KRS 134.230 — Bond to be executed by sheriff -- Liability of sheriff and sureties

(1) (a) The sheriff shall execute a bond annually to the Commonwealth with one (1)
or more sufficient sureties in the minimum sum of ten thousand dollars
($10,000), conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties and to
pay over to the proper pers on and at the proper time all money collected. The
bond shall be executed prior to the sheriff collecting taxes for the year in
which the bond is executed. The bond shall be approved by order of the
governing body of the county, and shall be filed by the g overning body of the
county with the county clerk and with the department.
(b) The governing body of the county may require the sheriff to enter into an
additional bond, with good surety to be approved by the governing body of the
county.
(2) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection, the sureties on all
bonds executed by the sheriff pursuant to this section shall be jointly and
severally liable for any default of the sheriff during the calendar year in which
the bond was executed, w hether the liability accrues before or after the
execution of the bond.
(b) Neither the sheriff nor a surety shall be liable for any act or default of the
sheriff relating to the sheriff's revenue duties unless notice of the act or default
of the sheriff giving rise to a claim upon the bond has been given to the surety
by the department, the chief executive of the county, the county attorney, or
other person asserting the claim within ninety (90) days after discovery or at
the latest within one (1) year aft er the end of the year within which the bond
was executed.
(3) (a) Any sheriff who fails to execute a bond as required by this section shall forfeit
his or her office. The vacancy shall be filled as provided in KRS 63.220.
(b) If the chief executive of the county does not appoint a sheriff as provided in
KRS 63.220 within thirty (30) days, the department may appoint a tax
collector to collect the moneys due the state. An appointed collector shall
execute a bond within ten (10) days of being appointed, in th e same manner
and under the same conditions as provided in this section for a sheriff. A
sheriff who forfeits his or her office under this subsection or who resigns his
or her office shall not be appointed as collector under this section.