Certain county officers must be bonded, sheriffs and county attorneys must give bond before acting, and the bonds must include a stated condition and a minimum 2-year discovery period.
I. County commissioners, county treasurers, registers of deeds and deputy registers of deeds shall be bonded by position by means of a blanket undertaking or undertakings from any duly authorized corporate surety, such blanket undertaking or undertakings to indemnify against losses through one or both of the following conditions: (a) Through the failure of such officers covered thereunder to faithfully perform their duties or to account properly for all moneys or property received by virtue of their positions; or (b) Through fraudulent or dishonest acts committed by the officers covered thereunder. II. Blanket bonds obtained under this section shall provide for at least a 2 year discovery period from and after the date of termination of coverage thereunder. III. Before performing any official acts sheriffs and county attorneys shall give bond to the county, with sufficient sureties. IV. Each bond required under this section shall contain a condition in substance as follows: The condition of this obligation is that if said __________ who has been elected to (or appointed to, as the case may be) the office of __________ for said county of __________ for the term beginning __________ shall faithfully perform all the duties of said office, and shall discharge and satisfy all the liabilities for which he is by law officially answerable, this obligation shall be void. In the case of sheriffs and registers of deeds, after the word answerable, there shall be inserted the words "including his liability for the official conduct, neglects and misdoings of his deputies." Source: Source. RS 178:1, 2; 179:1. CS 189:1, 2; 190:1. GS 198:1. GL 217:1. 1889, 33:1. PS 26:1. 1905, 52:1. PL 37:1. RL 46:1. RSA 27:1. 1979, 376:1. 1983, 383:4, 5, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.