§40-26-1. Tax imposed; exemptions; definitions.

(a) There is levied and imposed, in addition to all other taxes of every kind now imposed by law, a privilege or license tax upon every person, firm, or corporation engaging in the business of renting or furnishing any room or rooms, lodging, or accommodations to transients in any hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or any other place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished to transients for a consideration, in any county which is located in the geographic region comprising the Alabama mountain lakes area, those being Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston, in an amount to be determined by the application of the rate of five percent of the charge for such room, rooms, lodgings, or accommodations, including the charge for use or rental of personal property and services furnished in such room, and the rate of four percent of the charge in every other county. There is exempted from the tax levied under this chapter any rentals or services taxed under Division 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 23 of this title.

(b) The tax shall not apply to rooms, lodgings, or accommodations supplied: (i) For a period of 180 continuous days or more in any place; (ii) by camps, conference centers, or similar facilities operated by nonprofit organizations primarily for the benefit of, and in connection with, recreational or educational programs for children, students, or members or guests of other nonprofit organizations during any calendar year; or (iii) by privately operated camps, conference centers, or similar facilities that provide lodging and recreational or educational programs exclusively for the benefit of children, students, or members or guests of nonprofit organizations during any calendar year.

(c) For purposes of subsection (b): "Children" means individuals under age 21; "student" is defined in accordance with 26 U.S.C. §151(c)(4), as in effect from time to time or by any successor law; "nonprofit organization" is an organization exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3), as in effect from time to time or any successor law; and "privately operated" refers to any camp, conference center, or similar facility other than those operated by a nonprofit organization as herein defined.

(Acts 1955, No. 248, p. 586, §1; Acts 1963, No. 269, p. 715, §1; Acts 1979, No. 79-604, p. 1068, §1; Acts 1996, No. 96-498, p. 629, §1; Act 2001-968, 3rd Sp. Sess., p. 865, §1; Act 2001-975, 3rd Sp. Sess., p. 908, §6; Act 2009-144, p. 268, §12.)