5641828, 1SER08-2 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Notice: 5641828

Notice of Emergency Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Division:

Division of Elections

Overview

RULE:

1SER08-2

Constitutional Amendment Initiative Petition; Submission Deadline: Signature Verification

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE:

Pursuant to Section 120.54(4)(b), Florida Statutes, this emergency rule pertains to the public health, safety, and welfare as it involves the interpretation and implementation of the requirements of Chapters 97-102 and 105 of the Florida Election Code.
During the 2008 Legislative session, Senate Bill 866 was enacted and signed into law by the Governor. Effective July 1, 2008, the new law deleted the requirement for supervisors of elections to record verified signatures on initiative petition in the statewide voter registration system. Instead, the law requires the supervisors of elections to record initiative petition data in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of State.
The statewide voter registration system was designed for recording voter registrations, not signatures on initiative petitions. In the past, discrepancies have existed in the numbers of signatures being verified in the statewide voter registration system for initiative petitions. These discrepancies seriously undermined the reliability of the number of signatures recorded in the statewide voter registration system. The Secretary of State lacks confidence in the accuracy of signature verification numbers reported in the statewide voter registration system. The Secretary of State believes paper certifications from the county supervisors of elections reflect the most accurate accounting of verified signatures; therefore, this emergency rule requires the supervisors of elections to submit paper certifications to the Division of Elections. The verification process instituted by this emergency rule is very similar to the process that existed in rule prior to January 2007, which was the date that the Legislature initially mandated that the verified signatures be recorded in the statewide voter registration system.
The Emergency Rule is necessary to bring the existing rule in compliance with the new requirements of Section 100.371, Florida Statutes, as amended by Senate Bill 866. There is insufficient time to amend Rule 1S-2.0091 through the normal rulemaking process prior to the law’s July 1st deadline. Procedures must be in place on July 1st that will provide the supervisors of elections guidance for the proper recording and reporting of signature verifications on initiative petitions. This emergency rule is necessary to make the certification on initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments comply with the amended statute. The rule helps to ensure and maintain the efficiency, integrity, and public confidence in the initiative process. Absent this emergency rule, there will be an adverse effect on the conduct of elections and the initiative process in the State of Florida. Based on the foregoing, the Department of State finds that the adoption of this rule is necessary to prevent an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

The Division of Elections is aware of the rulemaking procedures prescribed by Section 120.54, Florida Statutes. That process requires advance notice to the general public of intended rules and the opportunity to submit comments on the intended rule, prior to the agency’s adoption of the rule. The time period for general rulemaking takes at least 60 days and the July 1, 2008 effective date of the amended statute will prevent the timely amendment and adoption of a rule needed to amend the method used by the supervisors of elections and the Secretary of State to record and verify the signatures on constitutional amendment initiative petitions. This emergency rule will permit the Secretary of State to make the most accurate determination whether the requisite number of signatures has been obtained. This emergency rule incorporates newly enacted amendments to Section 100.371, Florida Statutes, and represents a return to the way in which the Secretary of State determined by rule prior to January 2007 if the requisite number of signatures on initiatives has been obtained for ballot position. The Department of State will undergo the normal rulemaking process for this rule in the near future.

SUMMARY:

Based upon statutory amendments, this emergency rule removes the requirement that the determination of the constitutionally requisite number of signatures verified by the supervisors of elections with respect to constitutional initiative petitions be based upon the number of verified signatures recorded in the statewide voter registration system. The emergency rule establishes procedures for supervisors of elections to record and submit paper certifications of verified signatures on initiative petitions.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

Gary J. Holland, Assistant General Counsel, Division of Elections, Department of State, R. A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, (850)245-6536

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

6/27/2008 Vol. 34/26

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:

Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.)

RELATED COURT CASES:

Division of Administrative Hearings

FEDERAL eRULEMAKING
WEB PORTAL:

Regulations.gov

HOW TO LINK TO
THIS NOTICE:

http://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=1SER08-2&PDate=6/27/2008&Section=4

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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