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.