(a)
(1) A licensed attorney who is elected as a special judge of the circuit court under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, and the rules prescribed by the Supreme Court may request compensation at one-half (½) the rate as fixed by law for a regularly elected circuit judge.
(2) This section does not allow a special judge to receive compensation for any days that he or she is not actually serving in his or her appointed capacity.
(b) The compensation provided for in this section shall be paid from the appropriation provided to the Auditor of State for special and recalled judges for the circuit courts, upon certification by the clerk of the court in which the special circuit judge was elected stating the number of days or a portion of a day served, under the rules prescribed by the Supreme Court.