In the event that any district judge is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers exercised by one of three special emergency judges residing in the district served by such judge, and designated by him or her within 60 days after the approval of this chapter, and thereafter immediately after the date that he or she shall have been appointed and qualified as such. Such special emergency judges shall, in the order specified, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office in case of the unavailability of the regular judge or persons immediately preceding them in the designation. The designating authority shall, each year, review and shall revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this chapter to insure their current status. Forthwith after such designations are made and after a revision thereof copies shall be filed in the offices of the governor and the county clerk. Said emergency special judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of such office until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the constitution and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of designation becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office. While exercising the powers and discharging the duties of the office of a district judge a special emergency judge shall receive the pro rata salary and perquisites thereof. (1959, No. 13, § 8, eff. March 4, 1959; amended 1965, No. 194, § 10.)