(a) The Jackson County governing body shall reimburse the office of tax collector and judge of probate from the general fund of the county the amount of any monetary loss, not to exceed a total of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per annum, arising or caused by the acceptance of worthless or forged checks if the acceptance was caused without their personal knowledge.
(b) It shall be the duty of the tax collector and judge of probate to insure that 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 the office.