The Rockwall County Clerk's Office stopped issuing birth certificates on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after running out of the secure paper required to print them.

County Clerk Jennifer Fogg said the shortage traces to a statewide vendor switch. Banknote Corporation of America replaced VeriTrace as the state's supplier of secure paper for birth and death certificates in March. Local registrars were notified of the change April 30, according to Fogg.

The transition has not gone smoothly. Statewide demand and an initial lack of paper from the new vendor caused significant delays in filling orders, Fogg told the Rockwall County Herald-Banner. The county received its first proof of the new paper in July. That proof needed corrections, and a revised version did not arrive until August. Fogg approved the corrected proof so production could move forward.

Fogg said the office expects to have paper available again around Thursday, Oct. 1.

WFAA reported that an order placed in early August is not expected to arrive until the end of October. Neither source explained the gap between the two dates.

WFAA also reported that the shortage is affecting death certificate issuance in Rockwall County. The Herald-Banner's account mentioned only birth certificates.

"I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this temporary shortage may cause," Fogg said in a statement reported by WFAA on Sept. 22. "I know that birth certificates are often needed for important and time-sensitive reasons, and I share your frustration that we are temporarily unable to provide the level of service you expect from my office."

Fogg said the disruption is outside the county clerk's local control. The Clerk's Office said it will notify the public when its paper supply has been restored and certificate issuance resumes.