Bill Text: HI HB36 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Metric System; State-wide Use

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-18 - Referred to CPC, JUD, referral sheet 1 [HB36 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HB36-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	36
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the metric system.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that very strong economic and scientific reasons exist for states to switch to the metric system.  Other than Burma and Liberia, the United States is the only country that has not switched to the metric system.  The cost of not switching to the metric system is quickly increasing with the trend towards globalization.  Failing to switch could result in the United States losing its competitive edge in science and technology, as well as continuing to create bilateral trade impediments with other countries.

     The cost of switching to a metric system could be quickly outweighed by the economic benefits of global interoperability.  This is particularly important as the dominance of United States companies is being challenged in the competitive atmosphere of globalization.  Switching to the metric system would likely result in the creation of many jobs, and enable the current and future workforce of the United States to be more prepared to work in the international marketplace.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish the metric system as the official system of measurement in the State and to require its use in public documents, public records, and public school instructional materials beginning in 2018.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§5-     State system of measurement.  The metric system is established as the official system of measurement in the State and shall be required for public documents and public records."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart B of part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     System of measurement.  The metric system of measurement shall be used in all public school curriculum and instruction."

     SECTION 4.  Section 486-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  These rules may include:

     (1)  Standards of net measure, and reasonable standards of fill for any package;

     (2)  The technical and reporting procedures to be followed, the report and record forms to be used by persons subject to the provisions of this chapter, and the marks of approval and rejection to be used by the administrator, inspectors, and measurement standards personnel in the discharge of their official duties;

     (3)  Exemptions from the sealing, labeling, marking, or other requirements of the respective parts of this chapter;

     (4)  The voluntary registration of service persons and service agencies for commercial weighing and measuring devices.  These rules may include, but are not limited to, provisions for registration fees, period of registration, requirements for test equipment, privileges and responsibilities of a voluntary registrant, reports required, qualification requirements, examinations to be administered, certificates of registration, and means for revocation of registration;

     (5)  Schedules and fees for licensing measuring devices;

     (6)  Schedules and fees for calibrating or testing measurement standards, and registration of the products covered by such measurement standards;

     (7)  Specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements with respect to the packaging, registering, handling, storing, advertising, labeling, dispensing, and selling of petroleum products;

     (8)  Specifications, tolerances, and other technical requirements for weighing and measuring devices;

     (9)  Practices to assure that amounts of commodities or services sold are determined in accordance with good commercial practice and are so determined and represented as to be accurate and informative to all parties at interest;

    (10)  Requirements for type evaluation;

    (11)  Definitions, applicability, mandatory use, units, standards, and tolerances relating to the International System of Units; and

    (12)  Such other rules as the board deems necessary for the enforcement of this chapter."

     SECTION 5.  Section 486-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Any petroleum product which is in a liquid state under conditions of seven hundred sixty millimeters of Hg at sixty degrees Fahrenheit shall be measured in terms of units of the SI that are compatible to the U.S. petroleum gallon; its multiple or decimal submultiples, [or compatible units of the SI] as established by rule of the board."

     SECTION 6.  Section 486-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§486-102[]]  Systems of measurement.  The United States customary system of weights and measures and the metric system of measurement are jointly recognized, [and either one or both] provided that the metric system of measurement shall be used for all measurement purposes in the State.  The definitions of basic units of measure, the tables of measure and measure equivalents, the specifications, tolerances and other technical requirements for measuring devices, as published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and adopted, or modified and adopted by the board, together with the measurement standards provided for herein, are recognized and shall govern measurement standards, measuring equipment and measuring transactions in the State."

     SECTION 7.  The director of taxation shall submit proposed legislation to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014 to convert expressions in chapter 243, on the fuel tax law, and chapter 244D, on the liquor tax law, from the United States customary system of weights and measures to the metric system of measurement.

     SECTION 8.  The revisor of statutes, in cooperation with affected state and county agencies, shall submit proposed legislation to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014 to convert expressions in the Hawaii Revised Statutes, exclusive of chapters 23 and 244D, to convert expressions from the United States customary system of weights and measures to the metric system of measurement.

     SECTION 9.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 10.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2018; provided that sections 7 and 8 shall take effect upon approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Metric System; State-wide Use

 

Description:

Makes the metric system the official system of measurement in the State by 01/01/18.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.