Weights & Measures County to national level

1. Weights & Measures County to national level • Angela Godwin • Sealer • County of Ventura

2. Organization of Weights & Measures in the United States • No Federal Program • No one federal agency has overall jurisdiction • Weights & Measures remains a “State’ Rights” Issue • Over 750 State, County, and City Weights and Measures jurisdictions in the USA

3. Organization of Weights & Measures in California

4. Present Day Weights & Measures in California

5. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)- • www.nist.gov • The National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) www.ncwm.net

6. National Bureau of Standards (NBS) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) • The National Bureau of Standards was established by Congress in 1901 • Federal technology agency for maintaining the traceability of national standards • Provides technical guidance to NCWM • The name was changed to National Institute of Standards and Technology in 1988 • Congress greatly expanded NIST’s mission by establishing: • Advanced Technology Program • Manufacturing Extension Partnership

7. National Conference On Weights & Measures“The Equity May Prevail” • NCWM is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing U.S. standards for weights and measuresFirst meeting in 1905 was organized by the National Bureau of Standards – eight states and the District of ColumbiaFirst model standards were published in 1915 – Tolerances and Specifications for Weighing and Measuring devices

8. National Standard Handbooks • The Standards adopted by NCWM are contained in 3 publications. • NIST Handbook 44 contains the specification, tolerances and other technical requirements for weights and measure devices. Almost every state adopts HB44 in some form. • NIST Handbook 130 contains model laws and regulations. States may adopt any or all of these regulations as a means of supplementing their own statues. • NIST Handbook 133 contains the test procedures for checking the net contents of packaged goods. • Everyone has a stake in the national standards for weights and measures and can participate in the standards development process. • All of these standards are subject to amendment on an annual basis. The idea for amendments can come from anyone; inspectors, consumers, manufacturers, administrators, and retailers.

9. Regional Organization of the NCWM • Western W & M Assoc. • Central W & M Assoc. • Southern W & M Assoc. • Northeastern W & M • Assoc. The states are organized into various regional groups where weights and measures issues are discussed and proposals are submitted to NCWM.

10. Regional Organization of the NCWM Western W & M Association • California • Oregon • Washington • Nevada • Idaho • Utah • Hawaii • Colorado • New Mexico • Arizona • Alaska • Montana • Wyoming

11. Western Weights & Measures Association (WWMA) • California officials join the WWMA. • It is our regional tie to the National Conference on eights & Measures (NCWM). • We initiate & develop proposals through the WWMA which then go to the NCWM for adoption.

12. NCWM Structure (WWMA)

13. About the Conference

14. Board of Directors • Manage administrative functions, set vision and direction for NCWM • Oversee the activities of the standing committees • Provide counsel on weights and measures issues as they emerge in the marketplace by drawing on the expertise of our diverse membership of public and private sector members

15. Specification and Tolerances Committee • Address specifications, tolerances and technical requirements for commercial weighing and measuring devices • Interprets and develops standards and testing equipment for weights and measures officials, as well as recommending procedures for testing commercial equipment • Results are published in NIST Handbook 44: Specifications, Tolerances and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices

16. Laws and Regulations Committee • Develop and interpret uniform laws and regulations, commodity inspection and regulation standards • Results are published in NIST Handbook 130: Uniform Laws and Regulations for Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality • Interpret and develop standards and testing for checking the net contents of packaged goods • Results are published in NIST Handbook 133: Procedures for Checking Net Contents of Packaged Goods

17. Professional Development Committee • Address consumer affairs and safety issues • Promote awareness of weights and measures activities among the general public • Facilitate training and certification • National Certification Program.

18. National Type Evaluation Program • Oversee the operation of the NTEP Program • Develop objectives, goals, operating policies and procedures which are published in NCWM Publication 14 • Sponsor technical subcommittees in various areas to develop technical test procedures and evaluation criteria • Serve as arbiter in disputes involving NTEP activities • Authorize participating laboratories

19. NCWM Publication 16 • Agenda items • Changes to the agenda can and do occur • Review items prior to Open Hearings • Be prepared to state your point of view during Open Hearings • Written testimony is accepted to compliment your Open Hearing comments

20. Committee Reference Keys

21. Open Hearing • All attendees may speak on any issue • All Standing Committees conduct an Open Hearing • Stakeholder input in the standards development process is used to determine final reports • Address the chair of the committee • Go to the microphone • Mr. Chair, members of the committee, • my name is John Doe from the State of California… • Written comments are welcome and very useful for the Committee work sessions

22. Committee Work Sessions • Open to all attendees • Committee will review, discuss and revise agenda items • Only committee members may speak • Observe committee work sessions

23. Voting Session • Addendum sheets contain final agenda item changes prior to voting • Items are presented with final opportunity for comment and discussion • House of Representative – one person from each state/territory • House of Delegates – regulatory officials in excess of the House of Representatives

24. Voting Session Arrangement

25. Voting Sessions Continued • Business Items All attendees may vote • Technical Items • Members from House of State Representatives and House of Delegates vote • (Twenty-seven) 27 Affirmative Votes • From each House are needed for an item to pass • Proxy Votes are not allowed

26. Agenda Items Designation

27. Associated Members • Business and Industry members represent nearly 40% of the NCWM membership • Facilitate the Coordination and participation of the associated members in all NCWM Business and social events • Have privilege of the floor throughout meetings.

28. Associate Members • Standing Committee representation: • Board of Directors • Laws and Regulations Committee • Professional Development Committee • Vote on: • NCWM Business Items • Committee Items • Subgroup items • National Type Evaluation Technical Committee Sectors • Work Groups and Task Forces

29. How An Idea Becomes A National Standard • Insert Form 15 • The Process: • Identify problem with a current standard or a void where a standard is needed. • Download Form 15 to create proposal. Indicate the purpose, the proposal, and justification. Designate at least one regional association where the item is to be introduced. • Submit the form to NCWM, it will be forwarded to the indicated regions for consideration at their next fall meeting. It is recommended that the proposal author attend the regional meeting to answer questions and concerns.

30. How An Idea Becomes A National Standard (continued) • (Cont.) The status options are Voting, Informational, Developing, and Withdrawn. • At the NCWM Annual meeting in July, about 9 months into the process, hearings are held once again. The Committees deliberate, and have the option of adding amendments to the item. Addendums sheets are printed and the Conference goes into a voting session. Items adopted will become the new national standards beginning January 1 of the following year. These amendments to the standards are reflected in the respective NIST Handbooks 44, 130, or 133. Your idea has become a national standard. • The regional association will hold hearings to determine recommendations for the proposal on their agendas. If this proposal has merit, the regional association will forward the item to the NCWM committee agenda. • All new proposals received from regional associations along with the carryover items from the previous year will appear in NCWM Publication 16. This is the agenda for the Interim Meeting held each January. • At the conclusion of the NCWMA Interim Meeting, the Committees have designated the status that each agenda idea will have on the NCWM Annual Meeting agenda.

31. National State of California NIST Advisory NCWM Annual CaLEPA CDFA NCWM Interim DMS DPR Regional NCWM CACASA Regional Group Comm/Sealer W & M Pub 14 Proposal Regional Deputy Area Group

32. International Considerations International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML): • Develops legal metrology standards; referred to as OIML Recommendations • OIML Recommendations is voluntary • Overlap of topics

33. International Consideration • Why (International) Harmonization? • Reduces the need for manufacturers to undergo costly, duplicative testing • Manufacturers don't need to make different instruments for different States or countries • Provides smoother international trade and commerce and an efficiency to the marketplace

34. 2013 WWMA Annual MeetingSeptember 22-26, 2013Kallispell, MontanaThe State of Montana proudly invites the Weights and Measures community to the 2013 Annual Western Weights and Measures Conference. The theme of the conference has not yet been announced. This will be an excellent opportunity to watch the open hearings, committee meetings and there will be interesting demonstrations and presentations. September 14-18, 2014Portland, Oregon

35. Thank You • Angela Godwin • County of Ventura • Sealer of Weights & Measures • (805) 654-2428 • angela.godwin@ventura.org