2023 Tennessee Code › Title 8 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (§§ 8-1-101 — 65-168) › Chapter 19 - BONDS OF OFFICERS (§§ 8-19-101 — 8-19-504) › Part 1 - FORM AND FILING OF BONDS (§§ 8-19-101 — 8-19-122) › Section 8-19-102 - Bonding requirements - Copies of bonds as evidence

(a)
(1)
A county official who is required by law to give an official bond shall execute such bond when the bond becomes available after election or appointment to office, but not later than thirty (30) days from the beginning of the term of office. The effectiveness of an official bond relates back to the beginning of the term of office so long as it is executed within the time allowed by law.
(2)
The county legislative body shall appropriate sufficient funds to pay the premiums on the official bonds of county officials and such employees of the county that are required by law to be bonded. Each county shall competitively bid the purchase of official bonds and other surety bonds. Blanket bonds must be used unless such bonds are unavailable or circumstances require the bonding of an individual separately from the blanket bond agreement. A county shall only purchase bonds from a surety company authorized to do business in this state as surety. If no surety company is willing to serve as surety for a particular person who is required to give bond, the county legislative body may by resolution authorize either the use of personal sureties for such person with such personal sureties to be approved by the county mayor, or the use of a cash bond approved by the county mayor with the cash to be deposited with the county trustee.
(3)
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the county legislative body is not required to approve an official bond or surety bond of a county official or employee on or after July 1, 2023. However, this does not remove the authority of the county legislative body to require bond amounts in excess of the statutory minimum as provided by law.
(4)
The official county bond forms and other bonds required pursuant to this section must be made available for execution at the office of the county clerk.
(5)
Each county official or employee required to execute an official bond or surety bond, other than bonds required by law to be approved by judges or chancellors, shall submit the bond for approval by the county mayor in accordance with §
8-19-112
, and if sufficient and regular, the county mayor shall approve the bond in accordance with §
8-19-113
.
(6)
The bond of the county mayor must be approved by the judge of the court of general sessions in the county or the judge of the first division of such court if the county has more than one (1) general sessions court judge.
(7)
If the bond of a county official or employee is disapproved, the approving authority shall inform the county clerk and the person executing the bond of the insufficiency or irregularity, and a new bond must be executed and submitted to the approving authority for approval. After approval, the approving authority shall transmit the approved bond to the county clerk who shall record the executed and approved official bond of each county official and surety bond of each county employee required to give bond with the county register of deeds, and, after recording, the county clerk shall file these bonds in the office of the county clerk.
(8)
This part does not apply to notaries public.
(9)
This part does not apply to a special deputy sheriff bonded pursuant to §
8-8-303
.
(b)
Where suit is necessary to enforce the obligation of any such bond or undertaking, the county clerk shall make such bond available to the proper authorities. A copy of the official bond duly certified by the county clerk is admissible as evidence in any suit on the bond to prove the execution of the bond and any condition thereof.
(c)
The official bonds of state officials and state employees shall be lodged for safekeeping at an office designated by the governor.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 207, s 20, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 315, Secs.s 1, s 2 eff. 4/29/2013.
Acts 1957, ch. 289, §§ 2, 3; T.C.A., § 8-1902; Acts 1998, ch. 677, § 1.