(a) Ajudge may appoint one or more persons to serve as associate juvenile court judges in juvenile matters on a full-time or part-time basis. The associate juvenile court judge shall serve at the pleasure of the judge, and his or her salary shall be fixed by the judge with the approval of the governing authority or governing authorities of the county or counties for which the associate juvenile court judge is appointed. The salary of each associate juvenile court judge shall be paid from county funds.
(b) Each associate juvenile court judge shall have the same qualifications as required for a judge of the juvenile court as provided in Code Section 15-11-51; provided, however, that any person serving as an associate juvenile court judge on July 1, 2007, shall be qualified for appointment thereafter to serve as an associate juvenile court judge.