(a) The Houston County Commission shall reimburse the office of the license commissioner, judge of probate, or revenue commissioner from the general fund of the county the amount of any monetary loss, not to exceed a total of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per annum, arising or caused by error, if the mistake or omission was caused without their personal knowledge, including loss arising from acceptance of worthless or forged checks, drafts, money orders, or other written orders for money or its equivalent.
(b) It shall be the duty of the license commissioner, probate judge, or revenue commissioner to insure that their employees exercise due care in performing their duties and to make a diligent effort to correct the error, mistake, or omission and collect the amount subject to potential loss immediately upon becoming aware of the potential loss. This section shall not apply to any deliberate misuse or misappropriation of funds by the official or any clerk or employee of their office.