Upon the filing with the auditor of any municipality of the first class of a petition signed by fifteen percent of the registered voters of such municipality, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, the governing body shall submit to the voters of the municipality the question whether such municipality shall adopt a retirement system covering its employees and officers. If such petition is filed not less than twenty nor more than ninety days before the date of the holding of a regular state, county or municipal election, such question shall be submitted at such election, otherwise a special election shall be called for submission of such question. If a majority of the voters voting upon the proposition shall vote in favor of the adoption thereof, the same shall be adopted in such municipality.

Source: SL 1925, ch 239, § 7; SDC 1939, § 45.1204; SL 1949, ch 183, § 4; SL 1987, ch 67, § 15; SL 1992, ch 60, § 2.