Solvent guaranty companies, surety companies, fidelity insurance companies and fidelity and deposit companies incorporated and organized under the laws of this State or any other state of the United States or foreign governments for the purpose of transacting the business of fidelity insurance which have a paid-up capital or surplus of two hundred fifty thousand dollars and which shall have complied with all the requirements of law as to a license required by this State may, upon proper proof thereof and upon production of evidence of solvency, be accepted upon the bonds of all city, county and State officers of this State. The various officers of this State whose duty it is to approve the sureties upon such bonds may accept such a company as one of the sureties or the only surety upon such bond as the solvency of such company may warrant. But no person having the approval of any bond shall exact that it be furnished by a guaranty company or by any particular guaranty company. Any such bond shall be made payable to the State.