(a)
(1) A county may employ one (1) or more district court judges to act as criminal magistrates in accordance with the provisions of Rule 1.8(a) of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure or in accordance with per curiam orders issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
(2) A district court judge acting as a criminal magistrate may be authorized to perform any of the duties described in Rule 1.8(b) of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure.
(b) A county with a population of more than one hundred thousand (100,000) persons may compensate a district court judge acting as a criminal magistrate in excess of his or her salary as a district court judge in an annual amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the district court judge's maximum annual salary as set forth in § 16-17-108.
(c) A county, city, or town that contributes to the salary of a district judge may treat the increased payment for magistrate duties as salary to be calculated for purposes of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, § 24-4-101 et seq.
(d) The compensation for a district court judge acting as a criminal magistrate for a circuit court judge shall be set by the county quorum court by ordinance and may be paid by the county from the county administration of justice fund or the county general fund as appropriated by ordinance.