Any insurer duly authorized to transact surety insurance in this State may be accepted as surety upon the bond of any person required by the laws of the State to execute a bond. If such insurer shall furnish satisfactory evidence of its ability to provide all the security required by law, no additional surety may be exacted, but other surety or sureties may, in the discretion of the official authorized to approve such bond, be required. Such insurer may be released from its liability on the same terms and conditions as are by law prescribed for the release of individuals. It is the true intent and meaning of this section to enable corporations created for that purpose to become surety on bonds required by law, subject to all the rights and liabilities of private individuals. [PL 1969, c. 132, §1 (NEW).]