The boards of county commissioners of any two (2) or more counties jointly may provide a detention home or juvenile farm for the purpose of caring for children under eighteen (18) years of age who are in the custody of the judge of the district court; or upon presentation to the board of county commissioners of each of such counties of a petition signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voters of said county as determined by the total vote cast for the office of secretary of state at the last preceding general election, said boards shall each call an election to be held at the date of the next succeeding election and shall submit at such election the question of establishing such joint detention home or juvenile farm. Such question shall appear upon the ballot as follows:

Control of the home or farm shall be under a board of directors composed of the judge of the district court and one county commissioner of each of the participating counties.

L. 1963, ch. 252, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 174; Jan. 10, 1977.