While all library board trustees have the fiduciary responsibility to manage library income to best serve the community, only the board treasurer requires bonding. This is required both by statute and in the state constitution.
The Constitution of Kentucky provides for the bonding of certain officers:
“The Judges of the County Courts, Clerks, Sheriffs, Surveyors, Coroners, Jailers, Constables, and such other officers as the General Assembly may, from time to time, require, shall before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, and as often thereafter as may be deemed proper, give such bond and security as may be prescribed by law.” [§ 103]
And:
“The General Assembly shall provide by a general law what officers shall execute bond for the faithful discharge of their duties, and fix the liability therein.” [§ 224]
Statutorily, KRS 62.050(1) provides that:
“No officer required by law to give bond shall enter upon the duties of his office until he gives the bond.”
In addition, the Attorney General opines in OAG 95-003:
“…that a public officer is required to post a bond in relation to the performance of the duties of an office if a statute has been passed so providing.”
Specific statutes that directly address this issue for library boards provide that the treasurer is required to give bond in an amount approved by the board. [KRS 173.360(2); KRS 173.540(5); KRS 173.755(5)].
While there is no statutory amount for the bond, the board may want to use the bonding exposure schedule found in 702 KAR 3:080, used by school district boards as a guideline. The main issue to keep in mind in setting the amount of bond coverage is the maximum amount of money that is accessible at one time. The Board may want to include a statement in the bylaws that indicates: “The Library adopts the bonding schedule according to the chart as shown in 702 KAR 3:080.”
Each person appointed to an office who is required to give bond must give the bond within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of appointment.
Regarding Errors & Omissions or Directors & Officers insurance, the AG has opined in OAG 66-49 that this insurance is not the same thing as the bond and does not relieve the library from having the treasurer bonded:
“At this point we must note the difference between a ‘Bond’ and ‘Insurance.’ A bond merely guarantees the oblige that the obligor will truly and faithfully perform the obligation. It is for the benefit of the oblige. It does not in any way relieve the obligor of his personal responsibility for his erroneous acts or acts which he should have, but failed to perform. If the obligor (or principal) fails in his duty and does not make personal restitution, his surety can be called upon, by the oblige, to do so. This still does not relieve him of his personal responsibility since he is obligated to reimburse his surety for the amount which they are required to pay on his behalf.
On the other hand, an ‘Errors and Omissions’ insurance policy is for the benefit of the policyholder to guarantee him against personal loss because of this erroneous act or failure to act. We recognize that his guarantee is not absolute since policies do contain exclusions and many have a deductible clause. The end result however is to materially reduce the chance for personal loss to the named insured.”
Revised April 9, 2021