The judge of any court of this state in which any professional bondsman executes criminal bonds, furnishes bail or secures costs and fines as surety, is empowered to inquire at any time into the solvency of any bondsman and to investigate and determine the value of the bondsman's assets and extent of the bondsman's liabilities, and to this end may, in the judge's discretion, appoint as many as three (3) investigators and/or appraisers to assist the court and who shall be empowered, when appointed, to investigate, appraise and report upon the value and extent of the bondsman's assets and liabilities. Each investigator and/or appraiser so appointed shall be entitled to receive reasonable compensation, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) a day, out of the general funds of the county, whenever their accounts for services are approved for payment by the judge ordering the investigation.