Security paper shortage has counties scrambling
By Melody Gutierrez, San Francisco Chronicle
SACRAMENTO — A particular security-enabled paper used to print all vital records in California is in short supply after the Ohio business that produced it suddenly closed, forcing some counties to ration the number of birth and death certificates people can buy.
County registrars say the only other company capable of producing the specific type of paper required by state law is in Canada, and they are working to at least temporarily contract with that company.
Lawmakers say the paper shortage has raised a question of whether some of the security features required by state law for vital records are outdated. In the meantime, counties say they are scrambling to meet the public’s needs for the documents.
Counties are also working to have the plates used to produce the paper for vital records sent to them from the now-closed Ohio business, Sekuworks LLC, to ensure that fraudulent copies of crucial identity documents can’t be produced. Sekuworks representatives could not be reached for this story.
