(A) As used in this section, "public official" means an elected or appointed officer, employee, or agent of any political subdivision, board, commission, bureau, or other public body established by law who is permitted or required in the performance of his duties to issue checks, keep books and records, prepare and preserve payroll and other employee records, and make reports or perform other similar duties.

(B) Any public official may contract for and engage the services of a financial institution, or other person engaged in the business or capable of rendering electronic data processing or computer services, to perform the mechanical, clerical, or record-keeping services necessary in the performance of his duties. Such services may include, but are not limited to, the preparation of payroll and other records, the preparation, signing, and issuance of checks, the preparation of reports and accounts, and the performance of all similar duties.

(C) A contract authorized by division (B) of this section may be entered into only:

(1) If the surety bond required of such public official includes within its coverage any loss which might occur as the result of such contract;

(2) Pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the governing board, commission, bureau, or other public body having jurisdiction over such public official authorizing a contract for the performance of such services;

(3) If the contract does not conflict with the accounting requirements prescribed by the auditor of state under section 117.43 of the Revised Code or with accounting procedures prescribed by the director of budget and management under section 126.21 of the Revised Code;

(4) If assurances satisfactory to the auditor of state are furnished by both the financial institution, or other person engaged in the business or capable of rendering electronic data processing or computer services, and the public official that the books and records of the public official in the possession of the person performing such services shall be subject to audit by the auditor of state to the same extent as if such services were being performed by the public official himself.

(D) A public official, at the request of a person to whom the political subdivision, board, commission, bureau, or other public body is indebted and to whom payment is to be made, may send a check to a bank representing the amount due such person for credit to his account in the bank subject to the following conditions:

(1) The person to whom payment is to be made provides the public official with a written request on a form approved by the auditor of state which designates the bank and contains the endorsement of such bank thereon stating its willingness to act in this respect as agent of such person;

(2) In the event that there are two or more persons who designate the same bank and payments are due to such persons on the same regularly recurring dates, the public official may draw a single check for the total amount due all such persons in favor of the bank for credit to the accounts of the several persons;

(3) Payment of a check drawn in favor of and properly endorsed by the bank designated by a person to whom payment is to be made constitutes a full acquittance to the public official for the amount of such payment.

(E) Nothing contained in this section relieves such public official from the primary responsibility for the maintenance of the records and performance of the duties of his office.

Effective Date: 07-01-1985 .