(1) The production by any person in connection with any business for profit, regardless of the form of such profit, of special nuclear material is declared to be a taxable privilege upon which each county and/or municipality in which the special nuclear material is produced may levy such privilege tax by resolution or ordinance of the legislative body in accordance with this part.
(2) Every person exercising such privilege shall be liable for the tax, whether such person's possession of such special nuclear material for purposes of production is by virtue of such person's ownership of the material or is pursuant to a lease, contract, license, loan or otherwise.