(a) There is hereby established in the Kansas department of agriculture a weights and measures inspection program to enforce the provisions ofchapter 83 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, or any rules and regulations adopted thereunder. The program shall be under the supervision of the secretary, and the secretary shall employ an administrator of the program and appoint such personnel as may be necessary for the proper administration ofchapter 83 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto. The administrator shall be in the unclassified service of the Kansas civil service act.

(b) The weights and measures inspection program shall perform the following functions:

(1) Assure that weights and measures in commercial service within the state are suitable for their intended use, properly installed, accurate and are so maintained by their owner or user;

(2) prevent unfair or deceptive dealing by weight or measure in any commodity or service advertised, packaged, sold or purchased within this state;

(3) make available to all users of physical standards or weighing and measuring equipment the precision calibration and related metrological certification capabilities of the weights and measures facilities of the Kansas department of agriculture;

(4) promote uniformity, to the extent such conformance is practicable and desirable, between weights and measures requirements of this state and those of other states and federal agencies;

(5) encourage desirable economic growth while protecting the consumer through the adoption by rule and regulation of weights and measures requirements as necessary to assure equity among buyers and sellers; and

(6) such other functions as may be specified by law or deemed necessary by the secretary to carry out the duties and functions ofchapter 83 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, or any rules and regulations adopted thereunder.