Risk manager seeks county-paid notary E&O insurance; commissioners ask for policy before purchase

Bonner County's risk manager proposed using existing tort fund dollars to purchase errors-and-omissions insurance for county notaries at a group discounted rate.

Christian Jocelyn (risk manager) told the board Bonner County has about nine employees who serve as notary publics and said buying the insurance through the county would reduce cost: "Usually, notaries have a 6 year term... it comes out to $13 a year about," Jocelyn said, describing a reduced group rate the county could obtain. Commissioners raised concerns about coverage scope and whether the county-paid policy would apply to private notarizations or only to county business. One commissioner said the county needs a written policy before rolling coverage into the county name to avoid inconsistent application or potential liability.

Staff discussed interim alternatives, including allowing individuals to purchase the reduced rate in their own name and receive reimbursement, and risk said it would investigate past reimbursement inconsistencies. The person requesting the change withdrew the item for further work and staff follow-up; no motion was adopted.

The board asked that HR draft a policy clarifying the scope of any county-paid notary coverage and requested staff research and propose corrections for past unreimbursed requests.