Jose Arriola, deputy director of Santa Cruz County Health and Human Services, said the county will start providing copies of birth certificates locally on July 1. The change means residents who were born in Santa Cruz County will no longer need to travel to Pima County to request a copy, Arriola said.

Arriola said vital records “are any documents related to birth or death, death certificates. So when someone passes away, that death needs to be registered.” He added, “starting July 1, we're gonna start offering birth certificates.” The department currently registers deaths and has been preparing to add birth-certificate services, he said.

The switch to offering birth certificates locally will alter where residents request official documents: “So currently, birth certificates, you have to go to Pima County, would be the closest office. So if you were born here in Santa Cruz County, you'd have to go to Pima County if you need a copy of your birth certificate,” Arriola said. He asked for patience as the office implements the new service: “we're excited about that. So, have some patience with us because it's gonna be a big, big change.”

Arriola described the vital-records function as part of a broader public-facing set of services in the county health office, including answering questions for residents about opening businesses and septic-system permits. He said staff will be available to help the public with requirements and regulations related to new-business openings and construction that require documented records.

No formal ordinance, statute, fee schedule, or specific process for requesting the new birth-certificate copies was described in the interview. Arriola limited his comments to the county’s planned start date, the current requirement to visit Pima County for a birth copy, and the ongoing provision of death certificates.

Residents seeking specifics about hours, required identification, fees, or processing times were not given detailed instructions in the interview and should contact Santa Cruz County Health and Human Services directly once the service begins on July 1.