(a) The appointing presiding judge of an administrative judicial region or appointing presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions, by majority vote, as applicable, may appoint the personnel needed to assist an associate judge in implementing and administering this subchapter.
(b) The salaries of the personnel shall be paid from:
(1) money available from the federal government;
(2) county money available for payment of officers' salaries, subject to the approval of the commissioners courts of the counties in which the associate judge serves; or
(3) a combination of money specified by Subdivisions (1) and (2).