, maintenance, and safe operations of the transmission facility and new transmission lines constructed to operate at nominal voltages in excess of 115,000 volts to connect
a thermal power plant or alternative energy facilities to the
northwest power grid. However, common carrier railroads or
motor vehicles shall not be included.
(7) "Transmission facility" means any of the following
together with their associated facilities:
80.50.020
[Title 80 RCW—page 56]
(a) Crude or refined petroleum or liquid petroleum product transmission pipeline of the following dimensions: A
pipeline larger than six inches minimum inside diameter
between valves for the transmission of these products with a
total length of at least fifteen miles;
(b) Natural gas, synthetic fuel gas, or liquefied petroleum
gas transmission pipeline of the following dimensions: A
pipeline larger than fourteen inches minimum inside diameter
between valves, for the transmission of these products, with a
total length of at least fifteen miles for the purpose of delivering gas to a distribution facility, except an interstate natural
gas pipeline regulated by the United States federal power
commission;
(c) Electrical transmission facilities in excess of 115,000
volts in national interest electric transmission corridors as
designated by the United States secretary of the department
of energy or the federal energy regulatory commission pursuant to section 1221 of the national energy policy act, and such
rules and regulations as the secretary or the federal energy
regulatory commission adopts to implement the act.
(8) "Independent consultants" means those persons who
have no financial interest in the applicant’s proposals and
who are retained by the council to evaluate the applicant’s
proposals, supporting studies, or to conduct additional studies.
(9) "Thermal power plant" means, for the purpose of certification, any electrical generating facility using any fuel,
including nuclear materials, for distribution of electricity by
electric utilities.
(10) "Energy facility" means an energy plant or transmission facilities: PROVIDED, That the following are
excluded from the provisions of this chapter:
(a) Facilities for the extraction, conversion, transmission
or storage of water, other than water specifically consumed or
discharged by energy production or conversion for energy
purposes; and
(b) Facilities operated by and for the armed services for
military purposes or by other federal authority for the
national defense.
(11) "Council" means the energy facility site evaluation
council created by RCW 80.50.030.
(12) "Counsel for the environment" means an assistant
attorney general or a special assistant attorney general who
shall represent the public in accordance with RCW
80.50.080.
(13) "Construction" means on-site improvements,
excluding exploratory work, which cost in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars.
(14) "Energy plant" means the following facilities
together with their associated facilities:
(a) Any stationary thermal power plant with generating
capacity of three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts or more,
measured using maximum continuous electric generating
capacity, less minimum auxiliary load, at average ambient
temperature and pressure, and floating thermal power plants
of one hundred thousand kilowatts or more, including associated facilities. For the purposes of this subsection, "floating
thermal power plants" means a thermal power plant that is
suspended on the surface of water by means of a barge, vessel, or other floating platform;
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Facilities—Site Locations
(b) Facilities which will have the capacity to receive liquefied natural gas in the equivalent of more than one hundred
million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day, which has
been transported over marine waters;
(c) Facilities which will have the capacity to receive
more than an average of fifty thousand barrels per day of
crude or refined petroleum or liquefied petroleum gas which
has been or will be transported over marine waters, except
that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to storage
facilities unless occasioned by such new facility construction;
(d) Any underground reservoir for receipt and storage of
natural gas as defined in RCW 80.40.010 capable of delivering an average of more than one hundred million standard
cubic feet of natural gas per day; and
(e) Facilities capable of processing more than twentyfive thousand barrels per day of petroleum into refined products.
(15) "Land use plan" means a comprehensive plan or
land use element thereof adopted by a unit of local government pursuant to chapter 35.63, 35A.63, 36.70, or 36.70A
RCW.
(16) "Zoning ordinance" means an ordinance of a unit of
local government regulating the use of land and adopted pursuant to chapter 35.63, 35A.63, 36.70, or 36.70A RCW or
Article XI of the state Constitution.
(17) "Alternative energy resource" means: (a) Wind; (b)
solar energy; (c) geothermal energy; (d) landfill gas; (e) wave
or tidal action; or (f) biomass energy based on solid organic
fuels from wood, forest, or field residues, or dedicated energy
crops that do not include wood pieces that have been treated
with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic.
(18) "Secretary" means the secretary of the United States
department of energy. [2006 c 205 § 1; 2006 c 196 § 1; 2001
c 214 § 3; 1995 c 69 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd
ex.s. c 108 § 30; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 196 § 1 and by
2006 c 205 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—2006 c 196: "(1) Section 1221 of the national energy policy
act also authorizes a state siting authority, in those instances where applicants seek a federal construction permit otherwise authorized pursuant to
section 1221 of the act, to assert jurisdiction on the basis of existing state regulatory authority.
(2) Section 1221 of the national energy policy act further authorizes a
state siting authority to approve the siting of facilities or consider the interstate benefits to be achieved by proposed construction or modification as
provided for in section 1221(b)(1)(A)(i)-(ii) of the act or other provisions of
the act, or rules and regulations implementing the act, and to convey the
views and recommendations regarding the need for and impact of a transmission facility where the federal energy regulatory commission is determined
to have jurisdiction.
(3) Because the types of transmission facilities subject to section 1221
of the national energy policy act are not defined, and because the legislature
recognizes that the siting of electric transmission lines at or below 115,000
volts has historically been regulated by local governments in the state, the
legislature finds that the 115,000 volt threshold established in this act is
appropriate to satisfy the requirements of section 1221." [2006 c 196 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
(2006 Ed.)
80.50.030
80.50.030
80.50.030 Energy facility site evaluation council—
Created—Membership—Support. (1) There is created and
established the energy facility site evaluation council.
(2)(a) The chair of the council shall be appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the senate, shall have
a vote on matters before the council, shall serve for a term
coextensive with the term of the governor, and is removable
for cause. The chair may designate a member of the council
to serve as acting chair in the event of the chair’s absence.
The salary of the chair shall be determined under RCW
43.03.040. The chair is a "state employee" for the purposes of
chapter 42.52 RCW. As applicable, when attending meetings
of the council, members may receive reimbursement for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and
43.03.060, and are eligible for compensation under RCW
43.03.250.
(b) The chair or a designee shall execute all official documents, contracts, and other materials on behalf of the council. The Washington state department of community, trade,
and economic development shall provide all administrative
and staff support for the council. The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development has
supervisory authority over the staff of the council and shall
employ such personnel as are necessary to implement this
chapter. Not more than three such employees may be exempt
from chapter 41.06 RCW.
(3)(a) The council shall consist of the directors, administrators, or their designees, of the following departments,
agencies, commissions, and committees or their statutory
successors:
(i) Department of ecology;
(ii) Department of fish and wildlife;
(iii) Department of community, trade, and economic
development;
(iv) Utilities and transportation commission; and
(v) Department of natural resources.
(b) The directors, administrators, or their designees, of
the following departments, agencies, and commissions, or
their statutory successors, may participate as councilmembers at their own discretion provided they elect to participate
no later than sixty days after an application is filed:
(i) Department of agriculture;
(ii) Department of health;
(iii) Military department; and
(iv) Department of transportation.
(c) Council membership is discretionary for agencies
that choose to participate under (b) of this subsection only for
applications that are filed with the council on or after May 8,
2001. For applications filed before May 8, 2001, council
membership is mandatory for those agencies listed in (b) of
this subsection.
(4) The appropriate county legislative authority of every
county wherein an application for a proposed site is filed
shall appoint a member or designee as a voting member to the
council. The member or designee so appointed shall sit with
the council only at such times as the council considers the
proposed site for the county which he or she represents, and
such member or designee shall serve until there has been a
final acceptance or rejection of the proposed site.
(5) The city legislative authority of every city within
whose corporate limits an energy plant is proposed to be
[Title 80 RCW—page 57]
80.50.040
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
located shall appoint a member or designee as a voting member to the council. The member or designee so appointed
shall sit with the council only at such times as the council
considers the proposed site for the city which he or she represents, and such member or designee shall serve until there has
been a final acceptance or rejection of the proposed site.
(6) For any port district wherein an application for a proposed port facility is filed subject to this chapter, the port district shall appoint a member or designee as a nonvoting member to the council. The member or designee so appointed
shall sit with the council only at such times as the council
considers the proposed site for the port district which he or
she represents, and such member or designee shall serve until
there has been a final acceptance or rejection of the proposed
site. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the
port district is the applicant, either singly or in partnership or
association with any other person. [2001 c 214 § 4; 1996 c
186 § 108. Prior: 1994 c 264 § 75; 1994 c 154 § 315; 1990 c
12 § 3; 1988 c 36 § 60; 1986 c 266 § 51; prior: 1985 c 466 §
71; 1985 c 67 § 1; 1985 c 7 § 151; prior: 1984 c 125 § 18;
1984 c 7 § 372; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 3; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108
§ 31; 1974 ex.s. c 171 § 46; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c
186: See notes following RCW 43.330.904.
Parts and captions not law—Effective date—Severability—1994 c
154: See RCW 42.52.902, 42.52.904, and 42.52.905.
Effective date—1990 c 12: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1990."
[1990 c 12 § 12.]
Severability—1986 c 266: See note following RCW 38.52.005.
Effective date—Severability—1985 c 466: See notes following RCW
43.31.125.
Severability—Headings—Effective date—1984 c 125: See RCW
43.63A.901 through 43.63A.903.
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.040
80.50.040 Energy facility site evaluation council—
Powers enumerated. The council shall have the following
powers:
(1) To adopt, promulgate, amend, or rescind suitable
rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, to
carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and
practices of the council in connection therewith;
(2) To develop and apply environmental and ecological
guidelines in relation to the type, design, location, construction, and operational conditions of certification of energy
facilities subject to this chapter;
(3) To establish rules of practice for the conduct of public hearings pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative
Procedure Act, as found in chapter 34.05 RCW;
(4) To prescribe the form, content, and necessary supporting documentation for site certification;
(5) To receive applications for energy facility locations
and to investigate the sufficiency thereof;
(6) To make and contract, when applicable, for independent studies of sites proposed by the applicant;
[Title 80 RCW—page 58]
(7) To conduct hearings on the proposed location of the
energy facilities;
(8) To prepare written reports to the governor which
shall include: (a) A statement indicating whether the application is in compliance with the council’s guidelines, (b) criteria specific to the site and transmission line routing, (c) a
council recommendation as to the disposition of the application, and (d) a draft certification agreement when the council
recommends approval of the application;
(9) To prescribe the means for monitoring of the effects
arising from the construction and the operation of energy
facilities to assure continued compliance with terms of certification and/or permits issued by the council pursuant to
chapter 90.48 RCW or subsection (12) of this section: PROVIDED, That any on-site inspection required by the council
shall be performed by other state agencies pursuant to interagency agreement: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the council may retain authority for determining compliance relative
to monitoring;
(10) To integrate its site evaluation activity with activities of federal agencies having jurisdiction in such matters to
avoid unnecessary duplication;
(11) To present state concerns and interests to other
states, regional organizations, and the federal government on
the location, construction, and operation of any energy facility which may affect the environment, health, or safety of the
citizens of the state of Washington;
(12) To issue permits in compliance with applicable provisions of the federally approved state implementation plan
adopted in accordance with the Federal Clean Air Act, as
now existing or hereafter amended, for the new construction,
reconstruction, or enlargement or operation of energy facilities: PROVIDED, That such permits shall become effective
only if the governor approves an application for certification
and executes a certification agreement pursuant to this chapter: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That all such permits be
conditioned upon compliance with all provisions of the federally approved state implementation plan which apply to
energy facilities covered within the provisions of this chapter; and
(13) To serve as an interagency coordinating body for
energy-related issues. [2001 c 214 § 6; 1990 c 12 § 4; 1985 c
67 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 254 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 4; 1975-’76
2nd ex.s. c 108 § 32; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 4.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Effective date—1990 c 12: See note following RCW 80.50.030.
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.045
80.50.045 Recommendations to secretary, federal
energy regulatory commission—Siting electrical transmission corridors—Council designated as state authority
for siting transmission facilities. (1) The council shall consult with other state agencies, utilities, local municipal governments, public interest groups, tribes, and other interested
persons to convey their views to the secretary and the federal
energy regulatory commission regarding appropriate limits
on federal regulatory authority in the siting of electrical transmission corridors in the state of Washington.
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Facilities—Site Locations
(2) The council is designated as the state authority for
purposes of siting transmission facilities under the national
energy policy act of 2005 and for purposes of other such rules
or regulations adopted by the secretary. The council’s
authority regarding transmission facilities is limited to those
transmission facilities that are the subject of section 1221 of
the national energy policy act and this chapter.
(3) For the construction and modification of transmission facilities that are the subject of section 1221 of the
national energy policy act, the council may: (a) Approve the
siting of the facilities; and (b) consider the interstate benefits
expected to be achieved by the proposed construction or
modification of the facilities in the state.
(4) When developing recommendations as to the disposition of an application for the construction or modification of
transmission facilities under this chapter, the fuel source of
the electricity carried by the transmission facilities shall not
be considered. [2006 c 196 § 3.]
Findings—2006 c 196: See note following RCW 80.50.020.
80.50.060
80.50.060 Energy facilities to which chapter
applies—Applications for certification—Forms—Information. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the
construction of energy facilities which includes the new construction of energy facilities and the reconstruction or
enlargement of existing energy facilities where the net
increase in physical capacity or dimensions resulting from
such reconstruction or enlargement meets or exceeds those
capacities or dimensions set forth in RCW 80.50.020 (7) and
(14). No construction of such energy facilities may be undertaken, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, after July
15, 1977, without first obtaining certification in the manner
provided in this chapter.
(2) The provisions of this chapter apply to the construction, reconstruction, or enlargement of a new or existing
energy facility that exclusively uses alternative energy
resources and chooses to receive certification under this
chapter, regardless of the generating capacity of the project.
(3) The provisions of this chapter apply to the construction of new electrical transmission facilities or the modification of existing electrical transmission facilities in a national
interest electric transmission corridor designated by the secretary.
(4) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to normal maintenance and repairs which do not increase the capacity or dimensions beyond those set forth in RCW 80.50.020
(7) and (14).
(5) Applications for certification of energy facilities
made prior to July 15, 1977 shall continue to be governed by
the applicable provisions of law in effect on the day immediately preceding July 15, 1977 with the exceptions of RCW
80.50.190 and 80.50.071 which shall apply to such prior
applications and to site certifications prospectively from July
15, 1977.
(6) Applications for certification shall be upon forms
prescribed by the council and shall be supported by such
information and technical studies as the council may require.
[2006 c 196 § 4; 2001 c 214 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 5; 1975’76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 34; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 6.]
Findings—2006 c 196: See note following RCW 80.50.020.
(2006 Ed.)
80.50.071
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.071
80.50.071 Council to receive applications—Fees or
charges for application processing or certification monitoring. (1) The council shall receive all applications for
energy facility site certification. The following fees or
charges for application processing or certification monitoring
shall be paid by the applicant or certificate holder:
(a) A fee of twenty-five thousand dollars for each proposed site, to be applied toward the cost of the independent
consultant study authorized in this subsection, shall accompany the application and shall be a condition precedent to any
further consideration or action on the application by the
council. The council shall commission its own independent
consultant study to measure the consequences of the proposed energy facility on the environment for each site application. The council shall direct the consultant to study any
matter which it deems essential to an adequate appraisal of
the site. The full cost of the study shall be paid by the applicant: PROVIDED, That said costs exceeding a total of the
twenty-five thousand dollars paid pursuant to subsection
(1)(a) of this section shall be payable subject to the applicant
giving prior approval to such excess amount.
(b) Each applicant shall, in addition to the costs of the
independent consultant provided by subsection (1)(a) of this
section, pay such reasonable costs as are actually and necessarily incurred by the council and its members as designated
in RCW 80.50.030 in processing the application. Such costs
shall include, but are not limited to, council member’s wages,
employee benefits, costs of a hearing examiner, a court
reporter, additional staff salaries, wages and employee benefits, goods and services, travel expenses within the state and
miscellaneous expenses, as arise directly from processing
such application.
Each applicant shall, at the time of application submission, deposit twenty thousand dollars, or such lesser amount
as may be specified by council rule, to cover costs provided
for by subsection (1)(b) of this section. Reasonable and necessary costs of the council directly attributable to application
processing shall be charged against such deposit.
The council shall submit to each applicant a statement of
such expenditures actually made during the preceding calendar quarter which shall be in sufficient detail to explain such
expenditures. The applicant shall pay the state treasurer the
amount of such statement to restore the total amount on
deposit to the originally established level: PROVIDED, That
such applicant may, at the request of the council, increase the
amount of funds on deposit to cover anticipated expenses
during peak periods of application processing. Any funds
remaining unexpended at the conclusion of application processing shall be refunded to the applicant, or at the applicant’s option, credited against required deposits of certificate
holders.
(c) Each certificate holder shall pay such reasonable
costs as are actually and necessarily incurred by the council
for inspection and determination of compliance by the certificate holder with the terms of the certification relative to
[Title 80 RCW—page 59]
80.50.075
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
monitoring the effects of construction and operation of the
facility.
Each certificate holder, within thirty days of execution of
the site certification agreement, shall deposit twenty thousand dollars, or such other amount as may be specified by
council rule, to cover costs provided for by subsection (1)(c)
of this section. Reasonable and necessary costs of the council
directly attributable to inspection and determination of compliance by the certificate holder with the terms of the certification relative to monitoring the effects of construction and
operation of the facility shall be charged against such deposit.
The council shall submit to each certificate holder a
statement of such expenditures actually made during the preceding calendar quarter which shall be in sufficient detail to
explain such expenditures. The certificate holder shall pay
the state treasurer the amount of such statement to restore the
total amount on deposit to the originally established level:
PROVIDED, That if the actual, reasonable, and necessary
expenditures for inspection and determination of compliance
in the preceding calendar quarter have exceeded the amount
of funds on deposit, such excess costs shall be paid by the
certificate holder.
(2) If an applicant or certificate holder fails to provide
the initial deposit, or if subsequently required payments are
not received within thirty days following receipt of the statement from the council, the council may (a) in the case of the
applicant, suspend processing of the application until payment is received; or (b) in the case of a certificate holder, suspend the certification.
(3) All payments required of the applicant or certificate
holder under this section are to be made to the state treasurer
who shall make payments as instructed by the council from
the funds submitted. All such funds shall be subject to state
auditing procedures. Any unexpended portions thereof shall
be returned to the applicant or certificate holder. [2006 c 196
§ 5; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 16.]
Findings—2006 c 196: See note following RCW 80.50.020.
(b) Hold an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05
RCW, the administrative procedure act, on the application.
(3) The council shall adopt rules governing the expedited
processing of an application for certification pursuant to this
section. [2006 c 205 § 2; 1989 c 175 § 172; 1977 ex.s. c 371
§ 17.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
80.50.080
80.50.080 Counsel for the environment. After the
council has received a site application, the attorney general
shall appoint an assistant attorney general as a counsel for the
environment. The counsel for the environment shall represent
the public and its interest in protecting the quality of the environment. Costs incurred by the counsel for the environment
in the performance of these duties shall be charged to the
office of the attorney general, and shall not be a charge
against the appropriation to the energy facility site evaluation
council. He shall be accorded all the rights, privileges and
responsibilities of an attorney representing a party in a formal
action. This section shall not be construed to prevent any person from being heard or represented by counsel in accordance
with the other provisions of this chapter. [1977 ex.s. c 371 §
6; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 8.]
80.50.085
80.50.085 Council staff to assist applicants, make
recommendations. (1) After the council has received a site
application, council staff shall assist applicants in identifying
issues presented by the application.
(2) Council staff shall review all information submitted
and recommend resolutions to issues in dispute that would
allow site approval.
(3) Council staff may make recommendations to the
council on conditions that would allow site approval. [2001
c 214 § 5.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
80.50.075
80.50.075 Expedited processing of applications. (1)
Any person filing an application for certification of an energy
facility or an alternative energy resource facility pursuant to
this chapter may apply to the council for an expedited processing of such an application. The application for expedited
processing shall be submitted to the council in such form and
manner and accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by council rule. The council may grant an applicant
expedited processing of an application for certification upon
finding that the environmental impact of the proposed energy
facility is not significant or will be mitigated to a nonsignificant level under RCW 43.21C.031 and the project is found
under RCW 80.50.090(2) to be consistent and in compliance
with city, county, or regional land use plans or zoning ordinances.
(2) Upon granting an applicant expedited processing of
an application for certification, the council shall not be
required to:
(a) Commission an independent study to further measure
the consequences of the proposed energy facility or alternative energy resource facility on the environment, notwithstanding the other provisions of RCW 80.50.071; nor
[Title 80 RCW—page 60]
80.50.090
80.50.090 Public hearings. (1) The council shall conduct an informational public hearing in the county of the proposed site as soon as practicable but not later than sixty days
after receipt of an application for site certification. However,
the place of such public hearing shall be as close as practical
to the proposed site.
(2) Subsequent to the informational public hearing, the
council shall conduct a public hearing to determine whether
or not the proposed site is consistent and in compliance with
city, county, or regional land use plans or zoning ordinances.
If it is determined that the proposed site does conform with
existing land use plans or zoning ordinances in effect as of
the date of the application, the city, county, or regional planning authority shall not thereafter change such land use plans
or zoning ordinances so as to affect the proposed site.
(3) Prior to the issuance of a council recommendation to
the governor under RCW 80.50.100 a public hearing, conducted as an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05
RCW, the administrative procedure act, shall be held. At
such public hearing any person shall be entitled to be heard in
support of or in opposition to the application for certification.
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Facilities—Site Locations
(4) Additional public hearings shall be held as deemed
appropriate by the council in the exercise of its functions
under this chapter. [2006 c 205 § 3; 2006 c 196 § 6; 2001 c
214 § 7; 1989 c 175 § 173; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 9.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 196 § 6 and by
2006 c 205 § 3, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—2006 c 196: See note following RCW 80.50.020.
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
80.50.100
80.50.100 Recommendations to governor—Approval
or rejection of certification—Reconsideration. (1) The
council shall report to the governor its recommendations as to
the approval or rejection of an application for certification
within twelve months of receipt by the council of such an
application, or such later time as is mutually agreed by the
council and the applicant. If the council recommends
approval of an application for certification, it shall also submit a draft certification agreement with the report. The council shall include conditions in the draft certification agreement to implement the provisions of this chapter, including,
but not limited to, conditions to protect state or local governmental or community interests affected by the construction or
operation of the energy facility, and conditions designed to
recognize the purpose of laws or ordinances, or rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, that are preempted or superseded pursuant to RCW 80.50.110 as now or hereafter
amended.
(2) Within sixty days of receipt of the council’s report
the governor shall take one of the following actions:
(a) Approve the application and execute the draft certification agreement; or
(b) Reject the application; or
(c) Direct the council to reconsider certain aspects of the
draft certification agreement.
The council shall reconsider such aspects of the draft
certification agreement by reviewing the existing record of
the application or, as necessary, by reopening the adjudicative proceeding for the purposes of receiving additional evidence. Such reconsideration shall be conducted expeditiously. The council shall resubmit the draft certification to
the governor incorporating any amendments deemed necessary upon reconsideration. Within sixty days of receipt of
such draft certification agreement, the governor shall either
approve the application and execute the certification agreement or reject the application. The certification agreement
shall be binding upon execution by the governor and the
applicant.
(3) The rejection of an application for certification by the
governor shall be final as to that application but shall not preclude submission of a subsequent application for the same
site on the basis of changed conditions or new information.
[1989 c 175 § 174; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 8; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c
108 § 36; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 10.]
80.50.140
80.50.105
80.50.105 Transmission facilities for petroleum
products—Recommendations to governor. In making its
recommendations to the governor under this chapter regarding an application that includes transmission facilities for
petroleum products, the council shall give appropriate weight
to city or county facility siting standards adopted for the protection of sole source aquifers. [1991 c 200 § 1112.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 c 200: See RCW 90.56.901 and
90.56.904.
80.50.110
80.50.110 Chapter governs and supersedes other law
or regulations—Preemption of regulation and certification by state. (1) If any provision of this chapter is in conflict
with any other provision, limitation, or restriction which is
now in effect under any other law of this state, or any rule or
regulation promulgated thereunder, this chapter shall govern
and control and such other law or rule or regulation promulgated thereunder shall be deemed superseded for the purposes of this chapter.
(2) The state hereby preempts the regulation and certification of the location, construction, and operational conditions of certification of the energy facilities included under
RCW 80.50.060 as now or hereafter amended. [1975-’76
2nd ex.s. c 108 § 37; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 11.]
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.120
80.50.120 Effect of certification. (1) Subject to the
conditions set forth therein any certification shall bind the
state and each of its departments, agencies, divisions,
bureaus, commissions, boards, and political subdivisions,
whether a member of the council or not, as to the approval of
the site and the construction and operation of the proposed
energy facility.
(2) The certification shall authorize the person named
therein to construct and operate the proposed energy facility
subject only to the conditions set forth in such certification.
(3) The issuance of a certification shall be in lieu of any
permit, certificate or similar document required by any
department, agency, division, bureau, commission, board, or
political subdivision of this state, whether a member of the
council or not. [1977 ex.s. c 371 § 10; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c
108 § 38; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 12.]
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.130
80.50.130 Revocation or suspension of certification—
Grounds. Any certification may be revoked or suspended:
(1) For any material false statement in the application or
in the supplemental or additional statements of fact or studies
required of the applicant when a true answer would have warranted the council’s refusal to recommend certification in the
first instance; or
(2) For failure to comply with the terms or conditions of
the original certification; or
(3) For violation of the provisions of this chapter, regulations issued thereunder or order of the council. [1970 ex.s. c
45 § 13.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
80.50.140
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
(2006 Ed.)
80.50.140 Review. (1) A final decision pursuant to
RCW 80.50.100 on an application for certification shall be
[Title 80 RCW—page 61]
80.50.150
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
subject to judicial review pursuant to provisions of chapter
34.05 RCW and this section. Petitions for review of such a
decision shall be filed in the Thurston county superior court.
All petitions for review of a decision under RCW 80.50.100
shall be consolidated into a single proceeding before the
Thurston county superior court. The Thurston county superior court shall certify the petition for review to the supreme
court upon the following conditions:
(a) Review can be made on the administrative record;
(b) Fundamental and urgent interests affecting the public
interest and development of energy facilities are involved
which require a prompt determination;
(c) Review by the supreme court would likely be sought
regardless of the determination of the Thurston county superior court; and
(d) The record is complete for review.
The Thurston county superior court shall assign a petition for review of a decision under RCW 80.50.100 for hearing at the earliest possible date and shall expedite such petition in every way possible. If the court finds that review cannot be limited to the administrative record as set forth in
subparagraph (a) of this subsection because there are alleged
irregularities in the procedure before the council not found in
the record, but finds that the standards set forth in subparagraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection are met, the court
shall proceed to take testimony and determine such factual
issues raised by the alleged irregularities and certify the petition and its determination of such factual issues to the
supreme court. Upon certification, the supreme court shall
assign the petition for hearing at the earliest possible date,
and it shall expedite its review and decision in every way possible.
(2) Objections raised by any party in interest concerning
procedural error by the council shall be filed with the council
within sixty days of the commission of such error, or within
thirty days of the first public hearing or meeting of the council at which the general subject matter to which the error is
related is discussed, whichever comes later, or such objection
shall be deemed waived for purposes of judicial review as
provided in this section.
(3) The rules and regulations adopted by the council
shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions
of chapter 34.05 RCW. [1988 c 202 § 62; 1981 c 64 § 3; 1977
ex.s. c 371 § 11; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 14.]
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
80.50.150
80.50.150 Enforcement of compliance—Penalties.
(1) The courts are authorized to grant such restraining orders,
and such temporary and permanent injunctive relief as is necessary to secure compliance with this chapter and/or with a
site certification agreement issued pursuant to this chapter or
a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (hereafter
in this section, NPDES) permit issued by the council pursuant
to chapter 90.48 RCW or any permit issued pursuant to RCW
80.50.040(14). The court may assess civil penalties in an
amount not less than one thousand dollars per day nor more
than twenty-five thousand dollars per day for each day of
construction or operation in material violation of this chapter,
or in material violation of any site certification agreement
issued pursuant to this chapter, or in violation of any NPDES
[Title 80 RCW—page 62]
permit issued by the council pursuant to chapter 90.48 RCW,
or in violation of any permit issued pursuant to RCW
80.50.040(14). The court may charge the expenses of an
enforcement action relating to a site certification agreement
under this section, including, but not limited to, expenses
incurred for legal services and expert testimony, against any
person found to be in material violation of the provisions of
such certification: PROVIDED, That the expenses of a person found not to be in material violation of the provisions of
such certification, including, but not limited to, expenses
incurred for legal services and expert testimony, may be
charged against the person or persons bringing an enforcement action or other action under this section.
(2) Wilful violation of any provision of this chapter shall
be a gross misdemeanor.
(3) Wilful or criminally negligent, as defined in RCW
9A.08.010[(1)](d), violation of any provision of an NPDES
permit issued by the council pursuant to chapter 90.48 RCW
or any permit issued by the council pursuant to RCW
80.50.040(14) or any emission standards promulgated by the
council in order to implement the Federal Clean Air Act and
the state implementation plan with respect to energy facilities
under the jurisdiction provisions of this chapter shall be
deemed a crime, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of up to twenty-five thousand dollars per day
and costs of prosecution. Any violation of this subsection
shall be a gross misdemeanor.
(4) Any person knowingly making any false statement,
representation, or certification in any document in any
NPDES form, notice, or report required by an NPDES permit
or in any form, notice, or report required for or by any permit
issued pursuant to *RCW 80.50.090(14) shall be deemed
guilty of a crime, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars and costs of prosecution.
(5) Every person who violates the provisions of certificates and permits issued or administered by the council shall
incur, in addition to any other penalty as provided by law, a
penalty in an amount of up to five thousand dollars a day for
every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a
separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation, every day’s continuance shall be and be deemed to be
a separate and distinct violation. Every act of commission or
omission which procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall
be considered a violation under the provisions of this section
and subject to the penalty provided in this section. The penalty provided in this section shall be imposed by a notice in
writing, either by certified mail with return receipt requested
or by personal service, to the person incurring the same from
the council describing such violation with reasonable particularity. The council may, upon written application therefor
received within fifteen days after notice imposing any penalty is received by the person incurring the penalty, and when
deemed in the best interest to carry out the purposes of this
chapter, remit or mitigate any penalty provided in this section
upon such terms as the council shall deem proper, and shall
have authority to ascertain the facts upon all such applications in such manner and under such regulations as it may
deem proper. Any person incurring any penalty under this
section may appeal the same to the council. Such appeals
shall be filed within thirty days of receipt of notice imposing
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Facilities—Site Locations
any penalty unless an application for remission or mitigation
is made to the council. When an application for remission or
mitigation is made, such appeals shall be filed within thirty
days of receipt of notice from the council setting forth the disposition of the application. Any penalty imposed under this
section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt
of a notice imposing the same unless application for remission or mitigation is made or an appeal is filed. When an
application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty
incurred hereunder shall become due and payable thirty days
after receipt of notice setting forth the disposition of the
application unless an appeal is filed from such disposition.
Whenever an appeal of any penalty incurred hereunder is
filed, the penalty shall become due and payable only upon
completion of all review proceedings and the issuance of a
final order confirming the penalty in whole or in part. If the
amount of any penalty is not paid to the council within thirty
days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney general,
upon the request of the council, shall bring an action in the
name of the state of Washington in the superior court of
Thurston county or of any county in which such violator may
do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions the
procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
All penalties recovered under this section shall be paid into
the state treasury and credited to the general fund.
(6) Civil proceedings to enforce this chapter may be
brought by the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of
any county affected by the violation on his own motion or at
the request of the council. Criminal proceedings to enforce
this chapter may be brought by the prosecuting attorney of
any county affected by the violation on his own motion or at
the request of the council.
(7) The remedies and penalties in this section, both civil
and criminal, shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to
any other penalties and remedies available at law, or in
equity, to any person. [1979 ex.s. c 254 § 2; 1979 c 41 § 1;
1977 ex.s. c 371 § 12; 1970 ex.s. c 45 § 15.]
Reviser’s note: (1) This section was amended by 1979 c 41 § 1 and by
1979 ex.s. c 254 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments
are incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
*(2) The reference to RCW 80.50.090(14) appears to be in error; that
section has only four subsections and concerns public hearings, not issuance
of permits. RCW 80.50.040(12) relates to issuance of permits.
80.50.160 Availability of information. The council
shall make available for public inspection and copying during
regular office hours at the expense of any person requesting
copies, any information filed or submitted pursuant to this
chapter. [1970 ex.s. c 45 § 16.]
80.50.160
80.50.175 Study of potential sites—Fee—Disposition
of payments. (1) In addition to all other powers conferred on
the council under this chapter, the council shall have the powers set forth in this section.
(2) The council, upon request of any potential applicant,
is authorized, as provided in this section, to conduct a preliminary study of any potential site prior to receipt of an application for site certification. A fee of ten thousand dollars for
each potential site, to be applied toward the cost of any study
agreed upon pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, shall
80.50.175
(2006 Ed.)
80.50.180
accompany the request and shall be a condition precedent to
any action on the request by the council.
(3) After receiving a request to study a potential site, the
council shall commission its own independent consultant to
study matters relative to the potential site. The study shall
include, but need not be limited to, the preparation and analysis of environmental impact information for the proposed
potential site and any other matter the council and the potential applicant deem essential to an adequate appraisal of the
potential site. In conducting the study, the council is authorized to cooperate and work jointly with the county or counties in which the potential site is located, any federal, state, or
local governmental agency that might be requested to comment upon the potential site, and any municipal or public corporation having an interest in the matter. The full cost of the
study shall be paid by the potential applicant: PROVIDED,
That such costs exceeding a total of ten thousand dollars shall
be payable subject to the potential applicant giving prior
approval to such excess amount.
(4) Any study prepared by the council pursuant to subsection (3) of this section may be used in place of the
"detailed statement" required by RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) by
any branch of government except the council created pursuant to chapter 80.50 RCW.
(5) All payments required of the potential applicant
under this section are to be made to the state treasurer, who in
turn shall pay the consultant as instructed by the council. All
such funds shall be subject to state auditing procedures. Any
unexpended portions thereof shall be returned to the potential
applicant.
(6) Nothing in this section shall change the requirements
for an application for site certification or the requirement of
payment of a fee as provided in RCW 80.50.071, or change
the time for disposition of an application for certification as
provided in RCW 80.50.100.
(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a city or county from requiring any information it deems
appropriate to make a decision approving a particular location. [1983 c 3 § 205; 1977 ex.s. c 371 § 13; 1975-’76 2nd
ex.s. c 108 § 40; 1974 ex.s. c 110 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 108: See notes
following RCW 43.21F.010.
80.50.180
80.50.180 Proposals and actions by other state agencies and local political subdivisions pertaining to energy
facilities exempt from "detailed statement" required by
RCW 43.21C.030. Except for actions of the council under
chapter 80.50 RCW, all proposals for legislation and other
actions of any branch of government of this state, including
state agencies, municipal and public corporations, and counties, to the extent the legislation or other action involved
approves, authorizes, permits, or establishes procedures
solely for approving, authorizing or permitting, the location,
financing or construction of any energy facility subject to
certification under chapter 80.50 RCW, shall be exempt from
the "detailed statement" required by RCW 43.21C.030. Nothing in this section shall be construed as exempting any action
of the council from any provision of chapter 43.21C RCW.
[1977 ex.s. c 371 § 14.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 63]
80.50.190
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
80.50.190
80.50.190 Disposition of receipts from applicants.
The state general fund shall be credited with all receipts from
applicants paid to the state pursuant to chapter 80.50 RCW.
Such funds shall be used only by the council for the purposes
set forth in chapter 80.50 RCW. All expenditures shall be
authorized by law. [1977 ex.s. c 371 § 15.]
The trust water right shall be from existing valid water rights
within the basin where the site is located.
(4) For purposes of this section, "political subdivision or
subdivisions of the state" means a city, town, county, public
utility district, port district, or joint operating agency. [2000
c 243 § 1; 1996 c 4 § 2.]
80.50.300
80.50.300 Unfinished nuclear power projects—
Transfer of all or a portion of a site to a political subdivision or subdivisions of the state—Water rights. (1) This
section applies only to unfinished nuclear power projects. If a
certificate holder stops construction of a nuclear energy facility before completion, terminates the project or otherwise
resolves not to complete construction, never introduces or
stores fuel for the energy facility on the site, and never operates the energy facility as designed to produce energy, the
certificate holder may contract, establish interlocal agreements, or use other formal means to effect the transfer of site
restoration responsibilities, which may include economic
development activities, to any political subdivision or subdivisions of the state composed of elected officials. The contracts, interlocal agreements, or other formal means of cooperation may include, but are not limited to provisions effecting the transfer or conveyance of interests in the site and
energy facilities from the certificate holder to other political
subdivisions of the state, including costs of maintenance and
security, capital improvements, and demolition and salvage
of the unused energy facilities and infrastructure.
(2) If a certificate holder transfers all or a portion of the
site to a political subdivision or subdivisions of the state composed of elected officials and located in the same county as
the site, the council shall amend the site certification agreement to release those portions of the site that it finds are no
longer intended for the development of an energy facility.
Immediately upon release of all or a portion of the site
pursuant to this section, all responsibilities for maintaining
the public welfare for portions of the site transferred, including but not limited to health and safety, are transferred to the
political subdivision or subdivisions of the state. For sites
located on federal land, all responsibilities for maintaining
the public welfare for all of the site, including but not limited
to health and safety, must be transferred to the political subdivision or subdivisions of the state irrespective of whether
all or a portion of the site is released.
(3) The legislature finds that for all or a portion of sites
that have been transferred to a political subdivision or subdivisions of the state prior to September 1, 1999, ensuring
water for site restoration including economic development,
completed pursuant to this section can best be accomplished
by a transfer of existing surface water rights, and that such a
transfer is best accomplished administratively through procedures set forth in existing statutes and rules. However, if a
transfer of water rights is not possible, the department of
ecology shall, within six months of the transfer of the site or
portion thereof pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, create a trust water right under chapter 90.42 RCW containing
between ten and twenty cubic feet per second for the benefit
of the appropriate political subdivision or subdivisions of the
state. The trust water right shall be used in fulfilling site restoration responsibilities, including economic development.
[Title 80 RCW—page 64]
80.50.310
80.50.310 Council actions—Exemption from chapter
43.21C RCW. Council actions pursuant to the transfer of the
site or portions of the site under RCW 80.50.300 are exempt
from the provisions of chapter 43.21C RCW. [1996 c 4 § 3.]
80.50.320
80.50.320 Governor to evaluate council efficiency,
make recommendations. The governor shall undertake an
evaluation of the operations of the council to assess means to
enhance its efficiency. The assessment must include whether
the efficiency of the siting process would be improved by
conducting the process under the state environmental policy
act in a particular sequence relative to the adjudicative proceeding. The results of this assessment may include recommendations for administrative changes, statutory changes, or
expanded staffing levels. [2001 c 214 § 8.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
80.50.900
80.50.900 Severability—1970 ex.s. c 45. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances, is not
affected. [1970 ex.s. c 45 § 17.]
80.50.901
80.50.901 Severability—1974 ex.s. c 110. If any provision of this 1974 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances, is not affected. [1974 ex.s. c 110 § 3.]
80.50.902
80.50.902 Severability—1977 ex.s. c 371. If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the
act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. [1977 ex.s. c 371 § 20.]
80.50.903
80.50.903 Severability—1996 c 4. If any provision of
this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1996 c 4 § 5.]
80.50.904
80.50.904 Effective date—1996 c 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 6, 1996]. [1996 c 4 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
Energy Financing Voter Approval Act
Chapter 80.52 RCW
ENERGY FINANCING VOTER APPROVAL ACT
Chapter 80.52
Sections
80.52.010
80.52.020
80.52.030
80.52.040
80.52.050
80.52.060
80.52.070
80.52.080
80.52.900
80.52.910
Short title.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Election approval required before issuance of bonds.
Conduct of election.
Form of ballot propositions.
Approval of request for financing authority.
Priorities.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 6.
Effective dates—1981 2nd ex.s. c 6.
80.52.010
80.52.010 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the
Washington state energy financing voter approval act. [1981
2nd ex.s. c 6 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 394, approved
November 3, 1981).]
80.52.020
80.52.020 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to
provide a mechanism for citizen review and approval of proposed financing for major public energy projects. The development of dependable and economic energy sources is of paramount importance to the citizens of the state, who have an
interest in insuring that major public energy projects make
the best use of limited financial resources. Because the construction of major public energy projects will significantly
increase utility rates for all citizens, the people of the state
hereby establish a process of voter approval for such projects.
[1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 394, approved
November 3, 1981).]
80.52.030
80.52.030 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section apply throughout this chapter unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Public agency" means a public utility district, joint
operating agency, city, county, or any other state governmental agency, entity, or political subdivision.
(2) "Major public energy project" means a plant or
installation capable, or intended to be capable, of generating
electricity in an amount greater than three hundred fifty
megawatts, measured using maximum continuous electric
generating capacity, less minimum auxiliary load, at average
ambient temperature and pressure. Where two or more such
plants are located within the same geographic site, each plant
shall be considered a major public energy project. An addition to an existing facility is not deemed to be a major energy
project unless the addition itself is capable, or intended to be
capable, of generating electricity in an amount greater than
three hundred fifty megawatts. A project which is under construction on July 1, 1982, shall not be considered a major
public energy project unless the official agency budget or
estimate for total construction costs for the project as of July
1, 1982, is more than two hundred percent of the first official
estimate of total construction costs as specified in the senate
energy and utilities committee WPPSS inquiry report, volume one, January 12, 1981, and unless, as of July 1, 1982, the
projected remaining cost of construction for that project
exceeds two hundred million dollars.
(3) "Cost of construction" means the total cost of planning and building a major public energy project and placing
it into operation, including, but not limited to, planning cost,
(2006 Ed.)
80.52.050
direct construction cost, licensing cost, cost of fuel inventory
for the first year’s operation, interest, and all other costs
incurred prior to the first day of full operation, whether or not
incurred prior to July 1, 1982.
(4) "Cost of acquisition" means the total cost of acquiring a major public energy project from another party, including, but not limited to, principal and interest costs.
(5) "Bond" means a revenue bond, a general obligation
bond, or any other indebtedness issued by a public agency or
its assignee.
(6) "Applicant" means a public agency, or the assignee
of a public agency, requesting the secretary of state to conduct an election pursuant to this chapter.
(7) "Cost-effective" means that a project or resource is
forecast:
(a) To be reliable and available within the time it is
needed; and
(b) To meet or reduce the electric power demand of the
intended consumers at an estimated incremental system cost
no greater than that of the least-cost similarly reliable and
available alternative project or resource, or any combination
thereof.
(8) "System cost" means an estimate of all direct costs of
a project or resource over its effective life, including, if applicable, the costs of distribution to the consumer, and, among
other factors, waste disposal costs, end-of-cycle costs, and
fuel costs (including projected increases), and such quantifiable environmental costs and benefits as are directly attributable to the project or resource. [2002 c 190 § 1; 1995 c 69 §
2; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 394,
approved November 3, 1981).]
80.52.040
80.52.040 Election approval required before issuance
of bonds. No public agency or assignee of a public agency
may issue or sell bonds to finance the cost of construction or
the cost of acquisition of a major public energy project, or
any portion thereof, unless it has first obtained authority for
the expenditure of the funds to be raised by the sale of such
bonds for that project at an election conducted in the manner
provided in this chapter. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 4 (Initiative
Measure No. 394, approved November 3, 1981).]
80.52.050
80.52.050 Conduct of election. The election required
under RCW 80.52.040 shall be conducted in the manner provided in this section.
(1)(a) If the applicant is a public utility district, joint
operating agency, city, or county, the election shall be among
the voters of the public utility district, city, or county, or
among the voters of the local governmental entities comprising the membership of the joint operating agency.
(b) If the applicant is any public agency other than those
described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, or is an assignee
of a joint operating agency and not itself a joint operating
agency, the election shall be conducted statewide in the manner provided in *Title 29 RCW for statewide elections.
(2) The election shall be held at the next statewide general election occurring more than ninety days after submission of a request by an applicant to the secretary of state
unless a special election is requested by the applicant as provided in this section.
[Title 80 RCW—page 65]
80.52.060
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
(3) If no statewide election can be held under subsection
(2) of this section within one hundred twenty days of the submission to the secretary of state of a request by an applicant
for financing authority under this chapter, the applicant may
request that a special election be held if such election is necessary to avoid significant delay in construction or acquisition of the energy project. Within ten days of receipt of such
a request for a special election, the secretary of state shall
designate a date for the election pursuant to **RCW
29.13.010 and certify the date to the county auditor of each
county in which an election is to be held under this section.
(4) Prior to an election under this section, the applicant
shall submit to the secretary of state a cost-effectiveness
study, prepared by an independent consultant approved by
the state finance committee, pertaining to the major public
energy project under consideration. The study shall be available for public review and comment for thirty days. At the
end of the thirty-day period, the applicant shall prepare a final
draft of the study which includes the public comment, if any.
(5) The secretary of state shall certify the ballot issue for
the election to be held under this section to the county auditor
of each county in which an election is to be held. The certification shall include the statement of the proposition as provided in RCW 80.52.060. The costs of the election shall be
relieved by the applicant in the manner provided by **RCW
29.13.045. In addition, the applicant shall reimburse the secretary of state for the applicant’s share of the costs related to
the preparation and distribution of the voters’ pamphlet
required by subsection (6) of this section and such other costs
as are attributable to any election held pursuant to this section.
(6) Prior to an election under this section, the secretary of
state shall provide an opportunity for supporters and opponents of the requested financing authority to present their
respective views in a voters’ pamphlet which shall be distributed to the voters of the local governmental entities participating in the election. Upon submission of an applicant’s
request for an election pursuant to this section, the applicant
shall provide the secretary of state with the following information regarding each major public energy project for which
the applicant seeks financing authority at such election,
which information shall be included in the voters’ pamphlet:
(a) The name, location, and type of major public energy
project, expressed in common terms;
(b) The dollar amount and type of bonds being
requested;
(c) If the bond issuance is intended to finance the acquisition of all or a portion of the project, the anticipated total
cost of the acquisition of the project;
(d) If the bond issuance is intended to finance the planning or construction of all or a portion of the project, the
anticipated total cost of construction of the project;
(e) The projected average rate increase for consumers of
the electricity to be generated by the project. The rate
increase shall be that which will be necessary to repay the
total indebtedness incurred for the project, including estimated interest;
(f) A summary of the final cost-effectiveness study conducted under subsection (4) of this section;
(g) The anticipated functional life of the project;
[Title 80 RCW—page 66]
(h) The anticipated decommissioning costs of the
project; and
(i) If a special election is requested by the applicant, the
reasons for requesting a special election. [1982 c 88 § 1;
1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 394, approved
November 3, 1981).]
Reviser’s note: *(1) Title 29 RCW was repealed and/or recodified pursuant to 2003 c 111, effective July 1, 2004. See Title 29A RCW.
**(2) RCW 29.13.010 and 29.13.045 were recodified as RCW
29A.04.320 and 29A.04.410, respectively, pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401,
effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.320 was subsequently repealed by
2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW 29A.04.320, see RCW
29A.04.321.
Effective date—1982 c 88: "This act shall take effect on July 1, 1982."
[1982 c 88 § 2.]
80.52.060
80.52.060 Form of ballot propositions. The proposition for each major public energy project listed upon a ballot
pursuant to this chapter shall be in the form provided in this
section.
(1) If the funds are intended to finance the planning or
construction of all or a portion of the project, the proposition
shall read substantially as follows:
"Shall (name of applicant) be authorized to
spend (dollar amount of financing authority
requested) to construct the (name of the
project)
(type of project) located at
(location) , the anticipated total construction cost
of which is (anticipated cost of construction) ?"
(2) If the financing authority is intended to finance the
acquisition of all or a portion of the project from another
party, the proposition shall read substantially as follows:
"Shall (name of applicant) be authorized to
spend (dollar amount of financing authority
requested) to acquire the (name of project)
(type of project) located at (location) , the
anticipated total acquisition cost of which is
(anticipated cost of acquisition) ?"
[1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 394, approved
November 3, 1981).]
80.52.070
80.52.070 Approval of request for financing authority. A request for financing authority pursuant to this chapter
shall be considered approved if it receives the approval of a
majority of those voting on the request. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 §
7 (Initiative Measure No. 394, approved November 3, 1981).]
80.52.080
80.52.080 Priorities. In planning for future energy
expenditures, public agencies shall give priority to projects
and resources which are cost-effective. Priority for future
bond sales to finance energy expenditures by public agencies
shall be given: First, to conservation; second, to renewable
resources; third, to generating resources utilizing waste heat
or generating resources of high fuel-conversion efficiency;
and fourth, to all other resources. This section does not apply
to projects which are under construction on December 3,
1981. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 8 (Initiative Measure No. 394,
approved November 3, 1981).]
(2006 Ed.)
Attachments to Transmission Facilities
80.52.900
80.52.900 Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 10 (Initiative Measure No.
394, approved November 3, 1981).]
80.52.910
80.52.910 Effective dates—1981 2nd ex.s. c 6. Section
8 of this act shall take effect immediately. The remainder of
this act shall take effect on July 1, 1982. Public agencies
intending to submit a request for financing authority under
this act are authorized to institute the procedures specified in
section 5(4) of this act prior to the effective date of this act.
[1981 2nd ex.s. c 6 § 11 (Initiative Measure No. 394,
approved November 3, 1981).]
Chapter 80.54 RCW
ATTACHMENTS TO TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
Chapter 80.54
80.58.010
any attachment by a licensee or by a utility must be just, fair,
reasonable, and sufficient. [1979 c 33 § 2.]
80.54.030
80.54.030 Commission order fixing rates, terms, or
conditions. Whenever the commission shall find, after hearing had upon complaint by a licensee or by a utility, that the
rates, terms, or conditions demanded, exacted, charged, or
collected by any utility in connection with attachments are
unjust, unreasonable, or that the rates or charges are insufficient to yield a reasonable compensation for the attachment,
the commission shall determine the just, reasonable, or sufficient rates, terms, and conditions thereafter to be observed
and in force and shall fix the same by order. In determining
and fixing the rates, terms, and conditions, the commission
shall consider the interest of the customers of the attaching
utility or licensee, as well as the interest of the customers of
the utility upon which the attachment is made. [1979 c 33 §
3.]
80.54.040
Sections
80.54.010
80.54.020
80.54.030
80.54.040
80.54.050
80.54.060
80.54.070
Definitions.
Regulation of rates, terms, and conditions—Criteria.
Commission order fixing rates, terms, or conditions.
Criteria for just and reasonable rate.
Exemptions from chapter.
Adoption of rules.
Uniform attachment rates within utility service area.
80.54.010
80.54.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Attachment" means any wire or cable for the transmission of intelligence by telecommunications or television,
including cable television, light waves, or other phenomena,
or for the transmission of electricity for light, heat, or power,
and any related device, apparatus, or auxiliary equipment,
installed upon any pole or in any telecommunications, electrical, cable television, or communications right of way, duct,
conduit, manhole or handhole, or other similar facilities
owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by one or more utilities, where the installation has been made with the consent of
the one or more utilities.
(2) "Licensee" means any person, firm, corporation,
partnership, company, association, joint stock association, or
cooperatively organized association, other than a utility,
which is authorized to construct attachments upon, along,
under, or across the public ways.
(3) "Utility" means any electrical company or telecommunications company as defined in RCW 80.04.010, and
does not include any entity cooperatively organized, or
owned by federal, state, or local government, or a subdivision
of state or local government. [1985 c 450 § 40; 1979 c 33 §
1.]
Severability—Legislative review—1985 c 450: See RCW 80.36.900
and 80.36.901.
80.54.020
80.54.020 Regulation of rates, terms, and conditions—Criteria. The commission shall have the authority to
regulate in the public interest the rates, terms, and conditions
for attachments by licensees or utilities. All rates, terms, and
conditions made, demanded, or received by any utility for
(2006 Ed.)
80.54.040 Criteria for just and reasonable rate. A
just and reasonable rate shall assure the utility the recovery of
not less than all the additional costs of procuring and maintaining pole attachments, nor more than the actual capital and
operating expenses, including just compensation, of the utility attributable to that portion of the pole, duct, or conduit
used for the pole attachment, including a share of the required
support and clearance space, in proportion to the space used
for the pole attachment, as compared to all other uses made of
the subject facilities, and uses which remain available to the
owner or owners of the subject facilities. [1979 c 33 § 4.]
80.54.050
80.54.050 Exemptions from chapter. Nothing in this
chapter shall be deemed to apply to any attachment by one or
more electrical companies on the facilities of one or more
other electrical companies. [1979 c 33 § 5.]
80.54.060
80.54.060 Adoption of rules. The commission shall
adopt rules, regulations and procedures relative to the implementation of this chapter. [1979 c 33 § 6.]
80.54.070
80.54.070 Uniform attachment rates within utility
service area. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
utility as defined in RCW 80.54.010(3) and any utility not
regulated by the utilities and transportation commission shall
levy attachment rates which are uniform for all licensees
within the utility service area. [1979 c 33 § 7.]
Chapter 80.58
Chapter 80.58 RCW
NONPOLLUTING POWER
GENERATION EXEMPTION
Sections
80.58.010
Nonpolluting power generation by individual—Exemption
from regulation—Authorization to contract with utility.
80.58.010
80.58.010 Nonpolluting power generation by individual—Exemption from regulation—Authorization to contract with utility. The generation of power by a nonpolluting, renewable energy source by an individual natural person
not otherwise engaged in the business of power generation is
[Title 80 RCW—page 67]
Chapter 80.60
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
declared to be exempt from all statutes and rules otherwise
regulating the generation of power: PROVIDED, That such
an individual is hereby authorized to provide such power to
the utility servicing the property on which the power is generated and the servicing utility is hereby authorized to accept
such power under such terms and conditions as may be
agreed to between the parties. [1979 ex.s. c 191 § 11.]
Chapter 80.60
Chapter 80.60 RCW
NET METERING OF ELECTRICITY
Sections
80.60.005
80.60.010
80.60.020
80.60.030
80.60.040
Findings.
Definitions.
Available on first-come, first-served basis—Interconnected
metering systems allowed—Charges to customer-generator.
Net energy measurement—Required calculation—Unused
credit.
Safety, power quality, and interconnection requirements—
Customer-generator’s expense—Commission may adopt
additional requirements.
80.60.005
80.60.005 Findings. The legislature finds that it is in
the public interest to:
(1) Encourage private investment in renewable energy
resources;
(2) Stimulate the economic growth of this state; and
(3) Enhance the continued diversification of the energy
resources used in this state. [1998 c 318 § 1.]
80.60.010
80.60.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) "Commission" means the utilities and transportation
commission.
(2) "Customer-generator" means a user of a net metering
system.
(3) "Electrical company" means a company owned by
investors that meets the definition of RCW 80.04.010.
(4) "Electric cooperative" means a cooperative or association organized under chapter 23.86 or 24.06 RCW.
(5) "Electric utility" means any electrical company, public utility district, irrigation district, port district, electric
cooperative, or municipal electric utility that is engaged in
the business of distributing electricity to retail electric customers in the state.
(6) "Irrigation district" means an irrigation district under
chapter 87.03 RCW.
(7) "Municipal electric utility" means a city or town that
owns or operates an electric utility authorized by chapter
35.92 RCW.
(8) "Net metering" means measuring the difference
between the electricity supplied by an electric utility and the
electricity generated by a customer-generator over the applicable billing period.
(9) "Net metering system" means a fuel cell, a facility
that produces electricity and used and useful thermal energy
from a common fuel source, or a facility for the production of
electrical energy that generates renewable energy, and that:
(a) Has an electrical generating capacity of not more than
one hundred kilowatts;
(b) Is located on the customer-generator’s premises;
[Title 80 RCW—page 68]
(c) Operates in parallel with the electric utility’s transmission and distribution facilities; and
(d) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer-generator’s requirements for electricity.
(10) "Port district" means a port district within which an
industrial development district has been established as authorized by Title 53 RCW.
(11) "Public utility district" means a district authorized
by chapter 54.04 RCW.
(12) "Renewable energy" means energy generated by a
facility that uses water, wind, solar energy, or biogas from
animal waste as a fuel. [2006 c 201 § 1; 2000 c 158 § 1; 1998
c 318 § 2.]
80.60.020
80.60.020 Available on first-come, first-served
basis—Interconnected metering systems allowed—
Charges to customer-generator. An electric utility:
(1) Shall offer to make net metering available to eligible
customers-generators on a first-come, first-served basis until
the cumulative generating capacity of net metering systems
equals 0.25 percent of the utility’s peak demand during 1996.
On January 1, 2014, the cumulative generating capacity
available to net metering systems will equal 0.5 percent of the
utility’s peak demand during 1996. Not less than one-half of
the utility’s 1996 peak demand available for net metering
systems shall be reserved for the cumulative generating
capacity attributable to net metering systems that generate
renewable energy;
(2) Shall allow net metering systems to be interconnected using a standard kilowatt-hour meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions, unless the
commission, in the case of an electrical company, or the
appropriate governing body, in the case of other electric utilities, determines, after appropriate notice and opportunity for
comment:
(a) That the use of additional metering equipment to
monitor the flow of electricity in each direction is necessary
and appropriate for the interconnection of net metering systems, after taking into account the benefits and costs of purchasing and installing additional metering equipment; and
(b) How the cost of purchasing and installing an additional meter is to be allocated between the customer-generator and the utility;
(3) Shall charge the customer-generator a minimum
monthly fee that is the same as other customers of the electric
utility in the same rate class, but shall not charge the customer-generator any additional standby, capacity, interconnection, or other fee or charge unless the commission, in the
case of an electrical company, or the appropriate governing
body, in the case of other electric utilities, determines, after
appropriate notice and opportunity for comment that:
(a) The electric utility will incur direct costs associated
with interconnecting or administering net metering systems
that exceed any offsetting benefits associated with these systems; and
(b) Public policy is best served by imposing these costs
on the customer-generator rather than allocating these costs
among the utility’s entire customer base. [2006 c 201 § 2;
2000 c 158 § 2; 1998 c 318 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Radio Communications Service Companies
80.60.030
80.60.030 Net energy measurement—Required calculation—Unused credit. Consistent with the other provisions of this chapter, the net energy measurement must be
calculated in the following manner:
(1) The electric utility shall measure the net electricity
produced or consumed during the billing period, in accordance with normal metering practices.
(2) If the electricity supplied by the electric utility
exceeds the electricity generated by the customer-generator
and fed back to the electric utility during the billing period,
the customer-generator shall be billed for the net electricity
supplied by the electric utility, in accordance with normal
metering practices.
(3) If electricity generated by the customer-generator
exceeds the electricity supplied by the electric utility, the customer-generator:
(a) Shall be billed for the appropriate customer charges
for that billing period, in accordance with RCW 80.60.020;
and
(b) Shall be credited for the excess kilowatt-hours generated during the billing period, with this kilowatt-hour credit
appearing on the bill for the following billing period.
On April 30th of each calendar year, any remaining
unused kilowatt-hour credit accumulated during the previous
year shall be granted to the electric utility, without any compensation to the customer-generator. [2006 c 201 § 3; 1998 c
318 § 4.]
80.60.040
80.60.040 Safety, power quality, and interconnection
requirements—Customer-generator’s expense—Commission may adopt additional requirements. (1) A net
metering system used by a customer-generator shall include,
at the customer-generator’s own expense, all equipment necessary to meet applicable safety, power quality, and interconnection requirements established by the national electrical
code, national electrical safety code, the institute of electrical
and electronics engineers, and underwriters laboratories.
(2) The commission, in the case of an electrical company, or the appropriate governing body, in the case of other
electric utilities, after appropriate notice and opportunity for
comment, may adopt by regulation additional safety, power
quality, and interconnection requirements for customer-generators, including limitations on the number of customer generators and total capacity of net metering systems that may be
interconnected to any distribution feeder line, circuit, or network that the commission or governing body determines are
necessary to protect public safety and system reliability.
(3) An electric utility may not require a customer-generator whose net metering system meets the standards in subsections (1) and (2) of this section to comply with additional
safety or performance standards, perform or pay for additional tests, or purchase additional liability insurance. However, an electric utility shall not be liable directly or indirectly
for permitting or continuing to allow an attachment of a net
metering system, or for the acts or omissions of the customergenerator that cause loss or injury, including death, to any
third party. [2006 c 201 § 4; 2000 c 158 § 3; 1998 c 318 § 5.]
(2006 Ed.)
80.70.010
Chapter 80.66 RCW
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE COMPANIES
Chapter 80.66
Sections
80.66.010
Scope of regulation—Filing of certain agreements.
80.66.010
80.66.010 Scope of regulation—Filing of certain
agreements. The commission shall not regulate radio communications service companies, except that:
(1) The commission may regulate the rates, services,
facilities, and practices of radio communications service
companies, within a geographic service area or a portion of a
geographic service area in which it is authorized to operate by
the federal communications commission if it is the only provider of basic telecommunications service within such geographic service area or such portion of a geographic service
area. For purposes of this section, "basic telecommunications
service" means voice grade, local exchange telecommunications service.
(2) Actions or transactions of radio communications service companies that are not regulated pursuant to subsection
(1) of this section shall not be deemed actions or transactions
otherwise permitted, prohibited, or regulated by the commission for purposes of RCW 19.86.170.
(3) Radio communications service companies shall file
with the commission copies of all agreements with any of
their affiliated interests as defined in RCW 80.16.010, showing the rates, tolls, rentals, contracts, and charges of such
affiliated interest for services rendered and equipment and
facilities supplied to the radio communications service company, except that such agreements need not be filed where the
services rendered and equipment and facilities supplied are
provided by the affiliated interest under a tariff or price list
filed with the commission. [1985 c 167 § 2.]
Chapter 80.70
Chapter 80.70 RCW
CARBON DIOXIDE MITIGATION
Sections
80.70.010
80.70.020
80.70.030
80.70.040
80.70.050
80.70.060
80.70.070
Definitions.
Applicability of chapter—Carbon dioxide mitigation plan—
Mitigation by a third party.
Permanent carbon credits.
Direct investment mitigation projects—Enforcement—Federal requirements may replace this section.
Independent qualified organizations with experience in mitigation activities—Council oversight—Reports.
Costs to be assessed against applicants and holders of site certification agreements.
Rules.
80.70.010
80.70.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Applicant" has the meaning provided in RCW
80.50.020 and includes an applicant for a permit for a fossilfueled thermal electric generation facility subject to RCW
70.94.152 and 80.70.020(1) (b) or (d).
(2) "Authority" means any air pollution control agency
whose jurisdictional boundaries are coextensive with the
boundaries of one or more counties.
(3) "Carbon credit" means a verified reduction in carbon
dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalents that is registered with a
[Title 80 RCW—page 69]
80.70.020
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
state, national, or international trading authority or exchange
that has been recognized by the council.
(4) "Carbon dioxide equivalents" means a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse
gases based upon their global warming potential.
(5) "Cogeneration credit" means the carbon dioxide
emissions that the council, department, or authority, as appropriate, estimates would be produced on an annual basis by a
stand-alone industrial and commercial facility equivalent in
operating characteristics and output to the industrial or commercial heating or cooling process component of the cogeneration plant.
(6) "Cogeneration plant" means a fossil-fueled thermal
power plant in which the heat or steam is also used for industrial or commercial heating or cooling purposes and that
meets federal energy regulatory commission standards for
qualifying facilities under the public utility regulatory policies act of 1978.
(7) "Commercial operation" means the date that the first
electricity produced by a facility is delivered for commercial
sale to the power grid.
(8) "Council" means the energy facility site evaluation
council created by RCW 80.50.030.
(9) "Department" means the department of ecology.
(10) "Fossil fuel" means natural gas, petroleum, coal, or
any form of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from such
material to produce heat for the generation of electricity.
(11) "Mitigation plan" means a proposal that includes the
process or means to achieve carbon dioxide mitigation
through use of mitigation projects or carbon credits.
(12) "Mitigation project" means one or more of the following:
(a) Projects or actions that are implemented by the certificate holder or order of approval holder, directly or through
its agent, or by an independent qualified organization to mitigate the emission of carbon dioxide produced by the fossilfueled thermal electric generation facility. This term includes
but is not limited to the use of, energy efficiency measures,
clean and efficient transportation measures, qualified alternative energy resources, demand side management of electricity consumption, and carbon sequestration programs;
(b) Direct application of combined heat and power
(cogeneration);
(c) Verified carbon credits traded on a recognized trading authority or exchange; or
(d) Enforceable and permanent reductions in carbon
dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalents through process
change, equipment shutdown, or other activities under the
control of the applicant and approved as part of a carbon
dioxide mitigation plan.
(13) "Order of approval" means an order issued under
RCW 70.94.152 with respect to a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility subject to RCW 80.70.020(1) (b) or
(d).
(14) "Permanent" means that emission reductions used to
offset emission increases are assured for the life of the corresponding increase, whether unlimited or limited in duration.
(15) "Qualified alternative energy resource" has the
same meaning as in RCW 19.29A.090.
(16) "Station generating capability" means the maximum
load a generator can sustain over a given period of time with[Title 80 RCW—page 70]
out exceeding design limits, and measured using maximum
continuous electric generation capacity, less net auxiliary
load, at average ambient temperature and barometric pressure.
(17) "Total carbon dioxide emissions" means:
(a) For a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility
described under RCW 80.70.020(1) (a) and (b), the amount
of carbon dioxide emitted over a thirty-year period based on
the manufacturer’s or designer’s guaranteed total net station
generating capability, new equipment heat rate, an assumed
sixty percent capacity factor for facilities under the council’s
jurisdiction or sixty percent of the operational limitations on
facilities subject to an order of approval, and taking into
account any enforceable limitations on operational hours or
fuel types and use; and
(b) For a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility
described under RCW 80.70.020(1) (c) and (d), the amount
of carbon dioxide emitted over a thirty-year period based on
the proposed increase in the amount of electrical output of the
facility that exceeds the station generation capability of the
facility prior to the applicant applying for certification or an
order of approval pursuant to RCW 80.70.020(1) (c) and (d),
new equipment heat rate, an assumed sixty percent capacity
factor for facilities under the council’s jurisdiction or sixty
percent of the operational limitations on facilities subject to
an order of approval, and taking into account any enforceable
limitations on operational hours or fuel types and use. [2004
c 224 § 1.]
80.70.020 Applicability of chapter—Carbon dioxide
mitigation plan—Mitigation by a third party. (1) The provisions of this chapter apply to:
(a) New fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of three hundred fifty
thousand kilowatts or more and fossil-fueled floating thermal
electric generation facilities of one hundred thousand kilowatts or more under RCW 80.50.020(14)(a), for which an
application for site certification is made to the council after
July 1, 2004;
(b) New fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities with station-generating capability of more than twentyfive thousand kilowatts, but less than three hundred fifty
thousand kilowatts, except for fossil-fueled floating thermal
electric generation facilities under the council’s jurisdiction,
for which an application for an order of approval has been
submitted after July 1, 2004;
(c) Fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities
with station-generating capability of three hundred fifty thousand kilowatts or more that have an existing site certification
agreement and, after July 1, 2004, apply to the council to
increase the output of carbon dioxide emissions by fifteen
percent or more through permanent changes in facility operations or modification or equipment; and
(d) Fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities
with station-generating capability of more than twenty-five
thousand kilowatts, but less than three hundred fifty thousand
kilowatts, except for fossil-fueled floating thermal electric
generation facilities under the council’s jurisdiction, that
have an existing order of approval and, after July 1, 2004,
apply to the department or authority, as appropriate, to permanently modify the facility so as to increase its station-gen80.70.020
(2006 Ed.)
Carbon Dioxide Mitigation
erating capability by at least twenty-five thousand kilowatts
or to increase the output of carbon dioxide emissions by fifteen percent or more, whichever measure is greater.
(2)(a) A proposed site certification agreement submitted
to the governor under RCW 80.50.100 and a final site certification agreement issued under RCW 80.50.100 shall include
an approved carbon dioxide mitigation plan.
(b) For fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities
not under jurisdiction of the council, the order of approval
shall require an approved carbon dioxide mitigation plan.
(c) Site certification agreement holders or order of
approval holders may request, at any time, a change in conditions of an approved carbon dioxide mitigation plan if the
council, department, or authority, as appropriate, finds that
the change meets all requirements and conditions for
approval of such plans.
(3) An applicant for a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility shall include one or a combination of the following carbon dioxide mitigation options as part of its mitigation plan:
(a) Payment to a third party to provide mitigation;
(b) Direct purchase of permanent carbon credits; or
(c) Investment in applicant-controlled carbon dioxide
mitigation projects, including combined heat and power
(cogeneration).
(4) Fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities
that receive site certification approval or an order of approval
shall provide mitigation for twenty percent of the total carbon
dioxide emissions produced by the facility.
(5) If the certificate holder or order of approval holder
chooses to pay a third party to provide the mitigation, the mitigation rate shall be one dollar and sixty cents per metric ton
of carbon dioxide to be mitigated. For a cogeneration plant,
the monetary amount is based on the difference between
twenty percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions and the
cogeneration credit.
(a) Through rule making, the council may adjust the rate
per ton biennially as long as any increase or decrease does not
exceed fifty percent of the current rate. The department or
authority shall use the adjusted rate established by the council
pursuant to this subsection for fossil-fueled thermal electric
generation facilities subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(b) In adjusting the mitigation rate the council shall consider, but is not limited to, the current market price of a ton of
carbon dioxide. The council’s adjusted mitigation rate shall
be consistent with RCW 80.50.010(3).
(6) The applicant may choose to make to the third party
a lump sum payment or partial payment over a period of five
years.
(a) Under the lump sum payment option, the payment
amount is determined by multiplying the total carbon dioxide
emissions by the twenty percent mitigation requirement
under subsection (4) of this section and by the per ton mitigation rate established under subsection (5) of this section.
(b) No later than one hundred twenty days after the start
of commercial operation, the certificate holder or order of
approval holder shall make a one-time payment to the independent qualified organization for the amount determined
under subsection (5) of this section.
(c) As an alternative to a one-time payment, the certificate holder or order of approval holder may make a partial
(2006 Ed.)
80.70.040
payment of twenty percent of the amount determined under
subsection (5) of this section no later than one hundred
twenty days after commercial operation and a payment in the
same amount or as adjusted according to subsection (5)(a) of
this section, on the anniversary date of the initial payment in
each of the following four years. With the initial payment,
the certificate holder or order of approval holder shall provide
a letter of credit or other comparable security acceptable to
the council or the department for the remaining eighty percent mitigation payment amount including possible changes
to the rate per metric ton from rule making under subsection
(5)(a) of this section. [2004 c 224 § 2.]
80.70.030
80.70.030 Permanent carbon credits. (1) Carbon
dioxide mitigation plans relying on purchase of permanent
carbon credits must meet the following criteria:
(a) Credits must derive from real, verified, permanent,
and enforceable carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalents
emission mitigation not otherwise required by statute, regulation, or other legal requirements;
(b) The credits must be acquired after July 1, 2004; and
(c) The credits may not have been used for other carbon
dioxide mitigation projects.
(2) Permanent carbon credits purchased for project mitigation shall not be resold unless approved by the council,
department, or authority. [2004 c 224 § 3.]
80.70.040
80.70.040 Direct investment mitigation projects—
Enforcement—Federal requirements may replace this
section. (1) The carbon dioxide mitigation option that provides for direct investment shall be implemented through
mitigation projects conducted directly by, or under the control of, the certificate holder or order of approval holder.
(2) Mitigation projects must be approved by the council,
department, or authority, as appropriate, and made a condition of the proposed and final site certification agreement or
order of approval. Direct investment mitigation projects shall
be approved if the mitigation projects provide a reasonable
certainty that the performance requirements of the mitigation
projects will be achieved and the mitigation projects were
implemented after July 1, 2004. No certificate holder or
order of approval holder shall be required to make direct
investments that would exceed the cost of making a lump
sum payment to a third party, had the certificate holder or
order of approval holder chosen that option under RCW
80.70.020.
(3) Mitigation projects must be fully in place within a
reasonable time after the start of commercial operation. Failure to implement an approved mitigation plan is subject to
enforcement under chapter 80.50 or 70.94 RCW.
(4) The certificate holder or order of approval holder
may not use more than twenty percent of the total funds for
the selection, monitoring, and evaluation of mitigation
projects and the management and enforcement of contracts.
(5)(a) For facilities under the jurisdiction of the council,
the implementation of a carbon dioxide mitigation project,
other than purchase of a carbon credit shall be monitored by
an independent entity for conformance with the performance
requirements of the carbon dioxide mitigation plan. The
[Title 80 RCW—page 71]
80.70.050
Title 80 RCW: Public Utilities
independent entity shall make available the mitigation project
monitoring results to the council.
(b) For facilities under the jurisdiction of the department
or authority pursuant to RCW 80.70.020(1) (b) or (c), the
implementation of a carbon dioxide mitigation project, other
than a purchase of carbon dioxide equivalent emission reduction credits, shall be monitored by the department or authority issuing the order of approval.
(6) Upon promulgation of federal requirements for carbon dioxide mitigation for fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facilities, those requirements may be deemed by the
council, department, or authority to be equivalent and a
replacement for the requirements of this section. [2004 c 224
§ 4.]
80.70.050
80.70.050 Independent qualified organizations with
experience in mitigation activities—Council oversight—
Reports. (1) The council shall maintain a list of independent
qualified organizations with proven experience in emissions
mitigation activities and a demonstrated ability to carry out
their activities in an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective
manner.
(2) An independent qualified organization shall not use
more than twenty percent of the total funds for selection,
monitoring, and evaluation of mitigation projects and the
management and enforcement of contracts. None of these
funds shall be used to lobby federal, state, and local agencies,
their elected officials, officers, or employees.
(3) Before signing contracts to purchase offsets with
funds from certificate holders or order of approval holders, an
independent qualified organization must demonstrate to the
council that the mitigation projects it proposes to use provides a reasonable certainty that the performance requirements of the carbon dioxide mitigation projects will be
achieved.
(4) The independent qualified organization shall permit
the council to appoint up to three persons to inspect plans,
operation, and compliance activities of the organization and
to audit financial records and performance measures for carbon dioxide mitigation projects using carbon dioxide mitigation money paid by certificate holders or order of approval
holders under this chapter.
(5) An independent qualified organization must file
biennial reports with the council, the department, or authority
on the performance of carbon dioxide mitigation projects,
including the amount of carbon dioxide reductions achieved
and a statement of cost for the mitigation period. [2004 c 224
§ 5.]
Chapter 80.98
Chapter 80.98 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
Sections
80.98.010
80.98.020
80.98.030
80.98.040
80.98.050
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Repeals and saving.
Emergency—1961 c 14.
80.98.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1961 c 14 §
80.98.010.]
80.98.010
80.98.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title do not constitute any part of
the law. [1961 c 14 § 80.98.020.]
80.98.020
80.98.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any provision of this title, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the title, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected. [1961 c 14 § 80.98.030.]
80.98.030
80.98.040 Repeals and saving.
80.98.040.
80.98.040
See 1961 c 14 §
80.98.050 Emergency—1961 c 14. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
[1961 c 14 § 80.98.050.]
80.98.050
80.70.060
80.70.060 Costs to be assessed against applicants and
holders of site certification agreements. Reasonable and
necessary costs incurred by the council in implementing and
administering this chapter shall be assessed against applicants and holders of site certification agreements that are subject to the requirements of this chapter. [2004 c 224 § 6.]
80.70.070
80.70.070 Rules. The council, department, and authority shall adopt rules to carry out this chapter. [2004 c 224 §
7.]
[Title 80 RCW—page 72]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 81
Chapters
81.01
81.04
81.08
81.12
81.16
81.20
81.24
81.28
81.29
81.36
81.40
81.44
81.48
81.52
81.53
81.54
81.56
81.60
81.61
81.64
81.66
81.68
81.70
81.72
81.75
81.77
81.80
81.84
81.88
81.96
81.100
81.104
81.108
81.112
81.900
Title 81
TRANSPORTATION
General provisions.
Regulations—General.
Securities.
Transfers of property.
Affiliated interests.
Investigation of public service companies.
Regulatory fees.
Common carriers in general.
Common carriers—Limitations on liability.
Railroads—Corporate powers and duties.
Railroads—Employee requirements and regulations.
Common carriers—Equipment.
Railroads—Operating requirements and regulations.
Railroads—Rights of way—Spurs—Fences.
Railroads—Crossings.
Railroads—Inspection of industrial crossings.
Railroads—Shippers and passengers.
Railroads—Railroad police and regulations.
Railroads—Passenger-carrying vehicles for
employees.
Street railways.
Transportation for persons with special needs.
Auto transportation companies.
Passenger charter carriers.
Taxicab companies.
Transportation centers.
Solid waste collection companies.
Motor freight carriers.
Commercial ferries.
Gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
Western regional short-haul air transportation
compact.
High occupancy vehicle systems.
High-capacity transportation systems.
Low-level radioactive waste sites.
Regional transit authorities.
Construction.
Assessment for property tax purposes, of
private car companies: Chapter 84.16 RCW.
public service companies: Chapter 84.12 RCW.
Commencement of actions against certain railroad corporations, etc.: RCW
4.28.080.
Constitutional limitations on certain corporations: State Constitution Art.
12.
Corporate seals, effect of absence from instrument: RCW 64.04.105.
Counties, signs, signals, etc.: RCW 36.86.040.
Easements
of public service companies taxable as personalty: RCW 84.20.010.
over certain public lands: Chapter 79.36 RCW.
Eminent domain by corporations: Chapter 8.20 RCW.
Flaggers—Safety standards: RCW 49.17.350.
Franchises on
county roads and bridges: Chapter 36.55 RCW.
state highways: Chapter 47.44 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Free transportation for public officers, prohibited: State Constitution Art.
12 § 20.
Highway user tax structure: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
Labor liens: Chapter 60.32 RCW.
Mechanics’, materialmen’s liens: Chapter 60.04 RCW.
Metropolitan municipal corporations: Chapter 35.58 RCW.
Public utility tax: Chapter 82.16 RCW.
Railroad grade crossings, traffic devices required by utilities and transportation commission: RCW 47.36.050.
Safety and health, tunnels and underground construction: Chapter 49.24
RCW.
Steam boilers, pressure vessels, construction, inspection, etc.: Chapter
70.79 RCW.
Taxation of rolling stock: State Constitution Art. 12 § 17.
Traffic control at work sites: Chapter 47.36 RCW.
Transporting natural gas: RCW 80.28.210.
Chapter 81.01
Chapter 81.01 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
81.01.010
Adoption of provisions of chapter 80.01 RCW.
81.01.010 Adoption of provisions of chapter 80.01
RCW. The provisions of chapter 80.01 RCW, as now or
hereafter amended, apply to Title 81 RCW as fully as though
they were set forth herein. [1961 c 14 § 81.01.010.]
81.01.010
Chapter 81.04
Chapter 81.04 RCW
REGULATIONS—GENERAL
Sections
81.04.010
81.04.020
81.04.030
81.04.040
81.04.050
81.04.060
81.04.070
81.04.075
81.04.080
81.04.090
81.04.100
81.04.110
81.04.120
81.04.130
81.04.140
81.04.150
81.04.160
81.04.170
81.04.180
81.04.190
81.04.200
81.04.210
81.04.220
81.04.230
81.04.235
81.04.236
81.04.240
81.04.250
Definitions.
Procedure before commission and courts.
Number of witnesses may be limited.
Witness fees and mileage.
Protection against self-incrimination.
Deposition—Service of process.
Inspection of books, papers, and documents.
Manner of serving papers.
Annual report.
Forms of records to be prescribed.
Production of out-of-state books and records.
Complaint—Hearing.
Hearing—Order—Record.
Suspension of tariff change.
Order requiring joint action.
Remunerative rate—No change without approval prohibited.
Rules and regulations.
Review of orders.
Supersedeas.
Appellate review.
Rehearing before commission.
Commission may change orders.
Reparations.
Overcharges—Refund.
Limitation of actions.
When cause of action deemed to accrue.
Action in court on reparations and overcharges.
Determination of rates.
[Title 81 RCW—page 1]
81.04.010
81.04.260
81.04.270
81.04.280
81.04.290
81.04.300
81.04.310
81.04.320
81.04.330
81.04.350
81.04.360
81.04.380
81.04.385
81.04.387
81.04.390
81.04.400
81.04.405
81.04.410
81.04.420
81.04.430
81.04.440
81.04.450
81.04.460
81.04.470
81.04.490
81.04.500
81.04.510
81.04.520
81.04.530
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Summary proceedings.
Merchandise accounts to be kept separate.
Purchase and sale of stock by employees.
Sale of stock to employees and patrons.
Budgets to be filed by companies—Supplementary budgets.
Commission’s control over expenditures.
Budget rules and regulations.
Effect of unauthorized expenditure—Emergencies.
Depreciation and retirement accounts.
Excessive earnings to reserve fund.
Penalties—Violations by public service companies.
Penalties—Violations by officers, agents, and employees of
public service companies and persons or entities acting as
public service companies.
Penalties—Violations by other corporations.
Penalties—Violations by persons.
Actions to recover penalties—Disposition of fines, fees, penalties.
Additional penalties—Violations by public service companies
and officers, agents, and employees.
Orders and rules conclusive.
Commission intervention where order or rule is involved.
Findings of department prima facie correct.
Companies liable for damages.
Certified copies of orders, rules, etc.—Evidentiary effect.
Commission to enforce public service laws—Employees as
peace officers.
Right of action not released—Penalties cumulative.
Application to municipal utilities.
Duties of attorney general.
Engaging in business or operating without approval or authority—Procedure.
Rate regulation study.
Controlled substances, alcohol.
81.04.010 Definitions. As used in this title, unless specially defined otherwise or unless the context indicates otherwise:
"Commission" means the utilities and transportation
commission.
"Commissioner" means one of the members of such
commission.
"Corporation" includes a corporation, company, association, or joint stock association.
"Low-level radioactive waste site operating company"
includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock
association, partnership, and person, their lessees, trustees, or
receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, operating, controlling, or managing a low-level radioactive waste
disposal site or sites located within the state of Washington.
"Low-level radioactive waste" means low-level waste as
defined by RCW 43.145.010.
"Person" includes an individual, a firm, or copartnership.
"Street railroad" includes every railroad by whatsoever
power operated, or any extension or extensions, branch or
branches thereof, for public use in the conveyance of persons
or property for hire, being mainly upon, along, above, or
below any street, avenue, road, highway, bridge, or public
place within any one city or town, and includes all equipment, switches, spurs, tracks, bridges, right of trackage, subways, tunnels, stations, terminals, and terminal facilities of
every kind used, operated, controlled, or owned by or in connection with any such street railroad, within this state.
"Street railroad company" includes every corporation,
company, association, joint stock association, partnership,
and person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by
any court whatsoever, and every city or town, owning, controlling, operating, or managing any street railroad or any
cars or other equipment used thereon or in connection therewith within this state.
81.04.010
[Title 81 RCW—page 2]
"Railroad" includes every railroad, other than street railroad, by whatsoever power operated for public use in the conveyance of persons or property for hire, with all bridges, ferries, tunnels, equipment, switches, spurs, tracks, stations, and
terminal facilities of every kind used, operated, controlled, or
owned by or in connection with any such railroad.
"Railroad company" includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership, or person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any
court whatsoever, owning, operating, controlling, or managing any railroad or any cars or other equipment used thereon
or in connection therewith within this state.
"Express company" includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership, and
person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any
court whatsoever, who shall engage in or transact the business of carrying any freight, merchandise, or property for hire
on the line of any common carrier operated in this state.
"Common carrier" includes all railroads, railroad companies, street railroads, street railroad companies, commercial
ferries, express companies, car companies, sleeping car companies, freight companies, freight line companies, and every
corporation, company, association, joint stock association,
partnership, and person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers
appointed by any court whatsoever, and every city or town,
owning, operating, managing, or controlling any such agency
for public use in the conveyance of persons or property for
hire within this state.
"Vessel" includes every species of watercraft, by whatsoever power operated, for public use in the conveyance of
persons or property for hire over and upon the waters within
this state, excepting all towboats, tugs, scows, barges, and
lighters, and excepting rowboats and sailing boats under
twenty gross tons burden, open steam launches of five tons
gross and under, and vessels under five tons gross propelled
by gas, fluid, naphtha, or electric motors.
"Commercial ferry" includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership, and
person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any
court whatsoever, owning, controlling, leasing, operating, or
managing any vessel over and upon the waters of this state.
"Transportation of property" includes any service in connection with the receiving, delivery, elevation, transfer in
transit, ventilation, refrigeration, icing, storage, and handling
of the property transported, and the transmission of credit.
"Transportation of persons" includes any service in connection with the receiving, carriage, and delivery of the person transported and his baggage and all facilities used, or
necessary to be used in connection with the safety, comfort,
and convenience of the person transported.
"Public service company" includes every common carrier.
The term "service" is used in this title in its broadest and
most inclusive sense. [1993 c 427 § 9; 1991 c 272 § 3; 1981
c 13 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.010. Prior: 1955 c 316 § 3; prior:
1929 c 223 § 1, part; 1923 c 116 § 1, part; 1911 c 117 § 8,
part; RRS § 10344, part.]
Effective dates—1991 c 272: See RCW 81.108.901.
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
81.04.020 Procedure before commission and courts.
Each commissioner shall have power to administer oaths,
certify to all official acts, and to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, waybills,
books, accounts, documents and testimony in any inquiry,
investigation, hearing or proceeding in any part of the state.
The superior court of the county in which any such
inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding may be had,
shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and
the production of papers, waybills, books, accounts, documents and testimony as required by such subpoena. The commission or the commissioner before which the testimony is to
be given or produced, in case of the refusal of any witness to
attend or testify or produce any papers required by the subpoena, shall report to the superior court in and for the county
in which the proceeding is pending by petition, setting forth
that due notice has been given of the time and place of attendance of said witnesses, or the production of said papers, and
that the witness has been summoned in the manner prescribed
in this chapter, and that the fees and mileage of the witness
have been paid or tendered to the witness for his attendance
and testimony, and that the witness has failed and refused to
attend or produce the papers required by the subpoena, before
the commission, in the cause or proceedings named in the
notice and subpoena, or has refused to answer questions propounded to him in the course of such proceeding, and ask an
order of said court, compelling the witness to attend and testify before the commission. The court, upon the petition of
the commission, shall enter an order directing the witness to
appear before said court at a time and place to be fixed by the
court in such order, and then and there show cause why he
has not responded to said subpoena. A copy of said order
shall be served upon said witness. If it shall appear to the
court that said subpoena was regularly issued by the commission, the court shall thereupon enter an order that said witness
appear before the commission at said time and place as fixed
in said order, and testify or produce the required papers, and
upon failing to obey said order, said witness shall be dealt
with as for contempt of court. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.020. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 75, part; RRS § 10413, part.]
81.04.020
81.04.080
from testifying, but such evidence or testimony shall not be
used against such person on the trial of any criminal proceeding, excepting in a prosecution for perjury. The commissioner shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses at any place within the state. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.050.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS § 10414, part.]
81.04.060
81.04.060 Deposition—Service of process. The commission shall have the right to take the testimony of any witness by deposition, and for that purpose the attendance of
witnesses and the production of books, waybills, documents,
papers and accounts may be enforced in the same manner as
in the case of hearings before the commission, or any member thereof. Process issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be served as in civil cases. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.060.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS § 10414, part.]
81.04.070
81.04.070 Inspection of books, papers, and documents. The commission and each commissioner, or any person employed by the commission, shall have the right, at any
and all times, to inspect the accounts, books, papers and documents of any public service company, and the commission,
or any commissioner, may examine under oath any officer,
agent or employee of such public service company in relation
thereto, and with reference to the affairs of such company:
PROVIDED, That any person other than a commissioner
who shall make any such demand shall produce his authority
from the commission to make such inspection. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.070. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 77; RRS § 10415.]
81.04.075
81.04.075 Manner of serving papers. All notices,
applications, complaints, findings of fact, opinions and
orders required by this title to be served may be served by
mail and service thereof shall be deemed complete when a
true copy of such paper or document is deposited in the post
office properly addressed and stamped. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.075. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 7; RRS § 10458-1. Formerly
RCW 81.04.370.]
81.04.080
81.04.030 Number of witnesses may be limited. In all
proceedings before the commission the commission shall
have the right, in their discretion, to limit the number of witnesses testifying upon any subject or proceeding to be
inquired of before the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.030.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 75, part; RRS § 10413, part.]
81.04.030
81.04.040 Witness fees and mileage. Each witness
who appears under subpoena shall receive for his attendance
four dollars per day and ten cents per mile traveled by the
nearest practicable route in going to and returning from the
place of hearing. No witness shall be entitled to fees or mileage from the state when summoned at the instance of the public service companies affected. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.040.
Prior: 1955 c 79 § 3; 1911 c 117 § 76, part; RRS § 10414,
part.]
81.04.040
81.04.050 Protection against self-incrimination. The
claim by any witness that any testimony sought to be elicited
may tend to incriminate him shall not excuse such witness
81.04.050
(2006 Ed.)
81.04.080 Annual report. Every public service company shall annually furnish to the commission a report in
such form as the commission may require, and shall specifically answer all questions propounded to it by the commission, upon or concerning which the commission may need
information. Such annual reports shall show in detail the
amount of capital stock issued, the amounts paid therefor and
the manner of payment for same, the dividends paid, the surplus fund, if any, and the number of stockholders, the funded
and floating debts and the interest paid thereon, the cost and
value of the company’s property, franchises and equipment,
the number of employees and the salaries paid each class, the
accidents to passengers, employees and other persons and the
cost thereof, the amounts expended for improvements each
year, how expended and the character of such improvements,
the earnings or receipts from each franchise or business and
from all sources, the proportion thereof earned from business
moving wholly within the state and the proportion earned
from interstate traffic, the nature of the traffic movement
showing the percentage of the ton miles each class of commodity bears to the total ton mileage, the operating and other
[Title 81 RCW—page 3]
81.04.090
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
expenses and the proportion of such expense incurred in
transacting business wholly within the state, and the proportion incurred in transacting interstate business, such division
to be shown according to such rules of division as the commission may prescribe, the balances of profit and loss, and a
complete exhibit of the financial operations of the carrier
each year, including an annual balance sheet. Such report
shall also contain such information in relation to rates,
charges or regulations concerning fares, charges or freights,
or agreements, arrangements or contracts affecting the same,
as the commission may require; and the commission may, in
its discretion, for the purpose of enabling it the better to carry
out the provisions of this title, prescribe the period of time
within which all public service companies subject to the provisions of this title shall have, as near as may be, a uniform
system of accounts, and the manner in which such accounts
shall be kept. Such detailed report shall contain all the
required statistics for the period of twelve months ending on
the last day of any particular month prescribed by the commission for any public service company. Such reports shall
be made out under oath and filed with the commission at its
office in Olympia on such date as the commission specifies
by rule, unless additional time be granted in any case by the
commission. The commission shall have authority to require
any public service company to file monthly reports of earnings and expenses, and to file periodical or special, or both
periodical and special, reports concerning any matter about
which the commission is authorized or required by this or any
other law, to inquire into or keep itself informed about, or
which it is required to enforce, such periodical or special
reports to be under oath whenever the commission so
requires. [1989 c 107 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.080. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 78, part; RRS § 10416, part.]
81.04.090
81.04.090 Forms of records to be prescribed. The
commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of any
and all accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by public
service companies, including the accounts, records and memoranda of the movement of traffic, sales of its product, the
receipts and expenditures of money. The commission shall at
all times have access to all accounts, records and memoranda
kept by public service companies, and may employ special
agents or examiners, who shall have power to administer
oaths and authority, under the order of the commission, to
examine witnesses and to inspect and examine any and all
accounts, records and memoranda kept by such companies.
The commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of
any and all reports, accounts, records and memoranda to be
furnished and kept by any public service company whose line
or lines extend beyond the limits of this state, which are operated partly within and partly without the state, so that the
same shall show any information required by the commission
concerning the traffic movement, receipts and expenditures
appertaining to those parts of the line within the state. [1961
c 14 § 81.04.090. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 78, part; RRS § 10416,
part.]
81.04.100
81.04.100 Production of out-of-state books and
records. The commission may by order with or without
hearing require the production within this state, at such time
[Title 81 RCW—page 4]
and place as it may designate, of any books, accounts, papers
or records kept by any public service company in any office
or place without this state, or at the option of the company
verified copies thereof, so that an examination thereof may be
made by the commission or under its direction. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.100. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 2; 1911 c 117 § 79; RRS §
10421.]
81.04.110
81.04.110 Complaint—Hearing. Complaint may be
made by the commission of its own motion or by any person
or corporation, chamber of commerce, board of trade, or any
commercial, mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, or any body politic or municipal corporation, by petition
or complaint in writing, setting forth any act or thing done or
omitted to be done by any public service company or any person, persons, or entity acting as a public service company in
violation, or claimed to be in violation, of any provision of
law or of any order or rule of the commission.
When two or more public service companies or a person,
persons, or entity acting as a public service company, (meaning to exclude municipal and other public corporations) are
engaged in competition in any locality or localities in the
state, either may make complaint against the other or others
that the rates, charges, rules, regulations or practices of such
other or others with or in respect to which the complainant is
in competition, are unreasonable, unremunerative, discriminatory, illegal, unfair or intending or tending to oppress the
complainant, to stifle competition, or to create or encourage
the creation of monopoly, and upon such complaint or upon
complaint of the commission upon its own motion, the commission shall have power, after notice and hearing as in other
cases, to, by its order, subject to appeal as in other cases, correct the abuse complained of by establishing such uniform
rates, charges, rules, regulations or practices in lieu of those
complained of, to be observed by all of such competing public service companies in the locality or localities specified as
shall be found reasonable, remunerative, nondiscriminatory,
legal, and fair or tending to prevent oppression or monopoly
or to encourage competition, and upon any such hearing it
shall be proper for the commission to take into consideration
the rates, charges, rules, regulations and practices of the public service company or companies complained of in any other
locality or localities in the state.
All matters upon which complaint may be founded may
be joined in one hearing, and no motion shall be entertained
against a complaint for misjoinder of complaints or grievances or misjoinder of parties; and in any review of the courts
of orders of the commission the same rule shall apply and
pertain with regard to the joinder of complaints and parties as
herein provided: PROVIDED, All grievances to be inquired
into shall be plainly set forth in the complaint. No complaint
shall be dismissed because of the absence of direct damage to
the complainant.
Upon the filing of a complaint, the commission shall
cause a copy thereof to be served upon the person or company complained of, which shall be accompanied by a notice
fixing the time when and place where a hearing will be had
upon such complaint. The time fixed for such hearing shall
not be less than ten days after the date of the service of such
notice and complaint, excepting as herein provided. Rules of
practice and procedure not otherwise provided for in this title
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
may be prescribed by the commission. [1994 c 37 § 2; 1961
c 14 § 81.04.110. Prior: 1913 c 145 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 80;
RRS § 10422.]
Intent—1994 c 37: "It is the intent of the legislature to clarify that the
utilities and transportation commission has the authority to make more efficient use of its resources, provide quicker resolution of complaints regarding
transportation tariff matters, eliminate duplicative hearings on classification
and violation matters, and to make certain that criminal proceedings involving alleged violations of transportation tariffs not be dismissed because of
confusion regarding whether a defendant has received a classification by the
commission." [1994 c 37 § 1.]
81.04.160
increase any rate, fare, charge, rental, or toll theretofore
charged, the burden of proof to show that such increase is just
and reasonable is upon the public service company. When
any common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the commission files any tariff, classification, rule, or regulation the
effect of which is to decrease any rate, fare, or charge, the
burden of proof to show that such decrease is just and reasonable is upon the common carrier. [1993 c 300 § 1; 1984 c 143
§ 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.130. Prior: 1941 c 162 § 1; 1937 c 169
§ 2; 1933 c 165 § 3; 1915 c 133 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 82; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 10424.]
81.04.120
81.04.120 Hearing—Order—Record. At the time
fixed for the hearing mentioned in RCW 81.04.110, the complainant and the person or corporation complained of shall be
entitled to be heard and introduce such evidence as he or it
may desire. The commission shall issue process to enforce
the attendance of all necessary witnesses. At the conclusion
of such hearing the commission shall make and render findings concerning the subject matter and facts inquired into and
enter its order based thereon. A copy of such order, certified
under the seal of the commission, shall be served upon the
person or corporation complained of, or his or its attorney,
which order shall, of its own force, take effect and become
operative twenty days after the service thereof, except as otherwise provided. Where an order cannot, in the judgment of
the commission, be complied with within twenty days, the
commission may prescribe such additional time as in its judgment is reasonably necessary to comply with the order, and
may, on application and for good cause shown, extend the
time for compliance fixed in its order. A full and complete
record of all proceedings had before the commission, or any
member thereof, on any formal hearing had, and all testimony shall be taken down by a stenographer appointed by the
commission, and the parties shall be entitled to be heard in
person or by attorney. In case of an action to review any order
of the commission, a transcript of such testimony, together
with all exhibits introduced, and of the record and proceedings in the cause, shall constitute the record of the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.120. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 81; RRS §
10423.]
81.04.130
81.04.130 Suspension of tariff change. Whenever any
public service company, other than a railroad company, files
with the commission any schedule, classification, rule, or
regulation, the effect of which is to change any rate, fare,
charge, rental, or toll previously charged, the commission has
power, either upon its own motion or upon complaint, upon
notice, to hold a hearing concerning the proposed change and
the reasonableness and justness of it. Pending the hearing and
the decision the commission may suspend the operation of
the rate, fare, charge, rental, or toll, if the change is proposed
by a common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, other than a solid waste collection company, for a
period not exceeding seven months, and, if proposed by a
solid waste collection company, for a period not exceeding
ten months from the time the change would otherwise go into
effect. After a full hearing the commission may make such
order in reference to the change as would be provided in a
hearing initiated after the change had become effective.
At any hearing involving any change in any schedule,
classification, rule, or regulation the effect of which is to
(2006 Ed.)
81.04.140
81.04.140 Order requiring joint action. Whenever
any order of the commission shall require joint action by two
or more public service companies, such order shall specify
that the same shall be made at their joint cost, and the companies affected shall have thirty days, or such further time, as
the commission may prescribe, within which to agree upon
the part or division of cost which each shall bear, and costs of
operation and maintenance in the future, or the proportion of
charges or revenue each shall receive from such joint service
and the rules to govern future operations. If at the expiration
of such time such companies shall fail to file with the commission a statement that an agreement has been made for the
division or apportionment of such cost, the division of costs
of operation and maintenance to be incurred in the future and
the proportion of charges or revenue each shall receive from
such joint service and the rules to govern future operations,
the commission shall have authority, after further hearing, to
enter a supplemental order fixing the proportion of such cost
or expense to be borne by each company, and the manner in
which the same shall be paid and secured. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.140. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 83; RRS § 10425.]
81.04.150
81.04.150 Remunerative rate—No change without
approval prohibited. Whenever the commission finds, after
hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint as provided in this chapter, that any rate, toll, rental, or charge that
has been the subject of complaint and inquiry is sufficiently
remunerative to the public service company, other than a railroad company, affected by it, the commission may order that
the rate, toll, rental, or charge shall not be changed, altered,
abrogated, or discontinued, nor shall there be any change in
the classification that will change or alter the rate, toll, rental,
or charge without first obtaining the consent of the commission authorizing the change to be made. [1984 c 143 § 2;
1961 c 14 § 81.04.150. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 84; RRS §
10426.]
81.04.160
81.04.160 Rules and regulations. The commission is
hereby authorized and empowered to adopt, promulgate and
issue rules and regulations covering the bulletining of trains,
showing the time of arrival and departure of all trains, and the
probable arrival and departure of delayed trains; the conditions to be contained in and become a part of contracts for
transportation of persons and property, and any and all services concerning the same, or connected therewith; the time
that station rooms and offices shall be kept open; rules governing demurrage and reciprocal demurrage, and to provide
reasonable penalties to expedite the prompt movement of
[Title 81 RCW—page 5]
81.04.170
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
freight and release of cars, the limits of express deliveries in
cities and towns, and generally such rules as pertain to the
comfort and convenience of the public concerning the subjects treated of in this title. Such rules and regulations shall be
promulgated and issued by the commission on its own
motion, and shall be served on the public service company
affected thereby as other orders of the commission are
served. Any public service company affected thereby, and
deeming such rules and regulations, or any of them,
improper, unjust, unreasonable, or contrary to law, may
within twenty days from the date of service of such order
upon it file objections thereto with the commission, specifying the particular grounds of such objections. The commission shall, upon receipt of such objections, fix a time and
place for hearing the same, and after a full hearing may make
such changes or modifications thereto, if any, as the evidence
may justify. The commission shall have, and it is hereby
given, power to adopt rules to govern its proceedings, and to
regulate the mode and manner of all investigations and hearings: PROVIDED, No person desiring to be present at such
hearing shall be denied permission. Actions may be instituted
to review rules and regulations promulgated under this section as in the case of orders of the commission. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.160. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 85; RRS § 10427.]
No order so restraining or suspending an order of the
commission relating to rates, fares, charges, tolls or rentals,
or rules or regulations, practices, classifications or contracts
affecting the same, shall be made by the superior court otherwise than upon three days’ notice and after hearing, and if a
supersedeas is granted the order granting the same shall contain a specific finding, based upon evidence submitted to the
court making the order, and identified by reference thereto,
that great or irreparable damage would otherwise result to the
petitioner, and specifying the nature of the damage.
In case the order of the commission under review is
superseded by the court, it shall require a bond, with good
and sufficient surety, conditioned that such company petitioning for such review shall answer for all damages caused
by the delay in the enforcement of the order of the commission, and all compensation for whatever sums for transportation any person or corporation shall be compelled to pay
pending the review proceedings in excess of the sum such
person or corporations would have been compelled to pay if
the order of the commission had not been suspended.
The court may, in addition to or in lieu of the bond herein
provided for, require such other or further security for the
payment of such excess charges or damages as it may deem
proper. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.180. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 6; prior:
1931 c 119 § 2; 1911 c 117 § 87; RRS § 10429.]
81.04.170
81.04.170 Review of orders. Any complainant or any
public service company affected by any findings or order of
the commission, and deeming such findings or order to be
contrary to law, may, within thirty days after the service of
the findings or order upon him or it, apply to the superior
court of Thurston county for a writ of review, for the purpose
of having the reasonableness and lawfulness of such findings
or order inquired into and determined. Such writ shall be
made returnable not later than thirty days from and after the
date of the issuance thereof, unless upon notice to all parties
affected further time be allowed by the court, and shall direct
the commission to certify its record in the case to the court.
Such cause shall be heard by the court without the intervention of a jury on the evidence and exhibits introduced before
the commission and certified to by it. Upon such hearing the
superior court shall enter judgment either affirming or setting
aside or remanding for further action the findings or order of
the commission under review. The reasonable cost of preparing the transcript of testimony taken before the commission
shall be assessable as part of the statutory court costs, and the
amount thereof, if collected by the commission, shall be
deposited in the public service revolving fund. In case such
findings or order be set aside, or reversed and remanded, the
court shall make specific findings based upon evidence in the
record indicating clearly all respects in which the commission’s findings or order are erroneous. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.170. Prior: 1937 c 169 § 3; 1911 c 117 § 86; RRS §
10428.]
81.04.180
81.04.180 Supersedeas. The pendency of any writ of
review shall not of itself stay or suspend the operation of the
order of the commission, but the superior court in its discretion may restrain or suspend, in whole or in part, the operation of the commission’s order pending the final hearing and
determination of the suit.
[Title 81 RCW—page 6]
81.04.190
81.04.190 Appellate review. The commission, any
public service company or any complainant may, after the
entry of judgment in the superior court in any action of
review, seek appellate review as in other cases. [1988 c 202
§ 63; 1971 ex.s. c 107 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.190. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 88; RRS § 10430.]
Rules of court: Cf. RAP 2.2.
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
81.04.200
81.04.200 Rehearing before commission. Any public
service company affected by any order of the commission,
and deeming itself aggrieved, may, after the expiration of two
years from the date of such order taking effect, petition the
commission for a rehearing upon the matters involved in such
order, setting forth in such petition the grounds and reasons
for such rehearing, which grounds and reasons may comprise
and consist of changed conditions since the issuance of such
order, or by showing a result injuriously affecting the petitioner which was not considered or anticipated at the former
hearing, or that the effect of such order has been such as was
not contemplated by the commission or the petitioner, or for
any good and sufficient cause which for any reason was not
considered and determined in such former hearing. Upon the
filing of such petition, such proceedings shall be had thereon
as are provided for hearings upon complaint, and such orders
may be reviewed as are other orders of the commission:
PROVIDED, That no order superseding the order of the commission denying such rehearing shall be granted by the court
pending the review. In case any order of the commission shall
not be reviewed, but shall be complied with by the public service company, such petition for rehearing may be filed within
six months from and after the date of the taking effect of such
order, and the proceedings thereon shall be as in this section
provided. The commission, may, in its discretion, permit the
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
filing of a petition for rehearing at any time. No order of the
commission upon a rehearing shall affect any right of action
or penalty accruing under the original order unless so ordered
by the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.200. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 89; RRS § 10431.]
81.04.210
81.04.210 Commission may change orders. The commission may at any time, upon notice to the public service
company affected, and after opportunity to be heard as provided in the case of complaints rescind, alter or amend any
order or rule made, issued or promulgated by it, and any order
or rule rescinding, altering or amending any prior order or
rule shall, when served upon the public service company
affected, have the same effect as herein provided for original
orders and rules. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.210. Prior: 1911 c 117
§ 90; RRS § 10432.]
81.04.220
81.04.220 Reparations. When complaint has been
made to the commission concerning the reasonableness of
any rate, fare, toll, rental or charge for any service performed
by any public service company, and the same has been investigated by the commission, and the commission has determined that the public service company has charged an excessive or exorbitant amount for such service, and the commission has determined that any party complainant is entitled to
an award of damages, the commission shall order that the
public service company pay to the complainant the excess
amount found to have been charged, whether such excess
amount was charged and collected before or after the filing of
said complaint, with interest from the date of the collection of
said excess amount. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.220. Prior: 1943 c
258 § 1; 1937 c 29 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10433.]
81.04.230
81.04.230 Overcharges—Refund. When complaint
has been made to the commission that any public service
company has charged an amount for any service rendered in
excess of the lawful rate in force at the time such charge was
made, and the same has been investigated and the commission has determined that the overcharge allegation is true, the
commission may order that the public service company pay
to the complainant the amount of the overcharge so found,
whether such overcharge was made before or after the filing
of said complaint, with interest from the date of collection of
such overcharge. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.230. Prior: 1937 c 29 §
2; RRS § 10433-1.]
81.04.235
81.04.235 Limitation of actions. All complaints
against public service companies for recovery of overcharges
shall be filed with the commission within two years from the
time the cause of action accrues, and not after, except as hereinafter provided, and except that if claim for the overcharge
has been presented in writing to the public service company
within the two-year period of limitation, said period shall be
extended to include six months from the time notice in writing is given by the public service company to the claimant of
disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice.
If on or before expiration of the two-year period of limitation for the recovery of overcharges, a public service company begins action under RCW 81.28.270 for recovery of
(2006 Ed.)
81.04.240
charges in respect of the same transportation service, or,
without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that
service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include
ninety days from the time such action is begun or such
charges are collected by the carrier.
All complaints against public service companies for the
recovery of damages not based on overcharges shall be filed
with the commission within six months from the time the
cause of action accrues except as hereinafter provided.
The six-month period of limitation for recovery of damages not based on overcharges shall be extended for a like
period and under the same conditions as prescribed for recovery of overcharges. If the six-month period for recovery of
damages not based on overcharges has expired at the time
action is commenced under RCW 81.28.270 for recovery of
charges with respect to the same transportation service, or,
without beginning such action, charges are collected with
respect to that service, complaints therefor shall be filed with
the commission within ninety days from the commencement
of such action or the collection of such charges by the carrier.
[1963 c 59 § 4; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.235. Prior: 1955 c 79 § 5.]
81.04.236
81.04.236 When cause of action deemed to accrue.
The cause of action for the purposes of RCW 81.04.235,
81.04.240, and 81.28.270 shall be deemed to accrue: (a) In
respect of a shipment of property, upon delivery or tender of
delivery thereof by the carrier, and not after; (b) in respect of
goods or service or services other than a shipment of property, upon the rendering of an invoice or statement of charges
by the public service company, and not after.
The provisions of this section shall extend to and
embrace cases in which the cause of action has heretofore
accrued as well as cases in which the cause of action may
hereafter accrue. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.236. Prior: 1955 c 79 §
6.]
81.04.240
81.04.240 Action in court on reparations and overcharges. If the public service company does not comply with
the order of the commission for the payment of damages or
overcharges within the time limited in the order, action may
be brought in any superior court where service may be had
upon the company to recover the amount of damages or overcharges with interest. The commission shall certify and file
its record in the case, including all exhibits, with the clerk of
the court within thirty days after such action is started and the
action shall be heard on the evidence and exhibits introduced
before the commission and certified to by it.
If the complainant shall prevail in the action, the court
shall enter judgment for the amount of damages or overcharges with interest and shall allow complainant a reasonable attorney’s fee, and the cost of preparing and certifying
the record for the benefit of and to be paid to the commission
by complainant, and deposited by the commission in the public service revolving fund, said sums to be fixed and collected
as a part of the costs of the action.
If the order of the commission is found contrary to law or
erroneous by reason of the rejection of testimony properly
offered, the court shall remand the cause to the commission
with instructions to receive the testimony so proffered and
[Title 81 RCW—page 7]
81.04.250
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
rejected and enter a new order based upon the evidence theretofore taken and such as it is directed to receive.
The court may remand any action which is reversed by it
to the commission for further action.
Appeals to the supreme court shall lie as in other civil
cases. Action to recover damages or overcharges shall be
filed in the superior court within one year from the date of the
order of the commission.
The procedure provided in this section is exclusive, and
neither the supreme court nor any superior court shall have
jurisdiction save in the manner hereinbefore provided. [1961
c 14 § 81.04.240. Prior: 1955 c 79 § 4; 1943 c 258 § 2; 1937
c 29 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10433-2.]
81.04.250
81.04.250 Determination of rates. The commission
has the power upon complaint or upon its own motion to prescribe and authorize just and reasonable rates for the transportation of persons or property by carriers other than railroad companies, and shall exercise that power whenever and
as often as it deems necessary or proper. The commission
shall, before any hearing is had upon the complaint or
motion, notify the complainants and the carrier concerned of
the time and place of the hearing by giving at least ten days’
written notice thereof, specifying that at the time and place
designated a hearing will be held for the purpose of prescribing and authorizing the rates. The notice is sufficient to
authorize the commission to inquire into and pass upon the
matters designated in this section.
In exercising this power the commission may use any
standard, formula, method, or theory of valuation reasonably
calculated to arrive at the objective of prescribing and authorizing just and reasonable rates.
In the exercise of this power the commission may give
consideration, in addition to other factors, to the following:
(1) To the effect of the rates upon movement of traffic by
the carriers;
(2) To the public need for adequate transportation facilities, equipment, and service at the lowest level of charges
consistent with the provision, maintenance, and renewal of
the facilities, equipment and service; and
(3) To the carrier need for revenue of a level that under
honest, efficient, and economical management is sufficient to
cover the cost (including all operating expenses, depreciation
accruals, rents, and taxes of every kind) of providing adequate transportation service, plus an amount equal to the percentage of that cost as is reasonably necessary for the provision, maintenance, and renewal of the transportation facilities
or equipment and a reasonable profit to the carrier. The relation of carrier expenses to carrier revenues may be deemed
the proper test of a reasonable profit.
This section does not apply to railroad companies, which
shall be regulated in this regard by *chapter 81.34 RCW and
rules adopted thereunder. [1984 c 143 § 3; 1961 c 14 §
81.04.250. Prior: 1951 c 75 § 1; 1933 c 165 § 4; 1913 c 182
§ 1; 1911 c 117 § 92; RRS § 10441.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.34 RCW was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.04.260
81.04.260 Summary proceedings. Whenever the commission shall be of opinion that any public service company
is failing or omitting, or about to fail or omit, to do anything
[Title 81 RCW—page 8]
required of it by law, or by order, direction or requirement of
the commission, or is doing anything, or about to do anything, or permitting anything, or about to permit anything to
be done contrary to or in violation of law or of any order,
direction or requirement of the commission authorized by
this title, it shall direct the attorney general to commence an
action or proceeding in the superior court of the state of
Washington for Thurston county, or in the superior court of
any county in which such company may do business, in the
name of the state of Washington on the relation of the commission, for the purpose of having such violations or threatened violations stopped and prevented, either by mandamus
or injunction. The attorney general shall thereupon begin
such action or proceeding by petition to such superior court,
alleging the violation complained of, and praying for appropriate relief by way of mandamus or injunction. It shall thereupon be the duty of the court to specify a time, not exceeding
twenty days after the service of the copy of the petition,
within which the public service company complained of must
answer the petition. In case of default in answer or after
answer, the court shall immediately inquire into the facts and
circumstances in such manner as the court shall direct, without other or formal pleadings, and without respect to any
technical requirement. Such persons or corporations as the
court may deem necessary or proper to be joined as parties, in
order to make its judgment, order or writ effective, may be
joined as parties. The final judgment in any such action or
proceeding shall either dismiss the action or proceeding or
direct that the writ of mandamus or injunction, or both, issue
as prayed for in the petition, or in such other modified form
as the court may determine will afford appropriate relief.
Appellate review of the final judgment may be sought in the
same manner and with the same effect as review of judgments of the superior court in actions to review orders of the
commission. All provisions of this chapter relating to the
time of review, the manner of perfecting the same, the filing
of briefs, hearings and supersedeas, shall apply to appeals to
the supreme court or the court of appeals under the provisions
of this section. [1988 c 202 § 64; 1971 c 81 § 143; 1961 c 14
§ 81.04.260. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 93; RRS § 10442.]
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
81.04.270
81.04.270 Merchandise accounts to be kept separate.
Any public service company engaging in the sale of merchandise or appliances or equipment shall keep separate
accounts, as prescribed by the commission, of its capital
employed in such business and of its revenues therefrom and
operating expenses thereof. The capital employed in such
business shall not constitute a part of the fair value of said
company’s property for rate making purposes, nor shall the
revenues from or operating expenses of such business constitute a part of the operating revenues and expenses of said
company as a public service company. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.270. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 8; RRS § 10458-2.]
81.04.280
81.04.280 Purchase and sale of stock by employees.
No public service company shall permit any employee to sell,
offer for sale, or solicit the purchase of any security of any
other person or corporation during such hours as such
employee is engaged to perform any duty of such public ser(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
vice company; nor shall any public service company by any
means or device require any employee to purchase or contract
to purchase any of its securities or those of any other person
or corporation; nor shall any public service company require
any employee to permit the deduction from his wages or salary of any sum as a payment or to be applied as a payment of
any purchase or contract to purchase any security of such
public service company or of any other person or corporation.
[1961 c 14 § 81.04.280. Prior: 1933 c 165 § 9; RRS § 104583.]
81.04.290
81.04.290 Sale of stock to employees and patrons. A
corporate public service company, either heretofore or hereafter organized under the laws of this state, may sell to its
employees and patrons any increase of its capital stock, or
part thereof, without first offering it to existing stockholders:
PROVIDED, That such sale is approved by the holders of a
majority of the capital stock, at a regular or special meeting
held after notice given as to the time, place, and object
thereof as provided by law and the bylaws of the company.
Such sales shall be at prices and in amounts for each purchaser and upon terms and conditions as set forth in the resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting, or in a resolution
passed at a subsequent meeting of the board of trustees if the
resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting shall authorize
the board to determine prices, amounts, terms, and conditions, except that in either event a minimum price for the
stock must be fixed in the resolution passed at the stockholders’ meeting. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.290. Prior: 1955 c 79 § 7;
1923 c 110 § 1; RRS § 10344-1.]
81.04.300
81.04.300 Budgets to be filed by companies—Supplementary budgets. The commission may regulate, restrict,
and control the budgets of expenditures of public service
companies. Each company shall prepare a budget showing
the amount of money which, in its judgment, will be needed
during the ensuing year for maintenance, operation, and construction, classified by accounts as prescribed by the commission, and shall within ten days of the date it is approved by the
company file it with the commission for its investigation and
approval or rejection. When a budget has been filed with the
commission it shall examine into and investigate it to determine whether the expenditures therein proposed are fair and
reasonable and not contrary to public interest.
Adjustments or additions to budget expenditures may be
made from time to time during the year by filing a supplementary budget with the commission for its investigation and
approval or rejection. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.300. Prior: 1959 c
248 § 15; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
81.04.310
81.04.310 Commission’s control over expenditures.
The commission may, both as to original and supplementary
budgets, prior to the making or contracting for the expenditure of any item therein, and after notice to the company and
a hearing thereon, reject any item of the budget. The commission may require any company to furnish further information,
data, or detail as to any proposed item of expenditure.
Failure of the commission to object to any item of expenditure within sixty days of the filing of any original budget or
within thirty days of the filing of any supplementary budget
(2006 Ed.)
81.04.350
shall constitute authority to the company to proceed with the
making of or contracting for such expenditure, but such
authority may be terminated at any time by objection made
thereto by the commission prior to the making of or contracting for such expenditure.
Examination, investigation, and determination of the
budget by the commission shall not bar or estop it from later
determining whether any of the expenditures made thereunder are fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the service,
material, supplies, or equipment received. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.310. Prior: 1959 c 248 § 16; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10,
part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
81.04.320
81.04.320 Budget rules and regulations. The commission may prescribe the necessary rules and regulations to
place RCW 81.04.300 through 81.04.330 in operation. It may
by general order, exempt in whole or in part from the operation thereof companies whose gross operating revenues are
less than twenty-five thousand dollars a year. The commission may upon request of any company withhold from publication during such time as the commission may deem advisable, any portion of any original or supplementary budget
relating to proposed capital expenditures. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.320. Prior: 1959 c 248 § 17; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10,
part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
81.04.330
81.04.330 Effect of unauthorized expenditure—
Emergencies. Any public service company may make or
contract for any rejected item of expenditure, but in such case
the same shall not be allowed as an operating expense, or as
to items of construction, as a part of the fair value of the company’s property used and useful in serving the public: PROVIDED, That such items of construction may at any time
thereafter be so allowed in whole or in part upon proof that
they are used and useful. Any company may upon the happening of any emergency caused by fire, flood, explosion,
storm, earthquake, riot, or insurrection, or for the immediate
preservation or restoration to condition of usefulness of any
of its property, the usefulness of which has been destroyed by
accident, make the necessary expenditure therefor free from
the operation of RCW 81.04.300 through 81.04.330.
Any finding and order entered by the commission shall
be in effect until vacated and set aside in proper proceedings
for review thereof. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.330. Prior: 1959 c 248
§ 18; prior: 1933 c 165 § 10, part; RRS § 10458-4, part.]
81.04.350
81.04.350 Depreciation and retirement accounts.
The commission shall have power after hearing to require
any or all public service companies to carry proper and adequate depreciation or retirement accounts in accordance with
such rules, regulations and forms of accounts as the commission may prescribe. The commission may from time to time
ascertain and by order fix the proper and adequate rates of
depreciation or retirement of the several classes of property
of each public service company. Each public service company shall conform its depreciation or retirement accounts to
the rates so prescribed. In fixing the rate of the annual depreciation or retirement charge, the commission may consider
the rate and amount theretofore charged by the company for
depreciation or retirement.
[Title 81 RCW—page 9]
81.04.360
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
The commission shall have and exercise like power and
authority over all other reserve accounts of public service
companies. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.350. Prior: 1937 c 169 § 4;
1933 c 165 § 13; RRS § 10458-7.]
every offense. Every such violation shall be a separate and
distinct offense, and the penalty shall be recovered in an
action as provided in RCW 81.04.400. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.387. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 96; RRS § 10445. Formerly
RCW 81.04.380, part.]
81.04.360
81.04.360 Excessive earnings to reserve fund. If any
public service company earns in the period of five consecutive years immediately preceding the commission order fixing rates for such company a net utility operating income in
excess of a reasonable rate of return upon the fair value of its
property used and useful in the public service, the commission shall take official notice of such fact and of whether any
such excess earnings shall have been invested in such company’s plant or otherwise used for purposes beneficial to the
consumers of such company and may consider such facts in
fixing rates for such company. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.360. Prior:
1959 c 285 § 3; 1933 c 165 § 14; RRS § 10458-8.]
81.04.380
81.04.380 Penalties—Violations by public service
companies. Every public service company, and all officers,
agents and employees of any public service company, shall
obey, observe and comply with every order, rule, direction or
requirement made by the commission under authority of this
title, so long as the same shall be and remain in force. Any
public service company which shall violate or fail to comply
with any provision of this title, or which fails, omits or
neglects to obey, observe or comply with any order, rule, or
any direction, demand or requirement of the commission,
shall be subject to a penalty of not to exceed the sum of one
thousand dollars for each and every offense. Every violation
of any such order, direction or requirement of this title shall
be a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing
violation every day’s continuance thereof shall be and be
deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.380. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 94; RRS § 10443.]
81.04.385
81.04.385 Penalties—Violations by officers, agents,
and employees of public service companies and persons
or entities acting as public service companies. Every
officer, agent or employee of any public service company or
any person, persons, or entity acting as a public service company, who shall violate or fail to comply with, or who procures, aids or abets any violation by any public service company of any provision of this title, or who shall fail to obey,
observe or comply with any order of the commission, or any
provision of any order of the commission, or who procures,
aids or abets any such public service company in its failure to
obey, observe and comply with any such order or provision,
shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1994 c 37 § 3; 1961
c 14 § 81.04.385. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 95; RRS § 10444. Formerly RCW 81.04.390, part.]
Intent—1994 c 37: See note following RCW 81.04.110.
81.04.387
81.04.387 Penalties—Violations by other corporations. Every corporation, other than a public service company, which shall violate any provision of this title, or which
shall fail to obey, observe or comply with any order of the
commission under authority of this title, so long as the same
shall be and remain in force, shall be subject to a penalty of
not to exceed the sum of one thousand dollars for each and
[Title 81 RCW—page 10]
81.04.390
81.04.390 Penalties—Violations by persons. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, every
person who, either individually, or acting as an officer or
agent of a corporation other than a public service company,
violates any provision of this title, or fails to observe, obey, or
comply with any order made by the commission under this
title, so long as the same is or remains in force, or who procures, aids, or abets any such corporation in its violation of
this title, or in its failure to obey, observe, or comply with any
such order, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) A violation pertaining to equipment on motor carriers
transporting hazardous material is a misdemeanor. [2003 c
53 § 385; 1980 c 104 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.390. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 97; RRS § 10446.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.04.400
81.04.400 Actions to recover penalties—Disposition
of fines, fees, penalties. Actions to recover penalties under
this title shall be brought in the name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county, or in the superior
court of any county in or through which such public service
company may do business. In all such actions the procedure
and rules of evidence shall be the same as in ordinary civil
actions, except as otherwise herein provided. All fines and
penalties recovered by the state under this title shall be paid
into the treasury of the state and credited to the state general
fund or such other fund as provided by law: PROVIDED,
That all fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or
assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state
law shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as
now exists or is later amended. [1987 c 202 § 241; 1969 ex.s.
c 199 § 38; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.400. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 98;
RRS § 10447.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
81.04.405
81.04.405 Additional penalties—Violations by public
service companies and officers, agents, and employees. In
addition to all other penalties provided by law every public
service company subject to the provisions of this title and
every officer, agent or employee of any such public service
company who violates or who procures, aids or abets in the
violation of any provision of this title or any order, rule, regulation or decision of the commission, every person or corporation violating the provisions of any cease and desist order
issued pursuant to RCW 81.04.510, and every person or
entity found in violation pursuant to a complaint under RCW
81.04.110, shall incur a penalty of one hundred dollars for
every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a
separate and distinct offense and in case of a continuing violation every day’s continuance shall be and be deemed to be
a separate and distinct violation. Every act of commission or
omission which procures, aids or abets in the violation shall
(2006 Ed.)
Regulations—General
be considered a violation under the provisions of this section
and subject to the penalty herein provided for.
The penalty herein provided for shall become due and
payable when the person incurring the same receives a notice
in writing from the commission describing such violation
with reasonable particularity and advising such person that
the penalty is due. The commission may, upon written application therefor, received within fifteen days, remit or mitigate
any penalty provided for in this section or discontinue any
prosecution to recover the same upon such terms as it in its
discretion shall deem proper and shall have authority to
ascertain the facts upon all such applications in such manner
and under such regulations as it may deem proper. If the
amount of such penalty is not paid to the commission within
fifteen days after receipt of notice imposing the same or
application for remission or mitigation has not been made
within fifteen days after violator has received notice of the
disposition of such application the attorney general shall
bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the
superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in
which such violator may do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions the procedure and rules of evidence
shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise herein provided. All penalties recovered under this title
shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the public
service revolving fund. [1994 c 37 § 4; 1973 c 115 § 2; 1963
c 59 § 3.]
Intent—1994 c 37: See note following RCW 81.04.110.
81.04.410
81.04.410 Orders and rules conclusive. In all actions
between private parties and public service companies involving any rule or order of the commission, and in all actions for
the recovery of penalties provided for in this title, or for the
enforcement of the orders or rules issued and promulgated by
the commission, the said orders and rules shall be conclusive
unless set aside or annulled in a review as in this title provided. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.410. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 99; RRS
§ 10448.]
81.04.420
81.04.420 Commission intervention where order or
rule is involved. In all court actions involving any rule or
order of the commission, where the commission has not been
made a party, the commission shall be served with a copy of
all pleadings, and shall be entitled to intervene. Where the
fact that the action involves a rule or order of the commission
does not appear until the time of trial, the court shall immediately direct the clerk to notify the commission of the pendency of such action, and shall permit the commission to
intervene in such action.
The failure to comply with the provisions of this section
shall render void and of no effect any judgment in such
action, where the effect of such judgment is to modify or nullify any rule or order of the commission. [1961 c 14 §
81.04.420. Prior: 1943 c 67 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 104481.]
81.04.430
81.04.430 Findings of department prima facie correct. Whenever the commission has issued or promulgated
any order or rule, in any writ of review brought by a public
service company to determine the reasonableness of such
(2006 Ed.)
81.04.470
order or rule, the findings of fact made by the commission
shall be prima facie correct, and the burden shall be upon said
public service company to establish the order or rule to be
unreasonable or unlawful. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.430. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 100; RRS § 10449.]
81.04.440
81.04.440 Companies liable for damages. In case any
public service company shall do, cause to be done or permit
to be done any act, matter or thing prohibited, forbidden or
declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter or
thing required to be done, either by any law of this state, by
this title or by any order or rule of the commission, such public service company shall be liable to the persons or corporations affected thereby for all loss, damage or injury caused
thereby or resulting therefrom, and in case of recovery if the
court shall find that such act or omission was wilful, it may,
in its discretion, fix a reasonable counsel or attorney’s fee,
which shall be taxed and collected as part of the costs in the
case. An action to recover for such loss, damage or injury
may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction by any
person or corporation. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.440. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 102; RRS § 10451.]
81.04.450
81.04.450 Certified copies of orders, rules, etc.—Evidentiary effect. Upon application of any person the commission shall furnish certified copies of any classification, rate,
rule, regulation or order established by such commission, and
the printed copies published by authority of the commission,
or any certified copy of any such classification, rate, rule,
regulation or order, with seal affixed, shall be admissible in
evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be sufficient
to establish the fact that the charge, rate, rule, order or classification therein contained is the official act of the commission. When copies of any classification, rate, rule, regulation
or order not contained in the printed reports, or copies of
papers, accounts or records of public service companies filed
with the commission shall be demanded from the commission for proper use, the commission shall charge a reasonable
compensation therefor. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.450. Prior: 1911
c 117 § 103; RRS § 10452.]
81.04.460
81.04.460 Commission to enforce public service
laws—Employees as peace officers. It shall be the duty of
the commission to enforce the provisions of this title and all
other acts of this state affecting public service companies, the
enforcement of which is not specifically vested in some other
officer or tribunal. Any employee of the commission may,
without a warrant, arrest any person found violating in his
presence any provision of this title, or any rule or regulation
adopted by the commission: PROVIDED, That each such
employee shall be first specifically designated in writing by
the commission or a member thereof as having been found to
be a fit and proper person to exercise such authority. Upon
being so designated such person shall be a peace officer and
a police officer for the purposes herein mentioned. [1961 c
173 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.04.460. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 101;
RRS § 10450.]
81.04.470
81.04.470 Right of action not released—Penalties
cumulative. This title shall not have the effect to release or
[Title 81 RCW—page 11]
81.04.490
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
waive any right of action by the state or any person for any
right, penalty or forfeiture which may have arisen or may
hereafter arise under any law of this state; and all penalties
accruing under this title shall be cumulative of each other,
and a suit for the recovery of one penalty shall not be a bar to
the recovery of any other: PROVIDED, That no contract,
receipt, rule or regulation shall exempt any corporation
engaged in transporting livestock by railway from liability of
a common carrier, or carrier of livestock which would exist
had no contract, receipt, rule or regulation been made or
entered into. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.470. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
104; R RS § 10453 . For merly RCW 81.04.4 70 and
81.04.480.]
81.04.490
81.04.490 Application to municipal utilities. Nothing
in this title shall authorize the commission to make or enforce
any order affecting rates, tolls, rentals, contracts or charges or
service rendered, or the safety, adequacy or sufficiency of the
facilities, equipment, instrumentalities or buildings, or the
reasonableness of rules or regulations made, furnished, used,
supplied or in force affecting any street railroad owned and
operated by any city or town, but all other provisions enumerated herein shall apply to public utilities owned by any city or
town. [1961 c 14 § 81.04.490. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 105; RRS
§ 10454.]
81.04.500
81.04.500 Duties of attorney general. It shall be the
duty of the attorney general to represent and appear for the
people of the state of Washington and the commission in all
actions and proceedings involving any question under this
title, or under or in reference to any act or order of the commission; and it shall be the duty of the attorney general generally to see that all laws affecting any of the persons or corporations herein enumerated are complied with, and that all
laws, the enforcement of which devolves upon the commission, are enforced, and to that end he is authorized to institute,
prosecute and defend all necessary actions and proceedings.
[1961 c 14 § 81.04.500. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 5; RRS § 10341.]
81.04.510
81.04.510 Engaging in business or operating without
approval or authority—Procedure. Whether or not any
person or corporation is conducting business requiring operating authority, or has performed or is performing any act
requiring approval of the commission without securing such
approval, shall be a question of fact to be determined by the
commission. Whenever the commission believes that any
person or corporation is engaged in operations without the
necessary approval or authority required by any provision of
this title, it may institute a special proceeding requiring such
person or corporation to appear before the commission at a
location convenient for witnesses and the production of evidence and bring with him books, records, accounts and other
memoranda, and give testimony under oath as to his operations or acts, and the burden shall rest upon such person or
corporation of proving that his operations or acts are not subject to the provisions of this chapter. The commission may
consider any and all facts that may indicate the true nature
and extent of the operations or acts and may subpoena such
witnesses and documents as it deems necessary.
[Title 81 RCW—page 12]
After having made the investigation herein described,
the commission is authorized and directed to issue the necessary order or orders declaring the operations or acts to be subject to, or not subject to, the provisions of this title. In the
event the operations or acts are found to be subject to the provisions of this title, the commission is authorized and directed
to issue cease and desist orders to all parties involved in the
operations or acts.
In proceedings under this section no person or corporation shall be excused from testifying or from producing any
book, waybill, document, paper or account before the commission when ordered to do so, on the ground that the testimony or evidence, book, waybill, document, paper or
account required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to penalty or forfeiture; but no person or corporation
shall be prosecuted, punished or subjected to any penalty or
forfeiture for or on account of any account, transaction, matter or thing concerning which he shall under oath have testified or produced documentary evidence in proceedings under
this section: PROVIDED, That no person so testifying shall
be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury
committed by him in his testimony. [1973 c 115 § 15.]
81.04.520
81.04.520 Rate regulation study. The commission,
together with the Hanford low-level radioactive waste disposal site operator and other state agencies and parties as necessary, shall study and assess the need for procedures that
include, but are not limited to: Assuring that the operator’s
rates are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient considering the
value of the operator’s leasehold and license interests, the
unique nature of its business operations, and the operator’s
liability associated with the site and its investment incurred
over the term of its operations, and the rate of return equivalent to that earned by comparable enterprises; and for ensuring that the commission’s costs of regulation are recovered
when the federal low-level waste policy act amendment of
1985 results in the regional site being the exclusive site
option for Northwest low-level waste compact generators,
after January 1, 1993. If, following receipt of the study, the
legislature authorizes the commission to regulate the operator’s rates, such rates shall not take effect until January 1,
1993, when the regional site will be the exclusive site option
for Northwest low-level waste compact generators. [1998 c
245 § 164; 1990 c 21 § 8.]
Low-level radioactive test sites: Chapter 81.100 RCW.
81.04.530
81.04.530 Controlled substances, alcohol. A person or
employer operating as a motor carrier shall comply with the
requirements of the United States department of transportation federal motor carrier safety regulations as contained in
Title 49 C.F.R. Part 382, controlled substances and alcohol
use and testing. A person or employer who begins or conducts commercial motor vehicle operations without having a
controlled substance and alcohol testing program that is in
compliance with the requirements of Title 49 C.F.R. Part 382
is subject to a penalty, under the process set forth in RCW
81.04.405, of up to one thousand five hundred dollars and up
to an additional five hundred dollars for each motor vehicle
driver employed by the person or employer who is not in
compliance with the motor vehicle driver testing require(2006 Ed.)
Securities
ments. A person or employer having actual knowledge that a
driver has tested positive for controlled substances or alcohol
who allows a positively tested person to continue to perform
a safety-sensitive function is subject to a penalty, under the
process set forth in RCW 81.04.405, of one thousand five
hundred dollars. [1999 c 351 § 6.]
Chapter 81.08
Chapter 81.08 RCW
SECURITIES
Sections
81.08.010
81.08.012
81.08.020
81.08.030
81.08.040
81.08.070
81.08.080
81.08.090
81.08.100
81.08.110
81.08.120
81.08.130
81.08.140
81.08.150
Definition.
"Evidence of indebtedness"—Limitation of term.
Control vested in state.
Authority to issue.
Prior to issuance—Filing required—Contents.
Fee schedule.
Capitalization of franchise or merger contract prohibited.
Accounting for disposition of proceeds.
Issuance made contrary to this chapter—Penalties.
Penalty against company.
Penalty against individual.
Assumption of obligation or liability—Compliance with filing
requirements.
State not obligated.
Authority of commission—Not affected by requirements of
this chapter.
81.08.010
81.08.010 Definition. The term "public service company", as used in this chapter, shall mean every company now
or hereafter engaged in business in this state as a public utility
and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities
and transportation commission under the provisions of this
title: PROVIDED, That it shall not include any such company the issuance of stocks and securities of which is subject
to regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That it shall not include any "motor
carrier" as that term is defined in RCW 81.80.010 or any
"garbage and refuse collection company" subject to the provisions of chapter 81.77 RCW. [1981 c 13 § 3; 1965 ex.s. c
105 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.010. Prior: 1959 c 248 § 3; 1957
c 205 § 2; 1953 c 95 § 9; prior: 1933 c 151 § 1, part; RRS §
10439-1, part.]
81.08.012
81.08.012 "Evidence of indebtedness"—Limitation
of term. The term "evidence of indebtedness," as used in this
chapter, shall not include conditional sales contracts or purchase money chattel mortgages. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.012.
Prior: 1951 c 227 § 2.]
81.08.020
81.08.020 Control vested in state. The power of public
service companies to issue stocks and stock certificates or
other evidence of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and
other evidences of indebtedness and to create liens on their
property situated within this state is a special privilege, the
right of supervision, regulation, restriction, and control of
which is and shall continue to be vested in the state, and such
power shall be exercised as provided by law and under such
rules and regulations as the commission may prescribe.
[1961 c 14 § 81.08.020. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 2; RRS § 104392.]
81.08.030
81.08.030 Authority to issue. A public service company may issue stock and stock certificates or other evidence
(2006 Ed.)
81.08.070
of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes or other evidence of
indebtedness payable on demand or at periods of more than
twelve months after the date thereof, for the following purposes only: The acquisition of property, or the construction,
completion, extension, or improvement of its facilities, or the
improvement or maintenance of its service, or the issuance of
stock dividends, or the discharge or refunding of its obligations, or the reimbursement of moneys actually expended
from income or from any other moneys in the treasury of the
company not secured by or obtained from the issue of stock
or stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the
company for any of the aforesaid purposes except maintenance of service, in cases where the applicant keeps its
accounts and vouchers for such expenditures in such manner
as to enable the commission to ascertain the amount of
money so expended and the purpose for which the expenditure was made. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.030. Prior: 1953 c 95 §
10; 1937 c 30 § 1; 1933 c 151 § 3; RRS § 10439-3.]
81.08.040
81.08.040 Prior to issuance—Filing required—Contents. Any public service company that undertakes to issue
stocks, stock certificates, other evidence of interest or ownership, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall
file with the commission before such issuance:
(1) A description of the purposes for which the issuance
is made, including a certification by an officer authorized to
do so that the proceeds from any such financing is for one or
more of the purposes allowed by this chapter;
(2) A description of the proposed issuance including the
terms of financing; and
(3) A statement as to why the transaction is in the public
interest. [1994 c 251 § 8; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.040. Prior: 1933
c 151 § 4; RRS § 10439-4.]
81.08.070
81.08.070 Fee schedule. Each public service company
making application to the commission for authority to issue
stock and stock certificates or other evidence of interest or
ownership and bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness, shall pay to the commission the following fees: For
each order authorizing an issue of bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness, one dollar for each one thousand dollars of the principal amount of the authorized issue or fraction
thereof up to one million dollars, and fifty cents for each one
thousand dollars over one million dollars and up to ten million dollars, and ten cents for each one thousand dollars over
ten million dollars, with a minimum fee in any case of ten
dollars; for each order authorizing an issue of stock, stock
certificates, or other evidence of interest or ownership, one
dollar for each one thousand dollars of the par or stated value
of the authorized issue or fraction thereof up to one million
dollars, and fifty cents for each one thousand dollars over one
million dollars and up to ten million dollars, and ten cents for
each one thousand dollars over ten million dollars, with a
minimum fee in any case of ten dollars: PROVIDED, That
only twenty-five percent of the specified fees need be paid on
any issue or on such portion thereof as may be used to guarantee, take over, refund, or discharge any stock issue or stock
certificates, bonds, notes or other evidence of interest, ownership or indebtedness on which a fee has theretofore been
[Title 81 RCW—page 13]
81.08.080
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
paid: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if the commission modifies the amount of the issue requested and the applicant
elects not to avail itself of the authorization, no fee need be
paid. All fees collected under this section shall be paid at least
once each month to the state treasurer and deposited in the
public service revolving fund. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.070. Prior:
1959 c 248 § 23; prior: 1953 c 95 § 11; 1937 c 30 § 2, part;
1933 c 151 § 6, part; RRS § 10439-6, part.]
81.08.080
81.08.080 Capitalization of franchise or merger contract prohibited. The commission shall have no power to
authorize the capitalization of the right to be a corporation, or
to authorize the capitalization of any franchise or permit
whatsoever or the right to own, operate or enjoy any such
franchise or permit in excess of the amount (exclusive of any
tax or annual charge) actually paid to the state or to a political
subdivision thereof as the consideration for the grant of such
franchise, permit or right; nor shall any contract for consolidation or lease be capitalized, nor shall any public service
company hereafter issue any bonds, notes or other evidences
of indebtedness against or as a lien upon any contract for consolidation or merger. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.080. Prior: 1933 c
151 § 7; RRS § 10439-7.]
81.08.090
81.08.090 Accounting for disposition of proceeds.
The commission shall have the power to require public service companies to account for the disposition of the proceeds
of all sales of stocks and stock certificates or other evidence
of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, in such form and detail as it may
deem advisable, and to establish such rules and regulations as
it may deem reasonable and necessary to insure the disposition of such proceeds for the purpose or purposes specified in
its order. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.090. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 8; RRS
§ 10439-8.]
81.08.100
81.08.100 Issuance made contrary to this chapter—
Penalties. If a public service company issues any stock,
stock certificate, or other evidence of interest or ownership,
bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness, contrary to the
provisions of this chapter, the company may be subject to
penalty under RCW 81.08.110 and 81.08.120. [1994 c 251 §
9; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.100. Prior: 1933 c 151 § 9; RRS §
10439-9.]
81.08.110
81.08.110 Penalty against company. Every public service company which, directly or indirectly, issues or causes
to be issued, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence
of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of
indebtedness, in nonconformity with the provisions of this
chapter, or which applies the proceeds from the sale thereof,
or any part thereof, to any purpose other than the purpose or
purposes allowed by this chapter shall be subject to a penalty
of not more than one thousand dollars for each offense. Every
violation of any such order, rules, direction, demand or
requirement of the department, or of any provision of this
chapter, shall be a separate and distinct offense and in case of
a continuing violation every day’s continuance thereof shall
be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
[Title 81 RCW—page 14]
The act, omission or failure of any officer, agent or
employee of any public service company acting within the
scope of his official duties or employment, shall in every case
be deemed to be the act, omission or failure of such public
service company. [1994 c 251 § 10; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.110.
Prior: 1933 c 151 § 11; RRS § 10439-11.]
81.08.120
81.08.120 Penalty against individual. Every officer,
agent, or employee of a public service company, and every
other person who knowingly authorizes, directs, aids in,
issues or executes, or causes to be issued or executed, any
stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or who knowingly
makes any false statement or representation or with knowledge of its falsity files or causes to be filed with the commission any false statement or representation or causes or assists
to be applied the proceeds or any part thereof, from the sale
of any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest
or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness, to any purpose not allowed by this chapter or who, with
knowledge that any stock or stock certificate or other evidence of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness, has been issued or executed in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter negotiates, or
causes the same to be negotiated, shall be guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. [1994 c 251 § 11; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.120.
Prior: 1933 c 151 § 12; RRS § 10439-12.]
81.08.130
81.08.130 Assumption of obligation or liability—
Compliance with filing requirements. Any public service
company that assumes any obligation or liability as guarantor, indorser, surety or otherwise in respect to the securities of
any other person, firm or corporation, when such securities
are payable at periods of more than twelve months after the
date thereof, shall comply with the filing requirements of
RCW 81.08.040. [1994 c 251 § 12; 1961 c 14 § 81.08.130.
Prior: 1933 c 151 § 13; RRS § 10439-13.]
81.08.140
81.08.140 State not obligated. No provision of this
chapter, and no deed or act done or performed under or in
connection therewith, shall be held or construed to obligate
the state of Washington to pay or guarantee, in any manner
whatsoever, any stock or stock certificate or other evidence
of interest or ownership, or bond, note or other evidence of
indebtedness, authorized, issued or executed under the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 § 81.08.140. Prior: 1933 c
151 § 14; RRS § 10439-14.]
81.08.150
81.08.150 Authority of commission—Not affected by
requirements of this chapter. No action by a public service
company in compliance with nor by the commission in conformance with the requirements of this chapter may in any
way affect the authority of the commission over rates, service, accounts, valuations, estimates, or determinations of
costs, or any matters whatsoever that may come before it.
[1994 c 251 § 13.]
(2006 Ed.)
Transfers of Property
Chapter 81.12
Chapter 81.12 RCW
TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY
Sections
81.12.010
81.12.020
81.12.030
81.12.040
81.12.050
81.12.060
Definition.
Order required to sell, merge, etc.
Disposal without authorization void.
Authority required to acquire property or securities of company.
Rules and regulations.
Penalty.
81.16.010
other securities of any new corporation organized to take over
at foreclosure or other sale, the property of the corporation
the stocks or securities of which have been thus surrendered
or exchanged. Any contract by any public service company
for the purchase, acquisition, assignment or transfer to it of
any of the stocks or other securities of any other public service company, directly or indirectly, without the approval of
the commission shall be void and of no effect. [1961 c 14 §
81.12.040. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440d.]
81.12.010
81.12.010 Definition. The term "public service company," as used in this chapter, shall mean every company now
or hereafter engaged in business in this state as a public utility
and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities
and transportation commission under the provisions of this
title: PROVIDED, That it shall not include common carriers
subject to regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission: PROVIDED FURTHER, That it shall not include
motor freight carriers subject to the provisions of chapter
81.80 RCW or garbage and refuse collection companies subject to the provisions of chapter 81.77 RCW: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That nothing contained in this chapter shall
relieve public service companies from the necessity for compliance with the provisions of RCW 81.80.270. [1981 c 13 §
4; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 4; 1965 ex.s. c 105 § 4; 1963 c 59 § 5;
1961 c 14 § 81.12.010. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 12; 1941 c 159 §
1, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440a.]
81.12.050
81.12.050 Rules and regulations. The commission
shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to make
effective the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 §
81.12.050. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440e.]
81.12.060
81.12.060 Penalty. The provisions of RCW 81.04.380
and 81.04.385 as to penalties shall be applicable to public service companies, their officers, agents and employees failing
to comply with the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 §
81.12.060. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10440f.]
Chapter 81.16
Chapter 81.16 RCW
AFFILIATED INTERESTS
Sections
81.12.020
81.12.020 Order required to sell, merge, etc. No public service company shall sell, lease, assign or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of its franchises, properties or
facilities whatsoever, which are necessary or useful in the
performance of its duties to the public, and no public service
company shall, by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate any of its franchises, properties
or facilities with any other public service company, without
having secured from the commission an order authorizing it
so to do: PROVIDED, That this section shall not apply to
any sale, lease, assignment or other disposal of such franchises, properties or facilities to a public utility district.
[1961 c 14 § 81.12.020. Prior: 1945 c 75 § 1; 1941 c 159 § 2;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 10440b.]
81.12.030
81.12.030 Disposal without authorization void. Any
such sale, lease, assignment, or other disposition, merger or
consolidation made without authority of the commission
shall be void. [1961 c 14 § 81.12.030. Prior: 1941 c 159 § 3;
Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440c.]
81.12.040
81.12.040 Authority required to acquire property or
securities of company. No public service company shall,
directly or indirectly, purchase, acquire, or become the owner
of any of the franchises, properties, facilities, capital stocks
or bonds of any other public service company unless authorized so to do by the commission. Nothing contained in this
chapter shall prevent the holding of stocks or other securities
heretofore lawfully acquired or prohibit, upon the surrender
or exchange of said stocks or other securities pursuant to a
reorganization plan, the purchase, acquisition, taking or holding by the owner of a proportionate amount of the stocks or
(2006 Ed.)
81.16.010
81.16.020
81.16.030
81.16.040
81.16.050
81.16.060
81.16.070
81.16.075
81.16.080
81.16.090
Definitions.
Dealings with affiliated interests—Prior filing with commission required—Commission may disapprove.
Payments to affiliated interest disallowed if not reasonable.
Satisfactory proof, what constitutes.
Commission’s control is continuing.
Summary order on nonapproved payments.
Summary order on payments after disallowance.
Application of chapter—Solid waste collection companies.
Court action to enforce orders.
Review of orders.
81.16.010
81.16.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the term
"public service company" shall include every corporation
engaged in business as a public utility and subject to regulation as to rates and service by the utilities and transportation
commission under the provisions of this title.
As used in this chapter, the term "affiliated interest,"
means:
Every corporation and person owning or holding directly
or indirectly five percent or more of the voting securities of
any public service company engaged in any intrastate business in this state;
Every corporation and person, other than those above
specified, in any chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities, the chain beginning with
the holder of the voting securities of such public service company;
Every corporation five percent or more of whose voting
securities are owned by any person or corporation owning
five percent or more of the voting securities of such public
service company or by any person or corporation in any such
chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities;
[Title 81 RCW—page 15]
81.16.020
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Every corporation or person with which the public service company has a management or service contract; and
Every person who is an officer or director of such public
service company or of any corporation in any chain of successive ownership of five percent or more of voting securities. [1969 ex.s. c 210 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 81.16.010. Prior:
1953 c 95 § 13; 1933 c 152 § 1, part; RRS § 10440-1, part.]
81.16.020
81.16.020 Dealings with affiliated interests—Prior
filing with commission required—Commission may disapprove. Every public service company shall file with the
commission a verified copy, or a verified summary if unwritten, of a contract or arrangement providing for the furnishing
of management, supervisory construction, engineering,
accounting, legal, financial, or similar services, or any contract or arrangement for the purchase, sale, lease, or exchange
of any property, right, or thing, or for the furnishing of any
service, property, right, or thing, other than those enumerated
in this section, hereafter made or entered into between a public service company and any affiliated interest as defined in
this chapter, including open account advances from or to the
affiliated interests. The filing must be made prior to the effective date of the contract or arrangement. Modifications or
amendments to the contracts or arrangements with affiliated
interests must be filed with the commission prior to the effective date of the modification or amendment. The commission
may at any time after receipt of the contract or arrangement
institute an investigation and disapprove the contract,
arrangement, or amendment thereto if the commission finds
the public service company has failed to prove that it is reasonable and consistent with the public interest. The commission may disapprove any such contract or arrangement if satisfactory proof is not submitted to the commission of the cost
to the affiliated interest of rendering the services or of furnishing the property or service described in this section.
[1998 c 47 § 6; 1961 c 14 § 81.16.020. Prior: 1941 c 160 § 1;
1933 c 152 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10440-2.]
81.16.030
81.16.030 Payments to affiliated interest disallowed
if not reasonable. In any proceeding, whether upon the commission’s own motion or upon complaint, involving the rates
or practices of any public service company, the commission
may exclude from the accounts of the public service company any payment or compensation to an affiliated interest
for any services rendered or property or service furnished, as
described in this section, under existing contracts or arrangements with the affiliated interest unless the public service
company establishes the reasonableness of the payment or
compensation. In the proceeding the commission shall disallow the payment or compensation, in whole or in part, in the
absence of satisfactory proof that it is reasonable in amount.
In such a proceeding, any payment or compensation may be
disapproved or disallowed by the commission, in whole or in
part, if satisfactory proof is not submitted to the commission
of the cost to the affiliated interest of rendering the service or
furnishing the property or service described in this section.
[1998 c 47 § 7; 1961 c 14 § 81.16.030. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 3;
RRS § 10440-3.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 16]
81.16.040
81.16.040 Satisfactory proof, what constitutes. No
proof shall be satisfactory, within the meaning of RCW
81.16.010 through 81.16.030, unless it includes the original
(or verified copies) of the relevant cost records and other relevant accounts of the affiliated interest, or such abstract
thereof or summary taken therefrom, as the commission may
deem adequate, properly identified and duly authenticated:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the commission may, where
reasonable, approve or disapprove such contracts or arrangements without the submission of such cost records or
accounts. [1961 c 14 § 81.16.040. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 4;
RRS § 10440-4.]
81.16.050
81.16.050 Commission’s control is continuing. The
commission shall have continuing supervisory control over
the terms and conditions of such contracts and arrangements
as are herein described so far as necessary to protect and promote the public interest. The commission shall have the same
jurisdiction over the modifications or amendment of contracts or arrangements as are herein described as it has over
such original contracts or arrangements. The fact that a contract or arrangement has been filed with, or the commission
has approved entry into such contracts or arrangements, as
described herein, shall not preclude disallowance or disapproval of payments made pursuant thereto, if upon actual
experience under such contract or arrangement, it appears
that the payments provided for or made were or are unreasonable. Every order of the commission approving any such contract or arrangement shall be expressly conditioned upon the
reserved power of the commission to revise and amend the
terms and conditions thereof, if, when and as necessary to
protect and promote the public interest. [1998 c 47 § 8; 1961
c 14 § 81.16.050. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 5; RRS § 10440-5.]
81.16.060
81.16.060 Summary order on nonapproved payments. Whenever the commission shall find upon investigation that any public service company is giving effect to any
such contract or arrangement without such contract or
arrangement having been filed or approved, the commission
may issue a summary order prohibiting the public service
company from treating any payments made under the terms
of such contract or arrangement as operating expenses or as
capital expenditures for rate or valuation purposes, unless and
until such contract or arrangement has been filed with the
commission or until payments have received the approval of
the commission. [1998 c 47 § 9; 1961 c 14 § 81.16.060.
Prior: 1933 c 152 § 6; RRS § 10440-6.]
81.16.070
81.16.070 Summary order on payments after disallowance. Whenever the commission finds upon investigation that any public service company is making payments to
an affiliated interest, although the payments have been disallowed or disapproved by the commission in a proceeding
involving the public service company’s rates or practices, the
commission shall issue a summary order directing the public
service company to not treat the payments as operating
expenses or capital expenditures for rate or valuation purposes, unless and until the payments have received the
approval of the commission. [1998 c 47 § 10; 1961 c 14 §
81.16.070. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 7; RRS § 10440-7.]
(2006 Ed.)
Investigation of Public Service Companies
81.16.075 Application of chapter—Solid waste collection companies. This chapter does not apply to a determination of the base for collection rates for solid waste collection companies meeting the requirements under RCW
81.77.160(3). [1997 c 434 § 2.]
81.16.075
81.16.080 Court action to enforce orders. The superior court of Thurston county is authorized to enforce such
orders to cease and desist by appropriate process, including
the issuance of a preliminary injunction, upon the suit of the
commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.16.080. Prior: 1933 c 152 § 8;
RRS § 10440-8.]
81.16.080
81.16.090 Review of orders. Any public service company or affiliated interest deeming any decision or order of
the commission to be in any respect or manner improper,
unjust or unreasonable may have the same reviewed in the
courts in the same manner and by the same procedure as is
now provided by law for review of any other order or decision of the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.16.090. Prior: 1933
c 152 § 9; RRS § 10440-9.]
81.16.090
Chapter 81.20
Chapter 81.20 RCW
INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC
SERVICE COMPANIES
Sections
81.20.010
81.20.020
81.20.030
81.20.040
81.20.050
81.20.060
Definition.
Cost of investigation may be assessed against company.
Interest on unpaid assessment—Action to collect.
Commission’s determination of necessity as evidence.
Order of commission not subject to review.
Limitation on frequency of investigations.
81.20.010 Definition. As used in this chapter, the term
"public service company" means any person, firm, association, or corporation, whether public or private, operating a
utility or public service enterprise subject in any respect to
regulation by the utilities and transportation commission
under the provisions of this title or Title 22 RCW. [1961 c 14
§ 81.20.010. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 14; 1939 c 203 § 1; RRS §
10458-6.]
81.20.010
81.20.020 Cost of investigation may be assessed
against company. Whenever the commission in any proceeding upon its own motion or upon complaint shall deem it
necessary in order to carry out the duties imposed upon it by
law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and activities of, or make any valuation or appraisal of the property of
any public service company, or to investigate or appraise any
phase of its operations, or to render any engineering or
accounting service to or in connection with any public service company, and the cost thereof to the commission
exceeds in amount the ordinary regulatory fees paid by such
public service company during the preceding calendar year or
estimated to be paid during the current year, whichever is
more, such public service company shall pay the expenses
reasonably attributable and allocable to such investigation,
valuation, appraisal or services. The commission shall ascertain such expenses, and, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, shall render a bill therefor by registered mail
to the public service company, either at the conclusion of the
81.20.020
(2006 Ed.)
81.20.060
investigation, valuation, appraisal or services, or from time to
time during its progress. Within thirty days after a bill has
been mailed such public service company shall pay to the
commission the amount of the bill, and the commission shall
transmit such payment to the state treasurer who shall credit
it to the public service revolving fund. The total amount
which any public service company shall be required to pay
under the provisions of this section in any calendar year shall
not exceed one percent of the gross operating revenues
derived by such public service company from its intrastate
operations during the last preceding calendar year. If such
company did not operate during all of the preceding year the
calculations shall be based upon estimated gross revenues for
the current year. [1961 c 14 § 81.20.020. Prior: 1939 c 203
§ 2(a); RRS § 10458-6a(a).]
81.20.030
81.20.030 Interest on unpaid assessment—Action to
collect. Amounts so assessed against any public service
company not paid within thirty days after mailing of the bill
therefor, shall draw interest at the rate of six percent per
annum from the date of mailing of the bill. Upon failure of
the public service company to pay the bill, the attorney general shall proceed in the name of the state by civil action in
the superior court for Thurston county against such public
service company to collect the amount due, together with
interest and costs of suit. [1961 c 14 § 81.20.030. Prior: 1939
c 203 § 2(b); RRS § 10458-6a(b).]
81.20.040
81.20.040 Commission’s determination of necessity
as evidence. In such action the commission’s determination
of the necessity of the investigation, valuation, appraisal or
services shall be conclusive evidence of such necessity, and
its findings and determination of facts expressed in bills rendered pursuant to RCW 81.20.020 through 81.20.060 or in
any proceedings determinative of such bills shall be prima
facie evidence of such facts. [1961 c 14 § 81.20.040. Prior:
1939 c 203 § 2(c); RRS § 10458-6a(c).]
81.20.050
81.20.050 Order of commission not subject to review.
In view of the civil action provided for in RCW 81.20.020
through 81.20.060 any order made by the commission in
determining the amount of such bill shall not be reviewable in
court, but the mere absence of such right of review shall not
prejudice the rights of defendants in the civil action. [1961 c
14 § 81.20.050. Prior: 1939 c 203 § 2(d); RRS § 104586a(d).]
81.20.060
81.20.060 Limitation on frequency of investigations.
Expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation shall not be assessed against a public service company
under this chapter if such company shall have been subjected
to and paid the expenses of a complete valuation, rate and service investigation during the preceding five years, unless the
properties or operations of the company have materially
changed or there has been a substantial change in its value for
rate making purposes or in other circumstances and conditions affecting rates and services. [1961 c 14 § 81.20.060.
Prior: 1939 c 203 § 2(e); RRS § 10458-6a(e).]
[Title 81 RCW—page 17]
Chapter 81.24
Chapter 81.24
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Chapter 81.24 RCW
REGULATORY FEES
Sections
81.24.010
81.24.020
81.24.030
81.24.050
81.24.060
81.24.070
81.24.075
81.24.080
81.24.090
Companies to file reports of gross revenue and pay fees—General.
Fees of auto transportation companies—Statement filing.
Fees of every commercial ferry—Statement filing.
Fees to approximate reasonable cost of regulation.
Intent of legislature—Regulatory cost records to be kept by
commission.
Disposition of fees.
Delinquent fee payments.
Penalty for failure to pay fees—Disposition of fees and penalties.
Pipeline safety fee—Reports—Procedure to contest fees—
Regulatory incentive program.
Corporations, annual license fees of public service companies: RCW
23B.01.570.
Highway user tax structure: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
Mileage fees on auto stages: RCW 46.16.125.
81.24.010
81.24.010 Companies to file reports of gross revenue
and pay fees—General. (1) Every company subject to regulation by the commission, except auto transportation companies, steamboat companies, and motor freight carriers
shall, on or before the date specified by the commission for
filing annual reports under RCW 81.04.080, file with the
commission a statement on oath showing its gross operating
revenue from intrastate operations for the preceding calendar
year, or portion thereof, and pay to the commission a fee
equal to one-tenth of one percent of the first fifty thousand
dollars of gross operating revenue, plus two-tenths of one
percent of any gross operating revenue in excess of fifty thousand dollars, except railroad companies which shall each pay
to the commission a fee equal to one and one-half percent of
its intrastate gross operating revenue. The commission may,
by rule, set minimum fees that do not exceed the cost of collecting the fees. The commission may by rule waive any or
all of the minimum fee established pursuant to this section.
Any railroad association that qualifies as a not-for-profit
charitable organization under the federal internal revenue
code section 501(c)(3) is exempt from the fee required under
this subsection.
(2) The percentage rates of gross operating revenue to be
paid in any one year may be decreased by the commission for
any class of companies subject to the payment of such fees,
by general order entered before March 1st of such year, and
for such purpose such companies shall be classified as follows: Railroad, express, sleeping car, and toll bridge companies shall constitute class two. Every other company subject
to regulation by the commission, for which regulatory fees
are not otherwise fixed by law shall pay fees as herein provided and shall constitute additional classes according to
kinds of businesses engaged in. [2003 c 296 § 2; 1996 c 196
§ 1; 1990 c 48 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 48 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 6;
1963 c 59 § 11; 1961 c 14 § 81.24.010. Prior: 1957 c 185 §
1; 1955 c 125 § 4; prior: 1939 c 123 § 1, part; 1937 c 158 §
1, part; 1929 c 107 § 1, part; 1923 c 107 § 1, part; 1921 c 113
§ 1, part; RRS § 10417, part.]
81.24.020
81.24.020 Fees of auto transportation companies—
Statement filing. On or before the date specified by the
commission for filing annual reports under RCW 81.04.080,
[Title 81 RCW—page 18]
every auto transportation company must file with the commission a statement showing its gross operating revenue from
intrastate operations for the preceding year and pay to the
commission a fee of two-fifths of one percent of the amount
of gross operating revenue. The commission may, by rule,
set minimum fees that do not exceed the cost of collecting the
fees. The commission may by rule waive any or all of the
minimum fee established pursuant to this section.
The percentage rate of gross operating revenue to be paid
in any period may be decreased by the commission by general order entered before the fifteenth day of the month preceding the month in which the fee is due. [2003 c 296 § 3;
1997 c 215 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.24.020. Prior: 1955 c 125 §
5; prior: 1937 c 158 § 2, part; RRS § 10417-1, part.]
81.24.030
81.24.030 Fees of every commercial ferry—Statement filing. Every commercial ferry shall, on or before the
date specified by the commission for filing annual reports
under RCW 81.04.080, file with the commission a statement
on oath showing its gross operating revenue from intrastate
operations for the preceding calendar year, or portion thereof,
and pay to the commission a fee of two-fifths of one percent
of the amount of gross operating revenue: PROVIDED, That
the commission may, by rule, set minimum fees that do not
exceed the cost of collecting the fees. The commission may
by rule waive any or all of the minimum fee established pursuant to this section. The percentage rate of gross operating
revenue to be paid in any year may be decreased by the commission by general order entered before March 1st of such
year. [2003 c 296 § 4; 1993 c 427 § 10; 1981 c 13 § 5; 1961
c 14 § 81.24.030. Prior: 1955 c 125 § 6; prior: 1939 c 123 §
3, part; 1937 c 158 § 4, part; RRS § 10417-3, part.]
81.24.050
81.24.050 Fees to approximate reasonable cost of
regulation. In fixing the percentage rates of gross operating
revenue to be paid by companies under RCW 81.24.010,
81.24.020, and 81.24.030, the commission shall consider all
moneys then in the public service revolving fund and the fees
currently to be paid into such fund, to the end that the fees
collected from the companies, or classes of companies, covered by each respective section shall be approximately the
same as the reasonable cost of supervising and regulating
such companies, or classes of companies, respectively. [1983
c 3 § 206; 1961 c 14 § 81.24.050. Prior: 1955 c 125 § 8; prior:
(i) 1939 c 123 § 1, part; 1937 c 158 § 1, part; RRS § 10417,
part. (ii) 1937 c 158 § 2, part; RRS § 10417-1, part. (iii) 1939
c 123 § 3, part; 1937 c 158 § 4, part; RRS § 10417-3, part. (iv)
1939 c 123 § 2, part; 1937 c 158 § 3, part; RRS § 10417-2,
part. (v) 1949 c 124 § 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 10417-2,
part.]
81.24.060
81.24.060 Intent of legislature—Regulatory cost
records to be kept by commission. It is the intent and purpose of the legislature that the several groups of public service companies shall each contribute sufficient in fees to the
commission to pay the reasonable cost of regulating the several groups respectively. The commission shall keep accurate
records of the costs incurred in regulating and supervising the
several groups of companies subject to regulation or supervision and such records shall be open to inspection by all inter(2006 Ed.)
Regulatory Fees
ested parties. The records and data upon which the commission’s determination is made shall be considered prima facie
correct in any proceeding instituted to challenge the reasonableness or correctness of any order of the commission fixing
fees and distributing regulatory expenses. [1961 c 14 §
81.24.060. Prior: 1937 c 158 § 7; RRS § 10417-5.]
81.24.070
81.24.070 Disposition of fees. All moneys collected
under the provisions of this chapter shall within thirty days be
paid to the state treasurer and by him deposited to the public
service revolving fund. [1961 c 14 § 81.24.070. Prior: 1937
c 158 § 6; RRS § 10417-4.]
81.24.075
81.24.075 Delinquent fee payments. Any payment of
a fee imposed by this chapter made after its due date shall
include a late fee of two percent of the amount due. Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate of one percent per
month. [1994 c 83 § 2.]
81.24.080
81.24.080 Penalty for failure to pay fees—Disposition
of fees and penalties. Every person, firm, company or corporation, or the officers, agents or employees thereof, failing
or neglecting to pay the fees herein required shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor. All fines and penalties collected under the
provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into the public
service revolving fund of the state treasury: PROVIDED,
That all fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or
assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state
law shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as
now exists or is later amended. [1987 c 202 § 242; 1979 ex.s.
c 198 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.24.080. Prior: 1923 c 107 § 2; 1921
c 113 § 3; RRS § 10419.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
81.24.090
81.24.090 Pipeline safety fee—Reports—Procedure
to contest fees—Regulatory incentive program. (1)(a)
Every hazardous liquid pipeline company as defined in RCW
81.88.010 shall pay an annual pipeline safety fee to the commission. The pipeline safety fees received by the commission
shall be deposited in the pipeline safety account created in
RCW 81.88.050.
(b) The aggregate amount of fees set shall be sufficient
to recover the reasonable costs of administering the pipeline
safety program, taking into account federal funds used to offset the costs. The fees established under this section shall be
designed to generate revenue not exceeding appropriated levels of funding for the current fiscal year. At a minimum, the
fees established under this section shall be sufficient to adequately fund pipeline inspection personnel, the timely review
of pipeline safety and integrity plans, the timely development
of spill response plans, the timely development of accurate
maps of pipeline locations, participation in federal pipeline
safety efforts to the extent allowed by law, and the staffing of
the citizens committee on pipeline safety.
(c) Increases in the aggregate amount of fees over the
immediately preceding fiscal year are subject to the requirements of RCW 43.135.055.
(2) The commission shall by rule establish the methodology it will use to set the appropriate fee for each entity subject
to this section. The methodology shall provide for an equita(2006 Ed.)
81.24.090
ble distribution of program costs among all entities subject to
the fee. The fee methodology shall provide for:
(a) Direct assignment of average costs associated with
annual standard inspections, including the average number of
inspection days per year. In establishing these directly assignable costs, the commission shall consider the requirements
and guidelines of the federal government, state safety standards, and good engineering practice[s]; and
(b) A uniform and equitable means of estimating and
allocating costs of other duties relating to inspecting pipelines for safety that are not directly assignable, including but
not limited to design review and construction inspections,
specialized inspections, incident investigations, geographic
mapping system design and maintenance, and administrative
support.
(3) The commission shall require reports from those entities subject to this section in the form and at such time as necessary to set the fees. After considering the reports supplied
by the entities, the commission shall set the amount of the fee
payable by each entity by general order entered before July
1st of each year.
(4) For companies subject to RCW 81.24.010, the commission shall collect the pipeline safety fee as part of the fee
specified in RCW 81.24.010. The commission shall allocate
the moneys collected under RCW 81.24.010 between the
pipeline safety program and for other regulatory purposes.
The commission shall adopt rules that assure that fee moneys
related to the pipeline safety program are maintained separately from other moneys collected by the commission under
this chapter.
(5) Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made
after its due date must include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees accrue interest at the rate of one
percent per month.
(6) The commission shall keep accurate records of the
costs incurred in administering its hazardous liquid pipeline
safety program, and the records are open to inspection by
interested parties. The records and data upon which the commission’s determination is made shall be prima facie correct
in any proceeding to challenge the reasonableness or correctness of any order of the commission fixing fees and distributing regulatory expenses.
(7) If any entity seeks to contest the imposition of a fee
imposed under this section, that entity shall pay the fee and
request a refund within six months of the due date for the payment by filing a petition for a refund with the commission.
The commission shall establish by rule procedures for handling refund petitions and may delegate the decisions on
refund petitions to the secretary of the commission.
(8) After establishing the fee methodology by rule as
required in subsection (2) of this section, the commission
shall create a regulatory incentive program for pipeline safety
programs in collaboration with the citizens committee on
pipeline safety. The regulatory incentive program created by
the commission shall not shift costs among companies paying
pipeline safety fees and shall not decrease revenue to pipeline
safety programs. The regulatory incentive program shall not
be implemented until after the review conducted according to
RCW 81.88.150. [2001 c 238 § 3.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
[Title 81 RCW—page 19]
Chapter 81.28
Chapter 81.28
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Chapter 81.28 RCW
COMMON CARRIERS IN GENERAL
Sections
81.28.010
81.28.020
81.28.030
81.28.040
81.28.050
81.28.060
81.28.080
81.28.180
81.28.190
81.28.200
81.28.210
81.28.220
81.28.230
81.28.240
81.28.250
81.28.260
81.28.270
81.28.280
81.28.290
Duties as to rates, services, and facilities.
Duty of carriers and shippers to expedite traffic.
Routing of freight—Connecting companies—Damages.
Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules—Commission’s powers as to schedules.
Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception.
Joint rates, contracts, etc.
Published rates to be charged—Exceptions.
Rate discrimination prohibited.
Unreasonable preferences prohibited.
Long and short haul.
Transportation at less than published rates—Rebating.
Action for treble damages.
Commission to fix just, reasonable, and compensatory rates.
Commission may order improved facilities and service.
Commission may complain of interstate rates.
Bicycles as baggage.
Limitation of action for collection of transportation charges.
Reports of wrecks, etc.
Investigation of accidents, wrecks.
Charges, prohibition against discrimination: State Constitution Art. 12 §
15.
81.28.030
81.28.030 Routing of freight—Connecting companies—Damages. All transportation companies doing business wholly or in part within this state shall, upon receipt of
any article of freight, promptly forward the same to its
marked destination, by the route directed by the shipper, or if
no directions are given by shipper, then to any connecting
company whose line or route reaches nearest to the point to
which such freight is marked.
Any transportation company failing to comply with this
section shall be liable for any damages that may be sustained,
either to the shipper or consignee, from any cause, upon proof
that said damages resulted on account of a failure of the transportation company to comply with this section.
Suit for damages may be instituted either at the place of
shipping or destination, either by the shipper or consignee,
and before any court competent and qualified to hear and
determine like causes between individuals resident of the district in which said court is holding. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.030.
Prior: (i) 1890 p 291 § 1; RRS § 10491. (ii) 1890 p 291 § 2;
RRS § 10492. (iii) 1890 p 291 § 3; RRS § 10493.]
81.28.040
Common carrier may bridge state waterway: RCW 79.110.130.
Constitutional limitations generally: State Constitution Art. 12.
Department of transportation as common carrier: RCW 47.60.220.
Free transportation to public officers prohibited: State Constitution Art. 2 §
39.
Legislature may establish maximum rates for transportation: State Constitution Art. 12 § 18.
Lien for transportation, storage, etc.: Chapter 60.60 RCW.
Monopolies and trusts prohibited: State Constitution Art. 12 § 22.
Municipal transportation systems: Title 35 RCW.
Regulation of common carriers: State Constitution Art. 12 § 13.
81.28.010
81.28.010 Duties as to rates, services, and facilities.
All charges made for any service rendered or to be rendered
in the transportation of persons or property, or in connection
therewith, by any common carrier, or by any two or more
common carriers, shall be just, fair, reasonable and sufficient.
Every common carrier shall construct, furnish, maintain
and provide, safe, adequate and sufficient service facilities,
trackage, sidings, railroad connections, industrial and commercial spurs and equipment to enable it to promptly, expeditiously, safely and properly receive, transport and deliver all
persons or property offered to or received by it for transportation, and to promote the safety, health, comfort and convenience of its patrons, employees and the public.
All rules and regulations issued by any common carrier
affecting or pertaining to the transportation of persons or
property shall be just and reasonable. [1961 c 14 §
81.28.010. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 9; RRS § 10345.]
81.28.020
81.28.020 Duty of carriers and shippers to expedite
traffic. Every common carrier shall under reasonable rules
and regulations promptly and expeditiously receive, transport
and deliver all persons or property offered to or received by it
for transportation. All persons receiving cars for loading shall
promptly and expeditiously load the same, and all persons
receiving property shall promptly and expeditiously receive
and remove the same from the cars and freight rooms. [1961
c 14 § 81.28.020. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 10; RRS § 10346.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 20]
81.28.040 Tariff schedules to be filed with commission—Public schedules—Commission’s powers as to
schedules. Every common carrier shall file with the commission and shall print and keep open for public inspection,
schedules showing the rates, fares, charges, and classification
for the transportation of persons and property within the state
between each point upon the carrier’s route and all other
points thereon; and between each point upon its route and all
points upon every route leased, operated, or controlled by it;
and between each point on its route or upon any route leased,
operated, or controlled by it and all points upon the route of
any other common carrier, whenever a through route and
joint rate have been established or ordered between any two
such points. If no joint rate over a through route has been
established, the several carriers participating in the through
route shall file, print, and keep open for public inspection, the
separately established rates, fares, charges, and classifications that apply to the through transportation. The schedules
printed shall plainly state the places between which property
and persons will be carried, shall also contain classification
of passengers or property in force, and shall also state separately all terminal charges, storage charges, icing charges,
and all other charges that the commission may require to be
stated, all privileges or facilities granted or allowed, and any
rules or regulations that may in any way change, affect, or
determine any part, or the aggregate of, such rates, fares, and
charges, or the value of the service rendered to the passenger,
shipper, or consignee. The schedule shall be plainly printed
in large type, and a copy of it shall be kept by every carrier
readily accessible to inspection by the public in every station
or office of the carrier where passengers or property are
respectively received for transportation, when the station or
office is in charge of any agent. All or any of the schedules
kept as provided in this section shall be immediately produced by the carrier for inspection upon the demand of any
person. A notice printed in bold type and stating that the
schedules are on file with the agent and open to inspection by
any person and that the agent will assist any person to determine from the schedules any transportation rates or fares or
rules or regulations that are in force shall be kept posted by
(2006 Ed.)
Common Carriers in General
the carrier in two public and conspicuous places in every such
station or office. The form of each schedule shall be prescribed by the commission.
The commission has power, from time to time, to determine and prescribe by order such changes in the form of the
schedules as may be found expedient, and to modify the
requirements of this section in respect to publishing, posting,
and filing of schedules either in particular instances or by
general rule or order applicable to special or peculiar circumstances or conditions.
The commission may, in its discretion, suspend the operation of this section in whole or in part as applied to vessels
engaged in jobbing business not operating on regular routes.
This section does not apply to rail transportation contracts
regulated by *RCW 81.34.070 or to railroad services or
transactions exempted under *RCW 81.34.110. [1984 c 143
§ 4; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.040. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 14; RRS §
10350.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 81.34.070 and 81.34.110 were repealed by
1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.050 Tariff changes—Statutory notice—Exception. Unless the commission otherwise orders, no change
may be made in any classification, rate, fare, charge, rule, or
regulation filed and published by a common carrier other
than a rail carrier, except after thirty days’ notice to the commission and to the public. In the case of a solid waste collection company, no such change may be made except after
forty-five days’ notice to the commission and to the public.
The notice shall be published as provided in RCW 81.28.040
and shall plainly state the changes proposed to be made in the
schedule then in force and the time when the changed rate,
classification, fare, or charge will go into effect. All proposed
changes shall be shown by printing, filing, and publishing
new schedules or shall be plainly indicated upon the schedules in force at the time and kept open to public inspection. In
the case of a change proposed by a rail carrier, except for
changes to rail contracts between a rail carrier and a shipper
authorized under *RCW 81.34.070, which changes become
effective in accordance with that section, a proposal resulting
in a rate increase or a new rate shall not become effective for
twenty days after the notice is published, and a proposal
resulting in a rate decrease shall not become effective for ten
days after the notice is published. The commission, for good
cause shown, may by order allow changes in rates without
requiring the notice and the publication time periods specified in this section. When any change is made in any rate,
fare, charge, classification, rule, or regulation, attention shall
be directed to the change by some character on the schedule.
The character and its placement shall be designated by the
commission. The commission may, by order, for good cause
shown, allow changes in any rate, fare, charge, classification,
rule, or regulation without requiring any character to indicate
each and every change to be made. [1993 c 300 § 2; 1984 c
143 § 5; 1981 c 116 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.050. Prior: 1957
c 205 § 3; 1911 c 117 § 15; RRS § 10351.]
81.28.050
*Reviser’s note: RCW 81.34.070 was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.060 Joint rates, contracts, etc. The names of the
several carriers which are parties to any joint tariff shall be
specified therein, and each of the parties thereto, other than
81.28.060
(2006 Ed.)
81.28.080
the one filing the same, shall file with the commission such
evidence of concurrence therein or acceptance thereof as may
be required or approved by the commission; and where such
evidence of concurrence or acceptance is filed, it shall not be
necessary for the carriers filing the same also to file copies of
the tariffs in which they are named as parties.
Every common carrier shall file with the commission
copies of every contract, agreement or arrangement with any
other common carrier or common carriers relating in any way
to the transportation of persons or property. [1961 c 14 §
81.28.060. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 16; RRS § 10352.]
81.28.080
81.28.080 Published rates to be charged—Exceptions. No common carrier shall charge, demand, collect or
receive a greater or less or different compensation for transportation of persons or property, or for any service in connection therewith, than the rates, fares and charges applicable to
such transportation as specified in its schedules filed and in
effect at the time; nor shall any such carrier refund or remit in
any manner or by any device any portion of the rates, fares, or
charges so specified excepting upon order of the commission
as hereinafter provided, nor extend to any shipper or person
any privileges or facilities in the transportation of passengers
or property except such as are regularly and uniformly
extended to all persons and corporations under like circumstances. No common carrier shall, directly or indirectly, issue
or give any free ticket, free pass or free or reduced transportation for passengers between points within this state, except
its employees and their families, surgeons and physicians and
their families, its officers, agents and attorneys at law; to ministers of religion, traveling secretaries of railroad Young
Men’s Christian Associations, inmates of hospitals, charitable and eleemosynary institutions and persons exclusively
engaged in charitable and eleemosynary work; to indigent,
destitute and homeless persons and to such persons when
transported by charitable societies or hospitals, and the necessary agents employed in such transportation; to inmates of
the national homes or state homes for disabled volunteer soldiers and of soldiers’ and sailors’ homes, including those
about to enter and those returning home after discharge; to
necessary caretakers of livestock, poultry, milk and fruit; to
employees of sleeping car companies, express companies,
and to linemen of telegraph and telephone companies; to railway mail service employees, post office inspectors, customs
inspectors and immigration inspectors; to newsboys on
trains; baggage agents, witnesses attending any legal investigation in which the common carrier is interested; to persons
injured in accidents or wrecks and physicians and nurses
attending such persons; to the National Guard of Washington
when on official duty, and students going to and returning
from state institutions of learning: PROVIDED, That this
provision shall not be construed to prohibit the interchange of
passes for the officers, attorneys, agents and employees and
their families, of railroad companies, steamboat companies,
express companies and sleeping car companies with other
railroad companies, steamboat companies, express companies and sleeping car companies, nor to prohibit any common
carrier from carrying passengers free with the object of providing relief in cases of general epidemic, pestilence, or other
calamitous visitation: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That
this provision shall not be construed to prohibit the exchange
[Title 81 RCW—page 21]
81.28.180
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
of passes or franks for the officers, attorneys, agents, employees, and their families of such telegraph, telephone and cable
lines, and the officers, attorneys, agents, employees, and their
families of other telegraph, telephone or cable lines, or with
railroad companies, express companies or sleeping car companies: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the term "employee"
as used in this section shall include furloughed, pensioned,
and superannuated employees, persons who have become
disabled or infirm in the service of any such common carrier,
and the remains of a person killed or dying in the employment of a carrier, those entering or leaving its service and exemployees traveling for the purpose of entering the service of
any such common carrier; and the term "families" as used in
this section shall include the families of those persons named
in this proviso, also the families of persons killed and the surviving spouses prior to remarriage and minor children during
minority, of persons who died while in the service of any
such common carrier: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That
nothing herein contained shall prevent the issuance of mileage, commutation tickets or excursion passenger tickets:
AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That nothing in this section
shall be construed to prevent the issuance of free or reduced
transportation by any street railroad company for mail carriers, or policemen or members of fire departments, city officers, and employees when engaged in the performance of their
duties as such city employees.
Common carriers subject to the provisions of this title
may carry, store or handle, free or at reduced rates, property
for the United States, state, county or municipal governments, or for charitable purposes, or to or from fairs and exhibitions for exhibition thereat, and may carry, store or handle,
free or at reduced rates, the household goods and personal
effects of its employees and those entering or leaving its service and those killed or dying while in its service.
Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the
making of a special contract providing for the mutual
exchange of service between any railroad company and any
telegraph or telephone company, where the line of such telegraph or telephone company is situated upon or along the
railroad right of way and used by both of such companies.
[1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 117; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.080. Prior:
1929 c 96 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 18; RRS § 10354. Formerly
RCW 81.28.080 through 81.28.130, 81.28.150 through
81.28.170, and 80.36.130.]
143 § 6; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.180. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 20; RRS
§ 10356.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.34 RCW was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.190
81.28.190 Unreasonable preferences prohibited. A
common carrier shall not make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or corporation
or to any locality or to any particular description of traffic in
any respect whatsoever, or subject any particular person or
corporation or locality or any particular description of traffic,
to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in
any respect whatsoever. This section does not apply to railroad companies, which shall be regulated in this regard by
*chapter 81.34 RCW and rules adopted thereunder. [1984 c
143 § 7; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.190. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 21; RRS
§ 10357.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.34 RCW was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.200
81.28.200 Long and short haul. A common carrier
subject to the provisions of this title shall not charge or
receive any greater compensation in the aggregate for the
transportation of persons or of a like kind of property, for a
shorter than for a longer distance over the same line in the
same direction, the shorter being included within the longer
distance, or to charge any greater compensation as a through
rate than the aggregate of the intermediate rates, subject to
the provisions of this title. This shall not be construed as
authorizing any such common carrier to charge and receive as
great a compensation for a shorter as for a longer distance or
haul. Upon application of a common carrier the commission
may by order authorize it to charge less for a longer than for
a shorter distance for the transportation of persons or property in special cases after investigation by the commission,
but the order must specify and prescribe the extent to which
the common carrier making the application is relieved from
the operation of this section. Only to the extent so specified
and prescribed is any common carrier relieved from the operation and requirements of this section. This section does not
apply to railroad companies, which shall be regulated in this
regard by *chapter 81.34 RCW and rules adopted thereunder.
[1984 c 143 § 8; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.200. Prior: 1911 c 117 §
22; RRS § 10358.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.34 RCW was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.210
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
81.28.180
81.28.180 Rate discrimination prohibited. A common carrier shall not, directly or indirectly, by any special
rate, rebate, drawback, or other device or method, charge,
demand, collect, or receive from any person or corporation a
greater or lesser compensation for any service rendered or to
be rendered in the transportation of persons or property,
except as authorized in this title, than it charges, demands,
collects, or receives from any person or corporation for doing
a like and contemporaneous service in the transportation of a
like kind of traffic under the same or substantially similar circumstances and conditions. This section does not apply to
railroad companies, which shall be regulated in this regard by
*chapter 81.34 RCW and rules adopted thereunder. [1984 c
[Title 81 RCW—page 22]
81.28.210 Transportation at less than published
rates—Rebating. No common carrier, or any officer or
agent thereof, or any person acting for or employed by it,
shall assist, suffer or permit any person or corporation to
obtain transportation for any person or property between
points within this state at less than the rates then established
and in force in accordance with the schedules filed and published in accordance with the provisions of this title, by
means of false billing, false classification, false weight or
weighing, or false report of weight, or by any other device or
means. No person, corporation, or any officer, agent or
employee of a corporation, who shall deliver property for
transportation within the state to a common carrier, shall seek
to obtain or obtain such transportation for such property at
less than the rates then established and in force therefor, as
aforesaid, by false billing, false or incorrect classification,
(2006 Ed.)
Common Carriers in General
false weight or weighing, false representation of the contents
or substance of a package, or false report or statement of
weight, or by any device or means, whether with or without
the consent or connivance of a common carrier or any of its
officers, agents or employees.
No person, corporation, or any officer, agent or
employee, of a corporation, shall knowingly or wilfully,
directly or indirectly, by false statement or representation as
to the cost, value, nature or extent of injury, or by the use of
any false billing, bill of lading, receipt, voucher, roll,
account, claim, certificate, affidavit or deposition, knowing
the same to be false, fictitious or fraudulent, or to upon any
false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, obtain or
attempt to obtain any allowance, rebate or payment for damage, or otherwise, in connection with or growing out of the
transportation of persons or property, or agreement to transport such persons or property, whether with or without the
consent or connivance of such common carrier or any of its
officers, agents or employees, whereby the compensation of
such carrier for such transportation shall be in fact made less
than the rates then established and in force therefor.
No person, corporation, or any officer, agent or
employee of a corporation, who shall deliver property for
transportation within the state to a common carrier, shall seek
to obtain or obtain such transportation by any false representation, false statement of false paper or token as to the contents or substance thereof, where the transportation of such
property is prohibited by law. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.210. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 23; RRS § 10359.]
81.28.220
81.28.220 Action for treble damages. The attorney
general of the state of Washington is authorized and directed,
whenever he has reasonable grounds to believe that any person, firm or corporation has knowingly accepted or received
from any carriers of persons or property subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, either directly or indirectly, any
unlawful rebate, discount, deduction, concession, refund or
remittance from the rates or charges filed and open to public
inspection as provided for in the public service laws of this
state, to prosecute a civil action in the name of the people of
the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston
county to collect three times the total sum of such rebates,
discounts, deductions, concessions, refunds or remittances so
accepted or received within three years prior to the commencement of such action.
All penalties imposed under the provisions of this section shall be paid to the state treasurer and by him deposited
in the public service revolving fund. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.220.
Prior: 1937 c 169 § 5; RRS § 10447-1.]
81.28.230
81.28.230 Commission to fix just, reasonable, and
compensatory rates. Whenever the commission finds, after
a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, as provided in this chapter, that the rates, fares, or charges
demanded, exacted, charged, or collected by any common
carrier for the transportation of persons or property within the
state or in connection therewith, or that the regulations or
practices of the common carrier affecting those rates are
unjust, unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory, or unduly preferential, or in any way are in violation of the provisions of
(2006 Ed.)
81.28.270
law, or that the rates, fares, or charges are insufficient to yield
a reasonable compensation for the service rendered, the commission shall determine and fix by order the just, reasonable,
or sufficient rates, fares, or charges, or the regulations or
practices to be thereafter observed and enforced. This section
does not apply to railroad companies, which shall be regulated in this regard by *chapter 81.34 RCW and rules adopted
thereunder. [1984 c 143 § 9; 1961 c 14 § 81.28.230. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 53, part; RRS § 10389, part.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.34 RCW was repealed by 1991 c 49 § 1.
81.28.240
81.28.240 Commission may order improved facilities
and service. Whenever the commission shall find, after such
hearing, that the rules, regulations, practices, equipment,
appliances, facilities or service of any such common carrier
in respect to the transportation of persons or property are
unjust, unreasonable, unsafe, improper, inadequate or insufficient, the commission shall determine the just, reasonable,
safe, adequate, sufficient and proper rules, regulations, practices, equipment, appliances, facilities or service to be
observed, furnished, constructed or enforced and be used in
the transportation of persons and property by such common
carrier, and fix the same by its order or rule. [1961 c 14 §
81.28.240. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 53, part; RRS § 10389, part.]
81.28.250
81.28.250 Commission may complain of interstate
rates. The commission shall have power, and it is hereby
made its duty, to investigate all interstate, rates, fares,
charges, classifications or rules or practices in relation
thereto, for or in relation to the transportation of persons or
property where any act in relation thereto shall take place
within this state, and when the same are, in the opinion of the
commission, excessive or discriminatory, or are levied or laid
in violation of the act of congress entitled "An act to regulate
commerce," approved February 4, 1887, and the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, or in conflict with
the rulings, orders or regulations of the interstate commerce
commission, the commission shall apply, by petition, to the
interstate commerce commission for relief, and may present
to the interstate commerce commission all facts coming to its
knowledge as to violations of the rulings, orders or regulations of that commission, or as to violations of the said act to
regulate commerce or acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.250. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 58;
RRS § 10394.]
81.28.260
81.28.260 Bicycles as baggage. Bicycles are hereby
declared to be and are deemed baggage, and shall be transported as baggage for passengers by railroad corporations
and steamboats, and subject to the same liabilities as other
baggage; and no such passenger shall be required to crate,
cover, or otherwise protect any such bicycle: PROVIDED,
That a railroad corporation or steamboat shall not be required
to transport under the provisions of this section more than one
bicycle for one person. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.260. Prior: 1899
c 15 § 1; RRS § 10495.]
81.28.270
81.28.270 Limitation of action for collection of transportation charges. All actions at law by railroads, common
and contract carriers by motor truck and all other public car[Title 81 RCW—page 23]
81.28.280
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
riers for recovery of their charges, or any part of them, for any
common carrier service performed by said carriers, shall be
begun within two years from the time the cause of action
accrues, and not after. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.270. Prior: 1945 c
117 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 167-1.]
81.28.280
81.28.280 Reports of wrecks, etc. Every public service
company shall give immediate notice to the commission of
every accident resulting in death or injury to any person
occurring on its lines or system, in such manner as the commission may prescribe.
Such notice shall not be admitted as evidence or used for
any purpose against the company giving it in any action for
damages growing out of any matter mentioned in the notice.
The commission may require reports to be made by any common carrier of all wrecks, collisions, or derailments occurring
on its line. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.280. Prior: 1953 c 104 § 3;
prior: 1911 c 117 § 63, part; RRS § 10399, part.]
81.28.290
81.28.290 Investigation of accidents, wrecks. The
commission shall investigate all accidents that may occur
upon the lines of any common carrier resulting in loss of life,
to any passenger or employee, and may investigate any and
all accidents or wrecks occurring on the line of any common
carrier. Notice of the investigation shall be given in all cases
for a sufficient length of time to enable the company affected
to participate in the hearing and may be given orally or in
writing, in such manner as the commission may prescribe.
Such witnesses may be examined as the commission
deems necessary and proper to thoroughly ascertain the cause
of the accident or wreck and fix the responsibility therefor.
The examination and investigation may be conducted by an
inspector or deputy inspector, and they may administer oaths,
issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses, and
when the examination is conducted by an inspector or deputy
inspector, he shall make a full and complete report thereof to
the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.28.290. Prior: 1953 c 104
§ 4; prior: 1911 c 117 § 63, part; RRS § 10399, part.]
Chapter 81.29 RCW
Chapter 81.29
COMMON CARRIERS—LIMITATIONS
ON LIABILITY
Sections
81.29.010
81.29.020
81.29.030
81.29.040
81.29.050
Definition.
Carrier’s liability for loss—Limitation—Exceptions—Tariff
schedule—Time for filing claims or instituting suits.
Carrier’s right of action against other carrier.
Penalty for violations.
Liability for baggage.
81.29.010
81.29.010 Definition. The term "common carrier" as
used in this chapter shall include every individual, firm,
copartnership, association or corporation, or their lessees,
trustees or receivers, engaged in the transportation of property for the public for hire, whether by rail, water, motor vehicle, air or otherwise. [1961 c 14 § 81.29.010. Prior: 1945 c
203 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 3673-0. Formerly RCW
81.32.010, part.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 24]
81.29.020
81.29.020 Carrier’s liability for loss—Limitation—
Exceptions—Tariff schedule—Time for filing claims or
instituting suits. Any common carrier receiving property for
transportation wholly within the state of Washington from
one point in the state of Washington to another point in the
state of Washington, shall issue a receipt or bill of lading
therefor, and shall be liable to the lawful holder thereof for
any loss, damage, or injury to such property caused by it, or
by any common carrier to which such property may be delivered, or over whose line or lines such property may pass
when transported on a through bill of lading, and no contract,
receipt, rule, regulation, or other limitation of any character
whatsoever, shall exempt such common carrier from the liability imposed; and any such common carrier so receiving
property for transportation wholly within the state of Washington, or any common carrier delivering said property so
received and transported, shall be liable to the lawful holder
of said receipt or bill of lading, or to any party entitled to
recover thereon, whether such receipt or bill of lading has
been issued or not, for the full actual loss, damage, or injury
to such property caused by it or by any such common carrier
to which such property may be delivered, or over whose line
or lines such property may pass, when transported on a
through bill of lading, notwithstanding any limitation of liability or limitation of the amount of recovery, or representation or agreement as to value in any such receipt or bill of lading, or in any contract, rule, or regulation, or in any tariff filed
with the commission; and any such limitation, without
respect to the manner or form in which it is sought to be
made, is hereby declared to be unlawful and void: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the provisions hereof respecting
liability for full actual loss, damage, or injury, notwithstanding any limitation of liability or recovery or representation or
agreement or release as to value, and declaring any such limitation to be unlawful and void, shall not apply: First, to baggage carried on passenger trains, boats, motor vehicles, or
aircraft, or trains, boats, motor vehicles, or aircraft carrying
passengers; second, to property, except ordinary livestock
received for transportation concerning which the carrier shall
have been or shall be expressly authorized or required by
order of the commission, to establish and maintain rates
dependent upon the value declared in writing by the shipper
or agreed upon in writing as the released value of the property, in which case such declaration or agreement shall have
no other effect than to limit liability and recovery to an
amount not exceeding the value so declared or released; and
any tariff schedule which may be filed with the commission
pursuant to such order shall contain specific reference thereto
and may establish rates varying with the value so declared
and agreed upon; and the commission is hereby empowered
to make such order in cases where rates dependent upon and
varying with declared or agreed values would, in its opinion,
be just and reasonable under the circumstances and conditions surrounding the transportation. The term "ordinary livestock" shall include all cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, and
mules, except such as are chiefly valuable for breeding, racing, show purposes, or other special uses: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That nothing in this section shall deprive any
holder of such receipt or bill of lading of any remedy or right
of action which he has under the existing law: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That it shall be unlawful for any such receiving
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Corporate Powers and Duties
or delivering common carrier to provide by rule, contract,
regulation, or otherwise a shorter period for the filing of
claims than nine months, and for the institution of suits than
two years, such period for institution of suits to be computed
from the day when notice in writing is given by the carrier to
the claimant that the carrier has disallowed the claim or any
part or parts thereof specified in the notice: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That for the purposes of this section and
of RCW 81.29.030 the delivering carrier in the case of rail
transportation shall be construed to be the carrier performing
the linehaul service nearest to the point of destination, and
not a carrier performing merely a switching service at the
point of destination: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the
liability imposed by this section shall also apply in the case of
property reconsigned or diverted in accordance with the
applicable tariffs filed with the commission. [1982 c 83 § 1;
1980 c 132 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.29.020. Prior: 1945 c 203 §
2; 1923 c 149 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 3673-1. Formerly
RCW 81.32.290 through 81.32.330.]
Effective date—1980 c 132: "This 1980 act shall take effect on July 1,
1980." [1980 c 132 § 4.]
81.36.010
14 § 81.29.050. Prior: 1945 c 209 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
10495-1. Formerly RCW 81.32.360.]
Chapter 81.36 RCW
RAILROADS—CORPORATE POWERS AND DUTIES
Chapter 81.36
Sections
81.36.010
81.36.020
81.36.030
81.36.040
81.36.050
81.36.060
81.36.070
81.36.075
81.36.090
81.36.100
81.36.120
81.36.130
Right of eminent domain.
Right of entry.
Intersections and connections with other roads or canals.
Line or canal across or along watercourses.
Change of grade or location of road or canal.
Extensions, branch lines.
Purchase, lease, sale, merger of railroads.
Proceedings prior to March 18, 1909, validated.
Requisites to building extension or branch line.
Bridges over navigable streams.
May own securities of irrigation companies.
May construct and operate ditches and canals.
Assessment of private car companies for property tax purposes: Chapter
84.16 RCW.
Consolidation of competing railroads prohibited: State Constitution Art. 12
§ 16.
Constitutional limitations, generally: State Constitution Art. 12.
81.29.030
81.29.030 Carrier’s right of action against other carrier. The common carrier issuing such receipt or bill of lading, or delivering such property so received and transported,
shall be entitled to recover from the common carrier on
whose line the loss, damage, or injury shall have been sustained, the amount of such loss, damage, or injury as it may
be required to pay to the owners of such property, as may be
evidenced by any receipt, judgment or transcript thereof.
[1961 c 14 § 81.29.030. Prior: 1945 c 203 § 3; 1923 c 149 §
2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 3673-2. Formerly RCW 81.32.340.]
81.29.040
81.29.040 Penalty for violations. Any common carrier
subject to the provisions of this chapter, or whenever such
common carrier is a corporation, any director or officer
thereof, or any receiver, trustee, lessee, agent, or person acting for or employed by such corporation, who, alone, or with
any other corporation, company, person, or party, shall wilfully do or cause to be done, or shall willingly suffer or permit to be done, any act, matter, or thing in this chapter prohibited or declared to be unlawful, or who shall aid or abet
therein, or shall wilfully omit or fail to do any act, matter or
thing in this chapter required to be done, or shall cause or
willingly suffer or permit any act, matter or thing so directed
or required by this chapter to be done, or not to be so done, or
shall aid or abet any such omission or failure, or shall be
guilty of any infraction of this chapter for which no penalty is
otherwise provided, or who shall aid or abet therein, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall upon conviction
thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, be subject to a
fine of not to exceed five thousand dollars for each offense.
[1961 c 14 § 81.29.040. Prior: 1923 c 149 § 3; RRS § 3673-3.
Formerly RCW 81.32.350.]
81.29.050
81.29.050 Liability for baggage. The liability of any
common carrier subject to regulation by the commission for
the loss of or damage to any baggage shall be set by the commission. The commission will review the amounts periodically and adjust the rate accordingly. [1991 c 21 § 1; 1961 c
(2006 Ed.)
Express companies: State Constitution Art. 12 § 21.
Rights of way over public lands, bridges, etc.: Chapter 79.36 RCW.
Taxation of rolling stock: State Constitution Art. 12 § 17.
81.36.010
81.36.010 Right of eminent domain. Every corporation organized for the construction of any railway, macadamized road, plank road, clay road, canal or bridge, is hereby
authorized and empowered to appropriate, by condemnation,
land and any interest in land or contract right relating thereto,
including any leasehold interest therein and any rights-ofway for tunnels beneath the surface of the land, and any elevated rights-of-way above the surface thereof, including
lands granted to the state for university, school or other purposes, and also tide and shore lands belonging to the state
(but not including harbor areas), which may be necessary for
the line of such road, railway or canal, or site of such bridge,
not exceeding two hundred feet in width, besides a sufficient
quantity thereof for toll houses, workshops, materials for
construction, excavations and embankments and a right-ofway over adjacent lands or property, to enable such corporation to construct and prepare its road, railway, canal or
bridge, and to make proper drains; and in case of a canal,
whenever the court shall deem it necessary, to appropriate a
sufficient quantity of land, including lands granted to the
state for university, school or other purposes, in addition to
that before specified in this section, for the construction and
excavation of such canal and of the slopes and bermes
thereof, not exceeding one thousand feet in total width; and in
case of a railway to appropriate a sufficient quantity of any
such land, including lands granted to the state for university,
schools and other purposes and also tide and shore lands
belonging to the state (but not including harbor areas) in addition to that before specified in this section, for the necessary
side tracks, depots and water stations, and the right to conduct
water thereto by aqueduct, and for yards, terminal, transfer
and switching grounds, docks and warehouses required for
receiving, delivering, storage and handling of freight, and
such land, or any interest therein, as may be necessary for the
security and safety of the public in the construction, mainte[Title 81 RCW—page 25]
81.36.020
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
nance and operation of its railways; compensation therefor to
be made to the owner thereof irrespective of any benefit from
any improvement proposed by such corporation, in the manner provided by law: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That if
such corporation locate the bed of such railway or canal upon
any part of the track now occupied by any established state or
county road, said corporation shall be responsible to the state
or county in which such state or county road so appropriated
is located, for all expenses incurred by the state or county in
relocating and opening the part of such road so appropriated.
The term land as herein used includes tide and shore lands but
not harbor areas; it also includes any interest in land or contract right relating thereto, including any leasehold interest
therein. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.010. Prior: 1907 c 244 § 1; 1903
c 180 § 1; 1895 c 80 § 2; 1888 p 63 § 2; Code 1881 § 2456;
1869 p 343 § 2; RRS § 10539.]
81.36.020
81.36.020 Right of entry. A corporation organized for
the construction of any railway, macadamized road, plank
road, clay road, canal or bridge, shall have a right to enter
upon any land, real estate or premises, or any of the lands
granted to the state of Washington for school, university or
other purposes, between the termini thereof, for the purpose
of examining, locating and surveying the line of such road or
canal, or the site of such bridge, doing no unnecessary damage thereby. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.020. Prior: 1895 c 80 § 1;
1888 p 63 § 1; Code 1881 § 2455; 1869 p 34 § 1; RRS §
10538.]
81.36.030
81.36.030 Intersections and connections with other
roads or canals. Every corporation formed under the laws of
this state for the construction of a railroad shall have the
power to cross, intersect, join and unite its railway with any
other railway before constructed, at any point in its route, and
upon the grounds of such other railway company, with the
necessary turn-outs, sidings, switches and other conveniences in furtherance of the objects of its connections, and
every corporation whose railway is or shall be hereafter intersected by any new railway shall unite with the corporation
owning such new railway in forming such intersections and
connections and grant the facilities aforesaid; and if the two
corporations cannot agree upon the amount of compensation
to be made therefor, or the points and manner of such crossings and connections, the same shall be ascertained and determined in the manner provided by law for the taking of lands
and other property which shall be necessary for the construction of its road, and every corporation formed under the laws
of this state for the construction of a canal shall have the
power to cross and intersect any railway before constructed at
any point in its road and upon the grounds of such other railway company, and every corporation whose railway is or
shall hereafter be crossed or intersected by any canal shall
unite with the corporation owning such canal in forming such
crossings and intersections and grant the facilities therefor;
and if the two corporations cannot agree upon the compensation to be made therefor, or the points and manner of such
crossings and connections, the same shall be ascertained and
determined in the manner provided by law for the taking of
lands and other property which shall be necessary for the con[Title 81 RCW—page 26]
struction of said canal. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.030. Prior: 1895
c 80 § 3; 1888 p 64 § 3; Code 1881 § 2456 1/2; RRS § 10535.]
81.36.040
81.36.040 Line or canal across or along watercourses. Every corporation formed under the laws of this
state for the construction of railroads or canals shall possess
the power to construct its railway or canal, as the case may
be, across, along or upon any river, stream of water, watercourses, plank road, turnpike or canal, which the route of
such railway or canal shall intersect or touch; but such corporation shall restore the river, stream, watercourse, plank road
or turnpike thus intersected or touched to its former state as
near as may be, and pay any damages caused by such construction: PROVIDED, That the construction of any railway
or canal by such corporation along, across or upon any of the
navigable rivers or waters of this state shall be in such manner as to not interfere with, impede or obstruct the navigation
thereof; and all rights, privileges and powers of every
description by law conferred upon road or railroad companies
are hereby given and granted to canal companies so far as the
same may be applicable, and all power and authority possessed by the public or municipal corporations of the state or
their local authorities, with reference to road or railroad companies, may be exercised by them with reference to canal
companies. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.040. Prior: 1895 c 80 § 4;
1888 p 64 § 3; RRS § 10536.]
81.36.050
81.36.050 Change of grade or location of road or
canal. Any corporation may change the grade or location of
its road, or canal, not departing from the general route specified in the articles of incorporation, for the purpose of avoiding annoyances to public travel or dangerous or deficient
curves or grades, or unsafe or unsubstantial grounds or foundation, or for other like reasonable causes, and for the accomplishment of such change, shall have the same right to enter
upon, examine, survey and appropriate the necessary lands
and materials, as in the original location and construction of
such road or canal. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.050. Prior: Code 1881
§ 2457; 1869 p 343 § 3; RRS § 10537.]
81.36.060
81.36.060 Extensions, branch lines. Any railroad corporation chartered by, or organized under, the laws of the
state, or of any state or territory, or under the laws of the
United States, and authorized to do business in this state, may
extend its railroads from any point named in its charter or
articles of incorporation, or may build branch roads either
from any point on its line of road or from any point on the line
of any other railroad connecting, or to be connected, with its
road, the use of which other road between such points and the
connection with its own road such corporation shall have
secured by lease or agreement for a term of not less than ten
years from its date. Before making any such extension or
building any such branch road, such corporation shall, by resolution of its directors or trustees, to be entered in the record
of its proceedings, designate the route of such proposed
extension or branch by indicating the place from and to which
said railroad is to be constructed, and the estimated length of
such railroad, and the name of each county in this state
through or into which it is constructed or intended to be constructed, and file a copy of such record, certified by the pres(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Corporate Powers and Duties
ident and secretary, in the office of the secretary of state, who
shall endorse thereon the date of the filing thereof and record
the same. Thereupon such corporation shall have all the
rights and privileges to make such extension or build such
branch and receive aid thereto which it would have had if it
had been authorized in its charter or articles of incorporation.
[1961 c 14 § 81.36.060. Prior: 1890 p 526 § 1; RRS §
10460.]
81.36.070
81.36.070 Purchase, lease, sale, merger of railroads.
Any railroad company now or hereafter incorporated pursuant to the laws of this state or of the United States, or of any
state or territory of the United States, may at any time by
means of subscription to the capital stock of any other railroad company, or by the purchase of its stock or bonds, or by
guaranteeing its bonds, or otherwise, aid such company in the
construction of its railroad within or without this state; and
any such company owning or operating a railroad within or
without this state, may extend the same into this or any other
state or territory, and may build, buy, or lease the whole or
any part of any other railroad, together with the franchises,
powers and immunities and all other property and appurtenances appertaining thereto, whether located within or without this state; or may consolidate with any railroad or railroads in such other state or territory, or with any other railroad in this state, and may operate the same, and may own
such real estate and other property in such other state or territory as may be necessary or convenient in the operation of
such road; and any such railroad company may sell or lease
the whole or any part of its railroad and branches, within or
without this state, constructed or to be constructed, together
with all property, rights, privileges, and franchises appertaining thereto, to any railroad company organized or existing
pursuant to the laws of the United States or of this state, or of
any other state or territory of the United States; and any railroad company incorporated or existing under the laws of the
United States, or of any state or territory of the United States,
may extend, construct, maintain and operate its railroad, or
any portion or branch thereof, into and through this state, and
may build branches from any point on such extension to any
place or places within this state, and the railroad company of
any other state or territory of the United States which shall so
purchase or lease a railroad, or any part thereof in this state,
or consolidate with any such railroad in this state, or shall
extend or construct its road, or any portion or branch thereof
in this state, shall possess and may exercise and enjoy as to
the location, control, management and operation of the said
road, and as to the location, construction and operation of any
extension or branch thereof, all the rights, powers, privileges
and franchises possessed by railroad corporations organized
under the laws of this state, including the exercise of the
power of eminent domain. Such purchase, sale, consolidation
or lease may be made, or such aid furnished upon such terms
or conditions as may be agreed upon by the directors and
trustees of the respective companies; but, except in the case
of sale or lease of branch line railroads, the same shall be
approved or ratified by persons holding or representing seventy-five percent of the capital stock of the company so selling or disposing of its stock or bonds, or selling, leasing, or
otherwise disposing of its railroad property and appurtenances pertaining thereto, at any annual stockholders’ meet(2006 Ed.)
81.36.070
ing or at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that
purpose, or by the approval in writing of seventy-five percent
of the stockholders of such company. Articles stating the
name selected for such consolidated corporation and the
terms of such consolidation shall be approved by each corporation by the vote of the stockholders holding seventy-five
percent of the stock, in person or by proxy, at a regular meeting thereof or a special meeting called for that purpose in the
manner provided by the bylaws of the respective consolidating corporations, or by the consent in writing of such seventy-five percent of such stockholders annexed to such articles; and a copy thereof, with a copy of the records of such
approval or consent, duly certified by the respective presidents and secretaries, with the corporate seals of such corporations affixed thereto, shall be filed for record in the office of
the secretary of state, and a copy thereof be furnished to the
commission; and thereupon such consolidating corporations
shall be and become one corporation, by the name so
selected, which, within this state, shall possess all the powers,
franchises, and immunities, including the right of further consolidation with other corporations, and be subject to all the
liabilities and restrictions now or hereafter imposed by law:
PROVIDED, That no railroad corporation shall consolidate
its stock, property, or franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a competing line, or purchase, either directly
or indirectly, any stock or interest in a railroad corporation
owning or operating a competing line: AND, PROVIDED
FURTHER, That nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be
held or construed as curtailing the right of this state, or of the
counties through which any such road or roads may be
located to levy and collect taxes upon the same, and upon the
rolling stock thereof, in conformity with the provisions of the
laws of this state upon that subject, and all roads or branches
thereof in this state so consolidated with, purchased or leased,
or aided, or extended into this state, shall be subject to taxation and to regulation and control of its operation by the laws
of this state in all respects the same as if constructed by corporations organized under the laws of this state; and any corporation of another state or territory or of the United States,
being the purchaser or lessee of a railroad within this state or
extending its railroad or any portion thereof into or through
this state, shall establish and maintain an office or offices in
this state, at some point or points on its line, at which legal
process and notice may be served as upon railroad corporations of this state: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That before any
railroad corporation organized under the laws of any other
state or territory, or of the United States, shall be permitted to
avail itself of the benefits of this section and RCW 81.36.075
with respect to any railroad constructed, or to be constructed
within this state, such corporation shall file with the secretary
of state, a true copy of its charter or articles of incorporation,
and otherwise comply with the laws of this state respecting
foreign corporations doing business within the state: PROVIDED, That any such consolidation shall be approved by
the commission: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in no case
shall the capital stock of the company formed by such consolidation exceed the sum of the capital stock of the companies
so consolidated, at the par value thereof. Any sale or lease of
a branch line railroad made in substantial compliance with
the provisions of this section prior to April 8, 1926 is hereby
legalized and made in all respects legal and binding from the
[Title 81 RCW—page 27]
81.36.075
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
date of its execution. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.070. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 188 § 1; 1915 c 136 § 1; 1909 c 196 § 1; 1890 p 526 §
2; RRS § 10463. Formerly RCW 81.36.070 and 81.36.080.]
81.36.075
81.36.075 Proceedings prior to March 18, 1909, validated. Any sale or purchase of, and any consolidation by
sale, or otherwise, or any lease, or agreement to sell, consolidate with or lease, the whole or any part of any railroad, or the
branch lines of any company, whether organized or located
within or without this state, with the franchises appertaining
thereto, to, from or with any railroad company organized
under the laws of the United States or of this state or any
other state or territory, or any consolidation between such
companies, executed prior to March 18, 1909 by the proper
officers of the respective companies, parties to such sale,
lease or consolidation or contract, is hereby legalized and
made in all respects valid and binding from the date of its
execution: PROVIDED, That the provisions of this section
shall not apply when the railroads or transportation corporations involved are competing lines. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.075.
Prior: 1909 c 196 § 2; RRS § 10464.]
81.36.090
81.36.090 Requisites to building extension or branch
line. Any railroad corporation chartered by or organized
under the laws of the United States, or of any state or territory, whose constructed railroad shall reach or intersect the
boundary line of this state at any point, may extend its railroad into this state from any such point or points to any place
or places within the state, and may build branches from any
point on such extension. Before making such extension or
building any such branch road, such corporation shall, by resolution of its directors or trustees, to be entered in the record
of its proceedings, designate the route of such proposed
extension or branch by indicating the place from and to which
such extension or branch is to be constructed, and the estimated length of such extension or branch, and the name of
each county in this state through or into which it is constructed or intended to be constructed, and file a copy of such
record, certified by the president and secretary, in the office
of the secretary of state, who shall endorse thereon the date of
filing thereof, and record the same. Thereupon such corporation shall have all the rights and privileges to make such
extension or build such branch and receive such aid thereto as
it would have had had it been authorized so to do by articles
of incorporation duly filed in accordance with the laws of this
state. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.090. Prior: 1890 p 527 § 3; RRS §
10466.]
good faith for the purpose of being made a part of the constructed line of said railroad: AND PROVIDED, That they
shall be constructed in the course of the construction of said
railroad or thereafter for the more convenient operation
thereof: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That such bridges
shall be so constructed as not to interfere with, impede or
obstruct the navigation of such streams. [1961 c 14 §
81.36.100. Prior: 1890 p 53 § 1; RRS § 10468.]
Bridges and trestles across state waterways: RCW 79.110.130, 79.110.140.
Railroad bridges across navigable streams: RCW 79.110.110.
81.36.120
81.36.120 May own securities of irrigation companies. It shall be lawful for any corporation, whether such corporation is organized under the laws of the territory or state of
Washington, the laws of any other state or territory, or the
laws of the United States owning, leasing or operating any
line or lines of railway within the state of Washington, or
which may own, lease or operate in the future any such line
or lines of railway within this state, to take, acquire, own,
negotiate, sell and guarantee bonds and stocks of companies
or corporations which are or may hereafter be organized for
the purpose of irrigating and reclaiming lands within this
state. [1961 c 14 § 81.36.120. Prior: 1890 p 529 § 1; RRS §
10461.]
81.36.130
81.36.130 May construct and operate ditches and
canals. It shall be lawful for any such corporation to build,
own and operate irrigating ditches and canals in this state for
the purpose of irrigating and reclaiming arid lands contiguous
to or tributary to such line or lines of railway. [1961 c 14 §
81.36.130. Prior: 1890 p 529 § 2; RRS § 10462.]
Chapter 81.40 RCW
RAILROADS—EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS
AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 81.40
Sections
81.40.010
81.40.035
81.40.040
81.40.060
81.40.080
81.40.095
81.40.100
81.40.110
81.40.130
Full train crews—Passenger—Safety review—Penalty—
Enforcement.
Freight train crews.
Train employees—Hours of service—Penalty—Enforcement.
Purchase of apparel by employees—Penalty.
Employee shelters—Penalty.
Rules and regulations—Railroad employees—Sanitation,
shelter.
Penalty for employing illiterate engineer—Penalty for illiterate person to act as engineer.
Flagman must read, write, and speak English.
Cost of records or medical examinations—Unlawful to require
employee or applicant to pay—Penalty—Definitions.
Industrial insurance, employments covered: Chapter 51.12 RCW.
81.36.100
81.36.100 Bridges over navigable streams. Any railroad corporation heretofore duly incorporated and organized
under the laws of this state or of the territory of Washington,
or which may hereafter be duly incorporated and organized
under the laws of this state, or heretofore or hereafter incorporated and organized under the laws of any other state or territory of the United States, and authorized to do business in
this state and to construct and operate railroads therein, shall
have and hereby is given the right to construct bridges across
the navigable streams within this state over which the projected line or lines of railway of said railroad corporations
will run: PROVIDED, That said bridges are constructed in
[Title 81 RCW—page 28]
Intoxication of railway employees: RCW 9.91.020.
81.40.010
81.40.010 Full train crews—Passenger—Safety
review—Penalty—Enforcement. (1) No law or order of
any regulatory agency of this state shall prevent a common
carrier by railroad from staffing its passenger trains in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or any national
or other applicable settlement of train crew size. In the
absence of a collective bargaining agreement or any national
or other applicable settlement of train crew size, any common
carrier railroad operating a passenger train with a crew of less
than two members shall be subject to a safety review by the
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Employee Requirements and Regulations
Washington utilities and transportation commission, which,
as to staffing, may issue an order requiring as many as two
crew members.
(2) Each train or engine run in violation of this section is
a separate offense: PROVIDED, That nothing in this section
shall be construed as applying in the case of disability of one
or more of any train crew while out on the road between division terminals, wrecking trains, or to any line, or part of line,
where not more than two trains are run in each twenty-four
hours.
(3) Any person, corporation, company, or officer of
court operating any railroad or railway, or part of any railroad
or railway in the state of Washington, and engaged as a common carrier, in the transportation of freight or passengers,
who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
conviction thereof shall be fined not less than one hundred
dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense.
(4) It is the duty of the commission to enforce this section. [2003 c 53 § 386; 1992 c 102 § 1; 1961 c 14 §
81.40.010. Prior: 1911 c 134 § 1; RRS § 10486.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.40.035
81.40.035 Freight train crews. No law or order of any
regulatory agency of this state shall prevent a common carrier
by railroad from manning its freight trains in accordance with
collective bargaining agreements or any national or other settlement of train crew size. The size of passenger train crews
shall not be affected by *this act. [1967 c 2 § 2 (Initiative
Measure No. 233, approved November 8, 1966).]
*Reviser’s note: This act [chapter 2, Laws of 1967], consisting of this
section and the repeal of RCW 81.40.020, was Initiative Measure No. 233
adopted by the people November 8, 1966, and declared effective law by
proclamation signed by the governor December 8, 1966.
Repeal of conflicting acts: "All acts or parts of acts in conflict with or
in derogation of this act are hereby repealed insofar as the same are in conflict with, or in derogation of, this act or any part thereof." [1967 c 2 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 233, approved November 8, 1966).]
81.40.040 Train employees—Hours of service—Penalty—Enforcement. (1) It is unlawful for any common carrier by railroad or any of its officers or agents, to require or
permit any employee engaged in or connected with the movement of any train to remain on duty more than twelve consecutive hours, except when by casualty occurring after such
employee has started on his or her trip; or, except by accident
or unavoidable delay of trains scheduled to make connection
with the train on which such employee is serving, he or she is
prevented from reaching his or her terminal; or, to require or
permit any such employee who has been on duty twelve consecutive hours to go on duty without having had at least ten
hours off duty; or, to require or permit any such employee
who has been on duty twelve hours in the aggregate in any
twenty-four hour period to continue on duty without having
had at least eight hours off duty within the twenty-four hour
period.
(2) Any such common carrier, or any of its officers or
agents violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred or more than
one thousand dollars for each and every such violation to be
recovered in a suit or suits to be brought by the attorney general.
81.40.040
(2006 Ed.)
81.40.080
(3) It shall be the duty of the attorney general to bring
such suits upon duly verified information being lodged with
him or her of such violation having occurred, in any superior
court.
(4) It shall also be the duty of the commission to fully
investigate all cases of the violation of this section, and to
lodge with the attorney general information of any such violation as may come to its knowledge. [2003 c 53 § 387; 1977
c 70 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.40.040. Prior: 1907 c 20 § 1; RRS
§ 7652.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.40.060
81.40.060 Purchase of apparel by employees—Penalty. (1) It shall be unlawful for any railroad or other transportation company doing business in the state of Washington,
or of any officer, agent or servant of such railroad or other
transportation company, to require any conductor, engineer,
brakeman, fireman, purser, or other employee, as a condition
of his or her continued employment, or otherwise to require
or compel, or attempt to require or compel, any such employees to purchase of any such railroad or other transportation
company or of any particular person, firm or corporation or at
any particular place or places, any uniform or other clothing
or apparel, required by any such railroad or other transportation company to be used by any such employee in the performance of his or her duties as such; and any such railroad or
transportation company or any officer, agent or servant
thereof, who shall order or require any conductor, engineer,
brakeman, fireman, purser, or other person in its employ, to
purchase any uniform or other clothing or apparel as aforesaid, shall be deemed to have required such purchase as a
condition of such employee’s continued employment.
(2) Any railroad or other transportation company doing
business in the state of Washington, or any officer, agent, or
servant thereof, violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a
fine in any sum not less than one hundred dollars nor more
than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county
jail of the county where the misdemeanor is committed, not
exceeding six months. [2003 c 53 § 388; 1961 c 14 §
81.40.060. Prior: 1907 c 224 § 1; RRS § 10504.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.40.080
81.40.080 Employee shelters—Penalty. (1) It shall be
unlawful for any railroad company, corporation, association
or other person owning, controlling or operating any line of
railroad in the state of Washington, to build, construct, reconstruct, or repair railroad car equipment or motive power in
this state without first erecting and maintaining at every point
where five employees or more are regularly employed on
such work, a shed over a sufficient portion of the tracks used
for such work, so as to provide that all men regularly
employed in such work shall be sheltered and protected from
rain and other inclement weather: PROVIDED, That the provisions of this section shall not apply at points where it is necessary to make light repairs only on equipment or motive
power, nor to equipment loaded with time or perishable
freight, nor to equipment when trains are being held for the
movement of equipment, nor to equipment on tracks where
[Title 81 RCW—page 29]
81.40.095
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
trains arrive or depart or are assembled or made up for departure. The term "light repairs," as herein used, shall not
include repairs usually made in roundhouse, shop or shed
upon well equipped railroads.
(2) Any railroad company or officer or agent thereof, or
any other person, who violates this section by failing or refusing to comply with its provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor,
and each day’s failure or refusal to comply shall be considered a separate offense. [2003 c 53 § 389; 1961 c 14 §
81.40.080. Prior: 1941 c 238 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 766640.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.40.095
81.40.095 Rules and regulations—Railroad employees—Sanitation, shelter. The utilities and transportation
commission shall adopt and enforce rules and regulations
relating to sanitation and adequate shelter as it affects the
health of all railroad employees, including but not limited to
railroad trainmen, enginemen, yardmen, maintenance of way
employees, highway crossing watchmen, clerical, platform,
freight house and express employees. [1961 c 14 §
81.40.095. Prior: 1957 c 71 § 1. Formerly RCW 81.04.162.]
81.40.100
81.40.100 Penalty for employing illiterate engineer—
Penalty for illiterate person to act as engineer. Every person who, as an officer of a corporation or otherwise, shall
knowingly employ as an engineer or engine driver, to run a
locomotive or train on any railway, any person who cannot
read time tables and ordinary handwriting; and every person
who, being unable to read time tables and ordinary handwriting, shall act as an engineer or run a locomotive or train on
any railway, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1961 c
14 § 81.40.100. Prior: 1909 c 249 § 274; RRS § 2526.]
81.40.110
81.40.110 Flagman must read, write, and speak
English. Any railroad operating within this state, shall not
employ or use as flagman any person or persons who cannot
read, write and speak the English language. [1961 c 14 §
81.40.110. Prior: 1907 c 138 § 1, part; 1899 c 35 § 1, part;
RRS § 10480, part.]
81.40.130
81.40.130 Cost of records or medical examinations—
Unlawful to require employee or applicant to pay—Penalty—Definitions. (1) It is unlawful for any employer to
require any employee or applicant for employment to pay the
cost of a medical examination or the cost of furnishing any
records required by the employer as a condition of employment.
(2) Any employer who violates this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine
of not more than one hundred dollars. Each violation shall
constitute a separate offense.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Employer" means any common carrier by rail, doing
business in or operating within the state, and any subsidiary
thereof.
(b) "Employee" means every person who may be permitted, required, or directed by any employer, in consideration
of direct or indirect gain or profit, to engage in any employ[Title 81 RCW—page 30]
ment. [2003 c 53 § 390; 1961 c 14 § 81.40.130. Prior: 1955
c 228 § 2.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Chapter 81.44
Chapter 81.44 RCW
COMMON CARRIERS—EQUIPMENT
Sections
81.44.010
81.44.020
81.44.031
81.44.032
81.44.040
81.44.050
81.44.060
81.44.065
81.44.070
81.44.085
81.44.091
81.44.092
81.44.093
81.44.094
81.44.095
81.44.096
81.44.097
81.44.0971
81.44.0972
81.44.098
81.44.0981
81.44.0982
81.44.099
81.44.100
81.44.101
81.44.102
81.44.103
81.44.104
81.44.105
81.44.110
81.44.120
81.44.130
Commission may order improved facilities.
Correction of unsafe or defective conditions—Failure to have
walkways and handrails as unsafe or defective condition,
when.
Safety appliances—Locomotives operated on class 1 railroads.
Penalties for violating RCW 81.44.031 or tampering with
locomotive speedometer lock or recording tape.
Safety appliances—Cars—Street cars.
Power of commission as to appliances.
Penalty.
Devolution of powers and duties relative to safety of railroads.
Duties of inspector of safety appliances.
First aid kits and drinking water—Penalty.
Cabooses—Size—Equipment—Application.
Cabooses—Minimum length—Construction—Insulation—
Cupola.
Cabooses—Trucks, riding qualities, wheels—Draft gears,
minimum travel, minimum capacity.
Cabooses—Electric lighting—Markers.
Cabooses—Glass, glazing materials of safety glass type.
Cabooses—Stanchions, grab handles, or bars, installation—
Edges and protrusions rounded—Seat backs, standard.
Cabooses—Drinking water facilities.
Cabooses—Facilities for washing hands and face.
Cabooses—Fire extinguisher—Type, location, and maintenance.
Cabooses—No violation when move in service if correction
made at first available point—Temporary exemption, procedure, limitations.
Cabooses—Register for report of failures—Regulations for
use of.
Cabooses—Compliance, when—Standard for compliance.
Cabooses—Regulation and enforcement—Regulations for.
Penalty.
Track motor cars—Windshield and canopy required.
Track motor cars—Absence of windshield or canopy unlawful.
Track motor cars—Head and tail lights required.
Track motor cars—Absence of lights unlawful.
Track motor cars—Penalty for violation.
Equipment is part of cars—Tare weight.
Reimbursement of shipper for supplying equipment.
Safeguarding frogs, switches, and guard rails.
Excessive steam in boilers, penalty: RCW 70.54.080.
Safety and health, tunnels and underground construction: Chapter 49.24
RCW.
Steam boilers, pressure vessels, construction, inspection, etc.: Chapter
70.79 RCW.
Tampering with signals, lights, etc.: RCW 88.08.020.
81.44.010 Commission may order improved facilities. Whenever the commission shall, after a hearing had
upon its own motion or upon complaint, find that, additional
tracks, switches, terminals, terminal facilities, stations,
motive power or any other property, apparatus, equipment,
facilities or device for use by any common carrier in, or in
connection with the transportation of persons or property,
ought reasonably to be provided, or any repairs or improvements to, or changes in, any theretofore in use ought reasonably to be made, or any additions or changes in construction
should reasonably be made thereto, in order to promote the
security or convenience of the public or employees, or in
81.44.010
(2006 Ed.)
Common Carriers—Equipment
order to secure adequate service or facilities for the transportation of passengers or property, the commission may, after a
hearing, either on its own motion or after complaint, make
and serve an order directing such repairs, improvements,
changes or additions to be made. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.010.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 64; RRS § 10400.]
81.44.020
81.44.020 Correction of unsafe or defective conditions—Failure to have walkways and handrails as unsafe
or defective condition, when. If upon investigation the
commission shall find that the equipment or appliances in
connection therewith, or the apparatus, tracks, bridges or
other structures of any common carrier are defective, and that
the operation thereof is dangerous to the employees of such
common carrier or to the public, it shall immediately give
notice to the superintendent or other officer of such common
carrier of the repairs or reconstruction necessary to place the
same in a safe condition, and may also prescribe the rate of
speed for trains or cars passing over such dangerous or defective track, bridge or other structure until the repairs or reconstruction required are made, and may also prescribe the time
within which the same shall be made. Or if, in its opinion, it
is needful or proper, it may forbid the running of trains or cars
over any defective track, bridge or structure until the same be
repaired and placed in a safe condition. Failure of a railroad
bridge or trestle to be equipped with walkways and handrails
may be identified as an unsafe or defective condition under
this section after hearing had by the commission upon complaint or on its own motion. The commission in making such
determination shall balance considerations of employee and
public safety with the potential for increased danger to the
public resulting from adding such walkways or handrails to
railway bridges: PROVIDED, That a railroad company and
its employees shall not be liable for injury to or death of any
person occurring on or about any railway bridge or trestle if
such person was not a railway employee but was a trespasser
or was otherwise not authorized to be in the location where
such injury or death occurred.
There shall be no appeal from or action to review any
order of the commission made under the provisions of this
section if the commission finds that immediate compliance is
necessary for the protection of employees or the public.
[1982 c 141 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 46 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.44.020.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 65; RRS § 10401.]
81.44.031
81.44.031 Safety appliances—Locomotives operated
on class 1 railroads. Every locomotive operated on every
class 1 railroad within the state of Washington shall be
equipped with:
(1) Power driven wheel brakes and appliances for operating the train brake system, so equipped that the engineer on
the locomotive drawing such train can control its speed without requiring the brakeman to use hand brakes for that purpose, in operating condition at all times;
(2) Couplers coupling automatically by impact, which
can be coupled or uncoupled without the necessity of men
going between the locomotive and the locomotive or car to
which the same is being coupled or from which it is being
uncoupled, and with suitable uncoupling levers;
(2006 Ed.)
81.44.040
(3) Proper sill steps and grab irons, and with proper footboards if used in switching service;
(4) Electric headlights of approved design on each end in
operating condition at all times;
(5) Except in switching service, a speedometer calibrated
in miles per hour, accurate within five miles per hour, and
operable at all times: PROVIDED, That if a speedometer is
determined to be out of calibration or inoperable while the
locomotive in enroute, it will be deemed as being in good
working order until the locomotive reaches the next terminal
where repair facilities are available or where a locomotive
with a working speedometer is available for substitution;
(6) Windshields with fully operable windshield wipers
capable of removing rain and snow, and adequate operable
defrosters on each lead unit of the locomotive consist.
At least one unit of the leading engine-consist on every
railroad in this state shall be equipped as of January, 1977,
with one or more colored oscillating lights, visible on all
sides of the locomotive for a distance of at least two hundred
yards. Said light or lights shall be operated whenever the
locomotive is in motion or is stopped on a grade crossing, and
may be of any color allowed by law, other than the color of
the locomotive’s headlight. [1977 ex.s. c 263 § 1.]
81.44.032
81.44.032 Penalties for violating RCW 81.44.031 or
tampering with locomotive speedometer lock or recording tape. Any railroad or railway in this state violating any
of the provisions of RCW 81.44.031, shall be fined not less
than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars
for each violation; each day such condition exists shall constitute a separate violation. In setting the fine for equipment
failure, the location of the locomotive at the time of the violation and access to repair facilities shall be taken into consideration. It shall also be a violation of RCW 81.44.031 and this
section subject to the same penalty as provided in this section
for any railroad employee, except those charged with the duty
of installation, maintenance and repair or removal of speedometers to tamper with, adjust or break the lock or alter or
remove the speed recording tape therein. [1977 ex.s. c 263 §
2.]
81.44.040
81.44.040 Safety appliances—Cars—Street cars.
Each car shall be equipped with couplers coupling automatically, which can be coupled or uncoupled without the necessity of men going between the ends of the cars, with power
brakes, with proper hand brakes, sill steps and grab irons,
and, where secure ladders and running boards are required,
with such ladders and running boards, and all cars having ladders shall also be equipped with secure hand holds or grab
irons on their roofs at the tops of such ladders, and with such
other appliances necessary for the safe operation of such cars,
and the trains containing such cars, as may be prescribed by
the commission: PROVIDED, That in the loading and hauling of long commodities requiring more than one car, hand
brakes may be omitted from all save one of the cars, while
they are thus combined for such purpose: AND PROVIDED
FURTHER, That in the operation of trains not less than
eighty-five percent of the cars in such train, which are associated together, shall have their power brakes used and operated by the engineer of the locomotive drawing such train.
[Title 81 RCW—page 31]
81.44.050
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Every street car shall be equipped with proper and efficient brakes, steps, grab irons or hand rails, fenders or aprons
or pilots, and with such other appliances, apparatus and
machinery necessary for the safe operation of such street car
as the commission may prescribe. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.040.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 66, part; RRS § 10402, part. Formerly
RCW 81.44.040 and 81.64.120, part.]
proper precautions: PROVIDED, That RCW 81.44.031
through 81.44.060 shall not apply to boarding and outfit cars
when moved as work trains, or to trains consisting wholly of
logging trucks or of logging trucks and a passenger car or
caboose at the rear end thereof, or of logging trucks and not
to exceed five freight cars at the rear end thereof. [1983 c 3 §
209; 1961 c 14 § 81.44.060. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 66, part;
RRS § 10402, part.]
81.44.050
81.44.050 Power of commission as to appliances. The
commission shall, as soon as practicable, after the taking
effect of chapter 117, Laws of 1911, designate the number,
dimensions, location and manner of application of the appliances provided for in RCW 81.44.031 and 81.44.040, or such
as may be prescribed by the commission, and shall give
notice of such designation to all railroad companies and street
railroad companies subject to the provisions of this title, by
such means as the commission may deem proper, and thereafter such number, dimensions, location, and manner of
application as designated by the commission shall remain as
the standards of equipment to be used on all cars and locomotives subject to the provisions of this title. The commission
shall have power to add to, change, or modify said standards
of equipment at any time or to provide different standards
under different circumstances and conditions: PROVIDED,
That the commission may, upon full hearing, for good cause,
extend the period within which any railroad or street railroad
may comply with the provisions of RCW 81.44.031 through
81.44.060 with respect to the equipment of locomotives or
cars actually in service on the date of passage of chapter 117,
Laws of 1911. The commission is hereby given authority to
fix the time within which such modification or change shall
become effective or obligatory. After the time so fixed it shall
be unlawful to use any car, motor, or locomotive which does
not comply with the standards so prescribed by the commission: PROVIDED, That when any car, motor, or locomotive
shall have been properly equipped as provided in this title,
and such equipment shall have become defective or insecure
while such car, motor, or locomotive was being used by such
railroad company upon its line of railroad, such car, motor, or
locomotive may be hauled from the place where such equipment was first discovered to be defective or insecure to the
nearest available point where such car, motor, or locomotive
can be repaired, without liability for the penalties imposed
herein if such movement is necessary to make such repairs,
and such repairs cannot reasonably be made except at such
repair point. Nothing in this proviso shall be construed to permit the hauling of defective cars by means of chains instead
of drawbars in revenue trains, or in association with other
cars that are commercially used, unless such defective cars
contain livestock or perishable freight. [1983 c 3 § 208; 1961
c 14 § 81.44.050. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 66, part; RRS § 10402,
part.]
81.44.060
81.44.060 Penalty. It shall be unlawful for any railroad
company or street railroad company to use or operate any car,
motor, locomotive, or train that is defective, or any car,
motor, locomotive, or train upon which any appliance,
machinery, or attachment thereto belonging is defective, or to
knowingly operate its train over any defective track, bridge,
or other structure, excepting in cases of emergency and under
[Title 81 RCW—page 32]
81.44.065
81.44.065 Devolution of powers and duties relative to
safety of railroads. The utilities and transportation commission shall exercise all powers and duties in relation to the
inspection of tracks, bridges, structures, equipment, apparatus, and appliances of railroads with respect to the safety of
employees and the public and the administration and enforcement of all laws providing for the protection of the public and
employees of railroads which prior to April 1, 1955 were
vested in and required to be performed by the director of
labor and industries. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.065. Prior: 1955 c
165 § 1. Formerly RCW 43.53.055.]
81.44.070
81.44.070 Duties of inspector of safety appliances. It
shall be the duty of the inspector of tracks, bridges, structures, and equipment, and such deputies as may be appointed,
to inspect all equipment, and appliances connected therewith,
and all apparatus, tracks, bridges and structures, depots and
facilities and accommodations connected therewith, and
facilities and accommodations furnished for the use of
employees, and make such reports of his inspection to the
commission as may be required. He shall, on discovering any
defective equipment or appliances connected therewith, rendering the use of such equipment dangerous, immediately
report the same to the superintendent of the road on which it
is found, and to the proper official at the nearest point where
such defect is discovered, describing the defect. Such inspector may, on the discovery of any defect rendering the use of
any car, motor or locomotive dangerous, condemn such car,
motor or locomotive, and order the same out of service until
repaired and put in good working order. He shall, on discovering any track, bridge or structure defective or unsafe in any
particular, report such condition to the commission, and, in
addition thereto, report the same to the official in charge of
the division of such railroad upon which such defect is found.
In case any track, bridge or structure is found so defective as
to be dangerous to the employees or public for a train or trains
to be operated over the same, the inspector is hereby authorized to condemn such track, bridge or structure and notify
the commission and the office in charge of the division of
such railroad where such defect is found of his action concerning the same, reporting in detail the defect complained
of, and the work or improvements necessary to repair such
defect. He shall also report to the commission the violation of
any law governing, controlling or affecting the conduct of
public service companies in this state, as such companies are
defined in this title or in Title 80 RCW.
The inspector, or such deputies as may be appointed,
shall have the right and privilege of riding on any locomotive,
either on freight or passenger trains, or on the caboose of any
freight train, for the purpose of inspecting the track on any
railroad in this state: PROVIDED, That the engineer or con(2006 Ed.)
Common Carriers—Equipment
ductor in charge of any such locomotive or caboose may
require such inspector to produce his authority, under the seal
of the commission, showing that he is such inspector or deputy inspector.
The inspector, or such deputy inspector or inspectors as
may be appointed, shall, when required by the commission,
inspect any street railroad, gas plant, electrical plant, water
system, telephone line or telegraph line, and upon discovering any defective or dangerous track, bridge, structure, equipment, apparatus, machinery, appliance, facility, instrumentality or building, rendering the use of the same dangerous to the
public or to the employees of the company owning or operating the same, report the same to the commission, and to the
official in charge of such road, plant, system or line. [1961 c
14 § 81.44.070. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 67; RRS § 10403. Formerly RCW 81.44.070 and 81.44.080.]
81.44.098
ity. The trucks shall provide riding qualities at least equal to
those of freight type trucks modified with elliptical or additional coil springs or other means of equal or greater efficiency and shall be equipped with standard steel wheels or
their equivalent. Draft gears shall have a minimum travel of
two and one-half inches and a minimum capacity of eighteen
thousand foot-pounds, and shall comply with Association of
American Railroads Standard M-901 or its equivalent. [1969
ex.s. c 116 § 3.]
81.44.094
81.44.094 Cabooses—Electric lighting—Markers.
Electric lighting of at least forty foot-candles shall be provided for the direct illumination of the caboose desk and
reading areas and for the lavatory facilities. The caboose
marker, or markers, shall be reflectorized or capable of illumination when required. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 4.]
81.44.085
81.44.085 First aid kits and drinking water—Penalty. (1) Every person operating a common carrier railroad in
this state shall equip each locomotive and caboose used in
train or yard switching service, and every car used in passenger service with a first aid kit of a type to be approved by the
commission, which kit shall be plainly marked and be readily
visible and accessible and be maintained in a fully quipped
condition: PROVIDED, That such kits shall not be required
on equipment used exclusively in yard or switching service
where such kits are maintained in the yard or terminal.
(2) Each locomotive and caboose shall also be furnished
with sanitary cups and sanitary ice-cooled drinking water.
(3) For the purpose of this section a "locomotive" shall
include all railroad engines propelled by any form of energy
and used in rail line haul or yard switching service.
(4) Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 391; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 7; 1961 c 14 §
81.44.085. Prior: 1951 c 66 §§ 1, 2, 3.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Cabooses
drinking water facilities: RCW 81.44.097.
fire extinguisher—Type, location, and maintenance: RCW 81.44.0972.
81.44.091
81.44.091 Cabooses—Size—Equipment—Application. The provisions of RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100
shall apply to all cabooses except when used in yard service
or in road service for a distance of not to exceed twenty-five
straightaway miles: PROVIDED, That RCW 81.44.091
through 81.44.100 shall not apply to logging railways. [1969
ex.s. c 116 § 1.]
81.44.095
81.44.095 Cabooses—Glass, glazing materials of
safety glass type. Wherever glass or glazing materials are
used in partitions, doors, windows or wind deflectors, they
shall be of the safety glass type. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 5.]
81.44.096
81.44.096 Cabooses—Stanchions, grab handles, or
bars, installation—Edges and protrusions rounded—Seat
backs, standard. Stanchions, grab handles or bars shall be
installed at entrances, exits and cupola within convenient
reach of employees moving within the caboose. All edges
and protrusions (including all bench, desk, chair and other
furnishings) shall be rounded as required by the Washington
utilities and transportation commission. All seat backs shall
conform to safety standards designed by the U.S. department
of transportation in its "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201. [1969 ex.s. c
116 § 6.]
81.44.097
81.44.097 Cabooses—Drinking water facilities.
Drinking water facilities shall be installed and maintained to
provide cool, clean, sanitary drinking water. This water shall
be provided in sanitary containers and refrigerated. Each container shall be equipped with an approved type of fountain,
faucet, or other dispenser. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 7.]
81.44.0971
81.44.0971 Cabooses—Facilities for washing hands
and face. Facilities for the washing of hands and face shall
be maintained separately from drinking facilities. [1969 ex.s.
c 116 § 8.]
81.44.0972
81.44.092
81.44.092 Cabooses—Minimum length—Construction—Insulation—Cupola. Cabooses shall be at least
twenty-four feet in length exclusive of platform and of either
cupola or bay window type. Cabooses shall be of metal frame
construction, and shall be sufficiently insulated to eliminate
track noise above eighty-five decibels in any octave in the
speech range. A cupola shall extend inward toward the center
line of the car not less than two and one-half feet from either
side of the caboose. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 2.]
81.44.093
81.44.093 Cabooses—Trucks, riding qualities,
wheels—Draft gears, minimum travel, minimum capac(2006 Ed.)
81.44.0972 Cabooses—Fire extinguisher—Type,
location, and maintenance. All cabooses shall be equipped
with at least one portable foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher with a minimum capacity of one
and one-quarter gallons or five pounds. Such extinguishers
shall be placed in readily accessible locations and shall be
effectively maintained. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 9.]
81.44.098
81.44.098 Cabooses—No violation when move in service if correction made at first available point—Temporary exemption, procedure, limitations. In the event a failure of required equipment or standards of maintenance
occurs after a caboose has commenced a move in service
[Title 81 RCW—page 33]
81.44.0981
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
after being reported in accordance with RCW 81.44.0981, the
railroad operating that caboose shall not be deemed in violation of RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100 if said failure of
equipment or standards of maintenance is corrected at the
first point at which maintenance supplies are available, or, in
case of repairs, the first at which materials and repair facilities are available and repairs can reasonably be made. If, in
any particular case, any temporary exemption from any
requirements of RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100 is
deemed necessary by a carrier concerned, the utilities and
transportation commission will consider the application of
such carrier for temporary exemption and may grant such
exemption when accompanied by a full statement of the conditions existing and the reasons for the exemption. Any
exemptions so granted will be limited to the particular case
specified, and will be limited to a stated period of time. [1969
ex.s. c 116 § 10.]
81.44.0981
81.44.0981 Cabooses—Register for report of failures—Regulations for use of. A register for the reporting of
failures of required equipment or standards of maintenance
shall be maintained on all cabooses. Said register shall contain sufficient space to record the dates and particulars of said
failure. The railroads shall provide reasonable regulations for
the use of this register, including a provision for maintaining
this record of reported failures for not less than the previous
eighty day period. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 11.]
81.44.0982
81.44.0982 Cabooses—Compliance, when—Standard for compliance. Compliance with RCW 81.44.091
through 81.44.100 shall be accomplished within five years of
August 11, 1969. The requirements stated in RCW 81.44.091
through 81.44.100 shall be deemed complied with by equipment or standards of maintenance equal or superior to those
herein prescribed. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 12.]
81.44.099
81.44.099 Cabooses—Regulation and enforcement—
Regulations for. The utilities and transportation commission shall be empowered to regulate and enforce all sections
of RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100, and shall be empowered to enact all reasonable regulations for the enforcement of
RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100. [1969 ex.s. c 116 § 13.]
81.44.100
81.44.100 Penalty. Any person, corporation or company operating any railroad or railway in this state, violating
any of the provisions of RCW 81.44.091 through 81.44.100,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars,
nor more than one thousand dollars, for each offense. [1969
ex.s. c 116 § 14; 1961 c 14 § 81.44.100. Prior: 1909 c 31 § 2;
RRS § 10484.]
81.44.101
81.44.101 Track motor cars—Windshield and canopy required. Every person, firm or corporation operating
or controlling any railroad running through or within this
state as a common carrier shall, on or before January 1, 1952,
equip each of its track motor cars with:
(1) A windshield and a device for wiping rain, snow and
other moisture therefrom, which device shall be maintained
[Title 81 RCW—page 34]
in good order and so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the operator of said track motor car;
(2) A canopy or top of such construction as to adequately
protect the occupants thereof from the rays of the sun, rain,
snow or other inclement weather. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.101.
Prior: 1951 c 42 § 1.]
81.44.102
81.44.102 Track motor cars—Absence of windshield
or canopy unlawful. It shall be unlawful after January 1,
1952, for any person, firm or corporation, operating or controlling any common carrier railroad running through or
within this state to operate or use any track motor car which
is not equipped with a windshield and canopy or top as provided in RCW 81.44.101. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.102. Prior:
1951 c 42 § 2.]
81.44.103
81.44.103 Track motor cars—Head and tail lights
required. Every person, firm or corporation operating or
controlling any railroad running as a common carrier through
or within the state shall, on or before January 1, 1952, equip
each of its track motor cars used during the period from thirty
minutes before sunset to thirty minutes after sunrise, with an
electric headlight of such construction and with sufficient
candle power to render plainly visible at a distance of not less
than three hundred feet in advance of such track motor car,
any track obstruction, landmark, warning sign or grade crossing, and further shall equip such track motor car with a red
rear electric light of such construction and with sufficient
candle power as to be plainly visible at a distance of three
hundred feet. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.103. Prior: 1951 c 42 § 3.]
81.44.104
81.44.104 Track motor cars—Absence of lights
unlawful. It shall be unlawful after January 1, 1952, for any
person, firm or corporation operating or controlling any railroad running as a common carrier through or within this state
to operate or use any track motor car from thirty minutes
before sunset to thirty minutes after sunrise, which is not
equipped with lights of the candle power, construction and
utility described in RCW 81.44.103. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.104.
Prior: 1951 c 42 § 4.]
81.44.105
81.44.105 Track motor cars—Penalty for violation.
Every violation of RCW 81.44.101 through 81.44.105 is a
misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not more
than one hundred dollars. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.105. Prior:
1951 c 42 § 5.]
81.44.110
81.44.110 Equipment is part of cars—Tare weight.
The stakes, standards, supports, stays, railings and other
equipments, appliances and contrivances necessary to effectually and suitably equip and supply every and all flat cars,
and cars belonging to any and every railroad company, or
person engaged in the business of carrying for hire in this
state shall constitute and be held considered part and parcel of
said cars, and the weight of same shall be added to the weight
of the cars, and shall be deducted from the weight of the
cargo, commodity, or product shipped on any and all such flat
car or cars so that the freight charges shall be charged by the
carrier only on the cargo, commodity or product carried.
[1961 c 14 § 81.44.110. Prior: 1907 c 218 § 1; RRS § 10470.]
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Operating Requirements and Regulations
81.44.120 Reimbursement of shipper for supplying
equipment. Whenever any railroad company or any person
engaged in the business of carrying for hire in this state shall
set in or furnish any person or persons any flat car or cars that
is, or are not, provided with stakes, standards, supports, stays,
railings and other equipments, appliances and contrivances
necessary to effectually and suitably equip and supply every
and all such flat car or cars for the purpose of loading and
transporting goods, commodities or products, and it shall be
necessary and requisite that the shipper or loader of any
goods, commodities or products shall furnish any stakes,
standards, supports, stays, railings and other equipments,
appliances and contrivances necessary to effectually and suitably equip and supply such flat car or cars for the purpose of
transporting any goods, commodities or products, the carrier
or railroad company, or person engaged in the business of
carrying for hire, shall pay to the shipper or loader of any
such flat car or cars the cost and expense of placing on any
and all of such flat car or cars stakes, standards, supports,
stays, railings or other equipments, appliances, and contrivances necessary to effectually and suitably equip or supply
every and all such flat car or cars. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.120.
Prior: 1907 c 218 § 2; RRS § 10473.]
81.44.120
81.44.130 Safeguarding frogs, switches, and guard
rails. Every railroad and street railroad operating in this state
shall so adjust, fill, block and securely guard all frogs,
switches and guard rails so as to protect and prevent the feet
of persons being caught therein. [1961 c 14 § 81.44.130.
Prior: 1911 c 117 § 68; RRS § 10404.]
81.44.130
Chapter 81.48 RCW
RAILROADS—OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 81.48
Sections
81.48.010
81.48.015
81.48.020
81.48.030
81.48.040
81.48.050
81.48.060
Failure to ring bell—Penalty—Exception.
Limiting or prohibiting the sounding of locomotive horns—
Supplemental safety measures—Notice.
Obstructing or delaying train—Penalty.
Regulating speed within cities and towns and at grade crossings—Exception.
Procedure to fix or change speed limits.
Trains to stop at railroad crossings.
Penalty for violation of duty endangering safety.
Excessive steam in boilers, penalty: RCW 70.54.080.
Steam boilers, pressure vessels, construction, inspection, etc.: Chapter
70.79 RCW.
81.48.010
81.48.010 Failure to ring bell—Penalty—Exception.
Every engineer driving a locomotive on any railway who
shall fail to ring the bell or sound the whistle upon such locomotive, or cause the same to be rung or sounded at least
eighty rods from any place where such railway crosses a traveled road or street on the same level (except in cities, or in
counties that enact ordinances applying only to crossings
equipped with supplemental safety measures as provided in
RCW 81.48.015), or to continue the ringing of such bell or
sounding of such whistle until such locomotive shall have
crossed such road or street, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
This section shall not apply to an engineer operating a
locomotive within yard limits or when on track, which is not
main line track, where crossing speed is restricted by pub(2006 Ed.)
81.48.040
lished special instruction or bulletin to ten miles per hour or
less. [1995 c 315 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.48.010. Prior: 1909 c
249 § 276; RRS § 2528.]
81.48.015
81.48.015 Limiting or prohibiting the sounding of
locomotive horns—Supplemental safety measures—
Notice. (1) The legislature hereby authorizes cities and counties to enact ordinances limiting or prohibiting the sounding
of locomotive horns, provided the ordinance applies only at
crossings equipped with supplemental safety measures. A
supplemental safety measure is a safety device defined in
P.L. 103-440, section 20153(a)(3), as that law existed on
November 2, 1994. A supplemental safety measure that prevents careless movement over the crossing (e.g., as where
adequate median barriers prevent movement around crossing
gates extending over the full width of the lanes in a particular
direction of travel), shall be deemed to conform to those standards required under P.L. 103-440 unless specifically
rejected by emergency order issued by the United States secretary of the department of transportation.
(2) Prior to enacting the ordinance, the cities and counties shall provide written notification to the railroad companies affected by the proposed ordinance, and to the state utilities and transportation commission, for the purpose of providing an opportunity to comment on the proposed ordinance.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting
the state’s power, guaranteed by the tenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, to enact laws necessary for
the health, safety, or welfare of the people of the state of
Washington. [1995 c 315 § 2.]
81.48.020
81.48.020 Obstructing or delaying train—Penalty.
Every person who shall wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay the
passage of any car lawfully operated upon any railway, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor. [1961 c 14 § 81.48.020. Prior:
1909 c 249 § 278; RRS § 2530.]
81.48.030
81.48.030 Regulating speed within cities and towns
and at grade crossings—Exception. Except to the extent
preempted by federal law, the right to fix and regulate the
speed of railway trains within the limits of any city or town
other than a first class city, and at grade crossings as defined
in RCW 81.53.010 where such grade crossings are outside
the limits of cities and towns, is vested exclusively in the
commission: PROVIDED, That RCW 81.48.030 and
81.48.040 shall not apply to street railways which may be
operating or hereafter operated within the limits of said cities
and towns. [2006 c 70 § 1; 1994 c 81 § 83; 1973 c 115 § 3;
1971 ex.s. c 143 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.48.030. Prior: 1943 c
228 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10547-1.]
81.48.040
81.48.040 Procedure to fix or change speed limits. (1)
After due investigation, the commission shall make and issue
an order fixing and regulating the speed of railway trains
within the limits of cities and towns other than first class cities. Except to the extent preempted by federal law, the speed
limit to be fixed by the commission shall be discretionary,
and it may fix different rates of speed for different cities and
towns, which rates of speed shall be commensurate with the
hazard presented and the practical operation of the trains.
[Title 81 RCW—page 35]
81.48.050
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Except to the extent preempted by federal law, the commission shall also fix and regulate the speed of railway trains at
grade crossings as defined in RCW 81.53.010 where such
grade crossings are outside the limits of cities and towns
when in the judgment of the commission the public safety so
requires; such speed limit to be fixed shall be discretionary
with the commission and may be different for different grade
crossings and shall be commensurate with the hazard presented and the practical operation of trains. The commission
shall have the right from time to time, as conditions change,
to either increase or decrease speed limits established under
RCW 81.48.030 and 81.48.040.
(2) Any speed limit that the commission fixed by order
prior to June 7, 2006, but without making a finding permitted
under P.L. 91-458, Sec. 205 (49 U.S.C. Sec. 20106), has no
force or effect.
(3) Before increasing operating speeds, the railroad company, government agency, or jurisdiction that owns or operates the railroad must provide a sixty-day written notice to the
commission and to either the governing body of the city or
town within which the limit applies or the road authority that
has control over the grade crossing at which the limit applies.
In the notice, the railroad company, government agency, or
jurisdiction must provide the existing timetable speed limits
and new passenger and freight speed limits, the milepost limits where the speed increase is to occur, and the federal track
class standard to which the track will be maintained. At the
end of sixty days, the railroad company, government agency,
or jurisdiction may raise the speed limit unless the commission staff, after investigation, finds that a lower limit is necessary to address local conditions consistent with P.L. 91458, Sec. 205 (49 U.S.C. Sec. 20106). In the event of such a
finding by the staff that is not agreed to by the railroad company, government agency, or jurisdiction, the matter shall be
scheduled for a hearing before the commission. A railroad
company, government agency, or jurisdiction may provide no
more than five notices in any sixty-day period without the
consent of the commission. The railroad company, government agency, or jurisdiction and the commission may extend
the sixty-day period by mutual consent. [2006 c 70 § 2; 1994
c 81 § 84; 1971 ex.s. c 143 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.48.040. Prior:
1943 c 228 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 10547-2.]
81.48.050
81.48.050 Trains to stop at railroad crossings. All
railroads and street railroads, operating in this state shall
cause their trains and cars to come to a full stop at a distance
not greater than five hundred feet before crossing the tracks
of another railroad crossing at grade, excepting at crossings
where there are established signal towers, and signal men,
interlocking plants or gates. [1961 c 14 § 81.48.050. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 69; RRS § 10405.]
81.48.060
81.48.060 Penalty for violation of duty endangering
safety. Every engineer, motorman, gripman, conductor,
brakeman, switch tender, train dispatcher or other officer,
agent or servant of any railway company, who shall be guilty
of any wilful violation or omission of his duty as such officer,
agent or servant, by which human life or safety shall be
endangered, for which no punishment is specially prescribed,
[Title 81 RCW—page 36]
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [1961 c 14 § 81.48.060.
Prior: 1909 c 249 § 277; RRS § 2529.]
Chapter 81.52 RCW
RAILROADS—RIGHTS OF WAY—SPURS—FENCES
Chapter 81.52
Sections
81.52.010
81.52.020
81.52.030
81.52.040
81.52.050
81.52.060
81.52.070
Physical connections.
Sidetrack and switch connections—Duty to construct.
Sidetrack and switch connection may be ordered by commission.
Spur tracks.
Fences—Crossings—Cattle guards.
Fences—Liability for injury to stock.
Fences—Negligence—Evidence.
Eminent domain by corporations: Chapter 8.20 RCW.
Forest protection: Chapter 76.04 RCW.
Public lands, rights of way, easements, etc.: Chapter 79.36 RCW.
81.52.010
81.52.010 Physical connections. Whenever the commission shall find, after a hearing made upon complaint or
upon its own motion, that the public necessities and conveniences would be subserved by having track connections
made, between any two or more railroads at any of the points
hereinafter specified, the commission shall order any two or
more railroads of the same or similar gauge to make physical
connections at any and all crossings, and at all points where a
railroad shall begin or terminate at or near any other railroad,
and at or near all towns or cities, so that the cars of any such
railroad company may be speedily transferred from one railroad to another, and shall order whether the expense thereof
shall to be borne jointly or otherwise. [1961 c 14 §
81.52.010. Prior: 1919 c 153 § 1; 1911 c 117 § 61; RRS §
10397.]
81.52.020
81.52.020 Sidetrack and switch connections—Duty
to construct. A railroad company upon the application of
any shipper shall construct, maintain and operate upon reasonable terms a switch connection or connections with a lateral line of railway or private side track owned, operated or
controlled by such shipper, and shall upon the application of
any shipper, provide upon its own property a side track and
switch connection with its line of railway, whenever such a
side track and switch connection is reasonably practicable,
and can be put in with safety and the business therefor is sufficient to justify the same. [1961 c 14 § 81.52.020. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 13; RRS § 10349.]
81.52.030 Sidetrack and switch connection may be
ordered by commission. Whenever the commission shall
find, after a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, as herein provided, that application has been made by
any shipper for a switching connection or connections with a
lateral line of railway or private side track owned, operated or
controlled by such shipper, or that application has been made
by any shipper for the installation of a side track upon the
property of such railroad, and that such switch connection or
side track is reasonably practicable, can be put in with reasonable safety, and the business therefor is sufficient to justify the same, and that the railroad company has refused to
install or provide the same, the commission shall enter its
order requiring such connection or the construction of such
81.52.030
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Crossings
side track: PROVIDED, That such shipper so to be served
shall pay the legitimate cost and expense of constructing such
connection or side track as shall be determined in separate
items by the commission, and before the railroad company
shall be compelled to incur any cost in connection therewith
the same shall be secured to the railroad company in such
manner as the commission may require. Whenever such lateral line of railway private side track or side track upon the
property of the railroad company shall be constructed under
the provisions of this section, any person or corporation shall
be entitled to connect therewith or use the same upon the payment to the shipper incurring the primary expense of a reasonable proportion of the cost thereof, to be determined by
the commission after notice to the interested parties: PROVIDED, That such connection can be made without unreasonable interference with the right of such shipper incurring
the primary expense. [1961 c 14 § 81.52.030. Prior: 1911 c
117 § 62; RRS § 10398.]
81.52.040
81.52.040 Spur tracks. Any railroad corporation organized under the laws of this state or of any other state, and
authorized to do business in this state and owning or operating a railway in this state, may construct, maintain and operate public spur tracks, from its railroad or any branch thereof,
to and upon the grounds of any mill, elevator, storehouse,
warehouse, dock, wharf, pier, manufacturing establishment,
lumber yard, coal dock or other industry or enterprise, with
all side tracks, storage tracks, wyes, turnouts, and connections necessary or convenient to the use of the same; and such
company may acquire by purchase or condemnation, in the
manner provided by the laws of this state for the acquisition
of real estate for railway purposes, all necessary rights of way
for such spur tracks, side tracks, storage tracks, wyes, turnouts and connections; said spur when constructed to be a public spur for the use of all industries located or thereafter
located thereon: PROVIDED, That the right to acquire by
condemnation herein granted shall not be exercised over
unimproved lands for a greater distance than five miles, or
over improved lands for a greater distance than one mile, or
over lands within the limits of a municipal corporation for a
greater distance than one-fourth of a mile: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That this section shall not be construed as limiting the rights granted under RCW 81.36.060 through
81.36.090, relating to the construction of branch lines. [1961
c 14 § 81.52.040. Prior: 1907 c 223 § 1; RRS § 10465.]
81.52.050
81.52.050 Fences—Crossings—Cattle guards. Every
person, company or corporation having the control or management of any railroad shall, outside of any corporate city or
town, and outside the limits of any sidetrack or switch, cause
to be constructed and maintained in good repair on each side
of said railroad, along the line of said right of way of such
person, company or corporation operating the same, a substantial fence, and at every point where any roadway or other
public highway shall cross said railroad, a safe and sufficient
crossing must be built and maintained, and on each side of
such crossing and at each end of such sidetrack or switch,
outside of any incorporated city or town, a sufficient cattle
guard: PROVIDED, That any person holding land on both
sides of said right of way shall have the right to put in gates
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 81.53
for his own use at such places as may be convenient. [1961 c
14 § 81.52.050. Prior: 1907 c 88 § 1; RRS § 10507.]
81.52.060
81.52.060 Fences—Liability for injury to stock.
Every such person, company or corporation owning or operating such railroad shall be liable for all damages sustained in
the injury or killing of stock in any manner by reason of the
failure of such person, company or corporation, to construct
and maintain such fence or such crossing or cattle guard; but
when such fences, crossings and guards have been duly
made, and shall be kept in good repair, such person, company
or corporation shall not be liable for any such damages,
unless negligently or unlawfully done. [1961 c 14 §
81.52.060. Prior: 1907 c 88 § 2; RRS § 10508.]
81.52.070
81.52.070 Fences—Negligence—Evidence. In all
actions against persons, companies or corporations, operating
steam or electric railroads in the state of Washington, for
injury to stock by collision with moving trains, it is prima
facie evidence of negligence on the part of such person, company or corporation, to show that the railroad track was not
fenced with a substantial fence or protected by a sufficient
cattle guard at the place where the stock was injured or killed.
[1961 c 14 § 81.52.070. Prior: 1907 c 88 § 3; RRS § 10509.]
Chapter 81.53
Chapter 81.53 RCW
RAILROADS—CROSSINGS
Sections
81.53.010
81.53.020
81.53.030
81.53.040
81.53.050
81.53.060
81.53.070
81.53.080
81.53.090
81.53.091
81.53.100
81.53.110
81.53.120
81.53.130
81.53.140
81.53.150
81.53.160
81.53.170
81.53.180
81.53.190
81.53.200
81.53.210
81.53.220
81.53.230
81.53.240
81.53.250
81.53.261
81.53.271
81.53.275
81.53.281
81.53.291
Definitions.
Grade separation required where practicable.
Petition for crossing—Hearing—Order.
Supplemental hearing—Change of route.
Requirements of order on change of route.
Petition for alteration of crossing—Closure of grade crossing
without hearing.
Hearing.
Restrictions on structures, railway equipment, in proximity of
crossings—Minimum clearance for under-crossings.
Duty to maintain crossings.
Underpasses, overpasses constructed with aid of federal
funds—Apportionment of maintenance cost between railroad and state.
Cost when railroad crosses highway.
Cost when highway crosses railroad.
Cost when railroad crosses railroad.
Apportionment of cost.
Time for performance.
Practice and procedure.
Service of process.
Judicial review.
Eminent domain.
Abatement of illegal crossings.
Mandamus to compel performance.
Penalty.
Obstructions in highways.
No new right of action conferred.
Scope of chapter.
Employment of experts.
Crossing signals, warning devices—Petition, motion—Hearing—Order—Costs apportionment—Records not evidence
for actions—Appeal.
Crossing signals, warning devices—Petition contents—
Apportionment of installation and maintenance costs.
Crossing signals, warning devices—Apportionment when
funds not available from grade crossing protective fund.
Crossing signals, warning devices—Grade crossing protective
fund—Created—Transfer of funds—Allocation of costs—
Procedure—Federal funding.
Crossing signals, warning devices—Operational scope—Election by first class cities—Procedure.
[Title 81 RCW—page 37]
81.53.010
81.53.295
81.53.400
81.53.410
81.53.420
81.53.900
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Crossing signals, warning devices, etc.—Federal funds used to
pay installation costs—Grade crossing protective fund—
State and local authorities to pay remaining installation
costs—Railroad to pay maintenance costs.
Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of
crossing or overpass—Required.
Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of
crossing or overpass—Standards and conditions.
Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of
crossing or overpass—Rules.
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 189.
Counties, signs, signals, etc.: RCW 36.86.040.
Railroad intersections, crossings, etc.: State Constitution Art. 12 § 13.
Traffic devices required by utilities and transportation commission: RCW
47.36.050.
81.53.010
81.53.010 Definitions. The term "commission," when
used in this chapter, means the utilities and transportation
commission of Washington.
The term "highway," when used in this chapter, includes
all state and county roads, streets, alleys, avenues, boulevards, parkways and other public places actually open and in
use, or to be opened and used, for travel by the public.
The term "railroad," when used in this chapter, means
every railroad, including interurban and suburban electric
railroads, by whatsoever power operated, for the public use in
the conveyance of persons or property for hire, with all
bridges, ferries, tunnels, equipment, switches, spurs, sidings,
tracks, stations and terminal facilities of every kind, used,
operated, controlled, managed, or owned by or in connection
therewith. The said term shall also include every logging and
other industrial railway owned or operated primarily for the
purpose of carrying the property of its owners or operators or
of a limited class of persons, with all tracks, spurs and sidings
used in connection therewith. The said term shall not include
street railways operating within the limits of any incorporated
city or town.
The term "railroad company," when used in this chapter,
includes every corporation, company, association, joint stock
association, partnership or person, its, their or his lessees,
trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever,
owning, operating, controlling or managing any railroad, as
that term is defined in this section.
The term "over-crossing," when used in this chapter,
means any point or place where a highway crosses a railroad
by passing above the same.
The term "under-crossing," when used in this chapter,
means any point or place where a highway crosses a railroad
by passing under the same.
The term "over-crossing" or "under-crossing," shall also
mean any point or place where one railroad crosses another
railroad not at grade.
The term "grade crossing," when used in this chapter,
means any point or place where a railroad crosses a highway
or a highway crosses a railroad or one railroad crosses
another, at a common grade. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.010. Prior:
1959 c 283 § 2; prior: (i) 1913 c 30 § 1; RRS § 10511. (ii)
1941 c 161 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 10511-1. Formerly RCW
81.52.080, part.]
81.53.020
81.53.020 Grade separation required where practicable. All railroads and extensions of railroads hereafter
constructed shall cross existing railroads and highways by
[Title 81 RCW—page 38]
passing either over or under the same, when practicable, and
shall in no instance cross any railroad or highway at grade
without authority first being obtained from the commission to
do so. All highways and extensions of highways hereafter
laid out and constructed shall cross existing railroads by passing either over or under the same, when practicable, and shall
in no instance cross any railroad at grade without authority
first being obtained from the commission to do so: PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed to prohibit a
railroad company from constructing tracks at grade across
other tracks owned or operated by it within established yard
limits. In determining whether a separation of grades is practicable, the commission shall take into consideration the
amount and character of travel on the railroad and on the
highway; the grade and alignment of the railroad and the
highway; the cost of separating grades; the topography of the
country, and all other circumstances and conditions naturally
involved in such an inquiry. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.020. Prior:
1913 c 30 § 2; RRS § 10512. Formerly RCW 81.52.090.]
81.53.030
81.53.030 Petition for crossing—Hearing—Order.
Whenever a railroad company desires to cross a highway or
railroad at grade, it shall file a written petition with the commission setting forth the reasons why the crossing cannot be
made either above or below grade. Whenever the legislative
authority of a county, or the municipal authorities of a city, or
the state officers authorized to lay out and construct state
roads, or the state parks and recreation commission, desire to
extend a highway across a railroad at grade, they shall file a
written petition with the commission, setting forth the reasons why the crossing cannot be made either above or below
grade. Upon receiving the petition the commission shall
immediately investigate it, giving at least ten days’ notice to
the railroad company and the county or city affected thereby,
of the time and place of the investigation, to the end that all
parties interested may be present and heard. If the highway
involved is a state road or parkway, the secretary of transportation or the state parks and recreation commission shall be
notified of the time and place of hearing. The evidence introduced shall be reduced to writing and be filed by the commission. If it finds that it is not practicable to cross the railroad or
highway either above or below grade, the commission shall
enter a written order in the cause, either granting or denying
the right to construct a grade crossing at the point in question.
The commission may provide in the order authorizing a grade
crossing, or at any subsequent time, that the railroad company shall install and maintain proper signals, warnings, flagmen, interlocking devices, or other devices or means to
secure the safety of the public and its employees. In respect to
existing railroad grade crossings over highways the construction of which grade crossings was accomplished other than
under a commission order authorizing it, the commission
may in any event require the railroad company to install and
maintain, at or near each crossing, on both sides of it, a sign
known as the sawbuck crossing sign with the lettering "Railroad Crossing" inscribed thereon with a suitable inscription
indicating the number of tracks. The sign shall be of standard
design conforming to specifications furnished by the Washington state department of transportation. [1984 c 7 § 373;
1961 c 14 § 81.53.030. Prior: 1959 c 283 § 1; 1955 c 310 §
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Crossings
3; prior: 1937 c 22 § 1, part; 1913 c 30 § 3, part; RRS §
10513, part. Formerly RCW 81.52.100.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
81.53.040
81.53.040 Supplemental hearing—Change of route.
If the commission finds that it is impracticable to construct an
over-crossing or under-crossing on the established or proposed highway, and shall find that by deflecting the established or proposed highway a practicable and feasible overcrossing or under-crossing or a safer grade crossing can be
provided, it shall continue the hearing and hold a supplemental hearing thereon. At least ten days’ notice of the time and
place of the supplemental hearing shall be given to all landowners that may be affected by the proposed change in location of the highways. At the supplemental hearing the commission shall inquire into the propriety and necessity of
changing and deflecting the highway as proposed. If the proposed change in route of the highway involves the abandonment and vacation of a portion of an established highway, the
owners of land contiguous to the portion of the highway to be
vacated shall, in like manner, be notified of the time and
place of the supplemental hearing. At the conclusion of the
hearing, the commission shall enter its findings in writing,
and shall determine the location of the crossing which may be
constructed, and whether it shall be an under-crossing, overcrossing or grade crossing, and shall determine whether or
not any proposed change in the route of an existing highway,
or the abandonment of a portion thereof is advisable or necessary to secure an over-crossing, under-crossing, or safer
grade crossing. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.040. Prior: 1955 c 310 §
4; prior: 1937 c 22 § 1, part; 1913 c 30 § 3, part; RRS §
10513, part. Formerly RCW 81.52.110.]
81.53.050
81.53.050 Requirements of order on change of route.
If the commission finds and determines that a change in route
of an existing highway, or vacation of a portion thereof, is
necessary or advisable, it shall further find and determine
what private property or property rights it is necessary to
take, damage, or injuriously affect for the purpose of constructing the highway along a new route, and what private
property or property rights, will be affected by the proposed
vacation of a portion of an existing highway. The property
and property rights found necessary to be taken, damaged, or
affected shall be described in the findings with reasonable
accuracy. In any action brought to acquire the right to take or
damage any such property or property rights, the findings of
the commission shall be conclusive as to the necessity therefor. A copy of the findings shall be served upon all parties to
the cause. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.050. Prior: 1955 c 310 § 5;
1937 c 22 § 1, part; 1913 c 30 § 3, part; RRS § 10513, part.
Formerly RCW 81.52.120.]
81.53.060
81.53.060 Petition for alteration of crossing—Closure of grade crossing without hearing. The mayor and
city council, or other governing body of any city or town, or
the legislative authority of any county within which there
exists any under-crossing, over-crossing, or grade crossing,
or where any street or highway is proposed to be located or
established across any railroad, or any railroad company
whose road is crossed by any highway, may file with the
(2006 Ed.)
81.53.070
commission their or its petition in writing, alleging that the
public safety requires the establishment of an under-crossing
or over-crossing, or an alteration in the method and manner
of an existing crossing and its approaches, or in the style and
nature of construction of an existing over-crossing, undercrossing, or grade crossing, or a change in the location of an
existing highway or crossing, the closing or discontinuance
of an existing highway crossing, and the diversion of travel
thereon to another highway or crossing, or if not practicable,
to change the crossing from grade or to close and discontinue
the crossing, the opening of an additional crossing for the
partial diversion of travel, and praying that this relief may be
ordered. If the existing or proposed crossing is on a state
road, highway, or parkway, the petition may be filed by the
secretary of transportation or the state parks and recreation
commission. Upon the petition being filed, the commission
shall fix a time and place for hearing the petition and shall
give not less than twenty days’ notice to the petitioner, the
railroad company, and the municipality or county in which
the crossing is situated. If the highway involved is a state
highway or parkway, like notice shall be given to the secretary of transportation or the state parks and recreation commission. If the change petitioned for requires that private
lands, property, or property rights be taken, damaged, or injuriously affected to open up a new route for the highway, or
requires that any portion of any existing highway be vacated
and abandoned, twenty days’ notice of the hearing shall be
given to the owner or owners of the private lands, property,
and property rights which it is necessary to take, damage, or
injuriously affect, and to the owner or owners of the private
lands, property, or property rights that will be affected by the
proposed vacation and abandonment of the existing highway.
The commission shall also cause notice of the hearing to be
published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the
community where the crossing is situated, which publication
shall appear at least two days before the date of hearing. At
the time and place fixed in the notice, all persons and parties
interested are entitled to be heard and introduce evidence. In
the case of a petition for closure of a grade crossing the commission may order the grade crossing closed without hearing
where: (1) Notice of the filing of the petition is posted at, or
as near as practical to, the crossing; (2) notice of the filing of
the petition is published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the community or area where the crossing is situated, which publication shall appear within the same week
that the notice referred to in subsection (1) of this section is
posted; and (3) no objections are received by the commission
within twenty days from the date of the publication of the
notice. [1984 c 7 § 374; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 8; 1961 c 14 §
81.53.060. Prior: 1937 c 22 § 2, part; 1921 c 138 § 1, part;
1913 c 30 § 4, part; RRS § 10514, part. Formerly RCW
81.52.130.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
81.53.070
81.53.070 Hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing
the commission shall make and file its written findings of fact
concerning the matters inquired into in like manner as provided for findings of fact upon petition for new crossings.
The commission shall also enter its order based upon said
findings of fact, which shall specify whether the highway
[Title 81 RCW—page 39]
81.53.080
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
shall continue at grade or whether it shall be changed to cross
over or under the railroad in its existing location or at some
other point, and whether an over-crossing or under-crossing
shall be established at the proposed location of any street or
highway or at some other point, or whether the style and
nature of construction of an existing crossing shall be
changed, or whether said highway shall be closed and travel
thereon diverted to another channel, or any other change that
the commission may find advisable or necessary: PROVIDED, That in an emergency where a highway is relocated
to avoid a grade crossing, or a new crossing is constructed in
the vicinity of an existing crossing in the interest of public
safety, the commission may order such existing crossing
closed without notice or hearing as specified herein. In case
the order made requires that private lands, property, or property rights be taken, damaged or injuriously affected, the
right to take, damage or injuriously affect the same shall be
acquired as hereinafter provided.
Any petition herein authorized may be filed by the commission on its own motion, and proceedings thereon shall be
the same as herein provided for the hearing and determination of a petition filed by a railroad company. [1961 c 14 §
81.53.070. Prior: 1937 c 22 § 2, part; 1921 c 138 § 1, part;
1913 c 30 § 4, part; RRS § 10514, part. Formerly RCW
81.52.140.]
81.53.080
81.53.080 Restrictions on structures, railway equipment, in proximity of crossings—Minimum clearance for
under-crossings. After February 24, 1937, no building,
loading platform, or other structure which will tend to
obstruct the vision of travelers on a highway or parkway, of
approaching railway traffic, shall be erected or placed on railroad or public highway rights of way within a distance of one
hundred feet of any grade crossing located outside the corporate limits of any city or town unless authorized by the commission, and no trains, railway cars or equipment shall be
spotted less than one hundred feet from any grade crossing
within or without the corporate limits of any city or town
except to serve station facilities and existing facilities of
industries.
The commission shall have the power to specify the minimum vertical and horizontal clearance of under-crossings
constructed, repaired or reconstructed after February 24,
1937, except as to primary state highways. [1969 ex.s. c 210
§ 9; 1961 c 14 § 81.53.080. Prior: 1937 c 22 § 2, part; 1921
c 138 § 1, part; 1913 c 30 § 4, part; RRS § 10514, part. Formerly RCW 81.52.150.]
81.53.090
81.53.090 Duty to maintain crossings. When a highway crosses a railroad by an over-crossing or under-crossing,
the framework and abutments of the over-crossing or undercrossing, as the case may be, shall be maintained and kept in
repair by the railroad company, and the roadway thereover or
thereunder and approaches thereto shall be maintained and
kept in repair by the county or municipality in which the
same are situated, or if the highway is a state road or parkway, the roadway over or under the railroad shall be maintained and kept in repair as provided by law for the maintenance and repair of state roads and parkways.
[Title 81 RCW—page 40]
The railings of over-crossings shall be considered a part
of the roadway. Whenever a highway intersects a railroad at
common grade, the roadway approaches within one foot of
the outside of either rail shall be maintained and kept in repair
by highway authority, and the planking or other materials
between the rails and for one foot on the outside thereof shall
be installed and maintained by the railroad company. At
crossings involving more than one track, maintenance by the
railroad company shall include that portion of the crossing
between and for one foot on the outside of each outside rail.
The minimum length of such planking or other materials
shall be twenty feet on installation or repairs made after February 24, 1937. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.090. Prior: 1937 c 22 §
3; 1913 c 30 § 5; RRS § 10515. Formerly RCW 81.52.160.]
81.53.091
81.53.091 Underpasses, overpasses constructed with
aid of federal funds—Apportionment of maintenance cost
between railroad and state. See RCW 47.28.150.
81.53.100
81.53.100 Cost when railroad crosses highway.
Whenever, under the provisions of this chapter, new railroads
are constructed across existing highways, or highway
changes are made either for the purpose of avoiding grade
crossings on such new railroads, or for the purpose of crossing at a safer and more accessible point than otherwise available, the entire expense of crossing above or below the grade
of the existing highway, or changing the route thereof, for the
purpose mentioned in this section, shall be paid by the railroad company. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.100. Prior: 1937 c 22 §
4A; 1925 ex.s. c 73 § 1A; 1921 c 138 § 2A; 1913 c 30 § 6A;
RRS § 10516A. Formerly RCW 81.52.170.]
81.53.110
81.53.110 Cost when highway crosses railroad.
Whenever, under the provisions of this chapter, a new highway is constructed across a railroad, or an existing grade
crossing is eliminated or changed (or the style or nature of
construction of an existing crossing is changed), the entire
expense of constructing a new grade crossing, an overcrossing, under-crossing, or safer grade crossing, or changing the
nature and style of construction of an existing crossing,
including the expense of constructing approaches to such
crossing and the expense of securing rights of way for such
approaches, as the case may be, shall be apportioned by the
commission between the railroad, municipality or county
affected, or if the highway is a state road or parkway,
between the railroad and the state, in such manner as justice
may require, regard being had for all facts relating to the
establishment, reason for, and construction of said improvement. If the highway involved is a state road or parkway, the
amount not apportioned to the railroad company shall be paid
as provided by law for constructing such state road or parkway. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.110. Prior: 1937 c 22 § 4B; 1925
ex.s. c 73 § 1B; 1921 c 138 § 2B; 1913 c 30 § 6B; RRS §
10516B. Formerly RCW 81.52.180.]
81.53.120
81.53.120 Cost when railroad crosses railroad.
Whenever two or more lines of railroad owned or operated by
different companies cross a highway, or each other, by an
over-crossing, under-crossing, or grade crossing required or
permitted by this chapter or by an order of the commission,
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Crossings
the portion of the expense of making such crossing not
chargeable to any municipality, county or to the state, and the
expense of constructing and maintaining such signals, warnings, flagmen, interlocking devices, or other devices or
means to secure the safety of the public and the employees of
the railroad company, as the commission may require to be
constructed and maintained, shall be apportioned between
said railroad companies by the commission in such manner as
justice may require, regard being had for all facts relating to
the establishment, reason for, and construction of said
improvement, unless said companies shall mutually agree
upon an apportionment. If it becomes necessary for the commission to make an apportionment between the railroad companies, a hearing for that purpose shall be held, at least ten
days’ notice of which shall be given. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.120.
Prior: 1937 c 22 § 4C; 1925 ex.s. c 73 § 1C; 1921 c 138 § 2C;
1913 c 30 § 6C; RRS § 10516C. Formerly RCW 81.52.190.]
81.53.130
81.53.130 Apportionment of cost. In the construction
of new railroads across existing highways, the railroads shall
do or cause to be done all the work of constructing the crossings and road changes that may be required, and shall acquire
and furnish whatever property or easements may be necessary, and shall pay, as provided in RCW 81.53.100 through
81.53.120, the entire expense of such work including all compensation or damages for property or property rights taken,
damaged or injuriously affected. In all other cases the construction work may be apportioned by the commission
between the parties who may be required to contribute to the
cost thereof as the parties may agree, or as the commission
may consider advisable. All work within the limits of railroad
rights of way shall in every case be done by the railroad company owning or operating the same. The cost of acquiring
additional lands, rights or easements to provide for the
change of existing crossings shall, unless the parties otherwise agree, in the first instance be paid by the municipality or
county within which the crossing is located; or in the case of
a state road or parkway, shall be paid in the manner provided
by law for paying the cost of acquiring lands, rights or easements for the construction of state roads or parkways. The
expense accruing on account of property taken or damaged
shall be divided and paid in the manner provided for dividing
and paying other costs of construction. Upon the completion
of the work and its approval by the commission, an accounting shall be had, and if it shall appear that any party has
expended more than its proportion of the total cost, a settlement shall be forthwith made. If the parties shall be unable to
agree upon a settlement, the commission shall arbitrate,
adjust and settle the account after notice to the parties. In the
event of failure and refusal of any party to pay its proportion
of the expense, the sum with interest from the date of the settlement may be recovered in a civil action by the party entitled thereto. In cases where the commission has settled the
account, the finding of the commission as to the amount due
shall be conclusive in any civil action brought to recover the
same if such finding has not been reviewed or appealed from
as herein provided, and the time for review or appeal has
expired. If any party shall seek review of any finding or order
of the commission apportioning the cost between the parties
liable therefor, the superior court, the court of appeals, or the
supreme court, as the case may be, shall cause judgment to be
(2006 Ed.)
81.53.170
entered in such review proceedings for such sum or sums as
may be found lawfully or justly due by one party to another.
[1988 c 202 § 65; 1971 c 81 § 144; 1961 c 14 § 81.53.130.
Prior: 1937 c 22 § 5; 1913 c 30 § 7; RRS § 10517. Formerly
RCW 81.52.200.]
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
81.53.140
81.53.140 Time for performance. The commission, in
any order requiring work to be done, shall have power to fix
the time within which the same shall be performed and completed: PROVIDED, That if any party having a duty to perform within a fixed time under any order of the commission
shall make it appear to the commission that the order cannot
reasonably be complied with within the time fixed by reason
either of facts arising after the entry of the order or of facts
existing prior to the entry thereof that were not presented, and
with reasonable diligence could not have been sooner presented to the commission, such party shall be entitled to a reasonable extension of time within which to perform the work.
An order of the commission refusing to grant an extension of
time may be reviewed as provided for the review of other
orders of the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.140. Prior:
1913 c 30 § 10; RRS § 10520. Formerly RCW 81.52.210.]
81.53.150
81.53.150 Practice and procedure. Modes of procedure under this chapter, unless otherwise provided in this
chapter, shall be as provided in other provisions of this title.
The commission is hereby given power to adopt rules to govern its proceedings and to regulate the mode and manner of
all investigations and hearings under this chapter. [1961 c 14
§ 81.53.150. Prior: 1913 c 30 § 11; RRS § 10521. Formerly
RCW 81.52.220.]
81.53.160
81.53.160 Service of process. All notices required to be
served by this chapter shall be in writing, and shall briefly
state the nature of the matter to be inquired into and investigated. Notices may be served in the manner provided by law
for the service of summons in civil cases, or by registered
United States mail. When service is made by registered mail,
the receipt of the receiving post office shall be sufficient
proof of service. When, under the provisions of this chapter,
it is necessary to serve notice of hearings before the commission on owners of private lands, property, or property rights,
and such owners cannot be found, service may be made by
publication in the manner provided by law for the publication
of summons in civil actions, except that publication need be
made but once each week for three consecutive weeks, and
the hearing may be held at any time after the expiration of
thirty days from the date of the first publication of the notice.
[1961 c 14 § 81.53.160. Prior: 1913 c 30 § 12; RRS § 10522.
Formerly RCW 81.52.230.]
81.53.170
81.53.170 Judicial review. Upon the petition of any
party to a proceeding before the commission, any finding or
findings, or order or orders of the commission, made under
color of authority of this chapter, except as otherwise provided, may be reviewed in the superior court of the county
wherein the crossing is situated, and the reasonableness and
lawfulness of such finding or findings, order or orders
inquired into and determined, as provided in this title for the
[Title 81 RCW—page 41]
81.53.180
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
review of the commission’s orders generally. Appellate
review of the judgment of the superior court may be sought in
like manner as provided in said utilities and transportation
commission law for review by the supreme court or the court
of appeals. [1988 c 202 § 66; 1971 c 81 § 145; 1961 c 14 §
81.53.170. Prior: 1937 c 22 § 6; 1913 c 30 § 13; RRS §
10523. Formerly RCW 81.52.240.]
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
81.53.180
81.53.180 Eminent domain. Whenever to carry out
any work undertaken under this chapter it is necessary to
take, damage, or injuriously affect any private lands, property, or property rights, the right so to take, damage, or injuriously affect the same may be acquired by condemnation as
hereinafter provided:
(1) In cases where new railroads are constructed and laid
out by railroad company authorized to exercise the power of
eminent domain, the right to take, damage, or injuriously
affect private lands, property, or property rights shall be
acquired by the railroad company by a condemnation proceedings brought in its own name and prosecuted as provided
by law for the exercise of the power of eminent domain by
railroad companies, and the right of eminent domain is
hereby conferred on railroad companies for the purpose of
carrying out the requirements of this chapter or the requirements of any order of the commission.
(2) In cases where it is necessary to take, damage, or
injuriously affect private lands, property, or property rights to
permit the opening of a new highway or highway crossing
across a railroad, the right to take, damage, or injuriously
affect such lands, property, or property rights shall be
acquired by the municipality or county petitioning for such
new crossing by a condemnation proceeding brought in the
name of such municipality or county as provided by law for
the exercise of the power of eminent domain by such municipality or county. If the highway involved be a state highway,
then the right to take, damage, or injuriously affect private
lands, property, or property rights shall be acquired by a condemnation proceeding prosecuted under the laws relative to
the exercise of the power of eminent domain in aid of such
state road.
(3) In cases where the commission orders changes in
existing crossings to secure an under-crossing, over-crossing,
or safer grade crossing, and it is necessary to take, damage, or
injuriously affect private lands, property, or property rights to
execute the work, the right to take, damage, or injuriously
affect such lands, property, or property rights shall be
acquired in a condemnation proceeding prosecuted in the
name of the state of Washington by the attorney general
under the laws relating to the exercise of the power of eminent domain by cities of the first class for street and highway
purposes: PROVIDED, That in the cases mentioned in this
subdivision the full value of any lands taken shall be
awarded, together with damages, if any accruing to the
remainder of the land not taken by reason of the severance of
the part taken, but in computing the damages to the remainder, if any, the jury shall offset against such damages, if any,
the special benefits, if any, accruing to such remainder by
reason of the proposed improvement. The right of eminent
domain for the purposes mentioned in this subdivision is
[Title 81 RCW—page 42]
hereby granted. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.180. Prior: 1913 c 30 §
15; RRS § 10525. Formerly RCW 81.52.250.]
81.53.190
81.53.190 Abatement of illegal crossings. If an undercrossing, over-crossing, or grade crossing is constructed,
maintained, or operated, or is about to be constructed, operated, or maintained, in violation of the provisions of this
chapter, or in violation of any order of the commission, such
construction, operation, or maintenance may be enjoined, or
may be abated, as provided by law for the abatement of nuisances. Suits to enjoin or abate may be brought by the attorney general, or by the prosecuting attorney of the county in
which the unauthorized crossing is located. [1961 c 14 §
81.53.190. Prior: 1913 c 30 § 16; RRS § 10526. Formerly
RCW 81.52.260.]
81.53.200
81.53.200 Mandamus to compel performance. If any
railroad company, county, municipality, or officers thereof,
or other person, shall fail, neglect, or refuse to perform or discharge any duty required of it or them under this chapter or
any order of the commission, the performance of such duty
may be compelled by mandamus, or other appropriate proceeding, prosecuted by the attorney general upon request of
the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.200. Prior: 1913 c 30 §
17; RRS § 10527. Formerly RCW 81.52.270.]
81.53.210
81.53.210 Penalty. If any railroad company shall fail or
neglect to obey, comply with, or carry out the requirements of
this chapter, or any order of the commission made under it,
such company shall be liable to a penalty not to exceed five
thousand dollars, such penalty to be recovered in a civil
action brought in the name of the state of Washington by the
attorney general. All penalties recovered shall be paid into
the state treasury. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.210. Prior: 1913 c 30
§ 18; RRS § 10528. Formerly RCW 81.52.280.]
81.53.220
81.53.220 Obstructions in highways. Whenever, to
carry out any work ordered under RCW 81.53.010 through
81.53.281 and 81.54.010, it is necessary to erect and maintain
posts, piers, or abutments in a highway, the right and authority to erect and maintain the same is hereby granted: PROVIDED, That, in case of a state highway the same shall be
placed only at such points on such state highway as may be
approved by the state secretary of transportation and fixed
after such approval by order of the commission. [1983 c 3 §
210; 1961 c 14 § 81.53.220. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 179 § 2; 1913
c 30 § 19; RRS § 10529. Formerly RCW 81.52.290.]
81.53.230
81.53.230 No new right of action conferred. Nothing
contained in this chapter shall be construed as conferring a
right of action for the abandonment or vacation of any existing highway or portion thereof in cases where no right of
action exists independent of this chapter. [1961 c 14 §
81.53.230. Prior: 1913 c 30 § 20; RRS § 10530.]
81.53.240
81.53.240 Scope of chapter. Except to the extent necessary to permit participation by first class cities in the grade
crossing protective fund, when an election to participate is
made as provided in RCW 81.53.261 through 81.53.291,
chapter 81.53 RCW is not operative within the limits of first
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Crossings
class cities, and does not apply to street railway lines operating on or across any street, alley, or other public place within
the limits of any city, except that a street car line outside of
cities of the first class shall not cross a railroad at grade without express authority from the commission. The commission
may not change the location of a state highway without the
approval of the secretary of transportation, or the location of
any crossing thereon adopted or approved by the department
of transportation, or grant a railroad authority to cross a state
highway at grade without the consent of the secretary of
transportation. [1984 c 7 § 375; 1969 c 134 § 8; 1961 c 14 §
81.53.240. Prior: (i) 1953 c 95 § 15; 1925 ex.s. c 179 § 3;
1913 c 30 § 21; RRS § 10531. (ii) 1959 c 283 § 7. Formerly
RCW 81.52.300 and 81.52.380.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
81.53.250
81.53.250 Employment of experts. The commission
may employ temporarily such experts, engineers, and inspectors as may be necessary to supervise changes in existing
crossings undertaken under this chapter; the expense thereof
shall be paid by the railroad upon the request and certificate
of the commission, said expense to be included in the cost of
the particular change of grade on account of which it is
incurred, and apportioned as provided in this chapter.
The commission may also employ such engineers and
other persons as permanent employees as may be necessary
to properly administer this chapter. [1961 c 14 § 81.53.250.
Prior: 1937 c 22 § 7; 1913 c 30 § 14; RRS § 10524. Formerly
RCW 81.52.330.]
81.53.261
81.53.261 Crossing signals, warning devices—Petition, motion—Hearing—Order—Costs apportionment—
Records not evidence for actions—Appeal. Whenever the
secretary of transportation or the governing body of any city,
town, or county, or any railroad company whose road is
crossed by any highway, shall deem that the public safety
requires signals or other warning devices, other than sawbuck
signs, at any crossing of a railroad at common grade by any
state, city, town, or county highway, road, street, alley, avenue, boulevard, parkway, or other public place actually open
and in use or to be opened and used for travel by the public,
he or it shall file with the utilities and transportation commission a petition in writing, alleging that the public safety
requires the installation of specified signals or other warning
devices at such crossing or specified changes in the method
and manner of existing crossing warning devices. Upon
receiving such petition, the commission shall promptly set
the matter for hearing, giving at least twenty days notice to
the railroad company or companies and the county or municipality affected thereby, or the secretary of transportation in
the case of a state highway, of the time and place of such
hearing. At the time and place fixed in the notice, all persons
and parties interested shall be entitled to be heard and introduce evidence, which shall be reduced to writing and filed by
the commission. If the commission shall determine from the
evidence that public safety does not require the installation of
the signal, other warning device or change in the existing
warning device specified in the petition, it shall make determinations to that effect and enter an order denying said petition in toto. If the commission shall determine from the evi(2006 Ed.)
81.53.271
dence that public safety requires the installation of such signals or other warning devices at such crossing or such change
in the existing warning devices at said crossing, it shall make
determinations to that effect and enter an order directing the
installation of such signals or other warning devices or directing that such changes shall be made in existing warning
devices. The commission shall also at said hearing apportion
the entire cost of installation and maintenance of such signals
or other warning devices, other than sawbuck signs, as provided in RCW 81.53.271: PROVIDED, That upon agreement by all parties to waive hearing, the commission shall
forthwith enter its order.
No railroad shall be required to install any such signal or
other warning device until the public body involved has
either paid or executed its promise to pay to the railroad its
portion of the estimated cost thereof.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to foreclose the
right of the interested parties to enter into an agreement, franchise, or permit arrangement providing for the installation of
signals or other warning devices at any such crossing or for
the apportionment of the cost of installation and maintenance
thereof, or compliance with an existing agreement, franchise,
or permit arrangement providing for the same.
The hearing and determinations authorized by this section may be instituted by the commission on its own motion,
and the proceedings, hearing, and consequences thereof shall
be the same as for the hearing and determination of any petition authorized by this section.
No part of the record, or a copy thereof, of the hearing
and determination provided for in this section and no finding,
conclusion, or order made pursuant thereto shall be used as
evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident at or in the vicinity of any crossing prior to installation
of signals or other warning devices pursuant to an order of the
commission as a result of any such investigation.
Any order entered by the utilities and transportation
commission under this section shall be subject to review,
supersedeas and appeal as provided in RCW 81.04.170
through 81.04.190, respectively.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve any
railroad from liability on account of failure to provide adequate protective devices at any such crossing. [1982 c 94 § 1;
1969 c 134 § 1.]
Application—1982 c 94: "The provisions of this act shall not apply to
those petitions acted upon by the commission prior to July 10, 1982." [1982
c 94 § 5.]
81.53.271
81.53.271 Crossing signals, warning devices—Petition contents—Apportionment of installation and maintenance costs. The petition shall set forth by description the
location of the crossing or crossings, the type of signal or
other warning device to be installed, the necessity from the
standpoint of public safety for such installation, the approximate cost of installation and related work, and the approximate annual cost of maintenance. If the commission directs
the installation of a grade crossing protective device, and a
federal-aid funding program is available to participate in the
costs of such installation, installation and maintenance costs
of the device shall be apportioned in accordance with the provisions of RCW 81.53.295. Otherwise if installation is
[Title 81 RCW—page 43]
81.53.275
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
directed by the commission, it shall apportion the cost of
installation and maintenance as provided in this section:
(1) Installation: (a) The first twenty thousand dollars
shall be apportioned to the grade crossing protective fund
created by RCW 81.53.281; and
(b) The remainder of the cost shall be apportioned as follows:
(i) Sixty percent to the grade crossing protective fund,
created by RCW 81.53.281;
(ii) Thirty percent to the city, town, county, or state; and
(iii) Ten percent to the railroad:
PROVIDED, That, if the proposed installation is located
at a new crossing requested by a city, town, county, or state,
forty percent of the cost shall be apportioned to the city,
town, county, or state, and none to the railroad. If the proposed installation is located at a new crossing requested by a
railroad, then the entire cost shall be apportioned to the railroad. In the event the city, town, county, or state should concurrently petition the commission and secure an order authorizing the closure of an existing crossing or crossings in proximity to the crossing for which installation of signals or other
warning devices shall have been directed, the apportionment
to the petitioning city, town, county, or state shall be reduced
by ten percent of the total cost for each crossing ordered
closed and the apportionment from the grade crossing protective fund increased accordingly. This exception shall not be
construed to permit a charge to the grade crossing protective
fund in an amount greater than the total cost otherwise apportionable to the city, town, county, or state. No reduction shall
be applied where one crossing is closed and another opened
in lieu thereof, nor to crossings of a private nature.
(2) Maintenance: (a) Twenty-five percent to the grade
crossing protective fund, created by RCW 81.53.281; and
(b) Seventy-five percent to the railroad:
PROVIDED, That if the proposed installation is located
at a new crossing requested by a railroad, then the entire cost
shall be apportioned to the railroad. [2003 c 190 § 2; 1982 c
94 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 189 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 77 § 1; 1969
c 134 § 2.]
Findings—2003 c 190: "The legislature finds that grade crossing, rail
trespass, and other safety issues continue to present a public safety problem.
The legislature further finds that with the increased importance of rail
to freight and commuter mobility, there is a direct public benefit in assisting
local communities and railroads to work together to address rail-related public safety concerns." [2003 c 190 § 1.].
Application—1982 c 94: See note following RCW 81.53.261.
81.53.275
81.53.275 Crossing signals, warning devices—
Apportionment when funds not available from grade
crossing protective fund. In the event funds are not available from the grade crossing protective fund, the commission
shall apportion to the parties on the basis of the benefits to be
derived by the public and the railroad, respectively, that part
of the cost which would otherwise be assigned to the fund:
PROVIDED, That in such instances the city, town, county or
state shall not be assessed more than sixty percent of the total
cost of installation on other than federal aid designated highway projects: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That in such
instances the entire cost of maintenance shall be apportioned
to the railroad. [1969 ex.s. c 281 § 18; 1969 c 134 § 7.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 44]
81.53.281
81.53.281 Crossing signals, warning devices—Grade
crossing protective fund—Created—Transfer of funds—
Allocation of costs—Procedure—Federal funding. There
is hereby created in the state treasury a "grade crossing protective fund" to carry out the provisions of RCW 81.53.261,
81.53.271, 81.53.281, 81.53.291, and 81.53.295; for grants
and/or subsidies to public, private, and nonprofit entities for
rail safety projects authorized or ordered by the commission;
and for personnel and associated costs related to supervising
and administering rail safety grants and/or subsidies. The
commission shall transfer from the public service revolving
fund’s miscellaneous fees and penalties accounts moneys
appropriated for these purposes as needed. At the time the
commission makes each allocation of cost to said grade
crossing protective fund, it shall certify that such cost shall be
payable out of said fund. When federal-aid highway funds
are involved, the department of transportation shall, upon
entry of an order by the commission requiring the installation
or upgrading of a grade crossing protective device, submit to
the commission an estimate for the cost of the proposed
installation and related work. Upon receipt of the estimate
the commission shall pay to the department of transportation
the percentage of the estimate specified in RCW 81.53.295,
as now or hereafter amended, to be used as the grade crossing
protective fund portion of the cost of the installation and
related work.
The commission may adopt rules for the allocation of
money from the grade crossing protective fund. [2003 c 190
§ 3; 1998 c 245 § 166; 1987 c 257 § 1; 1985 c 405 § 509; 1982
c 94 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 189 § 2; 1973 c 115 § 4; 1969 c 134
§ 3.]
Findings—2003 c 190: See note following RCW 81.53.271.
Severability—1985 c 405: See note following RCW 9.46.100.
Application—1982 c 94: See note following RCW 81.53.261.
81.53.291
81.53.291 Crossing signals, warning devices—Operational scope—Election by first class cities—Procedure.
RCW 81.53.261 through 81.53.291 shall be operative within
the limits of all cities, towns and counties, except cities of the
first class. Cities of the first class may elect as to each particular crossing whether RCW 81.53.261 through 81.53.291
shall apply. Such election shall be made by the filing by such
city of a petition as provided for in RCW 81.53.261 with the
utilities and transportation commission, or by a statement
filed with the commission accepting jurisdiction, when such
petition is filed by others. [1969 c 134 § 4.]
81.53.295
81.53.295 Crossing signals, warning devices, etc.—
Federal funds used to pay installation costs—Grade
crossing protective fund—State and local authorities to
pay remaining installation costs—Railroad to pay maintenance costs. Whenever federal-aid highway funds are
available and are used to pay a portion of the cost of installing
a grade crossing protective device, and related work, at a railroad crossing of any state highway, city or town street, or
county road at the then prevailing federal-aid matching rate,
the grade crossing protective fund shall pay ten percent of the
remaining cost of such installation and related work. The
state or local authority having jurisdiction of such highway,
street, or road shall pay the balance of the remaining cost of
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Inspection of Industrial Crossings
such installation and related work. The railroad whose road is
crossed by the highway, street, or road shall thereafter pay the
entire cost of maintaining the device. [1982 c 94 § 4; 1975
1st ex.s. c 189 § 3.]
Application—1982 c 94: See note following RCW 81.53.261.
81.54.030
adopted by the commission shall recognize that cities with a
population in excess of four hundred thousand are responsible for specific public thoroughfares and have the specific
responsibility and authority for determining the practices
relating to safeguarding the public during construction,
repair, and maintenance activities. [1977 ex.s. c 168 § 3.]
81.53.400
81.53.400 Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of crossing or overpass—Required.
Whenever any railroad company engages in the construction,
maintenance, or repair of a crossing or overpass, the company
shall install and maintain traffic control devices adequate to
protect the public and railroad employees, subject to the
requirements of RCW 81.53.410 and 81.53.420. [1977 ex.s.
c 168 § 1.]
81.53.900
81.53.900 Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 189. This
1975 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect July 1, 1975. [1975 1st ex.s. c 189 § 4.]
Chapter 81.54
81.53.410
81.53.410 Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of crossing or overpass—Standards and
conditions. All traffic control devices used under RCW
81.53.400 shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Any traffic control devices shall be used at a repair or
construction site only so long as the devices are needed or
applicable. Any devices that are no longer needed or applicable shall be removed or inactivated so as to prevent confusion;
(2) All barricades, signs, and similar devices shall be
constructed and installed in a workmanlike manner;
(3) Bushes, weeds, or any other material or object shall
not be allowed to obscure any traffic control devices;
(4) All signs, barricades, and other control devices
intended for use during hours of darkness shall be adequately
illuminated or reflectorized, with precautions taken to protect
motorists from glare; and
(5) Flagpersons shall be provided where necessary to
adequately protect the public and railroad employees. The
flagpersons shall be responsible and competent and possess
at least average intelligence, vision, and hearing. They shall
be neat in appearance and courteous to the public. [1977 ex.s.
c 168 § 2.]
81.53.420
81.53.420 Traffic control devices during construction, repair, etc. of crossing or overpass—Rules. The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt rules to
implement the provisions of RCW 81.53.400 and 81.53.410
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW. The commission shall invite
the participation of all interested parties in any hearings or
proceedings taken under this section, including any parties
who request notice of any proceedings.
Any rules adopted under this section and any devices
employed under RCW 81.53.410 shall conform to the
national standards established by the current manual, including any future revisions, on the Uniform Traffic Control
Devices as approved by the American National Standards
Institute as adopted by the federal highway administrator of
the United States department of transportation.
Rules adopted by the commission shall specifically prescribe the duties, procedures, and equipment to be used by the
flagpersons required by RCW 81.53.410.
RCW 81.53.400 through 81.53.420 and rules adopted
thereunder shall be enforced by the commission under the
provisions of chapter 81.04 RCW: PROVIDED, That rules
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 81.54 RCW
RAILROADS—INSPECTION OF
INDUSTRIAL CROSSINGS
Sections
81.54.010
81.54.020
81.54.030
81.54.040
Definitions.
Annual inspection of industrial crossings.
Reimbursement of inspection cost.
Chapter not operative within first class cities.
81.54.010
81.54.010 Definitions. The term "grade crossing" when
used in this chapter means any point or place where a logging
or industrial railroad crosses a highway or a highway crosses
such railroad or such railroad crosses any other railroad, at a
common grade.
The term "over-crossing" when used in this chapter
means any point or place where a highway crosses a railroad
by passing above the same.
The term "under-crossing" when used in this chapter
means any point or place where a highway crosses a railroad
by passing under the same.
The term "over-crossing" or "under-crossing" shall also
mean any point or place where one railroad crosses another
railroad not at grade.
The term "logging" or "industrial" railroad when used in
this chapter shall include every railway owned or operated
primarily for the purpose of carrying the property of its owners or operators or a limited class of persons, with all tracks,
spurs and sidings used in connection therewith. [1961 c 14 §
81.54.010. Prior: 1941 c 161 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 105111. Formerly RCW 81.52.080, part.]
81.54.020
81.54.020 Annual inspection of industrial crossings.
All grade crossings, under-crossings and over-crossings on
the line of every logging and other industrial railway as
herein defined shall be inspected annually by the commission
as to condition, also maintenance, and safety in the interest of
the public, for the purpose that the commission may, if it shall
deem it necessary, require such improvements, changes and
repairs as in its judgment are proper to the end that adequate
safety shall be provided for the public. [1961 c 14 §
81.54.020. Prior: 1941 c 161 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 105112. Formerly RCW 81.52.310.]
81.54.030
81.54.030 Reimbursement of inspection cost. (1)
Every person operating any logging railroad or industrial railway shall, prior to July 1st of each year, file with the commission a statement showing the number of, and location, by
[Title 81 RCW—page 45]
81.54.040
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
name of highway, quarter section, section, township, and
range of all crossings on his or her line and pay with the filing
a fee for each crossing so reported. The commission shall, by
order, fix the exact fee based on the cost of rendering such
inspection service. All fees collected shall be deposited in
the state treasury to the credit of the public service revolving
fund. Intersections having one or more tracks shall be treated
as a single crossing. Tracks separated a distance in excess of
one hundred feet from the nearest track or group of tracks
shall constitute an additional crossing. Where two or more
independently operated railroads cross each other or the same
highway intersection, each independent track shall constitute
a separate crossing.
(2) Every person failing to make the report and pay the
fees as required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor
and in addition subject to a penalty of twenty-five dollars for
each day that the fee remains unpaid after it becomes due.
[2003 c 53 § 392; 1991 c 46 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.54.030.
Prior: 1951 c 111 § 1; 1941 c 161 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
10511-3. Formerly RCW 81.52.320.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.54.040
81.54.040 Chapter not operative within first class cities. This chapter shall not be operative within the limits of
cities of the first class. [1961 c 14 § 81.54.040. Prior: 1953
c 95 § 16; 1951 c 111 § 2. Formerly RCW 81.52.325.]
Chapter 81.56
Chapter 81.56 RCW
RAILROADS—SHIPPERS AND PASSENGERS
Sections
81.56.010
81.56.020
81.56.030
81.56.040
81.56.050
81.56.060
81.56.070
81.56.080
81.56.100
81.56.110
81.56.120
81.56.130
81.56.140
81.56.150
81.56.160
Distribution of cars.
Distributing book must be kept.
Discrimination prohibited—Connecting lines.
Equal privileges.
Joint rates and through routes.
Forest products—Scales at junctions.
Forest products—Charges, how based.
Forest products—Shipper’s count and weight.
Forest products—Penalty.
Forest products—Special contracts regarding weights.
Cruelty to stock in transit—Penalty.
Commission rules to expedite traffic.
Agent—Fixed place of business.
Regulating sale of passenger tickets.
Redemption of unused tickets.
81.56.020 Distributing book must be kept. Every railroad company shall keep, subject to the inspection of any
bona fide shipper, a book or books known as "car distributing
book," which shall be kept by such officer or officers,
employees of such railroad, and in such manner and form as
the commission shall direct, showing among other things all
orders for cars received by such railroad company, the name
of the person ordering the same, the time when and place
where such cars are required, the time when and place where
such cars were supplied, and such other matters and information as the commission may prescribe. [1961 c 14 §
81.56.020. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 12; RRS § 10348.]
81.56.020
81.56.030 Discrimination prohibited—Connecting
lines. Every railroad company shall, under such regulations
as may be prescribed by the commission, afford all reasonable, proper and equal facilities for the interchange of passengers, tonnage and cars, loaded or empty, between the lines,
owned, operated, controlled or leased by it and the lines of
every other railroad company; and shall, under such regulations as the commission may prescribe, receive and transport,
without delay or discrimination, the passengers, tonnage and
cars, loaded or empty, of any connecting line of railroad:
PROVIDED, That perishable freight of all kinds and livestock shall have precedence of shipment. Every railroad company as such is required to receive from every other railroad
company at a connecting point the tonnage carried by such
other railroad company in the cars in which the same may be
loaded, and haul the same through to the point of destination
if the destination be upon a line owned, operated or controlled by such railroad company, or, if the destination be
upon the line of some other railroad company, to haul such
tonnage in such cars through to the connecting point upon the
line operated, owned, controlled or leased by it by way of
route over which such car is billed, and there deliver the same
to the next connecting carrier under such regulations as the
commission may prescribe. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.030. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 24; RRS § 10360.]
81.56.030
81.56.040 Equal privileges. No railroad corporation or
company organized or doing business in this state shall allow
any telegraph or telephone company, or any individual, any
facilities, privileges or rates for transportation of men or
material, or for repairing their lines, not allowed to all telegraph and telephone companies and individuals. [1961 c 14
§ 81.56.040. Prior: 1890 p 292 § 4; RRS § 11341.]
81.56.040
Constitutional limitations, generally: State Constitution Art. 12.
Express companies: State Constitution Art. 12 § 21.
81.56.010
81.56.010 Distribution of cars. Every railroad company shall upon reasonable notice, furnish to all persons and
corporations who may apply therefor and offer property for
transportation sufficient and suitable cars for the transportation of such property in carload lots. In case at any particular
time a railroad company has not sufficient cars to meet all the
requirements for transportation of property in carload lots, all
cars available for such purpose shall be distributed among the
several applicants therefor, without unjust discrimination
between shippers, localities or competitive or noncompetitive
points. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.010. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 11; RRS
§ 10347.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 46]
81.56.050 Joint rates and through routes. Whenever
the commission shall be of opinion, after hearing had upon its
own motion or upon complaint, that the rates and charges in
force over two or more railroads, between any two points in
the state, are unjust, unreasonable or excessive, or that no satisfactory through route or joint rate exists between such
points, and that the public necessities and convenience
demand the establishment of a through route and a joint rate
between such points, the commission may order such railroads to establish such through route, and may establish and
fix a joint rate which will be fair, just, reasonable and sufficient, to be followed, charged, enforced, demanded and collected in the future, and the commission may order that carload freight moving between such points shall be carried by
81.56.050
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Shippers and Passengers
the different companies, parties to such through route and
joint rate, without being transferred from the originating cars.
In case no agreement exists between such railroads for the
interchange of cars, then the commission, before making
such order, shall be empowered to, and it shall be its duty, to
make rules for the expeditious and safe return and proper
compensation for the cars so loaded by the company or companies receiving the same. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.050. Prior:
1911 c 117 § 57; RRS § 10393.]
81.56.060
81.56.060 Forest products—Scales at junctions. All
railroad companies operating as common carriers within the
limits of this state, shall be required to provide scales, and
weigh at junction or at some common point within this state
all cars loaded with lumber, shingles or other forest products
for shipment. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.060. Prior: 1905 c 126 § 1;
RRS § 10474.]
81.56.070
81.56.070 Forest products—Charges, how based. All
charges for freight on said commodities, except where error
is apparent, shall be based on the weights determined by the
weighing stations within the limits of this state, and all bills
of lading of railroad companies operating within the limits of
this state shall specify these provisions: PROVIDED, That
RCW 81.56.060 through 81.56.110 shall not apply to switching charges or to the handling of logs where the charge is by
the car or by the thousand feet. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.070. Prior:
1905 c 126 § 2; RRS § 10475.]
81.56.080
81.56.080 Forest products—Shipper’s count and
weight. Any railroad company’s employee acting as weigher
shall upon request of any shipper give him a statement showing gross and net weight of any shipment by him. Sworn
count and weight of shipper shall be presumptive evidence of
true weight where error in railroad weights is apparent.
[1961 c 14 § 81.56.080. Prior: 1905 c 126 § 3; RRS § 10476.]
81.56.100
81.56.100 Forest products—Penalty. In case of violation of the provisions of RCW 81.56.060 through 81.56.110
by any railroad company, it shall pay a penalty of twenty dollars for every car it shall neglect to weigh and bill within the
state as above provided, to be recovered from such company
in action where there is any agent of such railroad company
who may be served with process, and the penalties recovered
under RCW 81.56.060 through 81.56.110 shall be paid into
the county treasury in such county where action is taken.
[1961 c 14 § 81.56.100. Prior: 1905 c 126 § 5; RRS § 10478.]
81.56.110
81.56.110 Forest products—Special contracts
regarding weights. Nothing contained in RCW 81.56.060
through 81.56.110 shall interfere with the right of the shipper
and carrier to enter into a private contract regarding weights
when it is impracticable to weigh. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.110.
Prior: 1905 c 126 § 6; RRS § 10479.]
81.56.120
81.56.120 Cruelty to stock in transit—Penalty. Railroad companies in carrying or transporting animals shall not
permit them to be confined in cars for a longer period than
forty-eight consecutive hours without unloading them for
rest, water and feeding for a period of at least two consecutive
(2006 Ed.)
81.56.150
hours, unless prevented from so unloading them by unavoidable accident. In estimating such confinement, the time during which the animals have been confined without such rest
on connecting roads from which they are received shall be
included. Animals so unloaded shall, during such rest, be
properly fed, watered by the owner or person having the custody of them, or in case of his default in so doing, then by the
railroad company transporting them, at the expense of said
owner or person in custody thereof, and said company shall
in such case have a lien upon such animals for food, care and
custody furnished, and shall not be liable for such detention
of such animals. If animals are transported where they can
and do have proper food, water, space and opportunity for
rest, the foregoing provision in regard to their being unloaded
shall not apply. Violators of this section shall be punished by
fine not exceeding one thousand dollars per animal. [1994 c
261 § 19; 1961 c 14 § 81.56.120. Prior: 1893 c 27 § 4; RRS
§ 10494.]
Finding—Intent—1994 c 261: See note following RCW 16.52.011.
81.56.130
81.56.130 Commission rules to expedite traffic. The
commission shall have, and it is hereby given, power to provide by proper rules and regulations the time within which all
railroads shall furnish, after demand therefor, all cars, equipment and facilities for the handling of freight in carload and
less than carload lots, and receiving, gathering and transporting, after demand, of all express packages and the delivery
thereof at destination, the extent of free gathering and distributing limits for express packages in cities and towns, the distance that freight shall be transported each day after receipt,
the time within which consignors or persons ordering cars
shall load the same, and the time within which consignees
and persons to whom freight may be consigned shall unload
and discharge the same and receive freight from the freight
rooms, and to provide the penalties to be paid to consignors
and consignees for delays on the part of railroads to conform
to such rules, and prescribe the penalty to be paid by consignors and consignees to railroads for failure to observe such
rules. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.130. Prior: 1911 c 117 § 59; RRS
§ 10395.]
81.56.140
81.56.140 Agent—Fixed place of business. Every
agent, person, firm, or corporation engaged in selling, issuing
or dealing in railroad passenger transportation in this state,
must have a fixed place of business in the town or city
wherein such agent, person, firm, or corporation transacts
said business, and such agent, person, firm or corporation is
hereby required to keep the certificate mentioned in RCW
81.56.150, posted in a conspicuous place in such place of
business. [1961 c 14 § 81.56.140. Prior: 1905 c 180 § 2;
RRS § 10497.]
81.56.150
81.56.150 Regulating sale of passenger tickets. (1) It
shall be the duty of every person or corporation engaged
wholly or in part in the business of carrying passengers for
hire, to provide every agent authorized to sell its passage tickets in this state, with a certificate of his or her authority,
attested by its seal and the signature of its manager, secretary
or general passenger agent, which shall contain a designation
[Title 81 RCW—page 47]
81.56.160
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
of the place of business at which such authority shall be exercised.
(2) Every person and every corporation or association,
and every officer, agent or employee thereof who shall sell,
exchange or transfer, or have in his or her possession with
intent to sell, exchange or transfer, or maintain, conduct or
operate any office or place of business for the sale, exchange
or transfer of any passage ticket or pass or part thereof, or any
other evidence of a right to travel upon any railroad or boat,
whether the same be owned or operated within or without the
limits of this state, in any place except his or her place of
business, or within such place of business without having
rightfully in his or her possession and posted in a conspicuous
place therein the certificate of authority required by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 393; 1961 c 14
§ 81.56.150. Prior: 1909 c 249 § 396; RRS § 2648.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
81.60.020
81.60.020 Application for appointment. Any railroad
corporation desiring the appointment of any of its officers,
agents, or servants not exceeding twenty-five in number for
any one division of any railroad operating in this state as railroad police officers shall file a request with the criminal justice training commission on an approved application form.
The application shall be signed by the president or some managing officer of the railroad corporation and shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the officer is acquainted
with the person whose appointment is sought, that the officer
believes the person to be of good moral character, and that the
person is of such character and experience that he or she can
be safely entrusted with the powers of a police officer.
For the purposes of this section, "division" means the
part of any railroad or railroads under the jurisdiction of any
one division superintendent. [2001 c 72 § 2; 1961 c 14 §
81.60.020. Prior: 1955 c 99 § 1; 1915 c 118 § 2; RRS §
10543.]
81.56.160
81.56.160 Redemption of unused tickets. Every person or corporation engaged wholly or in part in the business
of carrying passengers for hire in this state, and every authorized ticket agent thereof, to whom there shall be presented
by the holder thereof, within one year after its expiration, any
passage ticket or part thereof, or other evidence of right to
travel, wholly or in part upon the railroad or boat of such person or corporation, which shall be wholly or partially unused,
who shall fail to redeem the same within three days after presentation, upon the following terms, to wit:
(1) When wholly unused, for the price paid therefor; and
(2) When partially unused, for the price paid therefor,
less the regular toll or charge for the passage had;
Shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred
dollars, and in addition thereto shall forfeit to the holder of
such ticket or part thereof or other evidence of a right to
travel, three times the redeemable value thereof. [1961 c 14
§ 81.56.160. Prior: 1909 c 249 § 397; RRS § 2649.]
Chapter 81.60
Chapter 81.60 RCW
RAILROADS—RAILROAD POLICE
AND REGULATIONS
(Formerly: Railroads—Special police and police regulations)
Sections
81.60.010
81.60.020
81.60.030
81.60.040
81.60.050
81.60.060
81.60.070
81.60.080
Criminal justice training commission may appoint railroad
police officers.
Application for appointment.
Oath.
Duties.
Badge.
Liability for unlawful acts.
Malicious injury to railroad property.
Sabotaging rolling stock—Receiving stolen railroad property.
Intoxication of railway employee: RCW 9.91.020.
Tampering with lights, signals, etc.: RCW 88.08.020.
81.60.010 Criminal justice training commission may
appoint railroad police officers. The criminal justice training commission shall have the power to and may in its discretion appoint and commission railroad police officers at the
request of any railroad corporation and may revoke any
appointment at its pleasure. [2001 c 72 § 1; 1961 c 14 §
81.60.010. Prior: 1915 c 118 § 1; RRS § 10542.]
81.60.010
[Title 81 RCW—page 48]
81.60.030
81.60.030 Oath. Before receiving a commission each
person appointed under the provisions of RCW 81.60.010
through 81.60.060 shall successfully complete a course of
training prescribed or approved by the criminal justice training commission, and shall take, subscribe, and file with the
commission an oath to support the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington, and to faithfully perform the duties of the office. The corporation requesting appointment of a railroad police officer
shall bear the full cost of training.
Railroad police officers appointed and commissioned
under RCW 81.60.010 through 81.60.060 are subject to rules
and regulations adopted by the commission. [2001 c 72 § 3;
1961 c 14 § 81.60.030. Prior: 1915 c 118 § 3; RRS § 10544.]
81.60.040
81.60.040 Duties. Every police officer appointed and
commissioned under the provisions of RCW 81.60.010
through 81.60.060 shall when on duty have the power and
authority conferred by law on peace officers, but shall exercise such power only in the protection of the property belonging to or under the control of the corporation at whose
instance the officer is appointed and in preventing, and making arrest for, violations of law upon or in connection with
such property. [2001 c 72 § 4; 1961 c 14 § 81.60.040. Prior:
1915 c 118 § 4; RRS § 10545.]
81.60.050
81.60.050 Badge. Every railroad police officer shall,
when on duty, wear in plain view a badge bearing the words
"railroad police" and the name of the corporation by which
the officer is employed, or carry, and present upon request,
official credentials identifying the railroad police officer and
corporation. [2001 c 72 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 81.60.050. Prior:
1915 c 118 § 5; RRS § 10546.]
81.60.060
81.60.060 Liability for unlawful acts. The corporation
procuring the appointment of any railroad police shall be
solely responsible for the compensation for the officer’s services and shall be liable civilly for any unlawful act of the
officer resulting in damage to any person or corporation.
[2001 c 72 § 6; 1961 c 14 § 81.60.060. Prior: 1915 c 118 § 6;
RRS § 10547.]
(2006 Ed.)
Railroads—Passenger-Carrying Vehicles for Employees
81.60.070
81.60.070 Malicious injury to railroad property.
Every person who, in such manner as might, if not discovered, endanger the safety of any engine, motor, car or train, or
any person thereon, shall in any manner interfere or tamper
with or obstruct any switch, frog, rail, roadbed, sleeper, viaduct, bridge, trestle, culvert, embankment, structure, or appliance pertaining to or connected with any railway, or any
train, engine, motor, or car on such railway, and every person
who shall discharge any firearm or throw any dangerous missile at any train, engine, motor, or car on any railway, is guilty
of a class B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in
a state correctional facility for not more than ten years. [2003
c 53 § 394; 1999 c 352 § 4; 1992 c 7 § 60; 1961 c 14 §
81.60.070. Prior: 1909 c 249 § 398; RRS § 2650.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Application—1999 c 352 §§ 3-5: See note following RCW 9.94A.515.
81.60.080
81.60.080 Sabotaging rolling stock—Receiving stolen
railroad property. (1) Any person or persons who shall
willfully or maliciously, with intent to injure or deprive the
owner thereof, take, steal, remove, change, add to, alter, or in
any manner interfere with any journal bearing, brass, waste,
packing, triple valve, pressure cock, brake, air hose, or any
other part of the operating mechanism of any locomotive,
engine, tender, coach, car, caboose, or motor car used or
capable of being used by any railroad or railway company in
this state, is guilty of a class C felony, and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, or by a fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and
imprisonment.
(2) Every person who buys or receives any of the property described in subsection (1) of this section, knowing the
same to have been stolen, is guilty of a class C felony, and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in subsection (1) of this section. [2003 c 53 § 395; 1992 c 7 § 61;
1961 c 14 § 81.60.080. Prior: 1941 c 212 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1941 § 2650-1.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Chapter 81.64
retractable flanged wheels for operation on railroad tracks.
[1977 ex.s. c 2 § 1.]
81.61.020
81.61.020 Minimum standards for safe maintenance
and operation—Rules and orders—Scope. The utilities
and transportation commission shall adopt such rules and
orders as are necessary to insure that every passenger-carrying vehicle provided by a railroad company to transport
employees in the course of their employment shall be maintained and operated in a safe manner whether it is used on a
public or private road or railroad. Such rules and orders shall
establish minimum standards for:
(1) The construction and mechanical equipment of the
passenger-carrying vehicles, including coupling devices,
lighting devices and reflectors, exhaust system, rear vision
mirrors, service and parking brakes, steering mechanisms,
tires, warning and signaling devices, windshield wipers and
heating equipment capable of maintaining a reasonable temperature in passenger areas;
(2) The operation of passenger-carrying vehicles, including driving rules, the loading and carrying of passengers,
maximum daily hours of service by drivers, minimum age
and skill of drivers, physical condition of drivers, refueling,
road warning devices, and the transportation of gasoline and
explosives;
(3) The safety of passengers in a passenger-carrying
vehicle, including emergency exits, fire extinguishers, first
aid kits, facilities for communication between cab and rear
compartments, means of ingress and egress, side walls, canopy, and tail gates or other means of retaining passengers
within the passenger-carrying vehicle. [1977 ex.s. c 2 § 2.]
81.61.030
81.61.030 Rules and orders—Adoption and enforceability—Hearings—Notice. Any rules or orders adopted
under this chapter shall be subject to the requirements of, and
enforceable by the penalties imposed by chapter 81.04 RCW.
Any interested person or group may request notice of, and
participate in any hearings or proceedings held pursuant to
this chapter. The commission shall conduct a hearing prior to
the adoption of any rule or order under this chapter. [1977
ex.s. c 2 § 3.]
81.61.040
Chapter 81.61 RCW
RAILROADS—PASSENGER-CARRYING
VEHICLES FOR EMPLOYEES
Chapter 81.61
Sections
81.61.010
81.61.020
81.61.030
81.61.040
81.61.010
"Passenger-carrying vehicle" defined.
Minimum standards for safe maintenance and operation—
Rules and orders—Scope.
Rules and orders—Adoption and enforceability—Hearings—
Notice.
Inspection authorized in enforcing rules and orders.
81.61.010 "Passenger-carrying vehicle" defined.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the term "passenger-carrying vehicle" as used in this chapter means those
buses and trucks owned, operated and maintained by a railroad company which transports railroad employees in other
than the cab of such vehicle and designed primarily for operation on roads which may or may not be equipped with
(2006 Ed.)
81.61.040 Inspection authorized in enforcing rules
and orders. The commission may, in enforcing rules and
orders under this chapter, inspect any passenger-carrying
vehicle provided by a railroad company to transport employees in the course of their employment. Upon request, the
chief of the state patrol may assist the commission in these
inspections. [1977 ex.s. c 2 § 4.]
Chapter 81.64
Chapter 81.64 RCW
STREET RAILWAYS
Sections
81.64.010
81.64.020
81.64.030
81.64.040
81.64.050
81.64.060
81.64.070
Grant of franchise.
Application to county legislative authority—Notice—Hearing—Order.
May cross public road.
Eminent domain.
Right of entry.
Purchase or lease of street railway property.
Consolidation of companies.
[Title 81 RCW—page 49]
81.64.010
81.64.080
81.64.090
81.64.120
81.64.130
81.64.140
81.64.150
81.64.160
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Fares and transfers.
Competent employees required—"Competent" defined—Penalty.
Car equipment specified.
Penalty.
Weather guards.
Penalty.
Hours of labor—Penalty.
Bridges across navigable waters: RCW 79.110.110 through 79.110.140.
Municipal transportation systems: Title 35 RCW.
81.64.010
81.64.010 Grant of franchise. The legislative authority
of the city or town having control of any public street or road,
or where such street or road is not within the limits of any
incorporated city or town, then the board of county commissioners wherein such road or street is situated, may grant
authority for the construction, maintenance and operation of
electric railroads or railways, motor railroads or railways and
railroads and railways of which the motive power is any
power other than steam, together with such poles, wires and
other appurtenances upon, over, along and across any such
public street or road and in granting such authority the legislative authority of such city or town or the board of county
commissioners, as the case may be, may prescribe the terms
and conditions on which such railroads or railways and their
appurtenances shall be constructed, maintained and operated
upon, over, along and across such road or street, and the
grade or elevation at which the same shall be maintained and
operated. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.010. Prior: 1907 c 99 § 1, part;
1903 c 175 § 1, part; RRS § 11082, part.]
right of way, the owner thereof shall have the right to construct and operate the same across any county road or county
street which intersects such private right of way, if such
crossing is so constructed and maintained as to do no unnecessary damage: PROVIDED, That any person or corporation
constructing such crossing or operating such railroad or railway on or along such county road or public street shall be liable to the county for all necessary expense incurred in restoring such county road or public street to a suitable condition
for travel. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.030. Prior: 1907 c 99 § 1, part;
1903 c 175 § 1, part; RRS § 11082, part.]
81.64.040
81.64.040 Eminent domain. Every corporation incorporated or that may hereafter be incorporated under the laws
of this state, or of any other state or territory of the United
States and doing business in this state for the purpose of operating railroads or railways by electric power, shall have the
right to appropriate real estate and other property for right of
way or for any corporate purpose, in the same manner and
under the same procedure as now is or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of ordinary railroad corporations
authorized by the laws of this state to exercise the right of
eminent domain: PROVIDED, That such right of eminent
domain shall not be exercised with respect to any public road
or street until the location of the electric railroad or railway
thereon has been authorized in accordance with RCW
81.64.010 through 81.64.030. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.040. Prior:
1903 c 175 § 2; RRS § 11083.]
81.64.050
81.64.020
81.64.020 Application to county legislative authority—Notice—Hearing—Order. On application being made
to the county legislative authority for such authority, the
county legislative authority shall fix a time and place for
hearing the same, and shall cause the county auditor to give
public notice thereof at the expense of the applicant, by posting written or printed notices in three public places in the
county seat of the county, and in at least one conspicuous
place on the road or street or part thereof, for which application is made, at least thirty days before the day fixed for the
hearing, and by publishing a like notice once a week for two
consecutive weeks in the official county newspaper, the last
publication to be at least five days before the day fixed for the
hearing, which notice shall state the name or names of the
applicant or applicants, a description of the roads or streets or
parts thereof for which the application is made, and the time
and place fixed for the hearing. The hearing may be
adjourned from time to time by order of the county legislative
authority. If, after the hearing, the county legislative authority
shall deem it to be for the public interest to grant the authority
in whole or in part, it may make and enter the proper order
granting the authority applied for or such part thereof as it
deems to be for the public interest, and shall require such railroad or railway and its appurtenances to be placed in such
location on or along the road or street as it finds will cause the
least interference with other uses of the road or street. [1985
c 469 § 63; 1961 c 14 § 81.64.020. Prior: 1907 c 99 § 1, part;
1903 c 175 § 1, part; RRS § 11082, part.]
81.64.050 Right of entry. Every such corporation shall
have the right to enter upon any land between the termini of
the proposed lines for the purpose of examining, locating and
surveying such lines, doing no unnecessary damage thereby.
[1961 c 14 § 81.64.050. Prior: 1899 c 94 § 2; RRS § 11085.]
81.64.060
81.64.060 Purchase or lease of street railway property. Any corporation incorporated or that may hereafter be
incorporated under the laws of this state or any state or territory of the United States, for the purpose of constructing,
owning or operating railroads or railways by electric power,
may lease or purchase and operate (except in cases where
such lease or purchase is prohibited by the Constitution of
this state) the whole or any part of the electric railroad or
electric railway, of any other corporation heretofore or hereafter constructed, together with the franchises, powers,
immunities and all other property or appurtenances appertaining thereto: PROVIDED, That such lease or purchase has
been or shall be consented to by stockholders of record holding at least two-thirds in amount of the capital stock of the
lessor or grantor corporation; and all such leases and purchases made or entered into prior to the effective date of
chapter 175, Laws of 1903, by consent of stockholders as
aforesaid are for all intents and purposes hereby ratified and
confirmed, saving, however, any vested rights of private parties. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.060. Prior: 1903 c 175 § 3; RRS §
11084.]
81.64.070
81.64.030
81.64.030 May cross public road. In case any such
railroad or railway, is or shall be located in part on private
[Title 81 RCW—page 50]
81.64.070 Consolidation of companies. With the consent of the majority in interest of their shareholders, two or
more corporations operating street railway lines within or in
(2006 Ed.)
Street Railways
the suburbs of the same municipality, may amalgamate their
businesses and properties by consolidation, sale, lease, or
other appropriate means, and either by conveyance to a third
corporation or one to the other. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.070.
Prior: 1917 c 170 § 1; RRS § 11086.]
81.64.080
81.64.080 Fares and transfers. No street railroad company shall charge, demand or collect more than five cents for
one continuous ride within the corporate limits of any city or
town: PROVIDED, That such rate may be exceeded or lowered as to any municipally owned street railroad when the
corporate authorities of the municipality owning such railroad shall, by an ordinance duly passed, authorize the collection of a higher or lower rate of fare, to be specified in such
ordinance, and as to any other street railroad company, such
rate may be exceeded or lowered with the permission or upon
the order of the commission after the filing of a tariff or a
complaint by such street railroad company and a hearing
thereon as provided in this title. Every street railroad company shall, upon such terms as shall be just and reasonable,
furnish to its passengers transfers entitling such passenger to
one continuous trip over and upon portions of its lines within
the said city or town not reached by the originating car.
[1961 c 14 § 81.64.080. Prior: 1919 c 33 § 1; 1911 c 117 §
25; RRS § 10361.]
81.64.090
81.64.090 Competent employees required—"Competent" defined—Penalty. (1) Street railway or street car
companies, or street car corporations, shall employ none but
competent men to operate or assist as conductors, motormen
or gripmen upon any street railway, or streetcar line in this
state.
(2) A person shall be deemed competent to operate or
assist in operating cars or (dummies) usually used by street
railway or streetcar companies, or corporations, only after
first having served at least three days under personal instruction of a regularly employed conductor, motorman, or gripman on a car or dummy in actual service on the particular
street railway or streetcar line for which the service of an
additional person or additional persons may be required:
PROVIDED, That during a strike on the streetcar lines the
railway companies may employ competent persons who have
not worked three days on the particular streetcar line.
(3) Any violation of this section by the president, secretary, manager, superintendent, assistant superintendent,
stockholder, or other officer or employee of any company or
corporation owning or operating any street railway or streetcar line or any receiver of street railway or streetcar company, or street railway or streetcar corporations appointed by
any court within this state to operate such car line is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine in any amount not less than fifty
dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisonment
in the county jail for a term of thirty days, or both such fine
and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. [2003 c 53 §
396; 1961 c 14 § 81.64.090. Prior: 1901 c 103 § 1; RRS §
11073.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
(2006 Ed.)
81.64.160
81.64.120
81.64.120 Car equipment specified. Every streetcar
run or used on any streetcar line in the state of Washington
shall be provided with good and substantial aprons, pilots or
fenders, and which shall be so constructed as to prevent any
person from being thrown down and run over or caught
beneath or under such car. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.120. Prior:
1897 c 94 § 1; RRS § 11076. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1911 c 117 § 66, part now codified in RCW
81.44.040.]
81.64.130
81.64.130 Penalty. The owners or managers operating
any streetcar line failing to comply with the provisions of
RCW 81.64.120 shall forfeit and pay to the state of Washington a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars for each and
every violation of RCW 81.64.120 and each car run shall be
considered a separate violation of RCW 81.64.120 and every
period of five days shall be deemed a separate violation of
RCW 81.64.120. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.130. Prior: 1897 c 94 §
2; RRS § 11077.]
81.64.140
81.64.140 Weather guards. All corporations, companies or individuals owning, managing or operating any street
railway or line in the state of Washington, shall provide, during the rain or winter season, all cars run or used on its or
their respective roads with good, substantial and sufficient
vestibules, or weather guards, for the protection of the
employees of such corporation, company or individual.
The vestibules or weather guards shall be so constructed
as to protect the employees of such company, corporation or
individual from the wind, rain or snow. [1961 c 14 §
81.64.140. Prior: (i) 1895 c 144 § 1; RRS § 11078. (ii) 1895
c 144 § 2; RRS § 11079.]
81.64.150
81.64.150 Penalty. Any such street railway company,
corporation or individual, as mentioned in RCW 81.64.140,
failing to comply with the provisions of RCW 81.64.140,
shall forfeit and pay to the state of Washington a penalty of
not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty
dollars for each and every violation of RCW 81.64.140, and
each period of ten days that any such company, corporation
or individual shall fail to comply with the provisions of RCW
81.64.140, or for each car used by such corporation, company, or individual not in conformity with RCW 81.64.140,
shall be taken and deemed to be a separate violation of RCW
81.64.140. [1961 c 14 § 81.64.150. Prior: 1895 c 144 § 3;
RRS § 11080.]
81.64.160
81.64.160 Hours of labor—Penalty. (1) No person,
agent, officer, manager, or superintendent or receiver of any
corporation or owner of streetcars shall require his, her, or its
gripmen, motormen, drivers, or conductors to work more
than ten hours in any twenty-four hours.
(2) Any person, agent, officer, manager, superintendent,
or receiver of any corporation, or owner of streetcar or cars,
violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be
fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more
than one hundred dollars for each day in which such gripman,
motorman, driver, or conductor in the employ of such person,
agent, officer, manager, superintendent, or receiver of such
[Title 81 RCW—page 51]
Chapter 81.66
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
corporation or owner is required to work more than ten hours
during each twenty-four hours, as provided in this section.
(3) It is the duty of the prosecuting attorney of each
county of this state to institute the necessary proceedings to
enforce the provisions of this section. [2003 c 53 § 397; 1961
c 14 § 81.64.160. Prior: 1895 c 100 § 1; RRS § 7648.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Chapter 81.66 RCW
TRANSPORTATION FOR PERSONS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS
Chapter 81.66
(Formerly: Transportation for the elderly and the handicapped)
Sections
81.66.010
81.66.020
81.66.030
81.66.040
81.66.050
81.66.060
Definitions.
Private, nonprofit transportation provider required to operate
in accordance with this chapter.
Authority of commission.
Certificate required—Application—Transferability—Carried
in vehicle.
Insurance or bond required.
Suspension, revocation, or alteration of certificate.
81.66.010
81.66.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section shall apply throughout this chapter, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) "Corporation" means a corporation, company, association, or joint stock association.
(2) "Person" means an individual, firm, or a copartnership.
(3) "Private, nonprofit transportation provider" means
any private, nonprofit corporation providing transportation
services for compensation solely to persons with special
transportation needs.
(4) "Persons with special transportation needs" means
those persons, including their personal attendants, who
because of physical or mental disability, income status, or
age are unable to transport themselves or to purchase appropriate transportation. [1996 c 244 § 1; 1979 c 111 § 4.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
81.66.020
81.66.020 Private, nonprofit transportation provider
required to operate in accordance with this chapter. No
person or corporation, their lessees, trustees, receivers, or
trustees appointed by any court, may operate as a private,
nonprofit transportation provider except in accordance with
this chapter. [1979 c 111 § 5.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
81.66.030
81.66.030 Authority of commission. The commission
shall regulate every private, nonprofit transportation provider
in this state but has authority only as follows: To issue certificates to such providers; to set forth insurance requirements;
to adopt reasonable rules to insure that any vehicles used by
such providers will be adequate for the proposed service; and
to inspect the vehicles and otherwise regulate the safety of
operations of each provider. The commission may charge
fees to private, nonprofit transportation providers, which
shall be approximately the same as the reasonable cost of regulating such providers. [1998 c 173 § 4; 1979 c 111 § 6.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
[Title 81 RCW—page 52]
81.66.040
81.66.040 Certificate required—Application—
Transferability—Carried in vehicle. No private, nonprofit
transportation provider may operate in this state without first
having obtained from the commission under the provisions of
this chapter a certificate, but a certificate shall be granted to
any private, nonprofit transportation provider holding an auto
transportation company certificate on September 1, 1979,
upon surrender of the auto transportation company certificate. Any right, privilege, or certificate held, owned, or
obtained by a private, nonprofit transportation provider may
be sold, assigned, leased, transferred, or inherited as other
property only upon authorization by the commission. The
commission shall issue a certificate to any person or corporation who files an application, in a form to be determined by
the commission, which sets forth:
(1) Satisfactory proof of its status as a private, nonprofit
corporation;
(2) The kind of service to be provided;
(3) The number and type of vehicles to be operated,
together with satisfactory proof that the vehicles are adequate
for the proposed service and that drivers of such vehicles will
be adequately trained and qualified;
(4) Any proposed rates, fares, or charges;
(5) Satisfactory proof of insurance or surety bond, in
accordance with RCW 81.66.050.
The commission may deny a certificate to a provider who
does not meet the requirements of this section. Each vehicle
of a private, nonprofit transportation provider shall carry a
copy of the provider’s certificate. [1979 c 111 § 7.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
81.66.050
81.66.050 Insurance or bond required. The commission shall, in the granting of certificates to operate any private, nonprofit transportation provider, require the owner or
operator to first procure liability and property damage insurance from a company licensed to make liability insurance in
the state of Washington or a surety bond of a company
licensed to write surety bonds in the state of Washington on
each vehicle used or to be used in transporting persons for
compensation. The commission shall fix the amount of the
insurance policy or policies or surety bond, giving due consideration to the character and amount of traffic, the number
of persons affected, and the degree of danger which the proposed operation involves. Such liability and property damage
insurance or surety bond shall be maintained in force on each
vehicle while so used. Each policy for liability of property
damage insurance or surety bond required herein, shall be
filed with the commission and kept in full force and effect,
and failure to do so shall be cause for the revocation of the
certificate. [1979 c 111 § 8.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
81.66.060
81.66.060 Suspension, revocation, or alteration of
certificate. The commission may, at any time, by its order
duly entered after notice to the holder of any certificate issued
under this chapter, and an opportunity for a hearing, at which
it is proven that the holder has willfully violated or refused to
observe any of the commission’s proper orders, rules, or regulations, suspend, revoke, alter, or amend any certificate
issued under the provisions of this chapter, but the holder of
(2006 Ed.)
Auto Transportation Companies
the certificate shall have all the rights of rehearing, review,
and appeal as to the order of the commission as is provided
for in RCW 81.68.070. [2005 c 121 § 1; 1979 c 111 § 9.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
Chapter 81.68 RCW
AUTO TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES
Chapter 81.68
Sections
81.68.010
81.68.015
81.68.020
81.68.030
81.68.040
81.68.046
81.68.050
81.68.060
81.68.065
81.68.070
81.68.080
81.68.090
Definitions.
Application of chapter restricted.
Compliance with chapter required.
Regulation by commission.
Certificate of convenience and necessity.
Temporary certificates.
Filing fees.
Liability and property damage insurance—Surety bond.
Self-insurers—Exemptions as to insurance or bond.
Public service law invoked.
Penalty.
Scope of chapter.
Auto stages, licensing, etc.: Title 46 RCW.
Highway user tax structure: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
Mileage fees: RCW 46.16.125.
Penalty for carrying passengers without license: RCW 46.16.180.
Seating capacity fees: RCW 46.16.121.
81.68.010
81.68.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section shall apply throughout this chapter, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) "Corporation" means a corporation, company, association, or joint stock association.
(2) "Person" means an individual, firm, or a copartnership.
(3) "Auto transportation company" means every corporation or person, their lessees, trustees, receivers, or trustees
appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, controlling,
operating, or managing any motor propelled vehicle not usually operated on or over rails used in the business of transporting persons, and baggage, mail, and express on the vehicles of auto transportation companies carrying passengers,
for compensation over any public highway in this state
between fixed termini or over a regular route, and not operating exclusively within the incorporated limits of any city or
town.
(4) "Public highway" means every street, road, or highway in this state.
(5) The words "between fixed termini or over a regular
route" mean the termini or route between or over which any
auto transportation company usually or ordinarily operates
any motor propelled vehicle, even though there may be
departure from the termini or route, whether the departures
are periodic or irregular. Whether or not any motor propelled
vehicle is operated by any auto transportation company
"between fixed termini or over a regular route" within the
meaning of this section is a question of fact, and the finding
of the commission thereon is final and is not subject to
review. [1989 c 163 § 1; 1984 c 166 § 1; 1979 c 111 § 16;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 121 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 10; 1961 c 14
§ 81.68.010. Prior: 1935 c 120 § 1; 1921 c 111 § 1; RRS §
6387.]
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
(2006 Ed.)
81.68.030
81.68.015
81.68.015 Application of chapter restricted. This
chapter does not apply to corporations or persons, their lessees, trustees, receivers, or trustees appointed by any court
whatsoever insofar as they own, control, operate, or manage
taxicabs, hotel buses, school buses, motor propelled vehicles
operated exclusively in transporting agricultural, horticultural, dairy, or other farm products from the point of production to the market, or any other carrier that does not come
within the term "auto transportation company" as defined in
RCW 81.68.010.
This chapter does not apply to persons operating motor
vehicles when operated wholly within the limits of incorporated cities or towns, and for a distance not exceeding three
road miles beyond the corporate limits of the city or town in
Washington in which the original starting point of the vehicle
is located, and which operation either alone or in conjunction
with another vehicle or vehicles is not a part of any journey
beyond the three-mile limit.
This chapter does not apply to commuter ride sharing or
ride sharing for the elderly and the handicapped in accordance with *RCW 46.74.010, so long as the ride-sharing
operation does not compete with nor infringe upon comparable service actually being provided before the initiation of the
ride-sharing operation by an existing auto transportation
company certificated under this chapter. [1989 c 163 § 2;
1984 c 166 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 46.74.010 was amended by 1996 c 244 § 2
changing the term "ride sharing for the elderly and the handicapped" to "ride
sharing for persons with special transportation needs."
81.68.020
81.68.020 Compliance with chapter required. No
corporation or person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers or
trustees appointed by any court whatsoever, may engage in
the business of operating as a common carrier any motor propelled vehicle for the transportation of persons, and baggage,
mail, and express on the vehicles of auto transportation companies carrying passengers, between fixed termini or over a
regular route for compensation on any public highway in this
state, except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. [1989 c 163 § 3; 1984 c 166 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 81.68.020.
Prior: 1927 c 166 § 1; 1921 c 111 § 2; RRS § 6388.]
81.68.030
81.68.030 Regulation by commission. The commission is vested with power and authority, and it is its duty to
supervise and regulate every auto transportation company in
this state as provided in this section. Under this authority, it
shall for each auto transportation company:
(1) Fix, alter, and amend just, fair, reasonable, and sufficient rates, fares, charges, classifications, rules, and regulations;
(2) Regulate the accounts, service, and safety of operations;
(3) Require the filing of annual and other reports and of
other data;
(4) Supervise and regulate the companies in all other
matters affecting the relationship between such companies
and the traveling and shipping public;
(5) By general order or otherwise, prescribe rules and
regulations in conformity with this chapter, applicable to any
and all such companies, and within such limits make orders.
[Title 81 RCW—page 53]
81.68.040
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
The commission may, at any time, by its order duly
entered after notice to the holder of any certificate under this
chapter, and an opportunity for a hearing, at which it shall be
proven that the holder willfully violates or refuses to observe
any of the commission’s proper orders, rules, or regulations,
suspend, revoke, alter, or amend any certificate issued under
the provisions of this chapter, but the holder of the certificate
has all the rights of rehearing, review, and appeal as to the
order of the commission as is provided for in RCW
81.68.070. [2005 c 121 § 2; 1989 c 163 § 4; 1984 c 166 § 4;
1961 c 14 § 81.68.030. Prior: 1921 c 111 § 3; RRS § 6389.]
81.68.040
81.68.040 Certificate of convenience and necessity.
No auto transportation company shall operate for the transportation of persons, and baggage, mail and express on the
vehicles of auto transportation companies carrying passengers, for compensation between fixed termini or over a regular route in this state, without first having obtained from the
commission under the provisions of this chapter a certificate
declaring that public convenience and necessity require such
operation; but a certificate shall be granted when it appears to
the satisfaction of the commission that such person, firm or
corporation was actually operating in good faith, over the
route for which such certificate shall be sought on January
15, 1921. Any right, privilege, certificate held, owned or
obtained by an auto transportation company may be sold,
assigned, leased, transferred or inherited as other property,
only upon authorization by the commission. The commission shall have power, after notice and an opportunity for a
hearing, when the applicant requests a certificate to operate in
a territory already served by a certificate holder under this
chapter, only when the existing auto transportation company
or companies serving such territory will not provide the same
to the satisfaction of the commission, or when the existing
auto transportation company does not object, and in all other
cases with or without hearing, to issue said certificate as
prayed for; or for good cause shown to refuse to issue same,
or to issue it for the partial exercise only of said privilege
sought, and may attach to the exercise of the rights granted by
said certificate to such terms and conditions as, in its judgment, the public convenience and necessity may require.
[2005 c 121 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 81.68.040. Prior: 1921 c 111 §
4; RRS § 6390.]
81.68.046
81.68.046 Temporary certificates. The commission
may, with or without a hearing, issue temporary certificates
to engage in the business of operating an auto transportation
company, but only after it finds that the issuance of the temporary certificate is consistent with the public interest. The
temporary certificate may be issued for a period up to one
hundred eighty days. The commission may prescribe rules
and impose terms and conditions as in its judgment are reasonable and necessary in carrying out this chapter. The commission may by rule, prescribe a fee for an application for the
temporary certificate. The commission shall not issue a temporary certificate to operate in a territory: (1) For which a
certificate has been issued, unless the existing certificate
holder, upon twenty days’ notice, does not object to the issuance of the certificate or is not providing service; or (2) for
which an application is pending unless the filing for a tempo[Title 81 RCW—page 54]
rary certificate is made by the applicant or the applicant does
not object to the issuance of the certificate. [2005 c 121 § 8.]
81.68.050
81.68.050 Filing fees. Any application for a certificate
of public convenience and necessity or amendment thereof,
or application to sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer a certificate
of public convenience and necessity or any interest therein,
shall be accompanied by such filing fees as the commission
may prescribe by rule: PROVIDED, That such fee shall not
exceed two hundred dollars. [1973 c 115 § 5; 1961 c 14 §
81.68.050. Prior: 1955 c 125 § 9; prior: 1937 c 158 § 2, part;
RRS § 10417-1, part.]
81.68.060
81.68.060 Liability and property damage insurance—Surety bond. In granting certificates to operate any
auto transportation company, for transporting for compensation persons and baggage, mail, and express on the vehicles
of auto transportation companies carrying passengers, the
commission shall require the owner or operator to first procure liability and property damage insurance from a company
licensed to make liability insurance in the state of Washington or a surety bond of a company licensed to write surety
bonds in the state of Washington on each motor propelled
vehicle used or to be used in transporting persons for compensation, in the amount of not less than one hundred thousand dollars for any recovery for personal injury by one person and not less than three hundred thousand dollars for any
vehicle having a capacity of sixteen passengers or less and
not less than five hundred thousand dollars for any vehicle
having a capacity of seventeen passengers or more for all persons receiving personal injury by reason of at least one act of
negligence and not less than fifty thousand dollars for damage to property of any person other than the assured. The
commission shall fix the amount of the insurance policy or
policies or security deposit giving due consideration to the
character and amount of traffic, the number of persons
affected, and the degree of danger that the proposed operation
involves. The liability and property damage insurance or
surety bond shall be maintained in force on [the] motor propelled vehicle while so used, and each policy for liability or
property damage insurance or surety bond required by this
section shall be filed with the commission and kept in full
force and effect. Failure so to do is cause for the revocation of
the certificate. [1989 c 163 § 5; 1984 c 166 § 6; 1977 ex.s. c
298 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.68.060. Prior: 1921 c 111 § 5; RRS
§ 6391.]
81.68.065
81.68.065 Self-insurers—Exemptions as to insurance
or bond. Any auto transportation company now or hereafter
authorized to transport persons for compensation on the highways and engaging in interstate, or interstate and intrastate,
operations within the state of Washington which is or
becomes qualified as a self-insurer with the interstate commerce commission of the United States in accordance with
the provisions of the United States interstate commerce act
applicable to self insurance by motor carriers, shall be
exempt, so long as such qualification remains effective, from
all provisions of law relating to the carrying or filing of insurance policies or bonds in connection with such operations.
(2006 Ed.)
Passenger Charter Carriers
The commission may require proof of the existence and
continuation of such qualification with the interstate commerce commission to be made by affidavit of the auto transportation company, in such form as the commission shall prescribe. [1961 c 14 § 81.68.065. Prior: (i) 1949 c 127 § 1;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6386-5a. (ii) 1949 c 127 § 2; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 6386-5b.]
81.68.070
81.68.070 Public service law invoked. In all respects
in which the commission has power and authority under this
chapter, applications and complaints may be made and filed
with it, process issued, hearings held, opinions, orders and
decisions made and filed, petitions for rehearing filed and
acted upon, and petitions for writs of review, to the superior
court filed therewith, appeals or mandate filed with the
supreme court or the court of appeals of this state, considered
and disposed of by said courts in the manner, under the conditions and subject to the limitations and with the effect specified in this title. [1971 c 81 § 146; 1961 c 14 § 81.68.070.
Prior: 1921 c 111 § 6; RRS § 6392.]
81.68.080
81.68.080 Penalty. (1) Except as otherwise provided in
this section, every officer, agent, or employee of any corporation, and every other person who violates or fails to comply
with, or who procures, aids, or abets in the violation of any
provisions of this chapter, or who fails to obey, observe, or
comply with any order, decision, rule or regulation, direction,
demand, or requirement, or any part of provision thereof, is
guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, violation of such an order, decision, rule or regulation, direction,
demand, or requirement relating to traffic including parking,
standing, stopping, and pedestrian offenses is a traffic infraction.
(b) Violation of such an order, decision, rule or regulation, direction, demand, or requirement equivalent to those
provisions of Title 46 RCW set forth in RCW 46.63.020 is a
misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 398; 1979 ex.s. c 136 § 106; 1961
c 14 § 81.68.080. Prior: 1921 c 111 § 7; RRS § 6393.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following
RCW 46.63.010.
81.68.090
81.68.090 Scope of chapter. Neither this chapter nor
any provision thereof shall apply or be construed to apply to
commerce with foreign nations or commerce among the several states of this union except insofar as the same may be
permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the
United States and the acts of congress. [1961 c 14 §
81.68.090. Prior: 1921 c 111 § 8; RRS § 6394.]
Chapter 81.70
Chapter 81.70 RCW
PASSENGER CHARTER CARRIERS
Sections
81.70.010
81.70.020
81.70.030
81.70.220
(2006 Ed.)
Business affected with the public interest—Declaration of purpose.
Definitions.
Exclusions.
Certificate or registration required.
81.70.230
81.70.240
81.70.250
81.70.260
81.70.270
81.70.280
81.70.290
81.70.300
81.70.310
81.70.320
81.70.330
81.70.340
81.70.350
81.70.360
81.70.020
Certificates—Application, issuance, safety fitness, financial
responsibility.
Certificates—Transfer restricted.
Certificates—Grounds for cancellation, etc.
Unlawful operation after certificate or registration canceled,
etc.
Scope of regulation.
Insurance or bond for liability and property damage.
Self-insurers.
Authority of commission and courts.
Application of Title 81 RCW.
Fees—Amounts, deposit.
Vehicle identification.
Interstate or foreign carriers.
Annual regulatory fee—Delinquent fee payments.
Excursion service companies—Certificate.
81.70.010
81.70.010 Business affected with the public interest—Declaration of purpose. The use of the public highways for the transportation of passengers for compensation is
a business affected with the public interest. It is the purpose
of this chapter to preserve for the public full benefit in use of
public highways consistent with the needs of commerce,
without unnecessary congestion or wear and tear upon such
highways; to secure to the people safe, adequate and dependable transportation by carriers operating upon such highways;
and to secure full and unrestricted flow of traffic by motor
carriers over such highways which will adequately meet reasonable public demands by providing for the regulation of all
transportation agencies with respect to safety of operations
and accident indemnity so that safe, adequate and dependable
service by all necessary transportation agencies shall be
maintained, and the full use of the highway reserved to the
public. [1965 c 150 § 2.]
81.70.020
81.70.020 Definitions. Unless the context otherwise
requires, the definitions and general provisions set forth in
this section shall govern the construction of this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Washington utilities and
transportation commission;
(2) "Person or persons" means an individual, a corporation, association, joint stock association, and partnership,
their lessees, trustees or receivers;
(3) "Public highway" includes every public street, road
or highway in this state;
(4) "Motor vehicle" means every self-propelled vehicle
with seating capacity for seven or more persons, excluding
the driver;
(5) Subject to the exclusions of RCW 81.70.030, "charter
party carrier of passengers" means every person engaged in
the transportation of a group of persons, who, pursuant to a
common purpose and under a single contract, have acquired
the use of a motor bus to travel together as a group to a specified destination or for a particular itinerary, either agreed
upon in advance or modified by the chartered group after
having left the place of origin.
(6) Subject to the exclusion of RCW 81.70.030, "excursion service carrier" means every person engaged in the
transportation of persons for compensation over any public
highway in this state from points of origin within the incorporated limits of any city or town or area, to any other location
within the state of Washington and returning to that origin.
The service shall not pick up or drop off passengers after
leaving and before returning to the area of origin. The excursions may or may not be regularly scheduled. Compensation
[Title 81 RCW—page 55]
81.70.030
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
for the transportation offered or afforded shall be computed,
charged, or assessed by the excursion service company on an
individual fare basis. [1989 c 163 § 6; 1988 c 30 § 1; 1969 c
132 § 1; 1965 c 150 § 3.]
81.70.030
81.70.030 Exclusions. Provisions of this chapter do not
apply to:
(1) Persons operating motor vehicles wholly within the
limits of incorporated cities;
(2) Persons or their lessees, receivers or trustees insofar
as they own, control, operate or manage taxicabs, hotel buses
or school buses, when operated as such;
(3) Passenger vehicles carrying passengers on a noncommercial enterprise basis;
(4) Operators of charter boats operating on waters within
or bordering this state; or
(5) Limousine charter party carriers of passengers under
*chapter 81.90 RCW. [1989 c 283 § 17; 1965 c 150 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 81.90 RCW was repealed by 1996 c 87 § 23.
81.70.220
81.70.220 Certificate or registration required. No
person may engage in the business of a charter party carrier
or excursion service carrier of persons over any public highway without first having obtained a certificate from the commission to do so or having registered as an interstate carrier.
[1989 c 163 § 7; 1988 c 30 § 2.]
81.70.230
81.70.230 Certificates—Application, issuance, safety
fitness, financial responsibility. (1) Applications for certificates shall be made to the commission in writing, verified
under oath, and shall be in such form and contain such information as the commission by regulation may require. Every
such application shall be accompanied by a fee as the commission may prescribe by rule.
(2) A certificate shall be issued to any qualified applicant
authorizing, in whole or in part, the operations covered by the
application if it is found that the applicant is fit, willing, and
able to perform properly the service and to conform to the
provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the
commission.
(3) Before a certificate is issued, the commission shall
require the applicant to establish safety fitness and proof of
minimum financial responsibility as provided in this chapter.
[1988 c 30 § 3.]
81.70.240
81.70.240 Certificates—Transfer restricted. No certificate issued under this chapter or rights to conduct services
under it may be leased, assigned, or otherwise transferred or
encumbered, unless authorized by the commission. [1988 c
30 § 4.]
81.70.250
81.70.250 Certificates—Grounds for cancellation,
etc. The commission may cancel, revoke, or suspend any
certificate issued under this chapter on any of the following
grounds:
(1) The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;
(2) The violation of an order, decision, rule, regulation,
or requirement established by the commission pursuant to
this chapter;
[Title 81 RCW—page 56]
(3) Failure of a charter party carrier or excursion service
carrier of passengers to pay a fee imposed on the carrier
within the time required by law;
(4) Failure of a charter party carrier or excursion service
carrier to maintain required insurance coverage in full force
and effect; or
(5) Failure of the certificate holder to operate and perform reasonable service. [1989 c 163 § 8; 1988 c 30 § 5.]
81.70.260
81.70.260 Unlawful operation after certificate or registration canceled, etc. After the cancellation or revocation
of a certificate or interstate registration or during the period
of its suspension, it is unlawful for a charter party carrier or
excursion service carrier of passengers to conduct any operations as such a carrier. [1989 c 163 § 9; 1988 c 30 § 6.]
81.70.270
81.70.270 Scope of regulation. It is the duty of the
commission to regulate charter party carriers and excursion
service carriers with respect to safety of equipment, driver
qualifications, and safety of operations. The commission
shall establish such rules and regulations and require such
reports as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this
chapter. [1989 c 163 § 10; 1988 c 30 § 7.]
81.70.280
81.70.280 Insurance or bond for liability and property damage. (1) In granting certificates under this chapter,
the commission shall require charter party carriers and excursion service carriers of passengers to procure and continue in
effect during the life of the certificate, liability and property
damage insurance from a company licensed to make liability
insurance in the state of Washington or a surety bond of a
company licensed to write surety bonds in the state of Washington on each motor-propelled vehicle used or to be used in
transporting persons for compensation, in the following
amounts:
(a) Not less than one hundred thousand dollars for any
recovery for personal injury by one person; and
(b) Not less than three hundred thousand dollars for any
vehicle having a capacity of sixteen passengers or less; and
(c) Not less than five hundred thousand dollars for any
vehicle having a capacity of seventeen passengers or more for
all receiving personal injury by reason of at least one act of
negligence; and
(d) Not less than fifty thousand dollars for damage to
property of any person other than the insured.
(2) The commission shall fix the amount of the insurance
policy or policies or security deposit giving consideration to
the character and amount of traffic, the number of persons
affected, and the degree of danger which the proposed operation involves. Such liability and property damage insurance
or surety bond shall be maintained in force on each motorpropelled vehicle while so used. Each policy for liability or
property damage insurance or surety bond required herein
shall be filed with the commission and kept in effect and a
failure so to do is cause for revocation of the certificate.
[1989 c 163 § 11; 1988 c 30 § 8.]
81.70.290
81.70.290 Self-insurers. A charter party carrier or
excursion service carrier of passengers authorized to transport persons for compensation on the highways and engaging
(2006 Ed.)
Passenger Charter Carriers
in interstate, or interstate and intrastate, operations within the
state of Washington which is or becomes qualified as a selfinsurer with the interstate commerce commission of the
United States in accordance with the United States interstate
commerce act applicable to self-insurance by motor carriers
is exempt from RCW 81.70.280 relating to the carrying or filing of insurance policies or bonds in connection with such
operations as long as such qualification remains effective.
The commission may require proof of the existence and
continuation of qualification with the interstate commerce
commission to be made by affidavit of the charter party carrier or excursion service carrier in a form the commission
may prescribe. [1989 c 163 § 12; 1988 c 30 § 9.]
81.70.300
81.70.300 Authority of commission and courts. In all
respects in which the commission has power and authority
under this chapter, applications and complaints may be made
and filed with it, process issued by it, hearings held, opinions,
orders, and decisions made and filed, petitions for rehearing
filed and acted upon, petitions for writs of review filed with
the superior court, appeals or mandates filed with the
supreme court or the court of appeals of this state, and may be
considered and disposed of by said courts in a manner, under
the conditions, subject to the limitations, and with the effect
specified in this chapter. [1988 c 30 § 10.]
81.70.310
81.70.310 Application of Title 81 RCW. All applicable provisions of this title relating to procedure, powers of the
commission, and penalties shall apply to the operation and
regulation of persons under this chapter, except as those provisions may conflict with the provisions of this chapter and
rules and regulations issued thereunder by the commission.
[1988 c 30 § 11.]
81.70.360
81.70.330 Vehicle identification. It is unlawful for a
charter party carrier or excursion service carrier to operate a
motor bus upon the highways of this state unless there is
firmly affixed to the vehicle on both sides thereof, the name
of the carrier and the certificate or permit number of such carrier. The characters composing such identification shall be of
sufficient size to be clearly distinguishable at a distance of at
least fifty feet from the vehicle. [1989 c 163 § 14; 1988 c 30
§ 13.]
81.70.330
81.70.340 Interstate or foreign carriers. It is unlawful
for a charter party carrier or excursion service carrier of passengers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce to use any
of the public highways of this state for the transportation of
passengers in interstate or foreign commerce, unless such
carrier has identified its vehicles and registered its interstate
or foreign operations with the commission. Interstate and foreign carriers possessing operating authority issued by the
interstate commerce commission shall register such authority
pursuant to Public Law 89-170, as amended, and the regulations of the interstate commerce commission adopted thereunder. Interstate and foreign charter party carriers and excursion service carriers of passengers exempt from regulation by
the interstate commerce commission shall register their interstate operations under regulations adopted by the commission, which shall, to the maximum extent practical, conform
to the regulations promulgated by the interstate commerce
commission under Public Law 89-170, as amended. All other
provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to motor carriers
of passengers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce
insofar as the same are not prohibited under the Constitution
of the United States or federal statute. [1989 c 163 § 15; 1988
c 30 § 14.]
81.70.340
81.70.350 Annual regulatory fee—Delinquent fee
payments. (1) The commission shall collect from each charter party carrier and excursion service carrier holding a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter and from each interstate
or foreign carrier subject to this chapter an annual regulatory
fee, to be established by the commission but which in total
shall not exceed the cost of supervising and regulating such
carriers, for each bus used by such carrier.
(2) All fees prescribed by this section shall be due and
payable on or before December 31 of each year, to cover the
ensuing year beginning February 1.
(3) Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made
after its due date shall include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate
of one percent per month. [1994 c 83 § 3; 1989 c 163 § 16;
1988 c 30 § 15.]
81.70.350
81.70.320
81.70.320 Fees—Amounts, deposit. (1) An application for a certificate or amendment thereof, or application to
sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer a certificate, shall be accompanied by such filing fees as the commission may prescribe
by rule, however the fee shall not exceed two hundred dollars.
(2) All fees paid to the commission under this chapter
shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the public service revolving fund.
(3) It is the intent of the legislature that all fees collected
under this chapter shall reasonably approximate the cost of
supervising and regulating charter party carriers and excursion service carriers subject thereto, and to that end the commission is authorized to decrease the schedule of fees provided for in RCW 81.70.350 by general order entered before
November 1 of any year in which the commission determines
that the moneys then in the charter party carrier and excursion
service carrier account of the public service revolving fund
and the fees currently to be paid will exceed the reasonable
cost of supervising and regulating such carriers during the
succeeding calendar year. Whenever the cost accounting
records of the commission indicate that the schedule of fees
previously reduced should be increased, such increase, not in
any event to exceed the schedule set forth in this chapter, may
be effected by a similar general order entered before November 1 of any calendar year. [1989 c 163 § 13; 1988 c 30 § 12.]
(2006 Ed.)
81.70.360 Excursion service companies—Certificate.
No excursion service company may operate for the transportation of persons for compensation without first having
obtained from the commission under the provisions of this
chapter a certificate to do so.
A certificate shall be issued to any qualified applicant
therefor, authorizing the whole or any part of the operations
covered by the application, if it is found that the applicant is
fit, willing, and able to properly perform the services proposed and conform to the provisions of this chapter and the
81.70.360
[Title 81 RCW—page 57]
Chapter 81.72
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
rules of the commission adopted under this chapter, and that
such operations will be consistent with the public interest.
However, a certificate shall be granted when it appears to the
satisfaction of the commission that the person, firm, or corporation was actually operating in good faith that type of service
for which the certificate was sought on January 15, 1983.
Any right, privilege, or certificate held, owned, or obtained
by an excursion service company may be sold, assigned,
leased, transferred, or inherited as other property only upon
authorization by the commission. For good cause shown the
commission may refuse to issue the certificate, or issue it for
the partial exercise only of the privilege sought, and may
attach to the exercise of the rights granted by the certificate
such terms and conditions as, in its judgment, the public
interest may require. [1984 c 166 § 5. Formerly RCW
81.68.045.]
Chapter 81.72
Chapter 81.72 RCW
TAXICAB COMPANIES
(6) Any other requirements adopted to ensure safe and
reliable taxicab service. [1984 c 126 § 2.]
81.72.220
81.72.220 Cooperative agreements—Joint regulation. A city, town, county, or port district may enter into
cooperative agreements with any other city, town, county, or
port district for the joint regulation of taxicabs. Cooperative
agreements may provide for, but are not limited to, the granting, revocation, and suspension of joint taxicab licenses.
[1984 c 126 § 3.]
Chapter 81.75
Chapter 81.75 RCW
TRANSPORTATION CENTERS
Sections
81.75.010
81.75.020
81.75.030
81.75.900
Authorization to own and operate—Purpose.
Method of acquisition and operation prescribed—Grants—
Consolidation of activities.
Services available—Terms of usage.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 217.
Sections
81.75.010
81.72.200
81.72.210
81.72.220
Legislative intent.
Local regulatory powers listed.
Cooperative agreements—Joint regulation.
Transportation of passengers in for hire vehicles: Chapter 46.72 RCW.
81.72.200
81.72.200 Legislative intent. The legislature finds and
declares that privately operated taxicab transportation service
is a vital part of the transportation system within the state and
provides demand-responsive services to state residents, tourists, and out-of-state business people. Consequently, the
safety, reliability, and economic viability and stability of privately operated taxicab transportation service are matters of
statewide importance. The regulation of privately operated
taxicab transportation services is thus an essential governmental function. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to
permit political subdivisions of the state to regulate taxicab
transportation services without liability under federal antitrust laws. [1984 c 126 § 1.]
81.72.210
81.72.210 Local regulatory powers listed. To protect
the public health, safety, and welfare, cities, towns, counties,
and port districts of the state may license, control, and regulate privately operated taxicab transportation services operating within their respective jurisdictions. The power to regulate includes:
(1) Regulating entry into the business of providing taxicab transportation services;
(2) Requiring a license to be purchased as a condition of
operating a taxicab and the right to revoke, cancel, or refuse
to reissue a license for failure to comply with regulatory
requirements;
(3) Controlling the rates charged for providing taxicab
transportation service and the manner in which rates are calculated and collected, including the establishment of zones as
the basis for rates;
(4) Regulating the routes of taxicabs, including restricting access to airports;
(5) Establishing safety, equipment, and insurance
requirements; and
[Title 81 RCW—page 58]
81.75.010 Authorization to own and operate—Purpose. It is desirable to a transportation system that convenient and comfortable terminals be established and maintained with the services of all modes of public transportation
available to the public at such a center to the extent feasible.
It is proper that cities, towns, counties, public transportation
benefit area authorities, and municipal corporations of this
state be authorized to own and operate transportation centers.
[1977 ex.s. c 217 § 1.]
81.75.020
81.75.020 Method of acquisition and operation prescribed—Grants—Consolidation of activities. Through its
council or other legislative body, any city, town, county, public transportation benefit area authority, or other municipal
corporation, authorized to operate public transportation services, may construct or otherwise acquire intermodal transportation centers by donation, lease, or purchase and may
operate or let for purposes of leasing space at fair market
value for the services set forth in RCW 81.75.030, and to perform other functions permitted by law, the centers or portions
of the centers, for public or private purposes or for compensation or rental upon such conditions as its council or other
legislative body shall from time to time prescribe. The city,
town, county, public transportation benefit area authority, or
municipal corporation, may apply for and receive grants from
the federal government for purposes of funding a transportation center and may consolidate a transportation center with
other lawful city or town activities. [1977 ex.s. c 217 § 2.]
81.75.030
81.75.030 Services available—Terms of usage. To the
extent feasible, the services available to the public at any
transportation center may include taxi, auto rental, passenger
trains, motor buses, travel agents, restrooms, food, telegraph,
baggage handling, transfer and delivery of light freight and
packages, commercial airlines, air charter, place of temporary rest for citizens and travelers (but not overnight), mail,
private auto parking for users of public transportation
through the transportation center, local transit, limousine, and
any other use necessary to the foregoing.
(2006 Ed.)
Solid Waste Collection Companies
Any city, town, county, public transportation benefit
area authority, or municipal corporation, which elects to
operate a transportation center shall operate the center for the
general public good. The operator may establish the terms of
usage for the various modes of transportation and for others
that utilize its facilities, may make reasonable rules concerning public and private use, and may exclude all persons therefrom who refuse to comply with the terms or rules of use. The
operator may own, operate, maintain, and manage a transportation center, but shall not engage in providing a transportation or other related service at the center unless otherwise
authorized by law. [1977 ex.s. c 217 § 3.]
81.75.900
81.75.900 Severability—1977 ex.s. c 217. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1977 ex.s. c 217 § 5.]
Chapter 81.77 RCW
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION COMPANIES
Chapter 81.77
(Formerly: Garbage and refuse collection companies)
Sections
81.77.010
81.77.015
81.77.020
81.77.0201
81.77.030
81.77.040
81.77.050
81.77.060
81.77.070
81.77.080
81.77.090
81.77.100
81.77.110
81.77.120
81.77.130
81.77.140
81.77.160
81.77.170
81.77.180
81.77.185
81.77.190
81.77.900
Definitions.
Construction of phrase "garbage and refuse."
Compliance with chapter required—Exemption for cities.
Jurisdiction of commission upon discontinuation of jurisdiction by municipality.
Supervision and regulation by commission.
Certificate of convenience and necessity required—Procedure
when applicant requests certificate for existing service area.
Filing fees.
Liability and property damage insurance—Surety bond.
Public service company law invoked.
Companies to file reports of gross operating revenue and pay
fees—Legislative intent—Disposition of revenue.
Penalty.
Scope of chapter with respect to foreign or interstate commerce—Regulation of solid waste collection companies.
Temporary certificates.
Service to unincorporated areas of counties.
Application of chapter to collection or transportation of source
separated recyclable materials.
Application of chapter—Collection and transportation of recyclable materials by recycling companies or nonprofit entities—Reuse or reclamation.
Pass-through rates—Rules.
Fees, charges, or taxes—Normal operating expense.
Recyclable materials collection—Processing and marketing.
Recyclable materials collection—Revenue sharing.
Curbside recycling—Reduced rate.
Severability—1989 c 431.
Unlawful diversion of recyclable material: RCW 70.95.235.
81.77.010
81.77.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Motor vehicle" means any truck, trailer, semitrailer,
tractor or any self-propelled or motor driven vehicle used
upon any public highway of this state for the purpose of
transporting solid waste, for the collection and/or disposal
thereof;
(2) "Public highway" means every street, road, or highway in this state;
(3) "Common carrier" means any person who undertakes
to transport solid waste, for the collection and/or disposal
thereof, by motor vehicle for compensation, whether over
regular or irregular routes, or regular or irregular schedules;
(2006 Ed.)
81.77.0201
(4) "Contract carrier" means all garbage and refuse transporters not included under the terms "common carrier" and
"private carrier," as herein defined, and further, shall include
any person who under special and individual contracts or
agreements transports solid waste by motor vehicle for compensation;
(5) "Private carrier" means a person who, in his own
vehicle, transports solid waste purely as an incidental adjunct
to some other established private business owned or operated
by him in good faith: PROVIDED, That a person who transports solid waste from residential sources in a vehicle
designed or used primarily for the transport of solid waste
shall not constitute a private carrier;
(6) "Vehicle" means every device capable of being
moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any
solid waste is or may be transported or drawn upon a public
highway, excepting devices moved by human or animal
power or used exclusively upon stationary rail or tracks;
(7) "Solid waste collection company" means every person or his lessees, receivers, or trustees, owning, controlling,
operating or managing vehicles used in the business of transporting solid waste for collection and/or disposal for compensation, except septic tank pumpers, over any public highway
in this state whether as a "common carrier" thereof or as a
"contract carrier" thereof;
(8) Solid waste collection does not include collecting or
transporting recyclable materials from a drop-box or recycling buy-back center, nor collecting or transporting recyclable materials by or on behalf of a commercial or industrial
generator of recyclable materials to a recycler for use or reclamation. Transportation of these materials is regulated under
chapter 81.80 RCW; and
(9) "Solid waste" means the same as defined under RCW
70.95.030, except for the purposes of this chapter solid waste
does not include recyclable materials except for source separated recyclable materials collected from residences. [1989 c
431 § 17; 1961 c 295 § 2.]
81.77.015
81.77.015 Construction of phrase "garbage and
refuse." Whenever in this chapter the phrase "garbage and
refuse" is used as a qualifying phrase or otherwise it shall be
construed as meaning "garbage and/or refuse." [1965 ex.s. c
105 § 5.]
81.77.020
81.77.020 Compliance with chapter required—
Exemption for cities. No person, his lessees, receivers, or
trustees, shall engage in the business of operating as a solid
waste collection company in this state, except in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, That the
provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the operations of
any solid waste collection company under a contract of solid
waste disposal with any city or town, nor to any city or town
which itself undertakes the disposal of solid waste. [1989 c
431 § 18; 1961 c 295 § 3.]
81.77.0201
81.77.0201 Jurisdiction of commission upon discontinuation of jurisdiction by municipality. A city, town, or
combined city-county may at any time reverse its decision to
exercise its authority under RCW 81.77.020. In such an
event, the commission shall issue a certificate to the last
[Title 81 RCW—page 59]
81.77.030
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
holder of a valid commission certificate of public convenience and necessity, or its successors or assigns, for the area
reverting to commission jurisdiction. If there was no certificate existing for the area, or the previous holder was compensated for its certificate property right, the commission shall
consider applications for authority under RCW 81.77.040.
[1997 c 171 § 4.]
Severability—1997 c 171: See note following RCW 35.02.160.
81.77.030
81.77.030 Supervision and regulation by commission. The commission shall supervise and regulate every
solid waste collection company in this state,
(1) By fixing and altering its rates, charges, classifications, rules and regulations;
(2) By regulating the accounts, service, and safety of
operations;
(3) By requiring the filing of annual and other reports
and data;
(4) By supervising and regulating such persons or companies in all other matters affecting the relationship between
them and the public which they serve;
(5) By requiring compliance with local solid waste management plans and related implementation ordinances;
(6) By requiring certificate holders under chapter 81.77
RCW to use rate structures and billing systems consistent
with the solid waste management priorities set forth under
RCW 70.95.010 and the minimum levels of solid waste collection and recycling services pursuant to local comprehensive solid waste management plans. The commission may
order consolidated billing and provide for reasonable and
necessary expenses to be paid to the administering company
if more than one certificate is granted in an area.
The commission, on complaint made on its own motion
or by an aggrieved party, at any time, after providing the
holder of any certificate with notice and an opportunity for a
hearing at which it shall be proven that the holder has willfully violated or refused to observe any of the commission’s
orders, rules, or regulations, or has failed to operate as a solid
waste collection company for a period of at least one year
preceding the filing of the complaint, may suspend, revoke,
alter, or amend any certificate issued under the provisions of
this chapter. [2005 c 121 § 5; 1989 c 431 § 20; 1987 c 239 §
1; 1965 ex.s. c 105 § 1; 1961 c 295 § 4.]
sworn to before a notary public; a statement of the assets on
hand of the person, firm, association or corporation which
will be expended on the purported plant for solid waste collection and disposal, sworn to before a notary public; a statement of prior experience, if any, in such field by the petitioner, sworn to before a notary public; and sentiment in the
community contemplated to be served as to the necessity for
such a service.
When an applicant requests a certificate to operate in a
territory already served by a certificate holder under this
chapter, the commission may, after notice and an opportunity
for a hearing, issue the certificate only if the existing solid
waste collection company or companies serving the territory
will not provide service to the satisfaction of the commission
or if the existing solid waste collection company does not
object.
In all other cases, the commission may, with or without
hearing, issue certificates, or for good cause shown refuse to
issue them, or issue them for the partial exercise only of the
privilege sought, and may attach to the exercise of the rights
granted such terms and conditions as, in its judgment, the
public convenience and necessity may require.
Any right, privilege, certificate held, owned, or obtained
by a solid waste collection company may be sold, assigned,
leased, transferred, or inherited as other property, but only
upon authorization by the commission.
Any solid waste collection company which upon July 1,
1961 is operating under authority of a common carrier or contract carrier permit issued under the provisions of chapter
81.80 RCW shall be granted a certificate of necessity without
hearing upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Such solid waste collection company which has paid the plate
fee and gross weight fees required by chapter 81.80 RCW for
the year 1961 shall not be required to pay additional like fees
under the provisions of this chapter for the remainder of such
year.
For purposes of issuing certificates under this chapter,
the commission may adopt categories of solid wastes as follows: Garbage, refuse, recyclable materials, and demolition
debris. A certificate may be issued for one or more categories
of solid waste. Certificates issued on or before July 23, 1989,
shall not be expanded or restricted by operation of this chapter. [2005 c 121 § 6; 1989 c 431 § 21; 1987 c 239 § 2; 1961
c 295 § 5.]
81.77.040
81.77.040 Certificate of convenience and necessity
required—Procedure when applicant requests certificate
for existing service area. No solid waste collection company shall hereafter operate for the hauling of solid waste for
compensation without first having obtained from the commission a certificate declaring that public convenience and
necessity require such operation. A condition of operating a
solid waste company in the unincorporated areas of a county
shall be complying with the solid waste management plan
prepared under chapter 70.95 RCW applicable in the company’s franchise area.
Issuance of the certificate of necessity shall be determined upon, but not limited to, the following factors: The
present service and the cost thereof for the contemplated area
to be served; an estimate of the cost of the facilities to be utilized in the plant for solid waste collection and disposal,
[Title 81 RCW—page 60]
81.77.050
81.77.050 Filing fees. Any application for a certificate
issued under this chapter or amendment thereof, or application to sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer a certificate issued
under this chapter or any interest therein, shall be accompanied by such filing fee as the commission may prescribe by
rule: PROVIDED, That such fee shall not exceed two hundred dollars. [1989 c 431 § 22; 1973 c 115 § 9; 1961 c 295 §
6.]
81.77.060
81.77.060 Liability and property damage insurance—Surety bond. The commission, in granting certificates to operate a solid waste collection company, shall
require the owner or operator to first procure liability and
property damage insurance from a company licensed to make
liability insurance in the state or a surety bond of a company
(2006 Ed.)
Solid Waste Collection Companies
licensed to write surety bonds in the state, on each motor propelled vehicle used or to be used in transporting solid waste
for compensation in the amount of not less than twenty-five
thousand dollars for any recovery for personal injury by one
person, and not less than ten thousand dollars and in such
additional amount as the commission shall determine, for all
persons receiving personal injury by reason of one act of negligence, and not less than ten thousand dollars for damage to
property of any person other than the assured, and to maintain
such liability and property damage insurance or surety bond
in force on each motor propelled vehicle while so used. Each
policy for liability or property damage insurance or surety
bond required herein shall be filed with the commission and
kept in full force and effect and failure so to do shall be cause
for revocation of the delinquent’s certificate. [1989 c 431 §
23; 1961 c 295 § 7.]
81.77.070
81.77.070 Public service company law invoked. In all
respects in which the commission has power and authority
under this chapter, applications and complaints may be made
and filed with it, process issued, hearings held, opinions,
orders and decisions made and filed, petitions for rehearing
filed and acted upon, and petitions for writs of review, to the
superior court filed therewith, appeals or mandate filed with
the supreme court of this state, considered and disposed of by
said courts in the manner, under the conditions, and subject to
the limitations, and with the effect specified in this title for
public service companies generally. [1961 c 295 § 8.]
81.77.080
81.77.080 Companies to file reports of gross operating revenue and pay fees—Legislative intent—Disposition of revenue. Every solid waste collection company shall,
on or before the date specified by the commission for filing
annual reports under RCW 81.04.080, file with the commission a statement on oath showing its gross operating revenue
from intrastate operations for the preceding calendar year, or
portion thereof, and pay to the commission a fee equal to one
percent of the amount of gross operating revenue: PROVIDED, That the commission may, by rule, set minimum
fees that do not exceed the cost of collecting the fees. The
commission may by rule waive any or all of the minimum fee
established pursuant to this section.
It is the intent of the legislature that the fees collected
under the provisions of this chapter shall reasonably approximate the cost of supervising and regulating motor carriers
subject thereto, and to that end the utilities and transportation
commission is authorized to decrease the schedule of fees
provided in this section by general order entered before
March 1st of any year in which it determines that the moneys
then in the solid waste collection companies account of the
public service revolving fund and the fees currently to be paid
will exceed the reasonable cost of supervising and regulating
such carriers.
All fees collected under this section or under any other
provision of this chapter shall be paid to the commission and
shall be by it transmitted to the state treasurer within thirty
days to be deposited to the credit of the public service revolving fund. [2003 c 296 § 5; 1989 c 431 § 24; 1971 ex.s. c 143
§ 3; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 11; 1963 c 59 § 12; 1961 c 295 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
81.77.130
81.77.090
81.77.090 Penalty. Every person who violates or fails
to comply with, or who procures, aids, or abets in the violation of any provisions of this chapter, or who fails to obey, or
comply with any order, decision, rule, regulation, direction,
demand, or requirement of the commission, or any part or
provision thereof, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1961 c
295 § 10.]
81.77.100
81.77.100 Scope of chapter with respect to foreign or
interstate commerce—Regulation of solid waste collection companies. Neither this chapter nor any provision
thereof shall apply, or be construed to apply, to commerce
with foreign nations or commerce among the several states
except insofar as the same may be permitted under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the acts of
congress.
However, in order to protect public health and safety and
to ensure solid waste collection services are provided to all
areas of the state, the commission, in accordance with this
chapter, shall regulate all solid waste collection companies
conducting business in the state. [1989 c 431 § 25; 1985 c
436 § 2; 1961 c 295 § 11.]
81.77.110
81.77.110 Temporary certificates. The commission
may with or without a hearing issue temporary certificates to
engage in the business of operating a solid waste collection
company, but only after it finds that the issuance of such temporary certificate is consistent with the public interest. Such
temporary certificate may be issued for a period up to one
hundred eighty days where the area or territory covered
thereby is not contained in the certificate of any other solid
waste collection company. In all other cases such temporary
certificate may be issued for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty days. The commission may prescribe such special rules and regulations and impose such special terms and
conditions with reference thereto as in its judgment are reasonable and necessary in carrying out the provisions of this
chapter. The commission shall collect a fee of twenty-five
dollars for an application for such temporary certificate.
[1989 c 431 § 26; 1965 ex.s. c 105 § 2.]
81.77.120
81.77.120 Service to unincorporated areas of counties. A county legislative authority shall periodically comment to the commission in writing concerning the authority’s
perception of the adequacy of service being provided by regulated franchisees serving the unincorporated areas of the
county. The county legislative authority shall also receive
and forward to the commission all letters of comment on services provided by regulated franchise holder(s) serving unincorporated areas of the county. Any such written comments
or letters shall become part of the record of any rate, compliance, or any other hearing held by the commission on the
issuance, revocation, or reissuance of a certificate provided
for in RCW 81.77.040. [1987 c 239 § 3.]
81.77.130
81.77.130 Application of chapter to collection or
transportation of source separated recyclable materials.
The provisions of chapter 81.77 RCW shall not apply to the
collection or transportation of source separated recyclable
materials from residences under a contract with any county,
[Title 81 RCW—page 61]
81.77.140
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
city, or town, nor to any city or town which itself undertakes
the collection and transportation of source separated recyclable materials from residences. [1989 c 431 § 19.]
81.77.140
81.77.140 Application of chapter—Collection and
transportation of recyclable materials by recycling companies or nonprofit entities—Reuse or reclamation.
Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a recycling company or
nonprofit entity from collecting and transporting recyclable
materials from a buy-back center, drop-box, or from a commercial or industrial generator of recyclable materials, or
upon agreement with a solid waste collection company.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting
a commercial or industrial generator of commercial recyclable materials from selling, conveying, or arranging for transportation of such material to a recycler for reuse or reclamation. [1989 c 431 § 31.]
81.77.160
81.77.160 Pass-through rates—Rules. (1) The commission, in fixing and altering collection rates charged by
every solid waste collection company under this section, shall
include in the base for the collection rates:
(a) All charges for the disposal of solid waste at the facility or facilities designated by a local jurisdiction under a local
comprehensive solid waste management plan or ordinance;
and
(b) All known and measurable costs related to implementation of the approved county or city comprehensive
solid waste management plan.
(2) If a solid waste collection company files a tariff to
recover the costs specified under this section, and the commission suspends the tariff, the portion of the tariff covering
costs specified in this section shall be placed in effect by the
commission at the request of the company on an interim basis
as of the originally filed effective date, subject to refund,
pending the commission’s final order. The commission may
adopt rules to implement this section.
(3) This section applies to a solid waste collection company that has an affiliated interest under chapter 81.16 RCW
with a facility, if the total cost of disposal, including waste
transfer, transport, and disposal charges, at the facility is
equal to or lower than any other reasonable and currently
available option. [1997 c 434 § 1; 1989 c 431 § 30.]
Section captions not law—1989 c 431: See RCW 70.95.902.
81.77.170
81.77.170 Fees, charges, or taxes—Normal operating
expense. For rate-making purposes, a fee, charge, or tax on
the disposal of solid waste shall be considered a normal operating expense of the solid waste collection company. [1989 c
431 § 36.]
that the solid waste collection company changes its existing
processor;
(b) A local private recycling business is capable and
competent to provide the processing and marketing service;
and
(c) A local private recycling business offers to pay a
price for the recyclable materials which is equal to or greater
than the price offered by out-of-county private recyclers, or
proposes a charge for the processing and marketing service
which is equal to or less than the charge for the service available from an out-of-county private recycler.
(2) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Cities or towns who exercise their authority under
RCW 81.77.130 to provide residential curbside collection of
recyclable materials;
(b) A solid waste collection company that is directed by
a city, town, or county to utilize a publicly owned recyclable
processing facility located within such city, town, or county;
or
(c) Counties which exercise their authority under RCW
36.58.040 to contract for the residential curbside collection of
source separated recyclables.
This section shall not apply to programs for the collection of source separated recyclable materials where rates to
implement the programs have been filed with the commission
prior to May 21, 1991.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "private recycling
business" means any private for-profit or private not-forprofit firm that engages in the processing and marketing of
recyclable materials.
(4) This section is not enforceable by complaint filed
with the commission. [1991 c 319 § 403.]
Severability—Part headings not law—1991 c 319: See RCW
70.95F.900 and 70.95F.901.
81.77.185 Recyclable materials collection—Revenue
sharing. (1) The commission shall allow solid waste collection companies collecting recyclable materials to retain up to
thirty percent of the revenue paid to the companies for the
material if the companies submit a plan to the commission
that is certified by the appropriate local government authority
as being consistent with the local government solid waste
plan and that demonstrates how the revenues will be used to
increase recycling. The remaining revenue shall be passed to
residential customers.
(2) By December 2, 2005, the commission shall provide
a report to the legislature that evaluates:
(a) The effectiveness of revenue sharing as an incentive
to increase recycling in the state; and
(b) The effect of revenue sharing on costs to customers.
[2002 c 299 § 6.]
81.77.185
Section captions not law—1989 c 431: See RCW 70.95.902.
81.77.190 Curbside recycling—Reduced rate. (1) If
the commission authorizes a surcharge or reduced rate incentive based on a customer’s participation in a company’s curbside residential recycling program, customers participating in
any other noncurbside recycling program approved by the
jurisdiction shall be eligible for such incentives.
(2) For the purpose of this section, "reduced rate" means
a residential solid waste collection rate incorporating a
rebate, refund, or discount. It does not include any residential
81.77.190
81.77.180
81.77.180 Recyclable materials collection—Processing and marketing. (1) A solid waste collection company
collecting recyclable materials from residences shall utilize
one or more private recycling businesses when arranging for
the processing and marketing of such materials, if the following conditions are met:
(a) A recycling business is located within the county at
the time the collection program commences or at any time
[Title 81 RCW—page 62]
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
solid waste collection rate based on the volume or weight of
solid waste set out for collection. [1991 c 319 § 406.]
81.80.400
Severability—Part headings not law—1991 c 319: See RCW
70.95F.900 and 70.95F.901.
81.80.410
81.77.900
81.77.900 Severability—1989 c 431.
70.95.901.
See RCW
81.80.420
81.80.430
81.80.440
81.80.450
Chapter 81.80
Chapter 81.80 RCW
MOTOR FREIGHT CARRIERS
81.80.120
81.80.130
81.80.132
81.80.140
81.80.150
81.80.170
81.80.175
81.80.190
81.80.195
81.80.200
81.80.211
81.80.220
81.80.230
81.80.240
81.80.250
81.80.260
81.80.270
81.80.272
81.80.280
81.80.290
81.80.301
81.80.305
81.80.312
81.80.318
81.80.321
81.80.330
81.80.340
81.80.345
81.80.346
81.80.355
81.80.357
81.80.360
81.80.370
81.80.371
81.80.375
81.80.380
81.80.381
81.80.391
81.80.395
(2006 Ed.)
Commercial zones and terminal areas—Common carriers with
existing business within zone—Persons seeking to serve as
common carriers after designation.
Commercial zones and terminal areas—Common carriers with
existing general freight authority.
Commercial zones and terminal areas—Expansion by commission.
Brokers and forwarders.
Recovered materials transportation—When permit required—
Rate regulation exemption—Definitions.
Recovered materials transportation—Evaluation of rate regulation exemption—Required information—Rules.
Recovered materials transportation—Construction.
Reciprocal or proportional registration of vehicles: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
Taxation of motor carriers of freight for hire—Allocation of gross receipts:
RCW 35.21.840.
Sections
81.80.010
81.80.020
81.80.030
81.80.040
81.80.045
81.80.050
81.80.060
81.80.070
81.80.080
81.80.090
81.80.100
81.80.110
81.80.115
81.80.460
81.80.010
Definitions.
Declaration of policy.
Hidden transportation charges.
Exempt vehicles.
Exemption—Freight consolidators.
Compliance required.
Combination of services.
Grant or denial of permit—Cease and desist orders—Penalty.
Application for permit.
Form of application—Filing fees.
Form and contents of permit.
Limitation on renewal of application.
Fees imposed under this chapter—Procedure for contesting—
Rules.
Classification of carriers.
Regulatory power of commission over common carriers.
Common carriers—Estimate of charges for household
goods—Penalty.
Regulatory power over contract carriers.
Tariffs to be compiled and sold by commission.
Temporary permits.
Permits for farm to market hauling.
Insurance or deposit of security.
Liability insurance requirements exclusive.
Conditions may be attached to permits.
Hours of operators—Rules and regulations.
Tariff rates must be charged.
Penalty for rebating—Procedures for collection.
Joint through rates.
Bond to protect shippers and consignees.
Operation in more than one class.
Permits—Transfer—Assignment—Acquisition of carrier
holding permit—Commission approval—Duties on cessation of operation.
Transfer of decedent’s interest—Temporary continuance of
operations.
Cancellation of permits.
Rules and regulations.
Registration of motor carriers doing business in state—Identification number—Receipt carried in cab—Fees.
Markings required—Exemptions.
Interchange of trailers, semitrailers, or power units—Interchange agreement, approval, restrictions—Procedure when
no agreement.
Single trip transit permit.
Regulatory fee—Based on gross income—Legislative
intent—Delinquent fee payments—Public service revolving
fund.
Enforcement of chapter.
Public service law invoked.
Venue—Hearings on applications.
Venue—Appeals from rulings and orders.
Unlawful advertising—Penalty.
Advertising—Household goods—Permit number required—
Penalty.
Procedure—Penalties—General statute invoked.
Application to interstate commerce.
Carriers must register authority from interstate commerce
commission.
Fee when federal requirements necessitate uniform forms evidencing interstate operations.
Cooperation with federal government.
Regulation pursuant to act of congress or agreement with interstate commerce commission.
Reciprocity—Apportionment of regulatory fees.
Idaho vehicles exempt—Reciprocity.
81.80.010
81.80.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Person" means and includes an individual, firm,
copartnership, corporation, company, or association or their
lessees, trustees, or receivers.
(2) "Motor vehicle" means any truck, trailer, semitrailer,
tractor, dump truck which uses a hydraulic or mechanical
device to dump or discharge its load, or any self-propelled or
motor-driven vehicle used upon any public highway of this
state for the purpose of transporting property, but not including baggage, mail, and express transported on the vehicles of
auto transportation companies carrying passengers.
(3) "Public highway" means every street, road, or highway in this state.
(4) "Common carrier" means any person who undertakes
to transport property for the general public by motor vehicle
for compensation, whether over regular or irregular routes, or
regular or irregular schedules, including motor vehicle operations of other carriers by rail or water and of express or forwarding companies.
(5) "Contract carrier" includes all motor vehicle operators not included under the terms "common carrier" and "private carrier" as herein defined in paragraph (4) and paragraph
(6), and further includes any person who under special and
individual contracts or agreements transports property by
motor vehicle for compensation.
(6) A "private carrier" is a person who transports by his
own motor vehicle, with or without compensation therefor,
property which is owned or is being bought or sold by such
person, or property of which such person is the seller, purchaser, lessee, or bailee where such transportation is incidental to and in furtherance of some other primary business conducted by such person in good faith.
(7) "Motor carrier" means and includes "common carrier," "contract carrier," "private carrier," and "exempt carrier" as herein defined.
(8) "Exempt carrier" means any person operating a vehicle exempted from certain provisions of this chapter under
RCW 81.80.040.
(9) "Vehicle" means every device capable of being
moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any
person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a
public highway, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rail or tracks.
(10) "Commercial zone" means an area encompassing
one or more cities or towns and environs adjacent thereto
established pursuant to RCW 81.80.400.
[Title 81 RCW—page 63]
81.80.020
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
(11) "Terminal area" means an area including one or
more cities or towns and environs adjacent thereto established pursuant to RCW 81.80.400.
(12) "Common carrier" and "contract carrier" includes
persons engaged in the business of providing, contracting for,
or undertaking to provide transportation of property for compensation over the public highways of the state of Washington as brokers or forwarders. [1989 c 60 § 1; 1988 c 31 § 1;
1982 c 71 § 1; 1967 c 69 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.010. Prior:
1937 c 166 § 2; 1935 c 184 § 2; RRS § 6382-2.]
Severability—1982 c 71: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1982 c 71 § 5.]
Severability—1967 c 69: "If any provision of this act, or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1967 c 69 § 4.]
81.80.020 Declaration of policy. The business of operating as a motor carrier of freight for compensation along the
highways of this state is declared to be a business affected
with a public interest. The rapid increase of motor carrier
freight traffic and the fact that under the existing law many
motor trucks are not effectively regulated have increased the
dangers and hazards on public highways and make it imperative that more complete regulation should be employed to the
end that the highways may be rendered safer for the use of the
general public; that the wear of such highways may be
reduced; that congestion on highways may be minimized;
that the shippers of the state may be provided with a stabilized service and rate structure; that sound economic conditions in such transportation and among such carriers may be
fostered in the public interest; that adequate, economical, and
efficient service by motor carriers, and reasonable charges
therefor, without unjust discrimination, undue preferences or
advantages, or unfair or destructive competitive practices
may be promoted; that the common carriage of commodities
by motor carrier may be preserved in the public interest; that
the relations between, and transportation by and regulation
of, motor carriers and other carriers may be improved and
coordinated so that the highways of the state of Washington
may be properly developed and preserved, and the public
may be assured adequate, complete, dependable and stable
transportation service in all its phases. [1961 c 14 §
81.80.020. Prior: 1937 c 166 § 1; 1935 c 184 § 1; RRS §
6382-1.]
81.80.020
81.80.030 Hidden transportation charges. Operators
of motor vehicles excluded from the term "private carrier,"
other than "common carriers" shall not be compelled to dedicate their property to the business of public transportation
and subject themselves to all the duties and burdens imposed
by this chapter upon "common carriers," but where they
recover the cost of transportation through price differentials
or in any other direct or indirect manner and such transportation cost recovery unreasonably endangers the stability of
rates and the essential transportation service involving the
movement of commodities over the same route or routes by
other types of carriage, then such transportation costs,
attempted to be recovered, shall not be less than the rate, fare
or charge regularly established by the department for such
81.80.030
[Title 81 RCW—page 64]
transportation service if given by other types of carriers, it
being the intention of the legislature to foster a stable rate
structure free of discriminations for the shippers of the state
of Washington. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.030. Prior: 1937 c 166 §
3; RRS § 6382-2a.]
81.80.040
81.80.040 Exempt vehicles. The provisions of this
chapter, except where specifically otherwise provided, and
except the provisions providing for licenses, shall not apply
to:
(1) Motor vehicles when operated in transportation
exclusively within the corporate limits of any city or town of
less than ten thousand population unless contiguous to a city
or town of ten thousand population or over, nor between contiguous cities or towns both or all of which are less than ten
thousand population;
(2) Motor vehicles when operated in transportation
wholly within the corporate limits of cities or towns of ten
thousand or more but less than thirty thousand population, or
between such cities or towns when contiguous, as to which
the commission, after investigation and the issuance of an
order thereon, has determined that no substantial public interest exists which requires that such transportation be subject to
regulation under this chapter;
(3) Motor vehicles when transporting exclusively the
United States mail or in the transportation of newspapers or
periodicals;
(4) Motor vehicles owned and operated by the United
States, the state of Washington, or any county, city, town, or
municipality therein, or by any department of them, or either
of them;
(5) Motor vehicles specially constructed for towing not
more than two disabled, unauthorized, or repossessed motor
vehicles, wrecking, or exchanging an operable vehicle for a
disabled vehicle and not otherwise used in transporting goods
for compensation. For the purposes of this subsection, a vehicle is considered to be repossessed only from the time of its
actual repossession through the end of its initial tow;
(6) Motor vehicles normally owned and operated by
farmers in the transportation of their own farm, orchard, or
dairy products, including livestock and plant or animal
wastes, from point of production to market, or in the infrequent or seasonal transportation by one farmer for another
farmer, if their farms are located within twenty miles of each
other, of products of the farm, orchard, or dairy, including
livestock and plant or animal wastes, or of supplies or commodities to be used on the farm, orchard, or dairy;
(7) Motor vehicles when transporting exclusively water
in connection with construction projects only;
(8) Motor vehicles of less than 8,000 pounds gross vehicle weight when transporting exclusively legal documents,
pleadings, process, correspondence, depositions, briefs, medical records, photographs, books or papers, cash or checks,
when moving shipments of the documents described at the
direction of an attorney as part of providing legal services.
[1993 c 121 § 4; 1984 c 171 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 6 § 1; 1963 c 59
§ 7; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.040. Prior: 1957 c 205 § 4; 1949 c 133
§ 1; 1947 c 263 § 1; 1937 c 166 § 4; 1935 c 184 § 3; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 6382-3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
81.80.045
81.80.045 Exemption—Freight consolidators. (1)
Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section,
the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the operations
of a shipper or a group or association of shippers in consolidating or distributing freight for themselves or for their members on a nonprofit basis for the purpose of securing the benefits of carload, truckload, or other volume rates, when the
services of a common carrier are used for the transportation
of such shipments.
(2) Every shipper or group or association of shippers
claiming this exemption shall file with the commission on an
annual basis a statement of nonprofit status and such proof of
that status as the commission may by rule require.
(3) The commission may examine the books and records
of any shipper or group or association of shippers claiming
exemption under this section solely for the purpose of investigating violations of this section. [1979 ex.s. c 138 § 1.]
81.80.050
81.80.050 Compliance required. It shall be unlawful
for any person to operate as a "motor carrier" on any public
highway of this state except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.050. Prior: 1935 c
184 § 4; RRS § 6382-4.]
81.80.060
81.80.060 Combination of services. Every person who
engages for compensation to perform a combination of services a substantial portion of which includes transportation of
property of others upon the public highways shall be subject
to the jurisdiction of the commission as to such transportation
and shall not engage upon the same without first having
obtained a common carrier or contract carrier permit to do so.
An example of such a combination of services shall include,
but not be limited to, the delivery of household appliances for
others where the delivering carrier also unpacks or uncrates
the appliances and makes the initial installation thereof.
Every person engaging in such a combination of services
shall advise the commission what portion of the consideration is intended to cover the transportation service and if the
agreement covering the combination of services is in writing,
the rate and charge for such transportation shall be set forth
therein. The rates or charges for the transportation services
included in such combination of services shall be subject to
control and regulation by the commission in the same manner
that the rates of common and contract carriers are now controlled and regulated. Any person engaged in extracting
and/or processing and, in connection therewith, hauling
materials exclusively for the maintenance, construction or
improvement of a public highway shall not be deemed to be
performing a combination of services. [1969 ex.s. c 210 § 17;
1969 c 33 § 1. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 145 § 77; 1967 c 69 § 2;
1965 ex.s. c 170 § 40; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.060; prior: 1937 c
166 § 5; RRS § 6382-4a.]
Severability—1967 c 69: See note following RCW 81.80.010.
81.80.070
81.80.070 Grant or denial of permit—Cease and
desist orders—Penalty. (1) No "common carrier," "contract
carrier," or "temporary carrier" shall operate for the transportation of property for compensation in this state without first
obtaining from the commission a permit so to do. Permits
heretofore issued or hereafter issued to any carrier, shall be
(2006 Ed.)
81.80.090
exercised by said carrier to the fullest extent so as to render
reasonable service to the public. Applications for common or
contract carrier permits or extensions thereof shall be on file
for a period of at least thirty days prior to the granting thereof
unless the commission finds that special conditions require
the earlier granting thereof.
(2) A permit or extension thereof shall be issued to any
qualified applicant therefor, authorizing the whole or any part
of the operations covered by the application, if it is found that
the applicant is fit, willing, and able properly to perform the
services proposed and conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, rules and regulations of the commission thereunder, and that such operations will be consistent with the public interest, and, in the case of common carriers, that the same are or will be required by the present or
future public convenience and necessity, otherwise such
application shall be denied.
(3) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed
to confer upon any person or persons the exclusive right or
privilege of transporting property for compensation over the
public highways of the state.
(4) A common carrier, contract carrier, or temporary carrier operating without the permit required in subsection (1) of
this section, or who violates a cease and desist order of the
commission issued under RCW 81.04.510, is subject to a
penalty, under the process set forth in RCW 81.04.405, of one
thousand five hundred dollars.
(5) Notwithstanding RCW 81.04.510, the commission
may, in conjunction with issuing the penalty set forth in subsection (4) of this section, issue cease and desist orders to carriers operating without the permit required in subsection (1)
of this section, and to all persons involved in the carriers’
operations. [1999 c 79 § 1; 1963 c 242 § 1; 1961 c 14 §
81.80.070. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 17; 1947 c 264 § 2; 1941 c 163
§ 1; 1937 c 166 § 6; 1935 c 184 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 63825.]
81.80.080
81.80.080 Application for permit. Application for permits shall be made to the commission in writing and shall
state the ownership, financial condition, equipment to be
used and physical property of the applicant, the territory or
route or routes in or over which the applicant proposes to
operate, the nature of the transportation to be engaged in and
such other information as the commission may require, and in
case such application is that of a "contract carrier" shall have
attached thereto photocopies of all contracts to furnish transportation covered by such application. [1991 c 41 § 1; 1961
c 14 § 81.80.080. Prior: 1935 c 184 § 6; RRS § 6382-6.]
81.80.090
81.80.090 Form of application—Filing fees. The
commission shall prescribe forms of application for permits
and for extensions thereof for the use of prospective applicants, and for transfer of permits and for acquisition of control of carriers holding permits, and shall make regulations
for the filing thereof. Any such application shall be accompanied by such filing fee as the commission may prescribe by
rule: PROVIDED, That such fee shall not exceed five hundred fifty dollars. [1993 c 97 § 5; 1973 c 115 § 10; 1961 c 14
§ 81.80.090. Prior: 1941 c 163 § 2; 1937 c 166 § 7; 1935 c
184 § 7; RRS § 6382-7.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 65]
81.80.100
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
81.80.100
81.80.100 Form and contents of permit. Permits
granted by the commission shall be in such form as the commission shall prescribe and shall set forth the name and
address of the person to whom the permit is granted, the
nature of the transportation service to be engaged in and the
principal place of operation, termini or route to be used or territory to be served by the operation. No permit holder shall
operate except in accordance with the permit issued to him.
[1961 c 14 § 81.80.100. Prior: 1935 c 194 § 8; RRS § 63828.]
81.80.110
81.80.110 Limitation on renewal of application. No
person whose application for a permit has been denied after
hearing under any of the provisions of this chapter shall be
eligible to renew the application for a period of six months
from the date of the order denying such application. [1961 c
14 § 81.80.110. Prior: 1947 c 264 § 3; 1935 c 184 § 9; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 6382-9.]
81.80.115
81.80.115 Fees imposed under this chapter—Procedure for contesting—Rules. If a person seeks to contest the
imposition of a fee imposed under this chapter, the person
shall pay the fee and request a refund within six months of the
due date for the payment by filing a petition for a refund with
the commission. The commission shall establish by rule procedures for handling refund petitions and may delegate the
decisions on refund petitions to the secretary of the commission. [1993 c 97 § 6.]
81.80.120
81.80.120 Classification of carriers. The commission
may from time to time establish such just and reasonable
classifications of the groups of carriers included in the terms
"common carriers" and "contract carriers" as the special
nature of the services performed by such carriers shall
require, and such just and reasonable rules, regulations and
requirements, consistent with the provisions of this chapter,
to be observed by the carriers so classified or grouped, as the
commission deems necessary or advisable in the public interest. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.120. Prior: 1937 c 166 § 8; 1935 c
184 § 10; RRS § 6382-10.]
81.80.130
81.80.130 Regulatory power of commission over
common carriers. The commission shall supervise and regulate every "common carrier" in this state; make, fix, alter,
and amend, just, fair, reasonable, minimum, maximum, or
minimum and maximum, rates, charges, classifications,
rules, and regulations for all "common carriers"; regulate the
accounts, service, and safety of operations thereof; require
the filing of reports and other data thereby; and supervise and
regulate all "common carriers" in all other matters affecting
their relationship with competing carriers of every kind and
the shipping and general public: PROVIDED, The commission may by order approve rates filed by common carriers in
respect to certain designated commodities and services when,
in the opinion of the commission, it is impractical for the
commission to make, fix, or prescribe rates covering such
commodities and services. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.130. Prior:
1957 c 205 § 5; 1937 c 166 § 9; 1935 c 184 § 11; RRS § 638211.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 66]
81.80.132
81.80.132 Common carriers—Estimate of charges
for household goods—Penalty. When a common carrier
gives an estimate of charges for services in carrying household goods, the carrier will endeavor to accurately reflect the
actual charges. The carrier is subject to a monetary penalty
not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation when the
actual charges exceed the percentages allowed by the commission. [1993 c 392 § 1.]
81.80.140
81.80.140 Regulatory power over contract carriers.
The commission is hereby vested with power and authority,
and it is hereby made its duty, to supervise and regulate every
"contract carrier" in this state; to fix, alter and amend, just,
fair and reasonable classifications, rules and regulations and
minimum rates and charges of each such "contract carrier"; to
regulate the account, service and safety of operations thereof;
and require the filing of reports and of other data thereby; and
to supervise and regulate such "contract carriers" in all other
matters affecting their relationship with both the shipping and
the general public. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.140. Prior: 1937 c 166
§ 11; 1935 c 184 § 12; RRS § 6382-12.]
81.80.150
81.80.150 Tariffs to be compiled and sold by commission. The commission shall make, fix, construct, compile,
promulgate, publish, and distribute tariffs containing compilations of rates, charges, classifications, rules, and regulations
to be used by all common carriers. In compiling such tariffs it
shall include within any given tariff compilation such carriers, groups of carriers, commodities, or geographical areas as
it determines shall be in the public interest. Such compilations and publications may be made by the commission by
compiling the rates, charges, classifications, rules, and regulations now in effect, and as they may be amended and altered
from time to time after notice and hearing, by issuing and distributing revised pages or supplements to such tariffs or reissues thereof in accordance with the orders of the commission:
PROVIDED, That the commission, upon good cause shown,
may establish temporary rates, charges, or classification
changes which may be made permanent only after publication in an applicable tariff for not less than sixty days, and
determination by the commission thereafter that the rates,
charges or classifications are just, fair, and reasonable: PROVIDED FURTHER, That temporary rates shall not be made
permanent except upon notice and hearing if within sixty
days from date of publication, a shipper or common carrier,
or representative of either, shall file with the commission a
protest alleging such temporary rates to be unjust, unfair, or
unreasonable. For purposes of this proviso, the publication of
temporary rates in the tariff shall be deemed adequate public
notice. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the commission from proceeding on its own motion, upon notice and
hearing, to fix and determine just, fair, and reasonable rates,
charges, and classifications. Each common carrier shall purchase from the commission and post tariffs applicable to its
authority. The commission shall set fees for sale of the tariffs,
and supplements and corrections of them, at rates to cover all
costs of making, fixing, constructing, compiling, promulgating, publishing, and distributing the tariffs. The proper tariff,
or tariffs, applicable to a carrier’s operations shall be available to the public at each agency and office of all common
carriers operating within this state. Such compilations and
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
publications shall be sold by the commission for the established fee. However, copies may be furnished free to other
regulatory bodies and departments of government and to colleges, schools, and libraries. All copies of the compilations,
whether sold or given free, shall be issued and distributed
under rules and regulations to be fixed by the commission:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That the commission may by order
authorize common carriers to publish and file tariffs with the
commission and be governed thereby in respect to certain
designated commodities and services when, in the opinion of
the commission, it is impractical for the commission to make,
fix, construct, compile, publish, and distribute tariffs covering such commodities and services. [1993 c 97 § 4; 1981 c
116 § 2; 1973 c 115 § 11; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.150. Prior: 1959
c 248 § 5; 1957 c 205 § 6; 1947 c 264 § 4; 1941 c 163 § 3;
1937 c 166 § 10; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6382-11a.]
81.80.170
81.80.170 Temporary permits. The commission may
issue temporary permits to temporary "common carriers" or
"contract carriers" for a period not to exceed one hundred
eighty days, but only after it finds that the issuance of such
temporary permits is consistent with the public interest. It
may prescribe such special rules and regulations and impose
such special terms and conditions with reference thereto as in
its judgment are reasonable and necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this chapter.
The commission may also issue temporary permits pending the determination of an application filed with the commission for approval of a consolidation or merger of the properties of two or more common carriers or contract carriers or
of a purchase or lease of one or more common carriers or contract carriers. [1963 c 242 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.170. Prior:
1953 c 95 § 18; 1947 c 264 § 5; 1937 c 166 § 12; 1935 c 184
§ 14; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6382-14.]
81.80.175
81.80.175 Permits for farm to market hauling. A permit or extension thereof for hauling unprocessed or unmanufactured agricultural commodities and livestock for a distance not to exceed eighty miles from the point of production
to primary markets shall be issued to any qualified applicant
therefor, authorizing the whole or part of the operations covered by the application, if it is found that the applicant is fit,
willing, and able properly to perform the services proposed
and conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, rules and regulations of the commission thereunder,
and that such operations will be consistent with the public
interest. [1963 c 242 § 5.]
81.80.220
In fixing the amount of said insurance policy or policies,
or deposit of security, the commission shall give due consideration to the character and amount of traffic and the number
of persons affected and the degree of danger which the proposed operation involves.
If the commission is notified of the cancellation, revocation, or any other changes in the required insurance or security of a common carrier or contract carrier with a permit to
transport radioactive or hazardous materials, the commission
shall immediately notify the state radiation control agency of
the change. [1986 c 191 § 5; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.190. Prior:
1935 c 184 § 16; RRS § 6382-16.]
Construction—Severability—1986 c 191: See RCW 43.200.905 and
43.200.906.
81.80.195
81.80.195 Liability insurance requirements exclusive. This chapter shall exclusively govern the liability insurance requirements for motor vehicle common and contract
carriers. Any motor vehicle that meets the public liability
requirements prescribed under RCW 81.80.190 shall not be
required to comply with any ordinances of a city or county
prescribing insurance requirements. [1989 c 264 § 2.]
Policy—1989 c 264: "The state legislature has prescribed what requirements are necessary for public liability insurance for motor vehicle common
and contract carriers to adequately protect both public and private property,
both real and personal. It is therefore necessary and desirable for the state to
prevent each city or county from applying its own separate insurance regulations in addition to those required by the commission." [1989 c 264 § 1.]
81.80.200
81.80.200 Conditions may be attached to permits.
The commission is hereby vested with power and authority in
issuing permits to any of the carriers classified in accordance
with RCW 81.80.120 to attach thereto such terms and conditions and to require such insurance or security as it may deem
necessary for the protection of the public highways and to be
for the best interest of the shipping and the general public. All
such regulations and conditions shall be deemed temporary
and may be revoked by the commission upon recommendation of the state or county authorities in charge of highway
maintenance or safety when in the judgment of such authorities such revocation is required in order to protect the public
or preserve the public highways. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.200.
Prior: 1937 c 166 § 14; 1935 c 184 § 17; RRS § 6382-17.]
81.80.211
81.80.211 Hours of operators—Rules and regulations. The commission may adopt rules and regulations
relating to the hours of duty of motor carrier drivers and operators. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.211. Prior: 1953 c 95 § 23.]
81.80.220
81.80.190
81.80.190 Insurance or deposit of security. The commission shall in the granting of permits to "common carriers"
and "contract carriers" under this chapter require such carriers to either procure and file liability and property damage
insurance from a company licensed to write such insurance in
the state of Washington, or deposit such security, for such
limits of liability and upon such terms and conditions as the
commission shall determine to be necessary for the reasonable protection of the public against damage and injury for
which such carrier may be liable by reason of the operation of
any motor vehicle.
(2006 Ed.)
81.80.220 Tariff rates must be charged. No "common
carrier" or "contract carrier" shall collect or receive a greater,
less or different remuneration for the transportation of property or for any service in connection therewith than the rates
and charges which shall have been legally established and
filed with the commission, or as are specified in the contract
or contracts filed, as the case may be, nor shall any such carrier refund or remit in any manner or by any device any portion of the rates and charges required to be collected by each
tariff or contract or filing with the commission.
The commission may check the records of all carriers
under this chapter and of those employing the services of the
[Title 81 RCW—page 67]
81.80.230
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
carrier for the purpose of discovering all discriminations,
under or overcharges and rebates, and may suspend or revoke
permits for violations of this section.
The commission may refuse to accept any time schedule
or tariff or contract that will, in the opinion of the commission, limit the service of a carrier to profitable trips only or to
the carrying of high class commodities in competition with
other carriers who give a complete service and thus afford
one carrier an unfair advantage over a competitor. [1961 c 14
§ 81.80.220. Prior: 1937 c 166 § 16; 1935 c 184 § 19; RRS §
6382-19.]
81.80.230
81.80.230 Penalty for rebating—Procedures for collection. Any person, whether carrier subject to the provisions of this chapter, shipper, or consignee, or any officer,
employee, agent, or representative thereof, who shall offer,
grant, or give, or solicit, accept, or receive any rebate, concession, or discrimination in violation of any provision of this
chapter, or who by means of any false statement or representation, or by the use of any false or fictitious bill, bill of lading, receipt, voucher, roll, account, claim, certificate, affidavit, deposition, lease, or bill of sale, or by any other means or
device shall assist, suffer or permit any person or persons,
natural or artificial, to obtain transportation of property subject to this chapter for less than the applicable rate, fare, or
charge, or who shall fraudulently seek to evade or defeat regulation as in this chapter provided for motor carriers shall be
subject to a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars
for each violation. Each and every such violation shall be a
separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every day’s continuance shall be a separate and distinct
violation. Every act of commission or omission which procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall be considered a violation under this section and subject to the penalty provided
for in this section.
The penalty provided for in this section shall become due
and payable when the person incurring the penalty receives a
notice in writing from the commission describing the violation with reasonable particularity and advising the person that
the penalty is due. The commission may, upon written application therefor, received within fifteen days, remit or mitigate
any penalty provided for in this section or discontinue any
prosecution to recover the penalty upon such terms as the
commission in its discretion deems proper. The commission
has authority to ascertain the facts upon all such applications
in such manner and under such regulations as it may deem
proper. If the penalty is not paid to the commission within fifteen days after receipt of notice imposing the penalty or
application for remission or mitigation has not been made
within fifteen days after the violator has received notice of
the disposition of the application, the attorney general shall
bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the
superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in
which the violator may do business, to recover the penalty. In
all such actions, the procedure and rules of evidence shall be
the same as in an ordinary civil action except as otherwise
provided in this section. All penalties recovered under this
section shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the
public service revolving fund. [1980 c 132 § 2; 1961 c 14 §
81.80.230. Prior: 1947 c 264 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 638219a.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 68]
Effective date—1980 c 132: See note following RCW 81.29.020.
81.80.240
81.80.240 Joint through rates. The commission shall
have power and authority to require a common carrier by
motor vehicle, railroad, express or water to establish reasonable through rates with other common carriers by motor vehicle, railroad, express and water, and to provide safe and adequate service, equipment and facilities for the transportation
of property; to establish and enforce just and reasonable individual and joint rates, charges and classifications, and just
and reasonable regulations and practices relating thereto, and
in case of such joint rates, fares and charges to establish just,
reasonable and equitable divisions thereof as between the
carriers participating therein, which shall not unduly prefer or
prejudice any of such participating carriers. In ordering and
establishing joint through rates between different types of
carriers the commission shall give full effect to the lower cost
of transportation of property by any type of carrier and shall
reflect such lower cost by differentials under a through rate of
the higher cost carrier. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.240. Prior: 1937
c 166 § 17; 1935 c 184 § 20; RRS § 6382-20.]
81.80.250
81.80.250 Bond to protect shippers and consignees.
The commission may, under such rules and regulations as it
shall prescribe, require any common carrier to file a surety
bond, or deposit security, in a sum to be determined by the
commission, to be conditioned upon such carrier making
compensation to shippers and consignees for all money
belonging to shippers and consignees, and coming into the
possession of such carrier in connection with its transportation service. Any common carrier which may be required by
law to compensate a shipper or consignee for any loss, damage or default for which a connecting common carrier is
legally responsible shall be subrogated to the rights of such
shipper or consignee under any such bond or deposit of security to the extent of the sum so paid. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.250.
Prior: 1935 c 184 § 21; RRS § 6382-21.]
81.80.260
81.80.260 Operation in more than one class. It shall
be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle at the same
time in more than one class of operation, except upon
approval of the commission and a finding that such operation
will be in the public interest.
No "exempt carrier" as such shall transport property for
compensation except as hereinabove provided. [1967 c 69 §
3; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.260. Prior: 1935 c 184 § 22; RRS §
6382-22.]
Severability—1967 c 69: See note following RCW 81.80.010.
81.80.270
81.80.270 Permits—Transfer—Assignment—Acquisition of carrier holding permit—Commission
approval—Duties on cessation of operation. No permit
issued under the authority of this chapter shall be construed to
be irrevocable. Nor shall such permit be subject to transfer or
assignment except upon a proper showing that property rights
might be affected thereby, and then in the discretion of the
commission.
No person, partnership or corporation, singly or in combination with any other person, partnership or corporation,
whether a carrier holding a permit or otherwise, or any com(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
bination of such, shall acquire control or enter into any agreement or arrangement to acquire control of a common or contract carrier holding a permit through ownership of its stock
or through purchase, lease or contract to manage the business, or otherwise except after and with the approval and
authorization of the commission: PROVIDED, That upon
the dissolution of a partnership, which holds a permit,
because of the death, bankruptcy, or withdrawal of a partner
where such partner’s interest is transferred to his spouse or to
one or more remaining partners, or in the case of a corporation which holds a permit, in the case of the death of a shareholder where a shareholder’s interest upon death is transferred to his spouse or to one or more of the remaining shareholders, the commission shall transfer the permit to the newly
organized partnership which is substantially composed of the
remaining partners, or continue the corporation’s permit
without making the proceeding subject to hearing and protest.
In all other cases any such transaction either directly or indirectly entered into without approval of the commission shall
be void and of no effect, and it shall be unlawful for any person seeking to acquire or divest control of such permit to be a
party to any such transaction without approval of the commission.
Every carrier who shall cease operation and abandon his
rights under the permits issued him shall notify the commission within thirty days of such cessation or abandonment, and
return to the commission the identification cards issued to
him. [1973 c 115 § 12; 1969 ex.s. c 210 § 12; 1965 ex.s. c
134 § 1; 1963 c 59 § 6; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.270. Prior: 1959 c
248 § 24; 1937 c 166 § 18; 1935 c 184 § 23; RRS § 6382-23.]
81.80.272
81.80.272 Transfer of decedent’s interest—Temporary continuance of operations. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 81.80.270 any permit granted to any person
under this chapter and held by that person alone or in conjunction with others other than as stockholders in a corporation at the time of his death shall be transferable the same as
any other right or interest of the person’s estate subject to the
following:
(1) Application for transfer shall be made to the commission in such form and contain such information as the commission shall prescribe. The transfer described in any such
application shall be approved if it appears from the application or from any hearing held thereon or from any investigation thereof that the proposed transferee is fit, willing and
able properly to perform the services authorized by the permit to be transferred and to conform to the provisions of this
chapter and the requirements, rules and regulations of the
commission thereunder, otherwise the application shall be
denied.
(2) Temporary continuance of motor carrier operations
without prior compliance with the provisions of this section
will be recognized as justified by the public interest in cases
in which the personal representatives, heirs or surviving
spouses of deceased persons desire to continue the operations
of the carriers whom they succeed in interest subject to such
reasonable rules and regulations as the commission may prescribe.
In case of temporary continuance under this section the
successor shall immediately procure insurance or deposit
security as required by RCW 81.80.190.
(2006 Ed.)
81.80.305
Immediately upon any such temporary continuance of
motor carrier operations and in any event not more than thirty
days thereafter the successor shall give notice of the succession by written notice to the commission containing such
information as the commission shall prescribe. [1973 c 115 §
13; 1965 ex.s. c 134 § 2.]
81.80.280
81.80.280 Cancellation of permits. Permits may be
canceled, suspended, altered or amended by the commission
upon complaint by any interested party, or upon the commission’s own motion after notice and opportunity for hearing,
when the permittee or his or its agent has repeatedly violated
this chapter, the rules and regulations of the commission or
the motor laws of this state or of the United States, or the permittee has made unlawful rebates or has not conducted his
operation in accordance with the permit granted him. Any
person may at the instance of the commission be enjoined
from any violation of the provisions of this chapter, or any
order, rule or regulation made by the commission pursuant to
the terms hereof. If such suit be instituted by the commission
no bond shall be required as a condition to the issuance of
such injunction. [1987 c 209 § 1; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.280.
Prior: 1935 c 184 § 24; RRS § 6382-24.]
81.80.290
81.80.290 Rules and regulations. The commission
shall have power and authority, by general order or otherwise, to prescribe rules and regulations in conformity with
this chapter to carry out the purposes thereof, applicable to
any and all "motor carriers," or to any persons transporting
property by motor vehicle for compensation even though
they do not come within the term "motor carrier" as herein
defined.
The commission shall mail each holder of a permit under
this chapter a copy of such rules and regulations. [1961 c 14
§ 81.80.290. Prior: 1935 c 184 § 25; RRS § 6382-25.]
Violation of rules pertaining to vehicle equipment on motor carriers transporting hazardous material: RCW 46.48.175.
81.80.301
81.80.301 Registration of motor carriers doing business in state—Identification number—Receipt carried in
cab—Fees. The commission may implement a system to
register motor carriers doing business in this state, including,
but not limited to:
(1) The prescription of an identification number and the
issuance of a receipt that must be carried within the cab of
each motive power vehicle operated within this state;
(2) The adoption of requirements for the carriers to carry
other identifying information along with the identification
number provided for in subsection (1) of this section;
(3) Participation in a single state registration program as
authorized by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 11506, as in effect on July
25, 1993; and
(4) The collection of any fee authorized by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, 49 U.S.C. Sec.
11506, as in effect on July 25, 1993, in addition to any other
fees authorized by law. [1993 c 97 § 1.]
81.80.305
81.80.305 Markings required—Exemptions. (1) All
motor vehicles, other than those exempt under subsection (2)
[Title 81 RCW—page 69]
81.80.312
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
of this section, must display a permanent marking identifying
the name or number, or both, on each side of the power units.
For a motor vehicle that is a common or contract carrier
under permit by the commission as described in subsection
(3)(a), a private carrier under subsection (4), or a leased carrier as described in subsection (5) of this section, any
required identification that is added, modified, or renewed
after September 1, 1991, must be displayed on the driver and
passenger doors of the power unit. The identification must be
in a clearly legible style with letters no less than three inches
high and in a color contrasting with the surrounding body
panel.
(2) This section does not apply to (a) vehicles exempt
under RCW 81.80.040, and (b) vehicles operated by private
carriers that singly or in combination are less than thirty-six
thousand pounds gross vehicle weight.
(3) If the motor vehicle is operated as (a) a common or
contract carrier under a permit by the commission, the identification must contain the name of the permittee, or business
name, and the permit number, or (b) a common or contract
carrier holding both intrastate and interstate authority, the
identification may be either the ICC certificate number or
commission permit number.
(4) If the motor vehicle is a private carrier, the identification must contain the name and address of either the business
operating the vehicle or the registered owner.
(5) If the motor vehicle is operated under lease, the vehicle must display either permanent markings or placards on
the driver and passenger doors of the power unit. A motor
vehicle under lease (a) that is operated as a common or contract carrier under permit by the commission must display
identification as provided in subsection (3)(a) of this section,
and (b) that is operated as a private carrier must display identification as provided in subsection (4) of this section. [1991
c 241 § 1.]
81.80.312 Interchange of trailers, semitrailers, or
power units—Interchange agreement, approval, restrictions—Procedure when no agreement. No carrier shall
interchange its trailers or semitrailers with any other carrier
without first filing an interchange agreement with and securing approval thereof by the commission. The interchange
agreement providing for the transfer or interchange of trailers
or semitrailers pursuant thereto shall be authorized only on
through movements between connecting regular route carriers.
No carrier shall interchange its power units, with or without drivers, with any other carrier, and no carrier shall interchange its trailers or semitrailers with any other carrier
beyond that authorized in the preceding paragraph without
first filing an interchange agreement with and securing
approval thereof under rules adopted by the commission:
PROVIDED, That such approval shall be given only for
interchanges between connecting regular route carriers and
only within an area which the commission has, following
hearing, found to be within the distribution area around a city
or cities one of which has a population of not less than one
hundred thousand, and has further found it consistent with the
public interest to allow such interchange agreements due to a
lack of service or a resultant improvement in service and
operating economies: PROVIDED FURTHER, That such
81.80.312
[Title 81 RCW—page 70]
interchange agreements are limited to traffic having both origin and final destination within such area and the points or
point of interchange are located within such area and are
common to both carriers and are named in the interchange
agreement.
Any carrier operating any motive power vehicle owned
by another person or party but not operated pursuant to an
interchange agreement shall secure identification cab cards
and decals or stamps or numbers in his own name for such
motive power vehicles as required by *RCW 81.80.300.
[1969 ex.s. c 210 § 16; 1967 c 170 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.312.
Prior: 1953 c 95 § 20.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 81.80.300 was repealed by 1993 c 97 § 7, effective January 1, 1994.
81.80.318
81.80.318 Single trip transit permit. Any motor carrier engaged in this state in the casual or occasional carriage
of property in interstate or foreign commerce, who would
otherwise be subject to all of the requirements of this chapter,
shall be authorized to engage in such casual or occasional
carriage, upon securing from the commission a single trip
transit permit, valid for a period not exceeding ten days,
which shall authorize a one way trip in transporting property
for compensation between points in the state of Washington
and points in other states, territories, or foreign countries.
No identification numbers and no regulatory fees other
than as provided in this section shall be required for such permit. The permit must be carried in the cab of the motive
power vehicle.
The permit shall be issued upon application to the commission or any of its duly authorized agents upon payment of
a fee of not more than twenty dollars and the furnishing of
proof of possession of public liability and property damage
insurance at levels set by commission rule. Such proof may
consist of an insurance policy or a certificate of insurance.
The commission shall not be required to collect the
excise tax prescribed by *RCW 82.44.020 on any vehicle
subject only to the payment of this fee. [1993 c 97 § 2; 1985
c 7 § 153; 1967 c 170 § 3; 1963 c 59 § 8; 1961 c 14 §
81.80.318. Prior: 1955 c 79 § 10.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.020 was repealed by 2000 1st sp.s. c 1 §
2.
Effective date—1993 c 97 §§ 2, 3, and 7: "Sections 2, 3, and 7 of this
act take effect January 1, 1994." [1993 c 97 § 8.]
81.80.321
81.80.321 Regulatory fee—Based on gross income—
Legislative intent—Delinquent fee payments—Public service revolving fund. In addition to all other fees to be paid,
a common carrier and contract carrier shall pay a regulatory
fee of no more than 0.0025 of its gross income from intrastate
operations for the previous calendar year, or such other
period as the commission designates by rule. The carrier shall
pay the fee no later than four months after the end of the
appropriate period and shall include with the payment such
information as the commission requires by rule.
The legislature intends that the fees collected under this
chapter shall reasonably approximate the cost of supervising
and regulating motor carriers subject to this chapter, and to
that end the commission may by general order decrease fees
provided in this section if it determines that the moneys then
in the motor carrier account of the public service revolving
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
fund and the fees currently to be paid will exceed the reasonable cost of supervising and regulating carriers.
Any payment of the fee imposed by this section made
after its due date shall include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate
of one percent per month.
All fees collected under any other provision of this chapter must be paid to the commission. The commission shall
transmit the fees to the state treasurer within thirty days for
deposit to the credit of the public service revolving fund.
[1994 c 83 § 4; 1993 c 97 § 3.]
Effective date—1993 c 97 §§ 2, 3, and 7: See note following RCW
81.80.318.
81.80.330
81.80.330 Enforcement of chapter. The commission
is hereby empowered to administer and enforce all provisions
of this chapter and to inspect the vehicles, books, and documents of all "motor carriers" and the books, documents, and
records of those using the service of the carriers for the purpose of discovering all discriminations and rebates and other
information pertaining to the enforcement of this chapter and
shall prosecute violations thereof. The commission shall
employ such auditors, inspectors, clerks, and assistants as it
may deem necessary for the enforcement of this chapter. The
Washington state patrol shall perform all motor carrier safety
inspections required by this chapter, including terminal
safety audits, except for (1) those carriers subject to the economic regulation of the commission, or (2) a vehicle owned
or operated by a carrier affiliated with a solid waste company
subject to economic regulation by the commission. The attorney general shall assign at least one assistant to the exclusive
duty of assisting the commission in the enforcement of this
chapter, and the prosecution of persons charged with the violation thereof. It shall be the duty of the Washington state
patrol and the sheriffs of the counties to make arrests and the
county attorneys to prosecute violations of this chapter.
[1995 c 272 § 5; 1980 c 132 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 81.80.330. Prior:
1935 c 184 § 29; RRS § 6382-29.]
Effective dates—1995 c 272: See note following RCW 46.32.090.
Effective date—1980 c 132: See note following RCW 81.29.020.
81.80.340
81.80.340 Public service law invoked. In all respects
in which the commission has power and authority under this
chapter applications and complaints may be made and filed
with it, process issued, hearings held, opinions, orders and
decisions made and filed, petitions for rehearing filed and
acted upon, and petitions for writs of review to the superior
court filed therewith, appeals or mandate filed with the
supreme court or the court of appeals of this state, considered
and disposed of by said courts in the manner, under the conditions and subject to the limitations and with the effect specified in this title. The right of review and appeal hereby conferred shall be available to any motor carriers, complainant,
protestant or other person adversely affected by any decision
or order of the commission. [1971 c 81 § 147; 1961 c 14 §
81.80.340. Prior: 1947 c 264 § 9; 1935 c 184 § 30; Rem.
Supp. 1947 § 6382-30.]
81.80.360
county for which authority to operate is being applied. If
more than one county is involved, the commission may hold
the hearings at a location that will afford the greatest opportunity for testimony by witnesses representing the area for
which authority to operate is being applied. [1988 c 58 § 1;
1963 c 242 § 3.]
81.80.346
81.80.346 Venue—Appeals from rulings and orders.
Appeals from rulings and orders shall be heard in the superior
court of the county of the residence of the applicant or Thurston county at the option of the applicant. [1963 c 242 § 4.]
81.80.355
81.80.355 Unlawful advertising—Penalty. Any person not holding a permit authorizing him to operate as a common carrier, contract carrier, or temporary carrier for the
transportation of property for compensation in this state, or
an exempt carrier, who displays on any building, vehicle,
billboard or in any manner, any advertisement of, or by circular, letter, newspaper, magazine, poster, card or telephone
directory, advertises the transportation of property for compensation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable as
such. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.355. Prior: 1957 c 205 § 8; 1953 c
95 § 22.]
81.80.357
81.80.357 Advertising—Household goods—Permit
number required—Penalty. (1) No person in the business
of transporting household goods as defined by the commission in intrastate commerce shall advertise without listing the
carrier’s Washington utilities and transportation commission
permit number in the advertisement.
(2) As of June 9, 1994, all advertising, contracts, correspondence, cards, signs, posters, papers, and documents
which show a household goods motor carrier name or address
shall show the carrier’s Washington utilities and transportation commission permit number. The alphabetized listing of
household good[s] motor carriers appearing in the advertising
sections of telephone books or other directories and all advertising that shows the carrier’s name or address shall show the
carrier’s current Washington utilities and transportation commission permit number.
(3) Advertising by electronic transmission need not contain the carrier’s Washington utilities and transportation commission permit number if the carrier provides it to the person
selling the advertisement and it is recorded in the advertising
contract.
(4) No person shall falsify a Washington utilities and
transportation commission permit number or use a false or
inaccurate Washington utilities and transportation commission permit number in connection with any solicitation or
identification as an authorized household goods motor carrier.
(5) If, upon investigation, the commission determines
that a motor carrier or person acting in the capacity of a motor
carrier has violated this section, the commission may issue a
penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for every violation.
[1994 c 168 § 1.]
81.80.360
81.80.345
81.80.345 Venue—Hearings on applications. Hearings on applications shall be heard in the county or adjoining
(2006 Ed.)
81.80.360 Procedure—Penalties—General statute
invoked. All applicable provisions of this title, relating to
procedure, powers of the department and penalties, shall
[Title 81 RCW—page 71]
81.80.370
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
apply to the operation and regulation of persons under this
chapter, except insofar as such provisions may conflict with
provisions of this chapter and rules and regulations issued
thereunder by the commission. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.360.
Prior: 1937 c 166 § 22; RRS § 6382-31a.]
81.80.370
81.80.370 Application to interstate commerce. This
chapter shall apply to persons and motor vehicles engaged in
interstate commerce to the full extent permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States. [1961 c 14 §
81.80.370. Prior: 1935 c 184 § 32; RRS § 6382-32.]
81.80.371
81.80.371 Carriers must register authority from
interstate commerce commission. It shall be unlawful for
any carrier to perform a transportation service for compensation upon the public highways of this state without first having secured appropriate authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission, if such authority is required, and without
first having registered such authority, if any, with the commission.
It shall also be unlawful for a carrier to perform a transportation service for compensation on the public highways of
this state as an interstate carrier of commodities included in
the exemptions provided in section 203(b) of the Interstate
Commerce Act without having first registered as such a carrier with the commission.
Such registration shall be granted upon application,
without hearing, upon payment of the appropriate filing fee
prescribed by this chapter for other applications for operating
authority. [1963 c 59 § 9.]
81.80.375
81.80.375 Fee when federal requirements necessitate
uniform forms evidencing interstate operations. Where
by virtue of federal requirements uniform forms are to be utilized to evidence lawfulness of interstate operations, the commission shall charge a fee for such forms equal to the cost to
the commission. [1971 ex.s. c 143 § 6.]
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 143: "Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this 1971
amendatory act shall take effect on October 31, 1971." [1971 ex.s. c 143 §
9.]
81.80.380
81.80.380 Cooperation with federal government. The
commission is hereby authorized and directed to cooperate
with the federal government and the interstate commerce
commission of the United States or any other commission or
organization delegated or authorized to regulate interstate or
foreign commerce by motor carriers to the end that the transportation of property by motor carriers in interstate or foreign
commerce into and through the state of Washington may be
regulated and the laws of the United States and the state of
Washington enforced and administered cooperatively in the
public interest. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.380. Prior: 1935 c 184 §
33; RRS § 6382-33.]
81.80.381
81.80.381 Regulation pursuant to act of congress or
agreement with interstate commerce commission. In
addition to such authority concerning interstate commerce as
is granted to it by other provisions of this chapter, the commission may regulate motor freight carriers in interstate commerce on Washington highways under authority of and in
[Title 81 RCW—page 72]
accordance with the provisions of any act of congress vesting
in or delegating to the commission such authority as an
agency of the United States government or pursuant to agreement with the Interstate Commerce Commission. [1963 c 59
§ 10.]
81.80.391
81.80.391 Reciprocity—Apportionment of regulatory fees. The commission, in respect to common carriers
engaged in interstate commerce, may enter into reciprocal
agreements with other states, the District of Columbia, territories and countries which are authorized to make like agreements, to apportion the regulatory fees of common carriers
between Washington and the other states, District of Columbia, territories or countries into which such carriers operate.
The percentage of miles each such carrier operates in
Washington as they bear to the total miles each such carrier
operates in the other states, District of Columbia, territories
and countries involved shall be used by the commission to
determine what percentage of each of the carrier’s total vehicles shall be attributable to operating in Washington as the
basis for computing the total regulatory fees to be paid by
each such carrier to the commission.
The commission may require each such carrier to submit
under oath such information, records and data as it deems
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this section. The
commission’s determination of the number of vehicles of
each carrier to be used as the basis for computing the regulatory fees payable by each carrier shall be final.
All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be
deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the public service revolving fund. [1961 c 14 § 81.80.391. Prior: 1953 c
129 § 1.]
81.80.395
81.80.395 Idaho vehicles exempt—Reciprocity. The
Washington utilities and transportation commission may
enter into an agreement or arrangement with a duly authorized representative of the state of Idaho, for the purpose of
granting to operators of commercial vehicles that are properly registered in the state of Idaho, the privilege of operating
their vehicles in this state within a designated area near the
border of their state without the need for registration as
required by chapter 81.80 RCW if the state of Idaho grants a
similar privilege to operators of commercial vehicles from
this state. The initial designated area shall be limited to state
route 195 from the Idaho border to Lewiston, and SR 12 from
Lewiston to Clarkston. [2005 c 319 § 135; 1988 c 138 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
81.80.400
81.80.400 Commercial zones and terminal areas—
Common carriers with existing business within zone—
Persons seeking to serve as common carriers after designation. There is hereby established for each city and town
within the state a commercial zone and terminal area coextensive with the present geographic limits of the commercial
zone and terminal area established for each such city and
town by the interstate commerce commission pursuant to section 10526(b)(i) (formerly 203(b)(8)) of the Interstate Commerce Act. The commission shall promulgate and publish
within ninety days of June 10, 1982, appropriate rules desig(2006 Ed.)
Motor Freight Carriers
nating the area of the commercial zones and terminal areas
established hereby. Any common carrier of general freight
who, on the effective date of rules promulgated by the commission hereunder, has general freight authority between any
two points in such zone shall have the authority to serve as a
common carrier of general freight between any points within
the zone at rates prescribed by the commission: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, That any restrictions, other than territorial
restrictions, on his authority to transport general freight shall
remain in full force and effect. Any person thereafter seeking
to serve as a common carrier of general freight within the
zone shall be subject to all the requirements of this chapter
and the rules of the commission applicable to persons seeking
new or extended permit authority, except as exempted by
RCW 81.80.040. [1982 c 71 § 2; 1972 ex.s. c 22 § 1.]
Severability—1982 c 71: See note following RCW 81.80.010.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 22: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act,
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1972 ex.s. c 22 § 3.]
81.80.410 Commercial zones and terminal areas—
Common carriers with existing general freight authority.
Any common carrier who, on the effective date of rules promulgated by the commission hereunder, has general freight
authority between a city or town within a commercial zone or
terminal area and a city or town without such zone or area
may as part of inter-city service perform pickup and delivery
any place in such zone or area at rates prescribed by the commission. [1982 c 71 § 3; 1972 ex.s. c 22 § 2.]
81.80.410
Severability—1982 c 71: See note following RCW 81.80.010.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 22: See note following RCW 81.80.400.
81.80.420 Commercial zones and terminal areas—
Expansion by commission. The commission may, by rule,
expand the geographic scope of any commercial zone and/or
terminal area upon a finding that public convenience and
necessity require such expansion. [1982 c 71 § 4.]
81.80.420
Severability—1982 c 71: See note following RCW 81.80.010.
81.80.430 Brokers and forwarders. (1) A person who
provides brokering or forwarding services for the transportation of property in intrastate commerce shall file with the
commission and keep in effect, a surety bond or deposit of
satisfactory security, in a sum to be determined by the commission, but not less than five thousand dollars, conditioned
upon such broker or forwarder making compensation to shippers, consignees, and carriers for all moneys belonging to
them and coming into the broker’s or forwarder’s possession
in connection with the transportation service.
(2) It is unlawful for a broker or forwarder to conduct
business in this state without first securing appropriate
authority from the Interstate Commerce Commission, if such
authority is required, and registering with and providing satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility to the Washington utilities and transportation commission. Satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility shall consist of a surety bond
or deposit of security. Compliance with this requirement may
be met by filing a copy of a surety bond or trust fund
approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission. The
commission shall grant such registration without hearing,
81.80.430
(2006 Ed.)
81.80.440
upon application and payment of a one-time registration fee
as prescribed by the commission. For purposes of this subsection, a broker or forwarder conducts business in this state
when the broker or forwarder, its employees, or agents is
physically present in the state and is acting as a broker or forwarder.
(3) Failure to file the bond, deposit security, or provide
satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility is sufficient
cause for refusal of the commission to grant the application
for a permit or registration. Failure to maintain the bond or
the deposit of security is sufficient cause for cancellation of a
permit or registration. [1991 c 146 § 1; 1990 c 109 § 1; 1989
c 60 § 2; 1988 c 31 § 2.]
81.80.440
81.80.440 Recovered materials transportation—
When permit required—Rate regulation exemption—
Definitions. (1) It is unlawful for a motor vehicle transporting recovered materials to perform a transportation service
for compensation upon the public highways of this state without first having received a permit from the commission. The
permits shall be granted upon a finding that the motor carrier
is fit, willing, and able to provide transportation of recovered
materials, and upon payment of the appropriate filing fee
authorized by this chapter for other applications for operating
authority, including payment of the annual regulatory fee
imposed by *RCW 81.80.320. The carriers are subject to the
safety of operations and insurance requirements of the commission, but are not subject to rate regulation by the commission.
(2) The provisions of this section apply to motor vehicles
when:
(a) Transporting recovered materials for a person from
one or more sites generating ten thousand or more tons of
recovered materials per year to a reprocessing facility or an
end-use manufacturing site;
(b) Transporting recovered materials from a reprocessing facility to another reprocessing facility or to an end-use
manufacturing site; or
(c) Transporting recovered mixed waste paper from a
reprocessing facility to an energy recovery facility.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Recovered materials" means those commodities collected for recycling or reuse, such as papers, glass, plastics,
used wood, metals, yard waste, used oil, and tires, that if not
collected for recycling would otherwise be destined for disposal or incineration. "Recovered materials" shall not include
any wood waste or wood byproduct generated from a logging, milling, or chipping activity;
(b) "Reprocessing facility" means a business registered
under chapter 82.32 RCW or a nonprofit corporation identified under chapter 24.03 RCW that accepts or purchases
recovered materials and prepares those materials for resale;
(c) "Mixed waste paper" means assorted low-value
grades of paper that have not been separated into individual
grades of paper at the point of collection; and
(d) "Energy recovery facility" means a facility designed
to burn mixed waste paper as a fuel, except that such term
does not include mass burn incinerators. [1991 c 148 § 1;
1990 c 123 § 1.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 73]
81.80.450
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
*Reviser’s note: RCW 81.80.320 was repealed by 1993 c 97 § 7, effective January 1, 1994.
81.80.450
81.80.450 Recovered materials transportation—
Evaluation of rate regulation exemption—Required
information—Rules. (1) The department of community,
trade, and economic development, in conjunction with the
utilities and transportation commission and the department of
ecology, shall evaluate the effect of exempting motor vehicles transporting recovered materials from rate regulation as
provided under RCW 81.80.440. The evaluation shall, at a
minimum, describe the effect of such exemption on:
(a) The cost and timeliness of transporting recovered
materials within the state;
(b) The volume of recovered materials transported
within the state;
(c) The number of safety violations and traffic accidents
related to transporting recovered materials within the state;
and
(d) The availability of service related to transporting
recovered materials from rural areas of the state.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules requiring persons
transporting recovered materials to submit information
required under RCW 70.95.280. In adopting such rules, the
commission shall include procedures to ensure the confidentiality of proprietary information. [1998 c 245 § 167; 1995 c
399 § 212; 1990 c 123 § 2.]
81.80.460
81.80.460 Recovered materials transportation—
Construction. Nothing in chapter 123, Laws of 1990 shall
b e c o n st r ue d a s c ha ng i ng t h e p r ov i sio n s o f RC W
81.77.010(8), nor shall chapter 123, Laws of 1990 be construed as allowing any entity, other than a solid waste collection company authorized by the commission or an entity collecting solid waste from a city or town under the provisions
of chapter 35.21 or 35A.21 RCW, to collect solid waste
which may incidentally contain recyclable materials. [1990 c
123 § 3.]
Chapter 81.84
Chapter 81.84 RCW
COMMERCIAL FERRIES
(Formerly: Steamboat companies)
Sections
81.84.010
81.84.020
81.84.025
81.84.030
81.84.040
81.84.050
81.84.060
81.84.070
Certificate of convenience and necessity required—Progress
reports.
Application—Hearing—Issuance of certificate—Determining
factors.
Certificate—Insurance or bond required—Amounts.
Certificate—Transfer.
Filing fees.
Penalties—Remission, mitigation.
Certificate—Grounds for cancellation, revocation, suspension,
alteration, or amendment.
Temporary certificate—Immediate and urgent need.
Cities and towns may acquire and operate ferries: RCW 35.21.110.
Department of transportation as common carrier: RCW 47.60.220.
Excessive steam in boilers: RCW 70.54.080.
Lien on ships, equipment for labor, material, handling cargo, etc.: Chapter
60.36 RCW.
Navigation and harbor improvements: Title 88 RCW.
Privately owned ferries, county licensing: Chapter 36.53 RCW.
Tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas: Chapters 79.115, 79.125 RCW.
[Title 81 RCW—page 74]
81.84.010
81.84.010 Certificate of convenience and necessity
required—Progress reports. (1) No commercial ferry may
hereafter operate any vessel or ferry for the public use for hire
between fixed termini or over a regular route upon the waters
within this state, including the rivers and lakes and Puget
Sound, without first applying for and obtaining from the
commission a certificate declaring that public convenience
and necessity require such operation. Service authorized by
certificates issued before or after July 25, 1993, to a commercial ferry operator shall be exercised by the operator in a
manner consistent with the conditions established in the certificate or tariffs: PROVIDED, That no certificate shall be
required for a vessel primarily engaged in transporting freight
other than vehicles, whose gross earnings from the transportation of passengers and/or vehicles, are not more than ten
percent of the total gross annual earnings of such vessel:
PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed to affect
the right of any county public transportation benefit area or
other public agency within this state to construct, condemn,
purchase, operate, or maintain, itself or by contract, agreement, or lease, with any person, firm, or corporation, ferries
or boats across or wharfs at or upon the waters within this
state, including rivers and lakes and Puget Sound, provided
such operation is not over the same route or between the same
districts, being served by a certificate holder without first
acquiring the rights granted to the certificate holder under the
certificate, nor shall this chapter be construed to affect,
amend, or invalidate any contract entered into prior to January 15, 1927, for the operation of ferries or boats upon the
waters within this state, which was entered into in good faith
by any county with any person, firm, or corporation, except
that in case of the operation or maintenance by any county,
city, town, port district, or other political subdivision by contract, agreement, or lease with any person, firm, or corporation, of ferries or boats across or wharfs at or upon the waters
within this state, including rivers and lakes and Puget Sound,
the commission shall have power and authority to regulate
rates and services of such operation or maintenance of ferries,
boats, or wharfs, to make, fix, alter, or amend said rates, and
to regulate service and safety of operations thereof, in the
manner and to the same extent as it is empowered to regulate
a commercial ferry, notwithstanding the provisions of any act
or parts of acts inconsistent herewith.
(2) The holder of a certificate of public convenience and
necessity granted under this chapter must initiate service
within five years of obtaining the certificate, except that the
holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for
passenger-only ferry service in Puget Sound must initiate service within twenty months of obtaining the certificate. The
certificate holder shall report to the commission every six
months after the certificate is granted on the progress of the
certificated route. The reports shall include, but not be limited to, the progress of environmental impact, parking, local
government land use, docking, and financing considerations.
Except in the case of passenger-only ferry service in Puget
Sound, if service has not been initiated within five years of
obtaining the certificate, the commission may extend the certificate on a twelve-month basis for up to three years if the
six-month progress reports indicate there is significant
advancement toward initiating service.
(2006 Ed.)
Commercial Ferries
(3) The commission shall review certificates in existence
as of July 25, 1993, where service is not being provided on all
or any portion of the route or routes certificated. Based on
progress reports required under subsection (2) of this section,
the commission may grant an extension beyond that provided
in subsection (2) of this section. Such additional extension
may not exceed a total of two years. [2003 c 373 § 4; 2003 c
83 § 211; 1993 c 427 § 2; 1961 c 14 § 81.84.010. Prior: 1950
ex.s. c 6 § 1, part; 1927 c 248 § 1, part; RRS § 10361-1, part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 83 § 211 and by
2003 c 373 § 4, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Intent—2003 c 373: See note following RCW 47.64.090.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
81.84.020
81.84.020 Application—Hearing—Issuance of certificate—Determining factors. (1) Upon the filing of an application the commission shall give reasonable notice to the
department, affected cities, counties, and public transportation benefit areas and any common carrier which might be
adversely affected, of the time and place for hearing on such
application. The commission shall have power after notice
and an opportunity for a hearing, to issue the certificate as
prayed for, or to refuse to issue it, or to issue it for the partial
exercise only of the privilege sought, and may attach to the
exercise of the rights granted by said certificate such terms
and conditions as in its judgment the public convenience and
necessity may require; but the commission shall not have
power to grant a certificate to operate between districts
and/or into any territory prohibited by RCW 47.60.120 or
already served by an existing certificate holder, unless such
existing certificate holder has failed or refused to furnish reasonable and adequate service, has failed to provide the service described in its certificate or tariffs after the time period
allowed to initiate service has elapsed, or has not objected to
the issuance of the certificate as prayed for: PROVIDED, A
certificate shall be granted when it shall appear to the satisfaction of the commission that the commercial ferry was
actually operating in good faith over the route for which such
c e r ti f i ca te s h a l l b e s o u g h t , o n J a n u a r y 1 5 , 1 9 2 7 :
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in case two or more commercial ferries shall upon said date have been operating vessels
upon the same route, or between the same districts the commission shall determine after public hearing whether one or
more certificates shall issue, and in determining to whom a
certificate or certificates shall be issued, the commission shall
consider all material facts and circumstances including the
prior operation, schedules, and services rendered by either of
the ferries, and in case more than one certificate shall issue,
the commission shall fix and determine the schedules and
services of the ferries to which the certificates are issued to
the end that duplication of service be eliminated and public
convenience be furthered.
(2) Before issuing a certificate, the commission shall
determine that the applicant has the financial resources to
operate the proposed service for at least twelve months, based
upon the submission by the applicant of a pro forma financial
statement of operations. Issuance of a certificate shall be
determined upon, but not limited to, the following factors:
(2006 Ed.)
81.84.025
Ridership and revenue forecasts; the cost of service for the
proposed operation; an estimate of the cost of the assets to be
used in providing the service; a statement of the total assets
on hand of the applicant that will be expended on the proposed operation; and a statement of prior experience, if any,
in such field by the applicant. The documentation required of
the applicant under this section shall comply with the provisions of RCW 9A.72.085.
(3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to an
application for a certificate that is pending as of July 25,
1993.
(4) In granting a certificate for passenger-only ferries
and determining what conditions to place on the certificate,
the commission shall consider and give substantial weight to
the effect of its decisions on public agencies operating, or eligible to operate, passenger-only ferry service.
(5) Until July 1, 2007, the commission shall not accept or
consider an application for passenger-only ferry service serving any county in the Puget Sound area with a population of
over one million people. Applications for passenger-only
ferry service serving any county in the Puget Sound area with
a population of over one million pending before the commission as of May 9, 2005, shall be held in abeyance and not considered before July 1, 2007. [2006 c 332 § 11. Prior: 2005 c
313 § 609; 2005 c 121 § 7; 2003 c 373 § 5; 2003 c 83 § 212;
1993 c 427 § 3; 1961 c 14 § 81.84.020; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 6
§ 1, part; 1927 c 248 § 1, part; RRS § 10361-1, part.]
Severability—2005 c 313: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2005 c 313 § 901.]
Effective date—2005 c 313: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 9, 2005]." [2005 c 313 § 902.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 373: See note following RCW 47.64.090.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
81.84.025
81.84.025 Certificate—Insurance or bond
required—Amounts. The commission, in granting a certificate to operate as a commercial ferry, shall require the operator to first obtain liability and property damage insurance
from a company licensed to write liability insurance in the
state or a surety bond of a company licensed to write surety
bonds in the state, on each vessel or ferry to be used, in the
amount of not less than one hundred thousand dollars for any
recovery for personal injury by one person, and not less than
one million dollars and in such additional amount as the commission shall determine, for all persons receiving personal
injury and property damage by reason of one act of negligence, and not less than fifty thousand dollars for damage to
property of any person other than the insured; or combined
bodily injury and property damage liability insurance of not
less than one million dollars, and to maintain such liability
and property damage insurance or surety bond in force on
each vessel or ferry while so used. Each policy for liability or
property damage insurance or surety bond required by this
section must be filed with the commission and kept in full
force and effect, and failure to do so is cause for revocation of
the operator’s certificate. [1993 c 427 § 4.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 75]
81.84.030
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
81.84.030
81.84.030 Certificate—Transfer. No certificate or any
right or privilege thereunder held, owned, or obtained under
the provisions of this chapter shall be sold, assigned, leased,
mortgaged, or in any manner transferred, either by the act of
the parties or by operation of law, except upon authorization
by the commission first obtained. [1993 c 427 § 5; 1961 c 14
§ 81.84.030. Prior: 1950 ex.s. c 6 § 1, part; 1927 c 248 § 1,
part; RRS § 10361-1, part.]
81.84.040
81.84.040 Filing fees. Any application for a certificate
of public convenience and necessity or amendment thereof,
or application to sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer a certificate
of public convenience and necessity or any interest therein,
shall be accompanied by such filing fee as the commission
may prescribe by rule: PROVIDED, That such fee shall not
exceed two hundred dollars. [1973 c 115 § 14; 1961 c 14 §
81.84.040. Prior: 1955 c 125 § 10; prior: 1939 c 123 § 3,
part; 1937 c 158 § 4, part; RRS § 10417-3, part.]
81.84.050
81.84.050 Penalties—Remission, mitigation. Every
commercial ferry and every officer, agent, or employee of
any commercial ferry who violates or who procures, aids, or
abets in the violation of any provision of this title, or any
order, rule, regulation, or decision of the commission shall
incur a penalty of one hundred dollars for every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and
distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every
day’s continuance shall be and be deemed to be a separate
and distinct violation. Every act of commission or omission
which procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall be considered a violation under the provisions of this section and subject to the penalty herein provided for.
The penalty herein provided for shall become due and
payable when the person incurring the same receives a notice
in writing from the commission describing such violation
with reasonable particularity and advising such person that
the penalty is due.
The commission may, upon written application therefor,
received within fifteen days, remit or mitigate any penalty
provided for in this section or discontinue any prosecution to
recover the same upon such terms as it in its discretion shall
deem proper, and shall have authority to ascertain the facts
upon all such applications in such manner and under such
regulations as it may deem proper.
If the amount of such penalty is not paid to the commission within fifteen days after receipt of notice imposing the
same or, if application for remission or mitigation has not
been made, within fifteen days after the violator has received
notice of the disposition of such application, the attorney general shall bring an action to recover the penalty in the name of
the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston
county or of some other county in which such violator may
do business. In all such actions the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as in ordinary civil actions except as
otherwise herein provided. All penalties recovered by the
state under this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury
and credited to the public service revolving fund. [1993 c
427 § 6; 1961 c 14 § 81.84.050. Prior: 1937 c 169 § 6; RRS
§ 10361-2.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 76]
81.84.060
81.84.060 Certificate—Grounds for cancellation,
revocation, suspension, alteration, or amendment. The
commission, upon complaint by an interested party, or upon
its own motion after notice and opportunity for hearing, may
cancel, revoke, suspend, alter, or amend a certificate issued
under this chapter on any of the following grounds:
(1) Failure of the certificate holder to initiate service by
the conclusion of the fifth year after the certificate has been
granted or by the conclusion of an extension granted under
RCW 81.84.010 (2) or (3), if the commission has considered
the progress report information required under RCW
81.84.010 (2) or (3);
(2) Failure of a certificate holder for passenger-only
ferry service in Puget Sound to initiate service by the conclusion of the twentieth month after the certificate has been
granted;
(3) Failure of the certificate holder to file an annual
report;
(4) The filing by a certificate holder of an annual report
that shows no revenue in the previous twelve-month period
after service has been initiated;
(5) The violation of any provision of this chapter;
(6) The violation of or failure to observe the provisions
or conditions of the certificate or tariffs;
(7) The violation of an order, decision, rule, regulation,
or requirement established by the commission under this
chapter;
(8) Failure of a certificate holder to maintain the required
insurance coverage in full force and effect; or
(9) Failure or refusal to furnish reasonable and adequate
service after initiating service.
The commission shall take appropriate action within
thirty days upon a complaint by an interested party or of its
own finding that a provision of this section has been violated.
[2003 c 373 § 6; 2003 c 83 § 213; 1993 c 427 § 7.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 373: See note following RCW 47.64.090.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
81.84.070
81.84.070 Temporary certificate—Immediate and
urgent need. The commission may, with or without a hearing, issue temporary certificates to operate under this chapter,
but only after it finds that the issuance of the temporary certificate is necessary due to an immediate and urgent need and
is otherwise consistent with the public interest. The certificate may be issued for a period of up to one hundred eighty
days. The commission may prescribe such special rules and
impose special terms and conditions on the granting of the
certificate as in its judgment are reasonable and necessary in
carrying out this chapter. The commission shall collect a filing fee, not to exceed two hundred dollars, for each application for a temporary certificate. The commission shall not
issue a temporary certificate to operate on a route for which a
certificate has been issued or for which an application by
another commercial ferry operator is pending. [1993 c 427 §
8.]
(2006 Ed.)
Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
Chapter 81.88 RCW
GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES
Chapter 81.88
(Formerly: Gas and oil pipelines)
Sections
81.88.005
81.88.010
81.88.020
81.88.030
81.88.040
81.88.050
81.88.060
81.88.070
81.88.080
81.88.090
81.88.100
81.88.110
81.88.140
81.88.150
81.88.900
81.88.901
81.88.902
Intent—Findings.
Definitions.
Pipeline corporations—Regulation—Eminent domain.
Pipeline carriers regulated as common carriers.
Violations—Rules—Penalties—Injunctive relief.
Pipeline safety account.
Comprehensive safety program—Commission’s duties—
Rules—Standards—Safety plan approval.
Prevention of third-party excavation damage—Development
and distribution of training curricula.
Pipeline mapping system—Commission specifications and
evaluations.
Enforcement of federal hazardous liquid pipeline safety
requirements—Request for federal delegation of authority.
Commission inspection of records, maps, or written procedures.
Pipeline company duties after notice of excavation.
Citizens committee on pipeline safety—Duties—Membership.
Review of hazardous liquid and gas pipeline safety programs.
Conflict with federal requirements—2000 c 191.
Short title—2000 c 191.
Effective date—2000 c 191.
81.88.005
81.88.005 Intent—Findings. (1) The intent of chapter
191, Laws of 2000 is to protect the health and safety of the
citizens of the state of Washington and the quality of the
state’s environment by developing and implementing environmental and public safety measures applicable to persons
transporting hazardous liquids and gas by pipeline within the
state of Washington. The legislature finds that public safety
and the environment may best be protected by adopting standards that are equal to, or more stringent than, those adopted
by the federal government, so long as they do not impermissibly interfere with interstate commerce.
(2) The legislature recognizes that additional federal
authority is needed to implement a comprehensive pipeline
safety program and by chapter 191, Laws of 2000 and other
measures directs the state to seek that authority.
(3) It is also the intent of the legislature that the governor
work with the state congressional delegation in seeking:
(a) To amend the federal pipeline safety act to delegate
authority to qualified states to adopt and enforce standards
equal to or more stringent than federal standards;
(b) State authority to administer and enforce federal
requirements related to pipeline safety; and
(c) Higher levels of funding for state and federal pipeline
safety activities and for states to respond to pipeline accident
emergencies.
(4) While the legislature acknowledges that serious accidents have occurred for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines in
this nation and elsewhere, it recognizes that there are fundamental differences between hazardous liquid pipelines and
gas pipelines and that a different system of safety regulations
must be applied for each kind of pipeline. [2000 c 191 § 1.]
81.88.010
81.88.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Commission" means the utilities and transportation
commission.
(2006 Ed.)
81.88.010
(2) "Failsafe" means a design feature that will maintain
or result in a safe condition in the event of malfunction or
failure of a power supply, component, or control device.
(3) "Gas" means natural gas, flammable gas, or toxic or
corrosive gas.
(4) "Gas pipeline" means all parts of a pipeline facility
through which gas moves in transportation, including, but not
limited to, line pipe, valves, and other appurtenances connected to line pipe, pumping units, fabricated assemblies
associated with pumping units, metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein, and breakout tanks.
"Gas pipeline" does not include process or transfer pipelines.
(5) "Gas pipeline company" means a person or entity
constructing, owning, or operating a gas pipeline for transporting gas. A "gas pipeline company" does not include: (a)
Distribution systems owned and operated under franchise for
the sale, delivery, or distribution of natural gas at retail; or (b)
excavation contractors or other contractors that contract with
a gas pipeline company.
(6) "Hazardous liquid" means: (a) Petroleum, petroleum
products, or anhydrous ammonia as those terms are defined
in 49 C.F.R. Part 195 in effect March 1, 1998; and (b) carbon
dioxide.
(7) "Local government" means a political subdivision of
the state or a city or town.
(8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, franchise
holder, association, corporation, a state, a city, a county, or
any political subdivision or instrumentality of a state, and its
employees, agents, or legal representatives.
(9) "Pipeline," "pipeline system," or "hazardous liquid
pipeline" means all parts of a pipeline facility through which
a hazardous liquid moves in transportation, including, but not
limited to, line pipe, valves, and other appurtenances connected to line pipe, pumping units, fabricated assemblies
associated with pumping units, metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein, and breakout tanks.
"Pipeline" or "pipeline system" does not include process or
transfer pipelines.
(10) "Pipeline company" or "hazardous liquid pipeline
company" means a person or entity constructing, owning, or
operating a pipeline for transporting hazardous liquid. A
"pipeline company" does not include: (a) Distribution systems owned and operated under franchise for the sale, delivery, or distribution of natural gas at retail; or (b) excavation
contractors or other contractors that contract with a pipeline
company.
(11) "Reportable release" means a spilling, leaking,
pouring, emitting, discharging, or any other uncontrolled
escape of a hazardous liquid in excess of one barrel, or fortytwo gallons.
(12) "Safety management systems" means management
systems that include coordinated and interdisciplinary evaluations of the effect of significant changes to a pipeline system
before such changes are implemented.
(13) "Transfer pipeline" means a buried or aboveground
pipeline used to carry oil between a tank vessel or transmission pipeline and the first valve inside secondary containment
at the facility provided that any discharge on the facility side
of that first valve will not directly impact waters of the state.
A transfer pipeline includes valves, and other appurtenances
connected to the pipeline, pumping units, and fabricated
[Title 81 RCW—page 77]
81.88.020
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
assemblies associated with pumping units. A transfer pipeline does not include process pipelines, pipelines carrying
ballast or bilge water, transmission pipelines, or tank vessel
or storage tanks.
(14) "Transmission pipeline" means a gas pipeline that
transports gas within a storage field, or transports gas from an
interstate pipeline or storage facility to a distribution main or
a large volume gas user, or operates at a hoop stress of twenty
percent or more of the specified minimum yield strength.
[2001 c 238 § 6; 2000 c 191 § 2.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
81.88.020
81.88.020 Pipeline corporations—Regulation—Eminent domain. All corporations having for one of their principal purposes the construction, maintenance and operation
of pipelines and appurtenances for the conveyance and transportation as common carriers of oils, gas, gasoline and other
petroleum products shall be subject to control and regulation
by the commission in the same manner and to the same extent
as other public service corporations. The power of eminent
domain is hereby conferred upon such corporations to be
used for acquiring rights of way for common carrier pipelines
and they shall have the right to condemn and appropriate
lands and property and interests therein for their use under the
same procedure as is provided for the condemnation and
appropriation of private property by railway companies, but
no private property shall be taken or damaged until the compensation to be made therefor shall have been ascertained and
paid as provided in the case of condemnation and appropriation by railway companies. Any property or interest therein
acquired by any corporation under the provisions of this section by the exercise of the right of eminent domain shall be
used exclusively for the purposes for which it was acquired.
In all actions brought under this section to enforce the right of
eminent domain, courts wherein such actions are brought
may give such actions preference over all other civil actions
in the matter of setting the same for hearing or trial and in
hearing the same. [1961 c 14 § 81.88.020. Prior: 1951 c 94
§ 2; 1915 c 132 § 2; RRS § 9965.]
81.88.030
81.88.030 Pipeline carriers regulated as common
carriers. Every person, copartnership, corporation or other
association now or hereafter engaged in the business of producing from natural deposits and/or carrying or transporting
natural gas and/or crude oil or petroleum or the products
thereof for hire, by pipelines within this state shall be a common carrier within the meaning and subject to the provisions
of this title: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the provisions
of this section shall not apply to distribution systems owned
and operated under franchise for the sale, delivery, or distribution of natural gas at retail. [1961 c 14 § 81.88.030. Prior:
1933 ex.s. c 61 § 1; RRS § 9965-1.]
81.88.040
81.88.040 Violations—Rules—Penalties—Injunctive
relief. (1) A person, officer, agent, or employee of a pipeline
company who, as an individual or acting as an officer, agent,
or employee of such a company, violates or fails to comply
with this chapter or a rule adopted under this section, or who
procures, aids, or abets another person or entity in the viola[Title 81 RCW—page 78]
tion of or noncompliance with this section or a rule adopted
under this section, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2)(a) A pipeline company, or any person, officer, agent,
or employee of a pipeline company that violates a provision
of this section, or a rule adopted under this section, is subject
to a civil penalty to be assessed by the commission.
(b) The commission shall adopt rules: (i) Setting penalty
amounts, but may not exceed the penalties specified in the
federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60101 et seq.;
and (ii) establishing procedures for mitigating penalties
assessed.
(c) In determining the amount of the penalty, the commission shall consider: (i) The appropriateness of the penalty
in relation to the position of the person charged with the violation; (ii) the gravity of the violation; and (iii) the good faith
of the person or company charged in attempting to achieve
compliance after notification of the violation.
(d) The amount of the penalty may be recovered in a civil
action in the superior court of Thurston county or of some
other county in which the violator may do business. In all
actions for recovery, the rules of evidence shall be the same
as in ordinary civil actions. All penalties recovered under this
section must be paid into the state treasury and credited to the
*hazardous liquid pipeline safety account.
(3) The commission shall adopt rules incorporating by
reference other substances designated as hazardous by the
secretary of transportation under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60101(a)(4).
(4) The commission shall also have the power of injunctive relief, as required by 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60105(b), to enforce
the provisions of this chapter.
(5) Nothing in this section duplicates the authority of the
energy facility site evaluation council under chapter 80.50
RCW. [2000 c 191 § 3; 1998 c 123 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: The "hazardous liquid pipeline safety account" was
redesignated the "pipeline safety account" by 2001 c 238 § 7.
81.88.050
81.88.050 Pipeline safety account. (1) The pipeline
safety account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.
All fees received by the commission for the pipeline safety
program according to RCW 80.24.060 and 81.24.090 and all
receipts from the federal office of pipeline safety and any
other state or federal funds provided for pipeline safety shall
be deposited in the account, except as provided in subsection
(2) of this section. Any fines collected under this chapter, or
otherwise designated to this account must be deposited in the
account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after
appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used
only for funding pipeline safety.
(2) Federal funds received before June 30, 2001, shall be
treated as receipt of unanticipated funds and expended, without appropriation, for the designated purposes. [2001 c 238 §
7; 2000 c 191 § 4.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
81.88.060
81.88.060 Comprehensive safety program—Commission’s duties—Rules—Standards—Safety plan
approval. (1) A comprehensive program of hazardous liquid
pipeline safety is authorized by RCW 81.88.010, 81.88.040,
81.88.050, 81.88.090, 81.88.100, *48.48.160, and this section to be developed and implemented consistent with federal
(2006 Ed.)
Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
law. The commission shall administer and enforce all laws
related to hazardous liquid pipeline safety.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules for pipeline safety
standards for hazardous liquid pipeline transportation that:
(a) Require pipeline companies to design, construct,
operate, and maintain their pipeline facilities so they are safe
and efficient;
(b) Require pipeline companies to rapidly locate and isolate all reportable releases from pipelines, that may include:
(i) Installation of remote control shut-off valves; and
(ii) Installation of remotely monitored pressure gauges
and meters;
(c) Require the training and certification of personnel
who operate pipelines and the associated systems;
(d) Require reporting of emergency situations, including
emergency shutdowns and material defects or physical damage that impair the serviceability of a pipeline; and
(e) Require pipeline companies to submit operations
safety plans to the commission once every five years, as well
as any amendments to the plan made necessary by changes to
the pipeline system or its operation. The safety plan shall
include emergency response procedures.
(3) The commission shall approve operations safety
plans if they have been deemed fit for service. A plan shall be
deemed fit for service when it provides for pipelines that are
designed, developed, constructed, operated, and periodically
modified to provide for protection of public safety and the
environment. Pipeline operations safety plans shall, at a minimum, include:
(a) A schedule of inspection and testing within the pipeline distribution system of:
(i) All mechanical components;
(ii) All electronic components; and
(iii) The structural integrity of all pipelines as determined through pressure testing, internal inspection tool surveys, or another appropriate technique;
(b) Failsafe systems;
(c) Safety management systems; and
(d) Emergency management training for pipeline operators.
(4) The commission shall coordinate information related
to pipeline safety by providing technical assistance to local
planning and siting authorities.
(5) The commission shall evaluate, and consider adopting, proposals developed by the federal office of pipeline
safety, the national transportation safety board, and other
agencies and organizations related to methods and technologies for testing the integrity of pipeline structure, leak detection, and other elements of pipeline operation. [2001 c 238 §
9; 2000 c 191 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 48.48.160 was recodified as RCW 43.44.130
pursuant to 2006 c 25 § 13.
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
81.88.070
81.88.070 Prevention of third-party excavation damage—Development and distribution of training curricula.
(1) The commission shall develop, in consultation with representatives of hazardous liquid pipeline companies, gas pipeline companies, local governments, and the excavation and
construction industries: (a) A curricula aimed at the preven(2006 Ed.)
81.88.090
tion of third-party excavation damage to hazardous liquid
pipelines and gas pipelines; and (b) a plan for distribution of
the curricula.
(2) The curricula shall include training on:
(a) Prevention of damage to hazardous liquid and gas
pipelines;
(b) The danger involved if a hazardous liquid or gas
pipeline is damaged;
(c) The significance of hazardous liquid or gas pipeline
damage that does not cause immediate failure; and
(d) The importance of immediately reporting damage to
a hazardous liquid or gas pipeline and the importance of
immediately repairing a damaged hazardous liquid or gas
pipeline. [2000 c 191 § 6.]
81.88.080
81.88.080 Pipeline mapping system—Commission
specifications and evaluations. (1) The commission shall
require hazardous liquid pipeline companies, and gas pipeline companies with interstate pipelines, gas transmission
pipelines, or gas pipelines operating over two hundred fifty
pounds per square inch gauge, to provide accurate maps of
their pipeline to specifications developed by the commission
sufficient to meet the needs of first responders including
installation depth information when known.
(2) The commission shall evaluate the sufficiency of the
maps and consolidate the maps into a statewide geographic
information system. The commission shall assist local governments in obtaining hazardous liquid and gas pipeline location information and maps. The maps shall be made available
to the one-number locator services as provided in chapter
19.122 RCW. The mapping system shall be consistent with
the United States department of transportation national pipeline mapping program.
(3) The mapping system shall be completed by January
1, 2006, and periodically updated thereafter. The commission
shall develop a plan for funding the geographic information
system and report its recommendations to the legislature by
December 15, 2000. [2000 c 191 § 7.]
81.88.090
81.88.090 Enforcement of federal hazardous liquid
pipeline safety requirements—Request for federal delegation of authority. (1) The commission shall apply for federal delegation for the state’s program for the purposes of
enforcement of federal hazardous liquid pipeline safety
requirements. If the secretary of transportation delegates
inspection authority to the state as provided in this subsection, the commission, at a minimum, shall do the following:
(a) Inspect hazardous liquid pipelines periodically as
specified in the inspection program;
(b) Collect fees;
(c) Order and oversee the testing of hazardous liquid
pipelines as authorized by federal law and regulation; and
(d) File reports with the United States secretary of transportation as required to maintain the delegated authority.
(2) The commission shall also seek federal authority to
adopt safety standards related to the monitoring and testing of
interstate hazardous liquid pipelines.
(3) Upon delegation under subsection (1) of this section
or under a grant of authority under subsection (2) of this section, to the extent authorized by federal law, the commission
[Title 81 RCW—page 79]
81.88.100
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
shall adopt rules for interstate pipelines that are no less stringent than the state’s laws and rules for intrastate hazardous
liquid pipelines. [2001 c 238 § 10; 2000 c 191 § 9.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
ties and transportation commission. [2001 c 238 § 11; 2000
c 191 § 14.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
81.88.150
81.88.100
81.88.100 Commission inspection of records, maps,
or written procedures. The commission may inspect any
record, map, or written procedure required by federal law to
be kept by a hazardous liquid pipeline company concerning
the reportable releases, and the design, construction, testing,
or operation and maintenance of hazardous liquid pipelines.
[2000 c 191 § 11.]
81.88.110
81.88.110 Pipeline company duties after notice of
excavation. A pipeline company that has been notified by an
excavator that excavation work will occur near a hazardous
liquid pipeline shall ensure that the pipeline company’s representative consults with the excavator on-site prior to the
excavation. The pipeline company has the discretion to
require that the pipeline section in the vicinity of the excavation is fully uncovered and examined for damage prior to
being reburied. [2000 c 191 § 21.]
81.88.140
81.88.140 Citizens committee on pipeline safety—
Duties—Membership. (1) The citizens committee on pipeline safety is established to advise the state agencies and other
appropriate federal and local government agencies and officials on matters relating to hazardous liquid and gas pipeline
safety, routing, construction, operation, and maintenance.
The committee shall serve as an advisory committee for the
commission on matters relating to the commission’s pipeline
safety programs and activities. The commission shall consult
with and provide periodic reports to the committee on matters
related to the commission’s pipeline safety programs and
activities, including but not limited to the development and
regular review of funding elements for pipeline safety programs and activities.
(2) The committee shall have thirteen total members who
shall be appointed by the governor to staggered three-year
terms and shall consist of: (a) Nine members representing
local government, including elected officials and the public;
and (b) four nonvoting members, representing owners and
operators of hazardous liquid and gas pipelines. All members
of the committee, voting and nonvoting, may participate fully
in the committee’s meetings, activities, and deliberations and
shall timely receive all notices and information related to
committee business and decisions.
(3) The committee shall review and comment on proposed rules and the operation of the state pipeline safety programs.
(4) The committee may create one or more technical
advisory committees comprised of gas and hazardous liquid
pipeline owners or operators, agency representatives, natural
resource and environmental interests, or other interested parties.
(5) The committee established in this section constitutes
a class one group under RCW 43.03.220. Expenses for this
group, as well as staff support, shall be provided by the utili[Title 81 RCW—page 80]
81.88.150 Review of hazardous liquid and gas pipeline safety programs. The joint legislative audit and review
committee shall review staff use, inspection activity, fee
methodology, and costs of the hazardous liquid and gas pipeline safety programs and report to the appropriate legislative
committees by July 1, 2003. The report shall include a comparison of interstate and intrastate programs, including but
not limited to the number and complexity of regular and specialized inspections, mapping requirements for each program, and allocation of administrative costs to each program.
[2001 c 238 § 4.]
Intent—Finding—Effective date—2001 c 238: See notes following
RCW 80.24.060.
81.88.900
81.88.900 Conflict with federal requirements—2000
c 191. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with
federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the
allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of
this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and
with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding
does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its
application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under
this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary
condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state. [2000 c
191 § 26.]
81.88.901
81.88.901 Short title—2000 c 191. This act may be
known and cited as the Washington state pipeline safety act.
[2000 c 191 § 27.]
81.88.902
81.88.902 Effective date—2000 c 191. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 28, 2000]. [2000 c 191 § 29.]
Chapter 81.96 RCW
WESTERN REGIONAL SHORT-HAUL AIR
TRANSPORTATION COMPACT
Chapter 81.96
Sections
81.96.010
81.96.020
81.96.030
Ratification and approval—Adherence.
Terms and provisions.
Service of secretary of transportation as state member—Execution of compact.
81.96.010
81.96.010 Ratification and approval—Adherence.
The western regional short-haul air transportation compact
proposed for adoption by the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, is hereby
ratified and approved and the adherence of this state to the
provisions of this compact, upon its ratification and approval
by at least six of the other twelve states, is hereby declared.
[1972 ex.s. c 36 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Western Regional Short-Haul Air Transportation Compact
81.96.020
81.96.020 Terms and provisions. The terms and provisions of the compact referred to in RCW 81.96.010 are as
follows:
WESTERN REGIONAL SHORT-HAUL AIR
TRANSPORTATION COMPACT
Article I
PURPOSE
The party states recognize that short-haul air transportation is essential to a balanced and efficient transportation system in the West, meeting special needs created by particular
geographic and population patterns in both rural and urban
areas. They further recognize that it is not economically feasible for the commercial airlines to provide a full complement of short-haul air services or to explore fully the capabilities and limitations of the various types and locations of such
services. They also recognize that careful planning, experimentation, and testing are needed before appropriate shorthaul air transportation can be developed for all the situations
in which it would be beneficial to the economy and general
welfare of the western states. To meet this need, the party
states agree that a regional compact should be established for
the purpose of organizing and conducting a series of demonstration programs to test the feasibility of new short-haul air
transportation concepts in the West.
Article II
REGIONAL COMMISSION
A. There is hereby established an agency of the party
states to be known as the Western Regional Short-Haul Air
Transportation Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission").
B. The Commission shall be composed of one member
from each party state and one federal member, if authorized
by federal law, who shall be the Secretary of Transportation
or his designee. Each state member shall be appointed, suspended, or removed and shall serve subject to and in accordance with the laws of the state which he represents.
C. The state members shall each be entitled to one vote
on the Commission. No action of the Commission shall be
binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of all
members representing the party states are present, and unless
a majority of the total number of votes on the Commission
are cast in favor thereof. The federal member shall not be
entitled to a vote on the Commission unless authorized by a
majority vote of the state members. The state members may
provide that decisions of the Commission shall require the
affirmative vote of the federal member and of a majority of
the state members, if such provision is necessary in order to
meet the requirements of federal law. In matters coming
before the Commission, the state members shall, to the extent
practicable, consult with representatives of appropriate local
subdivisions within their respective states and the federal
member, if any, shall consult with the federal departments
and agencies having an interest in the subject matter.
D. The state members of the Commission shall elect
annually, from among their number, a chairman and a vice
chairman. The state members may provide that the chairman
so elected shall be designated as the state cochairman and the
federal member shall be designated as the federal cochair(2006 Ed.)
81.96.020
man, if such provision is necessary in order to meet the
requirements of federal law.
E. Each state member shall have an alternate appointed
in accordance with the laws of the state which he represents.
The federal member, if any, shall have an alternate appointed
in accordance with federal law. An alternate shall be entitled
to vote in the event of the absence, death, disability, removal,
or resignation of the state or federal member for whom he is
an alternate.
Article III
FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION
A. It shall be the primary function of the Commission to
authorize and effect a series of demonstration programs to
test the feasibility of new short-haul air transportation concepts in the West. To carry out this function, the Commission
shall have power to:
(1) Establish basic regional demonstration policy and
coordinate with federal policy makers where appropriate;
(2) Create a management plan and implement programs
through a suitable staff;
(3) Designate demonstration arenas and facilities;
(4) Select demonstration operators;
(5) Establish a funding plan for the demonstration programs selected; and
(6) Establish means of monitoring and evaluating the
demonstration programs.
Article IV
ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS AND DUTIES
OF THE COMMISSION
A. The Commission shall adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations for the conduct of its business and the performance of
its functions, and shall have the power to amend and rescind
such bylaws, rules, and regulations. The Commission shall
publish its bylaws, rules, and regulations in convenient form
and shall file a copy thereof, and shall also file a copy of any
amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in
each of the party states.
B. The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts
or donations of services or property, real, personal, or mixed,
tangible or intangible, for any of its purposes and functions
under this compact.
C. The Commission may enter into and perform such
contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary in carrying out its functions and on
such terms as it may deem appropriate, with any department,
agency, or instrumentality of the United States or with any
state, or any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality
thereof, or with any person, firm, association, or corporation.
D. In order to obtain information needed to carry out its
duties, the Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at
such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and print or otherwise reproduce and distribute so
much of its proceedings and reports thereon as it may deem
advisable. The chairman of the Commission, or any member
designated by the Commission for the purpose, shall have
authority to administer oaths when it is determined by the
Commission that testimony shall be taken or evidence
received under oath.
[Title 81 RCW—page 81]
81.96.020
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
E. The Commission may arrange for the head of any federal, state, or local department or agency to furnish to the
Commission such information as may be available to or procurable by such department or agency, relating to the duties
and functions of the Commission.
F. The Commission annually shall make to the Governor
of each party state, a report covering the activities of the
Commission for the preceding year, and embodying such recommendations as may have been adopted by the Commission, which report shall be transmitted to the legislature of
said state. The Commission may issue such additional reports
as it may deem desirable.
Article V
FINANCES
A. The members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation from the Commission, but the compensation
and expenses of each state member in attending Commission
meetings may be paid by the state he represents in accordance
with the laws of that state. All other expenses incurred by the
Commission shall be paid by the Commission.
B. The Commission shall submit periodically to the
executive head or designated officer of each party state a budget of its estimated expenditures for such period as may be
required by the laws of that state for presentation to the legislature thereof. Each such budget shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by
each of the party states. The share to be paid by each party
state shall be determined by a majority vote of the state members of the Commission. The federal member, if any, shall
not participate or vote in such determination. The costs shall
be allocated equitably among the party states in accordance
with their respective interests.
C. The Commission may meet any of its obligations in
whole or in part with funds available to it from the federal
government or other sources under Article IV(B) of this compact, provided that the Commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to the incurring of any obligation
to be met in whole or in part in this manner. Except where the
Commission makes use of funds available to it under Article
IV(B) of this compact, the Commission shall not incur any
obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states
adequate to meet the same.
Article VI
PERSONNEL
A. The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of an Executive Director, who shall be responsible for
the day-to-day management of the operations conducted by
the Commission. The Executive Director shall act as secretary-treasurer for the Commission and he, together with such
other personnel as the Commission may direct, shall be
bonded in such amounts as the Commission may require.
B. The Executive Director shall, with the approval of the
Commission, appoint and remove or discharge such technical, clerical or other personnel on a regular, part-time, or consulting basis as may be necessary for the performance of the
Commission’s functions.
C. Officers and employees of the Commission shall be
eligible for social security coverage in respect to old age and
survivors’ insurance provided the Commission takes such
[Title 81 RCW—page 82]
steps as may be necessary pursuant to federal law to participate in such program of insurance as a governmental agency
or unit. The Commission may establish and maintain or participate in such additional programs of employee benefits as
may be appropriate to afford the officers and employees of
the Commission terms and conditions of employment similar
to those enjoyed by employees of the party states generally.
The Commission shall not be bound by any statute or regulation of any party state in the employment or discharge of any
officer or employee.
Article VII
RECORDS AND AUDIT
A. The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all
receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements
of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. All receipts and
disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be
audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant
and the report of the audit shall be included in and become a
part of the annual report of the Commission.
B. The audit authorities of each of the party states and of
the appropriate federal departments and agencies, or any of
their duly authorized representatives, shall have access for
the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the Commission that are pertinent.
C. The Commission shall keep books and records in
compliance with federal requirements and standards where
necessary to qualify for federal assistance, including records
which fully disclose the amount and disposition of the proceeds of federal assistance the Commission has received, the
total cost of the plan, program, or project or undertaking in
connection with which such assistance is given or used, and
the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the plan,
program, or project or undertaking supplied by other sources,
and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
Article VIII
ELIGIBLE PARTIES, ENTRY INTO FORCE
AND WITHDRAWAL
A. Any or all of the states of Alaska, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming shall be eligible to
become party to this compact.
B. As to any eligible party state, this compact shall
become effective when its legislature shall have enacted the
same into law; provided, that it shall not become initially
effective until enacted into law by 7 states.
C. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by
enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal
shall take effect until one year after the Governor of the withdrawing state has given notice to the Governors of all other
party states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already
incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of
such withdrawal.
(2006 Ed.)
High Occupancy Vehicle Systems
Article IX
CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
It is intended that the provisions of this compact shall be
reasonably and liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any
phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is
declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state
or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any
government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid,
the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be
held contrary to the constitution of any party state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining
states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to
all severable matters. [1972 ex.s. c 36 § 3.]
81.96.030
81.96.030 Service of secretary of transportation as
state member—Execution of compact. The secretary of
transportation or his designee may serve as the Washington
state member to the western regional short-haul air transportation compact and may execute the compact on behalf of this
state with any other state or states legally joining therein.
[1984 c 7 § 376; 1972 ex.s. c 36 § 4.]
81.100.030
Headings—1990 c 43: "Section headings, part headings, and the index
as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law." [1990 c 43 § 55.]
81.100.020
81.100.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Transit agency" means a city that operates a transit
system, a public transportation benefit area, a county transportation authority, or a metropolitan municipal corporation.
(2) The "high occupancy vehicle system" includes high
occupancy vehicle lanes, related high occupancy vehicle
facilities, and high occupancy vehicle programs.
(3) "High occupancy vehicle lanes" mean lanes reserved
for public transportation vehicles only or public transportation vehicles and private vehicles carrying no fewer than a
specified number of passengers under RCW 46.61.165.
(4) "Related facilities" means park and ride lots, park and
pool lots, ramps, bypasses, turnouts, signal preemption, and
other improvements designed to maximize use of the high
occupancy vehicle system.
(5) "High occupancy vehicle program" means advertising the high occupancy vehicle system, promoting carpool,
vanpool, and transit use, providing vanpool vehicles, and
enforcement of driving restrictions governing high occupancy vehicle lanes. [1990 c 43 § 13.]
Severability—1984 c 7: See note following RCW 47.01.141.
81.100.030
Chapter 81.100 RCW
HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE SYSTEMS
Chapter 81.100
Sections
81.100.010
81.100.020
81.100.030
81.100.040
81.100.050
81.100.060
81.100.060
81.100.070
81.100.080
81.100.090
81.100.100
81.100.900
Purpose.
Definitions.
Employer tax.
Adoption of goals.
Survey of tax use.
Imposition of surcharge (as amended by 2006 c 311).
Excise tax (as amended by 2006 c 318).
High occupancy vehicle account.
Use of funds.
Interlocal agreements.
Urban public transportation system.
Construction—Severability—Headings—1990 c 43.
Use of moneys, construction priority: See 1990 c 298 § 35.
81.100.010
81.100.010 Purpose. The need for mobility, growing
travel demand, and increasing traffic congestion in urban
areas necessitate accelerated development and increased utilization of the high-occupancy vehicle system. RCW
81.100.030 and 81.100.060 provide taxing authority that
counties or regional transportation investment districts can
use in the near term to accelerate development and increase
utilization of the high-occupancy vehicle system by supplementing available federal, state, and local funds. [2002 c 56
§ 409; 1990 c 43 § 12.]
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
Construction—1990 c 43: "This act shall be liberally construed to give
effect to the intent of this act." [1990 c 43 § 56.]
Severability—1990 c 43: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1990 c 43 § 57.]
(2006 Ed.)
81.100.030 Employer tax. (1) A county with a population of one million or more, or a county with a population of
from two hundred ten thousand to less than one million that is
adjoining a county with a population of one million or more,
and having within its boundaries existing or planned
high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the state highway system, or
a regional transportation investment district for capital
improvements, but only to the extent that the tax has not
already been imposed by the county, may, with voter
approval impose an excise tax of up to two dollars per
employee per month on all employers or any class or classes
of employers, public and private, including the state located
in the agency’s jurisdiction, measured by the number of fulltime equivalent employees. In no event may the total taxes
imposed under this section exceed two dollars per employee
per month for any single employer. The county or investment
district imposing the tax authorized in this section may provide for exemptions from the tax to such educational, cultural, health, charitable, or religious organizations as it deems
appropriate.
Counties or investment districts may contract with the
state department of revenue or other appropriate entities for
administration and collection of the tax. Such contract shall
provide for deduction of an amount for administration and
collection expenses.
(2) The tax shall not apply to employment of a person
when the employer has paid for at least half of the cost of a
transit pass issued by a transit agency for that employee, valid
for the period for which the tax would otherwise be owed.
(3) A county or investment district shall adopt rules that
exempt from all or a portion of the tax any employer that has
entered into an agreement with the county or investment district that is designed to reduce the proportion of employees
who drive in single-occupant vehicles during peak commuting periods in proportion to the degree that the agreement is
[Title 81 RCW—page 83]
81.100.040
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
designed to meet the goals for the employer’s location
adopted under RCW 81.100.040.
The agreement shall include a list of specific actions that
the employer will undertake to be entitled to the exemption.
Employers having an exemption from all or part of the tax
through this subsection shall annually certify to the county or
investment district that the employer is fulfilling the terms of
the agreement. The exemption continues as long as the
employer is in compliance with the agreement.
If the tax authorized in RCW 81.100.060 is also
imposed, the total proceeds from both tax sources each year
shall not exceed the maximum amount which could be collected under RCW 81.100.060. [2002 c 56 § 410; 1991 c 363
§ 153; 1990 c 43 § 14.]
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
81.100.040
81.100.040 Adoption of goals. The legislature encourages counties, in conjunction with cities, metropolitan planning organizations, and transit agencies in metropolitan areas
to adopt goals for reducing the proportion of commuters who
drive in single-occupant vehicles during peak commuting
periods. Any county imposing a tax under this chapter must
adopt such goals. In adopting these goals, counties shall consider at least the following:
(1) Existing and anticipated levels of peak-period traffic
congestion on roadways used by employees in commuting to
work;
(2) Existing and anticipated levels of transit and vanpool
service and carpool programs available to and from the worksite;
(3) Variations in employment density and employer size;
(4) Availability and cost of parking; and
(5) Consistency of the goals with the regional transportation plan. [1990 c 43 § 15.]
81.100.050
81.100.050 Survey of tax use. The department of transportation shall include in the annual transit report under
RCW 35.58.2795 and 35.58.2796 an element describing
actions taken under this chapter. On at least two occasions
prior to December 31, 1998, the department shall include an
evaluation of the effectiveness of such actions. [1990 c 43 §
16.]
81.100.060
81.100.060 Imposition of surcharge (as amended by 2006 c 311). A
county with a population of one million or more and a county with a population of from two hundred ten thousand to less than one million that is adjoining a county with a population of one million or more, having within their
boundaries existing or planned high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the state
highway system, or a regional transportation investment district ((for capital
improvements)), but only to the extent that the surcharge has not already
been imposed by the county, may, with voter approval, impose a local surcharge of not more than three-tenths of one percent in the case of a county,
or eight-tenths of one percent in the case of a regional transportation investment district, of the value on vehicles registered to a person residing within
the county or investment district and not more than 13.64 percent on the state
sales and use taxes paid under the rate in RCW 82.08.020(2) on retail car
rentals within the county or investment district. A county may impose the
surcharge only to the extent that it has not been imposed by the district. No
surcharge may be imposed on vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.070
except vehicles with an unladen weight of six thousand pounds or less, RCW
46.16.079, 46.16.085, or 46.16.090.
[Title 81 RCW—page 84]
Counties or investment districts imposing a ((tax)) surcharge under this
section shall contract, before the effective date of the resolution or ordinance
imposing a surcharge, administration and collection to the state department
of licensing, and department of revenue, as appropriate, which shall deduct
((an)) a percentage amount, as provided by contract, not to exceed *two percent of the taxes, for administration and collection expenses incurred by the
department. All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.32, and
*82.44 RCW shall, insofar as they are applicable to motor vehicle excise
taxes, be applicable to surcharges imposed under this section. All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.08, 82.12, and 82.32 RCW shall,
insofar as they are applicable to state sales and use taxes, be applicable to
surcharges imposed under this section. A surcharge imposed under this section, or a change to the surcharge, shall take effect no sooner than seventyfive days after the department of licensing or the department of revenue
receives notice of the surcharge or change to the surcharge, and shall take
effect only on the first day of January, April, July, or October. Unless
waived by the department of licensing or the department of revenue, notice
includes providing the appropriate department with digital mapping and
legal descriptions of areas in which the **tax will be collected.
If the tax authorized in RCW 81.100.030 is also imposed, the total proceeds from tax sources imposed under this section and RCW 81.100.030
each year shall not exceed the maximum amount which could be collected
under this section. [2006 c 311 § 15; 2002 c 56 § 411; 1998 c 321 § 34 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1992 c 194 § 12; 1991 c
363 § 154; 1990 c 43 § 17.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 82.44.135 authorizes a one percent deduction for the administration and collection of the vehicle surcharge. Both
deduction percentages were enacted during the 2006 legislative session. See
RCW 1.12.025 for rule of construction.
**(2) The term "tax" referred to here apparently refers to the term "surcharge" as implemented in 2006 c 311 § 15.
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
81.100.060
81.100.060 Excise tax (as amended by 2006 c 318). A county with a
population of one million or more and a county with a population of from
two hundred ten thousand to less than one million that is adjoining a county
with a population of one million or more, having within their boundaries
existing or planned high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the state highway system, or a regional transportation investment district for capital improvements, but only to the extent that the surcharge has not already been imposed
by the county, may, with voter approval, impose a local surcharge of not
more than three-tenths of one percent of the value on vehicles registered to a
person residing within the county and not more than 13.64 percent on the
state sales and use taxes paid under the rate in RCW 82.08.020(2) on retail
car rentals within the county or investment district. A county may impose
the surcharge only to the extent that it has not been imposed by the district.
No surcharge may be imposed on vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.070
except vehicles with an unladen weight of six thousand pounds or less, RCW
46.16.079, 46.16.085, or 46.16.090.
Counties or investment districts imposing a tax under this section shall
contract, before the effective date of the resolution or ordinance imposing a
surcharge, administration and collection to the state department of licensing,
and department of revenue, as appropriate, which shall deduct an amount, as
provided by contract, for administration and collection expenses incurred by
the department. All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.32, and
82.44 RCW, as existing on January 1, 2006, shall, insofar as they are applicable to motor vehicle excise taxes, be applicable to surcharges imposed
under this section before June 7, 2006. Motor vehicles subject to the local
surcharge authorized in this section shall be administered in accordance with
*this act if the surcharge is first imposed on or after June 7, 2006. All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.08, 82.12, and 82.32 RCW shall,
insofar as they are applicable to state sales and use taxes, be applicable to
surcharges imposed under this section.
If the tax authorized in RCW 81.100.030 is also imposed, the total proceeds from tax sources imposed under this section and RCW 81.100.030
each year shall not exceed the maximum amount which could be collected
under this section. [2006 c 318 § 2; 2002 c 56 § 411; 1998 c 321 § 34 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1992 c 194 § 12; 1991 c
363 § 154; 1990 c 43 § 17.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 82.44.135 authorizes a one percent deduction for the administration and collection of the vehicle surcharge. Both
deduction percentages were enacted during the 2006 legislative session. See
RCW 1.12.025 for rule of construction.
(2) RCW 81.100.060 was amended twice during the 2006 legislative
(2006 Ed.)
High-Capacity Transportation Systems
session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
35.58.410.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 82.14.045.
Legislative intent—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
Changes in tax law—Liability: RCW 82.08.064, 82.14.055, and 82.32.430.
81.100.070
81.100.070 High occupancy vehicle account. Funds
collected by the department of revenue or other entity under
RCW 81.100.030, or by the department of licensing under
RCW 81.100.060, less the deduction for collection expenses,
shall be deposited in the high occupancy vehicle account
hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. On the
first day of the months of January, April, July, and October of
each year, the state treasurer shall distribute the funds in the
account to the counties on whose behalf the funds were
received. The state treasurer shall make the distribution under
this section without appropriation. [1991 sp.s. c 13 §§ 105,
119; 1990 c 43 § 18.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
81.100.080
81.100.080 Use of funds. (1) Funds collected under
RCW 81.100.030 or 81.100.060 and any investment earnings
accruing thereon shall be used by the county or the regional
transportation investment district in a manner consistent with
the regional transportation plan only for costs of collection,
costs of preparing, adopting, and enforcing agreements under
RCW 81.100.030(3), for construction of high occupancy
vehicle lanes and related facilities, mitigation of environmental concerns that result from construction or use of high occupancy vehicle lanes and related facilities, payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for the purposes of this section, for high occupancy vehicle programs as defined in
RCW 81.100.020(5), or for commuter rail projects in accordance with RCW 81.104.120. Except for funds raised by an
investment district, no funds collected under RCW
81.100.030 or 81.100.060 after June 30, 2000, may be
pledged for the payment or security of the principal or interest on any bonds issued for the purposes of this section. Not
more than ten percent of the funds may be used for transit
agency high occupancy vehicle programs.
(2) Notwithstanding the limitations in this chapter, a
regional transportation investment district may use funds collected under RCW 81.100.030 or 81.100.060 and any investment earnings accruing thereon for projects contained in a
plan developed under chapter 36.120 RCW. These expenditures shall not be limited to high occupancy vehicle systems.
(3) Priorities for construction of high occupancy vehicle
lanes and related facilities shall be as follows:
(a)(i) To accelerate construction of high occupancy vehicle lanes on the interstate highway system, as well as related
facilities;
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 81.104
(ii) To finance or accelerate construction of high occupancy vehicle lanes on the noninterstate state highway system, as well as related facilities.
(b) To finance construction of high occupancy vehicle
lanes on local arterials, as well as related facilities.
(4) Moneys received by a county under this chapter shall
be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, moneys currently used by the county for the purposes specified in this
section.
(5) Counties and investment districts may contract with
cities or the state department of transportation for construction of high occupancy vehicle lanes and related facilities,
and may issue general obligation bonds to fund such construction and use funds received under this chapter to pay the
principal and interest on such bonds. [2006 c 311 § 14; 1990
c 43 § 19.]
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
81.100.090 Interlocal agreements. Counties imposing
a tax under this chapter shall enter into an agreement through
the interlocal cooperation act with the department of transportation. The agreement shall provide an opportunity for the
department of transportation, cities and transit agencies having within their boundaries a portion of the existing or
planned high occupancy vehicle system as contained in the
regional transportation plan, to coordinate programming and
operational decisions affecting the high occupancy vehicle
system. If two or more adjoining counties impose a tax under
RCW 81.100.030 or 81.100.060, the counties shall jointly
enter one interlocal agreement with the department of transportation. [1990 c 43 § 20.]
81.100.090
81.100.100
81.100.100 Urban public transportation system. The
high occupancy vehicle system is an urban public transportation system as defined in RCW 47.04.082. [1990 c 43 § 21.]
81.100.900
81.100.900 Construction—Severability—Headings—1990 c 43. See notes following RCW 81.100.010.
Chapter 81.104 RCW
HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
Chapter 81.104
Sections
81.104.010
81.104.015
81.104.020
81.104.030
81.104.040
81.104.050
81.104.060
81.104.070
81.104.080
81.104.090
81.104.100
81.104.110
81.104.115
81.104.120
81.104.130
81.104.140
81.104.150
81.104.160
81.104.170
81.104.180
Purpose.
Definitions.
State policy roles.
Policy development outside central Puget Sound—Voter
approval.
Policy development in central Puget Sound—Voter approval.
Expansion of service.
State role in planning and implementation.
Responsibility for system implementation.
Regional transportation planning.
Department of transportation responsibilities—Funding of
planning projects.
Planning process.
Independent system plan oversight.
Rail fixed guideway system—Safety and security program
plan.
Commuter rail service—Voter approval.
Financial responsibility.
Dedicated funding sources.
Employer tax.
Motor vehicle excise tax—Sales and use tax on car rentals.
Sales and use tax.
Pledge of revenues for bond retirement.
[Title 81 RCW—page 85]
81.104.010
81.104.190
81.104.900
81.104.901
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Contract for collection of taxes.
Construction—Severability—Headings—1990 c 43.
Section headings not part of law—Severability—Effective
date—1992 c 101.
High capacity transportation account: RCW 47.78.010.
81.104.010
81.104.010 Purpose. Increasing congestion on Washington’s roadways calls for identification and implementation of high capacity transportation system alternatives. The
legislature believes that local jurisdictions should coordinate
and be responsible for high capacity transportation policy
development, program planning, and implementation. The
state should assist by working with local agencies on issues
involving rights of way, partially financing projects meeting
established state criteria including development and completion of the high occupancy vehicle lane system, authorizing
local jurisdictions to finance high capacity transportation systems through voter-approved tax options, and providing technical assistance and information. [1992 c 101 § 18; 1991 c
318 § 1; 1990 c 43 § 22.]
81.104.015
81.104.015 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "High-capacity transportation system" means a system of public transportation services within an urbanized
region operating principally on exclusive rights of way, and
the supporting services and facilities necessary to implement
such a system, including interim express services and high
occupancy vehicle lanes, which taken as a whole, provides a
substantially higher level of passenger capacity, speed, and
service frequency than traditional public transportation systems operating principally in general purpose roadways.
(2) "Rail fixed guideway system" means a light, heavy,
or rapid rail system, monorail, inclined plane, funicular, trolley, or other fixed rail guideway component of a high-capacity transportation system that is not regulated by the Federal
Railroad Administration, or its successor. "Rail fixed guideway system" does not mean elevators, moving sidewalks or
stairs, and vehicles suspended from aerial cables, unless they
are an integral component of a station served by a rail fixed
guideway system.
(3) "Regional transit system" means a high-capacity
transportation system under the jurisdiction of one or more
transit agencies except where a regional transit authority created under chapter 81.112 RCW exists, in which case
"regional transit system" means the high-capacity transportation system under the jurisdiction of a regional transit authority.
(4) "Transit agency" means city-owned transit systems,
county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal
corporations, and public transportation benefit areas. [1999 c
202 § 9; 1992 c 101 § 19.]
Effective date—1999 c 202: See note following RCW 35.21.228.
81.104.020
81.104.020 State policy roles. The department of transportation’s current policy role in transit is expanded to
include other high capacity transportation development as
part of a multimodal transportation system.
(1) The department of transportation shall implement a
program for high capacity transportation coordination, plan[Title 81 RCW—page 86]
ning, and technical studies with appropriations from the high
capacity transportation account.
(2) The department shall assist local jurisdictions and
regional transportation planning organizations with high
capacity transportation planning efforts. [1991 c 318 § 2;
1990 c 43 § 23.]
81.104.030
81.104.030 Policy development outside central Puget
Sound—Voter approval. (1) In any county that has a population of one hundred seventy-five thousand or more and has
an interstate highway within its borders, except for any
county having a population of more than one million or a
county that has a population more than four hundred thousand and is adjacent to a county with a population of more
than one million, transit agencies may elect to establish high
capacity transportation service. Such agencies shall form a
regional policy committee with proportional representation
based upon population distribution within the designated service area and a representative of the department of transportation, or such agencies may use the designated metropolitan
planning organization as the regional policy committee.
Transit agencies participating in joint regional policy
committees shall seek voter approval within their own service boundaries of a high capacity transportation system plan
and financing plan. For transit agencies in counties adjoining
state or international boundaries where the high capacity
transportation system plan and financing plan propose a bistate or international high capacity transportation system,
such voter approval shall be required from only those voters
residing within the service area in the state of Washington.
(2) Transit agencies in counties adjoining state or international boundaries are authorized to participate in the
regional high capacity transportation programs of an adjoining state or Canadian province. [1995 2nd sp.s. c 14 § 541;
1993 c 428 § 1; 1992 c 101 § 20; 1991 c 318 § 3; 1991 c 309
§ 2; (1991 c 363 § 155 repealed by 1991 c 309 § 6); 1990 c 43
§ 24.]
Severability—1995 2nd sp.s. c 14: See note following RCW
43.105.017.
81.104.040 Policy development in central Puget
Sound—Voter approval. Transit agencies in each county
with a population of one million or more, and in each county
with a population of from two hundred ten thousand to less
than one million bordering a county with a population of one
million or more that are authorized on January 1, 1991, to
provide high capacity transportation planning and operating
services must establish through interlocal agreements a joint
regional policy committee with proportional representation
based upon the population distribution within each agency’s
designated service area, as determined by the parties to the
agreement.
(1) The membership of the joint regional policy committee shall consist of locally elected officials who serve on the
legislative authority of the existing transit systems and a representative from the department of transportation. Nonvoting
membership for elected officials from adjoining counties
may be allowed at the committee’s discretion.
(2) The joint regional policy committee shall be responsible for the preparation and adoption of a regional high
capacity transportation implementation program, which shall
81.104.040
(2006 Ed.)
High-Capacity Transportation Systems
include the system plan, project plans, and a financing plan.
This program shall be in conformance with the regional
transportation planning organization’s regional transportation plan and consistent with RCW 81.104.080.
(3) The joint regional policy committee shall present an
adopted high capacity transportation system plan and financing plan to the boards of directors of the transit agencies
within the service area or to the regional transit authority, if
such authority has been formed. The authority shall proceed
as prescribed in RCW 81.112.030. [1992 c 101 § 21; 1991 c
318 § 4; 1990 c 43 § 25.]
81.104.050
81.104.050 Expansion of service. Regional high
capacity transportation service may be expanded beyond the
established district boundaries through interlocal agreements
among the transit agencies and any regional transit authorities in existence. [1992 c 101 § 22; 1991 c 318 § 5; 1990 c 43
§ 26.]
81.104.060
81.104.060 State role in planning and implementation. (1) The state’s planning role in high capacity transportation development as one element of a multimodal transportation system should facilitate cooperative state and local
planning efforts.
(2) The department of transportation may serve as a contractor for high capacity transportation system and project
design, administer construction, and assist agencies authorized to provide service in the acquisition, preservation, and
joint use of rights of way.
(3) The department and local jurisdictions shall continue
to cooperate with respect to the development of high occupancy vehicle lanes and related facilities, associated roadways, transfer stations, people mover systems developed
either by the public or private sector, and other related
projects.
(4) The department in cooperation with local jurisdictions shall develop policies which enhance the development
of high speed interregional systems by both the private and
the public sector. These policies may address joint use of
rights of way, identification and preservation of transportation corridors, and joint development of stations and other
facilities. [1991 c 318 § 6; 1990 c 43 § 27.]
81.104.070
81.104.070 Responsibility for system implementation. (1) The state shall not become an operating agent for
regional high capacity transportation systems.
(2) Agencies providing high capacity transportation service are responsible for planning, construction, operations,
and funding including station area design and development,
and parking facilities. Agencies may implement necessary
contracts, joint development agreements, and interlocal government agreements. Agencies providing service shall consult with affected local jurisdictions and cooperate with comprehensive planning processes. [1990 c 43 § 28.]
81.104.080
81.104.080 Regional transportation planning. Where
applicable, regional transportation plans and local comprehensive plans shall address the relationship between urban
growth and an effective high capacity transportation system
(2006 Ed.)
81.104.080
plan, and provide for cooperation between local jurisdictions
and transit agencies.
(1) Regional high capacity transportation plans shall be
included in the designated regional transportation planning
organization’s regional transportation plan review and update
process to facilitate development of a coordinated multimodal transportation system and to meet federal funding
requirements.
(2) Interlocal agreements between transit authorities, cities, and counties shall set forth conditions for assuring land
uses compatible with development of high capacity transportation systems. These include developing sufficient land use
densities through local actions in high capacity transportation
corridors and near passenger stations, preserving transit
rights of way, and protecting the region’s environmental
quality. The implementation program for high capacity transportation systems shall favor cities and counties with supportive land use plans. In developing local actions intended to
carry out these policies cities and counties shall insure the
opportunity for public comment and participation in the siting of such facilities, including stations or transfer facilities.
Agencies providing high capacity transportation services, in
cooperation with public and private interests, shall promote
transit-compatible land uses and development which includes
joint development.
(3) Interlocal agreements shall be consistent with state
planning goals as set forth in chapter 36.70A RCW. Agreements shall also include plans for concentrated employment
centers, mixed-use development, and housing densities that
support high capacity transportation systems.
(4) Agencies providing high capacity transportation service and other transit agencies shall develop a cooperative
process for the planning, development, operations, and funding of feeder transportation systems. Feeder systems may
include existing and future intercity passenger systems and
alternative technology people mover systems which may be
developed by the private or public sector.
(5) Cities and counties along corridors designated in a
high capacity transportation system plan shall enter into
agreements with their designated regional transportation
planning organizations, for the purpose of participating in a
right of way preservation review process which includes
activities to promote the preservation of the high capacity
transportation rights of way. The regional transportation
planning organization shall serve as the coordinator of the
review process.
(a) Cities and counties shall forward all development
proposals for projects within and adjoining to the rights of
way proposed for preservation to the designated regional
transportation planning organizations, which shall distribute
the proposals for review by parties to the right of way preservation review process.
(b) The regional transportation planning organizations
shall also review proposals for conformance with the regional
transportation plan and associated regional development
strategies. The designated regional transportation planning
organization shall within ninety days compile local and
regional agency comments and communicate the same to the
originating jurisdiction and the joint regional policy committee. [1991 c 318 § 7; 1990 c 43 § 29.]
[Title 81 RCW—page 87]
81.104.090
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
81.104.090
81.104.090 Department of transportation responsibilities—Funding of planning projects. The department of
transportation shall be responsible for distributing amounts
appropriated from the high capacity transportation account,
which shall be allocated by the department of transportation
based on criteria in subsection (2) of this section. The department shall assemble and participate in a committee comprised of transit agencies eligible to receive funds from the
high capacity transportation account for the purpose of
reviewing fund applications.
(1) State high capacity transportation account funds may
provide up to eighty percent matching assistance for high
capacity transportation planning efforts.
(2) Authorizations for state funding for high capacity
transportation planning projects shall be subject to the following criteria:
(a) Conformance with the designated regional transportation planning organization’s regional transportation plan;
(b) Local matching funds;
(c) Demonstration of projected improvement in regional
mobility;
(d) Conformance with planning requirements prescribed
in RCW 81.104.100, and if five hundred thousand dollars or
more in state funding is requested, conformance with the
requirements of RCW 81.104.110; and
(e) Establishment, through interlocal agreements, of a
joint regional policy committee as defined in RCW
81.104.030 or 81.104.040.
(3) The department of transportation shall provide general review and monitoring of the system and project planning process prescribed in RCW 81.104.100. [1995 c 269 §
2602; 1993 c 393 § 2; 1991 c 318 § 8; 1990 c 43 § 30.]
Effective date—1995 c 269: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.
Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 13.40.005.
Effective date—1993 c 393: See RCW 47.66.900.
81.104.100
81.104.100 Planning process. To assure development
of an effective high capacity transportation system, local
authorities shall follow the following planning process:
(1) Regional, multimodal transportation planning is the
ongoing urban transportation planning process conducted in
each urbanized area by its regional transportation planning
organization. During this process, regional transportation
goals are identified, travel patterns are analyzed, and future
land use and travel are projected. The process provides a
comprehensive view of the region’s transportation needs but
does not select specified modes to serve those needs. The
process shall identify a priority corridor or corridors for further study of high capacity transportation facilities if it is
deemed feasible by local officials.
(2) High capacity transportation system planning is the
detailed evaluation of a range of high capacity transportation
system options, including: Do nothing, low capital, and
ranges of higher capital facilities. To the extent possible this
evaluation shall take into account the urban mass transportation administration’s requirements identified in subsection
(3) of this section.
High capacity transportation system planning shall proceed as follows:
[Title 81 RCW—page 88]
(a) Organization and management. The responsible local
transit agency or agencies shall define roles for various local
agencies, review background information, provide for public
involvement, and develop a detailed work plan for the system
planning process.
(b) Development of options. Options to be studied shall
be developed to ensure an appropriate range of technologies
and service policies can be evaluated. A do-nothing option
and a low capital option that maximizes the current system
shall be developed. Several higher capital options that consider a range of capital expenditures for several candidate
technologies shall be developed.
(c) Analysis methods. The local transit agency shall
develop reports describing the analysis and assumptions for
the estimation of capital costs, operating and maintenance
costs, methods for travel forecasting, a financial plan and an
evaluation methodology.
(d) The system plan submitted to the voters pursuant to
RCW 81.104.140 shall address, but is not limited to the following issues:
(i) Identification of level and types of high capacity
transportation services to be provided;
(ii) A plan of high occupancy vehicle lanes to be constructed;
(iii) Identification of route alignments and station locations with sufficient specificity to permit calculation of costs,
ridership, and system impacts;
(iv) Performance characteristics of technologies in the
system plan;
(v) Patronage forecasts;
(vi) A financing plan describing: Phasing of investments; capital and operating costs and expected revenues;
cost-effectiveness represented by a total cost per system rider
and new rider estimate; estimated ridership and the cost of
service for each individual high capacity line; and identification of the operating revenue to operating expense ratio.
The financing plan shall specifically differentiate the
proposed use of funds between high capacity transportation
facilities and services, and high occupancy vehicle facilities;
(vii) Description of the relationship between the high
capacity transportation system plan and adopted land use
plans;
(viii) An assessment of social, economic, and environmental impacts; and
(ix) Mobility characteristics of the system presented,
including but not limited to: Qualitative description of
system/service philosophy and impacts; qualitative system
reliability; travel time and number of transfers between
selected residential, employment, and activity centers; and
system and activity center mode splits.
(3) High capacity transportation project planning is the
detailed identification of alignments, station locations, equipment and systems, construction schedules, environmental
effects, and costs. High capacity transportation project planning shall proceed as follows: The local transit agency shall
analyze and produce information needed for the preparation
of environmental impact statements. The impact statements
shall address the impact that development of such a system
will have on abutting or nearby property owners. The process
of identification of alignments and station locations shall
include notification of affected property owners by normal
(2006 Ed.)
High-Capacity Transportation Systems
legal publication. At minimum, such notification shall
include notice on the same day for at least three weeks in at
least two newspapers of general circulation in the county
where such project is proposed. Special notice of hearings by
the conspicuous posting of notice, in a manner designed to
attract public attention, in the vicinity of areas identified for
station locations or transfer sites shall also be provided.
In order to increase the likelihood of future federal funding, the project planning processes shall follow the urban
mass transportation administration’s requirements as
described in "Procedures and Technical Methods for Transit
Project Planning", published by the United States department
of transportation, urban mass transportation administration,
September 1986, or the most recent edition. Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to preclude detailed evaluation
of more than one corridor in the planning process.
The department of transportation shall provide system
and project planning review and monitoring in cooperation
with the expert review panel identified in RCW 81.104.110.
In addition, the local transit agency shall maintain a continuous public involvement program and seek involvement of
other government agencies. [1992 c 101 § 23; 1991 sp.s. c 15
§ 68; 1991 c 318 § 9; 1990 c 43 § 31.]
Construction—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 15: See note following
RCW 46.68.110.
81.104.110
81.104.110 Independent system plan oversight. The
legislature recognizes that the planning processes described
in RCW 81.104.100 provide a recognized framework for
guiding high capacity transportation studies. However, the
process cannot guarantee appropriate decisions unless key
study assumptions are reasonable.
To assure appropriate system plan assumptions and to
provide for review of system plan results, an expert review
panel shall be appointed to provide independent technical
review for development of any system plan which is to be
funded in whole or in part by the imposition of any voterapproved local option funding sources enumerated in RCW
81.104.140.
(1) The expert review panel shall consist of five to ten
members who are recognized experts in relevant fields, such
as transit operations, planning, emerging transportation technologies, engineering, finance, law, the environment, geography, economics, and political science.
(2) The expert review panel shall be selected cooperatively by the chairs of the senate and house transportation
committees, the secretary of the department of transportation,
and the governor to assure a balance of disciplines. In the
case of counties adjoining another state or Canadian province
the expert review panel membership shall be selected cooperatively with representatives of the adjoining state or Canadian province.
(3) The chair of the expert review panel shall be designated by the appointing authorities.
(4) The expert review panel shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses according to
RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Reimbursement shall be
paid from within the existing resources of the local authority
planning under this chapter.
(5) The panel shall carry out the duties set forth in subsections (6) and (7) of this section until the date on which an
(2006 Ed.)
81.104.115
election is held to consider the high capacity transportation
system and financing plans.
(6) The expert panel shall review all reports required in
RCW 81.104.100(2) and shall concentrate on service modes
and concepts, costs, patronage and financing evaluations.
(7) The expert panel shall provide timely reviews and
comments on individual reports and study conclusions to the
department of transportation, the regional transportation
planning organization, the joint regional policy committee,
and the submitting lead transit agency. In the case of counties
adjoining another state or Canadian province, the expert
review panel shall provide its reviews, comments, and conclusions to the representatives of the adjoining state or Canadian province.
(8) The local authority planning under this chapter shall
contract for consulting services for expert review panels. The
amount of consultant support shall be negotiated with each
expert review panel by the local authority and shall be paid
from within the local authority’s existing resources. [2005 c
319 § 136; 1998 c 245 § 165. Prior: 1991 c 318 § 10; 1991 c
309 § 3; 1990 c 43 § 32.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
81.104.115
81.104.115 Rail fixed guideway system—Safety and
security program plan. (1) The department may collect and
review the system safety and security program plan prepared
by each owner or operator of a rail fixed guideway system. In
carrying out this function, the department may adopt rules
specifying the elements and standard to be contained in a system safety and security program plan, and the content of any
investigation report, corrective action plan, and accompanying implementation schedule resulting from a reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach.
These rules may include due dates for the department’s
timely receipt of and response to required documents.
(2) The security section of the system safety and security
plan as described in subsection (1)(d) of RCW 35.21.228,
35A.21.300, 36.01.210, 36.57.120, 36.57A.170, and
81.112.180 are exempt from public disclosure under chapter
42.56 RCW by the department when collected from the owners and operators of fixed railway systems. However, the
activities and plans as described in subsection (1)(a), (b), and
(c) of RCW 35.21.228, 35A.21.300, 36.01.210, 36.57.120,
36.57A.170, and 81.112.180 are not exempt from public disclosure.
(3) The department shall audit each system safety and
security program plan at least once every three years. The
department may contract with other persons or entities for the
performance of duties required by this subsection. The
department shall provide at least thirty days’ advance notice
to the owner or operator of a rail fixed guideway system
before commencing the audit. The owner or operator of each
rail fixed guideway system shall reimburse the reasonable
expenses of the department in carrying out its responsibilities
of this subsection within ninety days after receipt of an
invoice. The department shall notify the owner or operator of
the estimated expenses at least six months in advance of
when the department audits the system.
(4) In the event of a reportable accident, unacceptable
hazardous condition, or security breach, the department shall
[Title 81 RCW—page 89]
81.104.120
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
review the investigation report, corrective action plan, and
accompanying implementation schedule, submitted by the
owner or operator of the rail fixed guideway system to ensure
that it meets the goal of preventing and mitigating a recurrence of the reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach.
(a) The department may, at its option, perform a separate, independent investigation of a reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach. The department may contract with other persons or entities for the performance of duties required by this subsection.
(b) If the department does not concur with the investigation report, corrective action plan, and accompanying implementation schedule, submitted by the owner or operator, the
department shall notify that owner or operator in writing
within forty-five days of its receipt of the complete investigation report, corrective action plan, and accompanying implementation schedule.
(5) The secretary may adopt rules to implement this section and RCW 35.21.228, 35A.21.300, 36.01.210, 36.57.120,
36.57A.170, and 81.112.180, including rules establishing
procedures and timelines for owners and operators of rail
fixed guideway systems to comply with RCW 35.21.228,
35A.21.300, 36.01.210, 36.57.120, 36.57A.170, and
81.112.180 and the rules adopted under this section. If noncompliance by an owner or operator of a rail fixed guideway
system results in the loss of federal funds to the state of
Washington or a political subdivision of the state, the owner
or operator is liable to the affected entity or entities for the
amount of the lost funds.
(6) The department may impose sanctions upon owners
and operators of rail fixed guideway systems, but only for
failure to meet reasonable deadlines for submission of
required reports and audits. The department is expressly prohibited from imposing sanctions for any other purposes,
including, but not limited to, differences in format or content
of required reports and audits.
(7) The department and its employees have no liability
arising from the adoption of rules; the review of or concurrence in a system safety and security program plan; the separate, independent investigation of a reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach; and the
review of or concurrence in a corrective action plan for a
reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or
security breach. [2005 c 274 § 359; 2001 c 127 § 1; 1999 c
202 § 7.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Effective date—1999 c 202: See note following RCW 35.21.228.
81.104.120
81.104.120 Commuter rail service—Voter approval.
(1) Transit agencies and regional transit authorities may operate or contract for commuter rail service where it is deemed
to be a reasonable alternative transit mode. A reasonable
alternative is one whose passenger costs per mile, including
costs of trackage, equipment, maintenance, operations, and
administration are equal to or less than comparable bus,
entrained bus, trolley, or personal rapid transit systems.
(2) A county may use funds collected under RCW
81.100.030 or 81.100.060 to contract with one or more transit
agencies or regional transit authorities for planning, opera[Title 81 RCW—page 90]
tion, and maintenance of commuter rail projects which: (a)
Are consistent with the regional transportation plan; (b) have
met the project planning and oversight requirements of RCW
81.104.100 and 81.104.110; and (c) have been approved by
the voters within the service area of each transit agency or
regional transit authority participating in the project. For transit agencies in counties adjoining state or international
boundaries where the high capacity transportation system
plan and financing plan propose a bi-state or international
high capacity transportation system, such voter approval
shall be required from only those voters residing within the
service area in the state of Washington. The phrase "approved
by the voters" includes specific funding authorization for the
commuter rail project.
(3) The utilities and transportation commission shall
maintain safety responsibility for passenger rail service operating on freight rail lines. Agencies providing passenger rail
service on lines other than freight rail lines shall maintain
safety responsibility for that service. [1993 c 428 § 2; 1992 c
101 § 24; 1990 c 43 § 33.]
81.104.130
81.104.130 Financial responsibility. Agencies providing high capacity transportation service shall determine optimal debt-to-equity ratios, establish capital and operations
allocations, and establish fare-box recovery return policy.
[1990 c 43 § 34.]
81.104.140
81.104.140 Dedicated funding sources. (1) Agencies
authorized to provide high capacity transportation service,
including transit agencies and regional transit authorities, and
regional transportation investment districts acting with the
agreement of an agency, are hereby granted dedicated funding sources for such systems. These dedicated funding
sources, as set forth in RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and
81.104.170, are authorized only for agencies located in (a)
each county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or
more and (b) each county with a population of from one hundred twenty-five thousand to less than two hundred ten thousand except for those counties that do not border a county
with a population as described under (a) of this subsection. In
any county with a population of one million or more or in any
county having a population of four hundred thousand or more
bordering a county with a population of one million or more,
these funding sources may be imposed only by a regional
transit authority or a regional transportation investment district. Regional transportation investment districts may, with
the approval of the regional transit authority within its boundaries, impose the taxes authorized under this chapter, but only
upon approval of the voters and to the extent that the maximum amount of taxes authorized under this chapter have not
been imposed.
(2) Agencies planning to construct and operate a high
capacity transportation system should also seek other funds,
including federal, state, local, and private sector assistance.
(3) Funding sources should satisfy each of the following
criteria to the greatest extent possible:
(a) Acceptability;
(b) Ease of administration;
(c) Equity;
(d) Implementation feasibility;
(2006 Ed.)
High-Capacity Transportation Systems
(e) Revenue reliability; and
(f) Revenue yield.
(4) Agencies participating in regional high capacity
transportation system development are authorized to levy and
collect the following voter-approved local option funding
sources:
(a) Employer tax as provided in RCW 81.104.150, other
than by regional transportation investment districts;
(b) Special motor vehicle excise tax as provided in RCW
81.104.160; and
(c) Sales and use tax as provided in RCW 81.104.170.
Revenues from these taxes may be used only to support
those purposes prescribed in subsection (10) of this section.
Before the date of an election authorizing an agency to
impose any of the taxes enumerated in this section and authorized in RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and 81.104.170, the
agency must comply with the process prescribed in RCW
81.104.100 (1) and (2) and 81.104.110. No construction on
exclusive right of way may occur before the requirements of
RCW 81.104.100(3) are met.
(5) Authorization in subsection (4) of this section shall
not adversely affect the funding authority of transit agencies
not provided for in this chapter. Local option funds may be
used to support implementation of interlocal agreements with
respect to the establishment of regional high capacity transportation service. Except when a regional transit authority
exists, local jurisdictions shall retain control over moneys
generated within their boundaries, although funds may be
commingled with those generated in other areas for planning,
construction, and operation of high capacity transportation
systems as set forth in the agreements.
(6) Agencies planning to construct and operate high
capacity transportation systems may contract with the state
for collection and transference of voter-approved local option
revenue.
(7) Dedicated high capacity transportation funding
sources authorized in RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and
81.104.170 shall be subject to voter approval by a simple
majority. A single ballot proposition may seek approval for
one or more of the authorized taxing sources. The ballot title
shall reference the document identified in subsection (8) of
this section.
(8) Agencies shall provide to the registered voters in the
area a document describing the systems plan and the financing plan set forth in RCW 81.104.100. It shall also describe
the relationship of the system to regional issues such as
development density at station locations and activity centers,
and the interrelationship of the system to adopted land use
and transportation demand management goals within the
region. This document shall be provided to the voters at least
twenty days prior to the date of the election.
(9) For any election in which voter approval is sought for
a high capacity transportation system plan and financing plan
pursuant to RCW 81.104.040, a local voter’s pamphlet shall
be produced as provided in *chapter 29.81A RCW.
(10) Agencies providing high capacity transportation
service shall retain responsibility for revenue encumbrance,
disbursement, and bonding. Funds may be used for any purpose relating to planning, construction, and operation of high
capacity transportation systems and commuter rail systems,
personal rapid transit, busways, bus sets, and entrained and
(2006 Ed.)
81.104.160
linked buses. [2002 c 56 § 202; 1992 c 101 § 25. Prior: 1991
c 318 § 11; 1991 c 309 § 4; (1991 c 363 § 157 repealed by
1991 c 309 § 6); 1990 c 43 § 35.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 29.81A RCW was recodified as chapter
29A.32 RCW pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
81.104.150
81.104.150 Employer tax. Cities that operate transit
systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan
municipal corporations, public transportation benefit areas,
and regional transit authorities may submit an authorizing
proposition to the voters and if approved may impose an
excise tax of up to two dollars per month per employee on all
employers located within the agency’s jurisdiction, measured
by the number of full-time equivalent employees, solely for
the purpose of providing high capacity transportation service.
The rate of tax shall be approved by the voters. This tax may
not be imposed by: (1) A transit agency when the county
within which it is located is imposing an excise tax pursuant
to RCW 81.100.030; or (2) a regional transit authority when
any county within the authority’s boundaries is imposing an
excise tax pursuant to RCW 81.100.030. The agency imposing the tax authorized in this section may provide for exemptions from the tax to such educational, cultural, health, charitable, or religious organizations as it deems appropriate.
[1992 c 101 § 26; 1990 c 43 § 41.]
81.104.160
81.104.160 Motor vehicle excise tax—Sales and use
tax on car rentals. An agency may impose a sales and use
tax solely for the purpose of providing high capacity transportation service, in addition to the tax authorized by RCW
82.14.030, upon retail car rentals within the agency’s jurisdiction that are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and
82.12 RCW. The rate of tax shall not exceed 2.172 percent.
The base of the tax shall be the selling price in the case of a
sales tax or the rental value of the vehicle used in the case of
a use tax.
Any motor vehicle excise tax previously imposed under
the provisions of RCW 81.104.160(1) shall be repealed, terminated and expire on December 5, 2002. [2003 c 1 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002); 1998
c 321 § 35 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3,
1998). Prior: 1992 c 194 § 13; 1992 c 101 § 27; 1991 c 318
§ 12; 1990 c 43 § 42.]
Reviser’s note: The legality of the amendatory changes to this section
made by section 6, chapter 1, Laws of 2003 (Initiative Measure No. 776) are
still being contested.
Severability—Savings—2003 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 776): "If
any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to
other persons or circumstances is not affected. If the repeal of taxes in section 6 of this act is judicially held to impair any contract in existence as of the
effective date of this act, the repeal shall apply to any other contract, including novation, renewal, or refunding (in the case of bond contract)." [2003 c
1 § 10 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).]
Repeal of taxes by 2003 c 1 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 776): "If the
repeal of taxes in section 6 of this act affects any bonds previously issued for
any purpose relating to light rail, the people expect transit agencies to retire
these bonds using reserve funds including accrued interest, sale of property
or equipment, new voter approved tax revenues, or any combination of these
sources of revenue. Taxing districts should abstain from further bond sales
for any purpose relating to light rail until voters decide this measure. The
people encourage transit agencies to put another tax revenue measure before
[Title 81 RCW—page 91]
81.104.170
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
voters if they want to continue with a light rail system dramatically changed
from that previously represented to and approved by voters." [2003 c 1 § 7
(Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).]
Construction—Intent—2003 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 776): See
notes following RCW 46.16.0621.
for administration and collection of any tax authorized by
RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and 81.104.170. [1992 c 101
§ 30; 1990 c 43 § 45.]
81.104.900
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
Legislative intent—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
81.104.900 Construction—Severability—Headings—1990 c 43. See notes following RCW 81.100.010.
81.104.901
81.104.901 Section headings not part of law—Severability—Effective date—1992 c 101.
See RCW
81.112.900 through 81.112.902.
81.104.170
81.104.170 Sales and use tax. Cities that operate transit
systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan
municipal corporations, public transportation benefit areas,
and regional transit authorities may submit an authorizing
proposition to the voters and if approved by a majority of persons voting, fix and impose a sales and use tax in accordance
with the terms of this chapter, solely for the purpose of providing high capacity transportation service.
The tax authorized pursuant to this section shall be in
addition to the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030 and shall be
collected from those persons who are taxable by the state pursuant to chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence
of any taxable event within the taxing district. The maximum
rate of such tax shall be approved by the voters and shall not
exceed one percent of the selling price (in the case of a sales
tax) or value of the article used (in the case of a use tax). The
maximum rate of such tax that may be imposed shall not
exceed nine-tenths of one percent in any county that imposes
a tax under RCW 82.14.340, or within a regional transit
authority if any county within the authority imposes a tax
under RCW 82.14.340. The exemptions in RCW 82.08.820
and 82.12.820 are for the state portion of the sales and use tax
and do not extend to the tax authorized in this section. [1997
c 450 § 5; 1992 c 101 § 28; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 902; 1990 c
43 § 43.]
Findings—Intent—Report—Effective date—1997 c 450: See notes
following RCW 82.08.820.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
Changes in tax law—Liability: RCW 82.08.064, 82.14.055, and 82.32.430.
Local retail sales and use taxes: Chapter 82.14 RCW.
Sales tax imposed—Retail sales—Retail car rental: RCW 82.08.020.
Use tax imposed: RCW 82.12.020.
81.104.180
81.104.180 Pledge of revenues for bond retirement.
Cities that operate transit systems, county transportation
authorities, metropolitan municipal corporations, public
transportation benefit areas, and regional transit authorities
are authorized to pledge revenues from the employer tax
authorized by RCW 81.104.150, the special motor vehicle
excise tax authorized by RCW 81.104.160, and the sales and
use tax authorized by RCW 81.104.170, to retire bonds
issued solely for the purpose of providing high capacity
transportation service. [1992 c 101 § 29; 1990 c 43 § 44.]
81.104.190
81.104.190 Contract for collection of taxes. Cities that
operate transit systems, county transportation authorities,
metropolitan municipal corporations, public transportation
benefit areas, and regional transit systems may contract with
the state department of revenue or other appropriate entities
[Title 81 RCW—page 92]
Chapter 81.108
Chapter 81.108 RCW
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE SITES
Sections
81.108.010
81.108.020
81.108.030
81.108.040
81.108.050
81.108.060
81.108.070
81.108.080
81.108.090
81.108.100
81.108.110
81.108.900
81.108.901
Purpose.
Definitions.
Commission—Powers.
Rates—Initial determination—Fees.
Maximum rates—Revisions.
Contracted disposal rates.
Extraordinary volume adjustment.
Complaint—Hearing.
Revenue statement—Fees—Delinquent fee payments.
Exemptions—Monopolies—Hearings—Rates.
Competitive companies—Exemptions.
Construction.
Effective dates—1991 c 272.
81.108.010
81.108.010 Purpose. State and national policy directs
that the management of low-level radioactive waste be
accomplished by a system of interstate compacts and the
development of regional disposal sites. The Northwest
regional compact, comprised of the states of Alaska, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, has as its
disposal facility the low-level radioactive waste disposal site
located near Richland, Washington. This site is expected to
be the sole site for disposal of low-level radioactive waste for
compact members effective January 1, 1993. Future closure
of this site will require significant financial resources.
Low-level radioactive waste is generated by essential
activities and services that benefit the citizens of the state.
Washington state’s low-level radioactive waste disposal site
has been used by the nation and the Northwest compact as a
disposal site since 1965. The public has come to rely on
access to this site for disposal of low-level radioactive waste,
which requires separate handling from other solid and hazardous wastes. The price of disposing of low-level radioactive waste at the Washington state low-level radioactive
waste disposal site is anticipated to increase when the federal
low-level radioactive waste policy amendments act of 1985 is
implemented and waste generated outside the Northwest
compact states is excluded.
When these events occur, to protect Washington and
other Northwest compact states’ businesses and services,
such as electrical production, medical and university
research, and private industries, upon which the public relies,
there will be a need to regulate the rates charged by the operator of Washington’s low-level radioactive waste disposal
site. This chapter is adopted pursuant to section 8, chapter 21,
Laws of 1990. [1991 c 272 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Sites
81.108.020 Definitions. Definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Commission" means the Washington utilities and
transportation commission.
(2) "Effective rate" means the highest permissible rate,
calculated as the lowest contract rate plus an administrative
fee, if applicable, determined pursuant to RCW 81.108.040.
(3) "Extraordinary volume" means volumes of low-level
radioactive waste delivered to a site caused by nonrecurring
events, outside normal operations of a generator, that are in
excess of twenty thousand cubic feet or twenty percent of the
preceding year’s total volume at such site, whichever is less.
(4) "Extraordinary volume adjustment" means a mechanism that allocates the potential rate reduction benefits of an
extraordinary volume between all generators and the generator responsible for such extraordinary volume as described in
RCW 81.108.070.
(5) "Generator" means a person, partnership, association,
corporation, or any other entity whatsoever that, as a part of
its activities, produces low-level radioactive waste.
(6) "Inflation adjustment" means a mechanism that
adjusts the maximum disposal rate by a percentage equal to
the change in price levels in the preceding period, as measured by a common, verifiable price index as determined in
RCW 81.108.040.
(7) "Initial rate proceeding" means the proceeding
described in RCW 81.108.040.
(8) "Maximum disposal rate" means the rate described in
RCW 81.108.050.
(9) "Site" means a location, structure, or property used or
to be used for the storage, treatment, or disposal of low-level
radioactive waste for compensation within the state of Washington.
(10) "Site operator" means a low-level radioactive waste
site operating company as defined in RCW 81.04.010.
(11) "Volume adjustment" means a mechanism that
adjusts the maximum disposal rate in response to material
changes in volumes of waste deposited at the site during the
preceding period so as to provide a level of total revenues
sufficient to recover the costs to operate and maintain the site.
[1991 c 272 § 2.]
81.108.020
81.108.030
81.108.030 Commission—Powers. (1) The commission shall have jurisdiction over the sites and site operators as
set forth in this chapter.
(2)(a) The commission shall establish rates to be charged
by site operators. In establishing the rates, the commission
shall assure that they are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient
considering the value of the site operator’s leasehold and
license interests, the unique nature of its business operations,
the site operator’s liability associated with the site, its investment incurred over the term of its operations, and the rate of
return equivalent to that earned by comparable enterprises.
The rates shall only take effect following a finding that the
site operator is a monopoly pursuant to RCW 81.108.100.
(b) In exercising the power in this subsection the commission may use any standard, formula, method, or theory of
valuation reasonably calculated to arrive at the objective of
prescribing and authorizing fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient rates. The relation of site operator expenses to site oper(2006 Ed.)
81.108.050
ator revenues may be deemed the proper test of a reasonable
return.
(3) In all respects in which the commission has power
and authority under this chapter, applications and complaints
may be made and filed with it, process issued, hearings held,
opinions, orders, and decisions made and filed, petitions for
rehearing filed and acted upon, and petitions for review to the
superior court filed therewith, appeals filed with the appellate
courts of this state, considered and disposed of by said courts
in the manner, under the conditions, and subject to the limitations, and with the effect specified in this title for public service companies generally.
(4) At any time after January 1, 1992, the commission
may: (a) Prescribe a system of accounts for site operators
using as a starting point the existing system used by site operators; (b) audit the books of site operators; (c) obtain books
and records from site operators; (d) assess penalties; and (e)
require semiannual reports regarding the results of operations
for the site.
(5) The commission may adopt rules necessary to carry
out its functions under this chapter. [1991 c 272 § 4.]
81.108.040
81.108.040 Rates—Initial determination—Fees. (1)
On or before March 1, 1992, site operators shall file a request
with the commission to establish an initial maximum disposal
rate. The filing shall include, at a minimum, testimony,
exhibits, workpapers, summaries, annual reports, cost studies, proposed tariffs, and other documents as required by the
commission in rate cases generally under its jurisdiction.
(2) After receipt of a request, the commission shall set
the request for a hearing and require the site operator to provide for notice to all known customers that ship or deliver
waste to the site. The proceedings before the commission
shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW
and rules of procedure established by the commission.
(3) No later than January 1, 1993, the commission shall
establish the initial maximum disposal rates that may be
charged by site operators.
(4) In the initial rate proceeding the commission also
shall determine the factors necessary to calculate the inflation, volume, and extraordinary volume adjustments.
(5) The commission also shall determine the administrative fee, which shall be a percentage or an amount that represents increased administrative costs associated with acceptance of small volumes of waste by a site operator. The
administrative fee may be revised by the commission from
time to time upon its own motion or upon the petition of an
interested person.
(6) The rates specified in this section shall only take
effect following a finding that the site operator is a monopoly
pursuant to RCW 81.108.100. [1991 c 272 § 5.]
81.108.050
81.108.050 Maximum rates—Revisions. (1) The maximum disposal rates that a site operator may charge generators shall be determined in accordance with this section. The
rates shall include all charges for disposal services at the site.
(2) Initially, the maximum disposal rates shall be the initial rates established pursuant to RCW 81.108.040.
(3) Subsequently, the maximum disposal rates shall be
adjusted in January of each year to incorporate inflation and
[Title 81 RCW—page 93]
81.108.060
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
volume adjustments. Such adjustments shall take effect thirty
days after filing with the commission unless the commission
authorizes that the adjustments take effect earlier, or the commission contests the calculation of the adjustments, in which
case the commission may suspend the filing. A site operator
shall provide notice to its customers concurrent with the filing.
(4)(a) Subsequently, a site operator may also file for
revisions to the maximum disposal rates due to:
(i) Changes in any governmentally imposed fee, surcharge, or tax assessed on a volume or a gross revenue basis
against or collected by the site operator, including site closure
fees, perpetual care and maintenance fees, business and occupation taxes, site surveillance fees, leasehold excise taxes,
commission regulatory fees, municipal taxes, and a tax or
payment in lieu of taxes authorized by the state to compensate the county in which a site is located for that county’s
legitimate costs arising out of the presence of that site within
that county; or
(ii) Factors outside the control of the site operator such
as a material change in regulatory requirements regarding the
physical operation of the site.
(b) Revisions to the maximum disposal rate shall take
effect thirty days after filing with the commission unless the
commission suspends the filing or authorizes the proposed
adjustments to take effect earlier.
(5) Upon establishment of a contract rate pursuant to
RCW 81.108.060 for a disposal fee, the site operator may not
collect a disposal fee that is greater than the effective rate.
The effective rate shall be in effect so long as such contract
rate remains in effect. Adjustments to the maximum disposal
rates may be made during the time an effective rate is in
place. Contracts for disposal of extraordinary volumes pursuant to RCW 81.108.070 shall not be considered in determining the effective rate.
(6) The site operator may petition the commission for
new maximum disposal rates at any time. Upon receipt of
such a petition, the commission shall set the matter for hearing and shall issue an order within seven months of the filing
of the petition. The petition shall be accompanied by the documents required to accompany the filing for initial rates. The
hearing on the petition shall be conducted in accordance with
the commission’s rules of practice and procedure.
(7) This section shall only take effect following a finding
that the site operator is a monopoly pursuant to RCW
81.108.100. [1997 c 243 § 1; 1991 c 272 § 6.]
81.108.060 Contracted disposal rates. (1) At any
time, a site operator may contract with any person to provide
a contract disposal rate lower than the maximum disposal
rate.
(2) A contract or contract amendment shall be submitted
to the commission for approval at least thirty days before its
effective date. The commission may approve the contract or
suspend the contract and set it for hearing. If the commission
takes no action within thirty days of filing, the contract or
amendment shall go into effect according to its terms. Each
contract filing shall be accompanied with documentation to
show that the contract does not result in discrimination
between generators receiving like and contemporaneous service under substantially similar circumstances and provides
81.108.060
[Title 81 RCW—page 94]
for the recovery of all costs associated with the provision of
the service.
(3) This section shall only take effect following a finding
that the site operator is a monopoly pursuant to RCW
81.108.100. [1991 c 272 § 7.]
81.108.070
81.108.070 Extraordinary volume adjustment. (1) In
establishing the extraordinary volume adjustment, unless the
site operator and generator of the extraordinary volume agree
to a contract disposal rate, one-half of the extraordinary volume delivery shall be priced at the maximum disposal rate
and one-half shall be priced at the site operator’s incremental
cost to receive the delivery. Such incremental cost shall be
determined in the initial rate proceeding.
(2) For purposes of the subsequent calculation of the volume adjustment, one-half of the total extraordinary volume
shall be included in the calculation.
(3) This section shall only take effect following a finding
that the site operator is a monopoly pursuant to RCW
81.108.100. [1991 c 272 § 8.]
81.108.080
81.108.080 Complaint—Hearing. (1) At any time, the
commission or an interested person may file a complaint
against a site operator alleging that the rates established pursuant to RCW 81.108.040 or 81.108.050 are not in conformity with the standards set forth in RCW 81.108.030 or that
the site operator is otherwise not acting in conformity with
the requirements of this chapter. Upon filing of the complaint, the commission shall cause a copy of the complaint to
be served upon the site operator. The complaining party shall
have the burden of proving that the maximum disposal rates
determined pursuant to RCW 81.108.050 are not just, fair,
reasonable, or sufficient. The hearing shall conform to the
rules of practice and procedure of the commission for other
complaint cases.
(2) The commission shall encourage alternate forms of
dispute resolution to resolve disputes between a site operator
and any other person regarding matters covered by this chapter. [1991 c 272 § 9.]
81.108.090
81.108.090 Revenue statement—Fees—Delinquent
fee payments. (1) A site operator shall, on or before May 1,
1992, and each year thereafter, file with the commission a
statement showing its gross operating revenue from intrastate
operations for the preceding calendar year, or portion thereof,
and pay to the commission a fee equal to one percent of the
amount of the gross operating revenue, exclusive of site surveillance fees, perpetual care and maintenance fees, site closure fees, and state or federally imposed out-of-region surcharges.
(2) Fees collected under this chapter shall reasonably
approximate the cost of supervising and regulating site operators. The commission may order a decrease in fees by March
1st of any year in which it determines that the moneys then in
the radioactive waste disposal companies account of the public service revolving fund and the fees currently to be paid
will exceed the reasonable cost of supervising and regulating
site operators.
(3) Fees collected under this section or under any other
provision of this chapter shall be paid to the commission and
(2006 Ed.)
Regional Transit Authorities
shall be transmitted to the state treasurer within thirty days to
be deposited to the credit of the public service revolving
fund.
(4) Any payment of a fee imposed by this chapter made
after its due date shall include a late fee of two percent of the
amount due. Delinquent fees shall accrue interest at the rate
of one percent per month. [1994 c 83 § 5; 1991 c 272 § 10.]
81.108.100
81.108.100 Exemptions—Monopolies—Hearings—
Rates. (1) A low-level waste disposal site operator is exempt
as specified in RCW 81.108.030(2)(a), 81.108.040(6),
81.108.050(7), 81.108.060(3), and 81.108.070(3) unless a
monopoly situation exists with respect to the site operated by
such site operator. A monopoly situation exists if either of the
following is present:
(a) No disposal facility is available to Northwest compact generators of low-level radioactive waste other than the
site or sites operated by such site operator or its affiliates; or
(b) Disposal rates at other sites are not reasonable alternatives for Northwest compact generators, considering: Disposal rates at other facilities; current disposal rates charged
by the site operator; historic relationships between the site
operator’s rates and rates at other facilities; and changes in
the operator’s rates considering changes in waste volumes,
taxes, and fees. A monopoly situation does not exist if either
of the following facilities operates or is projected to operate
after December 31, 1992:
(i) Any existing low-level radioactive waste disposal site
outside the state of Washington, other than facilities operated
by affiliates of a site operator, provided that such site or sites
do not charge disposal rates that discriminate against Northwest compact generators, except to the extent, through
December 31, 1994, such discrimination is authorized by
amendment of current federal law.
(ii) An existing facility within the Northwest compact
not receiving low-level radioactive waste offers to receive
such waste under substantially similar terms and conditions.
(2) The exemption shall be in effect until such time as the
commission finds, after notice and hearing, upon motion by
the commission or upon petition by any interested party, that
a monopoly situation exists or will exist as of January 1,
1993. The finding shall be based upon application of the criteria set forth in this section. The commission may assess a
site operator for all of the commission’s costs of supervision
and regulation prior to and relative to determining whether
the exemption applies to the site operator. If the commission
determines that a site operator is not subject to the exemption,
it shall collect its costs of supervision and regulation under
RCW 81.108.090.
(3) When an exemption is in effect, any increase in the
rates charged by the operator effective January 1, 1993, for
services other than the base rate for disposal of solid material
in packages of twelve cubic feet or less shall be no more than
the percentage increase in the base rate in effect on January 1,
1993. [1991 c 272 § 11.]
81.108.110
81.108.110 Competitive companies—Exemptions.
(1) At any time after this chapter has been implemented with
respect to a site operator, such site operator may petition the
commission to be classified as competitive. The commission
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 81.112
may initiate classification proceedings on its own motion.
The commission shall enter its final order with respect to
classification within seven months from the date of filing of a
company’s petition or the commission’s motion.
(2) The commission shall classify a site operator as a
competitive company if the commission finds, after notice
and hearing, that the disposal services offered are subject to
competition because the company’s customers have reasonably available alternatives. In determining whether a company is competitive, the commission’s consideration shall
include, but not be limited to:
(a) Whether the system of interstate compacts and
regional disposal sites established by federal law has been
implemented so that the Northwest compact site located near
Richland, Washington is the exclusive site option for disposal
by customers within the Northwest compact states;
(b) Whether waste generated outside the Northwest compact states is excluded; and
(c) The ability of alternative disposal sites to make functionally equivalent services readily available at competitive
rates, terms, and conditions.
(3) The commission may reclassify a competitive site
operator if reclassification would protect the public interest
as set forth in this section.
(4) Competitive low-level radioactive waste disposal
companies shall be exempt from commission regulation and
fees during the time they are so classified. [1991 c 272 § 12.]
81.108.900
81.108.900 Construction. Nothing in this chapter shall
be construed to affect the jurisdiction of another state agency.
[1991 c 272 § 13.]
81.108.901
81.108.901 Effective dates—1991 c 272. (1) Sections
1 through 15 and 22 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions. Sections 1 through 14 and 22 of this act shall take effect
July 1, 1991, and section 15 of this act shall take effect immediately [May 20, 1991].
(2) Sections 16 through 21 and 23 of this act shall take
effect January 1, 1993. [1991 c 272 § 24.]
Chapter 81.112
Chapter 81.112 RCW
REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES
(Formerly: Regional transportation authorities)
Sections
81.112.010
81.112.020
81.112.030
81.112.040
81.112.050
81.112.060
81.112.070
81.112.080
81.112.086
81.112.090
81.112.100
81.112.110
81.112.120
81.112.130
81.112.140
Findings—Intent.
Definitions.
Formation—Submission of ballot propositions to voters.
Board appointments—Voting—Expenses.
Area included—Elections—Expiration of subsection.
Powers.
General powers.
Additional powers—Acquisition of facilities—Disposal of
property—Rates, tolls, fares, charges.
Maintenance plan.
Agreements with operators of high capacity transportation services.
Transfer of local government powers to authority.
Acquisition of existing system—Components.
Treasurer—Funds—Auditor—Bond.
General obligation bonds.
Revenue bonds.
[Title 81 RCW—page 95]
81.112.010
81.112.150
81.112.160
81.112.170
81.112.180
81.112.190
81.112.210
81.112.220
81.112.230
81.112.300
81.112.310
81.112.320
81.112.330
81.112.900
81.112.901
81.112.902
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
Local improvement districts authorized—Special assessment
bonds.
County assessor’s duties.
Interim financing.
Rail fixed guideway system—Safety and security program
plan.
Requirements for signage.
Fare payment—Fines and penalties established—Enforcement.
Fare payment—Proof of payment—Civil infractions.
Fare payment—Prosecution for theft, trespass, or other
charges.
Sale and leaseback, similar transactions—Authorized.
Sale and leaseback—Conditions.
Sale and leaseback—Creation of public entity.
Sale and leaseback—Restrictions, requirements.
Section headings not part of law—1992 c 101.
Severability—1992 c 101.
Effective date—1992 c 101.
Additional powers: RCW 81.104.120.
Funding sources
employer taxes: RCW 81.104.150.
sales and use taxes: RCW 81.104.170.
vehicle taxes: RCW 81.104.160.
(1) "Authority" means a regional transit authority authorized under this chapter.
(2) "Board" means the board of a regional transit authority.
(3) "Service area" or "area" means the area included
within the boundaries of a regional transit authority.
(4) "System" means a regional transit system authorized
under this chapter and under the jurisdiction of a regional
transit authority.
(5) "Facilities" means any lands, interest in land, air
rights over lands, and improvements thereto including vessel
terminals, and any equipment, vehicles, vessels, and other
components necessary to support the system.
(6) "Proof of payment" means evidence of fare prepayment authorized by a regional transit authority for the use of
trains, including but not limited to commuter trains and light
rail trains. [1999 c 20 § 2; 1992 c 101 § 2.]
Purpose—Intent—1999 c 20: See note following RCW 81.112.210.
81.112.030
81.112.010
81.112.010 Findings—Intent. The legislature recognizes that existing transportation facilities in the central Puget
Sound area are inadequate to address mobility needs of the
area. The geography of the region, travel demand growth, and
public resistance to new roadways combine to further necessitate the rapid development of alternative modes of travel.
The legislature finds that local governments have been
effective in cooperatively planning a multicounty, high
capacity transportation system. However, a continued multijurisdictional approach to funding, construction, and operation of a multicounty high capacity transportation system
may impair the successful implementation of such a system.
The legislature finds that a single agency will be more
effective than several local jurisdictions working collectively
at planning, developing, operating, and funding a high capacity transportation system. The single agency’s services must
be carefully integrated and coordinated with public transportation services currently provided. As the single agency’s services are established, any public transportation services currently provided that are duplicative should be eliminated.
Further, the single agency must coordinate its activities with
other agencies providing local and state roadway services,
implementing comprehensive planning, and implementing
transportation demand management programs and assist in
developing infrastructure to support high capacity systems
including but not limited to feeder systems, park and ride
facilities, intermodal centers, and related roadway and operational facilities. Coordination can be best achieved through
common governance, such as integrated governing boards.
It is therefore the policy of the state of Washington to
empower counties in the state’s most populous region to create a local agency for planning and implementing a high
capacity transportation system within that region. The authorization for such an agency, except as specifically provided in
this chapter, is not intended to limit the powers of existing
transit agencies. [1992 c 101 § 1.]
81.112.020
81.112.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
[Title 81 RCW—page 96]
81.112.030 Formation—Submission of ballot propositions to voters. Two or more contiguous counties each
having a population of four hundred thousand persons or
more may establish a regional transit authority to develop and
operate a high capacity transportation system as defined in
chapter 81.104 RCW.
The authority shall be formed in the following manner:
(1) The joint regional policy committee created pursuant
to RCW 81.104.040 shall adopt a system and financing plan,
including the definition of the service area. This action shall
be completed by September 1, 1992, contingent upon satisfactory completion of the planning process defined in RCW
81.104.100. The final system plan shall be adopted no later
than June 30, 1993. In addition to the requirements of RCW
81.104.100, the plan for the proposed system shall provide
explicitly for a minimum portion of new tax revenues to be
allocated to local transit agencies for interim express services. Upon adoption the joint regional policy committee
shall immediately transmit the plan to the county legislative
authorities within the adopted service area.
(2) The legislative authorities of the counties within the
service area shall decide by resolution whether to participate
in the authority. This action shall be completed within fortyfive days following receipt of the adopted plan or by August
13, 1993, whichever comes first.
(3) Each county that chooses to participate in the authority shall appoint its board members as set forth in RCW
81.112.040 and shall submit its list of members to the secretary of the Washington state department of transportation.
These actions must be completed within thirty days following
each county’s decision to participate in the authority.
(4) The secretary shall call the first meeting of the
authority, to be held within thirty days following receipt of
the appointments. At its first meeting, the authority shall
elect officers and provide for the adoption of rules and other
operating procedures.
(5) The authority is formally constituted at its first meeting and the board shall begin taking steps toward implementation of the system and financing plan adopted by the joint
regional policy committee. If the joint regional policy committee fails to adopt a plan by June 30, 1993, the authority
(2006 Ed.)
Regional Transit Authorities
shall proceed to do so based on the work completed by that
date by the joint regional policy committee. Upon formation
of the authority, the joint regional policy committee shall
cease to exist. The authority may make minor modifications
to the plan as deemed necessary and shall at a minimum
review local transit agencies’ plans to ensure feeder
service/ high capacity transit service integration, ensure fare
integration, and ensure avoidance of parallel competitive services. The authority shall also conduct a minimum thirty-day
public comment period.
(6) If the authority determines that major modifications
to the plan are necessary before the initial ballot proposition
is submitted to the voters, the authority may make those modifications with a favorable vote of two-thirds of the entire
membership. Any such modification shall be subject to the
review process set forth in RCW 81.104.110. The modified
plan shall be transmitted to the legislative authorities of the
participating counties. The legislative authorities shall have
forty-five days following receipt to act by motion or ordinance to confirm or rescind their continued participation in
the authority.
(7) If any county opts to not participate in the authority,
but two or more contiguous counties do choose to continue to
participate, the authority’s board shall be revised accordingly. The authority shall, within forty-five days, redefine
the system and financing plan to reflect elimination of one or
more counties, and submit the redefined plan to the legislative authorities of the remaining counties for their decision as
to whether to continue to participate. This action shall be
completed within forty-five days following receipt of the
redefined plan.
(8) The authority shall place on the ballot within two
years of the authority’s formation, a single ballot proposition
to authorize the imposition of taxes to support the implementation of an appropriate phase of the plan within its service
area. In addition to the system plan requirements contained
in RCW 81.104.100(2)(d), the system plan approved by the
authority’s board before the submittal of a proposition to the
voters shall contain an equity element which:
(a) Identifies revenues anticipated to be generated by
corridor and by county within the authority’s boundaries;
(b) Identifies the phasing of construction and operation
of high capacity system facilities, services, and benefits in
each corridor. Phasing decisions should give priority to jurisdictions which have adopted transit-supportive land use
plans; and
(c) Identifies the degree to which revenues generated
within each county will benefit the residents of that county,
and identifies when such benefits will accrue.
A simple majority of those voting within the boundaries
of the authority is required for approval. If the vote is affirmative, the authority shall begin implementation of the
projects identified in the proposition. However, the authority
may not submit any authorizing proposition for voterapproved taxes prior to July 1, 1993; nor may the authority
issue bonds or form any local improvement district prior to
July 1, 1993.
(9) If the vote on a proposition fails, the board may redefine the proposition, make changes to the authority boundaries, and make corresponding changes to the composition of
the board. If the composition of the board is changed, the
(2006 Ed.)
81.112.040
participating counties shall revise the membership of the
board accordingly. The board may then submit the revised
proposition or a different proposition to the voters. No single
proposition may be submitted to the voters more than twice.
Beginning no sooner than the 2007 general election, the
authority may place additional propositions on the ballot to
impose taxes to support additional phases of plan implementation.
(10) In conjunction with RCW 36.120.070, at the 2007
general election the authority shall submit a proposition to
support additional implementation phases of the authority’s
system and financing plan on the same ballot along with a
regional transportation investment plan developed under
chapter 36.120 RCW. The proposition shall not be considered approved unless voters also approve the regional transportation investment plan.
(11) Additional phases of plan implementation may
include a transportation subarea equity element which (a)
identifies the combined authority and regional transportation
investment district revenues anticipated to be generated by
corridor and by county within the authority’s boundaries, and
(b) identifies the degree to which the combined authority and
regional transportation investment district revenues generated within each county will benefit the residents of that
county, and identifies when such benefits will accrue. For
purposes of the transportation subarea equity principle established under this subsection, the authority may use the five
subareas within the authority’s boundaries as identified in the
authority’s system plan adopted in May 1996.
(12) If the authority is unable to achieve a positive vote
on a proposition within two years from the date of the first
election on a proposition, the board may, by resolution,
reconstitute the authority as a single-county body. With a
two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the voting members, the board may also dissolve the authority. [2006 c 311
§ 12; 1994 c 44 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 23 § 62; 1992 c 101 § 3.]
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 43.89.010.
81.112.040
8 1 . 1 1 2 . 0 4 0 B o a r d a p p o in t m e nt s —V o t i n g —
Expenses. (1) The regional transit authority shall be governed by a board consisting of representatives appointed by
the county executive and confirmed by the council or other
legislative authority of each member county. Membership
shall be based on population from that portion of each county
which lies within the service area. Board members shall be
appointed initially on the basis of one for each one hundred
forty-five thousand population within the county. Such
appointments shall be made following consultation with city
and town jurisdictions within the service area. In addition, the
secretary of transportation or the secretary’s designee shall
serve as a member of the board and may have voting status
with approval of a majority of the other members of the
board. Only board members, not including alternates or designees, may cast votes.
Each member of the board, except the secretary of transportation or the secretary’s designee, shall be:
(a) An elected official who serves on the legislative
authority of a city or as mayor of a city within the boundaries
of the authority;
[Title 81 RCW—page 97]
81.112.050
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
(b) On the legislative authority of the county, if fifty percent of the population of the legislative official’s district is
within the authority boundaries; or
(c) A county executive from a member county within the
authority boundaries.
When making appointments, each county executive shall
ensure that representation on the board includes an elected
city official representing the largest city in each county and
assures proportional representation from other cities, and representation from unincorporated areas of each county within
the service area. At least one-half of all appointees from each
county shall serve on the governing authority of a public
transportation system.
Members appointed from each county shall serve staggered four-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position
being vacated.
The governing board shall be reconstituted, with regard
to the number of representatives from each county, on a population basis, using the official office of financial management population estimates, five years after its initial formation and, at minimum, in the year following each official federal census. The board membership may be reduced,
maintained, or expanded to reflect population changes but
under no circumstances may the board membership exceed
twenty-five.
(2) Major decisions of the authority shall require a favorable vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the voting
members. "Major decisions" include at least the following:
System plan adoption and amendment; system phasing decisions; annual budget adoption; authorization of annexations;
modification of board composition; and executive director
employment.
(3) Each member of the board is eligible to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060 and to receive compensation as provided in RCW 43.03.250. [1994 c 109 § 1; 1992 c 101 § 4.]
81.112.050 Area included—Elections—Expiration of
subsection. (1) At the time of formation, the area to be
included within the boundary of the authority shall be that
area set forth in the system plan adopted by the joint regional
policy committee. Prior to submitting the system and financing plan to the voters, the authority may make adjustments to
the boundaries as deemed appropriate but must assure that, to
the extent possible, the boundaries: (a) Include the largestpopulation urban growth area designated by each county
under chapter 36.70A RCW; and (b) follow election precinct
boundaries. If a portion of any city is determined to be within
the service area, the entire city must be included within the
boundaries of the authority.
(2) After voters within the authority boundaries have
approved the system and financing plan, elections to add
areas contiguous to the authority boundaries may be called by
resolution of the regional transit authority, after consultation
with affected transit agencies and with the concurrence of the
legislative authority of the city or town if the area is incorporated, or with the concurrence of the county legislative
authority if the area is unincorporated. Only those areas that
would benefit from the services provided by the authority
may be included and services or projects proposed for the
81.112.050
[Title 81 RCW—page 98]
area must be consistent with the regional transportation plan.
The election may include a single ballot proposition providing for annexation to the authority boundaries and imposition
of the taxes at rates already imposed within the authority
boundaries.
(3) Upon receipt of a resolution requesting exclusion
from the boundaries of the authority from a city whose
municipal boundaries cross the boundaries of an authority
and thereby result in only a portion of the city being subject
to local option taxes imposed by the authority under chapters
81.104 and 81.112 RCW in order to implement a high-capacity transit plan, and where the vote to approve the city’s
incorporation occurred simultaneously with an election
approving the local option taxes, then upon a two-thirds
majority vote of the governing board of the authority, the
governing board shall redraw the boundaries of the authority
to exclude that portion of the city that is located within the
authority’s boundaries, and the excluded area is no longer
subject to local option taxes imposed by the authority. This
subsection expires December 31, 1998. [1998 c 192 § 1;
1992 c 101 § 5.]
81.112.060
81.112.060 Powers. An authority shall have the following powers:
(1) To establish offices, departments, boards, and commissions that are necessary to carry out the purposes of the
authority, and to prescribe the functions, powers, and duties
thereof.
(2) To appoint or provide for the appointment of, and to
remove or to provide for the removal of, all officers and
employees of the authority.
(3) To fix the salaries, wages, and other compensation of
all officers and employees of the authority.
(4) To employ such engineering, legal, financial, or other
specialized personnel as may be necessary to accomplish the
purposes of the authority.
(5) To determine risks, hazards, and liabilities in order to
obtain insurance consistent with these determinations. This
insurance may include any types of insurance covering, and
for the benefit of, one or more parties with whom the authority contracts for any purpose, and insurance for the benefit of
its board members, authority officers, and employees to
insure against liability for acts or omissions while performing
or in good faith purporting to perform their official duties. All
insurance obtained for construction of authority projects with
a total project cost exceeding one hundred million dollars
may be acquired by bid or by negotiation through December
31, 2006. In order to allow the authority flexibility to secure
appropriate insurance by negotiation, the authority is exempt
from RCW 48.30.270. [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 32; 1992 c 101
§ 6.]
81.112.070
81.112.070 General powers. In addition to the powers
specifically granted by this chapter an authority shall have all
powers necessary to implement a high capacity transportation
system and to develop revenues for system support. An
authority may contract with the United States or any agency
thereof, any state or agency thereof, any public transportation
benefit area, any county, county transportation authority,
city, metropolitan municipal corporation, special district, or
(2006 Ed.)
Regional Transit Authorities
governmental agency, within or without the state, and any
private person, firm, or corporation for: (1) The purpose of
receiving gifts or grants or securing loans or advances for
preliminary planning and feasibility studies; (2) the design,
construction, or operation of high capacity transportation system facilities; or (3) the provision or receipt of services, facilities, or property rights to provide revenues for the system.
An authority shall have the power to contract pursuant to
RCW 39.33.050. In addition, an authority may contract with
any governmental agency or with any private person, firm, or
corporation for the use by either contracting party of all or
any part of the facilities, structures, lands, interests in lands,
air rights over lands and rights of way of all kinds which are
owned, leased, or held by the other party and for the purpose
of planning, constructing, or operating any facility or performing any service that the authority may be authorized to
operate or perform, on such terms as may be agreed upon by
the contracting parties. Before any contract for the lease or
operation of any authority facilities is let to any private person, firm, or corporation, a general schedule of rental rates
for equipment with or without operators applicable to all private certificated carriers shall be publicly posted, and for
other facilities competitive bids shall first be called upon
such notice, bidder qualifications, and bid conditions as the
board shall determine. This shall allow use of negotiated procurements. [1992 c 101 § 7.]
81.112.080
81.112.080 Additional powers—Acquisition of facilities—Disposal of property—Rates, tolls, fares, charges.
An authority shall have the following powers in addition to
the general powers granted by this chapter:
(1) To carry out the planning processes set forth in RCW
81.104.100;
(2) To acquire by purchase, condemnation, gift, or grant
and to lease, construct, add to, improve, replace, repair, maintain, operate, and regulate the use of high capacity transportation facilities and properties within authority boundaries
including surface, underground, or overhead railways, tramways, busways, buses, bus sets, entrained and linked buses,
ferries, or other means of local transportation except taxis,
and including escalators, moving sidewalks, personal rapid
transit systems or other people-moving systems, passenger
terminal and parking facilities and properties, and such other
facilities and properties as may be necessary for passenger,
vehicular, and vessel access to and from such people-moving
systems, terminal and parking facilities and properties,
together with all lands, rights of way, property, equipment,
and accessories necessary for such high capacity transportation systems. When developing specifications for high capacity transportation system operating equipment, an authority
shall take into account efforts to establish or sustain a domestic manufacturing capacity for such equipment. The right of
eminent domain shall be exercised by an authority in the
same manner and by the same procedure as or may be provided by law for cities of the first class, except insofar as such
laws may be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
Public transportation facilities and properties which are
owned by any city, county, county transportation authority,
public transportation benefit area, or metropolitan municipal
corporation may be acquired or used by an authority only
with the consent of the agency owning such facilities. Such
(2006 Ed.)
81.112.090
agencies are hereby authorized to convey or lease such facilities to an authority or to contract for their joint use on such
terms as may be fixed by agreement between the agency and
the authority.
The facilities and properties of an authority whose vehicles will operate primarily within the rights of way of public
streets, roads, or highways, may be acquired, developed, and
operated without the corridor and design hearings that are
required by *RCW 35.58.273 for mass transit facilities operating on a separate right of way;
(3) To dispose of any real or personal property acquired
in connection with any authority function and that is no
longer required for the purposes of the authority, in the same
manner as provided for cities of the first class. When an
authority determines that a facility or any part thereof that has
been acquired from any public agency without compensation
is no longer required for authority purposes, but is required
by the agency from which it was acquired, the authority shall
by resolution transfer it to such agency;
(4) To fix rates, tolls, fares, and charges for the use of
such facilities and to establish various routes and classes of
service. Fares or charges may be adjusted or eliminated for
any distinguishable class of users. [1992 c 101 § 8.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 35.58.273 was repealed by 2002 c 6 § 2.
81.112.086
81.112.086 Maintenance plan. As a condition of
receiving state funding, a regional transit authority shall submit a maintenance and preservation management plan for
certification by the department of transportation. The plan
must inventory all transportation system assets within the
direction and control of the transit authority, and provide a
plan for preservation of assets based on lowest life-cycle cost
methodologies. [2006 c 334 § 28; 2003 c 363 § 306.]
Effective date—2006 c 334: See note following RCW 47.01.051.
Finding—Intent—2003 c 363: See note following RCW 35.84.060.
Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 363: See notes following RCW 47.28.241.
81.112.090
81.112.090 Agreements with operators of high capacity transportation services. Except in accordance with an
agreement made as provided in this section, upon the date an
authority begins high capacity transportation service, no person or private corporation may operate a high capacity transportation service within the authority boundary with the
exception of services owned or operated by any corporation
or organization solely for the purposes of the corporation or
organization and for the use of which no fee or fare is
charged.
The authority and any person or corporation legally
operating a high capacity transportation service wholly
within or partly within and partly without the authority
boundary on the date an authority begins high capacity
transportation service may enter into an agreement under
which such person or corporation may continue to operate
such service or any part thereof for such time and upon such
terms and conditions as provided in such agreement. Such
agreement shall provide for a periodic review of the terms
and conditions contained therein. Where any such high
capacity transportation service will be required to cease to
operate within the authority boundary, the authority may
[Title 81 RCW—page 99]
81.112.100
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
agree with the owner of such service to purchase the assets
used in providing such service, or if no agreement can be
reached, an authority shall condemn such assets in the manner and by the same procedure as is or may be provided by
law for the condemnation of other properties for cities of the
first class, except insofar as such laws may be inconsistent
with this chapter.
Wherever a privately owned public carrier operates
wholly or partly within an authority boundary, the Washington utilities and transportation commission shall continue to
exercise jurisdiction over such operation as provided by law.
[1992 c 101 § 9.]
81.112.100
81.112.100 Transfer of local government powers to
authority. An authority shall have and exercise all rights
with respect to the construction, acquisition, maintenance,
operation, extension, alteration, repair, control and management of high capacity transportation system facilities that are
identified in the system plan developed pursuant to RCW
81.104.100 that any city, county, county transportation
authority, metropolitan municipal corporation, or public
transportation benefit area within the authority boundary has
been previously empowered to exercise and such powers
shall not thereafter be exercised by such agencies without the
consent of the authority. Nothing in this chapter shall restrict
development, construction, or operation of a personal rapid
transit system by a city or county.
An authority may adopt, in whole or in part, and may
complete, modify, or terminate any planning, environmental
review, or procurement processes related to the high capacity
transportation system that had been commenced by a joint
regional policy committee or a city, county, county transportation authority, metropolitan municipality, or public transportation benefit area prior to the formation of the authority.
[1992 c 101 § 10.]
81.112.110
81.112.110 Acquisition of existing system—Components. If an authority acquires any existing components of a
high capacity transportation system, it shall assume and
observe all existing labor contracts relating to the transportation system and, to the extent necessary for operation of facilities, all of the employees of such acquired transportation system whose duties are necessary to operate efficiently the
facilities acquired shall be appointed to comparable positions
to those which they held at the time of such transfer, and no
employee or retired or pensioned employee of such transportation systems shall be placed in any worse position with
respect to pension seniority, wages, sick leave, vacation or
other benefits that he or she enjoyed as an employee of the
transportation system prior to such acquisition. At such times
as may be required by such contracts, the authority shall
engage in collective bargaining with the duly appointed representatives of any employee labor organization having existing contracts with the acquired transportation system and
may enter into labor contracts with such employee labor
organization. Facilities and equipment which are acquired
after July 1, 1993, related to high capacity transportation services which are to be assumed by the authority as specifically
identified in the adopted system plan shall be acquired by the
[Title 81 RCW—page 100]
authority in a manner consistent with RCW 81.112.070
through 81.112.100. [1992 c 101 § 11.]
81.112.120
81.112.120 Treasurer—Funds—Auditor—Bond.
The board of an authority, by resolution, shall designate a
person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as
treasurer of the authority. The board may designate, with the
concurrence of the treasurer, the treasurer of a county within
which the authority is located. Such a treasurer shall possess
all of the powers, responsibilities, and duties the county treasurer possesses for a public transportation benefit area
authority related to investing surplus authority funds. The
board shall require a bond with a surety company authorized
to do business in the state of Washington in an amount and
under the terms and conditions the board, by resolution, from
time to time finds will protect the authority against loss. The
premium on any such bond shall be paid by the authority.
All authority funds shall be paid to the treasurer and shall
be disbursed by the treasurer only on warrants issued by the
authority upon orders or vouchers approved by the board.
The treasurer shall establish a special fund, into which
shall be paid all authority funds, and the treasurer shall maintain such special accounts as may be created by the authority
into which shall be placed all money as the board may, by
resolution, direct.
If the treasurer of the authority is the treasurer of a
county, all authority funds shall be deposited with the county
depositary under the same restrictions, contracts, and security
as provided for county depositaries. If the treasurer of the
authority is some other person, all funds shall be deposited in
such bank or banks authorized to do business in this state that
have qualified for insured deposits under any federal deposit
insurance act as the board, by resolution, shall designate.
The authority may by resolution designate a person having experience in financial or fiscal matters, as the auditor of
the authority. Such auditor shall possess all of the powers,
responsibilities, and duties related to creating and maintaining funds, issuing warrants, and maintaining a record of
receipts and disbursements.
The board may provide and require a reasonable bond of
any other person handling moneys or securities of the authority, but the authority shall pay the premium on the bond.
[1992 c 101 § 12.]
81.112.130
81.112.130 General obligation bonds. Notwithstanding RCW 39.36.020(1), an authority may at any time contract
indebtedness or borrow money for authority purposes and
may issue general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding, together with any existing indebtedness of the authority
not authorized by the voters, one and one-half percent of the
value of the taxable property within the boundaries of the
authority; and with the assent of three-fifths of the voters
therein voting at an election called for that purpose, may contract indebtedness or borrow money for authority purposes
and may issue general obligation bonds therefor, provided the
total indebtedness of the authority shall not exceed five percent of the value of the taxable property therein. Such bonds
shall be issued and sold in accordance with chapter 39.46
RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Regional Transit Authorities
The term "value of the taxable property" shall have the
meaning set forth in RCW 39.36.015. [1992 c 101 § 13.]
81.112.140
81.112.140 Revenue bonds. (1) An authority may issue
revenue bonds to provide funds to carry out its authorized
functions without submitting the matter to the voters of the
authority. The authority shall create a special fund or funds
for the sole purpose of paying the principal of and interest on
the bonds of each such issue, into which fund or funds the
authority may obligate itself to pay such amounts of the gross
revenue of the high capacity transportation system constructed, acquired, improved, added to, or repaired out of the
proceeds of sale of such bonds, as the authority shall determine and may obligate the authority to pay such amounts out
of otherwise unpledged revenue that may be derived from the
ownership, use, or operation of properties or facilities owned,
used, or operated incident to the performance of the authorized function for which such bonds are issued or out of otherwise unpledged fees, tolls, charges, tariffs, fares, rentals,
special taxes, or other sources of payment lawfully authorized for such purpose, as the authority shall determine. The
principal of, and interest on, such bonds shall be payable only
out of such special fund or funds, and the owners of such
bonds shall have a lien and charge against the gross revenue
of such high capacity transportation system or any other revenue, fees, tolls, charges, tariffs, fares, special taxes, or other
authorized sources pledged to the payment of such bonds.
Such revenue bonds and the interest thereon issued
against such fund or funds shall be a valid claim of the owners thereof only as against such fund or funds and the revenue
pledged therefor, and shall not constitute a general indebtedness of the authority.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, such
bonds may be issued and sold in accordance with chapter
39.46 RCW. [1992 c 101 § 14.]
81.112.180
simile signatures may be used on the bonds and any coupons.
The maximum term of any special assessment bonds shall not
exceed thirty years beyond the date of issue. Special assessment bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be an
indebtedness of the authority issuing the bonds, and the interest and principal on the bonds shall only be payable from special assessments made for the improvement for which the
bonds were issued and any local improvement guaranty fund
that the authority has created. The owner or bearer of a special assessment bond or any interest coupon issued pursuant
to this section shall not have any claim against the authority
arising from the bond or coupon except for the payment from
special assessments made for the improvement for which the
bonds were issued and any local improvement guaranty fund
the authority has created. The authority issuing the special
assessment bonds is not liable to the owner or bearer of any
special assessment bond or any interest coupon issued pursuant to this section for any loss occurring in the lawful operation of its local improvement guaranty fund. The substance of
the limitations included in this subsection shall be plainly
printed, written, or engraved on each special assessment bond
issued pursuant to this section.
(3) Assessments shall reflect any credits given by the
authority for real property or property right donations made
pursuant to RCW 47.14.030.
(4) The board may establish and pay moneys into a local
improvement guaranty fund to guarantee special assessment
bonds issued by the authority. [1992 c 101 § 15.]
81.112.160
81.112.160 County assessor’s duties. It shall be the
duty of the assessor of each component county to certify
annually to a regional transit authority the aggregate assessed
valuation of all taxable property within the boundaries of the
authority as the same appears from the last assessment roll of
the county. [1992 c 101 § 16.]
81.112.170
81.112.150
81.112.150 Local improvement districts authorized—Special assessment bonds. (1) An authority may
form a local improvement district to provide any transportation improvement it has the authority to provide, impose special assessments on all property specially benefited by the
transportation improvements, and issue special assessment
bonds or revenue bonds to fund the costs of the transportation
improvement. Local improvement districts shall be created
and assessments shall be made and collected pursuant to
chapters 35.43, 35.44, 35.49, 35.50, 35.51, 35.53, and 35.54
RCW.
(2) The board shall by resolution establish for each special assessment bond issue the amount, date, terms, conditions, denominations, maximum fixed or variable interest rate
or rates, maturity or maturities, redemption rights, registration privileges, if any, covenants, and form, including registration as to principal and interest, registration as to principal
only, or bearer. Registration may include, but not be limited
to: (a) A book entry system of recording the ownership of a
bond whether or not physical bonds are issued; or (b) recording the ownership of a bond together with the requirement
that the transfer of ownership may only be effected by the
surrender of the old bond and either the reissuance of the old
bond or the issuance of a new bond to the new owner. Fac(2006 Ed.)
81.112.170 Interim financing. A regional transit
authority may apply for high capacity transportation account
funds and for central Puget Sound account funds for high
capacity transit planning and system development.
Transit agencies contained wholly or partly within a
regional transit authority may make grants or loans to the
authority for high capacity transportation planning and system development. [1992 c 101 § 17.]
81.112.180
81.112.180 Rail fixed guideway system—Safety and
security program plan. (1) Each regional transit authority
that owns or operates a rail fixed guideway system as defined
in RCW 81.104.015 shall submit a system safety and security
program plan for that guideway to the state department of
transportation by September 1, 1999, or at least three months
before beginning operations or instituting revisions to its
plan. This plan must describe the authority’s procedures for
(a) reporting and investigating reportable accidents, unacceptable hazardous conditions, and security breaches, (b)
submitting corrective action plans and annual safety and
security audit reports, (c) facilitating on-site safety and security reviews by the state department of transportation, and (d)
addressing passenger and employee security. The plan must,
at a minimum, conform to the standards adopted by the state
[Title 81 RCW—page 101]
81.112.190
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
department of transportation. If required by the department,
the regional transit authority shall revise its plan to incorporate the department’s review comments within sixty days
after their receipt, and resubmit its revised plan for review.
(2) Each regional transit authority shall implement and
comply with its system safety and security program plan.
The regional transit authority shall perform internal safety
and security audits to evaluate its compliance with the plan,
and submit its audit schedule to the department of transportation no later than December 15th each year. The regional
transit authority shall prepare an annual report for its internal
safety and security audits undertaken in the prior year and
submit it to the department no later than February 15th. This
annual report must include the dates the audits were conducted, the scope of the audit activity, the audit findings and
recommendations, the status of any corrective actions taken
as a result of the audit activity, and the results of each audit in
terms of the adequacy and effectiveness of the plan.
(3) Each regional transit authority shall notify the department of transportation within twenty-four hours of an occurrence of a reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach. The department may adopt rules further defining a reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous
condition, or security breach. The regional transit authority
shall investigate all reportable accidents, unacceptable hazardous conditions, or security breaches and provide a written
investigation report to the department within forty-five calendar days after the reportable accident, unacceptable hazardous condition, or security breach.
(4) The security section of the safety and security plan
required in subsection (1)(d) of this section is exempt from
public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. However, the
activities and plans as described in subsections (1)(a), (b),
and (c), (2), and (3) of this section are not subject to this
exemption. [2005 c 274 § 360; 1999 c 202 § 6.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Effective date—1999 c 202: See note following RCW 35.21.228.
81.112.190
81.112.190 Requirements for signage. Each authority
shall incorporate in plans for stations along any light-rail
facility signing that is easily understood by the traveling public, including, but not limited to, persons with disabilities,
non-English speaking persons, and visitors from other
nations. The signage must employ graphics consistent with
international symbols for transportation facilities and signage
that are consistent with department of transportation guidelines and programs. The signage must also use distinguishing
symbols or pictograms developed by the authority as a means
to identify stations and may identify points of interest along
the corridor for persons who use languages that are not
Roman-alphabet based. These requirements are intended to
apply to new sign installation and not to existing signs,
installed before July 24, 2005. The authority may replace
existing signs as it chooses; however, it shall use the new
signing designs when existing signs are replaced. All signage
must comply with requirements of applicable federal law and
may include recommendations contained in federal publications providing directions on way-finding for persons with
disabilities. [2005 c 19 § 3.]
Intent—Findings—2005 c 19: See note following RCW 35.95A.140.
[Title 81 RCW—page 102]
81.112.210
81.112.210 Fare payment—Fines and penalties
established—Enforcement. (1) An authority is authorized
to establish, by resolution, a schedule of fines and penalties
for civil infractions established in RCW 81.112.220. Fines
established by a regional transit authority shall not exceed
those imposed for class 1 infractions under RCW 7.80.120.
(2)(a) A regional transit authority may designate persons
to monitor fare payment who are equivalent to and are authorized to exercise all the powers of an enforcement officer,
defined in RCW 7.80.040. An authority is authorized to
employ personnel to either monitor fare payment, or to contract for such services, or both.
(b) In addition to the specific powers granted to enforcement officers under RCW 7.80.050 and 7.80.060, persons
designated to monitor fare payment also have the authority to
take the following actions:
(i) Request proof of payment from passengers;
(ii) Request personal identification from a passenger
who does not produce proof of payment when requested;
(iii) Issue a citation conforming to the requirements
established in RCW 7.80.070; and
(iv) Request that a passenger leave the regional transit
authority train, including but not limited to commuter trains
and light rail trains, when the passenger has not produced
proof of payment after being asked to do so by a person designated to monitor fare payment.
(3) Regional transit authorities shall keep records of citations in the manner prescribed by RCW 7.80.150. All civil
infractions established by chapter 20, Laws of 1999 shall be
heard and determined by a district court as provided in RCW
7.80.010 (1) and (4). [1999 c 20 § 3.]
Purpose—Intent—1999 c 20: "The purpose of this act is to facilitate
ease of boarding of commuter trains and light rail trains operated by regional
transit authorities by allowing for barrier free entry ways. This act provides
regional transit authorities with the power to require proof of payment; to set
a schedule of fines and penalties not to exceed those classified as class 1
infractions under RCW 7.80.120; to employ individuals to monitor fare payment or contract for such services; to issue citations for fare nonpayment or
related activities; and to keep records regarding citations issued for the purpose of tracking violations and issuing citations consistent with established
schedules. This act is intended to be consistent with and implemented pursuant to chapter 7.80 RCW with regard to civil infractions, the issuance of citations, and the maintenance of citation records." [1999 c 20 § 1.]
81.112.220
81.112.220 Fare payment—Proof of payment—Civil
infractions. (1) Persons traveling on trains, including but not
limited to commuter trains or light rail trains, operated by an
authority, shall pay the fare established by the authority. Such
persons shall produce proof of payment when requested by a
person designated to monitor fare payment.
(2) The following constitute civil infractions punishable
according to the schedule of fines and penalties established
by the authority under RCW 81.112.210(1):
(a) Failure to pay the required fare;
(b) Failure to display proof of payment when requested
to do so by a person designated to monitor fare payment; and
(c) Failure to depart the train, including but not limited to
commuter trains and light rail trains, when requested to do so
by a person designated to monitor fare payment. [1999 c 20
§ 4.]
Purpose—Intent—1999 c 20: See note following RCW 81.112.210.
(2006 Ed.)
Regional Transit Authorities
81.112.230
81.112.230 Fare payment—Prosecution for theft,
trespass, or other charges. Nothing in RCW 81.112.020
and 81.112.210 through 81.112.230 shall be deemed to prevent law enforcement authorities from prosecuting for theft,
trespass, or other charges by any individual who:
(1) Fails to pay the required fare on more than one occasion within a twelve-month period;
(2) Fails to timely select one of the options for responding to the notice of civil infraction after receiving a statement
of the options provided in this chapter for responding to the
notice of infraction and the procedures necessary to exercise
these options; or
(3) Fails to depart the train, including but not limited to
commuter trains and light rail trains, when requested to do so
by a person designated to monitor fare payment. [2006 c 270
§ 12; 1999 c 20 § 5.]
Purpose—Intent—1999 c 20: See note following RCW 81.112.210.
81.112.300
81.112.300 Sale and leaseback, similar transactions—Authorized. (1) In order to enable regional transit
authorities to acquire or finance equipment or facilities, or
reduce the cost of equipment or facilities, regional transit
authorities may enter into sale and leaseback, leaseout and
leaseback, and other similar transactions with respect to
equipment, facilities, and other real and personal property. In
connection with any such transaction, a regional transit
authority may execute, as it considers appropriate, contracts,
agreements, notes, security agreements, conveyances, bills of
sale, deeds, leases as lessee or lessor, and currency hedges,
defeasance arrangements, interest rate, currency or other
swap transactions, one or more payment undertaking agreements, and agreements relating to foreign and domestic currency. These agreements or instruments must have terms,
maturities, durations, provisions as to governing laws, grants
of security interests, and other provisions that are approved
by the board of the regional transit authority.
(2) "Payment undertaking agreement" means one or
more agreements, undertakings or arrangements under which
all or a portion of the funds generated by a sale and leaseback,
leaseout and leaseback, or other similar transaction are
directed or paid over to a financial institution, insurance company, or other entity that agrees to meet or fulfill, in consideration for the funds, some or all of the obligations of the
regional transit authority, or any public corporation or other
entity created under RCW 81.112.320, to make future rent,
debt service, or purchase price installment payments in connection with the transaction. [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 18.]
Findings—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: "The legislature finds that
additional funds or other benefits can be made available to Washington
regional transit authorities by facilitating their entry into sale and leaseback,
leaseout and leaseback, and similar transactions that provide to private parties, in consideration for the funds or other benefits obtained by the regional
transit authorities, tax benefits that are not otherwise available to regional
transit authorities. The legislature further finds that such transactions have
been encouraged by agencies of the federal government as ways to provide
additional funds for public facilities. To facilitate such transactions for
regional transit authorities, the legislature has determined that while regional
transit authorities may currently have the necessary statutory authority and
may currently enjoy exemptions from Washington state taxes for such transactions, an explicit statement of statutory authority and exemption from
Washington state taxes is necessary and helpful for the parties to such transactions. In recognition of the complexity of such transactions, the legislature
desires that the authority and exemptions provided by RCW 81.112.300,
81.112.310, 81.112.320, 82.08.834, 82.12.834, 82.04.050, 82.04.4201,
(2006 Ed.)
81.112.310
82.29A.134, 82.45.010, 84.36.605, 35.21.756, 35.21.755, and 81.112.330 be
subject to certain limitations and be granted for a period as specified in RCW
81.112.330." [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 17.]
Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: "The authority granted by
RCW 81.112.300, 81.112.310, 81.112.320, 82.08.834, 82.12.834,
82.04.050, 82.04.4201, 82.29A.134, 82.45.010, 84.36.605, 35.21.756,
35.21.755, and 81.112.330 is in addition and supplemental to any authority
previously granted and does not limit nor is limited by any other powers or
authority previously granted to regional transit authorities or any public corporation, or restrictions on such powers or authority. Nothing in RCW
81.112.300, 81.112.310, 81.112.320, 82.08.834, 82.12.834, 82.04.050,
82.04.4201, 82.29A.134, 82.45.010, 84.36.605, 35.21.756, 35.21.755, and
81.112.330 limits other statutory authority previously granted to regional
transit authorities or public corporations or other tax exemptions granted to
regional transit authorities or public corporations. Nothing in RCW
81.112.300, 81.112.310, 81.112.320, 82.08.834, 82.12.834, 82.04.050,
82.04.4201, 82.29A.134, 82.45.010, 84.36.605, 35.21.756, 35.21.755, and
81.112.330 limits the authority of the state, any political subdivision thereof,
or any other public or municipal corporation to undertake the activities
described in RCW 81.112.300, 81.112.310, 81.112.320, 82.08.834,
82.12.834, 82.04.050, 82.04.4201, 82.29A.134, 82.45.010, 84.36.605,
35.21.756, 35.21.755, and 81.112.330 as expressly or impliedly authorized
by other provisions of law. Nothing in RCW 81.112.300, 81.112.310,
81.112.320, 82.08.834, 82.12.834, 82.04.050, 82.04.4201, 82.29A.134,
82.45.010, 84.36.605, 35.21.756, 35.21.755, and 81.112.330 is an authorization to provide indemnification to the extent the indemnification is prohibited or restricted by other provisions of law or the Constitution of the state of
Washington." [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 31.]
81.112.310
81.112.310 Sale and leaseback—Conditions. Transactions undertaken under RCW 81.112.300 are subject to the
following conditions:
(1) The financial institution, insurance company, or
other entity that enters into a payment undertaking agreement
with the regional transit authority or public development corporation or entity created under RCW 81.112.320 as a counterparty must have a rating from at least two nationally recognized credit rating agencies, as of the date of execution of the
payment undertaking agreement, that is within the two highest long-term investment grade rating categories, without
regard to subcategories, or the obligations of the counterparty
must be guaranteed by a financial institution, insurance company, or other entity with that credit rating. The payment
undertaking agreement must require that the obligations of
the counterparty or the guarantor, as the case may be, must be
collateralized by collateral of a type and in an amount specified by the governing body of the regional transit authority if
the credit ratings of the counterparty or its guarantor fall
below the level required by this subsection.
(2) The amount to be paid by the counterparties under
payment undertaking agreements for a transaction under the
terms of the agreements, when combined with the amount of
securities, deposits, and investments set aside by the regional
transit authority for payment in respect of the transactions,
together with interest or other earnings on the securities,
deposits, or investments, must be sufficient to pay when due
all amounts required to be paid by the regional transit authority, or public corporation or entity created under RCW
81.112.320, as rent, debt service, or installments of purchase
price, as the case may be, over the full term of the transaction
plus any optional purchase price due under the transaction. A
certification by an independent financial expert, banker, or
certified public accountant, who is not an employee of the
regional transit authority or public corporation or entity created under RCW 81.112.320, certifying compliance with this
requirement is conclusive evidence that the arrangements, by
[Title 81 RCW—page 103]
81.112.320
Title 81 RCW: Transportation
their terms, comply with the requirement under this subsection on the sufficiency of the amount.
(3) The payment undertaking agreements, and all other
basic and material agreements entered into in connection
with the transactions, must specify that the parties to the
agreements consent to the jurisdiction of state courts of
Washington for disputes arising out of the agreements and
agree not to contest venue before such courts. Regardless of
the choice of law specified in the foregoing agreements, the
agreements must acknowledge that the regional transit
authority or public development corporation or entity created
under RCW 81.112.320 that is a party to the agreements is an
entity created under the laws of the state of Washington
whose power and authority and limitations and restrictions on
the power and authority are governed by the laws of the state
of Washington.
Payment undertaking agreements that meet the foregoing requirement must be treated for all relevant purposes as
agreements under which future services are performed for a
present payment and shall not be treated as payment agreements within the meaning of chapter 39.96 RCW. [2000 2nd
sp.s. c 4 § 19.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
(4) A regional transit authority, or public corporation or
entity created under RCW 81.112.320, that undertakes a
transaction authorized by RCW 81.112.300, shall provide to
the state finance committee, or its financial advisor, at the
state finance committee’s discretion, a copy of all material
agreements executed in connection with the transaction
within three months of the closing of the transaction and shall
make a report to the state finance committee, the president of
the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives on
transactions authorized by RCW 81.112.300. The report must
include the amount of the transactions, the expected savings
or losses resulting from the transactions, the transaction
costs, including fees and detailed pricing information, the
risks associated with the transaction, and any other information the regional transit authority determines relevant. The
report must be submitted within six months of the closing of
each transaction. [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 30.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
81.112.900
81.112.900 Section headings not part of law—1992 c
101. Section headings as used in this act do not constitute
any part of the law. [1992 c 101 § 33.]
81.112.901
81.112.320
81.112.320 Sale and leaseback—Creation of public
entity. To accomplish any of the activities under RCW
81.112.300, a regional transit authority may create a public
corporation, commission, or authority under RCW 35.21.730
through 35.21.755, and authorize the corporation, commission, or authority to provide any of the facilities and services
that a regional transit authority may provide including any
activities under RCW 81.112.300. A regional transit authority has all the powers, authorities, and rights granted to any
city, town, or county or their agents under RCW 35.21.730
through 35.21.755 for the purposes of entering into and
implementing transactions under RCW 81.112.300. [2000
2nd sp.s. c 4 § 20.]
Effective date—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 1-3, 20: See note following
RCW 82.08.020.
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
81.112.901 Severability—1992 c 101. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1992 c 101 § 34.]
81.112.902
81.112.902 Effective date—1992 c 101. This act shall
take effect July 1, 1992. [1992 c 101 § 35.]
Chapter 81.900
Chapter 81.900 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
Sections
81.900.010
81.900.020
81.900.030
81.900.040
81.900.050
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Repeals and saving.
Emergency—1961 c 14.
81.112.330
81.112.330 Sale and leaseback—Restrictions,
requirements. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of
this section, no regional transit authority may initiate a transaction authorized under RCW 81.112.300 after June 30,
2007.
(2) The termination of authority to enter into transactions
after June 30, 2007, does not affect the validity of any transactions entered into under RCW 81.112.300.
(3) A regional transit authority may enter into a transaction in accordance with RCW 81.112.300 after June 30,
2007, to replace or refinance a transaction that relates to specific obligations entered into on or before that date and that
has terminated, or is, under the terms of the replacement or
refinance, to terminate, before the final stated term of that
transaction. The exemptions from taxes provided by RCW
82.08.834, 82.12.834, 82.04.4201, 82.29A.134, 82.36.605
[84.36.605], 35.21.756, 82.04.050, 82.45.010, and 35.21.755
apply to the replacement or refinance transactions.
[Title 81 RCW—page 104]
81.900.010
81.900.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1961 c 14 §
81.98.010. Formerly RCW 81.98.010.]
81.900.020
81.900.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part
of law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title do not constitute any
part of the law. [1961 c 14 § 81.98.020. Formerly RCW
81.98.020.]
81.900.030
81.900.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any provision of this title, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the title, or the application of the provision to other persons or
(2006 Ed.)
Construction
81.900.050
circumstances is not affected. [1961 c 14 § 81.98.030. Formerly RCW 81.98.030.]
81.900.040 Repeals and saving.
81.98.040. Formerly RCW 81.98.040.
81.900.040
See 1961 c 14 §
81.900.050 Emergency—1961 c 14. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
[1961 c 14 § 81.98.050. Formerly RCW 81.98.050.]
81.900.050
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 81 RCW—page 105]
Title 82
Chapters
82.01
82.02
82.03
82.04
82.08
82.12
82.14
82.14A
82.14B
82.16
82.18
82.19
82.21
82.23A
82.23B
82.24
82.26
82.27
82.29A
82.32
82.32A
82.33
82.33A
82.34
82.36
82.38
82.41
82.42
82.44
82.45
82.46
82.47
82.48
82.49
82.50
82.52
82.56
82.58
82.60
82.62
82.63
82.64
82.65A
82.66
82.70
82.71
82.72
(2006 Ed.)
Title 82
EXCISE TAXES
82.73
Department of revenue.
General provisions.
Board of tax appeals.
Business and occupation tax.
Retail sales tax.
Use tax.
Local retail sales and use taxes.
Cities and towns—License fees and taxes on
financial institutions.
Counties—Tax on telephone access line use.
Public utility tax.
Solid waste collection tax.
Litter tax.
Hazardous substance tax—Model toxics control act.
Petroleum products—Underground storage
tank program funding.
Oil spill response tax.
Tax on cigarettes.
Tax on tobacco products.
Tax on enhanced food fish.
Leasehold excise tax.
General administrative provisions.
Taxpayer rights and responsibilities.
Economic and revenue forecasts.
Economic climate council.
Pollution control facilities—Tax exemptions
and credits.
Motor vehicle fuel tax.
Special fuel tax act.
Multistate motor fuel tax agreement.
Aircraft fuel tax.
Motor vehicle excise tax.
Excise tax on real estate sales.
Counties and cities—Excise tax on real estate
sales.
Border area motor vehicle fuel and special fuel
tax.
Aircraft excise tax.
Watercraft excise tax.
Travel trailers and campers excise tax.
Extension of excises to federal areas.
Multistate tax compact.
Simplified sales and use tax administration act.
Tax deferrals for investment projects in rural
counties.
Tax credits for eligible business projects in
rural counties.
Tax deferrals for high technology businesses.
Syrup tax.
Intermediate care facilities for the mentally
retarded.
Tax deferrals for new thoroughbred race
tracks.
Commute trip reduction incentives.
Quality maintenance fee on nursing facility
operators.
Telephone program excise tax administration.
82.74
82.75
82.80
82.98
Washington main street program tax incentives.
Tax deferrals for fruit and vegetable businesses.
Tax deferrals for biotechnology and medical
device manufacturing businesses.
Local option transportation taxes.
Construction.
Additional taxes, see titles pertaining to particular taxing authorities, e.g.,
counties, cities, school districts, public utility districts.
Expenditure limitations: Chapter 43.135 RCW.
Hotels, motels, special excise tax on charges for furnishing lodging: Chapters 67.28 and 67.40 RCW.
Termination of tax preferences: Chapter 43.136 RCW.
Chapter 82.01
Chapter 82.01 RCW
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Sections
82.01.050
82.01.060
82.01.070
82.01.080
82.01.090
82.01.100
82.01.115
Department established—Director of revenue.
Director—Powers and duties—Rule-making authority.
Director—General supervision—Appointment of assistant
director, personnel—Personal service contracts for out-ofstate auditing services.
Director—Delegation of powers and duties—Responsibility.
Director—Exercise of powers, duties and functions formerly
vested in tax commission.
Assistance to other state agencies in administration and collection of taxes.
Listing of reduction in revenues from tax exemptions to be
submitted to legislature by department of revenue—Periodic
review and submission of recommendations to legislature by
governor.
Apportionment factors (for school districts) to be based on current figures—
Rules and regulations: RCW 28A.150.400.
Escheat of postal savings system accounts, director’s duties: Chapter 63.48
RCW.
Gambling activities, reports to department of revenue: RCW 9.46.130.
Motor vehicle fund, distribution of amount to counties, department to furnish
information: RCW 46.68.124.
Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees:
RCW 19.16.500.
Questionnaires—Job opportunities for welfare recipients—Department to
mail: RCW 74.08A.350.
Refunds of erroneous or excessive payments: RCW 43.88.170.
Termination of tax preferences: Chapter 43.136 RCW.
82.01.050 Department established—Director of revenue. There is established a department of state government
to be known as the department of revenue of the state of
Washington, of which the chief executive officer shall be
known as the director of revenue. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 2.]
82.01.050
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: "This act shall take effect July 1,
1967." [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 53.]
82.01.060 Director—Powers and duties—Rule-making authority. The director of revenue, hereinafter in chapter
26, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. referred to as the director, through
82.01.060
[Title 82 RCW—page 1]
82.01.070
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the department of revenue, hereinafter in chapter 26, Laws of
1967 ex. sess. referred to as the department, shall:
(1) Assess and collect all taxes and administer all programs relating to taxes which are the responsibility of the tax
commission at the time chapter 26, Laws of 1967 ex. sess.
takes effect or which the legislature may hereafter make the
responsibility of the director or of the department;
(2) Make, adopt and publish such rules as he or she may
deem necessary or desirable to carry out the powers and
duties imposed upon him or her or the department by the legislature: PROVIDED, That the director may not adopt rules
after July 23, 1995, that are based solely on a section of law
stating a statute’s intent or purpose, on the enabling provisions of the statute establishing the agency, or on any combination of such provisions, for statutory authority to adopt any
rule;
(3) Rules adopted by the tax commission before July 23,
1995, shall remain in force until such time as they may be
revised or rescinded by the director;
(4) Provide by general regulations for an adequate system of departmental review of the actions of the department
or of its officers and employees in the assessment or collection of taxes;
(5) Maintain a tax research section with sufficient technical, clerical and other employees to conduct constant observation and investigation of the effectiveness and adequacy of
the revenue laws of this state and of the sister states in order
to assist the governor, the legislature and the director in estimation of revenue, analysis of tax measures, and determination of the administrative feasibility of proposed tax legislation and allied problems;
(6) Recommend to the governor such amendments,
changes in, and modifications of the revenue laws as seem
proper and requisite to remedy injustice and irregularities in
taxation, and to facilitate the assessment and collection of
taxes in the most economical manner. [1995 c 403 § 106;
1977 c 75 § 92; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 3.]
Findings—Short title—Intent—1995 c 403: See note following RCW
34.05.328.
Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 403: See RCW
43.05.903 and 43.05.904.
other costs reasonably related to the out-of-state services,
subject to legislative appropriation for those purposes. The
special allowances shall be in such amounts or at such rates
as are approved by the office of financial management. This
section does not apply to audit functions performed in states
contiguous to the state of Washington. [1997 c 156 § 1; 1982
c 128 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 4.]
Effective date—1982 c 128: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect March 1,
1982." [1982 c 128 § 2.]
82.01.080
82.01.080 Director—Delegation of powers and
duties—Responsibility. The director may delegate any
power or duty vested in or transferred to the director by law,
or executive order, to the assistant director or to any of the
director’s subordinates; but the director shall be responsible
for the official acts of the officers and employees of the
department. [1997 c 156 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 5.]
82.01.090
82.01.090 Director—Exercise of powers, duties and
functions formerly vested in tax commission. Except for
the powers and duties devolved upon the board of tax appeals
by the provisions of RCW 82.03.010 through 82.03.190, the
director of revenue shall, after July 1, 1967, exercise those
powers, duties and functions theretofore vested in the tax
commission of the state of Washington, including all powers,
duties and functions of the commission acting as the commission or as the state board of equalization or in any other
capacity. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 6.]
82.01.100
82.01.100 Assistance to other state agencies in
administration and collection of taxes. Assistance of the
department of revenue in the administration or collection of
those state taxes which are administered or collected by other
state agencies may be requested by the agencies concerned.
Such assistance may be given by the director to the extent
that the limitations of time, personnel and the conduct of the
duties of the department shall allow. The department shall be
reimbursed by any agency to which assistance is rendered.
[1967 ex.s. c 26 § 11.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
82.01.115
82.01.070
82.01.070 Director—General supervision—Appointment of assistant director, personnel—Personal service
contracts for out-of-state auditing services. The director
shall have charge and general supervision of the department
of revenue. The director shall appoint an assistant director for
administration, hereinafter in chapter 26, Laws of 1967 ex.
sess. referred to as the assistant director, and subject to the
provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW may appoint and employ
such clerical, technical and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the department. The
director may also enter into personal service contracts with
out-of-state individuals or business entities for the performance of auditing services outside the state of Washington
when normal efforts to recruit classified employees are
unsuccessful. The director may agree to pay to the department’s employees or contractors who reside out of state such
amounts in addition to their ordinary rate of compensation as
are necessary to defray the extra costs of facilities, living, and
[Title 82 RCW—page 2]
82.01.115 Listing of reduction in revenues from tax
exemptions to be submitted to legislature by department
of revenue—Periodic review and submission of recommendations to legislature by governor. See RCW
43.06.400.
Chapter 82.02
Chapter 82.02 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
82.02.010
82.02.020
82.02.030
82.02.040
82.02.050
82.02.060
82.02.070
82.02.080
Definitions.
State preempts certain tax fields—Fees prohibited for the
development of land or buildings—Voluntary payments
by developers authorized—Limitations—Exceptions.
Additional tax rates.
Authority of operating agencies to levy taxes.
Impact fees—Intent—Limitations.
Impact fees—Local ordinances—Required provisions.
Impact fees—Retained in special accounts—Limitations on
use—Administrative appeals.
Impact fees—Refunds.
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions
82.02.090
82.02.100
82.02.200
82.02.210
82.02.220
82.02.230
82.02.240
Impact fees—Definitions.
Impact fees—Exception, mitigation fees paid under chapter
43.21C RCW.
Contract to issue conditional federal employer identification
numbers, credentials, and documents in conjunction with
license applications.
Washington compliance with streamlined sales and use tax
agreement—Intent.
Exclusion of steam, electricity, or electrical energy from definition of certain terms.
One statewide rate and one jurisdiction-wide rate for sales
and use taxes.
Professional employer organizations—Liability for certain
taxes and fees.
82.02.010
82.02.010 Definitions. For the purpose of this title,
unless otherwise required by the context:
(1) "Department" means the department of revenue of
the state of Washington;
(2) The word "director" means the director of the department of revenue of the state of Washington;
(3) The word "taxpayer" includes any individual, group
of individuals, corporation, or association liable for any tax
or the collection of any tax hereunder, or who engages in any
business or performs any act for which a tax is imposed by
this title;
(4) Words in the singular number shall include the plural
and the plural shall include the singular. Words in one gender
shall include all other genders. [1979 c 107 § 9; 1967 ex.s. c
26 § 14; 1961 c 15 § 82.02.010. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 3; RRS
§ 8370-3.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
82.02.020
82.02.020 State preempts certain tax fields—Fees
prohibited for the development of land or buildings—
Voluntary payments by developers authorized—Limitations—Exceptions. Except only as expressly provided in
chapters 67.28 and 82.14 RCW, the state preempts the field
of imposing taxes upon retail sales of tangible personal property, the use of tangible personal property, parimutuel wagering authorized pursuant to RCW 67.16.060, conveyances,
and cigarettes, and no county, town, or other municipal subdivision shall have the right to impose taxes of that nature.
Except as provided in RCW 82.02.050 through 82.02.090, no
county, city, town, or other municipal corporation shall
impose any tax, fee, or charge, either direct or indirect, on the
construction or reconstruction of residential buildings, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, or on any other building or building space or appurtenance thereto, or on the
development, subdivision, classification, or reclassification
of land. However, this section does not preclude dedications
of land or easements within the proposed development or plat
which the county, city, town, or other municipal corporation
can demonstrate are reasonably necessary as a direct result of
the proposed development or plat to which the dedication of
land or easement is to apply.
This section does not prohibit voluntary agreements with
counties, cities, towns, or other municipal corporations that
allow a payment in lieu of a dedication of land or to mitigate
a direct impact that has been identified as a consequence of a
proposed development, subdivision, or plat. A local government shall not use such voluntary agreements for local offsite transportation improvements within the geographic
boundaries of the area or areas covered by an adopted trans(2006 Ed.)
82.02.020
portation program authorized by chapter 39.92 RCW. Any
such voluntary agreement is subject to the following provisions:
(1) The payment shall be held in a reserve account and
may only be expended to fund a capital improvement agreed
upon by the parties to mitigate the identified, direct impact;
(2) The payment shall be expended in all cases within
five years of collection; and
(3) Any payment not so expended shall be refunded with
interest to be calculated from the original date the deposit was
received by the county and at the same rate applied to tax
refunds pursuant to RCW 84.69.100; however, if the payment
is not expended within five years due to delay attributable to
the developer, the payment shall be refunded without interest.
No county, city, town, or other municipal corporation
shall require any payment as part of such a voluntary agreement which the county, city, town, or other municipal corporation cannot establish is reasonably necessary as a direct
result of the proposed development or plat.
Nothing in this section prohibits cities, towns, counties,
or other municipal corporations from collecting reasonable
fees from an applicant for a permit or other governmental
approval to cover the cost to the city, town, county, or other
municipal corporation of processing applications, inspecting
and reviewing plans, or preparing detailed statements
required by chapter 43.21C RCW.
This section does not limit the existing authority of any
county, city, town, or other municipal corporation to impose
special assessments on property specifically benefitted
thereby in the manner prescribed by law.
Nothing in this section prohibits counties, cities, or
towns from imposing or permits counties, cities, or towns to
impose water, sewer, natural gas, drainage utility, and drainage system charges: PROVIDED, That no such charge shall
exceed the proportionate share of such utility or system’s
capital costs which the county, city, or town can demonstrate
are attributable to the property being charged: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That these provisions shall not be interpreted to
expand or contract any existing authority of counties, cities,
or towns to impose such charges.
Nothing in this section prohibits a transportation benefit
district from imposing fees or charges authorized in RCW
36.73.120 nor prohibits the legislative authority of a county,
city, or town from approving the imposition of such fees
within a transportation benefit district.
Nothing in this section prohibits counties, cities, or
towns from imposing transportation impact fees authorized
pursuant to chapter 39.92 RCW.
Nothing in this section prohibits counties, cities, or
towns from requiring property owners to provide relocation
assistance to tenants under RCW 59.18.440 and 59.18.450.
Nothing in this section limits the authority of counties,
cities, or towns to implement programs consistent with RCW
36.70A.540, nor to enforce agreements made pursuant to
such programs.
This section does not apply to special purpose districts
formed and acting pursuant to Titles 54, 57, or 87 RCW, nor
is the authority conferred by these titles affected. [2006 c 149
§ 3; 2005 c 502 § 5; 1997 c 452 § 21; 1996 c 230 § 1612; 1990
1st ex.s. c 17 § 42; 1988 c 179 § 6; 1987 c 327 § 17; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 49 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 3; 1970 ex.s. c 94 § 8; 1967
[Title 82 RCW—page 3]
82.02.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
c 236 § 16; 1961 c 15 § 82.02.020. Prior: (i) 1935 c 180 § 29;
RRS § 8370-29. (ii) 1949 c 228 § 28; 1939 c 225 § 22; 1937
c 227 § 24; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-219. Formerly RCW
82.32.370.]
Findings—Construction—2006 c 149: See notes following RCW
36.70A.540.
Effective date—2005 c 502: See note following RCW 1.12.070.
Intent—Severability—1997 c 452: See notes following RCW
67.28.080.
Savings—1997 c 452: See note following RCW 67.28.181.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW 57.02.001.
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Severability—Prospective application—Section captions—1988 c
179: See RCW 39.92.900 and 39.92.901.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 94: See RCW 82.14.900.
82.02.030
82.02.030 Additional tax rates. The rate of the additional taxes under RCW 54.28.020(2), 54.28.025(2),
66.24.210(2), 82.16.020(2), 82.27.020(5), and
82.29A.030(2) shall be seven percent. [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 107;
1993 c 492 § 312; 1990 c 42 § 319. Prior: 1987 1st ex.s. c 9
§ 6; 1987 c 472 § 15; 1987 c 80 § 4; 1986 c 296 § 5; 1985 c
471 § 9; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 6; 1983 c 7 § 8; 1982 2nd ex.s.
c 14 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 31.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Severability—Effective date—1987 1st ex.s. c 9: See notes following
RCW 46.29.050.
Severability—1987 c 472: See RCW 79.71.900.
Severability—Effective date—1986 c 296: See notes following RCW
48.14.020.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective date—Applicability—1982 2nd ex.s. c 14: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect immediately.
The tax rates imposed under this act are effective on the dates designated in this act notwithstanding the date this act becomes law under Article
III, section 12 of the state Constitution." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 14 § 3.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.02.040
82.02.040 Authority of operating agencies to levy
taxes. Nothing in this title may be deemed to grant to any
operating agency organized under chapter 43.52 RCW, or a
project of any such operating agency, the authority to levy
[Title 82 RCW—page 4]
any tax or assessment not otherwise authorized by law.
[1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 55.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.02.050
82.02.050 Impact fees—Intent—Limitations. (1) It is
the intent of the legislature:
(a) To ensure that adequate facilities are available to
serve new growth and development;
(b) To promote orderly growth and development by
establishing standards by which counties, cities, and towns
may require, by ordinance, that new growth and development
pay a proportionate share of the cost of new facilities needed
to serve new growth and development; and
(c) To ensure that impact fees are imposed through
established procedures and criteria so that specific developments do not pay arbitrary fees or duplicative fees for the
same impact.
(2) Counties, cities, and towns that are required or
choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 are authorized to
impose impact fees on development activity as part of the
financing for public facilities, provided that the financing for
system improvements to serve new development must provide for a balance between impact fees and other sources of
public funds and cannot rely solely on impact fees.
(3) The impact fees:
(a) Shall only be imposed for system improvements that
are reasonably related to the new development;
(b) Shall not exceed a proportionate share of the costs of
system improvements that are reasonably related to the new
development; and
(c) Shall be used for system improvements that will reasonably benefit the new development.
(4) Impact fees may be collected and spent only for the
public facilities defined in RCW 82.02.090 which are
addressed by a capital facilities plan element of a comprehensive land use plan adopted pursuant to the provisions of RCW
36.70A.070 or the provisions for comprehensive plan adoption contained in chapter 36.70, 35.63, or 35A.63 RCW.
After the date a county, city, or town is required to adopt its
development regulations under chapter 36.70A RCW, continued authorization to collect and expend impact fees shall
be contingent on the county, city, or town adopting or revising a comprehensive plan in compliance with RCW
36.70A.070, and on the capital facilities plan identifying:
(a) Deficiencies in public facilities serving existing
development and the means by which existing deficiencies
will be eliminated within a reasonable period of time;
(b) Additional demands placed on existing public facilities by new development; and
(c) Additional public facility improvements required to
serve new development.
If the capital facilities plan of the county, city, or town is
complete other than for the inclusion of those elements which
are the responsibility of a special district, the county, city, or
town may impose impact fees to address those public facility
needs for which the county, city, or town is responsible.
[1994 c 257 § 24; 1993 sp.s. c 6 § 6; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 43.]
Severability—1994 c 257: See note following RCW 36.70A.270.
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 6: See note following RCW 36.70A.040.
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
SEPA: RCW 43.21C.065.
82.02.060
82.02.060 Impact fees—Local ordinances—Required
provisions. The local ordinance by which impact fees are
imposed:
(1) Shall include a schedule of impact fees which shall
be adopted for each type of development activity that is subject to impact fees, specifying the amount of the impact fee to
be imposed for each type of system improvement. The schedule shall be based upon a formula or other method of calculating such impact fees. In determining proportionate share,
the formula or other method of calculating impact fees shall
incorporate, among other things, the following:
(a) The cost of public facilities necessitated by new
development;
(b) An adjustment to the cost of the public facilities for
past or future payments made or reasonably anticipated to be
made by new development to pay for particular system
improvements in the form of user fees, debt service payments, taxes, or other payments earmarked for or proratable
to the particular system improvement;
(c) The availability of other means of funding public
facility improvements;
(d) The cost of existing public facilities improvements;
and
(e) The methods by which public facilities improvements were financed;
(2) May provide an exemption for low-income housing,
and other development activities with broad public purposes,
from these impact fees, provided that the impact fees for such
development activity shall be paid from public funds other
than impact fee accounts;
(3) Shall provide a credit for the value of any dedication
of land for, improvement to, or new construction of any system improvements provided by the developer, to facilities
that are identified in the capital facilities plan and that are
required by the county, city, or town as a condition of approving the development activity;
(4) Shall allow the county, city, or town imposing the
impact fees to adjust the standard impact fee at the time the
fee is imposed to consider unusual circumstances in specific
cases to ensure that impact fees are imposed fairly;
(5) Shall include a provision for calculating the amount
of the fee to be imposed on a particular development that permits consideration of studies and data submitted by the developer to adjust the amount of the fee;
(6) Shall establish one or more reasonable service areas
within which it shall calculate and impose impact fees for
various land use categories per unit of development;
(7) May provide for the imposition of an impact fee for
system improvement costs previously incurred by a county,
city, or town to the extent that new growth and development
will be served by the previously constructed improvements
provided such fee shall not be imposed to make up for any
system improvement deficiencies. [1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 44.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
(2006 Ed.)
82.02.080
82.02.070
82 .0 2.07 0 Impact f ees —Ret ained in specia l
accounts—Limitations on use—Administrative appeals.
(1) Impact fee receipts shall be earmarked specifically and
retained in special interest-bearing accounts. Separate
accounts shall be established for each type of public facility
for which impact fees are collected. All interest shall be
retained in the account and expended for the purpose or purposes for which the impact fees were imposed. Annually,
each county, city, or town imposing impact fees shall provide
a report on each impact fee account showing the source and
amount of all moneys collected, earned, or received and system improvements that were financed in whole or in part by
impact fees.
(2) Impact fees for system improvements shall be
expended only in conformance with the capital facilities plan
element of the comprehensive plan.
(3) Impact fees shall be expended or encumbered for a
permissible use within six years of receipt, unless there exists
an extraordinary and compelling reason for fees to be held
longer than six years. Such extraordinary or compelling reasons shall be identified in written findings by the governing
body of the county, city, or town.
(4) Impact fees may be paid under protest in order to
obtain a permit or other approval of development activity.
(5) Each county, city, or town that imposes impact fees
shall provide for an administrative appeals process for the
appeal of an impact fee; the process may follow the appeal
process for the underlying development approval or the
county, city, or town may establish a separate appeals process. The impact fee may be modified upon a determination
that it is proper to do so based on principles of fairness. The
county, city, or town may provide for the resolution of disputes regarding impact fees by arbitration. [1990 1st ex.s. c
17 § 46.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
82.02.080
82.02.080 Impact fees—Refunds. (1) The current
owner of property on which an impact fee has been paid may
receive a refund of such fees if the county, city, or town fails
to expend or encumber the impact fees within six years of
when the fees were paid or other such period of time established pursuant to RCW 82.02.070(3) on public facilities
intended to benefit the development activity for which the
impact fees were paid. In determining whether impact fees
have been encumbered, impact fees shall be considered
encumbered on a first in, first out basis. The county, city, or
town shall notify potential claimants by first class mail
deposited with the United States postal service at the last
known address of claimants.
The request for a refund must be submitted to the county,
city, or town governing body in writing within one year of the
date the right to claim the refund arises or the date that notice
is given, whichever is later. Any impact fees that are not
expended within these time limitations, and for which no
application for a refund has been made within this one-year
period, shall be retained and expended on the indicated capital facilities. Refunds of impact fees under this subsection
shall include interest earned on the impact fees.
(2) When a county, city, or town seeks to terminate any
or all impact fee requirements, all unexpended or unencum[Title 82 RCW—page 5]
82.02.090
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
bered funds, including interest earned, shall be refunded pursuant to this section. Upon the finding that any or all fee
requirements are to be terminated, the county, city, or town
shall place notice of such termination and the availability of
refunds in a newspaper of general circulation at least two
times and shall notify all potential claimants by first class
mail to the last known address of claimants. All funds available for refund shall be retained for a period of one year. At
the end of one year, any remaining funds shall be retained by
the local government, but must be expended for the indicated
public facilities. This notice requirement shall not apply if
there are no unexpended or unencumbered balances within an
account or accounts being terminated.
(3) A developer may request and shall receive a refund,
including interest earned on the impact fees, when the developer does not proceed with the development activity and no
impact has resulted. [1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 47.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
82.02.090
82.02.090 Impact fees—Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions shall
apply in RCW 82.02.050 through 82.02.090:
(1) "Development activity" means any construction or
expansion of a building, structure, or use, any change in use
of a building or structure, or any changes in the use of land,
that creates additional demand and need for public facilities.
(2) "Development approval" means any written authorization from a county, city, or town which authorizes the commencement of development activity.
(3) "Impact fee" means a payment of money imposed
upon development as a condition of development approval to
pay for public facilities needed to serve new growth and
development, and that is reasonably related to the new development that creates additional demand and need for public
facilities, that is a proportionate share of the cost of the public
facilities, and that is used for facilities that reasonably benefit
the new development. "Impact fee" does not include a reasonable permit or application fee.
(4) "Owner" means the owner of record of real property,
although when real property is being purchased under a real
estate contract, the purchaser shall be considered the owner
of the real property if the contract is recorded.
(5) "Proportionate share" means that portion of the cost
of public facility improvements that are reasonably related to
the service demands and needs of new development.
(6) "Project improvements" mean site improvements and
facilities that are planned and designed to provide service for
a particular development project and that are necessary for
the use and convenience of the occupants or users of the
project, and are not system improvements. No improvement
or facility included in a capital facilities plan approved by the
governing body of the county, city, or town shall be considered a project improvement.
(7) "Public facilities" means the following capital facilities owned or operated by government entities: (a) Public
streets and roads; (b) publicly owned parks, open space, and
recreation facilities; (c) school facilities; and (d) fire protection facilities in jurisdictions that are not part of a fire district.
(8) "Service area" means a geographic area defined by a
county, city, town, or intergovernmental agreement in which
[Title 82 RCW—page 6]
a defined set of public facilities provide service to development within the area. Service areas shall be designated on the
basis of sound planning or engineering principles.
(9) "System improvements" mean public facilities that
are included in the capital facilities plan and are designed to
provide service to service areas within the community at
large, in contrast to project improvements. [1990 1st ex.s. c
17 § 48.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
82.02.100 Impact fees—Exception, mitigation fees
paid under chapter 43.21C RCW. A person required to pay
a fee pursuant to RCW 43.21C.060 for system improvements
shall not be required to pay an impact fee under RCW
82.02.050 through 82.02.090 for those same system improvements. [1992 c 219 § 2.]
82.02.100
82.02.200 Contract to issue conditional federal
employer identification numbers, credentials, and documents in conjunction with license applications. The director may contract with the federal internal revenue service, or
other appropriate federal agency, to issue conditional federal
employer identification numbers, or other federal credentials
or documents, at specified offices and locations of the agency
in conjunction with any application for state licenses under
chapter 19.02 RCW. [1997 c 51 § 6.]
82.02.200
Intent—1997 c 51: See note following RCW 19.02.300.
82.02.210 Washington compliance with streamlined
sales and use tax agreement—Intent. (1) It is the intent of
the legislature that Washington join as a member state in the
streamlined sales and use tax agreement referred to in chapter
82.58 RCW. The agreement provides for a simpler and more
uniform sales and use tax structure among states that have
sales and use taxes. The intent of the legislature is to bring
Washington’s sales and use tax system into compliance with
the agreement so that Washington may join as a member state
and have a voice in the development and administration of
the system, and to substantially reduce the burden of tax compliance on sellers.
(2) Chapter 168, Laws of 2003 does not include changes
to Washington law that may be required in the future and that
are not fully developed under the agreement. These include,
but are not limited to, changes relating to on-line registration,
reporting, and remitting of payments by businesses for sales
and use tax purposes, monetary allowances for sellers and
their agents, sourcing, and amnesty for businesses registering
under the agreement.
(3) It is the intent of the legislature that the provisions of
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW be interpreted and applied
consistently with the agreement.
(4) The department of revenue shall report to the fiscal
committees of the legislature on January 1, 2004, and each
January 1st thereafter, on the development of the agreement
and shall recommend changes to the sales and use tax structure and propose legislation as may be necessary to keep
Washington in compliance with the agreement. [2003 c 168
§ 1.]
82.02.210
Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Board of Tax Appeals
82.02.220
82.02.220 Exclusion of steam, electricity, or electrical
energy from definition of certain terms. When the terms
"ingredient," "component part," "incorporated into," "goods,"
"products," "byproducts," "materials," "consumables," and
other similar terms denoting tangible items that may be used,
sold, or consumed are used in this title, the terms do not
include steam, electricity, or electrical energy. [2003 c 168 §
701.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.02.230
82.02.230 One statewide rate and one jurisdictionwide rate for sales and use taxes. (1) There shall be one
statewide rate for sales and use taxes imposed at the state
level. This subsection does not apply to the taxes imposed by
RCW 82.08.150, 82.12.022, or 82.18.020, or to taxes
imposed on the sale, rental, lease, or use of motor vehicles,
aircraft, watercraft, modular homes, manufactured homes, or
mobile homes.
(2) There shall be one jurisdiction-wide rate for local
sales and use taxes imposed at levels below the state level.
This subsection does not apply to the taxes imposed by chapter 67.28 RCW, RCW 35.21.280, 36.38.010, 36.38.040,
67.40.090, or 82.14.360, or to taxes imposed on the sale,
rental, lease, or use of motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft,
modular homes, manufactured homes, or mobile homes.
[2004 c 153 § 405; 2003 c 168 § 801.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.02.240
82.02.240 Professional employer organizations—
Liability for certain taxes and fees. (1) A professional
employer organization is not liable for any tax imposed by or
under the authority of this title or Title 35 RCW or any other
tax, fee, or charge that the department administers based
solely on the activities or status of a covered employee having a coemployment relationship with the professional
employer organization.
(2) This subsection does not exempt a professional
employer organization from:
(a) Any tax imposed by or under the authority of this or
any other title based on:
(i) Professional employer services provided by the professional employer organization; or
(ii) The status or activities of employees of the professional employer organization that are not covered employees
coemployed with a client; or
(b) The duty to withhold, collect, report, and remit payroll-related and unemployment taxes as required by state law
and regulation.
(3) The definitions in RCW 82.04.540 apply to this section. [2006 c 301 § 8.]
Effective date—Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51
RCW—2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 82.03
82.03.040
Chapter 82.03 RCW
BOARD OF TAX APPEALS
Sections
82.03.010
82.03.020
82.03.030
82.03.040
82.03.050
82.03.060
82.03.070
82.03.080
82.03.090
82.03.100
82.03.110
82.03.120
82.03.130
82.03.140
82.03.150
82.03.160
82.03.170
82.03.180
82.03.190
82.03.200
Board created.
Members—Number—Qualifications—Appointment.
Terms—Vacancies.
Removal of members—Grounds—Procedure.
Operation on part time or full time basis—Salary—Compensation—Travel expenses.
Members not to be candidate or hold public office, engage in
inconsistent occupation nor be on political committee—
Restriction on leaving board.
Executive director, tax referees, clerk, assistants.
Chairman.
Office of board—Quorum—Hearings.
Findings and decisions—Signing—Filing—Public inspection.
Publication of findings and decisions.
Journal of final findings and decisions.
Appeals to board—Jurisdiction as to types of appeals—Filing.
Appeals to board—Election of formal or informal hearing.
Appeals to board—Informal hearings, powers of board or tax
referees—Assistance.
Appeals to board—Formal hearings, powers of board or tax
referees—Assistance.
Rules of practice and procedure.
Judicial review.
Appeal to board from denial of petition or notice of determination as to reduction or refund—Procedure—Notice.
Appeals from county board of equalization—Evidence submission in advance of hearing.
Limitation on increase in property value in appeals to board of tax appeals
from county board of equalization: RCW 84.08.060.
Review of sale price established for certain shorelands: RCW 79.125.450.
82.03.010
82.03.010 Board created. There is hereby created the
board of tax appeals of the state of Washington as an agency
of state government. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 30.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
82.03.020
82.03.020 Members—Number—Qualifications—
Appointment. The board of tax appeals, hereinafter in chapter 26, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. referred to as the board, shall
consist of three members qualified by experience and training
in the field of state and local taxation, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, and no more
than two of whom at the time of appointment or during their
terms shall be members of the same political party. [1967
ex.s. c 26 § 31.]
82.03.030
82.03.030 Terms—Vacancies. Members of the board
shall be appointed for a term of six years and until their successors are appointed and have qualified. In case of a
vacancy, it shall be filled by appointment by the governor for
the unexpired portion of the term in which said vacancy
occurs: PROVIDED, That the terms of the first three members of the board shall be staggered so that one member shall
be appointed to serve until March 1, 1969, one member until
March 1, 1971, and one member until March 1, 1973. [1967
ex.s. c 26 § 32.]
82.03.040
82.03.040 Removal of members—Grounds—Procedure. Any member of the board may be removed for inefficiency, malfeasance or misfeasance in office, upon specific
written charges filed by the governor, who shall transmit such
written charges to the member accused and to the chief justice of the supreme court. The chief justice shall thereupon
designate a tribunal composed of three judges of the superior
[Title 82 RCW—page 7]
82.03.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
court to hear and adjudicate the charges. Such tribunal shall
fix the time of the hearing, which shall be public, and the procedure for the hearing, and the decision of such tribunal shall
be final and not subject to review by the supreme court.
Removal of any member of the board by the tribunal shall
disqualify such member for reappointment. [1967 ex.s. c 26
§ 33.]
82.03.050
82.03.050 Operation on part time or full time basis—
Salary—Compensation—Travel expenses. The board
shall operate on either a part time or a full time basis, as determined by the governor. If it is determined that the board shall
operate on a full time basis, each member of the board shall
receive an annual salary to be determined by the governor. If
it is determined that the board shall operate on a part time
basis, each member of the board shall receive compensation
on the basis of seventy-five dollars for each day spent in performance of his duties, but such compensation shall not
exceed ten thousand dollars in a fiscal year. Each board member shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred
in the discharge of his duties in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter
amended. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 176; 1970 ex.s. c 65 §
2; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 34.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 65: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act,
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1970 ex.s. c 65 § 11.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 65: "This 1970 amendatory act shall take
effect July 1, 1970." [1970 ex.s. c 65 § 12.]
82.03.060
82.03.060 Members not to be candidate or hold public office, engage in inconsistent occupation nor be on
political committee—Restriction on leaving board. Each
member of the board of tax appeals:
(1) Shall not be a candidate for nor hold any other public
office or trust, and shall not engage in any occupation or business interfering with or inconsistent with his duty as a member of the board, nor shall he serve on or under any committee
of any political party; and
(2) Shall not for a period of one year after the termination
of his membership on the board, act in a representative capacity before the board on any matter. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 35.]
82.03.070
82.03.070 Executive director, tax referees, clerk,
assistants. The board may appoint, discharge and fix the
compensation of an executive director, tax referees, a clerk,
and such other clerical, professional and technical assistants
as may be necessary. Tax referees shall not be subject to
chapter 41.06 RCW. [1988 c 222 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 36.]
82.03.080
82.03.080 Chairman. The board shall as soon as practicable after the initial appointment of the members thereof,
meet and elect from among its members a chairman, and shall
at least biennially thereafter meet and elect such a chairman.
[1967 ex.s. c 26 § 37.]
82.03.090
82.03.090 Office of board—Quorum—Hearings.
The principal office of the board shall be at the state capital,
[Title 82 RCW—page 8]
but it may sit or hold hearings at any other place in the state.
A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for making
orders or decisions, promulgating rules and regulations necessary for the conduct of its powers and duties, or transacting
other official business, and may act though one position on
the board be vacant. One or more members may hold hearings and take testimony to be reported for action by the board
when authorized by rule or order of the board. The board
shall perform all the powers and duties specified in this chapter or as otherwise provided by law. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 38.]
82.03.100
82.03.100 Findings and decisions—Signing—Filing—Public inspection. The board shall make findings of
fact and prepare a written decision in each case decided by it,
and such findings and decision shall be effective upon being
signed by two or more members of the board and upon being
filed at the board’s principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. [1967 ex.s. c 26 § 39.]
82.03.110
82.03.110 Publication of findings and decisions. The
board shall either publish at its expense or make arrangements with a publishing firm for the publication of those of
its findings and decisions which are of general public interest,
in such form as to assure reasonable distribution thereof.
[1967 ex.s. c 26 § 40.]
82.03.120
82.03.120 Journal of final findings and decisions.
The board shall maintain at its principal office a copy of its
final findings and decisions. The findings and decisions shall
be available for public inspection at the principal office of the
board at all reasonable times. [1988 c 222 § 3; 1967 ex.s. c
26 § 41.]
82.03.130
82.03.130 Appeals to board—Jurisdiction as to types
of appeals—Filing. (1) The board shall have jurisdiction to
decide the following types of appeals:
(a) Appeals taken pursuant to RCW 82.03.190.
(b) Appeals from a county board of equalization pursuant to RCW 84.08.130.
(c) Appeals by an assessor or landowner from an order of
the director of revenue made pursuant to RCW 84.08.010 and
84.08.060, if filed with the board of tax appeals within thirty
days after the mailing of the order, the right to such an appeal
being hereby established.
(d) Appeals by an assessor or owner of an intercounty
public utility or private car company from determinations by
the director of revenue of equalized assessed valuation of
property and the apportionment thereof to a county made pursuant to chapter 84.12 and 84.16 RCW, if filed with the board
of tax appeals within thirty days after mailing of the determination, the right to such appeal being hereby established.
(e) Appeals by an assessor, landowner, or owner of an
intercounty public utility or private car company from a
determination of any county indicated ratio for such county
compiled by the department of revenue pursuant to RCW
84.48.075: PROVIDED, That
(i) Said appeal be filed after review of the ratio under
RCW 84.48.075(3) and not later than fifteen days after the
mailing of the certification; and
(2006 Ed.)
Board of Tax Appeals
(ii) The hearing before the board shall be expeditiously
held in accordance with rules prescribed by the board and
shall take precedence over all matters of the same character.
(f) Appeals from the decisions of sale price of second
class shorelands on navigable lakes by the department of natural resources pursuant to *RCW 79.94.210.
(g) Appeals from urban redevelopment property tax
apportionment district proposals established by governmental ordinances pursuant to RCW 39.88.060.
(h) Appeals from interest rates as determined by the
department of revenue for use in valuing farmland under current use assessment pursuant to RCW 84.34.065.
(i) Appeals from revisions to stumpage value tables used
to determine value by the department of revenue pursuant to
RCW 84.33.091.
(j) Appeals from denial of tax exemption application by
the department of revenue pursuant to RCW 84.36.850.
(k) Appeals pursuant to RCW 84.40.038(3).
(l) Appeals pursuant to RCW 84.39.020.
(2) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law
hereafter, the provisions of RCW 1.12.070 shall apply to all
notices of appeal filed with the board of tax appeals. [2005 c
253 § 7; 1998 c 54 § 1; 1994 c 123 § 3; 1992 c 206 § 9; 1989
c 378 § 4; 1982 1st ex.s. c 46 § 6; 1977 ex.s. c 284 § 2; 1967
ex.s. c 26 § 42.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 79.94.210 was recodified as RCW 79.125.450
pursuant to 2005 c 155 § 1008.
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
Applicability—1994 c 123: See note following RCW 84.36.815.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Purpose—Intent—1977 ex.s. c 284: See note following RCW
84.48.075.
82.03.140 Appeals to board—Election of formal or
informal hearing. In all appeals over which the board has
jurisdiction under RCW 82.03.130, a party taking an appeal
may elect either a formal or an informal hearing, such election to be made according to rules of practice and procedure
to be promulgated by the board: PROVIDED, That nothing
shall prevent the assessor or taxpayer, as a party to an appeal
pursuant to RCW 84.08.130, within twenty days from the
date of the receipt of the notice of appeal, from filing with the
clerk of the board notice of intention that the hearing be a formal one: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein
shall be construed to modify the provisions of RCW
82.03.190: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That upon an
appeal under RCW 82.03.130(1)(e), the director of revenue
may, within ten days from the date of its receipt of the notice
of appeal, file with the clerk of the board notice of its intention that the hearing be held pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.
In the event that appeals are taken from the same decision,
order, or determination, as the case may be, by different parties and only one of such parties elects a formal hearing, a
formal hearing shall be granted. [2000 c 103 § 1; 1988 c 222
§ 4; 1982 1st ex.s. c 46 § 8; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 43.]
82.03.180
granted to agencies by chapter 34.05 RCW. The board, or its
tax referees, shall also have all powers granted the department of revenue pursuant to RCW 82.32.110. In the case of
appeals within the scope of RCW 82.03.130(1)(b) the board
or any member thereof may obtain such assistance, including
the making of field investigations, from the staff of the director of revenue as the board or any member thereof may deem
necessary or appropriate. [2000 c 103 § 2; 1988 c 222 § 5;
1967 ex.s. c 26 § 44.]
82.03.160
82.03.160 Appeals to board—Formal hearings, powers of board or tax referees—Assistance. In all appeals
involving a formal hearing the board or its tax referees shall
have all powers relating to administration of oaths, issuance
of subpoenas, and taking of depositions as are granted to
agencies in chapter 34.05 RCW; and the board, and each
member thereof, or its tax referees, shall be subject to all
duties imposed upon, and shall have all powers granted to, an
agency by those provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW relating to
adjudicative proceedings. The board, or its tax referees, shall
also have all powers granted the department of revenue pursuant to RCW 82.32.110. In the case of appeals within the
scope of RCW 82.03.130(1)(b), the board, or any member
thereof, may obtain such assistance, including the making of
field investigations, from the staff of the director of revenue
as the board, or any member thereof, may deem necessary or
appropriate: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any communication, oral or written, from the staff of the director to the
board or its tax referees shall be presented only in open hearing. [2000 c 103 § 3; 1989 c 175 § 175; 1988 c 222 § 6; 1967
ex.s. c 26 § 45.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
82.03.140
82.03.150 Appeals to board—Informal hearings,
powers of board or tax referees—Assistance. In all
appeals involving an informal hearing, the board or its tax
referees shall have all powers relating to administration of
oaths, issuance of subpoenas, and taking of depositions as are
82.03.150
(2006 Ed.)
82.03.170
82.03.170 Rules of practice and procedure. All proceedings, including both formal and informal hearings,
before the board or any of its members or tax referees shall be
conducted in accordance with such rules of practice and procedure as the board may prescribe. The board shall publish
such rules and arrange for the reasonable distribution thereof.
[1988 c 222 § 7; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 46.]
82.03.180
82.03.180 Judicial review. Judicial review of a decision of the board of tax appeals shall be de novo in accordance with the provisions of RCW 82.32.180 or 84.68.020 as
applicable except when the decision has been rendered pursuant to a formal hearing elected under RCW 82.03.140 or
82.03.190, in which event judicial review may be obtained
only pursuant to RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall be construed
to modify the rights of a taxpayer conferred by RCW
82.32.180 and 84.68.020 to sue for tax refunds: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That no review from a decision made
pursuant to RCW 82.03.130(1)(a) may be obtained by a taxpayer unless within the petition period provided by RCW
34.05.542 the taxpayer shall have first paid in full the contested tax, together with all penalties and interest thereon, if
any. The director of revenue shall have the same right of
review from a decision made pursuant to RCW
82.03.130(1)(a) as does a taxpayer; and the director of revenue and all parties to an appeal under RCW 82.03.130(1)(e)
[Title 82 RCW—page 9]
82.03.190
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
shall have the right of review from a decision made pursuant
to RCW 82.03.130(1)(e). [2000 c 103 § 4; 1989 c 175 § 176;
1982 1st ex.s. c 46 § 9; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 47.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
82.03.190 Appeal to board from denial of petition or
notice of determination as to reduction or refund—Procedure—Notice. Any person having received notice of a
denial of a petition or a notice of determination made under
RCW 82.32.160, 82.32.170, 82.34.110, or 82.49.060 may
appeal by filing in accordance with RCW 1.12.070 a notice of
appeal with the board of tax appeals within thirty days after
the mailing of the notice of such denial or determination. In
the notice of appeal the taxpayer shall set forth the amount of
the tax which the taxpayer contends should be reduced or
refunded and the reasons for such reduction or refund, in
accordance with rules of practice and procedure prescribed
by the board. However, if the notice of appeal relates to an
application made to the department under chapter 82.34
RCW, the taxpayer shall set forth the amount to which the
taxpayer claims the credit or exemption should apply, and the
grounds for such contention, in accordance with rules of
practice and procedure prescribed by the board. The board
shall transmit a copy of the notice of appeal to the department
and all other named parties within thirty days of its receipt by
the board. If the taxpayer intends that the hearing before the
board be held pursuant to the administrative procedure act
(chapter 34.05 RCW), the notice of appeal shall also so state.
In the event that the notice of appeal does not so state, the
department may, within thirty days from the date of its
receipt of the notice of appeal, file with the board notice of its
intention that the hearing be held pursuant to the administrative procedure act. [1998 c 54 § 2; 1989 c 378 § 5; 1983 c 3
§ 211; 1979 ex.s. c 209 § 50; 1975 1st ex.s. c 158 § 3; 1967
ex.s. c 26 § 48.]
82.03.190
Effective date—Applicability—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 209: See
notes following RCW 83.04.010.
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 158: See note following RCW
82.34.050.
Review of disputes as to appraised value of watercraft: RCW 82.49.060.
82.03.200 Appeals from county board of equalization—Evidence submission in advance of hearing. In all
appeals taken pursuant to RCW 84.08.130 the assessor or
taxpayer shall submit evidence of comparable sales to be
used in a hearing to the board and to all parties at least ten
business days in advance of such hearing. Failure to comply
with the requirements set forth in this section shall be
grounds for the board, upon objection, to continue the hearing or refuse to consider evidence not timely submitted.
[1994 c 301 § 17.]
82.04.051
82.04.055
82.04.060
82.04.062
82.04.065
82.04.070
82.04.080
82.04.090
82.04.100
82.04.110
82.04.120
82.04.130
82.04.140
82.04.150
82.04.160
82.04.170
82.04.180
82.04.190
82.04.200
82.04.210
82.04.212
82.04.213
82.04.214
82.04.215
82.04.216
82.04.217
82.04.220
82.04.230
82.04.240
82.04.2403
82.04.2404
82.04.250
82.04.255
82.04.260
82.04.261
82.04.263
82.04.270
82.04.272
82.04.280
82.03.200
Chapter 82.04
Chapter 82.04 RCW
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX
Sections
82.04.010
82.04.020
82.04.030
82.04.035
82.04.040
82.04.050
Introductory.
"Tax year," "taxable year."
"Person," "company."
"Plantation Christmas trees."
"Sale," "casual or isolated sale," "lease or rental."
"Sale at retail," "retail sale."
[Title 82 RCW—page 10]
82.04.285
82.04.286
82.04.290
82.04.29001
82.04.2905
82.04.2906
82.04.2907
82.04.2908
82.04.2909
82.04.293
82.04.294
82.04.297
82.04.298
82.04.310
82.04.311
82.04.315
82.04.317
82.04.320
82.04.322
"Services rendered in respect to"—Taxation of hybrid or subsequent agreements.
"Selected business services."
"Sale at wholesale," "wholesale sale."
"Sale at wholesale," "sale at retail" excludes sale of precious
metal bullion and monetized bullion—Computation of tax.
Telephone and telecommunications-related definitions.
"Gross proceeds of sales."
"Gross income of the business."
"Value proceeding or accruing."
"Extractor."
"Manufacturer."
"To manufacture."
"Commercial or industrial use."
"Business."
"Engaging in business."
"Cash discount."
"Tuition fee."
"Successor."
"Consumer."
"In this state," "within this state."
"Byproduct."
"Retail store or outlet."
"Agricultural product," "farmer."
"Newspaper."
"Computer," "computer software," "custom software," "customization of prewritten computer software," "master copies," "prewritten computer software," "retained rights."
Exclusion of steam, electricity, or electrical energy from definition of certain terms.
"Direct service industrial customer," "aluminum smelter."
Business and occupation tax imposed.
Tax upon extractors.
Tax on manufacturers.
Manufacturer tax not applicable to cleaning fish.
Manufacturers—Processors for hire—Semiconductor materials.
Tax on retailers.
Tax on real estate brokers.
Tax on manufacturers and processors of various foods and
by-products—Research and development organizations—
Travel agents—Certain international activities—Stevedoring and associated activities—Low-level waste disposers—Insurance agents, brokers, and solicitors—Hospitals—Commercial airplane activities—Timber product
activities—Canned salmon processors.
Surcharge on timber and wood product manufacturers,
extractors, and wholesalers.
Tax on cleaning up radioactive waste and other byproducts of
weapons production and nuclear research and development.
Tax on wholesalers.
Tax on warehousing and reselling prescription drugs.
Tax on printers, publishers, highway contractors, extracting
or processing for hire, cold storage warehouse or storage
warehouse operation, insurance general agents, radio and
television broadcasting, government contractors—Cold
storage warehouse defined—Storage warehouse
defined—Periodical or magazine defined.
Tax on contests of chance.
Tax on horse races.
Tax on international investment management services or
other business or service activities.
Creation and distribution of custom software—Customization of prewritten computer software—Taxable services.
Tax on providing day care.
Tax on certain chemical dependency services.
Tax on royalties from granting intangible rights.
Tax on provision of room and domiciliary care to boarding
home residents.
Tax on aluminum smelters.
International investment management services—Definitions.
Tax on manufacturers or wholesalers of solar energy systems.
Internet services—Definitions.
Tax on qualified grocery distribution cooperatives.
Exemptions—Public utilities—Electrical energy.
Exemptions—Tobacco settlement authority.
Exemptions—International banking facilities.
Exemptions—Motor vehicle sales by manufacturers at
wholesale auctions to dealers.
Exemptions—Insurance business.
Exemptions—Health maintenance organization, health care
service contractor, certified health plan.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.324
82.04.326
82.04.327
82.04.330
82.04.331
82.04.332
82.04.333
82.04.335
82.04.337
82.04.338
82.04.339
82.04.3395
82.04.340
82.04.350
82.04.355
82.04.360
82.04.363
82.04.3651
82.04.367
82.04.368
82.04.370
82.04.380
82.04.385
82.04.390
82.04.392
82.04.394
82.04.395
82.04.397
82.04.399
82.04.405
82.04.408
82.04.410
82.04.415
82.04.416
82.04.418
82.04.419
82.04.4201
82.04.421
82.04.422
82.04.423
82.04.424
82.04.425
82.04.4251
82.04.426
82.04.4261
82.04.4262
82.04.4263
82.04.4264
82.04.4265
82.04.4266
82.04.4267
82.04.4268
82.04.4269
82.04.427
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions—Qualifying blood, tissue, or blood and tissue
banks.
Exemptions—Qualified organ procurement organizations.
Exemptions—Adult family homes.
Exemptions—Sales of agricultural products.
Exemptions—Wholesale sales to farmers of seed for planting, conditioning seed for planting owned by others.
Exemptions—Buying and selling at wholesale wheat, oats,
dry peas, dry beans, lentils, triticale, canola, corn, rye, and
barley.
Exemptions—Small harvesters.
Exemptions—Agricultural fairs.
Exemptions—Amounts received by hop growers or dealers
for processed hops shipped outside the state.
Exemptions—Hop commodity commission or hop commodity board business.
Exemptions—Day care provided by churches.
Exemptions—Child care resource and referral services by
nonprofit organizations.
Exemptions—Boxing, sparring, or wrestling matches.
Exemptions—Racing.
Exemptions—Ride sharing.
Exemptions—Employees—Independent contractors—Booth
renters.
Exemptions—Camp or conference center—Items sold or furnished by nonprofit organization.
Exemptions—Amounts received by nonprofit organizations
for fund-raising activities.
Exemptions—Nonprofit organizations that are guarantee
agencies, issue debt, or provide guarantees for student
loans.
Exemptions—Nonprofit organizations—Credit and debt services.
Exemptions—Certain fraternal and beneficiary organizations.
Exemptions—Certain corporations furnishing aid and relief.
Exemptions—Operation of sheltered workshops.
Exemptions—Amounts derived from sale of real estate.
Exemptions—Mortgage brokers’ third-party provider services trust accounts.
Exemptions—Amounts received by property management
company for on-site personnel.
Exemptions—Certain materials printed in school district and
educational service district printing facilities.
Exemptions—Certain materials printed in county, city, or
town printing facilities.
Exemptions—Sales of academic transcripts.
Exemptions—Credit unions.
Exemptions—Housing finance commission.
Exemptions—Hatching eggs and poultry.
Exemptions—Sand, gravel and rock taken from county or
city pits or quarries, processing and handling costs.
Exemptions—Operation of state route No. 16.
Exemptions—Grants by United States government to municipal corporations or political subdivisions.
Exemptions—County, city, town, school district, or fire district activity.
Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
Exemptions—Out-of-state membership sales in discount
programs.
Exemptions—Wholesale sales of motor vehicles.
Exemptions—Sales by certain out-of-state persons to or
through direct seller’s representatives.
Exemptions—Certain in-state activities.
Exemptions—Accommodation sales.
Exemptions—Convention and tourism promotion.
Exemptions—Semiconductor microchips.
Exemptions—Federal small business innovation research
program.
Exemptions—Federal small business technology transfer
program.
Exemptions—Income received by the life sciences discovery
fund authority.
Exemptions—Nonprofit boarding homes—Room and domiciliary care.
Exemptions—Comprehensive cancer centers.
Exemptions—Fruit and vegetable businesses.
Exemptions—Operation of parking/business improvement
areas.
Exemptions—Dairy product businesses.
Exemptions—Seafood product businesses.
Exemptions and credits—Pollution control facilities.
82.04.4271
82.04.4272
82.04.4281
82.04.4282
82.04.4283
82.04.4284
82.04.4285
82.04.4286
82.04.4287
82.04.4289
82.04.4291
82.04.4292
82.04.4293
82.04.4294
82.04.4295
82.04.4296
82.04.4297
82.04.4298
82.04.431
82.04.4311
82.04.432
82.04.4322
82.04.4324
82.04.4326
82.04.4327
82.04.4328
82.04.433
82.04.4331
82.04.4332
82.04.4333
82.04.4334
82.04.4335
82.04.4336
82.04.4337
82.04.4338
82.04.4339
82.04.434
82.04.440
82.04.4451
82.04.4452
82.04.44525
82.04.4461
82.04.4462
82.04.4463
82.04.447
Chapter 82.04
Deductions—Membership fees and certain service fees by
nonprofit youth organization.
Deductions—Direct mail delivery charges.
Deductions—Investments, dividends, interest on loans.
Deductions—Fees, dues, charges.
Deductions—Cash discount taken by purchaser.
Deductions—Bad debts.
Deductions—Motor vehicle fuel and special fuel taxes.
Deductions—Nontaxable business.
Deductions—Compensation for receiving, washing, etc.,
horticultural products for person exempt under RCW
82.04.330—Materials and supplies used.
Exemption—Compensation for patient services or attendant
sales of drugs dispensed pursuant to prescription by certain nonprofit organizations.
Deductions—Compensation received by a political subdivision from another political subdivision for services taxable
under RCW 82.04.290.
Deductions—Interest on investments or loans secured by
mortgages or deeds of trust.
Deductions—Interest on obligations of the state, its political
subdivisions, and municipal corporations.
Deductions—Interest on loans to farmers and ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or their cooperatives.
Deductions—Manufacturing activities completed outside the
United States.
Deductions—Reimbursement for accommodation expenditures by funeral homes.
Deductions—Compensation from public entities for health or
social welfare services—Exception.
Deductions—Repair, maintenance, replacement, etc., of residential structures and commonly held property—Eligible
organizations.
"Health or social welfare organization" defined for RCW
82.04.4297—Conditions for exemption—"Health or
social welfare services" defined.
Deductions—Compensation received under the federal
medicare program by certain hospitals or health centers.
Deductions—Municipal sewer service fees or charges.
Deductions—Artistic or cultural organization—Compensation from United States, state, etc., for artistic or cultural
exhibitions, performances, or programs.
Deductions—Artistic or cultural organization—Deduction
for tax under RCW 82.04.240—Value of articles for use in
displaying art objects or presenting artistic or cultural
exhibitions, performances, or programs.
Deductions—Artistic or cultural organizations—Tuition
charges for attending artistic or cultural education programs.
Deductions—Artistic and cultural organizations—Income
from business activities.
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined.
Deductions—Sales of fuel for consumption outside United
States’ waters by vessels in foreign commerce—Construction.
Deductions—Insurance claims for state health care coverage.
Deductions—Tuition fees of foreign degree-granting institutions.
Credit—Job training services—Approval.
Deductions—Sale or distribution of biodiesel or alcohol
fuels.
Deductions—Sale or distribution of wood biomass fuel.
Deductions—Cattle and beef products.
Deductions—Certain amounts received by boarding homes.
Deductions—Amounts received from sale, lease, or rental of
electrification systems.
Deductions—Grants to support salmon restoration.
Credit—Public safety standards and testing.
Persons taxable on multiple activities—Credits.
Credit against tax due—Maximum credit—Table.
Credit—Research and development spending.
Credit—New employment for international service activities
in eligible areas—Designation of census tracts for eligibility—Records—Tax due upon ineligibility—Interest
assessment—Information from employment security
department.
Credit—Preproduction development spending.
Credit—Investment in design and preproduction development computer software and hardware.
Credit—Property taxes paid on property used for manufacture of commercial airplanes.
Credit—Natural or manufactured gas purchased by direct
service industrial customers—Reports.
[Title 82 RCW—page 11]
82.04.010
82.04.448
82.04.4481
82.04.4482
82.04.4483
82.04.4484
82.04.4485
82.04.4486
82.04.4487
82.04.4489
82.04.449
82.04.450
82.04.460
82.04.470
82.04.480
82.04.500
82.04.510
82.04.520
82.04.530
82.04.535
82.04.540
82.04.600
82.04.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Credit—Manufacturing semiconductor materials.
Credit—Property taxes paid by aluminum smelter.
Credit—Sales of electricity or gas to an aluminum smelter.
Credit—Programming or manufacturing software in rural
counties.
Credit—Information technology help desk services in rural
counties.
Credit—Mechanical lifting devices purchased by hospitals.
Credit—Syrup taxes paid by buyer.
Credit—Commercial aircraft—Qualified preproduction
development expenditures.
Credit—Motion picture competitiveness program.
Credit—Washington customized employment training program.
Value of products, how determined.
Business within and without state—Apportionment.
Resale certificate—Burden of proof—Tax liability—
Rules—Resale certificate defined.
Sales in own name—Sales as agent.
Tax part of operating overhead.
General administrative provisions invoked.
Administrative provisions for motor vehicle sales by courtesy dealers.
Gross proceeds of sales calculation for telephone business.
Gross proceeds of sales calculation for mobile telecommunications service provider.
Professional employer organizations—Taxable under RCW
82.04.290(2)—Deduction.
Exemptions—Materials printed in county, city, town, school
district, educational service district, library or library district.
Construction—1961 c 15.
Admission tax
cities: RCW 35.21.280.
counties: Chapter 36.38 RCW.
Commute trip reduction incentives: Chapter 82.70 RCW.
Housing authorities, tax exemption: Chapter 35.82 RCW.
Public utility districts, privilege taxes: Chapter 54.28 RCW.
82.04.010
82.04.010 Introductory. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions set forth in the sections
preceding RCW 82.04.220 apply throughout this chapter.
[1996 c 93 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.010. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 2;
prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156
§ 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c
227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 83705, part.]
82.04.020
82.04.020 "Tax year," "taxable year." "Tax year" or
"taxable year" means either the calendar year, or the taxpayer’s fiscal year when permission is obtained from the
department of revenue to use a fiscal year in lieu of the calendar year. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 39; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.020.
Prior: 1955 c 389 § 3; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249
§ 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c
225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.04.030
82.04.030 "Person," "company." "Person" or "company", herein used interchangeably, means any individual,
receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club,
company, joint stock company, business trust, municipal corporation, political subdivision of the state of Washington,
corporation, limited liability company, association, society,
or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual,
cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise and the United
[Title 82 RCW—page 12]
States or any instrumentality thereof. [1995 c 318 § 1; 1963
ex.s. c 28 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.030. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 4;
prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156
§ 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c
227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 83705, part.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 11, 1995]." [1995 c 318 § 12.]
Effective date—1963 ex.s. c 28: "This act shall take effect on July 1,
1963." [1963 ex.s. c 28 § 17.]
International companies investing in Washington—Eligibility for excise tax
incentives: RCW 43.330.068.
82.04.035
82.04.035 "Plantation Christmas trees." "Plantation
Christmas trees" means Christmas trees which are exempt
from the timber excise tax under RCW 84.33.170. [1987 c 23
§ 1.]
82.04.040
82.04.040 "Sale," "casual or isolated sale," "lease or
rental." (1) "Sale" means any transfer of the ownership of,
title to, or possession of property for a valuable consideration
and includes any activity classified as a "sale at retail" or
"retail sale" under RCW 82.04.050. It includes lease or
rental, conditional sale contracts, and any contract under
which possession of the property is given to the purchaser but
title is retained by the vendor as security for the payment of
the purchase price. It also includes the furnishing of food,
drink, or meals for compensation whether consumed upon the
premises or not.
(2) "Casual or isolated sale" means a sale made by a person who is not engaged in the business of selling the type of
property involved.
(3)(a) "Lease or rental" means any transfer of possession
or control of tangible personal property for a fixed or indeterminate term for consideration. A lease or rental may include
future options to purchase or extend. "Lease or rental"
includes agreements covering motor vehicles and trailers
where the amount of consideration may be increased or
decreased by reference to the amount realized upon sale or
disposition of the property as defined in 26 U.S.C. Sec.
7701(h)(1), as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2003.
The definition in this subsection (3) shall be used for sales
and use tax purposes regardless if a transaction is characterized as a lease or rental under generally accepted accounting
principles, the United States internal revenue code, Washington state’s commercial code, or other provisions of federal,
state, or local law.
(b) "Lease or rental" does not include:
(i) A transfer of possession or control of property under
a security agreement or deferred payment plan that requires
the transfer of title upon completion of the required payments;
(ii) A transfer of possession or control of property under
an agreement that requires the transfer of title upon completion of required payments, and payment of an option price
does not exceed the greater of one hundred dollars or one percent of the total required payments; or
(iii) Providing tangible personal property along with an
operator for a fixed or indeterminate period of time. A con(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
dition of this exclusion is that the operator is necessary for the
tangible personal property to perform as designed. For the
purpose of this subsection (3)(b)(iii), an operator must do
more than maintain, inspect, or set up the tangible personal
property. [2004 c 153 § 402; 2003 c 168 § 103; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.040. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 1; 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 1; 1955
c 389 § 5; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part;
1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2,
part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.04.050
82.04.050 "Sale at retail," "retail sale." (1) "Sale at
retail" or "retail sale" means every sale of tangible personal
property (including articles produced, fabricated, or
imprinted) to all persons irrespective of the nature of their
business and including, among others, without limiting the
scope hereof, persons who install, repair, clean, alter,
improve, construct, or decorate real or personal property of or
for consumers other than a sale to a person who presents a
resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470 and who:
(a) Purchases for the purpose of resale as tangible personal property in the regular course of business without intervening use by such person, but a purchase for the purpose of
resale by a regional transit authority under RCW 81.112.300
is not a sale for resale; or
(b) Installs, repairs, cleans, alters, imprints, improves,
constructs, or decorates real or personal property of or for
consumers, if such tangible personal property becomes an
ingredient or component of such real or personal property
without intervening use by such person; or
(c) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property
purchased in producing for sale a new article of tangible personal property or substance, of which such property becomes
an ingredient or component or is a chemical used in processing, when the primary purpose of such chemical is to create a
chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient
of a new article being produced for sale; or
(d) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property
purchased in producing ferrosilicon which is subsequently
used in producing magnesium for sale, if the primary purpose
of such property is to create a chemical reaction directly
through contact with an ingredient of ferrosilicon; [or]
(e) Purchases for the purpose of providing the property
to consumers as part of competitive telephone service, as
defined in RCW 82.04.065. The term shall include every sale
of tangible personal property which is used or consumed or to
be used or consumed in the performance of any activity classified as a "sale at retail" or "retail sale" even though such
property is resold or utilized as provided in (a), (b), (c), (d), or
(e) of this subsection following such use. The term also
means every sale of tangible personal property to persons
engaged in any business which is taxable under RCW
82.04.280 (2) and (7), 82.04.290, and 82.04.2908; or
(f) Purchases for the purpose of satisfying the person’s
obligations under an extended warranty as defined in subsection (7) of this section, if such tangible personal property
replaces or becomes an ingredient or component of property
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.050
covered by the extended warranty without intervening use by
such person.
(2) The term "sale at retail" or "retail sale" shall include
the sale of or charge made for tangible personal property consumed and/or for labor and services rendered in respect to the
following:
(a) The installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, or improving of tangible personal property of or for consumers, including charges made for the mere use of facilities
in respect thereto, but excluding charges made for the use of
self-service laundry facilities, and also excluding sales of
laundry service to nonprofit health care facilities, and excluding services rendered in respect to live animals, birds and
insects;
(b) The constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving
of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon,
or above real property of or for consumers, including the
installing or attaching of any article of tangible personal
property therein or thereto, whether or not such personal
property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation,
and shall also include the sale of services or charges made for
the clearing of land and the moving of earth excepting the
mere leveling of land used in commercial farming or agriculture;
(c) The charge for labor and services rendered in respect
to constructing, repairing, or improving any structure upon,
above, or under any real property owned by an owner who
conveys the property by title, possession, or any other means
to the person performing such construction, repair, or
improvement for the purpose of performing such construction, repair, or improvement and the property is then reconveyed by title, possession, or any other means to the original
owner;
(d) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the cleaning, fumigating, razing or moving
of existing buildings or structures, but shall not include the
charge made for janitorial services; and for purposes of this
section the term "janitorial services" shall mean those cleaning and caretaking services ordinarily performed by commercial janitor service businesses including, but not limited to,
wall and window washing, floor cleaning and waxing, and
the cleaning in place of rugs, drapes and upholstery. The
term "janitorial services" does not include painting, papering,
repairing, furnace or septic tank cleaning, snow removal or
sandblasting;
(e) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to automobile towing and similar automotive
transportation services, but not in respect to those required to
report and pay taxes under chapter 82.16 RCW;
(f) The sale of and charge made for the furnishing of
lodging and all other services by a hotel, rooming house,
tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the
renting or leasing of real property, and it shall be presumed
that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of
one month or more constitutes a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or enjoy the same. For the
purposes of this subsection, it shall be presumed that the sale
of and charge made for the furnishing of lodging for a continuous period of one month or more to a person is a rental or
[Title 82 RCW—page 13]
82.04.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
lease of real property and not a mere license to enjoy the
same;
(g) The sale of or charge made for tangible personal
property, labor and services to persons taxable under (a), (b),
(c), (d), (e), and (f) of this subsection when such sales or
charges are for property, labor and services which are used or
consumed in whole or in part by such persons in the performance of any activity defined as a "sale at retail" or "retail
sale" even though such property, labor and services may be
resold after such use or consumption. Nothing contained in
this subsection shall be construed to modify subsection (1) of
this section and nothing contained in subsection (1) of this
section shall be construed to modify this subsection.
(3) The term "sale at retail" or "retail sale" shall include
the sale of or charge made for personal, business, or professional services including amounts designated as interest,
rents, fees, admission, and other service emoluments however designated, received by persons engaging in the following business activities:
(a) Amusement and recreation services including but not
limited to golf, pool, billiards, skating, bowling, ski lifts and
tows, day trips for sightseeing purposes, and others, when
provided to consumers;
(b) Abstract, title insurance, and escrow services;
(c) Credit bureau services;
(d) Automobile parking and storage garage services;
(e) Landscape maintenance and horticultural services but
excluding (i) horticultural services provided to farmers and
(ii) pruning, trimming, repairing, removing, and clearing of
trees and brush near electric transmission or distribution lines
or equipment, if performed by or at the direction of an electric
utility;
(f) Service charges associated with tickets to professional sporting events; and
(g) The following personal services: Physical fitness
services, tanning salon services, tattoo parlor services, steam
bath services, turkish bath services, escort services, and dating services.
(4)(a) The term shall also include:
(i) The renting or leasing of tangible personal property to
consumers; and
(ii) Providing tangible personal property along with an
operator for a fixed or indeterminate period of time. A consideration of this is that the operator is necessary for the tangible personal property to perform as designed. For the purpose of this subsection (4)(a)(ii), an operator must do more
than maintain, inspect, or set up the tangible personal property.
(b) The term shall not include the renting or leasing of
tangible personal property where the lease or rental is for the
purpose of sublease or subrent.
(5) The term shall also include the providing of telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065, to consumers.
(6) The term shall also include the sale of prewritten
computer software other than a sale to a person who presents
a resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470, regardless of the
method of delivery to the end user, but shall not include custom software or the customization of prewritten computer
software.
(7) The term shall also include the sale of or charge made
for an extended warranty to a consumer. For purposes of this
[Title 82 RCW—page 14]
subsection, "extended warranty" means an agreement for a
specified duration to perform the replacement or repair of
tangible personal property at no additional charge or a
reduced charge for tangible personal property, labor, or both,
or to provide indemnification for the replacement or repair of
tangible personal property, based on the occurrence of specified events. The term "extended warranty" does not include
an agreement, otherwise meeting the definition of extended
warranty in this subsection, if no separate charge is made for
the agreement and the value of the agreement is included in
the sales price of the tangible personal property covered by
the agreement. For purposes of this subsection, "sales price"
has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.010.
(8) The term shall not include the sale of or charge made
for labor and services rendered in respect to the building,
repairing, or improving of any street, place, road, highway,
easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal
or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle which is owned
by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of the
state or by the United States and which is used or to be used
primarily for foot or vehicular traffic including mass transportation vehicles of any kind.
(9) The term shall also not include sales of chemical
sprays or washes to persons for the purpose of postharvest
treatment of fruit for the prevention of scald, fungus, mold, or
decay, nor shall it include sales of feed, seed, seedlings, fertilizer, agents for enhanced pollination including insects such
as bees, and spray materials to: (a) Persons who participate
in the federal conservation reserve program, the environmental quality incentives program, the wetlands reserve program,
and the wildlife habitat incentives program, or their successors administered by the United States department of agriculture; (b) farmers for the purpose of producing for sale any
agricultural product; and (c) farmers acting under cooperative
habitat development or access contracts with an organization
exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. Sec.
501(c)(3) or the Washington state department of fish and
wildlife to produce or improve wildlife habitat on land that
the farmer owns or leases.
(10) The term shall not include the sale of or charge
made for labor and services rendered in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real
property of or for the United States, any instrumentality
thereof, or a county or city housing authority created pursuant
to chapter 35.82 RCW, including the installing, or attaching
of any article of tangible personal property therein or thereto,
whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the
realty by virtue of installation. Nor shall the term include the
sale of services or charges made for the clearing of land and
the moving of earth of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority. Nor
shall the term include the sale of services or charges made for
cleaning up for the United States, or its instrumentalities,
radioactive waste and other byproducts of weapons production and nuclear research and development.
(11) The term shall not include the sale of or charge
made for labor, services, or tangible personal property pursuant to agreements providing maintenance services for bus,
rail, or rail fixed guideway equipment when a regional transit
authority is the recipient of the labor, services, or tangible
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
personal property, and a transit agency, as defined in RCW
81.104.015, performs the labor or services. [2005 c 515 § 2;
2005 c 514 § 101. Prior: 2004 c 174 § 3; 2004 c 153 § 407;
2003 c 168 § 104; 2002 c 178 § 1; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 23;
prior: 1998 c 332 § 2; 1998 c 315 § 1; 1998 c 308 § 1; 1998
c 275 § 1; 1997 c 127 § 1; prior: 1996 c 148 § 1; 1996 c 112
§ 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 12 § 2; 1995 c 39 § 2; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
301; 1988 c 253 § 1; prior: 1987 c 285 § 1; 1987 c 23 § 2;
1986 c 231 § 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 25; 1981 c 144 § 3; 1975
1st ex.s. c 291 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 145
§ 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 8
§ 1; prior: 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 30; 1969 ex.s. c 255 § 3; 1967
ex.s. c 149 § 4; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 1; 1963 c 7 § 1; prior: 1961
ex.s. c 24 § 1; 1961 c 293 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.050; prior:
1959 ex.s. c 5 § 2; 1957 c 279 § 1; 1955 c 389 § 6; 1953 c 91
§ 3; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 28 § 3; 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249
§ 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c
225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 514 § 101 and by
2005 c 515 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—2005 c 515: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Public entities that receive tax dollars must continuously improve
the way they operate and deliver service so citizens receive maximum value
for their tax dollars; and
(2) An explicit statement clarifying that no sales or use tax shall apply
to the entire charge paid by regional transit authorities for bus or rail combined operations and maintenance agreements that are provided to such
authorities in support of their provision of urban transportation or transportation services is necessary to improve efficient service." [2005 c 515 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Retroactive application—Effective date—2002 c 178: See notes following RCW 67.28.180.
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1998 c 332: See notes following
RCW 82.04.29001.
Effective dates—1998 c 308: "(1) Sections 1 through 4 of this act take
effect July 1, 1998.
(2) Section 5 of this act takes effect July 1, 2003." [1998 c 308 § 6.]
Effective date—1998 c 275: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 275 § 2.]
82.04.050
Intent—1995 1st sp.s. c 12: "It is the intent of the legislature that massage services be recognized as health care practitioners for the purposes of
business and occupation tax application. To achieve this intent massage services are being removed from the definition of sale at retail and retail sale."
[1995 1st sp.s. c 12 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 12: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 1st sp.s. c 12 § 5.]
Effective date—1995 c 39: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 39 § 3.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1981 c 144: See notes following RCW 82.16.010.
Application to preexisting contracts—1975 1st ex.s. c 291; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 90: See note following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: "This 1975 amendatory act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing institutions, and
shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That sections 8 and 26 through
43 of this amendatory act shall be effective on and after January 1, 1976:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That sections 2, 3, and 4, and subsections (1) and
(2) of section 24 shall be effective on and after January 1, 1977: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That subsections (3) through (15) of section 24 shall be
effective on and after January 1, 1978." [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 46.]
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: "If any provision of this 1975
amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 45.]
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 90: "This 1975 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect July 1, 1975." [1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 5.]
Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 145: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1973." [1973 1st ex.s. c 145 § 2.]
Effective dates—1971 ex.s. c 299: "This 1971 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect as follows:
(1) Sections 1 through 12, 15 through 34 and 53 shall take effect July
1, 1971;
(2) Sections 13, 14, and 77 and 78 shall take effect June 1, 1971; and
(3) Sections 35 through 52 and 54 through 76 shall take effect as provided in section 53." [1971 ex.s. c 299 § 79.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: "If any phrase, clause, subsection or
section of this 1971 amendatory act shall be declared unconstitutional or
invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be conclusively presumed that the legislature would have enacted this 1971 amendatory act
without the phrase, clause, subsection or section so held unconstitutional or
invalid and the remainder of the act shall not be affected as a result of said
part being held unconstitutional or invalid." [1971 ex.s. c 299 § 78.]
Effective date—1997 c 127: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 127 § 2.]
Construction—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 255: See notes following
RCW 35.58.272.
Severability—1996 c 148: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1996 c 148 § 7.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1967." [1967 ex.s. c 149 § 65.]
Effective date—1996 c 148: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1,
1996." [1996 c 148 § 8.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
June 1, 1965." [1965 ex.s. c 173 § 33.]
Effective date—1996 c 112: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 112 § 5.]
Credit for retail sales or use taxes paid to other jurisdictions with respect to
property used: RCW 82.12.035.
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 82 RCW—page 15]
82.04.051
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
"Services rendered in respect to" defined: RCW 82.04.051.
82.04.051
82.04.051 "Services rendered in respect to"—Taxation of hybrid or subsequent agreements. (1) As used in
RCW 82.04.050, the term "services rendered in respect to"
means those services that are directly related to the constructing, building, repairing, improving, and decorating of buildings or other structures and that are performed by a person
who is responsible for the performance of the constructing,
building, repairing, improving, or decorating activity. The
term does not include services such as engineering, architectural, surveying, flagging, accounting, legal, consulting, or
administrative services provided to the consumer of, or person responsible for performing, the constructing, building,
repairing, improving, or decorating services.
(2) A contract or agreement under which a person is
responsible for both services that would otherwise be subject
to tax as a service under RCW 82.04.290(2) and also constructing, building, repairing, improving, or decorating activities that would otherwise be subject to tax under another section of this chapter is subject to the tax that applies to the predominant activity under the contract or agreement.
(3) Unless otherwise provided by law, a contract or
agreement under which a person is responsible for activities
that are subject to tax as a service under RCW 82.04.290(2),
and a subsequent contract or agreement under which the same
person is responsible for constructing, building, repairing,
improving, or decorating activities subject to tax under
another section of this chapter, shall not be combined and
taxed as a single activity if at the time of the first contract or
agreement it was not contemplated by the parties, as evidenced by the facts, that the same person would be awarded
both contracts.
(4) As used in this section "responsible for the performance" means that the person is obligated to perform the
activities, either personally or through a third party. A person
who reviews work for a consumer, retailer, or wholesaler but
does not supervise or direct the work is not responsible for
the performance of the work. A person who is financially
obligated for the work, such as a bank, but who does not have
control over the work itself is not responsible for the performance of the work. [1999 c 212 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 212: "(1) The legislature finds that the taxation of "services rendered in respect to constructing buildings or other structures" has generally included the entire transaction for construction, including certain services provided directly to the consumer or owner rather than
the person engaged in the performance of the constructing activity. Changes
in business practices and recent administrative and court decisions have confused the issue. It is the intent of the legislature to clarify which services, if
standing alone and not part of the construction agreement, are taxed as retail
or wholesale sales, and which services will continue to be taxed as a service.
(2) It is further the intent of the legislature to confirm that the entire
price for the construction of a building or other structure for a consumer or
owner continues to be a retail sale, even though some of the individual services reflected in the price, if provided alone, would be taxed as services and
not as separate retail or wholesale sales.
(3) Therefore, the intent of this act is to maintain the application of the
law and not to extend retail treatment to activities not previously treated as
retail activities. Services that are otherwise subject to tax as a service under
RCW 82.04.290(2), including but not limited to engineering, architectural,
surveying, flagging, accounting, legal, consulting, or administrative services, remain subject to tax as a service under RCW 82.04.290(2), if the person responsible for the performance of those services is not also responsible
for the performance of the constructing, building, repairing, improving, or
decorating activities. Additionally, unless otherwise provided by law, a per[Title 82 RCW—page 16]
son entering into an agreement to be responsible for the performance of services otherwise subject to tax as a service under RCW 82.04.290(2), and subsequently entering into a separate agreement to be responsible for the performance of constructing, building, repairing, improving, or decorating
activities, is subject to tax as a service under RCW 82.04.290(2) with respect
to the first agreement, and is subject to tax under the appropriate section of
chapter 82.04 RCW with respect to the second agreement, if at the time of
the first agreement there was no contemplation by the parties, as evidenced
by the facts, that the agreements would be awarded to the same person."
[1999 c 212 § 1.]
82.04.055
82.04.055 "Selected business services."
Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.055 was amended by 1997 c 304 § 3 without reference to its repeal by 1997 c 7 § 5. It has been decodified for publication purposes under RCW 1.12.025.
82.04.060
82.04.060 "Sale at wholesale," "wholesale sale."
"Sale at wholesale" or "wholesale sale" means: (1) Any sale
of tangible personal property, any sale of services defined as
a retail sale in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a), any sale of amusement
or recreation services as defined in RCW 82.04.050(3)(a),
any sale of canned software, any sale of an extended warranty
as defined in RCW 82.04.050(7), or any sale of telephone
service as defined in RCW 82.04.065, which is not a sale at
retail; and (2) any charge made for labor and services rendered for persons who are not consumers, in respect to real or
personal property, if such charge is expressly defined as a
retail sale by RCW 82.04.050 when rendered to or for consumers: PROVIDED, That the term "real or personal property" as used in this subsection shall not include any natural
products named in RCW 82.04.100. [2005 c 514 § 102; 2002
c 367 § 1; 1998 c 332 § 5; 1996 c 148 § 3; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3
§ 26; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.060. Prior: 1955 ex.s. c 10 § 4; 1955
c 389 § 7; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part;
1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2,
part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Severability—2002 c 367: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2002 c 367 § 7.]
Effective date—2002 c 367: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 1, 2002."
[2002 c 367 § 8.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1998 c 332: See notes following
RCW 82.04.29001.
Severability—Effective date—1996 c 148: See notes following RCW
82.04.050.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.04.062
82.04.062 "Sale at wholesale," "sale at retail"
excludes sale of precious metal bullion and monetized
bullion—Computation of tax. (1) For purposes of this
chapter, "wholesale sale," "sale at wholesale," "retail sale,"
and "sale at retail" do not include the sale of precious metal
bullion or monetized bullion.
(2) In computing tax under this chapter on the business
of making sales of precious metal bullion or monetized bullion, the tax shall be imposed on the amounts received as
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
commissions upon transactions for the accounts of customers
over and above the amount paid to other dealers associated in
such transactions, but no deduction or offset is allowed on
account of salaries or commissions paid to salesmen or other
employees.
(3) For purposes of this section, "precious metal bullion"
means any precious metal which has been put through a process of smelting or refining, including, but not limited to,
gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium, and which is
in such state or condition that its value depends upon its contents and not upon its form. For purposes of this section,
"monetized bullion" means coins or other forms of money
manufactured from gold, silver, or other metals and heretofore, now, or hereafter used as a medium of exchange under
the laws of this state, the United States, or any foreign nation,
but does not include coins or money sold to be manufactured
into jewelry or works of art. [1985 c 471 § 5.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
82.04.065
82.04.065 Telephone and telecommunicationsrelated definitions. (Contingent expiration date.) (1)
"Competitive telephone service" means the providing by any
person of telecommunications equipment or apparatus, or
service related to that equipment or apparatus such as repair
or maintenance service, if the equipment or apparatus is of a
type which can be provided by persons that are not subject to
regulation as telephone companies under Title 80 RCW and
for which a separate charge is made.
(2) "Network telephone service" means the providing by
any person of access to a telephone network, telephone network switching service, toll service, or coin telephone services, or the providing of telephonic, video, data, or similar
communication or transmission for hire, via a telephone network, toll line or channel, cable, microwave, or similar communication or transmission system. "Network telephone service" includes the provision of transmission to and from the
site of an internet provider via a telephone network, toll line
or channel, cable, microwave, or similar communication or
transmission system. "Network telephone service" does not
include the providing of competitive telephone service, the
providing of cable television service, the providing of broadcast services by radio or television stations, nor the provision
of internet service as defined in RCW 82.04.297, including
the reception of dial-in connection, provided at the site of the
internet service provider.
(3) "Telephone service" means competitive telephone
service or network telephone service, or both, as defined in
subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) "Telephone business" means the business of providing network telephone service, as defined in subsection (2) of
this section. It includes cooperative or farmer line telephone
companies or associations operating an exchange.
(5) "Charges for mobile telecommunications services"
means any charge for, or associated with, the provision of
commercial mobile radio service, as defined in section 20.3,
Title 47 C.F.R. as in effect on June 1, 1999, or any charge for,
or associated with, a service provided as an adjunct to a commercial mobile radio service, regardless of whether individual transmissions originate or terminate within the licensed
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.065
service area of the mobile telecommunications service provider.
(6) "Customer" means: (a) The person or entity that contracts with the home service provider for mobile telecommunications services; or (b) the end user of the mobile telecommunications service, if the end user of mobile telecommunications services is not the contracting party, but this
subsection (6)(b) applies only for the purpose of determining
the place of primary use. The term does not include a reseller
of mobile telecommunications service, or a serving carrier
under an arrangement to serve the customer outside the home
service provider’s licensed service area.
(7) "Designated data base provider" means a person representing all the political subdivisions of the state that is:
(a) Responsible for providing an electronic data base
prescribed in 4 U.S.C. Sec. 119(a) if the state has not provided an electronic data base; and
(b) Approved by municipal and county associations or
leagues of the state whose responsibility it would otherwise
be to provide a data base prescribed by 4 U.S.C. Secs. 116
through 126.
(8) "Enhanced zip code" means a United States postal
zip code of nine or more digits.
(9) "Home service provider" means the facilities-based
carrier or reseller with whom the customer contracts for the
provision of mobile telecommunications services.
(10) "Licensed service area" means the geographic area
in which the home service provider is authorized by law or
contract to provide commercial mobile radio service to the
customer.
(11) "Mobile telecommunications service" means commercial mobile radio service, as defined in section 20.3, Title
47 C.F.R. as in effect on June 1, 1999.
(12) "Mobile telecommunications service provider"
means a home service provider or a serving carrier.
(13) "Place of primary use" means the street address representative of where the customer’s use of the mobile telecommunications service primarily occurs, which must be:
(a) The residential street address or the primary business
street address of the customer; and
(b) Within the licensed service area of the home service
provider.
(14) "Prepaid telephone calling service" means the right
to purchase exclusively telecommunications services that
must be paid for in advance, that enables the origination of
calls using an access number, authorization code, or both,
whether manually or electronically dialed, if the remaining
amount of units of service that have been prepaid is known by
the provider of the prepaid service on a continuous basis.
(15) "Reseller" means a provider who purchases telecommunications services from another telecommunications
service provider and then resells, uses as a component part of,
or integrates the purchased services into a mobile telecommunications service. "Reseller" does not include a serving
carrier with whom a home service provider arranges for the
services to its customers outside the home service provider’s
licensed service area.
(16) "Serving carrier" means a facilities-based carrier
providing mobile telecommunications service to a customer
outside a home service provider’s or reseller’s licensed service area.
[Title 82 RCW—page 17]
82.04.065
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(17) "Taxing jurisdiction" means any of the several
states, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession
of the United States, any municipality, city, county, township, parish, transportation district, or assessment jurisdiction, or other political subdivision within the territorial limits
of the United States with the authority to impose a tax,
charge, or fee. [2002 c 67 § 2; 1997 c 304 § 5; 1983 2nd ex.s.
c 3 § 24.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
Findings—Severability—Effective date—1997 c 304: See notes following RCW 35.21.717.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
License fees or taxes on telephone business by cities: RCW 35.21.712
through 35.21.715.
Sales tax exemption for certain network telephone service: RCW
82.08.0289.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
License fees or taxes on telephone business by cities: RCW 35.21.712
through 35.21.715.
Sales tax exemption for certain network telephone service: RCW
82.08.0289.
82.04.070
82.04.070 "Gross proceeds of sales." "Gross proceeds
of sales" means the value proceeding or accruing from the
sale of tangible personal property and/or for services rendered, without any deduction on account of the cost of property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount paid, delivery costs, taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account
of losses. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.070. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 8;
prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156
§ 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c
227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 83705, part.]
82.04.065
82.04.065 "Competitive telephone service," "network telephone service," "telephone service," "telephone
business." (Contingent effective date.) (1) "Competitive
telephone service" means the providing by any person of telecommunications equipment or apparatus, or service related to
that equipment or apparatus such as repair or maintenance
service, if the equipment or apparatus is of a type which can
be provided by persons that are not subject to regulation as
telephone companies under Title 80 RCW and for which a
separate charge is made.
(2) "Network telephone service" means the providing by
any person of access to a local telephone network, local telephone network switching service, toll service, or coin telephone services, or the providing of telephonic, video, data, or
similar communication or transmission for hire, via a local
telephone network, toll line or channel, cable, microwave, or
similar communication or transmission system. "Network
telephone service" includes interstate service, including toll
service, originating from or received on telecommunications
equipment or apparatus in this state if the charge for the service is billed to a person in this state. "Network telephone service" includes the provision of transmission to and from the
site of an internet provider via a local telephone network, toll
line or channel, cable, microwave, or similar communication
or transmission system. "Network telephone service" does
not include the providing of competitive telephone service,
the providing of cable television service, the providing of
broadcast services by radio or television stations, nor the provision of internet service as defined in RCW 82.04.297,
including the reception of dial-in connection, provided at the
site of the internet service provider.
(3) "Telephone service" means competitive telephone
service or network telephone service, or both, as defined in
subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) "Telephone business" means the business of providing network telephone service, as defined in subsection (2) of
this section. It includes cooperative or farmer line telephone
companies or associations operating an exchange. [1997 c
304 § 5; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 24.]
Findings—Severability—Effective date—1997 c 304: See notes following RCW 35.21.717.
[Title 82 RCW—page 18]
82.04.080
82.04.080 "Gross income of the business." "Gross
income of the business" means the value proceeding or accruing by reason of the transaction of the business engaged in
and includes gross proceeds of sales, compensation for the
rendition of services, gains realized from trading in stocks,
bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, interest, discount,
rents, royalties, fees, commissions, dividends, and other
emoluments however designated, all without any deduction
on account of the cost of tangible property sold, the cost of
materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs,
taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and
without any deduction on account of losses. [1961 c 15 §
82.04.080. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 9; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part;
1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2,
part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 §
5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
82.04.090
82.04.090 "Value proceeding or accruing." "Value
proceeding or accruing" means the consideration, whether
money, credits, rights, or other property expressed in terms of
money, actually received or accrued. The term shall be
applied, in each case, on a cash receipts or accrual basis
according to which method of accounting is regularly
employed in keeping the books of the taxpayer. However,
persons operating grain warehouses licensed under chapter
22.09 RCW may elect to report the value proceeding or
accruing from grain warehouse operations on either a cash
receipts or accrual basis. The department of revenue may provide by regulation that the value proceeding or accruing from
sales on the installment plan under conditional contracts of
sale may be reported as of the dates when the payments
become due. [2001 c 20 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 40; 1961
c 15 § 82.04.090. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 10; prior: 1949 c 228
§ 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c
178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935
c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective date—2001 c 20: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 20 § 2.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.100
82.04.100 "Extractor." "Extractor" means every person who from the person’s own land or from the land of
another under a right or license granted by lease or contract,
either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary
labor or mechanical services, for sale or for commercial or
industrial use mines, quarries, takes or produces coal, oil, natural gas, ore, stone, sand, gravel, clay, mineral or other natural resource product, or fells, cuts or takes timber, Christmas
trees other than plantation Christmas trees, or other natural
products, or takes fish, shellfish, or other sea or inland water
foods or products. "Extractor" does not include persons performing under contract the necessary labor or mechanical
services for others; or persons meeting the definition of
farmer under RCW 82.04.213. [2001 c 118 § 1; 1987 c 23 §
3; 1985 c 148 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 2; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.100. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 11; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2,
part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 §
2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180
§ 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Withdrawal of gas from underground reservoir not deemed taking or producing under RCW 82.04.100: RCW 80.40.010.
82.04.110
82.04.110 "Manufacturer." "Manufacturer" means
every person who, either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary labor or mechanical services, manufactures for sale or for commercial or industrial use from his or
her own materials or ingredients any articles, substances or
commodities. When the owner of equipment or facilities furnishes, or sells to the customer prior to manufacture, all or a
portion of the materials that become a part or whole of the
manufactured article, the department shall prescribe equitable rules for determining tax liability: PROVIDED, That a
person who produces aluminum master alloys is a processor
for hire rather than a manufacturer, regardless of the portion
of the aluminum provided by that person’s customer: PROVIDED FURTHER, That a nonresident of this state who is
the owner of materials processed for it in this state by a processor for hire shall not be deemed to be engaged in business
in this state as a manufacturer because of the performance of
such processing work for it in this state: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the owner of materials from which a nuclear fuel
assembly is made for it by a processor for hire shall not be
subject to tax under this chapter as a manufacturer of the fuel
assembly.
For the purposes of this section, "aluminum master
alloy" means an alloy registered with the Aluminum Association as a grain refiner or a hardener alloy using the American
National Standards Institute designating system H35.3.
[1997 c 453 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 186 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.110.
Prior: 1955 c 389 § 12; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c
249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939
c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
82.04.120
82.04.120
82.04.120 "To manufacture." "To manufacture"
embraces all activities of a commercial or industrial nature
wherein labor or skill is applied, by hand or machinery, to
materials so that as a result thereof a new, different or useful
substance or article of tangible personal property is produced
for sale or commercial or industrial use, and shall include:
(1) The production or fabrication of special made or custom
made articles; (2) the production or fabrication of dental
appliances, devices, restorations, substitutes, or other dental
laboratory products by a dental laboratory or dental technician; (3) cutting, delimbing, and measuring of felled, cut, or
taken trees; and (4) crushing and/or blending of rock, sand,
stone, gravel, or ore.
"To manufacture" shall not include: Conditioning of
seed for use in planting; cubing hay or alfalfa; activities
which consist of cutting, grading, or ice glazing seafood
which has been cooked, frozen, or canned outside this state;
the growing, harvesting, or producing of agricultural products; packing of agricultural products, including sorting,
washing, rinsing, grading, waxing, treating with fungicide,
packaging, chilling, or placing in controlled atmospheric
storage; or the production of computer software if the computer software is delivered from the seller to the purchaser by
means other than tangible storage media, including the delivery by use of a tangible storage media where the tangible
storage media is not physically transferred to the purchaser.
[2003 c 168 § 604; 1999 sp.s. c 9 § 1; 1999 c 211 § 2; 1998 c
168 § 1; 1997 c 384 § 1; 1989 c 302 § 201. Prior: 1989 c 302
§ 101; 1987 c 493 § 1; 1982 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s.
c 291 § 6; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.120; prior:
1959 ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1955 c 389 § 13; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2,
part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 §
2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180
§ 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Intent—1999 sp.s. c 9: "This act is intended to clarify that this is the
intent of the legislature both retroactively and prospectively." [1999 sp.s. c
9 § 4.]
Severability—1999 sp.s. c 9: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 sp.s. c 9 § 5.]
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 9: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[June 7, 1999]." [1999 sp.s. c 9 § 6.]
Intent—1999 c 211 §§ 2 and 3: "The legislature intends that sections 2
and 3 of this act be clarifying in nature and are retroactive in response to the
administrative difficulties encountered in implementing the original legislation." [1999 c 211 § 4.]
Effective date—1999 c 211 §§ 1-4: "Sections 1 through 4 of this act are
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions,
and take effect immediately [May 7, 1999]." [1999 c 211 § 7.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 211: See note following RCW 82.08.02565.
Effective date—1998 c 168: "This act takes effect October 1, 1998."
[1998 c 168 § 4.]
Effective date—1997 c 453: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 453 § 2.]
Effective date—1997 c 384: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 384 § 3.]
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 186: "The effective date of this 1971
amendatory act is July 1, 1971." [1971 ex.s. c 186 § 5.]
Finding—Purpose—1989 c 302: "(1) The legislature finds that chapter 9, Laws of 1982 2nd ex. sess. was intended to extend state public utility
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 82 RCW—page 19]
82.04.130
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
taxation to electrical energy generated in this state for eventual distribution
outside this state. The legislature further finds that chapter 9, Laws of 1982
2nd ex. sess. was held unconstitutional by the Thurston county superior court
in Washington Water Power v. State of Washington (memorandum opinion
No. 83-2-00977-1). The purpose of *Part I of this act is to recognize the
effect of that decision by correcting the relevant RCW sections to read as
though the legislature had not enacted chapter 9, Laws of 1982 2nd ex. sess.,
and thereby make clear the effect of subsequent amendments in *Part II of
this act.
(2) The purpose of *Part II of this act is to provide a constitutional
means of replacing the revenue lost as a result of the Washington Water
Power decision." [1989 c 302 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: For "Part" division see 1989 c 302.
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.16.010.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.130
82.04.130 "Commercial or industrial use." "Commercial or industrial use" means the following uses of products, including byproducts, by the extractor or manufacturer
thereof:
(1) Any use as a consumer; and
(2) The manufacturing of articles, substances or commodities. [1967 ex.s. c 149 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.130. Prior:
1955 c 389 § 14; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1,
part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 §
2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-5, part.]
82.04.140
82.04.140 "Business." "Business" includes all activities engaged in with the object of gain, benefit, or advantage
to the taxpayer or to another person or class, directly or indirectly. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.140. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 15; prior:
1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2,
part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 §
2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5,
part.]
are made is furnished exclusively to the students or faculty of
such institution. "Educational institution," as used in this section, means only those institutions created or generally
accredited as such by the state and includes educational programs that such educational institution cosponsors with a
nonprofit organization, as defined by the internal revenue
code Sec. 501(c)(3), if such educational institution grants college credit for coursework successfully completed through
the educational program, or an approved branch campus of a
foreign degree-granting institution in compliance with chapter 28B.90 RCW, and in accordance with RCW 82.04.4332
or defined as a degree-granting institution under RCW
28B.85.010(3) and accredited by an accrediting association
recognized by the United States secretary of education, and
offering to students an educational program of a general academic nature or those institutions which are not operated for
profit and which are privately endowed under a deed of trust
to offer instruction in trade, industry, and agriculture, but not
including specialty schools, business colleges, other trade
schools, or similar institutions. [1993 sp.s. c 18 § 37; 1993 c
181 § 13; 1992 c 206 § 1; 1985 c 135 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.170. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 18; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2,
part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 §
2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180
§ 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1993 c 181 § 13 and by
1993 sp.s. c 18 § 37, each without reference to the other. Both amendments
are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 18: See note following RCW 28B.12.060.
Effective dates—1992 c 206: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1992,
except sections 7 and 8 of this act which shall take effect January 1, 1993,
and sections 9 through 12 of this act which are necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1,
1992." [1992 c 206 § 16.]
82.04.180
82.04.150
82.04.150 "Engaging in business." "Engaging in business" means commencing, conducting, or continuing in business and also the exercise of corporate or franchise powers as
well as liquidating a business when the liquidators thereof
hold themselves out to the public as conducting such business. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.150. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 16; prior:
1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2,
part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 §
2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5,
part.]
82.04.160
82.04.160 "Cash discount." "Cash discount" means a
deduction from the invoice price of goods or charge for services which is allowed if the bill is paid on or before a specified date. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.160. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 17;
prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156
§ 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c
227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 83705, part.]
82.04.170
82.04.170 "Tuition fee." "Tuition fee" includes
library, laboratory, health service and other special fees, and
amounts charged for room and board by an educational institution when the property or service for which such charges
[Title 82 RCW—page 20]
82.04.180 "Successor." (1) "Successor" means:
(a) Any person to whom a taxpayer quitting, selling out,
exchanging, or disposing of a business sells or otherwise conveys, directly or indirectly, in bulk and not in the ordinary
course of the taxpayer’s business, more than fifty percent of
the fair market value of either the (i) tangible assets or (ii)
intangible assets of the taxpayer; or
(b) A surviving corporation of a statutory merger.
(2) Any person obligated to fulfill the terms of a contract
shall be deemed a successor to any contractor defaulting in
the performance of any contract as to which such person is a
surety or guarantor. [2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 11; 1985 c 414 § 6;
1961 c 15 § 82.04.180. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 19; prior: 1949
c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part;
1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2,
part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
82.04.190
82.04.190 "Consumer." "Consumer" means the following:
(1) Any person who purchases, acquires, owns, holds, or
uses any article of tangible personal property irrespective of
the nature of the person’s business and including, among others, without limiting the scope hereof, persons who install,
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
repair, clean, alter, improve, construct, or decorate real or
personal property of or for consumers other than for the purpose (a) of resale as tangible personal property in the regular
course of business or (b) of incorporating such property as an
ingredient or component of real or personal property when
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, improving, constructing, or decorating such real or personal property
of or for consumers or (c) of consuming such property in producing for sale a new article of tangible personal property or
a new substance, of which such property becomes an ingredient or component or as a chemical used in processing, when
the primary purpose of such chemical is to create a chemical
reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of a new
article being produced for sale or (d) of consuming the property purchased in producing ferrosilicon which is subsequently used in producing magnesium for sale, if the primary
purpose of such property is to create a chemical reaction
directly through contact with an ingredient of ferrosilicon or
(e) of satisfying the person’s obligations under an extended
warranty as defined in RCW 82.04.050(7), if such tangible
personal property replaces or becomes an ingredient or component of property covered by the extended warranty without
intervening use by such person;
(2)(a) Any person engaged in any business activity taxable under RCW 82.04.290 or 82.04.2908; (b) any person
who purchases, acquires, or uses any telephone service as
defined in RCW 82.04.065, other than for resale in the regular course of business; (c) any person who purchases,
acquires, or uses any service defined in RCW
82.04.050(2)(a), other than for resale in the regular course of
business or for the purpose of satisfying the person’s obligations under an extended warranty as defined in RCW
82.04.050(7); (d) any person who purchases, acquires, or
uses any amusement and recreation service defined in RCW
82.04.050(3)(a), other than for resale in the regular course of
business; (e) any person who is an end user of software; and
(f) any person who purchases or acquires an extended warranty as defined in RCW 82.04.050(7) other than for resale in
the regular course of business;
(3) Any person engaged in the business of contracting
for the building, repairing or improving of any street, place,
road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle
which is owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington or by the United States and
which is used or to be used primarily for foot or vehicular
traffic including mass transportation vehicles of any kind as
defined in RCW 82.04.280, in respect to tangible personal
property when such person incorporates such property as an
ingredient or component of such publicly owned street, place,
road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle by
installing, placing or spreading the property in or upon the
right of way of such street, place, road, highway, easement,
bridge, tunnel, or trestle or in or upon the site of such mass
public transportation terminal or parking facility;
(4) Any person who is an owner, lessee or has the right
of possession to or an easement in real property which is
being constructed, repaired, decorated, improved, or otherwise altered by a person engaged in business, excluding only
(a) municipal corporations or political subdivisions of the
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.190
state in respect to labor and services rendered to their real
property which is used or held for public road purposes, and
(b) the United States, instrumentalities thereof, and county
and city housing authorities created pursuant to chapter 35.82
RCW in respect to labor and services rendered to their real
property. Nothing contained in this or any other subsection
of this definition shall be construed to modify any other definition of "consumer";
(5) Any person who is an owner, lessee, or has the right
of possession to personal property which is being constructed, repaired, improved, cleaned, imprinted, or otherwise altered by a person engaged in business;
(6) Any person engaged in the business of constructing,
repairing, decorating, or improving new or existing buildings
or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or
for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county
or city housing authority created pursuant to chapter 35.82
RCW, including the installing or attaching of any article of
tangible personal property therein or thereto, whether or not
such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue
of installation; also, any person engaged in the business of
clearing land and moving earth of or for the United States,
any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing
authority created pursuant to chapter 35.82 RCW. Any such
person shall be a consumer within the meaning of this subsection in respect to tangible personal property incorporated
into, installed in, or attached to such building or other structure by such person, except that consumer does not include
any person engaged in the business of constructing, repairing,
decorating, or improving new or existing buildings or other
structures under, upon, or above real property of or for the
United States, or any instrumentality thereof, if the investment project would qualify for sales and use tax deferral
under chapter 82.63 RCW if undertaken by a private entity;
(7) Any person who is a lessor of machinery and equipment, the rental of which is exempt from the tax imposed by
RCW 82.08.020 under RCW 82.08.02565, with respect to the
sale of or charge made for tangible personal property consumed in respect to repairing the machinery and equipment,
if the tangible personal property has a useful life of less than
one year. Nothing contained in this or any other subsection
of this section shall be construed to modify any other definition of "consumer";
(8) Any person engaged in the business of cleaning up
for the United States, or its instrumentalities, radioactive
waste and other byproducts of weapons production and
nuclear research and development; and
(9) Any person who is an owner, lessee, or has the right
of possession of tangible personal property that, under the
terms of an extended warranty as defined in RCW
82.04.050(7), has been repaired or is replacement property,
but only with respect to the sale of or charge made for the
repairing of the tangible personal property or the replacement
property. [2005 c 514 § 103. Prior: 2004 c 174 § 4; 2004 c
2 § 8; 2002 c 367 § 2; prior: 1998 c 332 § 6; 1998 c 308 § 2;
prior: 1996 c 173 § 2; 1996 c 148 § 4; 1996 c 112 § 2; 1995
1st sp.s. c 3 § 4; 1986 c 231 § 2; 1985 c 134 § 1; 1983 2nd
ex.s. c 3 § 27; 1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 4;
1969 ex.s. c 255 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 6; 1965 ex.s. c 173 §
4; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.190; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 3; 1957 c
279 § 2; 1955 c 389 § 20; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2, part; 1945 c
[Title 82 RCW—page 21]
82.04.200
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 § 2, part; 1939
c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180 § 5, part;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1998 c 332: See notes following
RCW 82.04.29001.
Effective dates—1998 c 308: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
F ind ing s— Inte nt— 19 96 c 17 3: See n ot e fol l ow i ng RC W
82.08.02565.
Severability—Effective date—1996 c 148: See notes following RCW
82.04.050.
Effective date—1996 c 112: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Application to preexisting contracts—1975 1st ex.s. c 90:See note
following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 90: See note following RCW
82.04.050.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Construction—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 255: See notes following
RCW 35.58.272.
82.04.200
82.04.200 "In this state," "within this state." "In this
state" or "within this state" includes all federal areas lying
within the exterior boundaries of the state. [1961 c 15 §
82.04.200. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 21; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2,
part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 §
2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180
§ 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
mas trees; short-rotation hardwoods as defined in RCW
84.33.035; turf; or any animal including but not limited to an
animal that is a private sector cultured aquatic product as
defined in RCW 15.85.020, or a bird, or insect, or the substances obtained from such an animal. "Agricultural product"
does not include animals defined as pet animals under RCW
16.70.020.
(2) "Farmer" means any person engaged in the business
of growing, raising, or producing, upon the person’s own
lands or upon the lands in which the person has a present right
of possession, any agricultural product to be sold. "Farmer"
does not include a person growing, raising, or producing such
products for the person’s own consumption; a person selling
any animal or substance obtained therefrom in connection
with the person’s business of operating a stockyard or a
slaughter or packing house; or a person in respect to the business of taking, cultivating, or raising timber. [2001 c 118 § 2;
2001 c 97 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 302.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2001 c 97 § 3 and by
2001 c 118 § 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
82.04.214
82.04.214 "Newspaper." "Newspaper" means a publication issued regularly at stated intervals at least twice a
month and printed on newsprint in tabloid or broadsheet format folded loosely together without stapling, glue, or any
other binding of any kind. [1994 c 22 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
304.]
Retroactive application—1994 c 22: "This act shall apply retroactively to July 1, 1993." [1994 c 22 § 2.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
82.04.215
82.04.210
82.04.210 "Byproduct." "Byproduct" means any additional product, other than the principal or intended product,
which results from extracting or manufacturing activities and
which has a market value, without regard to whether or not
such additional product was an expected or intended result of
the extracting or manufacturing activities. [1961 c 15 §
82.04.210. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 22; prior: 1949 c 228 § 2,
part; 1945 c 249 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 2, part; 1941 c 178 §
2, part; 1939 c 225 § 2, part; 1937 c 227 § 2, part; 1935 c 180
§ 5, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-5, part.]
82.04.212
82.04.212 "Retail store or outlet." "Retail store or
outlet" does not mean a device or apparatus through which
sales are activated by coin deposits but the phrase shall
include automats or business establishments retailing diversified goods primarily through the use of such devices or apparatus. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.212. Prior: 1959 c 232 § 1.]
82.04.213
82.04.213 "Agricultural product," "farmer." (1)
"Agricultural product" means any product of plant cultivation
or animal husbandry including, but not limited to: A product
of horticulture, grain cultivation, vermiculture, viticulture, or
aquaculture as defined in RCW 15.85.020; plantation Christ[Title 82 RCW—page 22]
82.04.215 "Computer," "computer software," "custom software," "customization of prewritten computer
software," "master copies," "prewritten computer software," "retained rights." (1) "Computer" means an electronic device that accepts information in digital or similar
form and manipulates it for a result based on a sequence of
instructions.
(2) "Computer software" means a set of coded instructions designed to cause a computer or automatic data processing equipment to perform a task. All software is classified as
either prewritten or custom. Consistent with this definition
"computer software" includes only those sets of coded
instructions intended for use by an end user and specifically
excludes retained rights in software and master copies of
software.
(3) "Custom software" means software created for a single person.
(4) "Customization of prewritten computer software"
means any alteration, modification, or development of applications using or incorporating prewritten computer software
for a specific person. "Customization of prewritten computer
software" includes individualized configuration of software
to work with other software and computer hardware but does
not include routine installation. Customization of prewritten
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
computer software does not change the underlying character
or taxability of the original prewritten computer software.
(5) "Master copies" of software means copies of software from which a software developer, author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor, or distributor makes copies for
sale or license.
(6) "Prewritten computer software" means computer
software, including prewritten upgrades, that is not designed
and developed by the author or other creator to the specifications of a specific purchaser. The combining of two or more
prewritten computer software programs or prewritten portions thereof does not cause the combination to be other than
prewritten computer software. Prewritten computer software
includes software designed and developed by the author or
other creator to the specifications of a specific purchaser
when it is sold to a person other than such purchaser. Where
a person modifies or enhances computer software of which
such persons is not the author or creator, the person shall be
deemed to be the author or creator only of the person’s modifications or enhancements. Prewritten computer software or
a prewritten portion thereof that is modified or enhanced to
any degree, where such modification or enhancement is
designed and developed to the specifications of a specific
purchaser, remains prewritten computer software; however
where there is a reasonable, separately stated charge or an
invoice or other statement of the price given to the purchaser
for the modification or enhancement, the modification or
enhancement shall not constitute prewritten computer software.
(7) "Retained rights" means any and all rights, including
intellectual property rights such as those rights arising from
copyrights, patents, and trade secret laws, that are owned or
are held under contract or license by a software developer,
author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor, or distributor. [2003 c 168 § 601; 1998 c 332 § 3.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1998 c 332: See notes following
RCW 82.04.29001.
82.04.216
82.04.216 Exclusion of steam, electricity, or electrical
energy from definition of certain terms. Consistent with
RCW 82.02.220, when the terms "tangible personal property," "ingredient," "component part," "incorporated into,"
"goods," "products," "byproducts," "materials," "consumables," and other similar terms denoting tangible items that
may be used, sold, or consumed are used in this chapter, the
terms do not include steam, electricity, or electrical energy.
[2003 c 168 § 702.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.04.217
82.04.217 "Direct service industrial customer," "aluminum smelter." (1) "Direct service industrial customer"
means the same as in RCW 82.16.0495.
(2) "Aluminum smelter" means the manufacturing facility of any direct service industrial customer that processes
alumina into aluminum. [2004 c 24 § 2.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.240
82.04.220
82.04.220 Business and occupation tax imposed.
There is levied and shall be collected from every person a tax
for the act or privilege of engaging in business activities.
Such tax shall be measured by the application of rates against
value of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income of
the business, as the case may be. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.220.
Prior: 1955 c 389 § 42; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949
c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part;
1939 c 225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4,
part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
82.04.230
82.04.230 Tax upon extractors. Upon every person
engaging within this state in business as an extractor, except
persons taxable as an extractor under any other provision in
this chapter; as to such persons the amount of the tax with
respect to such business shall be equal to the value of the
products, including byproducts, extracted for sale or for commercial or industrial use, multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
The measure of the tax is the value of the products,
including byproducts, so extracted, regardless of the place of
sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points outside
the state. [2006 c 300 § 5; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 101; 1971 ex.s. c
281 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 33; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 7; 1961 c
15 § 82.04.230. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 43; prior: 1950 ex.s. c
5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c
178 § 1, part; 1939 c 225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935
c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 25: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 1002.]
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 25: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1993, except:
(1) Sections 901 and 902 of this act take effect immediately [May 28,
1993].
(2) Sections 601 through 603 of this act take effect January 1, 1994."
[1993 sp.s. c 25 § 1003.]
Part headings, captions not law—1993 sp.s. c 25: "Part headings and
captions as used in this act constitute no part of the law." [1993 sp.s. c 25 §
1004.]
82.04.240
82.04.240 Tax on manufacturers. (Contingent expiration date.) Upon every person engaging within this state in
business as a manufacturer, except persons taxable as manufacturers under other provisions of this chapter; as to such
persons the amount of the tax with respect to such business
shall be equal to the value of the products, including byproducts, manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
The measure of the tax is the value of the products,
including byproducts, so manufactured regardless of the
place of sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points
outside the state. [2004 c 24 § 4; 1998 c 312 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c
25 § 102; 1981 c 172 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c
281 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 34; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 8; 1965
ex.s. c 173 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.240. Prior: 1959 c 211 §
1; 1955 c 389 § 44; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228
§ 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c
[Title 82 RCW—page 23]
82.04.240
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1981, except section 9 of this act shall take effect September 1, 1981, sections 7 and 8 of this act shall take effect October 1, 1981, and section 10 of
this act shall take effect July 1, 1983." [1981 c 172 § 12.]
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on
July 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 196 § 15.]
82.04.240
82.04.240 Tax on manufacturers. (Contingent effective date; contingent expiration of subsection.) (1) Upon
every person engaging within this state in business as a manufacturer, except persons taxable as manufacturers under
other provisions of this chapter; as to such persons the
amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal
to the value of the products, including byproducts, manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of manufacturing semiconductor materials, as to
such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business
shall, in the case of manufacturers, be equal to the value of
the product manufactured, or, in the case of processors for
hire, be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied
by the rate of 0.275 percent. For the purposes of this subsection "semiconductor materials" means silicon crystals, silicon
ingots, raw polished semiconductor wafers, compound semiconductors, integrated circuits, and microchips. This subsection (2) expires twelve years after *the effective date of this
act.
(3) The measure of the tax is the value of the products,
including byproducts, so manufactured regardless of the
place of sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points
outside the state. [2003 c 149 § 3; 1998 c 312 § 3; 1993 sp.s.
c 25 § 102; 1981 c 172 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c
281 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 34; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 8; 1965
ex.s. c 173 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.240. Prior: 1959 c 211 §
1; 1955 c 389 § 44; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228
§ 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c
225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1981, except section 9 of this act shall take effect September 1, 1981, sections 7 and 8 of this act shall take effect October 1, 1981, and section 10 of
this act shall take effect July 1, 1983." [1981 c 172 § 12.]
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the
[Title 82 RCW—page 24]
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on
July 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 196 § 15.]
82.04.2403
82.04.2403 Manufacturer tax not applicable to cleaning fish. The tax imposed by RCW 82.04.240 does not apply
to cleaning fish. "Cleaning fish" means the removal of the
head, fins, or viscera from fresh fish without further processing, other than freezing. [1994 c 167 § 1.]
Effective date—1994 c 167: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 30, 1994]." [1994 c 167 § 3.]
82.04.2404
82.04.2404 Manufacturers—Processors for hire—
Semiconductor materials. (Contingent effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) Upon every person engaging
within this state in the business of manufacturing or processing for hire semiconductor materials, as to such persons the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall, in the case
of manufacturers, be equal to the value of the product manufactured, or, in the case of processors for hire, be equal to the
gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.275
percent.
(2) For the purposes of this section "semiconductor
materials" means silicon crystals, silicon ingots, raw polished
semiconductor wafers, and compound semiconductor wafers.
(3) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this section. [2006 c 84 § 2.]
*Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: "(1)(a) Sections 2
through 8 of this act are contingent upon the siting, expansion, or renovation,
and commercial operation of a significant semiconductor materials fabrication facility or facilities in the state of Washington.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(i) "Commercial operation" means the equipment and process qualifications in the new, expanded, or renovated building are completed and production for sale has begun.
(ii) "Semiconductor materials fabrication" means the manufacturing of
silicon crystals, silicon ingots that are at least three hundred millimeters in
diameter, raw polished semiconductor wafers that are at least three hundred
millimeters in diameter, and compound semiconductor wafers that are at
least three hundred millimeters in diameter.
(iii) "Significant" means that the combined investment or investments
by a single person, occurring at any time before *the effective date of this
act, of new buildings, expansion or renovation of existing buildings, tenant
improvements to buildings, and machinery and equipment in the buildings,
at the commencement of commercial production, is at least three hundred
fifty million dollars based on actual expenditures by the person.
(2) Except for section 1 of this act and this section, this act takes effect
the first day of the month immediately following the department’s determination that the contingency in subsection (1) of this section has occurred.
The department shall make its determination regarding the contingency in
subsection (1) of this section based on information provided to the department by affected taxpayers or representatives of affected taxpayers.
(3) The department of revenue shall provide notice of *the effective
date of this act to affected taxpayers, the legislature, the office of the code
reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the department." [2006 c 84 §
9.]
*Reviser’s note: This act has two effective dates, June 7, 2006, and the
other is contingent. The contingent effective date specified in subsection (2)
of this section was apparently intended.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: "The legislature finds that the welfare
of the people of the state of Washington is positively impacted through the
encouragement and expansion of family wage employment in the state’s
manufacturing industries. The legislature further finds that targeting tax
incentives to focus on key industry clusters is an important business climate
strategy. Washington state has recognized the semiconductor industry,
which includes the design and manufacture of semiconductor materials, as
one of the state’s existing key industry clusters. Businesses in this cluster in
the state of Washington are facing increasing pressure to expand elsewhere.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
The sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery and equipment enacted by the 1995 legislature improved Washington’s ability to compete with other states for manufacturing investment. In 2003 the legislature
enacted comprehensive tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster that
address activities of the lead product industry and its suppliers and customers. These tax incentives are contingent on the investment of at least one billion dollars in a new semiconductor microchip fabrication facility in this
state, which has not occurred. This investment criteria failed to recognize
the significance of potential investment in the advanced semiconductor
materials sector. Therefore, the legislature intends to complement existing
comprehensive tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster to address activities of the advanced semiconductor materials product industry and its suppliers and customers. Tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster are
important in both retention and expansion of existing businesses and attraction of new businesses, all of which will strengthen this cluster. The legislature also recognizes that the semiconductor industry involves major investment that results in significant construction projects, which will create jobs
and bring many indirect benefits to the state during the construction phase."
[2006 c 84 § 1.]
82.04.250
82.04.250 Tax on retailers. (Expires July 1, 2011.) (1)
Upon every person engaging within this state in the business
of making sales at retail, except persons taxable as retailers
under other provisions of this chapter, as to such persons, the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to
the gross proceeds of sales of the business, multiplied by the
rate of 0.471 percent.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of making sales at retail that are exempt from the tax
imposed under chapter 82.08 RCW by reason of RCW
82.08.0261, 82.08.0262, or 82.08.0263, except persons taxable under RCW 82.04.260(11) or subsection (3) of this section, as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to
such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds of sales of
the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
(3) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of making sales at retail that are exempt from the tax
imposed under chapter 82.08 RCW by reason of RCW
82.08.0261, 82.08.0262, or 82.08.0263, that is classified by
the federal aviation administration as a FAR part 145 certificated repair station with airframe and instrument ratings and
limited ratings for nondestructive testing, radio, Class 3
Accessory, and specialized services, as to such persons, the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to
the gross proceeds of sales of the business, multiplied by the
rate of .2904 percent. [2006 c 177 § 5; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 2;
(2003 1st sp.s. c 2 § 1 expired July 1, 2006). Prior: 1998 c
343 § 5; 1998 c 312 § 4; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 103; 1981 c 172 §
2; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 186 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 262
§ 35; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.250; prior: 1955
c 389 § 45; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1,
part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c 225 §
1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Expiration date—2006 c 177 § 5: "Section 5 of this act expires July 1,
2011." [2006 c 177 § 14.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Expiration date—2003 1st sp.s. c 2: "This act expires July 1, 2006."
[2003 1st sp.s. c 2 § 3.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 2: "This act takes effect August 1,
2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 2 § 4.]
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.255
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 82.04.110.
Reporting requirements: RCW 82.32.640.
82.04.250
82.04.250 Tax on retailers. (Effective July 1, 2011.)
(1) Upon every person except persons taxable under RCW
*82.04.260 (5) or (13), 82.04.272, or subsection (2) of this
section engaging within this state in the business of making
sales at retail, as to such persons, the amount of tax with
respect to such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds
of sales of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.471 percent.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of making sales at retail that are exempt from the tax
imposed under chapter 82.08 RCW by reason of RCW
82.08.0261, 82.08.0262, or 82.08.0263, except persons taxable under *RCW 82.04.260(13), as to such persons, the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to
the gross proceeds of sales of the business, multiplied by the
rate of 0.484 percent. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 2; (2003 1st sp.s.
c 2 § 1 expired July 1, 2006). Prior: 1998 c 343 § 5; 1998 c
312 § 4; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 103; 1981 c 172 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c
281 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 186 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 35; 1967
ex.s. c 149 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.250; prior: 1955 c 389 §
45; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943
c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c 225 § 1, part;
1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949
§ 8370-4, part.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.260 was amended by 2005 c 443 § 4,
deleting subsection (5) and changing subsection (13) to subsection (11),
effective July 1, 2006.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Expiration date—2003 1st sp.s. c 2: "This act expires July 1, 2006."
[2003 1st sp.s. c 2 § 3.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 2: "This act takes effect August 1,
2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 2 § 4.]
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 82.04.110.
Reporting requirements: RCW 82.32.640.
82.04.255
82.04.255 Tax on real estate brokers. Upon every person engaging within the state as a real estate broker; as to
such persons, the amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 1.5 percent.
The measure of the tax on real estate commissions
earned by the real estate broker shall be the gross commission
earned by the particular real estate brokerage office including
that portion of the commission paid to salesmen or associate
brokers in the same office on a particular transaction: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That where a real estate commission is
[Title 82 RCW—page 25]
82.04.260
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
divided between an originating brokerage office and a cooperating brokerage office on a particular transaction, each brokerage office shall pay the tax only upon their respective
shares of said commission: AND PROVIDED FURTHER,
That where the brokerage office has paid the tax as provided
herein, salesmen or associate brokers within the same brokerage office shall not be required to pay a similar tax upon the
same transaction. [1997 c 7 § 1; 1996 c 1 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25
§ 202; 1985 c 32 § 2; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 1; 1983 c 9 § 1;
1970 ex.s. c 65 § 3.]
Savings—1997 c 7: "This act does not affect any existing right
acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended or
repealed in this act or under any rule or order adopted under those sections,
nor does it affect any proceeding instituted under those sections." [1997 c 7
§ 6.]
Effective date—1997 c 7: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1997 c
7 § 7.]
Effective date—1996 c 1: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect January 1,
1996." [1996 c 1 § 5.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Construction—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: "This act shall not be construed as
affecting any existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under
the sections amended or repealed in this act or under any rule, regulation, or
order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those sections." [1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 65.]
Severability—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 66.]
Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: "(1) This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions and shall take effect
July 1, 1983, except that:
(a) Sections 42 through 50, and 52, 53, 65, and 66 of this act shall take
effect June 30, 1983;
(b) Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1983, except
as provided in subsection (2) of this section;
(c) Sections 21, 22, and 51 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1984.
Section 51 of this act shall be effective for property taxes levied in 1983 and
due in 1984, and thereafter; and
(d) Section 63 of this act shall take effect April 1, 1985, and shall be
effective in respect to taxable activities occurring on and after April 1, 1985;
and
(e) The extension under this act of the retail sales tax to certain sales of
telephone service shall apply to telephone service billed on or after July 1,
1983, whether or not such service was rendered before that date.
(f) Sections 61 and 62 of this act shall take effect on the day either of
the following events occurs, whichever is earlier:
(i) A temporary or permanent injunction or order becomes effective
which prohibits in whole or in part the collection of taxes at the rates specified in section 6, chapter 7, Laws of 1983; or
(ii) A decision of a court in this state invalidating in whole or in part
section 6, chapter 7, Laws of 1983, becomes final.
(2) The legislature finds that the amendments contained in sections 1
through 4 of this act constitute an integrated and inseparable entity and if any
one or more of those sections does not become law, the remaining sections
shall not take effect. If sections 1 through 4 of this act do not become law, the
governor shall in that event reduce approved allotments under RCW
43.88.110 for the 1983-85 biennium by four percent." [1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 §
67.]
Reviser’s note: (1) "Sections 42 through 50 and 52" consist of the 1983
2nd ex.s. c 3 amendments to RCW 82.49.010, 88.02.020, 88.02.030,
88.02.050, and 88.02.110 and the enactment of RCW 43.51.400, 82.49.020,
82.49.070, 88.02.070, and 88.02.080. "Section 53" consists of the enactment
of a new section which appears as a footnote to RCW 88.02.020, and "sections 65 and 66" consist of the enactment of new sections which appear as
footnotes to RCW 82.04.255 above.
(2) "Sections 1 through 4" consist of the 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 §§ 1-4
[Title 82 RCW—page 26]
amendments to RCW 82.04.255, 82.04.290, 82.04.2904, and 82.04.2901,
respectively.
(3) "Sections 21, 22, and 51" consist of the 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 amendments to RCW 82.48.010, 82.48.030, and 84.36.080, respectively.
(4) "Section 63" consists of the 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 amendment to RCW
82.32.045.
(5) "Sections 61 and 62" consist of the 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 §§ 61 and 62
amendments to RCW 82.04.2901 and 82.08.020, respectively. For the effective date of sections 61 and 62, see Bond v. Burrows, 103 Wn.2d 153 (1984).
Construction—1983 c 9: "This act shall not be construed as affecting
any existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended in this act, nor any rule, regulation, or order adopted nor any
proceeding instituted under those sections." [1983 c 9 § 6.]
Severability—1983 c 9: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1983 c 9 § 7.]
Effective date—1983 c 9: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions and shall take effect March 1,
1983. The additional taxes and tax rate changes imposed under this act shall
take effect on the dates designated in this act notwithstanding the date this act
becomes law under Article III, section 12 of the state Constitution." [1983 c
9 § 8.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 65: See notes following
RCW 82.03.050.
82.04.260
82.04.260 Tax on manufacturers and processors of
various foods and by-products—Research and development organizations—Travel agents—Certain international activities—Stevedoring and associated activities—
Low-level waste disposers—Insurance agents, brokers,
and solicitors—Hospitals—Commercial airplane activities—Timber product activities—Canned salmon processors. (1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of manufacturing:
(a) Wheat into flour, barley into pearl barley, soybeans
into soybean oil, canola into canola oil, canola meal, or
canola byproducts, or sunflower seeds into sunflower oil; as
to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the value of the flour, pearl barley, oil,
canola meal, or canola byproduct manufactured, multiplied
by the rate of 0.138 percent;
(b) Beginning July 1, 2012, seafood products which
remain in a raw, raw frozen, or raw salted state at the completion of the manufacturing by that person; as to such persons
the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal
to the value of the products manufactured or the gross proceeds derived from such sales, multiplied by the rate of 0.138
percent;
(c) Beginning July 1, 2012, dairy products that as of September 20, 2001, are identified in 21 C.F.R., chapter 1, parts
131, 133, and 135, including byproducts from the manufacturing of the dairy products such as whey and casein; or selling the same to purchasers who transport in the ordinary
course of business the goods out of state; as to such persons
the tax imposed shall be equal to the value of the products
manufactured or the gross proceeds derived from such sales
multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. Sellers must keep and
preserve records for the period required by RCW 82.32.070
establishing that the goods were transported by the purchaser
in the ordinary course of business out of this state;
(d) Beginning July 1, 2012, fruits or vegetables by canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating fresh
fruits or vegetables, or selling at wholesale fruits or vegeta(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
bles manufactured by the seller by canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating fresh fruits or vegetables and
sold to purchasers who transport in the ordinary course of
business the goods out of this state; as to such persons the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to
the value of the products manufactured or the gross proceeds
derived from such sales multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent. Sellers must keep and preserve records for the period
required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the goods were
transported by the purchaser in the ordinary course of business out of this state;
(e) Until July 1, 2009, alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or
biodiesel feedstock, as those terms are defined in RCW
82.29A.135; as to such persons the amount of tax with
respect to the business shall be equal to the value of alcohol
fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock manufactured,
multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent; and
(f) Alcohol fuel or wood biomass fuel, as those terms are
defined in RCW 82.29A.135; as to such persons the amount
of tax with respect to the business shall be equal to the value
of alcohol fuel or wood biomass fuel manufactured, multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of splitting or processing dried peas; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be
equal to the value of the peas split or processed, multiplied by
the rate of 0.138 percent.
(3) Upon every nonprofit corporation and nonprofit
association engaging within this state in research and development, as to such corporations and associations, the amount
of tax with respect to such activities shall be equal to the
gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the
rate of 0.484 percent.
(4) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of slaughtering, breaking and/or processing perishable meat products and/or selling the same at wholesale only
and not at retail; as to such persons the tax imposed shall be
equal to the gross proceeds derived from such sales multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent.
(5) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of acting as a travel agent or tour operator; as to such
persons the amount of the tax with respect to such activities
shall be equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(6) Upon every person engaging within this state in business as an international steamship agent, international customs house broker, international freight forwarder, vessel
and/or cargo charter broker in foreign commerce, and/or
international air cargo agent; as to such persons the amount of
the tax with respect to only international activities shall be
equal to the gross income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(7) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of stevedoring and associated activities pertinent to
the movement of goods and commodities in waterborne interstate or foreign commerce; as to such persons the amount of
tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross
proceeds derived from such activities multiplied by the rate
of 0.275 percent. Persons subject to taxation under this subsection shall be exempt from payment of taxes imposed by
chapter 82.16 RCW for that portion of their business subject
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.260
to taxation under this subsection. Stevedoring and associated
activities pertinent to the conduct of goods and commodities
in waterborne interstate or foreign commerce are defined as
all activities of a labor, service or transportation nature
whereby cargo may be loaded or unloaded to or from vessels
or barges, passing over, onto or under a wharf, pier, or similar
structure; cargo may be moved to a warehouse or similar
holding or storage yard or area to await further movement in
import or export or may move to a consolidation freight station and be stuffed, unstuffed, containerized, separated or
otherwise segregated or aggregated for delivery or loaded on
any mode of transportation for delivery to its consignee. Specific activities included in this definition are: Wharfage, handling, loading, unloading, moving of cargo to a convenient
place of delivery to the consignee or a convenient place for
further movement to export mode; documentation services in
connection with the receipt, delivery, checking, care, custody
and control of cargo required in the transfer of cargo;
imported automobile handling prior to delivery to consignee;
terminal stevedoring and incidental vessel services, including
but not limited to plugging and unplugging refrigerator service to containers, trailers, and other refrigerated cargo receptacles, and securing ship hatch covers.
(8) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of disposing of low-level waste, as defined in RCW
43.145.010; as to such persons the amount of the tax with
respect to such business shall be equal to the gross income of
the business, excluding any fees imposed under chapter
43.200 RCW, multiplied by the rate of 3.3 percent.
If the gross income of the taxpayer is attributable to
activities both within and without this state, the gross income
attributable to this state shall be determined in accordance
with the methods of apportionment required under RCW
82.04.460.
(9) Upon every person engaging within this state as an
insurance agent, insurance broker, or insurance solicitor
licensed under chapter 48.17 RCW; as to such persons, the
amount of the tax with respect to such licensed activities shall
be equal to the gross income of such business multiplied by
the rate of 0.484 percent.
(10) Upon every person engaging within this state in
business as a hospital, as defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, that
is operated as a nonprofit corporation or by the state or any of
its political subdivisions, as to such persons, the amount of
tax with respect to such activities shall be equal to the gross
income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.75 percent
through June 30, 1995, and 1.5 percent thereafter. The moneys collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the
health services account created under RCW 43.72.900.
(11)(a) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing
commercial airplanes, or components of such airplanes, as to
such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business
shall, in the case of manufacturers, be equal to the value of
the product manufactured, or in the case of processors for
hire, be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied
by the rate of:
(i) 0.4235 percent from October 1, 2005, through the
later of June 30, 2007, or the day preceding the date final
assembly of a superefficient airplane begins in Washington
state, as determined under RCW 82.32.550; and
[Title 82 RCW—page 27]
82.04.260
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(ii) 0.2904 percent beginning on the later of July 1, 2007,
or the date final assembly of a superefficient airplane begins
in Washington state, as determined under RCW 82.32.550.
(b) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of making sales, at
retail or wholesale, of commercial airplanes, or components
of such airplanes, manufactured by that person, as to such
persons the amount of tax with respect to such business shall
be equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the airplanes or
components multiplied by the rate of:
(i) 0.4235 percent from October 1, 2005, through the
later of June 30, 2007, or the day preceding the date final
assembly of a superefficient airplane begins in Washington
state, as determined under RCW 82.32.550; and
(ii) 0.2904 percent beginning on the later of July 1, 2007,
or the date final assembly of a superefficient airplane begins
in Washington state, as determined under RCW 82.32.550.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (11), "commercial
airplane," "component," and "final assembly of a superefficient airplane" have the meanings given in RCW 82.32.550.
(d) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person eligible for the tax rate under this subsection (11) must
report as required under RCW 82.32.545.
(e) This subsection (11) does not apply after the earlier
of: July 1, 2024; or December 31, 2007, if assembly of a
superefficient airplane does not begin by December 31, 2007,
as determined under RCW 82.32.550.
(12)(a) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging
within this state in the business of extracting timber or
extracting for hire timber; as to such persons the amount of
tax with respect to the business shall, in the case of extractors,
be equal to the value of products, including byproducts,
extracted, or in the case of extractors for hire, be equal to the
gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.4235
percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904
percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2024.
(b) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging
within this state in the business of manufacturing or processing for hire: (i) Timber into timber products or wood products; or (ii) timber products into other timber products or
wood products; as to such persons the amount of the tax with
respect to the business shall, in the case of manufacturers, be
equal to the value of products, including byproducts, manufactured, or in the case of processors for hire, be equal to the
gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.4235
percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904
percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2024.
(c) Until July 1, 2024, upon every person engaging
within this state in the business of selling at wholesale: (i)
Timber extracted by that person; (ii) timber products manufactured by that person from timber or other timber products;
or (iii) wood products manufactured by that person from timber or timber products; as to such persons the amount of the
tax with respect to the business shall be equal to the gross
proceeds of sales of the timber, timber products, or wood
products multiplied by the rate of 0.4235 percent from July 1,
2006, through June 30, 2007, and 0.2904 percent from July 1,
2007, through June 30, 2024.
(d) For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions apply:
[Title 82 RCW—page 28]
(i) "Timber products" means logs, wood chips, sawdust,
wood waste, and similar products obtained wholly from the
processing of timber; pulp; and recycled paper products.
(ii) "Wood products" means paper and paper products;
dimensional lumber; engineered wood products such as particleboard, oriented strand board, medium density fiberboard,
and plywood; wood doors; and wood windows.
(13) Upon every person engaging within this state in
inspecting, testing, labeling, and storing canned salmon
owned by another person, as to such persons, the amount of
tax with respect to such activities shall be equal to the gross
income derived from such activities multiplied by the rate of
0.484 percent. [2006 c 354 § 4; 2006 c 300 § 1. Prior: 2005
c 513 § 2; 2005 c 443 § 4; prior: 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 4; 2003
2nd sp.s. c 1 § 3; 2003 c 339 § 11; 2003 c 261 § 11; 2001 2nd
sp.s. c 25 § 2; prior: 1998 c 312 § 5; 1998 c 311 § 2; prior:
1998 c 170 § 4; 1996 c 148 § 2; 1996 c 115 § 1; prior: 1995
2nd sp.s. c 12 § 1; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 6 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
104; 1993 c 492 § 304; 1991 c 272 § 15; 1990 c 21 § 2; 1987
c 139 § 1; prior: 1985 c 471 § 1; 1985 c 135 § 2; 1983 2nd
ex.s. c 3 § 5; prior: 1983 1st ex.s. c 66 § 4; 1983 1st ex.s. c 55
§ 4; 1982 2nd ex.s. c 13 § 1; 1982 c 10 § 16; prior: 1981 c 178
§ 1; 1981 c 172 § 3; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291
§ 7; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 186 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c
262 § 36; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 10; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 6; 1961 c
15 § 82.04.260; prior: 1959 c 211 § 2; 1955 c 389 § 46; prior:
1953 c 91 § 4; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 28 § 4; 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part;
1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1,
part; 1939 c 225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 §
4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 300 § 1 and by
2006 c 354 § 4, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2005 c 443: See notes following
RCW 82.08.0255.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Effective dates—2003 c 339: See note following RCW 84.36.640.
Effective dates—2003 c 261: See note following RCW 84.36.635.
Purpose—Intent—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: "The purpose of sections 2
and 3 of this act is to provide a tax rate for persons who manufacture dairy
products that is commensurate to the rate imposed on certain other processors of agricultural commodities. This tax rate applies to persons who manufacture dairy products from raw materials such as fluid milk, dehydrated
milk, or byproducts of milk such as cream, buttermilk, whey, butter, or
casein. It is not the intent of the legislature to provide this tax rate to persons
who use dairy products as an ingredient or component of their manufactured
product, such as milk-based soups or pizza. It is the intent that persons who
manufacture products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, whey, or
whey products be subject to this rate." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 1.]
Part headings not law—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: "Part headings used in
this act are not any part of the law." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 7.]
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Effective date—1998 c 170: See note following RCW 82.04.331.
Severability—Effective date—1996 c 148: See notes following RCW
82.04.050.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
Effective date—1996 c 115: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 115 § 2.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 12: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 2.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 6: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 6 § 2.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Effective dates—1991 c 272: See RCW 81.108.901.
Severability—1985 c 471: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 471 § 17.]
Effective date—1985 c 471: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1985." [1985 c 471 § 18.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Severability—1982 2nd ex.s. c 13: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 13 § 2.]
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 13: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
August 1, 1982." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 13 § 3.]
Severability—1982 c 10: See note following RCW 6.13.080.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 82.04.110.
Low-level waste disposal rate regulation study: RCW 81.04.520.
82.04.261
82.04.261 Surcharge on timber and wood product
manufacturers, extractors, and wholesalers. (Effective
July 1, 2007.) (1) In addition to the taxes imposed under
RCW 82.04.260(12), a surcharge is imposed on those persons
who are subject to any of the taxes imposed under RCW
82.04.260(12). Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the surcharge is equal to 0.052 percent added to the rates provided in RCW 82.04.260(12) (a), (b), and (c).
(2) All receipts from the surcharge imposed under this
section shall be deposited into the forest and fish support
account created in RCW 76.09.405.
(3)(a) The surcharge imposed under this section shall be
suspended if:
(i) Receipts from the surcharge total at least eight million
dollars during any fiscal biennium; or
(ii) The office of financial management certifies to the
department that the federal government has appropriated at
least two million dollars for participation in forest and fish
report-related activities by federally recognized Indian tribes
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.261
located within the geographical boundaries of the state of
Washington for any federal fiscal year.
(b)(i) The suspension of the surcharge under (a)(i) of this
subsection (3) shall take effect on the first day of the calendar
month that is at least thirty days after the end of the month
during which the department determines that receipts from
the surcharge total at least eight million dollars during the fiscal biennium. The surcharge shall be imposed again at the
beginning of the following fiscal biennium.
(ii) The suspension of the surcharge under (a)(ii) of this
subsection (3) shall take effect on the later of the first day of
October of any federal fiscal year for which the federal government appropriates at least two million dollars for participation in forest and fish report-related activities by federally
recognized Indian tribes located within the geographical
boundaries of the state of Washington, or the first day of a
calendar month that is at least thirty days following the date
that the office of financial management makes a certification
to the department under subsection (5) of this section. The
surcharge shall be imposed again on the first day of the following July.
(4)(a) If, by October 1st of any federal fiscal year, the
office of financial management certifies to the department
that the federal government has appropriated funds for participation in forest and fish report-related activities by federally
recognized Indian tribes located within the geographical
boundaries of the state of Washington but the amount of the
appropriation is less than two million dollars, the department
shall adjust the surcharge in accordance with this subsection.
(b) The department shall adjust the surcharge by an
amount that the department estimates will cause the amount
of funds deposited into the forest and fish support account for
the state fiscal year that begins July 1st and that includes the
beginning of the federal fiscal year for which the federal
appropriation is made, to be reduced by twice the amount of
the federal appropriation for participation in forest and fish
report-related activities by federally recognized Indian tribes
located within the geographical boundaries of the state of
Washington.
(c) Any adjustment in the surcharge shall take effect at
the beginning of a calendar month that is at least thirty days
after the date that the office of financial management makes
the certification under subsection (5) of this section.
(d) The surcharge shall be imposed again at the rate provided in subsection (1) of this section on the first day of the
following state fiscal year unless the surcharge is suspended
under subsection (3) of this section or adjusted for that fiscal
year under this subsection.
(e) Adjustments of the amount of the surcharge by the
department are final and shall not be used to challenge the
validity of the surcharge imposed under this section.
(f) The department shall provide timely notice to
affected taxpayers of the suspension of the surcharge or an
adjustment of the surcharge.
(5) The office of financial management shall make the
certification to the department as to the status of federal
appropriations for tribal participation in forest and fish
report-related activities. [2006 c 300 § 2.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: "(1) Sections 1, 3, 4 through 6, and 8 through 12 of this act take effect July 1, 2006.
(2) Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2007.
[Title 82 RCW—page 29]
82.04.263
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) Section 7 of this act takes effect if the contingency in *section 12 of
this act occurs." [2006 c 300 § 13.]
*Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.04.426.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 186: See note following RCW 82.04.110.
82.04.263
82.04.263 Tax on cleaning up radioactive waste and
other byproducts of weapons production and nuclear
research and development. Upon every person engaging
within this state in the business of cleaning up for the United
States, or its instrumentalities, radioactive waste and other
byproducts of weapons production and nuclear research and
development; as to such persons the amount of the tax with
respect to such business shall be equal to the value of the
gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.471
percent.
For the purposes of this chapter, "cleaning up radioactive
waste and other byproducts of weapons production and
nuclear research and development" means the activities of
handling, storing, treating, immobilizing, stabilizing, or disposing of radioactive waste, radioactive tank waste and capsules, nonradioactive hazardous solid and liquid wastes, or
spent nuclear fuel; spent nuclear fuel conditioning; removal
of contamination in soils and ground water; decontamination
and decommissioning of facilities; and activities integral and
necessary to the direct performance of cleanup. [1996 c 112
§ 3.]
Effective date—1996 c 112: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.272
82.04.272 Tax on warehousing and reselling prescription drugs. (1) Upon every person engaging within this
state in the business of warehousing and reselling drugs for
human use pursuant to a prescription; as to such persons, the
amount of the tax shall be equal to the gross income of the
business multiplied by the rate of 0.138 percent.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Prescription" and "drug" have the same meaning as
in RCW 82.08.0281; and
(b) "Warehousing and reselling drugs for human use pursuant to a prescription" means the buying of drugs for human
use pursuant to a prescription from a manufacturer or another
wholesaler, and reselling of the drugs to persons selling at
retail or to hospitals, clinics, health care providers, or other
providers of health care services, by a wholesaler or retailer
who is registered with the federal drug enforcement administration and licensed by the state board of pharmacy. [2003 c
168 § 401; 1998 c 343 § 1.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—1998 c 343: "This act takes effect July 1, 2001." [1998
c 343 § 6.]
82.04.270
82.04.270 Tax on wholesalers. Upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of making sales at
wholesale, except persons taxable as wholesalers under other
provisions of this chapter; as to such persons the amount of
tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross
proceeds of sales of such business multiplied by the rate of
0.484 percent. [2004 c 24 § 5; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 5; 2001
1st sp.s. c 9 § 3; (2001 1st sp.s. c 9 § 2 expired July 1, 2001);
1999 c 358 § 2. Prior: 1999 c 358 § 1; 1998 c 343 § 2; 1998
c 329 § 1; 1998 c 312 § 6; 1994 c 124 § 2; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
105; 1981 c 172 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c 186 §
4; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 37; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 11; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.270; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 3; 1955 c 389 § 47; prior:
1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1,
part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c 225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 §
1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4,
part.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.04.298.
Expiration dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.04.290.
Effective date—1999 c 358 § 2: "Section 2 of this act takes effect July
1, 2001." [1999 c 358 § 23.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
Effective date—1998 c 329: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 329 § 2.]
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
[Title 82 RCW—page 30]
82.04.280
82.04.280 Tax on printers, publishers, highway contractors, extracting or processing for hire, cold storage
warehouse or storage warehouse operation, insurance
general agents, radio and television broadcasting, government contractors—Cold storage warehouse defined—
Storage warehouse defined—Periodical or magazine
defined. (Contingent expiration date.) Upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of: (1) Printing, and
of publishing newspapers, periodicals, or magazines; (2)
building, repairing or improving any street, place, road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle which is
owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of
the state or by the United States and which is used or to be
used, primarily for foot or vehicular traffic including mass
transportation vehicles of any kind and including any readjustment, reconstruction or relocation of the facilities of any
public, private or cooperatively owned utility or railroad in
the course of such building, repairing or improving, the cost
of which readjustment, reconstruction, or relocation, is the
responsibility of the public authority whose street, place,
road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle is
being built, repaired or improved; (3) extracting for hire or
processing for hire, except persons taxable as extractors for
hire or processors for hire under another section of this chapter; (4) operating a cold storage warehouse or storage warehouse, but not including the rental of cold storage lockers; (5)
representing and performing services for fire or casualty
insurance companies as an independent resident managing
general agent licensed under the provisions of RCW
48.05.310; (6) radio and television broadcasting, excluding
network, national and regional advertising computed as a
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
standard deduction based on the national average thereof as
annually reported by the Federal Communications Commission, or in lieu thereof by itemization by the individual broadcasting station, and excluding that portion of revenue represented by the out-of-state audience computed as a ratio to the
station’s total audience as measured by the 100 micro-volt
signal strength and delivery by wire, if any; (7) engaging in
activities which bring a person within the definition of consumer contained in RCW 82.04.190(6); as to such persons,
the amount of tax on such business shall be equal to the gross
income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
As used in this section, "cold storage warehouse" means
a storage warehouse used to store fresh and/or frozen perishable fruits or vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy products, or
fowl, or any combination thereof, at a desired temperature to
maintain the quality of the product for orderly marketing.
As used in this section, "storage warehouse" means a
building or structure, or any part thereof, in which goods,
wares, or merchandise are received for storage for compensation, except field warehouses, fruit warehouses, fruit packing
plants, warehouses licensed under chapter 22.09 RCW, public garages storing automobiles, railroad freight sheds, docks
and wharves, and "self-storage" or "mini storage" facilities
whereby customers have direct access to individual storage
areas by separate entrance. "Storage warehouse" does not
include a building or structure, or that part of such building or
structure, in which an activity taxable under RCW 82.04.272
is conducted.
As used in this section, "periodical or magazine" means
a printed publication, other than a newspaper, issued regularly at stated intervals at least once every three months,
including any supplement or special edition of the publication. [2006 c 300 § 6; 2004 c 24 § 6; 1998 c 343 § 3; 1994 c
112 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 303; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 106; 1986 c
226 § 2; 1983 c 132 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c
299 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 7; 1970 ex.s. c 8 § 2. Prior: 1969
ex.s. c 262 § 38; 1969 ex.s. c 255 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 13;
1963 c 168 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.280; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5
§ 4; 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 4; 1955 c 389 § 48; prior: 1950 ex.s. c 5
§ 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c
178 § 1, part; 1939 c 228 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935
c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Contingent expiration date—2006 c 300 § 6: "Section 6 of this act
expires on the date that section 7 of this act takes effect." [2006 c 300 § 14.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
Retroactive application—1994 c 112 § 1: "Section 1 of this act shall
apply retroactively to July 1, 1993." [1994 c 112 § 5.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—1986 c 226: See note following RCW 82.16.010.
Application to preexisting contracts—1975 1st ex.s. c 90:See note
following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 90: See note following RCW
82.04.050.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.280
82.04.280
82.04.280 Tax on printers, publishers, highway contractors, extracting or processing for hire, cold storage
warehouse or storage warehouse operation, insurance
general agents, radio and television broadcasting, government contractors—Cold storage warehouse defined—
Storage warehouse defined—Periodical or magazine
defined. (Contingent effective date.) Upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of: (1) Printing, and
of publishing newspapers, periodicals, or magazines; (2)
building, repairing or improving any street, place, road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle which is
owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of
the state or by the United States and which is used or to be
used, primarily for foot or vehicular traffic including mass
transportation vehicles of any kind and including any readjustment, reconstruction or relocation of the facilities of any
public, private or cooperatively owned utility or railroad in
the course of such building, repairing or improving, the cost
of which readjustment, reconstruction, or relocation, is the
responsibility of the public authority whose street, place,
road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle is
being built, repaired or improved; (3) extracting for hire or
processing for hire, except persons taxable as extractors for
hire or processors for hire under another section of this chapter; (4) operating a cold storage warehouse or storage warehouse, but not including the rental of cold storage lockers; (5)
representing and performing services for fire or casualty
insurance companies as an independent resident managing
general agent licensed under the provisions of RCW
48.05.310; (6) radio and television broadcasting, excluding
network, national and regional advertising computed as a
standard deduction based on the national average thereof as
annually reported by the Federal Communications Commission, or in lieu thereof by itemization by the individual broadcasting station, and excluding that portion of revenue represented by the out-of-state audience computed as a ratio to the
station’s total audience as measured by the 100 micro-volt
signal strength and delivery by wire, if any; (7) engaging in
activities which bring a person within the definition of consumer contained in RCW 82.04.190(6); as to such persons,
the amount of tax on such business shall be equal to the gross
income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
As used in this section, "cold storage warehouse" means
a storage warehouse used to store fresh and/or frozen perishable fruits or vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy products, or
fowl, or any combination thereof, at a desired temperature to
maintain the quality of the product for orderly marketing.
As used in this section, "storage warehouse" means a
building or structure, or any part thereof, in which goods,
wares, or merchandise are received for storage for compensation, except field warehouses, fruit warehouses, fruit packing
plants, warehouses licensed under chapter 22.09 RCW, public garages storing automobiles, railroad freight sheds, docks
and wharves, and "self-storage" or "mini storage" facilities
whereby customers have direct access to individual storage
areas by separate entrance. "Storage warehouse" does not
include a building or structure, or that part of such building or
[Title 82 RCW—page 31]
82.04.285
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
structure, in which an activity taxable under RCW 82.04.272
is conducted.
As used in this section, "periodical or magazine" means
a printed publication, other than a newspaper, issued regularly at stated intervals at least once every three months,
including any supplement or special edition of the publication. [2006 c 300 § 7; 2003 c 149 § 4; 1998 c 343 § 3; 1994
c 112 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 303; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 106; 1986
c 226 § 2; 1983 c 132 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 3; 1971 ex.s.
c 299 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 7; 1970 ex.s. c 8 § 2. Prior:
1969 ex.s. c 262 § 38; 1969 ex.s. c 255 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149
§ 13; 1963 c 168 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.280; prior: 1959 ex.s.
c 5 § 4; 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 4; 1955 c 389 § 48; prior: 1950 ex.s.
c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c 228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941
c 178 § 1, part; 1939 c 228 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part;
1935 c 180 § 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
racing commission, or "amusement game" as defined in
RCW 9.46.0201.
(4) "Gross income of the business" does not include the
monetary value or actual cost of any prizes that are awarded,
amounts paid to players for winning wagers, accrual of prizes
for progressive jackpot contests, or repayment of amounts
used to seed guaranteed progressive jackpot prizes. [2005 c
369 § 5.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—Effective date—2005 c 369: See
notes following RCW 43.20A.890.
82.04.286
Application to preexisting contracts—1975 1st ex.s. c 90:See note
following RCW 82.12.010.
82.04.286 Tax on horse races. (1) Upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of conducting race
meets for the conduct of which a license must be secured
from the Washington horse racing commission; as to such
persons, the amount of tax with respect to the business of
parimutuel wagering is equal to the gross income of the business derived from parimutuel wagering multiplied by the rate
of 0.1 percent through June 30, 2006, and 0.13 percent thereafter. The money collected under this section shall be deposited in the problem gambling account created in RCW
43.20A.892.
(2) For purposes of this section, "gross income of the
business" does not include amounts paid to players for winning wagers, or taxes imposed or other distributions required
under chapter 67.16 RCW.
(3) The tax imposed under this section is in addition to
any tax imposed under chapter 67.16 RCW. [2005 c 369 § 6.]
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 90: See note following RCW
82.04.050.
Findings—Intent—Severability—Effective date—2005 c 369: See
notes following RCW 43.20A.890.
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
Retroactive application—1994 c 112 § 1: "Section 1 of this act shall
apply retroactively to July 1, 1993." [1994 c 112 § 5.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—1986 c 226: See note following RCW 82.16.010.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.285
82.04.285 Tax on contests of chance. (1) Upon every
person engaging within this state in the business of operating
contests of chance; as to such persons, the amount of tax with
respect to the business of operating contests of chance is
equal to the gross income of the business derived from contests of chance multiplied by the rate of 1.5 percent.
(2) An additional tax is imposed on those persons subject
to tax in subsection (1) of this section. The amount of the
additional tax with respect to the business of operating contests of chance is equal to the gross income of the business
derived from contests of chance multiplied by the rate of 0.1
percent through June 30, 2006, and 0.13 percent thereafter.
The money collected under this subsection (2) shall be deposited in the problem gambling account created in RCW
43.20A.892. This subsection does not apply to businesses
operating contests of chance when the gross income from the
operation of contests of chance is less than fifty thousand dollars per year.
(3) For the purpose of this section, "contests of chance"
means any contests, games, gaming schemes, or gaming
devices, other than the state lottery as defined in RCW
67.70.010, in which the outcome depends in a material
degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill
of the contestants may also be a factor in the outcome. The
term includes social card games, bingo, raffle, and punchboard games, and pull-tabs as defined in chapter 9.46 RCW.
The term does not include race meets for the conduct of
which a license must be secured from the Washington horse
[Title 82 RCW—page 32]
82.04.290
82.04.290 Tax on international investment management services or other business or service activities. (1)
Upon every person engaging within this state in the business
of providing international investment management services,
as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such
business shall be equal to the gross income or gross proceeds
of sales of the business multiplied by a rate of 0.275 percent.
(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in any
business activity other than or in addition to an activity taxed
explicitly under another section in this chapter or subsection
(1) of this section; as to such persons the amount of tax on
account of such activities shall be equal to the gross income
of the business multiplied by the rate of 1.5 percent.
(3) Subsection (2) of this section includes, among others,
and without limiting the scope hereof (whether or not title to
materials used in the performance of such business passes to
another by accession, confusion or other than by outright
sale), persons engaged in the business of rendering any type
of service which does not constitute a "sale at retail" or a "sale
at wholesale." The value of advertising, demonstration, and
promotional supplies and materials furnished to an agent by
his principal or supplier to be used for informational, educational and promotional purposes shall not be considered a
part of the agent’s remuneration or commission and shall not
be subject to taxation under this section. [2005 c 369 § 8;
2004 c 174 § 2; 2003 c 343 § 2; 2001 1st sp.s. c 9 § 6; (2001
1st sp.s. c 9 § 4 expired July 1, 2001). Prior: 1998 c 343 § 4;
1998 c 331 § 2; 1998 c 312 § 8; 1998 c 308 § 5; 1998 c 308 §
4; 1997 c 7 § 2; 1996 c 1 § 2; 1995 c 229 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c 25
§ 203; 1985 c 32 § 3; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1983 c 9 § 2;
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
1983 c 3 § 212; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 8; 1970 ex.s. c 65 § 4; 1969
ex.s. c 262 § 39; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 14; 1963 ex.s. c 28 § 2;
1961 c 15 § 82.04.290; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 5; 1955 c 389
§ 49; prior: 1953 c 195 § 2; 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 1, part; 1949 c
228 § 1, part; 1943 c 156 § 1, part; 1941 c 178 § 1, part; 1939
c 225 § 1, part; 1937 c 227 § 1, part; 1935 c 180 § 4, part;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-4, part.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—Effective date—2005 c 369: See
notes following RCW 43.20A.890.
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Expiration dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: "(1) Sections 2 and 4 of this act
expire July 1, 2001.
(2) Section 5 of this act expires July 1, 2003.
(3) Section 8 of this act expires July 22, 2001." [2001 1st sp.s. c 9 §
10.]
Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.04.298.
Effective date—1998 c 343: See note following RCW 82.04.272.
82.04.2909
82.04.2906
82.04.2906 Tax on certain chemical dependency services. (1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of providing intensive inpatient or recovery house
residential treatment services for chemical dependency, certified by the department of social and health services, for
which payment from the United States or any instrumentality
thereof or from the state of Washington or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof is received as compensation for or to support those services; as to such persons
the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal
to the gross income from such services multiplied by the rate
of 0.484 percent.
(2) If the persons described in subsection (1) of this section receive income from sources other than those described
in subsection (1) of this section or provide services other than
those named in subsection (1) of this section, that income and
those services are subject to tax as otherwise provided in this
chapter. [2003 c 343 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 331: See note following RCW 82.04.2907.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Effective dates—1998 c 308: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—Effective date—1997 c 7: See notes following RCW
82.04.255.
Effective date—1996 c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective date—1995 c 229: See note following RCW 82.04.293.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—Severability—Effective date—1983 c 9: See notes
following RCW 82.04.255.
82.04.2907
82.04.2907 Tax on royalties from granting intangible
rights. Upon every person engaging within this state in the
business of receiving income from royalties or charges in the
nature of royalties for the granting of intangible rights, such
as copyrights, licenses, patents, or franchise fees, the amount
of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross
income from royalties or charges in the nature of royalties
from the business multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent.
"Royalties" means compensation for the use of intangible property, such as copyrights, patents, licenses, franchises,
trademarks, trade names, and similar items. It does not
include compensation for any natural resource or licensing of
canned software to the end user. [2001 c 320 § 3; 1998 c 331
§ 1.]
82.04.29001
82.04.29001 Creation and distribution of custom
software—Customization of prewritten computer software—Taxable services. (1) The creation and distribution
of custom software is a service taxable under RCW
82.04.290(2). Duplication of the software for the same person, or by the same person for its own use, does not change
the character of the software.
(2) The customization of prewritten computer software
is a service taxable under RCW 82.04.290(2). [2003 c 168 §
602; 1998 c 332 § 4.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date—1998 c 331: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 331 § 3.]
82.04.2908
82.04.2908 Tax on provision of room and domiciliary
care to boarding home residents. (1) Upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of providing room
and domiciliary care to residents of a boarding home licensed
under chapter 18.20 RCW, the amount of tax with respect to
such business shall be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "domiciliary care"
has the meaning provided in RCW 18.20.020. [2005 c 514 §
302; 2004 c 174 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1998 c 332: "The legislature finds that the creation
and customization of software is an area not fully addressed in our excise tax
statutes, and that certainty of tax treatment is essential to the industry and
consumers. Therefore, the intent of this act is to make the tax treatment of
software clear and certain for developers, programmers, and consumers."
[1998 c 332 § 1.]
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective date—1998 c 332: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 332 § 9.]
Effective date—2004 c 174: "This act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2004
c 174 § 8.]
82.04.2905
82.04.2905 Tax on providing day care. Upon every
person engaging within this state in the business of providing
child care for periods of less than twenty-four hours; as to
such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business
shall be equal to the gross proceeds derived from such sales
multiplied by the rate of 0.484 percent. [1998 c 312 § 7.]
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
82.04.2909
82.04.2909 Tax on aluminum smelters. (Expires January 1, 2012.) (1) Upon every person who is an aluminum
smelter engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing aluminum; as to such persons the amount of tax with
respect to such business shall, in the case of manufacturers,
be equal to the value of the product manufactured, or in the
case of processors for hire, be equal to the gross income of
the business, multiplied by the rate of .2904 percent.
[Title 82 RCW—page 33]
82.04.293
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(2) Upon every person who is an aluminum smelter
engaging within this state in the business of making sales at
wholesale of aluminum manufactured by that person, as to
such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business
shall be equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the aluminum
multiplied by the rate of .2904 percent.
(3) This section expires January 1, 2012. [2006 c 182 §
1; 2004 c 24 § 3.]
Intent—2004 c 24: "The legislature recognizes that the loss of domestic manufacturing jobs has become a national concern. Washington state has
lost one out of every six manufacturing jobs since July 2000. The aluminum
industry has long been an important component of Washington state’s manufacturing base, providing family-wage jobs often in rural communities
where unemployment rates are very high. The aluminum industry is electricity intensive and was greatly affected by the dramatic increase in electricity
prices which began in 2000 and which continues to affect the Washington
economy. Before the energy crisis, aluminum smelters provided about 5,000
direct jobs. Today they provide fewer than 1,000 direct jobs. For every job
lost in that industry, almost three additional jobs are estimated to be lost elsewhere in the state’s economy. It is the legislature’s intent to preserve and
restore family-wage jobs by providing tax relief to the state’s aluminum
industry.
The electric loads of aluminum smelters provide a unique benefit to the
infrastructure of the electric power system. Under the transmission tariff of
the Bonneville Power Administration, aluminum smelter loads, whether
served with federal or nonfederal power, are subject to short-term interruptions that allow a higher import capability on the transmission interconnection between the northwest and California. These stability reserves allow
more power to be imported in winter months, reducing the need for additional generation in the northwest, and would be used to prevent a widespread transmission collapse and blackout if there were a failure in the transmission interconnection between California and the northwest. It is the legislature’s intent to retain these benefits for the people of the state." [2004 c
24 § 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 24: "This act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2004
c 24 § 15.]
82.04.293 International investment management services—Definitions. For purposes of RCW 82.04.290:
(1) A person is engaged in the business of providing
international investment management services, if:
(a) Such person is engaged primarily in the business of
providing investment management services; and
(b) At least ten percent of the gross income of such person is derived from providing investment management services to any of the following: (i) Persons or collective investment funds residing outside the United States; or (ii) persons
or collective investment funds with at least ten percent of
their investments located outside the United States.
(2) "Investment management services" means investment research, investment consulting, portfolio management,
fund administration, fund distribution, investment transactions, or related investment services.
(3) "Collective investment fund" includes:
(a) A mutual fund or other regulated investment company, as defined in section 851(a) of the internal revenue
code of 1986, as amended;
(b) An "investment company," as that term is used in
section 3(a) of the investment company act of 1940, as well
as any entity that would be an investment company for this
purpose but for the exemptions contained in section 3(c)(1)
or (11);
(c) An "employee benefit plan," which includes any
plan, trust, commingled employee benefit trust, or custodial
arrangement that is subject to the employee retirement
income security act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec.
82.04.293
[Title 82 RCW—page 34]
1001 et seq., or that is described in sections 125, 401, 403,
408, 457, and 501(c)(9) and (17) through (23) of the internal
revenue code of 1986, as amended, or a similar plan maintained by a state or local government, or a plan, trust, or custodial arrangement established to self-insure benefits
required by federal, state, or local law;
(d) A fund maintained by a tax-exempt organization, as
defined in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of
1986, as amended, for operating, quasi-endowment, or
endowment purposes;
(e) Funds that are established for the benefit of such taxexempt organizations, such as charitable remainder trusts,
charitable lead trusts, charitable annuity trusts, or other similar trusts; or
(f) Collective investment funds similar to those
described in (a) through (e) of this subsection created under
the laws of a foreign jurisdiction.
(4) Investments are located outside the United States if
the underlying assets in which the investment constitutes a
beneficial interest reside or are created, issued or held outside
the United States. [1997 c 7 § 3; 1995 c 229 § 1.]
Savings—Effective date—1997 c 7: See notes following RCW
82.04.255.
Effective date—1995 c 229: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 229 § 4.]
82.04.294
82.04.294 Tax on manufacturers or wholesalers of
solar energy systems. (Expires June 30, 2014.) (1) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person engaging within
this state in the business of manufacturing solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules, or silicon components of
such systems; as to such persons the amount of tax with
respect to such business shall, in the case of manufacturers,
be equal to the value of the product manufactured, or in the
case of processors for hire, be equal to the gross income of
the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent.
(2) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person
engaging within this state in the business of making sales at
wholesale of solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules, or silicon components of such systems, manufactured
by that person; as to such persons the amount of tax with
respect to such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds
of sales of the solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Module" means the smallest nondivisible self-contained physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic
cells and providing a single direct current electrical output.
(b) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light
directly into electricity without moving parts.
(c) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination of devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an
energy source for use in the generation of electricity.
(4) This section expires June 30, 2014. [2005 c 301 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2005 c 301: "The legislature finds that the welfare
of the people of the state of Washington is positively impacted through the
encouragement and expansion of key growth industries in the state. The legislature further finds that targeting tax incentives to focus on key growth
industries is an important strategy to enhance the state’s business climate.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
A recent report by the Washington State University energy program
recognized the solar electric industry as one of the state’s important growth
industries. It is of great concern that businesses in this industry have been
increasingly expanding and relocating their operations elsewhere. The
report indicates that additional incentives for the solar electric industry are
needed in recognition of the unique forces and issues involved in business
decisions in this industry.
Therefore, the legislature intends to enact comprehensive tax incentives for the solar electric industry that address activities of the manufacture
of these products and to encourage these industries to locate in Washington.
Tax incentives for the solar electric industry are important in both retention
and expansion of existing business and attraction of new businesses, all of
which will strengthen this growth industry within our state, will create jobs,
and will bring many indirect benefits to the state." [2005 c 301 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 301: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 301 § 6.]
Report to legislature—2005 c 301: "(1) Using existing sources of
information, the department shall report to the house appropriations committee, the house committee dealing with energy issues, the senate committee on
ways and means, and the senate committee dealing with energy issues by
December 1, 2013. The report shall measure the impacts of this act, including the total number of solar energy system manufacturing companies in the
state, any change in the number of solar energy system manufacturing companies in the state, and, where relevant, the effect on job creation, the number
of jobs created for Washington residents, and any other factors the department selects.
(2) The department shall not conduct any new surveys to provide the
report in subsection (1) of this section." [2005 c 301 § 5.]
Annual report: RCW 82.32.620.
82.04.297
82.04.297 Internet services—Definitions. (1) The provision of internet services is subject to tax under RCW
82.04.290(2).
(2) "Internet" means the international computer network
of both federal and nonfederal interoperable packet switched
data networks, including the graphical subnetwork called the
world wide web.
(3) "Internet service" means a service that includes computer processing applications, provides the user with additional or restructured information, or permits the user to interact with stored information through the internet or a proprietary subscriber network. "Internet service" includes
provision of internet electronic mail, access to the internet for
information retrieval, and hosting of information for retrieval
over the internet or the graphical subnetwork called the world
wide web. [2000 c 103 § 5; 1997 c 304 § 4.]
82.04.311
cost of the merchandise sold by the grocery distribution
cooperative to customer-owners.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Grocery distribution cooperative" means an entity
that sells groceries and related items to customer-owners of
the grocery distribution cooperative and has customer-owners, in the aggregate, who own a majority of the outstanding
ownership interests of the grocery distribution cooperative or
of the entity controlling the grocery distribution cooperative.
"Grocery distribution cooperative" includes an entity that
controls a grocery distribution cooperative.
(b) "Qualified grocery distribution cooperative" means a
grocery distribution cooperative that has been determined by
a court of record of the state of Washington to be not engaged
in wholesaling or making sales at wholesale, within the
meaning of RCW 82.04.270 or any similar provision of a
municipal ordinance that imposes a tax on gross receipts,
gross proceeds of sales, or gross income, with respect to purchases made by customer-owners, and subsequently changes
its form of doing business to make sales at wholesale of groceries or related items to its customer-owners.
(c) "Customer-owner" means a person who has an ownership interest in a grocery distribution cooperative and purchases groceries and related items at wholesale from that grocery distribution cooperative.
(d) "Controlling" means holding fifty percent or more of
the voting interests of an entity and having at least equal
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of the entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. [2001 1st sp.s. c 9 §
1.]
Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: "(1) Sections 1, 2, 4, and 8 of this
act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health,
or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately [June 11, 2001].
(2) Sections 3 and 5 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2001.
(3) Section 6 of this act takes effect July 1, 2003.
(4) Section 7 [of this act] is necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect July 22, 2001." [2001 1st sp.s. c
9 § 9.]
82.04.310
Findings—Severability—Effective date—1997 c 304: See notes following RCW 35.21.717.
82.04.298
82.04.298 Tax on qualified grocery distribution
cooperatives. (1) The amount of tax with respect to a qualified grocery distribution cooperative’s sales of groceries or
related goods for resale, excluding items subject to tax under
RCW 82.04.260(4), to customer-owners of the grocery distribution cooperative is equal to the gross proceeds of sales of
the grocery distribution cooperative multiplied by the rate of
one and one-half percent.
(2) A qualified grocery distribution cooperative is
allowed a deduction from the gross proceeds of sales of groceries or related goods for resale, excluding items subject to
tax under RCW 82.04.260(4), to customer-owners of the grocery distribution cooperative that is equal to the portion of the
gross proceeds of sales for resale that represents the actual
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.310 Exemptions—Public utilities—Electrical
energy. (1) This chapter shall not apply to any person in
respect to a business activity with respect to which tax liability is specifically imposed under the provisions of chapter
82.16 RCW including amounts derived from activities for
which a deduction is allowed under RCW 82.16.050.
(2) This chapter does not apply to amounts received by
any person for the sale of electrical energy for resale within
or outside the state. [2000 c 245 § 2; 1989 c 302 § 202; 1961
c 15 § 82.04.310. Prior: 1959 c 197 § 15; prior: 1945 c 249
§ 2, part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c
225 § 5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
Finding, purpose—1989 c 302: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
82.04.311
82.04.311 Exemptions—Tobacco settlement authority. This chapter does not apply to income received by the
[Title 82 RCW—page 35]
82.04.315
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
tobacco settlement authority under chapter 43.340 RCW.
[2002 c 365 § 14.]
Captions not law—Severability—Effective date—2002 c 365: See
RCW 43.340.900 through 43.340.902.
82.04.315
82.04.315 Exemptions—International banking facilities. This chapter shall not apply to the gross receipts of an
international banking facility.
As used in this section, an "international banking facility" means a facility represented by a set of asset and liability
accounts segregated on the books and records of a commercial bank, the principal office of which is located in this state,
and which is incorporated and doing business under the laws
of the United States or of this state, a United States branch or
agency of a foreign bank, an Edge corporation organized
under Section 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 United
States Code 611-631, or an Agreement corporation having an
agreement or undertaking with the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System under Section 25 of the Federal
Reserve Act, 12 United States Code 601-604(a), that includes
only international banking facility time deposits (as defined
in subsection (a)(2) of Section 204.8 of Regulation D (12
CFR Part 204), as promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System), and international banking facility extensions of credit (as defined in subsection (a)(3) of
Section 204.8 of Regulation D). [1982 c 95 § 7.]
Effective date—1982 c 95: See note following RCW 30.42.070.
82.04.317
82.04.317 Exemptions—Motor vehicle sales by manufacturers at wholesale auctions to dealers. This chapter
does not apply to amounts received by a motor vehicle manufacturer, as defined in RCW 19.118.021, or by a financing
subsidiary of such motor vehicle manufacturer which subsidiary is at least fifty percent owned by the manufacturer, from
the sale of motor vehicles at wholesale auctions to dealers
licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW or dealers licensed by any
other state. [1997 c 4 § 1.]
Effective date—1997 c 4: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 18, 1997]." [1997 c 4 § 2.]
82.04.320
82.04.320 Exemptions—Insurance business. This
chapter shall not apply to any person in respect to insurance
business upon which a tax based on gross premiums is paid to
the state: PROVIDED, That the provisions of this section
shall not exempt any person engaging in the business of representing any insurance company, whether as general or local
agent, or acting as broker for such companies: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That the provisions of this section shall not
exempt any bonding company from tax with respect to gross
income derived from the completion of any contract as to
which it is a surety, or as to any liability as successor to the
liability of the defaulting contractor. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.320.
Prior: 1959 c 197 § 16; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2, part; 1943 c
156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 § 5, part; 1937
c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
8370-11, part.]
82.04.322
82.04.322 Exemptions—Health maintenance organization, health care service contractor, certified health
[Title 82 RCW—page 36]
plan. This chapter does not apply to any health maintenance
organization, health care service contractor, or certified
health plan in respect to premiums or prepayments that are
taxable under RCW 48.14.0201. [1993 c 492 § 303.]
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
82.04.324
82.04.324 Exemptions—Qualifying blood, tissue, or
blood and tissue banks. (1) This chapter does not apply to
amounts received by a qualifying blood bank, a qualifying
tissue bank, or a qualifying blood and tissue bank to the
extent the amounts are exempt from federal income tax.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Qualifying blood bank" means a blood bank that
qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3) as existing on June 10, 2004, is registered pursuant
to 21 C.F.R., part 607 as existing on June 10, 2004, and
whose primary business purpose is the collection, preparation, and processing of blood. "Qualifying blood bank" does
not include a comprehensive cancer center that is recognized
as such by the national cancer institute.
(b) "Qualifying tissue bank" means a tissue bank that
qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3) as existing on June 10, 2004, is registered pursuant
to 21 C.F.R., part 1271 as existing on June 10, 2004, and
whose primary business purpose is the recovery, processing,
storage, labeling, packaging, or distribution of human bone
tissue, ligament tissue and similar musculoskeletal tissues,
skin tissue, heart valve tissue, or human eye tissue. "Qualifying tissue bank" does not include a comprehensive cancer
center that is recognized as such by the national cancer institute.
(c) "Qualifying blood and tissue bank" is a bank that
qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3) as existing on June 10, 2004, is registered pursuant
to 21 C.F.R., part 607 and part 1271 as existing on June 10,
2004, and whose primary business purpose is the collection,
preparation, and processing of blood, and the recovery, processing, storage, labeling, packaging, or distribution of
human bone tissue, ligament tissue and similar musculoskeletal tissues, skin tissue, and heart valve tissue. "Qualifying
blood and tissue bank" does not include a comprehensive
cancer center that is recognized as such by the national cancer
institute. [2004 c 82 § 1; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 3.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
84.36.035.
82.04.326
82.04.326 Exemptions—Qualified organ procurement organizations. This chapter does not apply to amounts
received by a qualified organ procurement organization
under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 273(b) in effect as of January 1, 2001,
to the extent that the amounts are exempt from federal
income tax. [2002 c 113 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 113: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 22, 2002]." [2002 c 113 § 4.]
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.327
82.04.327 Exemptions—Adult family homes. This
chapter does not apply to adult family homes which are
licensed as such, or which are specifically exempt from
licensing, under rules of the department of social and health
services. [1987 1st ex.s. c 4 § 1.]
82.04.330
82.04.330 Exemptions—Sales of agricultural products. This chapter shall not apply to any farmer that sells any
agricultural product at wholesale or to any farmer who grows,
raises, or produces agricultural products owned by others,
such as custom feed operations. This exemption shall not
apply to any person selling such products at retail or to any
person selling manufactured substances or articles.
This chapter shall also not apply to any persons who participate in the federal conservation reserve program or its successor administered by the United States department of agriculture with respect to land enrolled in that program. [2001 c
118 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 305; 1988 c 253 § 2; 1987 c 23 § 4.
Prior: 1985 c 414 § 10; 1985 c 148 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 7;
1961 c 15 § 82.04.330; prior: 959 c 197 § 17; prior: 1945 c
249 § 2, part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939
c 225 § 5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part;
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Deductions—Compensation for receiving, washing, etc., horticultural products for person exempt under RCW 82.04.330—Materials and supplies
used: RCW 82.04.4287.
82.04.331
82.04.331 Exemptions—Wholesale sales to farmers
of seed for planting, conditioning seed for planting owned
by others. (1) This chapter does not apply to amounts
received by a person engaging within this state in the business of: (a) Making wholesale sales to farmers of seed conditioned for use in planting and not packaged for retail sale;
or (b) conditioning seed for planting owned by others.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "seed" means seed
potatoes and all other "agricultural seed" as defined in RCW
15.49.011. "Seed" does not include "flower seeds" or "vegetable seeds" as defined in RCW 15.49.011, or any other seeds
or propagative portions of plants used to grow ornamental
flowers or used to grow any type of bush, moss, fern, shrub,
or tree. [1998 c 170 § 2.]
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 170: "(1) Sections 1 and 3 of this
act take effect only if House Bill No. 2335 fails to become law.
(2) Section 2 of this act takes effect only if House Bill No. 2335
becomes law." [1998 c 170 § 5.] House Bill No. 2335 became 1998 c 312.
Effective date—1998 c 170: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 170 § 6.]
82.04.332
82.04.332 Exemptions—Buying and selling at wholesale wheat, oats, dry peas, dry beans, lentils, triticale,
canola, corn, rye, and barley. This chapter does not apply
to amounts received from buying wheat, oats, dry peas, dry
beans, lentils, triticale, canola, corn, rye, and barley, but not
including any manufactured products thereof, and selling the
same at wholesale. [1998 c 312 § 2.]
Effective date—1998 c 312: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 312 § 11.]
Savings—1998 c 312: "This act does not affect any existing right
acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended or
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.3395
repealed in this act or under any rule or order adopted under those sections,
nor does it affect any proceeding instituted under those sections." [1998 c
312 § 10.]
82.04.333
82.04.333 Exemptions—Small harvesters. This chapter shall not apply to the gross receipts or value of products
proceeding or accruing from timber harvested by a person
who is a small harvester as defined in *RCW 84.33.073 and
whose value of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross
income of the business is less than one hundred thousand dollars per tax year. [1990 c 141 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 84.33.073 was repealed by 2001 c 249 § 16.
82.04.335
82.04.335 Exemptions—Agricultural fairs. This
chapter shall not apply to any business of any bona fide agricultural fair, if no part of the net earnings therefrom inures to
the benefit of any stockholder or member of the association
conducting the same: PROVIDED, That any amount paid for
admission to any exhibit, grandstand, entertainment, or other
feature conducted within the fair grounds by others shall be
taxable under the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise provided by law. [1965 ex.s. c 145 § 1.]
82.04.337
82.04.337 Exemptions—Amounts received by hop
growers or dealers for processed hops shipped outside the
state. This chapter shall not apply to amounts received by
hop growers or dealers for hops which are shipped outside the
state of Washington for first use, if those hops have been processed into extract, pellets, or powder in this state. This section does not exempt a processor or warehouser from taxation
under this chapter on amounts charged for processing or
warehousing. [1987 c 495 § 1.]
82.04.338
82.04.338 Exemptions—Hop commodity commission
or hop commodity board business. This chapter does not
apply to any nonprofit organization in respect to gross
income derived from business activities for a hop commodity
commission or hop commodity board created by state statute
or created under chapter 15.65 or 15.66 RCW if: (1) The
activity is approved by a referendum conducted by the commission or board; (2) the person is specified in information
distributed by the commission or board for the referendum as
a person who is to conduct the activity; and (3) the referendum is conducted in the manner prescribed by the statutes
governing the commission or board for approving assessments or expenditures, or otherwise authorizing or approving
activities of the commission or board. As used in this section,
"nonprofit organization" means an organization that is
exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. [Sec.]
501(c)(5). [1998 c 200 § 1.]
82.04.339
82.04.339 Exemptions—Day care provided by
churches. This chapter shall not apply to amounts derived
by a church that is exempt from property tax under RCW
84.36.020 from the provision of care for children for periods
of less than twenty-four hours. [1992 c 81 § 1.]
82.04.3395
82.04.3395 Exemptions—Child care resource and
referral services by nonprofit organizations. This chapter
does not apply to nonprofit organizations in respect to
[Title 82 RCW—page 37]
82.04.340
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
amounts derived from the provision of child care resource
and referral services. [1995 2nd sp.s. c 11 § 3.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 11: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 11 § 4.]
82.04.340
82.04.340 Exemptions—Boxing, sparring, or wrestling matches. This chapter shall not apply to any person in
respect to the business of conducting boxing contests and
sparring or wrestling matches and exhibitions for the conduct
of which a license must be secured from the department of
licensing. [2000 c 103 § 6; 1988 c 19 § 4; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.340. Prior: 1959 c 197 § 18; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2,
part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 §
5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
82.04.350
82.04.350 Exemptions—Racing. Except as provided
in RCW 82.04.286(1), this chapter shall not apply to any person in respect to the business of conducting race meets for the
conduct of which a license must be secured from the horse
racing commission. [2005 c 369 § 7; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.350.
Prior: 1959 c 197 § 19; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2, part; 1943 c
156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 § 5, part; 1937
c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
8370-11, part.]
Findings—Intent—Severability—Effective date—2005 c 369: See
notes following RCW 43.20A.890.
82.04.355
82.04.355 Exemptions—Ride sharing. This chapter
does not apply to any funds received in the course of commuter ride sharing or ride sharing for persons with special
transportation needs in accordance with RCW 46.74.010.
[1999 c 358 § 8; 1979 c 111 § 17.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
82.04.360
82.04.360 Exemptions—Employees—Independent
contractors—Booth renters. (1) This chapter shall not
apply to any person in respect to his or her employment in the
capacity of an employee or servant as distinguished from that
of an independent contractor. For the purposes of this section,
the definition of employee shall include those persons that
are defined in section 3121(d)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended through January 1, 1991.
(2) A booth renter, as defined by *RCW 18.16.020, is an
independent contractor for purposes of this chapter. [1991 c
324 § 19; 1991 c 275 § 2; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.360. Prior: 1959
c 197 § 20; prior: 1945 c 249, § 2, part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part;
1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 § 5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4,
part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-11,
part.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 18.16.020 was amended by 2002 c 111 § 2,
deleting the definition of "booth renter."
(2) This section was amended by 1991 c 275 § 2 and by 1991 c 324 §
19, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated
in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1991 c 324: See RCW 18.16.910.
[Title 82 RCW—page 38]
Finding—Intent—1991 c 275: "(1) The legislature finds:
(a) The existing state policy is to exempt employees from the business
and occupation tax.
(b) It has been difficult to distinguish, for business and occupation tax
purposes, between independent contractors and employees who are in the
business of selling life insurance. The tests commonly used by the department of revenue to determine tax status have not successfully differentiated
employees from independent contractors when applied to the life insurance
industry.
(2) The intent of this act is to apply federal tax law and rules to distinguish between employees and independent contractors for business and
occupation tax purposes, solely for the unique business of selling life insurance." [1991 c 275 § 1.]
Effective date—1991 c 275: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 c 275 § 3.]
82.04.363 Exemptions—Camp or conference center—Items sold or furnished by nonprofit organization.
This chapter does not apply to amounts received by a nonprofit organization from the sale or furnishing of the following items at a camp or conference center conducted on property exempt from property tax under RCW 84.36.030 (1), (2),
or (3):
(1) Lodging, conference and meeting rooms, camping
facilities, parking, and similar licenses to use real property;
(2) Food and meals;
(3) Books, tapes, and other products that are available
exclusively to the participants at the camp, conference, or
meeting and are not available to the public at large. [1997 c
388 § 1.]
82.04.363
Effective date—1997 c 388: "This act takes effect October 1, 1997."
[1997 c 388 § 3.]
82.04.3651
82.04.3651 Exemptions—Amounts received by nonprofit organizations for fund-raising activities. (1) This
chapter does not apply to amounts received by nonprofit
organizations, as defined in subsection (2) of this section, for
fund-raising activities.
(2) As used in this section, a "nonprofit organization"
means:
(a) An organization exempt from tax under section
501(c) (3), (4), or (10) of the federal internal revenue code
(26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c) (3), (4), or (10));
(b) A nonprofit organization that would qualify under (a)
of this subsection except that it is not organized as a nonprofit
corporation; or
(c) A nonprofit organization that meets all of the following criteria:
(i) The members, stockholders, officers, directors, or
trustees of the organization do not receive any part of the
organization’s gross income, except as payment for services
rendered;
(ii) The compensation received by any person for services rendered to the organization does not exceed an amount
reasonable under the circumstances; and
(iii) The activities of the organization do not include a
substantial amount of political activity, including but not limited to influencing legislation and participation in any campaign on behalf of any candidate for political office.
(3) As used in this section, the term "fund-raising activity" means soliciting or accepting contributions of money or
other property or activities involving the anticipated
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
exchange of goods or services for money between the soliciting organization and the organization or person solicited, for
the purpose of furthering the goals of the nonprofit organization. "Fund-raising activity" does not include the operation of
a regular place of business in which sales are made during
regular hours such as a bookstore, thrift shop, restaurant, or
similar business or the operation of a regular place of business from which services are provided or performed during
regular hours such as the provision of retail, personal, or professional services. The sale of used books, used videos, used
sound recordings, or similar used information products in a
library, as defined in RCW 27.12.010, is not the operation of
a regular place of business for the purposes of this section, if
the proceeds of the sales are used to support the library.
[1999 c 358 § 3; 1998 c 336 § 2.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: "Sections 1 and 3 through
21 of this act take effect August 1, 1999." [1999 c 358 § 22.]
Findings—1998 c 336: "The legislature finds that nonprofit educational, charitable, religious, scientific, and social welfare organizations provide many public benefits to the people of the state of Washington. Therefore, the legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the state of Washington to provide a limited excise tax exemption for fund-raising activities
for certain nonprofit organizations." [1998 c 336 § 1.]
Sales tax exemptions: RCW 82.08.02573.
82.04.367
82.04.367 Exemptions—Nonprofit organizations
that are guarantee agencies, issue debt, or provide guarantees for student loans. This chapter does not apply to
gross income received by nonprofit organizations exempt
from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1954, as amended, that:
(1) Are guarantee agencies under the federal guaranteed
student loan program or that issue debt to provide or acquire
student loans; or
(2) Provide guarantees for student loans made through
programs other than the federal guaranteed student loan program. [1998 c 324 § 1; 1987 c 433 § 1.]
82.04.368
82.04.368 Exemptions—Nonprofit organizations—
Credit and debt services. This chapter does not apply to
nonprofit organizations in respect to amounts derived from
provision of the following services:
(1) Presenting individual and community credit education programs including credit and debt counseling;
(2) Obtaining creditor cooperation allowing a debtor to
repay debt in an orderly manner;
(3) Establishing and administering negotiated repayment
programs for debtors; or
(4) Providing advice or assistance to a debtor with regard
to subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section. [1993 c 390 § 1.]
82.04.370
82.04.370 Exemptions—Certain fraternal and beneficiary organizations. This chapter shall not apply to fraternal benefit societies or fraternal fire insurance associations,
as described in Title 48 RCW; nor to beneficiary corporations
or societies organized under and existing by virtue of Title 24
RCW, if such beneficiary corporations or societies provide in
their bylaws for the payment of death benefits. Exemption is
limited, however, to gross income from premiums, fees,
assessments, dues or other charges directly attributable to the
insurance or death benefits provided by such societies, asso(2006 Ed.)
82.04.392
ciations, or corporations. [1961 c 293 § 4; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.370. Prior: 1959 c 197 § 21; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2,
part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 §
5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
82.04.380
82.04.380 Exemptions—Certain corporations furnishing aid and relief. This chapter shall not apply to the
gross sales or the gross income received by corporations
which have been incorporated under any act of the congress
of the United States of America and whose principal purposes are to furnish volunteer aid to members of the armed
forces of the United States and also to carry on a system of
national and international relief and to apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire,
floods, and other national calamities and to devise and carry
on measures for preventing the same. [1961 c 15 §
82.04.380. Prior: 1959 c 197 § 22; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2,
part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 §
5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
82.04.385
82.04.385 Exemptions—Operation of sheltered
workshops. This chapter shall not apply to income received
from the department of social and health services for the cost
of care, maintenance, support, and training of persons with
developmental disabilities at nonprofit group training homes
as defined by chapter 71A.22 RCW or to the business activities of nonprofit organizations from the operation of sheltered
workshops. For the purposes of this section, "the operation of
sheltered workshops" means performance of business activities of any kind on or off the premises of such nonprofit organizations which are performed for the primary purpose of (1)
providing gainful employment or rehabilitation services to
the handicapped as an interim step in the rehabilitation process for those who cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market or during such time as employment opportunities for them in the competitive labor market do not exist;
or (2) providing evaluation and work adjustment services for
handicapped individuals. [1988 c 176 § 915; 1988 c 13 § 1;
1972 ex.s. c 134 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 81 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1988 c 13 § 1 and by
1988 c 176 § 915, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1988 c 176: See RCW 71A.10.900.
82.04.390
82.04.390 Exemptions—Amounts derived from sale
of real estate. This chapter shall not apply to gross proceeds
derived from the sale of real estate. This however, shall not
be construed to allow a deduction of amounts received as
commissions from the sale of real estate, nor as fees, handling
charges, discounts, interest or similar financial charges
resulting from, or relating to, real estate transactions. [1961 c
15 § 82.04.390. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 8; 1959 c 197 § 23;
prior: 1945 c 249 § 2, part; 1943 c 156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178
§ 6, part; 1939 c 225 § 5, part; 1937 c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c
180 § 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-11, part.]
82.04.392
82.04.392 Exemptions—Mortgage brokers’ thirdparty provider services trust accounts. This chapter shall
[Title 82 RCW—page 39]
82.04.394
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
not apply to amounts received from trust accounts to mortgage brokers for the payment of third-party costs if the
accounts are operated in a manner consistent with RCW
19.146.050 and any rules adopted by the director of financial
institutions. [1998 c 311 § 3; 1997 c 106 § 21.]
Intent—Retroactive application—1998 c 311 §§ 1 and 3: See note
following RCW 19.146.050.
Severability—1997 c 106: See note following RCW 19.146.010.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.04.399
82.04.399 Exemptions—Sales of academic transcripts. This chapter does not apply to amounts received
from sales of academic transcripts by educational institutions. [1996 c 272 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 272: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 272 § 4.]
82.04.405
82.04.394
82.04.394 Exemptions—Amounts received by property management company for on-site personnel. (1) This
chapter does not apply to amounts received by a property
management company from the owner of a property for gross
wages and benefits paid directly to or on behalf of on-site
personnel from property management trust accounts that are
required to be maintained under RCW 18.85.310.
(2) As used in this section, "on-site personnel" means a
person who meets all of the following conditions: (a) The
person works primarily at the owner’s property; (b) the person’s duties include leasing property units, maintaining the
property, collecting rents, or similar activities; and (c) under
a written property management agreement: (i) The person’s
compensation is the ultimate obligation of the property owner
and not the property manager; (ii) the property manager is liable for payment only as agent of the owner; and (iii) the property manager is the agent of the owner with respect to the onsite personnel and that all actions, including, but not limited
to, hiring, firing, compensation, and conditions of employment, taken by the property manager with respect to the onsite personnel are subject to the approval of the property
owner. [1998 c 338 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—1998 c 338: "The legislature finds that property
owners often hire property management companies to manage their real
property. Frequently, the property management companies also manage the
personnel who perform the necessary services at the property location. In
these cases, the property owners may pay the on-site personnel through the
property management company. The property management company is
merely acting as a conduit for the property owner’s payment to the personnel
at the property site.
This act is not intended to modify the taxation of amounts received by
a property management company for purposes other than payment to on-site
personnel." [1998 c 338 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 338: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 338 § 3.]
82.04.395
82.04.395 Exemptions—Certain materials printed in
school district and educational service district printing
facilities. This chapter shall not apply to school districts and
educational service districts as defined in Title 28A RCW, in
respect to materials printed in the school district and educational service districts printing facilities when said materials
are used solely for school district and educational service district purposes. [1979 ex.s. c 196 § 12.]
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.04.397
82.04.397 Exemptions—Certain materials printed in
county, city, or town printing facilities. This chapter does
not apply to any county, city or town as defined in Title 35
RCW and Title 36 RCW, in respect to materials printed in the
county, city or town printing facilities when said materials
are used solely for said county, city or town purposes. [1979
ex.s. c 196 § 14.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 40]
82.04.405 Exemptions—Credit unions. This chapter
shall not apply to the gross income of credit unions organized
under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United
States. [1998 c 311 § 4; 1970 ex.s. c 101 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 101: See notes following
RCW 33.28.040.
82.04.408
82.04.408 Exemptions—Housing finance commission. This chapter does not apply to income received by the
state housing finance commission under chapter 43.180
RCW. [1983 c 161 § 25.]
Severability—Effective dates—Captions not part of law—1983 c
161: See RCW 43.180.903 and 43.180.904.
82.04.410
82.04.410 Exemptions—Hatching eggs and poultry.
This chapter shall not apply to amounts derived by persons
engaged in the production and sale of hatching eggs or poultry for use in the production for sale of poultry or poultry
products. [1967 ex.s. c 149 § 15; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.410.
Prior: 1959 c 197 § 25; prior: 1945 c 249 § 2, part; 1943 c
156 § 4, part; 1941 c 178 § 6, part; 1939 c 225 § 5, part; 1937
c 227 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
8370-11, part.]
82.04.415
82.04.415 Exemptions—Sand, gravel and rock taken
from county or city pits or quarries, processing and handling costs. This chapter shall not apply to:
(1) The cost of or charges made for labor and services
performed in respect to the mining, sorting, crushing, screening, washing, hauling, and stockpiling of sand, gravel, and
rock, when such sand, gravel, or rock is taken from a pit or
quarry which is owned by or leased to a county or city and
such sand, gravel, or rock is either stockpiled in said pit or
quarry for placement or is placed on the street, road, place, or
highway of the county or city by the county or city itself; or
(2) The cost of or charges for such labor and services if
any such sand, gravel, or rock is sold by the county or city to
a county, or a city at actual cost for placement on a publicly
owned street, road, place, or highway.
The exemption provided for in this section shall not
apply to the cost of or charges for such labor and services if
the sand, gravel, or rock is used for other than public road
purposes or is sold otherwise than as provided for in this section. [1965 ex.s. c 173 § 10.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.416
82.04.416 Exemptions—Operation of state route No.
16. This chapter does not apply to amounts received from
operating state route number 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities constructed and operated under chapter
47.46 RCW. [1998 c 179 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
Finding—1998 c 179: See note following RCW 35.21.718.
82.04.418
82.04.418 Exemptions—Grants by United States
government to municipal corporations or political subdivisions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
grants received from the state or the United States government by municipal corporations or political subdivisions of
the state of Washington. [1983 1st ex.s. c 66 § 2.]
82.04.419
82.04.419 Exemptions—County, city, town, school
district, or fire district activity. This chapter shall not apply
to any county, city, town, school district, or fire district activity, regardless of how financed, other than a utility or enterprise activity as defined by the state auditor pursuant to RCW
35.33.111 and 36.40.220 and upon which the tax imposed
pursuant to this chapter had previously applied. Nothing contained in this section shall limit the authority of the legislature
to authorize the imposition of such tax prospectively upon
such activities as the legislature shall specifically designate.
[1983 1st ex.s. c 66 § 3.]
82.04.4201
82.04.4201 Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by
regional transit authorities. This chapter does not apply to
amounts received as lease payments paid by a seller/lessee to
a lessor under a sale/leaseback agreement under RCW
81.112.300 in respect to tangible personal property used by
the seller/lessee, or to the purchase amount paid by the lessee
under an option to purchase at the end of the lease term.
[2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 24.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
82.04.421
82.04.421 Exemptions—Out-of-state membership
sales in discount programs. (1) For the purposes of this section, "qualifying discount program" means a membership
program, club, or plan that entitles the member to discounts
on services or products sold by others. The term does not
include any discount program which in part or in total entitles
the member to discounts on services or products sold by the
seller of the membership or an affiliate of the seller of the
membership. "Affiliate," for the purposes of this section,
means any person who directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the seller.
(2) Persons selling memberships in a qualifying discount
program are not subject to tax under this chapter on that portion of the membership sales where the seller delivers the
membership materials to the purchaser who receives them at
a point outside this state. [1997 c 408 § 1.]
Effective date—1997 c 408: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 408 § 2.]
82.04.424
(2) This chapter does not apply to amounts derived by a
new car dealer from wholesale sales of new motor vehicles to
other new car dealers making sales of new motor vehicles of
the same make. This exemption does not apply to amounts
derived by a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch as
defined in chapter 46.70 RCW. [2004 c 81 § 1; 2001 c 258 §
1.]
Effective date—2004 c 81: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 22, 2004]." [2004 c 81 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 258: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 258 § 3.]
82.04.423 Exemptions—Sales by certain out-of-state
persons to or through direct seller’s representatives. (1)
This chapter shall not apply to any person in respect to gross
income derived from the business of making sales at wholesale or retail if such person:
(a) Does not own or lease real property within this state;
and
(b) Does not regularly maintain a stock of tangible personal property in this state for sale in the ordinary course of
business; and
(c) Is not a corporation incorporated under the laws of
this state; and
(d) Makes sales in this state exclusively to or through a
direct seller’s representative.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term "direct seller’s
representative" means a person who buys consumer products
on a buy-sell basis or a deposit-commission basis for resale,
by the buyer or any other person, in the home or otherwise
than in a permanent retail establishment, or who sells, or
solicits the sale of, consumer products in the home or otherwise than in a permanent retail establishment; and
(a) Substantially all of the remuneration paid to such person, whether or not paid in cash, for the performance of services described in this subsection is directly related to sales or
other output, including the performance of services, rather
than the number of hours worked; and
(b) The services performed by the person are performed
pursuant to a written contract between such person and the
person for whom the services are performed and such contract provides that the person will not be treated as an
employee with respect to such purposes for federal tax purposes.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply
that a person exempt from tax under this section was engaged
in a business activity taxable under this chapter prior to the
enactment of this section. [1983 1st ex.s. c 66 § 5.]
82.04.423
Reviser’s note: The effective date of 1983 1st ex.s. c 66 is August 23,
1983.
82.04.424 Exemptions—Certain in-state activities.
(Contingent expiration date.) (1) This chapter does not
apply to a person making sales in Washington if:
(a) The person’s activities in this state, whether conducted directly or through another person, are limited to:
(i) The storage, dissemination, or display of advertising;
(ii) The taking of orders; or
82.04.424
82.04.422
82.04.422 Exemptions—Wholesale sales of motor
vehicles. (1) This chapter does not apply to amounts
received by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under chapter
46.70 RCW, or a dealer licensed by any other state, for the
wholesale sale of used motor vehicles at auctions to licensed
dealers.
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 82 RCW—page 41]
82.04.425
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(iii) The processing of payments; and
(b) The activities are conducted electronically via a web
site on a server or other computer equipment located in
Washington that is not owned or operated by the person making sales into this state nor owned or operated by an affiliated
person. For purposes of this section, persons are "affiliated
persons" with respect to each other where one of the persons
has an ownership interest of more than five percent, whether
direct or indirect, in the other, or where an ownership interest
of more than five percent, whether direct or indirect, is held
in each of the persons by another person or by a group of
other persons which are affiliated with respect to each other.
(2) This section expires when: (a) The United States
congress grants individual states the authority to impose sales
and use tax collection duties on remote sellers; or (b) it is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to review, that a state can impose sales and
use tax collection duties on remote sellers. [2003 c 76 § 2.]
Intent—2003 c 76: "It is the intent of the legislature to exempt from
business and occupation tax and to relieve from the obligation to collect sales
and use tax from certain sellers with very limited connections to Washington. These sellers are currently relieved from the obligation to collect sales
and use tax because of the provisions of the federal internet tax freedom act.
The legislature intends to continue to relieve these particular sellers from that
obligation in the event that the federal internet tax freedom act is not
extended. The legislature further intends that any relief from tax obligations
provided by this act expire at such time as the United States congress grants
individual states the authority to impose sales and use tax collection duties
on remote sellers, or a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to review, determines that a state can impose sales and use tax collection
duties on remote sellers." [2003 c 76 § 1.]
82.04.425 Exemptions—Accommodation sales. This
chapter shall not apply to sales for resale by persons regularly
engaged in the business of making sales of the type of property so sold to other persons similarly engaged in the business
of selling such property where (1) the amount paid by the
buyer does not exceed the amount paid by the seller to his
vendor in the acquisition of the article and (2) the sale is made
as an accommodation to the buyer to enable him to fill a bona
fide existing order of a customer or is made within fourteen
days to reimburse in kind a previous accommodation sale by
the buyer to the seller; nor to sales by a wholly owned subsidiary of a person making sales at retail which are exempt under
RCW 82.08.0262 when the parent corporation shall have
paid the tax imposed under this chapter. [1980 c 37 § 78;
1965 ex.s. c 173 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.425. Prior: 1955 c 95
§ 1.]
82.04.425
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.4251 Exemptions—Convention and tourism
promotion. This chapter does not apply to amounts received
by a nonprofit corporation organized under chapter 24.03
RCW as payments or contributions from the state or any
county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal
corporation, federally recognized Indian tribe, port district, or
public corporation for the promotion of conventions and tourism. [2006 c 310 § 1.]
82.04.4251
82.04.426 Exemptions—Semiconductor microchips.
(Contingent effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1)
The tax imposed by RCW 82.04.240(2) does not apply to any
82.04.426
[Title 82 RCW—page 42]
person in respect to the manufacturing of semiconductor
microchips.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Manufacturing semiconductor microchips" means
taking raw polished semiconductor wafers and embedding
integrated circuits on the wafers using processes such as
masking, etching, and diffusion; and
(b) "Integrated circuit" means a set of microminiaturized, electronic circuits.
(3) This section expires nine years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 2.]
*Contingent effective date—2006 c 300 § 7; 2003 c 149: "(1)(a) This
act and section 7, chapter 300, Laws of 2006 are contingent upon the siting
and commercial operation of a significant semiconductor microchip fabrication facility in the state of Washington.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(i) "Commercial operation" means the same as "commencement of
commercial production" as used in RCW 82.08.965.
(ii) "Semiconductor microchip fabrication" means "manufacturing
semiconductor microchips" as defined in RCW 82.04.426.
(iii) "Significant" means the combined investment of new buildings
and new machinery and equipment in the buildings, at the commencement of
commercial production, will be at least one billion dollars.
(2) This act takes effect the first day of the month in which a contract
for the construction of a significant semiconductor fabrication facility is
signed, as determined by the director of the department of revenue.
(3)(a) The department of revenue shall provide notice of the effective
date of this act to affected taxpayers, the legislature, and others as deemed
appropriate by the department.
(b) If, after making a determination that a contract has been signed and
this act is effective, the department discovers that commencement of commercial production did not take place within three years of the date the contract was signed, the department shall make a determination that this act is no
longer effective, and all taxes that would have been otherwise due shall be
deemed deferred taxes and are immediately assessed and payable from any
person reporting tax under RCW 82.04.240(2) or claiming an exemption or
credit under section 2 or 5 through 10 of this act. The department is not
authorized to make a second determination regarding the effective date of
this act." [2006 c 300 § 12; 2003 c 149 § 12.]
Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: "The legislature finds that the welfare
of the people of the state of Washington is positively impacted through the
encouragement and expansion of family wage employment in the state’s
manufacturing industries. The legislature further finds that targeting tax
incentives to focus on key industry clusters is an important business climate
strategy. The Washington competitiveness council has recognized the semiconductor industry, which includes the design and manufacture of semiconductor materials, as one of the state’s existing key industry clusters. Businesses in this cluster in the state of Washington are facing increasing pressure to expand elsewhere. The sales and use tax exemptions for
manufacturing machinery and equipment enacted by the 1995 legislature
improved Washington’s ability to compete with other states for manufacturing investment. However, additional incentives for the semiconductor cluster need to be put in place in recognition of the unique forces and global
issues involved in business decisions that key businesses in this cluster face.
Therefore, the legislature intends to enact comprehensive tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster that address activities of the lead product
industry and its suppliers and customers. Tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster are important in both retention and expansion of existing business
and attraction of new businesses, all of which will strengthen this cluster.
The legislature also recognizes that the semiconductor industry involves
major investment that results in significant construction projects, which will
create jobs and bring many indirect benefits to the state during the construction phase." [2003 c 149 § 1.]
82.04.4261
82.04.4261 Exemptions—Federal small business
innovation research program. This chapter does not apply
to amounts received by any person for research and development under the federal small business innovation research
program (114 Stat. 2763A; 15 U.S.C. Sec. 638 et seq.). [2004
c 2 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
Effective date—2004 c 2 §§ 9 and 10: "Sections 9 and 10 of this act
take effect July 1, 2004." [2004 c 2 § 11.]
82.04.4262
82.04.4262 Exemptions—Federal small business
technology transfer program. This chapter does not apply
to amounts received by any person for research and development under the federal small business technology transfer
program (115 Stat. 263; 15 U.S.C. Sec. 638 et seq.). [2004 c
2 § 10.]
Effective date—2004 c 2 §§ 9 and 10: See note following RCW
82.04.4261.
82.04.4263
82.04.4263 Exemptions—Income received by the life
sciences discovery fund authority. This chapter does not
apply to income received by the life sciences discovery fund
authority under chapter 43.350 RCW. [2005 c 424 § 11.]
Captions not law—Liberal construction—Severability—Effective
dates—2005 c 424: See RCW 43.350.900 through 43.350.903.
82.04.4264
82.04.4264 Exemptions—Nonprofit boarding
homes—Room and domiciliary care. (1) This chapter does
not apply to amounts received by a nonprofit boarding home
licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW for providing room and
domiciliary care to residents of the boarding home.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Domiciliary care" has the meaning provided in
RCW 18.20.020.
(b) "Nonprofit boarding home" means a boarding home
that is operated as a religious or charitable organization, is
exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. Sec.
501(c)(3), is incorporated under chapter 24.03 RCW, is operated as part of a nonprofit hospital, or is operated as part of a
public hospital district. [2005 c 514 § 301.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.04.4265
82.04.4265 Exemptions—Comprehensive cancer
centers. (1) This chapter does not apply to amounts received
by a comprehensive cancer center to the extent the amounts
are exempt from federal income tax.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "comprehensive cancer center" means a cancer center that has written confirmation that it is recognized by the national cancer institute as a
comprehensive cancer center and that qualifies as an exempt
organization under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) as existing on
July 1, 2006. [2005 c 514 § 401.]
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 401-403: "Sections 401 through 403 of
this act take effect July 1, 2006." [2005 c 514 § 1304.]
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.04.4266
82.04.4266 Exemptions—Fruit and vegetable businesses. (Expires July 1, 2012.) (1) This chapter shall not
apply to the value of products or the gross proceeds of sales
derived from:
(a) Manufacturing fruits or vegetables by canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating fresh fruits or
vegetables; or
(b) Selling at wholesale fruits or vegetables manufactured by the seller by canning, preserving, freezing, process(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4269
ing, or dehydrating fresh fruits or vegetables and sold to purchasers who transport in the ordinary course of business the
goods out of this state. A person taking an exemption under
this subsection (1)(b) must keep and preserve records for the
period required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the
goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary
course of business out of this state.
(2) This section expires July 1, 2012. [2006 c 354 § 3;
2005 c 513 § 1.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: "This act takes effect July 1, 2007, except
for sections 1 through 3 of this act which are necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 513 § 14.]
Annual survey: RCW 82.32.610.
82.04.4267 Exemptions—Operation of parking/business improvement areas. This chapter does not apply to
amounts received by a chamber of commerce or other similar
business association for administering the operation of a
parking and business improvement area as defined in RCW
35.87A.110. [2005 c 476 § 1.]
82.04.4267
82.04.4268 Exemptions—Dairy product businesses.
(Expires July 1, 2012.) (1) This chapter shall not apply to the
value of products or the gross proceeds of sales derived from:
(a) Manufacturing dairy products; or
(b) Selling manufactured dairy products to purchasers
who transport in the ordinary course of business the goods
out of this state. A person taking an exemption under this
subsection (1)(b) must keep and preserve records for the
period required by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the
goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary
course of business out of this state.
(2) "Dairy products" means dairy products that as of
September 20, 2001, are identified in 21 C.F.R., chapter 1,
parts 131, 133, and 135, including byproducts from the manufacturing of the dairy products such as whey and casein.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2012. [2006 c 354 § 1.]
82.04.4268
Effective dates—2006 c 354: "(1) Except as otherwise provided in this
section, this act takes effect July 1, 2006.
(2) Sections 6 through 9 and 11 of this act take effect July 1, 2007.
(3) Sections 12 and 13 of this act take effect July 1, 2012." [2006 c 354
§ 18.]
82.04.4269 Exemptions—Seafood product businesses. (Expires July 1, 2012.) (1) This chapter does not
apply to the value of products or the gross proceeds of sales
derived from:
(a) Manufacturing seafood products that remain in a raw,
raw frozen, or raw salted state at the completion of the manufacturing by that person; or
(b) Selling manufactured seafood products that remain in
a raw, raw frozen, or raw salted state to purchasers who transport in the ordinary course of business the goods out of this
state. A person taking an exemption under this subsection
(1)(b) must keep and preserve records for the period required
by RCW 82.32.070 establishing that the goods were transported by the purchaser in the ordinary course of business out
of this state.
(2) This section expires July 1, 2012. [2006 c 354 § 2.]
82.04.4269
[Title 82 RCW—page 43]
82.04.427
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
82.04.427
82.04.427 Exemptions and credits—Pollution control
facilities. See chapter 82.34 RCW.
82.04.4271
82.04.4271 Deductions—Membership fees and certain service fees by nonprofit youth organization. In computing tax due under this chapter, there may be deducted
from the measure of tax all amounts received by a nonprofit
youth organization:
(1) As membership fees or dues, irrespective of the fact
that the payment of the membership fees or dues to the organization may entitle its members, in addition to other rights or
privileges, to receive services from the organization or to use
the organization’s facilities; or
(2) From members of the organization for camping and
recreational services provided by the organization or for the
use of the organization’s camping and recreational facilities.
For purposes of this section: "Nonprofit youth organization" means a nonprofit organization engaged in character
building of youth which is exempt from property tax under
RCW 84.36.030. [1981 c 74 § 1.]
82.04.4272
82.04.4272 Deductions—Direct mail delivery
charges. (1) In computing tax there may be deducted from
the measure of tax, amounts derived from delivery charges
made for the delivery of direct mail if the charges are separately stated on an invoice or similar billing document given
to the purchaser.
(2) "Delivery charges" and "direct mail" have the same
meanings as in RCW 82.08.010. [2005 c 514 § 114.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: "Sections 110(5), 114 through 116, 1001,
1003, 1004, 1201, 1311, and 1312 of this act are necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately
[May 17, 2005]." [2005 c 514 § 1303.]
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.04.4281
82.04.4281 Deductions—Investments, dividends,
interest on loans. (1) In computing tax there may be
deducted from the measure of tax:
(a) Amounts derived from investments;
(b) Amounts derived as dividends or distributions from
[the] capital account by a parent from its subsidiary entities;
and
(c) Amounts derived from interest on loans between subsidiary entities and a parent entity or between subsidiaries of
a common parent entity, but only if the total investment and
loan income is less than five percent of gross receipts of the
business annually.
(2) The following are not deductible under subsection
(1)(a) of this section:
(a) Amounts received from loans, except as provided in
subsection (1)(c) of this section, or the extension of credit to
another, revolving credit arrangements, installment sales, the
acceptance of payment over time for goods or services, or
any of the foregoing that have been transferred by the originator of the same to an affiliate of the transferor; or
(b) Amounts received by a banking, lending, or security
business.
[Title 82 RCW—page 44]
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply only to this
section.
(a) "Banking business" means a person engaging in business as a national or state-chartered bank, a mutual savings
bank, a savings and loan association, a trust company, an
alien bank, a foreign bank, a credit union, a stock savings
bank, or a similar entity that is chartered under Title 30, 31,
32, or 33 RCW, or organized under Title 12 U.S.C.
(b) "Lending business" means a person engaged in the
business of making secured or unsecured loans of money, or
extending credit, and (i) more than one-half of the person’s
gross income is earned from such activities and (ii) more than
one-half of the person’s total expenditures are incurred in
support of such activities.
(c) The terms "loan" and "extension of credit" do not
include ownership of or trading in publicly traded debt instruments, or substantially equivalent instruments offered in a
private placement.
(d) "Security business" means a person, other than an
issuer, who is engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities as a broker, dealer, or broker-dealer, as
those terms are defined in the securities act of Washington,
chapter 21.20 RCW, or the federal securities act of 1933.
"Security business" does not include any company excluded
from the definition of broker or dealer under the federal
investment company act of 1940 or any entity that is not an
investment company by reason of sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(3)
through 3(c)(14) thereof. [2002 c 150 § 2; 1980 c 37 § 2. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(1).]
Findings—Intent—2002 c 150: "The legislature finds that the application of the business and occupation tax deductions provided in RCW
82.04.4281 for investment income of persons deemed to be "other financial
businesses" has been the subject of uncertainty, and therefore, disagreement
and litigation between taxpayers and the state. The legislature further finds
that the decision of the state supreme court in Simpson Investment Co. v.
Department of Revenue could lead to a restrictive, narrow interpretation of
the deductibility of investment income for business and occupation tax purposes. As a result, the legislature directed the department of revenue to work
with affected businesses to develop a revision of the statute that would provide certainty and stability for taxpayers and the state. The legislature
intends, by adopting this recommended revision of the statute, to provide a
positive environment for capital investment in this state, while continuing to
treat similarly situated taxpayers fairly." [2002 c 150 § 1.]
Effective date—2002 c 150: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002." [2002
c 150 § 3.]
Finding—Intent on application of deduction—2001 c 320: "The legislature finds that the application of the business and occupation tax deduction provided in RCW 82.04.4281 for investment income of persons other
than those engaging in banking, loan, security, or other financial businesses
has been the subject of disagreement between taxpayers and the state. Decisions of the supreme court have provided some broad guidelines and principles for interpretation of the deduction provided in RCW 82.04.4281, but
these decisions have not provided the certainty and clarity that is desired by
taxpayers and the state. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to delay
change in the manner or extent of taxation of the investment income until
definitions or standards can be developed and enacted by the legislature."
[2001 c 320 § 18.]
Reviser’s note: 2001 c 320 § 19, which was vetoed May 15, 2001,
would have implemented the intent in this section.
Report to legislature—2001 c 320: "The department of revenue shall
report to the fiscal committees of the legislature by November 30, 2001, on
the progress made in working with affected businesses on potential amendments to RCW 82.04.4281 which would clarify the application of RCW
82.04.4281 to other financial businesses." [2001 c 320 § 20.]
Intent—1980 c 37: "The separation of sales tax exemption, use tax
exemption, and business and occupation deduction sections into shorter sections is intended to improve the readability and facilitate the future amend(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
ment of these sections. This separation shall not change the meaning of any
of the exemptions or deductions involved." [1980 c 37 § 1.]
82.04.4282 Deductions—Fees, dues, charges. In computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax
amounts derived from bona fide (1) initiation fees, (2) dues,
(3) contributions, (4) donations, (5) tuition fees, (6) charges
made by a nonprofit trade or professional organization for
attending or occupying space at a trade show, convention, or
educational seminar sponsored by the nonprofit trade or professional organization, which trade show, convention, or educational seminar is not open to the general public, (7) charges
made for operation of privately operated kindergartens, and
(8) endowment funds. This section shall not be construed to
exempt any person, association, or society from tax liability
upon selling tangible personal property or upon providing
facilities or services for which a special charge is made to
members or others. If dues are in exchange for any significant
amount of goods or services rendered by the recipient thereof
to members without any additional charge to the member, or
if the dues are graduated upon the amount of goods or services rendered, the value of such goods or services shall not
be considered as a deduction under this section. [1994 c 124
§ 3; 1989 c 392 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 3. Formerly RCW
82.04.430(2).]
82.04.4282
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4283 Deductions—Cash discount taken by
purchaser. In computing tax there may be deducted from
the measure of tax the amount of cash discount actually taken
by the purchaser. This deduction is not allowed in arriving at
the taxable amount under the extractive or manufacturing
classifications with respect to articles produced or manufactured, the reported values of which, for the purposes of this
tax, have been computed according to the provisions of RCW
82.04.450. [1980 c 37 § 4. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(3).]
82.04.4283
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4284 Deductions—Bad debts. (1) In computing
tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax bad debts,
as that term is used in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 166, as amended or
renumbered as of January 1, 2003, on which tax was previously paid.
(2) For purposes of this section, "bad debts" do not
include:
(a) Amounts due on property that remains in the possession of the seller until the full purchase price is paid;
(b) Expenses incurred in attempting to collect debt;
(c) Sales or use taxes payable to a seller; and
(d) Repossessed property.
(3) If a deduction is taken for a bad debt and the debt is
subsequently collected in whole or in part, the tax on the
amount collected must be paid and reported on the return
filed for the period in which the collection is made.
(4) Payments on a previously claimed bad debt must be
applied under RCW 82.08.037(4) and 82.12.037, according
to such rules as the department may prescribe. [2004 c 153 §
307; 1980 c 37 § 5. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(4).]
82.04.4284
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4291
82.04.4285
82.04.4285 Deductions—Motor vehicle fuel and special fuel taxes. In computing tax there may be deducted from
the measure of tax so much of the sale price of motor vehicle
fuel as constitutes the amount of tax imposed by the state
under chapters 82.36 and 82.38 RCW or the United States
government, under 26 U.S.C., Subtitle D, chapters 31 and 32,
upon the sale thereof. [1998 c 176 § 3; 1980 c 37 § 6. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(5).]
Rules—Findings—Effective date—1998 c 176: See RCW 82.36.800,
82.36.900, and 82.36.901.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4286
82.04.4286 Deductions—Nontaxable business. In
computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax
amounts derived from business which the state is prohibited
from taxing under the Constitution of this state or the Constitution or laws of the United States. [1980 c 37 § 7. Formerly
RCW 82.04.430(6).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4287
82.04.4287 Deductions—Compensation for receiving, washing, etc., horticultural products for person
exempt under RCW 82.04.330—Materials and supplies
used. In computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax amounts derived by any person as compensation
for the receiving, washing, sorting, and packing of fresh perishable horticultural products and the material and supplies
used therein when performed for the person exempted in
RCW 82.04.330, either as agent or as independent contractor.
[1980 c 37 § 8. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(7).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Sales and use tax exemption for materials and supplies used in packing horticultural products: RCW 82.08.0311 and 82.12.0311.
82.04.4289
82.04.4289 Exemption—Compensation for patient
services or attendant sales of drugs dispensed pursuant to
prescription by certain nonprofit organizations. This
chapter does not apply to amounts derived as compensation
for services rendered to patients or from sales of drugs for
human use pursuant to a prescription furnished as an integral
part of services rendered to patients by a kidney dialysis facility operated as a nonprofit corporation, a nonprofit hospice
agency licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, and nursing
homes and homes for unwed mothers operated as religious or
charitable organizations, but only if no part of the net earnings received by such an institution inures directly or indirectly, to any person other than the institution entitled to
deduction hereunder. "Prescription" and "drug" have the
same meaning as in RCW 82.08.0281. [2003 c 168 § 402;
1998 c 325 § 1; 1993 c 492 § 305; 1981 c 178 § 2; 1980 c 37
§ 10. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(9).]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4291
82.04.4291 Deductions—Compensation received by
a political subdivision from another political subdivision
[Title 82 RCW—page 45]
82.04.4292
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
for services taxable under RCW 82.04.290. In computing
tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax amounts
derived by a political subdivision of the state of Washington
from another political subdivision of the state of Washington
as compensation for services which are within the purview of
RCW 82.04.290. [1980 c 37 § 11. Formerly RCW
82.04.430(10).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4292
82.04.4292 Deductions—Interest on investments or
loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust. In computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax by
those engaged in banking, loan, security or other financial
businesses, amounts derived from interest received on investments or loans primarily secured by first mortgages or trust
deeds on nontransient residential properties. [1980 c 37 § 12.
Formerly RCW 82.04.430(11).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
(4) The articles are sold and shipped outside the state.
[1980 c 37 § 15. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(14).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4296 Deductions—Reimbursement for accommodation expenditures by funeral homes. In computing
tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax that portion of amounts received by any funeral home licensed to do
business in this state which is received as reimbursements for
expenditures (for goods supplied or services rendered by a
person not employed by or affiliated or associated with the
funeral home) and advanced by such funeral home as an
accommodation to the persons paying for a funeral, so long
as such expenditures and advances are billed to the persons
paying for the funeral at only the exact cost thereof and are
separately itemized in the billing statement delivered to such
persons. [1980 c 37 § 16. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(15).]
82.04.4296
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4297
82.04.4293
82.04.4293 Deductions—Interest on obligations of
the state, its political subdivisions, and municipal corporations. In computing tax there may be deducted from the
measure of tax by those engaged in banking, loan, security or
other financial businesses, amounts derived from interest
paid on all obligations of the state of Washington, its political
subdivisions, and municipal corporations organized pursuant
to the laws thereof. [1980 c 37 § 13. Formerly RCW
82.04.430(12).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4294
82.04.4294 Deductions—Interest on loans to farmers
and ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or their cooperatives. In computing tax there may be
deducted from the measure of tax amounts derived as interest
on loans to bona fide farmers and ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or their cooperatives by a lending
institution which is owned exclusively by its borrowers or
members and which is engaged solely in the business of making loans and providing finance-related services to bona fide
farmers and ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic
products, their cooperatives, rural residents for housing, or
persons engaged in furnishing farm-related or aquatic-related
services to these individuals or entities. [1980 c 37 § 14. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(13).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.4295
82.04.4295 Deductions—Manufacturing activities
completed outside the United States. In computing tax
there may be deducted from the measure of tax by persons
subject to payment of the tax on manufacturers pursuant to
RCW 82.04.240, the value of articles to the extent of manufacturing activities completed outside the United States, if:
(1) Any additional processing of such articles in this
state consists of minor final assembly only; and
(2) In the case of domestic manufacture of such articles,
can be and normally is done at the place of initial manufacture; and
(3) The total cost of the minor final assembly does not
exceed two percent of the value of the articles; and
[Title 82 RCW—page 46]
82.04.4297 Deductions—Compensation from public
entities for health or social welfare services—Exception.
In computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of
tax amounts received from the United States or any instrumentality thereof or from the state of Washington or any
municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof as
compensation for, or to support, health or social welfare services rendered by a health or social welfare organization or
by a municipal corporation or political subdivision, except
deductions are not allowed under this section for amounts
that are received under an employee benefit plan. [2002 c
314 § 3; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 23 § 2; 1988 c 67 § 1; 1980 c 37 §
17. Formerly RCW 82.04.430(16).]
Findings—Refund of taxes—Effective date—2002 c 314: See notes
following RCW 82.04.4311.
Findings—2001 2nd sp.s. c 23: "The legislature finds that the deduction under the business and occupation tax statutes for compensation from
public entities for health or social welfare services was intended to provide
government with greater purchasing power when government provides
financial support for the provision of health or social welfare services to benefited classes of persons. The legislature also finds that both the legislature
and the United States congress have in recent years modified governmentfunded health care programs to encourage participation by beneficiaries in
highly regulated managed care programs operated by persons who act as
intermediaries between government entities and health or social welfare
organizations. The legislature further finds that the objective of these
changes is again to extend the purchasing power of scarce government health
care resources, but that this objective would be thwarted to a significant
degree if the business and occupation tax deduction were lost by health or
social welfare organizations solely on account of their participation in managed care for government-funded health programs. In keeping with the original purpose of the health or social welfare deduction, it is desirable to ensure
that compensation received from government sources through contractual
managed care programs also be deductible." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 23 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 23: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately [July 13, 2001]." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 23 § 4.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
"Health or social welfare organization" defined for RCW 82.04.4297—Conditions for exemption—"Health or social welfare services" defined:
RCW 82.04.431.
82.04.4298
82.04.4298 Deductions—Repair, maintenance,
replacement, etc., of residential structures and commonly
held property—Eligible organizations. (1) In computing
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax amounts
used solely for repair, maintenance, replacement, management, or improvement of the residential structures and commonly held property, but excluding property where fees or
charges are made for use by the public who are not guests
accompanied by a member, which are derived by:
(a) A cooperative housing association, corporation, or
partnership from a person who resides in a structure owned
by the cooperative housing association, corporation, or partnership;
(b) An association of owners of property as defined in
RCW 64.32.010, as now or hereafter amended, from a person
who is an apartment owner as defined in RCW 64.32.010; or
(c) An association of owners of residential property from
a person who is a member of the association. "Association of
owners of residential property" means any organization of all
the owners of residential property in a defined area who all
hold the same property in common within the area.
(2) For the purposes of this section "commonly held
property" includes areas required for common access such as
reception areas, halls, stairways, parking, etc., and may
include recreation rooms, swimming pools and small parks or
recreation areas; but is not intended to include more grounds
than are normally required in a residential area, or to include
such extensive areas as required for golf courses, campgrounds, hiking and riding areas, boating areas, etc.
(3) To qualify for the deductions under this section:
(a) The salary or compensation paid to officers, managers, or employees must be only for actual services rendered
and at levels comparable to the salary or compensation of like
positions within the county wherein the property is located;
(b) Dues, fees, or assessments in excess of amounts
needed for the purposes for which the deduction is allowed
must be rebated to the members of the association;
(c) Assets of the association or organization must be distributable to all members and must not inure to the benefit of
any single member or group of members. [1980 c 37 § 18.
Formerly RCW 82.04.430(17).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.04.431
82.04.431 "Health or social welfare organization"
defined for RCW 82.04.4297—Conditions for exemption—"Health or social welfare services" defined. (1) For
the purposes of RCW 82.04.4297, the term "health or social
welfare organization" means an organization, including any
community action council, which renders health or social
welfare services as defined in subsection (2) of this section,
which is a not-for-profit corporation under chapter 24.03
RCW and which is managed by a governing board of not less
than eight individuals none of whom is a paid employee of
the organization or which is a corporation sole under chapter
24.12 RCW. Health or social welfare organization does not
include a corporation providing professional services as
authorized in chapter 18.100 RCW. In addition a corporation
in order to be exempt under RCW 82.04.4297 shall satisfy the
following conditions:
(a) No part of its income may be paid directly or indirectly to its members, stockholders, officers, directors, or
trustees except in the form of services rendered by the corporation in accordance with its purposes and bylaws;
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4311
(b) Salary or compensation paid to its officers and executives must be only for actual services rendered, and at levels
comparable to the salary or compensation of like positions
within the public service of the state;
(c) Assets of the corporation must be irrevocably dedicated to the activities for which the exemption is granted and,
on the liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment by the corporation, may not inure directly or indirectly to the benefit of
any member or individual except a nonprofit organization,
association, or corporation which also would be entitled to
the exemption;
(d) The corporation must be duly licensed or certified
where licensing or certification is required by law or regulation;
(e) The amounts received qualifying for exemption must
be used for the activities for which the exemption is granted;
(f) Services must be available regardless of race, color,
national origin, or ancestry; and
(g) The director of revenue shall have access to its books
in order to determine whether the corporation is exempt from
taxes within the intent of RCW 82.04.4297 and this section.
(2) The term "health or social welfare services" includes
and is limited to:
(a) Mental health, drug, or alcoholism counseling or
treatment;
(b) Family counseling;
(c) Health care services;
(d) Therapeutic, diagnostic, rehabilitative, or restorative
services for the care of the sick, aged, or physically, developmentally, or emotionally-disabled individuals;
(e) Activities which are for the purpose of preventing or
ameliorating juvenile delinquency or child abuse, including
recreational activities for those purposes;
(f) Care of orphans or foster children;
(g) Day care of children;
(h) Employment development, training, and placement;
(i) Legal services to the indigent;
(j) Weatherization assistance or minor home repair for
low-income homeowners or renters;
(k) Assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to
offset the cost of home heating energy, through direct benefits to eligible households or to fuel vendors on behalf of eligible households; and
(l) Community services to low-income individuals, families, and groups, which are designed to have a measurable
and potentially major impact on causes of poverty in communities of the state. [1986 c 261 § 6; 1985 c 431 § 3; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 66 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 80; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 6.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.04.4311
82.04.4311 Deductions—Compensation received
under the federal medicare program by certain hospitals
or health centers. (1) A public hospital that is owned by a
municipal corporation or political subdivision, or a nonprofit
hospital, or a nonprofit community health center, or a network of nonprofit community health centers, that qualifies as
a health and social welfare organization as defined in RCW
82.04.431, may deduct from the measure of tax amounts
received as compensation for health care services covered
[Title 82 RCW—page 47]
82.04.432
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
under the federal medicare program authorized under Title
XVIII of the federal social security act; medical assistance,
children’s health, or other program under chapter 74.09
RCW; or for the state of Washington basic health plan under
chapter 70.47 RCW. The deduction authorized by this section does not apply to amounts received from patient copayments or patient deductibles.
(2) As used in this section, "community health center"
means a federally qualified health center as defined in 42
U.S.C. 1396d as existing on August 1, 2005. [2005 c 86 § 1;
2002 c 314 § 2.]
of articles for use in displaying art objects or presenting
artistic or cultural exhibitions, performances, or programs. In computing tax there may be deducted from the
measure of tax by persons subject to payment of the tax on
manufacturing under RCW 82.04.240, the value of articles to
the extent manufacturing activities are undertaken by an
artistic or cultural organization solely for the purpose of manufacturing articles for use by the organization in displaying
art objects or presenting artistic or cultural exhibitions, performances, or programs for attendance or viewing by the general public. [1981 c 140 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 86: "This act takes effect August 1, 2005."
[2005 c 86 § 2.]
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
Findings—2002 c 314: "The legislature finds that the provision of
health services to those people who receive federal or state subsidized health
care benefits by reason of age, disability, or lack of income is a recognized,
necessary, and vital governmental function. As a result, the legislature finds
that it would be inconsistent with that governmental function to tax amounts
received by a public hospital or nonprofit hospital qualifying as a health and
social welfare organization, when the amounts are paid under a health service program subsidized by federal or state government. Further, the tax status of these amounts should not depend on whether the amounts are received
directly from the qualifying program or through a managed health care organization under contract to manage benefits for a qualifying program. Therefore, the legislature adopts this act to provide a clear and understandable
deduction for these amounts, and to provide refunds for taxes paid as specified in section 4 of this act." [2002 c 314 § 1.]
Refund of taxes—2002 c 314: "A public hospital owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision, or a nonprofit hospital that qualifies
as a health and social welfare organization under RCW 82.04.431, is entitled
to:
(1) A refund of business and occupation tax paid between January 1,
1998, and April 2, 2002, on amounts that would be deductible under section
2 of this act; and
(2) A waiver of tax liability for accrued, but unpaid taxes that would be
deductible under section 2 of this act." [2002 c 314 § 4.]
Effective date—2002 c 314: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 2, 2002]." [2002 c 314 § 5.]
82.04.432
82.04.432 Deductions—Municipal sewer service fees
or charges. In computing the tax imposed by this chapter,
municipal sewerage utilities and other public corporations
imposing and collecting fees or charges for sewer service
may deduct from the measure of the tax, amounts paid to
another municipal corporation or governmental agency for
sewerage interception, treatment or disposal. [1967 ex.s. c
149 § 17.]
82.04.4322
82.04.4322 Deductions—Artistic or cultural organization—Compensation from United States, state, etc., for
artistic or cultural exhibitions, performances, or programs. In computing tax there may be deducted from the
measure of tax amounts received from the United States or
any instrumentality thereof or from the state of Washington
or any municipal corporation or subdivision thereof as compensation for, or to support, artistic or cultural exhibitions,
performances, or programs provided by an artistic or cultural
organization for attendance or viewing by the general public.
[1981 c 140 § 1.]
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
82.04.4324
82.04.4324 Deductions—Artistic or cultural organization—Deduction for tax under RCW 82.04.240—Value
[Title 82 RCW—page 48]
82.04.4326
82.04.4326 Deductions—Artistic or cultural organizations—Tuition charges for attending artistic or cultural
education programs. In computing tax there may be
deducted from the measure of tax amounts received by artistic or cultural organizations as tuition charges collected for
the privilege of attending artistic or cultural education programs. [1981 c 140 § 3.]
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
82.04.4327
82.04.4327 Deductions—Artistic and cultural organizations—Income from business activities. In computing
tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax those
amounts received by artistic or cultural organizations which
represent income derived from business activities conducted
by the organization. [1985 c 471 § 6.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
82.04.4328
82.04.4328 "Artistic or cultural organization"
defined. (1) For the purposes of RCW 82.04.4322,
82.04.4324, 82.04.4326, 82.04.4327, 82.08.031, and
82.12.031, the term "artistic or cultural organization" means
an organization which is organized and operated exclusively
for the purpose of providing artistic or cultural exhibitions,
presentations, or performances or cultural or art education
programs, as defined in subsection (2) of this section, for
viewing or attendance by the general public. The organization must be a not-for-profit corporation under chapter 24.03
RCW and managed by a governing board of not less than
eight individuals none of whom is a paid employee of the
organization or by a corporation sole under chapter 24.12
RCW. In addition, to qualify for deduction or exemption
from taxation under RCW 82.04.4322, 82.04.4324,
82.04.4326, 82.04.4327, 82.08.031, and 82.12.031, the corporation shall satisfy the following conditions:
(a) No part of its income may be paid directly or indirectly to its members, stockholders, officers, directors, or
trustees except in the form of services rendered by the corporation in accordance with its purposes and bylaws;
(b) Salary or compensation paid to its officers and executives must be only for actual services rendered, and at levels
comparable to the salary or compensation of like positions
within the state;
(c) Assets of the corporation must be irrevocably dedicated to the activities for which the exemption is granted and,
on the liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment by the corpo(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
ration, may not inure directly or indirectly to the benefit of
any member or individual except a nonprofit organization,
association, or corporation which also would be entitled to
the exemption;
(d) The corporation must be duly licensed or certified
when licensing or certification is required by law or regulation;
(e) The amounts received that qualify for exemption
must be used for the activities for which the exemption is
granted;
(f) Services must be available regardless of race, color,
national origin, or ancestry; and
(g) The director of revenue shall have access to its books
in order to determine whether the corporation is exempt from
taxes.
(2) The term "artistic or cultural exhibitions, presentations, or performances or cultural or art education programs"
includes and is limited to:
(a) An exhibition or presentation of works of art or
objects of cultural or historical significance, such as those
commonly displayed in art or history museums;
(b) A musical or dramatic performance or series of performances; or
(c) An educational seminar or program, or series of such
programs, offered by the organization to the general public
on an artistic, cultural, or historical subject. [1985 c 471 § 7;
1981 c 140 § 6.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
82.04.4335
82.04.4333
82 .0 4.43 33 Credit—J ob tra ining services —
Approval. (1) There may be credited against the tax
imposed by this chapter, the value of state-approved,
employer-provided or sponsored job training services
designed to enhance the job-related performance of employees, for those businesses eligible for a tax deferral under
chapter 82.60 RCW.
(2) The value of the state-approved, job training services
provided by the employer to the employee, without charge,
shall be determined by the allocation of the cost method using
generally accepted accounting standards.
(3) The credit allowed under this section shall be limited
to an amount equal to twenty percent of the value of the stateapproved, job training services determined under subsection
(2) of this section. The total credits allowed under this section
for a business shall not exceed five thousand dollars per calendar year.
(4) Prior to claiming the credit under this section, the
business must obtain approval of the proposed job training
service from the employment security department. The
employer’s request for approval must include a description of
the proposed job training service, how the job training will
enhance the employee’s performance, and the cost of the proposed job training.
(5) This section only applies to training in respect to eligible business projects for which an application is approved
on or after January 1, 1996. [1996 c 1 § 4.]
Effective date—1996 c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.255.
82.04.4334
82.04.433
82.04.433 Deductions—Sales of fuel for consumption
outside United States’ waters by vessels in foreign commerce—Construction. (1) In computing tax there may be
deducted from the measure of tax amounts derived from sales
of fuel for consumption outside the territorial waters of the
United States, by vessels used primarily in foreign commerce.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply
that amounts which may be deducted under this section were
taxable under Title 82 RCW prior to the enactment of this
section. [1985 c 471 § 16.]
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
82.04.4331
82.04.4331 Deductions—Insurance claims for state
health care coverage. In computing tax, insurers as defined
by RCW 48.01.050, may deduct from the measure of tax
amounts paid out for claims incurred before July 1, 1990, for
covered health services under medical and dental coverage
purchased under chapter 41.05 RCW. [1988 c 107 § 33.]
Implementation—Effective dates—1988 c 107: See RCW 41.05.901.
82.04.4332
82.04.4332 Deductions—Tuition fees of foreign
degree-granting institutions. An approved branch campus
of a foreign degree-granting institution in compliance with
chapter 28B.90 RCW is considered an educational institution
for the purpose of the deduction of tuition fees provided by
RCW 82.04.170 in those instances where it is recognized as
an organization exempt from income taxes pursuant to 26
U.S.C. Sec. 501(c). [1993 c 181 § 10.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4334 Deductions—Sale or distribution of
biodiesel or alcohol fuels. (Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) In
computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax
amounts received from the retail sale, or for the distribution,
of:
(a) Biodiesel fuel; or
(b) Alcohol fuel, if the alcohol fuel is at least eighty-five
percent of the volume of the fuel being sold or distributed.
(2) For the purposes of this section and RCW 82.08.955
and 82.12.955, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Biodiesel fuel" means a mono alkyl ester of long
chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats
for use in compression-ignition engines and that meets the
requirements of the American society of testing and materials
specification D 6751 in effect as of January 1, 2003.
(b) "Alcohol fuel" means any alcohol made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas, which is used alone
or in combination with gasoline or other petroleum products
for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, farm implements and
machines, or implements of husbandry.
(c) "Distribution" means any of the actions specified in
RCW 82.36.020(2).
(3) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 63 § 1.]
Effective date—2003 c 63: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003."
[2003 c 63 § 4.]
82.04.4335
82.04.4335 Deductions—Sale or distribution of wood
biomass fuel. (Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) In computing tax
there may be deducted from the measure of tax amounts
[Title 82 RCW—page 49]
82.04.4336
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
received from the retail sale, or for the distribution, of wood
biomass fuel.
(2) For the purposes of this act [section], the following
definitions apply:
(a) "Wood biomass fuel" means a pyrolytic liquid fuel or
synthesis gas-derived liquid fuel, used in internal combustion
engines, and produced from wood, forest, or field residue, or
dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that
have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chroma-arsenic.
(b) "Distribution" means any of the actions specified in
RCW 82.36.020(2).
(3) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 339 § 12.]
Effective dates—2003 c 339: See note following RCW 84.36.640.
82.04.4336
82.04.4336 Deductions—Cattle and beef products.
(Expires December 31, 2007.) (1) In computing tax there
may be deducted from the measure of tax those amounts
received for:
(a) Slaughtering cattle, but only if the taxpayer sells the
resulting slaughtered cattle at wholesale and not at retail;
(b) Breaking or processing perishable beef products, but
only if the perishable beef products are derived from cattle
slaughtered by the taxpayer and sold at wholesale only and
not at retail;
(c) Wholesale sales of perishable beef products derived
from cattle slaughtered by the taxpayer;
(d) Processing nonperishable beef products, but only if
the products are derived from cattle slaughtered by the taxpayer and sold at wholesale only and not at retail; and
(e) Wholesale sales of nonperishable beef products
derived from cattle slaughtered by the taxpayer.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "beef products"
means the carcass, parts of carcass, meat, and meat by-products, derived exclusively from cattle and containing no other
ingredients.
(3) The deduction allowed under this section is allowed
only for tax liability incurred after March 31, 2004, and until
the first day of the month following the date on which the
bans on the importation of beef and beef products from the
United States of America by Japan, Mexico, and the Republic
of South Korea have all been lifted.
(4) The department must provide notice, on the department’s web site, of the date on which this deduction is no
longer available. The notice required by this section does not
affect the availability of the deduction under this section.
(5) This section expires December 31, 2007. [2005 c
150 § 1; 2004 c 235 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2004 c 235: "The legislature finds that the recent
occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the resulting bans on
beef imports from the United States have had a severe economic impact on
the state’s beef processing industry. The legislature intends to provide temporary business and occupation tax relief for Washington’s beef processors."
[2004 c 235 § 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 235: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 31, 2004]." [2004 c 235 § 3.]
82.04.4337
82.04.4337 Deductions—Certain amounts received
by boarding homes. (1) A boarding home licensed under
chapter 18.20 RCW may deduct from the measure of tax
[Title 82 RCW—page 50]
amounts received as compensation for providing adult residential care, enhanced adult residential care, or assisted living services under contract with the department of social and
health services authorized by chapter 74.39A RCW to residents who are medicaid recipients.
(2) For purposes of this section, "adult residential care,"
"enhanced adult residential care," and "assisted living services" have the same meaning as in RCW 74.39A.009. [2004
c 174 § 7.]
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
82.04.4338
82.04.4338 Deductions—Amounts received from
sale, lease, or rental of electrification systems. (Expires
July 1, 2015.) (1) In computing tax there may be deducted
from the measure of tax amounts received from the retail
sale, lease, or rental of auxiliary power to heavy duty diesel
vehicles through onboard or stand-alone electrification systems.
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section and RCW 82.08.815, 82.12.815, 82.08.825, and
82.12.825 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Heavy duty diesel vehicles" means any diesel vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over fourteen thousand
pounds.
(b) "Onboard electrification systems" means the equipment necessary to provide auxiliary electrical service to
heavy duty diesel vehicles that are equipped with the necessary components to accept electrical power, including inverters, heat and air systems capable of being powered by electricity, and hardware to plug into an electrical outlet.
(c) "Stand-alone electrification systems" means an independent system that supplies a heavy duty diesel vehicle’s
needs for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning without
modification to the vehicle.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2015. [2006 c 323 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 323: "The legislature recognizes that the air
quality around idling heavy duty diesel vehicles at truck stops can contribute
to unhealthy conditions. Idling vehicles not only consume up to one billion
gallons of diesel fuel a year, but also contribute to air pollution by releasing
fine particles, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These emissions contribute to deteriorating human
health conditions, including asthma, heart disease, cancer, and aggravated
allergies. Idling vehicles also contribute to driver fatigue through exposure
to noise, vibration, and elevated levels of carbon monoxide and other pollutants.
Washington state seeks to encourage private entities to address this
source of air pollution by providing incentives to those who provide the
infrastructure and services that support the use of auxiliary power through
onboard or stand-alone electrification systems." [2006 c 323 § 1.]
82.04.4339
82.04.4339 Deductions—Grants to support salmon
restoration. In computing tax there may be deducted from
the measure of tax amounts received by a nonprofit organization from the United States or any instrumentality thereof or
from the state of Washington or any municipal corporation or
political subdivision thereof as grants to support salmon restoration purposes. For the purposes of this section, "nonprofit organization" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.3651. [2004 c 241 § 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 241: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 31, 2004]." [2004 c 241 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.434
82.04.434 Credit—Public safety standards and testing. (1) There may be credited against the tax imposed by
this chapter, the value of services and information relating to
setting of standards and testing for public safety provided to
the state of Washington, without charge, at the state’s
request, by a nonprofit corporation that is:
(a) Organized and operated for the purpose of setting
standards and testing for public safety; and
(b) Exempt from federal income tax under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
and
(c) Organized with no direct or indirect industry affiliation.
(2) The value of the services and information requested
by the state and provided to the state, without charge, shall be
determined by the allocation of the cost method using generally accepted accounting standards.
(3) The credit allowed under this section shall be limited
to the amount of tax imposed by this chapter. Any unused
excess credit in a reporting period may be carried forward to
future reporting periods for a maximum of one year. [1991 c
13 § 1.]
Effective date—1991 c 13: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 c 13 § 2.]
82.04.440
82.04.440 Persons taxable on multiple activities—
Credits. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) Every person
engaged in activities which are within the purview of the provisions of two or more of sections RCW 82.04.230 to
82.04.298, inclusive, shall be taxable under each paragraph
applicable to the activities engaged in.
(2) Persons taxable under RCW 82.04.2909(2),
82.04.250, 82.04.270, 82.04.294(2), or 82.04.260 (4), (11), or
(12) with respect to selling products in this state, including
those persons who are also taxable under RCW 82.04.261,
shall be allowed a credit against those taxes for any (a) manufacturing taxes paid with respect to the manufacturing of
products so sold in this state, and/or (b) extracting taxes paid
with respect to the extracting of products so sold in this state
or ingredients of products so sold in this state. Extracting
taxes taken as credit under subsection (3) of this section may
also be taken under this subsection, if otherwise allowable
under this subsection. The amount of the credit shall not
exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with respect
to the sale of those products.
(3) Persons taxable as manufacturers under RCW
82.04.240 or 82.04.260 (1)(b) or (12), including those persons who are also taxable under RCW 82.04.261, shall be
allowed a credit against those taxes for any extracting taxes
paid with respect to extracting the ingredients of the products
so manufactured in this state. The amount of the credit shall
not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with
respect to the manufacturing of those products.
(4) Persons taxable under RCW 82.04.230, 82.04.240,
82.04.2909(1), 82.04.294(1), or 82.04.260 (1), (2), (4), (11),
or (12), including those persons who are also taxable under
RCW 82.04.261, with respect to extracting or manufacturing
products in this state shall be allowed a credit against those
taxes for any (i) gross receipts taxes paid to another state with
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.440
respect to the sales of the products so extracted or manufactured in this state, (ii) manufacturing taxes paid with respect
to the manufacturing of products using ingredients so
extracted in this state, or (iii) manufacturing taxes paid with
respect to manufacturing activities completed in another state
for products so manufactured in this state. The amount of the
credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this
chapter with respect to the extraction or manufacturing of
those products.
(5) For the purpose of this section:
(a) "Gross receipts tax" means a tax:
(i) Which is imposed on or measured by the gross volume of business, in terms of gross receipts or in other terms,
and in the determination of which the deductions allowed
would not constitute the tax an income tax or value added tax;
and
(ii) Which is also not, pursuant to law or custom, separately stated from the sales price.
(b) "State" means (i) the state of Washington, (ii) a state
of the United States other than Washington, or any political
subdivision of such other state, (iii) the District of Columbia,
and (iv) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof.
(c) "Manufacturing tax" means a gross receipts tax
imposed on the act or privilege of engaging in business as a
manufacturer, and includes (i) the taxes imposed in RCW
82.04.240, 82.04.2909(1), 82.04.260 (1), (2), (4), (11), and
(12), and 82.04.294(1); (ii) the tax imposed under RCW
82.04.261 on persons who are engaged in business as a manufacturer; and (iii) similar gross receipts taxes paid to other
states.
(d) "Extracting tax" means a gross receipts tax imposed
on the act or privilege of engaging in business as an extractor,
and includes (i) the tax imposed on extractors in RCW
82.04.230 and 82.04.260(12); (ii) the tax imposed under
RCW 82.04.261 on persons who are engaged in business as
an extractor; and (iii) similar gross receipts taxes paid to other
states.
(e) "Business", "manufacturer", "extractor", and other
terms used in this section have the meanings given in RCW
82.04.020 through 82.04.212, notwithstanding the use of
those terms in the context of describing taxes imposed by
other states. [2006 c 300 § 8; 2005 c 301 § 3. Prior: 2004 c
174 § 5; 2004 c 24 § 7; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 6; 1998 c 312 §
9; 1994 c 124 § 4; 1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1985 c 190 § 1;
1981 c 172 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 16; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 12;
1961 c 15 § 82.04.440; prior: 1959 c 211 § 3; 1951 1st ex.s.
c 9 § 1; 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 2; 1949 c 228 § 2-A; 1943 c 156 § 3;
1941 c 178 § 3; 1939 c 225 § 3; 1937 c 227 § 3; 1935 c 180 §
6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-6.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—Report to legislature—2005 c
301: See notes following RCW 82.04.294.
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
[Title 82 RCW—page 51]
82.04.440
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Retroactive application—1994 c 124: "Except as otherwise provided
in section 6 of this act, section 4 of this act applies retrospectively to all tax
reporting periods on or after June 23, 1987." [1994 c 124 § 7.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "The legislature
finds that the invalidation of the multiple activities exemption contained in
RCW 82.04.440 by the United States Supreme Court now requires adjustments to the state’s business and occupation tax to achieve constitutional
equality between Washington taxpayers who have conducted and will continue to conduct business in interstate and intrastate commerce. It is the
intent of chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act to preserve the integrity of Washington’s business and occupation tax
system and impose only that financial burden upon the state necessary to
establish parity in taxation between such taxpayers.
Thus, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act extends [extend] the system of credits originated in RCW 82.04.440
in 1985 to provide for equal treatment of taxpayers engaging in extracting,
manufacturing or selling regardless of the location in which any of such
activities occurs. It is further intended that RCW 82.04.440, as amended by
section 2, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act, shall be construed and applied in a manner that will eliminate unconstitutional discrimination between taxpayers and ensure the preservation and
collection of revenues from the conduct of multiple activities in which taxpayers in this state may engage." [1994 c 124 § 5; 1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 1.]
Application to prior reporting periods—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If it is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to
review, that relief is appropriate for any tax reporting periods before August
11, 1987, in respect to RCW 82.04.440 as it existed before August 11, 1987,
it is the intent of the legislature that the credits provided in RCW 82.04.440
as amended by section 2, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and section 4
of this act shall be applied to such reporting periods and that relief for such
periods be limited to the granting of such credits." [1994 c 124 § 6; 1987 2nd
ex.s. c 3 § 3.]
Severability—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 4.]
Severability—1985 c 190: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 190 § 8.]
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.04.440
82.04.440 Persons taxable on multiple activities—
Credits. (Contingent effective date.) (1) Every person
engaged in activities that are subject to tax under two or more
provisions of RCW 82.04.230 through 82.04.298, inclusive,
shall be taxable under each provision applicable to those
activities.
(2) Persons taxable under RCW 82.04.2909(2),
82.04.250, 82.04.270, 82.04.294(2), or 82.04.260 (1)(c), (4),
(11), or (12) with respect to selling products in this state,
including those persons who are also taxable under RCW
82.04.261, shall be allowed a credit against those taxes for
any (a) manufacturing taxes paid with respect to the manufacturing of products so sold in this state, and/or (b) extracting
taxes paid with respect to the extracting of products so sold in
this state or ingredients of products so sold in this state.
Extracting taxes taken as credit under subsection (3) of this
section may also be taken under this subsection, if otherwise
allowable under this subsection. The amount of the credit
shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter
with respect to the sale of those products.
(3) Persons taxable as manufacturers under RCW
82.04.240 or 82.04.260 (1)(b) or (12), including those persons who are also taxable under RCW 82.04.261, shall be
allowed a credit against those taxes for any extracting taxes
paid with respect to extracting the ingredients of the products
[Title 82 RCW—page 52]
so manufactured in this state. The amount of the credit shall
not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with
respect to the manufacturing of those products.
(4) Persons taxable under RCW 82.04.230, 82.04.240,
82.04.2909(1), 82.04.294(1), 82.04.2404, or 82.04.260 (1),
(2), (4), (11), or (12), including those persons who are also
taxable under RCW 82.04.261, with respect to extracting or
manufacturing products in this state shall be allowed a credit
against those taxes for any (i) gross receipts taxes paid to
another state with respect to the sales of the products so
extracted or manufactured in this state, (ii) manufacturing
taxes paid with respect to the manufacturing of products
using ingredients so extracted in this state, or (iii) manufacturing taxes paid with respect to manufacturing activities
completed in another state for products so manufactured in
this state. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the tax
liability arising under this chapter with respect to the extraction or manufacturing of those products.
(5) For the purpose of this section:
(a) "Gross receipts tax" means a tax:
(i) Which is imposed on or measured by the gross volume of business, in terms of gross receipts or in other terms,
and in the determination of which the deductions allowed
would not constitute the tax an income tax or value added tax;
and
(ii) Which is also not, pursuant to law or custom, separately stated from the sales price.
(b) "State" means (i) the state of Washington, (ii) a state
of the United States other than Washington, or any political
subdivision of such other state, (iii) the District of Columbia,
and (iv) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof.
(c) "Manufacturing tax" means a gross receipts tax
imposed on the act or privilege of engaging in business as a
manufacturer, and includes (i) the taxes imposed in RCW
82.04.240, 82.04.2404, 82.04.2909(1), 82.04.260 (1), (2),
(4), (11), and (12), and 82.04.294(1); (ii) the tax imposed
under RCW 82.04.261 on persons who are engaged in business as a manufacturer; and (iii) similar gross receipts taxes
paid to other states.
(d) "Extracting tax" means a gross receipts tax imposed
on the act or privilege of engaging in business as an extractor,
and includes (i) the tax imposed on extractors in RCW
82.04.230 and 82.04.260(12); (ii) the tax imposed under
RCW 82.04.261 on persons who are engaged in business as
an extractor; and (iii) similar gross receipts taxes paid to other
states.
(e) "Business", "manufacturer", "extractor", and other
terms used in this section have the meanings given in RCW
82.04.020 through 82.04.212, notwithstanding the use of
those terms in the context of describing taxes imposed by
other states. [2006 c 300 § 8; 2006 c 84 § 6; 2005 c 301 § 3.
Prior: 2004 c 174 § 5; 2004 c 24 § 7; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 6;
1998 c 312 § 9; 1994 c 124 § 4; 1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1985
c 190 § 1; 1981 c 172 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 16; 1965 ex.s. c
173 § 12; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.440; prior: 1959 c 211 § 3; 1951
1st ex.s. c 9 § 1; 1950 ex.s. c 5 § 2; 1949 c 228 § 2-A; 1943 c
156 § 3; 1941 c 178 § 3; 1939 c 225 § 3; 1937 c 227 § 3; 1935
c 180 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-6.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 84 § 6 and by
2006 c 300 § 8, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—Report to legislature—2005 c
301: See notes following RCW 82.04.294.
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Effective date—Savings—1998 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.04.332.
Retroactive application—1994 c 124: "Except as otherwise provided
in section 6 of this act, section 4 of this act applies retrospectively to all tax
reporting periods on or after June 23, 1987." [1994 c 124 § 7.]
Legislative findings and intent—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "The legislature
finds that the invalidation of the multiple activities exemption contained in
RCW 82.04.440 by the United States Supreme Court now requires adjustments to the state’s business and occupation tax to achieve constitutional
equality between Washington taxpayers who have conducted and will continue to conduct business in interstate and intrastate commerce. It is the
intent of chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act to preserve the integrity of Washington’s business and occupation tax
system and impose only that financial burden upon the state necessary to
establish parity in taxation between such taxpayers.
Thus, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act extends [extend] the system of credits originated in RCW 82.04.440
in 1985 to provide for equal treatment of taxpayers engaging in extracting,
manufacturing or selling regardless of the location in which any of such
activities occurs. It is further intended that RCW 82.04.440, as amended by
section 2, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and sections 4 through 7 of
this act, shall be construed and applied in a manner that will eliminate unconstitutional discrimination between taxpayers and ensure the preservation and
collection of revenues from the conduct of multiple activities in which taxpayers in this state may engage." [1994 c 124 § 5; 1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 1.]
Application to prior reporting periods—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If it is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to
review, that relief is appropriate for any tax reporting periods before August
11, 1987, in respect to RCW 82.04.440 as it existed before August 11, 1987,
it is the intent of the legislature that the credits provided in RCW 82.04.440
as amended by section 2, chapter 3, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and section 4
of this act shall be applied to such reporting periods and that relief for such
periods be limited to the granting of such credits." [1994 c 124 § 6; 1987 2nd
ex.s. c 3 § 3.]
Severability—1987 2nd ex.s. c 3: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1987 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 4.]
Severability—1985 c 190: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 190 § 8.]
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.04.4451
82.04.4451 Credit against tax due—Maximum
credit—Table. (1) In computing the tax imposed under this
chapter, a credit is allowed against the amount of tax otherwise due under this chapter, as provided in this section. The
maximum credit for a taxpayer for a reporting period is
thirty-five dollars multiplied by the number of months in the
reporting period, as determined under RCW 82.32.045.
(2) When the amount of tax otherwise due under this
chapter is equal to or less than the maximum credit, a credit is
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4452
allowed equal to the amount of tax otherwise due under this
chapter.
(3) When the amount of tax otherwise due under this
chapter exceeds the maximum credit, a reduced credit is
allowed equal to twice the maximum credit, minus the tax
otherwise due under this chapter, but not less than zero.
(4) The department may prepare a tax credit table consisting of tax ranges using increments of no more than five
dollars and a corresponding tax credit to be applied to those
tax ranges. The table shall be prepared in such a manner that
no taxpayer will owe a greater amount of tax by using the
table than would be owed by performing the calculation
under subsections (1) through (3) of this section. A table prepared by the department under this subsection shall be used
by all taxpayers in taking the credit provided in this section.
[1997 c 238 § 2; 1994 sp.s. c 2 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1997 c 238: "The legislature finds that many businesses have difficulty applying the small business credit under RCW
82.04.4451. Further, the legislature appreciates the valuable time and
resources small businesses expend on calculating the amount of credit based
upon a statutory formula. For the purpose of tax simplification, it is the intent
of this act to direct the department of revenue to create a schedule, in standard increments, to replace required calculations for the small business
credit. Each taxpayer can make reference to the taxpayer’s tax range on the
schedule and find the amount of the taxpayer’s small business credit. Further, no taxpayer will owe a greater amount of tax nor will any taxpayer be
responsible for a greater amount of taxes otherwise due." [1997 c 238 § 1.]
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 2: "This act shall take effect on July 1,
1994." [1994 sp.s. c 2 § 5.]
Application to reporting periods—1994 sp.s. c 2 § 1: "Section 1 of
this act applies to the entire period of reporting periods ending after July 1,
1994." [1994 sp.s. c 2 § 6.]
82.04.4452
82.04.4452 Credit—Research and development
spending. (Expires January 1, 2015.) (1) In computing the
tax imposed under this chapter, a credit is allowed for each
person whose research and development spending during the
year in which the credit is claimed exceeds 0.92 percent of
the person’s taxable amount during the same calendar year.
(2) The credit shall be calculated as follows:
(a) Determine the greater of the amount of qualified
research and development expenditures of a person or eighty
percent of amounts received by a person other than a public
educational or research institution in compensation for the
conduct of qualified research and development;
(b) Subtract 0.92 percent of the person’s taxable amount
from the amount determined under (a) of this subsection;
(c) Multiply the amount determined under (b) of this
subsection by the following:
(i) For the period June 10, 2004, through December 31,
2006, the person’s average tax rate for the calendar year for
which the credit is claimed;
(ii) For the calendar year ending December 31, 2007, the
greater of the person’s average tax rate for that calendar year
or 0.75 percent;
(iii) For the calendar year ending December 31, 2008,
the greater of the person’s average tax rate for that calendar
year or 1.0 percent;
(iv) For the calendar year ending December 31, 2009, the
greater of the person’s average tax rate for that calendar year
or 1.25 percent;
(v) For the calendar year ending December 31, 2010, and
thereafter, 1.50 percent.
[Title 82 RCW—page 53]
82.04.4452
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
For purposes of calculating the credit, if a person’s
reporting period is less than annual, the person may use an
estimated average tax rate for the calendar year for which the
credit is claimed by using the person’s average tax rate for
each reporting period. A person who uses an estimated average tax rate must make an adjustment to the total credit
claimed for the calendar year using the person’s actual average tax rate for the calendar year when the person files its last
return for the calendar year for which the credit is claimed.
(3) Any person entitled to the credit provided in subsection (2) of this section as a result of qualified research and
development conducted under contract may assign all or any
portion of the credit to the person contracting for the performance of the qualified research and development.
(4) The credit, including any credit assigned to a person
under subsection (3) of this section, shall be claimed against
taxes due for the same calendar year in which the qualified
research and development expenditures are incurred. The
credit, including any credit assigned to a person under subsection (3) of this section, for each calendar year shall not
exceed the lesser of two million dollars or the amount of tax
otherwise due under this chapter for the calendar year.
(5) For any person claiming the credit, including any
credit assigned to a person under subsection (3) of this section, whose research and development spending during the
calendar year in which the credit is claimed fails to exceed
0.92 percent of the person’s taxable amount during the same
calendar year or who is otherwise ineligible, the department
shall declare the taxes against which the credit was claimed to
be immediately due and payable. The department shall
assess interest, but not penalties, on the taxes against which
the credit was claimed. Interest shall be assessed at the rate
provided for delinquent excise taxes under chapter 82.32
RCW, retroactively to the date the credit was claimed, and
shall accrue until the taxes against which the credit was
claimed are repaid. Any credit assigned to a person under
subsection (3) of this section that is disallowed as a result of
this section may be claimed by the person who performed the
qualified research and development subject to the limitations
set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
(6)(a) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order
to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(b) A person claiming the credit shall file a complete
annual survey with the department. The survey is due by
March 31st following any year in which a credit is claimed.
The department may extend the due date for timely filing of
annual surveys under this section as provided in RCW
82.32.590. The survey shall include the amount of the tax
credit claimed, the qualified research and development
expenditures during the calendar year for which the credit is
claimed, the taxable amount during the calendar year for
which the credit is claimed, the number of new products or
research projects by general classification, the number of
trademarks, patents, and copyrights associated with the
research and development activities for which a credit was
claimed, and whether the credit has been assigned under subsection (3) of this section and who assigned the credit. The
[Title 82 RCW—page 54]
survey shall also include the following information for
employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(c) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the tax credit program, to
be submitted at the same time as the survey.
(d)(i) All information collected under this subsection,
except the amount of the tax credit claimed, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the
amount of tax credit claimed is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to
the public upon request, except as provided in this subsection
(6)(d). If the amount of the tax credit as reported on the survey is different than the amount actually claimed on the taxpayer’s tax returns or otherwise allowed by the department,
the amount actually claimed or allowed may be disclosed.
(ii) Persons for whom the actual amount of the tax credit
claimed on the taxpayer’s returns or otherwise allowed by the
department is less than ten thousand dollars during the period
covered by the survey may request the department to treat the
tax credit amount as confidential under RCW 82.32.330.
(e) If a person fails to file a complete annual survey
required under this subsection with the department by the due
date or any extension under RCW 82.32.590, the person entitled to the credit provided in subsection (2) of this section is
not eligible to claim or assign the credit provided in subsection (2) of this section in the year the person failed to timely
file a complete survey.
(7) The department shall use the information from subsection (6) of this section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. No fewer than three taxpayers shall be
included in any category. The department shall report these
statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(8) The department shall use the information from subsection (6) of this section to study the tax credit program
authorized under this section. The department shall report to
the legislature by December 1, 2009, and December 1, 2013.
The reports shall measure the effect of the program on job
creation, the number of jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, the introduction of new products, the
diversification of the state’s economy, growth in research and
development investment, the movement of firms or the consolidation of firms’ operations into the state, and such other
factors as the department selects.
(9) For the purpose of this section:
(a) "Average tax rate" means a person’s total tax liability
under this chapter for the calendar year for which the credit is
claimed divided by the taxpayer’s total taxable amount under
this chapter for the calendar year for which the credit is
claimed.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
(b) "Qualified research and development expenditures"
means operating expenses, including wages, compensation of
a proprietor or a partner in a partnership as determined under
rules adopted by the department, benefits, supplies, and computer expenses, directly incurred in qualified research and
development by a person claiming the credit provided in this
section. The term does not include amounts paid to a person
other than a public educational or research institution to conduct qualified research and development. Nor does the term
include capital costs and overhead, such as expenses for land,
structures, or depreciable property.
(c) "Qualified research and development" shall have the
same meaning as in RCW 82.63.010.
(d) "Research and development spending" means qualified research and development expenditures plus eighty percent of amounts paid to a person other than a public educational or research institution to conduct qualified research
and development.
(e) "Taxable amount" means the taxable amount subject
to the tax imposed in this chapter required to be reported on
the person’s combined excise tax returns for the calendar year
for which the credit is claimed, less any taxable amount for
which a credit is allowed under RCW 82.04.440.
(10) This section expires January 1, 2015. [2005 c 514 §
1003; 2004 c 2 § 2; 2000 c 103 § 7; 1997 c 7 § 4; 1994 sp.s. c
5 § 2.]
Retroactive application—2005 c 514 § 1003: "Section 1003 of this act
applies retroactively to June 10, 2004." [2005 c 514 § 1311.]
Interest and penalties from additional tax under section 1003(9)(a),
chapter 514, Laws of 2005—2005 c 514: "(1) A person who owes additional tax as a result of section 1003(9)(a), chapter 514, Laws of 2005 is liable for interest, but not penalties as provided in RCW 82.32.090 (1) and (2),
if the entire additional tax liability is paid in full to the department of revenue
before January 1, 2006. Interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for
delinquent excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the date
the credit was claimed, and shall accrue until the additional tax is repaid.
(2) Persons who fail to repay the full amount of additional tax owed as
a result of section 1003(9)(a), chapter 514, Laws of 2005 before January 1,
2006, are subject to all applicable penalties and interest as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW on the additional tax owing after December 31, 2005.
(3) This section expires December 31, 2010." [2005 c 514 § 1004.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Savings—Effective date—1997 c 7: See notes following RCW
82.04.255.
Findings—Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 5: See RCW 82.63.005 and
82.63.900.
Additional reporting requirements: RCW 82.32.590 and 82.32.600.
82.04.44525
82.04.44525 Credit—New employment for international service activities in eligible areas—Designation of
census tracts for eligibility—Records—Tax due upon
ineligibility—Interest assessment—Information from
employment security department. (1) Subject to the limits
in this section, an eligible person is allowed a credit against
the tax due under this chapter. The credit is based on qualified
employment positions in eligible areas. The credit is available to persons who are engaged in international services as
defined in this section. In order to receive the credit, the international service activities must take place at a business within
the eligible area.
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.44525
(2)(a) The credit shall equal three thousand dollars for
each qualified employment position created after July 1,
1998, in an eligible area. A credit is earned for the calendar
year the person is hired to fill the position, plus the four subsequent consecutive years, if the position is maintained for
those four years.
(b) Credit may not be taken for hiring of persons into
positions that exist on July 1, 1998. Credit is authorized for
new employees hired for new positions created after July 1,
1998. New positions filled by existing employees are eligible
for the credit under this section only if the position vacated by
the existing employee is filled by a new hire.
(c) When a position is newly created, if it is filled before
July 1st, this position is eligible for the full yearly credit. If it
is filled after June 30th, this position is eligible for half of the
credit.
(d) Credit may be accrued and carried over until it is
used. No refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Eligible area" means: (i) A community empowerment zone under *RCW 43.63A.700; or (ii) a contiguous
group of census tracts that meets the unemployment and poverty criteria of *RCW 43.63A.710 and is designated under
subsection (4) of this section;
(b) "Eligible person" means a person, as defined in RCW
82.04.030, who in an eligible area at a specific location is
engaged in the business of providing international services;
(c)(i) "International services" means the provision of a
service, as defined under (c)(iii) of this subsection, that is
subject to tax under RCW 82.04.290(2), and either:
(A) Is for a person domiciled outside the United States;
or
(B) The service itself is for use primarily outside of the
United States.
(ii) "International services" excludes any service taxable
under RCW 82.04.290(1).
(iii) Eligible services are: Computer; data processing;
information; legal; accounting and tax preparation; engineering; architectural; business consulting; business management; public relations and advertising; surveying; geological
consulting; real estate appraisal; or financial services. For the
purposes of this section these services mean the following:
(A) "Computer services" are services such as computer
programming, custom software modification, customization
of canned software, custom software installation, custom
software maintenance, custom software repair, training in the
use of software, computer systems design, and custom software update services;
(B) "Data processing services" are services such as word
processing, data entry, data retrieval, data search, information
compilation, payroll processing, business accounts processing, data production, and other computerized data and information storage or manipulation. "Data processing services"
also includes the use of a computer or computer time for data
processing whether the processing is performed by the provider of the computer or by the purchaser or other beneficiary
of the service;
(C) "Information services" are services such as electronic data retrieval or research that entails furnishing financial or legal information, data or research, internet service as
[Title 82 RCW—page 55]
82.04.4461
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
defined in RCW 82.04.297, general or specialized news, or
current information;
(D) "Legal services" are services such as representation
by an attorney, or other person when permitted, in an administrative or legal proceeding, legal drafting, paralegal services, legal research services, and court reporting services,
arbitration, and mediation services;
(E) "Accounting and tax preparation services" are services such as accounting, auditing, actuarial, bookkeeping, or
tax preparation services;
(F) "Engineering services" are services such as civil,
electrical, mechanical, petroleum, marine, nuclear, and
design engineering, machine designing, machine tool designing, and sewage disposal system designing services;
(G) "Architectural services" are services such as structural or landscape design or architecture, interior design,
building design, building program management, and space
planning services;
(H) "Business consulting services" are services such as
primarily providing operating counsel, advice, or assistance
to the management or owner of any business, private, nonprofit, or public organization, including but not limited to
those in the following areas: Administrative management
consulting; general management consulting; human resource
consulting or training; management engineering consulting;
management information systems consulting; manufacturing
management consulting; marketing consulting; operations
research consulting; personnel management consulting;
physical distribution consulting; site location consulting;
economic consulting; motel, hotel, and resort consulting; restaurant consulting; government affairs consulting; and lobbying;
(I) "Business management services" are services such as
administrative management, business management, and
office management. "Business management services" does
not include property management or property leasing, motel,
hotel, and resort management, or automobile parking management;
(J) "Public relations and advertising services" are services such as layout, art direction, graphic design, copy writing, mechanical preparation, opinion research, marketing
research, marketing, or production supervision;
(K) "Surveying services" are services such as land surveying;
(L) "Geological consulting services" are services rendered for the oil, gas, and mining industry and other earth
resource industries, and other services such as soil testing;
(M) "Real estate appraisal services" are services such as
market appraisal and other real estate valuation; and
(N) "Financial services" are services such as banking,
loan, security, investment management, investment advisory,
mortgage servicing, contract collection, and finance leasing
services, engaged in by financial businesses, or businesses
similar to or in competition with financial businesses; and
(d) "Qualified employment position" means a permanent
full-time position to provide international services. If an
employee is either voluntarily or involuntarily separated from
employment, the employment position is considered filled on
a full-time basis if the employer is either training or actively
recruiting a replacement employee.
[Title 82 RCW—page 56]
(4) By ordinance, the legislative authority of a city, or
legislative authorities of contiguous cities by ordinance of
each city’s legislative authority, with population greater than
eighty thousand, located in a county containing no community empowerment zones as designated under *RCW
43.63A.700, may designate a contiguous group of census
tracts within the city or cities as an eligible area under this
section. Each of the census tracts must meet the unemployment and poverty criteria of *RCW 43.63A.710. Upon making the designation, the city or cities shall transmit to the
department of revenue a certification letter and a map, each
explicitly describing the boundaries of the census tract. This
designation must be made by December 31, 1998.
(5) No application is necessary for the tax credit. The
person must keep records necessary for the department to
verify eligibility under this section. This information
includes:
(a) Employment records for the previous six years;
(b) Information relating to description of international
service activity engaged in at the eligible location by the person; and
(c) Information relating to customers of international
service activity engaged in at that location by the person.
(6) If at any time the department finds that a person is not
eligible for tax credit under this section, the amount of taxes
for which a credit has been used shall be immediately due.
The department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the
credited taxes for which the person is not eligible. The interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise
taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, shall be assessed retroactively to the date the tax credit was taken, and shall accrue
until the taxes for which a credit has been used are repaid.
(7) The employment security department shall provide to
the department of revenue such information needed by the
department of revenue to verify eligibility under this section.
[1998 c 313 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 43.63A.700 and 43.63A.710 were recodified as
RCW 43.31C.020 and 43.31C.030, respectively, pursuant to 2000 c 212 §
11.
Intent—Findings—1998 c 313: "It is the intent of the legislature to
attract and retain businesses that provide professional services and insurance
services to international customers. To that end, the legislature finds that an
incentive measured by a business’s growth in jobs is a meaningful method of
attracting and retaining such businesses. Therefore, the incentive in this act
is specifically targeted at "net new jobs." In addition, to further the impact
and benefit of this program, this incentive is limited to those urban areas of
the state, both in eastern Washington and western Washington, that are characterized by unemployment and poverty. The legislature finds that providing
this targeted incentive will be of benefit to the state as a whole." [1998 c 313
§ 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 313: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 313 § 4.]
82.04.4461
82.04.4461 Credit—Preproduction development
spending. (Expires July 1, 2024.) (1)(a) In computing the
tax imposed under this chapter, a credit is allowed for each
person for preproduction development spending occurring
after December 1, 2003.
(b) Before July 1, 2005, any credits earned under this
section must be accrued and carried forward and may not be
used until July 1, 2005. These carryover credits may be used
at any time thereafter, and may be carried over until used.
Refunds may not be granted in the place of a credit.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
(2) The credit is equal to the amount of qualified preproduction development expenditures of a person, multiplied by
the rate of 1.5 percent.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section the credit shall be taken against taxes due for the same
calendar year in which the qualified preproduction development expenditures are incurred. Credit earned on or after
July 1, 2005, may not be carried over. The credit for each calendar year shall not exceed the amount of tax otherwise due
under this chapter for the calendar year. Refunds may not be
granted in the place of a credit.
(4) Any person claiming the credit shall file an affidavit
form prescribed by the department that shall include the
amount of the credit claimed, an estimate of the anticipated
preproduction development expenditures during the calendar
year for which the credit is claimed, an estimate of the taxable
amount during the calendar year for which the credit is
claimed, and such additional information as the department
may prescribe.
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Aeronautics" means the study of flight and the science of building and operating commercial aircraft.
(b) "Person" means a person as defined in RCW
82.04.030, who is a manufacturer or processor for hire of
commercial airplanes, or components of such airplanes, as
those terms are defined in RCW 82.32.550.
(c) "Preproduction development" means research,
design, and engineering activities performed in relation to the
development of a product, product line, model, or model
derivative, including prototype development, testing, and
certification. The term includes the discovery of technological information, the translating of technological information
into new or improved products, processes, techniques, formulas, or inventions, and the adaptation of existing products
and models into new products or new models, or derivatives
of products or models. The term does not include manufacturing activities or other production-oriented activities, however the term does include tool design and engineering design
for the manufacturing process. The term does not include
surveys and studies, social science and humanities research,
market research or testing, quality control, sale promotion
and service, computer software developed for internal use,
and research in areas such as improved style, taste, and seasonal design.
(d) "Preproduction development spending" means qualified preproduction development expenditures plus eighty
percent of amounts paid to a person other than a public educational or research institution to conduct qualified preproduction development.
(e) "Qualified preproduction development" means preproduction development performed within this state in the
field of aeronautics.
(f) "Qualified preproduction development expenditures"
means operating expenses, including wages, compensation of
a proprietor or a partner in a partnership as determined by the
department, benefits, supplies, and computer expenses,
directly incurred in qualified preproduction development by a
person claiming the credit provided in this section. The term
does not include amounts paid to a person other than a public
educational or research institution to conduct qualified pre(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4462
production development. The term does not include capital
costs and overhead, such as expenses for land, structures, or
depreciable property.
(g) "Taxable amount" means the taxable amount subject
to the tax imposed in this chapter required to be reported on
the person’s tax returns during the year in which the credit is
claimed, less any taxable amount for which a credit is
allowed under RCW 82.04.440.
(6) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person taking the credit under this section must report as
required under RCW 82.32.545.
(7) Credit may not be claimed for expenditures for which
a credit is claimed under RCW 82.04.4452.
(8) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 7.]
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: "The legislature finds that the people of
the state have benefited from the presence of the aerospace industry in Washington state. The aerospace industry provides good wages and benefits for
the thousands of engineers, mechanics, and support staff working directly in
the industry throughout the state. The suppliers and vendors that support the
aerospace industry in turn provide a range of jobs. The legislature declares
that it is in the public interest to encourage the continued presence of this
industry through the provision of tax incentives. The comprehensive tax
incentives in this act address the cost of doing business in Washington state
compared to locations in other states." [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 1.]
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
82.04.4462
82.04.4462 Credit—Investment in design and preproduction development computer software and hardware. (Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) In computing the tax
imposed under this chapter, a credit is allowed for the investment related to design and preproduction development computer software and hardware acquired between July 1, 1995,
and December 1, 2003, and used by an eligible person primarily for the digital design and development of commercial airplanes. The credit shall be equal to the purchase price of such
property, multiplied by 8.44 percent. Credit taken in any one
calendar year may not exceed ten million dollars, and total
lifetime credit taken under this section by any one person
may not exceed twenty million dollars. Credit may be carried
over until used.
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Commercial airplane" has the meaning given in
RCW 82.32.550.
(b) "Design and preproduction development computer
software and hardware" means computer-aided three-dimensional interactive applications and other solid modeling computer technology that allow for electronic design and testing
during product development.
(c) "Eligible person" means a person as defined in RCW
82.04.030, who is a manufacturer of commercial airplanes.
(3) An application must be made to the department
before taking the credit under this section. The application
shall be made to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The application shall contain
information regarding the uses of the computer software and
hardware, purchase price, dates of acquisition, and other
information required by the department. The department
shall rule on the application within sixty days. All applications must be received by the department within one year of
December 1, 2003.
[Title 82 RCW—page 57]
82.04.4463
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.04.4463
82.04.4463 Credit—Property taxes paid on property
used for manufacture of commercial airplanes. (Effective
until January 1, 2007.) (1) In computing the tax imposed
under this chapter, a credit is allowed for property taxes paid
during the calendar year.
(2) The credit is equal to:
(a)(i) Property taxes paid on new buildings, and land
upon which this property is located, built after December 1,
2003, and used exclusively in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes; or
(ii) Property taxes attributable to an increase in assessed
value due to the renovation or expansion, after December 1,
2003, of a building used exclusively in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes; and
(b) An amount equal to property taxes paid on machinery
and equipment exempt under RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 and acquired after December 1, 2003, multiplied
by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the total taxable amount subject to the tax imposed under *RCW
82.04.260(13) and the denominator of the fraction is the total
taxable amount subject to the tax imposed under all manufacturing classifications in chapter 82.04 RCW, required to be
reported on the person’s returns for the calendar year before
the calendar year in which the credit under this section is
earned. No credit is available under this subsection (2)(b) if
either the numerator or the denominator of the fraction is
zero. If the fraction is greater than or equal to nine-tenths,
then the fraction is rounded to one. For purposes of this subsection, "returns" means the combined excise tax returns for
the calendar year.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "commercial passenger airplane" and "component" have the meanings given in
RCW 82.32.550.
(4) A person taking the credit under this section is subject to all the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW. In addition, the person must report as required under RCW
82.32.545. A credit earned during one calendar year may be
carried over to be credited against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar year, but may not be carried over a second
year. No refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(5) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person taking the credit under this section must report as
required under RCW 82.32.545.
(6) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2005 c 514 § 501;
2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 15.]
82.04.4463 Credit—Property and leasehold taxes
paid on property used for manufacture of commercial
airplanes. (Effective January 1, 2007, until July 1, 2024.)
(1) In computing the tax imposed under this chapter, a credit
is allowed for property taxes and leasehold excise taxes paid
during the calendar year.
(2) The credit is equal to:
(a)(i)(A) Property taxes paid on new buildings, and land
upon which this property is located, built after December 1,
2003, and used exclusively in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes; and
(B) Leasehold excise taxes paid with respect to a building built after January 1, 2006, the land upon which the building is located, or both, if the building is used exclusively in
manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such
airplanes; or
(ii) Property taxes attributable to an increase in assessed
value due to the renovation or expansion, after December 1,
2003, of a building used exclusively in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes; and
(b) An amount equal to property taxes paid on machinery
and equipment exempt under RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 and acquired after December 1, 2003, multiplied
by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the total taxable amount subject to the tax imposed under RCW
82.04.260(11) and the denominator of the fraction is the total
taxable amount subject to the tax imposed under all manufacturing classifications in chapter 82.04 RCW, required to be
reported on the person’s returns for the calendar year before
the calendar year in which the credit under this section is
earned. No credit is available under this subsection (2)(b) if
either the numerator or the denominator of the fraction is
zero. If the fraction is greater than or equal to nine-tenths,
then the fraction is rounded to one. For purposes of this subsection, "returns" means the combined excise tax returns for
the calendar year.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "commercial passenger airplane" and "component" have the meanings given in
RCW 82.32.550.
(4) A person taking the credit under this section is subject to all the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW. In addition, the person must report as required under RCW
82.32.545. A credit earned during one calendar year may be
carried over to be credited against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar year, but may not be carried over a second
year. No refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(5) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person taking the credit under this section must report as
required under RCW 82.32.545.
(6) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2006 c 177 § 10;
2005 c 514 § 501; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 15.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.260 was amended by 2005 c 443 § 4,
changing subsection (13) to subsection (11), effective July 1, 2006.
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 10 and 11: "Sections 10 and 11 of this
act take effect January 1, 2007." [2006 c 177 § 13.]
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 501 and 1002: "Sections 501 and 1002
of this act take effect January 1, 2006." [2005 c 514 § 1305.]
Application—2006 c 177 § 10: "Section 10 of this act applies with
respect to leasehold excise taxes paid on or after January 1, 2007." [2006 c
177 § 11.]
(4) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 8.]
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.04.4463
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
[Title 82 RCW—page 58]
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 501 and 1002: "Sections 501 and 1002
of this act take effect January 1, 2006." [2005 c 514 § 1305.]
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.04.447
82.04.447 Credit—Natural or manufactured gas
purchased by direct service industrial customers—
Reports. (1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
the definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
(a) "Direct service industrial customer" means a person
who is an industrial customer that contracts for the purchase
of power from the Bonneville Power Administration for
direct consumption as of May 8, 2001. "Direct service industrial customer" includes a person who is a subsidiary that is
more than fifty percent owned by a direct service industrial
customer and who receives power from the Bonneville Power
Administration pursuant to the parent’s contract for power.
(b) "Facility" means a gas turbine electrical generation
facility that does not exist on May 8, 2001, and is owned by a
direct service industrial customer for the purpose of producing electricity to be consumed by the direct service industrial
customer.
(c) "Average annual employment" means the total
employment in this state for a calendar year at the direct service industrial customer’s location where electricity from the
facility will be consumed.
(2) Effective July 1, 2001, a credit is allowed against the
tax due under this chapter to a direct service industrial customer who purchases natural or manufactured gas from a gas
distribution business subject to the public utility tax under
chapter 82.16 RCW. The credit is equal to the value of natural or manufactured gas purchased from a gas distribution
business and used to generate electricity at the facility multiplied by the rate in effect for the public utility tax on gas distribution businesses under RCW 82.16.020. This credit may
be used each reporting period for sixty months following the
first month natural or manufactured gas was purchased from
a gas distribution business by a direct service industrial customer who constructs a facility.
(3) Application for credit shall be made by the direct service industrial consumer before the first purchase of natural
or manufactured gas. The application shall be in a form and
manner prescribed by the department and shall include but is
not limited to information regarding the location of the facility, the projected date of first purchase of natural or manufactured gas to generate electricity at the facility, the date construction is projected to begin or did begin, the applicant’s
average annual employment in the state for the six calendar
years immediately preceding the year in which the application is made, and affirm the applicant’s status as a direct service industrial customer. The department shall rule on the
application within thirty days of receipt.
(4) Credit under this section is limited to the amount of
tax imposed under this chapter. Refunds shall not be given in
place of credits and credits may not be carried over to subsequent calendar years.
(5) All or part of the credit shall be disallowed and must
be paid if the average of the direct service industrial customer’s average annual employment for the five calendar
years subsequent to the calendar year containing the first
month of purchase of natural or manufactured gas to generate
electricity at a facility is less than the six-year average annual
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.447
employment stated on the application for credit under this
section. The direct service industrial customer will certify to
the department by June 1st of the sixth calendar year following the calendar year in which the month of first purchase of
gas occurs the average annual employment for each of the
five prior calendar years. All or part of the credit that shall be
disallowed and must be paid is commensurate with the
decrease in the five-year average of average annual employment as follows:
Decrease in Average Annual
Employment Over
Five-Year Period
Less than 10%
10% or more but less than 25%
25% or more but less than 50%
50% or more but less than 75%
75% or more
% of Credit to be Paid
10%
25%
50%
75%
100%
(6)(a) The direct service industrial customer shall begin
paying the credit that is disallowed and is to be paid in the
sixth calendar year following the calendar year in which the
month following the month of first purchase of natural or
manufactured gas to generate electricity at the facility occurs.
The first payment will be due on or before December 31st
with subsequent annual payments due on or before December
31st of the following four years according to the following
schedule:
Payment Year
% of Credit to be Paid
1
2
3
4
5
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
(b) The department may authorize an accelerated payment schedule upon request of the taxpayer.
(c) Interest shall not be charged on the credit that is disallowed for the sixty-month period the credit may be taken,
although all other penalties and interest applicable to delinquent excise taxes may be assessed and imposed. The debt
for credit that is disallowed and must be paid will not be
extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the direct service industrial customer. Transfer of ownership of the facility
does not affect eligibility for this credit. However, the credit
is available to the successor only if the eligibility conditions
of this section are met.
(7) The employment security department shall make, and
certify to the department of revenue, all determinations of
employment under this section as requested by the department.
(8) A person claiming this credit shall supply to the
department quarterly reports containing information necessary to document the total volume of natural or manufactured
gas purchased in the quarter, the value of that total volume,
and the percentage of the total volume used to generate electricity at the facility. [2001 c 214 § 9.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 59]
82.04.448
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
(7) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 9.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.04.448
82.04.448 Credit—Manufacturing semiconductor
materials. (Contingent effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) Subject to the limits and provisions of this section, a credit is authorized against the tax otherwise due under
RCW 82.04.240(2) for persons engaged in the business of
manufacturing semiconductor materials. For the purposes of
this section "semiconductor materials" has the same meaning
as provided in RCW 82.04.240(2).
(2)(a) The credit under this section shall equal three
thousand dollars for each employment position used in manufacturing production that takes place in a new building
exempt from sales and use tax under RCW 82.08.965 and
82.12.965. A credit is earned for the calendar year a person
fills a position. Additionally a credit is earned for each year
the position is maintained over the subsequent consecutive
years, up to eight years. Those positions that are not filled for
the entire year are eligible for fifty percent of the credit if
filled less than six months, and the entire credit if filled more
than six months.
(b) To qualify for the credit, the manufacturing activity
of the person must be conducted at a new building that qualifies for the exemption from sales and use tax under RCW
82.08.965 and 82.12.965.
(c) In those situations where a production building in
existence on *the effective date of this section will be phased
out of operation, during which time employment at the new
building at the same site is increased, the person is eligible for
credit for employment at the existing building and new building, with the limitation that the combined eligible employment not exceed full employment at the new building. "Full
employment" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.965.
The credit may not be earned until the commencement of
commercial production, as that term is used in RCW
82.08.965.
(3) No application is necessary for the tax credit. The
person is subject to all of the requirements of chapter 82.32
RCW. In no case may a credit earned during one calendar
year be carried over to be credited against taxes incurred in a
subsequent calendar year. No refunds may be granted for
credits under this section.
(4) If at any time the department finds that a person is not
eligible for tax credit under this section, the amount of taxes
for which a credit has been claimed shall be immediately due.
The department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the
taxes for which the person is not eligible. The interest shall
be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes
under chapter 82.32 RCW, shall be retroactive to the date the
tax credit was taken, and shall accrue until the taxes for which
a credit has been used are repaid.
(5) A person taking the credit under this section must
report under RCW 82.32.535.
(6) Credits may be taken after twelve years after *the
effective date of this act, for those buildings at which commercial production began before twelve years after *the
effective date of this act, subject to all of the eligibility criteria and limitations of this section.
[Title 82 RCW—page 60]
82.04.4481
82.04.4481 Credit—Property taxes paid by aluminum smelter. (1) In computing the tax imposed under this
chapter, a credit is allowed for all property taxes paid during
the calendar year on property owned by a direct service
industrial customer and reasonably necessary for the purposes of an aluminum smelter.
(2) A person taking the credit under this section is subject to all the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW. A credit
earned during one calendar year may be carried over to be
credited against taxes incurred in the subsequent calendar
year, but may not be carried over a second year. Credits carried over must be applied to tax liability before new credits.
No refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(3) Credits may not be claimed under this section for
property taxes levied for collection in 2012 and thereafter.
[2006 c 182 § 2; 2004 c 24 § 8.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.04.4482
82.04.4482 Credit—Sales of electricity or gas to an
aluminum smelter. (1) A person who is subject to tax under
this chapter on gross income from sales of electricity, natural
gas, or manufactured gas made to an aluminum smelter is eligible for an exemption from the tax in the form of a credit, if
the contract for sale of electricity or gas to the aluminum
smelter specifies that the price charged for the electricity or
gas will be reduced by an amount equal to the credit.
(2) The credit is equal to the gross income from the sale
of the electricity or gas to an aluminum smelter multiplied by
the corresponding rate in effect at the time of the sale under
this chapter.
(3) The exemption provided for in this section does not
apply to amounts received from the remarketing or resale of
electricity originally obtained by contract for the smelting
process. [2004 c 24 § 9.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.04.4483
82.04.4483 Credit—Programming or manufacturing
software in rural counties. (Expires January 1, 2011.) (1)
Subject to the limits and provisions of this section, a credit is
authorized against the tax otherwise due under this chapter
for persons engaged in a rural county in the business of manufacturing computer software or programming, as those
terms are defined in this section.
(2) A person who partially or totally relocates a business
from one rural county to another rural county is eligible for
any new qualifying employment positions created as a result
of the relocation but is not eligible to receive credit for the
jobs moved from one county to the other.
(3)(a) To qualify for the credit, the qualifying activity of
the person must be conducted in a rural county and the new
qualified employment position must be located in the rural
county.
(b) If an activity is conducted both from a rural county
and outside of a rural county, the credit is available if at least
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
ninety percent of the qualifying activity is conducted within a
rural county. If the qualifying activity is a service taxable
activity, the place where the work is performed is the place at
which the activity is conducted.
(4)(a) The credit under this section shall equal one thousand dollars for each new qualified employment position created after January 1, 2004, in an eligible area. A credit is
earned for the calendar year the person is hired to fill the position. Additionally a credit is earned for each year the position
is maintained over the subsequent consecutive years, up to
four years. The county must meet the definition of a rural
county at the time the position is filled. If the county does not
have a rural county status the following year or years, the
position is still eligible for the remaining years if all other
conditions are met.
(b) Participants who claimed credit under *RCW
82.04.4456 for qualified employment positions created
before December 31, 2003, are eligible to earn credit for each
year the position is maintained over the subsequent consecutive years, for up to four years, which four years include any
years claimed under *RCW 82.04.4456. Those persons who
did not receive a credit under *RCW 82.04.4456 before
December 31, 2003, are not eligible to earn credit for qualified employment positions created before December 31,
2003.
(c) Credit is authorized for new employees hired for new
qualified employment positions created on or after January 1,
2004. New qualified employment positions filled by existing
employees are eligible for the credit under this section only if
the position vacated by the existing employee is filled by a
new hire. A business that is a sole proprietorship without any
employees is equivalent to one employee position and this
type of business is eligible to receive credit for one position.
(d) If a position is filled before July 1st, the position is
eligible for the full yearly credit for that calendar year. If it is
filled after June 30th, the position is eligible for half of the
credit for that calendar year.
(5) No application is necessary for the tax credit. The
person must keep records necessary for the department to
verify eligibility under this section. This information
includes information relating to description of qualifying
activity conducted in the rural county and outside the rural
county by the person as well as detailed records on positions
and employees.
(6) If at any time the department finds that a person is not
eligible for tax credit under this section, the amount of taxes
for which a credit has been claimed shall be immediately due.
The department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the
taxes for which the person is not eligible. The interest shall
be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes
under chapter 82.32 RCW, shall be assessed retroactively to
the date the tax credit was taken, and shall accrue until the
taxes for which a credit has been used are repaid.
(7) The credit under this section may be used against any
tax due under this chapter, but in no case may a credit earned
during one calendar year be carried over to be credited
against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar year. A person is not eligible to receive a credit under this section if the
person is receiving credit for the same position under chapter
82.62 RCW or RCW 82.04.44525 or is taking a credit under
this chapter for information technology help desk services
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4484
conducted from a rural county. No refunds may be granted
for credits under this section.
(8) Transfer of ownership does not affect credit eligibility. However, the successive credits are available to the successor for remaining periods in the five years only if the eligibility conditions of this section are met.
(9) A person taking tax credits under this section shall
make an annual report to the department. The report shall be
in a letter form and shall include the following information:
Number of positions for which credit is being claimed, type
of position for which credit is being claimed, type of activity
in which the person is engaged in the county, how long the
person has been located in the county, and taxpayer name and
registration number. The report must be filed by January
30th of each year for which credit was claimed during the
previous year. Failure to file a report will not result in the
loss of eligibility under this section. However, the department, through its research division, shall contact taxpayers
who have not filed the report and obtain the data from the taxpayer or assist the taxpayer in the filing of the report, so that
the data and information necessary to measure the program’s
effectiveness is maintained.
(10) As used in this section:
(a) "Computer software" has the meaning as defined in
RCW 82.04.215 after June 30, 2004, and includes "software"
as defined in RCW 82.04.215 before July 1, 2004.
(b) "Manufacturing" means the same as "to manufacture" under RCW 82.04.120. Manufacturing includes the
activities of both manufacturers and processors for hire.
(c) "Programming" means the activities that involve the
creation or modification of computer software, as that term is
defined in this chapter, and that are taxable as a service under
RCW 82.04.290(2) or as a retail sale under RCW 82.04.050.
(d) "Qualifying activity" means manufacturing of computer software or programming.
(e) "Qualified employment position" means a permanent
full-time position doing programming of computer software
or manufacturing of computer software. This excludes
administrative, professional, service, executive, and other
similar positions. If an employee is either voluntarily or
involuntarily separated from employment, the employment
position is considered filled on a full-time basis if the
employer is either training or actively recruiting a replacement employee. Full-time means a position for at least thirtyfive hours a week.
(f) "Rural county" means the same as in RCW 82.14.370.
(11) No credit may be taken or accrued under this section
on or after January 1, 2011.
(12) This section expires January 1, 2011. [2004 c 25 §
1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.4456 expired December 31, 2003.
Effective date—2004 c 25: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect April 1, 2004."
[2004 c 25 § 8.]
82.04.4484
82.04.4484 Credit—Information technology help
desk services in rural counties. (Expires January 1, 2011.)
(1) Subject to the limits and provisions of this section, a credit
is authorized against the tax otherwise due under this chapter
for persons engaged in a rural county in the business of pro[Title 82 RCW—page 61]
82.04.4485
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
viding information technology help desk services to third
parties.
(2) To qualify for the credit, the help desk services must
be conducted from a rural county.
(3) The amount of the tax credit for persons engaged in
the activity of providing information technology help desk
services in rural counties shall be equal to one hundred percent of the amount of tax due under this chapter that is attributable to providing the services from the rural county. In
order to qualify for the credit under this subsection, the
county must meet the definition of rural county at the time the
person begins to conduct qualifying business in the county.
(4) No application is necessary for the tax credit. The
person must keep records necessary for the department to
verify eligibility under this section. These records include
information relating to description of activity engaged in a
rural county by the person.
(5) If at any time the department finds that a person is not
eligible for tax credit under this section, the amount of taxes
for which a credit has been used is immediately due. The
department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the
credited taxes for which the person is not eligible. The interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise
taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, shall be assessed retroactively to the date the tax credit was taken, and shall accrue
until the taxes for which a credit has been used are repaid.
(6) The credit under this section may be used against any
tax due under this chapter, but in no case may a credit earned
during one calendar year be carried over to be credited
against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar year. No
refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(7) Transfer of ownership does not affect credit eligibility. However, the credit is available to the successor only if
the eligibility conditions of this section are met.
(8) A person taking tax credits under this section shall
make an annual report to the department. The report shall be
in a letter form and shall include the following information:
Type of activity in which the person is engaged in the county,
number of employees in the rural county, how long the person has been located in the county, and taxpayer name and
registration number. The report must be filed by January
30th of each year for which credit was claimed during the
previous year. Failure to file a report will not result in the
loss of eligibility under this section. However, the department, through its research division, shall contact taxpayers
who have not filed the report and obtain the data from the taxpayer or assist the taxpayer in the filing of the report, so that
the data and information necessary to measure the program’s
effectiveness is maintained.
(9) As used in this section:
(a) "Information technology help desk services" means
the following services performed using electronic and telephonic communication:
(i) Software and hardware maintenance;
(ii) Software and hardware diagnostics and troubleshooting;
(iii) Software and hardware installation;
(iv) Software and hardware repair;
(v) Software and hardware information and training; and
(vi) Software and hardware upgrade.
[Title 82 RCW—page 62]
(b) "Rural county" means the same as in RCW
82.14.370.
(10) This section expires January 1, 2011. [2004 c 25 §
2.]
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
82.04.4485
82.04.4485 Credit—Mechanical lifting devices purchased by hospitals. (1) In computing the tax imposed
under this chapter, a hospital may take a credit for the cost of
purchasing mechanical lifting devices and other equipment
that are primarily used to minimize patient handling by health
care providers, consistent with a safe patient handling program developed and implemented by the hospital in compliance with RCW 70.41.390. The credit is equal to one hundred percent of the cost of the mechanical lifting devices or
other equipment.
(2) No application is necessary for the credit, however, a
hospital taking a credit under this section must maintain
records, as required by the department, necessary to verify
eligibility for the credit under this section. The hospital is
subject to all of the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW. A
credit earned during one calendar year may be carried over to
be credited against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar
year. No refunds shall be granted for credits under this section.
(3) The maximum credit that may be earned under this
section for each hospital is limited to one thousand dollars for
each acute care available inpatient bed.
(4) Credits are available on a first in-time basis. The
department shall disallow any credits, or portion thereof, that
would cause the total amount of credits claimed statewide
under this section to exceed ten million dollars. If the ten
million dollar limitation is reached, the department shall
notify hospitals that the annual statewide limit has been met.
In addition, the department shall provide written notice to any
hospital that has claimed tax credits after the ten million dollar limitation in this subsection has been met. The notice
shall indicate the amount of tax due and shall provide that the
tax be paid within thirty days from the date of such notice.
The department shall not assess penalties and interest as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW on the amount due in the initial
notice if the amount due is paid by the due date specified in
the notice, or any extension thereof.
(5) Credit may not be claimed under this section for the
acquisition of mechanical lifting devices and other equipment
if the acquisition occurred before June 7, 2006.
(6) Credit may not be claimed under this section for any
acquisition of mechanical lifting devices and other equipment
that occurs after December 30, 2010.
(7) The department shall issue an annual report on the
amount of credits claimed by hospitals under this section,
with the first report due on July 1, 2008.
(8) For the purposes of this section, "hospital" has the
meaning provided in RCW 70.41.020. [2006 c 165 § 5.]
Findings—2006 c 165: See note following RCW 70.41.390.
82.04.4486
82.04.4486 Credit—Syrup taxes paid by buyer. (1)
In computing the tax imposed under this chapter, a credit is
allowed to a buyer of syrup to be used by the buyer in making
carbonated beverages that are sold by the buyer if the tax
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.4489
imposed by RCW 82.64.020 has been paid in respect to the
syrup. The amount of the credit shall be equal to twenty-five
percent from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, fifty percent from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, seventy-five
percent from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and one
hundred percent after June 30, 2009, of the taxes imposed
under RCW 82.64.020 in respect to the syrup purchased by
the buyer.
(2) Credit under this section shall be earned, and claimed
against taxes due under this chapter, for the tax reporting
period in which the syrup was purchased by the person claiming credit under this section. The credit shall not exceed the
tax otherwise due under this chapter for the tax reporting
period. Unused credit may be carried over and used in subsequent tax reporting periods, except that no credit may be
claimed more than twelve months from the end of the tax
reporting period in which the credit was earned. No refunds
shall be granted for credits under this section.
(3) No credit is available under this section for taxes paid
under RCW 82.64.020 before July 1, 2006.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "carbonated beverage," "previously taxed syrup," and "syrup" have the same
meanings as provided in RCW 82.64.010. [2006 c 245 § 1.]
turing activities or other production-oriented activities. The
term does not include surveys and studies, social science and
humanities research, market research or testing, quality control, sale promotion and service, computer software developed for internal use, and research in areas such as improved
style, taste, and seasonal design.
(c) "Qualified preproduction development" means preproduction development performed within this state in the
field of aeronautics.
(d) "Qualified preproduction development expenditures"
means operating expenses, including wages, compensation of
a proprietor or a partner in a partnership as determined by the
department, benefits, supplies, and computer expenses,
directly incurred in qualified preproduction development by a
person claiming the credit provided in this section. The term
does not include amounts paid to a person other than a public
educational or research institution to conduct qualified preproduction development. The term does not include capital
costs and overhead, such as expenses for land, structures, or
depreciable property.
(6) Credit may not be claimed for expenditures for which
a credit is claimed under RCW 82.04.4452 or 82.04.4461.
(7) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2006 c 177 § 3.]
Effective date—2006 c 245: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 245 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
Annual survey: RCW 82.32.635.
82.04.4487
82.04.4487 Credit—Commercial aircraft—Qualified
preproduction development expenditures. (Expires July
1, 2024.) (1) In computing the tax imposed under this chapter, a credit is allowed for each person for qualified preproduction development expenditures occurring after July 1,
2006.
(2) The credit is equal to the amount of qualified preproduction development expenditures of a person, multiplied by
the rate of 1.5 percent.
(3) The credit shall be taken against taxes due for the
same calendar year in which the qualified preproduction
development expenditures are incurred. Credits may not be
carried over. The credit for each calendar year may not
exceed the amount of tax otherwise due under this chapter for
the calendar year. Refunds may not be granted in the place of
a credit.
(4) Any person entitled to the credit in this section as a
result of qualified preproduction development conducted
under contract may assign all or any portion of the credit to
the person contracting for the performance of the qualified
preproduction development.
(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Aeronautics" means the study of flight and the science of building and operating commercial aircraft.
(b) "Preproduction development" means research,
design, and engineering activities performed in relation to the
development of a product, product line, model, or model
derivative, including prototype development, testing, and
certification. The term includes the discovery of technological information, the translating of technological information
into new or improved products, processes, techniques, formulas, or inventions, and the adaptation of existing products
and models into new products or new models, or derivatives
of products or models. The term does not include manufac(2006 Ed.)
82.04.4489 Credit—Motion picture competitiveness
program. (1) Subject to the limitations in this section, a
credit is allowed against the tax imposed under this chapter
for contributions made by a person to a Washington motion
picture competitiveness program.
(2) The person must make the contribution before claiming a credit authorized under this section. Credits earned
under this section may be claimed against taxes due for the
calendar year in which the contribution is made. The amount
of credit claimed for a reporting period shall not exceed the
tax otherwise due under this chapter for that reporting period.
No person may claim more than one million dollars of credit
in any calendar year, including credit carried over from a previous calendar year. No refunds may be granted for any
unused credits.
(3) The maximum credit that may be earned for each calendar year under this section for a person is limited to the
lesser of:
(a) One million dollars; or
(b)(i) Through calendar year 2008, an amount equal to
one hundred percent of the contributions made by the person
to a program during the calendar year; and
(ii) For calendar years after 2008, an amount equal to
ninety percent of the contributions made by the person to a
program during the calendar year.
(4) Except as provided under subsection (5) of this section, a tax credit claimed under this section may not be carried over to another year.
(5) Any amount of tax credit otherwise allowable under
this section not claimed by the person in any calendar year
may be carried over and claimed against the person’s tax liability for the next succeeding calendar year. Any credit
remaining unused in the next succeeding calendar year may
be carried forward and claimed against the person’s tax liabil82.04.4489
[Title 82 RCW—page 63]
82.04.449
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ity for the second succeeding calendar year; and any credit
not used in that second succeeding calendar year may be carried over and claimed against the person’s tax liability for the
third succeeding calendar year, but may not be carried over
for any calendar year thereafter.
(6) Credits are available on a first in-time basis. The
department shall disallow any credits, or portion thereof, that
would cause the total amount of credits claimed under this
section during any calendar year to exceed three million five
hundred thousand dollars. If this limitation is reached, the
department shall notify all Washington motion picture competitiveness programs that the annual statewide limit has
been met. In addition, the department shall provide written
notice to any person who has claimed tax credits in excess of
the three million five hundred thousand dollar limitation in
this subsection. The notice shall indicate the amount of tax
due and shall provide that the tax be paid within thirty days
from the date of such notice. The department shall not assess
penalties and interest as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW on
the amount due in the initial notice if the amount due is paid
by the due date specified in the notice, or any extension
thereof.
(7) To claim a credit under this section, a person must
electronically file with the department all returns, forms, and
any other information required by the department, in an electronic format as provided or approved by the department.
Any return, form, or information required to be filed in an
electronic format under this section is not filed until received
by the department in an electronic format. As used in this
subsection, "returns" has the same meaning as "return" in
RCW 82.32.050.
(8) No application is necessary for the tax credit. The
person must keep records necessary for the department to
verify eligibility under this section.
(9) A Washington motion picture competitiveness program shall provide to the department, upon request, such
information needed to verify eligibility for credit under this
section, including information regarding contributions
received by the program.
(10) The department shall not allow any credit under this
section before July 1, 2006.
(11) For the purposes of this section, "Washington
motion picture competitiveness program" or "program"
means an organization established pursuant to chapter 43.365
RCW.
(12) No credit may be earned for contributions made on
or after July 1, 2011. [2006 c 247 § 5.]
82.04.449
82.04.449 Credit—Washington customized employment training program. In computing the tax imposed
under this chapter, a credit is allowed for participants in the
Washington customized employment training program created in RCW 28B.67.020. The credit allowed under this section is equal to fifty percent of the value of a participant’s
payments to the employment training finance account created
in RCW 28B.67.030. If a participant in the program does not
meet the qualifications in RCW 28B.67.020(2)(b)(ii), the
participant must remit to the department the value of any
credits taken plus interest. The credit earned by a participant
in one calendar year may be carried over to be credited
against taxes incurred in a subsequent calendar year. No
[Title 82 RCW—page 64]
credit may be allowed for repayment of training allowances
received from the Washington customized employment training program on or after July 1, 2016. [2006 c 112 § 5.]
Severability—2006 c 112: See RCW 28B.67.901.
82.04.450
82.04.450 Value of products, how determined. (1)
The value of products, including byproducts, extracted or
manufactured shall be determined by the gross proceeds
derived from the sale thereof whether such sale is at wholesale or at retail, to which shall be added all subsidies and
bonuses received from the purchaser or from any other person with respect to the extraction, manufacture, or sale of
such products or byproducts by the seller, except:
(a) Where such products, including byproducts, are
extracted or manufactured for commercial or industrial use;
(b) Where such products, including byproducts, are
shipped, transported or transferred out of the state, or to
another person, without prior sale or are sold under circumstances such that the gross proceeds from the sale are not
indicative of the true value of the subject matter of the sale.
(2) In the above cases the value shall correspond as
nearly as possible to the gross proceeds from sales in this
state of similar products of like quality and character, and in
similar quantities by other taxpayers, plus the amount of subsidies or bonuses ordinarily payable by the purchaser or by
any third person with respect to the extraction, manufacture,
or sale of such products: PROVIDED, That the value of a
product manufactured or produced for purposes of serving as
a prototype for the development of a new or improved product shall correspond: (a) To the retail selling price of such
new or improved product when first offered for sale; or (b) to
the value of materials incorporated into the prototype in cases
in which the new or improved product is not offered for sale.
The department of revenue shall prescribe uniform and equitable rules for the purpose of ascertaining such values. [1983
1st ex.s. c 55 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 42; 1961 c 15 §
82.04.450. Prior: 1949 c 228 § 3; 1941 c 178 § 4; 1935 c 180
§ 7; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-7.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.04.460 Business within and without state—
Apportionment. (1) Any person rendering services taxable
under RCW 82.04.290 or 82.04.2908 and maintaining places
of business both within and without this state which contribute to the rendition of such services shall, for the purpose of
computing tax liability under RCW 82.04.290 or 82.04.2908,
apportion to this state that portion of the person’s gross
income which is derived from services rendered within this
state. Where such apportionment cannot be accurately made
by separate accounting methods, the taxpayer shall apportion
to this state that proportion of the taxpayer’s total income
which the cost of doing business within the state bears to the
total cost of doing business both within and without the state.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of
this section, persons doing business both within and without
the state who receive gross income from service charges, as
defined in RCW 63.14.010 (relating to amounts charged for
granting the right or privilege to make deferred or installment
82.04.460
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
payments) or who receive gross income from engaging in
business as financial institutions within the scope of chapter
82.14A RCW (relating to city taxes on financial institutions)
shall apportion or allocate gross income taxable under RCW
82.04.290 to this state pursuant to rules promulgated by the
department consistent with uniform rules for apportionment
or allocation developed by the states.
(3) The department shall by rule provide a method or
methods of apportioning or allocating gross income derived
from sales of telephone services taxed under this chapter, if
the gross proceeds of sales subject to tax under this chapter
do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s income
attributable to this state. The rules shall be, so far as feasible,
consistent with the methods of apportionment contained in
this section and shall require the consideration of those facts,
circumstances, and apportionment factors as will result in an
equitable and constitutionally permissible division of the services. [2004 c 174 § 6; 1985 c 7 § 154; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 §
28; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.460. Prior:
1941 c 178 § 5; 1939 c 225 § 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-8a.]
Effective date—2004 c 174: See note following RCW 82.04.2908.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
82.04.500
classification that may present a blanket resale certificate as
provided by the department by rule;
(e) The date on which the certificate was provided;
(f) A statement that the items or services purchased
either: (i) Are purchased for resale in the regular course of
business; or (ii) are exempt from tax pursuant to statute;
(g) A statement that the buyer acknowledges that the
buyer is solely responsible for purchasing within the categories specified on the certificate and that misuse of the resale
or exemption privilege claimed on the certificate subjects the
buyer to a penalty of fifty percent of the tax due, in addition
to the tax, interest, and any other penalties imposed by law;
(h) The name of the individual authorized to sign the certificate, printed in a legible fashion;
(i) The signature of the authorized individual; and
(j) The name of the seller.
(6) Subsection (5)(h), (i), and (j) of this section does not
apply if the certificate is provided in a format other than
paper. If the certificate is provided in a format other than
paper, the name of the individual providing the certificate
must be included in the certificate. [2003 c 168 § 204; 1993
sp.s. c 25 § 701; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 29; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278
§ 43; 1961 c 15 § 82.04.470. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 9; RRS §
8370-9.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.04.470
82.04.470 Resale certificate—Burden of proof—Tax
liability—Rules—Resale certificate defined. (1) Unless a
seller has taken from the buyer a resale certificate, the burden
of proving that a sale of tangible personal property, or of services, was not a sale at retail shall be upon the person who
made it.
(2) If a seller does not receive a resale certificate at the
time of the sale, have a resale certificate on file at the time of
the sale, or obtain a resale certificate from the buyer within a
reasonable time after the sale, the seller shall remain liable
for the tax as provided in RCW 82.08.050, unless the seller
can demonstrate facts and circumstances according to rules
adopted by the department of revenue that show the sale was
properly made without payment of sales tax.
(3) Resale certificates shall be valid for a period of four
years from the date the certificate is provided to the seller.
(4) The department may provide by rule for suggested
forms for resale certificates or equivalent documents containing the information that will be accepted as resale certificates.
The department shall provide by rule the categories of items
or services that must be specified on resale certificates and
the business classifications that may use a blanket resale certificate.
(5) As used in this section, "resale certificate" means
documentation provided by a buyer to a seller stating that the
purchase is for resale in the regular course of business, or that
the buyer is exempt from retail sales tax, and containing the
following information:
(a) The name and address of the buyer;
(b) The uniform business identifier or revenue registration number of the buyer, if the buyer is required to be registered;
(c) The type of business engaged in;
(d) The categories of items or services to be purchased
for resale or that are exempt, unless the buyer is in a business
(2006 Ed.)
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Resale certificates: RCW 82.08.130 and 82.32.291.
82.04.480
82.04.480 Sales in own name—Sales as agent. Every
consignee, bailee, factor, or auctioneer having either actual or
constructive possession of tangible personal property, or having possession of the documents of title thereto, with power
to sell such tangible personal property in his or its own name
and actually so selling, shall be deemed the seller of such tangible personal property within the meaning of this chapter;
and further, the consignor, bailor, principal, or owner shall be
deemed a seller of such property to the consignee, bailee, factor, or auctioneer.
The burden shall be upon the taxpayer in every case to
establish the fact that he is not engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property but is acting merely as broker
or agent in promoting sales for a principal. Such claim will be
allowed only when the taxpayer’s accounting records are
kept in such manner as the department of revenue shall by
general regulation provide. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 44; 1961
c 15 § 82.04.480. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 10; RRS § 8370-10.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.04.500
82.04.500 Tax part of operating overhead. It is not
the intention of this chapter that the taxes herein levied upon
persons engaging in business be construed as taxes upon the
purchasers or customers, but that such taxes shall be levied
upon, and collectible from, the person engaging in the business activities herein designated and that such taxes shall
[Title 82 RCW—page 65]
82.04.510
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
constitute a part of the operating overhead of such persons.
[1961 c 15 § 82.04.500. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 14; RRS § 837014.]
82.04.510
82.04.510 General administrative provisions
invoked. All of the provisions contained in chapter 82.32
RCW shall have full force and application with respect to
taxes imposed under the provisions of this chapter. Taxpayers
submitting monthly estimates of taxes due under this chapter
shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW if
they fail to remit ninety percent of the taxes actually collected
or due for the reporting period. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.510. Prior:
1959 c 197 § 28; 1935 c 180 § 15; RRS § 8370-15.]
82.04.520
82.04.520 Administrative provisions for motor vehicle sales by courtesy dealers. (1) In the payment of the tax
imposed by this chapter on new motor vehicles sold to Washington customers that are delivered to the customer through
courtesy dealers located in this state, the courtesy dealer is
deemed to be the agent for the selling dealer in reporting and
paying the tax imposed by this chapter, unless the selling
dealer is already registered and reporting and remitting taxes
under this chapter. It is the duty of each courtesy dealer to pay
the tax imposed by this chapter to the department when the
courtesy dealer files its tax return. Each courtesy dealer who
acts as the agent for the selling dealer in reporting, paying,
and remitting the tax imposed by this chapter must at the time
of paying and remitting its own taxes imposed by this chapter
pay the tax due on the transaction under this section.
(2) The tax paid by the courtesy dealer on behalf of the
selling dealer shall constitute a debt from the selling dealer to
the courtesy dealer, and the courtesy dealer is authorized to
withhold payment to the selling dealer out of the proceeds of
the sale an amount equal to the tax imposed by this chapter.
Amounts withheld by the courtesy dealer are deemed to be
held in trust by the courtesy dealer until paid to the department, and any courtesy dealer who appropriates or converts
the amount withheld to the courtesy dealer’s own use or to
any use other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the
money withheld is not available for payment on the due date
is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(3) This section is construed as cumulative of other
methods prescribed in chapters 82.04 through 82.32 RCW,
inclusive, for the collection of the tax imposed by this chapter.
(4) As used in this section, "courtesy dealer" means any
licensed new motor vehicle dealer authorized to prepare or
deliver a new motor vehicle to a customer in this state. "Selling dealer" means a motor vehicle dealer not licensed to prepare or deliver a new motor vehicle to a customer in this state.
[2001 c 258 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 258: See note following RCW 82.04.422.
82.04.530
82.04.530 Gross proceeds of sales calculation for telephone business. (Contingent expiration date.) For purposes of this chapter, a telephone business other than a
mobile telecommunications service provider must calculate
gross proceeds of retail sales in a manner consistent with the
sourcing rules provided in RCW 82.32.520. The department
may adopt rules to implement this section, including rules
[Title 82 RCW—page 66]
that provide a formulary method of determining gross proceeds that reasonably approximates the taxable activity of a
telephone business. [2004 c 153 § 410; 2002 c 67 § 3.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Finding—2002 c 67: "The legislature finds that the United States congress has enacted the mobile telecommunications sourcing act for the purpose of establishing uniform nationwide sourcing rules for state and local
taxation of mobile telecommunications services. The legislature desires to
adopt implementing legislation governing taxation by the state and by
affected local taxing jurisdictions within the state. The legislature recognizes that the federal act is intended to provide a clarification of sourcing
rules that is revenue-neutral among the states, and that the clarifications
required by the federal act are likely in fact to be revenue-neutral at the state
level. The legislature also desires to take advantage of a provision of the federal act that allows a state with a generally applicable business and occupation tax, such as this state, to make certain of the uniform sourcing rules elective for such tax." [2002 c 67 § 1.]
Contingency—Court judgment—2002 c 67: "(1) If a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final judgment on the merits that is based on federal
or state law, is no longer subject to appeal, and substantially limits or impairs
the essential elements of P.L. 106-252, 4 U.S.C. Secs. 116 through 126, or
chapter 67, Laws of 2002, then chapter 67, Laws of 2002 is null and void in
its entirety.
(2) If the contingency in subsection (1) of this section occurs, section
502, chapter 168, Laws of 2003 is null and void.
(3) If the contingency in subsection (1) of this section occurs, section
410, chapter 153, Laws of 2004 is null and void.
(4) If the contingency in subsection (1) of this section occurs, section
111, chapter 514, Laws of 2005 is null and void." [2005 c 514 § 113; 2004
c 153 § 502; 2003 c 168 § 902; 2002 c 67 § 18.]
Effective date—2002 c 67: "This act takes effect August 1, 2002."
[2002 c 67 § 19.]
82.04.535
82.04.535 Gross proceeds of sales calculation for
mobile telecommunications service provider. (Contingent
expiration date.) (1) Unless a mobile telecommunications
service provider elects to be taxed under subsection (2) of this
section, the mobile telecommunications service provider
must calculate gross proceeds of sales by reporting all sales
to, or sales between carriers for, customers with a place of
primary use within this state, regardless of where the mobile
telecommunications services originate, are received, or are
billed, consistent with the mobile telecommunications sourcing act, P.L. 106-252, 4 U.S.C. Secs. 116 through 126.
(2) A mobile telecommunications service provider may
elect to calculate gross proceeds of sales by including all
charges for mobile telecommunications services provided to
all consumers, whether the consumers are the mobile telecommunications service provider’s customers or not, if the
services originate from or are received on telecommunications equipment or apparatus in this state and are billed to a
person in this state.
(3) If a mobile telecommunications service provider
elects to be taxed under subsection (2) of this section, the
mobile telecommunications service provider must provide
written notice of the election before August 1, 2002, or before
the beginning date of any tax year thereafter in which it
wishes to change its reporting and make this election.
(4) The department may provide, by rule, for formulary
reporting as necessary to implement this section. [2002 c 67
§ 4.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
(2006 Ed.)
Business and Occupation Tax
82.04.540
82.04.540 Professional employer organizations—
Taxable under RCW 82.04.290(2)—Deduction. (1) The
provision of professional employer services by a professional
employer organization is taxable under RCW 82.04.290(2).
(2) A professional employer organization is allowed a
deduction from the gross income of the business derived
from performing professional employer services that is equal
to the portion of the fee charged to a client that represents the
actual cost of wages and salaries, benefits, workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, withholding, or other assessments paid
to or on behalf of a covered employee by the professional
employer organization under a professional employer agreement.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Client" means any person who enters into a professional employer agreement with a professional employer
organization. For purposes of this subsection (3)(a), "person"
has the same meaning as "buyer" in RCW 82.08.010.
(b) "Coemployer" means either a professional employer
organization or a client.
(c) "Coemployment relationship" means a relationship
which is intended to be an ongoing relationship rather than a
temporary or project-specific one, wherein the rights, duties,
and obligations of an employer which arise out of an employment relationship have been allocated between coemployers
pursuant to a professional employer agreement and applicable state law. In such a coemployment relationship:
(i) The professional employer organization is entitled to
enforce only such employer rights and is subject to only those
obligations specifically allocated to the professional
employer organization by the professional employer agreement or applicable state law;
(ii) The client is entitled to enforce those rights and obligated to provide and perform those employer obligations
allocated to such client by the professional employer agreement and applicable state law; and
(iii) The client is entitled to enforce any right and obligated to perform any obligation of an employer not specifically allocated to the professional employer organization by
the professional employer agreement or applicable state law.
(d) "Covered employee" means an individual having a
coemployment relationship with a professional employer
organization and a client who meets all of the following criteria: (i) The individual has received written notice of coemployment with the professional employer organization, and
(ii) the individual’s coemployment relationship is pursuant to
a professional employer agreement. Individuals who are
officers, directors, shareholders, partners, and managers of
the client are covered employees to the extent the professional employer organization and the client have expressly
agreed in the professional employer agreement that such individuals would be covered employees and provided such individuals meet the criteria of this subsection and act as operational managers or perform day-to-day operational services
for the client.
(e) "Professional employer agreement" means a written
contract by and between a client and a professional employer
organization that provides:
(i) For the coemployment of covered employees; and
(2006 Ed.)
82.04.900
(ii) For the allocation of employer rights and obligations
between the client and the professional employer organization with respect to the covered employees.
(f) "Professional employer organization" means any person engaged in the business of providing professional
employer services. The following shall not be deemed to be
professional employer organizations or the providing of professional employer services for purposes of this section:
(i) Arrangements wherein a person, whose principal
business activity is not entering into professional employer
arrangements and which does not hold itself out as a professional employer organization, shares employees with a commonly owned company within the meaning of section 414(b)
and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(ii) Independent contractor arrangements by which a person assumes responsibility for the product produced or service performed by such person or his or her agents and retains
and exercises primary direction and control over the work
performed by the individuals whose services are supplied
under such arrangements; or
(iii) Providing staffing services.
(g) "Professional employer services" means the service
of entering into a coemployment relationship with a client in
which all or a majority of the employees providing services to
a client or to a division or work unit of a client are covered
employees.
(h) "Staffing services" means services consisting of a
person:
(i) Recruiting and hiring its own employees;
(ii) Finding other organizations that need the services of
those employees;
(iii) Assigning those employees on a temporary basis to
perform work at or services for the other organizations to
support or supplement the other organizations’ work forces,
or to provide assistance in special work situations such as, but
not limited to, employee absences, skill shortages, seasonal
workloads, or to perform special assignments or projects, all
under the direction and supervision of the customer; and
(iv) Customarily attempting to reassign the employees to
other organizations when they finish each assignment. [2006
c 301 § 1.]
Effective date—Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51
RCW—2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
82.04.600 Exemptions—Materials printed in county,
city, town, school district, educational service district,
library or library district. This chapter does not apply to
any county as defined in Title 36 RCW, any city or town as
defined in Title 35 RCW, any school district or educational
service district as defined in Title 28A RCW, or any library or
library district as defined in Title 27 RCW, in respect to materials printed in the county, city, town, school district, educational district, library or library district facilities when the
materials are used solely for county, city, town, school district, educational district, library, or library district purposes.
[1979 ex.s. c 266 § 8.]
82.04.600
82.04.900 Construction—1961 c 15. RCW 82.04.440
shall have retrospective effect to August 1, 1950, as well as
have prospective effect. [1961 c 15 § 82.04.900. Prior: 1951
1st ex.s. c 9 § 15.]
82.04.900
[Title 82 RCW—page 67]
Chapter 82.08
Chapter 82.08
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Chapter 82.08 RCW
RETAIL SALES TAX
82.08.0272
82.08.0273
Sections
82.08.010
82.08.011
82.08.020
82.08.0201
82.08.0202
82.08.0251
82.08.0252
82.08.02525
82.08.0253
82.08.02535
82.08.02537
82.08.0254
82.08.0255
82.08.0256
82.08.02565
82.08.02566
82.08.02567
82.08.02568
82.08.02569
82.08.0257
82.08.02573
82.08.0258
82.08.0259
82.08.026
82.08.0261
82.08.0262
82.08.0263
82.08.0264
82.08.0265
82.08.0266
82.08.02665
82.08.0267
82.08.0268
82.08.0269
82.08.0271
Definitions.
Retail car rental—Definition.
Tax imposed—Retail sales—Retail car rental.
Rental cars—Estimate of tax revenue.
Retail sales of linen and uniform supply services.
Exemptions—Casual and isolated sales.
Exemptions—Sales by persons taxable under chapter 82.16
RCW.
Exemptions—Sale of copied public records by state and local
agencies.
Exemptions—Sale and distribution of newspapers.
Exemptions—Sales and distribution of magazines or periodicals by subscription for fund-raising.
Exemptions—Sales of academic transcripts.
Exemptions—Nontaxable sales.
Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicle and special fuel—Conditions—Credit or refund of special fuel used outside this
state in interstate commerce.
Exemptions—Sale of the operating property of a public utility to the state or a political subdivision.
Exemptions—Sales of machinery and equipment for manufacturing, research and development, or a testing operation—Labor and services for installation—Exemption certificate—Rules.
Exemptions—Sales of tangible personal property incorporated in prototype for parts, auxiliary equipment, and aircraft modification—Limitations on yearly exemption.
Exemptions—Sales related to machinery and equipment used
in generating electricity.
Exemptions—Sales of carbon and similar substances that
become an ingredient or component of anodes or cathodes
used in producing aluminum for sale.
Exemptions—Sales of tangible personal property related to a
building or structure that is an integral part of a laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory.
Exemptions—Auction sales of tangible personal property
used in farming.
Exemptions—Sales by a nonprofit organization for fundraising activities.
Exemptions—Sales to federal corporations providing aid and
relief.
Exemptions—Sales of livestock.
Exemptions—Sales of natural or manufactured gas.
Exemptions—Sales of personal property for use connected
with private or common carriers in interstate or foreign
commerce.
Exemptions—Sales of airplanes, locomotives, railroad cars,
or watercraft for use in interstate or foreign commerce or
outside the territorial waters of the state or airplanes sold
to United States government—Components thereof and of
motor vehicles or trailers used for constructing, repairing,
cleaning, etc.—Labor and services for constructing,
repairing, cleaning, etc.
Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicles and trailers for use in
transporting persons or property in interstate or foreign
commerce.
Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicles, trailers, or campers to
nonresidents for use outside the state.
Exemptions—Sales to nonresidents of tangible personal
property which becomes a component of property of the
nonresident by installing, repairing, etc.—Labor and services for installing, repairing, etc.
Exemptions—Sales of watercraft to nonresidents for use outside the state.
Exemptions—Sales of watercraft, vessels to residents of foreign countries.
Exemptions—Sales of poultry for producing poultry and
poultry products for sale.
Exemptions—Sales of machinery and implements, and
related parts and labor, for farming to nonresidents for use
outside the state.
Exemptions—Sales for use in states, territories, and possessions of the United States which are not contiguous to any
other state.
Exemptions—Sales to municipal corporations, the state, and
political subdivisions of tangible personal property, labor
and services on watershed protection and flood prevention
contracts.
[Title 82 RCW—page 68]
82.08.0274
82.08.02745
82.08.0275
82.08.0277
82.08.0278
82.08.0279
82.08.02795
82.08.02805
82.08.02806
82.08.02807
82.08.0281
82.08.0282
82.08.0283
82.08.0285
82.08.0287
82.08.02875
82.08.0288
82.08.0289
82.08.0291
82.08.02915
82.08.02917
82.08.0293
82.08.0294
82.08.0296
82.08.0297
82.08.0298
82.08.0299
82.08.031
82.08.0311
82.08.0315
82.08.0316
82.08.032
82.08.033
82.08.034
82.08.035
82.08.036
82.08.037
82.08.040
82.08.050
82.08.054
82.08.055
82.08.060
82.08.064
82.08.066
82.08.080
82.08.090
Exemptions—Sales of semen for artificial insemination of
livestock.
Exemptions—Sales to nonresidents of tangible personal
property for use outside the state—Proof of nonresident
status—Penalties.
Exemptions—Sales of form lumber to person engaged in
constructing, repairing, etc., structures for consumers.
Exemptions—Charges for labor and services or sales of tangible personal property related to agricultural employee
housing—Exemption certificate—Rules.
Exemptions—Sales of and labor and service charges for mining, sorting, crushing, etc., of sand, gravel, and rock from
county or city quarry for public road purposes.
Exemptions—Sales of pollen.
Exemptions—Sales between political subdivisions resulting
from annexation or incorporation.
Exemptions—Renting or leasing of motor vehicles and trailers to a nonresident for use in the transportation of persons
or property across state boundaries.
Exemptions—Sales to free hospitals.
Exemptions—Sales to qualifying blood, tissue, or blood and
tissue banks.
Exemptions—Sales of human blood, tissue, organs, bodies,
or body parts for medical research and quality control testing.
Exemptions—Sales to organ procurement organization.
Exemptions—Sales of prescription drugs.
Exemptions—Sales of returnable containers for beverages
and foods.
Exemptions—Certain medical items.
Exemptions—Sales of ferry vessels to the state or local governmental units—Components thereof—Labor and service charges.
Exemptions—Sales of passenger motor vehicles as ride-sharing vehicles.
Exemptions—Vehicle parking charges subject to tax at stadium and exhibition center.
Exemptions—Lease of certain irrigation equipment.
Exemptions—Certain network telephone service.
Exemptions—Sales of amusement and recreation services or
personal services by nonprofit youth organization—Local
government physical fitness classes.
Exemptions—Sales used by health or social welfare organizations for alternative housing for youth in crisis.
Youth in crisis—Definition—Limited purpose.
Exemptions—Sales of food and food ingredients.
Exemptions—Sales of feed for cultivating or raising fish for
sale.
Exemptions—Sales of feed consumed by livestock at a public livestock market.
Exemptions—Sales of food purchased with food stamps.
Exemptions—Sales of diesel fuel for use in operating watercraft in commercial deep sea fishing or commercial passenger fishing boat operations outside the state.
Exemptions—Emergency lodging for homeless persons—
Conditions.
Exemptions—Sales to artistic or cultural organizations of
certain objects acquired for exhibition or presentation.
Exemptions—Sales of materials and supplies used in packing
horticultural products.
Exemptions—Rentals or sales related to motion picture or
video productions—Exceptions—Certificate.
Exemptions—Sales of cigarettes by Indian retailers.
Exemption—Sales, rental, or lease of used park model trailers.
Exemptions—Sales of used mobile homes or rental or lease
of mobile homes.
Exemptions—Sales of used floating homes or rental or lease
of used floating homes.
Exemption for pollution control facilities.
Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—
Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core deposits or credits"
defined.
Credits and refunds for bad debts.
Consignee, factor, bailee, auctioneer deemed seller.
Buyer to pay, seller to collect tax—Statement of tax—Exception—Penalties—Contingent expiration of subsection.
Computation of tax due.
Advertisement of price.
Collection of tax—Methods and schedules.
Tax rate changes.
Deemed location for mobile telecommunications services.
Vending machine and other sales.
Installment sales and leases.
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
82.08.100
82.08.110
82.08.120
82.08.130
82.08.140
82.08.150
82.08.160
82.08.170
82.08.180
82.08.803
82.08.804
82.08.805
82.08.806
82.08.807
82.08.808
82.08.809
82.08.810
82.08.811
82.08.813
82.08.815
82.08.820
82.08.825
82.08.830
82.08.832
82.08.834
82.08.835
82.08.841
82.08.850
82.08.855
82.08.865
82.08.870
82.08.880
82.08.890
82.08.900
82.08.910
82.08.920
82.08.925
82.08.935
82.08.940
82.08.945
82.08.950
82.08.955
82.08.960
82.08.965
82.08.9651
82.08.970
82.08.975
82.08.980
82.08.981
82.08.985
Cash receipts taxpayers—Bad debts.
Sales from vehicles.
Refunding or rebating of tax by seller prohibited—Penalty.
Resale certificate—Purchase and resale—Rules.
Administration.
Tax on certain sales of intoxicating liquors—Additional
taxes for specific purposes—Collection.
Remittance of tax—Liquor excise tax fund created.
Apportionment and distribution from liquor excise tax fund.
Apportionment and distribution from liquor excise tax
fund—Withholding for noncompliance.
Exemptions—Nebulizers.
Exemptions—Ostomic items.
Exemptions—Tangible personal property used at an aluminum smelter.
Exemptions—Sale of computer equipment parts and services
to printer or publisher.
Exemptions—Direct mail delivery charges.
Exemptions—Sales of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials to comprehensive cancer centers.
Exemptions—Vehicles using clean alternative fuels.
Exemptions—Air pollution control facilities at a thermal
electric generation facility—Exceptions—Exemption certificate—Payments on cessation of operation.
Exemptions—Coal used at coal-fired thermal electric generation facility—Application—Demonstration of progress
in air pollution control—Notice of emissions violations—
Reapplication—Payments on cessation of operation.
Exemptions—High gas mileage vehicles.
Exemptions—Property and services related to electrification
systems to power heavy duty diesel vehicles.
Exemptions—Remittance—Warehouse and grain elevators
and distribution centers—Material-handling and racking
equipment—Construction of warehouse or elevator—
Information sheet—Rules—Records—Exceptions.
Exemptions—Property and services that enable heavy duty
diesel vehicles to operate with onboard electrification systems.
Exemptions—Sales at camp or conference center by nonprofit organization.
Exemptions—Sales of gun safes.
Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
Exemptions—Solar hot water systems.
Exemptions—Farming equipment—Hay sheds.
Exemptions—Conifer seed.
Exemptions—Replacement parts for qualifying farm
machinery and equipment.
Exemptions—Diesel and aircraft fuel for farm fuel users.
Exemptions—Motorcycles for training programs.
Exemptions—Animal pharmaceuticals.
Exemptions—Livestock nutrient management equipment
and facilities.
Exemptions—Anaerobic digesters.
Exemptions—Propane or natural gas to heat chicken structures.
Exemptions—Chicken bedding materials.
Exemptions—Dietary supplements.
Exemptions—Disposable devices used to deliver prescription drugs for human use.
Exemptions—Over-the-counter drugs for human use.
Exemptions—Kidney dialysis devices.
Exemptions—Steam, electricity, electrical energy.
Exemptions—Sales of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and
services related to biodiesel or alcohol fuel blend.
Sales of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and services related
to wood biomass fuel blend.
Exemptions—Semiconductor materials manufacturing.
Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used in production of
semiconductor materials.
Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used to manufacture
semiconductor materials.
Exemptions—Computer parts and software related to the
manufacture of commercial airplanes.
Exemptions—Labor, services, and personal property related
to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
Exemptions—Development, design, and engineering of
commercial airplanes.
Exemptions—Insulin.
Changes in tax law—Liability: RCW 82.08.064, 82.14.055, and 82.32.430.
Community college capital improvements bond redemption fund of 1972—
Tax receipts: RCW 28B.56.100.
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.010
Credit for retail sales or use taxes paid to other jurisdictions with respect to
property used: RCW 82.12.035.
Direct pay permits: RCW 82.32.087.
Excise tax on real estate transfers: Chapters 82.45 and 82.46 RCW.
Local sales tax: Chapter 82.14 RCW.
82.08.010
82.08.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Selling price" includes "sales price." "Sales price"
means the total amount of consideration, except separately
stated trade-in property of like kind, including cash, credit,
property, and services, for which tangible personal property,
extended warranties, or services defined as a "retail sale"
under RCW 82.04.050 are sold, leased, or rented, valued in
money, whether received in money or otherwise. No deduction from the total amount of consideration is allowed for the
following: (a) The seller’s cost of the property sold; (b) the
cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest, losses,
all costs of transportation to the seller, all taxes imposed on
the seller, and any other expense of the seller; (c) charges by
the seller for any services necessary to complete the sale,
other than delivery and installation charges; (d) delivery
charges; (e) installation charges; and (f) the value of exempt
tangible personal property given to the purchaser where taxable and exempt tangible personal property have been bundled together and sold by the seller as a single product or
piece of merchandise.
When tangible personal property is rented or leased
under circumstances that the consideration paid does not represent a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so rented
or leased, the "selling price" shall be determined as nearly as
possible according to the value of such use at the places of
use of similar products of like quality and character under
such rules as the department may prescribe.
"Selling price" or "sales price" does not include: Discounts, including cash, term, or coupons that are not reimbursed by a third party that are allowed by a seller and taken
by a purchaser on a sale; interest, financing, and carrying
charges from credit extended on the sale of tangible personal
property, extended warranties, or services, if the amount is
separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser; and any taxes legally imposed
directly on the consumer that are separately stated on the
invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser;
(2)(a) "Seller" means every person, including the state
and its departments and institutions, making sales at retail or
retail sales to a buyer, purchaser, or consumer, whether as
agent, broker, or principal, except "seller" does not mean:
(i) The state and its departments and institutions when
making sales to the state and its departments and institutions;
or
(ii) A professional employer organization when a covered employee coemployed with the client under the terms of
a professional employer agreement engages in activities that
constitute a sale at retail that is subject to the tax imposed by
this chapter. In such cases, the client, and not the professional employer organization, is deemed to be the seller and
is responsible for collecting and remitting the tax imposed by
this chapter.
(b) For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, the terms
"client," "covered employee," "professional employer agree[Title 82 RCW—page 69]
82.08.011
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ment," and "professional employer organization" have the
same meanings as in RCW 82.04.540.
(3) "Buyer," "purchaser," and "consumer" include, without limiting the scope hereof, every individual, receiver,
assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, corporation, association, society, or any group of
individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise, municipal corporation, quasi
municipal corporation, and also the state, its departments and
institutions and all political subdivisions thereof, irrespective
of the nature of the activities engaged in or functions performed, and also the United States or any instrumentality
thereof;
(4) "Delivery charges" means charges by the seller of
personal property or services for preparation and delivery to
a location designated by the purchaser of personal property or
services including, but not limited to, transportation, shipping, postage, handling, crating, and packing;
(5) "Direct mail" means printed material delivered or
distributed by United States mail or other delivery service to
a mass audience or to addressees on a mailing list provided
by the purchaser or at the direction of the purchaser when the
cost of the items are not billed directly to the recipients.
"Direct mail" includes tangible personal property supplied
directly or indirectly by the purchaser to the direct mail seller
for inclusion in the package containing the printed material.
"Direct mail" does not include multiple items of printed
material delivered to a single address;
(6) The meaning attributed in chapter 82.04 RCW to the
terms "tax year," "taxable year," "person," "company,"
"sale," "sale at retail," "retail sale," "sale at wholesale,"
"wholesale," "business," "engaging in business," "cash discount," "successor," "consumer," "in this state" and "within
this state" shall apply equally to the provisions of this chapter;
(7) For the purposes of the taxes imposed under this
chapter and under chapter 82.12 RCW, "tangible personal
property" means personal property that can be seen, weighed,
measured, felt, or touched, or that is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. Tangible personal property includes
electricity, water, gas, steam, and prewritten computer software;
(8) "Extended warranty" has the same meaning as in
RCW 82.04.050(7). [2006 c 301 § 2; 2005 c 514 § 110; 2004
c 153 § 406; 2003 c 168 § 101; 1985 c 38 § 3; 1985 c 2 § 2
(Initiative Measure No. 464, approved November 6, 1984);
1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 18; 1963 c 244 § 1;
1961 c 15 § 82.08.010. Prior: (i) 1945 c 249 § 4; 1943 c 156
§ 6; 1941 c 178 § 8; 1939 c 225 § 7; 1935 c 180 § 17; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8370-17. (ii) 1935 c 180 § 20; RRS § 8370-20.]
Effective date—Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51
RCW—2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—2003 c 168: "Sections 101 through 104, 201 through
216, 401 through 412, 501, 502, 601 through 604, 701 through 704, 801, 901,
and 902 of this act take effect July 1, 2004. Sections 301 through 305 of this
act take effect January 1, 2004." [2003 c 168 § 903.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 70]
Part headings not law—2003 c 168: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [2003 c 168 § 901.]
Purpose—1985 c 2: "The purpose of this initiative is to reduce the
amount on which sales tax is paid by excluding the trade-in value of certain
property from the amount taxable." [1985 c 2 § 1 (Initiative Measure No.
464, approved November 6, 1984).]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1983, except that section 12 of this act shall take effect January 1,
1984, and shall be effective for property taxes levied in 1983, and due in
1984, and thereafter." [1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 13.]
82.08.011
82.08.011 Retail car rental—Definition. For purposes
of this chapter, "retail car rental" means renting a rental car,
as defined in RCW 46.04.465, to a consumer. [1992 c 194 §
2.]
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
82.08.020
82.08.020 Tax imposed—Retail sales—Retail car
rental. (1) There is levied and there shall be collected a tax
on each retail sale in this state equal to six and five-tenths percent of the selling price.
(2) There is levied and there shall be collected an additional tax on each retail car rental, regardless of whether the
vehicle is licensed in this state, equal to five and nine-tenths
percent of the selling price. The revenue collected under this
subsection shall be deposited in the multimodal transportation account created in RCW 47.66.070.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2003, there is levied and collected
an additional tax of three-tenths of one percent of the selling
price on each retail sale of a motor vehicle in this state, other
than retail car rentals taxed under subsection (2) of this section. The revenue collected under this subsection shall be
deposited in the multimodal transportation account created in
RCW 47.66.070.
(4) For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, "motor
vehicle" has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but
does not include farm tractors or farm vehicles as defined in
RCW 46.04.180 and 46.04.181, off-road and nonhighway
vehicles as defined in RCW 46.09.020, and snowmobiles as
defined in RCW 46.10.010.
(5) Beginning on December 8, 2005, 0.16 percent of the
taxes collected under subsection (1) of this section shall be
dedicated to funding comprehensive performance audits
required under RCW 43.09.470. The revenue identified in
this subsection shall be deposited in the performance audits
of government account created in RCW 43.09.475.
(6) The taxes imposed under this chapter shall apply to
successive retail sales of the same property.
(7) The rates provided in this section apply to taxes
imposed under chapter 82.12 RCW as provided in RCW
82.12.020. [2006 c 1 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 900,
approved November 8, 2005); 2003 c 361 § 301; 2000 2nd
sp.s. c 4 § 1; 1998 c 321 § 36 (Referendum Bill No. 49,
approved November 3, 1998); 1992 c 194 § 9; 1985 c 32 § 1.
Prior: 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 62; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 41; 1983
c 7 § 6; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 1; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 1; 1977
ex.s. c 324 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 130 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 281
§ 9; 1969 ex.s. c 262 § 31; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 19; 1965 ex.s. c
173 § 13; 1961 c 293 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.020; prior: 1959
ex.s. c 3 § 5; 1955 ex.s. c 10 § 2; 1949 c 228 § 4; 1943 c 156
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
§ 5; 1941 c 76 § 2; 1939 c 225 § 10; 1935 c 180 § 16; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 8370-16.]
Short title—Effective date—2006 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 900):
See RCW 43.09.471.
Policies and purposes—Construction—Severability—Part headings not law—2006 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 900): See notes following
RCW 43.09.470.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: "Sections 301 through 602 of this act
take effect July 1, 2003, and sections 201 and 202 of this act take effect
August 1, 2003." [2003 c 361 § 703.]
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Application—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 1: "Section 1 of this act applies to
taxes collected on and after December 31, 1999." [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 34.]
Effective date—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 1-3, 20: "Sections 1 through 3
and 20 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and take effect immediately [May 2, 2000]." [2000 2nd
sp.s. c 4 § 35.]
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
Legislative intent—1992 c 194: "The legislature intends to exempt
rental cars from state and local motor vehicle excise taxes, and to impose
additional sales and use taxes in lieu thereof. These additional sales and use
taxes are intended to provide as much revenue to the funds currently receiving motor vehicle excise tax revenue, including the transportation funds and
the general fund, as each fund would have received if the motor vehicle
excise tax exemptions had not been enacted. Revenues from these additional
sales and use taxes are intended to be distributed in the same manner as the
motor vehicle excise tax revenues they replace." [1992 c 194 § 4.]
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—1983 c 7: "This act shall not be construed as affecting
any existing right acquired, or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended in this act, nor any rule, regulation, or order adopted, nor any
proceeding instituted, under those sections." [1983 c 7 § 34.]
Severability—1983 c 7: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1983 c 7 § 35.]
Effective dates—1983 c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect March 1,
1983, except as follows:
(1) Sections 9 through 22, and 25 through 31 of this act shall take effect
June 30, 1983.
(2) Sections 23 and 24 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1984, for
taxes first due in 1984 and thereafter.
The department of revenue and the department of licensing shall immediately take necessary steps to ensure that all sections of this act are properly
implemented on their effective dates. The additional taxes and tax rate
changes imposed under this act shall take effect on the dates designated in
this act notwithstanding the date this act becomes law under Article III, section 12 of the state Constitution." [1983 c 7 § 37.]
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 47.]
Effective dates—Expiration date—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: "This act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately, except that sections 28, 29, and 30
of this act shall take effect on May 1, 1982, sections 33 and 34 of this act
shall take effect on July 1, 1983, and sections 35 through 38 of this act shall
take effect on January 1, 1983.
Sections 28 and 29 of this act shall expire on July 1, 1983. The additional taxes imposed under this act shall take effect on the dates designated
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.0251
in this act notwithstanding the date this act becomes law under Article III,
section 12 of the state Constitution." [1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 48.]
Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 130: "This 1976 amendatory act
is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That the provisions of
this 1976 amendatory act shall be null and void in the event chapter . . .
(*Substitute Senate Bill No. 2778), Laws of 1975-’76 2nd ex. sess. is
approved and becomes law." [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 130 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: "Substitute Senate Bill No. 2778" failed to become
law.
High capacity transportation systems—Sales and use tax: RCW 81.104.170.
Manufacturers, study: 1994 c 66.
82.08.0201 Rental cars—Estimate of tax revenue.
Before January 1, 1994, and January 1 of each odd-numbered
year thereafter:
The department of licensing, with the assistance of the
department of revenue, shall provide the office of financial
management and the fiscal committees of the legislature with
an updated estimate of the amount of revenue attributable to
the taxes imposed in RCW 82.08.020(2), and the amount of
revenue not collected as a result of *RCW 82.44.023. [1992
c 194 § 10.]
82.08.0201
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.023 was repealed by 2006 c 318 § 10.
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
82.08.0202 Retail sales of linen and uniform supply
services. For purposes of this chapter, a retail sale of linen
and uniform supply services is deemed to occur at the place
of delivery to the customer. "Linen and uniform supply services" means the activity of providing customers with a supply of clean linen, towels, uniforms, gowns, protective
apparel, clean room apparel, mats, rugs, and similar items,
whether ownership of the item is in the person operating the
linen and uniform supply service or in the customer. The term
includes supply services operating their own cleaning establishments as well as those contracting with other laundry or
dry cleaning businesses. [2001 c 186 § 2.]
82.08.0202
Finding—Purpose—2001 c 186: "The legislature finds that because of
the mixed retailing nature of linen and uniform supply services, they have
been incorrectly sited for tax purposes. As a result, some companies that perform some activities related to this activity outside the state of Washington
have not been required to collect retail sales taxes upon linen and uniform
supply services provided to Washington customers. The activity has aspects
of both the rental of tangible personal property and retail services related to
tangible personal property. This error in tax treatment provides an incentive
for businesses to locate some of their functions out of state. In-state businesses cannot compete if their out-of-state competitors are not required to
collect sales tax for services provided to the same customers.
The purpose of this act is to clarify the taxable situs and nature of linen
and uniform supply services." [2001 c 186 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 186: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 186 § 4.]
82.08.0251 Exemptions—Casual and isolated sales.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to casual
and isolated sales of property or service, unless made by a
person who is engaged in a business activity taxable under
chapters 82.04 or 82.16 RCW: PROVIDED, That the
exemption provided by this section shall not be construed as
providing any exemption from the tax imposed by chapter
82.12 RCW. [1980 c 37 § 19. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(1).]
82.08.0251
[Title 82 RCW—page 71]
82.08.0252
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0252
82.08.0252 Exemptions—Sales by persons taxable
under chapter 82.16 RCW. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales made by persons in the
course of business activities with respect to which tax liability is specifically imposed under chapter 82.16 RCW, when
the gross proceeds from such sales must be included in the
measure of the tax imposed under said chapter. [1980 c 37 §
20. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(2).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.02525
82.08.02525 Exemptions—Sale of copied public
records by state and local agencies. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to the sale of public records
by state and local agencies, as the terms are defined in RCW
42.17.020, that are copied under a request for the record for
which no fee is charged other than a statutorily set fee or a fee
to reimburse the agency for its actual costs directly incident
to the copying. A request for a record includes a request for a
document not available to the public but available to those
persons who by law are allowed access to the document, such
as requests for fire reports, law enforcement reports, taxpayer
information, and academic transcripts. [1996 c 63 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 63: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1,
1996." [1996 c 63 § 3.]
82.08.0253
82.08.0253 Exemptions—Sale and distribution of
newspapers. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to the distribution and newsstand sale of newspapers.
[1980 c 37 § 21. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(3).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.02535
82.08.02535 Exemptions—Sales and distribution of
magazines or periodicals by subscription for fund-raising. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to the
sales and distribution of magazines or periodicals by subscription for the purposes of fund-raising by (1) educational
institutions as defined in RCW 82.04.170, or (2) nonprofit
organizations engaged in activities primarily for the benefit
of boys and girls nineteen years and younger. [1995 2nd sp.s.
c 8 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 8: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 8 § 2.]
82.08.02537
82.08.02537 Exemptions—Sales of academic transcripts. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of academic transcripts by educational institutions.
[1996 c 272 § 2.]
82.08.0255 Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicle and
special fuel—Conditions—Credit or refund of special fuel
used outside this state in interstate commerce. (1) The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of motor
vehicle and special fuel if:
(a) The fuel is purchased for the purpose of public transportation and the purchaser is entitled to a refund or an
exemption under RCW 82.36.275 or 82.38.080(3); or
(b) The fuel is purchased by a private, nonprofit transportation provider certified under chapter 81.66 RCW and the
purchaser is entitled to a refund or an exemption under RCW
82.36.285 or 82.38.080(1)(h); or
(c) The fuel is taxable under chapter 82.36 or 82.38
RCW.
(2) Any person who has paid the tax imposed by RCW
82.08.020 on the sale of special fuel delivered in this state
shall be entitled to a credit or refund of such tax with respect
to fuel subsequently established to have been actually transported and used outside this state by persons engaged in interstate commerce. The tax shall be claimed as a credit or
refunded through the tax reports required under RCW
82.38.150. [2005 c 443 § 5; 1998 c 176 § 4. Prior: 1983 1st
ex.s. c 35 § 2; 1983 c 108 § 1; 1980 c 147 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 23.
Formerly RCW 82.08.030(5).]
82.08.0255
Finding—Intent—2005 c 443: "The legislature finds that a number of
tax exemptions, deductions, credits, and other preferences have outlived
their usefulness. State records show no taxpayers have claimed relief under
these tax preferences in recent years. The intent of this act is to update and
simplify the tax statutes by repealing these outdated tax preferences." [2005
c 443 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 443: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2005
c 443 § 8.]
Rules—Findings—Effective date—1998 c 176: See RCW 82.36.800,
82.36.900, and 82.36.901.
Intent—1983 1st ex.s. c 35: "It is the intent of the legislature that special fuel purchased in Washington upon which the special fuel tax has been
paid, regardless of whether or not the tax is subsequently refunded or credited in whole or in part, should not be subject to the sales and use tax if the
special fuel is transported and used outside the state by persons engaged in
interstate commerce." [1983 1st ex.s. c 35 § 1.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Diesel and aircraft fuel sales tax exemption for farmers: RCW 82.08.865.
82.08.0256 Exemptions—Sale of the operating property of a public utility to the state or a political subdivision. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales (including transfers of title through decree of appropriation) heretofore or hereafter made of the entire operating
property of a publicly or privately owned public utility, or of
a complete operating integral section thereof, to the state or a
political subdivision thereof for use in conducting any business defined in RCW 82.16.010 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7),
(8), (9), (10) or (11). [1980 c 37 § 24. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(6).]
82.08.0256
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Effective date—1996 c 272: See note following RCW 82.04.399.
82.08.02565 Exemptions—Sales of machinery and
equipment for manufacturing, research and development, or a testing operation—Labor and services for
installation—Exemption certificate—Rules. (1) The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to a manufacturer or processor for hire of machinery and equipment
used directly in a manufacturing operation or research and
82.08.02565
82.08.0254
82.08.0254 Exemptions—Nontaxable sales. The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales which the
state is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of this
state or the Constitution or laws of the United States. [1980 c
37 § 22. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(4).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
[Title 82 RCW—page 72]
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
development operation, to sales to a person engaged in testing for a manufacturer or processor for hire of machinery and
equipment used directly in a testing operation, or to sales of
or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the
machinery and equipment, but only when the purchaser provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and
manner prescribed by the department by rule. The seller shall
retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.02565:
(a) "Machinery and equipment" means industrial fixtures, devices, and support facilities, and tangible personal
property that becomes an ingredient or component thereof,
including repair parts and replacement parts. "Machinery and
equipment" includes pollution control equipment installed
and used in a manufacturing operation, testing operation, or
research and development operation to prevent air pollution,
water pollution, or contamination that might otherwise result
from the manufacturing operation, testing operation, or
research and development operation.
(b) "Machinery and equipment" does not include:
(i) Hand-powered tools;
(ii) Property with a useful life of less than one year;
(iii) Buildings, other than machinery and equipment that
is permanently affixed to or becomes a physical part of a
building; and
(iv) Building fixtures that are not integral to the manufacturing operation, testing operation, or research and development operation that are permanently affixed to and become
a physical part of a building, such as utility systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, communications, plumbing, or electrical.
(c) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in a
manufacturing operation, testing operation, or research and
development operation if the machinery and equipment:
(i) Acts upon or interacts with an item of tangible personal property;
(ii) Conveys, transports, handles, or temporarily stores
an item of tangible personal property at the manufacturing
site or testing site;
(iii) Controls, guides, measures, verifies, aligns, regulates, or tests tangible personal property at the site or away
from the site;
(iv) Provides physical support for or access to tangible
personal property;
(v) Produces power for, or lubricates machinery and
equipment;
(vi) Produces another item of tangible personal property
for use in the manufacturing operation, testing operation, or
research and development operation;
(vii) Places tangible personal property in the container,
package, or wrapping in which the tangible personal property
is normally sold or transported; or
(viii) Is integral to research and development as defined
in RCW 82.63.010.
(d) "Manufacturing operation" means the manufacturing
of articles, substances, or commodities for sale as tangible
personal property. A manufacturing operation begins at the
point where the raw materials enter the manufacturing site
and ends at the point where the processed material leaves the
manufacturing site. The term also includes that portion of a
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.02565
cogeneration project that is used to generate power for consumption within the manufacturing site of which the cogeneration project is an integral part. The term does not include the
production of electricity by a light and power business as
defined in RCW 82.16.010 or the preparation of food products on the premises of a person selling food products at
retail.
(e) "Cogeneration" means the simultaneous generation
of electrical energy and low-grade heat from the same fuel.
(f) "Research and development operation" means engaging in research and development as defined in RCW
82.63.010 by a manufacturer or processor for hire.
(g) "Testing" means activities performed to establish or
determine the properties, qualities, and limitations of tangible
personal property.
(h) "Testing operation" means the testing of tangible personal property for a manufacturer or processor for hire. A
testing operation begins at the point where the tangible personal property enters the testing site and ends at the point
where the tangible personal property leaves the testing site.
The term also includes that portion of a cogeneration project
that is used to generate power for consumption within the site
of which the cogeneration project is an integral part. The term
does not include the production of electricity by a light and
power business as defined in RCW 82.16.010 or the preparation of food products on the premises of a person selling food
products at retail. [1999 c 211 § 5; 1999 c 211 § 3; 1998 c
330 § 1. Prior: 1996 c 247 § 2; 1996 c 173 § 3; 1995 1st sp.s.
c 3 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 211: "The legislature finds that the application of the manufacturer’s machinery and equipment sales and use tax
exemption has, in some instances, been difficult and confusing for taxpayers,
and included difficult reporting and recordkeeping requirements. In this act,
it is the intent of the legislature to make clear its intent for the application of
the exemption, and to extend the exemption to the purchase and use of
machinery and equipment for businesses that perform testing of manufactured goods for manufacturers or processors for hire." [1999 c 211 § 1.]
Intent—1999 c 211 §§ 2 and 3: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Effective date—1999 c 211 §§ 1-4: See note following RCW
82.04.120.
F ind ing s— Inte nt— 1 996 c 24 7: See n ot e fol l ow i ng RC W
82.08.02566.
Findings—Intent—1996 c 173: "The legislature finds that the health,
safety, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington are heavily
dependent upon the continued encouragement, development, and expansion
of opportunities for family wage employment in the state’s manufacturing
industries.
The legislature also finds that sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery and equipment enacted by the 1995 legislature have
improved Washington’s ability to compete with other states for manufacturing investment, but that additional incentives for manufacturers need to be
adopted to solidify and enhance the state’s competitive position.
The legislature intends to accomplish this by extending the current
manufacturing machinery and equipment exemptions to allow a sales tax
exemption for labor and service charges for repairing, cleaning, altering, or
improving machinery and equipment, and a sales and use tax exemption for
repair and replacement parts with a useful life of one year or more." [1996 c
173 § 1.]
Findings—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: "The legislature finds and declares that:
(1) The health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington are heavily dependent upon the continued encouragement, development, and expansion of opportunities for family wage employment in our
state’s private sector;
(2) The state’s private sector must be encouraged to commit to continuous improvement of process, products, and services and to deliver highquality, high-value products through technological innovations and highperformance work organizations;
[Title 82 RCW—page 73]
82.08.02566
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) The state’s opportunities for increased economic dealings with
other states and nations of the world are dependent on supporting and attracting a diverse, stable, and competitive economic base of private sector
employers;
(4) The state’s current policy of applying its sales and use taxes to
machinery, equipment, and installation labor used in manufacturing,
research and development, and other activities has placed our state’s private
sector at a competitive disadvantage with other states and serves as a significant disincentive to the continuous improvement of products, technology,
and modernization necessary for the preservation, stabilization, and expansion of employment and to ensure a stable economy; and
(5) It is vital to the continued development of economic opportunity in
this state, including the development of new businesses and the expansion or
modernization of existing businesses, that the state of Washington provide
tax incentives to entities making a commitment to sites and operations in this
state." [1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 16.]
82.08.02566
82.08.02566 Exemptions—Sales of tangible personal
property incorporated in prototype for parts, auxiliary
equipment, and aircraft modification—Limitations on
yearly exemption. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020
shall not apply to sales of tangible personal property incorporated into a prototype for aircraft parts, auxiliary equipment,
or modifications; or to sales of tangible personal property that
at one time is incorporated into the prototype but is later
destroyed in the testing or development of the prototype.
(2) This exemption does not apply to sales to any person
whose total taxable amount during the immediately preceding calendar year exceeds twenty million dollars. For purposes of this section, "total taxable amount" means gross
income of the business and value of products manufactured,
less any amounts for which a credit is allowed under RCW
82.04.440.
(3) State and local taxes for which an exemption is
received under this section and RCW 82.12.02566 shall not
exceed one hundred thousand dollars for any person during
any calendar year.
(4) Sellers shall collect tax on sales subject to this
exemption. The buyer shall apply for a refund directly from
the department. [2003 c 168 § 208; 1997 c 302 § 1; 1996 c
247 § 4.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—1997 c 302: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 302 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—1996 c 247: "The legislature finds that the health,
safety, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington are heavily
dependent upon the continued encouragement, development, and expansion
of opportunities for family wage employment in the state’s manufacturing
industries.
The legislature also finds that sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery and equipment enacted by the 1995 legislature have
improved Washington’s ability to compete with other states for manufacturing investment, but that additional incentives for manufacturers need to be
adopted to solidify and enhance the state’s competitive position.
The legislature intends to accomplish this by extending the current
manufacturing machinery and equipment exemptions to include machinery
and equipment used for research and development with potential manufacturing applications." [1996 c 247 § 1.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 74]
82.08.02567
82.08.02567 Exemptions—Sales related to machinery and equipment used in generating electricity.
(Expires June 30, 2009.) (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of machinery and equipment used directly in generating electricity using fuel cells,
wind, sun, or landfill gas as the principal source of power, or
to sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in
respect to installing such machinery and equipment, but only
if the purchaser develops with such machinery, equipment,
and labor a facility capable of generating not less than two
hundred watts of electricity and provides the seller with an
exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the
department. The seller shall retain a copy of the certificate
for the seller’s files.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.02567:
(a) "Landfill gas" means biomass fuel of the type qualified for federal tax credits under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 29 collected
from a landfill. "Landfill" means a landfill as defined under
RCW 70.95.030;
(b) "Machinery and equipment" means industrial fixtures, devices, and support facilities that are integral and necessary to the generation of electricity using fuel cells, wind,
sun, or landfill gas as the principal source of power;
(c) "Machinery and equipment" does not include: (i)
Hand-powered tools; (ii) property with a useful life of less
than one year; (iii) repair parts required to restore machinery
and equipment to normal working order; (iv) replacement
parts that do not increase productivity, improve efficiency, or
extend the useful life of machinery and equipment; (v) buildings; or (vi) building fixtures that are not integral and necessary to the generation of electricity that are permanently
affixed to and become a physical part of a building;
(d) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating electricity with fuel cells or by wind energy, solar
energy, or landfill gas power if it provides any part of the process that captures the energy of the wind, sun, or landfill gas,
converts that energy to electricity, and stores, transforms, or
transmits that electricity for entry into or operation in parallel
with electric transmission and distribution systems;
(e) "Fuel cell" means an electrochemical reaction that
generates electricity by combining atoms of hydrogen and
oxygen in the presence of a catalyst.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2009. [2004 c 152 § 1;
2001 c 213 § 1; 1999 c 358 § 4; 1998 c 309 § 1; 1996 c 166 §
1.]
Effective date—2001 c 213: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001."
[2001 c 213 § 3.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—1998 c 309: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 3, 1998]." [1998 c 309 § 3.]
Effective date—1996 c 166: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 166 § 3.]
82.08.02568
82.08.02568 Exemptions—Sales of carbon and similar substances that become an ingredient or component of
anodes or cathodes used in producing aluminum for sale.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
82.08.0263
carbon, petroleum coke, coal tar, pitch, and similar substances that become an ingredient or component of anodes or
cathodes used in producing aluminum for sale. [1996 c 170 §
1.]
82.08.026 Exemptions—Sales of natural or manufactured gas. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply
to sales of natural or manufactured gas that is taxable under
RCW 82.12.022. [1994 c 124 § 8; 1989 c 384 § 4.]
Effective date—1996 c 170: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 170 § 3.]
Intent—Effective date—1989 c 384: See notes following RCW
82.12.022.
82.08.026
82.08.0261 Exemptions—Sales of personal property
for use connected with private or common carriers in
interstate or foreign commerce. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of tangible personal property (other than the type referred to in RCW 82.08.0262) for
use by the purchaser in connection with the business of operating as a private or common carrier by air, rail, or water in
interstate or foreign commerce: PROVIDED, That any
actual use of such property in this state shall, at the time of
such actual use, be subject to the tax imposed by chapter
82.12 RCW. [1980 c 37 § 28. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(10).]
82.08.0261
82.08.02569
82.08.02569 Exemptions—Sales of tangible personal
property related to a building or structure that is an integral part of a laser interferometer gravitational wave
observatory. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales of tangible personal property to a consumer as
defined in RCW 82.04.190(6) if the tangible personal property is incorporated into, installed in, or attached to a building
or other structure that is an integral part of a laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory on which construction is
commenced before December 1, 1996. [1996 c 113 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 113: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 20, 1996]." [1996 c 113 § 3.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0262 Exemptions—Sales of airplanes, locomotives, railroad cars, or watercraft for use in interstate or
foreign commerce or outside the territorial waters of the
state or airplanes sold to United States government—
Components thereof and of motor vehicles or trailers
used for constructing, repairing, cleaning, etc.—Labor
and services for constructing, repairing, cleaning, etc.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of
airplanes, locomotives, railroad cars, or watercraft for use in
conducting interstate or foreign commerce by transporting
therein or therewith property and persons for hire or for use in
conducting commercial deep sea fishing operations outside
the territorial waters of the state or airplanes sold to the
United States government; also sales of tangible personal
property which becomes a component part of such airplanes,
locomotives, railroad cars, or watercraft, and of motor vehicles or trailers whether owned by or leased with or without
drivers and used by the holder of a carrier permit issued by
the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency
authorizing transportation by motor vehicle across the boundaries of this state, in the course of constructing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the same; also sales of or
charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to
such constructing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving.
[1998 c 311 § 5; 1994 c 43 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 29. Formerly
RCW 82.08.030(11).]
82.08.0262
82.08.0257
82.08.0257 Exemptions—Auction sales of tangible
personal property used in farming. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to auction sales made by or
through auctioneers of tangible personal property (including
household goods) which have been used in conducting a farm
activity, when the seller thereof is a farmer and the sale is
held or conducted upon a farm and not otherwise. [1980 c 37
§ 25. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(7).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.02573
82.08.02573 Exemptions—Sales by a nonprofit organization for fund-raising activities. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 does not apply to a sale made by a nonprofit organization if the gross income from the sale is exempt under
RCW 82.04.3651. [1998 c 336 § 3.]
Findings—1998 c 336: See note following RCW 82.04.3651.
82.08.0258
82.08.0258 Exemptions—Sales to federal corporations providing aid and relief. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to corporations which have
been incorporated under any act of the congress of the United
States and whose principal purposes are to furnish volunteer
aid to members of armed forces of the United States and also
to carry on a system of national and international relief and to
apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other national calamities and
to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.
[1980 c 37 § 26. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(8).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0259
82.08.0259 Exemptions—Sales of livestock. The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of livestock, as defined in RCW 16.36.005, for breeding purposes
where the animals are registered in a nationally recognized
breed association; or to sales of cattle and milk cows used on
the farm. [2001 c 118 § 4; 1980 c 37 § 27. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(9).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
(2006 Ed.)
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0263 Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicles and
trailers for use in transporting persons or property in
interstate or foreign commerce. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of motor vehicles and trailers to be used for the purpose of transporting therein persons
or property for hire in interstate or foreign commerce whether
such use is by the owner or whether such motor vehicles and
trailers are leased to the user with or without drivers: PROVIDED, That the purchaser or user must be the holder of a
carrier permit issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency. [1998 c 311 § 6; 1995 c 63 § 1;
1980 c 37 § 30. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(12).]
82.08.0263
[Title 82 RCW—page 75]
82.08.0264
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective date—1995 c 63: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 63 § 3.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0264
82.08.0264 Exemptions—Sales of motor vehicles,
trailers, or campers to nonresidents for use outside the
state. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of motor vehicles, trailers, or campers to nonresidents
of this state for use outside of this state, even though delivery
be made within this state, but only when (1) the vehicles,
trailers, or campers will be taken from the point of delivery in
this state directly to a point outside this state under the
authority of a one-transit permit issued by the director of
licensing pursuant to the provisions of RCW 46.16.160, or
(2) said motor vehicles, trailers, or campers will be registered
and licensed immediately under the laws of the state of the
purchaser’s residence, will not be used in this state more than
three months, and will not be required to be registered and
licensed under the laws of this state. [1980 c 37 § 31. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(13).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.02665
82.08.02665 Exemptions—Sales of watercraft, vessels to residents of foreign countries. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of vessels to residents
of foreign countries for use outside of this state, even though
delivery is made within this state, but only if (1) the vessel
will not be used within this state for more than forty-five days
and (2) an appropriate exemption certificate supported by
identification as required by the department of revenue and
signed by the purchaser or the purchaser’s agent establishes
the fact that the purchaser is a resident of a foreign country
and that the vessel is for use outside of this state. A copy of
the exemption certificate is to be retained by the dealer.
As used in this section, "vessel" means every watercraft
used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on
the water, other than a seaplane. [1999 c 358 § 6; 1993 c 119
§ 1.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
82.08.0267
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0265
82.08.0265 Exemptions—Sales to nonresidents of
tangible personal property which becomes a component
of property of the nonresident by installing, repairing,
etc.—Labor and services for installing, repairing, etc.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to
nonresidents of this state for use outside of this state of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of
any machinery or other article of personal property belonging
to such nonresident, in the course of installing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the same and also sales of or
charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to
any installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving, of
personal property of or for a nonresident, but this section
shall apply only when the seller agrees to, and does, deliver
the property to the purchaser at a point outside this state, or
delivers the property to a common or bona fide private carrier
consigned to the purchaser at a point outside this state. [1980
c 37 § 32. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(14).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0266
82.08.0266 Exemptions—Sales of watercraft to nonresidents for use outside the state. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to nonresidents of this state
for use outside of this state of watercraft requiring coast
guard registration or registration by the state of principal use
according to the Federal Boating Act of 1958, even though
delivery be made within this state, but only when (1) the
watercraft will not be used within this state for more than
forty-five days and (2) an appropriate exemption certificate
supported by identification ascertaining residence as required
by the department of revenue and signed by the purchaser or
his agent establishing the fact that the purchaser is a nonresident and that the watercraft is for use outside of this state, a
copy of which shall be retained by the dealer. [1999 c 358 §
5; 1980 c 37 § 33. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(15).]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
[Title 82 RCW—page 76]
82.08.0267 Exemptions—Sales of poultry for producing poultry and poultry products for sale. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of poultry for
use in the production for sale of poultry or poultry products.
[1980 c 37 § 34. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(16).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0268
82.08.0268 Exemptions—Sales of machinery and
implements, and related parts and labor, for farming to
nonresidents for use outside the state. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to nonresidents of
this state for use outside of this state of:
(1) Machinery and implements for use in conducting a
farming activity;
(2) Parts for machinery and implements for use in conducting a farming activity; and
(3) Labor and services for the repair of machinery,
implements, and parts for use in conducting a farming activity,
when such machinery, implements, and parts will be transported immediately outside the state. As proof of exemption,
an affidavit or certification in such form as the department of
revenue shall require shall be retained as a business record of
the seller. [1998 c 167 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 35. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(17).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0269
82.08.0269 Exemptions—Sales for use in states, territories, and possessions of the United States which are not
contiguous to any other state. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales for use in states, territories
and possessions of the United States which are not contiguous to any other state, but only when, as a necessary incident
to the contract of sale, the seller delivers the subject matter of
the sale to the purchaser or his designated agent at the usual
receiving terminal of the carrier selected to transport the
goods, under such circumstances that it is reasonably certain
that the goods will be transported directly to a destination in
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
such noncontiguous states, territories and possessions. [1980
c 37 § 36. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(18).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0271
82.08.0271 Exemptions—Sales to municipal corporations, the state, and political subdivisions of tangible
personal property, labor and services on watershed protection and flood prevention contracts. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to municipal corporations, the state, and all political subdivisions thereof of tangible personal property consumed and/or of labor and services rendered in respect to contracts for watershed protection and/or flood prevention. This exemption shall be limited
to that portion of the selling price which is reimbursed by the
United States government according to the provisions of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Public Laws
566, as amended. [1980 c 37 § 37. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(19).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0272
82.08.0272 Exemptions—Sales of semen for artificial
insemination of livestock. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of semen for use in the artificial insemination of livestock. [1980 c 37 § 38. Formerly
RCW 82.08.030(20).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0273
82.08.0273 Exemptions—Sales to nonresidents of
tangible personal property for use outside the state—
Proof of nonresident status—Penalties. (1) The tax levied
by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to nonresidents of
this state of tangible personal property for use outside this
state when the purchaser (a) is a bona fide resident of a state
or possession or Province of Canada other than the state of
Washington and such state, possession, or Province of Canada does not impose a retail sales tax or use tax of three percent or more or, if imposing such a tax, permits Washington
residents exemption from otherwise taxable sales by reason
of their residence, and (b) agrees, when requested, to grant
the department of revenue access to such records and other
forms of verification at his or her place of residence to assure
that such purchases are not first used substantially in the state
of Washington.
(2)(a) Any person claiming exemption from retail sales
tax under the provisions of this section must display proof of
his or her current nonresident status as herein provided.
(b) Acceptable proof of a nonresident person’s status
shall include one piece of identification such as a valid
driver’s license from the jurisdiction in which the out-of-state
residency is claimed or a valid identification card which has
a photograph of the holder and is issued by the out-of-state
jurisdiction. Identification under this subsection (2)(b) must
show the holder’s residential address and have as one of its
legal purposes the establishment of residency in that out-ofstate jurisdiction.
(3) Nothing in this section requires the vendor to make
tax exempt retail sales to nonresidents. A vendor may choose
to make sales to nonresidents, collect the sales tax, and remit
the amount of sales tax collected to the state as otherwise provided by law. If the vendor chooses to make a sale to a
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.02745
nonresident without collecting the sales tax, the vendor shall,
in good faith, examine the proof of nonresidence, determine
whether the proof is acceptable under subsection (2)(b) of
this section, and maintain records for each nontaxable sale
which shall show the type of proof accepted, including any
identification numbers where appropriate, and the expiration
date, if any.
(4)(a) Any person making fraudulent statements, which
includes the offer of fraudulent identification or fraudulently
procured identification to a vendor, in order to purchase
goods without paying retail sales tax is guilty of perjury
under chapter 9A.72 RCW.
(b) Any person making tax exempt purchases under this
section by displaying proof of identification not his or her
own, or counterfeit identification, with intent to violate the
provisions of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in
addition, shall be liable for the tax and subject to a penalty
equal to the greater of one hundred dollars or the tax due on
such purchases.
(5)(a) Any vendor who makes sales without collecting
the tax to a person who does not hold valid identification
establishing out-of-state residency, and any vendor who fails
to maintain records of sales to nonresidents as provided in
this section, shall be personally liable for the amount of tax
due.
(b) Any vendor who makes sales without collecting the
retail sales tax under this section and who has actual knowledge that the purchaser’s proof of identification establishing
out-of-state residency is fraudulent is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in addition, shall be liable for the tax and subject
to a penalty equal to the greater of one thousand dollars or the
tax due on such sales. In addition, both the purchaser and the
vendor shall be liable for any penalties and interest assessable
under chapter 82.32 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 399; 1993 c 444 § 1;
1988 c 96 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 5 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 39. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(21).]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1988 c 96: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1989."
[1988 c 96 § 2.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0274 Exemptions—Sales of form lumber to
person engaged in constructing, repairing, etc., structures
for consumers. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales of form lumber to any person engaged in the
constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or
existing buildings or other structures under, upon or above
real property of or for consumers: PROVIDED, That such
lumber is used or to be used first by such person for the molding of concrete in a single such contract, project or job and is
thereafter incorporated into the product of that same contract,
project or job as an ingredient or component thereof. [1980 c
37 § 40. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(22).]
82.08.0274
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.02745 Exemptions—Charges for labor and
services or sales of tangible personal property related to
agricultural employee housing—Exemption certificate—
Rules. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply
to charges made for labor and services rendered by any per82.08.02745
[Title 82 RCW—page 77]
82.08.0275
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
son in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or
improving of new or existing buildings or other structures
used as agricultural employee housing, or to sales of tangible
personal property that becomes an ingredient or component
of the buildings or other structures during the course of the
constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving the buildings or other structures, but only if the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department by rule.
(2) The exemption provided in this section for agricultural employee housing provided to year-round employees of
the agricultural employer, only applies if that housing is built
to the current building code for single-family or multifamily
dwellings according to the state building code, chapter 19.27
RCW.
(3) Any agricultural employee housing built under this
section shall be used according to this section for at least five
consecutive years from the date the housing is approved for
occupancy, or the full amount of tax otherwise due shall be
immediately due and payable together with interest, but not
penalties, from the date the housing is approved for occupancy until the date of payment. If at any time agricultural
employee housing that is not located on agricultural land
ceases to be used in the manner specified in subsection (2) of
this section, the full amount of tax otherwise due shall be
immediately due and payable with interest, but not penalties,
from the date the housing ceases to be used as agricultural
employee housing until the date of payment.
(4) The exemption provided in this section shall not
apply to housing built for the occupancy of an employer,
family members of an employer, or persons owning stock or
shares in a farm partnership or corporation business.
(5) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.02685:
(a) "Agricultural employee" or "employee" has the same
meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010;
(b) "Agricultural employer" or "employer" has the same
meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010; and
(c) "Agricultural employee housing" means all facilities
provided by an agricultural employer, housing authority,
local government, state or federal agency, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organization that is exempt from
income tax under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)), or for-profit provider of
housing for housing agricultural employees on a year-round
or seasonal basis, including bathing, food handling, hand
washing, laundry, and toilet facilities, single-family and multifamily dwelling units and dormitories, and includes labor
camps under *RCW 70.54.110. "Agricultural employee
housing" does not include housing regularly provided on a
commercial basis to the general public. "Agricultural
employee housing" does not include housing provided by a
housing authority unless at least eighty percent of the occupants are agricultural employees whose adjusted income is
less than fifty percent of median family income, adjusted for
household size, for the county where the housing is provided.
[1997 c 438 § 1; 1996 c 117 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 70.54.110 was repealed by 1999 c 374 § 12.
Effective date—1997 c 438: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 20, 1997]." [1997 c 438 § 3.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 78]
Effective date—1996 c 117: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 20, 1996]." [1996 c 117 § 3.]
82.08.0275
82.08.0275 Exemptions—Sales of and labor and service charges for mining, sorting, crushing, etc., of sand,
gravel, and rock from county or city quarry for public
road purposes. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales of, cost of, or charges made for labor and services performed in respect to the mining, sorting, crushing,
screening, washing, hauling, and stockpiling of sand, gravel
and rock when such sand, gravel, or rock is taken from a pit
or quarry which is owned by or leased to a county or a city,
and such sand, gravel, or rock is (1) either stockpiled in said
pit or quarry for placement or is placed on the street, road,
place, or highway of the county or city by the county or city
itself, or (2) sold by the county or city to a county, or a city at
actual cost for placement on a publicly owned street, road,
place, or highway. The exemption provided for in this section
shall not apply to sales of, cost of, or charges made for such
labor and services, if the sand, gravel, or rock is used for
other than public road purposes or is sold otherwise than as
provided for in this section. [1980 c 37 § 41. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(23).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0277
82.08.0277 Exemptions—Sales of pollen. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of pollen.
[1980 c 37 § 43. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(25).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0278
82.08.0278 Exemptions—Sales between political subdivisions resulting from annexation or incorporation.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to
one political subdivision by another political subdivision
directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from the
annexation or incorporation of any part of the territory of one
political subdivision by another. [1980 c 37 § 44. Formerly
RCW 82.08.030(26).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0279
82.08.0279 Exemptions—Renting or leasing of motor
vehicles and trailers to a nonresident for use in the transportation of persons or property across state boundaries.
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to the renting or leasing of motor vehicles and trailers to a nonresident
of this state for use exclusively in transporting persons or
property across the boundaries of this state and in intrastate
operations incidental thereto when such motor vehicle or
trailer is registered and licensed in a foreign state and for purposes of this exemption the term "nonresident" shall apply to
a renter or lessee who has one or more places of business in
this state as well as in one or more other states but the exemption for nonresidents shall apply only to those vehicles which
are most frequently dispatched, garaged, serviced, maintained and operated from the renter’s or lessee’s place of
business in another state. [1980 c 37 § 45. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(27).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
82.08.02795
82.08.02795 Exemptions—Sales to free hospitals. (1)
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales to
free hospitals of items reasonably necessary for the operation
of, and provision of health care by, free hospitals.
(2) As used in this section, "free hospital" means a hospital that does not charge patients for health care provided by
the hospital. [1993 c 205 § 1.]
Effective date—1993 c 205: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 6, 1993]." [1993 c 205 § 3.]
82.08.02805
82.08.02805 Exemptions—Sales to qualifying blood,
tissue, or blood and tissue banks. (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials to a qualifying blood bank, a
qualifying tissue bank, or a qualifying blood and tissue bank.
The exemption in this section does not apply to the sale of
construction materials, office equipment, building equipment, administrative supplies, or vehicles.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Medical supplies" means any item of tangible personal property, including any repair and replacement parts for
such tangible personal property, used by a qualifying blood
bank, a qualifying tissue bank, or a qualifying blood and tissue bank for the purpose of performing research on, procuring, testing, processing, storing, packaging, distributing, or
using blood, bone, or tissue. The term includes tangible personal property used to:
(i) Provide preparatory treatment of blood, bone, or tissue;
(ii) Control, guide, measure, tune, verify, align, regulate,
test, or physically support blood, bone, or tissue; and
(iii) Protect the health and safety of employees or others
present during research on, procuring, testing, processing,
storing, packaging, distributing, or using blood, bone, or tissue.
(b) "Chemical" means any catalyst, solvent, water, acid,
oil, or other additive that physically or chemically interacts
with blood, bone, or tissue.
(c) "Materials" means any item of tangible personal
property, including, but not limited to, bags, packs, collecting
sets, filtering materials, testing reagents, antisera, and refrigerants used or consumed in performing research on, procuring, testing, processing, storing, packaging, distributing, or
using blood, bone, or tissue.
(d) "Research" means basic and applied research that has
as its objective the design, development, refinement, testing,
marketing, or commercialization of a product, service, or process.
(e) The definitions in RCW 82.04.324 apply to this section. [2004 c 82 § 2; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 4.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
84.36.035.
82.08.02806
82.08.02806 Exemptions—Sales of human blood, tissue, organs, bodies, or body parts for medical research
and quality control testing. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of human blood, tissue,
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.0281
organs, bodies, or body parts for medical research and quality
control testing purposes. [1996 c 141 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 141: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 141 § 3.]
82.08.02807
82.08.02807 Exemptions—Sales to organ procurement organization. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall
not apply to the sales of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials to an organ procurement organization exempt under
RCW 82.04.326. The definitions of medical supplies, chemicals, and materials in *RCW 82.04.324 apply to this section.
This exemption does not apply to the sale of construction
materials, office equipment, building equipment, administrative supplies, or vehicles. [2002 c 113 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.324 was amended by 2004 c 82 § 1, deleting the definitions of "medical supplies," "chemicals," and "materials."
Effective date—2002 c 113: See note following RCW 82.04.326.
82.08.0281
82.08.0281 Exemptions—Sales of prescription drugs.
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales
of drugs for human use dispensed or to be dispensed to
patients, pursuant to a prescription.
(2) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of drugs or devices used for family planning purposes,
including the prevention of conception, for human use dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription.
(3) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of drugs and devices used for family planning purposes,
including the prevention of conception, for human use supplied by a family planning clinic that is under contract with
the department of health to provide family planning services.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Prescription" means an order, formula, or recipe
issued in any form of oral, written, electronic, or other means
of transmission by a duly licensed practitioner authorized by
the laws of this state to prescribe.
(b) "Drug" means a compound, substance, or preparation, and any component of a compound, substance, or preparation, other than food and food ingredients, dietary supplements, or alcoholic beverages:
(i) Recognized in the official United States pharmacopoeia, official homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United
States, or official national formulary, or any supplement to
any of them; or
(ii) Intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
treatment, or prevention of disease; or
(iii) Intended to affect the structure or any function of the
body.
(c) "Over-the-counter drug" means a drug that contains a
label that identifies the product as a drug required by 21
C.F.R. Sec. 201.66, as amended or renumbered on January 1,
2003. The label includes:
(i) A "drug facts" panel; or
(ii) A statement of the "active ingredient(s)" with a list of
those ingredients contained in the compound, substance, or
preparation. [2004 c 153 § 108; 2003 c 168 § 403; 1993 sp.s.
c 25 § 308; 1980 c 37 § 46. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(28).]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
[Title 82 RCW—page 79]
82.08.0282
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Finding—1993 sp.s. c 25: "The legislature finds that prevention is a
significant element in the reduction of health care costs. The legislature further finds that taxing some physician prescriptions and not others is unfair to
patients. It is, therefore, the intent of the legislature to remove the taxes from
prescriptions issued for family planning purposes." [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 307.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0282
82.08.0282 Exemptions—Sales of returnable containers for beverages and foods. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of returnable containers for
beverages and foods, including but not limited to soft drinks,
milk, beer, and mixers. [1980 c 37 § 47. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(29).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0283
82.08.0283 Exemptions—Certain medical items. (1)
The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of:
(a) Prosthetic devices prescribed, fitted, or furnished for
an individual by a person licensed under the laws of this state
to prescribe, fit, or furnish prosthetic devices;
(b) Medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin
prescribed, administered, dispensed, or used in the treatment
of an individual by a person licensed under chapter 18.36A
RCW; and
(c) Medically prescribed oxygen, including, but not limited to, oxygen concentrator systems, oxygen enricher systems, liquid oxygen systems, and gaseous, bottled oxygen
systems prescribed for an individual by a person licensed
under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW for use in the medical
treatment of that individual.
(2) In addition, the tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall
not apply to charges made for labor and services rendered in
respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of
any of the items exempted under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The exemption in subsection (1) of this section shall
not apply to sales of durable medical equipment or mobility
enhancing equipment.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Prosthetic device" means a replacement, corrective,
or supportive device, including repair and replacement parts
for a prosthetic device, worn on or in the body to:
(i) Artificially replace a missing portion of the body;
(ii) Prevent or correct a physical deformity or malfunction; or
(iii) Support a weak or deformed portion of the body.
(b) "Durable medical equipment" means equipment,
including repair and replacement parts for durable medical
equipment that:
(i) Can withstand repeated use;
(ii) Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical
purpose;
(iii) Generally is not useful to a person in the absence of
illness or injury; and
(iv) Does not work in or on the body.
[Title 82 RCW—page 80]
(c) "Mobility enhancing equipment" means equipment,
including repair and replacement parts for mobility enhancing equipment that:
(i) Is primarily and customarily used to provide or
increase the ability to move from one place to another and
that is appropriate for use either in a home or a motor vehicle;
(ii) Is not generally used by persons with normal mobility; and
(iii) Does not include any motor vehicle or equipment on
a motor vehicle normally provided by a motor vehicle manufacturer.
(d) The terms "durable medical equipment" and "mobility enhancing equipment" are mutually exclusive. [2004 c
153 § 101; 2003 c 168 § 409; 2001 c 75 § 1; 1998 c 168 § 2;
1997 c 224 § 1; 1996 c 162 § 1; 1991 c 250 § 2; 1986 c 255 §
1; 1980 c 86 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 48. Formerly RCW
82.08.030(30).]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—2001 c 75: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 19, 2001]." [2001 c 75 § 3.]
Effective date—1998 c 168: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Effective date—1997 c 224: "This act takes effect October 1, 1998."
[1997 c 224 § 3.]
Effective date—1996 c 162: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 162 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—1991 c 250: "(1) The legislature finds:
(a) The existing state policy is to exempt medical oxygen from sales
and use tax.
(b) The technology for supplying medical oxygen has changed substantially in recent years. Many consumers of medical oxygen purchase or rent
equipment that supplies oxygen rather than purchasing oxygen in gaseous
form.
(2) The intent of this act is to bring sales and rental of individual oxygen systems within the existing exemption for medical oxygen, without
expanding the essence of the original policy decision that medical oxygen
should be exempt from sales and use tax." [1991 c 250 § 1.]
Effective date—1986 c 255: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1986."
[1986 c 255 § 3.]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0285
82.08.0285 Exemptions—Sales of ferry vessels to the
state or loca l go vernmental units—Component s
thereof—Labor and service charges. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of ferry vessels to the
state of Washington or to a local governmental unit in the
state of Washington for use in transporting pedestrians, vehicles, and goods within or outside the territorial waters of the
state; also sales of tangible personal property which becomes
a component part of such ferry vessels; also sales of or
charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to
constructing or improving such ferry vessels. [1980 c 37 §
50. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(32).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.08.0287
82.08.0287 Exemptions—Sales of passenger motor
vehicles as ride-sharing vehicles. The tax imposed by this
chapter shall not apply to sales of passenger motor vehicles
which are to be used for commuter ride sharing or ride shar(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
ing for persons with special transportation needs, as defined
in RCW 46.74.010, if the vehicles are used as ride-sharing
vehicles for thirty-six consecutive months beginning from the
date of purchase.
To qualify for the tax exemption, those passenger motor
vehicles with five or six passengers, including the driver,
used for commuter ride-sharing, must be operated either
within the state’s eight largest counties that are required to
develop commute trip reduction plans as directed by chapter
70.94 RCW or in other counties, or cities and towns within
those counties, that elect to adopt and implement a commute
trip reduction plan. Additionally at least one of the following
conditions must apply: (1) The vehicle must be operated by
a public transportation agency for the general public; or (2)
the vehicle must be used by a major employer, as defined in
RCW 70.94.524 as an element of its commute trip reduction
program for their employees; or (3) the vehicle must be
owned and operated by individual employees and must be
registered either with the employer as part of its commute trip
reduction program or with a public transportation agency
serving the area where the employees live or work. Individual
employee owned and operated motor vehicles will require
certification that the vehicle is registered with a major
employer or a public transportation agency. Major employers
who own and operate motor vehicles for their employees
must certify that the commuter ride-sharing arrangement conforms to a carpool/vanpool element contained within their
commute trip reduction program. [2001 c 320 § 4; 1996 c
244 § 4; 1995 c 274 § 2; 1993 c 488 § 2; 1980 c 166 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Finding—1993 c 488: "The legislature finds that ride sharing and vanpools are the fastest growing transportation choice because of their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Ride sharing and vanpools represent an effective
means for local jurisdictions, transit agencies, and the private sector to assist
in addressing the requirements of the Commute Trip Reduction Act, the
Growth Management Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the
Clean Air Act." [1993 c 488 § 1.]
Annual recertification rule—Report—1993 c 488: "The department
shall adopt by rule a process requiring annual recertification upon renewal
for vehicles registered under RCW 46.16.023 to discourage abuse of tax
exemptions under RCW 82.08.0287, 82.12.0282, and 82.44.015. The department of licensing in consultation with the department of transportation shall
submit a report to the legislative transportation committee and the house and
senate standing committees on transportation by July 1, 1996, assessing the
effectiveness of the department of licensing at limiting tax exemptions to
bona fide ride-sharing vehicles." [1993 c 488 § 6.]
Severability—1980 c 166: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1980 c 166 § 4.]
Ride-sharing vehicles—Special plates: RCW 46.16.023.
82.08.02875
82.08.02875 Exemptions—Vehicle parking charges
subject to tax at stadium and exhibition center. The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to vehicle parking
charges that are subject to tax under RCW 36.38.040. [1997
c 220 § 203 (Referendum Bill No. 48, approved June 17,
1997).]
Referendum—Other legislation limited—Legislators’ personal
intent not indicated—Reimbursements for election—Voters’ pamphlet,
election requirements—1997 c 220: See RCW 36.102.800 through
36.102.803.
Part headings not law—Severability—1997 c 220: See RCW
36.102.900 and 36.102.901.
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.0291
82.08.0288
82.08.0288 Exemptions—Lease of certain irrigation
equipment. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to the lease of irrigation equipment if:
(1) The irrigation equipment was purchased by the lessor
for the purpose of irrigating land controlled by the lessor;
(2) The lessor has paid tax under RCW 82.08.020 or
82.12.020 in respect to the irrigation equipment;
(3) The irrigation equipment is attached to the land in
whole or in part; and
(4) The irrigation equipment is leased to the lessee as an
incidental part of the lease of the underlying land to the lessee
and is used solely on such land. [1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 5.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
82.08.0289
82.08.0289 Exemptions—Certain network telephone
service. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of:
(a) Network telephone service, other than toll service, to
residential customers;
(b) Network telephone service which is paid for by
inserting coins in coin-operated telephones;
(c) Mobile telecommunications services, including any
toll service, provided to a customer whose place of primary
use is outside this state.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.04.065, as well as the definitions in this subsection, apply to this section.
(a) "Residential customer" means an individual subscribing to a residential class of telephone service.
(b) "Toll service" does not include customer access line
charges for access to a toll calling network. [2002 c 67 § 6;
1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 30.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.08.0289
82.08.0289 Exemptions—Certain network telephone
service. (Contingent effective date.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of:
(a) Network telephone service, other than toll service, to
residential customers.
(b) Network telephone service which is paid for by
inserting coins in coin-operated telephones.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Network telephone service" has the meaning given
in RCW 82.04.065.
(b) "Residential customer" means an individual subscribing to a residential class of telephone service.
(c) "Toll service" does not include customer access line
charges for access to a toll calling network. [1983 2nd ex.s. c
3 § 30.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.08.0291
82.08.0291 Exemptions—Sales of amusement and
recreation services or personal services by nonprofit
youth organization—Local government physical fitness
classes. The tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply
to the sale of amusement and recreation services, or personal
services specified in RCW 82.04.050(3)(g), by a nonprofit
[Title 82 RCW—page 81]
82.08.02915
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
youth organization, as defined in RCW 82.04.4271, to members of the organization; nor shall the tax apply to physical
fitness classes provided by a local government. [2000 c 103
§ 8; 1994 c 85 § 1; 1981 c 74 § 2.]
Effective date—1994 c 85: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 85 § 2.]
82.08.02915
82.08.02915 Exemptions—Sales used by health or
social welfare organizations for alternative housing for
youth in crisis. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales to health or social welfare organizations, as
defined in RCW 82.04.431, of items necessary for new construction of alternative housing for youth in crisis, so long as
the facility will be a licensed agency under chapter 74.15
RCW, upon completion. [1998 c 183 § 1; 1997 c 386 § 56;
1995 c 346 § 1.]
Effective date—1997 c 386 §§ 56, 57: "Sections 56 and 57 of this act
are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions,
and take effect July 1, 1997." [1997 c 386 § 71.]
Effective date—1995 c 346: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 13, 1995]." [1995 c 346 § 4.]
82.08.02917
82.08.02917 Youth in crisis—Definition—Limited
purpose. For the purposes of RCW 82.08.02915 and
82.12.02915, "youth in crisis" means any youth under eighteen years of age who is either: Homeless; a runaway from
the home of a parent, guardian, or legal custodian; abused;
neglected; abandoned by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian; or suffering from a substance abuse or mental disorder.
[1995 c 346 § 3.]
Effective date—1995 c 346: See note following RCW 82.08.02915.
82.08.0293
82.08.0293 Exemptions—Sales of food and food
ingredients. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales of food and food ingredients. "Food and food
ingredients" means substances, whether in liquid, concentrated, solid, frozen, dried, or dehydrated form, that are sold
for ingestion or chewing by humans and are consumed for
their taste or nutritional value. "Food and food ingredients"
does not include:
(a) "Alcoholic beverages," which means beverages that
are suitable for human consumption and contain one-half of
one percent or more of alcohol by volume; and
(b) "Tobacco," which means cigarettes, cigars, chewing
or pipe tobacco, or any other item that contains tobacco.
(2) The exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to
prepared food, soft drinks, or dietary supplements.
(a) "Prepared food" means:
(i) Food sold in a heated state or heated by the seller;
(ii) Food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller,
including plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, or straws. A plate does not include a container or packaging used to transport the food; or
(iii) Two or more food ingredients mixed or combined
by the seller for sale as a single item, except:
(A) Food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by
the seller; or
[Title 82 RCW—page 82]
(B) Raw eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing
these raw animal foods requiring cooking by the consumer as
recommended by the federal food and drug administration in
chapter 3, part 401.11 of The Food Code, published by the
food and drug administration, as amended or renumbered as
of January 1, 2003, so as to prevent foodborne illness.
(b) "Prepared food" does not include the following food
or food ingredients, if the food or food ingredients are sold
without eating utensils provided by the seller:
(i) Food sold by a seller whose proper primary North
American industry classification system (NAICS) classification is manufacturing in sector 311, except subsector 3118
(bakeries), as provided in the "North American industry classification system—United States, 2002";
(ii) Food sold in an unheated state by weight or volume
as a single item; or
(iii) Bakery items. The term "bakery items" includes
bread, rolls, buns, biscuits, bagels, croissants, pastries,
donuts, Danish, cakes, tortes, pies, tarts, muffins, bars, cookies, or tortillas.
(c) "Soft drinks" means nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not
include beverages that contain: Milk or milk products; soy,
rice, or similar milk substitutes; or greater than fifty percent
of vegetable or fruit juice by volume.
(d) "Dietary supplement" means any product, other than
tobacco, intended to supplement the diet that:
(i) Contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients:
(A) A vitamin;
(B) A mineral;
(C) An herb or other botanical;
(D) An amino acid;
(E) A dietary substance for use by humans to supplement
the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or
(F) A concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or
combination of any ingredient described in this subsection;
(ii) Is intended for ingestion in tablet, capsule, powder,
softgel, gelcap, or liquid form, or if not intended for ingestion
in such form, is not represented as conventional food and is
not represented for use as a sole item of a meal or of the diet;
and
(iii) Is required to be labeled as a dietary supplement,
identifiable by the "supplement facts" box found on the label
as required pursuant to 21 C.F.R. Sec. 101.36, as amended or
renumbered as of January 1, 2003.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided
in this section shall apply to food and food ingredients that
are furnished, prepared, or served as meals:
(a) Under a state administered nutrition program for the
aged as provided for in the Older Americans Act (P.L. 95-478
Title III) and RCW 74.38.040(6); or
(b) That are provided to senior citizens, disabled persons,
or low-income persons by a not-for-profit organization organized under chapter 24.03 or 24.12 RCW.
(4)(a) Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding, the
retail sale of food and food ingredients is subject to sales tax
under RCW 82.08.020 if the food and food ingredients are
sold through a vending machine, and in this case the selling
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
price for purposes of RCW 82.08.020 is fifty-seven percent
of the gross receipts.
(b) This subsection (4) does not apply to hot prepared
food and food ingredients, other than food and food ingredients which are heated after they have been dispensed from the
vending machine.
(c) For tax collected under this subsection (4), the
requirements that the tax be collected from the buyer and that
the amount of tax be stated as a separate item are waived.
[2004 c 153 § 201; 2003 c 168 § 301; 1988 c 103 § 1; 1986 c
182 § 1; 1985 c 104 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 33.]
82.08.0315
commercial deep sea fishing operations or commercial passenger fishing boat operations by persons who are regularly
engaged in the business of commercial deep sea fishing or
commercial passenger fishing boat operations outside the territorial waters of this state.
For purposes of this section, a person is not regularly
engaged in the business of commercial deep sea fishing or the
operation of a commercial passenger fishing boat if the person has gross receipts from these operations of less than five
thousand dollars a year. [1987 c 494 § 1.]
82.08.0299
Effective date—1988 c 103: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1,
1988." [1988 c 103 § 4.]
82.08.0299 Exemptions—Emergency lodging for
homeless persons—Conditions. (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to emergency lodging provided for
homeless persons for a period of less than thirty consecutive
days under a shelter voucher program administered by an eligible organization.
(2) For the purposes of this exemption, an eligible organization includes only cities, towns, and counties, or their
respective agencies, and groups providing emergency food
and shelter services. [1988 c 61 § 1.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective date—1988 c 61: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1988."
[1988 c 61 § 4.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: "(1) Section
201 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and retroactively takes effect January 1, 2004.
(2) This act takes effect July 1, 2004, except section 201 of this act."
[2004 c 153 § 501.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.031
82.08.0294
82.08.0294 Exemptions—Sales of feed for cultivating
or raising fish for sale. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020
shall not apply to sales of feed to persons for use in the cultivating or raising for sale of fish entirely within confined rearing areas on the person’s own land or on land in which the
person has a present right of possession. [1985 c 148 § 3.]
82.08.0296
82.08.0296 Exemptions—Sales of feed consumed by
livestock at a public livestock market. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of feed consumed by
livestock at a public livestock market. [1986 c 265 § 1.]
82.08.0297
82.08.0297 Exemptions—Sales of food purchased
with food stamps. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall
not apply to sales of eligible foods which are purchased with
coupons issued under the food stamp act of 1977 or food
stamp or coupon benefits transferred electronically, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in RCW 82.08.0293.
When a purchase of eligible foods is made with a combination of coupons issued under the food stamp act of 1977 or
food stamp or coupon benefits transferred electronically and
cash, check, or similar payment, the cash, check, or similar
payment shall be applied first to food products exempt from
tax under RCW 82.08.0293 whenever possible.
As used in this section, "eligible foods" shall have the
same meaning as that established under federal law for purposes of the food stamp act of 1977. [1998 c 79 § 18; 1987 c
28 § 1.]
Effective date—1987 c 28: "This act shall take effect October 1, 1987."
[1987 c 28 § 3.]
82.08.0298
82.08.0298 Exemptions—Sales of diesel fuel for use
in operating watercraft in commercial deep sea fishing or
commercial passenger fishing boat operations outside the
state. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of diesel fuel for use in the operation of watercraft in
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.031 Exemptions—Sales to artistic or cultural
organizations of certain objects acquired for exhibition or
presentation. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales to artistic or cultural organizations of objects
which are acquired for the purpose of exhibition or presentation to the general public if the objects are:
(1) Objects of art;
(2) Objects of cultural value;
(3) Objects to be used in the creation of a work of art,
other than tools; or
(4) Objects to be used in displaying art objects or presenting artistic or cultural exhibitions or performances.
[1981 c 140 § 4.]
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
82.08.0311
82.08.0311 Exemptions—Sales of materials and supplies used in packing horticultural products. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of materials
and supplies directly used in the packing of fresh perishable
horticultural products by any person entitled to a deduction
under RCW 82.04.4287 either as an agent or an independent
contractor. [1988 c 68 § 1.]
82.08.0315
82.08.0315 Exemptions—Rentals or sales related to
motion picture or video productions—Exceptions—Certificate. (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Production equipment" means the following when
used in motion picture or video production or postproduction:
Grip and lighting equipment, cameras, camera mounts
including tripods, jib arms, steadicams, and other camera
mounts, cranes, dollies, generators, helicopter mounts, helicopters rented for motion picture or video production, walkie
talkies, vans, trucks, and other vehicles specifically equipped
for motion picture or video production or used solely for production activities, wardrobe and makeup trailers, special
effects and stunt equipment, video assists, videotape record[Title 82 RCW—page 83]
82.08.0316
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ers, cables and connectors, telepromoters [teleprompters],
sound recording equipment, and editorial equipment.
(b) "Production services" means motion picture and
video processing, printing, editing, duplicating, animation,
graphics, special effects, negative cutting, conversions to
other formats or media, stock footage, sound mixing, rerecording, sound sweetening, sound looping, sound effects, and
automatic dialog replacement.
(c) "Motion picture or video production business" means
a person engaged in the production of motion pictures and
video tapes for exhibition, sale, or for broadcast by a person
other than the person producing the motion picture or video
tape.
(2) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to
the rental of production equipment, or the sale of production
services, to a motion picture or video production business.
(3) The exemption provided for in this section shall not
apply to rental of production equipment, or the sale of production services, to a motion picture or video production
business that is engaged, to any degree, in the production of
erotic material, as defined in RCW 9.68.050.
(4) In order to claim an exemption under this section, the
purchaser must provide the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
[1997 c 61 § 1; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 5 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 5: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 5 § 3.]
82.08.0316
82.08.0316 Exemptions—Sales of cigarettes by
Indian retailers. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not
apply to sales of cigarettes by an Indian retailer during the
effective period of a cigarette tax contract subject to RCW
43.06.455 or a cigarette tax agreement under RCW
43.06.465. [2005 c 11 § 3; 2001 c 235 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—Explanatory statement—Effective date—2005 c
11: See notes following RCW 43.06.465.
Intent—Finding—2001 c 235: See RCW 43.06.450.
82.08.032
82.08.032 Exemption—Sales, rental, or lease of used
park model trailers. The tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020
shall not apply to:
(1) Sales of used park model trailers, as defined in RCW
82.45.032;
(2) The renting or leasing of used park model trailers, as
defined in RCW 82.45.032, when the rental agreement or
lease exceeds thirty days in duration. [2001 c 282 § 3.]
Intent—2001 c 282: "It is the intent of the legislature to promote fairness in the application of tax. Therefore, for the purposes of excise tax, park
model trailers will be taxed in the same manner as mobile homes." [2001 c
282 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 282: "This act takes effect August 1, 2001."
[2001 c 282 § 5.]
82.08.033
82.08.033 Exemptions—Sales of used mobile homes
or rental or lease of mobile homes. The tax imposed by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to:
(1) Sales of used mobile homes as defined in RCW
82.45.032.
[Title 82 RCW—page 84]
(2) The renting or leasing of mobile homes if the rental
agreement or lease exceeds thirty days in duration and if the
rental or lease of such mobile home is not conducted jointly
with the provision of short-term lodging for transients. [1986
c 211 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 266 § 3.]
82.08.034
82.08.034 Exemptions—Sales of used floating homes
or rental or lease of used floating homes. The tax imposed
by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to:
(1) Sales of used floating homes, as defined in RCW
82.45.032;
(2) The renting or leasing of used floating homes, as
defined in RCW 82.45.032, when the rental agreement or
lease exceeds thirty days in duration. [1984 c 192 § 3.]
82.08.035
ties.
82.08.035 Exemption for pollution control faciliSee chapter 82.34 RCW.
82.08.036
82.08.036 Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core
deposits or credits" defined. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to consideration: (1) Received as
core deposits or credits in a retail or wholesale sale; or (2)
received or collected upon the sale of a new replacement
vehicle tire as a fee imposed under RCW 70.95.510. For purposes of this section, the term "core deposits or credits"
means the amount representing the value of returnable products such as batteries, starters, brakes, and other products
with returnable value added for the purpose of recycling or
remanufacturing. [1989 c 431 § 45.]
Severability—Section captions not law—1989 c 431: See RCW
70.95.901 and 70.95.902.
82.08.037
82.08.037 Credits and refunds for bad debts. (1) A
seller is entitled to a credit or refund for sales taxes previously paid on bad debts, as that term is used in 26 U.S.C. Sec.
166, as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2003.
(2) For purposes of this section, "bad debts" does not
include:
(a) Amounts due on property that remains in the possession of the seller until the full purchase price is paid;
(b) Expenses incurred in attempting to collect debt; and
(c) Repossessed property.
(3) If a credit or refund of sales tax is taken for a bad debt
and the debt is subsequently collected in whole or in part, the
tax on the amount collected must be paid and reported on the
return filed for the period in which the collection is made.
(4) Payments on a previously claimed bad debt are
applied first proportionally to the taxable price of the property or service and the sales or use tax thereon, and secondly
to interest, service charges, and any other charges.
(5) If the seller uses a certified service provider as
defined in RCW 82.58.010 to administer its sales tax responsibilities, the certified service provider may claim, on behalf
of the seller, the credit or refund allowed by this section. The
certified service provider must credit or refund the full
amount received to the seller.
(6) The department shall allow an allocation of bad debts
among member states to the streamlined sales tax agreement,
as defined in RCW 82.58.010(1), if the books and records of
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
the person claiming bad debts support the allocation. [2004 c
153 § 302; 2003 c 168 § 212; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 35.]
Bad debts—Intent—2004 c 153 §§ 302-305: "For the purposes of sections 302 through 305 of this act, the legislature does not intend by any provision of this act relating to bad debts, and did not intend by any provision of
chapter 168, Laws of 2003 relating to bad debts, to affect the holding of the
supreme court of the state of Washington in Puget Sound National Bank v.
the Department of Revenue, 123 Wn. 2nd 284 (1994)." [2004 c 153 § 301.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.08.040
82.08.040 Consignee, factor, bailee, auctioneer
deemed seller. Every consignee, bailee, factor, or auctioneer
authorized, engaged, or employed to sell or call for bids on
tangible personal property belonging to another, and so selling or calling, shall be deemed the seller of such tangible personal property within the meaning of this chapter and all sales
made by such persons are subject to its provisions even
though the sale would have been exempt from tax hereunder
had it been made directly by the owner of the property sold.
Every consignee, bailee, factor, or auctioneer shall collect
and remit the amount of tax due under this chapter with
respect to sales made or called by him: PROVIDED, That if
the owner of the property sold is engaged in the business of
selling tangible personal property in this state the tax
imposed under this chapter may be remitted by such owner
under such rules and regulations as the department of revenue
shall prescribe. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 46; 1961 c 15 §
82.08.040. Prior: 1939 c 225 § 8; 1935 c 180 § 18; RRS §
8370-18.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.050
82.08.050 Buyer to pay, seller to collect tax—Statement of tax—Exception—Penalties—Contingent expiration of subsection. (1) The tax hereby imposed shall be paid
by the buyer to the seller, and each seller shall collect from
the buyer the full amount of the tax payable in respect to each
taxable sale in accordance with the schedule of collections
adopted by the department pursuant to the provisions of
RCW 82.08.060.
(2) The tax required by this chapter, to be collected by
the seller, shall be deemed to be held in trust by the seller
until paid to the department, and any seller who appropriates
or converts the tax collected to his or her own use or to any
use other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the
money required to be collected is not available for payment
on the due date as prescribed in this chapter is guilty of a
gross misdemeanor.
(3) In case any seller fails to collect the tax herein
imposed or, having collected the tax, fails to pay it to the
department in the manner prescribed by this chapter, whether
such failure is the result of his or her own acts or the result of
acts or conditions beyond his or her control, he or she shall,
nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount
of the tax, unless the seller has taken from the buyer a resale
certificate under RCW 82.04.470, a copy of a direct pay permit issued under RCW 82.32.087, information required
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.050
under the streamlined sales and use tax agreement, or information required under rules adopted by the department. Sellers shall not be relieved from personal liability for the amount
of the tax unless they maintain proper records of exempt
transactions and provide them to the department when
requested.
(4) The amount of tax, until paid by the buyer to the
seller or to the department, shall constitute a debt from the
buyer to the seller and any seller who fails or refuses to collect the tax as required with intent to violate the provisions of
this chapter or to gain some advantage or benefit, either direct
or indirect, and any buyer who refuses to pay any tax due
under this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(5) The tax required by this chapter to be collected by the
seller shall be stated separately from the selling price in any
sales invoice or other instrument of sale. On all retail sales
through vending machines, the tax need not be stated separately from the selling price or collected separately from the
buyer. For purposes of determining the tax due from the
buyer to the seller and from the seller to the department it
shall be conclusively presumed that the selling price quoted
in any price list, sales document, contract or other agreement
between the parties does not include the tax imposed by this
chapter, but if the seller advertises the price as including the
tax or that the seller is paying the tax, the advertised price
shall not be considered the selling price.
(6) Where a buyer has failed to pay to the seller the tax
imposed by this chapter and the seller has not paid the
amount of the tax to the department, the department may, in
its discretion, proceed directly against the buyer for collection of the tax, in which case a penalty of ten percent may be
added to the amount of the tax for failure of the buyer to pay
the same to the seller, regardless of when the tax may be collected by the department; and all of the provisions of chapter
82.32 RCW, including those relative to interest and penalties,
shall apply in addition; and, for the sole purpose of applying
the various provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW, the twentyfifth day of the month following the tax period in which the
purchase was made shall be considered as the due date of the
tax.
(7) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (6) of this
section, any person making sales is not obligated to collect
the tax imposed by this chapter if:
(a) The person’s activities in this state, whether conducted directly or through another person, are limited to:
(i) The storage, dissemination, or display of advertising;
(ii) The taking of orders; or
(iii) The processing of payments; and
(b) The activities are conducted electronically via a web
site on a server or other computer equipment located in
Washington that is not owned or operated by the person making sales into this state nor owned or operated by an affiliated
person. "Affiliated persons" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.424.
(8) Subsection (7) of this section expires when: (a) The
United States congress grants individual states the authority
to impose sales and use tax collection duties on remote sellers; or (b) it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to review, that a state can
impose sales and use tax collection duties on remote sellers.
[2003 c 168 § 203; 2003 c 76 § 3; 2003 c 53 § 400; 2001 c 188
[Title 82 RCW—page 85]
82.08.054
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
§ 4; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 704; 1992 c 206 § 2; 1986 c 36 § 1; 1985
c 38 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 7; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 15; 1961 c
15 § 82.08.050. Prior: 1951 c 44 § 1; 1949 c 228 § 6; 1941 c
71 § 3; 1939 c 225 § 11; 1937 c 227 § 7; 1935 c 180 § 21;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-21.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 53 § 400, 2003 c
76 § 3, and by 2003 c 168 § 203, each without reference to the other. All
amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Intent—2003 c 76: See note following RCW 82.04.424.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2001 c 188: See notes following
RCW 82.32.087.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Project on exemption reporting requirements: RCW 82.32.440.
82.08.054
82.08.054 Computation of tax due. Sellers shall compute the tax due under this chapter and chapters 82.12 and
82.14 RCW by carrying the computation to the third decimal
place and rounding to a whole cent using a method that
rounds up to the next cent whenever the third decimal place is
greater than four. Sellers may elect to compute the tax due on
a transaction on an item or an invoice basis. This rounding
rule shall be applied to the aggregated state and local taxes.
[2003 c 168 § 210.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.055
82.08.055 Advertisement of price. A seller may advertise the price as including the tax or that the seller is paying
the tax, subject to the following conditions:
(1) Unless the advertised price is one in a listed series,
the words "tax included" are stated immediately following
the advertised price and in print size at least half as large as
the advertised price;
(2) If the advertised prices are listed in a series, the
words "tax included in all prices" are placed conspicuously at
the head of the list and in the same print size as the advertised
prices;
(3) If a price is advertised as "tax included," the price
listed on any price tag shall be shown in the same manner;
and
(4) All advertised prices and the words "tax included"
are stated in the same medium, be it oral or visual, and if oral,
in substantially the same inflection and volume. [1985 c 38 §
2.]
82.08.060
82.08.060 Collection of tax—Methods and schedules.
The department of revenue shall have power to adopt rules
and regulations prescribing methods and schedules for the
collection of the tax required to be collected by the seller
from the buyer under this chapter. The methods and schedules prescribed shall be adopted so as to eliminate the collection of fractions of one cent and so as to provide that the
[Title 82 RCW—page 86]
aggregate collections of all taxes by the seller shall, insofar as
practicable, equal the amount of tax imposed by this chapter.
Such schedules may provide that no tax need be collected
from the buyer upon sales below a stated sum and may be
amended from time to time to accomplish the purposes set
forth herein. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 47; 1961 c 15 §
82.08.060. Prior: 1951 c 44 § 2; 1941 c 76 § 4; 1935 c 180 §
22; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-22.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.064
82.08.064 Tax rate changes. (1) A sales and use tax
rate change under this chapter or chapter 82.12 RCW shall be
imposed (a) no sooner than seventy-five days after its enactment into law and (b) only on the first day of January, April,
July, or October.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the
tax rate change in section 301, chapter 361, Laws of 2003.
(3)(a) A sales and use tax rate increase under this chapter
or chapter 82.12 RCW imposed on services applies to the
first billing period starting on or after the effective date of the
increase.
(b) A sales and use tax rate decrease under this chapter or
chapter 82.12 RCW imposed on services applies to bills rendered on or after the effective date of the decrease.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (3), "services"
means retail services such as installing and constructing and
retail services such as telecommunications, but does not
include services such as tattooing. [2003 c 361 § 304; 2003 c
168 § 205; 2000 c 104 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 168 § 205 and by
2003 c 361 § 304, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2000 c 104: See notes following
RCW 82.14.055.
82.08.066
82.08.066 Deemed location for mobile telecommunications services. (Contingent expiration date.) For the purposes of this chapter, mobile telecommunications services
are deemed to have occurred at the customer’s place of primary use, regardless of where the mobile telecommunications services originate, terminate, or pass through, consistent
with the mobile telecommunications sourcing act, P.L. 106252, 4 U.S.C. Secs. 116 through 126. The definitions in RCW
82.04.065 apply to this section. [2002 c 67 § 5.]
Finding—Continency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.08.080
82.08.080 Vending machine and other sales. (1) The
department of revenue may authorize a seller to pay the tax
levied under this chapter upon sales made under conditions of
business such as to render impracticable the collection of the
tax as a separate item and waive collection of the tax from the
customer. Where sales are made by a vending machine that
results in delivery of the merchandise in single purchases of
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
smaller value than the minimum sale upon which a one cent
tax may be collected from the purchaser, according to the
schedule provided by the department under authority of
RCW 82.08.060, and where the design of the sales device is
such that multiple sales of items are not possible or cannot be
detected so as practically to assess a tax, in such a case the
selling price for the purposes of the tax imposed under RCW
82.08.020 shall be sixty percent of the gross receipts of the
vending machine through which such sales are made.
(2) No such authority shall be granted except upon application to the department and unless the department, after
hearing, finds that the conditions of the applicant’s business
are such as to render impracticable the collection of the tax in
the manner otherwise provided. The department, by rule,
may provide that the applicant, under this section, furnish a
proper bond sufficient to secure the payment of the tax.
(3) "Vending machine" means a machine or other
mechanical device that accepts payment and:
(a) Dispenses tangible personal property;
(b) Provides facilities for installing, repairing, cleaning,
altering, imprinting, or improving tangible personal property;
or
(c) Provides a service to the buyer. [2004 c 153 § 409;
1986 c 36 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 48; 1963 c 244 § 2; 1961
c 15 § 82.08.080. Prior: 1937 c 227 § 8; 1935 c 180 § 24;
RRS § 8370-24.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.130
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.110
82.08.110 Sales from vehicles. In the case of a person
who has no fixed place of business and sells from one or more
vehicles, each such vehicle shall constitute a "place of business" within the meaning of chapter 82.32 RCW. [1961 c 15
§ 82.08.110. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 26; RRS § 8370-26.]
82.08.120
82.08.120 Refunding or rebating of tax by seller prohibited—Penalty. Whoever, excepting as expressly authorized by this chapter, refunds, remits, or rebates to a buyer,
either directly or indirectly and by whatever means, all or any
part of the tax levied by this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The violation of this section by any person holding a license granted by the state or any political subdivision
thereof shall be sufficient grounds for the cancellation of the
license of such person upon written notification by the
department of revenue to the proper officer of the department
granting the license that such person has violated the provisions of this section. Before any license shall be canceled
hereunder, the licensee shall be entitled to a hearing before
the department granting the license under such regulations as
the department may prescribe. [1985 c 38 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s.
c 278 § 51; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.120. Prior: 1939 c 225 § 13;
1935 c 180 § 27; RRS § 8370-27.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.090
82.08.090 Installment sales and leases. In the case of
installment sales and leases of personal property, the department of revenue, by regulation, may provide for the collection of taxes upon the installments of the purchase price, or
amount of rental, as of the time the same fall due. [1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 49; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.090. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3
§ 8; 1959 c 197 § 4; prior: 1941 c 178 § 9, part; 1939 c 225 §
12, part; 1935 c 180 § 25, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-25,
part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.08.100
82.08.100 Cash receipts taxpayers—Bad debts. The
department of revenue, by general regulation, shall provide
that a taxpayer whose regular books of account are kept on a
cash receipts basis may file returns based upon his cash
receipts for each reporting period and pay the tax herein provided upon such basis in lieu of reporting and paying the tax
on all sales made during such period. A taxpayer filing
returns on a cash receipts basis is not required to pay such tax
on debt subject to credit or refund under RCW 82.08.037.
[2004 c 153 § 303; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 37; 1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 50; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.100. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 9;
1959 c 197 § 5; prior: 1941 c 178 § 9, part; 1939 c 225 § 12,
part; 1935 c 180 § 25, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-25,
part.]
Bad debts—Intent—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.037.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.130
82.08.130 Resale certificate—Purchase and resale—
Rules. If a buyer normally is engaged in both consuming and
reselling certain types of articles of tangible personal property and is not able to determine at the time of purchase
whether the particular property acquired will be consumed or
resold, the buyer may use a resale certificate for the entire
purchase if the buyer principally resells the articles according
to the general nature of the buyer’s business. The buyer shall
account for the value of any articles purchased with a resale
certificate that are used by the buyer and remit the sales tax
on the articles to the department.
A buyer who pays a tax on all purchases and subsequently resells an article at retail, without intervening use by
the buyer, shall collect the tax from the purchaser as otherwise provided by law and is entitled to a deduction on the
buyer’s tax return equal to the cost to the buyer of the property resold upon which retail sales tax has been paid. The
deduction is allowed only if the taxpayer keeps and preserves
records that show the names of the persons from whom the
articles were purchased, the date of the purchase, the type of
articles, the amount of the purchase, and the tax that was paid.
The department shall provide by rule for the refund or credit
of retail sales tax paid by a buyer for purchases that are later
sold at wholesale without intervening use by the buyer.
[1993 sp.s. c 25 § 702.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Resale certificates: RCW 82.04.470 and 82.32.291.
[Title 82 RCW—page 87]
82.08.140
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.08.140
82.08.140 Administration. The provisions of RCW
82.04.470 and all of the provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW
shall have full force and application with respect to taxes
imposed under the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 15 §
82.08.140. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 30; RRS § 8370-30.]
82.08.150
82.08.150 Tax on certain sales of intoxicating
liquors—Additional taxes for specific purposes—Collection. (1) There is levied and shall be collected a tax upon
each retail sale of spirits in the original package at the rate of
fifteen percent of the selling price. The tax imposed in this
subsection shall apply to all such sales including sales by the
Washington state liquor stores and agencies, but excluding
sales to spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licensees.
(2) There is levied and shall be collected a tax upon each
sale of spirits in the original package at the rate of ten percent
of the selling price on sales by Washington state liquor stores
and agencies to spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licensees.
(3) There is levied and shall be collected an additional
tax upon each retail sale of spirits in the original package at
the rate of one dollar and seventy-two cents per liter. The
additional tax imposed in this subsection shall apply to all
such sales including sales by Washington state liquor stores
and agencies, and including sales to spirits, beer, and wine
restaurant licensees.
(4) An additional tax is imposed equal to fourteen percent multiplied by the taxes payable under subsections (1),
(2), and (3) of this section.
(5) An additional tax is imposed upon each retail sale of
spirits in the original package at the rate of seven cents per
liter. The additional tax imposed in this subsection shall
apply to all such sales including sales by Washington state
liquor stores and agencies, and including sales to spirits, beer,
and wine restaurant licensees. All revenues collected during
any month from this additional tax shall be deposited in the
violence reduction and drug enforcement account under
RCW 69.50.520 by the twenty-fifth day of the following
month.
(6)(a) An additional tax is imposed upon retail sale of
spirits in the original package at the rate of one and seventenths percent of the selling price through June 30, 1995, two
and six-tenths percent of the selling price for the period July
1, 1995, through June 30, 1997, and three and four-tenths of
the selling price thereafter. This additional tax applies to all
such sales including sales by Washington state liquor stores
and agencies, but excluding sales to spirits, beer, and wine
restaurant licensees.
(b) An additional tax is imposed upon retail sale of spirits in the original package at the rate of one and one-tenth percent of the selling price through June 30, 1995, one and
seven-tenths percent of the selling price for the period July 1,
1995, through June 30, 1997, and two and three-tenths of the
selling price thereafter. This additional tax applies to all such
sales to spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licensees.
(c) An additional tax is imposed upon each retail sale of
spirits in the original package at the rate of twenty cents per
liter through June 30, 1995, thirty cents per liter for the period
July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1997, and forty-one cents per
liter thereafter. This additional tax applies to all such sales
including sales by Washington state liquor stores and agen[Title 82 RCW—page 88]
cies, and including sales to spirits, beer, and wine restaurant
licensees.
(d) All revenues collected during any month from additional taxes under this subsection shall be deposited in the
health services account created under RCW 43.72.900 by the
twenty-fifth day of the following month.
(7)(a) An additional tax is imposed upon each retail sale
of spirits in the original package at the rate of one dollar and
thirty-three cents per liter. This additional tax applies to all
such sales including sales by Washington state liquor stores
and agencies, but excluding sales to spirits, beer, and wine
restaurant licensees.
(b) All revenues collected during any month from additional taxes under this subsection shall be deposited by the
twenty-fifth day of the following month as follows:
(i) 97.5 percent into the general fund;
(ii) 2.3 percent into the health services account created
under RCW 43.72.900; and
(iii) 0.2 percent into the violence reduction and drug
enforcement account created under RCW 69.50.520.
(8) The tax imposed in RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply
to sales of spirits in the original package.
(9) The taxes imposed in this section shall be paid by the
buyer to the seller, and each seller shall collect from the buyer
the full amount of the tax payable in respect to each taxable
sale under this section. The taxes required by this section to
be collected by the seller shall be stated separately from the
selling price and for purposes of determining the tax due from
the buyer to the seller, it shall be conclusively presumed that
the selling price quoted in any price list does not include the
taxes imposed by this section.
(10) As used in this section, the terms, "spirits" and
"package" shall have the meaning ascribed to them in chapter
66.04 RCW. [2005 c 514 § 201; 2003 c 167 § 11; 1998 c 126
§ 16; 1997 c 321 § 55; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 903 (Referendum Bill
No. 43, approved November 8, 1994); 1993 c 492 § 310;
1989 c 271 § 503; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 12; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35
§ 3; 1981 1st ex.s. c 5 § 25; 1973 1st ex.s. c 204 § 1; 1971
ex.s. c 299 § 9; 1969 ex.s. c 21 § 11; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 16;
1965 c 42 § 1; 1961 ex.s. c 24 § 2; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.150.
Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 9; 1957 c 279 § 4; 1955 c 396 § 1;
1953 c 91 § 5; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 28 § 5.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective date—2003 c 167: See note following RCW 66.24.244.
Report to legislature—2003 c 167: See note following RCW
66.24.250.
Effective date—1998 c 126: See note following RCW 66.20.010.
Effective date—1997 c 321: See note following RCW 66.24.010.
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Effective dates—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 66.28.200.
Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
82.08.806
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
ies, or towns are found to be in noncompliance pursuant to
RCW 36.70A.340. [1991 sp.s. c 32 § 36.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Section headings not law—1991 sp.s. c 32: See RCW 36.70A.902.
Severability—Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 66.98.090
and 66.98.100.
Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 204: "This 1973 amendatory act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect the first day of July, 1973." [1973 1st ex.s. c 204
§ 4.]
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 21: See note following RCW 64.04.010.
82.08.160
82.08.160 Remittance of tax—Liquor excise tax fund
created. On or before the twenty-fifth day of each month, all
taxes collected under RCW 82.08.150 during the preceding
month shall be remitted to the state department of revenue, to
be deposited with the state treasurer. Upon receipt of such
moneys the state treasurer shall credit sixty-five percent of
the sums collected and remitted under RCW 82.08.150 (1)
and (2) and one hundred percent of the sums collected and
remitted under RCW 82.08.150 (3) and (4) to the state general fund and thirty-five percent of the sums collected and
remitted under RCW 82.08.150 (1) and (2) to a fund which is
hereby created to be known as the "liquor excise tax fund."
[1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 4; 1981 1st ex.s. c 5 § 26; 1969 ex.s. c
21 § 12; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.160. Prior: 1955 c 396 § 2.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Severability—Effective date—1981 1st ex.s. c 5: See RCW 66.98.090
and 66.98.100.
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 21: See note following RCW 66.04.010.
82.08.170
82.08.170 Apportionment and distribution from
liquor excise tax fund. (1) During the months of January,
April, July and October of each year, the state treasurer shall
make the apportionment and distribution of all moneys in the
liquor excise tax fund to the counties, cities and towns in the
following proportions: (a) Twenty percent of the moneys in
the liquor excise tax fund shall be divided among and distributed to the counties of the state in accordance with the provisions of RCW 66.08.200; and (b) eighty percent of the moneys in the liquor excise tax fund shall be divided among and
distributed to the cities and towns of the state in accordance
with the provisions of RCW 66.08.210.
(2) Each fiscal quarter and prior to making the twenty
percent distribution to counties under subsection (1)(a) of this
section, the treasurer shall transfer to the county research services account under RCW 43.110.050 sufficient moneys to
fund the allotments from any legislative appropriations from
the county research services account. [2002 c 38 § 3; 1997 c
437 § 4; 1983 c 3 § 215; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.170. Prior: 1955
c 396 § 3.]
Effective date—1997 c 437: See note following RCW 43.110.010.
82.08.180
82.08.180 Apportionment and distribution from
liquor excise tax fund—Withholding for noncompliance.
The governor may notify and direct the state treasurer to
withhold the revenues to which the counties, cities, and
towns are entitled under RCW 82.08.170 if the counties, cit(2006 Ed.)
82.08.803 Exemptions—Nebulizers. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of nebulizers, including repair and replacement parts for nebulizers, for human
use pursuant to a prescription. In addition, the tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to charges made for labor and
services rendered in respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of nebulizers. "Nebulizer" means a device,
not a building fixture, that converts a liquid medication into a
mist so that it can be inhaled. [2004 c 153 § 104.]
82.08.803
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
82.08.804 Exemptions—Ostomic items. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of ostomic
items used by colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy patients.
"Ostomic items" means disposable medical supplies used by
colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy patients, and includes
bags, belts to hold up bags, tapes, tubes, adhesives, deodorants, soaps, jellies, creams, germicides, and other like supplies. "Ostomic items" does not include undergarments, pads
and shields to protect undergarments, sponges, or rubber
sheets. [2004 c 153 § 106.]
82.08.804
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
82.08.805 Exemptions—Tangible personal property
used at an aluminum smelter. (1) A person who has paid
tax under RCW 82.08.020 for tangible personal property
used at an aluminum smelter, tangible personal property that
will be incorporated as an ingredient or component of buildings or other structures at an aluminum smelter, or for labor
and services rendered with respect to such buildings, structures, or tangible personal property, is eligible for an exemption from the state share of the tax in the form of a credit, as
provided in this section. A person claiming an exemption
must pay the tax and may then take a credit equal to the state
share of retail sales tax paid under RCW 82.08.020. The person shall submit information, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, specifying the amount of qualifying purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is
claimed and the amount of exempted tax.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "aluminum smelter"
has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.217.
(3) Credits may not be claimed under this section for taxable events occurring on or after January 1, 2012. [2006 c
182 § 3; 2004 c 24 § 10.]
82.08.805
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.08.806 Exemptions—Sale of computer equipment
parts and services to printer or publisher. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales, to a printer or
publisher, of computer equipment, including repair parts and
replacement parts for such equipment, when the computer
equipment is used primarily in the printing or publishing of
any printed material, or to sales of or charges made for labor
and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing,
82.08.806
[Title 82 RCW—page 89]
82.08.807
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
cleaning, altering, or improving the computer equipment.
This exemption applies only to computer equipment not otherwise exempt under RCW 82.08.02565.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. This exemption is available only
when the purchaser provides the seller with an exemption
certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the
seller’s files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection (3) apply throughout this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Computer" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.215.
(b) "Computer equipment" means a computer and the
associated physical components that constitute a computer
system, including monitors, keyboards, printers, modems,
scanners, pointing devices, and other computer peripheral
equipment, cables, servers, and routers. "Computer equipment" also includes digital cameras and computer software.
(c) "Computer software" has the same meaning as in
RCW 82.04.215.
(d) "Primarily" means greater than fifty percent as measured by time.
(e) "Printer or publisher" means a person, as defined in
RCW 82.04.030, who is subject to tax under RCW
82.04.280(1).
(4) "Computer equipment" does not include computer
equipment that is used primarily for administrative purposes
including but not limited to payroll processing, accounting,
customer service, telemarketing, and collection. If computer
equipment is used simultaneously for administrative and nonadministrative purposes, the administrative use shall be disregarded during the period of simultaneous use for purposes of
determining whether the computer equipment is used primarily for administrative purposes. [2004 c 8 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2004 c 8: "(1) The legislature finds that the manufacturer’s machinery and equipment sales and use tax exemption is vital to
the continued development of economic opportunity in this state, including
the development of new businesses and the expansion or modernization of
existing businesses.
(2) The legislature finds that the printing and publishing industries
have not been able to realize the benefits of the manufacturer’s machinery
and equipment sales and use tax exemption to the same extent as other manufacturing industries due to dramatic changes in business methods caused by
computer technology not contemplated when the manufacturer’s machinery
and equipment sales and use tax exemption was adopted. As a result of these
changes in business methods, a substantial amount of computer equipment
used by printers and publishers is not eligible for the manufacturer’s machinery and equipment sales and use tax exemption because the computer equipment is not used within the manufacturing site.
(3) The legislature further finds that additional incentives for printers
and publishers need to be adopted to provide these industries with similar
benefits as the manufacturer’s machinery and equipment sales and use tax
exemption provides for other manufacturing industries, and in recognition of
the rapid rate of technological advancement in business methods undergone
by the printing and publishing industries. The legislature intends to accomplish this by providing a sales and use tax exemption to printers and publishers for computer equipment, not otherwise eligible for the manufacturer’s
machinery and equipment sales and use tax exemption, used primarily in the
printing or publishing of printed material, and for labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving such
computer equipment." [2004 c 8 § 1.]
82.08.807
82.08.807 Exemptions—Direct mail delivery
charges. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply
[Title 82 RCW—page 90]
to delivery charges made for the delivery of direct mail if the
charges are separately stated on an invoice or similar billing
document given to the purchaser. [2005 c 514 § 115.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.08.808
82.08.808 Exemptions—Sales of medical supplies,
chemicals, or materials to comprehensive cancer centers.
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the
sale of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials to a comprehensive cancer center. The exemption in this section does not
apply to the sale of construction materials, office equipment,
building equipment, administrative supplies, or vehicles.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Comprehensive cancer center" has the meaning provided in RCW 82.04.4265.
(b) "Chemical" means any catalyst, solvent, water, acid,
oil, or other additive that physically or chemically interacts
with blood, bone, or tissue.
(c) "Materials" means any item of tangible personal
property, including, but not limited to, bags, packs, collecting
sets, filtering materials, testing reagents, antisera, and refrigerants used or consumed in performing research on, procuring, testing, processing, storing, packaging, distributing, or
using blood, bone, or tissue.
(d) "Research" means basic and applied research that has
as its objective the design, development, refinement, testing,
marketing, or commercialization of a product, service, or process.
(e) "Medical supplies" means any item of tangible personal property, including any repair and replacement parts for
such tangible personal property, used by a comprehensive
cancer center for the purpose of performing research on, procuring, testing, processing, storing, packaging, distributing,
or using blood, bone, or tissue. The term includes tangible
personal property used to:
(i) Provide preparatory treatment of blood, bone, or tissue;
(ii) Control, guide, measure, tune, verify, align, regulate,
test, or physically support blood, bone, or tissue; and
(iii) Protect the health and safety of employees or others
present during research on, procuring, testing, processing,
storing, packaging, distributing, or using blood, bone, or tissue. [2005 c 514 § 402.]
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 401-403: See note following RCW
82.04.4265.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.08.809 Exemptions—Vehicles using clean alternative fuels. (Effective January 1, 2009, until January 1,
2011.) (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply
to sales of new passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium
duty passenger vehicles, which are exclusively powered by a
clean alternative fuel.
(2) The seller must keep records necessary for the
department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) As used in this section, "clean alternative fuel" means
natural gas, propane, hydrogen, or electricity, when used as a
82.08.809
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
fuel in a motor vehicle that meets the California motor vehicle emission standards in Title 13 of the California code of
regulations, effective January 1, 2005, and the rules of the
Washington state department of ecology. [2005 c 296 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 296: "This act takes effect January 1, 2009."
[2005 c 296 § 5.]
Expiration date—2005 c 296: "This act expires January 1, 2011."
[2005 c 296 § 6.]
82.08.810
82.08.810 Exemptions—Air pollution control facilities at a thermal electric generation facility—Exceptions—Exemption certificate—Payments on cessation of
operation. (1) For the purposes of this section, "air pollution
control facilities" mean any treatment works, control devices
and disposal systems, machinery, equipment, structures,
property, property improvements, and accessories, that are
installed or acquired for the primary purpose of reducing,
controlling, or disposing of industrial waste that, if released
to the outdoor atmosphere, could cause air pollution, or that
are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to
their construction, installation, or operation.
(2) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to:
(a) Sales of tangible personal property to a light and
power business, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, for construction or installation of air pollution control facilities at a thermal electric generation facility; or
(b) Sales of, cost of, or charges made for labor and services performed in respect to the construction or installation
of air pollution control facilities.
(3) The exemption provided under this section applies
only to sales, costs, or charges:
(a) Incurred for air pollution control facilities constructed or installed after May 15, 1997, and used in a thermal
electric generation facility placed in operation after December 31, 1969, and before July 1, 1975;
(b) If the air pollution control facilities are constructed or
installed to meet applicable regulatory requirements established under state or federal law, including the Washington
clean air act, chapter 70.94 RCW; and
(c) For which the purchaser provides the seller with an
exemption certificate, signed by the purchaser or purchaser’s
agent, that includes a description of items or services for
which payment is made, the amount of the payment, and such
additional information as the department reasonably may
require.
(4) This section does not apply to sales of tangible personal property purchased or to sales of, costs of, or charges
made for labor and services used for maintenance or repairs
of pollution control equipment.
(5) If production of electricity at a thermal electric generation facility for any calendar year after 2002 and before
2023 falls below a twenty percent annual capacity factor for
the generation facility, all or a portion of the tax previously
exempted under this section in respect to construction or
installation of air pollution control facilities at the generation
facility shall be due as follows:
Year event occurs
2003
2004
(2006 Ed.)
Portion of previously
exempted tax due
100%
95%
82.08.811
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
(6) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section. [1997 c 368
§ 2.]
Findings—Intent—1997 c 368: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Thermal electric generation facilities play an important role in providing jobs for residents of the communities where such plants are located;
and
(b) Taxes paid by thermal electric generation facilities help to support
schools and local and state government operations.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to assist thermal electric generation
facilities placed in operation after December 31, 1969, and before July 1,
1975, to update their air pollution control equipment and abate pollution by
extending certain tax exemptions and credits so that such plants may continue to play a long-term vital economic role in the communities where they
are located." [1997 c 368 § 1.]
Rules adoption—1997 c 368: "The department of revenue and the
department of ecology may adopt rules to implement this act." [1997 c 368
§ 15.]
Severability—1997 c 368: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 368 § 16.]
Effective date—1997 c 368: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 15, 1997]." [1997 c 368 § 17.]
82.08.811
82.08.811 Exemptions—Coal used at coal-fired thermal electric generation facility—Application—Demonstration of progress in air pollution control—Notice of
emissions violations—Reapplication—Payments on cessation of operation. (1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Air pollution control facilities" means any treatment
works, control devices and disposal systems, machinery,
equipment, structure, property, property improvements, and
accessories, that are installed or acquired for the primary purpose of reducing, controlling, or disposing of industrial waste
that, if released to the outdoor atmosphere, could cause air
pollution, or that are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to their construction, installation, or operation; and
(b) "Generation facility" means a coal-fired thermal electric generation facility placed in operation after December 3,
1969, and before July 1, 1975.
(2) Beginning January 1, 1999, the tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 does not apply to sales of coal used to generate
[Title 82 RCW—page 91]
82.08.813
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
electric power at a generation facility operated by a business
if the following conditions are met:
(a) The owners must make an application to the department of revenue for a tax exemption;
(b) The owners must make a demonstration to the department of ecology that the owners have made reasonable initial
progress to install air pollution control facilities to meet
applicable regulatory requirements established under state or
federal law, including the Washington clean air act, chapter
70.94 RCW;
(c) Continued progress must be made on the development of air pollution control facilities to meet the requirements of the permit; and
(d) The generation facility must emit no more than ten
thousand tons of sulfur dioxide during a previous consecutive
twelve-month period.
(3) During a consecutive twelve-month period, if the
generation facility is found to be in violation of excessive sulfur dioxide emissions from a regional air pollution control
authority or the department of ecology, the department of
ecology shall notify the department of revenue and the owners of the generation facility shall lose their tax exemption
under this section. The owners of a generation facility may
reapply for the tax exemption when they have once again met
the conditions of subsection (2)(d) of this section.
(4) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section. [1997 c 368
§ 4.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
82.08.813
82.08.813 Exemptions—High gas mileage vehicles.
(Effective January 1, 2009, until January 1, 2011.) (1) The
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of new
passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger
vehicles, which utilize hybrid technology and have a United
States environmental protection agency estimated highway
gasoline mileage rating of at least forty miles per gallon.
(2) The seller must keep records necessary for the
department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) As used in this section, "hybrid technology" means
propulsion units powered by both electricity and gasoline.
[2005 c 296 § 2.]
Effective date—Expiration date—2005 c 296: See notes following
RCW 82.08.809.
82.08.815
82.08.815 Exemptions—Property and services
related to electrification systems to power heavy duty diesel vehicles. (Expires July 1, 2015.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of machinery and
equipment, or to services rendered in respect to constructing
structures, installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, decorating, altering, or improving of structures or machinery and
equipment, or to sales of tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of structures or machinery and equipment, if the machinery, equipment, or structure
is integral and necessary for the retail sale, lease, or rental of
auxiliary power to heavy duty diesel vehicles through
onboard or stand-alone electrification systems. Structures
and machinery and equipment that are used for the retail sale,
lease, or rental of auxiliary power to heavy duty diesel vehicles through onboard or stand-alone electrification systems
[Title 82 RCW—page 92]
are exempt only on the portion integral and necessary for providing that service.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4338 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2015. [2006 c 323 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 323: See note following RCW 82.04.4338.
82.08.820
82.08.820 Exemptions—Remittance—Warehouse
and grain elevators and distribution centers—Materialhandling and racking equipment—Construction of warehou se or elevator—Information sheet—Rules —
Records—Exceptions. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1)
Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own or operate
warehouses or grain elevators and retailers who own or operate distribution centers, and who have paid the tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 on:
(a) Material-handling and racking equipment, and labor
and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
(b) Construction of a warehouse or grain elevator,
including materials, and including service and labor costs,
are eligible for an exemption in the form of a remittance. The
amount of the remittance is computed under subsection (3) of
this section and is based on the state share of sales tax.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.820:
(a) "Agricultural products" has the meaning given in
RCW 82.04.213;
(b) "Construction" means the actual construction of a
warehouse or grain elevator that did not exist before the construction began. "Construction" includes expansion if the
expansion adds at least two hundred thousand square feet of
additional space to an existing warehouse or additional storage capacity of at least one million bushels to an existing
grain elevator. "Construction" does not include renovation,
remodeling, or repair;
(c) "Department" means the department of revenue;
(d) "Distribution center" means a warehouse that is used
exclusively by a retailer solely for the storage and distribution of finished goods to retail outlets of the retailer. "Distribution center" does not include a warehouse at which retail
sales occur;
(e) "Finished goods" means tangible personal property
intended for sale by a retailer or wholesaler. "Finished
goods" does not include agricultural products stored by
wholesalers, third-party warehouses, or retailers if the storage
takes place on the land of the person who produced the agricultural product. "Finished goods" does not include logs,
minerals, petroleum, gas, or other extracted products stored
as raw materials or in bulk;
(f) "Grain elevator" means a structure used for storage
and handling of grain in bulk;
(g) "Material-handling equipment and racking equipment" means equipment in a warehouse or grain elevator that
is primarily used to handle, store, organize, convey, package,
or repackage finished goods. The term includes tangible personal property with a useful life of one year or more that
becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment,
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
including repair and replacement parts. The term does not
include equipment in offices, lunchrooms, restrooms, and
other like space, within a warehouse or grain elevator, or
equipment used for nonwarehousing purposes. "Materialhandling equipment" includes but is not limited to: Conveyers, carousels, lifts, positioners, pick-up-and-place units,
cranes, hoists, mechanical arms, and robots; mechanized systems, including containers that are an integral part of the system, whose purpose is to lift or move tangible personal property; and automated handling, storage, and retrieval systems,
including computers that control them, whose purpose is to
lift or move tangible personal property; and forklifts and
other off-the-road vehicles that are used to lift or move tangible personal property and that cannot be operated legally on
roads and streets. "Racking equipment" includes, but is not
limited to, conveying systems, chutes, shelves, racks, bins,
drawers, pallets, and other containers and storage devices that
form a necessary part of the storage system;
(h) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030;
(i) "Retailer" means a person who makes "sales at retail"
as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property;
(j) "Square footage" means the product of the two horizontal dimensions of each floor of a specific warehouse. The
entire footprint of the warehouse shall be measured in calculating the square footage, including space that juts out from
the building profile such as loading docks. "Square footage"
does not mean the aggregate of the square footage of more
than one warehouse at a location or the aggregate of the
square footage of warehouses at more than one location;
(k) "Third-party warehouser" means a person taxable
under RCW 82.04.280(4);
(l) "Warehouse" means an enclosed building or structure
in which finished goods are stored. A warehouse building or
structure may have more than one storage room and more
than one floor. Office space, lunchrooms, restrooms, and
other space within the warehouse and necessary for the operation of the warehouse are considered part of the warehouse
as are loading docks and other such space attached to the
building and used for handling of finished goods. Landscaping and parking lots are not considered part of the warehouse.
A storage yard is not a warehouse, nor is a building in which
manufacturing takes place; and
(m) "Wholesaler" means a person who makes "sales at
wholesale" as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property, but "wholesaler" does not include a person
who makes sales exempt under RCW 82.04.330.
(3)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in
the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.08.020. The buyer may then apply to
the department for remittance of all or part of the tax paid
under RCW 82.08.020. For grain elevators with bushel
capacity of one million but less than two million, the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax paid. For
warehouses with square footage of two hundred thousand or
more and for grain elevators with bushel capacity of two million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent
of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction, materials, service, and labor, and fifty percent of the amount of tax
paid for qualifying material-handling equipment and racking
equipment, and labor and services rendered in respect to
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.820
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the
equipment.
(b) The department shall determine eligibility under this
section based on information provided by the buyer and
through audit and other administrative records. The buyer
shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a
form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying
purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed.
The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction
meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax
paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment
and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses and
grain elevators; and construction invoices and documents.
(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit
exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted
applications during the previous quarter.
(4) Warehouses, grain elevators, and material-handling
equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption,
credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter
82.60, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this
section. Warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated before May 20, 1997, are not eligible
for a remittance under this section.
(5) The lessor or owner of a warehouse or grain elevator
is not eligible for a remittance under this section unless the
underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain elevator and
the material-handling equipment and racking equipment
vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by
written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of the
remittance to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
[2006 c 354 § 10; 1997 c 450 § 2.]
Expiration date—2006 c 354 § 10: "Section 10 of this act expires July
1, 2007." [2006 c 354 § 19.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Findings—Intent—1997 c 450: "The legislature finds that the state’s
overall economic health and prosperity is bolstered through tax incentives
targeted to specific industries. The warehouse and distribution industry is
critical to other businesses. The transportation sector, the retail sector, the
ports, and the wholesalers all rely on the warehouse and distribution industry. It is the intent of the legislature to stimulate interstate trade by providing
tax incentives to those persons in the warehouse and distribution industry
engaged in highly competitive trade." [1997 c 450 § 1.]
Report—1997 c 450: "The legislative fiscal committees shall report to
the legislature by December 1, 2001, on the economic impacts of this act.
This report shall analyze employment and other relevant economic data pertaining to the tax exemptions authorized under this act and shall measure the
effect on the creation or retention of family-wage jobs and diversification of
the state’s economy. The report must include the committee’s findings on
the tax incentive program’s performance in achieving its goals and recommendations on ways to improve its effectiveness. Analytic techniques may
include, but not be limited to, comparisons of Washington to other states that
did not enact business tax changes, comparisons across Washington counties
based on usage of the tax exemptions, and comparisons across similar firms
based on their use of the tax exemptions. In performing the analysis, the legislative fiscal committees shall consult with business and labor interests.
The department of revenue, the employment security department, and other
agencies shall provide to the legislative fiscal committees such data as the
legislative fiscal committees may request in performing the analysis required
under this section." [1997 c 450 § 6.]
Effective date—1997 c 450: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 20, 1997]." [1997 c 450 § 7.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 93]
82.08.820
82.08.820
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.08.820 Exemptions—Remittance—Warehouse
and grain elevators and distribution centers—Materialhandling and racking equipment—Construction of warehous e o r e le va to r— Info r mat ion she e t— Rules —
Records—Exceptions. (Effective July 1, 2007, until July 1,
2012.) (1) Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own
or operate warehouses or grain elevators and retailers who
own or operate distribution centers, and who have paid the
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 on:
(a) Material-handling and racking equipment, and labor
and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
(b) Construction of a warehouse or grain elevator,
including materials, and including service and labor costs,
are eligible for an exemption in the form of a remittance. The
amount of the remittance is computed under subsection (3) of
this section and is based on the state share of sales tax.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.820:
(a) "Agricultural products" has the meaning given in
RCW 82.04.213;
(b) "Cold storage warehouse" has the meaning provided
in RCW 82.74.010;
(c) "Construction" means the actual construction of a
warehouse or grain elevator that did not exist before the construction began. "Construction" includes expansion if the
expansion adds at least twenty-five thousand square feet of
additional space to an existing cold storage warehouse, at
least two hundred thousand square feet of additional space to
an existing warehouse other than a cold storage warehouse,
or additional storage capacity of at least one million bushels
to an existing grain elevator. "Construction" does not include
renovation, remodeling, or repair;
(d) "Department" means the department of revenue;
(e) "Distribution center" means a warehouse that is used
exclusively by a retailer solely for the storage and distribution of finished goods to retail outlets of the retailer. "Distribution center" does not include a warehouse at which retail
sales occur;
(f) "Finished goods" means tangible personal property
intended for sale by a retailer or wholesaler. "Finished
goods" does not include agricultural products stored by
wholesalers, third-party warehouses, or retailers if the storage
takes place on the land of the person who produced the agricultural product. "Finished goods" does not include logs,
minerals, petroleum, gas, or other extracted products stored
as raw materials or in bulk;
(g) "Grain elevator" means a structure used for storage
and handling of grain in bulk;
(h) "Material-handling equipment and racking equipment" means equipment in a warehouse or grain elevator that
is primarily used to handle, store, organize, convey, package,
or repackage finished goods. The term includes tangible personal property with a useful life of one year or more that
becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment,
including repair and replacement parts. The term does not
include equipment in offices, lunchrooms, restrooms, and
other like space, within a warehouse or grain elevator, or
equipment used for nonwarehousing purposes. "Materialhandling equipment" includes but is not limited to: Conveyers, carousels, lifts, positioners, pick-up-and-place units,
cranes, hoists, mechanical arms, and robots; mechanized sys[Title 82 RCW—page 94]
tems, including containers that are an integral part of the system, whose purpose is to lift or move tangible personal property; and automated handling, storage, and retrieval systems,
including computers that control them, whose purpose is to
lift or move tangible personal property; and forklifts and
other off-the-road vehicles that are used to lift or move tangible personal property and that cannot be operated legally on
roads and streets. "Racking equipment" includes, but is not
limited to, conveying systems, chutes, shelves, racks, bins,
drawers, pallets, and other containers and storage devices that
form a necessary part of the storage system;
(i) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030;
(j) "Retailer" means a person who makes "sales at retail"
as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property;
(k) "Square footage" means the product of the two horizontal dimensions of each floor of a specific warehouse. The
entire footprint of the warehouse shall be measured in calculating the square footage, including space that juts out from
the building profile such as loading docks. "Square footage"
does not mean the aggregate of the square footage of more
than one warehouse at a location or the aggregate of the
square footage of warehouses at more than one location;
(l) "Third-party warehouser" means a person taxable
under RCW 82.04.280(4);
(m) "Warehouse" means an enclosed building or structure in which finished goods are stored. A warehouse building or structure may have more than one storage room and
more than one floor. Office space, lunchrooms, restrooms,
and other space within the warehouse and necessary for the
operation of the warehouse are considered part of the warehouse as are loading docks and other such space attached to
the building and used for handling of finished goods. Landscaping and parking lots are not considered part of the warehouse. A storage yard is not a warehouse, nor is a building in
which manufacturing takes place; and
(n) "Wholesaler" means a person who makes "sales at
wholesale" as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property, but "wholesaler" does not include a person
who makes sales exempt under RCW 82.04.330.
(3)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in
the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.08.020. The buyer may then apply to
the department for remittance of all or part of the tax paid
under RCW 82.08.020. For grain elevators with bushel
capacity of one million but less than two million, the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax paid. For
warehouses with square footage of two hundred thousand or
more, other than cold storage warehouses, and for grain elevators with bushel capacity of two million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent of the amount of tax
paid for qualifying construction, materials, service, and labor,
and fifty percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying
material-handling equipment and racking equipment, and
labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment. For cold
storage warehouses with square footage of twenty-five thousand or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent
of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction, materials, service, and labor, and one hundred percent of the
amount of tax paid for qualifying material-handling equip(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
ment and racking equipment, and labor and services rendered
in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or
improving the equipment.
(b) The department shall determine eligibility under this
section based on information provided by the buyer and
through audit and other administrative records. The buyer
shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a
form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying
purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed.
The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction
meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax
paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment
and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses and
grain elevators; and construction invoices and documents.
(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit
exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted
applications during the previous quarter.
(4) Warehouses, grain elevators, and material-handling
equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption,
credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter
82.60, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this
section. Warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated before May 20, 1997, are not eligible
for a remittance under this section.
(5) The lessor or owner of a warehouse or grain elevator
is not eligible for a remittance under this section unless the
underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain elevator and
the material-handling equipment and racking equipment
vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by
written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of the
remittance to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
[2006 c 354 § 11; 2005 c 513 § 11; 1997 c 450 § 2.]
Expiration date—2006 c 354 § 11: "Section 11 of this act expires July
1, 2012." [2006 c 354 § 20.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
Findings—Intent—1997 c 450: "The legislature finds that the state’s
overall economic health and prosperity is bolstered through tax incentives
targeted to specific industries. The warehouse and distribution industry is
critical to other businesses. The transportation sector, the retail sector, the
ports, and the wholesalers all rely on the warehouse and distribution industry. It is the intent of the legislature to stimulate interstate trade by providing
tax incentives to those persons in the warehouse and distribution industry
engaged in highly competitive trade." [1997 c 450 § 1.]
Report—1997 c 450: "The legislative fiscal committees shall report to
the legislature by December 1, 2001, on the economic impacts of this act.
This report shall analyze employment and other relevant economic data pertaining to the tax exemptions authorized under this act and shall measure the
effect on the creation or retention of family-wage jobs and diversification of
the state’s economy. The report must include the committee’s findings on
the tax incentive program’s performance in achieving its goals and recommendations on ways to improve its effectiveness. Analytic techniques may
include, but not be limited to, comparisons of Washington to other states that
did not enact business tax changes, comparisons across Washington counties
based on usage of the tax exemptions, and comparisons across similar firms
based on their use of the tax exemptions. In performing the analysis, the legislative fiscal committees shall consult with business and labor interests.
The department of revenue, the employment security department, and other
agencies shall provide to the legislative fiscal committees such data as the
legislative fiscal committees may request in performing the analysis required
under this section." [1997 c 450 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.820
Effective date—1997 c 450: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 20, 1997]." [1997 c 450 § 7.]
82.08.820
82.08.820 Exemptions—Remittance—Warehouse
and grain elevators and distribution centers—Materialhandling and racking equipment—Construction of warehou se or elevator—Information sheet—Rules —
Records—Exceptions. (Effective July 1, 2012.) (1) Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own or operate warehouses or grain elevators and retailers who own or operate
distribution centers, and who have paid the tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 on:
(a) Material-handling and racking equipment, and labor
and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing,
cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
(b) Construction of a warehouse or grain elevator,
including materials, and including service and labor costs,
are eligible for an exemption in the form of a remittance. The
amount of the remittance is computed under subsection (3) of
this section and is based on the state share of sales tax.
(2) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.820:
(a) "Agricultural products" has the meaning given in
RCW 82.04.213;
(b) "Construction" means the actual construction of a
warehouse or grain elevator that did not exist before the construction began. "Construction" includes expansion if the
expansion adds at least two hundred thousand square feet of
additional space to an existing warehouse or additional storage capacity of at least one million bushels to an existing
grain elevator. "Construction" does not include renovation,
remodeling, or repair;
(c) "Department" means the department of revenue;
(d) "Distribution center" means a warehouse that is used
exclusively by a retailer solely for the storage and distribution of finished goods to retail outlets of the retailer. "Distribution center" does not include a warehouse at which retail
sales occur;
(e) "Finished goods" means tangible personal property
intended for sale by a retailer or wholesaler. "Finished
goods" does not include agricultural products stored by
wholesalers, third-party warehouses, or retailers if the storage
takes place on the land of the person who produced the agricultural product. "Finished goods" does not include logs,
minerals, petroleum, gas, or other extracted products stored
as raw materials or in bulk;
(f) "Grain elevator" means a structure used for storage
and handling of grain in bulk;
(g) "Material-handling equipment and racking equipment" means equipment in a warehouse or grain elevator that
is primarily used to handle, store, organize, convey, package,
or repackage finished goods. The term includes tangible personal property with a useful life of one year or more that
becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment,
including repair and replacement parts. The term does not
include equipment in offices, lunchrooms, restrooms, and
other like space, within a warehouse or grain elevator, or
equipment used for nonwarehousing purposes. "Materialhandling equipment" includes but is not limited to: Conveyers, carousels, lifts, positioners, pick-up-and-place units,
[Title 82 RCW—page 95]
82.08.825
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
cranes, hoists, mechanical arms, and robots; mechanized systems, including containers that are an integral part of the system, whose purpose is to lift or move tangible personal property; and automated handling, storage, and retrieval systems,
including computers that control them, whose purpose is to
lift or move tangible personal property; and forklifts and
other off-the-road vehicles that are used to lift or move tangible personal property and that cannot be operated legally on
roads and streets. "Racking equipment" includes, but is not
limited to, conveying systems, chutes, shelves, racks, bins,
drawers, pallets, and other containers and storage devices that
form a necessary part of the storage system;
(h) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030;
(i) "Retailer" means a person who makes "sales at retail"
as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property;
(j) "Square footage" means the product of the two horizontal dimensions of each floor of a specific warehouse. The
entire footprint of the warehouse shall be measured in calculating the square footage, including space that juts out from
the building profile such as loading docks. "Square footage"
does not mean the aggregate of the square footage of more
than one warehouse at a location or the aggregate of the
square footage of warehouses at more than one location;
(k) "Third-party warehouser" means a person taxable
under RCW 82.04.280(4);
(l) "Warehouse" means an enclosed building or structure
in which finished goods are stored. A warehouse building or
structure may have more than one storage room and more
than one floor. Office space, lunchrooms, restrooms, and
other space within the warehouse and necessary for the operation of the warehouse are considered part of the warehouse
as are loading docks and other such space attached to the
building and used for handling of finished goods. Landscaping and parking lots are not considered part of the warehouse.
A storage yard is not a warehouse, nor is a building in which
manufacturing takes place; and
(m) "Wholesaler" means a person who makes "sales at
wholesale" as defined in chapter 82.04 RCW of tangible personal property, but "wholesaler" does not include a person
who makes sales exempt under RCW 82.04.330.
(3)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in
the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.08.020. The buyer may then apply to
the department for remittance of all or part of the tax paid
under RCW 82.08.020. For grain elevators with bushel
capacity of one million but less than two million, the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax paid. For
warehouses with square footage of two hundred thousand or
more and for grain elevators with bushel capacity of two million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent
of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction, materials, service, and labor, and fifty percent of the amount of tax
paid for qualifying material-handling equipment and racking
equipment, and labor and services rendered in respect to
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the
equipment.
(b) The department shall determine eligibility under this
section based on information provided by the buyer and
through audit and other administrative records. The buyer
shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a
[Title 82 RCW—page 96]
form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying
purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed.
The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction
meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax
paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment
and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses and
grain elevators; and construction invoices and documents.
(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit
exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted
applications during the previous quarter.
(4) Warehouses, grain elevators, and material-handling
equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption,
credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter
82.60, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this
section. Warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated before May 20, 1997, are not eligible
for a remittance under this section.
(5) The lessor or owner of a warehouse or grain elevator
is not eligible for a remittance under this section unless the
underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain elevator and
the material-handling equipment and racking equipment
vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by
written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of the
remittance to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
[2006 c 354 § 12; 2005 c 513 § 11; 1997 c 450 § 2.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
Findings—Intent—1997 c 450: "The legislature finds that the state’s
overall economic health and prosperity is bolstered through tax incentives
targeted to specific industries. The warehouse and distribution industry is
critical to other businesses. The transportation sector, the retail sector, the
ports, and the wholesalers all rely on the warehouse and distribution industry. It is the intent of the legislature to stimulate interstate trade by providing
tax incentives to those persons in the warehouse and distribution industry
engaged in highly competitive trade." [1997 c 450 § 1.]
Report—1997 c 450: "The legislative fiscal committees shall report to
the legislature by December 1, 2001, on the economic impacts of this act.
This report shall analyze employment and other relevant economic data pertaining to the tax exemptions authorized under this act and shall measure the
effect on the creation or retention of family-wage jobs and diversification of
the state’s economy. The report must include the committee’s findings on
the tax incentive program’s performance in achieving its goals and recommendations on ways to improve its effectiveness. Analytic techniques may
include, but not be limited to, comparisons of Washington to other states that
did not enact business tax changes, comparisons across Washington counties
based on usage of the tax exemptions, and comparisons across similar firms
based on their use of the tax exemptions. In performing the analysis, the legislative fiscal committees shall consult with business and labor interests.
The department of revenue, the employment security department, and other
agencies shall provide to the legislative fiscal committees such data as the
legislative fiscal committees may request in performing the analysis required
under this section." [1997 c 450 § 6.]
Effective date—1997 c 450: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 20, 1997]." [1997 c 450 § 7.]
82.08.825
82.08.825 Exemptions—Property and services that
enable heavy duty diesel vehicles to operate with onboard
electrification systems. (Expires July 1, 2015.) (1) The tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of, and
labor and services rendered in respect to, tangible personal
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
property installed on a heavy duty diesel vehicle if the property enables the vehicle to operate, while parked, through the
use of an onboard electrification system. Only parts and
other components that are specific to enabling a heavy duty
diesel vehicle to operate, while parked, with an onboard electrification system are exempt under this section.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4338 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2015. [2006 c 323 § 5.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 323: See note following RCW 82.04.4338.
82.08.830
82.08.830 Exemptions—Sales at camp or conference
center by nonprofit organization. The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to a sale made at a camp or conference center if the gross income from the sale is exempt under
RCW 82.04.363. [1997 c 388 § 2.]
Effective date—1997 c 388: See note following RCW 82.04.363.
82.08.832
82.08.832 Exemptions—Sales of gun safes. (1) The
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of gun
safes.
(2) As used in this section and RCW 82.12.832, "gun
safe" means an enclosure specifically designed or modified
for the purpose of storing a firearm and equipped with a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device
which, when locked, prevents the unauthorized use of the
firearm. [1998 c 178 § 1.]
Effective date—1998 c 178: "This act takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998
c 178 § 3.]
82.08.834
82.08.834 Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional
transit authorities. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does
not apply to lease amounts paid by a seller/lessee to a lessor
under a sale/leaseback agreement under RCW 81.112.300 in
respect to tangible personal property, used by the seller/lessee, or to the purchase amount paid by the lessee pursuant to
an option to purchase at the end of the lease term, but only if
the seller/lessee previously paid any tax otherwise due under
this chapter or chapter 82.12 RCW at the time of acquisition
of the tangible personal property. [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 21.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
82.08.835
82.08.835 Exemptions—Solar hot water systems.
(Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of OG-300 rated solar
water heating systems, OG-100 rated solar water heating collectors, solar heat exchangers, or differential solar controllers, including repair and replacement parts for such equipment, or to sales of or charges made for labor and services
rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering,
or improving such equipment.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. This exemption is available only
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certifi(2006 Ed.)
82.08.841
cate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the
definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
(a) "OG-300 rated solar water heating system" means
those fully integrated solar water heating systems that have
been rated as having met the operational guidelines currently
set and listed by the solar rating and certification corporation.
(b) "OG-100 rated solar water heating collector" means
those collectors that convert light energy to heat and that have
been rated as having met the operational guidelines currently
set and listed by the solar rating and certification corporation.
(c) "Solar heat exchanger" means a device that is used to
transfer heat from one fluid to another through a separating
wall.
(d) "Differential solar controller" means a controlling
device that reads and adjusts the temperature at the solar
water heating collector and the heated water collection tank.
[2006 c 218 § 1.]
Effective date—2006 c 218: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 218 § 3.]
Expiration date—2006 c 218: "This act expires July 1, 2009." [2006
c 218 § 4.]
82.08.841
82.08.841 Exemptions—Farming equipment—Hay
sheds. (Expires January 1, 2011.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to:
(a) Sales of the following machinery and equipment to
qualified farmers: No-till drills, minimum-till drills, chisels,
plows, sprayers, discs, cultivators, harrows, mowers,
swathers, power rakes, balers, bale handlers, shredders, transplanters, tractors two hundred fifty horsepower and over
designed to pull conservation equipment on steep hills and
highly erodible lands, and combine components limited to
straw choppers, chaff spreaders, and stripper headers; and
(b) Labor and services rendered in respect to constructing hay sheds for qualified farmers or to sales of tangible personal property to qualified farmers that becomes an ingredient or component of hay sheds during the course of the constructing.
(2)(a) No application is necessary for the tax exemption
in this section. A person taking the exemption under this section must keep records necessary for the department to verify
eligibility. The department may request from a qualified
farmer, copies of farm service agency or crop insurance
records for verification purposes, however information
obtained from farm service agency or crop insurance records
is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is
not disclosable.
(b) The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The seller shall retain
a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section.
(a) "Qualified farmer" means a farmer as defined in
RCW 82.04.213 who has more than fifty percent of his or her
tillable acres in cereal grains and/or field and turf grass grown
for seed in qualified counties.
[Title 82 RCW—page 97]
82.08.850
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(b) "Qualified counties" means those counties in Washington state where cereal grain production within the county
exceeds fifteen thousand acres.
(4) This section expires January 1, 2011. [2005 c 420 §
2.]
Findings—2005 c 420: "The legislature finds that rules enacted to
improve air quality in selected parts of eastern Washington created a financial hardship for some growers of cereal grains and grass grown for seed. As
stated in RCW 70.94.656, it is "the policy of this state ...to promote the
development of economical and practical alternate agricultural practices to
such burning...". The legislature provided tax incentives in 2000 to assist
such growers transition to alternative management systems while further
improving air quality. Because those incentives have been difficult to
administer, the legislature finds that it is necessary to refine and narrow those
incentives." [2005 c 420 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 420: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 420 § 5.]
82.08.850
82.08.850 Exemptions—Conifer seed. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of conifer
seed that is immediately placed into freezer storage operated
by the seller and is: (a) Used for growing timber outside
Washington; or (b) sold to an Indian tribe or member and is
to be used for growing timber in Indian country. This section
applies only if the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the
department. The seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for
the seller’s files. For the purposes of this section, "Indian
country" has the meaning given in RCW 82.24.010.
(2) If a buyer of conifer seed is normally engaged in
growing timber both within and outside Washington and is
not able to determine at the time of purchase whether the seed
acquired, or the seedlings germinated from the seed acquired,
will be used for growing timber within or outside Washington, the buyer may defer payment of the sales tax until it is
determined that the seed, or seedlings germinated from the
seed, will be planted for growing timber in Washington. A
buyer that does not pay sales tax on the purchase of conifer
seed and subsequently determines that the sale did not qualify
for the tax exemption must remit to the department the
amount of sales tax that would have been paid at the time of
purchase.
(3) A buyer who pays retail sales tax on the purchase of
conifer seed and subsequently determines that the sale qualifies for the tax exemption provided in this section is entitled
to a deduction on the buyer’s tax return equal to the cost to
the buyer of the purchased seed. The deduction is allowed
only if the buyer keeps and preserves records that show from
whom the seed was purchased, the date of the purchase, the
amount of the purchase, and the tax that was paid. [2001 c
129 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2001 c 129: "The legislature finds that in-state sellers of conifer seed and persons growing customer-owned conifer seed into
seedlings are placed at a marketplace disadvantage compared to persons
doing the same activity out of state because of the unique storage and growing requirements of conifer seed. It is the intent of the legislature to eliminate
this disadvantage by providing a limited sales tax exemption for the sale of
conifer seed to be used to grow timber outside Washington, or sold to an
Indian tribe or member to grow timber in Indian country, if upon sale the
seed is immediately placed into freezer storage operated by the seller."
[2001 c 129 § 1.]
Retroactive application—2001 c 129: "This act applies retroactively."
[2001 c 129 § 4.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 98]
82.08.855
82.08.855 Exemptions—Replacement parts for qualifying farm machinery and equipment. (1) The tax levied
by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale to an eligible
farmer of replacement parts for qualifying farm machinery
and equipment.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
chapter, if replacement parts are installed by the seller during
the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying farm machinery and equipment and the seller makes a
separate charge for the parts, the tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 does not apply to the separately stated charge to an
eligible farmer for replacement parts but only if the separately stated charge does not exceed either the seller’s current
publicly stated retail price for the parts or, if no separately
stated retail price is available, the seller’s cost for the parts.
However, the exemption provided by this section shall not
apply if replacement parts are installed by the seller during
the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying farm machinery and equipment and the seller makes a
single nonitemized charge for providing the parts and service.
(3)(a) A person claiming an exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. An exemption is available only
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate issued by the department containing such information as
the department requires. The exemption certificate shall be
in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(b) The department shall provide an exemption certificate to an eligible farmer or renew an exemption certificate,
upon application by that eligible farmer. The application
must be in a form and manner prescribed by the department
and shall contain the following information as required by the
department:
(i) The name and address of the applicant;
(ii) The uniform business identifier or tax reporting
account number of the applicant, if the applicant is required
to be registered with the department;
(iii) The type of farming engaged in;
(iv) A copy of the applicant’s Schedule F of Form 1040,
Form 1120, or other applicable form filed with the internal
revenue service indicating the gross sales of agricultural
products by the applicant in the calendar year immediately
preceding the year that the application was made to the
department. If application is made before the due date of the
applicant’s federal income tax return for the prior calendar
year, or any extension of the due date, the applicant shall provide a copy of the appropriate federal income tax form that
was due for the second calendar year immediately preceding
the year that the application is made to the department. If the
applicant is not required to file federal income tax returns, the
department may require the applicant to provide copies of
other documents establishing the amount of the applicant’s
gross sales of agricultural products for the relevant calendar
year;
(v) The name of the individual authorized to sign the certificate, printed in a legible fashion;
(vi) The signature of the authorized individual; and
(vii) Other information the department may require to
verify the applicant’s eligibility for the exemption.
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
(c)(i) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
exemption certificates issued by the department are not transferable and are valid for the calendar year in which the certificate is issued and the following four calendar years. The
department shall attempt to notify holders of exemption certificates of the impending expiration of the certificate at least
sixty days before the certificate expires and shall provide an
application for renewal of the certificate.
(ii) When a certificate holder merely changes identity or
form of ownership of an entity and there is no change in beneficial ownership, the exemption certificate shall be transferred to the new entity upon notice to the department by the
transferor or transferee.
(d)(i) Exemption certificates issued to persons who are
eligible farmers under subsection (4)(b)(iii) of this section are
conditioned on the person making at least ten thousand dollars of gross sales of agricultural products grown, raised, or
produced by that person in the first full calendar year that the
person engages in business as a farmer.
(ii) A person who is issued a conditional exemption certificate must provide the department with a copy of the person’s Schedule F of Form 1040, Form 1120, or other applicable form filed with the internal revenue service indicating the
gross sales of agricultural products by the person in the first
full calendar year that the person engaged in business as a
farmer. If a person is not required to file federal income tax
returns, the person shall provide copies of other documents
establishing the amount of the person’s gross sales of agricultural products for the first full calendar year that the person
engaged in business as a farmer. The documentation required
in this subsection (3)(d)(ii) is due no later than December
31st of the year immediately following the first full calendar
year in which the person engaged in business as a farmer.
(iii) If a person fails to provide the required documentation to the department by the due date or any extension
granted by the department, or if the condition in (d)(i) of this
subsection is not met, the department shall revoke the exemption certificate. The department shall notify the person in
writing of the revocation and the person’s responsibility, and
due date, for repayment of any taxes for which an exemption
under this section was claimed. Any taxes for which an
exemption under this section was claimed shall be due and
payable within thirty days of the date of the notice revoking
the certificate. The department shall assess interest on the
taxes for which the exemption was claimed. Interest shall be
assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes
under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the date the
exemption was claimed, and shall accrue until the taxes for
which the exemption was claimed are repaid. Penalties shall
not be imposed on any tax required to be repaid if full payment is received by the due date. Nothing in this subsection
(3)(d) prohibits a person from reapplying for an exemption
certificate.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section.
(a) "Agricultural products" has the meaning provided in
RCW 82.04.213.
(b) "Eligible farmer" means:
(i) A farmer as defined in RCW 82.04.213 whose gross
proceeds of sales of agricultural products grown, raised, or
produced by that person is at least ten thousand dollars in the
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.865
calendar year immediately preceding the year in which a
claim of exemption is made under this section;
(ii) The transferee of an exemption certificate under subsection (3)(c)(ii) of this section where the transferred certificate expires before the transferee engages in farming operations for a full calendar year, if the combined gross proceeds
of sales by the transferor and transferee of agricultural products that they have grown, raised, or produced meet the
requirements of (b)(i) of this subsection;
(iii) A farmer as defined in RCW 82.04.213, who does
not meet the definition of "eligible farmer" in (b)(i) or (ii) of
this subsection, and who did not engage in farming for the
entire calendar year immediately preceding the year in which
application for exemption under this section is made and who
did not engage in farming in any other year;
(iv) Anyone who otherwise meets the definition of "eligible farmer" in this subsection except that they are not a
"person" as defined in RCW 82.04.030.
(c) "Qualifying farm machinery and equipment" means
machinery and equipment used primarily for growing, raising, or producing agricultural products. "Qualifying farm
machinery and equipment" does not include:
(i) Farm vehicles and other vehicles as those terms are
defined in chapter 46.04 RCW, except farm tractors as
defined in RCW 46.04.180 and other farm implements. For
purposes of this subsection (4)(c)(i), "farm implement" does
not include lawn tractors and all-terrain vehicles;
(ii) Aircraft;
(iii) Hand tools and hand-powered tools; and
(iv) Property with a useful life of less than one year.
(d) "Replacement parts" means those parts that replace
an existing part, or which are essential to maintain the working condition, of a piece of qualifying farm machinery or
equipment. However, "replacement parts" shall not include
paint, fuel, oil, grease, hydraulic fluids, antifreeze, and similar items. [2006 c 172 § 1.]
Effective date—2006 c 172: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 172 § 3.]
82.08.865
82.08.865 Exemptions—Diesel and aircraft fuel for
farm fuel users. (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does
not apply to sales of diesel fuel, or aircraft fuel as defined in
RCW 82.42.010(5), to a farm fuel user for nonhighway use.
This exemption is available only if the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. Fuel used for space or water heating for human habitation is not exempt under this section.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.04.213 and this subsection apply to this section.
(a) "Diesel fuel" is defined as provided in 26 U.S.C.
4083, as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2006.
(b) "Farm fuel user" means: (i) A farmer; or (ii) a person
who provides horticultural services for farmers, such as soil
preparation services, crop cultivation services, and crop harvesting services. [2006 c 7 § 1.]
Effective date—2006 c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 6, 2006]." [2006 c 7 § 3.]
Additional sales tax exemption for motor vehicle and special fuel: RCW
82.08.0255.
[Title 82 RCW—page 99]
82.08.870
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.08.870
82.08.870 Exemptions—Motorcycles for training
programs. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply
to sales of motorcycles purchased for use in a motorcycle
operator training and education program created under RCW
46.20.520. [2001 c 285 § 2.]
82.08.880
82.08.880 Exemptions—Animal pharmaceuticals.
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales
to farmers or to veterinarians of animal pharmaceuticals
approved by the United States department of agriculture or
by the United States food and drug administration, if the
pharmaceutical is to be administered to an animal that is
raised by a farmer for the purpose of producing for sale an
agricultural product.
(2) The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The seller must retain
a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) For the purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.880,
the following definitions apply:
(a) "Farmer" and "agricultural product" mean the same
as in RCW 82.04.213.
(b) "Veterinarian" means a person who is licensed to
practice veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry under
chapter 18.92 RCW. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 17 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 17: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
August 1, 2001." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 17 § 3.]
82.08.890
82.08.890 Exemptions—Livestock nutrient management equipment and facilities. (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 does not apply to sales to eligible persons of services rendered in respect to operating, repairing, cleaning,
altering, or improving of livestock nutrient management
equipment and facilities, or to sales of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment and facilities.
(2)(a) To be eligible, the equipment and facilities must
be used exclusively for activities necessary to maintain a
livestock nutrient management plan.
(b) The exemption applies to sales made after the livestock nutrient management plan is: (i) Certified under chapter 90.64 RCW; (ii) approved as part of the permit issued
under chapter 90.48 RCW; or (iii) approved as required under
subsection (4)(c)(iii) of this section.
(3)(a) The department of revenue must provide an
exemption certificate to an eligible person upon application
by that person. The department of agriculture must provide a
list of eligible persons, as defined in subsection (4)(c)(i) and
(ii) of this section, to the department of revenue. Conservation districts must maintain lists of eligible persons as defined
in subsection (4)(c)(iii) of this section to allow the department of revenue to verify eligibility. The application must be
in a form and manner prescribed by the department and must
contain information regarding the location of the dairy or animal feeding operation and other information the department
may require.
(b) A person claiming an exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. The exemption is available only
[Title 82 RCW—page 100]
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller must retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section
and RCW 82.12.890 unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Animal feeding operation" means a lot or facility,
other than an aquatic animal production facility, where the
following conditions are met:
(i) Animals, other than aquatic animals, have been, are,
or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total
of forty-five days or more in any twelve-month period; and
(ii) Crops, vegetation, forage growth, or postharvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over
any portion of the lot or facility.
(b) "Conservation district" means a subdivision of state
government organized under chapter 89.08 RCW.
(c) "Eligible person" means a person (i) licensed to produce milk under chapter 15.36 RCW who has a certified
dairy nutrient management plan, as required by chapter 90.64
RCW; (ii) who owns an animal feeding operation and has a
permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW; or (iii) who owns an
animal feeding operation and has a nutrient management plan
approved by a conservation district as meeting natural
resource conservation service field office technical guide
standards.
(d) "Livestock nutrient management equipment and
facilities" means machinery, equipment, and structures used
in the handling and treatment of livestock manure, such as
aerators, agitators, alley scrapers, augers, dams, gutter cleaners, loaders, lagoons, pipes, pumps, separators, and tanks.
The term also includes tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment and
facilities, including repair and replacement parts.
(e) "Permit" means either a state waste discharge permit
or a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit,
or both. [2006 c 151 § 2; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 151: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 151 § 7.]
Conservation commission—Report to legislature—2006 c 151:
"The conservation commission shall compile the following information on
nutrient management plans written and approved by conservation districts
for animal feeding operations during the 2005-2007 biennium: (1) The number of requests received to write or approve plans; (2) the number of plans
completed and approved; (3) the total costs of writing and approving the
plans, and the funding sources used; and (4) the relationship, if any, between
the tax exemptions provided in this act and the number of plans written and
approved. In its report, the commission shall compare the totals under subsections (1) through (3) of this section to the totals in the previous biennium.
The conservation commission shall report this information to the appropriate
committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007." [2006 c 151 § 6.]
Intent—2001 2nd sp.s. c 18: "It is the intent of the legislature to provide tax exemptions to assist dairy farmers to comply with the dairy nutrient
management act, chapter 90.64 RCW, to encourage owners of nondairy animal feeding operations to develop and implement approved nutrient management plans, and to assist public or private entities to establish and operate
anaerobic digesters to treat livestock nutrients on a regional or on-farm
basis." [2006 c 151 § 1; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 18: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately [July 13, 2001]." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 6.]
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
82.08.900
82.08.900 Exemptions—Anaerobic digesters. (1) The
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales to an
eligible person establishing or operating an anaerobic
digester or to services rendered in respect to installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving an
anaerobic digester, or to sales of tangible personal property
that becomes an ingredient or component of the anaerobic
digester. The anaerobic digester must be used primarily to
treat livestock manure.
(2)(a) The department of revenue must provide an
exemption certificate to an eligible person upon application
by that person. The application must be in a form and manner
prescribed by the department and must contain information
regarding the location of the facility and other information as
the department may require.
(b) A person claiming an exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. The exemption is available only
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller must retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section
and RCW 82.12.900 unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Anaerobic digester" means a facility that processes
manure from livestock into biogas and dried manure using
microorganisms in a decomposition process within a closed,
oxygen-free container.
(b) "Eligible person" means any person establishing or
operating an anaerobic digester to treat primarily livestock
manure.
(c) "Primarily" means more than fifty percent measured
by volume or weight. [2006 c 151 § 4; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 §
4.]
82.08.945
82.08.920
82.08.920 Exemptions—Chicken bedding materials.
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales
to a farmer of bedding materials used to accumulate and facilitate the removal of chicken manure. The farmer must be raising chickens that are sold as agricultural products.
(2) The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The seller must retain
a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section
and RCW 82.12.920.
(a) "Bedding materials" means wood shavings, straw,
sawdust, shredded paper, and other similar materials.
(b) "Farmer" has the same meaning as provided in RCW
82.04.213.
(c) "Agricultural product" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.213. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 5.]
Purpose—Intent—Part headings not law—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: See
notes following RCW 82.04.260.
82.08.925
82.08.925 Exemptions—Dietary supplements. The
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of
dietary supplements for human use dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription. "Dietary supplement" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.0293.
[2003 c 168 § 302.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.935
Effective date—Conservation commission—Report to legislature—
2006 c 151: See notes following RCW 82.08.890.
82.08.935 Exemptions—Disposable devices used to
deliver prescription drugs for human use. The tax levied
by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of disposable
devices used or to be used to deliver drugs for human use,
pursuant to a prescription. "Disposable devices used to
deliver drugs" means single use items such as syringes, tubing, or catheters. [2003 c 168 § 404.]
Intent—Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 82.08.890.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.910
82.08.910 Exemptions—Propane or natural gas to
heat chicken structures. (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 does not apply to sales to farmers of propane or
natural gas used to heat structures used to house chickens.
The propane or natural gas must be used exclusively to heat
the structures. The structures must be used exclusively to
house chickens that are sold as agricultural products.
(2) The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The seller must retain
a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section
and RCW 82.12.910.
(a) "Structures" means barns, sheds, and other similar
buildings in which chickens are housed.
(b) "Farmer" has the same meaning as provided in RCW
82.04.213.
(c) "Agricultural product" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.213. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 3.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Purpose—Intent—Part headings not law—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: See
notes following RCW 82.04.260.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.940
82.08.940 Exemptions—Over-the-counter drugs for
human use. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not
apply to sales of over-the-counter drugs for human use dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription. "Over-the-counter drug" has the same meaning as in
RCW 82.08.0281. [2003 c 168 § 405.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.945
82.08.945 Exemptions—Kidney dialysis devices. The
tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of kidney dialysis devices, including repair and replacement parts,
for human use pursuant to a prescription. In addition, the tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to charges made for
labor and services rendered in respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of kidney dialysis devices. [2004
c 153 § 110; 2003 c 168 § 410.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 101]
82.08.950
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.08.950 Exemptions—Steam, electricity, electrical
energy. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to
sales of steam, electricity, or electrical energy. [2003 c 168 §
703.]
82.08.950
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.08.955
82.08.955 Exemptions—Sales of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and services related to biodiesel or alcohol
fuel blend. (Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of machinery and
equipment, or to services rendered in respect to constructing
structures, installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, decorating, altering, or improving of structures or machinery and
equipment, or to sales of tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of structures or machinery and equipment, if the machinery, equipment, or structure
is used directly for the retail sale of a biodiesel or alcohol fuel
blend. Structures and machinery and equipment that are used
for the retail sale of a biodiesel or alcohol fuel blend and for
other purposes are exempt only on the portion used directly
for the retail sale of a biodiesel or alcohol fuel blend.
(2) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to
sales of fuel delivery vehicles or to sales of or charges made
for labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the vehicles including
repair parts and replacement parts if at least seventy-five percent of the fuel distributed by the vehicles is a biodiesel or
alcohol fuel blend.
(3) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. The exemption is available only
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4334 and this subsection apply.
(a) "Alcohol fuel blend" means fuel that contains at least
eighty-five percent alcohol fuel by volume.
(b) "Biodiesel blend" means fuel that contains at least
twenty percent biodiesel fuel by volume.
(c) "Machinery and equipment" means industrial fixtures, devices, and support facilities and tangible personal
property that becomes an ingredient or component thereof,
including repair parts and replacement parts that are integral
and necessary for the delivery of biodiesel or alcohol fuel
blends into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.
(5) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 63 § 2.]
Effective date—2003 c 63: See note following RCW 82.04.4334.
82.08.960
82.08.960 Sales of machinery, equipment, vehicles,
and services related to wood biomass fuel blend. (Expires
July 1, 2009.) (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not
apply to sales of machinery and equipment, or to services
rendered in respect to constructing structures, installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, decorating, altering, or improving of structures or machinery and equipment, or to sales of
tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or
component of structures or machinery and equipment, if the
machinery, equipment, or structure is used directly for the
retail sale of a wood biomass fuel blend. Structures and
[Title 82 RCW—page 102]
machinery and equipment that are used for the retail sale of a
wood biomass fuel blend and for other purposes are exempt
only on the portion used directly for the retail sale of a wood
biomass fuel blend.
(2) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to
sales of fuel delivery vehicles or to sales of or charges made
for labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the vehicles including
repair parts and replacement parts if at least seventy-five percent of the fuel distributed by the vehicles is a wood biomass
fuel blend.
(3) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section. The exemption is available only
when the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
seller shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
*RCW 82.69.010 [2003 c 339 § 1] and this subsection apply.
(a) "Wood biomass fuel blend" means fuel that contains
at least twenty percent wood biomass fuel by volume.
(b) "Machinery and equipment" means industrial fixtures, devices, and support facilities and tangible personal
property that becomes an ingredient or component thereof,
including repair parts and replacement parts that are integral
and necessary for the delivery of a wood biomass fuel blend
into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.
(5) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 339 § 13.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.69.010 failed to become law. See 2003 c
339 § 17.
Effective dates—2003 c 339: See note following RCW 84.36.640.
82.08.965
82.08.965 Exemptions—Semiconductor materials
manufacturing. (Contingent effective date; contingent
expiration date.) (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall
not apply to charges made for labor and services rendered in
respect to the constructing of new buildings used for the manufacturing of semiconductor materials, to sales of tangible
personal property that will be incorporated as an ingredient or
component of such buildings during the course of the constructing, or to labor and services rendered in respect to
installing, during the course of constructing, building fixtures
not otherwise eligible for the exemption under RCW
82.08.02565(2)(b). The exemption is available only when
the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in
a form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller
shall retain a copy of the certificate for the seller’s files.
(2) To be eligible under this section the manufacturer or
processor for hire must meet the following requirements for
an eight-year period, such period beginning the day the new
building commences commercial production, or a portion of
tax otherwise due shall be immediately due and payable pursuant to subsection (3) of this section:
(a) The manufacturer or processor for hire must maintain
at least seventy-five percent of full employment at the new
building for which the exemption under this section is
claimed.
(b) Before commencing commercial production at a new
facility the manufacturer or processor for hire must meet with
the department to review projected employment levels in the
new buildings. The department, using information provided
(2006 Ed.)
Retail Sales Tax
by the taxpayer, shall make a determination of the number of
positions that would be filled at full employment. This number shall be used throughout the eight-year period to determine whether any tax is to be repaid. This information is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330
and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(c) In those situations where a production building in
existence on *the effective date of this section will be phased
out of operation during which time employment at the new
building at the same site is increased, the manufacturer or
processor for hire shall maintain seventy-five percent of full
employment at the manufacturing site overall.
(d) No application is necessary for the tax exemption.
The person is subject to all the requirements of chapter 82.32
RCW. A person taking the exemption under this section
must report as required under RCW 82.32.535.
(3) If the employment requirement is not met for any one
calendar year, one-eighth of the exempt sales and use taxes
shall be due and payable by April 1st of the following year.
The department shall assess interest to the date the tax was
imposed, but not penalties, on the taxes for which the person
is not eligible.
(4) The exemption applies to new buildings, or parts of
buildings, that are used exclusively in the manufacturing of
semiconductor materials, including the storage of raw materials and finished product.
(5) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Commencement of commercial production" is
deemed to have occurred when the equipment and process
qualifications in the new building are completed and production for sale has begun; and
(b) "Full employment" is the number of positions
required for full capacity production at the new building, for
positions such as line workers, engineers, and technicians.
(c) "Semiconductor materials" has the same meaning as
provided in RCW 82.04.240(2).
(6) No exemption may be taken after twelve years after
*the effective date of this act, however all of the eligibility
criteria and limitations are applicable to any exemptions
claimed before that date.
(7) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 5.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.08.9651
82.08.9651 Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used
in production of semiconductor materials. (Contingent
effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of gases and
chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for hire in the
production of semiconductor materials. This exemption is
limited to gases and chemicals used in the production process
to grow the product, deposit or grow permanent or sacrificial
layers on the product, to etch or remove material from the
product, to anneal the product, to immerse the product, to
clean the product, and other such uses whereby the gases and
chemicals come into direct contact with the product during
the production process, or uses of gases and chemicals to
clean the chambers and other like equipment in which such
processing takes place. For the purposes of this section,
(2006 Ed.)
82.08.975
"semiconductor materials" has the meaning provided in
RCW 82.04.2404.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must report under RCW 82.32.5351. No application is necessary for the tax exemption. The person is subject to all of
the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this section. [2006 c 84 § 3.]
*Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
82.08.970 Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used to
manufacture semiconductor materials. (Contingent effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of gases and chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for hire in the manufacturing of semiconductor materials. This exemption is
limited to gases and chemicals used in the manufacturing
process to grow the product, deposit or grow permanent or
sacrificial layers on the product, to etch or remove material
from the product, to anneal the product, to immerse the product, to clean the product, and other such uses whereby the
gases and chemicals come into direct contact with the product during the manufacturing process, or uses of gases and
chemicals to clean the chambers and other like equipment in
which such processing takes place. For the purposes of this
section, "semiconductor materials" has the same meaning as
provided in RCW 82.04.240(2).
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must report under RCW 82.32.535. No application is necessary for the tax exemption. The person is subject to all of the
requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 7.]
82.08.970
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.08.975 Exemptions—Computer parts and software related to the manufacture of commercial airplanes.
(Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) The tax levied by RCW
82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of computer hardware,
computer peripherals, or software, not otherwise eligible for
exemption under RCW 82.08.02565, to a manufacturer or
processor for hire of commercial airplanes or components of
such airplanes, used primarily in the development, design,
and engineering of such products, or to sales of or charges
made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing
the computer hardware, computer peripherals, or software.
The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller shall retain a copy of
the certificate for the seller’s files.
(2) As used in this section, "commercial airplane" and
"component" have the meanings given in RCW 82.32.550.
"Peripherals" includes keyboards, monitors, mouse devices,
and other accessories that operate outside of the computer,
excluding cables, conduit, wiring, and other similar property.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 9.]
82.08.975
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
[Title 82 RCW—page 103]
82.08.980
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.08.980 Exemptions—Labor, services, and personal property related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes. (Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) The tax levied
by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to charges made for labor
and services rendered in respect to the constructing of new
buildings by a manufacturer engaged in the manufacturing of
superefficient airplanes or by a port district, to be leased to a
manufacturer engaged in the manufacturing of superefficient
airplanes, to sales of tangible personal property that will be
incorporated as an ingredient or component of such buildings
during the course of the constructing, or to labor and services
rendered in respect to installing, during the course of constructing, building fixtures not otherwise eligible for the
exemption under RCW 82.08.02565(2)(b). The exemption is
available only when the buyer provides the seller with an
exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the
department. The seller shall retain a copy of the certificate
for the seller’s files.
(2) No application is necessary for the tax exemption in
this section, however in order to qualify under this section
before starting construction the port district must have
entered into an agreement with the manufacturer to build
such a facility. A person taking the exemption under this section is subject to all the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW.
In addition, the person must report as required under RCW
82.32.545.
(3) The exemption in this section applies to buildings, or
parts of buildings, that are used exclusively in the manufacturing of superefficient airplanes, including buildings used
for the storage of raw materials and finished product.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "superefficient airplane" has the meaning given in RCW 82.32.550.
(5) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 11.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: "Sections 1 through 9 of this act
take effect July 1, 2006." [2006 c 177 § 12.]
82.08.980
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.08.981 Exemptions—Development, design, and
engineering of commercial airplanes. (Expires July 1,
2024.) (1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply
to sales of computer hardware, computer peripherals, or software, not otherwise eligible for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565 or 82.08.975, used primarily in the development, design, and engineering of commercial airplanes or
components of such airplanes, or to sales of or charges made
for labor and services rendered in respect to installing the
computer hardware, computer peripherals, or software. The
exemption is available only when the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller shall retain a copy of
the certificate for the seller’s files.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Commercial airplane" and "component" have the
meanings in RCW 82.32.550.
(b) "Peripherals" includes keyboards, monitors, mouse
devices, and other accessories that operate outside of the
computer, excluding cables, conduit, wiring, and other similar property.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2006 c 177 § 1.]
82.08.981
[Title 82 RCW—page 104]
82.08.985
82.08.985 Exemptions—Insulin. The tax levied by
RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to sales of insulin for human
use. [2004 c 153 § 102.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Chapter 82.12
Chapter 82.12 RCW
USE TAX
Sections
82.12.010
82.12.020
82.12.0201
82.12.022
82.12.023
82.12.024
82.12.0251
82.12.02525
82.12.0253
82.12.0254
82.12.0255
82.12.0256
82.12.02565
82.12.02566
82.12.02567
82.12.02568
82.12.02569
82.12.0257
82.12.0258
82.12.0259
82.12.02595
82.12.0261
82.12.0262
82.12.0263
82.12.0264
82.12.0265
82.12.0266
82.12.0267
Definitions.
Use tax imposed.
Dedication of taxes—Comprehensive performance audits.
Natural or manufactured gas—Use tax imposed—Exemption.
Natural or manufactured gas, exempt from use tax imposed
by RCW 82.12.020.
Deferral of use tax on certain users of natural or manufactured gas.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property by nonresident while temporarily within state—Use of household
goods, personal effects, and private motor vehicles
acquired in another state while resident of other state—
Use of certain warranties.
Exemptions—Sale of copied public records by state and local
agencies.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property taxable
under chapter 82.16 RCW.
Exemptions—Use of airplanes, locomotives, railroad cars, or
watercraft used in interstate or foreign commerce or outside state’s territorial waters—Components—Use of
motor vehicle or trailer in the transportation of persons or
property across state boundaries—Conditions—Use of
motor vehicle or trailer under one-transit permit to point
outside state.
Exemptions—Nontaxable tangible personal property and
warranties.
Exemptions—Use of motor vehicle and special fuel—Conditions.
Exemptions—Machinery and equipment used for manufacturing, research and development, or a testing operation.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property incorporated
in prototype for aircraft parts, auxiliary equipment, and
aircraft modification—Limitations on yearly exemption.
Exemptions—Use of machinery and equipment used in generating electricity.
Exemptions—Use of carbon and similar substances that
become an ingredient or component of anodes or cathodes
used in producing aluminum for sale.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property related to a
building or structure that is an integral part of a laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property of the operating property of a public utility by state or political subdivision.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property previously
used in farming and purchased from farmer at auction.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property by federal
corporations providing aid and relief.
Exemptions—Tangible personal property and certain services donated to nonprofit organization or governmental
entity.
Exemptions—Use of livestock.
Exemptions—Use of poultry for producing poultry and poultry products for sale.
Exemptions—Use of fuel by extractor or manufacturer
thereof.
Exemptions—Use of dual-controlled motor vehicles by
school for driver training.
Exemptions—Use by bailee of tangible personal property
consumed in research, development, etc., activities.
Exemptions—Use by residents of motor vehicles and trailers
acquired and used while members of the armed services
and stationed outside the state.
Exemptions—Use of semen in artificial insemination of livestock.
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
82.12.0268
82.12.02685
82.12.0269
82.12.0271
82.12.0272
82.12.0273
82.12.0274
82.12.02745
82.12.02747
82.12.02748
82.12.02749
82.12.0275
82.12.0276
82.12.0277
82.12.0279
82.12.0282
82.12.0283
82.12.0284
82.12.02915
82.12.02917
82.12.0293
82.12.0294
82.12.0296
82.12.0297
82.12.0298
82.12.031
82.12.0311
82.12.0315
82.12.0316
82.12.032
82.12.033
82.12.034
82.12.0345
82.12.0347
82.12.035
82.12.036
82.12.037
82.12.038
82.12.040
82.12.045
82.12.060
82.12.070
82.12.080
82.12.800
82.12.801
82.12.802
82.12.803
82.12.804
82.12.805
82.12.806
82.12.807
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions—Use of form lumber by persons engaged in
constructing, repairing, etc., structures for consumers.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property related to
agricultural employee housing.
Exemptions—Use of sand, gravel, or rock to extent of labor
and service charges for mining, sorting, crushing, etc.,
thereof from county or city quarry for public road purposes.
Exemptions—Use of wearing apparel only as a sample for
display for sale.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property in single
trade shows.
Exemptions—Use of pollen.
Exemptions—Use of tangible personal property by political
subdivision resulting from annexation or incorporation.
Exemptions—Use by free hospitals of certain items.
Exemptions—Use of medical products by qualifying blood,
tissue, or blood and tissue banks.
Exemptions—Use of human blood, tissue, organs, bodies, or
body parts for medical research or quality control testing.
Exemptions—Use of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials by organ procurement organization.
Exemptions—Use of certain drugs or family planning
devices.
Exemptions—Use of returnable containers for beverages and
foods.
Exemptions—Certain medical items.
Exemptions—Use of ferry vessels by the state or local governmental units—Components thereof.
Exemptions—Use of vans as ride-sharing vehicles.
Exemptions—Use of certain irrigation equipment.
Exemptions—Use of computers or computer components,
accessories, or software donated to schools or colleges.
Exemptions—Use of items by health or social welfare organizations for alternative housing for youth in crisis.
Exemptions—Use of amusement and recreation services by
nonprofit youth organization.
Exemptions—Use of food and food ingredients.
Exemptions—Use of feed for cultivating or raising fish for
sale.
Exemptions—Use of feed consumed by livestock at a public
livestock market.
Exemptions—Use of food purchased with food stamps.
Exemptions—Use of diesel fuel in operating watercraft in
commercial deep sea fishing or commercial passenger
fishing boat operations outside the state.
Exemptions—Use by artistic or cultural organizations of certain objects.
Exemptions—Use of materials and supplies in packing horticultural products.
Exemptions—Rental or sales related to motion picture or
video productions—Exceptions.
Exemptions—Sales of cigarettes by Indian retailers.
Exemption—Use of used park model trailers.
Exemption—Use of certain used mobile homes.
Exemption—Use of used floating homes.
Exemptions—Use of newspapers.
Exemptions—Use of academic transcripts.
Credit for retail sales or use taxes paid to other jurisdictions
with respect to property used.
Exemptions and credits—Pollution control facilities.
Credits and refunds—Bad debts.
Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—
Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core deposits or credits"
defined.
Retailers to collect tax—Penalty—Contingent expiration of
subsection.
Collection of tax on motor vehicles by county auditor or
director of licensing—Remittance.
Installment sales or leases.
Cash receipts taxpayers—Bad debts.
Administration.
Exemptions—Uses of vessel, vessel’s trailer by manufacturer.
Exemptions—Uses of vessel, vessel’s trailer by dealer.
Vessels held in inventory by dealer or manufacturer—Tax on
personal use—Documentation—Rules.
Exemptions—Nebulizers.
Exemptions—Ostomic items.
Exemptions—Tangible personal property used at an aluminum smelter.
Exemptions—Use of computer equipment parts and services
by printer or publisher.
Exemptions—Direct mail delivery charges.
82.12.010
82.12.808
82.12.809
82.12.810
82.12.811
82.12.813
82.12.815
82.12.820
82.12.825
82.12.832
82.12.834
82.12.835
82.12.841
82.12.845
82.12.850
82.12.855
82.12.860
82.12.865
82.12.880
82.12.890
82.12.900
82.12.910
82.12.920
82.12.925
82.12.930
82.12.935
82.12.940
82.12.945
82.12.950
82.12.955
82.12.960
82.12.965
82.12.9651
82.12.970
82.12.975
82.12.980
82.12.981
82.12.985
Exemptions—Use of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials by comprehensive cancer centers.
Exemptions—Vehicles using clean alternative fuels.
Exemptions—Air pollution control facilities at a thermal
electric generation facility—Exceptions—Payments on
cessation of operation.
Exemptions—Coal used at coal-fired thermal electric generation facility—Application—Demonstration of progress
in air pollution control—Notice of emissions violations—
Reapplication—Payments on cessation of operation.
Exemptions—High gas mileage vehicles.
Exemptions—Property and services related to electrification
systems to power heavy duty diesel vehicles.
Exemptions—Warehouse and grain elevators and distribution centers.
Exemptions—Property and services that enable heavy duty
diesel vehicles to operate with onboard electrification systems.
Exemptions—Use of gun safes.
Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
Exemptions—Solar hot water systems.
Exemptions—Farming equipment—Hay sheds.
Use of motorcycles loaned to department of licensing.
Exemptions—Conifer seed.
Exemptions—Replacement parts for qualifying farm
machinery and equipment.
Exemptions—Property and services acquired from a federal
credit union.
Exemptions—Diesel and aircraft fuel for farm fuel users.
Exemptions—Animal pharmaceuticals.
Exemptions—Livestock nutrient management equipment
and facilities.
Exemptions—Anaerobic digesters.
Exemptions—Propane or natural gas to heat chicken structures.
Exemptions—Chicken bedding materials.
Exemptions—Dietary supplements.
Exemptions—Watershed protection or flood prevention.
Exemptions—Disposable devices used to deliver prescription drugs for human use.
Exemptions—Over-the-counter drugs for human use.
Exemptions—Kidney dialysis devices.
Exemptions—Steam, electricity, electrical energy.
Exemptions—Use of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and
services related to biodiesel or alcohol fuel blend.
Exemptions—Use of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and
services related to wood biomass fuel blend.
Exemptions—Semiconductor materials manufacturing.
Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used in production of
semiconductor materials.
Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used to manufacture
semiconductor materials.
Computer parts and software related to the manufacture of
commercial airplanes.
Exemptions—Labor, services, and personal property related
to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
Exemptions—Development, design, and engineering of
commercial airplanes.
Exemptions—Insulin.
Changes in tax law—Liability: RCW 82.08.064, 82.14.055, and 82.32.430.
Direct pay permits: RCW 82.32.087.
82.12.010
82.12.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Purchase price" means the same as sales price as
defined in RCW 82.08.010.
(2)(a) "Value of the article used" shall be the purchase
price for the article of tangible personal property, the use of
which is taxable under this chapter. The term also includes,
in addition to the purchase price, the amount of any tariff or
duty paid with respect to the importation of the article used.
In case the article used is acquired by lease or by gift or is
extracted, produced, or manufactured by the person using the
same or is sold under conditions wherein the purchase price
does not represent the true value thereof, the value of the article used shall be determined as nearly as possible according
to the retail selling price at place of use of similar products of
[Title 82 RCW—page 105]
82.12.010
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
like quality and character under such rules as the department
may prescribe.
(b) In case the articles used are acquired by bailment, the
value of the use of the articles so used shall be in an amount
representing a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so
bailed, determined as nearly as possible according to the
value of such use at the places of use of similar products of
like quality and character under such rules as the department
of revenue may prescribe. In case any such articles of tangible personal property are used in respect to the construction,
repairing, decorating, or improving of, and which become or
are to become an ingredient or component of, new or existing
buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof,
or a county or city housing authority created pursuant to
chapter 35.82 RCW, including the installing or attaching of
any such articles therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation, then the value of the use of such articles so used shall
be determined according to the retail selling price of such
articles, or in the absence of such a selling price, as nearly as
possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of
similar products of like quality and character or, in the
absence of either of these selling price measures, such value
may be determined upon a cost basis, in any event under such
rules as the department of revenue may prescribe.
(c) In the case of articles owned by a user engaged in
business outside the state which are brought into the state for
no more than one hundred eighty days in any period of three
hundred sixty-five consecutive days and which are temporarily used for business purposes by the person in this state,
the value of the article used shall be an amount representing a
reasonable rental for the use of the articles, unless the person
has paid tax under this chapter or chapter 82.08 RCW upon
the full value of the article used, as defined in (a) of this subsection.
(d) In the case of articles manufactured or produced by
the user and used in the manufacture or production of products sold or to be sold to the department of defense of the
United States, the value of the articles used shall be determined according to the value of the ingredients of such articles.
(e) In the case of an article manufactured or produced for
purposes of serving as a prototype for the development of a
new or improved product, the value of the article used shall
be determined by: (i) The retail selling price of such new or
improved product when first offered for sale; or (ii) the value
of materials incorporated into the prototype in cases in which
the new or improved product is not offered for sale.
(f) In the case of an article purchased with a direct pay
permit under RCW 82.32.087, the value of the article used
shall be determined by the purchase price of such article if,
but for the use of the direct pay permit, the transaction would
have been subject to sales tax;
(3) "Value of the service used" means the purchase price
for the service, the use of which is taxable under this chapter.
If the service is received by gift or under conditions wherein
the purchase price does not represent the true value thereof,
the value of the service used shall be determined as nearly as
possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of
[Title 82 RCW—page 106]
similar services of like quality and character under rules the
department may prescribe;
(4) "Value of the extended warranty used" means the
purchase price for the extended warranty, the use of which is
taxable under this chapter. If the extended warranty is
received by gift or under conditions wherein the purchase
price does not represent the true value of the extended warranty, the value of the extended warranty used shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the retail selling
price at place of use of similar extended warranties of like
quality and character under rules the department may prescribe;
(5) "Use," "used," "using," or "put to use" shall have
their ordinary meaning, and shall mean:
(a) With respect to tangible personal property, the first
act within this state by which the taxpayer takes or assumes
dominion or control over the article of tangible personal
property (as a consumer), and include installation, storage,
withdrawal from storage, distribution, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption within this
state;
(b) With respect to a service defined in RCW
82.04.050(2)(a), the first act within this state after the service
has been performed by which the taxpayer takes or assumes
dominion or control over the article of tangible personal
property upon which the service was performed (as a consumer), and includes installation, storage, withdrawal from
storage, distribution, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption of the article within this
state; and
(c) With respect to an extended warranty, the first act
within this state after the extended warranty has been
acquired by which the taxpayer takes or assumes dominion or
control over the article of tangible personal property to which
the extended warranty applies, and includes installation, storage, withdrawal from storage, distribution, or any other act
preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption of the
article within this state;
(6) "Taxpayer" and "purchaser" include all persons
included within the meaning of the word "buyer" and the
word "consumer" as defined in chapters 82.04 and 82.08
RCW;
(7)(a)(i) Except as provided in (a)(ii) of this subsection
(7), "retailer" means every seller as defined in RCW
82.08.010 and every person engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail and every person
required to collect from purchasers the tax imposed under
this chapter.
(ii) "Retailer" does not include a professional employer
organization when a covered employee coemployed with the
client under the terms of a professional employer agreement
engages in activities that constitute a sale of tangible personal
property, extended warranty, or a sale of any service defined
as a retail sale in RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or (3)(a) that is subject to the tax imposed by this chapter. In such cases, the client, and not the professional employer organization, is
deemed to be the retailer and is responsible for collecting and
remitting the tax imposed by this chapter.
(b) For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, the terms
"client," "covered employee," "professional employer agree(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
ment," and "professional employer organization" have the
same meanings as in RCW 82.04.540;
(8) "Extended warranty" has the same meaning as in
RCW 82.04.050(7);
(9) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have
full force and effect with respect to taxes imposed under the
provisions of this chapter. "Consumer," in addition to the
meaning ascribed to it in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW
insofar as applicable, shall also mean any person who distributes or displays, or causes to be distributed or displayed, any
article of tangible personal property, except newspapers, the
primary purpose of which is to promote the sale of products
or services. With respect to property distributed to persons
within this state by a consumer as defined in this subsection
(9), the use of the property shall be deemed to be by such consumer. [2006 c 301 § 3; 2005 c 514 § 104. Prior: 2003 c 168
§ 102; 2003 c 5 § 1; 2002 c 367 § 3; 2001 c 188 § 3; 1994 c
93 § 1; prior: 1985 c 222 § 1; 1985 c 132 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s.
c 55 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 52;
1965 ex.s. c 173 § 17; 1961 c 293 § 15; 1961 c 15 §
82.12.010; prior: 1955 c 389 § 24; 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 3;
1949 c 228 § 9; 1945 c 249 § 8; 1943 c 156 § 10; 1939 c 225
§ 18; 1937 c 191 § 4; 1935 c 180 § 35; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
8370-35.]
Effective date—Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51
RCW—2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—2003 c 5: "The legislature finds that in the enactment of chapter 367, Laws of 2002, some use tax
exemptions were not updated to reflect the change in taxability regarding
services. It is the legislature’s intent to correct this omission by amending
the various use tax exemptions so that services exempt from the sales tax are
also exempt from the use tax. Sections 1 through 19 of this act apply retroactively to June 1, 2002. The department of revenue shall refund any use
taxes paid and forgive use taxes unpaid as a result of the omission." [2003 c
5 § 20.]
Effective date—2003 c 5: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 18, 2003]." [2003 c 5 § 21.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2001 c 188: See notes following
RCW 82.32.087.
Effective date—1994 c 93: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 93 § 3.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Application to preexisting contracts—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1; 1975
1st ex.s. c 90: "In the event any person has entered into a contract prior to
July 1, 1975 or has bid upon a contract prior to July 1, 1975 and has been
awarded the contract after July 1, 1975, the additional taxes imposed by
chapter 90, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess., section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1975
1st ex. sess. and this 1975 amendatory act shall not be required to be paid by
such person in carrying on activities in the fulfillment of such contract."
[1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 90 § 4.]
Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1: "If any provision of this 1975
amendatory act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 4.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.020
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.12.020
82.12.020 Use tax imposed. (1) There is hereby levied
and there shall be collected from every person in this state a
tax or excise for the privilege of using within this state as a
consumer: (a) Any article of tangible personal property purchased at retail, or acquired by lease, gift, repossession, or
bailment, or extracted or produced or manufactured by the
person so using the same, or otherwise furnished to a person
engaged in any business taxable under RCW 82.04.280 (2) or
(7); (b) any prewritten computer software, regardless of the
method of delivery, but excluding prewritten computer software that is either provided free of charge or is provided for
temporary use in viewing information, or both; or (c) any
extended warranty.
(2) This tax shall apply to the use of every extended warranty, service defined as a retail sale in RCW 82.04.050
(2)(a) or (3)(a), and the use of every article of tangible personal property, including property acquired at a casual or isolated sale, and including byproducts used by the manufacturer thereof, except as hereinafter provided, irrespective of
whether the article or similar articles are manufactured or are
available for purchase within this state.
(3) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect
to the use of any article of tangible personal property,
extended warranty, or service taxable under RCW 82.04.050
(2)(a) or (3)(a), purchased at retail or acquired by lease, gift,
or bailment if the sale to, or the use by, the present user or his
bailor or donor has already been subjected to the tax under
chapter 82.08 RCW or this chapter and the tax has been paid
by the present user or by his bailor or donor.
(4) Except as provided in this section, payment by one
purchaser or user of tangible personal property, extended
warranty, or service of the tax imposed by chapter 82.08 or
82.12 RCW shall not have the effect of exempting any other
purchaser or user of the same property, extended warranty, or
service from the taxes imposed by such chapters. If the sale
to, or the use by, the present user or his or her bailor or donor
has already been subjected to the tax under chapter 82.08
RCW or this chapter and the tax has been paid by the present
user or by his or her bailor or donor; or in respect to the use
of property acquired by bailment and the tax has once been
paid based on reasonable rental as determined by RCW
82.12.060 measured by the value of the article at time of first
use multiplied by the tax rate imposed by chapter 82.08 RCW
or this chapter as of the time of first use; or in respect to the
use of any article of tangible personal property acquired by
bailment, if the property was acquired by a previous bailee
from the same bailor for use in the same general activity and
the original bailment was prior to June 9, 1961, the tax
imposed by this chapter does not apply.
(5) The tax shall be levied and collected in an amount
equal to the value of the article used, value of the extended
warranty used, or value of the service used by the taxpayer
multiplied by the rates in effect for the retail sales tax under
RCW 82.08.020, except in the case of a seller required to collect use tax from the purchaser, the tax shall be collected in an
amount equal to the purchase price multiplied by the rate in
effect for the retail sales tax under RCW 82.08.020. [2005 c
[Title 82 RCW—page 107]
82.12.0201
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
514 § 105. Prior: 2003 c 361 § 302; 2003 c 168 § 214; 2003
c 5 § 2; 2002 c 367 § 4; 1999 c 358 § 9; 1998 c 332 § 7; 1996
c 148 § 5; 1994 c 93 § 2; 1983 c 7 § 7; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 2;
1980 c 37 § 79; 1977 ex.s. c 324 § 3; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 130
§ 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 281 § 10; 1969
ex.s. c 262 § 32; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 22; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 18;
1961 c 293 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.12.020; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3
§ 10; 1955 ex.s. c 10 § 3; 1955 c 389 § 25; 1949 c 228 § 7;
1943 c 156 § 8; 1941 c 76 § 6; 1939 c 225 § 14; 1937 c 191 §
1; 1935 c 180 § 31; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-31.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1998 c 332: See notes following
RCW 82.04.29001.
Severability—Effective date—1996 c 148: See notes following RCW
82.04.050.
Effective date—1994 c 93: See note following RCW 82.12.010.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 130: See note following RCW
82.08.020.
Application to preexisting contracts—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1: See
note following RCW 82.12.010.
Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
82.12.010.
High capacity transportation systems—Sales and use tax: RCW 81.104.170.
82.12.0201
82.12.0201 Dedication of taxes—Comprehensive
performance audits. Beginning on December 8, 2005, 0.16
percent of the taxes collected under RCW 82.12.020 based on
the rate in RCW 82.08.020(1) shall be dedicated to funding
comprehensive performance audits under RCW 43.09.470.
Revenue identified in this section shall be deposited in the
performance audits of government account created in RCW
43.09.475. [2006 c 1 § 4 (Initiative Measure No. 900,
approved November 8, 2005).]
Short title—Effective date—2006 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 900):
See RCW 43.09.471.
Policies and purposes—Construction—Severability—Part headings not law—2006 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 900): See notes following
RCW 43.09.470.
82.12.022
82.12.022 Natural or manufactured gas—Use tax
imposed—Exemption. (1) There is hereby levied and there
shall be collected from every person in this state a use tax for
the privilege of using natural gas or manufactured gas within
this state as a consumer.
(2) The tax shall be levied and collected in an amount
equal to the value of the article used by the taxpayer multi[Title 82 RCW—page 108]
plied by the rate in effect for the public utility tax on gas distribution businesses under RCW 82.16.020. The "value of
the article used" does not include any amounts that are paid
for the hire or use of a gas distribution business as defined in
RCW 82.16.010(7) in transporting the gas subject to tax
under this subsection if those amounts are subject to tax
under that chapter.
(3) The tax levied in this section shall not apply to the
use of natural or manufactured gas delivered to the consumer
by other means than through a pipeline.
(4) The tax levied in this section shall not apply to the
use of natural or manufactured gas if the person who sold the
gas to the consumer has paid a tax under RCW 82.16.020
with respect to the gas for which exemption is sought under
this subsection.
(5) The tax levied in this section shall not apply to the
use of natural or manufactured gas by an aluminum smelter
as that term is defined in RCW 82.04.217 before January 1,
2012.
(6) There shall be a credit against the tax levied under
this section in an amount equal to any tax paid by:
(a) The person who sold the gas to the consumer when
that tax is a gross receipts tax similar to that imposed pursuant to RCW 82.16.020 by another state with respect to the gas
for which a credit is sought under this subsection; or
(b) The person consuming the gas upon which a use tax
similar to the tax imposed by this section was paid to another
state with respect to the gas for which a credit is sought under
this subsection.
(7) The use tax hereby imposed shall be paid by the consumer to the department.
(8) There is imposed a reporting requirement on the person who delivered the gas to the consumer to make a quarterly report to the department. Such report shall contain the
volume of gas delivered, name of the consumer to whom
delivered, and such other information as the department shall
require by rule.
(9) The department may adopt rules under chapter 34.05
RCW for the administration and enforcement of sections 1
through 6, chapter 384, Laws of 1989. [2006 c 182 § 5; 2004
c 24 § 12; 1994 c 124 § 9; 1989 c 384 § 3.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
Intent—1989 c 384: "Due to a change in the federal regulations governing the sale of brokered natural gas, cities have lost significant revenues
from the utility tax on natural gas. It is therefore the intent of the legislature
to adjust the utility and use tax authority of the state and cities to maintain
this revenue source for the municipalities and provide equality of taxation
between intrastate and interstate transactions." [1989 c 384 § 1.]
Effective date—1989 c 384: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1990."
[1989 c 384 § 7.]
82.12.023
82.12.023 Natural or manufactured gas, exempt
from use tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020. The tax levied
by RCW 82.12.020 shall not apply in respect to the use of
natural or manufactured gas that is taxable under RCW
82.12.022. [1994 c 124 § 10; 1989 c 384 § 5.]
Intent—Effective date—1989 c 384: See notes following RCW
82.12.022.
82.12.024
82.12.024 Deferral of use tax on certain users of natural or manufactured gas. (1) Unless the context clearly
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply
throughout this section.
(a) "Direct service industrial customer" means a person
who is an industrial customer that contracts for the purchase
of power from the Bonneville Power Administration for
direct consumption as of May 8, 2001. "Direct service industrial customer" includes a person who is a subsidiary that is
more than fifty percent owned by a direct service industrial
customer and who receives power from the Bonneville Power
Administration pursuant to the parent’s contract for power.
(b) "Facility" means a gas turbine electrical generation
facility that does not exist on May 8, 2001, and is owned by a
direct service industrial customer for the purpose of producing electricity to be consumed by the direct service industrial
customer.
(c) "Average annual employment" means the total
employment in this state for a calendar year at the direct service industrial customer’s location where electricity from the
facility will be consumed.
(2) Effective July 1, 2001, the tax levied in RCW
82.12.022 on the first sixty months’ use of natural or manufactured gas by a direct service industrial customer that owns
a facility shall be deferred. This deferral is limited to the tax
on natural or manufactured gas used or consumed to generate
electricity at the facility.
(3) Application for deferral shall be made by the direct
service industrial customer before the first use of natural or
manufactured gas. The application shall be in a form and
manner prescribed by the department and shall include but is
not limited to information regarding the location of the facility, the projected date of first use of natural or manufactured
gas to generate electricity at the facility, the date construction
is projected to begin or did begin, the applicant’s average
annual employment in the state for the six calendar years
immediately preceding the year in which the application is
made, and shall affirm the applicant’s status as a direct service industrial customer. The department shall rule on the
application within thirty days of receipt.
(4)(a) The direct service industrial customer shall begin
paying the deferred tax in the sixth calendar year following
the calendar year in which the month of first use of natural or
manufactured gas to generate electricity at the facility occurs.
The first payment will be due on or before December 31st
with subsequent annual payments due on or before December
31st of the following four years according to the following
schedule:
Payment Year
1
2
3
4
5
% of Deferred Tax to be Paid
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
(b) The department may authorize an accelerated payment schedule upon request of the taxpayer.
(c) Interest shall not be charged on the tax deferred under
this section for the period of deferral, although all other penalties and interest applicable to delinquent excise taxes may
be assessed and imposed. The debt for deferred tax will not
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.0251
be extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the direct
service industrial customer. Transfer of ownership of the
facility does not affect deferral eligibility. However, the
deferral is available to the successor only if the eligibility
conditions of this section are met.
(5)(a) If the average of the direct service industrial customer’s average annual employment for the five calendar
years subsequent to the calendar year containing the first
month of use of natural or manufactured gas to generate electricity at a facility is equal to or exceeds the six-year average
annual employment stated on the application for deferral
under this section, the tax deferred need not be paid. The
direct service industrial customer shall certify to the department by June 1st of the sixth calendar year following the calendar year in which the month of first use of gas occurs the
average annual employment for each of the five prior calendar years.
(b) If the five-year average calculated in (a) of this subsection is less than the average annual employment stated on
the application for deferral under this section, the tax deferred
under this section shall be paid in the amount as follows:
Decrease in Average Annual
Employment Over
Five-Year Period
Less than 10%
10% or more but less than 25%
25% or more but less than 50%
50% or more but less than 75%
75% or more
% of Deferred
Tax to be Paid
10%
25%
50%
75%
100%
(c) Tax paid under this subsection shall be paid according to the schedule in subsection (4)(a) of this section and
under the terms and conditions of subsection (4)(b) and (c) of
this section.
(6) The employment security department shall make, and
certify to the department of revenue, all determinations of
employment under this section as requested by the department.
(7) A person claiming this deferral shall supply to the
department quarterly reports containing information necessary to document the total volume of natural or manufactured
gas purchased in the quarter, the value of that total volume,
and the percentage of the total volume used to generate electricity at the facility. [2001 c 214 § 10.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
82.12.0251
82.12.0251 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property by nonresident while temporarily within state—
Use of household goods, personal effects, and private
motor vehicles acquired in another state while resident of
other state—Use of certain warranties. The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use:
(1) Of any article of tangible personal property, and services that were rendered in respect to such property, brought
into the state of Washington by a nonresident thereof for his
or her use or enjoyment while temporarily within the state of
Washington unless such property is used in conducting a
[Title 82 RCW—page 109]
82.12.02525
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
nontransitory business activity within the state of Washington;
(2) By a nonresident of Washington of a motor vehicle or
trailer which is registered or licensed under the laws of the
state of his or her residence, and which is not required to be
registered or licensed under the laws of Washington, including motor vehicles or trailers exempt pursuant to a declaration issued by the department of licensing under RCW
46.85.060, and services rendered outside the state of Washington in respect to such property;
(3) Of household goods, personal effects, and private
motor vehicles, and services rendered in respect to such property, by a bona fide resident of Washington, or nonresident
members of the armed forces who are stationed in Washington pursuant to military orders, if such articles and services
were acquired and used by such person in another state while
a bona fide resident thereof and such acquisition and use
occurred more than ninety days prior to the time he or she
entered Washington. For purposes of this subsection, private
motor vehicles do not include motor homes;
(4) Of an extended warranty, to the extent that the property covered by the extended warranty is exempt under this
section from the tax imposed under this chapter.
For purposes of this section, "state" means a state of the
United States, any political subdivision thereof, the District
of Columbia, and any foreign country or political subdivision
thereof, and "services" means services defined as retail sales
in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a). [2005 c 514 § 106; 2003 c 5 § 18;
1997 c 301 § 1; 1987 c 27 § 1; 1985 c 353 § 4; 1983 c 26 § 2;
1980 c 37 § 51. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(1).]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.02525
82.12.02525 Exemptions—Sale of copied public
records by state and local agencies. The provisions of this
chapter shall not apply with respect to the use of public
records sold by state and local agencies, as the terms are
defined in RCW 42.17.020, that are obtained under a request
for the record for which no fee is charged other than a statutorily set fee or a fee to reimburse the agency for its actual
costs directly incident to the copying. A request for a record
includes a request for a document not available to the public
but available to those persons who by law are allowed access
to the document, such as requests for fire reports, law
enforcement reports, taxpayer information, and academic
transcripts. [1996 c 63 § 2.]
Effective date—1996 c 63: See note following RCW 82.08.02525.
82.12.0253
82.12.0253 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property taxable under chapter 82.16 RCW. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
any article of tangible personal property the sale of which is
specifically taxable under chapter 82.16 RCW. [1980 c 37 §
53. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(3).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
[Title 82 RCW—page 110]
82.12.0254
82.12.0254 Exemptions—Use of airplanes, locomotives, railroad cars, or watercraft used in interstate or foreign commerce or outside state’s territorial waters—
Components—Use of motor vehicle or trailer in the transportation of persons or property across state boundaries—Conditions—Use of motor vehicle or trailer under
one-transit permit to point outside state. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
any airplane, locomotive, railroad car, or watercraft used primarily in conducting interstate or foreign commerce by transporting therein or therewith property and persons for hire or
used primarily in commercial deep sea fishing operations
outside the territorial waters of the state, and in respect to use
of tangible personal property which becomes a component
part of any such airplane, locomotive, railroad car, or watercraft in the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the same; also the use of labor and services rendered in
respect to such repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving.
(2) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use by a nonresident of this state of any motor
vehicle or trailer used exclusively in transporting persons or
property across the boundaries of this state and in intrastate
operations incidental thereto when such motor vehicle or
trailer is registered and licensed in a foreign state and in
respect to the use by a nonresident of this state of any motor
vehicle or trailer so registered and licensed and used within
this state for a period not exceeding fifteen consecutive days
under such rules as the department of revenue shall adopt:
PROVIDED, That under circumstances determined to be justifiable by the department of revenue a second fifteen day
period may be authorized consecutive with the first fifteen
day period; and for the purposes of this exemption the term
"nonresident" as used herein, shall include a user who has one
or more places of business in this state as well as in one or
more other states, but the exemption for nonresidents shall
apply only to those vehicles which are most frequently dispatched, garaged, serviced, maintained, and operated from
the user’s place of business in another state.
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use by the holder of a carrier permit issued by
the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency
of any motor vehicle or trailer whether owned by or leased
with or without driver to the permit holder and used in substantial part in the normal and ordinary course of the user’s
business for transporting therein persons or property for hire
across the boundaries of this state; and in respect to the use of
any motor vehicle or trailer while being operated under the
authority of a one-transit permit issued by the director of
licensing pursuant to RCW 46.16.160 and moving upon the
highways from the point of delivery in this state to a point
outside this state; and in respect to the use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of any
motor vehicle or trailer used by the holder of a carrier permit
issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency authorizing transportation by motor vehicle across
the boundaries of this state whether such motor vehicle or
trailer is owned by or leased with or without driver to the permit holder, in the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or
improving the same; also the use of labor and services rendered in respect to such repairing, cleaning, altering, or
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
improving. [2003 c 5 § 3; 1998 c 311 § 7; 1995 c 63 § 2; 1980
c 37 § 54. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(4).]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—1995 c 63: See note following RCW 82.08.0263.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0255 Exemptions—Nontaxable tangible personal property and warranties. The provisions of this
chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of any article of
tangible personal property, extended warranty, or service
which the state is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of the state or under the Constitution or laws of the
United States. [2005 c 514 § 107; 2003 c 5 § 4; 1980 c 37 §
55. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(5).]
82.12.0255
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0256 Exemptions—Use of motor vehicle and
special fuel—Conditions. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of:
(1) Special fuel purchased in this state upon which a
refund is obtained as provided in RCW 82.38.180(2); and
(2) Motor vehicle and special fuel if:
(a) The fuel is used for the purpose of public transportation and the purchaser is entitled to a refund or an exemption
under RCW 82.36.275 or 82.38.080(3); or
(b) The fuel is purchased by a private, nonprofit transportation provider certified under chapter 81.66 RCW and the
purchaser is entitled to a refund or an exemption under RCW
82.36.285 or 82.38.080(1)(h); or
(c) The fuel is taxable under chapter 82.36 or 82.38
RCW: PROVIDED, That the use of motor vehicle and special fuel upon which a refund of the applicable fuel tax is
obtained shall not be exempt under this subsection (2)(c), and
the director of licensing shall deduct from the amount of such
tax to be refunded the amount of tax due under this chapter
and remit the same each month to the department of revenue.
[2005 c 443 § 6; 1998 c 176 § 5. Prior: 1983 1st ex.s. c 35 §
3; 1983 c 108 § 2; 1980 c 147 § 2; 1980 c 37 § 56. Formerly
RCW 82.12.030(6).]
82.12.0256
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2005 c 443: See notes following
RCW 82.08.0255.
Rules—Findings—Effective date—1998 c 176: See RCW 82.36.800,
82.36.900, and 82.36.901.
Intent—1983 1st ex.s. c 35: See note following RCW 82.08.0255.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
Diesel and aircraft fuel sales tax exemption for farmers: RCW 82.12.865.
82.12.02565 Exemptions—Machinery and equipment used for manufacturing, research and development,
or a testing operation. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply in respect to the use by a manufacturer or processor
for hire of machinery and equipment used directly in a manufacturing operation or research and development operation,
to the use by a person engaged in testing for a manufacturer
or processor for hire of machinery and equipment used
82.12.02565
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.02567
directly in a testing operation, or to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning,
altering, or improving the machinery and equipment. [2003 c
5 § 5; 1999 c 211 § 6; 1998 c 330 § 2; 1996 c 247 § 3; 1995
1st sp.s. c 3 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Finding—Intent—1999 c 211: See note following RCW 82.08.02565.
F ind ing s— Inte nt— 1 996 c 24 7: See n ot e fol l ow i ng RC W
82.08.02566.
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
82.12.02566
82.12.02566 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property incorporated in prototype for aircraft parts,
auxiliary equipment, and aircraft modification—Limitations on yearly exemption. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to the use of tangible personal
property incorporated into a prototype for aircraft parts, auxiliary equipment, or modifications; or in respect to the use of
tangible personal property that at one time is incorporated
into the prototype but is later destroyed in the testing or
development of the prototype.
(2) This exemption does not apply in respect to the use of
tangible personal property by any person whose total taxable
amount during the immediately preceding calendar year
exceeds twenty million dollars. For purposes of this section,
"total taxable amount" means gross income of the business
and value of products manufactured, less any amounts for
which a credit is allowed under RCW 82.04.440.
(3) State and local taxes for which an exemption is
received under this section and RCW 82.08.02566 shall not
exceed one hundred thousand dollars for any person during
any calendar year.
(4) Sellers obligated to collect use tax shall collect tax on
sales subject to this exemption. The buyer shall apply for a
refund directly from the department. [2003 c 168 § 209; 1997
c 302 § 2; 1996 c 247 § 5.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—1997 c 302: See note following RCW 82.08.02566.
F ind ing s— Inte nt— 1 996 c 24 7: See n ot e fol l ow i ng RC W
82.08.02566.
82.12.02567
82.12.02567 Exemptions—Use of machinery and
equipment used in generating electricity. (Expires June
30, 2009.) (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
with respect to machinery and equipment used directly in
generating not less than two hundred watts of electricity
using fuel cells, wind, sun, or landfill gas as the principal
source of power, or to the use of labor and services rendered
in respect to installing such machinery and equipment.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.08.02567 apply to this
section.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2009. [2004 c 152 § 2;
2003 c 5 § 6; 2001 c 213 § 2; 1999 c 358 § 10; 1998 c 309 §
2; 1996 c 166 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—2001 c 213: See note following RCW 82.08.02567.
[Title 82 RCW—page 111]
82.12.02568
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—1998 c 309: See note following RCW 82.08.02567.
Effective date—1996 c 166: See note following RCW 82.08.02567.
also to carry on a system of national and international relief
and to apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by
pestilence, famine, fire, flood, and other national calamities
and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.
[2003 c 5 § 7; 1980 c 37 § 59. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(9).]
82.12.02568
82.12.02568 Exemptions—Use of carbon and similar
substances that become an ingredient or component of
anodes or cathodes used in producing aluminum for sale.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of carbon, petroleum coke, coal tar, pitch, and similar
substances that become an ingredient or component of
anodes or cathodes used in producing aluminum for sale.
[1996 c 170 § 2.]
Effective date—1996 c 170: See note following RCW 82.08.02568.
82.12.02569
82.12.02569 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property related to a building or structure that is an integral part of a laser interferometer gravitational wave
observatory. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
in respect to the use of tangible personal property by a consumer as defined in RCW 82.04.190(6) if the tangible personal property is incorporated into, installed in, or attached to
a building or other structure that is an integral part of a laser
interferometer gravitational wave observatory on which construction is commenced before December 1, 1996. [1996 c
113 § 2.]
Effective date—1996 c 113: See note following RCW 82.08.02569.
82.12.0257
82.12.0257 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property of the operating property of a public utility by
state or political subdivision. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of any article of tangible
personal property included within the transfer of the title to
the entire operating property of a publicly or privately owned
public utility, or of a complete operating integral section
thereof, by the state or a political subdivision thereof in conducting any business defined in RCW 82.16.010 (1), (2), (3),
(4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11). [1980 c 37 § 57. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(7).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0258
82.12.0258 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property previously used in farming and purchased from
farmer at auction. The provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of tangible personal property
(including household goods) which have been used in conducting a farm activity, if such property was purchased from
a farmer at an auction sale held or conducted by an auctioneer
upon a farm and not otherwise. [1980 c 37 § 58. Formerly
RCW 82.12.030(8).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0259
82.12.0259 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property by federal corporations providing aid and relief.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of tangible personal property or the use of services
defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) by corporations which have
been incorporated under any act of the congress of the United
States and whose principal purposes are to furnish volunteer
aid to members of the armed forces of the United States and
[Title 82 RCW—page 112]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.02595 Exemptions—Tangible personal property and certain services donated to nonprofit organization or governmental entity. (1) This chapter does not
apply to the use by a nonprofit charitable organization or state
or local governmental entity of any item of tangible personal
property that has been donated to the nonprofit charitable
organization or state or local governmental entity, or to the
subsequent use of the property by a person to whom the property is donated or bailed in furtherance of the purpose for
which the property was originally donated.
(2) This chapter does not apply to the donation of tangible personal property without intervening use to a nonprofit
charitable organization, or to the incorporation of tangible
personal property without intervening use into real or personal property of or for a nonprofit charitable organization in
the course of installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, improving, constructing, or decorating the real or personal property for no charge.
(3) This chapter does not apply to the use by a nonprofit
charitable organization of labor and services rendered in
respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting,
or improving personal property provided to the charitable
organization at no charge, or to the donation of such services.
(4) This chapter does not apply to the donation of amusement and recreation services without intervening use to a
nonprofit organization or state or local governmental entity,
to the use by a nonprofit organization or state or local governmental entity of amusement and recreation services, or to the
subsequent use of the services by a person to whom the services are donated or bailed in furtherance of the purpose for
which the services were originally donated. As used in this
subsection, "amusement and recreation services" has the
meaning in RCW 82.04.050(3)(a). [2004 c 155 § 1; 2003 c 5
§ 11; 1998 c 182 § 1; 1995 c 201 § 1.]
82.12.02595
Effective date—2004 c 155: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 26, 2004]." [2004 c 155 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—1995 c 201: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 1, 1995]." [1995 c 201 § 2.]
82.12.0261 Exemptions—Use of livestock. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
livestock, as defined in RCW 16.36.005, for breeding purposes where said animals are registered in a nationally recognized breed association; or to sales of cattle and milk cows
used on the farm. [2001 c 118 § 5; 1980 c 37 § 60. Formerly
RCW 82.12.030(10).]
82.12.0261
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
82.12.0262
82.12.0262 Exemptions—Use of poultry for producing poultry and poultry products for sale. The provisions
of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of poultry
in the production for sale of poultry or poultry products.
[1980 c 37 § 61. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(11).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0263
82.12.0263 Exemptions—Use of fuel by extractor or
manufacturer thereof. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply in respect to the use of fuel by the extractor or manufacturer thereof when used directly in the operation of the
particular extractive operation or manufacturing plant which
produced or manufactured the same. [1980 c 37 § 62. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(12).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0264
82.12.0264 Exemptions—Use of dual-controlled
motor vehicles by school for driver training. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
motor vehicles, equipped with dual controls, which are
loaned to and used exclusively by a school in connection with
its driver training program: PROVIDED, That this exemption and the term "school" shall apply only to (1) the University of Washington, Washington State University, the
regional universities, The Evergreen State College and the
state community colleges or (2) any public, private or parochial school accredited by either the state board of education
or by the University of Washington (the state accrediting station) or (3) any public vocational school meeting the standards, courses and requirements established and prescribed
or approved in accordance with the Community College Act
of 1967 (chapter 8, Laws of 1967 first extraordinary session).
[1980 c 37 § 63. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(13).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0265
82.12.0265 Exemptions—Use by bailee of tangible
personal property consumed in research, development,
etc., activities. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
in respect to the use by a bailee of any article of tangible personal property which is entirely consumed in the course of
research, development, experimental and testing activities
conducted by the user, provided the acquisition or use of such
articles by the bailor was not subject to the taxes imposed by
chapter 82.08 RCW or chapter 82.12 RCW. [1980 c 37 § 64.
Formerly RCW 82.12.030(14).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0266
82.12.0266 Exemptions—Use by residents of motor
vehicles and trailers acquired and used while members of
the armed services and stationed outside the state. The
provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use
by residents of this state of motor vehicles and trailers
acquired and used while such persons are members of the
armed services and are stationed outside this state pursuant to
military orders, but this exemption shall not apply to members of the armed services called to active duty for training
purposes for periods of less than six months and shall not
apply to the use of motor vehicles or trailers acquired less
than thirty days prior to the discharge or release from active
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.02685
duty of any person from the armed services. [1980 c 37 § 65.
Formerly RCW 82.12.030(15).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0267
82.12.0267 Exemptions—Use of semen in artificial
insemination of livestock. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of semen in the artificial
insemination of livestock. [1980 c 37 § 66. Formerly RCW
82.12.030(16).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0268
82.12.0268 Exemptions—Use of form lumber by persons engaged in constructing, repairing, etc., structures
for consumers. The provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of form lumber by any person
engaged in the constructing, repairing, decorating or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under,
upon or above real property of or for consumers: PROVIDED, That such lumber is used or to be used first by such
person for the molding of concrete in a single such contract,
project or job and is thereafter incorporated into the product
of that same contract, project or job as an ingredient or compo n e nt the r e o f. [ 19 8 0 c 3 7 § 6 7. F or m e rl y R CW
82.12.030(17).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.02685
82.12.02685 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property related to agricultural employee housing. (1)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient
or component of buildings or other structures used as agricultural employee housing during the course of constructing,
repairing, decorating, or improving the buildings or other
structures by any person.
(2) The exemption provided in this section for agricultural employee housing provided to year-round employees of
the agricultural employer, only applies if that housing is built
to the current building code for single-family or multifamily
dwellings according to the state building code, chapter 19.27
RCW.
(3) Any agricultural employee housing built under this
section shall be used according to this section for at least five
consecutive years from the date the housing is approved for
occupancy, or the full amount of a tax otherwise due shall be
immediately due and payable together with interest, but not
penalties, from the date the housing is approved for occupancy until the date of payment. If at any time agricultural
employee housing that is not located on agricultural land
ceases to be used in the manner specified in subsection (2) of
this section, the full amount of tax otherwise due shall be
immediately due and payable with interest, but not penalties,
from the date the housing ceases to be used as agricultural
employee housing until the date of payment.
(4) The exemption provided in this section shall not
apply to housing built for the occupancy of an employer,
family members of an employer, or persons owning stock or
shares in a farm partnership or corporation business.
(5) The definitions in RCW 82.08.02745(5) apply to this
section. [1997 c 438 § 2; 1996 c 117 § 2.]
Effective date—1997 c 438: See note following RCW 82.08.02745.
[Title 82 RCW—page 113]
82.12.0269
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective date—1996 c 117: See note following RCW 82.08.02745.
82.12.0269
82.12.0269 Exemptions—Use of sand, gravel, or rock
to extent of labor and service charges for mining, sorting,
crushing, etc., thereof from county or city quarry for public road purposes. The provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of any sand, gravel, or rock to the
extent of the cost of or charges made for labor and services
performed in respect to the mining, sorting, crushing, screening, washing, hauling, and stockpiling such sand, gravel, or
rock, when such sand, gravel, or rock is taken from a pit or
quarry which is owned by or leased to a county or a city, and
such sand, gravel, or rock is (1) either stockpiled in said pit or
quarry for placement or is placed on the street, road, place, or
highway of the county or city by the county or city itself, or
(2) sold by the county or city to a county, or a city at actual
cost for placement on a publicly owned street, road, place, or
highway. The exemption provided for in this section shall not
apply to the use of such material to the extent of the cost of or
charge made for such labor and services, if the material is
used for other than public road purposes or is sold otherwise
than as provided for in this section. [1980 c 37 § 68. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(18).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0271
82.12.0271 Exemptions—Use of wearing apparel
only as a sample for display for sale. The provisions of this
chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of wearing
apparel only as a sample for display for the purpose of effecting sales of goods represented by such sample. [1980 c 37 §
69. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(19).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0272
82.12.0272 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property in single trade shows. The provisions of this
chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of tangible personal property held for sale and displayed in single trade
shows for a period not in excess of thirty days, the primary
purpose of which is to promote the sale of products or services. [1980 c 37 § 70. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(20).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0273
82.12.0273 Exemptions—Use of pollen. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
pollen. [1980 c 37 § 71. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(21).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0274
82.12.0274 Exemptions—Use of tangible personal
property by political subdivision resulting from annexation or incorporation. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply in respect to the use of the personal property of one
political subdivision by another political subdivision directly
or indirectly arising out of or resulting from the annexation or
incorporation of any part of the territory of one political subdivision by another. [1980 c 37 § 72. Formerly RCW
82.12.030(22).]
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.02745
82.12.02745 Exemptions—Use by free hospitals of
certain items. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not
[Title 82 RCW—page 114]
apply in respect to the use by free hospitals of items reasonably necessary for the operation of, and provision of health
care by, free hospitals.
(2) As used in this section, "free hospital" means a hospital that does not charge patients for health care provided by
the hospital. [1993 c 205 § 2.]
Effective date—1993 c 205: See note following RCW 82.08.02795.
82.12.02747
82.12.02747 Exemptions—Use of medical products
by qualifying blood, tissue, or blood and tissue banks. (1)
The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the
use of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials by a qualifying blood bank, a qualifying tissue bank, or a qualifying
blood and tissue bank. The exemption in this section does not
apply to the use of construction materials, office equipment,
building equipment, administrative supplies, or vehicles.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.04.324 and 82.08.02805
apply to this section. [2004 c 82 § 3; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 5.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
84.36.035.
82.12.02748
82.12.02748 Exemptions—Use of human blood, tissue, organs, bodies, or body parts for medical research or
quality control testing. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply in respect to the use of human blood, tissue, organs,
bodies, or body parts for medical research and quality control
testing purposes. [1996 c 141 § 2.]
Effective date—1996 c 141: See note following RCW 82.08.02806.
82.12.02749
82.12.02749 Exemptions—Use of medical supplies,
chemicals, or materials by organ procurement organization. The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to the
use of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials by an organ
procurement organization exempt under RCW 82.04.326.
The definitions of medical supplies, chemicals, and materials
in *RCW 82.04.324 apply to this section. This exemption
does not apply to the use of construction materials, office
equipment, building equipment, administrative supplies, or
vehicles. [2002 c 113 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.324 was amended by 2004 c 82 § 1, deleting the definitions of "medical supplies," "chemicals," and "materials."
Effective date—2002 c 113: See note following RCW 82.04.326.
82.12.0275
82.12.0275 Exemptions—Use of certain drugs or
family planning devices. (1) The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of drugs dispensed or to
be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription, if the
drugs are for human use.
(2) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of drugs or devices used for family planning purposes, including the prevention of conception, for
human use dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant
to a prescription.
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of drugs or devices used for family planning purposes, including the prevention of conception, for
human use supplied by a family planning clinic that is under
contract with the department of health to provide family planning services.
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
(4) As used in this section, "prescription" and "drug"
have the same meanings as in RCW 82.08.0281. [2003 c 168
§ 406; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 309; 1980 c 37 § 73. Formerly RCW
82.12.030(23).]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Finding—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW 82.08.0281.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0276 Exemptions—Use of returnable containers for beverages and foods. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of returnable containers
for beverages and foods, including but not limited to soft
drinks, milk, beer, and mixers. [1980 c 37 § 74. Formerly
RCW 82.12.030(24).]
82.12.0276
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0282
Effective date—1986 c 255: See note following RCW 82.08.0283.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0279
82.12.0279 Exemptions—Use of ferry vessels by the
state or local governmental units—Components thereof.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of ferry vessels of the state of Washington or of local governmental units in the state of Washington in transporting
pedestrian or vehicular traffic within and outside the territorial waters of the state, in respect to the use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of any such
ferry vessel, and in respect to the use of labor and services
rendered in respect to improving such ferry vessels. [2003 c
5 § 9; 1980 c 37 § 77. Formerly RCW 82.12.030(27).]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.
82.12.0282
82.12.0277 Exemptions—Certain medical items. (1)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of:
(a) Prosthetic devices prescribed, fitted, or furnished for
an individual by a person licensed under the laws of this state
to prescribe, fit, or furnish prosthetic devices;
(b) Medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin
prescribed, administered, dispensed, or used in the treatment
of an individual by a person licensed under chapter 18.36A
RCW; and
(c) Medically prescribed oxygen, including, but not limited to, oxygen concentrator systems, oxygen enricher systems, liquid oxygen systems, and gaseous, bottled oxygen
systems prescribed for an individual by a person licensed
under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW for use in the medical
treatment of that individual.
(2) In addition, the provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of labor and services rendered in
respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of
any of the items exempted under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The exemption provided by subsection (1) of this
section shall not apply to the use of durable medical equipment or mobility enhancing equipment.
(4) "Prosthetic device," "durable medical equipment,"
and "mobility enhancing equipment" have the same meanings as in RCW 82.08.0283. [2004 c 153 § 109. Prior: 2003
c 168 § 412; 2003 c 5 § 8; 2001 c 75 § 2; 1998 c 168 § 3; 1997
c 224 § 2; 1996 c 162 § 2; 1991 c 250 § 3; 1986 c 255 § 2;
1980 c 86 § 2; 1980 c 37 § 75. Formerly RCW
82.12.030(25).]
82.12.0277
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—2001 c 75: See note following RCW 82.08.0283.
Effective date—1998 c 168: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Effective date—1997 c 224: See note following RCW 82.08.0283.
Effective date—1996 c 162: See note following RCW 82.08.0283.
Finding—Intent—1991 c 250: See note following RCW 82.08.0283.
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.0282 Exemptions—Use of vans as ride-sharing
vehicles. The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply
with respect to the use of passenger motor vehicles used as
ride-sharing vehicles by not less than five persons, including
the driver, with a gross vehicle weight not to exceed 10,000
pounds where the primary usage is for commuter ride-sharing, as defined in RCW 46.74.010, by not less than four persons including the driver when at least two of those persons
are confined to wheelchairs when riding, or passenger motor
vehicles where the primary usage is for ride-sharing for persons with special transportation needs, as defined in RCW
46.74.010, if the vehicles are used as ride-sharing vehicles for
thirty-six consecutive months beginning with the date of first
use.
To qualify for the tax exemption, those passenger motor
vehicles with five or six passengers, including the driver,
used for commuter ride-sharing, must be operated either
within the state’s eight largest counties that are required to
develop commute trip reduction plans as directed by chapter
70.94 RCW or in other counties, or cities and towns within
those counties, that elect to adopt and implement a commute
trip reduction plan. Additionally at least one of the following
conditions must apply: (1) The vehicle must be operated by
a public transportation agency for the general public; or (2)
the vehicle must be used by a major employer, as defined in
RCW 70.94.524 as an element of its commute trip reduction
program for their employees; or (3) the vehicle must be
owned and operated by individual employees and must be
registered either with the employer as part of its commute trip
reduction program or with a public transportation agency
serving the area where the employees live or work. Individual
employee owned and operated motor vehicles will require
certification that the vehicle is registered with a major
employer or a public transportation agency. Major employers
who own and operate motor vehicles for their employees
must certify that the commuter ride-sharing arrangement conforms to a carpool/vanpool element contained within their
commute trip reduction program. [2001 c 320 § 5; 1999 c
358 § 11; 1996 c 88 § 4; 1993 c 488 § 4; 1980 c 166 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
[Title 82 RCW—page 115]
82.12.0283
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Construction—1996 c 88: "This act shall not be construed as affecting
any existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended or repealed in this act or under any rule or order adopted
under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those
sections." [1996 c 88 § 5.]
provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use
of amusement and recreation services by a nonprofit youth
organization, as defined in RCW 82.04.4271, to members of
the organization. [1999 c 358 § 7.]
Severability—1996 c 88: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1996 c 88 § 6.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—1996 c 88: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 88 § 7.]
Finding—Annual recertification rule—Report—1993 c 488: See
notes following RCW 82.08.0287.
Severability—1980 c 166: See note following RCW 82.08.0287.
Ride-sharing vehicles—Special plates: RCW 46.16.023.
82.12.0283
82.12.0283 Exemptions—Use of certain irrigation
equipment. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
the use of irrigation equipment if:
(1) The irrigation equipment was purchased by the lessor
for the purpose of irrigating land controlled by the lessor;
(2) The lessor has paid tax under RCW 82.08.020 or
82.12.020 in respect to the irrigation equipment;
(3) The irrigation equipment is attached to the land in
whole or in part; and
(4) The irrigation equipment is leased to the lessee as an
incidental part of the lease of the underlying land to the lessee
and is used solely on such land. [1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 6.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
82.12.0293
82.12.0293 Exemptions—Use of food and food ingredients. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of food and food ingredients for human
consumption. "Food and food ingredients" has the same
meaning as in RCW 82.08.0293.
(2) The exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to
prepared food, soft drinks, or dietary supplements. "Prepared
food," "soft drinks," and "dietary supplements" have the
same meanings as in RCW 82.08.0293.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided
in this section shall apply to food and food ingredients which
are furnished, prepared, or served as meals:
(a) Under a state administered nutrition program for the
aged as provided for in the Older Americans Act (P.L. 95-478
Title III) and RCW 74.38.040(6); or
(b) Which are provided to senior citizens, disabled persons, or low-income persons by a not-for-profit organization
organized under chapter 24.03 or 24.12 RCW. [2003 c 168 §
303; 1988 c 103 § 2; 1986 c 182 § 2; 1985 c 104 § 2; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 35 § 34.]
82.12.0284
82.12.0284 Exemptions—Use of computers or computer components, accessories, or software donated to
schools or colleges. The provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of computers, computer components, computer accessories, or computer software irrevocably donated to any public or private nonprofit school or college, as defined under chapter 84.36 RCW, in this state. For
purposes of this section, "computer" has the same meaning as
in RCW 82.04.215. [2003 c 168 § 603; 1983 1st ex.s. c 55 §
7.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
82.12.02915
82.12.02915 Exemptions—Use of items by health or
social welfare organizations for alternative housing for
youth in crisis. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
in respect to the use of any item acquired by a health or social
welfare organization, as defined in RCW 82.04.431, of items
necessary for new construction of alternative housing for
youth in crisis, so long as the facility will be a licensed
agency under chapter 74.15 RCW, upon completion. [1998 c
183 § 2; 1997 c 386 § 57; 1995 c 346 § 2.]
Effective date—1997 c 386 §§ 56, 57: See note following RCW
82.08.02915.
Effective date—1995 c 346: See note following RCW 82.08.02915.
Youth in crisis—Definition—Limited purpose: RCW 82.08.02917.
82.12.02917
82.12.02917 Exemptions—Use of amusement and
recreation services by nonprofit youth organization. The
[Title 82 RCW—page 116]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—1988 c 103: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.12.0294
82.12.0294 Exemptions—Use of feed for cultivating
or raising fish for sale. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply in respect to the use of feed by persons for the cultivating or raising for sale of fish entirely within confined
rearing areas on the person’s own land or on land in which the
person has a present right of possession. [1985 c 148 § 4.]
82.12.0296
82.12.0296 Exemptions—Use of feed consumed by
livestock at a public livestock market. The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply with respect to the use of feed
consumed by livestock at a public livestock market. [1986 c
265 § 2.]
82.12.0297
82.12.0297 Exemptions—Use of food purchased with
food stamps. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
with respect to the use of eligible foods which are purchased
with coupons issued under the food stamp act of 1977 or food
stamp or coupon benefits transferred electronically, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in RCW 82.12.0293.
As used in this section, "eligible foods" shall have the
same meaning as that established under federal law for purposes of the food stamp act of 1977. [1998 c 79 § 19; 1987 c
28 § 2.]
Effective date—1987 c 28: See note following RCW 82.08.0297.
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
82.12.0298
82.12.0298 Exemptions—Use of diesel fuel in operating watercraft in commercial deep sea fishing or commercial passenger fishing boat operations outside the state.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to
the use of diesel fuel in the operation of watercraft in commercial deep sea fishing operations or commercial passenger
fishing boat operations by persons who are regularly engaged
in the business of commercial deep sea fishing or commercial
passenger fishing boat operations outside the territorial
waters of this state.
For purposes of this section, a person is not regularly
engaged in the business of commercial deep sea fishing or the
operation of a commercial passenger fishing boat if the person has gross receipts from these operations of less than five
thousand dollars a year. [1987 c 494 § 2.]
82.12.035
to any degree, in the production of erotic material, as defined
in RCW 9.68.050. [2003 c 5 § 10; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 5 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 5: See note following RCW
82.08.0315.
82.12.0316
82.12.0316 Exemptions—Sales of cigarettes by
Indian retailers. The provisions of this chapter shall not
apply in respect to the use of cigarettes sold by an Indian
retailer during the effective period of a cigarette tax contract
subject to RCW 43.06.455 or a cigarette tax agreement under
RCW 43.06.465. [2005 c 11 § 4; 2001 c 235 § 5.]
Findings—Intent—Explanatory statement—Effective date—2005 c
11: See notes following RCW 43.06.465.
Intent—Finding—2001 c 235: See RCW 43.06.450.
82.12.031
82.12.031 Exemptions—Use by artistic or cultural
organizations of certain objects. The provisions of this
chapter shall not apply in respect to the use by artistic or cultural organizations of:
(1) Objects of art;
(2) Objects of cultural value;
(3) Objects to be used in the creation of a work of art,
other than tools; or
(4) Objects to be used in displaying art objects or presenting artistic or cultural exhibitions or performances.
[1981 c 140 § 5.]
"Artistic or cultural organization" defined: RCW 82.04.4328.
82.12.0311
82.12.0311 Exemptions—Use of materials and supplies in packing horticultural products. The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply with respect to the use of materials and supplies directly used in the packing of fresh perishable horticultural products by any person entitled to a deduction under RCW 82.04.4287 either as an agent or an independent contractor. [1988 c 68 § 2.]
82.12.0315
82.12.0315 Exemptions—Rental or sales related to
motion picture or video productions—Exceptions. (1)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the
use of:
(a) Production equipment rented to a motion picture or
video production business;
(b) Production equipment acquired and used by a motion
picture or video production business in another state, if the
acquisition and use occurred more than ninety days before
the time the motion picture or video production business
entered this state; and
(c) Production services that are within the scope of RCW
82.04.050(2)(a) and are sold to a motion picture or video production business.
(2) As used in this section, "production equipment,"
"production services," and "motion picture or video production business" have the meanings given in RCW 82.08.0315.
(3) The exemption provided for in this section shall not
apply to the use of production equipment rented to, or production equipment or production services that are within the
scope of RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) acquired and used by, a
motion picture or video production business that is engaged,
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.032
82.12.032 Exemption—Use of used park model trailers. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with
respect to the use of used park model trailers, as defined in
RCW 82.45.032. [2001 c 282 § 4.]
Intent—Effective date—2001 c 282: See notes following RCW
82.08.032.
82.12.033
82.12.033 Exemption—Use of certain used mobile
homes. The tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 shall not apply
in respect to:
(1) The use of used mobile homes as defined in RCW
82.45.032.
(2) The use of a mobile home acquired by renting or leasing if the rental agreement or lease exceeds thirty days in
duration and if the rental or lease of the mobile home is not
conducted jointly with the provision of short-term lodging for
transients. [1986 c 211 § 3; 1979 ex.s. c 266 § 4.]
82.12.034
82.12.034 Exemption—Use of used floating homes.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to
the use of used floating homes, as defined in RCW 82.45.032.
[1984 c 192 § 4.]
82.12.0345
82.12.0345 Exemptions—Use of newspapers. The tax
imposed by RCW 82.12.020 shall not apply in respect to the
use of newspapers. [1994 c 124 § 11.]
82.12.0347
82.12.0347 Exemptions—Use of academic transcripts. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of academic transcripts. [1996 c 272 § 3.]
Effective date—1996 c 272: See note following RCW 82.04.399.
82.12.035
82.12.035 Credit for retail sales or use taxes paid to
other jurisdictions with respect to property used. A credit
shall be allowed against the taxes imposed by this chapter
upon the use of tangible personal property, extended warranty, or services taxable under RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or
(3)(a), in the state of Washington in the amount that the
present user thereof or his or her bailor or donor has paid a
retail sales or use tax with respect to such property, extended
warranty, or service to any other state of the United States,
any political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia,
and any foreign country or political subdivision thereof, prior
[Title 82 RCW—page 117]
82.12.036
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
to the use of such property, extended warranty, or service in
Washington. [2005 c 514 § 108; 2002 c 367 § 5; 1996 c 148
§ 6; 1987 c 27 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 89 § 5.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Severability—Effective date—1996 c 148: See notes following RCW
82.04.050.
82.12.036
82.12.036 Exemptions and credits—Pollution control
facilities. See chapter 82.34 RCW.
82.12.037
82.12.037 Credits and refunds—Bad debts. (1) A
seller is entitled to a credit or refund for use taxes previously
paid on bad debts, as that term is used in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 166,
as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2003.
(2) For purposes of this section, "bad debts" does not
include:
(a) Amounts due on property that remains in the possession of the seller until the full purchase price is paid;
(b) Expenses incurred in attempting to collect debt; and
(c) Repossessed property.
(3) If a credit or refund of use tax is taken for a bad debt
and the debt is subsequently collected in whole or in part, the
tax on the amount collected must be paid and reported on the
return filed for the period in which the collection is made.
(4) Payments on a previously claimed bad debt are
applied first proportionally to the taxable price of the property or service and the sales or use tax thereon, and secondly
to interest, service charges, and any other charges.
(5) If the seller uses a certified service provider as
defined in RCW 82.58.010 to administer its use tax responsibilities, the certified service provider may claim, on behalf of
the seller, the credit or refund allowed by this section. The
certified service provider must credit or refund the full
amount received to the seller.
(6) The department shall allow an allocation of bad debts
among member states to the streamlined sales and use tax
agreement, as defined in RCW 82.58.010(1), if the books and
records of the person claiming bad debts support the allocation. [2004 c 153 § 304; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 36.]
Bad debts—Intent—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.037.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.12.038
82.12.038 Exemptions—Vehicle battery core deposits or credits—Replacement vehicle tire fees—"Core
deposits or credits" defined. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply: (1) To the value of core deposits or credits in
a retail or wholesale sale; or (2) to the fees imposed under
RCW 70.95.510 upon the sale of a new replacement vehicle
tire. For purposes of this section, the term "core deposits or
credits" means the amount representing the value of returnable products such as batteries, starters, brakes, and other
products with returnable value added for the purpose of recycling or remanufacturing. [1989 c 431 § 46.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 118]
Severability—Section captions not law—1989 c 431: See RCW
70.95.901 and 70.95.902.
82.12.040
82.12.040 Retailers to collect tax—Penalty—Contingent expiration of subsection. (1) Every person who maintains in this state a place of business or a stock of goods, or
engages in business activities within this state, shall obtain
from the department a certificate of registration, and shall, at
the time of making sales of tangible personal property,
extended warranties, or sales of any service defined as a retail
sale in RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or (3)(a), or making transfers
of either possession or title, or both, of tangible personal
property for use in this state, collect from the purchasers or
transferees the tax imposed under this chapter. The tax to be
collected under this section shall be in an amount equal to the
purchase price multiplied by the rate in effect for the retail
sales tax under RCW 82.08.020. For the purposes of this
chapter, the phrase "maintains in this state a place of business" shall include the solicitation of sales and/or taking of
orders by sales agents or traveling representatives. For the
purposes of this chapter, "engages in business activity within
this state" includes every activity which is sufficient under
the Constitution of the United States for this state to require
collection of tax under this chapter. The department shall in
rules specify activities which constitute engaging in business
activity within this state, and shall keep the rules current with
future court interpretations of the Constitution of the United
States.
(2) Every person who engages in this state in the business of acting as an independent selling agent for persons
who do not hold a valid certificate of registration, and who
receives compensation by reason of sales of tangible personal
property, extended warranties, or sales of any service defined
as a retail sale in RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or (3)(a), of his or her
principals for use in this state, shall, at the time such sales are
made, collect from the purchasers the tax imposed on the purchase price under this chapter, and for that purpose shall be
deemed a retailer as defined in this chapter.
(3) The tax required to be collected by this chapter shall
be deemed to be held in trust by the retailer until paid to the
department and any retailer who appropriates or converts the
tax collected to the retailer’s own use or to any use other than
the payment of the tax provided herein to the extent that the
money required to be collected is not available for payment
on the due date as prescribed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In case any seller fails to collect the tax herein
imposed or having collected the tax, fails to pay the same to
the department in the manner prescribed, whether such failure is the result of the seller’s own acts or the result of acts or
conditions beyond the seller’s control, the seller shall nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount of
such tax, unless the seller has taken from the buyer in good
faith a copy of a direct pay permit issued under RCW
82.32.087.
(4) Any retailer who refunds, remits, or rebates to a purchaser, or transferee, either directly or indirectly, and by
whatever means, all or any part of the tax levied by this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (4) of this
section, any person making sales is not obligated to collect
the tax imposed by this chapter if:
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
(a) The person’s activities in this state, whether conducted directly or through another person, are limited to:
(i) The storage, dissemination, or display of advertising;
(ii) The taking of orders; or
(iii) The processing of payments; and
(b) The activities are conducted electronically via a web
site on a server or other computer equipment located in
Washington that is not owned or operated by the person making sales into this state nor owned or operated by an affiliated
person. "Affiliated persons" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.424.
(6) Subsection (5) of this section expires when: (a) The
United States congress grants individual states the authority
to impose sales and use tax collection duties on remote sellers; or (b) it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a judgment not subject to review, that a state can
impose sales and use tax collection duties on remote sellers.
[2005 c 514 § 109. Prior: 2003 c 168 § 215; 2003 c 76 § 4;
2001 c 188 § 5; 1986 c 48 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 11; 1961 c
293 § 11; 1961 c 15 § 82.12.040; prior: 1955 c 389 § 27;
1945 c 249 § 7; 1941 c 178 § 10; 1939 c 225 § 16; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 8370-33; prior: 1935 c 180 § 33.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Intent—2003 c 76: See note following RCW 82.04.424.
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2001 c 188: See notes following
RCW 82.32.087.
Effective date—1986 c 48: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1986."
[1986 c 48 § 2.]
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Project on exemption reporting requirements: RCW 82.32.440.
82.12.045
82.12.045 Collection of tax on motor vehicles by
county auditor or director of licensing—Remittance. (1)
In the collection of the use tax on motor vehicles, the department of revenue may designate the county auditors of the
several counties of the state as its collecting agents. Upon
such designation, it shall be the duty of each county auditor to
collect the tax at the time an applicant applies for the registration of, and transfer of title to, the motor vehicle, except in the
following instances:
(a) Where the applicant exhibits a dealer’s report of sale
showing that the retail sales tax has been collected by the
dealer;
(b) Where the application is for the renewal of registration;
(c) Where the applicant presents a written statement
signed by the department of revenue, or its duly authorized
agent showing that no use tax is legally due; or
(d) Where the applicant presents satisfactory evidence
showing that the retail sales tax or the use tax has been paid
by the applicant on the vehicle in question.
(2) The term "motor vehicle," as used in this section
means and includes all motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers used, or of a type designed primarily to be used, upon the
public streets and highways, for the convenience or pleasure
of the owner, or for the conveyance, for hire or otherwise, of
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.060
persons or property, including fixed loads, facilities for
human habitation, and vehicles carrying exempt licenses.
(3) It shall be the duty of every applicant for registration
and transfer of certificate of title who is subject to payment of
tax under this section to declare upon the application the
value of the vehicle for which application is made, which
shall consist of the consideration paid or contracted to be paid
therefor.
(4) Each county auditor who acts as agent of the department of revenue shall at the time of remitting license fee
receipts on motor vehicles subject to the provisions of this
section pay over and account to the state treasurer for all use
tax revenue collected under this section, after first deducting
as a collection fee the sum of two dollars for each motor vehicle upon which the tax has been collected. All revenue
received by the state treasurer under this section shall be
credited to the general fund. The auditor’s collection fee
shall be deposited in the county current expense fund. A
duplicate of the county auditor’s transmittal report to the state
treasurer shall be forwarded forthwith to the department of
revenue.
(5) Any applicant who has paid use tax to a county auditor under this section may apply to the department of revenue
for refund thereof if he or she has reason to believe that such
tax was not legally due and owing. No refund shall be
allowed unless application therefor is received by the department of revenue within the statutory period for assessment of
taxes, penalties, or interest prescribed by RCW 82.32.050(3).
Upon receipt of an application for refund the department of
revenue shall consider the same and issue its order either
granting or denying it and if refund is denied the taxpayer
shall have the right of appeal as provided in RCW 82.32.170,
82.32.180 and 82.32.190.
(6) The provisions of this section shall be construed as
cumulative of other methods prescribed in chapters 82.04 to
82.32 RCW, inclusive, for the collection of the tax imposed
by this chapter. The department of revenue shall have power
to promulgate such rules as may be necessary to administer
the provisions of this section. Any duties required by this
section to be performed by the county auditor may be performed by the director of licensing but no collection fee shall
be deductible by said director in remitting use tax revenue to
the state treasurer.
(7) The use tax revenue collected on the rate provided in
RCW 82.08.020(3) shall be deposited in the multimodal
transportation account under RCW 47.66.070. [2003 c 361 §
303; 1996 c 149 § 19; 1983 c 77 § 2; 1979 c 158 § 222; 1969
ex.s. c 10 § 1; 1963 c 21 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.12.045. Prior:
1951 c 37 § 1.]
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
82.12.060
82.12.060 Installment sales or leases. In the case of
installment sales and leases of personal property, the department, by rule, may provide for the collection of taxes upon
the installments of the purchase price, or amount of rental, as
of the time the same fall due. [2003 c 168 § 216; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 54; 1961 c 293 § 16; 1961 c 15 § 82.12.060.
[Title 82 RCW—page 119]
82.12.070
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 13; 1959 c 197 § 8; prior: 1941 c 178
§ 11, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-34a, part.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.12.070
82.12.070 Cash receipts taxpayers—Bad debts. The
department of revenue, by general regulation, shall provide
that a taxpayer whose regular books of account are kept on a
cash receipts basis may file returns based upon his cash
receipts for each reporting period and pay the tax herein provided upon such basis in lieu of reporting and paying the tax
on all sales made during such period. A taxpayer filing
returns on a cash receipts basis is not required to pay such tax
on debt subject to credit or refund under RCW 82.12.037.
[2004 c 153 § 305; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 38; 1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 55; 1961 c 15 § 82.12.070. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 14;
1959 c 197 § 9; prior: 1941 c 178 § 11, part; Rem. Supp.
1941 § 8370-34a, part.]
Bad debts—Intent—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.037.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.12.080
82.12.080 Administration. The provisions of chapter
82.32 RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and
application with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 15 § 82.12.080. Prior: 1949 c
228 § 9, part; 1945 c 249 § 8, part; 1943 c 156 § 10, part; 1939
c 225 § 18, part; 1937 c 191 § 4, part; 1935 c 180 § 35, part;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8470-35, part.]
82.12.800
82.12.800 Exemptions—Uses of vessel, vessel’s
trailer by manufacturer. (1) The tax imposed under RCW
82.12.020 shall not apply to the following uses of a vessel, as
defined in RCW 88.02.010, by the manufacturer of the vessel:
(a) Activities to test, set-up, repair, remodel, evaluate, or
otherwise make a vessel seaworthy, to include performance,
endurance, and sink testing, if the vessel is to be held for sale;
(b) Training activities of a manufacturer’s employees,
agents, or subcontractors involved in the development and
manufacturing of the manufacturer’s vessels, if the vessel is
to be held for sale;
(c) Activities to promote the sale of the manufacturer’s
vessels, to include photography and video sessions to be used
in promotional materials; traveling directly to and from vessel promotional events for the express purpose of displaying
a manufacturer’s vessels;
(d) Any vessels loaned or donated to a civic, religious,
nonprofit, or educational organization for continuous periods
of use not exceeding seventy-two hours, or longer if
approved by the department; or to vessels loaned or donated
to governmental entities;
(e) Direct transporting, displaying, or demonstrating any
vessel at a wholesale or retail vessel show;
[Title 82 RCW—page 120]
(f) Delivery of a vessel to a buyer, vessel manufacturer,
registered vessel dealer as defined in RCW 88.02.010, or to
any other person involved in the manufacturing or sale of that
vessel for the purpose of the manufacturing or sale of that
vessel; and
(g) Displaying, showing, and operating a vessel for sale
to a prospective buyer to include the short-term testing, operating, and examining by a prospective buyer.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall apply to any
trailer or other similar apparatus used to transport, display,
show, or operate a vessel, if the trailer or other similar apparatus is held for sale. [1997 c 293 § 1.]
82.12.801
82.12.801 Exemptions—Uses of vessel, vessel’s
trailer by dealer. (1) The tax imposed under RCW
82.12.020 shall not apply to the following uses of a vessel, as
defined in RCW 88.02.010, by a vessel dealer registered
under chapter 88.02 RCW:
(a) Activities to test, set-up, repair, remodel, evaluate, or
otherwise make a vessel seaworthy, if the vessel is held for
sale;
(b) Training activity of a dealer’s employees, agents, or
subcontractors involved in the sale of the dealer’s vessels, if
the vessel is held for sale;
(c) Activities to promote the sale of the dealer’s vessels,
to include photography and video sessions to be used in promotional materials; traveling directly to and from promotional vessel events for the express purpose of displaying a
dealer’s vessels for sale, provided it is displayed on the vessel
that it is, in fact, for sale and the identification of the registered vessel dealer offering the vessel for sale is also displayed on the vessel;
(d) Any vessel loaned or donated to a civic, religious,
nonprofit, or educational organization for continuous periods
of use not exceeding seventy-two hours, or longer if
approved by the department; or to vessels loaned or donated
to governmental entities;
(e) Direct transporting, displaying, or demonstrating any
vessel at a wholesale or retail vessel show;
(f) Delivery of a vessel to a buyer, vessel manufacturer,
registered vessel dealer as defined in RCW 88.02.010, or to
any other person involved in the manufacturing or sale of that
vessel for the purpose of the manufacturing or sale of that
vessel; and
(g) Displaying, showing, and operating a vessel for sale
to a prospective buyer to include the short-term testing, operating, and examining by a prospective buyer.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall apply to any
trailer or other similar apparatus used to transport, display,
show, or operate a vessel, if the trailer or other similar apparatus is held for sale. [1997 c 293 § 2.]
82.12.802
82.12.802 Vessels held in inventory by dealer or manufacturer—Tax on personal use—Documentation—
Rules. If a vessel held in inventory is used by a vessel dealer
or vessel manufacturer for personal use, use tax shall be due
based only on the reasonable rental value of the vessel used,
but only if the vessel dealer or manufacturer can show that
the vessel is truly held for sale and that the dealer or manufacturer is and has been making good faith efforts to sell the ves(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
sel. The department may by rule require dealers and manufacturers to provide vessel logs or other documentation showing that vessels are truly held for sale. [1997 c 293 § 3.]
82.12.803 Exemptions—Nebulizers. The provisions
of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of nebulizers, including repair and replacement parts for nebulizers, for
human use pursuant to a prescription. In addition, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to labor and
services rendered in respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of nebulizers. "Nebulizer" has the same
meaning as in RCW 82.08.803. [2004 c 153 § 105.]
82.12.803
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
82.12.804 Exemptions—Ostomic items. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
ostomic items by colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy patients.
"Ostomic items" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.08.804. [2004 c 153 § 107.]
82.12.804
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
82.12.805 Exemptions—Tangible personal property
used at an aluminum smelter. (1) A person who is subject
to tax under RCW 82.12.020 for tangible personal property
used at an aluminum smelter, or for tangible personal property that will be incorporated as an ingredient or component
of buildings or other structures at an aluminum smelter, or for
labor and services rendered with respect to such buildings,
structures, or tangible personal property, is eligible for an
exemption from the state share of the tax in the form of a
credit, as provided in this section. The amount of the credit
shall be equal to the state share of use tax computed to be due
under RCW 82.12.020. The person shall submit information,
in a form and manner prescribed by the department, specifying the amount of qualifying purchases or acquisitions for
which the exemption is claimed and the amount of exempted
tax.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "aluminum smelter"
has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.217.
(3) Credits may not be claimed under this section for taxable events occurring on or after January 1, 2012. [2006 c
182 § 4; 2004 c 24 § 11.]
82.12.805
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.12.806 Exemptions—Use of computer equipment
parts and services by printer or publisher. (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use, by a
printer or publisher, of computer equipment, including repair
parts and replacement parts for such equipment, when the
computer equipment is used primarily in the printing or publishing of any printed material, or to labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or
improving the computer equipment. This exemption applies
only to computer equipment not otherwise exempt under
RCW 82.12.02565.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.08.806 apply. [2004 c 8 § 3.]
82.12.806
Findings—Intent—2004 c 8: See note following RCW 82.08.806.
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.810
82.12.807
82.12.807 Exemptions—Direct mail delivery
charges. (1) The tax levied by this chapter does not apply to
the value of delivery charges made for the delivery of direct
mail if the charges are separately stated on an invoice or similar billing document given to the purchaser.
(2) "Delivery charges" and "direct mail" have the same
meanings as in RCW 82.08.010. [2005 c 514 § 116.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.12.808
82.12.808 Exemptions—Use of medical supplies,
chemicals, or materials by comprehensive cancer centers.
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to
the use of medical supplies, chemicals, or materials by a comprehensive cancer center. The exemption in this section does
not apply to the use of construction materials, office equipment, building equipment, administrative supplies, or vehicles.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.04.4265 and 82.08.808
apply to this section. [2005 c 514 § 403.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 514: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [2005 c 514 § 1301.]
Severability—2005 c 514: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2005 c 514 § 1309.]
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 401-403: See note following RCW
82.04.4265.
82.12.809
82.12.809 Exemptions—Vehicles using clean alternative fuels. (Effective January 1, 2009, until January 1,
2011.) (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in
respect to the use of new passenger cars, light duty trucks,
and medium duty passenger vehicles, which are exclusively
powered by a clean alternative fuel.
(2) "Clean alternative fuel" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.08.809. [2005 c 296 § 3.]
Effective date—Expiration date—2005 c 296: See notes following
RCW 82.08.809.
82.12.810
82.12.810 Exemptions—Air pollution control facilities at a thermal electric generation facility—Exceptions—Payments on cessation of operation. (1) For the
purposes of this section, "air pollution control facilities"
mean any treatment works, control devices and disposal systems, machinery, equipment, structures, property, property
improvements, and accessories, that are installed or acquired
for the primary purpose of reducing, controlling, or disposing
of industrial waste that, if released to the outdoor atmosphere,
could cause air pollution, or that are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to their construction, installation, or operation.
(2) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect
to:
(a) The use of air pollution control facilities installed and
used by a light and power business, as defined in RCW
82.16.010, in generating electric power; or
(b) The use of labor and services performed in respect to
the installing of air pollution control facilities.
[Title 82 RCW—page 121]
82.12.811
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) The exemption provided under this section applies
only to air pollution control facilities that are:
(a) Constructed or installed after May 15, 1997, and used
in a thermal electric generation facility placed in operation
after December 31, 1969, and before July 1, 1975; and
(b) Constructed or installed to meet applicable regulatory requirements established under state or federal law,
including the Washington clean air act, chapter 70.94 RCW.
(4) This section does not apply to the use of tangible personal property for maintenance or repairs of the pollution
control equipment or to labor and services performed in
respect to such maintenance or repairs.
(5) If production of electricity at a thermal electric generation facility for any calendar year after 2002 and before
2023 falls below a twenty percent annual capacity factor for
the generation facility, all or a portion of the tax previously
exempted under this section in respect to construction or
installation of air pollution control facilities at the generation
facility shall be due according to the schedule provided in
RCW 82.08.810(5).
(6) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section. [2003 c 5 §
12; 1997 c 368 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
82.12.811
82.12.811 Exemptions—Coal used at coal-fired thermal electric generation facility—Application—Demonstration of progress in air pollution control—Notice of
emissions violations—Reapplication—Payments on cessation of operation. (1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Air pollution control facilities" means any treatment
works, control devices and disposal systems, machinery,
equipment, structure, property, property improvements, and
accessories, that are installed or acquired for the primary purpose of reducing, controlling, or disposing of industrial waste
that, if released to the outdoor atmosphere, could cause air
pollution, or that are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to their construction, installation, or operation; and
(b) "Generation facility" means a coal-fired thermal electric generation facility placed in operation after December 3,
1969, and before July 1, 1975.
(2) Beginning January 1, 1999, the provisions of this
chapter do not apply in respect to the use of coal to generate
electric power at a generation facility operated by a business
if the following conditions are met:
(a) The owners must make an application to the department of revenue for a tax exemption;
(b) The owners must make a demonstration to the department of ecology that the owners have made reasonable initial
progress to install air pollution control facilities to meet
applicable regulatory requirements established under state or
federal law, including the Washington clean air act, chapter
70.94 RCW;
(c) Continued progress must be made on the development of air pollution control facilities to meet the requirements of the permit; and
[Title 82 RCW—page 122]
(d) The generation facility must emit no more than ten
thousand tons of sulfur dioxide during a previous consecutive
twelve-month period.
(3) During a consecutive twelve-month period, if the
generation facility is found to be in violation of excessive sulfur dioxide emissions from a regional air pollution control
authority or the department of ecology, the department of
ecology shall notify the department of revenue and the owners of the generation facility shall lose their tax exemption
under this section. The owners of a generation facility may
reapply for the tax exemption when they have once again met
the conditions of subsection (2)(d) of this section.
(4) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section. [1997 c 368
§ 6.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
82.12.813 Exemptions—High gas mileage vehicles.
(Effective January 1, 2009, until January 1, 2011.) (1) The
provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of
new passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles, which utilize hybrid technology and have a
United States environmental protection agency estimated
highway gasoline mileage rating of at least forty miles per
gallon.
(2) "Hybrid technology" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.08.813. [2005 c 296 § 4.]
82.12.813
Effective date—Expiration date—2005 c 296: See notes following
RCW 82.08.809.
82.12.815 Exemptions—Property and services
related to electrification systems to power heavy duty diesel vehicles. (Expires July 1, 2015.) (1) The provisions of
this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of machinery
and equipment, or to services rendered in respect to constructing structures, installing, constructing, repairing, cleaning, decorating, altering, or improving of structures or
machinery and equipment, or tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of structures or machinery and equipment, integral and necessary for the retail sale,
lease, or rental of auxiliary power to heavy duty diesel vehicles through onboard or stand-alone electrification systems.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4338 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2015. [2006 c 323 § 4.]
82.12.815
Findings—Intent—2006 c 323: See note following RCW 82.04.4338.
82.12.820 Exemptions—Warehouse and grain elevators and distribution centers. (Effective until July 1,
2012.) (1) Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own
or operate warehouses or grain elevators, and retailers who
own or operate distribution centers, and who have paid the
tax levied under RCW 82.12.020 on:
(a) Material-handling equipment and racking equipment
and labor and services rendered in respect to installing,
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
(b) Materials incorporated in the construction of a warehouse or grain elevator, are eligible for an exemption on tax
82.12.820
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
paid in the form of a remittance or credit against tax owed.
The amount of the remittance or credit is computed under
subsection (2) of this section and is based on the state share of
use tax.
(2)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in
the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.12.020 to the department. The person
may then apply to the department for remittance of all or part
of the tax paid under RCW 82.12.020. For grain elevators
with bushel capacity of one million but less than two million,
the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax
paid. For warehouses with square footage of two hundred
thousand and for grain elevators with bushel capacity of two
million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction
materials, and fifty percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying material-handling equipment and racking equipment.
(b) The department shall determine eligibility under this
section based on information provided by the buyer and
through audit and other administrative records. The buyer
shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a
form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying
purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed.
The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction
meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax
paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment
and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses, if
applicable; and construction invoices and documents.
(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit or
credit exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(3) Warehouse, grain elevators, and material-handling
equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption,
credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter
82.60, *82.61, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this
section. Materials incorporated in warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated prior to May 20,
1997, are not eligible for a remittance under this section.
(4) The lessor or owner of the warehouse or grain elevator is not eligible for a remittance or credit under this section
unless the underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain
elevator and material-handling equipment and racking equipment vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of
the exemption to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
(5) The definitions in RCW 82.08.820 apply to this section. [2003 c 5 § 13; 2000 c 103 § 9; 1997 c 450 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 82.61 RCW was repealed in its entirety by
2005 c 443 § 7, effective July 1, 2006.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Findings—Intent—Report—Effective date—1997 c 450: See notes
following RCW 82.08.820.
82.12.820
82.12.820 Exemptions—Warehouse and grain elevators and distribution centers. (Effective July 1, 2012.) (1)
Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own or operate
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.820
warehouses or grain elevators, and retailers who own or operate distribution centers, and who have paid the tax levied
under RCW 82.12.020 on:
(a) Material-handling equipment and racking equipment
and labor and services rendered in respect to installing,
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
(b) Materials incorporated in the construction of a warehouse or grain elevator, are eligible for an exemption on tax
paid in the form of a remittance or credit against tax owed.
The amount of the remittance or credit is computed under
subsection (2) of this section and is based on the state share of
use tax.
(2)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in
the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.12.020 to the department. The person
may then apply to the department for remittance of all or part
of the tax paid under RCW 82.12.020. For grain elevators
with bushel capacity of one million but less than two million,
the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax
paid. For warehouses with square footage of two hundred
thousand or more and for grain elevators with bushel capacity
of two million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred
percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction
materials, and fifty percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying material-handling equipment and racking equipment.
(b) The department shall determine eligibility under this
section based on information provided by the buyer and
through audit and other administrative records. The buyer
shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a
form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying
purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed.
The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction
meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax
paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment
and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses, if
applicable; and construction invoices and documents.
(c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit or
credit exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(3) Warehouse, grain elevators, and material-handling
equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption,
credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter
82.60, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this
section. Materials incorporated in warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated prior to May 20,
1997, are not eligible for a remittance under this section.
(4) The lessor or owner of the warehouse or grain elevator is not eligible for a remittance or credit under this section
unless the underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain
elevator and material-handling equipment and racking equipment vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of
the exemption to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
(5) The definitions in RCW 82.08.820 apply to this section. [2006 c 354 § 13; 2005 c 513 § 12; 2003 c 5 § 13; 2000
c 103 § 9; 1997 c 450 § 3.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
[Title 82 RCW—page 123]
82.12.825
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Findings—Intent—Report—Effective date—1997 c 450: See notes
following RCW 82.08.820.
82.12.825
82.12.825 Exemptions—Property and services that
enable heavy duty diesel vehicles to operate with onboard
electrification systems. (Expires July 1, 2015.) (1) The
provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of
tangible personal property, labor, or services if the property,
labor, or services enable a heavy duty diesel vehicle to operate, while parked, through the use of an onboard electrification system. Only parts and other components that are specific to enabling a heavy duty diesel vehicle to operate, while
parked, with an onboard electrification system are exempt
under this section.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4338 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2015. [2006 c 323 § 6.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 323: See note following RCW 82.04.4338.
82.12.832
82.12.832 Exemptions—Use of gun safes. The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of
gun safes as defined in RCW 82.08.832. [1998 c 178 § 2.]
Effective date—1998 c 178: See note following RCW 82.08.832.
82.12.834
82.12.834 Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional
transit authorities. This chapter does not apply to the use of
tangible personal property by a seller/lessee under a
sale/leaseback agreement under RCW 81.112.300 in respect
to tangible personal property used by the seller/lessee, or to
the use of tangible personal property under an exercise of an
option to purchase at the end of the lease term, but only if the
seller/lessee previously paid any tax otherwise due under this
chapter or chapter 82.08 RCW at the time of acquisition of
the tangible personal property. [2001 c 320 § 6; 2000 2nd
sp.s. c 4 § 22.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
82.12.841
82.12.841 Exemptions—Farming equipment—Hay
sheds. (Expires January 1, 2011.) (1) The tax levied by
RCW 82.12.020 does not apply in respect to:
(a) The use of the following machinery and equipment
by qualified farmers: No-till drills, minimum-till drills, chisels, plows, sprayers, discs, cultivators, harrows, mowers,
swathers, power rakes, balers, bale handlers, shredders, transplanters, tractors two hundred fifty horsepower and over
designed to pull conservation equipment on steep hills and
highly erodible lands, and combine components limited to
straw choppers, chaff spreaders, and stripper headers; and
(b) The use of tangible personal property that will be
incorporated as an ingredient or component of hay sheds by a
qualified farmer, during the course of constructing such hay
sheds.
(2) The eligibility requirements, conditions, and definitions in RCW 82.08.841 apply to this section.
(3) This section expires January 1, 2011. [2005 c 420 §
3.]
Findings—Effective date—2005 c 420: See notes following RCW
82.08.841.
82.12.845
82.12.845 Use of motorcycles loaned to department
of licensing. This chapter does not apply to the use of motorcycles that are loaned to the department of licensing exclusively for the provision of motorcycle training under RCW
46.20.520, or to persons contracting with the department to
provide this training. [2001 c 121 § 1.]
82.12.850
82.12.850 Exemptions—Conifer seed. The provisions
of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of conifer
seed to grow seedlings if the seedlings are grown by a person
other than the owner of the seed. This section applies only if
the seedlings will be used for growing timber outside Washington, or if the owner of the conifer seed is an Indian tribe or
member and the seedlings will be used for growing timber in
Indian country.
If the owner of conifer seed is not able to determine at
the time the seed is used in a growing process whether the use
of the seed is exempt from tax under this section, the owner
may defer payment of the use tax until it is determined that
the seedlings will be planted for growing timber in Washington. For the purposes of this section, "Indian country" has the
meaning given in RCW 82.24.010. [2001 c 129 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—2001 c 129: See notes
following RCW 82.08.850.
82.12.855
82.12.835
82.12.835 Exemptions—Solar hot water systems.
(Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply in respect to the use of OG-300 rated solar
water heating systems, OG-100 rated solar water heating collectors, solar heat exchangers, or differential solar controllers; repair and replacement parts for such equipment; or to
sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in
respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving such equipment.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.08.835 apply. [2006 c 218 § 2.]
Effective date—Expiration date—2006 c 218: See notes following
RCW 82.08.835.
[Title 82 RCW—page 124]
82.12.855 Exemptions—Replacement parts for qualifying farm machinery and equipment. (1) The provisions
of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use by an eligible
farmer of replacement parts for qualifying farm machinery
and equipment.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
chapter, if replacement parts are installed by the seller during
the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying farm machinery and equipment and the seller makes a
separate charge for the parts, the tax imposed by this chapter
does not apply to the separately stated charge to an eligible
farmer for replacement parts but only if the separately stated
charge does not exceed either the seller’s current publicly
stated retail price for the parts or, if no separately stated retail
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
price is available, the seller’s cost for the parts. However, the
exemption provided by this section shall not apply if replacement parts are installed by the seller during the course of
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying farm
machinery and equipment and the seller makes a single nonitemized charge for providing the parts and service.
(3) The definitions and recordkeeping requirements in
RCW 82.08.855, other than the exemption certificate requirement, apply to this section. [2006 c 172 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 172: See note following RCW 82.08.855.
82.12.860
82.12.860 Exemptions—Property and services
acquired from a federal credit union. (1) This chapter does
not apply to state credit unions with respect to the use of any
article of tangible personal property, service defined as a
retail sale in RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or (3)(a), or extended
warranty, acquired from a federal credit union, foreign credit
union, or out-of-state credit union as a result of a merger or
conversion.
(2) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
(a) "Federal credit union" means a credit union organized and operating under the laws of the United States.
(b) "Foreign credit union" means a credit union organized and operating under the laws of another country or
other foreign jurisdiction.
(c) "Out-of-state credit union" means a credit union
organized and operating under the laws of another state or
United States territory or possession.
(d) "State credit union" means a credit union organized
and operating under the laws of this state. [2006 c 11 § 1.]
82.12.865
82.12.865 Exemptions—Diesel and aircraft fuel for
farm fuel users. (1) The provisions of this chapter do not
apply with respect to the nonhighway use of diesel fuel, or
aircraft fuel as defined in RCW 82.42.010(5), by a farm fuel
user. Fuel used for space or water heating for human habitation is not exempt under this section.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.08.865 apply to this section. [2006 c 7 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 7: See note following RCW 82.08.865.
Additional use tax exemption for fuel: RCW 82.12.0256.
82.12.920
or component of livestock nutrient management equipment
and facilities, as defined in RCW 82.08.890, or to labor and
services rendered in respect to repairing, cleaning, altering, or
improving eligible tangible personal property.
(2)(a) To be eligible, the equipment and facilities must
be used exclusively for activities necessary to maintain a
livestock nutrient management plan.
(b) The exemption applies to the use of tangible personal
property or labor and services made after the livestock nutrient management plan is: (i) Certified under chapter 90.64
RCW; (ii) approved as part of the permit issued under chapter
90.48 RCW; or (iii) approved as required under RCW
82.08.890(4)(c)(iii).
(3) The exemption certificate and recordkeeping requirements of RCW 82.08.890 apply to this section. The definitions in RCW 82.08.890 apply to this section. [2006 c 151 §
3; 2003 c 5 § 15; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 § 3.]
Effective date—Conservation commission—Report to legislature—
2006 c 151: See notes following RCW 82.08.890.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 82.08.890.
82.12.900
82.12.900 Exemptions—Anaerobic digesters. The
provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use
of anaerobic digesters, tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of anaerobic digesters,
or the use of services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving eligible tangible personal property by an eligible person establishing or operating
an anaerobic digester, as defined in RCW 82.08.900. The
anaerobic digester must be used primarily to treat livestock
manure. [2006 c 151 § 5; 2003 c 5 § 16; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18
§ 5.]
Effective date—Conservation commission—Report to legislature—
2006 c 151: See notes following RCW 82.08.890.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Intent—Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 18: See notes following
RCW 82.08.890.
82.12.910
82.12.880 Exemptions—Animal pharmaceuticals.
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to
the use by farmers or by veterinarians of animal pharmaceuticals approved by the United States department of agriculture or by the United States food and drug administration, if
the pharmaceutical is administered to an animal that is raised
by a farmer for the purpose of producing for sale an agricultural product.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.08.880 apply to this section. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 17 § 2.]
82.12.910 Exemptions—Propane or natural gas to
heat chicken structures. (1) The provisions of this chapter
do not apply with respect to the use by a farmer of propane or
natural gas to heat structures used to house chickens. The
propane or natural gas must be used exclusively to heat the
structures used to house chickens. The structures must be
used exclusively to house chickens that are sold as agricultural products.
(2) The exemption certificate, recordkeeping requirements, and definitions of RCW 82.08.910 apply to this section. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 4.]
Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 17: See note following RCW
82.08.880.
Purpose—Intent—Part headings not law—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: See
notes following RCW 82.04.260.
82.12.880
82.12.890
82.12.890 Exemptions—Livestock nutrient management equipment and facilities. (1) The provisions of this
chapter do not apply with respect to the use by an eligible person of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient
(2006 Ed.)
82.12.920
82.12.920 Exemptions—Chicken bedding materials.
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to
the use by a farmer of bedding materials used to accumulate
and facilitate the removal of chicken manure. The farmer
[Title 82 RCW—page 125]
82.12.925
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
must be raising chickens that are sold as agricultural products.
(2) The exemption certificate, recordkeeping requirements, and definitions of RCW 82.08.920 apply to this section. [2001 2nd sp.s. c 25 § 6.]
Purpose—Intent—Part headings not law—2001 2nd sp.s. c 25: See
notes following RCW 82.04.260.
82.12.925
82.12.925 Exemptions—Dietary supplements. The
provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the use of dietary
supplements dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription, if the dietary supplements are for human
use. "Dietary supplement" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.08.0293. [2003 c 168 § 304.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.12.930
82.12.930 Exemptions—Watershed protection or
flood prevention. The provisions of this chapter do not
apply with respect to the use by municipal corporations, the
state, and all political subdivisions thereof of tangible personal property consumed and/or of labor and services as
defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) rendered in respect to contracts for watershed protection and/or flood prevention. This
exemption is limited to that portion of the selling price that is
reimbursed by the United States government according to the
provisions of the watershed protection and flood prevention
act (68 Stat. 666; *16 U.S.C. Sec. 101 et seq.). [2003 c 5 §
17.]
*Reviser’s note: The reference to 16 U.S.C. Sec. 101 et seq. should be
to 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq.
Finding—Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2003 c
5: See notes following RCW 82.12.010.
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.12.950
82.12.950 Exemptions—Steam, electricity, electrical
energy. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of steam, electricity, or electrical energy.
[2003 c 168 § 704.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.12.955
82.12.955 Exemptions—Use of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and services related to biodiesel or alcohol
fuel blend. (Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) The provisions of
this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of machinery
and equipment, or to services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of eligible
machinery and equipment, or tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of machinery and
equipment used directly for the retail sale of a biodiesel or
alcohol fuel blend.
(2) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect
to the use of fuel delivery vehicles including repair parts and
replacement parts and to services rendered in respect to
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the
vehicles if at least seventy-five percent of the fuel distributed
by the vehicles is a biodiesel or alcohol fuel blend.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.04.4334 and 82.08.955 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 63 § 3.]
Effective date—2003 c 63: See note following RCW 82.04.4334.
82.12.960
82.12.935
82.12.935 Exemptions—Disposable devices used to
deliver prescription drugs for human use. The provisions
of this chapter shall not apply to the use of disposable devices
used to deliver drugs for human use, pursuant to a prescription. Disposable devices means the same as provided in
RCW 82.08.935. [2003 c 168 § 407.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.12.940
82.12.940 Exemptions—Over-the-counter drugs for
human use. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
the use of over-the-counter drugs dispensed or to be dispensed to patients, pursuant to a prescription, if the over-thecounter drugs are for human use. "Over-the-counter drug"
has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.0281. [2003 c 168 §
408.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.12.960 Exemptions—Use of machinery, equipment, vehicles, and services related to wood biomass fuel
blend. (Expires July 1, 2009.) (1) The provisions of this
chapter do not apply in respect to the use of machinery and
equipment, or to services rendered in respect to installing,
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of eligible machinery and equipment, or tangible personal property that
becomes an ingredient or component of machinery and
equipment used directly for the retail sale of a wood biomass
fuel blend.
(2) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect
to the use of fuel delivery vehicles including repair parts and
replacement parts and to services rendered in respect to
installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the
vehicles if at least seventy-five percent of the fuel distributed
by the vehicles is a wood biomass fuel blend.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in
RCW 82.08.960 apply.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2009. [2003 c 339 § 14.]
Effective dates—2003 c 339: See note following RCW 84.36.640.
82.12.945
82.12.945 Exemptions—Kidney dialysis devices. The
provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the use of kidney
dialysis devices, including repair and replacement parts, for
human use pursuant to a prescription. In addition, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of
labor and services rendered in respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of kidney dialysis devices. [2004
c 153 § 111; 2003 c 168 § 411.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 126]
82.12.965
82.12.965 Exemptions—Semiconductor materials
manufacturing. (Contingent effective date; contingent
expiration date.) (1) The provisions of this chapter do not
apply with respect to the use of tangible personal property
that will be incorporated as an ingredient or component of
new buildings used for the manufacturing of semiconductor
materials during the course of constructing such buildings or
(2006 Ed.)
Use Tax
to labor and services rendered in respect to installing, during
the course of constructing, building fixtures not otherwise eligible for the exemption under RCW 82.08.02565(2)(b).
(2) The eligibility requirements, conditions, and definitions in RCW 82.08.965 apply to this section.
(3) No exemption may be taken twelve years after *the
effective date of this act, however all of the eligibility criteria
and limitations are applicable to any exemptions claimed
before that date.
(4) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 6.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.12.9651
82.12.9651 Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used
in production of semiconductor materials. (Contingent
effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of
gases and chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for
hire in the production of semiconductor materials. This
exemption is limited to gases and chemicals used in the production process to grow the product, deposit or grow permanent or sacrificial layers on the product, to etch or remove
material from the product, to anneal the product, to immerse
the product, to clean the product, and other such uses
whereby the gases and chemicals come into direct contact
with the product during the production process, or uses of
gases and chemicals to clean the chambers and other like
equipment in which such processing takes place. For purposes of this section, "semiconductor materials" has the
meaning provided in RCW 82.04.2404.
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must report under RCW 82.32.5351. No application is necessary for the tax exemption. The person is subject to all of
the requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this section. [2006 c 84 § 4.]
*Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
82.12.970
82.12.970 Exemptions—Gases and chemicals used to
manufacture semiconductor materials. (Contingent effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) The provisions of
this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of gases and
chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for hire in the
manufacturing of semiconductor materials. This exemption
is limited to gases and chemicals used in the manufacturing
process to grow the product, deposit or grow permanent or
sacrificial layers on the product, to etch or remove material
from the product, to anneal the product, to immerse the product, to clean the product, and other such uses whereby the
gases and chemicals come into direct contact with the product during the manufacturing process, or uses of gases and
chemicals to clean the chambers and other like equipment in
which such processing takes place. For purposes of this section, "semiconductor materials" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.240(2).
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section
must report under RCW 82.32.535. No application is neces(2006 Ed.)
82.12.981
sary for the tax exemption. The person is subject to all of the
requirements of chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after *the effective
date of this act. [2003 c 149 § 8.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.12.975
82.12.975 Computer parts and software related to
the manufacture of commercial airplanes. (Expires July
1, 2024.) (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in
respect to the use of computer hardware, computer peripherals, or software, not otherwise eligible for exemption under
RCW 82.12.02565, by a manufacturer or processor for hire of
commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes, used
primarily in the development, design, and engineering of
such products, or to the use of labor and services rendered in
respect to installing the computer hardware, computer
peripherals, or software.
(2) As used in this section, "commercial airplane" and
"component" have the meanings given in RCW 82.32.550.
"Peripherals" includes keyboards, monitors, mouse devices,
and other accessories that operate outside of the computer,
excluding cables, conduit, wiring, and other similar property.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 10.]
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.12.980
82.12.980 Exemptions—Labor, services, and personal property related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes. (Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) The provisions
of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of tangible
personal property that will be incorporated as an ingredient or
component of new buildings by a manufacturer engaged in
the manufacturing of superefficient airplanes or owned by a
port district and to be leased to a manufacturer engaged in the
manufacturing of superefficient airplanes, during the course
of constructing such buildings, or to labor and services rendered in respect to installing, during the course of constructing, building fixtures not otherwise eligible for the exemption
under RCW 82.08.02565(2)(b).
(2) The eligibility requirements, conditions, and definitions in RCW 82.08.980 apply to this section.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 12.]
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.12.981
82.12.981 Exemptions—Development, design, and
engineering of commercial airplanes. (Expires July 1,
2024.) (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in
respect to the use of computer hardware, computer peripherals, or software, not otherwise eligible for exemption under
RCW 82.12.02565 or 82.12.975, used primarily in the development, design, and engineering of commercial airplanes or
components of such airplanes, or to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to installing the computer hardware,
computer peripherals, or software.
(2) As used in this section:
[Title 82 RCW—page 127]
82.12.985
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(a) "Commercial airplane" and "component" have the
meanings in RCW 82.32.550.
(b) "Peripherals" includes keyboards, monitors, mouse
devices, and other accessories that operate outside of the
computer, excluding cables, conduit, wiring, and other similar property.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2006 c 177 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
82.12.985 Exemptions—Insulin. The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of insulin by
humans. [2004 c 153 § 103.]
82.14.330
82.14.340
82.14.350
82.14.360
82.14.370
82.14.380
82.14.390
82.14.400
82.12.985
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Chapter 82.14 RCW
LOCAL RETAIL SALES AND USE TAXES
Chapter 82.14
82.14.032
82.14.034
82.14.036
82.14.040
82.14.045
82.14.0455
82.14.046
82.14.048
82.14.0485
82.14.0486
82.14.049
82.14.0494
82.14.050
82.14.055
82.14.060
82.14.070
82.14.080
82.14.090
82.14.200
82.14.210
82.14.212
82.14.215
82.14.220
82.14.230
82.14.300
82.14.310
82.14.320
82.14.420
82.14.430
82.14.440
82.14.450
82.14.460
82.14.465
82.14.470
Sections
82.14.010
82.14.020
82.14.030
82.14.410
82.14.415
Legislative finding—Purpose.
Definitions—Where retail sale occurs.
Sales and use taxes authorized—Additional taxes authorized—Maximum rates.
Alteration of tax rate pursuant to government service agreement.
Alteration of county’s share of city’s tax receipts pursuant to
government service agreement.
Imposition or alteration of additional taxes—Referendum petition to repeal—Procedure—Exclusive method.
County ordinance to contain credit provision.
Sales and use taxes for public transportation systems.
Sales and use tax for transportation benefit districts.
Sales and use tax equalization payments from local transit
taxes.
Sales and use taxes for public facilities districts.
Sales and use tax for baseball stadium—Counties with population of one million or more—Deduction from tax otherwise
required—"Baseball stadium" defined.
State contribution for baseball stadium limited.
Sales and use tax for public sports facilities—Tax upon retail
rental car rentals.
Sales and use tax for stadium and exhibition center—Deduction from tax otherwise required—Transfer and deposit of
revenues.
Administration and collection—Local sales and use tax
account.
Tax changes.
Distributions to counties, cities, transportation authorities,
public facilities districts, and transportation benefit districts—Imposition at excess rates, effect.
Uniformity—Rule making—Model ordinance.
Deposit of tax prior to due date—Credit against future tax or
assessment—When fund designation permitted—Use of tax
revenues received in connection with large construction
projects.
Payment of tax prior to taxable event—When permitted—
Deposit with treasurer—Credit against future tax—When
fund designation permitted.
County sales and use tax equalization account—Allocation
procedure.
Municipal sales and use tax equalization account—Allocation
procedure.
Transfer of funds pursuant to government service agreement.
Apportionment and distribution—Withholding revenue for
noncompliance.
Figures for apportionments and distributions under RCW
82.14.200 and 82.14.210.
Natural or manufactured gas—Cities may impose use tax.
Local government criminal justice assistance—Finding.
County criminal justice assistance account—Transfers from
general fund—Distributions based on crime rate and population—Limitations.
Municipal criminal justice assistance account—Transfers
from general fund—Distributions criteria and formula—
Limitations.
[Title 82 RCW—page 128]
82.14.475
82.14.820
82.14.900
Municipal criminal justice assistance account—Transfers
from general fund—Distributions based on crime rate, population, and innovation—Limitations.
Additional sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes—
Referendum—Expenditures.
Sales and use tax for juvenile detention facilities and jails—
Colocation.
Special stadium sales and use taxes.
Sales and use tax for public facilities in rural counties.
Distressed county assistance account—Created—Distributions.
Sales and use tax for regional centers.
Sales and use tax for zoo, aquarium, and wildlife facilities—
Authorizing proposition—Distributions.
Sales of lodging tax rate changes.
Sales and use tax for cities to offset municipal service costs to
newly annexed areas.
Sales and use tax for emergency communication systems and
facilities.
Sales and use tax for regional transportation investment district.
Sales and use tax for passenger-only ferry service.
Sales and use tax for counties and cities.
Sales and use tax for chemical dependency or mental health
treatment services or therapeutic courts.
Hospital benefit zones—Sales and use tax.
Hospital benefit zones—Local public sources dedicated to
finance public improvements—Reporting requirements—
Definitions.
Sales and use tax for the local infrastructure financing tool program.
Warehouse and grain elevators and distribution centers—
Exemption does not apply.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 94.
Changes in tax law—Liability: RCW 82.08.064, 82.14.055, and 82.32.430.
Direct pay permits: RCW 82.32.087.
High capacity transportation systems—Sales and use tax: RCW 81.104.170.
82.14.010
82.14.010 Legislative finding—Purpose. The legislature finds that the several counties and cities of the state lack
adequate sources of revenue to carry out essential county and
municipal purposes. The legislature further finds that the
most efficient and appropriate methods of deriving revenues
for such purposes is to vest additional taxing powers in the
governing bodies of counties and cities which they may or
may not implement. The legislature intends, by enacting this
chapter, to provide the means by which essential county and
municipal purposes can be financially served should they
choose to employ them. [1970 ex.s. c 94 § 1.]
82.14.020
82.14.020 Definitions—Where retail sale occurs.
(Contingent expiration date.) For purposes of this chapter:
(1) A retail sale consisting solely of the sale of tangible
personal property shall be deemed to have occurred at the
retail outlet at or from which delivery is made to the consumer;
(2) A retail sale consisting essentially of the performance
of personal, business, or professional services shall be
deemed to have occurred at the place at which such services
were primarily performed, except that for the performance of
a tow truck service, as defined in RCW 46.55.010, the retail
sale shall be deemed to have occurred at the place of business
of the operator of the tow truck service;
(3) A retail sale consisting of the rental of tangible personal property shall be deemed to have occurred (a) in the
case of a rental involving periodic rental payments, at the
place of primary use by the lessee during the period covered
by each payment, or (b) in all other cases, at the place of first
use by the lessee;
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
(4) A retail sale within the scope of RCW 82.04.050(2),
and a retail sale of taxable personal property to be installed by
the seller shall be deemed to have occurred at the place where
the labor and services involved were primarily performed;
(5)(a) A retail sale consisting of the providing to a consumer of telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065,
other than a sale of tangible personal property under subsection (1) of this section or a rental of tangible personal property under subsection (3) of this section or a sale of mobile
telecommunications services, shall be deemed to have
occurred at the situs of the telephone or other instrument
through which the telephone service is rendered;
(b) A retail sale consisting of the providing of telecommunications services shall be sourced in accordance with
RCW 82.32.520;
(6) A retail sale of linen and uniform supply services is
deemed to occur as provided in RCW 82.08.0202;
(7) A retail sale consisting of an extended warranty shall
be deemed to have occurred at the business location of the
seller if the extended warranty is received by the purchaser at
that location. If an extended warranty is not received by the
purchaser at the business location of the seller, a retail sale of
an extended warranty shall be deemed to have occurred at the
location where receipt by the buyer occurs;
(8) "City" means a city or town;
(9) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04, 82.08 and 82.12 RCW, as now or hereafter
amended, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and
effect with respect to taxes imposed under authority of this
chapter;
(10) "Taxable event" shall mean any retail sale, or any
use, upon which a state tax is imposed pursuant to chapter
82.08 or 82.12 RCW, as they now exist or may hereafter be
amended: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the term shall not
include a retail sale taxable pursuant to RCW 82.08.150, as
now or hereafter amended;
(11) "Treasurer or other legal depository" shall mean the
treasurer or legal depository of a county or city. [2005 c 514
§ 111; 2003 c 168 § 502. Prior: 2002 c 367 § 6; 2002 c 67 §
7; 2001 c 186 § 3; 1997 c 201 § 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 31;
1982 c 211 § 1; 1981 c 144 § 4; 1970 ex.s. c 94 § 3.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
Finding—Purpose—Effective date—2001 c 186: See notes following
RCW 82.08.0202.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1981 c 144: See notes following RCW 82.16.010.
82.14.020
82.14.020 Definitions—Where retail sale occurs.
(Contingent effective date.) For purposes of this chapter:
(1) A retail sale consisting solely of the sale of tangible
personal property shall be deemed to have occurred at the
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.020
retail outlet at or from which delivery is made to the consumer;
(2) A retail sale consisting essentially of the performance
of personal, business, or professional services shall be
deemed to have occurred at the place at which such services
were primarily performed, except that for the performance of
a tow truck service, as defined in RCW 46.55.010, the retail
sale shall be deemed to have occurred at the place of business
of the operator of the tow truck service;
(3) A retail sale consisting of the rental of tangible personal property shall be deemed to have occurred (a) in the
case of a rental involving periodic rental payments, at the primary place of use by the lessee during the period covered by
each payment, or (b) in all other cases, at the place of first use
by the lessee;
(4) A retail sale within the scope of RCW 82.04.050(2),
and a retail sale of taxable personal property to be installed by
the seller shall be deemed to have occurred at the place where
the labor and services involved were primarily performed;
(5) A retail sale consisting of the providing of telecommunications services shall be sourced in accordance with
RCW 82.32.520;
(6) A retail sale of linen and uniform supply services is
deemed to occur as provided in RCW 82.08.0202;
(7) A retail sale consisting of an extended warranty shall
be deemed to have occurred at the business location of the
seller if the extended warranty is received by the purchaser at
that location. If an extended warranty is not received by the
purchaser at the business location of the seller, a retail sale of
an extended warranty shall be deemed to have occurred at the
location where receipt by the buyer occurs;
(8) "City" means a city or town;
(9) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04, 82.08 and 82.12 RCW, as now or hereafter
amended, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and
effect with respect to taxes imposed under authority of this
chapter;
(10) "Taxable event" shall mean any retail sale, or any
use, upon which a state tax is imposed pursuant to chapter
82.08 or 82.12 RCW, as they now exist or may hereafter be
amended: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the term shall not
include a retail sale taxable pursuant to RCW 82.08.150, as
now or hereafter amended;
(11) "Treasurer or other legal depository" shall mean the
treasurer or legal depository of a county or city. [2005 c 514
§ 112; 2003 c 168 § 503; 2002 c 367 § 6; 2001 c 186 § 3; 1997
c 201 § 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 31; 1982 c 211 § 1; 1981 c 144
§ 4; 1970 ex.s. c 94 § 3.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 367: See notes following RCW
82.04.060.
Finding—Purpose—Effective date—2001 c 186: See notes following
RCW 82.08.0202.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1981 c 144: See notes following RCW 82.16.010.
[Title 82 RCW—page 129]
82.14.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.14.030
82.14.030 Sales and use taxes authorized—Additional taxes authorized—Maximum rates. (1) The governing body of any county or city while not required by legislative mandate to do so, may, by resolution or ordinance for the
purposes authorized by this chapter, fix and impose a sales
and use tax in accordance with the terms of this chapter. Such
tax shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by
the state pursuant to chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW, upon the
occurrence of any taxable event within the county or city as
the case may be: PROVIDED, That except as provided in
RCW 82.14.230, this sales and use tax shall not apply to natural or manufactured gas. The rate of such tax imposed by a
county shall be five-tenths of one percent of the selling price
(in the case of a sales tax) or value of the article used (in the
case of a use tax). The rate of such tax imposed by a city shall
not exceed five-tenths of one percent of the selling price (in
the case of a sales tax) or value of the article used (in the case
of a use tax): PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in the event a
county shall impose a sales and use tax under this subsection,
the rate of such tax imposed under this subsection by any city
therein shall not exceed four hundred and twenty-five onethousandths of one percent.
(2) Subject to the enactment into law of the 1982 amendment to RCW 82.02.020 by section 5, chapter 49, Laws of
1982 1st ex. sess., in addition to the tax authorized in subsection (1) of this section, the governing body of any county or
city may by resolution or ordinance impose an additional
sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
Such additional tax shall be collected upon the same taxable
events upon which the tax imposed under subsection (1) of
this section is levied. The rate of such additional tax imposed
by a county shall be up to five-tenths of one percent of the
selling price (in the case of a sales tax) or value of the article
used (in the case of a use tax). The rate of such additional tax
imposed by a city shall be up to five-tenths of one percent of
the selling price (in the case of a sales tax) or value of the article used (in the case of a use tax): PROVIDED HOWEVER,
That in the event a county shall impose a sales and use tax
under this subsection at a rate equal to or greater than the rate
imposed under this subsection by a city within the county, the
county shall receive fifteen percent of the city tax: PROVIDED FURTHER, That in the event that the county shall
impose a sales and use tax under this subsection at a rate
which is less than the rate imposed under this subsection by a
city within the county, the county shall receive that amount of
revenues from the city tax equal to fifteen percent of the rate
of tax imposed by the county under this subsection. The
authority to impose a tax under this subsection is intended in
part to compensate local government for any losses from the
phase-out of the property tax on business inventories. [1989
c 384 § 6; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 17; 1970 ex.s. c 94 § 4.]
Intent—Effective date—1989 c 384: See notes following RCW
82.12.022.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
Additional tax for high capacity transportation service: RCW 81.104.170.
Imposition of additional tax on sale of real property in lieu of tax under RCW
82.14.030(2): RCW 82.46.010(3).
82.14.032
82.14.032 Alteration of tax rate pursuant to government service agreement. The rate of sales and use tax
[Title 82 RCW—page 130]
imposed by a city under RCW 82.14.030 (1) and (2) may be
altered pursuant to a government service agreement as provided in RCW 36.115.040 and 36.115.050. [1994 c 266 §
11.]
82.14.034
82.14.034 Alteration of county’s share of city’s tax
receipts pursuant to government service agreement. The
percentage of a city’s sales and use tax receipts that a county
receives under RCW 82.14.030 (1) and (2) may be altered
pursuant to a government service agreement as provided in
RCW 36.115.040 and 36.115.050. [1994 c 266 § 12.]
82.14.036
82.14.036 Imposition or alteration of additional
taxes—Referendum petition to repeal—Procedure—
Exclusive method. Any referendum petition to repeal a
county or city ordinance imposing a tax or altering the rate of
the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(2) shall be filed
with a filing officer, as identified in the ordinance, within
seven days of passage of the ordinance. Within ten days, the
filing officer shall confer with the petitioner concerning form
and style of the petition, issue an identification number for
the petition, and write a ballot title for the measure. The ballot
title shall be posed as a question so that an affirmative answer
to the question and an affirmative vote on the measure results
in the tax or tax rate increase being imposed and a negative
answer to the question and a negative vote on the measure
results in the tax or tax rate increase not being imposed. The
petitioner shall be notified of the identification number and
ballot title within this ten-day period.
After this notification, the petitioner shall have thirty
days in which to secure on petition forms the signatures of
not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the
county for county measures, or not less than fifteen percent of
the registered voters of the city for city measures, and to file
the signed petitions with the filing officer. Each petition form
shall contain the ballot title and the full text of the measure to
be referred. The filing officer shall verify the sufficiency of
the signatures on the petitions. If sufficient valid signatures
are properly submitted, the filing officer shall submit the referendum measure to the county or city voters at a general or
special election held on one of the dates provided in *RCW
29.13.010 as determined by the county legislative authority
or city council, which election shall not take place later than
one hundred twenty days after the signed petition has been
filed with the filing officer.
After April 22, 1983, the referendum procedure provided
in this section shall be the exclusive method for subjecting
any county or city ordinance imposing a tax or altering the
rate under RCW 82.14.030(2) to a referendum vote.
Any county or city tax authorized under RCW
82.14.030(2) that has been imposed prior to April 22, 1983, is
not subject to the referendum procedure provided for in this
section. [1983 c 99 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 29.13.010 was recodified as RCW 29A.04.320
pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.320 was
subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW
29A.04.320, see RCW 29A.04.321.
Severability—1983 c 99: See note following RCW 82.14.200.
82.14.040
82.14.040 County ordinance to contain credit provision. (1) Any county ordinance adopted under RCW
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
82.14.030(1) shall contain, in addition to all other provisions
required to conform to this chapter, a provision allowing a
credit against the county tax imposed under RCW
82.14.030(1) for the full amount of any city sales or use tax
imposed under RCW 82.14.030(1) upon the same taxable
event.
(2) Any county ordinance adopted under RCW
82.14.030(2) shall contain, in addition to all other provisions
required to conform to this chapter, a provision allowing a
credit against the county tax imposed under RCW
82.14.030(2) for the full amount of any city sales or use tax
imposed under RCW 82.14.030(2) upon the same taxable
event up to the additional tax imposed by the county under
RCW 82.14.030(2). [1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 18; 1970 ex.s. c 94
§ 5.]
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
82.14.045
82.14.045 Sales and use taxes for public transportation systems. (1) The legislative body of any city pursuant to
RCW 35.92.060, of any county which has created an unincorporated transportation benefit area pursuant to RCW
36.57.100 and 36.57.110, of any public transportation benefit
area pursuant to RCW 36.57A.080 and 36.57A.090, of any
county transportation authority established pursuant to chapter 36.57 RCW, and of any metropolitan municipal corporation within a county with a population of one million or more
pursuant to chapter 35.58 RCW, may, by resolution or ordinance for the sole purpose of providing funds for the operation, maintenance, or capital needs of public transportation
systems or public transportation limited to persons with special needs under RCW 36.57.130 and 36.57A.180, and in lieu
of the excise taxes authorized by RCW 35.95.040, submit an
authorizing proposition to the voters or include such authorization in a proposition to perform the function of public
transportation or public transportation limited to persons with
special needs under RCW 36.57.130 and 36.57A.180, and if
approved by a majority of persons voting thereon, fix and
impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of
this chapter: PROVIDED, That no such legislative body
shall impose such a sales and use tax without submitting such
an authorizing proposition to the voters and obtaining the
approval of a majority of persons voting thereon: PROVIDED FURTHER, That where such a proposition is submitted by a county on behalf of an unincorporated transportation
benefit area, it shall be voted upon by the voters residing
within the boundaries of such unincorporated transportation
benefit area and, if approved, the sales and use tax shall be
imposed only within such area. Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, any county in which a
county public transportation plan has been adopted pursuant
to RCW 36.57.070 and the voters of such county have authorized the imposition of a sales and use tax pursuant to the provisions of section 10, chapter 167, Laws of 1974 ex. sess.,
prior to July 1, 1975, shall be authorized to fix and impose a
sales and use tax as provided in this section at not to exceed
the rate so authorized without additional approval of the voters of such county as otherwise required by this section.
The tax authorized pursuant to this section shall be in
addition to the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030 and shall be
collected from those persons who are taxable by the state pur(2006 Ed.)
82.14.045
suant to chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence
of any taxable event within such city, public transportation
benefit area, county, or metropolitan municipal corporation
as the case may be. The rate of such tax shall be one-tenth,
two-tenths, three-tenths, four-tenths, five-tenths, six-tenths,
seven-tenths, eight-tenths, or nine-tenths of one percent of
the selling price (in the case of a sales tax) or value of the article used (in the case of a use tax). The rate of such tax shall
not exceed the rate authorized by the voters unless such
increase shall be similarly approved.
(2)(a) In the event a metropolitan municipal corporation
shall impose a sales and use tax pursuant to this chapter no
city, county which has created an unincorporated transportation benefit area, public transportation benefit area authority,
or county transportation authority wholly within such metropolitan municipal corporation shall be empowered to levy
and/or collect taxes pursuant to RCW *35.58.273, 35.95.040,
and/or 82.14.045, but nothing herein shall prevent such city
or county from imposing sales and use taxes pursuant to any
other authorization.
(b) In the event a county transportation authority shall
impose a sales and use tax pursuant to this section, no city,
county which has created an unincorporated transportation
benefit area, public transportation benefit area, or metropolitan municipal corporation, located within the territory of the
authority, shall be empowered to levy or collect taxes pursuant to RCW *35.58.273, 35.95.040, or 82.14.045.
(c) In the event a public transportation benefit area shall
impose a sales and use tax pursuant to this section, no city,
county which has created an unincorporated transportation
benefit area, or metropolitan municipal corporation, located
wholly or partly within the territory of the public transportation benefit area, shall be empowered to levy or collect taxes
pursuant to RCW *35.58.273, 35.95.040, or 82.14.045.
(3) Any local sales and use tax revenue collected pursuant to this section by any city or by any county for transportation purposes pursuant to RCW 36.57.100 and 36.57.110
shall not be counted as locally generated tax revenues for the
purposes of apportionment and distribution, in the manner
prescribed by chapter 82.44 RCW, of the proceeds of the
motor vehicle excise tax authorized pursuant to *RCW
35.58.273, except that the local sales and use tax revenue collected under this section by a city with a population greater
than sixty thousand that as of January 1, 1998, owns and
operates a municipal public transportation system shall be
counted as locally generated tax revenues for the purposes of
apportionment and distribution, in the manner prescribed by
chapter 82.44 RCW, of the proceeds of the motor vehicle
excise tax authorized under *RCW 35.58.273 as follows:
(a) For fiscal year 2000, revenues collected under this
section shall be counted as locally generated tax revenues for
up to 25 percent of the tax collected under *RCW 35.58.273;
(b) For fiscal year 2001, revenues collected under this
section shall be counted as locally generated tax revenues for
up to 50 percent of the tax collected under *RCW 35.58.273;
(c) For fiscal year 2002, revenues collected under this
section shall be counted as locally generated tax revenues for
up to 75 percent of the tax collected under *RCW 35.58.273;
and
(d) For fiscal year 2003 and thereafter, revenues collected under this section shall be counted as locally generated
[Title 82 RCW—page 131]
82.14.0455
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
tax revenues for up to 100 percent of the tax collected under
*RCW 35.58.273. [2001 c 89 § 3; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 16;
1998 c 321 § 7 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1991 c 363 § 158. Prior: 1984 c 112 § 1; 1983
c 3 § 216; 1980 c 163 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 270 § 6; 1971 ex.s.
c 296 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 35.58.273 was repealed by 2002 c 6 § 2.
Purpose—1998 c 321: "The purpose of this act is to reallocate the general fund portion of the state’s motor vehicle excise tax revenues among the
taxpayers, local governments, and the state’s transportation programs. By
reallocating motor vehicle excise taxes, the state revenue portion can be dedicated to increased transportation funding purposes. Since the general fund
currently has a budget surplus, due to a strong economy, the legislature feels
that this reallocation is an appropriate short-term solution to the state’s transportation needs and is a first step in meeting longer-term transportation funding needs. These reallocated funds must be used to provide relief from traffic
congestion, improve freight mobility, and increase traffic safety.
In reallocating general fund resources, the legislature also ensures that
other programs funded from the general fund are not adversely impacted by
the reallocation of surplus general fund revenues. The legislature also adopts
this act to continue the general fund revenue and expenditure limitations contained in chapter 43.135 RCW after this one-time transfer of funds.
In order to develop a long-term and comprehensive solution to the
state’s transportation problems, a joint committee will be created to study the
state’s transportation needs and the appropriate sources of revenue necessary
to implement the state’s long-term transportation needs as provided in *section 22 of this act." [1998 c 321 § 1 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved
November 3, 1998).]
*Reviser’s note: Section 22 of this act was vetoed by the governor.
Severability—1998 c 321: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1998 c 321 § 45 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November
3, 1998).]
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: "(1)
Sections 1 through 3, 5 through 21, 44, and 45 of this act take effect January
1, 1999.
(2) Section 4 of this act takes effect July 1, 1999, and applies to registrations that are due or become due in July 1999, and thereafter." [1998 c
321 § 46 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998).]
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: "The secretary
of state shall submit sections 1 through 21 and 44 through 46 of this act to the
people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general
election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the
state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation." [1998 c
321 § 49 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998).]
Purpose—Captions now law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW
2.32.180.
Severability—Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 270: See notes following RCW 35.58.272.
Legislative finding, declaration—1971 ex.s. c 296: "The legislature
finds that adequate public transportation systems are necessary to the economic, industrial and cultural development of the urban areas of this state
and the health, welfare and prosperity of persons who reside or are employed
in such areas or who engage in business therein and such systems are increasingly essential to the functioning of the urban highways of the state. The legislature further finds and declares that fares and tolls for the use of public
transportation systems cannot maintain such systems in solvent financial
conditions and at the same time meet the need to serve those who cannot reasonably afford or use other forms of transportation. The legislature further
finds and declares that additional and alternate means of financing adequate
public transportation service are necessary for the cities, metropolitan
municipal corporations and counties of this state which provide such service." [1971 ex.s. c 296 § 1.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 296: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1971 ex.s. c 296 § 5.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 132]
82.14.0455 Sales and use tax for transportation benefit districts. (1) Subject to the provisions in RCW
36.73.065, a transportation benefit district under chapter
36.73 RCW may fix and impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of this chapter. The tax authorized in
this section is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law
and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by
the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the
occurrence of any taxable event within the boundaries of the
district. The rate of tax shall not exceed two-tenths of one
percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or value
of the article used, in the case of a use tax. The tax may not
be imposed for a period exceeding ten years. This tax may be
extended for a period not exceeding ten years with an affirmative vote of the voters voting at the election.
(2) Money received from the tax imposed under this section must be spent in accordance with the requirements of
chapter 36.73 RCW. [2006 c 311 § 16; 2005 c 336 § 15.]
82.14.0455
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
Effective date—2005 c 336: See note following RCW 36.73.015.
82.14.046 Sales and use tax equalization payments
from local transit taxes. Beginning with distributions made
to municipalities under *RCW 82.44.150 on January 1, 1996,
municipalities as defined in RCW 35.58.272 imposing local
transit taxes, which for purposes of this section include the
sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.045, the business and
occupation tax under RCW 35.95.040, and excise taxes under
RCW 35.95.040, shall be eligible for sales and use tax equalization payments from motor vehicle excise taxes distributed
under *RCW 82.44.150 as follows:
(1) Prior to January 1st of each year the department of
revenue shall determine the total and the per capita levels of
revenues for each municipality imposing local transit taxes
and the statewide weighted average per capita level of sales
and use tax revenues imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12
RCW for the previous calendar year calculated for a sales and
use tax rate of one-tenth percent. For purposes of this section,
the department of revenue shall determine a local transit tax
rate for each municipality for the previous calendar year. The
tax rate shall be equivalent to the sales and use tax rate for the
municipality that would have generated an amount of revenue equal to the amount of local transit taxes collected by the
municipality.
(2) For each tenth of one percent of the local transit tax
rate, the state treasurer shall apportion to each municipality
receiving less than eighty percent of the statewide weighted
average per capita level of sales and use tax revenues
imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW as determined
by the department of revenue under subsection (1) of this section, an amount when added to the per capita level of revenues received the previous calendar year by the municipality,
to equal eighty percent of the statewide weighted average per
capita level of revenues determined under subsection (1) of
this section. In no event may the sales and use tax equalization distribution to a municipality in a single calendar year
exceed: (a) Fifty percent of the amount of local transit taxes
collected during the prior calendar year; or (b) the maximum
amount of revenue that could have been collected at a local
transit tax rate of three-tenths percent in the prior calendar
year.
82.14.046
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
(3) For a municipality established after January 1, 1995,
sales and use tax equalization distributions shall be made
according to the procedures in this subsection. Sales and use
tax equalization distributions to eligible new municipalities
shall be made at the same time as distributions are made
under subsection (2) of this section. The department of revenue shall follow the estimating procedures outlined in this
subsection until the new municipality has received a full
year’s worth of local transit tax revenues as of the January
sales and use tax equalization distribution.
(a) Whether a newly established municipality determined to receive funds under this subsection receives its first
equalization payment at the January, April, July, or October
sales and use tax equalization distribution shall depend on the
date the system first imposes local transit taxes.
(i) A newly established municipality imposing local
transit taxes taking effect during the first calendar quarter
shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the July sales and use tax equalization distribution
of that year.
(ii) A newly established municipality imposing local
transit taxes taking effect during the second calendar quarter
shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the October sales and use tax equalization distribution of that year.
(iii) A newly established municipality imposing local
transit taxes taking effect during the third calendar quarter
shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the January sales and use tax equalization distribution of the next year.
(iv) A newly established municipality imposing local
transit taxes taking effect during the fourth calendar quarter
shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the April sales and use tax equalization distribution
of the next year.
(b) For purposes of calculating the amount of funds the
new municipality should receive under this subsection, the
department of revenue shall:
(i) Estimate the per capita amount of revenues from local
transit taxes that the new municipality would have received
had the municipality received revenues from the tax the
entire calendar year;
(ii) Calculate the amount provided under subsection (2)
of this section based on the per capita revenues determined
under (b)(i) of this subsection;
(iii) Prorate the amount determined under (b)(ii) of this
subsection by the number of months the local transit taxes
have been imposed.
(c) The department of revenue shall advise the state treasurer of the amounts calculated under (b) of this subsection
and the state treasurer shall distribute these amounts to the
new municipality from the motor vehicle excise tax deposited
into the transportation fund under *RCW 82.44.110.
(4) A municipality whose governing body implements a
tax change that reduces its local transit tax rate after January
1, 1994, may not receive distributions under this section.
[1998 c 321 § 37 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1995 c 298 § 1; 1994 c 241 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.150 and 82.44.110 were repealed by
2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.0485
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
Contingency—1995 c 298: Funding was provided for 1995 c 298 in
1995 2nd sp.s. c 14 § 413.
82.14.048
82.14.048 Sales and use taxes for public facilities districts. The governing board of a public facilities district
under chapter 36.100 or 35.57 RCW may submit an authorizing proposition to the voters of the district, and if the proposition is approved by a majority of persons voting, fix and
impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of
this chapter.
The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition to
any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from
those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable
event within the public facilities district. The rate of tax shall
not exceed two-tenths of one percent of the selling price in
the case of a sales tax, or value of the article used, in the case
of a use tax.
Moneys received from any tax imposed under this section shall be used for the purpose of providing funds for the
costs associated with the financing, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling,
repairing, and reequipping of its public facilities.
No tax may be collected under this section by a public
facilities district under chapter 35.57 RCW before August 1,
2000, and no tax in excess of one-tenth of one percent may be
collected under this section by a public facilities district
under chapter 36.100 RCW before August 1, 2000. [1999 c
165 § 12; 1995 c 396 § 6; 1991 c 207 § 1.]
Severability—1999 c 164: See RCW 35.57.900.
Severability—1995 c 396: See note following RCW 36.100.010.
82.14.0485
82.14.0485 Sales and use tax for baseball stadium—
Counties with population of one million or more—Deduction from tax otherwise required—"Baseball stadium"
defined. (1) The legislative authority of a county with a population of one million or more may impose a sales and use tax
in accordance with the terms of this chapter. The tax is in
addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state under
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any
taxable event within the county. The rate of tax shall not
exceed 0.017 percent of the selling price in the case of a sales
tax or value of the article used in the case of a use tax.
(2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section
shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required
to be collected or paid over to the department of revenue
under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department of revenue shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the
county at no cost to the county.
(3) Moneys collected under this section shall only be
used for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by a county to construct a baseball stadium.
(4) No tax may be collected under this section before
January 1, 1996, and no tax may be collected under this section unless the taxes under RCW 82.14.360 are being col[Title 82 RCW—page 133]
82.14.0486
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
lected. The tax imposed in this section shall expire when the
bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium are
retired, but not more than twenty years after the tax is first
collected.
(5) As used in this section, "baseball stadium" means a
baseball stadium with natural turf and a retractable roof or
canopy, together with associated parking facilities, constructed in the largest city in a county with a population of
one million or more. [1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 101.]
Part headings not law—1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: "Part headings as used in
this act constitute no part of the law." [1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 309.]
Effective date—1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
immediately [October 17, 1995]." [1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 310.]
Baseball stadium construction agreement: RCW 36.100.037.
State contribution for baseball stadium limited: RCW 82.14.0486.
82.14.0486 State contribution for baseball stadium
limited. Sections 101 through 105, chapter 1, Laws of 1995
3rd sp. sess. constitute the entire state contribution for a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485. The state will
not make any additional contributions based on revised cost
or revenue estimates, cost overruns, unforeseen circumstances, or any other reason. [1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 106.]
82.14.0486
Part headings not law—Effective date—1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: See notes
following RCW 82.14.0485.
82.14.049 Sales and use tax for public sports facilities—Tax upon retail rental car rentals. The legislative
authority of any county may impose a sales and use tax, in
addition to the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030, upon retail
car rentals within the county that are taxable by the state
under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of tax shall be
one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax or
rental value of the vehicle in the case of a use tax. Proceeds of
the tax shall not be used to subsidize any professional sports
team and shall be used solely for the following purposes:
(1) Acquiring, constructing, maintaining, or operating
public sports stadium facilities;
(2) Engineering, planning, financial, legal, or professional services incidental to public sports stadium facilities;
(3) Youth or amateur sport activities or facilities; or
(4) Debt or refinancing debt issued for the purposes of
subsection (1) of this section.
At least seventy-five percent of the tax imposed under
this section shall be used for the purposes of subsections (1),
(2), and (4) of this section. [1997 c 220 § 502 (Referendum
Bill No. 48, approved June 17, 1997); 1992 c 194 § 3.]
82.14.049
Referendum—Other legislation limited—Legislators’ personal
intent not indicated—Reimbursements for election—Voters’ pamphlet,
election requirements—1997 c 220: See RCW 36.102.800 through
36.102.803.
Part headings not law—Severability—1997 c 220: See RCW
36.102.900 and 36.102.901.
Legislative intent—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1992 c 194: See note following RCW 46.04.466.
82.14.0494 Sales and use tax for stadium and exhibition center—Deduction from tax otherwise required—
Transfer and deposit of revenues. (Contingent expiration
date.) (1) The legislative authority of a county that has cre82.14.0494
[Title 82 RCW—page 134]
ated a public stadium authority to develop a stadium and
exhibition center under RCW 36.102.050 may impose a sales
and use tax in accordance with this chapter. The tax is in
addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state under
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any
taxable event within the county. The rate of tax shall be 0.016
percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax or value
of the article used in the case of a use tax.
(2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section
shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required
to be collected or paid over to the department of revenue
under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department of revenue shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the
county at no cost to the county.
(3) Before the issuance of bonds in RCW 43.99N.020, all
revenues collected on behalf of the county under this section
shall be transferred to the public stadium authority. After
bonds are issued under RCW 43.99N.020, all revenues collected on behalf of the county under this section shall be
deposited in the stadium and exhibition center account under
RCW 43.99N.060.
(4) The definitions in RCW 36.102.010 apply to this section.
(5) This section expires on the earliest of the following
dates:
(a) December 31, 1999, if the conditions for issuance of
bonds under RCW 43.99N.020 have not been met before that
date;
(b) The date on which all bonds issued under RCW
43.99N.020 have been retired; or
(c) Twenty-three years after the date the tax under this
section is first imposed. [1997 c 220 § 204 (Referendum Bill
No. 48, approved June 17, 1997).]
Referendum—Other legislation limited—Legislators’ personal
intent not indicated—Reimbursements for election—Voters’ pamphlet,
election requirements—1997 c 220: See RCW 36.102.800 through
36.102.803.
Part headings not law—Severability—1997 c 220: See RCW
36.102.900 and 36.102.901.
82.14.050
82.14.050 Administration and collection—Local
sales and use tax account. The counties, cities, and transportation authorities under RCW 82.14.045, public facilities
districts under chapters 36.100 and 35.57 RCW, public transportation benefit areas under RCW 82.14.440, regional transportation investment districts, and transportation benefit districts under chapter 36.73 RCW shall contract, prior to the
effective date of a resolution or ordinance imposing a sales
and use tax, the administration and collection to the state
department of revenue, which shall deduct a percentage
amount, as provided by contract, not to exceed two percent of
the taxes collected for administration and collection expenses
incurred by the department. The remainder of any portion of
any tax authorized by this chapter that is collected by the
department of revenue shall be deposited by the state department of revenue in the local sales and use tax account hereby
created in the state treasury. Moneys in the local sales and
use tax account may be spent only for distribution to counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities districts, public transportation benefit areas, regional transporta(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
tion investment districts, and transportation benefit districts
imposing a sales and use tax. All administrative provisions in
chapters 82.03, 82.08, 82.12, and 82.32 RCW, as they now
exist or may hereafter be amended, shall, insofar as they are
applicable to state sales and use taxes, be applicable to taxes
imposed pursuant to this chapter. Counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities districts, and regional
transportation investment districts may not conduct independent sales or use tax audits of sellers registered under the
streamlined sales tax agreement. Except as provided in RCW
43.08.190, all earnings of investments of balances in the local
sales and use tax account shall be credited to the local sales
and use tax account and distributed to the counties, cities,
transportation authorities, public facilities districts, public
transportation benefit areas, regional transportation investment districts, and transportation benefit districts monthly.
[2005 c 336 § 20. Prior: 2003 c 168 § 201; 2003 c 83 § 208;
2002 c 56 § 406; 1999 c 165 § 14; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 34; 1991
c 207 § 2; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 201; 1985 c 57 § 81; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 4 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 296 § 3; 1970 ex.s. c 94 § 6.]
Effective date—2005 c 336: See note following RCW 36.73.015.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
Severability—1999 c 164: See RCW 35.57.900.
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Applicability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 §§ 201-204: "Sections 201 through
204 of this act shall not be effective for earnings on balances prior to July 1,
1990, regardless of when a distribution is made." [1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 205.]
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
Legislative finding, declaration—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 296:
See notes following RCW 82.14.045.
82.14.070
use taxes under this chapter or any other statute, including
changes resulting from referendum or annexation. [2003 c
168 § 206; 2001 c 320 § 7; 2000 c 104 § 2.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Findings—Intent—2000 c 104: "The legislature finds that retailers
have an important role in the state’s tax system by collecting sales or use tax
from consumers and remitting it to the state. Frequent changes to the tax system place a burden on these businesses. To alleviate that burden and to
improve the accuracy of tax collection, it is the intent of the legislature to
provide that changes to sales and use tax may be made four times a year and
that the department of revenue be provided adequate time to give advance
notice to retailers of any such change. Changes in sales and use tax rates that
are the result of annexation are also restricted to this time period, for uniformity and simplification. Additionally, retailers who rely on technology
developed and provided by the department of revenue, such as the department’s geographic information system, to calculate tax rates shall be held
harmless from errors resulting from such use." [2000 c 104 § 1.]
Effective date—2000 c 104: "This act takes effect July 1, 2000." [2000
c 104 § 7.]
Statewide sales and use tax changes: RCW 82.08.064.
82.14.060
82.14.060 Distributions to counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities districts, and transportation benefit districts—Imposition at excess rates, effect.
Monthly the state treasurer shall make distribution from the
local sales and use tax account to the counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities districts, and transportation benefit districts the amount of tax collected on behalf
of each taxing authority, less the deduction provided for in
RCW 82.14.050. The state treasurer shall make the distribution under this section without appropriation.
In the event that any ordinance or resolution imposes a
sales and use tax at a rate in excess of the applicable limits
contained herein, such ordinance or resolution shall not be
considered void in toto, but only with respect to that portion
of the rate which is in excess of the applicable limits contained herein. [2005 c 336 § 21; 1991 c 207 § 3; 1990 2nd
ex.s. c 1 § 202; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 11; 1971 ex.s. c 296 § 4;
1970 ex.s. c 94 § 7.]
82.14.055
82.14.055 Tax changes. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section, a local sales and use
tax change shall take effect (a) no sooner than seventy-five
days after the department receives notice of the change and
(b) only on the first day of January, April, July, or October.
(2) In the case of a local sales and use tax that is a credit
against the state sales tax or use tax, a local sales and use tax
change shall take effect (a) no sooner than thirty days after
the department receives notice of the change and (b) only on
the first day of a month.
(3)(a) A local sales and use tax rate increase imposed on
services applies to the first billing period starting on or after
the effective date of the increase.
(b) A local sales and use tax rate decrease imposed on
services applies to bills rendered on or after the effective date
of the decrease.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (3), "services"
means retail services such as installing and constructing and
retail services such as telecommunications, but does not
include services such as tattooing.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "local sales and use
tax change" means enactment or revision of local sales and
(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—2005 c 336: See note following RCW 36.73.015.
Applicability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
82.14.050.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
Legislative finding, declaration—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 296:
See notes following RCW 82.14.045.
82.14.070
82.14.070 Uniformity—Rule making—Model ordinance. It is the intent of this chapter that any local sales and
use tax adopted pursuant to this chapter be identical to the
state sales and use tax, unless otherwise prohibited by federal
law, and with other local sales and use taxes adopted pursuant
to this chapter. It is further the intent of this chapter that the
local sales and use tax shall be imposed upon an individual
taxable event simultaneously with the imposition of the state
sales or use tax upon the same taxable event. The rule making powers of the state department of revenue contained in
RCW 82.08.060 and 82.32.300 shall be applicable to this
chapter. The department shall, as soon as practicable, and
with the assistance of the appropriate associations of county
prosecutors and city attorneys, draft a model resolution and
[Title 82 RCW—page 135]
82.14.080
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ordinance. [2003 c 168 § 202; 2000 c 104 § 5; 1970 ex.s. c
94 § 10.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2000 c 104: See notes following
RCW 82.14.055.
82.14.080
82.14.080 Deposit of tax prior to due date—Credit
against future tax or assessment—When fund designation
permitted—Use of tax revenues received in connection
with large construction projects. The taxes provided by
this chapter may be deposited by any taxpayer prior to the
due date thereof with the treasurer or other legal depository
for the benefit of the funds to which they belong to be credited against any future tax or assessment that may be levied or
become due from the taxpayer: PROVIDED, That the taxpayer may with the concurrence of the legislative authority
designate a particular fund of such county or city against
which such prepayment of tax or assessment is made. Such
prepayment of taxes or assessments shall not be considered to
be a debt for the purpose of the limitation of indebtedness
imposed by law on a county or city.
By agreement made pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW,
counties or cities may utilize tax revenues received under the
authority of this chapter in connection with large construction
projects, including energy facilities as defined in RCW
80.50.020, for any purpose within their power or powers,
privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by
such counties or cities including, but not limited to, the purpose of the mitigation of socioeconomic impacts that may be
caused by such large construction projects: PROVIDED,
That the taxable event need not take place within the jurisdiction where the socioeconomic impact occurs if an intergovernmental agreement provides for redistribution. [1982 c 211
§ 2.]
82.14.090
82.14.090 Payment of tax prior to taxable event—
When permitted—Deposit with treasurer—Credit
against future tax—When fund designation permitted.
When permitted by resolution or ordinance, any tax authorized by this chapter may be paid prior to the taxable event to
which it may be attributable. Such prepayment shall be made
by deposit with the treasurer or other legal depository for the
benefit of the funds to which they belong. They shall be credited by any county or city against any future tax that may
become due from a taxpayer: PROVIDED, That the taxpayer
with the concurrence of the legislative authority may designate a particular fund of such county or city against which
such prepayment of tax is made. Prepayment of taxes under
this section shall not relieve any taxpayer from remitting the
full amount of any tax imposed under the authority of this
chapter upon the occurrence of the taxable event. [1982 c
211 § 3.]
82.14.200
82.14.200 County sales and use tax equalization
account—Allocation procedure. There is created in the
state treasury a special account to be known as the "county
sales and use tax equalization account." Into this account
shall be placed a portion of all motor vehicle excise tax
receipts as provided in *RCW 82.44.110. Funds in this
[Title 82 RCW—page 136]
account shall be allocated by the state treasurer according to
the following procedure:
(1) Prior to April 1st of each year the director of revenue
shall inform the state treasurer of the total and the per capita
levels of revenues for the unincorporated area of each county
and the statewide weighted average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties imposing the
sales and use tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) for the
previous calendar year.
(2) At such times as distributions are made under *RCW
82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each county
imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(1) at
the maximum rate and receiving less than one hundred fifty
thousand dollars from the tax for the previous calendar year,
an amount from the county sales and use tax equalization
account sufficient, when added to the amount of revenues
received the previous calendar year by the county, to equal
one hundred fifty thousand dollars.
The department of revenue shall establish a governmental price index as provided in this subsection. The base year
for the index shall be the end of the third quarter of 1982.
Prior to November 1, 1983, and prior to each November 1st
thereafter, the department of revenue shall establish another
index figure for the third quarter of that year. The department
of revenue may use the implicit price deflators for state and
local government purchases of goods and services calculated
by the United States department of commerce to establish the
governmental price index. Beginning on January 1, 1984,
and each January 1st thereafter, the one hundred fifty thousand dollar base figure in this subsection shall be adjusted in
direct proportion to the percentage change in the governmental price index from 1982 until the year before the adjustment. Distributions made under this subsection for 1984 and
thereafter shall use this adjusted base amount figure.
(3) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (2)
of this section and at such times as distributions are made
under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to
each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate and receiving less than
seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per capita
level of revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties
as determined by the department of revenue under subsection
(1) of this section, an amount from the county sales and use
tax equalization account sufficient, when added to the per
capita level of revenues for the unincorporated area received
the previous calendar year by the county, to equal seventy
percent of the statewide weighted average per capita level of
revenues for the unincorporated areas of all counties determined under subsection (1) of this section, subject to reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this section. When computing distributions under this section, any distribution under
subsection (2) of this section shall be considered revenues
received from the tax imposed under RCW 82.14.030(1) for
the previous calendar year.
(4) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (3)
of this section and at such times as distributions are made
under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to
each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (2) of this section, a third distribution
from the county sales and use tax equalization account. The
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
distribution to each qualifying county shall be equal to the
distribution to the county under subsection (2) of this section,
subject to the reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this
section. To qualify for the total distribution under this subsection, the county must impose the tax under RCW
82.14.030(2) for the entire calendar year. Counties imposing
the tax for less than the full year shall qualify for prorated
allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number
of months of the year during which the tax is imposed.
(5) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (4)
of this section and at such times as distributions are made
under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to
each county imposing the sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (3) of this section, a fourth distribution
from the county sales and use tax equalization account. The
distribution to each qualifying county shall be equal to the
distribution to the county under subsection (3) of this section,
subject to the reduction under subsections (6) and (7) of this
section. To qualify for the distributions under this subsectio n , th e co un ty m u st i m po se th e tax u nd er R CW
82.14.030(2) for the entire calendar year. Counties imposing
the tax for less than the full year shall qualify for prorated
allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number
of months of the year during which the tax is imposed.
(6) Revenues distributed under subsections (2) through
(5) of this section in any calendar year shall not exceed an
amount equal to seventy percent of the statewide weighted
average per capita level of revenues for the unincorporated
areas of all counties during the previous calendar year. If distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section
cannot be made because of this limitation, then distributions
under subsections (3) through (5) of this section shall be
reduced ratably among the qualifying counties.
(7) If inadequate revenues exist in the county sales and
use tax equalization account to make the distributions under
subsections (3) through (5) of this section, then the distributions under subsections (3) through (5) of this section shall be
reduced ratably among the qualifying counties. At such time
during the year as additional funds accrue to the county sales
and use tax equalization account, additional distributions
shall be made under subsections (3) through (5) of this section to the counties.
(8) If the level of revenues in the county sales and use tax
equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to make
the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) of this section, at such times as distributions are made under *RCW
82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion an amount to the
county public health account created in RCW 70.05.125
equal to the adjustment under RCW 70.05.125(2)(b).
(9) If the level of revenues in the county sales and use tax
equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to make
the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) and (8) of
this section, then the additional revenues shall be credited and
transferred as follows:
(a) Fifty percent to the public facilities construction loan
revolving account under RCW 43.160.080; and
(b) Fifty percent to the distressed county public facilities
construction loan account under RCW 43.160.220, or so
much thereof as will not cause the balance in the account to
exceed twenty-five million dollars. Any remaining funds
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.210
shall be deposited into the public facilities construction loan
revolving account.
(10) During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the county sales and use tax equalization account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect
the excess fund balance of the account. [2003 1st sp.s. c 25 §
941; 1998 c 321 § 8 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved
November 3, 1998); 1997 c 333 § 2; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 15;
1990 c 42 § 313; 1985 c 57 § 82; 1984 c 225 § 5; 1983 c 99 §
1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 21.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.110 and 82.44.150 were repealed by
2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See
note following RCW 82.14.045.
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.
Effective date—1997 c 333: See note following RCW 70.05.125.
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Rules—1984 c 225: See note following RCW 82.14.210.
Severability—1983 c 99: "If any provision of this act or chapter 49,
Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. or their application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, the remainder of these acts or the application of the provision
to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1983 c 99 § 10.]
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
82.14.210
82.14.210 Municipal sales and use tax equalization
account—Allocation procedure. There is created in the
state treasury a special account to be known as the "municipal
sales and use tax equalization account." Into this account
shall be placed such revenues as are provided under *RCW
82.44.110(1)(e). Funds in this account shall be allocated by
the state treasurer according to the following procedure:
(1) Prior to January 1st of each year the department of
revenue shall determine the total and the per capita levels of
revenues for each city and the statewide weighted average per
capita level of revenues for all cities imposing the sales and
use tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) for the previous
calendar year.
(2) At such times as distributions are made under *RCW
82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each city not
imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) an
amount from the municipal sales and use tax equalization
account equal to the amount distributed to the city under
**RCW 82.44.155, multiplied by forty-five fifty-fifths.
(3) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (2)
of this section, and at such times as distributions are made
under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to
each city imposing the sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate and receiving less than
seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per capita
level of revenues for all cities as determined by the department of revenue under subsection (1) of this section, an
amount from the municipal sales and use tax equalization
[Title 82 RCW—page 137]
82.14.210
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
account sufficient, when added to the per capita level of revenues received the previous calendar year by the city, to
equal seventy percent of the statewide weighted average per
capita level of revenues for all cities determined under subsection (1) of this section, subject to reduction under subsection (6) of this section.
(4) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (3)
of this section, and at such times as distributions are made
under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to
each city imposing the sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (3) of this section, a third distribution
from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account.
The distribution to each qualifying city shall be equal to the
distribution to the city under subsection (3) of this section,
subject to the reduction under subsection (6) of this section.
To qualify for the distributions under this subsection, the city
must impose the tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) for the entire
calendar year. Cities imposing the tax for less than the full
year shall qualify for prorated allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number of months of the year during
which the tax is imposed.
(5) For a city with an official incorporation date after
January 1, 1990, municipal sales and use tax equalization distributions shall be made according to the procedures in this
subsection. Municipal sales and use tax equalization distributions to eligible new cities shall be made at the same time
as distributions are made under subsections (3) and (4) of this
section. The department of revenue shall follow the estimating procedures outlined in this subsection until the new city
has received a full year’s worth of revenues under RCW
82.14.030(1) as of the January municipal sales and use tax
equalization distribution.
(a) Whether a newly incorporated city determined to
receive funds under this subsection receives its first equalization payment at the January, April, July, or October municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution shall depend on
the date the city first imposes the tax authorized under RCW
82.14.030(1).
(i) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of January 1st
shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the April municipal sales and use tax equalization
distribution of that year.
(ii) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of February 1st,
March 1st, or April 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under
this subsection beginning with the July municipal sales and
use tax equalization distribution of that year.
(iii) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of May 1st, June
1st, or July 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this
subsection beginning with the October municipal sales and
use tax equalization distribution of that year.
(iv) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of August 1st,
September 1st, or October 1st shall be eligible to receive
funds under this subsection beginning with the January
municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of the
next year.
[Title 82 RCW—page 138]
(v) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of November 1st
or December 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this
subsection beginning with the April municipal sales and use
tax equalization distribution of the next year.
(b) For purposes of calculating the amount of funds the
new city should receive under this subsection, the department
of revenue shall:
(i) Estimate the per capita amount of revenues from the
tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) that the new city
would have received had the city received revenues from the
tax the entire calendar year;
(ii) Calculate the amount provided under subsection (3)
of this section based on the per capita revenues determined
under (b)(i) of this subsection;
(iii) Prorate the amount determined under (b)(ii) of this
subsection by the number of months the tax authorized under
RCW 82.14.030(1) is imposed.
(c) A new city imposing the tax under RCW
82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution calculated under (b) of this subsection shall receive
another distribution from the municipal sales and use tax
equalization account. This distribution shall be equal to the
calculation made under (b)(ii) of this subsection, prorated by
the number of months the city imposes the tax authorized
under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the full rate.
(d) The department of revenue shall advise the state treasurer of the amounts calculated under (b) and (c) of this subsection and the state treasurer shall distribute these amounts
to the new city from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account subject to the limitations imposed in subsection
(6) of this section.
(e) Revenues estimated under this subsection shall not
affect the calculation of the statewide weighted average per
capita level of revenues for all cities made under subsection
(1) of this section.
(6) If inadequate revenues exist in the municipal sales
and use tax equalization account to make the distributions
under subsection (3), (4), or (5) of this section, then the distributions under subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section shall
be reduced ratably among the qualifying cities. At such time
during the year as additional funds accrue to the municipal
sales and use tax equalization account, additional distributions shall be made under subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this
section to the cities.
(7) If the level of revenues in the municipal sales and use
tax equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to
make the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) of
this section, then the additional revenues shall be apportioned
among the several cities within the state ratably on the basis
of population as last determined by the office of financial
management: PROVIDED, That no such distribution shall
be made to those cities receiving a distribution under subsection (2) of this section.
(8) During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature
may transfer from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect
the excess fund balance in the account. [2003 1st sp.s. c 25 §
942; 1996 c 64 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 16; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 §
701; 1990 c 42 § 314; 1985 c 57 § 83; 1984 c 225 § 2; 1982
1st ex.s. c 49 § 22.]
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 82.44.110 and 82.44.150 were repealed by
2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
**(2) RCW 82.44.155 was repealed by 2006 c 318 § 10.
82.14.310
Intent—1984 c 225: "It is the intent of the legislature to provide for the
allocation of moneys by the department of revenue from the municipal sales
and use tax equalization account to cities and towns initially incorporated on
or after January 1, 1983." [1984 c 225 § 1.]
Applicability—1984 c 225: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act apply to distributions for calendar year 1984 and thereafter which are made to cities and
towns that were initially incorporated on or after January 1, 1983, and that
impose the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030(1)." [1984 c 225 § 3.]
Rules—1984 c 225: "The department of revenue shall adopt rules as
necessary to implement this act." [1984 c 225 § 7.]
paid for the hire or use of a natural gas business in transporting the gas subject to tax under this subsection if those
amounts are subject to tax under RCW 35.21.870.
(3) The tax imposed under this section shall not apply to
the use of natural or manufactured gas if the person who sold
the gas to the consumer has paid a tax under RCW 35.21.870
with respect to the gas for which exemption is sought under
this subsection.
(4) There shall be a credit against the tax levied under
this section in an amount equal to any tax paid by:
(a) The person who sold the gas to the consumer when
that tax is a gross receipts tax similar to that imposed pursuant to RCW 35.21.870 by another state with respect to the gas
for which a credit is sought under this subsection; or
(b) The person consuming the gas upon which a use tax
similar to the tax imposed by this section was paid to another
state with respect to the gas for which a credit is sought under
this subsection.
(5) The use tax hereby imposed shall be paid by the consumer. The administration and collection of the tax hereby
imposed shall be pursuant to RCW 82.14.050. [1989 c 384 §
2.]
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
Intent—Effective date—1989 c 384: See notes following RCW
82.12.022.
Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.
Effective date—1996 c 64: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 64 § 2.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective dates—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
84.52.010.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
82.14.212 Transfer of funds pursuant to government
service agreement. Funds that are distributed to counties or
cities pursuant to RCW 82.14.200 or 82.14.210 may be transferred by the recipient county or city to another unit of local
government pursuant to a government service agreement as
provided in RCW 36.115.040 and 36.115.050. [1994 c 266 §
13.]
82.14.212
82.14.215 Apportionment and distribution—Withholding revenue for noncompliance. The governor may
notify and direct the state treasurer to withhold the revenues
to which the county or city is entitled under this chapter if a
county or city is found to be in noncompliance pursuant to
RCW 36.70A.340. [1991 sp.s. c 32 § 35.]
82.14.215
Section headings not law—1991 sp.s. c 32: See RCW 36.70A.902.
82.14.220 Figures for apportionments and distributions under RCW 82.14.200 and 82.14.210. The apportionments and distributions by the state treasurer under RCW
82.14.200 and 82.14.210 shall be based on figures supplied
by the department of revenue. [1984 c 225 § 4.]
82.14.220
Rules—1984 c 225: See note following RCW 82.14.210.
82.14.230 Natural or manufactured gas—Cities may
impose use tax. (1) The governing body of any city, while
not required by legislative mandate to do so, may, by resolution or ordinance for the purposes authorized by this chapter,
fix and impose on every person a use tax for the privilege of
using natural gas or manufactured gas in the city as a consumer.
(2) The tax shall be imposed in an amount equal to the
value of the article used by the taxpayer multiplied by the rate
in effect for the tax on natural gas businesses under RCW
35.21.870 in the city in which the article is used. The "value
of the article used," does not include any amounts that are
82.14.230
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.300
82.14.300 Local government criminal justice assistance—Finding. The legislature finds and declares that local
government criminal justice systems are in need of assistance. Many counties and cities are unable to provide sufficient funding for additional police protection, mitigation of
congested court systems, public safety education, and relief
of overcrowded jails.
In order to ensure public safety, it is necessary to provide
fiscal assistance to help local governments to respond immediately to these criminal justice problems, while initiating a
review of the criminal justice needs of cities and counties and
the resources available to address those needs.
To provide for a more efficient and effective response to
these problems, the legislature encourages cities and counties
to coordinate strategies against crime and use multijurisdictional and innovative approaches in addressing criminal justice problems. [1995 c 312 § 83; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 1.]
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 1104.]
82.14.310
82.14.310 County criminal justice assistance
account—Transfers from general fund—Distributions
based on crime rate and population—Limitations. (1)
The county criminal justice assistance account is created in
the state treasury. Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state
treasurer shall transfer into the county criminal justice assistance account from the general fund the sum of twenty-three
million two hundred thousand dollars divided into four equal
deposits occurring on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April
1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall
increase the total transfer by the fiscal growth factor, as
defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for that fiscal year by
[Title 82 RCW—page 139]
82.14.320
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the office of financial management in November of the preceding year.
(2) The moneys deposited in the county criminal justice
assistance account for distribution under this section, less any
moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4) of
this section, shall be distributed at such times as distributions
are made under *RCW 82.44.150 and on the relative basis of
each county’s funding factor as determined under this subsection.
(a) A county’s funding factor is the sum of:
(i) The population of the county, divided by one thousand, and multiplied by two-tenths;
(ii) The crime rate of the county, multiplied by threetenths; and
(iii) The annual number of criminal cases filed in the
county superior court, for each one thousand in population,
multiplied by five-tenths.
(b) Under this section and RCW 82.14.320 and
82.14.330:
(i) The population of the county or city shall be as last
determined by the office of financial management;
(ii) The crime rate of the county or city is the annual
occurrence of specified criminal offenses, as calculated in the
most recent annual report on crime in Washington state as
published by the Washington association of sheriffs and
police chiefs, for each one thousand in population;
(iii) The annual number of criminal cases filed in the
county superior court shall be determined by the most recent
annual report of the courts of Washington, as published by
the administrative office of the courts;
(iv) Distributions and eligibility for distributions in the
1989-91 biennium shall be based on 1988 figures for both the
crime rate as described under (ii) of this subsection and the
annual number of criminal cases that are filed as described
under (iii) of this subsection. Future distributions shall be
based on the most recent figures for both the crime rate as
described under (ii) of this subsection and the annual number
of criminal cases that are filed as described under (iii) of this
subsection.
(3) Moneys distributed under this section shall be
expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall
not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal
justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially
assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil or juvenile justice
system occurs, and which includes (a) domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs,
community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in
RCW 70.123.020, and (b) during the 2001-2003 fiscal biennium, juvenile dispositional hearings relating to petitions for
at-risk youth, truancy, and children in need of services.
Existing funding for purposes of this subsection is defined as
calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal
justice purposes. Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following:
Expenditures for extraordinary events not likely to reoccur,
changes in contract provisions for criminal justice services,
beyond the control of the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.
(4) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to
the county criminal justice assistance account shall be avail[Title 82 RCW—page 140]
able for appropriations for enhancements to the state patrol
crime laboratory system and the continuing costs related to
these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this account
for such enhancements shall not supplant existing funds from
the state general fund. [2005 c 282 § 49; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 7 §
915; 1999 c 309 § 920; 1998 c 321 § 11 (Referendum Bill No.
49, approved November 3, 1998); 1995 c 398 § 11; 1993 sp.s.
c 21 § 1; 1991 c 311 § 1; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 102.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.150 was repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Severability—Effective date—2001 2nd sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.320.110.
Severability—Effective date—1999 c 309: See notes following RCW
41.14.045.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See
note following RCW 82.14.045.
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 21: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1993, except for section 4 of this act, which shall take effect immediately [May 28, 1993], and sections 1 through 3, 5, and 7 of this act, which
shall take effect January 1, 1994." [1993 sp.s. c 21 § 10.]
Severability—1991 c 311: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 c 311 § 8.]
Effective dates—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
84.52.010.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
82.14.320
82.14.320 Municipal criminal justice assistance
account—Transfers from general fund—Distributions
criteria and formula—Limitations. (1) The municipal
criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury. Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state treasurer shall
transfer into the municipal criminal justice assistance account
for distribution under this section from the general fund the
sum of four million six hundred thousand dollars divided into
four equal deposits occurring on July 1, October 1, January 1,
and April 1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer
shall increase the total transfer by the fiscal growth factor, as
defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for that fiscal year by
the office of financial management in November of the preceding year.
(2) No city may receive a distribution under this section
from the municipal criminal justice assistance account
unless:
(a) The city has a crime rate in excess of one hundred
twenty-five percent of the statewide average as calculated in
the most recent annual report on crime in Washington state as
published by the Washington association of sheriffs and
police chiefs;
(b) The city has levied the tax authorized in RCW
82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate or the tax authorized in
RCW 82.46.010(3) at the maximum rate; and
(c) The city has a per capita yield from the tax imposed
under RCW 82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate of less than
one hundred fifty percent of the statewide average per capita
yield for all cities from such local sales and use tax.
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
(3) The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section, less
any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (7)
of this section, shall be distributed at such times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150. The distributions
shall be made as follows:
(a) Unless reduced by this subsection, thirty percent of
the moneys shall be distributed ratably based on population
as last determined by the office of financial management to
those cities eligible under subsection (2) of this section that
have a crime rate determined under subsection (2)(a) of this
section which is greater than one hundred seventy-five percent of the statewide average crime rate. No city may receive
more than fifty percent of any moneys distributed under this
subsection (a) but, if a city distribution is reduced as a result
of exceeding the fifty percent limitation, the amount not distributed shall be distributed under (b) of this subsection.
(b) The remainder of the moneys, including any moneys
not distributed in subsection (2)(a) of this section, shall be
distributed to all cities eligible under subsection (2) of this
section ratably based on population as last determined by the
office of financial management.
(4) No city may receive more than thirty percent of all
moneys distributed under subsection (3) of this section.
(5) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the
distributions to any city that substantially decriminalizes or
repeals its criminal code after July 1, 1990, and that does not
reimburse the county for costs associated with criminal cases
under RCW 3.50.800 or 3.50.805(2), shall be made to the
county in which the city is located.
(6) Moneys distributed under this section shall be
expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall
not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal
justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially
assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil justice system
occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such
as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in RCW
70.123.020, and publications and public educational efforts
designed to provide information and assistance to parents in
dealing with runaway or at-risk youth. Existing funding for
purposes of this subsection is defined as calendar year 1989
actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes.
Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following: Expenditures for
extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract
provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of
the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.
(7) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to
the municipal criminal justice assistance account shall be
available for appropriations for enhancements to the state
patrol crime laboratory system and the continuing costs
related to these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this
account for such enhancements shall not supplant existing
funds from the state general fund. [1998 c 321 § 12 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998). Prior:
1995 c 398 § 12; 1995 c 312 § 84; 1993 sp.s. c 21 § 2; 1992 c
55 § 1; prior: 1991 sp.s. c 26 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 30; 1990
2nd ex.s. c 1 § 104.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.330
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.150 was repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See
note following RCW 82.14.045.
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.
Short title—1995 c 312: See note following RCW 13.32A.010.
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 21: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Severability—1992 c 55: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1992 c 55 § 2.]
Retroactive application—1991 sp.s. c 26: "The changes contained in
section 1, chapter 26, Laws of 1991 sp. sess. are remedial, curative, and clarify ambiguities in prior existing law. These changes shall apply retroactively
to July 1, 1990." [1991 sp.s. c 26 § 3.]
Severability—1991 sp.s. c 26: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 sp.s. c 26 § 4.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective dates—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
84.52.010.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
82.14.330
82.14.330 Municipal criminal justice assistance
account—Transfers from general fund—Distributions
based on crime rate, population, and innovation—Limitations. (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state treasurer
shall transfer into the municipal criminal justice assistance
account for distribution under this section from the general
fund the sum of four million six hundred thousand dollars
divided into four equal deposits occurring on July 1, October
1, January 1, and April 1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the
state treasurer shall increase the total transfer by the fiscal
growth factor, as defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for
that fiscal year by the office of financial management in
November of the preceding year. The moneys deposited in
the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section, less any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4) of this section, shall be distributed
to the cities of the state as follows:
(a) Twenty percent appropriated for distribution shall be
distributed to cities with a three-year average violent crime
rate for each one thousand in population in excess of one hundred fifty percent of the statewide three-year average violent
crime rate for each one thousand in population. The threeyear average violent crime rate shall be calculated using the
violent crime rates for each of the preceding three years from
the annual reports on crime in Washington state as published
by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs.
Moneys shall be distributed under this subsection (1)(a) ratably based on population as last determined by the office of
financial management, but no city may receive more than one
dollar per capita. Moneys remaining undistributed under this
subsection at the end of each calendar year shall be distributed to the criminal justice training commission to reimburse
participating city law enforcement agencies with ten or fewer
full-time commissioned patrol officers the cost of temporary
[Title 82 RCW—page 141]
82.14.340
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
replacement of each officer who is enrolled in basic law
enforcement training, as provided in RCW 43.101.200.
(b) Sixteen percent shall be distributed to cities ratably
based on population as last determined by the office of financial management, but no city may receive less than one thousand dollars.
The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice
assistance account for distribution under this subsection shall
be distributed at such times as distributions are made under
*RCW 82.44.150.
Moneys distributed under this subsection shall be
expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall
not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal
justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially
assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil justice system
occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such
as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in RCW
70.123.020. Existing funding for purposes of this subsection
is defined as calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes. Calendar year 1989
actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes
exclude the following: Expenditures for extraordinary events
not likely to reoccur, changes in contract provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital
expenditures.
(2) In addition to the distributions under subsection (1)
of this section:
(a) Ten percent shall be distributed on a per capita basis
to cities that contract with another governmental agency for
the majority of the city’s law enforcement services. Cities
that subsequently qualify for this distribution shall notify the
department of community, trade, and economic development
by November 30th for the upcoming calendar year. The
department of community, trade, and economic development
shall provide a list of eligible cities to the state treasurer by
December 31st. The state treasurer shall modify the distribution of these funds in the following year. Cities have the
responsibility to notify the department of community, trade,
and economic development of any changes regarding these
contractual relationships. Adjustments in the distribution
formula to add or delete cities may be made only for the
upcoming calendar year; no adjustments may be made retroactively.
(b) The remaining fifty-four percent shall be distributed
to cities and towns by the state treasurer on a per capita basis.
These funds shall be used for: (i) Innovative law enforcement strategies; (ii) programs to help at-risk children or child
abuse victim response programs; and (iii) programs designed
to reduce the level of domestic violence or to provide counseling for domestic violence victims.
The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice
assistance account for distribution under this subsection, less
any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4)
of this section, shall be distributed at the times as distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150. Moneys remaining
undistributed under this subsection at the end of each calendar year shall be distributed to the criminal justice training
commission to reimburse participating city law enforcement
[Title 82 RCW—page 142]
agencies with ten or fewer full-time commissioned patrol
officers the cost of temporary replacement of each officer
who is enrolled in basic law enforcement training, as provided in RCW 43.101.200.
If a city is found by the state auditor to have expended
funds received under this subsection in a manner that does
not comply with the criteria under which the moneys were
received, the city shall be ineligible to receive future distributions under this subsection until the use of the moneys are
justified to the satisfaction of the director or are repaid to the
state general fund.
(3) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the
distributions to any city that substantially decriminalizes or
repeals its criminal code after July 1, 1990, and that does not
reimburse the county for costs associated with criminal cases
under RCW 3.50.800 or 3.50.805(2), shall be made to the
county in which the city is located.
(4) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to
the municipal criminal justice assistance account shall be
available for appropriations for enhancements to the state
patrol crime laboratory system and the continuing costs
related to these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this
account for such enhancements shall not supplant existing
funds from the state general fund. [2003 c 90 § 1; 1998 c 321
§ 13 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998);
1995 c 398 § 13; 1994 c 273 § 22; 1993 sp.s. c 21 § 3; 1991 c
311 § 4; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 105.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.150 was repealed by 2003 c 1 (Initiative
Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See
note following RCW 82.14.045.
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.
Effective date—1994 c 273 § 22: "Section 22 of this act is necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect immediately [April 1, 1994]." [1994 c 273 § 24.]
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 21: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Retroactive application—1991 c 311: "The changes contained in sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this act are remedial, curative, and clarify ambiguities
in prior existing law. These changes shall apply retroactively to July 1,
1990." [1991 c 311 § 6.]
Severability—1991 c 311: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Effective dates—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW
84.52.010.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
82.14.340
82.14.340 Additional sales and use tax for criminal
justice purposes—Referendum—Expenditures. The legislative authority of any county may fix and impose a sales
and use tax in accordance with the terms of this chapter, provided that such sales and use tax is subject to repeal by referendum, using the procedures provided in RCW 82.14.036.
The referendum procedure provided in RCW 82.14.036 is the
exclusive method for subjecting any county sales and use tax
ordinance or resolution to a referendum vote.
The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition to
any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from
those persons who are taxable by the state pursuant to chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any tax(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
able event within such county. The rate of tax shall equal onetenth of one percent of the selling price (in the case of a sales
tax) or value of the article used (in the case of a use tax).
When distributing moneys collected under this section,
the state treasurer shall distribute ten percent of the moneys to
the county in which the tax was collected. The remainder of
the moneys collected under this section shall be distributed to
the county and the cities within the county ratably based on
population as last determined by the office of financial management. In making the distribution based on population, the
county shall receive that proportion that the unincorporated
population of the county bears to the total population of the
county and each city shall receive that proportion that the city
incorporated population bears to the total county population.
Moneys received from any tax imposed under this section shall be expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall not be used to replace or supplant existing
funding. Criminal justice purposes are defined as activities
that substantially assist the criminal justice system, which
may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the
civil justice system occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence
programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as
defined in RCW 70.123.020. Existing funding for purposes
of this subsection is defined as calendar year 1989 actual
operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes. Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following: Expenditures for
extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract
provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of
the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.
In the expenditure of funds for criminal justice purposes
as provided in this section, cities and counties, or any combination thereof, are expressly authorized to participate in
agreements, pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW, to jointly
expend funds for criminal justice purposes of mutual benefit.
Such criminal justice purposes of mutual benefit include, but
are not limited to, the construction, improvement, and expansion of jails, court facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.
[1995 c 309 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 21 § 6. Prior: 1991 c 311 § 5;
1991 c 301 § 16; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 § 901.]
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 21: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Severability—1991 c 311: See note following RCW 82.14.310.
Retroactive application—1991 c 311: See note following RCW
82.14.330.
Finding—1991 c 301: See note following RCW 10.99.020.
Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.
Sales and use tax for high capacity transportation service limited by imposition of tax under RCW 82.14.340: RCW 81.104.170.
82.14.350 Sales and use tax for juvenile detention
facilities and jails—Colocation. (1) A county legislative
authority in a county with a population of less than one million may submit an authorizing proposition to the county voters, and if the proposition is approved by a majority of persons voting, fix and impose a sales and use tax in accordance
with the terms of this chapter for the purposes designated in
subsection (3) of this section.
(2) The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition
to any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected
82.14.350
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.360
from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the county. The rate of tax shall equal onetenth of one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales
tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use tax.
(3) Moneys received from any tax imposed under this
section shall be used solely for the purpose of providing
funds for costs associated with financing, design, acquisition,
construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling,
repairing, reequipping, and improvement of juvenile detention facilities and jails.
(4) Counties are authorized to develop joint ventures to
colocate juvenile detention facilities and to colocate jails.
[1995 2nd sp.s. c 10 § 1.]
82.14.360
82.14.360 Special stadium sales and use taxes. (1)
The legislative authority of a county with a population of one
million or more may impose a special stadium sales and use
tax upon the retail sale or use within the county by restaurants, taverns, and bars of food and beverages that are taxable
by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of
the tax shall not exceed five-tenths of one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or value of the article used
in the case of a use tax. The tax imposed under this subsection
is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall
not be credited against any other tax imposed upon the same
taxable event. As used in this section, "restaurant" does not
include grocery stores, mini-markets, or convenience stores.
(2) The legislative authority of a county with a population of one million or more may impose a special stadium
sales and use tax upon retail car rentals within the county that
are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.
The rate of the tax shall not exceed two percent of the selling
price in the case of a sales tax, or rental value of the vehicle
in the case of a use tax. The tax imposed under this subsection
is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall
not be credited against any other tax imposed upon the same
taxable event.
(3) The revenue from the taxes imposed under this section shall be used for the purpose of principal and interest
payments on bonds, issued by the county, to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and
operate a baseball stadium. Revenues from the taxes authorized in this section may be used for design and other preconstruction costs of the baseball stadium until bonds are issued
for the baseball stadium. The county shall issue bonds, in an
amount determined to be necessary by the public facilities
district, for the district to acquire, construct, own, and equip
the baseball stadium. The county shall have no obligation to
issue bonds in an amount greater than that which would be
supported by the tax revenues under this section, RCW
82.14.0485, and 36.38.010(4) (a) and (b). If the revenue from
the taxes imposed under this section exceeds the amount
needed for such principal and interest payments in any year,
the excess shall be used solely:
(a) For early retirement of the bonds issued for the baseball stadium; and
(b) If the revenue from the taxes imposed under this section exceeds the amount needed for the purposes in (a) of this
subsection in any year, the excess shall be placed in a contingency fund which may only be used to pay unanticipated cap[Title 82 RCW—page 143]
82.14.370
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ital costs on the baseball stadium, excluding any cost overruns on initial construction.
(4) The taxes authorized under this section shall not be
collected after June 30, 1997, unless the county executive has
certified to the department of revenue that a professional
major league baseball team has made a binding and legally
enforceable contractual commitment to:
(a) Play at least ninety percent of its home games in the
stadium for a period of time not shorter than the term of the
bonds issued to finance the initial construction of the stadium;
(b) Contribute forty-five million dollars toward the reasonably necessary preconstruction costs including, but not
limited to architectural, engineering, environmental, and
legal services, and the cost of construction of the stadium, or
to any associated public purpose separate from bondfinanced property, including without limitation land acquisition, parking facilities, equipment, infrastructure, or other
similar costs associated with the project, which contribution
shall be made during a term not to exceed the term of the
bonds issued to finance the initial construction of the stadium. If all or part of the contribution is made after the date
of issuance of the bonds, the team shall contribute an additional amount equal to the accruing interest on the deferred
portion of the contribution, calculated at the interest rate on
the bonds maturing in the year in which the deferred contribution is made. No part of the contribution may be made
without the consent of the county until a public facilities district is created under chapter 36.100 RCW to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and
operate a baseball stadium. To the extent possible, contributions shall be structured in a manner that would allow for the
issuance of bonds to construct the stadium that are exempt
from federal income taxes; and
(c) Share a portion of the profits generated by the baseball team from the operation of the professional franchise for
a period of time equal to the term of the bonds issued to
finance the initial construction of the stadium, after offsetting
any losses incurred by the baseball team after *the effective
date of chapter 14, Laws of 1995 1st sp. sess. Such profits and
the portion to be shared shall be defined by agreement
between the public facilities district and the baseball team.
The shared profits shall be used to retire the bonds issued to
finance the initial construction of the stadium. If the bonds
are retired before the expiration of their term, the shared profits shall be paid to the public facilities district.
(5) No tax may be collected under this section before
January 1, 1996. Before collecting the taxes under this section or issuing bonds for a baseball stadium, the county shall
create a public facilities district under chapter 36.100 RCW
to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip,
repair, and operate a baseball stadium.
(6) The county shall assemble such real property as the
district determines to be necessary as a site for the baseball
stadium. Property which is necessary for this purpose that is
owned by the county on October 17, 1995, shall be contributed to the district, and property which is necessary for this
purpose that is acquired by the county on or after October 17,
1995, shall be conveyed to the district.
(7) The proceeds of any bonds issued for the baseball
stadium shall be provided to the district.
[Title 82 RCW—page 144]
(8) As used in this section, "baseball stadium" means
"baseball stadium" as defined in RCW 82.14.0485.
(9) The taxes imposed under this section shall expire
when the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball
stadium are retired, but not later than twenty years after the
taxes are first collected. [2000 c 103 § 10; 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1
§ 201; 1995 1st sp.s. c 14 § 7.]
*Reviser’s note: 1995 1st sp.s. c 14 had two effective dates. Sections 1
through 9 and 11 took effect July 1, 1995, and sections 10 and 12 took effect
June 14, 1995.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: See notes
following RCW 82.14.0485.
Severability—Effective dates—1995 1st sp.s. c 14: See notes following RCW 36.100.010.
82.14.370
82.14.370 Sales and use tax for public facilities in
rural counties. (1) The legislative authority of a rural county
may impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms
of this chapter. The tax is in addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who
are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW
upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the county.
The rate of tax shall not exceed 0.08 percent of the selling
price in the case of a sales tax or value of the article used in
the case of a use tax, except that for rural counties with population densities between sixty and one hundred persons per
square mile, the rate shall not exceed 0.04 percent before January 1, 2000.
(2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section
shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required
to be collected or paid over to the department of revenue
under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department of revenue shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the
county at no cost to the county.
(3)(a) Moneys collected under this section shall only be
used to finance public facilities serving economic development purposes in rural counties. The public facility must be
listed as an item in the officially adopted county overall economic development plan, or the economic development section of the county’s comprehensive plan, or the comprehensive plan of a city or town located within the county for those
counties planning under RCW 36.70A.040. For those counties that do not have an adopted overall economic development plan and do not plan under the growth management act,
the public facility must be listed in the county’s capital facilities plan or the capital facilities plan of a city or town located
within the county.
(b) In implementing this section, the county shall consult
with cities, towns, and port districts located within the county
and the associate development organization serving the
county to ensure that the expenditure meets the goals of chapter 130, Laws of 2004 and the requirements of (a) of this subsection. Each county collecting money under this section
shall report to the office of the state auditor, no later than
October 1st of each year, a list of new projects from the prior
fiscal year, showing that the county has used the funds for
those projects consistent with the goals of chapter 130, Laws
of 2004 and the requirements of (a) of this subsection. Any
projects financed prior to June 10, 2004, from the proceeds of
obligations to which the tax imposed under subsection (1) of
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
this section has been pledged shall not be deemed to be new
projects under this subsection.
(c) For the purposes of this section, (i) "public facilities"
means bridges, roads, domestic and industrial water facilities,
sanitary sewer facilities, earth stabilization, storm sewer
facilities, railroad, electricity, natural gas, buildings, structures, telecommunications infrastructure, transportation
infrastructure, or commercial infrastructure, and port facilities in the state of Washington; and (ii) "economic development purposes" means those purposes which facilitate the
creation or retention of businesses and jobs in a county.
(4) No tax may be collected under this section before
July 1, 1998. No tax may be collected under this section by a
county more than twenty-five years after the date that a tax is
first imposed under this section.
(5) For purposes of this section, "rural county" means a
county with a population density of less than one hundred
persons per square mile or a county smaller than two hundred
twenty-five square miles as determined by the office of financial management and published each year by the department
for the period July 1st to June 30th. [2004 c 130 § 2; 2002 c
184 § 1; 1999 c 311 § 101; 1998 c 55 § 6; 1997 c 366 § 3.]
Intent—2004 c 130: "It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this
2004 act to reaffirm the original goals of the 1997 act which first provided
distressed counties with the local option sales and use tax contained in RCW
82.14.370. The local option tax is now available to all rural counties and the
continuing legislative goal for RCW 82.14.370 is to promote the creation,
attraction, expansion, and retention of businesses and provide for family
wage jobs." [2004 c 130 § 1.]
Finding—Intent—1999 c 311: "The legislature finds that while Washington’s economy is currently prospering, economic growth continues to be
uneven, particularly as between metropolitan and rural areas. This has created in effect two Washingtons: One afflicted by inadequate infrastructure
to support and attract investment, another suffering from congestion and
soaring housing prices. In order to address these problems, the legislature
intends to use resources strategically to build on our state’s strengths while
addressing threats to our prosperity." [1999 c 311 § 1.]
Part headings and subheadings not law—1999 c 311: "Part headings
and subheadings used in this act are not any part of the law." [1999 c 311 §
601.]
Effective date—1999 c 311: "Sections 1, 101, 201, 301 through 305,
401, 402, 601, and 605 of this act take effect August 1, 1999." [1999 c 311
§ 604.]
Severability—1999 c 311: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 c 311 § 606.]
Intent—1997 c 366: "The legislature recognizes the economic hardship that rural distressed areas throughout the state have undergone in recent
years. Numerous rural distressed areas across the state have encountered
serious economic downturns resulting in significant job loss and business
failure. In 1991 the legislature enacted two major pieces of legislation to
promote economic development and job creation, with particular emphasis
on worker training, income, and emergency services support, along with
community revitalization through planning services and infrastructure assistance. However even though these programs have been of assistance, rural
distressed areas still face serious economic problems including: Aboveaverage unemployment rates from job losses and below-average employment growth; low rate of business start-ups; and persistent erosion of vitally
important resource-driven industries.
The legislature also recognizes that rural distressed areas in Washington have an abiding ability and consistent will to overcome these economic
obstacles by building upon their historic foundations of business enterprise,
local leadership, and outstanding work ethic.
The legislature intends to assist rural distressed areas in their ongoing
efforts to address these difficult economic problems by providing a comprehensive and significant array of economic tools, necessary to harness the persistent and undaunted spirit of enterprise that resides in the citizens of rural
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.390
distressed areas throughout the state.
The further intent of this act is to provide:
(1) A strategically designed plan of assistance, emphasizing state,
local, and private sector leadership and partnership;
(2) A comprehensive and significant array of business assistance, services, and tax incentives that are accountable and performance driven;
(3) An array of community assistance including infrastructure development and business retention, attraction, and expansion programs that will
provide a competitive advantage to rural distressed areas throughout Washington; and
(4) Regulatory relief to reduce and streamline zoning, permitting, and
regulatory requirements in order to enhance the capability of businesses to
grow and prosper in rural distressed areas." [1997 c 366 § 1.]
Goals—1997 c 366: "The primary goals of chapter 366, Laws of 1997
are to:
(1) Promote the ongoing operation of business in rural distressed areas;
(2) Promote the expansion of existing businesses in rural distressed
areas;
(3) Attract new businesses to rural distressed areas;
(4) Assist in the development of new businesses from within rural distressed areas;
(5) Provide family wage jobs to the citizens of rural distressed areas;
and
(6) Promote the development of communities of excellence in rural distressed areas." [1997 c 366 § 2.]
Severability—1997 c 366: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 366 § 11.]
Captions and part headings not law—1997 c 366: "Section captions
and part headings used in this act are not any part of the law." [1997 c 366 §
12.]
82.14.380
82.14.380 Distressed county assistance account—
Created—Distributions. (1) The distressed county assistance account is created in the state treasury. Into this account
shall be placed a portion of all motor vehicle excise tax
receipts as provided in *RCW 82.44.110. At such times as
distributions are made under *RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall distribute the funds in the distressed county assistance account to each county imposing the sales and use tax
authorized under RCW 82.14.370 as of January 1, 1999, in
the same proportions as distributions of the tax imposed
under RCW 82.14.370 for these counties for the previous
quarter.
(2) Funds distributed from the distressed county assistance account shall be expended by the counties for criminal
justice and other purposes. [1999 c 311 § 201; 1998 c 321 §
10 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998).]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.110 and 82.44.150 were repealed by
2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Finding—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 311: See notes following RCW
82.14.370.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Effective dates—Application—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21, 44, and 45: See
note following RCW 82.14.045.
Referral to electorate—1998 c 321 §§ 1-21 and 44-46: See note following RCW 82.14.045.
82.14.390
82.14.390 Sales and use tax for regional centers. (1)
Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section, the governing body of a public facilities district (a) created before
July 31, 2002, under chapter 35.57 or 36.100 RCW that commences construction of a new regional center, or improvement or rehabilitation of an existing new regional center,
[Title 82 RCW—page 145]
82.14.400
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
before January 1, 2004, or (b) created before July 1, 2006,
under chapter 35.57 RCW in a county or counties in which
there are no other public facilities districts on June 7, 2006,
and in which the total population in the public facilities district is greater than ninety thousand that commences construction of a new regional center before February 1, 2007,
may impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms
of this chapter. The tax is in addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who
are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW
upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the public
facilities district. The rate of tax shall not exceed 0.033 percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax or value of
the article used in the case of a use tax.
(2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section
shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required
to be collected or paid over to the department of revenue
under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department of revenue shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the
county at no cost to the public facilities district.
(3) No tax may be collected under this section before
August 1, 2000. The tax imposed in this section shall expire
when the bonds issued for the construction of the regional
center and related parking facilities are retired, but not more
than twenty-five years after the tax is first collected.
(4) Moneys collected under this section shall only be
used for the purposes set forth in RCW 35.57.020 and must
be matched with an amount from other public or private
sources equal to thirty-three percent of the amount collected
under this section, provided that amounts generated from
nonvoter approved taxes authorized under chapter 35.57
RCW or nonvoter approved taxes authorized under chapter
36.100 RCW shall not constitute a public or private source.
For the purpose of this section, public or private sources
includes, but is not limited to cash or in-kind contributions
used in all phases of the development or improvement of the
regional center, land that is donated and used for the siting of
the regional center, cash or in-kind contributions from public
or private foundations, or amounts attributed to private sector
partners as part of a public and private partnership agreement
negotiated by the public facilities district.
(5) The combined total tax levied under this section shall
not be greater than 0.033 percent. If both a public facilities
district created under chapter 35.57 RCW and a public facilities district created under chapter 36.100 RCW impose a tax
under this section, the tax imposed by a public facilities district created under chapter 35.57 RCW shall be credited
against the tax imposed by a public facilities district created
under chapter 36.100 RCW.
(6) A public facilities district created under chapter
36.100 RCW is not eligible to impose the tax under this section if the legislative authority of the county where the public
facilities district is located has imposed a sales and use tax
under RCW 82.14.0485 or 82.14.0494. [2006 c 298 § 1;
2002 c 363 § 4; 1999 c 165 § 13.]
Severability—1999 c 164: See RCW 35.57.900.
82.14.400
82.14.400 Sales and use tax for zoo, aquarium, and
wildlife facilities—Authorizing proposition—Distributions. (1) Upon the joint request of a metropolitan park dis[Title 82 RCW—page 146]
trict, a city with a population of more than one hundred fifty
thousand, and a county legislative authority in a county with
a national park and a population of more than five hundred
thousand and less than one million five hundred thousand, the
county shall submit an authorizing proposition to the county
voters, fixing and imposing a sales and use tax in accordance
with this chapter for the purposes designated in subsection
(4) of this section and identified in the joint request. Such
proposition must be placed on a ballot for a special or general
election to be held no later than one year after the date of the
joint request.
(2) The proposition is approved if it receives the votes of
a majority of those voting on the proposition.
(3) The tax authorized in this section is in addition to any
other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from
those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable
event within the county. The rate of tax shall equal no more
than one-tenth of one percent of the selling price in the case
of a sales tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use
tax.
(4) Moneys received from any tax imposed under this
section shall be used solely for the purpose of providing
funds for:
(a) Costs associated with financing, design, acquisition,
construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling,
repairing, reequipping, or improvement of zoo, aquarium,
and wildlife preservation and display facilities that are currently accredited by the American zoo and aquarium association; or
(b) Those costs associated with (a) of this subsection and
costs related to parks located within a county described in
subsection (1) of this section.
(5) The department of revenue shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the county at no cost to the
county. In lieu of the charge for the administration and collection of local sales and use taxes under RCW 82.14.050
from which the county is exempt under this subsection (5), a
percentage of the tax revenues authorized by this section
equal to one-half of the maximum percentage provided in
RCW 82.14.050 shall be transferred annually to the department of community, trade, and economic development, or its
successor agency, from the funds allocated under subsection
(6)(b) of this section for a period of twelve years from the
first date of distribution of funds under subsection (6)(b) of
this section. The department of community, trade, and economic development, or its successor agency, shall use funds
transferred to it pursuant to this subsection (5) to provide,
operate, and maintain community-based housing under chapter 43.185 RCW for persons who are mentally ill.
(6) If the joint request and the authorizing proposition
include provisions for funding those costs included within
subsection (4)(b) of this section, the tax revenues authorized
by this section shall be allocated annually as follows:
(a) Fifty percent to the zoo and aquarium advisory
authority; and
(b) Fifty percent to be distributed on a per capita basis as
set out in the most recent population figures for unincorporated and incorporated areas only within that county, as determined by the office of financial management, solely for
parks, as follows: To any metropolitan park district, to cities
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
and towns not contained within a metropolitan park district,
and the remainder to the county. Moneys received under this
subsection (6)(b) by a county may not be used to replace or
supplant existing per capita funding.
(7) Funds shall be distributed annually by the county
treasurer to the county, and cities and towns located within
the county, in the manner set out in subsection (6)(b) of this
section.
(8) Prior to expenditure of any funds received by the
county under subsection (6)(b) of this section, the county
shall establish a process which considers needs throughout
the unincorporated areas of the county in consultation with
community advisory councils established by ordinance.
(9) By December 31, 2005, and thereafter, the county or
any city with a population greater than eighty thousand must
provide at least one dollar match for every two dollars
received under this section.
(10) Properties subject to a memorandum of agreement
between the federal bureau of land management, the advisory
council on historic preservation, and the Washington state
historic preservation officer have priority for funding from
money received under subsection (6)(b) of this section for
implementation of the stipulations in the memorandum of
agreement.
(a) At least one hundred thousand dollars of the first four
years of allocations under subsection (6)(b) of this section, to
be matched by the county or city with one dollar for every
two dollars received, shall be used to implement the stipulations of the memorandum of agreement and for other historical, archaeological, architectural, and cultural preservation
and improvements related to the properties.
(b) The amount in (a) of this subsection shall come
equally from the allocations to the county and to the city in
which the properties are located, unless otherwise agreed to
by the county and the city.
(c) The amount in (a) of this subsection shall not be construed to displace or be offered in lieu of any lease payment
from a county or city to the state for the properties in question. [2000 c 240 § 1; 1999 c 104 § 1.]
82.14.410
82.14.410 Sales of lodging tax rate changes. (1) A
local sales and use tax change adopted after December 1,
2000, must provide an exemption for those sales of lodging
for which, but for the exemption, the total sales tax rate
imposed on sales of lodging would exceed the greater of:
(a) Twelve percent; or
(b) The total sales tax rate that would have applied to the
sale of lodging if the sale were made on December 1, 2000.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Local sales and use tax change" is defined as provided in RCW 82.14.055.
(b) "Sale of lodging" means the sale of or charge made
for the furnishing of lodging and all other services by a hotel,
rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the
granting of any similar license to use real property.
(c) "Total sales tax rate" means the combined rates of all
state and local taxes imposed under this chapter and chapters
36.100, 67.28, 67.40, and 82.08 RCW, and any other tax
authorized after March 29, 2001, if the tax is in the nature of
a sales tax collected from the buyer, but excluding taxes
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.415
imposed under RCW 81.104.170 before December 1, 2000.
[2001 c 6 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 6: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 29, 2001]." [2001 c 6 § 2.]
82.14.415
82.14.415 Sales and use tax for cities to offset municipal service costs to newly annexed areas. (1) The legislative authority of any city with a population less than four hundred thousand and which is located in a county with a population greater than six hundred thousand that annexes an area
consistent with its comprehensive plan required by chapter
36.70A RCW, may impose a sales and use tax in accordance
with the terms of this chapter. The tax is in addition to other
taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and
82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within
the city. The tax may only be imposed by a city if:
(a) The city has commenced annexation of an area under
chapter 35.13 or 35A.14 RCW having a population of at least
ten thousand people prior to January 1, 2010; and
(b) The city legislative authority determines by resolution or ordinance that the projected cost to provide municipal
services to the annexation area exceeds the projected general
revenue that the city would otherwise receive from the annexation area on an annual basis.
(2) The tax authorized under this section is a credit
against the state tax under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The
department of revenue shall perform the collection of such
taxes on behalf of the city at no cost to the city and shall remit
the tax to the city as provided in RCW 82.14.060.
(3) The maximum rate of tax any city may impose under
this section shall be 0.2 percent for the total number of
annexed areas the city may annex. The rate of the tax
imposed under this section is 0.1 percent for each annexed
area population that is greater than ten thousand and less than
twenty thousand. The rate of the tax imposed under this section shall be 0.2 percent for an annexed area which the population is greater than twenty thousand.
(4) The tax imposed by this section shall only be
imposed at the beginning of a fiscal year and shall continue
for no more than ten years from the date the tax is first
imposed. Tax rate increases due to additional annexed areas
shall be effective on July 1st of the fiscal year following the
fiscal year in which the annexation occurred, provided that
notice is given to the department as set forth in subsection (8)
of this section.
(5) All revenue collected under this section shall be used
solely to provide, maintain, and operate municipal services
for the annexation area.
(6) The revenues from the tax authorized in this section
may not exceed that which the city deems necessary to generate revenue equal to the difference between the city’s cost to
provide, maintain, and operate municipal services for the
annexation area and the general revenues that the cities would
otherwise expect to receive from the annexation during a
year. If the revenues from the tax authorized in this section
and the revenues from the annexation area exceed the costs to
the city to provide, maintain, and operate municipal services
for the annexation area during a given year, the city shall
[Title 82 RCW—page 147]
82.14.420
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
notify the department and the tax distributions authorized in
this section shall be suspended for the remainder of the year.
(7) No tax may be imposed under this section before July
1, 2007. Before imposing a tax under this section, the legislative authority of a city shall adopt an ordinance that
includes the following:
(a) The rate of tax under this section that shall be
imposed within the city; and
(b) The threshold amount for the first fiscal year following the annexation and passage of the ordinance.
(8) The tax shall cease to be distributed to the city for the
remainder of the fiscal year once the threshold amount has
been reached. No later than March 1st of each year, the city
shall provide the department with a new threshold amount for
the next fiscal year, and notice of any applicable tax rate
changes. Distributions of tax under this section shall begin
again on July 1st of the next fiscal year and continue until the
new threshold amount has been reached or June 30th, whichever is sooner. Any revenue generated by the tax in excess of
the threshold amount shall belong to the state of Washington.
Any amount resulting from the threshold amount less the
total fiscal year distributions, as of June 30th, shall not be carried forward to the next fiscal year.
(9) The following definitions apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Annexation area" means an area that has been
annexed to a city under chapter 35.13 or 35A.14 RCW.
"Annexation area" includes all territory described in the city
resolution.
(b) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(c) "Municipal services" means those services customarily provided to the public by city government.
(d) "Fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1st and
ending the following June 30th.
(e) "Threshold amount" means the maximum amount of
tax distributions as determined by the city in accordance with
subsection (6) of this section that the department shall distribute to the city generated from the tax imposed under this section in a fiscal year. [2006 c 361 § 1.]
Severability—2006 c 361: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2006 c 361 § 2.]
82.14.420
82.14.420 Sales and use tax for emergency communication systems and facilities. (1) A county legislative
authority may submit an authorizing proposition to the
county voters, and if the proposition is approved by a majority of persons voting, fix and impose a sales and use tax in
accordance with the terms of this chapter for the purposes
designated in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition
to any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected
from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the county. The rate of tax shall equal onetenth of one percent of the selling price in the case of sales
tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use tax.
(3) Moneys received from any tax imposed under this
section shall be used solely for the purpose of providing
funds for costs associated with financing, design, acquisition,
[Title 82 RCW—page 148]
construction, equipping, operating, maintaining, remodeling,
repairing, reequipping, and improvement of emergency communication systems and facilities.
(4) Counties are authorized to develop joint ventures to
collocate emergency communication systems and facilities.
(5) Prior to submitting the tax authorization in subsection
(2) of this section to the voters in a county that provides emergency communication services to a governmental agency
pursuant to a contract, the parties to the contract shall review
and negotiate or affirm the terms of the contract.
(6) Prior to submitting the tax authorized in subsection
(2) of this section to the voters, a county with a population of
more than five hundred thousand in which any city over fifty
thousand operates emergency communication systems and
facilities shall enter into an interlocal agreement with the city
to determine distribution of the revenue provided in this section. [2002 c 176 § 1.]
82.14.430 Sales and use tax for regional transportation investment district. (1) If approved by the majority of
the voters within its boundaries voting on the ballot proposition, a regional transportation investment district may impose
a sales and use tax of up to 0.1 percent of the selling price or
value of the article used in the case of a use tax. The tax
authorized by this section is in addition to the tax authorized
by RCW 82.14.030 and must be collected from those persons
who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12
RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the
taxing district. Motor vehicles are exempt from the sales and
use tax imposed under this subsection.
(2) If approved by the majority of the voters within its
boundaries voting on the ballot proposition, a regional transportation investment district may impose a tax on the use of a
motor vehicle within a regional transportation investment
district. The tax applies to those persons who reside within
the regional transportation investment district. The rate of
the tax may not exceed 0.1 percent of the value of the motor
vehicle. The tax authorized by this subsection is in addition
to the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030 and must be
imposed and collected at the time a taxable event under RCW
82.08.020(1) or 82.12.020 takes place. All revenue received
under this subsection must be deposited in the local sales and
use tax account and distributed to the regional transportation
investment district according to RCW 82.14.050. The following provisions apply to the use tax in this subsection:
(a) Where persons are taxable under chapter 82.08 RCW,
the seller shall collect the use tax from the buyer using the
collection provisions of RCW 82.08.050.
(b) Where persons are taxable under chapter 82.12
RCW, the use tax must be collected using the provisions of
RCW 82.12.045.
(c) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning provided in RCW
46.04.320, but does not include farm tractors or farm vehicles
as defined in RCW 46.04.180 and 46.04.181, off-road and
nonhighway vehicles as defined in RCW 46.09.020, and
snowmobiles as defined in RCW 46.10.010.
(d) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(e) The value of a motor vehicle must be determined
under RCW 82.12.010.
(f) Except as specifically stated in this subsection (2),
chapters 82.12 and 82.32 RCW apply to the use tax. The use
82.14.430
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
tax is a local tax imposed under the authority of chapter 82.14
RCW, and chapter 82.14 RCW applies fully to the use tax.
(3) In addition to fulfilling the notice requirements under
RCW 82.14.055(1), and unless waived by the department, a
regional transportation investment district shall provide the
department of revenue with digital mapping and legal
descriptions of areas in which the tax will be collected. [2006
c 311 § 17; 2002 c 56 § 405.]
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.14.440
82.14.440 Sales and use tax for passenger-only ferry
service. Public transportation benefit areas providing passenger-only ferry service as provided in RCW 36.57A.200
whose boundaries (1) are on the Puget Sound, but (2) do not
include an area where a regional transit authority has been
formed, may submit an authorizing proposition to the voters
and, if approved by a majority of persons voting, fix and
impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of
this chapter, solely for the purpose of providing passengeronly ferry service.
The tax authorized by this section is in addition to other
taxes authorized by law and must be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and
82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of a taxable event within the
taxing district. The maximum rate of the tax must be
approved by the voters and may not exceed four-tenths of one
percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax or value
of the article used in the case of a use tax. [2003 c 83 § 207.]
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
82.14.450 Sales and use tax for counties and cities.
(1) A county legislative authority may submit an authorizing
proposition to the county voters at a primary or general election and, if the proposition is approved by a majority of persons voting, impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the
terms of this chapter. The title of each ballot measure must
clearly state the purposes for which the proposed sales and
use tax will be used. Funds raised under this tax shall not
supplant existing funds used for these purposes. The rate of
tax under this section shall not exceed three-tenths of one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or value of
the article used, in the case of a use tax.
(2) The tax authorized in this section is in addition to any
other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected from
those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable
event within the county.
(3) The retail sale or use of motor vehicles, and the lease
of motor vehicles for up to the first thirty-six months of the
lease, are exempt from tax imposed under this section.
(4) One-third of all money received under this section
shall be used solely for criminal justice purposes. For the
purposes of this subsection, "criminal justice purposes"
means additional police protection, mitigation of congested
court systems, or relief of overcrowded jails or other local
correctional facilities.
(5) Money received under this section shall be shared
between the county and the cities as follows: Sixty percent
82.14.450
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.465
shall be retained by the county and forty percent shall be distributed on a per capita basis to cities in the county. [2003 1st
sp.s. c 24 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2003 1st sp.s. c 24: "The legislature finds that local
governments in the state of Washington face enormous challenges in the area
of criminal justice and public health. It is the legislature’s intent to allow
general local governments to raise revenues in order to better protect the
health and safety of Washington state and its residents. It is further the intent
of the legislature to provide such local governments relief from regulatory
burdens that do not harm the public health and safety of the citizens of the
state as a means of minimizing the need to generate new revenues authorized
under this act." [2003 1st sp.s. c 24 § 1.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 24: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July
1, 2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 24 § 6.]
Severability—2003 1st sp.s. c 24: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [2003 1st sp.s. c 24 § 7.]
82.14.460 Sales and use tax for chemical dependency
or mental health treatment services or therapeutic courts.
(1) A county legislative authority may authorize, fix, and
impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the terms of
this chapter.
(2) The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition
to any other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected
from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the county. The rate of tax shall equal onetenth of one percent of the selling price in the case of a sales
tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use tax.
(3) Moneys collected under this section shall be used
solely for the purpose of providing new or expanded chemical dependency or mental health treatment services and for
the operation of new or expanded therapeutic court programs.
Moneys collected under this section shall not be used to supplant existing funding for these purposes. [2005 c 504 §
804.]
82.14.460
Findings—Intent—Severability—Application—Construction—
Captions, part headings, subheadings not law—Adoption of rules—
Effective dates—2005 c 504: See notes following RCW 71.05.027.
Alphabetization—Correction of references—2005 c 504: See note
following RCW 71.05.020.
82.14.465 Hospital benefit zones—Sales and use tax.
(1) A city, town, or county that creates a benefit zone and
finances public improvements pursuant to chapter 39.100
RCW may impose a sales and use tax in accordance with the
terms of this chapter and subject to the criteria set forth in this
section. Except as provided in this section, the tax is in addition to other taxes authorized by law and shall be collected
from those persons who are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the taxing jurisdiction of the city, town, or
county. The rate of tax shall not exceed the rate provided in
RCW 82.08.020(1) in the case of a sales tax or the rate provided in RCW 82.12.020(5) in the case of a use tax, less the
aggregate rates of any other taxes imposed on the same
events that are credited against the state taxes imposed under
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.
(2) The tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section
shall be deducted from the amount of tax otherwise required
82.14.465
[Title 82 RCW—page 149]
82.14.470
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
to be collected or paid over to the department under chapter
82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department shall perform the collection of such taxes on behalf of the city, town, or county at
no cost to the city, town, or county.
(3) No tax may be imposed under this section before July
1, 2007. Before imposing a tax under this section, the city,
town, or county shall first have received tax allocation revenues derived from excess excise taxes during the preceding
calendar year. The tax imposed under this section shall
expire when the bonds issued under the authority of chapter
39.100 RCW are retired, but not more than thirty years after
the tax is first imposed.
(4) An ordinance adopted by the legislative authority of
a city, town, or county imposing a tax under this section shall
provide that:
(a) The tax shall first be imposed on the first day of a fiscal year;
(b) The amount of tax received by the local government
in any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount of the state contribution;
(c) The tax shall cease to be imposed for the remainder of
any fiscal year in which either:
(i) The amount of tax receipts totals the amount of the
state contribution;
(ii) The amount of tax receipts totals the amount of "local
public sources," as that term is used in RCW 82.14.470, dedicated in the previous calendar year to finance public
improvements authorized under chapter 39.100 RCW; or
(iii) The amount of revenue from taxes imposed under
this section by all cities, towns, and counties totals the annual
state credit limit as provided in RCW 82.32.700(3);
(d) The tax shall be reimposed, should it cease to be
imposed for any of the reasons provided in (c) of this subsection, at the beginning of the next fiscal year, subject to the
restrictions in this section; and
(e) Any revenue generated by the tax in excess of the
amounts specified in (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection shall
belong to the state of Washington.
(5) If both a county and a city or town impose a tax under
this section, the tax imposed by the city, town, or county shall
be credited as follows:
(a) If the county has created a benefit zone before the city
or town, the tax imposed by the county shall be credited
against the tax imposed by the city or town, the purpose of
such credit is to give priority to the county tax; and
(b) If the city or town has created a benefit zone before
the county, the tax imposed by the city or town shall be credited against the tax imposed by the county, the purpose of
such credit is to give priority to the city or town tax.
(6) The department shall determine the amount of tax
receipts attributable to each city, town, and county imposing
a sales and use tax under this section and shall advise a city,
town, or county when it must cease imposing the tax for the
remainder of the fiscal year as provided in subsection (4)(c)
of this section. Determinations by the department of the
amount of taxes attributable to a city, town, or county are
final and shall not be used to challenge the validity of any tax
imposed under this section. The department shall remit any
tax receipts in excess of the amounts specified in subsection
(4)(a), (b), and (c) of this section to the state treasurer who
shall deposit the moneys in the general fund.
[Title 82 RCW—page 150]
(7) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Base year" means the calendar year immediately following the creation of a benefit zone.
(b) "Benefit zone" has the same meaning as provided in
RCW 39.100.010.
(c) "Excess excise taxes" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 39.100.050.
(d) "Excess state excise taxes" means the amount of
excise taxes received by the state during the measurement
year from taxable activity within the benefit zone over and
above the amount of excise taxes received by the state during
the base year from taxable activity within the benefit zone.
However, if a local government creates the benefit zone and
reasonably determines that no activity subject to tax under
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW occurred in the twelve
months immediately preceding the creation of the benefit
zone within the boundaries of the area that became the benefit
zone, "excess state excise taxes" means the entire amount of
excise taxes received by the state during a calendar year
period beginning with the calendar year immediately following the creation of the benefit zone and continuing with each
measurement year thereafter.
(e) "Excise taxes" means the state retail sales and use
taxes imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW.
(f) "Fiscal year" has the same meaning as provided in
RCW 39.100.030.
(g) "Measurement year" means a calendar year, beginning with the calendar year following the base year and each
calendar year thereafter, that is used annually to measure the
amount of excess excise taxes required to be used to finance
public improvement costs associated with public improvements financed in whole or in part by hospital benefit zone
financing.
(h) "State contribution" means the lesser of two million
dollars or an amount equal to excess state excise taxes
received by the state during the preceding calendar year.
(i) "Tax allocation revenues" has the same meaning as
provided in RCW 39.100.010. [2006 c 111 § 7.]
Effective date—2006 c 111: See RCW 39.100.900.
82.14.470
82.14.470 Hospital benefit zones—Local public
sources dedicated to finance public improvements—
Reporting requirements—Definitions. (1) Moneys collected from the taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.465 shall be
used only for the purpose of principal and interest payments
on bonds issued under the authority of RCW 39.100.060 and
must be matched with an amount from local public sources
dedicated through December 31st of the previous calendar
year to finance public improvements authorized under chapter 39.100 RCW. Such local public sources include but are
not limited to private monetary contributions and tax allocation revenues. Local public sources are dedicated to finance
public improvements if they are actually expended to pay
public improvement costs or are required by law or an agreement to be used exclusively to pay public improvement costs.
(2) A local government shall inform the department by
the first day of March of the amount of local public sources
dedicated in the preceding calendar year to finance public
improvements authorized under chapter 39.100 RCW.
(2006 Ed.)
Local Retail Sales and Use Taxes
(3) If a local government fails to comply with subsection
(2) of this section, no tax may be imposed under RCW
82.14.465 in the subsequent fiscal year.
(4) A local government shall provide a report to the
department by March 1st of each year. The report shall contain the following information:
(a) The amount of tax allocation revenues, taxes under
RCW 82.14.465, and local public sources received by the
local government during the preceding calendar year, and a
summary of how these revenues were expended;
(b) The names of any businesses locating within the benefit zone as a result of the public improvements undertaken
by the local government and financed in whole or in part with
hospital benefit zone financing;
(c) The total number of permanent jobs created as a
result of the public improvements undertaken by the local
government and financed in whole or in part with hospital
benefit zone financing; and
(d) The average wages and benefits received by all
employees of businesses locating within the benefit zone as a
result of the public improvements undertaken by the local
government and financed in whole or in part with hospital
benefit zone financing.
(5) The department shall make a report available to the
public and the legislature by June 1st of each year. The report
shall include a list of public improvements undertaken by
local governments and financed in whole or in part with hospital benefit zone financing, and it shall also include a summary of the information provided to the department by local
governments under subsection (4) of this section.
(6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Public improvement costs" has the same meaning as
in RCW 39.100.010.
(b) "Tax allocation revenues" has the same meaning as
provided in RCW 39.100.010. [2006 c 111 § 8.]
Effective date—2006 c 111: See RCW 39.100.900.
82.14.475
82.14.475 Sales and use tax for the local infrastructure financing tool program. (Expires June 30, 2039.) (1)
A sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local
government, that has been approved by the board to use local
infrastructure financing may impose a sales and use tax in
accordance with the terms of this chapter and subject to the
criteria set forth in this section. Except as provided in this
section, the tax is in addition to other taxes authorized by law
and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by
the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the
occurrence of any taxable event within the taxing jurisdiction
of the sponsoring local government or cosponsoring local
government. The rate of tax shall not exceed the rate provided in RCW 82.08.020(1), less the aggregate rates of any
other local sales and use taxes imposed on the same taxable
events that are credited against the state sales and use taxes
imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of
tax may be changed only on the first day of a fiscal year as
needed. Notice of rate changes must be provided to the
department on the first day of March to be effective on July
1st of the next fiscal year.
(2006 Ed.)
82.14.475
(2) The tax authorized under subsection (1) of this section shall be credited against the state taxes imposed under
chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW. The department shall perform
the collection of such taxes on behalf of the sponsoring local
government or cosponsoring local government at no cost to
the sponsoring local government or cosponsoring local government and shall remit the taxes as provided in RCW
82.14.060.
(3)(a) No tax may be imposed under this section:
(i) Before July 1, 2008;
(ii) Before approval by the board under RCW
39.102.040; and
(iii) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, unless
the sponsoring local government has received and dedicated
to the payment of bonds authorized in RCW 39.102.150, in
whole or in part, both local excise tax allocation revenues and
local property tax allocation revenues during the preceding
calendar year.
(b) The requirement to receive local property tax allocation revenues under (a) of this subsection is waived if the revenue development area coincides with or is contained entirely
within the boundaries of an increment area adopted by a local
government under the authority of chapter 39.89 RCW for
the purposes of utilizing community revitalization financing.
(c) The tax imposed under this section shall expire when
the bonds issued under the authority of RCW 39.102.150 are
retired, but not more than twenty-five years after the tax is
first imposed.
(4) An ordinance adopted by the legislative authority of
a sponsoring local government or cosponsoring local government imposing a tax under this section shall provide that:
(a) The tax shall first be imposed on the first day of a fiscal year;
(b) The cumulative amount of tax received by the sponsoring local government, and any cosponsoring local government, in any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount of the
state contribution;
(c) The tax shall cease to be distributed for the remainder
of any fiscal year in which either:
(i) The amount of tax received by the sponsoring local
government, and any cosponsoring local government, equals
the amount of the state contribution;
(ii) The amount of revenue from taxes imposed under
this section by all sponsoring and cosponsoring local governments equals the annual state contribution limit; or
(iii) The amount of tax received by the sponsoring local
government equals the amount of project award granted in
the approval notice described in RCW 39.102.040;
(d) Except when the requirement to receive local property tax allocation revenues is waived as provided in subsection (3)(b) of this section, neither the local excise tax allocation revenues nor the local property tax allocation revenues
can be more than eighty percent of the total local funds as
described in RCW 39.102.020(29)(c);
(e) The tax shall be distributed again, should it cease to
be distributed for any of the reasons provided in (c) of this
subsection, at the beginning of the next fiscal year, subject to
the restrictions in this section; and
(f) Any revenue generated by the tax in excess of the
amounts specified in (c) of this subsection shall belong to the
state of Washington.
[Title 82 RCW—page 151]
82.14.820
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(5) If a county and city cosponsor a revenue development area, the combined rates of the city and county tax shall
not exceed the rate provided in RCW 82.08.020(1), less the
aggregate rates of any other local sales and use taxes imposed
on the same taxable events that are credited against the state
sales and use taxes imposed under chapters 82.08 and 82.12
RCW. The combined amount of distributions received by
both the city and county may not exceed the state contribution.
(6) The department shall determine the amount of tax
receipts distributed to each sponsoring local government, and
any cosponsoring local government, imposing sales and use
tax under this section and shall advise a sponsoring or
cosponsoring local government when tax distributions for the
fiscal year equal the amount of state contribution for that fiscal year as provided in subsection (8) of this section. Determinations by the department of the amount of tax distributions attributable to each sponsoring or cosponsoring local
government are final and shall not be used to challenge the
validity of any tax imposed under this section. The department shall remit any tax receipts in excess of the amounts
specified in subsection (4)(c) of this section to the state treasurer who shall deposit the money in the general fund.
(7) If a sponsoring or cosponsoring local government
fails to comply with RCW 39.102.140, no tax may be distributed in the subsequent fiscal year until such time as the sponsoring or cosponsoring local government complies and the
department calculates the state contribution amount for such
fiscal year.
(8) Each year, the amount of taxes approved by the
department for distribution to a sponsoring or cosponsoring
local government in the next fiscal year shall be equal to the
state contribution and shall be no more than the total local
funds as described in RCW 39.102.020(29)(c). The department shall consider information from reports described in
RCW 39.102.140 when determining the amount of state contributions for each fiscal year. A sponsoring or cosponsoring
local government shall not receive, in any fiscal year, more
revenues from taxes imposed under the authority of this section than the amount approved annually by the department.
The department shall not approve the receipt of more distributions of sales and use tax under this section to a sponsoring
or cosponsoring local government than is authorized under
subsection (4) of this section.
(9) The amount of tax distributions received from taxes
imposed under the authority of this section by all sponsoring
and cosponsoring local governments is limited annually to
not more than five million dollars. The tax distributions shall
be available to the sponsoring local government, and any
cosponsoring local government, imposing a tax under this
section only as long as the sponsoring local government has
outstanding indebtedness under RCW 39.102.150.
(10) The definitions in RCW 39.102.020 apply to this
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(11) If a sponsoring local government is a federally recognized Indian tribe, the distribution of the sales and use tax
authorized under this section shall be authorized through an
interlocal agreement pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW. [2006
c 181 § 401.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 152]
Captions and part headings not law—Severability—Construction—Effective date—Expiration date—2006 c 181: See RCW
39.102.900 through 39.102.904.
82.14.820
82.14.820 Warehouse and grain elevators and distribution centers—Exemption does not apply. The exemptions in RCW 82.08.820 and 82.12.820 are for the state portion of the sales and use tax and do not extend to the tax
imposed in this chapter. [1997 c 450 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—Report—Effective date—1997 c 450: See notes
following RCW 82.08.820.
82.14.900
82.14.900 Severability—1970 ex.s. c 94. No determination that one or more provisions of this 1970 amendatory
act, or any part thereof, are invalid shall affect the validity of
the remaining provisions. [1970 ex.s. c 94 § 9.]
Chapter 82.14A RCW
CITIES AND TOWNS—LICENSE FEES AND TAXES
ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Chapter 82.14A
Sections
82.14A.010 License fees or taxes on financial institutions—Restrictions—
Application of chapter 82.04 RCW—Rates.
82.14A.020 Division of gross income of business between cities, towns
and unincorporated areas.
82.14A.030 Effective date of resolutions or ordinances.
82.14A.900 Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 134.
82.14A.010
82.14A.010 License fees or taxes on financial institutions—Restrictions—Application of chapter 82.04
RCW—Rates. The governing body of any city or town
which imposes a license fee or tax, by ordinance or resolution, may pursuant to RCW 82.14A.010 through 82.14A.030
only, fix and impose a license fee or tax on national banks,
state banks, trust companies, mutual savings banks, building
and loan associations, savings and loan associations, and
other financial institutions for the act or privilege of engaging
in business: PROVIDED, That the definitions, deductions
and exemptions set forth in chapter 82.04 RCW, insofar as
they shall be applicable shall be applied to a license fee or tax
imposed by any city or town, if such fee or tax is measured by
the gross income of the business: PROVIDED, FURTHER,
That the rate of such license fee or tax shall not exceed the
rate imposed upon other service type business activity: AND
PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in RCW 82.14A.010
through 82.14A.030 shall extend the regulatory power of any
city or town. [1972 ex.s. c 134 § 2.]
82.14A.020
82.14A.020 Division of gross income of business
between cities, towns and unincorporated areas. For purposes of RCW 82.14A.010, the state department of revenue is
hereby authorized and directed to promulgate, pursuant to the
provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, rules establishing uniform
methods of division of gross income of the business of a single taxpayer between those cities, towns and unincorporated
areas in which such taxpayer has a place of business. [1972
ex.s. c 134 § 3.]
82.14A.030
82.14A.030 Effective date of resolutions or ordinances. No resolution or ordinance or any amendment
thereto adopted pursuant to RCW 82.14A.010 shall be effec(2006 Ed.)
Counties—Tax on Telephone Access Line Use
tive, except on the first day of a calendar month. [1972 ex.s.
c 134 § 5.]
82.14A.900
82.14A.900 Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 134. Sections
2 through 5 of this 1972 amendatory act shall take effect July
1, 1972. [1972 ex.s. c 134 § 8.]
Chapter 82.14B
Chapter 82.14B RCW
COUNTIES—TAX ON TELEPHONE
ACCESS LINE USE
Sections
82.14B.010 Findings.
82.14B.020 Definitions.
82.14B.030 County enhanced 911 excise tax on use of switched access
lines and radio access lines authorized—Amount—State
enhanced 911 excise tax—Amount.
82.14B.040 Collection of tax.
82.14B.042 Payment and collection of taxes—Penalties for violations.
82.14B.050 Use of proceeds.
82.14B.060 Administration and collection by county—Ordinance.
82.14B.061 Administration by department—Extending reporting periods.
82.14B.070 Emergency service communication districts—Authorized—
Consolidation—Dissolution.
82.14B.090 Emergency service communication districts—Emergency service communication system—Financing—Excise tax.
82.14B.100 Emergency service communication districts—Application of
RCW 82.14B.040 through 82.14B.060.
82.14B.150 Filing of tax returns—Credit or refund for bad debts.
82.14B.160 Exemption—Activities immune from taxation under constitutions.
82.14B.200 Burden of proof that sale is not to subscriber—Effect of resale
certificate—Liability if no retail certificate—Penalties—
Exceptions.
82.14B.210 Personal liability upon termination, dissolution, or abandonment of business—Exemptions—Notice—Applicability—
Collections.
82.14B.900 Severability—1981 c 160.
82.14B.010
82.14B.010 Findings. The legislature finds that the
state and counties should be provided with an additional revenue source to fund enhanced 911 emergency communication systems throughout the state on a multicounty, countywide, or district-wide basis. The legislature further finds that
the most efficient and appropriate method of deriving additional revenue for this purpose is to impose an excise tax on
the use of switched access lines. [1991 c 54 § 9; 1981 c 160
§ 1.]
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.020
82.14B.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Emergency services communication system" means
a multicounty, countywide, or districtwide radio or landline
communications network, including an enhanced 911 telephone system, which provides rapid public access for coordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and
facilities for police, fire, medical, or other emergency services.
(2) "Enhanced 911 telephone system" means a public
telephone system consisting of a network, data base, and onpremises equipment that is accessed by dialing 911 and that
enables reporting police, fire, medical, or other emergency
situations to a public safety answering point. The system
includes the capability to selectively route incoming 911 calls
to the appropriate public safety answering point that operates
in a defined 911 service area and the capability to automati(2006 Ed.)
82.14B.020
cally display the name, address, and telephone number of
incoming 911 calls at the appropriate public safety answering
point.
(3) "Switched access line" means the telephone service
line which connects a subscriber’s main telephone(s) or
equivalent main telephone(s) to the local exchange company’s switching office.
(4) "Local exchange company" has the meaning ascribed
to it in RCW 80.04.010.
(5) "Radio access line" means the telephone number
assigned to or used by a subscriber for two-way local wireless
voice service available to the public for hire from a radio
communications service company. Radio access lines
include, but are not limited to, radio-telephone communications lines used in cellular telephone service, personal communications services, and network radio access lines, or their
functional and competitive equivalent. Radio access lines do
not include lines that provide access to one-way signaling
service, such as paging service, or to communications channels suitable only for data transmission, or to nonlocal radio
access line service, such as wireless roaming service, or to a
private telecommunications system.
(6) "Radio communications service company" has the
meaning ascribed to it in RCW 80.04.010, except that it does
not include radio paging providers. It does include those persons or entities that provide commercial mobile radio services, as defined by 47 U.S.C. Sec. 332(d)(1), and both facilities-based and nonfacilities-based resellers.
(7) "Private telecommunications system" has the meaning ascribed to it in RCW 80.04.010.
(8) "Subscriber" means the retail purchaser of telephone
service as telephone service is defined in RCW 82.04.065(3).
(9) "Place of primary use" has the meaning ascribed to it
in the federal mobile telecommunications sourcing act, P.L.
106-252. [2002 c 341 § 7; 1998 c 304 § 2; 1994 c 96 § 2;
1991 c 54 § 10; 1981 c 160 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Findings—1998 c 304: "The legislature finds that:
(1) The state enhanced 911 excise tax imposed at the current rate of
twenty cents per switched access line per month generates adequate tax revenues to enhance the 911 telephone system for switched access lines statewide by December 31, 1998, as mandated in RCW 38.52.510;
(2) The tax revenues generated from the state enhanced 911 excise tax
when the tax rate decreases to a maximum of ten cents per switched access
line on January 1, 1999, will not be adequate to fund the long-term operation
and equipment replacement costs for the enhanced 911 telephone systems in
the counties or multicounty regions that receive financial assistance from the
state enhanced 911 office;
(3) Some counties or multicounty regions will need financial assistance
from the state enhanced 911 office to implement and maintain enhanced 911
because the tax revenue generated from the county enhanced 911 excise tax
is not adequate;
(4) Counties with populations of less than seventy-five thousand will
need salary assistance to create multicounty regions and counties with populations of seventy-five thousand or more, if requested by smaller counties,
will need technical assistance and incentives to provide multicounty services; and
(5) Counties should not request state financial assistance for implementation and maintenance of enhanced 911 for switched access lines unless the
county has imposed the maximum enhanced 911 tax authorized in RCW
82.14B.030." [1998 c 304 § 1.]
Effective dates—1998 c 304: "This act takes effect January 1, 1999,
except section 14 of this act which takes effect July 1, 1998." [1998 c 304 §
15.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 153]
82.14B.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Finding—Intent—1994 c 96: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Emergency services communication systems, including enhanced
911 telephone systems, are currently funded with revenues from state and
local excise taxes imposed on the use of switched access lines;
(b) Users of cellular communication systems and other similar wireless
telecommunications systems do not use switched access lines and are not
currently subject to these excise taxes; and
(c) The volume of 911 calls by users of cellular communications systems and other similar wireless telecommunications systems has increased in
recent years.
(2) The intent of this act is to acknowledge the recommendations
regarding 911 emergency communication system funding as detailed in the
report to the legislature dated November 1993, entitled "Taxation of Cellular
Communications in Washington State," to authorize imposition and collection of the twenty-five cent county tax discussed in chapter 6 of that report,
and to require the department of revenue to continue the *study of such funding as detailed in the report." [1994 c 96 § 1.]
*Reviser’s note: See 1992 c 218 and 1994 c 96 § 6.
Effective dates—1994 c 96: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 23, 1994], except section 5 of this act shall take effect January 1,
1995." [1994 c 96 § 8.]
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.030
82.14B.030 County enhanced 911 excise tax on use of
switched access lines and radio access lines authorized—
Amount—State enhanced 911 excise tax—Amount. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) The legislative authority of a
county may impose a county enhanced 911 excise tax on the
use of switched access lines in an amount not exceeding fifty
cents per month for each switched access line. The amount of
tax shall be uniform for each switched access line. Each
county shall provide notice of such tax to all local exchange
companies serving in the county at least sixty days in advance
of the date on which the first payment is due.
(2) The legislative authority of a county may also impose
a county enhanced 911 excise tax on the use of radio access
lines whose place of primary use is located within the county
in an amount not exceeding fifty cents per month for each
radio access line. The amount of tax shall be uniform for each
radio access line. The location of a radio access line is the
customer’s place of primary use as defined in RCW
82.04.065. The county shall provide notice of such tax to all
radio communications service companies serving in the
county at least sixty days in advance of the date on which the
first payment is due. Any county imposing this tax shall
include in its ordinance a refund mechanism whereby the
amount of any tax ordered to be refunded by the judgment of
a court of record, or as a result of the resolution of any appeal
therefrom, shall be refunded to the radio communications service company or local exchange company that collected the
tax, and those companies shall reimburse the subscribers who
paid the tax. The ordinance shall further provide that to the
extent the subscribers who paid the tax cannot be identified or
located, the tax paid by those subscribers shall be returned to
the county.
(3) A state enhanced 911 excise tax is imposed on all
switched access lines in the state. The amount of tax shall not
exceed twenty cents per month for each switched access line.
The tax shall be uniform for each switched access line. The
tax imposed under this subsection shall be remitted to the
department of revenue by local exchange companies on a tax
return provided by the department. Tax proceeds shall be
[Title 82 RCW—page 154]
deposited by the treasurer in the enhanced 911 account created in RCW 38.52.540.
(4) A state enhanced 911 excise tax is imposed on all
radio access lines whose place of primary use is located
within the state in an amount of twenty cents per month for
each radio access line. The tax shall be uniform for each radio
access line. The tax imposed under this section shall be remitted to the department of revenue by radio communications
service companies, including those companies that resell
radio access lines, on a tax return provided by the department.
Tax proceeds shall be deposited by the treasurer in the
enhanced 911 account created in RCW 38.52.540. The tax
imposed under this section is not subject to the state sales and
use tax or any local tax.
(5) By August 31st of each year the state enhanced 911
coordinator shall recommend the level for the next year of the
state enhanced 911 excise tax imposed by subsection (3) of
this section, based on a systematic cost and revenue analysis,
to the utilities and transportation commission. The commission shall by the following October 31st determine the level
of the state enhanced 911 excise tax for the following year.
[2002 c 341 § 8; 2002 c 67 § 8; 1998 c 304 § 3; 1994 c 96 §
3; 1991 c 54 § 11; 1981 c 160 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2002 c 67 § 8 and by
2002 c 341 § 8, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
Finding—Intent—Effective dates—1994 c 96: See notes following
RCW 82.14B.020.
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.030
82.14B.030 County enhanced 911 excise tax on use of
switched access lines and radio access lines authorized—
Amount—State enhanced 911 excise tax—Amount. (Contingent effective date.) (1) The legislative authority of a
county may impose a county enhanced 911 excise tax on the
use of switched access lines in an amount not exceeding fifty
cents per month for each switched access line. The amount of
tax shall be uniform for each switched access line. Each
county shall provide notice of such tax to all local exchange
companies serving in the county at least sixty days in advance
of the date on which the first payment is due.
(2) The legislative authority of a county may also impose
a county enhanced 911 excise tax on the use of radio access
lines whose place of primary use is located within the county
in an amount not exceeding fifty cents per month for each
radio access line. The amount of tax shall be uniform for each
radio access line. The county shall provide notice of such tax
to all radio communications service companies serving in the
county at least sixty days in advance of the date on which the
first payment is due. Any county imposing this tax shall
include in its ordinance a refund mechanism whereby the
amount of any tax ordered to be refunded by the judgment of
a court of record, or as a result of the resolution of any appeal
therefrom, shall be refunded to the radio communications ser(2006 Ed.)
Counties—Tax on Telephone Access Line Use
vice company or local exchange company that collected the
tax, and those companies shall reimburse the subscribers who
paid the tax. The ordinance shall further provide that to the
extent the subscribers who paid the tax cannot be identified or
located, the tax paid by those subscribers shall be returned to
the county.
(3) A state enhanced 911 excise tax is imposed on all
switched access lines in the state. The amount of tax shall not
exceed twenty cents per month for each switched access line.
The tax shall be uniform for each switched access line. The
tax imposed under this subsection shall be remitted to the
department of revenue by local exchange companies on a tax
return provided by the department. Tax proceeds shall be
deposited by the treasurer in the enhanced 911 account created in RCW 38.52.540.
(4) A state enhanced 911 excise tax is imposed on all
radio access lines whose place of primary use is located
within the state in an amount of twenty cents per month for
each radio access line. The tax shall be uniform for each radio
access line. The tax imposed under this section shall be remitted to the department of revenue by radio communications
service companies, including those companies that resell
radio access lines, on a tax return provided by the department.
Tax proceeds shall be deposited by the treasurer in the
enhanced 911 account created in RCW 38.52.540. The tax
imposed under this section is not subject to the state sales and
use tax or any local tax.
(5) By August 31st of each year the state enhanced 911
coordinator shall recommend the level for the next year of the
state enhanced 911 excise tax imposed by subsection (3) of
this section, based on a systematic cost and revenue analysis,
to the utilities and transportation commission. The commission shall by the following October 31st determine the level
of the state enhanced 911 excise tax for the following year.
[2002 c 341 § 8; 1998 c 304 § 3; 1994 c 96 § 3; 1991 c 54 §
11; 1981 c 160 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
Finding—Intent—Effective dates—1994 c 96: See notes following
RCW 82.14B.020.
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.040
82.14B.040 Collection of tax. The state enhanced 911
tax and the county enhanced 911 tax on switched access lines
shall be collected from the subscriber by the local exchange
company providing the switched access line. The state
enhanced 911 tax and the county 911 tax on radio access lines
shall be collected from the subscriber by the radio communications service company providing the radio access line to
the subscriber. The amount of the tax shall be stated separately on the billing statement which is sent to the subscriber.
[2002 c 341 § 9; 1998 c 304 § 4; 1994 c 96 § 4; 1991 c 54 §
12; 1981 c 160 § 4.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
(2006 Ed.)
82.14B.042
Finding—Intent—Effective dates—1994 c 96: See notes following
RCW 82.14B.020.
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.042
82.14B.042 Payment and collection of taxes—Penalties for violations. (1) The state enhanced 911 excise taxes
imposed by this chapter must be paid by the subscriber to the
local exchange company providing the switched access line
or the radio communications service company providing the
radio access line, and each local exchange company and each
radio communications service company shall collect from the
subscriber the full amount of the taxes payable. The state
enhanced 911 excise taxes required by this chapter to be collected by the local exchange company or the radio communications service company are deemed to be held in trust by the
local exchange company or the radio communications service
company until paid to the department. Any local exchange
company or radio communications service company that
appropriates or converts the tax collected to its own use or to
any use other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the
money collected is not available for payment on the due date
as prescribed in this chapter is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) If any local exchange company or radio communications service company fails to collect the state enhanced 911
excise tax or, after collecting the tax, fails to pay it to the
department in the manner prescribed by this chapter, whether
such failure is the result of its own act or the result of acts or
conditions beyond its control, the local exchange company or
the radio communications service company is personally liable to the state for the amount of the tax, unless the local
exchange company or the radio communications service
company has taken from the buyer in good faith a properly
executed resale certificate under RCW 82.14B.200.
(3) The amount of tax, until paid by the subscriber to the
local exchange company, the radio communications service
company, or to the department, constitutes a debt from the
subscriber to the local exchange company or the radio communications service company. Any local exchange company
or radio communications service company that fails or
refuses to collect the tax as required with intent to violate the
provisions of this chapter or to gain some advantage or benefit, either direct or indirect, and any subscriber who refuses to
pay any tax due under this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The state enhanced 911 excise taxes required by this chapter
to be collected by the local exchange company or the radio
communications service company must be stated separately
on the billing statement that is sent to the subscriber.
(4) If a subscriber has failed to pay to the local exchange
company or the radio communications service company the
state enhanced 911 excise taxes imposed by this chapter and
the local exchange company or the radio communications
service company has not paid the amount of the tax to the
department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed
directly against the subscriber for collection of the tax, in
which case a penalty of ten percent may be added to the
amount of the tax for failure of the subscriber to pay the tax
to the local exchange company or the radio communications
service company, regardless of when the tax is collected by
the department. Tax under this chapter is due as provided
[Title 82 RCW—page 155]
82.14B.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
under RCW 82.14B.061. [2002 c 341 § 10; 2000 c 106 § 2;
1998 c 304 § 9.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.050
82.14B.050 Use of proceeds. The proceeds of any tax
collected under this chapter shall be used by the county only
for the emergency services communication system. [1981 c
160 § 5.]
82.14B.060
82.14B.060 Administration and collection by
county—Ordinance. A county legislative authority imposing a tax under this chapter shall establish by ordinance all
necessary and appropriate procedures for the administration
and collection of the tax, which ordinance shall provide for
reimbursement to the telephone companies for actual costs of
administration and collection of the tax imposed. The ordinance shall also provide that the due date for remittance of
the tax collected shall be on or before the last day of the
month following the month in which the tax liability accrues.
[1998 c 304 § 5; 1981 c 160 § 6.]
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.061 Administration by department—Extending reporting periods. (1) The department of revenue shall
administer and shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to
enforce and administer the state enhanced 911 excise taxes
imposed by this chapter. Chapter 82.32 RCW, with the
exception of RCW 82.32.045, 82.32.145, and 82.32.380,
applies to the administration, collection, and enforcement of
the state enhanced 911 excise taxes.
(2) The state enhanced 911 excise taxes imposed by this
chapter, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed
by the department, are due at the same time the taxpayer
reports other taxes under RCW 82.32.045. If no other taxes
are reported under RCW 82.32.045, the taxpayer shall remit
tax on an annual basis in accordance with RCW 82.32.045.
(3) The department of revenue may relieve any taxpayer
or class of taxpayers from the obligation of remitting monthly
and may require the return to cover other longer reporting
periods, but in no event may returns be filed for a period
greater than one year.
(4) The state enhanced 911 excise taxes imposed by this
chapter are in addition to any taxes imposed upon the same
persons under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. [2002 c 341 §
11; 2000 c 106 § 3; 1998 c 304 § 6.]
82.14B.061
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.070
82.14B.070 Emergency service communication districts—Authorized—Consolidation—Dissolution. In lieu
of providing a county-wide system of emergency service
communication, the legislative authority of a county may
establish one or more less than county-wide emergency ser[Title 82 RCW—page 156]
vice communication districts within the county for the purpose of providing and funding emergency service communication systems. An emergency service communication district is a quasi-municipal corporation, shall constitute a body
corporate, and shall possess all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes as well as all other powers that may
now or hereafter be specifically conferred by statute, including, but not limited to, the authority to hire employees, staff,
and services, to enter into contracts, and to sue and be sued.
The county legislative authority shall be the governing
body of an emergency service communication district. The
county treasurer shall act as the ex officio treasurer of the
emergency services communication district. The electors of
an emergency service communication district are all registered voters residing within the district.
A county legislative authority proposing to consolidate
existing emergency service communication districts shall
conduct a hearing at the time and place specified in a notice
published at least once, not less than ten days prior to the
hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation within the
emergency service communication districts. All hearings
shall be public and the county legislative authority shall hear
objections from any person affected by the consolidation of
the emergency service communication districts. Following
the hearing, the county legislative authority may consolidate
the emergency service communication districts, if the county
legislative authority finds the action to be in the public interest and adopts a resolution providing for the action. The
county legislative authority shall specify the manner in which
consolidation is to be accomplished.
A county legislative authority proposing to dissolve an
existing emergency service communication district shall conduct a hearing at the time and place specified in a notice published at least once, not less than ten days prior to the hearing,
in a newspaper of general circulation within the emergency
service communication district. All hearings shall be public
and the county legislative authority shall hear objections
from any person affected by the dissolution of the emergency
service communication district. Following the hearing, the
county legislative authority may dissolve the emergency service communication district, if the county legislative authority finds the action to be in the public interest and adopts a
resolution providing for the action. The county legislative
authority shall specify the manner in which dissolution is to
be accomplished and shall supervise the liquidation of any
assets and the satisfaction of any outstanding indebtedness.
[1994 c 54 § 1; 1987 c 17 § 1.]
82.14B.090
82.14B.090 Emergency service communication districts—Emergency service communication system—
Financing—Excise tax. An emergency service communication district is authorized to finance and provide an emergency service communication system and to finance the system by imposing the excise tax authorized in RCW
82.14B.030. [1991 c 54 § 13; 1987 c 17 § 3.]
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.100
82.14B.100 Emergency service communication districts—Application of RCW 82.14B.040 through
82.14B.060. RCW 82.14B.040 through 82.14B.060 apply to
(2006 Ed.)
Counties—Tax on Telephone Access Line Use
any emergency service communication district established
under RCW 82.14B.070 and 82.14B.090. [1991 c 54 § 14;
1987 c 17 § 4.]
Referral to electorate—1991 c 54: See note following RCW
38.52.030.
82.14B.900
penalties authorized by law. [2002 c 341 § 12; 1998 c 304 §
10.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 341: See notes following RCW
38.52.501.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.150
82.14B.150 Filing of tax returns—Credit or refund
for bad debts. (1) A local exchange company or radio communications service company shall file tax returns on a cash
receipts or accrual basis according to which method of
accounting is regularly employed in keeping the books of the
company. A local exchange company or radio communications service company filing returns on a cash receipts basis
is not required to pay tax on debt subject to credit or refund
under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) A local exchange company or radio communications
service company is entitled to a credit or refund for state
enhanced 911 excise taxes previously paid on bad debts, as
that term is used in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 166, as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2003. [2004 c 153 § 309; 1998 c 304
§ 7.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.160
82.14B.160 Exemption—Activities immune from
taxation under constitutions. The taxes imposed by this
chapter do not apply to any activity that the state or county is
prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of this state or
the Constitution or laws of the United States. [1998 c 304 §
8.]
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.200
82.14B.200 Burden of proof that sale is not to subscriber—Effect of resale certificate—Liability if no retail
certificate—Penalties—Exceptions. (1) Unless a local
exchange company or a radio communications service company has taken from the buyer a resale certificate or equivalent document under RCW 82.04.470, the burden of proving
that a sale of the use of a switched access line or radio access
line was not a sale to a subscriber is upon the person who
made the sale.
(2) If a local exchange company or a radio communications service company does not receive a resale certificate at
the time of the sale, have a resale certificate on file at the time
of the sale, or obtain a resale certificate from the buyer within
a reasonable time after the sale, the local exchange company
or the radio communications service company remains liable
for the tax as provided in RCW 82.14B.042, unless the local
exchange company or the radio communications service
company can demonstrate facts and circumstances according
to rules adopted by the department of revenue that show the
sale was properly made without payment of the state
enhanced 911 excise tax.
(3) The penalty imposed by RCW 82.32.291 may not be
assessed on state enhanced 911 excise taxes due but not paid
as a result of the improper use of a resale certificate. This subsection does not prohibit or restrict the application of other
(2006 Ed.)
82.14B.210
82.14B.210 Personal liability upon termination, dissolution, or abandonment of business—Exemptions—
Notice—Applicability—Collections. (1) Upon termination,
dissolution, or abandonment of a corporate or limited liability
company business, any officer, member, manager, or other
person having control or supervision of state enhanced 911
excise tax funds collected and held in trust under RCW
82.14B.042, or who is charged with the responsibility for the
filing of returns or the payment of state enhanced 911 excise
tax funds collected and held in trust under RCW 82.14B.042,
is personally liable for any unpaid taxes and interest and penalties on those taxes, if such officer or other person willfully
fails to pay or to cause to be paid any state enhanced 911
excise taxes due from the corporation under this chapter. For
the purposes of this section, any state enhanced 911 excise
taxes that have been paid but not collected are deductible
from the state enhanced 911 excise taxes collected but not
paid. For purposes of this subsection "willfully fails to pay or
to cause to be paid" means that the failure was the result of an
intentional, conscious, and voluntary course of action.
(2) The officer, member, manager, or other person is liable only for taxes collected that became due during the period
he or she had the control, supervision, responsibility, or duty
to act for the corporation described in subsection (1) of this
section, plus interest and penalties on those taxes.
(3) Persons liable under subsection (1) of this section are
exempt from liability if nonpayment of the state enhanced
911 excise tax funds held in trust is due to reasons beyond
their control as determined by the department by rule.
(4) Any person having been issued a notice of assessment under this section is entitled to the appeal procedures
under RCW 82.32.160 through 82.32.200.
(5) This section applies only if the department has determined that there is no reasonable means of collecting the state
enhanced 911 excise tax funds held in trust directly from the
corporation.
(6) This section does not relieve the corporation or limited liability company of other tax liabilities or otherwise
impair other tax collection remedies afforded by law.
(7) Collection authority and procedures prescribed in
chapter 82.32 RCW apply to collections under this section.
[1998 c 304 § 11.]
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
82.14B.900
82.14B.900 Severability—1981 c 160. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1981 c 160 § 7.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 157]
Chapter 82.16
Chapter 82.16
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Chapter 82.16 RCW
PUBLIC UTILITY TAX
Sections
82.16.010
82.16.020
82.16.030
82.16.040
82.16.0421
82.16.045
82.16.046
82.16.047
82.16.0491
82.16.0495
82.16.0497
82.16.0498
82.16.050
82.16.053
82.16.055
82.16.060
82.16.080
82.16.090
82.16.100
82.16.110
82.16.120
82.16.130
82.16.140
Definitions.
Public utility tax imposed—Additional tax imposed—Deposit
of moneys.
Taxable under each schedule if within its purview.
Exemption.
Exemptions—Sales to electrolytic processing businesses.
Exemptions and credits—Pollution control facilities.
Exemptions—Operation of state route No. 16.
Exemptions—Ride sharing.
Credit—Contributions to an electric utility rural economic
development revolving fund.
Credit—Electricity sold to a direct service industrial customer.
Credit—Light and power business, gas distribution business.
Credit—Sales of electricity or gas to an aluminum smelter.
Deductions in computing tax.
Deductions in computing tax—Light and power businesses.
Deductions relating to energy conservation or production from
renewable resources.
May be taxed under other chapters.
Administration.
Light or power and gas distribution businesses—Information
required on customer billings.
Solid waste business not subject to chapter.
Renewable energy system cost recovery—Definitions.
Renewable energy system cost recovery—Application to
light/power business—Certification—Limitations.
Renewable energy system cost recovery—Light/power business tax credit.
Renewable energy system cost recovery—Report to legislature.
Commute trip reduction incentives: Chapter 82.70 RCW.
Public utility districts, privilege tax: Chapter 54.28 RCW.
82.16.010
82.16.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter,
unless otherwise required by the context:
(1) "Railroad business" means the business of operating
any railroad, by whatever power operated, for public use in
the conveyance of persons or property for hire. It shall not,
however, include any business herein defined as an urban
transportation business.
(2) "Express business" means the business of carrying
property for public hire on the line of any common carrier
operated in this state, when such common carrier is not
owned or leased by the person engaging in such business.
(3) "Railroad car business" means the business of operating stock cars, furniture cars, refrigerator cars, fruit cars,
poultry cars, tank cars, sleeping cars, parlor cars, buffet cars,
tourist cars, or any other kinds of cars used for transportation
of property or persons upon the line of any railroad operated
in this state when such railroad is not owned or leased by the
person engaging in such business.
(4) "Water distribution business" means the business of
operating a plant or system for the distribution of water for
hire or sale.
(5) "Light and power business" means the business of
operating a plant or system for the generation, production or
distribution of electrical energy for hire or sale and/or for the
wheeling of electricity for others.
(6) "Telegraph business" means the business of affording
telegraphic communication for hire.
(7) "Gas distribution business" means the business of
operating a plant or system for the production or distribution
for hire or sale of gas, whether manufactured or natural.
(8) "Motor transportation business" means the business
(except urban transportation business) of operating any motor
[Title 82 RCW—page 158]
propelled vehicle by which persons or property of others are
conveyed for hire, and includes, but is not limited to, the
operation of any motor propelled vehicle as an auto transportation company (except urban transportation business), common carrier or contract carrier as defined by RCW 81.68.010
and 81.80.010: PROVIDED, That "motor transportation
business" shall not mean or include the transportation of logs
or other forest products exclusively upon private roads or private highways.
(9) "Urban transportation business" means the business
of operating any vehicle for public use in the conveyance of
persons or property for hire, insofar as (a) operating entirely
within the corporate limits of any city or town, or within five
miles of the corporate limits thereof, or (b) operating entirely
within and between cities and towns whose corporate limits
are not more than five miles apart or within five miles of the
corporate limits of either thereof. Included herein, but without limiting the scope hereof, is the business of operating passenger vehicles of every type and also the business of operating cartage, pickup, or delivery services, including in such
services the collection and distribution of property arriving
from or destined to a point within or without the state,
whether or not such collection or distribution be made by the
person performing a local or interstate line-haul of such property.
(10) "Public service business" means any of the businesses defined in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7),
(8), and (9) or any business subject to control by the state, or
having the powers of eminent domain and the duties incident
thereto, or any business hereafter declared by the legislature
to be of a public service nature, except telephone business as
defined in RCW 82.04.065 and low-level radioactive waste
site operating companies as redefined in RCW 81.04.010. It
includes, among others, without limiting the scope hereof:
Airplane transportation, boom, dock, ferry, pipe line, toll
bridge, toll logging road, water transportation and wharf
businesses.
(11) "Tugboat business" means the business of operating
tugboats, towboats, wharf boats or similar vessels in the towing or pushing of vessels, barges or rafts for hire.
(12) "Gross income" means the value proceeding or
accruing from the performance of the particular public service or transportation business involved, including operations
incidental thereto, but without any deduction on account of
the cost of the commodity furnished or sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs,
taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and
without any deduction on account of losses.
(13) The meaning attributed, in chapter 82.04 RCW, to
the term "tax year," "person," "value proceeding or accruing,"
"business," "engaging in business," "in this state," "within
this state," "cash discount" and "successor" shall apply
equally in the provisions of this chapter. [1996 c 150 § 1;
1994 c 163 § 4; 1991 c 272 § 14; 1989 c 302 § 203. Prior:
1989 c 302 § 102; 1986 c 226 § 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 32;
1982 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 1; 1981 c 144 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 20;
1961 c 293 § 12; 1961 c 15 § 82.16.010; prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3
§ 15; 1955 c 389 § 28; 1949 c 228 § 10; 1943 c 156 § 10; 1941
c 178 § 12; 1939 c 225 § 20; 1937 c 227 § 11; 1935 c 180 §
37; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-37.]
(2006 Ed.)
Public Utility Tax
Effective date—1996 c 150: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 25, 1996]." [1996 c 150 § 3.]
Effective dates—1991 c 272: See RCW 81.108.901.
Finding, purpose—1989 c 302: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Effective date—1986 c 226: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1986."
[1986 c 226 § 3.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 9: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
August 1, 1982." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 4.]
Intent—1981 c 144: "The legislature recognizes that there have been
significant changes in the nature of the telephone business in recent years.
Once solely the domain of regulated monopolies, the telephone business has
now been opened up to competition with respect to most of its services and
equipment. As a result of this competition, the state and local excise tax
structure in the state of Washington has become discriminatory when applied
to regulated telephone company transactions that are similar in nature to
those consummated by nonregulated competitors. Telephone companies are
forced to operate at a significant state and local tax disadvantage when compared to these nonregulated competitors.
To remedy this situation, it is the intent of the legislature to place telephone companies and nonregulated competitors of telephone companies on
an equal excise tax basis with regard to the providing of similar goods and
services. Therefore competitive telephone services shall for excise tax purposes only, unless otherwise provided, be treated as retail sales under the
applicable state and local business and occupation and sales and use taxes.
This shall not affect any requirement that regulated telephone companies
have under Title 80 RCW, unless otherwise provided.
Nothing in this act affects the authority and responsibility of the Washington utilities and transportation commission to set fair, just, reasonable,
and sufficient rates for telephone service." [1981 c 144 § 1.]
Severability—1981 c 144: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1981 c 144 § 12.]
Effective date—1981 c 144: "This act shall take effect on January 1,
1982." [1981 c 144 § 13.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.16.0421
(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under
subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Twenty percent of the moneys collected under subsection (1) of this section on water distribution businesses
and sixty percent of the moneys collected under subsection
(1) of this section on sewerage collection businesses shall be
deposited in the public works assistance account created in
RCW 43.155.050. [1996 c 150 § 2; 1989 c 302 § 204; 1986
c 282 § 14; 1985 c 471 § 10; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 13; 1982
2nd ex.s. c 5 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 299 §
12; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 24; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 21; 1961 c 293
§ 13; 1961 c 15 § 82.16.020. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3 § 16; 1939
c 225 § 19; 1935 c 180 § 36; RRS § 8370-36.]
Effective date—1996 c 150: See note following RCW 82.16.010.
Finding, purpose—1989 c 302: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Severability—1986 c 282: See RCW 82.18.900.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 471: See notes following RCW
82.04.260.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 5: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
August 1, 1982." [1982 2nd ex.s. c 5 § 2.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.16.030
82.16.030 Taxable under each schedule if within its
purview. Every person engaging in businesses which are
within the purview of two or more of schedules of RCW
82.16.020(1), shall be taxable under each schedule applicable
to the businesses engaged in. [1989 c 302 § 205; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 35 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.16.030. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 38;
RRS § 8370-38.]
Finding, purpose—1989 c 302: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
82.16.020
82.16.020 Public utility tax imposed—Additional tax
imposed—Deposit of moneys. (1) There is levied and there
shall be collected from every person a tax for the act or privilege of engaging within this state in any one or more of the
businesses herein mentioned. The tax shall be equal to the
gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate set out
after the business, as follows:
(a) Express, sewerage collection, and telegraph businesses: Three and six-tenths percent;
(b) Light and power business: Three and sixty-two onehundredths percent;
(c) Gas distribution business: Three and six-tenths percent;
(d) Urban transportation business: Six-tenths of one percent;
(e) Vessels under sixty-five feet in length, except tugboats, operating upon the waters within the state: Six-tenths
of one percent;
(f) Motor transportation, railroad, railroad car, and tugboat businesses, and all public service businesses other than
ones mentioned above: One and eight-tenths of one percent;
(g) Water distribution business: Four and seven-tenths
percent.
(2006 Ed.)
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.16.040
82.16.040 Exemption. The provisions of this chapter
shall not apply to persons engaging in one or more businesses
taxable under this chapter whose total gross income is less
than two thousand dollars for a monthly period or portion
thereof. Any person claiming exemption under this section
may be required to file returns even though no tax may be
due. If the total gross income for a taxable monthly period is
two thousand dollars, or more, no exemption or deductions
from the gross operating revenue is allowed by this provision.
[1996 c 111 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 82.16.040. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 3
§ 17; 1959 c 197 § 27; 1935 c 180 § 39; RRS § 8370-39.]
Findings—Purpose—Effective date—1996 c 111: See notes following RCW 82.32.030.
82.16.0421
82.16.0421 Exemptions—Sales to electrolytic processing businesses. (Expires June 30, 2011.) (1) For the
purposes of this section:
(a) "Chlor-alkali electrolytic processing business" means
a person who is engaged in a business that uses more than ten
average megawatts of electricity per month in a chlor-alkali
[Title 82 RCW—page 159]
82.16.045
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
electrolytic process to split the electrochemical bonds of
sodium chloride and water to make chlorine and sodium
hydroxide. A "chlor-alkali electrolytic processing business"
does not include direct service industrial customers or their
subsidiaries that contract for the purchase of power from the
Bonneville power administration as of June 10, 2004.
(b) "Sodium chlorate electrolytic processing business"
means a person who is engaged in a business that uses more
than ten average megawatts of electricity per month in a
sodium chlorate electrolytic process to split the electrochemical bonds of sodium chloride and water to make sodium
chlorate and hydrogen. A "sodium chlorate electrolytic processing business" does not include direct service industrial
customers or their subsidiaries that contract for the purchase
of power from the Bonneville power administration as of
June 10, 2004.
(2) Effective July 1, 2004, the tax levied under this chapter does not apply to sales of electricity made by a light and
power business to a chlor-alkali electrolytic processing business or a sodium chlorate electrolytic processing business for
the electrolytic process if the contract for sale of electricity to
the business contains the following terms:
(a) The electricity to be used in the electrolytic process is
separately metered from the electricity used for general operations of the business;
(b) The price charged for the electricity used in the electrolytic process will be reduced by an amount equal to the tax
exemption available to the light and power business under
this section; and
(c) Disallowance of all or part of the exemption under
this section is a breach of contract and the damages to be paid
by the chlor-alkali electrolytic processing business or the
sodium chlorate electrolytic processing business are the
amount of the tax exemption disallowed.
(3) The exemption provided for in this section does not
apply to amounts received from the remarketing or resale of
electricity originally obtained by contract for the electrolytic
process.
(4) In order to claim an exemption under this section, the
chlor-alkali electrolytic processing business or the sodium
chlorate electrolytic processing business must provide the
light and power business with an exemption certificate in a
form and manner prescribed by the department.
(5)(a) This section does not apply to sales of electricity
made after December 31, 2010.
(b) This section expires June 30, 2011. [2004 c 240 § 1.]
82.16.045
82.16.045 Exemptions and credits—Pollution control
facilities. See chapter 82.34 RCW.
82.16.046
82.16.046 Exemptions—Operation of state route No.
16. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to amounts
received from operating state route number 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities constructed and operated
under chapter 47.46 RCW. [1998 c 179 § 5.]
Finding—1998 c 179: See note following RCW 35.21.718.
82.16.047
82.16.047 Exemptions—Ride sharing. This chapter
does not apply to any funds received in the course of commuter ride sharing or ride sharing for persons with special
[Title 82 RCW—page 160]
transportation needs in accordance with RCW 46.74.010.
[1999 c 358 § 12; 1979 c 111 § 18.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Severability—1979 c 111: See note following RCW 46.74.010.
82.16.0491 Credit—Contributions to an electric utility rural economic development revolving fund. (1) The
following definitions apply to this section:
(a) "Qualifying project" means a project designed to
achieve job creation or business retention, to add or upgrade
nonelectrical infrastructure, to add or upgrade health and
safety facilities, to accomplish energy and water use efficiency improvements, including renewable energy development, or to add or upgrade emergency services in any designated qualifying rural area.
(b) "Qualifying rural area" means:
(i) A rural county, which on the date that a contribution
is made to an electric utility rural economic development
revolving fund is a county with a population density of less
than one hundred persons per square mile as determined by
the office of financial management; or
(ii) Any geographic area in the state that receives electricity from a light and power business with twelve thousand
or fewer customers.
(c) "Electric utility rural economic development revolving fund" means a fund devoted exclusively to funding qualifying projects in qualifying rural areas.
(d) "Local board" is (i) a board of directors with at least,
but not limited to, three members representing local businesses and community groups who have been appointed by
the sponsoring electric utility to oversee and direct the activities of the electric utility rural economic development
revolving fund; or (ii) a board of directors of an existing associate development organization serving the qualifying rural
area who have been designated by the sponsoring electrical
utility to oversee and direct the activities of the electric utility
rural economic development revolving fund.
(2) A light and power business shall be allowed a credit
against taxes due under this chapter in an amount equal to
fifty percent of contributions made in any fiscal year directly
to an electric utility rural economic development revolving
fund. The credit shall be taken in a form and manner as
required by the department. The credit under this section
shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars per fiscal year
per light and power business. The credit may not exceed the
tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter. Refunds
shall not be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not
used to earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn
a credit in subsequent years, except that this limitation does
not apply to expenditures made between January 1, 2004, and
March 31, 2004, which expenditures may be used to earn a
credit through December 30, 2004.
(3) The right to earn tax credits under this section expires
June 30, 2011.
(4) To qualify for the credit in subsection (2) of this section, the light and power business shall establish, or have a
local board establish with the business’s contribution, an
electric utility rural economic development revolving fund
which is governed by a local board whose members shall
reside or work in the qualifying rural area served by the light
82.16.0491
(2006 Ed.)
Public Utility Tax
and power business. Expenditures from the electric utility
rural economic development revolving fund shall be made
solely on qualifying projects, and the local board shall have
authority to determine all criteria and conditions for the
expenditure of funds from the electric utility rural economic
development revolving fund, and for the terms and conditions
of repayment.
(5) Any funds repaid to the electric utility rural economic
development revolving fund by recipients shall be made
available for additional qualifying projects.
(6) If at any time the electric utility rural economic
development revolving fund is dissolved, any moneys
claimed as a tax credit under this section shall either be
granted to a qualifying project or refunded to the state within
two years of termination.
(7) The total amount of credits that may be used in any
fiscal year shall not exceed three hundred fifty thousand dollars in any fiscal year. The department shall allow the use of
earned credits on a first-come, first-served basis. Unused
earned credits may be carried over to subsequent years.
(8) The following provisions apply to expenditures
under subsection (2) of this section made between January 1,
2004, and March 31, 2004:
(a) Credits earned from such expenditures are not considered in computing the statewide limitation set forth in subsection (7) of this section for the period July 1, 2004, through
December 31, 2004; and
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, the credit
allowed under this section for light and power businesses
making expenditures is limited to thirty-seven thousand five
hundred dollars. [2004 c 238 § 1; 1999 c 311 § 402.]
Finding—2004 c 238: "(1) The legislature finds that accountability and
effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make
policy choices regarding the best use of limited state resources the legislature
needs information to evaluate whether the stated goals of legislation were
achieved.
(2) The goal of the tax credit available to light and power businesses for
contributing to an electric utility rural economic development revolving fund
in RCW 82.16.0491 is to support qualifying projects that create or retain
jobs, add or upgrade health and safety facilities, facilitate energy and water
conservation, or develop renewable sources of energy in a qualified area.
The goal of this tax credit is achieved when the investment of the revolving
funds established under RCW 82.16.0491 have generated capital investment
in an amount of four million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars or more
within a five-year period." [2004 c 238 § 2.]
Effective date—2004 c 238: "This act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2004
c 238 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—1999 c 311: "The legislature finds that it is necessary to employ multiple approaches to revitalize the economy of Washington
state’s rural areas. The legislature also finds that where possible, Washington state should develop programs which can complement other private,
state, and federal programs. It is the intent of section 402 of this act to complement such rural economic development efforts by creating a public utility
tax offset program to help establish locally based electric utility revolving
fund programs to be used for economic development and job creation."
[1999 c 311 § 401.]
Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 311: See notes following RCW 82.14.370.
82.16.0495
82.16.0495 Credit—Electricity sold to a direct service industrial customer. (1) Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply
throughout this section.
(a) "Direct service industrial customer" means a person
who is an industrial customer that contracts for the purchase
(2006 Ed.)
82.16.0495
of power from the Bonneville Power Administration for
direct consumption as of May 8, 2001. "Direct service industrial customer" includes a person who is a subsidiary that is
more than fifty percent owned by a direct service industrial
customer and who receives power from the Bonneville Power
Administration pursuant to the parent’s contract for power.
(b) "Facility" means a gas turbine electrical generation
facility that does not exist on May 8, 2001.
(c) "Average annual employment" means the total
employment in this state for a calendar year at the direct service industrial customer’s location where electricity from the
facility will be consumed.
(2) Effective July 1, 2001, a credit is allowed against the
tax due under this chapter on sales of electricity made from a
facility to a direct service industrial customer if the contract
for sale of electricity to a direct service industrial customer
contains the following terms:
(a) Sales of electricity from the facility to the direct service industrial customer will be made for ten consecutive
years or more;
(b) The price charged for the electricity will be reduced
by an amount equal to the tax credit; and
(c) Disallowance of all or part of the credit under subsection (5) of this section is a breach of contract and the damages
to be paid by the direct service industrial customer to the
facility are the amount of tax credit disallowed.
(3) The credit is equal to the gross proceeds from the sale
of the electricity to a direct service industrial customer multiplied by the rate in effect at the time of the sale for the public
utility tax on light and power businesses under RCW
82.16.020. The credit may be used each reporting period for
sixty months following the first month electricity is sold from
a facility to a direct service industrial customer. Credit under
this section is limited to the amount of tax imposed under this
chapter. Refunds shall not be given in place of credits and
credits may not be carried over to subsequent calendar years.
(4) Application for credit shall be made before the first
sale of electricity from a facility to a direct service industrial
customer. The application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall include but is not limited
to information regarding the location of the facility, identification of the direct service industrial customer who will
receive electricity from the facility, the projected date of the
first sale of electricity to a direct service industrial customer,
the date construction is projected to begin or did begin, and
the average annual employment in the state of the direct service industrial customer who will receive electricity from the
facility for the six calendar years immediately preceding the
year in which the application is made. A copy of the contract
for sale of electricity must be attached to the application. The
department shall rule on the application within thirty days of
receipt.
(5) All or part of the credit shall be disallowed and must
be paid if the average of the direct service industrial customer’s average annual employment for the five calendar
years subsequent to the calendar year containing the first
month of sale of electricity from a facility to a direct service
industrial customer is less than the six-year average annual
employment stated on the application for credit under this
section. The direct service industrial customer shall certify to
the department and to the facility by June 1st of the sixth cal[Title 82 RCW—page 161]
82.16.0497
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
endar year following the calendar year in which the month of
first sale occurs the average annual employment for each of
the five prior calendar years. All or part of the credit that shall
be disallowed and must be paid is commensurate with the
decrease in the five-year average of average annual employment as follows:
Decrease in Average Annual
Employment Over
Five-Year Period
Less than 10%
10% or more but less than 25%
25% or more but less than 50%
50% or more but less than 75%
75% or more
% of Credit to be Paid
10%
25%
50%
75%
100%
(6)(a) Payments on credit that is disallowed shall begin
in the sixth calendar year following the calendar year in
which the month following the first month of sale of electricity from a facility to a direct service industrial customer
occurs. The first payment will be due on or before December
31st with subsequent annual payments due on or before
December 31st of the following four years according to the
schedule in this subsection.
Payment Year
1
2
3
4
5
% of Credit to be Paid
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
(b) The department may authorize an accelerated payment schedule upon request of the taxpayer.
(c) Interest shall not be charged on the credit that is disallowed for the sixty-month period the credit may be taken,
although all other penalties and interest applicable to delinquent excise taxes may be assessed and imposed. The debt
for credit that is disallowed and must be paid will not be
extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the taxpayer.
Transfer of ownership of the facility does not affect eligibility for this credit. However, the credit is available to the successor only if the eligibility conditions of this section are met.
(7) The employment security department shall make, and
certify to the department of revenue, all determinations of
employment under this section as requested by the department. [2001 c 214 § 11.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
82.16.0497
82.16.0497 Credit—Light and power business, gas
distribution business. (1) Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply
throughout this section.
(a) "Base credit" means the maximum amount of credit
against the tax imposed by this chapter that each light and
power business or gas distribution business may take each
fiscal year as calculated by the department. The base credit is
[Title 82 RCW—page 162]
equal to the proportionate share that the total grants received
by each light and power business or gas distribution business
in the prior fiscal year bears to the total grants received by all
light and power businesses and gas distribution businesses in
the prior fiscal year multiplied by five million five hundred
thousand dollars for fiscal year 2007, and two million five
hundred thousand dollars for all other fiscal years before and
after fiscal year 2007.
(b) "Billing discount" means a reduction in the amount
charged for providing service to qualifying persons in Washington made by a light and power business or a gas distribution business. Billing discount does not include grants
received by the light and power business or a gas distribution
business.
(c) "Grant" means funds provided to a light and power
business or gas distribution business by the department of
community, trade, and economic development or by a qualifying organization.
(d) "Low-income home energy assistance program"
means energy assistance programs for low-income households as defined on December 31, 2000, in the low-income
home energy assistance act of 1981 as amended August 1,
1999, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 8623 et seq.
(e) "Qualifying person" means a Washington resident
who applies for assistance and qualifies for a grant regardless
of whether that person receives a grant.
(f) "Qualifying contribution" means money given by a
light and power business or a gas distribution business to a
qualifying organization, exclusive of money received in the
prior fiscal year from its customers for the purpose of assisting other customers.
(g) "Qualifying organization" means an entity that has a
contractual agreement with the department of community,
trade, and economic development to administer in a specified
service area low-income home energy assistance funds
received from the federal government and such other funds
that may be received by the entity.
(2) Subject to the limitations in this section, a light and
power business or a gas distribution business may take a
credit each fiscal year against the tax imposed under this
chapter.
(a)(i) A credit may be taken for qualifying contributions
if the dollar amount of qualifying contributions for the fiscal
year in which the tax credit is taken is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent of the dollar amount of qualifying
contributions given in fiscal year 2000.
(ii) If no qualifying contributions were given in fiscal
year 2000, a credit shall be allowed for the first fiscal year
that qualifying contributions are given. Thereafter, credit
shall be allowed if the qualifying contributions given exceed
one hundred twenty-five percent of qualifying contributions
given in the first fiscal year.
(iii) The amount of credit shall be fifty percent of the dollar amount of qualifying contributions given in the fiscal year
in which the tax credit is taken.
(b)(i) A credit may be taken for billing discounts if the
dollar amount of billing discounts for the fiscal year in which
the tax credit is taken is greater than one hundred twenty-five
percent of the dollar amount of billing discounts given in fiscal year 2000.
(2006 Ed.)
Public Utility Tax
(ii) If no billing discounts were given in fiscal year 2000,
a credit shall be allowed in the first fiscal year that billing discounts are given. Thereafter, credit shall be allowed if the
dollar amount of billing discounts given exceeds one hundred
twenty-five percent of billing discounts given in the first fiscal year.
(iii) The amount of credit shall be fifty percent of the dollar amount of the billing discounts given in the fiscal year in
which the tax credit is taken.
(c) The total amount of credit that may be taken for qualifying contributions and billing discounts in a fiscal year is
limited to the base credit for the same fiscal year.
(3)(a)(i) Except as provided in (a)(ii) of this subsection,
the total amount of credit, statewide, that may be taken in any
fiscal year shall not exceed two million five hundred thousand dollars.
(ii) The total amount of credit, statewide, that may be
taken in fiscal year 2007 shall not exceed five million five
hundred thousand dollars.
(b) By May 1st of each year starting in 2002, the department of community, trade, and economic development shall
notify the department of revenue in writing of the grants
received in the current fiscal year by each light and power
business and gas distribution business.
(4)(a) Not later than June 1st of each year beginning in
2002, the department shall publish the base credit for each
light and power business and gas distribution business for the
next fiscal year.
(b) Not later than July 1st of each year beginning in
2002, application for credit must by made to the department
including but not limited to the following information: Billing discounts given by the applicant in fiscal year 2000; qualifying contributions given by the applicant in the prior fiscal
year; the amount of money received in the prior fiscal year
from customers for the purpose of assisting other customers;
the base credit for the next fiscal year for the applicant; the
qualifying contributions anticipated to be given in the next
fiscal year; and billing discounts anticipated to be given in the
next fiscal year. No credit under this section will be allowed
to a light and power business or gas distribution business that
does not file the application by July 1st.
(c) Not later than August 1st of each year beginning in
2002, the department shall notify each applicant of the
amount of credit that may be taken in that fiscal year.
(d) The balance of base credits not used by other light
and power businesses and gas distribution businesses shall be
ratably distributed to applicants under the formula in subsection (1)(a) of this section. The total amount of credit that may
be taken by an applicant is the base credit plus any ratable
portion of unused base credit.
(5) The credit taken under this section is limited to the
amount of tax imposed under this chapter for the fiscal year.
The credit must be claimed in the fiscal year in which the billing reduction is made. Any unused credit expires. Refunds
shall not be given in place of credits.
(6) No credit may be taken for billing discounts made
before July 1, 2001. Within two weeks of May 8, 2001, the
department of community, trade, and economic development
shall notify the department of revenue in writing of the grants
received in fiscal year 2001 by each light and power business
and gas distribution business. Within four weeks of May 8,
(2006 Ed.)
82.16.050
2001, the department of revenue shall publish the base credit
for each light and power business and gas distribution business for fiscal year 2002. Within eight weeks of May 8,
2001, application to the department must be made showing
the information required in subsection (4)(b) of this section.
Within twelve weeks of May 8, 2001, the department shall
notify each applicant of the amount of credit that may be
taken in fiscal year 2002. [2006 c 213 § 1; 2001 c 214 § 13.]
Effective date—2006 c 213: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 213 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
82.16.0498
82.16.0498 Credit—Sales of electricity or gas to an
aluminum smelter. (1) A person who is subject to tax under
this chapter on gross income from sales of electricity, natural
gas, or manufactured gas made to an aluminum smelter is eligible for an exemption from the tax in the form of a credit, if
the contract for sale of electricity or gas to the aluminum
smelter specifies that the price charged for the electricity or
gas will be reduced by an amount equal to the credit.
(2) The credit is equal to the gross income from the sale
of the electricity or gas to an aluminum smelter multiplied by
the corresponding rate in effect at the time of the sale for the
public utility tax under RCW 82.16.020.
(3) The exemption provided for in this section does not
apply to amounts received from the remarketing or resale of
electricity originally obtained by contract for the smelting
process.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "aluminum smelter"
has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.217. [2004
c 24 § 13.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.16.050
82.16.050 Deductions in computing tax. In computing
tax there may be deducted from the gross income the following items:
(1) Amounts derived by municipally owned or operated
public service businesses, directly from taxes levied for the
support or maintenance thereof: PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed to exempt service charges which
are spread on the property tax rolls and collected as taxes;
(2) Amounts derived from the sale of commodities to
persons in the same public service business as the seller, for
resale as such within this state. This deduction is allowed
only with respect to water distribution, gas distribution or
other public service businesses which furnish water, gas or
any other commodity in the performance of public service
businesses;
(3) Amounts actually paid by a taxpayer to another person taxable under this chapter as the latter’s portion of the
consideration due for services furnished jointly by both, if the
total amount has been credited to and appears in the gross
income reported for tax by the former;
(4) The amount of cash discount actually taken by the
purchaser or customer;
(5) The amount of bad debts, as that term is used in 26
U.S.C. Sec. 166, as amended or renumbered as of January 1,
2003, on which tax was previously paid under this chapter;
[Title 82 RCW—page 163]
82.16.053
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(6) Amounts derived from business which the state is
prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of this state or
the Constitution or laws of the United States;
(7) Amounts derived from the distribution of water
through an irrigation system, for irrigation purposes;
(8) Amounts derived from the transportation of commodities from points of origin in this state to final destination
outside this state, or from points of origin outside this state to
final destination in this state, with respect to which the carrier
grants to the shipper the privilege of stopping the shipment in
transit at some point in this state for the purpose of storing,
manufacturing, milling, or other processing, and thereafter
forwards the same commodity, or its equivalent, in the same
or converted form, under a through freight rate from point of
origin to final destination; and amounts derived from the
transportation of commodities from points of origin in the
state to an export elevator, wharf, dock or ship side on tidewater or navigable tributaries thereto from which such commodities are forwarded, without intervening transportation,
by vessel, in their original form, to interstate or foreign destinations: PROVIDED, That no deduction will be allowed
when the point of origin and the point of delivery to such an
export elevator, wharf, dock, or ship side are located within
the corporate limits of the same city or town;
(9) Amounts derived from the production, sale, or transfer of electrical energy for resale within or outside the state or
for consumption outside the state;
(10) Amounts derived from the distribution of water by a
nonprofit water association and used for capital improvements by that nonprofit water association;
(11) Amounts paid by a sewerage collection business
taxable under RCW 82.16.020(1)(a) to a person taxable
under chapter 82.04 RCW for the treatment or disposal of
sewage;
(12) Amounts derived from fees or charges imposed on
persons for transit services provided by a public transportation agency. For the purposes of this subsection, "public
transportation agency" means a municipality, as defined in
RCW 35.58.272, and urban public transportation systems, as
defined in RCW 47.04.082. Public transportation agencies
shall spend an amount equal to the reduction in tax provided
by this tax deduction solely to adjust routes to improve access
for citizens using food banks and senior citizen services or to
extend or add new routes to assist low-income citizens and
seniors. [2006 c 336 § 1; 2004 c 153 § 308; 2000 c 245 § 1;
1994 c 124 § 12; 1989 c 302 § 103; 1987 c 207 § 1; 1982 2nd
ex.s. c 9 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 368 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 25; 1965
ex.s. c 173 § 22; 1961 c 15 § 82.16.050. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c
3 § 18; 1949 c 228 § 11; 1937 c 227 § 12; 1935 c 180 § 40;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-40.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective date—Application—2000 c 245 § 1: "(1) Section 1 of this
act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions,
and takes effect immediately [March 31, 2000].
(2) Section 1 of this act applies to all amounts due prior to and after
March 31, 2000." [2000 c 245 § 3.]
Finding, purpose—1989 c 302: See note following RCW 82.04.120.
Effective date—1982 2nd ex.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.16.010.
[Title 82 RCW—page 164]
82.16.053
82.16.053 Deductions in computing tax—Light and
power businesses. (1) In computing tax under this chapter, a
light and power business may deduct from gross income the
lesser of the amounts determined under subsections (2)
through (4) of this section.
(2)(a) Fifty percent of wholesale power cost paid during
the reporting period, if the light and power business has fewer
than five and one-half customers per mile of line.
(b) Forty percent of wholesale power cost paid during
the reporting period, if the light and power business has more
than five and one-half but less than eleven customers per
mile.
(c) Thirty percent of the wholesale power cost paid during the reporting period, if the light and power business has
more than eleven but less than seventeen customers per mile
of line.
(d) Zero if the light and power business has more than
seventeen customers per mile of line.
(3) Wholesale power cost multiplied by the percentage
by which the average retail electric power rates for the light
and power business exceed the state average electric power
rate. If more than fifty percent of the kilowatt hours sold by a
light and power business are sold to irrigators, then only sales
to nonirrigators shall be used to calculate the average electric
power rate for that light and power business. For purposes of
this subsection, the department shall determine state average
electric power rate each year based on the most recent available data and shall inform taxpayers of its determination.
(4) Four hundred thousand dollars per month. [1996 c
145 § 1; 1994 c 236 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 145: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 145 § 2.]
Effective date—1994 c 236: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994."
[1994 c 236 § 2.]
82.16.055
82.16.055 Deductions relating to energy conservation
or production from renewable resources. (1) In computing
tax under this chapter there shall be deducted from the gross
income:
(a) An amount equal to the cost of production at the plant
for consumption within the state of Washington of:
(i) Electrical energy produced or generated from cogeneration as defined in *RCW 82.35.020; and
(ii) Electrical energy or gas produced or generated from
renewable energy resources such as solar energy, wind
energy, hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy, wood,
wood wastes, municipal wastes, agricultural products and
wastes, and end-use waste heat; and
(b) Those amounts expended to improve consumers’
efficiency of energy end use or to otherwise reduce the use of
electrical energy or gas by the consumer.
(2) This section applies only to new facilities for the production or generation of energy from cogeneration or renewable energy resources or measures to improve the efficiency
of energy end use on which construction or installation is
begun after June 12, 1980, and before January 1, 1990.
(3) Deductions under subsection (1)(a) of this section
shall be allowed for a period not to exceed thirty years after
the project is placed in operation.
(4) Measures or projects encouraged under this section
shall at the time they are placed in service be reasonably
(2006 Ed.)
Public Utility Tax
expected to save, produce, or generate energy at a total incremental system cost per unit of energy delivered to end use
which is less than or equal to the incremental system cost per
unit of energy delivered to end use from similarly available
conventional energy resources which utilize nuclear energy
or fossil fuels and which the gas or electric utility could
acquire to meet energy demand in the same time period.
(5) The department of revenue, after consultation with
the utilities and transportation commission in the case of
investor-owned utilities and the governing bodies of locally
regulated utilities, shall determine the eligibility of individual
projects and measures for deductions under this section.
[1980 c 149 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.35.020 was repealed by 2005 c 443 § 7,
effective July 1, 2006.
Legislative finding—1980 c 149: See RCW 80.28.024.
Utility rate structures encouraging energy conservation and production
from renewable resources: RCW 80.28.025.
82.16.060
82.16.060 May be taxed under other chapters. Nothing herein shall be construed to exempt persons taxable under
the provisions of this chapter from tax under any other chapters of this title with respect to activities other than those specifically within the provisions of this chapter. [1961 c 15 §
82.16.060. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 41; RRS § 8370-41.]
82.16.080
82.16.080 Administration. All of the provisions contained in chapter 82.32 RCW shall have full force and application with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of
this chapter. [1961 c 15 § 82.16.080. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 43;
RRS § 8370-43.]
82.16.090
82.16.090 Light or power and gas distribution businesses—Information required on customer billings. Any
customer billing issued by a light or power business or gas
distribution business that serves a total of more than twenty
thousand customers and operates within the state shall
include the following information:
(1) The rates and amounts of taxes paid directly by the
customer upon products or services rendered by the light and
power business or gas distribution business; and
(2) The rate, origin and approximate amount of each tax
levied upon the revenue of the light and power business or
gas distribution business and added as a component of the
amount charged to the customer. Taxes based upon revenue
of the light and power business or gas distribution business to
be listed on the customer billing need not include taxes levied
by the federal government or taxes levied under chapters
54.28, 80.24, or 82.04 RCW. [1988 c 228 § 1.]
Effective date—1988 c 228: "This act shall take effect on January 1,
1989." [1988 c 228 § 2.]
82.16.100
82.16.100 Solid waste business not subject to chapter.
The business of collection, receipt, transfer, including transportation between any locations, storage, or disposal of solid
waste is not subject to this chapter. Any such business activities are subject to taxation under the classification in RCW
82.04.290(2). "Solid waste" for purposes of this section is
defined in RCW 82.18.010. [2001 c 320 § 8.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
(2006 Ed.)
82.16.120
82.16.110
82.16.110 Renewable energy system cost recovery—
Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout
this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Customer-generated electricity" means the alternating current electricity that is generated from a renewable
energy system located on an individual’s, businesses’, or
local government’s real property that is also provided electricity generated by a light and power business. A system
located on a leasehold interest does not qualify under this definition. "Customer-generated electricity" does not include
electricity generated by a light and power business with
greater than one thousand megawatt hours of annual sales or
a gas distribution business.
(2) "Economic development kilowatt-hour" means the
actual kilowatt-hour measurement of customer-generated
electricity multiplied by the appropriate economic development factor.
(3) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light
directly into electricity without moving parts.
(4) "Renewable energy system" means a solar energy
system, an anaerobic digester as defined in RCW 82.08.900,
or a wind generator used for producing electricity.
(5) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination of devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an
energy source for use in the generation of electricity.
(6) "Solar inverter" means the device used to convert
direct current to alternating current in a photovoltaic cell system.
(7) "Solar module" means the smallest nondivisible selfcontained physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing a single direct current electrical
output.
(8) "Standards for interconnection to the electric distribution system" means technical, engineering, operational,
safety, and procedural requirements for interconnection to
the electric distribution system of a light and power business.
[2005 c 300 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—2005 c 300: "The legislature finds that the use of
renewable energy resources generated from local sources such as solar and
wind power benefit our state by reducing the load on the state’s electric
energy grid, by providing nonpolluting sources of electricity generation, and
by the creation of jobs for local industries that develop and sell renewable
energy products and technologies.
The legislature finds that Washington state has become a national and
international leader in the technologies related to the solar electric markets.
The state can support these industries by providing incentives for the purchase of locally made renewable energy products. Locally made renewable
technologies benefit and protect the state’s environment. The legislature
also finds that the state’s economy can be enhanced through the creation of
incentives to develop additional renewable energy industries in the state.
The legislature intends to provide incentives for the greater use of
locally created renewable energy technologies, support and retain existing
local industries, and create new opportunities for renewable energy industries to develop in Washington state." [2005 c 300 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 300: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 300 § 8.]
82.16.120
82.16.120 Renewable energy system cost recovery—
Application to light/power business—Certification—
Limitations. (1) Any individual, business, or local governmental entity, not in the light and power business or in the gas
distribution business, may apply to the light and power busi[Title 82 RCW—page 165]
82.16.120
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ness serving the situs of the system, each fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2005, for an investment cost recovery incentive for each kilowatt-hour from a customer-generated electricity renewable energy system installed on its property that
is not interconnected to the electric distribution system. No
incentive may be paid for kilowatt-hours generated before
July 1, 2005, or after June 30, 2014.
(2) When light and power businesses serving eighty percent of the total customer load in the state adopt uniform standards for interconnection to the electric distribution system,
any individual, business, or local governmental entity, not in
the light and power business or in the gas distribution business, may apply to the light and power business serving the
situs of the system, each fiscal year, for an investment cost
recovery incentive for each kilowatt-hour from a customergenerated electricity renewable energy system installed on its
property that is not interconnected to the electric distribution
system and from a customer-generated electricity renewable
energy system installed on its property that is interconnected
to the electric distribution system. Uniform standards for
interconnection to the electric distribution system means
those standards established by light and power businesses
that have ninety percent of total requirements the same. No
incentive may be paid for kilowatt-hours generated before
July 1, 2005, or after June 30, 2014.
(3)(a) Before submitting for the first time the application
for the incentive allowed under this section, the applicant
shall submit to the department of revenue and to the climate
and rural energy development center at the Washington State
University, established under RCW 28B.30.642, a certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that
includes, but is not limited to, the following information:
(i) The name and address of the applicant and location of
the renewable energy system;
(ii) The applicant’s tax registration number;
(iii) That the electricity produced by the applicant meets
the definition of "customer-generated electricity" and that the
renewable energy system produces electricity with:
(A) Any solar inverters and solar modules manufactured
in Washington state;
(B) A wind generator powered by blades manufactured
in Washington state;
(C) A solar inverter manufactured in Washington state;
(D) A solar module manufactured in Washington state;
or
(E) Solar or wind equipment manufactured outside of
Washington state;
(iv) That the electricity can be transformed or transmitted for entry into or operation in parallel with electricity
transmission and distribution systems;
(v) The date that the renewable energy system received
its final electrical permit from the applicable local jurisdiction.
(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the certification the
department of revenue shall advise the applicant in writing
whether the renewable energy system qualifies for an incentive under this section. The department may consult with the
climate and rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the incentive. System certifications and the information contained therein are subject to disclosure under
RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
[Title 82 RCW—page 166]
(4)(a) By August 1st of each year application for the
incentive shall be made to the light and power business serving the situs of the system by certification in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:
(i) The name and address of the applicant and location of
the renewable energy system;
(ii) The applicant’s tax registration number;
(iii) The date of the letter from the department of revenue
stating that the renewable energy system is eligible for the
incentives under this section;
(iv) A statement of the amount of kilowatt-hours generated by the renewable energy system in the prior fiscal year.
(b) Within sixty days of receipt of the incentive certification the light and power business serving the situs of the system shall notify the applicant in writing whether the incentive
payment will be authorized or denied. The business may
consult with the climate and rural energy development center
to determine eligibility for the incentive payment. Incentive
certifications and the information contained therein are subject to disclosure under RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
(c)(i) Persons receiving incentive payments shall keep
and preserve, for a period of five years, suitable records as
may be necessary to determine the amount of incentive
applied for and received. Such records shall be open for
examination at any time upon notice by the light and power
business that made the payment or by the department. If
upon examination of any records or from other information
obtained by the business or department it appears that an
incentive has been paid in an amount that exceeds the correct
amount of incentive payable, the business may assess against
the person for the amount found to have been paid in excess
of the correct amount of incentive payable and shall add
thereto interest on the amount. Interest shall be assessed in
the manner that the department assesses interest upon delinquent tax under RCW 82.32.050.
(ii) If it appears that the amount of incentive paid is less
than the correct amount of incentive payable the business
may authorize additional payment.
(5) The investment cost recovery incentive may be paid
fifteen cents per economic development kilowatt-hour unless
requests exceed the amount authorized for credit to the participating light and power business. For the purposes of this
section, the rate paid for the investment cost recovery incentive may be multiplied by the following factors:
(a) For customer-generated electricity produced using
solar modules manufactured in Washington state, two and
four-tenths;
(b) For customer-generated electricity produced using a
solar or a wind generator equipped with an inverter manufactured in Washington state, one and two-tenths;
(c) For customer-generated electricity produced using an
anaerobic digester, or by other solar equipment or using a
wind generator equipped with blades manufactured in Washington state, one; and
(d) For all other customer-generated electricity produced
by wind, eight-tenths.
(6) No individual, household, business, or local governmental entity is eligible for incentives for more than two
thousand dollars per year.
(2006 Ed.)
Solid Waste Collection Tax
(7) If requests for the investment cost recovery incentive
exceed the amount of funds available for credit to the participating light and power business, the incentive payments
shall be reduced proportionately.
(8) The climate and rural energy development center at
Washington State University energy program may establish
guidelines and standards for technologies that are identified
as Washington manufactured and therefore most beneficial to
the state’s environment.
(9) The environmental attributes of the renewable energy
system belong to the applicant, and do not transfer to the state
or the light and power business upon receipt of the investment cost recovery incentive. [2005 c 300 § 3.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2005 c 300: See notes following
RCW 82.16.110.
82.16.130
82.16.130 Renewable energy system cost recovery—
Light/power business tax credit. (1) A light and power
business shall be allowed a credit against taxes due under this
chapter in an amount equal to investment cost recovery
incentive payments made in any fiscal year under RCW
82.16.120. The credit shall be taken in a form and manner as
required by the department. The credit under this section for
the fiscal year shall not exceed twenty-five one-hundredths of
one percent of the businesses’ taxable power sales due under
RCW 82.16.020(1)(b) or twenty-five thousand dollars,
whichever is greater. The credit may not exceed the tax that
would otherwise be due under this chapter. Refunds shall not
be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not used to
earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn a credit
in subsequent years.
(2) For any business that has claimed credit for amounts
that exceed the correct amount of the incentive payable under
RCW 82.16.120, the amount of tax against which credit was
claimed for the excess payments shall be immediately due
and payable. The department shall assess interest but not
penalties on the taxes against which the credit was claimed.
Interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent
excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the
date the credit was claimed, and shall accrue until the taxes
against which the credit was claimed are repaid.
(3) The right to earn tax credits under this section expires
June 30, 2015. Credits may not be claimed after June 30,
2016. [2005 c 300 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2005 c 300: See notes following
RCW 82.16.110.
82.18.030
(2) The department shall not conduct any new surveys to
provide the report in subsection (1) of this section. [2005 c
300 § 5.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2005 c 300: See notes following
RCW 82.16.110.
Chapter 82.18
Chapter 82.18 RCW
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION TAX
(Formerly: Refuse collection tax)
Sections
82.18.010
82.18.020
82.18.030
82.18.040
82.18.050
82.18.060
82.18.070
82.18.080
82.18.900
82.18.901
Definitions.
Solid waste collection tax—Revenue to public works assistance account per RCW 82.18.040.
Collection of tax.
Collection of tax—Payment to state.
Federal government exempt from tax.
No multiple taxation of single transaction.
Applicability of general administrative provisions.
Enforcement.
Severability—1986 c 282.
Severability—1989 c 431.
Solid waste management—Reduction and recycling: Chapter 70.95 RCW.
82.18.010
82.18.010 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Solid waste collection business" means every person
who receives solid waste for transfer, storage, or disposal
including but not limited to all collection services, public or
private dumps, transfer stations, and similar operations.
(2) "Person" shall have the meaning given in RCW
82.04.030 or any later, superseding section.
(3) "Solid waste" means garbage, trash, rubbish, or other
material discarded as worthless or not economically viable
for further use. The term does not include hazardous or toxic
waste nor does it include material collected primarily for
recycling or salvage.
(4) "Taxpayer" means that person upon whom the solid
waste collection tax is imposed. [1989 c 431 § 78; 1986 c 282
§ 6.]
82.18.020
82.18.020 Solid waste collection tax—Revenue to
public works assistance account per RCW 82.18.040.
There is imposed on each person using the solid waste services of a solid waste collection business a solid waste collection tax equal to three and six-tenths percent of the consideration charged for the services. [1989 c 431 § 79; 1986 c 282
§ 7.]
Section captions not law—1989 c 431: See RCW 70.95.902.
82.16.140
82.16.140 Renewable energy system cost recovery—
Report to legislature. (1) Using existing sources of information, the department shall report to the house appropriations committee, the house committee dealing with energy
issues, the senate committee on ways and means, and the senate committee dealing with energy issues by December 1,
2009. The report shall measure the impacts of chapter 300,
Laws of 2005, including the total number of solar energy system manufacturing companies in the state, any change in the
number of solar energy system manufacturing companies in
the state, and, where relevant, the effect on job creation, the
number of jobs created for Washington residents, and such
other factors as the department selects.
(2006 Ed.)
82.18.030
82.18.030 Collection of tax. The person collecting the
charges made for using the solid waste collection business
shall collect the tax imposed in this chapter. If any person
charged with collecting the tax fails to bill the taxpayer for
the tax, or in the alternative has not notified the taxpayer in
writing of the imposition of the tax, or having collected the
tax, fails to pay it to the department in the manner prescribed
by this chapter, whether such failure is the result of the person’s own acts or the result of acts or conditions beyond the
person’s control, he or she shall, nevertheless, be personally
liable to the state for the amount of the tax. [1989 c 431 § 84;
1986 c 282 § 8.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 167]
82.18.040
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.18.040
82.18.040 Collection of tax—Payment to state. Taxes
collected under this chapter shall be held in trust until paid to
the state. Taxes received by the state shall be deposited in the
public works assistance account created in RCW 43.155.050.
Any person collecting the tax who appropriates or converts
the tax collected shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the
money required to be collected is not available for payment
on the date payment is due. If a taxpayer fails to pay the tax
imposed by this chapter to the person charged with collection
of the tax and the person charged with collection fails to pay
the tax to the department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed directly against the taxpayer for collection of
the tax.
The tax shall be due from the taxpayer within twentyfive days from the date the taxpayer is billed by the person
collecting the tax.
The tax shall be due from the person collecting the tax at
the end of the tax period in which the tax is received from the
taxpayer. If the taxpayer remits only a portion of the total
amount billed for taxes, consideration, and related charges,
the amount remitted shall be applied first to payment of the
solid waste collection tax and this tax shall have priority over
all other claims to the amount remitted. [2000 c 103 § 11;
1989 c 431 § 85; 1986 c 282 § 9.]
82.18.050
82.18.050 Federal government exempt from tax. The
solid waste collection taxes imposed in this chapter shall not
apply to any agency, division, or branch of the federal government or to services rendered under a contract therewith.
[1989 c 431 § 86; 1986 c 282 § 10.]
82.18.060
82.18.060 No multiple taxation of single transaction.
To prevent pyramiding and multiple taxation of a single
transaction, the solid waste collection taxes imposed in this
chapter shall not apply to any solid waste collection business
using the services of another solid waste collection business
for the transfer, storage, processing, or disposal of the waste
collected during the transaction.
To be eligible for this exemption, a person first must be
certified by the department of revenue as a solid waste collection business. [1989 c 431 § 87; 1986 c 282 § 11.]
82.18.070
82.18.070 Applicability of general administrative
provisions. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the taxes
imposed under this chapter. [1989 c 431 § 88; 1986 c 282 §
12.]
82.18.080
82.18.080 Enforcement. The department of revenue
shall have the power to enforce the taxes imposed in this
chapter through appropriate rules. [1989 c 431 § 89; 1986 c
282 § 13.]
82.18.900
82.18.900 Severability—1986 c 282. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1986 c 282 § 22.]
82.18.901
82.18.901 Severability—1989 c 431.
70.95.901.
[Title 82 RCW—page 168]
See RCW
Chapter 82.19
Chapter 82.19 RCW
LITTER TAX
Sections
82.19.010
82.19.020
82.19.030
82.19.040
82.19.050
82.19.900
Litter tax imposed—Report to the legislature—Time of collection.
Application to certain products.
Rule-making authority tax—Items subject to—Reporting and
accounting.
Application of chapters 82.04 and 82.32 RCW—Disposition
of revenue.
Exemptions.
Effective date—1992 c 175.
82.19.010
82.19.010 Litter tax imposed—Report to the legislature—Time of collection. (1) In addition to any other taxes,
there is hereby levied and there shall be collected by the
department of revenue from every person for the privilege of
engaging within this state in business as a manufacturer, as a
wholesaler, or as a retailer, a litter tax equal to the value of
products listed in RCW 82.19.020, including byproducts,
manufactured within this state, multiplied by fifteen onethousandths of one percent in the case of manufacturers, and
equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the products listed in
RCW 82.19.020 that are sold within this state multiplied by
fifteen one-thousandths of one percent in the case of wholesalers and retailers.
(2) Beginning January 1999, and in January of every
odd-numbered year thereafter, the department shall submit to
the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of
representatives a report on compliance with the litter tax. The
report shall address:
(a) The litter tax reported voluntarily and litter tax
assessed through enforcement; and
(b) Total litter tax revenues reported on an industry basis.
(3) Beginning January 1999, the frequency and time of
collection of the tax will be changed to coincide with the
reporting periods by payers of their business and occupation
tax. [1998 c 257 § 7; 1992 c 175 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 307 § 12.
Formerly RCW 70.93.120.]
82.19.020
82.19.020 Application to certain products. To accomplish effective litter control within the state and to allocate a
portion of the cost of administering this chapter to those
industries whose products, including the packages, wrappings, and containers thereof, are reasonably related to the litter problem, the tax imposed in this chapter shall only apply
to the value of products or the gross proceeds of sales of products falling into the following categories:
(1) Food for human or pet consumption.
(2) Groceries.
(3) Cigarettes and tobacco products.
(4) Soft drinks and carbonated waters.
(5) Beer and other malt beverages.
(6) Wine.
(7) Newspapers and magazines.
(8) Household paper and paper products.
(9) Glass containers.
(10) Metal containers.
(11) Plastic or fiber containers made of synthetic material.
(12) Cleaning agents and toiletries.
(2006 Ed.)
Hazardous Substance Tax—Model Toxics Control Act
(13) Nondrug drugstore sundry products. [1992 c 175 §
4; 1971 ex.s. c 307 § 13. Formerly RCW 70.93.130.]
82.19.030
82.19.030 Rule-making authority tax—Items subject
to—Reporting and accounting. (1) The department of revenue, by rule, may, if such is required, define those items subject to tax under RCW 82.19.020. In making any such definitions, the department of revenue shall be guided by the following standards:
(a) It is the purpose of this chapter to accomplish effective control of litter within this state;
(b) It is the purpose of this chapter to allocate a portion
of the cost of administration of this chapter to those industries
manufacturing and/ or selling products and the packages,
wrappings, or containers thereof which are reasonably related
to the litter problem within this state.
(2) Instead of requiring each business to separately
account for taxable and nontaxable products under this chapter, the department may provide, by rule, that the tax imposed
in this chapter be reported and paid based on a percentage of
total sales for a particular type of business if the department
determines that the percentage reasonably approximates the
taxable activity of the particular type of business. [1992 c
175 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 307 § 14. Formerly RCW 70.93.140.]
82.21.020
(ii) "Nonsingle use container" means a receptacle for
holding a single individual’s food or beverage that is
designed to be used more than once. Nonsingle use containers do not include pizza delivery bags and similar insulated
containers that do not directly contact the food. Nonsingle
use containers do not include plastic or paper plates or other
containers that are disposable.
(iii) "Caterer" means a person contracted to prepare food
where the final cooking or serving occurs at a location
selected by the customer. [2005 c 289 § 1; 2003 c 120 § 1;
2001 1st sp.s. c 9 § 7; (2001 1st sp.s. c 9 § 8 expired July 22,
2001); 2001 c 118 § 7; 1992 c 175 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 307 § 17.
Formerly RCW 70.93.170.]
Effective date—2003 c 120: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 7, 2003]." [2003 c 120 § 2.]
Effective dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.04.298.
Expiration dates—2001 1st sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
82.04.290.
82.19.900 Effective date—1992 c 175. This act shall
take effect July 1, 1992. [1992 c 175 § 11.]
82.19.900
Chapter 82.21 RCW
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE TAX—MODEL
TOXICS CONTROL ACT
Chapter 82.21
82.19.040
82.19.040 Application of chapters 82.04 and 82.32
RCW—Disposition of revenue. (1) To the extent applicable, all of the definitions of chapter 82.04 RCW and all of the
provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW apply to the tax imposed in
this chapter.
(2) Taxes collected under this chapter shall be deposited
in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account
under RCW 70.93.180. [2001 c 118 § 6; 1992 c 175 § 6;
1971 ex.s. c 307 § 16. Formerly RCW 70.93.160.]
82.19.050
82.19.050 Exemptions. The litter tax imposed in this
chapter does not apply to:
(1) The manufacture or sale of products for use and consumption outside the state;
(2) The value of products or gross proceeds of the sales
exempt from tax under RCW 82.04.330;
(3) The sale of products for resale by a qualified grocery
distribution cooperative to customer-owners of the grocery
distribution cooperative. For the purposes of this section,
"qualified grocery distribution cooperative" and "customerowner" have the meanings given in RCW 82.04.298;
(4) The sale of food or beverages by retailers that are
sold solely for immediate consumption indoors at the seller’s
place of business or at a deck or patio at the seller’s place of
business, or indoors at an eating area that is contiguous to the
seller’s place of business; or
(5)(a) The sale of prepared food or beverages by caterers
where the food or beverages are to be served for immediate
consumption in or on individual nonsingle use containers at
premises occupied or controlled by the customer.
(b) For the purposes of this subsection, the following
definitions apply:
(i) "Prepared food" has the same meaning as provided in
RCW 82.08.0293.
(2006 Ed.)
Sections
82.21.010
82.21.020
82.21.030
82.21.040
82.21.050
82.21.900
82.21.905
82.21.910
82.21.915
82.21.920
82.21.921
Intent of pollution tax.
Definitions.
Pollution tax.
Exemptions.
Credits.
Short title—1989 c 2.
Captions—1989 c 2.
Construction—1989 c 2.
Existing agreements—1989 c 2.
Effective date—1989 c 2.
Severability—1989 c 2.
82.21.010 Intent of pollution tax. It is the intent of this
chapter to impose a tax only once for each hazardous substance possessed in this state and to tax the first possession of
all hazardous substances, including substances and products
that the department of ecology determines to present a threat
to human health or the environment. However, it is not
intended to impose a tax on the first possession of small
amounts of any hazardous substance (other than petroleum
and pesticide products) that is first possessed by a retailer for
the purpose of sale to ultimate consumers. This chapter is not
intended to exempt any person from tax liability under any
other law. [1989 c 2 § 8 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved
November 8, 1988).]
82.21.010
82.21.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Hazardous substance" means:
(a) Any substance that, on March 1, 2002, is a hazardous
substance under section 101(14) of the federal comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act
of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601(14), as amended by Public Law
82.21.020
[Title 82 RCW—page 169]
82.21.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
99-499 on October 17, 1986, except that hazardous substance
does not include the following noncompound metals when in
solid form in a particle larger than one hundred micrometers
(0.004 inches) in diameter: Antimony, arsenic, beryllium,
cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, silver,
thallium, or zinc;
(b) Petroleum products;
(c) Any pesticide product required to be registered under
section 136a of the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq., as amended by Public Law
104-170 on August 3, 1996; and
(d) Any other substance, category of substance, and any
product or category of product determined by the director of
ecology by rule to present a threat to human health or the
environment if released into the environment. The director of
ecology shall not add or delete substances from this definition more often than twice during each calendar year. For tax
purposes, changes in this definition shall take effect on the
first day of the next month that is at least thirty days after the
effective date of the rule. The word "product" or "products"
as used in this paragraph (d) means an item or items containing both: (i) One or more substances that are hazardous substances under (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection or that are substances or categories of substances determined under this
paragraph (d) to present a threat to human health or the environment if released into the environment; and (ii) one or more
substances that are not hazardous substances.
(2) "Petroleum product" means plant condensate, lubricating oil, gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel motor fuel,
benzol, fuel oil, residual oil, liquefied or liquefiable gases
such as butane, ethane, and propane, and every other product
derived from the refining of crude oil, but the term does not
include crude oil.
(3) "Possession" means the control of a hazardous substance located within this state and includes both actual and
constructive possession. "Actual possession" occurs when
the person with control has physical possession. "Constructive possession" occurs when the person with control does
not have physical possession. "Control" means the power to
sell or use a hazardous substance or to authorize the sale or
use by another.
(4) "Previously taxed hazardous substance" means a hazardous substance in respect to which a tax has been paid
under this chapter and which has not been remanufactured or
reprocessed in any manner (other than mere repackaging or
recycling for beneficial reuse) since the tax was paid.
(5) "Wholesale value" means fair market wholesale
value, determined as nearly as possible according to the
wholesale selling price at the place of use of similar substances of like quality and character, in accordance with rules
of the department.
(6) Except for terms defined in this section, the definitions in chapters 82.04, 82.08, and 82.12 RCW apply to this
chapter. [2002 c 105 § 1; 1989 c 2 § 9 (Initiative Measure
No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]
Effective date—2002 c 105: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002." [2002
c 105 § 2.]
82.21.030
82.21.030 Pollution tax. (1) A tax is imposed on the
privilege of possession of hazardous substances in this state.
[Title 82 RCW—page 170]
The rate of the tax shall be seven-tenths of one percent multiplied by the wholesale value of the substance.
(2) Moneys collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the toxics control accounts under RCW 70.105D.070.
(3) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the tax imposed in this
chapter. The tax due dates, reporting periods, and return
requirements applicable to chapter 82.04 RCW apply equally
to the tax imposed in this chapter. [1989 c 2 § 10 (Initiative
Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]
82.21.040
82.21.040 Exemptions. The following are exempt from
the tax imposed in this chapter:
(1) Any successive possession of a previously taxed hazardous substance. If tax due under this chapter has not been
paid with respect to a hazardous substance, the department
may collect the tax from any person who has had possession
of the hazardous substance. If the tax is paid by any person
other than the first person having taxable possession of a hazardous substance, the amount of tax paid shall constitute a
debt owed by the first person having taxable possession to the
person who paid the tax.
(2) Any possession of a hazardous substance by a natural
person under circumstances where the substance is used, or is
to be used, for a personal or domestic purpose (and not for
any business purpose) by that person or a relative of, or person residing in the same dwelling as, that person.
(3) Any possession of a hazardous substance amount
which is determined as minimal by the department of ecology
and which is possessed by a retailer for the purpose of making sales to ultimate consumers. This exemption does not
apply to pesticide or petroleum products.
(4) Any possession of alumina or natural gas.
(5) Persons or activities which the state is prohibited
from taxing under the United States Constitution.
(6) Any persons possessing a hazardous substance where
such possession first occurred before March 1, 1989. [1989 c
2 § 11 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8,
1988).]
82.21.050
82.21.050 Credits. (1) Credit shall be allowed in accordance with rules of the department of revenue for taxes paid
under this chapter with respect to fuel carried from this state
in the fuel tank of any airplane, ship, truck, or other vehicle.
(2) Credit shall be allowed, in accordance with rules of
the department, against the taxes imposed in this chapter for
any hazardous substance tax paid to another state with
respect to the same hazardous substance. The amount of the
credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this
chapter with respect to that hazardous substance. For the purpose of this subsection:
(a) "Hazardous substance tax" means a tax:
(i) Which is imposed on the act or privilege of possessing hazardous substances, and which is not generally
imposed on other activities or privileges; and
(ii) Which is measured by the value of the hazardous
substance, in terms of wholesale value or other terms, and in
the determination of which the deductions allowed would not
constitute the tax an income tax or value added tax.
(b) "State" means (i) the state of Washington, (ii) a state
of the United States other than Washington, or any political
(2006 Ed.)
Petroleum Products—Underground Storage Tank Program Funding
subdivision of such other state, (iii) the District of Columbia,
and (iv) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof.
[1989 c 2 § 12 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]
82.21.900
See RCW
82.21.905
See RCW
82.21.910
See RCW
82.21.900 Short title—1989 c 2.
70.105D.900.
82.21.905 Captions—1989 c 2.
70.105D.905.
82.21.910 Construction—1989 c 2.
70.105D.910.
82.23A.030
(3) "Previously taxed petroleum product" means a petroleum product in respect to which a tax has been paid under
this chapter and that has not been remanufactured or reprocessed in any manner (other than mere repackaging or recycling for beneficial reuse) since the tax was paid.
(4) "Wholesale value" means fair market wholesale
value, determined as nearly as possible according to the
wholesale selling price at the place of use of similar products
of like quality and character, in accordance with rules of the
department.
(5) Except for terms defined in this section, the definitions in chapters 82.04, 82.08, and 82.12 RCW apply to this
chapter. [2004 c 203 § 4; 1989 c 383 § 15.]
82.23A.020
82.21.915
82.21.915 Existing agreements—1989 c 2. See RCW
70.105D.915.
82.21.920
See RCW
82.21.921
See RCW
82.21.920 Effective date—1989 c 2.
70.105D.920.
82.21.921 Severability—1989 c 2.
70.105D.921.
Chapter 82.23A RCW
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS—UNDERGROUND
STORAGE TANK PROGRAM FUNDING
Chapter 82.23A
(Formerly: Tax on petroleum products)
Sections
82.23A.005 Intent.
82.23A.010 Definitions.
82.23A.020 Tax imposed—Revenue to be used for underground petroleum
storage tank programs.
82.23A.030 Exemptions from tax.
82.23A.040 Credit authorized.
82.23A.900 Effective date—1989 c 383.
82.23A.901 Severability—1989 c 383.
82.23A.902 Expiration date—1996 c 88.
82.23A.005
82.23A.005 Intent. (Expires June 1, 2013.) It is the
intent of this chapter to impose a tax only once for each petroleum product possessed in this state and to tax the first possession of all petroleum products. This chapter is not
intended to exempt any person from tax liability under any
other law. [1989 c 383 § 14.]
82.23A.010
82.23A.010 Definitions. (Expires June 1, 2013.)
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions
in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Petroleum product" means plant condensate, lubricating oil, gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel motor fuel,
benzol, fuel oil, residual oil, and every other product derived
from the refining of crude oil, but the term does not include
crude oil or liquefiable gases.
(2) "Possession" means the control of a petroleum product located within this state and includes both actual and constructive possession. "Actual possession" occurs when the
person with control has physical possession. "Constructive
possession" occurs when the person with control does not
have physical possession. "Control" means the power to sell
or use a petroleum product or to authorize the sale or use by
another.
(2006 Ed.)
82.23A.020 Tax imposed—Revenue to be used for
underground petroleum storage tank programs. (Expires
June 1, 2013.) (1) A tax is imposed on the privilege of possession of petroleum products in this state. The rate of the tax
shall be fifty one-hundredths of one percent multiplied by the
wholesale value of the petroleum product.
(2) Moneys collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the pollution liability insurance program trust account
under RCW 70.148.020.
(3) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the tax imposed in this
chapter. The tax due dates, reporting periods, and return
requirements applicable to chapter 82.04 RCW apply equally
to the tax imposed in this chapter.
(4) Within thirty days after the end of each calendar
quarter the department shall determine the "quarterly balance," which shall be the cash balance in the pollution liability insurance program trust account as of the last day of that
calendar quarter, after excluding the reserves determined for
that quarter under RCW 70.148.020 (2) and (3). Balance
determinations by the department under this section are final
and shall not be used to challenge the validity of any tax
imposed under this section. For each subsequent calendar
quarter, tax shall be imposed under this section during the
entire calendar quarter unless:
(a) Tax was imposed under this section during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the most recent quarterly balance is more than fifteen million dollars; or
(b) Tax was not imposed under this section during the
immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the most recent
quarterly balance is more than seven million five hundred
thousand dollars. [1991 c 4 § 8; 1990 c 64 § 12; 1989 c 383
§ 16.]
Severability—1991 c 4: See note following RCW 70.148.120.
82.23A.030
82.23A.030 Exemptions from tax. (Expires June 1,
2013.) The following are exempt from the tax imposed in
this chapter:
(1) Any successive possession of a previously taxed
petroleum product. If tax due under this chapter has not been
paid with respect to a petroleum product, the department may
collect the tax from any person who has had possession of the
petroleum product. If the tax is paid by any person other than
the first person having taxable possession of a petroleum
product, the amount of tax paid shall constitute a debt owed
by the first person having taxable possession to the person
who paid the tax.
[Title 82 RCW—page 171]
82.23A.040
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(2) Any possession of a petroleum product by a natural
person under circumstances where the substance is used, or is
to be used, for a personal or domestic purpose (and not for
any business purpose) by that person or a relative of, or person residing in the same dwelling as, that person.
(3) Persons or activities which the state is prohibited
from taxing under the United States Constitution.
(4) Any persons possessing a petroleum product where
such possession first occurred before July 1, 1989.
(5) Any possession of (a) natural gas, (b) petroleum
coke, or (c) liquid fuel or fuel gas used in petroleum processing.
(6) Any possession of petroleum products that are
exported for use or sale outside this state as fuel.
(7) Any possession of petroleum products packaged for
sale to ultimate consumers. [1989 c 383 § 17.]
82.23A.040
82.23A.040 Credit authorized. (Expires June 1,
2013.) (1) Credit shall be allowed in accordance with rules of
the department of revenue for taxes paid under this chapter
with respect to fuel carried from this state in the fuel tank of
any airplane, ship, truck, or other vehicle.
(2) Credit shall be allowed, in accordance with rules of
the department, against the taxes imposed in this chapter for
any petroleum product tax paid to another state with respect
to the same petroleum product. The amount of the credit shall
not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with
respect to that petroleum product. For the purpose of this subsection:
(a) "Petroleum product tax" means a tax:
(i) That is imposed on the act or privilege of possessing
petroleum products, and that is not generally imposed on
other activities or privileges; and
(ii) That is measured by the value of the petroleum product, in terms of wholesale value or other terms, and in the
determination of which the deductions allowed would not
constitute the tax an income tax or value added tax.
(b) "State" means (i) a state of the United States other
than Washington, or any political subdivision of such other
state, (ii) the District of Columbia, and (iii) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof. [1989 c 383 § 18.]
82.23A.900
82.23A.900 Effective date—1989 c 383. (Expires June
1, 2013.) This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall
take effect immediately, except RCW 82.23A.005 through
82.23A.040 shall take effect July 1, 1989. [1989 c 383 § 22.]
Chapter 82.23B
Chapter 82.23B RCW
OIL SPILL RESPONSE TAX
Sections
82.23B.010
82.23B.020
82.23B.030
82.23B.040
82.23B.045
82.23B.050
82.23B.060
82.23B.900
82.23B.901
82.23B.902
Definitions.
Oil spill response tax—Oil spill administration tax.
Exemption.
Credit—Crude oil or petroleum exported or sold for export.
Refund or credit—Petroleum products used by consumers for
nonfuel purpose or used in manufacture of nonfuel item.
Rules.
Imposition of taxes.
Effective dates—Severability—1991 c 200.
Savings—1992 c 73.
Effective dates—1992 c 73.
82.23B.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Barrel" means a unit of measurement of volume
equal to forty-two United States gallons of crude oil or petroleum product.
(2) "Crude oil" means any naturally occurring liquid
hydrocarbons at atmospheric temperature and pressure coming from the earth, including condensate and natural gasoline.
(3) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(4) "Marine terminal" means a facility of any kind, other
than a waterborne vessel, that is used for transferring crude
oil or petroleum products to or from a waterborne vessel or
barge.
(5) "Navigable waters" means those waters of the state
and their adjoining shorelines that are subject to the ebb and
flow of the tide, including the Columbia and Snake rivers.
(6) "Person" has the meaning provided in RCW
82.04.030.
(7) "Petroleum product" means any liquid hydrocarbons
at atmospheric temperature and pressure that are the product
of the fractionation, distillation, or other refining or processing of crude oil, and that are used as, useable as, or may be
refined as a fuel or fuel blendstock, including but not limited
to, gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, bunker fuel, and fuels
containing a blend of alcohol and petroleum.
(8) "Taxpayer" means the person owning crude oil or
petroleum products immediately after receipt of the same into
the storage tanks of a marine terminal in this state from a
waterborne vessel or barge and who is liable for the taxes
imposed by this chapter.
(9) "Waterborne vessel or barge" means any ship, barge,
or other watercraft capable of travelling on the navigable
waters of this state and capable of transporting any crude oil
or petroleum product in quantities of ten thousand gallons or
more for purposes other than providing fuel for its motor or
engine. [1992 c 73 § 6; 1991 c 200 § 801.]
82.23B.010
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.020 Oil spill response tax—Oil spill administration tax. (Effective until August 1, 2006.) (1) An oil spill
response tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude
oil or petroleum products at a marine terminal within this
state from a waterborne vessel or barge operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax imposed in this section is
levied upon the owner of the crude oil or petroleum products
immediately after receipt of the same into the storage tanks of
a marine terminal from a waterborne vessel or barge at the
82.23B.020
82.23A.901
82.23A.901 Severability—1989 c 383.
70.148.901.
See RCW
82.23A.902
82.23A.902 Expiration date—1996 c 88. This chapter
shall expire on June 1, 2013, coinciding with the expiration of
chapter 70.148 RCW. [2006 c 276 § 5; 2000 c 16 § 3; 1996 c
88 § 3.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 172]
(2006 Ed.)
Oil Spill Response Tax
rate of one cent per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product
received.
(2) In addition to the tax imposed in subsection (1) of this
section, an oil spill administration tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude oil or petroleum products at a marine
terminal within this state from a waterborne vessel or barge
operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax
imposed in this section is levied upon the owner of the crude
oil or petroleum products immediately after receipt of the
same into the storage tanks of a marine terminal from a
waterborne vessel or barge at the rate of four cents per barrel
of crude oil or petroleum product.
(3) The taxes imposed by this chapter shall be collected
by the marine terminal operator from the taxpayer. If any
person charged with collecting the taxes fails to bill the taxpayer for the taxes, or in the alternative has not notified the
taxpayer in writing of the imposition of the taxes, or having
collected the taxes, fails to pay them to the department in the
manner prescribed by this chapter, whether such failure is the
result of the person’s own acts or the result of acts or conditions beyond the person’s control, he or she shall, nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount of the
taxes. Payment of the taxes by the owner to a marine terminal operator shall relieve the owner from further liability for
the taxes.
(4) Taxes collected under this chapter shall be held in
trust until paid to the department. Any person collecting the
taxes who appropriates or converts the taxes collected shall
be guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the money required to be
collected is not available for payment on the date payment is
due. The taxes required by this chapter to be collected shall
be stated separately from other charges made by the marine
terminal operator in any invoice or other statement of account
provided to the taxpayer.
(5) If a taxpayer fails to pay the taxes imposed by this
chapter to the person charged with collection of the taxes and
the person charged with collection fails to pay the taxes to the
department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed
directly against the taxpayer for collection of the taxes.
(6) The taxes shall be due from the marine terminal operator, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed by
the department, within twenty days after the end of the month
in which the taxable activity occurs.
(7) The amount of taxes, until paid by the taxpayer to the
marine terminal operator or to the department, shall constitute a debt from the taxpayer to the marine terminal operator.
Any person required to collect the taxes under this chapter
who, with intent to violate the provisions of this chapter, fails
or refuses to do so as required and any taxpayer who refuses
to pay any taxes due under this chapter, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor as provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(8) Upon prior approval of the department, the taxpayer
may pay the taxes imposed by this chapter directly to the
department. The department shall give its approval for direct
payment under this section whenever it appears, in the
department’s judgment, that direct payment will enhance the
administration of the taxes imposed under this chapter. The
department shall provide by rule for the issuance of a direct
payment certificate to any taxpayer qualifying for direct payment of the taxes. Good faith acceptance of a direct payment
certificate by a terminal operator shall relieve the marine ter(2006 Ed.)
82.23B.020
minal operator from any liability for the collection or payment of the taxes imposed under this chapter.
(9) All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (1) of
this section shall be deposited into the state oil spill response
account. All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (2)
of this section shall be deposited into the oil spill prevention
account.
(10) Within forty-five days after the end of each calendar
quarter, the office of financial management shall determine
the balance of the oil spill response account as of the last day
of that calendar quarter. Balance determinations by the office
of financial management under this section are final and shall
not be used to challenge the validity of any tax imposed under
this chapter. The office of financial management shall
promptly notify the departments of revenue and ecology of
the account balance once a determination is made. For each
subsequent calendar quarter, the tax imposed by subsection
(1) of this section shall be imposed during the entire calendar
quarter unless:
(a) Tax was imposed under subsection (1) of this section
during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the
most recent quarterly balance is more than nine million dollars; or
(b) Tax was not imposed under subsection (1) of this section during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and
the most recent quarterly balance is more than eight million
dollars. [2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 9; 2000 c 69 § 25; 1999 sp.s. c
7 § 1; 1997 c 449 § 2; 1995 c 399 § 214; 1992 c 73 § 7; 1991
c 200 § 802.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[June 7, 1999]." [1999 sp.s. c 7 § 4.]
Effective date—1997 c 449: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 449 § 6.]
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.020
82.23B.020 Oil spill response tax—Oil spill administration tax. (Effective August 1, 2006.) (1) An oil spill
response tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude
oil or petroleum products at a marine terminal within this
state from a waterborne vessel or barge operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax imposed in this section is
levied upon the owner of the crude oil or petroleum products
immediately after receipt of the same into the storage tanks of
a marine terminal from a waterborne vessel or barge at the
rate of one cent per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product
received.
(2) In addition to the tax imposed in subsection (1) of this
section, an oil spill administration tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude oil or petroleum products at a marine
terminal within this state from a waterborne vessel or barge
operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax
imposed in this section is levied upon the owner of the crude
oil or petroleum products immediately after receipt of the
same into the storage tanks of a marine terminal from a
waterborne vessel or barge at the rate of four cents per barrel
of crude oil or petroleum product.
[Title 82 RCW—page 173]
82.23B.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) The taxes imposed by this chapter shall be collected
by the marine terminal operator from the taxpayer. If any
person charged with collecting the taxes fails to bill the taxpayer for the taxes, or in the alternative has not notified the
taxpayer in writing of the imposition of the taxes, or having
collected the taxes, fails to pay them to the department in the
manner prescribed by this chapter, whether such failure is the
result of the person’s own acts or the result of acts or conditions beyond the person’s control, he or she shall, nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount of the
taxes. Payment of the taxes by the owner to a marine terminal operator shall relieve the owner from further liability for
the taxes.
(4) Taxes collected under this chapter shall be held in
trust until paid to the department. Any person collecting the
taxes who appropriates or converts the taxes collected shall
be guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the money required to be
collected is not available for payment on the date payment is
due. The taxes required by this chapter to be collected shall
be stated separately from other charges made by the marine
terminal operator in any invoice or other statement of account
provided to the taxpayer.
(5) If a taxpayer fails to pay the taxes imposed by this
chapter to the person charged with collection of the taxes and
the person charged with collection fails to pay the taxes to the
department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed
directly against the taxpayer for collection of the taxes.
(6) The taxes shall be due from the marine terminal operator, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed by
the department, within twenty-five days after the end of the
month in which the taxable activity occurs.
(7) The amount of taxes, until paid by the taxpayer to the
marine terminal operator or to the department, shall constitute a debt from the taxpayer to the marine terminal operator.
Any person required to collect the taxes under this chapter
who, with intent to violate the provisions of this chapter, fails
or refuses to do so as required and any taxpayer who refuses
to pay any taxes due under this chapter, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor as provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(8) Upon prior approval of the department, the taxpayer
may pay the taxes imposed by this chapter directly to the
department. The department shall give its approval for direct
payment under this section whenever it appears, in the
department’s judgment, that direct payment will enhance the
administration of the taxes imposed under this chapter. The
department shall provide by rule for the issuance of a direct
payment certificate to any taxpayer qualifying for direct payment of the taxes. Good faith acceptance of a direct payment
certificate by a terminal operator shall relieve the marine terminal operator from any liability for the collection or payment of the taxes imposed under this chapter.
(9) All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (1) of
this section shall be deposited into the state oil spill response
account. All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (2)
of this section shall be deposited into the oil spill prevention
account.
(10) Within forty-five days after the end of each calendar
quarter, the office of financial management shall determine
the balance of the oil spill response account as of the last day
of that calendar quarter. Balance determinations by the office
of financial management under this section are final and shall
[Title 82 RCW—page 174]
not be used to challenge the validity of any tax imposed under
this chapter. The office of financial management shall
promptly notify the departments of revenue and ecology of
the account balance once a determination is made. For each
subsequent calendar quarter, the tax imposed by subsection
(1) of this section shall be imposed during the entire calendar
quarter unless:
(a) Tax was imposed under subsection (1) of this section
during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the
most recent quarterly balance is more than nine million dollars; or
(b) Tax was not imposed under subsection (1) of this section during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and
the most recent quarterly balance is more than eight million
dollars. [2006 c 256 § 2; 2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 9; 2000 c 69 §
25; 1999 sp.s. c 7 § 1; 1997 c 449 § 2; 1995 c 399 § 214; 1992
c 73 § 7; 1991 c 200 § 802.]
Effective dates—Application—Savings—2006 c 256: See notes following RCW 82.32.045.
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[June 7, 1999]." [1999 sp.s. c 7 § 4.]
Effective date—1997 c 449: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997."
[1997 c 449 § 6.]
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.030
82.23B.030 Exemption. The taxes imposed under this
chapter shall only apply to the first receipt of crude oil or
petroleum products at a marine terminal in this state and not
to the later transporting and subsequent receipt of the same
oil or petroleum product, whether in the form originally
received at a marine terminal in this state or after refining or
other processing. [1992 c 73 § 9; 1991 c 200 § 803.]
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.040
82.23B.040 Credit—Crude oil or petroleum exported
or sold for export. Credit shall be allowed against the taxes
imposed under this chapter for any crude oil or petroleum
products received at a marine terminal and subsequently
exported from or sold for export from the state. [1992 c 73 §
10; 1991 c 200 § 804.]
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.045
82.23B.045 Refund or credit—Petroleum products
used by consumers for nonfuel purpose or used in manufacture of nonfuel item. (1) Any person having paid the tax
imposed by this chapter who uses petroleum products as a
consumer for a purpose other than as a fuel may claim refund
or credit against the tax imposed under this chapter. For this
purpose, the term consumer shall be defined as provided in
RCW 82.04.190.
(2) Any person having paid the tax imposed by this chapter who uses petroleum products as a component or ingredient in the manufacture of an item which is not a fuel may
claim a refund or credit against the tax imposed by this chapter.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Cigarettes
(3) The amount of refund or credit claimed under this
section may not exceed the amount of tax paid by the person
making such claim on the petroleum products so consumed
or used. The refund or credit allowed by this section shall be
claimed on such forms and subject to such requirements as
the department may prescribe by rule. [1992 c 73 § 8.]
Severability—1992 c 73: See RCW 90.56.905.
82.23B.050
82.23B.050 Rules. The department shall adopt such
rules as may be necessary to enforce and administer the provisions of this chapter. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the
administration, collection, and enforcement of the taxes levied under this chapter. [1991 c 200 § 808.]
82.24.235
82.24.250
82.24.260
82.24.280
82.24.290
82.24.295
82.24.300
82.24.500
82.24.510
82.24.520
82.24.530
82.24.540
82.24.550
82.23B.060
82.23B.060 Imposition of taxes. The taxes imposed in
this chapter shall take effect October 1, 1991. [1991 c 200 §
809.]
82.23B.900 Effective dates—Severability—1991 c
See RCW 90.56.901 and 90.56.904.
82.23B.900
200.
82.24.551
82.24.560
82.24.570
82.24.900
82.24.010
Rules.
Transportation of unstamped cigarettes—Invoices and delivery tickets required—Stop and inspect.
Selling or disposal of unstamped cigarettes—Person to pay
and remit tax or affix stamps—Liability.
Liability from tax increase—Interest and penalties on unpaid
tax—Administration.
Exceptions—Federal instrumentalities and purchasers from
federal instrumentalities.
Exceptions—Sales by Indian retailer under cigarette tax contract.
Exceptions—Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
Business of cigarette purchase, sale, consignment, or distribution—License required—Penalty.
Wholesaler’s and retailer’s licenses—Application and issuance—Criminal background check.
Wholesaler’s license—Fee—Display of license—Bond.
Retailer’s license—Vending machines.
Licensee to operate within scope of license—Penalty.
Enforcement—Rules—Notice—Hearing—Reinstatement of
license—Appeal.
Enforcement—Appointment of officers of liquor control
board.
Fees and penalties credited to general fund.
Counterfeit cigarette offenses—Penalties.
Construction—1961 c 15.
Minors: Chapter 70.155 RCW.
82.24.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the liquor control board.
(2) "Cigarette" means any roll for smoking made wholly
or in part of tobacco, irrespective of size or shape and irrespective of the tobacco being flavored, adulterated, or mixed
with any other ingredient, where such roll has a wrapper or
cover made of paper or any material, except where such
wrapper is wholly or in the greater part made of natural leaf
tobacco in its natural state.
(3) "Indian tribal organization" means a federally recognized Indian tribe, or tribal entity, and includes an Indian
wholesaler or retailer that is owned by an Indian who is an
enrolled tribal member conducting business under tribal
license or similar tribal approval within Indian country. For
purposes of this chapter "Indian country" is defined in the
manner set forth in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151.
(4) "Precollection obligation" means the obligation of a
seller otherwise exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter
to collect the tax from that seller’s buyer.
(5) "Retailer" means every person, other than a wholesaler, who purchases, sells, offers for sale or distributes any
one or more of the articles taxed herein, irrespective of quantity or amount, or the number of sales, and all persons operating under a retailer’s registration certificate.
(6) "Retail selling price" means the ordinary, customary
or usual price paid by the consumer for each package of cigarettes, less the tax levied by this chapter and less any similar
tax levied by this state.
(7) "Stamp" means the stamp or stamps by use of which
the tax levy under this chapter is paid or identification is
made of those cigarettes with respect to which no tax is
imposed.
(8) "Wholesaler" means every person who purchases,
sells, or distributes any one or more of the articles taxed
herein to retailers for the purpose of resale only.
(9) The meaning attributed, in chapter 82.04 RCW, to the
words "person," "sale," "business" and "successor" applies
equally in this chapter. [1997 c 420 § 3; 1995 c 278 § 1; 1961
82.24.010
82.23B.901
82.23B.901 Savings—1992 c 73. The amendment of
RCW 82.23B.010, 82.23B.020, 82.23B.030, and 82.23B.040
by chapter 73, Laws of 1992, shall not be construed as affecting any existing right acquired or liability or obligation
incurred under the sections or under any rule or order adopted
under the sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted
under the sections. [1992 c 73 § 44.]
82.23B.902
82.23B.902 Effective dates—1992 c 73. This act is
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 26, 1992], except sections 6, 7, 9, and 10 of this act
shall take effect October 1, 1992. [1992 c 73 § 46.]
Chapter 82.24
Chapter 82.24 RCW
TAX ON CIGARETTES
Sections
82.24.010
82.24.020
82.24.026
82.24.027
82.24.028
82.24.030
82.24.035
82.24.040
82.24.050
82.24.060
82.24.080
82.24.090
82.24.100
82.24.110
82.24.120
82.24.130
82.24.135
82.24.140
82.24.145
82.24.180
82.24.190
82.24.210
82.24.230
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Tax imposed—Additional taxes for specific purposes—
Absorption of tax—Possession defined.
Additional tax imposed—Deposit into accounts.
Additional tax imposed—Rate—Where deposited.
Additional tax imposed—Rate—Health services account.
Stamps.
Circumstances when no stamp may be affixed—Violation of
consumer protection act.
Duty of wholesaler.
Retailer—Possession of unstamped cigarettes.
Stamps—How affixed.
Legislative intent—Taxable event—Tax liability.
Records—Preservation—Reports.
Forgery or counterfeiting of stamps—Penalty.
Other offenses—Penalties.
Violations—Penalties and interest.
Seizure and forfeiture.
Forfeiture procedure.
Forfeiture procedure—Seizures—Notice—Claimant’s bond—
Court proceedings.
Forfeited property—Retention, sale, or destruction—Use of
sale proceeds.
Seized property may be returned—Penalty, interest.
Search and seizure.
Redemption of stamps.
Administration.
[Title 82 RCW—page 175]
82.24.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
c 15 § 82.24.010. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 9; 1949 c 228 § 14;
1935 c 180 § 83; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-83.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 278 § 17.]
82.24.020
82.24.020 Tax imposed—Additional taxes for specific purposes—Absorption of tax—Possession defined.
(1) There is levied and there shall be collected as provided in
this chapter, a tax upon the sale, use, consumption, handling,
possession or distribution of all cigarettes, in an amount equal
to the rate of eleven and one-half mills per cigarette.
(2) An additional tax is imposed upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of all cigarettes, in an amount equal to the rate of five and one-fourth
mills per cigarette. All revenues collected during any month
from this additional tax shall be deposited in the violence
reduction and drug enforcement account under RCW
69.50.520 by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.
(3) An additional tax is imposed upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of all cigarettes, in an amount equal to the rate of ten mills per cigarette
through June 30, 1994, eleven and one-fourth mills per cigarette for the period July 1, 1994, through June 30, 1995,
twenty mills per cigarette for the period July 1, 1995, through
June 30, 1996, and twenty and one-half mills per cigarette
thereafter. All revenues collected during any month from this
additional tax shall be deposited in the health services
account created under RCW 43.72.900 by the twenty-fifth
day of the following month.
(4) Wholesalers subject to the payment of this tax may, if
they wish, absorb one-half mill per cigarette of the tax and
not pass it on to purchasers without being in violation of this
section or any other act relating to the sale or taxation of cigarettes.
(5) For purposes of this chapter, "possession" shall mean
both (a) physical possession by the purchaser and, (b) when
cigarettes are being transported to or held for the purchaser or
his or her designee by a person other than the purchaser, constructive possession by the purchaser or his or her designee,
which constructive possession shall be deemed to occur at the
location of the cigarettes being so transported or held. [2003
c 114 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 904 (Referendum Bill No. 43,
approved November 8, 1994); 1993 c 492 § 307; 1989 c 271
§ 504; 1987 c 80 § 1; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 15; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 35 § 8; 1981 c 172 § 6; 1972 ex.s. c 157 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c
299 § 13; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 23; 1961 ex.s. c 24 § 3; 1961 c
15 § 82.24.020. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 2; prior: 1949 c 228 §
13, part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part; 1939 c
225 § 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
8370-82, part.]
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
Finding—Intent—Severability—Effective dates—Contingent expiration date—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Effective dates—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 66.28.200.
[Title 82 RCW—page 176]
Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 157: "If any provision of this 1972 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of this 1972 amendatory act, or the application of the provision to
other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1972 ex.s. c 157 § 8.]
82.24.026
82.24.026 Additional tax imposed—Deposit into
accounts. (1) In addition to the tax imposed upon the sale,
use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of
cigarettes set forth in RCW 82.24.020, there is imposed a tax
in an amount equal to the rate of thirty mills per cigarette.
(2) The revenue collected under this section shall be
deposited as follows:
(a) 21.7 percent shall be deposited into the health services account.
(b) 2.8 percent shall be deposited into the general fund.
(c) 2.3 percent shall be deposited into the violence reduction and drug enforcement account under RCW 69.50.520.
(d) 1.7 percent shall be deposited into the water quality
account under RCW 70.146.030.
(e) The remainder shall be deposited into the education
legacy trust account. [2005 c 514 § 1102.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.24.027
82.24.027 Additional tax imposed—Rate—Where
deposited. (1) There is hereby levied and there shall be collected by the department of revenue from the persons mentioned in and in the manner provided by this chapter, an additional tax upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of cigarettes in an amount equal to the
rate of four mills per cigarette.
(2) The moneys collected under this section shall be
deposited as follows:
(a) For the period ending July 1, 1999, in the water quality account under RCW 70.146.030;
(b) For the period beginning July 1, 1999, through June
30, 2001, fifty percent into the violence reduction and drug
enforcement account under RCW 69.50.520 and fifty percent
into the salmon recovery account;
(c) For the period beginning July 1, 2001, through June
30, 2021, into the water quality account under RCW
70.146.030; and
(d) For the period beginning July 1, 2021, in the general
fund. [1999 c 309 § 925; 1986 c 3 § 12.]
Severability—Effective date—1999 c 309: See notes following RCW
41.06.152.
Effective dates—1986 c 3: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately except sections 12 through 15 of this act shall take effect April 1,
1986." [1986 c 3 § 18.]
Severability—1986 c 3: See RCW 70.146.900.
82.24.028
82.24.028 Additional tax imposed—Rate—Health
services account. In addition to the tax imposed upon the
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Cigarettes
sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution
of cigarettes set forth in RCW 82.24.020, there is imposed a
tax in an amount equal to the rate of thirty mills per cigarette
effective January 1, 2002. All revenues collected during any
month from this additional tax shall be deposited in the health
services account created under RCW 43.72.900 by the
twenty-fifth day of the following month. [2002 c 2 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 773, approved November 6, 2001).]
Intent—2002 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 773): See RCW 70.47.002.
82.24.030
82.24.030 Stamps. (1) In order to enforce collection of
the tax hereby levied, the department of revenue shall design
and have printed stamps of such size and denominations as
may be determined by the department. The stamps must be
affixed on the smallest container or package that will be handled, sold, used, consumed, or distributed, to permit the
department to readily ascertain by inspection, whether or not
such tax has been paid or whether an exemption from the tax
applies.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, only a
wholesaler shall cause to be affixed on every package of cigarettes, stamps of an amount equaling the tax due thereon or
stamps identifying the cigarettes as exempt before he or she
sells, offers for sale, uses, consumes, handles, removes, or
otherwise disturbs and distributes the same: PROVIDED,
That where it is established to the satisfaction of the department that it is impractical to affix such stamps to the smallest
container or package, the department may authorize the affixing of stamps of appropriate denomination to a large container or package.
(3) Only wholesalers may purchase or obtain cigarette
stamps. Wholesalers shall not sell or provide stamps to any
other wholesaler or person.
(4) Each roll of stamps, or group of sheets, shall have a
separate serial number, which shall be legible at the point of
sale. The department of revenue shall keep records of which
wholesaler purchases each roll or group of sheets. If the
department of revenue permits wholesalers to purchase partial rolls or sheets, in no case may stamps bearing the same
serial number be sold to more than one wholesaler. The
remainder of the roll or sheet, if any, shall either be retained
for later purchases by the same wholesaler or destroyed.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting
any otherwise lawful activity under a cigarette tax compact
pursuant to chapter 43.06 RCW. [2003 c 114 § 2; 1995 c 278
§ 2; 1990 c 216 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 61; 1961 c 15 §
82.24.030. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 3; prior: 1949 c 228 § 13,
part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part; 1939 c 225
§ 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-82,
part.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.035
82.24.035 Circumstances when no stamp may be
affixed—Violation of consumer protection act. (1) No
stamp may be affixed to, or made upon, any container or
package of cigarettes if:
(a) The container or package differs in any respect with
the requirements of the federal cigarette labeling and adver(2006 Ed.)
82.24.040
tising act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 et seq.) for the placement of
labels, warnings, or any other information upon a package of
cigarettes that is to be sold within the United States;
(b) The container or package has been imported into the
United States after January 1, 2000, in violation of 26 U.S.C.
Sec. 5754;
(c) The container or package, including a container of
individually stamped containers or packages, is labeled "For
Export Only," "U.S. Tax Exempt," "For Use Outside U.S.,"
or similar wording indicating that the manufacturer did not
intend that the product be sold in the United States; or
(d) The container or package has been altered by adding
or deleting the wording, labels, or warnings described in (a)
or (c) of this subsection.
(2) In addition to the penalty and forfeiture provisions
otherwise provided for in this chapter, a violation of this section is a deceptive act or practice under the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. [1999 c 193 § 5.]
Intent—Finding—1999 c 193: "(1) Cigarette smoking presents serious
public health concerns to the state and to the citizens of the state. The surgeon general has determined that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease,
and other serious diseases and that there are hundreds of thousands of
tobacco-related deaths in the United States each year. These diseases most
often do not appear until many years after the person in question begins
smoking.
(2) It is the policy of the state that consumers be adequately informed
about the adverse health effects of cigarette smoking by including warning
notices on each package of cigarettes.
(3) It is the policy of the state that manufacturers and importers of cigarettes not make any material misrepresentation of fact regarding the health
consequences of using cigarettes, including compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, and policies.
(4) It is the intent of the legislature to align state law with federal laws,
regulations, and policies relating to the manufacture, importation, and marketing of cigarettes, and in particular, the federal cigarette labeling and
advertising act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 et seq.) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5754.
(5) The legislature finds that consumers and retailers purchasing cigarettes are entitled to be fully informed about any adverse health effects of
cigarette smoking by inclusion of warning notices on each package of cigarettes and to be assured through appropriate enforcement measures that cigarettes they purchase were manufactured for consumption within the United
States." [1999 c 193 § 1.]
Severability—1999 c 193: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 c 193 § 6.]
Effective date—1999 c 193: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 5, 1999]." [1999 c 193 § 7.]
82.24.040
82.24.040 Duty of wholesaler. (1) Except as authorized
by this chapter, no person other than a licensed wholesaler
shall possess in this state unstamped cigarettes.
(2) No wholesaler in this state may possess within this
state unstamped cigarettes except that:
(a) Every wholesaler in the state who is licensed under
Washington state law may possess within this state
unstamped cigarettes for such period of time after receipt as
is reasonably necessary to affix the stamps as required; and
(b) Any wholesaler in the state who is licensed under
Washington state law and who furnishes a surety bond in a
sum satisfactory to the department, shall be permitted to set
aside, without affixing the stamps required by this chapter,
such part of the wholesaler’s stock as may be necessary for
the conduct of the wholesaler’s business in making sales to
[Title 82 RCW—page 177]
82.24.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
persons in another state or foreign country or to instrumentalities of the federal government. Such unstamped stock shall
be kept separate and apart from stamped stock.
(3) Every wholesaler licensed under Washington state
law shall, at the time of shipping or delivering any of the articles taxed herein to a point outside of this state or to a federal
instrumentality, make a true duplicate invoice of the same
which shall show full and complete details of the sale or
delivery, whether or not stamps were affixed thereto, and
shall transmit such true duplicate invoice to the department,
at Olympia, not later than the fifteenth day of the following
calendar month. For failure to comply with the requirements
of this section, the department may revoke the permission
granted to the taxpayer to maintain a stock of goods to which
the stamps required by this chapter have not been affixed.
(4) Unstamped cigarettes possessed by a wholesaler
under subsection (2) of this section that are transferred by the
wholesaler to another facility of the wholesaler within the
borders of Washington shall be transferred in compliance
with RCW 82.24.250.
(5) Every wholesaler who is licensed by Washington
state law shall sell cigarettes to retailers located in Washington only if the retailer has a current cigarette retailer’s license
or is an Indian tribal organization authorized to possess
untaxed cigarettes under this chapter and the rules adopted by
the department.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting
any otherwise lawful activity under a cigarette tax compact
pursuant to chapter 43.06 RCW. [2003 c 114 § 3; 1995 c 278
§ 3; 1990 c 216 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 214 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
82.24.040. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 4; prior: 1949 c 228 § 13,
part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part; 1939 c 225
§ 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-82,
part.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
82.24.050
82.24.050 Retailer—Possession of unstamped cigarettes. (1) No retailer in this state may possess unstamped
cigarettes within this state unless the person is also a wholesaler in possession of the cigarettes in accordance with RCW
82.24.040.
(2) A retailer may obtain cigarettes only from a wholesaler subject to the provisions of this chapter. [2003 c 114 §
4; 1995 c 278 § 4; 1990 c 216 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 214 § 2; 1961
c 15 § 82.24.050. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 5; prior: 1949 c 228 §
13, part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part; 1939 c
225 § 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
8370-82, part.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
225 § 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
8370-82, part.]
82.24.080
82.24.080 Legislative intent—Taxable event—Tax
liability. (1) It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to
levy a tax on all of the articles taxed under this chapter, sold,
used, consumed, handled, possessed, or distributed within
this state and to collect the tax from the person who first sells,
uses, consumes, handles, possesses (either physically or constructively, in accordance with RCW 82.24.020) or distributes them in the state. It is further the intent and purpose of
this chapter that whenever any of the articles taxed under this
chapter is given away for advertising or any other purpose, it
shall be taxed in the same manner as if it were sold, used,
consumed, handled, possessed, or distributed in this state.
(2) It is also the intent and purpose of this chapter that the
tax shall be imposed at the time and place of the first taxable
event and upon the first taxable person within this state. Any
person whose activities would otherwise require payment of
the tax imposed by subsection (1) of this section but who is
exempt from the tax nevertheless has a precollection obligation for the tax that must be imposed on the first taxable event
within this state. A precollection obligation may not be
imposed upon a person exempt from the tax who sells, distributes, or transfers possession of cigarettes to another person who, by law, is exempt from the tax imposed by this
chapter or upon whom the obligation for collection of the tax
may not be imposed. Failure to pay the tax with respect to a
taxable event shall not prevent tax liability from arising by
reason of a subsequent taxable event.
(3) In the event of an increase in the rate of the tax
imposed under this chapter, it is the intent of the legislature
that the first person who sells, uses, consumes, handles, possesses, or distributes previously taxed articles after the effective date of the rate increase shall be liable for the additional
tax, or its precollection obligation as required by this chapter,
represented by the rate increase. The failure to pay the additional tax with respect to the first taxable event after the
effective date of a rate increase shall not prevent tax liability
for the additional tax from arising from a subsequent taxable
event. [1995 c 278 § 5; 1993 c 492 § 308; 1972 ex.s. c 157 §
4; 1961 c 15 § 82.24.080. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 8; prior: 1949
c 228 § 13, part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part;
1939 c 225 § 23, part; 1935 c 180 § 82, part; Rem. Supp. 1949
§ 8370-82, part.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 157: See note following RCW 82.24.020.
82.24.060
82.24.060 Stamps—How affixed. Stamps shall be
affixed in such manner that they cannot be removed from the
package or container without being mutilated or destroyed,
which stamps so affixed shall be evidence of the tax imposed.
In the case of cigarettes contained in individual packages, as distinguished from cartons or larger units, the stamps
shall be affixed securely on each individual package. [1961 c
15 § 82.24.060. Prior: 1959 c 270 § 6; prior: 1949 c 228 §
13, part; 1943 c 156 § 11, part; 1941 c 178 § 13, part; 1939 c
[Title 82 RCW—page 178]
82.24.090 Records—Preservation—Reports. (1)
Every wholesaler or retailer subject to the provisions of this
chapter shall keep and preserve for a period of five years an
accurate set of records. These records must show all transactions relating to the purchase and sale of any of the articles
taxed under this chapter and show all physical inventories
performed on those articles, all invoices, and a record of all
stamps purchased. All such records and all stock of taxable
articles on hand shall be open to inspection at all reasonable
82.24.090
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Cigarettes
times by the department of revenue or its duly authorized
agent.
(2) All wholesalers shall within fifteen days after the first
day of each month file with the department of revenue a
report of all drop shipment sales made by them to retailers
within this state during the preceding month. The report shall
show the name and address of the retailer to whom the cigarettes were sold, the kind and quantity, and the date of delivery thereof. [1995 c 278 § 6; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 62; 1961
c 15 § 82.24.090. Prior: 1941 c 178 § 14; 1939 c 225 § 24;
1935 c 180 § 84; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-84.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.100 Forgery or counterfeiting of stamps—Penalty. To forge or counterfeit any stamp of the kind herein
provided is a felony. [1961 c 15 § 82.24.100. Prior: 1935 c
180 § 85; RRS § 8370-85.]
82.24.100
82.24.110 Other offenses—Penalties. (1) Each of the
following acts is a gross misdemeanor and punishable as
such:
(a) To sell, except as a licensed wholesaler engaged in
interstate commerce as to the article being taxed herein, without the stamp first being affixed;
(b) To sell in Washington as a wholesaler to a retailer
who does not possess and is required to possess a current cigarette retailer’s license;
(c) To use or have in possession knowingly or intentionally any forged or counterfeit stamps;
(d) For any person other than the department of revenue
or its duly authorized agent to sell any stamps not affixed to
any of the articles taxed herein whether such stamps are genuine or counterfeit;
(e) To violate any of the provisions of this chapter;
(f) To violate any lawful rule made and published by the
department of revenue or the board;
(g) To use any stamps more than once;
(h) To refuse to allow the department of revenue or its
duly authorized agent, on demand, to make full inspection of
any place of business where any of the articles herein taxed
are sold or otherwise hinder or prevent such inspection;
(i) For any retailer to have in possession in any place of
business any of the articles herein taxed, unless the same
have the proper stamps attached;
(j) For any person to make, use, or present or exhibit to
the department of revenue or its duly authorized agent, any
invoice for any of the articles herein taxed which bears an
untrue date or falsely states the nature or quantity of the
goods therein invoiced;
(k) For any wholesaler or retailer or his or her agents or
employees to fail to produce on demand of the department of
revenue all invoices of all the articles herein taxed or stamps
bought by him or her or received in his or her place of business within five years prior to such demand unless he or she
can show by satisfactory proof that the nonproduction of the
invoices was due to causes beyond his or her control;
(l) For any person to receive in this state any shipment of
any of the articles taxed herein, when the same are not
stamped, for the purpose of avoiding payment of tax. It is
82.24.110
(2006 Ed.)
82.24.120
presumed that persons other than dealers who purchase or
receive shipments of unstamped cigarettes do so to avoid
payment of the tax imposed herein;
(m) For any person to possess or transport in this state a
quantity of sixty thousand cigarettes or less unless the proper
stamps required by this chapter have been affixed or unless:
(i) Notice of the possession or transportation has been given
as required by RCW 82.24.250; (ii) the person transporting
the cigarettes has in actual possession invoices or delivery
tickets which show the true name and address of the consignor or seller, the true name and address of the consignee or
purchaser, and the quantity and brands of the cigarettes so
transported; and (iii) the cigarettes are consigned to or purchased by any person in this state who is authorized by this
chapter to possess unstamped cigarettes in this state;
(n) To possess, sell, or transport within this state any
container or package of cigarettes that does not comply with
this chapter.
(2) It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess or to transport in this state a quantity in excess
of sixty thousand cigarettes unless the proper stamps required
by this chapter are affixed thereto or unless: (a) Proper notice
as required by RCW 82.24.250 has been given; (b) the person
transporting the cigarettes actually possesses invoices or
delivery tickets showing the true name and address of the
consignor or seller, the true name and address of the consignee or purchaser, and the quantity and brands of the cigarettes so transported; and (c) the cigarettes are consigned to or
purchased by a person in this state who is authorized by this
chapter to possess unstamped cigarettes in this state. Violation of this section shall be punished as a class C felony under
Title 9A RCW.
(3) All agents, employees, and others who aid, abet, or
otherwise participate in any way in the violation of the provisions of this chapter or in any of the offenses described in this
chapter shall be guilty and punishable as principals, to the
same extent as any wholesaler or retailer or any other person
violating this chapter. [2003 c 114 § 5; 1999 c 193 § 2; 1997
c 420 § 4; 1995 c 278 § 7; 1990 c 216 § 4; 1987 c 496 § 1;
1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 63; 1961 c 15 § 82.24.110. Prior: 1941
c 178 § 15; 1935 c 180 § 86; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-86.]
Intent—Finding—Severability—Effective date—1999 c 193: See
notes following RCW 82.24.035.
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.120
82.24.120 Violations—Penalties and interest. (1) If
any person, subject to the provisions of this chapter or any
rules adopted by the department of revenue under authority
hereof, is found to have failed to affix the stamps required, or
to have them affixed as herein provided, or to pay any tax due
hereunder, or to have violated any of the provisions of this
chapter or rules adopted by the department of revenue in the
administration hereof, there shall be assessed and collected
from such person, in addition to any tax that may be found
due, a remedial penalty equal to the greater of ten dollars per
package of unstamped cigarettes or two hundred fifty dollars,
plus interest on the amount of the tax at the rate as computed
under RCW 82.32.050(2) from the date the tax became due
until the date of payment, and upon notice mailed to the last
[Title 82 RCW—page 179]
82.24.130
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
known address of the person. The amount shall become due
and payable in thirty days from the date of the notice. If the
amount remains unpaid, the department or its duly authorized
agent may make immediate demand upon such person for the
payment of all such taxes, penalties, and interest.
(2) The department, for good reason shown, may waive
or cancel all or any part of penalties imposed, but the taxpayer must pay all taxes due and interest thereon, at the rate
as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2) from the date the tax
became due until the date of payment.
(3) The keeping of any unstamped articles coming within
the provisions of this chapter shall be prima facie evidence of
intent to violate the provisions of this chapter.
(4) This section does not apply to taxes or tax increases
due under RCW 82.24.280. [2006 c 14 § 6; 1996 c 149 § 7;
1995 c 278 § 8; 1990 c 267 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 64;
1961 c 15 § 82.24.120. Prior: 1949 c 228 § 15; 1939 c 225 §
25; 1935 c 180 § 87; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-87.]
Finding—Intent—2006 c 14: See note following RCW 70.155.050.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Effective date—1990 c 267: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1991." [1990 c 267 § 3.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.130
82.24.130 Seizure and forfeiture. (1) The following
are subject to seizure and forfeiture:
(a) Subject to RCW 82.24.250, any articles taxed in this
chapter that are found at any point within this state, which
articles are held, owned, or possessed by any person, and that
do not have the stamps affixed to the packages or containers;
any container or package of cigarettes possessed or held for
sale that does not comply with this chapter; and any container
or package of cigarettes that is manufactured, sold, or possessed in violation of RCW 82.24.570.
(b) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles, or vessels, which are used, or intended for use, to transport, or in
any manner to facilitate the transportation, for the purpose of
sale or receipt of property described in (a) of this subsection,
except:
(i) A conveyance used by any person as a common or
contract carrier having in actual possession invoices or delivery tickets showing the true name and address of the consignor or seller, the true name of the consignee or purchaser,
and the quantity and brands of the cigarettes transported,
unless it appears that the owner or other person in charge of
the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of
this chapter;
(ii) A conveyance subject to forfeiture under this section
by reason of any act or omission of which the owner thereof
establishes to have been committed or omitted without his or
her knowledge or consent;
(iii) A conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security
interest if the secured party neither had knowledge of nor
consented to the act or omission.
(c) Any vending machine used for the purpose of violating the provisions of this chapter.
(d) Any cigarettes that are stamped, sold, imported, or
offered or possessed for sale in this state in violation of RCW
[Title 82 RCW—page 180]
70.158.030(3). For the purposes of this subsection (1)(d),
"cigar ettes" has the meaning as pro vid ed in RCW
70.158.020(3).
(e) All cigarettes sold, delivered, or attempted to be
delivered in violation of RCW 70.155.105.
(2) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may
be seized by any agent of the department authorized to collect
taxes, any enforcement officer of the board, or law enforcement officer of this state upon process issued by any superior
court or district court having jurisdiction over the property.
Seizure without process may be made if:
(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a
search warrant or an inspection under an administrative
inspection warrant; or
(b) The department, the board, or the law enforcement
officer has probable cause to believe that the property was
used or is intended to be used in violation of this chapter and
exigent circumstances exist making procurement of a search
warrant impracticable.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, articles taxed in this chapter which are in the possession
of a wholesaler, licensed under Washington state law, for a
period of time necessary to affix the stamps after receipt of
the articles, shall not be considered contraband unless they
are manufactured, sold, or possessed in violation of RCW
82.24.570. [2003 c 114 § 7; 2003 c 113 § 4; 2003 c 25 § 9;
1999 c 193 § 3; 1997 c 420 § 5; 1990 c 216 § 5; 1987 c 496 §
2; 1972 ex.s. c 157 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.24.130. Prior: 1941
c 178 § 16; 1935 c 180 § 88; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-88.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 25 § 9, 2003 c 113
§ 4, and by 2003 c 114 § 7, each without reference to the other. All amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Conflict of law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 25: See RCW
70.158.900 and 70.158.901.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Effective date—1999 c 193: See
notes following RCW 82.24.035.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 157: See note following RCW 82.24.020.
82.24.135
82.24.135 Forfeiture procedure. In all cases of seizure
of any property made subject to forfeiture under this chapter
the department or the board shall proceed as follows:
(1) Forfeiture shall be deemed to have commenced by
the seizure. Notice of seizure shall be given to the department
or the board immediately if the seizure is made by someone
other than an agent of the department or the board authorized
to collect taxes.
(2) Upon notification or seizure by the department or the
board or upon receipt of property subject to forfeiture under
this chapter from any other person, the department or the
board shall list and particularly describe the property seized
in duplicate and have the property appraised by a qualified
person not employed by the department or the board or acting
as its agent. Listing and appraisement of the property shall be
properly attested by the department or the board and the
appraiser, who shall be allowed a reasonable appraisal fee.
No appraisal is required if the property seized is judged by
the department or the board to be less than one hundred dollars in value.
(3) The department or the board shall cause notice to be
served within five days following the seizure or notification
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Cigarettes
to the department or the board of the seizure on the owner of
the property seized, if known, on the person in charge
thereof, and on any other person having any known right or
interest therein, of the seizure and intended forfeiture of the
seized property. The notice may be served by any method
authorized by law or court rule including but not limited to
service by mail. If service is by mail it shall be by both certified mail with return receipt requested and regular mail. Service by mail shall be deemed complete upon mailing within
the five-day period following the seizure or notification of
the seizure to the department or the board.
(4) If no person notifies the department or the board in
writing of the person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the items seized within fifteen days of the date of the
notice of seizure, the item seized shall be considered forfeited.
(5) If any person notifies the department or the board, in
writing, of the person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the items seized within fifteen days of the date of the
notice of seizure, the person or persons shall be afforded a
reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right.
The hearing shall be before the director or the director’s designee or the board or the board’s designee, except that any
person asserting a claim or right may bring an action for
return of the seized items in the superior court of the county
in which such property was seized, if the aggregate value of
the article or articles involved is more than five hundred dollars. A hearing and any appeal therefrom shall be in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. The burden of proof by a
preponderance of the evidence shall be upon the person
claiming to be the lawful owner or the person claiming to
have the lawful right to possession of the items seized. The
department or the board shall promptly return the article or
articles to the claimant upon a determination that the claimant
is the present lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession thereof of the items seized. [1998 c 53 § 1; 1987 c 496 §
3.]
Effective date—1998 c 53: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 18, 1998]." [1998 c 53 § 2.]
82.24.140
82.24.140 Forfeiture procedure—Seizures—
Notice—Claimant’s bond—Court proceedings.
Reviser’s note: RCW 82.24.140 was amended by 1987 c 202 § 243
without reference to its repeal by 1987 c 496 § 6. It has been decodified for
publication purposes pursuant to RCW 1.12.025.
82.24.145
82.24.145 Forfeited property—Retention, sale, or
destruction—Use of sale proceeds. When property is forfeited under this chapter the department may:
(1) Retain the property or any part thereof for official use
or upon application by any law enforcement agency of this
state, another state, or the District of Columbia, or of the
United States for the exclusive use of enforcing the provisions of this chapter or the laws of any other state or the District of Columbia or of the United States.
(2) Sell the property at public auction to the highest bidder after due advertisement, but the department before delivering any of the goods so seized shall require the person to
whom the property is sold to affix the proper amount of
(2006 Ed.)
82.24.190
stamps. The proceeds of the sale and all moneys forfeited
under this chapter shall be first applied to the payment of all
proper expenses of any investigation leading to the seizure
and of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including
expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, and
court costs. The balance of the proceeds and all moneys shall
be deposited in the general fund of the state. Proper expenses
of investigation includes costs incurred by any law enforcement agency or any federal, state, or local agency.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1)
and (2) of this section, cigarettes seized for a violation of
RCW 82.24.035 or 70.158.030(3) shall be destroyed. For the
purposes of this subsection (3) "cigarettes" has the same
meaning as provided in RCW 70.158.020(3). [2003 c 25 §
10; 1999 c 193 § 4; 1987 c 496 § 4.]
Conflict of law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 25: See RCW
70.158.900 and 70.158.901.
Intent—Finding—Severability—Effective date—1999 c 193: See
notes following RCW 82.24.035.
82.24.180
82.24.180 Seized property may be returned—Penalty, interest. (1) The department of revenue may return any
property seized under the provisions of this chapter when it is
shown that there was no intention to violate the provisions
thereof.
(2) When any property is returned under this section, the
department may return such goods to the parties from whom
they were seized if and when such parties affix the proper
amount of stamps thereto, and pay to the department as penalty an amount equal to the greater of ten dollars per package
of unstamped cigarettes or two hundred fifty dollars, and
interest on the amount of the tax at the rate as computed under
RCW 82.32.050(2) from the date the tax became due until the
date of payment, and in such cases, no advertisement shall be
made or notices posted in connection with said seizure.
[1996 c 149 § 8; 1990 c 267 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 66;
1961 c 15 § 82.24.180. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 90; RRS § 837090.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Effective date—1990 c 267: See note following RCW 82.24.120.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.190
82.24.190 Search and seizure. When the department of
revenue or the board has good reason to believe that any of
the articles taxed herein are being kept, sold, offered for sale,
or given away in violation of the provisions of this chapter or
regulations issued under authority hereof, it may make affidavit of such fact, describing the place or thing to be searched,
before any judge of any court in this state, and such judge
shall issue a search warrant directed to the sheriff, any deputy, police officer, or duly authorized agent of the department
of revenue commanding him or her diligently to search any
building, room in a building, place or vehicle as may be designated in the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize such
tobacco so possessed and to hold the same until disposed of
by law, and to arrest the person in possession or control
thereof. If upon the return of such warrant, it shall appear that
any of the articles taxed herein, unlawfully possessed, were
seized, the same shall be sold as provided in this chapter.
[Title 82 RCW—page 181]
82.24.210
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.24.235 Rules. The department may adopt such rules
as are necessary to enforce and administer this chapter.
[1995 c 278 § 15.]
state cigarettes not having the stamps affixed to the packages
or containers.
(2) When transporting unstamped cigarettes, such persons shall have in their actual possession or cause to have in
the actual possession of those persons transporting such cigarettes on their behalf invoices or delivery tickets for such cigarettes, which shall show the true name and address of the
consignor or seller, the true name and address of the consignee or purchaser, and the quantity and brands of the cigarettes so transported.
(3) If the cigarettes are consigned to or purchased by any
person in this state such purchaser or consignee must be a
person who is authorized by this chapter to possess
unstamped cigarettes in this state.
(4) In the absence of the notice of transportation required
by this section or in the absence of such invoices or delivery
tickets, or, if the name or address of the consignee or purchaser is falsified or if the purchaser or consignee is not a person authorized by this chapter to possess unstamped cigarettes, the cigarettes so transported shall be deemed contraband subject to seizure and sale under the provisions of RCW
82.24.130.
(5) Transportation of cigarettes from a point outside this
state to a point in some other state will not be considered a
violation of this section provided that the person so transporting such cigarettes has in his possession adequate invoices or
delivery tickets which give the true name and address of such
out-of-state seller or consignor and such out-of-state purchaser or consignee.
(6) In any case where the department or its duly authorized agent, or any peace officer of the state, has knowledge
or reasonable grounds to believe that any vehicle is transporting cigarettes in violation of this section, the department,
such agent, or such police officer, is authorized to stop such
vehicle and to inspect the same for contraband cigarettes.
(7) For purposes of this section, the term "person authorized by this chapter to possess unstamped cigarettes" means:
(a) A wholesaler, licensed under Washington state law;
(b) The United States or an agency thereof; and
(c) Any person, including an Indian tribal organization,
who, after notice has been given to the board as provided in
this section, brings or causes to be brought into the state
unstamped cigarettes, if within a period of time after receipt
of the cigarettes as the department determines by rule to be
reasonably necessary for the purpose the person has caused
stamps to be affixed in accordance with RCW 82.24.030 or
otherwise made payment of the tax required by this chapter in
the manner set forth in rules adopted by the department.
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting
any otherwise lawful activity under a cigarette tax compact
pursuant to chapter 43.06 RCW. [2003 c 114 § 8; 1997 c 420
§ 7; 1995 c 278 § 10; 1990 c 216 § 6; 1972 ex.s. c 157 § 6.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
[1997 c 420 § 6; 1987 c 202 § 244; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 67;
1961 c 15 § 82.24.190. Prior: 1949 c 228 § 16; 1935 c 180 §
91; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-91.]
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.210
82.24.210 Redemption of stamps. The department of
revenue may promulgate rules and regulations providing for
the refund to dealers for the cost of stamps affixed to articles
taxed herein, which by reason of damage become unfit for
sale and are destroyed by the dealer or returned to the manufacturer or jobber. In the case of any articles to which stamps
have been affixed, and which articles have been sold and
shipped to a regular dealer in such articles in another state,
the seller in this state shall be entitled to a refund of the actual
amount of the stamps so affixed, less the affixing discount,
upon condition that the seller in this state makes affidavit that
the articles were sold and shipped outside of the state and that
he has received from the purchaser outside the state a written
acknowledgment that he has received such articles with the
amount of stamps affixed thereto, together with the name and
address of such purchaser. The department of revenue may
redeem any unused stamps purchased from it at the face value
thereof less the affixing discount. A distributor or wholesaler
that has lawfully affixed stamps to cigarettes, and subsequently is unable to sell those cigarettes lawfully because the
cigarettes are removed from the directory created pursuant to
RCW 70.158.030(2), may apply to the department for a
refund of the cost of the stamps. [2003 c 25 § 11; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 68; 1961 c 15 § 82.24.210. Prior: 1949 c 228 §
17; 1941 c 178 § 17; 1935 c 180 § 92; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
8370-92.]
Conflict of law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 25: See RCW
70.158.900 and 70.158.901.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.24.230
82.24.230 Administration. All of the provisions contained in chapter 82.32 RCW shall have full force and application with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of
this chapter, except the following sections: RCW 82.32.050,
82.32.060, 82.32.070, 82.32.100, and 82.32.270, except as
noted otherwise in RCW 82.24.280. [2006 c 14 § 7; 1995 c
278 § 9; 1961 c 15 § 82.24.230. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 95; RRS
§ 8370-95.]
Finding—Intent—2006 c 14: See note following RCW 70.155.050.
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
82.24.235
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 157: See note following RCW 82.24.020.
82.24.250
82.24.250 Transportation of unstamped cigarettes—
Invoices and delivery tickets required—Stop and inspect.
(1) No person other than: (a) A licensed wholesaler in the
wholesaler’s own vehicle; or (b) a person who has given
notice to the board in advance of the commencement of transportation shall transport or cause to be transported in this
[Title 82 RCW—page 182]
82.24.260
82.24.260 Selling or disposal of unstamped cigarettes—Person to pay and remit tax or affix stamps—Liability. (1) Other than:
(a) A wholesaler required to be licensed under this chapter;
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Cigarettes
(b) A federal instrumentality with respect to sales to
authorized military personnel; or
(c) An Indian tribal organization with respect to sales to
enrolled members of the tribe,
a person who is in lawful possession of unstamped cigarettes
and who intends to sell or otherwise dispose of the cigarettes
shall pay, or satisfy its precollection obligation that is
imposed by this chapter, the tax required by this chapter by
remitting the tax or causing stamps to be affixed in the manner provided in rules adopted by the department.
(2) When stamps are required to be affixed, the person
may deduct from the tax collected the compensation allowable under this chapter. The remittance or the affixing of
stamps shall, in the case of cigarettes obtained in the manner
set forth in RCW 82.24.250(7)(c), be made at the same time
and manner as required in RCW 82.24.250(7)(c).
(3) This section shall not relieve the buyer or possessor
of unstamped cigarettes from personal liability for the tax
imposed by this chapter.
(4) Nothing in this section shall relieve a wholesaler
from the requirements of affixing stamps pursuant to RCW
82.24.040 and 82.24.050. [2003 c 114 § 9; 1995 c 278 § 11;
1987 c 80 § 3; 1986 c 3 § 13. Prior: 1983 c 189 § 3; 1983 c
3 § 217; 1975 1st ex.s. c 22 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 157 § 7.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
82.24.510
82.24.290 Exceptions—Federal instrumentalities
and purchasers from federal instrumentalities. The taxes
imposed by this chapter do not apply to the sale of cigarettes
to:
(1) United States army, navy, air force, marine corps, or
coast guard exchanges and commissaries and navy or coast
guard ships’ stores;
(2) The United States veterans’ administration; or
(3) Any authorized purchaser from the federal instrumentalities named in subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
[1995 c 278 § 14.]
82.24.290
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
82.24.295 Exceptions—Sales by Indian retailer
under cigarette tax contract. (1) The taxes imposed by this
chapter do not apply to the sale, use, consumption, handling,
possession, or distribution of cigarettes by an Indian retailer
during the effective period of a cigarette tax contract subject
to RCW 43.06.455.
(2) Effective July 1, 2002, wholesalers and retailers subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be allowed compensation for their services in affixing the stamps required under
this chapter a sum computed at the rate of six dollars per one
thousand stamps purchased or affixed by them. [2001 c 235
§ 6.]
82.24.295
Intent—Finding—2001 c 235: See RCW 43.06.450.
Severability—1986 c 3: See RCW 70.146.900.
82.24.300 Exceptions—Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
The taxes imposed by this chapter do not apply to the sale,
use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of
cigarettes by an Indian retailer during the effective period of
a cigarette tax agreement under RCW 43.06.465. [2005 c 11
§ 5.]
82.24.300
Effective dates—1986 c 3: See note following RCW 82.24.027.
Severability—1983 c 189: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1983 c 189 § 10.]
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 157: See note following RCW 82.24.020.
82.24.280
82.24.280 Liability from tax increase—Interest and
penalties on unpaid tax—Administration. (1) Any additional tax liability arising from a tax rate increase under this
chapter shall be paid, along with reports and returns prescribed by the department, on or before the last day of the
month in which the increase becomes effective.
(2) If not paid by the due date, interest shall apply to any
unpaid tax. Interest shall be calculated at the rate as computed
under RCW 82.32.050(2) from the date the tax became due
until the date of payment.
(3) If upon examination of any returns or from other
information obtained by the department it appears that a tax
or penalty has been paid less than that properly due, the
department shall assess against the taxpayer such additional
amount found to be due. The department shall notify the taxpayer by mail of the additional amount due, including any
applicable penalties and interest. The taxpayer shall pay the
additional amount within thirty days from the date of the
notice, or within such further time as the department may
provide.
(4) All of chapter 82.32 RCW applies to tax rate
increases except: RCW 82.32.050(1) and 82.32.270. [1996
c 149 § 10; 1995 c 278 § 13.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
(2006 Ed.)
Findings—Intent—Explanatory statement—Effective date—2005 c
11: See notes following RCW 43.06.465.
82.24.500 Business of cigarette purchase, sale, consignment, or distribution—License required—Penalty.
No person may engage in or conduct the business of purchasing, selling, consigning, or distributing cigarettes in this state
without a license under this chapter. A violation of this section is a class C felony. [2003 c 114 § 10; 1986 c 321 § 4.]
82.24.500
Policy—Intent—1986 c 321: "It is the policy of the legislature to
encourage competition by reducing the government’s role in price setting. It
is the legislature’s intent to leave price setting mainly to the forces of the
marketplace. In the field of cigarette sales, the legislature finds that the goal
of open competition should be balanced against the public policy disallowing use of cigarette sales as loss leaders. To balance these public policies, it
is the intent of the legislature to repeal the unfair cigarette sales below cost
act and to declare the use of cigarettes as loss leaders as an unfair practice
under the consumer protection act." [1986 c 321 § 1.]
Savings—1986 c 321: "A cigarette wholesalers or retailers license
issued by the department of licensing under RCW 19.91.130 in good standing on the July 1, 1991, constitutes a license under RCW 82.24.500." [1986
c 321 § 11.]
Effective date—1986 c 321: "Sections 1 and 4 through 14 of this act
shall take effect on July 1, 1991." [1986 c 321 § 15.]
82.24.510 Wholesaler’s and retailer’s licenses—
Application and issuance—Criminal background check.
(1) The licenses issuable under this chapter are as follows:
(a) A wholesaler’s license.
(b) A retailer’s license.
82.24.510
[Title 82 RCW—page 183]
82.24.520
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(2) Application for the licenses shall be made through
the master license system under chapter 19.02 RCW. The
department of revenue shall adopt rules regarding the regulation of the licenses. The department of revenue may refrain
from the issuance of any license under this chapter if the
department has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant
has wilfully withheld information requested for the purpose
of determining the eligibility of the applicant to receive a
license, or if the department has reasonable cause to believe
that information submitted in the application is false or misleading or is not made in good faith. In addition, for the purpose of reviewing an application for a wholesaler’s license
and for considering the denial, suspension, or revocation of
any such license, the department may consider criminal convictions of the applicant related to the selling of cigarettes
within the previous five years in any state, tribal, or federal
jurisdiction in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and the provisions of RCW 9.95.240 and chapter
9.96A RCW shall not apply to such cases. The department
may, in its discretion, grant or refuse the wholesaler’s license,
subject to the provisions of RCW 82.24.550.
(3) No person may qualify for a wholesaler’s license
under this section without first undergoing a criminal background check. The background check shall be performed by
the liquor control board and must disclose any criminal convictions related to the selling of cigarettes within the previous
five years in any state, tribal, or federal jurisdiction in the
United States, its territories, or possessions. A person who
possesses a valid license on July 22, 2001, is subject to this
subsection and subsection (2) of this section beginning on the
date of the person’s master license expiration, and thereafter.
If the applicant or licensee also has a license issued under
chapter 66.24 RCW, the background check done under the
authority of chapter 66.24 RCW satisfies the requirements of
this section.
(4) Each such license shall expire on the master license
expiration date, and each such license shall be continued
annually if the licensee has paid the required fee and complied with all the provisions of this chapter and the rules of
the department of revenue made pursuant thereto. [2001 c
235 § 8; 1986 c 321 § 5.]
Intent—Finding—2001 c 235: See RCW 43.06.450.
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
82.24.520
82.24.520 Wholesaler’s license—Fee—Display of
license—Bond. A fee of six hundred fifty dollars shall
accompany each wholesaler’s license application or license
renewal application. If a wholesaler sells or intends to sell
cigarettes at two or more places of business, whether established or temporary, a separate license with a license fee of
one hundred fifteen dollars shall be required for each additional place of business. Each license, or certificate thereof,
and such other evidence of license as the department of revenue requires, shall be exhibited in the place of business for
which it is issued and in such manner as is prescribed for the
display of a master license. The department of revenue shall
require each licensed wholesaler to file with the department a
bond in an amount not less than one thousand dollars to guarantee the proper performance of the duties and the discharge
of the liabilities under this chapter. The bond shall be exe[Title 82 RCW—page 184]
cuted by such licensed wholesaler as principal, and by a corporation approved by the department of revenue and authorized to engage in business as a surety company in this state,
as surety. The bond shall run concurrently with the wholesaler’s license. [1986 c 321 § 6.]
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
82.24.530
82.24.530 Retailer’s license—Vending machines. A
fee of ninety-three dollars shall accompany each retailer’s
license application or license renewal application. A separate
license is required for each separate location at which the
retailer operates. A fee of thirty additional dollars for each
vending machine shall accompany each application or
renewal for a license issued to a retail dealer operating a cigarette vending machine. [1993 c 507 § 15; 1986 c 321 § 7.]
Finding—Severability—1993 c 507: See RCW 70.155.005 and
70.155.900.
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
Minors, access to tobacco, role of liquor control board: Chapter 70.155
RCW.
82.24.540
82.24.540 Licensee to operate within scope of
license—Penalty. Any person licensed only as a wholesaler,
or as a retail dealer, shall not operate in any other capacity
unless the additional appropriate license or licenses are first
secured. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor. [1986
c 321 § 8.]
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
82.24.550
82.24.550 Enforcement—Rules—Notice—Hearing—Reinstatement of license—Appeal. (1) The board
shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. The board may
adopt, amend, and repeal rules necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(2) The department may adopt, amend, and repeal rules
necessary to administer the provisions of this chapter. The
department has full power and authority to revoke or suspend
the license or permit of any wholesale or retail cigarette
dealer in the state upon sufficient cause appearing of the violation of this chapter or upon the failure of such licensee to
comply with any of the provisions of this chapter.
(3) A license shall not be suspended or revoked except
upon notice to the licensee and after a hearing as prescribed
by the department. The department, upon finding that the licensee has failed to comply with any provision of this chapter
or any rule adopted under this chapter, shall, in the case of the
first offense, suspend the license or licenses of the licensee
for a period of not less than thirty consecutive business days,
and, in the case of a second or further offense, shall suspend
the license or licenses for a period of not less than ninety consecutive business days nor more than twelve months, and, in
the event the department finds the licensee has been guilty of
willful and persistent violations, it may revoke the license or
licenses.
(4) Any licenses issued under chapter 82.26 RCW to a
person whose license or licenses have been suspended or
revoked under this section shall also be suspended or revoked
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Tobacco Products
during the period of suspension or revocation under this section.
(5) Any person whose license or licenses have been
revoked under this section may apply to the department at the
expiration of one year for a reinstatement of the license or
licenses. The license or licenses may be reinstated by the
department if it appears to the satisfaction of the department
that the licensee will comply with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.
(6) A person whose license has been suspended or
revoked shall not sell cigarettes or tobacco products or permit
cigarettes or tobacco products to be sold during the period of
such suspension or revocation on the premises occupied by
the person or upon other premises controlled by the person or
others or in any other manner or form whatever.
(7) Any determination and order by the department, and
any order of suspension or revocation by the department of
the license or licenses, or refusal to reinstate a license or
licenses after revocation shall be reviewable by an appeal to
the superior court of Thurston county. The superior court
shall review the order or ruling of the department and may
hear the matter de novo, having due regard to the provisions
of this chapter and the duties imposed upon the department
and the board.
(8) For purposes of this section, "tobacco products" has
the same meaning as in RCW 82.26.010. [2005 c 180 § 19;
1997 c 420 § 8; 1993 c 507 § 17; 1986 c 321 § 9.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
term, design, or work, or by any authorized licensee of that
person.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a class C felony which is punishable by up to
five years in prison and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.
(3) Any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of the provisions of this section is guilty of a
class B felony which is punishable by up to ten years in
prison and a fine of up to twenty thousand dollars. [2003 c
114 § 6.]
82.24.900 Construction—1961 c 15. The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply in any case in which the state of
Washington is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution
of this state or the Constitution or the laws of the United
States. [1961 c 15 § 82.24.900. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 94; RRS
§ 8370-94.]
82.24.900
Chapter 82.26
82.26.010
82.26.020
82.26.030
82.26.040
82.26.060
82.26.070
82.26.080
82.26.090
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
82.26.100
82.26.105
82.26.110
82.26.120
82.26.121
82.24.551 Enforcement—Appointment of officers of
liquor control board. The department shall appoint, as duly
authorized agents, enforcement officers of the liquor control
board to enforce provisions of this chapter. These officers
shall not be considered employees of the department. [1997
c 420 § 10.]
82.24.560
82.24.560 Fees and penalties credited to general
fund. Except as specified in RCW 70.155.120, all fees and
penalties received or collected by the department of revenue
pursuant to this chapter shall be paid to the state treasurer, to
be credited to the general fund. [1993 c 507 § 18; 1986 c 321
§ 10.]
82.26.130
82.26.140
82.26.150
82.26.160
82.26.170
82.26.180
82.26.190
82.26.200
82.26.210
82.26.220
82.26.230
Finding—Severability—1993 c 507: See RCW 70.155.005 and
70.155.900.
82.26.240
Policy—Intent—Savings—Effective date—1986 c 321: See notes
following RCW 82.24.500.
82.26.250
82.24.570
82.24.570 Counterfeit cigarette offenses—Penalties.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly manufacture,
sell, or possess counterfeit cigarettes. A cigarette is "counterfeit" if:
(a) The cigarette or its packaging bears any reproduction
or copy of a trademark, service mark, trade name, label, term,
design, or work adopted or used by a manufacturer to identify
its own cigarettes; and
(b) The cigarette is not manufactured by the owner or
holder of that trademark, service mark, trade name, label,
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 82.26 RCW
TAX ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Sections
Finding—Severability—1993 c 507: See RCW 70.155.005 and
70.155.900.
82.24.551
82.26.010
Definitions.
Tax imposed—Deposit of tax revenue.
Legislative intent—Purpose.
When tax not applicable under laws of United States.
Books and records to be preserved—Entry and inspection by
department.
Preservation of invoices of sales to other than ultimate consumer.
Retailer invoices—Requirements—Inspection.
Records of shipments, deliveries from public warehouse of
first destination—Preservation—Inspection.
Reports and returns.
Inspection of books, documents, or records of carriers.
When credit may be obtained for tax paid.
Administration.
Enforcement—Appointment of officers of liquor control
board.
Invoices—Nonpayment—Penalties and interest.
Transport of tobacco products—Requirements—Vehicle
inspection.
Distributor’s license, retailer’s license—Application—
Approval—Display.
Distributor’s license—Application fees.
Retailer’s license—Application fee.
Department web site listing distributors and retailers.
Distributors and retailers—Valid license required—Violations—Penalties.
Sales from distributors to retailers—Requirements.
Manufacturer’s representatives—Requirements.
Enforcement, administration of chapter—License suspension,
revocation.
Enforcement—Unlicensed distributors or retailers—Seizure
and forfeiture of property.
Seizure and forfeiture of property—Department and board
requirements.
Enforcement—Search warrants.
Minors: Chapter 70.155 RCW.
82.26.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Tobacco products" means cigars, cheroots, stogies,
periques, granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and
other smoking tobacco, snuff, snuff flour, cavendish, plug
and twist tobacco, fine-cut and other chewing tobaccos,
shorts, refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of
tobacco, and other kinds and forms of tobacco, prepared in
such manner as to be suitable for chewing or smoking in a
82.26.010
[Title 82 RCW—page 185]
82.26.010
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
pipe or otherwise, or both for chewing and smoking, but shall
not include cigarettes as defined in RCW 82.24.010.
(2) "Manufacturer" means a person who manufactures
and sells tobacco products.
(3) "Distributor" means (a) any person engaged in the
business of selling tobacco products in this state who brings,
or causes to be brought, into this state from without the state
any tobacco products for sale, (b) any person who makes,
manufactures, fabricates, or stores tobacco products in this
state for sale in this state, (c) any person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products without this state who ships
or transports tobacco products to retailers in this state, to be
sold by those retailers, (d) any person engaged in the business
of selling tobacco products in this state who handles for sale
any tobacco products that are within this state but upon which
tax has not been imposed.
(4) "Retailer" means any person engaged in the business
of selling tobacco products to ultimate consumers.
(5)(a) "Sale" means any transfer, exchange, or barter, in
any manner or by any means whatsoever, for a consideration,
and includes and means all sales made by any person.
(b) The term "sale" includes a gift by a person engaged in
the business of selling tobacco products, for advertising, promoting, or as a means of evading the provisions of this chapter.
(6) "Business" means any trade, occupation, activity, or
enterprise engaged in for the purpose of selling or distributing tobacco products in this state.
(7) "Place of business" means any place where tobacco
products are sold or where tobacco products are manufactured, stored, or kept for the purpose of sale, including any
vessel, vehicle, airplane, train, or vending machine.
(8) "Retail outlet" means each place of business from
which tobacco products are sold to consumers.
(9) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(10) "Person" means any individual, receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate,
firm, copartnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock
company, business trust, municipal corporation, the state and
its departments and institutions, political subdivision of the
state of Washington, corporation, limited liability company,
association, society, any group of individuals acting as a unit,
whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise. The term excludes any person immune from state taxation, including the United States or its instrumentalities, and
federally recognized Indian tribes and enrolled tribal members, conducting business within Indian country.
(11) "Indian country" means the same as defined in
chapter 82.24 RCW.
(12) "Actual price" means the total amount of consideration for which tobacco products are sold, valued in money,
whether received in money or otherwise, including any
charges by the seller necessary to complete the sale such as
charges for delivery, freight, transportation, or handling.
(13) "Affiliated" means related in any way by virtue of
any form or amount of common ownership, control, operation, or management.
(14) "Board" means the liquor control board.
(15) "Cigar" means a roll for smoking that is of any size
or shape and that is made wholly or in part of tobacco, irrespective of whether the tobacco is pure or flavored, adulter[Title 82 RCW—page 186]
ated or mixed with any other ingredient, if the roll has a wrapper made wholly or in greater part of tobacco. "Cigar" does
not include a cigarette.
(16) "Cigarette" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.24.010.
(17) "Manufacturer’s representative" means a person
hired by a manufacturer to sell or distribute the manufacturer’s tobacco products, and includes employees and independent contractors.
(18)(a) "Taxable sales price" means:
(i) In the case of a taxpayer that is not affiliated with the
manufacturer, distributor, or other person from whom the
taxpayer purchased tobacco products, the actual price for
which the taxpayer purchased the tobacco products;
(ii) In the case of a taxpayer that purchases tobacco products from an affiliated manufacturer, affiliated distributor, or
other affiliated person, and that sells those tobacco products
to unaffiliated distributors, unaffiliated retailers, or ultimate
consumers, the actual price for which that taxpayer sells
those tobacco products to unaffiliated distributors, unaffiliated retailers, or ultimate consumers;
(iii) In the case of a taxpayer that sells tobacco products
only to affiliated distributors or affiliated retailers, the price,
determined as nearly as possible according to the actual price,
that other distributors sell similar tobacco products of like
quality and character to unaffiliated distributors, unaffiliated
retailers, or ultimate consumers;
(iv) In the case of a taxpayer that is a manufacturer selling tobacco products directly to ultimate consumers, the
actual price for which the taxpayer sells those tobacco products to ultimate consumers;
(v) In the case of a taxpayer that has acquired tobacco
products under a sale as defined in subsection (5)(b) of this
section, the price, determined as nearly as possible according
to the actual price, that the taxpayer or other distributors sell
the same tobacco products or similar tobacco products of like
quality and character to unaffiliated distributors, unaffiliated
retailers, or ultimate consumers; or
(vi) In any case where (a)(i) through (v) of this subsection do not apply, the price, determined as nearly as possible
according to the actual price, that the taxpayer or other distributors sell the same tobacco products or similar tobacco
products of like quality and character to unaffiliated distributors, unaffiliated retailers, or ultimate consumers.
(b) For purposes of (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection only,
"person" includes both persons as defined in subsection (10)
of this section and any person immune from state taxation,
including the United States or its instrumentalities, and federally recognized Indian tribes and enrolled tribal members,
conducting business within Indian country.
(c) The department may adopt rules regarding the determination of taxable sales price under this subsection.
(19) "Taxpayer" means a person liable for the tax
imposed by this chapter.
(20) "Unaffiliated distributor" means a distributor that is
not affiliated with the manufacturer, distributor, or other person from whom the distributor has purchased tobacco products.
(21) "Unaffiliated retailer" means a retailer that is not
affiliated with the manufacturer, distributor, or other person
from whom the retailer has purchased tobacco products.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Tobacco Products
[2005 c 180 § 2; 2002 c 325 § 1; 1995 c 278 § 16; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 70; 1961 c 15 § 82.26.010. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c
5 § 11.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Effective date—2002 c 325: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002." [2002
c 325 § 6.]
Effective date—1995 c 278: See note following RCW 82.24.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.26.070
be construed to exempt any person taxable under any other
law or under any other tax imposed under Title 82 RCW. It
is the further intent and purpose of this chapter that the distributor who first possesses the tobacco product in this state
shall be the distributor liable for the tax and that in most
instances the tax will be based on the actual price that the distributor paid for the tobacco product, unless the distributor is
affiliated with the seller. [2005 c 180 § 1; 2002 c 325 § 4;
1961 c 15 § 82.26.030. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 13.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.020
82.26.020 Tax imposed—Deposit of tax revenue. (1)
There is levied and there shall be collected a tax upon the
sale, handling, or distribution of all tobacco products in this
state at the following rate:
(a) Seventy-five percent of the taxable sales price of
cigars, not to exceed fifty cents per cigar; or
(b) Seventy-five percent of the taxable sales price of all
tobacco products that are not cigars.
(2) Taxes under this section shall be imposed at the time
the distributor (a) brings, or causes to be brought, into this
state from without the state tobacco products for sale, (b)
makes, manufactures, fabricates, or stores tobacco products
in this state for sale in this state, (c) ships or transports
tobacco products to retailers in this state, to be sold by those
retailers, or (d) handles for sale any tobacco products that are
within this state but upon which tax has not been imposed.
(3) The moneys collected under this section shall be
deposited as follows:
(a) Thirty-seven percent in the general fund;
(b) Fifty percent in the health services account created
under RCW 43.72.900; and
(c) Thirteen percent in the water quality account under
RCW 70.146.030 for the period beginning July 1, 2005,
through June 30, 2021, and in the general fund for the period
beginning July 1, 2021. [2005 c 180 § 3; 2002 c 325 § 2;
1993 c 492 § 309; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 16; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35
§ 9; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 71; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 77; 1965
ex.s. c 173 § 25; 1961 c 15 § 82.26.020. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c
5 § 12.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Effective date—2002 c 325: See note following RCW 82.26.010.
Finding—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Short title—Severability—Savings—Captions not law—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—1993 c 492: See RCW
43.72.910 through 43.72.915.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Effective date—2002 c 325: See note following RCW 82.26.010.
82.26.040
82.26.040 When tax not applicable under laws of
United States. The tax imposed by RCW 82.26.020 shall not
apply with respect to any tobacco products which under the
Constitution and laws of the United States may not be made
the subject of taxation by this state. [1961 c 15 § 82.26.040.
Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 14.]
82.26.060
82.26.060 Books and records to be preserved—Entry
and inspection by department. (1) Every distributor shall
keep at each place of business complete and accurate records
for that place of business, including itemized invoices, of
tobacco products held, purchased, manufactured, brought in
or caused to be brought in from without the state, or shipped
or transported to retailers in this state, and of all sales of
tobacco products made.
(2) These records shall show the names and addresses of
purchasers, the inventory of all tobacco products, and other
pertinent papers and documents relating to the purchase, sale,
or disposition of tobacco products. All invoices and other
records required by this section to be kept shall be preserved
for a period of five years from the date of the invoices or
other documents or the date of the entries appearing in the
records.
(3) At any time during usual business hours the department, board, or its duly authorized agents or employees, may
enter any place of business of a distributor, without a search
warrant, and inspect the premises, the records required to be
kept under this chapter, and the tobacco products contained
therein, to determine whether or not all the provisions of this
chapter are being fully complied with. If the department,
board, or any of its agents or employees, are denied free
access or are hindered or interfered with in making such
examination, the registration certificate issued under RCW
82.32.030 of the distributor at such premises shall be subject
to revocation, and any licenses issued under this chapter or
chapter 82.24 RCW are subject to suspension or revocation,
by the department. [2005 c 180 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 73;
1961 c 15 § 82.26.060. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 16.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.26.030
82.26.030 Legislative intent—Purpose. It is the intent
and purpose of this chapter to levy a tax on all tobacco products sold, used, consumed, handled, or distributed within this
state and to collect the tax from the distributor as defined in
RCW 82.26.010. It is the further intent and purpose of this
chapter to impose the tax once, and only once, on all tobacco
products for sale in this state, but nothing in this chapter shall
(2006 Ed.)
82.26.070
82.26.070 Preservation of invoices of sales to other
than ultimate consumer. Every person required to be
licensed under this chapter who sells tobacco products to persons other than the ultimate consumer shall render with each
sale itemized invoices showing the seller’s name and address,
the purchaser’s name and address, the date of sale, and all
[Title 82 RCW—page 187]
82.26.080
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
prices. The person shall preserve legible copies of all such
invoices for five years from the date of sale. [2005 c 180 § 7;
1961 c 15 § 82.26.070. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 17.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.080
82.26.080 Retailer invoices—Requirements—Inspection. (1) Every retailer shall procure itemized invoices of all
tobacco products purchased. The invoices shall show the
seller’s name and address, the date of purchase, and all prices
and discounts.
(2) The retailer shall keep at each retail outlet copies of
complete, accurate, and legible invoices for that retail outlet
or place of business. All invoices required to be kept under
this section shall be preserved for five years from the date of
purchase.
(3) At any time during usual business hours the department, board, or its duly authorized agents or employees may
enter any retail outlet without a search warrant, and inspect
the premises for invoices required to be kept under this section and the tobacco products contained in the retail outlet, to
determine whether or not all the provisions of this chapter are
being fully complied with. If the department, board, or any of
its agents or employees, are denied free access or are hindered or interfered with in making the inspection, the registration certificate issued under RCW 82.32.030 of the retailer
at the premises is subject to revocation, and any licenses
issued under this chapter or chapter 82.24 RCW are subject to
suspension or revocation by the department. [2005 c 180 § 5;
1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 74; 1961 c 15 § 82.26.080. Prior: 1959
ex.s. c 5 § 18.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
any person transporting tobacco products for sale to any person or entity in the state, and books, documents, or records
containing any information relating to the transportation or
possession of tobacco products for sale in the possession of a
specific common carrier as defined in RCW 81.80.010 doing
business in this state.
(2) If a person neglects or refuses to produce and submit
for inspection any book, record, or document as required by
this section when requested to do so by the department, the
board, or its agent, then the department or the board may seek
an order in superior court compelling production of the
books, records, or documents. [2005 c 180 § 6.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 180 § 25.]
82.26.110
82.26.110 When credit may be obtained for tax paid.
(1) Where tobacco products upon which the tax imposed by
this chapter has been reported and paid, are shipped or transported outside this state by the distributor to a person engaged
in the business of selling tobacco products, to be sold by that
person, or are returned to the manufacturer by the distributor
or destroyed by the distributor, credit of such tax may be
made to the distributor in accordance with rules prescribed by
the department.
(2) Credit allowed under this section shall be determined
based on the tax rate in effect for the period for which the tax
imposed by this chapter, for which a credit is sought, was
paid. [2005 c 180 § 9; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 76; 1961 c 15 §
82.26.110. Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 21.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.26.090
82.26.090 Records of shipments, deliveries from public warehouse of first destination—Preservation—Inspection. Records of all deliveries or shipments of tobacco products from any public warehouse of first destination in this
state shall be kept by the warehouse and be available to the
department of revenue for inspection. They shall show the
name and address of the consignee, the date, the quantity of
tobacco products delivered, and such other information as the
department may require. These records shall be preserved for
five years from the date of delivery of the tobacco products.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 75; 1961 c 15 § 82.26.090. Prior: 1959
ex.s. c 5 § 19.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.26.120
82.26.120 Administration. All of the provisions contained in chapter 82.32 RCW shall have full force and application with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of
this chapter. [1963 ex.s. c 28 § 5.]
Effective date—1963 ex.s. c 28: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
82.26.121
82.26.121 Enforcement—Appointment of officers of
liquor control board. The department shall appoint, as duly
authorized agents, enforcement officers of the liquor control
board to enforce provisions of this chapter. These officers
shall not be considered employees of the department. [1997
c 420 § 11.]
82.26.130
82.26.100
82.26.100 Reports and returns. Every taxpayer shall
report and make returns as provided in RCW 82.32.045.
[2005 c 180 § 8; 1983 c 3 § 218; 1961 c 15 § 82.26.100.
Prior: 1959 ex.s. c 5 § 20.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.105
82.26.105 Inspection of books, documents, or records
of carriers. (1) For the purposes of obtaining information
concerning any matter relating to the administration or
enforcement of this chapter, the department, the board, or any
of its agents, may inspect the books, documents, or records of
[Title 82 RCW—page 188]
82.26.130 Invoices—Nonpayment—Penalties and
interest. (1) The department shall by rule establish the
invoice detail required under RCW 82.26.060 for a distributor under RCW 82.26.010(3)(d) and for those invoices
required to be provided to retailers under RCW 82.26.070.
(2) If a retailer fails to keep invoices as required under
chapter 82.32 RCW, the retailer is liable for the tax owed on
any uninvoiced tobacco products but not penalties and interest, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) If the department finds that the nonpayment of tax by
the retailer was willful or if in the case of a second or plural
nonpayment of tax by the retailer, penalties and interest shall
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Tobacco Products
be assessed in accordance with chapter 82.32 RCW. [2002 c
325 § 5.]
Effective date—2002 c 325: See note following RCW 82.26.010.
82.26.140
82.26.140 Transport of tobacco products—Requirements—Vehicle inspection. (1) No person other than (a) a
licensed distributor in the distributor’s own vehicle, a manufacturer’s representative authorized to sell or distribute
tobacco products in this state under RCW 82.26.210, or a
licensed retailer in the retailer’s own vehicle, or (b) a person
who has given notice to the board in advance of the commencement of transportation shall transport or cause to be
transported in this state tobacco products for sale.
(2) When transporting tobacco products for sale, the person shall have in his or her actual possession, or cause to have
in the actual possession of those persons transporting such
tobacco products on his or her behalf, invoices or delivery
tickets for the tobacco products, which shall show the true
name and address of the consignor or seller, the true name
and address of the consignee or purchaser, and the quantity
and brands of the tobacco products being transported.
(3) In any case where the department or the board, or any
peace officer of the state, has knowledge or reasonable
grounds to believe that any vehicle is transporting tobacco
products in violation of this section, the department, the
board, or peace officer, is authorized to stop the vehicle and
to inspect it for contraband tobacco products. [2005 c 180 §
10.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.150
82.26.150 Distributor’s license, retailer’s license—
Application—Approval—Display. (1) The licenses issuable by the department under this chapter are as follows:
(a) A distributor’s license; and
(b) A retailer’s license.
(2) Application for the licenses shall be made through
the master license system under chapter 19.02 RCW. The
department may adopt rules regarding the regulation of the
licenses. The department may refuse to issue any license
under this chapter if the department has reasonable cause to
believe that the applicant has willfully withheld information
requested for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the
applicant to receive a license, or if the department has reasonable cause to believe that information submitted in the application is false or misleading or is not made in good faith. In
addition, for the purpose of reviewing an application for a
distributor’s license and for considering the denial, suspension, or revocation of any such license, the department may
consider criminal convictions of the applicant related to the
selling of tobacco products within the previous five years in
any state, tribal, or federal jurisdiction in the United States,
its territories, or possessions, and the provisions of RCW
9.95.240 and chapter 9.96A RCW shall not apply to such
cases. The department may, in its discretion, issue or refuse
to issue the distributor’s license, subject to the provisions of
RCW 82.26.220.
(3) No person may qualify for a distributor’s license
under this section without first undergoing a criminal background check. The background check shall be performed by
the board and must disclose any criminal convictions related
(2006 Ed.)
82.26.180
to the selling of tobacco products within the previous five
years in any state, tribal, or federal jurisdiction in the United
States, its territories, or possessions. If the applicant or licensee also has a license issued under chapter 66.24 or 82.24
RCW, the background check done under the authority of
chapter 66.24 or 82.24 RCW satisfies the requirements of this
section.
(4) Each license issued under this chapter shall expire on
the master license expiration date. The license shall be continued annually if the licensee has paid the required fee and
complied with all the provisions of this chapter and the rules
of the department adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(5) Each license and any other evidence of license as the
department requires shall be exhibited in the place of business for which it is issued and in the manner required for the
display of a master license. [2005 c 180 § 11.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.160
82.26.160 Distributor’s license—Application fees.
(1) A fee of six hundred fifty dollars shall accompany each
distributor’s license application or license renewal application. If a distributor sells or intends to sell tobacco products
at two or more places of business, whether established or
temporary, a separate license with a license fee of one hundred fifteen dollars shall be required for each additional place
of business.
(2) The fees imposed under subsection (1) of this section
do not apply to any person applying for a distributor’s license
or for renewal of a distributor’s license if the person has a
valid wholesaler’s license under RCW 82.24.510 for the
place of business associated with the distributor’s license
application or license renewal application. [2005 c 180 § 12.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.170
82.26.170 Retailer’s license—Application fee. (1) A
fee of ninety-three dollars shall accompany each retailer’s
license application or license renewal application. A separate
license is required for each separate location at which the
retailer operates.
(2) The fee imposed under subsection (1) of this section
does not apply to any person applying for a retailer’s license
or for renewal of a retailer’s license if the person has a valid
retailer’s license under RCW 82.24.510 for the place of business associated with the retailer’s license application or
renewal application. [2005 c 180 § 13.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.180
82.26.180 Department web site listing distributors
and retailers. The department shall compile and maintain a
current record of the names of all distributors and retailers
licensed under this chapter and the status of their license or
licenses. The information must be updated on a monthly
basis and published on the department’s official internet web
site. This information is not subject to the confidentiality
provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and shall be disclosed to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and the general public upon
request. [2005 c 180 § 15.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
[Title 82 RCW—page 189]
82.26.190
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.26.190 Distributors and retailers—Valid license
required—Violations—Penalties. (1)(a) No person may
engage in or conduct business as a distributor or retailer in
this state after September 30, 2005, without a valid license
issued by the department under this chapter. Any person who
sells tobacco products to persons other than ultimate consumers or who meets the definition of distributor under RCW
82.26.010(3)(d) must obtain a distributor’s license under this
chapter. Any person who sells tobacco products to ultimate
consumers must obtain a retailer’s license under this chapter.
(b) A violation of this subsection (1) is punishable as a
class C felony according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(2)(a) No person engaged in or conducting business as a
distributor or retailer in this state may:
(i) Refuse to allow the department or the board, on
demand, to make a full inspection of any place of business
where any of the tobacco products taxed under this chapter
are sold, stored, or handled, or otherwise hinder or prevent
such inspection;
(ii) Make, use, or present or exhibit to the department or
the board any invoice for any of the tobacco products taxed
under this chapter that bears an untrue date or falsely states
the nature or quantity of the goods invoiced; or
(iii) Fail to produce on demand of the department or the
board all invoices of all the tobacco products taxed under this
chapter within five years prior to such demand unless the person can show by satisfactory proof that the nonproduction of
the invoices was due to causes beyond the person’s control.
(b) No person, other than a licensed distributor or
retailer, may transport tobacco products for sale in this state
for which the taxes imposed under this chapter have not been
paid unless:
(i) Notice of the transportation has been given as
required under RCW 82.26.140;
(ii) The person transporting the tobacco products actually possesses invoices or delivery tickets showing the true
name and address of the consignor or seller, the true name
and address of the consignee or purchaser, and the quantity
and brands of tobacco products being transported; and
(iii) The tobacco products are consigned to or purchased
by a person in this state who is licensed under this chapter.
(c) A violation of this subsection (2) is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) Any person licensed under this chapter as a distributor, and any person licensed under this chapter as a retailer,
shall not operate in any other capacity unless the additional
appropriate license is first secured. A violation of this subsection (3) is a misdemeanor.
(4) The penalties provided in this section are in addition
to any other penalties provided by law for violating the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.
[2005 c 180 § 16.]
82.26.190
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.200
82.26.200 Sales from distributors to retailers—
Requirements. (1) A retailer that obtains tobacco products
from an unlicensed distributor or any other person that is not
licensed under this chapter must be licensed both as a retailer
and a distributor under this chapter and is liable for the tax
imposed under RCW 82.26.020 with respect to the tobacco
products acquired from the unlicensed person that are held
[Title 82 RCW—page 190]
for sale, handling, or distribution in this state. For the purposes of this subsection, "person" includes both persons
defined in RCW 82.26.010(10) and any person immune from
state taxation, such as the United States or its instrumentalities, and federally recognized Indian tribes and enrolled tribal
members, conducting business within Indian country.
(2) Every distributor licensed under this chapter shall sell
tobacco products to retailers located in Washington only if
the retailer has a current retailer’s license under this chapter.
[2005 c 180 § 17.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.210
82.26.210 Manufacturer’s representatives—
Requirements. A manufacturer that has manufacturer’s representatives who sell or distribute the manufacturer’s tobacco
products in this state must provide the department a list of the
names and addresses of all such representatives and must
ensure that the list provided to the department is kept current.
A manufacturer’s representative is not authorized to distribute or sell tobacco products in this state unless the manufacturer that hired the representative has a valid distributor’s
license under this chapter and that manufacturer provides the
department a current list of all of its manufacturer’s representatives as required by this section. A manufacturer’s representative must carry a copy of the distributor’s license of the
manufacturer that hired the representative at all times when
selling or distributing the manufacturer’s tobacco products.
[2005 c 180 § 14.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.220
82.26.220 Enforcement, administration of chapter—
License suspension, revocation. (1) The board shall enforce
this chapter. The board may adopt, amend, and repeal rules
necessary to enforce this chapter.
(2) The department may adopt, amend, and repeal rules
necessary to administer this chapter. The department has full
power and authority to revoke or suspend the distributor’s or
retailer’s license of any distributor or retailer of tobacco products in the state upon sufficient cause showing a violation of
this chapter or upon the failure of the licensee to comply with
any of the rules adopted under it.
(3) A license shall not be suspended or revoked except
upon notice to the licensee and after a hearing as prescribed
by the department. The department, upon finding that the licensee has failed to comply with any provision of this chapter
or of any rule adopted under it, shall, in the case of the first
offense, suspend the license or licenses of the licensee for a
period of not less than thirty consecutive business days, and
in the case of a second or further offense, suspend the license
or licenses for a period of not less than ninety consecutive
business days but not more than twelve months, and in the
event the department finds the licensee has been guilty of
willful and persistent violations, it may revoke the license or
licenses.
(4) Any licenses issued under chapter 82.24 RCW to a
person whose license or licenses have been suspended or
revoked under this section shall also be suspended or revoked
during the period of suspension or revocation under this section.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Tobacco Products
(5) Any person whose license or licenses have been
revoked under this section may apply to the department at the
expiration of one year for a reinstatement of the license or
licenses. The license or licenses may be reinstated by the
department if it appears to the satisfaction of the department
that the licensee will comply with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted under it.
(6) A person whose license has been suspended or
revoked shall not sell tobacco products or cigarettes or permit
tobacco products or cigarettes to be sold during the period of
suspension or revocation on the premises occupied by the
person or upon other premises controlled by the person or
others or in any other manner or form.
(7) Any determination and order by the department, and
any order of suspension or revocation by the department of
the license or licenses, or refusal to reinstate a license or
licenses after revocation is reviewable by an appeal to the
superior court of Thurston county. The superior court shall
review the order or ruling of the department and may hear the
matter de novo, having due regard to the provisions of this
chapter and the duties imposed upon the department and the
board. [2005 c 180 § 18.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.230
82.26.230 Enforcement—Unlicensed distributors or
retailers—Seizure and forfeiture of property. (1) Any
tobacco products in the possession of a person selling
tobacco products in this state acting as a distributor or retailer
and who is not licensed as required under RCW 82.26.190, or
a person who is selling tobacco products in violation of RCW
82.26.220(6), may be seized without a warrant by any agent
of the department, agent of the board, or law enforcement
officer of this state. Any tobacco products seized under this
subsection shall be deemed forfeited.
(2) Any tobacco products in the possession of a person
who is not a licensed distributor or retailer and who transports
tobacco products for sale without having provided notice to
the board required under RCW 82.26.140, or without
invoices or delivery tickets showing the true name and
address of the consignor or seller, the true name and address
of the consignee or purchaser, and the quantity and brands of
tobacco products being transported may be seized and are
subject to forfeiture.
(3) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles, or vessels that are used, or intended for use to transport, or in any
manner to facilitate the transportation, for the purpose of sale
or receipt of tobacco products under subsection (2) of this
section, may be seized and are subject to forfeiture except:
(a) A conveyance used by any person as a common or
contract carrier having in actual possession invoices or delivery tickets showing the true name and address of the consignor or seller, the true name of the consignee or purchaser,
and the quantity and brands of the tobacco products transported, unless it appears that the owner or other person in
charge of the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a
violation of this chapter;
(b) A conveyance subject to forfeiture under this section
by reason of any act or omission of which the owner establishes to have been committed or omitted without his or her
knowledge or consent; or
(2006 Ed.)
82.26.240
(c) A conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security
interest if the secured party neither had knowledge of nor
consented to the act or omission.
(4) Property subject to forfeiture under subsections (2)
and (3) of this section may be seized by any agent of the
department, the board, or law enforcement officer of this state
upon process issued by any superior court or district court
having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure without process may be made if:
(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search warrant
or an inspection under an administrative inspection warrant;
or
(b) The department, board, or law enforcement officer
has probable cause to believe that the property was used or is
intended to be used in violation of this chapter and exigent
circumstances exist making procurement of a search warrant
impracticable.
(5) This section shall not be construed to require the seizure of tobacco products if the department’s agent, board’s
agent, or law enforcement officer reasonably believes that the
tobacco products are possessed for personal consumption by
the person in possession of the tobacco products.
(6) Any tobacco products seized by a law enforcement
officer shall be turned over to the board as soon as practicable. [2005 c 180 § 20.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.240
82.26.240 Seizure and forfeiture of property—
Department and board requirements. (1) In all cases of
seizure of any tobacco products made subject to forfeiture
under this chapter, the department or board shall proceed as
provided in RCW 82.24.135.
(2) When tobacco products are forfeited under this chapter, the department or board may:
(a) Retain the property for official use or upon application by any law enforcement agency of this state, another
state, or the District of Columbia, or of the United States for
the exclusive use of enforcing this chapter or the laws of any
other state or the District of Columbia or of the United States;
or
(b) Sell the tobacco products at public auction to the
highest bidder after due advertisement. Before delivering
any of the goods to the successful bidder, the department or
board shall require the purchaser to pay the proper amount of
any tax due. The proceeds of the sale shall be first applied to
the payment of all proper expenses of any investigation leading to the seizure and of the proceedings for forfeiture and
sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody,
advertising, and court costs. The balance of the proceeds and
all money shall be deposited in the general fund of the state.
Proper expenses of investigation include costs incurred by
any law enforcement agency or any federal, state, or local
agency.
(3) The department or the board may return any property
seized under the provisions of this chapter when it is shown
that there was no intention to violate the provisions of this
chapter. When any property is returned under this section,
the department or the board may return the property to the
parties from whom they were seized if and when such parties
[Title 82 RCW—page 191]
82.26.250
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
have paid the proper amount of tax due under this chapter.
[2005 c 180 § 21.]
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
82.26.250 Enforcement—Search warrants. When the
department or the board has good reason to believe that any
of the tobacco products taxed under this chapter are being
kept, sold, offered for sale, or given away in violation of the
provisions of this chapter, it may make affidavit of facts
describing the place or thing to be searched, before any judge
of any court in this state, and the judge shall issue a search
warrant directed to the sheriff, any deputy, police officer, or
duly authorized agent of the department or the board commanding him or her diligently to search any building, room in
a building, place, or vehicle as may be designated in the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize the tobacco products
and hold them until disposed of by law. [2005 c 180 § 22.]
82.26.250
Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.
Chapter 82.27
Chapter 82.27 RCW
TAX ON ENHANCED FOOD FISH
Sections
82.27.010
82.27.020
82.27.030
82.27.040
82.27.050
82.27.060
82.27.070
82.27.900
82.27.901
Definitions.
Excise tax imposed—Deduction—Measure of tax—Rates—
Additional tax imposed.
Exemptions.
Credit for taxes paid to another taxing authority.
Application of excise taxes’ administrative provisions and definitions.
Payment of tax—Remittance—Returns.
Deposit of taxes.
Effective date—Implementation—1980 c 98.
Severability—1985 c 413.
82.27.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Enhanced food fish" includes all species of food
fish, except all species of tuna, mackerel, and jack; shellfish;
and anadromous game fish, including byproducts and parts
thereof, originating within the territorial and adjacent waters
of Washington and salmon originating from within the territorial and adjacent waters of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, and all troll-caught Chinook salmon originating from within the territorial and adjacent waters of southeast Alaska. As used in this subsection, "adjacent" waters of
Oregon, Washington, and Alaska are those comprising the
United States fish conservation zone; "adjacent" waters of
British Columbia are those comprising the Canadian two
hundred mile exclusive economic zone; and "southeast
Alaska" means that portion of Alaska south and east of Cape
Suckling to the Canadian border. For purposes of this chapter, point of origination is established by a document which
identifies the product and state or province in which it originates, including, but not limited to fish tickets, bills of lading,
invoices, or other documentation required to be kept by governmental agencies.
(2) "Commercial" means related to or connected with
buying, selling, bartering, or processing.
(3) "Possession" means the control of enhanced food fish
by the owner and includes both actual and constructive possession. Constructive possession occurs when the person has
82.27.010
[Title 82 RCW—page 192]
legal ownership but not actual possession of the enhanced
food fish.
(4) "Anadromous game fish" means steelhead trout and
anadromous cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden char and
includes byproducts and also parts of anadromous game fish,
whether fresh, frozen, canned, or otherwise.
(5) "Landed" means the act of physically placing
enhanced food fish (a) on a tender in the territorial waters of
Washington; or (b) on any land within or without the state of
Washington including wharves, piers, or any such extensions
therefrom. [1995 c 372 § 4; 1985 c 413 § 1. Prior: 1983 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 180; 1983 c 284 § 5; 1980 c 98 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
82.27.020
82.27.020 Excise tax imposed—Deduction—Measure
of tax—Rates—Additional tax imposed. (1) In addition to
all other taxes, licenses, or fees provided by law there is
established an excise tax on the commercial possession of
enhanced food fish as provided in this chapter. The tax is levied upon and shall be collected from the owner of the
enhanced food fish whose possession constitutes the taxable
event. The taxable event is the first possession in Washington by an owner after the enhanced food fish has been landed.
Processing and handling of enhanced food fish by a person
who is not the owner is not a taxable event to the processor or
handler.
(2) A person in possession of enhanced food fish and liable to this tax may deduct from the price paid to the person
from which the enhanced food fish (except oysters) are purchased an amount equal to a tax at one-half the rate levied in
this section upon these products.
(3) The measure of the tax is the value of the enhanced
food fish at the point of landing.
(4) The tax shall be equal to the measure of the tax multiplied by the rates for enhanced food fish as follows:
(a) Chinook, coho, and chum salmon and anadromous
game fish: Five and twenty-five one-hundredths percent;
(b) Pink and sockeye salmon: Three and fifteen onehundredths percent;
(c) Other food fish and shellfish, except oysters, sea
urchins, and sea cucumbers: Two and one-tenth percent;
(d) Oysters: Eight one-hundredths of one percent;
(e) Sea urchins: Four and six-tenths percent through
December 31, 2010, and two and one-tenth percent thereafter; and
(f) Sea cucumbers: Four and six-tenths percent through
December 31, 2010, and two and one-tenth percent thereafter.
(5) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under
subsection (4) of this section. [2005 c 110 § 3; 2001 c 320 §
9; 1999 c 126 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 12; 1985 c 413 § 2; 1983
2nd ex.s. c 3 § 17; 1983 c 284 § 6; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 10;
1980 c 98 § 2.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date—1999 c 126 § 3: "Section 3 of this act takes effect January 1, 2000." [1999 c 126 § 5.]
Finding—Contingent effective date—Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17:
See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax on Enhanced Food Fish
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: "The legislature finds that there are
commercial fish buyers benefiting financially from the propagation of game
fish in the state. The legislature recognizes that license fees obtained from
sports fishermen support the majority of the production of these game fish.
The legislature finds that commercial operations which benefit from the
commercial harvest of these fish should pay a tax to assist in the funding of
these facilities. However, the intent of the legislature is not to support the
commercial harvest of steelhead and other game fish." [1983 c 284 § 8.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.27.901
The department may relieve any taxpayer from the obligation of filing a monthly return and may require the return to
cover other periods, but in no event may periodic returns be
filed for a period greater than one year. In such cases tax payments are due on or before the last day of the month next succeeding the end of the period covered by the return. [2003 1st
sp.s. c 13 § 10; 1990 c 214 § 1; 1980 c 98 § 6.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
82.27.030
82.27.030 Exemptions. The tax imposed by RCW
82.27.020 shall not apply to: (1) Enhanced food fish originating outside the state which enters the state as (a) frozen
enhanced food fish or (b) enhanced food fish packaged for
retail sales; (2) the growing, processing, or dealing with food
fish or shellfish which are raised from eggs, fry, or larvae and
which are under the physical control of the grower at all times
until being sold or harvested; and (3) food fish, shellfish,
anadromous game fish, and byproducts or parts of food fish
shipped from outside the state which enter the state, except as
provided in RCW 82.27.010, provided the taxpayer must
have documentation showing shipping origination of fish
exempt under this subsection to qualify for exemption. Such
documentation includes, but is not limited to fish tickets, bills
of lading, invoices, or other documentation required to be
kept by governmental agencies. [1995 2nd sp.s. c 7 § 1; 1985
c 413 § 3; 1980 c 98 § 3.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 7: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 7 § 2.]
82.27.040
82.27.040 Credit for taxes paid to another taxing
authority. A credit shall be allowed against the tax imposed
by RCW 82.27.020 upon enhanced food fish with respect to
any tax previously paid on that same enhanced food fish to
any other legally established taxing authority. To qualify for
a credit, the owner of the enhanced food fish must have documentation showing a tax was paid in another jurisdiction.
[1985 c 413 § 4; 1980 c 98 § 4.]
82.27.050
82.27.050 Application of excise taxes’ administrative
provisions and definitions. All of the provisions of chapters
82.02 and 82.32 RCW shall be applicable and have full force
and effect with respect to taxes imposed under this chapter.
The meaning attributed to words and phrases in chapter 82.04
RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and effect
with respect to taxes imposed under this chapter. [1980 c 98
§ 5.]
82.27.060
82.27.060 Payment of tax—Remittance—Returns.
(Effective until August 1, 2006.) The taxes levied by this
chapter shall be due for payment monthly and remittance
therefor shall be made within twenty days after the end of the
month in which the taxable activity occurs. The taxpayer on
or before the due date shall make out a signed return, setting
out such information as the department of revenue may
require, including the gross measure of the tax, any deductions, credits, or exemptions claimed, and the amount of tax
due for the preceding monthly period, which amount shall be
transmitted to the department along with the return.
(2006 Ed.)
82.27.060
82.27.060 Payment of tax—Remittance—Returns.
(Effective August 1, 2006.) The taxes levied by this chapter
shall be due for payment monthly and remittance therefor
shall be made within twenty-five days after the end of the
month in which the taxable activity occurs. The taxpayer on
or before the due date shall make out a signed return, setting
out such information as the department of revenue may
require, including the gross measure of the tax, any deductions, credits, or exemptions claimed, and the amount of tax
due for the preceding monthly period, which amount shall be
transmitted to the department along with the return.
The department may relieve any taxpayer from the obligation of filing a monthly return and may require the return to
cover other periods, but in no event may periodic returns be
filed for a period greater than one year. In such cases tax payments are due on or before the last day of the month next succeeding the end of the period covered by the return. [2006 c
256 § 3; 2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 10; 1990 c 214 § 1; 1980 c 98 §
6.]
Effective dates—Application—Savings—2006 c 256: See notes following RCW 82.32.045.
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
82.27.070
82.27.070 Deposit of taxes. All taxes collected by the
department of revenue under this chapter shall be deposited
in the state general fund except for the excise tax on anadromous game fish, which shall be deposited in the *wildlife
fund, and, during the period January 1, 2000, to December
31, 2010, twenty-five forty-sixths of the revenues derived
from the excise tax on sea urchins collected under RCW
82.27.020 shall be deposited into the sea urchin dive fishery
account created in RCW 77.70.150, and twenty-five fortysixths of the revenues derived from the excise tax on sea
cucumbers collected under RCW 82.27.020 shall be deposited into the sea cucumber dive fishery account created in
RCW 77.70.190. [2005 c 110 § 4; 2003 c 39 § 46; 1999 c 126
§ 4; 1988 c 36 § 61; 1983 c 284 § 7; 1980 c 98 § 7.]
*Reviser’s note: The "state wildlife fund" was renamed the "state wildlife account" pursuant to 2005 c 224 § 4 and 2005 c 225 § 4.
Findings—Intent—1983 c 284: See note following RCW 82.27.020.
82.27.900
82.27.900 Effective date—Implementation—1980 c
98. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1980. The director of
revenue is authorized to immediately take such steps as are
necessary to insure that this act is implemented on its effective date. [1980 c 98 § 11.]
82.27.901
82.27.901 Severability—1985 c 413. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
[Title 82 RCW—page 193]
Chapter 82.29A
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 413 § 6.]
Chapter 82.29A
Chapter 82.29A RCW
LEASEHOLD EXCISE TAX
Sections
82.29A.010
82.29A.020
82.29A.030
82.29A.040
82.29A.050
82.29A.060
82.29A.070
82.29A.080
82.29A.090
82.29A.100
82.29A.110
82.29A.120
82.29A.130
82.29A.132
82.29A.134
82.29A.135
82.29A.136
82.29A.137
82.29A.140
82.29A.150
82.29A.160
82.29A.900
82.29A.910
Legislative findings and recognition.
Definitions.
Tax imposed—Credit—Additional tax imposed.
Counties and cities authorized to impose tax—Maximum
rate—Credit—Collection.
Payment—Due dates—Collection and remittance—Liability—Reporting.
Administration—Appraisal appeal—Audits.
Disposition of revenue.
Counties and cities to contract with state for administration
and collection—Local leasehold excise tax account.
Distributions to counties and cities.
Distributions by county treasurers.
Consistency and uniformity of local leasehold tax with state
leasehold tax—Model ordinance.
Allowable credits.
Exemptions.
Exemptions—Operation of state route No. 16.
Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
Exemptions—Property used to manufacture alcohol, biodiesel, or wood biomass fuel.
Exemptions—Certain residential and recreational lots.
Exemptions—Certain leasehold interests related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
Rules and regulations.
Cancellation of taxes levied for collection in 1976.
Improvements not defined as contract rent taxable under Title
84 RCW.
Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61.
Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61.
Reviser’s note: Throughout chapter 82.29A RCW the term "this 1976
amendatory act" has been changed to "this chapter, RCW 84.36.451 and
84.40.175." This 1976 amendatory act [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61] also
repealed chapter 82.29 RCW, RCW 84.36.450, 84.36.455, and 84.36.460.
82.29A.010 Legislative findings and recognition.
(1)(a) The legislature hereby recognizes that properties of the
state of Washington, counties, school districts, and other
municipal corporations are exempted by Article 7, section 1
of the state Constitution from property tax obligations, but
that private lessees of such public properties receive substantial benefits from governmental services provided by units of
government.
(b) The legislature further recognizes that a uniform
method of taxation should apply to such leasehold interests in
publicly owned property.
(c) The legislature finds that lessees of publicly owned
property are entitled to those same governmental services and
does hereby provide for a leasehold excise tax to fairly compensate governmental units for services rendered to such lessees of publicly owned property.
(2) The legislature further finds that experience gained
by lessors, lessees, and the department of revenue since
enactment of the leasehold excise tax under this chapter has
shed light on areas in the leasehold excise statutes that need
explanation and clarification. The purpose of chapter 220,
Laws of 1999 is to make those changes. [1999 c 220 § 1;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 1.]
82.29A.010
82.29A.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter the following terms shall be defined as follows, unless the context
otherwise requires:
82.29A.020
[Title 82 RCW—page 194]
(1) "Leasehold interest" shall mean an interest in publicly owned real or personal property which exists by virtue
of any lease, permit, license, or any other agreement, written
or verbal, between the public owner of the property and a person who would not be exempt from property taxes if that person owned the property in fee, granting possession and use, to
a degree less than fee simple ownership: PROVIDED, That
no interest in personal property (excluding land or buildings)
which is owned by the United States, whether or not as
trustee, or by any foreign government shall constitute a leasehold interest hereunder when the right to use such property is
granted pursuant to a contract solely for the manufacture or
production of articles for sale to the United States or any foreign government. The term "leasehold interest" shall include
the rights of use or occupancy by others of property which is
owned in fee or held in trust by a public corporation, commission, or authority created under RCW 35.21.730 or 35.21.660
if the property is listed on or is within a district listed on any
federal or state register of historical sites. The term "leasehold interest" shall not include road or utility easements,
rights of access, occupancy, or use granted solely for the purpose of removing materials or products purchased from a
public owner or the lessee of a public owner, or rights of
access, occupancy, or use granted solely for the purpose of
natural energy resource exploration.
(2) "Taxable rent" shall mean contract rent as defined in
subsection (a) of this subsection in all cases where the lease
or agreement has been established or renegotiated through
competitive bidding, or negotiated or renegotiated in accordance with statutory requirements regarding the rent payable,
or negotiated or renegotiated under circumstances, established by public record, clearly showing that the contract rent
was the maximum attainable by the lessor: PROVIDED,
That after January 1, 1986, with respect to any lease which
has been in effect for ten years or more without renegotiation,
taxable rent may be established by procedures set forth in
subsection (b) of this subsection. All other leasehold interests
shall be subject to the determination of taxable rent under the
terms of subsection (b) of this subsection.
For purposes of determining leasehold excise tax on any
lands on the Hanford reservation subleased to a private or
public entity by the department of ecology, taxable rent shall
include only the annual cash rental payment made by such
entity to the department of ecology as specifically referred to
as rent in the sublease agreement between the parties and
shall not include any other fees, assessments, or charges
imposed on or collected by such entity irrespective of
whether the private or public entity pays or collects such
other fees, assessments, or charges as specified in the sublease agreement.
(a) "Contract rent" shall mean the amount of consideration due as payment for a leasehold interest, including: The
total of cash payments made to the lessor or to another party
for the benefit of the lessor according to the requirements of
the lease or agreement, including any rents paid by a sublessee; expenditures for the protection of the lessor’s interest
when required by the terms of the lease or agreement; and
expenditures for improvements to the property to the extent
that such improvements become the property of the lessor.
Where the consideration conveyed for the leasehold interest
is made in combination with payment for concession or other
(2006 Ed.)
Leasehold Excise Tax
rights granted by the lessor, only that portion of such payment which represents consideration for the leasehold interest shall be part of contract rent.
"Contract rent" shall not include: (i) Expenditures made
by the lessee, which under the terms of the lease or agreement, are to be reimbursed by the lessor to the lessee or
expenditures for improvements and protection made pursuant
to a lease or an agreement which requires that the use of the
improved property be open to the general public and that no
profit will inure to the lessee from the lease; (ii) expenditures
made by the lessee for the replacement or repair of facilities
due to fire or other casualty including payments for insurance
to provide reimbursement for losses or payments to a public
or private entity for protection of such property from damage
or loss or for alterations or additions made necessary by an
action of government taken after the date of the execution of
the lease or agreement; (iii) improvements added to publicly
owned property by a sublessee under an agreement executed
prior to January 1, 1976, which have been taxed as personal
property of the sublessee prior to January 1, 1976, or
improvements made by a sublessee of the same lessee under
a similar agreement executed prior to January 1, 1976, and
such improvements shall be taxable to the sublessee as personal property; (iv) improvements added to publicly owned
property if such improvements are being taxed as personal
property to any person.
Any prepaid contract rent shall be considered to have
been paid in the year due and not in the year actually paid
with respect to prepayment for a period of more than one
year. Expenditures for improvements with a useful life of
more than one year which are included as part of contract rent
shall be treated as prepaid contract rent and prorated over the
useful life of the improvement or the remaining term of the
lease or agreement if the useful life is in excess of the remaining term of the lease or agreement. Rent prepaid prior to January 1, 1976, shall be prorated from the date of prepayment.
With respect to a "product lease", the value shall be that
value determined at the time of sale under terms of the lease.
(b) If it shall be determined by the department of revenue, upon examination of a lessee’s accounts or those of a
lessor of publicly owned property, that a lessee is occupying
or using publicly owned property in such a manner as to create a leasehold interest and that such leasehold interest has
not been established through competitive bidding, or negotiated in accordance with statutory requirements regarding the
rent payable, or negotiated under circumstances, established
by public record, clearly showing that the contract rent was
the maximum attainable by the lessor, the department may
establish a taxable rent computation for use in determining
the tax payable under authority granted in this chapter based
upon the following criteria: (i) Consideration shall be given
to rental being paid to other lessors by lessees of similar property for similar purposes over similar periods of time; (ii)
consideration shall be given to what would be considered a
fair rate of return on the market value of the property leased
less reasonable deductions for any restrictions on use, special
operating requirements or provisions for concurrent use by
the lessor, another person or the general public.
(3) "Product lease" as used in this chapter shall mean a
lease of property for use in the production of agricultural or
marine products to the extent that such lease provides for the
(2006 Ed.)
82.29A.040
contract rent to be paid by the delivery of a stated percentage
of the production of such agricultural or marine products to
the credit of the lessor or the payment to the lessor of a stated
percentage of the proceeds from the sale of such products.
(4) "Renegotiated" means a change in the lease agreement which changes the agreed time of possession, restrictions on use, the rate of the cash rental or of any other consideration payable by the lessee to or for the benefit of the lessor,
other than any such change required by the terms of the lease
or agreement. In addition "renegotiated" shall mean a continuation of possession by the lessee beyond the date when,
under the terms of the lease agreement, the lessee had the
right to vacate the premises without any further liability to the
lessor.
(5) "City" means any city or town.
(6) "Products" includes natural resource products such as
cut or picked evergreen foliage, Cascara bark, wild edible
mushrooms, native ornamental trees and shrubs, ore and minerals, natural gas, geothermal water and steam, and forage
removed through the grazing of livestock. [1999 c 220 § 2;
1991 c 272 § 23; 1986 c 285 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 11;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 2.]
Effective dates—1991 c 272: See RCW 81.108.901.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
82.29A.030
82.29A.030 Tax imposed—Credit—Additional tax
imposed. (1) There is hereby levied and shall be collected a
leasehold excise tax on the act or privilege of occupying or
using publicly owned real or personal property through a
leasehold interest on and after January 1, 1976, at a rate of
twelve percent of taxable rent: PROVIDED, That after the
computation of the tax there shall be allowed credit for any
tax collected pursuant to RCW 82.29A.040.
(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under
subsection (1) of this section. [1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 18; 1982
1st ex.s. c 35 § 11; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 3.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
82.29A.040
82.29A.040 Counties and cities authorized to impose
tax—Maximum rate—Credit—Collection. The legislative
body of any county or city is hereby authorized to levy and
collect a leasehold excise tax on the act or privilege of occupying or using publicly owned real or personal property
through a leasehold interest in publicly owned property
within the territorial limits of such county or city. The tax levied by a county under authority of this section shall not
exceed six percent and the tax levied by a city shall not
exceed four percent of taxable rent: PROVIDED, That any
county ordinance levying such tax shall contain a provision
allowing a credit against the county tax for the full amount of
any city tax imposed upon the same taxable event.
The department of revenue shall perform the collection
of such taxes on behalf of such county or city. [1975-’76 2nd
ex.s. c 61 § 4.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 195]
82.29A.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.29A.050
82.29A.050 Payment—Due dates—Collection and
remittance—Liability—Reporting. (1) The leasehold
excise taxes provided for in RCW 82.29A.030 and
82.29A.040 shall be paid by the lessee to the lessor and the
lessor shall collect such tax and remit the same to the department of revenue. The tax shall be payable at the same time as
payments are due to the lessor for use of the property from
which the leasehold interest arises, and in the case of payment of contract rent to a person other than the lessor, at the
time of payment. The tax payment shall be accompanied by
such information as the department of revenue may require.
In the case of prepaid contract rent the payment may be prorated in accordance with instructions of the department of
revenue and the prorated portion of the tax shall be due, onehalf not later than May 31 and the other half not later than
November 30 each year.
(2) The lessor receiving taxes payable under the provisions of this chapter shall remit the same together with a
return provided by the department, to the department of revenue on or before the last day of the month following the
month in which the tax is collected. The department may
relieve any taxpayer or class of taxpayers from the obligation
of filing monthly returns and may require the return to cover
other reporting periods, but in no event shall returns be filed
for a period greater than one year. The lessor shall be fully
liable for collection and remittance of the tax. The amount of
tax until paid by the lessee to the lessor shall constitute a debt
from the lessee to the lessor. The tax required by this chapter
shall be stated separately from contract rent, and if not so separately stated for purposes of determining the tax due from
the lessee to the lessor and from the lessor to the department,
the contract rent does not include the tax imposed by this
chapter. Where a lessee has failed to pay to the lessor the tax
imposed by this chapter and the lessor has not paid the
amount of the tax to the department, the department may, in
its discretion, proceed directly against the lessee for collection of the tax: PROVIDED, That taxes due where contract
rent has not been paid shall be reported by the lessor to the
department and the lessee alone shall be liable for payment of
the tax to the department.
(3) Each person having a leasehold interest subject to the
tax provided for in this chapter arising out of a lease of federally owned or federal trust lands shall report and remit the tax
due directly to the department of revenue in the same manner
and at the same time as the lessor would be required to report
and remit the tax if such lessor were a state public entity.
[1992 c 206 § 6; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 5.]
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
82.29A.060
82.29A.060 Administration—Appraisal appeal—
Audits. (1) All administrative provisions in chapters 82.02
and 82.32 RCW shall be applicable to taxes imposed pursuant to this chapter.
(2) A lessee, or a sublessee in the case where the sublessee is responsible for paying the tax imposed under this chapter, of property used for residential purposes may petition the
county board of equalization for a change in appraised value
when the department of revenue establishes taxable rent
under RCW 82.29A.020(2)(b) based on an appraisal done by
the county assessor at the request of the department. The petition must be on forms prescribed or approved by the depart[Title 82 RCW—page 196]
ment of revenue and any petition not conforming to those
requirements or not properly completed shall not be considered by the board. The petition must be filed with the board
within the time period set forth in RCW 84.40.038. A decision of the board of equalization may be appealed by the taxpayer to the board of tax appeals as provided in RCW
84.08.130.
A sublessee, in the case where the sublessee is responsible for paying the tax imposed under this chapter, of property
used for residential purposes may petition the department for
a change in taxable rent when the department of revenue
establishes taxable rent under RCW 82.29A.020(2)(b).
Any change in tax resulting from an appeal under this
subsection shall be allocated to the lessee or sublessee
responsible for paying the tax.
(3) This section shall not authorize the issuance of any
levy upon any property owned by the public lessor.
(4) In selecting leasehold excise tax returns for audit the
department of revenue shall give priority to any return an
audit of which is specifically requested in writing by the
county assessor or treasurer or other chief financial officer of
any city or county affected by such return. Notwithstanding
the provisions of RCW 82.32.330, findings of fact and determinations of the amount of taxable rent made pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter shall be open to public inspection at
all reasonable times. [1994 c 95 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61
§ 6.]
Effective date—1994 c 95: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 23, 1994]." [1994 c 95 § 3.]
82.29A.070
82.29A.070 Disposition of revenue. All moneys
received by the department of revenue from taxes levied
under provisions of RCW 82.29A.030 shall be transmitted to
the state treasurer and deposited in the general fund. [1975’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 7.]
82.29A.080
82.29A.080 Counties and cities to contract with state
for administration and collection—Local leasehold excise
tax account. The counties and cities shall contract, prior to
the effective date of an ordinance imposing a leasehold excise
tax, with the department of revenue for administration and
collection. The department of revenue shall deduct a percentage amount, as provided by such contract, not to exceed two
percent of the taxes collected, for administration and collection expenses incurred by the department. The remainder of
any portion of any tax authorized by RCW 82.29A.040 which
is collected by the department of revenue shall be deposited
by the state department of revenue in the local leasehold
excise tax account hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys in the local leasehold excise tax account may be spent
only for distribution to counties and cities imposing a leasehold excise tax.
During the 2001-2003 fiscal biennium, the legislature
may transfer from the local leasehold excise tax account to
the state general fund such amounts as reflect the interest
earnings of the account. [2002 c 371 § 925; 1985 c 57 § 84;
1981 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 8; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 8.]
Severability—Effective date—2002 c 371: See notes following RCW
9.46.100.
(2006 Ed.)
Leasehold Excise Tax
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
82.29A.090
82.29A.090 Distributions to counties and cities. (1)
Bimonthly the state treasurer shall make distribution from the
local leasehold excise tax account to the counties and cities
the amount of tax collected on behalf of each county or city.
(2) Earnings accrued through July 31, 2002, shall be disbursed to counties and cities proportionate to the amount of
tax collected annually on behalf of each county or city.
(3) After July 31, 2002, bimonthly the state treasurer
shall disburse earnings from the local leasehold excise tax
account to the counties or cities proportionate to the amount
of tax collected on behalf of each county or city.
(4) The state treasurer shall make the distribution under
this section without appropriation. [2002 c 177 § 1; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 4 § 9; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 9.]
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 4: See note following RCW 43.30.325.
82.29A.100
82.29A.100 Distributions by county treasurers. Any
moneys received by a county from the leasehold excise tax
provided for under RCW 82.29A.040 shall be distributed
proportionately by the county treasurer in accordance with
RCW 84.56.230 as though such moneys were receipts from
regular ad valorem property tax levies within such county:
PROVIDED, That no distribution shall be made to the state
or any city: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the pro rata
calculation for proportionate distribution to taxing districts
shall not include consideration of any rate(s) of levy by the
state or any city. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 10.]
82.29A.110
82.29A.110 Consistency and uniformity of local
leasehold tax with state leasehold tax—Model ordinance.
It is the intent of this chapter that any local leasehold excise
tax adopted pursuant to this chapter be as consistent and uniform as possible with the state leasehold excise tax. It is further the intent of this chapter that the local leasehold excise
tax shall be imposed upon an individual taxable event simultaneously with the imposition of the state leasehold excise tax
upon the same taxable event. The department shall, as soon as
practicable, and with the assistance of the appropriate associations of county prosecutors and city attorneys, draft a model
ordinance. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 11.]
82.29A.120
82.29A.120 Allowable credits. After computation of
the taxes imposed pursuant to RCW 82.29A.030 and
82.29A.040 there shall be allowed the following credits in
determining the tax payable:
(1) With respect to a leasehold interest other than a product lease, executed with an effective date of April 1, 1986, or
thereafter, or a leasehold interest in respect to which the
department of revenue under the authority of RCW
82.29A.020 does adjust the contract rent base used for computing the tax provided for in RCW 82.29A.030, there shall
be allowed a credit against the tax as otherwise computed
equal to the amount, if any, that such tax exceeds the property
tax that would apply to such leased property without regard to
any property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381, if it were
privately owned by the lessee or if it were privately owned by
any sublessee if the value of the credit inures to the sublessee.
(2006 Ed.)
82.29A.130
For lessees and sublessees who would qualify for a property
tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381 if the property were
privately owned, the tax otherwise due after this credit shall
be reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage reduction
in property tax that would result from the property tax
exemption under RCW 84.36.381.
(2) With respect to a product lease, a credit of thirtythree percent of the tax otherwise due. [1994 c 95 § 2; 1986
c 285 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 12.]
Effective date—1994 c 95: See note following RCW 82.29A.060.
82.29A.130
82.29A.130 Exemptions. The following leasehold
interests shall be exempt from taxes imposed pursuant to
RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040:
(1) All leasehold interests constituting a part of the operating properties of any public utility which is assessed and
taxed as a public utility pursuant to chapter 84.12 RCW.
(2) All leasehold interests in facilities owned or used by
a school, college or university which leasehold provides
housing for students and which is otherwise exempt from taxation under provisions of RCW 84.36.010 and 84.36.050.
(3) All leasehold interests of subsidized housing where
the fee ownership of such property is vested in the government of the United States, or the state of Washington or any
political subdivision thereof but only if income qualification
exists for such housing.
(4) All leasehold interests used for fair purposes of a
nonprofit fair association that sponsors or conducts a fair or
fairs which receive support from revenues collected pursuant
to RCW 67.16.100 and allocated by the director of the department of agriculture where the fee ownership of such property
is vested in the government of the United States, the state of
Washington or any of its political subdivisions: PROVIDED, That this exemption shall not apply to the leasehold
interest of any sublessee of such nonprofit fair association if
such leasehold interest would be taxable if it were the primary lease.
(5) All leasehold interests in any property of any public
entity used as a residence by an employee of that public entity
who is required as a condition of employment to live in the
publicly owned property.
(6) All leasehold interests held by enrolled Indians of
lands owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribe where the
fee ownership of such property is vested in or held in trust by
the United States and which are not subleased to other than to
a lessee which would qualify pursuant to this chapter, RCW
84.36.451 and 84.40.175.
(7) All leasehold interests in any real property of any
Indian or Indian tribe, band, or community that is held in trust
by the United States or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States: PROVIDED, That this
exemption shall apply only where it is determined that contract rent paid is greater than or equal to ninety percent of fair
market rental, to be determined by the department of revenue
using the same criteria used to establish taxable rent in RCW
82.29A.020(2)(b).
(8) All leasehold interests for which annual taxable rent
is less than two hundred fifty dollars per year. For purposes
of this subsection leasehold interests held by the same lessee
[Title 82 RCW—page 197]
82.29A.132
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
in contiguous properties owned by the same lessor shall be
deemed a single leasehold interest.
(9) All leasehold interests which give use or possession
of the leased property for a continuous period of less than
thirty days: PROVIDED, That for purposes of this subsection, successive leases or lease renewals giving substantially
continuous use of possession of the same property to the
same lessee shall be deemed a single leasehold interest:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That no leasehold interest shall be
deemed to give use or possession for a period of less than
thirty days solely by virtue of the reservation by the public
lessor of the right to use the property or to allow third parties
to use the property on an occasional, temporary basis.
(10) All leasehold interests under month-to-month leases
in residential units rented for residential purposes of the lessee pending destruction or removal for the purpose of constructing a public highway or building.
(11) All leasehold interests in any publicly owned real or
personal property to the extent such leasehold interests arises
solely by virtue of a contract for public improvements or
work executed under the public works statutes of this state or
of the United States between the public owner of the property
and a contractor.
(12) All leasehold interests that give use or possession of
state adult correctional facilities for the purposes of operating
correctional industries under RCW 72.09.100.
(13) All leasehold interests used to provide organized
and supervised recreational activities for disabled persons of
all ages in a camp facility and for public recreational purposes by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation
that would be exempt from property tax under RCW
84.36.030(1) if it owned the property. If the publicly owned
property is used for any taxable purpose, the leasehold excise
taxes set forth in RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040 shall be
imposed and shall be apportioned accordingly.
(14) All leasehold interests in the public or entertainment
areas of a baseball stadium with natural turf and a retractable
roof or canopy that is in a county with a population of over
one million, that has a seating capacity of over forty thousand, and that is constructed on or after January 1, 1995.
"Public or entertainment areas" include ticket sales areas,
ramps and stairs, lobbies and concourses, parking areas, concession areas, restaurants, hospitality and stadium club areas,
kitchens or other work areas primarily servicing other public
or entertainment areas, public rest room areas, press and
media areas, control booths, broadcast and production areas,
retail sales areas, museum and exhibit areas, scoreboards or
other public displays, storage areas, loading, staging, and servicing areas, seating areas and suites, the playing field, and
any other areas to which the public has access or which are
used for the production of the entertainment event or other
public usage, and any other personal property used for these
purposes. "Public or entertainment areas" does not include
locker rooms or private offices exclusively used by the lessee.
(15) All leasehold interests in the public or entertainment
areas of a stadium and exhibition center, as defined in RCW
36.102.010, that is constructed on or after January 1, 1998.
For the purposes of this subsection, "public or entertainment
areas" has the same meaning as in subsection (14) of this section, and includes exhibition areas.
[Title 82 RCW—page 198]
(16) All leasehold interests in public facilities districts,
as provided in chapter 36.100 or 35.57 RCW.
(17) All leasehold interests in property that is: (a)
Owned by a municipal corporation; (b) listed on any federal
or state register of historical sites; and (c) wholly contained
within a designated national historic reserve under 16 U.S.C.
Sec. 461.
(18) All leasehold interests in the public or entertainment
areas of an amphitheater if a private entity is responsible for
one hundred percent of the cost of constructing the amphitheater which is not reimbursed by the public owner, both the
public owner and the private lessee sponsor events at the
facility on a regular basis, the lessee is responsible under the
lease or agreement to operate and maintain the facility, and
the amphitheater has a seating capacity of over seventeen
thousand reserved and general admission seats and is in a
county with a population of over three hundred fifty thousand, but less than four hundred twenty-five thousand. For
the purposes of this subsection, "public or entertainment
areas" include box offices or other ticket sales areas, entrance
gates, ramps and stairs, lobbies and concourses, parking
areas, concession areas, restaurants, hospitality areas, kitchens or other work areas primarily servicing other public or
entertainment areas, public rest room areas, press and media
areas, control booths, broadcast and production areas, retail
sales areas, museum and exhibit areas, scoreboards or other
public displays, storage areas, loading, staging, and servicing
areas, seating areas including lawn seating areas and suites,
stages, and any other areas to which the public has access or
which are used for the production of the entertainment event
or other public usage, and any other personal property used
for these purposes. "Public or entertainment areas" does not
include office areas used predominately by the lessee. [2005
c 514 § 601; 2005 c 170 § 1; 1999 c 165 § 21; 1997 c 220 §
202 (Referendum Bill No. 48, approved June 17, 1997); 1995
3rd sp.s. c 1 § 307; 1995 c 138 § 1; 1992 c 123 § 2; 1975-’76
2nd ex.s. c 61 § 13.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2005 c 170 § 1 and by
2005 c 514 § 601, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Severability—1999 c 164: See RCW 35.57.900.
Referendum—Other legislation limited—Legislators’ personal
intent not indicated—Reimbursements for election—Voters’ pamphlet,
election requirements—1997 c 220: See RCW 36.102.800 through
36.102.803.
Part headings not law—Severability—1997 c 220: See RCW
36.102.900 and 36.102.901.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1995 3rd sp.s. c 1: See notes
following RCW 82.14.0485.
Effective date—1995 c 138: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[April 27, 1995]." [1995 c 138 § 2.]
82.29A.132
82.29A.132 Exemptions—Operation of state route
No. 16. All leasehold interests in the state route number 16
corridor transportation systems and facilities constructed and
(2006 Ed.)
Leasehold Excise Tax
operated under chapter 47.46 RCW are exempt from tax
under this chapter. [1998 c 179 § 6.]
Finding—1998 c 179: See note following RCW 35.21.718.
82.29A.134
82.29A.134 Exemptions—Sales/leasebacks by
regional transit authorities. All leasehold interests in property of a regional transit authority or public corporation created under RCW 81.112.320 under an agreement under RCW
81.112.300 are exempt from tax under this chapter. [2000
2nd sp.s. c 4 § 25.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
82.29A.160
enue determines to be justified and in accordance with this
section. No claims may be filed after December 31, 2009.
The department of revenue may promulgate such rules,
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, as are necessary to properly
administer this section. [2003 c 339 § 10; 2003 c 261 § 10;
1985 c 371 § 3; 1980 c 157 § 2.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2003 c 261 § 10 and by
2003 c 339 § 10, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—2003 c 339: See note following RCW 84.36.640.
Effective dates—2003 c 261: See note following RCW 84.36.635.
82.29A.136 Exemptions—Certain residential and
recreational lots. All leasehold interests consisting of three
thousand or more residential and recreational lots that are or
may be subleased for residential and recreational purposes
are exempt from tax under this chapter. [2001 c 26 § 1.]
82.29A.136
82.29A.135
82.29A.135 Exemptions—Property used to manufacture alcohol, biodiesel, or wood biomass fuel. (1) For the
purposes of this section:
(a) "Alcohol fuel" means any alcohol made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas, which is used alone
or in combination with gasoline or other petroleum products
for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, farm implements, and
machines or implements of husbandry.
(b) "Biodiesel feedstock" means oil that is produced
from an agricultural crop for the sole purpose of ultimately
producing biodiesel fuel.
(c) "Biodiesel fuel" means a mono alkyl ester of long
chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats
for use in compression-ignition engines and that meets the
requirements of the American society of testing and materials
specification D 6751 in effect as of January 1, 2003.
(d) "Wood biomass fuel" means a pyrolytic liquid fuel or
synthesis gas-derived liquid fuel, used in internal combustion
engines, and produced from wood, forest, or field residue, or
dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that
have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chroma-arsenic.
(2)(a) All leasehold interests in buildings, machinery,
equipment, and other personal property which is used primarily for the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel,
biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, the land upon which
this property is located, and land that is reasonably necessary
in the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel,
biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, but not land necessary
for growing of crops, which together comprise a new manufacturing facility or an addition to an existing manufacturing
facility, are exempt from leasehold taxes for a period of six
years from the date on which the facility or the addition to the
existing facility becomes operational.
(b) For manufacturing facilities which produce products
in addition to alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel,
or biodiesel feedstock, the amount of the leasehold tax
exemption shall be based upon the annual percentage of the
total value of all products manufactured that is the value of
the alcohol fuel, wood biomass fuel, biodiesel fuel, and
biodiesel feedstock manufactured.
(3) Claims for exemptions authorized by this section
shall be filed with the department of revenue on forms prescribed by the department of revenue and furnished by the
department of revenue. Once filed, the exemption is valid for
six years and shall not be renewed. The department of revenue shall verify and approve claims as the department of rev(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—2001 c 26 § 1: "Section 1 of this act takes effect January 1, 2002." [2001 c 26 § 6.]
82.29A.137 Exemptions—Certain leasehold interests
related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
(Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) All leasehold interests in port district facilities exempt from tax under RCW 82.08.980 or
82.12.980 and used by a manufacturer engaged in the manufacturing of superefficient airplanes, as defined in RCW
82.32.550, are exempt from tax under this chapter. A person
taking the credit under RCW 82.04.4463 is not eligible for
the exemption under this section.
(2) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person taking the exemption under this section must report as
required under RCW 82.32.545.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 13.]
82.29A.137
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.29A.140 Rules and regulations. The department of
revenue of the state of Washington shall make such rules and
regulations consistent with chapter 34.05 RCW and the provisions of this chapter, RCW 84.36.451 and 84.40.175 as
shall be necessary to permit its effective administration
including procedures for collection and remittance of taxes
imposed by this chapter, and for intervention by the cities and
counties levying under RCW 82.29A.040, in proceedings
involving such levies and taxes collected pursuant thereto.
[1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 16.]
82.29A.140
82.29A.150 Cancellation of taxes levied for collection
in 1976. All assessments or levies of property taxes for collection in calendar year 1976 are hereby canceled with
respect to values arising out of property exempted by RCW
84.36.451. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 17.]
82.29A.150
82.29A.160 Improvements not defined as contract
rent taxable under Title 84 RCW. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this chapter, RCW 84.36.451 and
84.40.175, improvements owned or being acquired by contract purchase or otherwise by any lessee or sublessee which
are not defined as contract rent shall be taxable to such lessee
82.29A.160
[Title 82 RCW—page 199]
82.29A.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
or sublessee under Title 84 RCW at their full true and fair
value without any deduction for interests held by the lessor or
others. [1986 c 251 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 18.]
82.29A.900 Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61.
This 1976 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That
in the event the cancellation of assessments or levies of property taxes for collection in calendar year 1976 as provided for
in RCW 82.29A.150 is declared null and void, then the effective date of this 1976 amendatory act shall be January 1,
1977. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 22.]
82.29A.900
82.29A.910
82.29A.910 Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61. If
any provision of this 1976 amendatory act, or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder
of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons
or circumstances is not affected. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 §
23.]
Chapter 82.32 RCW
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
82.32.230
82.32.235
82.32.237
82.32.240
82.32.245
82.32.260
82.32.265
82.32.270
82.32.280
82.32.290
82.32.291
82.32.300
82.32.310
82.32.320
82.32.330
82.32.340
82.32.350
82.32.360
82.32.380
82.32.390
82.32.392
82.32.393
Chapter 82.32
Sections
82.32.010
82.32.020
82.32.030
82.32.033
82.32.045
82.32.050
82.32.060
82.32.062
82.32.065
82.32.070
82.32.080
82.32.085
82.32.087
82.32.090
82.32.100
82.32.105
82.32.110
82.32.120
82.32.130
82.32.140
82.32.145
82.32.150
82.32.160
82.32.170
82.32.180
82.32.190
82.32.200
82.32.210
82.32.215
82.32.220
Application of chapter stated.
Definitions.
Registration certificates—Threshold levels.
Registration certificates—Special events—Promoter’s
duties—Penalties—Definitions.
Taxes—When due and payable—Reporting periods—Verified
annual returns—Relief from filing requirements.
Deficient tax or penalty payments—Notice—Interest—Limitations.
Excess payment of tax, penalty, or interest—Credit or
refund—Payment of judgments for refund.
Additional offset for excess payment of sales tax.
Tax refund to consumer under new motor vehicle warranty
laws—Credit or refund to new motor vehicle manufacturer.
Records to be preserved—Examination—Estoppel to question
assessment—Unified business identifier account number
records.
Payment by check—Electronic funds transfer—Rules—Mailing returns or remittances—Time extension—Deposits—
Records—Payment must accompany return.
Electronic funds transfer—Generally.
Direct pay permits.
Late payment—Disregard of written instructions—Evasion—
Penalties.
Failure to file returns or provide records—Assessment of tax
by department—Penalties and interest.
Waiver or cancellation of penalties or interest—Rules.
Examination of books or records—Subpoenas—Contempt of
court.
Oaths and acknowledgments.
Notice and orders—Service.
Taxpayer quitting business—Liability of successor.
Termination, dissolution, or abandonment of corporate or limited liability business—Personal liability of person in control
of collected sales tax funds.
Contest of tax—Prepayment required—Restraining orders and
injunctions barred.
Correction of tax—Administrative procedure—Conference—
Determination by department.
Reduction of tax after payment—Petition—Conference—
Determination by department.
Court appeal—Procedure.
Stay of collection pending suit—Interest.
Stay of collection—Bond—Interest.
Tax warrant—Filing—Lien—Effect.
Revocation of certificate of registration.
Execution of warrant—Levy upon property—Satisfaction.
[Title 82 RCW—page 200]
82.32.394
82.32.410
82.32.420
82.32.430
82.32.440
82.32.450
82.32.470
82.32.480
82.32.490
82.32.495
82.32.500
82.32.505
82.32.510
82.32.515
82.32.520
82.32.525
82.32.530
82.32.535
82.32.5351
82.32.545
82.32.550
82.32.555
82.32.560
82.32.570
82.32.580
82.32.590
82.32.600
82.32.600
82.32.600
82.32.600
82.32.600
82.32.610
Agent of the department of revenue may execute.
Notice and order to withhold and deliver property due or
owned by taxpayer—Bond—Judgment by default.
Notice and order to withhold and deliver—Continuing lien—
Effective date.
Tax constitutes debt to the state—Priority of lien.
Search for and seizure of property—Warrant—Procedure.
Payment condition to dissolution or withdrawal of corporation.
Use of collection agencies to collect taxes outside the state.
Accounting period prescribed.
Tax declared additional.
Unlawful acts—Penalties.
Resale certificate, unlawful use—Penalty—Rules.
Department of revenue to administer—Chapters enforced by
liquor control board.
Immunity of officers, agents, etc., of the department of revenue acting in good faith.
Revenue to state treasurer—Allocation for return or payment
for less than the full amount due.
Disclosure of return or tax information.
Chargeoff of uncollectible taxes—Destruction of files and
records.
Closing agreements authorized.
Conclusive effect of agreements.
Revenues to be deposited in general fund.
Certain revenues to be deposited in water quality account.
Certain revenues to be deposited in sulfur dioxide abatement
account.
Thermal electric generation facilities with tax exemptions for
air pollution control equipment—Payments upon cessation
of operation.
Revenues from sale or use of leaded racing fuel to be deposited
into the advanced environmental mitigation revolving
account.
Written determinations as precedents.
Year 2000 failure—No penalties or interest—Payment of tax.
Liability for tax rate calculation errors.
Project on sales and use tax exemption requirements.
Natural or manufactured gas, electricity—Maximum combined credits and deferrals allowed—Availability of credits
and deferrals.
Transfer of sales and use tax on toll projects.
Washington forest products commission—Disclosure of taxpayer information.
Electronic data base for use by mobile telecommunications
service provider.
Liability of mobile telecommunications service provider if no
data base provided.
Determination of taxing jurisdiction for telecommunications
services.
Telecommunications services—Place of primary use.
Scope of mobile telecommunications act—Identification of
taxable and nontaxable charges.
Applicability of telephone and telecommunications definitions.
Sourcing of calls.
Purchaser’s cause of action for over-collected sales or use tax.
Seller nexus.
Annual report by semiconductor businesses.
Annual report by semiconductor businesses—Report to legislature.
Annual report for airplane manufacturing tax preferences.
Contingent effective date for aerospace tax incentives—
Department date determinations and notice requirements.
Telephone service taxes—Identification of taxable and nontaxable charges.
Electrolytic processing business tax exemption—Annual
report.
Smelter tax incentives—Goals—Annual report.
Sales and use tax deferral—Historic automobile museum.
Annual survey for tax incentives—Failure to file.
Annual surveys or reports for tax incentives—Electronic filing
(as amended by 2006 c 84).
Annual surveys for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as
amended by 2006 c 177).
Annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452—Electronic filing (as
amended by 2006 c 178).
Annual surveys for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as
amended by 2006 c 300).
Annual surveys or reports for tax incentives—Electronic filing
(as amended by 2006 c 354).
Annual survey for fruit and vegetable business tax incentive—
Report to legislature.
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
82.32.620
82.32.630
82.32.635
82.32.640
82.32.645
82.32.650
82.32.700
82.32.710
Annual report for tax incentives under RCW 82.04.294.
Annual survey for timber tax incentives.
Annual survey for tax incentive under RCW 82.04.4487.
Annual survey for tax incentive under RCW 82.04.250(3).
Annual survey for biotechnology and medical device manufacturing business tax incentive—Report to legislature.
Annual survey—Customized employment training—Report to
legislature.
Administration of the sales and use tax for hospital benefit
zones.
Professional employer organizations—Eligibility for tax
incentives—Responsibility for reports/surveys.
Debts owed state: RCW 43.17.240.
Refunds of erroneous or excessive payments: RCW 43.88.170.
Tax returns, remittances, etc., filing and receipt when transmitted by mail:
RCW 1.12.070.
82.32.010
82.32.010 Application of chapter stated. The provisions of this chapter shall apply with respect to the taxes
imposed under chapters 82.04 through 82.14 RCW, under
RCW 82.14B.030(3), under chapters 82.16 through 82.29A
RCW of this title, under chapter 84.33 RCW, and under other
titles, chapters, and sections in such manner and to such
extent as indicated in each such title, chapter, or section.
[1998 c 304 § 12; 1984 c 204 § 26; 1983 c 3 § 219; 1981 c 148
§ 12; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.010. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 185; RRS §
8370-185.]
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Purpose—Severability—Effective dates—1981 c 148: See notes following RCW 84.33.130.
82.32.020
82.32.020 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
The meaning attributed in chapters 82.01 through 82.27
RCW to the words and phrases "tax year," "taxable year,"
"person," "company," "gross proceeds of sales," "gross
income of the business," "business," "engaging in business,"
"successor," "gross operating revenue," "gross income," "taxpayer," "retail sale," and "value of products" shall apply
equally to the provisions of this chapter. [2003 1st sp.s. c 13
§ 16; 1983 c 3 § 220; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.020. Prior: 1935 c
180 § 186; RRS § 8370-186.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
82.32.033
issued. Where a place of business of the taxpayer is changed,
the taxpayer must return to the department the existing certificate, and a new certificate will be issued for the new place of
business. No person required to be registered under this section shall engage in any business taxable hereunder without
first being so registered. The department, by rule, may provide for the issuance of certificates of registration to temporary places of business.
(2) Unless the person is a dealer as defined in RCW
9.41.010, registration under this section is not required if the
following conditions are met:
(a) A person’s value of products, gross proceeds of sales,
or gross income of the business, from all business activities
taxable under chapter 82.04 RCW, is less than twelve thousand dollars per year;
(b) The person’s gross income of the business from all
activities taxable under chapter 82.16 RCW is less than
twelve thousand dollars per year;
(c) The person is not required to collect or pay to the
department of revenue any other tax or fee which the department is authorized to collect; and
(d) The person is not otherwise required to obtain a
license subject to the master application procedure provided
in chapter 19.02 RCW. [1996 c 111 § 2. Prior: 1994 sp.s. c
7 § 446; 1994 sp.s. c 2 § 2; 1992 c 206 § 8; 1982 1st ex.s. c 4
§ 1; 1979 ex.s. c 95 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 77; 1961 c 15
§ 82.32.030; prior: 1941 c 178 § 19, part; 1937 c 227 § 16,
part; 1935 c 180 § 187, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 8370-187,
part.]
Findings—Purpose—1996 c 111: "The legislature finds that small
businesses play a vital role in the state’s current and future economic health.
The legislature also finds that the state’s excise tax reporting and registration
requirements are unduly burdensome for small businesses incurring little or
no tax liability. The legislature recognizes the costs associated in complying
with the reporting and registration requirements that are hindering the further
development of those businesses. For these reasons the legislature with this
act simplifies the tax reporting and registration requirements for certain
small businesses." [1996 c 111 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 111: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996."
[1996 c 111 § 5.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 401-410, 413-416, 418-437, and 439460: See note following RCW 9.41.010.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW 82.04.4451.
82.32.030
82.32.030 Registration certificates—Threshold levels. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section,
if any person engages in any business or performs any act
upon which a tax is imposed by the preceding chapters, he or
she shall, under such rules as the department of revenue shall
prescribe, apply for and obtain from the department a registration certificate. Such registration certificate shall be personal and nontransferable and shall be valid as long as the
taxpayer continues in business and pays the tax accrued to the
state. In case business is transacted at two or more separate
places by one taxpayer, a separate registration certificate for
each place at which business is transacted with the public
shall be required. Each certificate shall be numbered and
shall show the name, residence, and place and character of
business of the taxpayer and such other information as the
department of revenue deems necessary and shall be posted
in a conspicuous place at the place of business for which it is
(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.033
82.32.033 Registration certificates—Special events—
Promoter’s duties—Penalties—Definitions. (1) A promoter of a special event within the state of Washington shall
not permit a vendor to make or solicit retail sales of tangible
personal property or services at the special event unless the
promoter makes a good faith effort to obtain verification that
the vendor has obtained a certificate of registration from the
department.
(2) A promoter of a special event shall:
(a) Keep, in addition to the records required under RCW
82.32.070, a record of the dates and place of each special
event, and the name, address, and registration certificate
number of each vendor permitted to make or solicit retail
[Title 82 RCW—page 201]
82.32.045
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
sales of tangible personal property or services at the special
event. The record of the date and place of a special event, and
the name, address, and registration certificate number of each
vendor at the event shall be preserved for a period of one year
from the date of a special event; and
(b) Provide to the department, within twenty days of
receipt of a written request from the department, a list of vendors permitted to make or solicit retail sales of tangible personal property or services. The list shall be in a form and
contain such information as the department may require, and
shall include the date and place of the event, and the name,
address, and registration certificate number of each vendor.
(3) If a promoter fails to make a good faith effort to comply with the provisions of this section, the promoter is liable
for the penalties provided in this subsection (3).
(a) If a promoter fails to make a good faith effort to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the
department shall impose a penalty of one hundred dollars for
each vendor permitted to make or solicit retail sales of tangible personal property or services at the special event.
(b) If a promoter fails to make a good faith effort to comply with the provisions of subsection (2)(b) of this section,
the department shall impose a penalty of:
(i) Two hundred fifty dollars if the information requested
is not received by the department within twenty days of the
department’s written request; and
(ii) One hundred dollars for each vendor for whom the
information as required by subsection (2)(b) of this section is
not provided to the department.
(4) The aggregate of penalties imposed under subsection
(3) of this section may not exceed two thousand five hundred
dollars for a special event if the promoter has not previously
been penalized under this section. Under no circumstances is
a promoter liable for sales tax or business and occupation tax
not remitted to the department by a vendor at a special event.
(5) The department shall notify a promoter by mail of
any penalty imposed under this section, and the penalty shall
be due within thirty days from the date of the notice. If any
penalty imposed under this section is not received by the
department by the due date, there shall be assessed interest on
the unpaid amount beginning the day following the due date
until the penalty is paid in full. The rate of interest shall be
computed on a daily basis on the amount of outstanding penalty at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2). The
rate computed shall be adjusted annually in the same manner
as provided in RCW 82.32.050(1)(c).
(6) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Promoter" means a person who organizes, operates,
or sponsors a special event and who contracts with vendors
for participation in the special event.
(b) "Special event" means an entertainment, amusement,
recreational, educational, or marketing event, whether held
on a regular or irregular basis, at which more than one vendor
makes or solicits retail sales of tangible personal property or
services. The term includes, but is not limited to: Auto
shows, recreational vehicle shows, boat shows, home shows,
garden shows, hunting and fishing shows, stamp shows,
comic book shows, sports memorabilia shows, craft shows,
art shows, antique shows, flea markets, exhibitions, festivals,
concerts, swap meets, bazaars, carnivals, athletic contests,
circuses, fairs, or other similar activities. "Special event"
[Title 82 RCW—page 202]
does not include an event that is organized for the exclusive
benefit of any nonprofit organization as defined in RCW
82.04.3651. An event is organized for the exclusive benefit
of a nonprofit organization if all of the gross proceeds of
retail sales of all vendors at the event inure to the benefit of
the nonprofit organization on whose behalf the event is being
held. "Special event" does not include athletic contests that
involve competition between teams, when such competition
consists of more than five contests in a calendar year by at
least one team at the same facility or site.
(c) "Vendor" means a person who, at a special event,
makes or solicits retail sales of tangible personal property or
services.
(7) "Good faith effort to comply" and "good faith effort
to obtain" may be shown by, but is not limited to, circumstances where a promoter:
(a) Includes a statement on all written contracts with its
vendors that a valid registration certificate number issued by
the department of revenue is required for participation in the
special event and requires vendors to indicate their registration certificate number on these contracts; and
(b) Provides the department with a list of vendors and
their associated registration certificate numbers as provided
in subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(8) This section does not apply to:
(a) A special event whose promoter does not charge
more than two hundred dollars for a vendor to participate in a
special event;
(b) A special event whose promoter charges a percentage
of sales instead of, or in addition to, a flat charge for a vendor
to participate in a special event if the promoter, in good faith,
believes that no vendor will pay more than two hundred dollars to participate in the special event; or
(c) A person who does not organize, operate, or sponsor
a special event, but only provides a venue, supplies, furnishings, fixtures, equipment, or services to a promoter of a special event. [2004 c 253 § 1; 2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 15.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
82.32.045
82.32.045 Taxes—When due and payable—Reporting periods—Verified annual returns—Relief from filing
requirements. (Effective until August 1, 2006.) (1) Except
as otherwise provided in this chapter, payments of the taxes
imposed under chapters 82.04, 82.08, 82.12, 82.14, and 82.16
RCW, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed by
the department, are due monthly within twenty days after the
end of the month in which the taxable activities occur.
(2) The department of revenue may relieve any taxpayer
or class of taxpayers from the obligation of remitting monthly
and may require the return to cover other longer reporting
periods, but in no event may returns be filed for a period
greater than one year. For these taxpayers, tax payments are
due on or before the last day of the month next succeeding the
end of the period covered by the return.
(3) The department of revenue may also require verified
annual returns from any taxpayer, setting forth such additional information as it may deem necessary to correctly
determine tax liability.
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department may relieve any person of the requirement to file returns if the following conditions are met:
(a) The person’s value of products, gross proceeds of
sales, or gross income of the business, from all business
activities taxable under chapter 82.04 RCW, is less than
twenty-eight thousand dollars per year;
(b) The person’s gross income of the business from all
activities taxable under chapter 82.16 RCW is less than
twenty-four thousand dollars per year; and
(c) The person is not required to collect or pay to the
department of revenue any other tax or fee which the department is authorized to collect. [2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 8; 1999 c
357 § 1; 1996 c 111 § 3; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 63; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 35 § 27; 1981 c 172 § 7; 1981 c 7 § 1.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Intent—1999 c 357: "It is the intent of the legislature to allow the
department of revenue to increase its ability to provide timely and cost-effective service to taxpayers." [1999 c 357 § 2.]
Effective date—1999 c 357: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1999."
[1999 c 357 § 4.]
Findings—Purpose—Effective date—1996 c 111: See notes following RCW 82.32.030.
82.32.050
(b) The person’s gross income of the business from all
activities taxable under chapter 82.16 RCW is less than
twenty-four thousand dollars per year; and
(c) The person is not required to collect or pay to the
department of revenue any other tax or fee which the department is authorized to collect. [2006 c 256 § 1; 2003 1st sp.s.
c 13 § 8; 1999 c 357 § 1; 1996 c 111 § 3; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 §
63; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 27; 1981 c 172 § 7; 1981 c 7 § 1.]
Effective dates—2006 c 256: "(1) Sections 1 through 4 of this act take
effect August 1, 2006.
(2) Sections 6 and 7 of this act take effect July 1, 2006." [2006 c 256 §
9.]
Application—2006 c 256: "(1) Sections 1 through 3 of this act apply to
returns due after July 31, 2006.
(2) Section 4 of this act applies to payments due after July 31, 2006.
(3) Section 6 of this act only applies to assessments originally issued
after June 30, 2006." [2006 c 256 § 7.]
Savings—2006 c 256: "This act does not affect any existing right
acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections amended in this
act or under any rule or order adopted under those sections, nor does it affect
any proceeding instituted under those sections." [2006 c 256 § 8.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Intent—1999 c 357: "It is the intent of the legislature to allow the
department of revenue to increase its ability to provide timely and cost-effective service to taxpayers." [1999 c 357 § 2.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective date—1999 c 357: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1999."
[1999 c 357 § 4.]
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Findings—Purpose—Effective date—1996 c 111: See notes following RCW 82.32.030.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Effective date—1981 c 7: "This act shall take effect October 1, 1981."
[1981 c 172 § 9; 1981 c 7 § 5.]
82.32.045
82.32.045 Taxes—When due and payable—Reporting periods—Verified annual returns—Relief from filing
requirements. (Effective August 1, 2006.) (1) Except as
otherwise provided in this chapter, payments of the taxes
imposed under chapters 82.04, 82.08, 82.12, 82.14, and 82.16
RCW, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed by
the department, are due monthly within twenty-five days
after the end of the month in which the taxable activities
occur.
(2) The department of revenue may relieve any taxpayer
or class of taxpayers from the obligation of remitting monthly
and may require the return to cover other longer reporting
periods, but in no event may returns be filed for a period
greater than one year. For these taxpayers, tax payments are
due on or before the last day of the month next succeeding the
end of the period covered by the return.
(3) The department of revenue may also require verified
annual returns from any taxpayer, setting forth such additional information as it may deem necessary to correctly
determine tax liability.
(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department may relieve any person of the requirement to file returns if the following conditions are met:
(a) The person’s value of products, gross proceeds of
sales, or gross income of the business, from all business
activities taxable under chapter 82.04 RCW, is less than
twenty-eight thousand dollars per year;
(2006 Ed.)
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1981 c 7: "This act shall take effect October 1, 1981."
[1981 c 172 § 9; 1981 c 7 § 5.]
82.32.050
82.32.050 Deficient tax or penalty payments—
Notice—Interest—Limitations. (1) If upon examination of
any returns or from other information obtained by the department it appears that a tax or penalty has been paid less than
that properly due, the department shall assess against the taxpayer such additional amount found to be due and shall add
thereto interest on the tax only. The department shall notify
the taxpayer by mail of the additional amount and the additional amount shall become due and shall be paid within
thirty days from the date of the notice, or within such further
time as the department may provide.
(a) For tax liabilities arising before January 1, 1992,
interest shall be computed at the rate of nine percent per
annum from the last day of the year in which the deficiency is
incurred until the earlier of December 31, 1998, or the date of
payment. After December 31, 1998, the rate of interest shall
be variable and computed as provided in subsection (2) of
this section. The rate so computed shall be adjusted on the
first day of January of each year for use in computing interest
for that calendar year.
(b) For tax liabilities arising after December 31, 1991,
the rate of interest shall be variable and computed as provided
in subsection (2) of this section from the last day of the year
in which the deficiency is incurred until the date of payment.
[Title 82 RCW—page 203]
82.32.060
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
The rate so computed shall be adjusted on the first day of January of each year for use in computing interest for that calendar year.
(c) Interest imposed after December 31, 1998, shall be
computed from the last day of the month following each calendar year included in a notice, and the last day of the month
following the final month included in a notice if not the end
of a calendar year, until the due date of the notice. If payment
in full is not made by the due date of the notice, additional
interest shall be computed until the date of payment. The rate
of interest shall be variable and computed as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The rate so computed shall be
adjusted on the first day of January of each year for use in
computing interest for that calendar year.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the rate of interest to
be charged to the taxpayer shall be an average of the federal
short-term rate as defined in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 1274(d) plus two
percentage points. The rate set for each new year shall be
computed by taking an arithmetical average to the nearest
percentage point of the federal short-term rate, compounded
annually. That average shall be calculated using the rates
from four months: January, April, and July of the calendar
year immediately preceding the new year, and October of the
previous preceding year.
(3) No assessment or correction of an assessment for
additional taxes, penalties, or interest due may be made by
the department more than four years after the close of the tax
year, except (a) against a taxpayer who has not registered as
required by this chapter, (b) upon a showing of fraud or of
misrepresentation of a material fact by the taxpayer, or (c)
where a taxpayer has executed a written waiver of such limitation. The execution of a written waiver shall also extend
the period for making a refund or credit as provided in RCW
82.32.060(2).
(4) For the purposes of this section, "return" means any
document a person is required by the state of Washington to
file to satisfy or establish a tax or fee obligation that is administered or collected by the department of revenue and that has
a statutorily defined due date. [2003 c 73 § 1; 1997 c 157 §
1; 1996 c 149 § 2; 1992 c 169 § 1; 1991 c 142 § 9; 1989 c 378
§ 19; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 16; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.050. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 5; 1949 c 228 § 20;
1945 c 249 § 9; 1939 c 225 § 27; 1937 c 227 § 17; 1935 c 180
§ 188; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-188.]
Findings—Intent—1996 c 149: "The legislature finds that a consistent
application of interest and penalties is in the best interest of the residents of
the state of Washington. The legislature also finds that the goal of the department of revenue’s interest and penalty system should be to encourage taxpayers to voluntarily comply with Washington’s tax code in a timely manner. The administration of tax programs requires that there be consequences
for those taxpayers who do not timely satisfy their reporting and tax obligations, but these consequences should not be so severe as to discourage taxpayers from voluntarily satisfying their tax obligations.
It is the intent of the legislature that, to the extent possible, a single
interest and penalty system apply to all tax programs administered by the
department of revenue." [1996 c 149 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 149: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1997." [1996 c 149 § 20.]
Effective date—Applicability—1992 c 169: "(1) This act shall take
effect July 1, 1992.
(2) This act is effective for all written waivers that remain enforceable
as of July 1, 1992." [1992 c 169 § 4.]
Effective date—1991 c 142 §§ 9-11: "Sections 9 through 11 of this act
shall take effect January 1, 1992." [1991 c 142 § 13.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 204]
Severability—1991 c 142: See RCW 82.32A.900.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.060
82.32.060 Excess payment of tax, penalty, or interest—Credit or refund—Payment of judgments for
refund. (1) If, upon receipt of an application by a taxpayer
for a refund or for an audit of the taxpayer’s records, or upon
an examination of the returns or records of any taxpayer, it is
determined by the department that within the statutory period
for assessment of taxes, penalties, or interest prescribed by
RCW 82.32.050 any amount of tax, penalty, or interest has
been paid in excess of that properly due, the excess amount
paid within, or attributable to, such period shall be credited to
the taxpayer’s account or shall be refunded to the taxpayer, at
the taxpayer’s option. Except as provided in subsection (2)
of this section, no refund or credit shall be made for taxes,
penalties, or interest paid more than four years prior to the
beginning of the calendar year in which the refund application is made or examination of records is completed.
(2)(a) The execution of a written waiver under RCW
82.32.050 or 82.32.100 shall extend the time for making a
refund or credit of any taxes paid during, or attributable to,
the years covered by the waiver if, prior to the expiration of
the waiver period, an application for refund of such taxes is
made by the taxpayer or the department discovers a refund or
credit is due.
(b) A refund or credit shall be allowed for an excess payment resulting from the failure to claim a bad debt deduction,
credit, or refund under RCW 82.04.4284, 82.08.037,
82.12.037, 82.14B.150, or 82.16.050(5) for debts that
became bad debts under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 166, as amended or
renumbered as of January 1, 2003, less than four years prior
to the beginning of the calendar year in which the refund
application is made or examination of records is completed.
(3) Any such refunds shall be made by means of vouchers approved by the department and by the issuance of state
warrants drawn upon and payable from such funds as the legislature may provide. However, taxpayers who are required
to pay taxes by electronic funds transfer under RCW
82.32.080 shall have any refunds paid by electronic funds
transfer.
(4) Any judgment for which a recovery is granted by any
court of competent jurisdiction, not appealed from, for tax,
penalties, and interest which were paid by the taxpayer, and
costs, in a suit by any taxpayer shall be paid in the same manner, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, upon the filing with the department of a certified copy of the order or
judgment of the court.
(a) Interest at the rate of three percent per annum shall be
allowed by the department and by any court on the amount of
any refund, credit, or other recovery allowed to a taxpayer for
taxes, penalties, or interest paid by the taxpayer before January 1, 1992. This rate of interest shall apply for all interest
allowed through December 31, 1998. Interest allowed after
December 31, 1998, shall be computed at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2). The rate so computed shall
be adjusted on the first day of January of each year for use in
computing interest for that calendar year.
(b) For refunds or credits of amounts paid or other recovery allowed to a taxpayer after December 31, 1991, the rate of
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
interest shall be the rate as computed for assessments under
RCW 82.32.050(2) less one percent. This rate of interest
shall apply for all interest allowed through December 31,
1998. Interest allowed after December 31, 1998, shall be
computed at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2).
The rate so computed shall be adjusted on the first day of January of each year for use in computing interest for that calendar year.
(5) Interest allowed on a credit notice or refund issued
after December 31, 2003, shall be computed as follows:
(a) If all overpayments for each calendar year and all
reporting periods ending with the final month included in a
notice or refund were made on or before the due date of the
final return for each calendar year or the final reporting
period included in the notice or refund:
(i) Interest shall be computed from January 31st following each calendar year included in a notice or refund; or
(ii) Interest shall be computed from the last day of the
month following the final month included in a notice or
refund.
(b) If the taxpayer has not made all overpayments for
each calendar year and all reporting periods ending with the
final month included in a notice or refund on or before the
dates specified by RCW 82.32.045 for the final return for
each calendar year or the final month included in the notice or
refund, interest shall be computed from the last day of the
month following the date on which payment in full of the liabilities was made for each calendar year included in a notice
or refund, and the last day of the month following the date on
which payment in full of the liabilities was made if the final
month included in a notice or refund is not the end of a calendar year.
(c) Interest included in a credit notice shall accrue up to
the date the taxpayer could reasonably be expected to use the
credit notice, as defined by the department’s rules. If a credit
notice is converted to a refund, interest shall be recomputed
to the date the refund is issued, but not to exceed the amount
of interest that would have been allowed with the credit
notice. [2004 c 153 § 306; 2003 c 73 § 2; 1999 c 358 § 13;
1997 c 157 § 2; 1992 c 169 § 2; 1991 c 142 § 10; 1990 c 69 §
1; 1989 c 378 § 20; 1979 ex.s. c 95 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 17;
1965 ex.s. c 173 § 27; 1963 c 22 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.060.
Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 6; 1949 c 228 § 21; 1935 c 180 §
189; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-189.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective date—2003 c 73 § 2: "Section 2 of this act takes effect January 1, 2004." [2003 c 73 § 3.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—Applicability—1992 c 169: See note following RCW
82.32.050.
Effective date—1991 c 142 §§ 9-11: See note following RCW
82.32.050.
Severability—1991 c 142: See RCW 82.32A.900.
Effective date—1990 c 69: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1991."
[1990 c 69 § 5.]
Severability—1990 c 69: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1990 c 69 § 4.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.070
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.062
82.32.062 Additional offset for excess payment of
sales tax. In addition to the procedure set forth in RCW
82.32.060 and as an exception to the four-year period explicitly set forth in RCW 82.32.060, an offset for a tax that has
been paid in excess of that properly due may be taken under
the following conditions: (1) The tax paid in excess of that
properly due was sales tax paid on the purchase of property
acquired for leasing; (2) the taxpayer was at the time of purchase entitled to purchase the property at wholesale under
RCW 82.04.060; and (3) the taxpayer substantiates that sales
tax was paid at the time of purchase and that there was no
intervening use of the equipment by the taxpayer. The offset
is applied to and reduced by the amount of retail sales tax otherwise due from the beginning of lease of the property until
the offset is extinguished. [2002 c 57 § 1.]
82.32.065
82.32.065 Tax refund to consumer under new motor
vehicle warranty laws—Credit or refund to new motor
vehicle manufacturer. If a manufacturer makes a refund of
sales tax to a consumer upon return of a new motor vehicle
under chapter 19.118 RCW, the department shall credit or
refund to the manufacturer the amount of the tax refunded,
upon receipt of documentation as required by the department.
[1987 c 344 § 16.]
Effective dates—Severability—1987 c 344: See RCW 19.118.900
and 19.118.902.
82.32.070
82.32.070 Records to be preserved—Examination—
Estoppel to question assessment—Unified business identifier account number records. (1) Every person liable for
any fee or tax imposed by chapters 82.04 through 82.27 RCW
shall keep and preserve, for a period of five years, suitable
records as may be necessary to determine the amount of any
tax for which he may be liable, which records shall include
copies of all federal income tax and state tax returns and
reports made by him. All his books, records, and invoices
shall be open for examination at any time by the department
of revenue. In the case of an out-of-state person or concern
which does not keep the necessary books and records within
this state, it shall be sufficient if it produces within the state
such books and records as shall be required by the department
of revenue, or permits the examination by an agent authorized or designated by the department of revenue at the place
where such books and records are kept. Any person who fails
to comply with the requirements of this section shall be forever barred from questioning, in any court action or proceedings, the correctness of any assessment of taxes made by the
department of revenue based upon any period for which such
books, records, and invoices have not been so kept and preserved.
(2) A person liable for any fee or tax imposed by chapters 82.04 through 82.27 RCW who contracts with another
person or entity for work subject to chapter 18.27 or 19.28
RCW shall obtain and preserve a record of the unified business identifier account number for the person or entity performing the work. Failure to obtain or maintain the record is
subject to RCW 39.06.010 and to a penalty determined by the
director, but not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars. The
[Title 82 RCW—page 205]
82.32.080
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
department shall notify the taxpayer and collect the penalty in
the same manner as penalties under RCW 82.32.100. [1999
c 358 § 14; 1997 c 54 § 4; 1983 c 3 § 221; 1967 ex.s. c 89 §
2; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.070. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 7; 1935
c 180 § 190; RRS § 8370-190.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
82.32.080
82.32.080 Payment by check—Electronic funds
transfer—Rules—Mailing returns or remittances—Time
extension—Deposits—Records—Payment must accompany return. Payment of the tax may be made by uncertified
check under such regulations as the department shall prescribe, but, if a check so received is not paid by the bank on
which it is drawn, the taxpayer, by whom such check is tendered, shall remain liable for payment of the tax and for all
legal penalties, the same as if such check had not been tendered.
Payment of the tax shall be made by electronic funds
transfer, as defined in RCW 82.32.085, if the amount of the
tax due in a calendar year is one million eight hundred thousand dollars or more. The department may by rule provide for
tax thresholds between two hundred forty thousand dollars
and one million eight hundred thousand dollars for mandatory use of electronic funds transfer. All taxes administered
by this chapter are subject to this requirement except the
taxes authorized by chapters 82.14A, 82.14B, 82.24, 82.27,
82.29A, and 84.33 RCW. It is the intent of this section to
require electronic funds transfer for those taxes reported on
the department’s combined excise tax return or any successor
return.
A return or remittance which is transmitted to the department by United States mail shall be deemed filed or received
on the date shown by the post office cancellation mark
stamped upon the envelope containing it, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter. The department is authorized to
allow electronic filing of returns or remittances from any taxpayer. A return or remittance which is transmitted to the
department electronically shall be deemed filed or received
according to procedures set forth by the department.
The department, for good cause shown, may extend the
time for making and filing any return, and may grant such
reasonable additional time within which to make and file
returns as it may deem proper, but any permanent extension
granting the taxpayer a reporting date without penalty more
than ten days beyond the due date, and any extension in
excess of thirty days shall be conditional on deposit with the
department of an amount to be determined by the department
which shall be approximately equal to the estimated tax liability for the reporting period or periods for which the extension is granted. In the case of a permanent extension or a temporary extension of more than thirty days the deposit shall be
deposited within the state treasury with other tax funds and a
credit recorded to the taxpayer’s account which may be
applied to taxpayer’s liability upon cancellation of the permanent extension or upon reporting of the tax liability where an
extension of more than thirty days has been granted.
The department shall review the requirement for deposit
at least annually and may require a change in the amount of
the deposit required when it believes that such amount does
[Title 82 RCW—page 206]
not approximate the tax liability for the reporting period or
periods for which the extension is granted.
The department shall keep full and accurate records of
all funds received and disbursed by it. Subject to the provisions of RCW 82.32.105 and 82.32.350, the department shall
apply the payment of the taxpayer first against penalties and
interest, and then upon the tax, without regard to any direction of the taxpayer.
The department may refuse to accept any return which is
not accompanied by a remittance of the tax shown to be due
thereon. When such return is not accepted, the taxpayer shall
be deemed to have failed or refused to file a return and shall
be subject to the procedures provided in RCW 82.32.100 and
to the penalties provided in RCW 82.32.090. The above
authority to refuse to accept a return shall not apply when a
return is timely filed and a timely payment has been made by
electronic funds transfer. [1999 c 357 § 3; 1997 c 156 § 3;
1990 c 69 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 18; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 2;
1963 ex.s. c 28 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.080. Prior: 1951 1st
ex.s. c 9 § 8; 1949 c 228 § 22; 1935 c 180 § 191; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-191.]
Intent—Effective date—1999 c 357: See notes following RCW
82.32.045.
Severability—Effective date—1990 c 69: See notes following RCW
82.32.060.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Findings—Payment of excise taxes by electronic funds transfer—2006 c
256: See note following RCW 82.32.045.
Tax returns, remittances, etc., filing and receipt when transmitted by mail:
RCW 1.12.070.
82.32.085
82.32.085 Electronic funds transfer—Generally.
(Effective until August 1, 2006.) "Electronic funds transfer"
means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by check, drafts, or similar paper instrument, which is
initiated through an electronic terminal, telephonic instrument, or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct, or
authorize a financial institution to debit or credit an account.
The electronic funds transfer is to be completed so that
the state receives collectible funds on or before the next banking day following the due date.
The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
the provisions of RCW 82.32.080 and this section. The rules
shall include but are not limited to: (1) Coordinating the filing of tax returns with payment by electronic funds transfer;
(2) form and content of electronic funds transfer; (3) voluntary use of electronic funds transfer with permission of the
department; (4) use of commonly accepted means of electronic funds transfer; (5) means of crediting and recording
proof of payment; and (6) means of correcting errors in transmission. Any changes in the threshold of tax shall be implemented with a separate rule-making procedure. [1990 c 69 §
3.]
Severability—Effective date—1990 c 69: See notes following RCW
82.32.060.
82.32.085
82.32.085 Electronic funds transfer—Generally.
(Effective August 1, 2006.) (1) "Electronic funds transfer"
means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by check, drafts, or similar paper instrument, which is
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
initiated through an electronic terminal, telephonic instrument, or computer or magnetic tape so as to order, instruct, or
authorize a financial institution to debit or credit an account.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the
electronic funds transfer is to be completed so that the state
receives collectible funds on or before the next banking day
following the due date.
(b) A remittance made using the automated clearinghouse debit method will be deemed to be received on the due
date if the electronic funds transfer is initiated on or before
11:59 p.m. pacific time on the due date with an effective payment date on or before the next banking day following the
due date.
(3)(a) The department shall adopt rules necessary to
implement the provisions of RCW 82.32.080 and this section. The rules shall include but are not limited to: (i) Coordinating the filing of tax returns with payment by electronic
funds transfer; (ii) form and content of electronic funds transfer; (iii) voluntary use of electronic funds transfer with permission of the department; (iv) use of commonly accepted
means of electronic funds transfer; (v) means of crediting and
recording proof of payment; and (vi) means of correcting
errors in transmission.
(b) Any changes in the threshold of tax shall be implemented with a separate rule-making procedure. [2006 c 256
§ 4; 1990 c 69 § 3.]
Findings—Payment of excise taxes by electronic funds transfer—
2006 c 256: "(1) The legislature recognizes the following with respect to the
payment of excise taxes to the department of revenue by electronic funds
transfer:
(a) Taxpayers required to pay their taxes by electronic funds transfer
must do so through the use of either the automated clearinghouse debit
method or automated clearinghouse credit method;
(b) For a remittance by electronic funds transfer to be considered
timely, the transfer must be completed so that the state receives collectible
funds on or before the next banking day following the due date;
(c) For the state to receive collectible funds on or before the next banking day following the due date, taxpayers using the automated clearinghouse
debit method must initiate the transfer before 5:00 p.m. pacific time on the
due date;
(d) The department of revenue receives information identifying the
precise date and time the electronic funds transfer is initiated when a taxpayer uses the debit method; and
(e) The department receives information identifying only the date that
the state receives collectible funds when a taxpayer uses the automated clearinghouse credit method.
(2) The legislature therefore finds that a remittance made using the
automated clearinghouse debit method should be deemed to be received on
the due date if the transfer is initiated on or before 11:59 p.m. pacific time on
the due date with an effective payment date on or before the next banking
day following the due date. The legislature further finds that because the
department does not receive information about when an electronic funds
transfer is initiated when a taxpayer uses the automated clearinghouse credit
method, such transfers must be completed so that the state receives collectible funds on or before the next banking day following the due date." [2006
c 256 § 5.]
Effective dates—Application—Savings—2006 c 256: See notes following RCW 82.32.045.
Severability—Effective date—1990 c 69: See notes following RCW
82.32.060.
82.32.087 Direct pay permits. (1) The director may
grant a direct pay permit to a taxpayer who demonstrates, to
the satisfaction of the director, that the taxpayer meets the
requirements of this section. The direct pay permit allows the
taxpayer to accrue and remit directly to the department use
tax on the acquisition of tangible personal property or sales
82.32.087
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.087
tax on the sale of or charges made for labor and/or services,
in accordance with all of the applicable provisions of this
title. Any taxpayer that uses a direct pay permit shall remit
state and local sales or use tax directly to the department. The
agreement by the purchaser to remit tax directly to the department, rather than pay sales or use tax to the seller, relieves the
seller of the obligation to collect sales or use tax and requires
the buyer to pay use tax on the tangible personal property and
sales tax on the sale of or charges made for labor and/or services.
(2)(a) A taxpayer may apply for a permit under this section if the taxpayer (i) is subject to mandatory use of electronic funds transfer under RCW 82.32.080; or (ii) makes
purchases subject to the taxes imposed under chapter 82.08 or
82.12 RCW in excess of ten million dollars per calendar year.
(b) Application for a permit must be made in writing to
the director in a form and manner prescribed by the department. A taxpayer who transacts business in two or more locations may submit one application to cover the multiple locations.
(c) The director shall review a direct pay permit application in a timely manner and shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the approval or denial of the application. The department shall approve or deny an application based on the applicant’s ability to comply with local government use tax coding
capabilities and responsibilities; requirements for vendor
notification; recordkeeping obligations; electronic data capabilities; and tax reporting procedures. Additionally, an application may be denied if the director determines that denial
would be in the best interest of collecting taxes due under this
title. The department shall provide a direct pay permit to an
approved applicant with the notice of approval. The direct
pay permit shall clearly state that the holder is solely responsible for the accrual and payment of the tax imposed under
chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW and that the seller is relieved
of liability to collect tax imposed under chapters 82.08 and
82.12 RCW on all sales to the direct pay permit holder. The
taxpayer may petition the director for reconsideration of a
denial.
(d) A taxpayer who uses a direct pay permit must continue to maintain records that are necessary to a determination of the tax liability in accordance with this title. A direct
pay permit is not transferable and the use of a direct pay permit may not be assigned to a third party.
(3) Taxes for which the direct pay permit is used are due
and payable on the tax return for the reporting period in
which the taxpayer (a) receives the tangible personal property
purchased or in which the labor and/or services are performed
or (b) receives an invoice for such property or such labor
and/or services, whichever period is earlier.
(4) The holder of a direct pay permit shall furnish a copy
of the direct pay permit to each vendor with whom the taxpayer has opted to use a direct pay permit. Sellers who make
sales upon which the sales or use tax is not collected by reason of the provisions of this section, in addition to existing
requirements under this title, shall maintain a copy of the
direct pay permit and any such records or information as the
department may specify.
(5) A direct pay permit is subject to revocation by the
director at any time the department determines that the taxpayer has violated any provision of this section or that revo[Title 82 RCW—page 207]
82.32.090
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
cation would be in the best interests of collecting the taxes
due under this title. The notice of revocation must be in writing and is effective either as of the end of the taxpayer’s next
normal reporting period or a date deemed appropriate by the
director and identified in the revocation notice. The taxpayer
may petition the director for reconsideration of a revocation
and reinstatement of the permit.
(6) Any taxpayer who chooses to no longer use a direct
pay permit or whose permit is revoked by the department,
shall return the permit to the department and immediately
make a good faith effort to notify all vendors to whom the
permit was given, advising them that the permit is no longer
valid.
(7) Except as provided in this subsection, the direct pay
permit may be used for any purchase of tangible personal
property and any retail sale under RCW 82.04.050. The direct
pay permit may not be used for:
(a) Purchases of meals or beverages;
(b) Purchases of motor vehicles, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other property subject to requirements for title
transactions by the department of licensing;
(c) Purchases for which a resale certificate may be used;
(d) Purchases that meet the definitions of RCW
82.04.050 (2)(e) and (f), (3)(a) through (d), (f), and (g), and
(5); or
(e) Other activities subject to tax under chapter 82.08 or
82.12 RCW that the department by rule designates, consistent
with the purposes of this section, as activities for which a
direct pay permit is not appropriate and may not be used.
[2001 c 188 § 2.]
Finding—Intent—2001 c 188: "The legislature finds that programs to
allow buyers to remit sales and use tax, rather than traditional collection and
remittance by the seller of sales and use tax, can assist in tax compliance,
ease administrative burdens, and reduce impacts on buyers and sellers. It is
the intent of the legislature to grant the department of revenue the authority
to permit certain buyers direct payment authority of tax in those instances
where it can be shown, to the satisfaction of the department, that direct payment does not burden sellers and does not complicate administration for the
department. Buyers authorized for direct payment will remit tax directly to
the department, and will pay use tax on tangible personal property and sales
tax on retail labor and/or services.
This act does not affect the requirements to use a resale certificate nor
does it affect the business and occupation tax treatment of the seller." [2001
c 188 § 1.]
Effective date—2001 c 188: "This act takes effect August 1, 2001."
[2001 c 188 § 7.]
82.32.090
82.32.090 Late payment—Disregard of written
instructions—Evasion—Penalties. (1) If payment of any
tax due on a return to be filed by a taxpayer is not received by
the department of revenue by the due date, there shall be
assessed a penalty of five percent of the amount of the tax;
and if the tax is not received on or before the last day of the
month following the due date, there shall be assessed a total
penalty of fifteen percent of the amount of the tax under this
subsection; and if the tax is not received on or before the last
day of the second month following the due date, there shall be
assessed a total penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount
of the tax under this subsection. No penalty so added shall be
less than five dollars.
(2) If the department of revenue determines that any tax
has been substantially underpaid, there shall be assessed a
penalty of five percent of the amount of the tax determined by
[Title 82 RCW—page 208]
the department to be due. If payment of any tax determined
by the department to be due is not received by the department
by the due date specified in the notice, or any extension
thereof, there shall be assessed a total penalty of fifteen percent of the amount of the tax under this subsection; and if
payment of any tax determined by the department to be due is
not received on or before the thirtieth day following the due
date specified in the notice of tax due, or any extension
thereof, there shall be assessed a total penalty of twenty-five
percent of the amount of the tax under this subsection. No
penalty so added shall be less than five dollars. As used in
this section, "substantially underpaid" means that the taxpayer has paid less than eighty percent of the amount of tax
determined by the department to be due for all of the types of
taxes included in, and for the entire period of time covered
by, the department’s examination, and the amount of underpayment is at least one thousand dollars.
(3) If a warrant be issued by the department of revenue
for the collection of taxes, increases, and penalties, there shall
be added thereto a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the
tax, but not less than ten dollars.
(4) If the department finds that a person has engaged in
any business or performed any act upon which a tax is
imposed under this title and that person has not obtained from
the department a registration certificate as required by RCW
82.32.030, the department shall impose a penalty of five percent of the amount of tax due from that person for the period
that the person was not registered as required by RCW
82.32.030. The department shall not impose the penalty
under this subsection (4) if a person who has engaged in business taxable under this title without first having registered as
required by RCW 82.32.030, prior to any notification by the
department of the need to register, obtains a registration certificate from the department.
(5) If the department finds that all or any part of a deficiency resulted from the disregard of specific written instructions as to reporting or tax liabilities, the department shall add
a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the additional tax
found due because of the failure to follow the instructions. A
taxpayer disregards specific written instructions when the
department of revenue has informed the taxpayer in writing
of the taxpayer’s tax obligations and the taxpayer fails to act
in accordance with those instructions unless the department
has not issued final instructions because the matter is under
appeal pursuant to this chapter or departmental regulations.
The department shall not assess the penalty under this section
upon any taxpayer who has made a good faith effort to comply with the specific written instructions provided by the
department to that taxpayer. Specific written instructions
may be given as a part of a tax assessment, audit, determination, or closing agreement, provided that such specific written instructions shall apply only to the taxpayer addressed or
referenced on such documents. Any specific written instructions by the department of revenue shall be clearly identified
as such and shall inform the taxpayer that failure to follow the
instructions may subject the taxpayer to the penalties
imposed by this subsection.
(6) If the department finds that all or any part of the deficiency resulted from an intent to evade the tax payable hereunder, a further penalty of fifty percent of the additional tax
found to be due shall be added.
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
(7) The penalties imposed under subsections (1) through
(4) of this section can each be imposed on the same tax found
to be due. This subsection does not prohibit or restrict the
application of other penalties authorized by law.
(8) The department of revenue may not impose both the
evasion penalty and the penalty for disregarding specific
written instructions on the same tax found to be due.
(9) For the purposes of this section, "return" means any
document a person is required by the state of Washington to
file to satisfy or establish a tax or fee obligation that is administered or collected by the department of revenue, and that
has a statutorily defined due date. [2006 c 256 § 6; 2003 1st
sp.s. c 13 § 13; 2000 c 229 § 7; 1999 c 277 § 11; 1996 c 149
§ 15; 1992 c 206 § 3; 1991 c 142 § 11; 1987 c 502 § 9; 1983
2nd ex.s. c 3 § 23; 1983 c 7 § 32; 1981 c 172 § 8; 1981 c 7 §
2; 1971 ex.s. c 179 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 26; 1965 ex.s. c
141 § 3; 1963 ex.s. c 28 § 7; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.090. Prior:
1959 c 197 § 12; 1955 c 110 § 1; 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 9; 1949
c 228 § 23; 1937 c 227 § 18; 1935 c 180 § 192; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 8370-192.]
Effective dates—Application—Savings—2006 c 256: See notes following RCW 82.32.045.
Application—2003 1st sp.s. c 13 § 13: "Except as otherwise provided
in this section, section 13 of this act applies to all penalties imposed after
June 30, 2003. The five percent penalty imposed in section 13(2) of this act
applies to all assessments originally issued after June 30, 2003." [2003 1st
sp.s. c 13 § 14.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Effective date—2000 c 229: See note following RCW 46.16.010.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Effective date—1991 c 142 §§ 9-11: See note following RCW
82.32.050.
Severability—1991 c 142: See RCW 82.32A.900.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective dates—1981 c 172: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—1981 c 7: See note following RCW 82.32.045.
Construction—1971 ex.s. c 179: "This 1971 amendatory act shall
apply only to taxes becoming due and payable in June, 1971 and thereafter."
[1971 ex.s. c 179 § 2.]
82.32.100
82.32.100 Failure to file returns or provide records—
Assessment of tax by department—Penalties and interest.
(1) If any person fails or refuses to make any return or to
make available for examination the records required by this
chapter, the department shall proceed, in such manner as it
may deem best, to obtain facts and information on which to
base its estimate of the tax; and to this end the department
may examine the records of any such person as provided in
RCW 82.32.110.
(2) As soon as the department procures such facts and
information as it is able to obtain upon which to base the
assessment of any tax payable by any person who has failed
or refused to make a return, it shall proceed to determine and
assess against such person the tax and any applicable penalties or interest due, but such action shall not deprive such person from appealing the assessment as provided in this chap(2006 Ed.)
82.32.110
ter. The department shall notify the taxpayer by mail of the
total amount of such tax, penalties, and interest, and the total
amount shall become due and shall be paid within thirty days
from the date of such notice.
(3) No assessment or correction of an assessment may be
made by the department more than four years after the close
of the tax year, except (a) against a taxpayer who has not registered as required by this chapter, (b) upon a showing of
fraud or of misrepresentation of a material fact by the taxpayer, or (c) where a taxpayer has executed a written waiver
of such limitation. The execution of a written waiver shall
also extend the period for making a refund or credit as provided in RCW 82.32.060(2). [1992 c 169 § 3; 1989 c 378 §
21; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 20; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 4; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.100. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 10; 1935 c 180 § 194;
RRS § 8370-194.]
Effective date—Applicability—1992 c 169: See note following RCW
82.32.050.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.105
82.32.105 Waiver or cancellation of penalties or
interest—Rules. (1) If the department of revenue finds that
the payment by a taxpayer of a tax less than that properly due
or the failure of a taxpayer to pay any tax by the due date was
the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the department of revenue shall waive or cancel any
penalties imposed under this chapter with respect to such tax.
(2) The department shall waive or cancel the penalty
imposed under RCW 82.32.090(1) when the circumstances
under which the delinquency occurred do not qualify for
waiver or cancellation under subsection (1) of this section if:
(a) The taxpayer requests the waiver for a tax return
required to be filed under RCW 82.32.045, 82.14B.061,
82.23B.020, 82.27.060, 82.29A.050, or 84.33.086; and
(b) The taxpayer has timely filed and remitted payment
on all tax returns due for that tax program for a period of
twenty-four months immediately preceding the period covered by the return for which the waiver is being requested.
(3) The department shall waive or cancel interest
imposed under this chapter if:
(a) The failure to timely pay the tax was the direct result
of written instructions given the taxpayer by the department;
or
(b) The extension of a due date for payment of an assessment of deficiency was not at the request of the taxpayer and
was for the sole convenience of the department.
(4) The department of revenue shall adopt rules for the
waiver or cancellation of penalties and interest imposed by
this chapter. [1998 c 304 § 13; 1996 c 149 § 17; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 78; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 8.]
Findings—Effective dates—1998 c 304: See notes following RCW
82.14B.020.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.110
82.32.110 Examination of books or records—Subpoenas—Contempt of court. The department of revenue or
its duly authorized agent may examine any books, papers,
[Title 82 RCW—page 209]
82.32.120
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
records, or other data, or stock of merchandise bearing upon
the amount of any tax payable or upon the correctness of any
return, or for the purpose of making a return where none has
been made, or in order to ascertain whether a return should be
made; and may require the attendance of any person at a time
and place fixed in a summons served by any sheriff in the
same manner as a subpoena is served in a civil case, or served
in like manner by an agent of the department of revenue.
The persons summoned may be required to testify and
produce any books, papers, records, or data required by the
department with respect to any tax, or the liability of any person therefor.
The director of the department of revenue, or any duly
authorized agent thereof, shall have power to administer an
oath to the person required to testify; and any person giving
false testimony after the administration of such oath shall be
guilty of perjury in the first degree.
If any person summoned as a witness before the department, or its authorized agent, fails or refuses to obey the summons, or refuses to testify or answer any material questions,
or to produce any book, record, paper, or data when required
to do so, the person is subject to proceedings for contempt,
and the department shall thereupon institute contempt of
court proceedings in the superior court of Thurston county or
of the county in which such person resides. [1989 c 373 § 27;
1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 79; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.110. Prior: 1935
c 180 § 194; RRS § 8370-194.]
Severability—1989 c 373: See RCW 7.21.900.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.120
82.32.120 Oaths and acknowledgments. All officers
empowered by law to administer oaths, the director of the
department of revenue, and such officers as he may designate
shall have the power to administer an oath to any person or to
take the acknowledgment of any person with respect to any
return or report required by law or the rules and regulations of
the department of revenue. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 80; 1961
c 15 § 82.32.120. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 195; RRS § 8370-195.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.130
82.32.130 Notice and orders—Service. Notwithstanding any other law, any notice or order required by this title to
be mailed to any taxpayer may be served in the manner prescribed by law for personal service of summons and complaint in the commencement of actions in the superior courts
of the state, but if the notice or order is mailed, it shall be
addressed to the address of the taxpayer as shown by the
records of the department of revenue, or, if no such address is
shown, to such address as the department is able to ascertain
by reasonable effort. Failure of the taxpayer to receive such
notice or order whether served or mailed shall not release the
taxpayer from any tax or any increases or penalties thereon.
[1979 ex.s. c 95 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 81; 1967 c 237 §
20; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.130. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 196; RRS §
8370-196.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
[Title 82 RCW—page 210]
82.32.140
82.32.140 Taxpayer quitting business—Liability of
successor. (1) Whenever any taxpayer quits business, or
sells out, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of more than fifty
percent of the fair market value of either its tangible or intangible assets, any tax payable hereunder shall become immediately due and payable, and such taxpayer shall, within ten
days thereafter, make a return and pay the tax due.
(2) Any person who becomes a successor shall withhold
from the purchase price a sum sufficient to pay any tax due
from the taxpayer until such time as the taxpayer shall produce a receipt from the department of revenue showing payment in full of any tax due or a certificate that no tax is due.
If any tax is not paid by the taxpayer within ten days from the
date of such sale, exchange, or disposal, the successor shall
become liable for the payment of the full amount of tax. If
the fair market value of the assets acquired by a successor is
less than fifty thousand dollars, the successor’s liability for
payment of the unpaid tax is limited to the fair market value
of the assets acquired from the taxpayer. The burden of
establishing the fair market value of the assets acquired is on
the successor.
(3) The payment of any tax by a successor shall, to the
extent thereof, be deemed a payment upon the purchase price;
and if such payment is greater in amount than the purchase
price the amount of the difference shall become a debt due
the successor from the taxpayer.
(4) No successor shall be liable for any tax due from the
person from whom the successor has acquired a business or
stock of goods if the successor gives written notice to the
department of revenue of such acquisition and no assessment
is issued by the department of revenue within six months of
receipt of such notice against the former operator of the business and a copy thereof mailed to the successor. [2003 1st
sp.s. c 13 § 12; 1985 c 414 § 7; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 82; 1961
c 15 § 82.32.140. Prior: 1957 c 88 § 1; 1935 c 180 § 197;
RRS § 8370-197.]
Effective dates—2003 1st sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW
63.29.020.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.145
82.32.145 Termination, dissolution, or abandonment
of corporate or limited liability business—Personal liability of person in control of collected sales tax funds. (1)
Upon termination, dissolution, or abandonment of a corporate or limited liability company business, any officer, member, manager, or other person having control or supervision
of retail sales tax funds collected and held in trust under
RCW 82.08.050, or who is charged with the responsibility for
the filing of returns or the payment of retail sales tax funds
collected and held in trust under RCW 82.08.050, shall be
personally liable for any unpaid taxes and interest and penalties on those taxes, if such officer or other person wilfully
fails to pay or to cause to be paid any taxes due from the corporation pursuant to chapter 82.08 RCW. For the purposes of
this section, any retail sales taxes that have been paid but not
collected shall be deductible from the retail sales taxes collected but not paid.
For purposes of this subsection "wilfully fails to pay or
to cause to be paid" means that the failure was the result of an
intentional, conscious, and voluntary course of action.
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
(2) The officer, member or manager, or other person
shall be liable only for taxes collected which became due during the period he or she had the control, supervision, responsibility, or duty to act for the corporation described in subsection (1) of this section, plus interest and penalties on those
taxes.
(3) Persons liable under subsection (1) of this section are
exempt from liability in situations where nonpayment of the
retail sales tax funds held in trust is due to reasons beyond
their control as determined by the department by rule.
(4) Any person having been issued a notice of assessment under this section is entitled to the appeal procedures
under RCW 82.32.160, 82.32.170, 82.32.180, 82.32.190, and
82.32.200.
(5) This section applies only in situations where the
department has determined that there is no reasonable means
of collecting the retail sales tax funds held in trust directly
from the corporation.
(6) This section does not relieve the corporation or limited liability company of other tax liabilities or otherwise
impair other tax collection remedies afforded by law.
(7) Collection authority and procedures prescribed in
this chapter apply to collections under this section. [1995 c
318 § 2; 1987 c 245 § 1.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
82.32.150
82.32.150 Contest of tax—Prepayment required—
Restraining orders and injunctions barred. All taxes, penalties, and interest shall be paid in full before any action may
be instituted in any court to contest all or any part of such
taxes, penalties, or interest. No restraining order or injunction
shall be granted or issued by any court or judge to restrain or
enjoin the collection of any tax or penalty or any part thereof,
except upon the ground that the assessment thereof was in
violation of the Constitution of the United States or that of the
state. [1961 c 15 § 82.32.150. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 198; RRS
§ 8370-198.]
82.32.160
82.32.160 Correction of tax—Administrative procedure—Conference—Determination by department. Any
person having been issued a notice of additional taxes, delinquent taxes, interest, or penalties assessed by the department,
may within thirty days after the issuance of the original notice
of the amount thereof or within the period covered by any
extension of the due date thereof granted by the department
petition the department in writing for a correction of the
amount of the assessment, and a conference for examination
and review of the assessment. The petition shall set forth the
reasons why the correction should be granted and the amount
of the tax, interest, or penalties, which the petitioner believes
to be due. The department shall promptly consider the petition and may grant or deny it. If denied, the petitioner shall be
notified by mail thereof forthwith. If a conference is granted,
the department shall fix the time and place therefor and notify
the petitioner thereof by mail. After the conference the
department may make such determination as may appear to it
to be just and lawful and shall mail a copy of its determination to the petitioner. If no such petition is filed within the
thirty-day period the assessment covered by the notice shall
become final.
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.180
The procedures provided for herein shall apply also to a
notice denying, in whole or in part, an application for a pollution control tax exemption and credit certificate, with such
modifications to such procedures established by departmental rules and regulations as may be necessary to accommodate a claim for exemption or credit. [1989 c 378 § 22; 1975
1st ex.s. c 158 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 49; 1963 ex.s. c 28 § 8;
1961 c 15 § 82.32.160. Prior: 1939 c 225 § 29, part; 1935 c
180 § 199, part; RRS § 8370-199, part.]
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 158: See note following RCW
82.34.050.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
82.32.170
82.32.170 Reduction of tax after payment—Petition—Conference—Determination by department. Any
person, having paid any tax, original assessment, additional
assessment, or corrected assessment of any tax, may apply to
the department within the time limitation for refund provided
in this chapter, by petition in writing for a correction of the
amount paid, and a conference for examination and review of
the tax liability, in which petition he shall set forth the reasons why the conference should be granted, and the amount
in which the tax, interest, or penalty, should be refunded. The
department shall promptly consider the petition, and may
grant or deny it. If denied, the petitioner shall be notified by
mail thereof forthwith; if a conference is granted, the department shall notify the petitioner by mail of the time and place
fixed therefor. After the hearing the department may make
such determination as may appear to it just and lawful, and
shall mail a copy of its determination to the petitioner. [1967
ex.s. c 26 § 50; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.170. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s.
c 9 § 11; 1939 c 225 § 29, part; 1935 c 180 § 199, part; RRS
§ 8370-199, part.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
82.32.180
82.32.180 Court appeal—Procedure. Any person,
except one who has failed to keep and preserve books,
records, and invoices as required in this chapter and chapter
82.24 RCW, having paid any tax as required and feeling
aggrieved by the amount of the tax may appeal to the superior
court of Thurston county, within the time limitation for a
refund provided in chapter 82.32 RCW or, if an application
for refund has been made to the department within that time
limitation, then within thirty days after rejection of the application, whichever time limitation is later. In the appeal the
taxpayer shall set forth the amount of the tax imposed upon
the taxpayer which the taxpayer concedes to be the correct
tax and the reason why the tax should be reduced or abated.
The appeal shall be perfected by serving a copy of the notice
of appeal upon the department within the time herein specified and by filing the original thereof with proof of service
with the clerk of the superior court of Thurston county.
The trial in the superior court on appeal shall be de novo
and without the necessity of any pleadings other than the
notice of appeal. At trial, the burden shall rest upon the taxpayer to prove that the tax as paid by the taxpayer is incorrect,
either in whole or in part, and to establish the correct amount
of the tax. In such proceeding the taxpayer shall be deemed
the plaintiff, and the state, the defendant; and both parties
shall be entitled to subpoena the attendance of witnesses as in
[Title 82 RCW—page 211]
82.32.190
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
other civil actions and to produce evidence that is competent,
relevant, and material to determine the correct amount of the
tax that should be paid by the taxpayer. Either party may seek
appellate review in the same manner as other civil actions are
appealed to the appellate courts.
It shall not be necessary for the taxpayer to protest
against the payment of any tax or to make any demand to
have the same refunded or to petition the director for a hearing in order to appeal to the superior court, but no court action
or proceeding of any kind shall be maintained by the taxpayer
to recover any tax paid, or any part thereof, except as herein
provided.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any tax
payment which has been the subject of an appeal to the board
of tax appeals with respect to which appeal a formal hearing
has been elected. [1997 c 156 § 4; 1992 c 206 § 4; 1989 c 378
§ 23; 1988 c 202 § 67; 1971 c 81 § 148; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 51;
1965 ex.s. c 141 § 5; 1963 ex.s. c 28 § 9; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.180. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 12; 1939 c 225 § 29,
part; 1935 c 180 § 199, part; RRS § 8370-199, part.]
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
Appeal to board of tax appeals, formal hearing: RCW 82.03.160.
82.32.190 Stay of collection pending suit—Interest.
(1) The department, by its order, may hold in abeyance the
collection of tax from any taxpayer or any group of taxpayers
when a question bearing on their liability for tax hereunder is
pending before the courts. The department may impose such
conditions as may be deemed just and equitable and shall
require the payment of interest at the rate of three-quarters of
one percent of the amount of the tax for each thirty days or
portion thereof from the date upon which such tax became
due until the date of payment.
(2) Interest imposed under this section for periods after
January 1, 1997, shall be computed on a daily basis at the rate
as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2). The rate so computed
shall be adjusted on the first day of January of each year.
Interest for taxes held in abeyance under this section before
January 1, 1997, but outstanding after January 1, 1997, shall
not be recalculated but shall remain at three-quarters of one
percent per each thirty days or portion thereof. [1996 c 149 §
3; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 21; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 6; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.190. Prior: 1937 c 227 § 19; 1935 c 180 § 200; RRS §
8370-200.]
82.32.190
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.200 Stay of collection—Bond—Interest. (1)
When any assessment or additional assessment has been
made, the taxpayer may obtain a stay of collection, under
such circumstances and for such periods as the department of
revenue may by general regulation provide, of the whole or
any part thereof, by filing with the department a bond in an
amount, not exceeding twice the amount on which stay is
desired, and with sureties as the department deems necessary,
conditioned for the payment of the amount of the assessments, collection of which is stayed by the bond, together
with the interest thereon at the rate of one percent of the
82.32.200
[Title 82 RCW—page 212]
amount of such assessment for each thirty days or portion
thereof from the date the bond is filed until the date of payment.
(2) Interest imposed under this section after January 1,
1997, shall be computed on a daily basis on the amount of tax
at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2). The rate so
computed shall be adjusted on the first day of January of each
year. Interest for bonds filed before January 1, 1997, but outstanding after January 1, 1997, shall not be recalculated but
shall remain at one percent per each thirty days or portion
thereof. [1996 c 149 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 83; 1961 c 15
§ 82.32.200. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 201; RRS § 8370-201.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.210
82.32.210 Tax warrant—Filing—Lien—Effect. (1) If
any fee, tax, increase, or penalty or any portion thereof is not
paid within fifteen days after it becomes due, the department
of revenue may issue a warrant in the amount of such unpaid
sums, together with interest thereon from the date the warrant
is issued until the date of payment. If, however, the department of revenue believes that a taxpayer is about to cease
business, leave the state, or remove or dissipate the assets out
of which fees, taxes or penalties might be satisfied and that
any tax or penalty will not be paid when due, it may declare
the fee, tax or penalty to be immediately due and payable and
may issue a warrant immediately.
(a) Interest imposed before January 1, 1999, shall be
computed at the rate of one percent of the amount of the warrant for each thirty days or portion thereof.
(b) Interest imposed after December 31, 1998, shall be
computed on a daily basis on the amount of outstanding tax
or fee at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2). The
rate so computed shall be adjusted on the first day of January
of each year for use in computing interest for that calendar
year. As used in this subsection, "fee" does not include an
administrative filing fee such as a court filing fee and warrant
fee.
(2) The department shall file a copy of the warrant with
the clerk of the superior court of any county of the state in
which real and/or personal property of the taxpayer may be
found. The clerk is entitled to a filing fee under RCW
36.18.012(10). Upon filing, the clerk shall enter in the judgment docket, the name of the taxpayer mentioned in the warrant and in appropriate columns the amount of the fee, tax or
portion thereof and any increases and penalties for which the
warrant is issued and the date when the copy is filed, and
thereupon the amount of the warrant so docketed shall
become a specific lien upon all goods, wares, merchandise,
fixtures, equipment, or other personal property used in the
conduct of the business of the taxpayer against whom the
warrant is issued, including property owned by third persons
who have a beneficial interest, direct or indirect, in the operation of the business, and no sale or transfer of the personal
property in any way affects the lien.
(3) The lien shall not be superior, however, to bona fide
interests of third persons which had vested prior to the filing
of the warrant when the third persons do not have a beneficial
interest, direct or indirect, in the operation of the business,
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
other than the securing of the payment of a debt or the receiving of a regular rental on equipment. The phrase "bona fide
interests of third persons" does not include any mortgage of
real or personal property or any other credit transaction that
results in the mortgagee or the holder of the security acting as
trustee for unsecured creditors of the taxpayer mentioned in
the warrant who executed the chattel or real property mortgage or the document evidencing the credit transaction.
(4) The amount of the warrant so docketed shall thereupon also become a lien upon the title to and interest in all
other real and personal property of the taxpayer against
whom it is issued the same as a judgment in a civil case duly
docketed in the office of the clerk. The warrant so docketed
shall be sufficient to support the issuance of writs of garnishment in favor of the state in the manner provided by law in
the case of judgments wholly or partially unsatisfied. [2001
c 146 § 12; 1998 c 311 § 8; 1997 c 157 § 3; 1987 c 405 § 15;
1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 8; 1967 ex.s. c 89 § 3; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.210. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 38; prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 9 §
13; 1949 c 228 § 225, part; 1937 c 227 § 20, part; 1935 c 180
§ 202, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-202, part.]
Severability—1987 c 405: See note following RCW 70.94.450.
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
82.32.215
82.32.215 Revocation of certificate of registration. If
any warrant issued under this chapter is not paid within thirty
days after it has been filed with the clerk of the superior court,
or if any taxpayer is delinquent, for three consecutive reporting periods, in the transmission to the department of revenue
of retail sales tax collected by the taxpayer, the department of
revenue may, by order, revoke the certificate of registration
of the taxpayer against whom the warrant was issued, and, if
the order is entered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the main entrance to the taxpayer’s place of
business and shall remain posted until such time as the warrant has been paid. Any certificate so revoked shall not be
reinstated, nor shall a new certificate of registration be issued
to the taxpayer, until the amount due on the warrant has been
paid, or provisions for payment satisfactory to the department
of revenue have been entered, and until the taxpayer has
deposited with the department of revenue such security for
payment of any taxes, increases, and penalties, due or which
may become due in an amount and under such terms and conditions as the department of revenue may require, but the
amount of the security shall not be greater than one-half the
estimated average annual liability of the taxpayer. [1998 c
311 § 9; 1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 9.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
82.32.220
82.32.220 Execution of warrant—Levy upon property—Satisfaction. The department of revenue may issue an
order of execution, pursuant to a filed warrant, directed to the
sheriff of the county in which the warrant has been filed,
commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell the real and/or
personal property of the taxpayer found within the sheriff’s
county, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the payment of the amount of the warrant, plus the cost of executing
the warrant, and return the warrant to the department of revenue and pay to it the money collected by virtue thereof within
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.235
sixty days after the receipt of the warrant. The sheriff shall
thereupon proceed upon the same in all respects and with like
effect as prescribed by law with respect to execution or other
process issued against rights or property upon judgments of
the superior court.
The sheriff shall be entitled to fees as provided by law
for the sheriff’s services in levying execution on a superior
court judgment and the clerk shall be entitled to a filing fee as
provided by law, which shall be added to the amount of the
warrant.
The proceeds received from any sale shall be credited
upon the amount due under the warrant and when the final
amount due is received, together with interest, penalties, and
costs, the judgment docket shall show the claim for taxes to
be satisfied and the clerk of the court shall so note upon the
docket. Any surplus received from any sale of property shall
be paid to the taxpayer or to any lien holder entitled thereto.
If the return on the warrant shows that the same has not been
satisfied in full, the amount of the deficiency shall remain the
same as a judgment against the taxpayer which may be collected in the same manner as the original amount of the warrant. [1998 c 311 § 10; 1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 10; 1961 c 304
§ 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.220. Prior: 1955 c 389 § 39; prior:
1951 1st ex.s. c 9 § 14; 1949 c 228 § 25, part; 1937 c 227 §
20, part; 1935 c 180 § 202, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370202, part.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Fee for filing tax warrant by county clerk: RCW 36.18.020.
82.32.230
82.32.230 Agent of the department of revenue may
execute. In the discretion of the department of revenue, an
order of execution of like terms, force, and effect may be
issued and directed to any agent of the department authorized
to collect taxes, and in the execution thereof such agent shall
have all the powers conferred by law upon sheriffs, but shall
not be entitled to any fee or compensation in excess of the
actual expenses paid in the performance of such duty, which
shall be added to the amount of the warrant. [1983 1st ex.s. c
55 § 11; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 84; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.230.
Prior: 1949 c 228 § 25, part; 1937 c 227 § 20, part; 1935 c
180 § 202, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8370-202, part.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.235
82.32.235 Notice and order to withhold and deliver
property due or owned by taxpayer—Bond—Judgment
by default. In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter the department is hereby authorized to issue to any person,
or to any political subdivision or department of the state, a
notice and order to withhold and deliver property of any kind
whatsoever when there is reason to believe that there is in the
possession of such person, political subdivision or department, property which is or shall become due, owing, or
belonging to any taxpayer against whom a warrant has been
filed.
The notice and order to withhold and deliver shall be
served by the sheriff of the county wherein the service is
made, or by his deputy, or by any duly authorized representa[Title 82 RCW—page 213]
82.32.237
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
tive of the department, provided that service by such persons
may also be made by certified mail, with return receipt
requested, upon those persons, or political subdivision or
department, to whom the notice and order to withhold and
deliver is directed. Any person, or any political subdivision
or department upon whom service has been made is hereby
required to answer the notice within twenty days exclusive of
the day of service, under oath and in writing, and shall make
true answers to the matters inquired of in the notice.
In the event there is in the possession of any such person
or political subdivision or department, any property which
may be subject to the claim of the department, such property
shall be delivered forthwith to the department of revenue or
its duly authorized representative upon demand to be held in
trust by the department for application on the indebtedness
involved or for return, without interest, in accordance with
final determination of liability or nonliability, or in the alternative, there shall be furnished a good and sufficient bond
satisfactory to the department conditioned upon final determination of liability.
Should any person or political subdivision fail to make
answer to an order to withhold and deliver within the time
prescribed herein, it shall be lawful for the court, after the
time to answer such order has expired, to render judgment by
default against such person or political subdivision for the
full amount claimed by the department in the notice to withhold and deliver, together with costs. [1987 c 208 § 1; 1975
1st ex.s. c 278 § 85; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 22; 1963 ex.s. c 28 §
11.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.237
82.32.237 Notice and order to withhold and deliver—
Continuing lien—Effective date. Upon service, the notice
and order to withhold and deliver shall constitute a continuing lien on property of the taxpayer and upon wages due,
owing, or belonging to the taxpayer. The department shall
include in the caption of the notice and order to withhold and
deliver "continuing lien." The effective date of a notice and
order to withhold and deliver served under RCW 82.32.235
shall be the date of service thereof. [1987 c 208 § 2.]
82.32.240
82.32.240 Tax constitutes debt to the state—Priority
of lien. Any tax due and unpaid and all increases and penalties thereon, shall constitute a debt to the state and may be
collected by court proceedings in the same manner as any
other debt in like amount, which remedy shall be in addition
to any and all other existing remedies.
In all cases of probate, insolvency, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, or bankruptcy, involving any taxpayer
who is, or decedent who was, engaging in business, the claim
of the state for said taxes and all increases and penalties
thereon shall be a lien upon all real and personal property of
the taxpayer, and the mere existence of such cases or conditions shall be sufficient to create such lien without any prior
or subsequent action by the state, and in all such cases it shall
be the duty of all administrators, executors, guardians, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy or assignees for the benefit of
creditors, to notify the department of revenue of such admin[Title 82 RCW—page 214]
istration, receivership or assignment within sixty days from
the date of their appointment and qualification.
The lien provided for by this section shall attach as of the
date of the assignment for the benefit of creditors or of the
initiation of the probate, insolvency, or bankruptcy proceedings: PROVIDED, That this sentence shall not be construed
as affecting the validity or priority of any earlier lien that may
have attached previously in favor of the state under any other
section of this title.
Any administrator, executor, guardian, receiver or
assignee for the benefit of creditors not giving the notification as provided for above shall become personally liable for
payment of the taxes and all increases and penalties thereon
to the extent of the value of the property subject to administration that otherwise would have been available for the payment of such taxes, increases, and penalties by the administrator, executor, guardian, receiver, or assignee.
As used in this section, "probate" includes the nonprobate claim settlement procedure under chapter 11.42 RCW,
and "executor" and "administrator" includes any notice agent
acting under chapter 11.42 RCW. [1994 c 221 § 69; 1988 c
64 § 21; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 86; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.240.
Prior: 1949 c 228 § 26; 1935 c 180 § 203; Rem. Supp. 1949
§ 8370-203.]
Effective dates—1994 c 221: See note following RCW 11.94.070.
Captions—Severability—1988 c 64: See RCW 83.100.904 and
83.100.905.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.245
82.32.245 Search for and seizure of property—Warrant—Procedure. (1) When there is probable cause to
believe that there is property within this state, not otherwise
exempt from process or execution, in the possession or control of any taxpayer against whom a tax warrant has been
filed which remains unsatisfied, any judge of the superior
court or district court in the county in which such property is
located may, upon the request of the sheriff or agent of the
department authorized to collect taxes, issue a warrant
directed to such officers commanding the search for and seizure of the property described in the request for warrant.
(2) Application for, issuance, and execution and return of
the warrant authorized by this section and for return of any
property seized shall be in accordance with the criminal rules
of the superior court and the justice court.
(3) The sheriff or agent of the department shall levy execution upon property seized pursuant to this section as provided in RCW 82.32.220 and 82.32.230.
(4) Nothing in this section shall require the application
for and issuance of any warrant not otherwise required by
law. [1985 c 414 § 3.]
82.32.260 Payment condition to dissolution or withdrawal of corporation. In the case of any corporation organized under the laws of this state, the courts shall not enter or
sign any decree of dissolution, nor shall the secretary of state
file in his office any certificate of dissolution, and in the case
of any corporation organized under the laws of another jurisdiction and admitted to do business in this state, the secretary
of state shall withhold the issuance of any certificate of withdrawal, until proof, in the form of a certificate from the
82.32.260
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
department of revenue, has been furnished by the applicant
for such dissolution or withdrawal, that every license fee, tax,
increase, or penalty has been paid or provided for. [1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 87; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.260. Prior: 1935 c 180 §
204; RRS § 8370-204.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.265
82.32.265 Use of collection agencies to collect taxes
outside the state. (1) The department may retain, by written
contract, collection agencies licensed under chapter 19.16
RCW or licensed under the laws of another state or the District of Columbia for the purpose of collecting from sources
outside the state of Washington taxes including interest and
penalties thereon imposed under this title and RCW
84.33.041.
(2) Only accounts represented by tax warrants filed in
the superior court of a county in the state as provided by
RCW 82.32.210 may be assigned to a collection agency, and
no such assignment may be made unless the department has
previously notified or has attempted to notify the taxpayer of
his or her right to petition for correction of assessment within
the time provided and in accordance with the procedures set
forth in chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) Collection agencies assigned accounts for collection
under this section shall have only those remedies and powers
that would be available to them as assignees of private creditors. However, nothing in this section limits the right to
enforce the liability for taxes lawfully imposed under the
laws of this state in the courts of another state or the District
of Columbia as provided by the laws of such jurisdictions and
RCW 4.24.140 and 4.24.150.
(4) The account of the taxpayer shall be credited with the
amounts collected by a collection agency before reduction for
reasonable collection costs, including attorneys fees, that the
department is authorized to negotiate on a contingent fee or
other basis. [1987 c 80 § 5; 1985 c 414 § 4.]
82.32.270
82.32.270 Accounting period prescribed. The taxes
imposed hereunder, and the returns required therefor, shall be
upon a calendar year basis; but, if any taxpayer in transacting
his business, keeps books reflecting the same on a basis other
than the calendar year, he may, with consent of the department of revenue, make his returns, and pay taxes upon the
basis of his accounting period as shown by the method of
keeping the books of his business. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 88;
1961 c 15 § 82.32.270. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 205; RRS § 8370205.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.280
82.32.280 Tax declared additional. Taxes imposed
hereunder shall be in addition to any and all other licenses,
taxes, and excises levied or imposed by the state or any
municipal subdivision thereof. [1961 c 15 § 82.32.280. Prior:
1935 c 180 § 206; RRS § 8370-206.]
82.32.290
82.32.290 Unlawful acts—Penalties. (1)(a) It shall be
unlawful:
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.291
(i) For any person to engage in business without having
obtained a certificate of registration as provided in this chapter;
(ii) For the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer,
or other officer of any company to cause or permit the company to engage in business without having obtained a certificate of registration as provided in this chapter;
(iii) For any person to tear down or remove any order or
notice posted by the department;
(iv) For any person to aid or abet another in any attempt
to evade the payment of any tax or any part thereof;
(v) For any purchaser to fraudulently sign a resale certificate without intent to resell the property purchased; or
(vi) For any person to fail or refuse to permit the examination of any book, paper, account, record, or other data by
the department or its duly authorized agent; or to fail or
refuse to permit the inspection or appraisal of any property by
the department or its duly authorized agent; or to refuse to
offer testimony or produce any record as required.
(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this
subsection (1) shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor in
accordance with chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(2)(a) It shall be unlawful:
(i) For any person to engage in business after revocation
of a certificate of registration;
(ii) For the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer,
or other officer of any company to cause or permit the company to engage in business after revocation of a certificate of
registration; or
(iii) For any person to make any false or fraudulent
return or false statement in any return, with intent to defraud
the state or evade the payment of any tax or part thereof.
(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this
subsection (2) shall be guilty of a class C felony in accordance with chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(3) In addition to the foregoing penalties, any person
who knowingly swears to or verifies any false or fraudulent
return, or any return containing any false or fraudulent statement with the intent aforesaid, shall be guilty of the offense
of perjury in the second degree; and any company for which
a false return, or a return containing a false statement, as
aforesaid, is made, shall be punished, upon conviction
thereof, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars. All
penalties or punishments provided in this section shall be in
addition to all other penalties provided by law. [1985 c 414 §
2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 89; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.290. Prior:
1935 c 180 § 207; RRS § 8370-207.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.291
82.32.291 Resale certificate, unlawful use—Penalty—Rules. Any person who uses a resale certificate to purchase items or services without payment of sales tax and who
is not entitled to use the certificate for the purchase shall be
assessed a penalty of fifty percent of the tax due, in addition
to all other taxes, penalties, and interest due, on the improperly purchased item or service. The department may waive
the penalty imposed under this section if it finds that the use
of the certificate was due to circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control or if the certificate was properly used for purchases for dual purposes. The department shall define by rule
[Title 82 RCW—page 215]
82.32.300
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
what circumstances are considered to be beyond the taxpayer’s control. [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 703.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Resale certificates: RCW 82.04.470 and 82.08.130.
82.32.300 Department of revenue to administer—
Chapters enforced by liquor control board. The administration of this and chapters 82.04 through 82.27 RCW of this
title is vested in the department of revenue which shall prescribe forms and rules of procedure for the determination of
the taxable status of any person, for the making of returns and
for the ascertainment, assessment and collection of taxes and
penalties imposed thereunder.
The department of revenue shall make and publish rules
and regulations, not inconsistent therewith, necessary to
enforce provisions of this chapter and chapters 82.02 through
82.23B and 82.27 RCW, and the liquor control board shall
make and publish rules necessary to enforce chapters 82.24
and 82.26 RCW, which shall have the same force and effect
as if specifically included therein, unless declared invalid by
the judgment of a court of record not appealed from.
The department may employ such clerks, specialists, and
other assistants as are necessary. Salaries and compensation
of such employees shall be fixed by the department and shall
be charged to the proper appropriation for the department.
The department shall exercise general supervision of the
collection of taxes and, in the discharge of such duty, may
institute and prosecute such suits or proceedings in the courts
as may be necessary and proper. [1997 c 420 § 9; 1983 c 3 §
222; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 90; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.300. Prior:
1935 c 180 § 208, part; RRS § 8370-208, part.]
administrative costs to the extent practicable. [1995 c 318 §
7; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 92; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.320. Prior:
1935 c 180 § 209; RRS § 8370-209.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.300
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.310
82.32.310 Immunity of officers, agents, etc., of the
department of revenue acting in good faith. When recovery is had in any suit or proceeding against an officer, agent,
or employee of the department of revenue for any act done by
him or for the recovery of any money exacted by or paid to
him and by him paid over to the department, in the performance of his official duty, and the court certifies that there
was probable cause for the act done by such officer, agent, or
employee, or that he acted under the direction of the department or an officer thereof, no execution shall issue against
such officer, agent, or employee, but the amount so recovered
shall, upon final judgment, be paid by the department as an
expense of operation. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 91; 1961 c 15 §
82.32.310. Prior: 1935 c 180 § 208, part; RRS § 8370-208,
part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.320
82.32.320 Revenue to state treasurer—Allocation for
return or payment for less than the full amount due. The
department of revenue, on the next business day following
the receipt of any payments hereunder, shall transmit them to
the state treasurer, taking his or her receipt therefor. If a
return or payment is submitted with less than the full amount
of all taxes, interest, and penalties due, the department may
allocate payments among applicable funds so as to minimize
[Title 82 RCW—page 216]
82.32.330
82.32.330 Disclosure of return or tax information.
(1) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Disclose" means to make known to any person in
any manner whatever a return or tax information;
(b) "Return" means a tax or information return or claim
for refund required by, or provided for or permitted under, the
laws of this state which is filed with the department of revenue by, on behalf of, or with respect to a person, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, including supporting
schedules, attachments, or lists that are supplemental to, or
part of, the return so filed;
(c) "Tax information" means (i) a taxpayer’s identity, (ii)
the nature, source, or amount of the taxpayer’s income, payments, receipts, deductions, exemptions, credits, assets, liabilities, net worth, tax liability deficiencies, overassessments,
or tax payments, whether taken from the taxpayer’s books
and records or any other source, (iii) whether the taxpayer’s
return was, is being, or will be examined or subject to other
investigation or processing, (iv) a part of a written determination that is not designated as a precedent and disclosed pursuant to RCW 82.32.410, or a background file document relating to a written determination, and (v) other data received by,
recorded by, prepared by, furnished to, or collected by the
department of revenue with respect to the determination of
the existence, or possible existence, of liability, or the amount
thereof, of a person under the laws of this state for a tax, penalty, interest, fine, forfeiture, or other imposition, or offense:
PROVIDED, That data, material, or documents that do not
disclose information related to a specific or identifiable taxpayer do not constitute tax information under this section.
Except as provided by RCW 82.32.410, nothing in this chapter shall require any person possessing data, material, or documents made confidential and privileged by this section to
delete information from such data, material, or documents so
as to permit its disclosure;
(d) "State agency" means every Washington state office,
department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other
state agency;
(e) "Taxpayer identity" means the taxpayer’s name,
address, telephone number, registration number, or any combination thereof, or any other information disclosing the identity of the taxpayer; and
(f) "Department" means the department of revenue or its
officer, agent, employee, or representative.
(2) Returns and tax information shall be confidential and
privileged, and except as authorized by this section, neither
the department of revenue nor any other person may disclose
any return or tax information.
(3) This section does not prohibit the department of revenue from:
(a) Disclosing such return or tax information in a civil or
criminal judicial proceeding or an administrative proceeding:
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
(i) In respect of any tax imposed under the laws of this
state if the taxpayer or its officer or other person liable under
Title 82 RCW is a party in the proceeding; or
(ii) In which the taxpayer about whom such return or tax
information is sought and another state agency are adverse
parties in the proceeding;
(b) Disclosing, subject to such requirements and conditions as the director shall prescribe by rules adopted pursuant
to chapter 34.05 RCW, such return or tax information regarding a taxpayer to such taxpayer or to such person or persons
as that taxpayer may designate in a request for, or consent to,
such disclosure, or to any other person, at the taxpayer’s
request, to the extent necessary to comply with a request for
information or assistance made by the taxpayer to such other
person: PROVIDED, That tax information not received from
the taxpayer shall not be so disclosed if the director determines that such disclosure would compromise any investigation or litigation by any federal, state, or local government
agency in connection with the civil or criminal liability of the
taxpayer or another person, or that such disclosure would
identify a confidential informant, or that such disclosure is
contrary to any agreement entered into by the department that
provides for the reciprocal exchange of information with
other government agencies which agreement requires confidentiality with respect to such information unless such information is required to be disclosed to the taxpayer by the order
of any court;
(c) Disclosing the name of a taxpayer with a deficiency
greater than five thousand dollars and against whom a warrant under RCW 82.32.210 has been either issued or filed and
remains outstanding for a period of at least ten working days.
The department shall not be required to disclose any information under this subsection if a taxpayer: (i) Has been issued a
tax assessment; (ii) has been issued a warrant that has not
been filed; and (iii) has entered a deferred payment arrangement with the department of revenue and is making payments
upon such deficiency that will fully satisfy the indebtedness
within twelve months;
(d) Disclosing the name of a taxpayer with a deficiency
greater than five thousand dollars and against whom a warrant under RCW 82.32.210 has been filed with a court of
record and remains outstanding;
(e) Publishing statistics so classified as to prevent the
identification of particular returns or reports or items thereof;
(f) Disclosing such return or tax information, for official
purposes only, to the governor or attorney general, or to any
state agency, or to any committee or subcommittee of the legislature dealing with matters of taxation, revenue, trade, commerce, the control of industry or the professions;
(g) Permitting the department of revenue’s records to be
audited and examined by the proper state officer, his or her
agents and employees;
(h) Disclosing any such return or tax information to a
peace officer as defined in RCW 9A.04.110 or county prosecuting attorney, for official purposes. The disclosure may be
made only in response to a search warrant, subpoena, or other
court order, unless the disclosure is for the purpose of criminal tax enforcement. A peace officer or county prosecuting
attorney who receives the return or tax information may disclose that return or tax information only for use in the investigation and a related court proceeding, or in the court pro(2006 Ed.)
82.32.330
ceeding for which the return or tax information originally
was sought;
(i) Disclosing any such return or tax information to the
proper officer of the internal revenue service of the United
States, the Canadian government or provincial governments
of Canada, or to the proper officer of the tax department of
any state or city or town or county, for official purposes, but
only if the statutes of the United States, Canada or its provincial governments, or of such other state or city or town or
county, as the case may be, grants substantially similar privileges to the proper officers of this state;
(j) Disclosing any such return or tax information to the
Department of Justice, including the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives within the Department of
Justice, the Department of Defense, the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement and the Customs and Border Protection agencies of the United States Department of Homeland
Security, the Coast Guard of the United States, and the
United States Department of Transportation, or any authorized representative thereof, for official purposes;
(k) Publishing or otherwise disclosing the text of a written determination designated by the director as a precedent
pursuant to RCW 82.32.410;
(l) Disclosing, in a manner that is not associated with
other tax information, the taxpayer name, entity type, business address, mailing address, revenue tax registration numbers, North American industry classification system or standard industrial classification code of a taxpayer, and the dates
of opening and closing of business. This subsection shall not
be construed as giving authority to the department to give,
sell, or provide access to any list of taxpayers for any commercial purpose;
(m) Disclosing such return or tax information that is also
maintained by another Washington state or local governmental agency as a public record available for inspection and
copying under the provisions of chapter 42.56 RCW or is a
document maintained by a court of record not otherwise prohibited from disclosure;
(n) Disclosing such return or tax information to the
United States department of agriculture for the limited purpose of investigating food stamp fraud by retailers;
(o) Disclosing to a financial institution, escrow company, or title company, in connection with specific real property that is the subject of a real estate transaction, current
amounts due the department for a filed tax warrant, judgment, or lien against the real property;
(p) Disclosing to a person against whom the department
has asserted liability as a successor under RCW 82.32.140
return or tax information pertaining to the specific business
of the taxpayer to which the person has succeeded;
(q) Disclosing such return or tax information in the possession of the department relating to the administration or
enforcement of the real estate excise tax imposed under chapter 82.45 RCW, including information regarding transactions
exempt or otherwise not subject to tax; or
(r) Disclosing the least amount of return or tax information necessary for the reports required in RCW 82.32.640 (4)
and (5) when the number of taxpayers included in the reports
or any part of the reports cannot be classified to prevent the
identification of taxpayers or particular returns, reports, tax
information, or items in the possession of the department.
[Title 82 RCW—page 217]
82.32.340
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(4)(a) The department may disclose return or taxpayer
information to a person under investigation or during any
court or administrative proceeding against a person under
investigation as provided in this subsection (4). The disclosure must be in connection with the department’s official
duties relating to an audit, collection activity, or a civil or
criminal investigation. The disclosure may occur only when
the person under investigation and the person in possession
of data, materials, or documents are parties to the return or
tax information to be disclosed. The department may disclose return or tax information such as invoices, contracts,
bills, statements, resale or exemption certificates, or checks.
However, the department may not disclose general ledgers,
sales or cash receipt journals, check registers, accounts
receivable/payable ledgers, general journals, financial statements, expert’s workpapers, income tax returns, state tax
returns, tax return workpapers, or other similar data, materials, or documents.
(b) Before disclosure of any tax return or tax information
under this subsection (4), the department shall, through written correspondence, inform the person in possession of the
data, materials, or documents to be disclosed. The correspondence shall clearly identify the data, materials, or documents
to be disclosed. The department may not disclose any tax
return or tax information under this subsection (4) until the
time period allowed in (c) of this subsection has expired or
until the court has ruled on any challenge brought under (c) of
this subsection.
(c) The person in possession of the data, materials, or
documents to be disclosed by the department has twenty days
from the receipt of the written request required under (b) of
this subsection to petition the superior court of the county in
which the petitioner resides for injunctive relief. The court
shall limit or deny the request of the department if the court
determines that:
(i) The data, materials, or documents sought for disclosure are cumulative or duplicative, or are obtainable from
some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome,
or less expensive;
(ii) The production of the data, materials, or documents
sought would be unduly burdensome or expensive, taking
into account the needs of the department, the amount in controversy, limitations on the petitioner’s resources, and the
importance of the issues at stake; or
(iii) The data, materials, or documents sought for disclosure contain trade secret information that, if disclosed, could
harm the petitioner.
(d) The department shall reimburse reasonable expenses
for the production of data, materials, or documents incurred
by the person in possession of the data, materials, or documents to be disclosed.
(e) Requesting information under (b) of this subsection
that may indicate that a taxpayer is under investigation does
not constitute a disclosure of tax return or tax information
under this section.
(5) Any person acquiring knowledge of any return or tax
information in the course of his or her employment with the
department of revenue and any person acquiring knowledge
of any return or tax information as provided under subsection
(3)(f), (g), (h), (i), (j), or (n) of this section, who discloses any
such return or tax information to another person not entitled
[Title 82 RCW—page 218]
to knowledge of such return or tax information under the provisions of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor. If the person guilty of such violation is an officer or employee of the
state, such person shall forfeit such office or employment and
shall be incapable of holding any public office or employment in this state for a period of two years thereafter. [2006
c 177 § 7. Prior: 2005 c 326 § 1; 2005 c 274 § 361; prior:
2000 c 173 § 1; 2000 c 106 § 1; 1998 c 234 § 1; 1996 c 184 §
5; 1995 c 197 § 1; 1991 c 330 § 1; 1990 c 67 § 1; 1985 c 414
§ 9; 1984 c 138 § 12; 1969 ex.s. c 104 § 1; 1963 ex.s. c 28 §
10; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.330; prior: 1943 c 156 § 12; 1935 c
180 § 210; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 8370-210.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Effective date—2000 c 173: "This act takes effect July 1, 2000." [2000
c 173 § 2.]
Effective date—2000 c 106: "This act takes effect July 1, 2000." [2000
c 106 § 13.]
Effective date—1996 c 184: See note following RCW 46.16.010.
Effective date—1995 c 197: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1995." [1995 c 197 § 2.]
82.32.340 Chargeoff of uncollectible taxes—Destruction of files and records. (1) Any tax or penalty which the
department of revenue deems to be uncollectible may be
transferred from accounts receivable to a suspense account
and cease to be accounted an asset. Any item transferred shall
continue to be a debt due the state from the taxpayer and may
at any time within twelve years from the filing of a warrant
covering such amount with the clerk of the superior court be
transferred back to accounts receivable for the purpose of collection. The department of revenue may charge off as finally
uncollectible any tax or penalty which it deems uncollectible
at any time after twelve years from the date that the last tax
return for the delinquent taxpayer was or should have been
filed if the department of revenue is satisfied that there are no
cost-effective means of collecting the tax or penalty.
After any tax or penalty has been charged off as finally
uncollectible under the provisions of this section, the department of revenue may destroy any or all files and records pertaining to the liability of any taxpayer for such tax or penalty.
The department of revenue, subject to the approval of the
state records committee, may at the expiration of five years
after the close of any taxable year, destroy any or all files and
records pertaining to the tax liability of any taxpayer for such
taxable year, who has fully paid all taxes, penalties and interest for such taxable year, or any preceding taxable year for
which such taxes, penalties and interest have been fully paid.
In the event that such files and records are reproduced on film
pursuant to RCW 40.20.020 for use in accordance with RCW
40.20.030, the original files and records may be destroyed
immediately after reproduction and such reproductions may
be destroyed at the expiration of the above five-year period,
subject to the approval of the state records committee.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the
department may charge off any tax within its jurisdiction to
collect that is owed by a taxpayer, including any penalty or
interest thereon, if the department ascertains that the cost of
82.32.340
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
collecting that tax would be greater than the total amount
which is owed or likely in the near future to be owed by, and
collectible from, the taxpayer. [1989 c 78 § 3; 1985 c 414 §
1; 1979 1st ex.s. c 95 § 3; 1979 c 151 § 184; 1967 ex.s. c 89
§ 4; 1965 ex.s. c 141 § 7; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.340. Prior: 1955
c 389 § 40; 1939 c 225 § 30; 1937 c 227 § 21; 1935 c 180 §
210(a); RRS § 8370-210a.]
82.32.350
82.32.350 Closing agreements authorized. The
department may enter into an agreement in writing with any
person relating to the liability of such person in respect of any
tax imposed by any of the preceding chapters of this title for
any taxable period or periods. [1971 ex.s. c 299 § 23; 1961 c
15 § 82.32.350. Prior: 1945 c 251 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
8370-225.]
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.32.360
82.32.360 Conclusive effect of agreements. Upon
approval of such agreement, evidenced by execution thereof
by the department of revenue and the person so agreeing, the
agreement shall be final and conclusive as to tax liability or
tax immunity covered thereby, and, except upon a showing of
fraud or malfeasance, or of misrepresentation of a material
fact:
(1) The case shall not be reopened as to the matters
agreed upon, or the agreement modified, by any officer,
employee, or agent of the state, or the taxpayer, and
(2) In any suit, action or proceeding, such agreement, or
any determination, assessment, collection, payment, abatement, refund, or credit made in accordance therewith, shall
not be annulled, modified, set aside, or disregarded. [1975
1st ex.s. c 278 § 93; 1961 c 15 § 82.32.360. Prior: 1945 c 251
§ 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-226.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.32.380
82.32.380 Revenues to be deposited in general fund.
The state treasurer, upon receipt of any payments of tax, penalty, interest, or fees collected hereunder shall deposit them
to the credit of the state general fund or such other fund as
may be provided by law. [1961 c 15 § 82.32.380. Prior: 1945
c 249 § 10; 1943 c 156 § 12A, 1941 c 178 § 19(a); 1939 c 225
§ 31; 1937 c 227 § 32; 1935 c 180 § 211; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
8370-211.]
82.32.390
82.32.390 Certain revenues to be deposited in water
quality account. The department of revenue shall deposit
into the water quality account all moneys received from the
imposition on consumers of the taxes under chapters 82.08
and 82.12 RCW on the sales or use of articles of tangible personal property which become or are to become an ingredient
or component of new or existing water pollution control
facilities and activities, as defined in RCW 70.146.020,
which received full or partial funding from the water quality
account. [1986 c 3 § 15.]
Severability—1986 c 3: See RCW 70.146.900.
Effective dates—1986 c 3: See note following RCW 82.24.027.
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.410
82.32.392
82.32.392 Certain revenues to be deposited in sulfur
dioxide abatement account. An amount equal to all sales
and use taxes paid under chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14
RCW, that were obtained from the sales of coal to, or use of
coal by, a business for use at a generation facility, and that
meet the requirements of RCW 70.94.630, shall be deposited
in the sulfur dioxide abatement account under RCW
70.94.630. [1997 c 368 § 9.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
82.32.393
82.32.393 Thermal electric generation facilities with
tax exemptions for air pollution control equipment—Payments upon cessation of operation. (Expires December 31,
2015.) If a business is allowed an exemption under RCW
82.08.810, 82.12.810, 82.08.811, 82.12.811, or 84.36.487,
and the business ceases operation of the facility for which the
exemption is allowed, the business shall deposit into the displaced workers account established in RCW 50.12.280 an
amount equal to the fair market value of one-quarter of the
total sulfur dioxide allowances authorized by federal law
available to the facility at the time of cessation of operation of
the generation facility as if the allowances were sold for a
period of ten years following the time of cessation of operation of the generation facility. This section expires December
31, 2015. [1997 c 368 § 12.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
82.32.394
82.32.394 Revenues from sale or use of leaded racing
fuel to be deposited into the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account. The department of revenue shall
deposit into the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account, created in RCW 47.12.340, all moneys received
from the imposition on consumers of the taxes under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW on the sales or use of leaded racing
fuel which is exempted from the motor vehicle fuel tax under
RCW 82.38.081. [1998 c 115 § 7.]
Intent—1998 c 115 §§ 6 and 7: See note following RCW 82.38.081.
82.32.410
82.32.410 Written determinations as precedents. (1)
The director may designate certain written determinations as
precedents.
(a) By rule adopted pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, the
director shall adopt criteria which he or she shall use to
decide whether a determination is precedential. These criteria shall include, but not be limited to, whether the determination clarifies an unsettled interpretation of Title 82 RCW or
where the determination modifies or clarifies an earlier interpretation.
(b) Written determinations designated as precedents by
the director shall be made available for public inspection and
shall be published by the department.
(c) The department shall disclose any written determination upon which it relies to support any assessment of tax,
interest, or penalty against such taxpayer, after making the
deletions provided by subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Before making a written determination available for
public inspection under subsection (1) of this section, the
department shall delete:
[Title 82 RCW—page 219]
82.32.420
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(a) The names, addresses, and other identifying details of
the person to whom the written determination pertains and of
another person identified in the written determination; and
(b) Information the disclosure of which is specifically
prohibited by any statute applicable to the department of revenue, and the department may also delete other information
exempted from disclosure by chapter 42.56 RCW or any
other statute applicable to the department of revenue. [2005
c 274 § 362; 2001 c 320 § 10; 1997 c 409 § 211; 1991 c 330
§ 2.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Part headings—Severability—1997 c 409: See notes following RCW
43.22.051.
82.32.420 Year 2000 failure—No penalties or interest—Payment of tax. (Expires December 31, 2006.) (1)
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, no interest or penalties may be imposed on any person because of the
failure to pay excise taxes on or before the date due for payment if the person establishes that:
(a) The failure to pay was caused, in whole or in part, by
a year 2000 failure associated with an electronic computing
device;
(b) The year 2000 failure being asserted was not proximately caused by a failure of the person to update an electronic computing device, that is under his or her dominion or
control, to be year 2000 compliant; and
(c) If it were not for the year 2000 failure, the person
would have been able to satisfy the payment of taxes in a
timely manner.
Payment of such taxes shall be made within thirty days
after the year 2000 failure has been corrected or reasonably
should have been corrected.
(2)(a) The definitions in RCW 4.22.080 apply to this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(b) As used in this section, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, "person" means a natural person or a
small business as defined in RCW 19.85.020.
(3) This section does not affect those transactions upon
which a default has occurred before any disruption of financial or data transfer operations attributable to a year 2000 failure.
(4) This section does not apply to any claim or cause of
action filed after December 31, 2003.
(5) This section expires December 31, 2006. [1999 c
369 § 5.]
82.32.420
Effective date—1999 c 369: See note following RCW 4.22.080.
82.32.430 Liability for tax rate calculation errors. (1)
A person who collects and remits sales or use tax to the
department and who calculates the tax using geographic
information system technology developed and provided by
the department shall be held harmless and is not liable for the
difference in amount due nor subject to penalties or interest in
regards to rate calculation errors resulting from the proper use
of such technology.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section,
the department shall notify sellers who collect and remit sales
or use tax to the department of changes in boundaries and
82.32.430
[Title 82 RCW—page 220]
rates to taxes imposed by chapter 82.14 RCW no later than
sixty days before the effective date of the change.
(3) The department shall notify sellers who collect and
remit sales or use tax to the department and make sales from
printed catalogs of changes, as to such sales, of boundaries
and rates to taxes imposed by chapter 82.14 RCW no later
than one hundred twenty days before the effective date of the
change.
(4) Sellers who have not received timely notice of rate
and boundary changes under subsections (2) and (3) of this
section due to actions or omissions of the department are not
liable for the difference in the amount due until they have
received the appropriate period of notice. Purchasers are liable for any uncollected amounts of tax. [2003 c 168 § 207;
2001 c 320 § 11; 2000 c 104 § 4.]
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2000 c 104: See notes following
RCW 82.14.055.
82.32.440
82.32.440 Project on sales and use tax exemption
requirements. (1) The department is authorized to enter into
agreements with sellers who meet the criteria in this section
for a project on sales and use tax exemption requirements.
This project will allow the use of electronic data collection in
lieu of paper certificates otherwise required by law, including
the use of electronic signatures.
(2) The object of the project is to determine whether
using an electronic system and reviewing the data regarding
the exempt transactions provides the same level of reliability
as the current system while lessening the burden on the seller.
(3) A business making both sales taxable and exempt
under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW, that has electronic datacollecting capabilities, and that wishes to participate in the
project may make application to the department in such form
and manner as the department may require. To be eligible for
such participation, a seller must demonstrate its capability to
take part in the project and to provide data to the department
in a form in which the data can be used by the department.
The department is not required to accept all applicants in this
project and is not required to provide any reason for not
selecting a participant. A seller selected as a participant may
be relieved of other sales and use tax exemption documentation requirements provided by law as covered by the project,
and will be relieved of the good faith requirement under
RCW 82.08.050 to the extent that it has made available to the
department the data required by the project. [2001 c 116 § 2.]
Findings—2001 c 116: "The legislature finds that current sales and use
tax exemption documentation requirements are often confusing and burdensome for retailers, taxpayers, and the state. Additionally, the legislature notes
the national efforts under way to simplify and streamline the sales and use
tax, and that those efforts include a new system for retailers to use in processing sales and use tax exemptions. The legislature further finds that it would
be beneficial to the state and its residents to allow for the simplification of
sales and use tax exemption requirements." [2001 c 116 § 1.]
82.32.450
82.32.450 Natural or manufactured gas, electricity—
Maximum combined credits and deferrals allowed—
Availability of credits and deferrals. (1) The total combined credits and deferrals that may be taken under RCW
82.04.447, 82.12.024, and 82.16.0495 shall not exceed two
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
million five hundred thousand dollars in any fiscal year. Each
person is limited to no more than a total of one million five
hundred thousand dollars in tax deferred and credit allowed
in any fiscal year in which more than one person takes tax
credits and claims tax deferral. The department may require
reporting of the credits taken and amounts deferred in a manner and form as is necessary to keep a running total of the
amounts.
(2) Credits and deferred tax are available on a first come
basis. Priority for tax credits and deferrals among approved
applicants shall be designated based on the first actual consumption of gas under RCW 82.04.447 or 82.12.024, or on
the first actual use of electricity under RCW 82.16.0495, by
each approved applicant. The department shall disallow any
credits or deferred tax, or portion thereof, that would cause
the total amount of credits taken and deferred taxes claimed
to exceed the fiscal year cap or to exceed the per person fiscal
year cap. If the fiscal cap is reached or exceeded[,] the department shall notify those persons who have approved applications under RCW 82.04.447, 82.12.024, and 82.16.0495 that
no more credits may be taken or tax deferred during the
remainder of the fiscal year. In addition, the department shall
provide written notice to any person who has taken any tax
credits or claimed any deferred tax in excess of the fiscal year
cap. The notice shall indicate the amount of tax due and shall
provide that the tax be paid within thirty days from the date of
such notice.
(3) No portion of an application for credit or deferral disallowed under this section may be carried back or carried forward nor may taxes ineligible for credit or deferral due to the
fiscal cap having been reached or exceeded be carried forward or carried backward. [2001 c 214 § 12.]
Severability—Effective date—2001 c 214: See notes following RCW
80.50.010.
Findings—2001 c 214: See note following RCW 39.35.010.
82.32.470
82.32.470 Transfer of sales and use tax on toll
projects. (1) The tax imposed and collected under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW, less any credits allowed under chapter
82.14 RCW, on initial construction for a transportation
project to be constructed under chapter 36.120 RCW, must be
transferred to the transportation project to defray costs or pay
debt service on that transportation project. In the case of a toll
project, this transfer or credit must be used to lower the overall cost of the project and thereby the corresponding tolls.
(2) This transaction is exempt from the requirements in
RCW 43.135.035(4).
(3) Government entities constructing transportation
projects under chapter 36.120 RCW shall report to the department the amount of state sales or use tax covered under this
section. [2002 c 56 § 407.]
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.32.480
82.32.480 Washington forest products commission—
Disclosure of taxpayer information. The forest products
commission, created pursuant to chapter 15.100 RCW, constitutes a state agency for purposes of applying the exemption
contained in RCW 82.32.330(3)(f) for the disclosure of taxpayer information by the department. Disclosure of return or
tax information may be made only to employees of the com(2006 Ed.)
82.32.490
mission and not to commission members. Employees are
authorized to use this information in accordance with RCW
15.100.100(4). Employees are subject to all civil and criminal
penalties provided under RCW 82.32.330 for disclosures
made to another person not entitled under the provisions of
this section or RCW 15.100.100 to knowledge of such information. [2001 c 314 § 20.]
Findings—Construction—Severability—2001 c 314: See RCW
15.100.010, 15.100.900, and 15.100.901.
82.32.490
82.32.490 Electronic data base for use by mobile telecommunications service provider. (Contingent expiration
date.) (1)(a) The department may provide an electronic data
base as described in this section to a mobile telecommunications service provider, or if the department does not provide
an electronic data base to mobile telecommunications service
providers, then the designated data base provider may provide an electronic data base to a mobile telecommunications
service provider.
(b)(i) An electronic data base, whether provided by the
department or the designated data base provider, shall be provided in a format approved by the American national standards institute’s accredited standards committee X12, that
after allowing for de minimis deviations, designates for each
street address in the state, including to the extent practicable,
any multiple postal street addresses applicable to one street
location, the appropriate taxing jurisdictions, and the appropriate code for each taxing jurisdiction, for each level of taxing jurisdiction, identified by one nationwide standard
numeric code.
(ii) An electronic data base shall also provide the appropriate code for each street address with respect to political
subdivisions that are not taxing jurisdictions when reasonably
needed to determine the proper taxing jurisdiction.
(iii) The nationwide standard numeric codes shall contain the same number of numeric digits with each digit or
combination of digits referring to the same level of taxing
jurisdiction throughout the United States using a format similar to FIPS 55-3 or other appropriate standard approved by
the federation of tax administrators and the multistate tax
commission, or their successors. Each address shall be provided in standard postal format.
(2) The department or designated data base provider, as
applicable, that provides or maintains an electronic data base
described in subsection (1) of this section shall provide notice
of the availability of the then-current electronic data base,
and any subsequent revisions, by publication in the manner
normally employed for the publication of informational tax,
charge, or fee notices to taxpayers in the state.
(3) A mobile telecommunications service provider using
the data contained in an electronic data base described in subsection (1) of this section shall be held harmless from any tax,
charge, or fee liability that otherwise would be due solely as
a result of any error or omission in the data base provided by
the department or designated data base provider. The mobile
telecommunications service provider shall reflect changes
made to the data base during a calendar quarter not later than
thirty days after the end of the calendar quarter if the department or designated data base provider, as applicable, has
issued notice of the availability of an electronic data base
[Title 82 RCW—page 221]
82.32.495
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
reflecting the changes under subsection (2) of this section.
[2002 c 67 § 11.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.32.495
82.32.495 Liability of mobile telecommunications
service provider if no data base provided. (Contingent
expiration date.) (1) If neither the department nor the designated data base provider provides an electronic data base
under RCW 82.32.490, a mobile telecommunications service
provider shall be held harmless from any tax, charge, or fee
liability in any taxing jurisdiction in this state that otherwise
would be due solely as a result of an assignment of a street
address to an incorrect taxing jurisdiction if, subject to RCW
82.32.500, the home service provider employs an enhanced
zip code to assign each street address to a specific taxing
jurisdiction for each level of taxing jurisdiction and exercises
due diligence at each level of taxing jurisdiction to ensure
that each street address is assigned to the correct taxing jurisdiction. If an enhanced zip code overlaps boundaries of taxing jurisdictions of the same level, the home service provider
must designate one specific jurisdiction within the enhanced
zip code for use in taxing the activity for such enhanced zip
code for each level of taxing jurisdiction. Any enhanced zip
code assignment changed in accordance with RCW
82.32.500 is deemed to be in compliance with this section.
For purposes of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption
that a home service provider has exercised due diligence if
the home service provider demonstrates that it has:
(a) Expended reasonable resources to implement and
maintain an appropriately detailed electronic data base of
street address assignments to taxing jurisdictions;
(b) Implemented and maintained reasonable internal
controls to correct misassignments of street addresses to taxing jurisdictions promptly; and
(c) Used all reasonably obtainable and usable data pertaining to municipal annexations, incorporations, reorganizations, and any other changes in jurisdictional boundaries that
materially affect the accuracy of the data base.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to a mobile telecommunications service provider that is in compliance with
the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, if in this
state an electronic data base has not been provided under
RCW 82.32.490, until the later of:
(a) Eighteen months after the nationwide standard
numeric code described in RCW 82.32.490(1) has been
approved by the federation of tax administrators and the multistate tax commission; or
(b) Six months after the department or a designated data
base provider in this state provides the data base as prescribed
in RCW 82.32.490(1). [2002 c 67 § 12.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
or fees for mobile telecommunications services are remitted
does not meet the definition of place of primary use in RCW
82.04.065 and give binding notice to the home service provider to change the place of primary use on a prospective
basis from the date of notice of determination. If the authority
making the determination is not the department, the taxing
jurisdiction must obtain the consent of all affected taxing
jurisdictions within the state before giving the notice of determination. Before the taxing jurisdiction gives the notice of
determination, the customer must be given an opportunity to
demonstrate, in accordance with applicable state or local tax,
charge, or fee administrative procedures, that the address is
the customer’s place of primary use; and
(2) Determine that the assignment of a taxing jurisdiction
by a home service provider under RCW 82.32.495 does not
reflect the correct taxing jurisdiction and give binding notice
to the home service provider to change the assignment on a
prospective basis from the date of notice of determination. If
the authority making the determination is not the department,
the taxing jurisdiction must obtain the consent of all affected
taxing jurisdictions within the state before giving the notice
of determination. The home service provider must be given
an opportunity to demonstrate, in accordance with applicable
state or local tax, charge, or fee administrative procedures,
that the assignment reflects the correct taxing jurisdiction.
[2002 c 67 § 13.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.32.505
82.32.505 Telecommunications services—Place of
primary use. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) A home service provider is responsible for obtaining and maintaining
information regarding the customer’s place of primary use as
defined in RCW 82.04.065. Subject to RCW 82.32.500, and
if the home service provider’s reliance on information provided by its customer is in good faith, a taxing jurisdiction
shall:
(a) Allow a home service provider to rely on the applicable residential or business street address supplied by the
home service provider’s customer; and
(b) Not hold a mobile telecommunications service provider liable for any additional taxes, charges, or fees based on
a different determination of the place of primary use.
(2) Except as provided in RCW 82.32.500, a taxing jurisdiction shall allow a home service provider to treat the
address used by the home service provider for tax purposes
for any customer under a service contract or agreement in
effect on August 1, 2002, as that customer’s place of primary
use for the remaining term of the service contract or agreement, excluding any extension or renewal of the service contract or agreement, for purposes of determining the taxing
jurisdictions to which taxes, charges, or fees on charges for
mobile telecommunications services are remitted. [2002 c 67
§ 14.]
82.32.500
82.32.500 Determination of taxing jurisdiction for
telecommunications services. (Contingent expiration
date.) A taxing jurisdiction, or the department on behalf of
any taxing jurisdiction or taxing jurisdictions within this
state, may:
(1) Determine that the address used for purposes of
determining the taxing jurisdictions to which taxes, charges,
[Title 82 RCW—page 222]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.32.510
82.32.510 Scope of mobile telecommunications act—
Identification of taxable and nontaxable charges. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) Chapter 67, Laws of 2002 does not
modify, impair, supersede, or authorize the modification,
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
impairment, or supersession of any law allowing a taxing
jurisdiction to collect a tax, charge, or fee from a customer
that has failed to provide its place of primary use.
(2) If a taxing jurisdiction does not otherwise subject
charges for mobile telecommunications services to taxation
and if these charges are aggregated with and not separately
stated from charges that are subject to taxation, then the
charges for nontaxable mobile telecommunications services
may be subject to taxation unless the mobile telecommunications service provider can reasonably identify charges not
subject to the tax, charge, or fee from its books and records
that are kept in the regular course of business.
(3) If a taxing jurisdiction does not subject charges for
mobile telecommunications services to taxation, a customer
may not rely upon the nontaxability of charges for mobile
telecommunications services unless the customer’s home service provider separately states the charges for nontaxable
mobile telecommunications services from taxable charges or
the home service provider elects, after receiving a written
request from the customer in the form required by the provider, to provide verifiable data based upon the home service
provider’s books and records that are kept in the regular
course of business that reasonably identifies the nontaxable
charges. [2002 c 67 § 15.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.32.515
82.32.515 Applicability of telephone and telecommunications definitions. (Contingent expiration date.) The
definitions in RCW 82.04.065 apply to RCW 82.32.490
through 82.32.510 and 35.21.873. [2002 c 67 § 17.]
Finding—Contingency—Court judgment—Effective date—2002 c
67: See notes following RCW 82.04.530.
82.32.520
82.32.520 Sourcing of calls. (1) Except for the defined
telecommunications services listed in this section, the sale of
telephone service as defined in RCW 82.04.065 sold on a
call-by-call basis shall be sourced to (a) each level of taxing
jurisdiction where the call originates and terminates in that
jurisdiction or (b) each level of taxing jurisdiction where the
call either originates or terminates and in which the service
address is also located.
(2) Except for the defined telecommunications services
listed in this section, a sale of telephone service as defined in
RCW 82.04.065 sold on a basis other than a call-by-call
basis, is sourced to the customer’s place of primary use.
(3) The sales of telephone service as defined in RCW
82.04.065 that are listed in this section shall be sourced to
each level of taxing jurisdiction as follows:
(a) A sale of mobile telecommunications services, other
than air-ground radiotelephone service and prepaid calling
service, is sourced to the customer’s place of primary use as
required by RCW 82.08.066.
(b) A sale of postpaid calling service is sourced to the
origination point of the telecommunications signal as first
identified by either (i) the seller’s telecommunications system, or (ii) information received by the seller from its service
provider, where the system used to transport such signals is
not that of the seller.
(c) A sale of prepaid calling service is sourced as follows:
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.520
(i) When a prepaid calling service is received by the purchaser at a business location of the seller, the sale is sourced
to that business location;
(ii) When a prepaid calling service is not received by the
purchaser at a business location of the seller, the sale is
sourced to the location where receipt by the purchaser or the
purchaser’s donee, designated as such by the purchaser,
occurs, including the location indicated by instructions for
delivery to the purchaser or donee, known to the seller;
(iii) When (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection do not apply,
the sale is sourced to the location indicated by an address for
the purchaser that is available from the business records of
the seller that are maintained in the ordinary course of the
seller’s business when use of this address does not constitute
bad faith;
(iv) When (c)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this subsection do not
apply, the sale is sourced to the location indicated by an
address for the purchaser obtained during the consummation
of the sale, including the address of a purchaser’s payment
instrument, if no other address is available, when use of this
address does not constitute bad faith;
(v) When (c)(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this subsection do
not apply, including the circumstance where the seller is
without sufficient information to apply those provisions, then
the location shall be determined by the address from which
tangible personal property was shipped, from which the digital good or the computer software delivered electronically
was first available for transmission by the seller, or from
which the service defined as a retail sale under RCW
82.04.050 was provided, disregarding for these purposes any
location that merely provided the digital transfer of the product sold;
(vi) In the case of a sale of mobile telecommunications
service that is a prepaid telecommunications service, (c)(v) of
this subsection shall include as an option the location associated with the mobile telephone number.
(d) A sale of a private communication service is sourced
as follows:
(i) Service for a separate charge related to a customer
channel termination point is sourced to each level of jurisdiction in which such customer channel termination point is
located.
(ii) Service where all customer termination points are
located entirely within one jurisdiction or levels of jurisdiction is sourced in such jurisdiction in which the customer
channel termination points are located.
(iii) Service for segments of a channel between two customer channel termination points located in different jurisdictions and which segment of channel are separately charged is
sourced fifty percent in each level of jurisdiction in which the
customer channel termination points are located.
(iv) Service for segments of a channel located in more
than one jurisdiction or levels of jurisdiction and which segments are not separately billed is sourced in each jurisdiction
based on the percentage determined by dividing the number
of customer channel termination points in the jurisdiction by
the total number of customer channel termination points.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this chapter.
(a) "Air-ground radiotelephone service" means airground radio service, as defined in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 22.99, as
[Title 82 RCW—page 223]
82.32.525
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2003, in which common carriers are authorized to offer and provide radio telecommunications service for hire to subscribers in aircraft.
(b) "Call-by-call basis" means any method of charging
for telecommunications services where the price is measured
by individual calls.
(c) "Communications channel" means a physical or virtual path of communications over which signals are transmitted between or among customer channel termination points.
(d) "Customer" means the person or entity that contracts
with the seller of telecommunications services. If the end
user of telecommunications services is not the contracting
party, the end user of the telecommunications service is the
customer of the telecommunications service. "Customer"
does not include a reseller of telecommunications service or
for mobile telecommunications service of a serving carrier
under an agreement to serve the customer outside the home
service provider’s licensed service area.
(e) "Customer channel termination point" means the
location where the customer either inputs or receives the
communications.
(f) "End user" means the person who uses the telecommunications service. In the case of an entity, the term end
user means the individual who uses the service on behalf of
the entity.
(g) "Home service provider" means the same as that term
is defined in RCW 82.04.065.
(h) "Mobile telecommunications service" means the
same as that term is defined in RCW 82.04.065.
(i) "Place of primary use" means the street address representative of where the customer’s use of the telecommunications service primarily occurs, which must be the residential
street address or the primary business street address of the
customer. In the case of mobile telecommunications services, "place of primary use" must be within the licensed service area of the home service provider.
(j) "Postpaid calling service" means the telecommunications service obtained by making a payment on a call-by-call
basis either through the use of a credit card or payment mechanism such as a bank card, travel card, credit card, or debit
card, or by charge made to which a telephone number that is
not associated with the origination or termination of the telecommunications service. A postpaid calling service includes
a telecommunications service that would be a prepaid calling
service except it is not exclusively a telecommunications service.
(k) "Prepaid calling service" means the right to access
exclusively telecommunications services, which must be paid
for in advance and which enables the origination of calls
using an access number and/or authorization code, whether
manually or electronically dialed, and that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the number declines with use
in a known amount.
(l) "Private communication service" means a telecommunications service that entitles the customer to exclusive or
priority use of a communications channel or group of channels between or among termination points, regardless of the
manner in which such channel or channels are connected, and
includes switching capacity, extension lines, stations, and
any other associated services that are provided in connection
with the use of such channel or channels.
[Title 82 RCW—page 224]
(m) "Service address" means:
(i) The location of the telecommunications equipment to
which a customer’s call is charged and from which the call
originates or terminates, regardless of where the call is billed
or paid;
(ii) If the location in (m)(i) of this subsection is not
known, the origination point of the signal of the telecommunications services first identified by either the seller’s telecommunications system or in information received by the
seller from its service provider, where the system used to
transport such signals is not that of the seller;
(iii) If the locations in (m)(i) and (ii) of this subsection
are not known, the location of the customer’s place of primary use. [2004 c 153 § 403; 2003 c 168 § 501.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.32.525
82.32.525 Purchaser’s cause of action for over-collected sales or use tax. (1) A purchaser’s cause of action
against the seller for over-collected sales or use tax does not
accrue until the purchaser has provided written notice to the
seller and the seller has sixty days to respond. The notice to
the seller must contain the information necessary to determine the validity of the request.
(2) In connection with a purchaser’s request from a seller
for over-collected sales or use taxes, a seller shall be presumed to have a reasonable business practice, if in the collection of such sales or use taxes, the seller:
(a) Uses either a provider or a system, including a proprietary system, that is certified by the state; and
(b) Has remitted to the state all taxes collected less any
deductions, credits, or collection allowances. [2004 c 153 §
408; 2003 c 168 § 211.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.32.530
82.32.530 Seller nexus. The department may not use
registration under the streamlined sales and use tax agreement and collection of sales and use taxes in member states as
a factor in determining whether the seller has nexus with
Washington for any tax at any time. [2004 c 153 § 404; 2003
c 168 § 213.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates—Part headings not law—2003 c 168: See notes following RCW 82.08.010.
82.32.535
82.32.535 Annual report by semiconductor businesses. (Contingent effective date.) (1) The legislature finds
that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of
setting tax policy. In order to make policy choices regarding
the best use of limited state resources the legislature needs
information on how a tax incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under RCW
82.04.240(2) or who claims an exemption or credit under
RCW 82.04.426, 82.08.965, 82.12.965, 82.08.970,
82.12.970, 82.04.448, or 84.36.645, shall make an annual
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
report to the department detailing employment, wages, and
employer-provided health and retirement benefits per job at
the manufacturing site. The report shall not include names of
employees. The report shall also detail employment by the
total number of full-time, part-time, and temporary positions.
The first report filed under this subsection shall include
employment, wage, and benefit information for the twelvemonth period immediately before first use of a preferential
tax rate under RCW 82.04.240(2), or tax exemption or credit
under RCW 82.04.426, 82.08.965, 82.12.965, 82.08.970,
82.12.970, 82.04.448, or 84.36.645. The report is due by
March 31st following any year in which a preferential tax rate
under RCW 82.04.240(2) is used, or tax exemption or credit
under RCW 82.04.426, 82.08.965, 82.12.965, 82.08.970,
82.12.970, 82.04.448, or 84.36.645 is taken. This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW
82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(b) If a person fails to submit an annual report under (a)
of this subsection the department shall declare the amount of
taxes exempted or credited for that year to be immediately
due and payable. Excise taxes payable under this subsection
are subject to interest, as provided under this chapter. This
information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of
RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon
request.
(3) By November 1st of the year occurring five years
after *the effective date of this act, and November 1st of the
year occurring eleven years after *the effective date of this
act, the fiscal committees of the house of representatives and
the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to
the legislature on the effectiveness of chapter 149, Laws of
2003 in regard to keeping Washington competitive. The
report shall measure the effect of chapter 149, Laws of 2003
on job retention, net jobs created for Washington residents,
company growth, diversification of the state’s economy,
cluster dynamics, and other factors as the committees select.
The reports shall include a discussion of principles to apply in
evaluating whether the legislature should reenact any or all of
the tax preferences in chapter 149, Laws of 2003. [2003 c
149 § 11.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
82.32.5351
82.32.5351 Annual report by semiconductor businesses—Report to legislature. (Contingent effective date.)
(1) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness
are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make
policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under RCW
82.04.2404 or who claims an exemption or credit under RCW
82.08.9651 and 82.12.9651 shall make a complete annual
report to the department detailing employment, wages, and
employer-provided health and retirement benefits per job at
the manufacturing site. The report shall not include names of
employees. The report shall also detail employment by the
total number of full-time, part-time, and temporary positions.
The first report filed under this subsection shall include
employment, wage, and benefit information for the
twelve-month period immediately before first use of a prefer(2006 Ed.)
82.32.545
ential tax rate under RCW 82.04.2404, or tax exemption or
credit under RCW 82.08.9651 and 82.12.9651. The report is
due by April 30th following any year in which a preferential
tax rate under RCW 82.04.2404 is used, or tax exemption or
credit under RCW 82.08.9651 and 82.12.9651 is taken. The
department may extend the due date for timely filing annual
reports under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590.
This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public
upon request.
(b) If a person fails to submit a complete annual report
under (a) of this subsection by the due date of the report or
any extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes exempted or credited, or reduced
in the case of the preferential business and occupation tax
rate, for that year to be immediately due and payable. Excise
taxes payable under this subsection are subject to interest but
not penalties, as provided under this chapter. This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW
82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(3) By November 1st of the year occurring five years
after *the effective date of this section, and November 1st of
the year occurring eleven years after *the effective date of
this section, the fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department,
shall report to the legislature on the effectiveness of chapter
84, Laws of 2006 in regard to keeping Washington competitive. The report shall measure the effect of chapter 84, Laws
of 2006 on job retention, net jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, diversification of the state’s economy, cluster dynamics, and other factors as the committees
select. The reports shall include a discussion of principles to
apply in evaluating whether the legislature should reenact
any or all of the tax preferences in chapter 84, Laws of 2006.
[2006 c 84 § 5.]
*Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
82.32.545
82.32.545 Annual report for airplane manufacturing
tax preferences. (1) The legislature finds that accountability
and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy.
In order to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state resources the legislature needs information on how
a tax incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under *RCW
82.04.260(13) or who claims an exemption or credit under
RCW 82.04.4461, 82.08.980, 82.12.980, 82.29A.137,
84.36.655, and 82.04.4463 shall make an annual report to the
department detailing employment, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits per job at the manufacturing site. The report shall not include names of employees.
The report shall also detail employment by the total number
of full-time, part-time, and temporary positions. The first
report filed under this subsection shall include employment,
wage, and benefit information for the twelve-month period
immediately before first use of a preferential tax rate under
*RCW 82.04.260(13), or tax exemption or credit under RCW
82.04.4461, 82.08.980, 82.12.980, 82.29A.137, 84.36.655,
and 82.04.4463. The report is due by March 31st following
any year in which a preferential tax rate under *RCW
[Title 82 RCW—page 225]
82.32.550
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.04.260(13) is used, or tax exemption or credit under RCW
82.04.4461, 82.08.980, 82.12.980, 82.29A.137, 84.36.655,
and 82.04.4463 is taken. This information is not subject to
the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be
disclosed to the public upon request.
(b) If a person fails to submit an annual report under (a)
of this subsection by the due date of the report, the department shall declare the amount of taxes exempted or credited,
or reduced in the case of the preferential business and occupation tax rate, for that year to be immediately due and payable. Excise taxes payable under this subsection are subject
to interest but not penalties, as provided under this chapter.
This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public
upon request.
(3) By November 1, 2010, and by November 1, 2023, the
fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to the
legislature on the effectiveness of chapter 1, Laws of 2003
2nd sp. sess. in regard to keeping Washington competitive.
The report shall measure the effect of chapter 1, Laws of
2003 2nd sp. sess. on job retention, net jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, diversification of the
state’s economy, cluster dynamics, and other factors as the
committees select. The reports shall include a discussion of
principles to apply in evaluating whether the legislature
should reenact any or all of the tax preferences in chapter 1,
Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 16.]
the legislature, and others as deemed appropriate by the
department.
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout
this section.
(a) "Commercial airplane" has its ordinary meaning,
which is an airplane certified by the federal aviation administration for transporting persons or property, and any military
derivative of such an airplane.
(b) "Component" means a part or system certified by the
federal aviation administration for installation or assembly
into a commercial airplane.
(c) "Final assembly of a superefficient airplane" means
the activity of assembling an airplane from components parts
necessary for its mechanical operation such that the finished
commercial airplane is ready to deliver to the ultimate consumer.
(d) "Significant commercial airplane final assembly
facility" means a location with the capacity to produce at least
thirty-six superefficient airplanes a year.
(e) "Siting" means a final decision by a manufacturer to
locate a significant commercial airplane final assembly facility in Washington state.
(f) "Superefficient airplane" means a twin aisle airplane
that carries between two hundred and three hundred fifty passengers, with a range of more than seven thousand two hundred nautical miles, a cruising speed of approximately mach
.85, and that uses fifteen to twenty percent less fuel than other
similar airplanes on the market. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 17.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.04.260 was amended by 2005 c 443 § 4,
changing subsection (13) to subsection (11), effective July 1, 2006.
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 82.04.260 was amended by 2005 c 443 § 4,
changing subsection (13) to subsection (11), effective July 1, 2006.
(2) Chapter 1, Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess. took effect December 1,
2003.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
82.32.550 Contingent effective date for aerospace tax
incentives—Department date determinations and notice
requirements. (1)(a) Chapter 1, Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess.
takes effect on the first day of the month in which the governor and a manufacturer of commercial airplanes sign a memorandum of agreement regarding an affirmative final decision
to site a significant commercial airplane final assembly facility in Washington state. The department shall provide notice
of the effective date of chapter 1, Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess.
to affected taxpayers, the legislature, and others as deemed
appropriate by the department.
(b) Chapter 1, Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess. is contingent
upon the siting of a significant commercial airplane final
assembly facility in the state of Washington. If a memorandum of agreement under subsection (1) of this section is not
signed by June 30, 2005, chapter 1, Laws of 2003 2nd sp.
sess. is null and void.
(c)(i) The department shall make a determination regarding the date final assembly of a superefficient airplane begins
in Washington state. The rates in *RCW 82.04.260(13)
(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) take effect the first day of the month such
assembly begins, or July 1, 2007, whichever is later. The
department shall provide notice of the effective date of such
rates to affected taxpayers, the legislature, and others as
deemed appropriate by the department.
(ii) If on December 31, 2007, final assembly of a superefficient airplane has not begun in Washington state, the
department shall provide notice of such to affected taxpayers,
82.32.550
[Title 82 RCW—page 226]
82.32.555
82.32.555 Telephone service taxes—Identification of
taxable and nontaxable charges. If a taxing jurisdiction
does not subject some charges for telephone services to taxation, but these charges are aggregated with and not separately
stated from charges that are subject to taxation, then the
charges for nontaxable telephone services may be subject to
taxation unless the telephone service or provider can reasonably identify charges not subject to the tax, charge, or fee
from its books and records that are kept in the regular course
of business and for purposes other than merely allocating the
sales price of an aggregated charge to the individually aggregated items. [2004 c 76 § 1.]
82.32.560
82.32.560 Electrolytic processing business tax
exemption—Annual report. (1) For the purposes of this
section, "electrolytic processing business tax exemption"
means the exemption and preferential tax rate under RCW
82.16.0421.
(2) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order
to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources, the legislature needs information to evaluate
whether the stated goals of legislation were achieved.
(3) The goals of the electrolytic processing business tax
exemption are:
(a) To retain family wage jobs by enabling electrolytic
processing businesses to maintain production of chlor-alkali
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
and sodium chlorate at a level that will preserve at least seventy-five percent of the jobs that were on the payroll effective
January 1, 2004; and
(b) To allow the electrolytic processing industries to continue production in this state through 2011 so that the industries will be positioned to preserve and create new jobs when
the anticipated reduction of energy costs occur.
(4)(a) A person who receives the benefit of an electrolytic processing business tax exemption shall make an annual
report to the department detailing employment, wages, and
employer-provided health and retirement benefits per job at
the manufacturing site. The report is due by March 31st following any year in which a tax exemption is claimed or used.
The report shall not include names of employees. The report
shall detail employment by the total number of full-time,
part-time, and temporary positions. The report shall indicate
the quantity of product produced at the plant during the time
period covered by the report. The first report filed under this
subsection shall include employment, wage, and benefit
information for the twelve-month period immediately before
first use of a tax exemption. Employment reports shall
include data for actual levels of employment and identification of the number of jobs affected by any employment
reductions that have been publicly announced at the time of
the report. Information in a report under this section is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330
and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(b) If a person fails to submit an annual report under (a)
of this subsection by the due date of the report, the department shall declare the amount of taxes exempted for that year
to be immediately due and payable. Public utility taxes payable under this subsection are subject to interest but not penalties, as provided under this chapter. This information is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330
and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(5) By December 1, 2007, and by December 1, 2010, the
fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to the
legislature on the effectiveness of the tax incentive under
RCW 82.16.0421. The report shall measure the effect of the
incentive on job retention for Washington residents, and
other factors as the committees select. The report shall also
discuss expected trends or changes to electricity prices as
they affect the industries that benefit from the incentives.
[2004 c 240 § 2.]
82.32.570 Smelter tax incentives—Goals—Annual
report. (1) For the purposes of this section, "smelter tax
incentive" means the preferential tax rate under RCW
82.04.2909, or an exemption or credit under RCW
82.04.4481, 82.08.805, 82.12.805, or 82.12.022(5).
(2) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order
to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources the legislature needs information to evaluate
whether the stated goals of legislation were achieved.
(3) The goals of the smelter tax incentives are to retain
family-wage jobs in rural areas by:
(a) Enabling the aluminum industry to maintain production of aluminum at a level that will preserve at least 75 percent of the jobs that were on the payroll effective January 1,
82.32.570
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.580
2004, as adjusted for employment reductions publicly
announced before November 30, 2003; and
(b) Allowing the aluminum industry to continue producing aluminum in this state through 2012 so that the industry
will be positioned to preserve and create new jobs when the
anticipated reduction of energy costs occurs.
(4)(a) An aluminum smelter receiving the benefit of a
smelter tax incentive shall make an annual report to the
department detailing employment, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits per job at the manufacturing site. The report is due by March 31st following any
year in which a tax incentive is claimed or used. The report
shall not include names of employees. The report shall detail
employment by the total number of full-time, part-time, and
temporary positions. The report shall indicate the quantity of
aluminum smelted at the plant during the time period covered
by the report. The first report filed under this subsection shall
include employment, wage, and benefit information for the
twelve-month period immediately before first use of a tax
incentive. Employment reports shall include data for actual
levels of employment and identification of the number of
jobs affected by any employment reductions that have been
publicly announced at the time of the report. Information in
a report under this section is not subject to the confidentiality
provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the
public upon request.
(b) If a person fails to submit an annual report under (a)
of this subsection by the due date of the report, the department shall declare the amount of taxes exempted or credited,
or reduced in the case of the preferential business and occupation tax rate, for that year to be immediately due and payable. Excise taxes payable under this subsection are subject
to interest but not penalties, as provided under this chapter.
This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public
upon request.
(5) By December 1, 2007, December 1, 2010, and
December 1, 2015, the fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to the legislature on the effectiveness of the
smelter tax incentives under RCW 82.04.4482 and
82.16.0498. The reports shall measure the effect of the tax
incentives on job retention for Washington residents and any
other factors the committees may select. [2006 c 182 § 6;
2004 c 24 § 14.]
Intent—Effective date—2004 c 24: See notes following RCW
82.04.2909.
82.32.580
82.32.580 Sales and use tax deferral—Historic automobile museum. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) The governing board of a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association may apply for deferral of taxes on an eligible project.
Application shall be made to the department in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The application shall
contain information regarding the location of the project, estimated or actual costs of the project, time schedules for completion and operation of the project, and other information
required by the department. The department shall rule on the
application within sixty days. All applications for the tax
deferral under this section must be received no later than
December 31, 2008.
[Title 82 RCW—page 227]
82.32.590
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(2) The department shall issue a sales and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and use taxes due under
chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW on each eligible
project.
(3) The nonprofit organization, corporation, or association shall begin paying the deferred taxes in the fifth year
after the date certified by the department as the date on which
the eligible project is operationally complete. The first payment is due on December 31st of the fifth calendar year after
such certified date, with subsequent annual payments due on
December 31st of the following nine years. Each payment
shall equal ten percent of the deferred tax.
(4) The department may authorize an accelerated repayment schedule upon request of the nonprofit organization,
corporation, or association.
(5) Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section,
interest shall not be charged on any taxes deferred under this
section for the period of deferral. The debt for deferred taxes
is not extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the nonprofit organization, corporation, or association.
(6) If the project is not operationally complete within
five calendar years from issuance of the tax deferral or if at
any time the department finds that the project is not eligible
for tax deferral under this section, the amount of deferred
taxes outstanding for the project shall be immediately due
and payable. If deferred taxes must be repaid under this subsection, the department shall assess interest, but not penalties,
on amounts due under this subsection. Interest shall be
assessed at the rate provided for delinquent taxes under this
chapter, retroactively to the date of deferral, and shall accrue
until the deferred taxes due are repaid.
(7) Applications and any other information received by
the department of revenue under this section are not confidential under RCW 82.32.330. This chapter applies to the
administration of this section.
(8) This section applies to taxable eligible project activity that occurs on or after July 1, 2007.
(9) The following definitions apply to this section:
(a) "Eligible project" means a project that is used primarily for a historic automobile museum.
(b) "Historic automobile museum" means a facility
owned and operated by a nonprofit organization, corporation,
or association that is used to maintain and exhibit to the public a collection of at least five hundred motor vehicles.
(c) "Nonprofit organization, corporation, or association"
means an organization, corporation, or association exempt
from tax under section 501(c) (3), (4), or (10) of the federal
internal revenue code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c) (3), (4), or
(10)).
(d) "Project" means the construction of new structures,
the acquisition and installation of fixtures that are permanently affixed to and become a physical part of those structures, and site preparation. For purposes of this subsection,
structures do not include parking facilities used for motor
vehicles that are not on display or part of the museum collection.
(e) "Site preparation" includes soil testing, site clearing
and grading, demolition, or any other related activities that
are initiated before construction. Site preparation does not
include landscaping services or landscaping materials. [2005
c 514 § 701.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 228]
Effective date—2005 c 514 § 701: "Section 701 of this act takes effect
July 1, 2007." [2005 c 514 § 1306.]
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.32.590
82.32.590 Annual survey for tax incentives—Failure
to file. (Contingent expiration date.) (1) If the department
finds that the failure of a taxpayer to file an annual survey
under RCW 82.04.4452, 82.32.650, 82.32.635, 82.32.640,
82.32.630, 82.32.610, or 82.74.040 by the due date was the
result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer,
the department shall extend the time for filing the survey.
Such extension shall be for a period of thirty days from the
date the department issues its written notification to the taxpayer that it qualifies for an extension under this section. The
department may grant additional extensions as it deems
proper.
(2) In making a determination whether the failure of a
taxpayer to file an annual survey by the due date was the
result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer,
the department shall be guided by rules adopted by the
department for the waiver or cancellation of penalties when
the underpayment or untimely payment of any tax was due to
circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. [2006 c
354 § 17; 2006 c 300 § 10; 2006 c 177 § 8; 2006 c 112 § 7;
2005 c 514 § 1001.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 112 § 7, 2006 c
177 § 8, 2006 c 300 § 10, and by 2006 c 354 § 17, each without reference to
the other. All amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section
under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
Severability—2006 c 112: See RCW 28B.67.901.
Retroactive application—2005 c 514 § 1001: "Section 1001 of this act
applies retroactively to annual surveys required under RCW 82.04.4452 that
are due after December 31, 2004." [2005 c 514 § 1312.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.32.590
82.32.590 Annual surveys or reports for tax incentives—Failure to file. (Contingent effective date.) (1) If the
department finds that the failure of a taxpayer to file an
annual survey or annual report under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.5351, 82.32.650, 82.32.635, 82.32.640, 82.32.630,
82.32.610, or 82.74.040 by the due date was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the department shall extend the time for filing the survey or report.
Such extension shall be for a period of thirty days from the
date the department issues its written notification to the taxpayer that it qualifies for an extension under this section. The
department may grant additional extensions as it deems
proper.
(2) In making a determination whether the failure of a
taxpayer to file an annual survey or annual report by the due
date was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the
taxpayer, the department shall be guided by rules adopted by
the department for the waiver or cancellation of penalties
when the underpayment or untimely payment of any tax was
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
due to circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer.
[2006 c 354 § 17; 2006 c 300 § 10; 2006 c 177 § 8; 2006 c 112
§ 7; 2006 c 84 § 7; 2005 c 514 § 1001.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 84 § 7, 2006 c 112
§ 7, 2006 c 177 § 8, 2006 c 300 § 10, and by 2006 c 354 § 17, each without
reference to the other. All amendments are incorporated in the publication of
this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW
1.12.025(1).
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
Severability—2006 c 112: See RCW 28B.67.901.
Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
Retroactive application—2005 c 514 § 1001: "Section 1001 of this act
applies retroactively to annual surveys required under RCW 82.04.4452 that
are due after December 31, 2004." [2005 c 514 § 1312.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.32.600
82.32.600 Annual surveys or reports for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as amended by 2006 c 84). (Contingent effective date.) (1)
Persons required to file annual surveys or annual reports under RCW
82.04.4452 or 82.32.5351 must electronically file with the department all
surveys, reports, returns, and any other forms or information the department
requires in an electronic format as provided or approved by the department((,
unless the department grants relief under subsection (2) of this section)). As
used in this section, "returns" has the same meaning as "return" in RCW
82.32.050.
(2) ((Upon request, the department may relieve a person of the obligations in subsection (1) of this section if the person’s taxes have been reduced
a cumulative total of less than one thousand dollars from all of the credits,
exemptions, or preferential business and occupation tax rates, for which a
person is required to file an annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.535, 82.32.545, 82.32.570, 82.32.560, 82.60.070, or 82.63.020.
(3) Persons who no longer qualify for relief under subsection (2) of this
section will be notified in writing by the department and must comply with
subsection (1) of this section by the date provided in the notice.
(4))) Any survey, report, return, or any other form or information
required to be filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of this section is not filed until received by the department in an electronic format.
(3) The department may waive the electronic filing requirement in subsection (1) of this section for good cause shown. [2006 c 84 § 8; 2005 c 514
§ 1002.]
Contingent effective date—2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: See note following
RCW 82.04.2404.
Findings—Intent—2006 c 84: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.
82.32.600
82.32.600 Annual surveys for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as
amended by 2006 c 177). (1) Persons required to file surveys under RCW
82.04.4452, 82.32.635, or 82.32.640 must electronically file with the department all surveys, returns, and any other forms or information the department
requires in an electronic format as provided or approved by the department((,
unless the department grants relief under subsection (2) of this section)). As
used in this section, "returns" has the same meaning as "return" in RCW
82.32.050.
(2) ((Upon request, the department may relieve a person of the obligations in subsection (1) of this section if the person’s taxes have been reduced
a cumulative total of less than one thousand dollars from all of the credits,
exemptions, or preferential business and occupation tax rates, for which a
person is required to file an annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.535, 82.32.545, 82.32.570, 82.32.560, 82.60.070, or 82.63.020.
(3) Persons who no longer qualify for relief under subsection (2) of this
section will be notified in writing by the department and must comply with
subsection (1) of this section by the date provided in the notice.
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.600
(4))) Any survey, return, or any other form or information required to
be filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of this section is not
filed until received by the department in an electronic format.
(3) The department may waive the electronic filing requirement in subsection (1) of this section for good cause shown. [2006 c 177 § 9; 2005 c 514
§ 1002.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
82.32.600
82.32.600 Annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452—Electronic filing (as amended by 2006 c 178). (1) Persons required to file surveys under
RCW 82.04.4452 must electronically file with the department all surveys,
returns, and any other forms or information the department requires in an
electronic format as provided or approved by the department, unless the
department grants relief under subsection (2) of this section. As used in this
section, "returns" has the same meaning as "return" in RCW 82.32.050.
(2) Upon request, the department may relieve a person of the obligations in subsection (1) of this section if the person’s taxes have been reduced
a cumulative total of less than one thousand dollars from all of the credits,
exemptions, or preferential business and occupation tax rates, for which a
person is required to file an annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.535, 82.32.545, 82.32.570, 82.32.560, 82.60.070, ((or)) 82.63.020, or
82.32.645.
(3) Persons who no longer qualify for relief under subsection (2) of this
section will be notified in writing by the department and must comply with
subsection (1) of this section by the date provided in the notice.
(4) Any survey, return, or any other form or information required to be
filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of this section is not filed
until received by the department in an electronic format. [2006 c 178 § 9;
2005 c 514 § 1002.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.32.600
82.32.600 Annual surveys for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as
amended by 2006 c 300). (1) Persons required to file surveys under RCW
82.04.4452 or 82.32.630 must electronically file with the department all surveys, returns, and any other forms or information the department requires in
an electronic format as provided or approved by the department((, unless the
department grants relief under subsection (2) of this section)). As used in
this section, "returns" has the same meaning as "return" in RCW 82.32.050.
(2) ((Upon request, the department may relieve a person of the obligations in subsection (1) of this section if the person’s taxes have been reduced
a cumulative total of less than one thousand dollars from all of the credits,
exemptions, or preferential business and occupation tax rates, for which a
person is required to file an annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.535, 82.32.545, 82.32.570, 82.32.560, 82.60.070, or 82.63.020.
(3) Persons who no longer qualify for relief under subsection (2) of this
section will be notified in writing by the department and must comply with
subsection (1) of this section by the date provided in the notice.
(4))) Any survey, return, or any other form or information required to
be filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of this section is not
filed until received by the department in an electronic format. [2006 c 300 §
11; 2005 c 514 § 1002.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
82.32.600
82.32.600 Annual surveys or reports for tax incentives—Electronic filing (as amended by 2006 c 354). (1) Persons required to file surveys under RCW 82.04.4452, 82.32.610, or 82.74.040 must electronically
file with the department all surveys, returns, and any other forms or information the department requires in an electronic format as provided or approved
by the department((, unless the department grants relief under subsection (2)
of this section)). As used in this section, "returns" has the same meaning as
"return" in RCW 82.32.050.
(2) ((Upon request, the department may relieve a person of the obligations in subsection (1) of this section if the person’s taxes have been reduced
a cumulative total of less than one thousand dollars from all of the credits,
exemptions, or preferential business and occupation tax rates, for which a
person is required to file an annual survey under RCW 82.04.4452,
82.32.535, 82.32.545, 82.32.570, 82.32.560, 82.60.070, or 82.63.020.
(3) Persons who no longer qualify for relief under subsection (2) of this
section will be notified in writing by the department and must comply with
subsection (1) of this section by the date provided in the notice.
[Title 82 RCW—page 229]
82.32.610
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(4))) Any survey, return, or any other form or information required to
be filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of this section is not
filed until received by the department in an electronic format.
(3) The department may waive the electronic filing requirement in subsection (1) of this section for good cause shown. [2006 c 354 § 16; 2005 c
514 § 1002.]
Reviser’s note: RCW 82.32.600 was amended five times during the
2006 legislative session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025.
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective date—2005 c 514 §§ 501 and 1002: See note following
RCW 82.04.4463.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.32.610
82.32.610 Annual survey for fruit and vegetable business tax incentive—Report to legislature. (1) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important
aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make policy choices
regarding the best use of limited state resources the legislature needs information on how a tax incentive is used.
(2) Each person claiming a tax exemption under RCW
82.04.4266, 82.04.4268, or 82.04.4269 shall report information to the department by filing a complete annual survey.
The survey is due by March 31st of the year following any
calendar year in which a tax exemption under RCW
82.04.4266, 82.04.4268, or 82.04.4269 is taken. The department may extend the due date for timely filing of annual surveys under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590. The
survey shall include the amount of tax exemption taken. The
survey shall also include the following information for
employment positions in Washington:
(a) The number of total employment positions;
(b) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(c) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(d) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
The first survey filed under this subsection shall also
include information for the twelve-month period immediately before first use of a tax incentive.
(3) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the exemption program, to
be submitted at the same time as the survey.
(4) All information collected under this section, except
the amount of the tax exemption taken, is deemed taxpayer
information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the
amount of tax exemption taken is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
(5) If a person fails to submit an annual survey under
subsection (2) of this section by the due date of the survey or
any extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes exempted for the previous calendar year to be immediately due and payable. The department
shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the amounts due
[Title 82 RCW—page 230]
under this section. The amount due shall be calculated using
a rate of 0.138 percent. The interest shall be assessed at the
rate provided for delinquent taxes under this chapter, retroactively to the date the exemption was claimed, and shall accrue
until the taxes for which the exemption was claimed are
repaid. This information is not subject to the confidentiality
provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
(6) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(7) The department shall study the tax exemption authorized in RCW 82.04.4266, 82.04.4268, and 82.04.4269. The
department shall submit a report to the finance committee of
the house of representatives and the ways and means committee of the senate by December 1, 2011. The report shall measure the effect of the exemption on job creation, job retention,
company growth, the movement of firms or the consolidation
of firms’ operations into the state, and such other factors as
the department selects. [2006 c 354 § 5; 2005 c 513 § 3.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.32.620
82.32.620 Annual report for tax incentives under
RCW 82.04.294. (1) The legislature finds that accountability
and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy.
In order to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state resources the legislature needs information on how
a tax incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under RCW 82.04.294
shall make an annual report to the department detailing
employment, wages, and employer-provided health and
retirement benefits per job at the manufacturing site. The
report shall not include names of employees. The report shall
also detail employment by the total number of full-time, parttime, and temporary positions. The first report filed under
this subsection shall include employment, wage, and benefit
information for the twelve-month period immediately before
first use of a preferential tax rate under RCW 82.04.294. The
report is due by March 31st following any year in which a
preferential tax rate under RCW 82.04.294 is used. This
information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of
RCW 82.32.330.
(b) If a person fails to submit an annual report under (a)
of this subsection, the department shall declare the amount of
taxes reduced for the previous calendar year to be immediately due and payable. Excise taxes payable under this subsection are subject to interest, but not penalties, at the rate
provided for delinquent taxes, as provided under this chapter.
The department shall assess interest, retroactively to the date
the preferential tax rate under RCW 82.04.294, was used.
The interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes under this chapter, and shall accrue until
the taxes for which the preferential tax rate was used are
repaid. This information is not subject to the confidentiality
provisions of RCW 82.32.330. [2005 c 301 § 4.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—Report to legislature—2005 c
301: See notes following RCW 82.04.294.
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
82.32.630
82.32.630 Annual survey for timber tax incentives.
(1) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness
are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make
policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources, the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under RCW
82.04.260(12) shall file a complete annual survey with the
department. The survey is due by March 31st following any
y e a r in wh i ch a p e r s o n r e p o r ts t ax e s u n d e r R C W
82.04.260(12). The department may extend the due date for
timely filing of annual surveys under this section as provided
in RCW 82.32.590. The survey shall include the amount of
tax reduced under the preferential rate in RCW
82.04.260(12). The survey shall also include the following
information for employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(b) The first survey filed under this subsection shall
include employment, wage, and benefit information for the
twelve-month period immediately before first use of a preferential tax rate under RCW 82.04.260(12).
(c) As part of the annual survey, the department may
request additional information, including the amount of
investment in equipment used in the activities taxable under
the preferential rate in RCW 82.04.260(12), necessary to
measure the results of, or determine eligibility for, the preferential tax rate in RCW 82.04.260(12).
(d) All information collected under this section, except
the amount of the tax reduced under the preferential rate in
RCW 82.04.260(12), is deemed taxpayer information under
RCW 82.32.330. Information on the amount of tax reduced
is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW
82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request,
except as provided in (e) of this subsection. If the amount of
the tax reduced as reported on the survey is different than the
amount actually reduced based on the taxpayer’s excise tax
returns or otherwise allowed by the department, the amount
actually reduced may be disclosed.
(e) Persons for whom the actual amount of the tax reduction is less than ten thousand dollars during the period covered by the survey may request the department to treat the
amount of the tax reduction as confidential under RCW
82.32.330.
(3) If a person fails to submit a complete annual survey
under subsection (2) of this section by the due date or any
extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes reduced under the preferential
rate in RCW 82.04.260(12) for the period covered by the survey to be immediately due and payable. The department
shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the taxes. Interest
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.635
shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise
taxes under this chapter, retroactively to the date the reduced
taxes were due, and shall accrue until the amount of the
reduced taxes is repaid.
(4) The department shall use the information from the
annual survey required under subsection (2) of this section to
prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. The
department shall report these statistics to the legislature each
year by September 1st. The requirement to prepare and
report summary descriptive statistics shall cease after September 1, 2025.
(5) By November 1, 2011, and November 1, 2023, the
fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to the
legislature on the effectiveness of the preferential tax rate
provided in RCW 82.04.260(12). The report shall measure
the effect of the preferential tax rate provided in RCW
82.04.260(12) on job retention, net jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, and other factors as the committees select. The report shall include a discussion of principles to apply in evaluating whether the legislature should
continue the preferential tax rate provided in RCW
82.04.260(12). [2006 c 300 § 9.]
Effective dates—Contingent effective date—2006 c 300: See note
following RCW 82.04.261.
82.32.635
82.32.635 Annual survey for tax incentive under
RCW 82.04.4487. (1) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make policy choices regarding the best use of
limited state resources the legislature needs information on
how a tax incentive is used.
(2)(a) A person claiming the credit under RCW
82.04.4487 shall file a complete annual survey with the
department. The survey is due by March 31st following any
year in which a credit is claimed. The department may
extend the due date for timely filing of annual surveys under
this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590. The survey shall
include the amount of the tax credit claimed, the qualified
preproduction development expenditures during the calendar
year for which the credit is claimed, whether the credit has
been assigned under RCW 82.04.4487(4) and who assigned
the credit, the number of new products or research projects by
general classification, and the number of trademarks, patents,
and copyrights associated with the qualified preproduction
development activities for which a credit was claimed. The
survey shall also include the following information for
employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
[Title 82 RCW—page 231]
82.32.640
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(b) As part of the annual survey, the department may
request additional information necessary to measure the
results of, or determine eligibility for, the tax credit program.
(c) All information collected under this section, except
the amount of the tax credit claimed, is deemed taxpayer
information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the
amount of tax credit claimed is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to
the public upon request, except as provided in (d) of this subsection. If the amount of the tax credit as reported on the survey is different than the amount actually claimed on the taxpayer’s tax returns or otherwise allowed by the department,
the amount actually claimed or allowed may be disclosed.
(d) Persons for whom the actual amount of the tax credit
claimed on the taxpayer’s returns or otherwise allowed by the
department is less than ten thousand dollars during the period
covered by the survey may request the department to treat the
tax credit amount as confidential under RCW 82.32.330.
(3) If a person fails to submit a complete annual survey
under subsection (2) of this section by the due date or any
extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes against which a credit was
claimed for that year to be immediately due and payable. The
department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the
taxes against which the credit was claimed. Interest shall be
assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes
under this chapter, retroactively to the date the credit was
claimed, and shall accrue until the taxes against which the
credit was claimed are repaid.
(4) The department shall use the information from the
annual survey required under subsection (2) of this section to
prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. No fewer
than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The
department shall report these statistics to the legislature each
year by September 1st.
(5) In conjunction with the reports due under RCW
82.32.545, by November 1, 2010, and November 1, 2023, the
fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with the department, shall report to the
legislature on the effectiveness of the credit authorized in
RCW 82.04.4487 in regard to keeping Washington competitive. The report shall measure the effect of the credit authorized in RCW 82.04.4487 on job retention, net jobs created
for Washington residents, company growth, diversification
of the state’s economy, cluster dynamics, and other factors as
the committees select. The reports shall include a discussion
of principles to apply in evaluating whether the legislature
should reenact the credit authorized in RCW 82.04.4487.
(6) A person who is subject to the requirements in RCW
82.32.545 is not required to file a complete annual survey
under this section if the person timely files the annual report
required by RCW 82.32.545. [2006 c 177 § 4.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
82.32.640
82.32.640 Annual survey for tax incentive under
RCW 82.04.250(3). (Expires December 31, 2012.) (1) The
legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are
important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state resources,
[Title 82 RCW—page 232]
the legislature needs information on how a tax incentive is
used.
(2)(a) A person who reports taxes under RCW
82.04.250(3) shall file a complete annual survey with the
department. The survey is due by March 31st following any
y e a r in wh i ch a p e r s o n r e p o r ts tax e s u n d e r RC W
82.04.250(3). The department may extend the due date for
timely filing of annual surveys under this section as provided
in RCW 82.32.590. The survey shall include the amount of
tax reduced under the preferential rate in RCW 82.04.250(3).
The survey shall also include the following information for
employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(b) As part of the annual survey, the department may
request additional information necessary to measure the
results of, or determine eligibility for, the preferential tax rate
in RCW 82.04.250(3).
(c) All information collected under this section, except
the amount of the tax reduced under the preferential rate in
RCW 82.04.250(3), is deemed taxpayer information under
RCW 82.32.330. Information on the amount of tax reduced
is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW
82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request,
except as provided in (d) of this subsection. If the amount of
the tax reduced as reported on the survey is different than the
amount actually reduced based on the taxpayer’s excise tax
returns or otherwise allowed by the department, the amount
actually reduced may be disclosed.
(d) Persons for whom the actual amount of the tax reduction is less than ten thousand dollars during the period covered by the survey may request the department to treat the
amount of the tax reduction as confidential under RCW
82.32.330.
(3) If a person fails to submit a complete annual survey
under subsection (2) of this section by the due date or any
extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes reduced under the preferential
rate in RCW 82.04.250(3) for that year to be immediately due
and payable. The department shall assess interest, but not
penalties, on the taxes. Interest shall be assessed at the rate
provided for delinquent excise taxes under this chapter, retroactively to the date the reduced taxes were due, and shall
accrue until the amount of the reduced taxes is repaid.
(4) The department shall use the information from the
annual survey required under subsection (2) of this section to
prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. The
department shall report these statistics to the legislature each
year by September 1st.
(5) By November 1, 2010, the fiscal committees of the
house of representatives and the senate, in consultation with
(2006 Ed.)
General Administrative Provisions
the department, shall report to the legislature on the effectiveness of the preferential tax rate pr ovided in RCW
82.04.250(3) in regard to keeping Washington competitive.
The report shall measure the effect of the preferential tax rate
provided in RCW 82.04.250(3) on job retention, net jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, diversification of the state’s economy, cluster dynamics, and other factors as the committees select. The report shall include a discussion of principles to apply in evaluating whether the
legislature should extend the preferential tax rate provided in
RCW 82.04.250(3).
(6) This section expires December 31, 2012. [2006 c
177 § 6.]
Effective date—2006 c 177 §§ 1-9: See note following RCW
82.08.981.
82.32.645
82.32.645 Annual survey for biotechnology and medical device manufacturing business tax incentive—Report
to legislature. (1) For the purposes of this section, "biotechnology product and medical device business tax incentive" or
"tax incentive" means the sales and use tax deferrals under
chapter 82.75 RCW.
(2) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order
to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources, the legislature needs information to evaluate
whether the stated goals of legislation were achieved.
(3) The goals of the biotechnology product and medical
device business tax incentives are to:
(a) Encourage the creation, expansion, and retention of
commercial biotechnology product and medical device manufacturing operations and related job opportunities; and
(b) Fully mature the life sciences industry by creating a
sustainable commercial sector.
(4)(a) A person who receives the benefit of a biotechnology product and medical device business tax incentive shall
provide an annual survey to the department. The survey is
due by March 31st following any year in which a tax incentive is claimed or used. The survey shall not include names
of employees. The survey shall include the amount of the tax
incentives claimed or used for the reporting year. The survey
shall also include the following information for employment
positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(b) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the tax incentive, to be
submitted at the same time as the survey.
(c) All information collected under this subsection,
except the amount of the tax incentive claimed or used, is
deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is
(2006 Ed.)
82.32.650
not disclosable. Information on the amount of tax incentive
claimed or used is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public
upon request.
(5) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(6) If a person fails to submit an annual survey under
subsection (4)(a) of this section by the due date of the survey,
the department shall declare 12.5 percent of the deferred tax
from the date of deferral to be immediately due and payable.
Excise taxes payable under this subsection are subject to
interest but not penalties, as provided under this chapter.
This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public
upon request.
(7) The department shall use the information to study the
tax incentive specified in subsection (1) of this section. The
department shall report to the legislature by December 1,
2009, and December 1, 2015. The reports shall measure the
number of new biotechnology product and medical device
manufacturing facilities established in Washington, the
amount of investment in biotechnology product and medical
device manufacturing facilities, the number of facilities and
investment by firms that utilized the biotechnology product
and medical device business tax incentive, the number of biotechnology product and medical device manufacturing jobs
in these facilities, the wages and benefits paid for biotechnology product and medical device manufacturing jobs, and the
wages and benefits of biotechnology product and medical
device manufacturing jobs compared to wages and benefits
of other manufacturing jobs and jobs in other economic sectors. [2006 c 178 § 8.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.32.650
82.32.650 Annual survey—Customized employment
training—Report to legislature. (1) The legislature finds
that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of
setting tax policy. In order to make policy choices regarding
the best use of limited state resources the legislature needs
information on how a tax incentive is used.
(2) Each person claiming a tax credit under RCW
82.04.449 shall report information to the department by filing
a complete annual survey. The survey is due by March 31st
of the year following any calendar year in which a tax credit
under RCW 82.04.449 is taken. The department may extend
the due date for timely filing of annual surveys under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590. The survey shall include
the amount of tax credit taken. The survey shall also include
the following information for employment positions in
Washington:
(a) The number of total employment positions;
(b) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(c) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
[Title 82 RCW—page 233]
82.32.700
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(d) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
The first survey filed under this subsection shall also
include information for the twelve-month period immediately before first use of a tax incentive.
(3) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the credit program, to be
submitted at the same time as the survey.
(4) All information collected under this section, except
the amount of the tax credit taken, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the amount of
tax credit taken is not subject to the confidentiality provisions
of RCW 82.32.330.
(5) If a person fails to submit an annual survey under
subsection (2) of this section by the due date of the report or
any extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department shall
declare the amount of taxes credited for the previous calendar
year to be immediately due and payable. The department
shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the amounts due
under this section. The interest shall be assessed at the rate
provided for delinquent taxes under this chapter, retroactively to the date the credit was claimed, and shall accrue
until the taxes for which the credit was claimed are repaid.
This information is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
(6) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(7) The department shall study the tax credit authorized
in RCW 82.04.449. The department shall submit a report to
the finance committee of the house of representatives and the
ways and means committee of the senate by December 1,
2011. The report shall measure the effect of the credit on job
creation, job retention, company growth, the movement of
firms or the consolidation of firms’ operations into the state,
and such other factors as the department selects. [2006 c 112
§ 6.]
Reviser’s note: 2006 c 112 § 6 directed that this section be added to
chapter 82.04 RCW, but codification in chapter 82.32 RCW appears to be
more appropriate.
Severability—2006 c 112: See RCW 28B.67.901.
82.32.700
82.32.700 Administration of the sales and use tax for
hospital benefit zones. (1) As a condition to imposing a
sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.465, a city, town, or
county must apply to the department at least seventy-five
days before the effective date of any such tax. The application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall include but is not limited to information establishing that the applicant is eligible to impose such a tax, the
anticipated effective date for imposing the tax, the estimated
number of years that the tax will be imposed, and the estimated amount of tax revenue to be received in each fiscal
year that the tax will be imposed. For purposes of this section, "fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1st and ending the following June 30th. The department shall make
[Title 82 RCW—page 234]
available forms to be used for this purpose. As part of the
application, a city, town, or county must provide to the
department a copy of the ordinance creating the benefit zone
as required in RCW 39.100.040. The department shall rule
on completed applications within sixty days of receipt. The
department may begin accepting and approving applications
August 1, 2006. No new applications shall be considered by
the department after the thirtieth day of September of the
third year following the year in which the first application
was received by the department.
(2) The authority to impose the local option sales and use
taxes under RCW 82.14.465 is on a first-come basis. Priority
for collecting the taxes authorized under RCW 82.14.465
among approved applicants shall be based on the date that the
approved application was received by the department. As a
part of the approval of applications under this section, the
department shall approve the amount of tax under RCW
82.14.465 that an applicant may impose. The amount of tax
approved by the department shall not exceed the lesser of two
million dollars or the average amount of tax revenue that the
applicant estimates that it will receive in all fiscal years
through the imposition of a sales and use tax under RCW
82.14.465. A city, town, or county shall not receive, in any
fiscal year, more revenues from taxes imposed under RCW
82.14.465 than the amount approved by the department. The
department shall not approve the receipt of more credit
against the state sales and use tax than is authorized under
subsection (3) of this section.
(3) No more than two million dollars of credit against the
state sales and use tax may be received by all cities, towns,
and counties imposing a tax under RCW 82.14.465.
(4) The credit against the state sales and use tax shall be
available to any city, town, or county imposing a tax under
RCW 82.14.465 only as long as the city, town, or county has
outstanding indebtedness under RCW 82.14.465.
(5) The department may adopt any rules under chapter
34.05 RCW it considers necessary for the administration of
chapter 39.100 RCW. [2006 c 111 § 9.]
Effective date—2006 c 111: See RCW 39.100.900.
82.32.710
82.32.710 Professional employer organizations—Eligibility for tax incentives—Responsibility for reports/surveys. (1) A client under the terms of a professional employer
agreement is deemed to be the sole employer of a covered
employee for purposes of eligibility for any tax credit,
exemption, or other tax incentive, arising as the result of the
employment of covered employees, provided in RCW
82.04.4333, 82.04.44525, 82.04.448, 82.04.4483, 82.08.965,
82.12.965, 82.16.0495, or 82.60.049 or chapter 82.62 or
82.70 RCW, or any other provision in this title. A client, and
not the professional employer organization, shall be entitled
to the benefit of any tax credit, exemption, or other tax incentive arising as the result of the employment of covered
employees of that client.
(2) A client under the terms of a professional employer
agreement is deemed to be the sole employer of a covered
employee for purposes of reports or surveys that require the
reporting of employment information relating to covered
employees of the client, as provided in RCW 82.04.4452,
82.04.4483, 82.04.4484, 82.32.535, 82.32.540, 82.32.545,
(2006 Ed.)
Taxpayer Rights and Responsibilities
82.32.560, 82.32.570, 82.32.610, 82.32.620, 82.60.070,
82.62.050, 82.63.020, or 82.74.040, or any other provision in
this title. A client, and not the professional employer organization, shall be required to complete any survey or report that
requires the reporting of employment information relating to
covered employees of that client.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "client," "covered
employee," "professional employer agreement," and "professional employer organization" have the same meanings as in
RCW 82.04.540. [2006 c 301 § 4.]
Effective date—2006 c 301: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 301 § 10.]
Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51 RCW—2006 c 301:
"The provisions of this act do not affect the application of Title 50 or 51
RCW to the reporting requirement or tax liabilities of professional employer
organizations or their clients." [2006 c 301 § 9.]
Chapter 82.32A RCW
TAXPAYER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Chapter 82.32A
Sections
82.32A.002
82.32A.005
82.32A.010
82.32A.020
82.32A.030
82.32A.040
82.32A.050
82.32A.900
Short title.
Finding.
Administration of chapter.
Rights.
Responsibilities.
Taxpayer rights advocate.
Taxpayer services program.
Severability—1991 c 142.
Refunds of erroneous or excessive payments: RCW 43.88.170.
82.32A.002
82.32A.002 Short title. This chapter shall be known
and cited as "Washington taxpayers’ rights and responsibilities." [1991 c 142 § 1.]
82.32A.005
82.32A.005 Finding. (1) The legislature finds that
taxes are one of the most sensitive points of contact between
citizens and their government, and that there is a delicate balance between revenue collection and taxpayers’ rights and
responsibilities. The rights, privacy, and property of Washington taxpayers should be protected adequately during the
process of the assessment and collection of taxes.
(2) The legislature further finds that the Washington tax
system is based largely on voluntary compliance and that taxpayers have a responsibility to inform themselves about
applicable tax laws. The legislature also finds that the rights
of the taxpayers and their attendant responsibilities are best
implemented where the department of revenue provides
accurate tax information, instructions, forms, administrative
policies, and procedures to assist taxpayers to voluntarily
comply with the provisions of the revenue act, Title 82 RCW,
and where taxpayers cooperate in the administration of these
provisions. [1991 c 142 § 2.]
82.32A.010
82.32A.010 Administration of chapter. The department of revenue shall administer this chapter. The department of revenue shall adopt or amend rules as may be necessary to fully implement this chapter and the rights established
under this chapter. [1991 c 142 § 3.]
82.32A.020
82.32A.020 Rights. The taxpayers of the state of Washington have:
(2006 Ed.)
82.32A.050
(1) The right to a written explanation of the basis for any
tax deficiency assessment, interest, and penalties at the time
the assessments are issued;
(2) The right to rely on specific, official written advice
and written tax reporting instructions from the department of
revenue to that taxpayer, and to have interest, penalties, and
in some instances, tax deficiency assessments waived where
the taxpayer has so relied to their proven detriment;
(3) The right to redress and relief where tax laws or rules
are found to be unconstitutional by the final decision of a
court of record and the right to prompt administrative remedies in such cases;
(4) The right to confidentiality and protection from public inquiry regarding financial and business information in
the possession of the department of revenue in accordance
with the requirements of RCW 82.32.330;
(5) The right to receive, upon request, clear and current
tax instructions, rules, procedures, forms, and other tax information; and
(6) The right to a prompt and independent administrative
review by the department of revenue of a decision to revoke
a tax registration, and to a written determination that either
sustains the revocation or reinstates the registration. [1991 c
142 § 4.]
82.32A.030
82.32A.030 Responsibilities. To ensure consistent
application of the revenue laws, taxpayers have certain
responsibilities under chapter 82.32 RCW, including, but not
limited to, the responsibility to:
(1) Register with the department of revenue;
(2) Know their tax reporting obligations, and when they
are uncertain about their obligations, seek instructions from
the department of revenue;
(3) Keep accurate and complete business records;
(4) File accurate returns and pay taxes in a timely manner;
(5) Ensure the accuracy of the information entered on
their tax returns;
(6) Substantiate claims for refund;
(7) Timely pay all taxes after closing a business and
request cancellation of registration number; and
(8) Timely respond to communications from the department of revenue. [1991 c 142 § 5.]
82.32A.040
82.32A.040 Taxpayer rights advocate. The director of
revenue shall appoint a taxpayer rights advocate. The advocate shall be responsible for directly assisting taxpayers and
their representatives to assure their understanding and utilization of the policies, processes, and procedures available to
them in the resolution of problems. [1991 c 142 § 6.]
82.32A.050
82.32A.050 Taxpayer services program. The department of revenue shall maintain a taxpayer services program
consisting of, but not limited to:
(1) Providing taxpayer assistance in the form of information, education, and instruction in person, by telephone, or by
correspondence;
(2) Conducting tax workshops at locations most conveniently accessible to the majority of taxpayers affected; and
[Title 82 RCW—page 235]
82.32A.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) Publishing written bulletins, instructions, current revenue laws, rules, court decisions, and interpretive rulings of
the department of revenue. [1991 c 142 § 7.]
82.32A.900
82.32A.900 Severability—1991 c 142. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1991 c 142 § 12.]
(5) Members of the economic and revenue forecast council shall serve without additional compensation but shall be
reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW
44.04.120 while attending sessions of the council or on official business authorized by the council. Nonlegislative members of the council shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. [1990 c 229
§ 1; 1984 c 138 § 4. Formerly RCW 82.01.130.]
Effective date—1990 c 229: See note following RCW 41.06.087.
82.33.020
Chapter 82.33
Chapter 82.33 RCW
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECASTS
Sections
82.33.010
82.33.020
82.33.030
82.33.040
Economic and revenue forecast council—Oversight and
approval of economic and revenue forecasts.
Economic and revenue forecast supervisor—Economic and
revenue forecasts—Submittal of forecasts—Estimated
tuition fees revenue.
Alternative economic and revenue forecasts to be provided at
the request of the legislative evaluation and accountability
program committee.
Economic and revenue forecast work group—Availability of
information to group—Provision of technical support to economic and revenue forecast council—Meetings.
82.33.010
82.33.010 Economic and revenue forecast council—
Oversight and approval of economic and revenue forecasts. (1) The economic and revenue forecast council is
hereby created. The council shall consist of two individuals
appointed by the governor and four individuals, one of whom
is appointed by the chairperson of each of the two largest
political caucuses in the senate and house of representatives.
The chair of the council shall be selected from among the
four caucus appointees. The council may select such other
officers as the members deem necessary.
(2) The council shall employ an economic and revenue
forecast supervisor to supervise the preparation of all economic and revenue forecasts. As used in this chapter, "supervisor" means the economic and revenue forecast supervisor.
Approval by an affirmative vote of at least five members of
the council is required for any decisions regarding employment of the supervisor. Employment of the supervisor shall
terminate after each term of three years. At the end of the first
year of each three-year term the council shall consider extension of the supervisor’s term by one year. The council may
fix the compensation of the supervisor. The supervisor shall
employ staff sufficient to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
(3) The economic and revenue forecast council shall
oversee the preparation of and approve, by an affirmative
vote of at least four members, the official, optimistic, and
pessimistic state economic and revenue forecasts prepared
under RCW 82.33.020. If the council is unable to approve a
forecast before a date required in RCW 82.33.020, the supervisor shall submit the forecast without approval and the forecast shall have the same effect as if approved by the council.
(4) A council member who does not cast an affirmative
vote for approval of the official economic and revenue forecast may request, and the supervisor shall provide, an alternative economic and revenue forecast based on assumptions
specified by the member.
[Title 82 RCW—page 236]
82.33.020 Economic and revenue forecast supervisor—Economic and revenue forecasts—Submittal of
forecasts—Estimated tuition fees revenue. (1) Four times
each year the supervisor shall prepare, subject to the approval
of the economic and revenue forecast council under RCW
82.33.010:
(a) An official state economic and revenue forecast;
(b) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast
based on optimistic economic and revenue projections; and
(c) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast
based on pessimistic economic and revenue projections.
(2) The supervisor shall submit forecasts prepared under
this section, along with any unofficial forecasts provided
under RCW 82.33.010, to the governor and the members of
the committees on ways and means and the chairs of the committees on transportation of the senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees, on or before November 20th, February 20th in the evennumbered years, March 20th in the odd-numbered years,
June 20th, and September 20th. All forecasts shall include
both estimated receipts and estimated revenues in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles as provided by RCW 43.88.037.
(3) All agencies of state government shall provide to the
supervisor immediate access to all information relating to
economic and revenue forecasts. Revenue collection information shall be available to the supervisor the first business
day following the conclusion of each collection period.
(4) The economic and revenue forecast supervisor and
staff shall co-locate and share information, data, and files
with the tax research section of the department of revenue but
shall not duplicate the duties and functions of one another.
(5) As part of its forecasts under subsection (1) of this
section, the supervisor shall provide estimated revenue from
tuition fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020. [2005 c 319 §
137; 1992 c 231 § 34; 1990 c 229 § 2. Prior: 1987 c 505 §
79; 1987 c 502 § 10; 1986 c 112 § 2; 1984 c 138 § 1. Formerly RCW 82.01.120.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
Effective date—1992 c 231: See note following RCW 28B.10.016.
Effective date—1990 c 229: See note following RCW 41.06.087.
82.33.030
82.33.030 Alternative economic and revenue forecasts to be provided at the request of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee. The administrator of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee may request, and the supervisor shall
provide, alternative economic and revenue forecasts based on
(2006 Ed.)
Economic Climate Council
assumptions specified by the administrator. [1984 c 138 § 3.
Formerly RCW 82.01.125.]
Legislative evaluation and accountability program committee: Chapter
44.48 RCW.
82.33.040
82.33.040 Economic and revenue forecast work
group—Availability of information to group—Provision
of technical support to economic and revenue forecast
council—Meetings. (1) To promote the free flow of information and to promote legislative input in the preparation of
forecasts, immediate access to all information relating to economic and revenue forecasts shall be available to the economic and revenue forecast work group, hereby created. Revenue collection information shall be available to the economic and revenue forecast work group the first business day
following the conclusion of each collection period. The economic and revenue forecast work group shall consist of one
staff member selected by the executive head or chairperson of
each of the following agencies or committees:
(a) Department of revenue;
(b) Office of financial management;
(c) Legislative evaluation and accountability program
committee;
(d) Ways and means committee of the senate; and
(e) Ways and means committee of the house of representatives.
(2) The economic and revenue forecast work group shall
provide technical support to the economic and revenue forecast council. Meetings of the economic and revenue forecast
work group may be called by any member of the group for the
purpose of assisting the economic and revenue forecast council, reviewing the state economic and revenue forecasts, or
reviewing monthly revenue collection data or for any other
purpose which may assist the economic and revenue forecast
council. [1986 c 158 § 23; 1984 c 138 § 5. Formerly RCW
82.01.135.]
Chapter 82.33A
Chapter 82.33A RCW
ECONOMIC CLIMATE COUNCIL
Sections
82.33A.005 Intent.
82.33A.010 Council—Created—Selection of benchmarks—Access to
agency information.
82.33A.020 Advisory committee—Membership—Duties—Meetings—
Travel expenses.
82.33A.005
82.33A.005 Intent. The citizens of Washington should
enjoy a high quality of life, which requires a healthy state
economy. To achieve this goal, the legislature recognizes that
the state must be able to compete economically at a national
and international level. It is critical to the economic wellbeing of the citizens of this state that the legislature strive to
continually improve the state’s economic climate. Therefore,
the legislature intends to provide a mechanism whereby the
information necessary to achieve this goal is available on a
timely and reliable basis. [1996 c 152 § 1.]
82.33A.010
82.33A.010 Council—Created—Selection of benchmarks—Access to agency information. (1) The economic
climate council is hereby created.
(2006 Ed.)
82.33A.020
(2) The council shall select a series of no more than ten
benchmarks that characterize the competitive environment of
the state. The benchmarks should be indicators of the cost of
doing business; the education and skills of the work force; a
sound infrastructure; and the quality of life. In selecting the
appropriate benchmarks, the council shall use the following
criteria:
(a) The availability of comparative information for other
states and countries;
(b) The timeliness with which benchmark information
can be obtained; and
(c) The accuracy and validity of the benchmarks in measuring the economic climate indicators named in this section.
(3) Each year the council shall prepare an official state
economic climate report on the present status of benchmarks,
changes in the benchmarks since the previous report, and the
reasons for the changes. The reports shall include current
benchmark comparisons with other states and countries, and
an analysis of factors related to the benchmarks that may
affect the ability of the state to compete economically at the
national and international level.
(4) All agencies of state government shall provide to the
council immediate access to all information relating to economic climate reports. [1998 c 245 § 168; 1996 c 152 § 2.]
82.33A.020
82.33A.020 Advisory committee—Membership—
Duties—Meetings—Travel expenses. (1) The economic
climate council shall create an advisory committee to assist
the council in selecting benchmarks and developing economic climate reports and benchmarks. The advisory committee shall provide for a process to ensure public participation in the selection of the benchmarks. The advisory committee shall consist of no more than seven members. At least
two of the members of the advisory committee shall have
experience in and represent business, and at least two of the
members shall have experience in and represent labor. All of
the members of the advisory committee shall have special
expertise and interest in the state’s economic climate and
competitive strategies. Appointments to the advisory committee shall be recommended by the chair of the council and
approved by a two-thirds vote of the council. The chair of the
advisory committee shall be selected by the members of the
committee.
(2) The advisory committee shall meet as determined by
the chair of the committee until September 30, 1996, and
shall meet at least twice per year thereafter in advance of the
economic climate reports due on March 31st and September
30th of each year.
(3) Members of the advisory council shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 while
attending meetings of the advisory committee, sessions of the
economic climate council, or on official business authorized
by the council. [1996 c 152 § 4.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 237]
Chapter 82.34
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Chapter 82.34 RCW
POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES—TAX
EXEMPTIONS AND CREDITS
Chapter 82.34
Sections
82.34.010
82.34.015
82.34.020
82.34.030
82.34.040
82.34.050
82.34.060
82.34.090
82.34.100
82.34.110
82.34.900
82.34.901
Definitions.
Limitations on the issuance of certificates under RCW
82.34.010(5) (b) and (c).
Application for certificate—Filing—Form—Contents.
Approval of application by control agency—Notice to department—Hearing—Appeal to state air pollution control board.
Rules.
Original acquisition of facility exempt from sales and use
taxes—Election to take tax credit in lieu of exemption.
Application for final cost determination as to existing or new
facility—Filing—Form—Contents—Approval—Determination of costs—Credits against taxes imposed by chapters
82.04, 82.12, 82.16 RCW—Limitations.
Certified mail—Use of in sending certificates or notice of
refusal to issue certificates.
Revision of prior findings of appropriate control agency—
Grounds for modification or revocation of certificate or supplement—Exemptions from revocation.
Administrative and judicial review.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 139.
Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 9.
82.34.010 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context, the following words as hereinafter used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Facility" shall mean an "air pollution control facility" or a "water pollution control facility" as herein defined:
(a) "Air pollution control facility" includes any treatment
works, control devices and disposal systems, machinery,
equipment, structures, property or any part or accessories
thereof, installed or acquired for the primary purpose of
reducing, controlling or disposing of industrial waste which if
released to the outdoor atmosphere could cause air pollution.
"Air pollution control facility" shall not mean any motor
vehicle air pollution control devices used to control the emission of air contaminants from any motor vehicle. (b) "Water
pollution control facility" includes any treatment works, control device or disposal system, machinery, equipment, structures, property or any accessories thereof installed or
acquired for the primary purpose of reducing, controlling or
disposing of sewage and industrial waste which if released to
a water course could cause water pollution: PROVIDED,
That the word "facility" shall not be construed to include any
control device, machinery, equipment, structure, disposal
system or other property installed or constructed: For a
municipal corporation other than for coal-fired, steam electric generating plants constructed and operated pursuant to
chapter 54.44 RCW for which an application for a certificate
was made no later than December 31, 1969, together with any
air or water pollution control facility improvement which
may be made hereafter to such plants; or for the primary purpose of connecting any commercial establishment with the
waste collecting facilities of public or privately owned utilities: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the word "facility" shall
not include any control device, machinery, equipment, structure, disposal system, or other property installed or constructed with the proceeds derived from the sale of industrial
revenue bonds issued under chapter 39.84 RCW.
(2) "Industrial waste" shall mean any liquid, gaseous,
radioactive or solid waste substance or combinations thereof
resulting from any process of industry, manufacture, trade or
82.34.010
[Title 82 RCW—page 238]
business, or from the development or recovery of any natural
resources.
(3) "Treatment works" or "control device" shall mean
any machinery, equipment, structure or property which is
installed, constructed or acquired for the primary purpose of
controlling air or water pollution and shall include, but shall
not be limited to such devices as precipitators, scrubbers,
towers, filters, baghouses, incinerators, evaporators, reservoirs, aerators used for the purpose of treating, stabilizing,
incinerating, holding, removing or isolating sewage and
industrial wastes.
(4) "Disposal system" shall mean any system containing
treatment works or control devices and includes but is not
limited to pipelines, outfalls, conduits, pumping stations,
force mains, solids handling equipment, instrumentation and
monitoring equipment, ducts, fans, vents, hoods and conveyors and all other construction, devices, appurtenances and
facilities used for collecting or conducting, sewage and
industrial waste to a point of disposal, treatment or isolation
except that which is necessary to manufacture of products.
(5) "Certificate" shall mean a pollution control tax
exemption and credit certificate for which application has
been made not later than December 31, 1969, except as follows:
(a) With respect to a facility required to be installed, such
application will be deemed timely made if made not later than
November 30, 1981, and within one year after the effective
date of specific requirements for such facility promulgated by
the appropriate control agency.
(b) With respect to a water pollution control facility for
which an application was made in anticipation of specific
requirements for such facility being promulgated by the
appropriate control agency, an application will be deemed
timely made if made during November, 1981, and subsequently denied, and if an appeal of the agency’s denial of the
application was filed in a timely manner.
(c) With respect to a facility for which plans and specifications were approved by the appropriate control agency, an
application will be deemed timely made if made during
November, 1981, and subsequently denied, and if an appeal
of the agency’s denial of the application was filed in a timely
manner.
(d) For the purposes of (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection,
"facility" means a facility installed in an industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility, or other commercial establishment which is in operation or under construction as of July
30, 1967.
(6) "Appropriate control agency" shall mean the department of ecology; or the operating local or regional air pollution control agency within whose jurisdiction a facility is or
will be located, or the department of ecology, where the facility is not or will not be located within the area of an operating
local or regional air pollution control agency, or where the
department of ecology has assumed jurisdiction.
(7) "Department" shall mean the department of revenue.
[1988 c 127 § 36; 1984 c 42 § 1; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 1; 1980
c 175 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 1.]
82.34.015 Limitations on the issuance of certificates
under RCW 82.34.010(5) (b) and (c). The department shall
not issue a certificate under RCW 82.34.010(5)(b) before
82.34.015
(2006 Ed.)
Pollution Control Facilities—Tax Exemptions and Credits
July 1, 1985, or before the promulgation of specific requirements for such facility by the appropriate control agency,
whichever is later. The department shall not issue a certificate
under RCW 82.34.010(5)(c) before July 1, 1985. [1984 c 42
§ 2.]
82.34.020
82.34.020 Application for certificate—Filing—
Form—Contents. An application for a certificate shall be
filed with the department not later than November 30, 1981,
and in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed by
the department. The application shall contain estimated or
actual costs, plans and specifications of the facility including
all materials incorporated or to be incorporated therein and a
list describing, and showing the cost, of all equipment
acquired or to be acquired by the applicant for the purpose of
pollution control, together with the operating procedure for
the facility, or a time schedule for the acquisition and installation or attachment of the facility and the proposed operating
procedure for such facility. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 2; 1967
ex.s. c 139 § 2.]
82.34.030
82.34.030 Approval of application by control
agency—Notice to department—Hearing—Appeal to
state air pollution control board. A certificate shall be
issued by the department within thirty days after approval of
the application by the appropriate control agency. Such
approval shall be given when it is determined that the facility
is designed and is operated or is intended to be operated primarily for the control, capture and removal of pollutants from
the air or for the control and reduction of water pollution and
that the facility is suitable, reasonably adequate, and meets
the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 RCW or chapter
90.48 RCW, as the case may be, and it shall notify the department of its findings within thirty days of the date on which
the application was submitted to it for approval. In making
such determination, the appropriate control agency shall
afford to the applicant an opportunity for a hearing: PROVIDED, That if the local or regional air pollution control
agency fails to act or if the applicant feels aggrieved by the
action of the local or regional air pollution control agency,
such applicant may appeal to the state air pollution control
board pursuant to rules and regulations established by that
board. [1967 ex.s. c 139 § 3.]
82.34.040
82.34.040 Rules. The department may adopt such rules
as it deems necessary for the administration of this chapter
subject to the provisions of RCW 34.05.310 through
34.05.395. Such rules shall not abridge the authority of the
appropriate control agency as provided in this chapter or any
other law. [1989 c 175 § 177; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 4.]
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
82.34.050
82.34.050 Original acquisition of facility exempt
from sales and use taxes—Election to take tax credit in
lieu of exemption. (1) The original acquisition of a facility
by the holder of a certificate shall be exempt from sales tax
imposed by chapter 82.08 RCW and use tax imposed by
chapter 82.12 RCW when the due date for payment of such
taxes is subsequent to the effective date of the certificate:
PROVIDED, That the exemption of this section shall not
(2006 Ed.)
82.34.060
apply to servicing, maintenance, repairs, and replacement of
parts after a facility is complete and placed in operation.
Sales and use taxes paid by a holder of a certificate with
respect to expenditures incurred for acquisition of a facility
prior to the issuance of a certificate covering such facility
may be claimed as a tax credit as provided in subsection (2)
of this section.
(2) Subsequent to July 30, 1967 the holder of the certificate may, in lieu of accepting the tax exemption provided for
in this section, elect to take a tax credit in the total amount of
the exemption for the facility covered by such certificate
against any future taxes to be paid pursuant to chapters 82.04,
82.12 and 82.16 RCW. [2000 c 103 § 12; 1975 1st ex.s. c 158
§ 1; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 5.]
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 158: "The provisions of this amendatory act shall be applicable with respect to applications for a pollution control
tax exemption and credit certificate made to the department of revenue on or
after January 1, 1975." [1975 1st ex.s. c 158 § 5.]
82.34.060
82.34.060 Application for final cost determination as
to existing or new facility—Filing—Form—Contents—
Approval—Determination of costs—Credits against
taxes imposed by chapters 82.04, 82.12, 82.16 RCW—
Limitations. (1) On and after July 30, 1967, an application
for a determination of the cost of an existing or newly completed pollution control facility may be filed with the department in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed
by the department. The application shall contain the final cost
figures for the installation of the facility and reasonable supporting documents and other proof as required by the department. In the event such facility is not already covered by a
certificate issued for the purpose of authorizing the tax
exemption or credit provided for in this chapter, the department shall seek the approval of the facility from the appropriate control agency. For any application for a certificate or
supplement which was filed with the department not later
than November 30, 1981, the department shall determine the
final cost of the pollution control facility and issue a supplement to the existing certificate or an original certificate stating the cost of the pollution control facility: PROVIDED,
That the cost of an existing pollution control facility shall be
the depreciated value thereof at the time of application filed
pursuant to this section.
(2) When the operation of a facility has commenced and
a certificate pertaining thereto has been issued, a credit may
be claimed against taxes imposed pursuant to chapters 82.04,
82.12 and 82.16 RCW. The amount of such credit shall be
two percent of the cost of a facility covered by the certificate
for each year the certificate remains in force. Such credits
shall be cumulative and shall be subject only to the following
limitations:
(a) No credit exceeding fifty percent of the taxes payable
under chapters 82.04, 82.12 and 82.16 RCW shall be allowed
in any reporting period;
(b) The net commercial value of any materials captured
or recovered through use of a facility shall, first, reduce the
credit allowable in the current reporting period and thereafter
be applied to reduce any credit balance allowed and not yet
utilized: PROVIDED, That for the purposes of this chapter
the determination of "net commercial value" shall not include
a deduction for the cost or depreciation of the facility.
[Title 82 RCW—page 239]
82.34.090
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(c) The total cumulative amount of such credits allowed
for any facility covered by a certificate shall not exceed fifty
percent of the cost of such facility.
(d) The total cumulative amount of credits against state
taxes authorized by this chapter shall be reduced by the total
amount of any federal investment credit or other federal tax
credit actually received by the certificate holder applicable to
the facility. This reduction shall be made as an offset against
the credit claimed in the first reporting period following the
allowance of such investment credit, and thereafter as an offset against any credit balance as it shall become available to
the certificate holder.
(3) Applicants and certificate holders shall provide the
department with information showing the net commercial
value of materials captured or recovered by a facility and
shall make all pertinent books and records available for
examination by the department for the purposes of determining the credit provided by this chapter. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 9 §
3; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 6.]
82.34.090
82.34.090 Certified mail—Use of in sending certificates or notice of refusal to issue certificates. The department shall send a certificate or supplement when issued, by
certified mail to the applicant. Notice of the department’s
refusal to issue a certificate or supplement shall likewise be
sent to the applicant by certified mail. [1967 ex.s. c 139 § 9.]
82.34.100
82.34.100 Revision of prior findings of appropriate
control agency—Grounds for modification or revocation
of certificate or supplement—Exemptions from revocation. (1) The department of ecology, after notice to the
department and the applicant and after affording the applicant
an opportunity for a hearing, shall, on its own initiative or on
complaint of the local or regional air pollution control agency
in which an air pollution control facility is located, or is
expected to be located, revise the prior findings of the appropriate control agency whenever any of the following appears:
(a) The certificate or supplement thereto was obtained by
fraud or misrepresentation, or the holder of the certificate has
failed substantially without good cause to proceed with the
construction, reconstruction, installation or acquisition of a
facility or without good cause has failed substantially to operate the facility for the purpose specified by the appropriate
control agency in which case the department shall modify or
revoke the certificate. If the certificate and/or supplement are
revoked, all applicable taxes from which an exemption has
been secured under this chapter or against which the credit
provided for by this chapter has been claimed shall be immediately due and payable with the maximum interest and penalties prescribed by applicable law. No statute of limitations
shall operate in the event of fraud or misrepresentation.
(b) The facility covered by the certificate or supplement
thereto is no longer operated primarily for the purpose of the
control or reduction of water pollution or the control, capture,
and removal of pollutants from the air, as the case may be, or
is no longer suitable or reasonably adequate to meet the intent
and purposes of chapter 70.94 RCW or chapter 90.48 RCW,
in which case the certificate shall be modified or revoked.
(2) A certificate, or supplement thereto, issued pursuant
to RCW 82.34.030 may not be revoked if:
[Title 82 RCW—page 240]
(a) The facility is modified, but is still operated primarily
for the purpose of the control or reduction of water pollution
or the control, capture, and removal of pollutants from the air
and is reasonably adequate to meet the intent and purposes of
chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;
(b) The facility is replaced by a new or different facility
that is still operated primarily for the purpose of the control or
reduction of water pollution or the control, capture, and
removal of pollutants from the air and is reasonably adequate
to meet the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48
RCW;
(c) The facility is modified or removed as a result of an
alteration of the production process and the alteration results
in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;
(d) The industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility,
or other commercial establishment in which the facility was
installed ceases operations and the cessation of operation
results in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and
purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;
(e) Part of an industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal,
utility, or other commercial establishment in which the facility was installed ceases operations and the cessation of operation results in reasonably adequate compliance with the
intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW; or
(f) The industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility,
or other commercial establishment in which the facility was
installed is altered and the alteration results in reasonably
adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter
70.94 or 90.48 RCW.
(3) Upon the date of mailing by certified mail to the certificate holder of notice of the action of the department modifying or revoking a certificate or supplement, the certificate
or supplement shall cease to be in force or shall remain in
force only as modified. [1998 c 9 § 1; 1988 c 127 § 37; 1967
ex.s. c 139 § 10.]
82.34.110
82.34.110 Administrative and judicial review.
Administrative and judicial review of a decision of the control agency or the department shall be in accordance with the
applicable provisions of chapters 34.05, 43.21B, 82.03, and
82.32 RCW, as now or hereafter amended. [1975 1st ex.s. c
158 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 11.]
Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 158: See note following RCW
82.34.050.
82.34.900
82.34.900 Severability—1967 ex.s. c 139. If any
phrase, clause, subsection or section of this act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be conclusively presumed that the
legislature would have enacted this act without the phrase,
clause, subsection or section so held unconstitutional or
invalid and the remainder of the act shall not be affected as a
result of said part being held unconstitutional or invalid.
[1967 ex.s. c 139 § 12.]
82.34.901
82.34.901 Severability—1981 2nd ex.s. c 9. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the applica(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
tion of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 5.]
Chapter 82.36
Chapter 82.36 RCW
MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL TAX
82.36.310
82.36.320
82.36.330
82.36.335
82.36.340
82.36.350
82.36.360
82.36.370
Sections
82.36.010
82.36.020
82.36.025
82.36.026
82.36.027
82.36.029
82.36.031
82.36.032
82.36.035
82.36.040
82.36.042
82.36.044
82.36.045
82.36.047
82.36.050
82.36.060
82.36.070
82.36.075
82.36.080
82.36.090
82.36.095
82.36.100
82.36.110
82.36.120
82.36.130
82.36.140
82.36.150
82.36.160
82.36.170
82.36.180
82.36.190
82.36.200
82.36.210
82.36.230
82.36.240
82.36.245
82.36.250
82.36.260
82.36.270
82.36.273
82.36.275
82.36.280
82.36.285
82.36.290
82.36.300
82.36.305
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Tax levied and imposed—Rate to be computed—Incidence—
Distribution.
Motor vehicle fuel tax rate—Expiration of subsection.
Remittance of tax.
Liability of terminal operator for remittance.
Deductions—Handling losses—Reports.
Periodic tax reports—Forms—Filing.
Penalty for filing fraudulent tax report.
Computation and payment of tax—Remittance—Electronic
funds transfer.
Payment of tax—Penalty for delinquency.
Notice by supplier of distributor’s failure to pay tax—License
suspension—Notice to suppliers—Revocation or suspension
upon continued noncompliance.
Credit for worthless accounts receivable—Report—Adjustment.
Licensees, persons acting as licensees—Tax reports—Deficiencies, failure to file, fraudulent filings, misappropriation,
or conversion—Penalties, liability—Mitigation—Reassessment petition, hearing—Notice.
Assessments—Warrant—Lien—Filing fee—Writs of execution and garnishment.
Date of mailing deemed date of filing or receipt—Timely
mailing bars penalties and tolls statutory time limitations.
Application for license—Federal certificate of registry—
Investigation—Fee—Penalty for false statement—Bond or
security—Cancellation.
Issuance of license—Display—Refusal of issuance—Inspection of records.
Reports by persons other than licensees—Department requirements—Forms.
Penalty for acting without license—Separate licenses for separate activities—Default assessment.
Discontinuance, sale, or transfer of business—Notice—Payment of taxes, interest, penalties—Overpayment refunds.
Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice.
Tax required of persons not classed as licensees—Duties—
Procedure—Distribution of proceeds—Penalties—Enforcement.
Delinquency—Lien of tax—Notice.
Delinquency—Notice to debtors—Transfer or disposition of
property, credits, or debts prohibited—Lien—Answer.
Delinquency—Tax warrant.
State may pursue remedy against licensee or bond.
Records to be kept by licensees—Inventory—Statement.
Records to be preserved by licensees and dealers.
Additional reports—Filing.
Examinations and investigations.
Suspension, revocation, cancellation of licenses—Notice.
Carriers of motor vehicle fuel—Examination of records,
stocks, etc.
Carriers of motor vehicle fuel—Invoice, bill of sale, etc.,
required—Inspections.
Exemptions—Imports, exports, federal sales—Invoice—Certificate—Reporting.
Sales to state or political subdivisions not exempt.
Exemption—Sales to foreign diplomatic and consular missions.
Nongovernmental use of fuels, etc., acquired from United
States government—Tax—Unlawful to procure or use.
Extension of time for filing exportation certificates or claiming
exemptions.
Refund permit.
Refunds to licensee for fuel purchased by exempt person—
Exception—Invoice or proof.
Refunds for urban transportation systems.
Refunds for nonhighway use of fuel.
Refunds for transit services to persons with special transportation needs by nonprofit transportation providers.
Refunds for use in manufacturing, cleaning, dyeing.
Refunds on exported fuel.
Refunds to dealer delivering fuel exclusively for marine use—
Limitations—Supporting certificate.
82.36.373
82.36.375
82.36.380
82.36.390
82.36.400
82.36.407
82.36.410
82.36.415
82.36.420
82.36.430
82.36.435
82.36.440
82.36.450
82.36.460
82.36.470
82.36.475
82.36.480
82.36.485
82.36.490
82.36.495
82.36.800
82.36.900
82.36.901
82.36.010
Claim of refund.
Information may be required.
Payment of refunds—Interest—Penalty.
Credits on tax in lieu of collection and refund.
Examination of books and records.
Fraudulent invoices—Penalty.
Separate invoices for nontaxed fuel.
Refunds for fuel lost or destroyed through fire, flood, leakage,
etc.
Refund for worthless accounts receivable—Rules—Apportionment after receipt.
Time limitation on erroneous payment credits or refunds and
notices of additional tax.
Violations—Penalties.
Diversion of export fuel—Penalty.
Other offenses—Penalties.
Tax liability of user—Payment—Exceptions.
Revenue to motor vehicle fund.
Refund to aeronautics account.
Disposition of fees, fines, penalties.
Enforcement.
Enforcement and administration—Rule-making authority.
State preempts tax field.
Agreement with tribe for imposition, collection, use.
Motor vehicle fuel tax cooperative agreement.
Fuel tax evasion—Seizure and forfeiture.
Fuel tax evasion—Forfeiture procedure.
Fuel tax evasion—Forfeited property.
Fuel tax evasion—Return of seized property.
Fuel tax evasion—Search and seizure.
Fuel tax evasion—Rules.
Rules—1998 c 176.
Findings—1998 c 176.
Effective date—1998 c 176.
Constitutional limitations on certain taxes, highway funds: State Constitution Art. 2 § 40.
Dispensing device label required for gasoline containing alcohol: RCW
19.94.505.
Refunds of tax on marine fuel, disposition under marine recreation land act:
Chapter 79A.25 RCW.
Tax proceeds pledged to ferry bond retirement: RCW 47.61.070, 47.61.090.
82.36.010
82.36.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Blended fuel" means a mixture of motor vehicle fuel
and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of the liquid, that can be used as a fuel to propel a motor vehicle.
(2) "Bond" means a bond duly executed with a corporate
surety qualified under chapter 48.28 RCW, which bond is
payable to the state of Washington conditioned upon faithful
performance of all requirements of this chapter, including the
payment of all taxes, penalties, and other obligations arising
out of this chapter.
(3) "Bulk transfer" means a transfer of motor vehicle fuel
by pipeline or vessel.
(4) "Bulk transfer-terminal system" means the motor
vehicle fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines, vessels, and terminals. Motor vehicle fuel in a refinery,
pipeline, vessel, or terminal is in the bulk transfer-terminal
system. Motor vehicle fuel in the fuel tank of an engine,
motor vehicle, or in a railcar, trailer, truck, or other equipment suitable for ground transportation is not in the bulk
transfer-terminal system.
(5) "Dealer" means a person engaged in the retail sale of
motor vehicle fuel.
(6) "Department" means the department of licensing.
(7) "Director" means the director of licensing.
[Title 82 RCW—page 241]
82.36.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(8) "Evasion" or "evade" means to diminish or avoid the
computation, assessment, or payment of authorized taxes or
fees through:
(a) A knowing: False statement; misrepresentation of
fact; or other act of deception; or
(b) An intentional: Omission; failure to file a return or
report; or other act of deception.
(9) "Export" means to obtain motor vehicle fuel in this
state for sales or distribution outside the state.
(10) "Highway" means every way or place open to the
use of the public, as a matter of right, for the purpose of
vehicular travel.
(11) "Import" means to bring motor vehicle fuel into this
state by a means of conveyance other than the fuel supply
tank of a motor vehicle.
(12) "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued
under this chapter.
(13) "Marine fuel dealer" means a person engaged in the
retail sale of motor vehicle fuel whose place of business
and/or sale outlet is located upon a navigable waterway.
(14) "Motor vehicle fuel blender" means a person who
produces blended motor fuel outside the bulk transfer-terminal system.
(15) "Motor vehicle fuel distributor" means a person
who acquires motor vehicle fuel from a supplier, distributor,
or licensee for subsequent sale and distribution.
(16) "Motor vehicle fuel exporter" means a person who
purchases motor vehicle fuel in this state and directly exports
the fuel by a means other than the bulk transfer-terminal system to a destination outside of the state. If the exporter of
record is acting as an agent, the person for whom the agent is
acting is the exporter. If there is no exporter of record, the
owner of the motor fuel at the time of exportation is the
exporter.
(17) "Motor vehicle fuel importer" means a person who
imports motor vehicle fuel into the state by a means other
than the bulk transfer-terminal system. If the importer of
record is acting as an agent, the person for whom the agent is
acting is the importer. If there is no importer of record, the
owner of the motor vehicle fuel at the time of importation is
the importer.
(18) "Motor vehicle fuel supplier" means a person who
holds a federal certificate of registry that is issued under the
internal revenue code and authorizes the person to enter into
federal tax-free transactions on motor vehicle fuel in the bulk
transfer-terminal system.
(19) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle
designed for operation upon land utilizing motor vehicle fuel
as the means of propulsion.
(20) "Motor vehicle fuel" means gasoline and any other
inflammable gas or liquid, by whatsoever name the gasoline,
gas, or liquid may be known or sold, the chief use of which is
as fuel for the propulsion of motor vehicles or motorboats.
(21) "Person" means a natural person, fiduciary, association, or corporation. The term "person" as applied to an association means and includes the partners or members thereof,
and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof.
(22) "Position holder" means a person who holds the
inventory position in motor vehicle fuel, as reflected by the
records of the terminal operator. A person holds the inventory
position in motor vehicle fuel if the person has a contractual
[Title 82 RCW—page 242]
agreement with the terminal for the use of storage facilities
and terminating services at a terminal with respect to motor
vehicle fuel. "Position holder" includes a terminal operator
that owns motor vehicle fuel in their terminal.
(23) "Rack" means a mechanism for delivering motor
vehicle fuel from a refinery or terminal into a truck, trailer,
railcar, or other means of nonbulk transfer.
(24) "Refiner" means a person who owns, operates, or
otherwise controls a refinery.
(25) "Removal" means a physical transfer of motor vehicle fuel other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction.
(26) "Terminal" means a motor vehicle fuel storage and
distribution facility that has been assigned a terminal control
number by the internal revenue service, is supplied by pipeline or vessel, and from which reportable motor vehicle fuel
is removed at a rack.
(27) "Terminal operator" means a person who owns,
operates, or otherwise controls a terminal.
(28) "Two-party exchange" or "buy-sell agreement"
means a transaction in which taxable motor vehicle fuel is
transferred from one licensed supplier to another licensed
supplier under an exchange or buy-sell agreement whereby
the supplier that is the position holder agrees to deliver taxable motor vehicle fuel to the other supplier or the other supplier’s customer at the rack of the terminal at which the delivering supplier is the position holder. [2001 c 270 § 1; 1998 c
176 § 6. Prior: 1995 c 287 § 1; 1995 c 274 § 20; 1993 c 54 §
1; 1991 c 339 § 13; 1990 c 250 § 79; 1987 c 174 § 1; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 49 § 25; 1981 c 342 § 1; 1979 c 158 § 223; 1977 ex.s.
c 317 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 156 § 1; 1967 c 153 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c
79 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.010; prior: 1939 c 177 § 1; 1933 c
58 § 1; RRS § 8327-1; prior: 1921 c 173 § 1.]
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
Effective date—1987 c 174: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1,
1987." [1987 c 174 § 8.]
Severability—Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 49: See RCW
36.79.900 and 36.79.901.
Effective date—1981 c 342: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1981. This act shall only take effect upon the passage of Senate Bills No.
3669 and 3699, and if Senate Bills No. 3669 and 3699 are not both enacted
by the 1981 regular session of the legislature this amendatory act shall be
null and void in its entirety." [1981 c 342 § 12.] Senate Bills No. 3669 and
3699 became 1981 c 315 and 1981 c 316, respectively.
Severability—1981 c 342: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1981 c 342 § 13.]
Effective dates—1977 ex.s. c 317: "This 1977 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect on July 1, 1977, except for section 9, which shall take effect
on September 1, 1977." [1977 ex.s. c 317 § 24.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 317: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 317 § 23.]
82.36.020
82.36.020 Tax levied and imposed—Rate to be computed—Incidence—Distribution. (1) There is hereby levied and imposed upon motor vehicle fuel users a tax at the
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
rate computed in the manner provided in RCW 82.36.025 on
each gallon of motor vehicle fuel.
(2) The tax imposed by subsection (1) of this section is
imposed when any of the following occurs:
(a) Motor vehicle fuel is removed in this state from a terminal if the motor vehicle fuel is removed at the rack unless
the removal is to a licensed exporter for direct delivery to a
destination outside of the state;
(b) Motor vehicle fuel is removed in this state from a
refinery if either of the following applies:
(i) The removal is by bulk transfer and the refiner or the
owner of the motor vehicle fuel immediately before the
removal is not a licensee; or
(ii) The removal is at the refinery rack unless the
removal is to a licensed exporter for direct delivery to a destination outside of the state;
(c) Motor vehicle fuel enters into this state for sale, consumption, use, or storage if either of the following applies:
(i) The entry is by bulk transfer and the importer is not a
licensee; or
(ii) The entry is not by bulk transfer;
(d) Motor vehicle fuel is sold or removed in this state to
an unlicensed entity unless there was a prior taxable removal,
entry, or sale of the motor vehicle fuel;
(e) Blended motor vehicle fuel is removed or sold in this
state by the blender of the fuel. The number of gallons of
blended motor vehicle fuel subject to the tax is the difference
between the total number of gallons of blended motor vehicle
fuel removed or sold and the number of gallons of previously
taxed motor vehicle fuel used to produce the blended motor
vehicle fuel;
(f) Motor vehicle fuel is sold by a licensed motor vehicle
fuel supplier to a motor vehicle fuel distributor, motor vehicle
fuel importer, or motor vehicle fuel blender and the motor
vehicle fuel is not removed from the bulk transfer-terminal
system.
(3) The proceeds of the motor vehicle fuel excise tax
shall be distributed as provided in RCW 46.68.090. [2001 c
270 § 2; 2000 c 103 § 13; 1998 c 176 § 7; 1983 1st ex.s. c 49
§ 26; 1982 1st ex.s. c 6 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 317 § 2; 1974 ex.s. c
28 § 1. Prior: 1973 1st ex.s. c 160 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 124 §
2; 1972 ex.s. c 24 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 85 § 3; 1967 ex.s. c 145 §
75; 1967 ex.s. c 83 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 2; 1963 c 113 § 1;
1961 ex.s. c 7 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.020; prior: 1957 c 247
§ 1; 1955 c 207 § 1; 1951 c 269 § 43; 1949 c 220 § 7; 1939 c
177 § 2; 1933 c 58 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-5; prior:
1931 c 140 § 2; 1923 c 81 § 1; 1921 c 173 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 49: See RCW
36.79.900 and 36.79.901.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 317: See notes following
RCW 82.36.010.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 85: See note following RCW 47.60.500.
Disbursal and release of funds—1967 ex.s. c 83: "All funds heretofore accumulated and undistributed to any city and town by reason of the
matching requirements of the 1961 amendatory provisions in RCW
82.36.020 and 82.40.290 shall be immediately disbursed and released for use
in accordance with the 1967 amendatory provisions of RCW 82.36.020 and
82.40.290.
This section is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing
public institutions and shall take effect immediately." [1967 ex.s. c 83 § 63.]
Severability—Effective dates—1967 ex.s. c 83: See RCW 47.26.900
and 47.26.910.
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.025
82.36.025 Motor vehicle fuel tax rate—Expiration of
subsection. (1) A motor vehicle fuel tax rate of twenty-three
cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of
motor vehicle fuel.
(2) Beginning July 1, 2003, an additional and cumulative
motor vehicle fuel tax rate of five cents per gallon applies to
the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel. This subsection (2) expires when the bonds issued for transportation
2003 projects are retired.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2005, an additional and cumulative
motor vehicle fuel tax rate of three cents per gallon applies to
the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
(4) Beginning July 1, 2006, an additional and cumulative
motor vehicle fuel tax rate of three cents per gallon applies to
the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
(5) Beginning July 1, 2007, an additional and cumulative
motor vehicle fuel tax rate of two cents per gallon applies to
the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
(6) Beginning July 1, 2008, an additional and cumulative
motor vehicle fuel tax rate of one and one-half cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle
fuel. [2005 c 314 § 101; 2003 c 361 § 401. Prior: 1999 c 269
§ 16; 1999 c 94 § 29; 1994 c 179 § 30; 1991 c 342 § 57; 1990
c 42 § 101; 1983 1st ex.s. c 49 § 27; 1981 c 342 § 2; 1979 c
158 § 224; 1977 ex.s. c 317 § 6.]
82.36.025
Effective date—2005 c 314 §§ 101-107, 109, 303-309, and 401: See
note following RCW 46.68.290.
Part headings not law—2005 c 314: See note following RCW
46.17.010.
Findings—2003 c 361: "The legislature finds that the state’s transportation system is in critical need of repair, restoration, and enhancement. The
state’s economy, the ability to move goods to market, and the overall mobility and safety of the citizens of the state rely on the state’s transportation system. The revenues generated by this act are dedicated to funds, accounts,
and activities that are necessary to improve the delivery of state transportation projects and services." [2003 c 361 § 101.]
Part headings not law—2003 c 361: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [2003 c 361 § 701.]
Severability—2003 c 361: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2003 c 361 § 702.]
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Effective date—1999 c 269: See note following RCW 36.78.070.
Legislative finding—Effective dates—1999 c 94: See notes following
RCW 43.84.092.
Effective dates—1991 c 342: See note following RCW 47.26.167.
Purpose of state and local transportation funding program—1990 c
42: "(1) The legislature finds that a new comprehensive funding program is
required to maintain the state’s commitment to the growing mobility needs
of its citizens and commerce. The transportation funding program is
intended to satisfy the following state policies and objectives:
(a) Statewide system: Provide for preservation of the existing statewide system and improvements for current and expected capacity needs in
rural, established urban, and growing suburban areas throughout the state;
(b) Local flexibility: Provide for necessary state highway improvements, as well as providing local governments with the option to use new
funding sources for projects meeting local and regional needs;
(c) Multimodal: Provide a source of funds that may be used for multimodal transportation purposes;
(d) Program compatibility: Implement transportation facilities and services that are consistent with adopted land use and transportation plans and
coordinated with recently authorized programs such as the act authorizing
creation of transportation benefit districts and the local transportation act of
1988;
(e) Interjurisdictional cooperation: Encourage transportation planning
and projects that are multijurisdictional in their conception, development,
[Title 82 RCW—page 243]
82.36.026
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
and benefit, recognizing that mobility problems do not respect jurisdictional
boundaries;
(f) Public and private sector: Use a state, local, and private sector partnership that equitably shares the burden of meeting transportation needs.
(2) The legislature further recognizes that the revenues currently available to the state and to counties, cities, and transit authorities for highway,
road, and street construction and preservation fall far short of the identified
need. The 1988 Washington road jurisdiction study identified a statewide
funding shortfall of between $14.6 and $19.9 billion to bring existing roads
to acceptable standards. The gap between identified transportation needs
and available revenues continues to increase. A comprehensive transportation funding program is required to meet the current and anticipated future
needs of this state.
(3) The legislature further recognizes the desirability of making certain
changes in the collection and distribution of motor vehicle excise taxes with
the following objectives: Simplifying administration and collection of the
taxes including adoption of a predictable depreciation schedule for vehicles;
simplifying the allocation of the taxes among various recipients; and the dedication of a portion of motor vehicle excise taxes for transportation purposes.
(4) The legislature, therefore, declares a need for the three-part funding
program embodied in this act: (a) Statewide funding for highways, roads,
and streets in urban and rural areas; (b) local option funding authority, available immediately, for the construction and preservation of roads, streets, and
transit improvements and facilities; and (c) the creation of a multimodal
transportation fund that is funded through dedication of a portion of motor
vehicle excise tax. This funding program is intended, by targeting certain
new revenues, to produce a significant increase in the overall capacity of the
state, county, and city transportation systems to satisfy and efficiently
accommodate the movement of people and goods." [1990 c 42 § 1.]
Headings—1990 c 42: "The index and part and section headings as
used in this act do not constitute any part of the law." [1990 c 42 § 502.]
Severability—1990 c 42: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1990 c 42 § 503.]
Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: "(1)
Sections 101 through 104, 115 through 117, 201 through 214, 405 through
411, and 503, chapter 42, Laws of 1990 are necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1,
1990.
(2) Sections 105 through 114, chapter 42, Laws of 1990 shall take
effect September 1, 1990. The additional fees in sections 105 through 108,
chapter 42, Laws of 1990 apply for all motor vehicle registrations that expire
August 31, 1991, and thereafter.
(3) Sections 301 through 303 and 305 through 328, chapter 42, Laws of
1990 shall take effect September 1, 1990, and apply to the purchase of vehicle registrations that expire August 31, 1991, and thereafter.
(4) Section 304, chapter 42, Laws of 1990 shall take effect July 1,
1991, and apply to all vehicles registered for the first time with an expiration
date of June 30, 1992, and thereafter.
(5) The director of licensing may immediately take such steps as are
necessary to ensure that the sections of chapter 42, Laws of 1990 are implemented on their effective dates.
(6) *Sections 401 through 404, chapter 42, Laws of 1990 shall take
effect September 1, 1990, only if the bonds issued under RCW 47.56.711 for
the Spokane river toll bridge have been retired or fully defeased, and shall
become null and void if the bonds have not been retired or fully defeased on
that date." [1990 c 298 § 38; 1990 c 42 § 504.]
*Reviser’s note: The bonds were fully defeased on June 1, 1990.
Severability—Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 49: See RCW
36.79.900 and 36.79.901.
Effective date—Severability—1981 c 342: See notes following RCW
82.36.010.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 317: See notes following
RCW 82.36.010.
82.36.026
82.36.026 Remittance of tax. (1) A licensed supplier
shall remit tax to the department as provided in RCW
82.36.020. On a two-party exchange, or buy-sell agreement
between two licensed suppliers, the receiving exchange partner or buyer who shall [buyer shall] remit the tax.
[Title 82 RCW—page 244]
(2) A refiner shall remit tax to the department on motor
vehicle fuel removed from a refinery as provided in RCW
82.36.020(2)(b).
(3) An importer shall remit tax to the department on
motor vehicle fuel imported into this state as provided in
RCW 82.36.020(2)(c).
(4) A blender shall remit tax to the department on the
removal or sale of blended motor vehicle fuel as provided in
RCW 82.36.020(2)(e). [2001 c 270 § 3; 1998 c 176 § 8.]
82.36.027
82.36.027 Liability of terminal operator for remittance. A terminal operator is jointly and severally liable for
remitting the tax imposed under RCW 82.36.020(1) if, at the
time of removal:
(1) The position holder with respect to the motor vehicle
fuel is a person other than the terminal operator and is not a
licensee;
(2) The terminal operator is not a licensee;
(3) The position holder has an expired internal revenue
service notification certificate issued under 26 C.F.R. Part 48;
or
(4) The terminal operator had reason to believe that
information on the notification certificate was false. [1998 c
176 § 9.]
82.36.029
82.36.029 Deductions—Handling losses—Reports.
Upon the taxable removal of motor vehicle fuel, the licensee
who acquired or removed the motor vehicle fuel, other than a
motor vehicle fuel exporter, shall be entitled to a deduction
from the tax liability on the gallonage of taxable motor vehicle fuel removed in order to account for handling losses, as
follows: For a motor vehicle fuel supplier acting as a distributor, one-quarter of one percent; and for all other licensees,
thirty one-hundredths of one percent. For those licensees
required to file tax reports, the handling loss deduction shall
be reported on tax reports filed with the department. For
motor vehicle fuel distributors, the handling loss deduction
shall be shown on the invoice provided to the motor vehicle
fuel distributor by the seller. [1998 c 176 § 10.]
82.36.031
82.36.031 Periodic tax reports—Forms--Filing. For
the purpose of determining the amount of liability for the tax
imposed under this chapter, and to periodically update license
information, each licensee, other than a motor vehicle fuel
distributor, shall file monthly tax reports with the department,
on a form prescribed by the department.
A report shall be filed with the department even though
no motor vehicle fuel tax is due for the reporting period. Each
tax report shall contain a declaration by the person making
the same, to the effect that the statements contained therein
are true and made under penalties of perjury, which declaration has the same force and effect as a verification of the
report and is in lieu of the verification. The report shall show
information as the department may require for the proper
administration and enforcement of this chapter. Tax reports
shall be filed on or before the twenty-fifth day of the next succeeding calendar month following the period to which the
reports relate. If the final filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday the next secular or business day shall be
the final filing date.
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
The department, if it deems it necessary in order to
ensure payment of the tax imposed under this chapter, or to
facilitate the administration of this chapter, may require the
filing of reports and tax remittances at shorter intervals than
one month. [1998 c 176 § 11.]
82.36.032
82.36.032 Penalty for filing fraudulent tax report. If
any licensee files a fraudulent tax report with intent to evade
the tax imposed by this chapter, there shall be added to the
amount of deficiency determined by the department a penalty
equal to twenty-five percent of the deficiency, in addition to
all other penalties prescribed by law. [1998 c 176 § 13; 1987
c 174 § 7.]
Effective date—1987 c 174: See note following RCW 82.36.010.
82.36.035
82.36.035 Computation and payment of tax—Remittance—Electronic funds transfer. (1) The tax imposed by
this chapter shall be computed by multiplying the tax rate per
gallon provided in this chapter by the number of gallons of
motor vehicle fuel subject to the motor vehicle fuel tax.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section,
tax reports shall be accompanied by a remittance payable to
the state treasurer covering the tax amount determined to be
due for the reporting period.
(3) If the tax is paid by electronic funds transfer, the tax
shall be paid on or before the twenty-sixth calendar day of the
month immediately following the reporting period. If the
payment due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday the next business day will be the payment date.
(4) The tax shall be paid by electronic funds transfer
whenever the amount due is fifty thousand dollars or more.
(5) A motor vehicle fuel distributor shall remit tax on
motor vehicle fuel purchased from a motor vehicle fuel supplier, and due to the state for that reporting period, to the
motor vehicle fuel supplier.
(6) At the election of the distributor, the payment of the
motor vehicle fuel tax owed on motor vehicle fuel purchased
from a supplier shall be remitted to the supplier on terms
agreed upon between the distributor and supplier or no later
than seven business days before the twenty-sixth day of the
following month. This election shall be subject to a condition
that the distributor’s remittances of all amounts of motor
vehicle fuel tax due to the supplier shall be paid by electronic
funds transfer. The distributor’s election may be terminated
by the supplier if the distributor does not make timely payments to the supplier as required by this section. This section
shall not apply if the distributor is required by the supplier to
pay cash or cash equivalent for motor vehicle fuel purchases.
[2005 c 260 § 1; 1998 c 176 § 12.]
Effective date—2005 c 260: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 260 § 4.]
82.36.040
82.36.040 Payment of tax—Penalty for delinquency.
If payment of any tax due is not received by the due date,
there shall be assessed a penalty of two percent of the amount
of the tax. [1991 c 339 § 2; 1989 c 378 § 24; 1987 c 174 § 4;
1977 c 28 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.040. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 3;
1955 c 207 § 3; prior: 1953 c 151 § 1; 1943 c 84 § 2, part;
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.045
1933 c 58 § 8, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 8327-8, part; prior:
1923 c 81 § 3, part; 1921 c 173 § 5, part.]
Effective date—1987 c 174: See note following RCW 82.36.010.
82.36.042
82.36.042 Notice by supplier of distributor’s failure
to pay tax—License suspension—Notice to suppliers—
Revocation or suspension upon continued noncompliance. A motor vehicle fuel supplier shall, no later than the
twentieth calendar day or next state business day after the
motor vehicle fuel tax is due from a motor vehicle fuel distributor under this chapter, notify the department of the failure of a motor vehicle fuel distributor to pay the full amount
of the tax owed.
Upon notification and submission of satisfactory evidence by a motor vehicle fuel supplier that a motor vehicle
fuel distributor has failed to pay the full amount of the tax
owed, the department may suspend the license of the motor
vehicle fuel distributor.
Upon the suspension, the department shall immediately
notify all motor vehicle fuel suppliers that the authority of the
motor vehicle fuel distributor to purchase tax-deferred motor
vehicle fuel has been suspended and all subsequent purchases
of motor vehicle fuel by the motor vehicle fuel distributor
must be tax-paid at the time of removal.
If, after notification by the department, a motor vehicle
fuel supplier continues to sell tax-deferred motor vehicle fuel
to a motor vehicle fuel distributor whose license is suspended, the motor vehicle fuel supplier’s license is subject to
revocation or suspension under RCW 82.36.190. Furthermore, if notified of a license suspension, a motor vehicle fuel
supplier is liable for any unpaid motor vehicle fuel tax owed
on motor vehicle fuel sold to a suspended motor vehicle fuel
distributor. [1998 c 176 § 14.]
82.36.044
82.36.044 Credit for worthless accounts receivable—
Report—Adjustment. A motor vehicle fuel supplier is entitled to a credit of the tax paid over to the department on those
sales of motor vehicle fuel for which the supplier has
received no consideration from or on behalf of the purchaser.
The amount of the tax credit shall not exceed the amount of
tax imposed by this chapter on such sales. Such credit may be
taken on a tax return subsequent to the tax return on which the
tax was paid over to the department. If a credit has been
granted under this section, any amounts collected for application against accounts on which such a credit is based shall be
reported on a subsequent tax return filed after such collection,
and the amount of credit received by the supplier based upon
the collected amount shall be returned to the department. In
the event the credit has not been paid, the amount of the credit
requested by the supplier shall be adjusted by the department
to reflect the decrease in the amount on which the claim is
based. [1998 c 176 § 15.]
82.36.045
82.36.045 Licensees, persons acting as licensees—
Tax reports—Deficiencies, failure to file, fraudulent filings, misappropriation, or conversion—Penalties, liability—Mitigation—Reassessment petition, hearing—
Notice. (1) If the department determines that the tax reported
by a licensee is deficient, the department shall assess the defi[Title 82 RCW—page 245]
82.36.047
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ciency on the basis of information available to it, and shall
add a penalty of two percent of the amount of the deficiency.
(2) If a licensee, or person acting as such, fails, neglects,
or refuses to file a motor vehicle fuel tax report the department shall, on the basis of information available to it, determine the tax liability of the licensee or person for the period
during which no report was filed. The department shall add
the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section to the
tax. An assessment made by the department under this subsection or subsection (1) of this section is presumed to be correct. In any case, where the validity of the assessment is questioned, the burden is on the person who challenges the assessment to establish by a fair preponderance of evidence that it
is erroneous or excessive, as the case may be.
(3) If a licensee or person acting as such files a false or
fraudulent report with intent to evade the tax imposed by this
chapter, the department shall add to the amount of deficiency
a penalty equal to twenty-five percent of the deficiency, in
addition to the penalty provided in subsections (1) and (2) of
this section and all other penalties prescribed by law.
(4) Motor vehicle fuel tax, penalties, and interest payable
under this chapter bears interest at the rate of one percent per
month, or fraction thereof, from the first day of the calendar
month after the amount or any portion of it should have been
paid until the date of payment. If a licensee or person acting
as such establishes by a fair preponderance of evidence that
the failure to pay the amount of tax due was attributable to
reasonable cause and was not intentional or willful, the
department may waive the penalty. The department may
waive the interest when it determines the cost of processing
or collection of the interest exceeds the amount of interest
due.
(5) Except in the case of a fraudulent report, neglect or
refusal to make a report, or failure to pay or to pay the proper
amount, the department shall assess the deficiency under subsection (1) or (2) of this section within five years from the last
day of the succeeding calendar month after the reporting
period for which the amount is proposed to be determined or
within five years after the return is filed, whichever period
expires later.
(6) Except in the case of violations of filing a false or
fraudulent report, if the department deems mitigation of penalties and interest to be reasonable and in the best interest of
carrying out the purpose of this chapter, it may mitigate such
assessments upon whatever terms the department deems
proper, giving consideration to the degree and extent of the
lack of records and reporting errors. The department may
ascertain the facts regarding recordkeeping and payment penalties in lieu of more elaborate proceedings under this chapter.
(7) A licensee or person acting as such against whom an
assessment is made under subsection (1) or (2) of this section
may petition for a reassessment within thirty days after service upon the licensee of notice of the assessment. If the petition is not filed within the thirty-day period, the amount of the
assessment becomes final at the expiration of that period.
If a petition for reassessment is filed within the thirtyday period, the department shall reconsider the assessment
and, if the petitioner has so requested in its petition, shall
grant the petitioner an oral hearing and give the petitioner
twenty days’ notice of the time and place of the hearing. The
[Title 82 RCW—page 246]
department may continue the hearing from time to time. The
decision of the department upon a petition for reassessment
becomes final thirty days after service of notice upon the petitioner.
An assessment made by the department becomes due and
payable when it becomes final. If it is not paid to the department when due and payable, the department shall add a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the tax.
(8) In a suit brought to enforce the rights of the state
under this chapter, the assessment showing the amount of
taxes, penalties, interest, and cost unpaid to the state is prima
facie evidence of the facts as shown.
(9) A notice of assessment required by this section must
be served personally or by certified or registered mail. If it is
served by mail, service shall be made by deposit of the notice
in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respondent at the most current address furnished to the
department.
(10) The tax imposed by this chapter, if required to be
collected by the seller, is held in trust by the licensee until
paid to the department, and a licensee who appropriates or
converts the tax collected to his or her own use or to any use
other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the money
required to be collected is not available for payment on the
due date as prescribed in this chapter is guilty of a felony, or
gross misdemeanor in accordance with the theft and anticipatory provisions of Title 9A RCW. A person, partnership, corporation, or corporate officer who fails to collect the tax
imposed by this section, or who has collected the tax and fails
to pay it to the department in the manner prescribed by this
chapter, is personally liable to the state for the amount of the
tax. [1998 c 176 § 16; 1996 c 104 § 2; 1991 c 339 § 1.]
82.36.047
82.36.047 Assessments—Warrant—Lien—Filing
fee—Writs of execution and garnishment. When an
assessment becomes final in accordance with this chapter, the
department may file with the clerk of any county within the
state a warrant in the amount of the assessment of taxes, penalties, interest, and a filing fee under RCW 36.18.012(10).
The clerk of the county in which the warrant is filed shall
immediately designate a superior court cause number for the
warrant, and the clerk shall cause to be entered in the judgment docket under the superior court cause number assigned
to the warrant the name of the licensee or person mentioned
in the warrant, the amount of the tax, penalties, interest, and
filing fee, and the date when the warrant was filed. The
aggregate amount of the warrant as docketed becomes a lien
upon the title to and interest in all real and personal property
of the named person against whom the warrant is issued, the
same as a judgment in a civil case duly docketed in the office
of the clerk. The warrant so docketed is sufficient to support
the issuance of writs of execution and writs of garnishment in
favor of the state in the manner provided by law in the case of
a civil judgment, wholly or partially unsatisfied. The clerk of
the court is entitled to a filing fee under RCW 36.18.012(10).
[2001 c 146 § 13; 1998 c 176 § 17; 1991 c 339 § 4.]
82.36.050
82.36.050 Date of mailing deemed date of filing or
receipt—Timely mailing bars penalties and tolls statutory
time limitations. When any application, report, notice, pay(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
ment, or claim for credit or refund to be filed with or made to
any officer, agent, or employee of the state under the provisions of this chapter has been deposited in the United States
mail addressed to such officer, agent or employee, it shall be
deemed filed or received on the date shown by the post office
cancellation mark on the envelope containing it or on the date
it was mailed if proof satisfactory to said officer, agent, or
employee of the state establishes that the actual mailing
occurred on an earlier date: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That
no penalty for delinquency shall attach, nor will the statutory
period be deemed to have elapsed in the case of credit or
refund claims, if it is established by competent evidence that
such application, report, notice, payment, or claim for credit
or refund was timely deposited in the United States mail
properly addressed to said officer, agent, or employee of the
state, even though never received if a duplicate of such document or payment is filed. [1961 c 15 § 82.36.050. Prior:
1957 c 247 § 4; 1947 c 135 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 8327-8a.]
82.36.060
82.36.060 Application for license—Federal certificate of registry—Investigation—Fee—Penalty for false
statement—Bond or security—Cancellation. (1) An application for a license issued under this chapter shall be made to
the department on forms to be furnished by the department
and shall contain such information as the department deems
necessary.
(2) Every application for a license must contain the following information to the extent it applies to the applicant:
(a) Proof as the department may require concerning the
applicant’s identity, including but not limited to his or her
fingerprints or those of the officers of a corporation making
the application;
(b) The applicant’s form and place of organization
including proof that the individual, partnership, or corporation is licensed to do business in this state;
(c) The qualification and business history of the applicant and any partner, officer, or director;
(d) The applicant’s financial condition or history including a bank reference and whether the applicant or any partner,
officer, or director has ever been adjudged bankrupt or has an
unsatisfied judgment in a federal or state court;
(e) Whether the applicant has been adjudged guilty of a
crime that directly relates to the business for which the
license is sought and the time elapsed since the conviction is
less than ten years, or has suffered a judgment within the preceding five years in a civil action involving fraud, misrepresentation, or conversion and in the case of a corporation or
partnership, all directors, officers, or partners.
(3) An applicant for a license as a motor vehicle fuel
importer must list on the application each state, province, or
country from which the applicant intends to import motor
vehicle fuel and, if required by the state, province, or country
listed, must be licensed or registered for motor vehicle fuel
tax purposes in that state, province, or country.
(4) An applicant for a license as a motor vehicle fuel
exporter must list on the application each state, province, or
country to which the exporter intends to export motor vehicle
fuel received in this state by means of a transfer outside of the
bulk transfer-terminal system and, if required by the state,
province, or country listed, must be licensed or registered for
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.060
motor vehicle fuel tax purposes in that state, province, or
country.
(5) An applicant for a license as a motor vehicle fuel supplier must have a federal certificate of registry that is issued
under the internal revenue code and authorizes the applicant
to enter into federal tax-free transactions on motor vehicle
fuel in the terminal transfer system.
(6) After receipt of an application for a license, the director may conduct an investigation to determine whether the
facts set forth are true. The director shall require a fingerprint
record check of the applicant through the Washington state
patrol criminal identification system and the federal bureau
of investigation before issuance of a license. The results of
the background investigation including criminal history
information may be released to authorized department personnel as the director deems necessary. The department shall
charge a license holder or license applicant a fee of fifty dollars for each background investigation conducted.
An applicant who makes a false statement of a material
fact on the application may be prosecuted for false swearing
as defined by RCW 9A.72.040.
(7) Except as provided by subsection (8) of this section,
before granting any license issued under this chapter, the
department shall require applicant to file with the department,
in such form as shall be prescribed by the department, a corporate surety bond duly executed by the applicant as principal, payable to the state and conditioned for faithful performance of all the requirements of this chapter, including the
payment of all taxes, penalties, and other obligations arising
out of this chapter. The total amount of the bond or bonds
shall be fixed by the department and may be increased or
reduced by the department at any time subject to the limitations herein provided. In fixing the total amount of the bond
or bonds, the department shall require a bond or bonds equivalent in total amount to twice the estimated monthly excise
tax determined in such manner as the department may deem
proper. If at any time the estimated excise tax to become due
during the succeeding month amounts to more than fifty percent of the established bond, the department shall require
additional bonds or securities to maintain the marginal ratio
herein specified or shall demand excise tax payments to be
made weekly or semimonthly to meet the requirements
hereof.
The total amount of the bond or bonds required of any
licensee shall never be less than five thousand dollars nor
more than one hundred thousand dollars.
No recoveries on any bond or the execution of any new
bond shall invalidate any bond and no revocation of any
license shall effect the validity of any bond but the total
recoveries under any one bond shall not exceed the amount of
the bond.
In lieu of any such bond or bonds in total amount as
herein fixed, a licensee may deposit with the state treasurer,
under such terms and conditions as the department may prescribe, a like amount of lawful money of the United States or
bonds or other obligations of the United States, the state, or
any county of the state, of an actual market value not less than
the amount so fixed by the department.
Any surety on a bond furnished by a licensee as provided
herein shall be released and discharged from any and all liability to the state accruing on such bond after the expiration
[Title 82 RCW—page 247]
82.36.070
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
of thirty days from the date upon which such surety has
lodged with the department a written request to be released
and discharged, but this provision shall not operate to relieve,
release, or discharge the surety from any liability already
accrued or which shall accrue before the expiration of the
thirty day period. The department shall promptly, upon
receiving any such request, notify the licensee who furnished
the bond; and unless the licensee, on or before the expiration
of the thirty day period, files a new bond, or makes a deposit
in accordance with the requirements of this section, the
department shall forthwith cancel the license. Whenever a
new bond is furnished by a licensee, the department shall
cancel the old bond as soon as the department and the attorney general are satisfied that all liability under the old bond
has been fully discharged.
The department may require a licensee to give a new or
additional surety bond or to deposit additional securities of
the character specified in this section if, in its opinion, the
security of the surety bond theretofore filed by such licensee,
or the market value of the properties deposited as security by
the licensee, shall become impaired or inadequate; and upon
the failure of the licensee to give such new or additional
surety bond or to deposit additional securities within thirty
days after being requested so to do by the department, the
department shall forthwith cancel his or her license.
(8) The department may waive the requirements of subsection (7) of this section for licensed distributors if, upon
determination by the department, the licensed distributor has
sufficient resources, assets, other financial instruments, or
other means, to adequately make payments on the estimated
monthly motor vehicle fuel tax payments, penalties, and
interest arising out of this chapter. The department shall
adopt rules to administer this subsection. [2001 c 270 § 5;
1998 c 176 § 18; 1996 c 104 § 3; 1994 c 262 § 19; 1973 c 96
§ 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.060. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 2; RRS §
8327-2.]
82.36.070 Issuance of license—Display—Refusal of
issuance—Inspection of records. The application in proper
form having been accepted for filing, the filing fee paid, and
the bond or other security having been accepted and
approved, the department shall issue to the applicant the
appropriate license, and such license shall be valid until canceled or revoked.
The license so issued by the department shall not be
assignable, and shall be valid only for the person in whose
name issued.
Each licensee shall be assigned a license number, and the
department shall issue to each licensee a license certificate
which shall be displayed conspicuously at his or her principal
place of business. The department may refuse to issue or may
revoke a motor vehicle fuel license, to a person:
(1) Who formerly held a motor vehicle fuel license that,
before the time of filing for application, has been revoked or
canceled for cause;
(2) Who is a subterfuge for the real party in interest
whose license has been revoked or canceled for cause;
(3) Who, as an individual licensee or officer, director,
owner, or managing employee of a nonindividual licensee,
has had a motor vehicle fuel license revoked or canceled for
cause;
82.36.070
[Title 82 RCW—page 248]
(4) Who has an unsatisfied debt to the state assessed
under either chapter 82.36, 82.38, 82.42, or 46.87 RCW;
(5) Who formerly held as an individual, officer, director,
owner, managing employee of a nonindividual licensee, or
subterfuge for a real party in interest, a license issued by the
federal government or a state that allowed a person to buy or
sell untaxed motor vehicle or special fuel, which license,
before the time of filing for application, has been revoked for
cause;
(6) Who pled guilty to or was convicted as an individual,
corporate officer, director, owner, or managing employee in
this or any other state or in any federal jurisdiction of a gross
misdemeanor or felony crime directly related to the business
or has been subject to a civil judgment involving fraud, misrepresentation, conversion, or dishonesty, notwithstanding
chapter 9.96A RCW;
(7) Who misrepresented or concealed a material fact in
obtaining a license or in reinstatement thereof;
(8) Who violated a statute or administrative rule regulating fuel taxation or distribution;
(9) Who failed to cooperate with the department’s investigations by:
(a) Not furnishing papers or documents;
(b) Not furnishing in writing a full and complete explanation regarding a matter under investigation by the department; or
(c) Not responding to subpoenas issued by the department, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the subject of the proceeding;
(10) Who failed to comply with an order issued by the
director; or
(11) Upon other sufficient cause being shown.
Before such a refusal or revocation, the department shall
grant the applicant a hearing and shall give the applicant at
least twenty days’ written notice of the time and place of the
hearing.
For the purpose of considering an application for a
license issued under this chapter, the department may inspect,
cause an inspection, investigate, or cause an investigation of
the records of this or any other state or of the federal government to ascertain the veracity of the information on the application form and the applicant’s criminal and licensing history.
The department may, in the exercise of reasonable discretion, suspend a motor vehicle fuel license at any time
before and pending such a hearing for unpaid taxes or reasonable cause. [1998 c 176 § 19; 1998 c 115 § 2; 1996 c 104 §
4; 1994 c 262 § 20; 1973 c 96 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 3; 1961
c 15 § 82.36.070. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 5; 1955 c 207 § 4; prior:
1933 c 58 § 3, part; RRS § 8327-3, part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1998 c 115 § 2 and by
1998 c 176 § 19, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
82.36.075
82.36.075 Reports by persons other than licensees—
Department requirements—Forms. The department may
require a person other than a licensee engaged in the business
of selling, purchasing, distributing, storing, transporting, or
delivering motor vehicle fuel to submit periodic reports to the
department regarding the disposition of the fuel. The reports
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
must be on forms prescribed by the department and must contain such information as the department may require. [1998 c
176 § 29.]
82.36.080
82.36.080 Penalty for acting without license—Separate licenses for separate activities—Default assessment.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business
in this state as any of the following unless the person is the
holder of an uncanceled license issued by the department
authorizing the person to engage in that business:
(a) Motor vehicle fuel supplier;
(b) Motor vehicle fuel distributor;
(c) Motor vehicle fuel exporter;
(d) Motor vehicle fuel importer; or
(e) Motor vehicle fuel blender.
(2) A person engaged in more than one activity for which
a license is required must have a separate license classification for each activity, but a motor vehicle fuel supplier is not
required to obtain a separate license classification for any
other activity for which a license is required.
(3) If any person acts as a licensee without first securing
the license required herein the excise tax shall be immediately due and payable on account of all motor vehicle fuel
distributed or used by the person. The director shall proceed
forthwith to determine from the best available sources, the
amount of the tax, and the director shall immediately assess
the tax in the amount found due, together with a penalty of
one hundred percent of the tax, and shall make a certificate of
such assessment and penalty. In any suit or proceeding to collect the tax or penalty, or both, such certificate shall be prima
facie evidence that the person therein named is indebted to
the state in the amount of the tax and penalty therein stated.
Any tax or penalty so assessed may be collected in the manner prescribed in this chapter with reference to delinquency in
payment of the tax or by an action at law, which the attorney
general shall commence and prosecute to final determination
at the request of the director. The foregoing remedies of the
state shall be cumulative and no action taken pursuant to this
section shall relieve any person from the penal provisions of
this chapter. [1998 c 176 § 20; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.080. Prior:
1955 c 207 § 5; prior: (i) 1933 c 58 § 3, part; RRS § 8327-3,
part. (ii) 1943 c 84 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 8, part; Rem. Supp.
1943 § 8327-8, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 3, part; 1921 c 173 §
5, part.]
82.36.110
If an overpayment of tax was made by the licensee, prior
to the discontinuance or transfer of his or her business, such
overpayment may be refunded to such licensee. [1998 c 176
§ 21; 1967 c 153 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 4; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.090. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 4; RRS § 8327-4.]
82.36.095
82.36.095 Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice. A motor
vehicle fuel licensee, who files or against whom is filed a
petition in bankruptcy, shall, within ten days of the filing,
notify the department of the proceedings in bankruptcy,
including the identity and location of the court in which the
proceedings are pending. [1997 c 183 § 7.]
82.36.100
82.36.100 Tax required of persons not classed as licensees—Duties—Procedure—Distribution of proceeds—
Penalties—Enforcement. Every person other than a licensee who acquires any motor vehicle fuel within this state
upon which payment of tax is required under the provisions
of this chapter, or imports such motor vehicle fuel into this
state and sells, distributes, or in any manner uses it in this
state shall, if the tax has not been paid, apply for a license to
carry on such activities, comply with all the provisions of this
chapter, and pay an excise tax at the rate computed in the
manner provided in RCW 82.36.025 for each gallon thereof
so sold, distributed, or used during the fiscal year for which
such rate is applicable. The proceeds of the tax imposed by
this section shall be distributed in the manner provided for the
distribution of the motor vehicle fuel excise tax in RCW
82.36.020. For failure to comply with this chapter such person is subject to the same penalties imposed upon licensees.
The director shall pursue against such persons the same procedure and remedies for audits, adjustments, collection, and
enforcement of this chapter as is provided with respect to licensees. Nothing in this section may be construed as classifying such persons as licensees. [1998 c 176 § 22; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 49 § 28; 1977 ex.s. c 317 § 3; 1967 ex.s. c 83 § 3; 1961
ex.s. c 7 § 2; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.100. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 6;
1951 c 267 § 1; 1939 c 177 § 5; RRS § 8327-5a.]
Severability—Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 49: See RCW
36.79.900 and 36.79.901.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 317: See notes following
RCW 82.36.010.
Severability—Effective dates—1967 ex.s. c 83: See RCW 47.26.900
and 47.26.910.
82.36.110
82.36.090
82.36.090 Discontinuance, sale, or transfer of business—Notice—Payment of taxes, interest, penalties—
Overpayment refunds. A licensee who ceases to engage in
business within the state by reason of the discontinuance,
sale, or transfer of the business shall notify the director in
writing at the time the discontinuance, sale, or transfer takes
effect. Such notice shall give the date of discontinuance, and,
in the event of a sale or transfer of the business, the date
thereof and the name and address of the purchaser or transferee thereof. All taxes, penalties, and interest under this
chapter, not yet due and payable, shall become due and payable concurrently with such discontinuance, sale, or transfer,
and any such licensee shall make a report and pay all such
taxes, interest, and penalties, and surrender to the director the
license certificate theretofore issued to him or her.
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.110 Delinquency—Lien of tax—Notice. If any
person liable for the tax imposed by this chapter fails to pay
the same, the amount thereof, including any interest, penalty,
or addition to such tax, together with any costs that may
accrue in addition thereto, shall be a lien in favor of the state
upon all franchises, property, and rights to property, whether
real or personal, then belonging to or thereafter acquired by
such person, whether such property is employed by such person in the prosecution of business or is in the hands of a
trustee, or receiver, or assignee for the benefit of creditors,
from the date the taxes were due and payable, until the
amount of the lien is paid or the property sold in payment
thereof.
The lien shall have priority over any lien or encumbrance
whatsoever, except the lien of other state taxes having priority by law, and except that such lien shall not be valid as
[Title 82 RCW—page 249]
82.36.120
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
against any bona fide mortgagee, pledgee, judgment creditor,
or purchaser whose rights have attached prior to the time the
department has filed notice of such lien in the office of the
county auditor of the county in which the principal place of
business of the taxpayer is located.
The auditor, upon presentation of a notice of lien, and
without requiring the payment of any fee, shall file and index
it in the manner now provided for deeds and other conveyances except that he shall not be required to include, in the
index, any description of the property affected by the lien.
The lien shall continue until the amount of the tax, together
with any penalties and interest subsequently accruing
thereon, is paid. The department may issue a certificate of
release of lien when the amount of the tax, together with any
penalties and interest subsequently accruing thereon, has
been satisfied, and such release may be recorded with the
auditor of the county in which the notice of lien has been
filed.
The department shall furnish to any person applying
therefor a certificate showing the amount of all liens for
motor vehicle fuel tax, penalties and interest that may be of
record in the files of the department against any person under
the provisions of this chapter. [1993 c 54 § 3; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.110. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 9, part; RRS § 8327-9, part.]
82.36.120
82.36.120 Delinquency—Notice to debtors—Transfer or disposition of property, credits, or debts prohibited—Lien—Answer. If a licensee is delinquent in the payment of an obligation imposed under this chapter, the department may give notice of the amount of the delinquency by
registered or certified mail to all persons having in their possession or under their control any credits or other personal
property belonging to such licensee, or owing any debts to
such licensee at the time of receipt by them of such notice.
Upon service, the notice and order to withhold and deliver
constitutes a continuing lien on property of the taxpayer. The
department shall include in the caption of the notice to withhold and deliver "continuing lien." The effective date of a
notice to withhold and deliver served under this section is the
date of service of the notice. A person so notified shall neither
transfer nor make any other disposition of such credits, personal property, or debts until the department consents to a
transfer or other disposition. All persons so notified must,
within twenty days after receipt of the notice, advise the
department of any and all such credits, personal property, or
debts in their possession, under their control or owing by
them, as the case may be, and shall deliver upon demand the
credits, personal property, or debts to the department or its
duly authorized representative to be applied to the indebtedness involved.
If a person fails to answer the notice within the time prescribed by this section, it is lawful for the court, upon application of the department and after the time to answer the
notice has expired, to render judgment by default against the
person for the full amount claimed by the department in the
notice to withhold and deliver, together with costs. [1998 c
176 § 23; 1994 c 262 § 21; 1991 c 339 § 3; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.120. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 9, part; RRS § 8327-9, part.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 250]
82.36.130 Delinquency—Tax warrant. If any licensee
is in default for more than ten days in the payment of any
excise taxes or penalties thereon, the director shall issue a
warrant directed to the sheriff of any county of the state commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell the goods and chattels of the licensee, without exemption, found within the
sheriff’s jurisdiction, for the payment of the amount of such
delinquency, with the added penalties and interest and the
cost of executing the warrant, and to return such warrant to
the director and to pay the director the money collected by
virtue thereof within the time to be therein specified, which
shall not be less than twenty nor more than sixty days from
the date of the warrant. The sheriff to whom the warrant is
directed shall proceed upon it in all respects and with like
effect and in the same manner as prescribed by law in respect
to executions issued against goods and chattels upon judgment by a court of record and shall be entitled to the same
fees for the sheriff’s services to be collected in the same manner. [2000 c 103 § 14. Prior: 1998 c 311 § 11; 1998 c 176 §
24; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.130; prior: 1933 c 58 § 9, part; RRS §
8327-9, part.]
82.36.130
82.36.140 State may pursue remedy against licensee
or bond. In a suit or action by the state on any bond filed
with the director recovery thereon may be had without first
having sought or exhausted its remedy against the licensee;
nor shall the fact that the state has pursued, or is in the course
of pursuing, any remedy against the licensee waive its right to
collect the taxes, penalties, and interest by proceeding against
such bond or against any deposit of money or securities made
by the licensee. [1998 c 176 § 25; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.140.
Prior: 1933 c 58 § 9, part; RRS § 8327-9, part.]
82.36.140
82.36.150 Records to be kept by licensees—Inventory—Statement. Every licensee shall keep a true and accurate record on such form as the director may prescribe of all
stock of petroleum products on hand, of all raw gasoline, gasoline stock, diesel oil, kerosene, kerosene distillates, casinghead gasoline and other petroleum products needed in, or
which may be used in, compounding, blending, or manufacturing motor vehicle fuel; of the amount of crude oil refined,
the gravity thereof and the yield therefrom, as well as of such
other matters relating to transactions in petroleum products as
the director may require. Every licensee shall take a physical
inventory of the petroleum products at least once during each
calendar month and have the record of such inventory and of
the other matters mentioned in this section available at all
times for the inspection of the director. Upon demand of the
director every licensee shall furnish a statement under oath as
to the contents of any records to be kept hereunder. [1998 c
176 § 26; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.150. Prior:
1933 c 58 § 10; RRS § 8327-10; prior: 1921 c 173 § 6, part.]
82.36.150
82.36.160 Records to be preserved by licensees and
dealers. Every licensee shall maintain in the office of his or
her principal place of business in this state, for a period of
five years, records of motor vehicle fuel received, sold, distributed, or used by the licensee, in such form as the director
may prescribe, together with invoices, bills of lading, and
other pertinent papers as may be required under the provisions of this chapter.
82.36.160
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
Every dealer purchasing motor vehicle fuel taxable
under this chapter for the purpose of resale, shall maintain
within this state, for a period of two years a record of motor
vehicle fuels received, the amount of tax paid to the licensee
as part of the purchase price, together with delivery tickets,
invoices, and bills of lading, and such other records as the
director shall require. [1998 c 176 § 27; 1996 c 104 § 5; 1961
c 15 § 82.36.160. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 7; 1933 c 58 § 11; RRS
§ 8327-11; prior: 1921 c 173 § 6, part.]
82.36.170
82.36.170 Additional reports—Filing. The director
may, from time to time, require additional reports from any
licensee with reference to any of the matters herein concerned. Such reports shall be made and filed on forms prepared by the director. [1998 c 176 § 28; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.170. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 12; RRS § 8327-12; prior:
1921 c 173 § 9.]
82.36.180
82.36.180 Examinations and investigations. The
director, or duly authorized agents, may make such examinations of the records, stocks, facilities, and equipment of any
licensee, and service stations, and such other investigations
as deemed necessary in carrying out the provisions of this
chapter. If such examinations or investigations disclose that
any reports of licensees theretofore filed with the director
pursuant to the requirements of this chapter have shown
incorrectly the gallonage of motor vehicle fuel distributed or
the tax accruing thereon, the director may make such changes
in subsequent reports and payments of such licensees as
deemed necessary to correct the errors disclosed.
Every such licensee or such other person not maintaining
records in this state so that an audit of such records may be
made by the director or a duly authorized representative shall
be required to make the necessary records available to the
director upon request and at a designated office within this
state; or, in lieu thereof, the director or a duly authorized representative shall proceed to any out-of-state office at which
the records are prepared and maintained to make such examination. [1998 c 176 § 30; 1967 ex.s. c 89 § 6; 1965 ex.s. c 79
§ 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.180. Prior: 1939 c 177 § 3; 1933 c 58
§ 13; RRS § 8327-13; prior: 1921 c 173 § 6, part.]
82.36.190
82.36.190 Suspension, revocation, cancellation of
licenses—Notice. The department shall suspend or revoke
the license of any licensee refusing or neglecting to comply
with any provision of this chapter. The department shall mail
by registered mail addressed to such licensee at the last
known address a notice of intention to cancel, which notice
shall give the reason for cancellation. The cancellation shall
become effective without further notice if within ten days
from the mailing of the notice the licensee has not made good
his or her default or delinquency.
The department may cancel any license issued to any licensee, such cancellation to become effective sixty days from
the date of receipt of the written request of such licensee for
cancellation thereof, and the department may cancel the
license of any licensee upon investigation and sixty days
notice mailed to the last known address of such licensee if the
department ascertains and finds that the person to whom the
license was issued is no longer engaged in business, and has
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.230
not been so engaged for the period of six months prior to such
cancellation. No license shall be canceled upon the request of
any licensee unless the licensee, prior to the date of such cancellation, pays to the state all taxes imposed by the provisions
of this chapter, together with all penalties accruing by reason
of any failure on the part of the licensee to make accurate
reports or pay said taxes and penalties.
In the event the license of any licensee is canceled, and
in the further event that the licensee pays to the state all
excise taxes due and payable by him or her upon the receipt,
sale, or use of motor vehicle fuel, together with any and all
penalties accruing by reason of any failure on the part of the
licensee to make accurate reports or pay said taxes and penalties, the department shall cancel the bond filed by the licensee. [1998 c 176 § 31; 1990 c 250 § 80; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.190. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 14; RRS § 8327-14.]
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
82.36.200
82.36.200 Carriers of motor vehicle fuel—Examination of records, stocks, etc. The director or authorized
agents may at any time during normal business hours examine the records, stocks, facilities and equipment of any person
engaged in the transportation of motor vehicle fuel within the
state of Washington for the purpose of checking shipments or
use of motor vehicle fuel, detecting diversions thereof or evasion of taxes on same in enforcing the provisions of this chapter. [1998 c 176 § 32; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 7; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.200. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 1; 1953 c 157 § 1; 1943 c 84
§ 3; 1933 c 58 § 15; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 8327-15.]
82.36.210
82.36.210 Carriers of motor vehicle fuel—Invoice,
bill of sale, etc., required—Inspections. Every person
operating any conveyance for the purpose of hauling, transporting or delivering motor vehicle fuel in bulk, shall have
and possess during the entire time they are hauling motor
vehicle fuel, an invoice, bill of sale, or other statement showing the name, address, and license number of the seller or
consignor, the destination, name, and address of the purchaser or consignee, license number, if applicable, and the
number of gallons. The person hauling such motor vehicle
fuel shall at the request of any law enforcement officer, or
authorized representative of the department, or other person
authorized by law to inquire into, or investigate said matters,
produce for inspection such invoice, bill of sale, or other
statement and shall permit such official to inspect and gauge
the contents of the vehicle. [1998 c 176 § 33; 1965 ex.s. c 79
§ 8; 1961 ex.s. c 21 § 30; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.210. Prior: 1933
c 58 § 16; RRS § 8327-16.]
82.36.230
82.36.230 Exemptions—Imports, exports, federal
sales—Invoice—Certificate—Reporting. The provisions
of this chapter requiring the payment of taxes do not apply to
motor vehicle fuel imported into the state in interstate or foreign commerce and intended to be sold while in interstate or
foreign commerce, nor to motor vehicle fuel exported from
this state by a licensee nor to any motor vehicle fuel sold by a
licensee to the armed forces of the United States or to the
national guard for use exclusively in ships or for export from
this state. The licensee shall report such imports, exports and
sales to the department at such times, on such forms, and in
[Title 82 RCW—page 251]
82.36.240
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
such detail as the department may require, otherwise the
exemption granted in this section is null and void, and all fuel
shall be considered distributed in this state fully subject to the
provisions of this chapter. Each invoice covering exempt
sales shall have the statement "Ex Washington Motor Vehicle
Fuel Tax" clearly marked thereon.
To claim any exemption from taxes under this section on
account of sales by a licensee of motor vehicle fuel for
export, the purchaser shall obtain from the selling licensee,
and such selling licensee must furnish the purchaser, an
invoice giving such details of the sale for export as the
department may require, copies of which shall be furnished
the department and the entity of the state or foreign jurisdiction of destination which is charged by the laws of that state
or foreign jurisdiction with the control or monitoring, or both,
of the sales or movement of motor vehicle fuel in that state or
foreign jurisdiction. For the purposes of this section, motor
vehicle fuel distributed to a federally recognized Indian tribal
reservation located within the state of Washington is not considered exported outside this state.
To claim any refund of taxes previously paid on account
of sales of motor vehicle fuel to the armed forces of the
United States or to the national guard, the licensee shall be
required to execute an exemption certificate in such form as
shall be furnished by the department, containing a certified
statement by an authorized officer of the armed forces having
actual knowledge of the purpose for which the exemption is
claimed. The provisions of this section exempting motor
vehicle fuel sold to the armed forces of the United States or to
the national guard from the tax imposed hereunder do not
apply to any motor vehicle fuel sold to contractors purchasing such fuel either for their own account or as the agents of
the United States or the national guard for use in the performance of contracts with the armed forces of the United States
or the national guard.
The department may at any time require of any licensee
any information the department deems necessary to determine the validity of the claimed exemption, and failure to
supply such data will constitute a waiver of all right to the
exemption claimed. The department is hereby empowered
with full authority to promulgate rules and regulations and to
prescribe forms to be used by licensees in reporting to the
department so as to prevent evasion of the tax imposed by
this chapter.
Upon request from the officials to whom are entrusted
the enforcement of the motor vehicle fuel tax law of any other
state, the District of Columbia, the United States, its territories and possessions, the provinces, or the Dominion of Canada, the department may forward to such officials any information which the department may have relative to the import
or export of any motor vehicle fuel by any licensee: PROVIDED, That such governmental unit furnish like information to this state. [1998 c 176 § 34; 1993 c 54 § 4; 1989 c 193
§ 1; 1971 ex.s. c 156 § 2; 1967 c 153 § 3; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 9;
1961 c 15 § 82.36.230. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 10; prior: 1953 c
150 § 1; 1949 c 220 § 13, part; 1943 c 84 § 4, part; 1939 c 177
§ 4, part; 1933 c 58 § 17, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-17,
part.]
from the payment of the tax any motor vehicle fuel sold and
delivered to or used by the state or any political subdivision
thereof, or any inflammable petroleum products other than
motor vehicle fuel, used by the state, or any political subdivision thereof, in the propulsion of motor vehicles as herein
defined. [1961 c 15 § 82.36.240. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 11;
prior: 1949 c 220 § 13, part; 1943 c 84 § 4, part; 1939 c 177
§ 4, part; 1933 c 58 § 17, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-17,
part.]
82.36.245
82.36.245 Exemption—Sales to foreign diplomatic
and consular missions. Sales of motor vehicle fuel to qualified foreign diplomatic and consular missions and their qualified personnel, made under rules prescribed by the director,
are exempt from the tax imposed under this chapter if the foreign government represented grants an equivalent exemption
to missions and personnel of the United States performing
similar services in the foreign country. Only those foreign
diplomatic and consular missions and their personnel which
are determined by the United States department of state as
eligible for the tax exemption, may claim this exemption
under rules prescribed by the director. [1989 c 193 § 2.]
82.36.250
82.36.250 Nongovernmental use of fuels, etc.,
acquired from United States government—Tax—Unlawful to procure or use. Any person who purchases or otherwise acquires motor vehicle fuel upon which the tax has not
been paid, from the United States government, or any of its
agents or officers, for use not specifically associated with any
governmental function or operation or so acquires inflammable petroleum products other than motor vehicle fuel and uses
the same in the propulsion of motor vehicles as herein
defined, for a use not associated with any governmental function or operation, shall pay to the state the tax herein provided
upon the motor vehicle fuel, or other inflammable petroleum
products so acquired. It shall be unlawful for any person to
use or to conspire with any governmental official, agent, or
employee for the use of any requisition, purchase order, or
any card or any authority to which he is not specifically entitled by government regulations, for the purpose of obtaining
any motor vehicle fuel or other inflammable petroleum products upon which the state tax has not been paid. [1961 c 15 §
82.36.250. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 12; prior: 1949 c 220 § 13,
part; 1943 c 84 § 4, part; 1939 c 177 § 4, part; 1933 c 58 § 17,
part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-17, part.]
82.36.260
82.36.260 Extension of time for filing exportation
certificates or claiming exemptions. The director shall
have authority to extend the time prescribed under this chapter for filing exportation certificates or claiming exemption
for sales to the armed forces: PROVIDED, That written
request is filed with the director showing cause for failure to
do so within or prior to the prescribed period. [1965 ex.s. c
79 § 11; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.260. Prior: 1957 c 247 § 13; prior:
1949 c 220 § 13, part; 1943 c 84 § 4, part; 1939 c 177 § 4,
part; 1933 c 58 § 17, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-17, part.]
82.36.270
82.36.240
82.36.240 Sales to state or political subdivisions not
exempt. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exempt
[Title 82 RCW—page 252]
82.36.270 Refund permit. Any person desiring to
claim a refund shall obtain a permit from the department by
application therefor on such form as the department shall pre(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
scribe, which application shall contain, among other things,
the name and address of the applicant, the nature of the business and a sufficient description for identification of the
machines or equipment in which the motor vehicle fuel is to
be used, for which refund may be claimed under the permit.
The permit shall bear a permit number and all applications for
refund shall bear the number of the permit under which it is
claimed. The department shall keep a record of all permits
issued and a cumulative record of the amount of refund
claimed and paid thereunder. Such permit shall be obtained
before or at the time that the first application for refund is
made under the provisions of this chapter. [1977 c 28 § 2;
1973 c 96 § 3; 1967 c 153 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.270. Prior:
1957 c 218 § 3; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part;
1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18,
part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4,
part.]
82.36.273
82.36.273 Refunds to licensee for fuel purchased by
exempt person—Exception—Invoice or proof. A licensee,
other than a motor vehicle fuel exporter, is entitled to a refund
of motor vehicle fuel tax previously paid on motor vehicle
fuel which is purchased from the licensee by a person who is
exempt from payment of the motor vehicle fuel tax imposed
by this chapter. Application for the refund shall be accompanied by an invoice or proof satisfactory to the department
documenting each sale wherein the purchaser was exempt the
motor vehicle fuel tax. Claims for refunds shall be made
under this chapter. [1998 c 176 § 35.]
82.36.275
82.36.275 Refunds for urban transportation systems.
Notwithstanding RCW 82.36.240, every urban passenger
transportation system shall receive a refund of the amount of
the motor vehicle fuel tax paid on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel used, whether such vehicle fuel tax has been paid
either directly to the vendor from whom the motor vehicle
fuel was purchased or indirectly by adding the amount of
such tax to the price of such fuel.
For the purposes of this section "urban passenger transportation system" means every transportation system, publicly or privately owned, having as its principal source of revenue the income from transporting persons for compensation
by means of motor vehicles and/or trackless trolleys, each
having a seating capacity for over fifteen persons, over prescribed routes in such a manner that the routes of such motor
vehicles and/or trackless trolleys (either alone or in conjunction with routes of other such motor vehicles and/or trackless
trolleys subject to routing by the same transportation system)
do not extend for a distance exceeding fifteen road miles
beyond the corporate limits of the city in which the original
starting points of such motor vehicles are located: PROVIDED, That no refunds authorized by this section shall be
granted on fuel used by any urban transportation vehicle on
any trip where any portion of said trip is more than fifteen
road miles beyond the corporate limits of the city in which
said trip originated. [1969 ex.s. c 281 § 27; 1967 c 86 § 1;
1965 c 135 § 1; 1963 c 187 § 1; 1961 c 117 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.275. Prior: 1959 c 298 § 1; 1957 c 292 § 1.]
Severability—1969 ex.s. c 281: See RCW 47.98.045.
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.285
82.36.280
82.36.280 Refunds for nonhighway use of fuel. Any
person who uses any motor vehicle fuel for the purpose of
operating any internal combustion engine not used on or in
conjunction with any motor vehicle licensed to be operated
over and along any of the public highways, and as the motive
power thereof, upon which motor vehicle fuel excise tax has
been paid, shall be entitled to and shall receive a refund of the
amount of the motor vehicle fuel excise tax paid on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel so used, whether such motor vehicle
excise tax has been paid either directly to the vendor from
whom the motor vehicle fuel was purchased or indirectly by
adding the amount of such excise tax to the price of such fuel.
No refund shall be made for motor vehicle fuel consumed by
any motor vehicle as herein defined that is required to be registered and licensed as provided in chapter 46.16 RCW; and
is operated over and along any public highway except that a
refund shall be allowed for motor vehicle fuel consumed:
(1) In a motor vehicle owned by the United States that is
operated off the public highways for official use;
(2) By auxiliary equipment not used for motive power,
provided such consumption is accurately measured by a
metering device that has been specifically approved by the
department or is established by either of the following formulae:
(a) For fuel used in pumping fuel or heating oils by a
power take-off unit on a delivery truck, refund shall be
allowed claimant for tax paid on fuel purchased at the rate of
three-fourths of one gallon for each one thousand gallons of
fuel delivered: PROVIDED, That claimant when presenting
his or her claim to the department in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, shall provide to said claim, invoices of
fuel oil delivered, or such other appropriate information as
may be required by the department to substantiate his or her
claim; or
(b) For fuel used in operating a power take-off unit on a
cement mixer truck or load compactor on a garbage truck,
claimant shall be allowed a refund of twenty-five percent of
the tax paid on all fuel used in such a truck; and
(c) The department is authorized to establish by rule
additional formulae for determining fuel usage when operating other types of equipment by means of power take-off
units when direct measurement of the fuel used is not feasible. The department is also authorized to adopt rules regarding the usage of on board computers for the production of
records required by this chapter. [1998 c 176 § 36; 1993 c
141 § 1; 1985 c 371 § 5; 1980 c 131 § 5; 1972 ex.s. c 138 § 1;
1971 ex.s. c 36 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 281 § 23; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.280. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 4; prior: 1951 c 263 § 1; 1945
c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935
c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 832718, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 138: "The effective date of this act shall
be July 1, 1972." [1972 ex.s. c 138 § 6.]
82.36.285
82.36.285 Refunds for transit services to persons
with special transportation needs by nonprofit transportation providers. A private, nonprofit transportation provider regulated under chapter 81.66 RCW shall receive a
refund of the amount of the motor vehicle fuel tax paid on
each gallon of motor vehicle fuel used to provide transportation services for persons with special transportation needs,
[Title 82 RCW—page 253]
82.36.290
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
whether the vehicle fuel tax has been paid either directly to
the vendor from whom the motor vehicle fuel was purchased
or indirectly by adding the amount of the tax to the price of
the fuel. [1996 c 244 § 5; 1983 c 108 § 3.]
ies made to such purchaser during any given calendar month.
[1965 ex.s. c 79 § 12; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.305. Prior: 1957 c
218 § 16.]
82.36.310
82.36.290
82.36.290 Refunds for use in manufacturing, cleaning, dyeing. Every person who purchases and uses any
motor vehicle fuel as an ingredient for manufacturing or for
cleaning or dyeing or for some other similar purpose and
upon which the motor vehicle fuel excise tax has been paid
shall be entitled to and shall receive a refund of the amount of
the motor vehicle fuel excise tax paid on each gallon of motor
vehicle fuel so used, whether such motor vehicle excise tax
has been paid either directly to the vendor from whom the
motor vehicle fuel was purchased or indirectly by adding the
amount of such excise tax to the price of such fuel. [1961 c
15 § 82.36.290. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 5; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1,
part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2,
part; 1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part;
prior: 1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
82.36.300
82.36.300 Refunds on exported fuel. Every person
who shall export any motor vehicle fuel for use outside of this
state and who has paid the motor vehicle fuel excise tax upon
such motor vehicle fuel shall be entitled to and shall receive a
refund of the amount of the motor vehicle fuel excise tax paid
on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel so exported. For the purposes of this section, motor vehicle fuel distributed to a federally recognized Indian tribal reservation located within the
state of Washington is not considered exported outside this
state. [1998 c 176 § 37; 1963 ex.s. c 22 § 21; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.300. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 6; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part;
1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part;
1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior:
1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
82.36.310 Claim of refund. Any person claiming a
refund for motor vehicle fuel used or exported as in this chapter provided shall not be entitled to receive such refund until
he presents to the director a claim upon forms to be provided
by the director with such information as the director shall
require, which claim to be valid shall in all cases be accompanied by invoices issued to the claimant at the time of the
purchases of the motor vehicle fuel, approved as to invoice
form by the director. The requirement to provide invoices
may be waived for small refund amounts, as determined by
the department. Claims for refund of motor vehicle fuel tax
must be at least twenty dollars.
Any person claiming refund by reason of exportation of
motor vehicle fuel shall in addition to the invoices required
furnish to the director the export certificate therefor, and the
signature on the exportation certificate shall be certified by a
notary public. In all cases the claim shall be signed by the
person claiming the refund, if it is a corporation, by some
proper officer of the corporation, or if it is a limited liability
company, by some proper manager or member of the limited
liability company. [1998 c 176 § 38; 1998 c 115 § 3; 1995 c
318 § 3; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 13; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.310. Prior:
1957 c 218 § 7; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part;
1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18,
part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4,
part.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1998 c 115 § 3 and by
1998 c 176 § 38, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
82.36.320
82.36.305
82.36.305 Refunds to dealer delivering fuel exclusively for marine use—Limitations—Supporting certificate. Any dealer who delivers motor vehicle fuel exclusively
for marine use into the fuel tanks connected to the engine of
any marine vessel (excluding any amphibious vehicle) owned
or operated by the purchaser of the fuel, said dealer having
paid the tax on such fuel levied or directed to be paid as provided in this chapter, either directly by the collection of such
tax by the vendor from the dealer or indirectly by the adding
of the amount of the tax to the price of such fuel, shall be entitled to and shall be refunded the amount of the tax so paid.
The refund shall be applicable only if the person to whom the
dealer sold the fuel holds a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of RCW 82.36.270 at the time of sale. Each invoice
covering such sale shall have the statement, "Ex Washington
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax," clearly marked thereon.
In addition to the claim to be filed under RCW 82.36.310
the dealer shall also file a certificate supporting such refund
in such form and detail as the director may require. The certificate shall contain a statement signed by the purchaser of
the fuel to the effect that the fuel so purchased will be used
solely for marine use. The dealer may either file a separate
certificate obtained from the purchaser for each delivery of
fuel thereto or he may file one certificate covering all deliver[Title 82 RCW—page 254]
82.36.320 Information may be required. Any person
claiming refund on motor vehicle fuel used other than in
motor vehicles as herein provided, and any person purchasing
motor vehicle fuel from a dealer who is claiming refund on
account of the sale of such fuel under RCW 82.36.305 may
be required by the director to also furnish information regarding the amount of motor vehicle fuel purchased from other
sources or for other purposes during the period reported for
which no refund is claimed. [1961 c 15 § 82.36.320. Prior:
1957 c 218 § 8; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part;
1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18,
part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4,
part.]
82.36.330
82.36.330 Payment of refunds—Interest—Penalty.
(1) Upon the approval of the director of the claim for refund,
the state treasurer shall draw a warrant upon the state treasury
for the amount of the claim in favor of the person making
such claim and the warrant shall be paid from the excise tax
collected on motor vehicle fuel: PROVIDED, That the state
treasurer shall deduct from each marine use refund claim an
amount equivalent to one cent per gallon and shall deposit the
same in the coastal protection fund created by RCW
90.48.390.
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
(2) Applications for refunds of excise tax shall be filed in
the office of the director not later than the close of the last
business day of a period thirteen months from the date of purchase of such motor fuel, and if not filed within this period
the right to refund shall be forever barred, except that such
limitation shall not apply to claims for loss or destruction of
motor vehicle fuel as provided by the provisions of RCW
82.36.370.
(3) The department shall pay interest of one percent on
any refund payable under this chapter that is issued more than
thirty state business days after the receipt of a claim properly
filed and completed in accordance with this section. After
the end of the thirty business-day period, additional interest
shall accrue at the rate of one percent on the amount payable
for each thirty calendar-day period, until the refund is issued.
(4) Any person or the member of any firm or the officer
or agent of any corporation who makes any false statement in
any claim required for the refund of excise tax, as provided in
this chapter, or who collects or causes to be repaid to him or
her or to any other person any such refund without being entitled to the same under the provisions of this chapter is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor. [2003 c 53 § 401; 1998 c 176 § 39;
1971 ex.s. c 180 § 9; 1965 ex.s. c 79 § 14; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.330. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 9; prior: 1955 c 90 § 1; 1945
c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935
c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 832718, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Severability—Short title—Construction—1971 ex.s. c 180: See
RCW 90.48.903, 90.48.906, and 90.56.900.
Coastal protection fund: RCW 90.48.390 and 90.48.400.
Definitions: RCW 90.56.010.
Rules and regulations: RCW 90.56.050 and 90.56.900.
82.36.335 Credits on tax in lieu of collection and
refund. In lieu of the collection and refund of the tax on
motor vehicle fuel used by a licensee in such a manner as
would entitle a purchaser to claim refund under this chapter,
credit may be given the licensee upon the licensee’s tax
return in the determination of the amount of the licensee’s
tax. Payment credits shall not be carried forward and applied
to subsequent tax returns. [1998 c 176 § 40; 1997 c 183 § 8;
1961 c 15 § 82.36.335. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 14.]
82.36.335
82.36.340 Examination of books and records. The
director may in order to establish the validity of any claim for
refund require the claimant, or, in the case of a dealer filing a
claim for refund as provided by RCW 82.36.305, the person
to whom such fuel was sold, to furnish such additional proof
of the validity of the claim as the director may determine, and
may examine the books and records of the claimant or said
person to whom the fuel was sold for such purpose. The
records shall be sufficient to substantiate the accuracy of the
claim and shall be in such form and contain such information
as the director may require. The failure to maintain such
records or to accede to a demand for an examination of such
records may be deemed by the director as sufficient cause for
denial of all right to the refund claimed on account of the
transaction in question. [1961 c 15 § 82.36.340. Prior: 1957
c 218 § 10; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part;
82.36.340
(2006 Ed.)
82.36.370
1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18,
part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4,
part.]
82.36.350
82.36.350 Fraudulent invoices—Penalty. If upon
investigation the director determines that any claim has been
supported by an invoice or invoices fraudulently made or
altered in any manner to support the claim, the director may
suspend the pending and all further refunds to any such person making the claim for a period not to exceed one year.
[1998 c 176 § 41; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.350. Prior: 1957 c 218 §
11; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219
§ 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
82.36.360
82.36.360 Separate invoices for nontaxed fuel. When
motor vehicle fuel is sold to a person who claims to be entitled to a refund of the tax, the seller of such motor vehicle fuel
shall make and deliver at the time of sale separate invoices
for each purchase on invoice forms approved by the director
showing the name and address of the seller, the name and
address of the purchaser, the number of gallons of motor
vehicle fuel so sold, and the date of such purchase. All
invoices shall be legibly written and shall be void if any corrections or erasures appear on the face thereof. [1961 c 15 §
82.36.360. Prior: 1957 c 218 § 12; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part;
1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219 § 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part;
1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior:
1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
82.36.370
82.36.370 Refunds for fuel lost or destroyed through
fire, flood, leakage, etc. (1) A refund shall be made in the
manner provided in this chapter or a credit given allowing for
the excise tax paid or accrued on all motor vehicle fuel which
is lost or destroyed, while applicant shall be the owner
thereof, through fire, lightning, flood, wind storm, or explosion.
(2) A refund shall be made in the manner provided in this
chapter or a credit given allowing for the excise tax paid or
accrued on all motor vehicle fuel of five hundred gallons or
more which is lost or destroyed, while applicant shall be the
owner thereof, through leakage or other casualty except evaporation, shrinkage or unknown causes: PROVIDED, That
the director shall be notified in writing as to the full circumstances surrounding such loss or destruction and the amount
of the loss or destruction within thirty days from the day of
discovery of such loss or destruction.
(3) Recovery for such loss or destruction under either
subsection (1) or (2) must be susceptible to positive proof
thereby enabling the director to conduct such investigation
and require such information as the director may deem necessary.
In the event that the director is not satisfied that the fuel
was lost or destroyed as claimed, wherefore required information or proof as required hereunder is not sufficient to substantiate the accuracy of the claim, the director may deem as
sufficient cause the denial of all right relating to the refund or
credit for the excise tax on motor vehicle fuel alleged to be
lost or destroyed. [1998 c 176 § 42; 1967 c 153 § 5; 1965
ex.s. c 79 § 15; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.370. Prior: 1957 c 218 §
[Title 82 RCW—page 255]
82.36.373
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
13; prior: 1945 c 38 § 1, part; 1943 c 84 § 5, part; 1937 c 219
§ 2, part; 1935 c 109 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 18, part; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 8327-18, part; prior: 1923 c 81 § 4, part.]
82.36.373
82.36.373 Refund for worthless accounts receivable—Rules—Apportionment after receipt. A motor
vehicle fuel distributor, motor vehicle fuel importer, or motor
vehicle fuel blender, under rules adopted by the department,
is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on those sales of motor
vehicle fuel for which no consideration has been received
from or on behalf of the purchaser and that has been declared
to be worthless accounts receivable. The amount of tax
refunded must not exceed the amount of tax paid by the
motor vehicle fuel distributor, motor vehicle fuel importer, or
motor vehicle fuel blender under this chapter. If the motor
vehicle fuel distributor, motor vehicle fuel importer, or motor
vehicle fuel blender subsequently collects any amount from
the account declared worthless, the amount collected shall be
apportioned between the charges for the fuel and tax thereon.
The motor vehicle fuel tax collected must be returned to the
department. [1998 c 176 § 43.]
82.36.375
82.36.375 Time limitation on erroneous payment
credits or refunds and notices of additional tax. Unless
otherwise provided, any credit for erroneous overpayment of
tax made by a licensee to be taken on a subsequent return or
any claim of refund for tax erroneously overpaid by a licensee, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 82.36.090, must be
so taken within five years after the date on which the overpayment was made to the state. Failure to take such credit or
claim such refund within the time prescribed in this section
shall constitute waiver of any and all demands against this
state on account of overpayment hereunder.
Except in the case of a fraudulent report or neglect or
refusal to make a report every notice of additional tax, penalty or interest assessed hereunder shall be served on the licensee within five years from the date upon which such additional taxes became due. [1998 c 176 § 44; 1965 ex.s. c 79 §
16.]
82.36.380
82.36.380 Violations—Penalties. (1) It is unlawful for
a person or corporation to:
(a) Evade a tax or fee imposed under this chapter;
(b) File a false statement of a material fact on a motor
fuel license application or motor fuel refund application;
(c) Act as a motor fuel importer, motor fuel blender, or
motor fuel supplier unless the person holds an uncanceled
motor fuel license issued by the department authorizing the
person to engage in that business;
(d) Knowingly assist another person to evade a tax or fee
imposed by this chapter;
(e) Knowingly operate a conveyance for the purpose of
hauling, transporting, or delivering motor vehicle fuel in bulk
and not possess an invoice, bill of sale, or other statement
showing the name, address, and tax license number of the
seller or consignor, the destination, the name, address, and
tax license number of the purchaser or consignee, and the
number of gallons.
(2) A violation of subsection (1) of this section is a class
C felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW. In addition to other
[Title 82 RCW—page 256]
penalties and remedies provided by law, the court shall order
a person or corporation found guilty of violating subsection
(1) of this section to:
(a) Pay the tax or fee evaded plus interest, commencing
at the date the tax or fee was first due, at the rate of twelve
percent per year, compounded monthly; and
(b) Pay a penalty of one hundred percent of the tax
evaded, to the multimodal transportation account of the state.
[2003 c 358 § 13; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 9; 1995 c 287 § 2; 1961
c 15 § 82.36.380. Prior: 1949 c 234 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 19,
part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-19, part; prior: 1921 c 173 §
12, part.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
Effective dates—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 4-10: See note following RCW
43.89.010.
82.36.390
82.36.390 Diversion of export fuel—Penalty. Any
person who obtains motor vehicle fuel for export and fails to
export the same or any portion thereof, or causes such motor
vehicle fuel or any thereof not to be exported, or who diverts
said motor vehicle fuel or any thereof or who causes it to be
diverted from interstate or foreign transit begun in this state,
or who unlawfully returns such fuel or any thereof to this
state and sells or uses it or any thereof in this state or causes
it or any thereof to be used or sold in this state and fails to
notify the licensee from whom such motor vehicle fuel was
originally purchased, and any licensee or person who conspires with any person to withhold from export, or divert
from interstate or foreign transit begun in this state, or to
return motor vehicle fuel to this state for sale or use with
intent to avoid any of the taxes imposed by this chapter, is
guilty of a felony, or gross misdemeanor in accordance with
the theft and anticipatory provisions of Title 9A RCW. Each
shipment illegally diverted or illegally returned shall be a
separate offense, and the unit of each shipment shall be the
cargo of one vessel, or one railroad carload, or one automobile truck load, or such truck and trailer load, or one drum, or
one barrel, or one case or one can. [1998 c 176 § 45; 1996 c
104 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.390. Prior: 1949 c 234 § 2, part;
1933 c 58 § 19, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-19, part; prior:
1921 c 173 § 12, part.]
82.36.400
82.36.400 Other offenses—Penalties. (1) It shall be
unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts:
(a) To display, or cause to permit to be displayed, or to
have in possession, any motor vehicle fuel license knowing
the same to be fictitious or to have been suspended, canceled,
revoked or altered;
(b) To lend to, or knowingly permit the use of, by one not
entitled thereto, any motor vehicle fuel license issued to the
person lending it or permitting it to be used;
(c) To display or to represent as one’s own any motor
vehicle fuel license not issued to the person displaying the
same;
(d) To use a false or fictitious name or give a false or fictitious address in any application or form required under the
provisions of this chapter, or otherwise commit a fraud in any
application, record, or report;
(e) To refuse to permit the director, or any agent
appointed by him or her in writing, to examine his or her
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax
books, records, papers, storage tanks, or other equipment pertaining to the use or sale and delivery of motor vehicle fuels
within the state.
(2) Except as otherwise provided, any person violating
any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to
pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than
one thousand dollars and costs of prosecution, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. [2003 c 53 § 402;
1998 c 176 § 46; 1971 ex.s. c 156 § 3; 1967 c 153 § 6; 1961 c
15 § 82.36.400. Prior: 1949 c 234 § 2, part; 1933 c 58 § 19,
part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8327-19, part; prior: 1921 c 173 §
12, part.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
82.36.450
82.36.420 Disposition of fees, fines, penalties. Fifty
percent of all fines and forfeitures imposed in any criminal
proceeding by any court of this state for violations of the
penal provisions of this chapter shall be paid to the current
expense fund of the county wherein collected and the remaining fifty percent shall be paid into the motor vehicle fund of
the state: PROVIDED, That all fees, fines, forfeitures and
penalties collected or assessed by a district court because of
the violation of a state law shall be remitted as provided in
chapter 3.62 RCW as now exists or is later amended. All fees
and penalties collected by the director under the penalty provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the motor vehicle
fund. [1987 c 202 § 245; 1969 ex.s. c 199 § 40; 1961 c 15 §
82.36.420. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 21; RRS § 8327-21.]
82.36.420
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
82.36.430 Enforcement. The director is charged with
the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. State
patrolmen shall aid the director in the enforcement of this
chapter and, for this purpose, are declared to be peace officers, and given police power and authority throughout the state
to arrest on view, without writ, rule, order, or process, any
person known to have violated any of the provisions of this
chapter. [1961 c 15 § 82.36.430. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 22; RRS
§ 8327-22.]
82.36.430
82.36.407
82.36.407 Tax liability of user—Payment—Exceptions. (1) It is intended that the ultimate liability for the tax
imposed under this chapter be upon the motor vehicle fuel
user, regardless of the manner in which collection of the tax
is provided for in this chapter. The tax on motor vehicle fuel
imposed under this chapter, if not previously imposed and
paid, must be paid over to the department by the users of such
motor vehicle fuel, unless such use is exempt from the motor
vehicle fuel tax.
(2) This section does not apply to agreements entered
into under RCW 82.36.450 between the department and federally recognized Indian tribes, nor does it apply to the consent decrees entered in Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation v. Washington Department of Licensing, No.
CS-92-248-JLQ (E.D. Wash.) and Teo v. Steffenson, No. CY93-3050-AAM (E.D. Wash.). [1998 c 176 § 48.]
82.36.435 Enforcement and administration—Rulemaking authority. The department shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and may adopt and enforce reasonable
rules relating to the administration and enforcement thereof.
[1981 c 342 § 5.]
82.36.435
Effective date—Severability—1981 c 342: See notes following RCW
82.36.010.
82.36.440 State preempts tax field. The tax levied in
this chapter is in lieu of any excise, privilege, or occupational
tax upon the business of manufacturing, selling, or distributing motor vehicle fuel, and no city, town, county, township or
other subdivision or municipal corporation of the state shall
levy or collect any excise tax upon or measured by the sale,
receipt, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel, except as
provided in chapter 82.80 RCW and RCW 82.47.020. [2003
c 350 § 5; 1991 c 173 § 4; 1990 c 42 § 204; 1979 ex.s. c 181
§ 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.440. Prior: 1933 c 58 § 23; RRS §
8327-23.]
82.36.440
82.36.410
82.36.410 Revenue to motor vehicle fund. All moneys
collected by the director shall be transmitted forthwith to the
state treasurer, together with a statement showing whence the
moneys were derived, and shall be by him credited to the
motor vehicle fund. [1973 c 95 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 82.36.410.
Prior: 1933 c 58 § 20; RRS § 8327-20.]
82.36.415
82.36.415 Refund to aeronautics account. At least
once each fiscal year, the director shall request the state treasurer to refund from the motor vehicle fund, to the aeronautics account created under RCW 82.42.090, an amount equal
to 0.028 percent of the gross motor vehicle fuel tax less an
amount equal to aircraft fuel taxes transferred to that account
as a result of nonhighway refunds claimed by motor fuel purchasers. The refund shall be considered compensation for
unclaimed motor vehicle fuel that is used in aircraft for purposes taxable under RCW 82.42.020. The director shall also
remit from the motor vehicle fund the taxes required by
*RCW 82.12.0256(3)(c) for the unclaimed refunds, provided
that the sum of the amount refunded and the amount remitted
in accordance with *RCW 82.12.0256(3)(c) shall not exceed
the unclaimed refunds. [1987 c 220 § 4.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.12.0256 was amended by 2005 c 443 § 6,
changing subsection (3)(c) to subsection (2)(c).
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
(2006 Ed.)
Effective date—1991 c 173: See note following RCW 82.47.010.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 181: "This 1979 act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 181 § 10.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 181: "If any provision of this 1979 act, or
its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 181 § 8.]
82.36.450 Agreement with tribe for imposition, collection, use. The department of licensing may enter into an
agreement with any federally recognized Indian tribe located
on a reservation within this state regarding the imposition,
collection, and use of this state’s motor vehicle fuel tax, or
82.36.450
[Title 82 RCW—page 257]
82.36.460
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the budgeting or use of moneys in lieu thereof, upon terms
substantially the same as those in the consent decree entered
by the federal district court (Eastern District of Washington)
in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. DOL, et
al., District Court No. CY-92-248-JLO. [1995 c 320 § 2.]
Legislative recognition, belief—1995 c 320: "The legislature recognizes that certain Indian tribes located on reservations within this state dispute the authority of the state to impose a tax upon the tribe, or upon tribal
members, based upon the distribution, sale, or other transfer of motor vehicle
and other fuels to the tribe or its members when that distribution, sale, or
other transfer takes place upon that tribe’s reservation. While the legislature
believes it has the authority to impose state motor vehicle and other fuel
taxes under such circumstances, it also recognizes that all of the state citizens
may benefit from resolution of these disputes between the respective governments." [1995 c 320 § 1.]
Severability—1995 c 320: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1995 c 320 § 4.]
Effective date—1995 c 320: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 11, 1995]." [1995 c 320 § 5.]
82.36.460
82.36.460 Motor vehicle fuel tax cooperative agreement. The department of licensing may enter into a motor
vehicle fuel tax cooperative agreement with another state or
Canadian province for the administration, collection, and
enforcement of each state’s or Canadian province’s motor
vehicle fuel taxes. [1998 c 176 § 49.]
82.36.470
82.36.470 Fuel tax evasion—Seizure and forfeiture.
(1) The following are subject to seizure and forfeiture:
(a) Motor vehicle fuel imported into this state by a person not licensed in this state in accordance with this chapter
to import fuel;
(b) Motor vehicle fuel that is blended or manufactured
by a person not licensed in this state in accordance with this
chapter to blend or manufacture fuel;
(c) All conveyances that are used, or intended for use, to
transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, for
the purpose of sale or receipt of property described in (a) and
(b) of this subsection, except where the owner of the conveyance neither had knowledge of nor consented to the transportation of the fuel by an unlicensed importer, blender, or manufacturer of fuel.
(2) Before seizing a common carrier conveyance, contract carrier conveyance, or a conveyance secured by a bona
fide security interest where the secured party neither had
knowledge of or consented to the unlawful act or omission,
the state patrol or the department of licensing shall give the
common carrier, contract carrier, or secured party, or their
representatives within twenty-four hours, a notice in writing
served by mail or other means to cease transporting fuel for
any person not licensed to import, blend, or manufacture fuel
in this state.
(3) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may
be seized by the state patrol upon process issued by a superior
court or district court having jurisdiction over the property.
Seizure without process may be made if:
(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a
search warrant; or
[Title 82 RCW—page 258]
(b) The state patrol has probable cause to believe that the
property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this
chapter and exigent circumstances exist making procurement
of a search warrant impracticable. [2003 c 358 § 1.]
Captions not law—2003 c 358: "Captions used in this act are not part
of the law." [2003 c 358 § 16.]
Severability—2003 c 358: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2003 c 358 § 17.]
82.36.475
82.36.475 Fuel tax evasion—Forfeiture procedure.
In all cases of seizure of property made subject to forfeiture
under this chapter, the state patrol shall proceed as follows:
(1) Forfeiture is deemed to have commenced by the seizure.
(2) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in
duplicate the conveyance seized. After the appropriate
appeal period has expired, a seized conveyance must be sold
at a public auction in accordance with chapter 43.19 RCW.
(3) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in
duplicate the fuel seized. The selling price of the fuel seized
will be the average terminal rack price for similar fuel, at the
closest terminal rack on the day of sale, unless circumstance
warrants that a different selling price is appropriate. The
method used to value the fuel must be documented. The fuel
will be sold at the earliest point in time, and the total price
must include all appropriate state and federal taxes. The state
patrol or the department may enter into contracts for the
transportation, handling, storage, and sale of fuel subject to
forfeiture. The money received must be deposited in the
motor vehicle account, after deduction for expenses provided
for in this section.
(4) The state patrol shall, within five days after the seizure of a conveyance or fuel, cause notice to be served on the
owner of the property seized, if known, on the person in
charge of the property, and on any other person having any
known right or interest in the property, of the seizure and
intended forfeiture. The notice may be served by any method
authorized by law or court rule including but not limited to
service by mail. If service is by mail it must be by both certified mail with return receipt requested and regular mail.
Service by mail is deemed complete upon mailing within the
five-day period after the date of seizure.
(5) If no person notifies the state patrol in writing of the
person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the
items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of
seizure, the items seized are considered forfeited.
(6) If any person notifies the state patrol, in writing, of
the person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the
items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of
seizure, the person or persons must be given a reasonable
opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right. The hearing
must be before the director of licensing, or the director’s designee. A hearing and any appeals must be in accordance with
chapter 34.05 RCW. The burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence is upon the person claiming to be the
lawful owner or the person claiming to have the lawful right
to possession of the items seized. The state patrol and the
department shall promptly return the conveyance seized, and
money from the sale of fuel seized, to the claimant upon a
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
determination that the claimant is the present lawful owner
and is lawfully entitled to possession of the items seized.
[2003 c 358 § 2.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.36.480
82.36.480 Fuel tax evasion—Forfeited property.
When property is forfeited under this chapter, the state patrol
or the department may use the proceeds of the sale and all
moneys forfeited for the payment of all proper expenses of
any investigation leading to the seizure and of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure,
maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs. Proper
expenses of investigation include costs incurred by a law
enforcement agency or a federal, state, or local agency. The
balance of the proceeds must be deposited in the motor vehicle account. [2003 c 358 § 3.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
Chapter 82.38
82.36.900
82.36.900 Findings—1998 c 176. The legislature finds
and declares that:
(1) The health, safety, and welfare of the people of the
state of Washington are dependent on the state’s ability to
properly collect the taxes enacted by the legislature;
(2) The current system for collecting special fuel taxes
and motor vehicle fuel tax has allowed many parties to fraudulently evade paying the special fuel taxes and motor vehicle
fuel tax due the state; and
(3) By changing the point of collection of the special fuel
taxes and motor vehicle fuel tax from distributors to suppliers, the department of licensing will have fewer parties to collect tax from and enforcement will be enhanced, thus leading
to greater revenues for the state. [1998 c 176 § 1.]
82.36.901
82.36.901 Effective date—1998 c 176. This act takes
effect January 1, 1999. [1998 c 176 § 91.]
Chapter 82.38
Chapter 82.38 RCW
SPECIAL FUEL TAX ACT
82.36.485
82.36.485 Fuel tax evasion—Return of seized property. (1) The state patrol and the department may return
property seized and proceeds from the sale of fuel under this
chapter when it is shown that there was no intention to violate
this chapter.
(2) When property is returned under this section, the
state patrol and the department may return the goods to the
parties from whom they were seized if and when the parties
pay all applicable taxes and interest. [2003 c 358 § 4.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.36.490
82.36.490 Fuel tax evasion—Search and seizure.
When the state patrol has good reason to believe that motor
vehicle fuel is being unlawfully imported, kept, sold, offered
for sale, blended, or manufactured in violation of this chapter
or rules adopted under it, the state patrol may make an affidavit of that fact, describing the place or thing to be searched,
before a judge of any court in this state, and the judge shall
issue a search warrant directed to the state patrol commanding the officer diligently to search any place or vehicle designated in the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize the fuel
and conveyance so possessed and to hold them until disposed
of by law, and to arrest the person in possession or control of
them. [2003 c 358 § 5.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.36.495
82.36.495 Fuel tax evasion—Rules. The department
and the state patrol shall adopt rules necessary to implement
RCW 82.36.470 through 82.36.490. [2003 c 358 § 6.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.36.800
82.36.800 Rules—1998 c 176. The department of
licensing shall adopt rules necessary to implement chapter
176, Laws of 1998 and shall seek the assistance of the fuel tax
advisory committee in developing and adopting the rules.
[1998 c 176 § 87.]
(2006 Ed.)
Sections
82.38.010
82.38.020
82.38.030
82.38.032
82.38.035
82.38.045
82.38.047
82.38.050
82.38.060
82.38.065
82.38.066
82.38.070
82.38.071
82.38.075
82.38.080
82.38.081
82.38.090
82.38.100
82.38.110
82.38.120
82.38.130
82.38.140
82.38.150
82.38.160
82.38.165
82.38.170
82.38.180
82.38.185
82.38.190
82.38.200
82.38.210
82.38.220
Statement of purpose.
Definitions.
Tax imposed—Rate—Incidence—Allocation of proceeds—
Expiration of subsection.
Payment of tax by users and persons licensed under international fuel tax agreement or reciprocity agreements.
Remittance of tax.
Liability of terminal operator for remittance.
Liability of terminal operator for taxes when documentation
incorrectly indicates internal revenue service compliance.
Tax liability on leased motor vehicles.
Tax computation on mileage basis.
Dyed special fuel use—Authorization, license required—
Imposition of tax.
Dyed special fuel—Requirements—Marking—Notice.
Credit for sales for which no consideration was received—
Report—Adjustment.
Refund for worthless accounts receivable—Rules—Apportionment after receipt.
Natural gas, propane—Annual license fee in lieu of special
fuel tax for use in motor vehicles—Schedule—Decal or
other identifying device.
Exemptions.
Exemptions—Motor vehicle fuel used for racing.
Penalty for acting without license—Separate licenses for separate activities—Interstate commerce—Exception.
Trip permits—Fees—Tax—Distributions.
Application for license—Federal certificate of registry—
Investigation—Fee—Penalty for false statement—Bond or
security.
Issuance of license—Refusal—Inspection of records—Posting—Display—Duration—Transferability.
Revocation, suspension, cancellation, and surrender of
license—Notice—Bond release, discharge—New or additional bond or surety.
Special fuel records—Reports—Inspection.
Periodic tax reports—Forms—Filing.
Computation and payment of tax—Remittance—Electronic
funds transfer.
Notice by supplier of distributor’s failure to pay tax—License
suspension—Notice to suppliers—Revocation or suspension
upon continued noncompliance.
Civil and statutory penalties and interest—Deficiency assessments.
Refunds and credits.
Refunds—Tax paid purchased by exempt person—Application.
Claim of refund or credit.
Suits for recovery of taxes illegally or erroneously collected.
Tax lien—Filing.
Delinquency—Notice to debtors—Transfer or disposition of
property, credits, or debts prohibited—Lien—Answer.
[Title 82 RCW—page 259]
82.38.010
82.38.230
82.38.235
82.38.240
82.38.245
82.38.250
82.38.260
82.38.265
82.38.270
82.38.275
82.38.280
82.38.285
82.38.290
82.38.300
82.38.310
82.38.320
82.38.350
82.38.360
82.38.365
82.38.370
82.38.375
82.38.380
82.38.385
82.38.800
82.38.900
82.38.910
82.38.920
82.38.930
82.38.940
82.38.941
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Delinquency—Seizure and sale of property—Notice—Distribution of excess.
Assessments—Warrant—Lien—Filing fee—Writs of execution and garnishment.
Delinquency—Collection by civil action—Certificate.
Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice.
Remedies cumulative.
Administration and enforcement.
Administration, collection, and enforcement of taxes pursuant
to chapter 82.41 RCW.
Violations—Penalties.
Investigatory power.
State preempts tax field.
Tax liability of user—Exceptions.
Disposition of funds.
Judicial review and appeals.
Agreement with tribe for imposition, collection, use.
Bulk storage of special fuel by international fuel tax agreement
licensee—Authorization to pay tax at time of filing tax
return—Schedule—Report—Exemptions.
Fuel tax cooperative agreement.
Fuel tax evasion—Seizure and forfeiture.
Fuel tax evasion—Forfeiture procedure.
Fuel tax evasion—Forfeited property.
Fuel tax evasion—Return of seized property.
Fuel tax evasion—Search and seizure.
Rules.
Rules—1998 c 176.
Section captions.
Short title.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 175.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 175.
Findings—1998 c 176.
Effective date—1998 c 176.
82.38.010 Statement of purpose. The purpose of this
chapter is to supplement the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Act,
chapter 82.36 RCW, by imposing a tax upon all fuels not
taxed under said Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Act used for the
propulsion of motor vehicles upon the highways of this state.
[1979 c 40 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 2.]
82.38.010
82.38.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Blended special fuel" means a mixture of undyed
diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis
amount of the liquid, that can be used as a fuel to propel a
motor vehicle.
(2) "Blender" means a person who produces blended
special fuel outside the bulk transfer-terminal system.
(3) "Bond" means a bond duly executed with a corporate
surety qualified under chapter 48.28 RCW, which bond is
payable to the state of Washington conditioned upon faithful
performance of all requirements of this chapter, including the
payment of all taxes, penalties, and other obligations arising
out of this chapter.
(4) "Bulk transfer-terminal system" means the special
fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines,
vessels, and terminals. Special fuel in a refinery, pipeline,
vessel, or terminal is in the bulk transfer-terminal system.
Special fuel in the fuel tank of an engine, motor vehicle, or in
a railcar, trailer, truck, or other equipment suitable for ground
transportation is not in the bulk transfer-terminal system.
(5) "Bulk transfer" means a transfer of special fuel by
pipeline or vessel.
(6) "Bulk storage" means the placing of special fuel into
a receptacle other than the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle.
(7) "Department" means the department of licensing.
82.38.020
[Title 82 RCW—page 260]
(8) "Dyed special fuel user" means a person authorized
by the internal revenue code to operate a motor vehicle on the
highway using dyed special fuel, in which the use is not
exempt from the special fuel tax.
(9) "Evasion" or "evade" means to diminish or avoid the
computation, assessment, or payment of authorized taxes or
fees through:
(a) A knowing: False statement; omission; misrepresentation of fact; or other act of deception;
(b) An intentional: Failure to file a return or report; or
other act of deception; or
(c) The unlawful use of dyed special fuel.
(10) "Export" means to obtain special fuel in this state
for sales or distribution outside the state.
(11) "Highway" means every way or place open to the
use of the public, as a matter of right, for the purpose of
vehicular travel.
(12) "Import" means to bring special fuel into this state
by a means of conveyance other than the fuel supply tank of
a motor vehicle.
(13) "International fuel tax agreement licensee" means a
special fuel user operating qualified motor vehicles in interstate commerce and licensed by the department under the
international fuel tax agreement.
(14) "Lessor" means a person: (a) Whose principal business is the bona fide leasing or renting of motor vehicles
without drivers for compensation to the general public; and
(b) who maintains established places of business and whose
lease or rental contracts require the motor vehicles to be
returned to the established places of business.
(15) "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued
under this chapter.
(16) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle
designed for operation upon land utilizing special fuel as the
means of propulsion.
(17) "Natural gas" means naturally occurring mixtures of
hydrocarbon gases and vapors consisting principally of methane, whether in gaseous or liquid form.
(18) "Person" means a natural person, fiduciary, association, or corporation. The term "person" as applied to an association means and includes the partners or members thereof,
and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof.
(19) "Position holder" means a person who holds the
inventory position in special fuel, as reflected by the records
of the terminal operator. A person holds the inventory position in special fuel if the person has a contractual agreement
with the terminal for the use of storage facilities and terminating services at a terminal with respect to special fuel. "Position holder" includes a terminal operator that owns special
fuel in their terminal.
(20) "Rack" means a mechanism for delivering special
fuel from a refinery or terminal into a truck, trailer, railcar, or
other means of nonbulk transfer.
(21) "Refiner" means a person who owns, operates, or
otherwise controls a refinery.
(22) "Removal" means a physical transfer of special fuel
other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction.
(23) "Special fuel" means and includes all combustible
gases and liquids suitable for the generation of power for propulsion of motor vehicles, except that it does not include
motor vehicle fuel as defined in chapter 82.36 RCW, nor does
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
it include dyed special fuel as defined by federal regulations,
unless the use is in violation of this chapter. If a person holds
for sale, sells, purchases, or uses any dyed special fuel in violation of this chapter, all dyed special fuel held for sale, sold,
purchased, stored, or used by that person is considered special fuel, and the person is subject to all presumptions, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements and other obligations
which apply to special fuel, along with payment of any applicable taxes, penalties, or interest for illegal use.
(24) "Special fuel distributor" means a person who
acquires special fuel from a supplier, distributor, or licensee
for subsequent sale and distribution.
(25) "Special fuel exporter" means a person who purchases special fuel in this state and directly exports the fuel
by a means other than the bulk transfer-terminal system to a
destination outside of the state.
(26) "Special fuel importer" means a person who imports
special fuel into the state by a means other than the bulk
transfer-terminal system. If the importer of record is acting as
an agent, the person for whom the agent is acting is the
importer. If there is no importer of record, the owner of the
special fuel at the time of importation is the importer.
(27) "Special fuel supplier" means a person who holds a
federal certificate issued under the internal revenue code and
authorizes the person to tax-free transactions on special fuel
in the bulk transfer-terminal system.
(28) "Special fuel user" means a person engaged in uses
of special fuel that are not specifically exempted from the
special fuel tax imposed under this chapter.
(29) "Terminal" means a special fuel storage and distribution facility that has been assigned a terminal control number by the internal revenue service, is supplied by pipeline or
vessel, and from which reportable special fuel is removed at
a rack.
(30) "Terminal operator" means a person who owns,
operates, or otherwise controls a terminal.
(31) "Two-party exchange" or "buy-sell agreement"
means a transaction in which taxable special fuel is transferred from one licensed supplier to another licensed supplier
under an exchange or buy-sell agreement whereby the supplier that is the position holder agrees to deliver taxable special fuel to the other supplier or the other supplier’s customer
at the rack of the terminal at which the delivering supplier is
the position holder. [2002 c 183 § 1; 2001 c 270 § 4; 1998 c
176 § 50; 1995 c 287 § 3; 1994 c 262 § 22; 1988 c 122 § 1;
1979 c 40 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 3.]
82.38.030 Tax imposed—Rate—Incidence—Allocation of proceeds—Expiration of subsection. (1) There is
hereby levied and imposed upon special fuel users a tax at the
rate of twenty-three cents per gallon of special fuel, or each
one hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured
at standard pressure and temperature.
(2) Beginning July 1, 2003, an additional and cumulative
tax rate of five cents per gallon of special fuel, or each one
hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured at
standard pressure and temperature shall be imposed on special fuel users. This subsection (2) expires when the bonds
issued for transportation 2003 projects are retired.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2005, an additional and cumulative
tax rate of three cents per gallon of special fuel, or each one
82.38.030
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.030
hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured at
standard pressure and temperature shall be imposed on special fuel users.
(4) Beginning July 1, 2006, an additional and cumulative
tax rate of three cents per gallon of special fuel, or each one
hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured at
standard pressure and temperature shall be imposed on special fuel users.
(5) Beginning July 1, 2007, an additional and cumulative
tax rate of two cents per gallon of special fuel, or each one
hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured at
standard pressure and temperature shall be imposed on special fuel users.
(6) Beginning July 1, 2008, an additional and cumulative
tax rate of one and one-half cents per gallon of special fuel, or
each one hundred cubic feet of compressed natural gas, measured at standard pressure and temperature shall be imposed
on special fuel users.
(7) Taxes are imposed when:
(a) Special fuel is removed in this state from a terminal if
the special fuel is removed at the rack unless the removal is to
a licensed exporter for direct delivery to a destination outside
of the state, or the removal is to a special fuel distributor for
direct delivery to an international fuel tax agreement licensee
under RCW 82.38.320;
(b) Special fuel is removed in this state from a refinery if
either of the following applies:
(i) The removal is by bulk transfer and the refiner or the
owner of the special fuel immediately before the removal is
not a licensee; or
(ii) The removal is at the refinery rack unless the
removal is to a licensed exporter for direct delivery to a destination outside of the state, or the removal is to a special fuel
distributor for direct delivery to an international fuel tax
agreement licensee under RCW 82.38.320;
(c) Special fuel enters into this state for sale, consumption, use, or storage if either of the following applies:
(i) The entry is by bulk transfer and the importer is not a
licensee; or
(ii) The entry is not by bulk transfer;
(d) Special fuel is sold or removed in this state to an unlicensed entity unless there was a prior taxable removal, entry,
or sale of the special fuel;
(e) Blended special fuel is removed or sold in this state
by the blender of the fuel. The number of gallons of blended
special fuel subject to tax is the difference between the total
number of gallons of blended special fuel removed or sold
and the number of gallons of previously taxed special fuel
used to produce the blended special fuel;
(f) Dyed special fuel is used on a highway, as authorized
by the internal revenue code, unless the use is exempt from
the special fuel tax;
(g) Dyed special fuel is held for sale, sold, used, or is
intended to be used in violation of this chapter;
(h) Special fuel purchased by an international fuel tax
agreement licensee under RCW 82.38.320 is used on a highway; and
(i) Special fuel is sold by a licensed special fuel supplier
to a special fuel distributor, special fuel importer, or special
fuel blender and the special fuel is not removed from the bulk
transfer-terminal system.
[Title 82 RCW—page 261]
82.38.032
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(8) The tax imposed by this chapter, if required to be collected by the licensee, is held in trust by the licensee until
paid to the department, and a licensee who appropriates or
converts the tax collected to his or her own use or to any use
other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the money
required to be collected is not available for payment on the
due date as prescribed in this chapter is guilty of a felony, or
gross misdemeanor in accordance with the theft and anticipatory provisions of Title 9A RCW. A person, partnership, corporation, or corporate officer who fails to collect the tax
imposed by this section, or who has collected the tax and fails
to pay it to the department in the manner prescribed by this
chapter, is personally liable to the state for the amount of the
tax. [2005 c 314 § 102; 2003 c 361 § 402; 2002 c 183 § 2;
2001 c 270 § 6; 1998 c 176 § 51; 1996 c 104 § 7; 1989 c 193
§ 3; 1983 1st ex.s. c 49 § 30; 1979 c 40 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 317
§ 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 62 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 1; 1972
ex.s. c 135 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 4.]
Effective date—2005 c 314 §§ 101-107, 109, 303-309, and 401: See
note following RCW 46.68.290.
Part headings not law—2005 c 314: See note following RCW
46.17.010.
Part headings not law—2005 c 314: See note following RCW
46.17.010.
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
82.38.045
82.38.045 Liability of terminal operator for remittance. A terminal operator is jointly and severally liable for
remitting the tax imposed under RCW 82.38.030 if, at the
time of removal:
(1) The position holder with respect to the special fuel is
a person other than the terminal operator and is not a licensee;
(2) The terminal operator is not a licensee;
(3) The position holder has an expired internal revenue
service notification certificate issued under chapter 26,
C.F.R. Part 48; or
(4) The terminal operator had reason to believe that
information on the notification certificate was false. [2005 c
314 § 108; 1998 c 176 § 54.]
Part headings not law—2005 c 314: See note following RCW
46.17.010.
82.38.047
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
Severability—Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 49: See RCW
36.79.900 and 36.79.901.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 317: See notes following
RCW 82.36.010.
82.38.032
82.38.032 Payment of tax by users and persons
licensed under international fuel tax agreement or reciprocity agreements. The tax under RCW 82.38.030, if not
previously imposed and paid, must be paid over to the department by special fuel users and persons licensed under the
international fuel tax agreement or other fuel tax reciprocity
agreements entered into with the state of Washington, on the
use of special fuel to operate motor vehicles on the highways
of this state, unless the use is exempt from the tax under this
chapter. [1998 c 176 § 52.]
82.38.035
82.38.035 Remittance of tax. (1) A licensed supplier
shall remit tax on special fuel to the department as provided
in RCW 82.38.030(7)(a). On a two-party exchange, or buysell agreement between two licensed suppliers, the receiving
exchange partner or buyer shall remit the tax.
(2) A refiner shall remit tax to the department on special
fuel removed from a refinery as provided in RCW
82.38.030(7)(b).
(3) An importer shall remit tax to the department on special fuel imported into this state as provided in RCW
82.38.030(7)(c).
(4) A blender shall remit tax to the department on the
removal or sale of blended special fuel as provided in RCW
82.38.030(7)(e).
(5) A dyed special fuel user shall remit tax to the department on the use of dyed special fuel as provided in RCW
82.38.030(7)(f). [2005 c 314 § 107; 2003 c 361 § 405; 2001
c 270 § 7; 1998 c 176 § 53.]
Effective date—2005 c 314 §§ 101-107, 109, 303-309, and 401: See
note following RCW 46.68.290.
[Title 82 RCW—page 262]
82.38.047 Liability of terminal operator for taxes
when documentation incorrectly indicates internal revenue service compliance. A terminal operator is jointly and
severally liable for remitting the tax imposed under RCW
82.38.030 if, in connection with the removal of special fuel
that is not dyed or marked in accordance with internal revenue service requirements, the terminal operator provides a
person with a bill of lading, shipping paper, or similar document indicating that the special fuel is dyed or marked in
accordance with internal revenue service requirements.
[2003 c 361 § 406; 1998 c 176 § 55.]
Findings—Part headings not law—Severability—2003 c 361: See
notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—2003 c 361: See note following RCW 82.08.020.
82.38.050
82.38.050 Tax liability on leased motor vehicles.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every special
fuel user shall be liable for the tax on special fuel used in
motor vehicles leased to the user for thirty days or more and
operated on the highways of this state to the same extent and
in the same manner as special fuel used in his own motor
vehicles and operated on the highways of this state: PROVIDED, That a lessor who is engaged regularly in the business of leasing or renting for compensation motor vehicles
and equipment he owns without drivers to carriers or other
lessees for interstate operation, may be deemed to be the special fuel user when he supplies or pays for the special fuel
consumed in such vehicles, and such lessor may be issued a
license as a special fuel user when application and bond have
been properly filed with and approved by the department for
such license. Any lessee may exclude motor vehicles of
which he or she is the lessee from reports and liabilities pursuant to this chapter, but only if the motor vehicles in question have been leased from a lessor holding a valid special
fuel user’s license.
Every such lessor shall file with the application for a special fuel user’s license one copy of the lease form or service
contract the lessor enters into with the various lessees of the
lessor’s motor vehicles. When the special fuel user’s license
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
has been secured, such lessor shall make and assign to each
motor vehicle leased for interstate operation a photocopy of
such license to be carried in the cab compartment of the
motor vehicle and on which shall be typed or printed on the
back the unit or motor number of the motor vehicle to which
it is assigned and the name of the lessee. Such lessor shall be
responsible for the proper use of such photocopy of the
license issued and its return to the lessor with the motor vehicle to which it is assigned.
The lessor shall be responsible for fuel tax licensing and
reporting, as required by this chapter, on the operation of all
motor vehicles leased to others for less than thirty days.
[1990 c 250 § 82; 1983 c 242 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 6.]
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
82.38.060
82.38.060 Tax computation on mileage basis. In the
event the tax on special fuel imported into this state in the fuel
supply tanks of motor vehicles for taxable use on Washington
highways can be more accurately determined on a mileage
basis the department is authorized to approve and adopt such
basis. When a special fuel user imports special fuel into or
exports special fuel from the state of Washington in the fuel
supply tanks of motor vehicles, the amount of special fuel
consumed in such vehicles on Washington highways shall be
deemed to be such proportion of the total amount of such special fuel consumed in his entire operations within and without
this state as the total number of miles traveled on the public
highways within this state bears to the total number of miles
traveled within and without the state. The department may
also adopt such mileage basis for determining the taxable use
of special fuel used in motor vehicles which travel regularly
over prescribed courses on and off the highways within the
state of Washington. In the absence of records showing the
number of miles actually operated per gallon of special fuel
consumed, fuel consumption shall be calculated at the rate of
one gallon for every: (1) Four miles traveled by vehicles over
forty thousand pounds gross vehicle weight; (2) seven miles
traveled by vehicles twelve thousand one to forty thousand
pounds gross vehicle weight; (3) ten miles traveled by vehicles six thousand one to twelve thousand pounds gross vehicle weight; and (4) sixteen miles traveled by vehicles six
thousand pounds or less gross vehicle weight. [1996 c 90 § 1;
1989 c 142 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 7.]
82.38.071
intended use dyed special fuel in a manner in violation of this
chapter. [2002 c 183 § 3; 1998 c 176 § 56.]
82.38.066
82.38.066 Dyed special fuel—Requirements—Marking—Notice. (1) Special fuel that is dyed satisfies the dyeing
requirements of this chapter if it meets the dyeing requirements of the internal revenue service, including, but not limited to, requirements respecting type, dosage, and timing.
(2) Marking must meet the marking requirements of the
internal revenue service.
(3) As required by the internal revenue service, notice is
required with respect to dyed special fuel. A notice stating
"DYED DIESEL FUEL, NONTAXABLE USE ONLY,
PENALTY FOR TAXABLE USE" must be:
(a) Provided by the terminal operator to a person who
receives dyed special fuel at a terminal rack of that terminal
operator;
(b) Provided by a seller of dyed special fuel to its buyer
if the special fuel is located outside the bulk transfer-terminal
system and is not sold from a retail pump posted in accordance with the requirements of this subsection; or
(c) Posted by a seller on a retail pump where it sells dyed
special fuel for use by its buyer. [1998 c 176 § 57.]
82.38.070
82.38.070 Credit for sales for which no consideration
was received—Report—Adjustment. A special fuel supplier is entitled to a credit of the tax paid over to the department on those sales of special fuel for which the supplier has
received no consideration from or on behalf of the purchaser.
The amount of the tax credit shall not exceed the amount of
tax imposed by this chapter on such sales. If a credit has been
granted under this section, any amounts collected for application against the accounts on which such a credit is based shall
be reported on a subsequent return filed after such collection,
and the amount of credit received by the supplier based upon
the collected amount shall be returned to the department. In
the event the credit has not been paid, the amount of the credit
requested by the supplier shall be adjusted by the department
to reflect the decrease in the amount on which the claim is
based. [1998 c 176 § 58; 1990 c 250 § 83; 1971 ex.s. c 175 §
8.]
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
82.38.071
82.38.065
82.38.065 Dyed special fuel use—Authorization,
license required—Imposition of tax. A person may operate
or maintain a licensed or required to be licensed motor vehicle with dyed special fuel in the fuel supply tank only if the
use is authorized by the internal revenue code and the person
is either the holder of an uncanceled dyed special fuel user
license or the use is exempt from the special fuel tax. A person may maintain dyed special fuel for a taxable use in bulk
storage if the person is the holder of an uncanceled dyed special fuel user license issued under this chapter. The special
fuel tax set forth in RCW 82.38.030 is imposed on users of
dyed special fuel authorized by the internal revenue code to
operate on-highway motor vehicles using dyed special fuel,
unless the use is exempt from the special fuel tax. It is unlawful for any person to sell, use, hold for sale, or hold for
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.071 Refund for worthless accounts receivable—Rules—Apportionment after receipt. A special fuel
distributor, special fuel importer, or special fuel blender,
under rules adopted by the department, is entitled to a refund
of the tax paid on those sales of special fuel for which no consideration has been received from or on behalf of the purchaser and that have been declared to be worthless accounts
receivable. The amount of the tax refunded must not exceed
the amount of tax paid by the special fuel distributor, special
fuel importer, or special fuel blender paid under this chapter.
If the special fuel distributor, special fuel importer, or special
fuel blender subsequently collects any amount from the
account declared worthless, the amount collected shall be
apportioned between the charges for the fuel and tax thereon.
The special fuel tax collected must be returned to the department. [1998 c 176 § 59.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 263]
82.38.075
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.38.075
82.38.075 Natural gas, propane—Annual license fee
in lieu of special fuel tax for use in motor vehicles—
Schedule—Decal or other identifying device. In order to
encourage the use of nonpolluting fuels, an annual license fee
in lieu of the tax imposed by RCW 82.38.030 shall be
imposed upon the use of natural gas as defined in this chapter
or on liquified petroleum gas, commonly called propane,
which is used in any motor vehicle, as defined in RCW
46.04.320, which shall be based upon the following schedule
as adjusted by the formula set out below:
VEHICLE TONNAGE (GVW)
0 - 6,000
6,001 - 10,000
10,001 - 18,000
18,001 - 28,000
28,001 - 36,000
36,001 and above
FEE
$ 45
$ 45
$ 80
$110
$150
$250
To determine the actual annual license fee imposed by
this section for a registration year, the appropriate dollar
amount set out in the above schedule shall be multiplied by
the motor vehicle fuel tax rate in cents per gallon as established by RCW 82.36.025 effective on July 1st of the preceding calendar year and the product thereof shall be divided by
12 cents.
The department of licensing, in addition to the foregoing
fee, shall charge a further fee of five dollars as a handling
charge for each license issued.
The director of licensing shall be authorized to prorate
the vehicle tonnage fee so that the annual license required by
this section will correspond with the staggered vehicle licensing system.
A decal or other identifying device issued upon payment
of these annual fees shall be displayed as prescribed by the
department as authority to purchase this fuel.
Persons selling or dispensing natural gas or propane may
not sell or dispense this fuel for their own use or the use of
others into tanks of vehicles powered by this fuel which do
not display a valid decal or other identifying device as provided in this section.
Vehicles registered in jurisdictions outside the state of
Washington are exempt from this section.
Any person selling or dispensing natural gas or propane
into the tank of a motor vehicle powered by this fuel, except
as prescribed in this chapter, is subject to the penalty provisions of this chapter. [1983 c 212 § 1; 1981 c 129 § 1; 1979
c 48 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 335 § 1.]
Effective date—1979 c 48: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1979." [1979 c 48 § 2.]
Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 335: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1977." [1977 ex.s. c 335 § 2.]
82.38.080
82.38.080 Exemptions. (1) There is exempted from the
tax imposed by this chapter, the use of fuel for:
[Title 82 RCW—page 264]
(a) Street and highway construction and maintenance
purposes in motor vehicles owned and operated by the state
of Washington, or any county or municipality;
(b) Publicly owned fire fighting equipment;
(c) Special mobile equipment as defined in RCW
46.04.552;
(d) Power pumping units or other power take-off equipment of any motor vehicle which is accurately measured by
metering devices that have been specifically approved by the
department or which is established by any of the following
formulae:
(i) Pumping propane, or fuel or heating oils or milk
picked up from a farm or dairy farm storage tank by a power
take-off unit on a delivery truck, at a rate determined by the
department: PROVIDED, That claimant when presenting his
or her claim to the department in accordance with this chapter, shall provide to the claim, invoices of propane, or fuel or
heating oil delivered, or such other appropriate information
as may be required by the department to substantiate his or
her claim;
(ii) Operating a power take-off unit on a cement mixer
truck or a load compactor on a garbage truck at the rate of
twenty-five percent of the total gallons of fuel used in such a
truck; or
(iii) The department is authorized to establish by rule
additional formulae for determining fuel usage when operating other types of equipment by means of power take-off
units when direct measurement of the fuel used is not feasible. The department is also authorized to adopt rules regarding the usage of on board computers for the production of
records required by this chapter;
(e) Motor vehicles owned and operated by the United
States government;
(f) Heating purposes;
(g) Moving a motor vehicle on a public highway
between two pieces of private property when said moving is
incidental to the primary use of the motor vehicle;
(h) Transportation services for persons with special
transportation needs by a private, nonprofit transportation
provider regulated under chapter 81.66 RCW;
(i) Vehicle refrigeration units, mixing units, or other
equipment powered by separate motors from separate fuel
tanks; and
(j) The operation of a motor vehicle as a part of or incidental to logging operations upon a highway under federal
jurisdiction within the boundaries of a federal area if the federal government requires a fee for the privilege of operating
the motor vehicle upon the highway, the proceeds of which
are reserved for constructing or maintaining roads in the federal area, or requires maintenance or construction work to be
performed on the highway for the privilege of operating the
motor vehicle on the highway.
(2) There is exempted from the tax imposed by this chapter the removal or entry of special fuel under the following
circumstances and conditions:
(a) If it is the removal from a terminal or refinery of, or
the entry or sale of, a special fuel if all of the following apply:
(i) The person otherwise liable for the tax is a licensee
other than a dyed special fuel user or international fuel tax
agreement licensee;
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
(ii) For a removal from a terminal, the terminal is a
licensed terminal; and
(iii) The special fuel satisfies the dyeing and marking
requirements of this chapter;
(b) If it is an entry or removal from a terminal or refinery
of taxable special fuel transferred to a refinery or terminal
and the persons involved, including the terminal operator, are
licensed; and
(c)(i) If it is a special fuel that, under contract of sale, is
shipped to a point outside this state by a supplier by means of
any of the following:
(A) Facilities operated by the supplier;
(B) Delivery by the supplier to a carrier, customs broker,
or forwarding agent, whether hired by the purchaser or not,
for shipment to the out-of-state point;
(C) Delivery by the supplier to a vessel clearing from
port of this state for a port outside this state and actually
exported from this state in the vessel.
(ii) For purposes of this subsection (2)(c):
(A) "Carrier" means a person or firm engaged in the
business of transporting for compensation property owned by
other persons, and includes both common and contract carriers; and
(B) "Forwarding agent" means a person or firm engaged
in the business of preparing property for shipment or arranging for its shipment.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
every urban passenger transportation system and carriers as
defined by chapters 81.68 and 81.70 RCW shall be exempt
from the provisions of this chapter requiring the payment of
special fuel taxes. For the purposes of this section "urban passenger transportation system" means every transportation
system, publicly or privately owned, having as its principal
source of revenue the income from transporting persons for
compensation by means of motor vehicles and/or trackless
trolleys, each having a seating capacity for over fifteen persons over prescribed routes in such a manner that the routes
of such motor vehicles and/or trackless trolleys, either alone
or in conjunction with routes of other such motor vehicles
and/or trackless trolleys subject to routing by the same transportation system, shall not extend for a distance exceeding
twenty-five road miles beyond the corporate limits of the
county in which the original starting points of such motor
vehicles are located: PROVIDED, That no refunds or credits
shall be granted on special fuel used by any urban transportation vehicle or vehicle operated pursuant to chapters 81.68
and 81.70 RCW on any trip where any portion of said trip is
more than twenty-five road miles beyond the corporate limits
of the county in which said trip originated. [1998 c 176 § 60;
1996 c 244 § 6; 1993 c 141 § 2; 1990 c 185 § 1; 1983 c 108 §
4; 1979 c 40 § 4; 1973 c 42 § 1. Prior: 1972 ex.s. c 138 § 2;
1972 ex.s. c 49 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 9.]
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 138: See note following RCW 82.36.280.
82.38.081 Exemptions—Motor vehicle fuel used for
racing. Motor vehicle fuel that is used exclusively for racing
and is illegal for use on the public highways of the state under
state or federal law is exempt from the tax imposed under this
chapter. [1998 c 115 § 6.]
82.38.081
Intent—1998 c 115 §§ 6 and 7: "It is the intent of the legislature that
leaded racing fuel be exempted from payment of the motor vehicle fuel tax,
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.100
as provided in RCW 82.38.081, since it is illegal for use on the public highways of the state under federal law. The legislature further intends that
leaded racing fuel be subject to the retail sales and use taxes under chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW and that the revenue collected will be earmarked as
provided in RCW 82.32.394." [1998 c 115 § 5.]
82.38.090
82.38.090 Penalty for acting without license—Separate licenses for separate activities—Interstate commerce—Exception. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person
to engage in business in this state as any of the following
unless the person is the holder of an uncanceled license
issued to him or her by the department authorizing the person
to engage in that business:
(a) Special fuel supplier;
(b) Special fuel distributor;
(c) Special fuel exporter;
(d) Special fuel importer;
(e) Special fuel blender;
(f) Dyed special fuel user; or
(g) International fuel tax agreement licensee.
(2) A person engaged in more than one activity for which
a license is required must have a separate license classification for each activity, but a special fuel supplier is not
required to obtain a separate license classification for any
other activity for which a license is required.
(3) Special fuel users operating motor vehicles in interstate commerce having two axles and a gross vehicle weight
or registered gross vehicle weight not exceeding twenty-six
thousand pounds are not required to be licensed. Special fuel
users operating motor vehicles in interstate commerce having
two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight exceeding twenty-six thousand pounds, or having
three or more axles regardless of weight, or a combination of
vehicles, when the combination exceeds twenty-six thousand
pounds gross vehicle weight, must comply with the licensing
and reporting requirements of this chapter. A copy of the
license must be carried in each motor vehicle entering this
state from another state or province. [1998 c 176 § 61; 1995
c 20 § 13; 1994 c 262 § 23; 1993 c 54 § 6; 1991 c 339 § 6;
1990 c 250 § 84; 1986 c 29 § 2; 1979 c 40 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c
175 § 10.]
Severability—1995 c 20: See RCW 70.149.901.
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
82.38.100
82.38.100 Trip permits—Fees—Tax—Distributions. (1) Any special fuel user operating a motor vehicle
into this state for commercial purposes may make application
for a trip permit that shall be good for a period of three consecutive days beginning and ending on the dates specified on
the face of the permit issued, and only for the vehicle for
which it is issued.
(2) Every permit shall identify, as the department may
require, the vehicle for which it is issued and shall be completed in its entirety, signed, and dated by the operator before
operation of the vehicle on the public highways of this state.
Correction of data on the permit such as dates, vehicle license
number, or vehicle identification number invalidates the permit. A violation of, or a failure to comply with, this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) For each permit issued, there shall be collected a filing fee of one dollar, an administrative fee of ten dollars, and
[Title 82 RCW—page 265]
82.38.110
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
an excise tax of nine dollars. Such fees and tax shall be in lieu
of the special fuel tax otherwise assessable against the permit
holder for importing and using special fuel in a motor vehicle
on the public highways of this state, and no report of mileage
shall be required with respect to such vehicle. Trip permits
will not be issued if the applicant has outstanding fuel taxes,
penalties, or interest owing to the state or has had a special
fuel license revoked for cause and the cause has not been
removed.
(4) Blank permits may be obtained from field offices of
the department of transportation, Washington state patrol,
department of licensing, or other agents appointed by the
department. The department may appoint county auditors or
businesses as agents for the purpose of selling trip permits to
the public. County auditors or businesses so appointed may
retain the filing fee collected for each trip permit to defray
expenses incurred in handling and selling the permits.
(5) A surcharge of five dollars is imposed on the issuance of trip permits. The portion of the surcharge paid by
motor carriers must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund
for the purpose of supporting vehicle weigh stations, weighin-motion programs, and the commercial vehicle information
systems and networks program. The remaining portion of the
surcharge must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund for the
purpose of supporting congestion relief programs. All other
fees and excise taxes collected by the department for trip permits shall be credited and deposited in the same manner as
the special fuel tax collected under this chapter and shall not
be subject to exchange, refund, or credit. [1999 c 270 § 2;
1998 c 176 § 62; 1983 c 78 § 1; 1979 c 40 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 156 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 11.]
82.38.110
82.38.110 Application for license—Federal certificate of registry—Investigation—Fee—Penalty for false
statement—Bond or security. (1) Application for a license
issued under this chapter shall be made to the department.
The application shall be filed upon a form prepared and furnished by the department and shall contain such information
as the department deems necessary.
(2) Every application for a special fuel license, other than
an application for a dyed special fuel user or international
fuel tax agreement license, must contain the following information to the extent it applies to the applicant:
(a) Proof as the department shall require concerning the
applicant’s identity, including but not limited to his or her
fingerprints or those of the officers of a corporation making
the application;
(b) The applicant’s form and place of organization
including proof that the individual, partnership, or corporation is licensed to do business in this state;
(c) The qualification and business history of the applicant and any partner, officer, or director;
(d) The applicant’s financial condition or history including a bank reference and whether the applicant or any partner,
officer, or director has ever been adjudged bankrupt or has an
unsatisfied judgment in a federal or state court;
(e) Whether the applicant has been adjudged guilty of a
crime that directly relates to the business for which the
license is sought and the time elapsed since the conviction is
less than ten years, or has suffered a judgment within the preceding five years in a civil action involving fraud, misrepre[Title 82 RCW—page 266]
sentation, or conversion and in the case of a corporation or
partnership, all directors, officers, or partners.
(3) An applicant for a license as a special fuel importer
must list on the application each state, province, or country
from which the applicant intends to import fuel and, if
required by the state, province, or country listed, must be
licensed or registered for special fuel tax purposes in that
state, province, or country.
(4) An applicant for a license as a special fuel exporter
must list on the application each state, province, or country to
which the exporter intends to export special fuel received in
this state by means of a transfer outside the bulk transfer-terminal system and, if required by the state, province, or country listed, must be licensed or registered for special fuel tax
purposes in that state, province, or country.
(5) An applicant for a license as a special fuel supplier
must have a federal certificate of registry that is issued under
the internal revenue code and authorizes the applicant to enter
into federal tax-free transactions on special fuel in the terminal transfer system.
(6) After receipt of an application for a license, the director shall conduct an investigation to determine whether the
facts set forth are true. The director shall require a fingerprint
record check of the applicant through the Washington state
patrol criminal identification system and the federal bureau
of investigation before issuance of a license. The results of
the background investigation including criminal history
information may be released to authorized department personnel as the director deems necessary. The department shall
charge a license holder or license applicant a fee of fifty dollars for each background investigation conducted.
(7) An applicant who makes a false statement of a material fact on the application may be prosecuted for false swearing as defined by RCW 9A.72.040.
(8) A special fuel license may not be issued to any person
or continued in force unless such person has furnished bond,
as defined in RCW 82.38.020, in such form as the department
may require, to secure his or her compliance with this chapter, and the payment of any and all taxes, interest, and penalties due and to become due hereunder. The requirement of
furnishing a bond may be waived: (a) For special fuel distributors who only deliver special fuel into the fuel tanks of
marine vessels; (b) for dyed special fuel users; (c) for persons
issued licenses under the international fuel tax agreement; or
(d) for licensed special fuel distributors who, upon determination by the department, have sufficient resources, assets,
other financial instruments, or other means to adequately
make payments on the estimated monthly motor vehicle fuel
tax payments, penalties, and interest arising out of this chapter. The department shall adopt rules to administer this section.
(9) The department may require a licensee to post a bond
if the licensee, after having been licensed, has failed to file
timely reports or has failed to remit taxes due, or when an
investigation or audit indicates problems severe enough that
the department, in its discretion, determines that a bond is
required to protect the interests of the state. The department
may also adopt rules prescribing conditions that, in the
department’s discretion, require a bond to protect the interests of the state.
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
(10) The total amount of the bond or bonds required of
any licensee shall be equivalent to three times the estimated
monthly fuel tax, determined in such manner as the department may deem proper: PROVIDED, That those licensees
having held a special fuel license for five or more years without having said license suspended or revoked by the department shall be permitted to reduce the amount of their bond to
twice the estimated monthly tax liability: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the total amount of the bond or bonds shall never
be less than five hundred dollars nor more than one hundred
thousand dollars.
(11) An application for a dyed special fuel user license
must be made to the department. The application must be
filed upon a form prescribed by the department and contain
such information as the department deems necessary.
(12) An application for an international fuel tax agreement license must be made to the department. The application must be filed upon a form prescribed by the department
and contain such information as the department may require.
The department shall charge a fee of ten dollars per set of
International Fuel Tax Agreement decals issued to each
applicant or licensee. The department shall transmit the fee to
the state treasurer for deposit in the motor vehicle fund.
[2002 c 352 § 26; 2001 c 270 § 8; 1998 c 176 § 63; 1996 c 104
§ 8; 1988 c 122 § 2; 1983 c 242 § 2; 1979 c 40 § 7; 1977 c 26
§ 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 12.]
Effective dates—2002 c 352: See note following RCW 46.09.070.
82.38.120
82.38.120 Issuance of license—Refusal—Inspection
of records—Posting—Display—Duration—Transferability. Upon receipt and approval of an application and bond, if
required, the department shall issue a license to the applicant.
However, the department may refuse to issue a license to any
person:
(1) Who formerly held a license issued under chapter
82.36 or 82.42 RCW or this chapter which, prior to the time
of filing for application, has been revoked for cause;
(2) Who is a subterfuge for the real party in interest
whose license prior to the time of filing for application, has
been revoked for cause;
(3) Who, as an individual licensee, or officer, director,
owner, or managing employee of a nonindividual licensee,
has had a special fuel license revoked for cause;
(4) Who has an unsatisfied debt to the state assessed
under either chapter 82.36, 82.38, 82.42, 46.87, or 82.42
RCW;
(5) Who formerly held as an individual, officer, director,
owner, managing employee of a nonindividual licensee, or
subterfuge for a real party in interest, a license issued by the
federal government or a state that allowed a person to buy or
sell untaxed motor vehicle or special fuel, which license,
before the time of filing for application, has been revoked for
cause;
(6) Who pled guilty to or was convicted as an individual,
officer, director, owner, or managing employee of a nonindividual licensee in this or any other state or in any federal
jurisdiction of a gross misdemeanor or felony crime directly
related to the business or has been subject to a civil judgment
involving fraud, misrepresentation, conversion, or dishonesty, notwithstanding chapter 9.96A RCW;
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.130
(7) Who misrepresented or concealed a material fact in
obtaining a license or in reinstatement thereof;
(8) Who violated a statute or administrative rule regulating fuel taxation or distribution;
(9) Who failed to cooperate with the department’s investigations by:
(a) Not furnishing papers or documents;
(b) Not furnishing in writing a full and complete explanation regarding a matter under investigation by the department; or
(c) Not responding to subpoenas issued by the department, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the subject of the proceeding;
(10) Who failed to comply with an order issued by the
director; or
(11) Upon other sufficient cause being shown.
Before such refusal, the department shall grant the applicant a hearing and shall grant the applicant at least twenty
days written notice of the time and place thereof.
The department shall determine from the information
shown in the application or other investigation the kind and
class of license to be issued. For the purpose of considering
any application for a special fuel license, the department may
inspect, cause an inspection, investigate, or cause an investigation of the records of this or any other state or of the federal
government to ascertain the veracity of the information on
the application form and the applicant’s criminal and licensing history.
All licenses shall be posted in a conspicuous place or
kept available for inspection at the principal place of business
of the owner thereof. License holders shall reproduce the
license by photostat or other method and keep a copy on display for ready inspection at each additional place of business
or other place of storage from which special fuel is sold,
delivered or used and in each motor vehicle used by the
license holder to transport special fuel purchased by him or
her for resale, delivery or use.
Each special fuel license shall be valid until the expiration date if shown on the license, or until suspended or
revoked for cause or otherwise canceled.
No special fuel license shall be transferable. [1998 c 176
§ 64; 1998 c 115 § 4; 1996 c 104 § 9; 1995 c 274 § 21; 1990
c 250 § 85; 1979 c 40 § 8; 1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 5; 1971 ex.s.
c 175 § 13.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1998 c 115 § 4 and by
1998 c 176 § 64, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1990 c 250: See note following RCW 46.16.301.
82.38.130
82.38.130 Revocation, suspension, cancellation, and
surrender of license—Notice—Bond release, discharge—
New or additional bond or surety. The department may
revoke the license of any licensee for any of the grounds constituting cause for denial of a license set forth in RCW
82.38.120 or for other reasonable cause. Before revoking
such license the department shall notify the licensee to show
cause within twenty days of the date of the notice why the
license should not be revoked: PROVIDED, That at any time
prior to and pending such hearing the department may, in the
exercise of reasonable discretion, suspend such license.
[Title 82 RCW—page 267]
82.38.140
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
The department shall cancel any special fuel license
immediately upon surrender thereof by the holder.
Any surety on a bond furnished by a licensee as provided
in this chapter shall be released and discharged from any and
all liability to the state accruing on such bond after the expiration of forty-five days from the date which such surety shall
have lodged with the department a written request to be
released and discharged, but this provision shall not operate
to relieve, release, or discharge the surety from any liability
already accrued or which shall accrue before the expiration of
the forty-five day period. The department shall promptly,
upon receiving any such request, notify the licensee who furnished the bond, and unless the licensee, on or before the
expiration of the forty-five day period, files a new bond, in
accordance with this section, the department forthwith shall
cancel the special fuel dealer’s or special fuel user’s license.
The department may require a new or additional surety
bond of the character specified in RCW 82.38.020(3) if, in its
opinion, the security of the surety bond therefor filed by such
licensee, shall become impaired or inadequate. Upon failure
of the licensee to give such new or additional surety bond
within forty-five days after being requested to do so by the
department, or after he or she shall fail or refuse to file reports
and remit or pay taxes at the intervals fixed by the department, the department forthwith shall cancel his or her license.
[1998 c 176 § 65; 1994 c 262 § 24; 1979 c 40 § 9; 1977 c 26
§ 2; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 14.]
(c) In the absence of operating records that show both
on-highway and off-highway usage of special fuel on a daily
basis for each vehicle, fuel consumption must be computed
under RCW 82.38.060.
(3) The department may require a person other than a licensee engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, distributing, storing, transporting, or delivering special fuel to submit periodic reports to the department regarding the disposition of the fuel. The reports must be on forms prescribed by
the department and must contain such information as the
department may require.
(4) Every person operating any conveyance for the purpose of hauling, transporting, or delivering special fuel in
bulk shall have and possess during the entire time the person
is hauling special fuel, an invoice, bill of sale, or other statement showing the name, address, and license number of the
seller or consigner, the destination, name, and address of the
purchaser or consignee, license number, if applicable, and the
number of gallons. The person hauling such special fuel shall
at the request of any law enforcement officer or authorized
representative of the department, or other person authorized
by law to inquire into, or investigate those types of matters,
produce for inspection such invoice, bill of sale, or other
statement and shall permit such official to inspect and gauge
the contents of the vehicle. [1998 c 176 § 66. Prior: 1996 c
104 § 10; 1996 c 90 § 2; 1995 c 274 § 22; 1988 c 51 § 1; 1979
c 40 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 15.]
82.38.150 Periodic tax reports—Forms—Filing. For
the purpose of determining the amount of liability for the tax
herein imposed, and to periodically update license information, each licensee, other than a special fuel distributor, an
international fuel tax agreement licensee, or a dyed special
fuel user, shall file monthly tax reports with the department,
on forms prescribed by the department.
Dyed special fuel users whose estimated yearly tax liability is two hundred fifty dollars or less, shall file a report
yearly, and dyed special fuel users whose estimated yearly
tax liability is more than two hundred fifty dollars, shall file
reports quarterly. Special fuel users licensed under the international fuel tax agreement shall file reports quarterly. Special fuel distributors subject to the pollution liability insurance agency fee and reporting requirements shall remit pollution liability insurance agency returns and any associated
payment due to the department annually.
The department shall establish the reporting frequency
for each applicant at the time the special fuel license is issued.
If it becomes apparent that any licensee is not reporting in
accordance with the above schedule, the department shall
change the licensee’s reporting frequency by giving thirty
days’ notice to the licensee by mail to the licensee’s address
of record. A report shall be filed with the department even
though no special fuel was used, or tax is due, for the reporting period. Each tax report shall contain a declaration by the
person making the same, to the effect that the statements contained therein are true and are made under penalties of perjury, which declaration shall have the same force and effect
as a verification of the report and is in lieu of such verification. The report shall show such information as the department may reasonably require for the proper administration
and enforcement of this chapter. For counties within which
82.38.150
82.38.140
82.38.140 Special fuel records—Reports—Inspection. (1) Every licensee and every person importing, manufacturing, refining, dealing in, transporting, blending, or storing special fuel in this state shall keep for a period of not less
than five years open to inspection at all times during the business hours of the day to the department or its authorized representatives, a complete record of all special fuel purchased
or received and all of such products sold, delivered, or used
by them. Such records shall show:
(a) The date of each receipt;
(b) The name and address of the person from whom purchased or received;
(c) The number of gallons received at each place of business or place of storage in the state of Washington;
(d) The date of each sale or delivery;
(e) The number of gallons sold, delivered, or used for
taxable purposes;
(f) The number of gallons sold, delivered, or used for any
purpose not subject to the tax imposed in this chapter;
(g) The name, address, and special fuel license number
of the purchaser if the special fuel tax is not collected on the
sale or delivery;
(h) The inventories of special fuel on hand at each place
of business at the end of each month.
(2)(a) All international fuel tax agreement licensees and
dyed special fuel users authorized to use dyed special fuel on
highway in vehicles licensed for highway operation shall
maintain detailed mileage records on an individual vehicle
basis.
(b) Such operating records shall show both on-highway
and off-highway usage of special fuel on a daily basis for
each vehicle.
[Title 82 RCW—page 268]
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
an additional excise tax on special fuel has been levied by
that jurisdiction under RCW 82.80.010, the report must show
the quantities of special fuel sold, distributed, or withdrawn
from bulk storage by the reporting dealer or user within the
county’s boundaries and the tax liability from its levy. A licensee shall file a tax report on or before the twenty-fifth day
of the next succeeding calendar month following the period
to which it relates.
Subject to the written approval of the department, tax
reports may cover a period ending on a day other than the last
day of the calendar month. Taxpayers granted approval to file
reports in this manner will file such reports on or before the
twenty-fifth day following the end of the reporting period. No
change to this reporting period will be made without the written authorization of the department.
If the final filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
legal holiday the next secular or business day shall be the
final filing date. Such reports shall be considered filed or
received on the date shown by the post office cancellation
mark stamped upon an envelope containing such report properly addressed to the department, or on the date it was mailed
if proof satisfactory to the department is available to establish
the date it was mailed.
The department, if it deems it necessary in order to
insure payment of the tax imposed by this chapter, or to facilitate the administration of this chapter, has the authority to
require the filing of reports and tax remittances at shorter
intervals than one month if, in its opinion, an existing bond
has become insufficient. [1998 c 176 § 67; 1996 c 104 § 11;
1995 c 274 § 23; 1991 c 339 § 15; 1990 c 42 § 203; 1988 c 23
§ 1; 1983 c 242 § 3; 1979 c 40 § 11; 1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 6;
1971 ex.s. c 175 § 16.]
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—1988 c 23: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989."
[1988 c 23 § 2.]
82.38.160
82.38.160 Computation and payment of tax—Remittance—Electronic funds transfer. (1) The tax imposed by
this chapter shall be computed by multiplying the tax rate per
gallon provided in this chapter by the number of gallons of
special fuel subject to the special fuel tax.
(2) A special fuel distributor shall remit tax on special
fuel purchased from a special fuel supplier, and due to the
state for that reporting period, to the special fuel supplier.
(3) At the election of the distributor, the payment of the
special fuel tax owed on special fuel purchased from a supplier shall be remitted to the supplier on terms agreed upon
between the distributor and the supplier or no later than seven
business days before the twenty-sixth day of the following
month. This election shall be subject to a condition that the
distributor’s remittances of all amounts of special fuel tax
due to the supplier shall be paid by electronic funds transfer.
The distributor’s election may be terminated by the supplier
if the distributor does not make timely payments to the supplier as required by this section. This section shall not apply
if the distributor is required by the supplier to pay cash or
cash equivalent for special fuel purchases.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section,
the tax return shall be accompanied by a remittance payable
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.170
to the state treasurer covering the tax amount determined to
be due for the reporting period.
(5) If the tax is paid by electronic funds transfer, the tax
shall be paid on or before the twenty-sixth calendar day of the
month immediately following the reporting period. If the
payment due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday the next business day will be the payment date. If the tax
is paid by electronic funds transfer and the reporting period
ends on a day other than the last day of a calendar month as
provided in RCW 82.38.150, the tax shall be paid on or
before the last state business day of the thirty-day period following the end of the reporting period.
(6) The tax shall be paid by electronic funds transfer
whenever the amount due is fifty thousand dollars or more.
[2005 c 260 § 2; 1998 c 176 § 68; 1987 c 174 § 5; 1979 c 40
§ 12; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 17.]
Effective date—2005 c 260: See note following RCW 82.36.035.
Effective date—1987 c 174: See note following RCW 82.36.010.
82.38.165
82.38.165 Notice by supplier of distributor’s failure
to pay tax—License suspension—Notice to suppliers—
Revocation or suspension upon continued noncompliance. A special fuel supplier shall, no later than the twentieth
day or next business day after the special fuel tax is due from
the special fuel distributor under RCW 82.38.160(2), notify
the department of the failure of a special fuel distributor to
pay the full amount of the tax owed.
Upon notification and submission of satisfactory evidence by a special fuel supplier that a special fuel distributor
has failed to comply with RCW 82.38.160(2), the department
may suspend the license of the special fuel distributor.
Upon the suspension, the department shall immediately
notify all special fuel suppliers that the authority of the special fuel distributor to purchase tax-deferred special fuel has
been suspended and all subsequent purchases of special fuel
by the special fuel distributor must be tax-paid at the time of
removal.
If, after notification by the department, a special fuel
supplier continues to sell tax-deferred special fuel to a special
fuel distributor whose license is suspended, the special fuel
supplier’s license is subject to revocation or suspension under
RCW 82.38.130. Furthermore, if notified of a license suspension, a special fuel supplier is liable for any unpaid special
fuel tax owed on special fuel sold to a suspended special fuel
distributor. [1998 c 176 § 69.]
82.38.170
82.38.170 Civil and statutory penalties and interest—Deficiency assessments. (1) If any licensee fails to pay
any taxes collected or due the state of Washington within the
time prescribed by RCW 82.38.150 and 82.38.160, the licensee shall pay in addition to such tax a penalty of ten percent
of the amount thereof.
(2) If it be determined by the department that the tax
reported by any licensee is deficient it may proceed to assess
the deficiency on the basis of information available to it and
there shall be added to this deficiency a penalty of ten percent
of the amount of the deficiency.
(3) If any licensee, whether or not he or she is licensed as
such, fails, neglects, or refuses to file a special fuel tax report
required under this chapter, the department may, on the basis
[Title 82 RCW—page 269]
82.38.170
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
of information available to it, determine the tax liability of
the licensee for the period during which no report was filed,
and to the tax as thus determined, the department shall add
the penalty and interest provided in subsection (2) of this section. An assessment made by the department pursuant to this
subsection or to subsection (2) of this section shall be presumed to be correct, and in any case where the validity of the
assessment is drawn in question, the burden shall be on the
person who challenges the assessment to establish by a fair
preponderance of the evidence that it is erroneous or excessive as the case may be.
(4) If any licensee establishes by a fair preponderance of
evidence that his or her failure to file a report or pay the
proper amount of tax within the time prescribed was due to
reasonable cause and was not intentional or willful, the
department may waive the penalty prescribed in subsections
(1), (2), and (3) of this section.
(5) If any licensee files a false or fraudulent report with
intent to evade the tax imposed by this chapter, there shall be
added to the amount of deficiency determined by the department a penalty equal to twenty-five percent of the deficiency,
in addition to the penalty provided in subsection (2) of this
section and all other penalties prescribed by law.
(6) Any special fuel tax, penalties, and interest payable
under this chapter shall bear interest at the rate of one percent
per month, or fraction thereof, from the first day of the calendar month after the amount or any portion thereof should
have been paid until the date of payment: PROVIDED, That
the department may waive the interest when it determines
that the cost of processing the collection of the interest
exceeds the amount of interest due.
(7) Except in the case of violations of filing a false or
fraudulent report, if the department deems mitigation of penalties and interest to be reasonable and in the best interests of
carrying out the purpose of this chapter, it may mitigate such
assessments upon whatever terms the department deems
proper, giving consideration to the degree and extent of the
lack of records and reporting errors. The department may
ascertain the facts regarding recordkeeping and payment penalties in lieu of more elaborate proceedings under this chapter.
(8) Except in the case of a fraudulent report or of neglect
or refusal to make a report, every deficiency shall be assessed
under subsection (2) of this section within five years from the
twenty-fifth day of the next succeeding calendar month following the reporting period for which the amount is proposed
to be determined or within five years after the return is filed,
whichever period expires the later.
(9) Any licensee against whom an assessment is made
under the provisions of subsection (2) or (3) of this section
may petition for a reassessment thereof within thirty days
after service upon the licensee of notice thereof. If such petition is not filed within such thirty day period, the amount of
the assessment becomes final at the expiration thereof.
If a petition for reassessment is filed within the thirty day
period, the department shall reconsider the assessment and, if
the licensee has so requested in his or her petition, shall grant
such licensee an oral hearing and give the licensee ten days’
notice of the time and place thereof. The department may
continue the hearing from time to time. The decision of the
department upon a petition for reassessment shall become
[Title 82 RCW—page 270]
final thirty days after service upon the licensee of notice
thereof.
Every assessment made by the department shall become
due and payable at the time it becomes final and if not paid to
the department when due and payable, there shall be added
thereto a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the tax.
(10) Any notice of assessment required by this section
shall be served personally or by certified or registered mail; if
by mail, service shall be made by depositing such notice in
the United States mail, postage prepaid addressed to the licensee at his or her address as the same appears in the records
of the department.
(11) Any licensee who has had the licensee’s special fuel
license revoked shall pay a one hundred dollar penalty prior
to the issuance of a new license.
(12) Any person who, upon audit or investigation by the
department, is found to have not paid special fuel taxes as
required by this chapter shall be subject to cancellation of all
vehicle registrations for vehicles utilizing special fuel as a
means of propulsion. Any unexpired Washington tonnage on
the vehicles in question may be transferred to a purchaser of
the vehicles upon application to the department who shall
hold such tonnage in its custody until a sale of the vehicle is
made or the tonnage has expired.
(13) Unless the use is exempt from the special fuel tax,
or expressly authorized by the internal revenue code and this
chapter, a person having dyed special fuel in the fuel supply
tank of a motor vehicle that is licensed or required to be
licensed is subject to a civil penalty of ten dollars for each
gallon of dyed special fuel placed into the supply tank of the
motor vehicle, or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater.
The civil penalty collected as a result of this subsection must
be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. The penalties must be
collected and administered under this chapter.
(14) A person who maintains dyed special fuel in bulk
storage for an intended sale or use in violation of this chapter
is subject to a civil penalty of ten dollars for each gallon of
dyed special fuel, or one thousand dollars, whichever is
greater, currently or previously maintained in bulk storage by
the person. The civil penalty collected as a result of this subsection must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. The penalties must be collected and administered under this chapter.
(15) For the purposes of enforcement of this section, the
Washington state patrol or other commercial vehicle safety
alliance-certified officers may inspect, collect, and secure
samples of special fuel used in the propulsion of a vehicle
operated upon the highways of this state to detect the presence of dye or other chemical compounds.
(16) The Washington state patrol shall, by January 1,
1999, develop and implement procedures for collection, analysis, and storage of fuel samples collected under this chapter.
(17) RCW 43.05.110 does not apply to the civil penalties
imposed under subsection (13) of this section. [2002 c 183 §
4; 1998 c 176 § 70; 1996 c 104 § 12; 1995 c 274 § 24; 1994 c
262 § 25; 1991 c 339 § 7; 1987 c 174 § 6; 1983 c 242 § 4;
1979 c 40 § 13; 1977 c 26 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 7; 1972
ex.s. c 138 § 3; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 18.]
Effective date—1987 c 174: See note following RCW 82.36.010.
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 138: See note following RCW 82.36.280.
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
82.38.180 Refunds and credits. Any person who has
paid a special fuel tax either directly or to the vendor from
whom it was purchased may file a claim with the department
for a refund of the tax so paid and shall be reimbursed and
repaid the amount of:
(1) Any taxes previously paid on special fuel used for
purposes other than for the propulsion of motor vehicles upon
the public highways in this state.
(2) Any taxes previously paid on special fuel exported
for use outside of this state. Special fuel carried from this
state in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle is deemed to be
exported from this state. Special fuel distributed to a federally
recognized Indian tribal reservation located within the state
of Washington is not considered exported outside this state.
(3) Any tax, penalty, or interest erroneously or illegally
collected or paid.
(4) Any taxes previously paid on all special fuel which is
lost or destroyed, while applicant shall be the owner thereof,
through fire, lightning, flood, wind storm, or explosion.
(5) Any taxes previously paid on all special fuel of five
hundred gallons or more which is lost or destroyed while
applicant shall be the owner thereof, through leakage or other
casualty except evaporation, shrinkage, or unknown causes.
(6) Any taxes previously paid on special fuel that is inadvertently mixed with dyed special fuel.
Recovery for such loss or destruction under either subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section must be susceptible to
positive proof thereby enabling the department to conduct
such investigation and require such information as they may
deem necessary. In the event that the department is not satisfied that the fuel was lost, destroyed, or contaminated as
claimed because information or proof as required hereunder
is not sufficient to substantiate the accuracy of the claim, they
may deem such as sufficient cause to deny all right relating to
the refund or credit for the excise tax paid on special fuel
alleged to be lost or destroyed.
No refund or claim for credit shall be approved by the
department unless the gallons of special fuel claimed as nontaxable satisfy the conditions specifically set forth in this section and the nontaxable event or use occurred during the
period covered by the refund claim. Refunds or claims for
credit by sellers or users of special fuel shall not be allowed
for anticipated nontaxable use or events. [1998 c 176 § 71;
1972 ex.s. c 138 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 19.]
82.38.180
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 138: See note following RCW 82.36.280.
82.38.185 Refunds—Tax paid purchased by exempt
person—Application. A licensee, other than a special fuel
exporter, is entitled to a refund of the special fuel tax previously paid on special fuel which has been purchased from the
licensee by a person who is exempt from payment of the special fuel tax imposed by this chapter. Application for the
refund shall be accompanied by an invoice or proof satisfactory to the department documenting each sale wherein the
purchaser was exempt from the special fuel tax. Claims for
refunds shall be made under this chapter. [1998 c 176 § 73.]
82.38.185
82.38.190 Claim of refund or credit. (1) Claims under
RCW 82.38.180 shall be filed with the department on forms
prescribed by the department and shall show the date of filing
and the period covered in the claim, the number of gallons of
82.38.190
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.190
special fuel used for purposes subject to tax refund, and such
other facts and information as may be required. Every such
claim shall be supported by an invoice or invoices issued to
or by the claimant, as may be prescribed by the department,
and such other information as the department may require.
The requirement to provide invoices may be waived for small
refund amounts, as determined by the department. Claims for
refund of special fuel tax must be for at least twenty dollars.
(2) Any amount determined to be refundable by the
department under RCW 82.38.180 shall first be credited on
any amounts then due and payable from a person to whom the
refund is due, and the department shall then certify the balance thereof to the state treasurer, who shall thereupon draw
his or her warrant for the certified amount to the person.
(3) No refund or credit shall be approved by the department unless a written claim for refund or credit stating the
specific grounds upon which the claim is founded is filed
with the department:
(a) Within thirteen months from the date of purchase or
from the last day of the month following the close of the
reporting period for which the refundable amount or credit is
due with respect to refunds or credits allowable under RCW
82.38.180 (1), (2), (4), and (5), and if not filed within this
period the right to refund shall be forever barred.
(b) Within five years from the last day of the month following the close of the reporting period for which the overpayment is due with respect to the refunds or credits allowable under RCW 82.38.180(3). The department shall refund
any amount paid that has been verified by the department to
be more than ten dollars over the amount actually due for the
reporting period. Payment credits shall not be carried forward
and applied to subsequent tax returns for a person licensed
under this chapter.
(4) Within thirty days after disallowing any claim in
whole or in part, the department shall serve written notice of
its action on the claimant.
(5) Interest shall be paid upon any refundable amount or
credit due under RCW 82.38.180(3) at the rate of one percent
per month from the last day of the calendar month following
the reporting period for which the refundable amount or
credit is due.
The interest shall be paid:
(a) In the case of a refund, to the last day of the calendar
month following the date upon which the person making the
overpayment, if he or she has not already filed a claim, is
notified by the department that a claim may be filed or the
date upon which the claim is approved by the department,
whichever date is earlier.
(b) In the case of a credit, to the same date as that to
which interest is computed on the tax or amount against
which the credit is applied.
If the department determines that any overpayment has
been made intentionally or by reason of carelessness, it shall
not allow any interest thereon.
(6) The department shall pay interest of one percent on
any refund payable under RCW 82.38.180 (1), (2), or (6) that
is issued more than thirty state business days after the receipt
of a claim properly filed and completed in accordance with
this section. After the end of the thirty business-day period,
additional interest shall accrue at the rate of one percent on
[Title 82 RCW—page 271]
82.38.200
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the amount payable for each thirty calendar-day period, until
the refund is issued.
(7) No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or
equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding
in any court against this state or against any officer of the
state to prevent or enjoin the collection under this chapter of
any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected. [1998
c 176 § 74; 1997 c 183 § 10; 1996 c 91 § 4; 1979 c 40 § 14;
1973 1st ex.s. c 156 § 8; 1972 ex.s. c 138 § 5; 1971 ex.s. c 175
§ 20.]
Effective date—1996 c 91: See note following RCW 46.87.150.
Effective date—1972 ex.s. c 138: See note following RCW 82.36.280.
82.38.200
82.38.200 Suits for recovery of taxes illegally or erroneously collected. (1) No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in any court for the recovery of any amount alleged to
have been overpaid under RCW 82.38.180 unless a claim for
refund or credit has been duly filed pursuant to RCW
82.38.190.
(2) Within ninety days after the mailing of the notice of
the department’s action upon a claim filed pursuant to RCW
82.38.190, the claimant may bring an action against the
department on the grounds set forth in the claim in a court of
competent jurisdiction in Thurston county for the recovery of
the whole or any part of the amount with respect to which the
claim has been disallowed. Failure to bring action within the
time specified constitutes a waiver of any demand against the
state on account of the alleged overpayments.
(3) If the department fails to mail notice of action on a
claim within six months after the claim is filed, the claimant
may, prior to the mailing of notice by the department of its
intention on the claim, consider the claim disallowed and
bring an action against the department, on the grounds set
forth in the claim for the recovery of the whole or any part of
the amount claimed as an overpayment.
(4) If judgment is rendered for the plaintiff, the amount
of the judgment shall first be credited on any special fuel tax
due and payable from the plaintiff. The balance of the judgment shall be refunded to the plaintiff.
(5) In any judgment, interest shall be allowed at the rate
of twelve percent per annum upon the amount found to have
been illegally collected from the date of payment of the
amount to the date of allowance of credit on account of the
judgment or to a date preceding the date of the refund warrant, but not more than thirty days, the date to be determined
by the department. [1971 ex.s. c 175 § 21.]
82.38.210
82.38.210 Tax lien—Filing. If any licensee liable for
the remittance of tax imposed by this chapter fails to pay the
same, the amount thereof, including any interest, penalty, or
addition to such tax, together with any costs that may accrue
in addition thereto, shall be a lien in favor of the state upon all
franchises, property, and rights to property, whether real or
personal, then belonging to or thereafter acquired by such
person, whether such property is employed by such person
for personal or business use or is in the hands of a trustee, or
receiver, or assignee for the benefit of creditors, from the date
the taxes were due and payable, until the amount of the lien is
paid or the property sold in payment thereof. The lien shall
have priority over any lien or encumbrance whatsoever,
[Title 82 RCW—page 272]
except the lien of other state taxes having priority by law, and
except that such lien shall not be valid as against any bona
fide mortgagee, pledgee, judgment creditor, or purchaser
whose rights have attached prior to the time the department
has filed and recorded notice of such lien as hereinafter provided.
In order to avail itself of the lien hereby created, the
department shall file with any county auditor a statement of
claim and lien specifying the amount of delinquent taxes,
penalties and interest claimed by the department. From the
time of filing for record, the amount required to be paid shall
constitute a lien upon all franchises, property and rights to
property, whether real or personal, then belonging to or thereafter acquired by such person in the county. Any lien as provided in this section may also be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Filing in the office of the secretary of state
shall be of no effect, however, until the lien or copy thereof
shall have been filed with the county auditor in the county
where the property is located. When a lien is filed in compliance herewith and with the secretary of state, such filing shall
have the same effect as if the lien had been duly filed for
record in the office of the auditor in each county of this state.
[1998 c 176 § 75; 1979 c 40 § 15; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 22.]
82.38.220
82.38.220 Delinquency—Notice to debtors—Transfer or disposition of property, credits, or debts prohibited—Lien—Answer. In the event any licensee is delinquent in the payment of any obligation imposed under this
chapter, the department may give notice of the amount of
such delinquency by registered or certified mail to all persons
having in their possession or under their control any credits or
other personal property belonging to the licensee or owing
any debts to the licensee, at the time of the receipt by them of
such notice. Any person so notified shall neither transfer nor
make other disposition of such credits, personal property, or
debts until the department consents to a transfer or other disposition. All persons so notified must, within twenty days
after receipt of the notice, advise the department of any and
all such credits, personal property, or debts in their possession, under their control or owing by them, as the case may
be, and shall immediately deliver such credits, personal property, or debts to the department or its duly authorized representative to be applied to the indebtedness involved.
Upon service, the notice and order to withhold and
deliver constitutes a continuing lien on property of the taxpayer. The department shall include in the caption of the
notice to withhold and deliver "continuing lien." The effective date of a notice to withhold and deliver served under this
section is the date of service of the notice.
If a person fails to answer the notice within the time prescribed by this section, it is lawful for the court, upon application of the department and after the time to answer the
notice has expired, to render judgment by default against the
party named in the notice to withhold and deliver for the full
amount claimed by the department in the notice to withhold
and deliver, together with costs. [1998 c 176 § 76; 1994 c
262 § 26; 1983 c 242 § 5; 1979 c 40 § 16; 1971 ex.s. c 175 §
23.]
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
82.38.230
82.38.230 Delinquency—Seizure and sale of property—Notice—Distribution of excess. Whenever any licensee is delinquent in the payment of any obligation imposed
hereunder, and such delinquency continues after notice and
demand for payment by the department, the department shall
proceed to collect the amount due from the licensee in the following manner: The department shall seize any property
subject to the lien of said excise tax, penalty, and interest and
thereafter sell it at public auction to pay said obligation and
any and all costs that may have been incurred on account of
the seizure and sale. Notice of such intended sale and the time
and place thereof shall be given to such delinquent licensee
and to all persons appearing of record to have an interest in
such property. The notice shall be given in writing at least ten
days before the date set for the sale by enclosing it in an envelope addressed to the licensee at the licensee’s address as the
same appears in the records of the department and, in the case
of any person appearing of record to have an interest in such
property, addressed to such person at his or her last known
residence or place of business, and depositing such envelope
in the United States mail, postage prepaid. In addition, the
notice shall be published for at least ten days before the date
set for the sale in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the property seized is to be sold.
If there is no newspaper of general circulation in such county,
the notice shall be posted in three public places in the county
for a period of ten days. The notice shall contain a description
of the property to be sold, together with a statement of the
amount due under this chapter, the name of the licensee and
the further statement that unless such amount is paid on or
before the time fixed in the notice the property will be sold in
accordance with law.
The department shall then proceed to sell the property in
accordance with the law and the notice, and shall deliver to
the purchaser a bill of sale or deed which shall vest title in the
purchaser. If upon any such sale the moneys received exceed
the amount due to the state under this chapter from the delinquent licensee, the excess shall be returned to the licensee
and the licensee’s receipt obtained for the excess. If any person having an interest in or lien upon the property has filed
with the department prior to such sale, notice of such interest
or lien, the department shall withhold payment of any such
excess to the licensee pending a determination of the rights of
the respective parties thereto by a court of competent jurisdiction. If for any reason the receipt of the licensee is not
available, the department shall deposit such excess with the
state treasurer as trustee for the licensee or the licensee’s
heirs, successors, or assigns: PROVIDED, That prior to
making any seizure of property as provided for in this section, the department may first serve upon the licensee’s
bondsman a notice of the delinquency, with a demand for the
payment of the amount due. [1998 c 176 § 77; 1979 c 40 §
17; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 24.]
82.38.235
82.38.235 Assessments—Warrant—Lien—Filing
fee—Writs of execution and garnishment. Whenever any
assessment shall have become final in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter, the department may file with the
clerk of any county within the state a warrant in the amount
of the assessment of taxes, penalties plus interest and a filing
fee under RCW 36.18.012(10). The clerk of the county
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.260
wherein the warrant is filed shall immediately designate a
superior court cause number for such warrant, and the clerk
shall cause to be entered in the judgment docket under the
superior court cause number assigned to the warrant, the
name of the licensee mentioned in the warrant, the amount of
the tax, penalties, interest and filing fee and the date when
such warrant was filed. The aggregate amount of such warrant as docketed shall become a lien upon the title to, and
interest in all real and personal property of named person
against whom the warrant is issued, the same as a judgment
in a civil case duly docketed in the office of such clerk. Such
warrant so docketed shall be sufficient to support the issuance of writs of execution and writs of garnishment in favor
of the state in the manner provided by law in the case of civil
judgment, wholly or partially unsatisfied. The clerk of the
cou r t sh all b e entit led to a f ilin g f ee un d er R CW
36.18.012(10), which shall be added to the amount of the
warrant. [2001 c 146 § 14; 1998 c 176 § 78; 1979 c 40 § 22.]
82.38.240
82.38.240 Delinquency—Collection by civil action—
Certificate. Whenever any licensee is delinquent in the payment of any obligation hereunder the department may transmit notice of such delinquency to the attorney general who
shall at once proceed to collect by appropriate legal action the
amount due the state from the licensee. In any suit brought to
enforce the rights of the state hereunder, a certificate by the
department showing the delinquency shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of the obligation, of the delinquency
thereof and of compliance by the department with all provisions of this chapter relating to such obligation. [1998 c 176
§ 79; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 25.]
82.38.245
82.38.245 Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice. A special fuel licensee, who files or against whom is filed a petition
in bankruptcy, shall, within ten days of the filing, notify the
department of the proceedings in bankruptcy, including the
identity and location of the court in which the proceedings are
pending. [1997 c 183 § 9.]
82.38.250
82.38.250 Remedies cumulative. The foregoing remedies of the state in this chapter shall be cumulative and no
action taken by the department shall be construed to be an
election on the part of the state or any of its officers to pursue
any remedy hereunder to the exclusion of any other remedy
for which provision is made in this chapter. [1971 ex.s. c 175
§ 26.]
82.38.260
82.38.260 Administration and enforcement. The
department shall enforce the provisions of this chapter, and
may prescribe, adopt, and enforce reasonable rules and regulations relating to the administration and enforcement
thereof. The Washington state patrol and its officers shall aid
the department in the enforcement of this chapter, and, for
this purpose, are declared to be peace officers, and given
police power and authority throughout the state to arrest on
sight any person known to have committed a violation of the
provisions of this chapter.
The department or its authorized representative is hereby
empowered to examine the books, papers, records and equipment of any licensee or any person dealing in, transporting, or
[Title 82 RCW—page 273]
82.38.265
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
storing special fuel as defined in this chapter and to investigate the character of the disposition which any person makes
of such special fuel in order to ascertain and determine
whether all taxes due hereunder are being properly reported
and paid. The fact that such books, papers, records and equipment are not maintained in this state at the time of demand
shall not cause the department to lose any right of such examination under this chapter when and where such records
become available.
The department or its authorized representative is further
empowered to investigate the disposition of special fuel by
any person where the department has reason to believe that
untaxed special fuel has been diverted to a use subject to the
taxes imposed by this chapter without said taxes being paid in
accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter it shall be presumed that all special fuel delivered to service stations as well as all special fuel otherwise received into
storage and dispensing equipment designed to fuel motor
vehicles is delivered into the fuel supply tanks of motor vehicles and consumed in the propulsion of motor vehicles on the
highways of this state, unless the contrary is established by
satisfactory evidence.
The department shall, upon request from the officials to
whom are entrusted the enforcement of the special fuel tax
law of any other state, the District of Columbia, the United
States, its territories and possessions, the provinces or the
Dominion of Canada, forward to such officials any information which he or she may have relative to the receipt, storage,
delivery, sale, use, or other disposition of special fuel by any
licensee if the other state or states furnish like information to
this state.
Returns required by this chapter, exclusive of schedules,
itemized statements and other supporting evidence annexed
thereto, shall at all reasonable times be open to the public.
[1998 c 176 § 80; 1995 c 274 § 25; 1979 c 40 § 18; 1971 ex.s.
c 175 § 27.]
82.38.265
82.38.265 Administration, collection, and enforcement of taxes pursuant to chapter 82.41 RCW. For the
purposes of administration, collection, and enforcement of
taxes imposed under this chapter, pursuant to an agreement
under chapter 82.41 RCW, chapter 82.41 RCW shall control
to the extent of any conflict. [1982 c 161 § 14.]
82.38.270
82.38.270 Violations—Penalties. (1) It is unlawful for
a person or corporation to:
(a) Have dyed diesel in the fuel supply tank of a vehicle
that is licensed or required to be licensed for highway use or
maintain dyed diesel in bulk storage for highway use, unless
the person or corporation maintains an uncanceled dyed diesel user license or is otherwise exempted by this chapter;
(b) Evade a tax or fee imposed under this chapter;
(c) File a false statement of a material fact on a special
fuel license application or special fuel refund application;
(d) Act as a special fuel importer, special fuel blender, or
special fuel supplier unless the person holds an uncanceled
special fuel license issued by the department authorizing the
person to engage in that business;
[Title 82 RCW—page 274]
(e) Knowingly assist another person to evade a tax or fee
imposed by this chapter;
(f) Knowingly operate a conveyance for the purpose of
hauling, transporting, or delivering special fuel in bulk and
not possess an invoice, bill of sale, or other statement showing the name, address, and tax license number of the seller or
consignor, the destination, the name, address, and tax license
number of the purchaser or consignee, and the number of gallons.
(2)(a) A single violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section is a gross misdemeanor under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(b) Multiple violations of subsection (1)(a) of this section and violations of subsection (1)(b) through (f) of this section are a class C felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(3) In addition to other penalties and remedies provided
by law, the court shall order a person or corporation found
guilty of violating subsection (1)(b) through (f) of this section
to:
(a) Pay the tax or fee evaded plus interest, commencing
at the date the tax or fee was first due, at the rate of twelve
percent per year, compounded monthly; and
(b) Pay a penalty of one hundred percent of the tax
evaded, to the multimodal transportation account of the state.
[2003 c 358 § 14; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 10; 1995 c 287 § 4;
1979 c 40 § 19; 1977 c 26 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 28.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
Effective dates—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 4-10: See note following RCW
43.89.010.
82.38.275
82.38.275 Investigatory power. The department may
initiate and conduct investigations as may be reasonably necessary to establish the existence of any alleged violations of
or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter or any
rules or regulations issued hereunder.
For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under
this chapter, the director or any officer designated by him
may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses,
compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda,
agreements, or other documents or records which the director
deems relevant or material to the inquiry.
In case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a subpoena
issued to, any person, any court of competent jurisdiction
upon application by the director, may issue to that person an
order requiring him to appear before the director, or the
officer designated by him to produce testimony or other evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question.
The failure to obey an order of the court may be punishable
by contempt. [1979 c 40 § 20.]
82.38.280
82.38.280 State preempts tax field. The tax levied in
this chapter is in lieu of any excise, privilege, or occupational
tax upon the business of manufacturing, selling, or distributing special fuel, and no city, town, county, township or other
subdivision or municipal corporation of the state shall levy or
collect any excise tax upon or measured by the sale, receipt,
distribution, or use of special fuel, except as provided in
chapter 82.80 RCW and RCW 82.47.020. [2003 c 350 § 6;
1991 c 173 § 5; 1990 c 42 § 205; 1979 ex.s. c 181 § 6; 1971
ex.s. c 175 § 29.]
(2006 Ed.)
Special Fuel Tax Act
Effective date—1991 c 173: See note following RCW 82.47.010.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 181: See notes following
RCW 82.36.440.
82.38.285
82.38.285 Tax liability of user—Exceptions. It is
intended that the ultimate liability for the tax imposed under
this chapter be upon the user, regardless of the manner in
which collection of the tax is provided for in this chapter.
However, this section does not apply to agreements between
the department and federally recognized Indian tribes entered
into under RCW 82.38.310, nor does it apply to the consent
decrees entered in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. Washington Department of Licensing, No. CS-92248-JLQ (E.D. Wash.) and Teo v. Steffenson, No. CY-933050-AAM (E.D. Wash.). [1998 c 176 § 81.]
82.38.290
82.38.290 Disposition of funds. All taxes, interest and
penalties collected under this chapter shall be credited and
deposited in the same manner as are motor vehicle fuel taxes
collected under RCW 82.36.410. [1971 ex.s. c 175 § 30.]
82.38.300
82.38.300 Judicial review and appeals. Judicial
review and appeals shall be governed by the Administrative
Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW. [1971 ex.s. c 175 § 31.]
82.38.310
82.38.310 Agreement with tribe for imposition, collection, use. The department of licensing may enter into an
agreement with any federally recognized Indian tribe located
on a reservation within this state regarding the imposition,
collection, and use of this state’s special fuel tax, or the budgeting or use of moneys in lieu thereof, upon terms substantially the same as those in the consent decree entered by the
federal district court (Eastern District of Washington) in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. DOL, et al.,
District Court No. CY-92-248-JLO. [1995 c 320 § 3.]
Legislative recognition, belief—Severability—Effective date—1995
c 320: See notes following RCW 82.36.450.
82.38.320
82.38.320 Bulk storage of special fuel by international fuel tax agreement licensee—Authorization to pay
tax at time of filing tax return—Schedule—Report—
Exemptions. (1) An international fuel tax agreement licensee who meets the qualifications in subsection (2) of this
section may be given special authorization by the department
to purchase special fuel delivered into bulk storage without
payment of the special fuel tax at the time the fuel is purchased. The special authorization applies only to full trucktrailer loads filled at a terminal rack and delivered directly to
the bulk storage facilities of the special authorization holder.
The licensee shall pay special fuel tax on the fuel at the time
the licensee files their international fuel tax agreement tax
return and accompanying schedule with the department. The
accompanying schedule shall be provided in a form and manner determined by the department and shall contain information on purchases and usage of all nondyed special fuel purchased during the reporting period. In addition, by the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which fuel
under the special authorization was purchased, the licensee
must report to the department, the name of the seller and the
(2006 Ed.)
82.38.360
number of gallons purchased for each purchase of such fuel,
and any other information as the department may require.
(2) To receive or maintain special authorization under
subsection (1) of this section, the following conditions
regarding the international fuel tax agreement licensee must
apply:
(a) During the period encompassing the four consecutive
calendar quarters immediately preceding the fourth calendar
quarter of the previous year, the number of gallons consumed
outside the state of Washington as reported on the licensee’s
international fuel tax agreement tax returns must have been
equal to at least twenty percent of the nondyed special fuel
gallons, including fuel used on-road and off-road, purchased
by the licensee in the state of Washington, as reported on the
accompanying schedules required under subsection (1) of
this section;
(b) The licensee must have been licensed under the provisions of the international fuel tax agreement during each of
the four consecutive calendar quarters immediately preceding the fourth calendar quarter of the previous year; and
(c) The licensee has not violated the reporting requirements of this section.
(3) A special fuel distributor who sells special fuel under
the special authorization provisions of this section is not liable for the special fuel tax on the fuel. By the fifteenth day of
the month following the month in which the fuel was sold, the
special fuel distributor shall report to the department, the
name and special authorization number of the purchaser and
the number of gallons sold for each purchase of such special
fuel, and any other information as the department may
require. The special fuel supplier will report such sales, in a
manner prescribed by the department, at the time the special
fuel supplier submits the monthly tax report.
(4) A supplier selling special fuel under the provisions of
this section shall not be responsible for taxes due for special
fuel purchased under the provisions of this section.
(5) An international fuel tax agreement licensee who
qualifies for a special authorization under this section for calendar year 1999 is not subject to the special fuel user requirements of *RCW 82.38.289. [1998 c 176 § 83.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.38.289 was repealed by 2005 c 260 § 3,
effective July 1, 2005.
82.38.350 Fuel tax cooperative agreement. The
department of licensing may enter into a fuel tax cooperative
agreement with another state or Canadian province for the
administration, collection, and enforcement of each state’s or
Canadian province’s fuel taxes. [1998 c 176 § 88.]
82.38.350
82.38.360 Fuel tax evasion—Seizure and forfeiture.
(1) The following are subject to seizure and forfeiture:
(a) Special fuel imported into this state by a person not
licensed in this state in accordance with this chapter to import
fuel;
(b) Special fuel that is blended or manufactured by a person not licensed in this state in accordance with this chapter
to blend or manufacture fuel;
(c) All conveyances that are used, or intended for use, to
transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, for
the purpose of sale or receipt of property described in (a) and
(b) of this subsection, except where the owner of the convey82.38.360
[Title 82 RCW—page 275]
82.38.365
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
ance neither had knowledge of nor consented to the transportation of the special fuel by an unlicensed importer, blender,
or manufacturer of fuel.
(2) Before seizing a common carrier conveyance, contract carrier conveyance, or a conveyance secured by a bona
fide security interest where the secured party neither had
knowledge of or consented to the unlawful act or omission,
the state patrol or the department of licensing shall give the
common carrier, contract carrier, or secured party, or their
representatives within twenty-four hours, a notice in writing
served by mail or other means to cease transporting fuel for
any person not licensed to import, blend, or manufacture fuel
in this state.
(3) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may
be seized by the state patrol upon process issued by a superior
court or district court having jurisdiction over the property.
Seizure without process may be made if:
(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a
search warrant or an administrative inspection; or
(b) The state patrol has probable cause to believe that the
property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this
chapter and exigent circumstances exist making procurement
of a search warrant impracticable. [2003 c 358 § 7.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.365
82.38.365 Fuel tax evasion—Forfeiture procedure.
In all cases of seizure of property made subject to forfeiture
under this chapter, the state patrol shall proceed as follows:
(1) Forfeiture is deemed to have commenced by the seizure.
(2) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in
duplicate the conveyance seized. After the appropriate
appeal period has expired, a seized conveyance must be sold
at a public auction in accordance with chapter 43.19 RCW.
(3) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in
duplicate the special fuel seized. The selling price of the fuel
seized will be the average terminal rack price for similar fuel,
at the closest terminal rack on the day of sale, unless circumstance warrants that a different selling price is appropriate.
The method used to value the fuel must be documented. The
fuel will be sold at the earliest point in time, and the total
price must include all appropriate state and federal taxes.
The state patrol or the department may enter into contracts for
the transportation, handling, storage, and sale of fuel subject
to forfeiture. The money received must be deposited in the
motor vehicle account, after deduction for expenses provided
for in this section.
(4) The state patrol shall, within five days after the seizure of a conveyance or fuel, cause notice to be served on the
owner of the property seized, if known, on the person in
charge of the property, and on any other person having any
known right or interest in the property, of the seizure and
intended forfeiture. The notice may be served by any method
authorized by law or court rule including but not limited to
service by mail. If service is by mail it must be by both certified mail with return receipt requested and regular mail.
Service by mail is deemed complete upon mailing within the
five-day period after the date of seizure.
(5) If no person notifies the state patrol in writing of the
person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the
[Title 82 RCW—page 276]
items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of
seizure, the items seized are considered forfeited.
(6) If any person notifies the state patrol, in writing, of
the person’s claim of ownership or right to possession of the
items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of
seizure, the person or persons must be given a reasonable
opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right. The hearing
must be before the director of licensing, or the director’s designee. A hearing and any appeals must be in accordance with
chapter 34.05 RCW. The burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence is upon the person claiming to be the
lawful owner or the person claiming to have the lawful right
to possession of the items seized. The state patrol and the
department shall promptly return the conveyance seized, and
money from the sale of fuel seized, to the claimant upon a
determination that the claimant is the present lawful owner
and is lawfully entitled to possession of the items seized.
[2003 c 358 § 8.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.370
82.38.370 Fuel tax evasion—Forfeited property.
When property is forfeited under this chapter, the state patrol
or the department may use the proceeds of the sale and all
moneys forfeited for the payment of all proper expenses of
any investigation leading to the seizure and of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure,
maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs. Proper
expenses of investigation include costs incurred by a law
enforcement agency or a federal, state, or local agency. The
balance of the proceeds must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. [2003 c 358 § 9.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.375
82.38.375 Fuel tax evasion—Return of seized property. (1) The state patrol and the department may return
property seized and proceeds from the sale of fuel under this
chapter when it is shown that there was no intention to violate
this chapter.
(2) When property is returned under this section, the
state patrol and the department may return the goods to the
parties from whom they were seized if and when the parties
pay all applicable taxes and interest. [2003 c 358 § 10.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.380
82.38.380 Fuel tax evasion—Search and seizure.
When the state patrol has good reason to believe that special
fuel is being unlawfully imported, kept, sold, offered for sale,
blended, or manufactured in violation of this chapter or rules
adopted under it, the state patrol may make an affidavit of
that fact, describing the place or thing to be searched, before
a judge of any court in this state, and the judge shall issue a
search warrant directed to the state patrol commanding the
officer diligently to search any place or vehicle designated in
the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize the fuel and conveyance so possessed and to hold them until disposed of by
law, and to arrest the person in possession or control of them.
[2003 c 358 § 11.]
(2006 Ed.)
Multistate Motor Fuel Tax Agreement
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.385
82.38.385 Rules. The department and the state patrol
shall adopt rules necessary to implement RCW 82.38.360
through 82.38.380. [2003 c 358 § 12.]
Captions not law—Severability—2003 c 358: See notes following
RCW 82.36.470.
82.38.800
82.38.800 Rules—1998 c 176.
See RCW 82.36.800.
82.38.900
82.38.900 Section captions. All section captions used
in this chapter do not constitute any part of the law. [1971
ex.s. c 175 § 32.]
82.38.910
82.38.910 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the
"Special Fuel Tax Act". [1971 ex.s. c 175 § 1.]
82.38.920
82.38.920 Severability—1971 ex.s. c 175. If any provision of this 1971 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected. [1971 ex.s. c 175 § 34.]
82.41.050
(1) "Department" means the department of licensing;
(2) "Motor fuel" means all combustible gases and liquids
used for the generation of power for propulsion of motor
vehicles;
(3) "Motor carrier" means an individual, partnership,
firm, association, or private or public corporation engaged in
interstate commercial operation of motor vehicles, any part of
which is within this state or any other state which is party to
an agreement under this chapter;
(4) "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the
United States, the District of Columbia, a foreign country, or
a state or province of a foreign country;
(5) "Base state" means the state in which the motor carrier is legally domiciled, or in the case of a motor carrier who
has no legal domicile, the state from or in which the motor
carrier’s vehicles are most frequently dispatched, garaged,
serviced, maintained, operated, or otherwise controlled;
(6) "Agreement" means a motor fuel tax agreement
under this chapter;
(7) "Licensee" means a motor carrier who has been
issued a fuel tax license under a motor fuel tax agreement.
[1982 c 161 § 2.]
82.41.030
82.38.930
82.38.930 Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 175. The effective date of this Special Fuel Tax Act is January 1, 1972.
[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 36.]
82.38.940
See RCW
82.38.941
See RCW
82.38.940 Findings—1998 c 176.
82.36.900.
82.38.941 Effective date—1998 c 176.
82.36.901.
Chapter 82.41 RCW
MULTISTATE MOTOR FUEL TAX AGREEMENT
82.41.030 Motor fuel tax cooperative agreement
authorized—Prohibition. The department may enter into a
motor fuel tax cooperative agreement with another state or
states which provides for the administration, collection, and
enforcement of each state’s motor fuel taxes on motor fuel
used by motor carriers. The agreement shall not contain any
provision which exempts any motor vehicle, owner, or operator from complying with the laws, rules, and regulations
pertaining to vehicle licensing, size, weight, load, or operation of motor vehicles upon the public highways of this state.
[1982 c 161 § 3.]
Chapter 82.41
Sections
82.41.010
82.41.020
82.41.030
82.41.040
82.41.050
82.41.060
82.41.070
82.41.080
82.41.090
82.41.100
82.41.110
82.41.120
Purpose.
Definitions.
Motor fuel tax cooperative agreement authorized—Prohibition.
Amount of tax collected for this state.
Provisions of agreement.
Credits—Refunds.
Audits.
Investigatory power.
Appeal procedures.
Exchange of information.
Construction and application.
Implementing rules required.
82.41.010
82.41.010 Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to
simplify the confusing, unnecessarily duplicative, and burdensome motor fuel use tax licensing, reporting, and remittance requirements imposed on motor carriers involved in
interstate commerce by authorizing the state of Washington
to participate in a multistate motor fuel tax agreement for the
administration, collection, and enforcement of those states’
motor fuel use taxes. [1982 c 161 § 1.]
82.41.020
82.41.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter unless
the context clearly requires otherwise:
(2006 Ed.)
82.41.040
82.41.040 Amount of tax collected for this state. The
amount of the tax imposed and collected on behalf of this
state under an agreement entered into under this chapter shall
be determined as provided in chapter 82.38 RCW. [1995 c
274 § 26; 1982 c 161 § 4.]
82.41.050
82.41.050 Provisions of agreement. An agreement
entered into under this chapter may provide for:
(1) Defining the classes of motor vehicles upon which
taxes are to be collected under the agreement;
(2) Establishing methods for base state fuel tax licensing,
license revocation, and tax collection from motor carriers on
behalf of the states which are parties to the agreement;
(3) Establishing procedures for the granting of credits or
refunds on the purchase of excess tax-paid fuel;
(4) Defining conditions and criteria relative to bonding
requirements, including criteria for exemption from bonding;
(5) Establishing tax reporting periods not to exceed one
calendar quarter, and tax report due dates not to exceed one
calendar month after the close of the reporting period;
(6) Penalties and interest for filing of tax reports after the
due dates prescribed by the agreement;
(7) Establishing procedures for forwarding of fuel taxes,
penalties, and interest collected on behalf of another state to
that state;
[Title 82 RCW—page 277]
82.41.060
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(8) Recordkeeping requirements for licensees; and
(9) Any additional provisions which will facilitate the
administration of the agreement. [1982 c 161 § 5.]
appeal procedures shall be in accordance with chapters 34.05
and 82.38 RCW. [1982 c 161 § 9.]
82.41.100 Exchange of information. The agreement
may require each state to forward to other states any information available which relates to the acquisition, sale, use, or
movement of motor fuels by any licensee or person required
to be licensed. The department may further disclose to other
states information which relates to the persons, offices, motor
vehicles and other real and personal property of persons
licensed or required to be licensed under the agreement.
[1982 c 161 § 10.]
82.41.100
82.41.060
82.41.060 Credits—Refunds. Any licensee purchasing
more tax-paid motor fuel in this state than the licensee uses in
this state during the course of a reporting period shall be permitted a credit against future tax liability for the excess taxpaid fuel purchased. Upon request, this credit may be
refunded to the licensee by the department in accordance with
the agreement. [1982 c 161 § 6.]
82.41.070
82.41.070 Audits. The agreement may require the
department to perform audits of licensees, or persons
required to be licensed, based in this state to determine
whether motor fuel taxes to be collected under the agreement
have been properly reported and paid to each state party to
the agreement. The agreement may authorize other states to
perform audits on licensees, or persons required to be
licensed, based in their states on behalf of the state of Washington and forward the audit findings to the department. Such
findings may be served upon the licensee or such other person in the same manner as audits performed by the department.
The agreement shall not preclude the department from
auditing the records of any person who has used motor fuels
in this state. Any licensee or person required to be licensed
from whom the department has requested records shall make
the records available at the location designated by the department or may request the department to audit such records at
that licensee’s or person’s place of business. If the place of
business is located outside this state, the department may
require the licensee or such other person to reimburse the
department for authorized per diem and travel expenses.
[1982 c 161 § 7.]
82.41.110 Construction and application. This chapter
shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of
this chapter among states enacting it for the purpose of participating in a multistate motor fuel tax agreement. [1982 c 161
§ 11.]
82.41.110
82.41.120 Implementing rules required. The department shall adopt such rules as are necessary to implement this
chapter and any agreement entered into under this chapter.
[1982 c 161 § 12.]
82.41.120
Chapter 82.42
Sections
82.42.010
82.42.020
82.42.030
82.42.040
82.42.050
82.41.080
82.41.080 Investigatory power. The department may
initiate and conduct investigations as may be reasonably necessary to establish the existence of any alleged violations of
or noncompliance with this chapter or any rules issued hereunder.
For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under
this chapter, the director or any officer designated by the
director may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena
witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and
require the production of any books, papers, correspondence,
memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records
which the director deems relevant or material to the inquiry.
In case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a subpoena
issued to any person, any court of competent jurisdiction,
upon application by the director, may issue to that person an
order requiring him to appear before the director, or the
officer designated by the director, to produce testimony or
other evidence touching the matter under investigation or in
question. The failure to obey an order of the court may be
punishable by contempt. [1982 c 161 § 8.]
82.41.090
82.41.090 Appeal procedures. The agreement shall
specify procedures by which a licensee may appeal a license
revocation or audit assessment by the department. Such
[Title 82 RCW—page 278]
Chapter 82.42 RCW
AIRCRAFT FUEL TAX
82.42.060
82.42.070
82.42.080
82.42.090
82.42.100
82.42.110
82.42.120
82.42.125
82.42.900
Definitions.
Aircraft fuel tax imposed—Exception—Rate to be computed—Misappropriation or conversion—Penalties, liability.
Exemptions.
Collection of tax—Procedure—Licensing—Surety bond or
other security—Records, reports, statements—Application—Investigation—Fee—Penalty for false statement.
Failure of distributor to file report or statement—Determination by director of amount sold, delivered or used—Basis for
tax assessment—Penalty—Records public.
Payment of tax—Penalty for delinquency—Enforcement of
collection—Provisions of RCW 82.36.040, 82.36.070,
82.36.110 through 82.36.140 made applicable.
Imports, exports, sales to United States government
exempted—Procedure—Sales to state or political subdivisions not exempt—Refund procedures.
Violations—Penalty.
Tax proceeds—Disposition—Aeronautics account.
Enforcement.
Tax upon persons other than distributors—Imposition—Collection—Distribution—Enforcement.
Mitigation of assessments.
Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 10.
82.42.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Department" means the department of licensing;
(2) "Director" means the director of licensing;
(3) "Person" means every natural person, firm, partnership, association, or private or public corporation;
(4) "Aircraft" means every contrivance now known or
hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or
flight in the air, operated or propelled by the use of aircraft
fuel;
(5) "Aircraft fuel" means gasoline and any other inflammable liquid, by whatever name such liquid is known or sold,
the chief use of which is as fuel for the propulsion of aircraft,
82.42.010
(2006 Ed.)
Aircraft Fuel Tax
except gas or liquid, the chief use of which as determined by
the director, is for purposes other than the propulsion of aircraft;
(6) "Dealer" means any person engaged in the retail sale
of aircraft fuel;
(7) "Distributor" means any person engaged in the sale
of aircraft fuel to any dealer and shall include any dealer from
whom the tax hereinafter imposed has not been collected;
(8) "Weighted average retail sales price of aircraft fuel"
means the average retail sales price, excluding any federal
excise tax, of the several grades of aircraft fuel sold by dealers throughout the state (less any state excise taxes on the
sale, distribution, or use thereof) upon which fuel the tax levied by this chapter has been collected, weighted to reflect the
quantities sold at each price;
(9) "Fiscal half-year" means a six-month period ending
June 30th or December 31st;
(10) "Local service commuter" means an air taxi operator who operates at least five round-trips per week between
two or more points; publishes flight schedules which specify
the times, days of the week, and points between which it
operates; and whose aircraft has a maximum capacity of sixty
passengers or eighteen thousand pounds of useful load.
[1983 c 49 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 1; 1979 c 158 § 229;
1969 ex.s. c 254 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 1.]
Effective date—1983 c 49: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect May 1,
1983." [1983 c 49 § 3.]
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 11.]
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1982." [1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 12.]
Effective date—1969 ex.s. c 254: "The effective date of this 1969
amendatory act is July 1, 1969." [1969 ex.s. c 254 § 7.]
82.42.020
82.42.020 Aircraft fuel tax imposed—Exception—
Rate to be computed—Misappropriation or conversion—
Penalties, liability. There is hereby levied, and there shall be
collected by every distributor of aircraft fuel, an excise tax at
the rate of eleven cents on each gallon of aircraft fuel sold,
delivered, or used in this state: PROVIDED HOWEVER,
That such aircraft fuel excise tax shall not apply to fuel for
aircraft that both operate from a private, non-state-funded airfield during at least ninety-five percent of the aircraft’s normal use and are used principally for the application of pesticides, herbicides, or other agricultural chemicals and shall
not apply to fuel for emergency medical air transport entities:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That there shall be collected from
every consumer or user of aircraft fuel either the use tax
imposed by RCW 82.12.020, as amended, or the retail sales
tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020, as amended, collection procedure to be as prescribed by law and/or rule or regulation of
the department of revenue. The taxes imposed by this chapter shall be collected and paid to the state but once in respect
to any aircraft fuel.
The tax required by this chapter, to be collected by the
seller, is held in trust by the seller until paid to the depart(2006 Ed.)
82.42.030
ment, and a seller who appropriates or converts the tax collected to his or her own use or to any use other than the payment of the tax to the extent that the money required to be
collected is not available for payment on the due date as prescribed in this chapter is guilty of a felony, or gross misdemeanor in accordance with the theft and anticipatory provisions of Title 9A RCW. A person, partnership, corporation,
or corporate officer who fails to collect the tax imposed by
this section, or who has collected the tax and fails to pay it to
the department in the manner prescribed by this chapter, is
personally liable to the state for the amount of the tax. [2005
c 341 § 3; 2003 c 375 § 5; 1996 c 104 § 13; 1982 1st ex.s. c
25 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 254 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 341: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Effective date—2003 c 375: See note following RCW 47.68.240.
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
82.42.030
82.42.030 Exemptions. (1) The provision of RCW
82.42.020 imposing the payment of an excise tax on each gallon of aircraft fuel sold, delivered or used in this state shall
not apply to aircraft fuel sold for export, nor to aircraft fuel
used for the following purposes: (a) The operation of aircraft
when such use is by any air carrier or supplemental air carrier
operating under a certificate of public convenience and
necessity under the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act of
1958, Public Law 85-726, as amended; (b) the operation of
aircraft for testing or experimental purposes; (c) the operation
of aircraft when such operation is for the training of crews in
Washington state for purchasers of aircraft who are certified
air carriers; and (d) the operation of aircraft in the operations
of a local service commuter: PROVIDED, That the director’s determination as to a particular activity for which aircraft fuel is used as being an exemption under this section, or
otherwise, shall be final.
(2) To claim an exemption on account of sales by a
licensed distributor of aircraft fuel for export, the purchaser
shall obtain from the selling distributor, and such selling distributor must furnish the purchaser, an invoice giving such
details of the sale for export as the director may require, copies of which shall be furnished the department and the entity
of the state or foreign jurisdiction of destination which is
charged by the laws of that state or foreign jurisdiction with
the control or monitoring or both, of the sales or movement of
aircraft fuel in that state or foreign jurisdiction.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "air carrier" means
an airline, air cargo carrier, air taxi, air commuter, or air charter operator, that provides routine air service to the general
public for compensation or hire, and operates at least fifteen
round-trips per week between two or more points and publishes flight schedules which specify the times, days of the
week, and points between which it operates. Where it is
doubtful that an operation is for "compensation or hire," the
test applied is whether the air service is merely incidental to
the person’s other business or is, in itself, a major enterprise
for profit. [2005 c 341 § 4; 1989 c 193 § 4; 1982 1st ex.s. c
25 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 3.]
Effective date—2005 c 341: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
[Title 82 RCW—page 279]
82.42.040
82.42.040
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.42.040 Collection of tax—Procedure—Licensing—Surety bond or other security—Records, reports,
statements—Application—Investigation—Fee—Penalty
for false statement. The director shall by rule and regulation
adopted as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW (Administrative
Procedure Act) set up the necessary administrative procedure
for collection by the department of the aircraft fuel excise tax
as provided for in RCW 82.42.020, placing the responsibility
of collection of said tax upon every distributor of aircraft fuel
within the state; he may require the licensing of every distributor of aircraft fuel and shall require such a corporate surety
bond or security of any distributor or person not otherwise
bonded under provisions of chapter 82.36 RCW as is provided for distributors of motor vehicle fuel under RCW
82.36.060; he shall provide such forms and may require such
reports or statements as in his determination shall be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter. The director may require such records to be kept, and for such periods
of time, as deemed necessary for the administration of this
chapter, which records shall be available at all times for the
director or his representative who may require a statement
under oath as to the contents thereof.
Every application for a distributor’s license must contain
the following information to the extent it applies to the applicant:
(1) Proof as the department may require concerning the
applicant’s identity, including but not limited to his or her
fingerprints or those of the officers of a corporation making
the application;
(2) The applicant’s form and place of organization
including proof that the individual, partnership, or corporation is licensed to do business in this state;
(3) The qualification and business history of the applicant and any partner, officer, or director;
(4) The applicant’s financial condition or history including a bank reference and whether the applicant or any partner,
officer, or director has ever been adjudged bankrupt or has an
unsatisfied judgment in a federal or state court;
(5) Whether the applicant has been adjudged guilty of a
crime that directly relates to the business for which the
license is sought and the time elapsed since the conviction is
less than ten years, or has suffered a judgment within the preceding five years in a civil action involving fraud, misrepresentation, or conversion and in the case of a corporation or
partnership, all directors, officers, or partners.
After receipt of an application for a license, the director
may conduct an investigation to determine whether the facts
set forth are true. The director may require a fingerprint
record check of the applicant through the Washington state
patrol criminal identification system and the federal bureau
of investigation before issuance of a license. The results of
the background investigation including criminal history
information may be released to authorized department personnel as the director deems necessary. The department shall
charge a license holder or license applicant a fee of fifty dollars for each background investigation conducted.
An applicant who makes a false statement of a material
fact on the application may be prosecuted for false swearing
as defined by RCW 9A.72.040. [1996 c 104 § 14; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 25 § 5; 1969 ex.s. c 254 § 3; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 4.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 280]
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
82.42.050
82.42.050 Failure of distributor to file report or
statement—Determination by director of amount sold,
delivered or used—Basis for tax assessment—Penalty—
Records public. Should any distributor fail to file any report
or statement, as shall be required by rule and regulation of the
director, showing the total number of gallons of aircraft fuel
sold, delivered or used by a distributor within the state during
the preceding calendar month, the director shall proceed
forthwith to determine from the best available sources such
amount and said determination shall be presumed to be correct for that period, until proved by competent evidence to be
otherwise. The director shall immediately assess the excise
tax in the amount so determined, adding thereto a penalty of
ten percent for failure to report. Such penalty shall be cumulative of other penalties herein provided. All statements or
reports required to be filed with the director as required in
this section shall be public records. [1969 ex.s. c 254 § 4;
1967 ex.s. c 10 § 5.]
82.42.060
82.42.060 Payment of tax—Penalty for delinquency—Enforcement of collection—Provisions of RCW
82.36.040, 82.36.070, 82.36.110 through 82.36.140 made
applicable. The amount of aircraft fuel excise tax imposed
under RCW 82.42.020 for each month shall be paid to the
director on or before the twenty-fifth day of the month thereafter, and if not paid prior thereto, shall become delinquent at
the close of business on that day, and a penalty of ten percent
of such excise tax must be added thereto for delinquency.
Any aircraft fuel tax, penalties, and interest payable under the
provisions of this chapter shall bear interest at the rate of one
percent per month, or fraction thereof, from the first day of
the calendar month after the close of the monthly period for
which the amount or any portion thereof should have been
paid until the date of payment. RCW 82.36.070 applies to the
issuance, refusal, or revocation of a license issued under this
chapter. The provisions of RCW 82.36.110 relating to a lien
for taxes, interests or penalties due, shall be applicable to the
collection of the aircraft fuel excise tax provided in RCW
82.42.020, and the provisions of RCW 82.36.120, 82.36.130
and 82.36.140 shall apply to any distributor of aircraft fuel
with respect to the aircraft fuel excise tax imposed under
RCW 82.42.020. Payment credits shall not be carried forward
and applied to subsequent tax returns. [1997 c 183 § 12; 1996
c 104 § 15; 1969 ex.s. c 254 § 5; 1969 c 139 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c
10 § 6.]
82.42.070
82.42.070 Imports, exports, sales to United States
government exempted—Procedure—Sales to state or
political subdivisions not exempt—Refund procedures.
The provisions of RCW 82.42.020 requiring the payment of
an aircraft fuel excise tax on aircraft fuel shall not apply to
aircraft fuel imported into the state in interstate or foreign
commerce and intended to be sold while in interstate or foreign commerce, nor to aircraft fuel exported from this state,
nor to aircraft fuel sold to the United States government or
any agency thereof: PROVIDED, That exemptions granted
under this section shall be null and void unless full conformance is made with the requisite administrative procedure set
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
forth for procuring such exemptions under rules and regulations of the director promulgated under the provisions of this
chapter. Except as provided in RCW 82.42.030, nothing in
this chapter shall be construed to exempt the state or any
political subdivision thereof from the payment of the aircraft
excise fuel tax provided in RCW 82.42.020. When setting up
rules and regulations as provided for in RCW 82.42.040, the
director shall provide for such refund procedure as deemed
necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and full
compliance with such provisions shall be essential before
receipt of any refund thereunder. [1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 6;
1971 ex.s. c 156 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 7.]
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
82.42.080
82.42.080 Violations—Penalty. Any person violating
any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the
director promulgated hereunder, or making any false statement, or concealing any material fact in any report, statement, record or claim, or who commits any act with intent to
avoid payment of the aircraft fuel excise tax imposed by this
chapter, or who conspires with another person with intent to
interfere with the orderly collection of such tax due and
owing under this chapter, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[1996 c 104 § 16; 1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 7; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 8.]
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
82.42.090
82.42.090 Tax proceeds—Disposition—Aeronautics
account. All moneys collected by the director from the aircraft fuel excise tax as provided in RCW 82.42.020 shall be
transmitted to the state treasurer and shall be credited to the
aeronautics account hereby created in the transportation fund
of the state treasury. Moneys collected from the consumer or
user of aircraft fuel from either the use tax imposed by RCW
82.12.020 or the retail sales tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020
shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and credited to the
state general fund. [1995 c 170 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 37;
1985 c 57 § 86; 1982 1st ex.s. c 25 § 8; 1967 ex.s. c 10 § 9.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
distributors and shall pay a tax at the rate computed under
*RCW 82.42.025 for each gallon thereof so sold, delivered,
or used in the manner provided for distributors. The proceeds
of the tax imposed by this section shall be distributed in the
manner provided for the distribution of the aircraft fuel tax in
RCW 82.42.090. For failure to comply with the terms of this
chapter, such person shall be subject to the same penalties
imposed upon distributors. The director shall pursue against
such persons the same procedure and remedies for audits,
adjustments, collection, and enforcement of this chapter as is
provided with respect to distributors. Nothing herein shall be
construed as classifying such persons as distributors. [1982
1st ex.s. c 25 § 9; 1971 ex.s. c 156 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.42.025 was repealed by 2003 c 375 § 6,
effective July 1, 2003.
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
82.42.120
82.42.120 Mitigation of assessments. Except in the
case of violations of filing a false or fraudulent report, if the
department deems mitigation of penalties and interest to be
reasonable and in the best interests of carrying out the purpose of this chapter, it may mitigate such assessments upon
whatever terms the department deems proper, giving consideration to the degree and extent of the lack of records and
reporting errors. The department may ascertain the facts
regarding recordkeeping and payment penalties in lieu of
more elaborate proceedings under this chapter. [1991 c 339
§ 8.]
82.42.125
82.42.125 Bankruptcy proceedings—Notice. An aircraft fuel licensee, who files or against whom is filed a petition in bankruptcy, shall, within ten days of the filing, notify
the department of the proceedings in bankruptcy, including
the identity and location of the court in which the proceedings
are pending. [1997 c 183 § 11.]
82.42.900
82.42.900 Severability—1967 ex.s. c 10. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1967 ex.s. c 10 § 11.]
Severability—Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.42.010.
Chapter 82.44
82.42.100
82.42.100 Enforcement. The director is charged with
the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and rules
and regulations promulgated hereunder. The director may, in
his discretion, call on the state patrol or any peace officer in
the state, who shall then aid in the enforcement of this chapter
or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder. [1967
ex.s. c 10 § 10.]
82.42.110
82.42.110 Tax upon persons other than distributors—Imposition—Collection—Distribution—Enforcement. Every person other than a distributor who acquires
any aircraft fuel within this state upon which payment of tax
is required under the provisions of this chapter, or imports
such aircraft fuel into this state and sells, delivers, or in any
manner uses it in this state shall, if the tax has not been paid,
be subject to the provisions of RCW 82.42.040 provided for
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 82.44
Chapter 82.44 RCW
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX
Sections
82.44.010
82.44.015
82.44.035
82.44.060
82.44.065
82.44.090
82.44.100
82.44.120
82.44.135
82.44.140
82.44.180
82.44.190
82.44.195
Definitions.
Ride-sharing passenger motor vehicles excluded—Notice—
Liability for tax.
Valuation of vehicles.
Payment of tax based on registration year—Transfer of ownership.
Appeal of valuation.
Penalty for issuing plates without collecting tax.
Tax receipt.
Refunds, collections of erroneous amounts—Claims—False
statement, penalty.
Local government must contract with department of licensing.
Director of licensing may act.
Transportation fund—Deposits and distributions.
Transportation infrastructure account—Deposits and distributions—Subaccounts.
Transportation infrastructure account—Highway infrastructure account—Finding—Intent—Purpose—1996 c 262.
[Title 82 RCW—page 281]
82.44.010
82.44.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Severability—Construction—1961 c 15.
Boat trailer fee: RCW 46.16.670.
Constitutional limitations on certain taxes, highway funds: State Constitution Art. 2 § 40.
Highway user tax structure: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
Nonresident members of armed forces, exemption from motor vehicle excise
tax: RCW 46.16.480.
Reciprocal or proportional registration of vehicles: Chapter 46.85 RCW.
"Registration year," defined—"Last day of the month," defined: RCW
46.16.006.
82.44.010
82.44.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter,
unless [the] context otherwise requires:
(1) "Department" means the department of licensing.
(2) "Motor vehicle" means all motor vehicles, trailers
and semitrailers used, or of the type designed primarily to be
used, upon the public streets and highways, for the convenience or pleasure of the owner, or for the conveyance, for
hire or otherwise, of persons or property, including fixed
loads and facilities for human habitation; but shall not
include (a) vehicles carrying exempt licenses, (b) dock and
warehouse tractors and their cars or trailers, lumber carriers
of the type known as spiders, and all other automotive equipment not designed primarily for use upon public streets, or
highways, (c) motor vehicles or their trailers used entirely
upon private property, (d) mobile homes and travel trailers as
defined in RCW 82.50.010, or (e) motor vehicles owned by
nonresident military personnel of the armed forces of the
United States stationed in the state of Washington provided
personnel were also nonresident at the time of their entry into
military service.
(3) "Truck-type power or trailing unit" means any vehicle that is subject to the fees under RCW 46.16.070 except
vehicles with an unladen weight of six thousand pounds or
less, RCW 46.16.079, *46.16.080, 46.16.085, or 46.16.090.
[1990 c 42 § 301; 1979 c 107 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 54;
1967 c 121 § 4; 1963 c 199 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.44.010. Prior:
1957 c 269 § 18; 1955 c 264 § 1; 1945 c 152 § 1; 1943 c 144
§ 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 6312-115.]
Reviser’s note: (1) Restored to the RCW November 1, 2000, under the
Washington Supreme Court decision in Amalgamated Transit Union Local
587 et al v. The State of Washington, 142 Wash.2d 183 (2000), which
declared Initiative Measure No. 695 (2000 c 1) unconstitutional in its
entirety.
*(2) RCW 46.16.080 was repealed by 1994 c 262 § 28, effective July
1, 1994.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.44.015
82.44.015 Ride-sharing passenger motor vehicles
excluded—Notice—Liability for tax. For the purposes of
this chapter, in addition to the exclusions under RCW
82.44.010, "motor vehicle" shall not include passenger motor
vehicles used primarily for commuter ride sharing and ride
sharing for persons with special transportation needs, as
defined in RCW 46.74.010. The registered owner of one of
these vehicles shall notify the department of licensing upon
termination of primary use of the vehicle in commuter ride
sharing or ride sharing for persons with special transportation
needs and shall be liable for the tax imposed by this chapter,
[Title 82 RCW—page 282]
prorated on the remaining months for which the vehicle is
licensed.
To qualify for the tax exemption, those passenger motor
vehicles with five or six passengers, including the driver,
used for commuter ride-sharing, must be operated either
within the state’s eight largest counties that are required to
develop commute trip reduction plans as directed by chapter
70.94 RCW or in other counties, or cities and towns within
those counties, that elect to adopt and implement a commute
trip reduction plan. Additionally at least one of the following
conditions must apply: (1) The vehicle must be operated by
a public transportation agency for the general public; or (2)
the vehicle must be used by a major employer, as defined in
RCW 70.94.524 as an element of its commute trip reduction
program for their employees; or (3) the vehicle must be
owned and operated by individual employees and must be
registered either with the employer as part of its commute trip
reduction program or with a public transportation agency
serving the area where the employees live or work. Individual
employee owned and operated motor vehicles will require
certification that the vehicle is registered with a major
employer or a public transportation agency. Major employers
who own and operate motor vehicles for their employees
must certify that the commuter ride-sharing arrangement conforms to a carpool/vanpool element contained within their
commute trip reduction program. [1996 c 244 § 7; 1993 c
488 § 3; 1982 c 142 § 1; 1980 c 166 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
Finding—Annual recertification rule—Report—1993 c 488: See
notes following RCW 82.08.0287.
Severability—1980 c 166: See note following RCW 82.08.0287.
Ride-sharing vehicles—Special plates: RCW 46.16.023.
82.44.035
82.44.035 Valuation of vehicles. (1) For the purpose of
determining any locally imposed motor vehicle excise tax,
the value of a truck-type power or trailing unit shall be the latest purchase price of the vehicle, excluding applicable federal
excise taxes, state and local sales or use taxes, transportation
or shipping costs, or preparatory or delivery costs, multiplied
by the following percentage based on year of service of the
vehicle since last sale. The latest purchase year shall be considered the first year of service.
YEAR OF SERVICE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
PERCENTAGE
100
81
67
55
45
37
30
25
20
16
13
11
9
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
14
15
16 or older
(2) The reissuance of title and registration for a trucktype power or trailing unit because of the installation of body
or special equipment shall be treated as a sale, and the value
of the truck-type power or trailing unit at that time, as determined by the department from such information as may be
available, shall be considered the latest purchase price.
(3) For the purpose of determining any locally imposed
motor vehicle excise tax, the value of a motor vehicle other
than a truck-type power or trailing unit shall be eighty-five
percent of the manufacturer’s base suggested retail price of
the vehicle when first offered for sale as a new vehicle,
excluding any optional equipment, applicable federal excise
taxes, state and local sales or use taxes, transportation or shipping costs, or preparatory or delivery costs, multiplied by the
applicable percentage listed in this subsection (3) based on
year of service of the vehicle.
If the manufacturer’s base suggested retail price is
unavailable or otherwise unascertainable at the time of initial
registration in this state, the department shall determine a
value equivalent to a manufacturer’s base suggested retail
price as follows:
(a) The department shall determine a value using any
information that may be available, including any guidebook,
report, or compendium of recognized standing in the automotive industry or the selling price and year of sale of the vehicle. The department may use an appraisal by the county
assessor. In valuing a vehicle for which the current value or
selling price is not indicative of the value of similar vehicles
of the same year and model, the department shall establish a
value that more closely represents the average value of similar vehicles of the same year and model. The value determined in this subsection (3)(a) shall be divided by the applicable percentage listed in (b) of this subsection (3) to establish a value equivalent to a manufacturer’s base suggested
retail price and this value shall be multiplied by eighty-five
percent.
(b) The year the vehicle is offered for sale as a new vehicle shall be considered the first year of service.
YEAR OF SERVICE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
(2006 Ed.)
14
15
16 or older
7
3
0
PERCENTAGE
100
81
72
63
55
47
41
36
32
27
26
24
23
82.44.065
21
16
10
(4) For purposes of this chapter, value shall exclude
value attributable to modifications of a motor vehicle and
equipment that are designed to facilitate the use or operation
of the motor vehicle by a person with a disability. [2006 c
318 § 1.]
82.44.060
82.44.060 Payment of tax based on registration
year—Transfer of ownership. Any locally imposed excise
tax shall be due and payable to the department or its agents at
the time of registration of a motor vehicle. Whenever an
application is made to the department or its agents for a
license for a motor vehicle there shall be collected, in addition to the amount of the license fee or renewal license fee,
the amount of any locally imposed excise tax, and no dealer’s
license or license plates, and no license or license plates for a
motor vehicle shall be issued unless such tax is paid in full.
Locally imposed excise taxes shall be collected for each registration year. Any locally imposed excise tax upon a motor
vehicle licensed for the first time in this state shall be levied
for one full registration year commencing on the date of the
calendar year designated by the department and ending on the
same date of the next succeeding calendar year. For vehicles
registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, proportional registration, and for vehicle dealer plates issued under chapter 46.70
RCW, the registration year is the period provided in those
chapters. However, the tax shall in no case be less than two
dollars except for proportionally registered vehicles.
A motor vehicle shall be deemed licensed for the first
time in this state when such vehicle was not previously
licensed by this state for the registration year immediately
preceding the registration year in which the application for
license is made or when the vehicle has been registered in
another jurisdiction subsequent to any prior registration in
this state.
No additional tax shall be imposed under this chapter
upon any vehicle upon the transfer of ownership thereof if the
tax imposed with respect to such vehicle has already been
paid for the registration year or fraction of a registration year
in which transfer of ownership occurs. [2006 c 318 § 3; 1990
c 42 § 304; 1981 c 222 § 12; 1979 c 158 § 233; 1975-’76 2nd
ex.s. c 54 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 118 § 14; 1963 c 199 § 4; 1961
c 15 § 82.44.060. Prior: 1957 c 269 § 15; 1955 c 139 § 25;
1943 c 144 § 6; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-120; prior: 1937 c
228 § 5.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Effective date—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 54: "This 1976 amendatory act
shall take effect on January 1, 1977." [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 54 § 3.]
Effective date—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 118: See notes following RCW 46.16.006.
82.44.065
82.44.065 Appeal of valuation. If the department
determines a value for a motor vehicle equivalent to a manufacturer’s base suggested retail price or the value of a trucktype power or trailing unit under RCW 82.44.035, any person
[Title 82 RCW—page 283]
82.44.090
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
who pays a locally imposed tax for that vehicle may appeal
the valuation to the department under chapter 34.05 RCW. If
the taxpayer is successful on appeal, the department shall
refund the excess tax in the manner provided in RCW
82.44.120. [2006 c 318 § 5; 1990 c 42 § 305.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
82.44.090
82.44.090 Penalty for issuing plates without collecting tax. It shall be unlawful for the county auditor or any
other person to issue a dealer’s license or dealer’s license
plates or a license or identification plates with respect to any
motor vehicle without collecting, with the required license
fee, the amount of any locally imposed motor vehicle excise
tax due. Any violation of this section shall constitute a gross
misdemeanor. [2006 c 318 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.44.090. Prior:
1943 c 144 § 8; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-122; prior: 1937 c
228 § 7.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
82.44.100
82.44.100 Tax receipt. The county auditor shall give to
each person paying a locally imposed motor vehicle excise
tax a receipt therefor which shall sufficiently designate and
identify the vehicle with respect to which the tax is paid. The
receipt may be incorporated in the receipt given for the motor
vehicle license fee or dealer’s license fee paid. [2006 c 318 §
7; 1961 c 15 § 82.44.100. Prior: 1943 c 144 § 9; Rem. Supp.
1943 § 6312-123; prior: 1937 c 228 § 8.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
82.44.120
82.44.120 Refunds, collections of erroneous
amounts—Claims—False statement, penalty. (1) Whenever any person has paid a motor vehicle license fee, and
together therewith has paid a locally imposed excise tax, and
the director determines that the payor is entitled to a refund of
the entire amount of the license fee as provided by law, then
the payor shall also be entitled to a refund of the entire excise
tax collected under the provisions of this chapter. In case the
director determines that any person is entitled to a refund of
only a part of the license fee so paid, the payor shall be entitled to a refund of the difference, if any, between the excise
tax collected and that which should have been collected.
(2) In case no claim is to be made for the refund of the
license fee or any part thereof, but claim is made by any person that he or she has paid an erroneously excessive amount
of excise tax, the department shall determine in the manner
generally provided in this chapter the amount of such excess,
if any, that has been paid and shall certify to the state treasurer that such person is entitled to a refund in such amount.
(3) In any case where due to error, a person has been
required to pay an excise tax pursuant to this chapter and a
vehicle license fee pursuant to Title 46 RCW which amounts
to an overpayment of ten dollars or more, such person shall
be entitled to a refund of the entire amount of such overpayment, regardless of whether or not a refund of the overpayment has been requested. Conversely, if due to error, the
department or its agents has failed to collect the full amount
of the license fee and excise tax due, which underpayment is
in the amount of ten dollars or more, the department shall
[Title 82 RCW—page 284]
charge and collect such additional amount as will constitute
full payment of the tax.
(4) Any claim for refund of an erroneously excessive
amount of excise tax or overpayment of excise tax with a
motor vehicle license fee must be filed with the director
within three years after the claimed erroneous payment was
made.
(5) If the department approves the claim it shall notify
the state treasurer to that effect, and the treasurer shall make
such approved refunds from the general fund and shall mail
or deliver the same to the person entitled thereto.
(6) Any person making any false statement under which
he or she obtains any amount of refund to which he or she is
not entitled under the provisions of this section is guilty of a
gross misdemeanor.
(7) Before a local government subject to this chapter
may impose a motor vehicle excise tax, the local government
shall contract with the department for reimbursement for any
refunds paid to a person by the treasurer. [2006 c 318 § 8;
2003 c 53 § 403; 1993 c 307 § 3; 1990 c 42 § 307; 1989 c 68
§ 2; 1983 c 26 § 3; 1979 c 120 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 95;
1974 ex.s. c 54 § 4; 1967 c 121 § 2; 1963 c 199 § 5; 1961 c 15
§ 82.44.120. Prior: 1949 c 196 § 18; 1945 c 152 § 3; 1943 c
144 § 11; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6312-125.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Severability—Effective dates—1974 ex.s. c 54: See notes following
RCW 82.48.080.
82.44.135 Local government must contract with
department of licensing. Before a local government subject
to this chapter may impose a motor vehicle excise tax, the
local government must contract with the department for the
collection of the tax. The department may charge a reasonable amount, not to exceed one percent of tax collections, for
the administration and collection of the tax. [2006 c 318 § 9.]
82.44.135
82.44.140
82.44.140 Director of licensing may act. Any duties
required by this chapter to be performed by the county auditor may be performed by any other person designated by the
director of licensing and authorized by him to receive motor
vehicle license fees and issue receipt therefor. [1979 c 158 §
237; 1967 c 121 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 82.44.140. Prior: 1943 c
144 § 13; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-127.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
82.44.180
82.44.180 Transportation fund—Deposits and distributions. (1) The transportation fund is created in the state
treasury. Revenues under RCW *82.44.110 and 82.50.510
shall be deposited into the fund as provided in those sections.
Moneys in the fund may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the fund may be used only for transportation purposes and activities and operations of the Washington state patrol not directly related to the policing of public highways and that are not authorized under Article II,
section 40 of the state Constitution.
(2006 Ed.)
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
(2) There is hereby created the public transportation systems account within the transportation fund. Moneys deposited into the account under *RCW 82.44.150(2) (b) and (c)
shall be appropriated to the transportation improvement
board and allocated by the transportation improvement board
to public transportation projects submitted by the public
transportation systems as defined by chapters 36.56, 36.57,
and 36.57A RCW and RCW 35.84.060 and 81.112.030, and
the Washington state ferry system, solely for:
(a) Planning;
(b) Development of capital projects;
(c) Development of high capacity transportation systems
as defined in RCW 81.104.015;
(d) Development of high occupancy vehicle lanes and
related facilities as defined in RCW 81.100.020;
(e) Other public transportation system-related roadway
projects on state highways, county roads, or city streets;
(f) Public transportation system contributions required to
fund projects under federal programs and those approved by
the transportation improvement board from other fund
sources; and
(g) Reimbursement to the general fund of tax credits
authorized under **RCW 82.04.4453 and 82.16.048, subject
to appropriation. [1999 c 402 § 5; 1999 c 94 § 31; 1998 c 321
§ 41 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998);
1995 c 269 § 2601. Prior: 1993 sp.s. c 23 § 64; 1993 c 393 §
1; 1991 c 199 § 224; 1990 c 42 § 312.]
Reviser’s note: (1) See note following RCW 82.44.010.
*(2) RCW 82.44.110 and 82.44.150 were repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
**(3) RCW 82.04.4453 and 82.16.048 were repealed by 2002 c 203 §
9, effective January 1, 2003. RCW 82.04.4453 and 82.16.048 were subsequently repealed by 2003 c 364 § 10, effective July 1, 2003.
(4) This section was amended by 1999 c 94 § 31 and by 1999 c 402 §
5, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in
the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Legislative finding—Effective dates—1999 c 94: See notes following
RCW 43.84.092.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
Effective date—1995 c 269: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.
Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 13.40.005.
Effective dates—1993 sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 43.89.010.
Effective date—1993 c 393: See RCW 47.66.900.
Finding—1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70.94.011.
Effective dates—Severability—Captions not law—1991 c 199: See
RCW 70.94.904 through 70.94.906.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
82.44.900
made on loans from the transportation infrastructure account
shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account
shall be available for purposes specified in RCW 82.44.195.
Expenditures from the transportation infrastructure account
shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature. To the
extent required by federal law or regulations promulgated by
the United States secretary of transportation, the state treasurer is authorized to create separate subaccounts within the
transportation infrastructure account. [1996 c 262 § 2.]
Effective date—1996 c 262: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 29, 1996]." [1996 c 262 § 5.]
82.44.195
82.44.195 Transportation infrastructure account—
Highway infrastructure account—Finding—Intent—
Purpose—1996 c 262. The legislature finds that new financing mechanisms are necessary to provide greater flexibility
and additional funds for needed transportation infrastructure
projects in the state. The creation of a financing mechanism,
like the one contained in section 350 of the national highway
system designation act of 1995, P.L. 104-59, relating to a
state infrastructure bank program, will enable the state and
local jurisdictions to use federal, state, local, or private funds
to construct surface transportation projects for various modes
of transportation. It is the intent of the legislature that
accounts be created in the state treasury and dedicated funding sources be established to generate revenue to support
transportation projects financed with the proceeds of bonds
or other financial instruments issued against this dedicated
revenue and other revenues which may be available to these
accounts. P.L. 104-59 allows the deposit of certain federal
highway and transit funds into these accounts to leverage
other forms of investment in transportation infrastructure by
expanding the eligible uses of the federal funds. Other public
and private entities may also deposit funds into these
accounts to leverage transportation investments. The purpose
of chapter 262, Laws of 1996 is to provide, from these
accounts, authorization for loans, grants, or other means of
assistance, in amounts equal to all or part of the cost, to public
or private entities building surface transportation facilities in
this state. It is the further intent of the legislature that projects
representing critical mobility or economic development
needs and involving various transportation modes and jurisdictions receive top priority in the use of these funds. Funds
from the accounts created in chapter 262, Laws of 1996 may
be used to support the issuance of public or private debt, to
provide credit enhancement for such debt, for direct loans to
public or private entities, or for other purposes necessary to
facilitate investment in surface transportation facilities in this
state. [1996 c 262 § 1.]
Effective date—1996 c 262: See note following RCW 82.44.190.
82.44.190 Transportation infrastructure account—
Deposits and distributions—Subaccounts. The transportation infrastructure account is hereby created in the transportation fund. Public and private entities may deposit moneys in
the transportation infrastructure account from federal, state,
local, or private sources. Proceeds from bonds or other financial instruments sold to finance surface transportation
projects from the transportation infrastructure account shall
be deposited into the account. Principal and interest payments
82.44.190
(2006 Ed.)
82.44.900
82.44.900 Severability—Construction—1961 c 15. If
any provision of this chapter relating either to the apportionment or allocation of the revenue derived from the excise tax
thereby imposed, or to any appropriation made by this chapter, be adjudged unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not
be held to render unconstitutional or ineffectual the remaining portions of said chapter or any part thereof: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, That except as otherwise hereinabove provided
[Title 82 RCW—page 285]
Chapter 82.45
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
by this section, if any section or part of a section of this chapter be adjudged unconstitutional, this entire chapter shall
thereupon be and become inoperative and of no force or
effect whatsoever. [1961 c 15 § 82.44.900. Prior: 1943 c 144
§ 17; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-131.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.44.010.
Chapter 82.45 RCW
Chapter 82.45
EXCISE TAX ON REAL ESTATE SALES
Sections
82.45.010
82.45.020
82.45.030
82.45.032
82.45.033
82.45.035
82.45.060
82.45.070
82.45.080
82.45.090
82.45.100
82.45.105
82.45.150
82.45.180
82.45.190
82.45.200
82.45.210
82.45.220
82.45.900
"Sale" defined.
"Seller" defined.
"Selling price," "total consideration paid or contracted to be
paid," defined.
Additional definitions.
"Controlling interest" defined.
Determining selling price of leases with option to purchase—
Mining property—Payment, security when selling price not
separately stated.
Tax on sale of property.
Tax is lien on property—Enforcement.
Tax is seller’s obligation—Choice of remedies.
Payment of tax and fee—Evidence of payment—Recording—
Sale of beneficial interest.
Tax payable at time of sale—Interest, penalties on unpaid or
delinquent taxes—Notice—Prohibition on certain assessments or refunds—Deposit of penalties.
Single family residential property, tax credit when subsequent
transfer of within nine months for like property.
Applicability of general administrative provisions—Departmental rules, scope—Real estate excise tax affidavit form—
Departmental audit.
Disposition of proceeds.
Exemptions—State route No. 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities.
Real estate excise tax grant account.
State assistance for county electronic processing and reporting
of taxes—Grant program.
Failure to report transfer of controlling interest.
Chapter 82.46 RCW ordinances in effect on July 1, 1993—
Application under chapter 82.45 RCW.
Savings—Audits, assessments, and refunds—Disposition of certain
funds—1982 c 176; 1980 c 154: "Chapter 154, Laws of 1980 shall not be
construed as invalidating, abating, or otherwise affecting any existing right
acquired or any liability or obligation incurred under the provisions of the
statutes amended or repealed, nor any process, proceeding, or judgment
involving the assessment of any property or the levy or collection of any tax
thereunder, nor the validity of any certificate of delinquency, tax deed or
other instrument of sale or other proceeding thereunder, nor any criminal or
civil proceeding instituted thereunder, nor any rule, regulation or order promulgated thereunder, nor any administrative action taken thereunder: PROVIDED, That the department of revenue may conduct audits, make assessments, and grant refunds under RCW 82.45.100 and 82.45.150 with respect
to any sale. Funds received by the county treasurer as payment of a tax liability incurred under a statute repealed by chapter 154, Laws of 1980 shall be
paid and accounted for as provided in RCW 82.45.180." [1982 c 176 § 3;
1980 c 154 § 15.]
Purpose—1980 c 154: "It is the intent of this 1980 act to simplify the
bookkeeping procedures for the state treasurer’s office and for the school
districts but not to impact the amount of revenues covered by this 1980 act to
the various counties and other taxing districts." [1980 c 154 § 16.]
Effective dates—1980 c 154: "Sections 17, 18, and 19 of this act are
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately. The remainder of this act shall take
effect on September 1, 1981." [1980 c 154 § 20.]
Severability—1980 c 154: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1980 c 154 § 21.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 286]
82.45.010
82.45.010 "Sale" defined. (1) As used in this chapter,
the term "sale" shall have its ordinary meaning and shall
include any conveyance, grant, assignment, quitclaim, or
transfer of the ownership of or title to real property, including
standing timber, or any estate or interest therein for a valuable consideration, and any contract for such conveyance,
grant, assignment, quitclaim, or transfer, and any lease with
an option to purchase real property, including standing timber, or any estate or interest therein or other contract under
which possession of the property is given to the purchaser, or
any other person at the purchaser’s direction, and title to the
property is retained by the vendor as security for the payment
of the purchase price. The term also includes the grant,
assignment, quitclaim, sale, or transfer of improvements constructed upon leased land.
(2) The term "sale" also includes the transfer or acquisition within any twelve-month period of a controlling interest
in any entity with an interest in real property located in this
state for a valuable consideration. For purposes of this subsection, all acquisitions of persons acting in concert shall be
aggregated for purposes of determining whether a transfer or
acquisition of a controlling interest has taken place. The
department of revenue shall adopt standards by rule to determine when persons are acting in concert. In adopting a rule
for this purpose, the department shall consider the following:
(a) Persons shall be treated as acting in concert when
they have a relationship with each other such that one person
influences or controls the actions of another through common
ownership; and
(b) When persons are not commonly owned or controlled, they shall be treated as acting in concert only when
the unity with which the purchasers have negotiated and will
consummate the transfer of ownership interests supports a
finding that they are acting as a single entity. If the acquisitions are completely independent, with each purchaser buying without regard to the identity of the other purchasers, then
the acquisitions shall be considered separate acquisitions.
(3) The term "sale" shall not include:
(a) A transfer by gift, devise, or inheritance.
(b) A transfer of any leasehold interest other than of the
type mentioned above.
(c) A cancellation or forfeiture of a vendee’s interest in a
contract for the sale of real property, whether or not such contract contains a forfeiture clause, or deed in lieu of foreclosure of a mortgage.
(d) The partition of property by tenants in common by
agreement or as the result of a court decree.
(e) The assignment of property or interest in property
from one spouse to the other in accordance with the terms of
a decree of divorce or in fulfillment of a property settlement
agreement.
(f) The assignment or other transfer of a vendor’s interest
in a contract for the sale of real property, even though accompanied by a conveyance of the vendor’s interest in the real
property involved.
(g) Transfers by appropriation or decree in condemnation proceedings brought by the United States, the state or
any political subdivision thereof, or a municipal corporation.
(h) A mortgage or other transfer of an interest in real
property merely to secure a debt, or the assignment thereof.
(2006 Ed.)
Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales
(i) Any transfer or conveyance made pursuant to a deed
of trust or an order of sale by the court in any mortgage, deed
of trust, or lien foreclosure proceeding or upon execution of a
judgment, or deed in lieu of foreclosure to satisfy a mortgage
or deed of trust.
(j) A conveyance to the federal housing administration or
veterans administration by an authorized mortgagee made
pursuant to a contract of insurance or guaranty with the federal housing administration or veterans administration.
(k) A transfer in compliance with the terms of any lease
or contract upon which the tax as imposed by this chapter has
been paid or where the lease or contract was entered into
prior to the date this tax was first imposed.
(l) The sale of any grave or lot in an established cemetery.
(m) A sale by the United States, this state or any political
subdivision thereof, or a municipal corporation of this state.
(n) A sale to a regional transit authority or public corporation under RCW 81.112.320 under a sale/leaseback agreement under RCW 81.112.300.
(o) A transfer of real property, however effected, if it
consists of a mere change in identity or form of ownership of
an entity where there is no change in the beneficial ownership. These include transfers to a corporation or partnership
which is wholly owned by the transferor and/or the transferor’s spouse or children: PROVIDED, That if thereafter
such transferee corporation or partnership voluntarily transfers such real property, or such transferor, spouse, or children
voluntarily transfer stock in the transferee corporation or
interest in the transferee partnership capital, as the case may
be, to other than (1) the transferor and/or the transferor’s
spouse or children, (2) a trust having the transferor and/or the
transferor’s spouse or children as the only beneficiaries at the
time of the transfer to the trust, or (3) a corporation or partnership wholly owned by the original transferor and/or the
transferor’s spouse or children, within three years of the original transfer to which this exemption applies, and the tax on
the subsequent transfer has not been paid within sixty days of
becoming due, excise taxes shall become due and payable on
the original transfer as otherwise provided by law.
(p)(i) A transfer that for federal income tax purposes
does not involve the recognition of gain or loss for entity formation, liquidation or dissolution, and reorganization, including but not limited to nonrecognition of gain or loss because
of application of section 332, 337, 351, 368(a)(1), 721, or 731
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(ii) However, the transfer described in (p)(i) of this subsection cannot be preceded or followed within a twelvemonth period by another transfer or series of transfers, that,
when combined with the otherwise exempt transfer or transfers described in (p)(i) of this subsection, results in the transfer of a controlling interest in the entity for valuable consideration, and in which one or more persons previously holding
a controlling interest in the entity receive cash or property in
exchange for any interest the person or persons acting in concert hold in the entity. This subsection (3)(p)(ii) does not
apply to that part of the transfer involving property received
that is the real property interest that the person or persons
originally contributed to the entity or when one or more persons who did not contribute real property or belong to the
entity at a time when real property was purchased receive
(2006 Ed.)
82.45.030
cash or personal property in exchange for that person or persons’ interest in the entity. The real estate excise tax under
this subsection (3)(p)(ii) is imposed upon the person or persons who previously held a controlling interest in the entity.
[2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 26; 1999 c 209 § 2; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
502; 1981 c 93 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 65 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 223 §
28A.45.010. Prior: 1955 c 132 § 1; 1953 c 94 § 1; 1951 2nd
ex.s. c 19 § 1; 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 7. Formerly RCW
28A.45.010, 28.45.010.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
Intent—1999 c 209: "In chapter 25, Laws of 1993 sp. sess., the legislature found that transfer of ownership of entities can be equivalent to the sale
of real property held by the entity. The legislature further found that all transfers of possession or use of real property should be subject to the same excise
tax burdens.
The legislature intended to apply the real estate excise tax of chapter
82.45 RCW to transfers of entity ownership when the transfer of entity ownership is comparable to the sale of real property. The legislature intends to
equate the excise tax burdens on all sales of real property and transfers of
entity ownership essentially equivalent to a sale of real property under chapter 82.45 RCW." [1999 c 209 § 1.]
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: "(1) The legislature finds that
transfers of ownership of entities may be essentially equivalent to the sale of
real property held by the entity. The legislature further finds that all transfers
of possession or use of real property should be subject to the same excise tax
burdens.
(2) The legislature intends to apply the real estate excise tax of chapter
82.45 RCW to transfers of entity ownership when the transfer of entity ownership is comparable to the sale of real property. The legislature intends to
equate the excise tax burdens on all sales of real property and transfers of
entity ownership essentially equivalent to a sale of real property under chapter 82.45 RCW." [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 501.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—1981 c 93 § 2: "Section 2 of this act shall take effect
September 1, 1981." [1981 c 93 § 3.]
Effective date—Severability—1970 ex.s. c 65: See notes following
RCW 82.03.050.
82.45.020
82.45.020 "Seller" defined. As used in this chapter the
term "seller," unless otherwise indicated by the context, shall
mean any individual, receiver, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club,
company, joint stock company, business trust, municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation, corporation, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit,
whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit or otherwise; but it shall not include the United States or the state of
Washington. [1980 c 154 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.45.020.
Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 6. Formerly RCW 28A.45.020,
28.45.020.]
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
82.45.030
82.45.030 "Selling price," "total consideration paid
or contracted to be paid," defined. (1) As used in this
chapter, the term "selling price" means the true and fair value
of the property conveyed. If property has been conveyed in
an arm’s length transaction between unrelated persons for a
valuable consideration, a rebuttable presumption exists that
the selling price is equal to the total consideration paid or
contracted to be paid to the transferor, or to another for the
transferor’s benefit.
[Title 82 RCW—page 287]
82.45.032
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(2) If the sale is a transfer of a controlling interest in an
entity with an interest in real property located in this state, the
selling price shall be the true and fair value of the real property owned by the entity and located in this state. If the true
and fair value of the real property located in this state cannot
reasonably be determined, the selling price shall be determined according to subsection (4) of this section.
(3) As used in this section, "total consideration paid or
contracted to be paid" includes money or anything of value,
paid or delivered or contracted to be paid or delivered in
return for the sale, and shall include the amount of any lien,
mortgage, contract indebtedness, or other incumbrance,
either given to secure the purchase price, or any part thereof,
or remaining unpaid on such property at the time of sale.
Total consideration shall not include the amount of any
outstanding lien or incumbrance in favor of the United States,
the state, or a municipal corporation for taxes, special benefits, or improvements.
(4) If the total consideration for the sale cannot be ascertained or the true and fair value of the property to be valued
at the time of the sale cannot reasonably be determined, the
market value assessment for the property maintained on the
county property tax rolls at the time of the sale shall be used
as the selling price. [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 503; 1969 ex.s. c 223
§ 28A.45.030. Prior: 1951 2nd ex.s. c 19 § 2; 1951 1st ex.s.
c 11 § 8. Formerly RCW 28A.45.030, 28.45.030.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
82.45.032
82.45.032 Additional definitions. Unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Real estate" or "real property" means any interest,
estate, or beneficial interest in land or anything affixed to
land, including the ownership interest or beneficial interest in
any entity which itself owns land or anything affixed to land.
The term includes used mobile homes, used park model trailers, used floating homes, and improvements constructed
upon leased land.
(2) "Used mobile home" means a mobile home which
has been previously sold at retail and has been subjected to
tax under chapter 82.08 RCW, or which has been previously
used and has been subjected to tax under chapter 82.12 RCW,
and which has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit at
the time of sale by virtue of its being fixed in location upon
land owned or leased by the owner of the mobile home and
placed on a foundation (posts or blocks) with fixed pipe connections with sewer, water, and other utilities.
(3) "Mobile home" means a mobile home as defined by
RCW 46.04.302, as now or hereafter amended.
(4) "Park model trailer" means a park model trailer as
defined in RCW 46.04.622.
(5) "Used floating home" means a floating home in
respect to which tax has been paid under chapter 82.08 or
82.12 RCW.
(6) "Used park model trailer" means a park model trailer
that has been previously sold at retail and has been subjected
to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW, or that has been previously
used and has been subjected to tax under chapter 82.12 RCW,
[Title 82 RCW—page 288]
and that has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit by
virtue of its being permanently sited in location and placed on
a foundation of either posts or blocks with connections with
sewer, water, or other utilities for the operation of installed
fixtures and appliances.
(7) "Floating home" means a building on a float used in
whole or in part for human habitation as a single-family
dwelling, which is not designed for self propulsion by
mechanical means or for propulsion by means of wind, and
which is on the property tax rolls of the county in which it is
located. [2001 c 282 § 2; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 504; 1986 c 211 §
1; 1984 c 192 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 266 § 1. Formerly RCW
28A.45.032.]
Intent—Effective date—2001 c 282: See notes following RCW
82.08.032.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
82.45.033
82.45.033 "Controlling interest" defined. As used in
this chapter, the term "controlling interest" has the following
meaning:
(1) In the case of a corporation, either fifty percent or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the corporation entitled to vote, or fifty percent of the
capital, profits, or beneficial interest in the voting stock of the
corporation; and
(2) In the case of a partnership, association, trust, or
other entity, fifty percent or more of the capital, profits, or
beneficial interest in such partnership, association, trust, or
other entity. [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 505.]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
82.45.035
82.45.035 Determining selling price of leases with
option to purchase—Mining property—Payment, security when selling price not separately stated. The state
department of revenue shall provide by rule for the determination of the selling price in the case of leases with option to
purchase, and shall further provide that the tax shall not be
payable, where inequity will otherwise result, until and
unless the option is exercised and accepted. A conditional
sale of mining property in which the buyer has the right to terminate the contract at any time, and a lease and option to buy
mining property in which the lessee-buyer has the right to terminate the lease and option at any time, shall be taxable at the
time of execution only on the consideration received by the
seller or lessor for execution of such contract, but the rule
shall further provide that the tax due on any additional consideration paid by the buyer and received by the seller shall
be paid to the county treasurer (1) at the time of termination,
or (2) at the time that all of the consideration due to the seller
has been paid and the transaction is completed except for the
delivery of the deed to the buyer, or (3) at the time when the
buyer unequivocally exercises an option to purchase the
property, whichever of the three events occurs first.
The term "mining property" means property containing
or believed to contain metallic minerals and sold or leased
(2006 Ed.)
Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales
under terms which require the purchaser or lessor to conduct
exploration or mining work thereon and for no other use. The
term "metallic minerals" does not include clays, coal, sand
and gravel, peat, gypsite, or stone, including limestone.
The state department of revenue shall further provide by
rule for cases where the selling price is not separately stated
or is not ascertainable at the time of sale, for the payment of
the tax at a time when the selling price is ascertained, in
which case suitable security may be required for payment of
the tax, and may further provide for the determination of the
selling price by an appraisal by the county assessor, based on
the full and true market value, which appraisal shall be prima
facie evidence of the selling price of the real property. [1969
ex.s. c 223 § 28A.45.035. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 1; 1959 c
208 § 1; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 19 § 3. Formerly RCW 28A.45.035,
28.45.035.]
82.45.060
82.45.060 Tax on sale of property. There is imposed
an excise tax upon each sale of real property at the rate of one
and twenty-eight one-hundredths percent of the selling price.
An amount equal to six and one-tenth percent of the proceeds
of this tax to the state treasurer shall be deposited in the public works assistance account created in RCW 43.155.050. An
amount equal to one and six-tenths percent of the proceeds of
this tax to the state treasurer shall be deposited in the citycounty assistance account created in RCW 43.08.290. [2005
c 450 § 1; 2000 c 103 § 15; 1987 c 472 § 14; 1983 2nd ex.s. c
3 § 20; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 14; 1980 c 154 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c
223 § 28A.45.060. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 5. Formerly
RCW 28A.45.060, 28.45.060.]
Effective date—2005 c 450: "This act takes effect August 1, 2005."
[2005 c 450 § 4.]
Severability—1987 c 472: See RCW 79.71.900.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
82.45.070
82.45.070 Tax is lien on property—Enforcement.
The tax herein provided for and any interest or penalties
thereon shall be a specific lien upon each piece of real property sold from the time of sale until the tax shall have been
paid, which lien may be enforced in the manner prescribed
for the foreclosure of mortgages. [1969 ex.s. c 223 §
28A.45.070. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 9. Formerly RCW
28A.45.070, 28.45.070.]
82.45.080
82.45.080 Tax is seller’s obligation—Choice of remedies. The tax levied under this chapter shall be the obligation
of the seller and the department of revenue may, at the department’s option, enforce the obligation through an action of
debt against the seller or the department may proceed in the
manner prescribed for the foreclosure of mortgages and
resort to one course of enforcement shall not be an election
not to pursue the other. [1980 c 154 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 223 §
28A.45.080. Prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 10. Formerly RCW
28A.45.080, 28.45.080.]
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
(2006 Ed.)
82.45.100
82.45.090
82.45.090 Payment of tax and fee—Evidence of payment—Recording—Sale of beneficial interest. (1) Except
for a sale of a beneficial interest in real property where no
instrument evidencing the sale is recorded in the official real
property records of the county in which the property is
located, the tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid to and
collected by the treasurer of the county within which is
located the real property which was sold. In collecting the tax
the treasurer shall act as agent for the state. The county treasurer shall cause a stamp evidencing satisfaction of the lien to
be affixed to the instrument of sale or conveyance prior to its
recording or to the real estate excise tax affidavit in the case
of used mobile home sales and used floating home sales. A
receipt issued by the county treasurer for the payment of the
tax imposed under this chapter shall be evidence of the satisfaction of the lien imposed hereunder and may be recorded in
the manner prescribed for recording satisfactions of mortgages. No instrument of sale or conveyance evidencing a
sale subject to the tax shall be accepted by the county auditor
for filing or recording until the tax shall have been paid and
the stamp affixed thereto; in case the tax is not due on the
transfer, the instrument shall not be so accepted until suitable
notation of such fact has been made on the instrument by the
treasurer.
(2) For a sale of a beneficial interest in real property
where a tax is due under this chapter and where no instrument
is recorded in the official real property records of the county
in which the property is located, the sale shall be reported to
the department of revenue within five days from the date of
the sale on such returns or forms and according to such procedures as the department may prescribe. Such forms or
returns shall be signed by both the transferor and the transferee and shall be accompanied by payment of the tax due.
(3) Any person who intentionally makes a false statement on any return or form required to be filed with the
department under this chapter is guilty of perjury under chapter 9A.72 RCW. [2003 c 53 § 404; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 506;
1991 c 327 § 6; 1990 c 171 § 7; 1984 c 192 § 2; 1980 c 154 §
4; 1979 ex.s. c 266 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 223 § 28A.45.090. Prior:
1951 2nd ex.s. c 19 § 4; 1951 1st ex.s. c 11 § 11. Formerly
RCW 28A.45.090, 28.45.090.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
Effective date—1990 c 171 §§ 6, 7, 8: "Sections 6, 7, and 8 of this act
shall take effect July 1, 1990." [1990 c 171 § 11.]
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
82.45.100
82.45.100 Tax payable at time of sale—Interest, penalties on unpaid or delinquent taxes—Notice—Prohibition on certain assessments or refunds—Deposit of penalties. (1) Payment of the tax imposed under this chapter is due
and payable immediately at the time of sale, and if not paid
within one month thereafter shall bear interest from the time
of sale until the date of payment.
(a) Interest imposed before January 1, 1999, shall be
computed at the rate of one percent per month.
[Title 82 RCW—page 289]
82.45.105
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(b) Interest imposed after December 31, 1998, shall be
computed on a monthly basis at the rate as computed under
RCW 82.32.050(2). The rate so computed shall be adjusted
on the first day of January of each year for use in computing
interest for that calendar year. The department of revenue
shall provide written notification to the county treasurers of
the variable rate on or before December 1 of the year preceding the calendar year in which the rate applies.
(2) In addition to the interest described in subsection (1)
of this section, if the payment of any tax is not received by the
county treasurer or the department of revenue, as the case
may be, within one month of the date due, there shall be
assessed a penalty of five percent of the amount of the tax; if
the tax is not received within two months of the date due,
there shall be assessed a total penalty of ten percent of the
amount of the tax; and if the tax is not received within three
months of the date due, there shall be assessed a total penalty
of twenty percent of the amount of the tax. The payment of
the penalty described in this subsection shall be collectible
from the seller only, and RCW 82.45.070 does not apply to
the penalties described in this subsection.
(3) If the tax imposed under this chapter is not received
by the due date, the transferee shall be personally liable for
the tax, along with any interest as provided in subsection (1)
of this section, unless:
(a) An instrument evidencing the sale is recorded in the
official real property records of the county in which the property conveyed is located; or
(b) Either the transferor or transferee notifies the department of revenue in writing of the occurrence of the sale
within thirty days following the date of the sale.
(4) If upon examination of any affidavits or from other
information obtained by the department or its agents it
appears that all or a portion of the tax is unpaid, the department shall assess against the taxpayer the additional amount
found to be due plus interest and penalties as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. The department shall
notify the taxpayer by mail of the additional amount and the
same shall become due and shall be paid within thirty days
from the date of the notice, or within such further time as the
department may provide.
(5) No assessment or refund may be made by the department more than four years after the date of sale except upon
a showing of:
(a) Fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact by the
taxpayer;
(b) A failure by the taxpayer to record documentation of
a sale or otherwise report the sale to the county treasurer; or
(c) A failure of the transferor or transferee to report the
sale under RCW 82.45.090(2).
(6) Penalties collected on taxes due under this chapter
under subsection (2) of this section and *RCW 82.32.090 (2)
through (6) shall be deposited in the housing trust fund as
described in chapter 43.185 RCW. [1997 c 157 § 4; 1996 c
149 § 5; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 507; 1988 c 286 § 5; 1982 c 176 §
1; 1981 c 167 § 2.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.32.090 was amended by 2003 1st sp.s. c 13
§ 13, changing subsections (4) through (6) to subsections (5) through (7).
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
[Title 82 RCW—page 290]
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
Audits, assessments, and refunds—1982 c 176: See note following
chapter digest.
Effective date—1981 c 167: See note following RCW 82.45.150.
82.45.105 Single family residential property, tax
credit when subsequent transfer of within nine months
for like property. Where single family residential property
is being transferred as the entire or part consideration for the
purchase of other single family residential property and a
licensed real estate broker or one of the parties to the transaction accepts transfer of said property, a credit for the amount
of the tax paid at the time of the transfer to the broker or party
shall be allowed toward the amount of the tax due upon a subsequent transfer of the property by the broker or party if said
transfer is made within nine months of the transfer to the broker or party: PROVIDED, That if the tax which would be
due on the subsequent transfer from the broker or party is
greater than the tax paid for the prior transfer to said broker or
party the difference shall be paid, but if the tax initially paid
is greater than the amount of the tax which would be due on
the subsequent transfer no refund shall be allowed. [1969
ex.s. c 223 § 28A.45.105. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 61. Formerly RCW 28A.45.105, 28.45.105.]
82.45.105
82.45.150 Applicability of general administrative
provisions—Departmental rules, scope—Real estate
excise tax affidavit form—Departmental audit. All of
chapter 82.32 RCW, except RCW 82.32.030, 82.32.050,
82.32.140, 82.32.270, and *82.32.090 (1) and (8), applies to
the tax imposed by this chapter, in addition to any other provisions of law for the payment and enforcement of the tax
imposed by this chapter. The department of revenue shall by
rule provide for the effective administration of this chapter.
The rules shall prescribe and furnish a real estate excise tax
affidavit form verified by both the seller and the buyer, or
agents of each, to be used by each county, or the department,
as the case may be, in the collection of the tax imposed by this
chapter, except that an affidavit given in connection with
grant of an easement or right of way to a gas, electrical, or
telecommunications company, as defined in RCW 80.04.010,
or to a public utility district or cooperative that distributes
electricity, need be verified only on behalf of the company,
district, or cooperative. The department of revenue shall
annually conduct audits of transactions and affidavits filed
under this chapter. [1996 c 149 § 6; 1994 c 137 § 1; 1993
sp.s. c 25 § 509; 1981 c 167 § 1; 1980 c 154 § 5.]
82.45.150
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.32.090 was amended by 2003 1st sp.s. c 13
§ 13, changing subsection (8) to subsection (9).
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW 82.45.010.
Effective date—1981 c 167: "This act shall take effect September 1,
1981." [1981 c 167 § 4.]
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
Audits, assessments, and refunds: See note following chapter digest.
(2006 Ed.)
Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales
82.45.180
82.45.180 Disposition of proceeds. (1)(a) For taxes
collected by the county under this chapter, the county treasurer shall collect a five-dollar fee on all transactions required
by this chapter where the transaction does not require the
payment of tax. A total of five dollars shall be collected in
the form of a tax and fee, where the calculated tax payment is
less than five dollars. Through June 30, 2006, the county
treasurer shall place one percent of the taxes collected by the
county under this chapter and the treasurer’s fee in the county
current expense fund to defray costs of collection. After June
30, 2006, the county treasurer shall place one and threetenths percent of the taxes collected by the county under this
chapter and the treasurer’s fee in the county current expense
fund to defray costs of collection. For taxes collected by the
county under this chapter before July 1, 2006, the county
treasurer shall pay over to the state treasurer and account to
the department of revenue for the proceeds at the same time
the county treasurer remits funds to the state under RCW
84.56.280. For taxes collected by the county under this chapter after June 30, 2006, on a monthly basis the county treasurer shall pay over to the state treasurer the month’s transmittal. The month’s transmittal must be received by the state
treasurer by 12:00 p.m. on the last working day of each
month. The county treasurer shall account to the department
for the month’s transmittal by the twentieth day of the month
following the month in which the month’s transmittal was
paid over to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall
deposit the proceeds in the general fund.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, the definitions in this
subsection apply.
(i) "Close of business" means the time when the county
treasurer makes his or her daily deposit of proceeds.
(ii) "Month’s transmittal" means all proceeds deposited
by the county through the close of business of the day that is
two working days before the last working day of the month.
This definition of "month’s transmittal" shall not be construed as requiring any change in a county’s practices regarding the timing of its daily deposits of proceeds.
(iii) "Proceeds" means moneys collected and receipted
by the county from the taxes imposed by this chapter, less the
county’s share of the proceeds used to defray the county’s
costs of collection allowable in (a) of this subsection.
(iv) "Working day" means a calendar day, except Saturdays, Sundays, and all legal holidays as provided in RCW
1.16.050.
(2) For taxes collected by the department of revenue
under this chapter, the department shall remit the tax to the
state treasurer who shall deposit the proceeds of any state tax
in the general fund. The state treasurer shall deposit the proceeds of any local taxes imposed under chapter 82.46 RCW
in the local real estate excise tax account hereby created in
the state treasury. Moneys in the local real estate excise tax
account may be spent only for distribution to counties, cities,
and towns imposing a tax under chapter 82.46 RCW. Except
as provided in RCW 43.08.190, all earnings of investments of
balances in the local real estate excise tax account shall be
credited to the local real estate excise tax account and distributed to the counties, cities, and towns monthly. Monthly the
state treasurer shall make distribution from the local real
estate excise tax account to the counties, cities, and towns the
amount of tax collected on behalf of each taxing authority.
(2006 Ed.)
82.45.180
The state treasurer shall make the distribution under this subsection without appropriation.
(3)(a) The real estate excise tax electronic technology
account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. An
appropriation is not required for expenditures and the account
is not subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88
RCW.
(b) Through June 30, 2010, the county treasurer shall
collect an additional five-dollar fee on all transactions
required by this chapter, regardless of whether the transaction
requires the payment of tax. The county treasurer shall remit
this fee to the state treasurer at the same time the county treasurer remits funds to the state under subsection (1) of this section. The state treasurer shall place money from this fee in
the real estate excise tax electronic technology account. By
the twentieth day of the subsequent month, the state treasurer
shall distribute to each county treasurer according to the following formula: Three-quarters of the funds available shall
be equally distributed among the thirty-nine counties; and the
balance shall be ratably distributed among the counties in
direct proportion to their population as it relates to the total
state’s population based on most recent statistics by the office
of financial management.
(c) When received by the county treasurer, the funds
shall be placed in a special real estate excise tax electronic
technology fund held by the county treasurer to be used
exclusively for the development, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic processing and reporting system for
real estate excise tax affidavits. Funds may be expended to
make the system compatible with the automated real estate
excise tax system developed by the department and compatible with the processes used in the offices of the county assessor and county auditor. Any funds held in the account that
are not expended by July 1, 2015, revert to the county capital
improvements fund in accordance with RCW 82.46.010.
[2006 c 312 § 1. Prior: 2005 c 486 § 2; 2005 c 480 § 2; 1998
c 106 § 11; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 510; 1991 c 245 § 15; 1982 c 176
§ 2; 1981 c 167 § 3; 1980 c 154 § 6.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 312: See notes following RCW
82.45.210.
Purpose—2005 c 486: "Over the past decade, traditional school construction funding sources, such as timber revenues, have been declining,
while the demand for school facility construction and improvements have
been increasing. Washington’s youth deserve safe, healthy, and supportive
learning environments to help meet their educational needs. To increase
state assistance for local school construction projects, the legislature expects
to rely more on state bonding authority. The purpose of this act is to expand
the constitutional definition of general state revenues by removing the dedication of a portion of the real estate excise tax for common schools. Nothing
in this act is intended to affect the state’s current efforts to support common
schools in the state’s omnibus appropriations act." [2005 c 486 § 1.]
Intent—Findings—Effective date—2005 c 480: See notes following
RCW 82.45.210.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
Audits, assessments, and refunds—1982 c 176: See note following
chapter digest.
Effective date—1981 c 167: See note following RCW 82.45.150.
Purpose—Effective dates—Savings—Disposition of certain funds—
Severability—1980 c 154: See notes following chapter digest.
[Title 82 RCW—page 291]
82.45.190
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
82.45.190
82.45.190 Exemptions—State route No. 16 corridor
transportation systems and facilities. Sales of the state
route number 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities
constructed under chapter 47.46 RCW are exempt from tax
under this chapter. [1998 c 179 § 7.]
Finding—1998 c 179: See note following RCW 35.21.718.
82.45.200
82.45.200 Real estate excise tax grant account. (1)
The real estate excise tax grant account is created in the state
treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after
appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used
only for grants authorized under RCW 82.45.210 in the manner provided for in RCW 82.45.210.
(2) Any funds remaining in the real estate excise tax
grant account on July 1, 2010, shall be deposited in the general fund. [2005 c 480 § 3.]
Intent—Findings—Effective date—2005 c 480: See notes following
RCW 82.45.210.
82.45.210
82.45.210 State assistance for county electronic processing and reporting of taxes—Grant program. (1) To
the extent that funds are appropriated, the department shall
administer a grant program for counties to assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic
processing and reporting system for real estate excise tax affidavits that is compatible with the automated real estate excise
tax system developed by the department, and to assist in complying with the requirements of RCW 82.45.180(1).
(2) Subject to the limits in subsection (3) of this section,
the amount of the grant shall be equal to the amount paid by
a county to:
(a) Purchase computer hardware or software, or to repair
or upgrade existing computer hardware or software, used for
the electronic processing and reporting of real estate excise
tax affidavits and that is compatible with the automated real
estate excise tax system developed by the department; and
(b) Make changes to existing software that are necessary
to comply with the requirements of RCW 82.45.180(1).
(3)(a) No county is eligible for grants under this section
totaling more than one hundred thousand dollars.
(b) Grant funds shall not be awarded for expenditures
made by a county with funds distributed to the county by the
state treasurer under RCW 82.45.180(3)(b).
(4) No more than three million nine hundred thousand
dollars in grants may be awarded under this section.
(5) The source of funds for this grant program is the real
estate excise tax grant account created in RCW 82.45.200.
[2006 c 312 § 2; 2005 c 480 § 4.]
Effective date—2006 c 312: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 29, 2006]." [2006 c 312 § 4.]
Severability—2006 c 312: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2006 c 312 § 3.]
Intent—Findings—2005 c 480: "(1) It is the legislature’s intent to provide funding for the development and implementation of an automated system for the electronic processing of the real estate excise tax. The legislature
finds that due to the numerous users of the real estate excise tax information,
and the many entities involved in its work flow, county systems must be
compatible with the automated system developed by the state department of
revenue.
[Title 82 RCW—page 292]
(2) The legislature finds that under current law an electronic real estate
excise tax affidavit that is signed with a digital signature under chapter 19.34
RCW is a legally valid document and, pursuant to RCW 5.46.010, electronic
facsimiles, scanned signatures, and digital and other electronic conversions
of written signatures satisfy the signature component of the affidavit requirement under this act." [2005 c 480 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 480: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 480 § 6.]
82.45.220
82.45.220 Failure to report transfer of controlling
interest. An organization that fails to report a transfer of the
controlling interest in the organization under RCW 43.07.390
to the secretary of state and is later determined to be subject
to real estate excise taxes due to the transfer, shall be subject
to the provisions of RCW 82.45.100 as well as the evasion
penalty in RCW 82.32.090(6). [2005 c 326 § 3.]
82.45.900
82.45.900 Chapter 82.46 RCW ordinances in effect
on July 1, 1993—Application under chapter 82.45 RCW.
See RCW 82.46.900.
Chapter 82.46 RCW
COUNTIES AND CITIES—EXCISE TAX ON
REAL ESTATE SALES
Chapter 82.46
Sections
82.46.010
82.46.021
82.46.030
82.46.035
82.46.040
82.46.050
82.46.060
82.46.070
82.46.075
82.46.080
82.46.900
Tax on sale of real property authorized—Proceeds dedicated
to local capital projects—Additional tax authorized—Maximum rates.
Referendum procedure to repeal or alter tax.
Distribution of proceeds.
Additional tax—Certain counties and cities—Ballot proposition—Use limited to capital projects—Temporary rescindment for noncompliance.
Tax is lien on property—Enforcement.
Tax is seller’s obligation—Choice of remedies.
Payment of tax—Evidence of payment—Recording.
Additional excise tax—Acquisition and maintenance of conservation areas.
Additional excise tax—Affordable housing.
Notice to county treasurer.
Chapter 82.46 RCW ordinances in effect on July 1, 1993—
Application under chapter 82.45 RCW.
82.46.010
82.46.010 Tax on sale of real property authorized—
Proceeds dedicated to local capital projects—Additional
tax authorized—Maximum rates. (1) The legislative
authority of any county or city shall identify in the adopted
budget the capital projects funded in whole or in part from the
proceeds of the tax authorized in this section, and shall indicate that such tax is intended to be in addition to other funds
that may be reasonably available for such capital projects.
(2) The legislative authority of any county or any city
may impose an excise tax on each sale of real property in the
unincorporated areas of the county for the county tax and in
the corporate limits of the city for the city tax at a rate not
exceeding one-quarter of one percent of the selling price. The
revenues from this tax shall be used by any city or county
with a population of five thousand or less and any city or
county that does not plan under RCW 36.70A.040 for any
capital purpose identified in a capital improvements plan and
local capital improvements, including those listed in RCW
35.43.040.
(2006 Ed.)
Counties and Cities—Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales
After April 30, 1992, revenues generated from the tax
imposed under this subsection in counties over five thousand
population and cities over five thousand population that are
required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall be
used solely for financing capital projects specified in a capital
facilities plan element of a comprehensive plan and housing
relocation assistance under RCW 59.18.440 and 59.18.450.
However, revenues (a) pledged by such counties and cities to
debt retirement prior to April 30, 1992, may continue to be
used for that purpose until the original debt for which the revenues were pledged is retired, or (b) committed prior to April
30, 1992, by such counties or cities to a project may continue
to be used for that purpose until the project is completed.
(3) In lieu of imposing the tax authorized in RCW
82.14.030(2), the legislative authority of any county or any
city may impose an additional excise tax on each sale of real
property in the unincorporated areas of the county for the
county tax and in the corporate limits of the city for the city
tax at a rate not exceeding one-half of one percent of the selling price.
(4) Taxes imposed under this section shall be collected
from persons who are taxable by the state under chapter
82.45 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within
the unincorporated areas of the county or within the corporate
limits of the city, as the case may be.
(5) Taxes imposed under this section shall comply with
all applicable rules, regulations, laws, and court decisions
regarding real estate excise taxes as imposed by the state
under chapter 82.45 RCW.
(6) As used in this section, "city" means any city or town
and "capital project" means those public works projects of a
local government for planning, acquisition, construction,
reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or
improvement of streets; roads; highways; sidewalks; street
and road lighting systems; traffic signals; bridges; domestic
water systems; storm and sanitary sewer systems; parks; recreational facilities; law enforcement facilities; fire protection
facilities; trails; libraries; administrative and/ or judicial facilities; river and/ or waterway flood control projects by those
jurisdictions that, prior to June 11, 1992, have expended
funds derived from the tax authorized by this section for such
purposes; and, until December 31, 1995, housing projects for
those jurisdictions that, prior to June 11, 1992, have
expended or committed to expend funds derived from the tax
authorized by this section or the tax authorized by RCW
82.46.035 for such purposes. [1994 c 272 § 1; 1992 c 221 §
1; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 36; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 11.]
Legislative declaration—1994 c 272: "The legislature declares that, in
section 13, chapter 49, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess., effective July 1, 1982, its
original intent in limiting the use of the proceeds of the tax authorized in
RCW 82.46.010(2) to "local capital improvements" was to include in such
expenditures the acquisition of real and personal property associated with
such local capital improvements. Any such expenditures made by cities,
towns, and counties on or after July 1, 1982, are hereby declared to be authorized and valid." [1994 c 272 § 2.]
Expenditures prior to June 11, 1992: "All expenditures of revenues
collected under RCW 82.46.010 made prior to June 11, 1992, are deemed to
be in compliance with RCW 82.46.010." [1992 c 221 § 4.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
(2006 Ed.)
82.46.030
82.46.021
82.46.021 Referendum procedure to repeal or alter
tax. Any referendum petition to repeal a county or city ordinance imposing a tax or altering the rate of the tax authorized
under RCW 82.46.010(3) shall be filed with a filing officer,
as identified in the ordinance, within seven days of passage of
the ordinance. Within ten days, the filing officer shall confer
with the petitioner concerning form and style of the petition,
issue an identification number for the petition, and write a
ballot title for the measure. The ballot title shall be posed as a
question so that an affirmative answer to the question and an
affirmative vote on the measure results in the tax or tax rate
increase being imposed and a negative answer to the question
and a negative vote on the measure results in the tax or tax
rate increase not being imposed. The petitioner shall be notified of the identification number and ballot title within this
ten-day period.
After this notification, the petitioner shall have thirty
days in which to secure on petition forms the signatures of
not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the
county for county measures, or not less than fifteen percent of
the registered voters of the city for city measures, and to file
the signed petitions with the filing officer. Each petition form
shall contain the ballot title and the full text of the measure to
be referred. The filing officer shall verify the sufficiency of
the signatures on the petitions. If sufficient valid signatures
are properly submitted, the filing officer shall submit the referendum measure to the county or city voters at a general or
special election held on one of the dates provided in *RCW
29.13.010 as determined by the county legislative authority
or city council, which election shall not take place later than
one hundred twenty days after the signed petition has been
filed with the filing officer.
After April 22, 1983, the referendum procedure provided
for in this section shall be the exclusive method for subjecting
any county or city ordinance imposing a tax or increasing the
rate under RCW 82.46.010(3) to a referendum vote.
Any county or city tax authorized under RCW
82.46.010(3) that has been imposed prior to April 22, 1983, is
not subject to the referendum procedure provided for in this
section. [2000 c 103 § 16; 1983 c 99 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 29.13.010 was recodified as RCW 29A.04.320
pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.320 was
subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW
29A.04.320, see RCW 29A.04.321.
Severability—1983 c 99: See note following RCW 82.14.200.
82.46.030
82.46.030 Distribution of proceeds. (1) The county
treasurer shall place one percent of the proceeds of the taxes
imposed under this chapter in the county current expense
fund to defray costs of collection.
(2) The remaining proceeds from the county tax under
RCW 82.46.010(2) shall be placed in a county capital
improvements fund. The remaining proceeds from city or
town taxes under RCW 82.46.010(2) shall be distributed to
the respective cities and towns monthly and placed by the city
treasurer in a municipal capital improvements fund.
(3) This section does not limit the existing authority of
any city, town, or county to impose special assessments on
property specially benefited thereby in the manner prescribed
by law. [2000 c 103 § 17; 1992 c 221 § 2; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17
§ 37; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 13.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 293]
82.46.035
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
82.46.035
82.46.035 Additional tax—Certain counties and cities—Ballot proposition—Use limited to capital projects—
Temporary rescindment for noncompliance. (1) The legislative authority of any county or city shall identify in the
adopted budget the capital projects funded in whole or in part
from the proceeds of the tax authorized in this section, and
shall indicate that such tax is intended to be in addition to
other funds that may be reasonably available for such capital
projects.
(2) The legislative authority of any county or any city
that plans under RCW 36.70A.040(1) may impose an additional excise tax on each sale of real property in the unincorporated areas of the county for the county tax and in the corporate limits of the city for the city tax at a rate not exceeding
one-quarter of one percent of the selling price. Any county
choosing to plan under RCW 36.70A.040(2) and any city
within such a county may only adopt an ordinance imposing
the excise tax authorized by this section if the ordinance is
first authorized by a proposition approved by a majority of
the voters of the taxing district voting on the proposition at a
general election held within the district or at a special election
within the taxing district called by the district for the purpose
of submitting such proposition to the voters.
(3) Revenues generated from the tax imposed under subsection (2) of this section shall be used by such counties and
cities solely for financing capital projects specified in a capital facilities plan element of a comprehensive plan. However,
revenues (a) pledged by such counties and cities to debt
retirement prior to March 1, 1992, may continue to be used
for that purpose until the original debt for which the revenues
were pledged is retired, or (b) committed prior to March 1,
1992, by such counties or cities to a project may continue to
be used for that purpose until the project is completed.
(4) Revenues generated by the tax imposed by this section shall be deposited in a separate account.
(5) As used in this section, "city" means any city or town
and "capital project" means those public works projects of a
local government for planning, acquisition, construction,
reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or
improvement of streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street
and road lighting systems, traffic signals, bridges, domestic
water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, and planning, construction, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation, or
improvement of parks.
(6) When the governor files a notice of noncompliance
under RCW 36.70A.340 with the secretary of state and the
appropriate county or city, the county or city’s authority to
impose the additional excise tax under this section shall be
temporarily rescinded until the governor files a subsequent
notice rescinding the notice of noncompliance. [1992 c 221
§ 3; 1991 sp.s. c 32 § 33; 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 38.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1992 c 221 § 3 without
cognizance of its amendment by 1991 sp.s. c 32 § 33. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Sections headings not law—1991 sp.s. c 32: See RCW 36.70A.902.
[Title 82 RCW—page 294]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
82.46.040
82.46.040 Tax is lien on property—Enforcement.
Any tax imposed under this chapter or RCW 82.46.070 and
any interest or penalties thereon is a specific lien upon each
piece of real property sold from the time of sale until the tax
is paid, which lien may be enforced in the manner prescribed
for the foreclosure of mortgages. [1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 39;
1990 1st ex.s. c 5 § 4; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 14.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1990 1st ex.s. c 5 § 4 and
by 1990 c 17 § 39, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Purpose—1990 1st ex.s. c 5: See note following RCW 36.32.570.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
82.46.050
82.46.050 Tax is seller’s obligation—Choice of remedies. The taxes levied under this chapter are the obligation of
the seller and may be enforced through an action of debt
against the seller or in the manner prescribed for the foreclosure of mortgages. Resort to one course of enforcement is not
an election not to pursue the other. [1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 40;
1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 15.]
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
82.46.060
82.46.060 Payment of tax—Evidence of payment—
Recording. Any taxes imposed under this chapter or RCW
82.46.070 shall be paid to and collected by the treasurer of
the county within which is located the real property which
was sold. The treasurer shall act as agent for any city within
the county imposing the tax. The county treasurer shall cause
a stamp evidencing satisfaction of the lien to be affixed to the
instrument of sale or conveyance prior to its recording or to
the real estate excise tax affidavit in the case of used mobile
home sales. A receipt issued by the county treasurer for the
payment of the tax imposed under this chapter or RCW
82.46.070 shall be evidence of the satisfaction of the lien
imposed in RCW 82.46.040 and may be recorded in the manner prescribed for recording satisfactions of mortgages. No
instrument of sale or conveyance evidencing a sale subject to
the tax may be accepted by the county auditor for filing or
recording until the tax is paid and the stamp affixed thereto;
in case the tax is not due on the transfer, the instrument shall
not be accepted until suitable notation of this fact is made on
the instrument by the treasurer. [1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 41;
1990 1st ex.s. c 5 § 5; 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 § 16.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1990 1st ex.s. c 5 § 5 and
by 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 § 41, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW
1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—Part, section headings not law—1990 1st ex.s. c 17:
See RCW 36.70A.900 and 36.70A.901.
Purpose—1990 1st ex.s. c 5: See note following RCW 36.32.570.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982
1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.
(2006 Ed.)
Counties and Cities—Excise Tax on Real Estate Sales
82.46.070
82.46.070 Additional excise tax—Acquisition and
maintenance of conservation areas. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the legislative authority of any county
may impose an additional excise tax on each sale of real
property in the county at a rate not to exceed one percent of
the selling price. The proceeds of the tax shall be used exclusively for the acquisition and maintenance of conservation
areas.
The taxes imposed under this subsection shall be
imposed in the same manner and on the same occurrences,
and are subject to the same conditions, as the taxes under
chapter 82.45 RCW, except:
(a) The tax shall be the obligation of the purchaser; and
(b) The tax does not apply to the acquisition of conservation areas by the county.
The county may enforce the obligation through an action
of debt against the purchaser or may foreclose the lien on the
property in the same manner prescribed for the foreclosure of
mortgages.
The tax shall take effect thirty days after the election at
which the taxes are authorized.
(2) No tax may be imposed under subsection (1) of this
section unless approved by a majority of the voters of the
county voting thereon for a specified period and maximum
rate after:
(a) The adoption of a resolution by the county legislative
authority of the county proposing this action; or
(b) The filing of a petition proposing this action with the
county auditor, which petition is signed by county voters at
least equal in number to ten percent of the total number of
voters in the county who voted at the last preceding general
election.
The ballot proposition shall be submitted to the voters of
the county at the next general election occurring at least sixty
days after a petition is filed, or at any special election prior to
this general election that has been called for such purpose by
the county legislative authority.
(3) A plan for the expenditure of the excise tax proceeds
shall be prepared by the county legislative authority at least
sixty days before the election if the proposal is initiated by
resolution of the county legislative authority, or within six
months after the tax has been authorized by the voters if the
proposal is initiated by petition. Prior to the adoption of this
plan, the elected officials of cities located within the county
shall be consulted and a public hearing shall be held to obtain
public input. The proceeds of this excise tax must be
expended in conformance with this plan.
(4) As used in this section, "conservation area" has the
meaning given under RCW 36.32.570. [1990 1st ex.s. c 5 §
3.]
Purpose—1990 1st ex.s. c 5: See note following RCW 36.32.570.
82.46.075
82.46.075 Additional excise tax—Affordable housing. (1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of this section, the
legislative authority of any county may impose an additional
excise tax on the purchase and sale of real property in the
county at the rate of one-half of one percent of the selling
price. The proceeds of the tax shall be used exclusively for
the development of affordable housing including acquisition,
building, rehabilitation, and maintenance and operation of
(2006 Ed.)
82.46.080
housing for very low, low, and moderate-income persons and
those with special needs.
(2) Revenues generated from the tax imposed under this
section shall be placed in an affordable housing account
administered by the county. Disbursements from the account
shall be made following a competitive grant and loan process.
The county legislative authority shall determine a mechanism
for receiving grant and loan applications, and criteria by
which the applications shall be approved and funded. Eligible
recipients of grants and loans from the account shall be private nonprofit, affordable housing providers, the housing
authority for the county, or other housing programs conducted or funded by a public agency, or by a public agency in
partnership with a private nonprofit entity.
(3) The taxes imposed under this section shall be
imposed in the same manner and on the same occurrences,
and are subject to the same conditions, as the taxes under
chapter 82.45 RCW, except that the tax shall be the obligation of both the purchaser and the seller, as determined by the
county legislative authority, with at least one-half of the obligation being that of the purchaser. The county may enforce
the obligation through an action of debt against the purchaser
or seller or may foreclose the lien on the property in the same
manner prescribed for the foreclosure of mortgages. The
imposition of the tax is effective thirty days after the election
at which the tax is authorized.
(4)(a) No tax may be imposed under this section unless
approved by a majority of the voters of the county voting, for
a specified period and for a specified maximum rate. This
vote must follow either:
(i) The adoption of a resolution by the county legislative
authority proposing this action; or
(ii) The filing of a petition proposing this action with the
county auditor, signed by county voters at least equal in number to ten percent of the total number of voters in the county
who voted in the preceding general election.
(b) The ballot proposition shall be submitted to the voters of the county at the next general election occurring at least
sixty days after a petition is filed, or at any special election
prior to this general election called for this purpose by the
county legislative authority.
(5) No tax may be imposed under this section unless the
county imposes a tax under RCW 82.46.070 at the maximum
rate and the tax was imposed by January 1, 2003.
(6) A plan for the expenditure of the proceeds of the tax
imposed by this section shall be prepared by the county legislative authority at least sixty days before the election if the
proposal is initiated by resolution of the county legislative
authority, or within six months after the tax has been authorized by the voters if the proposal is initiated by petition.
Prior to the adoption of this plan, the elected officials of cities
located within the county shall be consulted and at least one
public hearing shall be held to obtain public comment. The
proceeds of the tax shall be expended in conformance with
this plan. [2002 c 343 § 1.]
82.46.080
82.46.080 Notice to county treasurer. A county, city,
or town that imposes an excise tax under this chapter must
provide the county treasurer with a copy of the ordinance or
other action initially authorizing the tax or altering the rate of
[Title 82 RCW—page 295]
82.46.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the tax that is imposed at least sixty days before change
becomes effective. [1998 c 106 § 10.]
Effective date—1991 c 173: See note following RCW 82.47.010.
82.47.030 Proceeds. The entire proceeds of the tax
imposed under this chapter, less refunds authorized by the
resolution imposing such tax and less amounts deducted by
the border area jurisdiction for administration and collection
expenses, shall be used solely for the purposes of border area
jurisdiction street maintenance and construction. [1991 c 173
§ 3.]
82.47.030
82.46.900 Chapter 82.46 RCW ordinances in effect
on July 1, 1993—Application under chapter 82.45 RCW.
Any ordinance imposing a tax under chapter 82.46 RCW
which is in effect on July 1, 1993, shall apply to all sales taxable under chapter 82.45 RCW on July 1, 1993, at the rate
specified in the ordinance, until such time as the ordinance is
otherwise amended or repealed. [1993 sp.s. c 25 § 508.]
82.46.900
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Findings—Intent—1993 sp.s. c 25: See note following RCW
82.45.010.
Effective date—1991 c 173: See note following RCW 82.47.010.
Chapter 82.48
Chapter 82.48 RCW
AIRCRAFT EXCISE TAX
Sections
Chapter 82.47 RCW
BORDER AREA MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL AND
SPECIAL FUEL TAX
Chapter 82.47
Sections
82.47.010
82.47.020
82.47.030
Definitions.
Tax authority.
Proceeds.
82.47.010 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this
section shall apply throughout this chapter unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Motor vehicle fuel" has the meaning given in RCW
82.36.010.
(2) "Special fuel" has the meaning given in RCW
82.38.020.
(3) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning given in RCW
82.36.010. [1998 c 176 § 85; 1991 c 173 § 2.]
82.48.010
82.48.020
82.48.030
82.48.060
82.48.070
82.48.080
82.48.090
82.48.100
82.48.110
Definitions.
Excise tax imposed on aircraft—Out-of-state registration to
avoid tax, liability—Penalties.
Amount of tax.
Is in addition to other taxes.
Tax receipt.
Payment and distribution of taxes.
Refund of excessive tax payment and interest.
Exempt aircraft.
Aircraft not to be subject to ad valorem tax—Exceptions.
82.47.010
Rules—Findings—Effective date—1998 c 176: See RCW 82.36.800,
82.36.900, and 82.36.901.
Effective date—1991 c 173: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1991." [1991 c 173 § 7.]
82.47.020 Tax authority. The legislative authority of a
border area jurisdiction may, by resolution for the purposes
authorized in this chapter and by approval of a majority of the
registered voters of the jurisdiction voting on the proposition
at a general or special election, fix and impose an excise tax
on the retail sale of motor vehicle fuel and special fuel within
the jurisdiction. An election held under this section must be
held not more than twelve months before the date on which
the proposed tax is to be levied. The ballot setting forth the
proposition shall state the tax rate that is proposed. The rate
of such tax shall be in increments of one-tenth of a cent per
gallon and shall not exceed one cent per gallon.
The tax imposed in this section shall be collected and
paid to the jurisdiction but once in respect to any motor vehicle fuel or special fuel. This tax shall be in addition to any
other tax authorized or imposed by law.
For purposes of this chapter, the term "border area jurisdictions" means all cities and towns within ten miles of an
international border crossing and any transportation benefit
district established under RCW 36.73.020 which has within
its boundaries an international border crossing. [1991 c 173
§ 1.]
82.47.020
[Title 82 RCW—page 296]
82.48.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter,
unless otherwise required by the context:
(1) "Aircraft" means any weight-carrying device or
structure for navigation of the air which is designed to be supported by the air;
(2) "Secretary" means the secretary of transportation;
(3) "Person" includes a firm, partnership, limited liability
company, or corporation;
(4) "Small multi-engine fixed wing" means any pistondriven multi-engine fixed wing aircraft with a maximum
gross weight as listed by the manufacturer of less than seventy-five hundred pounds; and
(5) "Large multi-engine fixed wing" means any pistondriven multi-engine fixed wing aircraft with a maximum
gross weight as listed by the manufacturer of seventy-five
hundred pounds or more. [1995 c 318 § 4; 1987 c 220 § 5;
1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 21; 1979 c 158 § 239; 1967 ex.s. c 9 § 1;
1961 c 15 § 82.48.010. Prior: 1949 c 49 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 11219-33.]
82.48.010
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.48.020 Excise tax imposed on aircraft—Out-ofstate registration to avoid tax, liability—Penalties. (1) An
annual excise tax is hereby imposed for the privilege of using
any aircraft in the state. A current certificate of air worthiness
with a current inspection date from the appropriate federal
agency and/or the purchase of aviation fuel shall constitute
the necessary evidence of aircraft use or intended use. The
tax shall be collected annually or under a staggered collection
schedule as required by the secretary by rule. No additional
tax shall be imposed under this chapter upon any aircraft
upon the transfer of ownership thereof, if the tax imposed by
this chapter with respect to such aircraft has already been
paid for the year in which transfer of ownership occurs. A
82.48.020
(2006 Ed.)
Aircraft Excise Tax
violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable as
provided under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(2) Persons who are required to register aircraft under
chapter 47.68 RCW and who register aircraft in another state
or foreign country and avoid the Washington aircraft excise
tax are liable for such unpaid excise tax. A violation of this
subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
The department of revenue may assess and collect the
unpaid excise tax under chapter 82.32 RCW, including the
penalties and interest provided in chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) Except as provided under subsections (1) and (2) of
this section, a violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW. [2000 c 229 § 4;
1999 c 277 § 7; 1993 c 238 § 5; 1992 c 154 § 1; 1987 c 220 §
6; 1983 c 7 § 27; 1979 c 158 § 240; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 27;
1967 ex.s. c 9 § 2; 1961 c 15 § 82.48.020. Prior: 1949 c 49 §
2; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11219-34.]
Effective date—2000 c 229: See note following RCW 46.16.010.
Effective date—1992 c 154: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1992."
[1992 c 154 § 7.]
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
82.48.030
82.48.030 Amount of tax. (1) The amount of the tax
imposed by this chapter for each calendar year shall be as follows:
Type of aircraft
Single engine fixed wing
Small multi-engine fixed wing
Large multi-engine fixed wing
Turboprop multi-engine fixed wing
Turbojet multi-engine fixed wing
Helicopter
Sailplane
Lighter than air
Home built
Registration fee
$
50
65
80
100
125
75
20
20
20
(2) The amount of tax imposed under subsection (1) of
this section for each calendar year shall be divided into
twelve parts corresponding to the months of the calendar year
and the excise tax upon an aircraft registered for the first time
in this state after the last day of any month shall only be levied for the remaining months of the calendar year including
the month in which the aircraft is being registered: PROVIDED, That the minimum amount payable shall be three
dollars.
An aircraft shall be deemed registered for the first time
in this state when such aircraft was not previously registered
by this state for the year immediately preceding the year in
which application for registration is made. [1983 2nd ex.s. c
3 § 22; 1967 ex.s. c 9 § 3; 1963 c 199 § 6; 1961 c 15 §
82.48.030. Prior: 1949 c 49 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 1121935.]
82.48.100
[1961 c 15 § 82.48.060. Prior: 1949 c 49 § 6; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 11219-38.]
82.48.070
82.48.070 Tax receipt. The secretary shall give a
receipt to each person paying the excise tax. [1987 c 220 § 7;
1967 ex.s. c 9 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 82.48.070. Prior: 1949 c 49 §
7; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11219-39.]
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
82.48.080
82.48.080 Payment and distribution of taxes. The
secretary shall regularly pay to the state treasurer the excise
taxes collected under this chapter, which shall be credited by
the state treasurer as follows: Ninety percent to the general
fund and ten percent to the aeronautics account in the transportation fund for administrative expenses. [1995 c 170 § 2;
1987 c 220 § 8; 1974 ex.s. c 54 § 8; 1967 ex.s. c 9 § 5; 1961
c 15 § 82.48.080. Prior: 1949 c 49 § 8; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
11219-40.]
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Effective dates—1974 ex.s. c 54: "Section 6 of this 1974 amendatory
act shall not take effect until June 30, 1981, and the remainder of this 1974
amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and shall take effect immediately." [1974 ex.s. c 54 § 13.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 54: "If any provision of this 1974 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 54 § 14.]
82.48.090
82.48.090 Refund of excessive tax payment and interest. In case a claim is made by any person that the person has
paid an erroneously excessive amount of excise tax under this
chapter, the person may apply to the department of transportation for a refund of the claimed excessive amount together
with interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060. The
department of transportation shall review such application,
and if it determines that an excess amount of tax has actually
been paid by the taxpayer, such excess amount and interest at
the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060 shall be refunded to the
taxpayer by means of a voucher approved by the department
of transportation and by the issuance of a state warrant drawn
upon and payable from such funds as the legislature may provide for that purpose. No refund shall be allowed, however,
unless application for the refund is filed with the department
of transportation within ninety days after the claimed excessive excise tax was paid and the amount of the overpayment
exceeds five dollars. [1992 c 154 § 2; 1989 c 378 § 25; 1987
c 220 § 9; 1985 c 414 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 96; 1961 c
15 § 82.48.090. Prior: 1949 c 49 § 9; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
11219-41.]
Effective date—1992 c 154: See note following RCW 82.48.020.
Severability—1987 c 220: See note following RCW 47.68.230.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
82.48.100
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
82.48.060
82.48.060 Is in addition to other taxes. Except as provided in RCW 82.48.110, the tax imposed by this chapter is
in addition to all other licenses and taxes otherwise imposed.
(2006 Ed.)
82.48.100 Exempt aircraft. This chapter shall not
apply to:
Aircraft owned by and used exclusively in the service of
any government or any political subdivision thereof, including the government of the United States, any state, territory,
or possession of the United States, or the District of Colum[Title 82 RCW—page 297]
82.48.110
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
bia, which are not engaged in carrying persons or property for
commercial purposes;
Aircraft registered under the laws of a foreign country;
Aircraft which are owned by a nonresident and registered in another state: PROVIDED, That if any such aircraft
shall remain in and/or be based in this state for a period of
ninety days or longer it shall not be exempt under this section;
Aircraft engaged principally in commercial flying which
constitutes interstate or foreign commerce; and aircraft
owned by the manufacturer thereof while being operated for
test or experimental purposes, or for the purpose of training
crews for purchasers of the aircraft;
Aircraft being held for sale, exchange, delivery, test, or
demonstration purposes solely as stock in trade of an aircraft
dealer licensed under Title 14 RCW;
Aircraft owned by a nonresident of this state if the aircraft is kept at an airport in this state and that airport is jointly
owned or operated by a municipal corporation or other governmental entity of this state and a municipal corporation or
other governmental entity of another state, and the owner or
operator of the aircraft provides the department with proof
that the owner or operator has paid all taxes, license fees, and
registration fees required by the state in which the owner or
operator resides. [1999 c 302 § 3; 1965 ex.s. c 173 § 28; 1961
c 15 § 82.48.100. Prior: 1955 c 150 § 12; 1949 c 49 § 10;
Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11219-42.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
82.48.110
82.48.110 Aircraft not to be subject to ad valorem
tax—Exceptions. The first tax to be collected under this
chapter shall be for the calendar year 1968. No aircraft with
respect to which the excise tax imposed by this chapter is
payable shall be listed and assessed for ad valorem taxation
so long as this chapter remains in effect, and any such assessment heretofore made except under authority of section 13,
chapter 49, Laws of 1949 and section 82.48.110, chapter 15,
Laws of 1961 is hereby directed to be canceled: PROVIDED, That any aircraft, whether or not subject to the provisions of this chapter, with respect to which the excise tax
imposed by this chapter will not be paid or has not been paid
for any year shall be listed and assessed for ad valorem taxation in that year, and the ad valorem tax liability resulting
from such listing and assessment shall be collected in the
same manner as though this chapter had not been passed:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That this chapter shall not be construed to affect any ad valorem tax based upon assessed valuations made in 1948 and/or any preceding year for taxes
payable in 1949 or any preceding year, which ad valorem tax
liability tax for any such years shall remain payable and collectible in the same manner as though this chapter had not
been passed. [1967 ex.s. c 9 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 82.48.110.
Prior: 1949 c 49 § 13; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11219-43.]
Chapter 82.49
Chapter 82.49 RCW
WATERCRAFT EXCISE TAX
Sections
82.49.010
82.49.020
Excise tax imposed—Out-of-state registration to avoid tax,
liability—Penalties.
Exemptions.
[Title 82 RCW—page 298]
82.49.030
82.49.040
82.49.050
82.49.060
82.49.065
82.49.900
Payment of tax—Deposit in general fund.
Depreciation schedule for use in determining fair market
value.
Appraisal of vessel by department of revenue.
Disputes as to appraised value or status as taxable—Petition
for conference or reduction of tax—Appeal to board of tax
appeals—Independent appraisal.
Refunds, collections of erroneous amounts—Claims—Penalty
for false statement.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7.
Boat trailer fee: RCW 46.16.670.
Exemption of ships and vessels from ad valorem taxes: RCW 84.36.079,
84.36.080, and 84.36.090.
82.49.010 Excise tax imposed—Out-of-state registration to avoid tax, liability—Penalties. (1) An excise tax is
imposed for the privilege of using a vessel upon the waters of
this state, except vessels exempt under RCW 82.49.020. The
annual amount of the excise tax is one-half of one percent of
fair market value, as determined under this chapter, or five
dollars, whichever is greater. Violation of this subsection is a
misdemeanor.
(2) Persons who are required under chapter 88.02 RCW
to register a vessel in this state and who register the vessel in
another state or foreign country and avoid the Washington
watercraft excise tax are guilty of a gross misdemeanor and
are liable for such unpaid excise tax. The department of revenue may assess and collect the unpaid excise tax under chapter 82.32 RCW, including the penalties and interest provided
in chapter 82.32 RCW.
(3) The excise tax upon a vessel registered for the first
time in this state shall be imposed for a twelve-month period,
including the month in which the vessel is registered, unless
the director of licensing extends or diminishes vessel registration periods for the purpose of staggered renewal periods
under RCW 88.02.050. A vessel is registered for the first
time in this state when the vessel was not registered in this
state for the immediately preceding registration year, or when
the vessel was registered in another jurisdiction for the immediately preceding year. The excise tax on vessels required to
be registered in this state on June 30, 1983, shall be paid by
June 30, 1983. [2000 c 229 § 5; 1999 c 277 § 8; 1993 c 238
§ 6; 1992 c 154 § 3; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 42; 1983 c 7 § 9.]
82.49.010
Effective date—2000 c 229: See note following RCW 46.16.010.
Effective date—1992 c 154: See note following RCW 82.48.020.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Credit for 1983 property taxes paid for vessels—1983 c 7: "Property
taxes paid for a vessel for 1983 shall be allowed as a credit against tax due
under section 9 of this act for the same vessel." [1983 c 7 § 25.] "Section 9
of this act" consists of the enactment of RCW 82.49.010.
82.49.020 Exemptions. The following are exempt from
the tax imposed under this chapter:
(1) Vessels exempt from the registration requirements of
chapter 88.02 RCW;
(2) Vessels used exclusively for commercial fishing purposes;
(3) Vessels under sixteen feet in overall length;
(4) Vessels owned and operated by the United States, a
state of the United States, or any municipality or political
subdivision thereof;
(5) Vessels owned by a nonprofit organization or association engaged in character building of boys and girls under
82.49.020
(2006 Ed.)
Watercraft Excise Tax
eighteen years of age and solely used for such purposes, as
determined by the department for the purposes of RCW
84.36.030; and
(6) Vessels owned and held for sale by a dealer, but not
rented on a regular commercial basis. [1984 c 250 § 1; 1983
2nd ex.s. c 3 § 43.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Partial exemption from ad valorem taxes of ships and vessels exempt from
excise tax under RCW 82.49.020(2): RCW 84.36.080.
82.49.030
82.49.030 Payment of tax—Deposit in general fund.
(1) The excise tax imposed under this chapter is due and payable to the department of licensing or its agents at the time of
registration of a vessel. The department of licensing shall not
issue or renew a registration for a vessel until the tax is paid
in full.
(2) The excise tax collected under this chapter shall be
deposited in the general fund. [2000 c 103 § 18; 1991 sp.s. c
16 § 925; 1989 c 393 § 10; 1983 c 7 § 10.]
Severability—Effective date—1991 sp.s. c 16: See notes following
RCW 9.46.100.
82.49.065
additional tax due. The owner shall pay any additional tax
due within thirty days after notification by the department.
[1983 c 7 § 12.]
82.49.060
82.49.060 Disputes as to appraised value or status as
taxable—Petition for conference or reduction of tax—
Appeal to board of tax appeals—Independent appraisal.
(1) Any vessel owner disputing an appraised value under
RCW 82.49.050 or disputing whether the vessel is taxable,
may petition for a conference with the department as provided under RCW 82.32.160, or for reduction of the tax due
as provided under RCW 82.32.170.
(2) Any vessel owner having received a notice of denial
of a petition or a notice of determination made for the
owner’s vessel under RCW 82.32.160 or 82.32.170 may
appeal to the board of tax appeals as provided under RCW
82.03.190. In deciding a case appealed under this section, the
board of tax appeals may require an independent appraisal of
the vessel. The cost of the independent appraisal shall be
apportioned between the department and the vessel owner as
provided by the board. [1993 c 33 § 1; 1983 c 7 § 13.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1994."
[1993 c 33 § 8.]
82.49.040
82.49.040 Depreciation schedule for use in determining fair market value. The department of revenue shall prepare at least once each year a depreciation schedule for use in
the determination of fair market value for the purposes of this
chapter. The schedule shall be based upon information available to the department of revenue pertaining to the current
fair market value of vessels. The fair market value of a vessel
for the purposes of this chapter shall be based on the most
recent purchase price depreciated according to the year of the
most recent purchase of the vessel. The most recent purchase
price is the consideration, whether money, credit, rights, or
other property expressed in terms of money, paid or given or
contracted to be paid or given by the purchaser to the seller
for the vessel. [1983 c 7 § 11.]
82.49.050
82.49.050 Appraisal of vessel by department of revenue. (1) If a vessel has been acquired by lease or gift, or the
most recent purchase price of a vessel is not known to the
owner, the department of revenue shall appraise the vessel
before registration.
(2) If after registration the department of revenue determines that the purchase price stated by the owner is not a reasonable representation of the true fair market value of a vessel at the time of purchase, the department of revenue shall
appraise the vessel.
(3) If a vessel is homemade, the owner shall make a notarized declaration of fair market value. The fair market value
of the vessel for the purposes of this chapter shall be the
declared value, unless after registration the department of
revenue determines that the declared value is not a reasonable
representation of the true fair market value of the vessel in
which case the department of revenue shall appraise the vessel.
(4) If the department of revenue appraises a vessel, the
fair market value of the vessel for the purposes of this chapter
shall be the appraised value. If the vessel has been registered
before appraisal, the department of revenue shall refund any
overpayment of tax to the owner or notify the owner of any
(2006 Ed.)
82.49.065
82.49.065 Refunds, collections of erroneous
amounts—Claims—Penalty for false statement. (1)
Whenever any person has paid a vessel license fee, and with
the fee has paid an excise tax imposed under this chapter, and
the director of licensing determines that the payor is entitled
to a refund of the entire amount of the license fee as provided
by law, then the payor shall also be entitled to a refund of the
entire excise tax collected under this chapter together with
interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060. If the director determines that any person is entitled to a refund of only a
part of the license fee paid, the payor shall be entitled to a
refund of the difference, if any, between the excise tax collected and that which should have been collected together
with interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060. The
state treasurer shall determine the amount of such refund by
reference to the applicable excise tax schedule prepared by
the department of revenue in cooperation with the department
of licensing.
(2) If no claim is to be made for the refund of the license
fee, or any part of the fee, but claim is made by any person
that he or she has paid an erroneously excessive amount of
excise tax, the department of licensing shall determine in the
manner generally provided in this chapter the amount of such
excess, if any, that has been paid and shall certify to the state
treasurer that the person is entitled to a refund in that amount
together with interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060.
(3) If due to error a person has been required to pay an
excise tax pursuant to this chapter and a license fee under
chapter 88.02 RCW which amounts to an overpayment of ten
dollars or more, such person shall be entitled to a refund of
the entire amount of such overpayment, together with interest
at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060, regardless of whether
a refund of the overpayment has been requested. If due to
error the department or its agents has failed to collect the full
amount of the license fee and excise tax due, which
underpayment is in the amount of ten dollars or more, the
department shall charge and collect such additional amount
[Title 82 RCW—page 299]
82.49.900
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
as will constitute full payment of the tax and any penalties or
interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.050.
(4) If the department approves the claim, it shall notify
the state treasurer to that effect and the treasurer shall make
such approved refunds and the other refunds provided for in
this section from the general fund and shall mail or deliver
the same to the person entitled to the refund.
(5) Any person who makes a false statement under which
he or she obtains a refund to which he or she is not entitled
under this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [2003 c
53 § 405; 1992 c 154 § 4; 1989 c 68 § 3.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1992 c 154: See note following RCW 82.48.020.
82.49.900
82.49.900 Construction—Severability—Effective
dates—1983 c 7. See notes following RCW 82.08.020.
Chapter 82.50 RCW
TRAVEL TRAILERS AND CAMPERS EXCISE TAX
Chapter 82.50
Sections
82.50.010
82.50.060
82.50.090
82.50.170
82.50.250
Definitions.
Tax additional.
Unlawful issuance of tax receipt—Penalty.
Refund, collection of erroneous amounts—Penalty for false
statement.
Term "house trailer" construed.
TAXATION OF TRAVEL TRAILERS AND CAMPERS
82.50.425
82.50.435
82.50.440
82.50.460
82.50.510
82.50.520
82.50.530
82.50.540
Valuation of travel trailers and campers.
Appeal of valuation.
Tax receipt—Records.
Notice of amount of tax payable—Contents.
Remittance of tax to state—Distribution to cities, towns, counties, and schools.
Exemptions.
Ad valorem taxes prohibited as to mobile homes, travel trailers
or campers—Loss of identity, subject to property tax.
Taxed and licensed travel trailers or campers entitled to use of
streets and highways.
CONSTRUCTION OF 1971 ACT
82.50.901
Effective dates—Operative dates—Expiration dates—1971
ex.s. c 299 §§ 35-76.
Boat trailer fee: RCW 46.16.670.
"Registration year," defined—"Last day of the month," defined: RCW
46.16.006.
82.50.010
82.50.010 Definitions. (1) "Mobile home" means a
mobile home as defined by RCW 46.04.302.
(2) "Park trailer" means a park trailer as defined by RCW
46.04.622.
(3) "Travel trailer" means a travel trailer as defined by
RCW 46.04.623.
(4) "Modular home" means a modular home as defined
by RCW 46.04.303.
(5) "Camper" means a camper as defined by RCW
46.04.085.
(6) "Motor home" means a motor home as defined by
RCW 46.04.305.
(7) "Director" means the director of licensing of the
state. [1989 c 337 § 20; 1979 c 107 § 11; 1977 ex.s. c 22 § 6;
1971 ex.s. c 299 § 35; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 44; 1961 c 15 §
82.50.010. Prior: 1957 c 269 § 1; 1955 c 139 § 1.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 300]
Reviser’s note: Restored to the RCW November 1, 2000, under the
Washington Supreme Court decision in Amalgamated Transit Union Local
587 et al v. The State of Washington, 142 Wash.2d 183 (2000), which
declared Initiative Measure No. 695 (2000 c 1) unconstitutional in its
entirety.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 22: See note following RCW 46.04.302.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
82.50.060
82.50.060 Tax additional. Except as provided herein,
the tax imposed by this chapter is in addition to all other
licenses and taxes otherwise imposed. [1961 c 15 §
82.50.060. Prior: 1955 c 139 § 6.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
82.50.090
82.50.090 Unlawful issuance of tax receipt—Penalty.
It shall be unlawful for the county auditor or any person to
issue a receipt hereunder to any person without collecting the
amount of the excise tax due thereon under the provisions of
this chapter and any violation of this section shall constitute a
gross misdemeanor. [1961 c 15 § 82.50.090. Prior: 1957 c
269 § 11; 1955 c 139 § 9.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
82.50.170
82.50.170 Refund, collection of erroneous amounts—
Penalty for false statement. (1) In case a claim is made by
any person that the person has erroneously paid the tax or a
part thereof or any charge hereunder, the person may apply in
writing to the department of licensing for a refund of the
amount of the claimed erroneous payment within thirteen
months of the time of payment of the tax on such a form as is
prescribed by the department of licensing. The department of
licensing shall review such application for refund, and, if it
determines that an erroneous payment has been made by the
taxpayer, it shall certify the amount to be refunded to the state
treasurer that such person is entitled to a refund in such
amount together with interest at the rate specified in RCW
82.32.060, and the treasurer shall make such approved refund
together with interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060
herein provided for from the general fund and shall mail or
deliver the same to the person entitled thereto.
(2) If due to error a person has been required to pay an
excise tax under this chapter and a vehicle license fee under
Title 46 RCW which amounts to an overpayment of ten dollars or more, such person shall be entitled to a refund of the
entire amount of such overpayment, together with interest at
the rate specified in RCW 82.32.060, regardless of whether a
refund of the overpayment has been requested. If due to error
the department or its agents has failed to collect the full
amount of the license fee and excise tax due, which
underpayment is in the amount of ten dollars or more, the
department shall charge and collect such additional amount
as will constitute full payment of the tax and any penalties or
interest at the rate specified in RCW 82.32.050.
(3) Any person making any false statement in the claim
herein mentioned, under which the person obtains any
amount of refund to which the person is not entitled under the
provisions of this section, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[2003 c 53 § 406; 1992 c 154 § 6. Prior: 1989 c 378 § 26;
1989 c 68 § 4; 1981 c 260 § 16; prior: 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
(2006 Ed.)
Travel Trailers and Campers Excise Tax
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 or older
97; 1975 1st ex.s. c 9 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 54 § 9; 1961 c 15 §
82.50.170; prior: 1955 c 139 § 17.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1992 c 154: See note following RCW 82.48.020.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Severability—Effective dates—1974 ex.s. c 54: See notes following
RCW 82.48.080.
82.50.460
65
60
55
50
45
41
37
33
28
24
20
82.50.250
82.50.250 Term "house trailer" construed. Whenever this chapter refers to chapters 46.12, 46.16, or 82.44
RCW, with references to "house trailers", the term "house
trailer" as used in those chapters shall be construed to include
and embrace "mobile home and travel trailer" as used in
chapter 149, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. [1967 ex.s. c 149 § 59.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
TAXATION OF TRAVEL TRAILERS AND CAMPERS
82.50.425
82.50.425 Valuation of travel trailers and campers.
For the purpose of determining the tax under this chapter, the
value of a travel trailer or camper is the manufacturer’s base
suggested retail price of the travel trailer or camper when first
offered for sale as new, excluding any optional equipment,
applicable federal excise taxes, state and local sales or use
taxes, transportation or shipping costs, or preparatory or
delivery costs, multiplied by the applicable percentage listed
in this section based on the year of service.
If the manufacturer’s base suggested retail price is
unavailable or otherwise unascertainable at the time of initial
registration in this state, the department shall determine a
value equivalent to a manufacturer’s base suggested retail
price as follows:
(1) The department shall determine a value using any
information that may be available, including any guidebook,
report, or compendium of recognized standing in the automotive industry or the selling price and year of sale of the travel
trailer or camper. The department may use an appraisal by the
county assessor. In valuing a travel trailer or camper for
which the current value or selling price is not indicative of the
value of similar travel trailers or campers of the same year
and model, the department shall establish a value that more
closely represents the average value of similar travel trailers
or campers of the same year and model. If the travel trailer or
camper is home-built, the value shall not be less than the cost
of construction.
(2) The value determined in subsection (1) of this section
shall be divided by the applicable percentage listed in this
section to establish a value equivalent to a manufacturer’s
base suggested retail price. The applicable percentage shall
be based on the year of service of the travel trailer or camper
for which the value is determined.
YEAR OF SERVICE
1
2
3
4
5
(2006 Ed.)
PERCENTAGE
100
90
84
79
73
[1990 c 42 § 323.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
Transitional valuation method and tax limitation—1990 c 42: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, motor vehicles and travel trailers and campers that are valued under the system in effect before September
1, 1990, shall be valued by using the initial valuation of the vehicle under
chapter 82.44 or 82.50 RCW multiplied by the applicable percentage under
section 303 or 323 of this act [RCW 82.44.041 or 82.50.425]. Before
December 1992 vehicle license expirations, no tax may be imposed on any
motor vehicle or travel trailer or camper that is greater than one hundred ten
percent of the tax imposed during the registration period in effect before September 1, 1990." [1990 c 42 § 326.]
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
82.50.435
82.50.435 Appeal of valuation. If the department
determines a value for a travel trailer or camper under RCW
82.50.425 equivalent to a manufacturer’s base suggested
retail price, any person who pays the tax for that travel trailer
or camper may appeal the valuation to the department under
chapter 34.05 RCW. If the taxpayer is successful on appeal,
the department shall refund the excess tax in the manner provided in RCW 82.50.170. [1990 c 42 § 324.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
82.50.440
82.50.440 Tax receipt—Records. The county auditor
or the department of licensing upon payment of the tax hereunder shall issue a receipt which shall include such information as may be required by the director, including the name of
the taxpayer and a description of the travel trailer or camper,
which receipt shall be printed by the department of licensing
in such form as it deems proper and furnished by the department to the various county auditors of the state. The county
auditor shall keep a record of the excise taxes paid hereunder
during the calendar year. [1979 c 158 § 242; 1975 1st ex.s. c
9 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 59.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
82.50.460
82.50.460 Notice of amount of tax payable—Contents. Prior to the end of any registration year of a vehicle,
the director shall cause to be mailed to the owners of travel
trailers or campers, of record, notice of the amount of tax
payable during the succeeding registration year. The notice
shall contain a legal description of the travel trailer or
camper, prominent notice of due dates, and such other information as may be required by the director. [1979 c 123 § 3;
1975 1st ex.s. c 118 § 17; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 61.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
[Title 82 RCW—page 301]
82.50.510
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective date—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 118: See notes following RCW 46.16.006.
82.50.510
82.50.510 Remittance of tax to state—Distribution to
cities, towns, counties, and schools. The county auditor
shall regularly, when remitting motor vehicle excise taxes,
pay to the state treasurer the excise taxes imposed by *RCW
82.50.400. The treasurer shall then distribute such funds
quarterly on the first day of the month of January, April, July
and October of each year in the following amount:
(1) 13.64 percent to cities and towns for the use thereof
apportioned ratably among such cities and towns on the basis
of population;
(2) 13.64 percent to counties for the use thereof to be
apportioned ratably among such counties on the basis of
moneys collected in such counties from the excise taxes
imposed under this chapter;
(3) 63.64 percent for schools to be deposited in the state
general fund; and
(4) 9.08 percent to the transportation fund created in
RCW 82.44.180. [1998 c 321 § 24 (Referendum Bill No. 49,
approved November 3, 1998); 1991 c 199 § 227; 1990 c 42 §
322; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 75 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 66.]
Reviser’s note: (1) See note following RCW 82.50.010.
*(2) RCW 82.50.400 was repealed by 2000 1st sp.s. c 1 § 2.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
Finding—1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70.94.011.
Effective dates—Severability—Captions not law—1991 c 199: See
RCW 70.94.904 through 70.94.906.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
course of his or her business and no travel trailer or camper as
defined in RCW 82.50.010 shall be listed and assessed for ad
valorem taxation. However, if a park trailer as defined in
RCW 46.04.622 has substantially lost its identity as a mobile
unit by virtue of its being permanently sited in location and
placed on a foundation of either posts or blocks with connections with sewer, water, or other utilities for the operation of
installed fixtures and appliances, it will be considered real
property and will be subject to ad valorem property taxation
imposed in accordance with the provisions of Title 84 RCW,
including the provisions with respect to omitted property,
except that a park trailer located on land not owned by the
owner of the park trailer shall be subject to the personal property provisions of chapter 84.56 RCW and RCW 84.60.040.
[1999 c 92 § 1; 1993 c 32 § 1; 1981 c 304 § 32; 1971 ex.s. c
299 § 68.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
Application—1999 c 92: "This act is effective for taxes levied in 1999
for collection in 2000 and thereafter." [1999 c 92 § 2.]
Applicability—1993 c 32 § 1: "Section 1 of this act shall be effective
for taxes levied for collection in 1993 and thereafter." [1993 c 32 § 2.]
Severability—1981 c 304: See note following RCW 26.16.030.
Real property defined: RCW 84.04.090.
82.50.540
82.50.540 Taxed and licensed travel trailers or campers entitled to use of streets and highways. Travel trailers
or campers taxed and licensed under the provisions of this
chapter shall be entitled to the use of the public streets and
highways subject to the provisions of the motor vehicle laws
of this state except as herein otherwise provided. [1971 ex.s.
c 299 § 69.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
CONSTRUCTION OF 1971 ACT
82.50.520
82.50.520 Exemptions. The following travel trailers or
campers are specifically exempted from the operation of this
chapter:
(1) Any unoccupied travel trailer or camper when it is
part of an inventory of travel trailers or campers held for sale
by a manufacturer or dealer in the course of his business.
(2) A travel trailer or camper owned by any government
or political subdivision thereof.
(3) A travel trailer or camper owned by a nonresident
and currently licensed in another state, unless such travel
trailer or camper is required by law to be licensed in this state.
For the purposes of this subsection only, a camper owned
by a nonresident shall be considered licensed in another state
if the vehicle to which such camper is attached is currently
licensed in another state.
(4) Travel trailers eligible to be used under a dealer’s
license plate, and taxed under *RCW 82.44.030 while so eligible. [1983 c 26 § 4; 1979 c 123 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 67.]
Reviser’s note: (1) See note following RCW 82.50.010.
*(2) RCW 82.44.030 was repealed by 2000 1st sp.s. c 1 § 2.
82.50.530
82.50.530 Ad valorem taxes prohibited as to mobile
homes, travel trailers or campers—Loss of identity, subject to property tax. No mobile home, travel trailer, or
camper which is a part of the inventory of mobile homes,
travel trailers, or campers held for sale by a dealer in the
[Title 82 RCW—page 302]
82.50.901
82.50.901 Effective dates—Operative dates—Expiration dates—1971 ex.s. c 299 §§ 35-76. (1) Sections 35
through 52 and section 54 of this 1971 amendatory act shall
take effect on July 1, 1971, except that the provisions of
chapter 82.50 RCW imposing a tax on campers shall not take
effect until January 1, 1972.
(2) Sections 36 through 50 of this 1971 amendatory act
shall be operative and in effect only until and including
December 31, 1972, at which time, they, in their entirety,
shall expire without any further action of the legislature. The
expiration of such sections shall not be construed as affecting
any existing right acquired under the expired statutes, nor as
affecting any proceeding instituted thereunder, nor any rule,
regulation, or order promulgated thereunder, nor any administrative action taken thereunder.
(3) Sections 55 through 76 of this 1971 amendatory act
shall take effect on January 1, 1973 without any further
action of the legislature. [1971 ex.s. c 299 § 53.]
Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.50.010.
Chapter 82.52 RCW
EXTENSION OF EXCISES TO FEDERAL AREAS
Chapter 82.52
Sections
82.52.010
State accepts provisions of federal (Buck) act.
(2006 Ed.)
Multistate Tax Compact
82.52.020
State’s tax laws made applicable to federal areas—Exception.
Federal areas and jurisdiction: Title 37 RCW.
Taxation of federal agencies and instrumentalities: State Constitution Art. 7
§§ 1, 3.
82.52.010
82.52.010 State accepts provisions of federal (Buck)
act. The state hereby accepts jurisdiction over all federal
areas located within its exterior boundaries to the extent that
the power and authority to levy and collect taxes therein is
granted by that certain act of the 76th congress of the United
States, approved by the president on October 9, 1940, and
entitled: "An Act to permit the states to extend their sales,
use, and income taxes to persons residing or carrying on business, or to transactions occurring, in federal areas, and for
other purposes." [1961 c 15 § 82.52.010. Prior: 1941 c 175
§ 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 11337-10.]
82.56.010
apportionment of tax bases and settlement of apportionment
disputes.
2. Promote uniformity or compatibility in significant
components of tax systems.
3. Facilitate taxpayer convenience and compliance in the
filing of tax returns and in other phases of tax administration.
4. Avoid duplicative taxation.
Article II. Definitions.
MULTISTATE TAX COMPACT
As used in this compact:
1. "State" means a state of the United States, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States.
2. "Subdivision" means any governmental unit or special
district of a state.
3. "Taxpayer" means any corporation, partnership, firm,
association, governmental unit or agency or person acting as
a business entity in more than one state.
4. "Income tax" means a tax imposed on or measured by
net income including any tax imposed on or measured by an
amount arrived at by deducting expenses from gross income,
one or more forms of which expenses are not specifically and
directly related to particular transactions.
5. "Capital stock tax" means a tax measured in any way
by the capital of a corporation considered in its entirety.
6. "Gross receipts tax" means a tax, other than a sales tax,
which is imposed on or measured by the gross volume of
business, in terms of gross receipts or in other terms, and in
the determination of which no deduction is allowed which
would constitute the tax an income tax.
7. "Sales tax" means a tax imposed with respect to the
transfer for a consideration of ownership, possession or custody of tangible personal property or the rendering of services measured by the price of the tangible personal property
transferred or services rendered and which is required by
state or local law to be separately stated from the sales price
by the seller, or which is customarily separately stated from
the sales price, but does not include a tax imposed exclusively on the sale of a specifically identified commodity or
article or class of commodities or articles.
8. "Use tax" means a nonrecurring tax, other than a sales
tax, which (a) is imposed on or with respect to the exercise or
enjoyment of any right or power over tangible personal property incident to the ownership, possession or custody of that
property or the leasing of that property from another including any consumption, keeping, retention, or other use of tangible personal property and (b) is complementary to a sales
tax.
9. "Tax" means an income tax, capital stock tax, gross
receipts tax, sales tax, use tax, and any other tax which has a
multistate impact, except that the provisions of Articles III,
IV and V of this compact shall apply only to the taxes specifically designated therein and the provisions of Article IX of
this compact shall apply only in respect to determinations
pursuant to Article IV.
Article I. Purposes.
Article III. Elements of Income Tax Laws.
82.52.020
82.52.020 State’s tax laws made applicable to federal
areas—Exception. From and after January 1, 1941, all laws
of this state relating to revenue and taxation which, except for
this chapter and the act of congress described herein, would
not be operative within federal areas, are hereby extended to,
and shall be construed as being operative in and upon all
lands or premises held or acquired by or for the use of the
United States or any department, establishment, or agency of
the United States located within the exterior boundaries of
the state, to the same extent and with the same effect as
though such area was not a federal area: PROVIDED, That
nothing in this section shall be construed as extending the
provisions of this title to the gross income received from, or
to sales made for use in performing within a federal military
or naval reservation, any contract entered into with the
United States of America, or any department or agency
thereof or any subcontract made pursuant thereto for which a
bid covering such contract or subcontract was submitted prior
to October 9, 1940. [1961 c 15 § 82.52.020. Prior: 1941 c
175 § 2; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 11337-11.]
Chapter 82.56
Chapter 82.56 RCW
MULTISTATE TAX COMPACT
Sections
82.56.010
82.56.020
82.56.030
82.56.040
82.56.050
Compact.
Director of revenue to represent state.
Director may be represented by alternate.
Political subdivisions—Appointment of persons to represent—Consultations with.
Interstate audits article of compact declared to be in force in
this state.
82.56.010
82.56.010 Compact. The following multistate tax compact, and each and every part thereof, is hereby approved, ratified, adopted, entered into and enacted into law by the state
of Washington.
The purposes of this compact are to:
1. Facilitate proper determination of state and local tax
liability of multistate taxpayers, including the equitable
(2006 Ed.)
Taxpayer Option, State and Local Taxes.
1. Any taxpayer subject to an income tax whose income
is subject to apportionment and allocation for tax purposes
[Title 82 RCW—page 303]
82.56.010
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
pursuant to the laws of a party state or pursuant to the laws of
subdivisions in two or more party states may elect to apportion and allocate his income in the manner provided by the
laws of such state or by the laws of such states and subdivisions without reference to this compact, or may elect to
apportion and allocate in accordance with Article IV. This
election for any tax year may be made in all party states or
subdivisions thereof or in any one or more of the party states
or subdivisions thereof without reference to the election
made in the others. For the purposes of this paragraph, taxes
imposed by subdivisions shall be considered separately from
state taxes and the apportionment and allocation also may be
applied to the entire tax base. In no instance wherein Article
IV is employed for all subdivisions of a state may the sum of
all apportionments and allocations to subdivisions within a
state be greater than the apportionment and allocation that
would be assignable to that state if the apportionment or allocation were being made with respect to a state income tax.
Taxpayer Option, Short Form.
2. Each party state or any subdivision thereof which
imposes an income tax shall provide by law that any taxpayer
required to file a return, whose only activities within the taxing jurisdiction consist of sales and do not include owning or
renting real estate or tangible personal property, and whose
dollar volume of gross sales made during the tax year within
the state or subdivision, as the case may be, is not in excess of
$100,000 may elect to report and pay any tax due on the basis
of a percentage of such volume, and shall adopt rates which
shall produce a tax which reasonably approximates the tax
otherwise due. The multistate tax commission, not more than
once in five years, may adjust the $100,000 figure in order to
reflect such changes as may occur in the real value of the dollar, and such adjusted figure, upon adoption by the commission, shall replace the $100,000 figure specifically provided
herein. Each party state and subdivision thereof may make
the same election available to taxpayers additional to those
specified in this paragraph.
Coverage.
3. Nothing in this article relates to the reporting or payment of any tax other than an income tax.
Article IV. Division of Income.
1. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) "Business income" means income arising from transactions and activity in the regular course of the taxpayer’s
trade or business and includes income from tangible and
intangible property if the acquisition, management, and disposition of the property constitute integral parts of the taxpayer’s regular trade or business operations.
(b) "Commercial domicile" means the principal place
from which the trade or business of the taxpayer is directed or
managed.
(c) "Compensation" means wages, salaries, commissions
and any other form of remuneration paid to employees for
personal services.
(d) "Financial organization" means any bank, trust company, savings bank, industrial bank, land bank, safe deposit
[Title 82 RCW—page 304]
company, private banker, savings and loan association, credit
union, cooperative bank, small loan company, sales finance
company, investment company, or any type of insurance
company.
(e) "Nonbusiness income" means all income other than
business income.
(f) "Public utility" means any business entity (1) which
owns or operates any plant, equipment, property, franchise,
or license for the transmission of communications, transportation of goods or persons, except by pipe line, or the production, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity,
water or steam; and (2) whose rates of charges for goods or
services have been established or approved by a federal, state
or local government or governmental agency.
(g) "Sales" means all gross receipts of the taxpayer not
allocated under paragraphs of this article.
(h) "State" means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any
territory or possession of the United States, and any foreign
country or political subdivision thereof.
(i) "This state" means the state in which the relevant tax
return is filed or, in the case of application of this article to the
apportionment and allocation of income for local tax purposes, the subdivision or local taxing district in which the relevant tax return is filed.
2. Any taxpayer having income from business activity
which is taxable both within and without this state, other than
activity as a financial organization or public utility or the rendering of purely personal services by an individual, shall allocate and apportion his net income as provided in this article.
If a taxpayer has income from business activity as a public
utility but derives the greater percentage of his income from
activities subject to this article, the taxpayer may elect to allocate and apportion his entire net income as provided in this
article.
3. For purposes of allocation and apportionment of
income under this article, a taxpayer is taxable in another
state if (1) in that state he is subject to a net income tax, a
franchise tax measured by net income, a franchise tax for the
privilege of doing business, or a corporate stock tax, or (2)
that state has jurisdiction to subject the taxpayer to a net
income tax regardless of whether, in fact, the state does or
does not.
4. Rents and royalties from real or tangible personal
property, capital gains, interest, dividends or patent or copyright royalties, to the extent that they constitute nonbusiness
income, shall be allocated as provided in paragraphs 5
through 8 of this article.
5.(a) Net rents and royalties from real property located in
this state are allocable to this state.
(b) Net rents and royalties from tangible personal property are allocable to this state: (1) If and to the extent that the
property is utilized in this state, or (2) in their entirety if the
taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state and the taxpayer is not organized under the laws of or taxable in the state
in which the property is utilized.
(c) The extent of utilization of tangible personal property
in a state is determined by multiplying the rents and royalties
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of
physical location of the property in the state during the rental
or royalty period in the taxable year and the denominator of
(2006 Ed.)
Multistate Tax Compact
which is the number of days of physical location of the property everywhere during all rental or royalty periods in the taxable year. If the physical location of the property during the
rental or royalty period is unknown or unascertainable by the
taxpayer, tangible personal property is utilized in the state in
which the property was located at the time the rental or royalty payer obtained possession.
6.(a) Capital gains and losses from sales of real property
located in this state are allocable to this state.
(b) Capital gains and losses from sales of tangible personal property are allocable to this state if (1) the property
had a situs in this state at the time of the sale, or (2) the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state and the taxpayer
is not taxable in the state in which the property had a situs.
(c) Capital gains and losses from sales of intangible personal property are allocable to this state if the taxpayer’s
commercial domicile is in this state.
7. Interest and dividends are allocable to this state if the
taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state.
8.(a) Patent and copyright royalties are allocable to this
state: (1) If and to the extent that the patent or copyright is
utilized by the payer in this state, or (2) if and to the extent
that the patent copyright is utilized by the payer in a state in
which the taxpayer is not taxable and the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state.
(b) A patent is utilized in a state to the extent that it is
employed in production, fabrication, manufacturing, or other
processing in the state or to the extent that a patented product
is produced in the state. If the basis of receipts from patent
royalties does not permit allocation to states or if the accounting procedures do not reflect states of utilization, the patent is
utilized in the state in which the taxpayer’s commercial
domicile is located.
(c) A copyright is utilized in a state to the extent that
printing or other publication originates in the state. If the
basis of receipts from copyright royalties does not permit
allocation to states or if the accounting procedures do not
reflect states of utilization, the copyright is utilized in the
state in which the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is located.
9. All business income shall be apportioned to this state
by multiplying the income by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the property factor plus the payroll factor plus the
sales factor, and the denominator of which is three.
10. The property factor is a fraction, the numerator of
which is the average value of the taxpayer’s real and tangible
personal property owned or rented and used in this state during the tax period and the denominator of which is the average value of all the taxpayer’s real and tangible personal
property owned or rented and used during the tax period.
11. Property owned by the taxpayer is valued at its original cost. Property rented by the taxpayer is valued at eight
times the net annual rental rate. Net annual rental rate is the
annual rental rate paid by the taxpayer less any annual rental
rate received by the taxpayer from subrentals.
12. The average value of property shall be determined by
averaging the values at the beginning and ending of the tax
period but the tax administrator may require the averaging of
monthly values during the tax period if reasonably required
to reflect properly the average value of the taxpayer’s property.
(2006 Ed.)
82.56.010
13. The payroll factor is a fraction, the numerator of
which is the total amount paid in this state during the tax
period by the taxpayer for compensation and the denominator
of which is the total compensation paid everywhere during
the tax period.
14. Compensation is paid in this state if:
(a) The individual’s service is performed entirely within
the state;
(b) The individual’s service is performed both within and
without the state, but the service performed without the state
is incidental to the individual’s service within the state; or
(c) Some of the service is performed in the state and (1)
the base of operations or, if there is no base of operations, the
place from which the service is directed or controlled is in the
state, or (2) the base of operations or the place from which the
service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which
some part of the service is performed, but the individual’s
residence is in this state.
15. The sales factor is a fraction, the numerator of which
is the total sales of the taxpayer in this state during the tax
period, and the denominator of which is the total sales of the
taxpayer everywhere during the tax period.
16. Sales of tangible personal property are in this state if:
(a) The property is delivered or shipped to a purchaser,
other than the United States government, within this state
regardless of the f.o.b. point or other conditions of the sale; or
(b) The property is shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory, or other place of storage in this state and (1)
the purchaser is the United States government or (2) the taxpayer is not taxable in the state of the purchaser.
17. Sales, other than sales of tangible personal property,
are in this state if:
(a) The income-producing activity is performed in this
state; or
(b) The income-producing activity is performed both in
and outside this state and a greater proportion of the incomeproducing activity is performed in this state than in any other
state, based on costs of performance.
18. If the allocation and apportionment provisions of this
article do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s
business activity in this state, the taxpayer may petition for or
the tax administrator may require, in respect to all or any part
of the taxpayer’s business activity, if reasonable:
(a) Separate accounting;
(b) The exclusion of any one or more of the factors;
(c) The inclusion of one or more additional factors which
will fairly represent the taxpayer’s business activity in this
state; or
(d) The employment of any other method to effectuate an
equitable allocation and apportionment of the taxpayer’s
income.
Article V. Elements of Sales
and Use Tax Laws.
Tax Credit.
1. Each purchaser liable for a use tax on tangible personal property shall be entitled to full credit for the combined
amount or amounts of legally imposed sales or use taxes paid
by him with respect to the same property to another state and
any subdivision thereof. The credit shall be applied first
[Title 82 RCW—page 305]
82.56.010
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
against the amount of any use tax due the state, and any
unused portion of the credit shall then be applied against the
amount of any use tax due a subdivision.
Exemption Certificates, Vendors May Rely.
2. Whenever a vendor receives and accepts in good faith
from a purchaser a resale or other exemption certificate or
other written evidence of exemption authorized by the appropriate state or subdivision taxing authority, the vendor shall
be relieved of liability for a sales or use tax with respect to the
transaction.
Article VI. The Commission.
Organization and Management.
1.(a) The multistate tax commission is hereby established. It shall be composed of one "member" from each party
state who shall be the head of the state agency charged with
the administration of the types of taxes to which this compact
applies. If there is more than one such agency the state shall
provide by law for the selection of the commission member
from the heads of the relevant agencies. State law may provide that a member of the commission be represented by an
alternate but only if there is on file with the commission written notification of the designation and identity of the alternate. The attorney general of each party state or his designee,
or other counsel if the laws of the party state specifically provide, shall be entitled to attend the meetings of the commission, but shall not vote. Such attorneys general, designees, or
other counsel shall receive all notices of meetings required
under paragraph 1(e) of this article.
(b) Each party state shall provide by law for the selection
of representatives from its subdivisions affected by this compact to consult with the commission member from that state.
(c) Each member shall be entitled to one vote. The commission shall not act unless a majority of the members are
present, and no action shall be binding unless approved by a
majority of the total number of members.
(d) The commission shall adopt an official seal to be
used as it may provide.
(e) The commission shall hold an annual meeting and
such other regular meetings as its bylaws may provide and
such special meetings as its executive committee may determine. The commission bylaws shall specify the dates of the
annual and any other regular meetings, and shall provide for
the giving of notice of annual, regular and special meetings.
Notices of special meetings shall include the reasons therefor
and an agenda of the items to be considered.
(f) The commission shall elect annually, from among its
members, a chairman, a vice chairman and a treasurer. The
commission shall appoint an executive director who shall
serve at its pleasure, and it shall fix his duties and compensation. The executive director shall be secretary of the commission. The commission shall make provision for the bonding
of such of its officers and employees as it may deem appropriate.
(g) Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other
merit system laws of any party state, the executive director
shall appoint or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the commission
[Title 82 RCW—page 306]
and shall fix their duties and compensation. The commission
bylaws shall provide for personnel policies and programs.
(h) The commission may borrow, accept or contract for
the services of personnel from any state, the United States, or
any other governmental entity.
(i) The commission may accept for any of its purposes
and functions any and all donations and grants of money,
equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or
otherwise, from any governmental entity, and may utilize and
dispose of the same.
(j) The commission may establish one or more offices
for the transacting of its business.
(k) The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct
of its business. The commission shall publish its bylaws in
convenient form, and shall file a copy of the bylaws and any
amendments thereto with the appropriate agency or officer in
each of the party states.
(l) The commission annually shall make to the governor
and legislature of each party state a report covering its activities for the preceding year. Any donation or grant accepted
by the commission or services borrowed shall be reported in
the annual report of the commission, and shall include the
nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, gift,
grant or services borrowed and the identity of the donor or
lender. The commission may make additional reports as it
may deem desirable.
Committees.
2.(a) To assist in the conduct of its business when the full
commission is not meeting, the commission shall have an
executive committee of seven members, including the chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and four other members
elected annually by the commission. The executive committee, subject to the provisions of this compact and consistent
with the policies of the commission, shall function as provided in the bylaws of the commission.
(b) The commission may establish advisory and technical committees, membership on which may include private
persons and public officials, in furthering any of its activities.
Such committees may consider any matter of concern to the
commission, including problems of special interest to any
party state and problems dealing with particular types of
taxes.
(c) The commission may establish such additional committees as its bylaws may provide.
Powers.
3. In addition to powers conferred elsewhere in this compact, the commission shall have power to:
(a) Study state and local tax systems and particular types
of state and local taxes.
(b) Develop and recommend proposals for an increase in
uniformity or compatibility of state and local tax laws with a
view toward encouraging the simplification and improvement of state and local tax law and administration.
(c) Compile and publish information as in its judgment
would assist the party states in implementation of the compact and taxpayers in complying with state and local tax laws.
(d) Do all things necessary and incidental to the administration of its functions pursuant to this compact.
(2006 Ed.)
Multistate Tax Compact
Finance.
4.(a) The commission shall submit to the governor or
designated officer or officers of each party state a budget of
its estimated expenditures for such period as may be required
by the laws of that state for presentation to the legislature
thereof.
(b) Each of the commission’s budgets of estimated
expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the
amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states. The
total amount of appropriations requested under any such budget shall be apportioned among the party states as follows:
one-tenth in equal shares; and the remainder in proportion to
the amount of revenue collected by each party state and its
subdivisions from income taxes, capital stock taxes, gross
receipts taxes, sales and use taxes. In determining such
amounts, the commission shall employ such available public
sources of information as, in its judgment, present the most
equitable and accurate comparisons among the party states.
Each of the commission’s budgets of estimated expenditures
and requests for appropriations shall indicate the sources
used in obtaining information employed in applying the formula contained in this paragraph.
(c) The commission shall not pledge the credit of any
party state. The commission may meet any of its obligations
in whole or in part with funds available to it under paragraph
(1)(i) of this article: PROVIDED, That the commission takes
specific action setting aside such funds prior to incurring any
obligation to be met in whole or in part in such manner.
Except where the commission makes use of funds available
to it under paragraph 1(i), the commission shall not incur any
obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states
adequate to meet the same.
(d) The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all
receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements
of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. All receipts and
disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be
audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant
and the report of the audit shall be included in and become
part of the annual report of the commission.
(e) The accounts of the commission shall be open at any
reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of
the party states and by any persons authorized by the commission.
(f) Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to
prevent commission compliance with laws relating to audit or
inspection of accounts by or on behalf of any government
contributing to the support of the commission.
Article VII. Uniform Regulations and Forms.
1. Whenever any two or more party states, or subdivisions of party states, have uniform or similar provisions of
law relating to an income tax, capital stock tax, gross receipts
tax, sales or use tax, the commission may adopt uniform regulations for any phase of the administration of such law,
including assertion of jurisdiction to tax, or prescribing uniform tax forms. The commission may also act with respect to
the provisions of Article IV of this compact.
2. Prior to the adoption of any regulation, the commission shall:
(2006 Ed.)
82.56.010
(a) As provided in its bylaws, hold at least one public
hearing on due notice to all affected party states and subdivisions thereof and to all taxpayers and other persons who have
made timely request of the commission for advance notice of
its regulation-making proceedings.
(b) Afford all affected party states and subdivisions and
interested persons an opportunity to submit relevant written
data and views, which shall be considered fully by the commission.
3. The commission shall submit any regulations adopted
by it to the appropriate officials of all party states and subdivisions to which they might apply. Each such state and subdivision shall consider any such regulation for adoption in
accordance with its own laws and procedures.
Article VIII. Interstate Audits.
1. This article shall be in force only in those party states
that specifically provide therefor by statute.
2. Any party state or subdivision thereof desiring to
make or participate in an audit of any accounts, books,
papers, records or other documents may request the commission to perform the audit on its behalf. In responding to the
request, the commission shall have access to and may examine, at any reasonable time, such accounts, books, papers,
records, and other documents and any relevant property or
stock of merchandise. The commission may enter into agreements with party states or their subdivisions for assistance in
performance of the audit. The commission shall make
charges, to be paid by the state or local government or governments for which it performs the service, for any audits
performed by it in order to reimburse itself for the actual
costs incurred in making the audit.
3. The commission may require the attendance of any
person within the state where it is conducting an audit or part
thereof at a time and place fixed by it within such state for the
purpose of giving testimony with respect to any account,
book, paper, document, other record, property or stock of
merchandise being examined in connection with the audit. If
the person is not within the jurisdiction, he may be required
to attend for such purpose at any time and place fixed by the
commission within the state of which he is a resident: PROVIDED, That such state has adopted this article.
4. The commission may apply to any court having power
to issue compulsory process for orders in aid of its powers
and responsibilities pursuant to this article and any and all
such courts shall have jurisdiction to issue such orders. Failure of any person to obey any such order shall be punishable
as contempt of the issuing court. If the party or subject matter
on account of which the commission seeks an order is within
the jurisdiction of the court to which application is made,
such application may be to a court in the state or subdivision
on behalf of which the audit is being made or a court in the
state in which the object of the order being sought is situated.
The provisions of this paragraph apply only to courts in a
state that has adopted this article.
5. The commission may decline to perform any audit
requested if it finds that its available personnel or other
resources are insufficient for the purpose or that, in the terms
requested, the audit is impracticable of satisfactory performance. If the commission, on the basis of its experience, has
reason to believe that an audit of a particular taxpayer, either
[Title 82 RCW—page 307]
82.56.010
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
at a particular time or on a particular schedule, would be of
interest to a number of party states or their subdivisions, it
may offer to make the audit or audits, the offer to be contingent on sufficient participation therein as determined by the
commission.
6. Information obtained by any audit pursuant to this article shall be confidential and available only for tax purposes to
party states, their subdivisions or the United States. Availability of information shall be in accordance with the laws of
the states or subdivisions on whose account the commission
performs the audit, and only through the appropriate agencies
or officers of such states or subdivisions. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require any taxpayer to keep records
for any period not otherwise required by law.
7. Other arrangements made or authorized pursuant to
law for cooperative audit by or on behalf of the party states or
any of their subdivisions are not superseded or invalidated by
this article.
8. In no event shall the commission make any charge
against a taxpayer for an audit.
9. As used in this article, "tax," in addition to the meaning ascribed to it in Article II, means any tax or license fee
imposed in whole or in part for revenue purposes.
Article IX. Arbitration.
1. Whenever the commission finds a need for settling
disputes concerning apportionments and allocations by arbitration, it may adopt a regulation placing this article in effect,
notwithstanding the provisions of Article VII.
2. The commission shall select and maintain an arbitration panel composed of officers and employees of state and
local governments and private persons who shall be knowledgeable and experienced in matters of tax law and administration.
3. Whenever a taxpayer who has elected to employ Article IV, or whenever the laws of the party state or subdivision
thereof are substantially identical with the relevant provisions
of Article IV, the taxpayer, by written notice to the commission and to each party state or subdivision thereof that would
be affected, may secure arbitration of an apportionment or
allocation, if he is dissatisfied with the final administrative
determination of the tax agency of the state or subdivision
with respect thereto on the ground that it would subject him
to double or multiple taxation by two or more party states or
subdivisions thereof. Each party state and subdivision thereof
hereby consents to the arbitration as provided herein, and
agrees to be bound thereby.
4. The arbitration board shall be composed of one person
selected by the taxpayer, one by the agency or agencies
involved, and one member of the commission’s arbitration
panel. If the agencies involved are unable to agree on the person to be selected by them, such person shall be selected by
lot from the total membership of the arbitration panel. The
two persons selected for the board in the manner provided by
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall jointly select
the third member of the board. If they are unable to agree on
the selection, the third member shall be selected by lot from
among the total membership of the arbitration panel. No
member of a board selected by lot shall be qualified to serve
if he is an officer or employee or is otherwise affiliated with
any party to the arbitration proceeding. Residence within the
[Title 82 RCW—page 308]
jurisdiction of a party to the arbitration proceeding shall not
constitute affiliation within the meaning of this paragraph.
5. The board may sit in any state or subdivision party to
the proceeding, in the state of the taxpayer’s incorporation,
residence or domicile, in any state where the taxpayer does
business, or in any place that it finds most appropriate for
gaining access to evidence relevant to the matter before it.
6. The board shall give due notice of the times and places
of its hearings. The parties shall be entitled to be heard, to
present evidence, and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. The board shall act by majority vote.
7. The board shall have power to administer oaths, take
testimony, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses
and the production of accounts, books, papers, records, and
other documents, and issue commissions to take testimony.
Subpoenas may be signed by any member of the board. In
case of failure to obey a subpoena, and upon application by
the board, any judge of a court of competent jurisdiction of
the state in which the board is sitting or in which the person
to whom the subpoena is directed may be found may make an
order requiring compliance with the subpoena, and the court
may punish failure to obey the order as a contempt. The provisions of this paragraph apply only in states that have
adopted this article.
8. Unless the parties otherwise agree the expenses and
other costs of the arbitration shall be assessed and allocated
among the parties by the board in such manner as it may
determine. The commission shall fix a schedule of compensation for members of arbitration boards and of other allowable
expenses and costs. No officer or employee of a state or local
government who serves as a member of a board shall be entitled to compensation therefor unless he is required on
account of his service to forego the regular compensation
attaching to his public employment, but any such board member shall be entitled to expenses.
9. The board shall determine the disputed apportionment
or allocation and any matters necessary thereto. The determinations of the board shall be final for purposes of making the
apportionment or allocation, but for no other purpose.
10. The board shall file with the commission and with
each tax agency represented in the proceeding: the determination of the board; the board’s written statement of its reasons therefor; the record of the board’s proceedings; and any
other documents required by the arbitration rules of the commission to be filed.
11. The commission shall publish the determinations of
boards together with the statements of the reasons therefor.
12. The commission shall adopt and publish rules of procedure and practice and shall file a copy of such rules and of
any amendment thereto with the appropriate agency or
officer in each of the party states.
13. Nothing contained herein shall prevent at any time a
written compromise of any matter or matters in dispute, if
otherwise lawful, by the parties to the arbitration proceeding.
Article X. Entry into Force
and Withdrawal.
1. This compact shall enter into force when enacted into
law by any seven states. Thereafter, this compact shall
become effective as to any other state upon its enactment
thereof. The commission shall arrange for notification of all
(2006 Ed.)
Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act
party states whenever there is a new enactment of the compact.
2. Any party state may withdraw from this compact by
enacting a statute repealing the same. No withdrawal shall
affect any liability already incurred by or chargeable to a
party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.
3. No proceeding commenced before an arbitration
board prior to the withdrawal of a state and to which the withdrawing state or any subdivision thereof is a party shall be
discontinued or terminated by the withdrawal, nor shall the
board thereby lose jurisdiction over any of the parties to the
proceeding necessary to make a binding determination
therein.
Article XI. Effect on Other Laws
and Jurisdiction.
82.56.040
82.56.040 Political subdivisions—Appointment of
persons to represent—Consultations with. The governor,
after consultation with representatives of local governments,
shall appoint three persons who are representative of subdivisions affected or likely to be affected by the multistate tax
compact. The member of the commission representing this
state, and any alternate designated by him, shall consult regularly with these appointees, in accordance with Article VI
1(b) of the compact. [1967 c 125 § 4.]
82.56.050
82.56.050 Interstate audits article of compact
declared to be in force in this state. Article VIII of the multistate tax compact relating to interaudits shall be in force in
and with respect to this state. [1967 c 125 § 5.]
Chapter 82.58
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to:
(a) Affect the power of any state or subdivision thereof
to fix rates of taxation, except that a party state shall be obligated to implement Article III 2 of this compact.
(b) Apply to any tax or fixed fee imposed for the registration of a motor vehicle or any tax on motor fuel, other than
a sales tax: PROVIDED, That the definition of "tax" in Article VIII 9 may apply for the purposes of that article and the
commission’s powers of study and recommendation pursuant
to Article VI 3 may apply.
(c) Withdraw or limit the jurisdiction of any state or local
court or administrative officer or body with respect to any
person, corporation or other entity or subject matter, except
to the extent that such jurisdiction is expressly conferred by
or pursuant to this compact upon another agency or body.
(d) Supersede or limit the jurisdiction of any court of the
United States.
Article XII. Construction and Severability.
This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact
shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of any state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this
compact and the applicability thereof to any government,
agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
If this compact shall be held contrary to the Constitution of
any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in
full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full
force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. [1967 c 125 § 1.]
82.56.020
82.56.020 Director of revenue to represent state. The
director of revenue shall represent this state on the multistate
tax commission. [1979 c 107 § 12; 1967 c 125 § 2.]
82.56.030
82.56.030 Director may be represented by alternate.
The member representing this state on the multistate tax commission may be represented thereon by an alternate designated by him. Any such alternate shall be a principal deputy
or assistant of the member of the commission in the agency
which the member heads. [1967 c 125 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.58.010
Chapter 82.58 RCW
SIMPLIFIED SALES AND USE TAX
ADMINISTRATION ACT
Sections
82.58.005
82.58.010
82.58.020
82.58.030
82.58.040
82.58.050
82.58.060
82.58.070
82.58.080
82.58.090
82.58.900
82.58.901
82.58.902
Findings.
Definitions.
Multistate discussions.
Streamlined sales and use tax agreement.
State adoption of agreement—Existing laws unaffected.
Requirements for agreement.
General purpose of agreement.
Agreement for benefit of member states only—No legal
action.
Certified service provider—Certified automated system.
Legislation to conform state law.
Short title.
Effective date—2002 c 267 §§ 1-9.
Contingent effective date—2002 c 267 §§ 10 and 11.
82.58.005
82.58.005 Findings. The legislature finds that a simplified sales and use tax system will reduce and over time eliminate the burden and cost for all vendors to collect this state’s
sales and use tax. The legislature further finds that this state
should participate in multistate discussions to review or
amend the terms of the agreement to simplify and modernize
sales and use tax administration in order to substantially
reduce the burden of tax compliance for all sellers and for all
types of commerce. [2002 c 267 § 3.]
82.58.010
82.58.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Agreement" means the streamlined sales and use tax
agreement as adopted.
(2) "Certified automated system" means software certified jointly by the states that are signatories to the agreement
to calculate the tax imposed by each jurisdiction on a transaction, determine the amount of tax to remit to the appropriate
state, and maintain a record of the transaction.
(3) "Certified service provider" means an agent certified
jointly by the states that are signatories to the agreement to
perform all of the seller’s sales tax functions.
(4) "Person" means an individual, trust, estate, fiduciary,
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, corporation, or any other legal entity.
(5) "Sales tax" means the tax levied under chapter 82.08
RCW.
[Title 82 RCW—page 309]
82.58.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(6) "Seller" means any person making sales, leases, or
rentals of personal property or services.
(7) "State" means any state of the United States and the
District of Columbia.
(8) "Use tax" means the tax levied under chapter 82.12
RCW. [2002 c 267 § 2.]
82.58.020
82.58.020 Multistate discussions. (1) For the purposes
of reviewing or amending the agreement embodying the simplification requirements in RCW 82.58.050, the state shall
enter into multistate discussions. For purposes of these discussions, the state shall be represented by the department.
The governor may appoint up to four persons to consult with
the department at these discussions. The persons advising the
department shall not be compensated and are not entitled to
payment of travel expenses by the state.
(2) The department shall regularly consult with an advisory group composed of one member from each of the two
largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the majority and
minority leaders of the senate; one member from each of the
two largest caucuses of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker and minority leader of the house of
representatives; representatives of retailers, including those
selling via mail, telephone, and the internet; representatives
of large and small businesses; and representatives of counties
and cities. The department shall use its best efforts to consult
with the advisory group before any multistate discussions in
which it is anticipated that amendments may be proposed to
the agreement embodying the simplification requirements in
RCW 82.58.050. [2002 c 267 § 4.]
82.58.030
82.58.030 Streamlined sales and use tax agreement.
The department shall enter into the streamlined sales and use
tax agreement with one or more states to simplify and modernize sales and use tax administration in order to substantially reduce the burden of tax compliance for all sellers and
for all types of commerce. In furtherance of the agreement,
the department may act jointly with other states that are members of the agreement to establish standards for certification
of a certified service provider and certified automated system
and establish performance standards for multistate sellers.
The department is further authorized to take other actions reasonably required to implement this chapter. Other actions
authorized by this section include, but are not limited to, the
adoption of rules and the joint procurement, with other member states, of goods and services in furtherance of the cooperative agreement. The department, or the department’s designee, may represent this state before the other states that are
signatories to the agreement. [2002 c 267 § 5.]
82.58.040
82.58.040 State adoption of agreement—Existing
laws unaffected. No provision of the agreement authorized
by this chapter in whole or part invalidates or amends any
provision of the law of this state. Adoption of the agreement
by this state does not amend or modify any law of this state.
Implementation of any condition of the agreement in this
state, whether adopted before, at, or after membership of this
state in the agreement, must be by the action of this state.
[2002 c 267 § 6.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 310]
82.58.050
82.58.050 Requirements for agreement. The department shall not enter into the streamlined sales and use tax
agreement unless the agreement requires each state to abide
by the requirements in this section.
(1) The agreement must set restrictions to limit over time
the number of state rates.
(2) The agreement must establish uniform standards for:
(a) The sourcing of transactions to taxing jurisdictions;
(b) The administration of exempt sales; and
(c) Sales and use tax returns and remittances.
(3) The agreement must provide a central, electronic registration system that allows a seller to register to collect and
remit sales and use taxes for all signatory states.
(4) The agreement must provide that registration with the
central registration system and the collection of sales and use
taxes in the signatory states will not be used as a factor in
determining whether the seller has nexus with a state for any
tax.
(5) The agreement must provide for reduction of the burdens of complying with local sales and use taxes by:
(a) Restricting variances between the state and local tax
bases;
(b) Requiring states to administer any sales and use taxes
levied by local jurisdictions within the state so that sellers
collecting and remitting these taxes will not have to register
or file returns with, remit funds to, or be subject to independent audits from local taxing jurisdictions;
(c) Restricting the frequency of changes in the local sales
and use tax rates and setting effective dates for the application of local jurisdictional boundary changes to local sales
and use taxes; and
(d) Providing notice of changes in local sales and use tax
rates and of changes in the boundaries of local taxing jurisdictions.
(6) The agreement must outline any monetary allowances that are to be provided by the states to sellers or certified service providers. The agreement must allow for a joint
public and private sector study of the compliance cost on sellers and certified service providers to collect sales and use
taxes for state and local governments under various levels of
complexity.
(7) The agreement must require each state to certify
compliance with the terms of the agreement before joining
and to maintain compliance, under the laws of the member
state, with all provisions of the agreement while a member.
(8) The agreement must require each state to adopt a uniform policy for certified service providers that protects the
privacy of consumers and maintains the confidentiality of tax
information.
(9) The agreement must provide for the appointment of
an advisory council of private sector representatives and an
advisory council of nonmember state representatives to consult with in the administration of the agreement. [2004 c 153
§ 401; 2002 c 267 § 7.]
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
82.58.060
82.58.060 General purpose of agreement. The agreement authorized by this chapter is an accord among individual cooperating sovereigns in furtherance of their governmental functions. The agreement provides a mechanism
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Deferrals for Investment Projects in Rural Counties
among the member states to establish and maintain a cooperative, simplified system for the application and administration of sales and use taxes under the duly adopted law of each
member state. [2002 c 267 § 8.]
82.58.070
82.58.070 Agreement for benefit of member states
only—No legal action. (1) The agreement authorized by this
chapter binds and inures only to the benefit of this state and
the other member states. No person, other than a member
state, is an intended beneficiary of the agreement. Any benefit to a person other than a state is established by the law of
this state and the other member states and not by the terms of
the agreement.
(2) Consistent with subsection (1) of this section, no person has any cause of action or defense under the agreement or
by virtue of this state’s approval of the agreement. No person
may challenge, in any action brought under any provision of
law, any action or inaction by any department, agency, other
instrumentality of this state, or any political subdivision of
this state on the ground that the action or inaction is inconsistent with the agreement.
(3) No law of this state, or the application thereof, may
be declared invalid as to any person or circumstance on the
ground that the provision or application is inconsistent with
the agreement. [2002 c 267 § 9.]
82.58.080
82.58.080 Certified service provider—Certified
automated system. (Contingent effective date.) (1) A certified service provider is the agent of a seller, with whom the
certified service provider has contracted, for the collection
and remittance of sales and use taxes. As the seller’s agent,
the certified service provider is liable for sales and use tax
due each member state on all sales transactions it processes
for the seller except as set out in this section. A seller that
contracts with a certified service provider is not liable to the
state for sales or use tax due on transactions processed by the
certified service provider unless the seller misrepresented the
type of items it sells or committed fraud. In the absence of
probable cause to believe that the seller has committed fraud
or made a material misrepresentation, the seller is not subject
to audit on the transactions processed by the certified service
provider. A seller is subject to audit for transactions not processed by the certified service provider. The member states
acting jointly may perform a system check of the seller and
review the seller’s procedures to determine if the certified
service provider’s system is functioning properly and the
extent to which the seller’s transactions are being processed
by the certified service provider.
(2) A person that provides a certified automated system
is responsible for the proper functioning of that system and is
liable to the state for underpayments of tax attributable to
errors in the functioning of the certified automated system. A
seller that uses a certified automated system remains responsible and is liable to the state for reporting and remitting tax.
(3) A seller that has a proprietary system for determining
the amount of tax due on transactions and has signed an
agreement establishing a performance standard for that system is liable for the failure of the system to meet the performance standard. [2002 c 267 § 10.]
(2006 Ed.)
82.60.020
82.58.090
82.58.090 Legislation to conform state law. (Contingent effective date.) Upon becoming a member of the
streamlined sales and use tax agreement, the department shall
prepare legislation conforming state law as necessary and
shall provide such legislation to the fiscal committees of the
legislature. [2002 c 267 § 11.]
82.58.900
82.58.900 Short title. This chapter shall be known and
cited as the "simplified sales and use tax administration act."
[2002 c 267 § 1.]
82.58.901
82.58.901 Effective date—2002 c 267 §§ 1-9. Sections
1 through 9 of this act take effect July 1, 2002. [2002 c 267 §
12.]
82.58.902
82.58.902 Contingent effective date—2002 c 267 §§
10 and 11. Sections 10 and 11 of this act become effective
when the state becomes a member of the streamlined sales
and use tax agreement. [2002 c 267 § 13.]
Chapter 82.60 RCW
TAX DEFERRALS FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS
IN RURAL COUNTIES
Chapter 82.60
(Formerly: Tax deferrals for investment projects in distressed areas)
Sections
82.60.010
82.60.020
82.60.030
82.60.040
82.60.049
82.60.050
82.60.060
82.60.065
82.60.070
82.60.080
82.60.090
82.60.100
82.60.110
82.60.900
82.60.901
Legislative findings and declaration.
Definitions.
Application for deferral—Contents.
Issuance of tax deferral certificate.
Additional eligible projects.
Expiration of RCW 82.60.030 and 82.60.040.
Repayment schedule.
Tax deferral on construction labor and investment projects—
Repayment forgiven.
Annual survey by recipients—Assessment of taxes, interest.
Employment and wage determinations.
Applicability of general administrative provisions.
Applications, reports, and information subject to disclosure.
Competing projects—Impact study.
Effective date, applicability—1985 c 232.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 1.
82.60.010
82.60.010 Legislative findings and declaration. The
legislature finds that there are several areas in the state that
are characterized by very high levels of unemployment and
poverty. The legislative [legislature] further finds that economic stagnation is the primary cause of this high unemployment rate and poverty; that new state policies are necessary in
order to promote economic stimulation and new employment
opportunities in these distressed areas; and that policies providing incentives for economic growth in these distressed
areas are essential. For these reasons, the legislature hereby
establishes a tax deferral program to be effective solely in
distressed areas and under circumstances where the deferred
tax payments are for investments or costs that result in the
creation of a specified number of jobs. The legislature
declares that this limited program serves the vital public purpose of creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty in the distressed areas of the state. [1985 c 232 § 1.]
82.60.020
82.60.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
[Title 82 RCW—page 311]
82.60.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.
(2) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(3) "Eligible area" means a rural county as defined in
RCW 82.14.370.
(4)(a) "Eligible investment project" means an investment
project in an eligible area as defined in subsection (3) of this
section.
(b) The lessor or owner of a qualified building is not eligible for a deferral unless:
(i) The underlying ownership of the buildings, machinery, and equipment vests exclusively in the same person; or
(ii)(A) The lessor by written contract agrees to pass the
economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee;
(B) The lessee that receives the economic benefit of the
deferral agrees in writing with the department to complete the
annual survey required under RCW 82.60.070; and
(C) The economic benefit of the deferral passed to the
lessee is no less than the amount of tax deferred by the lessor
and is evidenced by written documentation of any type of
payment, credit, or other financial arrangement between the
lessor or owner of the qualified building and the lessee.
(c) "Eligible investment project" does not include any
portion of an investment project undertaken by a light and
power business as defined in RCW 82.16.010(5), other than
that portion of a cogeneration project that is used to generate
power for consumption within the manufacturing site of
which the cogeneration project is an integral part, or investment projects which have already received deferrals under
this chapter.
(5) "Investment project" means an investment in qualified buildings or qualified machinery and equipment, including labor and services rendered in the planning, installation,
and construction of the project.
(6) "Manufacturing" means the same as defined in RCW
82.04.120. "Manufacturing" also includes computer programming, the production of computer software, and other
computer-related services, the activities performed by
research and development laboratories and commercial testing laboratories, and the conditioning of vegetable seeds.
(7) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(8) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new
structures, and expansion or renovation of existing structures
for the purpose of increasing floor space or production capacity used for manufacturing and research and development
activities, including plant offices and warehouses or other
facilities for the storage of raw material or finished goods if
such facilities are an essential or an integral part of a factory,
mill, plant, or laboratory used for manufacturing or research
and development. If a building is used partly for manufacturing or research and development and partly for other purposes, the applicable tax deferral shall be determined by
apportionment of the costs of construction under rules
adopted by the department.
(9) "Qualified employment position" means a permanent
full-time employee employed in the eligible investment
project during the entire tax year. The term "entire tax year"
means a full-time position that is filled for a period of twelve
consecutive months. The term "full-time" means at least
thirty-five hours a week, four hundred fifty-five hours a quarter, or one thousand eight hundred twenty hours a year.
[Title 82 RCW—page 312]
(10) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all
new industrial and research fixtures, equipment, and support
facilities that are an integral and necessary part of a manufacturing or research and development operation. "Qualified
machinery and equipment" includes: Computers; software;
data processing equipment; laboratory equipment; manufacturing components such as belts, pulleys, shafts, and moving
parts; molds, tools, and dies; operating structures; and all
equipment used to control or operate the machinery.
(11) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral
under this chapter.
(12) "Research and development" means the development, refinement, testing, marketing, and commercialization
of a product, service, or process before commercial sales
have begun. As used in this subsection, "commercial sales"
excludes sales of prototypes or sales for market testing if the
total gross receipts from such sales of the product, service, or
process do not exceed one million dollars. [2006 c 142 § 1;
2004 c 25 § 3; 1999 sp.s. c 9 § 2; 1999 c 164 § 301; 1996 c
290 § 4; 1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 5. Prior: 1994 sp.s. c 7 § 704;
1994 sp.s. c 1 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 403; 1988 c 42 § 16; 1986
c 116 § 12; 1985 c 232 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 142: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 142 § 2.]
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 9: See notes following RCW 82.04.120.
Savings—1999 c 164 §§ 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: "Sections
301 through 303, 305, 306, and 601 through 603 of this act do not affect any
existing right acquired or liability or obligation under the sections amended
or repealed in those sections or any rule or order adopted under those sections, nor does it affect any proceeding instituted under those sections."
[1999 c 164 § 803.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Severability—1988 c 42: See note following RCW 4.24.480.
Severability—1986 c 116: See RCW 82.62.900.
82.60.030
82.60.030 Application for deferral—Contents.
(Expires July 1, 2010.) Application for deferral of taxes
under this chapter must be made before initiation of the construction of the investment project or acquisition of equipment or machinery. The application shall be made to the
department in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The application shall contain information regarding the
location of the investment project, the applicant’s average
employment in the state for the prior year, estimated or actual
new employment related to the project, estimated or actual
wages of employees related to the project, estimated or actual
costs, time schedules for completion and operation, and other
information required by the department. The department
shall rule on the application within sixty days. [1994 sp.s. c
1 § 2; 1985 c 232 § 3.]
Expiration of RCW 82.60.030 and 82.60.040: See RCW 82.60.050.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Deferrals for Investment Projects in Rural Counties
82.60.040
82.60.040 Issuance of tax deferral certificate.
(Expires July 1, 2010.) (1) The department shall issue a sales
and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and
use taxes due under chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW
on each eligible investment project that is located in an eligible area as defined in RCW 82.60.020.
(2) The department shall keep a running total of all
deferrals granted under this chapter during each fiscal biennium.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2010. [2004 c 25 § 4;
1999 c 164 § 302; 1997 c 156 § 5; 1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 6; 1994
sp.s. c 1 § 3; 1986 c 116 § 13; 1985 c 232 § 4.]
82.60.065
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
82.60.050
82.60.050 Expiration of RCW 82.60.030 and
82.60.040. RCW 82.60.030 and 82.60.040 shall expire July
1, 2010. [2004 c 25 § 6; 1994 sp.s. c 1 § 7; 1993 sp.s. c 25 §
404; 1988 c 41 § 5; 1985 c 232 § 10.]
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
82.60.060
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
Savings—1999 c 164 §§ 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: See note following RCW 82.60.020.
Expiration date—1997 c 156 § 5: "Section 5 of this act expires July 1,
2004." [1997 c 156 § 12.]
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
82.60.060 Repayment schedule. (1) The recipient shall
begin paying the deferred taxes in the third year after the date
certified by the department as the date on which the construction project has been operationally completed. The first payment will be due on December 31st of the third calendar year
after such certified date, with subsequent annual payments
due on December 31st of the following four years with
amounts of payment scheduled as follows:
Expiration of RCW 82.60.030 and 82.60.040: See RCW 82.60.050.
Repayment Year
1
2
3
4
5
Severability—1986 c 116: See RCW 82.62.900.
82.60.049
82.60.049 Additional eligible projects. (1) For the
purposes of this section:
(a) "Eligible area" also means a designated community
empowerment zone approved under RCW 43.31C.020 or a
county containing a community empowerment zone.
(b) "Eligible investment project" also means an investment project in an eligible area as defined in this section.
(2) In addition to the provisions of RCW 82.60.040, the
department shall issue a sales and use tax deferral certificate
for state and local sales and use taxes due under chapters
82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW, on each eligible investment
project that is located in an eligible area, if the applicant
establishes that at the time the project is operationally complete:
(a) The applicant will hire at least one qualified employment position for each seven hundred fifty thousand dollars
of investment for which a deferral is requested; and
(b) The positions will be filled by persons who at the
time of hire are residents of the community empowerment
zone. As used in this subsection, "resident" means the person
makes his or her home in the community empowerment zone.
A mailing address alone is insufficient to establish that a person is a resident for the purposes of this section. The persons
must be hired after the date the application is filed with the
department.
(3) All other provisions and eligibility requirements of
this chapter apply to applicants eligible under this section.
(4) The qualified employment position must be filled by
the end of the calendar year following the year in which the
project is certified as operationally complete. If a person
does not meet the requirements for qualified employment
positions by the end of the second calendar year following the
year in which the project is certified as operationally complete, all deferred taxes are immediately due. [2004 c 25 § 5;
2000 c 106 § 8; 1999 c 164 § 304.]
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
(2006 Ed.)
% of Deferred Tax Repaid
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
(2) The department may authorize an accelerated repayment schedule upon request of the recipient.
(3) Interest shall not be charged on any taxes deferred
under this chapter for the period of deferral, although all
other penalties and interest applicable to delinquent excise
taxes may be assessed and imposed for delinquent payments
under this chapter. The debt for deferred taxes will not be
extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the recipient.
Transfer of ownership does not terminate the deferral. The
deferral is transferred, subject to the successor meeting the
eligibility requirements of this chapter, for the remaining
periods of the deferral. [2000 c 106 § 5; 1985 c 232 § 5.]
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
82.60.065
82.60.065 Tax deferral on construction labor and
investment projects—Repayment forgiven. Except as provided in RCW 82.60.070:
(1) Taxes deferred under this chapter on the sale or use of
labor that is directly used in the construction of an investment
project for which a deferral has been granted under this chapter after June 11, 1986, and prior to July 1, 1994, need not be
repaid.
(2) Taxes deferred under this chapter on an investment
project for which a deferral has been granted under this chapter after June 30, 1994, need not be repaid.
(3) Taxes deferred under this chapter need not be repaid
on machinery and equipment for lumber and wood products
industries, and sales of or charges made for labor and services, of the type which qualifies for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565 or 82.12.02565 to the extent the taxes have not
been repaid before July 1, 1995. [1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 8; 1994
sp.s. c 1 § 6; 1986 c 116 § 14.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 313]
82.60.070
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
Severability—1986 c 116: See RCW 82.62.900.
82.60.070
82.60.070 Annual survey by recipients—Assessment
of taxes, interest. (1)(a) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax
policy. In order to make policy choices regarding the best use
of limited state resources the legislature needs information on
how a tax incentive is used.
(b) Each recipient of a deferral granted under this chapter
after June 30, 1994, shall complete an annual survey. If the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as
provided in RCW 82.60.020(4), the lessee shall agree to complete the annual survey and the applicant is not required to
complete the annual survey. The survey is due by March 31st
of the year following the calendar year in which the investment project is certified by the department as having been
operationally complete and the seven succeeding calendar
years. The survey shall include the amount of tax deferred,
the number of new products or research projects by general
classification, and the number of trademarks, patents, and
copyrights associated with activities at the investment
project. The survey shall also include the following information for employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(c) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the deferral program, to
be submitted at the same time as the survey.
(d) All information collected under this subsection,
except the amount of the tax deferral taken, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is not disclosable. Information on the amount of tax deferral taken is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330
and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(e) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(f) The department shall also use the information to
study the tax deferral program authorized under this chapter.
The department shall report to the legislature by December 1,
2009. The report shall measure the effect of the program on
job creation, the number of jobs created for residents of eligible areas, company growth, the introduction of new products,
the diversification of the state’s economy, growth in research
and development investment, the movement of firms or the
consolidation of firms’ operations into the state, and such
other factors as the department selects.
[Title 82 RCW—page 314]
(2)(a) If, on the basis of a survey under this section or
other information, the department finds that an investment
project is not eligible for tax deferral under this chapter, the
amount of deferred taxes outstanding for the project shall be
immediately due.
(b) If a recipient of the deferral fails to complete the
annual survey required under subsection (1) of this section by
the date due, twelve and one-half percent of the deferred tax
shall be immediately due. If the economic benefits of the
deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW
82.60.020(4), the lessee shall be responsible for payment to
the extent the lessee has received the economic benefit.
(3) Notwithstanding any other subsection of this section,
deferred taxes need not be repaid on machinery and equipment for lumber and wood products industries, and sales of or
charges made for labor and services, of the type which qualifies for exemption under RCW 82.08.02565 or 82.12.02565
to the extent the taxes have not been repaid before July 1,
1995.
(4) Notwithstanding any other subsection of this section,
deferred taxes on the following need not be repaid:
(a) Machinery and equipment, and sales of or charges
made for labor and services, which at the time of purchase
would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565; and
(b) Machinery and equipment which at the time of first
use would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.12.02565. [2004 c 25 § 7; 1999 c 164 § 303; 1995 1st sp.s.
c 3 § 9; 1994 sp.s. c 1 § 5; 1985 c 232 § 6.]
Effective date—2004 c 25: See note following RCW 82.04.4483.
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
Savings—1999 c 164 §§ 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: See note following RCW 82.60.020.
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
82.60.080
82.60.080 Employment and wage determinations.
The employment security department shall make, and certify
to the department of revenue, all determinations of employment and wages as requested by the department under this
chapter. [2000 c 106 § 6; 1985 c 232 § 7.]
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
82.60.090
82.60.090 Applicability of general administrative
provisions. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this chapter. [1985 c 232 § 8.]
82.60.100
82.60.100 Applications, reports, and information
subject to disclosure. Applications, reports, and any other
information received by the department under this chapter
shall not be confidential and shall be subject to disclosure.
[1987 c 49 § 1.]
82.60.110
82.60.110 Competing projects—Impact study. If the
department determines that an investment project for which
an exemption is granted under this chapter competes with an
investment project for which a deferral is granted under this
chapter, the department shall study the impacts on the project
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Credits for Eligible Business Projects in Rural Counties
for which a deferral is granted. [1998 c 245 § 169; 1994 sp.s.
c 1 § 8.]
82.60.900
82.60.900 Effective date, applicability—1985 c 232.
This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect immediately, provided that no taxes may be deferred
prior to July 1, 1985. [1985 c 232 § 11.]
Reviser’s note: The effective date of 1985 c 232 is May 10, 1985.
82.60.901
82.60.901 Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 1. This act shall
take effect July 1, 1994. [1994 sp.s. c 1 § 10.]
Chapter 82.62
Chapter 82.62 RCW
TAX CREDITS FOR ELIGIBLE BUSINESS
PROJECTS IN RURAL COUNTIES
82.62.050
82.62.060
82.62.070
82.62.080
82.62.900
82.62.901
(7) "Qualified employment position" means a permanent
full-time employee employed in the eligible business project
during the entire tax year.
(8) "Tax year" means the calendar year in which taxes
are due.
(9) "Recipient" means a person receiving tax credits
under this chapter.
(10) "Research and development" means the development, refinement, testing, marketing, and commercialization
of a product, service, or process before commercial sales
have begun. As used in this subsection, "commercial sales"
excludes sales of prototypes or sales for market testing if the
total gross receipts from such sales of the product, service, or
process do not exceed one million dollars. [2001 c 320 § 12;
1999 sp.s. c 9 § 3; 1999 c 164 § 305; 1996 c 290 § 5; 1994
sp.s. c 7 § 705; 1993 sp.s. c 25 § 410; 1988 c 42 § 17; 1986 c
116 § 15.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 9: See notes following RCW 82.04.120.
Sections
82.62.010
82.62.020
82.62.030
82.62.045
82.62.030
Definitions.
Application for tax credits—Contents.
Allowance of tax credits—Limitations.
Tax credits for eligible business projects in designated community empowerment zones.
Tax credit recipients to report to department—Payment of
taxes and interest by ineligible recipients.
Employment and wage determinations.
Applicability of general administrative provisions.
Applications, reports, and other information subject to disclosure.
Severability—1986 c 116.
Effective date—1986 c 116 §§ 15-20.
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
Savings—1999 c 164 §§ 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: See note following RCW 82.60.020.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following
RCW 43.70.540.
Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—
1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.
Severability—1988 c 42: See note following RCW 4.24.480.
82.62.020
82.62.010
82.62.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax credit
under this chapter.
(2) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(3) "Eligible area" means an area as defined in RCW
82.60.020.
(4)(a) "Eligible business project" means manufacturing
or research and development activities which are conducted
by an applicant in an eligible area at a specific facility, provided the applicant’s average full-time qualified employment
positions at the specific facility will be at least fifteen percent
greater in the year for which the credit is being sought than
the applicant’s average full-time qualified employment positions at the same facility in the immediately preceding year.
(b) "Eligible business project" does not include any portion of a business project undertaken by a light and power
business as defined in RCW 82.16.010(5) or that portion of a
business project creating qualified full-time employment
positions outside an eligible area.
(5) "Manufacturing" means the same as defined in RCW
82.04.120. "Manufacturing" also includes computer programming, the production of computer software, and other
computer-related services, and the activities performed by
research and development laboratories and commercial testing laboratories.
(6) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(2006 Ed.)
82.62.020 Application for tax credits—Contents.
Application for tax credits under this chapter must be made
before the actual hiring of qualified employment positions.
The application shall be made to the department in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The application shall
contain information regarding the location of the business
project, the applicant’s average employment, if any, at the
facility for the prior year, estimated or actual new employment related to the project, estimated or actual wages of
employees related to the project, estimated or actual costs,
time schedules for completion and operation, and other information required by the department. The department shall rule
on the application within sixty days. [1986 c 116 § 16.]
82.62.030
82.62.030 Allowance of tax credits—Limitations. (1)
A person shall be allowed a credit against the tax due under
chapter 82.04 RCW as provided in this section. The credit
shall equal: (a) Four thousand dollars for each qualified
employment position with wages and benefits greater than
forty thousand dollars annually that is directly created in an
eligible business and (b) two thousand dollars for each qualified employment position with wages and benefits less than
or equal to forty thousand dollars annually that is directly created in an eligible business.
(2) The department shall keep a running total of all credits allowed under this chapter during each fiscal year. The
department shall not allow any credits which would cause the
total to exceed seven million five hundred thousand dollars in
any fiscal year. If all or part of an application for credit is disallowed under this subsection, the disallowed portion shall be
[Title 82 RCW—page 315]
82.62.045
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
carried over to the next fiscal year. However, the carryover
into the next fiscal year is only permitted to the extent that the
cap for the next fiscal year is not exceeded.
(3) No recipient may use the tax credits to decertify a
union or to displace existing jobs in any community in the
state.
(4) The credit may be used against any tax due under
chapter 82.04 RCW, and may be carried over until used. No
refunds may be granted for credits under this section. [2001
c 320 § 13; 1999 c 164 § 306; 1997 c 366 § 5; 1996 c 1 § 3;
1986 c 116 § 17.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
Savings—1999 c 164 §§ 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: See note following RCW 82.60.020.
Intent—Goals—Severability—Captions and part headings not
law—1997 c 366: See notes following RCW 82.14.370.
Effective date—1996 c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.255.
82.62.045
82.62.045 Tax credits for eligible business projects in
designated community empowerment zones. (1) For the
purposes of this section "eligible area" also means a designated community empowerment zone approved under *RCW
43.63A.700.
(2) An eligible business project located within an eligible
area as defined in this section qualifies for a credit under this
chapter for those employees who at the time of hire are residents of the community empowerment zone in which the
project is located, if the fifteen percent threshold is met. As
used in this subsection, "resident" means the person makes
his or her home in the community empowerment zone. A
mailing address alone is insufficient to establish that a person
is a resident for the purposes of this section.
(3) All other provisions and eligibility requirements of
this chapter apply to applicants eligible under this section.
[1999 c 164 § 307.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 43.63A.700 was recodified as RCW
43.31C.020 pursuant to 2000 c 212 § 11.
Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW
43.160.010.
than failure to create the required number of qualified
employment positions, the amount of taxes for which a credit
has been used for the project shall be immediately due.
(3) If, on the basis of a report under this section or other
information, the department finds that a business project has
failed to create the specified number of qualified employment
positions, the department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the credited taxes for which a credit has been used for
the project. The interest shall be assessed at the rate provided
for delinquent excise taxes, shall be assessed retroactively to
the date of the tax credit, and shall accrue until the taxes for
which a credit has been used are repaid. [2001 c 320 § 14;
1986 c 116 § 18.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
82.62.060
82.62.060 Employment and wage determinations.
The employment security department shall make, and certify
to the department of revenue, all determinations of employment and wages requested by the department under this chapter. [2000 c 106 § 7; 1986 c 116 § 19.]
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
82.62.070
82.62.070 Applicability of general administrative
provisions. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this chapter. [1986 c 116 § 20.]
82.62.080
82.62.080 Applications, reports, and other information subject to disclosure. Applications, reports, and any
other information received by the department under this
chapter shall not be confidential and shall be subject to disclosure. [1987 c 49 § 3.]
82.62.900
82.62.900 Severability—1986 c 116. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1986 c 116 § 23.]
82.62.901
82.62.901 Effective date—1986 c 116 §§ 15-20. Sections 15 through 20 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the
support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1, 1986. [1986 c 116 § 24.]
82.62.050
82.62.050 Tax credit recipients to report to department—Payment of taxes and interest by ineligible recipients. (1) Each recipient shall submit a report to the department on January 31st following the year the application for
credit was allowed. The report shall contain information, as
required by the department, from which the department may
determine whether the recipient is meeting the requirements
of this chapter. If the recipient fails to submit a report or submits an inadequate report, the department may declare the
amount of taxes for which a credit has been used to be immediately assessed and payable. The recipient must keep
records, such as payroll records showing the date of hire and
employment security reports, to verify eligibility under this
section.
(2) If, on the basis of a report under this section or other
information, the department finds that a business project is
not eligible for tax credit under this chapter for reasons other
[Title 82 RCW—page 316]
Chapter 82.63
Chapter 82.63 RCW
TAX DEFERRALS FOR HIGH
TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES
Sections
82.63.005
82.63.010
82.63.020
82.63.030
82.63.045
82.63.060
82.63.070
82.63.900
Findings—Intent to create a contract.
Definitions.
Application—Annual survey—Reports.
Sales and use tax deferral certificate—Eligible investment
projects and pilot scale manufacturing.
Repayment not required—Repayment schedule for unqualified investment project—Exceptions.
Administration.
Public disclosure.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 5.
82.63.005
82.63.005 Findings—Intent to create a contract. The
legislature finds that high-wage, high-skilled jobs are vital to
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Deferrals for High Technology Businesses
the economic health of the state’s citizens, and that targeted
tax incentives will encourage the formation of high-wage,
high-skilled jobs. The legislature also finds that tax incentives should be subject to the same rigorous requirements for
efficiency and accountability as are other expenditure programs, and that tax incentives should therefore be focused to
provide the greatest possible return on the state’s investment.
The legislature also finds that high-technology businesses are a vital and growing source of high-wage, highskilled jobs in this state, and that the high-technology sector
is a key component of the state’s effort to encourage economic diversification. However, the legislature finds that
many high-technology businesses incur significant costs
associated with research and development and pilot scale
manufacturing many years before a marketable product can
be produced, and that current state tax policy discourages the
growth of these companies by taxing them long before they
become profitable.
The legislature further finds that stimulating growth of
high-technology businesses early in their development cycle,
when they are turning ideas into marketable products, will
build upon the state’s established high-technology base, creating additional research and development jobs and subsequent manufacturing facilities.
For these reasons, the legislature hereby establishes a
program of business and occupation tax credits for qualified
research and development expenditures. The legislature also
hereby establishes a tax deferral program for high-technology
research and development and pilot scale manufacturing
facilities. The legislature declares that these limited programs serve the vital public purposes of incenting expenditures in research and development, supporting, and sustaining
as they develop new technologies and products, and creating
quality employment opportunities in this state. The legislature further declares its intent to create a contract within the
meaning of Article I, section 23 of the state Constitution as to
those businesses that make capital investments in consideration of the tax deferral program established in this chapter.
[2004 c 2 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 5 § 1.]
82.63.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Advanced computing" means technologies used in
the designing and developing of computing hardware and
software, including innovations in designing the full spectrum of hardware from hand-held calculators to super computers, and peripheral equipment.
(2) "Advanced materials" means materials with engineered properties created through the development of specialized processing and synthesis technology, including
ceramics, high value-added metals, electronic materials,
composites, polymers, and biomaterials.
(3) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.
(4) "Biotechnology" means the application of technologies, such as recombinant DNA techniques, biochemistry,
molecular and cellular biology, genetics and genetic engineering, cell fusion techniques, and new bioprocesses, using
living organisms, or parts of organisms, to produce or modify
products, to improve plants or animals, to develop microor82.63.010
(2006 Ed.)
82.63.010
ganisms for specific uses, to identify targets for small molecule pharmaceutical development, or to transform biological
systems into useful processes and products or to develop
microorganisms for specific uses.
(5) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(6) "Electronic device technology" means technologies
involving microelectronics; semiconductors; electronic
equipment and instrumentation; radio frequency, microwave,
and millimeter electronics; optical and optic-electrical
devices; and data and digital communications and imaging
devices.
(7) "Eligible investment project" means an investment
project which either initiates a new operation, or expands or
diversifies a current operation by expanding, renovating, or
equipping an existing facility. The lessor or owner of the
qualified building is not eligible for a deferral unless:
(a) The underlying ownership of the buildings, machinery, and equipment vests exclusively in the same person; or
(b)(i) The lessor by written contract agrees to pass the
economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee;
(ii) The lessee that receives the economic benefit of the
deferral agrees in writing with the department to complete the
annual survey required under RCW 82.63.020(2); and
(iii) The economic benefit of the deferral passed to the
lessee is no less than the amount of tax deferred by the lessor
and is evidenced by written documentation of any type of
payment, credit, or other financial arrangement between the
lessor or owner of the qualified building and the lessee.
(8) "Environmental technology" means assessment and
prevention of threats or damage to human health or the environment, environmental cleanup, and the development of
alternative energy sources.
(9) "Investment project" means an investment in qualified buildings or qualified machinery and equipment, including labor and services rendered in the planning, installation,
and construction or improvement of the project.
(10) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030
and includes state universities as defined in RCW
28B.10.016.
(11) "Pilot scale manufacturing" means design, construction, and testing of preproduction prototypes and models in
the fields of biotechnology, advanced computing, electronic
device technology, advanced materials, and environmental
technology other than for commercial sale. As used in this
subsection, "commercial sale" excludes sales of prototypes or
sales for market testing if the total gross receipts from such
sales of the product, service, or process do not exceed one
million dollars.
(12) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new
structures, and expansion or renovation of existing structures
for the purpose of increasing floor space or production capacity used for pilot scale manufacturing or qualified research
and development, including plant offices and other facilities
that are an essential or an integral part of a structure used for
pilot scale manufacturing or qualified research and development. If a building is used partly for pilot scale manufacturing or qualified research and development, and partly for
other purposes, the applicable tax deferral shall be determined by apportionment of the costs of construction under
rules adopted by the department.
[Title 82 RCW—page 317]
82.63.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(13) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an integral
and necessary part of a pilot scale manufacturing or qualified
research and development operation. "Qualified machinery
and equipment" includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment; laboratory equipment, instrumentation,
and other devices used in a process of experimentation to
develop a new or improved pilot model, plant process, product, formula, invention, or similar property; manufacturing
components such as belts, pulleys, shafts, and moving parts;
molds, tools, and dies; vats, tanks, and fermenters; operating
structures; and all other equipment used to control, monitor,
or operate the machinery. For purposes of this chapter, qualified machinery and equipment must be either new to the taxing jurisdiction of the state or new to the certificate holder,
except that used machinery and equipment may be treated as
qualified machinery and equipment if the certificate holder
either brings the machinery and equipment into Washington
or makes a retail purchase of the machinery and equipment in
Washington or elsewhere.
(14) "Qualified research and development" means
research and development performed within this state in the
fields of advanced computing, advanced materials, biotechnology, electronic device technology, and environmental
technology.
(15) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral
under this chapter.
(16) "Research and development" means activities performed to discover technological information, and technical
and nonroutine activities concerned with translating technological information into new or improved products, processes, techniques, formulas, inventions, or software. The
term includes exploration of a new use for an existing drug,
device, or biological product if the new use requires separate
licensing by the federal food and drug administration under
chapter 21, C.F.R., as amended. The term does not include
adaptation or duplication of existing products where the
products are not substantially improved by application of the
technology, nor does the term include surveys and studies,
social science and humanities research, market research or
testing, quality control, sale promotion and service, computer
software developed for internal use, and research in areas
such as improved style, taste, and seasonal design.
(17)(a) "Initiation of construction" means the date that a
building permit is issued under the building code adopted
under RCW 19.27.031 for:
(i) Construction of the qualified building, if the underlying ownership of the building vests exclusively with the person receiving the economic benefit of the deferral;
(ii) Construction of the qualified building, if the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in subsection (7) of this section; or
(iii) Tenant improvements for a qualified building, if the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as
provided in subsection (7) of this section.
(b) "Initiation of construction" does not include soil testing, site clearing and grading, site preparation, or any other
related activities that are initiated before the issuance of a
building permit for the construction of the foundation of the
building.
[Title 82 RCW—page 318]
(c) If the investment project is a phased project, "initiation of construction" shall apply separately to each phase.
[2004 c 2 § 3; 1995 1st sp.s. c 3 § 12; 1994 sp.s. c 5 § 3.]
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
82.63.020
82.63.020 Application—Annual survey—Reports.
(1) Application for deferral of taxes under this chapter must
be made before initiation of construction of, or acquisition of
equipment or machinery for the investment project. The
application shall be made to the department in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The application shall
contain information regarding the location of the investment
project, the applicant’s average employment in the state for
the prior year, estimated or actual new employment related to
the project, estimated or actual wages of employees related to
the project, estimated or actual costs, time schedules for completion and operation, and other information required by the
department. The department shall rule on the application
within sixty days.
(2)(a) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order
to make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(b) Applicants for deferral of taxes under this chapter
shall agree to complete an annual survey. If the economic
benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in
RCW 82.63.010(7), the lessee shall agree to complete the
annual survey and the applicant is not required to complete
the annual survey. The survey is due by March 31st of the
year following the calendar year in which the investment
project is certified by the department as having been operationally complete and the seven succeeding calendar years.
The survey shall include the amount of tax deferred, the number of new products or research projects by general classification, and the number of trademarks, patents, and copyrights
associated with activities at the investment project. The survey shall also include the following information for employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(c) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the deferral program, to
be submitted at the same time as the survey.
(d) All information collected under this subsection,
except the amount of the tax deferral taken, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is not disclosable. Information on the amount of tax deferral taken is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330
and may be disclosed to the public upon request.
(2006 Ed.)
Syrup Tax
(3) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(4) The department shall use the information to study the
tax deferral program authorized under this chapter. The
department shall report to the legislature by December 1,
2009, and December 1, 2013. The reports shall measure the
effect of the program on job creation, the number of jobs created for Washington residents, company growth, the introduction of new products, the diversification of the state’s
economy, growth in research and development investment,
the movement of firms or the consolidation of firms’ operations into the state, and such other factors as the department
selects. [2004 c 2 § 4; 1994 sp.s. c 5 § 4.]
82.63.030
82.63.030 Sales and use tax deferral certificate—Eligible investment projects and pilot scale manufacturing.
(Expires January 1, 2015.) (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the department shall issue a sales
and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and
use taxes due under chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW
on each eligible investment project.
(2) No certificate may be issued for an investment
project that has already received a deferral under chapter
82.60 or *82.61 RCW or this chapter, except that an investment project for qualified research and development that has
already received a deferral may also receive an additional
deferral certificate for adapting the investment project for use
in pilot scale manufacturing.
(3) This section shall expire January 1, 2015. [2004 c 2
§ 5; 1994 sp.s. c 5 § 5.]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 82.61 RCW was repealed in its entirety by
2005 c 443 § 7, effective July 1, 2006.
Chapter 82.64
(b) If a recipient of the deferral fails to complete the
annual survey required under RCW 82.63.020 by the date
due, 12.5 percent of the deferred tax shall be immediately
due. If the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a
lessee as provided in RCW 82.63.010(7), the lessee shall be
responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received
the economic benefit.
(c) If an investment project is used for purposes other
than qualified research and development or pilot scale manufacturing at any time during the calendar year in which the
investment project is certified as having been operationally
complete and the recipient of the deferral fails to complete
the annual survey due under RCW 82.63.020, the portion of
deferred taxes immediately due is the amount on the schedule
in (a) of this subsection. If the economic benefits of the
deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW
82.63.010(7), the lessee shall be responsible for payment to
the extent the lessee has received the economic benefit.
(3) The department shall assess interest at the rate provided for delinquent taxes, but not penalties, retroactively to
the date of deferral. The debt for deferred taxes will not be
extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the recipient.
Transfer of ownership does not terminate the deferral. The
deferral is transferred, subject to the successor meeting the
eligibility requirements of this chapter, for the remaining
periods of the deferral.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section,
deferred taxes on the following need not be repaid:
(a) Machinery and equipment, and sales of or charges
made for labor and services, which at the time of purchase
would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565; and
(b) Machinery and equipment which at the time of first
use would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.12.02565. [2004 c 2 § 6; 2000 c 106 § 10; 1995 1st sp.s. c
3 § 13.]
Effective date—2000 c 106: See note following RCW 82.32.330.
82.63.045
82.63.045 Repayment not required—Repayment
schedule for unqualified investment project—Exceptions.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, taxes
deferred under this chapter need not be repaid.
(2)(a) If, on the basis of survey under RCW 82.63.020 or
other information, the department finds that an investment
project is used for purposes other than qualified research and
development or pilot scale manufacturing at any time during
the calendar year in which the investment project is certified
by the department as having been operationally completed, or
at any time during any of the seven succeeding calendar
years, a portion of deferred taxes shall be immediately due
according to the following schedule:
Year in which use occurs
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
(2006 Ed.)
% of deferred taxes due
100%
87.5%
75%
62.5%
50%
37.5%
25%
12.5%
Findings—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 3: See notes following
RCW 82.08.02565.
82.63.060
82.63.060 Administration. Chapter 82.32 RCW
applies to the administration of this chapter. [1994 sp.s. c 5 §
8.]
82.63.070 Public disclosure. Applications received by
the department under this chapter are not confidential and are
subject to disclosure. [2004 c 2 § 7; 1994 sp.s. c 5 § 9.]
82.63.070
82.63.900 Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 5. This act shall
take effect January 1, 1995. [1994 sp.s. c 5 § 12.]
82.63.900
Chapter 82.64
Chapter 82.64 RCW
SYRUP TAX
(Formerly: Carbonated beverage tax)
Sections
82.64.010
82.64.020
82.64.030
82.64.040
82.64.050
Definitions.
Tax imposed—Wholesale, retail—Revenue deposited in violence reduction and drug enforcement account.
Exemptions.
Credit against tax.
Wholesaler to collect tax from buyer.
[Title 82 RCW—page 319]
82.64.010
82.64.901
82.64.902
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
Effective dates—1989 c 271.
Severability—1989 c 271.
82.64.010
82.64.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Carbonated beverage" has its ordinary meaning and
includes any nonalcoholic liquid intended for human consumption which contains carbon dioxide, whether carbonation is obtained by natural or artificial means.
(2) "Previously taxed syrup" means syrup in respect to
which a tax has been paid under this chapter.
(3) "Syrup" means a concentrated liquid which is added
to carbonated water to produce a carbonated beverage.
(4) Except for terms defined in this section, the definitions in chapters 82.04, 82.08, and 82.12 RCW apply to this
chapter. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 905 (Referendum Bill No. 43,
approved November 8, 1994); 1991 c 80 § 1; 1989 c 271 §
505.]
Construction—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 905-908: "Sections 905 through 908,
chapter 7, Laws of 1994 sp. sess. shall not be construed as affecting any
existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred, nor as affecting any
proceeding instituted under those sections, before July 1, 1995." [1994 sp.s.
c 7 § 912 (Referendum Bill No. 43, approved November 8, 1994).]
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
Finding—Intent—Severability—Effective dates—Contingent expiration date—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Policy—1991 c 80: "The taxes imposed in this act are intended to raise
revenue for the enforcement of the drug laws of the state. It is the policy of
the state to actively combat the problem of drug abuse by aggressive enforcement of the state’s drug laws and by extensive promotion of public education
programs designed to increase public and consumer awareness of the state’s
drug problem and its enforcement measures." [1991 c 80 § 6.]
Savings—1991 c 80: "The amendatory sections of this act shall not be
construed as affecting any existing right acquired or liability or obligation
incurred under those sections as they existed before this act or under any rule
or order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those sections." [1991 c 80 § 8.]
Effective date—1991 c 80: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1,
1991." [1991 c 80 § 9.]
82.64.020
82.64.020 Tax imposed—Wholesale, retail—Revenue deposited in violence reduction and drug enforcement account. (1) A tax is imposed on each sale at wholesale of syrup in this state. The rate of the tax shall be equal to
one dollar per gallon. Fractional amounts shall be taxed proportionally.
(2) A tax is imposed on each sale at retail of syrup in this
state. The rate of the tax shall be equal to the rate imposed
under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Moneys collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the violence reduction and drug enforcement account
under RCW 69.50.520.
(4) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the taxes imposed in
this chapter. The tax due dates, reporting periods, and return
requirements applicable to chapter 82.04 RCW apply equally
to the taxes imposed in this chapter. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 906
(Referendum Bill No. 43, approved November 8, 1994);
1991 c 80 § 2; 1989 c 271 § 506.]
Finding—Intent—Severability—Effective dates—Contingent expiration date—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Construction—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 905-908: See note following RCW
82.64.010.
Policy—Savings—Effective date—1991 c 80: See notes following
RCW 82.64.010.
82.64.030
82.64.030 Exemptions. The following are exempt from
the taxes imposed in this chapter:
(1) Any successive sale of a previously taxed syrup.
(2) Any syrup that is transferred to a point outside the
state for use outside the state. The department shall provide
by rule appropriate procedures and exemption certificates for
the administration of this exemption.
(3) Any sale at wholesale of a trademarked syrup by any
person to a person commonly known as a bottler who is
appointed by the owner of the trademark to manufacture, distribute, and sell such trademarked syrup within a specified
geographic territory.
(4) Any sale of syrup in respect to which a tax on the
privilege of possession was paid under this chapter before
June 1, 1991. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 907 (Referendum Bill No. 43,
approved November 8, 1994); 1991 c 80 § 3; 1989 c 271 §
507.]
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
Finding—Intent—Severability—Effective dates—Contingent expiration date—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Construction—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 905-908: See note following RCW
82.64.010.
Policy—Savings—Effective date—1991 c 80: See notes following
RCW 82.64.010.
82.64.040
82.64.040 Credit against tax. (1) Credit shall be
allowed, in accordance with rules of the department, against
the taxes imposed in this chapter for any syrup tax paid to
another state with respect to the same syrup. The amount of
the credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this
chapter with respect to that syrup.
(2) For the purpose of this section:
(a) "Syrup tax" means a tax:
(i) That is imposed on the sale at wholesale of syrup and
that is not generally imposed on other activities or privileges;
and
(ii) That is measured by the volume of the syrup.
(b) "State" means (i) a state of the United States other
than Washington, or any political subdivision of such other
state, (ii) the District of Columbia, and (iii) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof. [1994 sp.s. c 7 § 908
(Referendum Bill No. 43, approved November 8, 1994);
1991 c 80 § 7; 1989 c 271 § 508.]
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
Finding—Intent—Severability—Effective dates—Contingent expiration date—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Construction—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 905-908: See note following RCW
82.64.010.
Policy—Savings—Effective date—1991 c 80: See notes following
RCW 82.64.010.
82.64.050
Contingent partial referendum—1994 sp.s. c 7 §§ 901-909: See note
following RCW 66.24.210.
[Title 82 RCW—page 320]
82.64.050 Wholesaler to collect tax from buyer. (1)
The tax imposed in RCW 82.64.020(1) shall be paid by the
(2006 Ed.)
Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded
buyer to the wholesaler and each wholesaler shall collect
from the buyer the full amount of the tax payable in respect to
each taxable sale, unless the wholesaler is prohibited from
collecting the tax from the buyer under the Constitution of
this state or the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Regardless of the obligation to collect the tax from the buyer,
the wholesaler is liable to the state for the amount of the tax.
The tax imposed in RCW 82.64.020(2) shall be paid by the
retailer. The buyer is not obligated to pay or report to the
department the taxes imposed in RCW 82.64.020.
(2) The tax required to be collected by the wholesaler
shall be stated separately from the selling price in any sales
invoice or other instrument of sale.
(3) Any wholesaler who fails or refuses to collect tax
under this section, with intent to violate the provisions of this
chapter or to gain some advantage or benefit, either direct or
indirect, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(4) The amount of tax required to be collected under this
section shall constitute a debt from the buyer to the wholesaler until paid by the buyer to the wholesaler. [1991 c 80 §
4.]
Policy—Savings—Effective date—1991 c 80: See notes following
RCW 82.64.010.
82.64.901
82.64.901 Effective dates—1989 c 271.
lowing RCW 66.28.200.
See note fol-
82.65A.901
82.65A.020 Definitions. (Contingent expiration date.)
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions
in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Gross income" means all income from whatever
source derived, including but not limited to gross income of
the business as defined in RCW 82.04.080 and moneys
received from state appropriations.
(2) "Intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded"
means an intermediate care facility certified by the department of social and health services and the federal department
of health and human services to provide residential care
under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396d(d). [1992 c 80 § 2.]
82.65A.020
82.65A.030 Tax imposed. (Contingent expiration
date.) In addition to any other tax, a tax is imposed on every
intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded for the act
or privilege of engaging in business within this state. The tax
is equal to the gross income attributable to services for the
mentally retarded, multiplied by the rate of six percent.
[1993 c 276 § 1; 1992 c 80 § 3.]
82.65A.030
Contingent effective date—1993 c 276: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
*effect on such date as shall be certified by the secretary of social and health
services by which states must modify health care related taxes to prevent the
loss of federal medicaid participation in the cost of the tax." [1993 c 276 §
2.]
*Reviser’s note: 1993 c 276 took effect in 1993. See RCW
82.65A.900 for the contingent expiration of this section.
82.64.902
82.64.902 Severability—1989 c 271. See note following RCW 9.94A.510.
Chapter 82.65A RCW
INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES FOR THE
MENTALLY RETARDED
Chapter 82.65A
Sections
82.65A.010
82.65A.020
82.65A.030
82.65A.040
82.65A.900
82.65A.901
Expiration date defined.
Definitions.
Tax imposed.
Administration.
Expiration date—Savings—Application—1992 c 80.
Effective date—1992 c 80.
82.65A.040 Administration. (Contingent expiration
date.) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the tax imposed in this
chapter. The tax due dates, reporting periods, and return
requirements applicable to chapter 82.04 RCW apply equally
to the tax imposed in this chapter, except the department may
not permit returns for taxes under this chapter to cover periods longer than one month. The appropriations in *section 7
of this act shall not be construed as modifying in any manner
the obligation of the taxpayer to pay taxes on an accrual basis
as ordinarily required under chapter 82.04 RCW. [1992 c 80
§ 4.]
82.65A.040
*Reviser’s note: See note following RCW 82.65A.010.
82.65A.900 Expiration date—Savings—Application—1992 c 80. (1) RCW 82.65A.020 through 82.65A.040
shall expire on the expiration date determined under RCW
82.65A.010.
(2) The expiration of RCW 82.65A.020 through
82.65A.040 shall not be construed as affecting any existing
right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under those
sections or under any rule or order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those
sections.
(3) Taxes that have been paid under RCW 82.65A.020
through 82.65A.040, but are properly attributable to taxable
events occurring after the expiration of those sections, shall
be credited or refunded as provided in RCW 82.32.060.
[1992 c 80 § 6.]
82.65A.900
82.65A.010
82.65A.010 Expiration date defined. As used in this
chapter, "expiration date" means the earliest of:
(1) The effective date that federal medicaid matching
funds for the purposes specified in *section 7 of this act
become unavailable or are substantially reduced, as such date
is certified by the secretary of social and health services;
(2) The effective date that federal medicaid matching
funds for the purposes specified in *section 7 of this act
become unavailable or are substantially reduced, as determined by a permanent injunction, court order, or final court
decision; or
(3) The effective date of a permanent injunction, court
order, or final court decision that prohibits in whole or in part
the collection of taxes under RCW 82.65A.030. [1992 c 80 §
1.]
*Reviser’s note: "Section 7 of this act" was originally an appropriation
section, however a senate amendment removed the appropriation section,
and the corresponding internal and substantive references were not corrected.
(2006 Ed.)
82.65A.901 Effective date—1992 c 80. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
82.65A.901
[Title 82 RCW—page 321]
Chapter 82.66
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1,
1992. [1992 c 80 § 7.]
Chapter 82.66 RCW
TAX DEFERRALS FOR NEW THOROUGHBRED
RACE TRACKS
Chapter 82.66
Sections
82.66.010
82.66.020
82.66.040
82.66.050
82.66.060
82.66.900
82.66.901
82.66.040
82.66.040 Repayment schedule—Interest, penalties.
(1) The recipient shall begin paying the deferred taxes in the
tenth year after the date certified by the department as the
date on which the investment project is operationally complete. The first payment is due on December 31st of the tenth
calendar year after such certified date, with subsequent
annual payments due on December 31st of the following nine
years with amounts of payment scheduled as follows:
Repayment Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Definitions.
Application for deferral—Contents—Ruling.
Repayment schedule—Interest, penalties.
Applications not confidential.
Administration.
Severability—1995 c 352.
Effective date—1995 c 352.
82.66.010
82.66.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.
(2) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(3) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(4) "Investment project" means construction of buildings, site preparation, and the acquisition of related machinery and equipment when the buildings, machinery, and
equipment are to be used in the operation of a new thoroughbred race track.
(5) "New thoroughbred race track" means a site for thoroughbred horse racing located west of the Cascade mountains
on which construction is commenced prior to July 1, 1998.
(6) "Buildings" means only those new structures such as
ticket offices, concession areas, grandstands, stables, and
other structures that are an essential or an integral part of a
thoroughbred race track. If a building is used partly for use as
an essential or integral part of a thoroughbred race track and
partly for other purposes, the applicable tax deferral shall be
determined by apportionment of the costs of construction
under rules adopted by the department.
(7) "Machinery and equipment" means all fixtures,
equipment, and support facilities that are an integral and necessary part of a thoroughbred race track.
(8) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral
under this chapter.
(9) "Certificate holder" means an applicant to whom a
tax deferral certificate has been issued.
(10) "Operationally complete" means constructed or
improved to the point of being functionally useable for thoroughbred horse racing.
(11) "Initiation of construction" means that date upon
which on-site construction commences. [1995 c 352 § 1.]
% of Deferred Tax Repaid
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
(2) The department may authorize an accelerated repayment schedule upon request of the recipient.
(3) Interest shall not be charged on any taxes deferred
under this chapter for the period of deferral, although all
other penalties and interest applicable to delinquent excise
taxes may be assessed and imposed for delinquent payments
under this chapter. The debt for deferred taxes is not extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the recipient. [1998
c 339 § 1; 1995 c 352 § 4.]
82.66.050
82.66.050 Applications not confidential. Applications
and any other information received by the department under
this chapter is not confidential and is subject to disclosure.
[1995 c 352 § 6.]
82.66.060
82.66.060 Administration. Chapter 82.32 RCW
applies to the administration of this chapter. [1995 c 352 § 5.]
82.66.900
82.66.900 Severability—1995 c 352. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1995 c 352 § 7.]
82.66.901
82.66.901 Effective date—1995 c 352. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 16, 1995]. [1995 c 352 § 9.]
Chapter 82.70 RCW
COMMUTE TRIP REDUCTION INCENTIVES
Chapter 82.70
82.66.020
82.66.020 Application for deferral—Contents—Ruling. Application for deferral of taxes under this chapter shall
be made to the department in a form and manner prescribed
by the department. The application shall contain information
regarding the location of the investment project, estimated or
actual costs, time schedules for completion and operation,
and other information required by the department. The
department shall rule on the application within sixty days.
[1995 c 352 § 2.]
[Title 82 RCW—page 322]
Sections
82.70.010
82.70.020
82.70.025
82.70.030
82.70.040
82.70.050
82.70.060
82.70.070
Definitions.
Tax credit authorized.
Application for tax credit.
False statement in application—Penalty.
Tax credit limitations.
Fund transfer.
Commute trip reduction task force report.
Administration.
(2006 Ed.)
Commute Trip Reduction Incentives
82.70.900
Expiration of chapter.
82.70.010
82.70.010 Definitions. (Expires July 1, 2013.) The
definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter and
RCW 70.94.996 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Public agency" means any county, city, or other
local government agency or any state government agency,
board, or commission.
(2) "Public transportation" means the same as "public
transportation service" as defined in RCW 36.57A.010 and
includes passenger services of the Washington state ferries.
(3) "Nonmotorized commuting" means commuting to
and from the workplace by an employee by walking or running or by riding a bicycle or other device not powered by a
motor.
(4) "Ride sharing" means the same as "flexible commuter ride sharing" as defined in RCW 46.74.010, including
ride sharing on Washington state ferries.
(5) "Car sharing" means a membership program intended
to offer an alternative to car ownership under which persons
or entities that become members are permitted to use vehicles
from a fleet on an hourly basis.
(6) "Telework" means a program where work functions
that are normally performed at a traditional workplace are
instead performed by an employee at his or her home at least
one day a week for the purpose of reducing the number of
trips to the employee’s workplace.
(7) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax credit
under this chapter. [2005 c 297 § 1; 2003 c 364 § 1.]
Effective date—2005 c 297: See note following RCW 82.70.025.
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
82.70.020
82.70.020 Tax credit authorized. (Expires July 1,
2013.) (1) Employers in this state who are taxable under
chapter 82.04 or 82.16 RCW and provide financial incentives
to their own or other employees for ride sharing, for using
public transportation, for using car sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting before July 1, 2013, are allowed a
credit against taxes payable under chapters 82.04 and 82.16
RCW for amounts paid to or on behalf of employees for ride
sharing in vehicles carrying two or more persons, for using
public transportation, for using car sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting, not to exceed sixty dollars per
employee per fiscal year.
(2) Property managers who are taxable under chapter
82.04 or 82.16 RCW and provide financial incentives to persons employed at a worksite in this state managed by the
property manager for ride sharing, for using public transportation, for using car sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting before July 1, 2013, are allowed a credit against taxes
payable under chapters 82.04 and 82.16 RCW for amounts
paid to or on behalf of these persons for ride sharing in vehicles carrying two or more persons, for using public transportation, for using car sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting, not to exceed sixty dollars per person per fiscal year.
(3) The credit under this section is equal to the amount
paid to or on behalf of each employee multiplied by fifty percent, but may not exceed sixty dollars per employee per fiscal
(2006 Ed.)
82.70.030
year. No refunds may be granted for credits under this section.
(4) A person may not receive credit under this section for
amounts paid to or on behalf of the same employee under
both chapters 82.04 and 82.16 RCW.
(5) A person may not take a credit under this section for
amounts claimed for credit by other persons. [2005 c 297 §
3; 2003 c 364 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 297: See note following RCW 82.70.025.
Effective date—Contingency—2003 c 364: "This act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support
of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
on July 1, 2003, but only if Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2231
becomes law by July 1, 2003. If Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2231
does not become law by July 1, 2003, this act is null and void." [2003 c 364
§ 13.] Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2231 was signed into law by the
governor on May 19, 2003.
Captions not law—2003 c 364: "Captions used in this act are not part
of the law." [2003 c 364 § 14.]
82.70.025
82.70.025 Application for tax credit. (Expires July 1,
2013.) (1) Application for tax credits under this chapter must
be received by the department between the first day of January and the 31st day of January, following the calendar year
in which the applicant made payments to or on behalf of
employees for ride sharing in vehicles carrying two or more
persons, for using public transportation, for using car sharing,
or for using nonmotorized commuting. The application shall
be made to the department in a form and manner prescribed
by the department. The application shall contain information
regarding the number of employees for which incentives are
paid during the calendar year, the amounts paid to or on
behalf of employees for ride sharing in vehicles carrying two
or more persons, for using public transportation, for using car
sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting, the amount
of credit deferred under RCW 82.70.040(2)(b)(i) to be used,
and other information required by the department. For applications due by January 31, 2006, the application shall not
include amounts paid from January 1, 2005, through June 30,
2005, to or on behalf of employees for ride sharing in vehicles carrying two or more persons, for using public transportation, for using car sharing, or for using nonmotorized commuting.
(2) The department shall rule on the application within
sixty days of the deadline provided in subsection (1) of this
section.
(3) The department shall disapprove any application not
received by the deadline provided in subsection (1) of this
section regardless of the reason that the application was
received after the deadline.
(4) After an application is approved and tax credit
granted, no increase in the credit shall be allowed. [2005 c
297 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 297: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005."
[2005 c 297 § 6.]
82.70.030
82.70.030 False statement in application—Penalty.
(Expires July 1, 2013.) Any person who knowingly makes a
false statement of a material fact in the application required
under RCW 82.70.025 for a credit under RCW 82.70.020 is
[Title 82 RCW—page 323]
82.70.040
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [2005 c 297 § 4; 2003 c 364
§ 3.]
Effective date—2005 c 297: See note following RCW 82.70.025.
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
82.70.040 Tax credit limitations. (Expires July 1,
2013.) (1)(a) The department shall keep a running total of all
credits allowed under RCW 82.70.020 during each fiscal
year. The department shall not allow any credits that would
cause the total amount allowed to exceed two million seven
hundred fifty thousand dollars in any fiscal year. This limitation includes any deferred credits carried forward under subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section from prior years.
(b) If the total amount of credit applied for by all applicants in any year exceeds the limit in this subsection, the
department shall ratably reduce the amount of credit allowed
for all applicants so that the limit in this subsection is not
exceeded. If a credit is reduced under this subsection, the
amount of the reduction may not be carried forward and
claimed in subsequent fiscal years.
(2)(a) Tax credits under RCW 82.70.020 may not be
claimed in excess of the amount of tax otherwise due under
chapter 82.04 or 82.16 RCW.
(b)(i) Through June 30, 2005, a person with taxes equal
to or in excess of the credit under RCW 82.70.020, and therefore not subject to the limitation in (a) of this subsection, may
elect to defer tax credits for a period of not more than three
years after the year in which the credits accrue. No credits
deferred under this subsection (2)(b)(i) may be used after
June 30, 2008. A person deferring tax credits under this subsection (2)(b)(i) must submit an application as provided in
RCW 82.70.025 in the year in which the deferred tax credits
will be used. This application is subject to the provisions of
subsection (1) of this section for the year in which the tax
credits will be applied. If a deferred credit is reduced under
subsection (1)(b) of this section, the amount of deferred
credit disallowed because of the reduction may be carried forward as long as the period of deferral does not exceed three
years after the year in which the credit was earned.
(ii) For credits approved by the department after June 30,
2005, the approved credit may be carried forward to subsequent years until used. Credits carried forward as authorized
by this subsection are subject to the limitation in subsection
(1)(a) of this section for the fiscal year for which the credits
were originally approved.
(3) No person shall be approved for tax credits under
RCW 82.70.020 in excess of two hundred thousand dollars in
any fiscal year. This limitation does not apply to credits carried forward from prior years under subsection (2)(b) of this
section.
(4) No person may claim tax credits after June 30, 2013.
(5) Credits may not be carried forward other than as
authorized in subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(6) No person is eligible for tax credits under RCW
82.70.020 if the additional revenues for the multimodal transportation account created by Engrossed Substitute House Bill
No. 2231 are terminated. [2005 c 297 § 5; 2003 c 364 § 4.]
82.70.040
Effective date—2005 c 297: See note following RCW 82.70.025.
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
[Title 82 RCW—page 324]
82.70.050
82.70.050 Fund transfer. (Expires January 1, 2014.)
(1) The director shall on the 25th of February, May, August,
and November of each year advise the state treasurer of the
amount of credit taken under RCW 82.70.020 during the preceding calendar quarter ending on the last day of December,
March, June, and September, respectively.
(2) On the last day of March, June, September, and
December of each year, the state treasurer, based upon information provided by the department, shall deposit to the general fund a sum equal to the dollar amount of the credit provided under RCW 82.70.020 from the multimodal transportation account. [2003 c 364 § 5.]
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
82.70.060
82.70.060 *Commute trip reduction task force
report. (Expires July 1, 2013.) The *commute trip reduction task force shall determine the effectiveness of the tax
credit under RCW 82.70.020, the grant program in RCW
70.94.996, and the relative effectiveness of the tax credit and
the grant program as part of its ongoing evaluation of the
commute trip reduction law and report to the senate and
house transportation committees and to the fiscal committees
of the house of representatives and the senate. The report
must include information on the amount of tax credits
claimed to date and recommendations on future funding
between the tax credit program and the grant program. The
report must be incorporated into the recommendations
required in **RCW 70.94.537(5). [2005 c 319 § 138; 2003 c
364 § 6.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) The "commute trip reduction task force" was
renamed the "commute trip reduction board" by 2006 c 329 § 7.
**(2) RCW 70.94.537 was amended by 2006 c 329 § 7, changing subsection (5) to subsection (6).
Expiration date—2005 c 319 § 138: "Section 138 of this act expires
July 1, 2013." [2005 c 319 § 146.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
82.70.070
82.70.070 Administration. (Expires July 1, 2013.)
Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this
chapter. [2003 c 364 § 7.]
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
82.70.900
82.70.900 Expiration of chapter. (Expires July 1,
2013.) This chapter expires July 1, 2013, except for RCW
82.70.050, which expires January 1, 2014. [2003 c 364 § 8.]
Effective date—Contingency—Captions not law—2003 c 364: See
notes following RCW 82.70.020.
Chapter 82.71 RCW
QUALITY MAINTENANCE FEE ON NURSING
FACILITY OPERATORS
Chapter 82.71
Sections
82.71.010
82.71.020
82.71.030
Definitions.
Fee imposed.
Administration of chapter.
(2006 Ed.)
Telephone Program Excise Tax Administration
82.71.010
82.71.010 Definitions. (Effective until July 1, 2007.)
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(2) "Gross income" means all revenue, without deduction, that is derived from the performance of nursing facility
services. "Gross income" does not include other operating
revenue or nonoperating revenue.
(3) "Other operating revenue" means income from nonpatient care services to patients, as well as sales and activities
to persons other than patients. It is derived in the course of
operating the facility, such as providing personal laundry service for patients, or from other sources such as meals provided to persons other than patients, personal telephones, gift
shops, and vending machine commissions.
(4) "Nonoperating revenue" means income from activities not relating directly to the day-to-day operations of an
organization. "Nonoperating revenue" includes such items as
gains on disposal of a facility’s assets, dividends, and interest
from security investments, gifts, grants, and endowments.
(5) "Patient day" means a calendar day of care provided
to a nursing facility resident, excluding a medicare patient
day. Patient days include the day of admission and exclude
the day of discharge; except that, when admission and discharge occur on the same day, one day of care shall be
deemed to exist.
(6) "Medicare patient day" means a patient day for medicare beneficiaries on a medicare Part A stay and a patient day
for persons who have opted for managed care coverage using
their medicare benefit.
(7) "Nonexempt nursing facility" means a nursing facility that is not exempt from the quality maintenance fee under
*RCW 74.46.091.
(8) "Nursing facility" has the same meaning as the term
is defined in RCW 18.51.010; it does not include a boarding
home as defined in RCW 18.20.020 or an adult family home
as defined in RCW 70.128.010.
(9) "Nursing facility operator" means a person who
engages in the business of operating a nursing facility or
facilities within this state.
(10) "Nursing facility services" means health-related services to individuals who do not require hospital care, but
whose mental or physical condition requires services that are
above the level of room and board and can be made available
only through institutional facilities. [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 1.]
(d) One dollar and fifty cents per patient day for the
period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011.
(2) Each operator of a nonexempt nursing facility shall
file a return with the department on a monthly basis. The
return shall include the following:
(a) The number of patient days for nonexempt nursing
facilities operated by that person in that month; and
(b) Remittance of the nonexempt nursing facility operator’s quality maintenance fee for that month.
(3) This section expires July 1, 2011. [2005 c 514 § 801;
2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Contingent expiration date—2003 1st sp.s. c 16: "(1) RCW
82.71.010, 82.71.020, 82.71.030, 74.46.091, and 74.46.535 shall expire on
the effective date that federal medicaid matching funds are substantially
reduced or that a federal sanction is imposed due to the quality maintenance
fee under RCW 82.71.020, as such date is certified by the secretary of social
and health services.
(2) The expiration of RCW 82.71.010, 82.71.020, 82.71.030,
74.46.091, and 74.46.535 shall not be construed as affecting any existing
right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under those sections or under
any rule or order adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted under those sections." [2005 c 514 § 802; 2003 1st sp.s. c 16 §
6.]
Severability—2003 1st sp.s. c 16: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 7.]
Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 16: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July
1, 2003." [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 9.]
82.71.030
82.71.030 Administration of chapter. (Effective until
July 1, 2007.) All of chapter 82.32 RCW, except RCW
82.32.270, applies to the fee imposed by this chapter, in addition to any other provisions of law for the payment and
enforcement of the fee imposed by this chapter. The department may adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 34.05
RCW, as necessary to provide for the effective administration
of this chapter. [2003 1st sp.s. c 16 § 3.]
Contingent expiration date—Severability—Effective date—2003
1st sp.s. c 16: See notes following RCW 82.71.020.
Chapter 82.72
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.46.091 was repealed by 2006 c 241 § 1,
effective July 1, 2007.
Contingent expiration date—Severability—Effective date—2003
1st sp.s. c 16: See notes following RCW 82.71.020.
82.71.020
82.71.020 Fee imposed. (Effective until July 1, 2007.)
(1) In addition to any other tax, a quality maintenance fee is
imposed on every operator of a nonexempt nursing facility in
this state. The quality maintenance fee shall be:
(a) Six dollars and fifty cents per patient day through
June 30, 2005;
(b) Five dollars and twenty-five cents per patient day for
the period July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007;
(c) Three dollars per patient day for the period July 1,
2007, through June 30, 2009; and
(2006 Ed.)
82.72.010
Chapter 82.72 RCW
TELEPHONE PROGRAM EXCISE
TAX ADMINISTRATION
Sections
82.72.010
82.72.020
82.72.030
82.72.040
82.72.050
82.72.060
82.72.070
82.72.080
82.72.090
Definitions.
Authorization to administer telephone program excise taxes.
Collection of tax by local exchange company.
Tax payment and collection requirements.
Administration of telephone program excise taxes.
Tax returns.
Liability for payment of taxes.
Liability for payment of taxes upon termination, dissolution,
or abandonment of business.
Applicability of chapter 82.32 RCW.
82.72.010
82.72.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
[Title 82 RCW—page 325]
82.72.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(1) "Switched access line" has the meaning provided in
RCW 82.14B.020.
(2) "Local exchange company" has the meaning provided in RCW 80.04.010.
(3) "Subscriber" means the retail purchaser of telephone
service as telephone service is defined in RCW 82.04.065(3).
(4) "Telephone program excise taxes" means the taxes
on switched access lines imposed by RCW 43.20A.725 and
80.36.430. [2004 c 254 § 3.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: "This act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2004
c 254 § 14.]
82.72.020
82.72.020 Authorization to administer telephone
program excise taxes. The department shall collect the telephone program excise taxes on behalf of the department of
social and health services at no cost to the department of
social and health services. The telephone program excise
taxes shall be remitted to the department by local exchange
companies on a tax return provided by the department. All
telephone program excise taxes shall be deposited by the
treasurer into the account described in RCW 43.20A.725 and
the account described in RCW 80.36.430. [2004 c 254 § 4.]
Responsibility for collection of tax—Implementation—2004 c 254:
See notes following RCW 43.20A.725.
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.030
82.72.030 Collection of tax by local exchange company. Telephone program excise taxes shall be collected
from the subscriber by the local exchange company providing the switched access line. [2004 c 254 § 5.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.040
82.72.040 Tax payment and collection requirements.
(1) Telephone program excise taxes must be paid by the subscriber to the local exchange company providing the
switched access line, and each local exchange company shall
collect from the subscriber the full amount of the taxes payable. Telephone program excise taxes to be collected by the
local exchange company are deemed to be held in trust by the
local exchange company until paid to the department. Any
local exchange company that appropriates or converts the tax
collected to its own use or to any use other than the payment
of the tax to the extent that the money collected is not available for payment on the due date as prescribed in this chapter
is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) If any local exchange company fails to collect telephone program excise taxes or, after collecting the tax, fails
to pay it to the department in the manner prescribed by this
chapter, whether such failure is the result of its own act or the
result of acts or conditions beyond its control, the local
exchange company is personally liable to the state for the
amount of the tax, unless the local exchange company has
taken from the buyer in good faith a properly executed resale
certificate under RCW 82.72.070.
(3) The amount of tax, until paid by the subscriber to the
local exchange company or to the department, constitutes a
debt from the subscriber to the local exchange company.
Any local exchange company that fails or refuses to collect
telephone program excise taxes as required with intent to violate the provisions of this chapter or to gain some advantage
[Title 82 RCW—page 326]
or benefit, either direct or indirect, and any subscriber who
refuses to pay any telephone excise tax is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(4) If a subscriber has failed to pay to the local exchange
company the telephone program excise taxes and the local
exchange company has not paid the amount of the tax to the
department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed
directly against the subscriber for collection of the tax, in
which case a penalty of ten percent may be added to the
amount of the tax for failure of the subscriber to pay the tax
to the local exchange company, regardless of when the tax is
collected by the department. Telephone program excise taxes
are due as provided under RCW 82.72.050. [2004 c 254 § 6.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.050
82.72.050 Administration of telephone program
excise taxes. (1) The department shall administer and shall
adopt rules necessary to enforce and administer the collection
of telephone program excise taxes. Chapter 82.32 RCW,
with the exception of RCW 82.32.045, 82.32.145, and
82.32.380, applies to the administration, collection, and
enforcement of telephone program excise taxes.
(2) Telephone program excise taxes, along with reports
and returns on forms prescribed by the department, are due at
the same time the taxpayer reports other taxes under RCW
82.32.045. If no other taxes are reported under RCW
82.32.045, the taxpayer shall remit telephone program excise
taxes on an annual basis in accordance with RCW 82.32.045.
(3) The department may relieve any taxpayer or class of
taxpayers from the obligation of remitting monthly and may
require the return to cover other longer reporting periods, but
in no event may returns be filed for a period greater than one
year.
(4) Telephone program excise taxes are in addition to
any taxes imposed upon the same persons under chapters
82.08, 82.12, and 82.14B RCW. [2004 c 254 § 7.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.060
82.72.060 Tax returns. (1) A local exchange company
shall file tax returns on a cash receipts or accrual basis
according to which method of accounting is regularly
employed in keeping the books of the company. A local
exchange company filing returns on a cash receipts basis is
not required to pay telephone program excise taxes on debts
that are deductible as worthless for federal income tax purposes.
(2) A local exchange company is entitled to a credit or
refund for telephone program excise taxes previously paid on
debts that are deductible as worthless for federal income tax
purposes. [2004 c 254 § 8.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.070
82.72.070 Liability for payment of taxes. (1) Unless a
local exchange company has taken from the buyer a resale
certificate or equivalent document under RCW 82.04.470,
the burden of proving that a sale of the use of a switched
access line was not a sale to a subscriber is upon the person
who made the sale.
(2) If a local exchange company does not receive a resale
certificate at the time of the sale, have a resale certificate on
(2006 Ed.)
Washington Main Street Program Tax Incentives
file at the time of the sale, or obtain a resale certificate from
the buyer within a reasonable time after the sale, the local
exchange company remains liable for the telephone program
excise taxes as provided in RCW 82.72.040, unless the local
exchange company can demonstrate facts and circumstances
according to rules adopted by the department that show the
sale was properly made without payment of telephone program excise taxes.
(3) The penalty imposed by RCW 82.32.291 may not be
assessed on telephone program excise taxes that are due but
not paid as a result of the improper use of a resale certificate.
This subsection does not prohibit or restrict the application of
other penalties authorized by law. [2004 c 254 § 9.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.080
82.72.080 Liability for payment of taxes upon termination, dissolution, or abandonment of business. (1) Upon
termination, dissolution, or abandonment of a corporate or
limited liability company business, any officer, member,
manager, or other person having control or supervision of tax
funds collected and held in trust under RCW 82.72.040, or
who is charged with the responsibility for the filing of returns
or the payment of tax funds collected and held in trust under
RCW 82.72.040, is personally liable for any unpaid taxes and
interest and penalties on those taxes, if the officer or other
person willfully fails to pay or to cause to be paid any taxes
due from the corporation under this section. For the purposes
of this section, any taxes that have been paid, but not collected, are deductible from the taxes collected but not paid.
For purposes of this subsection "willfully fails to pay or to
cause to be paid" means that the failure was the result of an
intentional, conscious, and voluntary course of action.
(2) The officer, member, manager, or other person is liable only for taxes collected that became due during the period
he or she had the control, supervision, responsibility, or duty
to act for the corporation described in subsection (1) of this
section, plus interest and penalties on those taxes.
(3) Persons liable under subsection (1) of this section are
exempt from liability if nonpayment of the tax funds held in
trust is due to reasons beyond their control as determined by
the department by rule.
(4) Any person having been issued a notice of assessment under this section is entitled to the appeal procedures
under RCW 82.32.160 through 82.32.200.
(5) This section applies only if the department has determined that there is no reasonable means of collecting the tax
funds held in trust directly from the corporation.
(6) This section does not relieve the corporation or limited liability company of other tax liabilities or otherwise
impair other tax collection remedies afforded by law. [2004
c 254 § 10.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
82.72.090
82.72.090 Applicability of chapter 82.32 RCW.
Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the collection authority and procedures prescribed in chapter 82.32 RCW apply to
collections under this section. [2004 c 254 § 11.]
Effective date—2004 c 254: See note following RCW 82.72.010.
(2006 Ed.)
82.73.030
Chapter 82.73 RCW
WASHINGTON MAIN STREET PROGRAM
TAX INCENTIVES
Chapter 82.73
Sections
82.73.010
82.73.020
82.73.030
82.73.040
82.73.050
82.73.060
Definitions.
Application for credit.
Credit authorized—Limitations.
Filing requirements.
Administrative assistance by CTED.
Application of chapter 82.32 RCW.
Washington main street program: Chapter 43.360 RCW.
82.73.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax credit
under this chapter.
(2) "Contribution" means cash contributions.
(3) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(4) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(5) "Program" means a nonprofit organization under
internal revenue code sections 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6), with
the sole mission of revitalizing a downtown or neighborhood
commercial district area, that is designated by the department
of community, trade, and economic development as
described in RCW 43.360.010 through 43.360.050.
(6) "Main street trust fund" means the department of
community, trade, and economic development’s main street
trust fund account under RCW 43.360.050. [2005 c 514 §
902.]
82.73.010
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.73.020 Application for credit. (1) Application for
tax credits under this chapter must be made to the department
before making a contribution to a program or the main street
trust fund. The application shall be made to the department
in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
application shall contain information regarding the proposed
amount of contribution to a program or the main street trust
fund, and other information required by the department to
determine eligibility under chapter 514, Laws of 2005. The
department shall rule on the application within forty-five
days. Applications shall be approved on a first-come basis.
(2) The person must make the contribution described in
the approved application by the end of the calendar year in
which the application is approved to claim a credit allowed
under RCW 82.73.030.
(3) The department shall not accept any applications
before January 1, 2006. [2005 c 514 § 903.]
82.73.020
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.73.030 Credit authorized—Limitations. (1) Subject to the limitations in this chapter, a credit is allowed
against the tax imposed by chapters 82.04 and 82.16 RCW
82.73.030
[Title 82 RCW—page 327]
82.73.040
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
for approved contributions that are made by a person to a program or the main street trust fund.
(2) The credit allowed under this section is limited to an
amount equal to:
(a) Seventy-five percent of the approved contribution
made by a person to a program; or
(b) Fifty percent of the approved contribution made by a
person to the main street trust fund.
(3) The department may not approve credit with respect
to a program in a city or town with a population of one hundred ninety thousand persons or more.
(4) The department shall keep a running total of all credits approved under this chapter for each calendar year. The
department shall not approve any credits under this section
that would cause the total amount of approved credits statewide to exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars in
any calendar year.
(5) The total credits allowed under this chapter for contributions made to each program may not exceed one hundred
thousand dollars in a calendar year. The total credits allowed
under this chapter for a person may not exceed two hundred
fifty thousand dollars in a calendar year.
(6) The credit may be claimed against any tax due under
chapters 82.04 and 82.16 RCW only in the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year in which the credit
was approved by the department and the contribution was
made to the program or the main street trust fund. Credits
may not be carried over to subsequent years. No refunds may
be granted for credits under this chapter.
(7) The total amount of the credit claimed in any calendar year by a person may not exceed the lesser amount of the
approved credit, or seventy-five percent of the amount of the
contribution that is made by the person to a program and fifty
percent of the amount of the contribution that is made by the
person to the main street trust fund, in the prior calendar year.
[2005 c 514 § 904.]
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.73.040
82.73.040 Filing requirements. To claim a credit
under this chapter, a person must electronically file with the
department all returns, forms, and other information the
department requires in an electronic format as provided or
approved by the department. Any return, form, or information required to be filed in an electronic format under this section is not filed until received by the department in an electronic format. As used in this section, "returns" has the same
meaning as "return" in RCW 82.32.050. [2005 c 514 § 905.]
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.73.050
82.73.050 Administrative assistance by CTED. The
department of community, trade, and economic development
shall provide information to the department to administer this
[Title 82 RCW—page 328]
chapter, including a list of designated programs that shall be
updated as necessary. [2005 c 514 § 906.]
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
82.73.060
82.73.060 Application of chapter 82.32 RCW. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this chapter.
[2005 c 514 § 907.]
Short title—2005 c 514 §§ 901-912: See note following RCW
43.360.005.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Chapter 82.74
Chapter 82.74 RCW
TAX DEFERRALS FOR FRUIT AND
VEGETABLE BUSINESSES
Sections
82.74.010
82.74.020
82.74.030
82.74.040
82.74.050
82.74.060
82.74.070
Definitions.
Application for tax deferral.
Issuance of certificate.
Annual survey.
Repayment of deferred taxes.
Application of chapter 82.32 RCW.
Confidentiality of applications.
82.74.010
82.74.010 Definitions. (Effective July 1, 2007.) Unless
the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this
section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.
(2) "Cold storage warehouse" means a storage warehouse owned or operated by a wholesaler or third-party warehouser as those terms are defined in RCW 82.08.820 to store
fresh and/or frozen perishable fruits or vegetables, dairy
products, seafood products, or any combination thereof, at a
desired temperature to maintain the quality of the product for
orderly marketing.
(3) "Dairy product" means dairy products that as of September 20, 2001, are identified in 21 C.F.R., chapter 1, parts
131, 133, and 135, including byproducts from the manufacturing of the dairy products such as whey and casein.
(4) "Dairy product manufacturing" means manufacturing, as defined in RCW 82.04.120, of dairy products.
(5) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(6) "Eligible investment project" means an investment in
qualified buildings or qualified machinery and equipment,
including labor and services rendered in the planning, installation, and construction of the project. The lessor or owner of
a qualified building is not eligible for a deferral unless (a) the
underlying ownership of the buildings, machinery, and
equipment vests exclusively in the same person; or (b)(i) the
lessor by written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit
of the deferral to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments, and (ii) the lessee that receives the economic benefit
of the deferral agrees in writing with the department to complete the annual survey under RCW 82.74.040. The economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee may be evidenced
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Deferrals for Fruit and Vegetable Businesses
by any type of payment, credit, or any other financial
arrangement between the lessor or owner of the qualified
building and the lessee.
(7) "Fresh fruit and vegetable processing" means manufacturing as defined in RCW 82.04.120 which consists of the
canning, preserving, freezing, processing, or dehydrating
fresh fruits and/or vegetables.
(8)(a) "Initiation of construction" means the date that a
building permit is issued under the building code adopted
under RCW 19.27.031 for:
(i) Construction of the qualified building, if the underlying ownership of the building vests exclusively with the person receiving the economic benefit of the deferral;
(ii) Construction of the qualified building, if the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in subsection (6) of this section; or
(iii) Tenant improvements for a qualified building, if the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as
provided in subsection (6) of this section.
(b) "Initiation of construction" does not include soil testing, site clearing and grading, site preparation, or any other
related activities that are initiated before the issuance of a
building permit for the construction of the foundation of the
building.
(c) If the investment project is a phased project, "initiation of construction" applies separately to each phase.
(9) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(10) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new
structures, and expansion or renovation of existing structures
for the purpose of increasing floor space or production capacity used for fresh fruit and vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, cold storage warehousing, and research and development activities,
including plant offices and warehouses or other facilities for
the storage of raw material or finished goods if such facilities
are an essential or an integral part of a factory, plant, or laboratory used for fresh fruit and vegetable processing, dairy
product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, cold
storage warehousing, or research and development. If a
building is used partly for fresh fruit and vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, cold storage warehousing, or research and development and partly for other purposes, the applicable tax deferral
shall be determined by apportionment of the costs of construction under rules adopted by the department.
(11) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all
industrial and research fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an integral and necessary part of a fresh fruit and
vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood
product manufacturing, cold storage warehouse, or research
and development operation. "Qualified machinery and equipment" includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment; laboratory equipment; manufacturing components
such as belts, pulleys, shafts, and moving parts; molds, tools,
and dies; operating structures; and all equipment used to control or operate the machinery.
(12) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral
under this chapter.
(13) "Research and development" means the development, refinement, testing, marketing, and commercialization
of a product, service, or process related to fresh fruit and veg(2006 Ed.)
82.74.040
etable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood
product manufacturing, or cold storage warehousing before
commercial sales have begun. As used in this subsection,
"commercial sales" excludes sales of prototypes or sales for
market testing if the total gross receipts from such sales of the
product, service, or process do not exceed one million dollars.
(14) "Seafood product" means any edible marine fish
and shellfish that remains in a raw, raw frozen, or raw salted
state.
(15) "Seafood product manufacturing" means the manufacturing, as defined in RCW 82.04.120, of seafood products.
[2006 c 354 § 6; 2005 c 513 § 4.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.74.020
82.74.020 Application for tax deferral. (Effective
July 1, 2007.) (1) Application for deferral of taxes under this
chapter must be made before initiation of the construction of
the investment project or acquisition of equipment or
machinery. The application shall be made to the department
in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The
application shall contain information regarding the location
of the investment project, the applicant’s average employment in the state for the prior year, estimated or actual new
employment related to the project, estimated or actual wages
of employees related to the project, estimated or actual costs,
time schedules for completion and operation, and other information required by the department.
(2) The department shall rule on the application within
sixty days. The department shall keep a running total of all
deferrals granted under this chapter during each fiscal biennium.
(3) No application may be made under this chapter for a
project for which a refund is requested under RCW 82.08.820
or 82.12.820. [2005 c 513 § 5.]
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.74.030
82.74.030 Issuance of certificate. (Effective July 1,
2007, until July 1, 2012.) (1) The department shall issue a
sales and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales
and use taxes imposed or authorized under chapters 82.08,
82.12, and 82.14 RCW on each eligible investment project if
the investment project is undertaken for the purpose of fresh
fruit and vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing,
seafood product manufacturing, cold storage warehousing, or
research and development.
(2) This section expires July 1, 2012. [2006 c 354 § 7;
2005 c 513 § 6.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.74.040
82.74.040 Annual survey. (Effective July 1, 2007.)
(1)(a) The legislature finds that accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax policy. In order to
make policy choices regarding the best use of limited state
resources the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(b) Each recipient of a deferral granted under this chapter
shall complete an annual survey. If the economic benefits of
[Title 82 RCW—page 329]
82.74.050
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW
82.74.010(6), the lessee shall complete the annual survey and
the applicant is not required to complete the annual survey.
The survey is due by March 31st of the year following the
calendar year in which the investment project is certified by
the department as having been operationally complete and
each of the seven succeeding calendar years. The department
may extend the due date for timely filing of annual surveys
under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590. The survey shall include the amount of tax deferred. The survey
shall also include the following information for employment
positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment
positions as a percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to
the following wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars;
thirty thousand dollars or greater, but less than sixty thousand
dollars; and sixty thousand dollars or greater. A wage band
containing fewer than three individuals may be combined
with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have
employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits,
by each of the wage bands.
(c) The department may request additional information
necessary to measure the results of the deferral program, to
be submitted at the same time as the survey.
(d) All information collected under this subsection,
except the amount of the tax deferral taken, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the
amount of tax deferral taken is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to
the public upon request.
(e) The department shall use the information from this
section to prepare summary descriptive statistics by category.
No fewer than three taxpayers shall be included in any category. The department shall report these statistics to the legislature each year by September 1st.
(f) The department shall also use the information to
study the tax deferral program authorized under this chapter.
The department shall report to the legislature by December 1,
2011. The report shall measure the effect of the program on
job creation, company growth, the introduction of new products, the diversification of the state’s economy, growth in
research and development investment, the movement of
firms or the consolidation of firms’ operations into the state,
and such other factors as the department selects.
(2)(a) If a recipient of the deferral fails to complete the
annual survey required under subsection (1) of this section by
the date due or any extension under RCW 82.32.590, twelve
and one-half percent of the deferred tax shall be immediately
due. If the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a
lessee as provided in RCW 82.74.010(6), the lessee shall be
responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received
the economic benefit. The department shall assess interest,
but not penalties, on the amounts due under this section. The
interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent
taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, and shall accrue until the
amounts due are repaid.
(b) A recipient who must repay deferred taxes under
RCW 82.74.050(2) because the department has found that an
[Title 82 RCW—page 330]
investment project is used for purposes other than fresh fruit
and vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, cold storage warehousing, or
research and development is no longer required to file annual
surveys under this section beginning on the date an investment project is used for nonqualifying purposes. [2006 c 354
§ 8; 2005 c 513 § 7.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.74.050
82.74.050 Repayment of deferred taxes. (Effective
July 1, 2007.) (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this
section, taxes deferred under this chapter need not be repaid.
(2) If, on the basis of survey under RCW 82.74.040 or
other information, the department finds that an investment
project is used for purposes other than fresh fruit and vegetable processing, dairy product manufacturing, seafood product
manufacturing, cold storage warehousing, or research and
development at any time during the calendar year in which
the investment project is certified by the department as having been operationally completed, or at any time during any
of the seven succeeding calendar years, a portion of deferred
taxes shall be immediately due according to the following
schedule:
Year in which nonqualifying
use occurs
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
% of deferred taxes due
100%
87.5%
75%
62.5%
50%
37.5%
25%
12.5%
(3) The department shall assess interest, but not penalties, on the deferred taxes under subsection (2) of this section.
The interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the
date of deferral, and shall accrue until the deferred taxes are
repaid. The debt for deferred taxes will not be extinguished
by insolvency or other failure of the recipient. Transfer of
ownership does not terminate the deferral. The deferral is
transferred, subject to the successor meeting the eligibility
requirements of this chapter, for the remaining periods of the
deferral.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section,
deferred taxes on the following need not be repaid:
(a) Machinery and equipment, and sales of or charges
made for labor and services, which at the time of purchase
would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565; and
(b) Machinery and equipment which at the time of first
use would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.12.02565. [2006 c 354 § 9; 2005 c 513 § 8.]
Effective dates—2006 c 354: See note following RCW 82.04.4268.
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
(2006 Ed.)
Tax Deferrals for Biotechnology and Medical Device Manufacturing Businesses
82.74.060
82.74.060 Application of chapter 82.32 RCW. (Effective July 1, 2007.) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this chapter. [2005 c 513 § 9.]
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
82.74.070
82.74.070 Confidentiality of applications. (Effective
July 1, 2007.) Applications received by the department
under this chapter are not confidential and are subject to disclosure. [2005 c 513 § 10.]
Effective dates—2005 c 513: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.
Chapter 82.75 RCW
TAX DEFERRALS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
AND MEDICAL DEVICE
MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES
Chapter 82.75
Sections
82.75.005
82.75.010
82.75.020
82.75.030
82.75.040
82.75.050
82.75.060
82.75.005
Findings—Intent.
Definitions.
Application for tax deferral.
Issuance of certificate.
Repayment of deferred taxes.
Application of chapter 82.32 RCW.
Confidentiality of applications.
82.75.005 Findings—Intent. The legislature finds that
the state’s economy is increasingly dependent on the expansion of knowledge-based sectors, including the life sciences.
The legislature also finds that commercial enterprises in the
life sciences create high-wage, high-skilled jobs that are part
of the state’s effort to encourage economic diversification
and stability. However, the legislature also finds that commercial life sciences businesses, particularly in biotechnology product and medical device manufacturing, incur significant costs associated with capital infrastructure and job
training often years before a product is licensed for marketing
or a facility is licensed for manufacturing by governmental
agencies in the United States and abroad. The legislature also
finds that current state tax policy discourages the growth of
these companies in two ways: (1) Washington state’s higher
rate of taxation compared with other states and nations
encourages the export of intellectual property and commercial operations out of Washington; and (2) taxing these businesses before facilities, or products produced therein, are
licensed for marketing by regulatory agencies.
The legislature further finds that targeted tax incentives
may encourage the formation, expansion, and retention of
commercial operations within the life sciences sector. The
legislature also finds that tax incentives should be subject to
the same rigorous requirements for efficiency and accountability as are other expenditure programs, and that tax incentives should therefore be focused to provide the greatest possible return on the state’s investment.
For these reasons, the legislature hereby establishes a tax
deferral program for commercial manufacturing facilities in
this sector. The legislature declares that these limited programs serve the vital public purposes of incenting expenditures in commercial life science operations and the development of employment opportunities in this state. The legislature further declares its intent to create a contract within the
meaning of Article I, section 23 of the state Constitution as to
those businesses that make capital investments in consider(2006 Ed.)
82.75.010
ation of the tax deferral program established in this chapter.
[2006 c 178 § 1.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.75.010
82.75.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.
(2) "Biotechnology" means a technology based on the
science of biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular
biology, biochemistry, or biophysics, or any combination of
these, and includes, but is not limited to, recombinant DNA
techniques, genetics and genetic engineering, cell fusion
techniques, and new bioprocesses, using living organisms, or
parts of organisms.
(3) "Biotechnology product" means any virus, therapeutic serum, antibody, protein, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine, blood,
blood component or derivative, allergenic product, or analogous product produced through the application of biotechnology that is used in the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases or injuries to humans.
(4) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(5)(a) "Eligible investment project" means an investment
in qualified buildings or qualified machinery and equipment,
including labor and services rendered in the planning, installation, and construction of the project.
(b) The lessor or owner of a qualified building is not eligible for a deferral unless:
(i) The underlying ownership of the buildings, machinery, and equipment vests exclusively in the same person; or
(ii)(A) The lessor by written contract agrees to pass the
economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee;
(B) The lessee that receives the economic benefit of the
deferral agrees in writing with the department to complete the
annual survey required under RCW 82.32.645; and
(C) The economic benefit of the deferral passed to the
lessee is no less than the amount of tax deferred by the lessor
and is evidenced by written documentation of any type of
payment, credit, or other financial arrangement between the
lessor or owner of the qualified building and the lessee.
(6)(a) "Initiation of construction" means the date that a
building permit is issued under the building code adopted
under RCW 19.27.031 for:
(i) Construction of the qualified building, if the underlying ownership of the building vests exclusively with the person receiving the economic benefit of the deferral;
(ii) Construction of the qualified building, if the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in subsection (5)(b)(ii)(A) of this section; or
(iii) Tenant improvements for a qualified building, if the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as
provided in subsection (5)(b)(ii)(A) of this section.
(b) "Initiation of construction" does not include soil testing, site clearing and grading, site preparation, or any other
related activities that are initiated before the issuance of a
building permit for the construction of the foundation of the
building.
(c) If the investment project is a phased project, "initiation of construction" shall apply separately to each phase.
[Title 82 RCW—page 331]
82.75.020
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(7) "Manufacturing" has the meaning provided in RCW
82.04.120.
(8) "Medical device" means an instrument, apparatus,
implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent,
or other similar or related article, including any component,
part, or accessory, that is designed or developed and:
(a) Recognized in the national formulary, or the United
States pharmacopeia, or any supplement to them;
(b) Intended for use in the diagnosis of disease, or in the
cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or other
conditions in human beings or other animals; or
(c) Intended to affect the structure or any function of the
body of man or other animals, and which does not achieve
any of its primary intended purposes through chemical action
within or on the body of man or other animals and which is
not dependent upon being metabolized for the achievement
of any of its principal intended purposes.
(9) "Person" has the meaning provided in RCW
82.04.030.
(10) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new
structures, and expansion or renovation of existing structures
for the purpose of increasing floor space or production capacity used for biotechnology product manufacturing or medical
device manufacturing activities, including plant offices, commercial laboratories for process development, quality assurance and quality control, and warehouses or other facilities
for the storage of raw material or finished goods if the facilities are an essential or an integral part of a factory, plant, or
laboratory used for biotechnology product manufacturing or
medical device manufacturing. If a building is used partly for
biotechnology product manufacturing or medical device
manufacturing and partly for other purposes, the applicable
tax deferral shall be determined by apportionment of the
costs of construction under rules adopted by the department.
(11) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all
new industrial and research fixtures, equipment, and support
facilities that are an integral and necessary part of a biotechnology product manufacturing or medical device manufacturing operation. "Qualified machinery and equipment"
includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment;
laboratory equipment; manufacturing components such as
belts, pulleys, shafts, and moving parts; molds, tools, and
dies; operating structures; and all equipment used to control
or operate the machinery.
(12) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral
under this chapter. [2006 c 178 § 2.]
Effective date—2006 c 178: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006
c 178 § 10.]
Severability—2006 c 178: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2006 c 178 § 12.]
82.75.020
82.75.020 Application for tax deferral. Application
for deferral of taxes under this chapter must be made and
approved before initiation of the construction of the investment project or acquisition of equipment or machinery. The
application shall be made to the department in a form and
manner prescribed by the department. The application shall
contain information regarding the location of the investment
project, the applicant’s average employment in the state for
[Title 82 RCW—page 332]
the prior year, estimated or actual new employment related to
the project, estimated or actual wages of employees related to
the project, estimated or actual costs, time schedules for completion and operation, and other information required by the
department. The department shall rule on the application
within sixty days. [2006 c 178 § 3.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.75.030
82.75.030 Issuance of certificate. (Expires January 1,
2017.) (1) The department shall issue a sales and use tax
deferral certificate for state and local sales and use taxes due
under chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW for each eligible investment project.
(2) No certificate may be issued for an investment
project that has already received a deferral under chapter
82.60 or 82.63 RCW or this chapter.
(3) The department shall keep a running total of all
deferrals granted under this chapter during each fiscal biennium.
(4) This section expires January 1, 2017. [2006 c 178 §
4.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.75.040
82.75.040 Repayment of deferred taxes. (1) Except as
provided in subsection (2) of this section and RCW
82.32.645, taxes deferred under this chapter need not be
repaid.
(2)(a) If, on the basis of the survey under RCW
82.32.645 or other information, the department finds that an
investment project is used for purposes other than qualified
biotechnology product manufacturing or medical device
manufacturing activities at any time during the calendar year
in which the eligible investment project is certified by the
department as having been operationally completed, or at any
time during any of the seven succeeding calendar years, a
portion of deferred taxes shall be immediately due and payable according to the following schedule:
Year in which use occurs
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
% of deferred taxes due
100%
87.5%
75%
62.5%
50%
37.5%
25%
12.5%
(b) If a recipient of the deferral fails to complete the
annual survey required under RCW 82.32.645 by the date
due, the amount of deferred tax specified in RCW
82.32.645(6) shall be immediately due and payable. If the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as
provided in RCW 82.75.010, the lessee is responsible for
payment to the extent the lessee has received the economic
benefit.
(2006 Ed.)
Local Option Transportation Taxes
(3) For a violation of subsection (2)(a) of this section, the
department shall assess interest at the rate provided for delinquent taxes, but not penalties, retroactively to the date of
deferral. The debt for deferred taxes shall not be extinguished by insolvency or other failure of the recipient.
Transfer of ownership does not terminate the deferral. The
deferral is transferred, subject to the successor meeting the
eligibility requirements of this chapter, for the remaining
periods of the deferral.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section,
deferred taxes on the following need not be repaid:
(a) Machinery and equipment, and sales of or charges
made for labor and services, which at the time of purchase
would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.08.02565; and
(b) Machinery and equipment which at the time of first
use would have qualified for exemption under RCW
82.12.02565. [2006 c 178 § 5.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.75.050
82.75.050 Application of chapter 82.32 RCW. Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the administration of this chapter.
[2006 c 178 § 6.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
82.75.060
82.75.060 Confidentiality of applications. Applications received by the department under this chapter are not
confidential and are subject to disclosure. [2006 c 178 § 7.]
Effective date—Severability—2006 c 178: See notes following RCW
82.75.010.
Chapter 82.80 RCW
LOCAL OPTION TRANSPORTATION TAXES
Chapter 82.80
Sections
82.80.005
82.80.010
82.80.030
82.80.040
82.80.050
82.80.060
82.80.070
82.80.080
82.80.090
82.80.100
82.80.110
82.80.120
82.80.130
82.80.140
82.80.900
"District" defined.
Motor vehicle and special fuel tax.
Commercial parking tax.
Street utility—Establishment.
Street utility—Charges, credits.
Use of other proceeds by utility.
Use of revenues.
Distribution of taxes.
Referendum.
Regional transportation investment district—Local option
vehicle license fee.
Motor vehicle and special fuel tax—Dedication by county to
regional transportation investment district plan.
Motor vehicle and special fuel tax—Regional transportation
investment district.
Passenger-only ferry service—Local option motor vehicle
excise tax authorized.
Vehicle fee—Transportation benefit district—Exemptions.
Purpose—Headings—Severability—Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c 42.
82.80.005
82.80.005 "District" defined. For the purposes of this
chapter, "district" means a regional transportation investment
district created under chapter 36.120 RCW. [2002 c 56 §
415.]
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
(2006 Ed.)
82.80.010
82.80.010
82.80.010 Motor vehicle and special fuel tax. (1) For
purposes of this section:
(a) "Distributor" means every person who imports,
refines, manufactures, produces, or compounds motor vehicle fuel and special fuel as defined in RCW 82.36.010 and
82.38.020, respectively, and sells or distributes the fuel into a
county;
(b) "Person" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.030.
(2) Subject to the conditions of this section, any county
may levy, by approval of its legislative body and a majority
of the registered voters of the county voting on the proposition at a general or special election, additional excise taxes
equal to ten percent of the statewide motor vehicle fuel tax
rate under RCW 82.36.025 on each gallon of motor vehicle
fuel as defined in RCW 82.36.010 and on each gallon of special fuel as defined in RCW 82.38.020 sold within the boundaries of the county. Vehicles paying an annual license fee
under RCW 82.38.075 are exempt from the county fuel
excise tax. An election held under this section must be held
not more than twelve months before the date on which the
proposed tax is to be levied. The ballot setting forth the proposition shall state the tax rate that is proposed. The county’s
authority to levy additional excise taxes under this section
includes the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the
county. The additional excise taxes are subject to the same
exceptions and rights of refund as applicable to other motor
vehicle fuel and special fuel excise taxes levied under chapters 82.36 and 82.38 RCW. The proposed tax shall not be
levied less than one month from the date the election results
are certified by the county election officer. The commencement date for the levy of any tax under this section shall be
the first day of January, April, July, or October.
(3) The local option motor vehicle fuel tax on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel and on each gallon of special fuel is
imposed upon the distributor of the fuel.
(4) A taxable event for the purposes of this section
occurs upon the first distribution of the fuel within the boundaries of a county to a retail outlet, bulk fuel user, or ultimate
user of the fuel.
(5) All administrative provisions in chapters 82.01,
82.03, and 82.32 RCW, insofar as they are applicable, apply
to local option fuel taxes imposed under this section.
(6) Before the effective date of the imposition of the fuel
taxes under this section, a county shall contract with the
department of revenue for the administration and collection
of the taxes. The contract must provide that a percentage
amount, not to exceed one percent of the taxes imposed under
this section, will be deposited into the local tax administration account created in the custody of the state treasurer. The
department of revenue may spend money from this account,
upon appropriation, for the administration of the local taxes
imposed under this section.
(7) The state treasurer shall distribute monthly to the
levying county and cities contained therein the proceeds of
the additional excise taxes collected under this section, after
the deductions for payments and expenditures as provided in
RCW 46.68.090(1) (a) and (b) and under the conditions and
limitations provided in RCW 82.80.080.
[Title 82 RCW—page 333]
82.80.030
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(8) The proceeds of the additional excise taxes levied
under this section shall be used strictly for transportation purposes in accordance with RCW 82.80.070.
(9) A county may not levy the tax under this section if
they are levying the tax in RCW 82.80.110 or if they are a
member of a regional transportation investment district levying the tax in RCW 82.80.120. [2003 c 350 § 1; 1998 c 176
§ 86; 1991 c 339 § 12; 1990 c 42 § 201.]
Rules—Findings—Effective date—1998 c 176: See RCW 82.36.800,
82.36.900, and 82.36.901.
82.80.030 Commercial parking tax. (1) Subject to the
conditions of this section, the legislative authority of a
county, city, or district may fix and impose a parking tax on
all persons engaged in a commercial parking business within
its respective jurisdiction. A city or county may impose the
tax only to the extent that it has not been imposed by the district, and a district may impose the tax only to the extent that
it has not been imposed by a city or county. The jurisdiction
of a county, for purposes of this section, includes only the
unincorporated area of the county. The jurisdiction of a city
or district includes only the area within its boundaries.
(2) In lieu of the tax in subsection (1) of this section, a
city, a county in its unincorporated area, or a district may fix
and impose a tax for the act or privilege of parking a motor
vehicle in a facility operated by a commercial parking business.
The city, county, or district may provide that:
(a) The tax is paid by the operator or owner of the motor
vehicle;
(b) The tax applies to all parking for which a fee is paid,
whether paid or leased, including parking supplied with a
lease of nonresidential space;
(c) The tax is collected by the operator of the facility and
remitted to the city, county, or district;
(d) The tax is a fee per vehicle or is measured by the
parking charge;
(e) The tax rate varies with zoning or location of the
facility, the duration of the parking, the time of entry or exit,
the type or use of the vehicle, or other reasonable factors; and
(f) Tax exempt carpools, vehicles with handicapped
decals, or government vehicles are exempt from the tax.
(3) "Commercial parking business" as used in this section, means the ownership, lease, operation, or management
of a commercial parking lot in which fees are charged.
"Commercial parking lot" means a covered or uncovered area
with stalls for the purpose of parking motor vehicles.
(4) The rate of the tax under subsection (1) of this section
may be based either upon gross proceeds or the number of
vehicle stalls available for commercial parking use. The rates
charged must be uniform for the same class or type of commercial parking business.
(5) The county, city, or district levying the tax provided
for in subsection (1) or (2) of this section may provide for its
payment on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Each local
government may develop by ordinance or resolution rules for
administering the tax, including provisions for reporting by
commercial parking businesses, collection, and enforcement.
(6) The proceeds of the commercial parking tax fixed
and imposed by a city or county under subsection (1) or (2) of
this section shall be used for transportation purposes in accor82.80.030
[Title 82 RCW—page 334]
dance with RCW 82.80.070 or for transportation improvements in accordance with chapter 36.73 RCW. The proceeds
of the parking tax imposed by a district must be used as provided in chapter 36.120 RCW. [2005 c 336 § 24; 2002 c 56 §
412; 1990 c 42 § 208.]
Effective date—2005 c 336: See note following RCW 36.73.015.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.80.040 Street utility—Establishment. A city or
town may elect by action of its legislative authority to own,
construct, maintain, operate, and preserve all or any
described portion of its streets as a separate enterprise and
facility, known as a street utility, and from time to time add
other existing or new streets to that street utility, with full
power to own, construct, maintain, operate, and preserve
such streets. The legislative authority of the city or town may
include as a part of the street utility, street lighting, traffic
control devices, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, parking facilities,
and drainage facilities. The legislative authority of the city or
town is the governing body of the street utility. [1991 c 141
§ 1. Prior: 1990 c 42 § 209.]
82.80.040
82.80.050 Street utility—Charges, credits. (1) A city
or town electing to own, construct, maintain, operate, and
preserve its streets as a separate street utility may levy periodic charges for the use or availability of the streets in a total
annual amount of up to fifty percent of the actual costs for
maintenance, operation, and preservation of facilities under
the jurisdiction of the street utility. The rates charged for the
use must be uniform for the same class of service and all business and residential properties must be subject to the utility
charge. Charges imposed on businesses shall be measured
solely by the number of employees and shall not exceed the
equivalent of two dollars per full-time equivalent employee
per month. Charges imposed against owners or occupants of
residential property shall not exceed two dollars per month
per housing unit as defined in RCW 35.95.040. A client
under the terms of a professional employer agreement is
deemed to be the sole employer of a covered employee for
purposes of this section. In such cases, a professional
employer organization is not an employer and is not liable,
primarily or secondarily, for remitting the charge authorized
in this section with respect to covered employees. Charges
authorized in this section shall not be imposed against owners
of property: (a) Exempt under RCW 84.36.010; (b) exempt
from the leasehold tax under chapter 82.29A RCW; or (c)
used for nonprofit or sectarian purposes, which if said property were owned by such organization would qualify for
exemption under chapter 84.36 RCW. The charges shall not
be computed on the basis of an ad valorem charge on the
underlying real property and improvements. This section
shall not be used as a basis to directly or indirectly charge
transportation impact fees or mitigation fees of any kind
against new development. A city or town may contract with
any other utility or local government to provide for billing
and collection of the street utility charges.
(2) In classifying service furnished within the general
categories of business and residential, the city or town legislative authority may in its discretion consider any or all of the
following factors: The difference in cost of service to the
82.80.050
(2006 Ed.)
Local Option Transportation Taxes
various users or traffic generators; location of the various
users or traffic generators within the city or town; the difference in cost of maintenance, operation, construction, repair,
and replacement of the various parts of the enterprise and
facility; the different character of the service furnished to various users or traffic generators within the city or town; the
size and quality of the street service furnished; the time of use
or traffic generation; capital contributions made to the facility
including but not limited to special assessments; and any
other matters that present a reasonable difference as a ground
for distinction, or the entire category of business or residential may be established as a single class. The city or town
may reduce or exempt charges on residential properties to the
extent of their occupancy by low-income senior citizens and
other low-income citizens as provided in RCW 74.38.070, or
to the extent of their occupancy by the needy or infirm.
(3) The charges shall be charges against the property and
the use thereof and shall become liens and be enforced in the
same manner as rates and charges for the use of systems of
sewerage under chapter 35.67 RCW.
(4) Any city or town ordinance or resolution creating a
street utility must contain a provision granting to any business a credit against any street utility charge the full amount
of any commuter or employer tax paid for transportation purposes by that business. A client under the terms of a professional employer agreement is entitled to the credit provided
by this subsection (4) for any commuter or employer tax paid
by the client with respect to covered employees.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "client," "covered
employee," "professional employer agreement," and "professional employer organization" have the same meanings as in
RCW 82.04.540. [2006 c 301 § 5; 2000 c 103 § 21; 1991 c
141 § 2. Prior: 1990 c 42 § 210.]
Effective date—Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51
RCW—2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
82.80.060 Use of other proceeds by utility. The city or
town electing to own, construct, maintain, operate, and preserve its streets and related facilities as a utility under this
chapter may finance the construction, operation, maintenance, and preservation through local improvement districts,
utility local improvement districts, or with proceeds from
general obligation bonds and revenue bonds payable from the
charges issued in accordance with chapter 35.41, 35.92, or
39.46 RCW, or any combination thereof. The city or town
may use, in addition to the charges authorized by RCW
82.80.050, funds from general taxation, money received from
the federal, state, or other local governments, and other funds
made available to it. The proceeds of the charges authorized
by RCW 82.80.050 shall be used strictly for transportation
purposes in accordance with this chapter and RCW
82.80.070. [1991 c 141 § 3. Prior: 1990 c 42 § 211.]
82.80.060
82.80.070
82.80.070 Use of revenues. (1) The proceeds collected
pursuant to the exercise of the local option authority of RCW
82.80.010, 82.80.030, and 82.80.050 (hereafter called "local
option transportation revenues") shall be used for transportation purposes only, including but not limited to the following:
The operation and preservation of roads, streets, and other
transportation improvements; new construction, reconstruction, and expansion of city streets, county roads, and state
(2006 Ed.)
82.80.070
highways and other transportation improvements; development and implementation of public transportation and highcapacity transit improvements and programs; and planning,
design, and acquisition of right of way and sites for such
transportation purposes. The proceeds collected from excise
taxes on the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel
and special fuel under RCW 82.80.010 shall be used exclusively for "highway purposes" as that term is construed in
Article II, section 40 of the state Constitution.
(2) The local option transportation revenues shall be
expended for transportation uses consistent with the adopted
transportation and land use plans of the jurisdiction expending the funds and consistent with any applicable and adopted
regional transportation plan for metropolitan planning areas.
(3) Each local government with a population greater than
eight thousand that levies or expends local option transportation funds, is also required to develop and adopt a specific
transportation program that contains the following elements:
(a) The program shall identify the geographic boundaries
of the entire area or areas within which local option transportation revenues will be levied and expended.
(b) The program shall be based on an adopted transportation plan for the geographic areas covered and shall identify
the proposed operation and construction of transportation
improvements and services in the designated plan area
intended to be funded in whole or in part by local option
transportation revenues and shall identify the annual costs
applicable to the program.
(c) The program shall indicate how the local transportation plan is coordinated with applicable transportation plans
for the region and for adjacent jurisdictions.
(d) The program shall include at least a six-year funding
plan, updated annually, identifying the specific public and
private sources and amounts of revenue necessary to fund the
program. The program shall include a proposed schedule for
construction of projects and expenditure of revenues. The
funding plan shall consider the additional local tax revenue
estimated to be generated by new development within the
plan area if all or a portion of the additional revenue is proposed to be earmarked as future appropriations for transportation improvements in the program.
(4) Local governments with a population greater than
eight thousand exercising the authority for local option transportation funds shall periodically review and update their
transportation program to ensure that it is consistent with
applicable local and regional transportation and land use
plans and within the means of estimated public and private
revenue available.
(5) In the case of expenditure for new or expanded transportation facilities, improvements, and services, priorities in
the use of local option transportation revenues shall be identified in the transportation program and expenditures shall be
made based upon the following criteria, which are stated in
descending order of weight to be attributed:
(a) First, the project serves a multijurisdictional function;
(b) Second, it is necessitated by existing or reasonably
foreseeable congestion;
(c) Third, it has the greatest person-carrying capacity;
(d) Fourth, it is partially funded by other government
funds, such as from the state transportation improvement
[Title 82 RCW—page 335]
82.80.080
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
board, or by private sector contributions, such as those from
the local transportation act, chapter 39.92 RCW; and
(e) Fifth, it meets such other criteria as the local government determines is appropriate.
(6) It is the intent of the legislature that as a condition of
levying, receiving, and expending local option transportation
revenues, no local government agency use the revenues to
replace, divert, or loan any revenues currently being used for
transportation purposes to nontransportation purposes.
(7) Local governments are encouraged to enter into interlocal agreements to jointly develop and adopt with other local
governments the transportation programs required by this
section for the purpose of accomplishing regional transportation planning and development.
(8) Local governments may use all or a part of the local
option transportation revenues for the amortization of local
government general obligation and revenue bonds issued for
transportation purposes consistent with the requirements of
this section.
(9) Subsections (1) through (8) of this section do not
apply to a regional transportation investment district imposing a tax or fee under the local option authority of this chapter. Proceeds collected under the exercise of local option
authority under this chapter by a district must be used in
accordance with chapter 36.120 RCW. [2005 c 319 § 139;
2002 c 56 § 413; 1991 c 141 § 4. Prior: 1990 c 42 § 212.]
Findings—Intent—Part headings—Effective dates—2005 c 319:
See notes following RCW 43.17.020.
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.80.080
82.80.080 Distribution of taxes. (1) The state treasurer
shall distribute revenues, less authorized deductions, generated by the local option taxes authorized in RCW 82.80.010
and *82.80.020, levied by counties to the levying counties,
and cities contained in those counties, based on the relative
per capita population. County population for purposes of this
section is equal to one and one-half of the unincorporated
population of the county. In calculating the distributions, the
state treasurer shall use the population estimates prepared by
the state office of financial management and shall further calculate the distribution based on information supplied by the
departments of licensing and revenue, as appropriate.
(2) The state treasurer shall distribute revenues, less
authorized deductions, generated by the local option taxes
authorized in RCW 82.80.010 and *82.80.020 levied by qualifying cities and towns to the levying cities and towns.
(3) The state treasurer shall distribute to the district revenues, less authorized deductions, generated by the local
option taxes under RCW 82.80.010 or fees under RCW
82.80.100 levied by a district. [2002 c 56 § 414; 1998 c 281
§ 2; 1990 c 42 § 213.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.80.020 was repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.80.090
82.80.090 Referendum. A referendum petition to
repeal a county or city ordinance imposing a tax or fee authorized under RCW *82.80.020 and 82.80.030 must be filed
with a filing officer, as identified in the ordinance, within
[Title 82 RCW—page 336]
seven days of passage of the ordinance. Within ten days, the
filing officer shall confer with the petitioner concerning form
and style of the petition, issue an identification number for
the petition, and write a ballot title for the measure. The ballot
title shall be posed as a question so that an affirmative answer
to the question and an affirmative vote on the measure results
in the tax or fee being imposed and a negative answer to the
question and a negative vote on the measure results in the tax
or fee not being imposed. The petitioner shall be notified of
the identification number and ballot title within this ten-day
period.
After this notification, the petitioner has thirty days in
which to secure on petition forms the signatures of not less
than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the county for
county measures, or not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the city for city measures, and to file the
signed petitions with the filing officer. Each petition form
must contain the ballot title and the full text of the measure to
be referred. The filing officer shall verify the sufficiency of
the signatures on the petitions. If sufficient valid signatures
are properly submitted, the filing officer shall submit the referendum measure to the county or city voters at a general or
special election held on one of the dates provided in **RCW
29.13.010 as determined by the county or city legislative
authority, which election shall not take place later than one
hundred twenty days after the signed petition has been filed
with the filing officer.
The referendum procedure provided in this section is the
exclusive method for subjecting any county or city ordinance
imposing a tax or fee under RCW *82.80.020 and 82.80.030
to a referendum vote. [1990 c 42 § 214.]
Reviser’s note: *(1) RCW 82.80.020 was repealed by 2003 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 776, approved November 5, 2002).
**(2) RCW 29.13.010 was recodified as RCW 29A.04.320 pursuant to
2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004. RCW 29A.04.320 was subsequently repealed by 2004 c 271 § 193. Later enactment of RCW
29A.04.320, see RCW 29A.04.321.
82.80.100
82.80.100 Regional transportation investment district—Local option vehicle license fee. (1) Upon approval
of a majority of the voters within its boundaries voting on the
ballot proposition, a regional transportation investment district may set and impose an annual local option vehicle
license fee, or a schedule of fees based upon the age of the
vehicle, of up to one hundred dollars per motor vehicle registered within the boundaries of the region on every motor
vehicle. As used in this section "motor vehicle" has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but does not include farm
tractors or farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.180 and
46.04.181, off-road and nonhighway vehicles as defined in
RCW 46.09.020, and snowmobiles as defined in RCW
46.10.010. Vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW and
the international registration plan are exempt from the annual
local option vehicle license fee set forth in this section. The
department of licensing shall administer and collect this fee
on behalf of regional transportation investment districts and
remit this fee to the custody of the state treasurer for monthly
distribution under RCW 82.80.080.
(2) The local option vehicle license fee applies only
when renewing a vehicle registration, and is effective upon
(2006 Ed.)
Local Option Transportation Taxes
the registration renewal date as provided by the department
of licensing.
(3) A regional transportation investment district imposing the local option vehicle license fee or initiating an exemption process shall enter into a contract with the department of
licensing. The contract must contain provisions that fully
recover the costs to the department of licensing for collection
and administration of the fee.
(4) A regional transportation investment district imposing the local option fee shall delay the effective date of the
local option vehicle license fee imposed by this section at
least six months from the date of the final certification of the
approval election to allow the department of licensing to
implement the administration and collection of or exemption
from the fee. [2002 c 56 § 408.]
Captions and subheadings not law—Severability—2002 c 56: See
RCW 36.120.900 and 36.120.901.
82.80.110
82.80.110 Motor vehicle and special fuel tax—Dedication by county to regional transportation investment
district plan. (1) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Distributor" means every person who imports,
refines, manufactures, produces, or compounds motor vehicle fuel and special fuel as defined in RCW 82.36.010 and
82.38.020, respectively, and sells or distributes the fuel into a
county;
(b) "Person" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.030.
(2) For purposes of dedication to a regional transportation investment district plan under chapter 36.120 RCW, subject to the conditions of this section, a county may levy additional excise taxes equal to ten percent of the statewide motor
vehicle fuel tax rate under RCW 82.36.025 on each gallon of
motor vehicle fuel as defined in RCW 82.36.010 and on each
gallon of special fuel as defined in RCW 82.38.020 sold
within the boundaries of the county. The additional excise
tax is subject to the approval of the county’s legislative body
and a majority of the registered voters of the county voting on
the proposition at a general or special election. An election
held under this section must be held not more than twelve
months before the date on which the proposed tax is to be levied. The ballot setting forth the proposition must state that
the revenues from the tax will be used for a regional transportation investment district plan. The county’s authority to levy
additional excise taxes under this section includes the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Vehicles
paying an annual license fee under RCW 82.38.075 are
exempt from the county fuel excise tax. The additional
excise taxes are subject to the same exceptions and rights of
refund as applicable to other motor vehicle fuel and special
fuel excise taxes levied under chapters 82.36 and 82.38
RCW. The proposed tax may not be levied less than one
month from the date the election results are certified by the
county election officer. The commencement date for the levy
of any tax under this section will be the first day of January,
April, July, or October.
(3) The local option motor vehicle fuel tax on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel and on each gallon of special fuel is
imposed upon the distributor of the fuel.
(4) A taxable event for the purposes of this section
occurs upon the first distribution of the fuel within the bound(2006 Ed.)
82.80.120
aries of a county to a retail outlet, bulk fuel user, or ultimate
user of the fuel.
(5) All administrative provisions in chapters 82.01,
82.03, and 82.32 RCW, insofar as they are applicable, apply
to local option fuel taxes imposed under this section.
(6) Before the effective date of the imposition of the fuel
taxes under this section, a county shall contract with the
department of revenue for the administration and collection
of the taxes. The contract must provide that a percentage
amount, not to exceed one percent of the taxes imposed under
this section, will be deposited into the local tax administration account created in the custody of the state treasurer. The
department of revenue may spend money from this account,
upon appropriation, for the administration of the local taxes
imposed under this section.
(7) The state treasurer shall distribute monthly to the
county levying the tax as part of a regional transportation
investment plan, after the deductions for payments and
expenditures as provided in RCW 46.68.090(1) (a) and (b).
(8) The proceeds of the additional taxes levied by a
county in this section, to be used as a part of a regional transportation investment plan, must be used in accordance with
chapter 36.120 RCW, but only for those areas that are considered "highway purposes" as that term is construed in Article
II, section 40 of the state Constitution.
(9) A county may not levy the tax under this section if
they are a member of a regional transportation investment
district that is levying the tax in RCW 82.80.120 or the
county is levying the tax in RCW 82.80.010. [2003 c 350 §
2.]
82.80.120 Motor vehicle and special fuel tax—
Regional transportation investment district. (1) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Distributor" means every person who imports,
refines, manufactures, produces, or compounds motor vehicle fuel and special fuel as defined in RCW 82.36.010 and
82.38.020, respectively, and sells or distributes the fuel into a
county;
(b) "Person" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.030;
(c) "District" means a regional transportation investment
district under chapter 36.120 RCW.
(2) A regional transportation investment district under
chapter 36.120 RCW, subject to the conditions of this section, may levy additional excise taxes equal to ten percent of
the statewide motor vehicle fuel tax rate under RCW
82.36.025 on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel as defined in
RCW 82.36.010 and on each gallon of special fuel as defined
in RCW 82.38.020 sold within the boundaries of the district.
The additional excise tax is subject to the approval of a
majority of the voters within the district boundaries. Vehicles paying an annual license fee under RCW 82.38.075 are
exempt from the district’s fuel excise tax. The additional
excise taxes are subject to the same exceptions and rights of
refund as applicable to other motor vehicle fuel and special
fuel excise taxes levied under chapters 82.36 and 82.38
RCW. The proposed tax may not be levied less than one
month from the date the election results are certified. The
commencement date for the levy of any tax under this section
will be the first day of January, April, July, or October.
82.80.120
[Title 82 RCW—page 337]
82.80.130
Title 82 RCW: Excise Taxes
(3) The local option motor vehicle fuel tax on each gallon of motor vehicle fuel and on each gallon of special fuel is
imposed upon the distributor of the fuel.
(4) A taxable event for the purposes of this section
occurs upon the first distribution of the fuel within the boundaries of the district to a retail outlet, bulk fuel user, or ultimate
user of the fuel.
(5) All administrative provisions in chapters 82.01,
82.03, and 82.32 RCW, insofar as they are applicable, apply
to local option fuel taxes imposed under this section.
(6) Before the effective date of the imposition of the fuel
taxes under this section, a district shall contract with the
department of licensing for the administration and collection
of the taxes. The contract must provide that a percentage
amount, not to exceed one percent of the taxes imposed under
this section, will be deposited into the local tax administration account created in the custody of the state treasurer. The
department of licensing may spend money from this account,
upon appropriation, for the administration of the local taxes
imposed under this section.
(7) The state treasurer shall distribute monthly to the district levying the tax as part of the regional transportation
investment district plan, after the deductions for payments
and expenditures as provided in RCW 46.68.090(1) (a) and
(b).
(8) The proceeds of the additional taxes levied by a district in this section, to be used as a part of a regional transportation investment district plan, must be used in accordance
with chapter 36.120 RCW, but only for those areas that are
considered "highway purposes" as that term is construed in
Article II, section 40 of the state Constitution.
(9) A district may only levy the tax under this section if
the district is comprised of boundaries identical to the boundaries of a county or counties. A district may not levy the tax
in this section if a member county is levying the tax in RCW
82.80.010 or 82.80.110. [2006 c 311 § 18; 2003 c 350 § 3.]
Findings—2006 c 311: See note following RCW 36.120.020.
82.80.130
82.80.130 Passenger-only ferry service—Local
option motor vehicle excise tax authorized. (1) Public
transportation benefit areas authorized to implement passenger-only ferry service under RCW 36.57A.200 whose boundaries (a) are on the Puget Sound, but (b) do not include an
area where a regional transit authority has been formed, may
submit an authorizing proposition to the voters and, if
approved, may levy and collect an excise tax, at a rate
approved by the voters, but not exceeding four-tenths of one
percent on the value of every motor vehicle owned by a resident of the taxing district, solely for the purpose of providing
passenger-only ferry service. The tax must be collected only
at the time of vehicle license renewal under chapter 46.16
RCW. The tax will be imposed on vehicles previously registered in another state or nation when they are initially registered in this state. The tax will not be imposed at the time of
sale by a licensed vehicle dealer. In a county imposing a
motor vehicle excise tax surcharge under RCW 81.100.060,
the maximum tax rate under this section must be reduced to a
rate equal to four-tenths of one percent on the value less the
equivalent motor vehicle excise tax rate of the surcharge
imposed under RCW 81.100.060. This rate does not apply to
[Title 82 RCW—page 338]
vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.070 with an unladen
weight more than six thousand pounds, or to vehicles
licensed under RCW 46.16.079, 46.16.085, or 46.16.090.
(2) The department of licensing shall administer and collect the tax in accordance with chapter 82.44 RCW. The
department shall deduct a percentage amount, as provided by
contract, not to exceed one percent of the taxes collected, for
administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The
remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the
state treasurer for monthly distribution to the public transportation benefit area.
(3) The public transportation benefit area imposing this
tax shall delay the effective date at least six months from the
date the fee is approved by the qualified voters of the authority area to allow the department of licensing to implement
administration and collection of the tax.
(4) Before an authority may impose a tax authorized
under this section, the authorization for imposition of the tax
must be approved by a majority of the qualified electors of
the authority area voting on that issue. [2006 c 318 § 4; 2003
c 83 § 206.]
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
82.80.140
82.80.140 Vehicle fee—Transportation benefit district—Exemptions. (1) Subject to the provisions of RCW
36.73.065, a transportation benefit district under chapter
36.73 RCW may fix and impose an annual vehicle fee, not to
exceed one hundred dollars per vehicle registered in the district, for each vehicle subject to license tab fees under RCW
46.16.0621 and for each vehicle subject to gross weight fees
under RCW 46.16.070 with an unladen weight of six thousand pounds or less.
(2) The department of licensing shall administer and collect the fee. The department shall deduct a percentage
amount, as provided by contract, not to exceed one percent of
the fees collected, for administration and collection expenses
incurred by it. The department shall remit remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer. The state treasurer
shall distribute the proceeds to the district on a monthly basis.
(3) No fee under this section may be collected until six
months after approval by the district voters under RCW
36.73.065.
(4) The vehicle fee under this section applies only when
renewing a vehicle registration, and is effective upon the registration renewal date as provided by the department of
licensing.
(5) The following vehicles are exempt from the fee under
this section:
(a) Farm tractors or farm vehicles as defined in RCW
46.04.180 and 46.04.181;
(b) Off-road and nonhighway vehicles as defined in
RCW 46.09.020;
(c) Vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW and
the international registration plan; and
(d) Snowmobiles as defined in RCW 46.10.010. [2005 c
336 § 16.]
Effective date—2005 c 336: See note following RCW 36.73.015.
(2006 Ed.)
Construction
82.80.900
82.80.900 Purpose—Headings—Severability—
Effective dates—Application—Implementation—1990 c
42. See notes following RCW 82.36.025.
Chapter 82.98
Chapter 82.98 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
Sections
82.98.010
82.98.020
82.98.030
82.98.035
82.98.040
82.98.050
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Saving—1967 ex.s. c 149.
Repeals and saving.
Emergency—1961 c 15.
82.98.010
82.98.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1961 c 15 §
82.98.010.]
82.98.020
82.98.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title do not constitute any part of
the law. [1961 c 15 § 82.98.020.]
82.98.050
Severability—1965 ex.s. c 141: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1965 ex.s. c 141 § 9.]
Severability—1961 ex.s. c 24: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act,
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1961 ex.s. c 24 § 15.]
Severability—1961 ex.s. c 7: "If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation or circumstance is held
invalid, in whole or in part, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions
or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to
be severable.
If any provision of this act shall be declared unconstitutional or ineffective in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction then to the extent
that it is unconstitutional or ineffective, such provisions shall not be
enforced, nor shall such determination be deemed to invalidate the remaining
provisions of this act." [1961 ex.s. c 7 § 23.]
82.98.035 Saving—1967 ex.s. c 149. Nothing in chapter 149, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. shall be construed to affect
any existing rights acquired or any existing liabilities
incurred under the sections amended or repealed herein, nor
as affecting any civil or criminal proceedings instituted thereunder, nor any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, nor
any administrative action taken thereunder. [1967 ex.s. c 149
§ 63.]
82.98.035
82.98.040 Repeals and saving.
82.98.040.
82.98.040
82.98.030
82.98.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any chapter, section, subdivision of a section,
paragraph, sentence, clause or word of this title for any reason shall be adjudged invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder of this title but shall be
confined in its operation to the chapter, section, subdivision
of a section, paragraph, sentence, clause or word of the title
directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment
shall have been rendered. If any tax imposed under this title
shall be adjudged invalid as to any person, corporation, association or class of persons, corporations or associations
included within the scope of the general language of this title
such invalidity shall not affect the liability of any person, corporation, association or class of persons, corporations, or
associations as to which such tax has not been adjudged
invalid. It is hereby expressly declared that had any chapter,
section, subdivision of a section, paragraph, sentence, clause,
word or any person, corporation, association or class of persons, corporations or associations as to which this title is
declared invalid been eliminated from the title at the time the
same was considered the title would have nevertheless been
enacted with such portions eliminated. This section shall not
apply to chapter 82.44 RCW. [1961 c 15 § 82.98.030.]
See 1961 c 15 §
82.98.050 Emergency—1961 c 15. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
[1961 c 15 § 82.98.050.]
82.98.050
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: "If any phrase, clause, subsection or
section of this act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by any court
of competent jurisdiction, it shall be conclusively presumed that the legislature would have enacted this act without the phrase, clause, subsection or
section so held unconstitutional or invalid and the remainder of the act shall
not be affected as a result of said part being held unconstitutional or invalid."
[1967 ex.s. c 149 § 64.]
Severability—1965 ex.s. c 173: "If any phrase, clause, subsection or
section of this act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by any court
of competent jurisdiction, it shall be conclusively presumed that the legislature would have enacted this act without the phrase, clause, subsection or
section so held unconstitutional or invalid and the remainder of the act shall
not be affected as a result of said part being held unconstitutional or invalid."
[1965 ex.s. c 173 § 32.]
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 82 RCW—page 339]
Title 83
ESTATE TAXATION
Title 83
Chapters
83.100
Estate and transfer tax act.
83.110A Washington uniform estate tax apportionment
act.
Probate and trust law: Title 11 RCW.
Tax returns, remittances, etc., filing and receipt: RCW 1.12.070.
Chapter 83.100
Chapter 83.100 RCW
ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAX ACT
Sections
83.100.010
83.100.020
83.100.040
83.100.046
83.100.047
83.100.050
83.100.060
83.100.070
83.100.080
83.100.090
83.100.095
83.100.110
83.100.120
83.100.130
83.100.140
83.100.150
83.100.160
83.100.170
83.100.180
83.100.190
83.100.200
83.100.210
83.100.220
83.100.230
83.100.900
83.100.901
83.100.902
83.100.903
83.100.904
83.100.905
Short title.
Definitions.
Estate tax imposed—Amount of tax.
Deduction—Property used for farming—Requirements, conditions.
Marital deduction, qualified domestic trust—Election—Other
deductions taken for income tax purposes disallowed.
Tax returns—Filing dates—Extensions.
Date payment due—Extensions.
Interest on amount due—Penalty for late filing—Exceptions—Rules.
Department to issue release.
Amended returns—Adjustments or final determinations.
Examination by department of returns, other information—
Assessment of additional tax, interest.
Tax lien.
Liability for failure to pay tax before distribution or delivery.
Refund for overpayment—Requirements.
Criminal acts relating to tax returns.
Collection of tax—Findings filed in court.
Clerk to give notice of filings.
Court order.
Objections.
Hearing by court.
Administration—Rules.
Application of chapter 82.32 RCW—Closing agreements
authorized.
Deposit of funds into education legacy trust account.
Education legacy trust account.
Repeals and saving.
Section captions not part of law.
New chapter.
Effective date—1981 2nd ex.s. c 7.
Captions—1988 c 64.
Severability—1988 c 64.
83.100.010 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the
"Estate and Transfer Tax Act." [2005 c 516 § 19; 1988 c 64
§ 1; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.010 (Initiative Measure No.
402, approved November 3, 1981).]
83.100.010
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.020
83.100.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Decedent" means a deceased individual;
(2) "Department" means the department of revenue, the
director of that department, or any employee of the department exercising authority lawfully delegated to him by the
director;
(3) "Federal return" means any tax return required by
chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(2006 Ed.)
(4) "Federal tax" means a tax under chapter 11 of the
Internal Revenue Code;
(5) "Gross estate" means "gross estate" as defined and
used in section 2031 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(6) "Person" means any individual, estate, trust, receiver,
cooperative association, club, corporation, company, firm,
partnership, joint venture, syndicate, or other entity and, to
the extent permitted by law, any federal, state, or other governmental unit or subdivision or agency, department, or
instrumentality thereof;
(7) "Person required to file the federal return" means any
person required to file a return required by chapter 11 of the
Internal Revenue Code, such as the personal representative of
an estate;
(8) "Property" means property included in the gross
estate;
(9) "Resident" means a decedent who was domiciled in
Washington at time of death;
(10) "Taxpayer" means a person upon whom tax is
imposed under this chapter, including an estate or a person
liable for tax under RCW 83.100.120;
(11) "Transfer" means "transfer" as used in section 2001
of the Internal Revenue Code. However, "transfer" does not
include a qualified heir disposing of an interest in property
qualifying for a deduction under RCW 83.100.046 or ceasing
to use the property for farming purposes;
(12) "Internal Revenue Code" means, for the purposes of
this chapter and *RCW 83.110.010, the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or renumbered as of
January 1, 2005;
(13) "Washington taxable estate" means the federal taxable estate, less: (a) One million five hundred thousand dollars for decedents dying before January 1, 2006; and (b) two
million dollars for decedents dying on or after January 1,
2006; and (c) the amount of any deduction allowed under
RCW 83.100.046; and
(14) "Federal taxable estate" means the taxable estate as
determined under chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code
without regard to: (a) The termination of the federal estate
tax under section 2210 of the Internal Revenue Code or any
other provision of law, and (b) the deduction for state estate,
inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes allowable under section 2058 of the Internal Revenue Code. [2005 c 516 § 2;
2001 c 320 § 15; 1999 c 358 § 19; 1998 c 292 § 401; 1994 c
221 § 70; 1993 c 73 § 9; 1990 c 224 § 1; 1988 c 64 § 2; 1981
2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.020 (Initiative Measure No. 402,
approved November 3, 1981).]
*Reviser’s note: Chapter 83.110 RCW was repealed by 2005 c 332 §
15, effective January 1, 2006, and replaced with new chapter 83.110A RCW.
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Part headings and section captions not law—Effective dates—1998
c 292: See RCW 11.11.902 and 11.11.903.
Effective dates—1994 c 221: See note following RCW 11.94.070.
[Title 83 RCW—page 1]
83.100.040
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
83.100.040 Estate tax imposed—Amount of tax. (1) A tax in an amount computed as provided in this section is imposed
on every transfer of property located in Washington. For the purposes of this section, any intangible property owned by a resident is located in Washington.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the amount of tax is the amount provided in the following table:
83.100.040
If Washington Taxable
Estate is at least
$0
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
Above $9,000,000
But Less Than
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
$9,000,000
The amount of Tax Equals
Initial Tax Amount
Plus Tax Rate %
$0
10.00%
$100,000
14.00%
$240,000
15.00%
$390,000
16.00%
$550,000
17.00%
$890,000
18.00%
$1,070,000
18.50%
$1,440,000
19.00%
Of Washington Taxable
Estate Value Greater
than
$0
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
Above $9,000,000
(b) If any property in the decedent’s estate is located outside of Washington, the amount of tax is the amount determined in
(a) of this subsection multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the value of the property located in Washington.
The denominator of the fraction is the value of the decedent’s gross estate. Property qualifying for a deduction under RCW
83.100.046 shall be excluded from the numerator and denominator of the fraction.
(3) The tax imposed under this section is a stand-alone estate tax that incorporates only those provisions of the Internal Revenue Code as amended or renumbered as of January 1, 2005, that do not conflict with the provisions of this chapter. The tax
imposed under this chapter is independent of any federal estate tax obligation and is not affected by termination of the federal
estate tax. [2005 c 516 § 3; 1988 c 64 § 4; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.040 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November 3,
1981).]
Finding—Intent—2005 c 516: "The legislature recognizes that on February 3, 2005, the Washington state supreme court decided in Estate of Hemphill v.
Dep’t of Rev., Docket No. 74974-4, that Washington’s estate tax is tied to the current federal Internal Revenue Code. The legislature finds that the revenue loss
resulting from the Hemphill decision will severely affect the legislature’s ability to fund programs vital to the peace, health, safety, and support of the citizens
of this state. The legislature intends to address the adverse fiscal impact of the Hemphill decision and provide funding for education by creating a stand-alone
state estate tax." [2005 c 516 § 1.]
Application—2005 c 516: "This act applies prospectively only and not retroactively. Sections 2 through 17 of this act apply only to estates of decedents
dying on or after May 17, 2005." [2005 c 516 § 20.]
Severability—2005 c 516: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [2005 c 516 § 21.]
Effective date—2005 c 516: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government
and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 17, 2005]." [2005 c 516 § 22.]
83.100.046
[Title 83 RCW—page 2]
(2006 Ed.)
Estate and Transfer Tax Act
83.100.046 Deduction—Property used for farming—
Requirements, conditions. (1) For the purposes of determining the Washington taxable estate, a deduction is allowed
from the federal taxable estate for:
(a) The value of qualified real property reduced by any
amounts allowable as a deduction in respect of the qualified
real property and tangible personal property under section
2053(a)(4) of the internal revenue code, if the decedent was
at the time of his or her death a citizen or resident of the
United States.
(b) The value of any tangible personal property used by
the decedent or a member of the decedent’s family for a qualified use on the date of the decedent’s death, reduced by any
amounts allowable as a deduction in respect of the tangible
personal property under section 2053(a)(4) of the internal
revenue code, if all of the requirements of subsection
(10)(f)(i)(A) of this section are met and the decedent was at
the time of his or her death a citizen or resident of the United
States.
(c) The value of real property that is not deductible under
(a) of this subsection solely by reason of subsection
(10)(f)(i)(B) of this section, reduced by any amounts allowable as a deduction in respect of the qualified real property
and tangible personal property under section 2053(a)(4) of
the internal revenue code, if the requirements of subsection
(10)(f)(i)(C) of this section are met with respect to the property and the decedent was at the time of his or her death a citizen or resident of the United States.
(2) Property shall be considered to have been acquired
from or to have passed from the decedent if:
(a) The property is so considered under section 1014(b)
of the Internal Revenue Code;
(b) The property is acquired by any person from the
estate; or
(c) The property is acquired by any person from a trust,
to the extent the property is includible in the gross estate of
the decedent.
(3) If the decedent and the decedent’s surviving spouse
at any time held qualified real property as community property, the interest of the surviving spouse in the property shall
be taken into account under this section to the extent necessary to provide a result under this section with respect to the
property which is consistent with the result which would
have obtained under this section if the property had not been
community property.
(4) In the case of any qualified woodland, the value of
trees growing on the woodland may be deducted if otherwise
qualified under this section.
(5) If property is qualified real property with respect to a
decedent, hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the
"first decedent," and the property was acquired from or
passed from the first decedent to the surviving spouse of the
first decedent, active management of the farm by the surviving spouse shall be treated as material participation by the
surviving spouse in the operation of the farm.
(6) Property owned indirectly by the decedent may qualify for a deduction under this section if owned through an
interest in a corporation, partnership, or trust as the terms corporation, partnership, or trust are used in section 2032A(g) of
the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify for a deduction under this subsection, the interest, in addition to meeting
(2006 Ed.)
83.100.046
the other tests for qualification under this section, must qualify under section 6166(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code as
an interest in a closely held business on the date of the decedent’s death and for sufficient other time, combined with
periods of direct ownership, to equal at least five years of the
eight-year period preceding the death.
(7)(a) If, on the date of the decedent’s death, the requirements of subsection (10)(f)(i)(C)(II) of this section with
respect to the decedent for any property are not met, and the
decedent (i) was receiving old age benefits under Title II of
the social security act for a continuous period ending on such
date, or (ii) was disabled for a continuous period ending on
this date, then subsection (10)(f)(i)(C)(II) of this section shall
be applied with respect to the property by substituting "the
date on which the longer of such continuous periods began"
for "the date of the decedent’s death" in subsection
(10)(f)(i)(C) of this section.
(b) For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, an individual shall be disabled if the individual has a mental or physical
impairment which renders that individual unable to materially participate in the operation of the farm.
(8) Property may be deducted under this section whether
or not special valuation is elected under section 2032A of the
Internal Revenue Code on the federal return. For the purposes of determining the deduction under this section, the
value of property is its value as used to determine the value of
the gross estate.
(9)(a) In the case of any qualified replacement property,
any period during which there was ownership, qualified use,
or material participation with respect to the replaced property
by the decedent or any member of the decedent’s family shall
be treated as a period during which there was ownership, use,
or material participation, as the case may be, with respect to
the qualified replacement property.
(b) Subsection (9)(a) of this section shall not apply to the
extent that the fair market value of the qualified replacement
property, as of the date of its acquisition, exceeds the fair
market value of the replaced property, as of the date of its disposition.
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (9), the following
definitions apply:
(i) "Qualified replacement property" means any real
property:
(A) Which is acquired in an exchange which qualifies
under section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(B) The acquisition of which results in the nonrecognition of gain under section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The term "qualified replacement property" only includes
property which is used for the same qualified use as the
replaced property was being used before the exchange.
(ii) "Replaced property" means the property was:
(A) Transferred in the exchange which qualifies under
section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(B) Compulsorily or involuntarily converted within the
meaning of section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(10) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Active management" means the making of the management decisions of a farm, other than the daily operating
decisions.
[Title 83 RCW—page 3]
83.100.047
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
(b) "Farm" includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, furbearing animal, and truck farms; plantations; ranches; nurseries;
ranges; greenhouses or other similar structures used primarily
for the raising of agricultural or horticultural commodities;
and orchards and woodlands.
(c) "Farming purposes" means:
(i) Cultivating the soil or raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including the raising,
shearing, feeding, caring for, training, and management of
animals on a farm;
(ii) Handling, drying, packing, grading, or storing on a
farm any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its
unmanufactured state, but only if the owner, tenant, or operator of the farm regularly produces more than one-half of the
commodity so treated; and
(iii)(A) The planting, cultivating, caring for, or cutting of
trees; or
(B) The preparation, other than milling, of trees for market.
(d) "Member of the family" means, with respect to any
individual, only:
(i) An ancestor of the individual;
(ii) The spouse of the individual;
(iii) A lineal descendant of the individual, of the individual’s spouse, or of a parent of the individual; or
(iv) The spouse of any lineal descendant described in
(d)(iii) of this subsection.
For the purposes of this subsection (10)(d), a legally
adopted child of an individual shall be treated as the child of
such individual by blood.
(e) "Qualified heir" means, with respect to any property,
a member of the decedent’s family who acquired property, or
to whom property passed, from the decedent.
(f)(i) "Qualified real property" means real property
which was acquired from or passed from the decedent to a
qualified heir of the decedent and which, on the date of the
decedent’s death, was being used for a qualified use by the
decedent or a member of the decedent’s family, but only if:
(A) Fifty percent or more of the adjusted value of the
gross estate consists of the adjusted value of real or personal
property which:
(I) On the date of the decedent’s death, was being used
for a qualified use by the decedent or a member of the decedent’s family; and
(II) Was acquired from or passed from the decedent to a
qualified heir of the decedent;
(B) Twenty-five percent or more of the adjusted value of
the gross estate consists of the adjusted value of real property
which meets the requirements of (f)(i)(A)(II) and (f)(i)(C) of
this subsection; and
(C) During the eight-year period ending on the date of
the decedent’s death there have been periods aggregating five
years or more during which:
(I) The real property was owned by the decedent or a
member of the decedent’s family and used for a qualified use
by the decedent or a member of the decedent’s family; and
(II) There was material participation by the decedent or a
member of the decedent’s family in the operation of the farm.
For the purposes of this subsection (f)(i)(C)(II), material participation shall be determined in a manner similar to the man[Title 83 RCW—page 4]
ner used for purposes of section 1402(a)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(ii) For the purposes of this subsection, the term
"adjusted value" means:
(A) In the case of the gross estate, the value of the gross
estate, determined without regard to any special valuation
under section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code, reduced
by any amounts allowable as a deduction under section
2053(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(B) In the case of any real or personal property, the value
of the property for purposes of chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code, determined without regard to any special valuation under section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code,
reduced by any amounts allowable as a deduction in respect
of such property under section 2053(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(g) "Qualified use" means the property is used as a farm
for farming purposes. In the case of real property which
meets the requirements of (f)(i)(C) of this subsection, residential buildings and related improvements on the real property occupied on a regular basis by the owner or lessee of the
real property or by persons employed by the owner or lessee
for the purpose of operating or maintaining the real property,
and roads, buildings, and other structures and improvements
functionally related to the qualified use shall be treated as real
property devoted to the qualified use. For tangible personal
property eligible for a deduction under subsection (1)(b) of
this section, "qualified use" means the property is used primarily for farming purposes on a farm.
(h) "Qualified woodland" means any real property
which:
(i) Is used in timber operations; and
(ii) Is an identifiable area of land such as an acre or other
area for which records are normally maintained in conducting
timber operations.
(i) "Timber operations" means:
(i) The planting, cultivating, caring for, or cutting of
trees; or
(ii) The preparation, other than milling, of trees for market. [2005 c 514 § 1201; 2005 c 516 § 4.]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
83.100.047
83.100.047 Marital deduction, qualified domestic
trust—Election—Other deductions taken for income tax
purposes disallowed. (1) If the federal taxable estate on the
federal return is determined by making an election under section 2056 or 2056A of the Internal Revenue Code, or if no
federal return is required to be filed, the department may provide by rule for a separate election on the Washington return,
consistent with section 2056 or 2056A of the Internal Revenue Code, for the purpose of determining the amount of tax
due under this chapter. The election shall be binding on the
estate and the beneficiaries, consistent with the Internal Revenue Code. All other elections or valuations on the Washington return shall be made in a manner consistent with the federal return, if a federal return is required, and such rules as the
department may provide.
(2006 Ed.)
Estate and Transfer Tax Act
(2) Amounts deducted for federal income tax purposes
under section 642(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
shall not be allowed as deductions in computing the amount
of tax due under this chapter. [2005 c 516 § 13.]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.050
83.100.050 Tax returns—Filing dates—Extensions.
(1) A Washington return must be filed if: (a) A federal return
is required to be filed; or (b) for decedents dying prior to January 1, 2006, the gross estate exceeds one million five hundred thousand dollars; or (c) for decedents dying on or after
January 1, 2006, the gross estate exceeds two million dollars.
(2)(a) A person required to file a federal return shall file
with the department on or before the date the federal return is
required to be filed, including any extension of time for filing
under subsection (4) of this section, a Washington return for
the tax due under this chapter.
(b) If no federal return is required to be filed, a taxpayer
shall file with the department on or before the date a federal
return would have been required to be filed, including any
extension of time for filing under subsection (5) of this section, a Washington return for the tax due under this chapter.
(3) A Washington return delivered to the department by
United States mail shall be considered to have been received
by the department on the date of the United States postmark
stamped on the cover in which the return is mailed, if the
postmark date is within the time allowed for filing the Washington return, including extensions.
(4) In addition to the Washington return required to be
filed in subsection (2) of this section, a person, if required to
file a federal return, shall file with the department on or
before the date the federal return, is required to be filed a
copy of the federal return along with all supporting documentation. If the person required to file the federal return has
obtained an extension of time for filing the federal return, the
person shall file the Washington return within the same time
period and in the same manner as provided for the federal
return. A copy of the federal extension shall be filed with the
department on or before the date the Washington return is
due, not including any extension of time for filing, or within
thirty days of issuance, whichever is later.
(5) A person who is required to file a Washington return
under subsection (2) of this section, but is not required to file
a federal return, may obtain an extension of time for filing the
Washington return as provided by rule of the department.
[2005 c 516 § 5; 1988 c 64 § 6; 1986 c 44 § 1; 1981 2nd ex.s.
c 7 § 83.100.050 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.060
83.100.060 Date payment due—Extensions. (1) The
taxes imposed by this chapter shall be paid by the person
required to file a Washington return on or before the date the
Washington return is required to be filed under RCW
83.100.050, not including any extension of time for filing.
Payment delivered to the department by United States mail
shall be considered to have been received by the department
on the date of the United States postmark stamped on the
cover in which payment is mailed, if the postmark date is
(2006 Ed.)
83.100.070
within the time allowed for making the payment, including
any extensions.
(2) If the person has obtained an extension of time for
payment of the federal tax or has elected to pay such tax in
installments, the person may elect to pay the tax imposed by
this chapter within the same time period and in the same manner as provided for payment of the federal tax. A copy of the
federal extension shall be filed on or before the date the tax
imposed by this chapter is due, not including any extension of
time for payment, or within thirty days of issuance, whichever is later.
(3) A person who is required to file a Washington return
under RCW 83.100.050, but is not required to file a federal
return, may obtain an extension of time for payment of the
Washington tax or elect to pay such tax in installments as
provided by rule of the department.
(4) The periods of limitation in RCW 83.100.130 and
83.100.095 shall extend an additional three years beyond the
due date of the last scheduled installment payment authorized
under this section. [2005 c 516 § 6; 1988 c 64 § 7; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.060 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.070
83.100.070 Interest on amount due—Penalty for late
filing—Exceptions—Rules. (1) For periods before January
2, 1997, any tax due under this chapter which is not paid by
the due date under RCW 83.100.060(1) shall bear interest at
the rate of twelve percent per annum from the date the tax is
due until the date of payment.
(2) Interest imposed under this section for periods after
January 1, 1997, shall be computed at the rate as computed
under RCW 82.32.050(2). The rate so computed shall be
adjusted on the first day of January of each year.
(3)(a) If the Washington return is not filed when due
under RCW 83.100.050 and the person required to file the
Washington return under RCW 83.100.050 voluntarily files
the Washington return with the department before the department notifies the person in writing that the department has
determined that the person has not filed a Washington return,
no penalty is imposed on the person required to file the
Washington return.
(b) If the Washington return is not filed when due under
RCW 83.100.050 and the person required to file the Washington return under RCW 83.100.050 does not file a return
with the department before the department notifies the person
in writing that the department has determined that the person
has not filed a Washington return, the person required to file
the Washington return shall pay, in addition to interest, a penalty equal to five percent of the tax due for each month after
the date the return is due until filed. However, in no instance
may the penalty exceed the lesser of twenty-five percent of
the tax due or one thousand five hundred dollars.
(c) If the department finds that a return due under this
chapter has not been filed by the due date, and the delinquency was the result of circumstances beyond the control of
the responsible person, the department shall waive or cancel
any penalties imposed under this chapter with respect to the
filing of such a tax return. The department shall adopt rules
for the waiver or cancellation of the penalties imposed by this
[Title 83 RCW—page 5]
83.100.080
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
section. [2005 c 516 § 7; 2000 c 105 § 1; 1997 c 136 § 1;
1996 c 149 § 13; 1988 c 64 § 8; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 §
83.100.070 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November
3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
Effective date—2000 c 105: "This act takes effect July 1, 2000." [2000
c 105 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
83.100.050 shall provide the department with any additional
information or supporting documents necessary to determine
if a refund is due. The execution of a written waiver to extend
the period for assessment under subsection (3) of this section
shall extend the time for making a refund, if prior to the expiration of the waiver period an application for refund of the
taxes is made by the person required to file the Washington
return under RCW 83.100.050, or the department discovers a
refund is due. [2005 c 516 § 8; 1988 c 64 § 10; 1981 2nd ex.s.
c 7 § 83.100.090 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
83.100.080
83.100.080 Department to issue release. The department shall issue a release when the tax due under this chapter
has been paid. Upon issuance of a release, all property subject
to the tax shall be free of any claim for the tax by the state.
[1988 c 64 § 9; 1986 c 44 § 2; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.080
(Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November 3, 1981).]
83.100.090
83.100.090 Amended returns—Adjustments or final
determinations. Notwithstanding the periods of limitation
in RCW 83.100.095 and 83.100.130:
(1) If the person required to file the Washington return
under RCW 83.100.050 files an amended federal return, that
person shall immediately file with the department an
amended Washington return with a copy of the amended federal return. If the amended Washington return requires payment of an additional tax under this chapter, the tax shall be
paid in accordance with RCW 83.100.060 and interest shall
be paid in accordance with RCW 83.100.070.
(2) Upon any adjustment in, or final determination of,
the amount of federal tax due, the person required to file the
Washington return under RCW 83.100.050 shall notify the
department in writing within one hundred twenty days after
the adjustment or final determination. If the adjustment or
final determination requires payment of an additional tax
under this chapter, the tax shall be paid in accordance with
RCW 83.100.060 and interest shall be paid in accordance
with RCW 83.100.070.
(3) If the department determines the amended Washington return, adjustment, or final determination requires payment of an additional tax under this chapter, the department
may assess against the taxpayer an additional amount found
to be due within one year of receipt of the amended Washington return or written notice as required by this section, or at
any time if no amended Washington return is filed or notice
is provided as required by this section. The execution of a
written waiver at the request of the department by the person
required to file the Washington return under RCW
83.100.050 may extend this limitation. Interest shall be
added to the amount of tax assessed by the department in
accordance with RCW 83.100.070. The department shall
notify the taxpayer by mail of the additional amount, and the
additional amount shall become due and shall be paid within
thirty days from the date of the notice, or within such further
time as the department may provide.
(4) If the department determines the amended Washington return, adjustment, or final determination requires the
refund of overpaid tax, penalties, or interest under this chapter, the department shall refund the amount of the overpayment with interest in accordance with RCW 83.100.130. The
person required to file the Washington return under RCW
[Title 83 RCW—page 6]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.095
83.100.095 Examination by department of returns,
other information—Assessment of additional tax, interest. (1) If upon examination of any returns or from other
information obtained by the department it appears that a tax
or penalty has been paid less than that properly due, the
department shall assess against the taxpayer an additional
amount found to be due and shall add interest as provided in
RCW 83.100.070 on the tax only. The department shall
notify the taxpayer by mail of the additional amount, and the
additional amount shall become due and shall be paid within
thirty days from the date of the notice, or within such further
time as the department may provide.
(2) Interest shall be computed from the original due date
of the Washington return until the due date of the notice. If
payment in full is not made by the due date of the notice,
additional interest shall be computed until the date of payment.
(3) No assessment or correction of an assessment for
additional taxes, penalties, or interest due may be made by
the department more than four years after the close of the calendar year in which a Washington return is due under this
chapter, including any extension of time for filing, except
upon a showing of fraud or of misrepresentation of a material
fact by the taxpayer or as provided under subsection (4) or (5)
of this section or as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(4) For persons liable for tax under RCW 83.100.120, the
period for assessment or correction of an assessment shall
extend an additional three years beyond the period described
in subsection (3) of this section.
(5) A taxpayer may extend the periods of limitation
under subsection (3) or (4) of this section by executing a written waiver. The execution of the waiver shall also extend the
period for making a refund as provided in RCW 83.100.130.
[2005 c 516 § 14.]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.110
83.100.110 Tax lien. (1) Unless any tax due under this
chapter is sooner paid in full, it shall be a lien upon the property subject to the tax for a period of ten years from the date
of the transfer, except that any part of the property which is
used for the payment of claims against the property or
expenses of its administration, allowed by any court having
jurisdiction thereof, shall be divested of the lien. Liens created under this subsection shall be qualified as follows:
(2006 Ed.)
Estate and Transfer Tax Act
(a) Any part of the property subject to the tax which is
sold to a bona fide purchaser shall be divested of the lien and
the lien shall be transferred to the proceeds of the sale; and
(b) The lien shall be subordinate to any mortgage or deed
of trust on the property pursuant to an order of court for payment of claims against the property or expenses of administration. The lien shall attach to any proceeds from the sale of
the property in excess of the obligations secured by the mortgage or deed of trust and the expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the trustee and by his or her attorney where
the property has been sold by a nonjudicial trustee’s sale pursuant to chapter 61.24 RCW, and including court costs and
any attorneys’ fees awarded by the superior court of the
county in which the property is sold at sheriff’s sale pursuant
to a judicial foreclosure of the mortgage or deed of trust.
(2) If the person required to file the Washington return
under RCW 83.100.050 has obtained an extension of time for
payment of the tax or has elected to pay such tax in installments, the tax lien under this section shall be extended as necessary to prevent its expiration prior to twelve months following the expiration of any such extension or the installment.
(3) The tax lien shall be extended as necessary to prevent
its expiration prior to twelve months following the conclusion of litigation of any question affecting the determination
of the amount of tax due if a lis pendens has been filed with
the auditor of the county in which the property is located.
[2005 c 516 § 9; 1988 c 64 § 11; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 §
83.100.110 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November
3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.120
83.100.120 Liability for failure to pay tax before distribution or delivery. (1) Any personal representative who
distributes any property without first paying, securing
another’s payment of, or furnishing security for payment of
the taxes due under this chapter is personally liable for the
taxes due to the extent of the value of any property that may
come or may have come into the possession of the personal
representative. Security for payment of the taxes due under
this chapter shall be in an amount equal to or greater than the
value of all property that is or has come into the possession of
the personal representative, as of the time the security is furnished.
(2) Any person who has the control, custody, or possession of any property and who delivers any of the property to
the personal representative or legal representative of the
decedent outside Washington without first paying, securing
another’s payment of, or furnishing security for payment of
the taxes due under this chapter is liable for the taxes due
under this chapter to the extent of the value of the property
delivered. Security for payment of the taxes due under this
chapter shall be in an amount equal to or greater than the
value of all property delivered to the personal representative
or legal representative of the decedent outside Washington by
such a person.
(3) For the purposes of this section, persons who do not
have possession of a decedent’s property include anyone not
responsible primarily for paying the tax due under this section or their transferees, which includes but is not limited to
(2006 Ed.)
83.100.130
mortgagees or pledgees, stockbrokers or stock transfer
agents, banks and other depositories of checking and savings
accounts, safe-deposit companies, and life insurance companies.
(4) For the purposes of this section, any person who has
the control, custody, or possession of any property and who
delivers any of the property to the personal representative or
legal representative of the decedent may rely upon the release
certificate or the release of nonliability certificate, furnished
by the department to the personal representative, as evidence
of compliance with the requirements of this chapter, and
make such deliveries and transfers as the personal representative may direct without being liable for any taxes due under
this chapter. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.120 (Initiative
Measure No. 402, approved November 3, 1981).]
83.100.130
83.100.130 Refund for overpayment—Requirements. (1) If, upon receipt of an application by a taxpayer for
a refund, or upon examination of the returns or records of any
taxpayer, the department determines that within the statutory
period for assessment of taxes, penalties, or interest prescribed by RCW 83.100.095 a person required to file the
Washington return under RCW 83.100.050 has overpaid the
tax due under this chapter, the department shall refund the
amount of the overpayment, together with interest as provided in subsection (2) of this section. If the application for
refund, with supporting documents, is filed within one hundred twenty days after an adjustment or final determination
of federal tax liability, the department shall pay interest until
the date the refund is mailed. If the application for refund,
with supporting documents, is filed after one hundred twenty
days after the adjustment or final determination, the department shall pay interest only until the end of the one hundred
twenty-day period.
(2) Interest refunded under this section for periods before
January 2, 1997, shall be computed at the rate provided in
RCW 83.100.070(1). Interest refunded under this section for
periods after January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1998,
shall be computed on a daily basis at the rate as computed
under RCW 82.32.050(2) less one percentage point. Interest
allowed for periods after December 31, 1998, shall be computed at the rate as computed under RCW 82.32.050(2).
Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, interest
shall be refunded from the date of overpayment until the date
the refund is mailed. The rate so computed shall be adjusted
on the first day of January of each year.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this
section and RCW 83.100.090, no refund shall be made for
taxes, penalties, or interest paid more than four years prior to
the beginning of the calendar year in which the refund application is made or an examination of records is complete.
(4) The execution of a written waiver under RCW
83.100.095 shall extend the time for making a refund if, prior
to the expiration of the waiver period, an application for
refund is made by the taxpayer or the department discovers a
refund is due.
(5) An application for refund shall be on a form prescribed by the department and shall contain any information
and supporting documents the department requires. [2005 c
516 § 10; 1997 c 157 § 6; 1996 c 149 § 14; 1988 c 64 § 12;
[Title 83 RCW—page 7]
83.100.140
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.130 (Initiative Measure No. 402,
approved November 3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
83.100.140
83.100.140 Criminal acts relating to tax returns. Any
person required to file the Washington return who willfully
fails to file a Washington return when required by this chapter or who willfully files a false return commits a gross misdemeanor as defined in Title 9A RCW and shall be punished
as provided in Title 9A RCW for the perpetration of a gross
misdemeanor. [2005 c 516 § 11; 1988 c 64 § 13; 1981 2nd
ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.140 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.150
83.100.150 Collection of tax—Findings filed in court.
The department may collect the estate tax imposed under
RCW 83.100.040, including interest and penalties, and shall
represent this state in all matters pertaining to the same, either
before courts or in any other manner. At any time after the
Washington return is due, the department may file its findings regarding the amount of the tax computed as provided in
RCW 83.100.040, the person required to file the Washington
return under RCW 83.100.050, and all persons having an
interest in property subject to the tax with the clerk of the
superior court in the matter of the estate of the decedent or, if
no probate or administration proceedings have been commenced in any court of this state, of the superior court for the
county in which the decedent was a resident, if the resident
was a domiciliary, or, if the decedent was a nondomiciliary,
of any superior court which has jurisdiction over the property. Such a court first acquiring jurisdiction shall retain
jurisdiction to the exclusion of every other court. [2005 c 516
§ 12; 1988 c 64 § 14; 1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.150 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November 3, 1981).]
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.160
83.100.160 Clerk to give notice of filings. Upon filing
findings under RCW 83.100.150, the clerk of the superior
court shall give notice of the filing by causing notice thereof
to be posted at the courthouse in the county in which the court
is located. In addition, the department of revenue shall give
notice of the filing to all persons interested in the proceeding
by mailing a copy of the notice to all persons having an interest in property subject to the tax. The department of revenue
is not required to conduct a search for persons interested in
the proceedings or property. The department of revenue must
mail a copy of the notice only to persons of whom the department has received actual notice as having an interest in the
proceeding or property, and, if a probate or administrative
proceeding has been commenced in this state, to persons who
are listed in the court file as having an interest in the proceedings or property. [1993 c 413 § 1; 1988 c 64 § 15.]
83.100.170
83.100.170 Court order. At any time after the expiration of sixty days from the mailing of the notice under RCW
[Title 83 RCW—page 8]
83.100.160, if no objection to the findings is filed, the superior court or a judge thereof shall, without further notice, give
and make its order confirming the findings and fixing the tax
in accordance therewith. [1988 c 64 § 16.]
83.100.180 Objections. At any time prior to the making
of an order under RCW 83.100.170, any person having an
interest in property subject to the tax may file objections in
writing with the clerk of the superior court and serve a copy
thereof upon the department, and the same shall be noted for
trial before the court and a hearing had thereon as provided
for hearings in RCW 11.96A.080 through 11.96A.200. [1999
c 42 § 636; 1988 c 64 § 17.]
83.100.180
Part headings and captions not law—Effective date—1999 c 42: See
RCW 11.96A.901 and 11.96A.902.
83.100.190 Hearing by court. Upon the hearing of
objections under RCW 83.100.180, the court shall make such
order as it may deem proper. For the purposes of the hearing,
the findings of the department shall be presumed to be correct
and it shall be the duty of the objector or objectors to proceed
in support of the objection or objections. [1988 c 64 § 18.]
83.100.190
83.100.200 Administration—Rules. The department
shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to carry into effect
the provisions of this chapter, including rules relating to
returns for taxes due under this chapter. The rules shall have
the same force and effect as if specifically set forth in this
chapter, unless declared invalid by a judgment of a court of
record not appealed from. [1988 c 64 § 19.]
83.100.200
83.100.210 Application of chapter 82.32 RCW—
Closing agreements authorized. (1) The following provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW have full force and application
with respect to the taxes imposed under this chapter unless
the context clearly requires otherwise: RCW 82.32.110,
82.32.120, 82.32.130, 82.32.320, and 82.32.340. The definitions in this chapter have full force and application with
respect to the application of chapter 82.32 RCW to this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(2) The department may enter into closing agreements as
provided in RCW 82.32.350 and 82.32.360. [2005 c 516 §
15; 1996 c 149 § 18.]
83.100.210
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
Findings—Intent—Effective date—1996 c 149: See notes following
RCW 82.32.050.
83.100.220 Deposit of funds into education legacy
trust account. All receipts from taxes, penalties, interest,
and fees collected under this chapter must be deposited into
the education legacy trust account. [2005 c 516 § 16.]
83.100.220
Finding—Intent—Application—Severability—Effective date—
2005 c 516: See notes following RCW 83.100.040.
83.100.230 Education legacy trust account. The education legacy trust account is created in the state treasury.
Money in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
Expenditures from the account may be used only for deposit
into the student achievement fund and for expanding access
to higher education through funding for new enrollments and
83.100.230
(2006 Ed.)
Washington Uniform Estate Tax Apportionment Act
financial aid, and other educational improvement efforts.
[2005 c 514 § 1101.]
Effective date—2005 c 514: "Except for sections 110(5), 114 through
116, 401 through 403, 501, 701, 1001 through 1004, 1106, 1201, 1311, and
1312 of this act, this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005." [2005 c 514 §
1302.]
83.110A.020
83.110A.100 Action to determine or enforce chapter—Application of
chapter 11.96A RCW.
83.110A.110 Uniformity of application and construction.
83.110A.900 Short title.
83.110A.901 Captions not law.
83.110A.902 Effective date—2005 c 332.
83.110A.903 Severability—2005 c 332.
83.110A.904 Application—2005 c 332.
83.110A.010 Definitions. The following definitions
apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(1) "Apportionable estate" means the value of the gross
estate as finally determined for purposes of the estate tax to
be apportioned reduced by:
(a) Any claim or expense allowable as a deduction for
purposes of the tax;
(b) The value of any interest in property that, for purposes of the tax, qualifies for a marital or charitable deduction or otherwise is deductible or is exempt; and
(c) Any amount added to the decedent’s gross estate
because of a gift tax on transfers made before death.
(2) "Estate tax" means a federal, state, or foreign tax
imposed because of the death of an individual and interest
and penalties associated with the tax. The term does not
include an inheritance tax, income tax, or generation-skipping transfer tax other than a generation-skipping transfer tax
incurred on a direct skip taking effect at death.
(3) "Gross estate" means, with respect to an estate tax, all
interests in property subject to the tax.
(4) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business
trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture, public corporation, government,
governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any
other legal or commercial entity.
(5) "Ratable" means apportioned or allocated pro rata
according to the relative values of interests to which the term
is to be applied. "Ratably" has a corresponding meaning.
(6) "Time-limited interest" means an interest in property
which terminates on a lapse of time or on the occurrence or
nonoccurrence of an event or which is subject to the exercise
of discretion that could transfer a beneficial interest to
another person. The term does not include a cotenancy
unless the cotenancy itself is a time-limited interest.
(7) "Value" means, with respect to an interest in property, fair market value as finally determined for purposes of
the estate tax that is to be apportioned, reduced by any outstanding debt secured by the interest without reduction for
taxes paid or required to be paid or for any special valuation
adjustment.
(8) "Internal Revenue Code" means the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or renumbered
as of January 1, 2005. [2005 c 332 § 2.]
83.110A.010
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
83.100.900
83.100.900 Repeals and saving. (1) The following
chapters and their session law bases are each repealed: Chapters 83.01, 83.04, 83.05, 83.08, 83.12, 83.14, 83.16, 83.20,
83.24, 83.28, 83.32, 83.36, 83.40, 83.44, 83.48, 83.52, 83.58,
83.60, and 83.98 RCW.
(2) These repeals shall not be construed as affecting any
existing right acquired under the statutes repealed or under
any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto; nor as
affecting any proceeding instituted thereunder. [1981 2nd
ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.160 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
83.100.901
83.100.901 Section captions not part of law. As used
in this act, section captions constitute no part of the law.
[1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.170 (Initiative Measure No. 402,
approved November 3, 1981).]
83.100.902
83.100.902 New chapter. Sections 83.100.010 through
83.100.150 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title
83 RCW to be designated chapter 83.100 RCW. [1981 2nd
ex.s. c 7 § 83.100.180 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved
November 3, 1981).]
83.100.903
83.100.903 Effective date—1981 2nd ex.s. c 7. This
act shall take effect January 1, 1982. [1981 2nd ex.s. c 7 §
83.100.190 (Initiative Measure No. 402, approved November
3, 1981).]
83.100.904
83.100.904 Captions—1988 c 64. As used in this act,
captions constitute no part of the law. [1988 c 64 § 30.]
83.100.905
83.100.905 Severability—1988 c 64. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1988 c 64 § 31.]
Chapter 83.110A RCW
WASHINGTON UNIFORM ESTATE TAX
APPORTIONMENT ACT
Chapter 83.110A
Sections
83.110A.010
83.110A.020
83.110A.030
83.110A.040
83.110A.050
83.110A.060
83.110A.070
Definitions.
Apportionment by will or other dispositive instrument.
Statutory apportionment of estate taxes.
Credits and deferrals.
Insulated property—Advancement of tax.
Apportionment and recapture of special elective benefits.
Securing payment of estate tax from property in possession
of fiduciary.
83.110A.080 Collection of estate tax by fiduciary.
83.110A.090 Right of reimbursement.
(2006 Ed.)
83.110A.020 Apportionment by will or other dispositive instrument. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, the following rules apply:
(a) To the extent that a provision of a decedent’s will
provides for the apportionment of an estate tax, the tax must
be apportioned accordingly.
(b) Any portion of an estate tax not apportioned pursuant
to (a) of this subsection must be apportioned in accordance
with any provision of a revocable trust of which the decedent
83.110A.020
[Title 83 RCW—page 9]
83.110A.030
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
was the settlor which provides for the apportionment of an
estate tax. If conflicting apportionment provisions appear in
two or more revocable trust instruments, the provision in the
most recently dated instrument prevails. For purposes of this
subsection (1)(b):
(i) A trust is revocable if it was revocable immediately
after the trust instrument was executed, even if the trust subsequently becomes irrevocable; and
(ii) The date of an amendment to a revocable trust instrument is the date of the amended instrument only if the amendment contains an apportionment provision.
(c) If any portion of an estate tax is not apportioned pursuant to (a) or (b) of this subsection, and a provision in any
other dispositive instrument provides that any interest in the
property disposed of by the instrument is or is not to be
applied to the payment of the estate tax attributable to the
interest disposed of by the instrument, the provision controls
the apportionment of the tax to that interest.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, and unless
the decedent provides to the contrary, the following rules
apply:
(a) If an apportionment provision provides that a person
receiving an interest in property under an instrument is to be
exonerated from the responsibility to pay an estate tax that
would otherwise be apportioned to the interest:
(i) The tax attributable to the exonerated interest must be
apportioned among the other persons receiving interests passing under the instrument; or
(ii) If the values of the other interests are less than the tax
attributable to the exonerated interest, the deficiency must be
apportioned ratably among the other persons receiving interests in the apportionable estate that are not exonerated from
apportionment of the tax.
(b) If an apportionment provision provides that an estate
tax is to be apportioned to an interest in property a portion of
which qualifies for a marital or charitable deduction, the
estate tax must first be apportioned ratably among the holders
of the portion that does not qualify for a marital or charitable
deduction and then apportioned ratably among the holders of
the deductible portion to the extent that the value of the nondeductible portion is insufficient.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in (d) of this subsection, if an apportionment provision provides that an estate tax
be apportioned to property in which one or more time-limited
interests exist, other than interests in specified property under
RCW 83.110A.060, the tax must be apportioned to the principal of that property, regardless of the deductibility of some
of the interests in that property.
(d) If an apportionment provision provides that an estate
tax is to be apportioned to the holders of interests in property
in which one or more time-limited interests exist and a charity has an interest that otherwise qualifies for an estate tax
charitable deduction, the tax must first be apportioned, to the
extent feasible, to interests in property that have not been distributed to the persons entitled to receive the interests. No tax
shall be paid from a charitable remainder annuity trust or a
charitable remainder unitrust described in section 664 of the
Internal Revenue Code and created during the decedent’s life.
(3) A provision that apportions an estate tax is ineffective to the extent that it increases the tax apportioned to a person having an interest in the gross estate over which the dece[Title 83 RCW—page 10]
dent had no power to transfer immediately before the decedent executed the instrument in which the apportionment
direction was made. For purposes of this section, a testamentary power of appointment is a power to transfer the property
that is subject to the power. [2005 c 332 § 3.]
83.110A.030
83.110A.030 Statutory apportionment of estate
taxes. To the extent that apportionment of an estate tax is not
controlled by an instrument described in RCW 83.110A.020
and except as otherwise provided in RCW 83.110A.050 and
83.110A.060, the following rules apply:
(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section,
the estate tax is apportioned ratably to each person that has an
interest in the apportionable estate.
(2) A generation-skipping transfer tax incurred on a
direct skip taking effect at death is charged to the person to
which the interest in property is transferred.
(3) If property is included in the decedent’s gross estate
because of section 2044 of the Internal Revenue Code or any
similar estate tax provision, the difference between the total
estate tax for which the decedent’s estate is liable and the
amount of estate tax for which the decedent’s estate would
have been liable if the property had not been included in the
decedent’s gross estate is apportioned ratably among the
holders of interests in the property. The balance of the tax, if
any, is apportioned ratably to each other person having an
interest in the apportionable estate.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in RCW
83.110A.020(2)(d) and except as to property to which RCW
83.110A.060 applies, an estate tax apportioned to persons
holding interests in property subject to a time-limited interest
must be apportioned, without further apportionment, to the
principal of that property.
(5) If the court finds that it is inequitable to apportion
interest and penalties in the manner provided in this chapter
because of special circumstances, it may direct apportionment thereon in the manner it finds equitable. [2005 c 332 §
4.]
83.110A.040
83.110A.040 Credits and deferrals. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 83.110A.050 and 83.110A.060, the
following rules apply to credits and deferrals of estate taxes:
(1) A credit resulting from the payment of gift taxes or
from estate taxes paid on property previously taxed inures
ratably to the benefit of all persons to which the estate tax is
apportioned.
(2) A credit for state or foreign estate taxes inures ratably
to the benefit of all persons to which the estate tax is apportioned, except that the amount of a credit for a state or foreign
tax paid by a beneficiary of the property on which the state or
foreign tax was imposed, directly or by a charge against the
property, inures to the benefit of the beneficiary.
(3) If payment of a portion of an estate tax is deferred
because of the inclusion in the gross estate of a particular
interest in property, the benefit of the deferral inures ratably
to the persons to which the estate tax attributable to the interest is apportioned. The burden of any interest charges
incurred on a deferral of taxes and the benefit of any tax
deduction associated with the accrual or payment of the inter(2006 Ed.)
Washington Uniform Estate Tax Apportionment Act
est charge is allocated ratably among the persons receiving an
interest in the property. [2005 c 332 § 5.]
83.110A.050
83.110A.050 Insulated property—Advancement of
tax. (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Advanced fraction" means a fraction that has as its
numerator the amount of the advanced tax and as its denominator the value of the interests in insulated property to which
that tax is attributable.
(b) "Advanced tax" means the aggregate amount of
estate tax attributable to interests in insulated property which
is required to be advanced by uninsulated holders under subsection (3) of this section.
(c) "Insulated property" means property subject to a
time-limited interest which is included in the apportionable
estate and is unavailable for payment of an estate tax because
of impossibility or impracticability. Insulated property does
not include property from which the beneficial holder has the
unilateral right to cause distribution to himself or herself.
(d) "Uninsulated holder" means a person who has an
interest in uninsulated property.
(e) "Uninsulated property" means property included in
the apportionable estate other than insulated property.
(2) If an estate tax is to be advanced pursuant to subsection (3) of this section by persons holding interests in uninsulated property subject to a time-limited interest other than
property to which RCW 83.110A.060 applies, the tax must be
advanced, without further apportionment, from the principal
of the uninsulated property.
(3) Subject to RCW 83.110A.080 (2) and (4), an estate
tax attributable to interests in insulated property must be
advanced ratably by uninsulated holders.
(4) A court having jurisdiction to determine the apportionment of an estate tax may require a beneficiary of an
interest in insulated property to pay all or part of the estate tax
otherwise apportioned to the interest if the court finds that it
would be substantially more equitable for that beneficiary to
bear the tax liability personally than for that part of the tax to
be advanced by uninsulated holders.
(5) Upon payment by an uninsulated holder of estate tax
required to be advanced, a court may require the beneficiary
of an interest in insulated property to provide a bond or other
security, including a recordable lien on the property of the
beneficiary, for repayment of the advanced tax.
(6) When a distribution of insulated property is made,
each uninsulated holder may recover from the distributee a
ratable portion of the advanced fraction of the property distributed. To the extent that undistributed insulated property
ceases to be insulated, each uninsulated holder may recover
from the property a ratable portion of the advanced fraction
of the total undistributed property. [2005 c 332 § 6.]
83.110A.060
83.110A.060 Apportionment and recapture of special
elective benefits. (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Special elective benefit" means a reduction in an
estate tax obtained by an election for:
(i) A reduced valuation of specified property that is
included in the gross estate;
(ii) A deduction from the gross estate, other than a marital or charitable deduction, allowed for specified property; or
(2006 Ed.)
83.110A.090
(iii) An exclusion from the gross estate of specified property.
(b) "Specified property" means property for which an
election has been made for a special elective benefit.
(2) If an election is made for one or more special elective
benefits, an initial apportionment of a hypothetical estate tax
must be computed as if no election for any of those benefits
had been made. The aggregate reduction in estate tax resulting from all elections made must be allocated among holders
of interests in the specified property in the proportion that the
amount of deduction, reduced valuation, or exclusion attributable to each holder’s interest bears to the aggregate amount
of deductions, reduced valuations, and exclusions obtained
by the decedent’s estate from the elections. If the estate tax
initially apportioned to the holder of an interest in specified
property is reduced to zero, any excess amount of reduction
reduces ratably the estate tax apportioned to other persons
that receive interests in the apportionable estate.
(3) An additional estate tax imposed to recapture all or
part of a special elective benefit must be charged to the persons that are liable for the additional tax under the law providing for the recapture. [2005 c 332 § 7.]
83.110A.070
83.110A.070 Securing payment of estate tax from
property in possession of fiduciary. (1) A fiduciary may
defer a distribution of property until the fiduciary is satisfied
that adequate provision for payment of the estate tax has been
made.
(2) A fiduciary may withhold from a distributee the
estate tax apportioned to and the estate tax required to be
advanced by the distributee.
(3) As a condition to a distribution, a fiduciary may
require the distributee to provide a bond or other security for
the estate tax apportioned to and the estate tax required to be
advanced by the distributee. [2005 c 332 § 8.]
83.110A.080
83.110A.080 Collection of estate tax by fiduciary. (1)
A fiduciary responsible for payment of an estate tax may collect from any person the estate tax apportioned to and the
estate tax required to be advanced by the person.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 83.110A.050,
any estate tax due from a person that cannot be collected from
the person may be collected by the fiduciary from other persons in the following order of priority:
(a) Any person having an interest in the apportionable
estate which is not exonerated from the tax;
(b) Any other person having an interest in the apportionable estate;
(c) Any person having an interest in the gross estate.
(3) A domiciliary fiduciary may recover from an ancillary personal representative the estate tax apportioned to the
property controlled by the ancillary personal representative.
(4) The total tax collected from a person pursuant to this
chapter may not exceed the value of the person’s interest.
[2005 c 332 § 9.]
83.110A.090
83.110A.090 Right of reimbursement. (1) A person
required under RCW 83.110A.080 to pay an estate tax
greater than the amount due from the person under RCW
83.110A.020 or 83.110A.030 has a right to reimbursement
[Title 83 RCW—page 11]
83.110A.100
Title 83 RCW: Estate Taxation
from another person to the extent that the other person has not
paid the tax required by RCW 83.110A.020 or 83.110A.030
and a right to reimbursement ratably from other persons to
the extent that each has not contributed a portion of the
amount collected under RCW 83.110A.080(2).
(2) A fiduciary may enforce the right of reimbursement
under subsection (1) of this section on behalf of the person
that is entitled to the reimbursement and shall take reasonable
steps to do so if requested by the person. [2005 c 332 § 10.]
83.110A.100 Action to determine or enforce chapter—Application of chapter 11.96A RCW. Chapter
11.96A RCW applies to issues, questions, or disputes that
arise under or that relate to this chapter. Any and all such
issues, questions, or disputes may be resolved judicially or
nonjudicially under chapter 11.96A RCW. [2005 c 332 §
11.]
83.110A.100
83.110A.110 Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the
law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact
it. [2005 c 332 § 12.]
83.110A.110
83.110A.900 Short title. This chapter may be cited as
the Washington Uniform Estate Tax Apportionment Act of
2005. [2005 c 332 § 1.]
83.110A.900
83.110A.901 Captions not law. Captions used in this
chapter are not part of the law. [2005 c 332 § 16.]
83.110A.901
83.110A.902 Effective date—2005 c 332. This act
takes effect January 1, 2006. [2005 c 332 § 17.]
83.110A.902
83.110A.903 Severability—2005 c 332. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [2005 c 332 § 13.]
83.110A.903
83.110A.904 Application—2005 c 332. (1) This act
takes effect for estate tax due on account of decedents who
die on or after January 1, 2006.
(2) Sections 2 through 7 of this act do not apply to a
decedent who dies after December 31, 2005, if the decedent
continuously lacked testamentary capacity from January 1,
2006, until the date of death. For such a decedent, estate tax
must be apportioned pursuant to the law in effect immediately before January 1, 2006. [2005 c 332 § 14.]
83.110A.904
[Title 83 RCW—page 12]
(2006 Ed.)
Title 84
Title 84
PROPERTY TAXES
Chapters
84.04
Definitions.
84.08
General powers and duties of department of
revenue.
84.09
General provisions.
84.12
Assessment and taxation of public utilities.
84.14
New and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings
in urban centers.
84.16
Assessment and taxation of private car companies.
84.20
Easements of public utilities.
84.26
Historic property.
84.33
Timber and forest lands.
84.34
Open space, agricultural, timber lands—Current use—Conservation futures.
84.36
Exemptions.
84.38
Deferral of special assessments and/or property taxes.
84.39
Property tax exemption—Widows or widowers
of veterans.
84.40
Listing of property.
84.41
Revaluation of property.
84.44
Taxable situs.
84.48
Equalization of assessments.
84.52
Levy of taxes.
84.55
Limitations upon regular property taxes.
84.56
Collection of taxes.
84.60
Lien of taxes.
84.64
Lien foreclosure.
84.68
Recovery of taxes paid or property sold for
taxes.
84.69
Refunds.
84.70
Destroyed property—Abatement or refund.
84.72
Federal payments in lieu of taxes.
84.98
Construction.
Additional provisions relating to taxes, see titles pertaining to particular taxing authorities, i.e., cities, counties, school districts, etc.
Building permits, new construction: Chapter 36.21 RCW.
Burying place exempt from execution: RCW 68.24.220.
Cemetery associations, nonprofit: RCW 68.20.110, 68.20.120.
Cities, unfit buildings: Chapter 35.80 RCW.
Cities and towns, prepayment by taxpayer of taxes and assessments owed to:
RCW 35.21.650.
Columbia Basin project: RCW 89.12.120.
Community renewal: Chapter 35.81 RCW.
Conservation districts: Chapter 89.08 RCW.
Constitutional limitations generally: State Constitution Art. 2 § 40, Art. 7,
Art. 11, §§ 9, 12.
Counties, prepayment and deposit of taxes and assessments: RCW
36.32.120.
Federal agencies and instrumentalities, taxation: State Constitution Art. 7
§§ 1, 3; Title 37 RCW.
Flood control district property: RCW 86.09.520.
Irrigation district property: RCW 87.03.260.
Lease of tax acquired property for underground storage of natural gas:
RCW 80.40.070.
Limitation on levies: State Constitution Art. 7 § 2.
(2006 Ed.)
Local improvement trust property: RCW 35.53.010.
Olympic National Park: RCW 37.08.210.
Personal exemption not applicable to tax levied on such property: RCW
6.15.010.
Privilege taxes: Chapter 54.28 RCW.
Public utility districts: RCW 54.16.080.
Qualifications for persons assessing real property—Examination: RCW
36.21.015.
Rainier National Park: RCW 37.08.200.
Real estate, excise tax on transfer: Chapters 82.45 and 82.46 RCW.
Savings and loan associations: RCW 33.28.040.
Tax returns, remittances, etc., filing and receipt: RCW 1.12.070.
Taxing districts, general indebtedness limitation: Chapter 39.36 RCW.
Termination of tax preferences: Chapter 43.136 RCW.
Washington Principal and Income Act of 2002: Chapter 11.104A RCW.
Chapter 84.04
Chapter 84.04 RCW
DEFINITIONS
Sections
84.04.010
84.04.018
84.04.020
84.04.030
84.04.040
84.04.045
84.04.047
84.04.050
84.04.055
84.04.060
84.04.065
84.04.070
84.04.075
84.04.080
84.04.090
84.04.095
84.04.100
84.04.120
84.04.130
84.04.140
84.04.150
Introductory.
"Appraised value of property."
"Assessed valuation of taxable property," and similar terms.
"Assessed value of property."
"Assessment year," "fiscal year."
"County auditor."
"Department."
"Householder."
"Legal description."
"Money," "moneys."
Number and gender.
"Oath," "swear."
"Person."
"Personal property."
"Real property."
Classification of components of irrigation systems.
"Tax" and derivatives.
"Taxing district."
"Tract," "lot," etc.
"Regular property taxes," "regular property tax levies."
"Computer software" and related terms.
84.04.010
84.04.010 Introductory. Unless otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context indicates otherwise, terms
used in this title shall have the meaning given to them in this
chapter. [1961 c 15 § 84.04.010.]
84.04.020
84.04.020 "Assessed valuation of taxable property,"
and similar terms. The terms "assessed valuation of taxable
property", "valuation of taxable property", "value of taxable
property", "taxable value of property", "property assessed"
and "value" whenever used in any statute, law, charter or
ordinance with relation to the levy of taxes in any taxing district, shall be held and construed to mean "assessed value of
property" as defined in RCW 84.04.030. [1961 c 15 §
84.04.020. Prior: 1919 c 142 § 2; RRS § 11227.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 1]
84.04.030
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.04.030
84.04.030 "Assessed value of property." "Assessed
value of property" shall be held and construed to mean the
aggregate valuation of the property subject to taxation by any
taxing district as placed on the last completed and balanced
tax rolls of the county preceding the date of any tax levy.
[2001 c 187 § 2; 1997 c 3 § 102 (Referendum Bill No. 47,
approved November 4, 1997); 1961 c 15 § 84.04.030. Prior:
(i) 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 3; RRS § 11107. (ii) 1919 c 142 § 1,
part; RRS § 11226, part.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
and applied to females as well as males. [1961 c 15 §
84.04.065. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6, part; 1897 c 71 § 4,
part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 § 4, part; 1886 p 48 §
2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS § 11110, part.]
84.04.070
84.04.070 "Oath," "swear." "Oath" may be held to
mean affirmation, and the word "swear" may be held to mean
affirm. [1961 c 15 § 84.04.070. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6,
part; 1897 c 71 § 4, part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 §
4, part; 1886 p 48 § 2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS §
11110, part.]
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.04.040
84.04.040 "Assessment year," "fiscal year." The
assessment year contemplated in this title and the fiscal year
contemplated in this title shall commence on January 1st and
end on December 31st in each year. [1961 c 15 § 84.04.040.
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 39; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 81; 1897 c 71 § 66;
1893 c 124 § 67; 1890 p 560 § 82; RRS § 11242.]
84.04.045
84.04.045 "County auditor." "County auditor" shall
be construed to mean registrar or recorder, whenever it shall
be necessary to use the same to the proper construction of this
title. [1961 c 15 § 84.04.045. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6,
part; 1897 c 71 § 4, part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 §
4, part; 1886 p 48 § 2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS §
11110, part.]
84.04.047
84.04.047 "Department." "Department" means the
department of revenue of the state of Washington. [1979 c
107 § 25.]
84.04.050
84.04.050 "Householder." "Householder" shall be
taken to mean and include every person, married or single,
who resides within the state of Washington being the owner
or holder of an estate or having a house or place of abode,
either as owner or lessee. [1961 c 15 § 84.04.050. Prior:
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6, part; 1897 c 71 § 4, part; 1893 c 124 § 4,
part; 1890 p 531 § 4, part; 1886 p 48 § 2, part; Code 1881 §
2830, part; RRS § 11110, part.]
84.04.055
84.04.055 "Legal description." "Legal description"
shall be given its commonly accepted meaning, but for property tax purposes, the parcel number is sufficient for the legal
description. [1989 c 378 § 6.]
84.04.060
84.04.060 "Money," "moneys." "Money" or "moneys" shall be held to mean coin or paper money issued by the
United States government. [1998 c 106 § 12; 1961 c 15 §
84.04.060. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6, part; 1897 c 71 § 4,
part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 § 4, part; 1886 p 48 §
2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS § 11110, part.]
84.04.065
84.04.065 Number and gender. Every word importing
the singular number only may be extended to or embrace the
plural number, and every word importing the plural number
may be applied and limited to the singular number, and every
word importing the masculine gender only may be extended
[Title 84 RCW—page 2]
84.04.075
84.04.075 "Person." "Person" shall be construed to
include firm, company, association or corporation. [1961 c
15 § 84.04.075. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6, part; 1897 c 71 §
4, part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 § 4, part; 1886 p 48
§ 2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS § 11110, part.]
84.04.080
84.04.080 "Personal property." "Personal property"
for the purposes of taxation, shall be held and construed to
embrace and include, without especially defining and enumerating it, all goods, chattels, stocks, estates or moneys; all
standing timber held or owned separately from the ownership
of the land on which it may stand; all fish trap, pound net, reef
net, set net and drag seine fishing locations; all leases of real
property and leasehold interests therein for a term less than
the life of the holder; all improvements upon lands the fee of
which is still vested in the United States, or in the state of
Washington; all gas and water mains and pipes laid in roads,
streets or alleys; and all property of whatsoever kind, name,
nature and description, which the law may define or the
courts interpret, declare and hold to be personal property for
the purpose of taxation and as being subject to the laws and
under the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, whether the
same be any marine craft, as ships and vessels, or other property holden under the laws and jurisdiction of the courts of
this state, be the same at home or abroad: PROVIDED, That
mortgages, notes, accounts, certificates of deposit, tax certificates, judgments, state, county, municipal and taxing district
bonds and warrants shall not be considered as property for the
purpose of this title, and no deduction shall hereafter be made
or allowed on account of any indebtedness owed. [1961 c 15
§ 84.04.080. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 5, part; 1907 c 108 §§
1, 2; 1907 c 48 § 1, part; 1901 ex.s. c 2 § 1, part; 1897 c 71 §
3, part; 1895 c 176 § 1, part; 1893 c 124 § 3, part; 1891 c 140
§ 3, part; 1890 p 530 § 3, part; 1886 p 48 § 2, part; Code 1881
§ 2830, part; 1871 p 37 § 1, part; 1869 p 176 § 3, part; 1854
p 332 § 4, part; RRS § 11109, part.]
Fox, mink, marten declared personalty: RCW 16.72.030.
84.04.090
84.04.090 "Real property." The term "real property"
for the purposes of taxation shall be held and construed to
mean and include the land itself, whether laid out in town lots
or otherwise, and all buildings, structures or improvements or
other fixtures of whatsoever kind thereon, except improvements upon lands the fee of which is still vested in the United
States, or in the state of Washington, and all rights and privileges thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining, except
leases of real property and leasehold interests therein for a
term less than the life of the holder; and all substances in and
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions
under the same; all standing timber growing thereon, except
standing timber owned separately from the ownership of the
land upon which the same may stand or be growing; and all
property which the law defines or the courts may interpret,
declare and hold to be real property under the letter, spirit,
intent and meaning of the law for the purposes of taxation.
The term real property shall also include a mobile home
which has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit by
virtue of its being permanently fixed in location upon land
owned or leased by the owner of the mobile home and placed
on a permanent foundation (posts or blocks) with fixed pipe
connections with sewer, water, or other utilities: PROVIDED, That a mobile home located on land leased by the
owner of the mobile home shall be subject to the personal
property provisions of chapter 84.56 RCW and RCW
84.60.040. [1987 c 155 § 1; 1985 c 395 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 299
§ 70; 1961 c 15 § 84.04.090. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 4; 1897
c 71 § 2; 1893 c 124 § 2; 1891 c 140 § 2; 1890 p 530 § 2; 1886
p 48 § 2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; 1871 p 37 § 2; 1869 p
176 § 2; RRS § 11108.]
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.04.095
84.04.095 Classification of components of irrigation
systems. Notwithstanding RCW 84.04.080 and 84.04.090,
the department shall classify, by rule, the components of irrigation systems as real or personal property for purposes of
taxation under this title. [1987 c 319 § 8.]
84.04.100
84.04.100 "Tax" and derivatives. The word "tax" and
its derivatives, "taxes," "taxing," "taxed," "taxation" and so
forth shall be held and construed to mean the imposing of
burdens upon property in proportion to the value thereof, for
the purpose of raising revenue for public purposes. [1961 c
15 § 84.04.100. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 1; 1897 c 71 § 1;
1893 c 124 § 1; RRS § 11105.]
84.04.120
84.04.120 "Taxing district." "Taxing district" shall be
held and construed to mean and include the state and any
county, city, town, port district, school district, road district,
metropolitan park district, water-sewer district or other
municipal corporation, now or hereafter existing, having the
power or authorized by law to impose burdens upon property
within the district in proportion to the value thereof, for the
purpose of obtaining revenue for public purposes, as distinguished from municipal corporations authorized to impose
burdens, or for which burdens may be imposed, for such purposes, upon property in proportion to the benefits accruing
thereto. [1999 c 153 § 69; 1961 c 15 § 84.04.120. Prior: (i)
1919 c 142 § 1, part; RRS § 11226, part. (ii) 1925 ex.s. c 130
§ 2; RRS § 11106.]
Part headings not law—1999 c 153: See note following RCW
57.04.050.
84.04.130
84.04.130 "Tract," "lot," etc. "Tract" or "lot," and
"piece or parcel of real property," and "piece or parcel of
lands" shall each be held to mean any contiguous quantity of
land in the possession of, owned by, or recorded as the property of the same claimant, person or company. [1961 c 15 §
84.04.130. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 6, part; 1897 c 71 § 4,
(2006 Ed.)
84.04.150
part; 1893 c 124 § 4, part; 1890 p 531 § 4, part; 1886 p 48 §
2, part; Code 1881 § 2830, part; RRS § 11110, part.]
84.04.140
84.04.140 "Regular property taxes," "regular property tax levies." The term "regular property taxes" and the
term "regular property tax levy" shall mean a property tax
levy by or for a taxing district which levy is subject to the
aggregate limitation set forth in RCW 84.52.043 and
84.52.050, as now or hereafter amended, or which is imposed
by or for a port district or a public utility district. [1973 1st
ex.s. c 195 § 88; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 13.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.04.150
84.04.150 "Computer software" and related terms.
(1) "Computer software" is a set of directions or instructions
that exist in the form of machine-readable or human-readable
code, is recorded on physical or electronic medium, and
directs the operation of a computer system or other machinery or equipment. "Computer software" includes the associated documentation that describes the code and its use, operation, and maintenance and typically is delivered with the
code to the user. "Computer software" does not include data
bases.
A "data base" is text, data, or other information that may
be accessed or managed with the aid of computer software
but that does not itself have the capacity to direct the operation of a computer system or other machinery or equipment.
(2) "Custom computer software" is computer software
that is designed for a single person’s or a small group of persons’ specific needs. "Custom computer software" includes
modifications to canned computer software and can be developed in-house by the user, by outside developers, or by both.
A group of four or more persons is presumed not to be a
small group of persons for the purposes of this subsection
unless each of the persons is affiliated through common control and ownership. The department may by rule provide a
definition of small group and affiliates consistent with this
subsection.
For purposes of this subsection, "person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(3) "Canned computer software," occasionally known as
prewritten or standard software, is computer software that is
designed for and distributed "as is" for multiple persons who
can use it without modifying its code and that is not otherwise
considered custom computer software.
(4) "Embedded software" is computer software that
resides permanently on some internal memory device in a
computer system or other machinery or equipment, that is not
removable in the ordinary course of operation, and that is of
a type necessary for the routine operation of the computer
system or other machinery or equipment. "Embedded software" may be either canned or custom computer software.
(5) "Retained rights" are any and all rights, including
intellectual property rights such as those rights arising from
copyrights, patents, and trade secret laws, that are owned or
are held under contract or license by a computer software
developer, author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor,
or distributor.
[Title 84 RCW—page 3]
Chapter 84.08
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(6) A "golden" or "master" copy of computer software is
a copy of computer software from which a computer software
developer, author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor,
or distributor makes copies for sale or license. [1991 sp.s. c
29 § 2.]
Findings—Intent—1991 sp.s. c 29: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Computer software is a class of personal property that is itself comprised of several different subclasses of personal property which can be distinguished by their use, development, distribution, and relationship to hardware, and includes custom software, canned software, and embedded software;
(b) Because different classes of software serve different needs, may be
used by different taxpayers, and present different administrative burdens on
both the state and the citizens of the state of Washington, the different classes
of software should be treated differently for tax purposes;
(c) Canned software should continue to be subject to property tax, but,
because of its rapid obsolescence, should be subject to tax for only two years;
and the taxable interest should reside with the end user;
(d) Canned software that has been modified should continue to be taxable on the canned portion of the software;
(e) Embedded software should continue to be taxed as part of the
machinery or equipment of which it is a part;
(f) Custom software should be exempt from taxation, in part because of
the difficulty in accurately and uniformly determining the value of such software;
(g) Retained rights in computer software should be exempt from the
property tax in part because of the difficulty in accurately and uniformly
determining the value of such software, the difficulty in determining the
scope and situs of such rights, and the adverse economic consequences to the
state of taxing such rights; and
(h) So-called "golden" or "master" copies of software should be exempt
from property tax like business inventory.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature that:
(a) The voluntary compliance nature of the personal property tax system should be preserved and nothing in this act shall be construed to reduce
the taxpayer’s obligation to fully and accurately list all taxable computer
software;
(b) Computer software should be listed and assessed for property taxes
payable in 1991 and 1992 in the same manner and to the same extent as computer software was listed and assessed for taxes due in 1989;
(c) The definition of custom software, golden or master copies, and
retained rights shall be liberally construed in accordance with the purposes of
this act;
(d) This act shall provide fairness, equity, and uniformity in the property tax treatment of each class of computer software in the state of Washington; and
(e) No inference should be taken from this act regarding the application
of the property tax to data bases." [1991 sp.s. c 29 § 1.]
Severability—1991 sp.s. c 29: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1991 sp.s. c 29 § 8.]
Application—Taxes collected in 1993—1991 sp.s. c 29: "Sections 2
through 4 and 6 of this act apply to taxes levied for collection in 1993, and
thereafter." [1991 sp.s. c 29 § 9.]
Chapter 84.08
Chapter 84.08 RCW
GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Sections
84.08.005
84.08.010
84.08.020
84.08.030
84.08.040
84.08.050
Adoption of provisions of chapter 82.01 RCW.
Powers of department of revenue—General supervision—
Rules and processes—Visitation of counties.
Additional powers—To advise county and local officers—
Books and blanks—Reports.
Additional powers—To test work of assessors—Supplemental
assessment lists—Audits.
Additional powers—To keep valuation records—Access to
files of other public offices.
Additional powers—Access to books and records—Hearings—Investigation of complaints.
[Title 84 RCW—page 4]
84.08.060
84.08.070
84.08.080
84.08.115
84.08.120
84.08.130
84.08.140
84.08.190
84.08.210
Additional powers—Power over county boards of equalization—Reconvening—Limitation on increase in property
value in appeals to board of tax appeals from county board of
equalization.
Rules and regulations authorized.
Department to decide questions of interpretation.
Department to prepare explanation of property tax system.
Duty to obey orders of department of revenue.
Appeals from county board of equalization to board of tax
appeals—Notice.
Appeals from levy of taxing district to department of revenue.
Assessors to meet with department of revenue.
Confidentiality and privilege of tax information—Exceptions—Penalty.
Constitutional limitations on taxation: State Constitution Art. 2 § 40, Art. 7,
Art. 11, §§ 9, 12.
Public bodies may retain collection agencies to collect public debts—Fees:
RCW 19.16.500.
Taxing districts, general limitation of indebtedness: Chapter 39.36 RCW.
84.08.005 Adoption of provisions of chapter 82.01
RCW. The provisions of chapter 82.01 RCW, as now or
hereafter amended, apply to Title 84 RCW as fully as though
they were set forth herein. [1961 c 15 § 84.08.005.]
84.08.005
84.08.010 Powers of department of revenue—General supervision—Rules and processes—Visitation of
counties. The department of revenue shall:
(1) Exercise general supervision and control over the
administration of the assessment and tax laws of the state,
over county assessors, and county boards of equalization, and
over boards of county commissioners, county treasurers and
county auditors and all other county officers, in the performance of their duties relating to taxation, and perform any act
or give any order or direction to any county board of equalization or to any county assessor or to any other county
officer as to the valuation of any property, or class or classes
of property in any county, township, city or town, or as to any
other matter relating to the administration of the assessment
and taxation laws of the state, which, in the department’s
judgment may seem just and necessary, to the end that all taxable property in this state shall be listed upon the assessment
rolls and valued and assessed according to the provisions of
law, and equalized between persons, firms, companies and
corporations, and between the different counties of this state,
and between the different taxing units and townships, so that
equality of taxation and uniformity of administration shall be
secured and all taxes shall be collected according to the provisions of law.
(2) Formulate such rules and processes for the assessment of both real and personal property for purposes of taxation as are best calculated to secure uniform assessment of
property of like kind and value in the various taxing units of
the state, and relative uniformity between properties of different kinds and values in the same taxing unit. The department
of revenue shall furnish to each county assessor a copy of the
rules and processes so formulated. The department of revenue may, from time to time, make such changes in the rules
and processes so formulated as it deems advisable to accomplish the purpose thereof, and it shall inform all county assessors of such changes.
(3) Visit the counties in the state, unless prevented by
necessary official duties, for the investigation of the methods
adopted by the county assessors and county boards of commissioners in the assessment and equalization of taxation of
84.08.010
(2006 Ed.)
General Powers and Duties of Department of Revenue
real and personal property; carefully examine into all cases
where evasion of property taxation is alleged, and ascertain
where existing laws are defective, or improperly or negligently administered. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 147; 1961 c 15 §
84.08.010. Prior: 1939 c 206 §§ 4, part and 5, part; 1935 c
127 § 1, part; 1931 c 15 § 1, part; 1927 c 280 § 5, part; 1925
c 18 § 5, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53; 1907 c 220 § 1, part; 1905
c 115 § 2, part; RRS §§ 11091 (first), part and 11091 (second), part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.020
84.08.020 Additional powers—To advise county and
local officers—Books and blanks—Reports. The department of revenue shall:
(1) Confer with, advise and direct assessors, boards of
equalization, county boards of commissioners, county treasurers, county auditors and all other county and township
officers as to their duties under the law and statutes of the
state, relating to taxation, and direct what proceedings,
actions or prosecutions shall be instituted to support the law
relating to the penalties, liabilities and punishment of public
officers, persons, and officers or agents of corporations for
failure or neglect to comply with the provisions of the statutes
governing the return, assessment and taxation of property,
and the collection of taxes, and cause complaint to be made
against any of such public officers in the proper county for
their removal from office for official misconduct or neglect
of duty. In the execution of these powers and duties the said
department or any member thereof may call upon prosecuting
attorneys or the attorney general, who shall assist in the commencement and prosecution for penalties and forfeiture, liabilities and punishments for violations of the laws of the state
in respect to the assessment and taxation of property.
(2) Prescribe all forms of books and blanks to be used in
the assessment and collection of taxes, and change such
forms when prescribed by law, and recommend to the legislature such changes as may be deemed most economical to
the state and counties, and such recommendation shall be
accompanied by carefully prepared bill or bills for this end.
(3) Require county, city and town officers to report information as to assessments of property, equalization of taxes,
the expenditure of public funds for all purposes, and other
information which said department of revenue may request.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 148; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.020. Prior:
1939 c 206 § 5, part; 1935 c 127 § 1, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53;
1907 c 220 § 1, part; 1905 c 115 § 2, part; RRS § 11091 (second), part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.030
84.08.030 Additional powers—To test work of assessors—Supplemental assessment lists—Audits. The
department of revenue shall examine and test the work of
county assessors at any time, and have and possess all rights
and powers of such assessors for the examination of persons,
and property, and for the discovery of property subject to taxation, and if it shall ascertain that any taxable property is
omitted from the assessment list, or not assessed or valued
according to law, it shall bring the same to the attention of the
assessor of the proper county in writing, and if such assessor
(2006 Ed.)
84.08.050
shall neglect or refuse to comply with the request of the
department of revenue to place such property on the assessment list, or to correct such incorrect assessment or valuation
the department of revenue shall have the power to prepare a
supplement to such assessment list, which supplement shall
include all property required by the department of revenue to
be placed on the assessment list and all corrections required
to be made. Such supplement shall be filed with the assessor’s assessment list and shall thereafter constitute an integral
part thereof to the exclusion of all portions of the original
assessment list inconsistent therewith, and shall be submitted
therewith to the county board of equalization. As part of the
examining and testing of the work of county assessors to be
accomplished pursuant to this section, the department of revenue shall audit statewide at least one-half of one percent of
all personal property accounts listed each calendar year.
[1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 94 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 30; 1961 c 15
§ 84.08.030. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 4, part; 1931 c 15 § 1, part;
1927 c 280 § 5, part; 1925 c 18 § 5, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53;
RRS § 11091 (first).]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.08.040
84.08.040 Additional powers—To keep valuation
records—Access to files of other public offices. The
department of revenue shall secure, tabulate, and keep
records of valuations of all classes of property throughout the
state, and for that purpose, shall have access to all records and
files of state offices and departments and county and municipal offices and shall require all public officers and employees
whose duties make it possible to ascertain valuations, including valuations of property of public service corporations for
rate making purposes to file reports with the department of
revenue, giving such information as to such valuation and the
source thereof: PROVIDED, That the nature and kind of the
tabulations, records of valuation and requirements from public officers, as stated herein, shall be in such form, and cover
such valuations, as the department of revenue shall prescribe. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 149; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.040.
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 4, part; 1931 c 15 § 1, part; 1927 c 280 §
5, part; 1925 c 18 § 5, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53; RRS § 11091
(first), part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.050
84.08.050 Additional powers—Access to books and
records—Hearings—Investigation of complaints. (1) The
department of revenue shall:
(a) Require individuals, partnerships, companies, associations and corporations to furnish information as to their capital, funded debts, investments, value of property, earnings,
taxes and all other facts called for on these subjects so that the
department may determine the taxable value of any property
or any other fact it may consider necessary to carry out any
duties now or hereafter imposed upon it, or may ascertain the
relative burdens borne by all kinds and classes of property
within the state, and for these purposes their records, books,
accounts, papers and memoranda shall be subject to production and inspection, investigation and examination by the
[Title 84 RCW—page 5]
84.08.060
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
department, or any employee thereof designated by the
department for such purpose, and any or all real and/or personal property in this state shall be subject to visitation,
investigation, examination and/or listing at any and all times
by the department or by any employee thereof designated by
the department.
(b) Summon witnesses to appear and testify on the subject of capital, funded debts, investments, value of property,
earnings, taxes, and all other facts called for on these subjects, or upon any matter deemed material to the proper
assessment of property, or to the investigation of the system
of taxation, or the expenditure of public funds for state,
county, district and municipal purposes: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, No person shall be required to testify outside of
the county in which the taxpayer’s residence, office or principal place of business, as the case may be, is located. Such
summons shall be served in like manner as a subpoena issued
out of the superior court and be served by the sheriff of the
proper county, and such service certified by him or her to the
department without compensation therefor. Persons appearing before the department in obedience to a summons shall in
the discretion of the department receive the same compensation as witnesses in the superior court.
(c) Thoroughly investigate all complaints which may be
made to it of illegal, unjust or excessive taxation, and shall
endeavor to ascertain to what extent and in what manner, if at
all, the present system is inequal or oppressive.
(2) Any member of the department or any employee
thereof designated for that purpose may administer oaths to
witnesses.
(3)(a) In case any witness shall fail to obey the summons
to appear, or refuse to testify, or shall fail or refuse to comply
with any of the provisions of subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this
section, such person, for each separate or repeated offense,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars, nor more than five thousand dollars.
(b) Any person who shall testify falsely is guilty of perjury and shall be punished under chapter 9A.72 RCW. [2003
c 53 § 407; 1973 c 95 § 8; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.050. Prior: 1939
c 206 § 5, part; 1935 c 127 § 1, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53; 1907
c 220 § 1, part; 1905 c 115 § 2, part; RRS § 11091 (second),
part.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
84.08.060
84.08.060 Additional powers—Power over county
boards of equalization—Reconvening—Limitation on
increase in property value in appeals to board of tax
appeals from county board of equalization. The department of revenue shall have power to direct and to order any
county board of equalization to raise or lower the valuation of
any taxable property, or to add any property to the assessment
list, or to perform or complete any other duty required by statute. The department of revenue may require any such board
of equalization to reconvene after its adjournment for the purpose of performing any order or requirement made by the
department of revenue and may make such orders as it shall
determine to be just and necessary. The department may
require any county board of equalization to reconvene at any
time for the purpose of performing or completing any duty or
[Title 84 RCW—page 6]
taking any action it might lawfully have performed or taken
at any of its previous meetings. No board may be reconvened
later than three years after the date of adjournment of its regularly convened session. If such board of equalization shall
fail or refuse forthwith to comply with any such order or
requirement of the department of revenue, the department of
revenue shall have power to take any other appropriate
action, or to make such correction or change in the assessment list, and such corrections and changes shall be a part of
the record of the proceedings of the said board of equalization: PROVIDED, That in all cases where the department of
revenue shall raise the valuation of any property or add property to the assessment list, it shall give notice either for the
same time and in the same manner as is now required in like
cases of county boards of equalization, or if it shall deem
such method of giving notice impracticable it shall give
notice by publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation within the county in which the property affected is situated once each week for two consecutive weeks, and the
department of revenue shall not proceed to raise such valuation or add such property to the assessment list until a period
of five days shall have elapsed subsequent to the date of the
last publication of such notice: PROVIDED FURTHER,
That appeals to the board of tax appeals by any taxpayer or
taxing unit concerning any action of the county board of
equalization shall not raise the valuation of the property to an
amount greater than the larger of either the valuation of the
property by the county assessor or the valuation of the property assigned by the county board of equalization. Such
notice shall give the legal description of each tract of land
involved, or a general description in case of personal property; the tax record-owner thereof; the assessed value thereof
determined by the county board of equalization in case the
property is on the assessment roll; and the assessed value
thereof as determined by the department of revenue and shall
state that the department of revenue proposes to increase the
assessed valuation of such property to the amount stated and
to add such property to the assessment list at the assessed valuation stated. The necessary expense incurred by the department of revenue in making such reassessment and/or adding
such property to the assessment list shall be borne by the
county or township in which the property as reassessed
and/or so added to the assessment list is situated and shall be
paid out of the proper funds of such county upon the order of
the department of revenue. [1988 c 222 § 9; 1982 1st ex.s. c
46 § 11; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 150; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.060.
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 4, part; 1931 c 15 § 1, part; 1927 c 280 §
5, part; 1925 c 18 § 5, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53; RRS § 11091
(first), part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.070
84.08.070 Rules and regulations authorized. The
department of revenue shall make such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the powers granted by this
chapter, and for conducting hearings and other proceedings
before it. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 151; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.070.
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 4, part; 1931 c 15 § 1, part; 1927 c 280 §
5, part; 1925 c 18 § 5, part; 1921 c 7 §§ 50, 53; RRS § 11091
(first), part. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1935 c 123 §
18 now codified as RCW 84.12.390.]
(2006 Ed.)
General Powers and Duties of Department of Revenue
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.080
84.08.080 Department to decide questions of interpretation. The department of revenue shall, with the advice
of the attorney general, decide all questions that may arise in
reference to the true construction or interpretation of this title,
or any part thereof, with reference to the powers and duties of
taxing district officers, and such decision shall have force and
effect until modified or annulled by the judgment or decree of
a court of competent jurisdiction. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 152;
1961 c 15 § 84.08.080. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 111; 1897 c
71 § 92; 1895 c 176 § 20; 1893 c 124 § 95; RRS § 11272.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.115
84.08.115 Department to prepare explanation of
property tax system. (1) The department shall prepare a
clear and succinct explanation of the property tax system,
including but not limited to:
(a) The standard of true and fair value as the basis of the
property tax.
(b) How the assessed value for particular parcels is determined.
(c) The procedures and timing of the assessment process.
(d) How district levy rates are determined, including the
limit under chapter 84.55 RCW.
(e) How the composite tax rate is determined.
(f) How the amount of tax is calculated.
(g) How a taxpayer may appeal an assessment, and what
issues are appropriate as a basis of appeal.
(h) A summary of tax exemption and relief programs,
along with the eligibility standards and application processes.
(2) Each county assessor shall provide copies of the
explanation to taxpayers on request, free of charge. Each
revaluation notice shall include information regarding the
availability of the explanation. [1997 c 3 § 207 (Referendum
Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1991 c 218 § 2.]
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1991 c 218: See note following RCW 36.21.015.
84.08.120
84.08.120 Duty to obey orders of department of revenue. It shall be the duty of every public officer to comply
with any lawful order, rule or regulation of the department of
revenue made under the provisions of this title, and whenever
it shall appear to the department of revenue that any public
officer or employee whose duties relate to the assessment or
equalization of assessments of property for taxation or to the
levy or collection of taxes has failed to comply with the provisions of this title or with any other law relating to such
duties or the rules of the department made in pursuance
thereof, the department after a hearing on the facts may issue
its order directing such public officer or employee to comply
with such provisions of law or of its rules, and if such public
officer or employee for a period of ten days after service on
him of the department’s order shall neglect or refuse to comply therewith, the department of revenue may apply to a
judge of the superior court or court commissioner of the
county in which said public officer or employee holds office
(2006 Ed.)
84.08.140
for an order returnable within five days from the date thereof
to compel such public officer or employee to comply with
such provisions of law or of the department’s order, or to
show cause why he should not be compelled so to do, and any
order issued by the judge pursuant thereto shall be final. The
remedy herein provided shall be cumulative and shall not
exclude the department of revenue from exercising any
power or rights otherwise granted. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
155; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.120. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 7; 1927 c
280 § 12; 1925 c 18 § 12; RRS § 11102.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.130
84.08.130 Appeals from county board of equalization
to board of tax appeals—Notice. (1) Any taxpayer or taxing unit feeling aggrieved by the action of any county board
of equalization may appeal to the board of tax appeals by filing with the board of tax appeals in accordance with RCW
1.12.070 a notice of appeal within thirty days after the mailing of the decision of such board of equalization, which
notice shall specify the actions complained of; and in like
manner any county assessor may appeal to the board of tax
appeals from any action of any county board of equalization.
There shall be no fee charged for the filing of an appeal. The
board shall transmit a copy of the notice of appeal to all
named parties within thirty days of its receipt by the board.
Appeals which are not filed as provided in this section shall
be dismissed. The board of tax appeals shall require the board
appealed from to file a true and correct copy of its decision in
such action and all evidence taken in connection therewith,
and may receive further evidence, and shall make such order
as in its judgment is just and proper.
(2) The board of tax appeals may enter an order, pursuant
to subsection (1) of this section, that has effect up to the end
of the assessment cycle used by the assessor, if there has been
no intervening change in the value during that time. [1998 c
54 § 3; 1994 c 301 § 18; 1992 c 206 § 10; 1989 c 378 § 7;
1988 c 222 § 8; 1977 ex.s. c 290 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
156; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.130. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 6; 1927 c
280 § 6; 1925 c 18 § 6; RRS § 11092.]
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Evidence submission in advance of hearing: RCW 82.03.200.
Limitation on increase in property value in appeals to board of tax appeals
from county board of equalization: RCW 84.08.060.
84.08.140
84.08.140 Appeals from levy of taxing district to
department of revenue. Any taxpayer feeling aggrieved by
the levy or levies of any taxing district except levies authorized by a vote of the voters of the district may appeal therefrom to the department of revenue as hereinafter provided.
Such taxpayer, upon the execution of a bond, with two or
more sufficient sureties to be approved by the county auditor,
payable to the state of Washington, in the penal sum of two
hundred dollars and conditioned that if the petitioner shall
fail in his appeal for a reduction of said levy or levies the taxpayer will pay the taxable costs of the hearings hereinafter
provided, not exceeding the amount of such bond, may file a
written complaint with the county auditor wherein such taxing district is located not later than ten days after the making
[Title 84 RCW—page 7]
84.08.190
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
and entering of such levy or levies, setting forth in such form
and detail as the department of revenue shall by general rule
prescribe, the taxpayer’s objections to such levy or levies.
Upon the filing of such complaint, the county auditor shall
immediately transmit a certified copy thereof, together with a
copy of the budget or estimates of such taxing district as
finally adopted, including estimated revenues and such other
information as the department of revenue shall by rule
require, to the department of revenue. The department of revenue shall fix a date for a hearing on said complaint at the earliest convenient time after receipt of said record, which hearing shall be held in the county in which said taxing district is
located, and notice of such hearing shall be given to the officials of such taxing district, charged with determining the
amount of its levies, and to the taxpayer on said complaint by
registered mail at least five days prior to the date of said hearing. At such hearings all interested parties may be heard and
the department of revenue shall receive all competent evidence. After such hearing, the department of revenue shall
either affirm or decrease the levy or levies complained of, in
accordance with the evidence, and shall thereupon certify its
action with respect thereto to the county auditor, who, in turn,
shall certify it to the taxing district or districts affected, and
the action of the department of revenue with respect to such
levy or levies shall be final and conclusive. [1994 c 301 § 19;
1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 157; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.140. Prior:
1927 c 280 § 8; 1925 c 18 § 8; RRS § 11098.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.08.190
(3) Subsection (2) of this section, however, does not prohibit the department from:
(a) Disclosing tax information to any county assessor or
county treasurer;
(b) Disclosing tax information in a civil or criminal judicial proceeding or an administrative proceeding in respect to
taxes or penalties imposed under this title or Title 82 RCW or
in respect to assessment or valuation for tax purposes of the
property to which the information or facts relate;
(c) Disclosing tax information with the written permission of the taxpayer;
(d) Disclosing tax information to the proper officer of the
tax department of any state responsible for the imposition or
collection of property taxes, or for the valuation of property
for tax purposes, if the other state grants substantially similar
privileges to the proper officers of this state;
(e) Disclosing tax information that is also maintained by
another Washington state or local governmental agency as a
public record available for inspection and copying under
chapter 42.56 RCW or is a document maintained by a court of
record not otherwise prohibited from disclosure;
(f) Disclosing tax information to a peace officer as
defined in RCW 9A.04.110 or county prosecutor, for official
purposes. The disclosure may be made only in response to a
search warrant, subpoena, or other court order, unless the disclosure is for the purpose of criminal tax enforcement. A
peace officer or county prosecutor who receives the tax information may disclose the tax information only for use in the
investigation and a related court proceeding, or in the court
proceeding for which the tax information originally was
sought; or
(g) Disclosing information otherwise available under
chapter 42.56 RCW.
(4) A violation of this section constitutes a gross misdemeanor. [2005 c 274 § 363; 1997 c 239 § 1.]
84.08.190 Assessors to meet with department of revenue. For the purpose of instruction on the subject of taxation, the county assessors of the state shall meet with the
department of revenue at the capital of the state, or at such
place within the state as they may determine at their previous
meeting, on the second Monday of October of each year or on
such other date as may be fixed by the department of revenue.
Each assessor shall be paid by the county of his residence his
actual expenses in attending such meeting, upon presentation
to the county auditor of proper vouchers. [1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 158; 1961 c 15 § 84.08.190. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 16,
part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 57, part; 1911 c 12 § 1; RRS § 11140,
part.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.09.010
84.08.210
84.08.210 Confidentiality and privilege of tax information—Exceptions—Penalty. (1) For purposes of this
section, "tax information" means confidential income data
and proprietary business information obtained by the department in the course of carrying out the duties now or hereafter
imposed upon it in this title that has been communicated in
confidence in connection with the assessment of property and
that has not been publicly disseminated by the taxpayer, the
disclosure of which would be either highly offensive to a reasonable person and not a legitimate concern to the public or
would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.
(2) Tax information is confidential and privileged, and
except as authorized by this section, neither the department
nor any other person may disclose tax information.
[Title 84 RCW—page 8]
Chapter 84.09
Chapter 84.09 RCW
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections
84.09.020
84.09.030
84.09.035
84.09.037
84.09.040
84.09.050
84.09.060
84.09.070
Nomenclature—Taxes designated as taxes of year in which
payable.
Abbreviations authorized.
Taxing district boundaries—Establishment.
Withdrawal of certain areas of a library district, metropolitan
park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district—Date effective.
School district boundary changes.
Penalty for nonperformance of duty by county officers.
Fees and costs allowed in civil actions against county officers.
Property tax advisor.
Authority of operating agencies to levy taxes.
84.09.010
84.09.010 Nomenclature—Taxes designated as taxes
of year in which payable. All annual taxes and assessments
of real and personal property shall hereafter be known and
designated as taxes and assessments of the year in which such
taxes and assessments, or the initial installment thereof, shall
become due and payable. [1961 c 15 § 84.09.010. Prior:
1939 c 136 § 2; RRS § 11112-2. Formerly RCW 84.08.150.]
(2006 Ed.)
General Provisions
84.09.020
84.09.020 Abbreviations authorized. In all proceedings relative to the levy, assessment or collection of taxes,
and any entries required to be made by any officer or by the
clerk of the court, letters, figures and characters may be used
to denote townships, ranges, sections, parts of sections, lots
or blocks, or parts thereof, the year or years for which taxes
were due, and the amount of taxes, assessments, penalties,
interest and costs. Whenever the abbreviation "do." or the
character "’’" or any other similar abbreviations or characters
shall be used in any such proceedings, they shall be construed
and held as meaning and being the same name, word, initial,
letters, abbreviations, figure or figures, as the last one preceding such "do." and "’’" or other similar characters. [1961 c 15
§ 84.09.020. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 112, part; 1897 c 71 §
93, part; 1893 c 124 § 97, part; RRS § 11273, part. Formerly
RCW 84.08.170.]
84.09.030
84.09.030 Taxing district boundaries—Establishment. Except as follows, the boundaries of counties, cities
and all other taxing districts, for purposes of property taxation and the levy of property taxes, shall be the established
official boundaries of such districts existing on the first day
of March of the year in which the property tax levy is made.
The official boundaries of a newly incorporated taxing
district shall be established at a different date in the year in
which the incorporation occurred as follows:
(1) Boundaries for a newly incorporated city shall be
established on the last day of March of the year in which the
initial property tax levy is made, and the boundaries of a road
district, library district, or fire protection district or districts,
that include any portion of the area that was incorporated
within its boundaries shall be altered as of this date to exclude
this area, if the budget for the newly incorporated city is filed
pursuant to RCW 84.52.020 and the levy request of the newly
incorporated city is made pursuant to RCW 84.52.070.
Whenever a proposed city incorporation is on the March special election ballot, the county auditor shall submit the legal
description of the proposed city to the department of revenue
on or before the first day of March;
(2) Boundaries for a newly incorporated port district or
regional fire protection service authority shall be established
on the first day of October if the boundaries of the newly
incorporated port district or regional fire protection service
authority are coterminous with the boundaries of another taxing district or districts, as they existed on the first day of
March of that year;
(3) Boundaries of any other newly incorporated taxing
district shall be established on the first day of June of the year
in which the property tax levy is made if the taxing district
has boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of another
taxing district, as they existed on the first day of March of
that year;
(4) Boundaries for a newly incorporated water-sewer
district shall be established on the fifteenth of June of the year
in which the proposition under RCW 57.04.050 authorizing a
water district excess levy is approved.
The boundaries of a taxing district shall be established
on the first day of June if territory has been added to, or
removed from, the taxing district after the first day of March
of that year with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries
of another taxing district as they existed on the first day of
(2006 Ed.)
84.09.037
March of that year. However, the boundaries of a road district, library district, or fire protection district or districts, that
include any portion of the area that was annexed to a city or
town within its boundaries shall be altered as of this date to
exclude this area. In any case where any instrument setting
forth the official boundaries of any newly established taxing
district, or setting forth any change in such boundaries, is
required by law to be filed in the office of the county auditor
or other county official, said instrument shall be filed in triplicate. The officer with whom such instrument is filed shall
transmit two copies to the county assessor.
No property tax levy shall be made for any taxing district
whose boundaries are not established as of the dates provided
in this section. [2004 c 129 § 19; 1996 c 230 § 1613; 1994 c
292 § 4. Prior: 1989 c 378 § 8; 1989 c 217 § 1; prior: 1987
c 358 § 1; 1987 c 82 § 1; 1984 c 203 § 9; 1981 c 26 § 4; 1961
c 15 § 84.09.030; prior: 1951 c 116 § 1; 1949 c 65 § 1; 1943
c 182 § 1; 1939 c 136 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11106-1. Formerly RCW 84.08.160.]
Captions not law—Severability—2004 c 129: See RCW 52.26.900
and 52.26.901.
Part headings not law—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW
57.02.001.
Findings—Intent—1994 c 292: See note following RCW 57.04.050.
Severability—1984 c 203: See note following RCW 35.43.140.
84.09.035
84.09.035 Withdrawal of certain areas of a library
district, metropolitan park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district—Date effective. Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 84.09.030, the boundaries of
a library district, metropolitan park district, fire protection
district, or public hospital district that withdraws an area from
its boundaries pursuant to RCW 27.12.355, 35.61.360,
52.04.056, or 70.44.235, which area has boundaries that are
coterminous with the boundaries of a tax code area, shall be
established as of the first day of October in the year in which
the area is withdrawn. [1989 c 378 § 9; 1987 c 138 § 5.]
84.09.037
84.09.037 School district boundary changes. Each
school district affected by a transfer of territory from one
school district to another school district under chapter
28A.315 RCW shall retain its preexisting boundaries for the
purpose of the collection of excess tax levies authorized
under RCW 84.52.053 before the effective date of the transfer, for such tax collection years and for such excess tax levies as the superintendent of public instruction may approve
and order that the transferred territory shall either be subject
to or relieved of such excess levies, as the case may be. For
the purpose of all other excess tax levies previously authorized under chapter 84.52 RCW and all excess tax levies
authorized under RCW 84.52.053 subsequent to the effective
date of a transfer of territory, the boundaries of the affected
school districts shall be modified to recognize the transfer of
territory subject to RCW 84.09.030. [2006 c 263 § 615; 1990
c 33 § 597; 1987 c 100 § 3.]
Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes
following RCW 28A.150.230.
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
[Title 84 RCW—page 9]
84.09.040
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.09.040 Penalty for nonperformance of duty by
county officers. Every county auditor, county assessor and
county treasurer who in any case refuses or knowingly
neglects to perform any duty enjoined on him by this title, or
who consents to or connives at any evasion of its provisions
whereby any proceeding herein provided for is prevented or
hindered, or whereby any property required to be listed for
taxation is unlawfully exempted, or the valuation thereof is
entered on the tax roll at less than its true taxable value, shall,
for every such neglect, refusal, consent or connivance, forfeit
and pay to the state not less than two hundred nor more than
one thousand dollars, at the discretion of the court, to be
recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction upon
the complaint of any citizen who is a taxpayer; and the prosecuting attorney shall prosecute such suit to judgment and
execution. [1961 c 15 § 84.09.040. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 §
109; 1897 c 71 § 89; 1893 c 124 § 92; RRS § 11270. Formerly RCW 84.56.410.]
84.09.040
84.09.050 Fees and costs allowed in civil actions
against county officers. Whenever a civil action is commenced against any person holding the office of county treasurer, county auditor, or any other officer, for performing or
attempting to perform any duty authorized or directed by any
statute of this state for the collection of the public revenue,
such treasurer, auditor or other officer may, in the discretion
of the court before whom such action is brought, by an order
made by such court and entered in the minutes thereof, be
allowed and paid out of the county treasury, reasonable fees
of counsel and other expenses for defending such action.
[1961 c 15 § 84.09.050. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 110; 1897
c 71 § 90; 1893 c 124 § 93; RRS § 11271. Formerly RCW
84.56.420.]
84.09.050
84.09.060
84.09.060 Property tax advisor.
84.48.140.
See RCW
84.09.070
84.09.070 Authority of operating agencies to levy
taxes. Nothing in this title may be deemed to grant to any
operating agency organized under chapter 43.52 RCW, or a
project of any such operating agency, the authority to levy
any tax or assessment not otherwise authorized by law.
[1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 56.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Chapter 84.12
Chapter 84.12 RCW
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Sections
84.12.200
84.12.210
84.12.220
84.12.230
84.12.240
84.12.250
84.12.260
84.12.270
84.12.280
84.12.300
Definitions.
Property used but not owned deemed sole operating property
of owning company.
Jurisdiction to determine operating, nonoperating property.
Annual reports to be filed.
Access to books and records.
Depositions may be taken.
Default valuation by department of revenue—Penalty—Estoppel.
Annual assessment—Sources of information.
Classification of real and personal property.
Valuation of interstate utility—Apportionment of system
value to state.
[Title 84 RCW—page 10]
84.12.310
84.12.320
84.12.330
84.12.340
84.12.350
84.12.360
84.12.370
84.12.380
84.12.390
Deduction of nonoperating property.
Persons bound by notice.
Assessment roll—Notice of valuation.
Hearings on assessment, time and place of.
Apportionment of value by department of revenue.
Basis of apportionment.
Certification to county assessor—Entry upon tax rolls.
Assessment of nonoperating property.
Rules and regulations.
84.12.200
84.12.200 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter
and unless otherwise required by the context:
(1) "Department" without other designation means the
department of revenue of the state of Washington.
(2) "Railroad company" means and includes any person
owning or operating a railroad, street railway, suburban railroad or interurban railroad in this state, whether its line of
railroad be maintained at the surface, or above or below the
surface of the earth, or by whatever power its vehicles are
transported; or owning any station, depot, terminal or bridge
for railroad purposes, as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(3) "Airplane company" means and includes any person
owning, controlling, operating or managing real or personal
property, used or to be used for or in connection with or to
facilitate the conveyance and transportation of persons and/or
property by aircraft, and engaged in the business of transporting persons and/or property for compensation, as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(4) "Electric light and power company" means and
includes any person owning, controlling, operating or managing real or personal property, used or to be used for or in connection with or to facilitate the generation, transmission or
distribution of electricity in this state, and engaged in the
business of furnishing, transmitting, distributing or generating electrical energy for light, heat or power for compensation as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(5) "Telegraph company" means and includes any person
owning, controlling, operating or managing any telegraph or
cable line in this state, with appliances for the transmission of
messages, and engaged in the business of furnishing telegraph service for compensation, as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(6) "Telephone company" means and includes any person owning, controlling, operating or managing real or personal property, used or to be used for or in connection with or
to facilitate the transmission of communication by telephone
in this state *through owned or controlled exchanges and/or
switchboards, and engaged in the business of furnishing telephonic communication for compensation as owner, lessee or
otherwise.
(7) "Gas company" means and includes any person owning, controlling, operating or managing real or personal property, used or to be used for or in connection with or to facilitate the manufacture, transportation, or distribution of natural
or manufactured gas in this state, and engaged for compensation in the business of furnishing gas for light, heat, power or
other use, as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(8) "Pipe line company" means and includes any person
owning, controlling, operating or managing real or personal
property, used or to be used for or in connection with or to
facilitate the conveyance or transportation of oils, natural or
manufactured gas and/or other substances, except water, by
(2006 Ed.)
Assessment and Taxation of Public Utilities
pipe line in this state, and engaged in such business for compensation, as owner, lessee or otherwise.
(9) "Logging railroad company" means and includes any
person owning, controlling, operating or managing real or
personal property, used or to be used for or in connection
with or to facilitate the conveyance and transportation of forest products by rail in this state, and engaged in the business
of transporting forest products either as private carrier or carrier for hire.
(10) "Person" means and includes any individual, firm,
copartnership, joint venture, association, corporation, trust,
or any other group acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative or otherwise, and/or trustees or receivers appointed by
any court.
(11) "Company" means and includes any railroad company, airplane company, electric light and power company,
telegraph company, telephone company, gas company, pipe
line company, or logging railroad company; and the term
"companies" means and includes all of such companies.
(12) "Operating property" means and includes all property, real and personal, owned by any company, or held by it
as occupant, lessee or otherwise, including all franchises and
lands, buildings, rights-of-way, water powers, motor vehicles, wagons, horses, aircraft, aerodromes, hangars, office
furniture, water mains, gas mains, pipe lines, pumping stations, tanks, tank farms, holders, reservoirs, telephone lines,
telegraph lines, transmission and distribution lines, dams,
generating plants, poles, wires, cables, conduits, switch
boards, devices, appliances, instruments, equipment, machinery, landing slips, docks, roadbeds, tracks, terminals, rolling
stock equipment, appurtenances and all other property of a
like or different kind, situate within the state of Washington,
used by the company in the conduct of its operations; and, in
case of personal property used partly within and partly without the state, it means and includes a proportion of such personal property to be determined as in this chapter provided.
(13) "Nonoperating property" means all physical property owned by any company, other than that used during the
preceding calendar year in the conduct of its operations. It
includes all lands and/or buildings wholly used by any person
other than the owning company. In cases where lands and/or
buildings are used partially by the owning company in the
conduct of its operations and partially by any other person not
assessable under this chapter under lease, sublease, or other
form of tenancy, the operating and nonoperating property of
the company whose property is assessed hereunder shall be
determined by the department of revenue in such manner as
will, in its judgment, secure the separate valuation of such
operating and nonoperating property upon a fair and equitable basis. The amount of operating revenue received from
tenants or occupants of property of the owning company shall
not be considered material in determining the classification
of such property. [1998 c 335 § 1; 1994 c 124 § 13; 1987 c
153 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 159; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.200.
Prior: 1935 c 123 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 36; 1907 c 131 § 2;
1907 c 78 § 2; RRS § 11156-1. Formerly RCW 84.12.010 and
84.12.020, part.]
*Reviser’s note: Language was apparently modified during the publication process and has been restored.
Effective date—1998 c 335: "This act takes effect January 1, 1999."
[1998 c 335 § 7.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.12.240
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.210
84.12.210 Property used but not owned deemed sole
operating property of owning company. Property used but
not owned by an operating company shall, whether such use
be exclusive or jointly with others, be deemed the sole operating property of the owning company. [1961 c 15 §
84.12.210. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 1, subdivision (19); RRS §
11156-1(19). Formerly RCW 84.12.020, part.]
84.12.220
84.12.220 Jurisdiction to determine operating, nonoperating property. In all matters relating to assessment
and taxation the department of revenue shall have jurisdiction
to determine what is operating property and what is nonoperating property. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 160; 1961 c 15 §
84.12.220. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 2; RRS § 11156-2. Formerly
RCW 84.12.020, part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.230
84.12.230 Annual reports to be filed. Each company
doing business in this state shall annually on or before the
15th day of March, make and file with the department of revenue an annual report, in such manner, upon such form, and
giving such information as the department may direct: PROVIDED, That the department, upon written request filed on
or before such date and for good cause shown therein, may
allow an extension of time for filing not to exceed sixty days.
At the time of making such report each company shall also be
required to furnish to the department the annual reports of the
board of directors, or other officers to the stockholders of the
company, duplicate copies of the annual reports made to the
interstate commerce commission or its successor agency and
to the utilities and transportation commission of this state and
duplicate copies of such other reports as the department may
direct: PROVIDED, That the duplicate copies of these
annual reports shall not be due until such time as they are due
to the stockholders or commissioners. [1998 c 311 § 12;
1984 c 132 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 161; 1961 c 15 §
84.12.230. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 3; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 39; 1907
c 131 § 5; 1907 c 78 § 5; 1897 c 71 § 40; 1893 c 124 § 40;
1891 c 140 § 27; 1890 p 541 § 27; RRS § 11156-3. Formerly
RCW 84.12.030.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.240
84.12.240 Access to books and records. The department of revenue shall have access to all books, papers, documents, statements and accounts on file or of record in any of
the departments of the state; and it shall have the power to
issue subpoenas, signed by the director of the department or
any duly authorized employee and served in a like manner as
a subpoena issued from courts of record, to compel witnesses
to appear and give evidence and to produce books and papers.
The director of the department or any employee officially
designated by the department is authorized to administer
oaths to witnesses. The attendance of any witness may be
compelled by attachment issued out of any superior court
upon application to said court by the director or any duly
authorized employee of the department, upon a proper show[Title 84 RCW—page 11]
84.12.250
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
ing that such witness has been duly served with a subpoena
and has refused to appear before the said department. In case
of the refusal of a witness to produce books, papers, documents, or accounts, or to give evidence on matters material to
the hearing, the department may institute proceedings in the
proper superior court to compel such witness to testify or to
produce such books or papers, and to punish him for such
failure or refusal. All process issued by the department shall
be served by the sheriff of the proper county or by a duly
authorized agent of the department and such service, if made
by the sheriff, shall be certified by him to the department of
revenue without any compensation therefor. Persons appearing before the department in obedience to a subpoena shall
receive the same compensation as witnesses in the superior
court. The records, books, accounts and papers of each company shall be subject to visitation, investigation or examination by the department, or any employee thereof officially
designated by the department. All real and/or personal property of any company shall be subject to visitation, investigation, examination and/or listing at any and all times by the
department, or any person officially designated by the director. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 162; 1973 c 95 § 9; 1961 c 15 §
84.12.240. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 4; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 37; 1907
c 131 § 3; 1907 c 78 § 3; RRS § 11156-4. Formerly RCW
84.12.080.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.250
84.12.250 Depositions may be taken. The department
of revenue, in any matter material to the valuation, assessment or taxation of the operating property of any company,
may cause the deposition of witnesses residing without the
state or absent therefrom, to be taken upon notice to the company interested in like manner as the depositions of witnesses
are taken in civil actions in the superior court. [1975 1st ex.s.
c 278 § 163; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.250. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 5;
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 38; 1907 c 131 § 4; 1907 c 78 § 4; RRS §
11156-5. Formerly RCW 84.12.090.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.260
84.12.260 Default valuation by department of revenue—Penalty—Estoppel. (1) If any company shall fail to
materially comply with the provisions of RCW 84.12.230,
the department shall add to the value of such company, as a
penalty for such failure, five percent for every thirty days or
fraction thereof, not to exceed ten percent, that the company
fails to comply.
(2) If any company, or any of its officers or agents shall
refuse or neglect to make any report required by this chapter,
or by the department of revenue, or shall refuse to permit an
inspection and examination of its records, books, accounts,
papers or property requested by the department of revenue, or
shall refuse or neglect to appear before the department of revenue in obedience to a subpoena, the department of revenue
shall inform itself to the best of its ability of the matters
required to be known, in order to discharge its duties with
respect to valuation and assessment of the property of such
company, and the department shall add to the value so ascertained twenty-five percent as a penalty for such failure or
refusal and such company shall be estopped to question or
[Title 84 RCW—page 12]
impeach the assessment of the department in any hearing or
proceeding thereafter. Such penalty shall be in lieu of the
penalty provided for in subsection (1) of this section. [1984
c 132 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 164; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.260.
Prior: 1935 c 123 § 6; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 41; 1907 c 131 § 7;
1907 c 78 § 6; 1891 c 140 § 37; 1890 p 544 § 36; RRS §
11156-6. Formerly RCW 84.12.100.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.270
84.12.270 Annual assessment—Sources of information. The department of revenue shall annually make an
assessment of the operating property of all companies; and
between the fifteenth day of March and the first day of July of
each year shall prepare an assessment roll upon which it shall
enter and assess the true and fair value of all the operating
property of each of such companies as of the first day of January of the year in which the assessment is made. For the purpose of determining the true and fair value of such property
the department of revenue may inspect the property belonging to said companies and may take into consideration any
information or knowledge obtained by it from such examination and inspection of such property, or of the books, records,
and accounts of such companies, the statements filed as
required by this chapter, the reports, statements, or returns of
such companies filed in the office of any board, office, or
commission of this state or any county thereof, the earnings
and earning power of such companies, the franchises owned
or used by such companies, the true and fair valuation of any
and all property of such companies, whether operating or
nonoperating property, and whether situated within or outside the state, and any other facts, evidence, or information
that may be obtainable bearing upon the value of the operating property: PROVIDED, That in no event shall any statement or report required from any company by this chapter be
conclusive upon the department of revenue in determining
the amount, character, and true and fair value of the operating
property of such company. [2001 c 187 § 3; 1997 c 3 § 113
(Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1994 c 301 § 20; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 165; 1961 c 15 §
84.12.270. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 19; 1935 c 123 § 7; 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 43; 1907 c 131 § 8; 1907 c 78 § 7; 1891 c 140 §§ 2831; 1890 p 541 §§ 26-33; RRS § 11156-7. Formerly RCW
84.12.040.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.280
84.12.280 Classification of real and personal property. In making the assessment of the operating property of
any railroad or logging railroad company and in the apportionment of the values and the taxation thereof, all land occupied and claimed exclusively as the right-of-way for railroads, with all the tracks and substructures and superstructures which support the same, together with all side tracks,
second tracks, turn-outs, station houses, depots, round
houses, machine shops, or other buildings belonging to the
(2006 Ed.)
Assessment and Taxation of Public Utilities
company, used in the operation thereof, without separating
the same into land and improvements, shall be assessed as
real property. And the rolling stock and other movable property belonging to any railroad or logging railroad company
shall be considered as personal property and taxed as such:
PROVIDED, That all of the operating property of street railway companies shall be assessed and taxed as personal property.
All of the operating property of airplane companies, telegraph companies, pipe line companies, and all of the operating property other than lands and buildings of electric light
and power companies, telephone companies, and gas companies shall be assessed and taxed as personal property. [2001
c 187 § 4; 1998 c 335 § 2; 1997 c 3 § 114 (Referendum Bill
No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1987 c 153 § 2; 1961 c
15 § 84.12.280. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 8; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 44;
1907 c 78 § 8; 1891 c 140 §§ 28-31; 1890 p 541 §§ 26-33;
RRS § 11156-8. Formerly RCW 84.12.050.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Effective date—1998 c 335: See note following RCW 84.12.200.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.12.300
84.12.300 Valuation of interstate utility—Apportionment of system value to state. In determining the value of
the operating property within this state of any company, the
properties of which lie partly within and partly without this
state, the department of revenue may, among other things,
take into consideration the value of the whole system as a
unit, and for such purpose may determine, insofar as the same
is reasonably ascertainable, the salvage value, the actual cost
new, the cost of reproduction new less depreciation and plus
appreciation, the par value, actual value and market value of
the company’s outstanding stocks and bonds during one or
more preceding years, the past, present and prospective gross
and net earnings of the whole system as a unit.
In apportioning such system value to the state, the
department of revenue shall consider relative costs, relative
reproduction cost, relative future prospects and relative track
mileage and the distribution of terminal properties within and
without the state and such other matters and things as the
department may deem pertinent.
The department may also take into consideration the
actual cost, cost of reproduction new, and cost of reproduction new less depreciation, earning capacity and future prospects of the property, located within the state and all other
matters and things deemed pertinent by the department of
revenue. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 166; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.300.
Prior: 1935 c 123 § 9; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 44; 1907 c 78 § 8;
RRS § 11156-9. Formerly RCW 84.12.060.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.310
84.12.310 Deduction of nonoperating property. For
the purpose of determining the system value of the operating
property of any such company, the department of revenue
shall deduct from the true and fair value of the total assets of
such company, the actual cash value of all nonoperating
property owned by such company. For such purpose the
(2006 Ed.)
84.12.330
department of revenue may require of the assessors of the
various counties within this state a detailed list of such company’s properties assessed by them, together with the assessable or assessed value thereof: PROVIDED, That such
assessed or assessable value shall be advisory only and not
conclusive on the department of revenue as to the value
thereof. [2001 c 187 § 5; 1997 c 3 § 115 (Referendum Bill
No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 21; 1975
1st ex.s. c 278 § 167; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.310. Prior: 1935 c
123 § 10; RRS § 11156-10. Formerly RCW 84.12.070.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.320
84.12.320 Persons bound by notice. Every person,
company or companies operating any property in this state as
defined in this chapter shall be the representative of every
title and interest in the property as owner, lessee or otherwise,
and notice to such person shall be notice to all interests in the
property for the purpose of assessment and taxation. The
assessment and taxation of the property of the company in the
name of the owner, lessee or operating company shall be
deemed and held an assessment and taxation of all the title
and interest in such property of every kind and nature. [1961
c 15 § 84.12.320. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 11; RRS § 11156-11.
Formerly RCW 84.12.120.]
84.12.330
84.12.330 Assessment roll—Notice of valuation.
Upon the assessment roll shall be placed after the name of
each company a general description of the operating property
of the company, which shall be considered sufficient if
described in the language of RCW 84.12.200(12), as applied
to the company, following which shall be entered the true and
fair value of the operating property as determined by the
department of revenue. No assessment shall be invalidated by
reason of a mistake in the name of the company assessed, or
the omission of the name of the owner or by the entry as
owner of a name other than that of the true owner. When the
department of revenue shall have prepared the assessment
roll and entered thereon the true and fair value of the operating property of the company, as herein required, it shall
notify the company by mail of the valuation determined by it
and entered upon the roll. [2001 c 187 § 6; 1998 c 335 § 3;
1997 c 3 § 116 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 22; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 168;
1961 c 15 § 84.12.330. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 12; 1925 ex.s. c
130 § 44; 1907 c 78 § 8; 1891 c 140 § 35; 1890 p 543 § 35;
RRS § 11156-12. Formerly RCW 84.12.110.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Effective date—1998 c 335: See note following RCW 84.12.200.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
[Title 84 RCW—page 13]
84.12.340
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.12.340
84.12.340 Hearings on assessment, time and place of.
Following the making of an assessment, every company may
present a motion for a hearing on the assessment with the
department of revenue within the first ten working days of
July. The hearing on this motion shall be held within ten
working days following the hearing request period. During
this hearing, the company may present evidence relating to
the value of its operating property and to the value of other
taxable property in the counties in which its operating property is situate. Upon request in writing for such hearing, the
department shall appoint a time and place therefor, within the
period aforesaid, the hearing to be conducted in such manner
as the department shall direct. Hearings provided for in this
section may be held at such times and in such places throughout the state as the department may deem proper or necessary, may be adjourned from time to time and from place to
place and may be conducted by the department of revenue or
by such member or members thereof as may be duly delegated to act for it. Testimony taken at this hearing shall be
recorded. [1994 c 124 § 14; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 169; 1961
c 15 § 84.12.340. Prior: 1953 c 162 § 1; 1939 c 206 § 20;
1935 c 123 § 13; RRS § 11156-13. Formerly RCW
84.12.130.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.350
84.12.350 Apportionment of value by department of
revenue. Upon determination by the department of revenue
of the true and fair value of the property appearing on such
rolls it shall apportion such value to the respective counties
entitled thereto, as hereinafter provided, and shall determine
the equalized assessed valuation of such property in each
such county and in the several taxing districts therein, by
applying to such actual apportioned value the same ratio as
the ratio of assessed to actual value of the general property in
such county: PROVIDED, That, whenever the amount of the
true and fair value of the operating property of any company
otherwise apportionable to any county or other taxing district
shall be less than two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need
not be apportioned to such county or taxing district but may
be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county or
taxing district. [2001 c 187 § 7; 1997 c 3 § 117 (Referendum
Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 23;
1967 ex.s. c 26 § 17; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.350. Prior: 1939 c
206 § 21; 1935 c 123 § 14; RRS § 11156-14. Formerly RCW
84.12.140.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
84.12.360
84.12.360 Basis of apportionment. The true and fair
value of the operating property assessed to a company, as
fixed and determined by the department of revenue, shall be
apportioned by the department of revenue to the respective
counties and to the taxing districts thereof wherein such property is located in the following manner:
(1) Property of all railroad companies other than street
railroad companies, telegraph companies and pipe line com[Title 84 RCW—page 14]
panies—upon the basis of that proportion of the value of the
total operating property within the state which the mileage of
track, as classified by the department of revenue (in case of
railroads), mileage of wire (in the case of telegraph companies), and mileage of pipe line (in the case of pipe line companies) within each county or taxing district bears to the total
mileage thereof within the state, at the end of the calendar
year last past. For the purpose of such apportionment the
department may classify railroad track.
(2) Property of street railroad companies, telephone
companies, electric light and power companies, and gas companies—upon the basis of relative value of the operating
property within each county and taxing district to the value of
the total operating property within the state to be determined
by such factors as the department of revenue shall deem
proper.
(3) Planes or other aircraft of airplane companies—upon
the basis of such factor or factors of allocation, to be determined by the department of revenue, as will secure a substantially fair and equitable division between counties and other
taxing districts.
All other property of airplane companies—upon the
basis set forth in subsection (2) of this section.
The basis of apportionment with reference to all public
utility companies above prescribed shall not be deemed
exclusive and the department of revenue in apportioning values of such companies may also take into consideration such
other information, facts, circumstances, or allocation factors
as will enable it to make a substantially just and correct valuation of the operating property of such companies within the
state and within each county thereof. [2001 c 187 § 8; 1998
c 335 § 4; 1997 c 3 § 118 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved
November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 24; 1987 c 153 § 3; 1975
1st ex.s. c 278 § 170; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.360. Prior: 1955 c
120 § 1; 1935 c 123 § 15; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 47; 1917 c 25 §
1; 1907 c 78 § 11; 1891 c 140 § 33; 1890 p 541 § 30; RRS §
11156-15. Formerly RCW 84.12.150.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Effective date—1998 c 335: See note following RCW 84.12.200.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.370
84.12.370 Certification to county assessor—Entry
upon tax rolls. When the department of revenue shall have
determined the equalized assessed value of the operating
property of each company in each of the respective counties
and in the taxing districts thereof, as hereinabove provided,
the department of revenue shall certify such equalized
assessed value to the county assessor of the proper county.
The county assessor shall enter the company’s real operating
property upon the real property tax rolls and the company’s
personal operating property upon the personal property tax
rolls of the county, together with the values so apportioned,
and the same shall be and constitute the assessed valuation of
the operating property of the company in such county and the
taxing districts therein for that year, upon which taxes shall
be levied and collected in the same manner as on the general
(2006 Ed.)
New and Rehabilitated Multiple-Unit Dwellings in Urban Centers
property of such county. [1994 c 301 § 25; 1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 171; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.370. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 16;
RRS § 11156-16. Formerly RCW 84.12.160.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.12.380
84.12.380 Assessment of nonoperating property. All
property of any company not assessed as operating property
under the provisions of this chapter shall be assessed by the
assessor of the county wherein the same may be located or
situate the same as the general property of the county. [1961
c 15 § 84.12.380. Prior: 1935 c 123 § 17; 1891 c 140 § 34;
1890 p 542 § 33; RRS § 11156-17. Formerly RCW
84.12.180.]
84.12.390
84.12.390 Rules and regulations. The department of
revenue shall have the power to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent herewith, as may be convenient and
necessary to enforce and carry out the provisions of this chapter. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 172; 1961 c 15 § 84.12.390. Prior:
1935 c 123 § 18; RRS § 11156-18. Formerly RCW
84.08.070, part.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Chapter 84.14 RCW
NEW AND REHABILITATED MULTIPLE-UNIT
DWELLINGS IN URBAN CENTERS
Chapter 84.14
Sections
84.14.005
84.14.007
84.14.010
84.14.020
84.14.030
84.14.040
84.14.050
84.14.060
84.14.070
84.14.080
84.14.090
84.14.100
84.14.110
84.14.900
Findings.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Exemption—Duration—Valuation—Exceptions.
Application—Requirements.
Designation of residential targeted area—Criteria—Local designation—Hearing—Standards, guidelines.
Application—Procedures.
Approval—Required findings.
Processing—Approval—Denial—Appeal.
Fees.
Filing requirements upon completion—Owner, city—Determination by city—Notice of intention of city not to file—
Extension of deadline—Appeal.
Report—Filing.
Cancellation of exemption—Notice by owner of change in
use—Additional tax—Penalty—Interest—Lien—Notice of
cancellation—Appeal—Correction of tax rolls.
Severability—1995 c 375.
New and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban centers: RCW
84.14.020.
84.14.005
84.14.005 Findings. The legislature finds:
(1) That in many of Washington’s urban centers there is
insufficient availability of desirable and convenient residential units to meet the needs of a growing number of the public
who would live in these urban centers if these desirable, convenient, attractive, and livable places to live were available;
(2) That the development of additional and desirable residential units in these urban centers that will attract and maintain a significant increase in the number of permanent residents in these areas will help to alleviate the detrimental conditions and social liability that tend to exist in the absence of
a viable residential population and will help to achieve the
(2006 Ed.)
84.14.010
planning goals mandated by the growth management act
under RCW 36.70A.020; and
(3) That planning solutions to solve the problems of
urban sprawl often lack incentive and implementation techniques needed to encourage residential redevelopment in
those urban centers lacking sufficient residential opportunities, and it is in the public interest and will benefit, provide,
and promote the public health, safety, and welfare to stimulate new or enhanced residential opportunities within urban
centers through a tax incentive as provided by this chapter.
[1995 c 375 § 1.]
84.14.007
84.14.007 Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to
encourage increased residential opportunities in cities that are
required to plan or choose to plan under the growth management act within urban centers where the legislative body of
the affected city has found there is insufficient housing
opportunities. It is further the purpose of this chapter to stimulate the construction of new multifamily housing and the
rehabilitation of existing vacant and underutilized buildings
for multifamily housing in urban centers having insufficient
housing opportunities that will increase and improve residential opportunities within these urban centers. To achieve these
purposes, this chapter provides for special valuations for eligible improvements associated with multiunit housing in residentially deficient urban centers. [1995 c 375 § 2.]
84.14.010
84.14.010 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "City" means either (a) a city or town with a population of at least thirty thousand or (b) the largest city or town,
if there is no city or town with a population of at least thirty
thousand, located in a county planning under the growth
management act.
(2) "Governing authority" means the local legislative
authority of a city having jurisdiction over the property for
which an exemption may be applied for under this chapter.
(3) "Growth management act" means chapter 36.70A
RCW.
(4) "Multiple-unit housing" means a building having
four or more dwelling units not designed or used as transient
accommodations and not including hotels and motels. Multifamily units may result from new construction or rehabilitated or conversion of vacant, underutilized, or substandard
buildings to multifamily housing.
(5) "Owner" means the property owner of record.
(6) "Permanent residential occupancy" means multiunit
housing that provides either rental or owner occupancy on a
nontransient basis. This includes owner-occupied or rental
accommodation that is leased for a period of at least one
month. This excludes hotels and motels that predominately
offer rental accommodation on a daily or weekly basis.
(7) "Rehabilitation improvements" means modifications
to existing structures, that are vacant for twelve months or
longer, that are made to achieve a condition of substantial
compliance with existing building codes or modification to
existing occupied structures which increase the number of
multifamily housing units.
[Title 84 RCW—page 15]
84.14.020
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(8) "Residential targeted area" means an area within an
urban center that has been designated by the governing
authority as a residential targeted area in accordance with this
chapter.
(9) "Substantial compliance" means compliance with
local building or housing code requirements that are typically
required for rehabilitation as opposed to new construction.
(10) "Urban center" means a compact identifiable district
where urban residents may obtain a variety of products and
services. An urban center must contain:
(a) Several existing or previous, or both, business establishments that may include but are not limited to shops,
offices, banks, restaurants, governmental agencies;
(b) Adequate public facilities including streets, sidewalks, lighting, transit, domestic water, and sanitary sewer
systems; and
(c) A mixture of uses and activities that may include
housing, recreation, and cultural activities in association with
either commercial or office, or both, use. [2002 c 146 § 1;
2000 c 242 § 1; 1997 c 429 § 40; 1995 c 375 § 3.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
84.14.020
84.14.020 Exemption—Duration—Valuation—
Exceptions. (1) The value of new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation improvements qualifying under
this chapter is exempt from ad valorem property taxation, for
ten successive years beginning January 1 of the year immediately following the calendar year of issuance of the certificate
of tax exemption eligibility. However, the exemption does
not include the value of land or nonhousing-related improvements not qualifying under this chapter. When a local government adopts guidelines pursuant to RCW 84.14.030(2)
and the qualifying dwelling units are each on separate parcels
for the purpose of property taxation, the exemption may, at
the local government’s discretion, be limited to those dwelling units that meet the local guidelines.
(2) In the case of rehabilitation of existing buildings, the
exemption does not include the value of improvements constructed prior to the submission of the application required
under this chapter. The incentive provided by this chapter is
in addition to any other incentives, tax credits, grants, or
other incentives provided by law.
(3) This chapter does not apply to increases in assessed
valuation made by the assessor on nonqualifying portions of
building and value of land nor to increases made by lawful
order of a county board of equalization, the department of
revenue, or a county, to a class of property throughout the
county or specific area of the county to achieve the uniformity of assessment or appraisal required by law.
(4) At the conclusion of the ten-year exemption period,
the new or rehabilitated housing cost shall be considered as
new construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW.
[2002 c 146 § 2; 1999 c 132 § 1; 1995 c 375 § 5.]
84.14.030
84.14.030 Application—Requirements. An owner of
property making application under this chapter must meet the
following requirements:
(1) The new or rehabilitated multiple-unit housing must
be located in a residential targeted area as designated by the
city;
[Title 84 RCW—page 16]
(2) The multiple-unit housing must meet the guidelines
as adopted by the governing authority that may include
height, density, public benefit features, number and size of
proposed development, parking, low-income or moderateincome occupancy requirements, and other adopted requirements indicated necessary by the city. The required amenities should be relative to the size of the project and tax benefit
to be obtained;
(3) The new, converted, or rehabilitated multiple-unit
housing must provide for a minimum of fifty percent of the
space for permanent residential occupancy. In the case of
existing occupied multifamily development, the multifamily
housing must also provide for a minimum of four additional
multifamily units. Existing multifamily vacant housing that
has been vacant for twelve months or more does not have to
provide additional multifamily units;
(4) New construction multifamily housing and rehabilitation improvements must be completed within three years
from the date of approval of the application;
(5) Property proposed to be rehabilitated must fail to
comply with one or more standards of the applicable state or
local building or housing codes on or after July 23, 1995. If
the property proposed to be rehabilitated is not vacant, an
applicant shall provide each existing tenant housing of comparable size, quality, and price and a reasonable opportunity
to relocate; and
(6) The applicant must enter into a contract with the city
approved by the governing body under which the applicant
has agreed to the implementation of the development on
terms and conditions satisfactory to the governing authority.
[2005 c 80 § 1; 1997 c 429 § 42; 1995 c 375 § 6.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
84.14.040
84.14.040 Designation of residential targeted area—
Criteria—Local designation—Hearing—Standards,
guidelines. (1) The following criteria must be met before an
area may be designated as a residential targeted area:
(a) The area must be within an urban center, as determined by the governing authority;
(b) The area must lack, as determined by the governing
authority, sufficient available, desirable, and convenient residential housing to meet the needs of the public who would be
likely to live in the urban center, if the desirable, attractive,
and livable places to live were available; and
(c) The providing of additional housing opportunity in
the area, as determined by the governing authority, will assist
in achieving one or more of the stated purposes of this chapter.
(2) For the purpose of designating a residential targeted
area or areas, the governing authority may adopt a resolution
of intention to so designate an area as generally described in
the resolution. The resolution must state the time and place of
a hearing to be held by the governing authority to consider
the designation of the area and may include such other information pertaining to the designation of the area as the governing authority determines to be appropriate to apprise the public of the action intended.
(3) The governing authority shall give notice of a hearing
held under this chapter by publication of the notice once each
week for two consecutive weeks, not less than seven days,
(2006 Ed.)
New and Rehabilitated Multiple-Unit Dwellings in Urban Centers
nor more than thirty days before the date of the hearing in a
paper having a general circulation in the city where the proposed residential targeted area is located. The notice must
state the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing and
generally identify the area proposed to be designated as a residential targeted area.
(4) Following the hearing, or a continuance of the hearing, the governing authority may designate all or a portion of
the area described in the resolution of intent as a residential
targeted area if it finds, in its sole discretion, that the criteria
in subsections (1) through (3) of this section have been met.
(5) After designation of a residential targeted area, the
governing authority shall adopt standards and guidelines to
be utilized in considering applications and making the determinations required under RCW 84.14.060. The standards and
guidelines must establish basic requirements for both new
construction and rehabilitation including application process
and procedures. These guidelines may include the following:
(a) Requirements that address demolition of existing
structures and site utilization; and
(b) Building requirements that may include elements
addressing parking, height, density, environmental impact,
and compatibility with the existing surrounding property and
such other amenities as will attract and keep permanent residents and that will properly enhance the livability of the residential targeted area in which they are to be located. [1995 c
375 § 7.]
84.14.050
84.14.050 Application—Procedures. An owner of
property seeking tax incentives under this chapter must complete the following procedures:
(1) In the case of rehabilitation or where demolition or
new construction is required, the owner shall secure from the
governing authority or duly authorized agent, before commencement of rehabilitation improvements or new construction, verification of property noncompliance with applicable
building and housing codes;
(2) In the case of new and rehabilitated multifamily
housing, the owner shall apply to the city on forms adopted
by the governing authority. The application must contain the
following:
(a) Information setting forth the grounds supporting the
requested exemption including information indicated on the
application form or in the guidelines;
(b) A description of the project and site plan, including
the floor plan of units and other information requested;
(c) A statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the property ceases to be eligible for the incentive provided under this chapter;
(3) The applicant must verify the application by oath or
affirmation; and
(4) The application must be accompanied by the application fee, if any, required under RCW 84.14.080. The governing authority may permit the applicant to revise an application before final action by the governing authority. [1999 c
132 § 2; 1997 c 429 § 43; 1995 c 375 § 8.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
(2006 Ed.)
84.14.080
84.14.060
84.14.060 Approval—Required findings. The duly
authorized administrative official or committee of the city
may approve the application if it finds that:
(1) A minimum of four new units are being constructed
or in the case of occupied rehabilitation or conversion a minimum of four additional multifamily units are being developed;
(2) The proposed project is or will be, at the time of completion, in conformance with all local plans and regulations
that apply at the time the application is approved;
(3) The owner has complied with all standards and
guidelines adopted by the city under this chapter; and
(4) The site is located in a residential targeted area of an
urban center that has been designated by the governing
authority in accordance with procedures and guidelines indicated in RCW 84.14.040. [1995 c 375 § 9.]
84.14.070
84.14.070 Processing—Approval—Denial—Appeal.
(1) The governing authority or an administrative official or
commission authorized by the governing authority shall
approve or deny an application filed under this chapter within
ninety days after receipt of the application.
(2) If the application is approved, the city shall issue the
owner of the property a conditional certificate of acceptance
of tax exemption. The certificate must contain a statement by
a duly authorized administrative official of the governing
authority that the property has complied with the required
findings indicated in RCW 84.14.050.
(3) If the application is denied by the authorized administrative official or commission authorized by the governing
authority, the deciding administrative official or commission
shall state in writing the reasons for denial and send the
notice to the applicant at the applicant’s last known address
within ten days of the denial.
(4) Upon denial by a duly authorized administrative official or commission, an applicant may appeal the denial to the
governing authority within thirty days after receipt of the
denial. The appeal before the governing authority will be
based upon the record made before the administrative official
with the burden of proof on the applicant to show that there
was no substantial evidence to support the administrative
official’s decision. The decision of the governing body in
denying or approving the application is final. [1995 c 375 §
10.]
84.14.080
84.14.080 Fees. The governing authority may establish
an application fee. This fee may not exceed an amount determined to be required to cover the cost to be incurred by the
governing authority and the assessor in administering this
chapter. The application fee must be paid at the time the
application for limited exemption is filed. If the application is
approved, the governing authority shall pay the application
fee to the county assessor for deposit in the county current
expense fund, after first deducting that portion of the fee
attributable to its own administrative costs in processing the
application. If the application is denied, the governing
authority may retain that portion of the application fee attributable to its own administrative costs and refund the balance
to the applicant. [1995 c 375 § 11.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 17]
84.14.090
84.14.090
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.14.090 Filing requirements upon completion—
Owner, city—Determination by city—Notice of intention
of city not to file—Extension of deadline—Appeal. (1)
Upon completion of rehabilitation or new construction for
which an application for limited exemption under this chapter
has been approved and after issuance of the certificate of
occupancy, the owner shall file with the city the following:
(a) A statement of the amount of rehabilitation or construction expenditures made with respect to each housing unit
and the composite expenditures made in the rehabilitation or
construction of the entire property;
(b) A description of the work that has been completed
and a statement that the rehabilitation improvements or new
construction on the owner’s property qualify the property for
limited exemption under this chapter; and
(c) A statement that the work has been completed within
three years of the issuance of the conditional certificate of tax
exemption.
(2) Within thirty days after receipt of the statements
required under subsection (1) of this section, the authorized
representative of the city shall determine whether the work
completed is consistent with the application and the contract
approved by the governing authority and is qualified for limited exemption under this chapter. The city shall also determine which specific improvements completed meet the
requirements and required findings.
(3) If the rehabilitation, conversion, or construction is
completed within three years of the date the application for
limited exemption is filed under this chapter, or within an
authorized extension of this time limit, and the authorized
representative of the city determines that improvements were
constructed consistent with the application and other applicable requirements and the owner’s property is qualified for
limited exemption under this chapter, the city shall file the
certificate of tax exemption with the county assessor within
ten days of the expiration of the thirty-day period provided
under subsection (2) of this section.
(4) The authorized representative of the city shall notify
the applicant that a certificate of tax exemption is not going to
be filed if the representative determines that:
(a) The rehabilitation or new construction was not completed within three years of the application date, or within
any authorized extension of the time limit;
(b) The improvements were not constructed consistent
with the application or other applicable requirements; or
(c) The owner’s property is otherwise not qualified for
limited exemption under this chapter.
(5) If the authorized representative of the city finds that
construction or rehabilitation of multiple-unit housing was
not completed within the required time period due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner and that the owner
has been acting and could reasonably be expected to act in
good faith and with due diligence, the governing authority or
the city official authorized by the governing authority may
extend the deadline for completion of construction or rehabilitation for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive
months.
(6) The governing authority may provide by ordinance
for an appeal of a decision by the deciding officer or authority
that an owner is not entitled to a certificate of tax exemption
to the governing authority, a hearing examiner, or other city
[Title 84 RCW—page 18]
officer authorized by the governing authority to hear the
appeal in accordance with such reasonable procedures and
time periods as provided by ordinance of the governing
authority. The owner may appeal a decision by the deciding
officer or authority that is not subject to local appeal or a
decision by the local appeal authority that the owner is not
entitled to a certificate of tax exemption in superior court
under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598, if the appeal is
filed within thirty days of notification by the city to the owner
of the decision being challenged. [1995 c 375 § 12.]
84.14.100
84.14.100 Report—Filing. Thirty days after the anniversary of the date of the certificate of tax exemption and
each year for a period of ten years, the owner of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property shall file with a designated agent of the city an annual report indicating the following:
(1) A statement of occupancy and vacancy of the rehabilitated or newly constructed property during the twelve
months ending with the anniversary date;
(2) A certification by the owner that the property has not
changed use since the date of the certificate approved by the
city; and
(3) A description of changes or improvements constructed after issuance of the certificate of tax exemption.
[1995 c 375 § 13.]
84.14.110
84.14.110 Cancellation of exemption—Notice by
owner of change in use—Additional tax—Penalty—Interest—Lien—Notice of cancellation—Appeal—Correction
of tax rolls. (1) If improvements have been exempted under
this chapter, the improvements continue to be exempted and
not be converted to another use for at least ten years from date
of issuance of the certificate of tax exemption. If the owner
intends to convert the multifamily development to another
use, the owner shall notify the assessor within sixty days of
the change in use. If, after a certificate of tax exemption has
been filed with the county assessor the city or assessor or
agent discovers that a portion of the property is changed or
will be changed to a use that is other than residential or that
housing or amenities no longer meet the requirements as previously approved or agreed upon by contract between the
governing authority and the owner and that the multifamily
housing, or a portion of the housing, no longer qualifies for
the exemption, the tax exemption must be canceled and the
following must occur:
(a) Additional real property tax must be imposed upon
the value of the nonqualifying improvements in the amount
that would normally be imposed, plus a penalty must be
imposed amounting to twenty percent. This additional tax is
calculated based upon the difference between the property
tax paid and the property tax that would have been paid if it
had included the value of the nonqualifying improvements
dated back to the date that the improvements were converted
to a nonmultifamily use;
(b) The tax must include interest upon the amounts of the
additional tax at the same statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes from the dates on which the additional
tax could have been paid without penalty if the improvements
(2006 Ed.)
Assessment and Taxation of Private Car Companies
had been assessed at a value without regard to this chapter;
and
(c) The additional tax owed together with interest and
penalty must become a lien on the land and attach at the time
the property or portion of the property is removed from multifamily use or the amenities no longer meet applicable
requirements, and has priority to and must be fully paid and
satisfied before a recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt,
obligation, or responsibility to or with which the land may
become charged or liable. The lien may be foreclosed upon
expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the
same manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for
delinquent real property taxes. An additional tax unpaid on its
due date is delinquent. From the date of delinquency until
paid, interest must be charged at the same rate applied by law
to delinquent ad valorem property taxes.
(2) Upon a determination that a tax exemption is to be
canceled for a reason stated in this section, the governing
authority shall notify the record owner of the property as
shown by the tax rolls by mail, return receipt requested, of the
determination to cancel the exemption. The owner may
appeal the determination to the governing authority within
thirty days by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the
governing authority, which notice must specify the factual
and legal basis on which the determination of cancellation is
alleged to be erroneous. The governing authority or a hearing
examiner or other official authorized by the governing
authority may hear the appeal. At the hearing, all affected
parties may be heard and all competent evidence received.
After the hearing, the deciding body or officer shall either
affirm, modify, or repeal the decision of cancellation of
exemption based on the evidence received. An aggrieved
party may appeal the decision of the deciding body or officer
to the superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through
34.05.598.
(3) Upon determination by the governing authority or
authorized representative to terminate an exemption, the
county officials having possession of the assessment and tax
rolls shall correct the rolls in the manner provided for omitted
property under RCW 84.40.080. The county assessor shall
make such a valuation of the property and improvements as is
necessary to permit the correction of the rolls. The value of
the new housing construction, conversion, and rehabilitation
improvements added to the rolls shall be considered as new
construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW. The
owner may appeal the valuation to the county board of equalization under chapter 84.48 RCW and according to the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. If there has been a failure to comply
with this chapter, the property must be listed as an omitted
assessment for assessment years beginning January 1 of the
calendar year in which the noncompliance first occurred, but
the listing as an omitted assessment may not be for a period
more than three calendar years preceding the year in which
the failure to comply was discovered. [2002 c 146 § 3; 2001
c 185 § 1; 1995 c 375 § 14.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: "Sections 1 through 12 of this act
apply for [to] taxes levied in 2001 for collection in 2002 and thereafter."
[2001 c 185 § 18.]
84.14.900
84.14.900 Severability—1995 c 375. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
(2006 Ed.)
84.16.020
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1995 c 375 § 15.]
Chapter 84.16 RCW
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION OF PRIVATE
CAR COMPANIES
Chapter 84.16
Sections
84.16.010
84.16.020
84.16.030
84.16.032
84.16.034
84.16.036
84.16.040
84.16.050
84.16.090
84.16.100
84.16.110
84.16.120
84.16.130
84.16.140
Definitions.
Annual statement of private car companies.
Annual statement of railroad companies.
Access to books and records.
Depositions may be taken, when.
Default valuation by department of revenue—Penalty—Estoppel.
Annual assessment—Sources of information.
Basis of valuation—Apportionment of system value to state.
Assessment roll—Notice of valuation.
Hearings, time and place of.
Apportionment of value to counties by department of revenue.
Basis of apportionment.
Certification to county assessors—Apportionment to taxing
districts—Entry upon tax rolls.
Assessment of nonoperating property.
84.16.010
84.16.010 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter
and unless otherwise required by the context:
(1) The term "department" without other designation
means the department of revenue of the state of Washington.
(2) The term "private car company" or "company" shall
mean and include any person, copartnership, association,
company or corporation owning, controlling, operating or
managing stock cars, furniture cars, refrigerator cars, fruit
cars, poultry cars, tank cars or any other kind of cars, used for
transportation of property, by or upon railroad lines running
in, into or through the state of Washington when such railroad lines are not owned or leased by such person, copartnership, association, company or corporation; or owning, controlling, operating or managing sleeping cars, parlor cars,
buffet cars, tourist cars or any other kind of cars, used for
transportation of persons by or upon railroads on lines running in, into or through the state of Washington, when such
railroad lines are not owned or leased by such person, copartnership, association, company or corporation and upon which
an extra charge in addition to the railroad transportation fare
is made.
(3) The term "operating property" shall mean and
include all rolling stock and car equipment owned by any private car company, or held by it as occupant, lessee or otherwise, including its franchises used and reasonably necessary
in carrying on the business of such company; and in the case
of rolling stock and car equipment used partly within and
partly without the state, shall mean and include a proportion
of such rolling stock and car equipment to be determined as
in this chapter provided; and all such property shall, for the
purposes of this chapter be deemed personal property. [1975
1st ex.s. c 278 § 173; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.010. Prior: 1933 c
146 § 1; RRS § 11172-1; prior: 1907 c 36 § 1.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.020
84.16.020 Annual statement of private car companies. Every private car company shall annually on or before
[Title 84 RCW—page 19]
84.16.030
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
the first day of May, make and file with the department of
revenue in such form and upon such blanks as the department
of revenue may provide and furnish, a statement, for the year
ending December thirty-first next preceding, under the oath
of the president, secretary, treasurer, superintendent or chief
officer of such company, containing the following facts:
(1) The name of the company, the nature of the business
conducted by the company, and under the laws of what state
or country organized; the location of its principal office; the
name and post office address of its president, secretary, auditor, treasurer, superintendent and general manager; the name
and post office address of the chief officer or managing agent
or attorney in fact in Washington.
(2) The total number of cars of every class used in transacting business on all lines of railroad, within the state and
outside the state; together with the original cost and the fair
average value per car of all cars of each of such classes.
(3) The total number of miles of railroad main track over
which such cars were used within this state and within each
county in this state.
(4) The total number of car miles made by all cars on
each of the several lines of railroad in this state, and the total
number of car miles made by all cars on all railroads within
and without the state during the year.
(5) A statement in detail of the entire gross receipts and
net earnings of the company during the year within the state
and of the entire system, from all sources.
(6) Such other facts or information as the department of
revenue may require in the form of return prescribed by it.
The department of revenue shall have power to prescribe
directions, rules and regulations to be followed in making the
report required herein. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 174; 1961 c 15
§ 84.16.020. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 2; RRS § 11172-2; prior:
1907 c 36 § 2.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.030
84.16.030 Annual statement of railroad companies.
The president or other officer of every railroad company
whose lines run in, into or through this state, shall, on or
before the first day of April in each year, furnish to the
department of revenue a statement, verified by the affidavit
of the officer making the same, showing as to every private
car company respectively, the name of the company, the class
of car and the total number of miles made by each class of
cars, and the total number of miles made by all cars on its
lines, branches, sidings, spurs or warehouse tracks, within
this state during the year ending on the thirty-first day of
December next preceding. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 175; 1961
c 15 § 84.16.030. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 3; RRS § 11172-3.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.032
84.16.032 Access to books and records. The department of revenue shall have access to all books, papers, documents, statements and accounts on file or of record in any of
the departments of the state; and shall have the power, by
summons signed by director and served in a like manner as a
subpoena issued from courts of record, to compel witnesses
to appear and give evidence and to produce books and papers.
The director or any employee officially designated by the
[Title 84 RCW—page 20]
director is authorized to administer oaths to witnesses. The
attendance of any witness may be compelled by attachment
issued out of any superior court upon application to said court
by the department, upon a proper showing that such witness
has been duly served with a summons and has refused to
appear before the said department. In case of the refusal of a
witness to produce books, papers, documents or accounts or
to give evidence on matters material to the hearing, the
department may institute proceedings in the proper superior
court to compel such witness to testify, or to produce such
books or papers and to punish him for the refusal. All summons and process issued by the department shall be served by
the sheriff of the proper county and such service certified by
him to the department of revenue without any compensation
therefor. Persons appearing before the department in obedience to a summons, shall, in the discretion of the department,
receive the same compensation as witnesses in the superior
court. The records, books, accounts and papers of each company shall be subject to visitation, investigation or examination by the department, or any employee thereof officially
designated by the director. All real and/or personal property
of any company shall be subject to visitation, investigation,
examination and/or listing at any and all times by the department, or any person employed by the department. [1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 176; 1973 c 95 § 10; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.032.
Prior: 1933 c 146 § 4; RRS § 11172-4; prior: 1907 c 36 § 6.
Formerly RCW 84.16.060.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.034
84.16.034 Depositions may be taken, when. The
department of revenue in any matter material to the valuation,
assessment or taxation of the property of any company, may
cause the deposition of witnesses residing without the state or
absent therefrom, to be taken upon notice to the company
interested in like manner as the deposition of witnesses are
taken in civil actions in the superior court. [1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 177; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.034. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 5;
RRS § 11172-5. Formerly RCW 84.16.070.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.036
84.16.036 Default valuation by department of revenue—Penalty—Estoppel. (1) If any company shall fail to
comply with the provisions of RCW 84.16.020, the department shall add to the value of such company, as a penalty for
such failure, five percent for every thirty days or fraction
thereof, not to exceed ten percent, that the company fails to
comply.
(2) If any company, or its officer or agent, shall refuse or
neglect to make any report required by this chapter, or by the
department of revenue, or shall refuse or neglect to permit an
inspection and examination of its records, books, accounts,
papers or property requested by the department of revenue, or
shall refuse or neglect to appear before the department in obedience to a summons, the department shall inform itself the
best it may of the matters to be known, in order to discharge
its duties with respect to valuation and assessment of the
property of such company; and the department shall add to
the value so ascertained twenty-five percent as a penalty for
the failure or refusal of such company to make its report and
(2006 Ed.)
Assessment and Taxation of Private Car Companies
such company shall be estopped to question or impeach the
assessment of the department of revenue in any hearing or
proceeding thereafter. Such penalty shall be in lieu of the
penalty provided for in subsection (1) of this section. [1984
c 132 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 178; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.036.
Prior: 1933 c 146 § 6; RRS § 11172-6; prior: 1907 c 36 §§
5, 6. Formerly RCW 84.16.080.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.040
84.16.040 Annual assessment—Sources of information. The department of revenue shall annually make an
assessment of the operating property of each private car company; and between the first day of May and the first day of
July of each year shall prepare an assessment roll upon which
it shall enter and assess the true and fair value of all the operating property of each of such companies as of the first day of
January of the year in which the assessment is made. For the
purpose of determining the true and fair value of such property the department of revenue may take into consideration
any information or knowledge obtained by it from an examination and inspection of such property, or of the books,
records, and accounts of such companies, the statements filed
as required by this chapter, the reports, statements, or returns
of such companies filed in the office of any board, office, or
commission of this state or any county thereof, the earnings
and earning power of such companies, the franchises owned
or used by such companies, the true and fair valuation of any
and all property of such companies, whether operating property or nonoperating property, and whether situated within or
without the state, and any other facts, evidences, or information that may be obtainable bearing upon the value of the
operating property: PROVIDED, That in no event shall any
statement or report required from any company by this chapter be conclusive upon the department of revenue in determining the amount, character, and true and fair value of the
operating property of such company. [2001 c 187 § 9; 1997
c 3 § 119 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4,
1997); 1994 c 301 § 26; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 179; 1961 c 15
§ 84.16.040. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 22; 1933 c 146 § 7; RRS §
11172-7; prior: 1907 c 36 § 7.]
84.16.100
nation on the proportion which the number of car miles of the
various classes of cars made in this state bears to the total
number of car miles made by the same cars within and without this state, or to the total number of car miles made by all
cars of the various classes within and without this state. If the
value of the operating property of the company cannot be
fairly determined in such manner the department of revenue
may use any other reasonable and fair method to determine
the value of the operating property of the company within this
state. [2001 c 187 § 10; 1997 c 3 § 120 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 27; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 180; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.050. Prior: 1933 c 146 §
8; RRS § 11172-8; prior: 1907 c 36 § 7.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.090
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.16.090 Assessment roll—Notice of valuation.
Upon the assessment roll shall be placed after the name of
each company a general description of the operating property
of the company, which shall be considered sufficient if
described in the language of RCW 84.16.010(3) or otherwise,
following which shall be entered the true and fair value of the
operating property as determined by the department of revenue. No assessment shall be invalid by a mistake in the name
of the company assessed, by omission of the name of the
owner or by the entry of a name other than that of the true
owner. When the department of revenue shall have prepared
the assessment roll and entered thereon the true and fair value
of the operating property of the company, as required, it shall
notify the company by mail of the valuation determined by it
and entered upon the roll; and thereupon such valuation shall
become the true and fair value of the operating property of
the company, subject to revision or correction by the department of revenue as hereinafter provided; and shall be the valuation upon which, after equalization by the department of
revenue as hereinafter provided, the taxes of such company
shall be based and computed. [2001 c 187 § 11; 1997 c 3 §
121 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1994 c 301 § 28; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 181; 1961 c 15 §
84.16.090. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 9; RRS § 11172-9; prior:
1907 c 36 § 4.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
84.16.050
84.16.050 Basis of valuation—Apportionment of system value to state. The department of revenue may, in determining the true and fair value of the operating property to be
placed on the assessment roll value the entire property as a
unit. If the company owns, leases, operates or uses property
partly within and partly without the state, the department of
revenue may determine the value of the operating property
within this state by the proportion that the value of such property bears to the value of the entire operating property of the
company, both within and without this state. In determining
the operating property which is located within this state the
department of revenue may consider and base such determi(2006 Ed.)
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.100
84.16.100 Hearings, time and place of. Every company assessed under the provisions of this chapter shall be
entitled on its own motion to a hearing and to present evidence before the department of revenue, within the ten working days following the hearing request period, relating to the
value of the operating property of such company and to the
value of the other taxable property in the counties in which
[Title 84 RCW—page 21]
84.16.110
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
the operating property of such company is situate. Upon
request in writing for such hearing, which must be presented
to the department of revenue within the first ten working days
of July following the making of the assessment, the department shall appoint a time and place therefor, within the
respective periods aforesaid, the hearing to be conducted in
such manner as the department shall direct. Hearings provided for in this section may be held at such times and in such
places throughout the state as the department may deem
proper or necessary and may be adjourned from time to time
and from place to place. [1994 c 124 § 15; 1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 182; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.100. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 23;
1933 c 146 § 10; RRS § 11172-10.]
(3) If the property of any company is of such character
that it will not be reasonable, feasible or fair to apportion the
value as hereinabove provided, the value thereof shall be
apportioned between the respective counties into or through
which such property extends or is operated or in which the
same is located in such manner as may be reasonable, feasible and fair. [2001 c 187 § 13; 1997 c 3 § 123 (Referendum
Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 30;
1961 c 15 § 84.16.120. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 12; RRS § 1117212; prior: 1907 c 36 § 7.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.16.110
84.16.110 Apportionment of value to counties by
department of revenue. Upon determination by the department of revenue of the true and fair value of the property
appearing on such rolls the department shall apportion such
value to the respective counties entitled thereto as hereinafter
provided, and shall determine the equalized or assessed valuation of such property in such counties by applying to such
actual apportioned value the same ratio as the ratio of
assessed to actual value of the general property of the respective counties: PROVIDED, That, whenever the amount of
the true and fair value of the operating property of any company otherwise apportionable to any county shall be less than
two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need not be apportioned to such county but may be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county. [2001 c 187 § 12; 1997 c 3 §
122 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1994 c 301 § 29; 1967 ex.s. c 26 § 18; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.110.
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 24; 1933 c 146 § 11; RRS § 11172-11.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
84.16.130
84.16.130 Certification to county assessors—Apportionment to taxing districts—Entry upon tax rolls. When
the department of revenue shall have determined the equalized or assessed value of the operating property of each company in the respective counties as hereinabove provided, the
department of revenue shall certify such equalized or
assessed value to the county assessor of the proper county;
and the county assessor shall apportion and distribute such
assessed or equalized valuation to and between the several
taxing districts of the county entitled to a proportionate value
thereof in the manner prescribed in RCW 84.16.120 for
apportionment of values between counties. The county assessor shall enter such assessment upon the personal property
tax rolls of the county, together with the values so apportioned, and the same shall be and constitute the assessed valuation of the operating company in such county for that year,
upon which taxes shall be levied and collected the same as on
general property of the county. [1994 c 301 § 31; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 278 § 183; 1961 c 15 § 84.16.130. Prior: 1939 c 206 §
25; 1933 c 146 § 13; RRS § 11172-13.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.16.140
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 26: See note following RCW 82.01.050.
84.16.120
84.16.120 Basis of apportionment. The true and fair
value of the property of each company as fixed and determined by the department of revenue as herein provided shall
be apportioned to the respective counties in the following
manner:
(1) If all the operating property of the company is situated entirely within a county and none of such property is
located within, extends into, or through or is operated into or
through any other county, the entire value thereof shall be
apportioned to the county within which such property is situated, located, and operated.
(2) If the operating property of any company is situated
or located within, extends into or is operated into or through
more than one county, the value thereof shall be apportioned
to the respective counties into or through which its cars are
operated in the proportion that the length of main line track of
the respective railroads moving such cars in such counties
bears to the total length of main line track of such respective
railroads in this state.
[Title 84 RCW—page 22]
84.16.140 Assessment of nonoperating property. All
property of any company not assessed as operating property
under the provisions of this chapter shall be assessed by the
assessor of the county wherein the same may be located or
situate the same as the general property of the county. [1961
c 15 § 84.16.140. Prior: 1933 c 146 § 14; RRS § 11172-14.]
Chapter 84.20
Chapter 84.20 RCW
EASEMENTS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Sections
84.20.010
84.20.020
84.20.030
84.20.040
84.20.050
Easements taxable as personalty.
Servient estate taxable as realty.
Sale for taxes—Realty to be sold subject to easement.
Realty not subject to tax on easement or property thereon.
Railroads excepted.
84.20.010
84.20.010 Easements taxable as personalty. Easements and the property constructed upon or occupying such
easements owned by public service corporations shall be
assessed and taxed together as personal property and the
(2006 Ed.)
Historic Property
taxes thereon shall be collected as personal property taxes.
[1961 c 15 § 84.20.010. Prior: 1929 c 199 § 1; RRS § 11188.]
84.20.020
84.20.020 Servient estate taxable as realty. Real
estate subject to any such easement shall be assessed and
taxed as real estate subject to such easement. [1961 c 15 §
84.20.020. Prior: 1929 c 199 § 2; RRS § 11189.]
84.20.030
84.20.030 Sale for taxes—Realty to be sold subject to
easement. When any such real estate is sold for delinquent
taxes thereon it shall be sold subject to such easement, and
the purchaser at any such tax sale shall acquire no title to such
easement or the property constructed upon or occupying the
same. [1961 c 15 § 84.20.030. Prior: 1929 c 199 § 3; RRS §
11190.]
84.20.040
84.20.040 Realty not subject to tax on easement or
property thereon. Real estate subject to any such easement
shall not be chargeable with any tax levied upon such easement or the property constructed upon or occupying such
easement and shall not be sold for the nonpayment of any
such tax. [1961 c 15 § 84.20.040. Prior: 1929 c 199 § 4; RRS
§ 11191.]
84.20.050
84.20.050 Railroads excepted. This chapter shall not
apply to railroad easements or property. [1961 c 15 §
84.20.050. Prior: 1929 c 199 § 5; RRS § 11192.]
84.26.050
(1) "Historic property" means real property together with
improvements thereon, except property listed in a register
primarily for objects buried below ground, which is:
(a) Listed in a local register of historic places created by
comprehensive ordinance, certified by the secretary of the
interior as provided in P.L. 96-515; or
(b) Listed in the national register of historic places.
(2) "Cost" means the actual cost of rehabilitation, which
cost shall be at least twenty-five percent of the assessed valuation of the historic property, exclusive of the assessed value
attributable to the land, prior to rehabilitation.
(3) "Special valuation" means the determination of the
assessed value of the historic property subtracting, for up to
ten years, such cost as is approved by the local review board.
(4) "State review board" means the advisory council on
historic preservation established under chapter 27.34 RCW,
or any successor agency designated by the state to act as the
state historic preservation review board under federal law.
(5) "Local review board" means a local body designated
by the local legislative authority.
(6) "Owner" means the owner of record.
(7) "Rehabilitation" is the process of returning a property
to a state of utility through repair or alteration, which makes
possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving
those portions and features of the property which are significant to its architectural and cultural values. [1986 c 221 § 1;
1985 c 449 § 2.]
84.26.030
Chapter 84.26
Chapter 84.26 RCW
HISTORIC PROPERTY
Sections
84.26.010
84.26.020
84.26.030
84.26.040
84.26.050
84.26.060
84.26.070
84.26.080
84.26.090
84.26.100
84.26.110
84.26.120
84.26.130
84.26.900
Legislative findings.
Definitions.
Special valuation criteria.
Application—Fees.
Referral of application to local review board—Agreement—
Approval or denial.
Notice to assessor of approval—Certification and filing—
Notation of special valuation.
Valuation.
Duration of special valuation—Notice of disqualification.
Disqualification for valuation—Additional tax—Lien—
Exceptions from additional tax.
Payment of additional tax—Distribution.
Special valuation—Request for assistance from state historic
preservation officer authorized.
Rules.
Appeals from decisions on applications.
Severability—1985 c 449.
84.26.010
84.26.010 Legislative findings. The legislature finds
and declares that it is in the public interest of the people of the
state of Washington to encourage maintenance, improvement, and preservation of privately owned historic landmarks
as the state approaches its Centennial year of 1989. To
achieve this purpose, this chapter provides special valuation
for improvements to historic property. [1985 c 449 § 1.]
84.26.020
84.26.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(2006 Ed.)
84.26.030 Special valuation criteria. Four criteria
must be met for special valuation under this chapter. The
property must:
(1) Be an historic property;
(2) Fall within a class of historic property determined eligible for special valuation by the local legislative authority;
(3) Be rehabilitated at a cost which meets the definition
set forth in RCW 84.26.020(2) within twenty-four months
prior to the application for special valuation; and
(4) Be protected by an agreement between the owner and
the local review board as described in RCW 84.26.050(2).
[1986 c 221 § 2; 1985 c 449 § 3.]
84.26.040
84.26.040 Application—Fees. An owner of property
desiring special valuation under this chapter shall apply to the
assessor of the county in which the property is located upon
forms prescribed by the department of revenue and supplied
by the county assessor. The application form shall include a
statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the property ceases to be eligible for
special valuation. Applications shall be made no later than
October 1 of the calendar year preceding the first assessment
year for which classification is requested. The assessor may
charge only such fees as are necessary to process and record
documents pursuant to this chapter. [1986 c 221 § 3; 1985 c
449 § 4.]
84.26.050
84.26.050 Referral of application to local review
board—Agreement—Approval or denial. (1) Within ten
days after the filing of the application in the county assessor’s
office, the county assessor shall refer each application for
classification to the local review board.
[Title 84 RCW—page 23]
84.26.060
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(2) The review board shall approve the application if the
property meets the criterion of RCW 84.26.030 and is not
altered in a way which adversely affects those elements
which qualify it as historically significant, and the owner
enters into an agreement with the review board which
requires the owner for the ten-year period of the classification
to:
(a) Monitor the property for its continued qualification
for the special valuation;
(b) Comply with rehabilitation plans and minimum standards of maintenance as defined in the agreement;
(c) Make the historic aspects of the property accessible
to public view one day a year, if the property is not visible
from the public right of way;
(d) Apply to the local review board for approval or
denial of any demolition or alteration; and
(e) Comply with any other provisions in the original
agreement as may be appropriate.
(3) Once an agreement between an owner and a review
board has become effective pursuant to this chapter, there
shall be no changes in standards of maintenance, public
access, alteration, or report requirements, or any other provisions of the agreement, during the period of the classification
without the approval of all parties to the agreement.
(4) An application for classification as an eligible historic property shall be approved or denied by the local review
board before December 31 of the calendar year in which the
application is made.
(5) The local review board is authorized to examine the
records of applicants. [1986 c 221 § 4; 1985 c 449 § 5.]
84.26.060
84.26.060 Notice to assessor of approval—Certification and filing—Notation of special valuation. (1) The
review board shall notify the county assessor and the applicant of the approval or denial of the application.
(2) If the local review board determines that the property
qualifies as eligible historic property, the review board shall
certify the fact in writing and shall file a copy of the certificate with the county assessor within ten days. The certificate
shall state the facts upon which the approval is based.
(3) The assessor shall record the certificate with the
county auditor.
(4) The assessor, as to any historic property, shall value
the property under RCW 84.26.070 and, each year the historic property is classified and so valued, shall enter on the
assessment list and tax roll that the property is being specially
valued as historic property. [1985 c 449 § 6.]
84.26.070
84.26.070 Valuation. (1) The county assessor shall, for
ten consecutive assessment years following the calendar year
in which application is made, place a special valuation on
property classified as eligible historic property.
(2) The entitlement of property to the special valuation
provisions of this section shall be determined as of January 1.
If property becomes disqualified for the special valuation for
any reason, the property shall receive the special valuation
for that part of any year during which it remained qualified or
the owner was acting in the good faith belief that the property
was qualified.
[Title 84 RCW—page 24]
(3) At the conclusion of special valuation, the cost shall
be considered as new construction. [1986 c 221 § 5; 1985 c
449 § 7.]
84.26.080
84.26.080 Duration of special valuation—Notice of
disqualification. (1) When property has once been classified
and valued as eligible historic property, it shall remain so
classified and be granted the special valuation provided by
RCW 84.26.070 for ten years or until the property is disqualified by:
(a) Notice by the owner to the assessor to remove the
special valuation;
(b) Sale or transfer to an ownership making it exempt
from property taxation; or
(c) Removal of the special valuation by the assessor
upon determination by the local review board that the property no longer qualifies as historic property or that the owner
has failed to comply with the conditions established under
RCW 84.26.050.
(2) The sale or transfer to a new owner or transfer by reason of death of a former owner to a new owner does not disqualify the property from the special valuation provided by
RCW 84.26.070 if:
(a) The property continues to qualify as historic property; and
(b) The new owner files a notice of compliance with the
assessor of the county in which the property is located.
Notice of compliance forms shall be prescribed by the state
department of revenue and supplied by the county assessor.
The notice shall contain a statement that the new owner is
aware of the special valuation and of the potential tax liability
involved when the property ceases to be valued as historic
property under this chapter. The signed notice of compliance
shall be attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit provided for in RCW 82.45.150. If the notice of compliance is
not signed by the new owner and attached to the real estate
excise tax affidavit, all additional taxes calculated pursuant to
RCW 84.26.090 shall become due and payable by the seller
or transferor at time of sale. The county auditor shall not
accept an instrument of conveyance of specially valued historic property for filing or recording unless the new owner
has signed the notice of compliance or the additional tax has
been paid, as evidenced by the real estate excise tax stamp
affixed thereto by the treasurer.
(3) When the property ceases to qualify for the special
valuation the owner shall immediately notify the state or
local review board.
(4) Before the additional tax or penalty imposed by
RCW 84.26.090 is levied, in the case of disqualification, the
assessor shall notify the taxpayer by mail, return receipt
requested, of the disqualification. [2000 c 103 § 22; 1999 c
233 § 19; 1986 c 221 § 6; 1985 c 449 § 8.]
Effective date—1999 c 233: See note following RCW 4.28.320.
84.26.090
84.26.090 Disqualification for valuation—Additional
tax—Lien—Exceptions from additional tax. (1) Except as
provided in subsection (3) of this section, whenever property
classified and valued as eligible historic property under RCW
84.26.070 becomes disqualified for the valuation, there shall
be added to the tax an additional tax equal to:
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
(a) The cost multiplied by the levy rate in each year the
property was subject to special valuation; plus
(b) Interest on the amounts of the additional tax at the
statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes from the
dates on which the additional tax could have been paid without penalty if the property had not been valued as historic
property under this chapter; plus
(c) A penalty equal to twelve percent of the amount
determined in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(2) The additional tax and penalties, together with applicable interest thereon, shall become a lien on the property
which shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt,
obligation, or responsibility to or with which the property
may become charged or liable.
(3) The additional tax, interest, and penalty shall not be
imposed if the disqualification resulted solely from:
(a) Sale or transfer of the property to an ownership making it exempt from taxation;
(b) Alteration or destruction through no fault of the
owner; or
(c) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. [1986 c 221 § 7; 1985 c 449 § 9.]
through 34.05.598 in addition to any other remedy at law.
Any decision on the disqualification of historic property eligible for special valuation, or any other dispute, may be
appealed to the county board of equalization in accordance
with RCW 84.40.038. [2001 c 185 § 2; 1989 c 175 § 178;
1985 c 449 § 13.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
84.26.900
84.26.900 Severability—1985 c 449. If any provision
of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1985 c 449 § 15.]
Chapter 84.33
84.26.110
84.26.110 Special valuation—Request for assistance
from state historic preservation officer authorized. The
local legislative authority and the local review board may
request the assistance of the state historic preservation officer
in conducting special valuation activities. [1985 c 449 § 11.]
84.26.120
84.26.120 Rules. The state review board shall adopt
rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The
rules shall include rehabilitation and maintenance standards
for historic properties to be used as minimum requirements
by local review boards to ensure that the historic property is
safe and habitable, including but not limited to:
(1) Elimination of visual blight due to past neglect of
maintenance and repair to the exterior of the building, including replacement of broken or missing doors and windows,
repair of deteriorated architectural features, and painting of
exterior surfaces;
(2) Correction of structural defects and hazards;
(3) Protection from weather damage due to defective
roofing, flashings, glazing, caulking, or lack of heat; and
(4) Elimination of any condition on the premises which
could cause or augment fire or explosion. [1985 c 449 § 12.]
84.26.130
84.26.130 Appeals from decisions on applications.
Any decision by a local review board on an application for
classification as historic property eligible for special valuation may be appealed to superior court under RCW 34.05.510
(2006 Ed.)
Chapter 84.33 RCW
TIMBER AND FOREST LANDS
Sections
84.33.010
84.33.035
84.33.040
84.33.041
84.26.100
84.26.100 Payment of additional tax—Distribution.
The additional tax, penalties, and/or interest provided by
RCW 84.26.090 shall be payable in full thirty days after the
date which the treasurer’s statement therefor is rendered.
Such additional tax when collected shall be distributed by the
county treasurer in the same manner in which current taxes
applicable to the subject land are distributed. [1985 c 449 §
10.]
Chapter 84.33
84.33.046
84.33.051
84.33.074
84.33.075
84.33.077
84.33.0775
84.33.078
84.33.081
84.33.086
84.33.088
84.33.089
84.33.091
84.33.096
84.33.130
84.33.140
84.33.145
84.33.170
84.33.175
84.33.200
84.33.210
84.33.220
84.33.230
84.33.240
84.33.250
84.33.260
84.33.270
84.33.280
Legislative findings.
Definitions.
Timber exempt from ad valorem taxation.
State excise tax on harvesters of timber imposed—Credit for
county tax—Deposit of moneys in timber tax distribution
account.
Excise tax rate July 1, 1988, and thereafter.
County excise tax on harvesters of timber authorized—Rate—
Administration and collection—Deposit of moneys in timber
tax distribution account—Use.
Excise tax on harvesters of timber—Calculation of tax by
small harvesters—Election—Filing form.
Excise tax on harvesters of timber—Exemption for certain
nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations.
Credit for property taxes paid on timber on public land.
Timber harvest tax credit.
Harvesting and marketing costs for state or local government
harvests.
Distributions from timber tax distribution account—Distributions from county timber tax account.
Payment of tax.
Reporting requirements on timber purchase.
Estimates of harvestable public forest land—Adjustments.
Tables of stumpage values—Revised tables—Legislative
review—Appeal.
Application of excise taxes’ administrative provisions and definitions.
Forest land valuation—Application by owner that land be designated and valued as forest land—Hearing—Rules—
Approval, denial of application—Appeal.
Forest land valuation—Notation of forest land designation
upon assessment and tax rolls—Notice of continuance—
Removal of designation—Compensating tax.
Compensating tax.
Application of chapter to Christmas trees.
Application of tax—Sale of land to governmental agency with
reservation of rights to timber—Conveyance by governmental agency of trees.
Legislative review of timber tax system—Information and
data to be furnished.
Forest land valuation—Special benefit assessments.
Forest land valuation—Withdrawal from designation or
change in use—Liability.
Forest land valuation—Change in designation—Notice.
Forest land valuation—Change in classification or use—
Application of payments.
Forest land valuation—Special benefit assessments.
Forest land valuation—Withdrawal from designation or
change in use—Benefit assessments.
Forest land valuation—Government future development
right—Conserving forest land—Exemptions.
Applicant for forest riparian easement program—Department
to rely on certain documents.
[Title 84 RCW—page 25]
84.33.010
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.33.010
84.33.010 Legislative findings. As a result of the study
and analysis of systems of taxation of standing timber and
forest lands by the forest tax committee pursuant to Senate
Concurrent Resolution No. 30 of the 41st session of the legislature, and the recommendations of the committee based
thereon, the legislature hereby finds that:
(1) The public welfare requires that this state’s system
for taxation of timber and forest lands be modernized to
assure the citizens of this state and its future generations the
advantages to be derived from the continuous production of
timber and forest products from the significant area of privately owned forests in this state. It is this state’s policy to
encourage forestry and restocking and reforesting of such
forests so that present and future generations will enjoy the
benefits which forest areas provide in enhancing water supply, in minimizing soil erosion, storm and flood damage to
persons or property, in providing a habitat for wild game, in
providing scenic and recreational spaces, in maintaining land
areas whose forests contribute to the natural ecological equilibrium, and in providing employment and profits to its citizens and raw materials for products needed by everyone.
(2) The combination of variations in quantities, qualities
and locations of timber and forest lands, the fact that market
areas for timber products are nation-wide and world-wide
and the unique long term nature of investment costs and risks
associated with growing timber, all make exceedingly difficult the function of valuing and assessing timber and forest
lands.
(3) The existing ad valorem property tax system is unsatisfactory for taxation of standing timber and forest land and
will significantly frustrate, to an ever increasing degree with
the passage of time, the perpetual enjoyment of the benefits
enumerated above.
(4) For these reasons it is desirable, in exercise of the
powers to promote the general welfare and to impose taxes;
that
(a) the ad valorem system for taxing timber be modified
and discontinued in stages over a three year period during
which such system will be replaced by one under which timber will be taxed on the basis of stumpage value at the time of
harvest, and
(b) forest land remain under the ad valorem taxation system but be taxed only as provided in this chapter and RCW
28A.150.250. [1990 c 33 § 598; 1984 c 204 § 16; 1971 ex.s.
c 294 § 1.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.035
84.33.035 Definitions. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Agricultural methods" means the cultivation of trees
that are grown on land prepared by intensive cultivation and
tilling, such as irrigating, plowing, or turning over the soil,
and on which all unwanted plant growth is controlled continuously for the exclusive purpose of raising trees such as
Christmas trees and short-rotation hardwoods.
(2) "Average rate of inflation" means the annual rate of
inflation as determined by the department averaged over the
[Title 84 RCW—page 26]
period of time as provided in RCW 84.33.220 (1) and (2).
This rate shall be published in the state register by the department not later than January 1st of each year for use in that
assessment year.
(3) "Composite property tax rate" for a county means the
total amount of property taxes levied upon forest lands by all
taxing districts in the county other than the state, divided by
the total assessed value of all forest land in the county.
(4) "Forest land" is synonymous with "designated forest
land" and means any parcel of land that is twenty or more
acres or multiple parcels of land that are contiguous and total
twenty or more acres that is or are devoted primarily to growing and harvesting timber. Designated forest land means the
land only and does not include a residential homesite. The
term includes land used for incidental uses that are compatible with the growing and harvesting of timber but no more
than ten percent of the land may be used for such incidental
uses. It also includes the land on which appurtenances necessary for the production, preparation, or sale of the timber
products exist in conjunction with land producing these products.
(5) "Harvested" means the time when in the ordinary
course of business the quantity of timber by species is first
definitely determined. The amount harvested shall be determined by the Scribner Decimal C Scale or other prevalent
measuring practice adjusted to arrive at substantially equivalent measurements, as approved by the department.
(6) "Harvester" means every person who from the person’s own land or from the land of another under a right or
license granted by lease or contract, either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary labor or mechanical services, fells, cuts, or takes timber for sale or for commercial or
industrial use. When the United States or any instrumentality
thereof, the state, including its departments and institutions
and political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation
therein so fells, cuts, or takes timber for sale or for commercial or industrial use, the harvester is the first person other
than the United States or any instrumentality thereof, the
state, including its departments and institutions and political
subdivisions, or any municipal corporation therein, who
acquires title to or a possessory interest in the timber. The
term "harvester" does not include persons performing under
contract the necessary labor or mechanical services for a harvester.
(7) "Harvesting and marketing costs" means only those
costs directly associated with harvesting the timber from the
land and delivering it to the buyer and may include the costs
of disposing of logging residues. Any other costs that are not
directly and exclusively related to harvesting and marketing
of the timber, such as costs of permanent roads or costs of
reforesting the land following harvest, are not harvesting and
marketing costs.
(8) "Incidental use" means a use of designated forest
land that is compatible with its purpose for growing and harvesting timber. An incidental use may include a gravel pit, a
shed or land used to store machinery or equipment used in
conjunction with the timber enterprise, and any other use that
does not interfere with or indicate that the forest land is no
longer primarily being used to grow and harvest timber.
(9) "Local government" means any city, town, county,
water-sewer district, public utility district, port district, irri(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
gation district, flood control district, or any other municipal
corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or other political
subdivision authorized to levy special benefit assessments for
sanitary or storm sewerage systems, domestic water supply or
distribution systems, or road construction or improvement
purposes.
(10) "Local improvement district" means any local
improvement district, utility local improvement district, local
utility district, road improvement district, or any similar unit
created by a local government for the purpose of levying special benefit assessments against property specially benefited
by improvements relating to the districts.
(11) "Owner" means the party or parties having the fee
interest in land, except where land is subject to a real estate
contract "owner" means the contract vendee.
(12) "Primarily" or "primary use" means the existing use
of the land is so prevalent that when the characteristic use of
the land is evaluated any other use appears to be conflicting
or nonrelated.
(13) "Short-rotation hardwoods" means hardwood trees,
such as but not limited to hybrid cottonwoods, cultivated by
agricultural methods in growing cycles shorter than fifteen
years.
(14) "Small harvester" means every person who from his
or her own land or from the land of another under a right or
license granted by lease or contract, either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary labor or mechanical services, fells, cuts, or takes timber for sale or for commercial or
industrial use in an amount not exceeding two million board
feet in a calendar year. When the United States or any instrumentality thereof, the state, including its departments and
institutions and political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation therein so fells, cuts, or takes timber for sale or for
commercial or industrial use, not exceeding these amounts,
the small harvester is the first person other than the United
States or any instrumentality thereof, the state, including its
departments and institutions and political subdivisions, or
any municipal corporation therein, who acquires title to or a
possessory interest in the timber. Small harvester does not
include persons performing under contract the necessary
labor or mechanical services for a harvester, and it does not
include the harvesters of Christmas trees or short-rotation
hardwoods.
(15) "Special benefit assessments" means special assessments levied or capable of being levied in any local improvement district or otherwise levied or capable of being levied by
a local government to pay for all or part of the costs of a local
improvement and which may be levied only for the special
benefits to be realized by property by reason of that local
improvement.
(16) "Stumpage value of timber" means the appropriate
stumpage value shown on tables prepared by the department
under RCW 84.33.091, provided that for timber harvested
from public land and sold under a competitive bidding process, stumpage value shall mean the actual amount paid to the
seller in cash or other consideration. The stumpage value of
timber from public land does not include harvesting and marketing costs if the timber from public land is harvested by, or
under contract for, the United States or any instrumentality of
the United States, the state, including its departments and
institutions and political subdivisions, or any municipal cor(2006 Ed.)
84.33.035
poration therein. Whenever payment for the stumpage
includes considerations other than cash, the value shall be the
fair market value of the other consideration. If the other consideration is permanent roads, the value of the roads shall be
the appraised value as appraised by the seller.
(17) "Timber" means forest trees, standing or down, on
privately or publicly owned land, and except as provided in
RCW 84.33.170 includes Christmas trees and short-rotation
hardwoods.
(18) "Timber assessed value" for a county means the
sum of: (a) The total stumpage value of timber harvested
from publicly owned land in the county multiplied by the
public timber ratio, plus; (b) the total stumpage value of timber harvested from privately owned land in the county multiplied by the private timber ratio. The numerator of the public
timber ratio is the rate of tax imposed by the county under
RCW 84.33.051 on public timber harvests for the year of the
calculation. The numerator of the private timber ratio is the
rate of tax imposed by the county under RCW 84.33.051 on
private timber harvests for the year of the calculation. The
denominator of the private timber ratio and the public timber
ratio is the composite property tax rate for the county for
taxes due in the year of the calculation, expressed as a percentage of assessed value. The department shall use the
stumpage value of timber harvested during the most recent
four calendar quarters for which the information is available.
The department shall calculate the timber assessed value for
each county before October 1st of each year.
(19) "Timber assessed value" for a taxing district means
the timber assessed value for the county multiplied by a ratio.
The numerator of the ratio is the total assessed value of forest
land in the taxing district. The denominator is the total
assessed value of forest land in the county. As used in this
section, "assessed value of forest land" means the assessed
value of forest land for taxes due in the year the timber
assessed value for the county is calculated plus an additional
value for public forest land. The additional value for public
forest land is the product of the number of acres of public forest land that are available for timber harvesting determined
under RCW 84.33.089 and the average assessed value per
acre of private forest land in the county.
(20) "Timber management plan" means a plan prepared
by a trained forester, or any other person with adequate
knowledge of timber management practices, concerning the
use of the land to grow and harvest timber. Such a plan
includes:
(a) A legal description of the forest land;
(b) A statement that the forest land is held in contiguous
ownership of twenty or more acres and is primarily devoted
to and used to grow and harvest timber;
(c) A brief description of the timber on the forest land or,
if the timber on the land has been harvested, the owner’s plan
to restock the land with timber;
(d) A statement about whether the forest land is also used
to graze livestock;
(e) A statement about whether the land has been used in
compliance with the restocking, forest management, fire protection, insect and disease control, and forest debris provisions of Title 76 RCW; and
(f) If the land has been recently harvested or supports a
growth of brush and noncommercial type timber, a descrip[Title 84 RCW—page 27]
84.33.040
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
tion of the owner’s plan to restock the forest land within three
years. [2004 c 177 § 1; 2003 c 313 § 12. Prior: 2001 c 249
§ 1; 2001 c 97 § 1; 1995 c 165 § 1; 1986 c 315 § 1; 1984 c 204
§ 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: "This act takes effect January 1, 2005."
[2004 c 177 § 8.]
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Application—1995 c 165: "This act applies to taxes levied in 1995 for
collection in 1996 and thereafter." [1995 c 165 § 3.]
Savings—1984 c 204: "This act shall not be construed as affecting any
existing right acquired or liability or obligation incurred under the sections
amended or repealed in this act or under any rule, regulation, or order
adopted under those sections, nor as affecting any proceeding instituted
under those sections." [1984 c 204 § 48.]
Effective date—1984 c 204: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1984."
[1984 c 204 § 49.]
84.33.040
84.33.040 Timber exempt from ad valorem taxation.
Timber is exempt from ad valorem taxation. [2004 c 177 § 3;
1984 c 204 § 18; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 294 § 4.]
Application—2004 c 177 § 3: "Section 3 of this act applies to taxes
levied for collection in 2005 and thereafter." [2004 c 177 § 7.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
84.33.041
84.33.041 State excise tax on harvesters of timber
imposed—Credit for county tax—Deposit of moneys in
timber tax distribution account. (1) An excise tax is
imposed on every person engaging in this state in business as
a harvester of timber on privately or publicly owned land.
The tax is equal to the stumpage value of timber harvested for
sale or for commercial or industrial use multiplied by the rate
provided in this chapter.
(2) A credit is allowed against the tax imposed under this
section for any tax paid under RCW 84.33.051.
(3) Moneys received as payment for the tax imposed
under this section and RCW 84.33.051 shall be deposited in
the timber tax distribution account hereby established in the
state treasury. [1991 sp.s. c 13 § 26; 1985 c 57 § 87; 1984 c
204 § 2.]
Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following
RCW 18.08.240.
Effective date—1985 c 57: See note following RCW 18.04.105.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Use of collection agencies to collect taxes outside the state: RCW 82.32.265.
84.33.046
84.33.046 Excise tax rate July 1, 1988, and thereafter.
The rate of tax imposed under RCW 84.33.041 for timber
harvested July 1, 1988, and thereafter, shall be five percent.
[1984 c 204 § 7.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.051
84.33.051 County excise tax on harvesters of timber
authorized—Rate—Administration and collection—
Deposit of moneys in timber tax distribution account—
Use. (1) The legislative body of any county may impose a tax
[Title 84 RCW—page 28]
upon every person engaging in the county in business as a
harvester effective October 1, 1984. The tax shall be equal to
the stumpage value of timber harvested from privately owned
land multiplied by a rate of 4 percent; and equal to the stumpage value of timber harvested from publicly owned land multiplied by the following rates:
(a) For timber harvested January 1, 2005, through
December 31, 2005, 1.2 percent;
(b) For timber harvested January 1, 2006, through
December 31, 2006, 1.5 percent;
(c) For timber harvested January 1, 2007, through
December 31, 2007, 1.8 percent;
(d) For timber harvested January 1, 2008, through
December 31, 2008, 2.1 percent;
(e) For timber harvested January 1, 2009, through
December 31, 2009, 2.4 percent;
(f) For timber harvested January 1, 2010, through
December 31, 2010, 2.7 percent;
(g) For timber harvested January 1, 2011, through
December 31, 2011, 3.1 percent;
(h) For timber harvested January 1, 2012, through
December 31, 2012, 3.4 percent;
(i) For timber harvested January 1, 2013, through
December 31, 2013, 3.7 percent;
(j) For timber harvested January 1, 2014, and thereafter,
4.0 percent.
(2) Before the effective date of any ordinance imposing
a tax under this section, the county shall contract with the
department of revenue for administration and collection of
the tax. The tax collected by the department of revenue under
this section shall be deposited by the department in the timber
tax distribution account. Moneys in the account may be spent
only for distributions to counties under RCW 84.33.081 and,
after appropriation by the legislature, for the activities undertaken by the department of revenue relating to the collection
and administration of the taxes imposed under this section
and RCW 84.33.041. Appropriations are not required for distributions to counties under RCW 84.33.081. [2004 c 177 §
2; 1984 c 204 § 8.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.074
84.33.074 Excise tax on harvesters of timber—Calculation of tax by small harvesters—Election—Filing form.
(1) A small harvester may elect to calculate the tax imposed
by this chapter in the manner provided in this section.
(2) Timber shall be considered harvested at the time
when in the ordinary course of business the quantity thereof
by species is first definitely determined. The amount harvested shall be determined by the Scribner Decimal C Scale
or other prevalent measuring practice adjusted to arrive at
substantially equivalent measurements, as approved by the
department of revenue.
(3) Timber values shall be determined by either of the
following methods, whichever is most appropriate to the circumstances of the harvest:
(a) When standing timber is sold on the stump, the taxable value is the actual gross receipts received by the landowner from the sale of the standing timber.
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
(b) When timber is sold after it has been harvested, the
taxable value is the actual gross receipts from sale of the harvested timber minus the costs of harvesting and marketing
the timber. When the taxpayer is unable to provide documented proof of harvesting and marketing costs, this deduction for harvesting and marketing costs shall be a percentage
of the gross receipts from sale of the harvested timber as
determined by the department of revenue but in no case less
than twenty-five percent.
(4) The department of revenue shall prescribe a short filing form which shall be as simple as possible. [1984 c 204 §
19; 1981 c 146 § 2.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Effective date—1981 c 146: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1982." [1981 c 146 § 3.]
Severability—1981 c 146: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1981 c 146 § 4.]
84.33.075
84.33.075 Excise tax on harvesters of timber—
Exemption for certain nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations. The excise tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any timber harvested by a nonprofit
organization, association, or corporation from forest lands
owned by it, where such lands are exempt from property
taxes under RCW 84.36.030, and where all of the income and
receipts of the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation derived from such timber sales are used solely for the
expense of promoting, operating, and maintaining youth programs which are equally available to all, regardless of race,
color, national origin, ancestry, or religious belief.
In order to determine whether the harvesting of timber
by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation is
exempt, the director of the department of revenue shall have
access to its books.
For the purposes of this section, a "nonprofit" organization, association, or corporation is one: (1) Which pays no
part of its income directly or indirectly to its members, stockholders, officers, directors, or trustees except in the form of
services rendered by the organization, association, or corporation in accordance with its purposes and bylaws; and (2)
which pays salary or compensation to its officers only for
actual services rendered, and at levels comparable to the salary or compensation of like positions within the public services of the state. [1984 c 204 § 20; 1980 c 134 § 6.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.077
84.33.077 Credit for property taxes paid on timber
on public land. The amount of any property taxes paid on
timber standing on public land shall be allowed as a credit
against any tax imposed with respect to the business of harvesting timber from publicly owned land under RCW
84.33.041. However, the amount of credit allowed shall not
exceed the amount of excise tax due in respect to the business
of harvesting timber from publicly owned land. [1984 c 204
§ 21; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 8.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.0775
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
84.33.0775
84.33.0775 Timber harvest tax credit. (1) A taxpayer
is allowed a credit against the tax imposed under RCW
84.33.041 for timber harvested on and after January 1, 2000,
under a forest practices notification filed or application
approved under RCW 76.09.050 and subject to enhanced
aquatic resources requirements.
(2)(a) For a person other than a small harvester who
elects to calculate tax under RCW 84.33.074, the credit is
equal to the stumpage value of timber harvested for sale or
for commercial or industrial use multiplied by eight-tenths of
one percent.
(b) For a small harvester who elects to calculate tax
under RCW 84.33.074, the credit is equal to sixteen percent
of the tax imposed under this chapter.
(c) The amount of credit claimed by a taxpayer under
this section shall be reduced by the amount of any compensation received from the federal government for reduced timber
harvest due to enhanced aquatic resource requirements. If the
amount of compensation from the federal government
exceeds the amount of credit available to a taxpayer in any
reporting period, the excess shall be carried forward and
applied against credits in future reporting periods. This subsection does not apply to small harvesters as defined in
*RCW 84.33.073.
(d) Refunds may not be given in place of credits. Credit
may not be claimed in excess of tax owed. The department of
revenue shall disallow any credits, used or unused, upon written notification from the department of natural resources of a
final decision that timber for which credit was claimed was
not harvested under a forest practices notification filed or
application approved under RCW 76.09.050 and subject to
enhanced aquatic resources requirements.
(3) As used in this section, a forest practice[s] notification or application is subject to enhanced aquatic resource
requirements if it includes, in whole or in part, riparian area,
wetland, or steep or unstable slope from which the operator is
limited, by rule adopted under RCW 76.09.055, 34.05.090,
43.21C.250, and 76.09.370, or any federally approved habitat
conservation plan or department of natural resources
approved watershed analysis, from harvesting timber, or if a
road is included within or adjacent to the area covered by
such notification or application and the road is covered by a
road maintenance plan approved by the department of natural
resources under rules adopted under chapter 76.09 RCW, the
forest practices act, or a federally approved habitat conservation plan.
(4) For forest practices notification or applications submitted after January 1, 2000, the department of natural
resources shall indicate whether the notification or application is subject to enhanced aquatic resource requirements
and, unless notified of a contrary determination by the forest
practices appeals board, the department of revenue shall use
such indication in determining the credit to be allowed
against the tax assessed under RCW 84.33.041. The department of natural resources shall develop revisions to the form
of the forest practices notifications and applications to provide a space for the applicant to indicate and the department
of natural resources to confirm or not confirm, whether the
[Title 84 RCW—page 29]
84.33.078
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
notification or application is subject to enhanced aquatic
resource requirements. For forest practices notifications or
applications submitted before January 1, 2000, the applicant
may submit the approved notification or application to the
department of natural resources for confirmation that the
notification or application is subject to enhanced aquatic
resource requirements. Upon any such submission, the
department of natural resources will within thirty days confirm or deny that the notification or application is subject to
enhanced aquatic resource requirements and will forward
separate evidence of each confirmation to the department of
revenue. Unless notified of a contrary ruling by the forest
practices appeals board, the department of revenue shall use
the separate confirmations in determining the credit to be
allowed against the tax assessed under RCW 84.33.041.
(5) A refusal by the department of natural resources to
confirm that a notification or application is subject to
enhanced aquatic resources requirements may be appealed to
the forest practices appeals board under RCW 76.09.220.
(6) A person receiving approval of credit must keep
records necessary for the department of revenue to verify eligibility under this section. [1999 sp.s. c 5 § 1; 1999 sp.s. c 4
§ 401.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 84.33.073 was repealed by 2001 c 249 § 16.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
84.33.078
84.33.078 Harvesting and marketing costs for state
or local government harvests. If the timber from public
land is harvested by the state, its departments and institutions
and political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation
therein, the governmental unit, or governmental units, that
harvest or market the timber must provide the harvester purchasing the timber with its harvesting and marketing costs as
defined in RCW 84.33.035(7). [2004 c 177 § 4; 2003 c 313 §
11; 1986 c 65 § 1; 1984 c 204 § 22; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 9.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
Findings—Severability—2003 c 313: See notes following RCW
79.15.500.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
84.33.081
84.33.081 Distributions from timber tax distribution
account—Distributions from county timber tax account.
(1) On the last business day of the second month of each calendar quarter, the state treasurer shall distribute from the timber tax distribution account to each county the amount of tax
collected on behalf of each county under RCW 84.33.051,
less each county’s proportionate share of appropriations for
collection and administration activities under RCW
84.33.051, and shall transfer to the state general fund the
amount of tax collected on behalf of the state under RCW
84.33.041, less the state’s proportionate share of appropriations for collection and administration activities under RCW
84.33.041. The county treasurer shall deposit moneys
received under this section in a county timber tax account
which shall be established by each county. Following receipt
of moneys under this section, the county treasurer shall make
distributions from any moneys available in the county timber
[Title 84 RCW—page 30]
tax account to taxing districts in the county, except the state,
under subsections (2) through (4) of this section.
(2) From moneys available, there first shall be a distribution to each taxing district having debt service payments due
during the calendar year, based upon bonds issued under
authority of a vote of the people conducted pursuant to RCW
84.52.056 and based upon excess levies for a capital project
fund authorized pursuant to RCW 84.52.053, of an amount
equal to the timber assessed value of the district multiplied by
the tax rate levied for payment of the debt service and capital
projects: PROVIDED, That in respect to levies for a debt service or capital project fund authorized before July 1, 1984,
the amount allocated shall not be less than an amount equal to
the same percentage of such debt service or capital project
fund represented by timber tax allocations to such payments
in calendar year 1984. Distribution under this subsection (2)
shall be used only for debt service and capital projects payments. The distribution under this subsection shall be made
as follows: One-half of such amount shall be distributed in
the first quarter of the year and one-half shall be distributed in
the third quarter of the year.
(3) From the moneys remaining after the distributions
under subsection (2) of this section, the county treasurer shall
distribute to each school district an amount equal to one-half
of the timber assessed value of the district or eighty percent
of the timber roll of such district in calendar year 1983 as
determined under this chapter, whichever is greater, multiplied by the tax rate, if any, levied by the district under RCW
84.52.052 or 84.52.053 for purposes other than debt service
payments and capital projects supported under subsection (2)
of this section. The distribution under this subsection shall be
made as follows: One-half of such amount shall be distributed in the first quarter of the year and one-half shall be distributed in the third quarter of the year.
(4) After the distributions directed under subsections (2)
and (3) of this section, if any, each taxing district shall
receive an amount equal to the timber assessed value of the
district multiplied by the tax rate, if any, levied as a regular
levy of the district or as a special levy not included in subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
(5) If there are insufficient moneys in the county timber
tax account to make full distribution under subsection (4) of
this section, the county treasurer shall multiply the amount to
be distributed to each taxing district under that subsection by
a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the county timber
tax account balance before making the distribution under that
subsection. The denominator of the fraction is the account
balance which would be required to make full distribution
under that subsection.
(6) After making the distributions under subsections (2)
through (4) of this section in the full amount indicated for the
calendar year, the county treasurer shall place any excess revenue up to twenty percent of the total distributions made for
the year under subsections (2) through (4) of this section in a
reserve status until the beginning of the next calendar year.
Any moneys remaining in the county timber tax account after
this amount is placed in reserve shall be distributed to each
taxing district in the county in the same proportions as the
distributions made under subsection (4) of this section. [1985
c 184 § 1; 1984 c 204 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
Application—1985 c 184 § 1: "Section 1 of this act applies to distributions beginning in 1986, and thereafter." [1985 c 184 § 3.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.086
84.33.086 Payment of tax. (1) The taxes imposed
under this chapter shall be computed with respect to timber
harvested each calendar quarter and shall be due and payable
in quarterly installments. Remittance shall be made on or
before the last day of the month next succeeding the end of
the quarterly period in which the tax accrues. The taxpayer on
or before such date shall make out a return, upon such forms
and setting forth such information as the department of revenue may require, showing the amount of tax for which the
taxpayer is liable for the preceding quarterly period and shall
sign and transmit the same to the department of revenue,
together with a remittance for the amount of tax.
(2) The taxes imposed by this chapter are in addition to
any taxes imposed upon the same persons under chapter
82.04 RCW.
(3) Any harvester incurring less than fifty dollars tax liability under this section in any calendar quarter is excused
from the payment of such tax, but may be required by the
department of revenue to file a return even though no tax may
be due. [1987 c 166 § 1; 1984 c 204 § 10.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.088
84.33.088 Reporting requirements on timber purchase. (Expires July 1, 2007.) (1) A purchaser of privately
owned timber in an amount in excess of two hundred thousand board feet in a voluntary sale made in the ordinary
course of business shall, on or before the last day of the
month following the purchase of the timber, report the particulars of the purchase to the department.
(2) The report required in subsection (1) of this section
shall contain all information relevant to the value of the timber purchased including, but not limited to, the following, as
applicable: Purchaser’s name and address, sale date, termination date in sale agreement, total sale price, total acreage
involved in the sale, net volume of timber purchased, legal
description of the area involved in the sale, road construction
or improvements required or completed, timber cruise data,
and timber thinning data. A report may be submitted in any
reasonable form or, at the purchaser’s option, by submitting
relevant excerpts of the timber sales contract. A purchaser
may comply by submitting the information in the following
form:
Purchaser’s name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchaser’s address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sale date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Termination date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total sale price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total acreage involved: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net volume of timber purchased:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legal description of sale area: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property improvements: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Timber cruise data:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Timber thinning data:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.091
(3) A purchaser of privately owned timber involved in a
purchase described in subsection (1) of this section who fails
to report a purchase as required may be liable for a penalty of
two hundred fifty dollars for each failure to report, as determined by the department.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2007. [2003 c 315 § 1;
2001 c 320 § 16.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
84.33.089
84.33.089 Estimates of harvestable public forest
land—Adjustments. (1) The department shall estimate the
number of acres of public forest land that are available for
timber harvesting. The department shall provide the estimates for each county and for each taxing district within each
county by August 30th of each year except that the department may authorize a county, at the county’s option, to make
its own estimates for public forest land in that county. In estimating the number of acres, the department shall use the best
available information to include public land comparable to
private land that qualifies as forest land for assessment purposes and exclude other public lands. The department is not
required to update the estimates unless improved information
becomes available. The department of natural resources shall
assist the department with these determinations by providing
any data and information in the possession of the department
of natural resources on public forest lands, broken out by
county and legal description, including a detailed map of
each county showing the location of the described lands. The
data and information shall be provided to the department by
July 15th of each year. In addition, the department may contract with other parties to provide data or assistance necessary
to implement this section.
(2) To accommodate the phase-in of the county forest
excise tax on the harvest of timber from public lands as provided in RCW 84.33.051, the department shall adjust its
actual estimates of the number of acres of public forest land
that are available for timber harvesting. The department shall
reduce its estimates for the following years by the following
amounts:
(a) For calendar year 2005, 70 percent;
(b) For calendar year 2006, 62.5 percent;
(c) For calendar year 2007, 55 percent;
(d) For calendar year 2008, 47.5 percent;
(e) For calendar year 2009, 40 percent;
(f) For calendar year 2010, 32.5 percent;
(g) For calendar year 2011, 22.5 percent;
(h) For calendar year 2012, 15 percent;
(i) For calendar year 2013, 7.5 percent; and
(j) For calendar year 2014 and thereafter, the department
shall not reduce its estimates of the number of acres of public
forest land that are available for timber harvesting. [2004 c
177 § 6.]
Effective date—2004 c 177: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
84.33.091
84.33.091 Tables of stumpage values—Revised
tables—Legislative review—Appeal. (1) The department
of revenue shall designate areas containing timber having
similar growing, harvesting, and marketing conditions to be
used as units for the preparation and application of stumpage
values. Each year on or before December 31 for use the fol[Title 84 RCW—page 31]
84.33.096
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
lowing January through June 30, and on or before June 30 for
use the following July through December 31, the department
shall prepare tables of stumpage values of each species or
subclassification of timber within these units. The stumpage
value shall be the amount that each such species or subclassification would sell for at a voluntary sale made in the ordinary course of business for purposes of immediate harvest.
These stumpage values, expressed in terms of a dollar
amount per thousand board feet or other unit measure, shall
be determined in a manner which makes reasonable and adequate allowances for age, size, quality, costs of removal,
accessibility to point of conversion, market conditions, and
all other relevant factors from:
(a) Gross proceeds from sales on the stump of similar
timber of like quality and character at similar locations, and
in similar quantities;
(b) Gross proceeds from sales of logs adjusted to reflect
only the portion of such proceeds attributable to value on the
stump immediately prior to harvest; or
(c) A combination of (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(2) Upon application from any person who plans to harvest damaged timber, the stumpage values for which have
been materially reduced from the values shown in the applicable tables due to damage resulting from fire, blow down,
ice storm, flood, or other sudden unforeseen cause, the
department shall revise the stumpage value tables for any
area in which such timber is located and shall specify any
additional accounting or other requirements to be complied
with in reporting and paying the tax.
(3) The preliminary area designations and stumpage
value tables and any revisions thereof are subject to review
by the ways and means committees of the house of representatives and senate prior to finalization. Tables of stumpage
values shall be signed by the director or the director’s designee. A copy thereof shall be mailed to anyone who has submitted to the department a written request for a copy.
(4) On or before the sixtieth day after the date of final
adoption of any stumpage value tables, any harvester may
appeal to the board of tax appeals for a revision of stumpage
values for an area determined pursuant to subsection (3) of
this section. [1998 c 311 § 13; 1984 c 204 § 11.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.096
84.33.096 Application of excise taxes’ administrative
provisions and definitions. All sections of chapter 82.32
RCW, except RCW 82.32.045 and 82.32.270, apply to the
taxes imposed under this chapter. [1984 c 204 § 13.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.130
84.33.130 Forest land valuation—Application by
owner that land be designated and valued as forest land—
Hearing—Rules—Approval, denial of application—
Appeal. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
lands that were assessed as classified forest land before July
22, 2001, shall be designated forest land for the purposes of
this chapter. The owners of previously classified forest land
shall not be required to apply for designation under this chapter. As of July 22, 2001, the land and timber on such land
[Title 84 RCW—page 32]
shall be assessed and taxed in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter.
(2) An owner of land desiring that it be designated as forest land and valued under RCW 84.33.140 as of January 1st
of any year shall submit an application to the assessor of the
county in which the land is located before January 1st of that
year. The application shall be accompanied by a reasonable
processing fee when the county legislative authority has
established the requirement for such a fee.
(3) No application of designation is required when publicly owned forest land is exchanged for privately owned forest land designated under this chapter. The land exchanged
and received by an owner subject to ad valorem taxation shall
be automatically granted designation under this chapter if the
following conditions are met:
(a) The land will be used to grow and harvest timber; and
(b) The owner of the land submits a document to the
assessor’s office that explains the details of the forest land
exchange within sixty days of the closing date of the
exchange. However, if the owner fails to submit information
regarding the exchange by the end of this sixty-day period,
the owner must file an application for designation as forest
land under this chapter and the regular application process
will be followed.
(4) The application shall be made upon forms prepared
by the department and supplied by the assessor, and shall
include the following:
(a) A legal description of, or assessor’s parcel numbers
for, all land the applicant desires to be designated as forest
land;
(b) The date or dates of acquisition of the land;
(c) A brief description of the timber on the land, or if the
timber has been harvested, the owner’s plan for restocking;
(d) A copy of the timber management plan, if one exists,
for the land prepared by a trained forester or any other person
with adequate knowledge of timber management practices;
(e) If a timber management plan exists, an explanation of
the nature and extent to which the management plan has been
implemented;
(f) Whether the land is used for grazing;
(g) Whether the land has been subdivided or a plat has
been filed with respect to the land;
(h) Whether the land and the applicant are in compliance
with the restocking, forest management, fire protection,
insect and disease control, and forest debris provisions of
Title 76 RCW or any applicable rules under Title 76 RCW;
(i) Whether the land is subject to forest fire protection
assessments under RCW 76.04.610;
(j) Whether the land is subject to a lease, option, or other
right that permits it to be used for any purpose other than
growing and harvesting timber;
(k) A summary of the past experience and activity of the
applicant in growing and harvesting timber;
(l) A summary of current and continuing activity of the
applicant in growing and harvesting timber;
(m) A statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the land ceases to be designated as forest land;
(n) An affirmation that the statements contained in the
application are true and that the land described in the applica(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
tion meets the definition of forest land in RCW 84.33.035;
and
(o) A description and/or drawing showing what areas of
land for which designation is sought are used for incidental
uses compatible with the definition of forest land in RCW
84.33.035.
(5) The assessor shall afford the applicant an opportunity
to be heard if the applicant so requests.
(6) The assessor shall act upon the application with due
regard to all relevant evidence and without any one or more
items of evidence necessarily being determinative, except
that the application may be denied for one of the following
reasons, without regard to other items:
(a) The land does not contain a "merchantable stand of
timber" as defined in chapter 76.09 RCW and applicable
rules. This reason shall not alone be sufficient to deny the
application (i) if the land has been recently harvested or supports a growth of brush or noncommercial type timber, and
the application includes a plan for restocking within three
years or a longer period necessitated by unavailability of seed
or seedlings, or (ii) if only isolated areas within the land do
not meet the minimum standards due to rock outcroppings,
swamps, unproductive soil or other natural conditions;
(b) The applicant, with respect to the land, has failed to
comply with a final administrative or judicial order with
respect to a violation of the restocking, forest management,
fire protection, insect and disease control, and forest debris
provisions of Title 76 RCW or any applicable rules under
Title 76 RCW; or
(c) The land abuts a body of salt water and lies between
the line of ordinary high tide and a line paralleling the ordinary high tide line and two hundred feet horizontally landward from the high tide line. However, if the assessor determines that a higher and better use exists for the land but this
use would not be permitted or economically feasible by virtue of any federal, state, or local law or regulation, the land
shall be assessed and valued under RCW 84.33.140 without
being designated as forest land.
(7) The application shall be deemed to have been
approved unless, prior to May 1st of the year after the application was mailed or delivered to the assessor, the assessor
notifies the applicant in writing of the extent to which the
application is denied.
(8) An owner who receives notice that his or her application has been denied, in whole or in part, may appeal the
denial to the county board of equalization in accordance with
the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. [2003 c 170 § 4. Prior:
2001 c 249 § 2; 2001 c 185 § 4; 1994 c 301 § 32; 1986 c 100
§ 57; 1981 c 148 § 8; 1974 ex.s. c 187 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c 294 §
13.]
Purpose—Intent—2003 c 170: "During the regular session of the 2001
legislature, RCW 84.33.120 was amended by section 3, chapter 185 and by
section 1, chapter 305, and repealed by section 16, chapter 249, each without
reference to the other. The purpose of sections 4 through 7 of this act is to
resolve any uncertainty about the status of RCW 84.33.120 caused by the
enactment of three changes involving RCW 84.33.120 during the 2001 regular legislative session.
(1) Chapter 249, Laws of 2001 both repealed RCW 84.33.120 and
incorporated pertinent and vital parts of RCW 84.33.120 into RCW
84.33.140. The technical amendments made to RCW 84.33.120 by section
3, chapter 185, Laws of 2001 were also made to RCW 84.33.140 by section
5, chapter 185, Laws of 2001. The amendments made to RCW 84.33.120 by
section 1, chapter 305, Laws of 2001 were also made to RCW 84.33.140 by
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.140
section 2, chapter 305, Laws of 2001. Therefore, RCW 84.33.140 as
amended during the 2001 regular legislative session embodies the pertinent
and vital parts of RCW 84.33.120 and the 2001 amendments to RCW
84.33.120.
(2) The legislature intends to confirm the repeal of RCW 84.33.120,
including the 2001 regular legislative session amendments to that section, as
of the effective date of chapters 185, 249, and 305, Laws of 2001." [2003 c
170 § 1.]
Purpose—2003 c 170 § 4: "During the regular session of the 2001 legislature, RCW 84.33.130 was amended by section 4, chapter 185 and by section 2, chapter 249, each without reference to the other. The purpose of section 4 of this act is to reenact and amend RCW 84.33.130 so that it reflects
all amendments made by the legislature." [2003 c 170 § 2.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Purpose—1981 c 148: "(1) One of the purposes of this act is to establish the values for ad valorem tax purposes of bare forest land which is primarily devoted to and used for growing and harvesting timber without consideration of other potential uses of the land and to provide a procedure for
adjusting the values in future years to reflect economic changes which may
affect the value established in this act.
(2) Chapter 294, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., as originally enacted, required
the department of revenue annually to analyze forest land transactions to
ascertain the market value of bare forest land purchased and used exclusively
for growing and harvesting timber. Most transactions involving forest land
include mature and immature timber with no segregation by the parties
between the amounts paid for timber and bare land. The examination of
these transactions by the department to ascertain the prices being paid for
only the bare land has proven to be very difficult, time consuming, and subject to recurring legal challenge. Samples are small in relation to the total
acreage of forest land involved and the administrative time and costs
required for the annual analyses are excessive in relation to the changes from
year to year which have been observed in the value of bare forest land. This
act eliminates most of these administrative costs by establishing the current
bare forest land values and by providing a procedure for periodic adjustment
of the values which does not require continuing and costly analysis of the
numerous forest land transactions throughout the state." [1981 c 148 § 11.]
Severability—1981 c 148: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1981 c 148 § 15.]
Effective dates—1981 c 148: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [May 14, 1981], except for section 13 of this act which shall take effect
September 1, 1981." [1981 c 148 § 16.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 187: "If any provision of this 1974 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 187 § 20.]
84.33.140
84.33.140 Forest land valuation—Notation of forest
land designation upon assessment and tax rolls—Notice
of continuance—Removal of designation—Compensating
tax. (Effective until July 1, 2007.) (1) When land has been
designated as forest land under RCW 84.33.130, a notation of
the designation shall be made each year upon the assessment
and tax rolls. A copy of the notice of approval together with
the legal description or assessor’s parcel numbers for the land
shall, at the expense of the applicant, be filed by the assessor
in the same manner as deeds are recorded.
(2) In preparing the assessment roll as of January 1,
2002, for taxes payable in 2003 and each January 1st thereafter, the assessor shall list each parcel of designated forest land
at a value with respect to the grade and class provided in this
subsection and adjusted as provided in subsection (3) of this
section. The assessor shall compute the assessed value of the
land using the same assessment ratio applied generally in
computing the assessed value of other property in the county.
[Title 84 RCW—page 33]
84.33.140
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Values for the several grades of bare forest land shall be as
follows:
LAND
GRADE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
OPERABILITY
CLASS
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
VALUES
PER ACRE
$234
229
217
157
198
190
183
132
154
149
148
113
117
114
113
86
85
78
77
52
43
39
39
37
21
21
20
20
1
(3) On or before December 31, 2001, the department
shall adjust by rule under chapter 34.05 RCW, the forest land
values contained in subsection (2) of this section in accordance with this subsection, and shall certify the adjusted values to the assessor who will use these values in preparing the
assessment roll as of January 1, 2002. For the adjustment to
be made on or before December 31, 2001, for use in the 2002
assessment year, the department shall:
(a) Divide the aggregate value of all timber harvested
within the state between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 2001, by
the aggregate harvest volume for the same period, as determined from the harvester excise tax returns filed with the
department under RCW 84.33.074; and
(b) Divide the aggregate value of all timber harvested
within the state between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 2000, by
the aggregate harvest volume for the same period, as determined from the harvester excise tax returns filed with the
department under RCW 84.33.074; and
[Title 84 RCW—page 34]
(c) Adjust the forest land values contained in subsection
(2) of this section by a percentage equal to one-half of the
percentage change in the average values of harvested timber
reflected by comparing the resultant values calculated under
(a) and (b) of this subsection.
(4) For the adjustments to be made on or before December 31, 2002, and each succeeding year thereafter, the same
procedure described in subsection (3) of this section shall be
followed using harvester excise tax returns filed under RCW
84.33.074. However, this adjustment shall be made to the
prior year’s adjusted value, and the five-year periods for calculating average harvested timber values shall be successively one year more recent.
(5) Land graded, assessed, and valued as forest land shall
continue to be so graded, assessed, and valued until removal
of designation by the assessor upon the occurrence of any of
the following:
(a) Receipt of notice from the owner to remove the designation;
(b) Sale or transfer to an ownership making the land
exempt from ad valorem taxation;
(c) Sale or transfer of all or a portion of the land to a new
owner, unless the new owner has signed a notice of forest
land designation continuance, except transfer to an owner
who is an heir or devisee of a deceased owner, shall not, by
itself, result in removal of designation. The signed notice of
continuance shall be attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit provided for in RCW 82.45.150. The notice of continuance shall be on a form prepared by the department. If the
notice of continuance is not signed by the new owner and
attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit, all compensating taxes calculated under subsection (11) of this section
shall become due and payable by the seller or transferor at
time of sale. The auditor shall not accept an instrument of
conveyance regarding designated forest land for filing or
recording unless the new owner has signed the notice of continuance or the compensating tax has been paid, as evidenced
by the real estate excise tax stamp affixed thereto by the treasurer. The seller, transferor, or new owner may appeal the
new assessed valuation calculated under subsection (11) of
this section to the county board of equalization in accordance
with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. Jurisdiction is
hereby conferred on the county board of equalization to hear
these appeals;
(d) Determination by the assessor, after giving the owner
written notice and an opportunity to be heard, that:
(i) The land is no longer primarily devoted to and used
for growing and harvesting timber. However, land shall not
be removed from designation if a governmental agency, organization, or other recipient identified in subsection (13) or
(14) of this section as exempt from the payment of compensating tax has manifested its intent in writing or by other official action to acquire a property interest in the designated forest land by means of a transaction that qualifies for an exemption under subsection (13) or (14) of this section. The
governmental agency, organization, or recipient shall annually provide the assessor of the county in which the land is
located reasonable evidence in writing of the intent to acquire
the designated land as long as the intent continues or within
sixty days of a request by the assessor. The assessor may not
request this evidence more than once in a calendar year;
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
(ii) The owner has failed to comply with a final administrative or judicial order with respect to a violation of the
restocking, forest management, fire protection, insect and
disease control, and forest debris provisions of Title 76 RCW
or any applicable rules under Title 76 RCW; or
(iii) Restocking has not occurred to the extent or within
the time specified in the application for designation of such
land.
(6) Land shall not be removed from designation if there
is a governmental restriction that prohibits, in whole or in
part, the owner from harvesting timber from the owner’s designated forest land. If only a portion of the parcel is impacted
by governmental restrictions of this nature, the restrictions
cannot be used as a basis to remove the remainder of the forest land from designation under this chapter. For the purposes of this section, "governmental restrictions" includes:
(a) Any law, regulation, rule, ordinance, program, or other
action adopted or taken by a federal, state, county, city, or
other governmental entity; or (b) the land’s zoning or its presence within an urban growth area designated under RCW
36.70A.110.
(7) The assessor shall have the option of requiring an
owner of forest land to file a timber management plan with
the assessor upon the occurrence of one of the following:
(a) An application for designation as forest land is submitted; or
(b) Designated forest land is sold or transferred and a
notice of continuance, described in subsection (5)(c) of this
section, is signed.
(8) If land is removed from designation because of any
of the circumstances listed in subsection (5)(a) through (c) of
this section, the removal shall apply only to the land affected.
If land is removed from designation because of subsection
(5)(d) of this section, the removal shall apply only to the
actual area of land that is no longer primarily devoted to the
growing and harvesting of timber, without regard to any other
land that may have been included in the application and
approved for designation, as long as the remaining designated
forest land meets the definition of forest land contained in
RCW 84.33.035.
(9) Within thirty days after the removal of designation as
forest land, the assessor shall notify the owner in writing, setting forth the reasons for the removal. The seller, transferor,
or owner may appeal the removal to the county board of
equalization in accordance with the provisions of RCW
84.40.038.
(10) Unless the removal is reversed on appeal a copy of
the notice of removal with a notation of the action, if any,
upon appeal, together with the legal description or assessor’s
parcel numbers for the land removed from designation shall,
at the expense of the applicant, be filed by the assessor in the
same manner as deeds are recorded and a notation of removal
from designation shall immediately be made upon the assessment and tax rolls. The assessor shall revalue the land to be
removed with reference to its true and fair value as of January
1st of the year of removal from designation. Both the
assessed value before and after the removal of designation
shall be listed. Taxes based on the value of the land as forest
land shall be assessed and payable up until the date of
removal and taxes based on the true and fair value of the land
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.140
shall be assessed and payable from the date of removal from
designation.
(11) Except as provided in subsection (5)(c), (13), or
(14) of this section, a compensating tax shall be imposed on
land removed from designation as forest land. The compensating tax shall be due and payable to the treasurer thirty days
after the owner is notified of the amount of this tax. As soon
as possible after the land is removed from designation, the
assessor shall compute the amount of compensating tax and
mail a notice to the owner of the amount of compensating tax
owed and the date on which payment of this tax is due. The
amount of compensating tax shall be equal to the difference
between the amount of tax last levied on the land as designated forest land and an amount equal to the new assessed
value of the land multiplied by the dollar rate of the last levy
extended against the land, multiplied by a number, in no
event greater than nine, equal to the number of years for
which the land was designated as forest land, plus compensating taxes on the land at forest land values up until the date
of removal and the prorated taxes on the land at true and fair
value from the date of removal to the end of the current tax
year.
(12) Compensating tax, together with applicable interest
thereon, shall become a lien on the land which shall attach at
the time the land is removed from designation as forest land
and shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied
before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation, or responsibility to or with which the land may become
charged or liable. The lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same
manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes as provided in RCW 84.64.050.
Any compensating tax unpaid on its due date shall thereupon
become delinquent. From the date of delinquency until paid,
interest shall be charged at the same rate applied by law to
delinquent ad valorem property taxes.
(13) The compensating tax specified in subsection (11)
of this section shall not be imposed if the removal of designation under subsection (5) of this section resulted solely from:
(a) Transfer to a government entity in exchange for other
forest land located within the state of Washington;
(b) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or sale or transfer to an entity having the power
of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of such
power;
(c) A donation of fee title, development rights, or the
right to harvest timber, to a government agency or organization qualified under RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 for the
purposes enumerated in those sections, or the sale or transfer
of fee title to a governmental entity or a nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined in RCW 64.04.130, exclusively for the protection and conservation of lands recommended for state natural area preserve purposes by the natural
heritage council and natural heritage plan as defined in chapter 79.70 RCW. At such time as the land is not used for the
purposes enumerated, the compensating tax specified in subsection (11) of this section shall be imposed upon the current
owner;
(d) The sale or transfer of fee title to the parks and recreation commission for park and recreation purposes;
[Title 84 RCW—page 35]
84.33.140
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(e) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the land is located
that disallows the present use of the land;
(f) The creation, sale, or transfer of forestry riparian
easements under RCW 76.13.120;
(g) The creation, sale, or transfer of a fee interest or a
conservation easement for the riparian open space program
under RCW 76.09.040;
(h) The sale or transfer of land within two years after the
death of the owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the
land if the land has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under this chapter, or classified under chapter 84.34 RCW continuously since 1993.
The date of death shown on a death certificate is the date used
for the purposes of this subsection (13)(h); or
(i) The sale or transfer of land after the death of the
owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the land if the land
has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under this chapter, or classified under
chapter 84.34 RCW continuously since 1993 and the sale or
transfer takes place after July 22, 2001, and on or before July
22, 2003, and the death of the owner occurred after January 1,
1991. The date of death shown on a death certificate is the
date used for the purposes of this subsection (13)(i).
(14) In a county with a population of more than one million inhabitants, the compensating tax specified in subsection
(11) of this section shall not be imposed if the removal of designation as forest land under subsection (5) of this section
resulted solely from:
(a) An action described in subsection (13) of this section;
or
(b) A transfer of a property interest to a government
entity, or to a nonprofit historic preservation corporation or
nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined in
RCW 64.04.130, to protect or enhance public resources, or to
preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use of,
or otherwise to conserve for public use or enjoyment, the
property interest being transferred. At such time as the property interest is not used for the purposes enumerated, the
compensating tax shall be imposed upon the current owner.
[2003 c 170 § 5. Prior: 2001 c 305 § 2; 2001 c 249 § 3; 2001
c 185 § 5; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 703; 1999 c 233 § 21; 1997 c 299
§ 2; 1995 c 330 § 2; 1992 c 69 § 2; 1986 c 238 § 2; 1981 c 148
§ 9; 1980 c 134 § 3; 1974 ex.s. c 187 § 7; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195
§ 93; 1972 ex.s. c 148 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c 294 § 14.]
Effective date—1992 c 69: See RCW 84.34.923.
Purpose—Severability—Effective dates—1981 c 148: See notes following RCW 84.33.130.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 187: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.33.140
84.33.140 Forest land valuation—Notation of forest
land designation upon assessment and tax rolls—Notice
of continuance—Removal of designation—Compensating
tax. (Effective July 1, 2007.) (1) When land has been designated as forest land under RCW 84.33.130, a notation of the
designation shall be made each year upon the assessment and
tax rolls. A copy of the notice of approval together with the
legal description or assessor’s parcel numbers for the land
shall, at the expense of the applicant, be filed by the assessor
in the same manner as deeds are recorded.
(2) In preparing the assessment roll as of January 1,
2002, for taxes payable in 2003 and each January 1st thereafter, the assessor shall list each parcel of designated forest land
at a value with respect to the grade and class provided in this
subsection and adjusted as provided in subsection (3) of this
section. The assessor shall compute the assessed value of the
land using the same assessment ratio applied generally in
computing the assessed value of other property in the county.
Values for the several grades of bare forest land shall be as
follows:
LAND
GRADE
1
2
3
4
Purpose—Intent—2003 c 170: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
5
Effective date—1999 c 233: See note following RCW 4.28.320.
Effective date—1997 c 299: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 9, 1997]." [1997 c 299 § 4.]
Effective date—1995 c 330: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 11, 1995]." [1995 c 330 § 3.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 36]
6
OPERABILITY
CLASS
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
VALUES
PER ACRE
$234
229
217
157
198
190
183
132
154
149
148
113
117
114
113
86
85
78
77
52
43
39
39
37
21
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
7
8
2
3
4
21
20
20
1
(3) On or before December 31, 2001, the department
shall adjust by rule under chapter 34.05 RCW, the forest land
values contained in subsection (2) of this section in accordance with this subsection, and shall certify the adjusted values to the assessor who will use these values in preparing the
assessment roll as of January 1, 2002. For the adjustment to
be made on or before December 31, 2001, for use in the 2002
assessment year, the department shall:
(a) Divide the aggregate value of all timber harvested
within the state between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 2001, by
the aggregate harvest volume for the same period, as determined from the harvester excise tax returns filed with the
department under RCW 84.33.074; and
(b) Divide the aggregate value of all timber harvested
within the state between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 2000, by
the aggregate harvest volume for the same period, as determined from the harvester excise tax returns filed with the
department under RCW 84.33.074; and
(c) Adjust the forest land values contained in subsection
(2) of this section by a percentage equal to one-half of the
percentage change in the average values of harvested timber
reflected by comparing the resultant values calculated under
(a) and (b) of this subsection.
(4) For the adjustments to be made on or before December 31, 2002, and each succeeding year thereafter, the same
procedure described in subsection (3) of this section shall be
followed using harvester excise tax returns filed under RCW
84.33.074. However, this adjustment shall be made to the
prior year’s adjusted value, and the five-year periods for calculating average harvested timber values shall be successively one year more recent.
(5) Land graded, assessed, and valued as forest land shall
continue to be so graded, assessed, and valued until removal
of designation by the assessor upon the occurrence of any of
the following:
(a) Receipt of notice from the owner to remove the designation;
(b) Sale or transfer to an ownership making the land
exempt from ad valorem taxation;
(c) Sale or transfer of all or a portion of the land to a new
owner, unless the new owner has signed a notice of forest
land designation continuance, except transfer to an owner
who is an heir or devisee of a deceased owner, shall not, by
itself, result in removal of designation. The signed notice of
continuance shall be attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit provided for in RCW 82.45.150. The notice of continuance shall be on a form prepared by the department. If the
notice of continuance is not signed by the new owner and
attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit, all compensating taxes calculated under subsection (11) of this section
shall become due and payable by the seller or transferor at
time of sale. The auditor shall not accept an instrument of
conveyance regarding designated forest land for filing or
recording unless the new owner has signed the notice of continuance or the compensating tax has been paid, as evidenced
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.140
by the real estate excise tax stamp affixed thereto by the treasurer. The seller, transferor, or new owner may appeal the
new assessed valuation calculated under subsection (11) of
this section to the county board of equalization in accordance
with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. Jurisdiction is
hereby conferred on the county board of equalization to hear
these appeals;
(d) Determination by the assessor, after giving the owner
written notice and an opportunity to be heard, that:
(i) The land is no longer primarily devoted to and used
for growing and harvesting timber. However, land shall not
be removed from designation if a governmental agency, organization, or other recipient identified in subsection (13) or
(14) of this section as exempt from the payment of compensating tax has manifested its intent in writing or by other official action to acquire a property interest in the designated forest land by means of a transaction that qualifies for an exemption under subsection (13) or (14) of this section. The
governmental agency, organization, or recipient shall annually provide the assessor of the county in which the land is
located reasonable evidence in writing of the intent to acquire
the designated land as long as the intent continues or within
sixty days of a request by the assessor. The assessor may not
request this evidence more than once in a calendar year;
(ii) The owner has failed to comply with a final administrative or judicial order with respect to a violation of the
restocking, forest management, fire protection, insect and
disease control, and forest debris provisions of Title 76 RCW
or any applicable rules under Title 76 RCW; or
(iii) Restocking has not occurred to the extent or within
the time specified in the application for designation of such
land.
(6) Land shall not be removed from designation if there
is a governmental restriction that prohibits, in whole or in
part, the owner from harvesting timber from the owner’s designated forest land. If only a portion of the parcel is impacted
by governmental restrictions of this nature, the restrictions
cannot be used as a basis to remove the remainder of the forest land from designation under this chapter. For the purposes of this section, "governmental restrictions" includes:
(a) Any law, regulation, rule, ordinance, program, or other
action adopted or taken by a federal, state, county, city, or
other governmental entity; or (b) the land’s zoning or its presence within an urban growth area designated under RCW
36.70A.110.
(7) The assessor shall have the option of requiring an
owner of forest land to file a timber management plan with
the assessor upon the occurrence of one of the following:
(a) An application for designation as forest land is submitted; or
(b) Designated forest land is sold or transferred and a
notice of continuance, described in subsection (5)(c) of this
section, is signed.
(8) If land is removed from designation because of any
of the circumstances listed in subsection (5)(a) through (c) of
this section, the removal shall apply only to the land affected.
If land is removed from designation because of subsection
(5)(d) of this section, the removal shall apply only to the
actual area of land that is no longer primarily devoted to the
growing and harvesting of timber, without regard to any other
land that may have been included in the application and
[Title 84 RCW—page 37]
84.33.140
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
approved for designation, as long as the remaining designated
forest land meets the definition of forest land contained in
RCW 84.33.035.
(9) Within thirty days after the removal of designation as
forest land, the assessor shall notify the owner in writing, setting forth the reasons for the removal. The seller, transferor,
or owner may appeal the removal to the county board of
equalization in accordance with the provisions of RCW
84.40.038.
(10) Unless the removal is reversed on appeal a copy of
the notice of removal with a notation of the action, if any,
upon appeal, together with the legal description or assessor’s
parcel numbers for the land removed from designation shall,
at the expense of the applicant, be filed by the assessor in the
same manner as deeds are recorded and a notation of removal
from designation shall immediately be made upon the assessment and tax rolls. The assessor shall revalue the land to be
removed with reference to its true and fair value as of January
1st of the year of removal from designation. Both the
assessed value before and after the removal of designation
shall be listed. Taxes based on the value of the land as forest
land shall be assessed and payable up until the date of
removal and taxes based on the true and fair value of the land
shall be assessed and payable from the date of removal from
designation.
(11) Except as provided in subsection (5)(c), (13), or
(14) of this section, a compensating tax shall be imposed on
land removed from designation as forest land. The compensating tax shall be due and payable to the treasurer thirty days
after the owner is notified of the amount of this tax. As soon
as possible after the land is removed from designation, the
assessor shall compute the amount of compensating tax and
mail a notice to the owner of the amount of compensating tax
owed and the date on which payment of this tax is due. The
amount of compensating tax shall be equal to the difference
between the amount of tax last levied on the land as designated forest land and an amount equal to the new assessed
value of the land multiplied by the dollar rate of the last levy
extended against the land, multiplied by a number, in no
event greater than nine, equal to the number of years for
which the land was designated as forest land, plus compensating taxes on the land at forest land values up until the date
of removal and the prorated taxes on the land at true and fair
value from the date of removal to the end of the current tax
year.
(12) Compensating tax, together with applicable interest
thereon, shall become a lien on the land which shall attach at
the time the land is removed from designation as forest land
and shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied
before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation, or responsibility to or with which the land may become
charged or liable. The lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same
manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes as provided in RCW 84.64.050.
Any compensating tax unpaid on its due date shall thereupon
become delinquent. From the date of delinquency until paid,
interest shall be charged at the same rate applied by law to
delinquent ad valorem property taxes.
[Title 84 RCW—page 38]
(13) The compensating tax specified in subsection (11)
of this section shall not be imposed if the removal of designation under subsection (5) of this section resulted solely from:
(a) Transfer to a government entity in exchange for other
forest land located within the state of Washington;
(b) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or sale or transfer to an entity having the power
of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of such
power;
(c) A donation of fee title, development rights, or the
right to harvest timber, to a government agency or organization qualified under RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 for the
purposes enumerated in those sections, or the sale or transfer
of fee title to a governmental entity or a nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined in RCW 64.04.130, exclusively for the protection and conservation of lands recommended for state natural area preserve purposes by the natural
heritage council and natural heritage plan as defined in chapter 79.70 RCW or approved for state natural resources conservation area purposes as defined in chapter 79.71 RCW. At
such time as the land is not used for the purposes enumerated,
the compensating tax specified in subsection (11) of this section shall be imposed upon the current owner;
(d) The sale or transfer of fee title to the parks and recreation commission for park and recreation purposes;
(e) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the land is located
that disallows the present use of the land;
(f) The creation, sale, or transfer of forestry riparian
easements under RCW 76.13.120;
(g) The creation, sale, or transfer of a fee interest or a
conservation easement for the riparian open space program
under RCW 76.09.040;
(h) The sale or transfer of land within two years after the
death of the owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the
land if the land has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under this chapter, or classified under chapter 84.34 RCW continuously since 1993.
The date of death shown on a death certificate is the date used
for the purposes of this subsection (13)(h); or
(i) The sale or transfer of land after the death of the
owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the land if the land
has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under this chapter, or classified under
chapter 84.34 RCW continuously since 1993 and the sale or
transfer takes place after July 22, 2001, and on or before July
22, 2003, and the death of the owner occurred after January 1,
1991. The date of death shown on a death certificate is the
date used for the purposes of this subsection (13)(i).
(14) In a county with a population of more than one million inhabitants, the compensating tax specified in subsection
(11) of this section shall not be imposed if the removal of designation as forest land under subsection (5) of this section
resulted solely from:
(a) An action described in subsection (13) of this section;
or
(b) A transfer of a property interest to a government
entity, or to a nonprofit historic preservation corporation or
nonprofit nature conservancy corporation, as defined in
RCW 64.04.130, to protect or enhance public resources, or to
preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use of,
(2006 Ed.)
Timber and Forest Lands
or otherwise to conserve for public use or enjoyment, the
property interest being transferred. At such time as the property interest is not used for the purposes enumerated, the
compensating tax shall be imposed upon the current owner.
[2005 c 303 § 13; 2003 c 170 § 5. Prior: 2001 c 305 § 2; 2001
c 249 § 3; 2001 c 185 § 5; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 703; 1999 c 233 §
21; 1997 c 299 § 2; 1995 c 330 § 2; 1992 c 69 § 2; 1986 c 238
§ 2; 1981 c 148 § 9; 1980 c 134 § 3; 1974 ex.s. c 187 § 7;
1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 93; 1972 ex.s. c 148 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c
294 § 14.]
Effective date—2005 c 303 §§ 1-14: See note following RCW
79A.15.010.
Purpose—Intent—2003 c 170: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
84.33.200
meet the definition of forest land under RCW 84.33.035.
Nothing in this section affects the additional tax imposed
under RCW 84.34.108.
(3) In a county with a population of more than one million inhabitants, no amount of compensating tax is due under
this section if the removal from classification under RCW
84.34.108 results from a transfer of property described in
RCW 84.34.108(6). [2001 c 249 § 4; 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 704;
1997 c 299 § 3; 1992 c 69 § 3; 1986 c 315 § 3.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Effective date—1997 c 299: See note following RCW 84.33.140.
Effective date—1992 c 69: See RCW 84.34.923.
84.33.170
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Effective date—1999 c 233: See note following RCW 4.28.320.
Effective date—1997 c 299: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 9, 1997]." [1997 c 299 § 4.]
Effective date—1995 c 330: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 11, 1995]." [1995 c 330 § 3.]
Effective date—1992 c 69: See RCW 84.34.923.
Purpose—Severability—Effective dates—1981 c 148: See notes following RCW 84.33.130.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 187: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.33.170 Application of chapter to Christmas trees.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary,
this chapter shall not exempt from the ad valorem tax nor
subject to the excise tax imposed by this chapter, Christmas
trees and short-rotation hardwoods, which are cultivated by
agricultural methods, and the land on which the Christmas
trees and short-rotation hardwoods stand shall not be taxed as
provided in RCW 84.33.140. However, short-rotation hardwoods, which are cultivated by agricultural methods, on land
classified as timber land under chapter 84.34 RCW, shall be
subject to the excise tax imposed under this chapter. [2001 c
249 § 5; 1995 c 165 § 2; 1984 c 204 § 24; 1983 c 3 § 226;
1971 ex.s. c 294 § 17.]
Application—1995 c 165: See note following RCW 84.33.035.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.33.145
84.33.145 Compensating tax. (1) If no later than thirty
days after removal of designation the owner applies for classification under RCW 84.34.020 (1), (2), or (3), then the designated forest land shall not be considered removed from designation for purposes of the compensating tax under RCW
84.33.140 until the application for current use classification
under chapter 84.34 RCW is denied or the property is
removed from classification under RCW 84.34.108. Upon
removal of classification under RCW 84.34.108, the amount
of compensating tax due under this chapter shall be equal to:
(a) The difference, if any, between the amount of tax last
levied on the land as designated forest land and an amount
equal to the new assessed valuation of the land when
removed from classification under RCW 84.34.108 multiplied by the dollar rate of the last levy extended against the
land, multiplied by
(b) A number equal to:
(i) The number of years the land was designated under
this chapter, if the total number of years the land was designated under this chapter and classified under chapter 84.34
RCW is less than ten; or
(ii) Ten minus the number of years the land was classified under chapter 84.34 RCW, if the total number of years
the land was designated under this chapter and classified
under chapter 84.34 RCW is at least ten.
(2) Nothing in this section authorizes the continued designation under this chapter or defers or reduces the compensating tax imposed upon forest land not transferred to classification under subsection (1) of this section which does not
(2006 Ed.)
84.33.175
84.33.175 Application of tax—Sale of land to governmental agency with reservation of rights to timber—Conveyance by governmental agency of trees. The excise tax
imposed under this chapter applies to forest trees harvested
after April 4, 1986, from lands sold to any governmental
agency by warranty deed or contract where the seller reserved
to itself the right to take all merchantable timber for a specific
period of years, or in perpetuity, and to forest trees harvested
after April 4, 1986, that any governmental agency, by quit
claim deed, as partial consideration for payment of the purchase price, conveyed for a specific period of years, or in perpetuity, all forest trees, standing, growing, or lying on the
described land, to the taxpayer, regardless of the date on
which the contract was entered. [1986 c 315 § 8.]
84.33.200
84.33.200 Legislative review of timber tax system—
Information and data to be furnished. (1) The legislature
shall review the system of distribution and allocation of all
timber excise tax revenues in January 1975 and each year
thereafter to provide a uniform and equitable distribution and
allocation of such revenues to the state and local taxing districts.
(2) In order to allow legislative review of the rules to be
adopted by the department of revenue establishing the stumpage values provided for in RCW 84.33.091, such rules shall
be effective not less than thirty days after transmitting to the
staffs of the senate and house ways and means committees (or
their successor committees) the same proposed rules as have
[Title 84 RCW—page 39]
84.33.210
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
been previously filed with the office of the code reviser pursuant to RCW 34.05.320.
(3) The department of revenue and the department of
natural resources shall make available to the revenue committees of the senate and house of representatives of the state
legislature information and data, as it may be available, pertaining to the status of forest land grading throughout the
state, the collection of timber excise tax revenues, the distribution and allocation of timber excise tax revenues to the
state and local taxing districts, and any other information as
may be necessary for the proper legislative review and implementation of the timber excise tax system, and in addition,
the departments shall provide an annual report of such matters in January of each year to such committees. [2001 c 320
§ 17; 1998 c 245 § 170; 1989 c 175 § 179; 1984 c 204 § 25;
1979 c 6 § 4; 1974 ex.s. c 187 § 9.]
Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date—1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010.
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 187: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
84.33.210
84.33.210 Forest land valuation—Special benefit
assessments. (1) Any land that is designated as forest land
under this chapter at the earlier of the times the legislative
authority of a local government adopts a resolution, ordinance, or legislative act (a) to create a local improvement district, in which the land is included or would have been
included but for the designation, or (b) to approve or confirm
a final special benefit assessment roll relating to a sanitary or
storm sewerage system, domestic water supply or distribution system, or road construction or improvement, which roll
would have included the land but for the designation, shall be
exempt from special benefit assessments, charges in lieu of
assessment, or rates and charges for storm water control facilities under RCW 36.89.080 for such purposes as long as that
land remains designated as forest land, except as otherwise
provided in RCW 84.33.250.
(2) Whenever a local government creates a local
improvement district, the levying, collection, and enforcement of assessments shall be in the manner and subject to the
same procedures and limitations as are provided under the
law concerning the initiation and formation of local improvement districts for the particular local government. Notice of
the creation of a local improvement district that includes designated forest land shall be filed with the assessor and the legislative authority of the county in which the land is located.
The assessor, upon receiving notice of the creation of a local
improvement district, shall send a notice to the owners of the
designated forest lands listed on the tax rolls of the applicable
treasurer of:
(a) The creation of the local improvement district;
(b) The exemption of that land from special benefit
assessments;
(c) The fact that the designated forest land may become
subject to the special benefit assessments if the owner waives
the exemption by filing a notarized document with the governing body of the local government creating the local
improvement district before the confirmation of the final special benefit assessment roll; and
[Title 84 RCW—page 40]
(d) The potential liability, pursuant to RCW 84.33.220, if
the exemption is not waived and the land is subsequently
removed from designated forest land status.
(3) When a local government approves and confirms a
special benefit assessment roll, from which designated forest
land has been exempted under this section, it shall file a
notice of this action with the assessor and the legislative
authority of the county in which the land is located and with
the treasurer of that local government. The notice shall
describe the action taken, the type of improvement involved,
the land exempted, and the amount of the special benefit
assessment that would have been levied against the land if it
had not been exempted. The filing of the notice with the
assessor and the treasurer of that local government shall constitute constructive notice to a purchaser or encumbrancer of
the affected land, and every person whose conveyance or
encumbrance is subsequently executed or subsequently
recorded, that the exempt land is subject to the charges provided in RCW 84.33.220 and 84.33.230, if the land is
removed from its designation as forest land.
(4) The owner of the land exempted from special benefit
assessments under this section may waive that exemption by
filing a notarized document to that effect with the legislative
authority of the local government upon receiving notice from
said local government concerning the assessment roll hearing
and before the local government confirms the final special
benefit assessment roll. A copy of that waiver shall be filed
by the local government with the assessor, but the failure to
file this copy shall not affect the waiver.
(5) Except to the extent provided in RCW 84.33.250, the
local government shall have no duty to furnish service from
the improvement financed by the special benefit assessment
to the exempted land. [2003 c 394 § 7; 2001 c 249 § 6; 1992
c 52 § 7.]
84.33.220
84.33.220 Forest land valuation—Withdrawal from
designation or change in use—Liability. Whenever forest
land has been exempted from special benefit assessments
under RCW 84.33.210, any removal from designation or
change in use from forest land under this chapter shall result
in the following:
(1) If the bonds used to fund the improvement in the
local improvement district have not been completely retired,
the land shall immediately become liable for:
(a) The amount of the special benefit assessment listed in
the notice provided for in RCW 84.33.210; plus
(b) Interest on the amount determined in (a) of this subsection, compounded annually at a rate equal to the average
rate of inflation from the time the initial notice is filed by the
governmental entity that created the local improvement district as provided in RCW 84.33.210, to the time the owner or
the assessor removes the land from the exemption category
provided by this chapter; or
(2) If the bonds used to fund the improvement in the
local improvement district have been completely retired, the
land shall immediately become liable for:
(a) The amount of the special benefit assessment listed in
the notice provided for in RCW 84.33.210; plus
(b) Interest on the amount determined in (a) of this subsection compounded annually at a rate equal to the average
rate of inflation from the time the initial notice is filed by the
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
governmental entity that created the local improvement district as provided in RCW 84.33.210, to the time the bonds
used to fund the improvement have been retired; plus
(c) Interest on the total amount determined in (a) and (b)
of this subsection at a simple per annum rate equal to the
average rate of inflation from the time the bonds used to fund
the improvement have been retired to the time the owner or
the assessor removes the land from the exemption category
provided by this chapter;
(3) The amount payable under this section shall become
due on the date the land is removed from its forest land designation. This amount shall be a lien on the land prior and
superior to any other lien whatsoever except for the lien for
general taxes, and shall be enforceable in the same manner as
the collection of special benefit assessments are enforced by
that local government. [2001 c 249 § 7; 1992 c 52 § 8.]
Chapter 84.34
value under more intensive uses; and (3) the lands that benefit
from or cause the need for a local improvement district. The
provision for limited special benefit assessments shall not
relieve the land from liability for the amounts provided in
RCW 84.33.220 and 84.33.230 when the land is removed
from its forest land designation. [2001 c 249 § 9; 1992 c 52
§ 11.]
84.33.260 Forest land valuation—Withdrawal from
designation or change in use—Benefit assessments.
Whenever a portion of a parcel of land that was designated as
forest land under this chapter is removed from designation or
there is a change in use, and the land has been exempted from
any benefit assessments under RCW 84.33.210, the previously exempt benefit assessments shall become due on only
that portion of the land that is removed or changed in use.
[2001 c 249 § 10; 1992 c 52 § 12.]
84.33.260
84.33.230
84.33.230 Forest land valuation—Change in designation—Notice. Whenever forest land is removed from its forest land designation, the assessor of the county in which the
land is located shall forthwith give written notice of the
removal to the local government or its successor that filed
with the assessor the notice required by RCW 84.33.210.
Upon receipt of the notice from the assessor, the local government shall mail a written statement to the owner of the
land for the amounts payable as provided in RCW 84.33.220.
The amounts due shall be delinquent if not paid within one
hundred eighty days after the date of mailing of the statement. The amount payable shall be subject to the same interest, penalties, lien priority, and enforcement procedures that
are applicable to delinquent assessments on the assessment
roll from which that land had been exempted, except that the
rate of interest charged shall not exceed the rate provided in
RCW 84.33.220. [2001 c 249 § 8; 1992 c 52 § 9.]
84.33.270 Forest land valuation—Government
future development right—Conserving forest land—
Exemptions. (1) Forest land on which the right of future
development has been acquired by any local government, the
state of Washington, or the United States government shall be
exempt from special benefit assessments in lieu of assessment for the purposes in the same manner, and under the
same liabilities for payment and interest, as land designated
under this chapter as forest land, for as long as the designation applies.
(2) Any interest, development right, easement, covenant,
or other contractual right that effectively protects, preserves,
maintains, improves, restores, prevents the future nonforest
use of, or otherwise conserves forest land shall be exempt
from special benefit assessments as long as the development
right or other interest effectively serves to prevent nonforest
development of the land. [2001 c 249 § 11; 1992 c 52 § 13.]
84.33.270
84.33.240
84.33.240 Forest land valuation—Change in classification or use—Application of payments. Payments collected pursuant to RCW 84.33.220 and 84.33.230, or by
enforcement procedures referred to therein, after the payment
of the expenses of their collection, shall first be applied to the
payment of general or special debt incurred to finance the
improvements related to the special benefit assessments, and,
if such debt is retired, then into the maintenance fund or general fund of the governmental entity that created the local
improvement district, or its successor, for any of the following purposes: (1) Redemption or servicing of outstanding
obligations of the district; (2) maintenance expenses of the
district; or (3) construction or acquisition of any facilities
necessary to carry out the purpose of the district. [1992 c 52
§ 10.]
84.33.280 Applicant for forest riparian easement
program—Department to rely on certain documents. The
department shall, when contacted by the department of natural resources under RCW 76.13.160, rely on submitted taxrelated documents to confirm or deny that an applicant for the
forest riparian easement program established in RCW
76.13.120 satisfies the definition of a small forest landowner,
as that term is defined in RCW 76.13.120. Nothing in this
section, or RCW 76.13.160, prohibits the department from
providing the department of natural resources with aggregate
or general information. [2004 c 102 § 3.]
84.33.280
Chapter 84.34 RCW
OPEN SPACE, AGRICULTURAL, TIMBER LANDS—
CURRENT USE—CONSERVATION FUTURES
Chapter 84.34
84.33.250
84.33.250 Forest land valuation—Special benefit
assessments. The department shall adopt rules it shall deem
necessary to implement RCW 84.33.210 through 84.33.270,
which shall include, but not be limited to, procedures to
determine the extent to which a portion of the land otherwise
exempt may be subject to a special benefit assessment for:
(1) The actual connection to the domestic water system or
sewerage facilities; (2) access to the road improvement in
relation to its value as forest land as distinguished from its
(2006 Ed.)
Sections
84.34.010
84.34.020
84.34.030
84.34.035
84.34.037
84.34.041
Legislative declaration.
Definitions.
Applications for current use classification—Forms—Fee—
Times for making.
Applications for current use classification—Approval or
denial—Appeal—Duties of assessor upon approval.
Applications for current use classification—To whom made—
Factors—Review.
Application for current use classification—Forms—Public
hearing—Approval or denial.
[Title 84 RCW—page 41]
84.34.010
84.34.050
84.34.055
84.34.060
84.34.065
84.34.070
84.34.080
84.34.090
84.34.100
84.34.108
84.34.111
84.34.121
84.34.131
84.34.141
84.34.145
84.34.150
84.34.155
84.34.160
84.34.200
84.34.210
84.34.220
84.34.230
84.34.240
84.34.250
84.34.300
84.34.310
84.34.320
84.34.330
84.34.340
84.34.350
84.34.360
84.34.370
84.34.380
84.34.390
84.34.900
84.34.910
84.34.920
84.34.921
84.34.922
84.34.923
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Notice of approval or disapproval—Procedure when approval
granted.
Open space priorities—Open space plan and public benefit rating system.
Determination of true and fair value of classified land—Computation of assessed value.
Determination of true and fair value of farm and agricultural
land—Definitions.
Withdrawal from classification.
Change in use.
Extension of additional tax and penalties on tax roll—Lien.
Payment of additional tax, penalties, and/or interest.
Removal of classification—Factors—Notice of continuance—
Additional tax—Lien—Delinquencies—Exemptions.
Remedies available to owner liable for additional tax.
Information required.
Valuation of timber not affected.
Rules and regulations.
Advisory committee.
Reclassification of land classified under prior law which meets
definition of farm and agricultural land.
Reclassification of land classified as timber land which meets
definition of forest land under chapter 84.33 RCW.
Information on current use classification—Publication and
dissemination.
Acquisition of open space, etc., land or rights to future development by counties, cities, or metropolitan municipal corporations—Legislative declaration—Purposes.
Acquisition of open space, land, or rights to future development by certain entities—Authority to acquire—Conveyance or lease back.
Acquisition of open space, land, or rights to future development by certain entities—Developmental rights—"Conservation futures"—Acquisition—Restrictions.
Acquisition of open space, etc., land or rights to future development by certain entities—Additional property tax levy
authorized.
Acquisition of open space, etc., land or rights to future development by certain entities—Conservation futures fund—
Additional requirements, authority.
Nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or association
defined.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Legislative findings—Purpose.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Definitions.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Exemption from assessment—Procedures
relating to exemption—Constructive notice of potential liability—Waiver of exemption.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Withdrawal from classification or change in
use—Liability—Amount—Due date—Lien.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Withdrawal or removal from classification—
Notice to local government—Statement to owner of amounts
payable—Delinquency date—Enforcement procedures.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land—
Use of payments collected.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Rules to implement RCW 84.34.300 through
84.34.380.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Assessments due on land withdrawn or
changed.
Special benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land or
timber land—Application of exemption to rights and interests preventing nonagricultural or nonforest uses.
Application—Chapter 79.44 RCW—Assessments against
public lands.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 87.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 87.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 243.
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 212.
Severability—1979 c 84.
Effective date—1992 c 69.
Conservation futures on agricultural land—Property tax exemption: RCW
84.36.260, 84.36.500.
84.34.010 Legislative declaration. The legislature
hereby declares that it is in the best interest of the state to
maintain, preserve, conserve and otherwise continue in exist84.34.010
[Title 84 RCW—page 42]
ence adequate open space lands for the production of food,
fiber and forest crops, and to assure the use and enjoyment of
natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and
social well-being of the state and its citizens. The legislature
further declares that assessment practices must be so
designed as to permit the continued availability of open space
lands for these purposes, and it is the intent of this chapter so
to provide. The legislature further declares its intent that farm
and agricultural lands shall be valued on the basis of their
value for use as authorized by section 11 of Article VII of the
Constitution of the state of Washington. [1973 1st ex.s. c 212
§ 1; 1970 ex.s. c 87 § 1.]
84.34.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless a
different meaning is required by the context:
(1) "Open space land" means (a) any land area so designated by an official comprehensive land use plan adopted by
any city or county and zoned accordingly, or (b) any land
area, the preservation of which in its present use would (i)
conserve and enhance natural or scenic resources, or (ii) protect streams or water supply, or (iii) promote conservation of
soils, wetlands, beaches or tidal marshes, or (iv) enhance the
value to the public of abutting or neighboring parks, forests,
wildlife preserves, nature reservations or sanctuaries or other
open space, or (v) enhance recreation opportunities, or (vi)
preserve historic sites, or (vii) preserve visual quality along
highway, road, and street corridors or scenic vistas, or (viii)
retain in its natural state tracts of land not less than one acre
situated in an urban area and open to public use on such conditions as may be reasonably required by the legislative body
granting the open space classification, or (c) any land meeting the definition of farm and agricultural conservation land
under subsection (8) of this section. As a condition of granting open space classification, the legislative body may not
require public access on land classified under (b)(iii) of this
subsection for the purpose of promoting conservation of wetlands.
(2) "Farm and agricultural land" means:
(a) Any parcel of land that is twenty or more acres or
multiple parcels of land that are contiguous and total twenty
or more acres:
(i) Devoted primarily to the production of livestock or
agricultural commodities for commercial purposes;
(ii) Enrolled in the federal conservation reserve program
or its successor administered by the United States department
of agriculture; or
(iii) Other similar commercial activities as may be established by rule;
(b)(i) Any parcel of land that is five acres or more but
less than twenty acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses,
which has produced a gross income from agricultural uses
equivalent to, as of January 1, 1993:
(A) One hundred dollars or more per acre per year for
three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter for all parcels of land
that are classified under this subsection or all parcels of land
for which an application for classification under this subsection is made with the granting authority prior to January 1,
1993; and
(B) On or after January 1, 1993, two hundred dollars or
more per acre per year for three of the five calendar years pre84.34.020
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
ceding the date of application for classification under this
chapter;
(ii) For the purposes of (b)(i) of this subsection, "gross
income from agricultural uses" includes, but is not limited to,
the wholesale value of agricultural products donated to nonprofit food banks or feeding programs;
(c) Any parcel of land of less than five acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses which has produced a gross
income as of January 1, 1993, of:
(i) One thousand dollars or more per year for three of the
five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter for all parcels of land that are
classified under this subsection or all parcels of land for
which an application for classification under this subsection
is made with the granting authority prior to January 1, 1993;
and
(ii) On or after January 1, 1993, fifteen hundred dollars
or more per year for three of the five calendar years preceding
the date of application for classification under this chapter.
Parcels of land described in (b)(i)(A) and (c)(i) of this subsection shall, upon any transfer of the property excluding a transfer to a surviving spouse, be subject to the limits of (b)(i)(B)
and (c)(ii) of this subsection;
(d) Any lands including incidental uses as are compatible
with agricultural purposes, including wetlands preservation,
provided such incidental use does not exceed twenty percent
of the classified land and the land on which appurtenances
necessary to the production, preparation, or sale of the agricultural products exist in conjunction with the lands producing such products. Agricultural lands shall also include any
parcel of land of one to five acres, which is not contiguous,
but which otherwise constitutes an integral part of farming
operations being conducted on land qualifying under this section as "farm and agricultural lands"; or
(e) The land on which housing for employees and the
principal place of residence of the farm operator or owner of
land classified pursuant to (a) of this subsection is sited if:
The housing or residence is on or contiguous to the classified
parcel; and the use of the housing or the residence is integral
to the use of the classified land for agricultural purposes.
(3) "Timber land" means any parcel of land that is five or
more acres or multiple parcels of land that are contiguous and
total five or more acres which is or are devoted primarily to
the growth and harvest of timber for commercial purposes.
Timber land means the land only and does not include a residential homesite. The term includes land used for incidental
uses that are compatible with the growing and harvesting of
timber but no more than ten percent of the land may be used
for such incidental uses. It also includes the land on which
appurtenances necessary for the production, preparation, or
sale of the timber products exist in conjunction with land producing these products.
(4) "Current" or "currently" means as of the date on
which property is to be listed and valued by the assessor.
(5) "Owner" means the party or parties having the fee
interest in land, except that where land is subject to real estate
contract "owner" shall mean the contract vendee.
(6) "Contiguous" means land adjoining and touching
other property held by the same ownership. Land divided by
a public road, but otherwise an integral part of a farming
operation, shall be considered contiguous.
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.035
(7) "Granting authority" means the appropriate agency or
official who acts on an application for classification of land
pursuant to this chapter.
(8) "Farm and agricultural conservation land" means
either:
(a) Land that was previously classified under subsection
(2) of this section, that no longer meets the criteria of subsection (2) of this section, and that is reclassified under subsection (1) of this section; or
(b) Land that is traditional farmland that is not classified
under chapter 84.33 or 84.34 RCW, that has not been irrevocably devoted to a use inconsistent with agricultural uses, and
that has a high potential for returning to commercial agriculture. [2005 c 57 § 1; 2004 c 217 § 1; 2002 c 315 § 1; 2001 c
249 § 12; 1998 c 320 § 7; 1997 c 429 § 31; 1992 c 69 § 4;
1988 c 253 § 3; 1983 c 3 § 227; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 2; 1970
ex.s. c 87 § 2.]
Purpose—2004 c 217 § 1: "The purpose of the amendatory language in
section 1 of this act is to clarify the timber land definition as it relates to tax
issues. The language does not affect land use policy or law." [2004 c 217 §
2.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
84.34.030
84.34.030 Applications for current use classification—Forms—Fee—Times for making. An owner of agricultural land desiring current use classification under subsection (2) of RCW 84.34.020 shall make application to the
county assessor upon forms prepared by the state department
of revenue and supplied by the county assessor. An owner of
open space or timber land desiring current use classification
under subsections (1) and (3) of RCW 84.34.020 shall make
application to the county legislative authority upon forms
prepared by the state department of revenue and supplied by
the county assessor. The application shall be accompanied by
a reasonable processing fee if such processing fee is established by the city or county legislative authority. Said application shall require only such information reasonably necessary to properly classify an area of land under this chapter
with a notarized verification of the truth thereof and shall
include a statement that the applicant is aware of the potential
tax liability involved when such land ceases to be designated
as open space, farm and agricultural or timber land. Applications must be made during the calendar year preceding that in
which such classification is to begin. The assessor shall make
necessary information, including copies of this chapter and
applicable regulations, readily available to interested parties,
and shall render reasonable assistance to such parties upon
request. [1989 c 378 § 10; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 3; 1970 ex.s.
c 87 § 3.]
84.34.035
84.34.035 Applications for current use classification—Approval or denial—Appeal—Duties of assessor
upon approval. The assessor shall act upon the application
for current use classification of farm and agricultural lands
under RCW 84.34.020(2), with due regard to all relevant evidence. The application shall be deemed to have been
approved unless, prior to the first day of May of the year after
such application was mailed or delivered to the assessor, the
assessor shall notify the applicant in writing of the extent to
which the application is denied. An owner who receives
notice that his or her application has been denied may appeal
[Title 84 RCW—page 43]
84.34.037
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
such denial to the board of equalization in the county where
the property is located. The appeal shall be filed in accordance with RCW 84.40.038. Within ten days following
approval of the application, the assessor shall submit notification of such approval to the county auditor for recording in
the place and manner provided for the public recording of
state tax liens on real property. The assessor shall retain a
copy of all applications.
The assessor shall, as to any such land, make a notation
each year on the assessment list and the tax roll of the
assessed value of such land for the use for which it is classified in addition to the assessed value of such land were it not
so classified. [2001 c 185 § 6; 1992 c 69 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c
212 § 4.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
84.34.037
84.34.037 Applications for current use classification—To whom made—Factors—Review. (1) Applications for classification or reclassification under RCW
84.34.020(1) shall be made to the county legislative authority. An application made for classification or reclassification
of land under RCW 84.34.020(1) (b) and (c) which is in an
area subject to a comprehensive plan shall be acted upon in
the same manner in which an amendment to the comprehensive plan is processed. Application made for classification of
land which is in an area not subject to a comprehensive plan
shall be acted upon after a public hearing and after notice of
the hearing shall have been given by one publication in a
newspaper of general circulation in the area at least ten days
before the hearing: PROVIDED, That applications for classification of land in an incorporated area shall be acted upon
by a granting authority composed of three members of the
county legislative body and three members of the city legislative body in which the land is located.
(2) In determining whether an application made for classification or reclassification under RCW 84.34.020(1) (b) and
(c) should be approved or disapproved, the granting authority
may take cognizance of the benefits to the general welfare of
preserving the current use of the property which is the subject
of application, and shall consider:
(a) The resulting revenue loss or tax shift;
(b) Whether granting the application for land applying
under RCW 84.34.020(1)(b) will (i) conserve or enhance natural, cultural, or scenic resources, (ii) protect streams, stream
corridors, wetlands, natural shorelines and aquifers, (iii) protect soil resources and unique or critical wildlife and native
plant habitat, (iv) promote conservation principles by example or by offering educational opportunities, (v) enhance the
value of abutting or neighboring parks, forests, wildlife preserves, nature reservations, sanctuaries, or other open spaces,
(vi) enhance recreation opportunities, (vii) preserve historic
and archaeological sites, (viii) preserve visual quality along
highway, road, and street corridors or scenic vistas, (ix) affect
any other factors relevant in weighing benefits to the general
welfare of preserving the current use of the property; and
(c) Whether granting the application for land applying
under RCW 84.34.020(1)(c) will (i) either preserve land previously classified under RCW 84.34.020(2) or preserve land
that is traditional farmland and not classified under chapter
84.33 or 84.34 RCW, (ii) preserve land with a potential for
[Title 84 RCW—page 44]
returning to commercial agriculture, and (iii) affect any other
factors relevant in weighing benefits to the general welfare of
preserving the current use of property.
(3) If a public benefit rating system is adopted under
RCW 84.34.055, the county legislative authority shall rate
property for which application for classification has been
made under RCW 84.34.020(1) (b) and (c) according to the
public benefit rating system in determining whether an application should be approved or disapproved, but when such a
system is adopted, open space properties then classified
under this chapter which do not qualify under the system
shall not be removed from classification but may be rated
according to the public benefit rating system.
(4) The granting authority may approve the application
with respect to only part of the land which is the subject of the
application. If any part of the application is denied, the applicant may withdraw the entire application. The granting
authority in approving in part or whole an application for land
classified or reclassified pursuant to RCW 84.34.020(1) may
also require that certain conditions be met, including but not
limited to the granting of easements. As a condition of granting open space classification, the legislative body may not
require public access on land classified under RCW
84.34.020(1)(b)(iii) for the purpose of promoting conservation of wetlands.
(5) The granting or denial of the application for current
use classification or reclassification is a legislative determination and shall be reviewable only for arbitrary and capricious actions. [1992 c 69 § 6; 1985 c 393 § 1; 1984 c 111 §
1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 5.]
84.34.041
84.34.041 Application for current use classification—Forms—Public hearing—Approval or denial. An
application for current use classification or reclassification
under RCW 84.34.020(3) shall be made to the county legislative authority.
(1) The application shall be made upon forms prepared
by the department of revenue and supplied by the granting
authority and shall include the following elements that constitute a timber management plan:
(a) A legal description of, or assessor’s parcel numbers
for, all land the applicant desires to be classified as timber
land;
(b) The date or dates of acquisition of the land;
(c) A brief description of the timber on the land, or if the
timber has been harvested, the owner’s plan for restocking;
(d) Whether there is a forest management plan for the
land;
(e) If so, the nature and extent of implementation of the
plan;
(f) Whether the land is used for grazing;
(g) Whether the land has been subdivided or a plat filed
with respect to the land;
(h) Whether the land and the applicant are in compliance
with the restocking, forest management, fire protection,
insect and disease control, weed control, and forest debris
provisions of Title 76 RCW or applicable rules under Title 76
RCW;
(i) Whether the land is subject to forest fire protection
assessments pursuant to RCW 76.04.610;
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
(j) Whether the land is subject to a lease, option, or other
right that permits it to be used for a purpose other than growing and harvesting timber;
(k) A summary of the past experience and activity of the
applicant in growing and harvesting timber;
(l) A summary of current and continuing activity of the
applicant in growing and harvesting timber;
(m) A statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the land ceases to be classified
as timber land.
(2) An application made for classification of land under
RCW 84.34.020(3) shall be acted upon after a public hearing
and after notice of the hearing is given by one publication in
a newspaper of general circulation in the area at least ten days
before the hearing. Application for classification of land in an
incorporated area shall be acted upon by a granting authority
composed of three members of the county legislative body
and three members of the city legislative body in which the
land is located.
(3) The granting authority shall act upon the application
with due regard to all relevant evidence and without any one
or more items of evidence necessarily being determinative,
except that the application may be denied for one of the following reasons, without regard to other items:
(a) The land does not contain a stand of timber as defined
in chapter 76.09 RCW and applicable rules, except this reason shall not alone be sufficient to deny the application (i) if
the land has been recently harvested or supports a growth of
brush or noncommercial type timber, and the application
includes a plan for restocking within three years or the longer
period necessitated by unavailability of seed or seedlings, or
(ii) if only isolated areas within the land do not meet minimum standards due to rock outcroppings, swamps, unproductive soil, or other natural conditions;
(b) The applicant, with respect to the land, has failed to
comply with a final administrative or judicial order with
respect to a violation of the restocking, forest management,
fire protection, insect and disease control, weed control, and
forest debris provisions of Title 76 RCW or applicable rules
under Title 76 RCW;
(c) The land abuts a body of salt water and lies between
the line of ordinary high tide and a line paralleling the ordinary high tide line and two hundred feet horizontally landward from the high tide line.
(4) The timber management plan must be filed with the
county legislative authority either: (a) When an application
for classification under this chapter is submitted; (b) when a
sale or transfer of timber land occurs and a notice of continuance is signed; or (c) within sixty days of the date the application for reclassification under this chapter or from designated forest land is received. The application for reclassification shall be accepted, but shall not be processed until the
timber management plan is received. If the timber management plan is not received within sixty days of the date the
application for reclassification is received, the application for
reclassification shall be denied.
If circumstances require it, the county assessor may
allow in writing an extension of time for submitting a timber
management plan when an application for classification or
reclassification or notice of continuance is filed. When the
assessor approves an extension of time for filing the timber
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.055
management plan, the county legislative authority may delay
processing an application until the timber management plan
is received. If the timber management plan is not received by
the date set by the assessor, the application or the notice of
continuance shall be denied.
The granting authority may approve the application with
respect to only part of the land that is described in the application, and if any part of the application is denied, the applicant may withdraw the entire application. The granting
authority, in approving in part or whole an application for
land classified pursuant to RCW 84.34.020(3), may also
require that certain conditions be met.
Granting or denial of an application for current use classification is a legislative determination and shall be reviewable only for arbitrary and capricious actions. The granting
authority may not require the granting of easements for land
classified pursuant to RCW 84.34.020(3).
The granting authority shall approve or disapprove an
application made under this section within six months following the date the application is received. [2002 c 315 § 2;
1992 c 69 § 20.]
84.34.050
84.34.050 Notice of approval or disapproval—Procedure when approval granted. (1) The granting authority
shall immediately notify the assessor and the applicant of its
approval or disapproval which shall in no event be more than
six months from the receipt of said application. No land other
than farm and agricultural land shall be classified under this
chapter until an application in regard thereto has been
approved by the appropriate legislative authority.
(2) When the granting authority classifies land under this
chapter, it shall file notice of the same with the assessor
within ten days. The assessor shall, as to any such land, make
a notation each year on the assessment list and the tax roll of
the assessed value of such land for the use for which it is classified in addition to the assessed value of such land were it
not so classified.
(3) Within ten days following receipt of the notice from
the granting authority of classification of such land under this
chapter, the assessor shall submit such notice to the county
auditor for recording in the place and manner provided for the
public recording of state tax liens on real property. [1992 c
69 § 7; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 6; 1970 ex.s. c 87 § 5.]
84.34.055
84.34.055 Open space priorities—Open space plan
and public benefit rating system. (1)(a) The county legislative authority may direct the county planning commission
to set open space priorities and adopt, after a public hearing,
an open space plan and public benefit rating system for the
county. The plan shall consist of criteria for determining eligibility of lands, the process for establishing a public benefit
rating system, and an assessed valuation schedule. The
assessed valuation schedule shall be developed by the county
assessor and shall be a percentage of market value based
upon the public benefit rating system. The open space plan,
the public benefit rating system, and the assessed valuations
schedule shall not be effective until approved by the county
legislative authority after at least one public hearing: PROVIDED, That any county which has complied with the procedural requisites of chapter 393, Laws of 1985, prior to July
[Title 84 RCW—page 45]
84.34.060
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
28, 1985, need not repeat those procedures in order to adopt
an open space plan pursuant to chapter 393, Laws of 1985.
(b) County legislative authorities, in open space plans,
public benefit rating systems, and assessed valuation schedules, shall give priority consideration to lands used for buffers that are planted with or primarily contain native vegetation.
(c) "Priority consideration" as used in this section may
include, but is not limited to, establishing classification eligibility and maintenance criteria for buffers meeting the
requirements of (b) of this subsection.
(d) County legislative authorities shall meet the requirements of (b) of this subsection no later than July 1, 2006,
unless buffers already receive priority consideration in the
existing open space plans, public benefit rating systems, and
assessed valuation schedules.
(2) In adopting an open space plan, recognized sources
shall be used unless the county does its own survey of important open space priorities or features, or both. Recognized
sources include but are not limited to the natural heritage data
base; the state office of historic preservation; the interagency
committee for outdoor recreation inventory of dry accretion
beach and shoreline features; state, national, county, or city
registers of historic places; the shoreline master program; or
studies by the parks and recreation commission and by the
departments of fish and wildlife and natural resources. Features and sites may be verified by an outside expert in the
field and approved by the appropriate state or local agency to
be sent to the county legislative authority for final approval as
open space.
(3) When the county open space plan is adopted, owners
of open space lands then classified under this chapter shall be
notified in the same manner as is provided in RCW 84.40.045
of their new assessed value. These lands may be removed
from classification, upon request of owner, without penalty
within thirty days of notification of value.
(4) The open space plan and public benefit rating system
under this section may be adopted for taxes payable in 1986
and thereafter. [2005 c 310 § 1; 1994 c 264 § 76; 1988 c 36
§ 62; 1985 c 393 § 3.]
84.34.060
84.34.060 Determination of true and fair value of
classified land—Computation of assessed value. In determining the true and fair value of open space land and timber
land, which has been classified as such under the provisions
of this chapter, the assessor shall consider only the use to
which such property and improvements is currently applied
and shall not consider potential uses of such property. The
assessed valuation of open space land shall not be less than
the minimum value per acre of classified farm and agricultural land except that the assessed valuation of open space
land may be valued based on the public benefit rating system
adopted under RCW 84.34.055: PROVIDED FURTHER,
That timber land shall be valued according to chapter 84.33
RCW. In valuing any tract or parcel of real property designated and zoned under a comprehensive plan adopted under
chapter 36.70A RCW as agricultural, forest, or open space
land, the appraisal shall not be based on similar sales of parcels that have been converted to nonagricultural, nonforest,
or nonopen-space uses within five years after the sale. [1997
[Title 84 RCW—page 46]
c 429 § 32; 1992 c 69 § 8; 1985 c 393 § 2; 1981 c 148 § 10;
1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 7; 1970 ex.s. c 87 § 6.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
Purpose—Severability—Effective dates—1981 c 148: See notes following RCW 84.33.130.
84.34.065
84.34.065 Determination of true and fair value of
farm and agricultural land—Definitions. The true and fair
value of farm and agricultural land shall be determined by
consideration of the earning or productive capacity of comparable lands from crops grown most typically in the area averaged over not less than five years, capitalized at indicative
rates. The earning or productive capacity of farm and agricultural lands shall be the "net cash rental", capitalized at a "rate
of interest" charged on long term loans secured by a mortgage
on farm or agricultural land plus a component for property
t ax e s . T h e c u r r e n t u s e v a l u e o f l a n d u n d e r R C W
84.34.020(2)(e) shall be established as: The prior year’s
average value of open space farm and agricultural land used
in the county plus the value of land improvements such as
septic, water, and power used to serve the residence. This
shall not be interpreted to require the assessor to list improvements to the land with the value of the land.
For the purposes of the above computation:
(1) The term "net cash rental" shall mean the average
rental paid on an annual basis, in cash, for the land being
appraised and other farm and agricultural land of similar
quality and similarly situated that is available for lease for a
period of at least three years to any reliable person without
unreasonable restrictions on its use for production of agricultural crops. There shall be allowed as a deduction from the
rental received or computed any costs of crop production
charged against the landlord if the costs are such as are customarily paid by a landlord. If "net cash rental" data is not
available, the earning or productive capacity of farm and
agricultural lands shall be determined by the cash value of
typical or usual crops grown on land of similar quality and
similarly situated averaged over not less than five years.
Standard costs of production shall be allowed as a deduction
from the cash value of the crops.
The current "net cash rental" or "earning capacity" shall
be determined by the assessor with the advice of the advisory
committee as provided in RCW 84.34.145, and through a
continuing internal study, assisted by studies of the department of revenue. This net cash rental figure as it applies to
any farm and agricultural land may be challenged before the
same boards or authorities as would be the case with regard to
assessed values on general property.
(2) The term "rate of interest" shall mean the rate of
interest charged by the farm credit administration and other
large financial institutions regularly making loans secured by
farm and agricultural lands through mortgages or similar
legal instruments, averaged over the immediate past five
years.
The "rate of interest" shall be determined annually by a
rule adopted by the department of revenue and such rule shall
be published in the state register not later than January 1 of
each year for use in that assessment year. The department of
revenue determination may be appealed to the state board of
tax appeals within thirty days after the date of publication by
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
any owner of farm or agricultural land or the assessor of any
county containing farm and agricultural land.
(3) The "component for property taxes" shall be a figure
obtained by dividing the assessed value of all property in the
county into the property taxes levied within the county in the
year preceding the assessment and multiplying the quotient
obtained by one hundred. [2001 c 249 § 13; 2000 c 103 § 23;
1998 c 320 § 8; 1997 c 429 § 33; 1992 c 69 § 9; 1989 c 378 §
11; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 10.]
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
84.34.070
84.34.070 Withdrawal from classification. (1) When
land has once been classified under this chapter, it shall
remain under such classification and shall not be applied to
other use except as provided by subsection (2) of this section
for at least ten years from the date of classification and shall
continue under such classification until and unless withdrawn
from classification after notice of request for withdrawal
shall be made by the owner. During any year after eight years
of the initial ten-year classification period have elapsed,
notice of request for withdrawal of all or a portion of the land
may be given by the owner to the assessor or assessors of the
county or counties in which such land is situated. In the event
that a portion of a parcel is removed from classification, the
remaining portion must meet the same requirements as did
the entire parcel when such land was originally granted classification pursuant to this chapter unless the remaining parcel
has different income criteria. Within seven days the assessor
shall transmit one copy of such notice to the legislative body
which originally approved the application. The assessor or
assessors, as the case may be, shall, when two assessment
years have elapsed following the date of receipt of such
notice, withdraw such land from such classification and the
land shall be subject to the additional tax and applicable interest due under RCW 84.34.108. Agreement to tax according to
use shall not be considered to be a contract and can be abrogated at any time by the legislature in which event no additional tax or penalty shall be imposed.
(2) The following reclassifications are not considered
withdrawals or removals and are not subject to additional tax
under RCW 84.34.108:
(a) Reclassification between lands under RCW
84.34.020 (2) and (3);
(b) Reclassification of land classified under RCW
84.34.020 (2) or (3) or chapter 84.33 RCW to open space land
under RCW 84.34.020(1);
(c) Reclassification of land classified under RCW
84.34.020 (2) or (3) to forest land classified under chapter
84.33 RCW; and
(d) Reclassification of land classified as open space land
under RCW 84.34.020(1)(c) and reclassified to farm and
agricultural land under RCW 84.34.020(2) if the land had
been previously classified as farm and agricultural land under
RCW 84.34.020(2).
(3) Applications for reclassification shall be subject to
applicable provisions of RCW 84.34.037, 84.34.035,
84.34.041, and chapter 84.33 RCW.
(4) The income criteria for land classified under RCW
84.34.020(2) (b) and (c) may be deferred for land being
reclassified from land classified under RCW 84.34.020 (1)(c)
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.108
or (3), or chapter 84.33 RCW into RCW 84.34.020(2) (b) or
(c) for a period of up to five years from the date of reclassification. [1992 c 69 § 10; 1984 c 111 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212
§ 8; 1970 ex.s. c 87 § 7.]
84.34.080
84.34.080 Change in use. When land which has been
classified under this chapter as open space land, farm and
agricultural land, or timber land is applied to some other use,
except through compliance with RCW 84.34.070, or except
as a result solely from any one of the conditions listed in
RCW 84.34.108(6), the owner shall within sixty days notify
the county assessor of such change in use and additional real
property tax shall be imposed upon such land in an amount
equal to the sum of the following:
(1) The total amount of the additional tax and applicable
interest due under RCW 84.34.108; plus
(2) A penalty amounting to twenty percent of the amount
determined in subsection (1) of this section. [1999 sp.s. c 4 §
705; 1992 c 69 § 11; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 9; 1970 ex.s. c 87
§ 8.]
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
84.34.090
84.34.090 Extension of additional tax and penalties
on tax roll—Lien. The additional tax and penalties, if any,
provided by RCW 84.34.070 and 84.34.080 shall be extended
on the tax roll and shall be, together with the interest thereon,
a lien on the land to which such tax applies as of January 1st
of the year for which such additional tax is imposed. Such
lien shall have priority as provided in chapter 84.60 RCW:
PROVIDED, That for purposes of all periods of limitation of
actions specified in Title 84 RCW, the year in which the tax
became payable shall be as specified in RCW 84.34.100.
[1970 ex.s. c 87 § 9.]
84.34.100
84.34.100 Payment of additional tax, penalties,
and/or interest. The additional tax, penalties, and/or interest
provided by RCW 84.34.070 and 84.34.080 shall be payable
in full thirty days after the date which the treasurer’s statement therefor is rendered. Such additional tax when collected
shall be distributed by the county treasurer in the same manner in which current taxes applicable to the subject land are
distributed. [1980 c 134 § 4; 1970 ex.s. c 87 § 10.]
84.34.108
84.34.108 Removal of classification—Factors—
Notice of continuance—Additional tax—Lien—Delinquencies—Exemptions. (1) When land has once been classified under this chapter, a notation of the classification shall
be made each year upon the assessment and tax rolls and the
land shall be valued pursuant to RCW 84.34.060 or
84.34.065 until removal of all or a portion of the classification by the assessor upon occurrence of any of the following:
(a) Receipt of notice from the owner to remove all or a
portion of the classification;
(b) Sale or transfer to an ownership, except a transfer that
resulted from a default in loan payments made to or secured
by a governmental agency that intends to or is required by
law or regulation to resell the property for the same use as
before, making all or a portion of the land exempt from ad
valorem taxation;
[Title 84 RCW—page 47]
84.34.108
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(c) Sale or transfer of all or a portion of the land to a new
owner, unless the new owner has signed a notice of classification continuance, except transfer to an owner who is an heir
or devisee of a deceased owner shall not, by itself, result in
removal of classification. The notice of continuance shall be
on a form prepared by the department. If the notice of continuance is not signed by the new owner and attached to the real
estate excise tax affidavit, all additional taxes calculated pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall become due and
payable by the seller or transferor at time of sale. The auditor
shall not accept an instrument of conveyance regarding classified land for filing or recording unless the new owner has
signed the notice of continuance or the additional tax has
been paid, as evidenced by the real estate excise tax stamp
affixed thereto by the treasurer. The seller, transferor, or new
owner may appeal the new assessed valuation calculated
under subsection (4) of this section to the county board of
equalization in accordance with the provisions of RCW
84.40.038. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred on the county
board of equalization to hear these appeals;
(d) Determination by the assessor, after giving the owner
written notice and an opportunity to be heard, that all or a
portion of the land no longer meets the criteria for classification under this chapter. The criteria for classification pursuant to this chapter continue to apply after classification has
been granted.
The granting authority, upon request of an assessor, shall
provide reasonable assistance to the assessor in making a
determination whether the land continues to meet the qualifications of RCW 84.34.020 (1) or (3). The assistance shall be
provided within thirty days of receipt of the request.
(2) Land may not be removed from classification
because of:
(a) The creation, sale, or transfer of forestry riparian
easements under RCW 76.13.120; or
(b) The creation, sale, or transfer of a fee interest or a
conservation easement for the riparian open space program
under RCW 76.09.040.
(3) Within thirty days after such removal of all or a portion of the land from current use classification, the assessor
shall notify the owner in writing, setting forth the reasons for
the removal. The seller, transferor, or owner may appeal the
removal to the county board of equalization in accordance
with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038.
(4) Unless the removal is reversed on appeal, the assessor shall revalue the affected land with reference to its true
and fair value on January 1st of the year of removal from
classification. Both the assessed valuation before and after
the removal of classification shall be listed and taxes shall be
allocated according to that part of the year to which each
assessed valuation applies. Except as provided in subsection
(6) of this section, an additional tax, applicable interest, and
penalty shall be imposed which shall be due and payable to
the treasurer thirty days after the owner is notified of the
amount of the additional tax. As soon as possible, the assessor shall compute the amount of additional tax, applicable
interest, and penalty and the treasurer shall mail notice to the
owner of the amount thereof and the date on which payment
is due. The amount of the additional tax, applicable interest,
and penalty shall be determined as follows:
[Title 84 RCW—page 48]
(a) The amount of additional tax shall be equal to the difference between the property tax paid as "open space land",
"farm and agricultural land", or "timber land" and the amount
of property tax otherwise due and payable for the seven years
last past had the land not been so classified;
(b) The amount of applicable interest shall be equal to
the interest upon the amounts of the additional tax paid at the
same statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes
from the dates on which the additional tax could have been
paid without penalty if the land had been assessed at a value
without regard to this chapter;
(c) The amount of the penalty shall be as provided in
RCW 84.34.080. The penalty shall not be imposed if the
removal satisfies the conditions of RCW 84.34.070.
(5) Additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty, shall
become a lien on the land which shall attach at the time the
land is removed from classification under this chapter and
shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied
before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation or responsibility to or with which the land may become
charged or liable. This lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same
manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes as provided in RCW 84.64.050 now
or as hereafter amended. Any additional tax unpaid on its due
date shall thereupon become delinquent. From the date of
delinquency until paid, interest shall be charged at the same
rate applied by law to delinquent ad valorem property taxes.
(6) The additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty
specified in subsection (4) of this section shall not be
imposed if the removal of classification pursuant to subsection (1) of this section resulted solely from:
(a) Transfer to a government entity in exchange for other
land located within the state of Washington;
(b)(i) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or (ii) sale or transfer to an entity having the
power of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of
such power, said entity having manifested its intent in writing
or by other official action;
(c) A natural disaster such as a flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other such calamity rather than by virtue of the act
of the landowner changing the use of the property;
(d) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the land is located
which disallows the present use of the land;
(e) Transfer of land to a church when the land would
qualify for exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.020;
(f) Acquisition of property interests by state agencies or
agencies or organizations qualified under RCW 84.34.210
and 64.04.130 for the purposes enumerated in those sections.
At such time as these property interests are not used for the
purposes enumerated in RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 the
additional tax specified in subsection (4) of this section shall
be imposed;
(g) Removal of land classified as farm and agricultural
land under RCW 84.34.020(2)(e);
(h) Removal of land from classification after enactment
of a statutory exemption that qualifies the land for exemption
and receipt of notice from the owner to remove the land from
classification;
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
(i) The creation, sale, or transfer of forestry riparian
easements under RCW 76.13.120;
(j) The creation, sale, or transfer of a fee interest or a
conservation easement for the riparian open space program
under RCW 76.09.040;
(k) The sale or transfer of land within two years after the
death of the owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the
land if the land has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under chapter 84.33 RCW,
or classified under this chapter continuously since 1993. The
date of death shown on a death certificate is the date used for
the purposes of this subsection (6)(k); or
(l) The sale or transfer of land after the death of the
owner of at least a fifty percent interest in the land if the land
has been assessed and valued as classified forest land, designated as forest land under chapter 84.33 RCW, or classified
under this chapter continuously since 1993 and the sale or
transfer takes place after July 22, 2001, and on or before July
22, 2003, and the death of the owner occurred after January 1,
1991. The date of death shown on a death certificate is the
date used for the purpose of this subsection (6)(l). [2003 c
170 § 6. Prior: 2001 c 305 § 3; 2001 c 249 § 14; 2001 c 185
§ 7; prior: 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 706; 1999 c 233 § 22; 1999 c 139
§ 2; 1992 c 69 § 12; 1989 c 378 § 35; 1985 c 319 § 1; 1983 c
41 § 1; 1980 c 134 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 12.]
Purpose—2003 c 170 § 6: "During the regular session of the 2001 legislature, RCW 84.34.108 was amended by section 7, chapter 185, by section
14, chapter 249, and by section 3, chapter 305, each without reference to the
other. The purpose of section 6 of this act is to reenact and amend RCW
84.34.108 so that it reflects all amendments made by the legislature and to
clarify any misunderstanding as to how the exemption contained in chapter
305, Laws of 2001 is to be applied." [2003 c 170 § 3.]
Purpose—Intent—2003 c 170: See note following RCW 84.33.130.
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Part headings not law—1999 sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW
77.85.180.
Effective date—1999 c 233: See note following RCW 4.28.320.
84.34.111 Remedies available to owner liable for
additional tax. The owner of any land as to which additional
tax is imposed as provided in this chapter shall have with
respect to valuation of the land and imposition of the additional tax all remedies provided by this title. [1998 c 311 §
14; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 13.]
84.34.111
84.34.121 Information required. The assessor may
require owners of land classified under this chapter to submit
pertinent data regarding the use of the land, productivity of
typical crops, and such similar information pertinent to continued classification and appraisal of the land. [1973 1st ex.s.
c 212 § 14.]
84.34.121
84.34.131 Valuation of timber not affected. Nothing
in this chapter shall be construed as in any manner affecting
the method for valuation of timber standing on timber land
which has been classified under this chapter. [1998 c 311 §
15; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 16.]
84.34.131
84.34.141 Rules and regulations. The department of
revenue of the state of Washington shall make such rules and
regulations consistent with this chapter as shall be necessary
84.34.141
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.200
or desirable to permit its effective administration. [1998 c
311 § 16; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 17.]
84.34.145
84.34.145 Advisory committee. The county legislative
authority shall appoint a five member committee representing
the active farming community within the county to serve in
an advisory capacity to the assessor in implementing assessment guidelines as established by the department of revenue
for the assessment of open space, farms and agricultural
lands, and timber lands classified under this chapter. [1998 c
311 § 17; 1992 c 69 § 13; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 11.]
84.34.150
84.34.150 Reclassification of land classified under
prior law which meets definition of farm and agricultural
land. Land classified under the provisions of chapter 84.34
RCW prior to July 16, 1973 which meets the criteria for classification under this chapter, is hereby reclassified under this
chapter. This change in classification shall be made without
additional tax, applicable interest, penalty, or other requirements, but subsequent to such reclassification, the land shall
be fully subject to this chapter. A condition imposed by a
granting authority prior to July 16, 1973, upon land classified
pursuant to RCW 84.34.020 (1) or (3) shall remain in effect
during the period of classification. [1998 c 311 § 18; 1992 c
69 § 14; 1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 15.]
84.34.155
84.34.155 Reclassification of land classified as timber
land which meets definition of forest land under chapter
84.33 RCW. Land classified under the provisions of RCW
84.34.020 (2) or (3) which meets the definition of forest land
under the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW, upon request for
such change made by the owner to the granting authority,
shall be reclassified by the assessor under the provisions of
chapter 84.33 RCW. This change in classification shall be
made without additional tax, applicable interest, penalty, or
other requirements set forth in chapter 84.34 RCW: PROVIDED, That subsequent to such reclassification, the land
shall be fully subject to the provisions of chapter 84.33 RCW,
as now or hereafter amended. [1992 c 69 § 15; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 212 § 19.]
84.34.160
84.34.160 Information on current use classification—Publication and dissemination. The department of
revenue and each granting authority is hereby directed to
publicize the qualifications and manner of making applications for classification. Notice of the qualifications, method
of making applications, and availability of further information on current use classification shall be included with every
notice of change in valuation. [1992 c 69 § 16; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 212 § 18.]
84.34.200
84.34.200 Acquisition of open space, etc., land or
rights to future development by counties, cities, or metropolitan municipal corporations—Legislative declaration—Purposes. The legislature finds that the haphazard
growth and spread of urban development is encroaching
upon, or eliminating, numerous open areas and spaces of varied size and character, including many devoted to agriculture,
the cultivation of timber, and other productive activities, and
many others having significant recreational, social, scenic, or
[Title 84 RCW—page 49]
84.34.210
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
esthetic values. Such areas and spaces, if preserved and maintained in their present open state, would constitute important
assets to existing and impending urban and metropolitan
development, at the same time that they would continue to
contribute to the welfare and well-being of the citizens of the
state as a whole. The acquisition of interests or rights in real
property for the preservation of such open spaces and areas
constitutes a public purpose for which public funds may
properly be expended or advanced. [1971 ex.s. c 243 § 1.]
84.34.210
84.34.210 Acquisition of open space, land, or rights
to future development by certain entities—Authority to
acquire—Conveyance or lease back. Any county, city,
town, metropolitan park district, metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic preservation corporation as
defined in RCW 64.04.130, or nonprofit nature conservancy
corporation or association, as such are defined in RCW
84.34.250, may acquire by purchase, gift, grant, bequest,
devise, lease, or otherwise, except by eminent domain, the
fee simple or any lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant, or other contractual right necessary to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use
of, or otherwise conserve, selected open space land, farm and
agricultural land, and timber land as such are defined in chapter 84.34 RCW for public use or enjoyment. Among interests
that may be so acquired are mineral rights. Any county, city,
town, metropolitan park district, metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic preservation corporation as
defined in RCW 64.04.130, or nonprofit nature conservancy
corporation or association, as such are defined in RCW
84.34.250, may acquire such property for the purpose of conveying or leasing the property back to its original owner or
other person under such covenants or other contractual
arrangements as will limit the future use of the property in
accordance with the purposes of chapter 243, Laws of 1971
ex. sess. [1993 c 248 § 1; 1987 c 341 § 2; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s.
c 22 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 243 § 2.]
Acquisition of interests in land for conservation, protection, preservation, or
open space purposes by certain entities: RCW 64.04.130.
Property tax exemption for conservation futures on agricultural land: RCW
84.36.500.
84.34.220
84.34.220 Acquisition of open space, land, or rights
to future development by certain entities—Developmental rights—"Conservation futures"—Acquisition—
Restrictions. In accordance with the authority granted in
RCW 84.34.210, a county, city, town, metropolitan park district, metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic
preservation corporation as defined in RCW 64.04.130, or
nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or association, as
such are defined in RCW 84.34.250, may specifically purchase or otherwise acquire, except by eminent domain, rights
in perpetuity to future development of any open space land,
farm and agricultural land, and timber land which are so designated under the provisions of chapter 84.34 RCW and taxed
at current use assessment as provided by that chapter. For the
purposes of chapter 243, Laws of 1971 ex. sess., such developmental rights shall be termed "conservation futures". The
private owner may retain the right to continue any existing
open space use of the land, and to develop any other open
space use, but, under the terms of purchase of conservation
[Title 84 RCW—page 50]
futures, the county, city, town, metropolitan park district,
metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic preservation corporation as defined in RCW 64.04.130, or nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or association, as such
are defined in RCW 84.34.250, may forbid or restrict building thereon, or may require that improvements cannot be
made without county, city, town, metropolitan park district,
metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic preservation corporation as defined in RCW 64.04.130, or nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or association, as such
are defined in RCW 84.34.250, permission. The land may be
alienated or sold and used as formerly by the new owner, subject to the terms of the agreement made by the county, city,
town, metropolitan park district, metropolitan municipal corporation, nonprofit historic preservation corporation as
defined in RCW 64.04.130, or nonprofit nature conservancy
corporation or association, as such are defined in RCW
84.34.250, with the original owner. [1993 c 248 § 2; 1987 c
341 § 3; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 22 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 243 § 3.]
84.34.230 Acquisition of open space, etc., land or
rights to future development by certain entities—Additional property tax levy authorized. Conservation futures
are a useful tool for counties to preserve lands of public interest for future generations. Counties are encouraged to use
some conservation futures as one tool for salmon preservation purposes.
For the purpose of acquiring conservation futures and
other rights and interests in real property pursuant to RCW
84.34.210 and 84.34.220, and for maintaining and operating
any property acquired with these funds, a county may levy an
amount not to exceed six and one-quarter cents per thousand
dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed valuation of
all taxable property within the county. The limitations in
RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in
this section. Any rights or interests in real property acquired
under this section after July 24, 2005, must be located within
the assessing county. Further, the county must determine if
the rights or interests in real property acquired with these
funds would reduce the capacity of land suitable for development necessary to accommodate the allocated housing and
employment growth, as adopted in the countywide planning
policies. When actions are taken that reduce capacity to
accommodate planned growth, the jurisdiction shall adopt
reasonable measures to increase the capacity lost by such
actions. [2005 c 449 § 1; 1995 c 318 § 8; 1994 c 301 § 33;
1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 94; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 145; 1971
ex.s. c 243 § 4.]
84.34.230
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.34.240 Acquisition of open space, etc., land or
rights to future development by certain entities—Conservation futures fund—Additional requirements, authority.
Conservation futures are a useful tool for counties to preserve
lands of public interest for future generations. Counties are
encouraged to use some conservation futures as one tool for
salmon preservation purposes.
(1) Any board of county commissioners may establish by
resolution a special fund which may be termed a conservation
84.34.240
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
futures fund to which it may credit all taxes levied pursuant to
RCW 84.34.230. Amounts placed in this fund may be used
for the purpose of acquiring rights and interests in real property pursuant to the terms of RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220,
and for the maintenance and operation of any property
acquired with these funds. The amount of revenue used for
maintenance and operations of parks and recreational land
may not exceed fifteen percent of the total amount collected
from the tax levied under RCW 84.34.230 in the preceding
calendar year. Revenues from this tax may not be used to
supplant existing maintenance and operation funding. Any
rights or interests in real property acquired under this section
must be located within the assessing county. Further, the
county must determine if the rights or interests in real property acquired with these funds would reduce the capacity of
land suitable for development necessary to accommodate the
allocated housing and employment growth, as adopted in the
countywide planning policies. When actions are taken that
reduce capacity to accommodate planned growth, the jurisdiction shall adopt reasonable measures to increase the
capacity lost by such actions.
(2) In counties greater than one hundred thousand in
population, the board of county commissioners or county legislative authority shall develop a process to help ensure distribution of the tax levied under RCW 84.34.230, over time,
throughout the county.
(3)(a) Between July 24, 2005, and July 1, 2008, the
county legislative authority of a county with a population
density of fewer than four persons per square mile may enact
an ordinance offering a ballot proposal to the people of the
county to determine whether or not the county legislative
authority may make a one-time emergency reallocation of
unspent conservation futures funds to pay for other county
government purposes, where such conservation futures funds
were originally levied under RCW 84.34.230 but never spent
to acquire rights and interests in real property.
(b) Upon adoption by the county legislative authority of
a ballot proposal ordinance under (a) of this subsection the
county auditor shall: (i) Confer with the county legislative
authority and review any proposal to the people as to form
and style; (ii) give the ballot proposal a number, which thereafter shall be the identifying number for the proposal; (iii)
transmit a copy of the proposal to the prosecuting attorney;
and (iv) submit the proposal to the people at the next general
or special election that is not less than ninety days after the
adoption of the ordinance by the county legislative authority.
(c) The county prosecuting attorney shall within fifteen
working days of receipt of the proposal compose a concise
statement, posed as a positive question, not to exceed twentyfive words, which shall express and give a true and impartial
statement of the proposal. Such concise statement shall be
the ballot title.
(d) If the measure is affirmed by a majority voting on the
issue it shall become effective ten days after the results of the
election are certified.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting
in any manner methods and funds otherwise available to a
county for financing the acquisition of such rights and interests in real property. [2005 c 449 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 243 § 5.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.300
84.34.250
84.34.250 Nonprofit nature conservancy corporation
or association defined. As used in RCW 84.34.210, as now
or hereafter amended, and RCW 84.34.220, as now or hereafter amended, "nonprofit nature conservancy corporation or
association" means an organization which qualifies as being
tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. section 501(c) (of the Internal
Revenue Code) as it exists on June 25, 1976 and one which
has as one of its principal purposes the conducting or facilitating of scientific research; the conserving of natural
resources, including but not limited to biological resources,
for the general public; or the conserving of open spaces,
including but not limited to wildlife habitat to be utilized as
public access areas, for the use and enjoyment of the general
public. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 22 § 4.]
84.34.300
84.34.300 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Legislative findings—
Purpose. The legislature finds that farming, timber production, and the related agricultural and forest industries have
historically been and currently are central factors in the economic and social lifeblood of the state; that it is a fundamental policy of the state to protect agricultural and timber lands
as a major natural resource in order to maintain a source to
supply a wide range of agricultural and forest products; and
that the public interest in the protection and stimulation of
farming, timber production, and the agricultural and forest
industries is a basic element of enhancing the economic viability of this state. The legislature further finds that farm land
and timber land in urbanizing areas are often subjected to
high levels of property taxation and benefit assessment, and
that such levels of taxation and assessment encourage and
even force the removal of such lands from agricultural and
forest uses. The legislature further finds that because of this
level of taxation and assessment, such farm land and timber
land in urbanizing areas are either converted to nonagricultural and nonforest uses when significant amounts of nearby
nonagricultural and nonforest area could be suitably used for
such nonagricultural and nonforest uses, or, much of this
farm land and timber land is left in an unused state. The legislature further finds that with the approval by the voters of
the Fifty-third Amendment to the state Constitution, and with
the enactment of chapter 84.34 RCW, the owners of farm
lands and timber lands were provided with an opportunity to
have such land valued on the basis of its current use and not
its "highest and best use" and that such current use valuation
is one mechanism to protect agricultural and timber lands.
The legislature further finds that despite this potential property tax reduction, farm lands and timber lands in urbanized
areas are still subject to high levels of benefit assessments
and continue to be removed from farm and forest uses.
It is therefore the purpose of the legislature to establish,
with the enactment of RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.380,
another mechanism to protect agricultural and timber land
which creates an analogous system of relief from certain benefit assessments for farm and agricultural land and timber
land. It is the intent of the legislature that special benefit
assessments not be imposed for the availability of sanitary
and/or storm sewerage service, or domestic water service, or
for road construction and/or improvement purposes on farm
and agricultural lands and timber lands which have been designated for current use classification as farm and agricultural
[Title 84 RCW—page 51]
84.34.310
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
lands or timber lands until such lands are withdrawn or
removed from such classification or unless such lands benefit
from or cause the need for the local improvement district.
The legislature finds, and it is the intent of RCW
84.34.300 through 84.34.380 and 84.34.922, that special benefit assessments for the improvement or construction of sanitary and/or storm sewerage service, or domestic water service, or certain road construction do not generally benefit
land which has been classified as open space farm and agricultural land or timber land under the open space act, chapter
84.34 RCW, until such land is withdrawn from such classification or such land is used for a more intense and nonagricultural use, or the land is no longer used as timber land. The
purpose of RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.380 and 84.34.922
is to provide an exemption from certain special benefit
assessments which do not benefit timber land or open space
farm and agricultural land, and to provide the means for local
governmental entities to recover such assessments in current
dollar value in the event such land is no longer devoted to
farming or timber production under chapter 84.34 RCW.
Where the owner of such land chooses to make limited use of
improvements related to special benefit assessments, RCW
84.34.300 through 84.34.380 provides the means for the partial assessment on open space timber and farm land to the
extent the land is directly benefited by the improvement.
[1992 c 52 § 14; 1979 c 84 § 1.]
84.34.310 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Definitions. As used in
RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.380, unless a different meaning is required, the words defined in this section shall have
the meanings indicated.
(1) "Farm and agricultural land" shall mean the same as
defined in RCW 84.34.020(2).
(2) "Timber land" shall mean the same as defined in
RCW 84.34.020(3).
(3) "Local government" shall mean any city, town,
county, water-sewer district, public utility district, port district, irrigation district, flood control district, or any other
municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or other
political subdivision authorized to levy special benefit assessments for sanitary and/or storm sewerage systems, domestic
water supply and/or distribution systems, or road construction or improvement purposes.
(4) "Local improvement district" shall mean any local
improvement district, utility local improvement district, local
utility district, road improvement district, or any similar unit
created by a local government for the purpose of levying special benefit assessments against property specially benefited
by improvements relating to such districts.
(5) "Owner" shall mean the same as defined in RCW
84.34.020(5) or the applicable statutes relating to special benefit assessments.
(6) The term "average rate of inflation" shall mean the
annual rate of inflation as determined by the department of
revenue averaged over the period of time as provided in
RCW 84.34.330 (1) and (2). Such determination shall be published not later than January 1 of each year for use in that
assessment year.
(7) "Special benefit assessments" shall mean special
assessments levied or capable of being levied in any local
84.34.310
[Title 84 RCW—page 52]
improvement district or otherwise levied or capable of being
levied by a local government to pay for all or part of the costs
of a local improvement and which may be levied only for the
special benefits to be realized by property by reason of that
local improvement. [1999 c 153 § 71; 1992 c 52 § 15; 1979
c 84 § 2.]
Part headings not law—1999 c 153: See note following RCW
57.04.050.
84.34.320
84.34.320 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Exemption from
assessment—Procedures relating to exemption—Constructive notice of potential liability—Waiver of exemption. Any land classified as farm and agricultural land or timber land pursuant to chapter 84.34 RCW at the earlier of the
times the legislative authority of a local government adopts a
resolution, ordinance, or legislative act (1) to create a local
improvement district, in which such land is included or
would have been included but for such classification, or (2) to
approve or confirm a final special benefit assessment roll
relating to a sanitary and/or storm sewerage system, domestic
water supply and/or distribution system, or road construction
and/or improvement, which roll would have included such
land but for such classification, shall be exempt from special
benefit assessments or charges in lieu of assessment for such
purposes as long as that land remains in such classification,
except as otherwise provided in RCW 84.34.360.
Whenever a local government creates a local improvement district, the levying, collection and enforcement of
assessments shall be in the manner and subject to the same
procedures and limitations as are provided pursuant to the
law concerning the initiation and formation of local improvement districts for the particular local government. Notice of
the creation of a local improvement district that includes farm
and agricultural land or timber land shall be filed with the
county assessor and the legislative authority of the county in
which such land is located. The assessor, upon receiving
notice of the creation of such a local improvement district,
shall send a notice to the owner of the farm and agricultural
land or timber land listed on the tax rolls of the applicable
county treasurer of: (1) The creation of the local improvement district; (2) the exemption of that land from special benefit assessments; (3) the fact that the farm and agricultural
land or timber land may become subject to the special benefit
assessments if the owner waives the exemption by filing a
notarized document with the governing body of the local
government creating the local improvement district before
the confirmation of the final special benefit assessment roll;
and (4) the potential liability, pursuant to RCW 84.34.330, if
the exemption is not waived and the land is subsequently
removed from the farm and agricultural land or timber land
status. When a local government approves and confirms a
special benefit assessment roll, from which farm and agricultural land or timber land has been exempted pursuant to this
section, it shall file a notice of such action with the assessor
and the legislative authority of the county in which such land
is located and with the treasurer of that local government,
which notice shall describe the action taken, the type of
improvement involved, the land exempted, and the amount of
the special benefit assessment which would have been levied
against the land if it had not been exempted. The filing of
(2006 Ed.)
Open Space, Agricultural, Timber Lands—Current Use—Conservation Futures
such notice with the assessor and the treasurer of that local
government shall constitute constructive notice to a purchaser or encumbrancer of the affected land, and every person whose conveyance or encumbrance is subsequently executed or subsequently recorded, that such exempt land is subject to the charges provided in RCW 84.34.330 and
84.34.340 if such land is withdrawn or removed from its current use classification as farm and agricultural land or timber
land.
The owner of the land exempted from special benefit
assessments pursuant to this section may waive that exemption by filing a notarized document to that effect with the legislative authority of the local government upon receiving
notice from said local government concerning the assessment
roll hearing and before the local government confirms the
final special benefit assessment roll. A copy of that waiver
shall be filed by the local government with the assessor, but
the failure of such filing shall not affect the waiver.
Except to the extent provided in RCW 84.34.360, the
local government shall have no duty to furnish service from
the improvement financed by the special benefit assessment
to such exempted land. [1992 c 69 § 17; 1992 c 52 § 16; 1979
c 84 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1992 c 52 § 16 and by
1992 c 69 § 17, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
84.34.330
84.34.330 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Withdrawal from classification or change in use—Liability—Amount—Due
date—Lien. Whenever farm and agricultural land or timber
land has once been exempted from special benefit assessments pursuant to RCW 84.34.320, any withdrawal from
classification or change in use from farm and agricultural
land or timber land under chapter 84.34 RCW shall result in
the following:
(1) If the bonds used to fund the improvement in the
local improvement district have not been completely retired,
such land shall immediately become liable for: (a) The
amount of the special benefit assessment listed in the notice
provided for in RCW 84.34.320; plus (b) interest on the
amount determined in (1)(a) of this section, compounded
annually at a rate equal to the average rate of inflation from
the time the initial notice is filed by the governmental entity
which created the local improvement district as provided in
RCW 84.34.320 to the time the owner withdraws such land
from the exemption category provided by this chapter; or
(2) If the bonds used to fund the improvement in the
local improvement district have been completely retired,
such land shall immediately become liable for: (a) The
amount of the special benefit assessment listed in the notice
provided for in RCW 84.34.320; plus (b) interest on the
amount determined in (2)(a) of this section compounded
annually at a rate equal to the average rate of inflation from
the time the initial notice is filed by the governmental entity
which created the local improvement district as provided in
RCW 84.34.320, to the time the bonds used to fund the
improvement have been retired; plus (c) interest on the total
amount determined in (2)(a) and (b) of this section at a simple
per annum rate equal to the average rate of inflation from the
(2006 Ed.)
84.34.360
time the bonds used to fund the improvement have been
retired to the time the owner withdraws such lands from the
exemption category provided by this chapter.
(3) The amount payable pursuant to this section shall
become due on the date such land is withdrawn or removed
from its current use or timber land classification and shall be
a lien on the land prior and superior to any other lien whatsoever except for the lien for general taxes, and shall be
enforceable in the same manner as the collection of special
benefit assessments are enforced by that local government.
[1992 c 52 § 17; 1979 c 84 § 4.]
84.34.340
84.34.340 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Withdrawal or
removal from classification—Notice to local government—Statement to owner of amounts payable—Delinquency date—Enforcement procedures. Whenever farm
and agricultural land or timber land is withdrawn or removed
from its current use classification as farm and agricultural
land or timber land, the county assessor of the county in
which such land is located shall forthwith give written notice
of such withdrawal or removal to the local government or its
successor which had filed with the assessor the notice
required by RCW 84.34.320. Upon receipt of the notice from
the assessor, the local government shall mail a written statement to the owner of such land for the amounts payable as
provided in RCW 84.34.330. Such amounts due shall be
delinquent if not paid within one hundred and eighty days
after the date of mailing of the statement, and shall be subject
to the same interest, penalties, lien priority, and enforcement
procedures that are applicable to delinquent assessments on
the assessment roll from which that land had been exempted,
except that the rate of interest charged shall not exceed the
rate provided in RCW 84.34.330. [1992 c 52 § 18; 1979 c 84
§ 5.]
84.34.350
84.34.350 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land—Use of payments collected. Payments
collected pursuant to RCW 84.34.330 and 84.34.340, or by
enforcement procedures referred to therein, after the payment
of the expenses of their collection, shall first be applied to the
payment of general or special debt incurred to finance the
improvements related to the special benefit assessments, and,
if such debt is retired, then into the maintenance fund or general fund of the governmental entity which created the local
improvement district, or its successor, for any of the following purposes: (1) Redemption or servicing of outstanding
obligations of the district; (2) maintenance expenses of the
district; or (3) construction or acquisition of any facilities
necessary to carry out the purpose of the district. [1979 c 84
§ 6.]
84.34.360
84.34.360 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Rules to implement
RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.380. The department of revenue shall adopt rules it shall deem necessary to implement
RCW 84.34.300 through 84.34.380 which shall include, but
not be limited to, procedures to determine the extent to which
a portion of the land otherwise exempt may be subject to a
special benefit assessment for the actual connection to the
[Title 84 RCW—page 53]
84.34.370
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
domestic water system or sewerage facilities, and further to
determine the extent to which all or a portion of such land
may be subject to a special benefit assessment for access to
the road improvement in relation to its value as farm and agricultural land or timber land as distinguished from its value
under more intensive uses. The provision for limited special
benefit assessments shall not relieve such land from liability
for the amounts provided in RCW 84.34.330 and 84.34.340
when such land is withdrawn or removed from its current use
classification as farm and agricultural land or timber land.
[1992 c 69 § 18; 1992 c 52 § 19; 1979 c 84 § 7.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1992 c 52 § 19 and by
1992 c 69 § 18, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
84.34.910 Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 87. The provisions of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1971. [1970
ex.s. c 87 § 16.]
84.34.910
84.34.920 Severability—1971 ex.s. c 243. If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1971 ex.s. c 243 § 9.]
84.34.920
84.34.921 Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 212. If any
provision of this 1973 amendatory act, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected. [1973 1st ex.s. c 212 § 20.]
84.34.921
84.34.370
84.34.370 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Assessments due on
land withdrawn or changed. Whenever a portion of a parcel of land which was classified as farm and agricultural or
timber land pursuant to this chapter is withdrawn from
classification or there is a change in use, and such land has
been exempted from any benefit assessments pursuant to
RCW 84.34.320, the previously exempt benefit assessments
shall become due on only that portion of the land which is
withdrawn or changed. [1992 c 52 § 20; 1979 c 84 § 8.]
84.34.922 Severability—1979 c 84. If any provision of
this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
[1979 c 84 § 11.]
84.34.922
84.34.923 Effective date—1992 c 69. This act shall
take effect January 1, 1993. [1992 c 69 § 22.]
84.34.923
Chapter 84.36
84.34.380
84.34.380 Special benefit assessments for farm and
agricultural land or timber land—Application of exemption to rights and interests preventing nonagricultural or
nonforest uses. Farm and agricultural land or timber land on
which the right to future development has been acquired by
any local government, the state of Washington, or the United
States government shall be exempt from special benefit
assessments in lieu of assessment for such purposes in the
same manner, and under the same liabilities for payment and
interest, as land classified under this chapter as farm and agricultural land or timber land, for as long as such classification
applies.
Any interest, development right, easement, covenant, or
other contractual right which effectively protects, preserves,
maintains, improves, restores, prevents the future nonagricultural or nonforest use of, or otherwise conserves farm and
agricultural land or timber land shall be exempt from special
benefit assessments as long as such development right or
other such interest effectively serves to prevent nonagricultural or nonforest development of such land. [1992 c 52 § 21;
1979 c 84 § 9.]
84.34.390
84.34.390 Application—Chapter 79.44 RCW—
Assessments against public lands. Nothing in RCW
84.34.300 through 84.34.340 or 84.34.360 through 84.34.380
shall amend the provisions of chapter 79.44 RCW. [1992 c
52 § 25.]
84.34.900
84.34.900 Severability—1970 ex.s. c 87. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected. [1970 ex.s. c 87 § 15.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 54]
Chapter 84.36 RCW
EXEMPTIONS
Sections
84.36.005
84.36.010
84.36.015
84.36.020
84.36.030
84.36.031
84.36.032
84.36.035
84.36.037
84.36.040
84.36.041
84.36.042
84.36.043
84.36.045
84.36.046
84.36.047
84.36.050
84.36.060
84.36.070
84.36.079
84.36.080
84.36.090
84.36.100
84.36.105
Property subject to taxation.
Public, certain public-private and tribal property exempt.
Property valued at less than five hundred dollars—Exceptions.
Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds.
Property used for character building, benevolent, protective or
rehabilitative social services—Camp facilities—Veteran or
relief organization owned property—Property of nonprofit
organizations that issue debt for student loans or that are
guarantee agencies.
Clarification of exemption in RCW 84.36.030.
Administrative offices of nonprofit religious organizations.
Property used by qualifying blood, tissue, or blood and tissue
banks.
Nonprofit organization property connected with operation of
public assembly hall or meeting place.
Nonprofit day care centers, libraries, orphanages, homes or
hospitals for the sick or infirm, outpatient dialysis facilities.
Nonprofit homes for the aging.
Nonprofit organization, corporation, or association property
used to provide housing for persons with developmental disabilities.
Nonprofit organization property used in providing emergency
or transitional housing to low-income homeless persons or
victims of domestic violence.
Nonprofit organization property available without charge for
medical research or training of medical personnel.
Nonprofit cancer clinic or center.
Nonprofit organization property used for transmission or
reception of radio or television signals originally broadcast
by governmental agencies.
Schools and colleges.
Art, scientific and historical collections and property used to
maintain, etc., such collections—Property of associations
engaged in production and performance of musical, dance,
artistic, etc., works—Fire engines, implements, and buildings of cities, towns, or fire companies—Humane societies.
Intangible personal property—Appraisal.
Rights, title, interest, and materials of certain vessels under
construction.
Certain ships and vessels.
Exemption for other ships and vessels.
Size of vessel immaterial.
Cargo containers used in ocean commerce.
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
84.36.110
84.36.120
84.36.130
84.36.135
84.36.210
84.36.230
84.36.240
84.36.250
84.36.255
84.36.260
84.36.262
84.36.264
84.36.300
84.36.301
84.36.310
84.36.320
84.36.350
84.36.379
84.36.381
84.36.383
84.36.385
84.36.387
84.36.389
84.36.400
84.36.451
84.36.470
84.36.477
84.36.480
84.36.487
84.36.500
84.36.510
84.36.550
84.36.560
84.36.570
84.36.590
84.36.595
84.36.600
84.36.605
84.36.630
84.36.635
84.36.640
84.36.645
84.36.650
84.36.655
84.36.660
Household goods and personal effects—Three thousand dollars actual value to head of family.
Household goods and personal effects—Definitions.
Airport property in this state for smaller airports belonging to
municipalities of adjoining states.
Real and personal property of housing finance commission.
Public right of way easements.
Interstate bridges—Reciprocity.
Soil and water conservation districts, personal property.
Water distribution property owned by nonprofit corporation or
cooperative association.
Improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and water quantity—Cooperative assistance to landowners—Certification of best management practice—Limitation—Landowner claim and certification.
Property, interests, etc., used for conservation of ecological
systems, natural resources, or open space—Conservation or
scientific research organizations.
Cessation of use giving rise to exemption.
Application for exemption under RCW 84.36.260, conservation of ecological systems.
Stocks of merchandise, goods, wares or material—Aircraft
parts, etc.—When eligible for exemption.
Legislative finding and declaration for RCW 84.36.300.
Requirements for exemption under RCW 84.36.300.
Inspection of books and records for exemption under RCW
84.36.300.
Property owned or used for sheltered workshops for handicapped.
Residences—Property tax exemption—Findings.
Residences—Property tax exemptions—Qualifications.
Residences—Definitions.
Residences—Claim for exemption—Forms—Change of status—Publication and notice of qualifications and manner of
making claims.
Residences—Claimants—Penalty for falsification—Reduction by remainderman.
Residences—Rules and regulations—Audits—Confidentiality—Criminal penalty.
Improvements to single family dwellings.
Right to occupy or use certain public property, including leasehold interests.
Agricultural products—Exemption.
Business inventories.
Nonprofit fair associations.
Air pollution control equipment in thermal electric generation
facilities—Records—Payments on cessation of operation.
Conservation futures on agricultural land.
Mobile homes in dealer’s inventory.
Nonprofit organizations—Property used for solicitation or collection of gifts, donations, or grants.
Nonprofit organizations that provide rental housing or used
space to very low-income households.
Nonprofit organizations—Property used for agricultural
research and education programs.
Property used in connection with privatization contract at Hanford reservation.
Motor vehicles, travel trailers, campers, and vehicles carrying
exempt licenses.
Computer software.
Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
Farming machinery and equipment.
Property used for the manufacture of alcohol fuel or biodiesel
fuel.
Property used for the manufacture of wood biomass fuel.
Semiconductor materials.
Property used by certain nonprofits to solicit or collect money
for artists.
Property related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
Installation of automatic sprinkler system under RCW
19.27.500 through 19.27.520.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
84.36.800
84.36.805
84.36.810
84.36.812
84.36.813
(2006 Ed.)
Definitions.
Conditions for obtaining exemptions by nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations.
Cessation of use under which exemption granted—Collection
of taxes.
Additional tax payable at time of sale—Appeal of assessed
values.
Change in use—Duty to notify county assessor—Examination—Recommendation.
84.36.010
84.36.815
84.36.820
84.36.825
84.36.830
84.36.833
84.36.835
84.36.840
84.36.845
84.36.850
84.36.855
84.36.860
84.36.865
84.36.900
84.36.905
Initial application, renewal declaration for exemption—Affidavit certifying exempt status—Exemption effective for following year.
Application forms to be mailed to owners of exempt property—Failure to file before due date, effect.
Application, declaration fee—Waiver authorized—Late filing
penalty.
Review of applications for exemption—Procedure—Approval
or denial—Notice.
Application for exemption or renewal may include all contiguous exempt property.
List of exempt properties to be prepared and furnished each
county assessor.
Statements—Reports—Information—Filing—Requirements.
Revocation of exemption approved or renewed due to inaccurate information.
Review—Appeals.
Property changing from exempt to taxable status—Procedure.
Public notice of provisions of act.
Rules and regulations.
Severability—1973 2nd ex.s. c 40.
Effective date—Construction—1973 2nd ex.s. c 40.
Burying places: RCW 68.24.220.
Cemetery associations: RCW 68.20.110, 68.20.120.
Columbia Basin project: RCW 89.12.120.
Conservation districts: Chapter 89.08 RCW.
Consumer loan act: Chapter 31.04 RCW.
Credit unions: Chapter 31.12 RCW.
Federal agencies and instrumentalities: State Constitution Art. 7 §§ 1, 3;
Title 37 RCW.
Flood control district property: RCW 86.09.520.
Irrigation district property: RCW 87.03.260.
Local improvement trust property: RCW 35.53.010.
Olympic National Park: RCW 37.08.210.
Open space, agricultural, timber lands—Current use—Conservation
futures: Chapter 84.34 RCW.
Privilege taxes: Chapter 54.28 RCW.
Public utility districts—Taxation: RCW 54.16.080.
Rainier National Park: RCW 37.08.200.
Savings and loan associations: RCW 33.28.040.
Termination of tax preferences: Chapter 43.136 RCW.
Timber and forest lands: Chapter 84.33 RCW.
Timber property tax exemption: RCW 84.33.040.
84.36.005 Property subject to taxation. All property
now existing, or that is hereafter created or brought into this
state, shall be subject to assessment and taxation for state,
county, and other taxing district purposes, upon equalized
valuations thereof, fixed with reference thereto on the first
day of January at twelve o’clock meridian in each year,
excepting such as is exempted from taxation by law. [1961 c
15 § 84.36.005. Prior: 1955 c 196 § 2; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8,
part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c
126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part;
1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2,
part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124
§§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part;
1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4,
part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 §
2, part; RRS § 11111, part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]
84.36.005
84.36.010 Public, certain public-private and tribal
property exempt. (1) All property belonging exclusively to
the United States, the state, or any county or municipal corporation; all property belonging exclusively to any federally
recognized Indian tribe located in the state, if that property is
84.36.010
[Title 84 RCW—page 55]
84.36.015
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
used exclusively for essential government services; all state
route number 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities
constructed under chapter 47.46 RCW; and all property under
a financing contract pursuant to chapter 39.94 RCW or
recorded agreement granting immediate possession and use
to the public bodies listed in this section or under an order of
immediate possession and use pursuant to RCW 8.04.090; is
exempt from taxation. All property belonging exclusively to
a foreign national government is exempt from taxation if that
property is used exclusively as an office or residence for a
consul or other official representative of the foreign national
government, and if the consul or other official representative
is a citizen of that foreign nation.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "essential government services" means services such as tribal administration,
public facilities, fire, police, public health, education, sewer,
water, environmental and land use, transportation, and utility
services. [2004 c 236 § 1; 1998 c 179 § 8; 1990 c 47 § 2;
1971 ex.s. c 260 § 1; 1969 c 34 § 1. Prior: 1967 ex.s. c 149
§ 31; 1967 ex.s. c 145 § 35; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.010; prior:
1955 c 196 § 3; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 §
1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part;
1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5,
part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140
§§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part;
Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4,
part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111,
part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]
and safeguarding of such property and the structures and
ground necessary for street access, parking, light, and ventilation, but the area of unoccupied ground exempted in such
cases, in connection with church, parsonage, convent, and
buildings and improvements required for the maintenance
and safeguarding of such property, shall not exceed the
equivalent of one hundred twenty by one hundred twenty feet
except where additional unoccupied land may be required to
conform with state or local codes, zoning, or licensing
requirements. The parsonage and convent need not be on land
contiguous to the church property. To be exempt the property
must be wholly used for church purposes: PROVIDED, That
the loan or rental of property otherwise exempt under this
paragraph to a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation, or school for use for an eleemosynary activity shall
not nullify the exemption provided in this paragraph if the
rental income, if any, is reasonable and is devoted solely to
the operation and maintenance of the property. [1994 c 124 §
16; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 12; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 1; 1971
ex.s. c 64 § 3; 1961 c 103 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.020. Prior:
1955 c 196 § 4; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 §
1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part;
1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5,
part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140
§§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part;
Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4,
part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111,
part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]
Application—1998 c 179 § 8: "Section 8 of this act is effective for
taxes levied for collection in 1999 and thereafter." [1998 c 179 § 9.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
Finding—1998 c 179: See note following RCW 35.21.718.
Construction—1961 c 103: See note following RCW 49.60.040.
Burial lot for particular person: RCW 68.24.220.
84.36.015 Property valued at less than five hundred
dollars—Exceptions. (1) Each parcel of real property, and
each personal property account, that has an assessed value of
less than five hundred dollars is exempt from taxation.
(2) This section does not apply to personal property to
which the exemption from taxation under RCW 84.36.110(2)
may be applied or to real property which qualifies for preferential tax treatment under this chapter or chapter 84.14,
84.26, 84.33, or 84.34 RCW. [1997 c 244 § 1.]
84.36.015
Effective date—1997 c 244: "This act takes effect January 1, 1999."
[1997 c 244 § 3.]
84.36.020 Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds. The following real and personal property shall be exempt from taxation:
All lands, buildings, and personal property required for
necessary administration and maintenance, used, or to the
extent used, exclusively for public burying grounds or cemeteries without discrimination as to race, color, national origin
or ancestry;
All churches, personal property, and the ground, not
exceeding five acres in area, upon which a church of any nonprofit recognized religious denomination is or shall be built,
together with a parsonage, convent, and buildings and
improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding
of such property. The area exempted shall in any case include
all ground covered by the church, parsonage, convent, and
buildings and improvements required for the maintenance
84.36.020
[Title 84 RCW—page 56]
Nonprofit cemetery associations, certain exemptions: RCW 68.20.110,
68.20.120.
84.36.030
84.36.030 Property used for character building,
benevolent, protective or rehabilitative social services—
Camp facilities—Veteran or relief organization owned
property—Property of nonprofit organizations that issue
debt for student loans or that are guarantee agencies. The
following real and personal property shall be exempt from
taxation:
(1)(a) Property owned by nonprofit organizations or
associations, organized and conducted for nonsectarian purposes, which shall be used for character-building, benevolent, protective or rehabilitative social services directed at
persons of all ages.
(b) The sale of donated merchandise shall not be considered a commercial use of the property under this section if the
proceeds are devoted to the furtherance of the purposes of the
selling organization or association as specified in this subsection (1).
(c) In a county with a population of less than twenty
thousand, the rental or use of property, owned by a nonprofit
organization or association described in (a) of this subsection,
by a person, group, or organization in one of the following
ways shall not nullify the exemption:
(i) The property may be rented or used for pecuniary
gain or for business activities or by individuals, groups, and
organizations for private purposes if the rental or use:
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
(A) Does not exceed fifteen days each assessment year;
(B) No comparable private for-profit facility exists
within ten miles of the property that could be used for the
same purpose for which the property is loaned or rented; and
(C) All income from the rental or use of the exempt property is used for capital improvements to the exempt property,
maintenance and operation of the exempt property, or for
exempt purposes; or
(ii) The property is rented or used by a nonprofit community group or other nonprofit organization that might not
qualify for exemption if it owned the property as long as the
rental or use of the property:
(A) Does not exceed fifteen days each assessment year;
(B) Does not result in pecuniary gain;
(C) Does not involve business activities;
(D) Is always for the general public good; and
(E) All income from the rental or use of the exempt property is used for capital improvements to the exempt property,
maintenance and operation of the exempt property, or for
exempt purposes.
(2) Property owned by any nonprofit church, denomination, group of churches, or an organization or association, the
membership of which is comprised solely of churches or their
qualified representatives, which is utilized as a camp facility
if used for organized and supervised recreational activities
and church purposes as related to such camp facilities. The
exemption provided by this paragraph shall apply to a maximum of two hundred acres of any such camp as selected by
the church, including buildings and other improvements
thereon.
(3) Property, including buildings and improvements
required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property, owned by nonprofit organizations or associations
engaged in character building of boys and girls under eighteen years of age, and used for such purposes and uses, provided such purposes and uses are for the general public good:
PROVIDED, That if existing charters provide that organizations or associations, which would otherwise qualify under
the provisions of this paragraph, serve boys and girls up to the
age of twenty-one years, then such organizations or associations shall be deemed qualified pursuant to this section.
(4)(a) Property owned by all organizations and societies
of veterans of any war of the United States, recognized as
such by the department of defense, which shall have national
charters, and which shall have for their general purposes and
objects the preservation of the memories and associations
incident to their war service and the consecration of the
efforts of their members to mutual helpfulness and to patriotic and community service to state and nation. To be exempt
such property must be used in such manner as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and objects of such
societies.
(b) The use of the property for pecuniary gain or for business activities, except as provided in this subsection (4), nullifies the exemption otherwise available for the property for
the assessment year. The exemption is not nullified by:
(i) The collection of rent or donations if the amount is
reasonable and does not exceed maintenance and operation
expenses.
(ii) Fund-raising activities conducted by a nonprofit
organization.
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.032
(iii) The use of the property for pecuniary gain for periods of not more than fifteen days in a year.
(c) An inadvertent use of the property in a manner inconsistent with the purpose for which exemption is granted, if the
inadvertent use is not part of a pattern of use. A pattern of use
is presumed when an inadvertent use is repeated in the same
assessment year or in two or more successive assessment
years.
(5) Property owned by all corporations, incorporated
under any act of congress, whose principal purposes are to
furnish volunteer aid to members of the armed forces of the
United States and also to carry on a system of national and
international relief and to apply the same in mitigating the
sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and
other national calamities and to devise and carry on measures
for preventing the same.
(6) Property owned by nonprofit organizations exempt
from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1954, as amended, that are guarantee
agencies under the federal guaranteed student loan program
or that issue debt to provide or acquire student loans.
(7) To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
(8) For the purposes of this section, "general public
good" means members of the community derive a benefit
from the rental or use of the property by the nonprofit community group or organization. [2006 c 305 § 1; 1993 c 327 §
2; 1990 c 283 § 6; 1987 c 433 § 2; 1984 c 220 § 1; 1983 1st
ex.s. c 25 § 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 2. Prior: 1971 ex.s. c 292
§ 70; 1971 ex.s. c 64 § 1; 1969 c 137 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
84.36.030; prior: 1955 c 196 § 5; prior: (i) 1939 c 206 § 8,
part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c
126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part;
1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2,
part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124
§§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part;
1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4,
part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 §
2, part; RRS § 11111, part. (ii) 1945 c 109 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 11111a.]
Construction—1990 c 283 §§ 6 and 7: "Sections 6 and 7 of this act
shall not be construed as modifying or affecting any other existing or future
exemptions." [1990 c 283 § 8.]
Applicability—1983 1st ex.s. c 25: "This act is effective for property
taxes levied in calendar year 1983 and due and payable in calendar year 1984
and thereafter." [1983 1st ex.s. c 25 § 2.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 292: See note following RCW 26.28.010.
84.36.031
84.36.031 Clarification of exemption in RCW
84.36.030. Property leased, loaned, sold with the option to
repurchase, or otherwise made available to organizations
described in RCW 84.36.030 above shall not be exempt from
taxation. However, property that is owned by an organization exempt under RCW 84.36.030 may loan, lease, or rent
the property to another organization for the same purpose as
set out in RCW 84.36.030. [2006 c 305 § 2; 1969 c 137 § 2.]
84.36.032
84.36.032 Administrative offices of nonprofit religious organizations. The real and personal property of the
administrative offices of nonprofit recognized religious orga[Title 84 RCW—page 57]
84.36.035
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
nizations shall be exempt to the extent that the property is
used for the administration of the religious programs of the
organization and such other programs as would be exempt
under RCW 84.36.020 and 84.36.030 as now or hereafter
amended. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 13.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.035
84.36.035 Property used by qualifying blood, tissue,
or blood and tissue banks. (1) The following property shall
be exempt from taxation:
All property, whether real or personal, belonging to or
leased by any nonprofit corporation or association and used
exclusively in the business of a qualifying blood bank, a qualifying tissue bank, or a qualifying blood and tissue bank, or in
the administration of these businesses. If the real or personal
property is leased, the benefit of the exemption shall inure to
the nonprofit corporation or association.
(2) The definitions in RCW 82.04.324 apply to this section. [2004 c 82 § 4; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 206
§ 1.]
Applicability—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 §§ 1 and 2: "Sections 1 and 2 of this
act are effective for taxes levied for collection in 1996 and thereafter." [1995
2nd sp.s. c 9 § 6.]
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 7.]
84.36.037
84.36.037 Nonprofit organization property connected with operation of public assembly hall or meeting
place. (1) Real or personal property owned by a nonprofit
organization, association, or corporation in connection with
the operation of a public assembly hall or meeting place is
exempt from taxation. The area exempt under this section
includes the building or buildings, the land under the buildings, and an additional area necessary for parking, not
exceeding a total of one acre. When property for which
exemption is sought is essentially unimproved except for
restroom facilities and structures and this property has been
used primarily for annual community celebration events for
at least ten years, the exempt property shall not exceed
twenty-nine acres.
(2) To qualify for this exemption the property must be
used exclusively for public gatherings and be available to all
organizations or persons desiring to use the property, but the
owner may impose conditions and restrictions which are necessary for the safekeeping of the property and promote the
purposes of this exemption. Membership shall not be a prerequisite for the use of the property.
(3) The use of the property for pecuniary gain or for business activities, except as provided in this section, nullifies the
exemption otherwise available for the property for the assessment year. The exemption is not nullified by:
(a) The collection of rent or donations if all funds collected are used for capital improvements to the exempt property, maintenance and operation of the exempt property, or
for exempt purposes.
(b) Fund-raising activities conducted by a nonprofit
organization.
[Title 84 RCW—page 58]
(c) The use of the property for pecuniary gain, for business activities for periods of not more than fifteen days each
assessment year so long as all income received from rental or
use of the exempt property is used for capital improvements
to the exempt property, maintenance and operation of the
exempt property, or for exempt purposes.
(d) In a county with a population of less than twenty
thousand, the use of the property to promote the following
business activities: Dance lessons, art classes, or music lessons.
(e) An inadvertent use of the property in a manner inconsistent with the purpose for which exemption is granted, if the
inadvertent use is not part of a pattern of use. A pattern of use
is presumed when an inadvertent use is repeated in the same
assessment year or in two or more successive assessment
years.
(4) The department of revenue shall narrowly construe
this exemption. [2006 c 305 § 3. Prior: 1998 c 311 § 19;
1998 c 189 § 1; 1997 c 298 § 1; 1993 c 327 § 1; 1987 c 505 §
80; 1981 c 141 § 2.]
Applicability, construction—1981 c 141: See note following RCW
84.36.060.
84.36.040
84.36.040 Nonprofit day care centers, libraries,
orphanages, homes or hospitals for the sick or infirm,
outpatient dialysis facilities. (1) The real and personal
property used by nonprofit (a) day care centers as defined
pursuant to *RCW 74.15.020; (b) free public libraries; (c)
orphanages and orphan asylums; (d) homes for the sick or
infirm; (e) hospitals for the sick; and (f) outpatient dialysis
facilities, which are used for the purposes of such organizations shall be exempt from taxation: PROVIDED, That the
benefit of the exemption inures to the user.
(2) The real and personal property leased to and used by
a hospital, owned and operated by a public hospital district
established under chapter 70.44 RCW, for hospital purposes
is exempt from taxation. The benefit of the exemption must
inure to the user.
(3) To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805. [2001 c 126
§ 1; 1989 c 379 § 1; 1987 c 31 § 1; 1984 c 220 § 2; 1973 2nd
ex.s. c 40 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 119; 1969 ex.s. c 245 §
1; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.040. Prior: 1955 c 196 § 6; prior: 1939
c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part;
1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 §
1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141
§ 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c
124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1,
5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p
37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p
331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111, part.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 74.15.020 was amended by 2006 c 265 § 401,
removing the definition for "day care centers."
Application—2001 c 126: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2002 and thereafter." [2001 c 126 § 5.]
Severability—1989 c 379: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1989 c 379 § 7.]
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
Effective date—1989 c 379: "This act shall take effect April 1, 1990,
and shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in 1991 and thereafter."
[1989 c 379 § 8.]
84.36.041
84.36.041 Nonprofit homes for the aging. (1) All real
and personal property used by a nonprofit home for the aging
that is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home is
exempt from taxation if the benefit of the exemption inures to
the home and:
(a) At least fifty percent of the occupied dwelling units in
the home are occupied by eligible residents; or
(b) The home is subsidized under a federal department of
housing and urban development program. The department of
revenue shall provide by rule a definition of homes eligible
for exemption under this subsection (1)(b), consistent with
the purposes of this section.
(2) All real and personal property used by a nonprofit
home for the aging that is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home is exempt from taxation if the benefit of the
exemption inures to the home and the construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, or refinancing of the home is financed
under a program using bonds exempt from federal income tax
if at least seventy-five percent of the total amount financed
uses the tax exempt bonds and the financing program
requires the home to reserve a percentage of all dwelling
units so financed for low-income residents. The initial term
of the exemption under this subsection shall equal the term of
the tax exempt bond used in connection with the financing
program, or the term of the requirement to reserve dwelling
units for low-income residents, whichever is shorter. If the
financing program involves less than the entire home, only
those dwelling units included in the financing program are
eligible for total exemption. The department of revenue shall
provide by rule the requirements for monitoring compliance
with the provisions of this subsection and the requirements
for exemption including:
(a) The number or percentage of dwelling units required
to be occupied by low-income residents, and a definition of
low income;
(b) The type and character of the dwelling units, whether
independent units or otherwise; and
(c) Any particular requirements for continuing care
retirement communities.
(3) A home for the aging is eligible for a partial exemption on the real property and a total exemption for the home’s
personal property if the home does not meet the requirements
of subsection (1) of this section because fewer than fifty percent of the occupied dwelling units are occupied by eligible
residents, as follows:
(a) A partial exemption shall be allowed for each dwelling unit in a home occupied by a resident requiring assistance
with activities of daily living.
(b) A partial exemption shall be allowed for each dwelling unit in a home occupied by an eligible resident.
(c) A partial exemption shall be allowed for an area
jointly used by a home for the aging and by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation currently exempt from
property taxation under one of the other provisions of this
chapter. The shared area must be reasonably necessary for the
purposes of the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation exempt from property taxation under one of the other
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.041
provisions of this chapter, such as kitchen, dining, and laundry areas.
(d) The amount of exemption shall be calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home, less the assessed value of
any area exempt under (c) of this subsection, by a fraction.
The numerator of the fraction is the number of dwelling units
occupied by eligible residents and by residents requiring
assistance with activities of daily living. The denominator of
the fraction is the total number of occupied dwelling units as
of December 31st of the first assessment year the home
becomes operational for which exemption is claimed and
January 1st of each subsequent assessment year for which
exemption is claimed.
(4) To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
(5) A home for the aging is exempt from taxation only if
the organization operating the home is exempt from income
tax under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code
as existing on January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the
director may provide by rule consistent with the purposes of
this section.
(6) In order for the home to be eligible for exemption
under subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) of this section, each eligible resident of a home for the aging shall submit an income
verification form to the county assessor by July 1st of the
assessment year for which exemption is claimed. However,
during the first year a home becomes operational, the county
assessor shall accept income verification forms from eligible
residents up to December 31st of the assessment year. The
income verification form shall be prescribed and furnished by
the department of revenue. An eligible resident who has filed
a form for a previous year need not file a new form until there
is a change in status affecting the person’s eligibility.
(7) In determining the true and fair value of a home for
the aging for purposes of the partial exemption provided by
subsection (3) of this section, the assessor shall apply the
computation method provided by RCW 84.34.060 and shall
consider only the use to which such property is applied during the years for which such partial exemptions are available
and shall not consider potential uses of such property.
(8) As used in this section:
(a) "Eligible resident" means a person who:
(i) Occupied the dwelling unit as a principal place of residence as of December 31st of the first assessment year the
home becomes operational. In each subsequent year, the eligible resident must occupy the dwelling unit as a principal
place of residence as of January 1st of the assessment year for
which the exemption is claimed. Confinement of the person
to a hospital or nursing home does not disqualify the claim of
exemption if the dwelling unit is temporarily unoccupied or if
the dwelling unit is occupied by a spouse, a person financially dependent on the claimant for support, or both; and
(ii) Is sixty-one years of age or older on December 31st
of the year in which the exemption claim is filed, or is, at the
time of filing, retired from regular gainful employment by
reason of physical disability. Any surviving spouse of a person who was receiving an exemption at the time of the person’s death shall qualify if the surviving spouse is fifty-seven
[Title 84 RCW—page 59]
84.36.042
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
years of age or older and otherwise meets the requirements of
this subsection; and
(iii) Has a combined disposable income of no more than
the greater of twenty-two thousand dollars or eighty percent
of the median income adjusted for family size as most
recently determined by the federal department of housing and
urban development for the county in which the person
resides. For the purposes of determining eligibility under this
section, a "cotenant" means a person who resides with an eligible resident and who shares personal financial resources
with the eligible resident.
(b) "Combined disposable income" means the disposable
income of the person submitting the income verification
form, plus the disposable income of his or her spouse, and the
disposable income of each cotenant occupying the dwelling
unit for the preceding calendar year, less amounts paid by the
person submitting the income verification form or his or her
spouse or cotenant during the previous year for the treatment
or care of either person received in the dwelling unit or in a
nursing home. If the person submitting the income verification form was retired for two months or more of the preceding year, the combined disposable income of such person
shall be calculated by multiplying the average monthly combined disposable income of such person during the months
such person was retired by twelve. If the income of the person
submitting the income verification form is reduced for two or
more months of the preceding year by reason of the death of
the person’s spouse, the combined disposable income of such
person shall be calculated by multiplying the average
monthly combined disposable income of such person after
the death of the spouse by twelve.
(c) "Disposable income" means adjusted gross income as
defined in the federal internal revenue code, as amended prior
to January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the director
may provide by rule consistent with the purpose of this section, plus all of the following items to the extent they are not
included in or have been deducted from adjusted gross
income:
(i) Capital gains, other than gain excluded from income
under section 121 of the federal internal revenue code to the
extent it is reinvested in a new principal residence;
(ii) Amounts deducted for loss;
(iii) Amounts deducted for depreciation;
(iv) Pension and annuity receipts;
(v) Military pay and benefits other than attendant-care
and medical-aid payments;
(vi) Veterans benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;
(vii) Federal social security act and railroad retirement
benefits;
(viii) Dividend receipts; and
(ix) Interest received on state and municipal bonds.
(d) "Resident requiring assistance with activities of daily
living" means a person who requires significant assistance
with the activities of daily living and who would be at risk of
nursing home placement without this assistance.
(e) "Home for the aging" means a residential housing
facility that (i) provides a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident’s guardian or conservator,
or another responsible person; (ii) has only residents who are
at least sixty-one years of age or who have needs for care gen[Title 84 RCW—page 60]
erally compatible with persons who are at least sixty-one
years of age; and (iii) provides varying levels of care and
supervision, as agreed to at the time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.
(9) A for-profit home for the aging that converts to nonprofit status after June 11, 1992, and would otherwise be eligible for tax exemption under this section may not receive the
tax exemption until five years have elapsed since the conversion. The exemption shall then be ratably granted over the
next five years. [2001 c 187 § 14. Prior: 1999 c 358 § 16;
1999 c 356 § 1; 1998 c 311 § 20; 1997 c 3 § 124 (Referendum
Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1993 c 151 § 1;
1992 c 213 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 24 § 1; 1991 c 203 § 2; 1989 c
379 § 2.]
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
Effective date—1999 c 356: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[May 17, 1999]." [1999 c 356 § 2.]
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Applicability—1993 c 151: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
in 1994 for collection in 1995 and for taxes levied thereafter." [1993 c 151 §
2.]
Applicability—1992 c 213: "The combined disposable income threshold of twenty-two thousand dollars or less contained in section 1 of this act
shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in 1993 and thereafter."
[1992 c 213 § 3.]
Severability—Effective date—1989 c 379: See notes following RCW
84.36.040.
84.36.042
84.36.042 Nonprofit organization, corporation, or
association property used to provide housing for persons
with developmental disabilities. (1) All real and personal
property owned or leased by a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association to provide housing for eligible persons
with developmental disabilities is exempt from property taxation.
(a) To qualify for this exemption, the nonprofit organization, corporation, or association must be qualified for exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of
1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)). It must also have been organized for charitable purposes to create and preserve longterm affordable housing for low-income developmentally
disabled persons.
(b) The housing must be occupied by eligible persons
who have a low income.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Developmental disability" means the same as
defined in RCW 71A.10.020;
(b) "Eligible person" means the same as defined in RCW
71A.10.020; and
(c) "Low income" means the adjusted gross income of
the resident is at eighty percent or less of the median income
adjusted for family size, as most recently determined by the
federal department of housing and urban development for the
county in which the housing is located and in effect as of January 1st of the assessment year for which the exemption is
sought. "Adjusted gross income" is as defined in the federal
internal revenue code of 1986, as it exists on June 11, 1998,
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
or such subsequent date as the director may provide by rule
consistent with the purpose of this section.
(3) To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
(4) If the real or personal property for which exemption
is sought is leased, the benefit of the exemption must inure to
the nonprofit organization, corporation, or association leasing the property to provide the housing for developmentally
disabled persons. [1998 c 202 § 1.]
84.36.043 Nonprofit organization property used in
providing emergency or transitional housing to lowincome homeless persons or victims of domestic violence.
(1) The real and personal property used by a nonprofit organization in providing emergency or transitional housing for
low-income homeless persons as defined in RCW 35.21.685
or 36.32.415 or victims of domestic violence who are homeless for personal safety reasons is exempt from taxation if:
(a) The charge, if any, for the housing does not exceed
the actual cost of operating and maintaining the housing; and
(b)(i) The property is owned by the nonprofit organization; or
(ii) The property is rented or leased by the nonprofit
organization and the benefit of the exemption inures to the
nonprofit organization.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Homeless" means persons, including families, who,
on one particular day or night, do not have decent and safe
shelter nor sufficient funds to purchase or rent a place to stay.
(b) "Emergency housing" means a project that provides
housing and supportive services to homeless persons or families for up to sixty days.
(c) "Transitional housing" means a project that provides
housing and supportive services to homeless persons or families for up to two years and that has as its purpose facilitating
the movement of homeless persons and families into independent living.
(3) This exemption is subject to the administrative provisions contained in RCW 84.36.800 through 84.36.865. [1998
c 174 § 1; 1991 c 198 § 1; 1990 c 283 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 55
§ 12.]
84.36.043
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW
82.08.010.
84.36.045 Nonprofit organization property available
without charge for medical research or training of medical personnel. All real and personal property owned or used
by any nonprofit corporation or association which is available without charge for research by, or for the training of,
doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, hospital administrators and staff or other hospital personnel, and which otherwise is used for medical research, the results of which will be
available without cost to the public, shall be exempt from ad
valorem taxation. If the real or personal property is leased,
the benefit of the exemption shall inure to the nonprofit corporation or association.
To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805. [1998 c 184
§ 1; 1984 c 220 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 23.]
84.36.045
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.047
Application—1998 c 184: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 1999 and thereafter." [1998 c 184 § 3.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.046
84.36.046 Nonprofit cancer clinic or center. (1) All
real or personal property owned or used by a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association in connection with a
nonprofit cancer clinic or center shall be exempt from taxation if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The nonprofit cancer clinic or center must be comprised of or have been formed by an organization, corporation, or association qualified for exemption under section
501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
Sec. 501(c)(3)), by a municipal hospital corporation, or by
both;
(b) The nonprofit organization, corporation, or association operating the nonprofit clinic or center and applying for
the exemption must be qualified for exemption under section
501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
Sec. 501(c)(3)); and
(c) The property must be used primarily in connection
with the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer,
except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
(2)(a) As used in this section, "nonprofit cancer clinic or
center" means a medical facility operated:
(i) By a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association associated with a nonprofit hospital or group of nonprofit
hospitals, by a municipal hospital corporation, or by both;
and
(ii) For the primary purpose of preventing and detecting
cancer and treating cancer patients.
(b) For the purposes of this subsection, "primary purpose" means that at least fifty-one percent of the patients who
receive treatment at the clinic or center do so because they
have been diagnosed as having cancer. In carrying out its primary purpose, the nonprofit cancer clinic or center provides
any combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and
ancillary services, directly related to the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. These ancillary services
include, but are not limited to, patient screening, case management, counseling, and access to a tumor registry.
(3) The exemption also applies to administrative offices
located within the nonprofit cancer clinic or center that are
used exclusively in conjunction with the cancer treatment
services provided by the nonprofit cancer clinic or center.
(4) If the real or personal property for which exemption
is sought is leased, the benefit of the exemption must inure to
the nonprofit cancer clinic or center. [1997 c 143 § 1.]
Applicability—1997 c 143: "This act is effective for taxes levied for
collection in 1998 and thereafter." [1997 c 143 § 5.]
84.36.047
84.36.047 Nonprofit organization property used for
transmission or reception of radio or television signals
originally broadcast by governmental agencies. The following property shall be exempt from taxation:
Real and personal property owned by or leased to any
nonprofit corporation or association and, except as provided
in RCW 84.36.805, used exclusively to rebroadcast, amplify,
or otherwise facilitate the transmission and/or reception of
radio and/or television signals originally broadcast by foreign
[Title 84 RCW—page 61]
84.36.050
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
or domestic governmental agencies for reception by the general public: PROVIDED, That in the event such property is
leased, the benefit of the exemption shall inure to the user.
[1984 c 220 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 348 § 1.]
Effective date—Construction—1977 ex.s. c 348: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, shall
take effect immediately and shall be effective for assessment in 1977 for
taxes due and payable in 1978." [1977 ex.s. c 348 § 3.]
84.36.050
84.36.050 Schools and colleges. The following property is exempt from taxation:
(1) Property owned or used by or for any nonprofit
school or college in this state for educational purposes or cultural or art educational programs as defined in RCW
82.04.4328. Real property so exempt shall not exceed four
hundred acres including, but not limited to, buildings and
grounds designed for the educational, athletic, or social programs of the institution, the housing of students, religious
faculty, and the chief administrator, athletic buildings, and all
other school or college facilities, the need for which would be
nonexistent but for the presence of the school or college. The
property must be principally designed to further the educational, athletic, or social functions of the college or school. If
the property is leased, the benefit of the exemption must inure
to such school or college.
(2) Real or personal property owned by a not-for-profit
foundation that is established for the exclusive support of an
institution of higher education, as defined in RCW
28B.10.016. If the property is leased to and used by the institution for college or campus purposes, it must be principally
designed to further the educational, athletic, or social functions of the institution. The exemption is only available for
property actively utilized by currently enrolled students. The
benefit of the exemption must inure to the college.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, if the property exempt under subsection (1) or (2) of this section is used
by an individual or organization not entitled to a property tax
exemption, except as provided in this subsection, the exemption is nullified for the assessment year in which such use
occurs. The exemption is not nullified as a result of any of
the uses listed in (a) or (b) of this subsection:
(a) The property is used by students, alumni, faculty,
staff, or other persons or entities in a manner consistent with
the educational, social, or athletic programs, including property used for related administrative and support functions, of
the school or college and not for pecuniary gain or to promote
business activities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
school or college may contract with and permit the use of
school or college property by persons or entities to provide
school or college-related programs or services including, but
not limited to, the provision of food services to students, faculty, and staff, the operation of a bookstore on campus, and
the provision to the school or college of maintenance, operational, or administrative services without nullifying the
exemption; or
(b) The property is used for pecuniary gain or to promote
business activities for not more than seven days in the calendar year, such uses to be measured separately with respect to
each specific portion of such property. If exempt property is
used as a sports or educational camp or program taught, oper[Title 84 RCW—page 62]
ated, or conducted by a faculty member who is required or
permitted to do so as part of his or her compensation package,
the days when the property is so used will not be included in
calculating the seven day limitation of this subsection (3)(b).
(4) The amount of rent or donations, if any, received by
the college or school for such uses described in subsection
(3)(a) or (b) of this section, or by an organization entitled to a
property tax exemption, must be reasonable and not exceed
maintenance and operation expenses associated with the use
by such user.
(5) The exemption under this section will not be nullified
by an inadvertent use of the property in a manner inconsistent
with the purpose for which exemption is granted, if the inadvertent use is not part of a pattern of use. A pattern of use is
presumed when an inadvertent use is repeated in the same
assessment year or in two or more successive assessment
years. [2006 c 226 § 2; 2001 c 126 § 2; 1984 c 220 § 5; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 40 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 206 § 2; 1970 ex.s. c 55 § 1;
1961 c 15 § 84.36.050. Prior: 1955 c 196 § 7; prior: 1939 c
206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part;
1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 §
1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141
§ 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c
124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1,
5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p
37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p
331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111, part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]
Findings—Intent—2006 c 226: "The legislature finds that independent nonprofit schools, colleges, and universities are vital educational
resources to the state of Washington. For the state to be competitive in a global economy, all educational resources must be competitive and provide
high-quality programs and services for students.
The legislature recognizes that independent nonprofit schools, colleges, and universities are important economic drivers in their communities,
and encourages institutions to support local communities, to provide public
benefit, and to respond to community expectations that they share facilities,
offer programs, and attract students on par with Washington’s publicly
owned institutions and out-of-state schools and colleges. Further, the legislature encourages innovative programs and educational opportunities, sustainable practices, and increased use of facilities so that operations of institutions can be more cost-effective.
The legislature wishes to remove barriers that discourage institutions
from being more collaborative, that make it more difficult to provide highquality services and necessities to their students, and that discourage appropriate and beneficial use of institutional facilities by the broader community.
To this end, the legislature seeks to provide consistent, predictable, and easily administrable rules for reference by the state department of revenue and
schools and colleges." [2006 c 226 § 1.]
Application—2001 c 126: See note following RCW 84.36.040.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: "The effective date of this 1970 amendatory act is July 1, 1970." [1970 ex.s. c 55 § 14.]
84.36.060 Art, scientific and historical collections
and property used to maintain, etc., such collections—
Property of associations engaged in production and performance of musical, dance, artistic, etc., works—Fire
engines, implements, and buildings of cities, towns, or fire
companies—Humane societies. (1) The following property
shall be exempt from taxation:
(a) All art, scientific, or historical collections of associations maintaining and exhibiting such collections for the benefit of the general public and not for profit, together with all
real and personal property of such associations used exclusively for the safekeeping, maintaining and exhibiting of such
collections;
84.36.060
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
(b) All the real and personal property owned by or leased
to associations engaged in the production and performance of
musical, dance, artistic, dramatic, or literary works for the
benefit of the general public and not for profit, which real and
personal property is used exclusively for this production or
performance;
(c) All fire engines and other implements used for the
extinguishment of fire, and the buildings used exclusively for
their safekeeping, and for meetings of fire companies, as long
as the property belongs to any city or town or to a fire company; and
(d) All property owned by humane societies in this state
in actual use by the societies.
(2) To receive an exemption under subsection (1)(a) or
(b) of this section:
(a) An organization must be organized and operated
exclusively for artistic, scientific, historical, literary, musical,
dance, dramatic, or educational purposes and receive a substantial part of its support (exclusive of income received in
the exercise or performance by such organization of its purpose or function) from the United States or any state or any
political subdivision thereof or from direct or indirect contributions from the general public.
(b) If the property is not currently being used for an
exempt purpose but will be used for an exempt purpose
within a reasonable period of time, the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation claiming the exemption must
submit proof that a reasonably specific and active program is
being carried out to construct, remodel, or otherwise enable
the property to be used for an exempt purpose. The property
does not qualify for an exemption during this interim period
if the property is used by, loaned to, or rented to a for-profit
organization or business enterprise. Proof of a specific and
active program to build or remodel the property so it may be
used for an exempt purpose may include, but is not limited to:
(i) Affirmative action by the board of directors, trustees,
or governing body of the nonprofit organization, association,
or corporation toward an active program of construction or
remodeling;
(ii) Itemized reasons for the proposed construction or
remodeling;
(iii) Clearly established plans for financing the construction or remodeling; or
(iv) Building permits.
(3) The use of property exempt under subsection (1)(a)
or (b) of this section by entities not eligible for a property tax
exemption under this chapter, except as provided in this section, nullifies the exemption otherwise available for the property for the assessment year. The exemption is not nullified
if:
(a) The property is used by entities not eligible for a
property tax exemption under this chapter for periods of not
more than twenty-five days in the calendar year;
(b) The property is not used for pecuniary gain or to promote business activities for more than seven of the twentyfive days in the calendar year;
(c) The property is used for artistic, scientific, or historic
purposes, for the production and performance of musical,
dance, artistic, dramatic, or literary works, or for community
gatherings or assembly, or meetings; and
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.070
(d) The amount of any rent or donations is reasonable
and does not exceed maintenance and operation expenses
created by the user. [2003 c 121 § 1; 1995 c 306 § 1; 1981 c
141 § 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 5; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.060.
Prior: 1955 c 196 § 8; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s.
c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part;
1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5,
part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140
§§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part;
Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4,
part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111,
part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]
Applicability—1995 c 306: "The [This] act is effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1995 and thereafter." [1995 c 306 § 2.]
Effective date—1995 c 306: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[May 9, 1995]." [1995 c 306 § 3.]
Applicability, construction—1981 c 141: "This act shall apply to
taxes payable in 1982 and in subsequent years and shall be strictly construed." [1981 c 141 § 6.]
84.36.070 Intangible personal property—Appraisal.
(1) Intangible personal property is exempt from ad valorem
taxation.
(2) "Intangible personal property" means:
(a) All moneys and credits including mortgages, notes,
accounts, certificates of deposit, tax certificates, judgments,
state, county and municipal bonds and warrants and bonds
and warrants of other taxing districts, bonds of the United
States and of foreign countries or political subdivisions
thereof and the bonds, stocks, or shares of private corporations;
(b) Private nongovernmental personal service contracts,
private nongovernmental athletic or sports franchises, or private nongovernmental athletic or sports agreements provided
that the contracts, franchises, or agreements do not pertain to
the use or possession of tangible personal or real property or
to any interest in tangible personal or real property; and
(c) Other intangible personal property such as trademarks, trade names, brand names, patents, copyrights, trade
secrets, franchise agreements, licenses, permits, core deposits
of financial institutions, noncompete agreements, customer
lists, patient lists, favorable contracts, favorable financing
agreements, reputation, exceptional management, prestige,
good name, or integrity of a business.
(3) "Intangible personal property" does not include zoning, location, view, geographic features, easements, covenants, proximity to raw materials, condition of surrounding
property, proximity to markets, the availability of a skilled
work force, and other characteristics or attributes of property.
(4) This section does not preclude the use of, or permit a
departure from, generally accepted appraisal practices and
the appropriate application thereof in the valuation of real
and tangible personal property, including the appropriate
consideration of licenses, permits, and franchises granted by
a government agency that affect the use of the property.
[1997 c 181 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 118 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.070.
Prior: 1931 c 96 § 1; RRS § 11111-1. FORMER PART OF
SECTION: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 5, part, now codified in RCW
84.04.080.]
84.36.070
[Title 84 RCW—page 63]
84.36.079
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Construction—1997 c 181: "This act shall not be construed to amend
or modify any existing statute or rule relating to the treatment of computer
software, retained rights in computer software, and golden and master copies
of computer software for property tax purposes." [1997 c 181 § 3.]
payable. [1961 c 15 § 84.36.100. Prior: 1945 c 82 § 3; 1931
c 81 § 3; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11111-4.]
84.36.105
Intent—No relation to other state’s law—1997 c 181: "Nothing in
this act is intended to incorporate and nothing in this act is based on any other
state’s statutory or case law." [1997 c 181 § 4.]
Severability—1997 c 181: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 181 § 5.]
Applicability—1997 c 181: "This act is effective for taxes levied for
collection in 1999 and thereafter." [1997 c 181 § 6.]
Report to legislature—1997 c 181: "By December 1, 2000, the department of revenue shall submit a report to the house finance committee, the
senate ways and means committee, and the office of the governor on tax
shifts, tax losses, and any litigation resulting from this act." [1997 c 181 § 7.]
84.36.079
84.36.079 Rights, title, interest, and materials of certain vessels under construction. All rights, title or interest
in or to any vessel of more than one thousand ton burden, and
the materials and parts held by the builder of the vessel at the
site of construction for the specific purpose of incorporation
therein, shall be exempt from taxation while the vessel is
under construction within this state. [1961 c 15 § 84.36.079.
Prior: 1959 c 295 § 1.]
84.36.080
84.36.080 Certain ships and vessels. (1) All ships and
vessels which are exempt from excise tax under RCW
82.49.020(2) and excepted from the registration requirements
of RCW 88.02.030(9) shall be and are hereby made exempt
from all ad valorem taxes, except taxes levied for any state
purpose.
(2) All ships and vessels listed in the state or federal register of historical places are exempt from all ad valorem
taxes. [2000 c 103 § 24; 1998 c 335 § 5; 1986 c 229 § 1; 1983
2nd ex.s. c 3 § 51; 1983 c 7 § 23; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.080.
Prior: 1945 c 82 § 1; 1931 c 81 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 §
11111-2.]
Effective date—1998 c 335: See note following RCW 84.12.200.
Application—1986 c 229: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1987, and thereafter." [1986 c 229 § 4.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 2nd ex.s. c 3:
See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
Listing of taxable ships and vessels with department of revenue: RCW
84.40.065.
Valuation of vessels—Apportionment: RCW 84.40.036.
84.36.090
84.36.090 Exemption for other ships and vessels. All
ships and vessels, other than those partially exempt under
RCW 84.36.080 and those described in RCW 84.36.079, are
exempt from all ad valorem taxes. [1983 c 7 § 24; 1961 c 15
§ 84.36.090. Prior: 1959 c 295 § 2; 1945 c 82 § 2; 1931 c 81
§ 2; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11111-3.]
Construction—Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 7: See notes
following RCW 82.08.020.
84.36.100
84.36.100 Size of vessel immaterial. RCW 84.36.080
and 84.36.090 shall apply to all ships, vessels and boats, irrespective of size, and to the taxes thereon becoming due and
[Title 84 RCW—page 64]
84.36.105 Cargo containers used in ocean commerce.
All cargo containers principally used for the transportation of
cargo by vessels in ocean commerce shall be exempt from
taxation. The term "cargo container" means a receptacle:
(1) Of a permanent character and accordingly strong
enough to be suitable for repeated use;
(2) Specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods,
by one or more modes of transport, one of which shall be by
vessels, without intermediate reloading;
(3) Fitted with devices permitting its ready handling,
particularly its transfer from one mode of transport to
another; and
(4) Designed to be easy to fill and empty. [1975 1st ex.s.
c 20 § 1.]
84.36.110
84.36.110 Household goods and personal effects—
Three thousand dollars actual value to head of family.
(Effective unless the proposed amendment to Article VII,
section 1 of the state Constitution is approved at the November 2006 general election.) The following property shall be
exempt from taxation:
(1) All household goods and furnishings in actual use by
the owner thereof in equipping and outfitting his or her residence or place of abode and not for sale or commercial use,
and all personal effects held by any person for his or her
exclusive use and benefit and not for sale or commercial use.
(2) The personal property, other than specified in subdivision (1) hereof, of each head of a family liable to assessment and taxation of which such individual is the actual and
bona fide owner to an amount of three thousand dollars of
actual values: PROVIDED, That this exemption shall not
apply to any private motor vehicle, or mobile home, and:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if the county assessor is satisfied that all of the personal property of any person is exempt
from taxation under the provisions of this statute or any other
statute providing exemptions for personal property, no listing
of such property shall be required; but if the personal property described in this subsection exceeds in value the amount
allowed as exempt, then a complete list of said personal property shall be made as provided by law, and the county assessor shall deduct the amount of the exemption authorized by
this subsection from the total amount of the assessment and
assess the remainder. [1988 c 10 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 71;
1961 c 15 § 84.36.110. Prior: 1935 c 27 § 1; RRS § 11111-7.]
Contingent effective date—1988 c 10: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989, for taxes levied for collection in 1990 and thereafter, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution authorizing an increased personal exemption for the head of a family (HJR 4222) is
validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general
election held in November 1988. If the proposed amendment is not so
approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in its entirety." [1988 c
10 § 2.] The proposed constitutional amendment was approved by the voters
on November 8, 1988.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.110
84.36.110 Household goods and personal effects—
Fifteen thousand dollars actual value to head of family.
(Effective January 1, 2007, if the proposed amendment to
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution is approved at
the November 2006 general election.) The following property shall be exempt from taxation:
(1) All household goods and furnishings in actual use by
the owner thereof in equipping and outfitting his or her residence or place of abode and not for sale or commercial use,
and all personal effects held by any person for his or her
exclusive use and benefit and not for sale or commercial use.
(2) The personal property, other than specified in subsection (1) of this section, of each head of a family liable to
assessment and taxation of which the individual is the actual
and bona fide owner to an amount of fifteen thousand dollars
of true and fair value. This exemption shall not apply to any
private motor vehicle or mobile home. If the county assessor
is satisfied that all of the personal property of any person is
exempt from taxation under the provisions of this statute or
any other statute providing exemptions for personal property,
no listing of such property shall be required. However, if the
personal property described in this subsection exceeds in
value the amount allowed as exempt, then a complete list of
said personal property shall be made as provided by law, and
the county assessor shall deduct the amount of the exemption
authorized by this subsection from the total amount of the
assessment and impose taxes on the remainder. [2006 c 281
§ 2; 1988 c 10 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 71; 1961 c 15 §
84.36.110. Prior: 1935 c 27 § 1; RRS § 11111-7.]
Contingent effective date—2006 c 281: "This act takes effect January
1, 2007, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution authorizing an increased personal exemption for the head of a family is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at the
next general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, this act is void in its entirety." [2006 c 281 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—2006 c 281: "The legislature finds that it is in the
public interest of the people of the state of Washington to ease the burden of
property taxes paid by the head of a family. To achieve this purpose, this act
increases the amount of personal property exemption for the head of a family
from three thousand dollars to fifteen thousand dollars. The last time this
exemption was increased was 1988. It is the clear and unambiguous intent
of the legislature that the property described within this measure shall be
exempt for [from] taxation, as authorized by Article VII, section 1 of the
state Constitution." [2006 c 281 § 1.]
Contingent effective date—1988 c 10: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989, for taxes levied for collection in 1990 and thereafter, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution authorizing an increased personal exemption for the head of a family (HJR 4222) is
validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general
election held in November 1988. If the proposed amendment is not so
approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in its entirety." [1988 c
10 § 2.] The proposed constitutional amendment was approved by the voters
on November 8, 1988.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.120
84.36.120 Household goods and personal effects—
Definitions. For the purposes of RCW 84.36.110 "head of a
family" shall be construed to include a surviving spouse not
remarried, any person receiving an old age pension under the
laws of this state and any citizen of the United States, over the
age of sixty-five years, who has resided in the state of Washington continuously for ten years.
"Personal effects" shall be construed to mean and
include such tangible property as usually and ordinarily
attends the person such as wearing apparel, jewelry, toilet
articles and the like.
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.230
"Private motor vehicle" shall be construed to mean and
include all motor vehicles used for the convenience or pleasure of the owner and carrying a licensing classification other
than motor vehicle for hire, auto stage, auto stage trailer,
motor truck, motor truck trailer or dealers’ licenses.
"Mobile home" shall be construed to mean and include
all trailers of the type designed as facilities for human habitation and which are capable of being moved upon the public
streets and highways and which are more than thirty-five feet
in length or more than eight feet in width. [1973 1st ex.s. c
154 § 120; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 72; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.120.
Prior: 1935 c 27 § 2; RRS § 11111-8.]
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.130
84.36.130 Airport property in this state for smaller
airports belonging to municipalities of adjoining states.
All property, whether real or personal, belonging exclusively
to any municipal corporation in an adjoining state legally
empowered by the laws of such adjoining state to acquire and
hold property within this state, and which property is used
primarily for airport purposes and other facilities for landing,
terminals, housing, repair and care of dirigibles, airplanes and
seaplanes for the aerial transportation of persons, property or
mail, or in the armed forces of the United States, and upon
which property there is expended funds by the federal, county
or state agencies, or upon which funds are allocated by the
federal government agencies on national defense projects, is
hereby exempted from ad valorem taxation. The exemption
in this section applies only to airports five hundred acres or
less in size. [1998 c 201 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.130. Prior:
1941 c 13 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 11111-10.]
84.36.135
84.36.135 Real and personal property of housing
finance commission. The real and personal property of the
state housing finance commission established by chapter
43.180 RCW are exempt from taxation. [1983 c 161 § 26.]
Severability—Effective dates—1983 c 161: See RCW 43.180.903
and 43.180.904.
84.36.210
84.36.210 Public right of way easements. Whenever
the state, or any city, town, county or other municipal corporation has obtained a written easement for a right of way over
and across any private property and the written instrument
has been placed of record in the county auditor’s office of the
county in which the property is located, the easement rights
shall be exempt from taxation and exempt from general tax
foreclosure and sale for delinquent property taxes of the property over and across which the easement exists; and all property tax records of the county and tax statements relating to
the servient property shall show the existence of such easement and that it is exempt from the tax; and any notice of sale
and tax deed relating to the servient property shall show that
such easement exists and is excepted from the sale of the servient property. [1961 c 15 § 84.36.210. Prior: 1947 c 150 §
1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 11188-1.]
84.36.230
84.36.230 Interstate bridges—Reciprocity. Any
bridge, including its approaches, over rivers or bodies of
[Title 84 RCW—page 65]
84.36.240
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
water forming interstate boundaries, which bridge has been
constructed or acquired and is being operated by any foreign
state bordering upon such common interstate boundary, or
which has been constructed or acquired and is being operated
by any county, city or other municipality of such foreign
state, shall be exempt from all property and other taxes in the
state of Washington, if the foreign state exempts from all taxation any bridge or bridges constructed or acquired and being
operated by the state of Washington or any county, city or
other municipality thereof. [1961 c 15 § 84.36.230. Prior:
1949 c 224 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11111-12.]
84.36.240
84.36.240 Soil and water conservation districts, personal property. All personal property belonging solely to
soil and water conservation districts shall be exempt from
taxation: PROVIDED, That the exemption contained herein
shall not apply to property of any such district which engages
in contract work for persons or firms not landowners or cooperators of a district. [1963 c 179 § 1.]
year for exemption from taxes levied for collection in the following year when submitted on forms prescribed by the
department of revenue developed in consultation with the
conservation district. The landowner shall certify each year
that the improvements for which exemption is sought are
maintained as originally approved or amended in the written
conservation plan. The claim must contain the certification
by the conservation district that the improvements for which
exemption is sought were included under a written conservation plan approved by the conservation district including best
management practices that benefit fish and wildlife habitat,
water quality, or water quantity. [1997 c 295 § 2.]
Application—1997 c 295 § 2: "Section 2 of this act applies to taxes
levied for collection in 1998 and thereafter." [1997 c 295 § 4.]
Purpose—1997 c 295: "The purpose of this act is to improve fish and
wildlife habitat, water quality, and water quantity for the benefit of the public
at large. Private property owners should be encouraged to make voluntary
improvements to their property as recommended by governmental agencies
without the penalty of paying higher property taxes as a result of those
improvements." [1997 c 295 § 1.]
84.36.260
84.36.250
84.36.250 Water distribution property owned by
nonprofit corporation or cooperative association. The following property shall be exempt from taxation:
All property, whether real or personal belonging to any
nonprofit corporation or cooperative association and used
exclusively for the distribution of water to its shareholders or
members. [1965 ex.s. c 173 § 31.]
Effective date—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Severability—1965 ex.s. c 173: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.36.255
84.36.255 Improvements to benefit fish and wildlife
habitat, water quality, and water quantity—Cooperative
assistance to landowners—Certification of best management practice—Limitation—Landowner claim and certification. (1) All improvements to real and personal property
that benefit fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, or water
quantity are exempt from taxation if the improvements are
included under a written conservation plan approved by a
conservation district. The conservation districts shall cooperate with the federal natural resource conservation service,
other conservation districts, the department of ecology, the
department of fish and wildlife, and nonprofit organizations
to assist landowners by working with them to obtain
approved conservation plans so as to qualify for the exemption provided for in this section. As provided in subsection
(3) of this section and RCW 89.08.440(2), a conservation district shall certify that the best management practice benefits
fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, or water quantity. A
habitat conservation plan under the terms of the federal
endangered species act shall not be considered a conservation
plan for purposes of this exemption.
(2) The exemption shall remain in effect only if improvements identified in the written best management practices
agreement are maintained as originally approved or
amended. Improvements made as a requirement to mitigate
for impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, or
water quantity are not eligible for exemption under this section.
(3) A claim for exemption under this section may be
filed annually with the county assessor at any time during the
[Title 84 RCW—page 66]
84.36.260 Property, interests, etc., used for conservation of ecological systems, natural resources, or open
space—Conservation or scientific research organizations.
All real property interests, including fee simple or any lesser
interest, development rights, easements, covenants and conservation futures, as that latter term is defined in RCW
84.34.220 as now or hereafter amended, used exclusively for
the conservation of ecological systems, natural resources, or
open space, including park lands, held by any nonprofit corporation or association the primary purpose of which is the
conducting or facilitating of scientific research or the conserving of natural resources or open space for the general
public, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation if either of
the following conditions are met:
(1) To the extent feasible considering the nature of the
property interest involved, such property interests shall be
used and effectively dedicated primarily for the purpose of
providing scientific research or educational opportunities for
the general public or the preservation of native plants or animals, or biotic communities, or works of ancient man or geological or geographical formations, of distinct scientific and
educational interest, and not for the pecuniary benefit of any
person or company, as defined in RCW 82.04.030, and shall
be open to the general public for educational and scientific
research purposes subject to reasonable restrictions designed
for its protection; or
(2) Such property interests shall be subject to an option,
accepted in writing by the state, a city or a county, or department of the United States government, for the purchase
thereof by the state, a city or a county, or the United States, at
a price not exceeding the lesser of the following amounts: (a)
The sum of the original purchase cost to such nonprofit corporation or association plus interest from the date of acquisition by such corporation or association at the rate of six percent per annum compounded annually to the date of the exercise of the option; or (b) the appraised value of the property at
the time of the granting of the option, as determined by the
department of revenue or when the option is held by the
United States, or by an appropriate agency thereof. [1979
ex.s. c 193 § 1; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 22 § 3; 1973 c 112 § 1;
1967 ex.s. c 149 § 43.]
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.36.262
84.36.262 Cessation of use giving rise to exemption.
Upon cessation of the use which has given rise to an exemption hereunder, the county treasurer shall collect all taxes
which would have been paid had the property not been
exempt during the ten years preceding, or the life of such
exemption if such be less, together with interest at the same
rate and computed in the same way as that upon delinquent
property taxes. [1973 c 112 § 2.]
Additional tax payable at time of sale—Appeal of assessed values: RCW
84.36.812.
84.36.264
84.36.264 Application for exemption under RCW
84.36.260, conservation of ecological systems. Owners of
property desiring tax exempt status pursuant to the provisions
of RCW 84.36.260 shall make an application for the exemption with the department. If such property qualifies pursuant
to RCW 84.36.260(2), a copy of the option shall also be submitted to the department. Such option shall clearly state the
purchase price pursuant to the option or the appraisal value as
determined by the department of revenue. [1994 c 124 § 17;
1973 c 112 § 3.]
84.36.300
84.36.300 Stocks of merchandise, goods, wares or
material—Aircraft parts, etc.—When eligible for exemption. There shall be exempt from taxation a portion of each
separately assessed stock of merchandise, as that word is
defined in this section, owned or held by any taxpayer on the
first day of January of any year computed by first multiplying
the total amount of that stock of such merchandise, as determined in accordance with RCW 84.40.020, by a percentage
determined by dividing the amount of such merchandise
brought into this state by the taxpayer during the preceding
year for that stock by the total additions to that stock by the
taxpayer during that year, and then multiplying the result of
the latter computation by a percentage determined by dividing the total out-of-state shipments of such merchandise by
the taxpayer during the preceding year from that stock (and
regardless of whether or not any such shipments involved a
sale of, or a transfer of title to, the merchandise within this
state) by the total shipments of such merchandise by the taxpayer during the preceding year from that stock. As used in
this section, the word "merchandise" means goods, wares,
merchandise or material which were not manufactured in this
state by the taxpayer and which were acquired by him (in any
other manner whatsoever, including manufacture by him outside of this state) for the purpose of sale or shipment in substantially the same form in which they were acquired by him
within this state or were brought into this state by him. Breaking of packages or of bulk shipments, packaging, repackaging, labeling or relabeling shall not be considered as a change
in form within the meaning of this section. A taxpayer who
has made no shipments of merchandise, either out-of-state or
in-state, during the preceding year, may compute the percentage to be applied to the stock of merchandise on the basis of
his experience from March 1 of the preceding year to the last
day of February of the current year, in lieu of computing the
percentage on the basis of his experience during the preced(2006 Ed.)
84.36.320
ing year. The rule of strict construction shall not apply to this
section.
All rights, title or interest in or to any aircraft parts,
equipment, furnishings, or accessories (but not engines or
major structural components) which are manufactured outside of the state of Washington and are owned by purchasers
of the aircraft constructed, under construction or to be constructed in the state of Washington, and are shipped into the
state of Washington for installation in or use in connection
with the operation of such aircraft shall be exempt from taxation prior to and during construction of such aircraft and
while held in this state for periods preliminary to and during
the transportation of such aircraft from the state of Washington. [1973 c 149 § 2; 1969 ex.s. c 124 § 1.]
Effective date—Savings—1969 ex.s. c 124: "This 1969 act shall be
effective as of January 1, 1969: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the repeals
contained in this act shall not be construed as affecting any existing right
acquired or any liability or obligation incurred under the provision of the
statutes repealed." [1969 ex.s. c 124 § 7.]
84.36.301
84.36.301 Legislative finding and declaration for
RCW 84.36.300. The legislature hereby finds and declares
that to promote the policy of a free and uninhibited flow of
commerce as established by federal constitutional and legislative dictate, it is desirable to exempt from property taxation,
according to the provisions of RCW 84.36.300, certain parts
and equipment coming into the state of Washington to be
placed in vehicles which are then transferred to the possession of out-of-state owners. The legislature further recognizes that the temporary existence of these parts and equipment within the state justifies a tax exempt status which
serves to encourage the manufacture and assemblage of vehicles within the state thereby promoting increased economic
activity and jobs for our residents. [1973 c 149 § 1.]
84.36.310
84.36.310 Requirements for exemption under RCW
84.36.300. Any person claiming the exemption provided for
in RCW 84.36.300 shall file such claim with his or her listing
of personal property as provided by RCW 84.40.040. The
claim shall be in the form prescribed by the department of
revenue, and shall require such information as the department
deems necessary to substantiate the claim. [2003 c 302 § 6;
1969 ex.s. c 124 § 2.]
Effective date—Savings—1969 ex.s. c 124: See note following RCW
84.36.300.
84.36.320
84.36.320 Inspection of books and records for
exemption under RCW 84.36.300. An owner or agent filing a claim under RCW 84.36.310 shall consent to the inspection of the books and records upon which the claim has been
based, such inspection to be similar in manner to that provided by RCW 84.40.340, or if the owner or agent does not
maintain records within this state, the consent shall apply to
the records of a warehouse, person or agent having custody of
the inventory to which the claim applies. Consent to the
inspection of the records shall be executed as a part of the
claim. The owner, his agent, or other person having custody
of the inventory referred to herein shall retain within this
state, for a period of at least two years from the date of the
claim, the records referred to above. If adequate records are
not made available to the assessor within the county where
[Title 84 RCW—page 67]
84.36.350
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
the claim is made, then the exemption shall be denied. [1969
ex.s. c 124 § 3.]
Effective date—Savings—1969 ex.s. c 124: See note following RCW
84.36.300.
84.36.350
84.36.350 Property owned or used for sheltered
workshops for handicapped. (1) The following property
shall be exempt from taxation:
(a) Real or personal property owned and used by a nonprofit corporation in connection with the operation of a sheltered workshop for handicapped persons, and used primarily
in connection with the manufacturing and the handling, sale
or distribution of goods constructed, processed, or repaired in
such workshops or centers; and
(b) Inventory owned by a sheltered workshop for sale or
lease by the sheltered workshop or to be furnished under a
contract of service, including raw materials, work in process,
and finished products.
(2) Unless a different meaning is plainly required by the
context, "sheltered workshop" means a rehabilitation facility,
or that part of a rehabilitation facility operated by a nonprofit
corporation, where any manufacture or handiwork is carried
on and operated for the primary purpose of: (a) Providing
gainful employment or rehabilitation services to the handicapped as an interim step in the rehabilitation process for
those who cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive
labor market or during such time as employment opportunities for them in the competitive labor market do not exist; or
(b) providing evaluation and work adjustment services for
handicapped individuals. [1999 c 358 § 17; 1975 1st ex.s. c
3 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 81 § 1.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
84.36.379
84.36.379 Residences—Property tax exemption—
Findings. The legislature finds that the property tax exemption authorized by Article VII, section 10 of the state Constitution should be made available on the basis of a retired person’s ability to pay property taxes and that the best measure
of a retired person’s ability to pay taxes is that person’s disposable income as defined in RCW 84.36.383. The legislature further finds that veterans with one hundred percent service-connected disabilities have given so much to our country that they deserve property tax relief. [2005 c 248 § 1;
2000 c 103 § 25; 1980 c 185 § 3.]
Application—2005 c 248: See note following RCW 84.36.381.
Applicability—1980 c 185: "Except for the amendment to RCW
84.36.381(2) by this 1980 act, sections 3 through 5 of this 1980 act are effective for property taxes due in 1982 and thereafter." [1980 c 185 § 7.]
84.36.381
84.36.381 Residences—Property tax exemptions—
Qualifications. A person shall be exempt from any legal
obligation to pay all or a portion of the amount of excess and
regular real property taxes due and payable in the year following the year in which a claim is filed, and thereafter, in
accordance with the following:
(1) The property taxes must have been imposed upon a
residence which was occupied by the person claiming the
exemption as a principal place of residence as of the time of
filing: PROVIDED, That any person who sells, transfers, or
is displaced from his or her residence may transfer his or her
[Title 84 RCW—page 68]
exemption status to a replacement residence, but no claimant
shall receive an exemption on more than one residence in any
year: PROVIDED FURTHER, That confinement of the person to a hospital, nursing home, boarding home, or adult family home shall not disqualify the claim of exemption if:
(a) The residence is temporarily unoccupied;
(b) The residence is occupied by a spouse and/or a person financially dependent on the claimant for support; or
(c) The residence is rented for the purpose of paying
nursing home, hospital, boarding home, or adult family home
costs;
(2) The person claiming the exemption must have
owned, at the time of filing, in fee, as a life estate, or by contract purchase, the residence on which the property taxes
have been imposed or if the person claiming the exemption
lives in a cooperative housing association, corporation, or
partnership, such person must own a share therein representing the unit or portion of the structure in which he or she
resides. For purposes of this subsection, a residence owned
by a marital community or owned by cotenants shall be
deemed to be owned by each spouse or cotenant, and any
lease for life shall be deemed a life estate;
(3) The person claiming the exemption must be (a) sixtyone years of age or older on December 31st of the year in
which the exemption claim is filed, or must have been, at the
time of filing, retired from regular gainful employment by
reason of disability, or (b) a veteran of the armed forces of the
United States with one hundred percent service-connected
disability as provided in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 423 (d)(1)(A) as
amended prior to January 1, 2005. However, any surviving
spouse of a person who was receiving an exemption at the
time of the person’s death shall qualify if the surviving
spouse is fifty-seven years of age or older and otherwise
meets the requirements of this section;
(4) The amount that the person shall be exempt from an
obligation to pay shall be calculated on the basis of combined
disposable income, as defined in RCW 84.36.383. If the person claiming the exemption was retired for two months or
more of the assessment year, the combined disposable
income of such person shall be calculated by multiplying the
average monthly combined disposable income of such person
during the months such person was retired by twelve. If the
income of the person claiming exemption is reduced for two
or more months of the assessment year by reason of the death
of the person’s spouse, or when other substantial changes
occur in disposable income that are likely to continue for an
indefinite period of time, the combined disposable income of
such person shall be calculated by multiplying the average
monthly combined disposable income of such person after
such occurrences by twelve. If it is necessary to estimate
income to comply with this subsection, the assessor may
require confirming documentation of such income prior to
May 31 of the year following application;
(5)(a) A person who otherwise qualifies under this section and has a combined disposable income of thirty-five
thousand dollars or less shall be exempt from all excess property taxes; and
(b)(i) A person who otherwise qualifies under this section and has a combined disposable income of thirty thousand
dollars or less but greater than twenty-five thousand dollars
shall be exempt from all regular property taxes on the greater
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
of fifty thousand dollars or thirty-five percent of the valuation
of his or her residence, but not to exceed seventy thousand
dollars of the valuation of his or her residence; or
(ii) A person who otherwise qualifies under this section
and has a combined disposable income of twenty-five thousand dollars or less shall be exempt from all regular property
taxes on the greater of sixty thousand dollars or sixty percent
of the valuation of his or her residence;
(6) For a person who otherwise qualifies under this section and has a combined disposable income of thirty-five
thousand dollars or less, the valuation of the residence shall
be the assessed value of the residence on the later of January
1, 1995, or January 1st of the assessment year the person first
qualifies under this section. If the person subsequently fails
to qualify under this section only for one year because of high
income, this same valuation shall be used upon requalification. If the person fails to qualify for more than one year in
succession because of high income or fails to qualify for any
other reason, the valuation upon requalification shall be the
assessed value on January 1st of the assessment year in which
the person requalifies. If the person transfers the exemption
under this section to a different residence, the valuation of the
different residence shall be the assessed value of the different
residence on January 1st of the assessment year in which the
person transfers the exemption.
In no event may the valuation under this subsection be
greater than the true and fair value of the residence on January 1st of the assessment year.
This subsection does not apply to subsequent improvements to the property in the year in which the improvements
are made. Subsequent improvements to the property shall be
added to the value otherwise determined under this subsection at their true and fair value in the year in which they are
made. [2005 c 248 § 2; 2004 c 270 § 1; 1998 c 333 § 1; 1996
c 146 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 8 § 1; 1993 c 178
§ 1; 1992 c 187 § 1. Prior: 1991 c 213 § 3; 1991 c 203 § 1;
1987 c 301 § 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 5; 1983 1st ex.s. c 11 §
2; 1980 c 185 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 268 § 1;
1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 14; 1974 ex.s. c 182 § 1.]
Application—2005 c 248: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2006 and thereafter." [2005 c 248 § 3.]
Application—1998 c 333: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 1999 and thereafter." [1998 c 333 § 4.]
Effective date—1996 c 146: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[March 25, 1996]." [1996 c 146 § 2.]
Effective date of 1994 sp.s. c 8—Applicability—1995 1st sp.s. c 8:
"Chapter 8, Laws of 1994 sp. sess. shall take effect July 1, 1995, and shall be
effective for taxes levied in 1995 for collection in 1996 and thereafter."
[1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 6.]
Application—1995 1st sp.s. c 8: "This act shall apply to taxes levied in
1995 for collection in 1996 and thereafter." [1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 7.]
Severability—1995 1st sp.s. c 8: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 8.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 8: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
July 1, 1995." [1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 9.]
Applicability—1993 c 178: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1993 and thereafter." [1993 c 178 § 2.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.383
Effective date—1993 c 178: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately
[April 30, 1993]." [1993 c 178 § 3.]
Applicability—1992 c 187: "Section 1 of this act shall be effective for
taxes levied for collection in 1992 and thereafter." [1992 c 187 § 2.]
Applicability—1991 c 213: See note following RCW 84.38.020.
Applicability—1991 c 203: "Section 1 of this act shall be effective for
taxes levied for collection in 1992 and thereafter." [1991 c 203 § 5.]
Applicability—1987 c 301: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1989 and thereafter." [1987 c 301 § 2.]
Intent—1983 1st ex.s. c 11: "The legislature finds that inflation has
significant detrimental effects on the senior citizen property tax relief program. Inflation increases incomes without increasing real buying power.
Inflation also raises the values of homes, and thus the taxes on those homes.
This act addresses the problem of inflation in two ways. First, the assessed
value exemption is tied to home value so it will increase as values rise. Secondly, though the income of most senior citizens does not keep pace with
inflation, it is the legislature’s intent that inflationary increases in incomes
will not result in program disqualification. Therefore, the income levels are
adjusted to reflect the forecasted increase in inflation. The legislature also
recommends that similar adjustments be examined by future legislatures."
[1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 1.]
Applicability—1983 1st ex.s. c 11: "This act applies to taxes first due
in 1984 and thereafter." [1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 7.]
Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 11: "This act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
immediately [May 11, 1983], except sections 5 and 6 of this act shall take
effect January 1, 1984." [1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 8.]
Applicability—1980 c 185: See note following RCW 84.36.379.
Applicability—1979 ex.s. c 214: "The exemption created by sections 1
through 4 of this act shall be effective starting with property taxes levied in
calendar year 1979 for collection in calendar year 1980. The former exemption created by the law amended shall continue to be effective with respect to
property taxes levied in calendar year 1978 for collection in calendar year
1979." [1979 ex.s. c 214 § 10.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 182: "If any provision of this 1974 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 182 § 8.]
84.36.383
84.36.383 Residences—Definitions. As used in RCW
84.36.381 through 84.36.389, except where the context
clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) The term "residence" means a single family dwelling
unit whether such unit be separate or part of a multiunit
dwelling, including the land on which such dwelling stands
not to exceed one acre, except that a residence includes any
additional property up to a total of five acres that comprises
the residential parcel if this larger parcel size is required
under land use regulations. The term shall also include a
share ownership in a cooperative housing association, corporation, or partnership if the person claiming exemption can
establish that his or her share represents the specific unit or
portion of such structure in which he or she resides. The term
shall also include a single family dwelling situated upon
lands the fee of which is vested in the United States or any
instrumentality thereof including an Indian tribe or in the
state of Washington, and notwithstanding the provisions of
RCW 84.04.080 and 84.04.090, such a residence shall be
deemed real property.
(2) The term "real property" shall also include a mobile
home which has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit
[Title 84 RCW—page 69]
84.36.385
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
by virtue of its being fixed in location upon land owned or
leased by the owner of the mobile home and placed on a foundation (posts or blocks) with fixed pipe, connections with
sewer, water, or other utilities. A mobile home located on
land leased by the owner of the mobile home is subject, for
tax billing, payment, and collection purposes, only to the personal property provisions of chapter 84.56 RCW and RCW
84.60.040.
(3) "Department" means the state department of revenue.
(4) "Combined disposable income" means the disposable
income of the person claiming the exemption, plus the disposable income of his or her spouse, and the disposable
income of each cotenant occupying the residence for the
assessment year, less amounts paid by the person claiming
the exemption or his or her spouse during the assessment year
for:
(a) Drugs supplied by prescription of a medical practitioner authorized by the laws of this state or another jurisdiction
to issue prescriptions;
(b) The treatment or care of either person received in the
home or in a nursing home, boarding home, or adult family
home; and
(c) Health care insurance premiums for medicare under
Title XVIII of the social security act.
(5) "Disposable income" means adjusted gross income as
defined in the federal internal revenue code, as amended prior
to January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the director
may provide by rule consistent with the purpose of this section, plus all of the following items to the extent they are not
included in or have been deducted from adjusted gross
income:
(a) Capital gains, other than gain excluded from income
under section 121 of the federal internal revenue code to the
extent it is reinvested in a new principal residence;
(b) Amounts deducted for loss;
(c) Amounts deducted for depreciation;
(d) Pension and annuity receipts;
(e) Military pay and benefits other than attendant-care
and medical-aid payments;
(f) Veterans benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;
(g) Federal social security act and railroad retirement
benefits;
(h) Dividend receipts; and
(i) Interest received on state and municipal bonds.
(6) "Cotenant" means a person who resides with the person claiming the exemption and who has an ownership interest in the residence.
(7) "Disability" has the same meaning as provided in 42
U.S.C. Sec. 423(d)(1)(A) as amended prior to January 1,
2004, or such subsequent date as the director may provide by
rule consistent with the purpose of this section. [2006 c 62 §
1; 2004 c 270 § 2; 1999 c 358 § 18; 1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 2;
1994 sp.s. c 8 § 2; 1991 c 213 § 4; 1991 c 219 § 1; 1989 c 379
§ 6; 1987 c 155 § 2; 1985 c 395 § 3; 1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 4;
1980 c 185 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 §
15; 1974 ex.s. c 182 § 2.]
Application—2006 c 62: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection
in 2007 and thereafter." [2006 c 62 § 4.]
Effective date—1999 c 358 §§ 1 and 3-21: See note following RCW
82.04.3651.
[Title 84 RCW—page 70]
Effective date of 1994 sp.s. c 8—Applicability—1995 1st sp.s. c 8:
See note following RCW 84.36.381.
Application—Severability—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 8: See
notes following RCW 84.36.381.
Applicability—1991 c 219: "This act is effective for taxes levied for
collection in 1992 and thereafter." [1991 c 219 § 2.]
Applicability—1991 c 213: See note following RCW 84.38.020.
Severability—Effective date—1989 c 379: See notes following RCW
84.36.040.
Intent—Applicability—Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 11:See
notes following RCW 84.36.381.
Applicability—1980 c 185: See note following RCW 84.36.379.
Applicability—1979 ex.s. c 214: See note following RCW 84.36.381.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.385
84.36.385 Residences—Claim for exemption—
Forms—Change of status—Publication and notice of
qualifications and manner of making claims. (1) A claim
for exemption under RCW 84.36.381 as now or hereafter
amended, shall be made and filed at any time during the year
for exemption from taxes payable the following year and
thereafter and solely upon forms as prescribed and furnished
by the department of revenue. However, an exemption from
tax under RCW 84.36.381 shall continue for no more than
four years unless a renewal application is filed as provided in
subsection (3) of this section. The county assessor may also
require, by written notice, a renewal application following an
amendment of the income requirements set forth in RCW
84.36.381. Renewal applications shall be on forms prescribed
and furnished by the department of revenue.
(2) A person granted an exemption under RCW
84.36.381 shall inform the county assessor of any change in
status affecting the person’s entitlement to the exemption on
forms prescribed and furnished by the department of revenue.
(3) Each person exempt from taxes under RCW
84.36.381 in 1993 and thereafter, shall file with the county
assessor a renewal application not later than December 31 of
the year the assessor notifies such person of the requirement
to file the renewal application.
(4) Beginning in 1992 and in each of the three succeeding years, the county assessor shall notify approximately onefourth of those persons exempt from taxes under RCW
84.36.381 in the current year who have not filed a renewal
application within the previous four years, of the requirement
to file a renewal application.
(5) If the assessor finds that the applicant does not meet
the qualifications as set forth in RCW 84.36.381, as now or
hereafter amended, the claim or exemption shall be denied
but such denial shall be subject to appeal under the provisions
of RCW 84.48.010(5) and in accordance with the provisions
of RCW 84.40.038. If the applicant had received exemption
in prior years based on erroneous information, the taxes shall
be collected subject to penalties as provided in RCW
84.40.130 for a period of not to exceed three years.
(6) The department and each local assessor is hereby
directed to publicize the qualifications and manner of making
claims under RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389, through
communications media, including such paid advertisements
or notices as it deems appropriate. Notice of the qualifications, method of making applications, the penalties for not
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
reporting a change in status, and availability of further information shall be included on or with property tax statements
and revaluation notices for all residential property including
mobile homes, except rental properties. [2001 c 185 § 8;
1992 c 206 § 13; 1988 c 222 § 10; 1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 6;
1983 1st ex.s. c 11 § 3; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 3; 1977 ex.s. c 268
§ 2; 1974 ex.s. c 182 § 3.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Intent—Applicability—Effective dates—1983 1st ex.s. c 11: See
notes following RCW 84.36.381.
Applicability—1979 ex.s. c 214: See note following RCW 84.36.381.
84.36.387
84.36.387 Residences—Claimants—Penalty for falsification—Reduction by remainderman. (1) All claims for
exemption shall be made and signed by the person entitled to
the exemption, by his or her attorney in fact or in the event the
residence of such person is under mortgage or purchase contract requiring accumulation of reserves out of which the
holder of the mortgage or contract is required to pay real
estate taxes, by such holder or by the owner, either before two
witnesses or the county assessor or his or her deputy in the
county where the real property is located: PROVIDED, That
if a claim for exemption is made by a person living in a cooperative housing association, corporation, or partnership, such
claim shall be made and signed by the person entitled to the
exemption and by the authorized agent of such cooperative.
(2) If the taxpayer is unable to submit his or her own
claim, the claim shall be submitted by a duly authorized agent
or by a guardian or other person charged with the care of the
person or property of such taxpayer.
(3) All claims for exemption and renewal applications
shall be accompanied by such documented verification of
income as shall be prescribed by rule adopted by the department of revenue.
(4) Any person signing a false claim with the intent to
defraud or evade the payment of any tax is guilty of perjury
under chapter 9A.72 RCW.
(5) The tax liability of a cooperative housing association,
corporation, or partnership shall be reduced by the amount of
tax exemption to which a claimant residing therein is entitled
and such cooperative shall reduce any amount owed by the
claimant to the cooperative by such exact amount of tax
exemption or, if no amount be owed, the cooperative shall
make payment to the claimant of such exact amount of
exemption.
(6) A remainderman or other person who would have
otherwise paid the tax on real property that is the subject of an
exemption granted under RCW 84.36.381 for an estate for
life shall reduce the amount which would have been payable
by the life tenant to the remainderman or other person to the
extent of the exemption. If no amount is owed or separately
stated as an obligation between these persons, the remainderman or other person shall make payment to the life tenant in
the exact amount of the exemption. [2003 c 53 § 408; 1992 c
206 § 14; 1980 c 185 § 6; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 16; 1974 ex.s.
c 182 § 4.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.451
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.389 Residences—Rules and regulations—
Audits—Confidentiality—Criminal penalty. (1) The
director of the department of revenue shall adopt such rules
and regulations and prescribe such forms as may be necessary
and appropriate for implementation and administration of this
chapter subject to chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative
procedure act.
(2) The department may conduct such audits of the
administration of RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389 and the
claims for exemption filed thereunder as it considers necessary. The powers of the department under chapter 84.08
RCW apply to these audits.
(3) Any information or facts concerning confidential
income data obtained by the assessor or the department, or
their agents or employees, under subsection (2) of this section
shall be used only to administer RCW 84.36.381 through
84.36.389. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, absent written consent by the person about whom the
information or facts have been obtained, the confidential
income data shall not be disclosed by the assessor or the
assessor’s agents or employees to anyone other than the
department or the department’s agents or employees nor by
the department or the department’s agents or employees to
anyone other than the assessor or the assessor’s agents or
employees except in a judicial proceeding pertaining to the
taxpayer’s entitlement to the tax exemption under RCW
84.36.381 through 84.36.389. Any violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor. [1979 ex.s. c 214 § 4; 1974 ex.s. c 182
§ 5.]
84.36.389
Applicability—1979 ex.s. c 214: See note following RCW 84.36.381.
84.36.400 Improvements to single family dwellings.
Any physical improvement to single family dwellings upon
real property shall be exempt from taxation for the three
assessment years subsequent to the completion of the
improvement to the extent that the improvement represents
thirty percent or less of the value of the original structure. A
taxpayer desiring to obtain the exemption granted by this section must file notice of his intention to construct the improvement prior to the improvement being made on forms prescribed by the department of revenue and furnished to the
taxpayer by the county assessor: PROVIDED, That this
exemption cannot be claimed more than once in a five-year
period.
The department of revenue shall promulgate such rules
and regulations as are necessary and convenient to properly
administer the provisions of this section. [1972 ex.s. c 125 §
3.]
84.36.400
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 125: See note following RCW 84.40.045.
84.36.451
84.36.451 Right to occupy or use certain public property, including leasehold interests. (1) The following property shall be exempt from taxation: Any and all rights to
occupy or use any real or personal property owned in fee or
held in trust by:
(a) The United States, the state of Washington, or any
political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state of
Washington; or
[Title 84 RCW—page 71]
84.36.470
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(b) A public corporation, commission, or authority created under RCW 35.21.730 or 35.21.660 if the property is
listed on or is within a district listed on any federal or state
register of historical sites; and
(c) Including any leasehold interest arising from the
property identified in (a) and (b) of this subsection as defined
in RCW 82.29A.020.
(2) The exemption under this section shall not apply to:
(a) Any such leasehold interests which are a part of operating properties of public utilities subject to assessment under
chapter 84.12 RCW; or
(b) Any such leasehold interest consisting of three thousand or more residential and recreational lots that are or may
be subleased for residential and recreational purposes.
(3) The exemption under this section shall not be construed to modify the provisions of RCW 84.40.230. [2001 c
26 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 196 § 10; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 14.]
Application—2001 c 26 §§ 2 and 3: See note following RCW
84.40.410.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 82.04.240.
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61: See RCW
82.29A.900 and 82.29A.910.
Leasehold excise tax: Chapter 82.29A RCW.
84.36.470
84.36.470 Agricultural products—Exemption. The
following property shall be exempt from taxation: Any agricultural product as defined in RCW 82.04.213 and grown or
produced for sale by any person upon the person’s own lands
or upon lands in which the person has a present right of possession. Taxpayers shall not be required to report, or assessors to list, the inventories covered by this exemption. [1997
c 156 § 6; 1989 c 378 § 12; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 17; 1974
ex.s. c 169 § 8.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
Legislative intent—Review—Reports—1974 ex.s. c 169: "This 1974
act is intended to stimulate the economy of the state, and thereby to increase
the revenues of the state and its local taxing districts. The department of revenue shall review the impact of this 1974 act upon the economy and revenues
of the state and its local taxing districts, and shall report thereon biennially to
the legislature. Recommendations for additional legislation shall be included
in such reports if such legislation is needed to assure that the economic stimulus provided by this 1974 act is balanced by increased revenues." [1974
ex.s. c 169 § 1.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 169: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 169 § 10.]
Effective date—1974 ex.s. c 169: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on
May 10, 1974." [1974 ex.s. c 169 § 11.]
Powers of department of revenue to promulgate rules and prescribe procedures to carry out this section: RCW 84.40.405.
84.36.477
84.36.477 Business inventories. (1) Business inventories are exempt from property taxation.
(2) As used in this section:
(a)(i) "Business inventories" means all livestock, inventories of finished goods and work in process, and personal
property not under lease or rental, acquired, or produced
solely for the purpose of sale or lease or for the purpose of
consuming the property in producing for sale or lease a new
[Title 84 RCW—page 72]
article of tangible personal property of which the property
becomes an ingredient or component.
(ii) "Business inventories" also includes:
(A) All grains and flour, fruit and fruit products, unprocessed timber, vegetables and vegetable products, and fish and
fish products, while being transported to or held in storage in
a public or private warehouse or storage area if actually
shipped to points outside the state on or before April 30th of
the first year for which they would otherwise be taxable;
(B) All finished plywood, hardboard, and particleboard
panels shipped from outside this state to any processing plant
within this state, if the panels are moving under a through
freight rate to final destination outside this state and the carrier grants the shipper the privilege of stopping the shipment
in transit for the purpose of storing, milling, manufacturing,
or other processing, while the panels are in the process of
being treated or shaped into flat component parts to be incorporated into finished products outside this state and for thirty
days after completion of the processing or treatment;
(C) All ore or metal shipped from outside this state to
any smelter or refining works within this state, while in process of reduction or refinement and for thirty days after completion of the reduction or refinement; and
(D) All metals refined by electrolytic process into cathode or bar form while in this form and held under negotiable
warehouse receipt in a public or private warehouse recognized by an established incorporated commodity exchange
and for sale through the exchange.
(iii) "Business inventories" does not include personal
property acquired or produced for the purpose of lease or
rental if the property was leased or rented at any time during
the calendar year immediately preceding the year of assessment and was not thereafter remanufactured, nor does it
include property held within the normal course of business
for lease or rental for periods of less than thirty days.
(iv) "Business inventories" does not include agricultural
or horticultural property fully or partially exempt under RCW
84.36.470.
(v) "Business inventories" does not include timber that is
standing on public land and that is sold under a contract
entered into after August 1, 1982;
(b) "Fish and fish products" means all fish and fish products suitable and designed for human consumption, excluding all others;
(c) "Fruit and fruit products" means all raw edible fruits,
berries, and hops and all processed products of fruits, berries,
or hops, suitable and designed for human consumption, while
in the hands of the first processor;
(d) "Processed" means canning, barreling, bottling, preserving, refining, freezing, packing, milling, or any other
method employed to keep any grain, fruit, vegetable, or fish
in an edible condition or to put it into more suitable or convenient form for consuming, storing, shipping, or marketing;
(e) "Remanufactured" means the restoration of property
to essentially its original condition, but does not mean normal
maintenance or repairs; and
(f) "Vegetables and vegetable products" means all raw
edible vegetables such as peas, beans, beets, sugar beets, and
other vegetables, and all processed products of vegetables,
suitable and designed for human consumption, while in the
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
hands of the first processor. [2001 c 187 § 15; 1983 1st ex.s.
c 62 § 6.]
Short title—Intent—1983 1st ex.s. c 62: "(1) This act shall be known
as the homeowner’s property tax relief act of 1983.
(2) The intent of the inventory tax phaseout was to stimulate the economy of the state and to increase the revenues of the state and local taxing districts by attracting new business, encouraging the expansion of existing businesses thereby increasing economic activity and tax revenue on noninventory property. The inventory tax phaseout will cause certain unforeseen and
heretofore unprepared for tax shifts among property owners.
(3) This act is intended to lessen the impact of the property tax shift.
Relief is provided by the following means:
(a) The state will provide fourteen million dollars over a four-year
period to lessen the impact on the most severely affected districts.
(b) Persons purchasing timber on public lands after August 1, 1982, are
required to continue to pay property tax on those timber inventories. They
will receive a credit against the timber excise tax for these property tax payments.
(c) Local governments are granted the ability to lessen their short-term
reliance on the property tax without reducing their future ability to levy property taxes." [1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 1.]
Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s. c 62: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect immediately [June 13, 1983], except sections 6 through 8
and 14 of this act which shall take effect January 1, 1984, and shall be effective for taxes first due in 1984 and thereafter." [1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 15.]
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Rules and regulations, procedures: RCW 84.40.405.
84.36.550
controlling, or disposing of industrial waste that, if released
to the outdoor atmosphere, could cause air pollution, or that
are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to
their construction, installation, or operation.
(3) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section. [1997 c 368
§ 11.]
Findings—Intent—Rules adoption—Severability—Effective date—
1997 c 368: See notes following RCW 82.08.810.
84.36.500 Conservation futures on agricultural land.
All conservation futures on agricultural lands acquired pursuant to RCW 64.04.130 or 84.34.200 through 84.34.240, that
are held by any nonprofit corporation or association, the primary purpose of which is conserving agricultural lands and
preventing the conversion of such lands to nonagricultural
uses, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation if:
(1) The conservation futures are of an unlimited duration;
(2) The conservation futures are effectively restricted to
preclude nonagricultural uses on such agricultural land; and
(3) The lands are classified as farm and agricultural lands
under chapter 84.34 RCW: PROVIDED, That at such time as
these property interests are not used for the purposes enumerated in RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 the additional tax
specified in *RCW 84.34.108(3) shall be imposed. [1984 c
131 § 11.]
84.36.500
84.36.480
84.36.480 Nonprofit fair associations. The following
property shall be exempt from taxation: The real and personal property of a nonprofit fair association that sponsors or
conducts a fair or fairs which receive support from revenues
collected pursuant to RCW 67.16.100 and allocated by the
director of the department of agriculture. To be exempt under
this section, the property must be used exclusively for fair
purposes, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805. However,
the loan or rental of property otherwise exempt under this
section to a private concessionaire or to any person for use as
a concession in conjunction with activities permitted under
this section shall not nullify the exemption if the concession
charges are subject to agreement and the rental income, if
any, is reasonable and is devoted solely to the operation and
maintenance of the property. [1984 c 220 § 6; 1975 1st ex.s.
c 291 § 22.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.487
84.36.487 Air pollution control equipment in thermal
electric generation facilities—Records—Payments on
cessation of operation. (1) Air pollution control equipment
constructed or installed after May 15, 1997, by businesses
engaged in the generation of electric energy at thermal electric generation facilities first placed in operation after
December 31, 1969, and before July 1, 1975, shall be exempt
from property taxation. The owners shall maintain the
records in such a manner that the annual beginning and ending asset balance of the pollution control facilities and depreciation method can be identified.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "air pollution control
equipment" means any treatment works, control devices and
disposal systems, machinery, equipment, structures, property, property improvements, and accessories, that are
installed or acquired for the primary purpose of reducing,
(2006 Ed.)
*Reviser’s note: RCW 84.34.108 was amended by 1999 sp.s. c 4 § 706,
changing subsection (3) to subsection (4).
84.36.510 Mobile homes in dealer’s inventory. Any
mobile home which is a part of a dealer’s inventory and held
solely for sale in the ordinary course of the dealer’s business
and is not used for any other purpose shall be exempt from
property taxation: PROVIDED, That this exemption shall
not apply to property taxes already levied or delinquent on
such mobile home at the time it becomes part of a dealer’s
inventory. [1985 c 395 § 7.]
84.36.510
84.36.550 Nonprofit organizations—Property used
for solicitation or collection of gifts, donations, or grants.
The real and personal property owned by nonprofit organizations and used for solicitation or collection of gifts, donations, or grants is exempt from taxation if the organization
meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The organization is organized and conducted for nonsectarian purposes.
(2) The organization is affiliated with a state or national
organization that authorizes, approves, or sanctions volunteer
charitable fund-raising organizations.
(3) The organization is qualified for exemption under
section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code.
(4) The organization is governed by a volunteer board of
directors.
(5) The gifts, donations, and grants are used by the organization for character-building, benevolent, protective, or
rehabilitative social services directed at persons of all ages, or
for distribution under subsection (6) of this section.
(6) The organization distributes gifts, donations, or
grants to at least five other nonprofit organizations or associations that are organized and conducted for nonsectarian purposes and provide character-building, benevolent, protective,
84.36.550
[Title 84 RCW—page 73]
84.36.560
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
or rehabilitative social services directed at persons of all ages.
[1993 c 79 § 1.]
Applicability—1993 c 79: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1994 and thereafter." [1993 c 79 § 5.]
84.36.560
84.36.560 Nonprofit organizations that provide
rental housing or used space to very low-income households. (1) The real and personal property owned or used by
a nonprofit entity in providing rental housing for very lowincome households or used to provide space for the placement of a mobile home for a very low-income household
within a mobile home park is exempt from taxation if:
(a) The benefit of the exemption inures to the nonprofit
entity;
(b) At least seventy-five percent of the occupied dwelling units in the rental housing or lots in a mobile home park
are occupied by a very low-income household; and
(c) The rental housing or lots in a mobile home park were
insured, financed, or assisted in whole or in part through:
(i) A federal or state housing program administered by
the department of community, trade, and economic development; or
(ii) An affordable housing levy authorized under RCW
84.52.105.
(2) If less than seventy-five percent of the occupied
dwelling units within the rental housing or lots in the mobile
home park are occupied by very low-income households, the
rental housing or mobile home park is eligible for a partial
exemption on the real property and a total exemption of the
housing’s or park’s personal property as follows:
(a) A partial exemption shall be allowed for each dwelling unit in the rental housing or for each lot in a mobile home
park occupied by a very low-income household.
(b) The amount of exemption shall be calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property reasonably necessary to provide the rental housing or to operate the mobile
home park by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the
number of dwelling units or lots occupied by very lowincome households as of December 31st of the first assessment year in which the rental housing or mobile home park
becomes operational or on January 1st of each subsequent
assessment year for which the exemption is claimed. The
denominator of the fraction is the total number of dwelling
units or lots occupied as of December 31st of the first assessment year the rental housing or mobile home park becomes
operational and January 1st of each subsequent assessment
year for which exemption is claimed.
(3) If a currently exempt rental housing unit in a facility
with ten units or fewer or mobile home lot in a mobile home
park with ten lots or fewer was occupied by a very lowincome household at the time the exemption was granted and
the income of the household subsequently rises above fifty
percent of the median income but remains at or below eighty
percent of the median income, the exemption will continue as
long as the housing continues to meet the certification
requirements of a very low-income housing program administered by the department of community, trade, and economic
development or the affordable housing levy under RCW
84.52.105. For purposes of this section, median income, as
most recently determined by the federal department of housing and urban development for the county in which the rental
[Title 84 RCW—page 74]
housing or mobile home park is located, shall be adjusted for
family size. However, if a dwelling unit or a lot becomes
vacant and is subsequently rerented, the income of the new
household must be at or below fifty percent of the median
income adjusted for family size as most recently determined
by the federal department of housing and urban development
for the county in which the rental housing or mobile home
park is located to remain exempt from property tax.
(4) If at the time of initial application the property is
unoccupied, or subsequent to the initial application the property is unoccupied because of renovations, and the property is
not currently being used for the exempt purpose authorized
by this section but will be used for the exempt purpose within
two assessment years, the property shall be eligible for a
property tax exemption for the assessment year in which the
claim for exemption is submitted under the following conditions:
(a) A commitment for financing to acquire, construct,
renovate, or otherwise convert the property to provide housing for very low-income households has been obtained, in
whole or in part, by the nonprofit entity claiming the exemption from:
(i) A federal or state housing program administered by
the department of community, trade, and economic development; or
(ii) An affordable housing levy authorized under RCW
84.52.105;
(b) The nonprofit entity has manifested its intent in writing to construct, remodel, or otherwise convert the property
to housing for very low-income households; and
(c) Only the portion of property that will be used to provide housing or lots for very low-income households shall be
exempt under this section.
(5) To be exempt under this section, the property must be
used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is
granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.
(6) The nonprofit entity qualifying for a property tax
exemption under this section may agree to make payments to
the city, county, or other political subdivision for improvements, services, and facilities furnished by the city, county,
or political subdivision for the benefit of the rental housing.
However, these payments shall not exceed the amount last
levied as the annual tax of the city, county, or political subdivision upon the property prior to exemption.
(7) As used in this section:
(a) "Group home" means a single-family dwelling
financed, in whole or in part, by the department of community, trade, and economic development or by an affordable
housing levy under RCW 84.52.105. The residents of a group
home shall not be considered to jointly constitute a household, but each resident shall be considered to be a separate
household occupying a separate dwelling unit. The individual
incomes of the residents shall not be aggregated for purposes
of this exemption;
(b) "Mobile home lot" or "mobile home park" means the
same as these terms are defined in RCW 59.20.030;
(c) "Occupied dwelling unit" means a living unit that is
occupied by an individual or household as of December 31st
of the first assessment year the rental housing becomes operational or is occupied by an individual or household on January 1st of each subsequent assessment year in which the
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
claim for exemption is submitted. If the housing facility is
comprised of three or fewer dwelling units and there are any
unoccupied units on January 1st, the department shall base
the amount of the exemption upon the number of occupied
dwelling units as of December 31st of the first assessment
year the rental housing becomes operational and on May 1st
of each subsequent assessment year in which the claim for
exemption is submitted;
(d) "Rental housing" means a residential housing facility
or group home that is occupied but not owned by very lowincome households;
(e) "Very low-income household" means a single person,
family, or unrelated persons living together whose income is
at or below fifty percent of the median income adjusted for
family size as most recently determined by the federal department of housing and urban development for the county in
which the rental housing is located and in effect as of January
1st of the year the application for exemption is submitted; and
(f) "Nonprofit entity" means a:
(i) Nonprofit as defined in RCW 84.36.800 that is
exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the federal
internal revenue code;
(ii) Limited partnership where a nonprofit as defined in
RCW 84.36.800 that is exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code, a public corporation established under RCW 35.21.660, 35.21.670, or
35.21.730, a housing authority created under RCW 35.82.030
or 35.82.300, or a housing authority meeting the definition in
RCW 35.82.210(2)(a) is a general partner; or
(iii) Limited liability company where a nonprofit as
defined in RCW 84.36.800 that is exempt from income tax
under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code, a
public corporation established under RCW 35.21.660,
35.21.670, or 35.21.730, a housing authority established
under RCW 35.82.030 or 35.82.300, or a housing authority
meeting the definition in RCW 35.82.210(2)(a) is a managing
member. [2001 1st sp.s. c 7 § 1; 1999 c 203 § 1.]
Application—1999 c 203: "This act applies to taxes levied in 1999 for
collection in 2000 and thereafter." [1999 c 203 § 4.]
84.36.570
84.36.570 Nonprofit organizations—Property used
for agricultural research and education programs. (1) All
real and personal property owned by a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association to provide a demonstration
farm with research and extension facilities, a public agricultural museum, and an educational tour site, which is used by
a state university for agricultural research and education programs, is exempt from property taxation. This exemption
includes all real and personal property that may be used in the
production and sale of agricultural products, not to exceed
fifty acres, if the income is used to further the purposes of the
organization, corporation, or association.
(2) To qualify for this exemption:
(a) The nonprofit organization, corporation, or association must be qualified for exemption under section 501(c)(3)
of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec.
501(c)(3)); and
(b) The property must be used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is granted, except as provided
in RCW 84.36.805. [1999 c 139 § 1.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.595
84.36.590
84.36.590 Property used in connection with privatization contract at Hanford reservation. (1)(a) Beginning
with taxes levied for collection in calendar year 2006, all personal property located on land owned by the United States, or
an instrumentality of the United States, at the Hanford reservation that is used exclusively in the performance of a privatization contract to pretreat, treat, vitrify, and immobilize
tank waste under subsection (2) of this section is exempt from
taxation.
(b) Beginning with taxes levied for collection in calendar
year 2002, and until the application of (a) of this subsection,
all personal property located on land owned by the United
States, or an instrumentality of the United States, at the Hanford reservation that is used exclusively in the performance
of a privatization contract to pretreat, treat, vitrify, and immobilize tank waste under subsection (3) of this section is
exempt from taxes levied by the state.
(2) To qualify for the exemption provided in subsection
(1)(a) of this section, the personal property must be owned by
a person that has a privatization contract to pretreat, treat, vitrify, and immobilize tank waste located at the Hanford reservation. For the purposes of this section, a privatization contract means a contract in which the United States, or an
instrumentality of the United States, has designated the other
contracting party as a party responsible for carrying out tank
waste clean-up operations at the Hanford reservation.
(3) To qualify for the exemption provided in subsection
(1)(b) of this section, the personal property must be owned by
a person that has, and complies with, a privatization contract
to pretreat, treat, vitrify, and immobilize tank waste located at
the Hanford reservation. The personal property must be
acquired or constructed, and operated, in compliance with the
tank waste treatment complex requirements of the Hanford
federal facility agreement and consent order, including
schedules for tank waste treatment complex start of construction, initiation of hot commissioning, and schedules for tank
waste pretreatment processing and vitrification. The privatization contractor shall submit annually, on or before August
1st, a progress report to the Washington state department of
ecology documenting compliance with the requirements of
the agreement and consent order and the terms of the privatization contract. The department of ecology shall annually
issue, on or before October 1st, a determination to the department of revenue indicating whether the privatization contractor is in compliance with the requirements of the agreement
and consent order.
(4) An inadvertent use of property, which otherwise
qualifies for an exemption under this section, in a manner
inconsistent with the purpose for which the exemption is
granted, does not nullify the exemption if the inadvertent use
is not part of a pattern of use. A pattern of use is presumed
when an inadvertent use is repeated in the same assessment
year or in two or more successive assessment years. [2000 c
246 § 1.]
Effective date—2000 c 246: "This act takes effect January 1, 2001."
[2000 c 246 § 2.]
84.36.595
84.36.595 Motor vehicles, travel trailers, campers,
and vehicles carrying exempt licenses. (1) For the purposes
of this section, the following definitions apply:
[Title 84 RCW—page 75]
84.36.600
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(a) "Motor vehicle" means all motor vehicles, trailers,
and semitrailers used, or of the type designed primarily to be
used, upon the public streets and highways, for the convenience or pleasure of the owner, or for the conveyance, for
hire or otherwise, of persons or property, including fixed
loads and facilities for human habitation; but shall not
include (i) vehicles carrying exempt licenses; (ii) dock and
warehouse tractors and their cars or trailers, lumber carriers
of the type known as spiders, and all other automotive equipment not designed primarily for use upon public streets or
highways; (iii) motor vehicles or their trailers used entirely
upon private property; (iv) mobile homes as defined in RCW
46.04.302; or (v) motor vehicles owned by nonresident military personnel of the armed forces of the United States stationed in the state of Washington, provided personnel were
also nonresident at the time of their entry into military service.
(b) "Travel trailer" has the meaning given in RCW
46.04.623. However, if a park trailer, as defined in RCW
46.04.622, has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit
by virtue of its being permanently sited in location and placed
on a foundation of either posts or blocks with connections
with sewer, water, or other utilities for the operation of
installed fixtures and appliances, it will be considered real
property and will be subject to ad valorem property taxation
imposed in accordance with this title, including the provisions with respect to omitted property, except that a park
trailer located on land not owned by the owner of the park
trailer will be subject to the personal property provisions of
chapter 84.56 RCW and RCW 84.60.040.
(c) "Camper" has the meaning given in RCW 46.04.085.
(2) Motor vehicles, vehicles carrying exempt licenses,
travel trailers, and campers are exempt from property taxation. [2004 c 156 § 1; 2000 c 136 § 1.]
Effective date—2000 c 136: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[March 27, 2000]." [2000 c 136 § 2.]
Retroactive application—2000 c 136: "This act applies retroactively
to January 1, 2000." [2000 c 136 § 3.]
84.36.600
84.36.600 Computer software. (1) All custom computer software, except embedded software, is exempt from
property taxation.
(2) Retained rights in computer software are exempt
from property taxation.
(3) Modifications to canned software are exempt from
property taxation, but the underlying canned software
remains subject to taxation as provided in RCW 84.40.037.
(4) Master or golden copies of computer software are
exempt from property taxation. [1991 sp.s. c 29 § 3.]
Findings, intent—Severability—Application—1991 sp.s. c 29: See
notes following RCW 84.04.150.
84.36.605
84.36.605 Sales/leasebacks by regional transit
authorities. All real and personal property subject to a
sale/leaseback agreement under RCW 81.112.300 is exempt
from taxation. [2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 27.]
Findings—Construction—2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 §§ 18-30: See notes following RCW 81.112.300.
[Title 84 RCW—page 76]
84.36.630
84.36.630 Farming machinery and equipment. (1)
All machinery and equipment owned by a farmer that is personal property is exempt from property taxes levied for any
state purpose if it is used exclusively in growing and producing agricultural products during the calendar year for which
the claim for exemption is made.
(2) "Farmer" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
82.04.213.
(3) A claim for exemption under this section shall be
filed with the county assessor together with the statement
required under RCW 84.40.190, for exemption from taxes
payable the following year. The claim shall be made solely
upon forms as prescribed and furnished by the department of
revenue. [2003 c 302 § 7; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 24 § 1.]
Application—2001 2nd sp.s. c 24: "This act applies to taxes levied for
collection in 2003 and every year thereafter." [2001 2nd sp.s. c 24 § 3.]
84.36.635
84.36.635 Property used for the manufacture of alcohol fuel or biodiesel fuel. (1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Alcohol fuel" means any alcohol made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas, which is used alone
or in combination with gasoline or other petroleum products
for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, farm implements, and
machines or implements of husbandry.
(b) "Biodiesel feedstock" means oil that is produced
from an agricultural crop for the sole purpose of ultimately
producing biodiesel fuel.
(c) "Biodiesel fuel" means a mono alkyl ester of long
chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats
for use in compression-ignition engines and that meets the
requirements of the American society of testing and materials
specification D 6751 in effect as of January 1, 2003.
(2)(a) All buildings, machinery, equipment, and other
personal property which is used primarily for the manufacturing of alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, the
land upon which this property is located, and land that is reasonably necessary in the manufacturing of alcohol fuel,
biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, but not land necessary
for growing of crops, which together comprise a new manufacturing facility or an addition to an existing manufacturing
facility, are exempt from property taxation for the six assessment years following the date on which the facility or the
addition to the existing facility becomes operational.
(b) For manufacturing facilities which produce products
in addition to alcohol fuel, biodiesel fuel, or biodiesel feedstock, the amount of the property tax exemption shall be
based upon the annual percentage of the total value of all
products manufactured that is the value of the alcohol fuel,
biodiesel fuel, and biodiesel feedstock manufactured.
(3) Claims for exemptions authorized by this section
shall be filed with the county assessor on forms prescribed by
the department of revenue and furnished by the assessor.
Once filed, the exemption is valid for six years and shall not
be renewed. The assessor shall verify and approve claims as
the assessor determines to be justified and in accordance with
this section. No claims may be filed after December 31,
2009.
The department of revenue may promulgate such rules,
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary to properly
administer this section. [2003 c 261 § 9.]
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
Application—2003 c 261 § 9: "Section 9 of this act applies to taxes
levied for collection in 2004 and thereafter." [2003 c 261 § 12.]
Effective dates—2003 c 261: "(1) Sections 9 through 15 of this act are
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of state government and its existing public institutions, and
take effect July 1, 2003.
(2) Sections 1 through 8 of this act take effect July 1, 2004." [2003 c
261 § 13.]
84.36.640
84.36.640 Property used for the manufacture of
wood biomass fuel. (1) For the purposes of this section,
"wood biomass fuel" means a pyrolytic liquid fuel or synthesis gas-derived liquid fuel, used in internal combustion
engines, and produced from wood, forest, or field residue, or
dedicated energy crops that do not include wood pieces that
have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or copper-chroma-arsenic.
(2)(a) All buildings, machinery, equipment, and other
personal property which is used primarily for the manufacturing of wood biomass fuel, the land upon which this property
is located, and land that is reasonably necessary in the manufacturing of wood biomass fuel, but not land necessary for
growing of crops, which together comprise a new manufacturing facility or an addition to an existing manufacturing
facility, are exempt from property taxation for the six assessment years following the date on which the facility or the
addition to the existing facility becomes operational.
(b) For manufacturing facilities which produce products
in addition to wood biomass fuel, the amount of the property
tax exemption shall be based upon the annual percentage of
the total value of all products manufactured that is the value
of the wood biomass fuel manufactured.
(3) Claims for exemptions authorized by this section
shall be filed with the county assessor on forms prescribed by
the department of revenue and furnished by the assessor.
Once filed, the exemption is valid for six years and shall not
be renewed. The assessor shall verify and approve claims as
the assessor determines to be justified and in accordance with
this section. No claims may be filed after December 31,
2009.
The department of revenue may promulgate such rules,
pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary to properly
administer this section. [2003 c 339 § 9.]
Application—2003 c 339 § 9: "Section 9 of this act applies to taxes
levied for collection in 2004 and thereafter." [2003 c 339 § 15.]
Effective dates—2003 c 339: "(1) Sections 9 through 15 of this act are
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions,
and take effect July 1, 2003.
(2) Sections 1 through 8 of this act take effect July 1, 2004." [2003 c
339 § 16.]
84.36.645
84.36.645 Semiconductor materials. (Contingent
effective date; contingent expiration date.) (1) Machinery
and equipment exempt under RCW 82.08.02565 or
82.12.02565 used in manufacturing semiconductor materials
at a building exempt from sales and use tax and in compliance with the employment requirement under RCW
82.08.965 and 82.12.965 are tax exempt from taxation.
"Semiconductor materials" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.240(2).
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.655
(2) A person seeking this exemption must make application to the county assessor, on forms prescribed by the
department.
(3) A person receiving an exemption under this section
must report in the manner prescribed in RCW 82.32.535.
(4) This section is effective for taxes levied for collection
one year after *the effective date of this act and thereafter.
(5) This section expires December 31st of the year
occurring twelve years after *the effective date of this act, for
taxes levied for collection in the following year. [2003 c 149
§ 10.]
*Contingent effective date—Findings—Intent—2003 c 149: See
notes following RCW 82.04.426.
84.36.650
84.36.650 Property used by certain nonprofits to
solicit or collect money for artists. The real and personal
property owned or used by a nonprofit organization is exempt
from taxation if the property is used for solicitation or collection of gifts, donations, or grants for the support of individual
artists and the organization meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The organization is organized and conducted for nonsectarian purposes.
(2) The organization is qualified for exemption under
section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code.
(3) The organization is governed by a volunteer board of
directors of at least eight members.
(4) If the property is leased, the benefit of the exemption
inures to the user.
(5) The gifts, donations, and grants are used by the organization for grants, fellowships, information services, and
educational resources in support of individual artists engaged
in the production or performance of musical, dance, artistic,
dramatic, or literary works. [2003 c 344 § 1.]
Application—2003 c 344: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2004 and thereafter." [2003 c 344 § 3.]
84.36.655
84.36.655 Property related to the manufacture of
superefficient airplanes. (Expires July 1, 2024.) (1) Effective January 1, 2005, all buildings, machinery, equipment,
and other personal property of a lessee of a port district eligible under RCW 82.08.980 and 82.12.980, used exclusively in
manufacturing superefficient airplanes, are exempt from
property taxation. A person taking the credit under RCW
82.04.4463 is not eligible for the exemption under this section. For the purposes of this section, "superefficient airplane" and "component" have the meanings given in RCW
82.32.550.
(2) In addition to all other requirements under this title, a
person taking the exemption under this section must report as
required under RCW 82.32.545.
(3) Claims for exemption authorized by this section shall
be filed with the county assessor on forms prescribed by the
department and furnished by the assessor. The assessor shall
verify and approve claims as the assessor determines to be
justified and in accordance with this section. No claims may
be filed after December 31, 2023. The department may adopt
rules, under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary to properly administer this section.
(4) This section applies to taxes levied for collection in
2006 and thereafter.
[Title 84 RCW—page 77]
84.36.660
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(5) This section expires July 1, 2024. [2003 2nd sp.s. c 1
§ 14.]
Contingent effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See RCW 82.32.550.
Finding—2003 2nd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.04.4461.
84.36.660
84.36.660 Installation of automatic sprinkler system
under RCW 19.27.500 through 19.27.520. (1) Prior to
installation of an automatic sprinkler system under RCW
19.27.500 through 19.27.520, an owner of property may
apply to the assessor of the county in which the property is
located for a special property tax exemption. This application shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department
of revenue and supplied by the county assessor.
(2) As used in this chapter, "special property tax exemption" means the determination of the assessed value of the
property subtracting, for ten years, the increase in value
attributable to the installation of an automatic sprinkler system under RCW 19.27.500 through 19.27.520.
(3) The county assessor shall, for ten consecutive assessment years following the calendar year in which application
is made, place a special property tax exemption on property
classified as eligible. [2005 c 148 § 4.]
GENERAL PROVISIONS
84.36.800
84.36.800 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Church purposes" means the use of real and personal property owned by a nonprofit religious organization
for religious worship or related administrative, educational,
eleemosynary, and social activities. This definition is to be
broadly construed;
(2) "Convent" means a house or set of buildings occupied by a community of clergy or nuns devoted to religious
life under a superior;
(3) "Hospital" means any portion of a hospital building,
or other buildings in connection therewith, used as a residence for persons engaged or employed in the operation of a
hospital, or operated as a portion of the hospital unit;
(4) "Nonprofit" means an organization, association or
corporation no part of the income of which is paid directly or
indirectly to its members, stockholders, officers, directors or
trustees except in the form of services rendered by the organization, association, or corporation in accordance with its
purposes and bylaws and the salary or compensation paid to
officers of such organization, association or corporation is for
actual services rendered and compares to the salary or compensation of like positions within the public services of the
state;
(5) "Parsonage" means a residence occupied by a member of the clergy who has been designated for a particular
congregation and who holds regular services therefor. [1998
c 311 § 24; 1998 c 202 § 2. Prior: 1997 c 156 § 7; 1997 c 143
§ 2; 1994 c 124 § 18; 1993 c 79 § 2; 1989 c 379 § 3; 1981 c
141 § 3; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 6.]
Applicability—1997 c 143: See note following RCW 84.36.046.
Applicability—1993 c 79: See note following RCW 84.36.550.
Severability—Effective date—1989 c 379: See notes following RCW
84.36.040.
Applicability, construction—1981 c 141: See note following RCW
84.36.060.
[Title 84 RCW—page 78]
84.36.805
84.36.805 Conditions for obtaining exemptions by
nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations.
(1) In order to qualify for an exemption under this chapter,
the nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations
must satisfy the conditions in this section.
(2) The property must be used exclusively for the actual
operation of the activity for which exemption is granted,
unless otherwise provided, and does not exceed an amount
reasonably necessary for that purpose, except:
(a) The loan or rental of the property does not subject the
property to tax if:
(i) The rents and donations received for the use of the
portion of the property are reasonable and do not exceed the
maintenance and operation expenses attributable to the portion of the property loaned or rented; and
(ii) Except for the exemptions under RCW 84.36.030(4),
84.36.037, 84.36.050, and 84.36.060(1) (a) and (b), the property would be exempt from tax if owned by the organization
to which it is loaned or rented;
(b) The use of the property for fund-raising activities
does not subject the property to tax if the fund-raising activities are consistent with the purposes for which the exemption
is granted.
(3) The facilities and services must be available to all
regardless of race, color, national origin or ancestry.
(4) The organization, association, or corporation must be
duly licensed or certified where such licensing or certification is required by law or regulation.
(5) Property sold to organizations, associations, or corporations with an option to be repurchased by the seller shall
not qualify for exempt status. This subsection does not apply
to property sold to a nonprofit entity, as defined in RCW
84.36.560(7), by:
(a) A nonprofit as defined in RCW 84.36.800 that is
exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the federal
internal revenue code;
(b) A governmental entity established under RCW
35.21.660, 35.21.670, or 35.21.730;
(c) A housing authority created under RCW 35.82.030;
(d) A housing authority meeting the definition in RCW
35.82.210(2)(a); or
(e) A housing authority established under RCW
35.82.300.
(6) The department shall have access to its books in
order to determine whether the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation is exempt from taxes under this chapter.
(7) This section does not apply to exemptions granted
under RCW 84.36.020, 84.36.032, 84.36.250, and 84.36.260.
[2006 c 319 § 1; 2006 c 226 § 3; 2003 c 121 § 2; 2001 1st sp.s.
c 7 § 2. Prior: 1999 c 203 § 2; 1999 c 139 § 3; prior: 1998 c
311 § 25; 1998 c 202 § 3; 1998 c 184 § 2; prior: 1997 c 156
§ 8; 1997 c 143 § 3; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 § 2; 1993 c 79 § 3;
prior: 1990 c 283 §§ 3 and 7; 1989 c 379 § 4; 1987 c 468 § 1;
1984 c 220 § 7; 1981 c 141 § 4; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 7.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 2006 c 226 § 3 and by
2006 c 319 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For
rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Findings—Intent—2006 c 226: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
Application—1999 c 203: See note following RCW 84.36.560.
(2006 Ed.)
Exemptions
Application—1998 c 184: See note following RCW 84.36.045.
Applicability—1997 c 143: See note following RCW 84.36.046.
Applicability—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9 §§ 1 and 2: See note following
RCW 84.36.035.
Effective date—1995 2nd sp.s. c 9: See note following RCW
84.36.035.
Applicability—1993 c 79: See note following RCW 84.36.550.
Construction—1990 c 283 §§ 6 and 7: See note following RCW
84.36.030.
Severability—Effective date—1989 c 379: See notes following RCW
84.36.040.
Applicability—1987 c 468: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1988 and thereafter." [1987 c 468 § 3.]
Applicability, construction—1981 c 141: See note following RCW
84.36.060.
84.36.815
(g) A change in the exempt portion of a home for the
aging under RCW 84.36.041(3), as long as some portion of
the home remains exempt; or
(h) Transfer to an agency of the state of Washington or
the city or county within which the property is located.
(3) Subsection (2)(e) and (f) of this section do [does] not
apply to property leased to a state institution of higher education and exempt under RCW 84.36.050(2). [2006 c 305 § 4;
2003 c 344 § 2; 2001 c 126 § 3. Prior: 1999 c 203 § 3; 1999
c 139 § 4; prior: 1998 c 311 § 26; 1998 c 202 § 4; prior: 1997
c 156 § 9; 1997 c 143 § 4; 1994 c 124 § 19; 1993 c 79 § 4;
1990 c 283 § 4; 1989 c 379 § 5; 1987 c 468 § 2; 1984 c 220 §
8; 1983 c 185 § 1; 1981 c 141 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c 209 § 1; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 40 § 8.]
Application—2001 c 126: See note following RCW 84.36.040.
Application—1999 c 203: See note following RCW 84.36.560.
84.36.810
84.36.810 Cessation of use under which exemption
granted—Collection of taxes. (1)(a) Upon cessation of a
use under which an exemption has been granted pursuant to
RCW 84.36.030, 84.36.037, 84.36.040, 84.36.041,
84.36.042, 84.36.043, 84.36.046, 84.36.050, 84.36.060,
84.36.550, 84.36.560, 84.36.570, and 84.36.650, except as
provided in (b) of this subsection, the county treasurer shall
collect all taxes which would have been paid had the property
not been exempt during the three years preceding, or the life
of such exemption, if such be less, together with the interest
at the same rate and computed in the same way as that upon
delinquent property taxes. If the property has been granted
an exemption for more than ten consecutive years, taxes and
interest shall not be assessed under this section.
(b) Upon cessation of use by an institution of higher education of property exempt under RCW 84.36.050(2) the
county treasurer shall collect all taxes which would have
been paid had the property not been exempt during the seven
years preceding, or the life of the exemption, whichever is
less.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies only when ownership of the property is transferred or when fifty-one percent
or more of the area of the property loses its exempt status.
The additional tax under subsection (1) of this section shall
not be imposed if the cessation of use resulted solely from:
(a) Transfer to a nonprofit organization, association, or
corporation for a use which also qualifies and is granted
exemption under this chapter;
(b) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or sale or transfer to an entity having the power
of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of such
power;
(c) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the property is
located which disallows the present use of such property;
(d) A natural disaster such as a flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other such calamity rather than by virtue of the act
of the organization, association, or corporation changing the
use of such property;
(e) Relocation of the activity and use of another location
or site except for undeveloped properties of camp facilities
exempted under RCW 84.36.030;
(f) Cancellation of a lease on leased property that had
been exempt under this chapter;
(2006 Ed.)
Applicability—1997 c 143: See note following RCW 84.36.046.
Applicability—1993 c 79: See note following RCW 84.36.550.
Severability—Effective date—1989 c 379: See notes following RCW
84.36.040.
Applicability—1987 c 468: See note following RCW 84.36.805.
Applicability, construction—1981 c 141: See note following RCW
84.36.060.
84.36.812
84.36.812 Additional tax payable at time of sale—
Appeal of assessed values. All additional taxes imposed
under RCW 84.36.262 or 84.36.810 shall become due and
payable by the seller or transferor at the time of sale. The
county auditor shall not accept an instrument of conveyance
unless the additional tax has been paid or the department of
revenue has determined that the property is not subject to
RCW 84.36.262 or 84.36.810. The seller, the transferor, or
the new owner may appeal the assessed values upon which
the additional tax is based to the county board of equalization
in accordance with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. [2001
c 185 § 9; 1984 c 220 § 9.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
84.36.813
84.36.813 Change in use—Duty to notify county
assessor—Examination—Recommendation. An exempt
property owner shall notify the department of revenue of any
change of use prior to each assessment year. Any other person believing that a change in the use of exempt property has
occurred shall report same to the county assessor, who shall
examine the property and if the use is not in compliance with
chapter 84.36 RCW he shall report the information to the
department with a recommendation that the exempt status be
canceled. The final determination shall be made by the
department. [1977 ex.s. c 209 § 3.]
84.36.815
84.36.815 Initial application, renewal declaration for
exemption—Affidavit certifying exempt status—Exemption effective for following year. In order to qualify for
exempt status for any real or personal property under this
chapter except personal property under RCW 84.36.600, all
foreign national governments; cemeteries; nongovernmental
nonprofit corporations, organizations, and associations; hospitals owned and operated by a public hospital district for
purposes of exemption under RCW 84.36.040(2); and soil
[Title 84 RCW—page 79]
84.36.820
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
and water conservation districts shall file an initial application on or before March 31 with the state department of revenue. All applications shall be filed on forms prescribed by the
department and shall be signed by an authorized agent of the
applicant.
In order to requalify for exempt status, all applicants
except nonprofit cemeteries shall file an annual renewal declaration on or before March 31 each year. The renewal declaration shall be on forms prescribed by the department of revenue and shall contain an affidavit certifying the exempt status of the real or personal property owned by the exempt
organization. When an organization acquires real property
qualified for exemption or converts real property to exempt
status, such organization shall file an initial application for
the property within sixty days following the acquisition or
conversion. If the application is filed after the expiration of
the sixty-day period a late filing penalty shall be imposed
pursuant to RCW 84.36.825, as now or hereafter amended.
When organizations acquire real property qualified for
exemption or convert real property to an exempt use, the
property, upon approval of the application for exemption, is
entitled to a property tax exemption for property taxes due
and payable the following year. If the owner has paid taxes
for the year following the year the property qualified for
exemption, the owner is entitled to a refund of the amount
paid on the property so acquired or converted. [2001 c 126 §
4; 1998 c 311 § 27; 1994 c 123 § 1; 1991 sp.s. c 29 § 6; 1988
c 131 § 1; 1984 c 220 § 10; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 18; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 40 § 9.]
Application—2001 c 126: See note following RCW 84.36.040.
Applicability—1994 c 123: "This act shall be effective for taxes levied
for collection in 1995 and thereafter." [1994 c 123 § 5.]
Findings, intent—Severability—Application—1991 sp.s. c 29: See
notes following RCW 84.04.150.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.820
84.36.820 Application forms to be mailed to owners
of exempt property—Failure to file before due date,
effect. On or before January 1 of each year, the department
of revenue shall mail application forms to owners of record of
property exempted from property taxation at their last known
address who must file annually for continued exemption. The
department of revenue shall notify the assessor of the county
in which the property is located who shall remove the tax
exemption from any property if an application has not been
approved for exemption: PROVIDED, That failure to file
and subsequent removal of exemption shall not be subject to
review as provided in RCW 84.36.850: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the department of revenue shall review applications received after the March 31 due date, but such applications shall be subject to late filing penalties provided in RCW
84.36.825 as now or hereafter amended. [1984 c 220 § 11;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 127 § 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 10.]
or declaration fee related to the property of any church or
cemetery applying for exemption under the provisions of
RCW 84.36.020 whose gross receipts related to the use of
such property for exempt purposes did not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars during the calendar year preceding
the application year. A late filing penalty of ten dollars per
month for each month an application or declaration is past
due shall be required and shall be deposited in the general
fund. [1998 c 311 § 28; 1994 c 123 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 209 § 2;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 127 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 19; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 40 § 11.]
Applicability—1994 c 123: See note following RCW 84.36.815.
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.830
84.36.830 Review of applications for exemption—
Procedure—Approval or denial—Notice. The department
of revenue shall review each application for exemption and
make a determination thereon prior to August 1st of the
assessment year for which such application is made: PROVIDED, That each exemption application received after
March 31 shall be reviewed and determination made thereon
within thirty days of the date received or by August 1, whichever is later. The department of revenue may request such
additional relevant information as it deems necessary. The
department of revenue shall make a physical inspection of the
property and satisfy itself as to the use of all parcels prior to
approving or denying the application, and thereafter at regular intervals designed to insure compliance with this chapter.
When the department of revenue has examined the application and the subject property, it shall either approve or deny
the request and clearly state the reasons for denial in written
notification by mail to the applicant. The department shall
also notify the assessor of the county in which the property is
located. The county assessor shall place such property on the
assessment roll for the current year. [1998 c 310 § 1; 1984 c
220 § 12; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 127 § 3; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 §
12.]
Effective date—1998 c 310: "This act takes effect January 1, 1999."
[1998 c 310 § 2.]
84.36.833
84.36.833 Application for exemption or renewal may
include all contiguous exempt property. Each application
for property tax exemption, or renewal thereof, may include
all the real and personal property eligible for exempt status
under any of the sections of chapter 84.36 RCW which are
contiguous and part of a homogenous unit. Properties separated by public streets and roads shall be considered to be
contiguous for purposes of this section. [1975-’76 2nd ex.s.
c 127 § 4.]
84.36.835
84.36.825
84.36.825 Application, declaration fee—Waiver
authorized—Late filing penalty. An application fee of
thirty-five dollars for each initial application and eight dollars
and seventy-five cents for each annual renewal declaration
shall be required and shall be deposited within the general
fund. The department of revenue may waive the application
[Title 84 RCW—page 80]
84.36.835 List of exempt properties to be prepared
and furnished each county assessor. On or before August
31st, the department of revenue shall prepare a list by county
of those properties exempted by the department under this
chapter and shall forward a list to each county assessor of the
property exempt in that county. [1998 c 311 § 29; 1973 2nd
ex.s. c 40 § 13.]
(2006 Ed.)
Deferral of Special Assessments and/or Property Taxes
84.36.840
84.36.840 Statements—Reports—Information—Filing—Requirements. In order to determine whether organizations, associations, corporations or institutions except
those exempted under RCW 84.36.020 and 84.36.030 are
exempt from taxes within the intent of this chapter, and
before the exemption shall be allowed for any year, the superintendent or manager or other proper officer of the organization, association, corporation or institution claiming exemption from taxation shall file, with the department of revenue
on forms furnished by the director, a signed statement made
under oath that the income and the receipts thereof, including
donations to it, have been applied to the actual expenses of
operating and maintaining it, or for its capital expenditures,
and to no other purpose. Such forms shall also include a statement of the receipts and disbursements of said organization:
PROVIDED, That institutions claiming exemption under
RCW 84.36.050 shall file in addition a list of all property
claimed to be exempt, the purpose for which it is used, the
revenue derived from it for the preceding year, the use to
which such revenue was applied, the number of students in
attendance at the school or college, the total revenues of the
institution with the source from which they were derived, and
the purposes to which such revenues were applied, giving the
items of such revenues and expenditures in detail.
Such report shall be submitted on or before April 1st following the close of the accounting period for the fiscal year
ended during the previous calendar year. The department of
revenue shall remove the tax exemption from the property
and assets of any organization, association, corporation, or
institution which does not file such report with the department of revenue on or before the due date: PROVIDED, That
the department of revenue shall allow a reasonable extension
of time for filing upon written request filed on or before the
required filing date and for good cause shown therein. [1973
2nd ex.s. c 40 § 14.]
Chapter 84.38
Effective date—1989 c 378 § 13: "Section 13 of this act shall take
effect January 1, 1990." [1989 c 378 § 41.]
84.36.855
84.36.855 Property changing from exempt to taxable
status—Procedure. Property which changes from exempt
to taxable status shall be subject to the provisions of RCW
84.36.810 and 84.40.350 through 84.40.390, and the assessor
shall also place the property on the assessment roll for taxes
due and payable in the following year. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 §
17.]
84.36.860 Public notice of provisions of act. Each
county assessor and the director of the department of revenue
shall each issue public notice of the provisions of chapter 40,
Laws of 1973 2nd ex. sess. in such a manner as will give constructive notice to all taxpayers of that county or of the state,
as the case may be, prior to the first year in which an application for exemption is required by RCW 84.36.815 through
84.36.845. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 18.]
84.36.860
84.36.865 Rules and regulations. The department of
revenue of the state of Washington shall make such rules and
regulations consistent with chapter 34.05 RCW and the provisions of this chapter as shall be necessary or desirable to
permit its effective administration. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 20;
1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 19.]
84.36.865
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
84.36.900
84.36.900 Severability—1973 2nd ex.s. c 40. If any
provision of this 1973 amendatory act, or its application to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 22.]
84.36.905
84.36.845
84.36.845 Revocation of exemption approved or
renewed due to inaccurate information. If subsequent to
the time that the exemption of any property is initially
approved or renewed, it shall be determined that such exemption was approved or renewed as the result of inaccurate
information provided by the authorized agent of the applicant, the exemption shall be revoked and taxes shall be levied
against such property pursuant to the provisions of RCW
84.36.810. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 15.]
84.36.850
84.36.850 Review—Appeals. Any applicant aggrieved
by the department of revenue’s denial of an exemption application may petition the state board of tax appeals to review an
application for either real or personal property tax exemption
and the board shall consider any appeals to determine (1) if
the property is entitled to an exemption, and (2) the amount or
portion thereof.
A county assessor of the county in which the exempted
property is located shall be empowered to appeal to the state
board of tax appeals to review any real or personal property
tax exemption approved by the department of revenue which
he feels is not warranted.
Appeals from a department of revenue decision must be
made within thirty days after the mailing of the approval or
denial. [1989 c 378 § 13; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 16.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.36.905 Effective date—Construction—1973 2nd
ex.s. c 40. This 1973 amendatory act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and
safety, the support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, shall take effect immediately and shall be
effective for assessment in 1973 for taxes due and payable in
1974. [1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 23.]
Chapter 84.38 RCW
DEFERRAL OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND/OR
PROPERTY TAXES
Chapter 84.38
Sections
84.38.010
84.38.020
84.38.030
84.38.040
84.38.050
84.38.060
84.38.070
84.38.080
84.38.090
84.38.100
84.38.110
84.38.120
Legislative finding and purpose.
Definitions.
Conditions and qualifications for claiming deferral.
Declaration to defer special assessments and/or real property
taxes—Filing—Contents—Appeal.
Renewal of deferral—Forms—Notice to renew—Limitation
upon special assessment deferral amount.
Declaration of deferral by agent, guardian, etc.
Ceasing to reside permanently on property subject to deferral
declaration.
Right to deferral not reduced by contract or agreement.
Procedure where residence under mortgage or purchase contract.
Lien of state, mortgage or purchase contract holder—Priority—Amount—Interest.
Duties of county assessor.
Payments to local improvement or taxing districts.
[Title 84 RCW—page 81]
84.38.010
84.38.130
84.38.140
84.38.150
84.38.160
84.38.170
84.38.180
84.38.900
84.38.910
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
When deferred assessments or taxes become payable.
Collection of deferred assessments or taxes.
Election to continue deferral by surviving spouse.
Payment of part or all of deferred taxes authorized.
Collection of personal property taxes not affected.
Forms—Rules and regulations.
Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291.
Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 291.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW 57.02.001.
Applicability—1991 c 213: "Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in 1991 and thereafter. Sections 3 and 4
of this act shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in 1992 and thereafter." [1991 c 213 § 6.]
84.38.030
84.38.010
84.38.010 Legislative finding and purpose. Savings
once deemed adequate for retirement living have been rendered inadequate by increased tax rates, increased property
values, and the failure of pension systems to adequately
reflect such factors. It is therefore deemed necessary that the
legislature, in addition to that tax exemption as provided for
in RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389 as now or hereafter
amended, allow retired persons to defer payment of special
assessments on their residences, and to defer their real property tax obligations on their residences, an amount of up to
eighty percent of their equity in said property. This deferral
program is intended to assist retired persons in maintaining
their dignity and a reasonable standard of living by residing
in their own homes, providing for their own needs, and managing their own affairs without requiring assistance from
public welfare programs. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 26.]
84.38.020
84.38.020 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context, the following words and
phrases as hereinafter used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Claimant" means a person who either elects or is
required under RCW 84.64.050 to defer payment of the special assessments and/or real property taxes accrued on the
claimant’s residence by filing a declaration to defer as provided by this chapter.
When two or more individuals of a household file or
seek to file a declaration to defer, they may determine
between them as to who the claimant shall be.
(2) "Department" means the state department of revenue.
(3) "Equity value" means the amount by which the fair
market value of a residence as determined from the records of
the county assessor exceeds the total amount of any liens or
other obligations against the property.
(4) "Local government" means any city, town, county,
water-sewer district, public utility district, port district, irrigation district, flood control district, or any other municipal
corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or other political
subdivision authorized to levy special assessments.
(5) "Real property taxes" means ad valorem property
taxes levied on a residence in this state in the preceding calendar year.
(6) "Residence" has the meaning given in RCW
84.36.383.
(7) "Special assessment" means the charge or obligation
imposed by a local government upon property specially benefited. [2006 c 62 § 2; 1997 c 93 § 1; 1996 c 230 § 1614;
1995 c 329 § 1; 1991 c 213 § 1; 1984 c 220 § 20; 1979 ex.s. c
214 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 27.]
Application—2006 c 62: See note following RCW 84.36.383.
Effective date—1997 c 93: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[April 21, 1997]." [1997 c 93 § 2.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 82]
84.38.030 Conditions and qualifications for claiming
deferral. A claimant may defer payment of special assessments and/or real property taxes on up to eighty percent of
the amount of the claimant’s equity value in the claimant’s
residence if the following conditions are met:
(1) The claimant must meet all requirements for an
exemption for the residence under RCW 84.36.381, other
than the age and income limits under RCW 84.36.381.
(2) The claimant must be sixty years of age or older on
December 31st of the year in which the deferral claim is filed,
or must have been, at the time of filing, retired from regular
gainful employment by reason of physical disability: PROVIDED, That any surviving spouse of a person who was
receiving a deferral at the time of the person’s death shall
qualify if the surviving spouse is fifty-seven years of age or
older and otherwise meets the requirements of this section.
(3) The claimant must have a combined disposable
income, as defined in RCW 84.36.383, of forty thousand dollars or less.
(4) The claimant must have owned, at the time of filing,
the residence on which the special assessment and/or real
property taxes have been imposed. For purposes of this subsection, a residence owned by a marital community or owned
by cotenants shall be deemed to be owned by each spouse or
cotenant. A claimant who has only a share ownership in
cooperative housing, a life estate, a lease for life, or a revocable trust does not satisfy the ownership requirement.
(5) The claimant must have and keep in force fire and
casualty insurance in sufficient amount to protect the interest
of the state in the claimant’s equity value: PROVIDED, That
if the claimant fails to keep fire and casualty insurance in
force to the extent of the state’s interest in the claimant’s
equity value, the amount deferred shall not exceed one hundred percent of the claimant’s equity value in the land or lot
only.
(6) In the case of special assessment deferral, the claimant must have opted for payment of such special assessments
on the installment method if such method was available.
[2006 c 62 § 3; 2004 c 270 § 3; 1995 c 329 § 2; 1991 c 213 §
2; 1988 c 222 § 11; 1984 c 220 § 21; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 6;
1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 28.]
Application—2006 c 62: See note following RCW 84.36.383.
Applicability—1991 c 213: See note following RCW 84.38.020.
84.38.040
84.38.040 Declaration to defer special assessments
and/or real property taxes—Filing—Contents—Appeal.
(1) Each claimant electing to defer payment of special assessments and/or real property tax obligations under this chapter
shall file with the county assessor, on forms prescribed by the
department and supplied by the assessor, a written declaration thereof. The declaration to defer special assessments
and/or real property taxes for any year shall be filed no later
than thirty days before the tax or assessment is due or thirty
days after receiving notice under RCW 84.64.050, whichever
(2006 Ed.)
Deferral of Special Assessments and/or Property Taxes
is later: PROVIDED, That for good cause shown, the department may waive this requirement.
(2) The declaration shall designate the property to which
the deferral applies, and shall include a statement setting
forth (a) a list of all members of the claimant’s household, (b)
the claimant’s equity value in his residence, (c) facts establishing the eligibility for the deferral under the provisions of
this chapter, and (d) any other relevant information required
by the rules of the department. Each copy shall be signed by
the claimant subject to the penalties as provided in chapter
9A.72 RCW for false swearing. The first declaration to defer
filed in a county shall include proof of the claimant’s age
acceptable to the assessor.
(3) The county assessor shall determine if each claimant
shall be granted a deferral for each year but the claimant shall
have the right to appeal this determination to the county
board of equalization, in accordance with the provisions of
RCW 84.40.038, whose decision shall be final as to the deferral of that year. [2001 c 185 § 10; 1994 c 301 § 34; 1984 c
220 § 22; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 7; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 29.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
84.38.050
84.38.050 Renewal of deferral—Forms—Notice to
renew—Limitation upon special assessment deferral
amount. (1)(a) Declarations to defer property taxes for all
years following the first year may be made by filing with the
county assessor no later than thirty days before the tax is due
a renewal form in duplicate, prescribed by the department of
revenue and supplied by the county assessor, which affirms
the continued eligibility of the claimant.
(b) In January of each year, the county assessor shall
send to each claimant who has been granted deferral of ad
valorem taxes for the previous year renewal forms and notice
to renew.
(2) Declarations to defer special assessments shall be
made by filing with the assessor no later than thirty days
before the special assessment is due on a form to be prescribed by the department of revenue and supplied by the
county assessor. Upon approval, the full amount of special
assessments upon such claimant’s residence shall be deferred
but not to exceed an amount equal to eighty percent of the
claimant’s equity value in said property. [1979 ex.s. c 214 §
8; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 30.]
84.38.060
84.38.060 Declaration of deferral by agent, guardian,
etc. If the claimant is unable to make his own declaration of
deferral, it may be made by a duly authorized agent or by a
guardian or other person charged with care of the person or
property of such claimant. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 31.]
84.38.070
84.38.070 Ceasing to reside permanently on property
subject to deferral declaration. If the claimant declaring
his intention to defer special assessments or real property tax
obligations under this chapter ceases to reside permanently
on the property for which the declaration to defer is made
between the date of filing the declaration and December 15th
of that year, the deferral otherwise allowable under this chapter shall not be allowed on such tax roll. However, this section shall not apply where the claimant dies, leaving a spouse
(2006 Ed.)
84.38.110
surviving, who is also eligible for deferral of special assessment and/or property taxes. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 32.]
84.38.080
84.38.080 Right to deferral not reduced by contract
or agreement. A person’s right to defer special assessments
and/or property tax obligations on his residence shall not be
reduced by contract or agreement, from January 1, 1976
onward. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 33.]
84.38.090
84.38.090 Procedure where residence under mortgage or purchase contract. If any residence is under mortgage or purchase contract requiring accumulation of reserves
out of which the holder of the mortgage or contract is
required to pay real estate taxes, said holder shall cosign the
declaration of deferral either before a notary public or the
county assessor or his deputy in the county where the real
property is located. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 34.]
84.38.100
84.38.100 Lien of state, mortgage or purchase contract holder—Priority—Amount—Interest. Whenever a
person’s special assessment and/or real property tax obligation is deferred under the provisions of this chapter, the
amount deferred and required to be paid pursuant to RCW
84.38.120 shall become a lien in favor of the state upon his or
her property and shall have priority as provided in chapters
35.50 and 84.60 RCW: PROVIDED, That the interest of a
mortgage or purchase contract holder who is required to
cosign a declaration of deferral under RCW 84.38.090, shall
have priority to said deferred lien. This lien may accumulate
up to eighty percent of the amount of the claimant’s equity
value in said property and shall bear interest at the rate of five
percent per year from the time it could have been paid before
delinquency until said obligation is paid: PROVIDED, That
when taxes are deferred as provided in RCW 84.64.050, the
amount shall bear interest at the rate of five percent per year
from the date the declaration is filed until the obligation is
paid. In the case of a mobile home, the department of licensing shall show the state’s lien on the certificate of ownership
for the mobile home. In the case of all other property, the
department of revenue shall file a notice of the deferral with
the county recorder or auditor. [2006 c 275 § 1; 2000 c 103 §
26; 1988 c 222 § 12; 1984 c 220 § 23; 1981 c 322 § 1; 1975
1st ex.s. c 291 § 35.]
Application—2006 c 275: "This act only applies to property tax deferrals granted under RCW 84.38.040 after June 7, 2006, for taxes levied for
collection in 2007 and thereafter." [2006 c 275 § 2.]
Finding—DOR report to legislature—2006 c 275: "The legislature
finds that the intent of the property tax deferral program is to assist retired
persons in maintaining their dignity and a reasonable standard of living by
residing in their own homes, providing for their own needs, and managing
their own affairs without requiring assistance from public welfare programs.
The department of revenue shall review the adequacy and appropriateness of
the interest rate provided in RCW 84.38.100 in relation to these objectives.
The department shall report its findings to the finance committee of the
house of representatives and the ways and means committee of the senate by
December 1, 2012." [2006 c 275 § 3.]
Effective date—1984 c 220: See note following RCW 84.38.120.
84.38.110
84.38.110 Duties of county assessor. The county
assessor shall:
(1) Immediately transmit one copy of each declaration to
defer to the department of revenue. The department may
[Title 84 RCW—page 83]
84.38.120
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
audit any declaration and shall notify the assessor as soon as
possible of any claim where any factor appears to disqualify
the claimant for the deferral sought.
(2) Transmit one copy of each declaration to defer a special assessment to the local improvement district which
imposed such assessment.
(3) Compute the dollar tax rate for the county as if any
deferrals provided by this chapter did not exist.
(4) As soon as possible notify the department of revenue
and the county treasurer of the amount of real property taxes
deferred for that year and notify the department of revenue
and the respective treasurers of municipal corporations of the
amount of special assessments deferred for each local
improvement district within such unit. [1984 c 220 § 24;
1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 36.]
84.38.120
84.38.120 Payments to local improvement or taxing
districts. After receipt of the notification from the county
assessor of the amount of deferred special assessments and/or
real property taxes the department shall pay, from amounts
appropriated for that purpose, to the treasurers of such municipal corporations said amounts, equivalent to the amount of
special assessments and/or real property taxes deferred, to be
distributed to the local improvement or taxing districts which
levied the taxes so deferred: PROVIDED, That when taxes
are deferred as provided in RCW 84.64.050, the department
shall pay to the treasurer of the county the amount equivalent
to all taxes, foreclosure costs, interest, and penalties accrued
to the date the declaration to defer is filed. [2000 c 103 § 27;
1988 c 222 § 13; 1984 c 220 § 25; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 37.]
Effective date—1984 c 220 § 23: *"Section 23 of this act shall take
effect July 1, 1985." [1984 c 220 § 29.]
*Reviser’s note: Due to a Senate amendment to House Bill No. 1201
(1984 c 220), "section 23" became "section 25." During enrolling, "section
23" was renumbered as "section 25" under the mandate in the amendment to
"renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references
accordingly," but the internal reference to "section 23" was not changed.
"Section 23 of this act" consists of the 1984 c 220 amendment to RCW
84.38.100. "Section 25 of this act" consists of the 1984 c 220 amendment to
RCW 84.38.120.
84.38.130
84.38.130 When deferred assessments or taxes
become payable. Special assessments and/or real property
tax obligations deferred under this chapter shall become payable together with interest as provided in RCW 84.38.100:
(1) Upon the sale of property which has a deferred special assessment and/or real property tax lien upon it.
(2) Upon the death of the claimant with an outstanding
deferred special assessment and/or real property tax lien
except a surviving spouse who is qualified under this chapter
may elect to incur the special assessment and/or real property
tax lien which shall then be payable by that spouse as provided in this section.
(3) Upon the condemnation of property with a deferred
special assessment and/or real property tax lien upon it by a
public or private body exercising eminent domain power,
except as otherwise provided in RCW 84.60.070.
(4) At such time as the claimant ceases to reside permanently in the residence upon which the deferral has been
granted.
(5) Upon the failure of any condition set forth in RCW
84.38.030. [1984 c 220 § 26; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 38.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 84]
84.38.140
84.38.140 Collection of deferred assessments or
taxes. (1) The department shall collect all the amounts
deferred together with interest under this chapter. However,
in the event that the department is unable to collect an amount
deferred together with interest, that amount deferred together
with interest shall be collected by the county treasurer in the
manner provided for in chapter 84.56 RCW. For purposes of
collection of deferred taxes, the provisions of chapters 84.56,
84.60, and 84.64 RCW shall be applicable.
(2) When any deferred special assessment and/or real
property taxes together with interest are collected the moneys
shall be deposited in the state general fund. [2001 c 299 § 18;
1984 c 220 § 27; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 39.]
84.38.150
84.38.150 Election to continue deferral by surviving
spouse. (1) A surviving spouse of the claimant may elect to
continue the property in its deferred tax status if the property
is the residence of the spouse of the claimant and the spouse
meets the requirements of this chapter.
(2) The election under this section to continue the property in its deferred status by the spouse of the claimant shall
be filed in the same manner as an original claim for deferral
is filed under this chapter, not later than ninety days from the
date of the claimant’s death. Thereupon, the property with
respect to which the deferral of special assessments and/or
real property taxes is claimed shall continue to be treated as
deferred property. When the property has been continued in
its deferred status by the filing of the spouse of the claimant
of an election under this section, the spouse of the claimant
may continue the property in its deferred status in subsequent
years by filing a claim under this chapter so long as the
spouse meets the qualifications set out in this section. [1975
1st ex.s. c 291 § 40.]
84.38.160
84.38.160 Payment of part or all of deferred taxes
authorized. Any person may at any time pay a part or all of
the deferred taxes but such payment shall not affect the
deferred tax status of the property. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 §
41.]
84.38.170
84.38.170 Collection of personal property taxes not
affected. Nothing in this chapter is intended to or shall be
construed to prevent the collection, by foreclosure, of personal property taxes which become a lien against taxdeferred property. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 42.]
84.38.180
84.38.180 Forms—Rules and regulations. The
department of revenue of the state of Washington shall devise
the forms and make rules and regulations consistent with
chapter 34.05 RCW and the provisions of this chapter as shall
be necessary or desirable to permit its effective administration. [1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 43.]
84.38.900
84.38.900 Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291.
note following RCW 82.04.050.
See
84.38.910
84.38.910 Effective dates—1975 1st ex.s. c 291.
note following RCW 82.04.050.
See
(2006 Ed.)
Property Tax Exemption—Widows or Widowers of Veterans
Chapter 84.39 RCW
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION—WIDOWS OR
WIDOWERS OF VETERANS
Chapter 84.39
Sections
84.39.010
84.39.020
84.39.030
84.39.040
84.39.050
84.39.060
Exemption authorized—Qualifications.
Filing claim for exemption—Requirements.
Continued eligibility—Renewal forms.
Agent or guardian filing claim on behalf of claimant.
Failure to reside on property—Repayment.
Determination of assistance—Biennial budget request.
84.39.010 Exemption authorized—Qualifications. A
person is entitled to a property tax exemption in the form of a
grant as provided in this chapter. The person is entitled to
assistance for the payment of all or a portion of the amount of
excess and regular real property taxes imposed on the person’s residence in the year in which a claim is filed in accordance with the following:
(1) The claimant must meet all requirements for an
exemption for the residence under RCW 84.36.381, other
than the income limits under RCW 84.36.381.
(2)(a) The person making the claim must be:
(i) Sixty-two years of age or older on December 31st of
the year in which the claim is filed, or must have been, at the
time of filing, retired from regular gainful employment by
reason of physical disability; and
(ii) A widow or widower of a veteran who:
(A) Died as a result of a service-connected disability;
(B) Was rated as one hundred percent disabled by the
United States veterans’ administration for the ten years prior
to his or her death;
(C) Was a former prisoner of war as substantiated by the
United States veterans’ administration and was rated as one
hundred percent disabled by the United States veterans’
administration for one or more years prior to his or her death;
or
(D) Died on active duty or in active training status as a
member of the United States uniformed services, reserves, or
national guard; and
(b) The person making the claim must not have remarried.
(3) The claimant must have a combined disposable
income of forty thousand dollars or less.
(4) The claimant must have owned, at the time of filing,
the residence on which the real property taxes have been
imposed. For purposes of this subsection, a residence owned
by cotenants shall be deemed to be owned by each cotenant.
A claimant who has only a share ownership in cooperative
housing, a life estate, a lease for life, or a revocable trust does
not satisfy the ownership requirement.
(5) A person who otherwise qualifies under this section
is entitled to assistance in an amount equal to regular and
excess property taxes imposed on the difference between the
value of the residence eligible for exemption under RCW
84.36.381(5) and:
(a) The first one hundred thousand dollars of assessed
value of the residence for a person who has a combined disposable income of thirty thousand dollars or less;
(b) The first seventy-five thousand dollars of assessed
value of the residence for a person who has a combined disposable income of thirty-five thousand dollars or less but
greater than thirty thousand dollars; or
84.39.010
(2006 Ed.)
84.39.030
(c) The first fifty thousand dollars of assessed value of
the residence for a person who has a combined disposable
income of forty thousand dollars or less but greater than
thirty-five thousand dollars.
(6) As used in this section:
(a) "Veteran" has the same meaning as provided under
RCW 41.04.005.
(b) The meanings attributed in RCW 84.36.383 to the
terms "residence," "combined disposable income," "disposable income," and "disability" apply equally to this section.
[2005 c 253 § 1.]
Application—2005 c 253: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2006 and thereafter." [2005 c 253 § 9.]
84.39.020 Filing claim for exemption—Requirements. (1) Each claimant applying for assistance under
RCW 84.39.010 shall file a claim with the department, on
forms prescribed by the department, no later than thirty days
before the tax is due. The department may waive this requirement for good cause shown. The department shall supply
forms to the county assessor to allow persons to apply for the
program at the county assessor’s office.
(2) The claim shall designate the property to which the
assistance applies and shall include a statement setting forth
(a) a list of all members of the claimant’s household, (b) facts
establishing the eligibility under this section, and (c) any
other relevant information required by the rules of the department. Each copy shall be signed by the claimant subject to
the penalties as provided in chapter 9A.72 RCW for false
swearing. The first claim shall include proof of the claimant’s age acceptable to the department.
(3) The following documentation shall be filed with a
claim along with any other documentation required by the
department:
(a) The deceased veteran’s DD 214 report of separation,
or its equivalent, that must be under honorable conditions;
(b) A copy of the applicant’s certificate of marriage to
the deceased;
(c) A copy of the deceased veteran’s death certificate;
and
(d) A letter from the United States veterans’ administration certifying that the death of the veteran meets the requirements of RCW 84.39.010(2).
The department of veterans affairs shall assist an eligible
widow or widower in the preparation and submission of an
application and the procurement of necessary substantiating
documentation.
(4) The department shall determine if each claimant is
eligible each year. Any applicant aggrieved by the department’s denial of assistance may petition the state board of tax
appeals to review the denial and the board shall consider any
appeals to determine (a) if the claimant is entitled to assistance and (b) the amount or portion thereof. [2005 c 253 § 2.]
84.39.020
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
84.39.030 Continued eligibility—Renewal forms. (1)
Claims for assistance for all years following the first year
may be made by filing with the department no later than
thirty days before the tax is due a renewal form in duplicate,
prescribed by the department, that affirms the continued eligibility of the claimant.
84.39.030
[Title 84 RCW—page 85]
84.39.040
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(2) In January of each year, the department shall send to
each claimant who has been granted assistance for the previous year renewal forms and notice to renew. [2005 c 253 §
3.]
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
84.39.040
84.39.040 Agent or guardian filing claim on behalf of
claimant. If the claimant is unable to make his or her own
claim, it may be made by a duly authorized agent or by a
guardian or other person charged with care of the person or
property of the claimant. [2005 c 253 § 4.]
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
84.39.050
84.39.050 Failure to reside on property—Repayment. If the claimant receiving assistance under RCW
84.39.010 ceases to reside permanently on the property for
which the claim is made between the date of filing the declaration and December 15th of that year, the amount of assistance otherwise allowable under RCW 84.39.010 shall not be
allowed for that portion of the year in which the claimant was
not qualified, and that amount shall constitute a lien on the
property in favor of the state and shall have priority as provided in chapter 84.60 RCW until repaid to the department.
[2005 c 253 § 5.]
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
84.39.060
84.39.060 Determination of assistance—Biennial
budget request. (1) The department shall consult with the
appropriate county assessors and county treasurers to determine the amount of assistance to which each claimant is eligible and the appropriate method of providing the assistance.
The department shall pay, from amounts appropriated for this
purpose, to the claimant, the claimant’s mortgage company,
or the county treasurer, as appropriate for each claimant, the
amount of assistance to which the claimant is entitled under
RCW 84.39.010.
(2) The department shall request in its biennial budget
request an appropriation to satisfy its obligations under this
section. [2005 c 253 § 6.]
Application—2005 c 253: See note following RCW 84.39.010.
Chapter 84.40
Chapter 84.40 RCW
LISTING OF PROPERTY
Sections
84.40.020
84.40.025
84.40.030
84.40.0301
84.40.031
84.40.032
84.40.033
84.40.036
84.40.037
84.40.038
84.40.039
84.40.040
84.40.042
84.40.045
84.40.060
84.40.065
84.40.070
84.40.080
84.40.085
84.40.090
84.40.110
84.40.120
84.40.130
84.40.150
84.40.160
84.40.170
84.40.175
84.40.178
84.40.185
84.40.190
84.40.200
84.40.210
84.40.220
84.40.230
84.40.240
84.40.315
84.40.320
84.40.335
84.40.340
84.40.343
84.40.344
84.40.350
84.40.360
84.40.370
84.40.380
84.40.390
84.40.405
84.40.410
Time and manner of listing.
Valuation and assessment of divided or combined property.
Notice of change in valuation of real property to be given taxpayer—Copy to person making payments pursuant to mortgage, contract, or deed of trust—Procedure—Penalty.
Personal property assessment.
Listing of taxable ships and vessels with department—Assessment—Rights of review.
Companies, associations—Listing.
Listing omitted property or improvements.
Limitation period for assessment of omitted property or
value—Notification to taxpayer of omission—Procedure.
Taxing districts to be designated—Separate assessments.
Examination under oath—Default listing.
Oaths, who may administer—Criminal penalty for willful
false listing.
Penalty for failure or refusal to list—False or fraudulent listing, additional penalty.
Sick or absent persons—May report to board of equalization.
Manner of listing real estate—Maps.
Plat of irregular subdivided tracts—Notice to owner—Surveys—Costs.
Listing of exempt property—Proof of exemption—Valuation
of publicly owned property.
Exempt residential property—Maintenance of assessed valuation—Notice of change.
Individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, associations, partnerships, trusts, or estates required to list personalty.
Statement of personal property.
Listing of personalty on failure to obtain statement—Statement of valuation to person assessed or listing—Exemption.
Personalty of manufacturer, listing procedure, statement—
"Manufacturer" defined.
Merchant’s personalty held for sale—Consignment from out
of state—Nursery stock assessable as growing crops.
Contract to purchase public land.
Annual list of lands sold or contracted to be sold to be furnished assessor.
Federal agencies and property taxable when federal law permits.
Detail and assessment lists to board of equalization.
Lists, schedules or statements to contain declaration that falsification subject to perjury.
Verification by assessor of any list, statement, or schedule—
Confidentiality, penalty.
Mobile homes—Identification of.
Mobile homes—Avoidance of payment of tax—Penalty.
Assessment and taxation of property losing exempt status.
Loss of exempt status—Property subject to pro rata portion of
taxes for remainder of year.
Loss of exempt status—Valuation date—Extension on rolls.
Loss of exempt status—When taxes due and payable—Dates
of delinquency—Interest.
Loss of exempt status—Taxes constitute lien on property.
Rules for agricultural products and business inventories.
Valuation and assessment of certain leasehold interests.
Qualifications for persons assessing real property—Examination: RCW
36.21.015.
84.40.020
Assessment date—Average inventory basis may be used—
Public inspection of listing, documents, and records.
Access to property required.
Basis of valuation, assessment, appraisal—One hundred percent of true and fair value—Exceptions—Leasehold
estates—Real property—Appraisal—Comparable sales.
Determination of value by public official—Review—Revaluation—Presumptions.
Valuation of timber and timberlands—Criteria established.
Valuation of timber and timberlands—"Timberlands" defined
and declared lands devoted to reforestation.
Valuation of timber and timberlands—Legislative findings.
Valuation of vessels—Apportionment.
Valuation of computer software—Embedded software.
Petition county board of equalization—Limitation on changes
to time limit—Waiver of filing deadline—Direct appeal to
state board of tax appeals.
Reducing valuation after government restriction—Petitioning
assessor—Establishing new valuation—Notice—Appeal—
Refund.
[Title 84 RCW—page 86]
84.40.020 Assessment date—Average inventory basis
may be used—Public inspection of listing, documents,
and records. All real property in this state subject to taxation
shall be listed and assessed every year, with reference to its
value on the first day of January of the year in which it is
assessed. Such listing and all supporting documents and
records shall be open to public inspection during the regular
office hours of the assessor’s office: PROVIDED, That confidential income data is hereby exempted from public inspection as noted in RCW 42.56.070 and 42.56.210. All personal
property in this state subject to taxation shall be listed and
assessed every year, with reference to its value and ownership on the first day of January of the year in which it is
assessed: PROVIDED, That if the stock of goods, wares,
merchandise or material, whether in a raw or finished state or
in process of manufacture, owned or held by any taxpayer on
(2006 Ed.)
Listing of Property
January 1 of any year does not fairly represent the average
stock carried by such taxpayer, such stock shall be listed and
assessed upon the basis of the monthly average of stock
owned or held by such taxpayer during the preceding calendar year or during such portion thereof as the taxpayer was
engaged in business. [2005 c 274 § 364; 2001 c 187 § 16.
Prior: 1997 c 239 § 2; 1997 c 3 § 103 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997); 1973 c 69 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c
149 § 35; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.020; prior: (i) 1939 c 137 § 1;
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 8; 1897 c 71 § 6; 1895 c 176 § 3; 1893 c
124 § 6; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 6; 1890 p 532 § 6; Code 1881 §
2832; 1871 p 40 § 15; 1869 p 180 § 15; 1867 p 62 § 6; 1854
p 332 § 4; RRS § 11112. (ii) 1937 c 122 § 1; 1890 p 532 § 6;
RRS § 11112-1.]
Part headings not law—Effective date—2005 c 274: See RCW
42.56.901 and 42.56.902.
Application—2001 c 187: "This act applies for [to] taxes levied in
2001 for collection in 2002 and thereafter." [2001 c 187 § 33.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.025
84.40.025 Access to property required. For the purpose of assessment and valuation of all taxable property in
each county, any real or personal property in each county
shall be subject to visitation, investigation, examination, discovery, and listing at any reasonable time by the county
assessor of the county or by any employee thereof designated
for this purpose by the assessor.
In any case of refusal to such access, the assessor shall
request assistance from the department of revenue which may
invoke the power granted by chapter 84.08 RCW. [1982 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 10.]
84.40.030
84.40.030 Basis of valuation, assessment, appraisal—
One hundred percent of true and fair value—Exceptions—Leasehold estates—Real property—Appraisal—
Comparable sales. All property shall be valued at one hundred percent of its true and fair value in money and assessed
on the same basis unless specifically provided otherwise by
law.
Taxable leasehold estates shall be valued at such price as
they would bring at a fair, voluntary sale for cash without any
deductions for any indebtedness owed including rentals to be
paid.
The true and fair value of real property for taxation purposes (including property upon which there is a coal or other
mine, or stone or other quarry) shall be based upon the following criteria:
(1) Any sales of the property being appraised or similar
properties with respect to sales made within the past five
years. The appraisal shall be consistent with the comprehensive land use plan, development regulations under chapter
36.70A RCW, zoning, and any other governmental policies
or practices in effect at the time of appraisal that affect the use
of property, as well as physical and environmental influences. An assessment may not be determined by a method
(2006 Ed.)
84.40.030
that assumes a land usage not permitted, for that property
being appraised, under existing zoning or land use planning
ordinances or statutes. The appraisal shall also take into
account: (a) In the use of sales by real estate contract as similar sales, the extent, if any, to which the stated selling price
has been increased by reason of the down payment, interest
rate, or other financing terms; and (b) the extent to which the
sale of a similar property actually represents the general
effective market demand for property of such type, in the
geographical area in which such property is located. Sales
involving deed releases or similar seller-developer financing
arrangements shall not be used as sales of similar property.
(2) In addition to sales as defined in subsection (1) of this
section, consideration may be given to cost, cost less depreciation, reconstruction cost less depreciation, or capitalization
of income that would be derived from prudent use of the
property. In the case of property of a complex nature, or
being used under terms of a franchise from a public agency,
or operating as a public utility, or property not having a
record of sale within five years and not having a significant
number of sales of similar property in the general area, the
provisions of this subsection shall be the dominant factors in
valuation. When provisions of this subsection are relied upon
for establishing values the property owner shall be advised
upon request of the factors used in arriving at such value.
(3) In valuing any tract or parcel of real property, the true
and fair value of the land, exclusive of structures thereon
shall be determined; also the true and fair value of structures
thereon, but the valuation shall not exceed the true and fair
value of the total property as it exists. In valuing agricultural
land, growing crops shall be excluded. [2001 c 187 § 17;
1998 c 320 § 9. Prior: 1997 c 429 § 34; 1997 c 134 § 1; 1997
c 3 § 104 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4,
1997); 1994 c 124 § 20; 1993 c 436 § 1; 1988 c 222 § 14;
1980 c 155 § 2; prior: 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 96; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 187 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 125 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 1;
1971 ex.s. c 43 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.030; prior: 1939 c 206
§ 15; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 52; 1919 c 142 § 4; 1913 c 140 § 1;
1897 c 71 § 42; 1893 c 124 § 44; 1891 c 140 § 44; 1890 p 547
§ 48; RRS § 11135. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1939 c
116 § 1, part, now codified in RCW 84.40.220.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Severability—1997 c 429: See note following RCW 36.70A.3201.
Application—1997 c 3: "(1) Sections 101 through 126 of this act apply
to taxes levied for collection in 1999 and thereafter.
(2) Sections 201 through 207 of this act apply to taxes levied for collection in 1998 and thereafter." [1997 c 3 § 501 (Referendum Bill No. 47,
approved November 4, 1997).]
Severability—1997 c 3: "If any provision of this act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1997 c 3 § 502 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4,
1997).]
Part headings not law—1997 c 3: "Part headings used in this act are
not any part of the law." [1997 c 3 § 503 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved
November 4, 1997).]
Referral to electorate—1997 c 3: "Except for section 401 of this act,
the secretary of state shall submit this act to the people for their adoption and
ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this state,
in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws
adopted to facilitate its operation." [1997 c 3 § 504.] 1997 c 3 (this act) was
[Title 84 RCW—page 87]
84.40.0301
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
adopted and ratified by the people at the November 4, 1997, general election
(Referendum Bill No. 47).
Effective date—Applicability—1980 c 155: "This act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect immediately and shall be effective for assessments made in 1980 and
years thereafter." [1980 c 155 § 8.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Severability—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 187: "If any provision
of this 1973 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, the remainder of this 1973 amendatory act, or the application
of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected: PROVIDED, That if the leasehold in lieu excise tax imposed by section 4 of this
1973 amendatory act is held invalid, the entirety of the act, except for section
3 and section 15, shall be null and void." [1973 1st ex.s. c 187 § 13.]
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 125: See note following RCW 84.40.045.
Savings—1971 ex.s. c 288: "The amendment or repeal of any statutes
by this 1971 amendatory act shall not be construed as invalidating, abating or
otherwise affecting any existing right acquired or any liability or obligation
incurred under the provisions of the statutes amended or repealed. Such
amendment or repeals shall not affect the right of any person to make a claim
for exemption during the calendar year 1971 pursuant to RCW 84.36.128."
[1971 ex.s. c 288 § 12.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1971 ex.s. c 288 § 28.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 43: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act,
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1971 ex.s. c 43 § 6.]
84.40.0301 Determination of value by public official—Review—Revaluation—Presumptions. Upon
review by any court, or appellate body, of a determination of
the valuation of property for purposes of taxation, it shall be
presumed that the determination of the public official
charged with the duty of establishing such value is correct but
this presumption shall not be a defense against any correction
indicated by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. [1994 c
301 § 35; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 2.]
84.40.0301
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.40.031 Valuation of timber and timberlands—
Criteria established. Based upon the study as directed by
house concurrent resolution No. 10 of the thirty-seventh session of the legislature relating to the taxation of timber and
timberlands, the legislature hereby establishes the criteria set
forth in RCW 84.40.031 through 84.40.033 as standards for
the valuation of timber and timberlands for tax purposes.
[1983 c 3 § 228; 1963 c 249 § 1.]
84.40.031
Severability—1963 c 249: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this act,
or the application of the provisions to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1963 c 249 § 6.]
84.40.032 Valuation of timber and timberlands—
"Timberlands" defined and declared lands devoted to
reforestation. As used in RCW 84.40.031 through
84.40.033 "timberlands" means land primarily suitable and
used for growing a continuous supply of forest products,
whether such lands be cutover, selectively harvested, or contain merchantable or immature timber, and includes the timber thereon. Timberlands are lands devoted to reforestation
84.40.032
[Title 84 RCW—page 88]
within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution as amended. [1983 c 3 § 229; 1963 c 249 § 2.]
Severability—1963 c 249: See note following RCW 84.40.031.
84.40.033
84.40.033 Valuation of timber and timberlands—
Legislative findings. It is hereby found and declared that:
(1) Timber constitutes the primary renewable resource of
this state.
(2) It is the public policy of this state that timberlands be
managed in such a way as to assure a continuous supply of
forest products.
(3) It is in the public interest that forest valuation and
taxation policy encourage and permit timberland owners to
manage their lands to sustain maximum production of raw
materials for the forest industry, to maintain other public benefits, and to maintain a stable and equitable tax base.
(4) Forest management entails continuous and accumulative burdens of taxes, protection, management costs, interest on investment, and risks of loss from fire, insects, disease
and the elements over long periods of time prior to harvest
and realization of income.
(5) Existing timberland valuation and taxation procedures under the general property tax system are consistent
with the public interest and the public policy herein set forth
only when due consideration and recognition is given to all
relevant factors in determining the true and fair value in
money of each tract or lot of timberland.
(6) To assure equality and uniformity of taxation of timberland, uniform principles should be applied for determining the true and fair value in money of such timberlands, taking into account all pertinent factors such as regional differences in species and growing conditions.
(7) The true and fair value in money of timberlands must
be determined through application of sound valuation principles based upon the highest and best use of such properties.
The highest and best use of timberlands, whether cut-over,
selectively harvested, or containing merchantable or immature timber, is to manage, protect and harvest them in a manner which will realize the greatest economic value and assure
the maximum continuous supply of forest products. This
requires that merchantable timber originally on timberlands
be harvested gradually to maintain a continuous supply until
immature timber reaches the optimum age or size for harvesting, that immature timber on timberlands be managed and
protected for extensive periods until it reaches such optimum
age or size and that such timberlands be continually
restocked as harvested.
(8) Reforestation entails an integrated forest management program which includes gradual harvesting of existing
merchantable timber, management and protection of immature timber during its growth cycle until it reaches the optimum size or age for harvesting and a continual preparation
and restocking of areas after harvest. Such management of
timberlands is now generally followed and practiced in this
state and it is in the public interest that such management be
continued and encouraged.
(9) The prices at which merchantable timber is sold generally reflect values based upon immediate harvesting, and
the prices at which both merchantable and immature timber
are sold frequently reflect circumstances peculiar to the par(2006 Ed.)
Listing of Property
ticular purchaser. Such prices generally make little or no
allowance for the continuous and accumulative burdens of
taxes, protection, management costs, interest on investment,
and risks of loss from fire, insects, disease, and the elements
which must be borne by the owner of timberlands over long
periods of time prior to the time timber is harvested and
income is realized. Such prices do not, therefore, provide a
reliable measure of the true and fair value in money. Accordingly, both the public policy and the public interest of this
state and sound principles of timber valuation require that in
the determination of the true and fair value in money of such
properties appropriate and full allowance be made for such
continuous and accumulative burdens over the period of time
between assessment and harvest. [1963 c 249 § 3.]
Severability—1963 c 249: See note following RCW 84.40.031.
84.40.036
84.40.036 Valuation of vessels—Apportionment. (1)
As used in this section, "apportionable vessel" means a ship
or vessel which is:
(a) Engaged in interstate commerce;
(b) Engaged in foreign commerce; and/or
(c) Engaged exclusively in fishing, tendering, harvesting, and/or processing seafood products on the high seas or
waters under the jurisdiction of other states.
(2) The value of each apportionable vessel shall be
apportioned to this state based on the number of days or fractions of days that the vessel is within this state during the preceding calendar year: PROVIDED, That if the total number
of days the vessel is within the limits of the state does not
exceed one hundred twenty for the preceding calendar year,
no value shall be apportioned to this state. For the purposes of
this subsection (2), a fraction of a day means more than sixteen hours in a calendar day.
(3) Time during which an apportionable vessel is in the
state for one or more of the following purposes shall not be
considered as time within this state, if the length of time is
reasonable for the purpose:
(a) Undergoing repair or alteration;
(b) Taking on or discharging cargo, passengers, or supplies; and
(c) Serving as a tug for a vessel under (a) or (b) of this
subsection.
(4) Days during which an apportionable vessel leaves
this state only while navigating the high seas in order to travel
between points in this state shall be considered as days within
this state. [1998 c 335 § 6; 1986 c 229 § 2.]
Effective date—1998 c 335: See note following RCW 84.12.200.
Application—1986 c 229: See note following RCW 84.36.080.
Listing of taxable ships and vessels with department: RCW 84.40.065.
Partial exemption for ships and vessels: RCW 84.36.080.
84.40.037
84.40.037 Valuation of computer software—Embedded software. (1) Computer software, except embedded
software, shall be valued in the first year of taxation at one
hundred percent of the acquisition cost of the software and in
the second year at fifty percent of the acquisition cost. Computer software, other than embedded software, shall have no
value for purposes of property taxation after the second year.
(2) Embedded software is a part of the computer system
or other machinery or equipment in which it is housed and
(2006 Ed.)
84.40.038
shall be valued in the same manner as the machinery or
equipment. [1991 sp.s. c 29 § 4.]
Findings, intent—Severability—Application—1991 sp.s. c 29: See
notes following RCW 84.04.150.
84.40.038
84.40.038 Petition county board of equalization—
Limitation on changes to time limit—Waiver of filing
deadline—Direct appeal to state board of tax appeals. (1)
The owner or person responsible for payment of taxes on any
property may petition the county board of equalization for a
change in the assessed valuation placed upon such property
by the county assessor or for any other reason specifically
authorized by statute. Such petition must be made on forms
prescribed or approved by the department of revenue and any
petition not conforming to those requirements or not properly
completed shall not be considered by the board. The petition
must be filed with the board on or before July 1st of the year
of the assessment or determination, within thirty days after
the date an assessment, value change notice, or other notice
has been mailed, or within a time limit of up to sixty days
adopted by the county legislative authority, whichever is
later. If a county legislative authority sets a time limit, the
authority may not change the limit for three years from the
adoption of the limit.
(2) The board of equalization may waive the filing deadline if the petition is filed within a reasonable time after the
filing deadline and the petitioner shows good cause for the
late filing. The decision of the board of equalization regarding a waiver of the filing deadline is final and not appealable
under RCW 84.08.130. Good cause may be shown by one or
more of the following events or circumstances:
(a) Death or serious illness of the taxpayer or his or her
immediate family;
(b) The taxpayer was absent from the address where the
taxpayer normally receives the assessment or value change
notice, was absent for more than fifteen days of the days
allowed in subsection (1) of this section before the filing
deadline, and the filing deadline is after July 1;
(c) Incorrect written advice regarding filing requirements received from board of equalization staff, county
assessor’s staff, or staff of the property tax advisor designated
under RCW 84.48.140;
(d) Natural disaster such as flood or earthquake;
(e) Delay or loss related to the delivery of the petition by
the postal service, and documented by the postal service; or
(f) Other circumstances as the department may provide
by rule.
(3) The owner or person responsible for payment of
taxes on any property may request that the appeal be heard by
the state board of tax appeals without a hearing by the county
board of equalization when the assessor, the owner or person
responsible for payment of taxes on the property, and a
majority of the county board of equalization agree that a
direct appeal to the state board of tax appeals is appropriate.
The state board of tax appeals may reject the appeal, in which
case the county board of equalization shall consider the
appeal under RCW 84.48.010. Notice of such a rejection,
together with the reason therefor, shall be provided to the
affected parties and the county board of equalization within
thirty days of receipt of the direct appeal by the state board.
[Title 84 RCW—page 89]
84.40.039
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
[2001 c 185 § 11; 1997 c 294 § 1; 1994 c 123 § 4; 1992 c 206
§ 11; 1988 c 222 § 19.]
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Applicability—1994 c 123: See note following RCW 84.36.815.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
84.40.039
84.40.039 Reducing valuation after government
restriction—Petitioning assessor—Establishing new valuation—Notice—Appeal—Refund. (1) The owner or person
responsible for payment of taxes on any real property may
petition the assessor for a reduction in the assessed value of
the real property at any time within three years of adoption of
a restriction by a government entity.
(2) Notwithstanding the revaluation cycle for the county,
the assessor shall reconsider the valuation of the real property
within one hundred twenty days of the filing of a petition
under subsection (1) of this section. If the new valuation is
established for the real property after this review, the assessor
shall notify the property owner in the manner provided in
RCW 84.40.045. Unless the real property would otherwise be
revalued that year as a result of the revaluation cycle or new
construction, the valuation of the real property shall not be
increased as a result of this revaluation. If the new valuation
is established after June 1st in any year, the new valuation
shall be used for purposes of imposing property taxes in the
following year, but the property owner shall be eligible for a
refund under RCW 84.69.020.
(3) A new valuation established under this section may
be appealed under RCW 84.40.038.
(4) If the assessor reduces the valuation of real property
using the process under this section, the property owner shall
be entitled to a refund on property taxes paid on this property
calculated as follows:
(a) A property owner is entitled to receive a refund for
each year after the restriction was adopted, but not to exceed
three years, that the taxpayer paid property taxes on the real
property based upon the prior higher valuation; and
(b) The amount of the refund in each year shall be the
amount of reduced valuation on the real property for that
year, multiplied by the rate of property taxes imposed on the
property in that year.
(5) As used in this section, "restriction" means a limitation, requirement, regulation, or restriction that limits the use
of the property, including those imposed by the application of
ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, policies, statutes,
and conditions of land use approval. [1998 c 306 § 1.]
84.40.040
84.40.040 Time and manner of listing. The assessor
shall begin the preliminary work for each assessment not
later than the first day of December of each year in all counties in the state. The assessor shall also complete the duties
of listing and placing valuations on all property by May 31st
of each year, except that the listing and valuation of construction and mobile homes under RCW 36.21.080 and 36.21.090
shall be completed by August 31st of each year, and in the
following manner, to wit:
The assessor shall actually determine as nearly as practicable the true and fair value of each tract or lot of land listed
[Title 84 RCW—page 90]
for taxation and of each improvement located thereon and
shall enter one hundred percent of the true and fair value of
such land and value of such improvements, together with the
total of such one hundred percent valuations, opposite each
description of property on the assessment list and tax roll.
The assessor shall make an alphabetical list of the names
of all persons in the county liable to assessment of personal
property, and require each person to make a correct list and
statement of such property according to the standard form
prescribed by the department of revenue, which statement
and list shall include, if required by the form, the year of
acquisition and total original cost of personal property in
each category of the prescribed form. However, the assessor
may list and value improvements on publicly owned land in
the same manner as real property is listed and valued, including conformance with the revaluation program required
under chapter 84.41 RCW. Such list and statement shall be
filed on or before the last day of April. The assessor shall on
or before the 1st day of January of each year mail, or electronically transmit, a notice to all such persons at their last
known address that such statement and list is required. This
notice must be accompanied by the form on which the statement or list is to be made. The notice mailed, or electronically transmitted, by the assessor to each taxpayer each year
shall, if practicable, include the statement and list of personal
property of the taxpayer for the preceding year. Upon receipt
of such statement and list the assessor shall thereupon determine the true and fair value of the property included in such
statement and enter one hundred percent of the same on the
assessment roll opposite the name of the party assessed; and
in making such entry in the assessment list, the assessor shall
give the name and post office address of the party listing the
property, and if the party resides in a city the assessor shall
give the street and number or other brief description of the
party’s residence or place of business. The assessor may,
after giving written notice of the action to the person to be
assessed, add to the assessment list any taxable property
which should be included in such list. [2003 c 302 § 1; 2001
c 187 § 18; 1997 c 3 § 106 (Referendum Bill No. 47,
approved November 4, 1997); 1988 c 222 § 15; 1982 1st ex.s.
c 46 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 97; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 36;
1961 c 15 § 84.40.040. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 16, part; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 57, part; 1897 c 71 § 46, part; 1895 c 176 § 5,
part; 1893 c 124 § 48, part; 1891 c 140 § 48, part; RRS §
11140, part.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1988 c 222: "Sections 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 28, and 30 of
this act shall take effect January 1, 1989." [1988 c 222 § 35.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.042
84.40.042 Valuation and assessment of divided or
combined property. (1) When real property is divided in
accordance with chapter 58.17 RCW, the assessor shall care(2006 Ed.)
Listing of Property
fully investigate and ascertain the true and fair value of each
lot and assess each lot on that same basis, unless specifically
provided otherwise by law. For purposes of this section, "lot"
has the same definition as in RCW 58.17.020.
(a) For each lot on which an advance tax deposit has
been paid in accordance with RCW 58.08.040, the assessor
shall establish the true and fair value by October 30 of the
year following the recording of the plat, replat, altered plat, or
binding site plan. The value established shall be the value of
the lot as of January 1 of the year the original parcel of real
property was last revalued. An additional property tax shall
not be due on the land until the calendar year following the
year for which the advance tax deposit was paid if the deposit
was sufficient to pay the full amount of the taxes due on the
property.
(b) For each lot on which an advance tax deposit has not
been paid, the assessor shall establish the true and fair value
not later than the calendar year following the recording of the
plat, map, subdivision, or replat. For purposes of this section,
"subdivision" means a division of land into two or more lots.
(c) For each subdivision, all current year and delinquent
taxes and assessments on the entire tract must be paid in full
in accordance with RCW 58.17.160 and 58.08.030 except
when property is being acquired by a government for public
use. For purposes of this section, "current year taxes" means
taxes that are collectible under RCW 84.56.010 subsequent to
February 14.
(2) When the assessor is required by law to segregate any
part or parts of real property, assessed before or after July 27,
1997, as one parcel or when the assessor is required by law to
combine parcels of real property assessed before or after July
27, 1997, as two or more parcels, the assessor shall carefully
investigate and ascertain the true and fair value of each part
or parts of the real property and each combined parcel and
assess each part or parts or each combined parcel on that
same basis. [2002 c 168 § 8; 1997 c 393 § 17.]
84.40.065
ments pursuant to the mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of
trust, and thereafter such person shall also receive a copy of
the notice provided for in this section. Willful failure to comply with such request within the time limitation provided for
herein shall make such taxpayer subject to a maximum civil
penalty of five thousand dollars. The penalties provided for
herein shall be recoverable in an action by the county prosecutor, and when recovered shall be deposited in the county
current expense fund. The assessor shall make the request
provided for by this section during the month of January.
[2001 c 187 § 19; 1997 c 3 § 107 (Referendum Bill No. 47,
approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 36; 1977 ex.s. c
181 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 187 § 8; 1972 ex.s. c 125 § 1; 1971 ex.s.
c 288 § 16; 1967 ex.s. c 146 § 10.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 187: See note following RCW 84.33.110.
Severability—1972 ex.s. c 125: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1972 ex.s. c 125 § 4.]
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.40.060
84.40.060 Personal property assessment. Upon
receipt of the statement of personal property, the assessor
shall assess the value of such property. If any property is
listed or assessed on or after the 31st day of May, the same
shall be legal and binding as if listed and assessed before that
time. [2003 c 302 § 2; 1988 c 222 § 16; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 37;
1961 c 15 § 84.40.060. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 17; 1925 ex.s. c
130 § 58; 1897 c 71 § 47; 1893 c 124 § 49; 1891 c 140 § 49;
1890 p 548 § 49; RRS § 11141.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.40.045 Notice of change in valuation of real property to be given taxpayer—Copy to person making payments pursuant to mortgage, contract, or deed of trust—
Procedure—Penalty. The assessor shall give notice of any
change in the true and fair value of real property for the tract
or lot of land and any improvements thereon no later than
thirty days after appraisal: PROVIDED, That no such notice
shall be mailed during the period from January 15 to February 15 of each year: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no notice
need be sent with respect to changes in valuation of forest
land made pursuant to chapter 84.33 RCW.
The notice shall contain a statement of both the prior and
the new true and fair value, stating separately land and
improvement values, and a brief statement of the procedure
for appeal to the board of equalization and the time, date, and
place of the meetings of the board.
The notice shall be mailed by the assessor to the taxpayer.
If any taxpayer, as shown by the tax rolls, holds solely a
security interest in the real property which is the subject of
the notice, pursuant to a mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of
trust, such taxpayer shall, upon written request of the assessor, supply, within thirty days of receipt of such request, to
the assessor the name and address of the person making pay84.40.045
(2006 Ed.)
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.065
84.40.065 Listing of taxable ships and vessels with
department—Assessment—Rights of review. (1) Every
individual, corporation, association, partnership, trust, and
estate shall list with the department of revenue all ships and
vessels which are subject to their ownership, possession, or
control and which are not entirely exempt from property taxation, and such listing shall be subject to the same requirements and penalties provided in this chapter for all other personal property in the same manner as provided in this chapter, except as may be specifically provided otherwise with
respect to ships and vessels.
(2) The listing of ships and vessels shall be accomplished
in the manner and upon forms prescribed by the department.
Upon listing, the department shall assign a tax identification
number for each vessel listed.
(3) The department shall assess all ships and vessels and
shall, on or before January 31st of each year, mail to the
owner of a ship or vessel, or to the person listing the ship or
vessel if different from the owner, a notice showing the valuation of the ship or vessel assessed. Taxes due the following
year shall be based upon the valuation. On or after February
[Title 84 RCW—page 91]
84.40.070
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
15, but no later than thirty days before April 30, the department shall mail to the owner of a ship or vessel, or to the person listing the ship or vessel if different from the owner, a tax
statement showing the valuation for the previous year of the
ship or vessel assessed and the amount of tax owed for the
current year.
(4) Any ship or vessel owner, or person listing the ship or
vessel if different from the owner, disputing the assessment
or disputing whether the ship or vessel is subject to taxation
under this section shall have the same rights of review as any
other ship or vessel owner subject to the excise tax contained
in chapter 82.49 RCW in accordance with RCW 82.49.060.
[1993 c 33 § 2; 1986 c 229 § 3; 1984 c 250 § 5. Formerly
RCW 84.08.200.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: See note following RCW 82.49.060.
Application—1986 c 229: See note following RCW 84.36.080.
Collection of ad valorem taxes: RCW 84.56.440.
Partial exemption for ships and vessels: RCW 84.36.080.
Valuation of vessels—Apportionment: RCW 84.40.036.
84.40.070
84.40.070 Companies, associations—Listing. The
president, secretary or principal accounting officer or agent
of any company or association, whether incorporated or unincorporated, except as otherwise provided for in this title, shall
make out and deliver to the assessor a statement of its property, setting forth particularly (1) the name and location of the
company or association; (2) the real property of the company
or association, and where situated; and (3) the nature and
value of its personal property. The real and personal property
of such company or association shall be assessed the same as
other real and personal property. In all cases of failure or
refusal of any person, officer, company, or association to
make such return or statement, it shall be the duty of the
assessor to make such return or statement from the best information he can obtain. [2003 c 302 § 3; 1961 c 15 §
84.40.070. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 27; 1897 c 71 § 20; 1893
c 124 § 20; 1891 c 140 § 20; 1890 p 538 § 21; Code 1881 §
2839; RRS § 11131.]
84.40.080
84.40.080 Listing omitted property or improvements. An assessor shall enter on the assessment roll in any
year any property shown to have been omitted from the
assessment roll of any preceding year, at the value for the preceding year, or if not then valued, at such value as the assessor shall determine for the preceding year, and such value
shall be stated separately from the value of any other year.
Where improvements have not been valued and assessed as a
part of the real estate upon which the same may be located, as
evidenced by the assessment rolls, they may be separately
valued and assessed as omitted property under this section.
No such assessment shall be made in any case where a bona
fide purchaser, encumbrancer, or contract buyer has acquired
any interest in said property prior to the time such improvements are assessed. When such an omitted assessment is
made, the taxes levied thereon may be paid within one year of
the due date of the taxes for the year in which the assessment
is made without penalty or interest. In the assessment of personal property, the assessor shall assess the omitted value not
reported by the taxpayer as evidenced by an inspection of
either the property or the books and records of said taxpayer
[Title 84 RCW—page 92]
by the assessor. [1995 c 134 § 14. Prior: 1994 c 301 § 37;
1994 c 124 § 21; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
84.40.080; prior: 1951 1st ex.s. c 8 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 59;
1897 c 71 § 48; RRS § 11142.]
84.40.085
84.40.085 Limitation period for assessment of omitted property or value—Notification to taxpayer of omission—Procedure. No omitted property or omitted value
assessment shall be made for any period more than three
years preceding the year in which the omission is discovered.
The assessor, upon discovery of such omission, shall forward
a copy of the amended personal property affidavit along with
a letter of particulars informing the taxpayer of the findings
and of the taxpayer’s right of appeal to the county board of
equalization. Upon request of either the taxpayer or the assessor, the county board of equalization may be reconvened to
act on the omitted property or omitted value assessments.
[1994 c 124 § 22; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 8 § 2.]
84.40.090
84.40.090 Taxing districts to be designated—Separate assessments. It shall be the duty of assessors, when
assessing real or personal property, to designate the name or
number of each taxing district in which each person and each
description of property assessed is liable for taxes. When the
real and personal property of any person is assessable in several taxing districts, the amount in each shall be assessed separately. [1994 c 301 § 38; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.090. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 62; 1897 c 71 § 51; 1893 c 124 § 52; 1891 c 140
§ 52; 1890 p 551 § 57; RRS § 11145.]
84.40.110
84.40.110 Examination under oath—Default listing.
When the assessor shall be of opinion that the person listing
property for himself or for any other person, company or corporation, has not made a full, fair and complete list of such
property, he may examine such person under oath in regard to
the amount of the property he is required to list, and if such
person shall refuse to answer under oath, and a full discovery
make, the assessor may list the property of such person, or his
principal, according to his best judgment and information.
[1961 c 15 § 84.40.110. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 24; 1897 c
71 § 17; 1893 c 124 § 17; 1891 c 140 § 17; 1890 p 535 § 15;
Code 1881 § 2831; 1867 p 62 § 8; RRS § 11128.]
84.40.120
84.40.120 Oaths, who may administer—Criminal
penalty for willful false listing. (1) Any oath authorized to
be administered under this title may be administered by any
assessor or deputy assessor, or by any other officer having
authority to administer oaths.
(2) Any person willfully making a false list, schedule, or
statement under oath is guilty of perjury under chapter 9A.72
RCW. [2003 c 53 § 409; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.120. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 67; 1897 c 71 § 57; 1893 c 124 § 58; 1891 c 140
§ 58; 1890 p 553 § 63; RRS § 11150.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
84.40.130
84.40.130 Penalty for failure or refusal to list—False
or fraudulent listing, additional penalty. (1) If any person
or corporation shall fail or refuse to deliver to the assessor, on
or before the date specified in RCW 84.40.040, a list of the
(2006 Ed.)
Listing of Property
taxable personal property which is required to be listed under
this chapter, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to wilful neglect, there shall be
added to the amount of tax assessed against the taxpayer on
account of such personal property five percent of the amount
of such tax, not to exceed fifty dollars per calendar day, if the
failure is for not more than one month, with an additional five
percent for each additional month or fraction thereof during
which such failure continues not exceeding twenty-five percent in the aggregate. Such penalty shall be collected in the
same manner as the tax to which it is added and distributed in
the same manner as other property tax interest and penalties.
(2) If any person or corporation shall wilfully give a false
or fraudulent list, schedule or statement required by this
chapter, or shall, with intent to defraud, fail or refuse to
deliver any list, schedule or statement required by this chapter, such person or corporation shall be liable for the additional tax properly due or, in the case of wilful failure or
refusal to deliver such list, schedule or statement, the total tax
properly due; and in addition such person or corporation shall
be liable for a penalty of one hundred percent of such additional tax or total tax as the case may be. Such penalty shall
be in lieu of the penalty provided for in subsection (1) of this
section. A person or corporation giving a false list, schedule
or statement shall not be subject to this penalty if it is shown
that the misrepresentations contained therein are entirely
attributable to reasonable cause. The taxes and penalties provided for in this subsection shall be recovered in an action in
the name of the state of Washington on the complaint of the
county assessor or the county legislative authority and shall,
when collected, be paid into the county treasury to the credit
of the current expense fund. The provisions of this subsection shall be additional and supplementary to any other provisions of law relating to recovery of property taxes. [2004 c
79 § 5; 1988 c 222 § 17; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 38; 1961 c 15 §
84.40.130. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 51; 1897 c 71 § 41; 1893
c 124 § 41; 1891 c 140 § 41; 1890 p 546 § 45; Code 1881 §
2835; RRS § 11132.]
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.150
84.40.150 Sick or absent persons—May report to
board of equalization. If any person required to list property for taxation and provide the assessor with the list, is prevented by sickness or absence from giving to the assessor
such statement, such person or his or her agent having charge
of such property, may, at any time before the close of the session of the board of equalization, make out and deliver to said
board a statement of the same as required by this title, and the
board shall, in such case, make an entry thereof, and correct
the corresponding item or items in the return made by the
assessor, as the case may require; but no such statement shall
be received by the said board from any person who refused or
neglected to make oath to his or her statement when required
by the assessor as provided herein; nor from any person
unless he or she makes and files with the said board an affidavit that he or she was absent from his or her county, without design to avoid the listing of his or her property, or was
(2006 Ed.)
84.40.170
prevented by sickness from giving the assessor the required
statement when called on for that purpose. [1993 c 33 § 3;
1961 c 15 § 84.40.150. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 66; 1897 c
71 § 55; 1893 c 124 § 56; 1891 c 141 § 56; 1890 p 553 § 62;
RRS § 11149.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: See note following RCW 82.49.060.
84.40.160
84.40.160 Manner of listing real estate—Maps. The
assessor shall list all real property according to the largest
legal subdivision as near as practicable. The assessor shall
make out in the plat and description book in numerical order
a complete list of all lands or lots subject to taxation, showing
the names and owners, if to him known and if unknown, so
stated; the number of acres and lots or parts of lots included
in each description of property and the value per acre or lot:
PROVIDED, That the assessor shall give to each tract of land
where described by metes and bounds a number, to be designated as Tax No. . . . ., which said number shall be placed on
the tax rolls to indicate that certain piece of real property
bearing such number, and described by metes and bounds in
the plat and description book herein mentioned, and it shall
not be necessary to enter a description by metes and bounds
on the tax roll of the county, and the assessor’s plat and
description book shall be kept as a part of the tax collector’s
records: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the board of
county commissioners of any county may by order direct that
the property be listed numerically according to lots and
blocks or section, township and range, in the smallest platted
or government subdivision, and when so listed the value of
each block, lot or tract, the value of the improvements
thereon and the total value thereof, including improvements
thereon, shall be extended after the description of each lot,
block or tract, which last extension shall be in the column
headed "Total value of each tract, lot or block of land
assessed with improvements as returned by the assessor." In
carrying the values of said property into the column representing the equalized value thereof, the county assessor shall
include and carry over in one item the equalized valuation of
all lots in one block, or land in one section, listed consecutively, which belong to any one person, firm or corporation,
and are situated within the same taxing district, and in the
assessed value of which the county board of equalization has
made no change. Where assessed valuations are changed, the
equalized valuation must be extended and shown by item.
The assessor shall prepare and possess a complete set of
maps drawn to indicate parcel configuration for lands in the
county. The assessor shall continually update the maps to
reflect transfers, conveyances, acquisitions, or any other
transaction or event that changes the boundaries of any parcel
and shall renumber the parcels or prepare new map pages for
any portion of the maps to show combinations or divisions of
parcels. [1997 c 135 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.160. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 54; 1901 c 79 § 1; 1899 c 141 § 3; 1897 c 71 §
43; 1895 c 176 § 4; 1893 c 124 § 45; 1891 c 140 § 45; 1890 p
548 § 49; RRS § 11137.]
84.40.170
84.40.170 Plat of irregular subdivided tracts—Notice
to owner—Surveys—Costs. (1) In all cases of irregular
subdivided tracts or lots of land other than any regular government subdivision the assessor shall outline a plat of such
[Title 84 RCW—page 93]
84.40.175
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
tracts or lots and notify the owner or owners thereof with a
request to have the same surveyed by the county engineer,
and cause the same to be platted into numbered (or lettered)
lots or tracts. If any county has in its possession the correct
field notes of any such tract or lot of land a new survey shall
not be necessary and such tracts may be mapped from such
field notes. In case the owner of such tracts or lots neglects or
refuses to have the same surveyed or platted, the assessor
shall notify the county legislative authority in and for the
county, who may order and direct the county engineer to
make the proper survey and plat of the tracts and lots. A plat
shall be made on which said tracts or lots of land shall be
accurately described by lines, and numbered (or lettered),
which numbers (or letters) together with number of the section, township and range shall be distinctly marked on such
plat, and the field notes of all such tracts or lots of land shall
describe each tract or lot according to the survey, and such
tract or lot shall be numbered (or lettered) to correspond with
its number (or letter) on the map. The plat shall be given a
designated name by the surveyor thereof. When the survey,
plat, field notes and name of plat, shall have been approved
by the county legislative authority, the plat and field notes
shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county auditor,
and the description of any tract or lot of land described in said
plats by number (or letter), section, township and range, shall
be a sufficient and legal description for revenue and all other
purposes.
(2) Upon the request of eighty percent of the owners of
the property to be surveyed and the approval of the county
legislative authority, the county assessor may charge for
actual costs and file a lien against the subject property if the
costs are not repaid within ninety days of notice of completion, which may be collected as if such charges had been levied as a property tax. [1994 c 301 § 39; 1994 c 124 § 23; 1961
c 15 § 84.40.170. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 53; 1901 c 124 §§
1, 2, 3; 1891 c 140 § 45; RRS § 11136.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1994 c 124 § 23 and by
1994 c 301 § 39, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
84.40.175
84.40.175 Listing of exempt property—Proof of
exemption—Valuation of publicly owned property. At
the time of making the assessment of real property, the assessor shall enter each description of property exempt under the
provisions of chapter 84.36 RCW, and value and list the same
in the manner and subject to the same rule as the assessor is
required to assess all other property, designating in each case
to whom such property belongs. However, with respect to
publicly owned property exempt from taxation under provisions of RCW 84.36.010, the assessor shall value only such
property as is leased to or occupied by a private person under
an agreement allowing such person to occupy or use such
property for a private purpose when a request for such valuation is received from the department of revenue or the lessee
of such property for use in determining the taxable rent as
provided for in chapter 82.29A RCW: PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section shall not prohibit any assessor from
valuing any public property leased to or occupied by a private
person for private purposes. [1994 c 124 § 24; 1986 c 285 §
3; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61 § 15; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.175. Prior:
[Title 84 RCW—page 94]
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 9; 1891 c 140 § 5; 1890 p 532 § 5; RRS §
11113. Formerly RCW 84.36.220.]
Effective date—Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 61: See RCW
82.29A.900 and 82.29A.910.
Leasehold excise tax: Chapter 82.29A RCW.
84.40.178
84.40.178 Exempt residential property—Maintenance of assessed valuation—Notice of change. The assessor shall maintain an assessed valuation in accordance with
the approved revaluation cycle for a residence owned by a
person qualifying for exemption under RCW 84.36.381 in
addition to the valuation required under RCW 84.36.381(6).
Upon a change in the true and fair value of the residence, the
assessor shall notify the person qualifying for exemption
under RCW 84.36.381 of the new true and fair value and that
the new true and fair value will be used to compute property
taxes if the property fails to qualify for exemption under
RCW 84.36.381. [1995 1st sp.s. c 8 § 3.]
Application—Severability—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 8: See
notes following RCW 84.36.381.
84.40.185
84.40.185 Individuals, corporations, limited liability
companies, associations, partnerships, trusts, or estates
required to list personalty. Every individual, corporation,
limited liability company, association, partnership, trust, or
estate shall list all personal property in his or its ownership,
possession, or control which is subject to taxation pursuant to
the provisions of this title. Such listing shall be made and
delivered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[1995 c 318 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 41.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.190
84.40.190 Statement of personal property. Every person required by this title to list property shall make out and
deliver to the assessor, or to the department as required by
RCW 84.40.065, either in person, by mail, or by electronic
transmittal if available, a statement of all the personal property in his or her possession or under his or her control, and
which, by the provisions of this title, he or she is required to
list for taxation, either as owner or holder thereof. When any
list, schedule, or statement is made, the principal required to
make out and deliver the same shall be responsible for the
contents and the filing thereof and shall be liable for the penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 84.40.130. No person shall
be required to list for taxation in his statement to the assessor
any share or portion of the capital stock, or of any of the property of any company, association or corporation, which such
person may hold in whole or in part, where such company,
being required so to do, has listed for assessment and taxation
its capital stock and property with the department of revenue,
or as otherwise required by law. [2003 c 302 § 4; 2001 c 185
§ 13; 1993 c 33 § 4; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 39; 1961 c 15 §
84.40.190. Prior: 1945 c 56 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 22; 1897
c 71 § 15; 1893 c 124 § 15; 1891 c 140 § 15; 1890 p 535 § 15;
Code 1881 § 2834; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11126.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: See note following RCW 82.49.060.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
(2006 Ed.)
Listing of Property
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.200
84.40.200 Listing of personalty on failure to obtain
statement—Statement of valuation to person assessed or
listing—Exemption. (1) In all cases of failure to obtain a
statement of personal property, from any cause, it shall be the
duty of the assessor to ascertain the amount and value of such
property and assess the same at such amount as he or she
believes to be the true value thereof.
(2) The assessor, in all cases of the assessment of personal property, shall deliver or mail to the person assessed, or
to the person listing the property, a copy of the statement of
property hereinbefore required, showing the valuation of the
property so listed.
(3) This section does not apply to the listing required
under RCW 84.40.065. [1993 c 33 § 5; 1987 c 319 § 3; 1961
c 15 § 84.40.200. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 18; 1925 ex.s. c 130 §
64; 1897 c 71 § 53; 1893 c 124 § 54; 1891 c 140 § 54; 1890 p
551 § 59; RRS § 11147.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: See note following RCW 82.49.060.
84.40.240
business as a merchant. No consignee shall be required to list
for taxation the value of any property the product of this state,
nor the value of any property consigned to him from any
other place for the sole purpose of being stored or forwarded,
if he has no interest in such property nor any profit to be
derived from its sale. The growing stock of nurserymen,
which is owned by the original producer thereof or which has
been held or possessed by the nurserymen for one hundred
eighty days or more, shall, whether personal or real property,
be considered the same as growing crops on cultivated lands:
PROVIDED, That the nurserymen be licensed by the department of agriculture: PROVIDED FURTHER, That an original producer, within the meaning of this section, shall include
a person who, beginning with seeds, cuttings, bulbs, corms,
or any form of immature plants, grows such plants in the
course of their development into either a marketable partially
grown product or a marketable consumer product. [1974
ex.s. c 83 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 18 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.220.
Prior: 1939 c 116 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 25; 1897 c 71 § 18;
1893 c 124 § 18; 1891 c 140 § 18; 1890 p 537 § 19; Code
1881 § 2839; RRS § 11129. Formerly RCW 84.40.030, part,
and 84.40.220.]
84.40.210
84.40.210 Personalty of manufacturer, listing procedure, statement—"Manufacturer" defined. Every person
who purchases, receives or holds personal property of any
description for the purpose of adding to the value thereof by
any process of manufacturing, refining, rectifying, or by the
combination of different materials with the view of making
gain or profit by so doing shall be held to be a manufacturer,
and he shall, when required to, make and deliver to the assessor a statement of the amount of his other personal property
subject to taxes, also include in his statement the value of all
articles purchased, received or otherwise held for the purpose
of being used in whole or in part in any process or processes
of manufacturing, combining, rectifying or refining. Every
person owning a manufacturing establishment of any kind
and every manufacturer shall list as part of his manufacturer’s
stock the value of all engines and machinery of every description used or designed to be used in any process of refining or
manufacturing except such fixtures as have been considered
as part of any parcel of real property, including all tools and
implements of every kind, used or designed to be used for the
first aforesaid purpose. [1961 c 168 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
84.40.210. Prior: 1939 c 66 § 1; 1927 c 282 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c
130 § 26; 1921 c 60 § 1; 1897 c 71 § 19; 1893 c 124 § 19;
1891 c 140 § 19; 1890 p 538 § 20; RRS § 11130.]
84.40.230
84.40.230 Contract to purchase public land. When
any real property is sold on contract by the United States of
America, the state, or any county or municipality, and the
contract expresses or implies that the vendee is entitled to the
possession, use, benefits and profits thereof and therefrom so
long as the vendee complies with the terms of the contract, it
shall be deemed that the vendor retains title merely as security for the fulfillment of the contract, and the property shall
be assessed and taxed in the same manner as other similar
property in private ownership is taxed, and the tax roll shall
contain, opposite the description of the property so assessed
the following notation: "Subject to title remaining in the vendor" or other notation of similar significance. No foreclosure
for delinquent taxes nor any deed issued pursuant thereto
shall extinguish or otherwise affect the title of the vendor. In
any case under former law where the contract and not the
property was taxed no deed of the property described in such
contract shall ever be executed and delivered by the state or
any county or municipality until all taxes assessed against
such contract and local assessments assessed against the land
described thereon are fully paid. [1994 c 124 § 25; 1961 c 15
§ 84.40.230. Prior: 1947 c 231 § 1; 1941 c 79 § 1; 1925 ex.s.
c 137 § 33; 1897 c 71 § 26; 1893 c 124 § 26; 1891 c 140 § 26;
1890 p 540 § 25; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 11133.]
84.40.220
84.40.220 Merchant’s personalty held for sale—Consignment from out of state—Nursery stock assessable as
growing crops. Whoever owns, or has in his possession or
subject to his control, any goods, merchandise, grain or produce of any kind, or other personal property within this state,
with authority to sell the same, which has been purchased
either in or out of this state, with a view to being sold at an
advanced price or profit, or which has been consigned to him
from any place out of this state for the purpose of being sold
at any place within the state, shall be held to be a merchant,
and when he is by this title required to make out and to
deliver to the assessor a statement of his other personal property, he shall state the value of such property pertaining to his
(2006 Ed.)
84.40.240
84.40.240 Annual list of lands sold or contracted to
be sold to be furnished assessor. The assessor of each
county shall, on or before the first day of January of each
year, obtain from the department of natural resources, and
from the local land offices of the state, lists of public lands
sold or contracted to be sold during the previous year in his
county, and certify them for taxation, together with the various classes of state lands sold during the same year, and it
shall be the duty of the department of natural resources to certify a list or lists of all public lands sold or contracted to be
sold during the previous year, on application of the assessor
of any county applying therefor. [1961 c 15 § 84.40.240.
[Title 84 RCW—page 95]
84.40.315
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Prior: 1939 c 206 § 10; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 10; 1897 c 71 § 91;
1893 c 124 § 94; 1891 c 140 § 26; 1890 p 540 § 25; RRS §
11114.]
84.40.315
84.40.315 Federal agencies and property taxable
when federal law permits. Notwithstanding the provisions
of RCW 84.36.010 or anything to the contrary in the laws of
the state of Washington, expressed or implied, the United
States and its agencies and instrumentalities and their property are hereby declared to be taxable, and shall be taxed
under the existing laws of this state or any such laws hereafter
enacted, whenever and in such manner as such taxation may
be authorized or permitted under the laws of the United
States. [1961 c 15 § 84.40.315. Prior: 1945 c 142 § 1; Rem.
Supp. 1945 § 11150-1. Formerly RCW 84.08.180.]
84.40.320
84.40.320 Detail and assessment lists to board of
equalization. The assessor shall add up and note the amount
of each column in the detail and assessment lists in such manner as prescribed or approved by the state department of revenue, as will provide a convenient and permanent record of
assessment. The assessor shall also make, under proper headings, a certification of the assessment rolls and on the 15th
day of July shall file the same with the clerk of the county
board of equalization for the purpose of equalization by the
said board. Such certificate shall be verified by an affidavit,
substantially in the following form:
State of Washington, . . . . . . County, ss.
I, . . . . . ., Assessor . . . . . ., do solemnly swear that the
assessment rolls and this certificate contain a correct and full
list of all the real and personal property subject to taxation in
this county for the assessment year 19. . ., so far as I have
been able to ascertain the same; and that the assessed value
set down in the proper column, opposite the several kinds and
descriptions of property, is in each case, except as otherwise
provided by law, one hundred percent of the true and fair
value of such property, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, and that the assessment rolls and this certificate are
correct, as I verily believe.
. . . . . . . . . ., Assessor.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this . . . . day of
. . . . . ., 19. . .
(L. S.) . . . . . ., Auditor of . . . . . . county.
PROVIDED, That the failure of the assessor to complete the
certificate shall in nowise invalidate the assessment. After the
same has been duly equalized by the county board of equalization, the same shall be delivered to the county assessor.
[1988 c 222 § 18; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 195; 1973 1st ex.s. c
195 § 98; 1961 c 15 § 84.40.320. Prior: 1937 c 121 § 1; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 65; 1897 c 71 § 54; 1893 c 124 § 55; 1891 c 140
§ 55; 1890 p 552 § 60; RRS § 11148.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
ule or statement required by this chapter shall contain a written declaration that any person signing the same and knowing
the same to be false shall be subject to the penalties of perjury. [2003 c 302 § 5; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 42.]
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.340
84.40.340 Verification by assessor of any list, statement, or schedule—Confidentiality, penalty. (1) For the
purpose of verifying any list, statement, or schedule required
to be furnished to the assessor by any taxpayer, any assessor
or his or her trained and qualified deputy at any reasonable
time may visit, investigate and examine any personal property, and for this purpose the records, accounts and inventories also shall be subject to any such visitation, investigation
and examination which shall aid in determining the amount
and valuation of such property. Such powers and duties may
be performed at any office of the taxpayer in this state, and
the taxpayer shall furnish or make available all such information pertaining to property in this state to the assessor
although the records may be maintained at any office outside
this state.
(2) Any information or facts obtained pursuant to this
section shall be used by the assessor only for the purpose of
determining the assessed valuation of the taxpayer’s property: PROVIDED, That such information or facts shall also
be made available to the department of revenue upon request
for the purpose of determining any sales or use tax liability
with respect to personal property, and except in a civil or
criminal judicial proceeding or an administrative proceeding
in respect to penalties imposed pursuant to RCW 84.40.130,
to such sales or use taxes, or to the assessment or valuation
for tax purposes of the property to which such information
and facts relate, shall not be disclosed by the assessor or the
department of revenue without the permission of the taxpayer
to any person other than public officers or employees whose
duties relate to valuation of property for tax purposes or to the
imposition and collection of sales and use taxes, and any violation of this secrecy provision is a gross misdemeanor.
[2003 c 53 § 410; 1997 c 239 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 74 § 1;
1967 ex.s. c 149 § 40; 1961 ex.s. c 24 § 6.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW
2.48.180.
Effective date—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Savings—1967 ex.s. c 149: See RCW 82.98.035.
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 149: See note following RCW 82.98.030.
84.40.343
84.40.343 Mobile homes—Identification of. In the
assessment of any mobile home, the assessment record shall
contain a description of the mobile home including the make,
model, and serial number. The property tax roll shall identify
any mobile home. [1985 c 395 § 8.]
84.40.344
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.40.335
84.40.335 Lists, schedules or statements to contain
declaration that falsification subject to perjury. Except
for personal property under RCW 84.40.190, any list, sched[Title 84 RCW—page 96]
84.40.344 Mobile homes—Avoidance of payment of
tax—Penalty. Every person who wilfully avoids the payment of personal property taxes on mobile homes subject to
such tax under the laws of this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [1971 ex.s. c 299 § 75.]
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
(2006 Ed.)
Revaluation of Property
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
84.40.350
84.40.350 Assessment and taxation of property losing
exempt status. Real property, previously exempt from taxation, shall be assessed and taxed as provided in RCW
84.40.350 through 84.40.390 when transferred to private
ownership by any exempt organization including the United
States of America, the state or any political subdivision
thereof by sale or exchange or by a contract under conditions
provided for in RCW 84.40.230 or when the property otherwise loses its exempt status. [1984 c 220 § 13; 1971 ex.s. c
44 § 2.]
84.40.360
84.40.360 Loss of exempt status—Property subject to
pro rata portion of taxes for remainder of year. Property
which no longer retains its exempt status shall be subject to a
pro rata portion of the taxes allocable to the remaining portion of the year after the date that the property lost its exempt
status. If a portion of the property has lost its exempt status,
only that portion shall be subject to tax under this section.
[1984 c 220 § 14; 1971 ex.s. c 44 § 3.]
84.40.370
84.40.370 Loss of exempt status—Valuation date—
Extension on rolls. The assessor shall list the property and
assess it with reference to its value on the date the property
lost its exempt status unless such property has been previously listed and assessed. He shall extend the taxes on the tax
roll using the rate of percent applicable as if the property had
been assessed in the previous year. [1984 c 220 § 15; 1971
ex.s. c 44 § 4.]
84.41.010
gate such rules and regulations, and prescribe such procedures as it deems necessary to carry out RCW 84.36.470 and
84.36.477. [2001 c 187 § 20; 2000 c 103 § 28; 1985 c 7 §
156; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 10; 1974 ex.s. c 169 § 9.]
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
Severability—Effective date—Intent—1974 ex.s. c 169: See notes
following RCW 82.04.444.
84.40.410
84.40.410 Valuation and assessment of certain leasehold interests. A leasehold interest consisting of three thousand or more residential and recreational lots that are or may
be subleased for residential and recreational purposes,
together with any improvements thereon, shall be assessed
and taxed in the same manner as privately owned real property. The sublessee of each lot, or the lessee if not subleased,
is liable for the property tax on the lot and improvements
thereon. If property tax for a lot or improvements thereon
remains unpaid for more than three years from the date of
delinquency, including any property taxes that are delinquent
as of July 22, 2001, the county treasurer may proceed to collect the tax in the same manner as for other property, except
that the lessor’s interest in the property shall not be extinguished as a result of any action for the collection of tax. Collection of property taxes assessed on any such lot shall be
enforceable by foreclosure proceedings in accordance with
real property foreclosure proceedings authorized in chapter
84.64 RCW. [2003 c 169 § 1; 2001 c 26 § 3.]
Application—2001 c 26 §§ 2 and 3: "Sections 2 and 3 of this act apply
to taxes levied for collection in 2002 and thereafter." [2001 c 26 § 5.]
84.40.380
84.40.380 Loss of exempt status—When taxes due
and payable—Dates of delinquency—Interest. All taxes
made payable pursuant to the provisions of RCW 84.40.350
through 84.40.390 shall be due and payable to the county
treasurer on or before the thirtieth day of April in the event
the date of execution of the instrument of transfer occurs
prior to that date unless the time of payment is extended
under the provisions of RCW 84.56.020. Such taxes shall be
due and payable on or before the thirty-first day of October in
the event the date the property lost its exempt status is subsequent to the thirtieth day of April but prior to the thirty-first
day of October. In all other cases such taxes shall be due and
payable within thirty days after the date the property lost its
exempt status. In no case, however, shall the taxes be due and
payable less than thirty days from the date the property lost
its exempt status. All taxes due and payable after the dates
herein shall become delinquent, and interest at the rate specified in RCW 84.56.020 for delinquent property taxes shall be
charged upon such unpaid taxes from the date of delinquency
until paid. [1984 c 220 § 16; 1971 ex.s. c 44 § 5.]
Chapter 84.41
Chapter 84.41 RCW
REVALUATION OF PROPERTY
Sections
84.41.010
84.41.020
84.41.030
84.41.041
84.41.050
84.41.060
84.41.070
84.41.080
84.41.090
84.41.100
84.41.110
84.41.120
84.41.130
Declaration of policy.
Scope of chapter.
Revaluation program to be on continuous basis—Revaluation
schedule—Effect of other proceedings on valuation.
Physical inspection and valuation of taxable property
required—Adjustments during intervals based on statistical
data.
Budget, levy, to provide funds.
Assistance by department of revenue at request of assessor.
Finding of unsatisfactory progress—Notice—Duty of county
legislative authority.
Contracts for special assistance.
Department to establish statistical methods—Publication of
rules, regulations, and guides—Compliance required.
Assessor may appoint deputies and engage expert appraisers.
Appraisers to act in advisory capacity.
Assessor to keep records—Orders of department of revenue,
compliance enjoined, remedies.
Assessor’s annual reports.
84.41.010
84.40.390
84.40.390 Loss of exempt status—Taxes constitute
lien on property. Taxes made due and payable under RCW
84.40.350 through 84.40.390 shall be a lien on the property
from the date the property lost its exempt status. [1984 c 220
§ 17; 1971 ex.s. c 44 § 6.]
84.40.405
84.40.405 Rules for agricultural products and business inventories. The department of revenue shall promul(2006 Ed.)
84.41.010 Declaration of policy. Recent comprehensive studies by the legislative council have disclosed gross
inequality and nonuniformity in valuation of real property for
tax purposes throughout the state. Serious nonuniformity in
valuations exists both between similar property within the
various taxing districts and between general levels of valuation of the various counties. Such nonuniformity results in
inequality in taxation contrary to standards of fairness and
uniformity required and established by the Constitution and
[Title 84 RCW—page 97]
84.41.020
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
is of such flagrant and widespread occurrence as to constitute
a grave emergency adversely affecting state and local government and the welfare of all the people.
Traditional public policy of the state has vested large
measure of control in matters of property valuation in county
government, and the state hereby declares its purpose to continue such policy. However, present statutes and practices
thereunder have failed to achieve the measure of uniformity
required by the Constitution; the resultant widespread inequality and nonuniformity in valuation of property can and
should no longer be tolerated. It thus becomes necessary to
require general revaluation of property throughout the state.
[1961 c 15 § 84.41.010. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 1.]
84.41.020
84.41.020 Scope of chapter. This chapter does not, and
is not intended to affect procedures whereby taxes are
imposed either for local or state purposes. This chapter concerns solely the administrative procedures by which the true
and fair value in money of property is determined. The process of valuation, which is distinct and separate from the process of levying and imposing a tax, does not result either in
the imposition of a tax or the determination of the amount of
a tax. This chapter is intended to, and applies only to procedures and methods whereby the value of property is ascertained. [1961 c 15 § 84.41.020. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 2.]
84.41.030
84.41.030 Revaluation program to be on continuous
basis—Revaluation schedule—Effect of other proceedings on valuation. Each county assessor shall maintain an
active and systematic program of revaluation on a continuous
basis, and shall establish a revaluation schedule which will
result in revaluation of all taxable real property within the
county at least once each four years and physical inspection
of all taxable real property within the county at least once
each six years. Each county assessor may disregard any program of revaluation, if requested by a property owner, and
change, as appropriate, the valuation of real property upon
the receipt of a notice of decision received under RCW
36.70B.130, *90.60.160, or chapter 35.22, 35.63, 35A.63, or
36.70 RCW pertaining to the value of the real property.
[1996 c 254 § 7; 1982 1st ex.s. c 46 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 6;
1961 c 15 § 84.41.030. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 3.]
*Reviser’s note: RCW 90.60.160 was decodified September 2001.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.41.041
84.41.041 Physical inspection and valuation of taxable property required—Adjustments during intervals
based on statistical data. Each county assessor shall cause
taxable real property to be physically inspected and valued at
least once every six years in accordance with RCW
84.41.030, and in accordance with a plan filed with and
approved by the department of revenue. Such revaluation
plan shall provide that a reasonable portion of all taxable real
property within a county shall be revalued and these newlydetermined values placed on the assessment rolls each year.
The department may approve a plan that provides that all
property in the county be revalued every two years. If the
revaluation plan provides for physical inspection at least once
each four years, during the intervals between each physical
[Title 84 RCW—page 98]
inspection of real property, the valuation of such property
may be adjusted to its current true and fair value, such adjustments to be based upon appropriate statistical data. If the
revaluation plan provides for physical inspection less frequently than once each four years, during the intervals
between each physical inspection of real property, the valuation of such property shall be adjusted to its current true and
fair value, such adjustments to be made once each year and to
be based upon appropriate statistical data.
The assessor may require property owners to submit pertinent data respecting taxable property in their control including data respecting any sale or purchase of said property
within the past five years, the cost and characteristics of any
improvement on the property and other facts necessary for
appraisal of the property. [2001 c 187 § 21; 1997 c 3 § 108
(Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1987 c 319 § 4; 1982 1st ex.s. c 46 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 214 § 9;
1974 ex.s. c 131 § 2.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.41.050
84.41.050 Budget, levy, to provide funds. Each
county assessor in budgets hereafter submitted, shall make
adequate provision to effect county-wide revaluations as
herein directed. The several boards of county commissioners
in passing upon budgets submitted by the several assessors,
shall authorize and levy amounts which in the judgment of
the board will suffice to carry out the directions of this chapter. [1961 c 15 § 84.41.050. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 5.]
84.41.060
84.41.060 Assistance by department of revenue at
request of assessor. Any county assessor may request special assistance from the department of revenue in the valuation of property which either (1) requires specialized knowledge not otherwise available to the assessor’s staff, or (2)
because of an inadequate staff, cannot be completed by the
assessor within the time required by this chapter. After consideration of such request the department of revenue shall
advise the assessor that such request is either approved or
rejected in whole or in part. Upon approval of such request,
the department of revenue may assist the assessor in the valuation of such property in such manner as the department of
revenue, in its discretion, considers proper and adequate.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 197; 1961 c 15 § 84.41.060. Prior:
1955 c 251 § 6.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.41.070
84.41.070 Finding of unsatisfactory progress—
Notice—Duty of county legislative authority. If the department of revenue finds upon its own investigation, or upon a
showing by others, that the revaluation program for any
county is not proceeding for any reason as herein directed,
the department of revenue shall advise both the county legislative authority and the county assessor of such finding.
Within thirty days after receiving such advice, the county legislative authority, at regular or special session, either (1) shall
authorize such expenditures as will enable the assessor to
(2006 Ed.)
Taxable Situs
complete the revaluation program as herein directed, or (2)
shall direct the assessor to request special assistance from the
department of revenue for aid in effectuating the county’s
revaluation program. [1994 c 301 § 40; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278
§ 198; 1961 c 15 § 84.41.070. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 7.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.41.080
84.41.080 Contracts for special assistance. Upon
receiving a request from the county assessor, either upon his
initiation or at the direction of the board of county commissioners, for special assistance in the county’s revaluation program, the department of revenue may, before undertaking to
render such special assistance, negotiate a contract with the
board of county commissioners of the county concerned.
Such contracts as are negotiated shall provide that the county
will reimburse the state for fifty percent of the costs of such
special assistance within three years of the date of expenditure of such costs. All such reimbursements shall be paid to
the department of revenue for deposit to the state general
fund. The department of revenue shall keep complete records
of such contracts, including costs incurred, payments
received, and services performed thereunder. [1975 1st ex.s.
c 278 § 199; 1961 c 15 § 84.41.080. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 8.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.41.090
84.41.090 Department to establish statistical methods—Publication of rules, regulations, and guides—Compliance required. The department of revenue shall by rule
establish appropriate statistical methods for use by assessors
in adjusting the valuation of property between physical
inspections. The department of revenue shall make and publish such additional rules, regulations and guides which it
determines are needed to supplement materials presently
published by the department of revenue for the general guidance and assistance of county assessors. Each assessor is
hereby directed and required to value property in accordance
with the standards established by RCW 84.40.030 and in
accordance with the applicable rules, regulations and valuation manuals published by the department of revenue. [1982
1st ex.s. c 46 § 3; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 200; 1961 c 15 §
84.41.090. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 9.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.44.010
84.41.120
84.41.120 Assessor to keep records—Orders of
department of revenue, compliance enjoined, remedies.
Each county assessor shall keep such books and records as
are required by the rules and regulations of the department of
revenue and shall comply with any lawful order, rule or regulation of the department of revenue.
Whenever it appears to the department of revenue that
any assessor has failed to comply with any of the provisions
of this chapter relating to his duties or the rules of the department of revenue made in pursuance thereof, the department
of revenue, after a hearing on the facts, may issue an order
directing such assessor to comply with such provisions of this
chapter or rules of the department of revenue. Such order
shall be mailed by registered mail to the assessor at the
county court house. If, upon the expiration of fifteen days
from the date such order is mailed, the assessor has not complied therewith or has not taken measures that will insure
compliance within a reasonable time, the department of revenue may apply to a judge of the superior court or court commissioner of the county in which such assessor holds office,
for an order returnable within five days from the date thereof
to compel him to comply with such provisions of law or of
the order of the department of revenue or to show cause why
he should not be compelled so to do. Any order issued by the
judge pursuant to such order to show cause shall be final. The
remedy herein provided shall be cumulative and shall not
exclude the department of revenue from exercising any powers or rights otherwise granted. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 202;
1961 c 15 § 84.41.120. Prior: 1955 c 251 § 12.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.41.130
84.41.130 Assessor’s annual reports. Each county
assessor, before October 15th each year, shall prepare and
submit to the department of revenue a detailed report of the
progress made in the revaluation program in his or her county
to the date of the report and be made a matter of public
record. Such report shall be submitted upon forms supplied
by the department of revenue and shall consist of such information as the department of revenue requires. [1998 c 245 §
171; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 203; 1961 c 15 § 84.41.130. Prior:
1955 c 251 § 13.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Chapter 84.44
84.41.100
84.41.100 Assessor may appoint deputies and engage
expert appraisers. See RCW 36.21.011.
Chapter 84.44 RCW
TAXABLE SITUS
Sections
84.41.110
84.41.110 Appraisers to act in advisory capacity.
Appraisers whose services may be obtained by contract or
who may be assigned by the department of revenue to assist
any county assessor shall act in an advisory capacity only,
and valuations made by them shall not in any manner be
binding upon the assessor, it being the intent herein that all
valuations made pursuant to this chapter shall be made and
entered by the assessor pursuant to law as directed herein.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 201; 1961 c 15 § 84.41.110. Prior:
1955 c 251 § 11.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
(2006 Ed.)
84.44.010
84.44.020
84.44.030
84.44.050
84.44.080
84.44.090
Situs of personalty generally.
Gas, electric, water companies—Mains and pipes, as personalty.
Lumber and sawlogs.
Personalty of automobile transportation companies—Vessels,
boats and small craft.
Owner moving into state or to another county after January
1st.
Disputes over situs to be determined by department of revenue.
84.44.010
84.44.010 Situs of personalty generally. Personal
property, except such as is required in this title to be listed
and assessed otherwise, shall be listed and assessed in the
[Title 84 RCW—page 99]
84.44.020
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
county where it is situated. [1994 c 301 § 41; 1961 c 15 §
84.44.010. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 16; RRS § 11120; prior:
1897 c 71 § 9; 1893 c 124 § 9; 1891 c 140 § 9; 1890 p 533 §
8; 1871 p 39 § 9; 1869 p 179 § 9.]
84.44.020
84.44.020 Gas, electric, water companies—Mains
and pipes, as personalty. The personal property of gas,
electric and water companies shall be listed and assessed in
the town or city where the same is located. Gas and water
mains and pipes laid in roads, streets or alleys, shall be held
to be personal property. [1961 c 15 § 84.44.020. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 18; RRS § 11122; prior: 1897 c 71 § 11; 1893 c
124 § 11; 1891 c 140 § 11; 1890 p 534 § 10.]
84.44.030
84.44.030 Lumber and sawlogs. Lumber and sawlogs
shall be assessed and taxed in the county and taxing district
where the same may be situated at noon on the first day of
January of the assessment year: PROVIDED, That if any
lumber or sawlogs shall, at said time, be in intrastate transit
from one point to another within the state, the same shall be
assessed and taxed in the county and taxing districts of their
destination. [1961 c 15 § 84.44.030. Prior: 1941 c 155 § 1;
1939 c 206 § 12; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 13; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
11117; prior: 1907 c 108 § 3.]
84.44.050
84.44.050 Personalty of automobile transportation
companies—Vessels, boats and small craft. The personal
property of automobile transportation companies owning,
controlling, operating or managing any motor propelled vehicle used in the business of transporting persons and/or property for compensation over any public highway in this state
between fixed termini or over a regular route, shall be listed
and assessed in the various counties where such vehicles are
operated, in proportion to the mileage of their operations in
such counties: PROVIDED, That vehicles subject to chapter
82.44 RCW and tr ailer un its exemp t under *RCW
82.44.020(4) shall not be listed or assessed for ad valorem
taxation so long as chapter 82.44 RCW remains in effect. All
vessels of every class which are by law required to be registered, licensed or enrolled, must be assessed and the taxes
thereon paid only in the county of their actual situs: PROVIDED, That such interest shall be taxed but once. All boats
and small craft not required to be registered must be assessed
in the county of their actual situs. [1998 c 321 § 42 (Referendum Bill No. 49, approved November 3, 1998); 1993 c 123 §
3; 1961 c 15 § 84.44.050. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 17; RRS
§ 11121; prior: 1897 c 71 § 10; 1893 c 124 § 10; 1891 c 140
§ 10; 1890 p 533 § 9.]
which he is first called upon by the assessor. The owner of
personal property moving into this state from another state
between the first day of January and the first day of July shall
list the property owned by him on the first day of January of
such year in the county in which he resides: PROVIDED,
That if such person has been assessed and can make it appear
to the assessor that he is held for the tax of the current year on
the property in another state or county, he shall not be again
assessed for such year. [1961 c 15 § 84.44.080. Prior: 1939
c 206 § 13; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 14; RRS § 11118; prior: 1891
c 140 § 7; 1890 p 534 § 13.]
84.44.090
84.44.090 Disputes over situs to be determined by
department of revenue. In all questions that may arise
under this title as to the proper place to list personal property,
or where the same cannot be listed as stated in this title, if
between several places in the same county, or between different counties, or places in different counties, the place for listing and assessing shall be determined and fixed by the department of revenue; and when fixed in either case shall be as
binding as if fixed by this title. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 205;
1961 c 15 § 84.44.090. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 21; RRS §
11125; prior: 1897 c 71 § 14; 1893 c 124 § 14; 1891 c 140 §
14; 1890 p 535 § 14.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Chapter 84.48
Sections
84.48.010
84.48.014
84.48.018
84.48.022
84.48.026
84.48.028
84.48.032
84.48.034
84.48.036
84.48.038
84.48.042
84.48.046
84.48.050
84.48.065
84.48.075
*Reviser’s note: RCW 82.44.020 was repealed by 2000 1st sp.s. c 1 §
2.
Purpose—Severability—1998 c 321: See notes following RCW
82.14.045.
84.48.080
Contingent effective dates—1998 c 321 §§ 23-42: See note following
RCW 35.58.410.
84.48.110
Effective date of 1993 c 102 and c 123—1993 sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.16.070.
84.44.080
84.44.080 Owner moving into state or to another
county after January 1st. The owner of personal property
removing from one county to another between the first day of
January and the first day of July shall be assessed in either in
[Title 84 RCW—page 100]
Chapter 84.48 RCW
EQUALIZATION OF ASSESSMENTS
84.48.120
84.48.130
84.48.140
84.48.150
84.48.200
County board of equalization—Formation—Per diem—Meetings—Duties—Records—Correction of rolls—Extending
taxes—Change in valuation, release or commutation of taxes
by county legislative authority prohibited.
County board of equalization—Composition of board—
Appointment—Qualifications.
County board of equalization—Chairman—Quorum.
County board of equalization—Meetings.
County board of equalization—Terms—Removal.
County board of equalization—Clerk—Assistants.
County board of equalization—Appraisers.
County board of equalization—Duration of order.
County board of equalization—Annual budget.
County board of equalization—Legal advisor.
County board of equalization—Training school.
County board of equalization—Operating manual.
Abstract of rolls to state auditor—State action if assessor does
not transmit, when.
Cancellation and correction of erroneous assessments and
assessments on property on which land use designation is
changed.
County indicated ratio—Determination by department—Submission of preliminary ratio to assessor—Rules—Use
classes—Review of preliminary ratio—Certification—
Examination of assessment procedures—Adjustment of
ratio.
Equalization of assessments—Taxes for state purposes—Procedure—Levy and apportionment—Hypothetical levy for
establishing consolidated levy—Rules—Record.
Transcript of proceedings to county assessors—Delinquent tax
for certain preceding years included.
Extension of state taxes.
Certification of assessed valuation to taxing districts.
Property tax advisor.
Valuation criteria including comparative sales to be made
available to taxpayer—Change.
Rules.
Appeals from county board of equalization: RCW 84.08.130
Reconvening county board of equalization: RCW 84.08.060.
(2006 Ed.)
Equalization of Assessments
84.48.010
84.48.010 County board of equalization—Formation—Per diem—Meetings—Duties—Records—Correction of rolls—Extending taxes—Change in valuation,
release or commutation of taxes by county legislative
authority prohibited. Prior to July 15th, the county legislative authority shall form a board for the equalization of the
assessment of the property of the county. The members of
said board shall receive a per diem amount as set by the
county legislative authority for each day of actual attendance
of the meeting of the board of equalization to be paid out of
the current expense fund of the county: PROVIDED, That
when the county legislative authority constitute the board
they shall only receive their compensation as members of the
county legislative authority. The board of equalization shall
meet in open session for this purpose annually on the 15th
day of July and, having each taken an oath fairly and impartially to perform their duties as members of such board, they
shall examine and compare the returns of the assessment of
the property of the county and proceed to equalize the same,
so that each tract or lot of real property and each article or
class of personal property shall be entered on the assessment
list at its true and fair value, according to the measure of
value used by the county assessor in such assessment year,
which is presumed to be correct under RCW 84.40.0301, and
subject to the following rules:
First. They shall raise the valuation of each tract or lot or
item of real property which is returned below its true and fair
value to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value
thereof, after at least five days’ notice shall have been given
in writing to the owner or agent.
Second. They shall reduce the valuation of each tract or
lot or item which is returned above its true and fair value to
such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof.
Third. They shall raise the valuation of each class of personal property which is returned below its true and fair value
to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value thereof,
and they shall raise the aggregate value of the personal property of each individual whenever the aggregate value is less
than the true valuation of the taxable personal property possessed by such individual, to such sum or amount as to be the
true value thereof, after at least five days’ notice shall have
been given in writing to the owner or agent thereof.
Fourth. They shall reduce the valuation of each class of
personal property enumerated on the detail and assessment
list of the current year, which is returned above its true and
fair value, to such price or sum as to be the true and fair value
thereof; and they shall reduce the aggregate valuation of the
personal property of such individual who has been assessed
at too large a sum to such sum or amount as was the true and
fair value of the personal property.
Fifth. The board may review all claims for either real or
personal property tax exemption as determined by the county
assessor, and shall consider any taxpayer appeals from the
decision of the assessor thereon to determine (1) if the taxpayer is entitled to an exemption, and (2) if so, the amount
thereof.
The clerk of the board shall keep an accurate journal or
record of the proceedings and orders of said board showing
the facts and evidence upon which their action is based, and
the said record shall be published the same as other proceedings of county legislative authority, and shall make a true
(2006 Ed.)
84.48.014
record of the changes of the descriptions and assessed values
ordered by the county board of equalization. The assessor
shall correct the real and personal assessment rolls in accordance with the changes made by the said county board of
equalization, and the assessor shall make duplicate abstracts
of such corrected values, one copy of which shall be retained
in the office, and one copy forwarded to the department of
revenue on or before the eighteenth day of August next following the meeting of the county board of equalization.
The county board of equalization shall meet on the 15th
day of July and may continue in session and adjourn from
time to time during a period not to exceed four weeks, but
shall remain in session not less than three days: PROVIDED,
That the county board of equalization with the approval of the
county legislative authority may convene at any time when
petitions filed exceed twenty-five, or ten percent of the number of appeals filed in the preceding year, whichever is
greater.
No taxes, except special taxes, shall be extended upon
the tax rolls until the property valuations are equalized by the
department of revenue for the purpose of raising the state revenue.
County legislative authorities as such shall at no time
have any authority to change the valuation of the property of
any person or to release or commute in whole or in part the
taxes due on the property of any person. [2001 c 187 § 22;
1997 c 3 § 109 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1988 c 222 § 20; 1979 c 13 § 1. Prior: 1977
ex.s. c 290 § 2; 1977 c 33 § 1; 1970 ex.s. c 55 § 2; 1961 c 15
§ 84.48.010; prior: 1939 c 206 § 35; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 68;
RRS § 11220; prior: 1915 c 122 § 1; 1907 c 129 § 1; 1897 c
71 § 58; 1893 c 124 § 59; 1890 p 555 § 73; Code 1881 §§
2873-2879. Formerly RCW 84.48.010, 84.48.020, 84.48.030,
84.48.040, and 84.48.060.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.014
84.48.014 County board of equalization—Composition of board—Appointment—Qualifications. The board
of equalization of each county shall consist of not less than
three nor more than seven members including alternates.
Such members shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the county legislative authority, and shall be selected
based upon the qualifications established by rule by the
department of revenue and shall not be a holder of any elective office nor be an employee of any elected official: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The county legislative authority may
itself constitute the board at its discretion. Any member who
does not attend the school required by RCW 84.48.042
within one year of appointment or reappointment shall be
barred from serving as a member of the board of equalization
unless this requirement is waived for the member by the
department for just cause. [1988 c 222 § 21; 1970 ex.s. c 55
§ 3.]
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
[Title 84 RCW—page 101]
84.48.018
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.018
84.48.018 County board of equalization—Chairman—Quorum. The members of each board of equalization
shall meet and choose a chairman. A majority of the board
shall constitute a quorum. [1970 ex.s. c 55 § 4.]
of the clerk of the board and the clerk’s assistants, the
expenses of the members of the board during the sessions,
travel, in-service training, and payment of salaries of all such
employees hired by the board, to facilitate its work. [1994 c
124 § 30; 1970 ex.s. c 55 § 9.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.038
84.48.022
84.48.022 County board of equalization—Meetings.
All meetings of the board of equalization shall be held at the
county courthouse, or other suitable place within the county,
and the county legislative authority shall make provision for
a suitable meeting place. [1994 c 124 § 26; 1970 ex.s. c 55 §
5.]
84.48.038 County board of equalization—Legal advisor. The prosecuting attorney of each county shall serve as
legal advisor to the board of equalization. [1970 ex.s. c 55 §
10.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.042
84.48.026 County board of equalization—Terms—
Removal. The terms of each appointed member of the board
shall be for three years or until their successors are appointed.
Each appointed member may be removed by a majority vote
of the county legislative authority. [1994 c 124 § 27; 1970
ex.s. c 55 § 6.]
84.48.042 County board of equalization—Training
school. The department of revenue shall establish a school
for the training of members of the several boards of equalization throughout the state. Sessions of such schools shall, so
far as practicable, be held in each district of the Washington
state association of counties. Every member of the board of
equalization of each county shall attend such school within
one year following appointment or reappointment. [1988 c
222 § 22; 1970 ex.s. c 55 § 11.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.026
84.48.028
84.48.028 County board of equalization—Clerk—
Assistants. The board may appoint a clerk of the board and
any assistants the board might need, all to serve at the pleasure of the members of the board, and the clerk or assistant
shall attend all sessions thereof, and shall keep the record.
Neither the assessor nor any of the assessor’s staff may serve
as clerk. [1994 c 124 § 28; 1970 ex.s. c 55 § 7.]
84.48.046 County board of equalization—Operating
manual. The department of revenue shall provide a manual
for the operation procedures of the several boards of equalization so that uniformity of assessment may be obtained
throughout the state, and the several boards of equalization
shall follow such manual in all of its operations and procedures. [1970 ex.s. c 55 § 12.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.046
84.48.032
84.48.032 County board of equalization—Appraisers. The board may hire one or more appraisers accredited by
the department of revenue or certified by the Washington
state department of licensing, society of real estate appraisers, American institute of real estate appraisers, or international association of assessing officers, and not otherwise
employed by the county, and other necessary personnel for
the purpose of aiding the board and carrying out its functions
and duties. In addition, the boards of the various counties
may make reciprocal arrangements for the exchange of the
appraisers with other counties. Such appraisers need not be
residents of the county. [1994 c 124 § 29; 1970 ex.s. c 55 §
8.]
Effective date—1970 ex.s. c 55: See note following RCW 84.36.050.
84.48.034 County board of equalization—Duration
of order. The board of equalization may enter an order that
has effect up to the end of the assessment cycle used by the
assessor, if there has been no intervening change in the value
during that time. [1994 c 301 § 47.]
84.48.034
84.48.036
84.48.036 County board of equalization—Annual
budget. The county legislative authority may provide an
adequate annual budget and funds for operation and needs of
the board of equalization, including, but not limited to the
costs and expenses of the board, such as the meeting place,
the necessary equipment and facilities, materials, the salaries
[Title 84 RCW—page 102]
84.48.050
84.48.050 Abstract of rolls to state auditor—State
action if assessor does not transmit, when. The county
assessor shall, on or before the fifteenth day of January in
each year, make out and transmit to the state auditor, in such
form as may be prescribed, a complete abstract of the tax rolls
of the county, showing the number of acres that have been
assessed and the total value of the real property, including the
structures on the real property; the total value of all taxable
personal property in the county; the aggregate amount of all
taxable property in the county; the total amount as equalized
and the total amount of taxes levied in the county for state,
county, city and other taxing district purposes, for that year.
Should the assessor of any county fail to transmit to the
department of revenue the abstract provided for in RCW
84.48.010, and if, by reason of such failure to transmit such
abstract, any county shall fail to collect and pay to the state its
due proportion of the state tax for any year, the department of
revenue shall ascertain what amount of state tax said county
has failed to collect, and certify the same to the state auditor,
who shall charge the amount to the proper county and notify
the auditor of said county of the amount of said charge; said
sum shall be due and payable immediately by warrant in
favor of the state on the current expense fund of said county.
[1995 c 134 § 15. Prior: 1994 c 301 § 42; 1994 c 124 § 31;
1961 c 15 § 84.48.050; prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 69; RRS §
11221; prior: 1890 p 557 § 74. Formerly RCW 84.48.050
and 84.48.070.]
(2006 Ed.)
Equalization of Assessments
84.48.065
84.48.065 Cancellation and correction of erroneous
assessments and assessments on property on which land
use designation is changed. (1) The county assessor or treasurer may cancel or correct assessments on the assessment or
tax rolls which are erroneous due to manifest errors in
description, double assessments, clerical errors in extending
the rolls, and such manifest errors in the listing of the property which do not involve a revaluation of property, except in
the case that a taxpayer produces proof that an authorized
land use authority has made a definitive change in the property’s land use designation. In such a case, correction of the
assessment or tax rolls may be made notwithstanding the fact
that the action involves a revaluation of property. Manifest
errors that do not involve a revaluation of property include
the assessment of property exempted by law from taxation or
the failure to deduct the exemption allowed by law to the
head of a family. When the county assessor cancels or corrects an assessment, the assessor shall send a notice to the
taxpayer in accordance with RCW 84.40.045, advising the
taxpayer that the action has been taken and notifying the taxpayer of the right to appeal the cancellation or correction to
the county board of equalization, in accordance with RCW
84.40.038. When the county assessor or treasurer cancels or
corrects an assessment, a record of such action shall be prepared, setting forth therein the facts relating to the error. The
record shall also set forth by legal description all property
belonging exclusively to the state, any county, or any municipal corporation whose property is exempt from taxation,
upon which there remains, according to the tax roll, any
unpaid taxes. No manifest error cancellation or correction,
including a cancellation or correction made due to a definitive change of land use designation, shall be made for any
period more than three years preceding the year in which the
error is discovered.
(2)(a) In the case of a definitive change of land use designation, an assessor shall make corrections that involve a
revaluation of property to the assessment roll when:
(i) The assessor and taxpayer have signed an agreement
as to the true and fair value of the taxpayer’s property setting
forth in the agreement the valuation information upon which
the agreement is based; and
(ii) The assessment roll has previously been certified in
accordance with RCW 84.40.320.
(b) In all other cases, an assessor shall make corrections
that involve a revaluation of property to the assessment roll
when:
(i) The assessor and taxpayer have signed an agreement
as to the true and fair value of the taxpayer’s property setting
forth in the agreement the valuation information upon which
the agreement is based; and
(ii) The following conditions are met:
(A) The assessment roll has previously been certified in
accordance with RCW 84.40.320;
(B) The taxpayer has timely filed a petition with the
county board of equalization pursuant to RCW 84.40.038 for
the current assessment year;
(C) The county board of equalization has not yet held a
hearing on the merits of the taxpayer’s petition.
(3) The assessor shall issue a supplementary roll or rolls
including such cancellations and corrections, and the assessment and levy shall have the same force and effect as if made
(2006 Ed.)
84.48.075
in the first instance, and the county treasurer shall proceed to
collect the taxes due on the rolls as modified. [2001 c 187 §
23; 1997 c 3 § 110 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved
November 4, 1997); 1996 c 296 § 1; 1992 c 206 § 12; 1989 c
378 § 14; 1988 c 222 § 25.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—1992 c 206: See note following RCW 82.04.170.
84.48.075
84.48.075 County indicated ratio—Determination by
department—Submission of preliminary ratio to assessor—Rules—Use classes—Review of preliminary ratio—
Certification—Examination of assessment procedures—
Adjustment of ratio. (1) The department of revenue shall
annually, prior to the first Monday in September, determine
and submit to each assessor a preliminary indicated ratio for
each county: PROVIDED, That the department shall establish rules and regulations pertinent to the determination of the
indicated ratio, the indicated real property ratio and the indicated personal property ratio: PROVIDED FURTHER, That
these rules and regulations may provide that data, as is necessary for said determination, which is available from the
county assessor of any county and which has been audited as
to its validity by the department, shall be utilized by the
department in determining the indicated ratio.
(2) To such extent as is reasonable, the department may
define use classes of property for the purposes of determination of the indicated ratio. Such use classes may be defined
with respect to property use and may include agricultural,
open space, timber and forest lands.
(3) The department shall review each county’s preliminary ratio with the assessor, a landowner, or an owner of an
intercounty public utility or private car company of that
county, if requested by the assessor, a landowner, or an
owner of an intercounty public utility or private car company
of that county, respectively, between the first and third Mondays of September. Prior to equalization of assessments pursuant to RCW 84.48.080 and after the third Monday of September, the department shall certify to each county assessor
the real and personal property ratio for that county.
(4) The department of revenue shall also examine procedures used by the assessor to assess real and personal property in the county, including calculations, use of prescribed
value schedules, and efforts to locate all taxable property in
the county. If any examination by the department discloses
other than market value is being listed on the county assessment rolls of the county by the assessor and, after due notification by the department, is not corrected, the department of
revenue shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, adjust the ratio of that type of property, which adjustment shall be used for determining the county’s indicated
ratio. [2001 c 187 § 24; 1997 c 3 § 111 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997); 1988 c 222 § 23; 1982 1st
ex.s. c 46 § 7; 1977 ex.s. c 284 § 3.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
[Title 84 RCW—page 103]
84.48.080
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Purpose—Intent—1977 ex.s. c 284: "It is the intent of the legislature
that the methodology used in the equalization of property values for the purposes of the state levy, public utility assessment, and other purposes, shall be
designed to ensure uniformity and equity in taxation throughout the state to
the maximum extent possible.
It is the purpose of this 1977 amendatory act to provide certain guidelines for the determination of the ratio of assessed value to the full true and
fair value of the general property in each county." [1977 ex.s. c 284 § 1.]
84.48.080
84.48.080 Equalization of assessments—Taxes for
state purposes—Procedure—Levy and apportionment—
Hypothetical levy for establishing consolidated levy—
Rules—Record. (1) Annually during the months of September and October, the department of revenue shall examine
and compare the returns of the assessment of the property in
the several counties of the state, and the assessment of the
property of railroad and other companies assessed by the
department, and proceed to equalize the same, so that each
county in the state shall pay its due and just proportion of the
taxes for state purposes for such assessment year, according
to the ratio the valuation of the property in each county bears
to the total valuation of all property in the state.
(a) The department shall classify all property, real and
personal, and shall raise and lower the valuation of any class
of property in any county to a value that shall be equal, so far
as possible, to the true and fair value of such class as of January 1st of the current year for the purpose of ascertaining the
just amount of tax due from each county for state purposes. In
equalizing personal property as of January 1st of the current
year, the department shall use valuation data with respect to
personal property from the three years immediately preceding the current assessment year in a manner it deems appropriate. Such classification may be on the basis of types of
property, geographical areas, or both. For purposes of this
section, for each county that has not provided the department
with an assessment return by December 1st, the department
shall proceed, using facts and information and in a manner it
deems appropriate, to estimate the value of each class of
property in the county.
(b) The department shall keep a full record of its proceedings and the same shall be published annually by the
department.
(2) The department shall levy the state taxes authorized
by law. The amount levied in any one year for general state
purposes shall not exceed the lawful dollar rate on the dollar
of the assessed value of the property of the entire state, which
assessed value shall be one hundred percent of the true and
fair value of the property in money. The department shall
apportion the amount of tax for state purposes levied by the
department, among the several counties, in proportion to the
valuation of the taxable property of the county for the year as
equalized by the department: PROVIDED, That for purposes
of this apportionment, the department shall recompute the
previous year’s levy and the apportionment thereof to correct
for changes and errors in taxable values reported to the
department after October 1 of the preceding year and shall
adjust the apportioned amount of the current year’s state levy
for each county by the difference between the apportioned
amounts established by the original and revised levy computations for the previous year. For purposes of this section,
[Title 84 RCW—page 104]
changes in taxable values mean a final adjustment made by a
county board of equalization, the state board of tax appeals,
or a court of competent jurisdiction and shall include additions of omitted property, other additions or deletions from
the assessment or tax rolls, any assessment return provided
by a county to the department subsequent to December 1st, or
a change in the indicated ratio of a county. Errors in taxable
values mean errors corrected by a final reviewing body.
In addition to computing a levy under this subsection
that is reduced under RCW 84.55.012, the department shall
compute a hypothetical levy without regard to the reduction
under RCW 84.55.012. This hypothetical levy shall also be
apportioned among the several counties in proportion to the
valuation of the taxable property of the county for the year, as
equalized by the department, in the same manner as the actual
levy and shall be used by the county assessors for the purpose
of recomputing and establishing a consolidated levy under
RCW 84.52.010.
(3) The department shall have authority to adopt rules
and regulations to enforce obedience to its orders in all matters in relation to the returns of county assessments, the
equalization of values, and the apportionment of the state
levy by the department.
(4) After the completion of the duties prescribed in this
section, the director of the department shall certify the record
of the proceedings of the department under this section, the
tax levies made for state purposes and the apportionment
thereof among the counties, and the certification shall be
available for public inspection. [2001 c 185 § 12; 1997 c 3 §
112 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1995 2nd sp.s. c 13 § 3; 1994 c 301 § 43; 1990 c 283 § 1; 1988
c 222 § 24; 1982 1st ex.s. c 28 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 86 § 3; 1973
1st ex.s. c 195 § 99; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 9; 1961 c 15 §
84.48.080. Prior: 1949 c 66 § 1; 1939 c 206 § 36; 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 70; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11222; prior: 1917 c 55 § 1;
1915 c 7 § 1; 1907 c 215 § 1; 1899 c 141 § 4; 1897 c 71 § 60;
1893 c 124 § 61; 1890 p 557 § 75. Formerly RCW 84.48.080,
84.48.090, and 84.48.100.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 185 §§ 12 and 15: "Section 15 of
this act takes effect for taxes levied in 2001 for collection in 2002 and thereafter if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution providing for valuation increases to be phased-in over a period of four
years is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by voters at the next
general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified,
section 15 of this act is null and void. If such proposed amendment is
approved and ratified, section 12 of this act is null and void." [2001 c 185 §
16.]
Reviser’s note: No proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of
the state Constitution was submitted to the voters.
Application—2001 c 185 §§ 1-12: See note following RCW
84.14.110.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Intent—1995 2nd sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 84.55.012.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 28: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1982 1st ex.s. c 28 § 3.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 86: See note following RCW 13.24.040.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
(2006 Ed.)
Equalization of Assessments
84.48.110
84.48.110 Transcript of proceedings to county assessors—Delinquent tax for certain preceding years
included. After certifying the record of the proceedings of
the department in accordance with RCW 84.48.080, the
department shall transmit to each county assessor a copy of
the record of the proceedings of the department, specifying
the amount to be levied and collected for state purposes for
such year, and in addition thereto it shall certify to each
county assessor the amount due to each state fund and unpaid
from such county for the fifth preceding year, and such delinquent state taxes shall be added to the amount levied for the
current year. The department shall close the account of each
county for the fifth preceding year and charge the amount of
such delinquency to the tax levy of the current year. These
delinquent taxes shall not be subject to chapter 84.55 RCW.
All taxes collected on and after the first day of July last preceding such certificate, on account of delinquent state taxes
for the fifth preceding year shall belong to the county and by
the county treasurer be credited to the current expense fund of
the county in which collected. [1994 c 301 § 44; 1994 c 124
§ 32; 1987 c 168 § 1; 1984 c 132 § 4; 1981 c 260 § 17. Prior:
1979 ex.s. c 86 § 4; 1979 c 151 § 185; 1973 c 95 § 11; 1961 c
15 § 84.48.110; prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 71; RRS § 11223;
prior: 1899 c 141 § 5; 1897 c 71 § 61; 1893 c 124 § 62; 1890
p 558 § 76.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1994 c 124 § 32 and by
1994 c 301 § 44, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 86: See note following RCW 13.24.040.
84.48.120
84.48.120 Extension of state taxes. It shall be the duty
of the assessor of each county, when the assessor shall have
received from the state department of revenue the assessed
valuation of the property of railroad and other companies
assessed by the department of revenue and apportioned to the
county, and placed the same on the tax rolls, and received the
report of the department of revenue of the amount of taxes
levied for state purposes, to compute the required percent on
the assessed value of property in the county, and such state
taxes shall be extended on the tax rolls. The rates so computed shall not be such as to raise a surplus of more than five
percent over the total amount required by the department of
revenue. Any surplus raised shall be remitted to the state in
accordance with RCW 84.56.280. [1994 c 301 § 45; 1994 c
124 § 33; 1987 c 168 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 86 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s.
c 278 § 206; 1961 c 15 § 84.48.120. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 37;
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 72; RRS § 11224; prior: 1890 p 544 § 38.]
Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1994 c 124 § 33 and by
1994 c 301 § 45, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are
incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2).
For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 86: See note following RCW 13.24.040.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.48.130
84.48.130 Certification of assessed valuation to taxing districts. It shall be the duty of the assessor of each
county, when the assessor shall have received from the state
department of revenue the certificate of the assessed valuation of the property of railroad and/ or other companies
assessed by the department of revenue and apportioned to the
(2006 Ed.)
84.48.150
county, and shall have distributed the value so certified, to the
several taxing districts in the county entitled to a proportionate value thereof, and placed the same upon the tax rolls of
the county, to certify to the county legislative authority and to
the officers authorized by law to estimate expenditures
and/or levy taxes for any taxing district coextensive with the
county, the total assessed value of property in the county as
shown by the completed tax rolls, and to certify to the officers
authorized by law to estimate expenditures and/or levy taxes
for each taxing district in the county not coextensive with the
county, the total assessed value of the property in such taxing
district. [1994 c 124 § 34; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 207; 1961 c
15 § 84.48.130. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 38; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 73;
RRS § 11234.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.48.140
84.48.140 Property tax advisor. The county legislative authority of any county may designate one or more persons to act as a property tax advisor to any person liable for
payment of property taxes in the county. A person designated
as a property tax advisor shall not be an employee of the
assessor’s office or have been associated in any way with the
determination of any valuation of property for taxation purposes that may be the subject of an appeal. A person designated as a property tax advisor may be compensated on a fee
basis or as an employee by the county from any funds available to the county for use in property evaluation including
funds available from the state for use in the property tax
revaluation program.
The property tax advisor shall perform such duties as
may be set forth by resolution of the county legislative
authority.
If any county legislative authority elects to designate a
property tax advisor, it shall publicize the services available.
[1994 c 124 § 35; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 11.]
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.48.150
84.48.150 Valuation criteria including comparative
sales to be made available to taxpayer—Change. The
assessor shall, upon the request of any taxpayer who petitions
the board of equalization for review of a tax claim or valuation dispute, make available to said taxpayer a compilation of
comparable sales utilized by the assessor in establishing such
taxpayer’s property valuation. If valuation criteria other than
comparable sales were used, the assessor shall furnish the
taxpayer with such other factors and the addresses of such
other property used in making the determination of value.
The assessor shall within sixty days of such request but
at least fourteen business days, excluding legal holidays,
prior to such taxpayer’s appearance before the board of
equalization make available to the taxpayer the valuation criteria and/ or comparable sales which shall not be subsequently changed by the assessor unless the assessor has found
new evidence supporting the assessor’s valuation, in which
situation the assessor shall provide such additional evidence
to the taxpayer and the board of equalization at least fourteen
business days prior to the hearing at the board of equalization. A taxpayer who lists comparable sales on a notice of
appeal shall not subsequently change such sales unless the
[Title 84 RCW—page 105]
84.48.200
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
taxpayer has found new evidence supporting the taxpayer’s
proposed valuation in which case the taxpayer shall provide
such additional evidence to the assessor and board of equalization at least seven business days, excluding legal holidays,
prior to the hearing. If either the assessor or taxpayer does not
meet the requirements of this section the board of equalization may continue the hearing to provide the parties an opportunity to review all evidence or, upon objection, refuse to
consider sales not submitted in a timely manner. [1994 c 301
§ 46; 1973 1st ex.s. c 30 § 1.]
84.48.200 Rules. The department of revenue shall make
such rules consistent with this chapter as shall be necessary or
desirable to permit its effective administration. The rules may
provide for changes of venue for the various boards of equalization. [1988 c 222 § 26.]
84.48.200
Chapter 84.52
Chapter 84.52 RCW
LEVY OF TAXES
Sections
84.52.010
84.52.018
84.52.020
84.52.025
84.52.030
84.52.040
84.52.043
84.52.044
84.52.050
84.52.0502
84.52.052
84.52.053
84.52.0531
84.52.054
84.52.056
84.52.063
84.52.065
84.52.067
84.52.068
84.52.069
84.52.070
84.52.080
84.52.085
84.52.105
84.52.120
84.52.125
84.52.130
84.52.135
84.52.700
84.52.703
84.52.706
84.52.709
84.52.712
84.52.713
84.52.718
84.52.719
84.52.721
84.52.724
84.52.727
84.52.730
84.52.733
84.52.736
Taxes levied or voted in specific amounts—Effect of constitutional and statutory limitations.
Calculation of tax levy rates when the assessment of highly
valued property is in dispute.
City and district budgets to be filed with county legislative
authority.
Budgets of taxing districts filed with county commissioners to
indicate estimate of cash balance.
Time of levy.
Levies to be made on assessed valuation.
Limitations upon regular property tax levies.
Limitations upon regular property tax levies—Participating
fire protection jurisdictions.
Limitation of levies.
Rules for administration.
Excess levies authorized—When—Procedure.
Levies by school districts authorized—When—Procedure.
Levies by school districts—Maximum dollar amount for maintenance and operation support—Restrictions—Maximum
levy percentage—Levy reduction funds—Rules.
Excess levies—Ballot contents—Eventual dollar rate on tax
rolls.
Excess levies for capital purposes authorized.
Rural library district levies.
State levy for support of common schools.
State levy for support of common schools—Disposition of
funds.
State levy—Distribution to school districts.
Emergency medical care and service levies.
Certification of levies to assessor.
Extension of taxes on rolls—Form of certificate—Delivery to
treasurer.
Property tax errors.
Affordable housing levies authorized—Declaration of emergency and plan required.
Metropolitan park districts—Protection of levy from prorationing—Ballot proposition.
Fire protection districts—Protection from levy prorationing.
Fire protection district excess levies.
County levy for criminal justice purposes.
County airport district levy authorized.
Mosquito control district levies authorized.
Rural county library district levy authorized.
Intercounty rural library district levy authorized.
Reduction of city levy if part of library district.
Island library district levy authorized.
Levy by receiver of disincorporated city authorized.
Second class city levies.
Unclassified city sewer fund levy authorized.
City accident fund levy authorized.
City emergency fund levy authorized.
City lowlands and waterway projects levy authorized.
Metropolitan municipal corporation levy authorized.
Metropolitan park district levy authorized.
[Title 84 RCW—page 106]
84.52.739
84.52.742
84.52.745
84.52.749
84.52.750
84.52.751
84.52.754
84.52.757
84.52.760
84.52.761
84.52.763
84.52.769
84.52.772
84.52.775
84.52.778
84.52.784
84.52.786
84.52.787
84.52.790
84.52.793
84.52.796
84.52.799
84.52.802
84.52.808
84.52.811
84.52.814
84.52.817
84.52.820
84.52.823
Code city accident fund levy authorized.
County lands assessment fund levy authorized.
General county levy authorized.
County rail district tax levies authorized.
Solid waste disposal district—Excess levies authorized.
County hospital maintenance levy authorized.
Park and recreation service area levies authorized.
Park and recreation district levies authorized.
County road fund levy authorized.
Road and bridge service district levies authorized.
City firemen’s pension fund levy authorized.
Reduction of city levy if part of fire protection district.
Fire protection district levies authorized.
Port district levies authorized.
Public utility district levy authorized.
Water-sewer district levies authorized.
Cultural arts, stadium and convention district tax levies authorized.
Cemetery district levy authorized.
Public hospital district levy authorized.
Air pollution control agency levy authorized.
Mental retardation and developmental disability services levy
authorized.
Veteran’s relief fund levy authorized.
Acquisition of open space, etc., land or rights to future development by certain entities—Property tax levy authorized.
River improvement fund levy authorized.
Intercounty river control agreement levy authorized.
Flood control zone district levy authorized.
Irrigation and rehabilitation district special assessment authorized.
Reclamation district levy authorized.
Levy for tax refund funds.
Levy for refunds: RCW 84.68.040.
84.52.010 Taxes levied or voted in specific amounts—
Effect of constitutional and statutory limitations. Except
as is permitted under RCW 84.55.050, all taxes shall be levied or voted in specific amounts.
The rate percent of all taxes for state and county purposes, and purposes of taxing districts coextensive with the
county, shall be determined, calculated and fixed by the
county assessors of the respective counties, within the limitations provided by law, upon the assessed valuation of the
property of the county, as shown by the completed tax rolls of
the county, and the rate percent of all taxes levied for purposes of taxing districts within any county shall be determined, calculated and fixed by the county assessors of the
respective counties, within the limitations provided by law,
upon the assessed valuation of the property of the taxing districts respectively.
When a county assessor finds that the aggregate rate of
tax levy on any property, that is subject to the limitations set
forth in RCW 84.52.043 or 84.52.050, exceeds the limitations
provided in either of these sections, the assessor shall recompute and establish a consolidated levy in the following manner:
(1) The full certified rates of tax levy for state, county,
county road district, and city or town purposes shall be
extended on the tax rolls in amounts not exceeding the limitations established by law; however any state levy shall take
precedence over all other levies and shall not be reduced for
any purpose other than that required by RCW 84.55.010. If,
as a result of the levies imposed under RCW 84.52.125,
84.52.135, 36.54.130, 84.52.069, 84.34.230, the portion of
the levy by a metropolitan park district that was protected
under RCW 84.52.120, and 84.52.105, the combined rate of
regular property tax levies that are subject to the one percent
limitation exceeds one percent of the true and fair value of
any property, then these levies shall be reduced as follows:
84.52.010
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
(a) The portion of the levy by a fire protection district
that is protected under RCW 84.52.125 shall be reduced until
the combined rate no longer exceeds one percent of the true
and fair value of any property or shall be eliminated;
(b) If the combined rate of regular property tax levies
that are subject to the one percent limitation still exceeds one
percent of the true and fair value of any property, the levy
imposed by a county under RCW 84.52.135 must be reduced
until the combined rate no longer exceeds one percent of the
true and fair value of any property or must be eliminated;
(c) If the combined rate of regular property tax levies
that are subject to the one percent limitation still exceeds one
percent of the true and fair value of any property, the levy
imposed by a ferry district under RCW 36.54.130 must be
reduced until the combined rate no longer exceeds one percent of the true and fair value of any property or must be
eliminated;
(d) If the combined rate of regular property tax levies
that are subject to the one percent limitation still exceeds one
percent of the true and fair value of any property, the portion
of the levy by a metropolitan park district that is protected
under RCW 84.52.120 shall be reduced until the combined
rate no longer exceeds one percent of the true and fair value
of any property or shall be eliminated;
(e) If the combined rate of regular property tax levies
that are subject to the one percent limitation still exceeds one
percent of the true and fair value of any property, then the
levies imposed under RCW 84.34.230, 84.52.105, and any
portion of the levy imposed under RCW 84.52.069 that is in
excess of thirty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value,
shall be reduced on a pro rata basis until the combined rate no
longer exceeds one percent of the true and fair value of any
property or shall be eliminated; and
(f) If the combined rate of regular property tax levies that
are subject to the one percent limitation still exceeds one percent of the true and fair value of any property, then the thirty
cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of tax levy
imposed under RCW 84.52.069 shall be reduced until the
combined rate no longer exceeds one percent of the true and
fair value of any property or eliminated.
(2) The certified rates of tax levy subject to these limitations by all junior taxing districts imposing taxes on such
property shall be reduced or eliminated as follows to bring
the consolidated levy of taxes on such property within the
provisions of these limitations:
(a) First, the certified property tax levy rates of those junior taxing districts authorized under RCW 36.68.525,
36.69.145, 35.95A.100, and 67.38.130 shall be reduced on a
pro rata basis or eliminated;
(b) Second, if the consolidated tax levy rate still exceeds
these limitations, the certified property tax levy rates of flood
control zone districts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis or
eliminated;
(c) Third, if the consolidated tax levy rate still exceeds
these limitations, the certified property tax levy rates of all
other junior taxing districts, other than fire protection districts, regional fire protection service authorities, library districts, the first fifty cent per thousand dollars of assessed valuation levies for metropolitan park districts, and the first fifty
cent per thousand dollars of assessed valuation levies for
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.010
public hospital districts, shall be reduced on a pro rata basis
or eliminated;
(d) Fourth, if the consolidated tax levy rate still exceeds
these limitations, the first fifty cent per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation levies for metropolitan park districts created on or after January 1, 2002, shall be reduced on a pro rata
basis or eliminated;
(e) Fifth, if the consolidated tax levy rate still exceeds
these limitations, the certified property tax levy rates authorized to regional fire protection service authorities under
RCW 52.26.140(1) (b) and (c) and fire protection districts
under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160 shall be reduced on a
pro rata basis or eliminated; and
(f) Sixth, if the consolidated tax levy rate still exceeds
these limitations, the certified property tax levy rates authorized for regional fire protection service authorities under
RCW 52.26.140(1)(a), fire protection districts under RCW
52.16.130, library districts, metropolitan park districts created before January 1, 2002, under their first fifty cent per
thousand dollars of assessed valuation levy, and public hospital districts under their first fifty cent per thousand dollars of
assessed valuation levy, shall be reduced on a pro rata basis
or eliminated. [2005 c 122 § 2. Prior: 2004 c 129 § 21; 2004
c 80 § 3; 2003 c 83 § 310; prior: 2002 c 248 § 15; 2002 c 88
§ 7; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 13 § 4; 1995 c 99 § 2; 1994 c 124 § 36;
1993 c 337 § 4; 1990 c 234 § 4; 1988 c 274 § 7; 1987 c 255 §
1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 101; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 146; 1971
ex.s. c 243 § 6; 1970 ex.s. c 92 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 84.52.010;
prior: 1947 c 270 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 74; Rem. Supp.
1947 § 11235; prior: 1920 ex.s. c 3 § 1; 1897 c 71 § 62; 1893
c 124 § 63.]
Application—2005 c 122: See note following RCW 84.52.125.
Captions not law—Severability—2004 c 129: See RCW 52.26.900
and 52.26.901.
Effective date—2004 c 80: See note following RCW 84.52.135.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
Intent—1995 2nd sp.s. c 13: See note following RCW 84.55.012.
Finding—1993 c 337: See note following RCW 84.52.105.
Purpose—1988 c 274: "The legislature finds that, due to statutory and
constitutional limitations, the interdependence of the regular property tax
levies of the state, counties, county road districts, cities and towns, and junior
taxing districts can cause significant reductions in the otherwise authorized
levies of those taxing districts, resulting in serious disruptions to essential
services provided by those taxing districts. The purpose of this act is to avoid
unnecessary reductions in regular property tax revenue without exceeding
existing statutory and constitutional tax limitations on cumulative regular
property tax levy rates. The legislature declares that it is a purpose of the
state, counties, county road districts, cities and towns, public hospital districts, library districts, fire protection districts, metropolitan park districts,
and other taxing districts to participate in the methods provided by this act by
which revenue levels supporting the services provided by all taxing districts
might be maintained." [1988 c 274 § 1.]
Severability—1988 c 274: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1988 c 274 § 13.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 243: See RCW 84.34.920.
Intent—1970 ex.s. c 92: "It is the intent of this 1970 amendatory act to
prevent a potential doubling of property taxes that might otherwise result
from the enforcement of the constitutionally required fifty percent assessment ratio as of January 1, 1970, and to adjust property tax millage rates for
[Title 84 RCW—page 107]
84.52.018
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
subsequent years to levels which will conform to the requirements of any
constitutional amendment imposing a one percent limitation on property
taxes. It is the further intent of this 1970 amendatory act that the statutory
authority of any taxing district to impose excess levies shall not be impaired
by reason of the reduction in millage rates for regular property tax levies.
This 1970 amendatory act shall be construed to effectuate the legislative
intent expressed in this section." [1970 ex.s. c 92 § 1.]
Effective date—Application—1970 ex.s. c 92: "This act shall take
effect July 1, 1970 but shall not affect property taxes levied in 1969 or prior
years." [1970 ex.s. c 92 § 11.]
84.52.018
84.52.018 Calculation of tax levy rates when the
assessment of highly valued property is in dispute. Whenever any property value or claim for exemption or cancellation of a property assessment is appealed to the state board of
tax appeals or court of competent jurisdiction and the dollar
difference between the total value asserted by the taxpayer
and the total value asserted by the opposing party exceeds
one-fourth of one percent of the total assessed value of property in the county, the assessor shall use only that portion of
the total value which is not in controversy for purposes of
computing the levy rates and extending the tax on the tax roll
in accordance with this chapter, unless the state board of tax
appeals has issued its determination at the time of extending
the tax.
When the state board of tax appeals or court of competent jurisdiction makes its final determination, the proper
amount of tax shall be extended and collected for each taxing
district if this has not already been done. The amount of tax
collected and extended shall include interest at the rate of
nine percent per year on the amount of the board’s final determination minus the amount not in controversy. The interest
shall accrue from the date the taxes on the amount not in controversy were first due and payable. Any amount extended in
excess of that permitted by chapter 84.55 RCW shall be held
in abeyance and used to reduce the levy rates of the next succeeding levy. [1994 c 124 § 37; 1989 c 378 § 15; 1987 c 156
§ 1.]
84.52.020
84.52.020 City and district budgets to be filed with
county legislative authority. It shall be the duty of the city
council or other governing body of every city, other than a
city having a population of three hundred thousand or more,
the board of directors of school districts of the first class, the
superintendent of each educational service district for each
constituent second class school district, commissioners of
port districts, commissioners of metropolitan park districts,
and of all officials or boards of taxing districts within or
coextensive with any county required by law to certify to the
county legislative authority, for the purpose of levying district taxes, budgets or estimates of the amounts to be raised by
taxation on the assessed valuation of the property in the city
or district, through their chair and clerk, or secretary, to make
and file such certified budget or estimates with the clerk of
the county legislative authority on or before the thirtieth day
of November. [2005 c 52 § 1; 1994 c 81 § 85; 1988 c 222 §
27; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 118 § 33; 1975 c 43 § 33; 1961 c 15
§ 84.52.020. Prior: 1939 c 37 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 75;
RRS § 11236; prior: 1909 c 138 § 1; 1893 c 71 §§ 2, 3.]
Severability—1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 118: See note following RCW
28A.505.010.
[Title 84 RCW—page 108]
Effective date—Severability—1975 c 43: See notes following RCW
28A.535.050.
84.52.025
84.52.025 Budgets of taxing districts filed with
county commissioners to indicate estimate of cash balance. The governing body of all taxing districts within or
coextensive with any county, which are required by law to
certify to a board of county commissioners, for the purpose of
levying district taxes, budgets or estimates of the amounts to
be raised by taxation on the assessed valuation of the property
in the district, shall clearly indicate an estimate of cash balance at the beginning and ending of each budget period in
said budget or estimate. [1961 c 52 § 1.]
84.52.030
84.52.030 Time of levy. For the purpose of raising revenue for state, county and other taxing district purposes, the
county legislative authority of each county at its October session, and all other officials or boards authorized by law to
levy taxes for taxing district purposes, shall levy taxes on all
the taxable property in the county or district, as the case may
be, sufficient for such purposes, and within the limitations
permitted by law. [1994 c 124 § 38; 1961 c 15 § 84.52.030.
Prior: 1927 c 303 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 77; RRS § 11238;
prior: 1903 c 165 § 1; 1897 c 71 § 63; 1893 c 124 § 64; 1890
p 559 § 78; Code 1881 § 2880.]
84.52.040
84.52.040 Levies to be made on assessed valuation.
Whenever any taxing district or the officers thereof shall,
pursuant to any provision of law or of its charter or ordinances, levy any tax, the assessed value of the property of
such taxing district shall be taken and considered as the taxable value upon which such levy shall be made. [1961 c 15 §
84.52.040. Prior: 1919 c 142 § 3; RRS § 11228.]
84.52.043
84.52.043 Limitations upon regular property tax levies. Within and subject to the limitations imposed by RCW
84.52.050 as amended, the regular ad valorem tax levies upon
real and personal property by the taxing districts hereafter
named shall be as follows:
(1) Levies of the senior taxing districts shall be as follows: (a) The levy by the state shall not exceed three dollars
and sixty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
adjusted to the state equalized value in accordance with the
indicated ratio fixed by the state department of revenue to be
used exclusively for the support of the common schools; (b)
the levy by any county shall not exceed one dollar and eighty
cents per thousand dollars of assessed value; (c) the levy by
any road district shall not exceed two dollars and twenty-five
cents per thousand dollars of assessed value; and (d) the levy
by any city or town shall not exceed three dollars and thirtyseven and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed
value. However any county is hereby authorized to increase
its levy from one dollar and eighty cents to a rate not to
exceed two dollars and forty-seven and one-half cents per
thousand dollars of assessed value for general county purposes if the total levies for both the county and any road district within the county do not exceed four dollars and five
cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, and no other
taxing district has its levy reduced as a result of the increased
county levy.
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
(2) The aggregate levies of junior taxing districts and
senior taxing districts, other than the state, shall not exceed
five dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed
valuation. The term "junior taxing districts" includes all taxing districts other than the state, counties, road districts, cities, towns, port districts, and public utility districts. The limitations provided in this subsection shall not apply to: (a)
Levies at the rates provided by existing law by or for any port
or public utility district; (b) excess property tax levies authorized in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution; (c)
levies for acquiring conservation futures as authorized under
RCW 84.34.230; (d) levies for emergency medical care or
emergency medical services imposed under RCW 84.52.069;
(e) levies to finance affordable housing for very low-income
housing imposed under RCW 84.52.105; (f) the portions of
levies by metropolitan park districts that are protected under
RCW 84.52.120; (g) levies imposed by ferry districts under
RCW 36.54.130; (h) levies for criminal justice purposes
under RCW 84.52.135; and (i) the portions of levies by fire
protection districts that are protected under RCW 84.52.125.
[2005 c 122 § 3; 2004 c 80 § 4; 2003 c 83 § 311; 1995 c 99 §
3; 1993 c 337 § 3; 1990 c 234 § 1; 1989 c 378 § 36; 1988 c
274 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 134.]
Application—2005 c 122: See note following RCW 84.52.125.
Effective date—2004 c 80: See note following RCW 84.52.135.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
Finding—1993 c 337: See note following RCW 84.52.105.
Purpose—Severability—1988 c 274: See notes following RCW
84.52.010.
Effective date—1973 2nd ex.s. c 4: "Sections 4 through 6 of this 1973
amendatory act shall be effective on and after January 1, 1974." [1973 2nd
ex.s. c 4 § 6.]
Emergency—1973 2nd ex.s. c 4: "Except as otherwise in this 1973
amendatory act provided, this 1973 amendatory act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect
immediately." [1973 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 7.]
Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: "Sections 135 through 152 of this
1973 amendatory act shall apply to tax levies made in 1973 for collection in
1974, and sections 1 through 134 shall apply to tax levies made in 1974 and
each year thereafter for collection in 1975 and each year thereafter." [1973
1st ex.s. c 195 § 155.]
84.52.050
84.52.044
84.52.044 Limitations upon regular property tax levies—Participating fire protection jurisdictions. (1) If a
fire protection district is a participating fire protection jurisdiction in a regional fire protection service authority, the regular property tax levies of the fire protection district are limited as follows:
(a) The regular levy of the district under RCW 52.16.130
shall not exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed
value of taxable property in the district less the amount of any
levy imposed by the authority under RCW 52.26.140(1)(a);
(b) The levy of the district under RCW 52.16.140 shall
not exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
of taxable property in the district less the amount of any levy
imposed by the authority under RCW 52.26.140(1)(b); and
(c) The levy of the district under RCW 52.16.160 shall
not exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
of taxable property in the district less the amount of any levy
imposed by the authority under RCW 52.26.140(1)(c).
(2) If a city or town is a participating fire protection jurisdiction in a regional fire protection service authority, the regular levies of the city or town shall not exceed the applicable
rates provided in RCW 27.12.390, 52.0 4.081, and
84.52.043(1) less the aggregate rates of any regular levies
made by the authority under RCW 52.26.140(1).
(3) If a port district is a participating fire protection jurisdiction in a regional fire protection service authority, the regular levy of the port district under RCW 53.36.020 shall not
exceed forty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value
of taxable property in the district less the aggregate rates of
any regular levies imposed by the authority under RCW
52.26.140(1).
(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
(a) "Fire protection jurisdiction" means a fire protection
district, city, town, Indian tribe, or port district; and
(b) "Participating fire protection jurisdiction" means a
fire protection district, city, town, Indian tribe, or port district
that is represented on the governing board of a regional fire
protection service authority. [2004 c 129 § 20.]
Captions not law—Severability—2004 c 129: See RCW 52.26.900
and 52.26.901.
84.52.050
Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: "If any provision of this 1973
amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 153.]
Effective dates and termination dates—1973 1st ex.s. c 195 (as
amended by 1973 2nd ex.s. c 4): "This 1973 amendatory act, chapter 195,
Laws of 1973, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing
public institutions, and shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That
section 9 shall take effect January 1, 1975, and section 133(3) shall take
effect on January 31, 1974: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That section 137 shall
not be effective until July 1, 1973, at which time section 136 shall be void
and of no effect: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That section 138 shall not be
effective until January 1, 1974, at which time section 137 shall be void and
of no effect: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That section 139 shall not be effective until July 1, 1974 at which time section 138 shall be void and of no
effect, and section 139 shall be null and void and of no further effect on and
after January 1, 1975: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That sections 1 through 8,
sections 10 through 132, section 133(1), (2), (4), and (5), and section 134
shall not take effect until January 1, 1974, at which time sections 135, 136,
and sections 140 through 151 shall be void and of no effect: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That section 152 shall be void and of no effect on and after January 1, 1975." [1973 2nd ex.s. c 4 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 154.]
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.050 Limitation of levies. Except as hereinafter
provided, the aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and all taxing districts, now existing or hereafter created, shall not in any year exceed one percentum of the true and fair value of such property in money:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall prevent
levies at the rates now provided by law by or for any port or
public utility district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this section shall mean any political subdivision,
municipal corporation, district, or other governmental agency
authorized by law to levy, or have levied for it, ad valorem
taxes on property, other than a port or public utility district.
Such aggregate limitation or any specific limitation imposed
by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded only as
authorized by law and in conformity with the provisions of
Article VII, section 2(a), (b), or (c) of the Constitution of the
state of Washington.
Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the legislature
from allocating or reallocating the authority to levy taxes
[Title 84 RCW—page 109]
84.52.0502
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
between the taxing districts of the state and its political subdivisions in a manner which complies with the aggregate tax
limitation set forth in this section. [1973 1st ex.s. c 194 § 1;
1973 c 2 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 44, approved November
7, 1972). Prior: 1972 ex.s. c 124 § 8; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 24;
1970 ex.s. c 92 § 5; 1970 ex.s. c 8 § 4; prior: 1969 ex.s. c 262
§ 65; 1969 ex.s. c 216 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 133 § 3; 1961 c 143 §
1; 1961 c 15 § 84.52.050; prior: 1957 c 262 § 1; 1953 c 175
§ 1; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 23 § 2; 1951 c 255 § 1, part; 1950 ex.s.
c 11 § 1, part; 1945 c 253 § 1, part; 1941 c 176 § 1, part; 1939
c 83 § 1, part; 1939 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 129); 1937 c
1 (Initiative Measure No. 114); 1935 c 2 (Initiative Measure
No. 94); 1933 c 4 (Initiative Measure No. 64); cf. RRS §
11238, 11238-1a, 11238-1b, 11238-1c, 11238-1d; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 11238; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11238-1e.]
Effective date—Severability—1972 ex.s. c 124: See notes following
RCW 28A.150.250.
Effective date—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Intent—Effective date—Application—1970 ex.s. c 92: See notes following RCW 84.52.010.
Limitation on levies: State Constitution Art. 7 § 2.
State levy for support of common schools: RCW 84.52.065 and 84.52.067.
84.52.0502
84.52.0502 Rules for administration. The department
of revenue shall adopt such rules consistent with chapter 274,
Laws of 1988 as shall be necessary or desirable to permit its
effective administration. [2000 c 103 § 29; 1988 c 274 § 9.]
Purpose—Severability—1988 c 274: See notes following RCW
84.52.010.
84.52.052
84.52.052 Excess levies authorized—When—Procedure. The limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through
84.52.056, and RCW 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of
additional taxes by any taxing district, except school districts
and fire protection districts, in which a larger levy is necessary in order to prevent the impairment of the obligation of
contracts. As used in this section, the term "taxing district"
means any county, metropolitan park district, park and recreation service area, park and recreation district, water-sewer
district, solid waste disposal district, public facilities district,
flood control zone district, county rail district, service district, public hospital district, road district, rural county library
district, island library district, rural partial-county library district, intercounty rural library district, cemetery district, city,
town, transportation benefit district, emergency medical service district with a population density of less than one thousand per square mile, cultural arts, stadium, and convention
district, ferry district, city transportation authority, or
regional fire protection service authority.
Any such taxing district may levy taxes at a rate in
excess of the rate specified in RCW 84.52.050 through
84.52.056 and 84.52.043, or 84.55.010 through 84.55.050,
when authorized so to do by the voters of such taxing district
in the manner set forth in Article VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state at a special or general election to be held
in the year in which the levy is made.
A special election may be called and the time therefor
fixed by the county legislative authority, or council, board of
commissioners, or other governing body of any such taxing
district, by giving notice thereof by publication in the manner
[Title 84 RCW—page 110]
provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at
which special election the proposition authorizing such
excess levy shall be submitted in such form as to enable the
voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and those
opposed thereto to vote "no." [2004 c 129 § 22; 2003 c 83 §
312. Prior: 2002 c 248 § 16; 2002 c 180 § 1; 1996 c 230 §
1615; 1993 c 284 § 4; 1991 c 138 § 1; 1989 c 53 § 4; 1988
ex.s. c 1 § 18; prior: 1983 c 315 § 10; 1983 c 303 § 16; 1983
c 130 § 11; 1983 c 2 § 19; prior: 1982 1st ex.s. c 22 § 17;
1982 c 175 § 7; 1982 c 123 § 19; 1981 c 210 § 20; 1977 ex.s.
c 325 § 1; 1977 c 4 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 102; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 195 § 147; 1973 c 3 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 26; 1965
ex.s. c 113 § 1; 1963 c 112 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.52.052; prior:
1959 c 304 § 8; 1959 c 290 § 1; 1957 c 58 § 15; 1957 c 32 §
1; 1955 c 93 § 1; 1953 c 189 § 1; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 23 § 3;
prior: 1951 c 255 § 1, part; 1950 ex.s. c 11 § 1, part; 1945 c
253 § 1, part; 1941 c 176 § 1, part; 1939 c 83 § 1, part; 1939
c 2 (Init. Meas. No. 129); 1937 c 1 (Init. Meas. No. 114);
1935 c 2 (Init. Meas. No. 94); 1933 c 4 (Init. Meas. No. 64);
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11238-1e, part.]
Captions not law—Severability—2004 c 129: See RCW 52.26.900
and 52.26.901.
Findings—Intent—Captions, part headings not law—Severability—Effective date—2003 c 83: See notes following RCW 36.57A.200.
Contingent effective date—2002 c 180: "This act takes effect January
1, 2003, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution authorizing multiyear excess property tax levies is validly submitted
to and approved by the voters at the next general election. If the proposed
amendment is not approved, this act is void in its entirety." [2002 c 180 § 4.]
The proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 was approved at the
November 2002 election.
Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW 57.02.001.
Severability—1989 c 53: See note following RCW 36.73.020.
Severability—1988 ex.s. c 1: See RCW 36.100.900.
Severability—1983 c 315: See note following RCW 90.03.500.
Severability—1983 c 303: See RCW 36.60.905.
Severability—1983 c 2: See note following RCW 18.71.030.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 22: See RCW 67.38.905.
Severability—1982 c 175: See note following RCW 36.58.100.
Severability—1981 c 210: See note following RCW 36.68.400.
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 325: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 325 § 5.]
Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 325: "This 1977 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect July 1, 1977." [1977 ex.s. c 325 § 6.]
Severability—1977 c 4: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act,
or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder
of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1977 c 4 § 4.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.52.053
84.52.053 Levies by school districts authorized—
When—Procedure. The limitations imposed by RCW
84.52.050 through 84.52.056, and 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of taxes by school districts, when authorized so
to do by the voters of such school district in the manner and
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
for the purposes and number of years allowable under Article
VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state. Elections for
such taxes shall be held in the year in which the levy is made
or, in the case of propositions authorizing two-year through
four-year levies for maintenance and operation support of a
school district, authorizing two-year levies for transportation
vehicle funds established in RCW 28A.160.130, or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities, in the
year in which the first annual levy is made: PROVIDED,
That once additional tax levies have been authorized for
maintenance and operation support of a school district for a
two-year through four-year period, no further additional tax
levies for maintenance and operation support of the district
for that period may be authorized.
A special election may be called and the time therefor
fixed by the board of school directors, by giving notice
thereof by publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at which special election the
proposition authorizing such excess levy shall be submitted
in such form as to enable the voters favoring the proposition
to vote "yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "no". [1997 c
260 § 1; 1994 c 116 § 1; 1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 103; 1986 c 133
§ 1; 1977 ex.s. c 325 § 3.]
Contingent effective date—1997 c 260: "This act takes effect if the
proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution
authorizing school levies for periods not exceeding four years is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at the next general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, this act is void
in its entirety." [1997 c 260 § 2.] House Joint Resolution No. 4208 was
approved and ratified by the voters at the November 4, 1997, general election.
Intent—Severability—Effective date—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: See notes
following RCW 84.52.0531.
Contingent effective date—1986 c 133: "This act shall take effect on
December 15, 1986, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 of
the state Constitution to change the time periods for school levies, House
Joint Resolution No. 55, is validly submitted and is approved and ratified by
the voters at a general election held in November, 1986. If the proposed
amendment is not so approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in
its entirety." [1986 c 133 § 3.] 1986 House Joint Resolution No. 55 was
approved at the November 1986 general election. See Article VII, section 2
and Amendment 79 of the state Constitution.
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 325: See notes following
RCW 84.52.052.
School district boundary changes: RCW 84.09.037.
School funds enumerated—Deposits—Uses: RCW 28A.320.330.
84.52.0531
84.52.0531 Levies by school districts—Maximum
dollar amount for maintenance and operation support—
Restrictions—Maximum levy percentage—Levy reduction funds—Rules. (Expires January 1, 2012.) The maximum dollar amount which may be levied by or for any school
district for maintenance and operation support under the provisions of RCW 84.52.053 shall be determined as follows:
(1) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 1997,
the maximum dollar amount shall be calculated pursuant to
the laws and rules in effect in November 1996.
(2) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 1998
and thereafter, the maximum dollar amount shall be the sum
of (a) plus or minus (b) and (c) of this subsection minus (d) of
this subsection:
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.0531
(a) The district’s levy base as defined in subsections (3)
and (4) of this section multiplied by the district’s maximum
levy percentage as defined in subsection (5) of this section;
(b) For districts in a high/nonhigh relationship, the high
school district’s maximum levy amount shall be reduced and
the nonhigh school district’s maximum levy amount shall be
increased by an amount equal to the estimated amount of the
nonhigh payment due to the high school district under RCW
28A.545.030(3) and 28A.545.050 for the school year commencing the year of the levy;
(c) For districts in an interdistrict cooperative agreement,
the nonresident school district’s maximum levy amount shall
be reduced and the resident school district’s maximum levy
amount shall be increased by an amount equal to the per pupil
basic education allocation included in the nonresident district’s levy base under subsection (3) of this section multiplied by:
(i) The number of full-time equivalent students served
from the resident district in the prior school year; multiplied
by:
(ii) The serving district’s maximum levy percentage
determined under subsection (5) of this section; increased by:
(iii) The percent increase per full-time equivalent student
as stated in the state basic education appropriation section of
the biennial budget between the prior school year and the current school year divided by fifty-five percent;
(d) The district’s maximum levy amount shall be
reduced by the maximum amount of state matching funds for
which the district is eligible under RCW 28A.500.010.
(3) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 2005
and thereafter, a district’s levy base shall be the sum of allocations in (a) through (c) of this subsection received by the
district for the prior school year and the amounts determined
under subsection (4) of this section, including allocations for
compensation increases, plus the sum of such allocations
multiplied by the percent increase per full time equivalent
student as stated in the state basic education appropriation
section of the biennial budget between the prior school year
and the current school year and divided by fifty-five percent.
A district’s levy base shall not include local school district
property tax levies or other local revenues, or state and federal allocations not identified in (a) through (c) of this subsection.
(a) The district’s basic education allocation as determined pursuant to RCW 28A.150.250, 28A.150.260, and
28A.150.350;
(b) State and federal categorical allocations for the following programs:
(i) Pupil transportation;
(ii) Special education;
(iii) Education of highly capable students;
(iv) Compensatory education, including but not limited
to learning assistance, migrant education, Indian education,
refugee programs, and bilingual education;
(v) Food services; and
(vi) Statewide block grant programs; and
(c) Any other federal allocations for elementary and secondary school programs, including direct grants, other than
federal impact aid funds and allocations in lieu of taxes.
(4) For levy collections in calendar years 2005 through
2011, in addition to the allocations included under subsection
[Title 84 RCW—page 111]
84.52.0531
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(3)(a) through (c) of this section, a district’s levy base shall
also include the following:
(a) The difference between the allocation the district
would have received in the current school year had RCW
84.52.068 not been amended by chapter 19, Laws of 2003 1st
sp. sess. and the allocation the district received in the current
school year pursuant to RCW 84.52.068. The office of the
superintendent of public instruction shall offset the amount
added to a district’s levy base pursuant to this subsection
(4)(a) by any additional per student allocations included in a
district’s levy base pursuant to the enactment of an initiative
to the people subsequent to June 10, 2004; and
(b) The difference between the allocations the district
would have received the prior school year had RCW
28A.400.205 not been amended by chapter 20, Laws of 2003
1st sp. sess. and the allocations the district actually received
the prior school year pursuant to RCW 28A.400.205. The
office of the superintendent of public instruction shall offset
the amount added to a district’s levy base pursuant to this
subsection (4)(b) by any additional salary increase allocations included in a district’s levy base pursuant to the enactment of an initiative to the people subsequent to June 10,
2004.
(5) A district’s maximum levy percentage shall be
twenty-two percent in 1998 and twenty-four percent in 1999
and every year thereafter; plus, for qualifying districts, the
grandfathered percentage determined as follows:
(a) For 1997, the difference between the district’s 1993
maximum levy percentage and twenty percent; and
(b) For 1998 and thereafter, the percentage calculated as
follows:
(i) Multiply the grandfathered percentage for the prior
year times the district’s levy base determined under subsection (3) of this section;
(ii) Reduce the result of (b)(i) of this subsection by any
levy reduction funds as defined in subsection (6) of this section that are to be allocated to the district for the current
school year;
(iii) Divide the result of (b)(ii) of this subsection by the
district’s levy base; and
(iv) Take the greater of zero or the percentage calculated
in (b)(iii) of this subsection.
(6) "Levy reduction funds" shall mean increases in state
funds from the prior school year for programs included under
subsections (3) and (4) of this section: (a) That are not attributable to enrollment changes, compensation increases, or
inflationary adjustments; and (b) that are or were specifically
identified as levy reduction funds in the appropriations act. If
levy reduction funds are dependent on formula factors which
would not be finalized until after the start of the current
school year, the superintendent of public instruction shall
estimate the total amount of levy reduction funds by using
prior school year data in place of current school year data.
Levy reduction funds shall not include moneys received by
school districts from cities or counties.
(7) For the purposes of this section, "prior school year"
means the most recent school year completed prior to the year
in which the levies are to be collected.
(8) For the purposes of this section, "current school year"
means the year immediately following the prior school year.
[Title 84 RCW—page 112]
(9) Funds collected from transportation vehicle fund tax
levies shall not be subject to the levy limitations in this section.
(10) The superintendent of public instruction shall
develop rules and regulations and inform school districts of
the pertinent data necessary to carry out the provisions of this
section. [2006 c 119 § 2; 2004 c 21 § 2; 1997 c 259 § 2; 1995
1st sp.s. c 11 § 1; 1994 c 116 § 2; 1993 c 465 § 1; 1992 c 49
§ 1; 1990 c 33 § 601; 1989 c 141 § 1; 1988 c 252 § 1; 1987
1st ex.s. c 2 § 101; 1987 c 185 § 40; 1985 c 374 § 1. Prior:
1981 c 264 § 10; 1981 c 168 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 172 § 1; 1977
ex.s. c 325 § 4.]
Expiration date—2004 c 21: See note following RCW 28A.500.020.
Funding not related to basic education—1997 c 259: "Funding
resulting from this act is for school district activities which supplement or are
not related to the state’s basic program of education obligation as set forth
under Article IX of the state Constitution." [1997 c 259 § 1.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Effective date—1989 c 141: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1989." [1989 c 141 § 2.]
Intent—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "The legislature intends to establish the limitation on school district maintenance and operations levies at twenty percent, with ten percent to be equalized on a statewide basis. The legislature
further intends to establish a modern school financing system for compensation of school staff and provide a class size reduction in grades kindergarten
through three. The legislature intends to give the highest funding priority to
strengthening support for existing school programs.
The legislature finds that providing for the adoption of a statewide salary allocation schedule for certificated instructional staff will encourage
recruitment and retention of able individuals to the teaching profession, and
limit the administrative burden associated with implementing state teacher
salary policies." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 1.]
Severability—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 213.]
Effective date—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "This act shall take effect September 1, 1987." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 214.]
Intent—Severability—1987 c 185: See notes following RCW
51.12.130.
Severability—1985 c 374: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 374 § 3.]
Effective date—1981 c 264: "Section 10 of this amendatory act shall
become effective for maintenance and operation excess tax levies now or
hereafter authorized pursuant to RCW 84.52.053, as now or hereafter
amended, for collection in 1982 and thereafter." [1981 c 264 § 11.]
Severability—1981 c 264: See note following RCW 28A.545.030.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 172: "This amendatory act is necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the
support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall
take effect on September 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 172 § 3.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 172: "If any provision of this amendatory
act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 172 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 325: See notes following
RCW 84.52.052.
Payments to high school districts for educating nonhigh school district students: Chapter 28A.545 RCW.
Purposes: RCW 28A.545.030.
Rules to effect purposes and implement provisions: RCW 28A.545.110.
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
Superintendent’s annual determination of estimated amount due—Process:
RCW 28A.545.070.
84.52.0531
84.52.0531 Levies by school districts—Maximum
dollar amount for maintenance and operation support—
Restrictions—Maximum levy percentage—Levy reduction funds—Rules. (Effective January 1, 2012.) The maximum dollar amount which may be levied by or for any
school district for maintenance and operation support under
the provisions of RCW 84.52.053 shall be determined as follows:
(1) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 1997,
the maximum dollar amount shall be calculated pursuant to
the laws and rules in effect in November 1996.
(2) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 1998
and thereafter, the maximum dollar amount shall be the sum
of (a) plus or minus (b) and (c) of this subsection minus (d) of
this subsection:
(a) The district’s levy base as defined in subsection (3) of
this section multiplied by the district’s maximum levy percentage as defined in subsection (4) of this section;
(b) For districts in a high/nonhigh relationship, the high
school district’s maximum levy amount shall be reduced and
the nonhigh school district’s maximum levy amount shall be
increased by an amount equal to the estimated amount of the
nonhigh payment due to the high school district under RCW
28A.545.030(3) and 28A.545.050 for the school year commencing the year of the levy;
(c) For districts in an interdistrict cooperative agreement,
the nonresident school district’s maximum levy amount shall
be reduced and the resident school district’s maximum levy
amount shall be increased by an amount equal to the per pupil
basic education allocation included in the nonresident district’s levy base under subsection (3) of this section multiplied by:
(i) The number of full-time equivalent students served
from the resident district in the prior school year; multiplied
by:
(ii) The serving district’s maximum levy percentage
determined under subsection (4) of this section; increased by:
(iii) The percent increase per full-time equivalent student
as stated in the state basic education appropriation section of
the biennial budget between the prior school year and the current school year divided by fifty-five percent;
(d) The district’s maximum levy amount shall be
reduced by the maximum amount of state matching funds for
which the district is eligible under RCW 28A.500.010.
(3) For excess levies for collection in calendar year 1998
and thereafter, a district’s levy base shall be the sum of allocations in (a) through (c) of this subsection received by the
district for the prior school year, including allocations for
compensation increases, plus the sum of such allocations
multiplied by the percent increase per full time equivalent
student as stated in the state basic education appropriation
section of the biennial budget between the prior school year
and the current school year and divided by fifty-five percent.
A district’s levy base shall not include local school district
property tax levies or other local revenues, or state and federal allocations not identified in (a) through (c) of this subsection.
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.0531
(a) The district’s basic education allocation as determined pursuant to RCW 28A.150.250, 28A.150.260, and
28A.150.350;
(b) State and federal categorical allocations for the following programs:
(i) Pupil transportation;
(ii) Special education;
(iii) Education of highly capable students;
(iv) Compensatory education, including but not limited
to learning assistance, migrant education, Indian education,
refugee programs, and bilingual education;
(v) Food services; and
(vi) Statewide block grant programs; and
(c) Any other federal allocations for elementary and secondary school programs, including direct grants, other than
federal impact aid funds and allocations in lieu of taxes.
(4) A district’s maximum levy percentage shall be
twenty-two percent in 1998 and twenty-four percent in 1999
and every year thereafter; plus, for qualifying districts, the
grandfathered percentage determined as follows:
(a) For 1997, the difference between the district’s 1993
maximum levy percentage and twenty percent; and
(b) For 1998 and thereafter, the percentage calculated as
follows:
(i) Multiply the grandfathered percentage for the prior
year times the district’s levy base determined under subsection (3) of this section;
(ii) Reduce the result of (b)(i) of this subsection by any
levy reduction funds as defined in subsection (5) of this section that are to be allocated to the district for the current
school year;
(iii) Divide the result of (b)(ii) of this subsection by the
district’s levy base; and
(iv) Take the greater of zero or the percentage calculated
in (b)(iii) of this subsection.
(5) "Levy reduction funds" shall mean increases in state
funds from the prior school year for programs included under
subsection (3) of this section: (a) That are not attributable to
enrollment changes, compensation increases, or inflationary
adjustments; and (b) that are or were specifically identified as
levy reduction funds in the appropriations act. If levy reduction funds are dependent on formula factors which would not
be finalized until after the start of the current school year, the
superintendent of public instruction shall estimate the total
amount of levy reduction funds by using prior school year
data in place of current school year data. Levy reduction
funds shall not include moneys received by school districts
from cities or counties.
(6) For the purposes of this section, "prior school year"
means the most recent school year completed prior to the year
in which the levies are to be collected.
(7) For the purposes of this section, "current school year"
means the year immediately following the prior school year.
(8) Funds collected from transportation vehicle fund tax
levies shall not be subject to the levy limitations in this section.
(9) The superintendent of public instruction shall
develop rules and regulations and inform school districts of
the pertinent data necessary to carry out the provisions of this
section. [1997 c 259 § 2; 1995 1st sp.s. c 11 § 1; 1994 c 116
§ 2; 1993 c 465 § 1; 1992 c 49 § 1; 1990 c 33 § 601; 1989 c
[Title 84 RCW—page 113]
84.52.054
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
141 § 1; 1988 c 252 § 1; 1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 101; 1987 c 185
§ 40; 1985 c 374 § 1. Prior: 1981 c 264 § 10; 1981 c 168 § 1;
1979 ex.s. c 172 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 325 § 4.]
Funding not related to basic education—1997 c 259: "Funding
resulting from this act is for school district activities which supplement or are
not related to the state’s basic program of education obligation as set forth
under Article IX of the state Constitution." [1997 c 259 § 1.]
Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See
RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.
Effective date—1989 c 141: "This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1,
1989." [1989 c 141 § 2.]
Intent—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "The legislature intends to establish the limitation on school district maintenance and operations levies at twenty percent, with ten percent to be equalized on a statewide basis. The legislature
further intends to establish a modern school financing system for compensation of school staff and provide a class size reduction in grades kindergarten
through three. The legislature intends to give the highest funding priority to
strengthening support for existing school programs.
The legislature finds that providing for the adoption of a statewide salary allocation schedule for certificated instructional staff will encourage
recruitment and retention of able individuals to the teaching profession, and
limit the administrative burden associated with implementing state teacher
salary policies." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 1.]
Severability—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 213.]
Effective date—1987 1st ex.s. c 2: "This act shall take effect September 1, 1987." [1987 1st ex.s. c 2 § 214.]
Intent—Severability—1987 c 185: See notes following RCW
51.12.130.
Severability—1985 c 374: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or
the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1985 c 374 § 3.]
Effective date—1981 c 264: "Section 10 of this amendatory act shall
become effective for maintenance and operation excess tax levies now or
hereafter authorized pursuant to RCW 84.52.053, as now or hereafter
amended, for collection in 1982 and thereafter." [1981 c 264 § 11.]
Severability—1981 c 264: See note following RCW 28A.545.030.
Effective date—1979 ex.s. c 172: "This amendatory act is necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the
support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall
take effect on September 1, 1979." [1979 ex.s. c 172 § 3.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 172: "If any provision of this amendatory
act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 172 § 2.]
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 325: See notes following
RCW 84.52.052.
Payments to high school districts for educating nonhigh school district students: Chapter 28A.545 RCW.
Purposes: RCW 28A.545.030.
Rules to effect purposes and implement provisions: RCW 28A.545.110.
Superintendent’s annual determination of estimated amount due—Process:
RCW 28A.545.070.
an estimate of the dollar rate of tax levy that will be required
to produce the dollar amount; and the county assessor, in
spreading this tax upon the rolls, shall determine the eventual
dollar rate required to produce the amount of dollars so voted
upon, regardless of the estimate of dollar rate of tax levy carried in said proposition. In the case of a school district proposition for a particular period, the dollar amount and the corresponding estimate of the dollar rate of tax levy shall be set
forth for each of the years in that period. The dollar amount
for each annual levy in the particular period may be equal or
in different amounts. [1986 c 133 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 325 § 2;
1977 c 4 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 103; 1961 c 15 §
84.52.054. Prior: 1955 c 105 § 1.]
Contingent effective date—1986 c 133: See note following RCW
84.52.053.
Severability—Effective date—1977 ex.s. c 325: See notes following
RCW 84.52.052.
Severability—1977 c 4: See note following RCW 84.52.052.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.52.056
84.52.056 Excess levies for capital purposes authorized. Any municipal corporation otherwise authorized by
law to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes
may, at an election duly held after giving notice thereof as
required by law, authorize the issuance of general obligation
bonds for capital purposes only, which shall not include the
replacement of equipment, and provide for the payment of
the principal and interest of such bonds by annual levies in
excess of the tax limitations contained in RCW 84.52.050 to
84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043. Such an election
shall not be held oftener than twice a calendar year, and the
proposition to issue any such bonds and to exceed said tax
limitation must receive the affirmative vote of a three-fifths
majority of those voting on the proposition and the total number of persons voting at such election must constitute not less
than forty percent of the voters in said municipal corporation
who voted at the last preceding general state election.
Any taxing district shall have the right by vote of its governing body to refund any general obligation bonds of said
district issued for capital purposes only, and to provide for
the interest thereon and amortization thereof by annual levies
in excess of the tax limitations provided for in RCW
84.52.050 to 84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043.
[1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 104; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 148; 1961
c 15 § 84.52.056. Prior: 1959 c 290 § 2; 1951 2nd ex.s. c 23
§ 4; prior: 1951 c 255 § 1, part; 1950 ex.s. c 11 § 1, part; 1945
c 253 § 1, part; 1941 c 176 § 1, part; 1939 c 83 § 1, part; 1939
c 2 (Init. Meas. No. 129); 1937 c 1 (Init. Meas. No. 114);
1935 c 2 (Init. Meas. No. 94); 1933 c 4 (Init. Meas. No. 64);
Rem. Supp. 1945 § 11238-1e, part.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
84.52.054
84.52.054 Excess levies—Ballot contents—Eventual
dollar rate on tax rolls. The additional tax provided for in
subparagraph (a) of the seventeenth amendment to the state
Constitution as amended by Amendment 59 and as thereafter
amended, and specifically authorized by RCW 84.52.052, as
now or hereafter amended, and RCW 84.52.053 and
84.52.0531, shall be set forth in terms of dollars on the ballot
of the proposition to be submitted to the voters, together with
[Title 84 RCW—page 114]
84.52.063
84.52.063 Rural library district levies. A rural library
district may impose a regular property tax levy in an amount
equal to that which would be produced by a levy of fifty cents
per thousand dollars of assessed value multiplied by an
assessed valuation equal to one hundred percent of the true
and fair value of the taxable property in the rural library district, as determined by the department of revenue’s indicated
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
county ratio: PROVIDED, That when any county assessor
shall find that the aggregate rate of levy on any property will
exceed the limitation set forth in RCW 84.52.043 and
84.52.050, as now or hereafter amended, before recomputing
and establishing a consolidated levy in the manner set forth in
RCW 84.52.010, the assessor shall first reduce the levy of
any rural library district, by such amount as may be necessary, but the levy of any rural library district shall not be
reduced to less than fifty cents per thousand dollars against
the value of the taxable property, as determined by the
county, prior to any further adjustments pursuant to RCW
84.52.010. For purposes of this section "regular property tax
levy" shall mean a levy subject to the limitations provided for
in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution and/or by
statute. [2001 c 187 § 25; 1997 c 3 § 125 (Referendum Bill
No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 §
105; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 150; 1970 ex.s. c 92 § 9.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW
84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Intent—Effective date—Application—1970 ex.s. c 92: See notes following RCW 84.52.010.
84.52.065
84.52.065 State levy for support of common schools.
Subject to the limitations in RCW 84.55.010, in each year the
state shall levy for collection in the following year for the
support of common schools of the state a tax of three dollars
and sixty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value upon
the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the state
adjusted to the state equalized value in accordance with the
indicated ratio fixed by the state department of revenue.
As used in this section, "the support of common schools"
includes the payment of the principal and interest on bonds
issued for capital construction projects for the common
schools. [1991 sp.s. c 31 § 16; 1979 ex.s. c 218 § 1; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 195 § 106; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 25; 1969 ex.s. c 216 § 2;
1967 ex.s. c 133 § 1.]
84.52.069
84.52.068 State levy—Distribution to school districts.
(1) A portion of the proceeds of the state property tax levy
shall be deposited into the student achievement fund as provided in this section.
(2)(a) The amount of the deposit shall be based upon the
average number of full-time equivalent students in the school
districts during the previous school year as reported to the
office of the superintendent of public instruction by August
31st of the previous school year.
(b) For the 2004-2005 through 2007-2008 school years,
an annual amount equal to two hundred fifty-four dollars per
full-time equivalent student in all school districts shall be
deposited in the student achievement fund.
(c) For the 2008-2009 school year, an annual amount
equal to two hundred sixty-five dollars per full-time equivalent student in all school districts shall be deposited in the student achievement fund.
(d) For the 2009-2010 school year, an annual amount
equal to two hundred seventy-seven dollars per full-time
equivalent student in all school districts shall be deposited in
the student achievement fund.
(e) For the 2010-2011 school year and each year thereafter, an annual amount equal to two hundred seventy-eight
dollars per full-time equivalent student in all school districts
shall be deposited in the student achievement fund.
(f) The school district annual amounts shall be deposited
based on the monthly apportionment schedule as defined in
RCW 28A.510.250. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall notify the department of the monthly
amounts to be deposited into the student achievement fund to
meet the apportionment schedule. [2005 c 514 § 1104; 2003
1st sp.s. c 19 § 1; 2001 c 3 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 728,
approved November 7, 2000).]
84.52.068
Effective date—2005 c 514: See note following RCW 83.100.230.
Part headings not law—Severability—2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Application—2001 c 3 § 5 (Initiative Measure No. 728): "Section 5
of this act applies to taxes levied in 2000 for collection in 2001 and thereafter." [2001 c 3 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 728, approved November 7,
2000).]
Short title—Purpose—Intent—Construction—Severability—
Effective dates—2001 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 728): See notes following RCW 28A.505.210.
Severability—1991 sp.s. c 31: See RCW 43.99I.900.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Effective date—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See notes following
RCW 82.04.050.
Limitation of levies: RCW 84.52.050.
84.52.067
84.52.067 State levy for support of common
schools—Disposition of funds. All property taxes levied by
the state for the support of common schools shall be paid into
the general fund of the state treasury as provided in RCW
84.56.280, except for the amounts collected under RCW
84.52.068 which shall be directly deposited into the student
achievement fund and distributed to school districts as provided in RCW 84.52.068. [2001 c 3 § 7 (Initiative Measure
No. 728, approved November 7, 2000); 1967 ex.s. c 133 § 2.]
Short title—Purpose—Intent—Construction—Severability—
Effective dates—2001 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 728): See notes following RCW 28A.505.210.
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.069
84.52.069 Emergency medical care and service levies.
(1) As used in this section, "taxing district" means a county,
emergency medical service district, city or town, public hospital district, urban emergency medical service district,
regional fire protection service authority, or fire protection
district.
(2) A taxing district may impose additional regular property tax levies in an amount equal to fifty cents or less per
thousand dollars of the assessed value of property in the taxing district. The tax shall be imposed (a) each year for six
consecutive years, (b) each year for ten consecutive years, or
(c) permanently. A tax levy under this section must be specifically authorized by a majority of at least three-fifths of the
registered voters thereof approving a proposition authorizing
the levies submitted at a general or special election, at which
election the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty
percent of the total number of voters voting in such taxing
[Title 84 RCW—page 115]
84.52.069
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
district at the last preceding general election when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition does not
exceed forty percent of the total number of voters voting in
such taxing district in the last preceding general election; or
by a majority of at least three-fifths of the registered voters
thereof voting on the proposition when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty percent
of the total number of voters voting in such taxing district in
the last preceding general election. Ballot propositions shall
conform with RCW 29A.36.210. A taxing district shall not
submit to the voters at the same election multiple propositions to impose a levy under this section.
(3) A taxing district imposing a permanent levy under
this section shall provide for separate accounting of expenditures of the revenues generated by the levy. The taxing district shall maintain a statement of the accounting which shall
be updated at least every two years and shall be available to
the public upon request at no charge.
(4) A taxing district imposing a permanent levy under
this section shall provide for a referendum procedure to apply
to the ordinance or resolution imposing the tax. This referendum procedure shall specify that a referendum petition may
be filed at any time with a filing officer, as identified in the
ordinance or resolution. Within ten days, the filing officer
shall confer with the petitioner concerning form and style of
the petition, issue the petition an identification number, and
secure an accurate, concise, and positive ballot title from the
designated local official. The petitioner shall have thirty days
in which to secure the signatures of not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the taxing district, as of the
last general election, upon petition forms which contain the
ballot title and the full text of the measure to be referred. The
filing officer shall verify the sufficiency of the signatures on
the petition and, if sufficient valid signatures are properly
submitted, shall certify the referendum measure to the next
election within the taxing district if one is to be held within
one hundred eighty days from the date of filing of the referendum petition, or at a special election to be called for that
purpose in accordance with RCW 29A.04.330.
The referendum procedure provided in this subsection
shall be exclusive in all instances for any taxing district
imposing the tax under this section and shall supersede the
procedures provided under all other statutory or charter provisions for initiative or referendum which might otherwise
apply.
(5) Any tax imposed under this section shall be used only
for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency
medical services, including related personnel costs, training
for such personnel, and related equipment, supplies, vehicles
and structures needed for the provision of emergency medical
care or emergency medical services.
(6) If a county levies a tax under this section, no taxing
district within the county may levy a tax under this section. If
a regional fire protection service authority imposes a tax
under this section, no other taxing district that is a participating fire protection jurisdiction in the regional fire protection
service authority may levy a tax under this section. No other
taxing district may levy a tax under this section if another taxing district has levied a tax under this section within its
boundaries: PROVIDED, That if a county levies less than
fifty cents per thousand dollars of the assessed value of prop[Title 84 RCW—page 116]
erty, then any other taxing district may levy a tax under this
section equal to the difference between the rate of the levy by
the county and fifty cents: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a
taxing district within a county levies this tax, and the voters
of the county subsequently approve a levying of this tax, then
the amount of the taxing district levy within the county shall
be reduced, when the combined levies exceed fifty cents.
Whenever a tax is levied county-wide, the service shall, insofar as is feasible, be provided throughout the county: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no county-wide levy proposal may
be placed on the ballot without the approval of the legislative
authority of each city exceeding fifty thousand population
within the county: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this
section and RCW 36.32.480 shall not prohibit any city or
town from levying an annual excess levy to fund emergency
medical services: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if a
county proposes to impose tax levies under this section, no
other ballot proposition authorizing tax levies under this section by another taxing district in the county may be placed
before the voters at the same election at which the county ballot proposition is placed: AND PROVIDED FURTHER,
That any taxing district emergency medical service levy that
is limited in duration and that is authorized subsequent to a
county emergency medical service levy that is limited in
duration, shall expire concurrently with the county emergency medical service levy.
(7) The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to
the tax levy authorized in this section.
(8) If a ballot proposition approved under subsection (2)
of this section did not impose the maximum allowable levy
amount authorized for the taxing district under this section,
any future increase up to the maximum allowable levy
amount must be specifically authorized by the voters in
accordance with subsection (2) of this section at a general or
special election.
(9) The limitation in RCW 84.55.010 shall not apply to
the first levy imposed pursuant to this section following the
approval of such levy by the voters pursuant to subsection (2)
of this section.
(10) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Fire protection jurisdiction" means a fire protection
district, city, town, Indian tribe, or port district; and
(b) "Participating fire protection jurisdiction" means a
fire protection district, city, town, Indian tribe, or port district
that is represented on the governing board of a regional fire
protection service authority. [2004 c 129 § 23; 1999 c 224 §
1; 1995 c 318 § 9; 1994 c 79 § 2; 1993 c 337 § 5; 1991 c 175
§ 1; 1985 c 348 § 1; 1984 c 131 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 200 § 1.]
Captions not law—Severability—2004 c 129: See RCW 52.26.900
and 52.26.901.
Application—1999 c 224: "This act applies to levies authorized after
July 25, 1999." [1999 c 224 § 3.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Finding—1993 c 337: See note following RCW 84.52.105.
Purpose—1984 c 131 §§ 3-9: See note following RCW 29A.36.210.
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 200: "If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1979 ex.s. c 200 § 3.]
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
84.52.085
84.52.070
84.52.070 Certification of levies to assessor. It shall
be the duty of the county legislative authority of each county,
on or before the thirtieth day of November in each year, to
certify to the county assessor of the county the amount of
taxes levied upon the property in the county for county purposes, and the respective amounts of taxes levied by the
board for each taxing district, within or coextensive with the
county, for district purposes, and it shall be the duty of the
council of each city having a population of three hundred
thousand or more, and of the council of each town, and of all
officials or boards of taxing districts within or coextensive
with the county, authorized by law to levy taxes directly and
not through the county legislative authority, on or before the
thirtieth day of November in each year, to certify to the
county assessor of the county the amount of taxes levied upon
the property within the city, town, or district for city, town, or
district purposes. If a levy amount is not certified to the
county assessor by the thirtieth day of November, the county
assessor shall use no more than the certified levy amount for
the previous year for the taxing district: PROVIDED, That
this shall not apply to the state levy or when the assessor has
not certified assessed values as required by RCW 84.48.130
at least twelve working days prior to November 30th. [1994
c 81 § 86; 1988 c 222 § 28; 1961 c 15 § 84.52.070. Prior:
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 78; RRS § 11239; prior: 1890 p 558 §§ 77,
78; Code 1881 § 2881.]
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
84.52.080
84.52.080 Extension of taxes on rolls—Form of certificate—Delivery to treasurer. (1) The county assessor
shall extend the taxes upon the tax rolls in the form herein
prescribed. The rate percent necessary to raise the amounts of
taxes levied for state and county purposes, and for purposes
of taxing districts coextensive with the county, shall be computed upon the assessed value of the property of the county;
the rate percent necessary to raise the amount of taxes levied
for any taxing district within the county shall be computed
upon the assessed value of the property of the district; all
taxes assessed against any property shall be added together
and extended on the rolls in a column headed consolidated or
total tax. In extending any tax, whenever it amounts to a fractional part of a cent greater than five mills it shall be made
one cent, and whenever it amounts to five mills or less than
five mills it shall be dropped. The amount of all taxes shall be
entered in the proper columns, as shown by entering the rate
percent necessary to raise the consolidated or total tax and the
total tax assessed against the property.
(2) For the purpose of computing the rate necessary to
raise the amount of any excess levy in a taxing district which
has classified or designated forest land under chapter 84.33
RCW, other than the state, the county assessor shall add the
district’s timber assessed value, as defined in RCW
84.33.035, to the assessed value of the property: PROVIDED, That for school districts maintenance and operations
levies only one-half of the district’s timber assessed value or
eighty percent of the timber roll of such district in calendar
year 1983 as determined under chapter 84.33 RCW, whichever is greater, shall be added.
(3) Upon the completion of such tax extension, it shall be
the duty of the county assessor to make in each assessment
book, tax roll or list a certificate in the following form:
(2006 Ed.)
I, . . . . . ., assessor of . . . . . . county, state of Washington, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct list of
taxes levied on the real and personal property in the county
of . . . . . . for the year one thousand nine hundred and
......
Witness my hand this . . . . day of . . . . . ., 19. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . , County Assessor
(4) The county assessor shall deliver said tax rolls to the
county treasurer, on or before the fifteenth day of January,
taking receipt therefor, and at the same time the county assessor shall provide the county auditor with an abstract of the tax
rolls showing the total amount of taxes collectible in each of
the taxing districts. [1989 c 378 § 16; 1988 c 222 § 29; 1985
c 184 § 2; 1984 c 204 § 14; 1965 ex.s. c 7 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
84.52.080. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 79; RRS § 11240; prior:
1909 c 230 § 4; 1905 c 128 § 1; 1897 c 71 §§ 64, 65; 1893 c
124 §§ 65, 66; 1890 p 566 §§ 79, 81; Code 1881 §§ 2883,
2884.]
Effective date—1985 c 184 § 2: "Section 2 of this act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take
effect immediately, and shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in
1986 and thereafter." [1985 c 184 § 4.]
Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW
84.33.035.
84.52.085
84.52.085 Property tax errors. (1) If an error has
occurred in the levy of property taxes that has caused all taxpayers within a taxing district, other than the state, to pay an
incorrect amount of property tax, the assessor shall correct
the error by making an appropriate adjustment to the levy for
that taxing district in the succeeding year. The adjustment
shall be made without including any interest. If the governing
authority of the taxing district determines that the amount of
the adjustment in the succeeding year is so large as to cause a
hardship for the taxing district or the taxpayers within the district, the adjustment may be made on a proportional basis
over a period of not more than three consecutive years.
(a) A correction of an error in the levying of property
taxes shall not be made for any period more than three years
preceding the year in which the error is discovered.
(b) When calculating the levy limitation under chapter
84.55 RCW for levies made following the discovery of an
error, the assessor shall determine and use the correct levy
amount for the year or years being corrected as though the
error had not occurred. The amount of the adjustment determined under this subsection (1) shall not be considered when
calculating the levy limitation.
(c) If the taxing district in which a levy error has
occurred does not levy property taxes in the year the error is
discovered, or for a period of more than three years subsequent to the year the error was discovered, an adjustment
shall not be made.
(2) If an error has occurred in the distribution of property
taxes so that property tax collected has been incorrectly distributed to a taxing district or taxing districts wholly or partially within a county, the treasurer of the county in which the
error occurred shall correct the error by making an appropriate adjustment to the amount distributed to that taxing district
or districts in the succeeding year. The adjustment shall be
made without including any interest. If the treasurer, in con[Title 84 RCW—page 117]
84.52.105
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
sultation with the governing authority of the taxing district or
districts affected, determines that the amount of the adjustment in the succeeding year is so large as to cause a hardship
for the taxing district or districts, the adjustment may be
made on a proportional basis over a period of not more than
three consecutive years. A correction of an error in the distribution of property taxes shall not be made for any period
more than three years preceding the year in which the error is
discovered. [2001 c 185 § 14.]
Effective date—Application—2001 c 185 § 14: "Section 14 of this act
takes effect January 1, 2002, and applies to errors that occur on and after January 1, 2002." [2001 c 185 § 17.]
84.52.105
84.52.105 Affordable housing levies authorized—
Declaration of emergency and plan required. (1) A
county, city, or town may impose additional regular property
tax levies of up to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed
value of property in each year for up to ten consecutive years
to finance affordable housing for very low-income households when specifically authorized to do so by a majority of
the voters of the taxing district voting on a ballot proposition
authorizing the levies. If both a county, and a city or town
within the county, impose levies authorized under this section, the levies of the last jurisdiction to receive voter
approval for the levies shall be reduced or eliminated so that
the combined rates of these levies may not exceed fifty cents
per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in any area within
the county. A ballot proposition authorizing a levy under this
section must conform with RCW 84.52.054.
(2) The additional property tax levies may not be
imposed until:
(a) The governing body of the county, city, or town
declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the
availability of housing that is affordable to very low-income
households in the taxing district; and
(b) The governing body of the county, city, or town
adopts an affordable housing financing plan to serve as the
plan for expenditure of funds raised by a levy authorized
under this section, and the governing body determines that
the affordable housing financing plan is consistent with either
the locally adopted or state-adopted comprehensive housing
affordability strategy, required under the Cranston-Gonzalez
national affordable housing act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12701, et
seq.), as amended.
(3) For purposes of this section, the term "very lowincome household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose income is at or below
fifty percent of the median income, as determined by the
United States department of housing and urban development,
with adjustments for household size, for the county where the
taxing district is located.
(4) The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to
the tax levy authorized in this section. [1995 c 318 § 10; 1993
c 337 § 2.]
Effective date—1995 c 318: See note following RCW 82.04.030.
Finding—1993 c 337: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Many very low-income residents of the state of Washington are
unable to afford housing that is decent, safe, and appropriate to their living
needs;
(2) Recent federal housing legislation conditions funding for affordable housing on the availability of local matching funds;
(3) Current statutory debt limitations may impair the ability of coun[Title 84 RCW—page 118]
ties, cities, and towns to meet federal matching requirements and, as a consequence, may impair the ability of such counties, cities, and towns to
develop appropriate and effective strategies to increase the availability of
safe, decent, and appropriate housing that is affordable to very low-income
households; and
(4) It is in the public interest to encourage counties, cities, and towns to
develop locally based affordable housing financing plans designed to expand
the availability of housing that is decent, safe, affordable, and appropriate to
the living needs of very low-income households of the counties, cities, and
towns." [1993 c 337 § 1.]
84.52.120
84.52.120 Metropolitan park districts—Protection of
levy from prorationing—Ballot proposition. A metropolitan park district with a population of one hundred fifty thousand or more may submit a ballot proposition to voters of the
district authorizing the protection of the district’s tax levy
from prorationing under RCW 84.52.010(2) by imposing all
or any portion of the district’s twenty-five cent per thousand
dollars of assessed valuation tax levy outside of the five dollar and ninety cent per thousand dollar of assessed valuation
limitation established under RCW 84.52.043(2), if those
taxes otherwise would be prorated under RCW
84.52.010(2)(c), for taxes imposed in any year on or before
the first day of January six years after the ballot proposition is
approved. A simple majority vote of voters voting on the
proposition is required for approval. [1995 c 99 § 1.]
84.52.125
84.52.125 Fire protection districts—Protection from
levy prorationing. A fire protection district may protect the
d i st r i c t ’ s t ax le v y f r o m p r o r a t i o n in g u n d e r R C W
84.52.010(2) by imposing up to a total of twenty-five cents
per thousand dollars of assessed value of the tax levies authorized under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160 outside of the five
dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation limitation established under RCW 84.52.043(2), if
those taxes otherwise would be prorated under RCW
84.52.010(2)(e). [2005 c 122 § 1.]
Application—2005 c 122: "This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2006 and thereafter." [2005 c 122 § 4.]
84.52.130
84.52.130 Fire protection district excess levies. The
limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 84.52.056,
and 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of taxes by a fire protection district, when authorized so to do by the voters of a
fire protection district in the manner and for the purposes and
number of years allowable under Article VII, section 2(a) of
the Constitution of this state. Elections for taxes shall be held
in the year in which the levy is made, or in the case of propositions authorizing two-year through four-year levies for
maintenance and operation support of a fire district, or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of fire district facilities, in the year in which the first annual levy is made. Once
additional tax levies have been authorized for maintenance
and operation support of a fire protection district for a twoyear through four-year period, no further additional tax levies
for maintenance and operation support of the district for that
period may be authorized.
A special election may be called and the time fixed by
the fire protection district commissioners, by giving notice by
publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices
of general elections, at which special election the proposition
(2006 Ed.)
Levy of Taxes
84.52.769
authorizing the excess levy shall be submitted in a form as to
enable the voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and
those opposed to vote "no." [2002 c 180 § 2.]
84.52.718 Levy by receiver of disincorporated city
authorized. See RCW 35.07.180.
Contingent effective date—2002 c 180: See note following RCW
84.52.052.
84.52.719 Second class city levies.
35.23.470.
84.52.718
84.52.719
84.52.135
84.52.135 County levy for criminal justice purposes.
(1) A county with a population of ninety thousand or less may
impose additional regular property tax levies in an amount
equal to fifty cents or less per thousand dollars of the assessed
value of property in the county in accordance with the terms
of this section.
(2) The tax proposition may be submitted at a general or
special election.
(3) The tax may be imposed each year for six consecutive years when specifically authorized by the registered voters voting on the proposition, subject to the following:
(a) If the number of registered voters voting on the proposition does not exceed forty percent of the total number of
voters voting in the taxing district at the last general election,
the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall
constitute at least three-fifths of a number equal to forty percent of the total number of voters voting in the taxing district
at the last general election.
(b) If the number of registered voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty percent of the total number of voters
voting in the taxing district at the last preceding general election, the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition
shall be at least three-fifths of the registered voters voting on
the proposition.
(4) Ballot propositions shall conform with RCW
29A.36.210.
(5) Any tax imposed under this section shall be used
exclusively for criminal justice purposes.
(6) The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 do not apply to
the tax authorized in this section.
(7) The limitation in RCW 84.55.010 does not apply to
the first tax levy imposed pursuant to this section following
the approval of the levy by the voters pursuant to subsection
(3) of this section. [2004 c 80 § 1.]
Effective date—2004 c 80: "This act takes effect July 1, 2004." [2004
c 80 § 5.]
See RCW
84.52.721
84.52.721 Unclassified city sewer fund levy authorized. See RCW 35.30.020.
84.52.724
84.52.724 City accident fund levy authorized.
RCW 35.31.060.
See
84.52.727 City emergency fund levy authorized. See
RCW 35.32A.060.
84.52.727
84.52.730 City lowlands and waterway projects levy
authorized. See RCW 35.56.190.
84.52.730
84.52.733 Metropolitan municipal corporation levy
authorized. See RCW 35.58.090.
84.52.733
84.52.736 Metropolitan park district levy authorized. See RCW 35.61.210.
84.52.736
84.52.739 Code city accident fund levy authorized.
See RCW 35A.31.070.
84.52.739
84.52.742 County lands assessment fund levy authorized. See RCW 36.33.120 and 36.33.140.
84.52.742
84.52.745
84.52.745 General county levy authorized.
RCW 36.40.090.
See
84.52.749
84.52.749 County rail district tax levies authorized.
See RCW 36.60.040.
84.52.750
84.52.750 Solid waste disposal district—Excess levies
authorized. See RCW 36.58.150.
84.52.751 County hospital maintenance levy authorized. See RCW 36.62.090.
84.52.751
84.52.700
84.52.700 County airport district levy authorized.
See RCW 14.08.290.
84.52.754 Park and recreation service area levies
authorized. See RCW 36.68.520 and 36.68.525.
84.52.754
84.52.703
84.52.703 Mosquito control district levies authorized. See RCW 17.28.100, 17.28.252, and 17.28.260.
84.52.706
84.52.706 Rural county library district levy authorized. See RCW 27.12.050 and 27.12.222.
84.52.709
84.52.709 Intercounty rural library district levy
authorized. See RCW 27.12.150 and 27.12.222.
84.52.712
84.52.712 Reduction of city levy if part of library district. See RCW 27.12.390.
84.52.713
84.52.713 Island library district levy authorized.
See RCW 27.12.420 and 27.12.222.
(2006 Ed.)
84.52.757 Park and recreation district levies authorized. See RCW 36.69.140 and 36.69.145.
84.52.757
84.52.760 County road fund levy authorized.
RCW 36.82.040.
84.52.760
See
84.52.761 Road and bridge service district levies
authorized. See RCW 36.83.030 and 36.83.040.
84.52.761
84.52.763 City firemen’s pension fund levy authorized. See RCW 41.16.060.
84.52.763
84.52.769
84.52.769 Reduction of city levy if part of fire protection district. See RCW 52.04.081.
[Title 84 RCW—page 119]
84.52.772
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
84.52.772 Fire protection district levies authorized.
See RCW 52.16.130, 52.16.140, and 52.16.160.
84.52.772
84.55.010
84.55.0101
84.55.012
84.52.775 Port district levies authorized. See RCW
53.36.020, 53.36.070, 53.36.100, and 53.47.040.
84.52.775
84.55.0121
84.55.015
84.55.020
84.52.778
84.52.778 Public utility district levy authorized. See
RCW 54.16.080.
84.52.784
84.52.784 Water-sewer district levies authorized.
See RCW 57.04.050, 57.20.019, and 57.20.105.
84.52.786 Cultural arts, stadium and convention district tax levies authorized. See RCW 67.38.110 and
67.38.130.
84.55.030
84.55.035
84.55.040
84.55.045
84.55.047
84.52.786
84.52.787 Cemetery district levy authorized.
RCW 68.52.290 and 68.52.310.
84.52.787
See
84.52.790
84.52.790 Public hospital district levy authorized.
See RCW 70.44.060.
84.52.793
84.52.793 Air pollution control agency levy authorized. See RCW 70.94.091.
84.55.050
84.55.060
84.55.070
84.55.080
84.55.092
84.55.100
84.55.110
84.55.120
84.55.125
Limitations prescribed.
Limit factor—Authorization for taxing district to use one hundred six percent or less—Ordinance or resolution.
Reduction of property tax levy—Setting amount of future levies.
Reduction of property tax levy for collection in 1998.
Restoration of regular levy.
Limitation upon first levy for district created from consolidation.
Limitation upon first levy following annexation.
Inapplicability of limitation to newly-formed taxing district
created other than by consolidation or annexation.
Increase in statutory dollar rate limitation.
Applicability of chapter to levy by port district for industrial
development district purposes.
Applicability of chapter to community revitalization financing
increment areas.
Election to authorize increase in regular property tax levy—
Limited propositions—Procedure.
Rate rules—Educational program—Other necessary action.
Inapplicability of chapter to levies for certain purposes.
Adjustment to tax limitation.
Protection of future levy capacity.
Determination of limitations.
Withdrawal of certain areas of a library district, metropolitan
park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district—Calculation of taxes due.
Public hearing—Taxing district’s revenue sources—Adoption
of tax increase by ordinance or resolution.
Limitation adjustment for certain leasehold interests.
84.55.005
84.52.796 Mental retardation and developmental disability services levy authorized. See RCW 71.20.110.
84.52.796
84.52.799 Veteran’s relief fund levy authorized. See
RCW 73.08.080.
84.52.799
84.52.802
84.52.802 Acquisition of open space, etc., land or
rights to future development by certain entities—Property tax levy authorized. See RCW 84.34.230.
84.52.808 River improvement fund levy authorized. See RCW 86.12.010.
84.52.808
84.52.811 Intercounty river control agreement levy
authorized. See RCW 86.13.010 and 86.13.030.
84.52.811
84.52.814
84.52.814 Flood control zone district levy authorized.
See RCW 86.15.160.
84.52.817
84.52.817 Irrigation and rehabilitation district special assessment authorized. See RCW 87.84.070.
84.52.820
84.52.820 Reclamation district levy authorized. See
RCW 89.30.391 through 89.30.397.
84.52.823 Levy for tax refund funds.
84.68.040.
84.52.823
Chapter 84.55
Chapter 84.55 RCW
LIMITATIONS UPON REGULAR
PROPERTY TAXES
Sections
84.55.005
Definitions.
[Title 84 RCW—page 120]
See RCW
84.55.005 Definitions. (Effective if unconstitutionality
of Initiative Measure No. 747 is affirmed by pending
appeal.) As used in this chapter:
(1) "Inflation" means the percentage change in the
implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures
for the United States as published for the most recent twelvemonth period by the bureau of economic analysis of the federal department of commerce in September of the year before
the taxes are payable;
(2) "Limit factor" means:
(a) For taxing districts with a population of less than ten
thousand in the calendar year prior to the assessment year,
one hundred six percent;
(b) For taxing districts for which a limit factor is authorized under RCW 84.55.0101, the lesser of the limit factor
authorized under that section or one hundred six percent;
(c) For all other districts, the lesser of one hundred six
percent or one hundred percent plus inflation; and
(3) "Regular property taxes" has the meaning given it in
RCW 84.04.140. [1997 c 393 § 20; 1997 c 3 § 201 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 §
49; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 11.]
Reviser’s note: (1) On June 13, 2006, Initiative Measure No. 747 was
declared unconstitutional in its entirety in Washington Citizens Action of
Washington v. State, Superior Court for King County (No. 05-2-02052-1
SEA). The decision was under appeal to the Washington State Supreme
Court at the time this material was published.
(2) This section was amended by 1997 c 3 § 201 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997) and by 1997 c 393 § 20, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of
this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW
1.12.025(1).
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
(2006 Ed.)
Limitations Upon Regular Property Taxes
84.55.005 Definitions. (Effective if unconstitutionality
of Initiative Measure No. 747 is reversed by pending
appeal.) As used in this chapter:
(1) "Inflation" means the percentage change in the
implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures
for the United States as published for the most recent twelvemonth period by the bureau of economic analysis of the federal department of commerce in September of the year before
the taxes are payable;
(2) "Limit factor" means:
(a) For taxing districts with a population of less than ten
thousand in the calendar year prior to the assessment year,
one hundred one percent;
(b) For taxing districts for which a limit factor is authorized under RCW 84.55.0101, the lesser of the limit factor
under that section or one hundred one percent;
(c) For all other districts, the lesser of one hundred one
percent or one hundred percent plus inflation; and
(3) "Regular property taxes" has the meaning given it in
RCW 84.04.140. [2002 c 1 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 747,
approved November 6, 2001). Prior: 1997 c 393 § 20; 1997
c 3 § 201 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4,
1997); 1994 c 301 § 49; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 § 11.]
84.55.005
Reviser’s note: (1) On June 13, 2006, Initiative Measure No. 747 was
declared unconstitutional in its entirety in Washington Citizens Action of
Washington v. State, Superior Court for King County (No. 05-2-02052-1
SEA). The decision was under appeal to the Washington State Supreme
Court at the time this material was published.
(2) 2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747) amended the 2001 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 722) version, which was declared unconstitutional in its
entirety under the Washington Supreme Court decision in City of Burien et
al v. Frederick C Kiga et al, 31 P.3d 659, 144 Wn.2d 819. The text of this
section does not include the Initiative Measure No. 722 language.
Intent—2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747): "This measure would
limit property tax increases to 1% per year unless approved by the voters.
Politicians have repeatedly failed to limit skyrocketing property taxes either
by reducing property taxes or by limiting property tax increases in any meaningful way. Throughout Washington every year, taxing authorities regularly
increase property taxes to the maximum limit factor of 106% while also
receiving additional property tax revenue from new construction, improvements, increases in the value of state-assessed property, excess levies
approved by the voters, and tax revenues generated from real estate excise
taxes when property is sold. Property taxes are increasing so rapidly that
working class families and senior citizens are being taxed out of their homes
and making it nearly impossible for first-time home buyers to afford a home.
The Washington state Constitution limits property taxes to 1% per year; this
measure matches this principle by limiting property tax increases to 1% per
year." [2002 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747, approved November 6,
2001).]
Construction—2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747): "The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and
purposes of this act." [2002 c 1 § 4 (Initiative Measure No. 747, approved
November 6, 2001).]
Severability—2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747): "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected." [2002 c 1 § 5 (Initiative Measure
No. 747, approved November 6, 2001).]
Intent—2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747): "The people have
clearly expressed their desire to limit taxes through the overwhelming passage of numerous initiatives and referendums. However, politicians throughout the state of Washington continue to ignore the mandate of these measures.
Politicians are reminded:
(1) All political power is vested in the people, as stated in Article I, section 1 of the Washington state Constitution.
(2) The first power reserved by the people is the initiative, as stated in
Article II, section 1 of the Washington state Constitution.
(3) Politicians are an employee of the people, not their boss.
(2006 Ed.)
84.55.0101
(4) Any property tax increase which violates the clear intent of this
measure undermines the trust of the people in their government and will
increase the likelihood of future tax limitation measures." [2002 c 1 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 747, approved November 6, 2001).]
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Short title—Intent—Effective dates—Applicability—1983 1st ex.s.
c 62: See notes following RCW 84.36.477.
84.55.010
84.55.010 Limitations prescribed. Except as provided
in this chapter, the levy for a taxing district in any year shall
be set so that the regular property taxes payable in the following year shall not exceed the limit factor multiplied by the
amount of regular property taxes lawfully levied for such district in the highest of the three most recent years in which
such taxes were levied for such district plus an additional dollar amount calculated by multiplying the increase in assessed
value in that district resulting from new construction,
increases in assessed value due to construction of electric
generation wind turbine facilities classified as personal property, improvements to property, and any increase in the
assessed value of state-assessed property by the regular property tax levy rate of that district for the preceding year. [2006
c 184 § 1; 1997 c 3 § 202 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved
November 4, 1997); 1979 ex.s. c 218 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 67
§ 1; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 20.]
Reviser’s note: Throughout chapter 84.55 RCW the phrase "this 1971
amendatory act" has been changed to "this chapter." For codification of "this
1971 amendatory act" [1971 ex.s. c 288], see Codification Tables, Volume 0.
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: "It is the intent of sections 201 through
207 of this act to lower the one hundred six percent limit while still allowing
taxing districts to raise revenues in excess of the limit if approved by a
majority of the voters as provided in RCW 84.55.050." [1997 c 3 § 208 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997).]
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Effective date—Applicability—1979 ex.s. c 218: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and
shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That the amendment to RCW
84.55.010 by section 2 of this act shall be effective for 1979 levies for taxes
collected in 1980, and for subsequent years." [1979 ex.s. c 218 § 8.]
84.55.0101
84.55.0101 Limit factor—Authorization for taxing
district to use one hundred six percent or less—Ordinance or resolution. (Effective if unconstitutionality of
Initiative Measure No. 747 is affirmed by pending appeal.)
Upon a finding of substantial need, the legislative authority
of a taxing district other than the state may provide for the use
of a limit factor under this chapter of one hundred six percent
or less. In districts with legislative authorities of four members or less, two-thirds of the members must approve an ordinance or resolution under this section. In districts with more
than four members, a majority plus one vote must approve an
ordinance or resolution under this section. The new limit factor shall be effective for taxes collected in the following year
only. [1997 c 3 § 204 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved
November 4, 1997).]
Reviser’s note: On June 13, 2006, Initiative Measure No. 747 was
declared unconstitutional in its entirety in Washington Citizens Action of
Washington v. State, Superior Court for King County (No. 05-2-02052-1
SEA). The decision was under appeal to the Washington State Supreme
Court at the time this material was published.
[Title 84 RCW—page 121]
84.55.0101
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.55.0101
84.55.0101 Limit factor—Authorization for taxing
district to use one hundred one percent or less—Ordinance or resolution. (Effective if unconstitutionality of
Initiative Measure No. 747 is reversed by pending appeal.)
Upon a finding of substantial need, the legislative authority
of a taxing district other than the state may provide for the use
of a limit factor under this chapter of one hundred one percent
or less unless an increase greater than this limit is approved
by the voters at an election as provided in RCW 84.55.050. In
districts with legislative authorities of four members or less,
two-thirds of the members must approve an ordinance or resolution under this section. In districts with more than four
members, a majority plus one vote must approve an ordinance or resolution under this section. The new limit factor
shall be effective for taxes collected in the following year
only. [2002 c 1 § 3 (Initiative Measure No. 747, approved
November 6, 2001); 1997 c 3 § 204 (Referendum Bill No. 47,
approved November 4, 1997).]
Reviser’s note: (1) On June 13, 2006, Initiative Measure No. 747 was
declared unconstitutional in its entirety in Washington Citizens Action of
Washington v. State, Superior Court for King County (No. 05-2-02052-1
SEA). The decision was under appeal to the Washington State Supreme
Court at the time this material was published.
(2) 2002 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 747) amended the 2001 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 722) version, which was declared unconstitutional in its
entirety under the Washington Supreme Court decision in City of Burien et
al v. Frederick C Kiga et al, 31 P.3d 659, 144 Wn.2d 819. The text of this
section does not include the Initiative Measure No. 722 language.
Intent—Construction—Severability—Intent—2002 c 1 (Initiative
Measure No. 747): See notes following RCW 84.55.005.
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.55.012
84.55.012 Reduction of property tax levy—Setting
amount of future levies. (1) The state property tax levy for
collection in 1996 shall be reduced by 4.7187 percent of the
levy amount that would otherwise be allowed under this
chapter without regard to this section or any other tax reduction legislation enacted in 1995.
(2) State levies for collection after 1997 shall be set at the
amount that would be allowed otherwise under this chapter if
the state levies for collection in 1996 and 1997 had been set
without the reduction under subsection (1) of this section.
[1997 c 2 § 1; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 13 § 2.]
Application—1997 c 2 § 1: "Section 1 of this act applies to taxes levied
for collection in 1997." [1997 c 2 § 3.]
Effective date—1997 c 2 § 1: "Section 1 of this act is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately [January 30, 1997]." [1997 c 2 § 4.]
Intent—1995 2nd sp.s. c 13: "With property valuations continuing to
increase, property taxes have been steadily increasing. At the same time, personal incomes have not continued to rise at the same rate. Property taxes are
becoming increasingly more difficult to pay. Many residential property owners complain about the overall level of taxes and about the continuing
increase in tax from year to year. Taxpayers want property tax relief. The
legislature intends to establish an on-going program of state property tax
reductions the amount of which is to be determined by the legislature on a
yearly basis based on the level of general fund tax revenues." [1995 2nd sp.s.
c 13 § 1.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 122]
84.55.0121
84.55.0121 Reduction of property tax levy for collection in 1998. The state property tax levy for collection in
1998 shall be reduced by 4.7187 percent of the levy amount
that would otherwise be allowed under this chapter without
regard to this section. [1997 c 3 § 301 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997).]
Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to electorate—1997
c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.55.015
84.55.015 Restoration of regular levy. If a taxing district has not levied since 1985 and elects to restore a regular
property tax levy subject to applicable statutory limitations
then such first restored levy shall be set so that the regular
property tax payable shall not exceed the amount which was
last levied, plus an additional dollar amount calculated by
multiplying the increase in assessed value in the district since
the last levy resulting from new construction, increases in
assessed value due to construction of electric generation wind
turbine facilities classified as personal property, improvements to property, and any increase in the assessed value of
state-assessed property by the property tax rate which is proposed to be restored, or the maximum amount which could be
lawfully levied in the year such a restored levy is proposed.
[2006 c 184 § 2; 1999 c 96 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 218 § 4.]
84.55.020
84.55.020 Limitation upon first levy for district created from consolidation. Notwithstanding the limitation set
forth in RCW 84.55.010, the first levy for a taxing district
created from consolidation of similar taxing districts shall be
set so that the regular property taxes payable in the following
year shall not exceed the limit factor multiplied by the sum of
the amount of regular property taxes lawfully levied for each
component taxing district in the highest of the three most
recent years in which such taxes were levied for such district
plus the additional dollar amount calculated by multiplying
the increase in assessed value in each component district
resulting from new construction, increases in assessed value
due to construction of electric generation wind turbine facilities classified as personal property, improvements to property, and any increase in the assessed value of state-assessed
property by the regular property tax rate of each component
district for the preceding year. [2006 c 184 § 3; 1997 c 3 §
203 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997);
1971 ex.s. c 288 § 21.]
Intent—1997 c 3 §§ 201-207: See note following RCW 84.55.010.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.55.030
84.55.030 Limitation upon first levy following annexation. For the first levy for a taxing district following annexation of additional property, the limitation set forth in RCW
84.55.010 shall be increased by an amount equal to (1) the
aggregate assessed valuation of the newly annexed property
as shown by the current completed and balanced tax rolls of
the county or counties within which such property lies, multiplied by (2) the dollar rate that would have been used by the
annexing unit in the absence of such annexation, plus (3) the
additional dollar amount calculated by multiplying the
increase in assessed value in the annexing district resulting
(2006 Ed.)
Limitations Upon Regular Property Taxes
from new construction, increases in assessed value due to
construction of electric generation wind turbine facilities
classified as personal property, improvements to property,
and any increase in the assessed value of state-assessed property by the regular property tax levy rate of that annexing taxing district for the preceding year. [2006 c 184 § 4; 1973 1st
ex.s. c 195 § 107; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 22.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.55.035
84.55.035 Inapplicability of limitation to newlyformed taxing district created other than by consolidation
or annexation. RCW 84.55.010 shall not apply to the first
levy by or for a newly-formed taxing district created other
than by consolidation or annexation.
This section shall be retroactive in effect and shall be
deemed to validate any levy within its scope, even though the
levy has been made prior to June 4, 1979. [1979 ex.s. c 218
§ 5.]
84.55.040
84.55.040 Increase in statutory dollar rate limitation.
If by reason of the operation of RCW 84.52.043 and
84.52.050, as now or hereafter amended the statutory dollar
rate limitation applicable to the levy by a taxing district has
been increased over the statutory millage limitation applicable to such taxing district’s levy in the preceding year, the
limitation on the dollar rate amount of a levy provided for in
this chapter shall be increased by multiplying the otherwise
dollar limitation by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
increased dollar limitation and the denominator of which is
the dollar limitation for the prior year. [1973 1st ex.s. c 195
§ 108; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 151; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 23.]
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.55.045
84.55.045 Applicability of chapter to levy by port district for industrial development district purposes. For
purposes of applying the provisions of this chapter:
(1) A levy by or for a port district pursuant to RCW
53.36.100 shall be treated in the same manner as a separate
regular property tax levy made by or for a separate taxing district; and
(2) The first levy by or for a port district pursuant to
RCW 53.36.100 after April 1, 1982, shall not be subject to
RCW 84.55.010. [1982 1st ex.s. c 3 § 2.]
Effective date—1982 1st ex.s. c 3: See note following RCW
53.36.100.
84.55.047
84.55.047 Applicability of chapter to community
revitalization financing increment areas. Limitations on
regular property taxes that are provided in this chapter shall
continue in a taxing district whether or not an increment area
exists within the taxing district as provided under chapter
39.89 RCW. [2001 c 212 § 24.]
Severability—2001 c 212: See RCW 39.89.902.
(2006 Ed.)
84.55.050
84.55.050
84.55.050 Election to authorize increase in regular
property tax levy—Limited propositions—Procedure.
(1) Subject to any otherwise applicable statutory dollar rate
limitations, regular property taxes may be levied by or for a
taxing district in an amount exceeding the limitations provided for in this chapter if such levy is authorized by a proposition approved by a majority of the voters of the taxing district voting on the proposition at a general election held
within the district or at a special election within the taxing
district called by the district for the purpose of submitting
such proposition to the voters. Any election held pursuant to
this section shall be held not more than twelve months prior
to the date on which the proposed levy is to be made, except
as provided in subsection (3)(b) of this section. The ballot of
the proposition shall state the dollar rate proposed and shall
clearly state any conditions which are applicable under subsection (3) of this section.
(2) After a levy authorized pursuant to this section is
made, the dollar amount of such levy shall be used for the
purpose of computing the limitations for subsequent levies
provided for in this chapter, except as provided in subsections
(3) and (4) of this section.
(3) A proposition placed before the voters under this section may:
(a) Limit the period for which the increased levy is to be
made;
(b) Subject to statutory dollar limitations in RCW
84.52.043, authorize annual increases in levies for any
county, city, or town for multiple consecutive years, up to six
consecutive years, during which period each year’s authorized maximum legal levy shall be used as the base upon
which an increased levy limit for the succeeding year is computed, but the ballot proposition must state the dollar rate proposed only for the first year of the consecutive years and must
state the limit factor, or a specified index to be used for determining a limit factor, such as the consumer price index,
which need not be the same for all years, by which the regular
tax levy for the district may be increased in each of the subsequent consecutive years. Elections for this purpose must be
held at a primary or general election. The title of each ballot
measure must state the specific purposes for which the proposed levy increase shall be used, and funds raised under this
levy shall not supplant existing funds used for these purposes;
(c) Limit the purpose for which the increased levy is to
be made, but if the limited purpose includes making redemption payments on bonds, the period for which the increased
levies are made shall not exceed nine years;
(d) Set the levy at a rate less than the maximum rate
allowed for the district;
(e) Provide that the maximum allowable dollar amount
of the final annual levy of the period specified in the measure
shall be used to compute the limitations provided for in this
chapter on levy increases occurring after the expiration of the
period; or
(f) Include any combination of the conditions in this subsection.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in an approved ballot
measure under this section, after the expiration of a limited
period or the satisfaction of a limited purpose, whichever
comes first, subsequent levies shall be computed as if:
[Title 84 RCW—page 123]
84.55.060
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
(a) The limited proposition under subsection (3) of this
section had not been approved; and
(b) The taxing district had made levies at the maximum
rates which would otherwise have been allowed under this
chapter during the years levies were made under the limited
proposition. [2003 1st sp.s. c 24 § 4; 1989 c 287 § 1; 1986 c
169 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 218 § 3; 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 § 109; 1971
ex.s. c 288 § 24.]
Finding—Intent—Effective date—Severability—2003 1st sp.s. c 24:
See notes following RCW 82.14.450.
Severability—Effective dates and termination dates—Construction—1973 1st ex.s. c 195: See notes following RCW 84.52.043.
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.55.060
84.55.060 Rate rules—Educational program—Other
necessary action. The department of revenue shall adopt
rules relating to the calculation of tax rates and the limitation
in RCW 84.55.010, conduct an educational program on this
subject, and take any other action necessary to insure compliance with the statutes and rules on this subject. [1979 ex.s. c
218 § 6.]
84.55.070
84.55.070 Inapplicability of chapter to levies for certain purposes. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to a levy, including the state levy, or that portion of a levy,
made by or for a taxing district for the purpose of funding a
property tax refund paid or to be paid pursuant to the provisions of chapter 84.68 RCW or attributable to a property tax
refund paid or to be paid pursuant to the provisions of chapter
84.69 RCW, attributable to amounts of state taxes withheld
under RCW 84.56.290 or the provisions of chapter 84.69
RCW, or otherwise attributable to state taxes lawfully owing
by reason of adjustments made under RCW 84.48.080. [1982
1st ex.s. c 28 § 2; 1981 c 228 § 3.]
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 28: See note following RCW 84.48.080.
84.55.080
84.55.080 Adjustment to tax limitation. Pursuant to
chapter 39.88 RCW, any increase in the assessed value of real
property within an apportionment district resulting from new
construction, increases in assessed value due to construction
of electric generation wind turbine facilities classified as personal property, improvements to property, or any increase in
the assessed value of state-assessed property shall not be
included in the increase in assessed value resulting from new
construction, increases in assessed value due to construction
of electric generation wind turbine facilities classified as personal property, improvements, or any increase in the assessed
value of state-assessed property for purposes of calculating
any limitations upon regular property taxes under this chapter
until the termination of apportionment as set forth in RCW
39.88.070(4), as now or hereafter amended, except to the
extent a taxing district actually will receive the taxes levied
upon this value. Tax allocation revenues, as defined in RCW
39.88.020, as now or hereafter amended, shall not be deemed
to be "regular property taxes" for purposes of this chapter.
[2006 c 184 § 5; 1982 1st ex.s. c 42 § 12.]
Captions not part of law—Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 42: See
RCW 39.88.910 and 39.88.915.
[Title 84 RCW—page 124]
84.55.092
84.55.092 Protection of future levy capacity. The regular property tax levy for each taxing district other than the
state may be set at the amount which would be allowed otherwise under this chapter if the regular property tax levy for
the district for taxes due in prior years beginning with 1986
had been set at the full amount allowed under this chapter
including any levy authorized under RCW 52.16.160 that
would have been imposed but for the limitation in RCW
52.18.065, applicable upon imposition of the benefit charge
under chapter 52.18 RCW.
The purpose of this section is to remove the incentive for
a taxing district to maintain its tax levy at the maximum level
permitted under this chapter, and to protect the future levy
capacity of a taxing district that reduces its tax levy below the
level that it otherwise could impose under this chapter, by
removing the adverse consequences to future levy capacities
resulting from such levy reductions. [1998 c 16 § 3; 1988 c
274 § 4; 1986 c 107 § 3.]
Reviser’s note: Restored to the RCW September 20, 2001, under the
Washington Supreme Court decision in City of Burien et al v. Frederick C
Kiga et al, 31 P.3d 659, 144 Wn.2d 819, which declared Initiative Measure
No. 722 (2001 c 2) unconstitutional in its entirety.
Purpose—Severability—1988 c 274: See notes following RCW
84.52.010.
Severability—Construction—1986 c 107: See notes following RCW
39.67.010.
84.55.100
84.55.100 Determination of limitations. The property
tax limitation contained in this chapter shall be determined by
the county assessors of the respective counties in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, That the
limitation for any state levy shall be determined by the
department of revenue and the limitation for any intercounty
rural library district shall be determined by the library district
in consultation with the respective county assessors. [1983 c
223 § 1.]
84.55.110
84.55.110 Withdrawal of certain areas of a library
district, metropolitan park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district—Calculation of taxes due.
Whenever a withdrawal occurs under RCW 27.12.355,
35.61.360, 52.04.056, or 70.44.235, restrictions under chapter 84.55 RCW on the taxes due for the library district, metropolitan park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district, and restrictions under chapter 84.55 RCW on the
taxes due for the city or town if an entire city or town area is
withdrawn from a library district or fire protection district,
shall be calculated as if the withdrawn area had not been part
of the library district, metropolitan park district, fire protection district, or public hospital district, and as if the library
district or fire protection district had not been part of the city
or town. [1987 c 138 § 6.]
84.55.120
84.55.120 Public hearing—Taxing district’s revenue
sources—Adoption of tax increase by ordinance or resolution. A taxing district, other than the state, that collects
regular levies shall hold a public hearing on revenue sources
for the district’s following year’s current expense budget.
The hearing must include consideration of possible increases
in property tax revenues and shall be held prior to the time the
taxing district levies the taxes or makes the request to have
(2006 Ed.)
Collection of Taxes
84.56.020
84.56.200
Removal of timber or improvements on which tax is delinquent—Penalty.
Severance of standing timber assessed as realty—Timber tax
may be collected as personalty tax.
Lien of personalty tax follows insurance.
Monthly distribution of taxes collected.
Cancellation of uncollectible personalty taxes.
Penalty for willful noncollection or failure to file delinquent
list.
Continuing responsibility to collect taxes, special assessments,
fees, rates, or other charges.
Court cancellation of personalty taxes more than four years
delinquent.
Settlement with state for state taxes—Penalty.
Adjustment with state for reduced or canceled taxes and for
taxes on assessments not on the certified assessment list.
Annual report of collections to county auditor.
Interested person may pay real property taxes—Limitation.
Recovery by occupant or tenant paying realty taxes.
Payment by mortgagee or other lien holder.
Payment on part of parcel or tract or on undivided interest or
fractional interest—Division—Certification—Appeal.
Alteration of property lines—Payment of taxes and assessments.
Separate ownership of improvements—Separate payment
authorized.
Separate ownership of improvements—Procedure for segregation of improvement tax.
Separate ownership of improvements—Segregation or payment not to release lien.
Relisting and relevy of tax adjudged void.
Ships and vessels—Collection of taxes—Delinquent taxes—
Valuation and assessment of unlisted ships or vessels.
the taxes levied. The county legislative authority, or the taxing district’s governing body if the district is a city, town, or
other type of district, shall hold the hearing. For purposes of
this section, "current expense budget" means that budget
which is primarily funded by taxes and charges and reflects
the provision of ongoing services. It does not mean the capital, enterprise, or special assessment budgets of cities, towns,
counties, or special purpose districts.
If the taxing district is otherwise required to hold a public hearing on its proposed regular tax levy, a single public
hearing may be held on this matter.
No increase in property tax revenue, other than that
resulting from the addition of new construction, increases in
assessed value due to construction of electric generation wind
turbine facilities classified as personal property, and
improvements to property and any increase in the value of
state-assessed property, may be authorized by a taxing district, other than the state, except by adoption of a separate
ordinance or resolution, pursuant to notice, specifically
authorizing the increase in terms of both dollars and percentage. The ordinance or resolution may cover a period of up to
two years, but the ordinance shall specifically state for each
year the dollar increase and percentage change in the levy
from the previous year. [2006 c 184 § 6; 1997 c 3 § 209 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1995 c
251 § 1.]
Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to electorate—1997
c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
84.55.125
84.55.125 Limitation adjustment for certain leasehold interests. For taxes levied for collection in 2002, the
limitation set forth in RCW 84.55.010 for a taxing district
shall be increased by an amount equal to the aggregate
assessed valuation of leasehold interests subject to tax by the
district under RCW 84.40.410, multiplied by the regular
property tax levy rate of that district for the preceding year.
[2001 c 26 § 4.]
Chapter 84.56
Chapter 84.56 RCW
COLLECTION OF TAXES
Sections
84.56.010
84.56.020
84.56.022
84.56.025
84.56.035
84.56.050
84.56.060
84.56.070
84.56.075
84.56.090
84.56.120
84.56.150
84.56.160
84.56.170
(2006 Ed.)
Establishment of tax rolls by treasurer—Public record—Tax
roll account—Authority to receive, collect taxes.
Taxes collected by treasurer—Dates of delinquency—Tax
statement notice concerning payment by check—Interest—
Penalties.
Tax statement to show voter-approved levies.
Waiver of interest and penalties—Circumstances—Provision
of death certificate and affidavit for certain waivers.
Special assessments, excise taxes, or rates and charges—Collection by county treasurer authorized.
Treasurer’s duties on receiving rolls—Notice of taxes due.
Tax receipts—Current tax only may be paid.
Personal property—Distraint and sale, notice, property incapable of manual delivery, property about to be removed or disposed of.
Issuance of warrant by court for property subject to distraint.
Distraint and sale of property about to be removed, dissipated,
sold, or disposed of—Computation of taxes, entry on rolls,
tax liens.
Removal of property from county or state after assessment
without paying tax.
Removal of personalty—Certification of tax by treasurer.
Certification of statement of taxes and delinquency.
Collection of certified taxes—Remittance.
84.56.210
84.56.220
84.56.230
84.56.240
84.56.250
84.56.260
84.56.270
84.56.280
84.56.290
84.56.300
84.56.310
84.56.320
84.56.330
84.56.340
84.56.345
84.56.360
84.56.370
84.56.380
84.56.430
84.56.440
84.56.010
84.56.010 Establishment of tax rolls by treasurer—
Public record—Tax roll account—Authority to receive,
collect taxes. On or before the first Monday in January next
succeeding the date of levy of taxes the county treasurer shall
establish tax rolls of his or her county as certified by the
county assessor for such assessment year, and said rolls shall
be preserved as a public record in the office of the county
treasurer. The amount of said taxes levied and extended upon
said rolls shall be charged to the treasurer in an account to be
designated as treasurer’s "Tax roll account" for . . . . . . and
said rolls shall be full and sufficient authority for the county
treasurer to receive and collect all taxes therein levied: PROVIDED, That the county treasurer shall in no case collect
such taxes or issue receipts for the same or enter payment or
satisfaction of such taxes upon said assessment rolls before
the fifteenth day of February following. [1994 c 301 § 50;
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 1; 1965 ex.s. c 7 § 2; 1961 c 15 §
84.56.010. Prior: 1935 c 30 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 82; RRS
§ 11243; prior: 1890 p 561 § 83.]
Reviser’s note: This section appears as it did before its amendment by
1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 10 because of 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 3 which states
"This 1976 amendatory act shall be effective with respect to 1976 collections
of all real and personal property taxes, and shall expire on December 31,
1976."
84.56.020
84.56.020 Taxes collected by treasurer—Dates of
delinquency—Tax statement notice concerning payment
by check—Interest—Penalties. (1) The county treasurer
shall be the receiver and collector of all taxes extended upon
the tax rolls of the county, whether levied for state, county,
school, bridge, road, municipal or other purposes, and also of
all fines, forfeitures or penalties received by any person or
officer for the use of his or her county. All taxes upon real
and personal property made payable by the provisions of this
title shall be due and payable to the treasurer on or before the
[Title 84 RCW—page 125]
84.56.022
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
thirtieth day of April and, except as provided in this section,
shall be delinquent after that date.
(2) Each tax statement shall include a notice that checks
for payment of taxes may be made payable to "Treasurer of
. . . . . . County" or other appropriate office, but tax statements shall not include any suggestion that checks may be
made payable to the name of the individual holding the office
of treasurer nor any other individual.
(3) When the total amount of tax or special assessments
on personal property or on any lot, block or tract of real property payable by one person is fifty dollars or more, and if onehalf of such tax be paid on or before the thirtieth day of April,
the remainder of such tax shall be due and payable on or
before the thirty-first day of October following and shall be
delinquent after that date.
(4) When the total amount of tax or special assessments
on any lot, block or tract of real property or on any mobile
home payable by one person is fifty dollars or more, and if
one-half of such tax be paid after the thirtieth day of April but
before the thirty-first day of October, together with the applicable interest and penalty on the full amount of tax payable
for that year, the remainder of such tax shall be due and payable on or before the thirty-first day of October following and
shall be delinquent after that date.
(5) Delinquent taxes under this section are subject to
interest at the rate of twelve percent per annum computed on
a monthly basis on the full year amount of tax unpaid from
the date of delinquency until paid. Interest shall be calculated
at the rate in effect at the time of payment of the tax, regardless of when the taxes were first delinquent. In addition,
delinquent taxes under this section are subject to penalties as
follows:
(a) A penalty of three percent of the full year amount of
tax unpaid shall be assessed on the tax delinquent on June 1st
of the year in which the tax is due.
(b) An additional penalty of eight percent shall be
assessed on the amount of tax delinquent on December 1st of
the year in which the tax is due.
(6) Subsection (5) of this section notwithstanding, no
interest or penalties may be assessed during any period of
armed conflict on delinquent taxes imposed on the personal
residences owned by active duty military personnel who are
participating as part of one of the branches of the military
involved in the conflict and assigned to a duty station outside
the territorial boundaries of the United States.
(7) For purposes of this chapter, "interest" means both
interest and penalties.
(8) All collections of interest on delinquent taxes shall be
credited to the county current expense fund; but the cost of
foreclosure and sale of real property, and the fees and costs of
distraint and sale of personal property, for delinquent taxes,
shall, when collected, be credited to the operation and maintenance fund of the county treasurer prosecuting the foreclosure or distraint or sale; and shall be used by the county treasurer as a revolving fund to defray the cost of further foreclosure, distraint and sale for delinquent taxes without regard to
budget limitations. [2005 c 502 § 7; 2004 c 161 § 6; 1996 c
153 § 1. Prior: 1991 c 245 § 16; 1991 c 52 § 1; 1988 c 222 §
30; 1987 c 211 § 1; 1984 c 131 § 1; 1981 c 322 § 2; 1974 ex.s.
c 196 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 116 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 288 § 3; 1969
ex.s. c 216 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.020; prior: 1949 c 21 § 1;
[Title 84 RCW—page 126]
1935 c 30 § 2; 1931 c 113 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 83; Rem.
Supp. 1949 § 11244; prior: 1917 c 141 § 1; 1899 c 141 § 6;
1897 c 71 § 68; 1895 c 176 § 14; 1893 c 124 § 69; 1890 p 561
§ 84; Code 1881 § 2892. Formerly RCW 84.56.020 and
84.56.030.]
Application—2005 c 502 § 7: "Section 7 of this act applies to all taxes
levied for collection in 2005 and thereafter." [2005 c 502 § 10.]
Effective date—2005 c 502: See note following RCW 1.12.070.
Effective date—2004 c 161: See note following RCW 28B.10.270.
Applicability—1996 c 153: "This act is effective for taxes levied for
collection in 1997 and thereafter." [1996 c 153 § 4.]
Effective date—1988 c 222: See note following RCW 84.40.040.
Effective date—1987 c 211: "This act shall take effect January 1,
1988." [1987 c 211 § 2.]
Applicability—1984 c 131 § 1: "Section 1 of this act applies to taxes
payable in 1985 and thereafter." [1984 c 131 § 12.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 196: "If any provision of this act, or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of
the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances
is not affected." [1974 ex.s. c 196 § 9.]
Savings—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
Advance deposit of taxes on certain platted property: RCW 58.08.040.
Payment of taxes upon loss of exempt status: RCW 84.40.380.
84.56.022
84.56.022 Tax statement to show voter-approved levies. Each tax statement shall show the amount of voterapproved: (1) Regular levies except those authorized in
RCW 84.55.050; and (2) excess levies. Such amounts may be
shown either as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the total
amount of taxes. [1995 c 180 § 1; 1994 c 301 § 48.]
84.56.025
84.56.025 Waiver of interest and penalties—Circumstances—Provision of death certificate and affidavit for
certain waivers. (1) The interest and penalties for delinquencies on property taxes shall be waived by the county
treasurer if the notice for these taxes due, as provided in
RCW 84.56.050, was not sent to a taxpayer due to error by
the county. Where waiver of interest and penalties has
occurred, the full amount of interest and penalties shall be
reinstated if the taxpayer fails to pay the delinquent taxes
within thirty days of receiving notice that the taxes are due.
Each county treasurer shall, subject to guidelines prepared by
the department of revenue, establish administrative procedures to determine if taxpayers are eligible for this waiver.
(2) In addition to the waiver under subsection (1) of this
section, the interest and penalties for delinquencies on property taxes shall be waived by the county treasurer under the
following circumstances:
(a) The taxpayer fails to make one payment under RCW
84.56.020 by the due date on the taxpayer’s personal residence because of hardship caused by the death of the taxpayer’s spouse if the taxpayer notifies the county treasurer of
the hardship within sixty days of the tax due date; or
(b) The taxpayer fails to make one payment under RCW
84.56.020 by the due date on the taxpayer’s parent’s or stepparent’s personal residence because of hardship caused by
the death of the taxpayer’s parent or stepparent if the taxpayer
notifies the county treasurer of the hardship within sixty days
of the tax due date.
(2006 Ed.)
Collection of Taxes
(3) Before allowing a hardship waiver under subsection
(2) of this section, the county treasurer may require a copy of
the death certificate along with an affidavit signed by the taxpayer. [2003 c 12 § 1; 1998 c 327 § 1; 1984 c 185 § 1.]
84.56.035
84.56.035 Special assessments, excise taxes, or rates
and charges—Collection by county treasurer authorized.
A local government authorized both to impose and to collect
any special assessments, excise taxes, or rates or charges may
contract with the county treasurer or treasurers within which
the local government is located to collect the special assessments, excise taxes, rates, or charges. If such a contract is
entered into, notice of the special assessments, excise taxes,
or rates or charges due may be included on the notice of property taxes due, may be included on a separate notice that is
mailed with the notice of property taxes due, or may be sent
separately from the notice of property taxes due. County treasurers may impose an annual fee for collecting special assessments, excise taxes, or rates or charges not to exceed one percent of the dollar value of special assessments, excise taxes,
or rates or charges collected. [1987 c 355 § 1.]
84.56.050
84.56.050 Treasurer’s duties on receiving rolls—
Notice of taxes due. On receiving the tax rolls the treasurer
shall post all real and personal property taxes from the rolls to
the treasurer’s tax roll, and shall carry forward to the current
tax rolls a memorandum of all delinquent taxes on each and
every description of property, and enter the same on the property upon which the taxes are delinquent showing the
amounts for each year. The treasurer shall notify each taxpayer in the county, at the expense of the county, of the
amount of the real and personal property, and the current and
delinquent amount of tax due on the same; and the treasurer
shall have printed on the notice the name of each tax and the
levy made on the same. The county treasurer shall be the sole
collector of all delinquent taxes and all other taxes due and
collectible on the tax rolls of the county: PROVIDED, That
the term "taxpayer" as used in this section shall mean any person charged, or whose property is charged, with property tax;
and the person to be notified is that person whose name
appears on the tax roll herein mentioned: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if no name so appears the person to be notified is
that person shown by the treasurer’s tax rolls or duplicate tax
receipts of any preceding year as the payer of the tax last paid
on the property in question. [1991 c 245 § 17; 1963 c 94 § 1;
1961 c 15 § 84.56.050. Prior: 1941 c 32 § 1; 1939 c 206 § 41;
1937 c 121 § 2; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 84; Rem. Supp. 1941 §
11245; prior: 1897 c 71 § 69; 1893 c 124 § 70; 1890 p 561 §
85; Code 1881 §§ 2894, 2895.]
84.56.060
84.56.060 Tax receipts—Current tax only may be
paid. The county treasurer upon receiving any tax paid in
cash, shall give to the person paying the same a receipt. The
treasurer shall record the payment of all taxes in the treasurer’s records by parcel. The owner or owners of property
against which there are delinquent taxes, shall have the right
to pay the current tax without paying any delinquent taxes
there may be against the property. [1991 c 245 § 18; 1971
ex.s. c 35 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.060. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130
(2006 Ed.)
84.56.070
§ 85; RRS § 11246; prior: 1897 c 71 § 70; 1893 c 124 § 71;
1890 p 561 § 86; Code 1881 § 2899.]
84.56.070
84.56.070 Personal property—Distraint and sale,
notice, property incapable of manual delivery, property
about to be removed or disposed of. On the fifteenth day of
February succeeding the levy of taxes, the county treasurer
shall proceed to collect all personal property taxes. The treasurer shall give notice by mail to all persons charged with
personal property taxes, and if such taxes are not paid before
they become delinquent, the treasurer shall forthwith proceed
to collect the same. In the event that he or she is unable to collect the same when due, the treasurer shall prepare papers in
distraint, which shall contain a description of the personal
property, the amount of taxes, the amount of the accrued
interest at the rate provided by law from the date of delinquency, and the name of the owner or reputed owner. The
treasurer shall without demand or notice distrain sufficient
goods and chattels belonging to the person charged with such
taxes to pay the same, with interest at the rate provided by
law from the date of delinquency, together with all accruing
costs, and shall proceed to advertise the same by posting written notices in three public places in the county in which such
property has been distrained, one of which places shall be at
the county court house, such notice to state the time when and
place where such property will be sold. The county treasurer,
or the treasurer’s deputy, shall tax the same fees for making
the distraint and sale of goods and chattels for the payment of
taxes as are allowed by law to sheriffs for making levy and
sale of property on execution; traveling fees to be computed
from the county seat of the county to the place of making distraint. If the taxes for which such property is distrained, and
the interest and costs accruing thereon, are not paid before the
date appointed for such sale, which shall be not less than ten
days after the taking of such property, such treasurer or treasurer’s designee shall proceed to sell such property at public
auction, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to pay such
taxes, with interest and costs, and if there be any excess of
money arising from the sale of any personal property, the
treasurer shall pay such excess less any cost of the auction to
the owner of the property so sold or to his or her legal representative: PROVIDED, That whenever it shall become necessary to distrain any standing timber owned separately from
the ownership of the land upon which the same may stand, or
any fish trap, pound net, reef net, set net or drag seine fishing
location, or any other personal property as the treasurer shall
determine to be incapable or reasonably impracticable of
manual delivery, it shall be deemed to have been distrained
and taken into possession when the treasurer shall have, at
least thirty days before the date fixed for the sale thereof,
filed with the auditor of the county wherein such property is
located a notice in writing reciting that the treasurer has distrained such property, describing it, giving the name of the
owner or reputed owner, the amount of the tax due, with
interest, and the time and place of sale; a copy of the notice
shall also be sent to the owner or reputed owner at his last
known address, by registered letter at least thirty days prior to
the date of sale: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That if the
county treasurer has reasonable grounds to believe that any
personal property upon which taxes have been levied, but not
paid, is about to be removed from the county where the same
[Title 84 RCW—page 127]
84.56.075
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
has been assessed, or is about to be destroyed, sold or disposed of, the county treasurer may demand such taxes, without the notice provided for in this section, and if necessary
may forthwith distrain sufficient goods and chattels to pay
the same. [1991 c 245 § 19; 1975-’76 2nd ex.s. c 10 § 2; 1961
c 15 § 84.56.070. Prior: 1949 c 21 § 2; 1935 c 30 § 4; 1933 c
33 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 86; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11247;
prior: 1915 c 137 § 1; 1911 c 24 § 2; 1899 c 141 § 7; 1897 c
71 § 71; 1895 c 176 § 15; 1893 c 124 § 72; 1890 p 561 § 87;
Code 1881 § 2903. Formerly RCW 84.56.070, 84.56.080,
and 84.56.100.]
Issuance of warrant: RCW 84.56.075.
84.56.075
84.56.075 Issuance of warrant by court for property
subject to distraint. (1) When there is probable cause to
believe that there is property within the county subject to distraint pursuant to RCW 84.56.070 or 84.56.090, any judge of
the superior court or district court in the county in which such
property is located may, upon the request of the county treasurer or their deputy, issue a warrant directed to the county
treasurer or their deputy commanding the search for and seizure of the property described in the request for warrant at the
place or places described in the request for warrant.
(2) The procedure for the issuance and execution and
return of the warrant authorized by this section and for return
of any property seized shall be the criminal rules of the superior court and the district court.
(3) Property seized under this section shall be disposed
of as provided in RCW 84.56.070 or 84.56.090.
(4) This section does not require the application for or
issuance of any warrant not otherwise required by law. [2006
c 286 § 1.]
84.56.090
84.56.090 Distraint and sale of property about to be
removed, dissipated, sold, or disposed of—Computation
of taxes, entry on rolls, tax liens. Whenever in the judgment
of the assessor or the county treasurer personal property is
being removed or is about to be removed without the limits of
the state, or is being dissipated or about to be dissipated, or is
being or about to be sold, disposed of, or removed from the
county so as to jeopardize collection of taxes, the treasurer
shall immediately prepare papers in distraint, which shall
contain a description of the personal property being or about
to be removed, dissipated, sold, disposed of, or removed from
the county so as to jeopardize collection of taxes, the amount
of the tax, the amount of accrued interest at the rate provided
by law from the date of delinquency, and the name of the
owner or reputed owner, and he shall without demand or
notice distrain sufficient goods and chattels belonging to the
person charged with such taxes to pay the same with interest
at the rate provided by law from the date of delinquency,
together with all accruing costs, and shall advertise and sell
said property as provided in RCW 84.56.070.
If said personal property is being removed or is about to
be removed from the limits of the state, is being dissipated or
about to be dissipated, or is being or about to be sold, disposed of, or removed from the county so as to jeopardize collection of taxes, at any time subsequent to the first day of January in any year, and prior to the levy of taxes thereon, the
taxes upon such property so distrained shall be computed
[Title 84 RCW—page 128]
upon the rate of levy for state, county and local purposes for
the preceding year; and all taxes collected in advance of levy
under this section and RCW 84.56.120, together with the
name of the owner and a brief description of the property
assessed shall be entered forthwith by the county treasurer
upon the personal property tax rolls of such preceding year,
and all collections thereon shall be considered and treated in
all respects, and without recourse by either the owner or any
taxing unit, as collections for such preceding year. Property
on which taxes are thus collected shall thereupon become discharged from the lien of any taxes that may thereafter be levied in the year in which payment or collection is made.
Whenever property has been removed from the county
wherein it has been assessed, on which the taxes have not
been paid, then the county treasurer, or his deputy, shall have
the same power to distrain and sell said property for the satisfaction of said taxes as he would have if said property were
situated in the county in which the property was taxed, and in
addition thereto said treasurer, or his deputy, in the distraint
and sale of property for the payment of taxes, shall have the
same powers as are now by law given to the sheriff in making
levy and sale of property on execution. [1985 c 83 § 1; 1961
c 15 § 84.56.090. Prior: 1949 c 21 § 3; 1939 c 206 § 43; 1937
c 20 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 89; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11250;
prior: 1907 c 29 § 1. Formerly RCW 84.56.090, 84.56.110,
84.56.130, and 84.56.140.]
Issuance of warrant: RCW 84.56.075.
84.56.120
84.56.120 Removal of property from county or state
after assessment without paying tax. After personal property has been assessed, it shall be unlawful for any person to
remove the personal property subject to tax liens created pursuant to RCW 84.60.010 and 84.60.020 from the county in
which the property was assessed and from the state until taxes
and interest are paid, or until notice has been given to the
county treasurer describing the property to be removed and in
case of public or private sales of personal property, a list of
the property desired to be sold shall be sent to the treasurer,
the tax will be computed upon the consolidated tax levy for
the previous year. Any taxes owed shall become an automatic lien upon the proceeds of any auction and shall be
remitted to the county treasurer before final distribution to
any person, as defined in this section. If proceeds are distributed in violation of this section, the seller or agent of the
seller shall assume all liability for taxes, interest, and penalties owed to the county treasurer. Any person violating the
provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
For the purposes of this section, "person" includes a property
owner, mortgagor, creditor, or agent. [2004 c 79 § 6; 2003 c
23 § 2; 1991 c 245 § 20; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.120. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 88; RRS § 11249; prior: 1907 c 29 § 2.]
84.56.150
84.56.150 Removal of personalty—Certification of
tax by treasurer. If any person, firm or corporation shall
remove from one county to another in this state personal
property which has been assessed in the former county for a
tax which is unpaid at the time of such removal, the treasurer
of the county from which the property is removed shall certify to the treasurer of the county to which the property has
been removed a statement of the tax together with all delin(2006 Ed.)
Collection of Taxes
quencies and penalties. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.150. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 90; RRS § 11251; prior: 1899 c 32 § 1.]
84.56.160
84.56.160 Certification of statement of taxes and
delinquency. The treasurer of any county of this state shall
have the power to certify a statement of taxes and delinquencies of any person, firm, company or corporation, or of any
tax on personal property together with all penalties and delinquencies, which statement shall be under seal and contain a
transcript of the tax collection records and so much of the tax
roll as shall affect the person, firm, company or corporation
or personal property to the treasurer of any county of this
state, wherein any such person, firm, company or corporation
has any real or personal property. [1994 c 301 § 51; 1961 c
15 § 84.56.160. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 91; RRS § 11252;
prior: 1899 c 32 § 2.]
84.56.170
84.56.170 Collection of certified taxes—Remittance.
The treasurer of any county of this state receiving the certified statement provided for in RCW 84.56.150 and
84.56.160, shall have the same power to collect the taxes,
penalties and delinquencies so certified as the treasurer has to
collect the personal taxes levied on personal property in his or
her own county, and as soon as the said taxes are collected
they shall be remitted, less the cost of collecting same, to the
treasurer of the county to which said taxes belong, by the
treasurer collecting them. [1994 c 301 § 52; 1961 c 15 §
84.56.170. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 92; RRS § 11253; prior:
1899 c 32 § 3.]
84.56.200
84.56.200 Removal of timber or improvements on
which tax is delinquent—Penalty. It shall be unlawful for
any person, firm or corporation to remove any timber from
timbered lands, no portion of which is occupied for farming
purposes by the owner thereof, or to remove any building or
improvements from lands, upon which taxes are delinquent
until the taxes thereon have been paid.
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall
be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.200.
Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 11; RRS § 11115.]
84.56.210
84.56.210 Severance of standing timber assessed as
realty—Timber tax may be collected as personalty tax.
Whenever standing timber which has been assessed as real
estate is severed from the land as part of which it was so
assessed, it may be considered by the county assessor as personal property, and the county treasurer shall thereafter be
entitled to pursue all of the rights and remedies provided by
law for the collection of personal property taxes in the collection of taxes levied against such timber: PROVIDED, That
whenever the county assessor elects to treat severed timber as
personalty under the provisions of this section, he shall
immediately give notice by mail to the person or persons
charged with the tax of the fact of his election, and the
amount of tax standing against the timber. [1961 c 15 §
84.56.210. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 42; 1929 c 70 § 1; RRS §
11247-1.]
84.56.220
84.56.220 Lien of personalty tax follows insurance.
In the event of the destruction of personal property, the lien of
(2006 Ed.)
84.56.260
the personal property tax shall attach to and follow any insurance that may be upon the property and the insurer shall pay
to the county treasurer from the insurance money all taxes,
interest and costs that may be due. [1991 c 245 § 21; 1961 c
15 § 84.56.220. Prior: 1935 c 30 § 5; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 87;
RRS § 11248; prior: 1921 c 117 § 1; 1911 c 24 § 3.]
84.56.230
84.56.230 Monthly distribution of taxes collected. On
the first day of each month the county treasurer shall distribute pro rata to those taxing districts for which the county treasurer also serves as the district treasurer, according to the rate
of levy for each fund, the amount collected as consolidated
tax during the preceding month: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
That the county treasurer, at his or her option, may distribute
the total amount of such taxes collected according to the ratio
that the levy of taxes made for each taxing district in the
county bears to such total amount collected. On or before the
tenth day of each month the county treasurer shall remit to the
respective city treasurers and all other taxing districts for
which the county treasurer does not serve as district treasurer,
their pro rata share of all taxes collected for the previous
month as provided for in RCW 36.29.110. [2002 c 81 § 1;
1991 c 245 § 22; 1973 1st ex.s. c 43 § 1; 1961 c 15 §
84.56.230. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 93; RRS § 11254; prior:
1890 p 564 § 95.]
84.56.240
84.56.240 Cancellation of uncollectible personalty
taxes. If the county treasurer is unable, for the want of goods
or chattels whereupon to levy, to collect by distress or otherwise, the taxes, or any part thereof, which may have been
assessed upon the personal property of any person or corporation, or an executor or administrator, guardian, receiver,
accounting officer, agent or factor, the treasurer shall file
with the county legislative authority, on the first day of February following, a list of such taxes, with an affidavit of the
treasurer or of the deputy treasurer entrusted with the collection of the taxes, stating that the treasurer had made diligent
search and inquiry for goods and chattels wherewith to make
such taxes, and was unable to make or collect the same. The
county legislative authority shall cancel such taxes as the
county legislative authority is satisfied cannot be collected.
[1997 c 393 § 14; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.240. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c
130 § 94; RRS § 11255; prior: 1899 c 141 § 8; 1897 c 71 §
72; 1895 c 176 § 16; 1893 c 124 § 73; 1890 p 562 § 88.]
84.56.250
84.56.250 Penalty for willful noncollection or failure
to file delinquent list. If any county treasurer willfully
refuses or neglects to collect any taxes assessed upon personal property, where the same is collectible, or to file the
delinquent list and affidavit, as herein provided, the treasurer
shall be held, in his or her next settlement with the county
legislative authority, liable for the whole amount of such
taxes uncollected, and the same shall be deducted from his or
her salary and applied to the several funds for which they
were levied. [2001 c 299 § 19; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.250. Prior:
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 95; RRS § 11256; prior: 1897 c 71 § 73;
1893 c 124 § 74; 1890 p 563 § 91.]
84.56.260
84.56.260 Continuing responsibility to collect taxes,
special assessments, fees, rates, or other charges. The
[Title 84 RCW—page 129]
84.56.270
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
power and duty to levy on property and collect any tax due
and unpaid shall be the responsibility of the county treasurer
until the tax is paid; and the certification of the assessment
roll shall continue in force and confer authority upon the treasurer to whom the same was issued to collect any tax due and
uncollected thereon. This section shall apply to all assessment rolls, special assessments, fees, rates, or other charges
for which the treasurer has the responsibility for collection.
[1991 c 245 § 23; 1984 c 250 § 7; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.260.
Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 96; RRS § 11257; prior: 1897 c 71
§ 74; 1893 c 124 § 75.]
84.56.270
84.56.270 Court cancellation of personalty taxes
more than four years delinquent. The county treasurer of
any county of the state of Washington, after he has first
received the approval of the board of county commissioners
of such county, through a resolution duly adopted, is hereby
empowered to petition the superior court in or for his county
to finally cancel and completely extinguish the lien of any
delinquent personal property tax which appears on the tax
rolls of his county, which is more than four years delinquent,
which he attests to be beyond hope of collection, and the cancellation of which will not impair the obligation of any bond
issue nor be precluded by any other legal impediment that
might invalidate such cancellation. The superior court shall
have jurisdiction to hear any such petition and to enter such
order as it shall deem proper in the premises. [1984 c 132 §
5; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.270. Prior: 1945 c 59 § 1; Rem. Supp.
1945 § 11265-1.]
84.56.280
84.56.280 Settlement with state for state taxes—Penalty. Immediately after the last day of each month, the
county treasurer shall pay over to the state treasurer the
amount collected by the county treasurer and credited to the
various state funds, but every such payment shall be subject
to correction for error discovered. If they are not paid to the
state treasurer before the twentieth day of the month the state
treasurer shall make a sight draft on the county treasurer for
such amount. Should any county treasurer fail or refuse to
honor the draft or make payment of the amount thereon,
except for manifest error or other good and sufficient cause,
the county treasurer shall be guilty of nonfeasance in office
and upon conviction thereof shall be punished according to
law. [1991 c 245 § 24; 1979 ex.s. c 86 § 7; 1961 c 15 §
84.56.280. Prior: 1955 c 113 § 2; prior: 1949 c 69 § 1, part;
1933 c 35 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 97, part; Rem. Supp.
1949 § 11258, part; prior: 1899 c 141 § 9, part; 1897 c 71 §
76, part; 1895 c 176 § 17, part; 1893 c 124 § 77, part; 1890 p
565 § 96, part; Code 1881 § 2942, part.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 86: See note following RCW 13.24.040.
84.56.290
84.56.290 Adjustment with state for reduced or canceled taxes and for taxes on assessments not on the certified assessment list. Whenever any tax shall have been heretofore, or shall be hereafter, canceled, reduced or modified in
any final judicial, county board of equalization, state board of
tax appeals, or administrative proceeding; or whenever any
tax shall have been heretofore, or shall be hereafter canceled
by sale of property to any irrigation district under foreclosure
proceedings for delinquent irrigation district assessments; or
[Title 84 RCW—page 130]
whenever any contracts or leases on public lands shall have
been heretofore, or shall be hereafter, canceled and the tax
thereon remains unpaid for a period of two years, the director
of revenue shall, upon receipt from the county treasurer of a
certified copy of the final judgment, order, or decree canceling, reducing, or modifying taxes, or of a certificate from the
county treasurer of the cancellation by sale to an irrigation
district, or of a certificate from the commissioner of public
lands and the county treasurer of the cancellation of public
land contracts or leases and nonpayment of taxes thereon, as
the case may be, make corresponding entries and corrections
on the director’s records of the state’s portion of reduced or
canceled tax.
Upon canceling taxes deemed uncollectible, the county
commissioners shall notify the county treasurer of such
action, whereupon the county treasurer shall deduct on the
treasurer’s records the amount of such uncollectible taxes due
the various state funds and shall immediately notify the
department of revenue of the treasurer’s action and of the reason therefor; which uncollectible tax shall not then nor thereafter be due or owing the various state funds and the necessary corrections shall be made by the county treasurer upon
the quarterly settlement next following.
When any assessment of property is made which does
not appear on the assessment list certified by the county
board of equalization to the department of revenue the county
assessor shall indicate to the county treasurer the assessments
and the taxes due therefrom when the list is delivered to the
county treasurer on December 15th. The county treasurer
shall then notify the department of revenue of the taxes due
the state from the assessments which did not appear on the
assessment list certified by the county board of equalization
to the department of revenue. The county treasurer shall
make proper accounting of all sums collected as either
advance tax, compensating or additional tax, or supplemental
or omitted tax and shall notify the department of revenue of
the amounts due the various state funds according to the levy
used in extending such tax, and those amounts shall immediately become due and owing to the various state funds, to be
paid to the state treasurer in the same manner as taxes
extended on the regular tax roll. [1991 c 245 § 37; 1987 c 168
§ 3; 1979 ex.s. c 86 § 8; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.290. Prior: 1955
c 113 § 3; prior: 1949 c 69 § 1, part; 1933 c 35 § 1, part; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 97, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 11258, part; prior:
1899 c 141 § 9, part; 1897 c 71 § 76, part; 1895 c 176 § 17,
part; 1893 c 124 § 77, part; 1890 p 565 § 96, part; Code 1881
§ 2942, part.]
Severability—1979 ex.s. c 86: See note following RCW 13.24.040.
84.56.300
84.56.300 Annual report of collections to county
auditor. On the first Monday of February of each year the
county treasurer shall balance up the tax rolls as of December
31 of the prior year in the treasurer’s hands and with which
the treasurer stands charged on the roll accounts of the county
auditor. The treasurer shall then report to the county auditor
in full the amount of taxes collected and specify the amount
collected on each fund. The treasurer shall also report the
amount of taxes that remain uncollected and delinquent upon
the tax rolls, which, with collections and credits on account of
errors and double assessments, should balance the tax rolls as
(2006 Ed.)
Collection of Taxes
the treasurer stands charged. The treasurer shall then report
the amount of collections on account of interest since the
taxes became delinquent, and as added to the original
amounts when making such collections, and with which the
treasurer is now to be charged by the auditor, such reports to
be duly verified by affidavit. [1997 c 393 § 15; 1973 1st ex.s.
c 45 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.56.300. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 98;
RRS § 11259; prior: 1899 c 141 § 10; 1897 c 71 § 77; 1895
c 176 § 18; 1893 c 124 § 78; 1890 p 565 § 99.]
84.56.310
84.56.310 Interested person may pay real property
taxes—Limitation. Any person being the owner or having
an interest in an estate or claim to real property against which
taxes have not been paid may pay the same and satisfy the
lien at any time before the filing of a certificate of delinquency against the real property. The person or authority
who shall collect or receive the same shall give a certificate
that such taxes have been so paid to the person or persons
entitled to demand such certificate. After the filing of a certificate of delinquency, the redemption rights shall be controlled by RCW 84.64.060. [2005 c 502 § 8; 1961 c 15 §
84.56.310. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 100; RRS § 11261;
prior: 1897 c 71 § 79; 1893 c 124 § 84.]
Effective date—2005 c 502: See note following RCW 1.12.070.
84.56.320
84.56.320 Recovery by occupant or tenant paying
realty taxes. When any tax on real property is paid by or collected of any occupant or tenant, or any other person, which,
by agreement or otherwise, ought to have been paid by the
owner, lessor or other party in interest, such occupant, tenant
or other person may recover by action the amount which such
owner, lessor or party in interest ought to have paid, with
interest thereon at the rate of ten percent per annum, or he
may retain the same from any rent due or accruing from him
to such owner or lessor for real property on which such tax is
so paid; and the same shall, until paid, constitute a lien upon
such real property. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.320. Prior: 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 102; RRS § 11263; prior: 1897 c 71 § 81; 1893 c 124
§ 86; 1890 p 583 § 133.]
84.56.330
84.56.330 Payment by mortgagee or other lien
holder. Any person who has a lien by mortgage or otherwise, upon any real property upon which any taxes have not
been paid, may pay such taxes, and the interest, penalty and
costs thereon; and the receipt of the county treasurer or other
collecting official shall constitute an additional lien upon
such land, to the amount therein stated, and the amount so
paid and the interest thereon at the rate specified in the mortgage or other instrument shall be collectible with, or as a part
of, and in the same manner as the amount secured by the original lien: PROVIDED, That the person paying such taxes
shall pay the same as mortgagee or other lien holder and shall
procure the receipt of the county treasurer therefor, showing
the mortgage or other lien relationship of the person paying
such taxes, and the same shall have been recorded with the
county auditor of the county wherein the said real estate is situated, within ten days after the payment of such taxes and the
issuance of such receipt. It shall be the duty of any treasurer
issuing such receipt to make notation thereon of the lien relationship claim of the person paying such taxes. It shall be the
(2006 Ed.)
84.56.345
duty of the county auditor in such cases to index and record
such receipts in the same manner as provided for the recording of liens on real estate, upon the payment to the county
auditor of the appropriate recording fees by the person presenting the same for recording: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That in the event the above provision be not complied
with, the lien created by any such payment shall be subordinate to the liens of all mortgages or encumbrances upon such
real property, which are senior to the mortgage or other lien
of the person so making such payment. [1999 c 233 § 23;
1961 c 15 § 84.56.330. Prior: 1933 c 171 § 1; RRS § 112631.]
Effective date—1999 c 233: See note following RCW 4.28.320.
84.56.340
84.56.340 Payment on part of parcel or tract or on
undivided interest or fractional interest—Division—Certification—Appeal. Any person desiring to pay taxes upon
any part or parts of real property heretofore or hereafter
assessed as one parcel, or tract, or upon such person’s undivided fractional interest in such a property, may do so by
applying to the county assessor, who must carefully investigate and ascertain the relative or proportionate value said part
or part interest bears to the whole tract assessed, on which
basis the assessment must be divided, and the assessor shall
forthwith certify such proportionate value to the county treasurer: PROVIDED, That excepting when property is being
acquired for public use, or where a person or financial institution desires to pay the taxes and any penalties and interest
on a mobile home upon which they have a lien by mortgage
or otherwise, no segregation of property for tax purposes
shall be made under this section unless all current year and
delinquent taxes and assessments on the entire tract have
been paid in full. The county treasurer, upon receipt of certification, shall duly accept payment and issue receipt on the
apportionment certified by the county assessor. In cases
where protest is filed to said division appeal shall be made to
the county legislative authority at its next regular session for
final division, and the county treasurer shall accept and
receipt for said taxes as determined and ordered by the county
legislative authority. Any person desiring to pay on an undivided interest in any real property may do so by paying to the
county treasurer a sum equal to such proportion of the entire
taxes charged on the entire tract as interest paid on bears to
the whole. [2003 c 23 § 3; 1997 c 393 § 16; 1996 c 153 § 2;
1994 c 301 § 53; 1985 c 395 § 4; 1971 ex.s. c 48 § 1; 1961 c
15 § 84.56.340. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 44; 1933 c 171 § 2; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 103; RRS § 11264; prior: 1899 c 141 § 11; 1897
c 71 § 82; 1893 c 124 § 87; 1890 p 583 § 134. Formerly
RCW 84.56.340 and 84.56.350.]
Applicability—1996 c 153: See note following RCW 84.56.020.
84.56.345
84.56.345 Alteration of property lines—Payment of
taxes and assessments. Every person who offers a document to the auditor of the proper county for recording that
results in any division, alteration, or adjustment of real property boundary lines, except as provided for in RCW
58.04.007(1) and 84.40.042(1)(c), shall present a certificate
of payment from the proper officer who is in charge of the
collection of taxes and assessments for the affected property
or properties. All taxes and assessments, both current and
[Title 84 RCW—page 131]
84.56.360
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
delinquent must be paid. For purposes of chapter 502, Laws
of 2005, liability shall begin on January 1st. Taxes not yet
levied and certified shall be collected as an advance tax under
RCW 58.08.040. [2005 c 502 § 6.]
Effective date—2005 c 502: See note following RCW 1.12.070.
84.56.360
84.56.360 Separate ownership of improvements—
Separate payment authorized. In any case where buildings, structures or improvements are held in separate ownership from the fee as a part of which they have been assessed
for the purpose of taxation, any person desiring to pay separately the tax upon the buildings, structures or improvements
may do so under the provisions of this section, RCW
84.56.370 and 84.56.380. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.360. Prior:
1939 c 155 § 1; RRS § 11264-1.]
84.56.370
84.56.370 Separate ownership of improvements—
Procedure for segregation of improvement tax. Such person may apply to the county assessor for a certificate showing
the total assessed value of the land together with all buildings, structures or improvements located thereon and the
assessed value of the building, structure or improvement the
tax upon which the applicant desires to pay. It shall be the
duty of the county assessor to issue such certificate of segregation upon written application accompanied by an affidavit
attesting to the fact of separate ownership of land and
improvements. Upon presentation of such certificate of segregation to the county treasurer, that officer shall segregate
the total tax in accordance therewith and accept and receipt
for the payment of that proportion of total tax which is shown
to be due against any building, structure or improvement
upon which the applicant desires to pay. [1961 c 15 §
84.56.370. Prior: 1939 c 155 § 2; RRS § 11264-2.]
84.56.380
84.56.380 Separate ownership of improvements—
Segregation or payment not to release lien. A segregation
or payment under RCW 84.56.360 and 84.56.370 shall not
release the land or the building, structure or improvement
paid on from any tax lien to which it would otherwise be subject. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.380. Prior: 1939 c 155 § 3; RRS §
11264-3.]
84.56.430
84.56.430 Relisting and relevy of tax adjudged void.
If any tax or portion of any tax heretofore or hereafter levied
on any property liable to taxation is prevented from being
collected for any year or years, by reason of any erroneous
proceeding connected with either the assessment, listing,
equalization, levying or collection thereof, or failure of any
taxing, assessing or equalizing officer or board to give notice
of any hearing or proceeding connected therewith, or, if any
such tax or any portion of any such tax heretofore or hereafter
levied has heretofore or is hereafter recovered back after payment by reason of any such erroneous proceedings, the
amount of such tax or portion of such tax which should have
been paid upon such property except for such erroneous proceeding, shall be added to the tax levied on such property for
the year next succeeding the entry of final judgment adjudging such tax or portion of tax to have been void. If any tax or
portion of a tax levied against any property for any year has
been, or is hereafter adjudged void because of any such erro[Title 84 RCW—page 132]
neous proceeding as hereinbefore set forth, the county and
state officers authorized to levy and assess taxes on said property shall proceed, in the year next succeeding, to relist and
reassess said property and to reequalize such assessment, and
to relevy and collect the taxes thereon as of the year that said
void tax or portion of tax was levied, in the same manner, and
with the same effect as though no part of said void tax had
ever been levied or assessed upon said property: PROVIDED, That such tax as reassessed and relevied shall be figured and determined at the same tax-rate as such erroneous
tax was or should have been figured and determined, and in
paying the tax so reassessed and relevied the taxpayer shall
be credited with the amount of any taxes paid upon property
retaxed for the year or years for which the reassessment is
made. [1961 c 15 § 84.56.430. Prior: 1927 c 290 § 1; 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 108; RRS § 11269; prior: 1897 c 71 § 87; 1893
c 124 § 90. Formerly RCW 84.24.080.]
84.56.440 Ships and vessels—Collection of taxes—
Delinquent taxes—Valuation and assessment of unlisted
ships or vessels. (1) The department of revenue shall collect
all ad valorem taxes upon ships and vessels listed with the
department in accordance with RCW 84.40.065 and all applicable interest and penalties.
The taxes shall be due and payable to the department on
or before the thirtieth day of April and shall be delinquent
after that date.
(2) If payment of the tax is not received by the department by the due date, there shall be imposed a penalty of five
percent of the amount of the tax; and if the tax is not received
within thirty days after the due date, there shall be imposed a
total penalty of ten percent of the amount of the tax; and if the
tax is not received within sixty days after the due date, there
shall be imposed a total penalty of twenty percent of the
amount of the tax. No penalty so added shall be less than five
dollars.
(3) Delinquent taxes under this section are subject to
interest at the rate set forth in RCW 82.32.050 from the date
of delinquency until paid. Interest or penalties collected on
delinquent taxes under this section shall be paid by the
department into the general fund of the state treasury.
(4) If upon information obtained by the department it
appears that any ship or vessel required to be listed according
to the provisions of RCW 84.40.065 is not so listed, the
department shall value the ship or vessel and assess against
the owner of the vessel the taxes found to be due and shall
add thereto interest at the rate set forth in RCW 82.32.050
from the original due date of the tax until the date of payment.
The department shall notify the vessel owner by mail of the
amount and the same shall become due and shall be paid by
the vessel owner within thirty days of the date of the notice.
If payment is not received by the department by the due date
specified in the notice, the department shall add a penalty of
ten percent of the tax found due. A person who willfully gives
a false listing or willfully fails to list a ship or vessel as
required by RCW 84.40.065 shall be subject to the penalty
imposed by RCW 84.40.130(2), which shall be assessed and
collected by the department.
(5) Delinquent taxes under this section, along with all
penalties and interest thereon, shall be collected by the
department according to the procedures set forth in chapter
84.56.440
(2006 Ed.)
Lien of Taxes
82.32 RCW for the filing and execution of tax warrants,
including the imposition of warrant interest. In the event a
warrant is issued by the department for the collection of taxes
under this section, the department shall add a penalty of five
percent of the amount of the delinquent tax, but not less than
ten dollars.
(6) The department shall also collect all delinquent taxes
pertaining to ships and vessels appearing on the records of the
county treasurers for each of the counties of this state as of
December 31, 1993, including any applicable interest or penalties. The provisions of subsection (5) of this section shall
apply to the collection of such delinquent taxes. [1993 c 33 §
6.]
Effective date—1993 c 33: See note following RCW 82.49.060.
Chapter 84.60
Chapter 84.60 RCW
LIEN OF TAXES
Sections
84.60.010
84.60.020
84.60.040
84.60.050
84.60.070
Priority of tax lien.
Attachment of tax liens.
Charging personalty tax against realty.
Acquisition by governmental unit of property subject to tax
lien or placement under agreement or order of immediate
possession or use—Effect.
Acquisition by governmental unit of property subject to tax
lien or placement under agreement or order of immediate
possession or use—Segregation of taxes if only part of parcel
required.
84.60.050
all property taxes due at the time of removal are satisfied. The
taxes assessed upon each item of personal property assessed
shall be a lien upon such personal property except mobile
homes as above provided from and after the date upon which
the same is listed with and valued by the county assessor, and
no sale or transfer of such personal property shall in any way
affect the lien for such taxes upon such property. The taxes
assessed upon personal property shall be a lien upon each
item of personal property of the person assessed, distrained
by the treasurer as provided in RCW 84.56.070, from and
after the date of the distraint and no sale or transfer of such
personal property so distrained shall in any way affect the
lien for such taxes upon such property. The taxes assessed
upon personal property shall be a lien upon the real property
of the person assessed, selected by the county treasurer and
designated and charged upon the tax rolls as provided in
RCW 84.60.040, from and after the date of such selection and
charge and no sale or transfer of such real property so
selected and charged shall in any way affect the lien for such
personal property taxes upon such property. [1985 c 395 § 5;
1977 ex.s. c 22 § 8; 1961 c 15 § 84.60.020. Prior: 1943 c 34
§ 1; 1939 c 206 § 45; 1935 c 30 § 7; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 104;
Rem. Supp. 1943 § 11265; prior: 1903 c 59 § 3; 1897 c 71 §
83; 1895 c 176 § 21; 1893 c 124 § 88. Formerly RCW
84.60.020 and 84.60.030.]
Severability—1977 ex.s. c 22: See note following RCW 46.04.302.
84.60.040
84.60.010 Priority of tax lien. All taxes and levies
which may hereafter be lawfully imposed or assessed shall be
and they are hereby declared to be a lien respectively upon
the real and personal property upon which they may hereafter
be imposed or assessed, which liens shall include all charges
and expenses of and concerning the said taxes which, by the
provisions of this title, are directed to be made. The said lien
shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied
before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation or responsibility to or with which said real and personal
property may become charged or liable. [1969 ex.s. c 251 §
1; 1961 c 15 § 84.60.010. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 99; RRS
§ 11260; prior: 1897 c 71 § 78; 1895 c 176 § 19; 1893 c 124
§ 79; 1890 p 584 § 135.]
84.60.010
84.60.040 Charging personalty tax against realty.
When it becomes necessary, in the opinion of the county treasurer, to charge the tax on personal property against real
property, in order that such personal property tax may be collected, such county treasurer shall select for that purpose
some particular tract or lots of real property owned by the
person owing such personal property tax, and in his tax roll
and certificate of delinquency shall designate the particular
tract or lots of real property against which such personal
property tax is charged, and such real property shall be
chargeable therewith. [1961 c 15 § 84.60.040. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 112, part; RRS § 11273, part; prior: 1897 c 71
§ 93, part; 1893 c 124 § 97, part.]
84.60.050
84.60.020 Attachment of tax liens. The taxes assessed
upon real property, including mobile homes assessed thereon,
and other mobile homes as defined in RCW 82.50.010 shall
be a lien thereon from and including the first day of January
in the year in which they are levied until the same are paid,
but as between the grantor or vendor and the grantee or purchaser of any real property or any such mobile home, when
there is no express agreement as to payment of the taxes
thereon due and payable in the calendar year of the sale or the
contract to sell, the grantor or vendor shall be liable for the
same proportion of such taxes as the part of the calendar year
prior to the day of the sale or the contract to sell bears to the
whole of such calendar year, and the grantee or purchaser
shall be liable for the remainder of such taxes and subsequent
taxes. The lien for the property taxes assessed on a mobile
home shall be terminated and absolved for the year subsequent to the year of its removal from the state, when notice is
given to the county treasurer describing the mobile home, if
84.60.020
(2006 Ed.)
84.60.050 Acquisition by governmental unit of property subject to tax lien or placement under agreement or
order of immediate possession or use—Effect. (1) When
real property is acquired by purchase or condemnation by the
state of Washington, any county or municipal corporation or
is placed under a recorded agreement for immediate possession and use or an order of immediate possession and use pursuant to RCW 8.04.090, such property shall continue to be
subject to the tax lien for the years prior to the year in which
the property is so acquired or placed under such agreement or
order, of any tax levied by the state, county, municipal corporation or other tax levying public body, except as is otherwise
provided in RCW 84.60.070.
(2) The lien for taxes applicable to the real property
being acquired or placed under immediate possession and use
for the year in which such real property is so acquired or
placed under immediate possession and use shall be for only
the pro rata portion of taxes allocable to that portion of the
year prior to the date of execution of the instrument vesting
[Title 84 RCW—page 133]
84.60.070
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
title, date of recording such agreement of immediate possession and use, date of such order of immediate possession and
use, or date of judgment. No taxes levied or tax lien on such
property allocable to a period subsequent to the dates identified in this subsection shall be valid and any such taxes levied
shall be canceled as provided in RCW 84.48.065. In the event
the owner has paid taxes allocable to that portion of the year
subsequent to the dates identified in this subsection he or she
shall be entitled to a pro rata refund of the amount paid on the
property so acquired or placed under a recorded agreement or
an order of immediate possession and use. If the dates identified in this subsection precede February 15th of the year in
which such taxes become payable, no lien for such taxes shall
be valid and any such taxes levied but not payable shall be
canceled as provided in RCW 84.48.065. [1994 c 301 § 54;
1994 c 124 § 39; 1971 ex.s. c 260 § 2; 1967 ex.s. c 145 § 36;
1961 c 15 § 84.60.050. Prior: 1957 c 277 § 1.]
Severability—1967 ex.s. c 145: See RCW 47.98.043.
Exemption of property under order of immediate possession and use: RCW
84.36.010.
84.60.070 Acquisition by governmental unit of property subject to tax lien or placement under agreement or
order of immediate possession or use—Segregation of
taxes if only part of parcel required. When only part of a
parcel of real property is required by a public body either of
the parties may require the assessor to segregate the taxes and
the assessed valuation as between the portion of property so
required and the remainder thereof. If the assessed valuation
of the portion of the property not required exceeds the
amount of all delinquent taxes and taxes payable on the entire
parcel, and if the owner so elects the lien for the taxes owing
and payable on all the property shall be set over to the property retained by the owner. All county assessors are hereby
authorized and required to segregate taxes as provided above.
[1971 ex.s. c 260 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 84.60.070. Prior: 1957 c
277 § 3.]
84.60.070
Chapter 84.64
Chapter 84.64 RCW
LIEN FORECLOSURE
(Formerly: Certificates of delinquency)
Sections
84.64.040
84.64.050
84.64.060
84.64.070
84.64.080
84.64.120
84.64.130
84.64.180
84.64.190
84.64.200
84.64.215
Prosecuting attorney to foreclose on request.
Certificate to county—Foreclosure—Notice—Sale of certain
residential property eligible for deferral prohibited.
Payment by interested person before day of sale.
Redemption before day of sale—Redemption of property of
minors and legally incompetent persons.
Foreclosure proceedings—Judgment—Sale—Notice—Form
of deed—Recording.
Appellate review—Deposit.
Certified copies of records as evidence.
Deeds as evidence—Estoppel by judgment.
Certified copy of deed as evidence.
Prior taxes deemed delinquent—County as bidder at sale—
Purchaser to pay all delinquent taxes, interest, or costs.
Deed recording fee—Transmittal to county auditor and purchaser.
84.64.040 Prosecuting attorney to foreclose on
request. The county prosecuting attorney shall furnish to
holders of certificates of delinquency, at the expense of the
county, forms of applications for judgment and forms of
notice and summons when the same are required, and shall
84.64.040
[Title 84 RCW—page 134]
prosecute to final judgment all actions brought by holders of
certificates under the provisions of this chapter for the foreclosure of tax liens, when requested so to do by the holder of
any certificate of delinquency: PROVIDED, Said holder has
duly paid to the clerk of the court the sum of two dollars for
each action brought as per RCW 84.64.120: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent
said holder from employing other and additional counsel, or
prosecuting said action independent of and without assistance
from the prosecuting attorney, if he so desires, but in such
cases, no other and further costs or charge whatever shall be
allowed than the costs provided in this section and RCW
84.64.120: AND PROVIDED, ALSO, That in no event shall
the county prosecuting attorney collect any fee for the services herein enumerated. [1961 c 15 § 84.64.040. Prior:
1925 ex.s. c 130 § 116; RRS § 11277; prior: 1903 c 165 § 1;
1899 c 141 § 14.]
84.64.050
84.64.050 Certificate to county—Foreclosure—
Notice—Sale of certain residential property eligible for
deferral prohibited. After the expiration of three years from
the date of delinquency, when any property remains on the
tax rolls for which no certificate of delinquency has been
issued, the county treasurer shall proceed to issue certificates
of delinquency on the property to the county for all years’
taxes, interest, and costs: PROVIDED, That the county treasurer, with the consent of the county legislative authority,
may elect to issue a certificate for fewer than all years’ taxes,
interest, and costs to a minimum of the taxes, interest, and
costs for the earliest year.
Certificates of delinquency shall be prima facie evidence
that:
(1) The property described was subject to taxation at the
time the same was assessed;
(2) The property was assessed as required by law;
(3) The taxes or assessments were not paid at any time
before the issuance of the certificate;
(4) Such certificate shall have the same force and effect
as a lis pendens required under chapter 4.28 RCW.
The county treasurer may include in the certificate of
delinquency any assessments which are due on the property
and are the responsibility of the county treasurer to collect.
For purposes of this chapter, "taxes, interest, and costs"
include any assessments which are so included by the county
treasurer, and "interest" means interest and penalties unless
the context requires otherwise.
The treasurer shall file the certificates when completed
with the clerk of the court at no cost to the treasurer, and the
treasurer shall thereupon, with legal assistance from the
county prosecuting attorney, proceed to foreclose in the name
of the county, the tax liens embraced in such certificates.
Notice and summons must be served or notice given in a
manner reasonably calculated to inform the owner or owners,
and any person having a recorded interest in or lien of record
upon the property, of the foreclosure action to appear within
thirty days after service of such notice and defend such action
or pay the amount due. Either (a) personal service upon the
owner or owners and any person having a recorded interest in
or lien of record upon the property, or (b) publication once in
a newspaper of general circulation, which is circulated in the
area of the property and mailing of notice by certified mail to
(2006 Ed.)
Lien Foreclosure
the owner or owners and any person having a recorded interest in or lien of record upon the property, or, if a mailing
address is unavailable, personal service upon the occupant of
the property, if any, is sufficient. If such notice is returned as
unclaimed, the treasurer shall send notice by regular first
class mail. The notice shall include the legal description on
the tax rolls, the year or years for which assessed, the amount
of tax and interest due, and the name of owner, or reputed
owner, if known, and the notice must include the local street
address, if any, for informational purposes only. The certificates of delinquency issued to the county may be issued in
one general certificate in book form including all property,
and the proceedings to foreclose the liens against the property
may be brought in one action and all persons interested in any
of the property involved in the proceedings may be made
codefendants in the action, and if unknown may be therein
named as unknown owners, and the publication of such
notice shall be sufficient service thereof on all persons interested in the property described therein, except as provided
above. The person or persons whose name or names appear
on the treasurer’s rolls as the owner or owners of the property
shall be considered and treated as the owner or owners of the
property for the purpose of this section, and if upon the treasurer’s rolls it appears that the owner or owners of the property are unknown, then the property shall be proceeded
against, as belonging to an unknown owner or owners, as the
case may be, and all persons owning or claiming to own, or
having or claiming to have an interest therein, are hereby
required to take notice of the proceedings and of any and all
steps thereunder: PROVIDED, That prior to the sale of the
property, the treasurer shall order or conduct a title search of
the property to be sold to determine the legal description of
the property to be sold and the record title holder, and if the
record title holder or holders differ from the person or persons whose name or names appear on the treasurer’s rolls as
the owner or owners, the record title holder or holders shall
be considered and treated as the owner or owners of the property for the purpose of this section, and shall be entitled to the
notice provided for in this section. Such title search shall be
included in the costs of foreclosure.
The county treasurer shall not sell property which is eligible for deferral of taxes under chapter 84.38 RCW but shall
require the owner of the property to file a declaration to defer
taxes under chapter 84.38 RCW. [1999 c 18 § 7; 1991 c 245
§ 25; 1989 c 378 § 37; 1986 c 278 § 64. Prior: 1984 c 220 §
19; 1984 c 179 § 2; 1981 c 322 § 4; 1972 ex.s. c 84 § 2; 1961
c 15 § 84.64.050; prior: 1937 c 17 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 §
117; RRS § 11278; prior: 1917 c 113 § 1; 1901 c 178 § 3;
1899 c 141 § 15; 1897 c 71 § 98.]
Severability—1986 c 278: See note following RCW 36.01.010.
84.64.060
84.64.060 Payment by interested person before day
of sale. Any person owning a recorded interest in lands or
lots upon which judgment is prayed, as provided in this chapter, may in person or by agent pay the taxes, interest and costs
due thereon to the county treasurer of the county in which the
same are situated, at any time before the day of the sale; and
for the amount so paid he or she shall have a lien on the property liable for taxes, interest and costs for which judgment is
prayed; and the person or authority who shall collect or
(2006 Ed.)
84.64.080
receive the same shall give a receipt for such payment, or
issue to such person a certificate showing such payment. If
paying by agent, the agent shall provide notarized documentation of the agency relationship. [2003 c 23 § 4; 2002 c 168
§ 9; 1963 c 88 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.64.060. Prior: 1925 ex.s.
c 130 § 118; RRS § 11279; prior: 1897 c 71 § 99.]
84.64.070
84.64.070 Redemption before day of sale—Redemption of property of minors and legally incompetent persons. Real property upon which certificates of delinquency
have been issued under the provisions of this chapter, may be
redeemed at any time before the close of business the day
before the day of the sale, by payment, as prescribed by the
county treasurer, to the county treasurer of the proper county,
of the amount for which the certificate of delinquency was
issued, together with interest at the statutory rate per annum
charged on delinquent general real and personal property
taxes from date of issuance of the certificate of delinquency
until paid. The person redeeming such property shall also pay
the amount of all taxes, interest and costs accruing after the
issuance of such certificate of delinquency, together with
interest at the statutory rate per annum charged on delinquent
general real and personal property taxes on such payment
from the day the same was made. No fee shall be charged for
any redemption. Tenants in common or joint tenants shall be
allowed to redeem their individual interest in real property
for which certificates of delinquency have been issued under
the provisions of this chapter, in the manner and under the
terms specified in RCW 84.64.060 for the redemption of real
property other than that of persons adjudicated to be legally
incompetent or minors for purposes of this section. If the real
property of any minor, or any person adjudicated to be legally
incompetent, be sold for nonpayment of taxes, the same may
be redeemed at any time within three years after the date of
sale upon the terms specified in this section, on the payment
of interest at the statutory rate per annum charged on delinquent general real and personal property taxes on the amount
for which the same was sold, from and after the date of sale,
and in addition the redemptioner shall pay the reasonable
value of all improvements made in good faith on the property, less the value of the use thereof, which redemption may
be made by themselves or by any person in their behalf.
[2002 c 168 § 10; 1991 c 245 § 26; 1963 c 88 § 2; 1961 c 15
§ 84.64.070. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 119; RRS § 11280;
prior: 1917 c 142 § 4; 1899 c 141 § 17; 1897 c 71 § 102; 1895
c 176 § 25; 1893 c 124 § 121.]
84.64.080
84.64.080 Foreclosure proceedings—Judgment—
Sale—Notice—Form of deed—Recording. The court shall
examine each application for judgment foreclosing tax lien,
and if defense (specifying in writing the particular cause of
objection) be offered by any person interested in any of the
lands or lots to the entry of judgment against the same, the
court shall hear and determine the matter in a summary manner, without other pleadings, and shall pronounce judgment
as the right of the case may be; or the court may, in its discretion, continue such individual cases, wherein defense is
offered, to such time as may be necessary, in order to secure
substantial justice to the contestants therein; but in all other
cases the court shall proceed to determine the matter in a
[Title 84 RCW—page 135]
84.64.080
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
summary manner as above specified. In all judicial proceedings of any kind for the collection of taxes, and interest and
costs thereon, all amendments which by law can be made in
any personal action pending in such court shall be allowed,
and no assessments of property or charge for any of the taxes
shall be considered illegal on account of any irregularity in
the tax list or assessment rolls or on account of the assessment rolls or tax list not having been made, completed or
returned within the time required by law, or on account of the
property having been charged or listed in the assessment or
tax lists without name, or in any other name than that of the
owner, and no error or informality in the proceedings of any
of the officers connected with the assessment, levying or collection of the taxes, shall vitiate or in any manner affect the
tax or the assessment thereof, and any irregularities or informality in the assessment rolls or tax lists or in any of the proceedings connected with the assessment or levy of such taxes
or any omission or defective act of any officer or officers
connected with the assessment or levying of such taxes, may
be, in the discretion of the court, corrected, supplied and
made to conform to the law by the court. The court shall give
judgment for such taxes, interest and costs as shall appear to
be due upon the several lots or tracts described in the notice
of application for judgment or complaint, and such judgment
shall be a several judgment against each tract or lot or part of
a tract or lot for each kind of tax included therein, including
all interest and costs, and the court shall order and direct the
clerk to make and enter an order for the sale of such real property against which judgment is made, or vacate and set aside
the certificate of delinquency or make such other order or
judgment as in the law or equity may be just. The order shall
be signed by the judge of the superior court, shall be delivered to the county treasurer, and shall be full and sufficient
authority for him or her to proceed to sell the property for the
sum as set forth in the order and to take such further steps in
the matter as are provided by law. The county treasurer shall
immediately after receiving the order and judgment of the
court proceed to sell the property as provided in this chapter
to the highest and best bidder for cash. The acceptable minimum bid shall be the total amount of taxes, interest, and
costs. All sales shall be made at a location in the county on a
date and time (except Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays)
as the county treasurer may direct, and shall continue from
day to day (Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excepted)
during the same hours until all lots or tracts are sold, after
first giving notice of the time, and place where such sale is to
take place for ten days successively by posting notice thereof
in three public places in the county, one of which shall be in
the office of the treasurer. The notice shall be substantially in
the following form:
TAX JUDGMENT SALE
Public notice is hereby given that pursuant to real property tax judgment of the superior court of the county of
. . . . . . in the state of Washington, and an order of sale duly
issued by the court, entered the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., in
proceedings for foreclosure of tax liens upon real property, as
per provisions of law, I shall on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . .,
at . . . . o’clock a.m., at . . . . . . in the city of . . . . . ., and
county of . . . . . ., state of Washington, sell the real property
[Title 84 RCW—page 136]
to the highest and best bidder for cash, to satisfy the full
amount of taxes, interest and costs adjudged to be due.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and
seal this . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . . .
.............................
Treasurer of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
county.
No county officer or employee shall directly or indirectly
be a purchaser of such property at such sale.
If any buildings or improvements are upon an area
encompassing more than one tract or lot, the same must be
advertised and sold as a single unit.
If the highest amount bid for any such separate unit tract
or lot is in excess of the minimum bid due upon the whole
property included in the certificate of delinquency, the excess
shall be refunded following payment of all recorded watersewer district liens, on application therefor, to the record
owner of the property. The record owner of the property is
the person who held title on the date of issuance of the certificate of delinquency. Assignments of interests, deeds, or
other documents executed or recorded after filing the certificate of delinquency shall not affect the payment of excess
funds to the record owner. In the event no claim for the
excess is received by the county treasurer within three years
after the date of the sale he or she shall at expiration of the
three year period deposit such excess in the current expense
fund of the county which shall extinguish all claims by any
owner to the excess funds. The county treasurer shall execute
to the purchaser of any piece or parcel of land a tax deed. The
deed so made by the county treasurer, under the official seal
of his or her office, shall be recorded in the same manner as
other conveyances of real property, and shall vest in the
grantee, his or her heirs and assigns the title to the property
therein described, without further acknowledgment or evidence of such conveyance, and shall be substantially in the
following form:
State of Washington
County of . . . . . . . . .





ss.
This indenture, made this . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . . . .,
between . . . . . ., as treasurer of . . . . . . county, state of Washington, party of the first part, and . . . . . ., party of the second
part:
Witnesseth, that, whereas, at a public sale of real property held on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., pursuant to a real
property tax judgment entered in the superior court in the
county of . . . . . . on the . . . . day of . . . . . ., . . . ., in proceedings to foreclose tax liens upon real property and an order of
sale duly issued by the court, . . . . . . duly purchased in compliance with the laws of the state of Washington, the following described real property, to wit: (Here place description of
real property conveyed) and that the . . . . . . has complied
with the laws of the state of Washington necessary to entitle
(him, or her or them) to a deed for the real property.
Now, therefore, know ye, that, I . . . . . ., county treasurer
of the county of . . . . . ., state of Washington, in consideration
of the premises and by virtue of the statutes of the state of
Washington, in such cases provided, do hereby grant and
(2006 Ed.)
Lien Foreclosure
convey unto . . . . . ., his or her heirs and assigns, forever, the
real property hereinbefore described.
Given under my hand and seal of office this . . . . day of
. . . . . ., A.D. . . . .
........................
County Treasurer.
[2004 c 79 § 7; 2003 c 23 § 5. Prior: 1999 c 153 § 72; 1999
c 18 § 8; 1991 c 245 § 27; 1981 c 322 § 5; 1965 ex.s. c 23 §
4; 1963 c 8 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.64.080; prior: 1951 c 220 §
1; 1939 c 206 § 47; 1937 c 118 § 1; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 20;
RRS § 11281; prior: 1909 c 163 § 1; 1903 c 59 § 5; 1899 c
141 § 18; 1897 c 71 § 103; 1893 c 124 § 105; 1890 p 573 §
112; Code 1881 § 2917. Formerly RCW 84.64.080,
84.64.090, 84.64.100, and 84.64.110.]
Part headings not law—1999 c 153: See note following RCW
57.04.050.
Validation—1963 c 8: "All rights acquired or any liability or obligation incurred under the provisions of this section prior to February 18, 1963,
or any process, proceeding, order, or judgment involving the assessment of
any property or the levy or collection of any tax thereunder, or any certificate
of delinquency, tax deed or other instrument given or executed thereunder, or
any claim or refund thereunder, or any sale or other proceeding thereunder
are hereby declared valid and of full force and effect." [1963 c 8 § 2.]
84.64.120
84.64.120 Appellate review—Deposit. Appellate
review of the judgment of the superior court may be sought as
in other civil cases. However, review must be sought within
thirty days after the entry of the judgment and the party taking such appeal shall deposit a sum equal to all taxes, interest,
and costs with the clerk of the court, conditioned that the
appellant shall prosecute the appeal with effect, and will pay
the amount of any taxes, interest and costs which may be
finally adjudged against the real property involved in the
appeal by any court having jurisdiction of the cause. No
appeal shall be allowed from any judgment for the sale of
land or lot for taxes unless the party taking such appeal shall
before the time of giving notice of such appeal, and within
thirty days herein allowed within which to appeal, deposit
with the clerk of the court of the county in which the land or
lots are situated, an amount of money equal to the amount of
the judgment and costs rendered in such cause by the trial
court. If, in case of an appeal, the judgment of the lower court
shall be affirmed, in whole or in part, the supreme court or the
court of appeals shall enter judgment for the amount of taxes,
interest and costs, with damages not to exceed twenty percent, and shall order that the amount deposited with the clerk
of the court, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be credited upon the judgment so rendered, and execution shall issue
for the balance of the judgment, damages and costs. The clerk
of the supreme court or the clerk of the division of the court
of appeals in which the appeal is pending shall transmit to the
county treasurer of the county in which the land or lots are situated a certified copy of the order of affirmance, and it shall
be the duty of such county treasurer upon receiving the same
to apply so much of the amount deposited with the clerk of
the court, as shall be necessary to satisfy the amount of the
judgment of the supreme court, and to account for the same as
collected taxes. If the judgment of the superior court shall be
reversed and the cause remanded for a rehearing, and if, upon
a rehearing, judgment shall be rendered for the sale of the
land or lots for taxes, or any part thereof, and such judgment
(2006 Ed.)
84.64.180
be not appealed from, as herein provided, the clerk of such
superior court shall certify to the county treasurer the amount
of such judgment, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the
county treasurer to certify to the county clerk the amount
deposited with the clerk of the court, and the county clerk
shall credit such judgment with the amount of such deposit,
or so much thereof as will satisfy the judgment, and the
county treasurer shall be chargeable and accountable for the
amount so credited as collected taxes. Nothing herein shall be
construed as requiring an additional deposit in case of more
than one appeal being prosecuted in the proceeding. If, upon
a final hearing, judgment shall be refused for the sale of the
land or lots for the taxes, interest, and costs, or any part
thereof, in the proceedings, the county treasurer shall pay
over to the party who shall have made such deposit, or his or
her legally authorized agent or representative, the amount of
the deposit, or so much thereof as shall remain after the satisfaction of the judgment against the land or lots in respect to
which such deposit shall have been made. [1999 c 18 § 9;
1991 c 245 § 28; 1988 c 202 § 70; 1971 c 81 § 154; 1961 c 15
§ 84.64.120. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 121; RRS § 11282;
prior: 1903 c 59 § 4; 1897 c 71 § 104; 1893 c 124 § 106.]
Rules of court: Cf. RAP 5.2, 8.1, 18.22.
Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.
84.64.130
84.64.130 Certified copies of records as evidence.
The books and records belonging to the office of county treasurer, certified by said treasurer, shall be deemed prima facie
evidence to prove the issuance of any certificate, the sale of
any land or lot for taxes, the redemption of the same or payment of taxes thereon. The county treasurer shall, at the expiration of his term of office, pay over to his successor in office
all moneys in his hands received for redemption from sale for
taxes on real property. [1961 c 15 § 84.64.130. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 123; RRS § 11284; prior: 1897 c 71 § 108; 1893
c 124 § 123.]
84.64.180
84.64.180 Deeds as evidence—Estoppel by judgment.
Deeds executed by the county treasurer, as aforesaid, shall be
prima facie evidence in all controversies and suits in relation
to the right of the purchaser, his heirs and assigns, to the real
property thereby conveyed of the following facts: First, that
the real property conveyed was subject to taxation at the time
the same was assessed, and had been listed and assessed in
the time and manner required by law; second, that the taxes
were not paid at any time before the issuance of deed; third,
that the real property conveyed had not been redeemed from
the sale at the date of the deed; fourth, that the real property
was sold for taxes, interest and costs, as stated in the deed;
fifth, that the grantee in the deed was the purchaser, or
assignee of the purchaser; sixth, that the sale was conducted
in the manner required by law. And any judgment for the
deed to real property sold for delinquent taxes rendered after
January 9, 1926, except as otherwise provided in this section,
shall estop all parties from raising any objections thereto, or
to a tax title based thereon, which existed at or before the rendition of such judgment, and could have been presented as a
defense to the application for such judgment in the court
wherein the same was rendered, and as to all such questions
the judgment itself shall be conclusive evidence of its regu[Title 84 RCW—page 137]
84.64.190
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
larity and validity in all collateral proceedings, except in
cases where the tax has been paid, or the real property was
not liable to the tax. [1961 c 15 § 84.64.180. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 127; RRS § 11288; prior: 1897 c 71 § 114; 1893
c 124 § 132; 1890 p 574 § 114.]
84.64.190
84.64.190 Certified copy of deed as evidence. Whenever it shall be necessary in any action in any court of law or
equity, wherein the title to any real property is in controversy,
to prove the conveyance to any county of such real property
in pursuance of a foreclosure of a tax certificate and sale
thereunder, a copy of the tax deed issued to the county containing a description of such real property, exclusive of the
description of all other real property therein described, certified by the county auditor of the county wherein the real
property is situated, to be such, shall be admitted in evidence
by the court, and shall be proof of the conveyance of the real
property in controversy to such county, to the same extent as
would a certified copy of the entire record of such tax deed.
[1961 c 15 § 84.64.190. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 128; RRS
§ 11289; prior: 1890 p 575 § 115.]
Chapter 84.68
Chapter 84.68 RCW
RECOVERY OF TAXES PAID OR PROPERTY
SOLD FOR TAXES
Sections
84.68.010
84.68.020
84.68.030
84.68.040
84.68.050
84.68.060
84.68.070
84.68.080
84.68.090
84.68.100
84.68.110
84.68.120
84.68.130
84.68.140
84.68.150
Injunctions prohibited—Exceptions.
Payment under protest—Claim not required.
Judgment—Payment—County tax refund fund.
Levy for tax refund fund.
Venue of action—Intercounty property.
Limitation of actions.
Remedy exclusive—Exception.
Action to recover property sold for taxes—Tender is condition
precedent.
Action to recover property sold for taxes—Complaint.
Action to recover property sold for taxes—Restrictions construed as additional.
Small claims recoveries—Recovery of erroneous taxes without court action.
Small claims recoveries—Petition—Procedure of county
officers—Transmittal of findings to department of revenue.
Small claims recoveries—Procedure of department of revenue.
Small claims recoveries—Payment of refunds—Procedure.
Small claims recoveries—Limitation as to time and amount of
refund.
84.64.200
84.64.200 Prior taxes deemed delinquent—County as
bidder at sale—Purchaser to pay all delinquent taxes,
interest, or costs. All lots, tracts and parcels of land upon
which taxes levied prior to January 9, 1926 remain due and
unpaid at the date when such taxes would have become delinquent as provided in the act under which they were levied
shall be deemed to be delinquent under the provisions of this
title, and the same proceedings may be had to enforce the
payment of such unpaid taxes, with interest and costs, and
payment enforced and liens foreclosed under and by virtue of
the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of foreclosure
under this chapter, the date of delinquency shall be construed
to mean the date when the taxes first became delinquent. At
all sales of property for which certificates of delinquency are
held by the county, if no other bids are received, the county
shall be considered a bidder for the full area of each tract or
lot to the amount of all taxes, interest and costs due thereon,
and where no bidder appears, acquire title thereto as absolutely as if purchased by an individual under the provisions of
this chapter; all bidders except the county at sales of property
for which certificates of delinquency are held by the county
shall pay the full amount of taxes, interest and costs for which
judgment is rendered, together with all taxes, interest and
costs which are delinquent at the time of sale, regardless of
whether the taxes, interest, or costs are included in the judgment. [1981 c 322 § 6; 1961 c 15 § 84.64.200. Prior: 1925
ex.s. c 130 § 129; RRS § 11290; prior: 1901 c 178 § 4; 1899
c 141 § 24; 1897 c 71 § 116; 1893 c 124 § 136.]
84.64.215
84.64.215 Deed recording fee—Transmittal to
county auditor and purchaser. In addition to a five-dollar
fee for preparing the deed, the treasurer shall collect the
proper recording fee. This recording fee together with the
deed shall then be transmitted by the treasurer to the county
auditor who will record the same and mail the deed to the purchaser. [1991 c 245 § 29; 1961 c 15 § 84.64.215. Prior: 1947
c 60 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 11295a. Formerly RCW
84.64.210, part.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 138]
84.68.010
84.68.010 Injunctions prohibited—Exceptions.
Injunctions and restraining orders shall not be issued or
granted to restrain the collection of any tax or any part
thereof, or the sale of any property for the nonpayment of any
tax or part thereof, except in the following cases:
(1) Where the law under which the tax is imposed is
void;
(2) Where the property upon which the tax is imposed is
exempt from taxation; or
(3) Where the sale is a result of an error made by an
officer or employee of the county, and the board of county
commissioners or other legislative authority of the county
issues an order. [2000 c 103 § 30; 1972 ex.s. c 84 § 3; 1961
c 15 § 84.68.010. Prior: 1931 c 62 § 1; RRS § 11315-1.]
84.68.020
84.68.020 Payment under protest—Claim not
required. In all cases of the levy of taxes for public revenue
which are deemed unlawful or excessive by the person, firm
or corporation whose property is taxed, or from whom such
tax is demanded or enforced, such person, firm or corporation
may pay such tax or any part thereof deemed unlawful, under
written protest setting forth all of the grounds upon which
such tax is claimed to be unlawful or excessive; and thereupon the person, firm or corporation so paying, or their legal
representatives or assigns, may bring an action in the superior
court or in any federal court of competent jurisdiction against
the state, county or municipality by whose officers the same
was collected, to recover such tax, or any portion thereof, so
paid under protest: PROVIDED, That RCW 84.68.010
through 84.68.070 shall not be deemed to enlarge the grounds
upon which taxes may now be recovered: AND PROVIDED
FURTHER, That no claim need be presented to the state or
county or municipality, or any of their respective officers, for
the return of such protested tax as a condition precedent to the
institution of such action. [1994 c 124 § 40; 1961 c 15 §
84.68.020. Prior: 1937 c 11 § 1; 1931 c 62 § 2; 1927 c 280 §
7; 1925 c 18 § 7; RRS § 11315-2.]
(2006 Ed.)
Recovery of Taxes Paid or Property Sold for Taxes
84.68.030
84.68.030 Judgment—Payment—County tax refund
fund. In case it be determined in such action that said tax, or
any portion thereof, so paid under protest, was unlawfully
collected, judgment for recovery thereof and interest thereon
at the rate specified in RCW 84.69.100 from date of payment,
together with costs of suit, shall be entered in favor of plaintiff. In case the action is against a county and the judgment
shall become final, the amount of such judgment, including
interest at the rate specified in RCW 84.69.100 and costs
where allowed, shall be paid out of the treasury of such
county by the county treasurer upon warrants drawn by the
county auditor against a fund in said treasury hereby created
to be known and designated as the county tax refund fund.
Such warrants shall be so issued upon the filing with the
county auditor and the county treasurer of duly authenticated
copies of such judgment, and shall be paid by the county treasurer out of any moneys on hand in said fund. If no funds are
available in such county tax refund fund for the payment of
such warrants, then such warrants shall bear interest in such
cases and shall be callable under such conditions as are provided by law for county warrants, and such interest, if any,
shall also be paid out of said fund. [1989 c 378 § 28; 1961 c
15 § 84.68.030. Prior: 1931 c 62 § 3; RRS § 11315-3.]
84.68.040
84.68.040 Levy for tax refund fund. Annually, at the
time required by law for the levying of taxes for county purposes, the proper county officers required by law to make and
enter such tax levies shall make and enter a tax levy or levies
for said county tax refund fund, which said levy or levies
shall be given precedence over all other tax levies for county
and/or taxing district purposes, as follows:
(1) A levy upon all of the taxable property within the
county for the amount of all taxes collected by the county for
county and/or state purposes held illegal and recoverable by
such judgments rendered against the county within the preceding twelve months, including legal interest and a proper
share of the costs, where allowed, together with the additional amounts hereinafter provided for;
(2) A levy upon all of the taxable property of each taxing
district within the county for the amount of all taxes collected
by the county for the purposes of such taxing district, and
which have been held illegal and recoverable by such judgments rendered against the county within the preceding
twelve months, including legal interest and a proper share of
the costs, where allowed.
The aforesaid levy or levies shall also include a proper
share of the interest paid out of the county tax refund fund
during said twelve months upon warrants issued against said
fund in payment of such judgments, legal interests and costs,
plus such an additional amount as such levying officers shall
deem necessary to meet the obligations of said fund, taking
into consideration the probable portions of such taxes that
will not be collected or collectible during the year in which
they are due and payable, and also any unobligated cash on
hand in said fund. [1961 c 15 § 84.68.040. Prior: 1937 c 11
§ 2; 1931 c 62 § 4; RRS § 11315-4.]
84.68.050
84.68.050 Venue of action—Intercounty property.
The action for the recovery of taxes so paid under protest
shall be brought in the superior court of the county wherein
the tax was collected or in any federal court of competent
(2006 Ed.)
84.68.090
jurisdiction: PROVIDED, That where the property against
which the tax is levied consists of the operating property of a
railroad company, telegraph company or other public service
company whose operating property is located in more than
one county and is assessed as a unit by any state board or state
officer or officers, the complaining taxpayer may institute
such action in the superior court of any one of the counties in
which such tax is payable, or in any federal court of competent jurisdiction, and may join as parties defendant in said
action all of the counties to which the tax or taxes levied upon
such operating property were paid or are payable, and may
recover in one action from each of the county defendants the
amount of the tax, or any portion thereof, so paid under protest, and adjudged to have been unlawfully collected,
together with interest thereon at the rate specified in RCW
84.69.100 from date of payment, and costs of suit. [1989 c
378 § 29; 1961 c 15 § 84.68.050. Prior: 1937 c 11 § 3; 1931
c 62 § 5; RRS § 11315-5.]
84.68.060
84.68.060 Limitation of actions. No action instituted
pursuant to this chapter or otherwise to recover any tax levied
or assessed shall be commenced after the 30th day of the next
succeeding June following the year in which said tax became
payable. [1961 c 15 § 84.68.060. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 48;
1931 c 62 § 6; RRS § 11315-6.]
Limitation of action to cancel tax deed: RCW 4.16.090.
84.68.070
84.68.070 Remedy exclusive—Exception. Except as
permitted by RCW 84.68.010 through 84.68.070 and chapter
84.69 RCW, no action shall ever be brought or defense interposed attacking the validity of any tax, or any portion of any
tax: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not be
construed as depriving the defendants in any tax foreclosure
proceeding of any valid defense allowed by law to the tax
sought to be foreclosed therein except defenses based upon
alleged excessive valuations, levies or taxes. [1989 c 378 §
30; 1961 c 15 § 84.68.070. Prior: 1939 c 206 § 49; 1931 c 62
§ 7; RRS § 11315-7.]
84.68.080
84.68.080 Action to recover property sold for taxes—
Tender is condition precedent. Hereafter no action or proceeding shall be commenced or instituted in any court of this
state for the recovery of any property sold for taxes, unless
the person or corporation desiring to commence or institute
such action or proceeding shall first pay, or cause to be paid,
or shall tender to the officer entitled under the law to receive
the same, all taxes, penalties, interest and costs justly due and
unpaid from such person or corporation on the property
sought to be recovered. [1961 c 15 § 84.68.080. Prior: 1888
c 22 (p 43) § 1; RRS § 955.]
Limitation of action to cancel tax deed: RCW 4.16.090.
84.68.090
84.68.090 Action to recover property sold for taxes—
Complaint. In all actions for the recovery of lands or other
property sold for taxes, the complainant must state and set
forth specially in the complaint the tax that is justly due, with
penalties, interest and costs, that the taxes for that and previous years have been paid; and when the action is against the
person or corporation in possession thereof that all taxes,
penalties, interest and costs paid by the purchaser at tax-sale,
[Title 84 RCW—page 139]
84.68.100
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
the purchaser’s assignees or grantees have been fully paid or
tendered, and payment refused. [1994 c 124 § 41; 1961 c 15
§ 84.68.090. Prior: 1888 c 22 (p 44) § 2; RRS § 956.]
84.68.100
84.68.100 Action to recover property sold for taxes—
Restrictions construed as additional. The provisions of
RCW 84.68.080 and 84.68.090 shall be construed as imposing additional conditions upon the complainant in actions for
the recovery of property sold for taxes. [1961 c 15 §
84.68.100. Prior: 1888 c 22 (p 44) § 3; RRS § 957.]
county treasurer shall immediately transmit the petition to the
prosecuting attorney and the prosecuting attorney shall make
such investigation as he deems necessary and, within ten days
after receipt of the petition and findings by him, transmit the
same to the state department of revenue with his recommendation in respect to the granting or denial of the petition.
[1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 208; 1961 c 15 § 84.68.120. Prior:
1939 c 16 § 2; RRS § 11241-2.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.68.130
84.68.110
84.68.110 Small claims recoveries—Recovery of
erroneous taxes without court action. Whenever a taxpayer believes or has reason to believe that, through error in
description, double assessments or manifest errors in assessment which do not involve a revaluation of the property, he
has been erroneously assessed or that a tax has been incorrectly extended against him upon the tax rolls, and the tax
based upon such erroneous assessment or incorrect extension
has been paid, such taxpayer may initiate a proceeding for the
cancellation or reduction of the assessment of his property
and the tax based thereon or for correction of the error in
extending the tax on the tax rolls, and for the refund of the
claimed erroneous tax or excessive portion thereof, by filing
a petition therefor with the county assessor of the county in
which the property is or was located or taxed, which petition
shall legally describe the property, show the assessed valuation and tax placed against the property for the year or years
in question and the taxpayer’s reasons for believing that there
was an error in the assessment within the meaning of RCW
84.68.110 through 84.68.150, or in extending the tax upon
the tax rolls and set forth the sum to which the taxpayer
desires to have the assessment reduced or the extended tax
corrected. [1961 c 15 § 84.68.110. Prior: 1939 c 16 § 1; RRS
§ 11241-1.]
84.68.120
84.68.120 Small claims recoveries—Petition—Procedure of county officers—Transmittal of findings to
department of revenue. Upon the filing of the petition with
the county assessor that officer shall proceed forthwith to
conduct such investigation as may be necessary to ascertain
and determine whether or not the assessment in question was
erroneous or whether or not the tax was incorrectly extended
upon the tax rolls and if he finds there is probable cause to
believe that the property was erroneously assessed, and that
such erroneous assessment was due to an error in description,
double assessment or manifest error in assessment which
does not involve a revaluation of the property, or that the tax
was incorrectly extended upon the tax rolls, he shall endorse
his findings upon the petition, and thereupon within ten days
after the filing of the petition by the taxpayer forward the
same to the county treasurer. If the assessor’s findings be in
favor of cancellation or reduction or correction he shall
include therein a statement of the amount to which he recommends that the assessment and tax be reduced. It shall be the
duty of the county treasurer, upon whom a petition with
endorsed findings is served, as in RCW 84.68.110 through
84.68.150 provided, to endorse thereon a statement whether
or not the tax against which complaint is made has in fact
been paid and, if paid, the amount thereof, whereupon the
[Title 84 RCW—page 140]
84.68.130 Small claims recoveries—Procedure of
department of revenue. Upon receipt of the petition, findings and recommendations the state department of revenue
shall proceed to consider the same, and it may require evidence to be submitted and make such investigation as it
deems necessary and for such purpose the department of revenue shall be empowered to subpoena witnesses in order that
all material and relevant facts may be ascertained. Upon the
conclusion of its consideration of the petition and within
thirty days after receipt thereof, the department of revenue
shall enter an order either granting or denying the petition and
if the petition be granted the department of revenue may
order the assessment canceled or reduced or the extended tax
corrected upon the tax rolls in any amount it deems proper
but in no event to exceed the amount of reduction or correction recommended by the county assessor. [1975 1st ex.s. c
278 § 209; 1961 c 15 § 84.68.130. Prior: 1939 c 16 § 3; RRS
§ 11241-3.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.68.140
84.68.140 Small claims recoveries—Payment of
refunds—Procedure. Certified copies of the order of the
department of revenue shall be forwarded to the county assessor, the county auditor and the taxpayer, and the taxpayer
shall immediately be entitled to a refund of the difference, if
any, between the tax already paid and the canceled or reduced
or corrected tax based upon the order of the department with
interest on such amount from the date of payment of the original tax. Upon receipt of the order of the department the
county auditor shall draw a warrant against the county tax
refund fund in the amount of any tax reduction so ordered,
plus interest at the rate specified in RCW 84.69.100 to the
date such warrant is issued, and such warrant shall be paid by
the county treasurer out of any moneys on hand in said fund.
If no funds are available in the county tax refund fund for the
payment of such warrant the warrant shall bear interest and
shall be callable under such conditions as are provided by law
for county warrants and such interest, if any, shall also be
paid out of said fund. The order of the department shall for all
purposes be considered as a judgment against the county tax
refund fund and the obligation thereof shall be discharged in
the same manner as provided by law for the discharge of
judgments against the county for excessive taxes under the
provisions of RCW 84.68.010 through 84.68.070 or any act
amendatory thereof. [1989 c 378 § 31; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
210; 1961 c 15 § 84.68.140. Prior: 1939 c 16 § 4; RRS §
11241-4.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
(2006 Ed.)
Refunds
84.68.150 Small claims recoveries—Limitation as to
time and amount of refund. No petition for cancellation or
reduction of assessment or correction of tax rolls and the
refund of taxes based thereon under RCW 84.68.110 through
84.68.150 shall be considered unless filed within three years
after the year in which the tax became payable or purported to
become payable. The maximum refund under the authority of
RCW 84.68.110 through 84.68.150 for each year involved in
the taxpayer’s petition shall be two hundred dollars. Should
the amount of excess tax for any such year be in excess of two
hundred dollars, a refund of two hundred dollars shall be
allowed under RCW 84.68.110 through 84.68.150, without
prejudice to the right of the taxpayer to proceed as may be
otherwise provided by law to recover the balance of the
excess tax paid by him. [1961 c 15 § 84.68.150. Prior: 1949
c 158 § 1; 1941 c 154 § 1; 1939 c 16 § 5; Rem. Supp. 1949 §
11241-5.]
84.68.150
Chapter 84.69
Chapter 84.69 RCW
REFUNDS
Sections
84.69.010
84.69.020
84.69.030
84.69.040
84.69.050
84.69.060
84.69.070
84.69.080
84.69.090
84.69.100
84.69.110
84.69.120
84.69.130
84.69.140
84.69.150
84.69.160
84.69.170
Definitions.
Grounds for refunds—Determination—Payment—Report.
Procedure to obtain order for refund.
Refunds may include amounts paid to state, and county and
taxing district taxes.
Refund with respect to amounts paid state.
Refunds with respect to county, state, and taxing district taxes.
Refunds with respect to taxing districts—Administrative
expenses—Disposition of funds upon expiration of refund
orders.
Refunds with respect to taxing districts—Not to be paid from
county funds.
To whom refund may be paid.
Refunds shall include interest—Written protests not
required—Rate of interest.
Expiration date of refund orders.
Action on rejected claim—Time for commencement.
Claim prerequisite to action—Recovery limited to ground
asserted.
Interest shall be allowed on amount recovered.
Refunds within sixty days.
Chapter does not supersede existing law.
Payment under protest not required.
84.69.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless
the context indicates otherwise:
(1) "Taxing district" means any county, city, town, port
district, school district, road district, metropolitan park district, water-sewer district, or other municipal corporation
now or hereafter authorized by law to impose burdens upon
property within the district in proportion to the value thereof,
for the purpose of obtaining revenue for public purposes, as
distinguished from municipal corporations authorized to
impose burdens, or for which burdens may be imposed, for
such purposes, upon property in proportion to the benefits
accruing thereto.
(2) "Tax" includes penalties and interest. [1999 c 153 §
73; 1961 c 15 § 84.69.010. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 1.]
84.69.010
Part headings not law—1999 c 153: See note following RCW
57.04.050.
84.69.020 Grounds for refunds—Determination—
Payment—Report. On the order of the county treasurer, ad
valorem taxes paid before or after delinquency shall be
refunded if they were:
84.69.020
(2006 Ed.)
84.69.020
(1) Paid more than once;
(2) Paid as a result of manifest error in description;
(3) Paid as a result of a clerical error in extending the tax
rolls;
(4) Paid as a result of other clerical errors in listing property;
(5) Paid with respect to improvements which did not
exist on assessment date;
(6) Paid under levies or statutes adjudicated to be illegal
or unconstitutional;
(7) Paid as a result of mistake, inadvertence, or lack of
knowledge by any person exempted from paying real property taxes or a portion thereof pursuant to RCW 84.36.381
through 84.36.389, as now or hereafter amended;
(8) Paid as a result of mistake, inadvertence, or lack of
knowledge by either a public official or employee or by any
person with respect to real property in which the person paying the same has no legal interest;
(9) Paid on the basis of an assessed valuation which was
appealed to the county board of equalization and ordered
reduced by the board;
(10) Paid on the basis of an assessed valuation which
was appealed to the state board of tax appeals and ordered
reduced by the board: PROVIDED, That the amount
refunded under subsections (9) and (10) of this section shall
only be for the difference between the tax paid on the basis of
the appealed valuation and the tax payable on the valuation
adjusted in accordance with the board’s order;
(11) Paid as a state property tax levied upon property, the
assessed value of which has been established by the state
board of tax appeals for the year of such levy: PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, That the amount refunded shall only be for the
difference between the state property tax paid and the amount
of state property tax which would, when added to all other
property taxes within the one percent limitation of Article
VII, section 2 of the state Constitution equal one percent of
the assessed value established by the board;
(12) Paid on the basis of an assessed valuation which
was adjudicated to be unlawful or excessive: PROVIDED,
That the amount refunded shall be for the difference between
the amount of tax which was paid on the basis of the valuation adjudged unlawful or excessive and the amount of tax
payable on the basis of the assessed valuation determined as
a result of the proceeding;
(13) Paid on property acquired under RCW 84.60.050,
and canceled under RCW 84.60.050(2);
(14) Paid on the basis of an assessed valuation that was
reduced under RCW 84.48.065;
(15) Paid on the basis of an assessed valuation that was
reduced under RCW 84.40.039; or
(16) Abated under RCW 84.70.010.
No refunds under the provisions of this section shall be
made because of any error in determining the valuation of
property, except as authorized in subsections (9), (10), (11),
and (12) of this section nor may any refunds be made if a
bona fide purchaser has acquired rights that would preclude
the assessment and collection of the refunded tax from the
property that should properly have been charged with the tax.
Any refunds made on delinquent taxes shall include the proportionate amount of interest and penalties paid. However,
no refunds as a result of an incorrect payment authorized
[Title 84 RCW—page 141]
84.69.030
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
under subsection (8) of this section made by a third party
payee shall be granted. The county treasurer may deduct
from moneys collected for the benefit of the state’s levy,
refunds of the state levy including interest on the levy as provided by this section and chapter 84.68 RCW.
The county treasurer of each county shall make all
refunds determined to be authorized by this section, and by
the first Monday in February of each year, report to the
county legislative authority a list of all refunds made under
this section during the previous year. The list is to include the
name of the person receiving the refund, the amount of the
refund, and the reason for the refund. [2005 c 502 § 9; 2002
c 168 § 11; 1999 sp.s. c 8 § 2. Prior: 1998 c 306 § 2; 1997 c
393 § 18; 1996 c 296 § 2; 1994 c 301 § 55; 1991 c 245 § 31;
1989 c 378 § 17; 1981 c 228 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 21;
1974 ex.s. c 122 § 2; 1972 ex.s. c 126 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 288 §
14; 1969 ex.s. c 224 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.69.020; prior: 1957
c 120 § 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 502: See note following RCW 1.12.070.
Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 8: See notes following
RCW 84.70.010.
Applicability—1981 c 228: "Section 1(12) of the [this] amendatory act
applies to only those taxes which first become due and payable subsequent to
January 1, 1981: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not apply
to any taxes which were paid under protest and which were timely paid."
[1981 c 228 § 4.]
Effective dates—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.
Purpose—1974 ex.s. c 122: "The legislature recognizes that the operation of the provisions of RCW 84.52.065 and 84.48.080, providing for
adjustments in the county-determined assessed value of property for purposes of the state property tax for schools, may, with respect to certain properties, result in a total regular property tax payment in excess of the one percent limitation provided for in Article 7, section 2 (Amendment 59) of the
state Constitution. The primary purpose of this 1974 amendatory act is to
provide a procedure for administrative relief in such cases, such relief to be
in addition to the presently existing procedure for judicial relief through a
refund action provided for in RCW 84.68.020." [1974 ex.s. c 122 § 1.]
Severability—Savings—1971 ex.s. c 288: See notes following RCW
84.40.030.
84.69.030
84.69.030 Procedure to obtain order for refund.
Except in cases wherein the county legislative authority acts
upon its own motion, no orders for a refund under this chapter
shall be made except on a claim:
(1) Verified by the person who paid the tax, the person’s
guardian, executor or administrator; and
(2) Filed with the county treasurer within three years
after making of the payment sought to be refunded; and
(3) Stating the statutory ground upon which the refund is
claimed. [1991 c 245 § 32; 1989 c 378 § 32; 1961 c 15 §
84.69.030. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 3.]
84.69.040
84.69.040 Refunds may include amounts paid to
state, and county and taxing district taxes. Refunds
ordered by the county legislative authority may include:
(1) A portion of amounts paid to the state treasurer by the
county treasurer as money belonging to the state; and also
(2) County taxes and taxes collected by county officers
for taxing districts. [1991 c 245 § 33; 1961 c 15 § 84.69.040.
Prior: 1957 c 120 § 4.]
[Title 84 RCW—page 142]
84.69.050 Refund with respect to amounts paid state.
The part of the refund representing amounts paid to the state,
including interest as provided in RCW 84.69.100, shall be
paid from the county general fund and the department of revenue shall, upon the next succeeding settlement with the
county, certify this amount refunded to the county: PROVIDED, That when a refund of tax funds pursuant to state
levies is required, the department of revenue shall authorize
adjustment procedures whereby counties may deduct from
property tax remittances to the state the amount required to
cover the state’s portion of the refunds. [2003 c 23 § 6; 1988
c 222 § 31; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 5 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 84.69.050.
Prior: 1957 c 120 § 5.]
84.69.050
84.69.060 Refunds with respect to county, state, and
taxing district taxes. Refunds ordered under this chapter
with respect to county, state, and taxing district taxes shall be
paid by checks drawn upon the appropriate fund by the
county treasurer: PROVIDED, That in making refunds on a
levy code or tax code basis, the county treasurer may make an
adjustment on the subsequent year’s property tax payment
due for the amount of the refund. [1991 c 245 § 34; 1989 c
378 § 18; 1988 c 222 § 32; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 5 § 2; 1961 c 15
§ 84.69.060. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 6.]
84.69.060
84.69.070 Refunds with respect to taxing districts—
Administrative expenses—Disposition of funds upon
expiration of refund orders. Refunds ordered with respect
to taxing districts, including interest as provided in RCW
84.69.100, shall be paid by checks drawn by the county treasurer upon such available funds, if any, as the taxing districts
may have on deposit in the county treasury, or in the event
such funds are insufficient, then out of funds subsequently
accruing to such taxing district and on deposit in the county
treasury. When such refunds are made as a result of taxes
paid under levies or statutes adjudicated to be illegal or
unconstitutional all administrative costs including interest
paid on the refunds incurred by the county treasurer in making such refunds shall be a charge against the funds of such
districts and/or the state on a pro rata basis until the county
current expense fund is fully reimbursed for the administrative expenses incurred in making such refund: PROVIDED,
That whenever orders for refunds of ad valorem taxes promulgated by the county treasurer or county legislative authority and unpaid checks shall expire and become void as provided in RCW 84.69.110, then any moneys remaining in a
refund account established by the county treasurer for any
taxing district may be transferred by the county treasurer
from such refund account to the county current expense fund
to reimburse the county for the administrative expense
incurred in making refunds as prescribed herein. Any excess
then remaining in the taxing district refund account may then
be transferred by the county treasurer to the current expense
fund of the taxing district for which the tax was originally
levied and collected. [2003 c 23 § 7; 1991 c 245 § 38; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 5 § 3; 1963 c 114 § 1; 1961 c 270 § 2; 1961 c 15 §
84.69.070. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 7.]
84.69.070
84.69.080 Refunds with respect to taxing districts—
Not to be paid from county funds. Neither any county nor
its officers shall refund amounts on behalf of a taxing district
84.69.080
(2006 Ed.)
Destroyed Property—Abatement or Refund
from county funds. [1961 c 15 § 84.69.080. Prior: 1957 c
120 § 8.]
84.69.090
84.69.090 To whom refund may be paid. The payment of refunds shall be made payable, at the election of the
appropriate treasurer, to the taxpayer, his guardian, executor,
or administrator or the owner of record of the property taxed,
his guardian, executor, or administrator. [1961 c 15 §
84.69.090. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 9.]
84.69.100
84.69.100 Refunds shall include interest—Written
protests not required—Rate of interest. Unless otherwise
stated, refunds of taxes made pursuant to RCW 84.69.010
through 84.69.090 shall include interest from the date of collection of the portion refundable: PROVIDED, That refunds
on a state, county, or district wide basis shall not commence
to accrue interest until six months following the date of the
final order of the court. No written protest by individual taxpayers need to be filed to receive a refund on a state, county,
or district wide basis. The rate of interest shall be the equivalent coupon issue yield (as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) of the average bill rate
for twenty-six week treasury bills as determined at the first
bill market auction conducted after June 30th of the calendar
year preceding the date the taxes were paid. The department
of revenue shall adopt this rate of interest by rule. [2002 c
168 § 12; 1997 c 67 § 1; 1989 c 14 § 6; 1987 c 319 § 1; 1973
2nd ex.s. c 5 § 4; 1961 c 15 § 84.69.100. Prior: 1957 c 120 §
10.]
84.70.010
84.69.140
84.69.140 Interest shall be allowed on amount recovered. In any action in which recovery of taxes is allowed by
the court, the plaintiff is entitled to interest on the taxes for
which recovery is allowed at the rate specified in RCW
84.69.100 from the date of collection of the tax to the date of
entry of judgment, and such accrued interest shall be included
in the judgment. [1989 c 378 § 34; 1988 c 222 § 33; 1961 c
15 § 84.69.140. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 14.]
84.69.150
84.69.150 Refunds within sixty days. Notwithstanding
any other laws to the contrary, any taxes paid before or after
delinquency may be refunded, without interest, by the county
treasurer within sixty days after the date of payment if:
(1) Paid more than once; or
(2) The amount paid exceeds the amount due on the
property as shown on the roll. [1961 c 15 § 84.69.150. Prior:
1957 c 120 § 15.]
84.69.160
84.69.160 Chapter does not supersede existing law.
This chapter is enacted as a concurrent refund procedure and
shall not be construed to displace or supersede any portion of
the existing laws relating to refunding procedures. [1961 c
15 § 84.69.160. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 16.]
84.69.170
84.69.170 Payment under protest not required. The
remedies herein provided shall be available regardless of
whether the taxes in question were paid under protest. [1961
c 15 § 84.69.170. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 17.]
Chapter 84.70 RCW
DESTROYED PROPERTY—ABATEMENT
OR REFUND
Chapter 84.70
Application—1997 c 67: "This act applies to claims made after January 1, 1998." [1997 c 67 § 2.]
84.69.110
84.69.110 Expiration date of refund orders. Every
order for refund of ad valorem taxes promulgated by the
county treasurer or county legislative authority under authority of this chapter as hereafter amended shall expire and be
void three years from the date of the order and all unpaid
checks shall become void. [1991 c 245 § 39; 1961 c 15 §
84.69.110. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 11.]
84.69.120
84.69.120 Action on rejected claim—Time for commencement. If the county treasurer rejects a claim or fails to
act within six months from the date of filing of a claim for
refund in whole or in part, the person who paid the taxes, the
person’s guardian, executor, or administrator may within one
year after the date of the filing of the claim commence an
action in the superior court against the county to recover the
taxes which the county treasurer has refused to refund. [1991
c 245 § 40; 1989 c 378 § 33; 1981 c 228 § 2; 1961 c 15 §
84.69.120. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 12.]
84.69.130
84.69.130 Claim prerequisite to action—Recovery
limited to ground asserted. No action shall be commenced
or maintained under this chapter unless a claim for refund
shall have been filed in compliance with the provisions of this
chapter, and no recovery of taxes shall be allowed in any such
action upon a ground not asserted in the claim for refund.
[1961 c 15 § 84.69.130. Prior: 1957 c 120 § 13.]
(2006 Ed.)
Sections
84.70.010
84.70.040
Reduction in value—Abatement—Formulas—Appeal.
Arson destroyed property.
84.70.010
84.70.010 Reduction in value—Abatement—Formulas—Appeal. (1) If, on or before December 31 in any calendar year, any real or personal property placed upon the
assessment roll of that year is destroyed in whole or in part,
or is in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the
governor or the county legislative authority and has been
reduced in value by more than twenty percent as a result of a
natural disaster, the true and fair value of such property shall
be reduced for that assessment year by an amount determined
by taking the true and fair value of such taxable property
before destruction or reduction in value and deduct therefrom
the true and fair value of the remaining property after destruction or reduction in value.
(2) Taxes levied for collection in the year in which the
true and fair value has been reduced under subsection (1) of
this section shall be abated in whole or in part as provided in
this subsection. The amount of taxes to be abated shall be
determined by first multiplying the amount deducted from
the true and fair value under subsection (1) of this section by
the rate of levy applicable to the property in the tax year.
Then divide the product by the number of days in the year and
multiply the quotient by the number of days remaining in the
calendar year after the date of the destruction or reduction in
[Title 84 RCW—page 143]
84.70.040
Title 84 RCW: Property Taxes
value of the property. If taxes abated under this section have
been paid, the amount paid shall be refunded under RCW
84.69.020. The tax relief provided for in this section for the
tax year in which the damage or destruction occurred does
not apply to property damaged or destroyed voluntarily.
(3) No reduction in the true and fair value or abatements
shall be made more than three years after the date of destruction or reduction in value.
(4) The assessor shall make such reduction on his or her
own motion; however, the taxpayer may make application for
reduction on forms prepared by the department and provided
by the assessor. The assessor shall notify the taxpayer of the
amount of reduction.
(5) If destroyed property is replaced prior to the valuation dates contained in RCW 36.21.080 and 36.21.090, the
total taxable value for that assessment year shall not exceed
the value as of the appropriate valuation date in RCW
36.21.080 or 36.21.090, whichever is appropriate.
(6) The taxpayer may appeal the amount of reduction to
the county board of equalization in accordance with the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. The board shall reconvene, if
necessary, to hear the appeal. [2005 c 56 § 1; 2001 c 187 §
26; 1999 sp.s. c 8 § 1; 1997 c 3 § 126 (Referendum Bill No.
47, approved November 4, 1997); 1994 c 301 § 56; 1987 c
319 § 6; 1981 c 274 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 120 § 2; 1974 ex.s.
c 196 § 3.]
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: "Sections 29, 30, and 31 of
this act take effect for taxes levied in 2001 for collection in 2002 and thereafter if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution providing for valuation increases to be phased in over a period of four
years is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by voters at the next
general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified,
sections 29, 30, and 31 of this act are null and void. If such proposed amendment is approved and ratified, sections 2 through 13, 16 through 19, and 21
through 28 of this act are null and void." [2001 c 187 § 32.]
Reviser’s note: No proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of
the state Constitution was submitted to the voters.
84.72.020
84.72.030
Basis of apportionment.
Certification of apportionment to state treasurer—Distribution
to county treasurers.
84.72.010
84.72.010 State treasurer authorized to receive in
lieu payments—Department of revenue to apportion. The
state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to receive
any moneys that may be paid to the state by the United States
or any agency thereof in lieu of ad valorem property taxes,
and to transfer the same to the respective county treasurers in
compliance with apportionments made by the state department of revenue; and the state treasurer shall immediately
notify the department of revenue of the receipt of any such
payment. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 § 211; 1961 c 15 § 84.72.010.
Prior: 1941 c 199 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 11337-15.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.72.020
84.72.020 Basis of apportionment. Any such moneys
so paid to the state treasurer shall be apportioned to the state
and to the taxing districts thereof that would be entitled to
share in the property taxes in lieu of which such payments are
made in the same proportion that the state and such taxing
units would have shared in such property taxes if the same
had been levied. The basis of apportionment shall be the
same as that of property taxes first collectible in the year in
which such lieu payment is made: PROVIDED, That if any
such lieu payment cannot be so apportioned the apportionment shall be made on such basis as the department of revenue shall deem equitable and proper. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
212; 1961 c 15 § 84.72.020. Prior: 1941 c 199 § 2; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 11337-16.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
84.72.030
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Severability—1999 sp.s. c 8: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act
or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [1999 sp.s. c 8 § 3.]
Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 8: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state
government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately
[June 7, 1999]." [1999 sp.s. c 8 § 4.]
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to
electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 84.56.020.
Refund of property taxes: Chapter 84.69 RCW.
84.70.040
84.70.040 Arson destroyed property. No relief under
this chapter shall be given to any person who is convicted of
arson with regard to the property for which relief is sought.
[1987 c 319 § 7; 1974 ex.s. c 196 § 6.]
84.72.030 Certification of apportionment to state
treasurer—Distribution to county treasurers. The department of revenue may indicate either the exact apportionment
to taxing units or it may direct in general terms that county
treasurers shall apportion any such lieu payment in the manner provided in RCW 84.72.020. In either event the department of revenue shall certify to the state treasurer the basis of
apportionment and the state treasurer shall thereupon forthwith transmit any such lieu payment, together with a statement of the basis of apportionment, to the county treasurer in
accordance with such certification. [1975 1st ex.s. c 278 §
213; 1961 c 15 § 84.72.030. Prior: 1941 c 199 § 3; Rem.
Supp. 1941 § 11337-17.]
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Chapter 84.98
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 196: See note following RCW 84.56.020.
Chapter 84.72 RCW
FEDERAL PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES
Chapter 84.72
Sections
84.72.010
State treasurer authorized to receive in lieu payments—
Department of revenue to apportion.
[Title 84 RCW—page 144]
Chapter 84.98 RCW
CONSTRUCTION
Sections
84.98.010
84.98.020
84.98.030
84.98.040
84.98.050
Continuation of existing law.
Title, chapter, section headings not part of law.
Invalidity of part of title not to affect remainder.
Repeals and saving.
Emergency—1961 c 15.
(2006 Ed.)
Construction
84.98.050
84.98.010 Continuation of existing law. The provisions of this title insofar as they are substantially the same as
statutory provisions repealed by this chapter, and relating to
the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements
and continuations, and not as new enactments. [1961 c 15 §
84.98.010.]
84.98.010
84.98.020 Title, chapter, section headings not part of
law. Title headings, chapter headings, and section or subsection headings, as used in this title, do not constitute any part
of the law. [1961 c 15 § 84.98.020.]
84.98.020
84.98.030 Invalidity of part of title not to affect
remainder. If any section, subdivision of a section, paragraph, sentence, clause or word of this title for any reason
shall be adjudged invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder of this title but shall be
confined in its operation to the section, subdivision of a section, paragraph, sentence, clause or word directly involved in
the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. If any tax imposed under this title shall be adjudged
invalid as to any person, corporation, association or class of
persons, corporations or associations included within the
scope of the general language of this title such invalidity shall
not affect the liability of any person, corporation, association
or class of persons, corporations or associations as to which
such tax has not been adjudged invalid. It is hereby expressly
declared that had any section, subdivision of a section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or any person, corporation,
association or class of persons, corporations or associations
as to which this title is declared invalid been eliminated from
the title at the time the same was considered the title would
have nevertheless been enacted with such portions eliminated. [1961 c 15 § 84.98.030.]
84.98.030
84.98.040 Repeals and saving.
84.98.040.
84.98.040
See 1961 c 15 §
84.98.050 Emergency—1961 c 15. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, the support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
[1961 c 15 § 84.98.050.]
84.98.050
(2006 Ed.)
[Title 84 RCW—page 145]
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