Purpose


The purpose of rulemaking is to conform the rules to statutory changes in HB 5 (Chapter 2019-64, Laws of Florida), and as further modified by SB 1794 (Chapter 2020-15, Laws of Florida), which collectively amend sections 97.021 and 100.371, Florida Statutes. The laws require, among other things, paid petition circulators to register with the Secretary of State; require petition forms to be made available to constitutional amendment initiative petition sponsors; require the Secretary to maintain a paid petition circulator database; require supervisors of elections to provide specified information to the Division of Elections; provide requirements for gathering petition forms; provide for the imposition of fines for failure to deliver petition forms within a specified time period and provide for defenses; allow the Secretary to refer petition form violations to the Attorney General for enforcement; require the Division of Elections to adopt rules; and provide that the date the elector signs a petition form is presumed to be the date the sponsor collected the form. The changes to the rules are to incorporate these and other changes in the law.