(a) When deemed expedient by the appointing power, a master official bond or other form of master bond may be used which shall provide coverage on more than one officer, employee, or agent who is required by the appointing power or the board of supervisors of a chartered or general law county to give bond.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when deemed expedient by the legislative body of a local public agency, a master official bond or other form of master bond may be used which shall provide coverage on more than one officer, employee, or agent of the local public agency, whether elected or appointed, who is required by statute, regulation, the appointing power, the governing board of a local public agency, or the board of supervisors of a chartered or general law county to give bond.
(c) A master bond under this section shall be in the form and for the term which is approved by the appointing power or the legislative body of a local public agency, and shall inure to the benefit of the appointing power, state, or local public agency by whom the officer, employee, or agent is employed as well as the officer or officers under whom the employee or agent serves. If the master bond provides coverage on a public guardian or public administrator, then that master bond shall be for the joint benefit of the guardianship or administratorship estates, and the county to which the bond is issued.
(d) “Local public agency” means any city or county, whether general law or chartered, city and county, special district, school district, municipal corporation, political subdivision, joint powers authority or agency created pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1, or any board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency, but shall not mean the state or any agency or department of the state.
(e) “Legislative body” means the board of supervisors of a county or city, or the governing board, by whatever name called, of a local public agency.
(f) In the case of the State of California, the form and content of the bond shall be subject to the approval of the Director of General Services.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 876, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)