With the approval of the board of social services, the board of commissioners of any county may appoint a licensed attorney to serve as a special county attorney for social service matters, or designate the county attorney as special county attorney for social service matters. (1959, c. 1124, s. 1; 1961, c. 186; 1969, c. 546, s. 1; 1981, c. 275, s. 1.)