Upon the written request of a majority of the board of commissioners, the department of corrections may detail such able bodied convicts as in its discretion shall seem proper, not exceeding the number specified in the written request, to work upon public projects of a county. The county shall pay to the general fund a certain fixed amount of money per day for each man so detailed, which amount shall be decided upon by the corrections commission. The amount to be paid shall be a fair and just compensation for such labor. The county shall pay expenses of transportation to and from the county and shall provide or pay for the lodging and food of the convicts while employed by it and shall furnish all tools and materials necessary in the performance of the work. The convicts employed upon the public projects shall be under the care and custody of officers as the department of corrections shall designate, and the expense of guarding if guards are necessary shall be borne by the county. Where 2 or more applications shall be on file they shall be filled pro rata. All moneys collected under the provisions of this section shall be turned over to the state treasurer and credited to the general fund.

Any convicts mentioned in section 1 of this act may be employed by the state highway department in this state in construction work upon the public highways of this state. The state highway commissioner shall make requisition for convicts desired for employment and in such requisition shall state the number desired, the place of such work and the time when desired. Such requisition shall be made to the commissioner of pardons and paroles who shall thereupon determine which of such convicts may be used for such employment. At the direction of the governor, the commissioner of pardons and paroles shall issue an order authorizing the transfer of such convicts from their place of confinement to such place of highway employment or prison camp, a copy of which order shall be authority to the warden for the temporary transfer of such convicts. In their employment in highway construction such convicts shall be under the direction of the state highway commissioner or his designated agents and employes. The wardens shall furnish at each place of employment sufficient guards to prevent insubordination or escape. The compensation for such employment shall be determined by the state highway commissioner and the commissioner of pardons and paroles. Such officers shall determine the amount to be paid to each convict and the amount to be paid the prison from which such convict is obtained. All sums so paid or allowed to the prison therefor shall be paid or credited to the fund of such prison.