§ 45-9-22 — Payment of claims or judgment against members of municipal, county, or other public body

(a) Any municipality, county, or other public body may, in its discretion, adopt a policy establishing the terms and conditions under which it may pay part or all of any claim or civil judgment rendered against any person whose defense such municipality, county, or other public body is authorized to undertake under Code Section 45-9-21 . Any such disbursement shall be deemed to be for public purposes and may be paid from state, federal, or local funds. No attempt shall be made at the trial of any action brought against a person covered under this Code section to suggest the fact that the municipality, county, or public body will be responsible for any judgment therein. (b) The failure to adopt a policy as provided in this Code section prior to making any payments authorized by this Code section shall not invalidate any such payments if the governing authority of the municipality, county, or public body shall, within a reasonable time after the fact of such failure has been brought to its attention, adopt a policy as provided in this Code section.