44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1999

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF CHAPTER 67 NMSA 1978 TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR METRIC CONVERSION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of Chapter 67 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] METRIC MEASUREMENTS--CONVERSION DELAYED--FEDERAL LAW.--The department shall not spend any money, adopt any rules or implement any policies or programs to convert signs to the metric system or to require the use of the metric system with respect to designing or preparing plans, specifications, estimates or other documents for any highway project before the conversion or use is required by federal law, except that the department may:

A. spend money and require the use of the metric system with respect to designing or preparing plans, specifications, estimates or other documents for a highway project that is awarded before October 1, 1997 and that is exclusively metric from its inception; or

B. prepare for conversion to and use of the metric system not more than six months before the conversion or use is required by federal law."