The authority of the public guardian or ex officio public guardian ceases upon the termination of his or her tenure in office as public guardian or ex officio public guardian and his or her authority vests in his or her successor. If letters have been issued to “the public guardian” of the county, the letters are sufficient to authorize action by the successor and new letters need not be issued.

The public guardian shall give an official bond in an amount fixed, from time to time, by the board of supervisors. The bond shall be for the joint benefit of the guardianship or conservatorship estates and the county. The public guardian may not be required to give a bond in an individual estate.

The board of supervisors may designate who shall be authorized as public representative payee, and designate the public guardian to collect any fees authorized by the board of supervisors for public representative payee services.